Snippet #16061

The first to introduce herself was Charlie and just like the fiery mane on the head, she was a hot headed little thing. She spoke in a brusque and at one point, smug manner and the smirk plastered across her face said it all. Not letting his cheerful, stereotypical councillor smile falter, he was half tempted to copy her arrogant smirk. Stupid girl. Did she really think the Government hadn’t been watching her little display? Of course Simon already new their powers, as well as their names, ages, backgrounds, and many other things. They probably knew what the teenagers had had for breakfast the morning before. This girl clearly thought she had come out on top, acting all tough and smiling that fat smirk… A small part of Simon wanted to reveal this information and watch it drop right off her face. But the most part of him knew better.

Marcus was next and like Charlie, he also showed a small hint of smugness, though his was more to do with self-confidence. Simon knew this kid; he was smart and his self-esteem was particularly high, or at least where his social skills and intellect lay. Despite being a well toned, handsome young man with a way of using words to get people to do what he wanted, he was a nerd at heart, or at least he had been. Simon liked this about him; the way he had stepped out of his stereotype was inspiring. However, the psychologist couldn’t help but wonder if his slightly inflated ego would be the downfall of him… Only time would tell.

Chelsea was next, and to add to her ebony-ivory hair-skin contrast, her piercing green eyes and her thick black make-up, she was the most surprising of the group. She began speaking normally, but then her pitch and volume increased until she was almost screaming at Simon and his still remaining smile, accusing everyone in the room besides herself that they were all mentally insane and needed professional help. The psychologist lost his act for only a moment to laugh, but he beat his chest with a fist and pretended that it was merely a tickling cough. The irony of her calling him mad when she was the one acting unstable was slightly comic, in a twisted way. The mention of lawyers made Simon want to roll his eyes. Really, these kids had no idea who they were dealing with, did they? Still, it couldn’t be helped, as the Government was shown as public friendly and slightly soft, but that was only the tip of the iceberg. Even with their political pampering, surely these kids knew that the Government owned every lawyer in town? This girl could throw threats about the room all she wanted, it would get her no where.

Fawna was by far the most ‘normal’ of the five. She was a little shy and soft spoken, she didn’t seem to have a particularly low or high self esteem and she didn’t seem too brooding over the fact she had been kidnapped and brought to a Government building outside of town and then told she was going to be like a superhero. Simon felt his smile grow warmer towards her and more genuine; it was always nice to have a ‘normal’ person around when you’re dealing with teenagers. Heck, Simon wasn’t used to them; he was used to dealing with criminal masterminds, psychopathic serial killers and evil dictators. Yet these kids seemed far more of a handful… He wanted to sigh, but didn’t, instead turning his attention to the last person.

Compared to Marcus, this boy was positively the opposite. With his soft spoken attitude, his exotic appearance and his small emotional outburst during his final questions, Simon felt his heart sink. This poor kid was clearly out of his element, and yet there was nothing he could do about it. Still, it was always best to reassure him, if only a little.

“Hey, hey, no worries, Shiloh. I know this is probably really scary for you right now, but I can assure you your parents are safe and are perfectly aware of your location and situation. I’m afraid you can’t visit them, nor them you just yet, but feel free to call them anytime you want.” He used his best soothing voice, his expression either compassionate or smiling softly to reassure the poor boy. Due to his powers that Simon had been briefed on, it was probably best not to approach him.

He turned to look back at the group and opened his mouth to say something else before the door to the lift opened and four people stepped out into the lounge. The first was a, African-American woman, a little short in stature but dressed in a crisp woman’s suit with a white blouse and pencil skirt, she emanated a sense of authority. After her was a tall boy, about 6’2; with long, toned limbs; smooth, pale skin and dark, messy hair. He was dressed in a black hoodie whose sleeves came just past his elbows, all rolled up and with no zipper or front pocket. It was tighter on his body than most hoodies, but still baggy enough to look casual. His jeans were Levi’s; skinny and a light grey with a pair of black leather boots on his feet. He wore a simple, silver chain around his neck and a silver stud in the shape of a swallow bird was in his left ear. However, the most outstanding feature was the fact that he was blind folded and handcuffed.

Two tall, bulky men dressed in crisp black suits and wearing shades and ear speakers each had a firm grip on either of his shoulders, guiding him carefully to stand before the group next to the woman. She took straight at Simon with her calculating gaze and spoke.

“Simon. This is Gabriel. We have retrieved him from the juvenile delinquent centre and he as agreed to co-operate.” She then turned to the bulky men and gave them a curt nod. Without a word they unhand cuffed the dark boy named Gabriel and removed his blindfold. It took him a few frowning, blinking moments before his eyes could adjust to the light. His eyes were grey and narrow, but they were perfect for his shape and angular face. He looked around the room at each and every person, staring a them each for at least a second before moving on. His gaze finally came to the woman at his side, who patted his shoulder and turned to walk away.

“This is your home now.” Was all she said before she promptly left the room, the two men following. There was silence as Gabriel turned back to everyone and stood there were a second, his hands resting on his long legs and his back straight, though his posture hardly seemed anything but emotionless, much like his facial expression. He blinked once, his gaze directly on Simon, who gave him his never-leaving smile and motioned a hand towards the space between Fawna and Shiloh.

“So, Gabriel, welcome. We were just introducing ourselves. All you have to do is say your name, age and power, so that we can have a better understand of each other, alright?”

Gabriel didn’t answer immediately, just let this gaze drop to the floor and his hands curl in the tiniest amount before flattening again and he looked up to everyone.

“My name is Gabriel Ellis.” His voice was, unsurprisingly, void of emotion, but still quite masculine and it resonated easily throughout the room. “I am 18 years old, 19 in the spring… And my power is…”

He hesitated, blinking before looking down again and then off to the bottom left. Simon waited patiently, though the tension during the short silence was quite thick. Gabriel’s hands twitched again and finally he looked up once more.

“I can move things without touching them. Like with my mind. Miss Gray said it was called telekinesis.” The ‘Miss Gray’ he spoke off was the short, dark skinned woman, though no one was to know that. He blinked again. “It’s nice to meet you all.”

After that, he moved towards the three seater sofa, glancing at Fawna as he passed. His eyes widened, his face suddenly shifting into an expression of surprise. He had hardly noticed it before, but now he was standing right next to her, she looked just like Kendal… But just as quickly as the surprise had been registered, it disappeared and became a mask once more.

“Excuse me.” He spoke to Fawna, then looking at Shiloh. He then turned and sat into his seat, his hands moving to his knees to rest and his back still staying straight. He didn’t feel the least bit uncomfortable between them, but he knew from experience that his presence could sometimes spook people and they would naturally feel uncomfortable around him. He remained quiet as he looked up as he looked at Simon, seeing him as the most ’in-the-know’ figure in the room when it came to this whole superpowers business and therefore, the one he should be listening to if he wanted to know what it was he would be doing here.

Simon cleared his throat, before clapping his hands and rubbing them together. When Gabriel had arrived, there must have been a draft. It suddenly seemed a bit chilly in here.

“Alright, guys and girls, I guess you’ll be wanting to know your room numbers.”