Though there were plenty of cruel people in the city, Chase had found his own, fair share of kind souls, too. People like Aedus, who not only wanted to feed him, but were offering their small, cozy apartments up for Chase to crash in. Chase dropped his gaze shyly, but bobbed his head. He had enough of a complex about people buying him things. To live with someone was a whole other level of imposing upon others.

I don't know," Chase mumbled, quickly replacing the first reply with a, "I mean, thank you. That's probably the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me." This was probably true. Chase didn't make things like this up.

He bit back the rising urge to decline the offer outright. Aedus was just being nice, for which Chase was appreciative, but... why were these strangers so nice to him, anyways, when his own flesh and blood had been so awful? It didn't compute.

Agnes came up and dropped a hand on Chase's shoulder, to which Chase lifted his head from his fog of thoughts.

>> "Sounds like a good idea to me, Chase. You know, I get it. I was in your predicament. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

Was it that obvious? Yes, if his flushed face were anything to go by.

"You were?" Chase wanted to hear more, but he was also hungry. Just the thought of food made his stomach gurgle, "Will you come with--?" Chase meant for food, but his elders could interpret his request freely. He turned towards Aedus, oldest of the three and thereby in-
charge for now, "Can she?"

Aedus looked to the Boy and listened to his she attempt at accepting. He then thought about everything a kid should learn, not to talk to strangers, don’t take candy, don’t trust, don’t trust, don’t trust. He was smart enough not to just jump on it that was a good thing. He saw the doubt in his eyes.

He looked to the young woman and felt sympathy for her as well, she felt genuine sympathy because she’d been there, why was the world like this?
He then looked to the kid and his request; he had a feeling that the young woman had a place to stay as she used a past tense in that she was in his predicament.

His eyes met hers and a spark of mischief shown. “You know what after today and what I have seen of both of you, My door is open to both of you. Always.” He nodded simply deciding it. His apartment was lonely.

“I have a couple of extra keys. If you do need a place to stay I won’t say no.” He told Agnes boldly, he then looked at the boy again.

“And if you are being cautious, well I won’t make you stay, I can’t make you stay. But I will give you a key and make sure you know where I live, if you are ever hungry or you decide you would like to stay, then just unlock the door and make yourself at home. Now then what do you guys feel like having for lunch?” He waved down a cab as he awaited their answers.

>> "You were? Will you come with--?"[/color]

Agnes nodded and smiled sympathetically. She was glad that he trusted her word right off. To be honest she really did not want to have to dwell on what had happened between her and her parents. She hoped that the look in her eyes was enough to show Chase that she knew exactly where he was coming from. To live a life like that was difficult, especially when one was by themselves. She knew of the hardships, the loneliness it caused. Part of her wished that she could go back in time and prevent such an atrocity from happening to Chase in the first place.

No one that young should have to go through that.

In answer to his second question though, the crystal-blue eyed teen beamed happily and nodded her head. Of course she would go with him. Not that she did not trust Aedus, but it was true, they just barely met this man today and Agnes would have hated to have completely left Chase to the man’s care.. He really did seem to have good intentions though and she hoped that there was honesty in that man’s eyes, not deception.

>> "Can she?"[/color]

>> “You know what after today and what I have seen of both of you, My door is open to both of you. Always.”

She smiled gratefully at Aedus. He really was racking up the points. But again, Agnes just mentally crossed her fingers that she was not banking on something that simply was not true.

>> “I have a couple of extra keys. If you do need a place to stay I won’t say no.”[/color]

“Um…thanks…” she uttered in partial surprise…

That…was directed at her…and very bluntly! Agnes for a second paused and blushed. She glanced down to the ground before she looked up once again to see that he had turned his attention onto Chase again. More than likely the man probably assumed she was in the same predicament as Chase. After all, she had just admitted that in front of him so she did not blame him. But that would be her stance. The man was not coming on her, he was simply offering her help.

God…she hoped that’s all it was.

>> “And if you are being cautious, well I won’t make you stay, I can’t make you stay. But I will give you a key and make sure you know where I live, if you are ever hungry or you decide you would like to stay, then just unlock the door and make yourself at home. Now then what do you guys feel like having for lunch?”[/color]

She nodded and agreed with Aedus. Neither of them could make Chase do anything, and the sooner the boy knew that, the sooner she was sure he would feel better about it. Then the thought of lunch popped up and Agnes grinned. Food was always the great equalizer.

“Seeing as Chase here has had the difficulty today,” she smiled warmly. “I suggest he choose.” It was best for Chase to choose. If he were really living off the streets then she knew that there was something in his head, something that made his stomach turn in hungry every time he so much as thought about it. Well, he was in luck because it was on them.

Once Chase had chosen, she watched and waited for Aedus to flag a cab before she turned her attention back onto the boy.

“You know, Chase, I lived on the streets for nearly a year. All by myself in the alleys, so I do get where you’re coming from. But…I found a place. And I’d love to show it to you when you’re ready. It’s a school, a great big school but,” she grinned as there became a little twinkle in her eye. “It’s specifically for people like you and me. They won’t judge you there and, besides, I live there and you’ll always have a friend with me.”

Even with Chase's noncommital answer, Aedus kept his word. He even mentioned some extra keys, though to Agnes, rather than Chase. Once again, connotations went right over his head-- he thought Aedus was perhaps making a stab at Chase's ability to keep track of keys, as if he were too young to be responsible for such a thing. But then, before Chase could indignantly leap to any conclusions, Aedus turned his attention back to Chase. He couldn't and wouldn't make him come with, but he'd give him a key. His door was always open, and he could always come by if he were hungry.

And, as if Aedus had just offered him something as insignificant as loaning him a pencial, the bike messenger turned his attention to lunch, inquiring as to what they might like to eat. Chase was too busy staring at Aedus in silent wonderment to answer. This guy... was perhaps the most aweome guy that he'd ever met. Not only did he throw himself in front of Chase, and then fight off his attackers, but he was nice, too-- he was offering his to feed him and let the the little mutant boy live under his roof, no questions asked. Chase was stunned into a deeper silence. All he could do was stare.

No, he absolutely reffused to start crying again.

Chase was shaken out of his silence when Agnes spoke. Oh yeah, Aedus had asked about lunch, hadn't he? He took a moment to consider. No burgers or hot dogs. No pretzels. That had been the entirety of his diet for the past few months-- everything else was too difficult to grab-and-go.

"Maybe... do you guys like... Chinese food?" Chase inquired, throwing a random type of fast-food into the air. He wasn't used to having a say in things, so when he was given any form of power or decision-making position, he tended to be almost ridiculously diplomatic about it. Aedus went to hail a cab, while Chase remained beside Agnes on the sidewalk. His gaze was still trained on Aedus, though, his disbelief still not fully evaporated. Then, Agnes began talking, and he tilted his gaze towards her, instead.

"A whole year?" Chase breathed. He'd only been on the streets for... what was it, now, October?... a couple of months, then. He didn't think he would ever make it a whole year. His gaze flickered with astonishment as he looked at Agnes, and perhaps some sympathetic sorrow. As Agnes turned to a more optimistic subject, Chase continued to watched her face, but his face developed a small smile, the corners of his eyes raising. It sounded like a fairy tale. A school, full of mutant kids? A place without human bullies, without people constantly judging you? And, Agnes was there, and he'd always have a friend in her...

"That would be--" he broke off, as a cab pulled up to the curb, his face flushing for perhaps the thousandth time that afternoon. These people were so intense, and though Chase deeply appreciated it, he was cracking under the pressure of their intense offers, "That would be really cool."

“Good Call.” He nodded to Agnes’s suggestion and listened Idly as Agnes told her tale, Was that how it went for mutants? He wondered how many of the homeless were mutants and why? Surely, there were those that could use their talents for employment. Not the he could blame them for being cautious about their abilities and if this was still a valid reaction on the street, then perhaps he could understand it more. It made him want to start an agency for out of work mutants or something… He got a cab to stop for him and he loaded his bike into the trunk.

“ Chinese is good. “ He glanced around orienting himself to where he was and where the closest place was, hmmm, a buffet would be ideal, that way the kid could eat as much as he like without being shy about ordering, and so could Agnes for that matter. Adrenaline worked up an appetite and that little episode had definitely been exciting. the wild things you could get mixed up in the city.

He opened the door for the pair allowing them to get in, in the order they preferred, he heard that Agnes indeed had a place to stay, but he was curious…A school for mutants? A place that just took in teens and kids in off the street no questions asked. He was skeptical and then he had to smile at himself hadn’t he just offered the same. “ I’d like to see the school too, if that’d be alright.”

Aedus leaned forward glancing at the cab driver Id on the dash. “Will you take us to the best Chinese buffet around here James?” The cabbie nodded, his eyes flicked over them to make sure that they were settled and then dived into traffic.

>> "Maybe... do you guys like... Chinese food?"

>> “Chinese is good.”

Agnes agreed. Chinese was always a good option. It was actually was one of the hardest things to get a hold of when living on the streets. The problem is that Chinese food tends to more easily mix with everything else in the garbage and went bad far quicker than burgers, French fries, or hotdogs that one can find in the gutter. The smell of the mixing odors of discarded Chinese food was enough to keep any desperately starving person away. Those could be some of the most foul-smelling dumpsters. But that did not mean that there was no urging to have that food.

The runaway remembered clearly when she would sit huddled in alleys that she would indeed have the urge for Chinese food. Not so much for the flavor but for the simple need of variety.

“That sounds perfect,” she said with a nod. “I’d love to have some good Chinese food.”

They waited as Aedus continued to try and hail a cab. She glanced down to Chase as he made a comment about her having lived on the streets for so long. He seemed both shocked and surprised that she could have lived that long on it. Agnes actually wondered many times how she did manage to do it. After all, when one looked at her, she looked like a frail, young, pale-skinned girl who seemed like she was afraid of her own shadow.

But it was far from the truth. Agnes knew how to survive. It was a horrible experience and she really never wanted to go back to it, especially not that she found the mansion, but she could not ignore it. It was a part of who she was. Then she did explain to Chase about the mansion, the school she lived at, and he seemed to take to the idea like a duck to water…

>> "That would be--That would be really cool."[/color]

>> “ I’d like to see the school too, if that’d be alright.”[/color]

Agnes was glad that Chase was intrigued. She would not make him set a definitely date for her to take him there. That might scare him off. He needed to choose to go there on his own. Considering his skiddish nature, Agnes did not want force the idea upon him. Otherwise he would only be resentful if they place did not live up to his imagination. So this would take baby steps, but the end result was that she wanted to take him there. That was it. She was not going to let someone like himself to live on the streets any longer.

Not after her experiences.

“It is a very good school,” she said with a nod as she looked between the two of them. “Whenever you’re ready, Chase, I’d love to show you around. You can even bring Aedus’ here with us. As he said, he’d love to see it.”

A cab finally came and Agnes let Chase climb in first if he wanted to and then climbed in next. Squeezing into the back seat, she made room for Aedus as he cheerfully announced their location…

>> “Will you take us to the best Chinese buffet around here James?”[/color]

James, a portly, dark-skinned man, grumbled at the three kids. He prayed he was not picking up a charity case or something that was going to short change him his money. But he nodded and drove off into the street.

“Panda King Empire, it is,” he said and slipped back into the flow of traffic.

Agnes smirked as she smiled down at Chase. She did not know why she was so attached to this boy but she really hoped that she could help to get him out of the alleys. Maybe she just saw too much of her own past in him. All she knew, was that she really wanted to help him. Then there was Aedus. She glanced over to him and smirked gratefully. She was thankful for his help and she really did hope that his offer to the boy was genuine.

Agnes normally had a trouble with blind trust in strangers. He seemed to be proving himself to be trustworthy though. But that did not mean she would take her eye off him.

No one can be too sure, after all.

As Aedus held open the door to the cab, Chase clambered in, body groaning as he bent to fit in through the door. Chase planted himself in the middle, in-between the Aedus and Agnes. It only made sense that he sit in the center seat—he had the smallest butt, as well as the shortest legs. With another physical complaint, Chase stiffly turned to buckle himself in, all the while Aedus instructed the cab driver on where they wanted to go.

The cab driver agreed, and the taxi cab eased into motion, merging gracefully into the steady stream of traffic. Being in the taxi felt so bizarre and disconnected, like floating down the street in a bubble. Chase gazed out the front window, between the gap in the front seats, watching as the taxi cab consumed the road before it, drawing the eclectic smattering of buildings closer. A comfortable silence fell, but it wasn’t a long-lasting one—Chase had a question for Aedus that was simply dying to be asked, one that he could no longer hold back.

“So, Aedus,” Chase began, his tone soft, but not quite a whisper. Chase leaned close to Aedus, his gaze flickering uncertainly between the bike messenger and the cab driver. It was obvious that Chase was trying to be secretive, but the truth of the matter was, the whole cab could probably hear him, “Can you really boil blood?”

Typical little-boy question-- James cleared his throat, to signify that he’d heard the inquiry, and Chase flushed, quickly sitting back up. It was a question asked in innocent curiosity, but it wasn’t necessarily an appropriate question for a cab ride. Chase didn’t know that, so he blushed again, quickly glancing out the window on Agnes’s side of the taxi cab.

“I don’t think you can go wrong with a Panda, a King and an empire involved.” Aedus nodded sagely.

Aedus grinned at the good news, it was a good sign that he was invited as well; a cult or kidnapper wouldn’t let some random guy come with them to see the school would they? He doubted it, unless they were going to kidnap him to. “I appreciate that Agnes.” As if it weren’t obvious.

Aedus met the young man’s eyes looking down and to his left to ensure the young man knew he had his full attention. “Unfortunately, or fortunately for them, I can’t. I was trying to bluff them; they were all so ignorant, that I thought they’d go running for the hills. A few of them did but not nearly enough. If I could have I probably would have heated them up enough to let them know I wasn’t messing around. Luckily though cooler minds prevailed.” He winked at Agnes and pat Chase on the knee, trying to signal for him to leave it alone.

James looked relieved at the answer apparently buying it. Though Aedus did notice a little bit more urgency in his driving, as If they had just offered a better tip for speed. That was fine with him though, Chinese was sounding really good.

Agnes smirked as she listened to Aedus explain to Chase exactly what he had done back there. It was obviously that the man had been trying to bluff the mob, but then again if she had ran around announcing that she could spit out insects, would anyone really listen or even believe her? Aedus was just a nice guy trying to help out a young mutant that was nearly the victim of a lynching. He did what he had to in order to get the crowd’s attention. Thankfully she was there to back up at least some of the threats.

Sitting back in her seat, Agnes moved herself over so that both Chase and Aedus could have plenty of room. She was a very thin little creature so she did not take up that much space to begin with. But at least she did not want to be crowding up these two extremely nice people.

The conversation continued and Agnes let her mind drift as she looked out over the passing city. It was funny. Coming from a background like her’s, living in those alleys, eating that garbage, sleeping in those dark alcoves, one gets an entirely new perspective of the city. Everyone imagines that its some magical place that can make your wildest of dreams come true. But Agnes knew the truth. She knew that not everyone was able to make it.

A glance to Chase proved to her that he was probably in the same boat. And that thought made her sad. No one should so young should have to realize truths like that. Then again, it was probably those truths that kept him alive.

She sighed and mentally shook her head. She prayed she never met who put him on the streets at such a young age. She may throttle them herself.

Noticing the increased speed of the taxi, Agnes tilted her head and looked up. The driver, James, obviously seemed anxious to get them out of his cab. She silently chuckled to herself. She couldn’t blame him. But at least he was not attempting to kick them out.

She smirked as she looked out the windows to see that they were getting closer to more food-looking places. Obviously whatever this place was, James was getting them there in record time.

None too soon too. Agnes gently placed her hand on her stomach. She was starting to get hungry. Damn that mob for making her drop her ice cream. It was her best one yet…

Aedus explained that he'd lied to the mob to scare them, or that was what Chase assumed bluffing to be, and recieved a pat on the leg. Chase got the message, he didn't ask any more questions. He didn't notice when James began to drive faster, the cab reaching breakneck speeds. Chase was too busy alternating between Aedus' and Agnes' windows, to look out and see if he could find, "Panda King Empire," before anyone else could call it out. He contented to be quiet, for he hadn't any other questions, and didn't know what else to talk about.

Lo and behold, after about fifteen minutes of James's panicked driving, the cab swung over to the curb and parallel parked alongside it. Chase leaned back, looking out the rear window. Above them, loomed a large, green sign that read "Panda King Empire". they had arrived. Chase undid his seatbelt yet didn't move until his older cohorts filtered out ahead of him, or until James had been paid.

"Thank you for the ride," Chase said quietly, inching out of the cab, and onto the sidewalk. All that he recieved in return was a grumbled, "Yer welcome, enjoy the food."

Chase grabbed his backpack off of the seat, and turned to the two older kids, slinging the backpack over one shoulder.

Aedus looked at the meter and grabbed his wallet handing James the fair plus a decent tip, he felt a little bit bad due to the fact that He had heard the blood boiling thing...if only it had worked on that mob like it did on James they would have ran as fast as their idiotic legs could have carried them.

"are you guys any good with chop sticks?" The Irishman asked as he exited the cab. The Chinese buffet was pretty large and he understood why they called it empire, due to the three ridiculously large isles of food and the army of a staff the place employed to keep the food relatively fresh.

He held the entrance open for the pair and followed them in. Aedus entered the restaurant to find them greeted by a pair of young Asians one seemed to be the host and the other the waiter. " We need a table for three, three buffets with Drinks." He handed the hostess his debit card, a lot of the buffets did pay up front to ensure that no one dime and dashed. If they wanted to drink water it was up to them. The place was done up in an interesting mixture of classic Chinese decor and a trendy tech look, he imagined it is what Hong Kong would be styled in, culture meets cutting edge. regardless if that was accurate or not, it was a good look.

The waiter showed them to a table and then started setting out their silverware. "Please, enjoy our buffet." he then turned and left them to their own devices.

They arrived and Agnes had to smile a bit. They were finally here. It was not that she did not enjoy the cab right, she was just thoroughly hungry. She did not mind that she was sharing a cab with two other people that she hardly knew. All she knew was that both of them were pretty kind hearted and she was thankful that she was able to help out when she did. It was horrible what that boy had to go through, but at least she felt better knowing that she could help him. She could give him the chance that Sveta gave her so long ago.

The cab came to a stop and Agnes began to reach for her wallet. But even before she could pull it out, Aedus had already paid the man. She would make sure to have a discussion with him about that later.

When they stepped inside, nodding her head for opening the door for her, Agnes felt her stomach want to jump out of her body to claim all the food there. The scents that tantalized her nose were quiet glorious and they all only served as a reminder of how hungry she was. She remembered back when she lived in the alleys that places like this were the most teasing. They smelled so wonderful but it was nearly impossible to have.

At least she did not have to worry about that anymore…

>> "Are you guys any good with chop sticks?"

Agnes smirked and shook her head. “I’ve never really had the chance to try them. I’m a knife and fork girl, myself,” she said with the smallest of laughs.

Following as Aedus took the lead, Agnes placed her hand on Chase’s shoulder in the most comforting way that she could imagine. Being in a situation like this after coming off the streets can be confusing and a little scary the first time. Hopefully a nice pat on his shoulder would be security enough…

>> " We need a table for three, three buffets with Drinks." [/color]

Agnes nodded. In thanks as the waiter lead them to their seats.

>> "Please, enjoy our buffet."

“Thank you,” Agnes said to the nice waiter. Then turned her attention onto Aedus and smiled thankfully again. “And thank you as well. You didn’t have to pay for my meal. But thank you nonetheless.” She smirked as she turned back down to Chase. “You ready?”

>> "Are you guys any good with chop sticks?"

"Never used 'em," Chase admitted weakly, trailing behind the two older children. As they crossed the threshold into the restaurant, Chase was hit by the scent of Chinese food. Chase's stomach yowled, and he peered over the counter as Aedus made the order. He glanced around, eyes glimmering with anticipation and wonderment. I'm so hungry.

The three of them trailed behind the waiter, watching as their silverware was laid out. The waiter than wished that they would enjoy their meal, and departed. Chase set his backpack down on a chair

"Thank you," Chase chorused in. He turned to the older kids for guidance as the waiter left. What now? Agnes thanked Aedus as well, and Chase followed suit, "Thank you, Aedus."

>> "You ready?"

It was a daunting thing, the buffet. What was he supposed to eat? Anything? Everything?

Chase nodded mutedly beneath Agnes's smile, and exchanged it. He followed behind his two elders, eyes skimming the heated tables . There was so much food to choose from... he had to pace himself, so that he didn't get sick...

Aedus shrugged. “It’s my pleasure, guys. Luckily they have forks and knives too. I can do most stuff except for Rice. Rice seems like it wants to explode if I pick it up, not really explode…but it doesn’t get into my mouth either. They can be fun.” Aedus lead the group to the trays and plates, Silver ware and everything else. He picked up a fork and a pair of chopsticks.

Aedus made his way down the line until he had a plate full of food, He made sure to pick up some of the little sugar covered biscuits, they were his favorite. Later, he would pick up where he left off. He glanced at the others. He looked to Chase to see if he was having any trouble. Agnes would be able to fend for her self obviously, but if chase needed help carrying his tray, he'd be sure to help.

Agnes grinned as she picked up her plate and headed for the buffet tables. Chase seemed eager to get to the good and she was not surprised. Considering that it was fresh and that he did not have to steal or pay for it, it probably would have been the best tasting meal he’d eaten in a long time. So when they got to the tables, Agnes stayed by Chase’s side. Not to hover or anything, but simply to be there for support. She wanted to make sure that he did not feel abandoned right now. After all, the last thing she would have wanted in a situation like this was to feel as if she were being neglected.

She smiled down at him and waited for him to grab his food. Her own stomach began to pang with hungry, but she ignored it until he was done. After all, this was a sensation that Agnes had gotten used to over time of trying to figure out when she was going to eat next. But right now, she knew that the situations were different.

Whenever he decided to make his first selection, Agnes followed suit, choosing things such as the orange chicken and chop suey, and plenty of white rice. The mingling scents hung in the air and Agnes had to sigh in wonder. It all felt too wonderful to ignore. She hoped that Chase was not going to pass out due to information overload.

But she knew he was a strong kid. He would be just fine.

A glance to Aedus and she saw that he was having a grand time. He was essentially doing the same thing, just from a much safer distance. He was opting to give the boy as much space as he felt he needed but wary in case he had to jump in to help. Agnes had to applaud that about him. He really was a kind man and hoped that such a streak never disappeared.

Moving down the table, Agnes picked out a fortune cookie and smiled contentedly.