It's Clear We're Going to Get Along

"Lance is still arguing with his imaginary friend," Xi informed Low Light. They were both now outside.

"I can't believe you idiots really thought you could help me with this," Low Light grumbled. "You guys can't even stay sane for a minute yourselves!"

"Can I ask you a question?" Xi sat down next to him.

"Shoot," Low Light shrugged.

"Why don't you wish to use your powers?" Xi asked. "Is it because of Cobra? Or something else?"

Low Light remained silent for a moment. "It's complicated."

Xi looked at him. "They treated you like an object didn't they?"

"What?" Low Light looked at him.

"That's what Cobra does to its test subjects. I know," Xi said.

Low Light looked at Xi. "I can imagine," He said softly. "How did you make it all those years? I barely survived the few weeks I was there."

"I just did," Xi shrugged. "But I also had the others of my unit looking out for me. We did that. If there's one thing I've learned is that those of a unit look out for each other and protect them."

Xi looked at him in the eye. "You are part of our unit now. We all want to look out for you because of that. Why is that so hard for you to understand?"

Low Light looked at Xi, the strange mutant who had been trained as an assassin for his entire life, a cunning ruthless hunter. Yet in many ways Xi was like a child, innocent of the ways of the outside world. Yet forever set apart from it. "You and I are not that different," Low Light said. "When it comes to Cobra that is. I was also the only survivor of those experiments."

"You feel guilty because you alone survived and the others perished," Xi said. "I know how that feels."

"Why was I the only one lucky enough to escape?" Low Light asked. "Why me? It should have been someone else. One of the kids or something, but no…they all died and I was left…like this…" He clutched his hands. "It's like…if I use them, I'll start enjoying my powers. And that would be wrong. That would be an insult to all those people who died and…"

Xi came closer and gently hugged Low Light. "What are you doing?" Low Light blinked.

"Hush," Xi purred softly. "This is what we used to do when we needed to comfort each other. Let me do this."

Reluctantly Low Light sat down on a bench, letting Xi curl up next to him. Soon Xi's purring became rhythmic, almost hypnotic. He felt so calm letting Xi curl next to him like a contented child. Xi's purrs grew deeper as he held onto Low Light. Instinctively he started patting Xi's mane in response.

"This is just plain…silly," Low Light grumbled.

"It's all I know how to do to comfort someone," Xi said. "I just want for you to be happy."

"Well I appreciate the gesture," Low Light pulled away. "But I think it's gonna take a lot more than a hug to make me feel better about myself."

"I had no family when I escaped Cobra," Xi said. "I have one now. Don't you want to be part of our family?"

"I…guess…maybe," Low Light shrugged. "It's just…I don't want to use them. My…you know. God I can't even say the word…"

"Powers," Xi said.

"Yeah them," Low Light grumbled. "It just feels so alien to me."

"What about Lance's new powers?" Xi asked. "They feel strange to him."

"Yeah I guess I can emphasize with the kid on that," Low Light sighed.

"COME BACK HERE YOU FLEA BAG!" Lance ran by screaming.

"Lance you're chasing nothing yo!" Todd hopped after him. "It's all in your head!"

"THE COYOTE MUST DIE!!!!" Lance screamed as the ground started to shake.

"Get the net!" Althea shouted.

"I got it!" Fred ran by and threw it. "Oops."

"NOT ON ME YOU IDIOT!" Althea shouted.

"You know all of the sudden I'm feeling a lot better about my powers," Low Light groaned. "It could be worse."

"I'M NOT LISTENING! LA LA LA LA LA!" Lance ran around with his hands covering his ears.

"A lot worse," Xi remarked.

"Oh yeah," Low Light groaned as the rest of the Misfits finally managed to tackle Lance.

Next, more madness and fluff as well as bonding. And then the gang gets to take a trip! Wheee!