|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2017 7:15 pm
Going outside really hadn’t been on Evan’s agenda; Cambria and Zac had gone to see a movie together and he was just going to stay home by himself and enjoy a nice, quiet night. The neighbors had other plans of course. The evening had started off peaceful enough but around seven they had broken into a loud fight. The fighting had made Evan uncomfortable, so he’d popped in some headphones and tried to block it out. Between songs he’d caught some extremely hostile screaming and a violent slamming noise. He could tell glasses were breaking and, before he’d even realized it, he was dialing 911.
He hadn’t wasted time on the phone or waiting for the police to show up; he was numb and barely registered that he was trembling as he excused himself from the house.
He locked up behind him and didn’t realize until he was down the street that he had left the house, at night, and was wandering around in what could probably constitute as pajamas.
It was night time, and dangerous, and he should have known better—but staying in the proximity of whatever altercation was going on was just stressing him out and think about things he didn’t want to think about.
Reluctantly, he powered up. It might have created a beacon for any powered individuals, but he had to reason that he could probably feel them before they felt him. And, hopefully he could run to the movie theater Zac and Cambria had gone to—he knew their show time and what theater they were at. He’d tried calling, but the lack of cell reception made it hard to reach them, so this felt like his only option.
Powered up, he drew in a deep breath and tried to convince himself he was confident.
He could do this.
He was a Super Senshi and he could take care of himself.
A bush rustled near to him and he jumped a foot and a half away, heart in his throat, and bolted down the street, away from the rabbit he’d startled when he walked too close to its hiding place.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2017 7:29 pm
Andalusite knew that he had to get stronger. He had been neglecting powering up for a while now, not really seeing the point when he had so many other things going on…especially Evan. But…since the spider incident, while he had been avoiding his patrols, he also had the nagging voice in the back of his head saying that none of that would have happened if he had been stronger. If he could have powered up he could have killed all of those spiders and not sent Evan into some broken state of shock…
If only he had been stronger.
So he was out on a mission tonight to get there. And the stronger aura that he felt seemed like it would be the perfect place to start, and when he finally spotted the senshi, a dark figure against the glow of a streetlamp, he grinned, taking the opportunity to throw his boomerang hard, then jumped off of the building he had been perched on, arm outstretched, ready to reach in and claim the starseed that the lieutenant figured was rightfully his, when he suddenly realized who it was.
“You!”
The word sprang from his lips and Andalusite nearly fell as he stumbled from pulling himself backwards, recoiling from the super senshi. It was the purple clad kid who had saved him. He looked a little different now…but it was still the same kid. There was no mistaking that.
…he had been saved by a senshi?
Gross.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2017 7:46 pm
Evan hadn’t felt the energy signature until it was too late; he turned towards it just in time to be hit right in the chest with the boomerang. Nothing broke but he could have sworn he heard a crack in his chest and his ears. He was suddenly breathless and, too surprised to defend himself, he stumbled backwards.
Someone calling out ‘You’ from the darkness wasn’t the least bit reassuring and his mind suddenly scrambled to consider any enemies he might have. He reached to his chest and tried to suck in a breath.
He got a slow, shallow one, but it was hardly enough to make his lungs feel full
He wasn’t sure if it was the boomerang or the anxiety that suddenly swarmed over him but as soon as he got the opportunity he looked up, trying to figure out where the weapon—and the voice—had come from.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2017 8:32 pm
Having recovered his balance, Andalusite moved closer, stepping fully under the weak, yellowish beam from the streetlamp, his hanging sleeves billowing in the cool breeze that whipped through the night. There was a flash of concern in his eyes and he looked the senshi over, half tempted to finish what he started and half tempted to just leave. A life for a life. Wasn’t that how the world worked?
“Who are you?”
If this was the one who saved him…Mal…something. He couldn’t…couldn’t really remember, but it was Mal something. He was sure. If it was him. He would leave. Let him go on unscathed…but if it wasn’t…well. He would get the starseed.
He bet that it was purple. It would be a good start on the path to getting strong. Something concrete that he could turn in to Ashanite and be proud of. Something to get him that much closer to a promotion. Something that he felt that he deserved. Even if he was pretty lazy about all of this.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2017 5:30 am
Malus didn’t want to answer and yet he found himself replying, “Malus,” before his brain could even process it. “And I’m not sure what I did to offend you, or what orders you’re under, but I don’t want any sort of trouble. I’m not out tonight because I want to be, and I’m not doing anything that would impede whatever tasks you’ve got.”
Except, there was that little nagging voice in the back of his head that reminded him that he had more power now than he’d ever had before—and technically he was supposed to have more power than the Lieutenant before him.
And he was supposed to help people who didn’t have that power.
Somewhat warily, he glanced up at the lieutenant.
“…Unless you’re up to no good, because then I guess I’ve gotta stop you. And throwing things at people really isn’t very friendly.”
He reached for the boomerang, examined it, and then handed it back to Andalusite as he pushed himself up. With his free hand, he gingerly rubbed at his chest. It hurt, but not enough for him to worry too much.
“Please don’t do that.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2017 7:34 am
Malus. There it was again. The obvious fear, but some massive amount of strength and bravery that the kid…the senshi didn’t even know that he had, bubbling away under the surface. It was wild.
Reaching out, Andalusite took his boomerang back and shrugged. “Do you think you could stop me if I was up to no good? I have a quota to make, you know. Energy and Starseeds. I don’t want to look bad in front of my general, and I figured that your starseed would look pretty good in his hands so.” He shrugged again, reaching out and brushing his own hand against the senshi’s chest, trying to imagine what it would be like to reach in and extract the very thing that made him…well. Him. If a starseed was your soul…what happened to the body?
The lieutenant thought about the purple crumbling to the ground, bright eyes suddenly lifeless while Andalusite held the small crystal in his hand was…it gave him mixed emotions. On one hand…the thought of that much power…the power to end a life so easily was mildly intoxicating. Though, the thought of this life being the one snuffed out…was not as intoxicating. In fact, it made him feel almost on the verge of being queasy.
Still though, he pushed against the chest, fingers slipping in a centimeter or so. He had never tested this ability of his…it felt…
Interesting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2017 8:18 am
Malus had patience, for most things. He found ways to game himself, wys to rationalize things, ways to excuse inappropriate behavior, even just to spare himself the embarrassment and shame of having been on the receiving end.
There were only a few things anyone could have done to ignite Malus’ temper, to spawn true aggression, but a hand in his chest, inching towards his starseed was at the top of the list.
Images of Cavansite flashed in his head, albeit briefly.
But, it was enough.
He wasn’t going to let anyone manhandle his starseed.
He tensed immediately and instinctively drew his arm back and curled his hand into a fist. As Malus stepped away, keen on avoiding the fingertips, he slammed his fist into the side of Andalusite’s face.
“Don’t do that!” he snapped, fear and anger apparent in his voice. He was trembling but kept his hand clenched into a fist, ready to hit the lieutenant again if he tried.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2017 12:59 pm
Andalusite was not expecting to feel a fist connect with his face, and he let out a cry, stumbling backwards, both of his hands reaching up to rub at the unexpected pain in his cheek, the boomerang clattering to the ground in his surprise. “What the hell? You’re a feisty thing aren’t you? What did you think I was going to do? Pull it out? Well I wasn’t.”
Not for long anyway…he had just wanted a peek.
“You didn’t have to go and hit me! I wasn’t going to hurt you, Malus. I was just…curious. That’s all.” He rubbed at his cheek, his eyes flashing. “You have a pretty strong arm though. Do you work out?” The lieutenant slid his gaze over the senshi again, frowning slightly. “You don’t look as strong as you are though. It’s kind of unfair. I figured I’d just be able to have my way with you and it would be easy.”
Now that the surprise was wearing off, anger was quickly slipping in to take its place. How dare this upstart little senshi think that he could punch him. Even if he had saved him in the past…Malus had no idea that it was him that it was the same lonely guy who had almost been eaten by a giant pig…he had no way of knowing how much of an impact he had made on his life…but…
But right now that didn’t really matter. “You should go. Before I decide to stop being so nice. Maybe next time I will pull it out, and you won’t even know that I’m coming.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2017 5:55 pm
Malus visibly paled, and then promptly seemed to turn a faint greenish color very shortly after Andalusite said he’d thought it would be easy. He raised a hand up to his temple as if he were fighting off some violent headache.
He was. Everything was threatening to swim and he hated that he could topple between two extremes so rapidly, but despite everything he still hadn’t wanted to end this on a bad note. He didn’t want an enemy.
“I’m sorry. You startled me. You aren’t the first agent to stick their hand in my chest, but I’d really like if it didn’t happen again. I didn’t mean to hit you, I just.”
No, he’d meant to hit him. He’d needed him to stop, needed him to know that Malus wasn’t just a sitting duck.
He drew in a quick breath and forced himself to look at Andalusite. “It didn’t end so well for me last time, and I’d just appreciate if you please didn’t do that again. I didn’t know what to think except that you were going to pull it out, and I really didn’t come out here to die tonight. So, please don’t threaten me. And please don’t say things like that.”
He had to reach up a gloved hand; he hadn’t realized that moisture had started burning his eyes until he suddenly couldn’t see the agent.
Which was just ******** great. Because he hadn’t already made a big enough fool of himself, now he was crying in front of this guy. It wasn’t horrible, gut wrenching sobs; he didn’t even feel the back of his throat burning or feel his breath hitch.
“I’m sorry,” he added, quickly wiping at his eyes again. “I can leave now. But please don’t throw your weapon or try to take someone’s starseed unless you’re ready for them to fight back. I know people that wouldn’t hesitate to slaughter you for something like that, and even if you are with the Negaverse, I’m sure you’re not all that bad.”
Pretty bad, possibly, considering the boomerang and the starseed thing, but he didn’t want to expect the worst. He was trying to look on the bright side of things, trying to look at life with a better outlook.
He reached a hand to cover his chest gingerly, as if it burned. As if it was still Cavansite’s hand, plunged into his chest, prying, poking, stealing. He shuddered and swallowed, taking a hesitant step back. He didn’t turn away from the Lieutenant; he didn’t want to leave his back exposed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 8:03 am
The tears almost brought words of apology to Andalusite’s lips. Almost. But instead, he just shook his head and scoffed. “Whatever.” He wanted to say more. Wanted to push the issue…but those tears. Especially tears coming from such wide, expressive eyes. It touched a nerve, and when the senshi began walking backwards, Andalusite turned on his heel and began walking off in the opposite direction.
There was no point in letting this weepy senshi know that his tears had done anything to or for Andalusite. No point in letting him think that all he had to do was cry so prettily like that and everything would end up being okay.
That wouldn’t end well for either of them.
No, perhaps the best thing he could do was just focus on his mission…and pluck the starseed from another senshi. One that wasn’t quite as beautiful. Or familiar. One that he didn’t owe any debts to.
Perhaps that was the real issue. But he would find a way to erase that as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 8:35 am
Malus had to force himself to clear his throat; when Andalusite continued to walk in the other direction, he continued putting distance between them as well. He felt out of place and foolish and scrubbed at his eyes and face until they were red as he tried to dry away his tears.
It took only a moment to collect himself before he recalibrated his positioning and started walking briskly towards the movie theater again.
He wasn’t having a good night, but it wasn’t the worst he’d ever had. He could be fine with a Lieutenant thinking he was just some foolish crybaby if it meant he still got to end his night in one piece, starseed still in tact.
A police siren in the distance reminded him that he was trying to get away from here and avoid the police showing up, so he started jogging again, planning on where the best place to power down was going to be once he got there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
