The Lightning Squad discussion

Nico's apartment is very small only having a tiny bedroom, kitchen and little living room but to Nico it is perfect. She currently has one wall covered, by a bookshelf with all her books.

Nico unlocked the door and opened it, showing him inside "Welcome to my humble abode" She said, her voice holding an edge of sarcasm. She dropped her bag on the couch, and sat down "You are welcome to any seat" She told him.

Joss stepped inside of Nico's apartment. He swept his gaze around the small living space and smiled. She was doing well for living on her own. He sat down in a chair across from her.

Nico smiled when he sat, she was glad he wasn't being uncomfortable in her place. "So where do you live?" She questioned curious about him. She had told him fair amount about her life, and now she was curious about his family.

"I live a couple blocks down from here." He told her. He folded his hands in his lap and stared at them.

Nico watched him with a slightly worried look "Are you alright?" She asked softly, the last thing she wanted was to ask about something that he didn't want to talk about and have him angry with her.

Joss looked up at her. "Yeah, of course." He said. He looked at her book shelf then quickly looked away.

Nico felt his change in emotions "You're lying" She said, leaning back and crossing her arms. The black haired female didn't like having the ability to tell peoples emotions, but at times it was easier, especially when people lied to her.

He sighed and looked back at her bookshelf. "...Can I do something real quick?" Joss asked her.

Nico motioned for him to do what he had to, before her arms went back to being crossed.

Joss stood up from where he was sitting and went over to the bookshelf. He moved the books and straightened them. He took the books that were leaning against each other and made them stand up straight. Once he finished, he sat back down in the same chair and looked away.

Nico watched him with a raised eyebrow "So if you don't mind me asking...why didn't you tell me the truth when I asked if you were okay?" She inquired.

Joss shrugged. "I don't know. People usually make fun of me when I do that kind of stuff..." He remembered when he first moved to America that the first school, he went to others started making fun of him for his oddities.

"I'm in no place to make fun of anyone, so you never should worry about me ever doing so" Nico assured him, her voice showing her honesty. She could never make fun of anyone, because she knew if her secrets got out, that people would tease her.

Joss looked back at her and smiled softly. "Alright. Thanks." He relaxed a bit and looked around the apartment again.

Nico looked around at the familiar apartment "I've been thinking of painting the walls" She mused, thinking about various colors she could use.

"Really? Maybe I could help you." Joss said. He's never really painted before, so he didn't know how that would turn out...

Nico looked back at him, her eyes lighting up. It sounded like it could be fun to have a friend to paint with "Sure, I just have to save up the money, and figure out which color I want to use" Nico said looking back at the white walls, which currently held a couple pictures.

Joss smiled. "Great!" He said. "And I'd be willing to help buy the paint for you."

Nico shook her head "No need, I have a pay check coming up so I'll have money" She said, refusing any help.

Joss nodded. "Alright." He said. "You have a nice apartment." He complimented after a moment.

Joss nodded. "Alright." He said. "You have a nice apartment." He complimented after a moment.

"Thanks, its not much but its home" She replied, a smile coming acrossed her face. Although the dark haired female was glad to have put away her magical items that morning, that would have been hard to explain.

He smirked. "It's a lot better than I could probably do." Joss said more to himself then her. If he had ran away from his home, he didn't really know what he would do.

"You should have seen me when I first left home, I could barely stand on my own two feet" Nico said, not mentioning how old she was went she ran away. That was one thing she would rather no one know, no one should know she was 10 when she left home.

Joss frowned. He wished he could have somehow helped her when she ran away. "How long have you lived here?" He asked her.

"I've only lived in the apartment for 6 months" She answered honestly, with a small shrug.

Joss nodded. "How long have you been going to that school?"

Nico thought about that "Since I was old enough to start there"

Joss hesitated. "And when was that?" He asked. He didn't know whether or not if he was pushing her into answering something she didn't want to, or not.

Nico thought about it, she had enrolled shortly after leaving home so that would have made her 10 or 11. "Couple years ago" She answered vaguely.

Joss decided to drop the subject, noting that she didn't really give him a straight answer. "So, what else do you do other than read and watch movies?" He asked. "That can't be the only thing you do all day."

This time it was Nico's turn to look away, not wanting to give away what took up most of her time. "I help a lady down the hall" She half lied smoothly. She didn't want him or anyone else to know about her powers.

"What do you help her with?" He asked her curiously. Joss could tell that there was something about Nico....but he couldn't quite figure it out.

"Clean her apartment, wash dishes, just sit and talk with her" Nico answered smoothly, not fully lying, she did sometimes do that stuff but her training took up 90% of her free time.

He smiled at her. "That's a nice thing to do." He said. "But, why can't she do that on her own?"

"She's getting old"

Joss shrugged. "Why isn't she in a retirement home?"

"Never asked" Nico replied, the answers were getting harder to come up with, as she had never had someone try so hard before.

"Okay." Joss said. He smiled. "Maybe I could meet her sometime. She seems nice."

"Anytime, she'd love to meet a friend of mine" Nico replied, with a calm smile, glad the questions had stopped.

"Cool. Who else do you know in the building?" He asked.

"A family a couple floors up, and a few people I've met in the laundry room" Nico answered, getting a little nervous with the amount of questions he was asking.

He looked away and across the room. "Um, sorry, but can you tell me what time it is, again?" He asked nervously.

Nico looked at her watch "5:30" She answered.

Joss suddenly stood. "I-I have to go." He said. "Thank you for letting me into your home." He made his way to the door.

Nico looked worried when he stood up so quickly, feeling the shift in his emotions again "Uh...yeah sure" She said, following him to the door "I'll see you at school tomorrow" She said.

((Gtg bedtime, be on tomorrow))

"Bye." He said, and ran out the door. He went to the entrance as quickly as he could and burst out of the spinning glass door. After that, he rushed down the street, headed for his house.

((Okay))

Nico watched as he left, before closing and locking her door. She went into her bedroom, and began to train once again. Normally she would have started her training right after her shift, but having Joss over made that impossible without him finding out about her powers.