I11DT: Weeping Song

[Steve Jones]

Sometime after the disastrous breakfast, Steve awoke in his hiding place in one of the maze's many dead ends. Upon running there he had cried himself to sleep. Even now he felt weak, helpless, and scared.

I'd be better off if they had... at least then I wouldn't be a freak anymore.

Tears threatened to flow again and he tried to hold them back.

[Teri Napliotis]

There was a rustling somewhere in an adjacent path that slowly builds until Teri takes shape carefully perching on the hedge next to Steve.

"Are you okay?"

[Steve Jones]

"I'm..." he sniffed pitifully, "I'm fine."

[Teri Napliotis]

"You don't sound fine..." she says softly.

[Steve Jones]

"I just... I hate being a freak..."

[Teri Napliotis]

"Hmm... We found it's not that bad. Especially here were everyone is." she smiles.

[Steve Jones]

"It's just as bad here. Noone trusts telepaths and to most of them I'm just another brainless meathead," he said, anger mixed with sadness.

[Teri Napliotis]

"We don't think you are." she says, hopping down to the ground.

[Steve Jones]

"I don't have to go to classes with you."

[Teri Napliotis]

Teri frowns a little.

"What happened?"

[Steve Jones]

"I... my damn powers gave everybody my... my nightmare..."

[Teri Napliotis]

"And they blamed you for that?"

[Steve Jones]

"They will when they figure it out."

[Teri Napliotis]

"Can you see the future like that sphinx lady?"

[Steve Jones]

"I don't need to. It's just how it works."

[Teri Napliotis]

"With humans, maybe..." she muses.

[Steve Jones]

"Please. Mutants are no damn different. Just as petty and cruel as anyone else."

[Teri Napliotis]

"But just as friendly and compassionate too. And they know what it's like."

[Steve Jones]

"What what's like?"

[Teri Napliotis]

"Being like us. Being different."

[Steve Jones]

"That doesn't change what I showed them. I..." he said, tears forming.

[Teri Napliotis]

"Hey, don't cry... Dreams are just that. Nothing to worry about."

[Steve Jones]

"It... wasn't just a dream..."

[Teri Napliotis]

"Want to tell us about it? We're good at keeping secrets."

[Steve Jones]

He was quiet for a long moment. "Okay..."

"My friends on the football team ambushed me in the locker room and... and..." he said, trembling at the memory, "... they beat me up and almost killed me... and my powers showed me everything they felt while doing it."

[Teri Napliotis]

Teri kneels down next to him and gives him a hug.

[Steve Jones]

Steve responded by abandoning all pride and crying against her shoulder.

[Teri Napliotis]

"It's okay... You're safe here." she says, rubbing his back. Though it probably looks a little odd with Steve being quite a bit bigger than the bug-girl.