"Oh that's alright." He smiles. "I don't mind at all. I was just curious."

Kirin gets nervous as he sees the type of neighborhood they are in. He knows that something is seriously wrong. He also knows that they didn't have to come this way to get back to Terrance's place.

Terrance nodded.

As Terrance notices they weren't leaving anytime soon, but eventually would end up back at his place if the driver just make the right turns and such. He decided to ask the driver a few questions, "Not to be rude but this isn't the way we came to the dinner. Also you know we could get killed in this neighborhood."

The driver looked at Terrance and then said, "Sorry about that, I was just trying to avoid the expressway. We'll be out of here in a bit."

There was congestion on the expressway and also there happened to been an accident on I95 heading to Northern Virginia. The driver was just trying to get there quicker and didn't know he was making his client feel uncomfortable. He just hope he wouldn't get reported again, he was afraid of losing his job. The driver made a few turns and roundabouts, and they were out of the shady area of DC. Instead they were in one of the suburbs now. Hopefully he didn't make the wrong turn and end up in Maryland by accident.

"Don't go into that other lane," Terrance reminded the driver, "we'll end up in Maryland. No offense to Maryland of course."

Kirin lets out a sigh of relief when the are out of that neighborhood. He was glad that they hadn't run into anybody who might have known him. Unbeknownst to Terrance that had been the neighborhood he had grown up in. He was very vague about his past whenever he was asked about it. He was just afraid that if Terrance knew the truth he would loose him, and he couldn't risk that.

Terrance was kind of leery of being in shady neighborhoods, maybe it was just his upbringing that was the reason why. Terrance was no worst than his sister Rachael though. When Terrance and his family volunteered with the church to help the less fortunate, his sister always sneaked off to the mall. Her excuse was, "I will get mugged." Terrance didn't like being there because it was run-downed and he wondered why people have to live a substandard life style. He then thought to himself, "It's still the same, we have it all but yet others are living a substandard life style. I wonder why we're making it worst... I'm willing to bet none of these congressman seen the broken-down areas of DC."

He sighed and then turned to Kirin. "We'll be home soon," Terrance said as he put his arm around Kirin.

The limo driver made a few more stops and turns, then he finally made it back to Terrance's home in Northern Virginia. He opened up the door for them and smiled.

"Have a good night," The driver said as he smiled, "hope to see you again."

"You do the same as well," Terrance said as he stepped out of the limo.

Kirin is silent the rest of the way home. He made himself a silent promise that when they got home he would tell Terrance about his past. No matter how much it hurt. He would just have to pray that he wouldn't loose him.

"I was scared going through that neighborhood." He says once they get into the house.

"So was I," Terrance said, "I wondered why he was going that way though, I guess he wanted to get here quicker... But he has to think about our safety first not what will get us home the quickest."

Terrance kind of sense Kirin was going to tell him something important so he sat down and relaxed. He knew this was going to be a while. Whatever Kirin was going to tell him, he knew that it was deep and it could be life changing. He wasn't going to judge or stop loving Kirin of course.

"I was more afraid of seeing somebody I knew." He whispers. He is still standing. He is staring at his feet.

"You knew someone over there?" Terrance asked as he took off his jacket, "it's ok to tell me the full story. You can't hide your past. I tried hiding who I was, it wasn't working... Eventually they would have found out anyways."

Terrance took out his smartphone for a minute to see when he could schedule his press conference. He sighed as he knew this time wouldn't be the good time. He looked back at Kirin and waited to see what he had to say.

"I grew up in that neighborhood." He whispers. "My parents were drug dealers there. My uncle raised me until I became a mutant then kicked me out and..." He starts shaking all over.

Terrance got up and hugged Kirin, "It's going to be ok, you can tell me. I won't judge you."

He comforted and rubbed Kirin's back, telling him it will be ok. That he still loves him and that he won't leave him.

Then Terrance thought about his past for a minute or two. That's when he had a slight flash back of when he was ten, the age when his powers were at its full peak. His sister was kinder back then and a bit nicer. He remembered befriending one kid that understood him the most, but like Kirin the kid hid a lot from him. He didn't know what his friend was hiding but they were still friends. One day his friend moved out of town due to an incident. He was sad but when he was older he understood why his friend had to leave. To this day he doesn't know where his childhood friend is or if his friend was a mutant or not.

Terrance snapped out of the flashback and continued to comfort Kirin.

"But why would you even want me? I'm nothing." He whispers. "No worse, I'm less then nothing. I always have been." He lets out a soft sob.

Terrance holds Kirin tight and hugs him. He starts to cry as well and feels Kirin's pain. This time around he is somewhat able to control his powers, but he is still 'hurting' due to the fact he wished he had known earlier that way he wouldn't had hurt him so many times.

"I love you, Kirin," Terrance said as he was in tears, "you aren't worthless, no life is worthless, we all have meaning...."

"I feel worthless and so very out of place. I love you, I do but I don't belong in your world Terrance." He whispers. He knows his emotions are hurting Terrance and he fights to regain control of them.

Terrance had to process what Kirin said. He knew his career would sooner or later take a toll on their relationship, or on himself for that matter. He once thought about resigning from congress, since it wasn't a world he truly wanted to be in but he liked the politically spot light after awhile and got used to some of the phonies (such as Congressman Baer). He didn't want to quit till his term was up, but he knew he might have to quit sooner or Kirin might leave him.

"I know..." Terrance said as he was still in tears, this time tears from his own feelings and not Kirin's, "I can't force you to be someone you aren't. Yet..."

Terrance let go of Kirin and knew it wasn't his fault, after all Kirin was still just a kid. Terrance felt bad for exposing a kid to the political nonsense he has seen. This is the time where Kirin would be partying or be at college, not hanging around with a politician. That's when Terrance started to question his worth and why Kirin choose him. He went back to the couch to sit down. Terrance opens up a drawer near the couch and tries to find a cigarette, but couldn't find one. He had the urge, but then he remembered Kirin was here, and he had to set a good example for him. Also he couldn't start up the habit again, it was too costly. He sighed and just said, "I'm sorry, Kirin, you just have been the best thing that ever happened to me, before you came along, my life was just dull and I was just faking it along."

Kirin goes and sits on his lap. "you're the best thing that's happened to me too." He hugs him tight. He's scared that Terrance will leave him. He starts shaking again. Though he fights to control his emotions.

Terrance wraps his arm around Kirin and decides to tell him some more of the truth, "I was a mess even before I meet you."

Terrance knew he had to tell Kirin that way Kirin wouldn't blame himself. "No need to hold back your feelings, Kirin. Emotions are natural part of life. I been hurting even before I met ya'. You're still young and I don't want you to make my mistakes. I have been thinking of quitting the political game for quite some time, but I don't know if I should leave. If I don't speak up, who will? Some other suit that is bought and paid for, that's who," Terrance said as he wiped away his tears and his southern accent gotten a bit stronger.

Terrance sighed and felt a bit sad, he didn't want Kirin to feel any pain or suppress his feelings. Yet he didn't want to have an emotional overload due to his emotional-path powers. Terrance ruffled Kirin's hair and and shed a few tears.

"No, you shouldn't quit. Your voice is needed. I'll just learn to deal with the things I'm not comfortable with." He says. He knows his life is better now then he ever could have hoped for growing up. He'd get a job, but he had no high school diploma. "Besides I might have a new friend in that store clerk." He says with a small smile. ((Whose name I can't remember.

Terrance smiled and then hugged Kirin. He knew that Kirin wouldn't make him give up his political career.

"You're right, if I leave, then one of those fake southerners would come in. I mean look at what happened to some other states, I won't mention the state names." Terrance said as he sighed slightly, "I'm one of the few corrupt politicians besides Rita, and that quiet congressman."

Terrance looked at the time on his Rolex and realized it was almost 11pm. He kissed Kirin on the cheek and went to the kitchen to grab a Sprite Zero. He looked inside the fridge and saw there was no Sprite Zero but some cans of Sprite Remix. He wondered how did that get into the fridge. Then he remembered a few weeks ago he bought a new case of Sprite Remix with Kirin.

"Want a Sprite Remix?" Terrance asked Kirin, "It's strawberry and banana flavor..."

He read the can again and realized he didn't buy the strawberry-orange one, he sighed lightly and grabbed two cans out of the fridge anyway.

((Kirin Rosenbaum: Menewsha is messing up on me. :cry:))

(no I thought I had replied to this post but it never posted......)

Kirin runs his fingers through his hair. He hated this life, but he knew that it was important that Terrance stay in politics as long as possible. "Thanks." He says taking the can. He lets out a soft sigh.

Four weeks later, Terrance is in a congressional session, this session involves voting on the Mutant Registration Act. So far Terrance voted against it and so did quite a few other congress people. Some of the people in the nation are watching this event unfold, while others are just enjoying their last day of "freedom" as they call it. Kent is one of those people, he isn't really phased by it and hopes for a good outcome.

Right now Kent is at the skate park with Kirin practicing a few new moves on his skate board.

"Watch this," Kent said as he went down the ramp and did a few flips.

When he landed, he stepped off the skate board and sat down. He looked up at the sky and smiled. "It's a nice day, a day off of work, hanging with my friend, and not a care in the world," Kent said, "Except for that bill, this day is flawless."

He picked up his Gatorade and drank some of it. He handed Kirin a Gatorade from his bag, "I hope you like Green Gatorade, I heard it taste like lime."

"You're really good at that." Kirin says sipping his bottle of water that he brought with him. Kent had offered to teach him to ride but he had declined. "Hate the stuff personally." He is enjoying being out with Kent. Though this isn't the first time they had hung out since they had met.

"Yeah, the only downside was running over my tail," Kent said, "now I learned to hide it, and now I no longer run it over with the wheels."

Kent looked around and then decided to go on the ramp one more time. He went on his skate board, and went around the bowl like ramp a few times. Then he skated back over to Kirin.

"I am glad I am not a congressman," Kent said, "I would be bored. With all those old people arguing over stupidity... I don't mean your partner, at least he does something."

Meanwhile, Terrance is sitting down in the congressional chambers waiting for all the votes to be counted for. He waits nervously and notices the quiet congressman is biting his finger nails. "It'll be ok," Terrance said to the quiet congressman, "it won't pass."

"Easy for you to say, Congressman Pace." The quiet congressman said as he bit a few finger nails.

Terrance looked at the quiet congressman and then Congressman Baer mumbled a comment to Terrance.

"I can't wait for this wimp to leave," Congressman Baer mumbled to Terrance.

"Congressman Baer, he isn't that bad..." Terrance whispered to Baer, "Just because he isn't as strong, doesn't mean he is a wimp."

Congressman Baer is shocked when he heard what Terrance had said. He though Terrance was on his side, that's when he walked off mumbling a few words.

"So what do you want to do now?" Kirin asks when he comes back.

"Lay of Baer. Or should I say bore." Rita says coming up to them. The waiting was the worst part. She truly hoped it would go down in flames.

"Let's grab something to eat." Kent said as he grabbed his skate board, "Where do you want to go? The burger joint looks good or that new frozen yogurt place."

Kent stretches and then notices the girl he likes again. He sees her at the half pipe, but she is talking to some random guy. Kent sighs and knows that guy will only break her heart.

Back to the congressional session, Terrance smirks to himself because of what Rita said. The quiet congressman smiled slightly. After all the votes were in, the speaker of the house said the following, "The Mutant Registration Act has been killed, we will now recess, and then next will be presentations by---"

"Whew," Terrance said to himself as he got up and headed towards the door.

The quiet congressman went over to Terrance, extended his hand to shake Terrance's and said, "Thank you, Congressman Pace, thank you for changing your mind. I knew you were for equality for all."

Terrance was baffled, he didn't know what to say to the quiet congressman. He shook the quiet congressman's hand and smiled.

The quiet congressman walked off, while Terrance met with the media.

"Congressman Pace, what was your reason to vote against the bill, before you said you weren't on either side," The reporter said, "What changed your mind?"

"Well, let's say I can't vote for such a bill that could harm fellow citizens of our great nation." Terrance said as he was careful what to say before the press conference.

Meanwhile back at the Pace's residence, Spencer and Sarah smiled as they knew their son was a step closer to doing the right thing. All their son has to do now and tell the truth about his mutation.

"Oh a burger sounds great." Kirin says with a smile.

Rita follows Terrance out smiling. "Oh I am so happy!" She says after she talks to the reporters. "I can rest easy now."