Coffee? I wan' it black, me!

[Gabriel]

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

'The weather outside is frightful but the fire is warm and delightful' why he had Christmas songs inside of his head, he didn't know but as he stood in line he began to hum it slightly and tap his foot. He was a solid six foot three and his vigor power made his muscles hard and his body lean. He looked like a movie star standing there with an aloof grin and jeans, a white form fitting tee, a light jacket and he was rocking the regular beat up tennis shoes, that were once white. Still with the sunglasses perched on top to of his head and he was jamming to his own christmas he looked as if nothing in the world was bothering him.

Finally he was up at the counter and looking at the list of different coffee choices, he knew what he wanted strong and black just like his Ma used to make it. The perky girl behind the counter looked at him, did a double take and asked, "H-how may I help you?"

"I wan' it black, me," he said, the cajun accent rolling off his tongue. It came to him every now and then and it was interesting to hear it in a place where the northern accent was promenint.

"Do what?" her eyes did a little blink, blink, the girl was obviously only seventeen, he was twenty-four and being oogled by a girl.

He, sighed and clearly said, "cup'a joe, I want it black."

Gabriel bite of the urge to say 'me', he had just visited his family two weeks ago and as per usual his accent came back to him, he'd have to bite off the differences so people could understand him here. And he had to slow down his words. When he was excited or when he was angry was when the accent came out in full.

Finally it must've registered in her head what he wanted and the girl went straight off and brought him his coffee. "$4.60 anything else sir?"

He paid and got his change and strolled over to one of the many empty tables and took out his laptop of it's case. Starbucks was good at having empty spaces. Very, very gently he opened the laptop, and very gently blew on his coffee. Every move he made was deliberate and careful. He was strong. Once he used to open a laptop and the top went flying off into the wall. He was glad of the control he had now. It was almost perfect, slip ups are always possible, and he was no angel. Still with Vigor and Earth as his powers he could take a step and knock down a building without meaning too. No playing with these powers and he didn't play. They were serious just as typing up this resume for Rosewood. He wanted to be a teachers assistant or a professors assisant at the school. He was dang good at his powers and he could help the earth kids there. The school had taught him so he hoped the new professor there would at least look at the resume he was about to hack out.

Taking a sip of the coffee he began to type what his work skills and what he hoped to accomplish being an assistant to the fine establishment of Rosewood, 'yeah that's good, fiiiine estaablishmeent of Rooosewood,' he slurred the words in his head as he typed them.

[Natalie]

Coffee.

Natalie had just dropped off a bunch of groceries to Biella. It was crazy, but even after her cousin came back to work she still found herself helping out. It was always fun to see the looks on the teen's face when they saw all the yummy snacks she would buy just for them. Taking some time off from herself she found that she didn't need a job or a guy to make her who she was. Though being lonely was definently not fun....

Making her way down the street her heels clicked a simple melody down the pavement. It was a nice day in New York, but she was sure it wouldn't last. Making her way to one of the happiest places she found herself catching tons of glances. Sure, she was used to the usual stare of some geezer walking down the street, or hobbling, but today there were way too many men staring at her.

Was there something on her face? She wiped her face with her hand passing by a glass window she stopped checking her reflection. There was nothing there. So what was there deal? Natalie wasn't in her usual blue jeans and t-shirt. She actually decided she wanted a real wardrobe, and this dress fit her well. Sighing and shrugging it off she turned the corner to the Starbucks cafe. Smiling she made her way through the door.

The smell of freshly brwed coffee hit her hard and the smile on her face grew. It was such a wonderful place to be. So relaxing and she could sit down sip her coffee and not worry about a thing. Finding herself at the cash register she looked up at the menu, but she knew what she wanted. None of that weak stuff for her. She liked it black.

Her eyes fell down to the young girl. The cashier smiled at he cautiously as she looked at her outfit. Natalie gave a polite smile.

"What can I get you, maam?"

Natalie grinned. "Don't call me maam it makes me feel old." She said jokingly. "Yes can I get a venti sized cup of coffee, black." The girl looked at her and almost winced.

"Black?"

Natalie smiled softly getting her wallet out. "That's what I said sweetie." She smirked. Alot of people couldn't believe a woman like her liked her coffee black, but Natalie wasn't like other women.

"That will be $5.06."

Unzipping her wallet she searched for her money. It wasn't there! She was so sure she hadn't spent it all, but she had bought more than usual. So much for her cup of coffee. "Oh no...I can't find my money." She mumbled softly. Wow, such a waste of a good trip to starbucks gone to waste because she couldn't scratch up five dollars and then some. "I guess...just cancel that order..." She said wishing she hadn't gone grocery shopping.

[Gabriel]

Gab streatched and found that his coffee cup was empty and his resume half written. He was making progress. Though it might be time for another cup. He hit the save button just as the door opened again. He glanced up and his eyes widened. He was used to seeing beautiful women, heck he was no ugly guy, they flocked to him. Though he prefered a small chase. He was tantilizing and he knew how to make a woman smile but sometimes seeing something that you know you can't have feels great. Anyways no one said you couldn't look. He was single.

He walked up to counter behind the beautiful girl, no one would dare steal his computer he had a few of his deep set senses intuned to it. Plus some people were scared of him when he stood, he was no little man either. He was just all man, and all cajun. He waited while the ditz behind the counter acted just as surprised that the woman ordered her coffee black as well. Gab could have rolled his eyes, 'Mah momma like it homemade and black, her. Dis poor guhl, yeah.' no one said he couldn't think cajun.

"Oh no...I can't find my money." She mumbled softly. "I guess...just cancel that order...

'Don't Gab, Gab, don't, don't, don't. Dat jus' a pretty face, yeah. She migh' get you in trouble, you!' Ignoring his thoughts he reached around and slapped down a ten dollar bill, "get her whatever she wants, yeah. And I'll have another coffee as well."

He was a nice guy. This woman, who likes her coffee black, should at least have that. She looked so happy entering the door and he couldn't help but feel that he should try and keep her that way. Hsppy with a gorgeous smile on her face, just to make everyone in the shop look at her again. 'Gab, don even go fartha, no.' He bit his tongue but before the girl could protest he continued again ignoring his thoughts, "if and only if she wants to join me? It'll only be fair right?"

[Natalie]

"Get her whatever she wants, yeah. And I'll have another coffee as well."

Natalie turned to smile at her knight in shining armor. Her eyes had to lift up farther than she expected. She scan his biceps until she reached his face. My oh my...what a wonderful day. Grinning softly she turned back to the cashier who took the money and quickly worked on getting the man's change.

"if and only if she wants to join me? It'll only be fair right?"

That accent. She about fainted right there. Turning again she nodded. "Why not it's the least I can do for someone so kind." She grinned softly. He was handsome and polite, not to mention smooth. Everything about him screamed perfect. Her thoughts were jumbling as the girl finally brought them their coffee. She handed him his coffee, and walked over to where she had saw him seated.

Sitting down across from the lap top she crossed her legs sipping her coffee. "So what name does my knight in shining armor go by?" Natalie asking soflty with a smirk. She watched as he walked back to the table. Natalie noticed a few stares from people around them. They were all looking at the people as if they were making out hardcore on the table. Were they really that interesting?

Looking up from her coffee she caught a chance to stare at him more. He was perfectly chiseled in every area she could see, and his eyes seemed to bore his whole soul. He just seemed so tough and mysterious, but so sincere and gentlemen-like. "So I noticed you accent...its nice, what is it? Cajun?"

[Gabriel]

I think I got it?

SCORE! Well maybe not score. Just Gabriel felt pleased with himself. Oh so very much pleased, he thought a man thought as he watched the gorgeous woman walk to his table. Finally with his instincts in tune he scanned the coffee shop and finally noticed that people were staring at them. He raised an eyebrow and chose to think nothing of it. Movie stars frequently visited New York, so maybe they thought that they were being blessed by movie stars. Fat chance he was an under paid bartender at some non existant bar. Litterally it went out of business and he was living on his last few dollars. Hopefully the school could help him out. It was hard trying to survive as a mutant. Funny how much that word sounded like freak. Also funny how his mind was now wondering all over the place. He almost missed her question as he was sitting down. He would've got her chair for her but she was too quick and he was awkwardly on her side of the table. He just 'ahemed' and walked around like nothing had happened.

"OH no, no, no I'm no Knight, me! Just a gentleman. I was just raised that a woman should never frown if a man can help it, especially one as cute as you," he stated honestly and winked at her while ever so carefully taking his styrofoam cup into his hand and gently blowing his coffee. "They call me Gabriel Hawkins, pleaseed to meet you. . . . Miss?" he left the opening for her to state her name.

The cajun was coming out of him, uh oh, he began to type on the computer some before her next question and her name had him about to spurt off in cajun french. He stopped his delicate typing. He typed so softly the keys hardly made that clickity clack noise. "Good ear, Miss Ma'am. Yes I am very much Cajun born right in the bayahs of Norleans."

He just grinned and continued before adding a few more skills to his resume. "I went about two weeks ago to see my family, me. I have to watch what I say so people here can understand, yeah. Another week and I'll just have the soft and sweet cajun voice, and not the word fragments and backwoods slang."

[Natalie]

"OH no, no, no I'm no Knight, me! Just a gentleman. I was just raised that a woman should never frown if a man can help it, especially one as cute as you,"

Natalie smiled softly. "Why thank you. Your not half bad yourself." She smirked meeting his gaze with her own before shyly turning away.

"They call me Gabriel Hawkins, pleaseed to meet you. . . . Miss?"

She smirked softly. "They call me Natalie Richards, either that or Nat." She took a sip of her coffee trying to refrain from biting at her lip. She did that often. Mostly when a cute guy was around. He was far more than cute. He was handsome.

"Good ear, Miss Ma'am. Yes I am very much Cajun born right in the bayahs of Norleans."

Natalie smiled. "That's amazing. I love New Orleans I used to go there for mardi gras all the time though I should probably never be allowed to go back.." She giggled and looked away coy like. She used to be a huge party girl, but she tried not to party as much now-a-days. Atleast not by herself thats when she usually got in trouble or taken advantage of.

"I went about two weeks ago to see my family, me. I have to watch what I say so people here can understand, yeah. Another week and I'll just have the soft and sweet cajun voice, and not the word fragments and backwoods slang."

Natalie nodded softly. "I can understand you just fine. Plus, I like your accent it gives you an edge. I hope i'm still around to hear it when its soft and sweet." She couldn't help but bite at her lip. She was flirting so hard she was sure she sounded completely stupid, but he was the first guy to talk to her with respect instead of grab her ass and compliment her chest.

[Gabriel]

'She flirtin' wid me, yeah?' he thought almost like a giddy school boy, 'oh yeah! Go Gab, you a sexy stud sometime, you!' He grinned and totally forgot about his resume now this woman had his full attention. He was a gentleman, and he'd never hurt the woman in front of him, but he wasn't gay. He was all man, and very proud of that fact. All eight and a half inches, a decent size, he had looks, brains, could wait for a woman, especially one this pretty. He could probably wait forever for this beautiful and sexy woman. Though she looked to be twenty or twenty one. He was always careful about age now. It was hard trying to find a woman his age, he was done with little girls, he wanted an actual woman now.

"Ok then Nat, you can call me Gabe, for short, you. Oh and where you go at mardi gras, you? Dere places down dere dat no pretty woman as yourself should be at alone, you" he said almost a little darkly. Mardi gras was the time for the tourists to come but there were back alleys were tourist went and never came out. Places where even strong mutants met there deaths. Especially after the big hurricanes that came and shut the city down. Drugs, rape, and gangs were very prominent if you didn't know the area. He brightened though, he loved New Orleans but repspected her as well, "though I'm sure you can take care of yourself though, yeah."

He didn't mean that she couldn't he just knew the areas, he took a sip of his coffee, it was warm and perfect, he took another sip. He laughed gently at her next comment.

"I can understand you just fine. Plus, I like your accent it gives you an edge. I hope i'm still around to hear it when its soft and sweet."

"For you, I think we can make a deal, but only because you asked," he winked and added a few more skills to his resume. This woman was getting to him, boldly flirting with him and calmly taking her time wooing him. Was she trying to woo him? Maybe they both were unconciously. Hey he was a romantic and he did believe in true love. Flirting some never hurt, "so where are you from, you? Here ay N'york?"

[Natalie]

"Ok then Nat, you can call me Gabe, for short, you. Oh and where you go at mardi gras, you? Dere places down dere dat no pretty woman as yourself should be at alone, you"

Natalie's eyes widened at how dark his voice had become. She nodded in agreement. "Yeah I can't say I haven't noitced. Maybe next time I should have someone around me who knows the area. But I just went to the city, I wasn't really sure which part." She smirked softly. He was so easy to flirt with. It was almost too easy. Almost as if it were fate she was here. She shook the thought

"though I'm sure you can take care of yourself though, yeah."

Natalie grinned softly. Smart boy. He knew his way around words. "Yes I suppose your right, I have been known to get a little rough." She let a giggle escape her lips. She smiled at his other comment. He was so smooth.

"so where are you from, you? Here ay N'york?"

Natalie shook her head as she sipped her coffee. "No I'm actually from St. Louis, Missouri." She smiled. "But there is nothing fascinating about Missour at all." Natalie scoffed out. She actually hated Missouri now.

"So now we know we each other is from. What about family? You said you went to visit them?"

[Gabriel]

"No I'm actually from St. Louis, Missouri." She smiled. Gabe felt his heart melt at that smile. Oh boy, he liked that smile. That was a dangerous, he knew he should've let her go. She had one of those heart breaking smiles. He felt himself returning that smile. Though she continued and he turned his head to the side listening to her with an interested look on his face. So she was from 'Zouri? He knew nothing about the place but listened anyways hoping for more but all he got was:

"But there is nothing fascinating about Missouri at all." he was hoping for more. He liked to learn about places he'd never been and she then sounded like she wasn't inclined to tell anymore.

That was fine, though then she asked a DANGEROUS question. The family. Oh he LOVED his family. He'd die for them no problem. Down there he also noticed his two twin sisters . . . they seemed to be getting powers. He'd think something and one or the other would respond. They also would be silent for hours just looking at each other. He knew they were communicating. He needed a job bad, he'd probably have to bring the terror twins up here and get them settled into a school. Another reason he wanted to be a teacher's or professor's assistant. He wanted to be close to them and help teach them.

"Guhrl, you ask a dangerous question. You want a LONG discription or a short one. Well either way it might be long." He chuckled with her giggle, he unconsiously moved a bit closer and leaned across the table with a smile. He perched his head in his hand and felt just relaxed. He loved talking about his family, but he was suspicious of how much he should tell her. He might like looking at her pretty face, and flirting with her, but he didn't know if she was human, mutant, anti-mutant, or x-mutant; or even demon or angel. He needed to be careful about he told people, cause he could definently get carried away.

[Natalie]

"Guhrl, you ask a dangerous question. You want a LONG discription or a short one. Well either way it might be long."

Natalie found herself smiling genuinely. "Well i've got time." He moved closer, and she couldn't help, but feel so much more comfortable. She leaned closer herself. "So come on. I love talking about families since I don't really have one anymore." She smiled, but it had a hint of sadness in it.

She shook the thought, and listened to him. She wished she had had a big family. That would have mad things so much easier growing up. She wouldn't have wanted to just crawl in a ditch and stop living. She was nothing like that now. A total heart throb party girl to the max. She wanted to have fun and no one was going to stop her.

Though there was a part of her deep down that knew she needed to give up the party girl act and commit to something. Be responsible and find someone who actually cares for her. Someone who wouldn't engage her and then cheat on her with her best friend. Forgetting the thought she looked back to him and studied his face as he talked.

If god hadn't shined a light down on him right then, she would have never guessed she could have asked him to join her for drinks later that night. Smiling softly she listened to him and smiled. She would wait until the right moment to ask him. But she was going to buy him a drink. After all he had bought her one.

[Gabriel]

Gabe heard her response and felt a pang of pity. He loved his family, he's said it before and will never stop saying it, so to be with out a big family had to been tough. That said two things about this woman. One her family might have been killed by mutants or anti's or demons or whatever the hell else was creeping around. He wondered if she was mutant. He wished he could tell if she was or not with out her knowing or without him asking. What if she wasn't? He knew there was a connection between them. He could feel it. Though would him being a mutant push a barrior between them if she wasn't? He gulped at the thought of that. Though without missing a beat he spoke in a soft sad tone, "well that's not good."

He wanted to put a comforting hand on hers in fact he felt his fingers itch to do so, instead he just reached for his coffee and took a gulp before speaking again. "Ok so got my Mama, and Dad. Both are cajun to Dad showing me how to skin a gator and Mama showing me how to bounce a bar." he smiled fondly. It was their culture, people up here might not show any interest but he didn't care he would talk about his Mama's gator potpies all night long.

"Alright now for the brood of us. I'm de oldest, me. Den dere's Sandra Lovell Hawkins, she's 18 and so smart. She's always doing research on the ocean. Her major is going to be marine biologist, her. She's working to help clean up oil spills and keep the wild life safe. She's gifted I swear.

"Next is Jasmine-Ann Lynn Hawkins, she's a 16 year old girl and so 'wave them pom poms'" He became animated as he talked, he took anouther sip of coffee and waved his hands in the air like a cheer leader. He hoped is would bring on a laugh. He wanted to take that frown off this girls face.

"And the second oldest boy Thibiduex Terrence Hawkins, he's 14. He keeps track with all the video games. My parents hated me when I bought him a PS3 to keep him occupied. He's got so many games now it's not funny, yeah.

"No laughing at the next one," he knew she would anyways and smiled and without skipping a beat said, "Champayne Wine Hawkins, we call him Payne and that's how you spell his name C-h-a-m-p-a-y-n-e. Mama, well dat was the only thing she craved at the hospital when she had him. Anyways, he's nine and has read the entire lord of the rings series in a day. He's a mathimatical genious too. He likes taking things apart and rebuilding them.

"I'm skipping my twins for now, the youngest is Beau Bay Hawkins, he's 3 years old and a trouble maker. My Mama has her hands full with him. But the cheerleading team loves him and I swear he's either going to be a football star or a cheerleader." he cackled. It was a family joke that the boy might turn out to be gay. Though Gabe laughed at that and just said, 'nah he likes boobs too much' thought he left that out for Nat's sake. It was just a family joke.

"Now for my favorites. Dis is between me and you, us. But the twins they're special to me, Lauri Time and Laudi Time Hawkins. They're only five but are already speaking to you without dat five year old questions. They went through that stage at three. Dey are gifted kids," the way he spoke, he spoke as if he was the father. Maybe he felt connected to the twins because he knew that they were mutants? Or maybe the two sweet girls just left a mark on his heart. "I know I shouldn't but I hope dey get to come stay with me for a while, yeah. It's just those two, if anything happened to dem. . . . ."

He trailed off. The twins where his girls and they knew it too. They were still only five but they were sweet girls none the less. A little obnoxious to people they didn't know but they loved to make a person smile instead of frown. They weren't his daughters but being in a big family and they were the only ones that shared his talents. He felt a big connection to them. He smiled, though he felt his eyes water up but he took a sip of coffee before Nat would notice, "So Nat, you have to have some sort of family? Anyone you're close to? Or do you rather have questions about my family?"

[Natalie]

Natalie took in all the things she was saying. He was funny. She let out laughs every now and then as she listened to him tell all there was to tell about his family. When he was through she just smiled taking a sip of her coffee.

"Looks like you have your hands full with your family. They all sound really amazing." She grinned softly. He was so bright eyed when he talked about his family. She wondered if he would ever love someone as much as he loved his family. She shook the thought a smile still on her face.

"So Nat, you have to have some sort of family? Anyone you're close to? Or do you rather have questions about my family?"

"I have someone I'm really close to. Colette Richards. She's my cousin and she is the founder of all the mutant schools here in New York." She stopped herself and covered her mouth. "I don't think I'm supposed to tell anyone that." She raised her brows. "But I mean you told me all about your family so I can trust you..." She winked at him. "I suppose." She smirked.

"I do have parents, but we are close any more. Not after I moved anyways." She would keep her horrible past love problems to herself for the time being. "Y' know I know a great bar thats around. It's pretty cozy." She paused. "Do cajuns like you drink?" She raised a brow licking her lips.

[Gabriel]

Gabriel smiled. They were laughing and he was glad she was enjoying listening about his family. Good, good very good. He tuned in fully when it was her turn to talk. Then his heart stopped at her next words.

"I have someone I'm really close to. Colette Richards. She's my cousin and she is the founder of all the mutant schools here in New York." She stopped herself and covered her mouth. "I don't think I'm supposed to tell anyone that." She raised her brows. "But I mean you told me all about your family so I can trust you..." She winked at him. "I suppose." She smirked.

He turned his computer around and let her see the application to be a teacher's assistant at one of the houses. He gave a happy grin, "you can def trust me, yeah. You can't spill a secret without earning one. The twins, they are showing signs of becoming mutants. That's the reason they are coming to stay with me. And I'd rather be the one able to help them control themselves."

He held the computer open long enough for her to get a good look at his resume before turning it around saving his document and then shutting it off. He then turned his full attention to the woman in from of him fully.

"Y' know I know a great bar thats around. It's pretty cozy." She paused. "Do cajuns like you drink?" She raised a brow licking her lips.

She was asking him out? Wait a minutes, his eyes darkened for a minute. He might be a good man, but he was still a man. He hoped she wasn't a slutty kind of girl. He didn't do sluts went against his morals and what not. Still being a man he had a small image flash of them inbetween the sheets and he cleared his throat and downed the last of his coffee in one gulp, clearing his head as well. He was glad he was a good man, even if he was still a man, "Sweetie being cajun, we DO drink, we DON'T get drunk, us. And all we want to do if feed you good food and get you drunk."

The grin fell and he really leaned forward and in his soft cajun voice he whispered so the eyes that sometimes peered at him and his beautiful partner couldn't hear, "sweetheart take me where ever your heart desires and I'll follow you there, me."

Was it cheesy yes, was it cute, he sure as hell hoped so.