just a question

What I thought when I first read this was that B was a guy. Who else thought that plz leave in the reviews And thanks so much for the people of Fanfiction for adding this. In love this book series and I'll start doing actual fanfics on this now.

End file.

just a question by multifics123


pain

It may be sad but it can be better

The yellow sun glistening on my face

And the beautiful clouds above me

Still it hurts me

Burning my skin and bones

Is it pain I do not know I know that it hurts

Hurts more than mom leaving us

Hurts more than grandmas beatings

But does it hurt that much to compare this feeling to the guilt

Does it I may never know it does not hurt more than being hungry

It does not hurt more than drinking the diseases that killed my mom

My problems aren't that big think about this it is pain

It's the good pain

End file.

pain by Isaiah Thomas


Zombie Mayhem

Zombie Mayhem

In 2050, the military was testing out a new experiment on a monkey when the experiment suddenly went wrong. Then monkey escaped and spread viruses that he contained. It turned out that the viruses had started to turn people into zombies. Now here's where my story starts. I was sitting at home watching a movie when my neighbour came knocking on my door, asking if he could come visit. So I said alright and we watched movies and ate take-out. Later on he fell asleep on my couch, so I decided to leave him there and went to my bedroon colapsing against the pellows, falling asleep.

When I woke up in the morning he was standing at the end of my bed with blood dripping down his chin and staining his clothes. I went running out my bedroom door and he chased me though my house and I grabbed a chair to beat him down with it. Then I opened up the front door to run out the house but there were zombies that were trying to get in. So I closed the door and then ran to the back door where my car was parked. Looking out, I saw that there were no zombies so I ran back in the house and grabbed my car keys. Then I ran out the back door and started my car.

The zombies heard my car start and they came running to the back. I put my car in reverse and sped down the alley. Then my car made a loud beeping sound. I didn't know what it meant so I started to slow down. Then I realised that I was really low on fuel. So I found the nearest gas station and filled up with fuel. Some zombies came running up and I hopped in my car as fast as I could I drove away. I saw a big tank rolling down the street and pulled to the side of the rood and they must have realised I was human because they stopped too. The top of the tank opened and the soldier inside said "Follow us where there are no zombies."

So I followed them and they lead me to a big mountain that we drove up on. When we got to the top there was a big metal wall that opened when the soldier yelled some kind of command. When we were driving past the wall I realised that the wall was 2 metres thick. There were lots of people that weren't infected by the virus. They gave me a small house that had all the things we needed. Like a stove and other necessisary needs.

It was late at night when we heard a big siren go off. Then there was a loud explosion and a couple soldiers came knocking on my door and said that the explosion meant that they wiped out all the zombies. The loud siren went off again, this time the siren meant that the big metal gate was opening. All that we saw was a whole bunch of dust and there was no grass or any thing on the ground. so every one who didn't have a car got to leave first, then the people that did have cars went and started them up and left behind the people that were walking to go to their houses. When I got to where my house was standing, there was nothing left but the floor. my whole house was wiped right out. Same with everyone else's. We all started all over again. We all helped each other out in food wise and all the other thing's like clothing. The military also helped out with finding materials like wood to build houses again.

THE END

End file.

Zombie Mayhem by kelbey342


Zero Wing 2: AYBASBTU Game Script

ZERO WING 2
ALL YOUR BASES ARE STILL BELONG TO US (AYBASBTU)

INTRODUCION
ZIG-01 FOUGHT AND OVER WITH CATS.
BUT, IT NOT PEACEFUL.
WHILE BASES OF CATS BEING ALL DESTROYED,
CATS ENEMY, DOGS, ATTACKS
BASE NATOLS-II TAKING ALL BASE
CATS ARE DID NOT TAKE.

:: Natols II standing on space ::
AD 2102
WAR NOT OVER.

CAPTAIN: WHAT GOING ON?
MECHANIC: BOMB BLOWING AROUND SCREEN.
OPERATOR: SOMEONE CALLING.
CAPTAIN: WHAT!
OPERATOR: HE APPEARS ON SCREEN.
DOGS: HOW ARE YOU MY FRIENDS!!
ALL THE BASES ARE NOW BELONG TO ME.
YOU ARE ON THE ROUTE TO HECATOMB.
CAPTAIN: IT IS INCORRECT!
DOGS: YOU CAN NOT GO OTHER WAY YOU DIE.
HA HA HA HA...
OPERATOR: CAPTAIN!
CAPTAIN: TAKE OFF EVERY 'ZAG!'
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID.
MOVE 'ZAG'.
FOR UNDOING UNFAIRNESS.

START STAGE 1
ZAG: I AM TAKING OFF FOR UNDOING UNFAIRNESS.
SEEMS NOT RIGHT. WHO IT BE?!!!
ENEMY: DOGS BEST FRIEND! YOU DIE.
DOGS LIKE IT. HA HA HA HA..

END STAGE 1
ZAG: I BEAT YOU.
WHERE ARE DOGS!
ENEMY: YOU CAN NEVER HAVE KNOW.
I WILL DIE AND YOU DON'T.
DOGS RULES SUPREME. HA HA HA HA...

START STAGE 2
ZAG: WHAT THAT?
ZIG-01: WATCH WRONG ROUTE. METEOR COMING.
BE SAFEFUL. FOR GREAT JUSTICE.
ZAG: LET US UNDO UNFAIRNESS.

END STAGE 2
ZAG: I BEAT YOU. YOU FRIEND TOO.
NOW TELL WHERE DOGS!
ENEMY: I NOT BRETAY MASTER.
FOR ME IT IS NOT CORRECT.
FOR GREAT UNFAIRNESS!

START STAGE 3
ZAG: NEAR DOGS BASE. WHAT HAPPEN?!
CATS: I NEVER DIED.
ALL YOUR LIFE ARE BELONG TO US.
ZAG: I PUNISH YOU!!!

END STAGE 3
ZAG: I BEAT YOU. NOW WHERE DOGS!!!
CATS: DOGS MY ENEMY.
I TEAM UP WITH YOU.
WE BEAT DOGS. AND RULE UNIVERSE.
ZAG: IT IS INCORRECT!
CATS: BEFORE CORRECT, SO.
HA HA HA HA...

START STAGE 4
ZAG: DOGS!! I GETS YOU FOR DESTROYING
BASE NATOLS-II.
DOGS: WALK TO ME. HA HA HA HA...

END STAGE 4
ZAG: DOGS DEFEATED!!
MISSION OVER.

ENDING
SALUTATION!
AD 2112
THE WAR OVER.
CATS AND DOGS ARE DEAD.
ZIG AND ZAG ARE FREE.
BUT, IS INCORRECT.
DOGS HAD WIFE.
FOR GREAT UNDOING UNFAIRNESS
AGAIN!!

THE NOT BEGGINING

End file.

Zero Wing 2: AYBASBTU Game Script by Rodrigo Shin


Not prosaic

Disclaimer, I do not claim to own Zero Wing, and I'm not making any money off this.

An "All your base" fic.

Author's note: I thought the juxaposition of flowery text and disjointed narration would be amusing. So, here goes.

---

The star swept sheet of black, pieced with bright pinpoints of light, distant nuclear furnaces roaring silent into the emptiness around them.

"2101, war was beginning"

Set against this backdrop of the galaxy's majesty, a russet vessel soars, soundless, luminous, proud, a massive edifice proclaiming the triumph of humans reaching beyond the bounds of Earth. Then suddenly, one final attack strikes it from the sky. The starship crumbles, spilling fire into the empty reaches.

We are presented with a scene of the still active innards of the ship. In these dark reaches, strung with cables like great arteries of the ship, is the crew. Valiant, noble, and now frantic in their desperate bid to save their ship, men scramble to salvage whispers of functionality from their stricken vessel.

Amidst the confusion the captain sits momentarily alone, finding a brief eddy of calm, surrounded by chaos and anguish. He is facing the deciding test of his life, his ship struck down like an unfavoured plaything of a fickle god. And he is stunned into disbelief at his defeat.

"What happen?"

His answer is swift, coming from a subordinate, a brave man, not lesser in his sense of duty towards the crew and ship, despite his lesser station. It is the cry of a twin soul, filled with like anguish to the captain's distraught question.

"Someone set up us the bomb."

The chaos gains pause, silence before a lightning strike. Each of the crew hears, and knows it can mean only one thing. Death is breathing down each of their necks.

"Main screen turn-on."

A dark figure leaps into the air, dominating the screen with evil presence. The face of that figure is smooth, handsome, and deadly. A face that is only half human. A face which the captain knows well.

His heart freezes in fear even as his mind sings rage. This face means inevitability, and a deep sense of frustration and sorrow grip the Captain to his core. The resultant mix of emotion makes his stomach roil. He puts all of his fervor into but a few words, a cry filled with emotions running from the deep waters of the Captain's soul.

"It's you!!"

This elicits no more than a smirk. The Captain's life is but a toy to this avenging demon.

"How are you gentlemen?" CATS purrs in a calm cultured voice, arrogant in his victory. His eyes are cold, glittering with malevolent delight at the Captain's desperation. One can almost see how he looks down upon all he surveys, like a malicious child pulling wings off flies.

"You are on the way to destruction."

"You have no chance to survive, make your time."

Evil laughter rings through the ship, mocking its very existence.

The Captain's soul goes cold. His ship and crew will be destroyed, and he himself will die. The belief crystalises in him like ice, freezing him in place. But the faint voice of his courage whispers 'there is more to do yet'. Snarling in defiance, his sudden burst of strength fueling his next words. He is still Captain of this ship, and he will not take defeat meekly!

"Take off every zig." His warriors are the best this side of Sun shadow and they will not go down without pouring napalm into the belly of the enemies' forces.

"For great justice."

A final exclamation of defiance. A final declaration, imploring mercy upon his soul for the life that brought him to here.

With that all is over. The Captain watches the sleek star fighters fall away from the main ship, knowing that he is not long for this world. Sighing and closing his eyes, he relaxes his fierce will, offering his soul up into death. When it comes, it is swift. A final explosion that tears the ship apart in an instant, and the Captain's story falls silent, like the endless black space that embraces his mortal remains.

That embraces the mortal remains of his crew.

And now we focus upon a single ship. It's pilot is shaking with adrenaline and fear. But stronger than fear, stronger than steel, stronger than any force lying in the way, this fighter's courage blazes across the heavens. Power surges through your control pad, placing the life of this one remaining fighter into your hands. And his thoughts blaze stark and clear in your mind, as though you are the god hearing his prayer.

I will not be defeated.

This has just begun.

GUIDE ME TO VICTORY!!

---- Very dramatised isn't it? But it really makes me want to play Zero Wing.

And that is how you should feel when you're starting a game of Zero Wing. That is the feeling that game programmers try to give you with their games. They are telling a story through a specialised media. It's not just about pixels and parameters and trying to beat the system. It's also about playing a character, being the hero, bringing yourself into the action and playing till the end to see the story and defeat that bad guy you really don't like.

Computer games to me are as legitimate a form of artistic expression as drawing or writing is. Indeed, I have seen some beautiful pieces of art and writing in the games I've played. Games are no more for kids than books are. They're for anyone who has the kind of imagination suited to them. Unfortunately they're not taken very seriously most of the time.

End file.

Not prosaic by Fault


Make your time

How are you gentlemen?

All your base are belong to us.
What you say?
For great justice.

Somebody set up us the bomb,
Move out zig.
Main screen turn on.

You are on the path to destruction.
You have no chance to survive.

Make your time.

Make your time.

Make your time.

End file.

Make your time by The Iron Chef


Nightmares

A/N-Just a quick one-shot

Disclaimer: I don't own Zoom and I am not making a profit off of this.

I couldn't believe it, after thirty long years of being trapped in that vortex. Having to claw my way out, I was now reinstated into the Zenith program. I was extremely happy, especially because of how readily everyone accepted me into the group. I was also very happy to finally see my brother, Jackie. He had definitely changed, but then again thirty years does that. After Jackie and I walked over to the others we flew back to base, where I took a shower then went to my room to sleep. And wow, was that shower heavenly. It was bliss against my stiff muscles. So now I was just lying awake in my bed thinking of everything that had happened today. I honestly couldn't see how Jackie, or anyone else for that matter, could accept me so quickly. I mean, I was a murderer, I had killed the other Zenith members, tried to kill Jackie, and nearly killed that little girl; what was her name, oh ya, Cindy.

I wanted to keep thinking about all that had happened but I was exhausted. Clawing your way back to Earth from a vortex did that to you. I was quickly asleep; unfortunately that sleep was anything but peaceful.

_"It's perfectly safe, now sit down!" Grant nearly shouted, frustrated that I wasn't very willing to do what he wanted._

_I wasn't so sure if it was a good idea to be bombarded with radiation. But everyone else had done it so it seemed it was my turn . I walked forward slowly and sat down in the chair while Grant and Larraby started flipping switches to turn it on. Soon it was on and ready to bombard me with radiation._

_"Hold still, this might hurt." Grant warned me._

_"Wait, wha-" I never got to finish what I was saying for at that moment Grant let the machine hit me with its radiation, and I was soon screaming in pain._

_It felt like thousands of white-hot knifes were being stabbed into my skin. Next thing I knew everything was going black, and I was soon unconscious._

_The radiation was changing my morals, I could feel it. Something had gone wrong with the radiation, I was sure it wasn't suppose to do this. I wasn't sure what was right or wrong anymore, everything seemed to be blurring together. So I went to the one person I knew I could count on, Jackie._

_"Jack, I need to talk to you." I informed Jackie deciding not to use my nickname for him._

_"Not now Connor, I'm busy, don't you see." Jackie said angrily and letting out a sigh._

_"But, Jack, this is important." I tried to get my brother to listen._

_"If it doesn't have to do with are crazy supervillian enemies, then I. DON'T. CARE." Jackie said, putting emphasis on the last three words._

_I couldn't help the sadness that was bubbling up in me, my own brother wasn't even willing to listen to what I had to say. So with my head bowed slightly I left him alone. He never saw the tear run down my face._

_My own brother. My own brother had sent me to this nothingness. This vortex. HE hadn't helped me when he had the chance. Yes I killed the rest of the team but I had no control, this stupid radiation did. I would never want to hurt my brother. But he obviously didn't have the same feelings, instead of helping me he sent to this vortex where I was trapped. No one was here, I was completely alone. My brother had betrayed me, and he would pay. I soon as I got out of this vortex I would make sure he payed for this. I then began to claw my way out of this vortex._

_I was back. I was back. And my brother was here to. I couldn't believe, after thirty years of wishing him dead I would finally get my revenge. The pathetic thing was he had no powers and only children to try and fight me. Now this would be easy._

These images played over and over in my mind till I was ejected from them, screaming. Next thing I new I was getting pulled against my brother's chest.

"Shh. It's alright Connor. You're safe now, everything will be alright." Jackie whispered soothingly to me.

"J-Jackie." I whimper brokingly.

"Ya Connor, it's me, it's okay." he whispers to me.

After a couple minutes I managed to calm down for the most part and Jackie pulled away till we were arms length apart.

"Nightmares?" Jackie asks me. All I can do is nod back as a response, not trusting my voice.

"What were they about?" Jackie asks me, like he doesn't know.

I have to suppress my snort, he knows what they were about and was just trying to get me to talk, well he wins I guess. "They were about everything that happened the past thirty years." I whisper so low Jackie has to strain to hear me.

"Ah, Connor, you're safe now, none of that stuff matters anymore." Jackie comforts me.

"Really?" I ask, unsure whether or not to believe him.

"Ya, this is a new family and I know you wouldn't have done all those things if it wasn't for the Gamma 13." Jackie explains to me.

I still wish none of that stuff had happened." I say looking down at the ground.

Gamma 13 had ruined my life. I had killed the other team members and had nearly killed my little brother. Then got sent to some vortex, alone, for thirty years. Gamma 3 had ruined everything. I didn't even know who my brother was anymore.

Jackie sighs "I know, and maybe it never would have if I had listened to you, you tried to tell me what was going on and I didn't listen, for that I'm sorry." He apologizes.

I look up smirking a little "You know you aren't very good at being sentimental." I tease him.

"Oh shut up." he says, but he is smiling, and so am I. "You should probably go back to bed, long day tomorrow."

I nod and watch as my brother takes his leave, who knows maybe things will get better. I fall back asleep and have no more nightmares for the rest of the night

R&R

End file.

Nightmares by HuntressBiancadiAngelo


1. Chapter 1

The name that haunted Grant since Concussion going insane ten years ago. Squirt, the younger sister of the two brothers. No one knew what happened to her, her body wasn't found, but she didn't show her face after Concussion attacked her. She was six, and never left her brother's side. The thing that worried Grant the most was the fact that she had been pumped up with Gamma Rays. Now that he was coming back, they wondered about her. What was going on in her life?

* * *

A red headed girl rushed down the stairs at her house. She nearly crashed into her brother who was two years older than her. Jack Shepard had taken care of her since their parent's death when she was an infant. She only knew him as a parent. She had been raised by the Zenith team, but she hadn't seen anyone from there for ten years now. Jack smiled, "Whoa there Lyl, you wouldn't want to knock over your big brother on your first day of Sophomore year, now would you?" She smiled and hugged him, "No, but I would give him a bear hug." They hugged and Jack went to his garage downtown. She knew he'd eat there, and so she ate breakfast and went to school.

She walked home from school with one of her friends who was very funny. Then Lyl noticed the time, "Oh my gosh, I can't believe it, I gotta get home. It's almost time to start dinner! Bye Kate!" She ran at a normal pace, knowing that she could run MUCH faster. Over the years she had fine tuned her skills, so she was powerful. She raced into her house, and noticed the silence. Usually by now Jack was home watching a movie or something. Lyl ran out and rushed to her brother's garage. She could tell something was wrong. She rushed into the open garage, and noticed that her brother's warm breakfast was sitting on the counter. She closed up the garage and ran home at full speed. She knew who was behind it, and hid in her house.

	2. Chapter 2

A/N: It's not because I'm lazy, but I just don't want the team to know her when this happens.

* * *

**Reunion of Shock**

-Lyl opened her eyes. Her sixth sense told her that she was needed soon. She stood up and grabbed her skateboard. Taking a running start, she hopped on and shot off as fast as she could. She felt the wind blowing through her hair for the first time in ten years. With her advanced sight, she saw the battleground ahead. She came to a stop next to Larabie* just as he was saying, "Ready, aim..." She snatched his arm and spoke calmly, "If you say that word, you will never be seen by the naked eye again. Especially since my brothers are down there. Are we clear Larabie?" She realized that she had broken the sound barrier. She close her hand and crushed his arm squishing blood out by accident. Grant stuttered, "It can't be, you're alive after all this time?" She glared at him, "You're lucky that Jack doesn't want any of you dead, or what happened to idiot's arm over here would be your head." She shot down next to her brother, "I was worried when you weren't home when it was dinner time. Never do that to me again Jack, are we clear?" He nodded, and Lyl leaned over to talk to Cindy, "So you must be the one with super strength, I bet you surprised my brother!"

**Months Later...**

-The Zenith team now comprised of Bullet (Lyl), Zoom, Concussion, Houdini (Dillan), Wonder Girl (Summer), Princess (Cindy), Gigantor (the name Lyl gave Tucker). The others had accepted Lyl with no problems, and she was very funny to be around. She left some years later, and went to England. She said it was because of Grant, and after all these years, the Gamma Rays were wearing off, and she would be the weakest instead of the strongest. She was never seen again.**
**

End file.

Squirt by YinYangProphecy


Three Long Lonely Days

Summer sighed as she pulled up infront of her high school. It her junior year and her parents had asked her to go back for her last 2 years of school. This had sort of broke up the team for the time being. They were planning to resume working at Area 52 at the end of the 2 years.

As Summer parked she spotted Mary Jenkins, captain of the cheer squad, surrounded by her friends. They were all dressed in their cheerleading uniforms. Summer got out of her car and could hear them going on about some cute new boy. She rolled her eyes, boys were all they thought about. Not that she was really able to speak. She often had her mind on a long haired boy lately, as well.

Summer and Dylan had been dating since the dance back at Area 52. It was hard to leave each other, but they were going to keep in touch and hold their relationship during the team's break.

Summer slammed her locker and was arriving in homeroom before long. She took her old seat, back corner, and stared out the window ignoring the quickly filling class.

"Thought I heard someone say you were back, freak!" Mary laughed as she walked by Summer's desk and took the seat infront of her.

Mary turned around to look at Summer so she could continue antagonising her.

"So, the freak academy kicked you out as well?"

"Shut up"

"Awe, someone touchy about where your parents shipped you off to?"

"I said shut up!" Summer whispered deadly.

Mary glared, rolled her eyes, then turned around to find the teacher just arriving.

------------S&D---------------

Summer dropped her lunch tray onto the empty table and sat down, trying to swallow the disgusting food. She looked up as a group of girls rushed to the cafeteria door.

_Poor guy,_ Summer thought. Girls seemed to be following this mysterious guy, whom Summer had still yet to see.

"Where'd he go?" a high pitch voice wailed.

The sound of a chair scrapping the floor caught Summer's attention. She turned her head to find the chair next to her moving on it's own. Her brows furrowed in confusion, and she continued staring at the moving chair.

Suddenly a silouhette appear and quickly details were appearing as well.

"Dylan?" Summer exclaimed, the statement coming out as more of a question.

"The one and only"

Summer hugged him tightly as he laughed.

"But, what are you doing here?"

"Just transferred here. Thought it would be pretty hard staying away from you, so why bother," Dylan answered her.

"Im so happy your here!"

Dylan smiled down at her and kissed her lips.

"Mm, I've missed you," Summer murmered as she pulled away.

"It's been 3 days," Dylan laughed, though he secretly felt the same way.

"3 very long, lonely days,"Summer sighed dramatically. "There not going to be so lonely any more though..."

**That was incredibly random, and so out of my normal fandom subjects, but I just got home from babysitting my little cousin, and we watched ZOOM. I just sorta have a new love for Summer/Dylan. **

**Please, please, please review!!!**

End file.

Three Long Lonely Days by BadassPinkSunglasses


All That Remains

**Title**: All That Remains

**Disclaimer**: Not my characters. Just for fun.

**Warnings**: spoilers for movie; AU

**Rating**: PG13

**Wordcount**: 200

**Point** **of** **view**: second

* * *

Jack never was the brains of the team. The heart, perhaps, but not the brains.

He's gotten old, weak. Bitter and weary. You're as strong as you've ever been and you've had thirty years to think about what you'd do when you met him again.

It swirls in you, the power. Jack tries to reach his brother, but that boy died long ago. The power sings in you and your mouth tastes metallic, and Jack keeps talking to Connor.

You smirk with Connor's lips and speak back.

You long to tell him there is no Connor, that you are all that is left. But Jack wouldn't believe you. He was never smart enough to recognize the truth. He will fight for a man that no longer lives until he himself is burned out.

Jack was never the brains of the team, and he still isn't. You unleash Connor's power with a smile; Jack and the children and the woman he brought with him will all die, now.

And you will be all that is left.

End file.

All That Remains by wild wolf free17


Masks

**Title: My Mask**

**Rating: T**

**Summary: Connor and this thoughts about how he will never fit in with the rest of the group. *One-shot***

**Disclaimer: I do not own anyone or anything from Zoom!**

**AN: This is my first ever Zoom story and I hope that it comes out alright. Basically it is a short one-shot about Connor. I always liked Connors character and it left me wondering how he really felt when he got back. Nobody could ever be that happy after everything he went through. This is my try and writing Connor. I hope I do him justice.**

Have you ever put on a front for those around you? Have you ever had to pretend to be something you're not? I've had to do that every single day since my return from the dimensional time rift I had been trapped in for some thirty years. I have to act like I am the same teenaged boy of my past. To act as though I hadn't murdered my team. To pretend I wasn't feeling completely lost. Sometimes I am not even sure who I am anymore.

Zoom seems to think that things can go back to the way they are. He has his brother back and to him that is which has come to matter the most. While he missed the old team, he had his new family and an unusually perky new girlfriend. For him things were falling in to place. I only wish it could be that easy for me. To fit in and be accepted by this new team was something I desired more than anything else.

It is not as if anyone is ever outright cruel to me. The opposite in fact is how they treat me. They have all treated me with the upmost kindness even if I do not deserve it. They see me as Zooms brother Connor. The boy who had a bad experience, but is trying to learn from it. I am known as the quite one. The one who reads a lot and is always training long after everyone else has gone to bed. Nobody seems to see for who I really am. To be far it is not like I want them to know the real me. The last time I got close to people they ended up dead.

I had murdered my team without a second thought. You can blame the Gamma radiation and yet I know deep down that I was still in control. I could've stopped if I had wanted to do so. The only problem is I had not wanted to stop and think about my actions. I liked the freedom the Gamma radiation seemed to give me. The power which had coursed through my veins sent a thrill down my spine. I'd believed myself to be unstoppable at the time.

After thirty years I had come to see the truth. The power I felt was all in my mind. I had been on a power trip nothing more and nothing less. It had cost me everything and left me wondering where should I go from here? As I entered the cafeteria I had a fleeting thought that maybe I would've been better off had I never come back. Because to be brutally honest, wearing a most grew awfully tiresome.

THE END!

**AN: I plan to write more Zoom stories in the future. This was just me testing the waters.**

**Please R&R like always!**

End file.

Masks by Stephycats7785


Connor Knew

**Disclaimer: Don't own Zoom.**

Dylan West/Connor Shepard Slash

Written for my Slash Jealousy Prompt Table. Prompt of the day # 5. Locked Out.

* * *

It'd started out as curiosity for the brother of the man who'd become like a father to the team.

Even after the effects of the Gamma-13 had been reversed, even after he had joined as a part of the New Zenith Team, Connor had kept to himself. He'd been polite and helpful, but he didn't open up, didn't try to really make friends with anyone, shadows in his eyes and guilt and insecurity in himself--in his control of himself--visible to any who took a deeper look.

Dylan had been drawn to that.

Connor was everything Jack said he'd never been.

He was silent when he used to be outspoken, he was introverted where Jack said he'd been the friendliest of the team, and he was always second-guessing himself and his decisions.

He also woke up at night screaming, panting, sweat dripping down his body and making the material stick to his body like a second skin.

Dylan knew, because he was usually there in the room (so to speak) when it happened.

He didn't exactly know _when_ he'd started toeing the line between innocent curiosity and borderline stalker behavior, but he knew the transition had been gradual.

At first he'd just hung around in the background, watching Connor since the older male just kept everyone locked out of his world, and then Dylan had started using his Mind-Sight ability, the one that Jack stated made him captain material. It was interesting, because while Summer was the first thing he'd really seen using this ability, _Connor_ was the one his mind wandered to when he spaced out. At first it wasn't even a subconscious act. Dylan would just space out and his mind-sight would instinctively find Connor, showing Dylan an insider's view into the boy's life, and snippets of Connor that he never showed anyone else.

Like when he'd genuinely smiled for the first time since his return and reintegration into the team.

Oddly enough, it'd been while Connor was single-handedly washing the UFO. It was a large job for just one person, and anyone would have helped if he'd asked, and they _had_, Dylan had asked _twice_, but Connor had politely declined all of their offers, preferring to do this as he did everything else.

Alone.

Dylan had watched with his Mind-Sight as Connor put his whole being into that job, concentrating, going over the whole UFO over and over again with a determination that the younger male had never really witnessed before.

God knew _Dylan_ never put that much effort into anything.

And then, when Connor had finished the job, he'd stepped back, admired his work, and _smiled_.

And the sight had blown Dylan away.

After that, Dylan had started using his Mind-Sight consciously in an effort to get even more glimpses of the Connor no one else was allowed to see, and in a way it made him feel a little less shut off than the others.

He didn't quite understand why that mattered so much to him, actually.

"Good _job_ guys!" Jack opened the door to the training room, Marsha smiling and encouraging by his side, as the young heroes emerged, once more victorious from the virtual reality fight simulator.

"You keep getting better and better all the time!" Marsha clapped her hands.

"Good job with knowing where the villains were going to be before they were there." Jack's hand came down on Dylan's shoulder. "Your Mind-Sight's getting stronger than _Marksman's _was, right, Con?"

Connor flinched, as he did every time the old Zenith Team was mentioned. "Yeah."

Dylan was sorely tempted to step on Jack's big fat toe.

He didn't _want_ Connor to associate him with the agonizing guilt he felt for his part in the brutal death of his old team.

"And Summer, Connor." Maria brought their attention. "What you did out there? That was _magnificent_! Summer's using her powers to help influence the direction and strength of Connor's concussive blasts? You two _must_ practice doing that again!"

Summer beamed. "Sure."

Connor just nodded, gaze on the floor.

Dylan noticed Jack giving him a worried look before giving Marsha a warning one.

He had to feel thankful for that.

Even though things with Summer and Dylan hadn't worked out, and they'd parted as friends, Jack was still trying to watch Dylan's back and tune down Marsha's obvious desire to line Summer up with Connor.

It wasn't that Dylan was jealous of Connor, or that Dylan was still in love with his pretty ex, but somehow the thought of Connor with Summer just didn't sit well with him.

"We should take some time out each day to practice together." Summer turned to Connor.

He nodded. "Anything for the team."

Her smile, like Marsha's, fell a little at the lack of enthusiasm in those four words.

Connor turned to Dylan, surprising him by actually looking him in his eyes. "Thanks, for the save out there. I wasn't paying attention."

For a moment Dylan couldn't only stare blankly at Connor, eyes wide.

Connor had spoken to him...Connor had taken the _initiative_ and _said_ something to _him_ without Dylan having to hound him with a millions questions or something!

Then he realized he must look like an idiot, just _staring_ at Connor. So he cleared his throat and grinned at the older boy. "Uh, no problem bro. That's what we're there for, to look after each other. You would have had my back too."

Connor nodded before walking away.

Dylan watched him go.

He didn't notice Summer looking between him and Connor speculatively before her eyes widened, and then a grin appeared on her face.

* * *

_Connor sat on the roof of area 52, wearing a rather comical hardhat with the light in the front turned on, shining on the pages of the book in front of him. It was a large, hardcover book with more pages than should be allowed in a book. He only read at night, up on the roof, with the moon and that silly hardhat as his light. He'd bring a blanket, a pillow, and a drink, and he'd stay up there for hours reading. Interestingly enough, Connor read Anne Rice. And right now he was re-reading Interview With A Vampire. He apparently liked that book a lot. Dylan had seen him rereading it often enough, and it piqued his curiosity just for the fact that it could maintain Connor's interest so fixedly._

_ Connor chuckled, putting the book down on his chest and looking up at the sky. "Now, I'm getting into the coffin, and you will get in on top of me if you know what's good for you."_

In his room, Dylan blinked.

That...uh...that sounded kinda...suggestive.

What kinda book _was_ Interview With A Vampire?

_Putting the book away and taking off the hardhat, turning off the light, Connor bent one arm behind his head like a pillow, the other rested on his hard, taunt stomach as he looked up thoughtfully at the stars._

_ Sometimes Connor would do this._

_ He'd lay down and watch the stars._

And Dylan watched _Connor_.

_But tonight, tonight it was different._

_ Tonight Connor licked his lips as the hand on his stomach slowly moved downwards until he was cupping himself over his sweatpants._

Dylan's breath caught in his throat, the Mind-Sight wavering with his shock.

He--he'd never seen...

Connor was a guy.

It was...it was obvious that he would _do_ this sort of thing, hell, Dylan did it _all_ the time.

But Dylan had been watching him so much, so often, he'd begun to wonder if Connor abstained.

Obviously, though, as he focused his Mind-Sight harder, watching Connor...obviously...

Dylan gulped.

_Hand now under the waistband of his pants, Connor bit down on his lip as he moved his fingers over himself, eyes closed, hips moving to the motion. He waited, seemed to hesitate, and then pulled himself free, hot and hard and weeping in his own calloused hand._

"Oh god." Dylan groaned before even realizing he was groping himself over his own pants to the sight.

_Connor twitched, his whole body tense, his face agonized and yet concentrated, his teeth digging so deep into his bottom lip that Dylan was sure he would soon draw blood_.

Dylan's breathing was heavy and fast as he touched himself to the image of Connor on the roof...to Connor.

It wasn't until, long after he'd cum with a cry of _Oh my GOD_ as he watched Connor climaxing, that Dylan realized that he'd just crossed a _very_ important line.

But no matter that knowledge, he didn't feel as bad as he knew he should...he was too busy trying to remember what it was that Connor had whispered when he'd cum.

It'd been too soft and choked for Dylan to understand.

And it bothered him for reasons as conflicted and confusing as his reactions to Connor.

After that, Dylan kept discovering Connor in similar...situations...

And while Dylan knew it was wrong...he never looked away.

* * *

Dylan had apparently become the biggest klutz in the fight simulator.

And Connor always paid the price.

Why?

Because Dylan kept on, somehow, falling on top of him...or tripping and somehow Connor would fall on top of _him._

A couple of times he could have _sworn_ that Summer was using her powers on him to make sure that happened, but it made no sense.

Why would Summer want him and Connor to keep falling onto each other...and in the most embarrassing of positions?

He was so distracted he was doing a terrible job, making everyone have to pick up the pace to keep up with the simulator.

It was a good thing the new kid, a guy his age named Toby, was picking up the slack. Toby could teleport, a skill Dylan thought was awesome, and the boy was very friendly, very nice.

Dylan liked him.

Until he used his Mind-Sight and saw Toby in Connor's room.

Dylan had frozen in his room when he realized that for the first time, Connor had let someone into _his_.

Something burned dark and hot in Dylan's stomach.

Connor had never, _ever_ invited anyone, not even _Dylan_ into his room, always keeping them locked out; but he invited _Toby_?

Why _Toby?_

He wasn't even all that great!

And what sort of power was teleportation _anyway_?

Obviously only a _coward_ would need that power!

"----_not like it was in your days you know. It's accepted now. I mean, in some states they even have legal ga----."_

_Connor paused, frowning in concentration, before turning to Toby. "Stop."_

_ "What?" Toby frowned. "Look, I know in your days people were prudish about this, but we aren't anymore and __**I**__ accept you, and I know Summer does too. We've talked about it, and---."_

_ "No." Connor shook his head. "I mean __**stop**__."_

_ Toby frowned and then his eyes widened. "Oh. __**Oh**__. Okay. I get it." He grinned brightly. "This is so kinky."_

_ "Shut up." Connor growled, going the to window._

_ "Seriously dude. This takes naughtiness to a whole new level. I'm so impressed you can't even imagine."_

_ Connor turned and glared at Toby. "I only told you when you confronted me so that you'd shut up when I needed you to."_

Dylan frowned.

Connor was _confessing_ things to Toby?

The dude had only been here two weeks!

How _long_ had Dylan been trying to worm his way into Connor's trust, and _this 'dude'_ had just come and there were confessors galore?

_"I can't wait till I tell Summer!" Toby was chuckling. "She's going to __**love**__ this."_

_ "You're not going to tell Summer." Connor glared at the shorter male. _

_ "Don't be __**shy**__ hermano." Toby declared. "Summer won't be weird about this. Hell, she confesses that she's __**dreamt**__ of this."_

_ Connor's eyes widened. "She...dreamt...?"_

_ "From what she said...it sounded __**steamy**__." Toby waggled his eyebrows suggestively._

_ Connor blushed and looked away, running a hand over his hair._

Dylan frowned darker.

Was Connor in love with _Summer_?

But---but he always acted like he really didn't notice her!

Or was he acting that way because he liked her?

_"She wants you to make your move." Toby confessed. "She says when you do, it won't be rejected. And, dude, knowing what you know, __**you know**__ you won't get rejected."_

_ Connor seemed to think this over as he sat down. "I---I don't know if it's wise that I---I've done so many terrible things in the past...unforgivable things."_

_ "In the past. Plus, you were being controlled by the Gamma-13. Stop using it as an excuse to keep hiding here away from life and __**that person**_."

_Connor opened his mouth and then closed it, running a hand over his face. "Jackie wants Dylan and Summer to get back together."_

_ "Screw 'Jackie'." Toby shrugged. "Aint his decision."_

_ "I'm technically an old guy in a young guys body. It could be...wrong." Connor argued._

_ "You aren't an old guy in a young guy's body." Toby snorted. "You were in an 'ageless time-warp' or some crap like that...which meant you didn't age, at __**all. **__You're no pedophile."_

_ Connor looked up, pensively._

Dylan couldn't stand it anymore, cutting off the connection.

Toby was convincing Connor to confess to Summer.

Dylan had _known_ that kid was nothing but bad news from the moment he'd arrived!

If he was in a pissy mood for the rest of the day, Dylan never noticed.

* * *

Cindy and Tucker played Ludo with Toby and Summer.

Jack was out on a date with Marsha.

Dr. Grant was...doing whatever it was that Dr. Grant did when he wasn't around them.

Dylan...Dylan was in Connor's room.

Ever since catching Toby in there a couple of days before the Mind-Sight hadn't been enough, that locked-out feeling had returned, setting Dylan nearly _crazy_. He'd stopped using his Mind-Sight despite his insatiable desire to watch Connor...and it was torture not to do so.

So he'd used his primary power, and had slipped into the room before Connor, getting a good look at the place, touching things for the first time, able to _smell_ Connor in every material.

It was a head-rush.

His pants tightened.

It was then he finally admitted that he might be a _little_ touched in the head.

And maybe even a little bit creepy.

The door opened and closed, and Connor went to his bed, throwing himself onto it with a groan.

Dylan stilled, forgetting for a second that he was invisible and Connor couldn't see him.

"Stupid idiot." Connor snarled, seeming completely frustrated. "Never been this long without...." He closed his eyes tightly. "What happened? Did the idiot finally discover the meaning of _privacy_?"

Dylan wasn't exactly sure what Connor was talking about, but he sounded very annoyed.

He took a step towards the bed and accidentally stepped on a magazine on the ground.

Connor stiffened at the sound and sat up, eyes opening and training in Dylan's direction immediately.

Dylan closed his eyes tightly, firmly telling himself to stay invisible no matter _what_.

There was silence.

Then a groan.

Dylan's eyes opened at the sound, and _he_ was the one biting his lip to keep from uttering a sound when he saw Connor lying back on the bed, hand in his pants.

His own hand went to the prominent bulge in his pants.

Dylan gulped, stepping off of the magazine slowly.

It made a little noise, but he doubted Connor heard.

The younger boy went to the bed and slowly went to his knees, holding himself, touching himself as he was able to watch Connor so much closer, able to _smell_ the musky scent of his skin, the salt of the sweat, hear his moans...

It was...

Dylan closed his eyes and bit down hard on his bottom lip, drawing blood as he came.

He might have made a strangled sound, but it was drowned out by Connor's louder cry of release.

When Connor went to sleep later on, Dylan escaped the room, never even realizing he'd bled a little on the carpet next to Connor's bed...or that Connor wasn't sleeping.

* * *

They were studying battle strategies.

Cindy was playing with dollies, actually, but the others were paying attention to Jack and Connor as they tried to explain to them how the enemy worked.

Dylan kept sending Connor hungry looks.

Ever since that day...Dylan had stopped using Mind-Sight...and he'd learnt that Connor had, for some reason, stopped locking his door at night, which made it easier for the shameless teenager to sneak in and...well...

Dylan bit down on his abused bottom lip, just thinking about last night, when he'd gotten brave enough to _touch_ Connor's hair after the older boy had fallen asleep.

"What if they have someone like Dylan who has Mind-Sight?" Tucker wanted to know.

"Oh, that's no problem." Jack grinned.

Connor suddenly went tense.

"Connor here?" Jack threw a proud arm over his brother's shoulders. "He can sense when someone's using Mind-Sight."

Dylan froze, horror causing his eyes to go wide.

"_Cool_." Tucker announced, impressed, _totally_ not getting the undercurrent of tension now in the room.

Summer and Toby exchanged looks.

Cindy continued to play with her dollies.

"Is that true?" Dylan finally found his voice.

Connor took in a deep breath before looking at Dylan and nodding. "Yeah."

In a quick, liquid movement Dylan was on his feet and grabbed Connor's arm, tearing him from Jack's grasp and storming out of the room. He didn't know where he was taking them, didn't think, didn't...Connor _knew_.

Every single time...Connor _knew!_

Now...now certain things made so much _sense_!

He felt like such an _idiot_!

It was only when he realized that they were outside Connor's room that Dylan snapped, throwing Connor up against the wall. "You _bastard_."

"Considering that _you_ were the one constantly invading _my_ privacy, I find that statement _ridiculous_." Connor snapped back before taking in a deep breath and obviously trying to calm down. "Look. You're embarrassed. You were curious about something and got caught up. I---I didn't read anything into it."

Dylan blinked, trying to get what Connor was saying. "You think I'm scared that you found out and that I don't want you thinking I like _guys_?"

"Isn't that what this is all about?" Connor was on the defensive, eyes narrowed.

"No! Because I don't like _guys_." Dylan trapped Connor against the wall, palms on the wall on either side of the other boy's head. "I like _you_. You _bastard_!"

Connor paused, blinking, looking unconvinced. "You don't like me."

"What the--? The _hell_ I don't like you!" Dylan didn't care _who_ might overhear. "I've been practically _stalking_ you for months!"

"Exactly! Months! And you never did anything but _look_!" Connor snapped. "No matter what I did you just _looked_!"

Dylan went still, eyes wide, the shocked expression on his face melting into a small, lecherous smile. "You were waiting for me to _do_ something other than look?"

Connor's eyes widened, color entering his cheeks.

"You...you did it on _purpose_." Dylan realized. "At first nothing and then almost _every time_ I looked you were....you were...you were _seducing_ me."

"So what if I was?" Connor growled, obviously embarrassed. "Now _leave_."

Dylan didn't.

He was grinning like a madman, a smug madman.

He surged forwards and captured the struggling boy's lips, kissing him like he'd been dying to do for so long now. He was rough, because although they really hadn't ever had a decent conversation, he'd watched Connor, watched Connor do _everything_, and he knew how the older boy liked it. A little rough, a hint of violence---maybe some lingering taint of the Gamma-13 was to blame for that---and firmness, but a hint of teasing as well.

He cupped Connor through his pants.

He was hard and whimpered in the kiss.

Dylan smirked and pulled away, not removing his hand, looking challengingly into those beautiful, lust-filled eyes. "What do you have to say about _that_, Oh Ye Mighty Concussion?" Connor stood silent for a moment, before an evil and utterly sexy smile lit his face. "I'm going to my room now and I'm getting into bed, and you will get in on top of me if you know what's good for you."

Grinning idiotically, getting the reference, Dylan let Connor drag him into the room. Then, before continuing to the bed, Dylan stopped at the door and turned the key, locking out the rest of the world.

* * *

**Review?**

End file.

Connor Knew by shadowglove


Summer's Upsetting Day

**A/N: Okay so I was watching ZOOM this morning (6-12-12) and I felt like writing a cute Dylan/Summer fluff romance one shot. I will still update my other stories but this is spur of the moment, possible writers block breaker. Anyway here you go, it takes place at the end with the cheerleading practice and what happens after they get called again. And since the other cheerleaders names were never mentioned I'm making up the names.**

Summer Jones also known as Wonder just finished up with the Zenith program at Area 52 and got herself a

boyfriend Dylan West also known as Houdini. "Hey Freak" the cheer captain Lavinia Abbot. "What do you want

Lavinia" Summer said getting her uniform on. "What happened at the freak house" Lavinia sneered. "Oh let's

see. I learned I'm telekinetic and have empathic senses. Also I got a boyfriend." Summer counted off. "Yeah

right"she snorted. The practice started and they built a pyramid. Summer was on the bottom holding up the

other girls easily with help from her powers. All of a sudden a rose with a note started floating towards them.

All the others looked in shock, except for Summer, as with a sudden rippling a guy appeared. He had long

shoulder length dark hair. Dylan gave the rose to Summer who ,keeping the others up with her power, pulled

him in and kissed him. _How did a freak like her get a cute guy like him _Lavinia thought as their beepers went off.

With a suddeness the pyramid fell as the two ran off.

* * *

It was that weekend when Summer and Dylan had a little date out at the park. It was going all well until a

certain person showed up. "Dylan why'd you choose to date a freak like her when you could have me" Lavinia

said flipping her hair seductively. "Summer's not a freak" Dylan said defensively. "Yeah she is. She can control

things and move them. Tell me that's not freaky." Lavinia said snottily. "It's not. I can turn invisible. I know an

older guy about 55 who can run faster then any human, his older brother who is now younger due to a freak

accident can shoot sonic booms, a twelve year-old can enlarge any part of his body, and a six year old who

has super strength , plus a woman who has the power of super breath that can knock down grown men.

We're not freaks we're super heroes." Dylan said proudly. "What ever" Lavinia sneered storming off. "FREAKS"

she shouted before she left. "Dylan Lavinia's right. Why do you want a freak like me instead of a pretty normal

girl like her" Summer said. "Because you are pretty and normal is so over rated." Dylan replied pulling her into

him. "Thanks" She said leaning up to kiss him.

**A/N: There is my story. Hope you like it. Please review.**

End file.

Summer's Upsetting Day by SwifteForeverAndAlways


Someday

The halls were pitch black, the only source of light from the soft light of his small flashlight. He wandered through the never ending grey corridors, chasing the sleep that evaded him. Connor let out a sigh, there was no hope. He had to face it, his past wouldn't let him sleep, and never would.

He continued until he reached the electric panel that opened up into a secret corridor he and Jackie had discovered a week after their arrival at Area 52. He pushed through and wandered over to a wall, sliding his light over the familiar names of his team mates.

"Please Connor!"

"Stop this!"

"No!"

Their bodies lying in a pile of broken limbs before him, his eyes neon red and his lips lifted into a sick smile. Jackie started running in a circle around him, then closed it off. He fell through dimension after dimension until he landed in a barren land. No life, nothing. He screamed in anger, then sent shockwave after shockwave in front of him. A crack formed in the air, and a grin formed on his lips. He could break through and take revenge. He could kill Jackie.

"No!" Connor screamed, collapsing to the ground.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he sobbed, tears running like a waterfall down his face.

He pulled his knees up to his chest and started rocking back and forth on the floor, sobs and cries filling the quiet room.

"Connor?"

He automatically quieted and crawled under some large metal columns that hid him from anyone's view.

"Connor?" Jackie's voice softly entered Connor's ears.

"Go away," Connor said shakily.

"No, I won't leave you alone when you need me most," Jackie argued.

"Just leave me alone!" Connor screamed, hot tears sliding down his face.

"No!" Jackie said stubbornly.

"Please," Connor sobbed.

All of a sudden a pair of legs came into Connor's view, and kneeled down until Jack could see Connor clearly.

"Come here," Jack smiled sadly, holding his arms out.

Connor shook his head wildly.

"C'mon Connor, you need to stop beating yourself up for it. You're not to blame for all that, General Laraby and Dr Grant are the ones who gave you the Gamma 13, so if it is anyones fault it's theirs, but it's also mine. I should have listened to you when you tried to tell me," Jack frowned.

"But I killed them!" Connor screamed.

Jack reached into the small little cave of metal and wrapped his arms around Connor's smaller frame, tuggin him out of his small hole.

Connor struggled against his brothers arms, pushing and kicking out, but making sure to never hurt Jackie. Eventually, he gave up and lay limp and Jack dragged him out of the small hole and onto his lap. He cradled Connor in his arms, running his hand through his hair and whispering comforting words into his ear.

Connor whimpered and pressed his face into Jackie's neck, tears pouring down his cheeks as his body shook in Jackie's arms.

"You'll be okay Connor, I promise," Jack whispered.

"I'm sorry," Connor moaned, sobs tearing out of his throat.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, it wasn't your fault," Jackie said firmly.

Connor just kept crying, curled up in his brothers arms.

Ten minutes later, his sobs subsided and his body no longer shook.

"Are you okay now?" Jack pulled Connor's face from his neck and held his face in his hands, looking him in the eyes.

"No," Connor mumbled, looking down.

"You will be though, you're my brother and I'm going to do whatever it takes to help you feel better," Jackie murmured.

Connor gave his younger brother a watery smile.

"Don't worry Connor, you'll be okay again."

Connor snuggled his face into his brothers neck, a smile for the first time since he was reunited with Jackie and met the new Zenith Team.

He would be okay, someday.

End file.

Someday by MoonJay2012


Pray

Pray

"I'm not going to private school" said Chris Jr. to his mother.

"Yes you are Chris" said his mother Linda, sharply.

"I'm not gonna drop everything and go to a _private_ school" he said.

"You know what," said Linda "I'm done with this. Talk to your father about it."

Chris went to his father. "Dad, I'm not going to private school."

"Yeah you are" said Chris, his father.

"You can't even afford it! You've been laid off for like, a year. And mom doesn't even work. Were _poor. _Worse than poor! We have no money whatsoever!" said Chris.

His dad was silent. He looked like an angry gorilla that was ready to kill.

"Go to your room, now!" screamed his dad. Chris walked slowly, dragging his feet to his room.

Chris jumped onto his bed. He laid his head onto his soft, blue pillow. He was ready to cry. Tears formed and slowly began to drip onto his pillow, one by one. He couldn't drop everything and leave his friends. He couldn't handle the fact that his parents were ready to split up. he couldn't even think about going to some private school where he wouldn't know anyone and actually have to work. Nothing was going right. Nothing could fix what was going on.

Chris went to school the next day. He was talking with his friends and they were all really pissed that Chris was leaving them. They tried to comfort him, but even his closest friends couldn't help him. "You'll be fine. We'll still keep in touch!" was all he heard that day. Keep in touch? he thought. Just like how I was gonna "keep in touch" with my kindergarten friends I left before going to first grade, right? Chris ran home, did his homework and went to his parents. The only people that could change the whole situation and make everything alright.

"I'm begging you! Please don't make me go!" pleaded Chris.

"No!" said his parents repeatedly. "You're going, and that's final" said Linda.

"Fine. I'm done with all of this. I don't wanna hear you or see you two ever again!" cried Chris. He, again, ran to his room. He thought, and thought, and drew a blank. There was nothing that was going to save him. Chris's father interrupted his thoughts. "It's time to pray Chris." Something clicked in Chris's head.

Chris has been neglecting something for so long. He's been pushing it away from him. He wanted to live "normally". He didn't want to be burdened by anything. Chris was neglecting his religion. He couldn't even remember the last time he prayed. He decided to turn to his religion.

All of a sudden, everything he had forgotten about had come back to him. He forgot that his religion was the key to fixing everything. When you're having a bad day, turn to your faith. When you want things to get better again, have hope. He forgot all of it; however, at that moment, it all came back to him. So, Chris prayed.

Chris felt a sense of calmness he hadn't felt it so long. Tears fell from Chris's plum cheek to the floor, like baby rain drops falling from the dark night's sky. He cried from the amazing feeling he felt within himself. He cried because he knew God was there for him, and was watching him that very moment. From that point on, everything was just different.

Months and months after praying, everything was just as Chris wanted it to be. He still ended up going to private school, but he didn't mind because that made him even closer to his faith. His parents were getting along again. Chris even stayed in touch with his old friends. Everything was finally calm. Everything was finally perfect.

Chris was doing his homework in his room with a new friend. His father walked in. "Boys, don't forget to pray."

Chris replied with a slight smile, "Never again dad, never."

End file.

Pray by randomarab


tea time

_**tea time**_

set post-Unlimited. Andy practically tries many practices on his journey. and i know zkc calls many countries differently but let's pretend it doesn't in this story ok? ok.

* * *

"So, you see, I didn't mean to come back." Andy finishes, dipping his calves into the pool. The children occasionally throw water at him, which he skilfully dodges.

Hyoubu hums in understanding. He is crouching next to Andy, hugging his feet and not daring to put them into the water like the younger man is doing. "I wasn't quite listening. Repeat."

"Again?" Andy moans, raising an eyebrow at the Major. "That was my second time retelling! Are you distracted or what?"

"Distracted, huh? Let's go with that." Hyoubu sends meaningful looks at his direction, smirking in his alluring fashion.

Andy flushes, looks away, and settles to stare at his magnificently-cut toenails in fascination. "I was in China when I remembered it was your birthday, okay? But I had no idea how to go about finding you, what's with the camouflage and all."

"I'm disappointed you didn't try harder, Hinomiya." Hyoubu clicks his tongue and waves a finger, all the while managing to keep an attractive smile plastered on his face.

Andy makes noises behind his throat before he coughs and continues, decidedly ignoring Hyoubu's comments. "So I decided to just move on, you know? And I was about to board a ship to Taiwan when you guys suddenly materialized the Catastrophe. That was okay. But when _you_ materialized in front of me, old man, I was partly traumatized."

"Ah, the essence of surprise." Hyoubu nods in agreement.

"So, it's not that I came back on my own. It's because you guys kidnapped me." Andy chides, shuddering as he remembers being dragged by the collar up to the sky and dropped into the pool. Part of the reason why he hasn't stopped trembling is because his clothes are still wet and Hyoubu refuses to let him go for some reasons.

"Hinomiya-kun," Hyoubu slurs, "am I right to think that you don't actually care about my birthday?"

Andy turns to the older man in the slowest motion and feels his neck ache, but it doesn't hurt him as much as Hyoubu's glare, veiled with a manipulative smirk. "Of course it's not like that." He manages, rubbing the back of his head.

"Where is the proof?" Hyoubu asks, with a sweet, sweet, thorny smile.

Andy reaches out for his backpack and rummages through the inside. Hyoubu thinks he hears the sound of plastic and glass breaking. After a long, tense moment, Andy splashes some water off his feet as he pulls out a doll made of ceramic.

"I practiced making matryoshka dolls in Russia." Andy explains, placing the doll on the floor between them. Hyoubu takes off the top to reveal another doll inside, whose top, when removed, reveals another doll. "And I learnt some flower-decorating in Japan." A pot of flowers, most of which Hyoubu can name. "I was a freeloader in the house of a lantern-maker in China, so obviously I tried to make my own." A bloody red lantern with drawings of unicorns. As skilled as he is at dodging water, Andy manages to deflect the eyes Hyoubu is giving him. "I practiced pottery too. I thought I should try my hands on their local dances as well."

"Is there anything useful that you've been trying to do while going around the world?" Hyoubu asks in an accusing tone, fondling the flowers on his lap.

"Of course! I mastered the Russian military style, karate, judo, muay thai, and kung-fu!" Andy splutters indignantly. He bolts up and poses as though to prove it. In his attempt to settle in a position, he knocks over Patty, who is carrying a tray of cups of chamomile tea. Of course, the cups tumble down and break as they touch the slippery floor. Patty huffs and slams the tray at Andy's head before stomping away.

Hyoubu laughs, clutching at his own stomach.

"I hate you guys. Why do I still try?" Andy groans, lying down with the lower half of his body in the pool and the upper half suspended on the edge. His hands are nursing his head, and his hair has become dishevelled as he has been tossing it around to find the bump.

"Because you are an idiot, that's why." Hyoubu laughs, leans down, pauses in his laughter, and kisses Andy on the lips. The younger man hacks when Hyoubu pulls apart, and regrets it immediately as Hyoubu shoves a tongue in the gap between his teeth. Andy struggles for a brief moment, but his legs become numb and he gives up using his arms. Closing his eyes, Andy wrestles against Hyoubu's tongue in his mouth. He gasps for breath but Hyoubu keeps stock still. The very moment their mouths move apart from each other, Andy slumps onto the floor, panting heavily.

(During this very scene, Magi has taken the initiative to cover Yuugiri's eyes, who has been sitting on the side as they wait for the two to finish talking. The Major insists in monopolizing Hinomiya, however, so they have waited for a good hour. Patty, on the other hand, snatches millions pictures of the happening and everyone automatically pretends not to notice her animalistic eyes.)

"There, now." Hyoubu says, standing up and brushing his lips with his tongue. "Isn't that the perfect birthday present?"

Andy is too tired to give a snarky reply. He can, however, smile at Hyoubu and clutch his hand. He may be kidnapped by this group of dysfunctional family for all he knows, but at least he is _home_.

End file.

tea time by connolise