Up in Flames [Audrey/Warren/Milo/Jim/Rosetta]

[Warren Peace]

Warren inhaled a deep breath, executing one of the classic methods of stress-reduction: banging one's head on a wall.

Warren rubbed his forehead, whispering "Ow..."

He just couldn't believe that this kind of insanity was happening.

Here he was, dressed in his dad's tux. He was standing outside the Grand Floridian's ridiculously fancy restaurant, waiting for his girlfriend... AND HE WAS PAYING THE BILL.

Never again... Warren moaned to himself, running his fingers through his dark brown hair. Taking an elastic out of his pocket, he put up his long locks into a bun, two streaks of red running along the right side of his head.

For the final touch, he slipped on a pair of glasses, all for his act as a nerd. Warren winced... the whole thing was just wrong. Sure, Audrey was fun and all, but she didn't even know the real Warren! But the real Warren was a flame-throwing thug...

And she couldn't know that. Not now... She'd realize that he'd been lying the whole time, and worse, probably figure out who set Warren up to date her.

Please, just kill me now... Warren thought bittery.

All that was left was to wait for his date to show up...

Warren shuddered.

[Milo Thatch]

Milo James Thatch, linguist, cartographer, and King of an Ancient Civilization, was wearing leather. Leather pants, leather vest, the works. And he had in a fake earring. And was not wearing his glasses. Never in a million years, did he see himself in a situation like this. Yet somehow, he was.

Milo squinted, trying to make out the figure of Warren. He leaned over and whispered to Jim, who was sitting beside him at a table.

"Are you sure about this?" He said reluctantly.

[Jim Hawkins]

"Positive." came Jim's reply. He himself was dresed in not exactly his normal attire... Jim had used up almost all of his nerve to dress himself in this ridiculous costume. He was wearing a white polo with an argyle sweater-vest, completing the look with blue jeans and converse high-tops. For once, he wasn't wearing his trademark gold earring, and his usual braided ponytail was undone. I look like a friggin' prep...

He glanced over at Warren. Audrey hadn't shown up yet, but the pyro sure had... He was banging his head against the wall.

Remember the boxers... Jim thought in an attempt to persuade the sixth sense, if Warren even had one. Jim wasn't so sure that he had one, either...

Jim turned his gaze back to Milo, leaning into the table to whisper. "Remember, we're just flies on the wall. Don't attract Warren's attention, or Audrey's..."

"And the earring's actually a good look for you. You should keep it... I can make it a real earring, if you want. I did my own piercing, after all. Just a quick safety pin through the ear..."

[Audrey Ramirez]

Audrey stood outside the door to the Grand Floridian hyper-ventilating to the max. How could she do this? She figured her and Warren would be some sort of one date thing, but now she was back again pretending to be someone she wasn't! Not that she didn't want to hang out with Warren, he was really cool, despite the glasses, but he didn't even know the real Audrey!

She fiddled with her dress and hair for once last time. Rosetta had saved the day with another miraculous makeover. Audrey was wearing a blue dress that reached just past her knees, and some dark blue flats with a bow on them, despite Roetta's begging to wear a pair of stilettos. Audrey and stilettos just did not mix! And then the hair was a whole other planet! Audrey's hair had been washed, blow dryed, fluffed, and sprayed into two low curly pig tails. She had to admit that she didn't look bad, but what she wouldn't give to have on a set of overalls!

With a sigh Audrey marched into the cafe, squeezing her eyes shut as she pushed open the door. Work your way from the outside in with the silverware... Boys love compliments... Bat your eyes... Be yourself.... Audrey snorted at the last piece of advice Rosetta had given her, maybe that wasn't quite the best one, but she had to pretend to listen.

She scanned the crowds for the red streaked hair, Warren's best feature. Now that was awesome hair. He wasn't hard to spot, he actually looked sort of uncomfortable, though she couldn't see why.

"Umm, Warren? Hey." Audrey mumbled quietly as she gave him a tentative tap on the shoulder. He still had on his glasses, which kind of gave him a bug-eyed look, but otherwise he looked pretty cool even she had to admit. But why did he wear his hair in a bun?

[Warren Peace]

Warren whirled around from his position facing the wall as someone tapped him on the shoulder. It took all of his restraint to keep his flames under control...

It was Audrey.

"Oh, hey Au--"

Warren stopped short as his eyes registered what he was looking at. The pyro stood there with his mouth slack for a split second, momentarily forgetting what he was going to say.

She was stunning. Audrey stood shyly behind him, resplendent in a blue sleeveless. Her dark, thick locks were pulled into twin ponytails, draping on each side of her head. Warren absentmindedly noted that she was wearing flats... He had always preferred flats to teetering stillettos. It was beyond him how girls managed to balance in those things, and plus it was embarassing when they towered over him in those ridiculous five-inch heels!

"Uh, hey." Warren finished, giving a small nod of 'hello'.

Warren nearly slapped himself as he fought for more words. Say something! All he could do was look at her... purdy...

"You, uh... look great." Warren stuttered, rubbing the back of his neck in embarassment. He wished that he had left his hair down to hide his red ears...

"You wanna get a table? I already checked in for our reservation."

Not waiting for an answer, he took her hand and led her over to a seclusive table for two, remembering just in time to pull her chair out for her. Be suave... don't let the situation get to you, Warren reminded himself, pulling in a silent deep breath. Warren took the seat opposite from her, giving a distracted glance at the two men seated opposite them. They were quite the odd characters...

Warren focused back on Audrey. "So... what's up?"

[Audrey Ramirez]

Audrey smiled shyley as Warren complimented her. She coudn't believe someone actually thought she looked good. Scary she could understand, but... pretty?

"Hey Warren, nice to see you again." She said brightening her smile. He really did look good in a tux, with his dark brown eyes and tanned skin. His teeth looked so white!

Audrey nodded her head complyingly as Warren mentioned a table and led her over to a quiet one in the corner, even being nice enough as to pull out the chair for her! She glanced over to a nearby table where a stringy guy sat with an earring and leather outfit. She snorted disapprovingly, she hated wannabes.

Audrey turned her attention back to Warren as he asked her how she was. What would a peppy and pretty girl say to this? Truthfully she had been fiddling around with phones since they'd last met, trying to work out the mechanics, but how dumb did that sound?

"I've been good, I, uh, went shopping and just sort of have been, ya know, hanging out." She said non-conclusively. That sounded... normal. "What about you?" Audrey asked intently. It was odd to think of what Warren would do in his free time. He came off as a nerd, but he didn't really act it.

[Warren Peace]

Oh, snap. What was he gonna say? Warren mulled over the truth in his mind. He had nearly set fire to the Tree of Life when he had been in Animal Kingdom, caught up on his villain studies homework, gotten his hair touched up...

"I've been catching up on schoolwork." Warren answered. At least it was sort of the truth, if not the whole truth...

Warren absetmindedly traced his tatooed wrist, wracking his brain for something else to say.

"Oh, have you figured out what you want to eat yet?" Warren asked, picking up his menu. "I hear they've got a really good nachos appetizer..." Warren pretended to scan his own menu, frantically trying to think up some more conversation starters. For inspiration, he glanced around the dining room again, his eyes traveling over the two men sitting opposite them.

Warren's eyes wided and his nostrils flared as he recognized the younger man's face. Jim! The pyro's gaze whipped to the other man, studying it. It took a bit longer for Warren to recognize Milo without glasses, but it was him nonetheless. What are they DOING here?!

Warren knew the answer to that question all to well. They were spying on him and Audrey! He returned his gaze to the menu, gritting his teeth. Warren casually slid a hand under the table, out of sight from Audrey, then ignited it to vent his temper. They'd BETTER not try anything and keep out of sight from Audrey... or he would personally see to it that they were turned into barbeque.

[Audrey Ramirez]

Schoolwork? Audrey had to admit Warren was kind of odd. He had the accessories of a total nerd... but he really didn't seem one. Of course who was she to judge personalities. And... was that a tattoo on his wrist. Okay that was so totally cool.

"Did that, ah, hurt?" Audrey said, gesturing at the tattoo he traced. "I never pegged you as an inked kind of guy." She said nonchalantly. She didn't want to sound like she knew too much about them, they really weren't a very girly thing.

"What I want to eat... right." Audrey scanned the menu quickly, something that wouldn't leave you with bad breath, nothing that could upset the stomach, and nothing that would leave a stain. As yummy as Nacho's sounded they totally negated those rules. "Umm... I think I'll get some spaghetti please." Audrey said complacently. Okay so it didn't fit in with any of the rules, it was still delicious.

She turned her head up only to see Warren's furious expression. "Um... Did I say something are you okay..." She said gingerly. "If its that much of a problem I really don't need the spaghetti..."

[Jim Hawkins]

Jim absetentmindedly glanced from his drink to Warren and Audrey, reminding him in the back of his mind not to look like a stalker. Besides, everything seemed to be going fine. They were talking, Audrey was totally into Warren, and maybe, he was even a little...

Nah, that just wasn't characteristic of Warren.

As Jim glanced back to the couple, he nearly jumped out of his chair. Warren was looking right at them.

Crud. He'd spotted them. And even worse, Jim read the smoldering anger in Warren's dark eyes.

Jim fidgeted. Keeping Warren's temper under control was like enjoying Scroop's company. There was a very, very small chance that it could be done.

"Milo..." Jim whispered, simaltaneously throwing Warren a 'cool it' glance. "Don't look now, but he knows we're here."

[Warren Peace]

"Huh?" Warren said, Audrey's comment pulling him back to reality as he extinguished his hand under the table. Hopefully Audrey hadn't felt the heat...

"What? Oh, ah, no... You go ahead. The spaghetti sounds nice."

Warren pulled his hand out from under the table and pinched the bridge of his nose. I have to keep my temper under check... Or else this whole thing goes up in flames. Warren groaned inwardly at the pun. Hardy-har-har.

"Sorry... I got a bit of a headache." He used as an excuse.

It wasn't a total lie. Jim was a headache, after all.

Warren's thoughts drifted back to Audrey's earlier question. "Oh, my flames?" Warren said, rolling up his sleeves to display both of his tatooed wrists.

"No, it didn't hurt that much. It's over pretty fast." Warren was about to object to him not being a tatoo kind of guy, but remembered his cover.

"Yeah... They remind me of my dad." Warren said carefully, pulling the most believable truth from his head. Sure the flames on his wrists reminded him of Dad... they share the ability to conjure fire. "He's not around much." Warren said, his tone indicating that Audrey was not to ask any questions about his dad.

Warren winced, hoping that he hadn't upset her. "I was thinking about the jalepeno pizza..." Warren recovered, pointing it out to Audrey on the menu. He used the distraction to throw Jim and Milo a 'get out or I'm gonna fry your arses off' kind of look.

[Audrey Ramirez]

Spaghetti. "Well if that's okay then..." Audrey murmered still watching Warren warily as he pinched the bridge of his nose. Gosh guys were hard to understand.

"Oh headaches, I hate those, I rarely ever get them, but when I do they're killers. After working with such loud tools It doesn't-" Oh crap. Audrey wasn't supposed to mention tools. "I mean like beauty tools," She said as quick save, "Hair-dryers, you know how loud they can be, so um I don't really get many headaches." Audrey explained hastily. Jeez, couldn't she just have a normal no worries talk with this guy.

Reminded him of his dad... Oh his sore subject. Audrey decided not to dig to much into that, despite his harmless look, he seemed like a guy who could pack a punch. Even if he wore glasses. "Oh well they look really cool anyway." She murmered hastily.

"Jalapeno pizza? Mmm... that looks good, I love hot foods." Audrey said absentmindedly reading the description where Warren pointed his finger. Definitely looked good. Tempting enough to switch but she didn't want to be a copy cat.

[Warren Peace]

"Same here..." Warren said, his voice trailing off. "I like spicy stuff. It gives me a boost."

Warren emphasized 'boost' just slightly, but looked very meaningfully at Jim and Milo. Satisfied with Audrey's distraction, Warren's face twisted in a scowl and stared hard at the two boys. Slowly, carefully, Warren shifted in his seat to get a clear view at Jim and Milo.

But it wasn't carefully enough.

Warren knocked over a glass as he tried to treat the boys to his most murderous glare, spilling water all over the table. Warren fumbled with it as he tore his eyes away from Jim and Milo with a bit of a delayed reaction. He hastily started mopping up the water with his napkin, stealing involuntary glances at the boys.

Inside, Warren's temper was boiling over. They were going to ruin everything. What was it with them, anyway? Did they think that he couldn't handle her? Or that he would blow it - literally? Warren gritted his teeth. Did they honestly think that he was just some pyrokinetic psycho who couldn't handle a stupid date with one girl, especially someone as mellow as Audrey?

"Sorry." Warren said flatly, his tone giving away his temper.