FanFic: Nightcrawler

Chapter 1

The rain sloshed on the ground around her boots. The coat kept her dry for the most part inside, but her hands and boots were soaked making her growl in irritation as she flips drenched hair from her eyes. This would never have happened if only she could use her powers. Holding up a shield against the rain is nothing compared to shielding a couple of kids in a fire. She's more worried about her precious electronics in her backpack than getting a cold, well sort of. She tries hunching her shoulders as the torrential down pour transforms into a falling monsoon. Her boots scrapes against the gravel as she walks the path in the park, heading towards the twinkling city before her. Finally at the edge of the sidewalk she spots a lonely diner, glowing in the moonlight. Running through the rain, Nelliea pulls the door open and steps inside. She takes a deep breath at the warm air and glances at the crowd around her. Making her way down towards the end of the diner, she takes a seat at the counter facing the door as the only waitress and two old patrons watch her. Tough crowd. Taking her soaked coat off she shakes the loose water off and drapes it on the stool back as she sets her pack in the stool next to her. Before she sits she double checks her electronics, they all seem fine as she sighs getting into the stool. Using her hand to shake her hair, water droplets fly off, splattering the counter around her.

The waitress comes over with a half empty coffee pot in hand, "You orderin'?"

She stops before she answers and digs her wallet out her back pocket, snapping it open. Only $8...living the big life that's for sure. She looks up to see the waitress staring at her with her old winkled eyebrow raised as she puts a hand on a surely replaced hip.

Nelliea gives a weak smile, "Will $8 do?"

"That'll give ya a coffee and a burger. Our special." She clips out like an experienced waitress.

Nelliea slaps the bills on the counter, "Sounds good to me. Extra grease please."

Nelliea smiles at the small joke but the older woman merely pours her coffee. Guess she heard it before. She warms her hands around the mug as she starts to shiver, the cold of the rain catching up to her. As she sips the coffee, breathing in its warmth and smell, she looks at the diner around her. There's only what appears to be a truck driver in the far corner and an old black man reading the paper at the counter near the register. She wonders how late it is as she finds the clock on the wall. 12:38. Oh that's great, missing David Letterman. Nelliea's snapped back into attention as her burger's plopped down before her. She looks up to say thanks but the waitress had walked back into the kitchen and she glances another woman, closer to her age it seems, at the grill.

"THANKS!"

The patrons jump and stare at her hard as the waitress snaps her head back into the door window.

"Sorry."

Nelliea can't help but laugh. Not at the fact that she scared everyone, but at the so 'normal' response she got. As she stares down at her meal, her only thought is, It must be nice, to be so normal. The minutes pass as the burger disappears and she's working her third cup of coffee. The rain outside wasn't letting up anytime soon nor did she wish to leave the new found warmth she found. As she brings the cup up for another sip the bell rings alarmingly. Three stooges walk in, dragging in more mud, muck, and water than twenty pigs combined. Nelliea's eyes stone over as she takes in the scene before her. They were clearly trouble. All three wore more leather than a cow and had so much metal chains and piercings it was a wonder they weren't cyborgs.

The three walk to a booth leaving a river of mud and water behind them as Fatso slides in first. He slides back to the wall and leans against the window as he puts his boots on the seat, even tracking mud high up the back of the booth. Pierce, as Nelliea dubbed him from all the piercings in his head, slid in the other side and made room for Cigarettes. He already had one in his mouth, chewing it as they walked in, but as he sat he grabbed a mug and spit the butt into it, lighting another. Nelliea glares at them as the smoke clouds and gathers, and they create a ruckus clamoring for food. She sees the waitress behind the kitchen door, clearly afraid and before she has to make a decision the young cook comes out and stomps to the table as the other patrons try to become invisible. Cowards. She thought for sure the cook would snatch the cigarette from his mouth as she storms to them but merely spread her feet apart, putting her hands on her hips.

"You can't smoke in here."

The three stooges finally shut up as they turn to stare at the young cook and Cig says, "Psh, shut up bitch."

Fatso puts his feet down and slides towards the cook grabbing her hand as she panics, "Hey cutie. Why don't you leave this dump and come with us. Maybe you could keep us warm during this cold night."

"What you forgot how to touch yourselves?"

Everyone stills as they stare at Nelliea. The stooges glare with murderous intend as Cig gets up from the booth, "Wanna say that again bitch."

"What you so stupid you couldn't understand what I said?" Nelliea leans back in the stool and puts her hand on her chest with mock concern on her face, "Oh I'm so sorry I should of known! You're too stupid to read the 'NO SMOKING' sign and even though they made a pretty picture of a cigarette with an 'X' on it, you still couldn't get the message. I should of known you were such morons! I'm so sorry, baby want a kiss?"

Nelliea gives mock kisses to the air as they visibly glow red with anger. Fatso throws the cook aside as he gets up and storms towards her with Cig not far behind. Pierce seems to be the smartest of the bunch and takes his time getting up but follows nonetheless. As Fatso runs towards her, she steps on the bar underneath the stool and stands up as she kicks Fatso in the nuts. She supports her other foot on the bar next to her and punches Cig's lights out. She jumps over their limps bodies and poses for attack as Pierce comes with full force. With a quick jab to the gut Nelliea spins as Pierce falls and digs her elbow into his back. With his two buddies on top of him, Fatso's unable to move and goes about screaming threats at Nelliea. She gives him a quick kick in the face and shuts him up. All done she turns and sees everyone stunned and unmoving. Bending down, Nelliea takes their wallets and grabs the bills. For a split second she thought of pocketing the money but knew she couldn't. She stuffs the bills back inside and grabs her pack as she throws her coat on. Walking towards the cook, Nelliea gives her a kind smile as she puts the wallets in her hands.

"Here, you could use the money more than I could. And you should call the cops before they wake up. Also keep their licenses in case the cops don't get here in time, at least you'll have their identities till then."

Giving her hand, stuffed with wallets, a quick squeeze and a smile, Nelliea walks out into the cold dark dreary night. Putting her pack on she turns the collar up against the wind forming and takes a right.

She's halfway down the block before she hears behind her, "THANK YOU!"

Nelliea only waves in response as she disappears into the night.