Disposable Heroes (open)

[Tempero]

Among the many shelves containing countless books, some fictional, some not, all of them on vampires and prophecies, Danny finds his safe little heaven, one in which he has not been able to dwell for a long time, due to the claustrophobia, which Mr. Kurt and Miss Munroe have so generously helped him with. Now he is able of staying in closed spaces for quite a long time, and it helps when he is around the books which he so passionately has been reading ever since he actually could read.

He is wearing a pair of light blue three-quarter shorts, and a matching T-shirt, with nothing else, thanks to the wonderful weather outside. His white tennis shoes make slow, short steps along the soft carpet as his long fingers trace over the titles of books. He is quite intent on buying a book today, but there are so many, and it is so hard not to buy every single one of them. As his warm green eyes scan the titles for his favorite author, his mind picks up on the thoughts of another nearby.

Danny had never thought that he could have his telepathy this developed, but the training sessions with Kurt have helped him allot. Of course, he is nowhere near the level of some of the other telepaths he knows, or knows of, such as Josh, whom he has had a few run-ins with, but it still allows him to pick up on others' thoughts every now and then.

And he does not like what he is hearing. The guy in the other aisle is planning on trying to shoplift. Not the best of ideas in a bookstore filled with workers who are there to help the customers. Danny uses the opportunity as one such worker is walking next to the guy, and he himself joins him, telling him out loud, "I really wouldn't suggest you did that, friend. Shoplifting does not pay off, really. I'll buy the book for you if you want, though..." he uses the same friendly approach he has for every single living being, and flashes a smile, but the reaction he receives is not beneficial in any amount.

"What?! How did you know?! You're a bloody mutant, aren't you?! Just...get away from me!" the guy says and runs off out of the store. Still, Danny is glad he had stopped him from committing that small crime, or trying to, and that he had actually confessed to it before he ran off.

The worker approaches him. "Hey kid, are you really a mutant? How did you know if he was shoplifting or planning to?" she asks him a question, her tone quite friendly, and the question itself seeming quite innocent. Danny smiles, shrugging.

"Um..yes, I am a mutant. I just accidentally picked up on his thoughts. I have a low-grade telepathy..." he answers honestly, and the woman just nods, smiles, and walks away.

Shrugging it off, Daniel keeps on checking the books out. Just as he sees the third book of a series, the only he did not have because a friend had lost it, and just before he grabs it with his hand, he feels the presence of two people behind him. Before he can turn around and see who it is, the unmistakable, and very painfully hard, grasp of the hands of two security guards comes down on his biceps, and he is almost lifted off the ground as the two hulking men drag him towards the exit of the shop.

"Um, guys? What's going on?" he asks, still trying to maintain a relaxed air, but instead of an answer there is a sudden jerk, and he is literally thrown out of the shop, landing several feet away, his head hitting hard on a bench.

"And don't even think about coming here again, mutant scum!" one yells as they return to the insides of the shop.

Recovering slightly, his hand rubbing the back of his head, Danny hauls himself up into a sitting position. The back of his head is sending large bursts of agony, and his hand feels something slightly wet. With horror, he moves the hand front and looks at it just to find the confirmation of his worry- blood.

"Oh no..." he murmurs, dragging himself up on the bench, where he bends over, holding the back of his head, where the wound is, trying to get rid of the dizziness, aware that he might just feint any time soon. "Oh, dear, this is bad..." he says again, his voice a feint trace of any actual sound as his vision slowly blackens. He bends down further, trying to get some better level of consciousness, but he remains at the same lightheaded semi-awareness, hoping that perhaps he might either wake up, or get some help. By the fact that no one is coming to his aid, he concludes, with the marginal understanding of the situation he still has, that everyone around him knows he is a mutant, and that there are not any people who have an affection for the homo superior present.

[Magneto]

"The Once and Future King," Erik whispered to himself as he pulled the rag tag book from the back shelf of the little book shop in the mall. He had been forced to leave his copy back in that plastic prison so many years ago when he liberated himself from the government's forced imprisonment, oh how foolish they were to think that any prison could hold him for long. The book still looked rather new and had a thin layer of dust along its top edge, something which caused Erik to make a small clicking sound with his tongue as he couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed that someone would shun such an excellent work of art, but then again, this new age of soda addicted music television watching miscreants wouldn't know how to spell 'art' much less appreciate the subject.

As he thumbed through the pages, making sure the book wasn't vandalized in some crude way, Erik couldn't help but catch the sounds of whispering and then someone screaming about mutants, the later part catching the old man's attention rather quickly. Erik's cold blue eyes looked up at the shelf in front of him and then to the sides, his peripheral vision catching sight of a young man quickly backing away from another and then bolting from the store. Without saying a word, Erik silently closed the book and held it at his side with his left hand, a smirk on his face as he turned and gave a slight sigh. The boy who had confronted the would be shoplifter had appeared to go back to his own business, unaware of the two goons heading his way.

Erik watched as the two so called security guards strong armed the lad and drug him from the store, tossing him roughly outside on the ground where the boy seemed to hit his head. Of course, Erik didn't particularly take to this sort of treatment, especially the part where the term "mutant scum" was used. It was this sort of behavior which had molded Erik into what he was and how he thought of those around him. Prejudice was Erik Lehnsherr's life and while he was in no position as a young boy to do anything about it, he was more than capable now, as the two security guards were about to learn. Taking methodical and determined steps toward the front, Erik purposely put himself in the way of the two guards, a weird sort of smile on his face. "My my, roughing up a high school boy.....I can see rent-a-security employs only the best," he said dryly as his smile quickly faded, the two security guards stopping in front of Erik, their smug faces showing just how proud they were of themselves for dealing with the so called 'mutant problem'. "Shut up old man. Why don't you head back to the old folks home and take your nap," the guard on the right said as he reached out poke Erik in the shoulder, an act which would never come fruition.

The metallic security badge on the man's shirt was violently jabbed right through the guard's chest, causing the man to halt his actions and go wide eyed as he tried to figure out what had just happened. A small amount of blood trickled out from the corner of his mouth and the man looked slowly to his partner only to see that his pal wasn't doing any better. The other man was holding his head and his eyes were rolled back, blood running from his nose. "Good day gentleman," Erik said as he pushed between the two, smiling as the sound of two bodies hitting the floor set off a scream from the clerk who immediately ran over to the two guards. A petty display and use of his ability, but one that made Erik feel better none the less, now it was time to find the young man who had just been so roughly vacated from the premises.

As he stepped outside the shop, Erik glanced around, book still in his left hand. He remained casual as a group of guards rushed toward the shop, no doubt called by the clerk when she discovered that her goons were dead. Erik of course, wasn't interested in such matters, no he was more interested in the young boy who was slumped over on the bench across from him, holding his head and bleeding slightly.

"Need some help my boy?," Erik asked as he gently laid his right hand on Danny's shoulder, trying not to startle the lad because from the way he looked, he was having enough trouble as it was.

[Tempero]

Every now and then, he moves his hand down to look if more blood accumulated, and every time he is not disappointed, despite the fact that he might just like being disappointed this one time.

The wound is more than visible as the red blood heavily contrasts the snow-white hair, but still not a single person comes to his aid. Why is it so bad being a mutant? What have I ever done to them? I even stopped a shoplifter! his thoughts eventually drift to these questions, his eyes wide open, even though the dark stains he sees do not assure him of this fact all that well.

"I merely wanted to help..." he says out loud, not aware of the presence of the other. He does not notice the commotion which suddenly occurs in the book shop, the buzzing in his ears dulling most other sounds. If only mister Logan was here...I could borrow his mutation...and then my head would heal... he thinks, remembering witnessing the man's healing factor on a few of his special training sessions with the other teams, a part of which he has been training to become for a while now.

As a hand lands on his shoulder, he twitches a bit, as if to avoid the touch, afraid that it is those guards again, coming back to cause him more pains. Only as he hears the question does Danny realize that this is actually someone willing to help. He lifts his now ash-white face to look at the older man with his warm, green eyes, and he manages a small smile, despite his situation. "Um...thank you sir...I think I need to see a doctor...but I do not know anyone near enough for me to walk there..." he says as his smile turns into one of gratitude.

And, even though he is still dizzy and feeling weak, he stands up to face the man properly, as etiquette requires him to, surprised to find someone around the same height as he is, an odd occurrence at best. "Um...my name, sir, is Daniel Blackburn...but I prefer being called Danny...I have to apologize for not being so...eloquent, however..." he mutters, the same smile, though weaker now, on his face as he gives his best keep his body upright. He has always been taught to treat everyone with the utmost respect, and always approaches every single person as a potential friend. He is not about to stop being courteous simply because his head is bleeding.

[sapphire]

Reading a good book was something that always soothed Samantha in hard times. And these were hard times. Ever since that phone call in the gallery, she has been watching her every step, every breathe so as not to purr, and completely paranoid of her surroundings. But this day, she was to go and get herself a novel, a romance novel, to take her fears and frustrations and put them in a box while her inner child and fantasies replaced them.

She was taking her lunch break and decided to head to the mall instead of a fast food joint for something to eat. Sam really didn't have her appetite as of late, so why not indulge herself into somethng a bit more intriguing.

Her low black heels clicked along the cement floor as she made her way through the mall court heading towards the book store. Today, she decided on a decorative scarf to compliment her grey and pink suit. Nothing flashy, just a bit of class added to make herself feel better. She saved for a couple of months to purchase a nice somewhat expensive one. She had purchased that scarf here at this mall and that day was another pick-me-up day after a long hard days work. Samantha continued to struggle financially, but managed to place a small amount of money away from each pay, to treat herself to things that would keep her sanity, even if it meant to miss a couple of meals. Her wardrobe alone took most of her money, but she had accumulated enough to subside the needs of the business community for a while.

She was thinking about the type of novel she would purchase when a flash of something body like was thrown out of the store. Quickly she looked to see a man on the ground near a bench. Oh dear god, I hope he didn't...... But he did. His hand went to his head and she was close enough to see red. Instinct told her to go over and help. Something inside told her he didn't get thrown out because of looks. He was probably a mutant. Another man approached him and lended him a hand. He was quite older than the injured male and his appearance was that of pure confidence, elegance.

They seemed to be speaking, but the younger man just didn't look right on his feet. She glanced back up at his head and saw more blood slowly oozing out. I need to help him. He doesn't look good.

With a much quicker step, Sam approached the two with an assured expression.

"Excuse me sir", she began and looked to the older man. "Pardon me, but is he alright?" She looked back to him and it looked worse up close. Without even thinking about it, she took untied the scarf that took her a couple of months to save up for and pulled if off her neck. She then placed it on the back of his head gently but firmly to stop the bleeding.

"You need to see a doctor."

[Magneto]

To be honest, Erik was a bit taken back when Daniel stood up and properly introduced himself, his speech showing an educated background and manners which were taught, not the usual ones learned over the years. This young man had lead something of a privileged life Erik would have bet and while that might intimidate or anger a few who had suffered the things Erik had, it really didn't Erik. In today's time, young people with such manners (or manners at all for that matter) was a rare find indeed, something of a holy grail if you will.

Daniel's head wound didn't appear to be that bad physically, but Erik knew that looks could be deceiving. Just because Daniel looked fine from the outside (aside from the massive bleeding due to the cut in his scalp), there might be a small chance of some sort of damage to the brain, a concussion more than likely. "Well, I don't think that it looks too bad," Erik said as he tilted the boy's head around, getting a better look. Erik might not have been a certified medical doctor, but he was one of the worlds top researchers in genetics and as such he had quite the knowledge of anatomy. Back when he was Charles Xavier's partner, Erik had taught most of the science classes at the Institute and worked along side of many world researches, delving into the workings of mutant genetics.

Before Erik could really say or do anything else, he found his chance meeting with Daniel cut short by a rather impulsive and worried young woman. Erik stepped back as Samantha pushed her way between he and Daniel, fussing over him like some mother hen. As Samantha applied her rather expensive looking scarf to Daniel's head in some sort of hopeful attempt to lessen the blood loss, which wasn't as bad as it looked currently. "And will you be the one who takes him?," Erik asked, a bit skeptical of Samantha's arrival, I mean, mutant had just been screamed out and Daniel roughed up, now there was a so called sympathizer to "help" him out....yeah right, "or will you just haul him off so some more of those goons that patrol this capitalist wasteland can have some 'fun' with him?," he asked, putting his hands behind his back and arching one eyebrow questioningly.

[sapphire]

"And will you be the one who takes him?,"

The man whom she had suspected to be a decent senior citizen was turning out to be an old fuddy duddy. He simply began to judge her before he even knew who or what she was. Did he know she was a mutant? Sam had become so paranoid since that phone call, that she didn't know who to trust as a human or she could deem as a fellow mutant. He seemed dignified and extremely sure of himself. He couldn't possibly be a mutant.

She turned back to him and answered with pure honesty, since she didn't have any way of taking him herself.

"I would take him if I had a car, but I don't drive", she explained. But as ignorance would go, this man began to spew at her like some Hitler wannabe.

"or will you just haul him off so some more of those goons that patrol this capitalist wasteland can have some 'fun' with him?,"

She didn't give him a second glance for she didn't have time to listen to a priest who thought he knew everything about her. Humans weren't exactly on her love list, but she still had a heart. She had to prove that humans could be good, or at least she was trying to prove that to herself. She looked back at the injured man and spoke softly to him with complete disregard of the man behind her.

"Are you alright? You reminded me of someone", she began then traced her finger along his hair giving him a wide grin, "except for the hair." Looking up and around, Sam saw something that would possibly aide him in feeling better. "Let me at least go over to the vending machine and get you a bottled water."

Before he could answer her, Sam's legs began to stride elegantly across the mall floor in front of the now rude old man and to the vending machine across the way.

[Tempero]

His thoughts clear up a bit, and he smiles a bit wider, his eyes lighting up with a familiar friendly warmth. Just as he is about to say something, a woman comes over and wraps her scarf, and expensive one, as Danny is quite well versed in the many styles and brands of clothing, around his head.

"Um...miss? You just possibly ruined your scarf...you did not need to do that...I will wash it for you, I promise." and before he could say anything else, the two people who both seem to want to help him enter a conversation, a brief one at that, and the woman strides over to get water.

Meanwhile, he looks at the man again, now more secure on his feet. I feel slightly better now. I think it was merely the shock that had made me so weak. Thank you, though, for caring, sir. It means a lot in these times." he says to the old man, deciding that he might as well try to strike a conversation. His eyes then spot the book in the man's arms, and he can not help but smile. It is the same book his uncle had gotten him interested in reading at all, even though at the time he was not able to understand it completely.

"The Once And Future King by Terence Hanbury White." he states with a smile, "During the time I was...recovering...my uncle gave me that same book to read." he says, deciding that it is better not to reveal quite so much information. I might as well be prancing around with a board saying "look at me, I am claustrophobic, afraid of being alone because I was shoved in a locker for being a mutant, while my mutation is absolutely useless if there are no mutants around me".

[Magneto]

Erik had a way of getting to people and pushing their buttons, call it a gift or a curse, it all just depended on the situation and time. His distrust for the homo sapiens had made him a rather bitter and untrusting person, a major fault which had hurt him more times than he could remember. The woman who had just strode off to get Daniel something for his head, was obviously offended and to be honest, Erik couldn't blame her for that. He had jumped to a conclusion hastily, something which he had scolded his followers of doing before and now here he was doing the same thing....perhaps an apology was in order.....maybe?

Daniel's observation of the book which Erik had just 'acquired' brought the old man's attention back to where it was needed at the moment. Such literature was heavy reading and to see someone so young so aware of a masterpiece as this was reassuring in a way. Erik couldn't hep but smile again, as if he was showing his approval of Daniel, "Not only polite, but educated it seems as well," Erik said as the gears in his mind began to turn. What Daniel had said about 'recovering' made Erik all the more curious and giving Samantha a quick glance to make sure she was out of hearing range (or he at least hoped she was), Erik pushed further. "And if you don't mind, just what were you recovering from my boy?," he asked trying to pry into the young boy's past, "Perhaps another incident involving your evolution," he added, making sure to refer to Daniel's mutation as an evolution instead of something negative, because to Erik, these abilities were a blessing, not a curse.

[Tempero]

Danny looks away for a few moments at the other's comment. He never was capable of blushing, but it does not mean that he does not feel the same when given compliments. In fact, it makes him feel almost uncomfortable. And the man seems to approve of Danny's education, as he referred to it, and that somehow lights a spark of pride in the boy.

"Well, I read the book...about half-way through my fourteenth year of life...and then I read it again recently, since I was not able to follow much of it the first time..." he tries to explain, perhaps in a subconscious attempt to diminish his intellect, or at least something to that extent.

He stops for a few moments, perhaps even as much as a half minute, wondering whether he should answer the man's question or not. You got yourself into this, you might as well not fight... he thinks, as if it is a sentence that he is doomed to serve.

"My evolution? I would not call it that. But yes, it was...it was just a trauma I had lived through which made me have a couple of...problems, so to speak." he settles for a relatively unrevealing answer, but somehow can not help but think that the man will eventually pierce through all of the protection he is trying to build up hastily. Suddenly, he want the woman to come back.

[sapphire]

When she reached the vending machine, Sam was so inclined to kick it and get the anger out that was building in her blood. She took in a few deep breathes and even let out a couple of purrs. They were low enough to hopefully not be heard since no one was around her.

"How rude of that senial old man. To think I was there to hurt the boy after practically placing my life savings around that young man's neck. Boy, I should place it tightly around his neck", she whispered to herself.

Once she retrieved the small bottled water for $1.25, I could have went to the bathroom and filled up a cup, Sam began to walk back and noticed the old fart was talking intently to the young male. She could be quiet if she wanted to and her shoes became silent and her feline senses alert while she slowly strode back. However, she only picked up one sentence, that made very little sense.

"Perhaps another incident involving your evolution,"

Evolution? What in world?, she thought as she now rounded on the other side of the two men not abruptly coming between them this time. Opening the water, she handed the plastic to the young man.

"My evolution? I would not call it that. But yes, it was...it was just a trauma I had lived through which made me have a couple of...problems, so to speak."

What's with this evolution? Don't tell me they're BOTH.... she thought a bit fearfully but quickly put it off as paranoia again.

"Here, this might help a bit", she said with again another warm smile. She didn't even bother to recognize the old man now.

[Magneto]

Daniel did his best to downplay himself and Erik appreciated the humility, even if at times the old man himself was lax in showing such things. Erik was a proud man at times and sometimes couldn't help but showing off his accomplishments, but he did well enough in covering himself up from time to time, after all, pride was the first step in a long hard fall, something Erik had learned the hard way.

The way Daniel refereed to his mutation as 'trauma' agitated Erik, the trappings of the homo sapien world showing through in the boy's nervousness now. The tailless monkeys had brainwashed so many young mutants into thinking they were nothing but freaks and that was just one of the many reasons why Erik hated them so much (kind of funny considering Erik Lehnsherr was just as much a bigot as those who hated him). "Do not ever refer to your ability as trauma my boy...," he said cutting in now as Samantha returned, handing Daniel the bottle of water, the agitation in is voice slightly apparent. Erik of course, would have said more, but Samantha's presence was still unsure of. Erik had no idea of where the woman stood, whether she was mutant, homo sapien, or just some sympathizer.

"Not many are so quick to run to a mutant's aide young miss," Erik boldly said, directing his attention to Samantha finally. The question of who and what she was, wasn't going to answer itself and if Erik wanted to know, well, there was only one way to find out. "Too bad there isn't more like you..," he added, drifting off purposely.

[Tempero]

>"Do not ever refer to your ability as trauma my boy..."

Danny looks at the man curiously, and chuckles a bit. "Why not? The only thing it has caused me so far is harm in one way or another. Not to mention that it is absolutely useless most of the time. And I cannot even protect myself, aside from what I can physically do." he says, shrugging lightly. The form of his body, and his height, however, guarantee that his physical abilities are not little. Still, it only helps when fighting humans.

He accepts the cool water bottle with a thankful smile. "Thank you, miss, you are most kind." he says, opening the bottle, taking a few sips, and then closing it again. His hand reaches into his pocket, and he pulls out a handkerchief, which he then soaks and puts on the wound in the back of his head. Of course, even though perhaps sitting, or actually starting towards a doctor's office is most likely a very good idea, Danny does neither, reluctant to just leave the two, burden them with his problems, or even show disrespect by sitting down.

He looks at the old man, deciding to explain a bit more. "The first time my mutation appeared was...well, I will just say that the experience I had as a direct result of this has caused a few serious problems for me." he says, still smiling, as if he was telling a great joke.

[sapphire]

It was enough that this man treated her like some child being disciplined for pushing the school bully, but now he just snatches the water away from her and hands it to the boy himself. That's his way of apologizing? Psssh, I hardly think so.

"Why not? The only thing it has caused me so far is harm in one way or another. Not to mention that it is absolutely useless most of the time. And I cannot even protect myself, aside from what I can physically do."

Boy do I know about that. Wait! He's a.....

"Thank you, miss, you are most kind."

"You're most welcome. Like I said before you reminded me of.....", she start but guess who budded in again.

"Not many are so quick to run to a mutant's aide young miss,"

He was right and now she was in a pickle. She knew he was a mutant, just by the expression of people's faces and his own. She had been in his situation countless times in schools, buildings, libraries, and other public places. Now she needed to try and prove that some humans are good, if only for Jacob's memory.

"Not EVERY human is bad you know. There are those very select few, although I've never seen any besides Jacob, that actually don't care about a minor difference in a gene."

She looked back to the patient with a concerning glance as he seemingly wasn't going to listen and retrieve to a medical facility. Maybe he had no where to go where mutants could be treated. All she knew was, Sam was becoming dangerously close to revealing herself. All she had to do was slip up her speech or actions just once......

"The first time my mutation appeared was...well, I will just say that the experience I had as a direct result of this has caused a few serious problems for me."

"I can completely relate to that", she started then realized where this was going. She had to convert herself the other way or else her life would be over. "Humans should be more respectful to those who cannot control their mutation or didn't ask for them in the first place." Her voice was a bit angry on the last part, however, she didn't want to be a human either.

"Too bad there isn't more like you..,"

"You mean finally a compliment? I was sure you'd find a way for me to have been the one who threw him out of the store." She had about enough of this conversation and was really beginning to feel herself shake from both fear and extreme paranoia. I've gotta get out here before they both find out.

[Magneto]

Magneto found Samantha's tone a bit irritating, but deep down he really couldn't blame her, after all, she was merely defending herself. Magneto could be a bit pushy and oppressive at times and now seemed to be just one of those times, but things had already been said and now resided in the past and unless Magneto suddenly developed time traveling powers, there was nothing he could do about any of it now.

Samantha's defense of the homo sapiens earned a smirk of sorts and Magneto sighed, looking off back toward the bookstore and the commotion still going on there. The crowd was growing a paramedics had arrived in untimely fashion, although there was nothing they could do for the guards Erik had so easily dismissed. "If I've upset you young miss, then I apologize. Defending my own kind doesn't really afford me the luxury of interviewing every single person who comes running along, so determining friend from foe tends to get a bit confusing sometimes," he said slowly, still watching the crowd down at the bookstore. A furrow of his brow showed that something bad was about to happen and the approaching police officers was the second clue. "We might want to move our young friend to a more...'secluded' place to rest," he said quickly looking back to Samantha as she tended to the young Daniel. "The local homo sapien patrol don't take too kindly to mutants I'm afraid," he said as he looked away, his cold blue eyes scanning the area looking for an escape route, "Trust me...I know.."

"Hey! You three!," one of the approaching police officers shouted as both of them automatically put their hands on their firearms holstered at their sides. The two officers stepped up their pace and quickly began to close the short gap between them and our three mutant outcasts. Of course, the two officers posed no threat to Magneto, after all, there was enough metal in the mall to fend off the United States Army. A large creaking and popping was heard overhead and then a good portion of the open rafter roof came crashing down. A mixture of plaster and metal with some insulation crashed to the floor, sending the two officers and everyone else in the vicinity diving for cover. Erik smiled and looked back over his shoulder at his little distraction, "I think now would be the time for us to leave," he said offering Samantha a suggesting look.

[sapphire]

The man's tone changed and she was relieved to know he wasn't about to keep carrying on about supremacy. She just hated to hear about human or mutant wise. All her life, she was told how the human race would always be the dominant species and her kind would be the outcast. She was the freak who couldn't control her powers as a child, the pussy freak. What an appropriate name.

"If I've upset you young miss, then I apologize. Defending my own kind doesn't really afford me the luxury of interviewing every single person who comes running along, so determining friend from foe tends to get a bit confusing sometimes,"

She looked back up to him to see his attention go to the book store. "Yes, well I'm sorry for my abruptness as well. I'm glad there are those who also protect their own kind instead of run." She knew she was speaking of herself, and it stung, stung really bad. No more running. You will fight damn it! Fight for once in your pathetic life.

"We might want to move our young friend to a more...'secluded' place to rest,"

She was nearly finished with tying her scarf carefully around his head. The old man said a few more words that she took in as experience and heeded them well. Then, there was yelling. Boy, hadn't she heard this before. Looking up, the rent-a-cops were on their way over trying to look all hoity toity in their uniforms and guns. "Oh please, rent-a-cops? With guns? They probably can't hit an elephant if it was sitting on them." She mumbled loud enough for the mutants around her to hear, but then a rumble started shaking the ground beneath her ever so slightly and bits of plaster dust came on her shirt. Looking up, she saw a beam come crashing down out of their harms way, but she ducked anyways. She had no idea who performed this or if the building needed a new contractor.

His words told her he did it as he helped her up while she held on to the boy under his arms. He seemed to have regained some strength or she just had enough adrenaline in her to pick him up. She followed his lead as he led her out and would go where he would take her, for now.