Where the Glass Heart Shattered pt 2

Torpid skated on his ice so fast that when Rift suddenly put up his sand wall he slammed right threw it.

"I figured you would try to take out Phoenix first!" Said Rift.

Torpid skidded across the grass out of control until he slammed his hands on the ground forming an ice wall behind himself. He finally stopped skidding when his back slammed against his newly formed ice.

As soon as he was able to get control back the ice user quickly looked around for Phoenix. Spotting his fiery foe running across the field he started skating towards him again, when another sand wall popped out of nowhere blocking him.

"Now don't think I'll let you go that easily." Said Rift.

Torpids blue eyes widened as he watched his fiery redhead foe getting away from him.

Meanwhile Anumis was coming up on Quixotic who had already made it pretty far across the field.

"Don't take me for such a fool squint!"

Anumis reached his hand out towards Quixotic's neck to grab the bell. But before Anumis could touch Quixotic Phoenix came up behind him blasting a fireball at his back. At the last minute Anumis caramel colored skin turned into cold gray stone before the flames could touch him. Anumis swung his rocky fist around to hit Phoenix. But everytime he tried, the speedy fire user would move then hit him three more times before Anumis could even get close to him. What Anumis had in strength and durability, Phoenix had in speed. All the strength and bulk of his rock body made for a good strong armor and powerful hits, but made it harder to move. All the strength in the world could not help Anumis if he could barely get a hit in, meanwhile Phoenix was pushing him back with every other blow.

"Dammit! You little douche monger!" Yelled Anumis."Torpid is supposed to be keeping you off of my ass! Where the fuck is he!?"

Anumis turned to find that Torpid was being blocked by Rift's wall's of sand.

"Damit! Vivi! Teleport Torpid here!"

The girl in the skirt turned from Anumis to Quixotic who was already rushing down the field towards the goal.

"But with the 5 minute cool down, we won't be able to capture..."

"Dammit Vivica just do it now!"

Vivi grimaced as she casted a big black portal right in front of Torpid. Rift didn't have time to stop the blonde boy as he stepped inside the portal and came out the other side right behind Phoenix. Torpid went to cast ice at the fiery boy when he turned around just in the nick of time. His fire dispersed the ice into water.

"And now the little twerp whose powers are a mystery to us is half way across the field!" Yelled Vivi. "Oh and, I have a five minute cool down." Vivi spat.

"Damit women, I said let me take care of it!" Yelled Animus. "Torpid! Wall!"

Torpid made a huge ice wall right in front of the goal blocking Quixotic off. The stone giant then went to swing at Quixotic before the smaller boy dodged it just in time.

"Phoenix!�� Yelled Rift. "Our plans are quickly falling apart!"

"Just stay near our goal!" Phoenix replied. "Make sure that freshmen girl doesn't try to teleport to you!"

Phoenix reached his arm out to grab Vivi's bell off of her neck to end the game. When at the last second Torpid put an ice wall between them. Both Phoenix and Vivi jumped away from the newly formed ice wall as quickly as they could.

"That was too close Torpid!" Screamed Vivi. "You could have taken my face Ahh!"

Vivi jumped as Phoenix started burning through the ice wall to get her bell.

"I know," said Torpid, throwing an ice spear at Phoenix. "I'm sorry."

Phoenix turned around melting the ice spear as it evaporated into water.

"I KnOw I'm SoRrY." Mocked Phoenix. "If you're going to continue to be such an axe wound then bring it! I'm going to pound your sorry pretty boy ass into the dirt!"

Phoenix's whole arm set a blaze as he went to attack Torpid. Torpid froze his own arm putting it in front of his face to block the attack. The ice disperses into water as it evaporates flying all over the field.

"Come on!" Yelled Phoenix. "Stop blocking and give it to me like you mean it ice ass!"

Torpid put his arm up again to block with his ice like the first time. At the last minute Phoenix shifted position and dove for his side. Torpid quickly summoned ice around his side just in time as the fire reached it, blowing the ice user to the ground. Warm rain water poured down over the field. Torpid slowly looked up squinting at Phoenix's towering figure.

"Now you die." Smirked Phoenix.

Phoenix went to strike, when nothing but steam came out...

"What the…"

"I'm surprised you didn't notice since you seem so pumped full of adrenaline." Replied Torpid. "But I've made you wet."

Phoenix's red hair now clung to his neck. He looked down at his baggy wet basketball shorts and soaking black tank top that clung to his lean muscular build.

"I made you hit my ice with your fire on purpose." Explained Torpid.

"Shit."

Phoenix quickly tried to steam himself dry but Torpids ice clung to his foot slowly climbing up his calf.

"The Arizona desert might make it super easy for you to use your fire power since it nearly never rains here. But now with all this water around that we've created I think my ice has a stronger chance of excelling. I can't thank you enough for the asist."

"Shit!"

"Don't worry Phoenix!" Yelled Rift from across the field. "I'll come break you out!"

Phoenix looked from Rift to Vivi's smirking face. They were planning on Rift to leave his post so they could have the open goal to themselves, they were planning this.

"Don't you fucking move from that spot!" Yelled Phoenix. "Ahh! You little shit that pinch!"

The ice had climbed up to Phenix's knee as the cold latched onto his skin.

"Sorry," said Torpid. "I'll try to be more gentle."

Phoenix turned to look at Quixotic to see that he was running around an ice wall while dodging Anumis rocky fist.

"What are you doing?!" Phoenix yelled at Quixotic.

"Trying to find another way around!" Yelled Quixotic dodging Anumis' attack by barely an inch.

"There is no other way!" Screamed Phoenix. The ice climbing up to his thigh as it reached his waist. "The ice wall goes around the whole gole! You have to use your super powers to do something now!"

"My super powers?" Asked Quixotic.

"Stop fucking around! You're our only hope! Do it now!"

"I...I uhh just…"

"What are you trying to pull huh?! Are you really going to let me and Rift lose this?!"

"I just…"

"Are you trying to humiliate me in front of the whole school tomorrow?!"

"I'm not…"

"What's your fucking damage then?!"

"I don't have any superpowers!" Quixotic blurted out.

A cold feeling ran up Phoenix's whole body. His brown eyes widened with realization. Not a moment later Vivi came out of a black portal behind Quixotic snatching the bell collar off of his neck before he could even flinch. Anumis then tackled Quixotic like a heavy truck, shoving him to the ground.

"Ya eat grass you scrawny twrp!" Yelled Anumis.

"The game ended when I got the Junker's ball." Said Vivi with the choker in her hand. "That was unnecessary."

"I know, I just wanted to do that." Laughed Animus. His rocky grey monster form turning back into his normal dark skinned self.

Torpid stopped freezing Phoenix's body and began unfreezing it.

"Oh good, I don't have to suck Phoenix's ass anymore."Torpid sighed in relief.

"What? Is that why you gave it your all?'' Asked Animus. "Ha ha ha! Dumb ass."

"Torpid, when Phoenix told you to suck his ass he didn't mean literally."Explained Vivi. "It's just a turn of phrase."

"Oh…"

A light blush spread across the bridge of Torpids nose.

"Come on, ice cream sounds good right about now." Said Animus.

Animus, Torpid, and Vivi turned to leave when Phoenix shouted out.

"Wait! What the fuck is going on here?! Did you set this whole thing up!?" Phoenix turned to Quixotic who was laying on the grass. "Did you set me up!?"

"No, I…"

"You're here because you transferred from Japan to join the hero course right?!" Yelled Phoenix frantically.

"No...I mean I'm going to try out...but I actually I..umm.."

"Why are you here?!"

"My mother committed suicide!" Quixotic blurted out on command. "And...I..My American dad..he's..that is..he's all I have left...so I live with him in his…"

"You told me he was a transfer!" Yelled Phoenix pointing to Animus. "You said he transferred here to try for the hero course in Xzavier!"

"I mean, what can I say man..." Animus shrugged. "I guess, I just assumed."

Animus smirked at the outcome of this situation. Him and his other two teammates turned to leave. Quixotic stood up walking remorseful over towards Phoenix.

"Hey, Phoenix, I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to…"

Phoenix balled up his fist before turning around and decking Quixotic in the face. The small boy staggered before falling to the ground. The fiery redhead stocked over towards Quixotic, his small quivering form laying on the grass holding his nose. Phoenix clenched his fist.

This… can't be right, he had to have powers!

Phoenix began kicking Quixotic while he was on the ground.

He couldn't not not have superpowers; it was too rare nowadays. He had to be lying.

Phoenix began kicking him harder.

"Come on do something! I'm not even using my powers! What are you doing?! defend yourself!" Yelled Phoenix.

Bitter tears began to prick Phoenix's eyes. Quixotic whimpered and wailed on the ground. Being assaulted by multiple kicks from around his body.

"Phoenix!" Rift wrapped his arms around Phoenix pulling him off of Quixotic. "He's had enough! You're going too far!"

"How could you lie to me!" Phoenix yelled at Quixotic.

Phoenix squirmed in Rifts arms trying to break free. Rift continued to drag Phoenix off the field.

"That's enough Phoenix!" Yelled Rift. "We lost a bad bet! Just leave it man!"

"You'll never become a hero! You're nothing but a defect!" Phoenix shouted at Quixotic.

The words rang in Quixotic's ears. It was sudden and sharp. Hearing that from Phoenix felt worse than being cussed at and kicked somehow.

Rift dragged Phoenix off the field as Quixotic slowly stood back up. Fresh tears began to form in his green eyes.

It was night time by the time Rift and Phoenix walked into the boy's locker room to grab their stuff and go home.

"...see it's not so bad, we just have to wear the skirt for one day." Said Rift. "Who knows, maybe It'll suit you."

"That's not what I'm upset about. What about the junker ball team?" Asked Phoenix. "This semester was supposed to be my last semester to..."

"Wait, last semester? We have a whole another year of highschool left." A look of realization dawned upon Rift. "I thought tests were still going on, Phoenix, did you get anything from the Xavier Academy?"

Phoenix turned to the locker opening it up. He then turned towards Rift with a small envelope in his hands.

"Ohh Phoenix I knew it! Congratulations."

Rift threw his arms around Phoenix's shoulders in a tight hug. Before his lips crashed against Phoenix's.

Phoenix jumped back breaking the kiss instantly.

"What? We're both alone now." Said Rift.

"Bullshit, you didn't even check…" Phoenix blushed, turning away. "Bastard, I told you to be cautious when you do something like that."

"Fine I'll check." Sighed Rift. "Hey anyone in the locker room!? Me and Phoenix want to make out!"

"Idiot!" Yelled Phoenix hitting Rift's chest. "What if someone is in here!?"

"But Phoenix." Laughed Rift as Phoenix continued to hit his chest. "It's 8 at night, even band practice ended hours ago.Who would be in here this late?"

"It's possible." Said Phoenix stubbornly.

"Besides we might have lost, but you looked pretty hot, panting out of breath with your soaking wet red hair clinging to your neck." Rift whispered in Phoenix's ear.

Phoenix stopped hitting Rift, his freckled face turning as red as his hair. Smiling Rift grabbed Phoenix's hand in his, wrapping his other arm around Phoenix's waist. Leaning in Rift pressed his lips to Phoenix's again. Phoenix complied, because he secretly liked it when his boyfriend was persistent like this. Even if it was embracing.

After a while Rift broke the kiss. Phoenix kept his lips puckered for a moment before opening his eyes.

"So are we going to read your acceptance letter together?" Asked Rift.

Phoenix's scowled, his brown eyes glaring at Rift.

"What?" Smirked Rift.

"I want to...I mean we were in the middle of...you..Tch! You're the one who wanted to make out." Phoenix retorted blushing. "Besides I don't know what the letter says yet...I might have not even gotten in at all, stupied."

"Is there really any doubt?" Asked Rift. "I mean you are the great Phoenix after all."

Phoenix and Rift sat on the wooden bench in front of the lockers. Phoenix's shaky hands slowly opened the envelope. His brown eyes scanning over every letter breathing them in. As they had the power to make or break his future.

"Dear, Phoenix Striver…'' He began reading out. "You did really well in both the physical and the written test, however the main New York academy is full. But the staff have been talking about opening an academy in your home town of downtown Phoenix Arizona. I do hope you can be one of the first graduating classes of the Xzavier Academy of the Arizona branch."

"Dude congratulations!" Cheerd Rift.

"What do you mean?" Asked Phoenix. "I didn't get into the main academy."

"But you got something. Dude you're so lucky, I didn't even get anything back. Your course is pretty much set. You're destined to be a hero."

Rift sat behind Phoenix wrapping his sandy arms across Phoenix's chest. Nuzzling his face into his boyfriend's tuffet of dyed red hair that lay flat on his wet head.

"I'm proud of you." Smiled Rift planting a kiss on Phoenix's head.

"Destined to be a hero."

Phoenix thought about this for a long time, it was his long awaited dream to be a hero, everyone expected it from him. For him to be one of the greats. But now was the time to prove himself, to make his dream an actual realty. He could work his way up to New York from here.

Phoenix was snapped out of his train of thought when he saw Rift playing with the crudely cut piece of glass in the shape of a heart.

"What did you keep that for?" Asked Phoenix.

"Because Phoenix, It's cute but jagged with rough edges." Laughed Rift. "It's a symbol of our love."

"Or it's just glass." Said Phoenix.

Phoenix bit his lip and looked down at the concrete floor. What did this opportunity mean for him and Rift? He would no doubt become a hero after school now. He could possibly become famous, then everyone would know about their relationship no matter how much he tried to hide it. Which would be really bad, bad and unavoidable.

"What's wrong?" Asked Rift.

"It's just, I think we should break up." Responded Phoenix without even looking up at Rift's face.

The atmosphere completely changed. Phoenix continued to stare at the concrete floor of the locker room to hide his expression. Rift bent over to scan Phoenix's face anyways. Sand coming out of his plain brown hair.

"What's wrong?" Rift repeated.

"It's just, if I become famous, then we can't be together anyways. Because, then everyone would find out that I was you know…"

"That you were, what? Gay!?" Rift stood up from the bench throwing his arms out. Sand splattering all over the floor. "So what? You're gay Phoenix. It's not that big of a deal anymore. You know I wish that sometimes... That sometimes you would see it that way too. I'm sick of hiding. I want to go out with you, I wish we could do things like go out to dinner, or see a movie. I want to kiss you out in public and tell people that you're all mine Phoenix!"

"You don't get it." Said Phoenix standing up to meet Rift. "It's not just that people will chastise me. I don't want me being gay to be my only focus. I want to be known for more than that. My abilities and strengths. Ever since Ice Crusher came out as gay it's all anyone has been talking about for better or for worse. I don't just want to be that gay hero. I'm better than that."

"But Phoenix, you are more then "just that gay hero". I know that. People will know that.You know that right?".

"But what's the point in trying anyway?" Phoenix said putting on a stone cold façade."This is just a phase, it's not like it means anything anyways."

Rift dropped the glass heart as it shattered to the concrete ground. Both boys stood still for a moment as they stared at the sad broken thing.

"I can mend it…"

Phoenix lit a fire in his hand as he bent over towards the glass pieces.

"Don't bother," said Rift. "I mean. It's just. Glass."

Rift grabbed his backpack before flinging it over his shoulder, and walking out the door.

Phoenix sat in the locker room with his back pressed up against the locker. Tears began to brim the edge of his brown eyes before spilling down his freckled cheeks.

THUD!

The sound of something falling in the single stall bathroom broke the silence. Phoenix's head snapped up turning towards the noise. Phoenix became really quiet, as he could now hear slight panicked breathing coming out of the other side of the bathroom door. Quietly, Phoenix began walking towards the bathroom lighting a fire in his hand.

Phoenix stood in front of the door listening intently. The breathing of the person on the other side of the door became steady now. Phoenix kicked the door flinging it wide open.

Quixotic jolted his little pale hands covering his mouth. His green eyes wide behind his scraggly black hair as he stared at Phoenix. Quixotic finally took his hands off of his mouth, his quivering lips opened with a slight whine.

"I..I didn't see anything." Quixotic squeaked out.

That's something a liar would say. Thought Phoenix. Why was he here anyways? Why was he spying? Before Phoenix responded he put his fiery hand on Quixotic's shoulder pinning him to the grimmy green bathroom wall.

"That's right you DIDN'T see anything." Phoenix seathed.

Quixotic wiggled in Phoenix's fiery grasp uncomfortably.

"Oww! Ahh! Please stop!" Cried Quixotic. Tears streamed out of his green eyes. "It burns! Ahh!"

Breaking up with Rift wasn't a waste, Phoenix had to reassure himself of that.

"You will not go around spreading any rumors!" Said Phoenix. "But that's right, who would believe a lying little defect like you anyways? You were lying about having powers, and now you're lying about my sexualty, all because you're an attention whore. I'm not the fag! You're the fag! Ya, everyone will believe that one won't they? That you're a little cock sucker."

"But... you'll leave a mark."

Quixotic glared up into Phoenix's burning brown eyes. Even though his green eyes were watering with a mixture of pain and fear. He was somehow threatening the bigger bully. That sort of defiance made Phoenix's eye twitch.

"Oh?" Phoenix said, threw his teeth. "I think you got this mark from playing jucker ball. That's what I saw."

"I did not... Ahh!" Quixotic screamed.

Phoenix pressed his fiery hand into Quixotics pail shoulder.

"It was a really bad game for you." Hissed Phoenix. "You just keep getting hurt, and it's all your fault."

Phoenix got sick of looking at his face. Something about that defiant face makes him want to tear it to pieces.

"I didn't...you were the reason...the burn mark..."

Phoenix kept his flames going, persistently glaring at Quixotic. Who was now crying.

"It's my fault! I got this burn mark while playing!"

"What? Is that all?" Asked Phoenix with a sadistic grin. "I basically dragged you through the game we just lost! Maybe if you weren't such a pathetic defect we would have won. Apologize! Apologize for being a defect! Apologies for being the scum that stuck to my boot today!"

The fire burned so badly that Quixotic couldn't think straight. All he could focus on was the searing pain that burned into his shoulder bone.

"I'm sorry!" Quixotic bursted out through his tears. "I'm so sorry for being a defect! I'm sorry!"

"You're sorry for what?" Grinned Phoenix.

"I'm sorry for being the scum that stuck to your boot today!" Screamed Quixotic.

Phoenix finally let go of Quixotic's shoulder. Leaving the boy to slump on the grimmy green floor.

"See that wasn't so bad was it?" Laughed Phoenix.

Quixotic slowly looked up at Phoenix through his scraggly black bangs. Tears streamed out of his green eyes as they stared at him. Phoenix's wicked grin flattened at the sight. His mouth opened then closed again.

"Tch!" Scoffed Phoenix.

Turning his back on Quixotic Phoenix walked out of the bathroom, then walked out of the locker room. Leaving Quixotic crying on the dirty bathroom floor.

The memory of that day about 19 years ago was still fresh in Phoenix's mind. Phoenix stared at the dingy dirt covered bathroom floor where he left Quixotic crying all thoughts years ago. The floor was miraculously even more dirty now then it was then, with grim and dust caking it since the school closed down and was abandoned about 10 years ago.

Suddenly a shadow interrupted Phoenix's train of thought as he wiped his head around. Only to see his own shartling reflection in the shattered mirror of the dimly lit bathroom. Phoenix definitely looked different then he did back when he was here last as a 16 year old. His once bright starry brown eyes, now faded with dark spots underneath. His dyed bright fiery hair a dull orange and laying flat on his head in a messy ponytail that hasn't been brushed in weeks. He looked starkly different from the Phoenix who used to bully Quixotic in this very bathroom. He looked very tired.

Phoenix looked around the abandoned school bathroom for his old nemesis once again. Before pulling the invite out of his black vest.

{ Ignited, }

You're invited to my birthday party! =D

When: 3/26 at 11:59 pm

{ Where: Meet me where the glass heart shattered. <3 }

Could he have been wrong? Tricked? Why high school of all places? The low note of the little dorks life.

RING! RING!

Phoenix jumped at the sound of the phone. Groping in his pants pocket he pulled out the cracked phone flipping it open. He hated the user names on it, but he couldn't change it.

My bestest friend Quixotic: Hey Ignited, keep that old flip phone I gave you? You better have, I put you on my family plan.

#1 hero Ignited: Quit the chit chat fucker. What's with the crypted message? Where the fuck are you? You better not be pulling some trick.

My bestest friend Quixotic: You messaged me back :)

#1 hero Ignited: I knew you were up to something. What's your game?

My bestest friend Quixotic: Game? Me? Never. Unless you're talking about party games. :p

My bestest friend Quixotic: Also I'm here, and I know you are too. I watched you walk through the door. You're my favorite hero. I'm so honored you made it. <3

My bestest friend Quixotic: In fact you came a little too early, it's only 10:00pm. I needed more time to get ready >w<. You're so incosetarite sometimes. -w-.

My bestest friend Quixotic: Do me a favor. It's a formal event, so put on the tuxedo I left in your old gym locker and met me in the gym. <3

Phoenix slipped the phone back into his pocket and looked around the abandoned mold covered locker room. Until he got to his rusted red locker. There was indeed a dark red tuxedo with a black vest inside with his exact measurements.

"Tch, like hell I would."

Phoenix slammed the rusted door closed leaving the outfit inside untouched. He began walking out toward the gym down the leaky hallway. When he got to the gym the first thing that hit him was the stench. It reeked of a sickly odor, something about it was uncanny. He unconsciously scrunched up his nose as he walked inside.

"Oh, Ignited why do I even bother?" Pouted Quixotic. "I mean, I just texted you that it was a formal event."

Phoenix could hardly see inside of the dimly lit room. But from what he could tell Quixotic stood at the end of the long frilly table next to a victorian style chair. He wasn't usually dressed so nicely, but Quixotic wore a silk green shirt with a black vest that had a twin tail coat.

"You dress like a homeless hitchhiker." Scoffed Quixotic. Phoenix flinched as Quixotic picked up a knife that was laying on the table."You know, sometimes I think you actively try to make my life more difficult." Quixotic sneard jabbing the knife towards Phoenix.

Before bringing the knife down on the cake that sat in front of him, cutting it into nice even slices before licking the frosting off the knife.

"Okay, Quixotic. What are you up to?" Phoenix's muscles stayed tense as he began walking over towards the mad man. "It's not even your birthda-"

Phoenix stopped in the middle of his sentence. The smell wafted in his face stronger now than ever. Where was it even coming from? Not even the bathroom of the old decaying school smells this bad. Phoenix felt that if he got any closer to Quixotic that he was going to puke.

"Of course it's not my birthday." Replied Quixotic. "It's her birthday." Quixotic pointed to the victorian chair that was next to him.

Phoenix had to squint to see in the dimness. But he finally saw her. Her sunken eyes and almost non existent nose. Her now dull red hair that used to have a green streak in it. Her small rotting body slumped in the victorian chair Quixotic stood next to.

"Would you like a slice of cake Dr. Baleful?"

Quixotic handed the corpse women a slice of cake. Phoenix finally lost it, throwing up all over the gym floor.

"Damn it Quixotic what the fuck is wrong with you?!" Yelled Phoenix. "She's been dead for over a decade!"

"You're the one who killed her!" Cried Quixotic.

"Bury her you psycho! Leave her in peace!"

"But Phoenix, it's because of you she'll never be at peace!" Quixotic yelled. "Not until we have completed our work and our plan for a better future success!And you're not going to stand in the way!"

A huge five foot pencil flew at Phoenix out of the corner of his eye. Phoenix dodged as it stuck to the gymnasium floor.

"What the fuck went wrong in you life that you can't bury something that's long dead!" Yelled Phoenix.

"What went wrong in my life?!" Yelled Quixotic. "It all went wrong when I moved to America!" The man who threw the giant pencil threw another one aimed right at Phoenix's head. "It went wrong when I became king of the trash heap!"