Hurricane // Danger Days (Book 2)

08.

Alien was definitely not in the mood for this. She turned to Revolution with a look of betrayal on her face. She exaggerated it a bit, just because. "Rev, can you please explain?"

Revolution suppressed a laugh. "So basically, Killer invited me here, and of course I said yes, 'cause I love these guys. Palaye, I mean. But then he told me that his plan for the night was to get drunk off our asses, and I did not want to have a hangover the next day. But I have no self control around him, so I brought you to be my self control. 'Cause you don't drink."

Killer started laughing. "Your ass just got used!"

"Oh, fuck off," Alien rolled her eyes.

"Oh, and I know you guys still hate each other, and you arguing is actually really entertaining." Revolution smirked.

"SIR!" It was now Killer's turn to feel betrayed. "You evil person!" he took a swig of his beer. "I'm gonna go get another drink. I do not wanna deal with this little shit today."

"Well that was brutal," Storm finally spoke up.

"I'm gonna go annoy him," Alien said, smirking. "Wanna come with?"

"Yeah," Revolution grinned. "Storm, you should see this. Their arguments are awesome."

Storm never found fighting funny, and he had no idea how Revolution could. But he followed along.

Killer was already sitting on a barstool with a shot glass on the bar in front of him. Alien rested her elbow on Killer's shoulder. "So," she drawled, "what exactly is it that you find annoying about me?"

Killer sighed dramatically and took his shot. "Well number one, you just never stop talking. You scream a lot too, it's just too much."

"Oh really?" Alien continued to smile. "Number one? Is there more?"

"Yeah, actually." he seemed to be getting really angry. "Your ego is one of the biggest I've ever seen. You always act so smug about everything."

"Really, Mr. 'I-make-these-high-heels-work'?"

The two of them continued to bicker. Storm couldn't help ordering a drink from the bar. He was not in a good mood. He sipped his beer and tried to pay attention to the music.

"Hey Storm," Revolution asked him, "while we're on the topic, why is it that you don't trust me?"

Storm shook his head. "I don't really want to talk about it." He didn't want to start a fight, but he could already feel the alcohol dulling his self-control.

"Why not?" They seemed sympathetic.

"You know what?" Storm blew up. "Who the hell abandons their friends for two years? Oh, and refuses to explain where they were—"

"I did!" Revolution interrupted. "I said I was traveling, and spending time with my family!"

"But Al didn't know that, did she? Or Ven? Oh yeah, you never said goodbye to Ven, and you never will—"

Storm felt a hand squeeze his shoulder. It was Alien. "Storm," she warned.

He ignored her. "And the Four! What about them?" He couldn't stop pouring all of his negative thoughts out. "Do you even miss any of them?"

"Storm, stop!" Alien said again, more forcefully.

"Oh, that's rich coming from you!" Revolution shot back. "I knew them for three years! Three years! And you were only around for, what, two months?"

"Et tu, Rev?" Alien groaned.

"Three, actually," Storm corrected venomously. "And do you really think the time we spent together had anything to do with how much I loved him? He was the light of my life! And—"

"Wait," Revolution interrupted. "I think I just figured it out! You're jealous!"

"Bullshit!"

"You're jealous because you thought you were Al's best friend, and then I showed up! It all makes sense now!"

The crowd was starting to notice the commotion now. They gathered around the two Killjoys, focused on their rivalry.

"Rev, don't," Alien warned again.

"I am not!" Storm's voice raised even more. "I just think you're a traitor!"

The room went silent. Even the band stopped playing.

And Revolution didn't hesitate to punch Storm square in the jaw.

Storm staggered back, pressing a hand to his cheek.

"And to think," Revolution deadpanned, "I was just starting to like you."

🌩

Revolution left after that happened. Alien said she had no choice but to go with them, and that Storm would have to call Sunset and the Ultra Vs to come pick him up. She also said that she'd try and reason with Revolution, but also that Storm should rethink his opinion on them.

He sat at the bar for a while, drinking. He really thought about what Revolution had said, and realized that they were right. Alien had been his best friend (other than Sunset, of course), then suddenly, someone who he had no idea existed showed up, and she started spending a ton of time with them and not him.

He did eventually call Sunset, but Val had answered instead. He said that she wasn't in the best shape right now, and that he would tell Capricorn and Night Hunter to pick him up instead. The two brothers were in a group called MARS, and had helped out when he and the Four went to rescue Alien from BLI. He would be happy to at least see someone who had never been a total ass to him.

Eventually, Killer sat next to him. "Hey kid," he greeted. "What was all that about, a while ago?"

And so, in his drunken haze, he told Killer all of his innermost feelings. "—And- and I think I'm like, a different person now," he slurred, "since Poison died, ya know, I- I loved him, and losing him was bad."

"I feel ya, kid," Killer commented. "Downpour died a couple of months ago."

"Wait, what?" Storm was surprised. "I had no idea. I'm sorry, man. How, i-if you don't mind?"

"Radiation poisoning," Killer sighed. "He'd been living way out in Zone Six for so long, you know that, but one day it just got him. I was there the whole time, though." Killer paused. "His name was Ryan. Ryan Ross."

Storm put a hand on Killer's shoulder. "I'm really sorry, Killer."

"It's okay," the tumbleweed said. "He's with Vein and Gentleman now. Those were the two other guys in our gang. Young Vein and Green Gentleman. We were called Panic... I guess it's just me now."

"Hey guys!" Capricorn popped up behind them. "Storm, ready to go?"

"Yeah," Storm said softly.

"Cool! Hunter's waiting back at the car."

Storm bid Killer adieu, then followed Capricorn out to his and Hunter's car. While they were driving, he asked if he could stay the night at their place. They accepted, already knowing the reason for his request.

Storm ended up passing out in their backseat.