Spring Showers[finished]

Spring was one of the reasons Ian liked Chicago.  Though it was mid-morning the sky was nearly black with clouds and rained sluiced down in such heavy sheets that it might as well have been night.  People hurried, heads down, anonymous under the shade of hoods and umbrellas.  More telling though were the scents.  Rain washed the city clean.  He caught body odor here or there, a hint of sweet perfume or the ghost of cologne as he brushed past someone.  Wet hair and nylon, damp asphalt and overall that the veil of rain.  Sure everyone knew rain had a scent, but did they really understand the depth and complexity of it.

Ian quietly exulted in it, just one more person slogging along the sidewalk, head down under a shabby umbrella.  His satchel was slung under his black coat, collar turned up to try and keep the worst of the wet off his neck.  A black beanie and a thick, grey and tan scarf helped cut down the wind.  Really the umbrellas didn't help much when the wind picked up which was... well, always.  He knew he was close to his destination a hundred yards away.  Even with the whipping wind and rain, the smell of coffee was heavy and pervasive.  Laced with that were hints of cream and sugar, close pressed bodies, burnt milk and chocolate.  He popped down his umbrella as he stepped under the cafe awning, giving it a haphazard shake before he pushed open the door and stepped into the shop.

He sneezed, almost overpowered by the sudden smell of wet wool.  Ian shook his head to clear it, edging towards the counter.  One hand already groped for the buttons of his coat.  It was almost too warm in the little restaurant.  Luckily it also wasn't too terribly crowded.  He spotted a table near the center of the room, probably ignored because there were too many people around it  All but two of the chairs had been absorbed by other tables.  He ordered a hot chocolate with a dash of peppermint as as soon as it was in hand he wedged his lanky frame in between people until he made it to the open table.  He shrugged out of his coat and set his satchel on the table, then sank down into the chair.

Under the coat he wore a dark blue sweater.  The sleeves were rucked up from being under his coat, revealing the sleek metal cuff around his left wrist.  He never bothered to hide it.  People either didn't know what it meant, or they knew exactly what it meant.  Either way was fine with him.  He wanted other Titans to stay away from him and the symbol of his bondage was enough for that.  Even off duty he knew they tracked him, monitoring to see if his Gift-sense pinged.  Living radar, he thought sardonically, pulling the beanie off of his matter blonde hair.  

Finally comfortable he settled back to enjoy his drink in the warmth.  He'd brought his laptop to tinker around on but that could come later.

A young woman walked calmly in the completely drenching rain that was raining cats and dogs outside. She loved the rain and chuckled at the little joke. The woman was wearing jeans, calf-high cowboy boots that had elegantly swirling designs on them in silver, a grey t-shirt with the picture of a wolf howling on it. Her outfit was complete with deer-hide jacket complete with fringed sides and arms. Veralidaine watched as the people around her were rushing to get out of the rain, she didn't know why everyone made such a big deal; rain was good for the earth and for the life all around them. Though Veralidaine had also experienced being a duck in the rain and the joy that the birds felt as the puddles grew and the rain droplets slid down their feathers.

The shapeshifter saw a nearby café and decided that coffee sounded very warm and delicious. She took a second to lightly try and shake off the water from her clothes even though there was no point because everyone was soaked through. Vera stepped inside and went to the front counter, she looked over the menu quickly and ordered her drink. In just a few minutes her drink was done and Veralidaine did a quick survey of the dining area. There was a lot of people crowded in a particular area so she stayed away. It was hard for her to be around other people sometimes. She could easily be a loner if she wanted but given her abilities that would not be a wise choice.

Veralidaine saw a man sitting on his own as best as he could. The other tables around him were empty as well. The shapeshifter sighed slightly and went over to one of the empty tables and sat down gracefully, she'd been felines enough to catch onto their grace. She never had balance issues and was always graceful with her movements as well as confident. The woman wrapped her hands around the cup nd sipped her drink slowly, her eyes taking in the people around her.

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Little by little the crowd around him eased and shifted. The crowd had moved to another area, leaving the space around him a bit more cleared by the time he was halfway through his drink. He savored the sweet, slightly bitter liquid. He certainly wasn't dry, but at least he'd warmed up a bit now. Not that he minded being wet. He certainly didn't mind the rain. In the summer the city could get so oppressive with the stink of garbage and sweat. Every time someone walked in they brought with them the scent of the still ongoing rain outside and he settled a little more comfortably into the hard chair.

Abruptly, in a whirl of rain and leather-scented air, he caught a very different kind of scent. For a moment he didn't move, eyes still half closed in relaxation that was now an act rather than a reality. Then he glanced up, trying to pinpoint the source. It was automatic. Though he'd prefer to try and ignore the Titans he scented, they would ask. And he had to tell them -something-, otherwise who know what they might do. No, he knew exactly what they might do. He pinpointed the scent when the woman passed in front of him and settled at a nearby table. He tried very hard not to meet her eyes. Tallish, brunette, female. That was enough, they didn't need to know more than that. She could've been one of any hundred women in the city. Still, he couldn't help from inhaling a little deeper- he could tell what drink she ordered but he tried his best to ignore it, concentrating instead on the illusive Gift-scent. Something... primal he thought, but not elemental. It reminded him all at once of both fur and feathers, all mingled confusingly with the smell of leather.

He glanced up once more, then shifted to pull the laptop out of his bag, setting his drink down. He pushed his sleeves up his forearms a bit and ran one of his hands through his hair, displaying the bright metal bracelet prominently. Maybe she'd get the hint and put some distance between them. He really did have some things he wanted to do and being paged into the office wasn't one of them.

At first Veralidaine didn't sense anything and she continued to sip her coffee calmly while watching the people around her. She shifted into a better position that was more comfortable, her left leg up and across her right leg, her body was more relaxed against the chair. Suddenly, her animalistic instincts caused the back of her hair to stand up on her neck. The predators instincts hissed and growled while her prey senses were wanting to flee. She had learned a long while ago to sift through those and ignore them until her human form decided on what to do; it was one of the perks of being a human being.

Vera stayed perfectly still, another skill she had picked up from her predator side, it was a hunting mechanism. Yet she stayed loose and her body would look perfectly relaxed and normal to the regular human. Daine silently sipped her coffee again until she found what had caused her adrenaline to spike. There. The man she was sitting close to was D.T.R.C and gifted ontop of it all. Not knowing what his abilities were was dangerous. She had no idea if this guy knew she was a Titan or not, what her gifts were or how powerful she was.

So Veralidaine decided to take matters into her own hands. Yet again she gracefully stood up, sipped her coffee and started walking towards the man. In a smooth and relaxed voice, Vera said, "That's a nice bracelet you have there." The shifter walked right up to the man, her enemy, and sat right next to him. The woman sipped her coffee, brimming of confidence and a smile on her face. "Looks like we both like to sit alone huh?"

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Fuck.

Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck. Was she an idiot. The young woman sat next to him- not even across, next to him- and made it very clear that she knew exactly what he was. Was she suicidal? He kept anticipating that call, the 'your tracking thing is going bonkers, who are you with?'. It didn't come though, not yet at least. He tried to shift and shake some of the tension from his shoulders, his hands tracing the corners of his closed laptop with nerves he couldn't quite hide.

"Yeah, looks like it." He finally managed, though his voice was skeptical and he couldn't keep the corners of his mouth from tugging down into a deep frown. Ian rubbed the bridge of his nose surreptitiously. It always felt a little -different-, smelling someone's gift. It was like it hit a different part of his nose. Stupid. For a moment he couldn't really think of anything to say so he simply reached for his drink. Her smile did nothing to make him feel better either.

She must be baiting him. That's all he could think of. He glanced around, trying to see if anyone was watching them too closely. It was possible the DTRC had a tail on him though he thought they'd stopped doing that months ago. It was also possible that she had a few friends lurking around, ready to jump him the minute he went somewhere a little more private. She was pretty, that he could freely admit. Definitely good bait material. "Did you want something?" It was the only thing he could really think to say, as gruff and stand-offish as it came across. He wasn't sorry for that either. Maybe she'd bugger off and save him a headache.

The shapeshifter smiled even more when she saw the obvious discomfort she was causing this man. Or at least what her animal instincts were picking up on. Vera sipped her drink again, and said in a curious and innocent tone, "Why I was just wondering what you did for a living? A handsome man like you carrying a computer and wearing that fine metal bracelet and all." If anyone would say anything about Veralidaine, it was that she was direct and to the point. She was good at getting information, whether it was by direct communication or stealing it through shifting means. In fact, she even went as far as to lightly flick the bracelet with her finger, causing the man's wrist to go up against the metal. It was a fast and easy movement, not offensive at all, a playful movement. Sometimes the cat likes to play with her enemies after all.

The woman move her hair back behind her shoulder in a graceful arc before sipping her coffee once again. "Name's Daine by the way. What's yours?" That nickname was one that had served her well because the very few agents she had actually talked to had never been able to trace that name. They never guessed that her name was Veralidaine, so simply put; the Agency knew about her but had no information on her expect for her human looks and that she could transform into dogs and housecats. They had no idea that she could become a grizzly bear in 2 seconds and tear their arms off in five. Or that she could shift into a wolf and sound the alarm for her fellow Titans to come fight or help.

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OOC: sorry for the crappy post

((Is okay, no worry.))

Definitely baiting him. His frown deepened and he jerked his hand away when she flicked at the bracelet, rattling it against the side of the laptop. He winced, almost expecting to feel prick against his skin even though he knew that he never could feel it before it happened. Nearly a year in that bracelet and he still wasn't used to it. He didn't think he ever would be.

"You know exactly what I do for a living and I'm off-duty, so please stop harassing me." He didn't look his in the eyes, only really observing her through his periphreal vision. Mostly, he just kept his eyes down, on his computer or the table. Or in this case his hands and he rubbed the metal cuff slightly. It was too snug to turn on his wrist or really to move at all.

He honestly debated just trying to ignore her, but she really wasn't taking a hint. With a sigh he leaned foreward, elbows on the table and fingers laced together. "Ian." He finally muttered after a long few minutes of silence, clearly reluctant. He didn't want to get to know people, and damnit he was never going to forget her strange smell. It was pretty well cemented in his memory, just like the leather of her jacket, wet wool, and the nose-wrinkly smell of scorched bread from one of the wait staff burning someone's bagel. Garlic bagel. Fighting the urge to gag, he reached for his drink again, taking a drink but lingering over it so the smell of chocolate and peppermint would overpower it.

The woman continued to smile at the man, loving his reaction to her playfully flicking his wrist. The poor guy couldn't even look at her. Oh this is too much fun. Veralidaine thought, she couldn't wait to tell some of her Aegis friends that she had playfully dogged a DTRC agent right under his nose. What a whip really.

"Yep I do know what you do for a living. What's your powers? You guys already know mine so I wouldn't even bother to look me up." Vera said slyly, just like a fox would if a fox could speak. She didn't know that he could smell everything about her and that her scent would be engrained in his brain the longer she stayed by him. If she had, she would've fled long ago and stayed away, stayed very very far away. But Veralidaine had to get the information out of this Agent. She had to learn what his power was so she could take it back to the group and decide if it was worth saving him from that bracelet bondage and the holding pens. She also wanted to know how loyal he was to the DTRC, knowing that would change the whole ballgame, even if his powers weren't useful to the Aegis.

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Resigned to her presence finally, he kept his drink close to his face, drinking in slow sips in between sentences. The smell was going to linger in the air of the cafe for a good while longer though, especially sine the traffic coming in and out had slowed. Less fresh air flow. Suddenly the cafe was beginning to feel too small but he realized quickly it was just the sudden urge to flee the inquisitive Titan that was sitting so near him.

"Regardless, I'm going to have to report this." He sighed and ran a hand through his unkempt hair, finally looking at her. "And you must be stupid if you think I'm going to tell you that." After all, he didn't know who she was with, or if she was some kind of radical that would kill or have him killed if she decided he was too dangerous. And well, for having a low ranked power, he was pretty dangerous to other Titans. He was useful to the DTRC- he wouldn't be useful to one of the Titan groups. People found those on their own. They didn't need him. Not that he liked working for the DTRC, but he was skeptical of the real driving ambitions behind Aegis and Haven. Skepticism, after all, was something a jounalist is well trained in.

"What about you, hmm? Going to tell me what you can do? I don't exactly have access to a database here to look you up."

The shapeshifter full out grinned this time as she laughed easily and care-free, That's great.  Like I said," Vera bent her head closer to his and whispered in his ear lightly and softly, "They already know what I can do and they know my name. You running into me..." The woman chuckled softly, her eyes dancing with fun, "Or vice versa, however you wish to report it; is not going to be news to them." Her fringes swayed lightly with her movements as she loved, this was her favorite jacket.

For the first time in a long time, Vera's entire being froze in a moment of complete fury.  The animals were all pissed and it took Vera's complete attention to her insides to not shift into whichever animal was the most furious at that moment.  Her eyes showed nothing though and within that same second Vera controlled her beasts and maintained an easy going and relaxed posture.  How dare he call me stupid!!  Oh the gall!  You a.... Veralidaine stopped her thoughts and forced her mind to follow her body and calm down, she didn't know if this guy could read thoughts or what.

"Like I said, you guys already know my ability and I doubt you'd be scared of it."The woman's smile was back on and she shifted positions again, getting even closer to the man. "So Ian, how long have you been working for the DTRC?" Her voice had gotten softer as she got closer.

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The sudden flush of anger was heady- people talked about smelling fear, but most strong emotion triggered some kind of change in scent and anger was no different. To him, at least, it was even easier to smell than fear. Maybe just because it was more common. There were a lot of angry people these days. He down the last of his cocoa, pretty determined at this point that if she wasn't going to leave, he was. Especially when she leaned close. He pointedly shifted his chair away.

"Ma'am, you are making me uncomfortable. Please keep your distance." He raised his voice slightly, just enough that a couple of people nearby glanced over before going back to their business. His intention wasn't to cause a scene, but he knew the importance of having people know things. If people knew he'd asked her to back down, there was less chance of her suddenly changing her tune and pretending that she was the one being accosted. He really didn't need some would be hero to dump him on his ass. His gifts were not combat oriented and neither was he.

He slid his laptop back into his satchel. Clearly he wasn't getting any work done here. He'd have to go somewhere else, or closet himself up in his tiny apartment. He preffered working outdoors because he was fairly certain that his apartment was bugged. Even if it wasn't, he didn't want to take the chance. Man, he was even starting to sound paranoid to himself.

"That's none of your business." He said firmly, flipping the strap of his satchel over his head. He pushed himself out of his chair and reached for his coat, clearly done with the conversation.

Veralidaine was just going to start playfully playing with that bracelet when Ian stated that he was uncomfortable and that she was making him uncomfortable. Now that's funny... the rabbit is wanting help from mice to keep away from the wolf... Taking a quick look around, the woman saw with her green/blue eyes that the other people were actually looking at them. Annoyance flared and this time she made no notion to hid it from the man next to her. If she would've have a tail, it would be flicking or at least standing on end. "I see how your gonna be. I would have just enjoyed the attention from another gifted person."

With that, Vera slid her chair a couple inches away from Ian's chair. She sipped the last of her coffee and noticed that he was done with his own as well. The woman openly laughed at Ian's remark of it was none of his business. "You really think that? Well then I guess your not going to go tell your little buddies to come hunt me down and either kill me or capture me! You must love capturing other like you so you can stay out of a cage yourself, your worse than a rabbit!" Her annoyance bled through her words but she didn't care, she knew now that Ian obviously didn't have a power that enabled him to take her on, either that or he didn't want to start a Titan battle in a cafe.

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I'm the last person you want attention from.  He almost snarled at her but somehow kept the words behind his teeth.  Instead he offered her a tight, overly polite smile.  Why the hell was she so interested?  Ian didn't know if she was just an adrenaline junkie who got her fix at the thrill of trouble or what but this was insane.  She was insane.  For all she knew they could've set him out to draw in quarrelsome Titans who thought it would be a good idea to fuck with an agent.  Who thought it might be fun.  Regardless, he was tired of playing twenty questions.

Before he could open his mouth again though, she spoke again and her words stung.  They needled him, a little too close to the truth for his liking.  This time he stepped right up to her, coat still in one hand.  He lowered his voice to a harsh whisper.  "Don't say another word.  You don't know what you're talking about and it would do you a hell of a lot of good to think, just once."  He went quiet for just a moment, glaring into her eyes.

"And don't you fucking talk about what I do to stay out of the cage until you've seen the inside of it."  Then he pivoted on his heel and stalked out into the rain, not even pausing to pull on his coat.  Instead he let the cold rain soak him to the bone, coat thrown over one arm.  He didn't choose a direction, just walked.  Eventually his wandering feet would either find their way home.  For now, he just wanted to breath in the smell of the rain to wash away the queer combination of animal musk and woman.

The shapeshifter almost growled in rage. Once again, she had to swallow the beasts that wanted to automatically come out and claw his eyes out. This idiot obviously had no idea who he was talking to! How dare he tell her to not say another fucking word! "How dare you! Since who are you to tell me what to do? I've been asking you politely and calmly what I wanted to know yet you just decide to be a rude asshole! Yes, very charming." She glared right back into his own angry eyes.

Although his next statement stung. No she had never been inside a holding cell before but she had already broken into a few and helped some Titans escape with the help of the other Aegis members. Vera knew she would do horribly inside one until she had to prove her power to others to not get messed with. Plus her parents had refused to be held inside a cage because they had wanted to be actual parents to her. It wasn't her fault that she hadn't been caught and put inside a cage yet. "I guess you shouldn't have gotten caught then."

The young woman watched Ian leave and she waited a few seconds before she herself got up from the table and threw her cup away before walking out into the rain herself. Daine walked into the rain, ducked into a nearby ally and slipped off her clothes except for her underclothes. Within seconds she then shifted into a pitch black panther, the pain for this animal was minimal and she could sustain this form for a couple weeks. The shifter hissed and started to move among the shadows, knowing the night sky and the rain combined would make her look like just a shadow of a cat. She was already hunting her prey.

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