Nicki smiled at the girl as she took the map, walking around the Sanctuary towards Kaz's room, praying that she didn't get too lost and end up in their aresenal or something.

The Sancutary was big but luckily the map was something resembling on point. She was able to get to the living quarters rather well and managed to find the room that was supposed to belong to Kaz. She thought about how to approach the entrance of the room and decided to knock instead of barging in (though the prospect of Kaz in a towel wasn't a bad one).

Nicki tapped on the door a few times and waited.

Kaz didn't really expect Nicki to wait upstairs, though he almost wished she had as he hear the soft taps on his door. From the bathroom he called out. "Come in, it's unlocked." Kaz stood in the bathroom in front of the mirror. Kaz thought if he should change back or stay in his current form. He had come to understand this new form quickly though he didn't know what all it could do. Though he also knew Nicki would have to find out sooner or later. <Sooner would probably be better.....> He finally decided. He cracked open the door to the bathroom, not enough to fully show him, but enough to show that he wasn't hiding.

Nicki opened the door, walking into the room slowly, poking her head in first before letting the rest of her body follow. She walked fully in and closed the door behind her.

"Hey Kaz" she said a little louder than normal to let it carry through the door. She slowly started to move around his room, taking a moment to look at everything around. There wasn't much, but she was pleased to see the books she had told him he would enjoy on the floor near the bed. Nicki smiled, picking up the book of Greek myths and flopping down on Kaz's bed. Making herself comfortable for a moment, Nicki opened the book and began thumbing through it.

Kaz heard her come in. Heard her feet shuffle on the floor, the book being picked up, her sitting down on the bed, the slight ruffle as the sheet and covers moved under her weight. He heard the flip of the pages. He could hear her breathing. He could smell her, smell the exhaust from the cars outside. Sighing inwardly, Kaz took another look in the mirror. He could see every rivet in his skin. It would take a while to get use to how acute his senses had become. "Nicki," He called to her. He sighed audibly, which could be heard from his main room. "Don't run screaming." That was his only warning as he turned and faced the door.

He turned off the light, opened the door, and stepped out slowly, only an overly large pair of boxers was apon Kaz's body. His smaller arms were crossed over his chest while the others moved at his sides just above the ground.

Nicki furrowed her brow at Kaz's warning. She set the book down and looked towards the bathroom door. What came out of the door she could not accurately describe, but it certainly didn't look human. She gasped inwardly, calming herself as much as she could. This was clearly Kaz. Even if he hadn't spoken, she would recoginize his eyes and thought patterns anywhere. But those were the only two features he had left from his previous appearance, save his silver locks. Nicki looked up and down his body, trying to think of what to say.

"Kaz? What...what happened?" she asked, the only thing in her voice was pure confusion and concern.

When Nicki didn't bolt for the door or freak out on him, he visibly relaxed. Even his face showed it. When he reached the bed he slumped down in front of Nicki. Even though he was sitting he was almost at eye level with the girl. Looking into her eyes. "Sounds crazy but, I woke up like this the other morning." One of his large hands began to lift up, then set back down as one of the smaller arms reached up towards Nicki's face. It pulled back as if shamed at the thought of touching her. His voice was low, "Thanks for not running."

A long moment passed before he said anything again. "I, did a bit of research, though I'm not much good at it." He chuckled at himself, though it didn't last long. "I found a few thing articles, scientific writings saying that some mutants go through a sort of 'second mutation'." Looking up at the girl for a second before looking down.

Nicki nodded, watching Kaz. She too visibly relaxed as she realized that Kaz was okay...he had another set of arms but he was okay. She looked at him, finding part of the man she knew in the being in front of her. Kaz looked devastated and truly embarassed at his present appearance. Nicki pushed away her feelings of discomfort and focused on trying to ease Kaz's mind. She tried to think of anything she could do to offer support, tried to think of something that would put him at ease.

Nicki extended her hand, running it through Kaz's silver hair. "So this is your second mutation? Are you okay? In pain or anything?" she asked, continuing to stroke Kaz's hair.

Kaz tensed when she raised her hand. He didn't relax until her fingers were fully through his hair, twice. "As far as I can tell it is. I could be wrong. I mean," Pausing as he recalled something else he had read. "There was some sort of chemical by-product or waist or something that seemed to have an adverse effect on mutants...but...that stopped like 10 years ago." Kaz stopped rambling. and looked into Nicki's eyes for a moment. "It only hurts when I shift."

Nicki nodded, continuing to stroke Kaz's hair, making sure every stroke was long and completely touching. Even though Kaz seemed to be "okay" with what was going on, he still looked terrified. Nicki focused on doing whatever she could to make him feel better. He must have been so scared and the last thing he needed was his girlfriend to freak out too.

"At least it doesn't hurt like this..." she gave a small supportive smile and leaned over, wrapping her arms the best she could around the man's large frame, hugging him as tightly as possible. "I hate the idea of you being in as much pain as it seems like this form might cause."

Kaz put his smaller arms around Nicki as she hugged him. He set his head on her shoulder, letting himself all into the hug more. Gritting his teeth, he began to shift back to his normal form. As he did, his grip on Nicki dissapeared as the smaller set of arms retracted into his body. His elongated mouth shrunk back to fit his normal handsome face. He had a slight spasm as his legs shifted to bed normally. When they were done shifting he was half kneeling to stay at the same height he was sitting at.

Nicki looked at the man in front of her, now clearly the man she knew so well. "Oh my God" she smiled, looking at his long silver hair. "I totally want to braid it..." She smiled briefly and leaned in, kissing him softly, indulging for a moment.

She pulled back, slipping her hand under his hair and letting it hold onto the locks near the base of his scalp. "Why did you shift back? You said that hurt you...." Nicki asked, a look of concern on her face.

Kaz laughed when she said she wanted to braid it. How could he not smile looking at her smile? He returned her kiss indulging just as much as she was. He was extremely greatful she hadn't turned tail and run when she had seen him in his new form. If her grip on his hair was tighter, it might just hurt, though he wouldn't say anything about it. Looking up at her as he kneeled down fully, "It does hurt, but it hurts more going to that form than going back." Looking down away from her. "I needed...wanted you to see it. To see how you'd react." Pausing as he took a breath. "I..I know it made you feel uncomfortable..." His voice was very soft as he set his head on her lap. "I'm sorry."

Nicki looked down at Kaz as he explained himself. Nicki slid down from the bed, setting herself in Kaz's lap. She lifted his head with her palm, looking into his eyes. "Yes, I was freaked out. But I was more freaked out that you were hurt or different than the man I have come to truly care about. When I saw that neither of those were the case, I was pretty much all better. Yeah, it was still a little weird to see you like that, but you don't have to apologize for that..." Nicki leaned in and kissed him again. "That is part of who you are and I l...I like who you are" Nicki smiled at Kaz, twirling some of his now waist-long hair around his finger.

Kaz smiled at Nicki, as her words rolled across the air to his ears. She did truly care for him, which is different for him. "You've had the best reaction to it so far." He said softly, as his took her free hand in his. An offhand thought came to his head when he looked at her delicate hand. "When I was in that form, I felt like I could protect you from anything and everything." Quirking an eyebrow, "Well, everything except yourself, ya know with your ear tugging, lip biting and all." He poked fun about it only because he finds it cute. He was quite ready to leave the subject of his new form behind for now.

"What brought you here today? I'm sure it wasn't JUST to see me." Kaz gave Nicki a sly smile. "If it is, then I guess I greatly underestimated my charm." Gently Kaz brought his index finger up to Nicki's nose and tapped it as he spoke.

Nicki smiled as Kaz explained he felt he could protect her and she fought not to let her smile fade as he mentioned that he couldn't protect her from herself. Nicki had been feeling like that for the past couple of days: that suddenly outside forces weren't the things that were really putting pressure on her, but her own circumstances.

She smiled as Kaz binked her nose, rolling her eyes. "Well, yes, the majority of the reason was to come and see you..." Nicki smiled, leaning in and kissing him again, briefly. "But I also just kind of wanted to be around here again...I feel like last time, what with the sever overload, I didn't get to really see this place. And now that I know what a lot of the 'lying' I was feeling before is about it probably won't freak me out quite as much." Nicki smiled, stroking the back of Kaz's neck. "And I kinda wanted to spend more time with the people here...I feel like I kinda might have had preconceived ideas that weren't correct"