-6 months later-
Laughter. Glasses clanging. Music. All that was going around her was pushing Skyla closer to a breaking point. She could feel the pressure in her head getting stronger but she needed to keep searching. Alex had been avoiding her all night but everyone knew he was here. Suddenly, Skyla caught a glimpse of the flame colored hair laying against the bar and she called across the room. The music just conveniently had to change and people crowded the way to the bar.
~
The smell of smoke filled his nostrils and suddenly he was back in his apartment, fire surrounding him. He reached for his back, stuffed what he could in it and left the apartment, 'So this is the game he chooses to play?' The way to the elevator was blocked, as if it would work anyway. Alex rolled his eyes and looked down the staircase, the enflamed spirals damaged. Through the roaring and hissing of the flames Alex heard a scream, a woman yelling for help far down towards the lower floors. He sighed, removed his shirt, took hold of his bag and leapt as fire erupted from his shoulder blades. Those flames quickly took form into a base structure followed by the feathers. Within an instant, Alex was no longer falling, but floating lightly in the air, depending on the air of the surrounding fire to keep his glide. The fourth floor was his stop, wings pulling into his back and disappearing without even a burn on him. Alex quickly threw his shirt back on, backpack over his shoulders and ran towards the noise. A thick wood panel blocked her door, but it seemed almost purposefully placed. Alex spat at the wood before lifting the flame engulfed panel and tossing it down the hallway, fire leaving no mark on his skin. Just soot on his hands. The door Alex opened pulled so easily off it's frames, as if Alex had some super human strength. 'If only,' he muttered before running in and picking up the fainted toddler, resting him on his shoulders and helping the woman, who held her baby tightly, to her feet. Alex made sure to allow part of his shirt to catch fire before patting it out and wiping his face with his soot covered hand. The four made their way down the seemingly untouched bottom flights of stairs and exited. Only to be assaulted with gasps and questions from every direction. Firemen helped take the woman and her kids to an ambulance as a reporter began asking him questions. News vans everywhere with their corresponding reporters listening as he spoke. He cleared his throat and tried desperately to sound like someone whose lungs were bothered by the smoke, fake coughing every few aching moments. A water bottle was being handed to him by someone from out of nowhere. He awkwardly nodded and downed the bottle. That's when them word 'Hero' began floating around, spoken bravely into microphones. 'No, no,' Alex thought as he groaned, 'Get out of here. Quick.' A reporter with hair that matched the fire engines began asking him questions. "Alex, did you know about the gas leak?" What? "Alex, how did you manage getting from your floor to their's" "Alex?" The noise got louder until suddenly Alex was awake, lighting his face off the bar, a glass of whiskey in his hand. "Alex!" Skyla's voice. He called out at the change of music for some dancing, exciting the drunken crowd. He seized the opportunity to book it, escaping around the side and out the front door. He almost tripped on the red carpet and hid behind a concrete pillar, leaning to catch his breath.
"You know," Skyla's voice made his breathing go faster and he held his chest tightly, "It's one thing to avoid an intro speech at a gala but..." 'So much for covert. All of this. I'm out in public,' Alex began feeling a bit dizzy as his thoughts raced around inside his head, 'What have I done?'
"It's another thing," Skyla poked her head around the corner, making eye contact with Alex. She came to a stop and put a hand on her hip, anger welling up inside her, "It's another thing to avoid ME." Alex grew fearful as he watched her emerald eyes glow faintly. This was not what he wanted. His goal was to make sure these things never happened. She continued after the silent moment, hands making angry gestures as she ranted, "Did you suddenly forget how to respond? At least my father rebuilt your stupid apartment building so you can finally move out of my house. Reach out to me when your head is together and you feel like apologizing." Alex watched as she stormed off. Her ability to walk angrily in heels was another additive to Alex's stress.
-Two weeks later-
"So this is a pre-furnished apartment," A woman with fiery hair stood in front of a painting on a wall as she gazed around, "But... They can't get decent artwork?"
Alex winced in pain she criticized his artwork, "What are you doing in my apartment, V?!"
"Well..." the woman slowly made her way to the couch and leaned against the arm, "News of your.. fire traveled quickly throughout the venture and, of course, Argus made plans to fly in to... Well, basically force you back home." She smiled widely at Alex and continued, "You can't start anymore fires. This whole 'revenge' thing needs to stop, too."
"I told you this wasn't for revenge. It's-" As his fists balled up in anger, he watched her extend her arms as if begging for a hug, "It's for something bigger."
A knock at the door interrupted their conversation and despite the warning not to, the woman known as V raced to the door and answered it. She seemed a bit bummed when she opened the door but quickly went back to her playful demeanor, "Hey! I thought you were the pizza person. You must be Skyla."
Skyla stared at the woman for a moment, analyzing her cropped grey tank top, her black shorts and what seemed like the other half of the tank top tied around her waist. Next to her belly button was what looked like a cross between a scar and a tattoo... Almost like a branding. Skyla swallowed for a moment, watching V run her hands through her beautiful orange hair, before looking to the side, "I was here to speak with Alex but it seems you two are otherwise occupied..."
V was about to speak before the door was pulled shut and slammed. She crossed her arms and turned to Alex, "Well that was rude."