Axel Lerate's Story

Chandler

Adrien returned his greeting while Danny started talking about soda. Chandler smiled at them both, saying, "Anything to drink would be looooovely," emphasizing the "ooo" instead of a normal "o" sound. He munched on a bite of pancake, imagining some orange juice would satisfy him the most. His eyes however distracted such thoughts of citruses.

Hallie was smiling, wider than he had ever seen. Back home, she had been a quiet girl for the most part (if not dancing on tables of course). It was a pretty sight, the entire reunion was. Now, James and April's little show, well...that wasn't as much. Chandler had half a mind to teleport to the hall and call it off before anything could happen, but knew he couldn't with April being at the destination. Who knew what would happen if he tried to teleport and suddenly his powers didn't work...strange images swirled in his head, his limbs mangled and confused at where they fit in with his anatomy...

His eyes switched back to Hallie, who suddenly had several questions posed to her at once from Liesel and Adrien. The white-haired girl blinked strangely, in her own little world with Mikhail. Chandler chuckled. She answered, "I'm Hallie. Nice to meet you." Her hazel eyes flickered to where April had been sitting, seeing she had gone. She faced Adrien then. "And the school's quiet. New guy though. Axel. He has some sort of aura and...I don't understand it. But Anna's back too. She was sick." Hallie's face lightened a little more. "Wasn't she your roommate?"

Chandler was interested in this new student. He remembered a little from Mikhail's phone conversation with her yesterday, but hardly anything helpful. He decided not to ask though, Hallie's hazel eyes turning to Mikhail again with a wide smile returning.

She looked so happy.

An empty feeling dropped into Chandler's gut. He missed home. He missed his friends. He missed his games. Glancing around the group, he knew he had found a niche here, on pretty good terms with everyone here but...nothing concrete. It felt too loose, too sudden still.

"I'll be right back," he said to no one and left the room.

Just down the hall, he noticed James' bronze hair disappearing into a room, a redhead following him. Lips tight, Chandler turned the opposite way. This way revealed his roommate Zoe disappearing into another room. Strange, he hadn't noticed her leaving. Carefully, he approached and knocked on the door. "You okay?" he asked.


James

He chose the room, with the bed, the closed curtains, the dim lights. No words were spoken. His smiled lessened, doubts swirling in his mind, but blood not churning in that direction. Briefly, he wondered where to start. But didn't think long. His fingers found her neck, a gentle push bringing her chin up to his, lips touching lightly. She smelled like some sort of flowers, or soap. He wasn't sure.

James deepened the kiss and decided to wait for any signal from her. Although he liked taking the lead in the bedroom, a girl's desires were more important to him.

"You questioned my wanting to go swimming in the lake earlier, is there something here I'm missing?"
Anna began blushing once more, and turned toward the lake, sitting on the edge. The morning Sun sparkled across the water as she slipped off her boots and stockings, revealing her pale, slender legs. The water felt cool on her toes as she dipped her feet in, soaking them up to the ankle.
"Not really, it's not like it's dangerous or anything...I just didn't bring a swimsuit with me."
Her skin was almost luminescent as she unbuttoned blouse revealing a purple camisole. Her skin severely lacked pigment since she never went anywhere without being completely covered. Now she sat in her pleated skirt and her small purple top on the edge of the water, her clothes folded neatly beside her. Turning to look back at him her long black braids fell down he back, and the red frames of her glasses sat daintily on the edge of her nose.
"It feels like a waste not to though."

Axel was astounded by Anna's alabaster complexion as she removed her blouse. For a second, he just stood there, not really sure how to react to her, until she pointed out how it'd be a shame to not swim.
"Yeah..." He responded, and he took his shirt off and cut the jeans off at the knee with a small piece of aura he drew to his finger to act like a knife, now looking like a model for a prosthetic company... Well, a prosthetic company that made legs out of pure mental power temporarily solidified into a leg shape. He walked up next to Anna after grabbing two juice boxes from his coat pockets(Grape, of course) and sat next to her, his false leg dissipating as he dangled his foot in the water to her right, his skin once again taking on that very subtle violet tint as he handed her one of the boxes.
"I can try swimming with my eyes closed, if that's the main issue..." he said with a joking smile.

"There isn't much to see," she chuckled, "just don't stare at me like a creeper!"
As she spoke she reached out to nudge him, but stopped. Now that his skin was exposed to her, she would have to try her hardest not to brush his skin. Just one touch would dump too much information about him at once.
Setting her juice box down she stepped down into the water until it swirled up around her thighs. It was cool, and the water rushed quickly around skin. It felt like a rushing flow of energy, much like the flow of information she experiences, however this feeling was cooling an relaxing.
Turning back to smile at him, she gestured for him to turn around, and waited for him to comply. Though she trusted him not to peek, she still blushed as she slipped off her top, and unwrapped her skirt from her hips, toss in them both on her pile of clothes.
The little purple bra and panties she wore seemed childish after seeing what the other girls were like. Turning on her toes she dove into the water and stayed under for a minute, just allowing herself to be suspended, weightless in the lake. As she burst through the surface if the water her pigtails dripped down her back.
As she looked back at him she smiled, however her vision was blurred desperately she flawed at her face. Her face turned so blushed as she realized her mistake,
"Oh no....I lost my glasses in the lake..."
Diving back under she felt under the water, felt the smooth rocks on the bed, but her red frames were gone, at least she couldn't see or feel them.

After Anna had undressed, Axel had jumped into the water right away, losing his aura as he did so he could feel the cool water slide over his body. Thanks to the rehab he'd gone through early on, he'd learned how to swim with the style of a dolphin, allowing him good mobility as he swam. Axel had just surfaced for the first time when he had heard Anna's disappointment at her loss.
"Wait here." he said, then he dove down and formed his aura around his eyes, the goggles making his line of sight clear as day. He swam down to the lake bed near Anna and joined in the search for the glasses. As he swam in the deep, he began to feel his lungs hurt from staying under after five minutes. Axel hated the need to go back up, not wanting to give up now, and saw the glasses just as he was about to ascend. About ten feet away. Lodged under rocks. Axel's lungs burned as he swam to the small pile, and water touched his eyes as he dropped the goggles to form a small jack with his aura in his right arm, which was just enough to let him grab the glasses, then make a break for the surface, his vision darkening as he did so. His first breath was just before he broke the surface, and when he did get to air, the first thing he did was cough up the water he'd inhaled. He then let the aura slide over his entire body again as he neared Anna, putting her glasses on her face as he was in front of her.
"Might I suggest a leash for them?" he said with a laugh and a grin, booping Anna's nose, hopefully dispelling any fear that he was hurt.

Chills ran over Anna' s skin as she dove under, attempting to peer into the deep water. Unfortunately her vision was terrible, and try and she might the red frames eluded her. Surfacing was all she could do after just a few moments under the freezing water. She began to shake and tremble, realizing that swimming in the cold lake was not as good of an idea as it sounded.
As she stood in the shallow bank of the lake, wrapping her arms around her trembling body she noted that Axel had been under for quite some time, and she could no longer see the purple glow under the water.
"Axel? Axel?" she called out, worry thick in her voice. Moment later he came bursting through the surface, her red glasses safe in his hand. After sliding them on her face he tapped her nose, but her worry quickly turned to fury. With her left hand she swiftly slapped him across his face, though she wasn't strong enough to cause any real pain, she believed she got her point across as she quickly followed by throwing her arms around his neck and pulling him close.
"Don't you ever scare me like that again! My glasses are replaceable, you however are not!
Stepping back she Her color soon drained from her face, and she continued to shiver violently. As she spoke she made her way back to her clothe s and crouched down, searching for something to dry herself off with.
"I'm sorry I hit you...but you can't do things like that, I'm not worth risking your life foolishly for," Her teeth chattered as she scolded him. Whether from the intensity of her own emotions, or the sheer cold cutting through her, her legs gave out and stumbled, landing hard on her rear.
"Ow..."

(Oh, the irony of her statement on replaceability...)
Axel only got a headache from the slap(Yay, aura repair!), and stroked her hair as she held him. He hadn't noticed the cold at all, more because he was simply that awesome than his aura stopping it, but as he felt her shiver, he realized that she must be freezing. As they got back to where they'd jumped in, Axel picked up his coat and put it over Anna after she'd taken her spill, kneeling in front of her.
"And what if I thought you were?" he asked, staring into Anna's eyes with a smile, and then he stood up, his aura flowing to his hand and extending around her to help her up, and also providing some of Axel's warmth. "C'mon, let's go get you warmed up back in the cafeteria, I'm sure they'll have hot cocoa or something similar." Axel went to take a step, and promptly fell flat on his face. He'd forgotten he'd used his aura for his leg earlier. He rolled onto his back and stood up, then rubbed his neck, thoroughly embarassed. "And, um... Mind if I use you as support for the way back? Hopping really isn't my style, and I would only make it to the doors walking on my hands..." His voice didn't hide the embarrassment he was feeling, having to rely on someone else because of his stupid, stupid, disability...

A rosy warmth spread over Anna's cheeks and nose at the sound of his kind words. She was unfamiliar with the tingly sensation she was feeling
across her chest and down her back, but she enjoyed it. She felt it anytime he smiled at her, looked at her, or layed his purple aura clad hand on her.
"C'mon, let's go get you warmed up back in the cafeteria, I'm sure they'll have hot cocoa or something similar." His deep voice interrupted her thoughts, and the warmth of his coat started drying her porcelain skin almost as he rested it on her shoulders. With a smile she scooped up their damp clothes, neatly folding each piece as she slipped them into her purple bag. Luckily her boots were still dry, and she wouldn't have to feel the chill of the cobblestone on her feet.
A thunk from behind her caught her attention, and to her horror she turned to see Axel pulling himself up off the ground. In a heartbeat she was at his side, hoisting his bad side up by wiggling under his arm.
"And, um... Mind if I use you as support for the way back? Hopping really isn't my style, and I would only make it to the doors walking on my hands..."
"Of course, anything you need," she said as she helped him move down the path. Her brow wrinkled across her nose and she bit her lip, worry was painted on her face. However, she knew the last thing he would want her to do would be worry about him, or even worse, pity him. So she walked with him, allowing him to lean his tall, broad shouldered torso on her small petite frame. To anyone else it would look like a boy walking with him arm wrapped around a girl, a girl wearing a coat much too large for her.
It didn't take too long for the two to make it back to the school. She welcomed the warmth from in the school, first looking left at the cafeteria, but her lack of clothing made her stop. Then she looked to the right to see the steam rolling out from under the bath chamber.
Looking up at him she cocked her head to the side and gave him a smile, "Maybe we should get cleaned up first, I can't walk around in just your coat all day," She chuckled.

Axel cursed himself a bit on the inside, having had to force Anna into this situation in the first place, but he threw his regret out the window once she picked him up and leaned up against him. He liked Anna, that much was sure, and it was clear she liked him back, but... Axel didn't know what else after that. He decided to let her make the first move, mainly because he had no idea what he would even do if the situation arose where he would admit that he like-liked her. He pondered all this as they walked back to the school, and wasn't broken until Anna smiled at him, mentioning the two of them getting cleaned up.
"You know what?" Axel said, smiling back, "You have a point, although I wouldn't mind your wearing the jacket a little more." He couldn't have said no if he tried.

"You have a point, although I wouldn't mind your wearing the jacket a little more."
Anna smiled up at him, a red hue forming once again over her nose and cheeks. Axel made her feel strange, her stomach lurched as if she was sick, however she didn't feel sick at all. Actually, she felt warm, and her heart pounded in her chest.
"Alright, let's go," she giggled as the pair mad their way down the hall, and pushed through the curtain into the baths.
She helped him to a bench, and backed away from him, "You can make yourself a leg again, I'll 've careful not to touch you," and she slipped off his coat, placing it next to him.
Now that she was standing next to him, alone and in her underwear, she began to feel extremely embarrassed. Axel seemed like the kind of guy that could have whoever he wanted...why would he even consider a girl like her?
For one, she is two years younger than he, and her figure is lacking.Glancing over I'm the mirror she scolded at her small bust, and tiny behind. Though she was slender, she didn't feel pretty at all...especially at the current state of pale she was cloaked in. Her hair seemed too long, and she never liked her glasses...
With a sigh she slipped behind the divider and stripped off her purple undergarments, and unbranded her hair before slipping into the water. Without her glasses on she was almost completely blind as she poked her head around the divider. She wanted to ask him if he had ever been in love before...if he had ever been with someone...if he had ever kissed a girl, however she couldn't bring herself to ask him such things.
What if he didn't feel the same way? What if he laughed in her face? Or even stopped wanting to be her friend. She was so unsure about the way she felt...and the last thing she wanted was to lose one of her only friends. So instead she told him with a shaky, unsure tone, "Um...your clothes are in my bag...and after we're done, maybe we can sit in the commons...and I don't know...watch a movie or something?"

Axel's leg reformed almost as soon as he sat down on the bench, and his head spun for a little bit as he dealt with the stress from having used the fullbody over that distance. He dropped his jeans, but left his boxers on for Anna's sake as he slid into the water on his side of the divider, feeling the mental pain slide away as he let himself relax in the hot, steaming water. He thought for a moment, and grabbed his jeans and the cut-off legs with his aura, then went about taking his aura and mending the pants as he sat next to the divider, thinking about Anna. She was a cute girl, and, well... He didn't even know how to describe that gut feeling he had around her that made him want to make sure she would be happy. He'd probably look it up later, if he didn't get an answer before that.
When he was finished with his little fixup, he focused for a brief moment, then snapped the aura off on the finished works, making a brief fix that would at least hold until he got back to the room. They say everybody has a sort of natural sixth sense, outside the ones we're dealing with, of course, that lets humans know when others are upset or confused or happy or whatever, and as he tossed his pants away, Axel, who, let's face it, was BUILT to study the applications of the sixth sense, got this feeling from Anna, mainly confusion and slight fear. If that didn't give away anything, her tone certainly did.
He thought as she asked him if he wanted to see a movie, and as he formed his aura after having heard her so close, he turned to give an answer, and found himself face-to-face with her. And as he jumped in surprise, his lips ended up meeting hers. Cupid, who had been aiming his arrow at Axel at that point, dropped his bow and went over to give Fate a good talking-to about time and place. Axel, who was himself quite surprised, blinked a little bit before breaking the silence.
"Well... That was... unexpected..." His purple tint because sort of a maroon as the red from his blush kicked in. "But yes. Yes, I'd love to watch a movie..."

It only lasted a moment, but the warmth and tingles shot through her veins the moment his lips touched hers. Her only reaction was to pull away, but the moment she did, she regretted doing so. Reaching over to the side of the bath she felt for her glasses, slipping them back on in enough time to see him blushing.
"Well... That was... unexpected......But yes. Yes, I'd love to watch a movie..."
The sight made her skin tingle once more, and she too began blushing. Quickly she turned to hide behind the divider, holding her fingertips up to her lips and pressing her hand to her chest. Her heart was pounding beneath her palm, and a smile spread across her face.
...My first kiss... she thought. The feeling had passed, but the memory was one she never wanted to forget. After a few moments she realized that he was, in fact, still on the other side of the barrier, and probalbly wondering why she was being so quiet. After composing herself she peeked back around and smiled at him,
"Okay, Let me just wash my hair and I'll be finished."

It didn't take her long to finish cleaning herself up, and she climbed out of the bath. After wearing the same uniform for years, it was easy for her to pull on everything and snap all the buttons quickly. In no time she was dressed, and braiding her hair as she waited for him to finish. Once he joined her at the door, she coyly slipped a gloved hand into his, and led him to the entertainment room.

Axel stared at the barrier between him and Anna for a few minutes, stuck there with his fingers to his lips.
"So that's what a kiss is like. Awkward things, those." he said aloud, though more to himself than anyone else. He smiled to himself as he finished washing up, then got out of the hot spring and created an aura, the water all flying off of his body to instadry him. After he'd gotten dressed, put on his coat, and walked out to meet Anna, he was a little surprised that she took his hand the way she did, but he didn't really find a need to complain. As they walked, he hummed a bit of an old Sinatra tune to himself, and smiled at Anna as they walked. Axel was finally beginning to understand what was going on, but only in the barest sense, and even then, he shook it off. As they entered the entertainment area, he looked through the available movies, and picked out three choices at random.
"Okay, do you want to see The Princess Bride, Blade Runner, or..." Axel looked at the title and winced, realizing what he'd just risked getting himself into, "Moulin Rouge." Don't get me wrong, Axel LIKED Moulin Rouge, but as a "No one's within 250 miles, better crack out the so-bad-it's-good guilty pleasure" kind of movie.

"Okay, do you want to see The Princess Bride, Blade Runner, or... Moulin Rouge."
Anna smiled as he hesitated, and approached him almost giggling as she took the case from his hands ans popped in the movie.
"Sound great to me."
As the screen filled with Technicolor credits she stepped around the the popcorn machine, filling a bag with hot popcorn, and salting it. She also grabbed a bag for him, though without nearly as much salt as she put on hers.
By the time she plopped down on the big, fluffy couch, a red windmill was turning on the screen, and music filled the room. Though it was one of her favorites movies, she was having a hard time concentrating on the screen. Her thoughts continued to wander to Axel, and their kiss. Without noticing, she sat munching and blushing, thinking about how much her life changed since she arrived.
She not only mad two friends, but they were both boys, something she never experienced back home. She had seen one naked, and kissed another. So far she had learned more about the male gender than she had about controlling her powers. Even so, she enjoyed the lessons.
Glancing over she caught his gaze, and instead of looking away as she usually did, she gave him a smile and popped another piece of popcorn in her mouth, licking the salt from her bare fingers.

Axel attempted to resist his little habit of singing along to the songs by taking a piece of his popcorn and popping it into his mouth, though he wished it would have been a little saltier. He broke at Your Song, and started humming along, until he ended up catching Anna's eye, at which point he blushed redder than Zidler's coat, taking a piece of her popcorn and eating it, much more satisfied with the saltiness of it.
"Sorry... Guilty pleasure." he said rather meekly, turning to face the movie again, his mind now slipping away from the characters on screen and more towards Anna. Why was it he felt obligated to be her friend right away? Moreover, why was he feeling like this at all? He'd been rather oblivious to the advances of women before, so... This was awkward for him... As the movie continued, his mind started running through why he liked this movie. The cinematography gave him a headache, the plot behind Sadine felt half-assed, and who the hell WAS the girl that tipped off the Lord? He shook his head as the el Tango de Roxanne started, and he shut up for it. This was one of the few scenes in any movie he couldn't find anything wrong with, and he wasn't going to be the one to stop watching it.

The visions of the movie dancing on the screen soon faded into darkness. Anna found herself drifting in a sea of darkness, floating aimlessly through empty space, enveloped in weightless bliss. Images of her face ebbed in the background. A deep blush formed across her face as she was surrounded by her own smile, and the sparkle in her eyes.
At first she thought she was floating in her own mind, her own thoughts. However her own thoughts never surrounded her own image. Thst must be Axel' s. The emptiness worried her, usually something solid and concrete was in everyone's mind, however it was as if he had been dropped on this earth merely yesterday....and Th only memories her had, were of her.
She was unsure whether she should be flattered or frightened, however, she never felt so beautiful. Seeing herself in his mind, it was as if she was flawless.
By the time she woke the credits were rolling across the screen, and popcorn had spilled all over the two of them, he too had fallen asleep. His aura was down, she realized that was how she could delve in his thoughts. He seemed so peaceful, and calm as he snoozed. Since she had already swam in his mind, she was free to rest her hand softly on his cheek. Carefully she ran her fingers across his cheek bone, and smiled before resting her head back on his chest. All she could do was smile, even though his lack of memories worried her, she was more than happy to create some with him instead.

Axel was dreaming of the lab now. His subconscious had never been truly wiped, and had been left to comprehend what was going on all by itself. It had tried reflecting itself into the real world by subliminal messages, brain in the vat theory, choosing movies that involve a scene of mixed identity and revealing they're not what they were first believed to be, and if he'd had more time awake, probably would have sent Axel back to the library for a copy of The Matrix, if only for the pod person scene. For now, it was giving him a dream from his creation, a frowning woman{Why was she frowning?} who had been watching his progress. It was a dull scene, her scratching something onto his clipboard{Probably about my leg...}, and then walking off. Axel tried to run to chase her, but he could get his foot on anything, and his aura fizzled in the tank(In the real world, his aura flickered back on for the slightest of moments.). There were bubbles everywhere, and he snapped awake, the dream now locked back into his subconscious, away from his thinking mind. His aura was the first thing to appear, and he opened his eyes, where he was coming back to him. The menu song was playing, and Anna was resting on his chest. He smiled a little, and placed his arm around her, holding her close on the couch. Whatever he had woken up from, at least he had Anna here...

Axel woke with a slight shutter beneath Anna, but she chose not to move. His body eminated heat from where she lay on him, and his chest rocked her slowly up and down. Though her eyes remained closed , She could feel him move beneath her, and his warm arm wrapped around her. Cuddling was unknown to her before, but with his purple aura slipped over him like a wetsuit, she felt comfortable being so close.
However she contemplated on the emotions she was feeling towards him. Why exactly did she enjoy his company so? Was it because she had true feelings for him? Or perhaps she simply enjoyed being close to someone like this? All she wanted was to be able to be near another person, to be able to touch a other without fear, but has this desire clouded her mind? Has he satisfied a craving she has had since childhood? Or actually effected her heart?
No matter the reason she felt safe with him, and pushed the questions aside, if only for a little while. Slowly she opened her eyes ans smiled at him, rubbing sleep from her face and repositioning her glasses on her nose.
"It seems we fell asleep,"[/size] She chuckled As she brushed popcorn off her skirt.
"Though I have to admit, I don't think I've ever slept better in my life. "[/size] Gathering her courage she leans up and gave him a peck on the cheek, bit left her face close to his, peering into his mysterious eyes.

Axel rubbed his lower back, wincing at the pain.
"Ugh, I could say otherwise... I had some weird dream that I can't remember anymore... Something about clipper ships or wakeboards, or something like that-" And promptly stopped as Anna kissed him on the cheek, blushing a bit, but not as much as before. He then looked into her eyes and kissed her on the lips again, quickly, but lingering for just a few moments.
"Buuuuuut I wouldn't mind falling asleep here again. Even if the couch isn't exactly fit for a princess to sleep on..." He knew she had probably ended up touching him at some point while they were asleep, but he let it pass, what she saw was what she saw.

Anna relished in the moment his lips were on his, and though it only lasted seconds it felt like an eternity. Her apprehension to around him slipped away as she curled up with him. A warm fire rolled wild in the hearth, combating the chill from the snow falling past the windows. Based on the weather, she knew going back outside wouldn't be an option, and she worried about the others out at the mansion.
" I hope the others are alright, they have been gone for so long..."
Eager to catch up on the lessons she missed, she hoped they would soon return. Especially Adrien, it had been so long since she experienced his goofy personality, and seen his smile.
"I miss my room mate, he can be silly at times but I think you will like him. I am not close to anyone else though...just you two.."
Hopefully with Axel around she would feel a little more confident around the others, thought it would take some time. However, Axel had successfully pulled her out of her shell. She wanted to know more about him, him but she was afraid to ask him... and his dreams were cryptic and bizarre. Unsure of what to do next, she looked up at him and asked, "So what would you like to do me? "