[u][b]Outside[/b][/u]

“Psh, you have yet to prove yourself.” Omar reminded Ben. Such snooty comments usually rubbed him the wrong way, but not this time. Omar had every intention of punching Ben repeatedly, while claiming he was trying to use motem alchemy to heal this prick. That way, no one could ever blame him for those additional bruises and potential bone fractures. “Get ready, Benny! It’s Mr. Barbarian’s time to shine.” 

Throwing his fisted hand back, Omar took a deep breath and swung it forward. He grinned ever so slightly, as he anticipated the pain he’d be causing this guy every soon. However, like any other day in Innocence, even great plans get thwart at the very last second. Today, it came in the guise of a gushing woman who had swept him, the funky haired Smurf and Miss Quiet into a tight hug. Omar puffed up his cheeks as he allowed himself to loll about limply to minimize any internal injuries. 

“Say, Lady Chrono, why don’t you go steal a kindy or maybe a 13-year-old? I’m sure there’s one fuss free cutie in the cafeteria right now. Not hard to miss him. Blonde, quiet kid eating pasta with ketchup.” Omar was cut short, as the grip tightened slightly. Immediately, he thought of ways to divert the unnecessary (and painful) adoration. “The kindies are here – so’s that guy!” The boy’s last few words were muffled, because he was gritting his teeth till his jaw muscles were beginning to bulge. 

Omar looked round, literally contorting his body in ridiculous angles, in a futile attempt to get some help from the rest. Sadly, two of them have decided to move on and things were getting ugly fast. Heck, Mr. Shadow was right. No one should mess with that crazy, old geezer! Heck, he wasn’t even sure the rest of them will be spared. They were all gonna be dead by association or something equally ludicrous! 

Adrenaline spiked through his body, and in a moment of clarity Omar remembered how he managed to avoid getting squished to death by a teacher long, looong time ago. Slowly, the boy reached behind and began wiggling his fingers as close to the woman’s armpits as possible. He left fluttery trails up and down her side, while focusing on generating even more motem energy. Even if she wasn’t ticklish, at least, he’d have enough oomph for his next trick. Which was about… [i]NOW![/i] 

“Cannon ball!” The dark skinned lad yelled, as he threw out his arms like some weird action hero wannabe. Immediately, an invisible bubble mushroomed around him, shoving those close to him far, far away. Not wasting another second nor sparing a thought for his fellow captives, Omar dashed towards Kiarra. “Incoming!”

[i]Why he was doing this? Why did he even care?[/i] These rational questions were shunted to one side, as the boy continued in a single-minded determination towards his groupmate. It did occur to him that perhaps they could talk it out, but the thought came a little too late. Omar rammed straight into Geko and Kiarra just as his poorly constructed barrier-ball popped. [i]Oh shit![/i] Within a blink of an eye, Omar found himself deeply tangled within the resulting pileup. The poor student swallowed. 

“Oh hey … Sir, I – I love you!” The 16-year-old boy cried out of panicky desperation. He didn’t care that he’d probably had zilch dignity at this point, because all that matters was that he and Kiarra weren’t gonna die a horrid death. Quickly, the boy wrapped his arms round Geko’s chest and pressed his head against the guy’s shoulder. 

“Can I call you Daddy and her Mommy?” He asked with the best pouty smile he could muster. Maybe, just maybe, he’d be able to score some brownie points with the Chrono and she’d get her husband to spare them. “I really, really admire you and wannabe like you.” [i]Yup, he was laying it thick alright[/i].