Chapter 15.

"Thank you very much officer." Mrs. Stronghold said, smiling warmly at the officer that had come to take statments from Will and Warren. The super police were looking for Barron Battle right now, but Josie knew he would be far away this time. Waiting to strike again.

"Mom?" Will called from the top of the stairs.

"Will. How is he?"

"He's kinda shaken up. Quiet." Will said, hanging his head. After the hospital, Warren had come home with Will and gone straight to bed, refusing to speak. "I guess the shock was kinda delayed"

"That poor boy." Josie said, before joining Will at the top of the stairs. She sat down next to him and wrapped her arm around his shoulders "Did he say anything to you at all?"

"On the ride home, nothing. But just before... He got a little upset." Will said. He exhaled loudly "I don't know what to do mom. I wanna make things better for him... for both of us. But, it's so hard. Everything just keeps stacking up, and now I have no idea how to make him feel better."

"Just be with him honey." His mother said softly, leaning in to hug her son. "Just let him know how much you love him. Things will get better."

-

"Warren?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry... about everything."

"It's not your fault Stronghold."

"I know... I just wish things could be different."

"Me too."

The two boys lay in the dark of Will's bedroom. The had been silent for a while, and it was a releif when one of the spoke, breaking the tangiable silence.

Warren snaked his arms around Will's waist and tugged him closer, snuggling his nose into Will's hair. He sighed.

"But... I have you right?" Warren asked

"Always"

-

The next day at school, crowds of students followed the pair, especially Warren. He supposed he should have been used to it by now, but it had been a little while since he had been the focus of everybodys attention. Roumers spread of what had happened, mostly completely false. Warren laughed slightly, imagining the conversation topic over the tables at lunch. Peace family reunions. Never good.

Warren sat down at his usual place at lunch, dropping his heavy bag down beside him noisily. At the table, only four of them remained. Will, Warren, Layla and Majenta all sat quietly, each barely looking at each other, and each thinking the same thoughts. The four of them had received news of Zach earlier that morning. He had been taken to a hospital for supers. One that was specially designed to deal with superheros that had gone into shock in the way Zach had. The most the knew was that the "power boost" given to Zach by Parker was a rare and mystical plant extract, which, among other things, caused insanity.

They knew they would never see him again.

"No Scott today?" Warren asked, his voice a low grumble

"No... He uh, he thought the four of u might like some time together." Layla said, akwardly as she shifted her salad around her plate, hoping nobody would notice she wasn't eating.

"That's nice of him." Will said.

"Yeah." Majenta chimed in. She looked tired. Her hair was a mess and her eyes were puffy, which nobody would mention.

It all felt so wrong.

-

After the school bell rang, and the busses had left, Warren and Will stood at the edge of the school, watching the clouds and the city below. Warren stood behind Will, with his arms around his lovers waist.

"What now?" Will asked

"Hmm?"

"I mean, we have Jen's funeral tomorrow, and then what?"

"I guess we just carry on like normal."

"But how?" Will said, turning to face Warren. His eyes were wet with tears, and they seemd to plead with the fireboy to find an answer. Warren leaned in, kissed him softly on the forehead and smiled slightly.

"Life's a show."

- THE END-

AN: So, I was going for a fragmented kinda feel to that. Anyone else who has had a big shock like this will know what I mean. The feeling where time melts together, and everything is a little less clear. I hope that came across. I think the writing style for this last chapter is quite cold, and isn't very comforting, but thats the way I thought the characters would feel.

Thats it. The end. I will probably do more in this series one day, but as you know, im gonna work on a prequel-type thing... Warren's background. Should be fun.

Love to you all, and thanks for reading & reviewing.

Dylan Stratus