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song; i guess you’ve been fading XXX hex; #566D7E XXX outfit; winter
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XXXXXThe wind knocked on his window, shaking the murky glass half-latched to its chipped wooden frame. He'd been meaning to fix the old hinges since he'd moved in but never got around to it. Now he couldn't imagine sleeping without the rattle and hiss of the night air sifting through the open gap, if one could call the paralysis of the body and roving of jade eyes beneath sealed lids sleeping.
XXXXXNo, Lucien did not sleep. He half-existed.
XXXXXHe set his book down on the single coffee table that occupied the space, sunset spilling into his room and bouncing off the white lettering - Kafka on the Shore. It wasn't the genre he usually read but it had come with the pile his boss had wanted to get rid of last week.
XXXXXMiguel had watched him with the greatest hint of suspicion when Luca had asked to leave work early today.
XXXXX"Well, there's really no need since what you're really asking is to leave work on time," he'd said, and lifted a bushy brow. "I didn't realise you had a life outside of this job."
XXXXXIronic, considering that's what the staff at the Bellevue Hospital exclaimed regularly. Clearly he had not one but two things occupying his time. Miguel might've fainted if he'd known.
XXXXX"What're you doing?" Miguel had asked.
XXXXX"Plotting a murder," he'd answered, wiping the grease on his brow with the sleeve of his shirt.
XXXXX"I never know when you're joking, kid." Miguel said after a moment, shaking his head. "A young man like you should be drinking and getting himself a chamita. What're you doing here?"
XXXXX"Easier to hide a corpse in your garage."
XXXXX"Ah, better off without you here. Go. Have fun."
XXXXXHe didn't know if fun was the word to describe the strange meeting he was about to entertain, but he said nothing else as he left. After half an hour of cold water and a lot of soap, he somewhat resembled a member of civilisation. At least, he didn't smell like car parts.
XXXXXMiguel and the other man they had working today grunted a farewell as he left. The streets were quiet in the way horror movies were quiet before a demon leapt from the shadows this side of New York City. He was known well enough that they left him alone. A certain incident involving a street gang and black veins spilling from their boy's throat had made sure of that.
XXXXXLuca kept his head down.
XXXXXFlashes of red eased into his periphery. A dog prattled past him. Luca leapt back, his chest constricting before he reminded himself it was safe. He tugged on his gloves and stuffed his hands into his pockets. The stray watched him. Luca allowed himself the slightest softening around his eyes until took a step forward. He took a step back, then two, three, until he was almost jogging away from the animal. He told himself it was fine, that the layers and layers of Winter clothing would keep those around him safe, but still the panic settled in, reminding him of the dark marks that swallowed skin and turned Spring leaves to ash.
XXXXXSoon the warehouse appeared, its debilitated frame a bruise against the skyline. He stepped inside.
XXXXXThe space was crowded. Luca clenched his teeth, a vein at his jaw flexing with the movement. Pinpricks of his curse coalesced on the surface, shifting with his adrenaline. It felt as if it might leap off his skin. He begged it wouldn't. It wouldn't.
XXXXXThis was a terrible idea this was a terrible idea this was a-
XXXXX“How about, before we start comparing powers, we introduce ourselves?”
XXXXXThe voice rose from the cacophony of noise, easing him from his thoughts. He peered at its owner through his curtain of lashes. It was the redhead he'd seen before. He saw her clearly now - close enough to see the freckles that peppered the slight upturned point of her nose.
XXXXX“What? Don’ wanna show off your gift? Scared you’ll be the weakest here?” asked a stocky man. He observed from the whispers that his name was Garth Holden. An appropriately obnoxious name for an equally obnoxious person.
XXXXXAnnoyance lanced across his vision as Luca watched the exchange. The vein at his jaw twitched. He learned the girl's name was Frankie. "I can do exactly what you can do," she said. His lips twitched.
XXXXX"So we have a girl who rips off other people's powers and some kid who likes playing Disney princess. Aren't we off to a great start," said Garth.
XXXXXLuca's gaze followed the sulking figure to the corner he found himself in, his eyes cold and assessing. Garth looked up.
XXXXX"Whatcha lookin' at, pretty boy?" he barked, his voice loud enough to reverberate against the walls and carry across the distance.
XXXXXLucien turned his head, not deigning to respond.
XXXXX"Hey, you deaf?" Garth taunted. "Hey! I'm talkin' to you." A yelp of pain rose as he knocked a person aside in his rage. He seemed either entirely oblivious of his own strength or more likely, wholly dispassionate about any harm he might inflict.
XXXXXLuca knew what was about to happen before it did. After all, he grew up with a man not unlike Garth. But he was helpless then, or at least as helpless as someone who could not bring themselves to give up and leave. He was not so helpless anymore.
XXXXXGarth stopped right in front of him, his lips pulled back from his teeth.
XXXXX"You challenging me? What's your gift, huh? Let's see it. Come on. Let's see it."
XXXXX"Jesus, already? Take me out to dinner first," Luca deadpanned.
XXXXX"You little-" Garth grabbed the front of Luca's jacket, jerking him forward so their noses were nearly touching. Luca felt his breath against his face, hot and irritated. "Think you're so good, you smartass? You won't even tell us your power. Bet you're all bark and no bite."
XXXXX"I mean, if you want me to bite."
XXXXXGarth roared, swinging his elbow back. Luca had no doubt the Gifted could break his nose, amongst other necessary body parts. But he was not so helpless anymore.
XXXXXLuca slipped off his glove, and wrapped his hand around Garth's fist.
XXXXXHis roar of fury turned into one of pain. Garth jerked his arm back, holding his blackening fingers to his chest. Slivers of black emanated from where their skin had met, its dark hue already fading to grey from their brief contact. He gritted his teeth, sweat beading at his temple.
XXXXX"That's my gift." The word left a bitter taste in his mouth. It seemed a horrible thing to describe what he could do as a gift. He felt sick at what he'd done. Luca lifted his gaze from the figure curled on the floor. A hollow circle surrounded him. It seemed to him that everyone was equally divided between fear and disgust. He supposed there was some benefit to this performance. At least they would all give him a wide berth.
XXXXXHe settled himself in a corner and did not look at anyone else again.
XXXXXNo, Lucien did not sleep. He half-existed.
XXXXXHe set his book down on the single coffee table that occupied the space, sunset spilling into his room and bouncing off the white lettering - Kafka on the Shore. It wasn't the genre he usually read but it had come with the pile his boss had wanted to get rid of last week.
XXXXXMiguel had watched him with the greatest hint of suspicion when Luca had asked to leave work early today.
XXXXX"Well, there's really no need since what you're really asking is to leave work on time," he'd said, and lifted a bushy brow. "I didn't realise you had a life outside of this job."
XXXXXIronic, considering that's what the staff at the Bellevue Hospital exclaimed regularly. Clearly he had not one but two things occupying his time. Miguel might've fainted if he'd known.
XXXXX"What're you doing?" Miguel had asked.
XXXXX"Plotting a murder," he'd answered, wiping the grease on his brow with the sleeve of his shirt.
XXXXX"I never know when you're joking, kid." Miguel said after a moment, shaking his head. "A young man like you should be drinking and getting himself a chamita. What're you doing here?"
XXXXX"Easier to hide a corpse in your garage."
XXXXX"Ah, better off without you here. Go. Have fun."
XXXXXHe didn't know if fun was the word to describe the strange meeting he was about to entertain, but he said nothing else as he left. After half an hour of cold water and a lot of soap, he somewhat resembled a member of civilisation. At least, he didn't smell like car parts.
XXXXXMiguel and the other man they had working today grunted a farewell as he left. The streets were quiet in the way horror movies were quiet before a demon leapt from the shadows this side of New York City. He was known well enough that they left him alone. A certain incident involving a street gang and black veins spilling from their boy's throat had made sure of that.
XXXXXLuca kept his head down.
XXXXXFlashes of red eased into his periphery. A dog prattled past him. Luca leapt back, his chest constricting before he reminded himself it was safe. He tugged on his gloves and stuffed his hands into his pockets. The stray watched him. Luca allowed himself the slightest softening around his eyes until took a step forward. He took a step back, then two, three, until he was almost jogging away from the animal. He told himself it was fine, that the layers and layers of Winter clothing would keep those around him safe, but still the panic settled in, reminding him of the dark marks that swallowed skin and turned Spring leaves to ash.
XXXXXSoon the warehouse appeared, its debilitated frame a bruise against the skyline. He stepped inside.
XXXXXThe space was crowded. Luca clenched his teeth, a vein at his jaw flexing with the movement. Pinpricks of his curse coalesced on the surface, shifting with his adrenaline. It felt as if it might leap off his skin. He begged it wouldn't. It wouldn't.
XXXXXThis was a terrible idea this was a terrible idea this was a-
XXXXX“How about, before we start comparing powers, we introduce ourselves?”
XXXXXThe voice rose from the cacophony of noise, easing him from his thoughts. He peered at its owner through his curtain of lashes. It was the redhead he'd seen before. He saw her clearly now - close enough to see the freckles that peppered the slight upturned point of her nose.
XXXXX“What? Don’ wanna show off your gift? Scared you’ll be the weakest here?” asked a stocky man. He observed from the whispers that his name was Garth Holden. An appropriately obnoxious name for an equally obnoxious person.
XXXXXAnnoyance lanced across his vision as Luca watched the exchange. The vein at his jaw twitched. He learned the girl's name was Frankie. "I can do exactly what you can do," she said. His lips twitched.
XXXXX"So we have a girl who rips off other people's powers and some kid who likes playing Disney princess. Aren't we off to a great start," said Garth.
XXXXXLuca's gaze followed the sulking figure to the corner he found himself in, his eyes cold and assessing. Garth looked up.
XXXXX"Whatcha lookin' at, pretty boy?" he barked, his voice loud enough to reverberate against the walls and carry across the distance.
XXXXXLucien turned his head, not deigning to respond.
XXXXX"Hey, you deaf?" Garth taunted. "Hey! I'm talkin' to you." A yelp of pain rose as he knocked a person aside in his rage. He seemed either entirely oblivious of his own strength or more likely, wholly dispassionate about any harm he might inflict.
XXXXXLuca knew what was about to happen before it did. After all, he grew up with a man not unlike Garth. But he was helpless then, or at least as helpless as someone who could not bring themselves to give up and leave. He was not so helpless anymore.
XXXXXGarth stopped right in front of him, his lips pulled back from his teeth.
XXXXX"You challenging me? What's your gift, huh? Let's see it. Come on. Let's see it."
XXXXX"Jesus, already? Take me out to dinner first," Luca deadpanned.
XXXXX"You little-" Garth grabbed the front of Luca's jacket, jerking him forward so their noses were nearly touching. Luca felt his breath against his face, hot and irritated. "Think you're so good, you smartass? You won't even tell us your power. Bet you're all bark and no bite."
XXXXX"I mean, if you want me to bite."
XXXXXGarth roared, swinging his elbow back. Luca had no doubt the Gifted could break his nose, amongst other necessary body parts. But he was not so helpless anymore.
XXXXXLuca slipped off his glove, and wrapped his hand around Garth's fist.
XXXXXHis roar of fury turned into one of pain. Garth jerked his arm back, holding his blackening fingers to his chest. Slivers of black emanated from where their skin had met, its dark hue already fading to grey from their brief contact. He gritted his teeth, sweat beading at his temple.
XXXXX"That's my gift." The word left a bitter taste in his mouth. It seemed a horrible thing to describe what he could do as a gift. He felt sick at what he'd done. Luca lifted his gaze from the figure curled on the floor. A hollow circle surrounded him. It seemed to him that everyone was equally divided between fear and disgust. He supposed there was some benefit to this performance. At least they would all give him a wide berth.
XXXXXHe settled himself in a corner and did not look at anyone else again.