He agonized about sending it. And then, once he had decided to send her a message, Jude waffled over the little text heart. Would she read too much into it? Would she not read enough into it?

He sent it when he was nearly back to Future Sight. A block away counted, right?

"Got back safe. Night <3"

And once he had sent it, he couldn't stop looking at his phone. Would she send one back? Did she put in the right number? Had he waited too long? He took a seat just outside of the front door that still sported spiderweb cracks along the glass.

"Night. Thank you for the flowers "

Smily face. And a thanks for the flowers. Why hadn't he waited to buy them? Those were a poor representation of his affection! How embarrassing! Jude glanced at the door and frowned before typing with his thumbs.

"Have you seen Sebastian?"

"No. Any news about him and Maya?" Her responses were faster now. He imagined her holding her phone waiting on him to message her just like he was holding his and waiting on her.

"I saw him right before they went missing. I wasn't very nice." He had practically thrown things at him until he left.

"Should try the police." He frowned at that idea too so he changed the subject.

"Have you ever been curious... about your future?" Because if she wanted to see it, he could borrow Alister's power. He did it all the time.

"All the time. "

It was like she read his mind. He typed faster this time. "Do you want to see it?"

"Not sure. Do you?"

"I would love to see your future " Especially if he was in it.

"I don't believe fortune tellers."

"Not the same thing." Seeing the future was not at all the same as those crystal ball gazers who only told you what they guessed they saw.

"?"

"I could show you, but I don't know if you'd like it." His control wasn't good. Heck, Alister had the power for years and he was still a bit off sometimes.

"Me neither. Have you seen yours?"

"It's different everyday." The theory was that if they didn't like what they saw, then they should change their decisions for that day, thus changing the future. Then rinse, re-view and repeat. At some point, they had to actually live it.

"Then what's the point of seeing?" That... was too much to answer over texts.

"I'm looking for Sebastian and Ghost." Because, you know, Sebastian might end the world. Svetty never liked hearing that.

"Let me know if you find out something."

"Aurum still a gentleman?"

"Always."

Drat.

Jude decided he'd stayed up late enough as it was.

"I think Amy wants something from me."

That was probably an understatement. She just did not want to freak Jude out right away. Or, ever worse, make him jealous. He already thought Aurum was the worst womanizer on the planet.

"A hug?"

Then again, Jude was a guy.

"I don't think so."

"What is it?"

Sveta paused. How to put it nicely?...

"I think she thinks I should date Aurum."

Yup. Perfect.

"I'll be right over."

Fastest. Response. Ever.

"It's OK I don't need help"

"Ami just wants what is best for her brother."

Now that was surprisingly mature...

"She is tricky."

"Be strong. "

Smily face. Sveta smiled too. Be strong, huh. As if she could afford to be weak...

"I can't hit a little girl "

"I didn't say hit her!"

Jokes. Don't work that well in text.

"Just kidding."

"What are those cops teaching you?"

Now he was just making assumptions...

"How to not shoot myself by accident?"

"Can you shoot with gloves on?"

"... why couldn't I?"

"I've never shot a gun. I don't know. Seems weird."

He was right. It was weird.

"I don't like it either. But punching evil mutants make them stronger."

"Maybe you should try a crossbow. "

Now he was talking. Smart. Well. Smart-ish.

"And carry it around?"

"Good point. Shoot anybody yet?"

"No."

"Good."

Good indeed.

He had gotten pretty used to this random conversation thing. It was best to just jump right in. "Have you practiced at all?"

"Practice what?"

"Control of your power"

"I try. I kind of need another mutant for that."

And what was he, chopped liver?

"I would like to help. Pick a power, I'll see if I can get it."

"Find something that's safe, even when out of control."

"Duh. No preference?"

"Not really. All look dangerous to me."

Someday, he would help her get over that.

"Do you have time this week?"

"I have a lot of time."

Jude looked at his schedule. He didn't actually have a schedule set in stone, but he had run through several scenarios recently. This was one of them.

"Thursday night 6pm. Meet me at the park where we met last time?"

"Sure. Thank you."

Jude slid his sunglasses back up the bridge of his nose as he waited for his shift at Future Sight to end. Now, he just needed to find the perfect power...