Shades of Grey (ixensvent)

Galaxuis walked through the streets with high determination to buy some food. It had been a lazy morning and she had spent her time in one of the empty warehouses hiding behind rubbish and boxes. Eventually she had gotten up determined to go to the park later that evening to give her spirits some activity outside the warehouse. She grabbed her racksack filled with all her belongings and made her way quietly out of the abandoned warehouse. She didn't mind living the way she had for the past several days, it was a it better then living in the Tower. She had made a new friend, Blackfire, who she was hoping to see again soon and though she wasn't eating as much she had a lot of time to tamper with her powers. As she made her way out of the docks she saw a wad of cash on the wooden floors. Galaxuis eyes widened as she realized that no one was around to claim the money and she grabbed it greedily. She gazed up to the hazy sky and thanked the creator for a day without wrong doing and conflict. It seemed that someone had dropped about 20 dollars in 5 dollar bills which made Galaxuis happy for their misfortune. She had enough for one good meal for two days and a small snack here and there. She mentally asked the spirits if it was fine to go to the city to sit in a restaurant and enjoy a good meal and of course they hushed her with 'of course' and 'you need to eat's. She smiled at their kindness and she jogged out of the docks, making her way Downtown.

Her jogging dimmed down to casual walking as Galaxuis reached her destination. She made sure that her hood hide her face from the world as her sunglasses covered her eyes. Though her clothes were comfortable it had still been strange for her to be in hiding. She had asked herself if she was ever going to be ready for the fight that was going to come but uncertainty always answered her. She pushed the thought aside and stopped at the corner of a street to analyze what cafes, vendors, and restaurants were nearby. She pulled out her 10 dollars from her pocket and was about to head for a pasta joint across the street when she felt the money being tugged from her fingers. For a moment it didn't register that she should go after him, instead she stared at her empty hands. Instinctively, she looked back and watched as the man was running a couple feet away from her and then it clicked. She was livid. Galaxuis didn't waste her breath on noise as she took off after him, keeping an eye on the dark green jacket that had her light green papers. She chased him for two blocks and into an empty alley way that was leading to another street. She tried to run faster but lost her footing, tripping over her own feet in clumsiness and exhaustion. As she hit the floor she saw the man almost halfway out of the alley way, leaving Galaxuis feeling defeated.

The man's head suddenly began flipping in the air away from his body. The body collapsed the head was suddenly hit by a beam of black with purple fire rising from it. He hadn't made it three feet from where he had been when Galaxuis had fallen. His hand crouched as the bones were broken.

Tim suddenly appeared holding a two handed sword on his shoulder. He picked up the money and said coldly "evil reaps what it sows." It sounded almost like he was sad. Tim reached down and grabbed the money walking toward her. He offered his hand to her and asked "are you alright." Based on his behavior and sheer evil appearance he obviously wasn't a titan.

Wide eyed, mouth agape, and full of horror Galaxuis stared at the headless body on the floor. She wanted to scream as the body gave it's last twitches and red liquid stained the Jump City alleyway but all she seemed to muster was a sudden high pitch whine. Her body couldn't move as she saw the spirit, like a small line of smoke, leave his body. Her eyes shifted to look at the blacked haired man who wielded a sword as he leaned down and grabbed the money. Her mind thought so many things as the spirits vibrated vigorously around her. They were just as confused and scared as Galaxuis and this muddled the alien's mind. She then saw the black haired man walk calmly towards her and though Galaxuis mentally yelled for her body to move, to do anything, she stayed still. Shaking in fear of what he had done and what he was going to do. He was closer now, close enough that she could see the texture of his shoes. She tried to compose herself, tried to relax her mind, and she shook in horror. Then he simply placed his hand down for her and asked if she was okay. Galaxuis looked up at the man and was paralyzed by his actions but confused by his gesture towards her. She was overwhelmed as she felt her eyes water in his presence. She was truly scared but instead she sucked it up "Darkness is not evil but a solid and powerful being," for some reason those words of The Omega's made Galaxuis's mind come to ease. She quickly blinked back tears and grabbed his hand, still at a lose of words she looked at him sheepishly. Unsure of what to say or how to go about what had happened. Scared and cautious how to react around the black haired man who carried swords.

Tim helped her to her feet and smiled a little as he sheathed his sword. He put the money in her hand and asked again. "Are you ok?" his voice sounded sad even though he was smiling. His armor was covered in shining silver skulls obviously worth quite a bit.

Tim noticed her appearance and asked. "Do you want a place to stay? I don't have much but I have an extra bed and some hot food." He was able to take care of himself having stolen more than 3/4 of everything Mal had ever owned. He waited for her answer seeming to just want to help. The man's spirit who had almost escape was suddenly drawn into Tim's hand.

She felt the money lay lightly on her gloves, which gave a sense of relief and curiosity. She softly thanked him unsure of what else to do. Galaxuis had tried not to make eye contact with the man but once his voice broke through the silence she found herself staring straight into his smiling face. Sounding a bit skeptical she replied "Urgh...yeah I'm fine. I just um," she paused for a moment taking in his whole appearance. She noticed his attire, which she couldn't help but note beautiful, and found herself studying his face. She forced herself to press further which made her voice croak "-I got a small cut on my face. It's okay though, I'm-I'm fine." She tried to surface a smile but couldn't come up with anything but baring teeth. He sounded sad and though he did just kill someone Galaxuis couldn't help but wonder why. She wasn't going to go off screaming though, who knows how it would effect the guy and she was to tired to tick someone off.

She stayed silent until he had asked if she needed a place to stay, mentioning warm food and an extra bed. She felt her face turn to a blank slate. She had no idea how to respond or how he knew she was homeless. She continued to stare making a slight humming sound, trying to wake her brain up. "Of course of course, he knows because of my clothing, he's not out to get me...right? Right?" Galaxuis thought but yet again uncertainty answered her. Galaxuis's low humming came to a halt as she spoke "Urgh...I don't know. I don't want to bother you..." she then watched as the spirit of the man went into the man's hand. Galaxuis couldn't help but back away, frightened that he could, like her absorb and keep spirits. She loves her spirits because to Galaxuis they are family, her friends, and herself. She didn't want them to be sucked away from her.

Tim looked a little confused when he backed away and looked behind him quickly expecting someone was trying to sneak up on him. When he didn't see anyone he asked seriously a little concern breaking through. "What is it, can you see something I can't?" his concern was genuine and he was obviously expecting something to attack him from behind.

Tim didn't lower his guard as he said. "It's no trouble I inherited quite a substantial amount of money. I use it to punish the evils that everyone else just covers up and hides. At least let me walk you back to where ever the guy jumped you." his smile had faded and now he just seemed sort of hollow.

Galaxuis stopped backing away, tilting her head to the side in a rather unsure manner. She pointed to his hand, looked over to the headless body, and then back to the man "You took his soul in your hands. You didn't see it? You...didn't feel it?" She stayed in her spot still puzzled by him and still a bit worried for herself. The man continued on talking about how he has a lot of money and then his profession. Smiting evil. Galaxuis understood now why he had killed the man, in some planets this is how they handled injustice and for a few months she lived in those planets, it was a custom she understood well. All the worry that had oozed from her body was wiped clean away. She was safe with him, at least until he realized what she did in Brazil but whether she was the wrong one to him or not was an opinion. She gave a small sigh and walked towards the man a real smile forming on her lips "I was just going to go to the Pasta Joint a few blocks down. I haven't eaten in awhile and I found some money..." she paused pulling her glasses off to show her sincerity "You wanna come and join me? I can pay. I should pay for what you did for me," her smile widened "We can discuss me moving in? If you still don't mind. I live in...well...a warehouse in the docks." She tried not to press forward on the situation, scared he would go after her but a part of her was wanting to tell the truth. "So whaddaya say?"

Tim smiled at her and looked at her eyes noting how nice they were. He had a feeling she was hiding something but it really didn't matter. Tim fastened the buckle on his sword to lock it in place and walked over. "First things first. No I couldn't feel it. Second you can see spirits?"
Tim stretched relaxing a bit as he realized there was no threat. "Joining you sounds great, but I can't in good conscious make you pay." He offered her his arm as though to escort her one of the skulls on his forearm looking straight at her due to the angles.

Galaxuis slipped her sunglasses on her face again. She adjusted them to feel comfortable under her beanie as he adjusted his sword. "Yes, in my planet we are very sensitive to spirits. We can sense, talk, and even feel them. We are one with the Worlds of the Forgotten. In fact my planet's leaders are three of the most oldest spirits that inhibited my planet. We call them The Omega's." She brushed off the dirt on her chest and knee's not wanting to look dirty against someone who's attire looked expensive and handsome. She slightly blushed at the thought of how he had, straight off the bat, knew she was homeless but pushed the thought aside as he spoke to her. He had told her that he would pay for the food and Galaxuis wasn't going to argue. If she was ever to repay him back the 20 dollars in her pocket were all she can give at the moment. He lent her his arm and she smiled sheepishly at his gentleman actions. She took it, admiring the skulls on his clothes. How well polished and in place they appeared on him. She wanted to touch them but kept her actions to herself.
"So have you been to the Pasta Joint?"

Tim looked over at her and started heading toward the restaurant with her as he said seriously. "People tend to not enjoy when I'm out, for obvious reasons." as they rounded the corner someone screamed in the alley obviously the body had just been found. Tim walked calmly and smoothly not reacting to the scream in the slightest. he whispered to her, "if you ever need to get away from something like that. It's best to not react don't freak out when they find it or your the first person they look at. After all this city is full of people who could do the same thing." he has been doing this for quite a while and knew quite a few tricks for not getting arrested.

Galaxuis nodded trying her best to seem composed. She squeezed his arm a bit, sad that his customs were different on Earth but happy that in a way she can already relate to him. More screams followed with the other, a crowd must have been forming, but Galaxuis ignored the agonizing sounds and pulled herself closer to him. The last time she had human contact was when she had left Brazil, having give a hug to Hotwire and Thr33 as goodbyes. The feeling of contact it made her feel less alone. She then let out a chuckle amused by the fact that he had just cut a man's head off, helped her get her money, and now offered her a place to stay. An Earth women would have screamed, fainted, or tried to run. Possibly even all three and here Galaxuis was walking with a killer for a date to the Pasta Joint. A wide smile creeped on her face as she thought how silly, in Earth terms, this situation was. It didn't fully bother her though, she had been exposed to planet's with the same doing and so far she felt safe with him. Maybe because it reminded her of space culture or perhaps it was his simply laid back attitude.

Finally they made it, having gotten their seats and orders. Galaxuis took her hood and sunglasses off but still leaving on her beanie and gloves. She brushed her dreads on to her back and then gave her full attention to the man "My names Galaxuis. I'm sorry I didnt tell you earlier," she gave a polite smile before continuing on "I was a bit shaken but...I'm okay now. What's your name? What do you like to do for fun?" Galaxuis rested her face on her hands, looking rather attentive manner. Her cat like pupils widened as she took in his appearance making small mental notes of his facial features. Galaxuis was always one to study people's faces but she was happy today it wasn't during a fight or passing by.

Tim smiled and her and leaned his sword against the wall beside them. He left his armor alone and got comfortable. "I'm Tim, Tim Walters I was raised by a powerful warlock who wanted me to surpass him. Fun I've never really had an opportunity but I hunt my (he uses airquotes here) 'father' for a pass time." Tim realized suddenly what he'd just said and said seriously. "I'm sorry that's not supposed to come out. He was a very cruel man." Tim looked out the window nervously and asked. "What do you do for fun, Galaxuis. By the way thats a very pretty name."

Galaxuis's happy demeanor faltered as Tim admitted that hunting his father is a form of fun. She wasn't sure how trying to hunt a family member would bring one a sense of amusement. She tried to reason with him in her head after he mentioned the man is cruel, having related to her own life of her own step father. She smiled again and with a reassuring voiced explained "Oh no, it's okay. I had a step father back in my home planet. He wasn't very nice either," she went on to answer his question "I like to go into the forest, I like to dance, read, and hang out with the spirits. I don't hang around a lot of people so my spirits are my friends," She nodded also looking out the window and watching the people pass by.

They got their orders and Galaxuis happily ate her pasta. Every now and then trying to wipe the sauce of her lips and trying to not look or sound like a ravenous animal. She couldn't help it, her stomach ached for some food. She decided to try and continue on with the conversation "You hang out with anyone?"

Tim ate his pasta just as hungrily figuring it would make her feel more comfortable. he had paid attention to her likes and did his best to remember them. Then came the question and he smiled a little as he said. "Most people are too afraid of me to hang out. In fact the more I tell you the more i'm surprised you don't run." His smile grew and he sounded happier as he said. "I'm kinda glad that some punk did steal your money. It gave me the chance to meet you."

Tim finished his pasta quickly and set his fork down. He pulled out a platinum credit card to pay for the bill. he put it away then and asked. "Want some ice cream too?

Galaxuis took another bite of her pasta, finishing it, and adding "It's hard making friends in this town anyway. People here are close minded...or so I witness," she tried to keep her detest from showing in her voice but she seemingly failed. She shook her head and gave an apologetic smile towards the man in front of her "I'm sorry, I just...being here on Earth is different then on my planet or other planets I've lived on," She lowered her eyes to her food again "I'm having a great difficulty around here. I met so many people who I do not understand. I'm just glad that someone as nice as you has come into my life to show me the-" she made put her hands together to look like a rising sun "light in the tunnel. Plus since I started going homeless I made a few more friends. Nice people like you," She paused thinking she had talked for far to long. Feeling embarrassed she chuckled and brought the topic back to Tim "So...are you also a Warlock?" She gave another smile as more embarrassment kicked in "...What is a Warlock?"