The Library of Powers

Chapter 8: A Phone Call

Back on the first floor of Selina's home, Chase was having a great time. Cindy --- well last least he thought her name was Cindy, it was hard to hear over the dozens of other simultaneous conversations --- was totally into him. Not that it was possible for her not to be into him. Well, it was, but seeing as she had at least the very base desire for men, he passively amplified that desire. Specifically for him. It affected different women differently, some falling head over heels, some only slightly stumbling. Cindy was in a freefall.

He didn't want to think of what he was doing as manipulation. Maybe deep down he thought it was, but then Sam would always say something along the line of, "A handsome man isn't being manipulative for having good looks. You didn't have a choice in the matter, the real test is what you do with it," and Chase would feel better. Although, considering he constantly used his powers to steal, maybe he shouldn't care about a little manipulation.

Cindy was halfway through yet another story of her drunk shenanigans (Chase thought tonight would likely turn into one of them) when he realized he was being a shitty friend. He better get back to the staircase and guard. "Hey. Could we maybe move this over near the stairs? I promised a friend I'd meet them there, with how crowded it is," he lied, lightly tugging on her arm. She obediently followed, and they stomped through the crowd only to see Samantha rushing down the stairs with a scowl on her face. She was making a beeline for the door, and Chase figured he better do the same.

"I'll catch you later Cindy," Chase said, detaching her from his arm. With his head turned towards her, he started to walk away, but ran into someone before he could make it ten steps.

"Sorry dude. Should have been looking where I was going," Chase uttered his apology as he looked up at who it was. "Whoa, nice goatee!"

"Is that my girlfriend hanging off your arm, Chase?" asked Rob, a good foot taller than Chase and at least another hundred pounds.

"You have a--"

Cindy ran up to Rob, thrusting her arms at him like a traffic officer in the middle of a busy intersection. "Not anymore, Rob! Chase here is twice the man you achieve!"

Chase furled his brow, correcting Cindy. "It's 'twice the man you'll ever be'."

"Whatever! Rob, if you want me back, you're gonna have to beat up my new man."

Chase recoiled in utter shock "WHAT! You're crazy! I'm not your 'new man'. Rob, buddy, let's get this girl some water. She's obviously wasted."

But Rob was slowly shuffling towards Chase, his every step making the blond boy sweat even more. And next thing he knew, the two were taking swipes at each other, the battle having begun.

Rob stepped in for a heavy punch, overextending his right arm. Chase ducked under it, jabbing his knuckles in between his opponent's ribs. Rob grunted and then grasped Chase with both hands, fingers compacting into his shoulders. This, however, left Chase's feet free, which he used to try and trip Rob. While he didn't succeed, the pressure on Rob's foot caused him to drop Chase and take a step back.

Then things actually got frantic.

It devolved into the two of them trying desperately to grab the other. Chase was clearly the better fighter, as Sam had convinced him to start taking martial arts training when their illicit activities began, but the booze added with the extremely large size of Rob had Chase off his game. Why couldn't Rob have been buzzed also? He must have been the only person in the damn house who wasn't.

***

Just across the room, a very sober Jackson was once again with the Party Haters Club. They sat, unsure of what to think of the unfolding fight.