Mike flew into the starry sky, carrying a likely startled Daria. It was a cool night, and still had a slightly damp feeling from the rain earlier, but the sky was clear, with a half-moon over them.

Daria had not intended to be picked up. She assumed Mike could do this with out carrying her. She peeked down to see that things looked much smaller than they had from the roof top and suddenly she was alot happier she was being carried. her eyes snapped shut almost immediatly.

"I could let you float on your own if you like," Mike offered, knowing that she'd turn him down. "And it's a lot prettier if you open your eyes."

At this point they were not moving, just floating in one place. The mansion was far beneath them, they could see the whole grounds spread out beneath them.

Daria shook her head "NO!...I mean, I'm fine like this."

She was sure it was prettier with her eyes open but she wasn't sure if she could appreciate the view right then. Slowly she opened her eyes, keeping the focused on her legs. She raised her head slowly simultaneously wrapping her arms around Mike's neck as if holding onto him would keep her safe.

They were still and the grounds were still as well save for the occasional couple or group of kids passing peacefully below. It was actually very pretty, Daria thought so, as the greens mixed with the colors of the mansion and the fall leaves. The shadows moved like poetry on warm summer nights but the breeze was chilly and brought memories of winter's solemnity. And, as she overcame the fear of being dropped-as she realized it was foolish to think that Mike would drop her- she began to feel safe for the first time in a long time.

"It's a quiet night... looks like everyone's happy tonight," Mike commented looking down at the school. As he looked down, he shifted Daria slightly to get a tighter grip on her. Since he was supporting both of their weight with his mind, it was really an unnecessary action, but it just seemed like the thing to do at the moment.

He smiled slightly as he looked down. When he looked at things just right with his power, everything seemed to give off an aura that told their mood. Of course, he knew that this was only in his head, but it was one of the easiest way for his mind to interpret what he was sensing. He could see the bright flashes of the excited younger students running around and the more calm, cool glows from the older students and teachers. The mansion below them was full of life, people being happy, people playing tricks, people laughing and enjoying the company they were in.

"Times like this, it's hard to believe I've hated my powers," he commented, a content look coming across his face.

Thinking that he was talking about her Daria blushed slightly. Then unknowingly she leaned her head against Mike's chest and turned her eyes upward toward the sky. It was twinkiling with silvery starlight.

You almost never see stars in the city. All planes and helicopters.

Mike rolled backward slightly so he could see upward. "Another reason I love this place." Looking up, he started picking out the familiar constellations. "Orion... Andromeda... Cassiopia..." He nodded each time he found one, "It's been too long, I can't remember many."

Daria glanced up at Mike but couldn't talk to him and look at him at the same time while being so close. She looked back at the sky.

"You know the constellations? Where did you learn them?"

"My grandfather got me a telescope when I was a kid. We'd freeze ourselves trying to see what we could see whenever he had the time... which wasn't too often, really. But he got me all sorts of magazines on astronomy so I could be ready whenever he did have time. I remember some of them... that's Cygnus there, and Perseus is over there, by Andromeda."

Daria watched the constellations he pointed out. She'd taken an astronomy class when she was very young, about 12 and hadn't done much with it since. But she was still able to appreciate the fact that she could see them all without the pollution.

She was really happy she had come here, to the mansion. All of her running from things she couldn't really escape could be over now and she could relax. The sense of safety that came with being around others like her had led to the feeling of safety that came with having a friend. And so very few things mattered besides thefact that it wasn't raining and the sound of Mike's voice. Daria didn't feel anything but content.

Mike smiled and craned his head (almost painfully) to look down at her. "I told you I'd make you happy," he teased quietly before giving her a little kiss on the top of her head. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath... it was just one of those moments you try to do your best not to let out of your mind.

Daria didn't really know why she was embarassed over the fact that this made her happy. Perhas it was beacause she was on an "independant woman" streak and didnt want to admit that a guy had made her happy when it should have been her own doing. May be it was beacause the answer to her complex problem was so simple. Whatever it was she blushed again and did so even deeper when Mike kissed her forhead.
Blushing wasn't something she had done in a while, years actually, not since she was with...

She tried to block the thought, this wasn't the time for it. Daria focused her eyes once again on her legs.

Mike smiled slightly at all of her various thoughts. "There's nothing to be ashamed of in being happy," he said quietly. "Most nights I think I don't deserve to be happy, no after the things I've done. But then I get moments like this... when you don't completely know what it is, but you can't help being happy." He shrugged, "Sometimes I think that things like this are the world's way of telling you that no, you haven't been doing quite as bad a job as you thought you were."

"There is just no hiding of anything from you, huh? I thought i was thinking quietly" Daria laughed then it faded. "What else did you hear?" She began to wonder what otheer seemingly quiet thoughts had been loud."

Mike smiled slightly. "Sorry... you have my undivided attention, so that tends to happen." He was quiet for a minute before speaking again. "Only a fool would let you go. You should always remember that."