Chapter 7: Down In Flames POV: Elliot Builder "You sure haven't seen 'em in a while. You should come by, the kids would love to see you!" I had the phone pressed up to my ear against my shoulder while simultaneously changing Ava's diaper. I pulled her onesie back on and strapped her against my chest, listening to her peaceful babbling. A warm smile filled my face. "I've... really got to work, Ell. I can't miss this one, it's real important." Seven mutter through the phone. I tilted my head back and a hopeless sigh escaped my nostrils. "Seven, how can I call you their father when you're not even here to 'father' them...?" I rubbed my face, annoyed. As if the baby could sense my agitation, Ava started whimpering. 'Probably hungry.' I thought as I walked out of my room to the kitchen, opening the fridge to find her a bottle. Seven answered, "Look... I want to be there for them, but we also have to put food on the table." "That's not a problem." I answered, confused, shaking the baby bottle. "We get a free pizza from Builder Brothers' every other week, and other leftovers usually last us three days at least." Was he implying that we didn't have as much as I thought we did? Or maybe he was the one who needed my help? "That's... not what I mean-" I heard some indistinguishable voices talking in the background of Seven's speech. "Listen, I'm sorry Ell, I've got to go. Tell the kids I lov3 them!" "Seven wait-!" He hung up. I groaned, being careful not to slam my phone down and crack the screen... again. I looked down at Ava who looked me back up at me in the eyes with a curious young gaze. I ruffled her short fluffy yellow that mimicked mine. Her eyes though, weren't brown like mine, they were blue like Seven's. Looking into them... really only made me sad. "Dad?" I whirled around to find our firstborn, Costanza, tugging on my shirt. "Hiya, Coz. What do you need?" "Can I, uh-" She looked over at the counter, "Can I borrow your phone?" I tilted my head, "What for?" Until I heard a shriek from another room. My head jolted upwards. I gave Costanza a pat on the shoulder just before I ran off, "Give me a minute sweetheart-" I found c00lkidd in his room on the floor crying. "Awh, buddy what's wrong?" He sat up crying, "I tripped, Dad!" He pointed to his leg, "It hurt!" "Oh... How many times have I told to be careful, lov3?" I shook my head, smiling softly. I switched baby Ava over to my left arm and scooped c00lkidd up onto my lap with my right arm. He burrowed his head into me and I k!ssed his forehead. A soft smile spread on my face. Until I smelled something... burnt. I placed c00lkidd down and took his hand as I started walking back towards the kitchen where I'd left Costanza. "Cozzie, I told you, you have to wait for me to be in the kitchen before you start making pizza." I paused in the hallway... No response. c00lkidd let go of my hand as I adjusted Ava's position on my hip, speedwalking into the kitchen. "Coz? Honey, do you hear- OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD." The kitchen was on fire.
_+_((POV CHANGE: Costanza Builder))_+_ I snuck from behind Dad and ran into the hallway. I grabbed c00lkidd by the wrist and started dashing down the hallway towards the back of the house. Using Dad's phone somewhat like a c00lgui, I entered the code in to physically move the fire to Builder Brothers' instead of the house. "Sis?" c00lkidd said as he stumbled behind me, "Whatcha doin'?" I frowned, "Be quiet and keep coming along." I continued to pull him up the street. Builder Brothers was two blocks away. We couldn't possibly make it there in time for my plan to work, so I clutched c00lkidd close and began frantically inserting code. "Hug?" c00lkidd wondered aloud and embraced me. I didn't push him aside; I'd be a bad big sister if I did. I silently pressed enter, and we teleported to the center of the pizza place, right into the center of the fire. Instantly, c00lkidd started crying. Perfect bait. I glanced out the window to see Seven just arriving from his 'job' frantic to find c00lkidd. I teleported myself out of the flaming pizza place just as I heard Seven call, "Don't worry, son! Dad's coming!" I teleported outside the building without a second thought, seeing Dad had already arrived with Ava in his arms. He placed baby Ava into my arms and quickly muttered, "Whatever you do: Keep. Ava. Safe. If the building collapses, run." He dashed inside without warning, assumably to save anyone else stuck inside. "Dad, wait!" I didn't expect him to run in- the fire was supposed to help him, not burn him! Feat. Costanza, Elliot, 007n7, c00lkidd, Ava/Ashten ...And then what happens are the events from "Up in Flames" (I still have to fix that chapter...)
