A Journey Starts... (PG-13)

Briana sat on the ground in the garden, holding her knees to her chest. The air was brisk, but it didn't bother her. She was clad in jeans and a light blue sweater that could be seen peeking out from the collar of her denim jacket. The sheepskin-lined collar of her jacket was folded over a black and white scarf looped loosely around her neck and light tan boots covered her feet. Before exiting her room, she had grabbed a grey knitted hat and placed it on her head after tucking her blonde hair behind her ears. She was seeking solitude, sort of, so she didn't care if her green and grey eyes were visible or not.

Briana's mind was as blank as it could be given her mutations. With a sigh, she simply listened to the quiet around her and let the breeze run it's fingers through her hair. Resting her chin on her knees, she had a fleeting thought that maybe it was a mistake coming here. Sure she was different, like all the others at the school, but the looks were still the same. Briana was normally proud of her mutations, even if they were a pain at times, but receiving the same kind of treatment she had received at her 'normal' school didn't make it easy...

Fallon grabbed her superman hoodie and placed it on, pulling it down so it went to her knees. Hiding her face behind the hood, she quickly walked to quietest place in the Institute. The garden which had lately become her frequent spot. Her bare feet softly touched the grass and the cold air licked at her toes causing a smile to grow on Fallon's face. This was her season. It was nearly christmas and the cold didn't affect her at all due to her powers and her golden eyes flickered around the garden to land on one of the girls that was late to class. She's not covering her eyes like she was before...Grey and green. Beautiful and odd. She thought to herself before walking over to the old cherry blossom tree. 

Sadness overwhelmed her as there was a note on the tree saying 'Hey Freak. Nice spot....not.' and Fallon growled softly before touching the piece of paper, freezing it and burning it. Looking down at the part she'd usually sit, she noticed they had burned the ground so now there was just mud. ''Pathetic..'' She muttered and sat on the opposite side where Briana could actually see her. ''Hey...you're Briana right? Did you see anyone come in here since you've been here?'' She asks with a bite of her lip. Her voice was soft and carried in the wind but there was a slight hoarseness from how silent she has been as of late. Her head tilted with curiosity as she tried to read the girl before her. Beautiful..quiet and seems friendly. I wonder if we'll become friends like Silus and I or even Vally and I. God knows what me and Kronos are. But yeah...I wonder...She let herself get lost in her thoughts and her molten gold eyes sparkled with interest.

Briana's eyes snapped up as she was addressed by an unfamiliar voice. She had been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't even noticed someone else walk up to where she was. Hey...you're Briana right? Did you see anyone come in here since you've been here? She vaguely thought she remembered the girl, but couldn't place her at all. Lifting her head from her knees, she let them fall so she was now sitting cross-legged on the ground. "Yeah, that's me. And, no. No one has been here since I came. Why do you ask?" Briana asked. The girl was pretty, even with an over-sized hoodie on. Briana was immediately taken with her eyes. They were different, kind of like how hers were different. Her voice, while slightly worn it seemed, also added to her loveliness.

Fallon smiled as Briana confirmed she was right. ''Nice to meet ya. Oh and just some idiots in the Institute don't really like me. They know i sit by this tree but they burned my spot. Bit rude if i must say so.'' She said with a wave of her hand. ''A friend of mine told me i shouldn't let them walk all over me like i used to...Perhaps i'll put that into play one day.'' She laughed lightly, feeling oddly...comfortable with the girls presence. Usually so hesitant and shy, Fallon felt confident and safe in this girl's presence. No warning bells were flying around which was definitely a good sign. ''May i ask...why you are alone?'' She inquires with a shyish smile.

Briana made a small laugh at the girl's comment about some of the idiots here. "I know what you mean..." she said quietly. "I hope you can still sit here even if they damaged the area," Briana said with a small smile. Hearing about the girl's friend and the advice he or she offered, she nodded and wished that she had someone like that to talk to. "Your friend is right. One shouldn't let others walk all over oneself. But, sometimes it's easier to just not say anything than make more of a scene by saying something," Briana offered. When the girl asked why she was here alone, Briana shrugged and looked away. "Guess those same idiots got on my nerves and I just wanted to get away... What about you?" she asked.

Fallon shrugged. ''It is winter anyway...I guess the change to the ground will do it good. It was getting messed up anyway from how much i sat there...'' Shrugging again, she nodded. ''This whole thing to them is a game...That is true though. It'll be getting myself in more trouble...'' Laughing lightly, she smiled and tilted her head. ''They're quite annoying and the gardens are the best place to go....They always try to touch me. To see if my powers really are unstable...I don't do touch.'' She admitted, pulling her knees up to her chest whilst she waved her hand in the air causing what looked like fire shaped snowflakes to fall from her finger tips and as it touched the floor, it turned into ice like it's meant to be. ''They really are pathetic in some ways...but hey. I'll let them have their fun..for now. Briana? If they annoy you again, come find me..please.'' She offered with a kind smile before gasping. ''How rude of me. I'm F-Fallon...'' She smiled again.

"Fallon... It's nice to meet you. You can call me Bri, if you like," Briana said with a smile. "You don't do touch? Why?" she asked as she watched the firey snowflakes fall and turn to ice as they landed on the ground. "Wow.... That's....beautiful," she said brightly. She had never met someone with powers like that, and it was stunning. If they annoy you again, come find me..please... Briana waved a hand in the air at her request. "I'm used to it. I mean, when you look like...well, me..." she said with a small motion to her eyes, "You kind of get used to it. I think it's just being in a new place where I don't know anyone and trying to find my way... And my powers.... Well, the one doesn't help either...." Briana didn't know what made her say all those things to this girl she just met, but it felt good to finally have someone kind to talk to. "But, thanks...." she added with a soft smile.

Fallon smiled. ''Bri...I like that. Call me Fall or Fally.'' She offered and stared at the ground. ''Because i can hurt people. My power may look beautiful to people but i'm unstable. My ice is so cold..it burns.'' She admitted and touched a leaf that was on it's way to fall. It froze and disintegrated, the ash of it falling on Fallon's hand. She heard Briana explain about herself, she shook her head. ''There is no problem with your eyes, Bri..Mine are naturally hazel but my powers change them. It's the only part i can really control. My emotions change it too.'' She admitted and sighed. ''I understand what you mean though. People act as if powers are controllable but we are young...It's hard to control things that can be out own demise.'' Fallon mused and smiled, waving off the thanks.

Briana smiled and nodded when Fallon told her of the nickname she could use with her, since Briana told her of her own. Hearing Fallon talk about her powers made Briana think that her powers weren't nearly as bad as they seemed some times. What the girl said was only confirmed when she unleashed her power on a falling leaf that burned and turned to ask before her eyes. Looking at Fallon's golden eyes she smiled. Eyes were the windows to the soul, and if her changed with her power and her emotions, then her eyes were even more beautiful than she thought at the start. "It's not even that we are young and can't control them...." she began before pausing and looking away. "Sometimes, they just can't be controlled no matter what you do..." Briana said with a sigh.

Fallon sighed. ''I like to believe it's the age...so people can understand that we're too young for everything that's happening. Our mutation forces us to grow up but this cure...I'd never take it. Ever. I know i'd never be the same without it.'' She admitted with a shrug. ''But you are right. Our powers can be uncontrollable. It's like taking baby steps. Ya gotta keep working at it before you get the hang of it.'' She mused, leaning against the tree. ''The way you speak...suggests you can't really control your own, Bri?'' Fallon raised her eyebrow and tilted her head.

Briana had heard of this cure, and she was under the same impression as Fallon. "I'd never take it. Not ever. My powers are part of me. I just don't know what it would be like to be without them," she said looking up at Fallon with a smile. When she mentioned that Briana seemed like she could control her powers, she touched her nose, meaning Fallon figured it out. "I can control one, but the other.... It just has a mind of its own and does as it wills, when it wills," she said. Briana looked at one of the white rocks on the ground by the tree Fallon was sitting next to and raised her hand. Pointing her finger in the direction of the stone, she made an up motion and the stone rose into the air. With a smile, Briana moved the stone so it was right in Fallon's line of sight and gracefully raised her eyebrows as her smile grew.

Fallon pulled her knees up to her chest and nodded slowly, sinking into her thoughts for a short while. She snapped out of her trance and her lips curved up in a small smile. ''Thinking about it...I'd probably be the same but feel..empty.'' She mused, running a hand through her messy hair. Seeing Briana tap her nose, she realized she was right. ''I can't control either...so i guess you just up'ed me.'' Fallon smirked whilst laughter danced in her hazel eyes. 

Following Briana's gaze, she watched as a white stone went before her eyes. Tilting her head, Fallon touched it as it floated in the air. ''Telekinesis. Just like one of our professors.'' She said softly and looked around to see if no one was there and she slowly raised her hand and wriggled her fingers. Snowflakes fell from her fingertips and landed gracefully on Fallon's legs only to disappear instantly, instead of gradually melting. Slowly fire fell from her fingers in different shapes and disappeared before they fell on the ground. ''That's just one...There are rare moments when i can control it but...my skin will always be ice cold or on rare occasions, boiling hot.'' Fallon simply shrugged as if it didn't bother her but deep inside, it did, it hurt massively. It made her incapable of touch.

Briana nodded as Fallon got her one power correct and that one of the professors shared the same power. She smiled and leaned forward curious as first snow and then fire fell from her fingertip. As she explained what this power did to her as an side-effect, Briana ran through her memories of what the pamphlets had said about the different mutations that were common among mutants from the office where she was looked at as a young girl. "Cyro-pyrokinesis, right?" she asked. Moving a little closer to the girl, Briana dared to ask, "What's your other power?" If Fallon had this one that she may or may not be able to control, what other power did she have?

Fallon sighed and nodded as she got the name of her power. "Yeah...blasted power.." She whispers under her breath. Seeing Briana move closer to her, she smiled slightly. Nervous about explaining, she shuffled and avoided eye contact. "Pathokinesis. I can change peoples emotions..." She admitted and shrugged slightly. "Whats your other one?" She inquires.

Change people's emotions? Wicked! Briana noticed that Fallon seemed to keep from making eye contact with her, and wondered if it might have had something to do with her other power. "Is that why you don't look people in the eye when you talk to them?" she asked with a small smile. When she asked about her other power, Briana pulled her knees up and held them close. She was always leery about talking about her other power. It was thanks to it that her family fell apart and she left for New York. But, since they were sharing, and maybe becoming friends, she figured why not...

Briana took a deep breath and said quietly, "They call it Precognition. I have visions of things that can or will happen." Cautiously bringing her duel-colored eyes up to Fallon, she gave a painfully shy smile and rested her chin on her knees. Maybe Fallon would be different from the others that she had told about this power. She could only hope...

Fallon sighs and nods. ''Yeah...I did it to my father once. Before i knew about the power...H-he was so happy and we were in the car with my mum...someone was next to me but i don't know who. I don't remember...I changed his emotion. He got super depressed instantly and we were passing over a bridge. He drove off...I survived obviously but...not the others..'' Fallon told Briana, looking away and wriggling her fingers to watch the snow flakes fall. More like Crash and Burn...She thought to herself.

As Briana explained, Fallon watched her. ''I've heard of that...I'd say it's a cool power but...i guess it's not as you were nervous to tell me. Something happened, didn't it?'' She inquires with a small smile, an understanding one. ''Bri...No need to be shy with me. Really...We're the same and no matter what, i'll help ya. I understand you or i at least try to..'' She said softly, still wriggling her fingers.

Briana smiled an understanding smile at Fallon as she told about how she discovered her ability to changed emotions and the disaster that followed soon after. "I'm sorry to hear that Fall," she said with a sympathetic smile. It was a story that was becoming more and more common. Family members perishing as a result of their mutant children's powers. Her eyes softened as she watched more snowflakes fall from her fingers. They really were quite beautfiul...

Something happened, didn't it? Briana looked at Fallon and then at the ground in front of her. She nodded with a shrug. "It has it's moments, but I try not to talk about it because more often then not, others just don't understand. Sure, I can see things, but it's not very often that I know what they mean until whatever it is comes to pass or gets close to happening. It's hard to be proud of a power you have when others see you as a freak and call you such. As if they are any better than the rest of us...." she offered. Looking up at Fallon, Briana took a deep breath and told her about her family... "My power took my family from me, too. Just not in the same way as yours. When I was 14, I had been having this reoccuring vision for days. It showed my dad being unfaithful with one of his secretaries. I finally had enough and went to talk to him about it. He, or course, denied the entire thing whether his daughter had 'visions' or not. It turned into a huge fight and he ended up....striking me...hard. That night, I took all the money I had saved up, left a note for my mom about the whole thing, and took off...." Briana said, letting her knees fall to the sides so she was sitting cross-legged. "They haven't looked for me or tried to find me.... Forgive me for not being super open about my power, Fall. Get burned one too many times and you tend to be leery about talking about it..." she said when a soft smile.

Fallon shrugged at the apology. ''I'm not saddened by it....I don't remember them. Everything on that day and before are missing from my mind. Not that i mind...I mean if i remembered, i'd be a giant mess.'' She smiled reassuringly. 

Staring at Briana whilst she stared at the floor, Fallon listened with great care. ''Bri...you shouldn't pay attention to what other people think. When your power improves, you can save peoples lives!'' She said with her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, an emotion that has not been in Fallon's eyes for years. Listening to the story, Fallon couldn't help but sigh at the fact her parents didn't bother trying to find Briana. ''Your 'family' is missing out. Your dad is also an asshole for doing that to you and your mother...'' Wanting to comfort Briana, she moved her hand to take Briana's but she quickly placed it back on her lap remembering she couldn't. ''I understand what you mean...Then again...i never really talk to anyone.'' A grin formed on Fallon's face as she leans against the tree.

When your power improves, you can save peoples lives! A small glimmer sparked in Briana's eyes at the thought. She could. Fallon was right... If she thought about it, she could even start saving lives now. Too bad sometimes the vision are so cryptic you don't figure them out until it's too late. "I try to not let what people say bother me. I mean, that's why I don't give them the opportunity to say much about it. I don't talk about it, they don't get to say anything about it," she said simply, with a shrug. As Fallon spoke about what her family was missing by not having her around, she could help but give a little laugh. Briana missed her family sometimes, but then again, she was never able to really be herself when she was with them. "Yeah, I guess they are. But, you know, I'm ok with them not wanting to find me. Maybe I'll find my own new family. Like here. Maybe this place and the people here can be a new family for me," Briana said looking back at the massive building. "Maybe for you, too," she said looking back at Fallon with a wink of her green eye.

As the girl reached out to touch her and then thought better of it, Briana tried to imagine what it must be like to not be able to touch for fear of hurting someone. Crawling over to Fallon, Briana sat next to her and took out a pair of light blue gloves she kept in the pockets of her jacket. "I'm gad you talk to me. You're really very nice," she said, slipping them on. "How about now?" she asked holding out her gloved hand to her. Maybe something between her touch and Briana's might allow her to have the ability to touch others.

Fallon smiled. ''That's good logic, ya got there.'' She said with a bright smile and slowly nodded at her words. ''Because of what they did..they've actually given you the opportunity to grow, control your powers and perhaps once you have, you'll see 'em again or you check on 'em just to see if they're okay.'' She said softly and stared at the ground when Briana spoke of family. ''Perhaps i will...To get a family, i must become very close to people.'' She said slowly, the thought of having a family or even making friends made her scared because the thoughts of messing that up flooded towards her. Only remembering the accident, her mind froze not sure how to react to the fact of having someone there for her one day. Quickly snapping out of her daze, she grinned and nodded. ''Yeah perhaps i will...''

Seeing Briana crawl towards her, Fallon swallowed past the lump in her throat. Feeling fear of hurting someone so kind, so sweet welled up inside of her and she watched as Briana put gloves on. Furrowing her brow, she wondered what Briana was thinking and smiled at her words. ''Two loners can be loners together right?'' She said softly and hesitantly lifted up her hand. Thinking of the normal temperature a person should have, she lightly touched Briana's hand clenching her eyes shut knowing they had turned into a very bright gold. Fallon waited to hear for the cry of pain and didn't even realize that a tear had slipped out the corner of her eyes as she shook with pure fear.

Briana smiled brightly and nodded, "Yup, I guess we can." She watched as Fallon, even though they just met, raised her hand and lightly touched Briana's gloved one. She noticed the change that took over her. Briana's heart went out to her. She saw the fear and felt the tremble wash over Fallon as their hands met. She knew she was afraid, even without seeing her eyes that were shut tight. Briana looked at their touching hands and smiled. "You're cold...." she said lightly, looking at Fallon with a happy smile. But, the smile faded when she saw the tear run down her cheek. Gently, she took her other gloved hand and wiped the tear away. Fallon's touch was cold, very cold, but with her gloves between their skin, it was bearable. "Hey, you ok? It's ok. Look..." she said quietly.

Fallon nodded slowly and heard no hiss or cry of pain. Her heart was thumping in her chest and the fear, the agonizing fear that she had felt so many times before seemed to grow by each passing second. Her heart seemed to pause at Briana's words. Cold? No pain...There's no pain....She thought to herself, only to feel Briana' wipe a tear from her cheek. Opening her eyes slowly, she glanced at their hands. ''I'm not hurting you..right...I've only been able to touch one other person as their power took some of mine but...you don't have that...it can hurt you. I don't want to hurt you...'' She said, her voice cracking a little. ''I am cold, aren't i? Colder than anyone should ever be...I feel it sometimes you know or i can feel super hot due to the fire.'' Fallon said softly, staring in amazement at the fact Briana isn't hurt.

Briana shook her head when Fallon asked if she was hurting her. "Nope. You're just really, really cold," she said rubbing her gloved hands against hers as if to warm her hand up. "I don't think you will. I think you can control your power better than you give yourself credit for..." Briana commented, looking up at her. She wondered who it was that Fallon was able to touch without having to worry about anything at all when it came to potentially hurting someone. With a giggle, Briana listened to Fallon talk about being both hot and cold at times. "When do you get hot?" she asked. "Must be really nice when it's frigid outside."

Fallon slid her hand out of Briana's and blew on Briana's hands, the one thing she could control was her breath. The breath was hot and would warm up her hands whilst Fallon placed her's on her lap. Listening, she sighed. ''I've been practicing...but no luck. I have come to the conclusion, i need to stop trying physically and start doing mentally. Focus myself and my power...Learn more about it.'' Fallon mused with a tilt of her head. Smiling at Briana's giggle, she shrugs at the question. ''It's rare moments...The moments i snap. I have a short temper...and with the people in the Institute, my temper..snaps more than usual. That's another reason why i hide. My anger is fixated on the fire so that's when it flares or when i'm embarrassed...Mainly strong emotions but sometimes at random.'' She rambled and blushed. ''Nahh...I don't really feel the cold. Only my own...'' She admitted with yet another shrug.

As Fallon removed her hand from Briana's and blew on them to warm them up, she smiled. Her breath was so warm that she could easily remove her gloves due to them being much to warm. "I think that's a good idea, Fall. Learn what you can about your power and then work with what you have. I wonder if that would work with mine... I never tried to control it, just hold it at bay as best as I can," Briana said as she tucked her gloves back inside her coat pockets and leaned back against the tree.
 
My anger is fixated on the fire... In a way, Briana wasn't surprised to hear that Fallon's fire and anger were joined. It made sense. But hearing that her fire was another reason for her to keep to herself made her sad. "People here can be just as cruel as the people out there, huh?" she asked nodding away from The Institute. "I've noticed that even among others like us, there is still that 'better than you' kind of mentality running around. I don't think you should hide. By hiding you are letting not just your fire, but them, control you," she added looking at her with a small smile. "Hopefully your cold isn't too bad as compared to the outside cold. I know out here it can get pretty cold," Briana mused, taking out the silver coin she kept in her pocket and began to make it spin in the air just above her open palm.