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Feb. 14.

Valentine's day. Which promised to be a mess. Wally had agreed to help Linda in the news office today...they were going to be going through the student records to figure out who should be on this 'team' that Norman Osborn had proposed.

To make matters worse, he'd insisted that Superboy and Kid Flash be on the team, and as Wally well knew, there was no more Kid Flash. Not that he could tell Linda that. Kid Flash was like an angel to her, and she believed he'd show up no matter what. In her mind, Wally was just some 'other speedster,' some punk jerk who'd been depowered.

This sucked the biggest suck that ever sucked warm suck through a straw. As Wally sat down in the newspaper office, he suddenly became aware of some giggling outside of the door. He sighed, he knew who it was.

"Heeeey, Wally...." The door opened, and yes, there was Kori Anders and Aspen Matthews. Each of them sat down on one side of him. "Happy Valentine's day, Wally!"

Kori pulled out a red rose and stuffed it in his mouth. Aspen tied a red bow tie around his neck. "Guess who's taking us to a romantic dinner? Just like the ones you used to take every girl on campus on?"

"Except that you're all ours, now, and you can't even run away, cutie!"

"We even bought each other commitment rings that you can give us tonight."

What. The. Hell.

Wally spit out the rose.

"Well, it sounds like you guys don't even need me there, I mean, I'd just get in the middle-"

"But that's exactly what we want!" Kori cooed, stuffing the rose back in his mouth.

"A West sandwich!" Aspen giggled and mussed up his hair. "You are so CUTE when you're exclusively ours!"

Wally struggled in his chair, but Kori was really, really strong. Aspen grabbed something from outside of the newsroom door and then sat a tray down in front of him.

"But first...we're going to feed you a valentine breakfast."

Feb. 14.

Valentine's Day.

Which, according to the records that Amadeus had researched, was an overly-commercialized 'holiday' created by greeting card companies as a cash grab during the normally slow post-Christmas season. A time when one's worth as a potential mate was measured by the amount of flowers, candy or jewelry one forced upon their significant other.

They didn't have Valentine's Day where Amadeus came from. And he didn't have the time for such ridiculous interactions. Especially knowing that there was a chance...a good one...that much of the school was already...

Compromised.

By Amadeus's estimates, there was a good chance that, at this point in time, one-third of the school had already been turned. Silently, invisibly, without anyone noticing. If that number reached closer to one-half, statistically, it would be too late. The school would be done for, a war fought and lost without anyone knowing.

Anyone except for Amadeus Cho, and now Teddy Altman. Too few. Their numbers were too small, and as it stood right now, no way to prove what was actually happening.

They had to find a way to fight back. A way to prove what was going on. Time was of the essence.

So why was Amadeus Cho standing out in the snow, under one of the trees in the main pavilion of Hero High, waiting to see if he could meet up with Linda Lang?

Why couldn't he help himself?!

Wally just barely caught Linda's shocked face as Aspen shoved whipped cream and waffles into his mouth. Wally sputtered and tried to get up.

"Linda-WAIT! Oof!" Kori shoved him down again. Wally was starting to get bruises on his shoulder from where Kori was gripping him. This wasn't really very romantic at all! Wally opened his mouth to plead with Ms. Watson, but Aspen shoved the syrup bottle in there.

"Oh, Ms. Watson, we're SO sorry, but we just wanted to surprise Wallykins soooo much for Valentine's day! We DO hope it's not a problem. We PROMISE to clean this all up when we're done."

"Yes!" Aspen giggled. "You WON'T even know we were here!'

"Mmmpph!" Wally whined. Ms. Watson sighed.

"Fine, finish up. And there had better not be any syrup on the computer keyboards." She tossed down some papers on her desk and walked out of the room, muttering about 'kids these days.'

"Well, now we're all alone."

"Yes, we are, aren't we? Hm, I wonder what we should do with our new boy toy now?...."

"Mmmmph!" Wally struggled some more. If ever there was a time he wished he had mental powers, now was it! If he had mental powers, he'd be shouting in Linda's head right now....SAVE HIM!!!!

Jen had been dreading this day and here it was, but she wasn't dateless at least and had something planned. Even though it stunk worse than a Jock's strap on a Summer's day.

She couldn't imagine it turning out well, but she was determined to have fun. Most of the lessons had been wisely cancelled. Jen just got ready for a morning jog and to plan out what she was going to wear tonight.

Teddy was nervous. He was sitting at the edge of his bed, dressed in an outfit that he hoped was ok. He didn't really know what you were supposed to wear to a Dazzler concert, but he had the feeling he certainly didn't look gay enough. He had tried on a bunch of different shirts, finally settling on a button down shirt underneath a sweater to complement his dark jeans. His sneakers were clean and looked new after a fresh scrub, and his hair was combed. Not that it didn't still look tousled. He couldn't seem to avoid that.

He didn't even know what this guy was like, but he hoped he was...decent. Attractive would be great, but he felt like that might be pushing it. Nice and laid back would be good enough.

He kind of felt bad for Billy, who was spending the evening alone. He cast a glance over in his direction, then sighed. "Uhm...do you want me to bring you anything back to eat?" He didn't know what else to say, but he kind of felt like he should do something.

*Chris lit a match and tossed it on the wood in the fireplace. Nothing happened. Then he noticed some fancy long wooden matches on the hearth and lit one. He held it up to the wood. Nothing but a small black spot on the wood.*

What the....

*Chris frowned and headed into the kitchen. He rummaged around until he found a lighter for a grill.*

Now this time...

*He held the flame from the grill lighter against the wood and waited. And waited. And waited. WHY WOULDN'T THIS LIGHT!? He stomped back into the kitchen and resumed looking through cabinets. Maybe there was a how to book for lighting fires*

The one time I could use the Human DoucheTorch. AH HA!

*Chris had found something he knew could help with the fire. He marched back over to the fireplace and soaked the would in lighter fluid.*

YOU HAVE MET YOUR MATCH, WOOD! I AM- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

*A huge fireball burst from the fireplace as Chris lit the grill lighter and fell backwards on his a**. One of the nearby blankets caught of fire and he screamed like an eight year girl at a Bieber concert as he flopped on it to put it out. But hey...there was a fire roaring in the fireplace.*

Holy crap. Just what I need...to burn the place down before Cassie even gets here. Where is she anyway?

...

DOH!

*Chris grabbed his phone and texted Cassie. He told her to meet him at these GPS coordinates at 1PM for her Valentine's surprise. Chris pulled on his jacket and stepped outside. He pulled the camouflage tarp down to cover the front of the cabin and set out to wait.*

Feb.14

"Have you seen Wally?"

Achilles asked various students around campus. Classes were technically in session but there didn't seen to be a great demand for attendance. Apparently the faculty realized teenagers with super powers and hormones were a losing battle of this romantic day of days.

Thus far few had seen the red headed (now former) speedster. Ever since Donald had brought up the idea of fixing him up on this blind date with the Russian student Piotr, or Colossus as some of his friends called him, Achilles had been having nagging second thoughts about going through with it. Donald insisted it was not really a "date" date, but just two guys (who both just happened to like guys) hanging out on valentine's Day so neither was alone.

It sounded innocent enough, but Achilles could not get his mind off of Patroclus, and innocent though it might be, how it could be an insult to his soul mate's memory. Achilles would have asked his sister, but she was as fond of Patroclus as he was, being her brother-in-law. She would be perhaps as lost in the situation as he. Christopher was nowhere to be found and he himself seemed preoccupied with whatever festivities he had planned for today with Cassandra.

That left Wally, his room mate and his best friend. He never really went to Wally with a problem before, but perhaps that would make for a good ear this time alone. So he spent the bulk of the morning trying to track the little fireball down when Brian Durlin and Creote informed him that Wally was supposed to be in the campus news office.

With a few directions, Achilles finally found the right building and approached the office door. He grasped the door handle and pulled it open.

"Have you seen...?" He stopped at the compromising sight before him. Wally, and two girls pressed rather closely up against him. But while the two girls seemed pleased, Wally's face appeared anything but...save for having a bottle shoved in his mouth. Achilles stepped into the room, his eyebrow listed. "Is this some odd mortal mating ritual for this day?"

He directed a forefinger, pointed at Wally.

"If I may, I'd like to have a word with my friend there? It won't take but a moment or two."

Kori's eyes narrowed.

"Yes, we WOULD mind. You're disturbing our Snu snu!"

Wally spit out the syrup bottle.

"OUR WHAT?!!!"

Aspen shoved a crepe into Wally's mouth. "We are observing one of the traditions of Kori's planet right now, Achilles, so why don't you take a long walk off a short pier?"