Acacia Hunter

Aaron's POV

I got up this morning before Jade, like always. She was curled up in a ball, ignoring the pain of her arm. Now I'm sitting at the kitchen table with Kitty, drinking tea. It's a very odd thing, but it's soothing. "Wait... Aaron which box did you get that from?" Kitty asks me out of the blue, staring wide eyed at the cup in my hand.

"Uhh... the blue one?" As soon as I say it she flinches and shuts her eyes.

"Please tell me it wasn't the last one..."

"It wasn't the last one."

"Aaron!"

"What?" My voice almosts cracks as I respond to her accusatory tone. She stands up abruptly and rushes over to the cabinet, looking through all the boxes.

"That is Belle's tea!" Kitty turns to me. "She doesn't like it when people touch her tea!" She paces the floor, talking with her hands just like Jade does. "I'll just go back into town. I'll get more before she finds out. It's gonna be okay." She runs out the door before I can apologize. I look at the brown liquid in my cup and shrug, taking one last sip.

"Aaron!" Another voice calls for me.

"WHAT!" I shout, fed up with all the yelling. I clench my teeth when Storm runs in, apologizing immediately.

"Doesn't matter. Jade is gone!" Worry and fear cloud her grey eyes as she rushes to my side, explaining how Jade stormed out of the building. "And I don't know why? I have no idea where she could have run off to!" Only one thought comes to mind.

"Logan back yet?" I'm told to go down to the carrier and that I'll find him there. The walk there is lonely. I drown out the sound of the kids and try to figure out what Jade was going to do. She doesn't just leave. Jade always acts with a motive. Logan is talking to Auto, our techy. I stand in the doorway and nod him over to me.

"What's up kid, Jade ok-"

"What did you tell her." He gives me a confused look so I gladly repeat my question. "What. Did. You. Tell. Jade." Logan parts his lips, ready to speak, but no words come out. He doesn't understand how dire the situation is. "Damnit Logan." I grab him by the collar of his white T-shirt and pin him against the wall. His head is thrown against it, suprised by my sudden actions. "WHAT DID YOU TELL HER?"

"I told her who was responsible for her brother's death..." My eyes widen and I drop Logan, staggering backwards. "Aaron, why-" I just shake my head and turn away, running after her. I have to find Jade.

"You have no idea what you've done." I walk through the hallways, not focussing on anything but what Jade is going to do. I run out the door, looking left and right. How do I get to her. I spot Jade's black and green motorcycle and pause, contemplating my decision. She wouldn't mind, would she? Of course she would, she would kill anyone who rode her bike. "But she wouldn't kill me..." I hop onto the bike, strapping her helmet to my head. The visor makes everything darker. "Woah... Okay how do I work this th-" I turn one of the handles and instantly I move forward. "SHIT!" I'm about to hit the iron gate when I jerk to the side, preventing a scratch on Jade's precious bike. "Yeah she's going to kill me."

I ride through the streets downtown, searching for Jade. I listen for sirens, gunshots, anything that would signal her whereabouts. Two helicoptors fly overhead, and the seem to be in a hurry. Bingo. I rev the bike forward just as a girl runs into the street, almost cutting me off. I brake as hard as I can, sliding to less than a foot away from her. "What the hell!"

Acacia's POV

I chase after my english bulldog as he runs into the street. "Harry! Stop!" He listens to me, wagging his stubby little tail. "We have to go! Come on!" Men were following us, they're after me. "Harry!" A guy wearing a black helmet brakes his motorcycle feet away from me, and he seems pretty shaken up about it. "What the hell!" I can barely make out his eyes behind the shaded visor he's wearing. I lean down and pick up Harry, keeping my eyes on the stranger. The men who were following me start to shout and my eyes widen. I turn to see three guns pointed at me. "Oh... hey guys..." I hear the reving of an engine, and before I know it, the dude wearing a helmet grabs my by the waist and whisks me off down the street. I close my eyes and tighten my grasp around Harry and my longboard.

The wind stops blowing through my dreads and I know that we've stopped. I grasp the stranger's hands and pull myself free from him. "Seriously dude, what the hell!" Harry jumps from my arms and lays by my feet. The stranger hold up his hands defensively, sliding off of his bike. He slowly reaches up to take off his helmet, revealing his bright blue eyes and blond hair. "Oh..."

"I am so sorry, I'm sorry." He takes a step towards me, his eyes full of concern. "Are you okay?" I nod with my mouth open. He is gorgeous. "You sure?" I nod again. "I'd feel better if you said something."

"I'm okay." He nods his head as well, keeping his eyes focused on me.

"Okay..." He reaches out, taking some of my hair between his fingers. "Nice dreads." I pull my hair away from him, rubbing the red and white beads that are woven into it.

"Thanks."

"What's your name." His head is tilted, a playful half smile plastered on his face.

"I'm Acacia Grace Hunter. And I'm sixteen years old, so anything you do to me is illegal." He laughs, holding his hands up in defense again.

"Easy there Acacia." He sticks out his hand. "I'm Aaron. Aaron Mason Shield. I'm eighteen, and I don't have a fetish for younger girls." I bite my tongue and shake his hand. "There see? I don't bite." He winks at me. "Or do any other inappropriate sexual act."

"Okay I'm sorry I thought you were a predator." Aaron pauses, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

"From the looks of it, those guys back there are the predators, not me." I bite my lip and look away, searching for the men. "Why are they after you?" I hesitate, how can I trust him.

"Uhhh... Friends of mine escaped prison... And those guys wanted to get them back because they missed them." I cringe at the amount of sarcasm I out on that last part, but Aaron doesn't seem to mind.

"These friends... I don't suppose they escaped from a-" Harry starts to bark as two men pull up next to us in a black car. The window rolls down and two shots are fired. Before I have time to react, Aaron grabs me by the arm, pulling me behind him. His other arm stays outstretched. I watch as the bullets hit an invisible wall and deflect, piercing the cars tires.

"Y-you're a-"

"Less talking Acacia Grace, more running." He pulls me onto the motorcycle, along with Harry.

"Wait! My board!" I reach out for it but we pull ahead quickly.

"Be a good girl and I'll buy you a new one." I pout out my lower lip but listen, wrapping my arms around his waist. Only Harry is between us.

"Where are we going?"

"I don't know."

"Why didn't you tell me you're a mutant."

"I like to learn a girl's name before I freak her out."

"You didn't-" We jolt to the side in order to avoid hitting a fire hydrant. "Jesus Christ!"

"My bad." Aaron keeps his eyes forward but bites his lip.

"I'm guessing this isn't yours."

"What? Am I not manly enough for this bike?" We swerve again and I laugh. "Yeah it's not mine." A shadow passes over us and I look up. A large bird... No it's not a bird... It's a human with wings. Well that's special. The bird human is carrying two bodies...

"Aar-" I start to ask but he interrupts me again.

"In answer to your question Acacia Grace, yes we are following the weird bird human." I shut up the rest of the time as he turns down every street the mutant flies over. I can feel Aaron's back muscles; he's tensed up.

The figure flies over an abandoned Pizza Hut. A girl's loud cursing comes from inside as we get closer. A black car pulls up in front of the door, blocking us front entering. The men ignore us, attempting to walk through the doors. "Hey!" Aaron yells, jumping from the bike. "HEY!" He grabs one of the men by the collar, throwing him onto the hood of the car. The other man pouts a gun at me, shooting immediately. A small pinch hits my where the bullet would go, and in it's place is a glowing yellow spot. I'm bullet proof, literally. Harry growls and tears the man's shoe off, distracting the man long enough for me to kick him in the crotch.

"Good boy." I praise my spotted pup before turning my attention to Aaron.

"Why are you following them!" He slams the man's head against the car again, wanting an answer. "ANSWER ME!" The man's brown eyes roll to the back of his head; he fainted. Aaron let's go of him, mumbling words under his breath.

"Jade so help me. I'm going to kill you." He walks up to me, patting me on the shoulder. "Thanks for your help, I suggest you run away now."

"What? After all of this?" I turn to him, gesturing to my torn red cutoff shirt. He gives me a very serious look, shaking his head pitifully.

"Girl, this is bigger than you will ever know." He disappears behind the doors but I follow him. Now I know why the girl must have been cursing. Half of the building is missing, literally. "How could you let this happen!" Aaron has a boy pinned against the wall. He's shirtless and hot, then I notice his wings. "Huh? Warren!" Warren's green eyes shut tight, avoiding Aaron's intense stare.

"Aaron!" A brunette runs to his side, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Aaron put him down now." Her long brown hair is falling from a messy braid, the pure green strands not even tucked in anymore. She has thick eyebrows that add intensity to her shocking green eyes and full lips. "Aaron..." Her hand goes to the area between his neck and shoulder.

"Don't Jade." He turns to her and she flinches at the coldness in his tone. "I can't even deal with you right now." He drops Warren and points at the body in the corner.

"He's not dead!"

"What do you want? A congratulations?" Aaron asks sarcastically. "Yay Jade, you didn't kill this guy!" I back up to the wall, a bit uncomfortable with the situation. Jade's eyes find me and I want to hide.

"Who is she."

"Does it matter?" Aaron's responds just as harshly. I'm starting to notice a change in him... His once blue eyes were turning dark as well as the roots of his light hair.

"I'm Acacia." My voice cracks but Jade just nods, pleased with my response. She walks over to the unconscious man in the corner, slapping him awake.

"Tell him what you told me." The man shakes his head, but Jade shakes him. "TELL HIM." The man looks Aaron in the eyes.

"I-I'm the man they call Stryker." He pauses but with one look from Jade he continues. "And I destroyed Wade Wilson." Aaron seems indifferent to the matter, but the girl growls at the words. The sound of helicopter blades echoes in the background and I try to say something, but no more than a squeak comes out. Aaron tells Warren to leave, which he abides.

"Jade..." Aaron walks up to her, pulling her around by her shoulder. "Were you followed here?" She let's out a little laugh.

"More like chased... Why?" Aaron points up, and when Jade gasps he covers her mouth with his hand. I don't understand these two.

"Aaron... Go." Jade walks to the end of the broken wall, and looks up at the dark sky. "Take Stacy and go."

"Acacia." I cough out. Aaron looks at me and shakes his head.

"Well I'm not going to do that-" A bright light shines down on the room and Aaron grabs Jade by the waist, pulling her away from it. Two ropes fall to the ground. Identical men in black lower themselves from the ropes, pointing rather large guns at us. Jade pulls two swords from her back and crosses them in front of her, using them as a shield. She and Aaron fight over who is going to block each other. "Stand back Jade."

"No."

"Jade."

"Aaron."

"Ugh! You are unbelievable." Aaron groans, just before one of them men shoots whatever they are holding. A large missile like thing flies at them but Jade deflects it with her swords. This sends her flying and she rolls multiple times on her side. She let's out a scream and holds her wrist. I can barely make out a bit of bone sticking out. "Jade!" Aaron screams for her just as another missile is shot. He thrusts up a shield just in time, but the force sends him flying... Straight at me. He collides with me and we hit the wall, slumping to the ground. I can't move with him on top of me. His unconscious head is laying on my shoulder, his mouth left open. Scratches cover his face and neck.

"Aaron?" I whisper, attempting to move him ever so slightly.

The helicopters shine their lights on me, and the men on the ropes are collected back up. They're here to get me. To get all of us. They will kill us for the powers we don't want to have. I hear the clicking of triggers and close my eyes, ready for whatever happens.

The shuffling of feet makes me open my eyes. I watch as Jade pulls herself to her feet, blood dripping from her left hand. She limps over to stand in front of us, her swords drawn. Her shadow blocks the light from my eyes. With her swords raised, she yells at the men above. "Hurt him once, I'll kill you twice!" Here she is, faced with an opponent much stronger than she is, but she still faces them with equal, maybe greater strength.

The guns shoot, not listening to her threat, but she deflects every bullet. Her arms fly every which way, waving her swords to block everything. Her body moves with her arms, but her feet stay planted. The firing stops, but Jade doesn't. In two swift movements she chucks her swords at the helicopters, somehow hitting a part that makes them explode. Sparks fly from the bellies of the machines and they catch fire. I wouldn't believe it if I wasn't watching myself. The helicopters sway to the ground, crashing a few yards away from us. Jade doesn't move, she just stares at the explosion. Her body doesn't falter, she doesn't lower her swords. What I'm seeing is amazing yet truly terrifying. I guess that sums this girl up.

Aaron's POV

I wake up sprawled out on the floor of a Pizza Hut. Acacia is gone. I didn't get to say goodbye. Jade is injecting something into Stryker's arm. I don't know what it is but it knocks him out. When she turns around and sees me she runs to my side, pulling me up with her uninjured hand. "You okay?"

"Yeah." I dust my shirt off and realize that my head is throbbing. "You?" Jade raises her left hand and shrugs.

"Yeah I'm good."

"That's good." We walk out of the building when something crosses my mind. "What the hell did you think was going to happen Jade." She pauses and looks at me with wide eyes. "Did you think you could kill this guy and come home like nothing happened?" She tried to speak but I won't let her. "Seriously Jade. I'm disappoint-"

"I know you're disappointed in me but-" Her eyes find her bike parked behind the black car. "Did you ride my bike?" She's pointing at it but I roll my eyes.

"Stop trying to change the subject!"

"You know I don't like people riding my bike!"

"Well for starters, it isn't even yours 'cause you stole it from a parking lot!"

"It wasn't even locked up! People who don't lock up their possessions are just asking for them to be taken."

"Stolen."

"Oh get over it Aaron. I really don't see why you're so upset. I didn't kill him. Did I want to? Yes. Why wouldn't I? I mean he's a dick, go try and have a conversation with the guy, but-" I cut her off. I cut Jade and her excessive hand gestures off by pulling her into my chest for a hug. She doesn't object, her arms instinctively curl into my chest.

"Do me a favor Jade." I look down at her, watching as she buries her face in my chest. "Try not to get yourself killed, for at least a week." She smiles and I keep talking. "I mean, who knows, you may like the feeling." Jade laughs, finally looking me in the eyes. "You act with your heart, not with your head, and I love that about you... But what if I'm not here to stop you from acting on it one of these days? What if I took a day off from being your best friend?" Jade rolls her eyes and walks over to her bike, tossing me the helmet. We both know I wouldn't that. I wouldn't want to.

"Come on kid." I hold onto her waist as she whisks us through the streets towards home. I stare at the neon lights that light up the streets and close my eyes, enjoying the ride.

When I open them we're back home, sitting by the fountain. Jade swings her leg over, walking to the front doors before pausing. "You wouldn't do that, would you Aaron?" I pause. I didn't think she would believe that I could.

"Jade... Never." She nods and smiles, but I can tell she doesn't believe me.

"Right. Stupid question." She goes inside and I mentally slap myself in the face.

"Yeah, good thinking Aaron. Let's threaten your best relationship even more than necessary." I hear a noise and shut up, worried that someone would think I'm crazy for talking to myself. I walk inside and up the carpeted stairs, turning right at the second door. Jade's in bed already, curled up in a ball. I take off my shoes and lay next to her on my back, pondering all my stupid actions of the day.

Even if I took a day off, I'd never let Jade leave my side, I'd never give her the chance to cause trouble. But she always finds a way. Which ultimately means I'll never have a day off.