14

I was ready to explode from not breathing when we hit the surface. God, I feel stupid for doing that. But I was glad I did it; all the robots were now swerving towards the water.

Just then an explosive went off and about twelve were blown up, their truncated bodies falling towards the water.

A sharp pain in my tongue made me realize it was freezing. My teeth were chattering and I was shivering. Oh, hypothermia should put a new twist on things.

We paddled, or at least Lupe did and I tried to, to the shore.

"T-t-that w-was a d-d-dumbass-s th-thing t-t-to d-do," Lupe commented, his teeth liable to fly out of his skull from how hard they were chattering.

"B-b-b-but i-it-it w-w-work-k-ed," I said proudly. I looked up, as did Lupe, when everyone else was looking dumbfounded at the mass of robots stupidly smashed themselves into the water ten at a time, trying to follow the signal given off by the tracking bracelets.

Let's hear it for my snap-decisions!

"C-c-c-an they g-get an-ny s-stupider?" Lupe muttered, possibly trying to sound sarcastic, but it was marred by the constant clicking sounds.

I just smiled at him, but it was ruined by the- aww, forget it. "Since I-I-I-I don'-t-t-t w-want t-t-t-to d-di-di-die of-f-f hah-hah-hyp-p-po-th-thermi-a, I-I-I s-s-suges-s-st we g-g-get s-s-some w-w-here," I spit out, trying not to bite my tongue off. The mass of robots had ceased to fall and the others were now swooping down towards us.

"Did what I think just happened, just happen?" Iggy asked convolutedly. My migraine from the cold is going to get worse from that.

"If by about eighty robots jumping into a lake, then yeah," the Gasman said. They slapped high-fives. How do that without seeing?!

"Are you trying to kill yourselves!?" Max exploded at us (me) when she saw me shivering to death. Lupe's was gradually turning into shudders. Stupid macho-ness.

"N-n-no," I said, squaring my jaw. I crossed my arms over my chest and tried to not look like the shivering recombinant life form that I am.

"She's j-just a l-little upset about th-the f-f-fact th-that she sc-scared th-the LIVING 'crap' OUTTA ME!" Lupe shouted, enraged. Like I said, censoring button still functioning.

"I MEAN," Lupe continued, "I NOW HATE 'crap' SEAWEED! YOU TRIED TO 'crap' KILL YOURSELF!" he was shouting, his hands up in the air. Despite the fact I was slowly icing over, I still had enough energy to hit him for swearing. It was a nasty habit he'd picked up from Camp o' Fun.

"Will you quit 'crap' hitting me!?" he yelled and Max smacked him this time. Not that I felt offended for her doing my job for me, it's just the obvious hostility between Lupe and certain mutants made me think some things.

"No swearing," Max and I said at the same time. Then Max turned to me and pulled off her hoodie. She handed it to me.

When I started to object, she said, "We need to get you both"- she shot a look at Fang-"into the house and get you warm. Hypothermia is not fun I believe." She walked around and looked at the lake for a second then turned around and walked over to us and told us to get our butts in the air.

I was starting to like her a little.

So when we were all flying high and soaring it out, Max started talking and asking questions not unlike-

"That was a pretty good idea. The lake, I mean," she said. It sounded like it was difficult for her to compliment someone; like her natural pride wouldn't let her. I was still starting to like her, though.

"Thanks," I mumbled. My teeth had ceased chattering from sheer will-power and my clothes felt like they were blocks of unmoving ice. Fun.

"'Kay guys, we're there," Max said a moment later. I started to land and when my feet touched the ground, they immediately bent under me, so I ended up doing a face-plant in the dirt. Embarrassing.

"Smooth," Lupe commented, pulling me up. Our love was based on a very sarcastic and spiteful base. It was quite fun at times.

Now was not one of those times.

I was practically thrown into the house before I could get a piece in with Lupe and was commanded to take a hot shower. Lupe would take one in the other bathroom.

15

So that's how I ended up in this quaint little bathroom, trying not to use up all the hot water and yet, trying to get myself clean. It was a difficult task, I must say. The water supply was cut in half due to the using of the other shower so I had to cut down on my compulsive cleaning instincts. Which went against my nature that everything had to be up to par with me, so I was freaking out about three things now.

1) Why were they letting me take a shower in their house?!

2) Lupe was going to get hostile, and soon. Stupid mind-washing maneuver.

3) All the old things like, where are we going to sleep, tomorrow, just plain old life. Oh, and my stupid cheerful disposition. Genetic engineering at it's not-so finest.

So let me remind you, freaking out.

I shut the water off and climbed out, trying not slip (which was likely to happen from how tired I was). I grabbed the towel and dried myself off. Showers are sooo much fun. Sigh.

I was about to dread walking out of here in a towel, when my foot nudged a pile of cloth. I picked it up, confused.

Oh, it was clothes. Go figure, niceness was being contagious again. It was a pair of jeans (they were slightly short on me) and a T-shirt with holes for the good o' wings. So I was dressed, warm, fed, and clean. It, well, it kinda sucked for me. I just wasn't used to it.

Anyway, I walked out of the bathroom and into the hallway that led to the room where the others were waiting. I took a deep breath. Shiz.

16

So she walked out of the hallway and into the room, looking like she was being strained. Her face was red and her wings were pressed in tight against her back.

She was actually pretty, in a non-dramatic sort of way. She seemed nice and cheery. Why, I couldn't even begin to fathom.

Ask her and her brother to join the flock, the Voice intoned inside my head. It was so unexpected that I nearly shot out of my seat and through the ceiling. What!? A new- sorry- two new flock members!? I had trouble keeping track of Angel alone!

Why!? I yelled inside my head while saying out loud, "You're brother's in the study, if you want to see him."

She nodded and started to turn around, but was stopped by a shocked look that came across her face. I had a feeling Angel was going to need to get a good, stern talking to later on.

"What?" she choked out. Her eyes looked like they were going to fall out of her head from how wide they were.

I told her what the Voice just told you. Max, I think you should listen to it, I think they should join the flock, too, Angel thought to me earnestly.

Angel. I gave her a withering look. She smiled sweetly back. I was going to regret this, I know.

"I would like to ask you if you wanted to join the flock," I said levelly. I got out of my seat and walked over to her. She was about, well, she was taller.

She did the dinner plate impression again, except these would make dinner plates look like saucers.

"N-n-n-no, I-I-I-I could-d-dn't," she stuttered, looking freaked out. "I mean, we, Lupe and I, we'll attract trouble like magnets. We're not all that inconspicuous. I mean, people have discovered our wings from people looking to closely at Lupe." This, I could understand. Lupe looked like an un-morphed Eraser. He was male model worthy. "I mean, well, I-I-I-I-" I broke her off.

"You'll be safe with us." Plus, a Voice in my head told me to. So my karma would come back and kill me if I didn't do this.

She didn't answer. Just as she opened her mouth, Lupe walked in.

"What's going on?" he asked.

A/N!!!!!!

If Lupe seems imtimidating, them my brain-washing is working!!!! MWA HA HA HA HA AHA!!!