Dalton Academy School for the Gifted: II
Breaking Paradox
Chapter Seventeen
Leading was something Blake Caffrey was not good at. Perhaps Sebastian Smythe could see it, smell it, feel it in the air as the away team gathered in the meeting room for final orders and information from Ron, Ben, and Caleb. Whatever the case, the older boy had smugly dug his eyes into Blake, leaving the younger boy far more nervous than he already had been before.
He hadn’t spoken a word, his gaze locked on Ron’s slightly perplexed face all the while feeling both Sebastian and Caleb’s eyes searched his gaze out. Though Blake avoided eye contact at nearly all cost. His attention stolen only a moment by the boy next to him, Michael, grabbing hold of his wrist in an attempt at comfort. He relaxed slightly, though never let his gaze slip from Ron’s features.
“Blake is team leader. His discretion in the field is the authority the team will follow. If, for any reason, he feels the mission would put any of you at risk-- it will be his call to abort.”
Ron’s voice calmed Blake in an odd way. The even tone, the steady sound of it he felt the tension in the room continue to rise. He’d found himself counting the freckles on Ron’s face before he knew it. An attempt to distract himself from the burning glare from Liam and the knowing smirk from Sebastian.
When the briefing had finished, Michael released Blake’s hand and with it the sophomore all but ran from the room. His heart raced, Blake gasped halfway down the hall and just moments away from an all out run, when a strong grip took hold of his wrist.
“Blake,” The owner of the grip, the strong hands he’d come to know in a friendly manner, belonged none other to his best friend. Caleb Kennedy. How the boy had caught him he’d never figure but there they were. Blake’s eyes went wide in surprise, his gaze locked with Caleb’s for the first time in days since he’d blacked out the night of the storm. Things had become awkward. Far more so than Blake was ready to deal with and yet...
“Will you talk to me?” Caleb breathed as he pulled the smaller boy out of the hall and into an office. Blake felt the heat and blood rush to his face. Shame and embarrassment rising to new levels at the concern of his friend. His best friend. Who stared him down with a narrowed brow and worried expression.
“We are talking,” Blake countered, his eyes drifting towards his feet a moment as a frown surfaced. “I know you’re worried but it’ll be fi--”
“B-- look at me.” Caleb’s voice held some Blake hadn’t often heard before. It made his heart race and his cheeks flush though he obeyed his captain, albeit unwillingly. At once images of the night just days before flooded his mind. Blake didn’t know how he’d passed through the wall. Nor could he recall how he’d made it to his own bed when he regained consciousness several hours later. What he did recall were his friend’s words and warm embrace before his memories of the night cut into blackness.
“Talk to me, man. Are we okay?”
“Of course we’re--” Blake paused, guilt bubbled in his core then. Had Caleb thought-- “Cay, we’re cool. We’re beyond cool. We’re chill. So chill we could make ice cream.” The older boy babbled, nervous energy radiating off of him in a way that slowly began to curl Caleb’s lips into a soft smile.
“Just...it’s big--” He admitted, his tongue darted out then to wet his lips in a nervous fashion. “This whole leading a team thing.”
“You can do it,” Caleb murmured with a grin. “I believe in you, man.”
“Thanks, Cay.” Blake whispered, unknowingly stepping closer to the younger boy to hug him. He felt Caleb stiffen a little at the contact and mentally prepared for the gentle rejection that never came. Instead, he found Caleb return the hug softly and breathed a soft sigh of relief that his friend found no reason to ask or look into such an odd action.
-----
Sleep seemed all but impossible. He knew he’d need all the energy and strength he could to break into such a high security place as the Government’s Pentagon. Though try as he might he couldn’t seem to beckon sleep to his aid at all. Blake had wandered into the cafeteria, glad the lights remained on all night for those students needing a late night snack, and after collecting a few sugary treats found himself alone at a table numbly chewing on a candy bar.
“You’re up late.”
Blake perked a little at the sound of the voice, his gaze tilted to one side to find Harris Cook, brow raised, smirking down at him. Harris had quite the reputation amongst the students of the school and beyond. Trouble Maker. Bully. Addict. The list of names to describe the senior of Dalton Academy went on and on. Though Blake at times referred to him as friend and beneath his breath, Mentor.
The two had bonded over the few classes they had together. Blake’s well hidden stubborn streak amused Harris at times and the fact that the Dalton Sophomore seemed to keen to keep it hidden only furthered his amusement.
While he would never admit it. Harris had taken Blake under his wing. In a brother fashion, best he could, and that only meant the younger of the two ended up in more trouble than usual from time to time.
“Hey Harris,” Blake replied as he attempted in vain to suppress a chuckle. “Sneaking back in?”
The younger boy inquired, his own brow raised as Harris took a seat next to him without a sound. At Blake’s question however, the older boy stole his candy bar and, taking a bite off the same end Blake had been working wiggled his brow suggestively.
“Had a little business in the outside world. Bone a few chicks. Grab a few beers--”
“The usual?” Blake added, opening a new candy bar with a small grin as Harris chuckled.
“You know--” Harris began, finishing off the bar of candy in a single bite before once again stealing the treat from Blake’s hands. “You’re shit when it comes to the whole being bothered thing, kiddo.”
“Huh?” Blake frowned as he looked from the stolen candy bar to the older boy’s face. “What’re you talking about?”
“That mission shit tomorrow. You’re scared.”
“Am not.”
“Fuck you’re bad at lying too. What are you? Some cartoon come to life? Jesus, kid, really.” Harris scoffed, downing yet another candy bar and confirming Blake’s suspicions at just how sober the blonde senior was. He knew at once by the smell of his friend and if they hadn’t given it away, the dilation and bloodshot look of his eyes would have.
“No.” Blake murmured, pouting and handing Harris another candy before the older boy could steal it. “Just-- it feels weird.”
“Weird?” Harris frowned, his gaze landing on the younger boy’s face. “Weird like losing your cherry weird or weird like that crush you’ve got on that one kid, weird?”
“I don’t like Caleb!” Blake all but shouted, face a dark red, and eyes wide as he stood. Harris froze, eyes widening a little in surprise before outright laughing. Blake’s face a deep red at the sound of the jovial action, he groaned before burying his head in his arms.
“Kid, you’re way too wound up.” Harris breathed, chuckling as he took the last of Blake’s bars of candy. “Just try and relax, Sebastian won’t let anything happen to you. He’ll--”
“He hates me...” Blake grumbled, his eyes peaked from the safety of his arms. “How does everyone know anyway?”
“Know what?” Mused the older boy, “That you’re freaked out or that you have the hots for Caleb?”
“Both?” Blake frowned as he watched Harris down the last of the treats and lick his lips in thought.
“Like I said, darlin, you’re an open book. The only reason Caleb doesn’t see it is he’s too busy worrying over Raf. It’s pretty sad actually. The way you look at him, kid, pretty obvious.”
“But how is the way--”
“B--, you’re turning into a spazz. For fucks sake, Blake. Fuck the guy and get it over with.”
“Argh-- Harri--you--I--” Blake attempted. His speech broken, embarrassment clouded his thoughts and actions. He couldn’t think about his best friend like that. He could, of course he could, Caleb was handsome and worked out. Blake could deny all he wanted though it would be a lie to say he hadn’t noticed his friend’s toned physique on long training or friendly football games on weekends.
With a roll of his eyes Harris proceeded to punch the younger boy in the arm, smirking when Blake jumped and whined. “Stop being such a god damn wimp. You’re better than that and if Sebastian gives you any trouble-- well, deck him.”
Blake gawked a little at the older boy’s words then. “Wha--”
“You heard me,” Harris smirked then. “Deck him. You’re like some fucked up, spazz form for dynamite. Or that’s how coach explained you wrecking the gym the other week.”
“Didn’t have to bring that up.” Grumbled Blake, Harris continued to talk over him as he ignored the younger boy’s words then.
“Point being, kid. Stop being such a little bitch and deck him. Hell, kick his ass.” Harris mused, smirking at the thought of the younger boy fighting Sebastian.
“But Cay and Sebastian are friends and--”
“Right, can’t upset prince charming. Blah, blah, got it.”
“When it’s all said and done, kid.” Harris’s voice dropped then, a serious tone breaking through his drugged demeanor, “You’re just gunna have to fight for what you want.”
-----
Washington DC was a frightening place for most people let alone six super powered teenage boys. Six of them moved quietly as they made their way towards the main entrance. Dressed in Beta Team uniforms, they walked in a diamond formation. Curtis at the front, a frown upon his face as he marched forwards. Sebastian and Harrison on either side of James behind Curtis, while Michael and Blake took up the rear. Each blow glowed faintly, Blake’s eyes dilated in the slightest, his thoughts focused on bending the light around each of them making them invisible to all but one another.
Breaking into the high security government building was easier than they’d expected. The combination of Sebastian technopathy, Michael’s manipulation of sound, and Harris’s magnetism allowing for a smooth entrance into the Pentagon and even the lower levels not privy to most even with schematics.
It seemed far too easy for mutants to enter the research and development level until the final doors of the lab. Sebastian had been quick to open the doors with a flick of his wrist, a smirk had even painted his lips at the simplicity of the mission until the six boys felt the pulse that caused each of them to grip their heads in pain. Red alarms flashing seconds later as Blake’s powers faltered with the pulse.
An electromagnetic surge, not designed for machines, but for the set brain activity of mutants using their powers. While still relatively underdevelopment it had done the job alerting the guards to the presence of the teenagers.
“Fuck--” Harris growled, a hand moved towards the pulse device and closing his fist crushed it with his own force of magnetism in seconds.
“Hiding won’t work anymore.” Blake breathed, his back towards his team to throw his hands up along with a barrier of light that looked invisible to the naked eye. “Best I can do is stop them from seeing our faces now. Find it.”
Sebastian had already been ahead of the younger boy’s words. His eyes scanned through page upon page of code, visible only to his mind as he scrolled through machine after machine.
“Bastian--” Harris hissed, the footsteps of many men drawing closer as the blonde teen growled. They weren’t ready to fight. They hadn’t prepared for it. But one was coming for them. And fast.
“I need more time.” Sebastian murmured in response, “There’s too much here to sort through in only seconds.”
“Then we’ll buy you some time.” Curtis frowned, moving towards the entrance of the lab to stand beside Blake who wore a matching look. The taller boy let his gaze drift towards the team leader then. The smaller boy’s face was set for a fight and Curtis could tell by the shaking of the boy’s hands he was just as afraid as he was. Perhaps more so when Blake glanced back towards Michael who looked far paler than he had entering the building.
“Sure you want to be front line?” Curtis breathed, the sound of footsteps drawing closer, and he readied himself for a fight.
“No, but--” Blake sighed, taking a similar stance to Curtis then. “Someone has to watch your back, man.”
“If you two fairies are done. Shut the hell up and greet out party guests.” Harris barked, grimacing as another pulse washed over them. The six boys winced, groaned, and retaliated in kind with their gifts.
“Freeze Muties!” A man dressed in black ordered. Blake and Curtis responding by dropping several of the men onto their backs with a pulse of energy and flare of light.
“Cover them.” Blake called out a hand pointed towards two of the boys covering their heads over the wave, Harris only growling in response as he moved several machines to blockade Michael and James from harm. As stray bullets danced between the barriers of light and energy the two boys front manning the lab put up.
“Any day, Smythe!” Harrison barked once more, standing before the boy deflecting any stray bullet that may come their way. His power keeping at bay the more annoying of weapons though he hadn’t put in the training to turn the tide of the fight as easier as he could of.
“Can’t work if you’re yelling, Cook.” Sebastian hissed back, his eyes moving faster through line after line of code. “Where--are you...” The junior murmured, a frantic tone sinking into his voice as he pushed his powers harder. He could feel many pulls and tugs at his mind. They were trying to shut him out. Block him from the computers and hardware he’d so easily patched himself into.
“Ah--” Came a shout over the storm of metal and battle. The voice laced with pain and surprise, a sound which drew Michael from his cowering position behind the thick wall of machines Harris had moved in the line of fire for his and James’ protection.
“Blake!” Michael gasped, eyes wide in horror as his friend clutched his side in pain, a hand out towards the entrance of the lab as he fell to one knee.
“Shit.” Curtis breathed, attempting to inch closer to the other boy who’d taken a hit only to find the agents in thicker armor moving in to attempt a closer strike. He prepared himself best he could for an attack that never came.
All at once the agents gripped at their heads, words of shock and pain muted by silence moments before most dropped to the ground unconscious. Confusion washed over Curtis a short moment until he directed his attention to the shaking figure behind him.
They had made Michael angry and in retaliation the young teen had magnified and disrupted the balance of their attackers inner ears effectively disabling most with a severe case of vertigo they wouldn’t soon forget.
Tears swelled at the edges of the young teen’s eyes his arms falling to his side after such an exertion of his power, his breath arrived in quick gasps as he rushed to the side of his injured friend.
“Bla--” Murmured Michael as he dropped to his friend’s side, what little color that remained in his featured drained at the sight of the red liquid dripping from his friend’s side.
“What are you--” Breathed Blake, fear evident in his voice seconds before Michael found his friend shoving him, hard, out of the way of a low bullet that found a home in his shoulder seconds late. “Argh--” The team leader breathed as pain seared its way into his mind dropping the barrier of light that had shielded him moments before.
“Shit!” Curtis exhaled, a hand slamming onto the ground as seconds later a dome of energy constructed itself about the room. “Hurry the hell up!” He growled, a glance towards the back of the room to reveal Harris’s gripping Sebastian’s uniform by the front.
“What do fucking mean it isn’t here?!”
