[center][img]https://media.giphy.com/media/THwxiKb3SOAXbEOrko/giphy.gif[/img]
[h2][Color=CC99FF]Peter Jackson Bernard[/color] & [color=ffd1d3]Desiree Watson[/color][/h2][/center]
[Center]Location: Macy's near exit[/center]
[Center]Skills:[Color=CC99FF]Deception, Jinx[/color][color=ffd1d3]Sensory Overload[/color][/center]

A scowl manifested on Jinxs face as he recieved Reevas message. Why [i]now[/i] of all times did she have to cut into his amusement. Her rules were boring and lacked devotion. Well at the very least he had the option of killing her if it got to it. He made his way out of the restroom, glancing from left to right as he searched the Macys for her. If anything Reeva probably had Sage track the members locations and signaled those closest to the wanted human? Mutant? Why was she always so vague?

There was an over abundance of people in the store, Leighton included. Another buzzkill if he ever met one. His eyes darted from face to face, occasionally glancing at his phone to freshen the memory until he saw her. It didn't appear to be her at first but then a curl of her hair slipped from under the hood. Her honey-brown eyes accentuated by the dark shadow cast on her. Didn't anyone ever teach her that hoods indoors was extra suspicious?

Jinx quickly made his way towards the target, wide smile and waving to her as if he knew her. [Color=CC99FF]"Hey! There you are, what took you so long?"[/color] He got close to her, his arm now hooked into hers as he began to whisper. [Color=CC99FF]"You're being followed, I'm here to help you. Now quick do you have a car to get away in and a phone?"[/color] His voice sounded urgent as if they could be spotted any minute...by Leighton.

Desiree had yet to think of a plan. 

She thumbed through a rack of sweatshirts, pretending to scrutinize the different colors and logos. The truth was, she was trapped in her head, and as she shuffled over to the next rack she found herself caught off guard by a plain looking man with black hair and green eyes. Before she knew it, he was hooking her arm into his. 

Immediately, she bristled with panic, hardly listening to the words he had to say. Her mouth gaped slightly, as a choked cry of surprise escaped her. He hadn’t threatened her with any weapon, and what little she had managed to pick up told her he was trying to help. But who was he? How did he know what was going on with her? There was no way this wasn’t a trap.

She let a few seconds go by without answering, before mumbing, [color=ffd1d3]”Do I know you?”[/color] The words were foolish. Of course she didn’t know him. On a whim, she shook out her arm, trying to shake him off quite erratically. Once their arms separated, she quickly backed away a few paces. 

[color=ffd1d3]”My car’s in the lot…”[/color] She continued, [color=ffd1d3]”Better get back to it.”[/color] With that, she began walking off, heading toward the ‘lot’.

[Color=CC99FF]"Its ok. You don't know me but I know you. I'm one of Xaviers kids, not biologically but a student. We have a spy that can infiltrate enemy messages and there appears to be a target on you back. I was sent here to protect you and get you to one of our establishments until the X-wing can take us back."[/color] He spoke in hushed tones, not wanting to alert anyone that mutants were present in a department store. 

At the mention of Xavier, Desiree stilled for a moment before continuing at an easier pace. She wasn’t well versed in Mutants and their organizations, but everyone knew about Xavier and the X-Men. Some people loved them, some hated them, Desiree didn’t know exactly where she fell in the spectrum. 

Still. This was probably not a good time to be trusting. Desiree had spent the past...what was it now, four years? Not making friends, not allowing people into her personal space. Like hell was she going to let this guy get under her skin...more than he already was. She just needed him off her back. 

[color=ffd1d3]”Look,”[/color] She began, turning to face him. [color=ffd1d3]”I’m not in the mood for jokes right now. My apartment complex is burning to the ground as we speak. I just want to go home. I’m not trying to get involved in mutant antics.”[/color] Again, she turned, tension making her back ache as she faced away from him.

Jinx quickened his step, now getting in her way as he faced her. His was low but stern, serious, and tense. [Color=CC99FF]"That's Pyro's M.O. He's one of Magnetos lackeys and is probably the one hunting you down. Listen, I just want to help. That's all. I wasn't lying before with what I said its just...I'm not an X-Men ok. Theres a smaller, less known group called the Mutant Underground. It's hard for us… we try to help mutants but our name doesnt carry the same weight as his golden team does. Please...let me help you."[/color] Jinxs head tilted down, as if sorrow was filling him. His eyes tilting up giving her a pair of sad puppy eyes.

Desiree blinked, her hands clenching at her side. She lifted them just enough to begin popping her knuckles. [color=ffd1d3]”Stop.”[/color] [i]Crack![/i] [color=ffd1d3]”Lying.”[/color] [i]Crack! Crack![/i] Flexing her fingers, she urged them down to her sides once again. [color=ffd1d3]”Leave me alone, please.”[/color]

Jinx rolled his eyes as she attempted to...intimidate? He wasn't sure what she was doing but it definitely wasn't doing much other than pissing him off. He tried playing nice, he tried to get her quietly. But now the gloves were off. [Color=CC99FF]"Alright fine. I guess you wanna do this the hard way then?"[/color] There was no noticeable change, no flash of light or puff of smoke. Nothing to say that he had jinxed here then and there. The beauty of his mutation is it had no tell, free to be used when he pleased without the ire of humans. [Color=CC99FF]"Go ahead, scream. [i]I dare you.[/i]"[/color] his voice was much more menacing now. Still low enough for only their ears as his posture changed and he straightened up to look down on her.

Desiree didn’t try to scream. She was going to make a final plea for him to move out of her way and let her go. This was starting to scare her. But, when she raised her voice, nothing came out…

Nothing came out. 

She couldn’t speak. She tried to scream, throwing her head back like a maniac. Nothing happened. Her fists clenched at her side, tears beginning to pool in her eyes. Was this what her father felt when she had overloaded his senses? Extreme panic, an urge to harm the one who caused this? 

Like a sputtering spring, her powers lashed out. She wasn’t focused, wasn’t sure what would happen. When he looked unaffected, she went for what she knew best.

Lifting an arm, she cocked it back the way she had been taught in the self defense course her mother had urged her to take. In an instant, she slammed it into his nose, hearing the somewhat satisfying crack of bone. But it didn’t feel satisfying. Not at all. It felt like she had just harmed someone else. Her eyes widened, and she moved her mouth in an apology. Again, nothing escaped her. 

Maybe that meant it was time to run? But if she ran, wouldn’t mall security come after her? Wouldn’t Purifiers see the struggle? She was sure some were around. A string of swears ran through her mind. She was screwed. 

Jinx recoiled back in horror as the prey dared to attack him. His vision began to cloud up and he knew it had to be her doing. Good news was he now knew she was a mutant, bad news was she had the ability to affect his sight. [Color=CC99FF]"You bitch. You'll pay for that."[/color]