Long Way Down

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Chapter Two

Semi-Charmed Kind of Life

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It was warm out and the air had the compressing stiffness that it always carried during the transition from summer to autumn. It wasn't exactly comfortable yet he found himself with the window down, arm resting on the door and head on his arm.

He watched the people and the buildings and the random scenery flash past and tried to take it all in. He could hear people and cars and just…things. The sounds of life.

It was strangely…thrilling. Being outside again for something other than that hour of 'yard time' he'd been afforded. He'd only been in a few months, waiting for his trial, but even being locked up for a while made him…weak and needing to escape.

Mainly because they kept him wet and he couldn't use his power, maybe just because fire wasn't meant to be contained…whatever it was he always came out hurting, feeling like he was stretched too thin and the first time he'd actually been sick for a time.

But now, in the sunlight and open air, he could already feel the strength returning to him. He sighed and leaned back in his seat, letting the wind ruffle his too long hair, and taking solace in how…big and open the world was. He knew some people felt small compared to the rest of the world, but never him.

He didn't notice the way Sharon was watching him from the corner of her eye, lips pulled into a thoughtful frown.

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The apartment building he was staying in was University owned and thus had a student aid in the bottom apartment that was supposed to be available if they needed…something. What they could possibly need he wasn't sure, but if they did need anything he was there.

He was on the top floor, in one of four rooms. He'd luck out apparently and had managed to get the only single. He had the strange feeling that whoever was in charge of this little 'project' he was now involved with had arranged it that way. The better to keep a low profile he guessed.

It was pretty bare thus far. As in it had a bed, a kitchen table, a stove, and a refrigerator. He didn't even have a TV. It was also painted a sickly yellow-ish color throughout. He kind of suspected the place had once been white but had faded over the years.

All in all a little bit on the gross side.

Sharon seemed to agree because her nose wrinkled and she muttered something about this being the reason she'd stayed at home when she was going through school. He had to confess he saw the logic in that.

Next was walking to the on-campus café, called The Café. The name didn't strike Hotstreak as overly original or witty in the least but it seemed a decent enough place. The manager was a guy named Justin and was a Computer Tech major. He was about twenty-three, just shy of 6'6" and pretty solidly built. He was the clean cut all American sort, from his blue eyes to his polo shirt. It seemed he had a basketball scholarship but also had a Work Study thing going on. He showed him around, under Sharon's watchful eye, and asked him a few questions about himself.

He answered them as nondescriptly as possible. Shutze hadn't been lying; apparently no one remembered him or all of the 'chaos' he'd caused. (In his opinion chaos was highly subjective and shouldn't have been thrown around so casually.) How exactly that'd happened in just a few years was beyond him, but people were funny as far as memory went.

Then again he'd been out of Dakota for a few years. In the state, yeah, but outside of the city for most of his dealings. Static and Gear kept mostly to the city and taking his actions out of the limits had pretty much gotten them off of his back.

Unfortunately the cops weren't so inclined.

"You'll start tomorrow." Justin said finally.

He arched an eyebrow. "I thought I started today."

"Well. You were. But there's another kid working here as well, for the Work Study program, and he starts tomorrow and so you might as well get know the place and each other at the same time." Justin shrugged slightly while running a hand through his closely cropped blond hair. "Besides, you probably want to get unpacked and poke around the campus."

"Uh. Yeah. Sure." Hotstreak shrugged, not particularly caring. He didn't have anything to unpack and he wasn't all that curious about what was going on around here.

Sharon nodded at Justin politely then motioned for him to follow her out. He followed, not sure what else he could do at the moment. Besides, he didn't want to risk her being the one with the 'key' to his lovely new bracelets.

For some reason electroshock just didn't appeal to him.

He followed her out of the café and down the sunny streets of Dakota University's campus. The café was on 'DU Main Street' and the student store, admissions office, and assorted other…student oriented things lined the street. The library was there as well, across from all of the other stuff.

Oak trees lined the streets, casting shadows onto everything.

They went into the store and went straight for the counter. And who should be there except one Virgil Hawkins. He was a lot taller and little bit buffer; apparently he'd been working out but he was still the same guy. Dreads, bright brown eyes, and annoyingly bright fashion sense. Virgil must have remembered him as well because his eyes narrowed and his mouth opened and he looked ready to throw some kind of fit.

He didn't get a chance.

"Alright little brother, I'm going to explain this in little words so you'll understand." Sharon was speaking the moment Virgil's attention was on them. "You live a few blocks from here, in the same building as Francis. If you're nice he might help your dense behind find it."

Virgil shut his mouth with an audible click. Apparently he was about as intimidated by his sister as Hotstreak was. Good to know it wasn't just him.

"You remember that money I loaned you two months ago?" Sharon didn't wait for a response to her question, assuming that her brother did indeed recall. "I'll consider it paid if you refrain from being a pain in Francis' ass. He won't be bothering you and Richie, so don't you bother him."

"But Sharon he's-"

"I don't want to hear it."

"But-"

"No."

"Hotstreak-"

"NO."

She didn't raise her voice but Hotstreak heard the capital letters in her voice and would have felt a little sympathy if it wasn't so damn funny. And if it hadn't been Virgil Hawkins. He'd been a real pain in his ass back in high school; so watching him be tormented was very high on his amusing shit scale.

"Everyone deserves a second chance Virgil." Sharon's tone softened slightly and she leaned over the counter to ruffle her brother's dreads affectionately. (Hotstreak frowned. This was…not so amusing) "And so you're going to give him one. Or else I'll kill you."

Virgil made a noise halfway between protest and shock, before nodding slowly. Sharon smiled and pulled away. She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear then titled her head off to the side.

"Where's your better half?"

"Ha. Ha." Virgil shrugged. "Last I checked he was wandering around the campus. Probably regrets turning town Harvard right about now."

Sharon sniffed. "Doubtful. I doubt Richie would rather be anywhere else but here. So, you boys play nice, okay?"

"Yes Sharon." Virgil rolled his eyes but nodded nonetheless.

She smiled again then turned her attention back to him. "Virgil is working here so he can help you find the books you need and such." She reached into her pocket and withdrew a plastic card. She held it out to him but held fast when he tried to take if from her. "This is yours. I already told you about using it wisely so…you know, don't use it all in one day."

"Yes. No fucking up, I remember."

"Why not just ask for the impossible?" Virgil muttered, drawing a cold glare from Sharon. He coughed then pretended to be interested in something on the counter.

She released the card then, with one last severe look at her brother, strode out of the building and, presumably, back to where she had parked her car.

Leaving him. Along. With Virgil Hawkins.

….

They stared at each other for a long moment then Virgil cleared his throat loudly.

"Well. Right. Class list?"

He opened the folder he'd kept tucked under his folder, pulled out the class list contained within, and held it out to Virgil. The younger teen took it then wandered off through the door that lead to…well the back of the shop. He leaned against the counter, fingers drumming on the top as he waited.

He heard the chime of a bell as the door opened but didn't bother turning to look.

"Excuse me, have you seen the guy who was working here?"

He blinked then turned slowly. He smiled darkly at the blond standing there, taking a sort of delight in the way he paled.

"Foley. It's been a while. Nice seeing you."

He too looked a bit different. Taller, a little shorter than Hawkins maybe, and his hair was a bit on the long side and it had lightened a shade or two over the years. He'd gone from one earring to about four, all in the same ear.

He didn't have time to notice much else because his arm was twisted behind his back and he was face down on the counter and wondering how little geeky Richie Foley had put him down. (Not why of course. Because he knew why… He wouldn't trust himself either.)

What the hell was going on?

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