A Day Out

Posted on Sun Apr 13th, 2025 @ 8:50pm by Darian Elliott & Kennedy Kelly & Drew Williams & Desmond Greene & Angela Williams
Edited on on Sun Apr 13th, 2025 @ 8:59pm

0 words; about a 1 minute read

Mission: Episode 6: X-Fernus Agenda
Location: Salem Center, NY
Timeline: December 18th, 1990, 1115

For the last several days Desmond had been wearing sweats. They were too short for him. His ankles were exposed. The t-shirts looked more like badly cropped crop tops on him. And worst of all, he had to be careful when moving his shoulders, or he'd tear the shirt at the seams. For a boy with some body-image difficulties, this was not helping. His parents had promised to send his clothes down to him as soon as possible. But with the Christmas rush, the USPS wouldn't be in a hurry to deliver it to him.

So Desmond went looking. Not for another shirt that would be too small. He was pretty sure that he'd already run through all the XXXL t-shirts the school had in stock. No, he went looking for someone with car keys. Right as he walked down the stairs into the foyer, he ran across the tall blonde. What was her name again... "Uh, Kennedy?" He said, slight hesitation with her name. "You think there is someone who could, uh, help me get some new clothes? I'm kind of sick of walking around in sweats..." Desmond's voice, now clear of the gas and inhibitor, sounded like a combination of thick branches cracking under heavy wind, and the sound of boulders sliding down the mountain side. It was deep, in every sense of the word.

“Oh hi Dessy.” Kennedy replied as she moved down the mansion stairs in long easy strides. She was dressed for winter weather, already wearing a coat and gloves while a large stack of letters waiting to be mailed was in her hand. “I’m actually going into town right now, I have to go to the post office. I can take you to the mall… I’m pretty sure there is a Big and Tall store there.” She smiled after saying, “But I shouldn’t say that too loud, trips into town and to the mall are a coveted event. Most take the bus if they’re desperate.”

Making her way towards the front door she paused and took in his tall statue, going anywhere with Desmond was going to be an event. “I’m sure we can put the car seat all the way back and if anything, I can open the sunroof.”

'Dessy?' The name sounded odd to Desmond. Nobody had ever called him that. Alexis, his youngest sister couldn't get the hang of his name early on. She referred to him as Derrond back then, but that's the closest he ever came to a nickname. "It'll be fine." Desmond said. His face smiled a a bit awkwardly. "As long as I'm shotgun, we should all be good."

A head poked out of the open doors to the library. Angela, owner of said head, looked at Kennedy and the new student, Desmond, with an excited expression. "Did someone just say the M word?" She held up her index finger. "One minute, I will be right back."

She darted up the stairs and took less then the aforementioned minute to return with her winter coat, handbag and rather confused looking brother.

Drew looked at Kennedy and Desmond, then to Angela. "What's going on?"

"I need some new duds. Kennedy offered to drive me. You guys want to come too?" Desmond offered, perhaps slightly hopefully. Since his tree-fication, he hadn't really had any days out with friends. Not that he'd count the people at Xavier's as friends yet. But hanging out at the mall would probably be a good first step towards that.

“As long as you guys don’t mind being squished in the backseat, we can all go.” Kennedy walked over to the small table that held the house phone as well as a spiral bound message book. She wrote down all their names and when and where they were going, it wasn’t a note so much for their telepathic headmaster but for anyone else around the school that might be looking for them. “But I have training with Kurt before dinner so we better get going.”

The willowy blonde led the way as they exited the house and walked to the adjacent garage. The freestanding building housed quite a few vehicles, most of which belonged to Xavier. But her sleek black Lexus was amongst the cars, its headlights blinked as she unlocked it, alerting everyone to which car they would be traveling in.

“I think we’ll let you get in first.” Kennedy suggested while looking up as Desmond.

Desmond reached in the car, slid the passengerseat back as far as it could. As he leaned back out he looked at it dubiously. With a minor shrug he climbed into the Lexus, careful to try and not scratch the paint with his hands as held onto the roof to stabilise him. "This is almost as spacious as my own truck." Desmond called out, a pleasant surprise painting his voice.

"Ayy, yo! Y'all really gon' hit the mall without ya boy?"

Darian came strutting out of the garage like he owned the place, hands spread wide in exaggerated disbelief. He was decked out in a crisp windbreaker, a snapback tilted just so, and a fresh pair of Jordans that somehow never seemed to touch actual dirt. He stopped short when his eyes landed on Desmond already claiming the front seat, eyebrows shooting up as he gave the tree-like mutant a once-over.

"Hold up, hold up," Darian said, waving a hand. "Why the Jolly Green Giant get to ride shotgun? I get y'all need legroom or whatever, but damn, I gotta be stuck in the back? Nah, nah, that ain't even right." He turned to Kennedy, arms crossed, shaking his head like he'd just been gravely insulted. "I'll roll with y'all, but if I gotta' ride in the back, I ain't sittin' bitch. I need a window, ya heard? I ain't tryna' be all up in somebody's armpit."

Desmond had rolled the window down after closing the door. Electric windows, nice! He had torn the windowcrank off his own truckdoor after his mutation. "Hey man, you can sit behind me. I'm sure you'll fit." The playful tone was obscured slightly by the deep rumble of the voice. "Or you want to ride on my lap?"

"Nah, I dun' wanna' give you any more wood than you already got, homes." Darian opened the car door. "'Sall good right here."

Drew reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. "It's cool, man. I've got my own car now. Dad bought my Goat up last weekend." He pointed to a '68 Pontiac GTO at the end of the line of cars.

"I think we'll all fit in my car," Kennedy replied as she pulled her own seat forward a few inches to sacrifice some of her leg space for them to be comfortable in the back. "I fit nine people in this car at one point in time. Besides, I'm sure Angela is more than okay with sitting in the middle seat." She said with a smirk, Angela had been rather forward with Darian on Thanksgiving and Kennedy was sure she wouldn't mind squeezing in close to him.

Angela got in and took her place in the middle of the back seat. She glanced out the door at Darian with a coy smile. "You won't mind if I drape a leg over yours, right?"

Drew debated for a moment on taking his own car or just bailing all together. One look at his sister confirmed that she was going to need her big brother to keep the backseat G-rated for the short trip in to town. He glanced at Darian over the roof of the car as he got into the back seat behind Desmond.

Darian leaned against the car with a slow grin, adjusting his jacket like he had all the time in the world. "Girl, you can drape whatever you want on me," he said smoothly, sliding into the backseat beside her. He stretched his legs out just a little, getting comfortable and leaving her even less room than normal before shooting her a playful wink. "Aight, let’s roll. This mall trip just got a whole lot prettier."

Angela smiled as she first shifted to allow Darian in and then almost completely crawl back into his lap. She placed a hand on his outside leg. She flashed Darian a smile. "I'm not too heavy am I? I don't want to cut blood circulation to your leg."

"Nah, ma. I might be gettin' a lil' extra blood flow right 'bout now," he said, letting the innuendo hang thick in the air. "Ain't complainin' though."

Drew looked at Angela and Darian as he got into the car. He shook his head. He turned to the front without saying a word. He didn't relish the thought of watching his sister alternate between shopping and flirting with Darian all day.

Kennedy tried and failed to hide the look of amusement that overcame her face. She had never seen a more awkward scenario in the back of a car, the only thing that would have made it better was it not being in the back of her car. "Just keep it chivalrous back there, okay?"

Kennedy started the Lexus and 'Justify my Love' played on the radio, it's hypnotic bass line and Madonna's sultry whispers felt like a terrible option for this medley of teenagers. She quickly turned it off and opted for polite conversation instead. "So, how are all of you liking the mansion so far?"

"It's a lot louder than I'm used to." Desmond said. "But somehow we don't seem to run out of hot water. So far my favourite perk living here." He glanced behind him, seeing Drew being ever so cramped. He scooted his seat forward two more clicks. Desmond's knees were now basically scraping the dashboard, but he felt the brotherly concern radiating from Drew. A concern Desmond had grown familiar with himself.

Drew gave an appreciative nod as Desmond scooted forward a little. His gaze shifted to Kennedy’s reflection in the mirror. "It's a bit different than what I have experience before academically, but it's pretty cool how we are allowed to pickup credit for independent research projects. I can't decide which is more difficult to master Professor Xavier's lectures on physics or mathematics."

Angela was enjoying the feeling of Darian holding her steady as they drove to Salem Center. "I am trying to get a proposal put together for putting on a school production. Professor McCoy is having me write my own play. He thinks it will help with creativity if I start from scratch and not just rehash something from Shakespeare."

Darian groaned dramatically, rolling his eyes. "Shakespeare? Man, that's some boring-ass, old-school snoozefest. Now, if you really wanna shake things up, you oughta base your play on Debbie Does Dallas—give the people somethin' they actually wanna see." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, laughing to himself.

Then, mid-chuckle, he waved a hand in front of his nose, pulling a face. "Damn!" He exaggerated a sniff before fanning the air. "Yo, what is that? Smell like somebody's gramps took a bath in Old Spice and regret."

He leaned forward between the seats, smirking as he glanced between Desmond up front and the little tree-shaped air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror. "Yo, who's killin' us back here? The big tree in the front seat or the little tree danglin' from the mirror? 'Cause somethin' up in here got me feelin' like I just walked in my uncle's barbershop."

"You want to knock it off with the tree jokes back there? I know what I look like, and I don't need a pipsqueak yapping about it." Desmond's good mood was starting to sour because of it. His hopes for a low-key mall-run for some pants and shirts had turned into a group event, and superfly in the back thought he needed to be reference Desmond at any chance he got.

"Ain't the look, it the smell." Darian kept fanning his face. "Ay, tall thang, you mind if I roll down the window?"

“Knock it off, Darian.” Kennedy replied with a tone of annoyance that only a teenage girl could provide. “It’s not Dessy and it’s not the car… it’s Drew who wears Old Spice, so take it up with him.”

She flashed Desmond a brief apologetic glance before her eyes returned to the road. Kennedy was sure all of this was bad enough for the unusual mutant and Darian’s goading didn’t help. “Open a window if you need to, just not all the way down so the wind messes up my hair.”

Drew glanced at Darian in a nonchalant manner. "Sorry dude." It was clear that he wasn't sorry, but he had always been overly protective of Angela, especially in recent years since she discovered boys.

Angela, for her part had grown up around a brother and father who wore Old Spice. She stared hard at her brother for a moment, as if trying to remember something, which of course she did after a heartbeat. "Hmmm, Old Spice." She glanced at Kennedy's reflection in the rear view mirror. "What about you Kennedy? What's is your opinion about Old Spice?"

“It’s… fine.” Kennedy replied with enough hesitation that it made her statement unconvincing. “I think it’s more about the quantity rather than the quality. If people can smell you after you’ve left a room or inside the car it’s probably too much. I think fragrances are best when you can only smell them when you’re close to someone, then it becomes something you associate with intimacy with that person.”

Kennedy accelerated as they hit the straightaway section of highway that connected the more rural areas of Westchester to the town of Salem Center. Wooded areas of the National Park thinned and turned into farmland before more buildings began to dot the horizon.

“I wouldn’t consider Old Spice to be a young person’s cologne choice. I guess we could call it a classic?” The slender blonde was dressed rather chic, her attire and makeup seemed more runway ready than fad forward. “Versace and Armani have some nice stuff. I’m sure there are samples at the mall if you’re interested.”

"I like CK1. I got some for Christmas from my girlfriend two years ago. Couldn't keep her hands off of me when I would wear it." Desmond added, annoyance slowly drifting off again. "That was some gooood stuff."

Darian snorted, leaning back in his seat with an easy smirk. "Man, y'all out here talkin' 'bout Versace and Armani like we all got rich uncle money." He shook his head, then tapped his chest. "Far as I’m concerned, wash yo' ass every day and you don't need cologne. Soap work just fine."

He stretched his arms behind his head, grinning as one slowly draped across Angela's shoulders. "Ain't nobody ever complained 'bout the way I smell, so I must be doin' somethin’ right."

Kennedy merely shook her head while turning into the massive parking lot that surrounded the Salem Center Mall. The town was big enough to warrant the building but was also small enough that it was the epicenter of shopping for most people in the immediate area and a common hangout for local teens thanks to the movie theater and arcade attached to it.

“Here we are.” She replied while parking her Lexus. Kennedy hopped out of the car and glanced at her delicate gold Rolex. “I have to get back in a couple hours, Germans are incredibly punctual and it annoys Kurt when I’m late to training.” Kennedy watched her car rock slightly as Desmond climbed out, she kept forgetting how tall he was. “I hate to say it but there are some FoH jerks that hang out here sometimes so it’s probably better that we stick together, I think Dessy gets top priority.”

Desmond stretched his back as he climbed out the car. The sound of strong planks under heavy pressure sounded out from his back. "I just need a couple pairs of jeans and some t-shirts. My mom sent most of my clothes through the mail yesterday, so it'll show up soon. But if you guys are worried you're going get hassled because of me, I can just go solo and meet you back at the car."

Drew looked at Desmond as the group exited Kennedy’s Lexus. He He knew what it was like to have someone turn on you for no reason other than you weren't what they expected you to be. He had tried to call Peyton a few days after arriving at the school. Her sister had answered the phone and told him she didn't want to speak to him. He learned that his being outed as a mutant had caused quite a stir and that Peyton was adamant that he never try and contact her again...ever. "Dude we got your back...always."

Darian scoffed, cracking his knuckles as he leaned against the car. "Man, you might look like that gnarly-ass tree from Poltergeist, but you our gnarly-ass tree. Ain't nobody messin' with you... 'cept maybe a couple stray dogs and a squirrel or two." He smirked, throwing an arm around Desmond’s massive shoulder like they weren't ridiculously mismatched in size.

"I appreciate that," Desmond said, sounding uncomfortable with the affirmations. "It's just, I stick out even more than a sore thumb." The big guy scratched at the back of his head, the movement making the sound of two pieces of rough lumber rubbing against each other. "Maybe we can get me a hoodie or something."

"Wear what you want to wear not what you think would make other people comfortable." Kennedy replied as she approached the backlight display of a map of the mall. She too had been shamed and cast out for being a mutant and while her changes resided on the inside, she had come to terms with what she was and it hurt her heart to hear his reservations. "If it makes you feel any better, Kurt and I have been to the movies here a few times and no one has ever said anything to him or given him a hard time."

The mall held its own very distinct vibe, full of neon lights, bright colors, and the buzz of shoppers. A wide, open central corridor covered in smooth tile with benches and faux plants scattered around welcomed them. Two stories of stores lined both sides of the corridor, each with large windows showcasing the latest trends in fashion, music, or technology. It was overwhelming to all the senses while still being heaven on earth for most teenagers.

She ran her finger across the list of men's apparel stores until she found the big and tall store, then Kennedy pointed it out on the map. "There it is, second floor by the CD store."

Drew looked up at the towering Desmond. "Come on big guy. Let's go get you a new wardrobe." He patted his back pocket. "Don't worry about price either. I got you."

Angela looked around the small group. "If anyone has some last minute Christmas shopping we can do that too."

"See somethin' nice, it's on me, boo." Darian tapped his coat pocket. "I got me a gift card."

Desmond was swept up in the group. The energy, and the warm enthusiasm was a little overwhelming. The last year and a half had Desmond act more like a hermit than the outgoing teenager he really was. "I want to check the music store after. I've been looking for the Goo Goo Dolls album." Desmond added with some excitement. His room had a stereo, with CD player. But he was lacking his music collection. "I really need to get some tunes. I don't think my mom would've packed any of my cd's or cassettes."

“Sure. I could use something new to dance to, my own music collection is a bit limited and it’s getting a little stale.” Kennedy agreed as they all stepped onto the escalator and slowly ascended towards the second floor. The mall was filled with the bustle of holiday shopping, including a massive tree and a long line of parents taking their kids to meet the mall Santa. It was chaotic but also perfectly mundane.

They easily found the music store thanks to it's blaring music of an unknown grunge artist, the singer’s mumbled words sounded angry and sad. When they entered, the store was filled with rows of vinyl records and shiny new CDs, offering an eclectic mix of music across various genres. Its narrow aisles were lined with people as they flipped through the categorized albums.

Darian let out a low whistle as they passed a massive Madonna poster plastered on a side wall. It was for The Immaculate Collection, her new greatest hits album, and she stood there in all her glory with bold lips and that signature sultry gaze that the black-and-white picture couldn't hide.

"Ayo, hold up," Darian said, throwing a hand out to stop the group. He pointed at the poster and then back at Angela and Kennedy, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Y'all gotta hit this pose real quick. Lemme see which one of my boos got that Material Girl energy."

“Boos?” Kennedy quirked an eyebrow at the comment as her face soured into that look that resembled an angry cat. She wasn’t sure what Angela saw in the obnoxious teenager. “Come off it Darian, no one is striking a pose for your amusement.”

Darian was undeterred with his devil-may-care grin. "Com'mon! Do 'Like A Virgin'! It'll be hot, baby!"

Angela eyed Darian and gave him a flirty grin as she leaned in. "I am. You are going to have to up your game if you're thinking about being the one who makes me not."

"Baby, I'll get up whatever you want." Darian covered up his lewd double entendre with a slick wink.

Desmond chose to not hear Darian. He slid by the slick looking guy, as much as a guy his size could slide by. The music was right up Desmond's alley here. His head started bobbing on its own. Moving through the Top 40 listings of singles, Desmond quickly found some of the smaller bands he enjoyed listening to at home. "Excuse me." Desmond said to man of middle age.

"Ah, sure kid." The older man said, turning around. His eyes only reached up to Desmond's chest at first. The friendly smile also died off as the man realised what Desmond actually look like. "What the fuck is wrong with your face!" The man couldn't help but shout. As if he was rooted to the ground, Desmond stood still. Shock drew lines on the tree-like face. The insult had struck home with the kid. The man threw the records he was planning on buying on the ground, and scrambled out of the store.

“Asshole.” Kennedy grumbled before crouching down next to Desmond and picking up the record the man had dropped. As she stood back up, Kennedy looked up at Dessy, he seemed shocked and silenced by the outburst. “Hey are you okay? Don’t let him get to you.” She examined the record the man was going to buy, it was Kenny G smiling with his saxophone. “That guy clearly sucks and has no taste.”

"And I say after that shit show he just gave you a five finger discount!" Darian said, his voice too full of excitement to keep low. "Stuff yo' pockets, people!"

Drew bent down and helped Kennedy retrieve the dropped items and put them back. He glanced at Darian and shook his head. "We don't do things like that man."

Desmond bent down to collect the last few records. The plastic cases looked small in his hands. He had to take care not to crush them too. With a melancholy tone Desmond answered, "Not the first time its happened." The records made a clicking sound as they went back in the rack, punctuating Darian's declaration of intended theft. Then, with an effort of will the disappointment disappeared from Desmond's face. Instead came a slightly forced smile. "I never was much for woodwind instruments. So you're probably right." He took the Kenny G record from Kennedy's hand to put it back too. "Let me grab that Goo Goo Dolls, and maybe something from Phil Collins, and I'm good to go."

Drew looked about the store. Signs indicated numerous genres of music. He liked a wide range of music himself. His grandfather had introduced him to artists like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. His parents had been fans of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys. His own tastes in contemporary music went from Metallica to REO Speed Wagon, Styx. He even liked a little country music. He turned to Kennedy. "Would you happen to know what kind of music Jennifer might like?"

“For Jennifer?” Kennedy seemed surprised by the question, Drew had been at Xavier’s for less than a month and he was already courting someone. Then again both the twins seemed to contradict the first impressions they provided. Drew wasn’t exactly some shy, awkward wallflower if he had already made a romantic connection and Angela wasn’t a straight shooting, good girl if she was happy with Darian. “Sorry, I don’t. We had a class together this last semester and studied together but she didn’t really talk about herself a lot.”

The realization made her a little sad, all of her friends were gone and she hadn’t really made any new ones. Then again, Kennedy was happier with her nose in a book than at the mall. Nevertheless she tried to offer some advice to Drew. “I would probably buy her something that means a lot to you. When you’re dating someone and getting to know them, that can be even more meaningful than a gift they just like… especially music, that can be so personal. It’s a good opportunity to show a part of yourself to her.”

Darian, still lounging with his usual air of supreme confidence, snatched a cassette off the shelf and practically shoved it into Drew’s hands. Run-DMC – Back from Hell. His grin was downright wicked.

"Ay, my guy, you wanna get shawty all up in her feelings, this the one. Trust me," he said, tapping the tape case like it held the secrets of the universe. "You put this on, and she gon' be feelin' an' creamin' you in nothin' flat, nahmean?" Darian gave a mischievous chuckle before he added, " 'Cause lemme tell you, first time this joint dropped on WBLS—whew!" He clapped his hands together, eyes gleaming with cocksure delight. "Let's just say I ain't never looked at the backseat of a taxi the same way again."

"I heard the girls in my school talking about New Kids on the Block." Desmond added, "Or LL Cool J if you think she's into rap? But whatever you choose, I don't think picking up whatever short and spiky recommends is a good idea." Darin threw his thumb over his shoulder, pointing at Darian.

Drew had turned and listened to each person in turn as they offered advice. He had actually prepared gifts for everyone already. He just wanted to get Jennifer something extra. "Thank you all for the advice."

"Dunno 'bout y'all but, I'm officially done here, aight?" he declared, stretching his arms above his head before letting them drop lazily to his sides. "Got what I needed, got a lil' somethin' extra just 'cause, and now..." He patted his stomach. "I need some grub."

He turned to others with an easy grin. "C'mon, let's hit the food court. Get some sodas, maybe a pretzel, somethin' deep-fried and terrible for us. Snacks are on me and my gift card."

Then, with a smirk, he shot a look at Angela. "Unless you tryna' keep that model figure and pass on the cheese fries? 'Cause, girl, lemme tell you..." he patted his stomach again. "I been workin' hard on this six-pack. Of nuggets."

Kennedy’s eyes narrowed as she listened to Darian. She had a feeling that he had been getting on everyone’s nerves and not just her own.

“Knock it off Darian!” She snapped at him and the group saw the temper Kennedy possessed. “No one wants to watch you paw at Angela, or hear your obviously fake stories about sex in a taxi. Everything that comes out of your mouth is a front and I’m sick of it. Do us all a favor and shut up if that’s the way you’re going to be!”

Darian blinked, caught off guard for all of half a second before a slow, knowing grin spread across his face. He clicked his tongue, shaking his head like Kennedy had just paid him the highest compliment.

"Aww, c'mon now, girl," he drawled, tilting his head at her. "You out here actin' all wild, but we both know that's just 'cause you hungry. Now, if you tryna sizzle my dizzle instead, all you gotta do is say the word—no need to get all feisty on me."

He turned to Angela, flashing her that easy smirk. "Ayo, Ange, back me up. Ain't no reason for all that fire when we just tryna get some damn cheese fries, right?"

"It's not the food, it's you trying to act all cool and shit. It's boring dude." Desmond called from across the racks of tapes. "You just keep yapping and yapping. Just be quiet for a spot and check out some music or something. You're not the big shot you think you are." Desmond's strategy of trying to meet Darian, and try and shoot back some barbs hadn't been working. And now with Kennedy voicing her opinion, Desmond decided he might as well try and back her up. Darian had been annoying the hell out of him after all.

Angela looked at Darian and shrugged. "I think what Desmond and Kennedy are trying to say is that less is more. You don't have to make everything about you." She glanced at Desmond. "We still need to go to the clothing store and pick you out an outfit."

“The whole point of coming here was so that he could get more clothes.” Kennedy agreed with Angela while gesturing towards Desmond, “You can eat junk food after that.”

Kennedy gave up on trying to look for music to dance to once she discovered that the classical section was at the back of the record store. “Come on, buy whatever you’ve found and let’s head next door.” The slender blonde looked up at Desmond. “We’ll at least let you shop in peace, just let us know when you’re ready.”

"Give me a minute." Desmond said and quickly made his way over to the register. Paying had been one of those invisible struggles now that Desmond's hands had grown so big and he had lost a lot of sense of feeling in them. The girl at the register had first looked in shock at the tree-like thing with three cassette's and two cd's, but as she saw him fumble with the bills she shook her head and gently took his cash. She counted out the right amounts before folding the remaining cash back to hand to Desmond. The big man whispered a quiet thank you, to which she smiled. She handed Desmond a plastic bag with his purchase.

A few minutes later Desmond returned to the group. "Alright gang, I need some jeans and shirts. Who wants to help me find something good? Someone not named Darian, that is."

Angela took Darian's hand and tugged as she looked at the others. "Darian and I will get us a table in the food court. Why don't you three work on getting Desmond here a new wardrobe."

Drew sighed. He was not particularly keen on letting his sister spending time with Darian unsupervised. He gave Angela a single nod. "Okay, see you in the food court soon."

Kennedy was actually glad to see them go, Darian was immature with a rather one-track mind and Angela was happy to indulge his behaviors with flirtatious positive reinforcement. Drew would probably have to brace himself for what they were going to find at the food court.

“Yeah, let’s go find you something to wear.” Kennedy agreed as they left the music store and traveled the short distance to the men’s big and tall store right next door. She was fashionable and rather well dressed, even if Desmond didn’t necessarily like the uptown aesthetic Kennedy provided it was at least apparent that she knew what items of clothing did and did not go well together. “What do you like? Anything in particular, like colors?”

Desmond's eyes shone bright for a moment as they walked into the clothing store. He used to like dressing well. Alicia had a good eye for fashion and had helped him pick out clothes. And his sister wasn't the only girl that complimented him on his outfits back then. "I like plaid shirts, the jeans with the big leg pockets. I used to love my fur-lined denim jacket too." Desmond thought back to what he to wear back in school.

"But I'm open to suggestions too. I used to go shopping with my little sister. Girl knew what looked good, even when she was like eleven." A chuckle rumbled deep in Desmond's chest. "Alicia was my own little style guru. Or I was her Ken doll. Never was sure which one was true."

Drew nodded before glancing at Kennedy. "I will find a selection of pants. Why don't you help him find shirts and jackets."

“Oh sure.” Kennedy agreed but she was already flipping through the clothing racks attempting to find something for Desmond. She paused and looked up at him and the tree-like teenager felt the appraisal in her bright blue eyes. “I think blue and green would look good on you, they would bring out the color of your eyes.”

"I'd rather avoid green, to be honest. I'm seeing way too much of it every time I look at myself." Desmond ran a hand through his pine needle-like hair for emphasis. "I do like blue though." He stepped around Kennedy, heading for the pants department. His large fingers slid through the piles of jeans. He collected several shades of denim blue and a pair of camo-pattern pants. All in their largest and widest sizes. "Kennedy, do you think I could pull off camouflage pattern?"

Kennedy performed that rabbit-like scrunch of her nose that was her telltale sign that she disapproved of something. “If you don’t like the color green, I think camo isn’t going to be your friend… unless of course you went for a non traditional color.” She walked over to the pants section and examined the blue and orange camouflage print. “I don’t even know what these would actually be used for.”

"Paintball camo?" Desmond suggested as he put down his own brown-and-green pants. "I do like them though." He reached for the cargo-style pants Kennedy was holding. "I'm going to be standing out whatever I'm wearing. That means I can rock whatever anyway."

“Yeah, wear what makes you happy.” Kennedy commented as she flipped through the rest of the clothes. “Confidence is more attractive than any type of fashion.” She paused and found a particularly busy button up shirt that appeared to be several different patterns mixed together and layered on top of one another. “Except for this, don’t wear this.”

Drew returned with an arm full of cargo pants and a stylish leather jacket on a hanger in his other hand. "Spoke to the sales clerk and found out there is a tailor in town who can do custom outfits if you want."

"Ah man, that shirt looked sick." Desmond said, exaggerating the disappointment in his voice for emphasis. "Let me grab these to try on." And he accepted the arm full of clothes from Drew. He eyed the jacket, and reached for the pricetag. "Drew... dude. That's a cool jacket, but I don't have a 150 dollars to spend on it. Besides, I don't need jackets. I don't really feel the cold."

Drew nodded as he looked at the jacket. He glanced back at Desmond. "All good man. I just thought you'd look pretty good in it. I'll put it back." He turned to Kennedy. "If you don't mind, I'm going to catch up with Angela and Darian. It's been a couple of hours since I've eaten and I'm getting a little hungry...again."

A few minutes later Desmond appeared from the changing room. He had a small pile of jeans that hadn't fit him. Those went onto the rack with clothes to be put back. He then stepped back into the shop. For the outfit he had found a plain white t-shirt in his size. Over it was thick, red and black flannel shirt, unbuttoned. The jeans he had chosen were the brown and green camo pants. He was just lacking shoes. The store didn't seem to carry eightteen's at all. Shoes were the least of Desmond's concern though. Like he said, he didn't feel cold, or heat, or pebbles in the road. "Kennedy? What do you think?"

“It’s a little… busy.” Kennedy replied as her nose dared to scrunch. “I like each thing on their own, I just don’t know if I would put the pants and the flannel together.”

Drew headed back to the rack to hang the jacket back up, but diverted to the register when Desmond entered the fitting room. He quickly purchased the jacket and asked the sales clerk to box the jacket up and give it to Desmond when they were done shopping. He wrote Merry Christmas on the box and left the store.

She looked around the store for a second and then found something to her liking. “Here, try this rather than the flannel.” Kennedy offered him a thin, dark blue denim shirt that was similar to the red flannel he selected. The darker, solid colored shirt allowed for the white undershirt to draw attention to his face while the camouflage was no longer competing with another pattern. “I like that a lot more. I’m not distracted by the clothes and I can actually see you now.”

Desmond dutifully made the swap. He didn't really see the difference between the flannel and the denim. But being the big brother to two girls and son to a mother who doted on him had taught him to not argue about fashion. He trusted that the women that offered suggestions to his appearance only had good intentions. Five minutes and one torn, slightly too small, denim shirt later Desmond appeared again. "Yeah, I like this." He did a little twirl to try and get a laugh. "How about we grab a few variations, and we get lunch?"

“Sounds good.” Kennedy agreed as Desmond selected and collected his clothes. She walked with him to the cash register where the clerk was waiting with a smug smile on her face.

“I have something for you,” the cashier reached under the counter and pulled out a large white gift box. “From the boy you came with… your friend … your boyfriend.” She pushed the box towards Desmond and waited for him to take it. “I guess it's a gift.”

"Uhhh..." Desmond, raised as a good and proper Christian boy, took the box. "Thank you." His mind hadn't exactly registered her words. "Boyfriend....? What." And then the light bulb went on. "No, no! Drew's not my boyfriend! He's just a friend." Panic drew across his face as he looked to Kennedy. "Come on, you know Drew isn't my boyfriend. Tell her, Kennedy!"

Darian's voice cut through the store like a thunderclap.

"Ay yo, see, Angie? I told you they still be fuggin' around in here,” he said, striding in ahead of Angela with a fountain drink in one hand and Angela's back pocket in the other. Then he caught Desmond's flustered face, the gift box in his hands, and Kennedy standing next to him. And then he grinned like the Grinch finding his first Christmas tree.

"Hold up," he barked, laughter already bubbling in his throat. "Don't think trees can't even have boyfriends, but from where I'm standin', yo, looks like Kennedy the one out here givin' Dessy more wood than Mother Earth did, know what I'm sayin'?" Darian slipped his hand out of Angela's back pocket and held it up for someone—anybody, even—to give him dap.

Angela rolled her eyes. "You never know when to quit. Do you?" She turned to Darian. "Apologies to both of them now." Her stern expression conveyed a great deal behind her words. The consequences being far more than just what he owed Desmond and Kennedy.

"Me apologize?" Darian pressed his hands against his chest in disbelief. "Anybody gotta apologize, it's Kennedy out here struttin' dat ass in front of our boy Dessy here who gon' have to go lumberjack-off before he can squeeze back into the car."

The box fell out of Desmond's hand. Three quick steps closed the distance between Darian and Desmond. Quicker than reasonably expected from someone of Desmond's build, he snatched Darian's shirt in his fist. It took no effort to pick the solid 200 pounds of mouthy mutant off the ground to meet Desmond's eyes. Anger flared in those amber orbs. This anger roughened Desmond's rough voice even deeper. That rumbling voice was almost more felt than heard. "I'm so sick of your shit-talking. Keep it up and you wont need a lift to the Mansion. I'll throw your ass so hard it'll be like you flew home."

"Bwah?!" Darian was outright squeaking in surprise and terror. His eyes bulged out of his head while his voice screeched in a falsetto. "Ay, man, lemme down! I dun wanna die! Oh I dun wanna die!" He shook his head back and forth, eyes closed against tears. "Somebody help! Security! Dis fool tryna me!"

Drew returned just as Desmond hoisted Darian into the air. He sighed. "Put him down Desmond. He's not worth it man. You know what the Professor would say."

"Yeah! Yeah! What would the Prof say?!" Darian screeched. "He would say—" Rather than finish his sentence, Darian pushed a spike out of his wrist and stabbed it into Desmond's flank. "FUCK YOU, BITCH! That's how it be!" But the spike barely scratched the surface of Desmond's oak-skin. It deflected harmless away and fell to the floor with a clatter while Darian still hung in the air from Desmond's grip. "Uh oh..."

Desmond shook his head, disappointment in Darian oozing out of him. "Come on dude, even hedgehogs know that poking a tree doesn't work."

Angela stepped forward and placed a hand on Desmond’s arm. Her voice was shaky and quiet. "Please...let him go."

Drew looked at Darian, then Desmond and finally at Angela. He bent down and retrieved the spike. "Time to go. Now!"

“You’re scaring people.” Kennedy chastised both of them for losing their tempers and causing a scene. Their mutations were obvious and the negative attention would make it harder for any of them to continue to go to the mall in Salem Center. “Knock it off and let’s go before mall security gets here.”

Kennedy reached out for the bags and box of Desmond’s clothing from the cashier that now clung to the wall like her very life was at stake. “I’m so sorry,” she attempted to calm the fearful woman.

“MUTIE FREAKS!” A male voice called from outside the store, the large glass display windows had made it easy for any passersby to watch what was happening.

With a light shove, Desmond let Darian back down on the ground stumbling. Desmond's sight had narrowed as his anger had boiled over. As the world widened to him again he saw the groups of people pointing with horrified expressions. Racist slurs filled his ears. Where anger had filled him before, now shame took over. Desmond uttered a strong expletive under his breath, and with loping strides he ran out of the mall and into the cold air.

Angela looked at Desmond taking off and then cast a glance at Darian, her expression full of disdain. "Don't ever come near me again." She walked over to Kennedy and grabbed several bags. "Can we go? Please?"

Two uniformed guards rounded the corner in a half-jog, radios crackling as they scanned for the source of the disturbance.

"There! That's them!" the cashier cried, still pale and visibly shaking as she pointed a trembling finger at the group clustered near the store entrance.

Darian's head whipped toward the sound of approaching security and then back at the cashier, betrayal and panic warring behind his wide eyes. "Aw hell no! Now we got the muthafuckin' law up in here!"

He didn't wait for a reply. "Man, forget all y'all!" he barked, jabbing a finger wildly in the air. "Bunch'a drama-startin', peace-destroyin', block-hot mutants! Spike don't catch no charges today!”

And with that, he took off, bolting past a security guard like a spooked alley cat, knocking over a rack of clearance scarves on his way out. "EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF!" he shouted over his shoulder, voice cracking as he disappeared into the corridor beyond the food court.

One of the security guards tried to grab him on his way out, but Darian was too fast. He slipped on the tile and muttered curses into his walkie-talkie while the second security guard ran on ahead to catch the fleeing mutant.

Sharing looks, everyone else took that as their cue to leave and headed back toward Kennedy's car. Darian could find his own way back to the mansion.

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