Peek a boo I found you [Alfred/Mandee]

[Warren Michael Pierce]

So needless to say
I'm odds and ends
But that's me stumbling away

Slowly learning that life is OK.
Say after me
It's no better to be safe than sorry

Warren had decided today he wasn’t going to be cooped up in his room to write. He needed some inspiration and music just wasn’t cutting it today. The sky was beautiful and the sun was shining perfect weather to crawl underneath a tree. Grabbing his notebook and pencil from his desk he began his walk down to the grounds. He caught himself almost in a jog figuring that his powers were ushering him forward. So he began to feel his molecules heat up as he jumped in to hyperspeed. Actually to him it felt like he was walking, everything was just frozen in time around him. He laughed enjoying himself walking around he shifted things around that would make people think was that always there? Walking on he made his way out of the doors and on to the grounds. He spotted a tree that looked perfect and walked on. He saw sprinklers going the water droplets almost suspended in air. He brush by the with his fingers making them fall to the ground.

Getting to his destination he settled himself down pulling himself out of hyperspeed. He watched as everyone who seemed to be still was now moving and chattering with the people around them. He noted some people were solitary like him and wanted to go be social but today was for writing. He plopped himself down on the ground opening his notebook. He clicked his pen open but there was still nothing he had been drawing blanks for the past few weeks. So he doodled on the paper and people watched waiting for inspiration to hit him. It seemed like he had spent hours there but in reality it was only ten minutes tops. He fidgeted around clicking his pen open and closed. It was terrible when he couldn’t focus, usually he could sit writing for hours. This bothered him and he shut his eyes just letting the light breeze that picked up hit his face. It was amazing what a slight breeze could do on a hot day. His back pressed against the tree bark, his feet extended with the notebook in his lap.

He dozed off for a moment or two before his eyes opened back up at laughing close by. He picked his pen up from off the grass and clipped it to his notebook like he should have done before. He rubbed her back of his neck for a moment and ruffled his shaggy looking hair. Looking back at the blank piece of paper he began to write down little scribbles of nothing. He then let his mind search for possible stories until a memory popped up. He was young and running around his home… well a laboratory at the time. He was playing a game with a man who had blonde hair and glasses. He thought to himself he hadn’t heard from Alfred since he was about eleven. This thought brought his mood down for a moment wondering where he went. He never forgot the promise the older man made that he would always be around. Laughing out loud at what a naïve child he used to be, not one could make a promise like that. With that he went back to scribbling down words.

Word Count:543
Tag:Alfred/Mandee
Notes: Made it!
Lyrics: Take on me- A-HA

[Alfred Franklin Jones]

A PIZZA HUT A PIZZA HUT

KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AND A PIZZA HUT
MCDONALDS MCDONALDS

[/color][/font]
----------------------------------

Alfred was continuing to keep an eye on students, and generally keep an eye on what was happening at New World Academy in general. He still didn't trust Ivan any farther than he could throw the guy (...though perhaps that was a bad adjective, given that Alfred had super strength), but his fervent need to start recruiting because of Ivan had died down thanks to a conversation with Erin. He didn't want to be left behind, but he didn't want to be the one to start anything either.

So, for now, he'd reserved himself to an observation role. It was less excitement than he would have liked, always being one for action and adventure, but he would cope. He didn't want to be the one to kick start World War III.

A curve ball did come, with what limited amount of patience Alfred possessed...just not the one that he was expecting at all.

Warren Pierce. Alfred could remember the name from a good decade or two prior. Apparently someone in the government had taken his ideas to make a real Captain America seriously after all...or maybe someone else just had a similar idea. Whatever the reason, Warren Pierce was, so far as Alfred knew, the first human to be purposely altered into a mutant.

Alfred didn't agree with all of their methods. He'd been in love with the idea of a super soldier since first reading Captain America in 1940, but his vision had always been of a young adult volunteer stepping forward, not a child. He also hadn't understood why Warren faced little contact with the outside world. That hardly seemed fair on a kid! Childhood was supposed to be a fun time! Hence why Alfred sneaked him out of the lab that one time. It may have made the guards throw a fit, but as soon as they realized that Alfred was someone with very high standing (though exactly what he was remained a secret), they obliged and finally started to let up on Warren's safeguards a little.

Eventually, though, Alfred and Warren had to part ways. Warren was growing older, and was in school, which meant that he had kids his own age to hang out with. There was also the fact that Warren might start to notice that Alfred wasn't aging. It was better to cut off their friendship then, before Warren started to ask questions. He was at the age where he'd start asking them before long too, yet not old enough that Alfred would actually trust him to keep the secret...

Alfred expected to never come face to face with Warren Pierce again. Yet, at New World Academy, he'd heard the name. The name struck a chord with him, though he'd shrugged it off almost immediately after first hearing it. Warren wasn't an entirely uncommon first name, neither was Pierce an uncommon last name. Alfred had a former boss with the surname Pierce!

Nevertheless, he'd done a bit of research on the guy. The age lined up, as did the power, the parents...everything. Warren Pierce was there, at New World Academy. And how he'd grown up too! Where physical appearances were concerned, he looked even older than his former older brother figure, Alfred. The nation honestly wasn't sure whether to approach Warren or just leave him be. Approaching Warren meant that he absolutely had to explain. There were no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Leaving it be, however, ran a heavy risk of Warren discovering nonetheless, and finding out on his own (and possibly telling others). It wasn't as though New World Academy was incredibly huge. He wouldn't be surprised if Warren hadn't seen him passing in the halls already. This was a matter that Alfred wanted to take into his own hands. Warren would either find out about him on Alfred's time, or not at all.

After a bit of wandering, Alfred eventually found the boy with the shaggy black hair seated on the ground outside of the school. There was little to no hesitance...once Alfred spotted the boy, he headed over straight away, approaching from behind. Then he cleared his throat, removing something from his pocket. "Heya kid! You still like ice cream?"

[/color]

That "something" turned out to be a still wrapped ice-cream sandwich, which he held out toward Warren. Other than a faint scar on his neck, Alfred looked remarkably the same as Warren would remember him from many years before.

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/SIZE][/font]
----------------------------------

TEMPLATE CREDIT: eliza @ shadowplay
SONG: Fast Food Song - Fast Food Rockers
WORD COUNT: 753
TAG: Warren/Shannon
NOTES: Alfred isn't going to beat around the bush. He's just going to march straight up to the kid and go 'hey!'[/color][/font]
----------------------------------
KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AND A PIZZA HUT

[/center][/blockquote]

[Warren Michael Pierce]

So needless to say
I'm odds and ends
But that's me stumbling away

Slowly learning that life is OK.
Say after me
It's no better to be safe than sorry

Warren continued to scribble hoping that something would pop up. He almost had a thought; he could feel it being created in his brain. But it was lost when a voice rang out from behind him. It sounded familiar but he couldn’t place it, his inner child almost shaking with happiness. He slowly shifted to look at who was talking and noticed a blonde man with glasses. He shifted his eyes over his face and he looked so familiar. But it couldn’t be the man hadn’t aged a minute since he had last laid eyes on him. He wanted to answer his question about ice cream but the words just wouldn’t come out. It was as if he was seeing a ghost in front of him. Looking around he wondered if someone was messing with his memories projecting them. There was no one else around or at least close enough to be able to do this.

“Yeah I do.”

Laughs a bit holding at his hand and taking the sandwich of delight. He glanced at it like there was something wrong with it. He began pealing the wrapper off slowly then took a bite. Noting that it was real and undeniably creamy to bite in to. He chewed on it for a moment trying to think of what to say next. There were so many questions that needed answered. First of all why had he left, or why was he not older. Alfred and Warren were now the same age; well Warren only looked a few years older than Alfred. Warren stood up the sandwich was still in his hands his eyes now wide. It took a while for his mind to process Alfred was real and in front of him but it was getting there slowly.

“Why? Why did you leave and never come back? Do you know how long I waited for you to come visit? Or how many times I would ask my mom to find out when you were coming to visit?”

Warren wasn’t exactly mad he just wanted questions answered. But he could feel a small fire in his belly even though he was never one to fight. He wouldn’t even dream of fighting Alfred either. Alfred was his brother, ok well Warren still considered him a brother he never stopped. That was the one thing that bothered Warren, he never stopped hoping Alfred would just drop back in and here he was in front of him. Warren feeling like he was acting a complete jerk for not even saying hi. He looked at the ground beating him self-up; if you looked hard enough you could still see the little child in him. Looking back up he almost thought that Alfred would be gone. There he was though standing before Warren looking as proud as ever.

Word Count:471
Tag:Alfred/Mandee
Notes: Sorry tired but I wanted to get a post in!
Lyrics: Take On Me- A-HA

[Alfred Franklin Jones]

A PIZZA HUT A PIZZA HUT

KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AND A PIZZA HUT
MCDONALDS MCDONALDS

[/color][/font]
----------------------------------

Upon hearing Warren's response to his inquiry, Alfred's grin widened. "Good."

[/color] He studied Warren as the young man took a bite. There was no doubt in Alfred's mind that this was the same Warren Pierce he'd known back in the 1990s. He'd grown considerably. He was a young man now, rather than the boy that Alfred had known.

Then the barrage of questions hit, and Alfred started to laugh, throwing his hands up in the air in mock surrender. "Whoa, slow down! I didn't realize I was being interrogated by the CIA!"[/color] Alfred wasn't avoiding the question, but he wanted to lighten the air as best as he could. Alfred was about to bestow a lot of information on Warren, and though Warren likely wanted answers, Alfred didn't want the conversation to be completely heavy handed. Not to mention that he was happy to see Warren again! Alfred always had a soft spot for children, and though Warren was no longer a child, he'd had the chance to see many of Warren's formative years. The way he looked down upon Warren could almost be likened to a proud father looking at what became of his child.

Alfred took a seat on the ground by Warren before taking out his own ice cream sandwich and attempting to answer the young man's many questions. "I know you're gonna hate to hear this. Arthur used to give me the excuse all the time, and it bugged me every time I heard it. But...a lot of stuff came up."[/color] Alfred scratched absentmindedly at the scar on his neck. A lot had come up indeed. Warren going off to school was the main driving point, but any lingering doubts he had about distancing himself from the little boy disappeared entirely with 9/11. There was no way he could let Warren see how 9/11 affected him, not at the time.

That was in the past though. Warren was an adult.

Alfred took a bite out of his ice cream sandwich before speaking once again. There was one question missing that Alfred was sure had passed through Warren's mind. "I know those can't be your only questions though."[/color] The corner of his mouth twitched into a smirk. "You're wondering why I haven't aged too, aren't you?"[/color]

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/SIZE][/font]
----------------------------------

TEMPLATE CREDIT: eliza @ shadowplay
SONG: Fast Food Song - Fast Food Rockers
WORD COUNT: 405
TAG: Warren/Shannon
NOTES: Mine's short too. XD[/color][/font]
----------------------------------
KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AND A PIZZA HUT

[/center][/blockquote]

[Warren Michael Pierce]

So needless to say
I'm odds and ends
But that's me stumbling away

Slowly learning that life is OK.
Say after me
It's no better to be safe than sorry

Warren looks a bit surprised by the joke slipping in there. It had been a long time since he had seen Alfred but couldn’t help let his lips twitch up a bit. Warren knew that both Alfred and him knew the CIA wouldn’t have been this nice about the questions. They would have had him tied up, possibly tortured a bit a starting to threaten body parts. Or at least that’s they way he saw it, he knew some CIA guys and they didn’t seem to friendly even when they smiled they still had some sort of scowl etched on there faces. Warren watched as Alfred began to laugh at his own joke. Warren paused a moment and wondered if this is where he picked up trying to be funny maybe subconsciously. Taking the last bite of his ice cream sandwich before it completely melted in his hands.

“You and I both know I’m not even close to the CIA’s crazy antics. It’s like think of me as the nice fluffy version of the CIA. The one that got recalled because people just laughed at it. I’m the words person to try and get information out of people. Hence you dodging the questions that I’m trying to get answered.”

Warren said this all in a playful banter, he wasn’t one to get serious too often. Mostly trying to make a lame joke here or there and sticking it in to conversation. It’s what made him Warren, the lady killer ha if that wasn’t a bad joke with in it’s self. His eyes kept looking Alfred over wondering what the government did to him to make him stay so young. Warren as a child knew Alfred was important but he just thought some sort of rich CEO type that had just taken a liking to him. Even when he would ask his parents they would say that’s classified information eve to them. Warren always wondered if he was some sort of man who shared Intel from other countries. That he came to visit and share secrets, but that thought died years ago when he finally worked it out that if he was. He one wouldn’t be in America or two allowed to take Warren outside the laboratory.

“A lot of stuff came up? You are going to give me a child’s excuse? Alfred if you haven’t noticed I’m am no longer a child. I’m a grown man, I’m twenty-two I can drink and gamble. Get some stripers and take them home if I wanted! Make a porno and sell it on eBay to whatever crazy person would want that. You have to give me more than that.”

Warren noticed the scar on Alfred’s neck, he couldn’t recall if he had seen it before. Since the only one he remembers is the scar trailing down Alfred’s stomach. As a child he thought scars were awesome, but now he knew that sometimes scars came from bad situations. Not all the time sometimes accidents happen, but with Alfred dodging his questions now… Warren knew something was up. Maybe a top-secret job he can’t really share? He would understand that if Alfred told the government would kill him. Warren wasn’t an idiot his parents worked in a government lab, and he is still to this day their most top-secret experiment. Just so happens by some miracle they let him out to play and frolic around until they needed him. Which Warren really hoped was never and he’d be able to live out his life abnormally.

“Yes but I figured the questions was going to be a stale mate, since my first questions were blown to pieces by things came up. But I can’t lie this whole time sitting here I was wondering what anti aging cream you were using. It really doing you well by the way.”

Word Count:642
Tag: Alfred/ Mandee
Notes: Tried to make Warren funny, probably didn't happen though.So just bare with me through terrible jokes.
Lyrics: Take On Me- A-HA

[Alfred Franklin Jones]

A PIZZA HUT A PIZZA HUT

KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AND A PIZZA HUT
MCDONALDS MCDONALDS

[/color][/font]
----------------------------------

Indeed, Alfred knew full well that most of the guys down at the CIA took their jobs a bit too seriously. One particularly memorable time, he'd been mistaken for an intruder who wasn't supposed to be there. One minute he was walking down the hall minding his own business, the next he was being slammed into a wall by a man with a gun, demanding to know what he was doing in a classified area.

Several minutes passed before Alfred even had the opportunity to yank out his CIA clearance badge, proving that he was indeed allowed into the area. He understood the need for security, but sheesh, those guys needed to lighten up a little!

Alfred had clearance badges and IDs for quite a few things. If anyone were to take a good look into his wallet, they would be surprised at what they would find there. There were the normal items, of course. Money, a few credit cards, his Washington D.C. driver's license. It was hidden behind his driver's license that housed the motherload. Military identification for every branch of the United States military. Clearance for the FBI and CIA. Rarely did he show all of these pieces at once, though. Only to the select people who knew what he was. Otherwise, it would look mighty suspicious that an apparent nineteen year old had access to all of this.

The blond bit down on his lips at Warren's response. It was exactly what he didn't want, and yet it wasn't at all surprising. Hadn't he lashed out at England at those same words, shouting out the same thing Warren was shouting to him this very instant? The last thing that Alfred wanted to do was repeat the past, but yet how else could he explain it? It was true! Other things had come up!

...but what kind of kid wants to hear that as an excuse? Even if Warren was an adult now, he'd been a kid at the time Alfred left his life. Alfred still largely viewed him as that kid, even if he was (physically) older and taller. He swallowed his second bite of ice cream before responding. "I know I do. Why do you think I came?"

[/color]

He certainly hadn't popped by just to say hello. That was part of his intent, but he knew before he even approached that there was going to be more to this discussion than a reunion between two old friends.

"Thanks, I think it works pretty well on me too! It's lasted for a good 200 years now. I wouldn't pick anything else."[/color] While he was clearly joking about the anti-aging cream, he was not joking about hardly having aged for the past 200 years. Eying Warren up and down, a contemplative look came across Alfred's face. "You know, for years I've wondered what it would feel like to grow old. I've seen countless people do it, and it doesn't look like much fun, but I've always wondered, y'know?"[/color] Now Alfred was eying Warren almost as if he were an enigma, tilting his head slightly. "That's just the way things go though, I guess. My kind don't age the way humans do. It's kinda funny. There's a lot about us that's the same, but a lot that's different too."[/color] Alfred paused a little, to allow that a chance to sink in.

"We don't get sick like you guys do."[/color] Alfred continued with a small smile, his nose sniffling a bit. "We usually get sick during wars, or economic downturns. Sometimes, if there's a really bad epidemic goin' around, we'll get that too, but it's not as likely."[/color] He decided that he'd hit Warren with enough information for now. He would give Warren a chance to process it, and ask any further questions. Alfred knew there would be more coming with what he'd just revealed. He didn't even state what he was yet!

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/SIZE][/font]
----------------------------------

TEMPLATE CREDIT: eliza @ shadowplay
SONG: Fast Food Song - Fast Food Rockers
WORD COUNT: 687
TAG: Warren/Shannon
NOTES: And now it's longer. XD[/color][/font]
----------------------------------
KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AND A PIZZA HUT

[/center][/blockquote]

[Warren Michael Pierce]

So needless to say
I'm odds and ends
But that's me stumbling away

Slowly learning that life is OK.
Say after me
It's no better to be safe than sorry

“Honestly? I have no idea what you popped by, how long have you even been here before approaching me?”

It wasn’t meant to have much anger behind it as he said it. But it was the truth how long had Warren been here before Alfred decides to pop up? Had he just gotten here, or was it days, weeks even months? He felt ashamed to ambush Alfred, should he be happy and excited that his old friend was back in his life? He had just wanted all these answers for so long that now he could ask he was going too. In Warren’s mind he had almost made Alfred out to be a villain. Taking him under his wing as a child then right when the hard parts for him were about to emerge just leaves with out a trace. He played with the sticky ice cream sandwich wrapper in his hands for a moment not wanting to even look at Alfred. His gaze finally returning when Alfred was joking about the magical cream, which made him laugh.

“What do you mean you’ve wondered? Don’t you age, maybe more gracefully than other but still? And let me tell you it’s not as fun as it sounds. I have to shave every other day with out looking like a mountain man.”

Warren smiled again but he was then confused when he said my kind. Was he just like Warren with his super abilities? Maybe that is why he was gone a lot he wasn’t like Warren and had other responsibilities just as he had said. It wasn’t just a lame excuse for not telling Warren what was going on but the truth. Or it was something classified he couldn’t tell people. Warren understood about that way too much, he couldn’t tell any one he used to be a regular boy and is a government project. He sat there tapping his fingers on his legs trying to figure it all out. Then again with out conformation he would never really know just have a bunch of theories. As Alfred explained on he said he never got sick they way people like him did. Only during a crisis, Warren noted the sniffles wondering what Alfred was trying to get at.

“What are you then? Some sort of war machine? America?”

Laughs a bit at this trying to make a joke. Only not knowing he hit the jackpot and didn’t even know it. It would be silly if he thought Alfred was actually America a country?! He shook the wild thought out of his head. Little to his knowledge Alfred would be turning right back around agreeing with him. Or at least saying something that would be like agreeing.

Word Count:455
Tag:Alfred/Mandee
Notes: And shorter again.
Lyrics: Take on me- A-HA

[Alfred Franklin Jones]

A PIZZA HUT A PIZZA HUT

KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AND A PIZZA HUT
MCDONALDS MCDONALDS

[/color][/font]
----------------------------------

"How long have I been here? Little over a couple of months. I heard your name and checked on a few records to make sure that it was you."

[/color] He didn't want to approach the wrong Warren Pierce. He could tell this was the same kid, though. He was a lot older, but the characteristics were there.

Alfred's grin increased in size when he saw that he was making Warren laugh. Further questions still came, but at least the joke cushioned the blow a little. Alfred also noted that Warren didn't even mention the bit where Alfred alluded to being over 200 years old. Alfred's best guess there was that Warren assumed it was part of the joke. It wasn't, but Warren would find that out soon enough. "Yeah, I age, just not much. We're all like this. Arthur's over a thousand years old and still looks like he's in his twenties. Early to mid twenties too."[/color] Alfred shook his head at the mountain man comment, still grinning. "Hey, I'm physically nineteen, not thirteen. I have to shave too, ya know."[/color] The important part to note was the 'physically nineteen'. That, if anything else, showed that Alfred was older than he appeared. And judging by the Arthur comment? MUCH older.

Rather than laughing at Warren's latest comment, a knowing smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Of all things Warren could have guessed...even if it was made in jest, it was still the right answer. "I knew you were a smart kid when I met you. Got it on your second try!"[/color] Alfred took another large bite out of his ice cream sandwich, savoring the taste in his mouth. For a warm summer day, it really hit the spot. More so, though, he needed something to do while he waited for Warren to respond. He was feeling antsy.

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/SIZE][/font]
----------------------------------

TEMPLATE CREDIT: eliza @ shadowplay
SONG: Fast Food Song - Fast Food Rockers
WORD COUNT: 326
TAG: Warren/Shannon
NOTES: And I almost put that I had 3000 words rather than 300... XD[/color][/font]
----------------------------------
KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AND A PIZZA HUT

[/center][/blockquote]

[Warren Michael Pierce]

So needless to say
I'm odds and ends
But that's me stumbling away

Slowly learning that life is OK.
Say after me
It's no better to be safe than sorry

“I guess that’s not to bad, I was thinking you’ve been here for years just keeping on the down low. I suppose I can’t be mad at you I mean I would have gotten you checked out too or what little Intel I could on your where abouts. Not that I’m important like you but I am still their newest project. Well major project, my parents always have side projects going at all times.”

Warren didn’t want to blame Alfred, not to mention that Alfred did need to take him time approaching Warren. Like he said what if it was the wrong Warren Pierce? It’s not like all this information that he was getting was going to be taken lightly or explained to the wrong person. He was only at the tip of the iceberg now listening to Alfred walk about Arthur and how he is over one thousand years old and still looks like he’s in his early twenties. This puzzled Warren but figured this had to be a key to why Alfred disappeared. He had a feeling Alfred wouldn’t mention it if it meant nothing. He then mentions he’s physically nineteen not thirteen. Warren chuckled at this but then stopped when it went through his head physically.

“So what your telling me is that you don’t age and your way older than you look? It makes sense that I look much older than you now that I last remembered….”

Warren thought maybe it was part of his powers but it didn’t look that way. Not with the way he was talking, it seemed like there was something more. Something deeper that Warren even thought possible. The hunch only became more of a reality when Alfred congratulated him when he guessed Alfred was America. At this Warren’s jaw dropped he had never in a millions years thought that he was going to agree. Warren was smart but he was kind of stretching when he said that Alfred was America. He looked around letting the thoughts play in his mind over and over. He watched Alfred take a bite and figured that he was letting Warren play thing out in his mind. Which he was it was kind of hard to stomach but it was making sense why Alfred had clearance to the building Warren had been locked in to many years. Or why it was ok for Alfred to take him out on fun excursions every now and then.

“Is that why you left? Because you are America? Or is there more than just that? Did my parents ask you to stop visiting because I would ask to many questions when I got older?”


Word Count:445
Tag:Alfred/Mandee
Notes: Made it!
Lyrics: Take on me- A-HA

[Alfred Franklin Jones]

A PIZZA HUT A PIZZA HUT

KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AND A PIZZA HUT
MCDONALDS MCDONALDS

[/color][/font]
----------------------------------

Alfred grinned at that. "You wouldn't find much. The government's pretty good about covering my tracks. As soon as I leave here, any record of my being here will probably be wiped clean."

[/color] That didn't just go for Alfred, of course, but any of 'his kind'.

"Bingo! That's exactly what I mean! I'd give you another ice cream sandwich but I'm fresh out. Unless you want a bite of mine?"[/color] Alfred held out his half eaten ice cream sandwich in offering.

"I've been physically nineteen for...damn, it's gotta be somewhere near a century now."[/color] Alfred sighed reminiscently. "As for my actual age, depends on what you wanna go by. The official age is 236, if you're going by the Declaration, but I've been around for a little over four hundred now. Man time flies!"[/color] He beamed.

Alfred remained silent as he let Warren process everything. As hard as it was for Alfred to remain silent at the best of times, he knew that this was one of the situations where it was warranted. This wasn't his first time revealing what he was to someone, and it certainly wouldn't be his last. For the most part, he knew what worked and what didn't. Sometimes he'd have to tweak things a bit, either for his own entertainment or to fit the person he was telling, but there was a basic pattern he usually followed.

"I'm not gonna put the blame on your parents. It didn't have to do with them - they didn't and still don't know who I am. It's classified information that very few people know."[/color] With that being said... "I did leave before you could start asking questions. I knew you'd start to wondering why I wasn't looking any older, and you were kinda too young to trust with such a big secret. I mean, I know you were kinda a big secret yourself, but more people knew about you than knew about me, if that tells ya anything."[/color] It should have, considering Warren's life was pretty top secret during his early days.

Alfred proceeded to point to the scar on his neck. "That had a little to do with it too."[/color] He smiled again, but this smile was a more wry sort of smile. "Our scars aren't like your scars either. We can get hurt like you guys can, but we tend to heal up faster, and it doesn't leave scars. The things that do leave scars are things like attacks on our soil, and other things that affect us, like wars and such."[/color] Finger still on the scar, Alfred decided to address that one in particular. "This one's from Flight 93. You know, from 9/11."[/color] While discussing this, Alfred's eyes dimmed a little. Warren probably wouldn't even realize just how much Alfred was giving away at this very moment in time.

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/SIZE][/font]
----------------------------------

TEMPLATE CREDIT: eliza @ shadowplay
SONG: Fast Food Song - Fast Food Rockers
WORD COUNT: 517
TAG: Warren/Shannon
NOTES: This post had a LOT of dialogue. o_0[/color][/font]
----------------------------------
KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AND A PIZZA HUT

[/center][/blockquote]

[Warren Michael Pierce]

So needless to say
I'm odds and ends
But that's me stumbling away

Slowly learning that life is OK.
Say after me
It's no better to be safe than sorry

“I’m sure they are, the government is good about hiding a lot of things you’d never expect. Including me, well I’m not really hiding but more or less if I tell any one what I am I’m sure I’ll be brought back to America asap. No, thank you on the ice cream offer although that’s really nice. I just still can’t believe that you haven't grown up a lot more, I expected you to look different. Don't take that comment in a bad way. You so lucky you don’t have to grown old. Or have to worry about back problems are anything like that.”

Warren wondered what he would be if he was like that. It would be amazing to see everything flash before your eyes, you standing still in time while everything advances. Although by the looks of it Alfred was keeping up with the times. Then again Warren wouldn’t want to be stuck at the age of nineteen for a while either. He loved his age at twenty-two able to be independent and go off where he chose. Ok, with certain permission’s he was able to go off. He was as free as the government let him be, and right now with no screw-ups his had a very long leash. His parents used to hate when he would say the government had him on a tight leash when he was younger. They wanted to believe more than anything they had the control but that was not usually the case.

“So why are you telling me then if its top secret. You had an out a left when I was younger why didn’t you just stay away? I know that I’m just such a handsome guy but I just don’t want you to get in trouble. Although I doubt you have your freedom threatened if you want to tell somebody. I mean you’re not the boss but being America you have to get up there. Alfred I get it you did what you had to do, and honestly if I were in your shoes I’d do that same thing. I mean I wouldn’t want my secret in the hands of a child. I mean damn I could barely keep my own secret in during school. Wow you must be top top secret compared to me. Pretty sure not to many people know about me even as I've grown up but at least I’m allowed to be let out of the laboratory my personal prison now.”

Warren looks at the scar on Alfred’s neck. He wasn’t sure what it was from, as Alfred continued to explain everything became clear. His mouth slightly dropped as Alfred said that the scar was from 9/11. Not in a million years would Warren have ever thought this was possible but it made sense. Alfred was America and technically if anything happened to the main piece of land mass stuff would happen to him too physically.

“I understand, you were hurting anyway and probably going out of you mind hoping there wasn’t another attack. Probably making war plans also, if that’s in your job description. I get it you had a lot of things going on. I’m slowly coming to terms with this.”

Word Count:521
Tag:Alfred/Mandee
Notes: Made it!
Lyrics: Take on me- A-HA

[Alfred Franklin Jones]

A PIZZA HUT A PIZZA HUT

KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AND A PIZZA HUT
MCDONALDS MCDONALDS

[/color][/font]
----------------------------------

"Yeah, that's not something I'd take a chance on if I were you."

[/color] The only people Alfred would consider 'safe' for Warren to talk to about his origins were other nations, and even that he was hesitant on. The initial idea had been his, but he wasn't the one to kick start the plan into action. He didn't even know about Warren until Warren was five years old.

Alfred smirked when Warren assured him that he was lucky he didn't have to face back problems. "Yeah, well, you're lucky that you don't get sick any time the economy takes a dive."[/color] As if to accentuate this point, Alfred sniffled again, rubbing at his nose with a hand. "It's not too bad at the moment. Just a small cold, nothing like the Great Depression. That one was a doozy!"[/color] Good thing there were plans in place to stop something like that from having such a huge impact again. Not that such plans were entirely foolproof, but the so-called 'Great Recession' was nothing compared to the Great Depression.

Alfred took another bite just as Warren hit him with another question. "You know, that's a good question. There's a few reasons why I decided to up and tell ya. The main reason is that I figured you'd recognize me at some point, and then you'd start asking questions like you are now."[/color] He swallowed. "Then you might start poking around, and I didn't think that was a good plan. If you were gonna find out about me, I wanted to be the one to tell you myself."[/color]

Then he shrugged. "The other reason? I figured I could trust ya with it. I mean, it's not like you aren't hiding a pretty big secret yourself. I'll keep yours if you keep mine? That sort of deal."[/color] Alfred proceeded to shove the rest of his ice cream sandwich in his mouth at this point, crumbling his wrapper up into a small wad of paper.

The third reason, and the one that Alfred wasn't going to tell Warren? He liked the kid. He saw some of himself in the kid. And that made him feel guilty for just up and leaving without a trace. Warren had called him big brother, and Alfred left without saying a word. It made him feel like a crap big brother, and now that Warren was here? He couldn't deny that he wanted to fix that.

Warren's assessment of Alfred's feelings concerning 9/11 was rather accurate, though Alfred saw no need to admit this out loud. He didn't want to panic Warren with the stories. He could show off the physical scars, but how would Warren, a citizen of his, react if he discovered that Alfred had to be heavily sedated every time he flew for a year after the attacks? While that sort of reaction was certainly understandable, given what Alfred went through, it would not help in the least to allay any ever present fears of another attack happening on American soil. And the last thing he wanted to do was shatter someone's confidence in one fell swoop.

"Boss actually takes care of most of the war plans."[/color] Remembering that humans didn't use the same terminology as nations, Alfred quickly clarified. "The President."[/color] He removed a couple of dog tags from around his neck and handed them to Warren. "I usually fight in the wars though. Those are my tags from my last tour in Iraq. I have 'em for every war since...World War I, I think it was? Obviously can't wear those though. I'd get a few odd looks."[/color] Alfred chuckled at that thought, then shrugged as Warren explained that he was coming to terms with everything, albeit slowly. "Hey, take your time. I know this is a lot all at once."[/color]

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/SIZE][/font]
----------------------------------

TEMPLATE CREDIT: eliza @ shadowplay
SONG: Fast Food Song - Fast Food Rockers
WORD COUNT: 685
TAG: Warren/Shannon
NOTES: It'll probably be a while before Alfred stops thinking of Warren as 'kid' and 'the kid'. Hell, I can picture Warren being an old man and still calling Warren 'kid'. XD[/color][/font]
----------------------------------
KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AND A PIZZA HUT

[/center][/blockquote]

[Warren Michael Pierce]

So needless to say
I'm odds and ends
But that's me stumbling away

Slowly learning that life is OK.
Say after me
It's no better to be safe than sorry

“I figured besides I like my freedom way to much. I wouldn’t just throw it all away to tell someone my secret. Besides isn’t that why they call them secrets because you can’t really tell them? It just nice being able to talk about it to someone who actually understands! I mean besides my parents who begin to thrown in random science jargon I only half understand.”

It was true ever since he got to New Academy he fit in yet he some how didn’t. He felt that way in regular school as well, he was human with super freaky powers. He acted normal had friends made sure that his homework was done. Yet Warren still found himself between a rock and a hard spot. He couldn’t get close to any one really with out someone finding out his secret. And now here he could get closer to people because his super human powers were normal. How he obtained them on the other hand still had to be top secret. If any nation found out or person who was just not ready to keep a secret Warren could be locked up for the rest of his days. It was the only set back to being a government experiment. Ok, well there were more set backs than that. He didn’t even get awesome clearance to higher government agencies. Then again to most people he didn’t even exist he was just Warren the Pierce’s normal son.

“Very true, instead I can get a regular cold, flu or even die from some disease. But I’m glad that you just have a small cold. As of right now I’m healthy as a horse thank goodness. Not sure how healthy horses can be but I’m sure they have to have impeccable health.”

Warren laughed nervously as Alfred began to explain why he decided to show up now. He couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous it was hard keeping his secret let alone Alfred’s now. Warren knew himself and he would keep the secret, who was he going to tell any way? Since right now he didn’t have any one to tell. He had a roommate who had a sheep and kiwi bird but that didn’t seem to out of the ordinary. He figured it shouldn't but Warren was up to his ears with weird. He didn’t even see it when he was hit in the face with it any more. He nodded to Alfred agreeing that his secret would be safe with him.

“Done and done, besides who would even believe me if I told. I mean it would sound just as absurd if I told someone that I was once human and now mutant. Not to mention I think most mutants would be slightly offended since they were born with these gifts. Not having their gifts given to them by a serum when they were a baby. So your deal is on and safe.”

Warren’s eyes got big when Alfred said his boss was the president. He couldn’t believe that Alfred worked for the president. Even Warren had never met the president and he was supposed to be one of the biggest projects. Well then again he was more lab work than going out to special meetings with the president. Not to mention Alfred was America it’s kind of hard to beat that clearance. Even if Warren was a big project he hadn’t fought in wars either. He wasn’t a big in to using guns or killing others. Not that Alfred was in to killing others, but he did what he had to do for his country… for himself.

“Yes I suppose you would get a couple weird looks. Nothing a cover up wouldn’t fix though you could always say they are your great grand fathers. A lot of people wear air looms like that and no one questions them. I think I’m actually okay for once Alfred, it is a lot to take in but you’re here now. Not to be mushy or sound like a little girl your exactly what I’ve been looking for. You’re my big brother Alfred, even though I technically chose you to be my big brother. I know I’ve been mad for years but that’s what family does. They get mad at each other and forgive so that’s what I’m doing.”


Word Count:722
Tag:Alfred/Mandee
Notes: The kids growing up!
Lyrics: Take on me- A-HA

[Alfred Franklin Jones]

A PIZZA HUT A PIZZA HUT

KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AND A PIZZA HUT
MCDONALDS MCDONALDS

[/color][/font]
----------------------------------

Alfred laughed a little. "Can't say I blame ya. I'll have you know I'm pretty big on the whole freedom thing."

[/color] The blond grinned at this.

Alfred made a face when Warren mentioned death. He knew it happened, he knew all too well. But he didn't like to think of someone as young and bright as Warren going like that. It happened all the time, mind. Accidents, illnesses, wars...but just because it happened didn't mean that Alfred had to enjoy it. Especially given that Warren was one of the kids Alfred had watched grow up. It always hit harder with them. He knew Warren would grow old and die one day, and he would come to accept that when the time came, as he always did. He just didn't want that time to come any time soon.

"Eh, not everyone's so happy that I have a small cold. A small cold is still a cold, and people aren't too happy with the current state of the economy. Can't say I really am either, but we'll see how it pans out."[/color] It was all Alfred could do, honestly. As for now? He was on a mini vacation of sorts at his brother's place. Yes, he was there on a mission, and he was definitely scoping out some of the students at the school. Comparatively, though? This was like a vacation.

Alfred shrugged and smiled a knowing smile when Warren inquired as to who would believe him if he told. "There's a few people who might."[/color] Alfred wasn't going to name any names, but he didn't see any problem with dropping hints that there were other nations present at the Academy. That there were other nations period, for that matter.

If Warren was surprised that Alfred had met the current president, he would be in for the shock of a lifetime when he learned that Alfred met every single president, from George Washington down to Barack Obama. In fact, not only had Alfred met them, but he worked up close and personal with all of them. He'd even given most of them nicknames! Not that any of the nicknames were particularly complicated in most cases. John Adams was Johnny, Thomas Jefferson was Tommy, Herbert Hoover was Herbie, Franklin Roosevelt was Frankie...Barack Obama had turned out to be a difficult one for Alfred at first. He tried Barry, but the name didn't feel right. It felt as though he had yet to hit the jackpot. And then, one day, in a flash of lightning, it came to Alfred - Obamarama!

There was only one president Alfred never stuck a (lasting) nickname to, and that was George Washington. The man wasn't completely immune - Alfred tossed a few 'Georgies' in his direction, especially during the early days of the Revolution, but for the most part Alfred would stick with General Washington, or Sir, or something else that showed respect. Rarely did he even call Washington by his first name - an oddity indeed, when one considered that Alfred not only called most of his other presidents on a first name basis, but usually came up with nicknames for them.

Martha Washington would know why, were she still around. She was the sole witness to Alfred visiting George Washington on his death bed in December 1799. The only one to hear Alfred mumble something to the old general, just as he went to leave -

"Thank you for everything, Dad. Without you I wouldn't be where I am today."

Then Warren started talking again, and any hint that Alfred was caught up in any sort of reverie was gone, a huge smile coming across his face once more. A smile that soon developed into a set of chuckles that Alfred let loose at what Warren was suggesting. "I suppose that'd work, but I think I'd get a few more questions. The fact that the name's the same? That's no big deal. The birthday, though? Whaddaya think the chances are that every guy born into a long line of soldiers in the same family has the same social security number?"[/color] Alfred winked, the chuckles subsiding but a grin ever present on his face. It was true, though. Every single one of his dog tags bore the name Alfred F. Jones, with the same social security number.

To say he was surprised at Warren's next words would be an understatement. Not that he wasn't happy, but that Warren was willing to push everything aside that easily? If Alfred had to be honest with himself, he wasn't so sure he'd do the same thing in Warren's situation. In fact, he knew he wouldn't. He knew from experience. He'd rebel. He didn't say as much, though. When did he ever? Instead, he reached out and gave Warren a noogie, careful to hold back on his strength. "Hey, don't get too mushy on me now!"[/color] He chuckled, but his sincerity at his next words was unmistakable. "Thanks man."[/color]

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/SIZE][/font]
----------------------------------

TEMPLATE CREDIT: eliza @ shadowplay
SONG: Fast Food Song - Fast Food Rockers
WORD COUNT: 884
TAG: Warren/Shannon
NOTES: I...rambled. A lot. And I feel like this post managed to delve a lot into randomness AND seriousness. I had fun typing it. XD[/color][/font]
----------------------------------
KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AND A PIZZA HUT

[/center][/blockquote]

[Warren Michael Pierce]

So needless to say
I'm odds and ends
But that's me stumbling away

Slowly learning that life is OK.
Say after me
It's no better to be safe than sorry

“So does that mean if anything does happen you will fight like hell for my freedom?”

Warren couldn’t help but grin as well at his comment. He knew that Alfred only had so much pull but if Warren got in to serious trouble no one would be able to help him. Thankfully Warren wasn’t stupid enough to get in to that kind of trouble. Maybe forgetting a homework assignment here and there like any normal college student. He looked up for a moment wishing some clouds would come over the sun just for a moment or two. It never came though so he sad there getting a bit warm. He wondered when the breeze had stopped, probably while Alfred was telling him about being America. He couldn’t be sure though, it was just a good guess.

“Yeah, well I wouldn’t be happy if I were in charge of you and knew what a cold meant. Then again when is everyone completely happy with America? There are always people, who say the presidents not good enough; the sun isn’t shinning bright enough. To many immigrants are coming in to our sacred country when really we are all immigrants we all came from some where since America was discovered. I think I’m going to stop rambling on now.”

Warren couldn’t help but raise a brow as Alfred came back with a there’s a few people who might. Who in the world would believe him if he came up and told them what Alfred was. Warren looked blank as he tried to figure it out. Were there others like Alfred? Is that was he was trying to hint at? Or did Alfred tell some people and if Warren happened to bump in to said people they could all talk about it. This was confusing him more than ever so he decided to shake it off for now. He was sure all the secrets would eventually come out in time. It didn’t take long for things to come out in a mutant school.

“It’s a happy coincidence with the birthday or you all just lied to have the same birthday? Plus I’m sure people won’t look that closely at your birthday and the old tags birthday. If they do, I’m sure they would all ready know about your secret. Unless they have a crush on you, oh are you afraid of someone who has a crush finding out?”

Pokes at Alfred’s side, they had a lot to catch up on. Warren had no idea if Alfred was seeing anyone or at least crushing. It seemed they had a lot more to catch up on then why Alfred wasn’t around. Warren was happy Alfred had showed himself, even though it came off to a rocky start it seemed as each minute passed the time between them got better and better. Warren grinned as Alfred told him to not go all mushy. He playfully punched Alfred as he was given a noogie.

“Hey dude knock it off, you going to mess up my curly locks. Although I have to say your hair is looking marvelous today….”

Warren jumped on Alfred giving him just as good of a noogie. He was laughing the whole time; this was something brothers should be doing. It was something Alfred and Warren never got to do before because of there circumstances.


Word Count:560
Tag:Alfred/Mandee
Notes:
Lyrics: Take on me- A-HA