Chapter Thirty-Four
JJ looked at the spot Travis had been seconds
before, too stunned to speak. While he'd seen him train, he had no idea Travis was
capable of such feats, and he was equally awed and terrified. He didn't like
the look of malice on Travis's face when he teleported away. Though he didn't
think Travis had meant to, he'd broadcasted his thoughts, and JJ knew nothing
good would come of this. He drove to Travis's neighborhood and was shocked at
what he found there.
Putting the car in park, he rushed over to
where Travis was slamming his parents against their brick house with
telekinetic blasts. "Stop. This isn't you."
Travis turned, eyes like hot coals. "This
doesn't concern you." He flung his hand, and a wave of flames slashed JJ's arm,
knocking him on his ass.
He grabbed his arm, groaning as pain shot up
it. "Fuck!"
Travis's hardened expression softened a
moment. Then he turned back to his parents, white fireballs aglow in each
hand.
Not thinking of his own safety, JJ got between
them. "Don't do this. They're your parents."
"Step aside, or you can join them." He made to
attack JJ when two Black Hawk helicopters circled overhead. Soldiers repelled
from ropes and surrounded them.
"Everyone on the ground now!"
JJ did as they said, but Travis readied
to unleash fireballs on them. They opened fire, riddling his body with bullets.
"No!" JJ screamed. Travis staggered a bit,
closed his eyes, and the helicopters exploded. He laughed, then disappeared,
leaving behind a pool of blood. JJ was in full panic mode. Travis had hurt him,
but he was still concerned about him.
Everything happened at lightning speed after
that. He called 9-1-1 and waited for them to arrive. Meanwhile, the soldiers
still on their feet searched the area, going door-to-door. Then they ordered
everyone to stay inside.
Once the ambulance arrived, the EMTs wanted to
treat his burns, but he told them to treat Travis's parents first. Next, he
went to check on the twins. Then he called their emergency contact, Jenny
Adams. She arrived with a man who introduced himself as Agent Anderson.
He explained everything that happened, and
their faces went white.
Agent Anderson whistled. "I knew he was
powerful, but what you're describing is on a whole `nother level."
"Sweetie, let's
clean up that burn of yours," Jenny said.
She had him run his arm under cold water for a
few minutes, and she put some of Travis's burn ointment on it and dressed the
area in gauze. "That should hold you for a bit, but you really should get that
looked at ASAP."
"Kinda hard with
World War III going on."
Agent Anderson cut in. "So, remind me again,
what set off Travis?
JJ's cheeks warmed. "We were being intimate,
and afterward, I made a crack about his weight."
"Talk about overreactions," Agent Anderson
said.
Jenny swatted his arm. "He's a teenager, and
this is his first relationship. Of course, he overacted. Though, that doesn't
justify his actions.
Agent Anderson's phone buzzed, and he went
into the kitchen to answer it. He came back grim-faced. He explained that his
bosses had told him since he was supposed to be Travis's handler and had failed
to secure him for the extraction team, he was off the case. Furthermore, when
they found Travis, they would terminate him on sight and collect his body for
study.
JJ's stomach flipped. "They can't do that, can
they?"
"Kid, we're talking about the United States
Government. They can do whatever the fuck they
want."
On that somber note, JJ excused himself to get
some air. Soldiers were still milling about, so he flagged one over and asked
him if he could head home yet. After radioing his superiors, the soldier told
JJ he could go but warned him to head straight there.
***
Once JJ got home, he sent up Google alerts for
any news stories about injured boys matching Travis's descriptions. Then he sat
and thought. Could he continue being with Travis, knowing he was capable of
such violence? He didn't know, and that scared him.
Author's Note: I know I'm a bastard
for leaving ya hanging like this. Next time, Pro's
true origin are revealed and things get all sci fi as.
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