The two men settled into bed. The smell of citrus Lysol was overpowering, and Mack was fearful of what was to happen.

"Josh, I don't know about this. Is it such a good idea?" Mack's question was rebuked with a snap from Josh.

"Of course it isn't. But don't you want to anyway?"

"Well," Mack began. "Yes."

"That's what I though," Josh said, green eyes glinting in the dim light given by the red lava lamp. The lamp pulsed small bodies up and down, floating in the liquid. "Let's do it."

Mack's blonde hair covered frightened brown eyes. Josh's eyes were lustful though, and as he ripped off his pants he made a horrifying purring noise in the back of his throat. Josh was desirable, certainly. But did it make it right? Mack began to sweat.

It was over in a short time, and for this Mack was grateful. So grateful that Josh could tell, and that upset him deeply.

"Why did you ask me over here if you were just going to be a wuss about it?" he roared quietly, his voice dangerous, the quality of it powerful but the volume low.

"I'd never been…well…you know…" Mack tried to say, but failed. Josh was not so embarrassed.

"Fucked?" he said derisively.

"Yeah," Mack looked down, his brown eyes closed.

Josh looked positively bestial in the red light of the lamp. "Don't expect me over here again to assuage your sexual feelings, you ass. Be a man about it, would you?"

Mack looked at him gravely, and chuckled. "But I don't want to be a man. And frankly, neither do you."

If Mack had not been extraordinarily gifted, those would have been his last words, for Josh had been pushed beyond his limits. Those words were the most painful in the world to him, and he knew that Mack knew it.

"Damn you, you slut," Josh spat. "Go fuck yourself."

"I thought that's what you were here for," Mack smiled coyly. But his smile turned icy cold in mere seconds. "Get out."

Josh turned to leave, muttered, "With pleasure," and got as far as opening the door before he sensed a painful burning in his abdomen. It was more than painful—it was pure agony. The living flame suddenly engulfed him in a single, hungry gulp, before Josh had time to scream. Mack nodded and stared at the ashes on the floor.

"Don't insult a pyrokinetic," Mack said quietly. "It's generally considered a good way to die." And with that, he went to the living room and slept on the couch so he could wait for the bed to dry.