Break Time

A Series of Talks

It took about an hour for the pizza to arrive. By the time it had arrived, the boys were sitting around the television watching the news while Jess worked through a Sudoku book. The four of them sat around the island, each with a box in front of them.

"Since I can't exactly go and check the blog to see how what happened, what happened?" Jess asked.

"We were just about to take off toward California and stopped for a little break in a clearing," Fang began. "Then, we got surrounded by Flyboys. The two geniuses over there-" Iggy and Gazzy shifted uncomfortably, "-decided to shoot some firecrackers at them. When they started dive-bombing us, we were going to fly away, but the fuse lit some branches around me that I had to put out. While I was down, one of the Flyboy's guns exploded and I was in the line of fire," he finished, tearing off half a slice of pizza and tossing it in his mouth.

"I see," she thought for a moment. "You guys didn't get hurt, right?"

"Not that we know of. We'd be able to feel it, wouldn't we?" Gazzy asked.

"I'm not so sure. If something like what Fang has in him hit you in the right way it could have deadened a nerve. I should check." The boys nodded in agreement. "But first, we have to do something about your clothes. I can't stand it knowing the only thing you have to wear is that."

"Wouldn't it be kind of suspicious if a teenage girl bought clothes for guys-in three different sizes- and had them delivered to a home in the woods nearly cut off from civilization?" Fang asked. She laughed a little and Iggy wished he could see it.

"What if we went out shopping? Trust me, the places that I go to could care less if you were a flying bird kid as long as you have a VISA." The boys ate in silence as they thought it over. Iggy was the first to speak.

"Well right now, we don't really have anything to lose-"

"We have everything to lose. If someone snaps a picture of us and they figure out where we are it's not just our lives we're putting in danger anymore," Fang snapped back.

"I can take care of myself, Fang. Do you think I haven't thought about strategies to avoid trouble since before you got here? You can't worry about me now. Take however long you need and just act like you don't have anything to worry about," Jess pleaded.

"You sound like Max," Gazzy said quietly. Fang and Iggy froze. They hadn't heard Gazzy sound that desperate in a long time.

"We're in," Iggy decided. "We can leave early tomorrow, can't we?"

"Absolutely. I'll go call the taxi service and say I'll need a car to take us to the city. You can have the rest of my pizza if you want. The microwave's to your left if it's cold," she said, standing and leaving the room.

"I'm sorry if you didn't want to go. I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay, really. We could use the time to freshen up. Maybe get a haircut, see how the world is for everyone else," Iggy comforted him.

"I'm gonna go take a shower. It'd be pretty conspicuous if we walked around looking like we do now," Fang said, tossing his empty box in the trash on his way up the stairs.

"Watch the area with the shrapnel in it. Make sure it's as clean as possible," Jess told him as she entered the room again. "I'll lay out some of my dad's old sweats for you to wear."

"Jess, could I talk to you for a minute?" Iggy asked.

"Sure," she replied. "Gazzy, if you're done just put the box in fridge and I'll clean up." She watched him run to the office before turning back to where Iggy sat. "What did you want to talk about?" she asked, picking up the other boxes and wiping the counter.

"I just wanted to thank you. There aren't a lot of people who could do what you're doing for us." She was about to make a witty remark about the resources she had at hand, but held it back.

"It's no trouble. When I first heard about you, I thought it was something out a fantasy novel. Knowing there are kids like you who can make a difference like this is amazing. The least I can do is offer to help your cause in any way I can." He smiled at her and she smiled back, though he couldn't see.

"So, what did Fang say about me in his blog?" he asked, trying to change the subject before he said something he'd regret. Jess laughed again.

"He said you were a great fighter, good with explosives, the best cook out of all of them, a total chick magnet," she slipped in jokingly.

"He really admitted that? Wow, I must mean a lot to him. Last time I checked he was the one that made out with a girl while we took a little stop at Anne's," Iggy replied, leaning back in his chair. "Usually girls go for the dark, brooding type, right?"

"Maybe. It's been a while since I hung out with girls my age." It was quiet for a few seconds. "But if it's any compensation, I usually go for the blonds." She stretched her arms over her head and thanked God he couldn't see her blush. "You can go take a shower and relax if you want. Let me know if you need help with anything. I'll be around."

Iggy was still partially in shock from what she said. It wasn't like a girl had never shown interest in him. There had been a girl named Tess at the school he had attended when the flock was still together, but Iggy was so preoccupied with all the Max/Fang trouble he hadn't really thought about her since.

And more to the point, she hadn't actually shown interest in him at all. She simply said something along the lines of a compliment to make him feel better. Right? He sighed. "Women."

"I know exactly how you feel," Fang said. Iggy could hear the smirk in his voice.

"I don't know how you and Max stand it. You two are either teammates or at each other's throat all the time."

"It's simple really: we dial down our feelings for the sake of the team. I'm pretty sure everyone can see through it, but at least it helps me take my mind off things when we're sleeping in sewers." Iggy didn't know how to answer so he went with the easy way out.

"You know, I'm pretty sure that's the longest sentence you've ever said," he replied seriously.

"Shut up."

I know Fang doesn't really talk that much about his feelings, but I think he'd really step up in a situation like this. I just want to hug little Gazzy to death. :( Thanks for reading. :) ~Des