Man, a lot was going on.

It seemed like just in time for him to get back, the tension after the riots had caused some real freaky people to crawl out of the wood works. Lots of people had died because of it. Hell, Sam had been attacked in broad daylight, as had some other high profile mutants. Some of them were good, some bad, but all of them were powerful, and all were apparently attacked by the same group.

With all of these horrible things happening he almost felt bad being happy; his life was in a general upturn. He had a great job, he was saving up for a new car, and most importantly, he was getting married. Watching the pained looks on other's faces while he was smiling felt... wrong, almost.

Almost.

He caught himself smiling again; Andrea was on his mind, even as he finished reading the brief that was before him in a thin folder. Yep, even though life was moving forward at rapid pace, there was always work to be done. Still, after the riots he'd generally elected to take part in the less dodgy missions. Right now he was tasked with investigating theft at a local milk processing plant. Someone was stealing milk. Seriously.

It was probably some kid working on the assembly or something; all he had to do was stake it out, and catch the thief, smack them on the wrist, and take them in.

He yawned as he tossed the folder to the side, eyeing the tv in the common room for a little bit... He would start his stakeout in a couple hours, but until then... maybe... a little... nap... wouldn't hurt...

Before he knew it he was snoring softly.

Sara had been enjoying her afternoon. Even if a few days ago she’s had an interesting run in with Sam, today wasn’t a bad day. The sun was out, there were kids out in the yard playing, and Sara was readjusting, again. After all that had gone on lately, there were still those who were mourning for one reason or another. Maybe that was why the sound of some children laughing outside hit Sara so positively.

Sara had taken the stair two by two down from the dorms. Her dog, Roxy, a German Shepherd that she had received from Sam a few years ago, padded down behind her. Wagging her tail, and running a head of her when they hit the ground level. The dog went into an outright run, when she saw the large mansion’s doors open out down the hall, and she joined in the play outside. Barking and finding a stick to take to someone. Sara stayed behind. The folder that was left out, catching her attention and perking at her interest. She only gave the softly snoring mutant a small glance.

She picked up the folder as she walked by. Her foot steps angled towards the window where she could watch her dog, and the kids outside, as she thumbed through the thin file. Her tail twitching at her heals as she leaned back against the sill.

“Oh you’ve got to be kidding me.”

It was a good dream. He heard fireworks. That thump in his chest. Soft lips against his own.

"Oh you’ve got to be kidding me."

His eyes slowly opened as a darkening in the environment, someone standing in front of the window, woke him. He hadn't heard the voice in time for it to be more than just miscellaneous sounds. It was one of those awakenings that was oddly serene, yet somehow off. He was comfortable and warm, but as the world started to make sense around him once more, he realized something was missing. His hand reached out to grab the folder he'd placed on the table. It was gone. He sat up quickly, suddenly alert, and his eyes caught the figure that had blocked out the window, a folder in hand.

"... You know they always said curiosity killed the cat."

It wasn't threatening, not in tone. A little annoyed, maybe. He recognized this woman; he'd seen her around, and Sam had talked about her positively. Something about aiming to draft her into the X-men. Even if that were the case, though, he wasn't a fan of nosiness. "That there is NYPD confidential material. Not for your eyes. Give it back, then... Crap, what time is it?" He reached for his phone. It was dead... Great. How long had he been out?

It was still fairly bright outside, but the sun was dropping quickly.

It seemed that the sleeping mutant didn’t like his folder being messed with too much. Sara shrugged at the curiosity killed the cat comment. She’d heard it before. Many times before. “Try being more original.” She said with a one shoulder shrug.

Sara moved to walk slowly ever so slowly back to the, formerly, sleeping mutant. However rather than closing the folder, as she made her way slowly to back to him, she flipped to the next page and skimmed that one, too. If this folder really was that much of a secret, then it wouldn’t have been left on a table. “I just wanted to know what Sam has gotten me into.”

She hadn't finished reading the folder, but when she’d gotten into reach she shut the folder with the same obedience as any self respecting cat. Then handed it over. Tilting her head and her stance, Sara moved so that she could look down the call at the wall clock. “It’s seven fourty… In the evening. Ok. I get that it’s a lot of milk being stolen… But milk? Really?”

“Try being more original.”

"Meh. Ain't nobody here I'm tryin to impress with my sharp wit."

As she slowly came by and dropped off the folder after making a point to read a little more, he sat up and rubbed his eyes, brushing away the sand man's calling card.

It’s seven fourty… In the evening. Ok. I get that it’s a lot of milk being stolen… But milk? Really?

"What, you expect me to go out looking to solve multiple homicides this soon after the riots? Hell, I think I earned a break." It was no secret the X-men had hit a it of a rough patch during the riots; it was also said that if they had not been there that first day, the lines between the two protests would have broken, and many people would have died. Unfortunately, the whole experience was a bit... traumatic. So yes, Saphirus was currently taking easy, relatively harmless cases.

"It's not like this job is all bank robbery stopping and high-profile terrorist hunting... Sometimes you gotta catch a milk thief."

He sighed as he climbed to his feet, stretching a little. He was late.

"Well, I'd better be goin... Them donuts I'm picking up on the way ain't gonna eat themselves."

“Right. The riots.” Sara said and she sighed. The riots had been ugly for everyone it seemed. “I was actually thinking more along the lines of why steal so much milk? It’s fishy.” Sara replied.

A few quick steps took her back to the window where she could see Roxy had joined in a game of fetch with one of the other residence and their dog. Valery, a young mutant who’s perspiration came out as incense scented smoke. Sara waved from the window, and Valery waved back. Valery would make sure that Roxy got to Sara’s old dorm and before Sara left the window, she motioned to the door, indicating that she was going to be gone for a bit.

Sara turned to follow the xmen member. “I’d prefer Chinese takeout, but I’m partial to chocolate glaze.” She was coming too weather he wanted her to or not. Why was she being so pushy and so nosy? Sara herself really didn’t know. Maybe it was just boredom.

“I was actually thinking more along the lines of why steal so much milk? It’s fishy.”

Saph ginned a little as she finished speaking. It would only be a few seconds until he put his foot right in his mouth.

1...

2...

"Heh... A cat person calling something fishy... Dunno why that's funny to me." Almost made it to three! He paused. " Eh... Anyway... yeah, I guess... I never seen someone steal this much milk... prolly just some kid on the assembly line, using it for something stupid."

He shrugged, and turned to head toward the exit.

“I’d prefer Chinese takeout, but I’m partial to chocolate glaze.”

"uhhh... what makes you think you're coming along?" He wasn't saying no... If Sam really did want her on the team, maybe something a little more tame like this would give her a good idea of what they did when they weren't busting heads and stopping riots.

... There was another cat joke. What? She couldn't make a comment like a normal person? Normal people call things fishy too... Oh well.


As Sara moved to follow the xmen, she crossed her arms. A smirk tugged at the right corner of her face. "After you made the cat jokes, I'd love to see you try to stop me. Whoever you are." Hint hint. As long as she was going to be insulted, it might be nice to know a name.

He stared at her with a deadpan look for a moment, and then sighed, looking toward the ground and scratching his head a little. "Aw hell... why not? What's a milk thief gonna do, shoot at us?" He shrugged, and started walking off, not looking back as he gave his name.

"I'm Saphirus, but they call me the Masochist. You'll prolly know why soon enough."

***

SCREEEEEEEEEEEE~~~

Saph was a great driver. He knew how not to get in crashes, and how to get places fast. That's what constituted being a good driver, right?

Wait, there were rules for driving? PHSAW! Speed limits? More like speed suggestions! When you had a flashy light on your car and a badge, you could drive any damn way you wanted. Especially when someone cut you off.

"Hey! Watch where you're going @#$hole! Yer inhibiting the law!"

He looked over to Sara and chuckled as he turned off his siren, and pulled into a Chinese joint. "Y'know, you got me craving some beef and broccoli. Donuts are bad for ya anyway, right?" He got that smart smile on his face. "Well, since you wanted to come so bad, you can buy the food, right? Ey, get some energy drinks or somethin. Got a long night ahead of us."

He hoped she was prepared for a whole lot of small talk and boring-ness.

Ok. So the introductions had nearly been complete. The other mutant gave two names and Sara tilted her head. Silently wondering how offended he’d be if she just started calling him ButtMunch. However for now she stuck with the first name that he’d given her. “My name’s Sara.”
-----

Saphirus was a terrible driver. Sara had never been in a car crash and, while she was sure that she’d survive, it didn’t mean that it was a pleasant thought. Her hand held tight to the chicken bar at her left temple, and whenever Saph did something in the driver’s seat that she didn’t expect, her tail might have bottle brushed for a second… Ok. Maybe two seconds. Christ. She’d taken plane rides that were more enjoyable and she hated flying so much that normally the upholstery around herself had to be replaced after wards.

"Hey! Watch where you're going @#$hole! Yer inhibiting the law!"

Had Saphirus just swerved into the wrong side of the road to pass an old man or had Sara blinked? Because there was a bright light that they were rushing towards and… Oh look Chinese food. Great. Sara was starving. She had opened her door and was just swinging her feet onto the ground, when Saphirus placed his order and Sara’s right ear twitched in annoyance. It was one of the tells that she had, that she could loose her temper, but she still turned with a flick of her tail, and a straight face. “Fried rice or white? Crab Rangoon or egg roll? Oh and some napkins to wipe the crap off your mouth right? I’ll be sure to grab extras of those.” Sara shut the door. She’d planned on paying anyways, but being spoken to in that way put a bad taste in her mouth.

The bells on the door jingled when Sara entered the takeout joint. All eyes were on her as she placed her order. Two orders of beef and broccoli, two orders of sweet and sour chicken, two redbulls, extra rangoons on the side, and an ice tea. Sara was finishing paying for it and a smirk came across her face. “Can you put a table spoon of wasabi in the beef and broccoli? Don’t bother marking it.” Sara tapped the tip of her nose. “I’ll know.” The cashier nodded and ran in the back to finish her order.