They knock you down
I'll pick you up
They laugh at you
I'll shut them up
-Made of Steel by Our Lady Peace
~*~*~
The gray mushy stuff on Luke's plate looked about as appetizing as the dirt on the ground. With a disgusted grunt Luke shoved the plate away and began nibbling on an apple instead. Nikki pushed the gray mass around on his tray, not even thinking about eating it, as he looked over his shoulder every few seconds in an unconscious nervous habit.
He looked at Luke disgustedly, "I can't believe you'd willingly eat an apple... especially an apple from here!"
Luke pulled the apple away from his mouth and frowned at it, then continued eating it, "Gotta eat somethin'." He smirked wiping away some of the apple's juice from his chin.
Nikki made a face, "Apples are evil. I mean, look at Eve... and Snow White... all done in by apples. Plus they're good for you."
Luke grinned taking another bite out of his apple, "But weren't they all red apples?" He asked around a large bite of the apple, "This one is... was green."
"The traditional color of vegetables... I'm actually ashamed." He said, mock-sighing.
He paused for a second, still stirring his... thing... "On the other hand, I can't blame you for not wanting to eat this crap." He said, sliding his tray as far down the table as he could and chucking his spoon over his shoulder.
Luke watched the spoon clatter to the ground spraying the gray food substance across the floor. One of the cafeteria workers glared their way and started to walk over.
"Come on Nikki let's go back to our room."
Nikki sighed and stood, giving the table a kick as he did so, "Good idea, there's fuck all else to do really."
As Luke stood up he glanced back at the lunch lady and smiled politely at her then grabbed Nikki by the arm and hurried him out the door.
"Do ya want them to give you some more meds, Nikki?" He hissed.
Nikki flinched when Luke grabbed his arm, and bit his lip at Luke's question, shaking his head and whimpering softly.
It seemed that the personality shifts were starting to come back.
"Oh, hey... I'm sorry," Luke frowned letting go of Nikki's arm fully aware of what was happening, "You okay?"
Nikki cradled his arm back and rubbed it softly, nodding but not speaking. "Let's go back." He said in a tiny voice.
"Alright." Luke scratched the back of his neck and started down the bleached white hallway.
"Nikki," He started running a hand through his hair, "I didn't mean to... to hurt you. It's just..." He trailed off looking down at the boy.
"It's okay." Nikki smiled at Luke. "I get it, you were just looking out for me. Sorry I was being a brat... I dunno what happened."
He looked slightly confused, but the look came and went like a cloud across the sun. "We're cool." He reassured.
A smile passed over Luke's lips, "Alright," He nodded reaching their room, "So what do you want to do?"
Nikki entered and sat on Luke's bed, anchoring a thumb in his mouth absently. "I don't know," He said around the obstruction, "Got any ideas?"
Luke shook his head dropping his eyes to the floor, "Nothing really," He shrugged flopping down on the bed next to him, "I've been working on a plan of escape." He admitted with a sheepish smile.
Nikki shuffled down and put his head in Luke's lap like a small child, still sucking his thumb, "Tell me?" He asked imploringly.
Luke frowned then, like one would a child, he began stroking Nikki's hair, "We just gotta wait until nightfall so that I can..." He paused hesitant on what to say next.
"Can what?" Nikki mumbled, eyes closed, practically purring under Luke's hand.
"Transform..." Luke sighed embarrassed of his mutation that landed him a spot in the asylum, "I've been reading about a school in New York that's actually a school for mutants. We'll go there once we're free." He nodded to himself.
Nikki stilled, and then turned to look at Luke, "Transform into what?"
~*~*~
A/N: Please Review!
