C R E S C E N T

act v - the command center, pt.2

Returning his focus to scanning the roof, Sameer flinches as he sees a familiar shadow standing a few feet away from him. The man steps out into the sun and Sameer's eyes grow wide: that mesmerizing, classically handsome smile, those shoulders, that confident stance with his gym bag slung over his shoulder. "T-Tyler? What are you doing up here?"

Tyler's face becomes playfully incredulous, he flaps his lips. "This is my spot, shorty. I'll be asking the questions. What are you doing up here?"

            "I mean, I'm--I was just..." Are the only words Sameer can muster as he watches him, the reflected light of the sun makes Tyler's eyes seem that much more magnetizing. Sameer can see all of those gorgeous flecks of gold circling the eclipse of his pupils. His heartbeat is so quick now, breaths coming shorter.

            "Sometimes I come here just to think. It's a good place to clear my mind." Tyler does that thing where his gaze deepens, becoming a heavier weight for Sameer to bear. The man lets his duffle slide off his shoulder and hit the ground as he slowly starts to cross the distance between them. "You look a little tense today. Shaken. Everything okay?"

Sameer holds his spot, fighting the smile that wants to come to his lips the closer Tyler gets. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"You always look like you have so much more to say." Tyler replies, making an inquisitive face at Sameer's short remark. "You should speak up a bit more." He's standing in front of Sameer now, there's just enough space for Tyler to reach out and slide his hands around his hips. "You know, I like it when you're confident." Just enough space for Sameer to reach up and wrap his arms around Tyler's neck so they can fit their bodies together like the pieces of a puzzle he's been yearning to complete since they've met. 

Sameer feels trapped by Tyler's gaze in the best way, but at the same time those affirming words build his confidence enough to take his own step forward. Tyler smiles that cocky smile that immediately fills his stomach with butterflies, fluttering away his worries about his inadequacy as a warrior. Wait--

--he called me shorty, but I'm transformed.

Sameer realizes it too late. His eyes get wide, and he reaches for his brooch to summon the tiara, but Tyler's hand is faster, around his throat in seconds. He slams Sameer to the edge of the building. His teeth start to extend and sharpen, those illustrious brown eyes sinking into darkness as they become orbs of black, the stubs of horns start to protrude from his forehead. The more Sameer tries to gasp for air, the harder it becomes.

            "I was a little premature in calling you pretty. You're going to look so much better when you're dead."

🌙💦🔥⚡

            There are colors all around them and they all read the same thing. Anger. He can only fight them off for so long, holding his powers back is only hindrance to him, but these are innocent people. More than likely the work of a demon.

            "Andre! You need to focus!" Luna's voice comes from his wrist communicator. "Fight smarter not harder! Focus!"

"I'm trying!" He blocks a punch but somebody sweeps his legs out from under him right after it. On his way down, Andre twists his body into a handstand position and whirls his body so that his legs spin like the blades of a helicopter. He generates just enough flames from his heels to keep them backed away from him. They don't seem to care for their own lives though because they converge on him again regardless of the burn risks. "Okay then." Andre jumps into the air high above their heads.

"You're thinking with your soldier brain. Remember who you are under the transformation!" Luna replies.

            "Right. Their colors. They all look angry. That doesn't help me none. They're not possessed, I can't exorcize a demon that isn't there."