It was late afternoon, and Skye was making her way through the park after work, as usual wearing a pair of jeans and a hoodie over her atrocious uniform. Today, instead of going straight home, she made her way to the park to sort of just relax and enjoy nature. It was a nice day in comparison to how it had been, so she figured why not? Unlike most days, the hood of her black hoodie was down by her shoulder blades instead of pulled over her head. 

Her hair was orange, and orange lights were flickering from her hands accordingly. It was actually a rather decent day today, in both weather, and at work. She'd made some good tips, and nothing broke or blew up, which was always a plus. She was in a really good mood, today.

For a second, anyway. In the middle of the park, standing on a box, was a man holding a sign and shouting. Most people just walked by, ignoring him, but the sign "God hates muties," along with the man's rude and derogatory comments really struck a sour chord with her. So much so that as soon as she saw the sign, her hair and the lights from her hands turned red, as did her face. 

"There! Right there is what I'm talking about! She's glowing! Who knows what she's capable of?!?"
She was maybe five feet from the guy as she stepped closer, her hands flickering more wildly now as she bit her lip. 
"Why don't you keep pushing and find out?" she hissed, her mood suddenly not so bright and cheery anymore. For the most part, she tried to see the best in everybody, but when people were ***holes like this guy, she quit looking. It was guys like this that got Blaine barred from fighting.
"You see? She just threatened me! How can we live in peace with these things when we don't even know what they're capable of?"
"You ever try not being a douchebag?" she hissed, venom dripping from her voice as her hands now pulsed. 

The man opened his mouth to speak again, but she was so angry, she couldn't even register his words anymore. The light pulsed faster and faster as she looked at him and his stupid sign...She'd give anything to kick his ass and--

~BANG!~

There was a bright flash of light along with the loud bang as Skye's powers reached their peak. Since it was bright out, the light wasn't necessarily as blinding, but it was just as disorienting as the crowd in the immediate area found themselves blinded and their hearing impaired for a few moments. 

"OHGOD! YOU SEE WHAT MONSTERS LIKE HER DO TO US! THIS IS WHY WE MUST BAND TOG--"

BANG! Once again, the pulsing red light turned into a quick, blinding flash with the sound akin to a gunshot. 

By now, Skye's own vision was slightly impaired, and her ears were immensely ringing, so much so that she was disoriented and unsure of if the guy was even talking. She brought herself to a sitting position then lay down on the grass as the sky spun above her. Or the earth spun beneath her?

Either way, she was resistant to her power, but not immune. And after it went off twice in succession, she was tired, gasping for breath; her skin pale and drenched with sweat, but her hair was still red, lights sort of flickering on her hands, like a bulb that was gasping for its last breath. 

Ved had been walking through the park on the way for a pick up when he’d seen the crowd gathering. Some were happy and supportive while others were angry and even confrontational. He’d stayed back to watch like numerous others, adults and kids alike. They were some angry teenagers gathering too. Guess they were fed up huh?

Another teen showed up, some girl with orange hair and similar motes near her hands. Mutant alert! This was sure to kick things up a notch. Ved went to a nearby pushcart and bought himself a bag of mixed popcorn. Some were cheese, some caramel, and some normal. You really needed a snack before a show. He took a seat on a bench to watch and listen.

He was not disappointed.

The loud mouthed soap boxer called the girl out and she pushed back. Ved couldn’t help but grin and snicker at her retort. It was probably a bad sign her hair and sparks went red. Things sure escalated and with a bang!

People screamed and shouted, grabbing their ears and squinting. Ved looked on in amazement as another handful of popcorn flew into his mouth. He was a thankful safe distance, but this was going to attract attention. Right now that possibly annoying but knowing a girl who could – and was willing – to cause some distractions and get all the attention? That was valuable…

She popped off again as someone was yelling at her. Up Ved went, dashing into the crowd. A few pushing touches as he moved through the disoriented crowd sent off his suggestions. All were the same: the speaker had pushed, aggravated the girl. Some may already have been sympathetic and willingly accept and maybe others he’d give a moment’s pause to their hate.

Whatever, he didn’t really care. What he cared about was the temporary red-head. Psychic energy moved through him, to his fingers as he grabbed at her shoulder. “Come on with me, we gotta git you outta here,” he said the same as his suggestion encouraged. He turned his face away in case she went off again but pulled slightly as he started heading out of the crowd. He only tugged on her so long.

Ved let go as he started nudging out the angry, wandering, upset, shouting crowd. Numerous suggestions left him and fell onto the people he passed: to get out of his way. He glanced back more than once to make sure she was coming. “Come on!” he encouraged.

Skye's ears were ringing steadily, and her vision was still suffering from afterimage. Her stomach was queazy, and her head was reeling as she tried to get to her feet. Her heart was pounding and sweat was pouring from her brow. Her hair shifted from red to blue; she was no longer pissed, just tired. But then...as her hearing was starting to clear...she heard a voice.

The words were garbled, but she felt the urge to go with this person, who was just now coming to focus as he tugged on her, so she followed. In time, her senses returned and she found herself being encouraged to come on. "I'm doing the best I can...that little episode back there took a lot out of me," she breathed, pushing herself to keep up.

She was tired, but she knew she had to get away from there. She was sure the vocal jerk probably had friends nearby, anyway. Or the cops would show, a mob would form...something like that, right? She could see the pitchforks and torches already.

But after so long of running, her steps began to falter, her breath heavy. And then, she didn't know what happened, but somehow she lost her footing and she found herself falling, stumbling. She managed not to fall, but she was winded; she really needed to rest.

>> "I'm doing the best I can...that little episode back there took a lot out of me,"

“Come on!” Ved encouraged. “If ya can stand up to that shite mouth, ya can do it. Move!”

Move they did but not nearly long enough. They’d gotten away from the crowd and the concrete rabble, but rolling over the grassy knoll here was still implicating enough. The rainbow slushee was going all slush, each step getting a little worse. Yeah people were running every which way, falling over each other – it was hilarious – but Warlock didn’t quite want to be around for what came after.

Questions.

The girl almost fell, her breathing a right mess. This wouldn’t do much longer. He’d already started slowing as he backed up a few steps and put a supporting arm around her shoulders. Energy rushed through him and into her as he urged what he spoke aloud, “Let’s get into the trails where we can lose them.” He nodded starting to help her along, “Not much further now!”

If he wanted her to move that quickly, his ass could carry her. Not that she'd complain about that, but things seemed to be a little more urgent. And she didn't exactly have the energy to talk back. Her heart was heaving in her chest, and some spots of her blue hair were matted to her pale face with sweat.

Then, she felt an arm around her shoulders, being moved by an encouraging word that made her want to keep going, to make that final push to get away. She nodded, pushing herself as they continued to run. It wasn't much farther, and they'd be good. She wished she hadn't lost her cool back there, but she had a real sore spot for mutant-haters. Probably always would, honestly.

But for now, the best thing she could do was get away. And at least she had an attractive stranger to keep her company....

They hurried away like two rats fleeing a fire or maybe just panicked park-goers. Man, the girl really would catch a lot of attention. That hair… He’d have chuckled if they weren’t still running along. They sprinted across the grass and walkways, up a hill, and down…

Two bros were hanging in their crossfit gear but one had something Ved wanted. He stopped for just a moment to clap the guy on the back, “Damn bro, lookin’ good. I wish I had such gains.” But a psychic suggestion slipped through the surprising stranger’s touch: help me by giving me your ballcap. Yankees? Gross. But it would work.

“Thanks, bro. Here have my cap. It’ll help ya look the part,” he said, handing it over.

“Thanks,” Ved grinned, and resumed his running.

“Dude, you know that guy?” the friend asked in disbelief of what had happened.

“Nah,” the bare-headed bro shrugged.

Ved caught up with the girl quick enough and slipped the hat on her head. “Let’s hide that for a bit,” he urged verbally and through the power he’d placed on the cap. A couple minutes later they’d reached the wooded paths joggers and casual tourists used. They ran into a copse of bushes and Ved finally stopped.

“Dang, ya alright?” Ved asked, something southern in his accent. His breathing was slightly labored, but a quick retreat was nothing for his trained frame. In fact, he practiced such fleeing all the time!

If she'd have known this would have been the result of some asshole activating her power just by being what he was, then Skye would have just taken the easy way out and decked him. Sure, her uncle would have had more of an effect in that sense, but she'd seen enough tapes of his fights to know how to hit properly. But no, she had to resort to verbal jabs and set off a panic in the park. At least a physical altercation would have been easier to deal with, right? But who was to say this stranger still wouldn't have come to her 'rescue?' Hell, she didn't know. She didn't know who this guy was, didn't even know his angle. But...she really didn't care. They had to get away, and that's all they were going to do.

And then he'd stopped for a moment, and though she kept going, pushing through, she did turn to see him talk some guy out of his hat. Damn he was good. Then, she was wearing a damn Yankees cap. Ew. But hiding her hair seemed like a good idea. Luckily her lights had died down, and she was just tired. When they stopped, she plopped down on the grass, going quickly from a sitting position to lying on her back.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I've never....gone off twice in a row like that..." she breathed. "And then the running...Just need to rest a bit," she said, her breathing starting to steady as the tension and the adrenaline was wearing off.

The man breathed a deep few lungfuls. He played it up a bit more, a bit longer than he actually needed to. He didn’t need this girl to know exactly how fit he was. Always helped to be able to outmaneuver someone just a little better than they expected…

>> "Yeah, I'll be fine. I've never....gone off twice in a row like that..."

And she claimed not to be a hot head. Or was that really more that her power hadn’t activated twice in a row? That popping, brilliant firework-like display was from her fingers not her hair. So distracting, so useful. Talk about crowd control. She needed rest, probably a bit drained.

“Ya, ya, s’alright,” he nodded. “My cuz is a mu- Mutant,” he took a seemingly belabored breath. “Can see through things and it makes his skin,” another breath, “s-sort of translucent too. Ain’t right the way that guy was talkin’.” He shook his head. “Quite a pop ya made,” he chuckled slightly. “I think he pissed ‘imself by the look of it.”

Skye lay on the grass, looking at the sky as her heartbeat finally began to slow, and that odd dizziness began to wear off. She was still slightly drained and light-headed, but it would only be a matter of time before she was better; it was just taking longer than one usually took, though. Maybe that was just another part of her power to figure out.

She rolled over, looking at her new acquaintance when he spoke. "I see...some people are amused by mutants. Little kids especially love my hair," she said with a smile. Since she'd come to New York, she'd made plenty a date that loved her hair too, but she wasn't just about to share that just yet. "But that guy didn't understand. He reminds me of my mo--someone back in Maine," she said, her hair turning red again, but only briefly before turning back to the tired blue it had been.

"Yeah, apparently my mutation is part mood-ring, part flash-grenade," she said with a slight shrug. Though, she couldn't say she'd actually seen a flash-grenade in action. It just made better sense than 'going nova,' even though she still planned to use that terminology. It sounded better. Less technical.

"Honestly, I hope he did worse than that," she muttered.

He moved to a tree, leaning against it while eyes watched for anyone poking into their little clearing. It was off the paths a fair bit so it didn’t seem likely. He’d scoped out a number of hiding places around the city since he’d arrived. This was one of ‘em.

>> “I see...some people are amused by mutants. Little kids especially love my hair,”

Eyes went sideways over to her as she lay back. He took a long breath before speaking. “Funny when kids see wonder before they learn to fear, ‘ight?” he asked, the sound of his r’s not always quite precise.

>> "But that guy didn't understand. He reminds me of my mo--someone back in Maine,"

He frowned, nodding once in understanding. Mom? Damn, that’s tough. His parents had used him but at least they weren’t hateful. She explained a bit of her combo signatory light show and power, but he’d gotten all that already. He was hoping to make her feel better, get a good ally. He had helped her run away and hide after all!

>> "Honestly, I hope he did worse than that,"

“Oh I bet he did,” he nodded. “He’ll think twice before opening ‘is mouth ‘round mutants I bet,” he nodded again. “I’m Jonas by the way. Sorry if I scared ya back there. Normally I’d ask a lady before putting my arm around ‘er but we had to get gone quick,” he smirked.

"Yeah. Though I read somewhere that kids don't know prejudice, it's taught. In my time as a mutant...I believe it," the girl said, pushing herself up to sit cross-legged, propping her elbows on her legs and her chin on her fists. Her heart rate was returning to normal, and her breathing had steadied as the color slowly began to return to her face.

"If he knows what's good for 'em. Sure he had a bad day, but compared to the different kinds of people that have mutations, and what those mutations are...I think he got off pretty easy." She gave a half smirk as she looked over at him. "Skye, and to be honest...I really didn't mind it," she murmured, adding in a wink for good measure.

Jonas nodded about the prejudice as she spoke. He did believe that, though he also thought many kids were taught to be afraid of what was different. It wasn’t always prejudice but fear was a powerful motivator. How parents reacted to things – like say learning to exploit them – impressed a lot upon a kid.

>> "If he knows what's good for 'em. Sure he had a bad day, but compared to the different kinds of people that have mutations, and what those mutations are...I think he got off pretty easy."

Jonas laughed quietly and nodded again, “A warnin’ shot maybe, eh?”

>> "Skye, and to be honest...I really didn't mind it,"

Oh she was a bit forward for a girl half-rescued. That was refreshing, and fun! He could enjoy that, especially if they were to be closer in the future. Too right.

A corner of Jonas’s mouth turned up in a smirking, wry grin as he glanced away. “Well alright then,” he chuckled. “Good to know. I’ll ‘ave ta watch out for jerks runnin’ their mouths more often in case yer there,” he smiled, looking back to her and holding the eye contact. “Maybe I’ve a good chance to catch ya again, eh?”

She gave a light giggle as she looked over at him. "Not so much a warning shot as he just got lucky. My big thing is bright lights and the occasional bang," she said, smirking at the light bit of innuendo there, "but what if he tried that with someone who had...I don't know, actual explosive powers? I mean, it's hard to tell what mutants are capable of, and pissing us off doesn't seem like the finest way to find out."

Really, forward was just about all Skye knew; so she was either the worst or the best damsel in distress ever. Which one remained to be seen, however.

Then, he spoke some more, and their eyes met and her hair turned pink as her hands radiated with motes of pink light. "Well, I don't often find myself in situations like that, but for your sake I kind of hope so." She winked.

The way she giggled prettily at him, the not-so-hidden intentions, the playful invitation at flirtation was more than welcome. He’d thought it refreshing, fun, and maybe good for a dirty deed after the deed to do was done. She was keeping the game going.

>> and the occasional bang,"

His smirk became a grin as he stifled a chuckle.

>> I mean, it's hard to tell what mutants are capable of, and pissing us off doesn't seem like the finest way to find out."

Jonas gave a nod, “I don’t ever ‘tend to know. I mean, I learned ya treat everyone wit’ respect. Best be careful who ya pick a fight wit’.”

>> Well, I don't often find myself in situations like that, but for your sake I kind of hope so."

“Pink eh?” an eyebrow rose as he chuckled again. “Well then, maybe we should exchange numbers then. I’d like to know when yer planning to confront some hate-monger wit’ a big mouth. And then I can ring ya for some bright lights and the occasional bang?” his grin became a full smile.

The mood had shifted away from the sense of urgency, the wave of anger, and the mad rush of adrenaline that had fueled this meeting between the two, and quite drastically, at that. What had once been a tense situation was now a playful banter and ping-ponging of flirty statements and double entendre.

"A good philosophy. One that more people should probably follow," she said simply.

A slight blush rose to her cheeks as he pointed out the current color of her hair and lights. "Yep; one of few I actually know the almost exact meaning of," she said with a smirk. Oh, this Jonas guy was smooth; and she had to admit she was kind of drawn to him. Without hesitation, she gave him her number, followed by a sly grin and another wink.

"Sounds like my kind of party," the young mutant said coyly."Though..." her hair went from pink to an electric yellow as she spoke. "Since we're already here, who says we have to wait?"