Luke jumped up on the coffee table, "And just when I opened the door, I came face to face with—" he paused for dramatic effect, "a giant robot dog!" He loomed over the others sitting on the couch.
Tony gasped, "Did he have big claws?"
Luke: "Like giant fork tines!"
Tony: "Can we call him Claw? It's the perfect super villain name!"
Lori: "Simple, but effective. I like it,"
August: "And then what happened?"
Luke: "I fought him off, while Lori and Gio snuck into the back of the truck and freed Shirley, but just as the robot pushed me back, Simone tried to jump into the action. She leaped right at him, but he swatted her away like a fly. Luckily, I was there to catch her."
Lori: "I don't remember that happening,"
Luke: "You were distracted, now shut up and let me finish my story."
Lori: "What else is there to say? We rescued the mutants and offered to let them stay with us, but they decided they were better off on their own and left to who knows where,"
Luke: "Yes, but it's less exciting when you put it that way,"
Vinny: "Where do you think they are now?"
Talon: "Wherever they are, hopefully they're safe."
Lori looked over at Gio's door. "He's been in there awhile. I should check on him," she said as she stood up and walked over.
Inside Gio's room: "Just one more drop..." Gio held an eye dropper delicately above a beaker of bubbling purple liquid.
"Gio!" Lori shouted and knocked loudly.
"Ah!" Gio stumbled and almost dropped the beaker. "Lori..." he grumbled.
"Gio!" Lori continued to pound on the door.
"I don't think he can hear you," Tony popped up behind her, "try yelling louder,"
"Ok!" She took a deep breath, "Gi—" suddenly the door opened.
"What? What do you want?" Gio yelled.
Lori: "You haven't left your room in two days, we were getting worried,"
Tony: "Yeah, what have you been doing in there?"
Gio sighed, "Well, if you must know, I've been working on an anti-mutagen,"
Lori: "A what?"
Gio: "Remember those two mutants we helped at the zoo? Inside the van, I found vials of mutagen. The same mutagen that created us. So I've been working tirelessly to create a cure. So we can be human and live normally,"
Lori: "I've never thought about becoming human again. I guess I was just ok with living the rest of my life as a mutant, but now... oh, don't you dare get my hopes up,"
Tony: "I don't even know what it's like to be human. What do humans do? Hang out with friends in public during the day? Take selfies and post them online? Taxes?"
"Why is Tony yelling about taxes?" Luke asked, walking up to Gio's door with Talon in tow. She tilted her head, curiously.
Lori: "Gio says he's been working on an anti-mutagen! He's going to make us human!"
Gio: "I don't even know if it'll work. I haven't tested it yet,"
"Then please allow me to test it for you," Talon volunteered.
Gio: "What? Why would you be willing to test something so dangerous?"
Talon: "Because I trust you and even if it doesn't work, I'd rather something happen to me than all of you,"
Gio hesitated, "Well... alright, only if you're sure...." He took off his goggles and went back inside, only to come out a few seconds later with a small vial of purple liquid. "If I did this right, this will turn you back into a human, but I'm not sure about any side effects or what could happen if I did something wrong and—"
Lori: "Quit stalling already and let her try it!"
Gio: "Alright!" He handed Talon the vial and she sniffed it. Not smelling anything potentially poisonous, she tipped her head back and drank. The purple liquid quickly disappeared.
"How do you feel?" Lori asked.
"Not any different. At least not yet. I feel—" Talon gasped as felt a shift in her muscles.
"It works!" Luke breathed as Talon's feathers began to fall away revealing a human face beneath. Her talons turned into human feet, but after her legs appeared, the transformation stopped and Talon was left with a half feathered face and wings for arms. Her large torso was slightly slimmer, but still covered in feathers and her beak opened and closed as she tested her muscles to make sure everything still worked. She was still Talon, but she looked just a little more human now.
Gio screamed, "Agh! It's still incomplete! I'm a failure!"
"Hey, don't say that," she put a wing around her son, "look at how far you've come. You've done so much more than I thought was possible. I am so proud of you. Now help me clean up these feathers and let's have some food before you starve."
After eating and cleaning up, the cats had calmed down from the recent event and began asking each other inane questions.
Gio: "That's a tough one, but I think I'd be Batman,"
Lori laughed, "But he's so serious,"
Gio: "Exactly. He's dark and mysterious and has all those gadgets. The only difference between me and him is that he's rich,"
Lori: "Does that make Tony your boy wonder?"
Gio: "If he can keep up,"
Lori: "If I were a superhero, I'd be Wonder Woman,"
Gio: "You can't be Wonder Woman."
Lori: "What? Why? I'm a woman. I'm strong and brave ! And I want to help—"
Gio : "Cause you'd never leave a island full of women."
Lori paused, "You're right. I can't be Wonder Woman."
Tony: "What about you, Luke?"
Luke: "Easy, Superman. He's the best,"
Gio gave a thumbs down and stuck his tongue out, "Lame,"
Luke: "Ok, next question: would you date a guy shorter than you?"
Lori: "No,"
Luke: "Well that's a little shallow, don't you think?"
Lori: "Luke, I'm a lesbian."
Tony: "You and August are both lesbians? Ah, you two should date!"
Lori: "I'm not going to date August just because she's the only other lesbian I know. We're friends and it's going to stay that way,"
Tony: "Aww..."
Lori: "Speaking of dating.... Hey, Luke, when are you going to ask out Vinny?"
Luke spit out his coffee, "Excuse me?"
Lori: "Come on, it's so obvious that you have a crush on him,"
Luke: "I do not!"
"Really?" Lori smirked, "Hey, Vinny! Come join us!"
Luke: "I have to gay—I mean go!"
Vinny walked up to the table, just as Luke left.
Vinny: "What's up with him?"
Lori: "Nothing, so tell us, Vinny, what kind of girls, or guys," she added in quickly, "are you into?"
Vinny: "Me? I don't know, I kinda like the dark mysterious type. Maybe because I'm kind of a lone wolf myself,"
Gio: "Oh, that reminds me, about that note that you sent me,"
Vinny: "What are your thoughts?"
Gio: "The fourth sentence,"
Vinny: "Yeah, that's where it gets pretty emotional and—"
Gio: "You forgot a comma,"
Vinny grabbed the note, "Hm, let me work on this," he said as he left.
Gio: "See, I'm smarter than that. Unlike you guys, I avoid awkward stuff like that by just not developing feelings in the first place,"
"You're a paragon of virtue," Lori said, sarcastically.
"But everyone has feelings, unless they're a—" Tony gasped, "Are you a robot?"
Gio: "If I were, I'd program a bioengineer database so I'd be able to figure out how to make the perfect anti-mutagen,"
Lori placed hand on his shoulder, "Hey, we all know that you're working as hard as you can and we know that you'll figure it out one day, but we aren't in any rush to become human, so take it easy on yourself,"
Gio pushed her hand away, but when he turned to look at her, his features softened and he sighed. "You're right,"
Later...
August: "Hey, is anyone else hungry?"
Gio: "I could eat,"
August: "Can anyone here cook?"
Gio: "I'm skilled in the culinary art of microwaving,"
August: "What is all that crinkling, I hear?"
Lori: "My lunch. Chips, candy, and a nice refreshing soda to wash it all down,"
August: "You can't live on that stuff. Why don't you come around to my house and I'll cook you dinner?"
Lori: "What are you cooking?"
August paused, "Chicken nuggets,"
Lori laughed, "I do like chicken,"
August smiled, "You can help me study. I have a big math test coming up,"
Lori: "I'm not sure how much help I'll be, but Mom did teach us quite a bit,"
August: "It'll be great. We can study at my house, but only on one condition;" she said, sarcastically, "you're not allowed to fall in love with me,"
Lori rolled her eyes, "Ha, won't be a problem,"
Vinny stood up and stretched, "Well, this has been fun, but I have to go to work now,"
August: "Oh yeah, I heard you got a new job,"
Vinny: "I still work at the gas station, this is just a part time gig at the animal hospital,"
Tony looked up, excitedly. "Animal hospital?"
Lori leaned over, "The animals are the patients,"
"That makes sense," Tony visibly deflated.
Vinny: "I'm saving up for a motorcycle,"
August: "Will you walk me home?"
"Of course, later guys," Vinny saluted and left with August.
Later that night...
Gio: "I don't know what you did to the bathroom, but it stinks,"
Lori: "I just sprayed perfume!"
Gio: "Since when do you wear perfume?"
Lori: "Since they started selling lilac scented perfume at Macy's, now shut up,"
Gio: "Is this because you have a date with August?"
Lori: "It's just a study date, nothing remotely romantic going on,"
Gio rolled his eyes, "Right... well, have fun,"
Lori stuck out her tongue, "I will," then she stopped and thought for a moment. Turning to Luke and Tony, she said, "On the off chance that I do want to impress a girl, what should I do?"
Tony (excitedly): "Oh! I know! If you want to get a girl to like you, you have to do something romantic for her,"
Luke: "For example, if she falls and hurts herself, try picking her up and carrying her to the nearest infirmary,"
Luke fell dramatically and Tony tried to hold him up, but Luke was too heavy and they both ended up falling over each other.
Lori: "I think it was a bad idea asking you two for advice,"
~
Lori: "Hey, August! I'm here for our study date,"
August: "Lori? Are you coming in through the window? My parents are out for the night, you can come in through the door like a normal person."
Lori: "But I'm not a normal person, remember?"
August: "That's right, sorry."
Lori: "Don't be, I'd forget too if I didn't look at myself in the mirror everyday,"
August laughed, "Do you consider yourself pretty?"
Lori: "Of course! I'm the best looking cat out of all my brothers, because I actually know how to take care of my looks,"
August: "Am I pretty?"
Lori: "You're beautiful!"
August: "I am?"
Lori: "Did I say that too quickly?"
August: "No, it's fine. Sometimes I wish I still had my sight, so I could see what you and your brothers look like, but I do have other senses." She reached out a hand, "Do you mind?"
"Oh no, not at all," Lori leaned forward and August ran a hand down the side of her face and up to her ear. It twitched at the sensation.
August: "Sorry,"
Lori: "Y-you're fine—I mean, it-it's fine,"
August: "We should start studying,"
Lori: "R-right,"
Together they sat and cracked open a couple of algebra books. Lori watched intently as August traced her long, slender fingers over the Braille. August read aloud as her hand brushed over the raised dots in rapid succession. Each page turning in the silence. "Oh, I should turn on some music. It's awkward just studying in the quiet like this, isn't it?"
Lori shook her head, as if she was in a trance. "Y-yeah, sure, sounds great,"
August felt around the top of her dresser and found the CD player sitting on the edge and pressed play. Soon the room was filled with the sound of soothing music. It was a nice distraction from whatever was going on in Lori's head. Unlike August, she was having a hard time focusing on the studying part of the study date. She couldn't help but notice how pretty August was. She was surprised that the girl didn't already have a partner at this point. Not only was she pretty, but she was perhaps the nicest person that Lori had ever met. Oh no, Lori thought, there's a problem.
Lori suddenly stood up, "I have to go,"
August: "What? But we just started,"
"I'm really sorry, but something came up. My brothers... started a house fire, I gotta go save them!"
August: "Oh no, should I come and help?"
"No!" Lori said, a little too quickly. "No, just stay here and continue studying and everything will be alright, I promise," as she turned to leave, she whispered, "I hope...."
~
Lori: "Hey, Luke, if one of us liked a human, would that be considered beastiality even though we're half human?"
Luke: "Lori, it's three in the morning, go to your own room and go to sleep,"
Lori: "But these are pressing questions that need answers! Do mutants date? How willing are humans to date outside their species? And how would that even work? How do humans—"
Luke: "That's it," Luke got out of bed and pushed Lori out the door. "Go.To. Bed." He slammed the door.
~
August: "Are you sure you're ok? You've been acting weird since yesterday,"
Lori sighed, "I promise I'm fine. I'm just... working out some personal stuff and it might take awhile, but I'll get over it,"
August reached out a hand and Lori hesitated, but eventually she took it in hers and held it for a moment. "I don't know what it's like to be a mutant, but I want you to know that if there's anything I can do to help, I... I would do anything for you and your family. You've already helped me so much, I want to repay the favor."
Lori smiled and as they started to walk, August tripped on the sidewalk and twisted her ankle. She almost fell to the ground, but Lori caught her.
August: "Heh, thanks. And just when I thought I was getting used to this whole being blind thing,"
Lori: "You're hurt, let me help you,"
August: "Oh, it doesn't hurt that b—"
Lori picked her up.
August: "Eep! Wow, you're uh, really strong,"
Lori: "No, you're just really light, that's all!"
As soon as they reached August's house, Lori wasn't sure what to do.
August: "Uh, you can put me down now,"
Lori: "Right,"
August: "Thanks,"
Lori: "No problem,"
August: "See ya tomorrow?"
Lori: "Sure,"
August: "Good night,"
Lori: "Night,"
As soon as August stumbled inside her house, Lori collapsed into a puddle of goo.
~
Talon: "By the way, Gio, there's someone here for you,"
Gio: "For me?" He looked at her confused, until she stepped aside and behind her was Jasper.
"Jasper!" Gio shouted, "Where have you been? The others have been worried about you,"
Jasper began signing, but Gio didn't understand it all.
Talon: "He says, 'I'm sorry for leaving without letting you know why or where I was going, but I just couldn't stay cooped up in here. I need freedom, even if that means a little danger,'"
Gio sighed, but he understood. After that talk with Simone and Shirley, Gio knew it was wrong to try and keep mutants hidden away. Gio dug into his bag, "If you're going to go off on your own, at least stay in touch. Here, I made a phone-like device with texting capabilities so you can contact us in case you ever need help," Gio explained as he handed the device to Jasper.
Jasper smiled as he found the text feature and wrote 'Thank you' with a little smiley face next to it.
"Y-you're welcome," Gio stuttered. He was taken aback by how fast Jasper had figured out how to use the phone, despite not being around technology very much.
He began texting again, "I also left to get you something. Here," and he handed Gio an amber stone and at its center was a ladybug. "After hearing your story about your bad luck, I thought about this. It was my good luck charm that kept me safe from the A.M., maybe it will also bring you some good luck,"
Gio: "You went out and got this... for me? That's... really nice of you. I don't know what to say,"
Jasper began texting again and as soon as he hit send and Gio looked down to read the message, he was gone. Gio felt somewhat sad when he looked back up to see he wasn't there, but he smiled to himself when he reread the message.
"Thanks for all you've done. I'll never forget you, love Jasper."
