Wide eyed and panting, Lukas ducked behind a bush, losing his footing and crashing to the ground. He rolled, coming up on his hands and knees to peer through the leaves to make sure no one had followed him.

Crowds were scary.

Every where he turned there was a face looking at him or a body pressing against his or yelling and shoving and Lukas really couldn't take it anymore, so he ran.

Central Park was huge, with its wide open spaces and trees and bushes and grassy things. He'd tried to ask some of the prettier-dressed people for a few dollars to maybe buy a hotdog from the really colorful little mini restaurant with wheels near the gate, but everyone had given him side-looks and hurried away. One woman had even taken out this little black can and threatened to spray him with it. Lukas was confused by that; he didn't think woman smelly water would hurt him. His mum had lots of them, and they'd never hurt him before. But maybe things were different in New York.

But he was terrified now because someone had shoved him and tried to take his empty backpack and Lukas had snatched himself away and ran. Hopefully he got away and the person didn't see where he went. He really couldn't take any more surprises today.

Lukas did not know that he wasn't the only one hiding out in Central Park. Denton himself often used the sprawling park as a hiding place when things got a bit too much on the streets. It was either that or he couldn't find any abandoned buildings close by to hide out in. Central Park was about as close to nature as it got here in the Big Apple. The City that never slept. The Concrete Jungle. Or whatever else you wanted to call it. Denton was raised in a rather small city comparatively speaking out in the middle of nowhere. So all the urbanization threw him off...and after the incident, he had made it a point to avoid people as much as he physically could. And in New York, that was next to impossible at some points. There was just so many people around...and it got a bit terrifying at times. Thus why he hide out in the scrubs and rarely used trails of the massive park. It was as good a place as any to get away from it all.

Denton was half asleep within the tangled brush between two large oaks. He wasn't exactly sure how he had gotten himself in the tight spot, but he was there, he was hidden and he was surprisingly comfortable. So sleep it was. If anyone had been listening closely enough, they would have heard the barely audible snores that would have betrayed the Mexican native's hiding position withing the scrub. But luckily no one seemed to have noticed nor cared about it. Which Denton was certainly not complaining about any whatsoever.

In fact, it wasn't until he heard footsteps crashing through the low lying weeds, that he bolted upright with a soft snort. He was stone still as he tried to decipher where it was coming from. but he couldn't. He mentally groaned....one of his few remaining hiding places and it was being infringed on. What was he going to do?! HE sat there for a second...on the verge of panicking before he realized he ought to figure out the who, what, where and whens first...then if things got ugly, he'd shift. "Who...whose out there?" he asked loudly yet tentatively, refusing to come out of his hiding place. His small form still hidden as he waited...just waited for an answer...

Lukas jumped, spinning around and frantically searching the underbrush for the source of the voice. There didn't seem to be anyone around, but one could never be too sure. Besides, the voice sounded alright, mostly. Just a little bit gruff and wary. Lukas would be fine, right?

"Uhm...hi?" he shifted to sit on the soft grass, casting anxious glances over his shoulder as he did so. He really did hope no one had followed him in here.


"I-I'm just h-hiding..." He really hoped the other person didn't mind. He didn't know what he'd do if the man kicked him out.

Denton stayed frozen within his hiding place...muscles tense and ready to spring carrying him into a run if he had to. He could hardly see the other's form through the brush...or well he could hardly see anything for that matter if we wanted to get technical. Everything around him was fuzzy, disorientated and all out of place from where it ought to be. But that was a given with his eyesight being half way in the middle of switching from monocular vision back to binocular vision. That was his mutation for you though. He didn't have human eyesight...not anymore. He had horse eyesight and horse eyesight could be a right pain in the ass some days he was learning. And today was one of those days. It was like some one had tossed something over his face and the fuzzy vision only served to heighten his anxiety. He couldn't see at the moment...and wouldn't be able to for another minute or so...and well anyone probably would have been scared at that thought.

But while his vision was a little crazy at the moment, he could hear the guy. As the stranger said hello and was obviously looking around to see where the Hispanic accented voice had come from, Denton heard the uncertainty in his voice. It was like he was running from something. Just like he was. Though he was sure they were hiding for two entirely different reasons. It was now that Denton's vision began to level out. Everything was falling back into place and wasn't nearly as fuzzy. This was the first time he really got a good look at the other. He wasn't all bulky and brawny...and he seemed scared. This piqued the shifter mutant's curiosity if he had to be honest and well--he supposed he could have just asked. If the other said bug off, then he would leave. That was all there was to that.

Oh...uhm hey there." he said just as cautiously as he had always been and then he showed himself. His head suddenly appearing out from beneath the bush. An errant stick or leaf was still clinging to Denton's hair but that was the least of his problems. He simply nodded as the other mentioned hiding...oh Denton knew all about that, "Makes two of us I suppose." he said as he shifted his weight anxiously. His head was tilted to the side so that he could keep an eye on the other. Denton was probably being paranoid...this guy didn't seem like he could hurt a fly. But still even then--he wasn't sure about this...but then again--when was he sure about things?

It was a man. There was a man sitting back there, and he sticked his head out to peer at Lukas and Lukas didn't know how he felt about this, this strange man dwelling down here in the bushes.

But then, the man said he was hiding too, so that was fine.

Lukas shifted, folding his legs Indian-style and gripping his ankles. "How come you're hiding?" The guy seemed to be strong and big and Lukas couldn't figure out what on earth could make him scared enough to go hiding. Lukas was, of course, terrified of people in general, and while he admitted he wasn't completely sure around him, but still, he was close enough to the outside that he felt he could bolt.

He ran a hand through his hair, tugging it a bit where it hung over his forehead. "The crowds out there are really scary. Did they scare you too?" He shifted, looking out at the people in the open park, shivering. "I dunno how I'm gonna find Erik out there."

If Denton had known what the other had been thinking of him, then chances are good that he would have laughed. An honest to God laugh. Him? Big and strong? Ha! It was a laughable thought--specially when he was in this form. Big and strong...he was not. But then again--it was probably hard for the other to see him when he was still half hidden by the thick brush he had been hiding under. He probably ought to get out of that now shouldn’t he? Besides--there was really no point in staying hidden now was there? Not when someone had already found him.

And so Denton slowly and easily untangled his legs from the scrub and scurried out to where he could sit on the ground at the cost of a few snags to his jeans and shirt--but really they had probably seen better days anyway. Denton was scrawny...not the strongest person out there by far and held pretty much no threat to the other whatsoever. Lukas had nothing to worry about. At. all.

”Hmm its a long story.” Denton replied softly in response to the other asking him what had him in hiding as well. That was--well it wasn't something Denton wanted to talk about really. It was a sore spot to be sure, to be sure. Not something he wanted to share with anyone...thus pretty much why he was hiding in the first place. And so that was that. Moving on now...

He glanced over at the other as he spoke...and simply nodded. Yeah crowds could be a bit crazy sometimes. Specially if you weren't used to it or you grew up someplace that didn't have that many people. "Its kinda crazy to think that so many people live in just one place." he said softly. Crazy indeed. His ears pricked as he heard the other making the comment about not finding Erik. Erik? Who was that? Someone he was looking for obviously. "Whose Erik?" he couldn't help but ask...his curiosity getting the better of him again. Well heck they were probably going to be here for a while--why not strike up a conversation?

Lukas shifted, chewing on the inside of his cheek. Everything seemed to be 'a long story' these days. He could understand it, he guessed, but in his experience the phrase seemed to mean more 'mind your own damn business, Lukas' than 'you should get comfortable, and I'll explain'. Which was fine, really, since nothing the man who seemed to be coming out of his little hidey hole was any of his business.

There really was a lot of people lurking about in new York. When he had set out to look for Erik, "My brother". Lukas hadn't entirely realized that the place was a city with more than hundreds of people living in it, let alone all the people visiting fro different places. He shuddered slightly, remembering how close he had come to a girl coming at him. She probably came up to his knee, and was probably really, really young, but that was beside the point.

He was safe now, sort of. He shot the other guy a look out of the corner of his eye, and folded his knees close to him. Just in case.

Denton gave a soft sigh...it was at this moment he was realizing how much of a jerk he must have sounded like. His attitude had been terse with the other. Like he hadn't really wanted him around to being with/ He hadn't meant to sound like that. Or imply that the other's company (as surprising as it had been for him) had not been wanted. That wasn't what he wanted for the other to think of him.

Denton glanced back at the other, "You must think I'm such a jerk right now..." he said suddenly and perhaps a bit abruptly. Denton mentally winced again...he was trying to converse here, not scare the guy away, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean anything in a bad way..." Denton trailed off. Just stop. Stop talking tirón*. Denton really was an idiot some days he felt like. He couldn't help but mentally cringe yet again. Had he really been off on his own that long? And was he really that nervous and anxious? That he really couldn't talk to anyone without jumping to all sorts of conclusions? And probably making them angry at him? Bah! He probably only made this worse now. All the other wanted was a hiding space just as he did.

He simply nodded in an 'ahh I see' kind of way as he mentioned this Erik person was his brother. Brothers weren't so bad. It suddenly made Denton miss his older brother all the more. But that was neither here nor there. Well it was probably time to make his exit now that he had made an utter fool of himself. But! He hadn't even introduced himself yet he just realized. Ahh! All this time and the other didn't even know his name!

"Uhm...I'm Denton by the way." he gave the other an apologetic look as he had glanced his way. He hoped it would have settled things...and that everything would be okay now. Though with his luck--he wasn't too sure anymore.

Yeah--he probably should get out more often....shouldn't he?

---

*jerk

"I'm Lukas." He probably should have introduced himself first, seeing as he'd barged into the man's hiding space, but it really hadn't occurred to him. He was too busy being terrified of all the people out there yelling and waving things and being generally terrifying.

And he didn't blame Denton for not wanting him in his space; he could understand, sort of. Lukas didn't like it when people barged in on him, it made him doubt the safety of the general world and his ability to survive, and he got jumpy on top of that.

"I don't think you're a jerk! Did I make you think I thought you were a jerk?" Suddenly he was panicking, going from calm and okay to sad and anxious and heart racing and that wasn't really a good thing. "I'm sorry!" Lukas moaned, curling in on himself and clutching at his hair. "I didn't mean it, honest!"

Ohh Denton was really batting a thousand here wasn't he?

"No, no, no your fine. I promise your fine." he said in response to the others panicked worry about having offended him. No it was the other way around really. The other hadn't offended him. The other hadn't done anything wrong. It was Denton. All him and he knew it. Sure the other had pretty much barged into the brush...and he hadn't seen him coming whatsoever.

But that still didn't mean that he had to be an ass about it. Or make the other feel bad because of it. I mean what did he know? It wasn't like he had X-ray vision or heat sensing or what have you (though he might have been a mutant for all he knew--but that didn't cross his mind at the moment). It wasn't like he knew that Denton was hiding out in here. It just happened...out of nowhere.

And he supposed they were both a little shell shocked and surprised over it. Denton gave a soft yet genuine smile as the other seemed to still be really upset over what he said, "Don't be upset...its nice to meet you. Even if its in a different way. Different is good." he said....different could be good at times. And other times it wasn't a good thing...and could be dangerous and downright terrifying.

But for now--it was a good thing. Yep...a good thing...

Lukas shifted, peering anxiously at the other through his dirty bangs. He seemed sincere enough but... "Are you sure? My mommy doesn't like things to be different. She says different gives her hives. You won't get hives 'cause I'm different?"

Not that it would be the first time. He seemed to give lots of people hives, the way they looked at him funny then left him alone. Maybe he'd given Erik hives? The thought sent his thoughts into a whirlwind of panic. If he'd given Erik hives then that would explain why Erik didn't like him. Why he never wanted to play with him or tell him things or explain anything to him and always wanted Lukas out of his way.

But he hadn't meant to give Erik hives! Lukas sat frozen in the panic the realization had given him. He had to get those hives back! It was the only way to get erik to like him, he was sure.

And Erik hadn't liked different either, so it couldn't have been good for him! Lukas whined back in his throat, before rocketing to his feet and bolting back out of the brush. "Sorry! I have to find Erik!"

Denton couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in surprise as the other spoke. Hives? What in the hell was he talking about? You didn't get hives just because you were different then somebody else. Shit if that was the case, then he'd be plum broken out by now. He couldn't help but mentally snort. His mother huh? Wow what a nice sounding lady (all sarcasms meant). Specially if she fed him some bull like that. Some people...(all he could do was shake his head).

He simply nodded, "Hives? That's not true. Dude different is all right. I mean heck look at me." he said pointing to himself. Even if we were going just on looks here (and not the fact that both of them or only one of them could have been a mutant), Denton still looked as different from Lukas as an apple was different from an orange. And neither of them had hives thank you very much. He didn't know what the heck the other was talking about.

He was curious. He wanted to ask what he had meant. And why his mother would say something like that. But he didn't have much time to ask. The other suddenly got to his feet quickly (almost as if someone had electrocuted him) and then he just took off! Denton's jaw dropped slightly. Wait a minute...what?! What just happened here?! Denton was confused and taken aback. Had he said something wrong? He'd have to figure it out later though. Cause something was telling him to go after the guy. That he had to make sure that he was okay. And well--he always listened to his gut and his instincts. They had never let him down before.

Denton sighed softly as he got to his feet and started out after the other, "Hey...wait a minute! Wait!" he called out...concern and worry coloring his tone. This guy obviously wasn't the most street smart guy ever. Running out into the crowded streets with no destination in mind and panicking...well that was just a recipe for getting hurt. And he couldn't let that happen. He refused to...

'C'mon Denton....focus....you have to find this guy.'



Half an hour later and Denton was forced to give up. To call it quits. The black haired boy panted softly as he leaned against a nearby tree. His lungs burned as he tried to take in some air and catch his breath. Nothing...he had nothing! He couldn't find the other anywhere! And it...sucked! It sucked so bad! All he had wanted to do was to make sure that the other was okay. He hadn't meant o drive him off...but he had. And now he felt terrible for it!

Denton sighed. All he could do now was go back into his hiding spot...or one of them anyways.

That and hope the other would be okay out there...cause that was all he could do right now...

[[THE END!! FINISHED!!]]