#c:lh

Liam had been enjoying prom, actually enjoying. It was hard not to when Syria was his date, and it was the first time he had looked forward to the date aspect of a dance. He wasn't going to try and ruin tonight, not even for the Rangers. Devone hadn't told him to do anything, and unless there were strict orders, Liam had no obligation to do so. Tonight was about making her happy, not about the mission that he still played a large part in completing. It was halfway through prom, and the voting count was nearly done. Whoever it was going to be didn't interest him. He was dancing closely with Syria like they had been when they saw each other earlier in the week. Until he had to leave because of he could feel the pain of his marks coming around and couldn't have her know that just yet. So far it hadn't happened tonight and he was thankful for it. As they danced, he gave her a smile and felt like going for a kiss. As soon as that thought struck him, he felt the stinging and burning start once again. This time he was more prepared and it didn't take him off guard as much. He had to excuse himself, telling her he would be back just as the results of prom were about to take place. He promised he would be back as he made a quick rush to the doors leading towards the empty hallways of Reefside. He couldn't go outside as others would be there, and surely no one would be willingly walking the halls of Reefside during prom. Rushing out, he starting doubling over slightly as he unbuttoned the top of his overshirt, feeling like it was binding his chest and he couldn't breathe. he took his bowtie off, tossing it on the ground in his frantic actions. This was the most it had ever hurt and it caused his forehead to sweat a little in a panic. It felt like he was about to lose a complete hold on himself as he saw the marks extend down to the tops of his hands which was new, "Why are you doing this?" He asked quietly, not sure if he was talking to the marks, his inner Green Warrior, or Devone himself.

Marley was having the time of her life. While last year's prom had been an experience forced on her via pressure from her mother and friends just days after returning from captivity, an experience fraught with confusion, anger, and distrust, one that had left both her and Finn painfully at odds with each other, this year's was turning out to be the opposite. She had on a beautiful dress, Finn had picked her up at her house with a lovely corsage in tow, and after the dance, they were slated to spend the whole night together, alone. It was /the/ night, the one they had picked to lose their virginities to one another, and while the rest of the world would probably find such a thing cliched and stupid, she was excited. Maybe it was planned and not spontaneous like people said it should be, but they were ready. They loved each other, and so long as she was with him, she didn't care how cliched it was. It was that underlying excitement of what was to come that had fueled their easy-going, fun-loving night thus far. If it weren't for all of the punch she'd drank between dances, she would've stayed the whole night on the floor with him. But alas, nature called, and she excused herself to find a restroom before she returned to enjoy the remainder of the night with her date and friends. After a quick in the mirror to make sure her dress still lay flat and the make-up she'd allowed her mom to put on her was still in check, she stepped out to make her way back to the gym. Along her way though, she caught sight of someone struggling down the hall up ahead of her. They looked like they were doubled over in pain almost... "Hey, are you okay?" she asked the retreating figure as she moved a little quicker down the hallway. The closer she came, the more familiar they became. "... Liam?" Her brow furrowed in concern as she looked to the discarded bowtie on the ground, then to his loosened attire. "Is everything okay?"

Liam was, for the first time since he became the Green Warrior, at a lost of what to do. He had accepted the powers doing this to him, but aside from a few days ago, it had always been when he was alone. Now he was out in public, hands shaking and heart racing as he was ironically powerless since it seemed like his powers themselves were doing this to him. Liam was so wrapped up he didn't even hear the sound of footsteps echoing through the halls. Nor did he even hear the first time Marley asked if he was okay. It wasn't under he heard his name be said that he froze. It was sudden, but even the pain stopped and the marking started to fade themselves away. The boy hadn't been expecting that and so he remained frozen for a moment more, partly in waiting on if it would all resume. It didn't. He heard Marley ask if he was okay this time around, and he swallowed, trying to keep his wits about him, "I'm fine," he said, more aggressively than he wanted it to sound. He had been so good about staying collected whenever it came to any of the Rangers or Allies, but he couldn't seem to keep it up now. He did want them to find out who he was, just... not like this. In order to ensure that, Liam was going to need to play this off. His body stood tall again as he turned his head to look over his shoulder as her, "I didn't mean to yell it like that... I stubbed my toe really badly and then someone stepped on it," he kept his back away from her as he reached for his bowtie, hoping that the lack of light would keep her from seeing the barely there any more markings on his hand.

Marley startled a bit at the biting response her questioning earned her. Liam was not typically the type to agitate easily, not at least that she was aware of in her short time knowing him. It was akin to getting snapped at by an angry dog, and it made her recoil initially. A brow rose though as she noted his body language - tense, even in what seemed like an attempt at composure. His back was to her and for whatever reason, he seemed intent on keeping it that way. She would've let it drop, but given his earlier reaction to a 'toe stub', she wasn't quite convinced that was it. "Are you sure that's all?" she asked hesitantly as she moved closer to get a better look at him. Her brow furrowed again as her eyes searched him for whatever was ailing him - injury, illness perhaps - and found what looked like faint marks on his wrists. It could've been a trick of the shadows though. The hallways weren't lit like they usually were on weekdays. "I could go get Syria or Finn..."

Liam had to use his own mental and physical strength to not quip back at Marley like he had before. He wasn't in the mood to answer questions right then, nor was he in the mood to have to deal with anyone. He had wanted tonight to at least go well, for Syria. He had resisted his overwhelming desire to harm his targets at the dance all night which had been easier than planned. Though perhaps that was why he was being punished now. Liam let out an annoyed sigh before taking another breath to at least get himself looking less frustrated than he was, "You don't need to get anyone." Liam turned around, looking at her with a smile. Thankfully the sweat off his brow had gone, of course, his hair was a little disheveled. He started working on his shirt, getting the buttons back together, "I told you, I'm fine. Really. I have nine other toes."

Marley That sigh of his didn't do much to help his case. If anything, it made her feel as though she were getting in the way of... well, whatever had made him come out of the gymnasium originally. She tried to ignore that misdirected guilt in favor of opening her mouth again to offer some kind of help, "Well, if it's really bothering you so much, I'm sure we could find you some ice-" but what she had previous assumed to be a trick of the shadows happened again. This time in markings that crept up from beyond the hem of the shirt Liam wore under his button-up. She could've easily chalked it up again to the dark playing tricks on her eyes, but it wasn't just shadows she was seeing. Somewhere in her gut, and in the deeper recesses of her mind that she preferred not to probe, she recognized the symbols standing out in contrast to his light skin. She'd seen them before, her already trying to back track through her memory to figure out /where/ exactly she'd seen them, and why. "Liam, what's on your chest?" she asked stepping forward for a closer look.

Liam paused again as Marley suddenly stopped in the middle of her own sentence. Something caught her eye, and he knew it. He had been avoiding her for a long time due to her being observant. That, and he knew she could read people. She had the power to see things that other didn't through touch, and likely other ways too. Out of everyone that could have been out there, it being Marley was the worst option. He knew that as soon as she asked what was on his chest. His hands dropped, and head tilted to the side in disbelief, leaving his bowtie undone as looked at her with almost a glare, "I'm fairly certain that your date is Finn," Finally, Liam was the one taking some steps toward her. They weren't large strides, but slow and intentional. She had an idea in her mind, and he wasn't going to be able to talk himself out of it. All he was going to be able to do was subtly let her know to keep herself out of it, "so maybe you shouldn't be asking another guy what's under his shirt, Marley Rose. It might give the wrong idea."

Marley wasn't prepared for the glare he gave her. It was positively... well, she didn't want to finish that sentence. The word 'evil' didn't belong in a sentence with Liam's name in it. Though him zeroing in on one of her weaknesses - a propensity for easily feeling guilty when she wasn't in the wrong - and using it in a rather embarrassing way seemed to suggest otherwise. She swallowed uncomfortably and took a step back, but it was only when he got closer that she was able to get a better look at the marks on his chest. Images of the labor camp she'd spent months in with Syria and Carter swam in her mind, symbols and characters that she didn't understand the language of but that she inherently knew were associated with only one person - Devone. Her eyes flickered back up to meet Liam's, her heart starting to pound a little bit faster as the beginnings of fear coursed through her veins. "Are you... Liam, are you threatening me?" she asked, her tone moving from confusion to something a little more defensive. She wanted to add that it was out of character for him to do such a thing, but if she was seeing correctly, he was actually acting appropriately in character. Like someone working for her, all of their, greatest enemy.

Liam knew when there was a time he idolized Marley's strength and bravery when it came to the battle she and the Rangers were in. Now it was something he despised about her and wanted to find a way to remove from her. Right now wasn't the time, or place. Eventually it would be though, "What? Marley, that's insane." He argued, giving a scoff mixed with a slight laugh as kept his steps going toward her. It was a very find line he was balancing on right now. He had made his Green Warrior presence known to the Rangers, but not who he was. It didn't feel like he was about to reveal that to her, Marley clearly was in the know of too much already, "We should really get back to the dance. We wouldn't want to end up ruining the night for Finn, would we?" He asked now in front of her, looking right in to her eyes.

Marley He was invading her space, majorly. And it wasn't doing anything to calm her fears about what she'd already seen, what that meant about him. Her lips had even pursed into a thin line to try and keep from revealing to him just how freaked out she was becoming. But before she could relent and agree to going back to the dance - she /did/, after all, have a big night to look forward to with him, and he was likely wondering what was taking her so long - his eyes locked on hers and flashed... green? Her brow furrowed in the same instant. The changes in his personality, the markings on his chest, his /eyes/... and all of the weird things that had been happening around school. Puck had seemed pretty convinced that it was someone they all knew, and now as things pieced themselves together, she was beginning to thing he was right. "It's you... isn't it?" she asked, huffing out an exhale in disbelief. "You're the one making all of these bad things happen... you're working with /him/, aren't you?" Maybe she was getting ahead of herself, but really, what other explanation was there? First this Green Warrior appeared on the scene with threats geared towards the Rangers, and then a string of events follow, preying on the Rangers' and Allies' insecurities. Now Liam acting strange in school hallways with marks on him that brought her back to places she wished she could forget. If not him, then /who/?

Liam wasn't going to say it now, but Marley was definitely better at standing her ground than even Devone expected. He had been the one to tell Liam that giving her the necklace that he had picked up among the Nexian destruction would be enough of a trauma to keep Marley at bay. It had worked for so long, but now it seemed to fade off. If it wasn't going to keep her quiet, then he was going to have to find a way that would. However, he couldn't hide the little smile that came when she pieced it all together. While she was physically standing her ground, he could see she was scared at the realization. The idea of him being the Green Warrior terrified her and he took pride in that. Fear was important to have when trying to overtake a planet, "You know who I am," he replied, feigning innocence now. He wasn't going to tell her that he was working with Devone, but he wasn't going to deny it at this point, "I'm Liam." With that, he took a step to her side, now standing beside her and out of her line of vision, "And if you really are looking forward to going to your graduation, I'd make sure that's all you say I am." He told her in a low, stern, but also malicious tone.