Author's note: I hope this chapter doesn't rely too much on coincidence… oh, well, coincidences happen! Wait, forget that, I don't believe in coincidence, but ANYWAY! If you do, there's a bit of one, but I'm going to stop worrying and write (after playing guitar for a while). Please review! I'm so happy with getting so many, thank you to everyone who reviewed, and no flames yet, whoohoo. Toad's a very popular man in this fandom, ha.
Disclaimer: This won't change unless I suddenly acquire rights to X-Men… so in other words, it ain't gonna change!
--this marking-- = Deacon using telepathy
~this marking~= Anya using telepathy
"quote marks"= someone speaking normally
italics= ordinary thoughts
In direct contrast to her frenzy before her last trip to the Rising Sun, Anya made the journey in her jeans and T-shirt, too concerned with her mission there to worry about squeezing into anything tight and stylish. She spent the subway ride there blissfully dipping into the other passengers' thoughts, relishing her returned freedom. Don't normal people get lonely? she thought, recalling her past week of isolation.
The line for the club was long, and she found herself wishing she'd taken time to grab a jacket. She crossed her arms and tried to keep her teeth from chattering. As she inched closer to the door, she searched the club for the signal of the person she was looking for. To her relief, he was inside.
As soon as she entered the club, he looked up and gave her a nonchalant wave, his other hand still spinning the records on the turntable.
--I wondered if you'd ever come back.--
Anya jumped. Telepathic messages were more startling than she'd realized; no wonder Toad had been freaked out.
~This is weird!~
--You get used to it.-- A gentle smile crossed his downturned face.
~Yeah, I guess you'd know… do you think I can talk to you?~
--We're talking now--. A wry tone.
~You're distracted. ~
--Yeah, gotta keep spinning. I get a break in fifteen minutes.--
~OK. Come find me then.~
--No problem.--
He returned to his task, and Anya felt a brief flash of envy. He was in a separate world of music, tuning everyone out without even trying. That must have been why it took him a few minutes to notice her attention before, and why she hadn't realized that he was a telepath, too.
She studied the DJ, deciding to take this chance to examine him while he was zoned out. He was calm, peaceful, completely together—the opposite of her usual mental state. And, shallow as it was, she had to admit he was pretty cute. He had a long lean build, high cheekbones, and a slightly prominent nose. He was swaying with the rhythm of the song, and his long leather coat and dreadlocked hair followed the motion.
Wow, he's hot! Anya thought approvingly.
--Thanks, not looking bad yourself!--
Anya jumped, looked around, and clapped her hand over her mouth as though her embarrassing words had been spoken aloud. The DJ was still looking industriously at his work, but she could see that he was suppressing laughter.
~That was sneaky!~
--So was trying to read me while I wasn't paying attention.--
~So sorry if I don't know telepath etiquette! ~
Anya was thoroughly unsettled. She was used to presenting a cool front with her behavior, but she'd never had to control her thoughts before.
--You've got a lot to learn, girl.--
~Yeah! She sighed. I guess I do!~
~*~*~
Toad was grateful for his hooded sweatshirt that night. It served to cover his bizarre visage and keep him warm in the midst of the increasingly cold weather. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, and no spot of skin was exposed to the passerby. He looked down at the sidewalk, keeping his face in shadows. A creature of the night. A nocturnal amphibian, so to speak
He glanced at the crowd of people he was passing. A line, waiting to get into a club that was blaring well-mixed but very annoying music. Despite this drawback, a club that was assuredly serving alcohol.
I've got time for quick drink. It's not like I'm going anywhere, anyway. He hadn't found a job yet. Most companies had a no-mutant policy. The money Magneto paid him before the Liberty Island incident was running low, but he hadn't become desperate enough to return to his previous form of monetary support—mugging in alleys, much like the bum he had scared away from Anya last week.
He winced. Anya again. What was wrong with him?
He ducked past the line, hoping the "beautiful people" assembled in it wouldn't notice him. When he reached the front of the queue, he slipped under the arm of the bouncer, ignoring the man's irate cry. He didn't keep any ID. He didn't want to carry around a reminder of his ugly mug, or have the government keeping track of his stats.
He stepped up to the bar and mumbled his drink order, thankful for the dim lighting of the club. Everyone was too busy rubbing up against each other and trying to look good to notice anything unusual about him as he slumped over on a barstool, a dark, still silhouette against the swaying crowds and pulsing strobe lights. Alone as usual.
~*~*~
--Anya?--
She jumped and looked around. It was the DJ, of course, finally on his break. She almost blurted out, "How do you know my name?", but then realized how idiotic that was and stopped herself just in time. "Yeah?"
"Glad to see you waited."
"Yeah… what's your name?"
"Deacon Brown. How's it goin'?" It seemed to be a rhetorical question.
She cut to the chase. "Ah, like I said, can we… talk? I mean…" she hesitated, lowering her voice. "I've never met anyone else…"
He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, a low, husky voice that surprised her with its audibility. "The cool thing about us, pretty girl, we don't have to talk." She smiled hesitantly, trying to figure out if he really meant the "pretty " comment without him noticing her interference.
"Let's dance," he continued.
"Dance?" A slow song was now blaring through the speakers.
"Yeah, so we can get to know each other better."
She shot him a skeptical look.
"Hey, you of all people can tell that my intentions are good," he joked.
"You just wanna read me…"
- "You can dish it out but can't take it, huh?" he teased.
"I'm just not used to it, you know?"
"What, thought you were the only telepath in town?"
"Hey, keep it down." She looked around nervously.
- --Another advantage of our method of communication,-- the DJ commented , a smirk on his face. --No need for volume control.--
"Mmm." She was nervous all over again.
"Dance."
The word now seemed to be a command, and he held out his hand with confidence that irked her. Why am I such a neurotic telepath? she grumbled to herself as she accepted it.
Deacon seemed to have taken her musing as a question directed to him. --You still haven't accepted your identity as a mutant. You're in denial! You have no peace with your powers.-- As though unaware that his words were a bit combative, he continued leading her toward the dance floor.
~That's not true! I use my powers all the time.~
--And you're peaceful?--
~ Well… maybe not. What do you want me to do about it?~
--Oh, I don't know, maybe tell someone about them?--
Anya gave him a disbelieving stare. ~Just how much have you been reading me tonight?~
His only reply was a mysterious and rather charming grin.
~I don't know what you expect me to do, I mean, how many people have YOU told, and…~ Her mind froze.
"What's wrong?" Deacon asked out loud, feeling the shock that had just flowed through her.
"It's, ahh… someone I know!" She tried to pull her hand away, but he hung on.
"Hey, I'll come with!" he insisted, curious about what kind of person could cause such a strange reaction in her.
She didn't protest, just dragged him along behind her as she shoved her way through the crowds toward the bar. She stopped before a hunched-over figure, hesitated for a moment, then tapped him on the shoulder.
~*~*~
Toad felt the touch through his layers of clothing and whirled around, on the defensive as always. To his surprise, it wasn't someone trying to heckle him or make small talk.
It was Anya, the strobe lights casting colored lights across the pale canvas of her skin and hair, her hand held tightly by a tall and handsome man behind her.
"Hi," she squeaked out.
Toad was speechless.