№38|Burn It Down
●══════⋆☆⋆══════●

“Mom! Please! Let me and Levi come with!” Eponine pleaded, watching as her mothers got ready for the meeting.

“No way, you will be staying here with you Uncle Matias and Aunt Eponine,” Diane turned towards Levi, “Levi, call your parents to pick you up.”

“I’m gonna stay with Eloise,” Levi pulled Eloise close, the girl blushed hard, “I’m gonna protect her.”

Gabriella snickered, “that’s so cute,” she ruffled Levi’s hair, “I’m sure you’re Eloise’s knight in shining armor.”

“Mom!” Eloise blushed more.

“You can stay and ‘protect’ her,” she said in finger quotes, “but Levi, you have to call Ivanka and Julius to see if it’s okay.”

Levi smiled and ran to the phone to call his parents, “thanks, mom…” Eloise muttered, smiling.

“You like him don't you?” Diane smirked.

“Maybe a little…” Eloise muttered, looking at her feet.

“Awe,” Gabriella pinched her cheeks, “our daughter has a crush, Diane.”

“It’s so cute,” Diane smiled, kissing the top of Eloise head, “you should tell him, it looks like he likes you too.”

“Elly!” Levi called out, “my parents said I can stay!”

Eloise smiled, hugging Levi, “ya! Sleep over!”

The two ran off deeper into the base, passing by Hex and Cruella.

Cruella watched as Hex talked immensely with his fellow members, gathering a plan for when they would meet with Salis.

“Eponine and Matias, you’ll be staying here and make sure the base is heavily guarded. I called Emmanuel and Marmalade and they’re one their way, they’re bringing over some members of their own to help guard.” Hex explained.

“Alonzo, Clair, you said the police was ready to help, correct?” Hex looked up at the mocha skinned girl.

Clair nodded, “granted the Chief doesn't want us helping gangs but I got some of the cops in my office to help out. They’re stationed in the motel across the street and are delivering me hourly status updates.”

“With all do respect, Hex, don't you think this is a lot of protection for a meeting?” Eponine scoffed slightly, “you’re only going for what - 3 hours? I doubt we need a whole military defense.”

“Princess-”

“Eponine is fine Hex.”

“Eponine, I know my brother, he won't stop until this Eternal Flame is his.” Hex clenched the edge of the map showing the fires.“17, 17 bases have been burned down, we are not about to number 18.”

“Hex,” Cruella rose from the couch, “Eponine’s right, this is a little much,” she sighed deeply, “but, I know you’re not gonna back down.”

“Cruella, you saw what he did to you, that crystal could have killed you.” Hex reminded her.

“And yet I’m still breathing and living,” Cruella kissed his cheek, “Salis isn't gonna take this animalistic down so easily.”

She turned towards the small group in the room, “thank you for all your help.”

“You’re welcome,” Emmanuel's voice brought the room’s attention towards him, “I was in the middle of being with Marmalade when you called me, Hex, 12 times.”

“You didn’t answer the first 11 times I called.” Hex shrugged, smiling slyly at him.

“Ha ha,” Marmalade rolled her eyes, she hugged Cruella tightly, “I was so worried about you big sis! I’m sorry I didn’t come the moment Diane told me…”

“No worries, Marmalade,” Cruella pinched her cheek softly, “I was throwing up like an open hydrant, I doubt you wanna see that.”

“Can't be any worse than when Marmalade throws up.” Emmanuel chuckled softly.

Marmalade jabbed him in the side, “what was that?”

“I said you look lovely when you throw up!” Emmanuel nodded quickly, trying to get back on his girlfriend’s good side.

“That’s what I thought.” Marmalade nodded slightly, “we’ll take care of your base while you and Hex go take down Salis.”

“God willing,” Hex muttered under his breath.

“Come on, Cruella, I wanna see Gillian and Rosemary.” Marmalade laughed, pulling her sister deeper into the base.

“Alonzo, Clair, Eponine, and Matias, you can go, thank you.” Hex dismissed them.

“Emmanuel, come here,” Hex crooked his hand upwards, “did you get my text about the safe house?”

“Yeah, the house in Virginia is ready, but wipe her memory clean?” Emmanuel shook his head, “that’s going a little far don't you think?”

“Salis is dangerous, Emmanuel, and it may not stop with just him and I don't want Cruella to go through all the stress it takes to run a gang. It’s better if she just forgets me.”

Emmanuel punched him in the nose, drawing blood. Hex held his nose, “what the fuck is wrong with you, Emmanuel?!”

“What’s wrong with you?! I’m more than certain Cruella is going to be fine! You need to take a breather.” Emmanuel punched him upside the head, “look, I get you’re worried about Cruella but, honest to god, she’s fine.”

“Thanks buddy,” Hex smiled, he patted Emmanuel’s shoulder, “make sure my base doesn't burn down while I’m gone.”

°•. ✿ .•°

Cruella looked down at the address written on the paper, “900 N. Saint Street,” she looked up at the runed down building, “this is the place apparently.”

“He would pick here, wouldn't he…” Hex scrunched up his fist.

Cruella looked at him in concern, “you know this place?”

“This my childhood home, 900 N. Saint Street.”

Cruella frowned, soon scowling, “your brother’s sick for picking this place.”

“How come nobody tried to rebuild this?” Gabriella asked, kicking over pieces of burnt wood.

“Nobody cared enough to help,” Hex sighed, “I’ve been saving up to rebuild it some day, until then, I didn’t want anyone touching it.”

Sergio patted his shoulder, “that’s very noble of you.”

“Thanks dad,” Hex smiled sadly, entering his burnt down childhood home, “look around, Salis could be anywhere.”

The group nodded, searching different parts of the house. Hex went upstairs, passing by his old room. He placed his hand on the doorway, sighing softly as he took in the burnt bedroom.

He could still hear the childhood laughter of his younger self as shadows from happier times painted the room.

He slowly walked into the room, almost tripping over a model train set. The bustling of the model train set, still imprinted in his mind, filled the room with laughter from the infant Hex.

“You wanna see the train go by again, Hexy?” His mother asked, crouching down by the infant, stroking his hair.

The infinite gurgled and clapped, “choo-choo!” his father mimicked the sound of the train.

“Choo-choo!” Hex copied, smiling and laughing, completely oblivious to the troubles soon to come.

He continued deeper, passing by his dresser to see the valentine cards given to him by Roxy and other friends.

Hex picked up the red heart shaped card, “I love you, Hexy!” he turned it around to see the sender, “love, Roxy.”

“Hexy! Happy valentines day!” Roxy cheered, her 7-year-old body tackling the 8-year-old Hex.

Hex blushed, “u-um, than-thanks Rox-Roxy!” he stammered, hugging his crush back.

He chuckled, “I was always so nervous around her.”

Hex sat down on the bed, dust coming out of the mattress on impact. He picked up the stuffed animal turtle, “Mister Slowpokes,” he whispered softly, scanning it for any damages.

~¥~

“Wait, I know Mister Slowpokes!” Carlos interrupted, “I used that stuffed animal all the time when I was little. I didn’t know he was your’s, dad.”

“He was,” Hex nodded, continuing the story.

~¥~

“I can't believe you survived the fire,” Hex muttered, smiling at the fact it only had one eye, remembering what his mother told him.

“Mommy,” Hex laid in bed, looking up at his mother and back at the turtle, “I think you got ripped off.”

“Why do you say that?” Lillian sat on the edge of the bed.

“He only has one eye,” Hex pointed out, “I think it’s defective.”

Lillian shook her head, “nothing is defective, Hex,” she pointed to the X stitched on where the eyes used to be, “the guy at the store said nobody wanted to buy him because he was broken.”

“Well yeah, he only has one eye,” Hex chuckled, pointing out the obvious to his mother.

“But I don't think he’s defective,” Lillian stroked Hex’s hair, “I think he’s unique, just like you Hex.” she smiled, tapping Hex’s nose with the nose of Mister Slowpokes.

Hex held the turtle in his hands, “sorry I called you defective, Mister Slowpoke.”

“That’s a cute little turtle,” Cruella sat beside him, “so this is the old room huh?” she sighed, taking it in.

“Yeah, these walls molded me into what I am today.” Hex laid his head on her shoulder, “this is Mister Slowpoke.”

“Awe,” Cruella held it in her hands, bouncing it in the air, “he’s adorable. Did your parents give this to you?”

“Yeah,” Hex nodded, “I told my mom it was defective but she said it was unique just like me.”

“We should give this to our kids.” Cruella smiled, Hex looked up at her.

“You want kids?” Hex questioned.

“Do-Don't you?”

Hex kissed her lips, “of course I do! I was thinking about a girl and a boy.”

Cruella chuckled, stroking his hair, “a girl and a boy sound perfect, Hexy.”

Ector knocked on the door, “we found him.”

“Where?” Hex rose from his childhood bed.

“Your parents room.” Ector replied, Hex marched to his parents room to see Salis sitting on the semi burnt bed.

“You have some nerve to have the meeting here.” Hex grumbled, his fist lighting up.

Salis’ eyes twinkled at the flame, “look at that…the Eternal Flame.”

Hex quickly put out the fire when Cruella grabbed hold of his hand. Salis pouted, “thanks a lot mutt!” Salis scolded.

“This ‘mutt’ can eat you up like a snack in less than a minute,” her eyes flashed pink, sending a warning to the man.

“Ooo, got you a feisty one there, huh, Hex.” Salis chuckled, warping so fast towards Cruella it was practically teleportation, “my my…” Salis stroked her skin “you are beautiful.”

“Get away from me,” she punched him square in the face, sending him flying into the dresser, “after you make me throw up for hours, you don't deserve to touch me.”

“Oh come on, not my fault you can't hold you liquor.” Salis shrugged.

“What do you want, Salis?” Gabriella asked, quickly getting to the point.

“Your brother’s flame,” Salis stared hungrily at the flames, “or his hands will work.”

“My flames? What do you want with the Eternal Flames?”

“Your flames can cause fires up to 18x more powerful than normal fire magi.” Salis smirked wickedly, “with that power, you can recreate the Great Chicago Fire 100 times over!”

“But why would you need the flames?” Mama questioned.

“They’re my flames! I’m the oldest, I’m stronger than him, but yet, he got the eternal flame?!”

“You aren’t entitled to anything, you pompous ass.” Sergio shot back.

“Shut it, old man.” Salis growled.

Sergio glared at him, “what did you just call me?”

Mama held him back, “he wants us to get mad, Sergio. Don't feed his ego.”

“I’m willing to negotiate with you, if you don't comply, I’ll have to use force.” Salis checked for dirt under his nails.

“I’m not getting you the flames,” Hex shook his head, “this is why dad didn’t give it to you, he knew you only use it for your own selfish purposes.”

“I’m using it for power, how it was intended to be used for.” Salis said, catching his brother’s fist, “you can just feel the heat radiating off you.”

Fire began to sprout but Hex realled it in “you’re not getting my fire out of me.”

“Alright, so we’re doing this.” Salis sighed, pressing a button on his bracelet, “don't say I didn’t warn you, Hex. I will get those flames, even if I have to burn down everything you love.”

With that, Salis disappeared into the shadows.

The group stood in silence until Hex’s phone rang, filling the room with a cherry ringtone.

“Talk to me, Emmanuel.” Hex spoke into the phone.

“HEX! GET BACK HERE NOW! THE BASE IS GOING DOWN!”

“What? Emmanuel what are you talking about?!”

“THE BASE IS BURNING!! JUST GET BACK HERE NOW!”

Hex quickly hung up, “the base is being burnt down. We gotta go, now!”

°•. ✿ .•°

Marmalade coughed intensively, everywhere she looked, there were flames.

“Manny!” She shouted, trying to find the closest exit, a beam came crashing down near her. She jumped back, her mind was racing a mile a minute.

“Manny!” a hearthy cough escaped her lips, “Manny where are you?!”

Emmanuel looked through the crowd of people escaping the building, “Marmalade?! Marmalade?!”

His eyes darted for the burning building, he took off his jacket, running for the entrance but Alonzo and Matias held him back.

“Let me go you mutts! Marmalade’s in there!”

“Are you insane?! Going in there will be suscide!! The fire fighter can handle it.” Alonzo told him.

“No! She’s in there burning! Let me go!” Emmanuel broke through their arms, rushing into the burning building.

He looked around to see flames engulfing the precious memories of the Golden Dragons base.

“Marmalade!” Emmanuel called out, covering his mouth and nose with his arm, “Marmalade! Tell me your alive!”

Marmalade coughed harder, it was getting harder and harder to breath, “Man…” she stumbled as she walked, her body was hotter than the flames surrounding her, “Manny…”

She fell into the comfort of Emmanuel’s arm, “Marmalade!” he picked her up bridal style, running to freedom, he sat on the rim of the firetruck.

He stroked her hair, bringing Marmalade into a coughing fit.

“Sir, she had ash in her lungs, she needs an immediate ventilator.” the fire fighter told him, leading the couple into the ambulance where they placed a ventilator over Marmalade’s lips.

Hex and the group arrived on the scenes, he looked towards the two wolves, “everyone out?”

The two nodded, “everyone’s fine, the base though...”

The gang watched in silence as it burnt down. Millions of memories lost in the harsh flames. The sound of sorrow drenched the air in sadness.



There's a light in the darkness

Though the night is black as my skin

There's a light, burning bright, showing me the way

But I know where I've been

Hex felt silent tears roll down his cheeks as he watched as his 2nd home burned down. This was the place he played after school. This was the building that shaped Hex after his first family died. Those walls told countless stories of sadness, laughter, and anger.

This was where he learned how to change a tire.

This was where he felt the love of a family once again.

This was where he shared his fight night of sexual pleasure with Roxy.

But now all it was was ash.

He felt Cruella’s soft hands wrap around his rough ones, she whispered ever so slightly, “are you okay?”

Hex didn’t know how to reply, “I…” he wanted to say ‘yeah’ and bury his pain but one look into those black orbs made Hex spill his truths, “no…”

“That’s okay,” Hex clutched his hand softly, “it’s okay not to be okay.”

There's a cry in the distance

It's a voice that comes from deep within

There's a cry asking why, I pray the answer's up ahead, yeah

'Cause I know where I've been.

Gabriella couldn't believe it, her childhood home was being reduced to ashes before her eyes.

Diane held Eloise in her arms, her eyes sifting between the fire, Eloise, Levi, and Gabriella.

Eloise buried her face into Diane’s chest, crying “I was so scared, mommy!”

“I know...I know…” Diane stroked her daughter’s hair, she inched towards Gabriella, stroking her shoulder with her free hand, she kissed her cheek, “talk to me...I’ve never seen you this nervous.”

“It’s all gone, Diane…” Gabriella cried in her shoulder, “all of the memories...all of the laughter...the pain...the anger...it’s all gone…”

There's a road we've been travelin'

Lost so many on the way

But the riches will be plenty

Worth the price, the price we had to pay

“Wow…” Ector muttered in disbelief, “how could someone do this…?”

“I don't know,” Saree held onto his hands, “how could one person cause all this destruction?”

Ector’s eyes followed all the fall debris, mementos of his childhood falling to the ground in flames. All Ector could do was watch in anger and disbelief.

“He wouldn't want this…”

“Who?”

“Milo,” he replied in a whisper, “this base was his home...it was a home to all of us...to see it burn down before your eyes...it’s horrible.”

There's a dream in the future

There's a struggle that we have yet to win

And there's pride in my heart

'Cause I know where I'm going, yes I do

And I know where I've been, yeah

“We spent years building this base and it’s gone in minutes…” Emma collapsed to her knees, crying into her hands, “damn him!” she slammed her fist into the street gravel, “this base was my baby, my everything, and he destroyed it!”

Sergio tried to comfort her but Emma pushed him away, “flames are supposed to symbolize warmth and protection, like Hex’s do, these...these flames are just so evil, angry, filled with hate.”

“Hex,” Emma looked at him, “you protect those flames with your life you hear me?!” Emma stated, holding onto his color, “you make sure your brother doesn't lay a hand on those flames or Cruella or anyone else you love.”

“Cause this,” Sergio pointed to the fire, “this is not happening again.”

There's a road we must travel

There's a promise we must make

Oh, but the riches, the riches will be plenty

Worth the risks and the chances that we take

“I know, he’ll pay,” Hex watched the flames in anger, “this insanity won't go any further.”

Hex looked down at the turtle in his hands, “I’m sorry…”

“You did nothing wrong Hex,” Cruella rubbed his shoulder, “your brother is a fault here.”

“Do you think it’s because I was born? If I weren’t here, would this have happened?”

Cruella cupped his face, “Hex, if you weren’t here, I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be standing her, by your side, watching this base burn down.”

“Maybe that’s a good thing…” Hex muttered.

“No it’s not!” Cruella scolded, “I’m not living in a world where you and I aren’t together.”

There's a dream, yeah, in the future

There's a struggle that we have yet to win

Use that pride in our hearts to lift us up to tomorrow

'Cause just to sit still would be a sin

“You being boring was a burden, Hex,” Cruella kissed his forehead, “it was a blessing.”

“How if it caused a fire?” Hex frowned, “these flames…” he looked down at his hands, “caused this.”

“No they did not,” Cruella shook her head, “your flames kept me warm all those nights at the tournament, your flames toasted s'mores in my apartment, your flames dried my papers the day we met! Hex! Don't you see it?!”

“No.”

“You’re flames save people! Not destroy them!” Cruella smiled, chuckling softly.

I know it, I know it, I know where I'm going

Lord knows I know where I've been

Oh, when we win, I'll give thanks to my God

'Cause I know where I've been

Hex smiled softly, clutching the turtle, “he destroyed my first family,” he stared at the flames with determination and vigor, “he won't take out my second.”

~A/N~

Can I just say. Queen Latifah is just...yes! Man when I rewatched hairspray I was like okay we're using this for this part!

Ik ik this is a very depressing chapter but I love writing cute scenes about Hex's past! He's so adorable!

Anyways~ I was a TA (teaching assistant) in a class today and none of these kids looked like freshman! And 3 of then owned spotted gekos! Damn most of them got a flipping soon! All I every own is a dog!

Beside my TA! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I hope the song went with it.

Till Friday my beloved readers!