Instead of making her something she followed him into the kitchen to make something for herself. Andrew had to stop himself from frowning at the picture her treatment of the mayonnaise like treasure and her earlier comment about not being homeless were painting. Not to mention her grammar issues and rather simplistic views. It was like she'd been abandoned to figure things out all on her own. He didn't like it at all. Rhythm was a nice girl from what he could tell and definitely didn't deserve that.

Not only that but she was trying to help him be happy. He made a conscious decision to do whatever he could for her. Rhythm didn't seem to have too many people to count on. He could at least add himself to that number, however small it might be. Andrew didn't comment on her assertion that he needed someone and watched her as she moved about the kitchen. Maybe he could teach her to bake like his mother had done for him? Andrew realized he was getting ahead of himself. Something like that would have to be saved for another time. If he helped her with anything now he'd help her learn to speak a bit more clearly.

He thought about her request to know more about who he liked. Andrew didn't see the harm since she probably didn't know the person or persons he'd be speaking about.

"Uh...I guess you'd say there's two people I'm sort of interested in. Both mutants actually. Verdy and Tasean. Verdy...well I'm not sure I want to pursue her. We're friends and I'm far more comfortable with that. Tasean I just met not long ago. I'd rather not make a move on him just yet."

Andrew gave a shrug.

"I guess I'm just more comfortable not dating. Lord knows I screw up enough when things get anywhere close to serious."

>>"I guess I'm just more comfortable not dating. Lord knows I screw up enough when things get anywhere close to serious."

Ashley frowned at that, chewing her mayo sandwich more slowly. So maybe she wasn't the smartest person on the planet, but that kind of talk bothered her coming from Andrew. She felt that he should stand up and take what he wanted, like she did whenever she stole something. Like her motorcycle!! Okay...well maybe that was a bad example. And maybe she wasn't the poster girl for relationship either, but Andrew seemed so normal, nerdy and cool. Shouldn't he be in a relationship that reflected that?

“No.” Ashley shook her head. “Much too hard. Not to say, I mean. Let them know. Whats it hurt?”

The more she thought about it, the more the brunette felt slightly guilty. It wasn't often that she took her own advice about things, and perhaps this was one of them. She liked Bentley a lot but she didn't exactly go right up to her, take her by the hand and ask her out. It was a gradual process, but...well, maybe things were different for her, right?

It wasn't like she had past experiences to base this on. At the moment, she was winging it and she knew it. But gathering up all the facts she knew about Andrew pointed her in the direction that there was no reason he couldn't be happy with someone. And for some reason, that bothered her. What, was everyone blind.

She suddenly slammed a fist on the counter they were eating at, a determined look on her face. “Hmph. I make them see, yes? Least I can do.” Her sandwich gone, she slammed a fist into her palm. “Plan of attack...ummm...”

There was a moment of silence before Ashley slowly reached out to Andrew and pulled his sleeve again, her eyes a bit shifty and cheeks slightly red from her earlier outburst of energy.

“Where are they?” she asked in an almost whisper. “Your people, that you like?”

Rhythm it seemed was dead set on getting him a date. She shrugged off his explanation with a 'trying can't hurt'. Privately Andrew thought that was wrong but he didn't say anything to Rhythm. His history with Verdy and Kate seemed to back up his notion that it could in fact hurt, if even it didn't always do so. He glanced around the kitchen while Rhythm was quiet. He knew this room very well. After all, he was here baking almost nightly. What had started as a nervous reaction to a new situation had turned into a habit. That and he enjoyed knowing that people enjoyed his efforts. Since most if not all of what he made nightly was generally gone by the end of the day it stood to reason that they were well received.

A slamming fist brought Andrew back to the topic at hand. He had to stifle a laugh. The idea of Rhythm convincing Verdy or Tasean to go on a date with him, by force if necessary if her actions were any indicator, was pretty funny. However she stopped moments later in her plans when she seemed to realize something. Her hand reached up and tugged on his sleeve again. He focused his attention on her as she asked where they were.

"Well Verdy lives here in the Mansion. Tasean...I don't know. "

Andrew couldn't help but think this conversation had spiraled away from where he'd intended it to go. However there was no easy way to introduce the topic he'd meant to cover and watching Rhythm try to figure out how to convince people to go out with him was too funny, if a little embarrassing.

Well, this certainly wasn't how Ashley expected to be spending her time, but it was for a cause she found suitable for her attention anyways. In fact, if her body hadn't decided to almost explode or whatever, she'd be at home with Bentley right now, head on her ballerina's lap while Ashley hummed a tune of some sort. Just...relaxing. The thought made Ashley feel warm all over, and it was all she could do to prevent herself from giggling like a school girl on the spot.

>>"Well Verdy lives here in the Mansion. Tasean...I don't know.”

Ashley brought her attention back to Andrew and nodded, slightly miffed at herself for losing her focus like that. She would have berated herself for it in the past, but that was before she found out what pleasure simply holding someone could bring, especially with little to no clothes on. She made another mayo sandwich before she rounded herself and walked up to her current mission and looked him up and down.

“Hn.” she grunted, then reached out and lifted his shirt. She'd seen him without it, but she wanted to remind herself. Not bad. Not good either, but not bad. “Your soft.”

To demonstrate, she put her mayo sandwich in her mouth and slugged Andrew in the stomach, not too hard but pretty damn solidly, before taking a step back as she watched him.

“Need exercise. Like me.” her voice muffled by the sandwich and sounding funny, Ashley lifted up her shirt to reveal her abs. She patted the six pack and grabbed her sandwich from her mouth as she let her shirt down. “Solid. How you fight? Know styles? I can teach, you know. Muay Thai. Make you solid. Girls like solid. Bentley does, anyways. Boys too, I think.”

The solid punch made more of an impact than he would have liked. Rhythm was unfortunately correct. He was still fairly soft. Sure he could throw a punch that didn't entirely suck and he was decent at get the heck out of the way but beyond that he really needed work. Before Andrew could say anything and while Rhythm had her shirt lifted to show off a very firm stomach the sound of footsteps had him swiveling toward one of the doorways. Standing there was a fifteen year old Hispanic boy that Andrew had greeted earlier in the day. He could talk to and control slugs. His name was Eduardo if Andrew recalled correctly and he always had a few of the critters he controlled with him. They were trailing along his arms at that moment. The boy in question was gaping at Rhythm while Andrew processed the scene.

Andrew felt a surge of embarrassment for a moment or two. Any respect that kid had had for him would have to be rebuilt now. However he was getting used to embarrassment. That emotion gave way to annoyance as the minutes ticked onward and the boy showed no signs of looking away. Raging hormones were one thing but that odd protectiveness came creeping back to the fore and Andrew glared at the kid. When he showed no sign of even noticing Andrew moved to block his view and cleared his throat.

He didn't need to say anything. Once Eduardo couldn't see Rhythm anymore took one look at Andrew's annoyed glare and ran back the way he came. Once Andrew was sure that Eduardo was long gone he turned back to Rhythm and racked his brain for her last question so he could answer her.

"Uh, boxing. I trained a bit in boxing with Jorge. Nothing beyond that though."

While she was aware of the strange looking boy, Ashley really didn't pay him any mind. After all...why? He wasn't bothering anyone...except maybe Andrew. Well, okay, maybe she did feel a bit self conscience about the whole ordeal, with the slight blush giving way to reveal that. But all I all she was more comfortable with her body then ever before, thanks to her girlfriend. Still, Andrew's actions amused the brunette, and she showed it with a small chuckle. She watched Andrew turn around back to her as if didn't just chase away some random kid.

>>"Uh, boxing. I trained a bit in boxing with Jorge. Nothing beyond that though."

Ashley nodded. Boxing, huh? She'd met a few people back at the gym who practiced boxing, but not seriously. They explained that it was an art just like anything else but Ashley didn't take it very seriously. They didn't even use kicks!! She snorted at the thought of it before shaking her head. Besides, she knew of no other martial art that was as vigorous as Muay Thai. And if there was...she didn't wanna know about it.

“I can teach.” Ashley nodded, holding up an arm and flexing, showing off a sizable bicep. “hard though. Gotta practice. A lot.” Ashley looked around comically for a moment before she walked up to Andrew and leaned in for a moment, grabbing his sleeve as was now becoming her usual way to keep close to him. “But...promise to keep secret, mmmkay? Just us. Then we go on attack. Verdy, yeah? She's close. Describe her.”

Ashley pulled away some, smiling at Andrew. She decided then that maybe having him in her life wasn't so bad. Taking him on as a pupil (despite not having mastered the art herself) would be a good thing for both of them. It was rare that Ashley got to practice Muay Thai, and sparring with someone that could eventually surpass her was an exciting prospect for her.

Rhythm insisted that she could teach him Muay Thai but that it would be hard. Andrew chuckled a little.

"I already practice boxing everyday as soon as I get up. I don't mind the effort. My mutation doesn't do a thing for fighting so I had already figured on having to put forth a lot of effort just to be able to stand a chance against another mutant."

Not that he really wanted to fight other mutants but after the incident with Mittens that had led to his knowledge of the X-Men Andrew knew better than to expect other mutants not to fight.

We are after all just humans with weird powers. Just as many different personalities amongst us as there are amongst normals.

Andrew thought about what to tell her about Verdy. He figured he;'d leave the details of what had happened between them out.

"Verdy? Black hair, green eyes. Fun to hang out with. I actually own a dog with with her. We box together with Jorge from time to time."

He didn't say that he'd given up on a relationship with her. After all, it wasn't like Rhythm would be able to follow through on any plans she made regarding his love life.

Ashley listened to Andrew and frowned. She tried to understand his training routine but didn't. Just every morning? She shook her head. It was a wonder he wasn't a better fighter by now, he only trained casually. While she was at Whistler's, she would train for hours every day, and loved it. Well, sometimes it could be a pain, but most of the time she enjoyed it. It was the thought of getting stronger so she wouldn't need anyone that drove her to be a better fighter. Coupled with her mutation, she was one of the best hand-to-hand fighters at the gym.

That wasn't to say she didn't have a lot to learn, but Andrew seemed to be half assing his training, or maybe boxing just didn't require all that much to begin with. It only involved punching, after all, so maybe there wasn't much to learn. That, and there was the issue of Andrew's mutant power...or lack there of. She heard little about it, and what she thought she might have heard she forgot. So maybe he wasn't cut out to be a fighter?

...naw!! Besides, this was so Andrew could get solid so he could get Verdy, or whatever the other person's name was.

>>"Verdy? Black hair, green eyes. Fun to hang out with. I actually own a dog with with her. We box together with Jorge from time to time."

“Sounds pretty.” Ashley nodded approvingly. Andrew would have good taste, of course. He seemed the type anyways. “So...” Ashley huffed and thought a moment. “We train. Together. Partners.” Ashley eyed Andrew and poked him in the chest. “But serious. No quitting. We know each other better, yes? Like...siblings.”

Ashley nodded, liking the thought of that. She knew all her old sparring partners back at Whistler's Gym, as she only really trained with a handful of people before she was too much for one and had to move onto another. In the end she really only trained with two people, and they shared everything, if only to further their bond as partners. She felt this exercise would be beneficial for herself and Andrew. That, and she'd never had someone to look up to.

Maybe Andrew wasn't her first choice, but morally speaking he was better then anyone else she knew, barring Bentley but she was human. She was far too fragile a being for Ashley to attempt to train. And Andrew, while a tad soft, was still solid enough to take a few hits. Ashley wouldn't even wear her trademark headphones.

“Ummm...there a place? To train.” Ashley looked around before eying Andrew. “Tell me, hmmm...about power. How it work?”

Andrew nodded in response to Rhythm's assessment of Verdy. She was pretty. Rhythm was also insistent that they train together. For his part Andrew thought it sounded like a good idea. He could always use more training if he was going to be anywhere near good enough to be an X-Man. He paused for a moment at her use of the word siblings. That was completely unfamiliar territory to Andrew but for Rhythm...he'd give it shot. She was nice girl. Could use some lessons on proper English but a nice girl none the less.

"Sounds good. We'll train together and look out for each other."

That was what all the stories said good siblings did. Of course just as often siblings ended up betraying each other in those stories so maybe they weren't the best source to draw from. Rhythm asked if they had a training area and Andrew frowned a little.

"Yeah but I don't have access to it. I tend to just go to a gym or improvise."

Andrew pulled off his left glove before he answered her next question. The ring indicating his only active promise was still there, black and unbroken against his pale skin.

"It works like this. I say something like, 'I promise to protect you until the day one of us dies' and then."

He gestured to his arm where a new black band was forming just above the old one. Once it was fully formed he spoke again.

"And now I have to protect you or I get hurt."

This was yet another reminder for Ashley just how little she understood about the world, and even about her own kind.

Piecing it all together, she understood that Andrew now had to protect her because he had promised to do so. And if he didn't, he'd get hurt. Okay, that was simple enough to understand. The part that perplexed Ashley was...why? This was his power? He had to keep his word or he'd get hurt? The very idea boggled Ashley's mind. What the hell kind of power was that anyways?! That seemed more like a cruel joke then anything else...and he just promised to protect her until one of them died!!

The next punch landed right into Andrew's shoulder, and Ashley was proud (and at the same time rather ashamed) to say that she didn't hold back. She liked Andrew, to be sure, and she had planned to help him out with his dating problem the only way she knew how; training to make him tougher instead of the little nerd he was now. And while she was pretty sure they would be getting to know each other very well over the next several...however long it took to make him a better fighter, this was taking it too far.

And still, the squishy part inside of Ashley couldn't help but be touched.

“Stupid!!” Ashley spat, crossing her arms and eying her partner with her specialized Death Glare™. “I protect me. Don't need you!! Don't need anyone!!” Ashley felt something wet roll down her cheek and wiped it away with her hand, only to realize they were tears. She wiped them away quickly to prevent Andrew from seeing them, but they wouldn't stop coming.

She hadn't cried all that much since her mine was wiped. Maybe when Whistler died, just a bit even though she didn't admit it. Isabel, that was another. Even when that crazy bitch that tortured her, she held back as much as she could. But this, this right here was making her cry. She didn't even feel like crying, but she was and she felt stupid, crumpling to the floor on her knees and balling up her fists as she placed them to her eyes as if that would stem the flow of her tears.

“Stupid, stupid...” she repeated in a weak voice. Why would this stupid Andrew do something like that? She wasn't worth protecting at all!! “Stupid Andrew, stupid...”

In the back her mind she wished she was wittier so she could call Andrew more named, a thought that made her give a watery chuckle that transformed into rapid fire hiccups.

Great.

Surprisingly enough Andrew was fairly calm as the obvious feelings of protectiveness surged back into being. He had known what he was doing when he made that promise. Rhythm needed someone to be there for her. There was no guarantee that her relationship with Bentley would last. That promise meant that he'd have to do what he could for her. Even if it was just being a meat shield.

He could deal with anger. Heck, he'd have been angry too if someone had made that promise to him. But then she dissolved into tears. Obvious tears that she tried to wipe away and hide to no avail. And then she was hiccuping and Andrew couldn't take it. Why did they have to cry?! He flailed a little before he settled for pulling the distraught girl into a hug.

"Oh jeez I didn't mean to make you cry! I'm sorry! Really!"

Honestly it had seemed like a simple solution to Rhythm's problems, whatever they might be since she hadn't actually said anything outright, and an easy way to demonstrate his power.

Way to go Andrew. You just screwed up with another girl and this one isn't even remotely attracted to you.

Man this was awkward.

She didn't object to the embrace Andrew pulled her into, and instead nuzzled Andrew's shoulder. Yeah, she could tell he was a big softie, outside and in, and the only reason she didn't chuckle that time was because she was still hiccuping like crazy. But she couldn't deny she felt safe with Andrew, and while the thought bothered her, at the same time it really didn't. Why should it? It was moments like these that relationships were built on, right? Well...maybe. Ashley wasn't the foremost expert on relationships of any sort, and just kind of winged it most of the time.

“Stupid Andrew...” Ashley hiccuped, pulling her knees to her chest and hugging them while Andrew still held her. “Can protect myself. Dun need you. You need me. To get Verdy. Okay?”

Yeah, even that sounded a bit awkward and silly in her own head, but whatever. Just because she lacked the lexicon, or the ability, to say what she really wanted to in a way that didn't make her sound like a five year old didn't make what she felt any less then someone else. Making a promise like that was just stupid, especially since Andrew would get hurt if she did!! Ashley sniffed, trying not to cry again. She got hurt all the time!! Would he keep getting hurt if she did? That was a TERRIBLE power!!

“Stupid...” Ashley sighed, only repeating herself because she didn't really know what else to say. Her eyes were heavy and Andrew was surprisingly warm, and he smelled great. Another sigh escaped her lips as she leaned fully against him, her sniffling and hiccuping stopping as she fell asleep in Andrew's arms.