Chapter 8: Abilities

We sat in companionable silence as we enjoyed our chocolate treats. The sun was soon setting and I was wondering where we were going to stay for the night.

"Do ya know anywhere 'round here that's safe for the night?" I asked Kevin as I stood up to grab my duffel and backpack.

"Uh, no. I haven't been out here that long," he answered. "Maybe we could find a place together?" he added hesitantly.

I smiled at him and held out my hand to help him up. He smiled back as he got up and we headed out of the alley.

We walked for a couple blocks as the sun continued to set and then was swallowed by the horizon. We finally found a smaller alley away from any businesses. I set down my bags and pulled out my now ratty blanket.

"Ain't it 'spose ta get cold tanight?" I asked Kevin.

He nodded his head as he rubbed his covered arms. "It's actually kinda chilly now." He looked at me oddly. "You're not cold?"

I looked down. "No. Cold don't get me 'less it gets close ta freezin'." I looked up into his eyes as I continued, "It's one of the plusses of mah ability."

He suddenly smiled at me. "You're a mutant?"

"Yah..."

"So am I. I didn't think I'd ever meet someone else." He continued grinning at me so I smiled in return. Once again I could hear Emma chuckling in the back of my mind.

Whadda ya laughin' at? I asked Emma.

Just how you two interact. It's so cute.

"So what else can you do?" Kevin asked interrupting Emma's and my conversation.

"Well, Ah can 'bend' any water 'round me and mah body's made out of it ta," I said quickly, unused to sharing what I had had to hide for so long. "Ah have ta be real careful 'bout what Ah touch though; Ah absorb stuff real easy," I continued. "What 'bout ya?"

Kevin looked down sadly at the mention of his powers. "I guess you could say I have a death touch."

I looked at him skeptically. "Then how come Ah'm still here?"

"I don't know. I've been thinking about that for a while now and I can't come up with any reasons."

We were both silent for a few moments. I grabbed his gloved hand and pulled him to the blanket, making him sit down as I did. I hugged him because he seemed like he desperately needed the contact.

"Maybe it's 'cause Ah'm made of water?" I asked when he hugged me back. I felt him shrug his shoulders in response. We stayed like that for a few minutes until Kevin pulled away from me.

"Thanks Ashida." He paused gathering his thoughts. "I think it'd be best if we went our separate ways tomorrow," he concluded downcast.

I suddenly felt angry with him. "Why?"

Kevin seemed to shrink back at the angry tone in my voice. "Because you'll be safer. I mean, what if we're wrong and today with my powers was just a fluke? I don't want to hurt the first person that's been nice to me in awhile."

I looked away from him with tears in my eyes. When I turned back to him, I tentatively reached for his hand. He didn't resist when I took off his glove and held just his bare hand.

"Ah don't care if Ah get hurt; bein' 'lone out here is worse than what ya could ever do ta me," I whispered, shivering as the night temperatures finally affected me. "Ya won't hurt me."

Kevin looked at our joined hands and gently squeezed mine. "Thank you Ashida," he whispered back. He pulled me into another hug. "Thank you so much."

We both laid down on the blanket and wrapped ourselves in it, staying close together for both warmth and companionship. That night we both slept soundly and peacefully for the first time in days for both of us.