[hr][h2][b][i][color=7ea7d8]September 7th
Lil’ Peppers
[sub]Meanwhile...[/sub][/color][/i][/b][/h2]
[sub]|Ft. The Talents of Sassy1085...|[/sub][hr]

Ms. A watched as her daughter awkwardly walk out of the door. [color=6ecff6]"My, my, she is still shy around people."[/color] Kim mom said. [color=6ecff6]"So Raymond, how is your mother?"[/color]

Ray gave her question some thought and his eyes lowered a little. [color=7ea7d8]"She's off workin tonight. Landlord raised the rent some this month because of some repairs that had to be done to our place. We had a sorta wall corrosion problem..."[/color] He said that last bit with a somewhat uncomfortable rolling of his shoulders. 

Those words were an understatement for the crazy shit he was going through lately. It wasn't like this before the crazy college crop dusting incident that left him and Kim hospitalized a while ago. It really started to set in that it really messed up his DNA. Especially with these damn holes in his wrists that had only recently stopped with all the leaking. Despite that though, he kept his forearms covered with a cerulean long sleeve shirt, with bandanas wrapped inside each over the holes. Wouldn't be a good look if those started dripping when around the girls.

Separating those thoughts from the nice moment he was having with his other fam, he elaborated on his thought: [color=7ea7d8]"We wanna move soon, but it ain't in the cards for us right now. Otherwise, she'd have probably been here."[/color] The young man explained, spinning a fork between his fingers.

Kim mom eyebrows saddened. [color=6ecff6]"Well, if you and mother want help with the problem, me and Kim be glad to help"[/color] she says with a warm smile.

Ray just kinda nodded off Ms. A's offer. Knowing his mom, her pride wouldn't bring her to let them help even if they could. Honestly, Ray felt like he probably had to just figure this out on his own. Couldn't tell his mom, she'd want him to go to the doctor’s. Doctors led to scientists, Scientists led to the Feds, and the Feds never led to anything good. 

He was going to change the subject, but a sharp pin hit the back of his head. This was immediately followed by small explosion outside that made the lights flicker a couple times. The lurch in his system made his muscles tense. Ray learned fast that one of those bandanas weren't tied tight enough when he looked at the sleeve of his shirt and it looked like a hole was burned through it. Shit. 

What in the name of Grandad’s Ghost was that?

[color=6ecff6]"Oh ang bait ko, what in the world was that?"[/color] After Kim mom say that, Suzy barge in through the door. [color=6ecff6]"Suzy? What happened? Wait, Where's Kim?"[/color]

[color=92278f]"I-I don't know, we were just talking and then the neon sign blew up, Kim flash a flashlight to my face and run off. I couldn't see where she was going"[/color] Suzy say in a worried tone.

There wasn't too long for an answer to walk in the front doors of the establishment. While other customers were clearly distressed, none were as much as Suzy when she made her way back in. Ray's thoughts immediately jumped to the worst when he didn't see Kim following right behind. The ebony girl's explanation of the situation was more than enough. Ray got up quick and his eyes found contact with Ms. A.

[color=7ea7d8]"I'm gonna go find her, Ma. Try her phone. Show me where she was, Suz.”[/color]
[hr][hr]
Ray made it about a solid block over before he noticed something strange in one alleyway. As much as he had to walk and ride through these streets, there were few that knew this city like him. There was a light coming from the shadows, like a flashlight. Glowing alleys weren't a thing; The homeless folks didn’t typically have cell phones. Sure, there'd be occasional lights of a garbage fire in the winter, but something was off here. 

A strange and sharp sensation to his forehead in that general direction confirmed his suspicions. It was odd to figure, but ever since the incident, whenever he was around Kim, he got this...headache like feeling. Hard to describe but it was something like a weird kind of bond...But, deciphering that Sci-fi shit came in second to the task at hand. 

[color=7ea7d8]"Kimi? That you?"[/color] His voice echoed down the between buildings space as he approached.

Kim face was cover by her arms and knees as she shines the attire alleyway with her blue light as she silently cry. She just need someone, anyone, to help. Help her for finding out what wrong with her. Kim head look up to see who call her name, it was Ray. As soon as she see him, she put on her hoodie to hide her face and turn away from him [color=00aeef]"N-No! Go away...Just leave me alone, Ray...."[/color]

The one who neared in question was confused by the sight he was beholding. So, it wasn't the flashlight or Kim's phone that was doing the glowing. It was Kim herself? The fuck? Well, it looked like he wasn't the only one experiencing strange effects after the gas bomb. When she turned away, Ray was quiet for a bit in thought, but instead of walking off, he stayed. He sat on the ground after making sure move any trash and other minor debris.

[color=7ea7d8]"Kim. Are you hurt? What happened?"[/color] His voice mellowed out, in a sort of warm coaxing manner. He used to only speak this way to Cello when he had his moments, but, whatever was going on seemed to be very stressful for her.

[color=00aeef]"I...I-I-I don't kn-know...."[/color] Kim choke up [color=00aeef]"W-We just talking a-and then that n-neon sign blew up and I starting to g-g-glow again. See?"[/color] Kim pull down her hoodie to reveal that she is indeed glowing [color=00aeef]"I-it happened at the hospital t-too..."[/color] she finally admit [color=00aeef]"A-A-And..."[/color] Kim try to say something but her voice keep on choking up from sadness.

[color=00aeef]"I-I don't know what wrong with me, Ray. I just don't feel normal anymore, I feel like a freak"[/color] she say as she feels tears falling from her eyes.

Ray kept as calm as could be as she told him what went down. So, the sign just blew up while she and Suzy were talking? The fuck kind of shit was that? Another thought sidelined because the brightness punched his eyes in the face before they could fully adjust. Shit, she really was glowing, even more than he previously thought.

Okay, so it was clear that whatever was going on in that explosion changed her too. So, this was what happened to people who lived? Ray didn't glow though, and he was pretty sure that didn't happen to him in the hospital. Maybe it just had different effects on different people. He was sure there were other people that survived aside from them, he wondered what happened to them. He placed a hand on Kim's shoulder as an offering of comfort.

[color=7ea7d8]"I think it's got something to do with the gas, Kimi. I don't know what the hell's going on either...but, just know you're not alone. Some really...weird stuff's been happening with me too."[/color] Ray broke his thoughts down to her, raising his burned shirt sleeve where she could see it. 

Though, feeling like words weren't enough, he extended his free hand toward a garbage can. It took only a second after he clenched his fist for the muscle to tense up. Right after and out of the opening on his wrist, a silver tinge of thread fled from his forearm. It made contact with the metal dumpster, and in turn, it started making a small sizzling sound.

Kim expression was full on surprise, she guess she not the only one after all, she watch as metal dumpster starting to making sizzling sound. The glow starting to fade slowly [color=00aeef]"Do...do you think there people like us?"[/color]

Ray waited a second and relaxed his hand. With the flexing motion done, the thread unlatched from his arm, and he used the bandana on the other hand to wipe around the area. He had figured out that he could control it just yesterday. One of those issues he told Ms. A about.

It was all about finding a way to relax, that was able to make him stop, and that seemed to be the way Kim's lights worked kinda too. At least the distraction got her to turn it off inwardly. Slinging the hand that was on her shoulder to the other one, he pulled her into a half hug from the side.

[color=7ea7d8]"I dunno about all that yet, but I'm sure we'll figure it out soon...just...Keep this on the low for now tho."[/color] Ray suggested. 

[color=00aeef]"Ok, I just want to go home right now cause I'm pretty sure I embarrass myself in front of Suzy"[/color] Kim half jokingly say as she wipe the tears off her face

Ray chuckled. [color=7ea7d8]"Nah, You totally did. You were like:"[/color] Ray put his hands up to his face and smushed it up to look like Kim's in the picture of the three of them in the parking lot. They laughed a little. [color=7ea7d8]"But I bet you Suzy didn't even notice, so don't worry about it."[/color] He mashed her hair with a smile before checking his phone when it buzzed.
It was Ms. A.

[quote=Ray’s Phone] Ms. A: [color=6ecff6]Ray, did you find Kim???[/color]

[color=7ea7d8]Yeah Ma, she's fine. The sign blowing up freaked her out. The incident made her a little jumpy. I'll walk her home…[/color][/quote]