Their conversation was going well. Rhythm seemed to blush under Agnes’ compliments about her music playing but she was not arguing it. That was good because Agnes loved to receive compliments for her music so she was sure that Rhythm had to be the same way. It was okay to be humble, but that did not mean you couldn’t take a compliment every once in awhile. Still though, the blush on the attractive woman’s cheeks did look awfully cute. It kind of made Agnes feel a little…almost powerful for having caused such a reaction in Rhythm. To know that she was able to make her blush just made her smile just a little bit.

But their private time was quickly interrupted by the appearance of the bartender. The kindly man who constantly winked at Rhythm and made her the nice pizza was quickly jogging towards them.

>> “Yo, Red…Don't forget you drove here, eh? Ya thinking of driving home?”

Motorcycle? Agnes thought the second she saw the helmet. Rhythm rides a motorcycle?

It was not that Agnes was scared of one, she had seen them plenty of times, but she had never ridden on one before. She had always heard that it was dangerous, then again that could simply be more of her old parents talking. They restricted her in many ways. Everything they did not approve was either evil or in need of saving. Motorcyclist were on that list, if she remembered correctly. Something about Angels from Hell…

>> “Give it here, girl…You know where to pick it up. Benjamin would be very cross if your stuff got taken from his place. It'll be safe, trust me.”

Agnes snapped back to reality, when she realized that Rhythm look a little at a loss for what to do. But, once she handed over her guitar back to barkeep, that seemed to ease the situation. But…why was he winking again?

Without much time to analyze it, the man had retreated with Rhythm’s guitar case and headed back to the club, leaving Agnes alone with the guitarist (sans the guitar) again. Well, there it was. The woman had her motorcycle and that more than likely meant that their walking conversation was done for the night. It was a good evening albeit, confusing. She still could not understand Rhythm’s allure, but she supposed that would be something she could think about on another –

>> “Ummm...ride? It's motorcycle...but can seat two. Just gotta hold tight. And direct me, yes?”

Agnes stared blankly. Ride with her? On a motorcycle? The concept was terrifying to say the least, having been that she had never ridden one, but at the same time it was…exciting. It was definitely something new and was that the whole purpose behind her newfound sense of life experience? To try new things? With one shaky breath, Agnes choked down her nerves and smiled, a little twinkle in her eye as she nodded.

“Alright. Um, yeah, sure. I would love to ride with you.” she said as she reached out and took the helmet in hand. She gulped as she looked it over and then looked up at Rhythm. “Sorry, I’ve…never ridden one before. I’m just a little nervous. But I want to.” she said resolutely.

She would have to remember to hold on as tight as she could. She hoped that Rhythm would not mind.

>>“Alright. Um, yeah, sure. I would love to ride with you. Sorry, I’ve…never ridden one before. I’m just a little nervous. But I want to.”

Ashley liked the slightly determined tone Agnes took on about the motorcycle. She knew the ride wasn't for everyone, and many would have rather walked then ride the bike even though it was much faster. Ashley herself was apprehensive the first time she had ever ridden a bike, but now couldn't imagine taking anything else as a form of transportation.

“Come.” Ashley said, cocking her head in the direction they needed to go. “This way.”

The guitarist led back the way they came, though it wasn't that far since parking a motorcycle was easy as pie, and Ashley could basically park on the sidewalk in front of the place if she wanted to. Benjamin encouraged it, since it told people that she was there, and her bike was unique in it's appearance. This was something Ashley didn't want, since she had stolen the bike and didn't want to get it recognized, but she didn't argue.

The Ducati was a work of art, Ashley admitted to herself as they neared it, but she knew that long before that moment. It was a habit for her to remind herself just how powerful the machine was, just how much she had to control herself while she riding it out and about in everyday life. The urge to just punch it and fly through the streets was strong, but Ashley restrained herself. She was going to have to reel in that urge even more not that she had a passenger.

The tomboy straddled the motorcycle, petting the front of it lovingly as she looked back at Agnes. “You like? Strong between yer legs. Purrs too. Not loud, not really, but smooth. Come. Get on.”

Ashley patted the area behind her designated for the passenger. “Strong grip.” Ashley patted her tummy, nodding to Agnes. “Around me. Hold tight.”

>> “Come…This way.”

Agnes nodded and quickly followed in step behind Rhythm as she led the way towards her ride home for the evening. In the cool night air, Agnes found herself really appreciating the beauty of the night and especially the company she was with. This was never really her intent when she first walked out of the mansion this night. She wasn’t looking to make a new friend, she was really just trying to go out and explore some of the world on her own. For so long she all she knew was the bad side of things, she never really allowed herself to experience more than that. But right now she was totally not regretting anything about tonight…

…until she saw the motorcycle.

>> “You like?”

“Uhhh, y-yeah…” Agnes started.

She really did not know how to finish that. It was not that she disliked the motorcycle, it really was a thing of beauty. But the fear had started to settle deep inside her stomach. It was at that moment that every horror story she heard from the news or in class about motorcycles filled up her head. The statistics of injuries, the deaths, those who barely managed to walk away from it okay, it all began to make her tremble. That is until she saw Rhythm climb onto the prized vehicle.

>> “Strong between yer legs. Purrs too. Not loud, not really, but smooth. Come. Get on. Strong grip…Around me. Hold tight.”

Agnes could not help the flutter of butterflies in her stomach, as well as the blush that wanted to overtake her cheeks once more. God, anymore blushing tonight and she was sure she was going to turn into a tomato. But why was she so embarrassed? She was still struggling with the notion of…was she really attracted to Rhythm? She was a girl and girls don’t do that. At least that’s what her parents always told her. They warned her that people like that, well…

A shake of her head and Agnes shook those thoughts away. She didn’t know if what she was feeling towards Rhythm was attraction, but even if it was her parents had to be wrong. They were wrong about her being demon possessed weren’t they?

“Okay,” Agnes shyly replied as she stepped up towards the cycle.

A tiny gulp and Agnes climbed onto the back of the motorcycle. It was slightly uncomfortable as she climbed on, not being used to this position but second by second she was growing accustomed. Reaching up, she pulled the helmet onto her head. It took her a second to two the pull her hair out of her eyes but when she did, she finally felt she was ready…until it was time to put her arms around this woman. Shyly she reached out, fingers barely grazing Rhythm’s sides, in an almost tickling manner before she wrapped her arms around her. She pulled up and pressed close to Rhythm…just so she wouldn’t fall off…obviously.

Her warm breath on Rhythm’s back, Agnes slowly calmed herself, waiting for the beast she straddled to roar to life. She was terrified but to calm herself she kept her grip tight on Rhythm. For that reason…and that reason alone.

“Rhythm,” she whispered. “Thank you, in advance for the ride.”

Close to the musician, Agnes sighed a bit as she let her mind wander. She thought it was going to feel uncomfortable to hold the woman this tight but…it felt natural, for reason. Almost like she could enjoy it…like she never wanted it to end.

Ashley went from her position of being slightly bent over, her hand son the handlebars, to sitting straight up as she felt her passenger’s breath on her back. She shivered, closing her eyes as the unexpected feeling coursed through her and settling at her very core. She gritted her teeth, though not from pain but from an ache she had familiar dealings with, particularly when Bentley decided she felt like walking around the apartment naked. Her breathing a little heavier, Ashley calmed herself forcibly, taking deep breathes and closing her eyes.

>>“Rhythm...thank you, in advance for the ride.”

The guitarist nodded, taking both of her hands and putting them onto Agnes' own, giving them a gentle squeeze. She reached behind her and flipped the visor to the girl's helmet down before looking back. It was then that she finally noticed how small the girl was compared to her, how fragile and...Ashley stopped herself. She gave Agnes' hands one more squeeze before powering the Ducati on and revving it a few times before she shot off in the direction they were walking before.

At a stop light, Ashley balanced herself and the bike before turning her head back again, this time so she could speak with the girl that was holding her tight. “Where to?” she said, her voice huskier, deeper from the ache that was making her stomach feel slightly empty and...wanting. “Directions, I mean...”

She stopped breathing again as she felt Agnes' fingers splayed across her belly and, feeling hot, Ashley reached down and lifted up her shirt so those cool hands could access her seemingly overheating body. She didn't think of what Agnes could be feeling, if maybe her passenger was now feeling most uncomfortable or not. All Ashley wanted was to make her body less like a volcano. She lifted up the shirt just beneath her breasts before putting her hands on the handlebars again.

She was breathing heavier again. Her stomach tightened at a sudden, inappropriate thought and again her stomach seemed to retract. She wanted to reach back and feel Agnes' breath on her neck, to have the girl claw at her six pack and...and...something!! The feeling burned within Ashley, and by now she couldn't control her feelings.

She was only broken out of her seemingly passionate daydream by the honking of a horn.

“Sorry...” Ashley mumbled as she made sure Agnes' hands were once again tight around her before shooting off straight down the same street they were righting on. “Ummm...directions again, please?” Ashley breathed a moment later, slowing down so Agnes could hear her. “I, uhhh...didn't hear...”

The hand squeeze was what got to her. After saying thank you, she felt the tender hands of Rhythm, the same hands that had managed to punch out a man in a single blow, as they squeezed her own. The breath caught in Agnes throat, her heart beat a little faster and try as she wanted to say something, nothing came to mind. It was as if her brain had completely shut down and all that was left in her was the tingling sensation that traced along every inch of her skin. It made the little hairs on the back of her neck stand on end, as well inadvertently tighten all the muscles in her body. She was like a piece of metal that had been heated to malleable levels, strong…yet soft.

If this was not attraction…then she did not know what attraction could mean. Before she knew it, tiny thoughts began to surface in her mind, but before she could dwell on any of them which involved Rhythm, her peace of mind was interrupted by the roar of a motorcycle engine. Instantly she retightened her grip around the musician prayed she would not die this night.

The speed was amazing. The feeling of the wind as it lashed against her exposed skin, the blur at which the world became as it passed them by. Agnes knew that Rhythm had to have been slowing down for her sake, but this was still plenty fast to her. And though she figured that she would have been terrified of it, she wasn’t anymore. So long as she had Rhythm to hold onto, she felt utterly safe.

Slowly though, they came to a stop and Agnes watched as her world began to slow down again. Still though, the sensation of the tingling all over her skin was still there. It was electrified, on fire, every inch of it was more sensitive to the touch. She sighed a little breathlessly as she very gently loosened her grip on Rhythm. It was only then that she had turned back to speak to her.

>> Where to? Directions, I mean...”

Agnes took a steady breath so she could compose herself once more. “Oh, um, Inwood Hill Park. Just go up…make a right and head down Broadway.” she said a bit more calmly.

But her serenity did not last long. In that moment, she felt Rhythm’s movements, but could not tell what was happening until she felt the shirt that separated Agnes hand’s from Rhythm’s slide away. Before she knew it, she was pressing her open palms against the musician’s bare, extremely toned stomach. Agnes cringed a little, not out of disgust, pain or fear, but simply out of surprise. She really had never had any intimacy at all like this with anyone so it was a surprise when she felt the bare skin against hers. It was warm, very hot actually, almost as if Rhythm was burning from the inside out. She feared if she were sick or something but the woman made no notion of this. Instead she seemed to enjoy Agnes’ cool, windswept hands against her stomach.

Agnes pressed herself just a little tighter against Rhythm but she said nothing. Instead her fingers, apparently with a mind of their own, began to gently explore the well toned abs of Rhythms stomach, but this was quickly interrupted by the honking of a car horn. Shaken from her musings, she glanced back and over heard Rhythm’s apology.

>> “Sorry...Ummm...directions again, please? Uhhh...didn't hear...”

Agnes sighed, taking a deep breath and attempting to control herself as well. Never before had she felt any kind of attraction like this towards another. And here she was, truly and utterly attracted to this other woman. Everything her parents taught her, everything her peers had said, they had to have been wrong. This did not feel sinful or wrong at all, in fact, Agnes’ attract towards Rhythm felt almost like when she played her violin: pure, passionate, and all encompassing.

A tiny gulp and Agnes cleared her throat before replying.

“Up…ugh…right…then take Broadway all the way down.” she exhaustedly whispered. She was surprised how much energy that took just to talk.

Her hands tight against Rhythm once more, she waited for the engine to once more rev up and steer them deeper into the night.

>>“Up…ugh…right…then take Broadway all the way down.”

Ashley nodded, knowing where she was going. She could barley read, yes, but she knew the streets rather well; she had too. Her very life depended on it at one point, and she still felt like she now knew most of New York like the back of her hand simply out of instinct. That didn't mean she didn't get to know the names of the streets though, so following basic and simple directions was still in the realm of possibility for Ashley, despite her lack of education.

To her credit, Ashley didn't gun the Ducati much, and decided that going at a medium speed was okay. The way Geo had it modified would have made it impossible for normal cop cards to catch her anyways, should she be smart about the route she would be taking. She loved her Ducati and, in the short time she's had it, had developed a bond with the machine that she was pretty sure was unhealthy. But it was there, and Ashley lost herself in the moment, feeling the wind whipping by as the lights turned to streaks, the wind in her ears making hearing anything impossible. But she was grateful for that.

Because the burning she felt from Agnes' touch was getting to be unbearable. She knew that side effect of her power was receding, going away because of Bentley's ministrations and slight touches and caresses. But that didn't mean it was gone. No, it was still there, and the feeling of Agnes' hands on her bare stomach was getting to be unbearable. She knew she wouldn't go unconscious, not yet, but there would be a mark there, a burn that would eventually go away.

But it was nothing, nothing compared to the ache that was devouring her body. The feeling was more intense then she'd ever felt before, and Ashley was pretty sure she was going to die from being consumed by it. Her breathing was heavy, her teeth gritted and there were other...'effects' Agnes was having on her body that Ashley didn't welcome, if only because she knew in the back of her mind that she cared for Bentley deeply. But...Bentley wasn't here, and Bentley was never ready to explore these feelings, despite her having the same ones for Ashley herself.

It wasn't until they were close to The Mansion that Ashley stopped to really recognize the place. So deep in her own thoughts about Agnes and the current situation she was in that she barley knew their current location, as her body was moving and swerving the motorcycle as if by muscle memory. Ashley stopped just a bit away, looking at the guards that blocked the general public from the school, balancing herself and the bike again, her heart pounding in her chest so fast she was surprised Agnes didn't hear it, loud bike or no.

“Live here?” Ashley said, her whiskey-on-the-rocks voice taking a curious tone. “The Mansion? Like...Andrew? So...you're mutant? Like me?”

The rest of trip home was just as charged as when it began. Agnes could feel some reaction to her touch from Rhythm but she really could not tell from her position what it was. Was the woman enjoying it? Did she dislike it? She did not seem to be pulling Agnes’ hands away. As a matter of fact, it was her who had lifted her shirt so Agnes could place her hands against her stomach so there must have been some kind of attraction on her part. In a way though, Agnes was glad that the rest of the trip they were really unable to talk due to the roar of the wind from the riding and the growl of the engine beneath them. This way, Agnes could simply continue to hold Rhythm in peace and have no fear of what any of this could mean by the time she returned home.

Still though, Agnes could not help but wonder what all this actually meant. She had never been in a relationship with anyone before and honestly she was fearful where this would go. Was she really attracted to Rhythm in the way that a boy and girl are supposed to be attracted to each other? She knew that most of her parents’ teachings, if not all of them, were complete and utter garbage, but what did this mean to her? Was she really attracted to girls now? Did she really just uncover a part of herself that she had never before taken a close look at? Or was she simply jumping to conclusions? After all, she had never experienced anything like this before. Could she really base her whole intimate future on a single incident? Then again, why couldn’t she? If something felt right, then it was right. No question about it.

The questions plagued her mercilessly the rest of the way home. There was so much confusion and frustration at her having none of these answers, and who could she really talk to? Gina was too young to really understand and there was no way she was to go to the guidance counselor, Ms. Taylor, about this. And Gawain, well…she’d just end up slugging him in the jaw again. Agnes, despite the good feeling that had been inside her, was slowly beginning to feel small and alone. Who could she talk to?

Agnes decided to drop the matter. Maybe she was overreacting. Maybe see was seeing something there that was not actually there. Yes, the feeling of Rhythm’s skin touching her bare hands sent shivers up her spine, and yes, the closer she pressed against her, the harder of a time she had breathing, but that could not really mean anything…could it? But she knew better than that. The warmth in the sstomach that flowed throughout, the sensation of feeling this woman’s warm body against her own, the signals were too hard to miss.

Opening her eyes, Agnes watched as the wind ripped through Rhythm’s hair and for that instant, a small fantasy popped into her head, revealing how much she wanted to lean in and just…press her lips…

But sudden sight of the mansion up ahead pulled her out of her thoughts. Before she knew it, the mansion was looming close, her home, a home for mutants. In that second she cursed herself because she forgot to foresee this. Would Rhythm recognize this was a mutant home? Would she ask if Agnes was a mutant? Agnes really did not want to get into it but soon that choice was going to be taken away from her.

The cycle pulling up to a stop near the mansion gates, Agnes watched as Rhythm balanced the bike and turned back to face her.

>> “Live here? The Mansion? Like...Andrew? So...you're mutant? Like me?”

Her jaw dropped. Thankfully, inside of the helmet, that could not be seen. Really? Rhythm was a mutant too? The news was startling but also caused an extreme sense of relief to flood through her. So she had powers too, Agnes was not alone in this. The chances of the woman tossing her aside for being a mutant were slim to none now! That is…at least until she hears what Agnes powers are. God…that’ll be a test.

Reluctantly, Agnes unwove her hands from each and forced herself to pull away from Rhythm and return her arms to her sides. Reaching up, Agnes unstrapped the helmet and pulled it off. The second it the cool air of the night flowed across her delicate features. Her long, slightly curled brown hair, now messy, was caught up in the breeze and danced about her face in an almost poetic manner. She sighed as she tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear and away from her face. Her piercing blue eyes sought Rhythm’s, searching for acceptance, understanding, maybe a hint of that spark of attraction that Agnes was trying to forget. If Rhythm was not attracted to her, then maybe, maybe she did just misunderstand everything from before. But…if she did…

Agnes lips quivered slightly as she took a breath. Too much happening at one time. Her soft, pink tongue moistening her lips briefly, Agnes finally sighed as she nodded.

“Y-Yeah. I’m…a mutant. But…so are you? I…I would have never had guessed.” she said quietly, not really knowing why. Who out here could possibly hear them talk? Meekly she looked away, unsure of what to do. She did not want to separate herself from Rhythm so quickly, and yet she did not want to overstay her welcome. Instinctively, and without really meaning to, Agnes placed her hands against the curves of Rhythm’s hips in order to push herself off the bike. Instead though, her hands remained there as she watched Rhythm closely. “I’m…um…I….” she hung her head, tired. “T-Thank you. You…you didn’t have to drive me home…but thank you.”

>>“Y-Yeah. I’m…a mutant. But…so are you? I…I would have never had guessed.”

“Yes.” was all Ashley managed to let out as she watched the girl pull off the helmet Ashley had given her. The tomboy knew she didn't like speaking often because she was afraid she'd sound stupid and she hated the feeling of being ridiculed and stared at. But now she wanted to say something, anything, to the girl behind her, and this was only a glimpse of what she was seeing. She went stiff for a moment, her body responding to Agnes' touch a bit stronger, her face looking straight as she closed her eyes, her body so rigid one moment and putty in the girl's hands the next.

>>”T-Thank you. You…you didn’t have to drive me home…but thank you.”

Skillfully, and without knowing how later on when she thought about it, Ashley put the kickstand to the bike down and turned her whole body in place, a maneuver that would have impressed most since she had a passenger. Granted one leg was still between them, but Ashley was flexible and eventually she sat facing Agnes, her gray eyes smoldering a cloudy color, as if a storm were brewing in them that was begging for release. She reached under Agnes' legs and pulled the girl in as close as possible so Agnes was no straddling Ashley.

It was at that moment that Ashley figured out she didn't know that to do. The smaller girl was on her, her legs clinging to Ashley in a way that made the guitarists body scream with desire. Her mouth was dry and she knew without really knowing that she was sweating a bit. The piercing blue eyes that adorned Agnes' perfect face finally gave Ashley all the answers she needed to know as she reached up, one hand behind the girl's head and another around the waist as she pulled the little mutant even close into a searing kiss that actually made Ashley reach her peak right there it was so intense.

Her body shuddered only slightly as the guitarists experienced that first sensation thanks to this small little mutant girl and was instantly addicted. She had never experienced anything so fine, so soft and tender as the kiss Agnes was providing her. Granted she didn't have much experience in the matter, but that was besides the point. Her mind was a torrent of activity, wondering why or even HOW she could have possibly ever waited so long to experience something like this. It was so...good. Felt so nice...and Ashley wanted more.

When she pulled away, Ashley leaned forward another time, kissing the neck of the smaller mutant and took a little nip without really knowing why. “Y-your place?” she said huskily, her voice barley audible as she rested her head on Agnes' shoulder. “...please?” she added, her tone as begging as Ashley had ever heard it before.

Rhythm was so quiet about her response to being a mutant. All she said was Yes and Agnes had to sit there a little dumbstruck. She was not questioning her about her powers, or what she could do, and she seemed completely fine that Agnes was a mutant as well. She had to admit that that was a first. Normally whenever she ran into other mutants, telling each other their powers was almost like trading names these days! But, maybe it was a good thing. If she did not have to get into it, then it only meant that they had a better chance of staying friends. After all, it is not like her powers would be considered the most popular. She had bugs living inside her for god’s sake! That really was not the most appeasing of mutant powers.

As a matter of fact, most people tended to shun her before of it. The only reason she made any friends lately was because she either kept her powers quiet or they happened to be incredibly understanding. But when it came to Rhythm, she really did not want to push her luck…

…for what reason, she couldn’t place her finger on though. After all, Rhythm was a nice enough girl and she was kind enough to give her a ride home, but…would Agnes really ever see her again? Deep down, she wanted to. She really did, and for reasons should could not yet fully comprehend. But…what was the feasibility of it? Rhythm seemed as if she came from a completely different world than Agnes. She was strong, beautiful, talented…many of things that Agnes envied. Could they be friends? More than that?

But that was crazy talk. Such a fantasy would never happen…right?

That was why the young mutant slowly began to make the motions to leave. She had thanked Rhythm for the ride home and tried to bury whatever strange sensations she had been having all night. She was going to just forget them…or at least try to. After all, she was a complete novice to these types of things. She could have completely made a mistake…

…or not.

Before she knew it, Agnes felt as if she had taken part in a role from some children’s story. Rhythm had turned and, like a knight in shining armor had swept the young runaway off her feet. She felt herself moved, as if she weighed nothing, even closer, dangerously closer, to Rhythm. Their bodies close, grazing, bouncing the heat back and forth off of each other. Agnes found herself on the cusp of bliss and panic as she suddenly found herself staring into the stormy grey eyes of the musicians. Her brain was in a complete overload of sensation, beyond reason and logic. There was absolutely no way she could even comprehend was what could happen next.

Then their lips met.

Fireworks exploded at the base of Agnes’ skull and continued to set off throughout her entire body. It was as if every last nerve ending that spread out through her frame was ignited and there was little Agnes could do to stop it, much less did she want to. The mixture of the warm air they shared, the feeling of young musician and she ensnared her within her arms and Agnes felt both trapped…and yet completely at ease. As if by instinct, her lips pressed to Rhythm’s, her hands glided against her clothing, it was almost easy as breathing. Like Agnes knew how to do this the whole time, but had never been given the actual opportunity to try until now. Either way…she could not conceive of herself stopping.

Her hands gripping Rhythm’s hips, Agnes felt small and tenderly loved, but she did not feel at all weak. Instead for once in her life she felt truly beautiful and truly wanted. It was that feeling that fueled the fervor of kisses, that caused every inch of her skin to light up as if through electrocution. It was pure bliss.

The second they caught their breath though and Rhythm had placed her lips against Agnes’ neck, the runaway gasped as she clung onto her like a fearful child. She held tight, letting only the tiniest of squeaks escape her lips as she felt the heat from Rhythm as she nuzzled her closely.

>> “Y-your place?...please?”

Agnes was at a loss for words. Instantly, as inappropriate as it was, images of her parents and their lectures about the ‘sins of the flesh’ invaded her mind. She was bombarded with screams and lectures about giving herself over to the sinners and their needs. But Agnes could not dwell on it for long. Her body would not let her. Instead she held tight to Rhythm, her lips finding a small inch on her neck to tickle and graze. The only thing stopping her from saying, no, screaming “yes”, was the fact that she had a roommate. Would Gina be there? Would she be out? Maybe they could go to Rhythm’s instead –

But it was then that things took a horrible turn. Before she knew it, she felt one of Rhythm’s hands, she sneaky fingers slip into her own shirt and rub against her quivering, fearful stomach. And right there all the logic and reason she had tossed out for passion, returned in a flood. It was too late for her stop it, but she felt Rhythm’s hand touch one scar after another and finally the large, ugly brand that her parents had burned into the skin of her stomach so many months ago. The fiery brand of a crucifix that had been their attempt to exorcise her, their mark on her that would forever show that she was not and could never be pure or human. She was a monster.

The runaway practically jumped as she unwound herself from Rhythm’s arms and pulled herself back. Instantly she was far enough away to hug her knees to her chest as she sat there, shaking, remembering that night so long ago all over again. Her once passion filled eyes immediately welled up with tears as she sat on the bike, staring at the empty space between Rhythm and herself. Though it was only inches, for Agnes it felt like an impassable chasm. She was not beautiful, she never could be. Her parents made sure of that.

Meekly she licked her lips as she sniffled and began to remove herself from the motorcycle. “I-I’m…I’m…sorry…I…can’t. I just…I…” she was finding it harder to breathe now as panic, fear and loathing set in. She was lost…and she did not know how to rescue herself this time.

>>“I-I’m…I’m…sorry…I…can’t. I just…I…”

Ashley was stunned, unable to speak as Agnes pulled away and eventually got off the motorcycle. She wanted to reach out, wanted to touch Agnes again but somehow found herself unable to. In fact, Ashley found herself unable to do much of anything. Sure, she felt what she could only assume were scars, something she wanted to explore a bit more because...well, scars were hot. Bentley didn't have any that she knew of, but Agnes...

“Agnes...” Ashley breathed, her deeper voice sounding husky with desire as she too got off the motorcycle and finally took a step forward, wanting to do something to help the situation. “Please...talk? To me?”

Ashley took a moment to brush her windswept hair behind her ears, as a few strands had gotten away from her ponytail prison as they had rode to The Mansion. She just didn't know what to do with herself, wanting more then anything to get back in their passionate embrace, back to how they were before...before what though? Ashley struggled to figure out what she did wrong but came up empty. For the moment she didn't care. She just wanted to convince Agnes that it was okay...

“Ummm...” Ashley hummed, looking at a loss for wards as she opened her mouth to say something, then closed it before slumping, her shoulder sagging a bit as her body, so full of adrenaline and desire, seemed to burn out for the moment. “Just...stay? With me? We can...ride? Around?”

It was a lame suggestion, but Ashley knew they could ride along the city, take in a few site and calm down from their newly discovered feelings. Ashley also battled against her raging hormones as well, knowing somehow she'd have to explain this to Bentley and hope the little ballerina didn't kick her out or, worse yet, break up with her. Ashley knew Bentley was good for her, but she couldn't deny what she felt at the moment. She couldn't help but want to hold this little mutant in her arms. It only felt natural...

“Agnes...” Ashley repeated, her husky voice sounding desperate. “Please...”

Agnes felt hot. But it was not the same hot from earlier. Earlier her body was warmed in a soothing, passionate manner. All she wanted was Rhythm and to keep pressing her lips against hers over and over again, to feel her hands on her body and to press herself as tight as she could against her. Her body had screamed for it, ached everywhere to have Rhythm’s embrace. That was a heat that Agnes had never felt before but it had nearly devoured the entirety of her reason and logic, and she nearly let it. But…that all changed the second she felt the musician’s fingers graze her scars, and the realities of her world, of her past crashed down around her.

Her lips still felt tingly from Rhythm’s kisses, but it was quickly fading and any need to have Rhythm’s arms around her was fading as well. She was closing up, shrinking into herself all over again.

>> “Agnes...Please...talk? To me?”

Agnes looked up at that pleading face and the runaway could say nothing. Oh, she wanted to. She wanted to explain everything, to just bury her past and tell the beautiful mutant everything that had happened to her and just bask in the warmth of her arms. But she couldn’t. The words caught in her throat and Agnes shook her head. The first of many tears, then, began to roll down her cheeks as she found herself completely lost and unable to figure out what to do next. It had been a long time since she felt this helpless, this in need of someone other than herself to get through the day.

She couldn’t allow herself to do this again. The last time she did was with her parents. She depended on them, she trusted them and they hurt her, bad. What would the result be this time? Could Rhythm not hurt her? The cynical side of Agnes said no. The woman was far too beautiful and talented to stay with Agnes for long. That was the way the world worked…right?

Silently she removed herself from the bike, not realizing that she still held the musician’s helmet in her hand.

>> “Ummm...Just...stay? With me? We can...ride? Around? Agnes...Please...”

The pleading was there. Rhythm seemed like she truly and deeply needed the runaway to be with her tonight. She sounded so desperate to not let their night end like this. For anyone else their heart would have bled at the hearing that tone in the voice. They could have thrown caution to the wind, jumped on the back of that bike and rode off into the night and to whatever passions that may follow. But…Agnes was not like anyone else and this was not like any other night. She had just made a major discovery about herself and she was still trying to process what it meant. She liked this woman, a lot. She liked her in a way that she had never liked anyone before in her life and it was a scary feeling. Maybe it would have been better for her to get on the back of Rhythm’s back again.

But she didn’t.

Her scars…her past…her revelations…it was all too distracting. She couldn’t handle anymore right now. Not like this…

Her pale cheeks stained with tears, her eyes red with her being upset and the faint sound of buzzing coming from her chest and Agnes forced herself to turn away from the beautiful, kind woman.

“I…I’m sorry…Rhythm. Please…please forgive me,” she gasped as she covered her mouth to both keep a cry and a mass of hornets from escaping her mouth.

It was painful for her to turn away, even more so to take those first shaky steps towards the mansion. Every step she wanted to turn back, to feel that warmth from the musician again. But her body was quickly filled with such cold dread that she could do only one thing, run. And ran she did, all the way towards the gates where the security guard let her through and towards the front door. All the while, as much as her body screamed for her to turn back, is forced herself to ignore it. She had to. She had to protect herself again. But still, even as she ran inside the massive building, in the back of her mind danced image of Rhythm. And it would do so the rest of the evening until she cried herself to sleep.