Fences (Negate)

[Negate]

He nodded. "True. I'm just different. My experiences here are my only experience on my own. Never met my real family, but I had friends, some more influential than others. Some I'd give anything to see again. And most here are unaccepting. It doesn't make any sense to me."


"Hey, how are you about reptiles?"

He looked at her. "Reptiles? Just fine," he answered. "Why?"

[Phoenix]

Ali grinned softly, reaching up to brush another strand of hair behind her ear. "Oh, no reason, just... I have a friend stopping by. Actually, he's already here and- ouch!" Jerking her hand back from the water, the young woman glared at the bay; she then glanced down at her fingertips, "Well, that's one way to get my attention, isn't it?"

"I beg yuh pardon," a male voice, thick with a notable Cajun accent, said as its owner, a large mutant alligator, popped his head above the surface of the water. His gentle yellow eyes rested onto the man Ali was sitting next to, "Bu' I have no desire t' be paraded 'round here like a-"

She swatted at his snout, then looked at Negate, "You were talking about family, and friends, well... This one's a little bit of both for me. He's my only friend, and a lot more like a brother to me than the family I never knew growing up. Negate, Leatherhead. LH, this is Negate."

"It be a pleasure."[/color]

[Negate]

Negate didn't bat an eyelash when Leatherhead showed himself. Why should he have? After all, he'd spent a good portion of his life with Scarab and Hellcat. The closest thing to actual parents he ever had, and also his closest friends. Actually, he was reminded a lot of Scarab. Except Leatherhead was an alligator, not a bug, and his accent was Cajun and not Spanish. Okay so they weren't that alike but they still brought back memories.

He brought himself back to reality as a tear almost welled up in his eye. He brushed it away. "Nice to meet ya, Leatherhead." He looked at him, then back at her. "I know the feeling. My best friends were the closest thing to parents I ever had." Okay, it was settled. Tonight, he'd drop by the hotel and see if Scarab and Hellcat had gotten sent here, though he highly doubted those two would ever fall to the Andidote.

[Phoenix]

Leatherhead nodded his head. "It be a pleasure,"[/color] he repeated. His tail whipped about, then moved to rest behind Ali's legs. "It be nearin' two houhs now, little one. Time fuh th' change, I do believe."[/color]

The woman gave a soft shiver, but nodded. She knew he was right; she had to save her extra two hours in case anything came up, or Leatherhead needed someone to run in and out of town. She was a fast little girl, especially when she knew her friend/brother needed something. Then she moved like hell.

"I can wait," she murmured, looking over at Negate. She had no desire to show off her "true form" at the moment. It was too... too early to show someone what she really looked like. She may have been comfortable around Leatherhead, but that was because she knew him. This man was new, a possible friend.

She looked at Negate, "Do you, um... stay around here?"

[Negate]

He sort of wondered what Leatherhead meant, but figured if it was his business, he'd find out soon enough. That's just the kind of person Negate was.

He sort of stammered when she asked if he stayed around here. In truth, he just slept wherever nowadays. Well, maybe that would change. After all, he used to live in a hotel. And if Scarab and Hellcat weren't there, he pretty much would have run of the place. If not....if not he'd have some amends to make. Though he'd prefer the second.

"Well...I don't live...anywhere...right now...but that's hopefully going to change. I used to live with some friends--also the closest thing to parents I ever had. They don't live very far--if they're here. I was thinking about checking on that later."

[Phoenix]

For some reason, his words made her eyes brighten, and her heart lift slightly. The boy deserved to have someone that looked after him, especially after all he had been through. He may not have known it, but Ali knew exactly what the Abnormal had been through, and she knew he deserved better.

"You, um... you should do that. If I know parental figures like I think I do, odds are they will welcome you back with open arms. They love you, after all. They'll be there for you." Her eyes dulled slightly, even as she remembered her mother. Well, her adopted mother. She had loved and cared for her as much as she possibly could, even if she had kidnapped her.

It was an odd relationship.

[Negate]

"Thanks," he said with a smile.

"That is, assuming they've been brought here. Honestly, I doubt it. I mean, those two taught me everything I know, but not everything they do." He chuckled. "But, I know without a doubt, if they are here, they didn't go quietly." He smiled; just remembering and sharing this information made him feel more confident. And something about Ali seemed to help a lot too.