((This is a continued thread from the central park thread. Im nto sure how to do this other then make a new thread here. Im not sure how to close that thread))

He shook his head as he smiled lightly to her. He looked from her to the man in the front seat. He was lookin through the reveiw mirror at them.

"Oi buddy. You call her princess or another name like that again... your going to find yourself hard pressed to speak after i remove your bloody tongue from your bloody mouth."

To say he wasn't in a great mood would be a massive understatement. She knew he didn't want to come here. She knew that he was completely against what this place stood for. If they wanted to fight for equality or fight for whatever reasons they did that was their bloody concern. Not his own. He just wanted to stay out of everyones business and leave them out of his. She was already intertwined in his and he didn't like that one bit either. He had tried to leave her but she wouldnt let him. It'd be easier to get a divorce from someone then it would be to get this girl out of his hair.

So when they finally arrived at the gates he let out an audible sigh. He didnt want to be here. He growled lowly as he opend his door and held it for her. Once she was out he turned to the driver and heard the total. It was ridiculous. He shook his head as he handed the man the money and then turned around.

"Well... like I said... atleast you'll be safe here. Though I highly doubt they would welcome me if they knew what I've done since i've been in this city."

She didn't appreciate the tongue comment, though she had a sneaking suspicion he was subconsciously referring to an already executed transgression in order to make her uncomfortable. She actually didn't seem so excited as she exited the vehicle. She wasn't quite sure why she had been putting this off. It was scary in a way. She knew little to nothing about these people except that it was a school for mutants. A community of mutants who were supposed to be good people. These were supposed to be the good guys... right?

>"...I highly doubt they would welcome me if they knew what I've done since I've been in this city."

"Do you even know what you've done in this city?" She turned her back on him and approached the front gate. That was a low blow. She stopped at the wrought iron gates and grasped the bars that kept them out... and kept the good guys inside.

Maybe this was a mistake.

"You don't... think they're all asleep, do you? Maybe we should have waited until morning..." She tried to see the large structure that she could feel was there, but there were hedges in her way. It made sense that they wouldn't want onlookers for mutant training. The sky threatened of rain as thick clouds passed over the moon and stars. It made the darkness inky and in Maya's opinion: ominous.

She spied an intercom at the side of the gate, but made no move to press the call button just yet.

"Otieno..." She turned to face him, the gate at her back. "I-" She wasn't quite sure what to say, but she felt that she needed to say something. "I'm sorry... I didn't... I wasn't very considerate of you before." She wasn't quite sure why, but she bowed in the Japanese manner of apology. The formality and ritual of things in Japan had made situations like this easier.

"I really think these people can help... because they are teachers. Maybe they haven't seen anything like your gift before, but... Please consider the fact that maybe..." She made sure she had eye contact, "maybe they can help, but it's just like everything else - it has to be your choice." She swallowed.

"Please stay for a while. I can't make you stay or train or even do anything so... please. Just try it for a while." She stopped herself from adding for me. She was sure that it wouldn't have helped anyway.

"Do you even know what you've done in this city?"

he grimaced lightly at her comment but just shrugged it off. It was a simple truth no matter how it was said. He didn't but she knew that so it was pointless to say it outloud. And before he could anyway she asked a question.

"You don't... think they're all asleep, do you? Maybe we should have waited until morning..."

"Well I am sure it will be fine. Different mutants would most likely be coming here all times of the day and night. I mean not everyone is from around here and can make it here in a decent hour. Some could fly from over seas and get here on the red eye flight and have no where else to go. I am sure they wont be angry and if they are then they can try and take it out on me... though most likely it will just end up being two people standing here having a pissing contest infront of the gate."

Then she shocked him. She appologized and then bowed before him. He lifted his eye brows and just looked away. It wasnt something he was comfortable with seeing. Though if he looked just right he might be able to see down her... He shook hsi head as he didnt even begin to let himself finish that thought.

He had to bite his tongue to keep from coming back with a smart reply. Instead he just nodded his head. His eyes took her in for a moment before he felt his lips moving.

"I will stay for a while... Not because I want their help. Not because I believe they could even come close to helping me. But because you asked me too. But only on two conditions."

Hiw wry smile returned but this time it wasnt the smile of a dangerous being. It was more like one of a guy that was getting nervous.

"I will stay here and even attempt to learn and train for a little while as long as they will allow me to as long as one... you do not tell any of them what has transpired between the two of us. I am sure they would frown upon alot of what we have done... what I have done."

He took a deep breath and smiled lightly as he looked at her. His pale cheeks started to turn a bit red as he turned his head and spoke rapidly.

"The second condition is you go out on a date with me.", the whole sentence was nothing more than a huge blur that made it all sound like one word. It was a bit difficult to understand but not so difficult one couldnt figure it out after a moment.

When he finished talking his eyes forceably stayed locked on the bottom of the gate as if something marvelous were taking place there and his eyes couldnt be removed.

She opened her mouth as if to reply, but she took a long moment before she said anything. Her eyes were darting back and forth as if she were reading something or thinking rapidly. She was mentally reviewing certain moments in the past day with new eyes. She had expected the first condition; she had clearly not expected the second.

"Deal."

She looked at this face, looked at the place where he seemed to find something interesting and moved so that her face came between the two. She didn't look nearly as embarrassed as he did. "But if you want a kiss - this time you're gonna have to earn it."

She looked around to gather her things, but realized lamely that she had none. Instead she went for the squarish button. Maya felt much more prepared now. She was relieved that he wasn't running away. At least not yet. He had also inadvertantly given her some leverage.

The gate intercom made a sickly buzzing noise as she hit the call button. She hoped whoever answered wouldn't be too angry.

One nice thing about living in a mansion full of mutants, there was no such thing as bedtime. Sure there was an estate curfew, but when roughly a fourth of the teenage residents possessed some form of nocturnal mutation, it was kind of hard to tell everyone "Be in bed by midnight." The teachers usually took shifts to keep an eye on the nighttime wanderers, but more often then not, Neena found herself taking over the night shift for one or another of her fellow professors.

And she didn't mind in the least. In fact, she preferred it. She could see almost perfectly, and without the protection of her sunglasses. And her skin was dark enough that she could often blend into the shadows, and watch unhindered. And she could climb. Often, she would take the night as an opportunity to practice her old thieving skills.

Thus when her phone buzzed, to let her know someone was at the front gates, she couldn't get it right away, since both hands gripped the edge of one of the third-story windows. She had to wait till she could pull herself up, and plant her feet on the sill, before plucking the phone from the pocket of her black bodysuit.

"Sorry for the wait. I'll be right down," she spoke cheerfully to whoever was at the gates. Then she glanced down at the ground thoughtfully.

<"Three stories, three times fifteen equals forty-five. Too far for a jump.">

A soft rustling nearby reached her ears. "Hiya Night Owl."

Neena waved without turning. "Hiya Chad. Catch anything good tonight?" She eyed a huge White Ash tree. The nearest branch was about ten feet away from the Mansion roof, and about two feet down.

"Not yet, just a few mice. But there's a bat roost near the east wall."

"Not Sko's friends?" She gauged the distance critically.

"Nope. Checked with him yesterday."

"Sounds good. Enjoy your hunting. Don't get bit."

"Yes Ma'am." A shadowy form jumped off of the roof, shifted forms, soared away from the roof in the form of a giant owl.

Neena wrinkled her nose. 'Ma'am' always made her fell old. She backed up and took a running leap at the tree.

-----------------------------------------------

Several minutes later she approached the gate. Leaves decorated her black hair, scratches adorned her face, and she walked with a slight limp.

"Hi there!" She greeted the pair with a bright smile nonetheless, one which widened a bit when she recognized the girl. "Ghost! I was wonder where you lit off to after Registration ended. How have ya been? I see you've made a friend."

She blinked, giving the boy a look up and down. The change in her eye color was barely noticeable, from near-white to pink-tinted-white, as she used her xray vision to scan for weapons quickly. She made a mental note of a few odd things in the young man's pockets, but said nothing.

She entered a quick security code to open the gates and let the pair in, then held out her hand to the young man.

"Nice to meet you. Name's Neena."

He listened to the woman as she started to talk to Ghost. Then he watched as she gave him the look over. For some reason his hand lifted and he started to mess with the tongue under his shirt. His hand quickly fell away though when the woman extended her hand to him. Nice to meet you? He started to shake his head slightly as he just chuckled.

"You see someone standing there and you automatically believe its going to be nice to have met them?"

He just shook his head once more and looked at her extended hand. His eyes shifted from it up to her and pointedly looked over at Ghost completely ignoring the womans out stretched hand.

"I swear... this is going to be worse than I originally thought." Then his gaze twisted back to Neena. His eyes had once more shifted to their darker look, not color but just the way he looked at someone. It was deeper more intense.

"Before I step foot in this bloody place. We should get this out in the bloody open. I am not here to make friends. I am not here to learn about my mutation. I am not here to listen to "teachers" rattle on about things they know nothing about. I am here for one reason and one reason only. Ghost here asked if I would stay here with her. I made a deal with her so now I am stuck. I agreed to try and learn whiile I am here but that does not mean I want someone trying to tell me how to do soemthing when they have no bloody clue what they are talking about. I would rather figure things out on my own and if you don't bloody like it I can and will find somewhere else to sleep."

His dark edge slipped easily away and a smile flashed over his lips. He licked his lips once and then extended his hand as he spoke.

"I am Chr... Otieno. You may call me Torqueos Angelus. Torqueos if you must make it shorter. I thank you for hopefully allowing the tw... for allowing us to stay here."

She waved emphatically to Neena while the gate slowly opened. She hadn't been expecting Neena to remember her, let alone sound happy to see her.

And of course it was Goth who got to greet Neena first. He was so pushy! Ghost had been smiling. Now she stood awkwardly with her teeth clenched in a smile-like grimace. She stepped quickly between Otieno and Neena even though it looked like he would play nice now. She was glad that Christian ended up at the wheel in the end, but Ms. No Fear didn't need to tango with Mr. No Conscience... not tonight.

"I'm sorry for showing up so late!" Her voice was a little higher than normal because she couldn't seem to relax. "As you can see we-I... I got a little distracted. Thanks for letting us stay, really." She echoed Christian's sentiments as she grabbed Otieno's outstretched hand at the wrist. Ghost walked briskly onto the mansion grounds towing Otieno with her. She glanced over her shoulder and gave him a 'please behave' look before falling into step beside Neena.

"He doesn't mean to be rude - sorry." She mumbled to Neena.

"You see someone standing there and you automatically believe its going to be nice to have met them? I swear... this is going to be worse than I originally thought."

<"Can someone say 'attitude problem'?"> Neena shrugged and drew her ignored hand back. Her smile remained in place, though amusement quickly took the place of general cheeriness. And the amusement increased as the boy felt the need to further 'enlighten' her.

"Before I step foot in this bloody place. We should get this out in the bloody open. I am not here to make friends. I am not here to learn about my mutation. I am not here to listen to "teachers" rattle on about things they know nothing about. I am here for one reason and one reason only. Ghost here asked if I would stay here with her. I made a deal with her so now I am stuck. I agreed to try and learn whiile I am here but that does not mean I want someone trying to tell me how to do soemthing when they have no bloody clue what they are talking about. I would rather figure things out on my own and if you don't bloody like it I can and will find somewhere else to sleep."

She resisted the urge to chuckle. Instead she shrugged, still smiling, and simply replied, "Suit yourself, kiddo." She winked at Ghost.

"I am Chr... Otieno. You may call me Torqueos Angelus. Torqueos if you must make it shorter. I thank you for hopefully allowing the tw... for allowing us to stay here."

She couldn't resist this time. "Nice to meetcha Torqueos."

"I'm sorry for showing up so late! As you can see we-I... I got a little distracted. Thanks for letting us stay, really." Ghost tried to divert a possible confrontation, and headed toward the Mansion. "He doesn't mean to be rude - sorry." Neena went with it easily.

"No worries, kiddo. I don't offend easy. And I'm a night owl, anyway." It wasn't the first time she'd had rocky first meetings with people, and doubtless wouldn't be the last, especially with her personality. Actually, she found it quite funny that Torqueos had warned her off from 'rattling on' about things she didn't know, when he knew next to nothing about her. She was curious why he was so defensive?

"So, are you looking to crash just for tonight, or a few days? Or a bit longer?" she asked both of them, leading the way to the front door. She picked the leaves out of her hair, and her limp had disappeared by the time the reached the front walk.

He was behind them. Ghosts hand holding his wrist. He let his hand slip into hers and just held it. If she looked back she would just see him smiling lightly. After walking with his hand in hers for a minute his eyes started watching the surrounding. He wasnt really paying attention to what they were saying. Though when she asked how long they would be there he added his own thoughts quietly, unlike how he was just minutes ago.

"I'm just here until Ghost decides I can go.", his voice was almost silent as he spoke but it wasnt one of sadness or one of shyness like one would expect to hear from someone speaking that low. Instead it was that quiet because he almost said something else. In his head He could feel urges to do or say things and he was trying his hardest to make Ghost happy. She had given him a warning look and he didn't want to disappoint her.

After a moments pause after his words his eyes drifted from the surrounds to the two womens rear sides. A sly smile played over his lips as he watched them walk. His head tilted a little as he licked his lips. No sooner did he realize he was doing this though he shot his glance back out to the surroundings. His cheeks turned a bright shade of red. He gulped lightly and then pulled his hand from Ghosts and slipped it into his pocket.

His fingers struck the cold metal of the knife that he had used to remove the "jewelery" that adorned the center of the necklace he wore. He wondered when they were going to go through a metal detector or something. He didn't want to give up the knife... he was sure the ones that shot spikes from their bodies or had claws or the such wouldn't have to give up their weapons so he wasn't sure if he would have to give up his.

He let his mind wonder back to the two women and he heard snickering lightly in his head. He almost screamed out. He had never HEARD them before. Though Goth had used him to speak a few times. But this was different. Others could hear him speak... the couldnt hear what was happening in his mind. He almost turned and left then. He would have if it hadn't been a small voice in the back of his head.

Don't worry my Torqueos Angelus. I won't let him hurt you my Tormented Angel. You don't need to worry. For now atleast just be happy where life has been pushing you this far. There will be a time my Tormented One that I won't be able to help you but that time isn't for a long ways and it will only come if you allow it to. Be strong my dear child or both of us shall be consumed by what is Goth. The tormented side of you that will hurt anyone... even her.

For a minute he was relieved and then anger started to push forward. Even her? He would do that. He would hurt her knowing how much that she already ment to him... wait... it just hit him that they could read his mind not just talk to him or use him. They could go through his mind at will. This wasn't fair.

Deep in thought he lost track of what was happening around him.

Ghost just shook her head at Neena. She was so used to edging around people who were easily set off-- Otieno had seemed normal to her. It was strange to find another easy-going spirit. "You are entirely too easy to get along with."

"So, are you looking to crash just for tonight, or a few days? Or a bit longer?"

Ghost hedged. She didn't know for sure, but it was best to be honest, right? She heard Otieno's mumbling reply. You'd think she had him under house arrest in handcuffs blindfolded and gagged. She wondered if he'd ever come around.

"Eh - I'm not sure, honestly. I don't have a place to go and... I don't think I could get a real job unless I got some fake papers or something." She sighed. "Yeah. I'm a great asset to society here."

She smiled a bit woefully. "I guess that means I'll be here until I could potentially stand on my own two feet." She didn't want to promise to stay... but she didn't know how long it would be.

Finally, though the inky darkness she was able to make out the large structure. "Whaaa..." She breathed, entirely impressed. "Not so swiss cheesy anymore." She glanced over her shoulder to check on TA. He was being awfully quiet back there so she offered him an encouraging smile.

I'm okay. He's okay. Neena is nice. Everyone is okay. We're all fine here. She was attempting to mentally convincing herself to calm down.

"You are entirely too easy to get along with."

Neena chuckled a bit. "Some of the students and teacher might argue with you about that."

"I'm just here until Ghost decides I can go."

"Oh?" She turned back to Torqueos, then glanced at Ghost and raised one eyebrow. "Aren't you a little young for slave labor?" she teased.

"Eh - I'm not sure, honestly. I don't have a place to go and... I don't think I could get a real job unless I got some fake papers or something. Yeah. I'm a great asset to society here. I guess that means I'll be here until I could potentially stand on my own two feet."

Neena nodded. "That's fine. Security is a bit tighter than before Registration, but you're still free to come and go as you need."

She unlocked the front door and walked in. Their footsteps echoed a bit in the quiet house. She pulled a folder off of the foyer table and turned to the couple. With Torqueos' odd attitude, she'd have to handle things slightly differently. She handed it to Ghost, but addressed them both.

"Here ya go. This is a New Resident forms. You know, everyone is paranoid since Registration and all. Can't imagine why...." She shrugged, and turned to the back. "There's a map in the back to the Mansion, since it's easy to get lost around here, especially with all of the construction. Just fill it out, and drop it off to me later. Or one of the other teachers. This is my room here, and the Office is here." She circled each room in turn.

Then without looking up, she asked, "Do those wings of yours work Torqueos? The one looks kind of rough." She glanced up and blink. "No offense meant, of course. It's just they're very unique."

The question may have seemed to come out of left field, since his wings were hidden from sight under his coat.

He listened to her and when she looked at him and asked he just shrugged and took off his coat. No reason to hide them in here. His wings opened and spread wide. He flapped them a few times but he didnt move. His body was just to heavy for his wings to lift. He watched her though and a slight smile came over his face.

"Though since I wont be learning a thing from any of you here... it doesnt really matter if they work. Do you ask each student that arrives if their arms or legs work. Since you havent asked either of us about those appendages why should it matter to you have these appendages work. Just because you can see part of my mutation doesnt give you the right to go asking questions."

He growled lightly as he stood there, "Even though you walked down in the dark without a flashlight... though that prolly wouldnt have given away your power... though you could see something that wasnt uncovered... does that give me the right to start asking about your eyes? I think not. For a place like this youd think youd have a bit of curtesy and manners."

Like he was really one to speak. He could have simply told her the truth about them but right now he wasnt in the mood. He was getting scared. The voices still hadnt shut up. And his nerves were shot. But what did give her the right. For once it hadnt been Goth that had questioned her but it was Otieno himself.

He folded his wings back up and put his coat back on. Hed take it off when he actually rested. For now he would keep it on though... he would keep it on and ignore her question.

Ghost tucked the folder of papers underneath her arm. She wasn't entirely sure what kind of questions were there, but she'd rather not have to think tonight- thankfully Neena seemed to understand that this was a task for another day.

He was ranting again. Ghost may have napped earlier, but now that the excitement had worn off and she was standing mostly still exhaustion took over. Her limbs were heavy and she just wanted to get this over with and find a place to sleep.

She looked at him with tired eyes and a wrinkled forehead. Some people were just exhausting to be around. "Don't you ever get tired of being so self absorbed?" She again stepped between Neena and Otieno, turning her back to the winged boy.

"I don't mean to be rude, but can we hurry this along?" She was a bit too tired to properly keep the peace anymore so she'd just try to get them to a place where Otieno couldn't pick a fight and where she could safely pass out.

"Though since I wont be learning a thing from any of you here... it doesnt really matter if they work. Do you ask each student that arrives if their arms or legs work. Since you havent asked either of us about those appendages why should it matter to you have these appendages work. Just because you can see part of my mutation doesnt give you the right to go asking questions."

Neena tilted her head sideways as Torqueos ranted. This was something deeper than a simple attitude problem, or being defensive about his mutation.

"Even though you walked down in the dark without a flashlight... though that prolly wouldnt have given away your power... though you could see something that wasnt uncovered... does that give me the right to start asking about your eyes? I think not. For a place like this youd think youd have a bit of curtesy and manners."

Okay, that time she couldn't resist; a soft chortle left her throat.

"I don't mean to be rude, but can we hurry this along?" Neena glanced at Ghost; she seemed a bit.... deflated. For a moment Neena had forgotten it was nighttime. The two of them were probably exhausted. Maybe that explained a bit of Torqueos' irritation as well. She nodded, then turned to the young man.

"In order spoken." She held up one hand and began ticking off points. Her tone of voice was not in the least bit angry or upset; if anything, she sounded amused. "The only time you stop learning from others is when you die. I asked out of curiosity, since it's natural to think that wings usually equal flight. You never learn if you don't ask questions. Yes, I can see in the dark, as well as in a few other spectrums. And I don't mind you asking about my mutation, since I've never felt mutations are something to be ashamed of. Thus why asked you, and any other mutant I meet. And as for courtesy and manners?" Her smile widened slightly, and she gave them both a 'big sister' smirk. "We won't go there tonight."

She turned and headed toward the stairwell. "Shall we find you two some rooms? Or are ya hungry?"

He barely heard what she was saying. His mind was still on the voices inside his head. He could only listen to so many different voices at one time. He watched as she clicked off fingers. When she spoke about rooms he barely heard her and he shook his head to both her questions.

"I'm not hungry nor am I tired. I think I will sit outside for a while and get some fresh air. If you still want to give me a room then I will find one in the morning."

He turned without letting either of them say anything to stop him. He slipped outside pretty quickly and walked down the path towards the gate. For a long moment he thought about turning and going back inside and just going with everything. But he couldnt. His mind was already made up. Instead he walked along the gate until he found a spot that the shrubs werent so thick he couldnt get to the wall.

From the time he was eight until a few years ago he had lived int he mountains. One thing he had learned to do was climb pretty well even without hand holds. He scaled the side of the wall. He threw himself over and let himself fall towards the ground. He remembered roughly how high it was so when he thought he was close to the ground he let himself start to do a flip. He took the blow rolling and slowly came to his feet.

Sometimes it was better to be a liar... especially when so much hung in the balance. He had actually been looking forward to that date too. He felt a tear sliding down his cheek as he started to follow the street away from the mansion.