Burning Bright [Neon/FIRESTORM]

Fire Ramen was not too busy that night, only a bunch of the rag tag group that was FIRESTORM kept the place lively. Misaki was at the centre of the cooking area surrounded by the bar were most people ate, the tables and booths usually reserved for chilling and hanging about, a reddish orange lighting created the mood of the place more so than any particular decor.

Leonard, the nominal boss of FIRESTORM simply lied sprawled across one of the back booth's couches using his left hand to perch his head as he vacantly stared at the TV monitor relaying the news, without paying actual attention to the information presented by the newscaster. Not that he could have if he wanted to, the members of FIRESTORM were many things, but quiet was not one of them. Their voices and laughs covered any chance the TV had to be heard across the Ramen Shop / Dinner crossover. 

"Man I'm starved! Misaki extra large bowl!" one deep voice shouted and immediately followed by a feminine voice "Don't you dare eat extra in front of me right now! I'm on a diet." Which then turned into some sort of argument more people took pleasure in joining both sides of. Other conversations sprouted here and there. the weather, some new album by some band, some new gangs going about but none really picked Leo's interest until one question rang out in the shop. "Anyone seen Tom tonight?" Most everyone immediately shrugged it off. "He'll be fine." being the normal assumption. However Leonard couldn't quite help but feeling it would be one of those nights again. Oh well nothing to be done about it. Might as well nap while he has the chance. So with a yawn the mighty leader some call the "King of Fire" turned over on his couch and went to sleep.

---

Tom was running through the streets, the chain on his extra baggy jeans clinging as he did, invisible under his overly large basketball jersey and long sleeve shirt, messy red hair kept under a beany hat. Damn it I'm late! Mom made too much for dinner!

Had anybody else been in the alley as he ran past, Tom probably would not had noticed anyone but a group of bright neon coloured, punk looking thugs huddled around an even brighter figured tends to catch one's eye. Furthermore, had they been doing nothing else Tom would not have given these Christmas lights looking mother fuckers much thoughts either. But the central figure was actually doing a massive tag on the side of the building at the end of the alley. Right here in the middle of FIRESTORM territory.

"Oi! Do you have any idea whose turf this is you morons!?" Tom shouted angrily as he stepped cocksure into the alley trying to make himself bigger than his thin 5'3" frame really allowed.

<sup>“Huh? Looks like we’ve got company,” Neon said, hearing a shout from behind. A turn of the head revealed a diminutive teenage boy in jersey and jeans, beanie upon his head pinning down what might have been some rather unkempt hair. Aside from being a complete fashion disaster, he seemed angry, though perhaps not fired up enough as he posed the question rather rudely.

“Well, who’s the moron asking?” replied Bernie, a five-foot-and-nine lad with a mohawk, tips painted like fluorescent flame of red and gold. Splashes of his boss’ bizarre colours decorated his relatively muscular arms with a coil of purple, leaving his sleeveless leather jacket untouched, while his faux leather biker trousers where splashed in such a way as to look like orange embers.

Seo-yeon sighed, turning fully to face the interloper.

“By ‘turf’ I’m gonna guess you’re one of ‘Firestorm’, ye?” she retorted, taking a moment to change the fluorescing hues of her hands from a vivid green to a deep indigo, the shift happening without so much as a blink of the eye. Droplets spattered the ground as she flicked off some excess. An entrancing array of colours--including her trademark gold and green dragon coiling about leg, jacket and sleeve--made her stand out amidst the crowd of similarly styled individuals. “It’s Neon, this is my crew, and this is our turf now. Understood, short-ass?”</sup>

Tom had been walking closer to the group of thugs and this "Neon" as she talked. He obviously was pissed off these rave party rejects even dared imply they owned this area, but the unforgivable was... THIS HALF-PINT BITCH JUST CALLED HIM SHORT.

The teenager was between two of the thugs when suddenly dropped down on the ground. Using his hands to prop himself up, Tom began to spin his legs in a circle at head height while calling on King's gift of fire to not just kick in some faces but also show these jokers just who they messed with. The thug who had spoken earlier got a burning heel straight to the nose while another with a neon patterned bald head got the same across his right cheek. 

Tom was not the most experienced fighter in FIRESTORM, he knew that, nor was he the strongest, but he was pretty fast, that much he knew. Quickly rolling of his back like a crimson red spinning top, Tom got back on his feet before any of the thugs really had a chance to react, and then; went for the target of his ire.

Flexing his legs to ready himself like a sprinter before race Tom called out. "If you mess with FIRESTORM..." Unnaturally bright deep crimson flames formed at Tom's feet. "GET READ READY TO FEEL KING'S FIRE YOU MIDGET!!!" With a roar Tom shot forward at speed in a straight line, as if making himself a rocket, at Neon; right fist extended going for one big superman punch.

---

Back in Fire Ramen Leonard who had been attempting to sleep felt as if a thug from the brand on his chest. Normally deep blue eyes shone bright red for a second as he opened them, unnoticed to anyone in the shop. Sitting back up on the couch of the booth all Leonard did was mumble to himself. "...Called it..." 

“Oh, shit! Bernie!” one shouted, the rest of the crew watching as two of the troupe were knocked back by swift, spinning kicks.

^{“He set his feet on fire?!”}

Flames? Appropriate… Seo-yeon was unimpressed, yet mildly cautioned. She simply raised a hand, signalling the rest to hold back. Kat and Malik--with their fuchsia leopard spots and ghostly blue-white skull patterns respective--nodded and relayed the silent command. Bernie stumbled out of the way, clutching his nose and jaw, bloodied by the unexpected assault.

Height complex. Hot-headed. Predictable? Fucking reminds me of me at fifteen… Strangely calm despite the situation, Neon acted swiftly. A swing of the body and she was rolling to the right out of the human firecracker’s way, but not without adding her own twist. A swing of the arm and an open palm with fingers curled sent forth an indigo jet of fluorescing ‘flame’ all her own, tagging the youth’s side as he slipped by. Not enough to flip his world on its side, at least.

“Two things. Hana. Don’t punch like that, it makes you an easy target,” the fluorescent dragon said, standing up again as she shifted the colour of her left palm from indigo to orange. Despite her confidence, she was a little concerned, more so about the fire than anything. Even a candle could burn a house down left unattended; she planned to end this quickly, lest the flames be fanned. “Dul. I’m Korean; of course I’m fucking short, you dumbass.”

Shit! The Street Jackson Pollock Wannabe rolled to side just before Tom reached her, leaving only a solid brick wall ahead of him. Only just managing to raise his arms to brace, Tom impacted the wall at full speed with an audible crack. He only hoped it was the wall that did and not his bones. 

Quickly recovering and turning to face the girl again best he could as the world spun for a few instants, Tom noticed his entire side was now stained with bright indigo. Oh crap!!! Mom is going to kill me if this doesn't come off!!! 

Tom was barely noticing that this Neon chick was talking. Only hearing her last comment using her heritage as an excuse for her height. "Hmpf! Well I haven't hit my growth spurt yet so don't call me short either, dumbass clown!"

With that Tom began to sprint for Neon, only this time with something that could pass for a plan in mind. He rushed using his legs but no fire and lunged into what looked like a full body tackle. Then when anyone would assume there was no changing this course of action he twisted his body sideways as to be almost parallel to the ground and with a burst of flame spun himself as to spin kick the carnival reject in the head. Surely this could not fail...

---

Leonard scratched his head and yawned again as he slowly proceeded to get up from his seat in the shop. As he did however the shop got noticeably quieter and morphed into complete silence ans he began to step towards the exit. "Something wrong King?" said Misaki in his usual cheerful and casual tone, not betraying what Leo knew hid an underlying seriousness to the question.

Leonard stopped a couple step before the exit and spoke without turning to face his old friend. "Nah, just Tom being too "himself" again. I'm going to get him before he makes a scene." Leonard then stepped out Fire Ramen into the cool night air. Back inside the shop, the silence remained until Misaki broke it. "It's just gonna be one of those nights again I guess." Then proceeding to serve the next order and life came back to the shop.

Clown? Really? That’s the best insult you’ve got? Watching as her opponent bounced back towards her, Neon couldn’t help but notice something was off. Specifically, the flames he had conjured before were gone, indicative of his ploy. It didn’t take a genius to guess he was up to something, though what exactly his plan entailed was not so obvious at first.

Branded and still predictable… Seo-yeon ducked, allowing the flaming kick to fly through the air where her head was just a moment ago. This character’s recklessness was a little too close to home for her liking; reminiscent of what she had once been--the one to face big problems in the most ridiculous and confrontational manner. She’d changed a lot since those days.

With no hesitation, the fluorescent female turned on her heel, bringing her palm up and across. It was not a forceful slap, but a mild pat to the side of the face. The finishing touch which would turn the fireball’s world on its side, quite literally, as that last drop of paint triggered the other effect of the ‘Fluorescent Dragon’.

^{“Better luck next time, King.”}

Something went very wrong. Tom was sure his plan would work, even if the is chick dodged his kick he should have been fast enough follow up and yet, as he was in the air ready land and keep pushing the attack, Tom did not fall down. Well he did, just sideways became down; or maybe it was the other way around. All Tom knew is that one moment he was attacking Neon and the next she slapped him and he was impacting a wall.

He felt like he was lying down on the ground but he was clearly looking up at the opposite wall of the alley, to his left was the building he was on and the sky, to his right the floor. This was weird and the confusion might have made Tom feel sick if the Korea's got Talent reject didn't say something that confused Tom only for second. Then he understood, understood that this chick didn't know a thing about FIRESTORM, and that, well that was just hilarious.

"Pffft! Pfwhahahahahaha!!! King? Holy shit lady, you really have no idea what you walked into did you!? Hahahahaha!" Even on a wall, defying gravity, Tom could not stop laughing, not even noticing the pair of people that walked up to the ally, no doubt alerted by his earlier shouting.

"You might want to consider your position making fun of people Tommy.~" Said Marie, her high pitched cheerfulness not hiding how amusing she found Tom's position. Her long sleeved t-shirt, torn skinny jeans, flat cap, looped earrings, carefully crafted messy short hair and slender stature made her quite the contrast to the 6ft something dark man next to her. Wearing black bermuda short and a black sleeveless jersey clearly showed Alpha's athletic and muscled build, his black dredlocked hair kept in a pony tail. "I told you we should have stopped it sooner, we don't even know how to get him off that wall." Alpha said with a sigh he couldn't even make audible before Marie replied. "Shush! It's a teachable moment." Which of course Tom could not let pass. "Screw your teachable moments and help you flat board!" Fire spouted from Marie's index finger as she pointed at the diminutive beany wearing teen. "WHO ARE YOU A BOARD YOU MIDGET!!? I'M GOING TO TEACH YOU SOME MANNERS WHEN WE'RE DONE! Al! Let's go!" Finally the girl and the basketball player looking thug turned their attention back to the Neon girl they had been ignoring so far. Alpha's fists became coated in the unnaturally crimson flame and Marie took out a retractable baton from the back of her jeans and lit aflame as well.

---

Leonard was calmly walking towards where he felt Tom was acting up. Occasionally waving and saying high to the locals and shopkeepers who cheerfully greeted him when he passed them. That was when he felt his brand thug at him twice more. Alpha and Marie. "... damn it ..."

They can do it, too?! There’s no way they all have the same Brand, Neon considered, feeling a lot more tense at the vision of crimson flames igniting. The chances of two people having the same Brand were purportedly very slim, though similarities occurred. What was an even greater improbability was that every crimson fire Branded in the world just so happened to be in Empyrean and all be a part of the same gang. There was a lot more to this than met the eye.

“Kat! Mal! On me,” Miss Park roared. At the dragon’s beckoning, her two comrades stepped to the fore, Kat adopting a fighting stance as Mal yanked a short length of chain from off his belt. The other two tended to Glass, the bald and broken boy still on the ground, as Bernie stumbled back further.

^{“Bring it, bitches!”
“Bring it, bitches!”
“Bring it, bitches!”}

The fire only sticks to them, so all we have to do, the Fluorescent Dragon considered as her fingers twisted with colour, is make sure we can keep out of their reach!

Aiming for the opposing wall to where Tom had tumbled to, Neon’s fingers lit up the air with brilliant jets of colour--red and green, gold and blue--each finger moving independently as she and her posse moved to the alley’s walls, almost as if giving way for something. A twisting path wound its way up and around like a rainbow, and as it formed, the youths did the unexpected.

Mal on one wall, Kat on the other; shame we don’t have a ceiling… It might’ve looked odd as the trio practically ran into the walls, but each knew far more about the Brand than any other. Kat slammed one palm against the tagged wall, just short of Tom’s head, kicking off the ground as Mal hopped up and kicked both feet into the rainbow trail the boss was forming. Kat’s feet landed firmly on the tag, Mal’s body bending to suit his new vantage as he reached an arm out for Neon to take.

Marie was already pissed off by Tom's disrespectful comments, and being called a bitch didn't help. Widening her stance as if to prepare for impact by the three charging at her and Al she did took stock of the situation. Hmmmm... two on the left, one on the right... and four at the back. And suddenly, an idea was formed. The slender woman took another step forward an turned off the fire around her baton with a flourish. This she knew would give her just enough of a distraction for the next step. With a grandiose sweeping motion she raised her left hand straight ahead down the middle of the alley where the girl on the right wall's head was and holding out her index finger and thumb up shaped her digits like a pistol; all with a smile that could only be described as a cat about to push down that very expensive heirloom china vase off the counter into a million pieces. Then she said "BANG!" and from her finger shot forth a small ball of crimson fire.

From the extensive flourish Kat could see it coming quite obviously and dodge out the way, clearing the view for Tom to just barely duck, avoiding the burning projectile by mere inches. Those who were not so lucky were the four thugs at the back that were staying back to avoid more injuries. By the time they understood what was about to happen all they manage to do was say in perfect unison "Oh hell no." Followed by the loud percussive sound of an explosion and he flash of red flames engulfing them. Now this fire was simply made to stun not hurt and was no hotter than a too hot bath, but the psychological effect of being shot by fire (especially when you don't know that) tends to do the job anyway.

Tom who had turned to see the explosion could not help to think that perhaps antagonising Marie earlier might have been a bad move, she seemed it quite a bad mood tonight for that move just then was just downright mean. Marie however seemed quite pleased with herself and jumped back a couple step and put her hands on her hips. "Boom! Four down! I did my share Al you can do the rest!~" Alpha who after years of this was used to Marie's antics did not respond and stayed focused on the remaining opponents. Burning fists raised up to his face in a boxers's waiting stance, Alpha placed himself between Marie and the wall running rave party brigade ready to defend from or counter the incoming assault.

---

As Leonard tried to walk to wards where he felt some of his crew have been acting up a faint sound echoed into the main streets from the small back alleys. Most people did not noticed and those that did disregarded it immediately, but Leo could see the faintest plum of smoke coming from alleys off into the distance. Suddenly all urges to hurry towards it vanished and with an exasperated sigh Leonard lowered his head and dragged his feet forward towards the mayhem.

“What the fuck…” Neon’s response was telltale of her surprise and, in that one moment, panic. They were playing with fire and getting burned in the process, but seldom did she have the time to focus on what was happening behind her. As she grabbed Mal’s hand, he swung her upwards, and she allowed gravity’s bizzare pull upon her body to take hold, weight shifting to the wall.

^{“Ow! Ow! Ow!”
“Fuckin’ burns…”
“Yeowch!”}

“They’re okay?” Miss Park grunted with disbelief, looking back for just a moment as the flames cleared. Bernie, Glass, and company were fine, save what appeared to be flickering flames clinging ever so slightly to clothing. She didn’t have time to properly assess it all, but the fact that flames hadn’t reduced her comrades to char and ash was a sign that these fires were cold. The concept would have baffled had she focused on it for too long, but instead it renewed her rebellious attitude and bravado.

Well then, time to turn this around! As if on cue, Neon, Mal and Kat all made their move, bounding off the painted walls of the alleyway and towards the two troopers of Firestorm. As they departed the walls, both Mal and Kat allowed themselves to turn; the leopard-printed woman with lips painted fluorescent pink and eyes highlighted in amber twisted herself into a flying kick, while the skull-faced and skeleton striped man lashed his chain, each aiming for their apparent doppelganger.

The Fluorescent Dragon herself twisted, unleashing a bedazzling array of colours from her fingertips that aimed to splash the walls and floor, as well as the targets of their thuggish ire. If this worked, the brilliant kaleidoscope would serve as a perfect distraction for an up and coming butterfly kick to the heads of both Marie and Al.

Alpha stood right in the middle of the alley, the tall ebony man stood fist raised in a boxer's stance waiting to see what the painted thugs rushing towards him and Marie would do. The leader seems to twists gravity in various ways. All linked to the paint she makes, the gravity twist all seem to relate to surfaces she painted as well, unlikely she'll send us into space with it. Regardless do not get painted.

Despite his appearance Alpha was not rush in type of guy, if anything his years of practice as an amateur boxer taught him out-fighting and reactive tactics were the way to go. Right now it was 3 on 3 despite the fact the painted ones seemed to have either disregarded or forgotten about Tom whom had tentatively managed to stand up on the wall at the other end of the alley. On the other hand Marie that stepped back behind Alpha likely spent most if not all her Fire on that explosion, not that she helpless without it.

The Neon gang moved forward in a three pronged attack, the tall skull stripped man moved towards Al himself while the leopard print girl moved around to go for Marie, but Alpha's attention focused on the leader, who jumped and twisted in mid air, then did exactly what Al hoped for. The worst enemy in a fight were unknowns and the effect of King's Fire on the paint was the last one. As Neon held out her hands and began spraying towards the wall as well as Al and Marie; Alpha raised his own burning fists, held out his arms and opened his palms, shooting fire at the sprays of fluorescent paint. If the paint behaves like normal aerosols it would have resulted in one big flaming mess if the girl could not stop herself.

The true attack however did not come from Al or Marie, but from the other end of the alley where Tom was waiting to pounce. The moment the short boy saw his senior counter attack K-Pop Christ Superstar, he put all the fire he had left in his right foot and with a shout leapt into the air spinning to send a bladeof flame fly across the back of the three. Or he would have if Neon's earlier applying of paint to the opposite wall had not begun to pull Tom in, causing his move to twist in an unexpected way.

But a few feet away from the spinning Tom, a hurt but not yet broken Glass stood up, not ready to admit defeat yet. he would show the boss he could fight to! "I... I can still... I CAN STILL FI-". Then there was fire. No ire was meant towards the courageous young man, but fate had decided, today would be the day he attained glory. "... Now that's just rotten luck..." a voice echoed in the back of the alley coming from another young man, whom was now upside down and sideways on a wall, feeling no remorse for his part in what befell the brave man known as Glass

It still ignites?! Neon realised, startled as she watched her technicolour torrent become consumed by the crimson coruscations. Her immediate instinct was to pull the plug on her paint job, thus killing the blaze before it ignited the whole alleyway. Much like an actual spray, her fluorescence was devoured in a show of dazzling flame--frightening to be in the middle of.

Nonetheless, Miss Park’s assault did not end. Momentum already had her, though her comrades were forced to stall to make way for the blaze. She was alone in her airborne assault of Alpha and, shocked by the fact that an otherwise ‘cold’ flame had still eaten a fuel like real fire, lost some of the directional control she might’ve liked to have. What had been a kick aimed at the head was now more towards the bruiser’s upper chest.

^{I can’t steer like this!}

The flare of the burning aerosol paint blinded Alpha for less than a second but that time had proven enough for Neon to adjust her trajectory to aim a flying kick right into his chest. Barely blocking Al slid back a few feet from the impact. She packs more of a punch that you'd think looking at her...

The other two flashy gang bangers had to stop their assaults due to the lack of paint ahead of them. At least there was that. However by Alpha's estimation both Marie and Tom must be out of fire or close enough to make no real difference. Meanwhile so long as the opposing group's leader was around and kicking the gravity altering painting would not stop. To end the fight before any major problem arises Al would need to pack Al he's got in one attack and finish the job.

Shifting his footwork and raising his guard in a proper boxer's stance Al reached inside himself to gather every last bit of fire he had left. No taking chances this time. And just as the tall man was about to pounce for his attack; everything stopped. He knew he wasn't the only one in the alley who felt it, that warmth deep within his chest, a pull towards the source of all their flames. The fire over Al's fist disappeared and his eyes widened in shock, did they make that much of a ruckus that he'd get himself involved? All three members of FIRESTORM uttered the same word together before the world caught on fire.

"King?"
"King!?"
"KING!"

in a second everything changed a faint line of red drew itself around the buildings surrounding the alley forming a wide circle, and from the circle itself, a colossal wall of crimson flames sprung forth towards the heavens and joined together forming a spinning dome of burning red.

A figure stepped through the flames behind Al and Marie, of course the two and Tom knew exactly who that was. Leonard LeClerc, the "King of Fire", their leader and friend but that only partially diminished the intimidating  presence that the man could have in such circumstances. But to those present that did not know all the they know was that a dark figure with glowing red eyes had conjured more fire that they had ever seen and step through it. not only that but the heat in the air left no doubt, that fire burned hot.

<sup>A strong impact, but not enough. Neon’s strike might’ve knocked the bruiser back, but it wasn’t a good enough hit to do much else. As she righted herself, flipping into a slight somersault as she descended at a slowed pace, the rebellious artist glimpsed Al’s motions. A ready stance and, much to her dismay, one which would be rather easy to capitalise on.

She flinched instinctively, preempting the strike.

A fake-out? Seo-Yeon had little time to establish what was happening, for the three firebrands all shouted the same word near simultaneously. King…? And then there was fire. The alleyway ignited; claret conflagrations encircled and entombed Neon and her posse, turning late night and streetlight and fluorescence into blazing red, momentarily blinding them all.

What the fuck…?! The initial flash fading, Seo-Yeon’s eyes at first could not quite comprehend what they were seeing. Darkened by the infernal illuminations, a tall silhouette with demonic eyes stepped through the woeful wall, seemingly unfazed by the heat that prickled at the gang leader’s exposed skin. She’d already dared to rattle the gates of Hell and now the Devil himself had arrived to welcome her in; an offer would rather refuse, seeing the sheer extent of this King’s power…</sup>