Sorry, it took a while, the second part of this chap was difficult to write, I mean...you'll see.

I Don't Own Worm

I was giddy.

I was at the back of the bus, no one was watching me. The bus was old, no cameras. I had a clear shot, I just need to aim it right and pick the right moment. God, I could barely control myself. Oh for the love of-C'mon man, move your leg!

Some guy's leg was in the way of my shot, I just need an opening. I mean I have until the bus...no I don't actually, crap! I need to do this quick! I kept my eyes open for that one opportunity!

...NOW! I quickly built up the energy in my right hand, well below my waist while my left gripped one of the grab-bars (basically a worn artificial leather strap). I unclenched my fist and shot the line at a woman's rear, she was near the midsection of the bus.

She shrieked and jumped after feeling the jolt, catching everyone's attention. She quickly turned around, traces of my line already gone by that point, her face as fiery as her hair, skinny jeans that showed off her thighs, and a light green sweater. Right behind her was some skinhead in a stained red hoodie with 88 stitched to the hoodie's right shoulder.

"PERVERT!" She yelled as she smacked his face as hard she could.

"AH! CHRIST!" He yelled, hitting the side of the bus. "DAFUQ'S WRONG WITH YOU!"

The bus quickly came to a stop and a lot of people quickly got out of the bus, myself included. I held it in as best I could but as soon as I felt I was far away enough I let out a laugh pretty similar to Beavis and Butthead, earning a few odd looks from the folks around the boardwalk.

I smiled and shook my head as I moved on, my laughter slowly dying down.

"G-boi! Over here," I turned and saw Sparky and Luiz at some funnel cake stall. Sparky was dressed in his usual black attire and gelled up porcupine hair, Luiz just wore black jeans and a white plaid button-up shirt.

"Hey Shockabrah," I said as I approached. I wore blue jeans and an Armsmaster t-shirt I was pretty sure was clean, but it had a funny smell to it.

"Ooooh I don't like that," he said.

"Yeah I don't like G-boi either," I said with a frown.

"Fuck you," he said throwing a playful punch at my shoulder. I winced and nursed my shoulder.

"FUCK YOU!" We all turned to see the skinhead from earlier, all scratched up, walking away from a bunch of guys who were not on his side.

"Wha-hee-heal," Luiz asked with his mouth full.

"That guy groped a woman's behind," I lied with a small laugh.

"Fucking nazis man," Sparky said while shaking his head but he had a small smile, "stitch an 88, maybe go bald-get a dye job and they think their hot shit."

"Yeap. But that's all you," I said putting a hand on his shoulder. He smiled as he nodded before he paused. He slowly turned to look at me, I glanced to Luiz who was holding in a laugh and I guess I was mirroring him.

Luiz and I started laughing when he starting punching my arm. "Ow-ha-ow-ha-ha-ha-ow!"

"Hey, that much black, you had to have seen that coming" Luiz said with a smile as he stabbed his funnel cake. "Seriously, all you need is the shades and you can talk about the matrix."

"Fuck you assholes," he said as he started walking away from us. Luiz and I followed, Luiz quickly eating his funnel cake while I rubbed my tender arm.

"Hey Lui, so-"

"Lwuiz," he corrected with another mouthful.

"Yeah sorry, um, what are we doing?"

"Fal-" he swallowed, "following Sparky. He's the one who wanted us here," he explained, using his plastic fork to point at Sparky.

"I rather just be home," I said in earnest with a frown. I wanted to practice with my power more. Sure it...practically did nothing, but I figured that at the very least I should master what I got. Which is to say that I'm just memorizing how long I need to charge the line for whatever distance the line extends. Boring, especially when the distance is limited by my walls, but it's all I got at the moment.

"I rather have a girl," he shrugged, "you?"

"Uh?" that came out of nowhere. "W-well, I-I-ah," I fumbled a bit, "yeah. I want a girlfriend," I finally admitted.

"Well, this is how you do it," he waved to the people around us. "You go out and chew the fat. Peacock to girls and strut your stuff," he motioned his body.

"Yeah but...you know, what if..." I trailed off. I wasn't really sure what I wanted to lead with.

"Get bored? Hit on a girl dating the buff guy behind you? Get hoodwinked?"

"I mean," I shrugged. "I guess. I mean, I got videogames, movie, internet. I know I can have fun with that. I," I shook my head, what else could I say? "I get bored fast and I, you know, I don't know what to talk about. I don't read celebrity stuff besides the cape stuff. And the food, what if we eat somewhere with like nothing but seafood or salad. Or what if we do something I really hate or listen to one of Canary's bad songs. Or like, we could get mugged by Asians and Nazis or -"

"Look, man," Luiz cut me off, "Brockton Bay sucks, I'll give you that, but if you stick with us you'll be fine." Not that I didn't trust Luiz or Sparky even, but they're Merchants so...

"But I mean-"

"If you're a pussy, you're gonna be fucked," Sparky said, apparently listening to our conversation. He didn't turn to see if we were behind him, he just kept walking forward and talking. "If you only get balls with people you know or, video games," he briefly spun around, mimicking using a controller like its a bad thing, before spinning around, "you'll never get laid. Girls love them balls, so you gotta show 'em off, otherwise, yer fucked. You wanna be a man, you gotta step into the fray, son."

"Well, I, you know. Pff, I yeah, um...but, there is one girl who w-"

"Taylor's suicide, man, best to stay clear of her," Sparky said glancing at my direction while slightly shaking his head. How the fuc- "What? You think we don't see you chasing her with those puppy eyes? Dude, you're 'bout as stealthy as a house dog needin' ta take a shit. Don't get me wrong, she's probably as easy as they come, but it ain't worth it."

"Well I mean..." I shrugged, I mean, yeah. I figured that if there was a girl out there for me, it'd be Taylor. I mean, we're similar... "Well….Also, you know, there's," I hesitated, even I knew it didn't sound that good, "there's this girl I met on PHO…. She's pretty cool an-"

"Kay, I'ma stop you right there," Sparky said cutting me off, not looking at me this time. "If it ain't physical, then you don't talk about it. Side's, it's probably some old guy."

"How would you know?" I threw at him.

"He send any nudes," He calmly asked right before he shook his head. "No, my bad," he quickly said. "Has this "girl" sent any consistent pics your way?" ...Well he got me there.

"No, I mean, I haven't asked," I replied, "yet," I quickly added. "I ah...I mean you kn-"

"Hey man," Luiz said, apparently done eating and with a hand to my shoulder, "my advice, stick to meeting girls in public. I get the appeal of meeting girls online, I honestly do, but it's super sketchy. We're cool, right? All of us, so far?" He motioned the three of us and I just nodded. "Then next time we go cruising or if Sparky convinces Nate to let us play a show or something, we'll hook you up, alright?"

"Um...alright, I guess," I shrugged.

"You know, if you really want some," Sparky began, "Nate probably knows a few girls, some who'd probably give you the pornstar experience. If you have cash, I mean." Hookers, right? That's what he means, right? Not that I really wasn't interested, and (hand on the Bible) I am interested, but you know...

"A-ah thanks, but, I'll-"

"Yeah yeah, you're a pussy for Taylor and love online girls," Sparky dismissed before he clapped his hands, "now c'mon guys lets get a move on," he said as he started rushing past the people on the boardwalk.

"Hey, wait up," Luiz said as we both chased after him.

"Alright boys," Sparky said with a loud clap. He turned around and walked backwards while rubbing his hands together, "you're about to witness why I'm so great; besides the fact that I'm the boss on the drums," he said as he stopped in front of a coffee shop.

Luiz and I shared a glance before we looked back at him.

"Well?" Luiz asked. Sparky smirked and jerked a thumb behind him. He turned to his head and pointed better at a barista inside the shop. The Barista noticed and waved at us. Sparky waved back.

"That's my girl," he said turning back to face us with the world's smuggest grin and slow nod, "she's about to get off work and we're all going to have fun."

"...Oh fuck you," both Luiz and I let out almost at the exact same time. Fucking bastard didn't need us here! He just wanted to show off!

"Greggo, make notes," Sparky said as opened, turned around and pointed two finger guns at me. "Trust me, I'm gonna rub off on you, no homo," with that he entered using his back to push the door the rest of the way, not even bothering to keep it open for us.

"It's Greg," I muttered under my breath with a frown. Luiz put his hand on my shoulder and gave a comforting squeeze.

"C'mon," Luiz nodded to the door, "he's an ass but he's right. You actually can learn something. Like how to cockblock an asshole." That got a chuckle out of me.

"Yeah-yeah, call me clockblocker 2.0," he snorted.

"Well? Ready to step up," he asked as he entered, glancing back at me. I just nodded rapidly. "Then let's get dangerous."

It screamed.

Woozy. Everything was a mess. Thoughts a fog.

Left was crimson, barely a sight. Everything out of focus.

"-Ah-ha-HAA!" laughter. I couldn't tell who-whom-or number, everything was off.

I tried to move but everything was a mess. Course, cold, dusty. Warm, crimson, Iron.

My hand, they took it off my hand. What was it? Sparky. Something from Sparky.

"Th...pire...tgbn...u..or you're cntrbtn." a deep voice said but I couldn't understand it. I feel I should but I couldn't.

I heard hollering and laughter, more than a single or double a voice, I'm sure but I couldn't-the number I couldn't place it.

I turned around, right was blurry but not dyed.

No one around-nothing moving.

Alone.

Something. It vibrated out of my mouth but I couldn't un-stand it. "sdmawom"

My body felt cold. A wave of cold would cut through me briefly. But...my pants felt warm. It spread a bit.

I tightened my fist, the power charged. Help.

Moved my body and pain. My head on ground, ice blowing my face. Hand by my side, my hand open. I cast the line out to the sky.

As soon as I cast the line with one hand, I charge it with the next.

Left.

Right.

Left.

Right.

Left.

Right.

Left.

Left.

Left.

.

.

.

Right?

I stopped. The cold whoosh and distant roar. That's it. That's my company.

No one was coming.

My pants felt heavy and were quickly getting cold.

Before I realized it, I was falling down.

What.

I hit the ground and pain exploded.

Once more I felt something vibrate in me, but I was sure no one heard it.

With weak shaky noodles, I pushed myself up. Pain, left crimson. Left ice.

I pushed myself up.

I couldn't stop the tremble.

No one. Had to move.

I took a step forward and I was pushing myself back up. My headmeat felt numb. My vision wasn't steady. Just for a while, I wanted to close my eyes, too heavy.

When I opened my eyes, I was standing up again, shaky, I wasn't where I was. Like I was being moved.

I continued forward.

Every few steps or so I would try to cast a line out to the sky.

I kept walking down the sidewalk.

The world kept shifting with each step, like a crappy camera that wouldn't stay still.

Every once in a while, I'd be forward like magic. A moment in one location, and then I'd be where I was going. Like magic.

Ah light.

Gree-green=stop.

…

Wait.

Oh Red light! Red=go.

I crossed the street and ended up on the sidewalk looking for-

-On the ground.

I was on the ground again.

How?

I groaned I think as I pushed myself up-when did my back ended up on the wall. I shook my head, wondering how this happened.

Did I move myself there? Bah, everything was dizzy and red, left hurt. I...I just wanted to close my eyes...not for long...just, just, justa…...

"AA….AHHHHH! HAAAAAAA!"

Voices.

Multiple.

Yelling in the distance. My eyes opened, I lightly lifted my head.

"DOUM! DOUM! DOUMMMMMMMMMM!"

"TASUKERO! TASUKERO!" a few shouted along with a few loud pops that rang throughout the streets.

Someone is having party, if anime has taught me anything.

"HEEEEEELP!"

"Help," I copied. "...help," I force myself to my feet and fell forward, pain erupting from my head, my body numb and cold. My vision didn't stay still.

"Ah!" I felt something hit me, followed by a thump and a groan.

I push myself up. I tried. Some guy was on top of me mewing. He was gone when I blinked. I looked down from where I, think, I think I came from. He was running that way. Bathroom maybe.

"Help," I shook my head. I looked up...I dunno. I think it was the road the guy who got on top of me was...what.

...You never helped or stood…

"Stand...stand," I muttered to myself as I pushed myself up.

Orange light. I saw orange light with a roar.

Christmas! If I go there, people! Christmas! Wait. Easter? No Christmas!

People have to be there! Yes! Gotta be. Headmeat foggy, but clear. Er. clearer.

So I walked towards where the light show was happening.

I wasn't quite sure what I was hearing when I waddled my way there.

Shouts. Screams. The rave-disco thing.

Was that Skidmark? Or was that Squealer? Oh I get it now, that's why she's squealer...like a pig.

Then I heard a scream, more girly. I looked up. At the top of the building, there was an orange blur and a black-sandy looking cloud with weird hum and buzzs.

I stood and watched.

One glow and the sound was gone, so was the buzz.

Did I go the wrong way? I wasn't sure but I walked to the building.

Above I saw three large figures flyover head, sailing towards the building with the lights show. Or where the orange glow was. Seriously was it skidmark, I mean it's the Purp-stuff so another color was weird.

I kept walking to it even when I hard grunts and inhuman barks.

Some new dubstep?

Something fell down in front of both me and the building, something heavy that cracked the ground. I could feel the impact from where I stood.

Was that the drop?

"Get On!" some girl shouted from up the building

"Quick! We gotta bounce!" Some guy shouted, it was a weird voice though. There was a whistle and thee figures sailed across the building.

"Fucking brats!" a rough guttural voice shouted, sound almost as if it had a stuffed mouth. It came from where the earth cracked. It stood.

Silvery scales, burning eyes, razor-sharp fingers, insanely tall.

"Lung," I said without much thought. Fear, self-preservation, something like that helped clear my mind a little. The baddest dragon in the bay was right in front of me. The one villain who could go up against an endbringer if you gave him time and the one person who fought off the adult heroes.

He turned to look at me with molten orange eyes.

My pants felt warm and heavy again, liquid dripping down my feet. Legs gave out.

He grunted after looking at me. "Pussy," he let out in a rough, guttural voice. He took a few steps before he did a quick sprint and leapt up to the building with an inhuman jump.

He was a cape.

He was someone with a real power, meanwhile I-

...never helped or stood...

Again, it haunted me.

If you're a pussy, you're gonna be fucked.

Sparky's words echoed. It was Sparky I think. The way Lung pushed on, brush me off, called me…

You wanna be a man... step into the fray…

Echoes that wouldn't let me go. Somehow I found myself standing. Lung still climbing. My right hand clenched, the line charging.

Well? Ready to step up…

I threw my hand back, I looked at Lung.

Then let's get dangerous.

I threw my hand forward, the line shot out and hit right beside Lung's head.

Lung stopped climbing. He turned just enough to be able to glance at me.

Shit.

Quickly I charged the line again, pulled my hand back and tried to aim, Lung was still but he wasn't. Clarity was gone. I pushed my hand out and let out the line again and it went way off. I quickly balled my right hand and tried again.

Lung, still looking at me, let go of the wall and simply fell down, turning his body to face me as he did so. He hit the ground, I could feel it, knees bending slightly but he still stood tall. I let go of the line too early and it went to the halfway point of the building when Lung dropped down.

I tried to focus myself, making sure I was seeing straight-ish as I charged the line. I shot out the line and I felt it before it even left. It was too short. I went straight at Lung but I never made contact. Lung's glowing orange eyes fixed on me.

I trembled, I didn't bother drawing my fist back, I kept my hand in front of me, line already forming in my balled hand. Lung pulled his arm back, almost as he held something. A giant fireball formed above his head, right above the hand. I flinched, I didn't even bother throwing my hand forward, I just opened my hand and let the line loose.

It shot faster than Lung could move his arm, Lung was mid throw when the line hit.

The world slowed.

It didn't have that same glamour the world of slowmo did, but the world did slow down, just for me. Enough for me to see how fucked I was.

This was it, I managed to think through everything. Lung mid throw, giant fireball in hand. I put whatever I had in the line, hit him in the chest and it did nothing.

...A shitty power for a shitty guy...and a shitty end.

Fuck.

[Connection Established]

...what?

From my hand where the line was still tied to, a sharp object seamlessly pushed its way out.

It was a long yet slim crystal like diamond (the ones on playing cards only 3D), about the size of a ruler and as wide as my hands around the middle.

It was weird. It glowed bright pale blue from it's core, just like the line, and it seemed to flow down the line too, almost as if it was a bead sliding down a string, slowly making its way to Lung. The weirdest thing about the diamond, it was sort of folding inside of itself. Was the even possible? It constantly folded and unfolded. It was almost as if it was alive.

[Beginning Negotiations]

When it got close to Lung, it seemed to slow down briefly before it bucked back and then slammed into Lung, right where the line connected to him!

The world was still slow but I could see Lung recoil back as if it was physically hit by the diamond. The fireball in his hand slowly flickering out. A pained shriek filled my ears, almost like a cross between chirping birds and nail on a chalkboard.

[Compromise Reached]

As the pale blue diamond sunk into Lung's recoiling form, another crystal-like object looked like it was pushed out!

It was another sharp shape, only its core was an orange bronze that glowed brightly from within. It kept letting out a whining noise as it folded and unfolded in such a frenzied manner. It was almost as if the thing itself was in shock or pain. The thing came straight at me, it didn't flow down a line but somehow it knew where it had to go. Me.

Without any warning, it smashed right into me!

But I didn't feel anything.

"ARRRG!" I heard in front of me, I looked up to see Lung falling backward on the wall of the building, his fireball completely gone.

Time had returned to normal.

My legs gave out and I was on the ground.

I shook my head...the fog in my mind clearing up. My vision was steadying and my thoughts were clearer. I could think clearly. Dear lord could I think clearly! What the fuck was I thinking? Why did I think hitting Lung with my line was a good idea!?

I glanced up to see Lung holding himself up against the wall while shaking his head.

Crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap-crap!

Everything was clearer and I knew that if I didn't leave right away, I was going to be a couple of dozen grams of Ground Greg very soon!

I tried to stand up, but I ended up tripping on myself and fell forward. I hit the ground hard and I swear I skinned my hand, but, it didn't hurt. I didn't understand. I felt...different.

I felt like energy was slowly edging into to me. My left eye felt fine, better in fact. And I felt something, just beneath my skin forming. It was like an itch of sorts. Something pressing up against the skin, trying to break free.

"What, what did you do," I heard Lung say with loud thumps as he got closer. "WHAT DID YOU DO!"

Before I could react, Lung got a hold of me. He scooped me up with both hands faster than I could blink. He lifted me up. I should be scared, I should be pissing and shitting myself. But I wasn't. I was scared, that was right, but I felt strange. Something was telling me I was going to be fine.

Squeezed tightly.

"AH!" I let out and squeeze my eyes shut. I felt it, it hurt, but again, it was dulled.

"WHAT DICHU DOOOOOOOO!" He roared at me as he squeezed even harder, but the pain was already going away. Instead, I felt heat. It tickled my arms as something broke the skin, it felt thick around my fingers. I couldn't help but embrace it.

"I don't know!" I shouted with my eyes squeezed shut. I could barely breathe, but it didn't bother me. I opened my eyes and see his own, behind the steel mask. There was an orange glow in his eyes. No. Not his. The glow in his eyes...were from me.

The heat comforting me, swirling around my fingers, I called out to it.

"I don't know," I repeated, "but I can guess."

The heat roared in my hands and burst into flames!

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Yeap, commin' up with ideas is easy, connecting them is harder.

I'm fairly sure it's easy to guess what Greg's power does but for those of you wanting more and have been waiting, it's basically Hot Potato, or Old Maid. Take your pick.

WELL, LATER!