[H1][color=#32cd32]M[/color][color=#3fce2f]i[/color][color=#4cce2c]c[/color][color=#58cf29]h[/color][color=#65d026]e[/color][color=#72d022]l[/color][color=#7fd11f]e[/color] [color=#99d219]&[/color] [color=#b2d313]M[/color][color=#bfd410]i[/color][color=#ccd50d]c[/color][color=#d9d509]h[/color][color=#e5d606]a[/color][color=#f2d603]e[/color][color=#ffd700]l[/color][/h1]


[Color=gold][b]Time:[/b][/color] Evening into Night
[Color=limegreen][b]Location:[/b][/color] Michele's Apartment
[Color=gold][b]Interactions:[/b][/color] 
[hr]


The light knock on her front door prompted her to get up with a glass of wine in hand already halfway done. Bypassing looking through the peephole as she knew who her visitor was, Michele opened the door and saw Michael standing in front of her. “Please, come in,” she said with a smile, stepping aside to let him into her home. As he went, Michele could smell the cologne he had on. Going by the scent alone, it seemed he had good taste. His clothes also backed up that theory. Michele then closed the door behind her and turned her attention to Michael.

“I’ve prepared some finger food to snack on and there’s no shortage of alcohol in this household so please, you’re more than welcomed to help yourself."

[Color=gold]"Wow… this is…"[/color] Michael faced Michele with an impressed smile. It wasn't just the food. Michael couldn't help to admire Michele. [Color=gold]"It's nice! Almost feel like you're spoiling me."[/color] He looked her up and down before turning to walk across the living room to the open dining area. His eyes scanned over the food before locking onto the ham croquettes. [Color=gold][I]Those gotta be good.[/i][/color]

She let out a small laugh, almost as if she were embarrassed from Michael claiming she was spoiling him. She did like him, and apparently she had made that obvious enough for him to pick up on. "Ah, well, it wasn't too much trouble at all," she responded, her accent forcing its way through her words much more so than she'd like. Following him to take a bite herself, she continued the conversation after taking a sip of wine. Michele tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before speaking. "I figured it was safer than getting take out, especially after the day I've had."

[Color=gold]"Hmm?"[/color] Michael responded with his mouth full of a delicious croquette as he wondered what might have happened. He gulped down the food quickly, worry on his face. [Color=gold]"What happened?"[/color]

She shrugged her shoulders as she spoke. “My hospital visit turned a bit chaotic, someone was holding a hostage in the lobby making demands and throwing around threats. The cops came and shot him eventually. I’m fine, though I’m not sure about everyone else.” Michele then diverted her gaze away with a hint of sadness. Michael raised his eyebrows, and was not sure what to say. Perhaps it was one of those things that you didn't comment on. “I’d rather not look at the news too much these days, you know." His hand rested on Michele's shoulder.

[Color=gold]"Then we won't… Trust me, things feel like they're getting worse by the day. Speaking of, that woman Lori. The one that destroyed a quarter of the city. She just showed up at my place while… Maybe I should start at the beginning."[/color] He let loose a sigh before explaining. [Color=gold]"You just can't tell anyone, okay?"[/color]

Tensing up, Michele looked up at Michael as if she’d been betrayed. Why was that woman at his place, exactly? And why was he telling her about it, especially since he requested it be kept a secret. Something about the situation just didn’t sit right with her in that moment, but they were past it at that time.

“Okay, I won’t,” she responded matter-of-factly. This made Michael hesitate for a second, but he'd take her word over her tone for what it was worth.

[Color=gold]"This woman impersonating one of Floyd's ex girlfriends showed up to the condo. The thing is, she was really some ex-cop that had a vendetta against him. I knew of Lisa and that she and Floyd were on okay terms. I let her wait for him there, but she was really just going to shoot him the moment he walked in. And not only did this crazy chick have a gun, but she was altered too. She could heal…"[/color] Michael paused remembering Lisa's lifeless body. [Color=gold]"We fought for a good minute. I tried to talk some sense to her, but she wasn't going to stop. Then [I]she[/I] showed up. Lori Martinez. Don't ask me how or why… I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. I attacked her. Didn't even waste a moment. Floyd did too, but she basically shrugged everything we did off… and then she killed the ex-cop by just draining her power or something. And then she left."[/color] Michael shook his head as the event replayed in his head. 

She was listening as he went, following along with his narrative. The nightmare that Lori had brought upon San Francisco was something that should have never happened. Who knows how many innocent people lost their lives that day...too many to count, that was for sure. "Wait, so she killed the ex-cop, but not you two? She just walked away?" Michele was curious, though her words may have come off more accusatory than she would have liked. 

[Color=gold]"Yeah… that's the weird part. She saw us use our powers too. Floyd thinks she didn't care about us because she thought she had the powers we were using already."[/color] Michael briefly raised his index finger from his free hand and made a small spark of electricity appear at its tip. Once he stopped, he continued. [Color=gold]"I don't know whether to feel grateful or afraid. If I had used more of what I could do… I don't think I'd be… here."[/color] He couldn't believe he had said that.

Not all that much was left of the wine Michele had in her glass, and she gulped what remained in one go. "I'd say you should consider yourself lucky because that monster doesn't have any limits whatsoever." There was some bitterness in her tone, but in that moment she didn't care if she came across cold-hearted when speaking about Lori. Michele then changed the subject, not to try to mask her hate but she'd rather be engaged in more pleasant conversation. A slight smile formed on her lips. "If it helps any, I'm glad you're here too." She grabbed a slice of ham and cheese and took a bite as she walked over to the couch, telling herself to grab a seat before she became dizzy. 

Michael agreed with Michele's cold words, and was uplifted by her warm ones. Watching her finish her glass prompted him to get his own to [I]keep up[/i]. After grabbing and devouring another croquette, Michael wiped his hands and went to join Michele on the couch. He took a seat right beside her and figured they should keep the mood up with the bad news out of the way. 

[Color=gold]"On a better note, I got a promotion at the driving gig I told you about. Never thought it would provide more than my HR job."[/color] He shrugged 

"Oh that's great, I'm happy for you! My work has been...sporadic, but I make the best of it." Michele smiled at him, reaching for the remote for her TV. "Do you want to listen to some music? I'll play you some of my stuff. I haven't composed anything lately but you know, I will again one of these days."

[Color=gold]"Composed? You make your own music?! Come on, let's listen to what you got! 'Show me what you got!'"[/color] Michael mocked the big head aliens from the show [I]Rick and Morty[/I].

She laughed a little, reaching for the remote. "Well I'm no Mozart, but it pays the bills. I have a portable keyboard in the closest but I usually go down to the hall to put the hours; I prefer it there anyway."  Michele turned on her smart TV and clicked over to her playlist. She then selected the first song and clicked play. "This is one of the first pieces I ever recorded."

[Color=gold]"Not Mozart huh?"[/color] Michael said with sarcasm as he listened to the quaint keys playing a beautiful melody. [Color=gold]"Obviously better… I bet you can sing too."[/color] Michael grinned.

"Well..." Michele looked away, instantly blushing. "A little, yeah, but don't ask me to sing right now cause that's not happening." She then turned back to Michael. "How about you, any special talents I should know about?"

[Color=gold]"Plenty."[/color] He put on a playful smirked. [Color=gold]"I'm a really [I]really[/I]… driver."[/color] Michael chuckled and poked Michele in the side before getting up and going for the food again. [Color=gold]"I'm also a great eater..."[/color] He then poured himself another glass of wine. [Color=gold]"...and drinker."[/color] He took a quick sip for dramatic effect. [Color=gold]"You want another?"[/color]

“Oh? I’m a great drinker myself but I don’t think I can compete with the likes of you. I only say that because the body mass simply ain’t there,” she gestured to herself. “But yes, I’ll take another glass please and thank you.” Michele leaned back on the couch, getting comfortable. “Oh and bring the snacks too..."

Michele and Michael had enjoyed, food, drinks… maybe a tad too many, and talking. The croquettes had been rendered nonexistant, and the snacks had been nearly dealt with. The wine? Don't ask about the wine… Things had been going great with Michael and Michele currently sitting close while watching Kevin Hart's [I]Let Me Explain[/I]. It was a few years old, but Michael still found it funny

[Color=gold]"A bum bump!"[/color] Michael laughed just before a loud bang was heard Michele's before it flew open, the locking mechanism and the doorknob appeared warped and melted as Jorge, the thug from the first time Michael and Michele met. Jorge wasn't alone either. There others stepped, with one of them having glowing blue irises. Michael got up from the couch, initially shocked, but remembered he had powers now. And this time he had a better handle on them than last time.

Nearly jumping out of her skin, Michele also got to her feet. It took her a moment, but she soon noticed that one of the men standing by where the front door used to be was the one from the incident a couple of days ago when she had been attacked. 

“What the hell?” Michele’s heart felt like it was about to burst from her chest. “Get out—” She wasn’t able to finish her sentence as one of the men stepped forward and launched something in her direction. The impact sent her flying backward until her back hit the wall. Michele was left stunned for a moment due to the hard and abrupt stop, but when she looked down she noticed she was being held against the wall by a chunk of ice. It covered her from just below her chest to her upper thighs, effectively trapping her arms and hands in place. 

[Color=silver]“Michele!”[/color] Michael shouted before as his attention was to her instead of the three men.

Thinking quickly, Michele immediately projected her clones to appear in front of her, acting as a barrier before the five girls went after the thug who had struck first. The clones assured Michael, but a little too late as a blunt strike cracked him on the side of his face, sending him stumbling and a little dazed as he was caught off guard. The next few blows were made at his body as he stumbled before he stuck his footing and grunted as he released streaks of electricity that danced across the surface of his body, causing the attacker to halt his next attack.

[Color=olive]“Shit!”[/color] The lanky man backed up.

[Color=gray]"I fuckin' told you! This cabrón can zap your ass if you put hands on 'im! Let Joel blast 'im."[/color] Jorge ordered as Michael was squaring up with the very guy Jorge was talking to. Michael and the man locked eyes for less than a second before raising his right hand to release a flash of light towards the man's face.

[Color=olive]“Gaahh!”[/color] He backed up while holding one his hands over his eyes while Jorge and Joel squinted from the sudden intense brightness. Michael took the advantage of the intruders being dazed, advancing forward.

The sudden intense brightness made Michele shut her eyes and turn away from the chaotic scene happening in her living room. The rest of the girls, however, were unphased by it as two of them broke off from Joel and proceeded to take down one of the remaining intruders. They flanked David on either side, grabbing his arms and putting him on the ground instantly by sweeping both legs simultaneously. He very well may easily overpower Michele or one of the clones, but not two of them.

“Now’s your chance!” One of the clones turned her head towards Michael while her and her counterpart pushed down on the thug to keep him pinned to the ground. With a thrust of Michael's hand, he fired electricity at Jorge who hadn't even had the chance to jump into the attack himself. Jorge dove onto the floor to avoid the attack only to be hit with a second attack of electricity. Michael kept the attack short due to not knowing how lethal it was. Jorge grunted on the floor with his hands glowing a bright red, but he couldn't readily get up. Michael assumed the man was done for and hurried over to Michele while looking at his palms.

[Color=gold]"This should work."[/color] He said as his hand emitted heat that started to melt the ice. 

Simply watching, Michele waited anxiously to be freed. She was shaking from the cold, especially as the ice began to melt. But beyond Michael, she saw something that slightly disturbed her. Who knows what had enraged the girls, which would explain why one of them was bashing her attacker's head, repeatedly smashing it against the floor despite his unconscious state. The others engaged with the thug begging for his life were kicking him senseless, and Michele was sure he too would be unconscious soon. She and Jorge then exchanged glances before he gathered whatever strength he had as he struggled to get to his feet. 

“Michael, turn around!"

[Color=gold]"Huh?"[/color] He let out before swiftly turning around to face Jorge getting up defiantly. [Color=gold]"You fucking-"[/color] Michael didn't even get the rest of it out before he fired… nothing? Michele and Jorge didn't see anything leave Michael's palms. Confusion was painted on Michael's face, but he didn't lower his hands or re-thrust his hands. Jorge smirked. He was surroinfed, yes but the two he wanted dead were in his path. Right in front of him. Michael appeared to be spent and Michele was stuck on the wall.

Jorge took a step forward and held his stomach as he dry-heaved. Michael finally lowered his hands as he watched Jorge hold back from vomiting until he let it all out on the apartment floor. Michael walked forward and punched Jorge on the side of his head, knocking the ill man over onto the ground. He squirmed and moaned, unsure of what was happening to him as he continued to vomit on his side. Michael hadn't noticed the clones' brutality due to his current tunnel vision. But the sounds of the rhythmic pounding on the hard floor grabbed his attention. As his sights landed on the women, he paused in shock.

[Color=gold]Michele… Are they killing them?"[/color] He turned to her, jumping a bit as he remembered her being stuck to the wall by ice. He hurried to her with hands glowing with heat again. [Color=gold]"Michele…"[/color]
She shook her head, in part confused but afraid she somehow may have had something to do with the sudden aggressiveness from her counterparts. “I—I don’t know. I mean I didn’t actively wish them dead but I did want them gone. Maybe they took matters into their own hands…”
 
Michele looked down until the ice was melted enough and she was able to break free. “Hey, stop that!” She walked over to the clones, the lot of them pausing to look up at her. 
 
“Nobody hurts you, Michele. Nobody hurts [i]us[/i],” one of them replied, the look in her eye unnerving even to Michele. 
 
“Just take them outside, please…get them out of my sight,” Michele turned towards Michael. “I guess those guys were evil enough to attract the evil in them, or the evil in me…” Michele sighed, her hands rubbing her eyes as if she wanted to clear her head. “What am I supposed to do if I can’t get them under control?”

Michael placed his hands on Michele's shoulders for comfort, knowing full well what it was like to not have full control of his abilities. Though these powers came with a lot of perks, it was hard not to be afraid of what you could do with them. 

[Color=gold]“You will, okay? We both will.”[/color] He assured Michele. How could he make such a claim when their powers were so different? [Color=gold][i]I probably did more damage to that guy than her clones did.[/i][/color] The clones worked together to carry the three men out of the apartment and even the building. They simply dumped the men out back by the dumpsters.

Michael inspected the apartment door and door frame. He noticed the door could be shut, but not secured. 

[Color=gold]“Hey, I'll sleep by the door tonight. The lock is busted. Maybe I can move the couch against it.”[/color] He tried to ignore the other damage done to the place as he offered to be an extra layer of security for the apartment.

Her buzz was fading, though it was not entirely gone. "Yeah, let's put the couch up against it and I'll bring out an inflatable mattress for us to sleep in. I want to clean this place up first though...it looks horrid." Michele's mention of them both sleeping on the inflatable mattress caused Michael to look her way. He briefly watched Michele go to the closet by the bathroom to grab some cleaning supplies. She planned to tidy up the space then hop in for a warm shower herself.

"This shouldn't take too long," she commented as she handed off some of the supplies to Michael who gave her a small smile. Just then, she felt the familiar tingle whenever her clones returned home, so to speak.

[Color=gold]“You should see my place if you want to know horrid… Shit, I… nevermind. I'll clean up that mess tomorrow.”[/color] He had forgotten about the mess at the condo he promised to clean up. Two ruined living spaces in one day. 

The two had spent hours cleaning up the apartment. They made it a bit fun by talking over what had happened with a bit of humor to lighten the mood. Michael was placing some of the cleaning supplies back into the closet, while also being ready for Michele to hand him whatever she had too.

[Color=gold]“We make a good team. Me and… all of you.”[/color] He joked before turning to face Michele with a smirk. [Color=gold]“Maybe you can come over with me tomorrow and help with my place?”[/color] Michael honestly just wanted a reason to have her as his company.

"Oh, so now I'm your cleaning lady?" She teased, lightly jabbing him on the side with the tip of the broom before handing it off to him. "I suppose I could help," she shrugged, "pay you back for helping me tonight. Honestly, I'm not sure what I would have done if you hadn't been around to save me from those two to begin with." 

[Color=gold]“I'm glad I was there too. It was how we met.”[/color] 
 
And with that, Michele headed towards the bedroom, her voice a little louder so Michael could hear her. He was just shutting the closet door when she spoke.
 
"I'm going to take a quick shower if that's alright with you, so please make yourself at home."
 
[Color=gold]“I won't break anything else.”[/color] He replied as he found the wine again. [I]Why not?[/I] He took a seat at the table since the couch was now pushed into the door. Without any pause, he poured and indulged in a drink. He tried not to think about the thugs that broke in, but it was hard to not think about it as he sat idly by. He shook the thoughts from his head and set up the tv to play Weeknd's [I]Beauty Behind the Madness[/I] on shuffle.
 
Michele emerged from the bathroom about 15 minutes later, her hair wrapped up in a towel and donning a bathrobe. She simply smiled at Michael as she walked across to her bedroom. Michele took a moment to search within the walk-in closet for the mattress, though it didn't take her all that long to locate it. She pulled it out and rejoined Michael back out in the living room. "Are you tired yet or do you want to continue drinking for a little while longer?" She inquired, nodding towards the glass of wine in his hand. "I'm fine either way." She then placed the box down in front of her. At the same time, Michael quickly poured a second glass of wine and set it down
 
[Color=gold]“How about you get another glass while I get the mattress ready.”[/color] He insisted as he walked over to the box at her feet and started carrying it towards the most open spot in the living room. [Color=gold]“Feeling better?”[/color] He asked while removing the inflatable mattress from the box.
 
“Oh yes, a shower always helps.” Michele walked over to the kitchen to get another glass from the cupboard. What little remained from their evening before the surprise visit had been put away, and the rest had been thrown out along with the rest of the trash. She grabbed the bottle and poured as much as possible before the glass overfilled. Michele intended to be distracted that evening, and that’s exactly what she was going to do. Grabbing the glass, she took a sip and carefully walked over to where Michael was setting up the mattress. She was a bit eager to see where the night would take them. “Here’s to no more interruptions.” Michele raised the glass briefly before taking another sip.
 
[Color=gold]“I can get with that.”[/color] The inflatable mattress was the type that you plugged in and let inflate on its own. Good thing, because he wanted to rejoin Michele. As the mattress inflated with its loud humming, Michael grabbed his glass. [Color=gold]“And cheers to a wonderful night with the lovely Michele.”[/color] He eyed her robe-clad figure before he paused at Michele's striking brown eyes as she sipped her wine.
 
The two laughed and talked for a bit, the stress from earlier slowly melting away, at least that was the case for Michele. She was enjoying Michael's presence, and she thought it was a safe bet to assume that there was some level of mutual attraction going on judging by their interaction with one another.
 
After downing the last sip of her wine, Michele put the empty glass down next to the couch. Such action led her to realize she was dizzy, but she simply shook it off. "I'm gonna go ahead and get some blankets, and you can make yourself comfortable if you wish."
 
[Color=gold]“Of course.”[/color] He removed his shoes and socks before setting them against one of the walls. He then contemplated removing his jeans as well. He wouldn't be comfortable otherwise, and Michele did say 'make yourself comfortable' just now. After a shrug, he removed his jeans. Boxer briefs never hurt anyone anyway. The inflatable mattress was already covered by a maroon-colored sheet. The television was cut off so all there was to do was lie down. 
 
The sound of the inflatable mattress rubbing against itself filled the apartment announcing his action. 
 
Before making her way over to Michael out in the living room, Michele turned off the lights as she went. There was a floor lamp she turned on and dimmed to the lowest setting for good measure in the rare event that their evening took a turn for the worse again. "I hope you don't mind it gets really cold in here at night since I prefer it that way," she went on as she unfolded the blanket and let some of it fall on Michael.
 
[Color=gold]“I think you'll keep me warm enough… And with what you can do, there's more than enough Michele to do it.”[/color] Immediately after the fact, she joined him under the covers. Michael embraced Michele, holding her comfortably while they retired for the night. The crazy day was finally at its end and it wouldn't be the last one to come, but these two had each other to depend on. Michael and Michele.