Horatio let out a smooth yawn, stretching his arms out as far as they could go. In his seat he squirmed lazily, pushing his body out of its sleep, moving every muscle slightly to wake them all up.
Horatio stretched until a satisfying chill rushed through his body making him moan lightly. A single tear formed on his eye which he rubbed slowly. He exhaled, blinking as the world came to him.
Horatio lifted his head, lazily looking around the class. It was empty, with not a single soul in sight. He remembered falling asleep as soon after answering his teacher's question.
Horatio rubbed his neck slowly, noting his near empty energy reserves. He understood that that meant one thing, using spirit energy was going to make him very hungry.
"I suppose I can stop by Mc Normal's on the way home." Horatio said to himself. He was just about to stand when a voice seemingly emerged from nowhere.
"Mc Normal's!? I wanna go too!" The voice said loudly. To which Horatio sighed, lowering his head to look under the desk.
"Hey Nora." He said, coming face-to-face with the owner of the voice.
"Oh no! I was gonna jump out and scare you!" The owner said plaintively, pouting at Horatio. "Good afternoon, Mr. Incredible." She said after, her tone mildly annoyed.
"Could you stop calling me that? It's embarrassing." Horatio said with a sigh, pushing his seat back to make space.
"No, not if you're going to catch me every time I try to scare you." The girl said, clambering out from beneath the desk to take a seat on Horatio's lap. She smiled.
Horatio made no move to stop her, not even flinching as she lay her head on his shoulder. Instead he lowered his hand to her head and began to stroke her gently.
"Good afternoon to you too." He said.
Horatio and Nora were good friends, since childhood. They were born in the same neighborhood. Their families have been close for several generations so they naturally became friends as they grew up.
Nora was a year younger than Horatio and was cosequently doted over. During his childhood.
Horatio found Nora's plain brown hair to be quite interesting, comparing it to his or his sister's, and even his mother's.
He was also interested in her jade green eyes, solely for the reason that they were similar to his, unlike the calm brown or clever black others had, and even the piercing red his sister had. They were beautiful colours, but just that, beautiful.
They grew up together, almost like one family, with Sylvia Peppingar acting as their legal guardian after Nora's parents died.
"Say Horatio..." Nora started.
"What's the matter?"
"When we get to Mc Normal's, you're gonna pay for me right?"
"What, of course n-... sure." Horatio sighed.
"Thank you." Nora smiled, resting her head on Horatio's broad chest. "But," she said before a cute yawn "lets just stay like this for a bit." She said, her breaths coming slowly.
Horatio's heartbeat slowly quickened. He felt his breath shortening. He looked away, concealing a blush that had formed on his face.
Horatio felt her fluffy curls brush against his chest, her hands holding onto him for support.
As she say on him be could feel her body, her perfectly average shape and body he could not think of at anything other than his little sister's. Nora was his childhood friend, right?
Nora pulled back, clasping Horatio's cheeks between her palms, squishing his face.
"You're blushing." She said "What are you thinking about?"
Horatio's blush intensified, "N-nothing!" He lied, breaking eye-contact.
"When I squish your face like this, you look like an old drunk grandpa." Nora stated.
Horatio looked at her quizzically to find out she was smiling. Her tight smile spread across her face. Her lips parted and she began to laugh.
"What?" Horatio asked. Nora ignored him, tears forming in her eyes as she continued to laugh.
Horatio found himself laughing too, confusedly staring into Nora's jade. She too stared back. "Has anyone ever told you, that you have the bluest eyes to ever be blue?" Nora asked, cocking her head as if she had just posed a sphinx-like riddle.
Horatio felt the awkwardness burst like a balloon. He smiled, both at her question and the simple clarification it had provided. Nora was Horatio''s childhood friend. He could no longer think of her as his sister but that was fine. He however did not need to feel awkward with her, just as he always had he would feel at ease with her. She was a dear friend to him and he knew she felt the same.
"Has anyone ever told you," Horatio copied her, fighting not to burst into laughter "that you're extremely childish?" He asked, cocking his head to align to hers.
Horatio knew what he asked wasn't really a question, not to Nora. He had meant it as a sincere statement. He had said it jokingly but genuinely hoped Nora would mature mentally, just a little, enough so that he doesn't have to constantly watch over her.
Nora raised her hand to her chin as if deep in thought. "Now that you mention it...I guess I have heard that before somewhere. You told me that, just yesterday!" Nora exclaimed "And the day before that, and the day before that, and the day before that." She had barely finished the third repetition when they both burst into laughter.
Horatio's head lolled to the side, looking out the window at the far side of the class. The setting sun cast a shifting orange glow over the sky. It poured through spaces between the the city's skyscrapers, reaching calmly into the classroom, painting a soft picture of the afternoon's end.
"I guess we should be on our way, wouldn't want to here when the gates are locked." Horatio sighed, lifting Nora off his lap and picking up his shoulder bag.
"Hooray Mc Normal's!" Nora shouted enthusiastically.
They walked slowly, ambling along the sidewalk. Nora clung to Horatio, resting most of her wight on him. Horatio didn't mind, as long as she wasn't derailing them every time she saw something of interest, which would have almost doubled their travel time.
"We're here." Horatio alerted Nora who was half asleep on his arm. They stood at the entrance of a convenient Mc Normal's that was just on their regular path home.
Nora took a few seconds to wake up, groggily rubbing her eyes as she and Horatio entered the establishment.
"Hey Nora, you should get us a table, I'll get the food." Horatio said, noting Nora's condition.
"Okay." She replied slowly, shuffling off to a free table in the corner.
"She probably didn't get much sleep." Horatio noted, joining the queue to order.
Horatio ordered and brought the food to Nora who was barely awake in her seat. He lightly shook her awake, indicating the food before her.
"You stayed up all night watching that series didn't you?" Horatio asked as he sat down. Nora blushed slightly.
"It was just too good, I ended up finishing the whole thing. Major Theresa is just so cool, defending the world against the alien invaders. You've got to watch it!" Nora said excitedly. Horatio smiled. It was interesting seeing her come to life when she talked about something she liked, she didn't even look tired now.
"Ok, just hurry and finish your food so you can go hove and have your much needed rest." Horatio said, turning his attention to his food.
"Oh my, that was soo good." Nora said, exiting the restaurant.
"You're just happy you didn't have to pay." Horatio said, coming from behind her.
"Well that too, but it's fun being with you, even if I have to pay." Nora countered.
"Okay, okay. Let's get you home sleepyhead." He rubbed his hand over her scalp. "I'll carry you."
"What, I'm not a child!" Nora protested. Horatio gave her an incredulous look she didn't catch.
"It's so we get there faster, I may not look it but I'm tired too." Horatio explained. Nora didn't move.
"Fine, have it your way. We'll both walk." Horatio gave up.
Nora beamed, grabbing hold of Horatio's arm and gesturing forwards.
They continued their slow ambling. Making steady but slow progress. Nora was swaying every few seconds and Horatio had to be cautions so she didn't fall.
"Nora...Nora,Nora!" Horatio shook her, she woke with a puzzled expression. "You're making us take forever, the sun has even set!" He said, the frustration unmistakeable in his voice.
"You really make me wonder how you manage to get home when I'm not around to walk with you." Horatio huffed. Nora frowned.
"I'm not going to ride on your back no matter what. You're always trying to treat me like a kid and-" Nora swayed dangerously towards the road. Horatio preemptively pulled her back, his perception giving him ominous vibes.
"Be careful Nora, you could fall." Horatio warned. Nora glared at him.
"Geez Horatio let go!-" Nora yelled, pulling Horatio's hand off her wrist and stumbling back. Nora felt herself teetering over as everything began to blur into a swift moment. Nora pushed a foot back to catch herself. It hit a stone on its way, sending her teetering further back.
For Horatio, everything began to slow down.He pushed forward, reaching for her hand again, when his mind flashed. He turned his head to the side to see a dark shape coming rapidly towards them. He didn't have enough time to understand what was going on. A single instinct in his head, powered by the analyst simply told him Nora was in danger.
Horatio had Nora to his left, towards the road. As she pushed him off she began to fall into the road and into the path of oncoming traffic.
Horatio felt the andrenaline pour into his bloodstream. It was not late enough for his powers to activate, he had to think of something or he would not make it in time. The car was too close for the driver to notice in time, and even if he did there was no way that car would be able to decelerate enough not to secret injure Nora.
'Think' He commanded himself. There was no way he could get Nora out of the way before the car came, but he could'nt stand there and do nothing. Not after all that had happened between them. Horatio felt reality begin to slip, an occurrence that had started after his binding with Margulis.
Horatio's mind flashed, and reality began to fall away, the ground beneath him, the car and then Nora. This was all in Horatio's mind, he knew that. In an instant he would be forced to go through memory, his mind returning to the real world in the moment it left.
Horatio looked down at his hands, small chubby fingers belonging to a small body. 'Nora!' He thought. He knew he had to get to her, but why? Slowly his mind began to fill out, as did the world around him. He was in a grassy plaine, running as fast as his little legs could carry him. Ahead of him were two adults. Who they were came to him slowly
"She's over there!" Horatio yelled, his voice small and squeaky. The adults pushed past him, darting into the trees. Horatio ran after them, trying to keep them in sight.
They came closer and closer to their destination. Horatio felt a tinge of relief, knowing that the adults would get there in time to save the day. He just wanted to keep up, not to get lost in here, surrounded by trees.
"Mr. and Mrs. Gasal, wait!" Horatio called out, the adults did not wait, quickly disappearing as Horatio fell back. He had to catch up, they shouldn't have to search for him, he had to- Horatio felt his motion stop suddenly, pushing him forward and over onto the ground. He landed with a hard thud, spinning to a stop.
"Ow." Horatio cried, he tried to stand, but his dizzied head and throbbing ankle kept him on the ground. He sat, closing his eyes to deal with the dizziness.
"I've got to get up, I've got to see Nora." As the words left his mouth, the memory finally stabilised. His current mind washed away and he was. now simply him, seven years younger. He remembered, remembered perfectly. He kept his eyes closed, remembering why he was here, a memory within a memory.
An hour ago, Horatio and Nora had been sitting together, playing in the neighbourhood park. This neighbourhood was their home, where they were both born and raised, for nine years. Horatio had known Nora since before he could talk, they had instantly become fiends and would stay that way throughout their childhood.
"Faster, faster!" Nora cried gleefully as Horatio pushed her on the swing. He was carefully controlling her speed, He knew she couldn't handle more than this. How exactly he knew that was a mystery to him.
"Okay Nora, you asked for it!" He said, fooling her into thinking he actually pushed her harder. Nora laughed as she swung quickly from on the set.
Horatio carefully pushed her along, smiling too. He saw her as his little sister, a single year younger than him but considerably younger in terms of the mind.
"Alright, I'm going to give you a big one now, hold on." Horatio called, intent this time on actually increasing the force of his push. He waited as she came swinging back and lined up for the big push. Only, there was another person in the way.
Horatio paid little attention to the newcomer, only taking note of their position. Nora was coming through again and Horatio was ready to push. He quickly set his hands on her lower back and pushed mightily, seeing all too late that another hand was on Nora's back, also pushing.
'What?' Horatio instantly realised what was going on and made to slow Nora down, but he wasn't fast enough, not even to grasp her shirt as she went flying off the set, pummelling onto the ground.
Horatio was horrified. He turned to the stranger, anger in his eyes. Immediately he took note of the stranger's appearance. A boy, looking to be thirteen years old, wearing a black tank top and dark denim shorts, with a black embroidered baseball cap turned back. The boy was giving Horatio a smug look which only saved to ignite his anger.
"Look what you've done!" Horatio yelled, his throat staining as he did, he glared at the boy who only smiled back, as though Nora's pain was entertaining.
Horatio felt his anger billow up. "Hit him." a voice spoke to him. He clenched his fist, intent on making the boy pay. He stopped, remembering Nora, he had to make sure she was okay.
Horatio turned, and was immediately hit in the head. A sharp pain rang through his skull as he toppled backwards onto the ground, the swing had swing back and at Horatio. He did not feel the hard ground hit his back as he fell, but continued deep into a dark seeping plane.
Horatio felt a cool warmth on his forehead. He felt uncomfortable. His eyes fluttered open, his head hurt and he had no recollection of why he was on the ground.
"Hey, are you okay?" Horatio heard a voice ask. He turned to find a girl squatting before him.
"I-I'm fine." Horatio stuttered, staring into the girl's amethyst eyes. His eyes remained on her pale skin, staring at her beautiful face, noting her dull purple hair.
"You don't look fine." The girl sighed, touching his forehead. Horatio winced in pain. She sighed again. "I don't know why you're on the ground with a swollen forehead but I can't just over look it. A pretty boy like you should be more careful when playing."
Horatio blushed lightly looking down. "I'm sorry ma'am"
"Ma'am!? Im just thirteen!" The girl shouted in surprise. "Nevermind, just close your eyes, I think I can help."
Horatio obeyed meekly, closing his eyes and waiting. He felt her hand on his forehead. Her touch was much more gentle this time. He felt her lightly rub the spot and the pain slowly subsided.
"I'm not done, hold on" She said and her hand moved off his head. Horatio still felt its presence just above his head. Slowly his mind cleared, the haze steadily lifted and his memories came to him.
Horatio stood up with a start. "Nora!" He called suddenly. He looked down at the girl who was looking up at him in surprise. "Thank you but I've got to go!" Horatio said and immediately ran off.
"Glad I was able to help!" She called as he left.
Horatio breathed heavily as he closed on an elaborately designed two story building. His eyes locked onto the stencilled white walls. Horatio pushed open the dark iron brushed metal gate and headed into the courtyard. He burst through the door and immediately headed for the stairs in a big rush, moving to the second floor. He darted through the hallway towards an engraved white modern door.
Horatio pushed the handle opening the door into a room where two adults were having a discussion. "Nora is in trouble!" He said.
Horatio forced himself to he feet, that explained why he was here. He still had to finish up, apologise to Nora. He began to walk trudging forward through the pain. If anything, he was to blame for Nora's predicament, he had to do something.
Horatio heard several yells up ahead, alongside the sound of rushing torrents of water. He pushed forward, fighting the pain in his ankle as he made for the break in the trees.
"Help!" Horatio heard a voice scream and it made his blood run cold. He knew the adults could save Nora, so why were they calling for help?
Horatio ignored his ankle, powering through the trees and out of the woods. He found himself before a dam, but nobody was there.
"Mr and Mrs Gasal! Nora!" He called, moving towards the raging waters. Horatio's town was powered by a Hydroelectric dam. If there was one thing he remembered at this time, it was that this dam was the site of several suicides due to the lack of security.
Horatio immediately picked two and two together, realising the predicament the Gasals were undoubtedly in.
"No." He felt his heart skips beat. He inched closer and closer to the dam peering into the waters. There was sign of the Gasals. "No." Horatio fell to his knees. He felt the crushing weight of defeat over his chest. the only thing he could think of was that it was his fault.
"Horatio! Horatio are you there? Help me!" Horatio heard Nora's voice just above the water. he looked to the side and saw a body held at the wisest by a rope that was tied to a tree stump at the bank.
"Nora! Nora you're okay!" Horatio quick pulled the Nora up and onto stable ground.
"Wait Nora, where are your parents, don't tell me they got lost." Horatio asked, untying Nora who sobbed quietly. "Hey Nora, whats going on, I saved you, you don't need to cry."
Nora hugged Horatio tight, sobbing into his shirt. Horatio laughed uncomfortably, "Nora? come on you shouldn't be crying, we should find your parents." Horatio said but made no move to stand. A thought began forming in his head. He shook it away. 'Don't think such scary things Horatio.' But he had to ask.
"Nora, please don't tell me you're crying because...because you're parents aren't coming back." Horatio felt his fingers begin to shake. Nora continued crying, she said nothing, only taking shaky breaths as she sobbed.
"I'm sorry Nora, I'm so so sorry." Horatio held Nora, he only wanted to be there for her now.
Horatio felt the world about him begin to fade away, he was returning to the present with renewed resolve. He could not lose Nora, he would never have her cry again. Now he had the power to keep his promise, there was no way he would let anything or anyone hurt her.
Horatio felt his energy begin to flow, he took the opportunity, pushing it to his arm as he stepped onto the road.
Horatio pushed himself into the car's path, holding Nora with his right hand and outstretching his left.
A loud bang racked the air. Horatio felt intense pain in his left arm. He grit his teeth against it. He forced more energy through his body, giving off a noticeable glow. He couldn't care about incompatibility now. Nora was much more important.
"Aargh!" Horatio kept pushing energy into his hand, forcing it into his palm, collecting as much as he could.
"Energy control: Explosion!" Horatio detonated the energy collected in his palm, creating enough force to blow the car back.
Car horns blared loudly about Horatio. He felt disoriented. He had used up most of his body's energy. "Nora?" He called weakly.
"Horatio? I'm sorry." He heard her voice. He also head a car door open and steps coming towards him.
"Oh god! Are you ok?" He heard an adult male voice ask. Horatio forced himself to stand.
"I'm really sorry sir, I'll pay for the damages." He said. His vision was blurry and his knees felt weak beneath him.
"Oh no don't worry about that, its insured. You look hurt. Come with me, I'll take you to a hospital." The man said.
"No, I'm, fine-" Horatio tried to protest but the weight on him became unbearable as he fell to the ground.