Ororo sat in the booth Hank lead her too feeling ashamed and dejected. Her breathing had returned to normal, and the adrenaline was fading from her system making her feel exhausted.
She traced small circles on the table, her head bent low, when she caught something out of the corner of her eye.
A young boy, no older then ten was running around the corner outside. Crying. He looked scared.
“Come on…come on… just get up dammit and check on the ki- there we go.”
Emma stood hidden among the thick foliage watching the girl look around the diner and finally leave the store, running after the small boy that wasn’t really there. It hadn’t been hard. A quick peek inside the girl’s mind showed protective tendencies. Should’ve learned it’s every one for themselves. Now you have to learn the hard way.The image of the crying boy ran past where Emma crouched, trying to keep the white suit from getting dirty. If there was one thing Emma hated, it was being dirty. The things I do for Shaw… He was the only one she would go trudging though the woods for. Because what Shaw wants, Shaw gets. She tried to keep the bitterness out of her thoughts as she stood, brushing the dark dirt from her pant legs.
The image had led the girl- Aurora? Orozco? Ororo! That was it- into a clearing far from the diner, curling up on the edge of the opening, pulling it’s knees to it’s chest. Emma walked into the clearing, positioning herself between the diner and Ororo before the image shimmered and disappeared. Plastering a serene and soft smile on her face, she said quietly, “I’m sorry I had to trick you. I couldn’t see any other way to get you by yourself.”
She followed the boy out into the clearing, approached him as he crouched, hugging his knees “Hey…what’s wrong?” she asked softly but just as she moved to place her hand on his shoulder he shimmered out of existence.
Ororo stared at the spot where the boy had been for a second, confused, when she heard woman’s voice.
She spun on the spot, her hair flying “Who are you?” she demanded. Get me alone? She wasn’t a suspicious person by nature, but she also knew how to survive on her own. And Ororo knew a trap when she saw one. Quietly she summoned a tiny bit of lightening to her hands “What do you want?”
Emma held her hands up in a non-threatening gesture, “Hey, I just want to talk to you.” Don’t even try it, kid. Emma lowered her hands and gave Ororo a smile, “Nice talent, by the way. I’m Emma, Ororo. And I’m a friend.” The words fell easily from her lips, taught to her by Shaw. Gain her trust, right, Shaw? Emma had slowly made her way closer to Ororo, the soft smile still on her face until she stood in front of her. She held out a hand and smiled, ‘It’s nice to meet someone as talented as you, Ororo. Or should I call you Ro?’
Ororo made the lightening fizzle out on one hand to take Emma’s and jumped a little when she heard the woman’s voice in her head “You have telepathy then?” she asked. “You can call me Storm.”
“Telepathy and then some,” she said as she shook her hand, “And Storm it is.” Emma’s hand dropped to her side and she nodded to the place where the apparition of the boy had been. Her voice took on a tone of feigned understanding, “You were concerned about him- about his well being- and you didn’t even know him.” Pause for effect and… ”There are those that want to hurt people like us, like your friends,” she nodded towards the diner, “because of who they are. Different. You’d do anything to ensure that didn’t happen, wouldn’t you?”
“Really?” Ororo asked, sarcasm dripping for her voice “I had no idea.” she took glanced at the Diner Hank where are you? “I’m sorry, is there something you wanted from me?”
Emma's smile faltered and her face settled into her normal cold, aloof, expression. She didn't have the unwavering patience with the impertinence like Shaw did. Emma was more straight forward. "Look. You're on the wrong side of this. You might want to reconsider where your loyalties lie." She turned and started slowly circling Storm, "Our numbers are few and far between. Why shouldn't we work together? We," Or rather, Shaw, she corrected mentally, "are offering you the chance to join us."
