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Sabine had been fed up for a while now. Not only was she roommates with the one person at school she detested, she hadn’t made any friends. No one wanted to be near her. Sabine tried to find out why and overheard some of the rumors: some included her powers and others included how she acted during the fight (using Leah’s dead mother against her was not her brightest moment). Some just hated her because of her looks, some because of her family’s wealth. Some because she started a social media account and it took off pretty quickly.

So she kept her head down for the most part and focused on school. That in and of itself was a task insurmountable given no one wanted to be paired with her for any task. And whenever someone did dare to give her the time of day she lashed out, knocking the person’s looks or status or powers or whatever else her eyes landed on. She was slowly becoming public enemy #1.

When Danni imagined hero school, it involved a lot more kicking butt and waaaaaaaay less math. Why the hell did he need math? Apparently, he hadn't thought about the possibility of flight and understanding trajectories and he'd been kept back for almost half an hour, the teacher lecturing him for a whole [i]half hour[/i] after class let out and now he was going to be late to be late to his culinary club and then he'd be late to sparring with Dee and then he'd be late… 

To tutoring. 

[color=E948FC]“Maybe t’is whole chain of events ain't so bad after all. Sure, I definitely ‘ave a budding ‘eadache from t'at ‘ack tryin’ ta bash t’e importance of realistic flight dynamics into my ‘ead and Dee is goin’ ta absolutely freak out when I show up 10 minutes late ta t’e sparrin’ room we ‘ad ta beg for and t’e culinary club is gunna give me t'e sad eyes for stumblin’ in late [i]again[/i] but 10 or 15 minutes less wit’ t'e tutor t'e teacher recommended was worth it. 10 out of 10, would recommend. Maybe 9 out of 10… No definitely like 6 out of 10. 10 out of 10 would be convincin’ Dee ta possess t'e fire alarm and break us outta regular classes![/color]

Danni, more interested in his schedule than his surroundings, came to a screeching halt when he walked face first into someone. He stumbled back, blinking at whoever was in his way. [color=E948FC] “Hey, w'at t'e ‘eck!”[/color] Danni whined, but quickly shut up. [color=E948FC] “Ooooooh, oooooomg, pls don't mess wit’ my ‘ead. I promise it is like, completely empty. Not'in’ interestin’ at all. Just ‘ot ‘air. You're trendin’’ on [idr the site lol], right? I ‘ave a decent followin’, Kingston's Kitchen. I can follow you, I can promote you?”[/color] Pop's warnings about telepathy never really sat well with him, but everyone knew Sabine was a mean girl and not the fun kind. 

Sabine’s mind was elsewhere when she collided with something. She fell backwards but caught herself, rubbing her head. [color=A2797E]”Ah watch where you’re going!”[/color] She caught sight of who had ran into her. She recognized him from some of her classes but couldn’t place the name right away. Began with a D she felt and then when he brought up his social media page she remembered. Danni.

What she could have gone without was the immediate implication she would wipe his memory. Figures. He was another jerk at this school who thought she was a bad guy. [color=A2797E]”Keep your stupid page, I don’t ned it. Leave me alone.”[/color] On any other day she would have ripped into him and made him suffer, but she felt a headache coming on and was truly drained. She began walking away, intent on getting an iced coffee or something and drowning her sorrows.

[color=E948FC]“[i]Stupid?![/i] What do you mean, stupid?! I'll ‘ave you know t'at my followers are amazin’. You'd be lucky ta ‘ave t'em!”[/color] Danni rushed to fall in step with her, his previous fear struggling to keep pace with the simmering annoyance bubbling in his stomach. [color=E948FC]“Come on, now we ‘ave ta collab at some point, just ta make it up ta t'em. Do you cook? We can do a first time video! Do ya like New Orleans fare? Seafood? ‘cause I gotta a gumbo recipe t'at’s ‘otter t'an me and t'at takes a lot, ya know?”[/color] Danni winked with a nervous giggle. [Color=E948FC]“Are you a spicy food fan? Or are ya one of t'ose people t'at get all bloated when ya eat it? I always t'ought it'd be nifty if someone made a t'in’ t'at could like, stretch a belt automatically when t'at happened wit’ like pressure plates or somet'in’ in t'e clothes so t'at old people wouldn't ‘ave ta pop t’eir button if t'ey ate too much if t'e food was good. Yeah, t'ey ‘ave stretch material but it never seems ta work out like t'at, at least in t'e movies. Not a fan of t'at stuff myself really, much prefer somet'in’ wit’ a little flair and stretch material is def so 2020. What do you t'ink about t'at? ‘Ave you t'ought about stretch material? ‘ave you looked at any of t'e new stuff t'at's rumoring for t'e next fashion week? T'ey're rumorin’ Spider Man is helpin’ wit’ some of t'e material and if t'ats true, I wanna see if they keep it [i]sticky.[/i]”[/color] Danni wiggled his eyebrows. 

Sabine could only watch in horror as the bohy just kept talking and talking and talking like one of those wind-up puppy toys that just go on forever until their battery dies. She had a feeling Danni didn’t have a battery though. [color=A2797E]”Christ do you have an off switch?”[/color] She felt the headache grow deeper and stopped. She closed her eyes and took a breath. [color=A2797E]”No, I do not cook.”[/color] She almost left it at that until Danni spoke about fashion. That sparked something. [color=A2797E]”I heard their doing a whole line of Captain Marvel fashion. I am trying to net an invite to fashion week.”[/color] Perhaps Danni wasn’t the annoying twit she thought he was. Aggrivating, but loveable, like a new puppy.

[color=E948FC]“People don't ‘ave off buttons, silly goose!”[/color] Danni giggled again. [color=E948FC] “Captain Marvel fashion? But eh, aren't t'ose colors so overused? Like, yeah I get it it. Classic, powerful, vibrant, but ugh, come ooooon. Every ‘ero in te last decade wore t'em like a flag and we need somet'in’ a little new, ya know? I'd like ta see somet'in’ in kaladescope ‘ittin’ t'e stage wit’ Captain Marvel's energy. T'e red, blue and gold just feels… dated.”[/color] Danni scrunched his nose in distaste. 

[color=E948FC]“Wait, no. You're distractin’ me! You owe my followers an apology for callin’ t'em stupid!”[/color] Danni pouted, easily distracted. [color=E948FC]“I wanna collab, and you're gunna cook… you're gunna cook… Pili Pili Eggs!! It's super easy, can be done in one pan, and it's sooooo good! You'll love it and your followers will see ‘ow fun you are!”[/color]

[color=A2797E]”They are using her look as inspiration, the color scheme is going to be different. More empowerment, more leadership vibes.”[/color] Though she took offense to calling the colors dated. Captain Marvel was never and never will be dated. [color=A2797E]”My followers already know I am fun. But fine, cooking. What the heck are Pili Pili Eggs?”[/color] She let the apology ask fly by. She wasn’t about to concede the fact this dude pushed his way into her space, as nice as he seemed to be.

[color=E948FC]“Well, maybe it'll be good for ‘ere ‘cause like, you're kinda sorta terrifyin’, ya know? You got t'at cool, above everyone, Frost kinda vibe, ya know? Like, super cool ya ‘aven't pulled my brains out my nose my ‘ead yet, which thanks btw, but t'at's like, t'e first t'in’ I was spooked about so like, you can do t'at so it's not just me!”[/color] Danni linked his arm with hers and started dragging her to his club. He can't be that late after all!

[color=E948FC]“Pili Pili Eggs are [i]soooooooo[/i] good! Its named that ‘cause t'e sauce is from… uh, I t'ink… eh, I don't remember but it's pepper, garlic, and ‘ella fresh oil and a ton of eggs! Great breakfast! Kinds like an omelet but everyt'in’ us all cooked up toget'er instead of separately and t'en toppin’ or stuffin’ t'e eggs!”[/color] Danni explained, free hand flying wildly as he did. [color=E948FC] “Unless ya ‘ate eggs, which we can do aomet'in’ else with Pili Pili sauce ‘cause now I'm cravin’ it. When are you free? You wanna do it t'is weekend? I need a break from all the book stuff Dee keeps tellin’ me I ‘ave ta pay attention ta more.”[/color]

So close, Sabine felt. Someone here actually being nice to her despite everything and she let her guard down for but a moment. And then he hit her with it. [i][color=A2797E]”He’s just another person here who thinks the worst of me,”[/color][/i] she thought to herself. She stopped, letting her arm be pulled slightly before she yanked it back. [color=A2797E]”You know, I just remembered I need to be elsewhere. Wouldn’t want you to be seen with the girl that could ‘melt your brain’ after all. Thought you were different.”[/color] Sabine bit her lip in a vain effort to stop herself from letting out any other emotion bubbling up before she turned her back to Danni and began walking away. She was stupid for thinking someone here was different.

Look! An escape from club and tutoring! [color=E948FC] “Oh, cool! Where we goin’? I'll tell club I ‘ad somet'in’ come up! I don't know what we're doin’ but I can ‘elp, I guess! as long as I get ta t'e trainin’ room at ”[/color] Danni asked, simply turning and skipping as he kept pace with her. [color=E948FC] “And why would I care if people saw you wit’ me? I wanna collab wit ya and am willin ta subjedt us ta the collective opinion of strangers across the world. I'm just sayin’, that wicked fight ‘tween you and Rockie over t'ere wasn't a good look, ya know. I mean, even Pops warns us ‘bout mind melters ‘cause ‘e came across…”[/color] Danni did some slow math on his fingers before proudly holding them all up [color=E948FC]“Eighteen in ‘is life and all but two of t'em tried ta make ‘in kill Papa or Pa or Appa or Dee or me or some combo of us at some point in our lives. That fear ain't leavin’ quick, tbh.”[/color]


[color=A2797E]”Danni, read the room.”[/color] Figure of speech, but still. [color=A2797E]”You walked up to me and all but accused me of doing….whatever it is you think we do. You don’t know me and I’m supposed to, what. Let you insult me? Newsflash, not everyone should be lumped in the same category because of one similarity they share.”[/color] She stopped herself before she made further points. That would be an awkward conversation. [color=A2797E]”So, just…leave me alone. Less chance of your brain being melted then.”[/color]

[color=E948FC]“Read a room? I didn't know you could… Oh, I see! Wait, what? I haven't been mean to anyone.”[/color] Danni did stop at that, biting at his lip as he tried to think about something he said that was mean. He came up short and couldn't stop from tearing up. [color=E948FC] “I don't know what you're talkin’ ‘bout! All I said was t’ank you and pointed out ‘ow people see you and wanted ta be your friend ‘cause you were actually cool and ‘ot and we could collab and it'd be fun but fine! If you just wanna be alone and upset and… and… and a meanie butt face, t’en be one!”[/color] Danni sniffed as the tears started coming, rubbing at his face to wipe them off in some attempt to stop them. 

God she hated when people cried. And especially if they were the human equivalent of a puppy. [color=A2797E]”Look, I don’t think you meant anything by it. But maybe stop referring to people as brain melters? It sends a bad message.”[/color] She wanted to get out, but some part of her brain told her to stick it out. What else did she have going on? [color=A2797E]”Fine, we can collab. You have the ideas, after all.”[/color]

As quickly as they started, the tears stopped. [color=E948FC]“You wanna collab?! Really?! You'll do it?! Yes!”[/color] Danni jumped up and down excitedly. [color=E948FC] “Oh! I need your number! We gotta get our fits toget'er and do you ‘ave anyt'in’ for t'e kitchen? Cute apron, gloves, a little hat? I can get Pa ta make a spare real quick if we need ta! We'll ‘ave ta use t'e culinary club space and t'e lightin’ is t'at terrible florestent stuff so it just washes everyt'in out but beggars ccan't choose t'in's ya know? You're gunna ‘ave so much fun, I promise! When are you free t'is weekend? I can see if I can beg t'e advisor ta open up t'e space for us. ‘ow ‘bout Saturday evenin’? Or we could do Sunday afternoon? I got dance stuff in t'e mornin’ and Dee and I are gunna start using Sunday nights for the gym. T'ough, I guess we could do Friday night, but lots a people do stuff Friday nights, so maybe Saturday mornin’? Though, ugh [i]mornin's[/i]. Really, I just wanna sleep, sleep, and more sleep but art is sufferin’ I suppose.”[/color]

For the first time in a while Sabine felt….good about something. He was aggravating, but somehow despite all he heard and felt he still wanted to spend time with her. Sabine chuckled a bit as Danni went on leading to a full belly laugh. [color=A2797E]”All right, I’ll leave that in your capable hands then. I can get the word out and get my fans ready for it. Who knows, perhaps this will lead into something more?”[/color] And also, for the first time, deep inside she felt something else. Hope.

[color=E948FC] “Oh! We should take a selfie now so we can post it! How do I look? I'm such an ugly crier, I wonder…”[/color] Danni whipped out his phone and flipped the camera so he could see himself. He clicked his tongue in disappointment at what he was. [color=E948FC] “Oh well. T’ey all know how I look after I cry. ‘Appens all t'e time.”[/color] Danni did mess with his hair a bit, going through a few expressions before he seemed satisfied. [color=E948FC] “Okay! Selfie time? And t'en I can call Dee so I can borrow ‘is computer ta edit t’e video. Last time I burst inta ‘is dorm while ‘e was streamin’ and begged ‘im ta use ‘is computer and ‘is people made fun of me for like two weeks. Boosted ‘is viewers t'ough ‘cause who wouldn't wanna see my pretty face.”[/color] 

Sabine sidled up to Danni as he prepared to take a selfie, a warmth flooding through her. A feeling she hadn’t had for a while now. This weird kid who needed to cut down on caffeine or whatever the hell he was on showed her kindness when he didn’t have to. And while he made a few slip-ups, she felt his intent was pure. Perhaps this was the start to something great.

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Boredom was a dangerous thing for Danni Kingston. It normally ended in tears, fire, or bothering the nearest family member until they screamed and he ran away giggling but for now, he was content kicking his legs off the end of the bed and doom scrolling through whichever app screamed the loudest for his [i]limited[/i] attention. Dee was streaming so he couldn’t go bother him and no one else had responded to his texts despite having sent approximately one million of them in an attempt to get anything so now, he just had more time to plot up… 

His finger stopped moving as he stared at a picture from two years ago, when things were less murdery. Beanie back when everyone thought she was the spookiest thing in town (she had some sharp edges, sure, but Danni didn’t mind them!) was an adorable thing, not quite grown into the powerhouse of a woman she was now, and Danni was a spaz so he looked just the same, except a few poor choices. He zoomed in and groaned, a tiny little zit clear as day, and wondered how he’d even let himself post it. Still, he couldn’t resist forwarding it to Beanie. 

The text beneath the photo read: [i][color=E948FC]“Wanna collab?”[/color][/i]

Sabine sat, waiting anxiously for events to transpire. She was simultaneously excited for the Contest as well as worried. She had done all she could, but her mind raced to Leah, who was probably going through hell, to April, who was excited for the contest and, if things progressed, possibly endangered, and to Dorian and Danni, who were comfortably at their home, a place she was still too nervous to set foot in.

As if fate noticed this, she received a message from Danni. She opened it and clocked the picture right away. Back when she was an uppity bitch (more so than now) and when she thought everyone was against her. Who knew in a matter of years she would be dating her “enemy” and having a solid support system, on top of growing into her own.

Danni knew how to take the pressure off. She could always count on him to make her smile when she needed it the most. She knew it was thanks in no small part to his efforts that day that she started changing for the better. She still had things to work out, but he was the catalyst.
She quickly typed a response back: [i][color=A2797E]“Always <3”[/color][/i]