[center][b][u]July 12th 3:00 PM
Hub City Sewers[/u][/b]

Today was the day!

It... had taken a bit to work up his courage, to get the information he needed, but Demon finally had a plan! Ever since he had first seen the news reports on the New York Riots he had been planning, scraping together what information he could through dirty newspapers and the little TV he had taken from the hobo habitat - sorry, man; to be fair he at least protected that hobo when that weird trenchcoat guy was stalking around the sewers once. What was up with him?

That wasn't Demon's business though. He just tried to keep to himself, keep alive. Maybe he could finally stop eating rats and the occasional can of beans he managed to pilfer. It's not like Demon was a thief, but he just... didn't do well with people anymore. But it was time for change! Which is why he was finally, [i]finally[/i], months after he first went down into the sewers, emerging into sunlight.

The heat on his skin was... odd. He had almost forgotten what it felt like. Warm, comforting. Demon brushed off some of the pavement from his shoulders as pulled himself out of the now ruined manhole cover. There was really no other way for him to get out, after all. What he hadn't forgotten however, was the screams.

They started as soon as he emerged, making the large blue man flinch. Instinctively he ducked his head, raising a hand to rub at the side of his face. He knew no scar lingered, his eye was completely intact, but still remembered the pain of the bullet tearing through him. After a moment he glanced around nervously. People were staring, or running, but no one was a danger to him. No guns. No weapons.

[color=skyblue]"Okay... I just have to get her attention."[/color] Raising up to his full height Demon glanced around, feeling a bit awkward. He was never one to really get into trouble - at least not on his own, peer pressure was a bitch. Just his presence inspired fear though, sending people running, but it wasn't enough! So the horned man moved to a nearby car, put his hand underneath it, and carefully pushed it onto its side.

There, that should do it, right? ... Right?

... Oh. There was a baby on board sign in the back.

Demon awkwardly put the car back down, wincing as he noticed the dent now in the window frame. Oops.

He scratched at his head, trying to figure out what to do. He didn't really want to ... you know, hurt anyone, or damage anything. Maybe he could just be threatening and wander around the streets? Yeah, yeah that could work! Demon turned on his heel to start down the street, and promptly headbutted a pole. He grunted, rubbing at his forehead and moving around the dented metal to start down further into the Hub City's slums. Even these people had to report a demon wandering around, right?

[hr]

[b][u]July 12th 3:21 PM
The Wedge[/u][/b]

Karen smiled down at the simple brown basket she had prepared. It was packed with sushi, takoyaki and little wieners cut into octopus-shapes, among other treats from the land of the rising sun. She had been studying hard to learn how to prepare all of Zoey's favorite foods, and now felt confident that she hadn't assembled an altogether terrible picnic basket. Humming lightly to herself, she cheerfully stepped behind the couch as Sam lazed about on it watching television.

[color=orchid]"I'm off to see Zoey! I'll be back sometime tonight!"[/color] Karen called out to her feline guardian.

Samantha rolled her head to one side, chuckling. "No, I don't think you will be."

[color=orchid]"Eh?"[/color] Karen tilted her head to the side, only for the cat to jab a paw at the television screen, where a massive...blue...devilmanthing appeared to be fighting with the police. Or being shot at by them, at least.

Listening for a moment to the news report, she pursed her lips.

"This is Sarah Fortune with KBEL News, issuing a warning to all citizens within the Old Town district to remain in their homes. Police are currently engaged with what appears to be a large blue-skinned creature rampaging down 7th street. If you live on 7th Street, please avoid-"

Raising a hand to pinch the bridge of her nose, Karen released a long groan of frustration. Why - of all days - did this thing pick [i]today[/i] to attack her city? She had been looking forward to this day all week, and now...

[color=orchid]"Ugh,"[/color] Karen stepped back into the kitchen, setting the basket down on the counter. She then turned to point to Sam. [color=orchid]"I better not find any of this eaten when I get back!"[/color]

Turning to head into her room, she threw open the window and leaped out into the alleyway. She probably skinned her knee as she landed on her ass. [color=orchid]"Gekh....oww...that looked way cooler in my mind."[/color]

Inhaling sharply as she climbed to her feet, she shouted The Word: [color=orchid]"SHAZAM!"[/color]

With a flash of light and a crack of thunder in the otherwise clear sky, the alley was empty, for she wasted no time in heading to Old Town.

[hr]

[b][u]July 12th 3:23 PM
Old Town[/u][/b]

The sound of gunshots echoed through the normally quaint - for Hub City - 7th Street, as police fired from behind their cars at the great beast of a creature before them. Several officers were screaming for backup into the receivers within their squad car, requesting the immediate presence of every S.W.A.T. unit in the city.

Demon, for his part, had panicked as soon as he saw the guns. With all the ferocity of a real demon, one conjured from terrible nightmares, he braced himself ... and promptly dived behind a nearby car, huddling underneath the windows. It wasn't the best cover, to be honest. A little yelp even escaped as a bullet grazed one of his shoulders, feeling the heat and a mild sting as the projectile skimmed over his skin - ricocheting off his thick skin and into a nearby building. The giant navy blue man pressed himself down further, feeling the pavement beneath him and pressing into his bare chest.

When Lady Arcana arrived on the scene, she at first didn't see anything but a bunch of cops shooting up a car. It was only when she moved a little closer that she realized what, exactly, they were shooting at: the reported creature!

But his rampage seemed...rather unimpressive to say the least. In fact, he seemed to be cowering from them, rather than attempting to fight back. Why? He looked big and strong enough to pitch that vehicle into the nearest subdivision. And yet...he seemed kind of scared, given his mannerisms.

Touching down on top of the roof of the vehicle he was using for cover, Lady Arcana knelt down to look at him. [color=orchid]"Hey, are you alright there big guy?"[/color]

The gunfire stopped. Relief flooded the teenage boy, up until he heard a voice. Demon's head jerked up, staring at the one and only, Lady Arcana!

She was a lot shorter than he expected. Maybe he was just too big to be able to tell now.

[color=Skyblue]"H-Hey! You came!"[/color] In his eagerness Demon pushed himself up to his knees, the only clothes he was wearing - his grey pants, which were really more like shorts on his new form - even dirtier from his cowering. He grabbed onto the roof of the car as he looked up at her. [color=Skyblue]"I - I need help! You help people, right? So you gotta help me - oh, oh shit, I didn't mean to do that!"[/color] Jerking his navy blue hands away from the car Demon cringed, seeing how the metal had bent under his over enthusiastic grip. He looked at his hands with those glowing white eyes before back up at her, almost cringing.

[color=Skyblue]"I'm sorry, I didn't - I'm not trying to hurt anyone I swear."[/color] He whimpered, an odd sound with how deep and echoing his voice was.

Reaching a hand up to scratch at her face in surprise at his desperate and relatively soft spoken demeanor, Lady Arcana turned to glance at the cops. They stopped firing on her arrival, probably assuming she was about to lay the smackdown on this guy for them. While she was still a wanted vigilante, the police here tended to be all too willing to let her handle situations that were clearly out of their league.

[color=orchid]"Alright,"[/color] she smiled to the blue-skinned man, [color=orchid]"But let's go somewhere less crowded, okay?"[/color]

Extending a hand down to him, she waited for him to either accept or throw her into that drug store behind him for being a patsy.

Demon hesitated only a moment, peeking over the car back to the police. Their weapons were still raised, making a chill of cold fear go down his spine. Finally he reached up and took her hand, his large one dwarfing hers. He tried to be gentle, immediately feeling stupid for thinking that - she was Lady Arcana, he was probably fish food to her.

[color=SkyBlue]"Alright... Thank you. Thank you, really."[/color]

Feeling her hand be practically swallowed by his, she swiftly lifted them both into the air. Once she was high enough, she vanished from the scene with a sonic boom. It was odd, really, having this person who looked like a literal demon from hell ask - or beg, even - for help after being attacked by the police. She'd never encountered any situation quite like it before.

Landing on top of a building in the Old Industrial Sector, she released her hold of the much larger individual.

[color=orchid]"Alright, this should do it. Now,"[/color] she folded her arms, looking a bit more stern. [color=orchid]"How about you explain why you were scaring everyone shitless back there?"[/color]

[color=Skyblue]"... That was really cool,"[/color] Demon muttered, staring over his shoulder where they had come from. Hearing the extra firmness to the woman's voice however he quickly looked down, realizing she didn't look all that pleased with him. Nervously he raised a hand, rubbing at the short black hair against his horns.

[color=Skyblue]"Well, uh, this is gonna sound really stupid, but I was desperate y'know? And - and not many ways for me to do this! It's not like I was hurting anyone - I mean, I dented a few things but it was accidental... oh and the manhole cover..."[/color] The teenager paused, realizing he was rambling. He cleared his throat, took a deep breath, and tried to start over.

[color=Skyblue]"I was trying to get you to come out, because I'm looking for someone. The guy that's like me - you know, the big tree man? I don't ... I don't know where he is but I gotta find him! And the news reports showed you've been around him - you know where he is, yeah? You gotta! He can help me - because the news reports didn't call [i]him[/i] a monster, so he's gotta know what he's doing!"[/color]

Lady Arcana frowned for a long moment after hearing the man's explanation, exhaling sharply. She wasn't sure what newscast he was watching, but there were plenty who still called Vine Stalker a monster. Mostly the same people that still called her a menace to society, mind you. [color=orchid]"You mean Harris, don't you?[/color]

[color=orchid]"I don't know his exact location,"[/color] she confessed, an apologetic expression on her face. [color=orchid]"But I have read enough rumors on Metawatch to at least know where he usually hangs out: Hope Springs in West Virginia."[/color]

For a moment, Demon's pointed ears drooped down. However as Lady Arcana continued the metahuman quickly brightened, nodding along.

[color=Skyblue]"He's called Harris? ... That's a lot nicer than Demon... okay, I gotta get to West Virginia then! Uh..."[/color] He scratched at the rough black stubble on his jaw. [color=Skyblue]"I gotta walk, so... I'll try to keep out of trouble but people are still probably gonna be afraid. So, uh, don't mind any news reports you see of me - I promise to behave!"[/color]

Yeah, there was no way she was going to let this walking, eight foot sign of the end times go walking across the country. He would get himself in all kinds of trouble even if he didn't mean to. No, much as it irritated her, she would need to fly him out there. Well, at least it wouldn't take long for her to go from Hub City to Hope Springs.

[color=orchid]"No, I'll fly you to Hope Springs,"[/color] she exhaled. [color=orchid]"It won't take long."[/color]

Reaching out to offer her hand to him again, she lifted off the ground to hover in front of him.

[color=Skyblue]"...Seriously? Aw, sweet!"[/color] Demon eagerly reached out and grabbed onto her hand again. [color=Skyblue]"Th-thanks! I totally owe you one - not that, you know, there's probably much I can offer you unless you need like, acid spit or someone to stand around looking scary. You're kind of scary on your own though..."[/color]

A heartbeat passed.

[color=Skyblue]"... I'm gonna be quiet until we get there now."[/color]

Lifting off the ground with another word, she briefly glanced about the city in an effort to figure out what direction she was facing at the moment. Once she'd gotten her bearing's straight, she shot up higher into the sky with the big blue pussycat in hand. His personality really didn't much live up to his appearance.

Rocketing towards West Virginia at several times the speed of sound, she had little to say during the trip. He hadn't really introduced himself even though he clearly knew who she was, but that honestly didn't bother her too much. His goal was never really getting to know her, he just needed her to bring him to the person he [i]actually[/i] wanted to meet.

She had briefly considered that it might be some sort of trap for Harris, but...from what she'd seen of this guy, he could handle him. Besides, he didn't seem like he had it in him to hurt somebody innocent.

He wouldn't even fight back against the cops, after all.

It didn't take them long to reach West Virginia, not with her speed...but finding Hope Springs took a little longer, due to her unfamiliarity with the area. Still, they did manage to make it there after a few minutes of searching.

[color=orchid]"...Alright, this should be it. Man, what a podunk,"[/color] Arcana noted, landing with him and glancing back at him over her shoulder. [color=orchid]"There, he should be around somewhere here, Mr. Blue."[/color]

She then considered something, feeling the need to warn the gentle-hearted giant. [color=orchid]"Don't damage any trees, alright? It'll [i]really[/i] piss him off. Make him go crazy, even."[/color]

[color=Skyblue]"... Mr. Blue? Oh! Oh, uh, I'm sorry, Miss Arcana, ma'am. I'm called Demon - that's, you know, not my name. My name's Josh, but everyone calls me Demon."[/color] The tall man hunched over a bit to grin down at the small heroine. [color=Skyblue]"Thanks for the warning. And the lift. And not just punching me for scaring everyone. I really appreciate it, I'll make sure not to hurt any trees - that'd be kind of stupid when I want the guy to like me, right? He's sort of like a tree."[/color] Scratching at his cheek in thought Demon quickly shook his head.

[color=Skyblue]"But uh, yeah, what I'm getting at is thanks again!"[/color]

Lady Arcana chuckled at his awkwardness. It...it kind of reminded her of herself, particularly around Zoey, as embarrassed as she was to admit it. She'd really need to learn how to be less of a dork at some point.

Sitll, at least she was done now and could get the Mcfuck back over to Gotham after swinging by to pick up their lunch. [color=orchid]"No problem, Josh. Best of luck finding Harris, I'm sure it won't be too difficult. Not here."[/color]

And not looking the way [i]he[/i] did, anyhow.

Lifting off the ground, Lady Arcana offered the big blue man named Josh a parting wave, before lancing off through the clouds again.

Meanwhile, down below, Harris sat, entwined in the fibers of the largest tree's interior, his mind connected via root to the Green itself, finally able to communicate with it for an extended period of time, but not a long-long time, just long enough for it to be a human-length conversation between acquaintances.

[color=Olivedrab]"When was the last time you gave a thought to the fact that your continued existence is due to the efforts of those humans who do care about you, those animals who your very existence relies upon. The bees, the worms, all of those whose existence you rely upon!"[/color]

This conversation had become less than civil.

[i]What do you know of our struggle? Of our torment? Of our anguish!? Those animals, feasting upon our stale like a hound, savaged by beastly vultures! They care not about our existence![/i]

Harris was just about to make his response, when, from the real world, he heard a cracking boom, a "crackoom" as you will. A burst of wind struck his physical form, and Harris' eyes shot open.

[color=Olivedrab]"Oh god it's the Rapture,"[/color] he said, a little bit of an overstatement, but the thought of it being a bomber of some sort, sent to annihilate him, that was too much to bear. Harris freed himself from the tree with a litany of slow cracks, then a massive snap as he broke through the bark and clamored to the ground. [color=olivedrab]"This is a really bad time, US military... god... I don't know, Arcana even? But yeah, not a good time guys!"[/color] Harris yelled into the sky as he ran between trees, crunching leaves beneath his feet.

Finally he dove into a ditch and covered his head with his hands, and just to be safe, he constructed a large dome of thick wood around himself to protect from any explosions or whatever. Perhaps he had overreacted, but considering the fear the people had of him, he wouldn't put a bombing campaign beyond the US government. Or maybe it really was the Rapture, but whatever that noise was it wasn't a good noise.

[color=olivedrab]"Stay out of my forest, I just managed to..."[/color]

Harris felt the presence of a two footed creature through the grass, almost certainly a human. That was good, that meant no fire raining from the heavens. But now he had a random person there, in his forest, he had a reputation to keep up.

Hoping that his outburst hadn't been heard, Harris sunk into the ground. His voice beginning to echo from the trees and carry on the wind like a soft whistle.

[color=olivedrab]"Who dares enter this forest? Who dares enter the domain of..."[/color] Pause for effect... [color=olivedrab]"The Vine Stalker!?"[/color]

Hell yeah.

[color=Skyblue]"Uh..."[/color] It had been a weird day. Really weird. From awkwardly plodding about Hub City to clamoring through a forest a few states over after being shot at sort of weird. Demon didn't even really make it that far after Miss Lady Arcana dropped him off. At least she was right about where to find the tree man! ... He thinks? Was he just supposed to talk to the trees? He really should've prepared more.

[color=Skyblue]"I'm, that is, I'm called Demon. I'm looking for a Harris, Mr... Stalker...?"[/color] He had faced a tree at this, too. Not really knowing what to do he reached out to grasp a branch and awkwardly shake it up and down. Gentle motions, don't hurt it, that's a good Demon.

Harris felt very puzzled by the... man? He wasn't exactly what Harris had expected to see, but he supposed he wasn't one to talk. He said he was called "Demon", Harris had no idea why one would call themselves that but okay, sure, and that he was looking for him.

Well, that cleared things up... barely. Harris still had many questions, including "Why are you shaking a tree-branch?" and "What are you doing here?" and "What is your real name?"

Maybe that last one was a good starting point.

Harris' arm shot from the ground, reaching towards the sun. It grasped the ground and pushed down, pulling the wooden form from within the ground slowly and methodically, picking up and tossing chunks of wood and dirt in a small radius around him. Finally he cleared the land and stood at full height...

And for the first time since his transformation, he met face-to-face with someone taller than him. At least a foot and then some too. Harris found himself slightly intimidated by the blue fellow, and his human half screamed in disgust despite the clear hypocrisy of such a thing.

[color=olivedrab]"Er... Yes, I am Harris Herzog, 'The Vine Stalker', 'Plantfoot', any other names the media has called me,"[/color] he said, still attempting to maintain a high volume and consistency in his voice. [color=olivedrab]"Demon doesn't sound like a name, if you are to remain here, then I must trust you, trust goes both ways, if you don't trust me enough to give me your name, then I don't trust you enough to stay here."[/color] he said firmly, crossing his arms as he did so. He gritted his teeth as he realized he was looking [i]up[/i] at the man...woman? Well he had a masculine voice so 'man' worked, who had to be at least eight feet tall.

That was worrisome to say the least.

Demon, for his part, could only stare down at the tree-bug man that had emerged from the very ground. His glowing white eyes wide, those pointed ears raised, and jaw slightly dropped. The media didn't really do 'Harris' justice...

... He was awesome!

Seriously, he was nearly as tall as him! And made of the very earth, which he emerged out of! How cool was that?! Plus he helped people! Oh, but Demon hadn't made a very good impression it seemed... Josh cringed, dropping his head and raising a large hand to rub at the back of his head.

[color=Skyblue]"Er, it's not that I don't trust you! Everyone just... you know, calls me Demon. Ever since I changed."[/color] The navy skinned man raised his head, quickly lifting his other hand to wave in the air. [color=Skyblue]"Sorry, sorry! I'm getting ahead of myself. But uh, everyone calls me Demon - I said that already - but my name is Josh. Joshua Christophe. Well, that [i]was[/i] my name, I don't know if my parents want me using their last name anymore... oh, and uh, I'm a junior at Hub City high. Was. Haven't really been back there in months. I wouldn't fit in the desk."[/color] Demon tried to offer a smile, the effort a little weak and showing the sharp teeth in his mouth - not including the two that were always jutting up from the bottom of his mouth.

Harris had been shocked by the man's size, but when he spoke, Harris found it hard to be intimidated. He had always thought himself to be socially awkward, but this kid was... well, on a level close to, if not greater than, Harris' own social inadequacies.

In more ways than one, he reminded Harris of himself, especially that weak smile, it was like looking through a time machine at his old high-school days, though eight feet tall and with fangs. He did notice that his first appearance managed to bring an astonished pallor to the giant youth's face... or maybe that was just how his face looked, Harris honestly couldn't tell, blue wasn't an easy color to read when you were used to the many shades of brown.

Harris made a conscious effort to push back his shoulders, and clandestinely increased his own height by a few inches, slowly, just to seem maybe a bit more intimidating, he was the protector of this forest, he had to look the part.

Harris' antennae danced on his forehead as Harris gave the blue youth a look over, before flexing his hand and offering his response.

[color=olivedrab]"Joshua Christophe? I like that name, has a nice sound to it,"[/color] Harris complemented the best he could, placing a hand on his chin whilst he continued planning his response. [color=olivedrab]"Well, Joshua Christophe, let me give you a lesson that I learned from my own transformation,"[/color]

Harris wandered to the right slightly, before noticing and sliding back.

[color=olivedrab]"I used to be human like you, but the collective soul of all plants decided that I would make a good avatar or something and well, here I am,"[/color] Harris shrugged, a soft gesture sneaking through his hardass persona. [color=olivedrab]"It was hard, really hard, I'm still not over what I've lost, but one thing that I do know, is don't give up who you are. You're still Joshua Christophe, don't let the loss of your humanity take away... well, your humanity."[/color]

Perhaps that could have been worded better.

[color=olivedrab]"Anyway, you clearly pose no threat, so I'd be willing to speak about any topic you propose, you did come here to ask me something, right?"[/color]

[color=Skyblue]"Wow..."[/color] The word slipped out unbidden as Demon stared down at Harris, admiration coloring the single syllable. Really, why was he surprised? The Vine Stalker was a [i]hero[/i]! Of course he was cool, and calm, and collected! He helped all those people in New York, and he was around when The Wedge started rebuilding - who knows what other deeds he had done in the meantime? He was probably as busy as Lady Arcana!

Yet he was letting Josh ask him whatever he wanted! It was better than he could've asked for! Demon's fingers curled into fists in front of him as he tried not to bounce in place in excitement. Okay, he could do this! Play it cool, play it cool!

[color=Skyblue]"Can you teach me how to be a hero too?!"[/color]

... Not cool.

Demon's face dropped realizing what he had just blurted out, and unseen with how his eyes had no pupils his gaze darted from side to side nervously. His bouncing in place stopped, and he nervously rubbed at his bare arm, feeling the thick muscle rippling with every small motion.

[color=Skyblue]"I... I mean uh..."[/color] Crap, how was he supposed to recover from that? [color=Skyblue]"You're just... really cool, and you're like - you know, like me! I can help you to make up for it, I even-"[/color] Here the great demon fumbled, pulling out a wallet that was falling apart at the seams to look at it.

[color=Skyblue]"... Okay, I only have fifteen dollars and 74 cents - oh, and a coupon for a free burrito, nice! - but I can pay for your help in other ways! Like protecting people! And helping with your avatar stuff! I love plants and stuff! Except mushrooms. I'm allergic to mushrooms."[/color] Ugh, he always overshared. He was probably super lame in Harris' eyes. And he couldn't stop talking.

Harris almost felt physically blown backwards by the big blue man's sudden assault of words, he lifted his hands, displaying both palms and turning his chin away as Joshua fumbled and spoke a hundred words a minute. He had asked to be taught to be a "hero". Harris hadn't taught a class in years, and those times he at least had a presentation to help him out, he hadn't a clue how to be a "hero", he hadn't even ever considered himself one.

At least he was spirited, Harris supposed, though perhaps a little overwhelmingly so.

[color=olivedrab]"Uhh... Yeah, no thanks,"[/color] Harris offered in response to the... burrito coupon. His posture shifted into a knock-kneed slouch as he found himself struggling to think of something to say. He scratched the back of his neck with his forearm claws, stretching his arm as to make such a movement possible. [color=olivedrab]"Er... mushrooms aren't plants... so I really have nothing to say about them."[/color]

Why was a factual correction the first thing he thought of to say? He was so stupid, this kid was idolizing him clearly, and Harris couldn't think of anything to do but correct him, this is why he liked trees better than talking to people.

[color=olivedrab]"You want to be a hero?... I just protect this very specific stretch of forest, I wouldn't call myself a hero..."[/color]

The Green offered Harris a mental image of New york destroyed by a massive, single tree. Was it a premonition or a compounding of the fact that Harris was no hero? Goddamn trees, never telling him anything that made any sense. Well, he couldn't just let the kid down, looking like he did he probably had no-one else to talk to, perhaps this could be healthy for the both of them

[color=olivedrab]"Okay... well I suppose I could... I dunno,"[/color] Harris said awkwardly, his slouch growing more pronounced. [color=olivedrab]"...Well, first let's just... hmm... okay."[/color]

Harris turned and shoved his hand into a tree, his arm sinking into it like it wasn't there at all. From within he pulled a piece of paper and a pen, which he clicked once. A wooden chair appeared behind both him and Joshua, and Harris sat without even looking back.

[color=olivedrab]"First just tell me about any new abilities you've noticed since transforming, testing them was all I did for the first few... months?"[/color] Harris wondered, tapping the pen against his chin.

... Harris had agreed to work with him. Demon couldn't help but brighten, having been close to tears thinking he had messed everything up. But now... it was gonna happen! He had someone to talk to again - and someone as cool as The Vine Stalker! Who was gonna show himself how to do things! Even if they were in this forest.

[color=Skyblue]"Aw, yes!"[/color] Josh tried to keep the celebration quiet as he pumped his fist in the air, though admittedly the back of his eyes still stung as he was so happy. Finally seeing that his new mentor was sitting Demon glanced around for a seat, stopping to admire the wooden chair that had appeared. Another plus one to Harris' awesome meter! It even looked like it could handle his weight!

Josh eased down onto the seat, absolutely beaming even as he wiped away the tears that had gathered at the corner of his eyes with a giant forearm. Luckily Harris wasn't really watching him - how lame would that have been? 

[color=Skyblue]"Abilities? Uh... I'm real strong. Like, real strong!"[/color] Josh flexed his hands, looking down at the navy blue fingers, tipped with the onyx black claws. [color=Skyblue]"And I heal real fast... like when I first transformed my-"[/color] He paused here, fingers twitching. Quickly he reached up and rubbed the palm of his hand against his eye, the one that was so damaged. He could feel tears wanting to well up again, and tried so hard to force them down.

[color=Skyblue]"Uhm, I was saying - I was shot. Couldn't see out of this eye for weeks - but it just sort of ... grew back? I think the bullet is still in there too. Oh, and speaking of my eyes, my vision is real good! I actually don't know when night because everything is sort of just like, looking around in daylight. I guess I could look up at the moon but I couldn't see it before. I was living in a sewer."[/color]

Harris wrote down Demon's statement that he was "real strong", that made two of them, but then the young man paused, and Harris' eyes darted up, noticing that Joshua seemed rather upset by the recollection of his being shot. Harris looked down at the paper, at his own hands, thinking back to when he had first gone through that, the poor kid was probably going through so much. Harris had always struggled to understand social cues, but he knew that at this point it was probably a good idea to at least address that, help him somehow... Harris didn't know.

Finally looking up from the paper, the pen sank into his hand and disappeared into his arm while Harris looked over the young man's head thoughtfully.

[color=olivedrab]"Are you okay Joshua? Would you rather we talk about something else? I... I don't want to upset you, you're only the first person I've talked to in weeks and..."[/color] Harris' chest tightened up. [color=olivedrab]"...I just don't want to upset you like I do to everyone else,"[/color] Harris said solemnly.

[color=Skyblue]"Huh?"[/color] Josh looked up, cringing slightly realizing that he really [i]was[/i] showing how weak he was. The other kids at school had made fun of him for being a crybaby all the time, and now Harris thought he had messed up. [color=Skyblue]"N-No! It's not that - you didn't upset me! I mean, you made me super happy! No one would even talk to me for months, and now I'm sitting down and having a real conversation!  On a chair that doesn't just break under my weight! Honestly, you're super cool Mr. Stalker."[/color] Taking a moment to rub at his eyes once more Josh finally looked down to the floor of the forest, taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling.

[color=Skyblue]"It's just... my Dad was the one who shot me. He - he didn't know it was me though! He just got to the house, and I was holding my sister, so he tried to protect her! But... I know they wouldn't really want me to come back anyway. Not looking like this. They'd probably try to have my exorcised or something."[/color] Stupid tears. Josh sniffed, and felt one of the tears manage to escape. It sizzled on the ground of the forest floor, making him wince as he remembered Lady Arcana's words.

[color=Skyblue]"Sorry,"[/color] He offered weakly, and trying to brush passed his moment of vulnerability he pointed down at the mark as he wiped his glowing eyes with his other hand. [color=Skyblue]"Uhm, I didn't mean to - but that's another thing, though! Things like my blood, and my spit, are like... acid-y now."[/color]

Harris stood quickly as Joshua began to vent, cry even, it wasn't even something he'd thought about, it was just an instinctual motion. He walked over to Joshua and waved away his concerns over the ground being burned a bit. The Green got a little pissy but this was more important right now.

Harris put a hand on Joshua's shoulder, taking a seat next to him.

[color=olivedrab]"I couldn't imagine going through that, I wouldn't ever want to go through that!... listen Josh, I... really don't know that much about being a hero, but what I do know, is that you're a good person just for wanting to do that... and..."[/color] Harris desperately tried to come up with something more to say as his breaths started to quicken slightly himself. [color=olivedrab]"I know what it's like to have no-one left who cares about you... I er, I know what it's like to... to have to repress all of your feelings because there's no-one to listen to you anymore. Josh... I may not be able to teach you much, but I know that you're hurting, and I would give anything to have had someone around for my first few months... so... I suppose I'll be that person for you."[/color]

Harris offered a weak smile, barely keeping his composure himself. He snapped off a tree branch which seemed to appear out of nowhere and offered it to the blue guy.

[color=olivedrab]"I don't have any tissues, but these leaves are the really soft kind, I promise."[/color]

For a moment Josh could only stare at the offered branch, but finally he reached out with his large hand to take it. The leaves really [i]were[/i] soft, and he was quick to wipe his eyes with them, but... He could feel more gathering. This was like, the first time someone was nice to him in months! He had been eating rats, for god's sake! And now this man-bug was comforting him, calling him a good person even when he looked like this, when everyone called him a monster, a Demon.

Josh sniffed again, and finally not able to take it he grabbed onto Harris to hug him, trying to keep his grip from being crushing. He was sort of a wuss for doing it, but he couldn't help himself!

[color=Skyblue]"Th-thanks, Mr. Stalker... I promise I won't let you down. I'll make you proud for believing in me! And, and when people aren't afraid of me anymore, I'll get you a burrito too!"[/color]

Harris' arms went in every which way when Josh embraced him, and he found himself not knowing what to do other than lightly pat the big guy on the back. He felt a warmth, something he'd felt before, but stronger, the same feeling he got when he offered help with some minor inconvenience, when he had rescued that child in New York.

Maybe he knew more about being a hero than he thought he did.

[color=olivedrab]"As long as I'm around, I won't stop believing in you, same with anyone, that's just who I am... maybe that's what makes me..."[/color]

[i]'A hero'[/i] he wanted to say so badly, but he found himself unable to.

[color=olivedrab]"And please, Joshua, call me Harris. We are more than the names that we are given, we're still people... er, well, not really for me but you get my point,"[/color] Harris said with a shrug. [color=olivedrab]"About that burrito... eh, I mean... not [i]bad[/i] persay, but not my favorite, use the money for yourself. Besides, I don't need to eat anyways."[/color]

Looks like Joshua was here to stay... he'd have to make room in the tree... or maybe make a hammock or something. Harris wasn't usually hosting guests, hopefully it'd be easier than he thought it was gonna be. Harris sighed softly. What had his life turned into?[/center]