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Outside Begging for Spare Change (PG-13)

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A small blanket was around the little girls shoulders as she sat outside Mel's Diner with a cup in her hand.  The cup had coins and a few dollar bills.  She wore rags and a jacket that was five times too big around her shoulders under the blanket.

Beside her was two small owl statues, frozen in odd positions for statues.  It was also odd for a little girl to have them next to her while begging for change.  The girl sat by the door with her head down, not saying any words just held the cup out and hoped for change or bills to be placed in.  She was a dirty girl, clearly homeless from her clothing.

"Spare change?"  She asked as someone approached the diner's doors but kept her head down.

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Pulling her jacket closer, Rachel walked down the street across of Mel's diner, where Loika worked. It was an amazing night...clean and warm. As Rachel was approaching the store, where she was going to have a meal, a girl sitting on a street caught her attention. Was she praying to gods? Whoever she was, Rachel wasn't going to question her. She realized the kid was homeless. At first she was going to walk by and cross the street, then she stopped at the kid and pulled out $100 dollar bill. Slipping it into the cup, Rachel squatted next to the girl.

"I hope you won't spend it on anything illegal." she said, smiling friendly.

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Charity noticed the large amount she was handed by the woman who was talking to her and a smile came across her face.  That money would feed her for a few days, the excitement made her just so happy.  "Thank you so much miss."  She said in a normal voice, not shy or nervous and hugged Rachel suddenly.  She did it in thanks and pulled away blushing.  Charity never had anyone be so kind so her.  As she pulled away the jacket and blanket slipped, revealing white feathers from Charity's back.  Quickly, she recovered the wings, hoping the woman didn't see them and take back the money.

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As Rachel got back to her full height, she noticed the wings of the girl. The scenario was far to similar. A mutant kid running away from her misunderstood parents, Rachel sympathized with her. What was the world coming to? Parents kicking their own kids to the streets all because they have shared their own genes with their children. If anyone should be blamed it, parents would be the first Rachel would prosecute. Looking around for strangers and people who might want to cause harm to the girl, Rachel squatted back down to girl's level.

"I know why you are running. You don't have to be afraid of me, because I am just like you." said Rachel. To prove to the girl that she was just like her, Rachel extended her hand toward the cup and pulled it ever so slightly forward, toward her. "Can I buy you a meal?"

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Charity's eyes widened when she saw that Rachel had seen her wings.  She was about to run before she spoke up and it made Charity freeze.  She was like her?  "I'm not running, I was abandoned here two years ago...Mommy said I was a freak...."  She said to defend herself.  If Charity could she would be with her mommy and daddy still but they called her a freak and she was left alone to survive alone.

As the cup moved forward, Charity smiled.  What a gift that was unlike hers.  "That's so cool Miss!"  Se said and nodded her head at the offer of a meal.  "I don't want to be a bother miss."

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"If you weren't on a run, Social Services would have picked you up a long time ago." said Rachel, standing up again. Now, she extended her hand to the girl, waiting for her to take Rachel's hand. A meal sounded like a good idea, thought Rachel.

"I don't want to be a bother miss."

"Don't worry, you can't be that much of a bother." said Rachel. "Come on, I know a person who works there. A wolf girl--you'd be surprised how many people around you are mutants. Now, you wouldn't let me eat alone by myself, would you?"

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Charity's smile grew when Rachel offered her her hand and asked her to eat with her.  She felt wanted, welcomed.  She nodded her head and took the woman's hand gently before tightening it.  She felt as if she let go it wouldn't be real any more, the kindness.

"You are so nice.  My name is Charity miss.  What's yours if I can ask?"  She asked with  sweet shy voice and opened the door to the Diner to be polite, putting her cup of money into her over-sized jacket's pocket and kept the blanket around herself. Neither was very clean, nor was Charity but it didn't seem to bother her.

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"Nice to meet you, Charity." said Rachel, as the girl took her hand and she began to cross the street toward the Mel's Diner. The dinner tonight would be on Rachel, considering she never shared a dinner with anyone before. Never staying in one place for too long, Rachel as always on a go. The criminals weren't going to catch themselves and police was just outnumbered compare to mutants.

"My name is Amy Green." lied Rachel without hesitation. She didn't think that her real name really mattered to a little, homeless girl. A fully belly and a warm place was all that Charity probably thought of everyday. Rachel was never going to have kids and taking care of one, would probably do Rachel some good. To think of others before herself. Of course, Rachel has always thought of others before herself and that is why her parents ended up dead. She wanted to please the man who brainwashed her into killing her parents. 

Walking into the place, Rachel looked around the diner. It wasn't too crowded and she felt like it was alright to take a booth near the window. "So, what is Charity having tonight. I hear their shakes here are out of this world."

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Charity was overwhelmed when they entered the Diner and sat down and she learned Rachel's name.  Even if it was a false one, Charity wouldn't of ever known the difference.  "Nice to meet you miss Amy."  She said and looked at the menu.  Charity had only just begun school when she was abandoned and she couldn't read at all.  Of course she didn't want Rachel to know this as she struggled.

"I've never had one."  She replied to Rachel, wondering what that drink was only really having water which was either free or very cheep.  "I've never had anything besides water."  She frowned and looked down at the menu, swinging her legs under the table like any little girl.  Her feet barely touched the ground.

"What are you having Miss Amy?  I..um... not sure... What does that say?" She asked, pointing to the chicken fried steak.  It was clear she couldn't read by how she asked, but she wasn't going to admit it.  "I'll eat what you will.  I'm not sure if I'm going to like this item."  She said pointing to a salad foolishly.  As a habit, she pulled her big jacket up to cover a feather poking out of her jacket and sighed.  Her hands were filthy just like her clothing and now that they were in the light it was clear to see that Charity had not eaten in some time, she looked malnourished and thin, her skin pale and dirty.

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Rachel lowered her menu as she looked at Charity. Maybe it wasn't all bad the fact that her parents abandoned her. Now that they have, someone would have a chance to bring her up to good. To do good, to be good. People like Charity's parents, should be imprisoned for what they have done. When the girl seemed to be reading the menu, Rachel went back to hers.

"Shake is like an ice cream except it's more liquified and you drink it from the straw in a big glass." explained Rachel as she described the drink. She didn't look old enough to have finished the elementary school yet. "Before we order anything, you will want to go and wash your hand in a restroom." said Rachel, dropping her menu on a table and looking at the girl. She has obviously not lived a home for a long time, but Rachel was going to protect her from now on. Unlike other people who always wanted pain and misery in their and everyone else' lives all the time. 

"I think I will have Fresh Roasted Turkey Sandwich with Cranberry sauce. That sound delicious." said Rachel, smiling at the girl.

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Charity had never eaten ice cream nor understood washing hands so what Rachel was talking about confused her and it showed on the little girls face.  "What do you mean wash my hands miss?  And what's ice cream? I've never had it."

She frowned and looked down embarrassed that she wasn't smart enough to understand a lot of things or read or know what ice cream was.  Charity felt so lost.  "I think I'll get what you are... I can't... read miss.  "  She finally admitted and sighed softly.  "Could you show me what washing my hands is?  I don't know how to use the sink.  Never needed to... no one ever told me to wash up miss."  Charity looked at Rachel with a hopeful look, also one of being sorry that she wasn't able to do things alone.  She felt like a smaller child than she was, like a little pest being treated to food out of pity.

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Rachel looked at her seriously? No one had taught her to wash her hands before? Rachel wondered what else did she not know how to do. Smiling suddenly, Rachel began to scoot from her seat to get to the restroom. "Come on, I'll teach you." she said as she giggled, making her way to the ladies restroom. Once she got to the restroom, Rachel opened the door for the girl. Not walking in, but just staying outside, Rachel told her what to do.
"So, to begin...you turn on the sink and get your hands wet with water. Then, you squeeze some soap from that box over there. Rub your hands together well with the soap and make sure you get all your fingers covered. After you scrubbed, rinse. Use water to get rid of the soap from your hand. Once you are finished washing, pull some paper from the other box to dry your hands. Then, you are done." said Rachel, smiling.

"Unfortunately, I can't teach you to read today. Maybe another time when I see you again." said Rachel, hopping the girl would ask to stay with her. Rachel was becoming way too soft for herself and she remembered well when he used to kill people for fun, including her own parents. But she was not going to discuss that with Charity. She has enough problems of her own to be caught up with other people.

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Charity nodded and stood up, following Rachel.  She walked quickly behind her to  the bathroom and walked to the sink.  She listened carefully and turned the sink on by stepping up onto her tippy toes.  She did as Rachel said, using the soap and washed her hands exactly as directed.  When finished she turned the sink off and grabbed the paper towels, now her hands were clean, a very different color than her face, which was still dirty. 

Charity smiled and looked at Rachel and showed her hands off.  "I did it right?  I look so clean.  I forgot my skin was so peachy."  She said to be silly and stuck her tongue out and giggled.  She walkd back to the door and looked up at Rachel.

"Will you order my food for me?  I'll eat what you are.  I just can't read the words..."

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Rachel smiled at the girl as she did like was instructed. "Now, you are an expert at washing your hands. You can also wash your face, legs and arms the same way...but then it's called taking a bath." said Rachel as she began to drift back to the booth. She took her seat and picked up the menu again. "Mack and cheese here is pretty good as well, but if you would rather order what I will, it's alright by me." said Rachel.

Where was Loika? Or Natasha, whoever ran this place. Rachel turned to Charity. "Would you--" she hesitated, wondering if it was right time to ask about her parents. "Would you like to see your parents again? I mean, are they still alive?"

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"I would like to clean my body up like that one day. "  She said and followed Rachel back to the booth and sat down and sighed softly.  Mac and Cheese.  She had that once.  Her mommy had made it for her a long time ago.   Her eyes watered a bit with the memory and she shook her head.  "No, no Mac and cheese.  Mommy used to make that for me a lot... I'll eat what you are having.  I'm sure I'll like it a lot!"  She said, pushing her tears away.

It was then that Rachel asked the one question Charity did not expect.  See her mommy and daddy again?  Was that possible?  Why would she want to see them?  They had called her a freak and left her to fend for herself.  "I would... but I don't think I should... They don't want me.  I'm a freak.  Mommy said I'm a freak who deserves to fend for herself with the other freaks... She doesn't want me.  Can we not talk about them?"  She asked and sighed, looking down with a very sad face.  A few tears fell and streaked the dirt on her face creating lines of cleanish skin through the dirty skin.

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It was going to be hard work to try and keep Rachel's past life behind her, but Charity was only a little girl she would not grasp the whole concept of what happened to the woman sitting in front of her. No mac and cheese. Certain things in Rachel's life reminded her very much of her parents of her past life, one she tried so hard to keep in the dark. One which no one must know about. Not especially Charity.

"That's fine, you don't have to have that...I'll order you what I am eating. I think you'll like that dish." said Rachel. The subject of her parents was a sensitive issue and Rachel knew that diving straight into the fire would get her burned and she did when Charity refused to talk about it. "I wouldn't blame you a tiny bit if you were furious with your parents right now, but I guess we'll have to put that topic on a shelf and come back to it whenever you are ready." said Rachel, smiling. She was not going to push the topic because Charity might decide to run.

She was just like her when she was a girl of her age. "So, what do you like to do? Any interests?" asked Rachel, looking for a waiter. Hopefully it won't be long.

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Charity smiled hen Rachel agreed to shelf the topic of her mommy and daddy and sighed softly in relief.  Th next question was one she really didn't know how to answer.


"Well... I like to play with statues.... I can make them be my friends.  They protected me when I was alone.  I can make them move and stuff."  Charity said like it was a normal thing for an eight year old girl to do.  She hummed so fly to herself and looked at her statues she left outside forgetting t bring them in with her but didn't say anything.

"What about you?"

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"What about you?"
Rachel listened to the girl carefully as she waited for the waitress. "Well,  I like..." began Rachel as she really thought about what she liked. Beating up criminals didn't seem like the right answer. Rachel didn't really have much time to think about herself, but putting others in front of her. What would it be like to have interests.
"I don't have much time for hobbies. My work usually take me away from much socializing and private life."

Rachel always had private life, but she meant her inside work at night. Chasing down criminals and helping out the police who wanted her for obstruction of justice. Morons. "The fact that you can move statues most likely your gift. Your special abilities. You didn't really think they could come alive all by themselves, did you?"

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Loika filled the ice machine and took her break. She sat out back drinking a water and nibbling on some jerky. She was enjoying it until mel came out to inform her the other waitress went home early with the flu. She finished the bite she had in her hand and came inside.

She grabbed a couple menus and went to the newest table. She set them down and pulled her pencil out of the messy bun her hair was tied in. She pulled her pad out of her apron and prepared to write. She looked at rachel in surprise and smirked. "Recruiting em pretty young arent we rachel? What are you guys interested in? I can come back if you arent ready."

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Charity smiled at Rachel and nodded.  Suddenly, she looked scared before speaking,  "I guess. I like doing it for fun though... I guess being out alone never gave me time to do anything else.  Maybe we can do things together for fun if you want... I mean... if you take me with you... are you?  Or is this just a friendly meal?  I really don't like the street Amy.... But I understand if this is just a good meal thing.  Not many people want to take an orphan in."   She looked red in the face, embarrassed for asking to live with Rachel, but at that moment, Loika appeared and Charity looked up and covered her shoulders more in surprise and habit.  She didn't say anything but looked at Rachel to order.

"Who's Rachel?  I thought your name was Amy.... and miss Amy is going to order for me Miss."  She said and looked down, unsure what to say.  She wasn't great with new people unless they were like Rachel and offered her things and were kind, giving off that I won't hurt you vibe.

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"Recruiting em pretty young arent we rachel? What are you guys interested in? I can come back if you arent ready."
Oh, shit, thought Rachel, this was just what she didn't need. Loika exposing her identity. But she would have no way of knowing that Rachel was helping out a kid in need. A homeless orphan who was living on streets. Turning to look at Loika, she gave Loika  a look that meant for her to be quiet about her name. She was not recruiting anyone. Rachel didn't need anyone's help with her vigilante job.

"Rachel is my mother's name. Loika always calls me that." said Rachel turning to the girl. It took her lots of guts to say what she just said  "We will both have Fresh Roasted Turkey with Cranberry sauce." said Rachel.

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Loika rolled her eyes at rachel. Whatever game she was playing didnt involve her. She scribbled down thier order and kneeled down to the girl's level. " my daughter is a little younger than you and she loves our peanutbutter milkshakes. Would you like one? If you want one and keep it our secret then it will be on the house."

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Charity looked at Rachel and nodded, not having any reason to question that, and then looked a Loika when she spoke.  Peanut butter milk shake?  That sounded yummy, she had never had such a thing but if Loika's daughter enjoyed it she had to try it.

She smiled and nodded her head.  "Okay, I'll try it thank you.  I won't tell anyone!"  She giggled a little, her eyes lit up and she looked at Rachel with a smile.  She never did get an answer for her question about what was going to happen after the meal though.  She decided to ask again, this time a it differently.

"When we finish eating, will you help me find a better area to sleep?  I don't know many clean spots around here."

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"When we finish eating, will you help me find a better area to sleep?  I don't know many clean spots around here."

Rachel frowned, almost in a motherly way. "You are not sleeping on the streets, that's so unsanitary." said Rachel. It was just what she wanted, for Charity to ask to stay with her for the night or maybe even longer. "You can stay with me as long as you want."

"Tomorrow, we can go shopping and get you better clothes." said Rachel. "No kid will be seen with me wearing those rags." She was not going to compromise her personality for somewhere she barely knew. But hopefully, she was going to get to know her much better.

Turning to look at Loika, Rachel wondered if she had any questions about what was going on. She guessed there will be session with questions. Which Rachel would willingly answer any that she had.

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Charity's face seemed to light up brightly at Rachel's words.  She seemed amazed and so happy, it was an expression she never knew she could feel again, and it was clear by the way she looked.  Without even thinking, Charity stood up and ran over to Rachel, almost loosing her jacket that covered her wings and hugged Rachel tightly.  She had tears of happiness in her eyes and she hugged her and didn't let go.

"You are the nicest person I have ever met.  No one has ever offered me a place to sleep or new cloths.  Is this real?  I'm not dreaming am I Miss?" Charity asked and looked up, her jacket slipping off a bit but she didn't care.  She had butterflies flowing in her belly, a smile so bright on her face and tears in her eyes weeping down.   Charity's cloths were a year old, the jacket even older.  She just couldn't wait, her entire body language showed her happiness.

Finally, she let go and pushed the tears from her eyes with a very large toothy smile.  She still didn't leave Rachel's side though.  Her hand took Rachel's and she squeezed as if testing to make sure she wasn't dreaming and smiled again.  Her eyes were lit up so brightly they sparkled.

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