[hr][hr][center][h3][b][color=ed1c24]Percy[/color][/b][/h3][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019b29ec-87e6-745e-afed-c64ed081c458.webp[/img][/center][hr][hr]Lashing out in anger was the easy part. 

He could make another person the target of his wrath, channel every negative emotion he had into them, all while avoiding reckoning with the ones he held of himself. It was readily applied, easily suited to any situation. His jacket was burned and his body possessed on the first day of school? Yell, scream and accuse the culprits of being bullies, of knowingly and willingly going out of their way to make him miserable - set aside that it had been an accident with good intentions - and do not grapple with the knowledge that while others look for heroes, he searches for monsters. A cute boy in his room confessing how he feels? Misinterpret it, let the jealousy curdle and choose to wallow in it. His tormenter from middle school appears, offering a hug and professing his desire to make amends, even offering a portion of his side of the story? Threaten him, smother the painful memories in rage, do whatever it takes to have the last word. 

The hard part was what came after. 

It was only ever a temporary fix. The pain always won out, always came through. The urge to curl into a ball and cry that first night of school, to message his mothers that this wasn’t going to work out, that he wanted to come home and maybe try online courses instead - that no matter where he went, he was different in a way that was punishable. The panic that had crept in after the boy had left his room, as his mind tried to devour itself with possibilities and what-ifs - if he was just Icarus in that moment, flying too close to the sun, and his fall was past due. 

He’d been lying when he said he didn’t think about him. 

The energy surged within him, and he tried to suppress it, to stay present in this moment on the dance floor - to choose to be happy as his team celebrated, instead of consumed with anger, bitterness, and regret. He’d been so happy just minutes ago - why couldn’t he get back to that feeling? Try as he might, he couldn’t stop it though - couldn’t stop as he dematerialized, reappearing on the opposite end of the courtyard at the same height, elevated above the ground. But there was no anti-gravity field here to catch him, and he fell the ten feet, landing on his ankle with a sharp [i]crack[/i]. 

He hissed as the new wave of pain hit him, instinctively cradling his ankle with his hands, as he tried not to scream - tried not to cry - and only managed to be successful on the former. 

James was out of his chair at the sound. It took him half a second to figure out where the signature sound of broken bone was and he frowned as Percy cradled his ankle defensively, tears coming down. James jogged around the dance floor of floating teenagers and knelt down next to Percy. [Color=mediumspringgreen] “Hey, hey it's okay, I've got you. May I see?”[/color] James spoke softly. 

Percy froze, every muscle in his body tensing as James came and knelt down next to him. He wanted to tell him to leave him alone, to go away and that he was fine but… he didn’t need to have taken combat first aide classes at AA to know that it was broken. He bit his lip, before nodding slightly, letting go his his ankle and yelping in pain. 

James clicked his tongue as the sight. Definitely a break, but easily repaired. [color=mediumspringgreen]“Okay. We're going to get you all fixed up, okay? I'm going to start.”[/color] James reached out, one hand on the foot and another stabilizing the ankle, and let his power flow in, the bone mending. [color=mediumspringgreen] “There, quick and easy. Feeling any pain?”[/color] 

He gasped as James gripped his foot and ankle, flinching from the contact - but then all of that faded away. He could feel James’ heart synchronize to his own, each beat a little pulsing wave of calm. It wasn’t just the pain from the ankle that was eased off, but the emotional turmoil, too. [color=ed1c24]“What… did you do to me?”[/color] he asked, more relaxed than he’d been in ages with someone else touching him (besides, perhaps, his boyfriend). 

[color=mediumspringgreen]“We sync up when I heal - you use my healing factor. I can keep physical symptoms of stress under control and it typically helps calm people down.”[/color] James explained. [color=mediumspringgreen]“It helps that most associate it with pain relief.”[/color] 

Percy was quiet for a moment. It’d been more effective at dampening down the feelings than anything he’d ever tried before. He slowly got back up to his feet, testing his ankle - it was like nothing had ever happened. No wonder Danni and Dorian went about life without fear, when any injury could be healed. [color=ed1c24]“Erm… thanks,”[/color] he mumbled, a little embarrassed at how much better he felt. Did James know that too, when he touched someone? Was that how touch was supposed to feel? 

[color=mediumspringgreen]“Anytime, Percy. I'm always available to help.”[/color] James smiled softly and gave him a wave before jogging back to the adults.

He took a breath, feeling far steadier than he had a moment ago. He wasn’t going to let Chase O’Brien ruin this night. Not this time. He forced a smile onto his face, as he returned to the dance floor he had fled, and returned to Dorian. [color=ed1c24]“Я тебя люблю.”[/color] He spent the rest of the evening feeling like he was floating.

[hr][hr][center][h3][b][color=42A9FF]April[/color][/b][/h3][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019a32b8-61bb-718f-82f1-903e3238ae55.webp[/img]
[hr][hr][/center]	

April giggled and laughed, letting herself be swept up in the moment - and into Marlena’s arms. The environment was intoxicating, everyone was enjoying the moment, dancing and twirling around in the safety of the anti-gravity field and the varying telekinetic powers. It was more intense than any high she’d ever tried with Chi Mai, an exhilarating rush of euphoria and endorphins. And her body was more than happy to oblige her joy, as she didn’t miss a step, moving along with the music and with Marlena. 

As her joy came to a crescendo, she leaned in, urged by impulse, and placed a kiss on Marlena’s cheek. [color=42A9FF]“This is so fun!!! You’re so good at dancing!!”[/color] Maybe Marlena would want to hang out at the Valentine’s Day Dance at school - April didn’t have a date to it currently, although she’d been planning on going with friends, maybe even asking Danni to be a platonic date to it. It was so nice, having dates to the dance being the only thing to worry about on the horizon - to not have this looming stress, all of the anguish and the tears. The future looked bright and she couldn’t wait to see it. 

She spent the rest of the night dancing with her friends, and by the time she crawled into bed at the Kingston-Gray house, her limbs were still vibrating with the residual beats of the music.