City

"Reasonable? I'm the most reasonable person in the world! You just shot me and didn't do anything!"

He was getting mad..

"You want me to be reasonable when every time I try to help you you end up shooting me or putting the most unimaginable fear in my head?"

"For fucks sake I help you because I lo--.."

He stopped short as his eyes got wider.

He raised a hand and just let it drop before turning away and walking towards the tower.

Alyss shot a shadow in front of him, pushing him backwards.
"What do you expect Xzuk? Every time I try and help I end up screwing everything up!" she said, angrily. "And what? What do you? Loathe me?" she shouted. She was getting tempered and her hair began floating upwards. Her voice took on an angry double tone, as if her and Fear were speaking together. "We are confused. We do not know where to turn! But destruction seems the best route."

His fist glowed blue and he punched the shadow repeatedly in the face, knowing it did nothing.

"I love you."

He walked through the shadow and tried to get back to the tower.

Alyss stood motionless and watched him walk away.
"I-" she remained where she was and shut her eyes. "I.."
She began to walk towards him, but let out a loud sob and turned away, and began walking in the opposite direction, tears streaming down her face. She wanted nothing more than to run to him, but she had hurt him, she didn't deserve him. Besides, she couldn't love, not after....
She sat down on a bench and through her tears she heard her S communicator buzz. She hit it, not answering. She would not go back to Slade, not yet. She would just spend the night in a hotel or something. This was all too much.

Xzuk got back to the Titans Island and sat on a rock admiring his new hair... it felt so strange.. Not to mention how much better he felt now that he wasn't keeping a secret...

I wish I would've turned around... at least catch a glimpse of her reaction... I wonder if she liked the new look...

He wiped his face and began to think of how he'd beat Slade... that's what this would come down to...

"Why him?"

He stood up and walked to the pizza shop in town.

Alyss sat on the bench, her tears drying and she looked at the crushed S communicator in her hand. He wouldn't be happy.
She looked at Titans Tower from her perch and wished she could go back. Not after this, she was never going back.
She shut her eyes and the shadows located Xzuk in a pizza shop in town, not far from her. She whispered into the shadows, hoping he would hear.
"I'm sorry."

Emblem: Oi Alyss, what's up with you? What's wrong?

Emblem walked by and saw Alyss sobbing on a bench. She hid the S communicator as fast as she could, but she knew Emblem already saw it.

Emblem: Spare yourself the trouble. I won't scold you. As long as Slade aint interfering with me, he's safe enough..So what's up with you? Cant have myself taking a stroll and seeing you sob there..I can try to sever you from Slade's side if that's the thing..

As per accident, Emblem felt like walking this day. He was going for a pizza probably, but he was enjoying the weather too much to go and eat right now... Although he wanted to help Alyss with her trouble, she wasn't looking very well..

Xzuk heard a whisper from something... but he brushed it off as the wind... his ears hadn't fully healed yet. They remained an unhealthy shade of purple.

"How's it goin' mate?"

The shopkeep and Xzuk talked for a minute before he put in an order for the largest cheese pizza their oven could hold.

SK: "You alone?"

"Yeah I'm alone, why?"

SK: "You eat that whole pizza by yourself, and its free of charge. You look like you could use a free meal anyway. I recognize that look haha... women eh?"

"Damn... am I that obvious?"

Xzuk smiled and sat down at a table.

"Thanks again mate..."

Alyss looked up at Emblem and she smiled. "It's just...well. I can't do anything right Emmy." she said, coughing. "Everytime I try to do something for the Titans it comes back and bites me in the ass. I just wish I could be the right girl."
She coughed again and shivered. She didn't feel well, she was exhausted and over stressed, with dark circles beneath her eyes. She looked up at Emblem. "Tell me what to do."
She sighed and smiled at Emblem. "I can't do anything right. Wanna get a pizza? I'm hungry."

Out of all things he could have done, Emblem smiled. In the way Alyss looked, he could recognise some of his old self. When his name wasn't Emblem. When he torched down a lot of his old life and moved to the Far East..He felt like it was his turn to be a Sage, a guide...

Emblem: I'll tell you what to do. You're coming with me. You're going to sleep at my pad tonight. You'll relax, I'll take care of you, I'll cook a good Far East meal for you, put the fireplace on, and let you sleep in the softest bed you ever slept in. And all that, in a safe environment. I guarantee that.

Alyss: What's the catch?

Emblem: You'll feel a lot better in the end. You can talk in all freedom, I will listen, and help you where I can. As for your powers...they stem from the mind. As do mine. Understanding them makes them controllable. I will try to guide you in your process, as my sages guided me in controlling my powers. And if it's possible, a cup of tea and a laugh are included too! What'cha think?...Pizza's good too though...my treat *blink*

Alyss blinked twice and thought about the offer. "I could really do with a good rest." she said. "Pizza sounds awesome, please. But I haven't eaten in about four days. I'm up for Far East too!"
She got to her aching feet and walked alongside Emblem excitedly. This was the first person who had be really nice and caring about her. She trusted him.
She pushed open the door to the pizzeria and walked in, smiling tiredly at the waiter. "Can we get a private booth table please?" she asked, her voice was dry from not having drunk anything in a while.

Daniel had just brought out his huge pizza...

"wow... this is a lot bigger than I though it'd be."

Xzuk smiled as he realized it was bigger than the table he was sitting at.

"Daniel, I can't thank you enough. I'm just gonna pay you anyway.. even though I know I could eat this all on my own."

Xzuk passed him 3 20's. even though his total was only 38 bucks.

"Keep the change. You keep the change. not the store."

"Even though I could eat all of this on my own..."
Alyss froze. She turned to the waiter. "Is there anywhere on the other side of the room?" she asked.
The waiter looked blankly at her and continued past Xzuk's table. Alyss frowned and let her hair fall in front of her face, shielding her vision of him.
She walked past, not saying a word.

Xzuk kept eating and thinking about what his next move would have to be...

He hadn't noticed Emmy or Alyss.

He'd gotten through about a 3 slices.

How am I gonna be able to face her again? ... half of her loves Slade.. and the other probably hates my guts... Not to mention the fact that I have to try and beat Slade at his own game to stand any chance of getting a compromise...

(OOC Xzuk cut his hair, so maybe Emmy wont recognize him?)

Alyss sat down sighing. She heard his thoughts and stood up in her seat. "I do not love Slade!" she shouted.
She immediately slammed a hand over her mouth and sat down again, but clumsily missing the chair and falling to the floor. She cursed herself for her wrong and hissed in pain.