Running was good. Aiden did like running. It was a chance to unwind in private, and it was active without wondering how long it would be until Cafas told him to work harder. Not that he minded training with the X-Man, but sometimes it was nice to just take things easy. It was also a chance to exercise with his own music. Even if hell froze over he wouldn't be offering up his own tastes in music.

Even considering some of the tracks that came on when Cafas ordered the danger room to supply inspirational ambience... Yeah, he still wasn't going to try to get any of the stuff he liked coming out of those potentially nonexistent speakers. He'd save it for times like this.

It was wonderful weather for running too, especially fairly early in the day or later in the evening, as fewer and fewer people spent time outside as the temperature dropped. Aiden was considerably more enthusiastic about spending time outside as a chill theoretically entered the air. The cooler it got, the faster he could run. Gone were the days of having to keep pausing to let the cold catch up. He could run as fast as he liked now, or at least as fast as his music suggested -

Right up until he rounded a corner and skidded backwards onto the ground, ears ringing and a spray of neon glitter replacing the flakes of snow his eyes saw for a moment.

The alarm had woken James up early and as usual he rolled out of bed, pulled on his tracksuit, turned on his iPod and made his way outside. He needed to think about recent events, his roommate leaving so abruptly with no apparent reason had saddened him greatly. Having lost the only friend he had at the mansion James was back at square one. The weather was starting to get colder. Not that it was a problem, he had gotten used to running in every kind of weather over the years and he welcomed the change.

As James made his way to the Mansions entrance he considered his new plan, it had been working well lately and he was already starting to notice the effect.

"Right, now for the unpleasant bit." He mutterd to himself as he pulled his gloves off and grasped one of the fences bars firmly. Willing the metal to wash over him. The transformation came with the familiar feeling of being dipped in cold water. No matter how many times James did it, the feeling would always make him shiver violently for a moment. He held on until all of his skin up to his collar bones was a shiny, silver metallic colour and pulled his gloves back on. The first lesson he had discovered since learning about what he was - Cover the colour, it freaked people out.

James stretched his back, cracked his knuckles and set off. He started at a slow jog but quickly sped up. Recently he had almost been able to reach his max speed like this but the extra weight just wouldn't allow it. As he ran his feet made unnaturally loud thumping noises when they landed, but apart from that nobody would be able to tell any differently.

The run went smoothly for a while, but as all things do for James, it took a bad turn. Literally. As he rounded a corner, singing the words to Save The World by Swedish House Mafia at an embarrassingly  high volume something crashed into him and rolled off to his right.

He stopped and pulled out the headphones. Looking around he saw another lad, about his own age lying on the floor. He looked pale with strange coloured eyes but James wasn't really thinking about that. Is all that was going through his mind was "Oh dear god why?" repeatedly.

The crash must have really been something, because it knocked James' feeling of social awkwardness right out of his head and replaced it with worry and a felling of incredible stupidity. James walked over the the other guy and dropped to his knees. He noticed the scars on his face, strange. He could swear this guy looked familiar...where had he seen him before?

Nrrg.

That was about the scope of Aiden's initial eloquence. He forced himself a little more upright, if only to free a hand enough to belatedly knock his headphones down around his neck and rub his head. Left side definitely hurt more, yeah. What..?

Still rubbing his head, he blinked at the kid next to him for a moment before his presence actually sank in. When it did, he gave up on rubbing his head - and, you know, covering his normal eye, whatever people said about the two - and dropped his head to the side. See, he knew some people would stare, but no, he let himself be convinced and then he put his sunglasses away and yes, some people weren't freaked out and didn't even seem to notice but other people were like this.

He should just keep going. Finish his run, go back to his room. Find his sunglasses again, leave them on his face. Yeah. The moment he started to push himself upwards again, though, the ache in his head did a quick lap around his skull. He lowered himself back down. Oh come on! He hadn't made it snow enough to be getting the backlash. He blinked at the kid again. "What are you made of?" he asked bluntly, all tact lost for his pounding head. To be fair, given the location, the kid could well be made of, well, anything. Up to and including granite, which his head seemed to think was the case.

James looked at the kid as he covered one of his eyes, what was that about? Either way, he was worried. This guy obviously hit the ground hard, he couldn't even stand. That worried him, what had he broken? An arm? A leg?

James was surprised when the kid asked him what he was made of. He was expecting something like "Oh, Well done, you dunce!" or "Owwwww, My head" not "What are you made of?". This was a strange situation for him. He was used to people sensing his social awkwardness and treating him like he was an animal with slow mocking voices. Not people being blunt and asking things...well, bluntly.

James would have gone red with embarrassment earlier in any other situation but now it was a delayed reaction. Right on cue with the guys question he went red. James could feel the burning in his cheeks. "Urm...what am I made of? Steel I think, or it might have been iron...no it was steel...I think" He mumbled through embarrassment  and awkwardness. It was a horrible feeling, like every muscle in his body had gone stiff and he couldn't act normally. No matter how much he tried.

Shaking his head James moved onto more important thoughts. What he was made of was irrelevant. Whether he this guy was injured or not was the issue at hand...his name too, that would be helpful.

"I'm James, sorry about this man. I should have been looking where I was going, whats your name?"

"Steel. That... would about do it." Metal was hard. If he was made of metal, it was a good thing Cafas had full control over himself if they happened to run into each other. Although it would probably be this kid falling over with a headache if he ran into Cafas, because... yeah.

A fully conscious Aiden probably wouldn't have such wandering thoughts, but then again, it was morning and he'd gone from running with music to sitting on the ground in all of half a second. He'd cut himself some slack. Later. Probably.

"Uh. Aiden." He gave his head an experimental shake. Definitely less spinning that was good. Probably just gave himself a good jarring. Still had a headache, though. "Wasn't all you. I don't really pay attention when I run." Was that a lump starting to grow on his forehead. He gave it a prod, but it didn't feel any more or less sensitive than it had a few moments ago. "Not sure I've been hit quite that hard, though."

James listened to the guy called Aiden talk and was relieved to hear he wasn't so badly injured as he had imagined. It could have been worse after all, he thought to himself, I could have kept running and trampled him.

"Yeah, I'm sorry 'bout that...I'm quite a bit heavier than normal like this." James mumbled, while thinking about where he had seen Aiden before. It hit him and he felt even more foolish than before. The mansion, naturally. That would explain a lot, the fact that Aiden seemed way too cool about being knocked over by another guy made from steel. He had to be a mutant, that was the only logical reason.  So THATS why he has a white..no silver eye.

James was still getting used to the notion of mutants even though he had been at the mansion for about four moths he still hadn't met anybody or seen many mutations. It had been nearly a year since he discovered his own power after falling down the stairs and it still frightened him. But still, even though some of the other mutants frightened James, He was determined to treat them all equally. The way he would any other person. Unlike his mother he wouldn't give into hatred via fear.

After all James felt an unlikely feeling of belonging in the mansion that he hadn't found anywhere else. "I'm guessing you are from the mansion. I've seen you around...i think."

Oh? Being made of metal was a temporary thing? Good, not so worrying about running into people on bad days... probably not the best way to put that. Because, you know, running into people. Hm. There were really a lot of different ways to take that. Literal running-into as in breaking people's faces, or literal running-into as to being vaporized, or not-literal running-into as in simply encountering and possibly leading to either of the previous.

Oh hey, was the James-guy more awkward than he was right now? That was weird. Probably had something to do with the sparkly spinning his head insisted on trying to do still. Yeah... He could probably get up soon, though. The spinning was definitely subsiding now. "Mansion? Yeah. Probably have." Was it good or bad that he had to actually pause and do math, and not have a day-count ready to mind the second his thoughts turned in that direction? It was sad, but... maybe a softer sad. "I've been here since spring," he said, voice and thoughts a little calmer than they had been before. The subdued tenor proved beneficial, though, as his head knocked things down quite a few notches.

He cast a glance around to test his head's stability and found it acceptable, so he pushed himself back to his feet in a fluid motion that belied the unsteadiness of his vision. The world settled back pretty quickly, though, and he kept his balance without issue. "Think it's a good thing that I was almost done, though," he said quietly, a bit of rueful humour leaking through the lump on his forehead.

Knew it! Thought I'd seen him before. James was glad to get that little nagging feeling that came with unsolved queries out of his head. He was also surprised when Aiden jumped to his feet in a surprising show of athletic ability, especially considering he had just hit his head.

James let out a sigh of relief, pulled his gloves off and wiped the sweat from his brow with a shiny silver hand. "Well that's a relief, I'm kind of worried about hurting people like this and I'd rather not have it happen to someone who isn't deserving of it". That was mostly true, but at the moment James could only think of one person deserving of a steel knuckle sandwich.

Turning his attention back to the slightly taller teenager James started to consider what his mutation was. Was it literally just a silver eye or was the silver eye connected to his ability? He crossed super healing off the list, the lump on Aidens head hadn't gone down at all. The lump made him feel stupid again and forced himself to look away from it. He didn't like to be reminded of how dangerous he could be while made of steel.

Although he could only think of one person deserving of a steel fist to the face, he didn't know what the effects would be. James imagined it being akin to being struck across the face with a lead pipe. Not nice, but it was certainly his style.

James looked down at his watch and realized the run was as good as over, he would have only been going for another two minutes either way so he might as well head back to the Mansion. "Well this run is over...I guess its time to go back to the Mansion...?" He phrased the statement like a question, not quite looking at Aiden but at the space over his shoulder. "you should probably get an ice pick for that lump or something" He muttered guiltily to the fellow mutant.

James had silver hands.

Staring was bad and he hated people staring at him enough.

Fortunately, James kept talking, so there was something else for Aiden to focus on. He shifted his attention away before he'd been looking at the metallic sheen for anywhere approaching too long, but it still made him feel awkward to have caught himself staring or caring. It must be... awkward, of a whole new kind, to have to worry about accidentally hurting people. "Agreed." The awkwardness of really realizing that he wasn't accidentally dangerous was new too, although maybe he could accidentally give someone hypothermia if he didn't notice they were hanging out too close to him while he was working?

Aiden paused. "I have no idea if that would do anything," he said aloud. He hadn't really thought about it before. Would not getting cold mean that cold wouldn't have any effect on his injuries? Maybe he should just go work with his batons for a bit and see how that cleared it up... Wait, James had no idea about any of that, did he? "Um. Sorry- I, well, I don't exactly get cold, so I don't know if an ice pack would help at all. It's not problem, though. It'll heal soon enough." Next time he ran into Cafas, probably, given their frequency of training.

James noticed Aiden looking at his hands and then looking away. it was quick, just a glance. He didn't mind all that much but it still made him feel self conscious. Although to be fair, you were looking at his eyes...he thought to himself. If he saw a guy made of metal he would look, totally. Its not something you see very often is it?

James frowned as Aiden said that an ice pack wouldn't work, and that he didn't get cold. And, honestly neither did James when his skin was metal. it protected him from the outside and kept his body heat in...that's if you don't include the whole changing and the cold that comes with it...Ugh. He shivered  involuntarily at the thought.

Deciding he didn't need to be made of steel anymore James pushed his fingers through his hair and onto his scalp and willed his body to go back to normal. The steel receded and returned to normal, followed with a feeling of being dipped in warm bathwater. He instantly regretted the move as his body temperature increased and he felt sweat burst from his pores. "Jesus!" he gasped with surprise.

James scrabbled to quickly get his jacked off from over his polo shirt and quickly began to feel better. Aiden probably had no idea what just happened but he looked at him with an embarrassed smile on his face. "I've never tried that before with all my clothes on and I'm never doing it again"

He'd messed up, hadn't he? Said something weird or forgotten to say something useful or... well, something. People didn't frown unless there was something going on. He knew that much about people. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Snow mutation," he added by way of explanation. Actually saying things like that felt so weird, so he knew he tried to avoid it. Even if he figured he was more or less okay with things now - or at least more okay than before that little intervention Cafas had run that he still didn't want to think about - his tongue was just not comfortable with saying 'mutant.'

And then James was swearing and abruptly too close for temperature comfort. Aiden's hasty retreat, though only a step or two, was automatic until his nerves stopped screeching about a temperature change. Which, to be honest, wasn't really much of one but he'd felt it and feeling heat usually led to bad things. He didn't want the stress of the summer continuing any later than it absolutely had to.

... although heat stroke was mighty preferable to the image James conjured up a moment later. NO self-censor self-censor nope wasn't thinking of anything much better. Ahem. Oh look, James wasn't shiny anymore. Despite his relief, Ai felt a curious pang of jealousy. It must be nice to be able to turn things off. Sure, he didn't make it snow constantly, but the rest of it never left. "The metal's related to temperature?" he asked, curious despite himself. Only being susceptible to heat sometimes would be so nice.

A snow mutation? Funny how much that fitted Aidens appearance, the whole pale skin and silver eye thing. James was pretty sure he didn't look like the kind of guy who could turn into steel...more like the kind of guy who you overlooked without noticing at all. That was a good thing, naturally. Being the center of attention is BAD.

Did the snow mutants look smaller or was is just him? Oh, he had moved a couple of steps back...why was that? Do I smell? James thought to himself, Probably. Ive just been running...I probably smell of metal too. James sniffed his forearm and crinkled his nose. For future reference, metal doesn't smell good, James.

Related to temperature? Well, that James could answer simply. "Yes, kinda...I'm not sure, only when I switch...". Well done...nice and simple. "Well...imagine having human skin...that's warm, Right? Well, when I change myself to steel my skin is suddenly freezing cold metal and vise versa."

The truth was James wasn't at all sure if that's how it happened, but the not-so-scientific answer would have to do. "It doesn't actually do anything and its only for a few seconds...its just what it feels like to change what your body is made of I guess"

Shrugging James pulled at the sweat patch on his shirt and decided it was time to make their way back. "Lets go" James said over his shoulder to Aiden as he started to walk back towards the mansion.

Aiden blinked. James was smelling himself? So... he wasn't the weirdest one here. That was reassuring. Or maybe disturbing. It was hard to tell if he felt relief or as if he should be trying to get as far away as he possibly could.

"I try to avoid dealing with human skin." Okay, probably back to being the weird one. Familiar territory, but awkward, so awkward. "It's too warm most of the time as it is." Logic made everything better, of course. Starting to walk was also a definite way of making things better, though walking with someone else was almost as awkward as standing around talking to the guy who had just given you a bruised face by being made out of metal at face height.

Yyyeeaaahhhhh, walking was awkward. How much farther was the mansion? He prodded at his forehead. Was it going to bruise? It was definitely swollen. No doubt about that. It would be awkward if it did bruise. He didn't have enough hair on the front of his head to actually cover his forehead without doing really weird and obvious stuff with his hair. Probably. It wasn't as if he were some kind of weird hair expert.

He didn't like dealing with human skin? Because it was too warm? Strange, but not that strange. I'm starting to get too used to strange. James thought to himself ruefully.  He would have thought avoiding skin to skin contact was impossible a year ago, but now, he didn't find it all that weird. Surely that came with difficulties, especially in the romance department. Not that this guy seemed like the kind of person who wanted a girlfriend...or boyfriend, maybe. Meh, each to their own I guess. Not that I could get a girlfriend if I even wanted one. So I suppose we are in the same boat there.

The social awkwardness was starting to leave James alone now, as it always did after the first exchange. That was the problem for him, he couldn't act  naturally at first but after a while...when he was kind of used to the other persons...well, existence he was fine.

James looked over his shoulder at Aiden again, the guy was obviously a seriously socially awkward one. Just like he himself had always been around girls, but guys didn't bother him really. The thing about girls was that they threatened him...they kind of had the ability to master the conversation and if you took one step out of place...BANG! You're a weirdo.

"Hey, are you alright?" James asked as he slowed down, allowed Aiden to catch up so that they were side by side and peered at his forehead with a worried expression. "Again, I'm really sorry about that. Its probably going to bruise pretty badly"

"Hm?" Ai hadn't realized he'd slowed down until James spoke. "Oh, yeah. I was just wondering if-"

It was, wasn't it. Figured. So much for not having to explain this to anyone. He grimaced. "Don't worry about it, really. I'll be fine. I'm just going to have to explain it to Cafas." He gave it another prod. Well, maybe they'd start on something fairly mobile next time, and it'd at least be white before he noticed. Other people weren't too likely to ask anything, after all. Maybe he should just get a little bit of training in by himself before there was a chance anyone would see the bruising and think or ask anything awkward. "I'm mostly trying to figure out if I can get rid of it before anything important."

Like getting dragged off on a mission with no notice again. Yeah, that wouldn't be very nice. Two unpleasant things at once? He'd take getting dragged off with a bruised face over being dragged through mirrors without one, though. Just... no. No more mirrors.