Nicki smiled as Kaz and she walked out of the library, books in hand; she with an old favorite (The Inferno) and Kaz with a the greek myths and Poe. Moving out of the school Nicki smiled as she inhaled the cold air and looked around, still getting used to the huge hussle and bussle of the city. It was still very new to her.

Nicki picked up on something about Kaz's car that he was thinking about rather loudly. She shrugged it off, watching the city and happy to be walking. She slipped her hand once again into Kaz's.

"How are you adjusting to the big city?" Kaz asked as they walked down the street. Kaz was at home here, all of the people human and mutant alike. The streets were crowded, some you could barely move, people walking shoulder to shoulder, others were open, with room to breath. He knew the way they moved. When a large crowd came near, Kaz stepped ahead of Nicki, making sure to keep her hand in his, as he shouldered their way through the crowd as they headed to the diner.

"Well, it's definitely a new feeling...to go from that little town to one of the biggest cities in the world is kinda scary but it's not too bad..." Nicki smiled, following Kaz's lead. She was really glad they were holding hands at this point; although she liked the feeling in general she would have been lost in that crowd had she not had a grip on Kaz. "It's just a little on the intimidating side you know?" she asked, wondering if Kaz had ever even had that feeling in his life. She then remembered his childhood and realized that he must have lived with that fear as well. Her fingers tightened on Kaz's as she returned to his side.

Kaz listened to her as she spoke. He simpathized with her, he understood how she felt. "Yeah, I feel that. Good thing about this city, or any city really, is you can conquer it. In a way." He gave her a comforting smile. "Unlike people, who will always be chaotic and random, cities have a patern, and you can learn the streets and avenues and get around. It's daunting at first, but it gets a lot easier after you enter the concrete jungle a few times." Looking up and forward, he could see the sign for the diner. "Almost there."

"Yeah, that's what my mom told me. She used to live in LA and she said that it was really simple to get used to cities: just pretend you were bigger than they are. Remember what you need to, forget what you don't and never wear a purse with a small strap" Nicki smiled, recalling the motherly advice. Her heart only grew a little heavy as she continued up the road wtih Kaz.

"You'll really like the food. Really good stuff and they don't over cook the burgers" Nicki smiled.

When Nicki spoke of what her mother had told her, she smiled, but her eyes weren't all smile. Kaz let go of her hand and put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to him. "Why shouldn't you wear a purse with a small strap?" His question was one of total confusion. He really had no idea. Why have a purse in the first place? Wallets are fine.* She mentioned food again, and almost in reflex his stomach grumbled once agian. "I'm putting faith in you Nicki. Though burgers are best medium rare..like most red meat." Kaz's mouth watered at the thought of the food. Swallowing he tried to hide the fact he was daydreaming about big slabs of steak.

"She always told me people could steal your purse if you had one with a small strap. But I agree with you...wallets are way easier to deal with" Nicki smiled, facing forward as they walked. She thought for a moment, trying to figure out why she had mentioned the wallet thing. She left it to she had picked up something from Kaz and left it alone.

"Don't worry, I'm a believer in the medium rare idea as well and this place does it right. Never fear." Nicki smiled and looped her arm around Kaz's waist, happily walking through the small diner's door.

The place was nothing special. Small, clean and mostly in tile. A man was manning the grill behind a wall, though he was clearly visible, and two girls were taking orders, wearing normals clothes and small waist aprons. One girl walked over to Kaz and Nicki and sat them down.

When Nicki commented about wallets, Kaz looked down at her and raised an eyebrow quizicly. Shrugging it away, not with his shoulders but with a facial expression. "I can see what your mom ment, shorter strap, less time to react to the theif and les to grab on to when you do notice. So, which do you use? Long strap or a wallet?" As the two of them entered the diner, a decent looking waitress came over to seat them. When they sat down, Kaz took the seat that looked away from the rest of the diner, so he wouldn't be tempted to look, it was the polite thing to do. Opening the menue he looked imediately to the burgers. "Not a bad selection." Looking up, "What ya hungry for?"

"Wallet all the way" Nicki smiled as the two sat down. She watched the waitress walk away...so did Kaz. Nicki giggled a little, looking down at the menu. "She's a cutie" Nicki sent Kaz a smug smile. He was clearly checking out the waitress...but Kaz also was trying to be nice about it. It wasn't a big deal.

"Oh, I'm getting just a plain cheeseburger. I'm a bit of food purist. I don't like to hide the food under sauces and what not" Nicki smiled, closing the menu. "And of course, a chocolate shake."

She caught him. Mentally sighing, he couldn't deny it, if he tried, he'd be caught. "Yes she is. But that uniform helps her. Just like those private school uniforms for girls. No matter how old the guy is, or how young the girl is, they always draw a guy's attention. I swear they make them just for that reason." Winking as he lifted his hand and shook his fist playfully. Shaking his head, "You chicks and your chocolate, I swear. You're addicted from birth." Chuckling, "I guess we're opposties when it comes to food. To me, sauses enhance food. At least the right ones." The waitress came over, "Ya'll ready, or you do you need another minute?" Her tone was polite and sweet. <Probably just started not to long ago.> Kaz laughed in to himself. "I'll have two double cheeseburgers, double pickle, minus tomatoe, onion, and letuce, hot mustard, and ketchup. The cutie accross from me will have a plain cheeseburger, a chocolate shake and..." Looking over to Nicki, "Fries?" The waitress looked to Nicki and waited her answer.

Nicki chuckled at the chocolate comment, shaking her head. She was about to tell Kaz that a chocolate shake enhanced any diner meal when the waitress came over. Nicki's cheeks flushed slightly as Kaz called her a cutie and ordered for her.

"Yeah, fries too please." Nicki smiled, watching as the waitress left. She smiled at the amount of food Kaz ordered. "Don't think you can lap me boy, I'll have you beat when the dessert round comes" Nicki smiled brightly.

Kaz watched Nicki blush from his comment. He made his point. His mind came to a stop when she made her comment about food. Pressing his lips together, he made sure he wouldn't say anything, also making sure he didn't think anything. If he didn't, he might just say something wrong for the situation. "Lap you? Wouldn't dream of it." Laughing. "Remember when I said all physical attributes were enhanced? Well, that ment metabolism, and apitite too." His face went slack for a moment as he snapped his fingers, "Crap, I forgot something. Too destracted." He gave Nicki a sly smile before calling to the waitress, who was a few feet away. "Miss, a large drink as well, mix of all soda please." Looking back at Nicki, "Can't eat with nothin to drink."

Nicki smiled. "A mix of all the sodas? Weirdo..." Nicki laughed happily, leaning back against the comfortable seats.

"So Kaz, tell me something about yourself. I feel like I've just been rambling on and on. What do you like to do? Why are you at the Mansion; you seem to have a pretty good grip on your powers. What do you want to do when you get older?" Nicki fired, trying to ask as many questions as she could. She liked hearing about other people and was actually really kind of uncomfortable talking about herself.

"Have you tried a suicide?" He commented about the mixed drink. "Myself, well you already know my biggest secret. If you wanna know my hobbies, I'll gladly give ya list." Leaning back in the seat, "Judo, Ju-jitsu, Kung-fu, Tai kwan do, Karate, Kickboxing, Tai chi, and Swordplay. Been doing those since I was little. Beyond that, I'm your average lazy guy. Chillin, kickin back...umm..chillin. I love the water. Sometimes I'll go into a pool and just sit at the bottom for hours." Looking at her, he comment quickly. "No, I can't hold my breath that long or breath underwater. I bring a tank with me. I find it relaxing." He looked out the window, thinking of how to answer Nicki about being at the mansion. "Honestly. I don't know." Looking back at her. "You're right, I do have a good grasp of my abilities. There's not much I can do to get better. Maybe that's why." Shrugging a bit. "I origionally went there to see Eldwyn. Beyond that, I've sorta been playing it by ear. I've been staying somewhere else, and I do have obligations I have to keep to other people. But it's nice to have a break, ya know?" The waitress came back carrying their food. "Here ya go, enjoy." She walked away to another table. Kaz grabbed a burger and took a bite.

Nicki smiled at the inclusion of Karate. "I know Karate too! I'm sure you're better, you know, the physical attribute stuff, but yeah..." Nicki suddenly quieted herself, realizing she kinda sounded like she was five years old with that. She thought about the idea of sitting at the bottom of a pool for hours on end...that didn't sound relaxing at all...if anything it sounded terrifying.

Nicki bit into her burger and popped a fry into her mouth. "So? Did I lead you astray or is that a damn good burger?"