Fighting fire with...not fire

[a_relative_hero]

WHO: a_relative_hero and OPEN
WHERE: A less nice part of the City
WHEN: Really late Friday Night/Early Saturday Morning
WARNINGS: None predicted
SUMMARY: A building is on fire. People need saving. Time to do some superhero-stuff that doesn't involve punching and blasting and stuff. Houston's pulling people out of danger and could use a little help.
FORMAT: whatever

Houston hadn't seen what happened as he'd been a block away stopping a mugger. But he heard it. And when he showed up on the scene, a bystander filled him in on what was the cause of the current problem. Two cars had smashed into one another on the street, one flipping over and blocking the street. The other went and ended up jumping the curb before slamming into the wall of a building. And to make matters worse, it quickly caught fire...and then that fire moved to the apartment building it crashed into.

Now there's a burning apartment building. While several people made it out on their own, there are others still needing rescue. Houston's rushing in and out of the building, carrying people and pets to safety but he could probably use a hand. Even with his speed he can't be everywhere at once and there are people stuck on the higher floors that could use rescue.

Comments

[thebadturtle]

Up a floor or two, Raph begins to help people get up and on the ladder; women and kids alternating, and sometimes an adult male helping carry one or the other who is too young or infirm down.

Raph waits for everybody to be clear, until he gets up on the ladder himself, One hand on the ladder, a bag over his back, and his other hand tucked under a child. He slides down the ladder the hard way-- by the skin of his palms and feet. There'll be some friction burns, but he considers getting down quickly worth it.

To one of the crying women he pasess the child, and to another, the bag. Both are exceedingly grateful with hugging and even more crying.

Raph has never been hugged by anyone who isn't his brother, and so -- he doesn't KNOW how to react-- standing stock still until it's over. Thankfully, it's quick. Nobody hangs out.

Raph just looks bewildered, and then-- starts looking for his 'companion'. "Hey, is there anybody still on the lower floors?"

[a_relative_hero]

Houston stares as Raph slides down the ladder lie he does. There's a wince when the turtle reaches the bottom. Shaking it off, Houston jobs over. He can't help but smile at Raph's reaction to the hugs, just watching.

"I don't think so. I think I got everyone," he replied, giving the fire a concerned look before his attention returned to Raph.

[thebadturtle]

"...so what do we do now?" he looks up at the building, amber eyes wide. He's never done anything like this before, really. He's beat up muggers and all, but never.. really-- heroed.

If he were a little less confused about everything, he'd probably make some sort of joke about losing one's heroism cherry, but -- he's still busy staring into the blaze wondering how all this works. Do they want fir the fire department? He doesn't know a lot of first aid; that's Mike's job.

IT leaves him a little lost for the moment.

[a_relative_hero]

"Good question," Houston replies, honestly a little confused. Fires aren't something he's really used to dealing with. He looks around quickly and jumps when he sees the car still blocking the street, Houston gets an idea.

"Hey, help me try to move that so the fire department can actually get close here?" he requests.

[thebadturtle]

Oh! Something he's good at! Grunt work.

"Let's flip it back down on it's wheels; will be easier to get a grip," he says, giving the car on it's side a once over. "Shouldn't be too hard."

Especially not for that short, muscular turtle. He's not sure about skinny dude, though.

[a_relative_hero]

"Got it. Flip it back into the wheels," Houston replies, giving the car a skeptical look. He's also not sure he'll be of much use. Stepping up to the car, he zips around it quickly o make sure nothing's on fire or about to break apart. Appearing next to Raph, he nods.

"So we try to flip it on three?" he asks, watching what the turtle does so he can copy the movements. It's the first car he's ever tried to flip after all.

[thebadturtle]

"Yeah," he says, positioning himself toward the front-heavy engine-- he was pretty sure that guy in the suit was zippy, but not about to bench-press 300, either. He put his back to the vehicle-- letting his shell find contact.

"One.. two... three!"

He dug in with his heels and threw his weight back.

Thankfully, it's balance was crap-- it would bend the wheels in it's well, but the was the least of this car's worry. With two men pushing on it it would fall over -- but if they're not careful, flip one of them with it when the the edge of the car came up under them during the topple!

[a_relative_hero]

Houston definitely wasn't going to be bench-pressing 300. He also didn't have a shell to push with so he used his hands. Getting a decent grip, he waited for the count of three.

When it came, Houston pushed hard, pleasantly surprised when the car actually started moving. Sadly he wasn't as careful as he should have been. With a surprised yelp, he was flipped up and onto the roof of the car. He gave a slight grunt as he hit the metal. "What just happened there?"

[thebadturtle]

"You were in the way," he says, as he hops back from the car. Then he circles around to the car, and thankfully, he doesn't have to try and punch in the window open; he's able to reach in an already-busted out, shift the car to neutral, and then gestures, "Let's push this off the street best we can."

[a_relative_hero]

"Of what?" Houston gives a little groan before rolling off the car. He takes a moment to get his balance again before heading to the passenger side of the car. He nods, knocking some broken glass away from the window before. "Alright, let's do it," he waits for Raph to be ready as well before starting to push the car out of the middle of the street so emergency vehicles can get by when they arrive.

[thebadturtle]

"The car."

Thankfully, a battered car in neutral still rolls -- if poorly -- and the car can be hauled out of the way. Any time the emergency vehicle arrives, they'll be able to get through the mess.

Ash-dusted, dirty, and sweaty, Raph stops once it's out of the way and leans on it in the end.

"So, now what?"

[a_relative_hero]

"Well at least I don't have to ask if anyone got this one's number."

Joel has a little harder time pushing the car than he thought he would but he doesn't complain. There's a silent wish that he got super strength as a power but nothing else.

Once the car is out off the way, Houston moves to join Raph by the end of the car. He shrugs in reply to the question.

"I'm going to stick around until the fire's out. I might still be able to help," he replies. "I'm Houston," he offers a gloved hand.

[thebadturtle]

Raph's grip is strong; he had two fingers and a thumb, a far cry from Houston's hand.

"Raphael. I don't know first aid or anything, and I'm not real fast, so-- I dunno what I can do," he says. This is all very new to him.

[a_relative_hero]

Houston doesn't seem bothered by Raph's hand at all. He's used to things others might find strange from living with a house full of metas and shapeshifting aliens back home.

"Not really sure what else I can do right now either," he admits. "I'm hoping the EMTs and fire department will point me where they need me when they get here."