Shadowman.

SCANNING…IDENTIFICATION COMPLETE. ENTER PIERRE LEBEAU, CHILD OF ANNA MARIE AND REMY LEBEAU. CODENAME: SHADOWMAN.  A 23 YEAR OLD THIRD YEAR ENROLLED IN THE SUPERHUMAN TRACK. INTEL SHOWS THEY ARE FLIRTATIOUS, BUT CAN ALSO BE RECKLESS. ABILITIES INCLUDE FORESIGHT THROUGH TAROT CARDS AND TEMPORARY POWER ABSORPTION. FACIAL RECOGNITION MISTAKES THEM FOR DACRE MONTGOMERY.

     “Alright, alright - so what time do you think the giant swamp monster is going to get here?” Hazel asked, raising her brows. She couldn’t relax after what had happened at the Homecoming dance. They had all let their guards down and things had gone south so quickly. That being said, part of her really did hope that this was a Halloween party and nothing more because it was her favourite time of year.  “Or do you think they’ll use something else to test us?”

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       Pierre adjusted the chair against the classroom door, making sure it fit snuggly beneath the metal knob. It was a small attempt to keep the creatures they had glimpsed just briefly out. “Don’t think it’s Swamp Thing after us. Unless he’s got glowin’ blue teeth. You’d know more ‘bout that than me.” Pierre, despite having not been at the school for homecoming, had heard of what had gone on and was expecting something similar. “Must be somethin’ though. Any other ideas?”

theo sighed and leaned back. “peirre just come forward and ask the question better.” he told his little brother. “i don’t know what you want me to say– we work out together nothing else. but fine before i go to the gym i’ll put myself a reminder ‘tell peirre your working out with mar’i’ on the phone. so you won’t act weird.” he told his brother.”

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       “That was my question. It would have been nice to prepare before coming to the school.” He admitted, wondering if his older brother would understand the need. “You don’t need to tell me now. I’m not jealous that you two are working out together. I just wasn’t prepared to see her.” 

Mar'i toyed with her ring as she waited for him to answer her. She watched him look over her outfit and she realized she why. Oh shooting stars. She thought to herself. She was sure Ben wouldn’t mind If she told him they’d hang out later tonight, right? After all she was just going to be crashing his study session…again. Maybe now he could actually get some studying done. “I was going to study, but I can reschedule.” she told him. “It’s fine really. I want to catch up with you. It will even be my treat.” She smiled at him, one of those smiles that you could only ever have if your last name was Grayson. “Please?”

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       “You were goin to study like that?” He wasn’t judging, rather just surprised that she wasn’t wearing sweats like he did to study. Mar’i had always been a step above the rest though. His raised brow lowered. “Ya sure?” He hadn’t meant to come in like a wrecking ball ruining her plans for the night. All it took was that smile, the one he looked for everywhere but fund nowhere, and a please for him to give in to her. “Whateva you want, Darlin’. I’m at your disposal.” 

“Spoken like a true showman” Martin replied it was a very interesting power there was no denying it, since coming here. He’d been fascinated by all the different variations of powers and skills the kids here displayed “Wouldn’t be the first time, we’ll have to do this again sometime you’ve piqued my interest.”

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      Pierre offered a lazy half bow with the new title of Showman. Flattery would get the stranger nowhere. He was unmoving on his decision not to divulge his secrets. “Might want to wait til ya make that decision otherwise you’ll get the same reading.” Readings didn’t change until the future did. If the stranger didn’t make a decision then he would keep getting the same reading over and over no matter how many times they tried. 

     “I could certainly think of a few things from the last time that I saw you” she smirked softly, bored of this place already. “I’m going to get us some plants, but I’ll take care of them, don’t worry about it” She couldn’t imagine living in a place with no plants. Not after the sea of plants in her apartment back in Gotham City. 

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       “Care to enlighten me?” Pierre beckoned, hoping that Hazel would elaborate for him. “Okay.” he shrugged, having no preference one way or another towards plants. They had never been a specialty of his, but he had nothing against them either; just never had much of a green thumb to support them. Maybe Hazel would inspire a newfound love. “Whateva you want.”

“What if it…?” Now that she was about to voice her fears aloud, Caroline felt silly, like a child seeing monsters in the dark. “What if it comes for me, too?” She shrugged helplessly, offering a weak smile. “I know it has no reason to,” she said. “I’m not a suitable host. It would probably kill me, and I’m sure it’s aware of that.” She smiled faintly. “But still,” she said. “I think about it. I’ve never wanted to hurt anyone. If it came for me, I don’t know if I’d be able to resist it like she does.”

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      Pierre gave Caroline the space to admit her fears aloud. They had built trust over the years and there was nothing the two couldn’t tell each other free of judgement. “Why would it come for ya?” Caroline had said it herself time and time again: she wasn’t as strong as her mother was, not that it was anything to be ashamed or saddened by, but it did make her less of a target for the phoenix force. To some extent that was a blessing. “What’s got ya thinkin’ that way, Care? A nightmares just a nightmare.” 

“ i think i know where this is going.” theo said as he looked down and shook his head. “ me and mar’i push each other for the best when it comes to working out. and i’m not gonna lie i’m happy i was actually there when she didn’t know when to stop.” theo said. “ she’s a good friend. and will always be in my eyes your first love.”

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     Pierre wasn’t sure he liked the direction the conversation with his brother was going. Theo was being dodgy, not answering his question outright. It was weird. “Okay. I still think it’s strange ya didn’t say nothin’ about her being here. Woulda been nice to know.” 

Mar'i gave him a smile, heart skipping as he called her Miel. She always liked that one, though not as much as when he called chère. But more than that his words made her swoon. Pierre had never been wary of Mar’i. Never questioned why she spoke the way she did or did the things she did. He just let her exist and loved her for it. It was one of the very things that had hurt her so much when they had broken up. The fear no one would ever make her feel like that again. Their hands separated slowly, staying in contact until the last moment. She could see that it wasn’t the answered he had wanted, but she had to stick to her decision. “It’s not forever. It’s just….until I know you’re still my beau from the bayou.” she smiled at him, hoping it didn’t sounds as corny as she thought it did. “Do you want to maybe get lunch with me? We can order or go somewhere and catch up?” she offered out, not ready to let him leave quite yet.  

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      There was hope in the statement that it wasn’t forever, but that was balanced very delicately on the fact that she didn’t currently have a boyfriend. If she got one then that would change everything. “I can go ta lunch if you want. I don’t wanna interrupt if you’re busy.” He said, taking one look over of her. She looked dressed up, as if she was on her way somewhere when he had unexpectedly dropped by. 

Martin wasn’t one to be locked down by fate hell even the guy before he said it was based on a decision he made that led to that version of the future. He knew Emry was on campus and they’d been having quite the rivalry growing up which only was made worst due to their chosen career fields. Maybe this reading had something to do with the reason he’d chosen this place. Gathering intel on the up-and-coming heroes as well as building his little loyal subjects to follow him. “Mhm well I must say this was interesting, I’ve never done anything like this before…I hope my question isn’t rude but I’m merely curious about your power is it strictly linked to the cards? Like you can’t touch someone and just get a vision?”  

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     “A magician never reveals his secrets.” Pierre replied cryptically. He had never been one to give away the secrets to his mutation, always unsure of people and their intentions. Especially after a reading such as the one he just did for Martin. That wasn’t exactly positive. “Guess you’ll have to keep on wonderin’.”

A sigh slipped from her lips at Pierre’s question. She wasn’t in the habit of lying to the people she was close with, especially not to someone like Pierre, who could read her like a book, anyway. “It’s just the Phoenix Force,” she said. “I know it’s stupid to be afraid of it. It’s not like it’s the boogeyman.” She offered him a weak smile and a shrug. “But I am,” she said. “It’s always tormented my mom. And I’m not as strong as she is. What if…” She trailed off and sighed, forcing another smile. “Never mind. It’s just a dream.”

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      “That ain’t stupid.” Pierre didn’t think any fear was a stupid one. They all stemmed from something and that made them real enough to the person experiencing it. “It’s a lotta power for one person.” Growing up his parents had told him stories about Jean and her struggles with the Phoenix Force so he could grasp, at least partially, Caroline’s fear. “What if?” He gave her the room to continue if she please. Pierre wanted to be there for her.   

he didn’t know what to say to his brother at this point, he could understand where his coming from and theo might asked the same question to his brother. but he also knew that he’ll never suspect anything since it’s his brother. “ don’t think it’s weird pierre.” theo replied. “you didn’t answer my question though. does it borther you?” he asked again.

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      “How can I not?” Pierre shrugged again, wishing his brother would give him a better answer. “No, it don’t bother me none.” He shook his head along with the words. “My turn for a question. Why didn’t ya tell me about Mar’i?” 

“We’ve only gone on like two dates.” she told him. She didn’t know why she felt like she had to explain it. She just…did. Suddenly Pierre had gone from a memory that made her heart swell to being very much alive and in front of her. “I know it does. But you miss 17-year-old Mar’i. And I miss 17-year-old Pierre. But we aren’t 17 anymore. “She told him. She brought his hands up to her lips, kissing his knuckles softly.  “We’ve grown, changed. What if we don’t still fit the way you think we do?” she asked him. “I just think we should start off as friends first. Then see what happens….is that okay?” She didn’t want to hurt him, and it hurt her to say the words. Six years ago she would have jumped into his arms at the chance of them getting together. But their break up had hurt her and it took what felt like forever to put the pieces back together. Some saw it as puppy love, but for Mar’i it was earth shattering heart break. “I’ve already cried over you once….I don’t want to do it again.” her eyes finally left his, afraid he’d see the weakness behind them.

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         Pierre nodded in understanding, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. He knew that Mar’i was right. They were different people now, but there was a part of him - a very big part - that knew he could love Mar’i no matter what changes had occurred over time. The soft touch of her lips against his knuckles sent a shiver through him. “Miel, there ain’t nothing that would keep us from fitting.” He truly believed that. Mar’i was the star in the sky he was reaching for. With a nod, he squeezed her hand before letting it go. “Whatever you want.” Pierre didn’t wan to have to convince her to be with him. If she didn’t want to be then they wouldn’t be. He could wait. 

“ but it is something.” theo told him right after he heard pierre finished his talking. he raised his brow at his brother, there was something about his tune that he didn’t like. “ because we just work out–” he said and pressed his lips together. “ she’s my workout buddy, bothers you?” he asked his brother.

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      “It is somethin’.” He nodded in agreement. “Doesn’t both me none. Just think it’s weird ya didn’t tell me.” Theo knew how Pierre felt about Mar’i, at least he assumed his brother did after how much talking he did about her and the fact that he never hide their relationship from his family. Maybe he just didn’t remember all these years. 

     “Well, I mean, there are other ways that I could make up for it, if it’s really wounded you that deeply” she teased, rolling her eyes again playfully. “I’m a far better roommate than the last couple of minutes would suggest, though. At least your plants will never die…if you have plants, that is” She was absolutely going to get plants if not. 

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       “Such as?” Pierre quirked a brow in curiosity, allowing his mind to wander through the possibilities. Don’t got any.” He’d never had much of a green thumb, killing every plant he ever had with the exception of a cactus he was able to keep alive for two years before it died too. 

Martin wasn’t sure what made him want to have a reading but it was pretty interesting, to say the least having cards read about his future. “Change is always on the tide, but you seemed rather startled by something, did you see a flash of what would happen if I made a specific choice?” He questioned the other.

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      Pierre didn’t like discussing the specifics when it came to his abilities. It took away some of the magic from the cards. Letting his shoulders rise and fall in a casual shrug, he tilted his head to the side, eyes locked to Martin’s face. “Something like that.” He kept his response vague, picking up the Death card and holding it between his index and middle finger. “Just a curious combination, dats all.” 

PIERRE. The first time Poppy had met him she’d been focused on the name, it sounded so alluring and with it, so did Pierre himself. Relationships had never been her ideal market, she didn’t care for building the foundation or making the house a home. They were fun until they weren’t and then they were ditched. Most of the time, but not always. Pierre was one of the few not always. In that way, he was also complicated. She cared about him, Poppy wouldn’t deny that much. However caring didn’t translate straight to love or even close to stability. That was not something she’d ever be able to give him, even if it wasn’t something he easily saw. “Is that your way of telling me I’ve been on your mind?” She prodded him gently with her words (or maybe not so gently, Poppy had never known gentle touches well). “Didn’t know you were here either honestly.” She didn’t know yet if it was a welcome surprise or not. 

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         Pierre had never been great at lying when it came to Poppy. There was just something about her that disarmed him, breaking down any potential façade he could manage to build up. She tore down his walls faster than he was able to build them up. “You’d known if you’d been on my mind, Chere.” He tried to play it cool, pretending as if his thoughts didn’t always linger back to her. “Just got here.” He admitted, wishing with everything in him that he could be back at Xavier’s in that moment. Things were so much simpler then. “Maybe I’ll leave again if you’ll be around.”