Headcase/Two Minds As One
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
Trent Reznor raged, full of fury and angst from the small white headphones of the iPod as Headcase walked down the hallway. Most of the Young Champions were out on patrol, and it was closest he could get to being alone. A few of the staff still lingered on the fringes of the building, and the music did little to drown out their thoughts.
Being a mutant was something he had carried with him his whole life, but since the Rikti invasion, the additional cross of having little control over certain aspects of his powers weighed on him. Hearing the forefront of people’s thoughts weighed on him. Hearing the primal, instinctual nature of people’s first reactions weighed upon him.
And yet, as disgusted, dismayed and disappointed as he was with humanity, his first instinct was the same as always. It was what classified him by the Paragon Supers Authority as a “defender”.
He just wanted to help.
His own life had seen enough suffering, pain and tragedy to jade him permanently, and yet he carried that seed of hope with him. If he could help, then perhaps he could prevent someone else from suffering like he did.
A spike in mental activity caused a shudder to run down his spine. One floor up, in the girl’s dorms. Frustration and anger, most of it pointed to herself. She was close to tears. He shrugged and headed for the stairs up.
She shines in a world full of ugliness
She matters when everything is meaningless
Fragile
She doesn't see her beauty
She tries to get away
Sometimes
It's just that nothing seems worth saving
I can't watch her slip away
The door bore the hero name “Dark Firebird”. He knocked on the door. There was a rustle, a crash then a quiet “Who is it?”
He opened the door and poked a head in. “Hi. You having problems?”
The ochre skinned girl sighed, a lopsided smile mixed with a twinge of sadness crossed her face. Link could hear how overwhelmed she felt. He looked at her desk, where piles of books papers and notes were piling up. He didn’t mean to, but he could clearly hear her thoughts on how desperate she was. Her homework was piling up, and she was being buried in it. “It is nothing. Just…”
He reached over and picked up the mostly destroyed U.S. History text. Singed and charred, she had attempted to hide the book under the corner of the pillow on her bed. He thoughts dwelled on her loosing control. Her powers were tied to a spirit that had merged with her, and it was controlled through her emotions. “What did the poor book do to deserve that?” He smiled, trying to keep her mood light.
She chuckled quietly, pushing back her urge to cry. “I lost control. I get so …”
“Frustrated. I heard that.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Who is saying…?”
Link shook his head and cut her off. “Nobody.” He tapped his temple. “I hear people’s thoughts. I don’t mean to pry, but I felt you downstairs. I just thought I could help.”
I won't let you fall apart
I won't let you fall apart
I won't let you fall apart
I won't let you fall apart
He sat down on the bed next to her. “Why don’t they get you textbooks in Spanish?”
“The school requires everything to be in English.” She tossed the book into the wastebasket. “It wasn’t so bad when Erik…Wild Surge was still here. But since he left, I have been falling behind. I can speak it well, but my reading and writing is not so.”
Link frowned. Here was another teammate that counted on Wild Surge that he had abandoned. Maybe things were ok between the Urbs and the Champs, but Link still hadn’t been given good reason to forgive Surge. He was a selfish, self-centered, ego driven hotshot that needed to be taken down a couple pegs. He didn’t deserve Verde’s forgiveness. “Maybe I can help. Can I try?” He held out a hand.
“Um…sure.” She looked at him, unsure of what he was doing. She stiffened as he placed his hand on the side of her face, forefinger on her temple, thumb along the side of her nose.
Link opened his eyes, and they began to glow, the pinkish haze of his psychic powers. His mind entered hers and he began a mad dash, finding her language centers. He had learned this trick, and had even performed it with Meilee, hoping speaking French would settle her negative feelings towards him. He quickly copied her languages as if he had learned it from birth alongside her. As he dug, he felt the growing presence of the spirit that inhabited her. It was doing all it could to protect her and her mind. He could not see it, but he could feel it. It didn’t trust him and didn’t want him there. He supposed if he was actually try to harm her mind, it would react. Had to be kinda cool to have a built in guardian angel.
He released her and took a few breaths, assimilating all he had learned. Smiling, he spoke the native Portuguese she was raised with. “I could translate them to this, if it would be easier.” His heart jumped when she smiled.
She reads the minds of all the people as they pass her by
Hoping someone can see
If I could fix myself I'd - but it's too late for me
“I’m surprised my guardian allowed you to do that.”
“I think it could tell I was trying to help.” He smirked. “Still didn’t like it much.”
She nodded. “The Firebird is very protective of me.”
He smiled and a slightly uncomfortable silence fell. He could still feel her pain and frustration and it pained him. He only wanted to help. “Is Mr. Nash getting you a tutor for your English?” She shrugged. His mind raced for a solution.
I won't let you fall apart
I won't let you fall apart
I won't let you fall apart
I won't let you fall apart
“I might have a solution.” Link bobbed his head as his confidence grew in his idea. “I could teach you English.”
Dark Firebird smiled. “A tutor would be good.”
“Not like that.” He shook his head. “I learned Portuguese and Spanish by copying your language centers to my mind. I should be able to teach you English by copying my language centers to you.”
She stiffened slightly and bit her lower lip. “Is that safe?”
He smiled. “Yeah. Piece of cake.” In his mind, Link was playing the scenario over and over. It shouldn’t be hard at all. “Do you trust me?”
She nodded and he reached out, placing his hand on her temple again. He pushed his psychic essence forward, and the Firbird flared, creating a barrier between their minds. It didn’t understand what he was doing, but it didn’t like it. “I don’t think it trusts you.”
He poked and prodded, trying to find a weakness in its defense or a slowness in its reaction. The Firebird was vigilant. After what felt like an eternity, sweat rolling down his face, he had another idea. His powers were better in close proximity. Although space was relative to psionics, sometimes being up on someone told him more than he would hear from across the room. If he could close the gap, completely overlay himself long enough to imprint his English, her Guardian would have little it could do. He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to hers.
We'll find the perfect place to go where we can run and hide
I'll build a wall and we can keep them on the other side
The Guardian was overwhelmed and it retreated to the far corners of her consciousness. Link smiled. It had worked. His mind joined with hers and suddenly they were aware of each other in ways he had not imagined. Falling from a rubber tree trying to hide from the local bully. Peeking from behind mother’s skirt at the white doctor who came to give the children shots. Men with guns, bandits and criminals. The Firebird joining and granting the gift of fire.
He realized she was as deep in him as he was in her. She was seeing his brother and sister. The Rikti invastion. The destruction of Baumtown. The death of his family.
He imprinted his English and felt it take hold. He smiled. His plan had worked. There was a sudden flicker from the edges of her mind, and suddenly the Guardian rushed forward. Headcase braced, expecting the impact and the pain. Instead the flames washed over him, painlessly.
There foreheads still touching, Kachine (her name, he suddenly realized) opened her eyes. “Lincoln. That is a nice name. Not like the names from my home.” She smiled and he blinked as their shared thoughts washed over each other.
There was no uncertainty, no doubts and no secrets between them. For a pair of people that had just met, they suddenly were in complete understanding of each other’s lives. In many ways their lives had mirrored each other and now they were one. They embraced and their mouths met.
It's something I have to do
( I won't let you fall apart)
I was there, too
( I won't let you fall apart)
before everything else
(I won't let you fall apart)
I was like you
(I won't let you fall apart)
Notes
Originally posted to the Pinnacle RP Congress Boards on August 19, 2005. [Historical Backup of Thread]
