Snippet #2309673

Cortez and Zoey Craven stood side by side as they listened to the envigorating speech by Ms. Cateleia. Zoey's eyes were on the beautiful white haired African woman. Cortez wasn't actually paying any attention to her or Prof. Cateleia's particularly snug body suits - which was usually the case for him. He was listening to her speech, He felt every word the Hispanic woman spoke touch him deep down to his soul. He even cheered 'Mutant and Proud' with the others.

He was a Mutant and was very proud. He had 'MnP' tattooed on his left wrist. He'd witnessed the bigotry and hate firsthand himself like many others. His own parents disowned him. He looked down at his baby sister. Sweet kid. They'd abandoned her too or probably would have, had she not run away and he not found her. He probably would have gotten his ass kicked if it weren't for Lina. She had a vision that told him that he was gonna be beaten after his powers were discovered at a poetry slam. It was a pity. That particular poem he truely felt, which was probably why it started to come to life.

Oops.

He looked down at his sister as she looked nervous. Her face was completely blank of expression, which for him was a clear indication that her mind was elsewhere. "Hey, whatsamatter, Twerp?" He asked her and she snapped out of her thoughts and glared at him.

"Must you?" the 10 year old asked with a huff.

"Yes, but that's neither here nor there. What's up?"

He asked, actually concerned. She looked back at the crowd slowly dispersing. "It's just...There's alot more of them-"

"Us." Cortez corrected.

Zoey looked down. "There's alot more of us then I thought." She said. Cortez sighed and knelt down to speak face to face, placing his hands on her tiny shoulders. "Z. Look. You have nothing to be worried about. You're safer here, then with Mom or Dad or anywhere else." He said softly. She sighed. "I know it's just...I don't know..." She said and Cortez rose and scooped her up into a hug. "Look, I know you're not use to being a mutant yet but here. You're not a mutant, You're just Zoey Craven. Cortez's little sister. Although living in my shadow is probably way worse then being with the Normies." He said with a chuckle and she smiled. "You're a dork, you know that?" She said with a laugh. "Ehh. I've been told a few times." He said with a shrug and a goofy grin.

"Hey, why don't you go and get settled in?" He said and set her down. She smiled up at him and looked back at the stage. "You wanna see Professor Zee, don't you?" He asked and she smiled sheepishly. "You know, She doesn't say much aside from the fact that she's a little too old for you." He said and Zoey's eyes widen and she smacked him. "Hey. I don't judge. I mean hell, If she weren't married and couldn't kick my ass from here to Wakanda then yea. I'd feel her too." He said and Zoey just scoffed. "It's a wonder, we come from the same gene pool." She said and walked off. Cortez grinned. He knew him teasing her would take her mind off of leaving Chicago. It wasn't that long ago that Lina practically threatened to kill him if he didn't bring his ass. He wasn't going to because it was too far from Zoey but she was convincing and by convincing, it meant she told him she'd tell her dad.

Cortez wanted no parts of him which was probably why he hadn't asked her out yet. He'd been wanting to for a while now but...Mr. Howlett...not a man to be trifled with and though he had no real reason to fear him as he would respect his daughter -he already did- he just didn't want the man breaking him in half for going any further then first base with her. Cortez decided to keep it friendly. On top of that, She was his best friend. She kinda saved his ass and helped him get in the school and helped him get out to look after Zoey. So naturally he held strong feelings for her. Her dad was a hurdle but ruining their friendship was what stopped him from pursuing a relationship with her.

He decided to go let her know Zoey was getting settled and everything was good. Was it an excuse to see her...Yes but what's he gonna do?

He walked toward the garage where he knew she'd be. He heard rap coming from her Mustang and smirked. He liked that song. So, in typical Cortez fashion ,he began to sing the lyrics to get her attention. "So just take me home where the moon is mellow, then roses are grown and M&M's are yellow and the lightbulbs around my mirror don't flicker, Everybody gets a nice autograph picture, one for you and one for your sister, who had to work tonight but is an avid listener. Every songs her favorite song and Mics don't feedback, all the reviewer say you need to go and see that. Then everybody claps cause everybody is pleased and then they all take the stage and start performing for me, like Ha ha ha ha, Haha haha ha, Ha." He sang and grinned. "Sorry. That's my song." He said feigning a sheepish attitude.