"I can't do it. I just can't." Talia gulped and looked down from the roof of the two story house she was supposed to jump off. "Come on! I watched you slice half you finger off yesterday, and now it's back! You have the best mutation ever! Jump!" Chris yelled. It was true. Not the best mutation part, which was arguable, but that Talia had cut part of her finger off the other day. Chris and Talia had screamed a little bit- before what was left of her finger stopped bleeding and started to heal in front of their eyes. "this is a little different from a cut, Chris." She shut her eyes. She had tried to keep it a secret from her best friend- which hadn't worked when she had a crush on Tom Stemworth- but he found out a few days after she did. She had been cutting, burning, and just generally trying to get hurt for a week now. She sighed and took a step closer to the edge. "fine." she whispered. "I'll be fine." And she jumped.
Talia opened her eyes. She hurt, but not a lot, and she could tell what needed fixing in her body. She popped her neck and sat up, taking a deep breath to push all her ribs into place. She pulled a few twigs out of her arm and legs, and got up. "hot damn." Chris said. "That's the coolest fucking thing I've ever seen ever." his eyes were saucers. Talia took two teeth out of her mouth (don't worry, they grew back faster than her finger) and spat out some blood. "I feel fine." "are those teeth? Nevermind, we need to go celebrate! My bestest friend ever is a goddamn superhero!" Chris put his arms around her and quickly pulled away. Something was still in her back. Talia turned her head and felt her back with her hand, quickly finding it. Her eyes widened. "That's a big stick." she whimpered. "it's barely in there! You'll be fine when it-" Chris started, but was interrupted by a wet SHLUCKing sound as the wood popped out of her back. "let's try something higher." Talia cracked her shoulder. This is unreal. She was not-COULD not- be a mutant. Her mom hated mutants.
"Sweetie, could you take the cans to the street on your way out? Thanks boo." Talia's mom flew by, holding a coffee and a briefcase and a baby and the baby's bottle all at once. "I'll take Ty, mom." Talia took the baby and the bottle out of her mom's arm and started feeding her younger half-brother. Sylvia kissed both of her children on their foreheads and thanked the older one. What was her name again? "I'll be home late, honey. Goodbye my sweetiepoo." she cooed at her baby. Never an explanation, but Sylvia never needed to give one. Talia had learned to not expect a reason for her 'mother's' late nights at work. Her mother was a lawyer- one who excelled in suing mutants for public displays of power. No superheros- not anymore. No supervillians, but regular crime still went on. Sylvia grabbed her purse and almost ran out the house. Sliding into her car, she threw the briefcase into the back seat and undid her hair. She wasn't going to work, she was going to play. Talia put Tyler down in his crib for nap time and sat in the rocking chair next to it. She studied the baby, looking for signs of difference. None. He was just a human baby. She sighed, and got up. Chris texted her- the only person besides Sylvia and her step-dad to have her number- talking about some party. Tired. She replied, and went into her room. Talia layed down on the bed and closed her eyes. All she could think about was watching her skin weave itself back together after she cut fairly deep this morning. She really wanted to sleep- without nightmares.
"Honey, I'm back!" Sylvia trilled. She had had a wonderful time at the hotel with her new boyfriend- but her daughter and hubby didn't need to know. "Sylvia, baby. I missed you." her husband wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, his lips on her necks and his hands on her butt. Sylvia pulled away. "not when the kids are hear, boo." she kissed him and walked away, still talking. "work was great today. Another monster went down, today." Not a lie. Talia watched Sylvia and her step-dad from the stairs. She was so obvious, I mean, at least let him hold you for a bit before running away. Give him some love. She heard Tyler start to cry, so she went upstairs to help. "hiya, Ty. What's wrong, honey?" she picked the small baby up and he sniffled. Talia wiped his nose and sat down with him in her lap. Tyler curled into her chest. "oh." Talia said softly. "bad dreams." "TALIA! Get your ass down hear!" Talia brought Ty with her downstairs. "we need you to go to the bank then the store. We need eggs, milk, bread, cookies, paper towels, whatever you want for dinner, baby formula, baby wipes, diapers, and a new binky for Ty-Ty." Sylvia pinched Tyler's cheeks and smiled at him. Her step-dad took him. "have fun." Talia tapped her foot impatiently. She had been waiting in this line for what seemed like ages. It moved up, and she moves with it. About to make her withdrawal, two men came in. "GET THE FUCK DOWN!" one waved a gun around, and the other walked up to the front of Talia's line and pushed her away. "i'd like to make a withdrawal. Everything." he pointed a pistol at the teller. Even on the ground, even though they still had guns, Talia was pissed. She want to get her money and go. Stupid broken ATMs. "I said EVERYTHING." he shot the ground next to Talia's leg, and the teller rushed. Wait. These assholes are harmless to me. Talia made a split second decision and stood up. "The fuck you think you are?" the man shot her in the stomach, and people gasped. Talia stopped, bending over for a second to puke out blood and a bullet, before she continued. He stared at her, openmouthed. "you're a fucking monster!" he shot her again, in the leg and shoulder, only pushing her back a little. He went to hit her away, but she saw it about to happen. Talia hit the gun out of his hand and punched him in the face and gut. "fuck this." the other guy said, before putting his gun down and running. The security guard came over and handcuffed the robber. He turned to Talia. "I... I would have to cuff you as well." he stammered. "but thank you. Just go. Quickly." he added, and Talia was out in a few seconds. She slid into her car and started it, buckling at the same time. "that was awesome." a male voice said, and Talia whipped around, looking for someone who wasnt there. "you can't see me, I'm in the bank. But that was seriously cool. You're a good hero." "who are you?" Talia whispered, looking into the bank as she drove by, police already gathering out front. No one looked to be in a "I'm-talking-to-someone-with-my-mind" pose. "I'm a mutant." He said, and then he was gone as she drove away. She looked down at her clothes when the voice was gone. Lots of blood and holes. "shit!" she said aloud. "this was my favorite shirt!"