Body and Soul (Freakier Friday Plot Start!)

No good story ever starts with "So, I walked into a juice bar..."

In retrospect, that should have been a red flag.

"Excuse me? Miss?"

Sveta turned around to the guy who stood behind her in the (depressingly long) line to the counter (dammit, New York City and its healthy living hipster population). She was about to point out that she was in a hurry too, and also please refrain from tapping her on the shoulder or anywhere else... but she checked herself, because the guy seemed familiar.

"Miss? Do you remember me? I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name the last time we met."

Of course he didn't. Sveta remembered him now, tall, skinny, and perpetually nervous. With a bow tie. No wonder he was so out of his element last time she saw him, on her patrol of one of the worst neighborhoods in the city.

"I'm sorry, you are mistaken. I don't think we have met."

It happened two days earlier. He was being mugged, and not even putting up much of a fight. Why he was in that godforsaken alleyway, Sveta couldn't even begin to guess. That wasn't her job anyway.

"Of course we did! I have been hoping to see you again. I never properly thanked you for saving my life."

"You are looking for someone else."

"I am pretty sure it was you. You have the same accent."

"Do you know how many Russians live in dis city?"

"... and the same voice."

Sveta held her breath and pursed her lips, debating the best possible course of action. She did not have a quick way out, and if she ran for it, the guy might blurt things out that she did not want known.

"You can buy me a drink." she concluded with a sigh and stepped out of the queue to go find a table. If the guy had things to say, at least he would say it away from most of the crowd.

Smoothies did not make anything any less awkward. They sat across from each other at a small round table, the guy looking positively smitten, and Sveta wondering if she should send an SOS to Sam.

"I still think you got de wrong person." Sveta noted, drinking her smoothie through a straw.

"I am sure I did not." the guy shook his head and adjusted his glasses "It's not like you wore a full mask anyway. Do people you save usually not recognize you?"

"I don't want dem to. Can you please keep it down..."

"Damien."

"Huh?"

"My name is Damien. And I am not trying to out you, miss. I wouldn't dream of it. I am just here to thank you for saving my life."

"You're welcome."

Slurp slurp, went the smoothie.

"You... don't happen to be in need of a... sidekick, do you?"

Slurp-cough, went the smoothie. Sveta felt the distinct scent of strawberries crawl up her nose.

"Uggh... no, not really, no. Thank you."

She stood, wiping her mouth and picking up her bag.

"I'd better go. Nice meeting you, uh. Damien. Take care."

"Just one more thing."

She turned back to him with an exasperated sigh, and realized in a split second how up close and personal he was. At this distance, he did not seem awkward at all. She stared him down (or, rather, up) and noticed the slight smile around his lips.

"Wat?"

"Nice power."

People at the juice bar saw a young couple sharing a passionate kiss that lasted for long seconds. If they were not distracted by their daily texting, talking and healthy meals, they might have also seen the blonde girl slump back to her chair as the guy walked out with a cheerful grin on his face.

People in the juice bar also had no idea that the morning of the next day, all across the city, mutants were about to wake up to a very nasty surprise.