She sat at the edge of the river, head weighed with sorrow. She couldn't ever get anything right, could she? Her copper hair hung limply around her face and shoulders, and her blue green eyes were shut tight for fear that tears might escape if they were open. She should know that it wasn't really her fault, but she was to deep in guilt for that thought to penatrate even the surface of her mind. A blonde boy ran up to her, looking concered.
"Lynn? Ly, are you ok?" He asked quietly, sitting beside her. When Lynn didn't answer, her gathered her into his arms, pulling her close. He knew all to well what she was feeling, and knew only time could truly heal it, but he could help.
"I'm... I'm sorry Charles, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen, not the fight, not the yelling, not the creatures escaping, it- it- it all just *happened*! I didn't ask for these powers, or these responsibilities, none of it!" Charles gently rubbed her back, smiling sadly.
"I know you didn't, but it doesn't change the fact you have them. You need to grow with it, you can't fight it. You are Lynn Valspar, the miracle girl who can do crazy mind tricks, and make me think I'm going crazy! You just need to learn your powers, and then you'll fit right in. C'mon, let's start now." Charles stood up, his bright blue eyes inviting as he held his hand out to her. Lynn took a deep breath before taking his hand and pulling herself to her feet. He wrapped his arm around her and began to walk back to the safehouse.
When they got there, it was less chaos than before. The magical creatures were all back in their cages, and the mini-war over wether or not Lynn should go had died down. The leader of their little group had disappeared, easing the tension a little bit. Most people ignored Lynn and Charles, doing their own things, but there was the occasional person who glared at her- mainly the people who wanted her gone, calling her 'crazy, dangerous, and unpredicable', and saying she had to go. Lynn cringed a bit, huddling up against Charles, and he kept his arm protectivley around her.
The group was an underground operation, housing people who had unexplained powers. They were the youngest and newest members at age fifteen and been found a mere few weeks ago. They had met up on the streets, with Lynn trying to trick Charles into giving her something, having both been kicked out of their homes. Unfortunatly for her, his power was to dilute others powers, so she couldn't use any mind tricks on him. They soon began to roam the streets together, until they were found by a member of the Black Cat, and were brought in.
Charles led Lynn to the bunks and sat down with her. Lynn gave him a small smile, silently thanking him. Charles nodded, understanding, and rested his chin on the top of her head. A sudden cleared throat made them jerk apart as if they had been doing something wrong, and Charles rubbed his chin with a grimace as Lynn's head connected with it. Their sector leader stood in front of them with a scowl.
"I don't remember giving you two permission to wander about while the rest of us work to clean up *your* mess," she said sharply, glaring at Lynn. She was obviously one of the ones who wanted her gone.
"You need to give Ly a chance to cool off, Maxie," Charles said, standing up. "The boss man already said she needs time to decompress. She was scared, and I wasn't there to block her powers."
Maxine, who went by Maxie to those who liked to bug her, glared at Charles. "She got scared by sitting in the assembely room. They were clapping, and suddenly people were running aroun the room doing things that she told them to do." Lynn flinched, then stood up, finally feeling stupid or brave enough to face the lady.
"I-I didn't mean to do any of it. You know I can't handle big crowds, yet you assigned me to a seat in the center of the outgoing people, away from Charles. You set me up, and it-it's not going to work." Lynn narrowed her eyes, and Charles smiled approvingly. Maxine began to say something, but her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. Soon she turned and stomped of with a furious glare on her face. Lynn squealed in delight, throwing her arms around Charles.
"I did it! I actually managed to say something to her that wasn't completley out of fear!" Charles laughed, sliding his arms around her.
"Yeah, you did Ly. I'm really proud of you!" Still laughing, he moved over to the bunk and sat down with her, arms still around each other.