ASBO-Boy - The Elementals: Part 2

Elixir watched a strange phenomenon happen to her brother over the next few weeks. It began the day Siren arrived and she recognised his feelings from the off. He was attracted to her, that much was obvious. But things were never that simple with Kyle – every feeling he had was multiplied by his power and his temper. So to actually see him cool down and truly control himself gave her mixed feelings.

In part she was happy for him, but privately she found it difficult to like the intoxicating influence Siren seemed to have on him.

Beacon too became irritatingly competitive. Whereas before, in training, Kyle would have risen to the challenge, now he seemed to exude more quiet confidence. In their first few training sessions the Overseers explained Siren’s power. She enhanced the abilities of those around her, particularly if she was in physical contact with them.

At first Elixir had marvelled at the sheer amounts of water she could now control. In forming shapes there was more detail, when she created a wall there was more stability and when she used it offensively it packed more of a wallop. It became increasingly clear over time that this was what was allowing Kyle to control his abilities and his fuse.

The confidence of the team shot through the roof. Beacon, stronger than ever, beamed with pride as he lifted a double-decker bus one day. Kyle slowly learned the ability to freeze water and between Elixir and Swelter combined they could now create icicle weapons for Beacon to throw, or even build towering walls of ice.

Siren herself grew in confidence and popularity between the two boys and they pranced about to catch her attention. Whenever Elixir hinted her disapproval in private Kyle would get all hot and bothered again.

After a while she just bottled her feelings.

**

The fire died down almost instantly as Swelter climbed through the hole in the building, followed closely by Elixir and Siren. Beacon quickly dispatched the loose steel supports from their path and cleared the ground of rubble and detritus.

Behind them they could hear the crowd baying.

“Hold on!” Beacon shouted to the trapped civilians trapped in the body of the Train Station as he lifted a wall out of his way.

The path was quickly cleared and the people began to clamber out of the building towards the emergency services gathered outside.

When the good deed was done the press gathered around to interview them. Beacon, as ever, stepped forward to answer their questions. Elixir watched his steady, re-assuring actions. He was a natural, she gave him that. Despite her brother's protestations, Beacon barely had an arrogant bone in him. That is until Siren had turned up. They hung back watching the spokesman at work. Elixir’s eyes drifted over to Siren who was staring at the ground trying to look as small as possible. Her gaudy purple cloak really didn’t suit her, although she did like hiding behind her hood.

Elixir had barely spoken to the girl. Vaguely she considered getting to know her, but as she watched Kyle’s eyes resting on the shimmering purple outfit, hopes of her ever liking the girl faded.

“What’s this?” Siren muttered, picking up a loose piece of rubble. Swelter leaned over her shoulder to look and frowned. Elixir watched him as he studied it. Curious, she drifted over and examined it for herself.

The chunk of sandstone bore the edge of a graffiti symbol. She recognised it instantly as the symbol of the Underground. Would-be terrorists who liked spraying walls. They were harmless for the most part but their connection to the explosion at the Train Station was worth pursuing. Swelter clearly had the same thought as he took the chunk off her and examined it further.

“I’ve seen this around.” Siren said, airily.

“It’s everywhere. It’s nothing to worry about.” Swelter replied. “People like spraying things on walls.”

“I knew a boy who liked spraying things on walls.” She muttered sadly, Elixir watched her closely.

“Really? Where is he now?”

“Oh – I think he went to Sandfields.” She replied. Swelter lost interest and dropped the stone in amongst the dust. Around them the people of Swansea were waving and cheering.

“And who is this new member? Does she have a power?” Elixir heard one of the reporters ask. “Her name’s Siren.” Beacon replied proudly turning to wave her forward. Obediently she drifted over to join him. Swelter and Elixir watched as his arm snaked around her shoulders proudly. Her brother’s hand slipped into hers as they stood watching them. His hand was cool. He was smiling, but Elixir knew when her brother was forcing it, she’d watched him do it for sixteen years. It was only in the last few weeks that he’d actually started to genuinely smile.

With their first mission complete as the New Elementals, they returned to the apartment. Siren went straight to her room and Beacon drifted off to meditate. Elixir followed her brother out onto the balcony. The sun was setting again and the sky was glowing red. Winter was firmly upon them now and the air was cool.

“Warm me up,” She muttered, wrapping her arms around his neck. Without a word he complied and steam rose off them as she closed her eyes. For this moment at least, he was hers.