it's just a sign of the times // finished //

[Sinclair]

"It's okay, little one. Let me hold you. baby."Desirae stated as a child cried about the pain in his arm. She was kneeling down to examine it with a look of deep concern. After a few seconds, it was obvious to Desirae that it was broken; it's position was anything but natural. She hugged the little boy to her, letting him cry against her shoulder as she placed a gentle hand on the place where it appeared the break was. The boy squirmed against her as he felt a warm sensation. He cried harder and even began to scream, but Desi ignored it. Desirae didn't let go. She wasn't torturing the poor boy or anything but he needed to be patient.

The minutes ticked away slowly. He finally calmed down when the pain subsided considerably, but he was still sniffling. Desirae eased her grip on him but didn't move her hand.

"There you are, sweetheart. There you go."She finally stated. Her voice was subdued now as she dropped both hands. He smiled and hugged her tightly, then let go so that Desi could get up and get him a sucker before he left.

Desi held out three colors; a yellow sucker, a blue sucker, and a green one. The boy took the green one with a grin. Desi smiled back, patting his head. "You were very brave, little one. How about being more careful next time?" The boy nodded in reply, then ran out of the room, hardly able to wit until he could return to the game with the other mutants. Desi watched him leave, then placed the yellow sucker into her mouth and returned the blue one before she walked to the window to observe the scene, waiting for the boy to burst out of the front doors to join the many roughhousing mutants on the front lawn.

[Sparrow]

Hey beautiful, Sparrow said calmly as he walked into the room. Shifiting into animals had given him alot of interesting skills over the years but one of them was moving quietly, a trait that contrasted with his normally boistrous attitude.

He stopped in the center of the room to pick up the blue lollipop, twirling between his fingers. I thought I'd find you here. Is this where you've been all day, Dessy? He asked, using his special nickname for her. Since they had gotten engaged nearly 6 months ago, the two hadn't seen that much of each other. Sparrow was always off on missions and he was starting to resent it. He missed Desirae all the time and even his guitar couldn't keep him company like it used to. Not when he knew now what real love was like.

[Sinclair]

The people outside where interesting. And the random show of powers? It made her smile. However, the voice she heard behind her made her freeze, her mind race. Did she dare turn around? She couldn't resist. Once she turned and saw Sparrow before her, her smile brightened. He was so cute! She set her sucker down without a second's hesitation- it didn't matter anymore, then she moved to him without answering his question, wrapping her arms around him.

"Mhm,"Desirae finally agreed to his initial question. She felt useful here, she could help the others by making them feel better. And now, Sparrow was here to make her feel better."It's so good to see you, Sparrow. I missed you," Desirae hated to be without Sparrow. It wasn't fair, those missions Sparrow had to go on were taking time away from the two of them. Though Desirae knew he was doing the right thing, though she knew he was helping people, she wanted him to stay with her anyway.

[Sparrow]

Sparrow barely had time to open his arms before she was in them. He breathed in her familiar scent and instantly relaxed. He had known from the moment he met her they were meant for each other. And now being gone so much, he was even more aware of this. And all the little things she was that made him grin.

You never take a break do you? He asked rhetorically, knowing how seriously she took her gift. But somedays she would exhaust herself trying. Those days were hard ones.
I missed you so much, Sparrow answered her, looking into her beautiful eyes he loved so much. I wish they would give me more notice so we would have time together. His smile was gentle, but filled with a little sadness. How have you been for the past 11 days and 46 minutes? He asked with a short laugh.

[Sinclair]

Desirae didn't seem to have any intentions of letting go any time soon. She was quite comfortable against Sparrow, as if she could hold onto him and never, ever let go. It made her feel safe to be in his arms, as if nothing in the world was wrong.

"Mmm,"Desirae giggled,"You're one to talk. You're the one that has to go on all those missions, I'm just playing doctor," Desirae knew that her power did take a lot out of her, and she did know that it was significant in it's own ways, but she had a lot of respect for what Sparrow did. Her powers were anything but offensive, so she felt useless at times.

"Next time I'm going to make them let me go with you,"Desirae stated, her voice a bit defiant. She knew she wouldn't; she didn't want Sparrow's attention on her rather than the task at hand, and she was bound to just slow him down, anyway. She'd never forgive herself if Sparrow got hurt protecting her. But it made her feel better to say she would; if she could, they would never have to be apart again as far as Desirae was concerned.

Desirae wasn't sure how to answer Sparrow's last question. She didn't want him to feel bad or worry, but she didn't want to lie to him, either. And she wasn't about to say she didn't miss him every second. . .

"I'm just glad you're here now,"Desirae answered simply."But what about you? Everything went okay? No injuries?"

[Sparrow]

Or maybe the beautiful nurse? Sparrow suggested with a wink. He wasn't about to let go off her quickly either. Even if they were standing in then middle of the room just hugging foolishly. But Sparrow reached around for her hand tenderly, massaging his thumb against her palm silently.

Though Sparrow had no idea how Desirae felt about her powers occasionaly, he too felt useless at times. If mine weren't so attacking, maybe I would be able to spend more time with you. Plus, I wish I had the power to heal. Seeing so many injured and dying people on those missions would bring a less optimistic person than I down.

Sparrow had to smile at her bravery but like her, he knew deep down she never would. And it wasn't for the same reason. He would never forgive himself if she got hurt out there. Never.

Her next question made him suck in his breath a little and he winced to himself. There was no way Desirae hadn't picked up on that little intake. She was too smart.

Just one... He trailed off, trying to ease out of the conversation. Hey, is that a bluebird out there? So weird, out of season. He began brightly, changing the topic.

[Sinclair]

"You are so sweet,"Desirae cooed softly as she blushed a light pink, but it wasn't odd to hear Sparrow compliment her, so it didn't have quite the same effect as it used to. When Sparrow said it, it didn't stir embarrassment, it stirred a sort of happiness in her, a feeling that said that Sparrow did love her as he loved her in the beginning.

"That's why I should be there with you, Sparrow! No one would see me, I could really help,"Desirae insisted. It was so hard to think that she did have something to offer, but just because she couldn't fight back, she couldn't help anyone, including herself.

"Sparrow,"Desirae replied seriously, ignoring his statement about the bluebird. She looked up at him with concern as if she could see the truth in his expression; she couldn't. He didn't want to tell her, and she'd never make him. But what she could do was to ensure that, even if he was putting on a brave face for her benefit, that he really was as alright as he seemed. Her hands began to warm up, even glowing a bit as she kept them close, one to his hand that was holding hers, the other firmly against his back, hoping her power could heal anything that could possibly have happened. Too bad it didn't heal his mind in the same way. If she could have helped ease the memory of what he saw. . .It wasn't fair.

[Sparrow]

I try. I do love you. You know that right? 'Casue that's why I don't want you there love, I couldn't stand it. I can maybe erase the other deaths but I'll never erase a picture of you in a battlefield. He kissed her gently but didn't linger, instead focused on her understanding what he was saying.

Then he heard the tone in her voice. It somewhat rekindled feelings of motherly affection, but he didn't really know what that was like. Just a glimmer of a memory from long ago. But in Desirae's case it meant this: I'm not going to make you tell me, but you should anyway.

Sparrow sighed as he felt the warmth of her healing power through his back. Softly, he moved her hand away and whispered; Not there. He took a slight step back from her but kept their one hand interlocked as he grimaced in slight pain. Sparrow rolled up his sleeve to reveal a long scar that stretched all the way from his elbow to just above his wrist. It had healed itself; barely. The flesh was threatening to pull apart at any moment and bleed like it did that night. Some idiot sliced me with a knife when I wasn't looking. Probably as bad as it looks but I don't think its infected. I'm sorry I didn't show you but...
He trailed off and bit his lip, preparing for Desirae's reaction.

[Sinclair]

"I'm sure you love me, but Sparrow, I love you, too. And I don't like to know you're going off, risking your life without me- I should be by your side."Desirae argued softly. But she wasn't going to press it, because though she brought it up often, it was an argument she wasn't really going to fight to win. It wasn't that she was scared; she wasn't. She just wasn't going to hurt Sparrow or go against his wishes when he felt so strongly.

Desirae was a bit worried when he moved her hand away from his back. He had to let her. To her relief, he just showed her his wound rather than telling her not to do it at all. Desirae's expression shifted immediately, tears in her eyes almost instantly at the sight of Sparrow's injury. It broke her heart to see it, but it didn't take her more than a second to know what she was going to do about it.

"I'm sorry, love."she stated softly, even though she knew she was going to do it anyway. Her hands were already warm and glowing, so she didn't waste any time applying her free one to the scar. She knew it'd probably hurt if she touched it, but she was also sure that she could take away the rest of his pain. Her touch was still careful, almost reluctant. She even closed her eyes, anticipating the sound of pain that her touch would bring from Sparrow's lips. Desirae wasn't sure she wanted to hear it, even if her intentions were good; could she tolerate hurting the person she cared most about? It seemed she had to.

[Sparrow]

I understand. Was his only response. He knew she wouldn't press it and he didn't want to argue anymore.

Sparrow knew there was no way in hell he could pursue Desirae to not heal this. Even though she was probably the most gentle person he knew, he would guess she would hold him down if she had to. So he shut his eyes tightly and let out a quick yell before clamping his lips together. He felt her wince at his agonized sound but both of them knew it had to be done.

I won't cry if you won't, he murmured a joke; his form of tolerating painful situations to try and help the tension and his teeth from grinding. As she moved her hand along his injury, he inhaled sharply from the intense pain. Damn those knifers. Someday they would pay for this. Both his and Dessy's misery.

[Sinclair]

Desirae was trying to be strong, but when he yelled she wasn't ready for it. She wanted to pull her hand away, to tell him sorry a million times, and then to promise never to hurt him again, but she didn't. She held her hand against him, hoping that this would help him.

As her hand moved, she began to shiver a bit. Not because she was cold, but because doing what she was doing was really beginning to scare her. Was it worth it? At the moment, she couldn't be certain.

His voice convinced her to open her eyes and look into his. It comforted her in a way, but it made her feel worse to see the pain in his expression at the same time.

"I'm sorry, I. . .I'll make it better,"Desirae explained. She knew he already knew this, but it made her feel better to tell him so."I don't want to hurt you, I-It'll stop in a minute. . ." Or, at least she hoped it would. She'd tell him that so he had hope that it'd subside, but she couldn't be sure about how much damage was really done and her own abilities weren't exactly the greatest. Then again, emotions did help in making her power more effective and this was very emotional indeed. She could only hope she could do it, to make him perfectly better again. If not, she'd keep at it until he was. Sparrow was the last person she'd let suffer.

[Sparrow]

I know you will, my love. Sparrow breathed out in one quick exhale. And he did. He didn't know the cut had been this deep though, until now.

Her eyes in his. He knew she saw the pain, but he had never been good at masking his emotions. She knew that. He could see her defiance in her eyes; how she knew this was the only way and she wasn't going to give up just because he couldn't control his yelping.

So Sparrow instead focused on her eyes. And the first time he looked into them. That one day on the docks when she had turned around and looked at him. It was like.. she had been looking into his soul. Like she could figure out exactly who he was, where he had been, and where he was going by one little glance. He had been captivated. And every once in awhile, he saw that. Like now when he was hurting. When he had told her he loved her for the first time. The day they got engaged. When Falcon left. And that one movie night, when he had made fun of the main character in a romance movie about how quickly he had given up on the female lead. He remembered saying, "I would never give up on someone I loved. Never." And she had given him this look like she finally understood him. And she believed him.

Sparrow's thoughts were broken by a quick slash of peace through the pain. It's getting better, he told her, breaking her gaze to smile at her and then grimace to the side when he thought she wasn't looking.

[Sinclair]

Desirae was thinking something similar; the wound was worse than she'd initially thought, though she'd thought it was pretty bad to begin with. Sparrow was very tough to bear with it as long as he already had. She wished he would have come to her sooner, but she knew he probably had. It reinforced her conviction that she should be there for him. He wouldn't have had to be in pain if she'd been there to tend to it right away.

Desirae wasn't thinking of the same thing as Sparrow when their eyes locked. Her mind was on the words of a song he'd once wrote her, a song that melted her heart. He was so sweet, so caring, so perfect. Desirae loved him and didn't deserve him. She could still remember the time she'd been jealous of Raily, and the time that she'd worried that he wouldn't love her because he caught the eye of so many other girls. And yet, here she was, engaged to him. When he looked at her, it felt like she was the only thing that mattered to him at times, and that was an overpowering feeling. One that made her happy to be with him, one that made everything worth it. The time at the dock when they'd met, when she'd first witnessed his power, that had been a good day too. There were countless good memories with Sparrow. The time when they danced the night away at the school dance, that was a perfect moment that Desirae cherished just as much as the rest of them. Even her worse memory seemed to be among her best as long as Sparrow was there.

Desirae wasn't someone to give up easily, but this was hard. Why couldn't she just let go? He'd seemed fine before she touched him, after all. Desirae wasn't hte one feeling the pain, and even though Sparrow had jokingly said that he wouldn't cry if she didn't, she dropped her gaze when he said it was getting better and after his smile to hide her face a bit as the tears began to slip down her cheek. She kept asking herself why she was doing it, why she was hurting Sparrow, and the worse part was, she didn't know what the answer was to that question. She didn't mean to cry, she didn't mean to let herself be the victim in the situation, but it hurt to know that maybe she was wrong, maybe she shouldn't be causing Sparrow this pain.

[Sparrow]

Des, are you crying? He asked her when he could look at her again without revealing pain on his face. This is what's best. Humans couldn't heal this fast or this well. I'm better off in you're capable hands.....

Suddenly, Sparrow shuddered and closed his eyes. It was getting to a breaking point now. She was in deep and he knew what was coming. He was either going to a) shapeshift which would ruin the whole process b) drop to his knees in agony or c) pass out. He was opting for the last but knew immediatly it was the second.

Don't stop babe, ok? If you stop... its worse. He couldn't really see her on bended knee but he could almost visualize the horror that must have been written on her face when he dropped. Dessy, my love, Des. Listen to me. Keep going. No matter what....ah....no matter what I do. He closed his eyes and tried to focus on good memories but all he saw was red and pain. Hoping it was over soon, Sparrow was using all his energy to fight unconciousness. It's going to be ok, its going to be ok, he murmured to Des and himself.

[Sinclair]

Dessy didn't bother to answer Sparrow. She was crying, but it wasn't going to help anything, so she wasn't going to point it out. She was sure he knew it, anyway. When he said that it was what was best and that he was in capable hands, she didn't believe him. Not really. She wished she could have, it would have made her feel better, but she didn't. Sparrow didn't have a habit of lying to her, but he never hurt her, and Desirae knew there were many times when a lie was the only way he could accomplish such a feat. For example, how was it for the best if he was in pain? How could he say that? Did he really believe it? Desirae didn't think so.

Desirae's eyes widened in surprise. Honestly, she hadn't healed anyone that was conscious with such a large wound. Still, it was shocking for her to see his reaction. Oh no. What had she done?

"Sparrow. . ."Desirae's voice trembled slightly, though she did her best to hide it, to sound strong for him. He told her not to stop, so she wouldn't. But stopping seemed like the only solution so it was like a silent war in her head. She decided to trust Sparrow's judgment. Sparrow's words did make her feel better, but they also made her realize that she should be comforting him. What she could possibly say, she didn't know. So without planning, she just started talking, hoping that in doing so maybe he'd pay attention to her and be distracted from the pain, even a little bit. It wasn't something she was putting much faith into.

"Do you remember when we met, Sparrow?"Desirae questioned softly, though she was sure he did."I had just arrived and there you were. I remember I was sitting on a dock in a strange place, scared to be there all alone, but even more terrified to leave. And then you appeared and I felt better. I was scared because I didn't know you, but I was glad you were there. And you sat with me, you talked to me- you were so cute. I was so worried about you that day. And I remember, you were determined to stay with me, and I had to convince you to go to the institute to change."Desirae recalled with a small smile through her tears.

"I remember being jealous, but I trusted you, and you didn't let me down,"Desirae added,"Even when you could have. I love you Sparrow. Meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me."