Not Everything is as it Seems

[Bradley Young]

Brad always liked Beth's office.  It wasn't just because the young woman who was usually inside hard at work happened to be his wife, though that certainly came into play.  In truth, Brad found the guidance councilor's office to be larger, the chairs more comfortable and it allowed more privacy than the cubicle where his own desk sat nestled in the midst of a dozen others.  He figured being able to make use of Beth's office whenever she was out just happened to be part of the perk package that came with marrying someone so obviously smarter than he was.  Now, if he could just keep his wife from ever finding out he'd probably have free reign of he office for as long as he wished.

On a more professional level it was the privacy that Brad truly preferred.  It didn't take him long to discover part of his job as a trainer wasn't simply to assist students in honing the use of their powers, but in many cases help them cope with their mutant abilities in the process.  This was why Brad was seated behind the desk that didn't belong to him behind a door emblazoned with a name that was most certainly not his.

"Petra Davis-Shelley."  Brad said the name as he glanced up to the door as it opened.  He'd had the girl's file opened on the desk in front of him and, holy hell what was he getting into?  Part of him instantly wanted to drift back into the hard, almost stoic mindset he often took during his days with the NYPD.  He had to silently tell himself he wasn't a cop anymore, thankfully, he'd managed to convince himself of this just before his newest pupil arrived.  "Please.  Have a seat."  He said, gesturing to the chair he was certain Petra had probably been in before.  He offered her a polite smile as he closed the folder and placed his hands on the desk.  No, he didn't seem to see anything wrong with the fact that Petra was meeting her power trainer for the first time in the guidance councilor's office.  Or that he certainly didn't look much like a 'Beth' as the nameplate sitting on the desk would imply.

[Petra Davis-Shelley]

A member of security escorted the young girl to the office, remain close on her heels. Petra's face was a storm, omce again, eyes ablaze. She growled as he opemed the door and forced her inside, shutting the door behind her. Her steely gaze landed on Bradley, unimpressed and a little confused. "Your not Miss Young She hissed, crossing her arms over her chest. She merely glared at him when she is offered a seat, but after a moment sits, crossing her legs and slouching. "Whadda want?

[Bradley Young]

Brad had fully expected the look of confusion that spread across the face of the young blonde, girl. He was used to it by now. Beth may not have known but he'd been using her office for the initial meetings with his students for a while and it wasn't uncommon to get funny looks when he was a broad shouldered, 6'2", bearded former cop sitting behind a desk that was obviously a woman's in an office that always seemed to smell faintly of fresh baked cookies.

"You're remarkably astute, Miss Davis." Brad replied, though he didn't feel stating the obvious was much of an accomplishment. "I'm Mister Young, but you can call me Brad." He straightened himself in his seat, his hands folding together and coming rest on the desk in front of him. He watched Petra for a long moment before finally speaking. "I'm sure you know why you're here." He said, his judging, unwavering gaze never leaving Petra. There was a long pause before he suddenly sat back and shifted his position, turning he could look to the side, giving Petra a view of his profile. "I'm having some headshots taken and I need a second opinion." He spoke quickly, without missing a beat. "I've always thought this was my best side but lately I've been hearing otherwise." He waved a hand across the side of his face, as if displaying it for Petra's viewing pleasure before turning the office chair so he could do the same with his other side. "I would just go with the ones I took in high school." He mused thoughtfully, returning to a more neutral position, facing Petra. "But the whole frosted tips thing is out." He waved a hand flippantly at his hair, while dismissing the idea with a shake of his head.

[Petra Davis-Shelley]

She bared her teeth at his remark, though she was unsure of what it meant. 'Brad... what a dick head name... The voice muttered, and Petra couldnt help but agree. She lifted and eye brow as the man suddenly starts moving and showing off his face. "What the fuck..." She muttered beneath her breath, confused. When he had finished, she cleared her throat and stood. "Ya look like a dick from every angle... ima just go now," Petra said, turning to the door.

[Bradley Young]

So this is how we're going to play it.

Brad sighed and his head shook. He'd seen this a thousand times before with these punk kids thinking they were the hardest thing on the streets. These rebels without a cause or a clue who fought everything at every turn without ever having the clarity or foresight to ask why or to what end? He dealt with far more gang bangers and wayward youth in his time in New York and got a certain sense of satisfaction in knowing some thing remained the same no matter where he was.

"Sit your ass down." Brad commanded. The laid back, mirthful demeanor was gone, replaced by the cold, authoritative tone of a law enforcement officer. "Do you want to spend the next five years here? How about ten? Twenty? Keep fighting a battle you'll never win and find out how long it'll take you to get out of here. Let me tell you something. You may not realize it but you are now public enemy number one and not because of what's in here." He lifted the file folder with Petra's name printed across the top for emphasis. "You don't leave here until you convince the powers that be you can play nice with others and this pissy, 'I hate everything' attitude of yours isn't going to fly. You're not the first kid to come in here and try to act hard and you won't be the last."

Brad paused a moment then and placed the folder back onto the desk and slowly opened it. "You have two options, Miss Davis." He said, his voice still calm and orderly. "You can either keep whining like a baby with a dirty diaper, or you can make this easier on everyone involved, including yourself, by spitting out your pacifier and playing ball like the adult you almost are."

[Petra Davis-Shelley]

The girl turned quiet suddenly at his command, eyes boring in the trainer. His threats, though she tried to hide it, kind of frightened her. She slowly sat down again about half way through his speech, leaning back into the chair. "Why am i public enemy number one? She asked, before hissing as he held up her file. "You dont know anything about me dickface!" As per usual she bowed her head slightly at let the hair fall over her face, her go to tactic when she wanted to disappear.

[Bradley Young]

Brad took the insult without so much as blinking. He's been called worse by better people in his day and the indignant attitude of the girl wasn't anything he, unfortunately, hadn't already expected. After all, it wasn't every day that he had to deal with a student so belligerent they needed the occasional security chaperone.

"It has nothing to do with who you are." Brad replied calmly. "But what you are. We're all public enemy number one. Every last one of us. The public may not know it, but we are. The purpose of all this is to keep it that way."

Brad slowly closed the folder again and turned his eyes up to the girl. "Listen. I know more about you than you think." His voice had softened just a bit while he spoke. "The people here may not fully understand where you're coming from but they all have their own stories and they're all just trying to get by. You keep trying to fight every step of the way and they'll turn on you. Understand we're all part of something bigger than ourselves that none of us can control and they can be like family." Brad's hands folded together as they rested on the desk in front of him. "I know it's not that easy, but the choice to keep going the way you're going or to try and take the first step in the other direction is up to you."

[Petra Davis-Shelley]

Petra listens behind her veil of blonde, pale eyes watching him between strands of hair. She looked up when his voice softened, looking at him hard. "No one understands at all. No one understands the trouble ive been in, the things ive seen, the pain people have caused me... the pain ive caused people. Ive killed a man... I cant get his face or his screams out of my head. I cant get rid of the anger or the pain, it follows me everywhere. No one has seen what ive seen... no one understands. She leaned forward, resting her hands on the desk. "Why was i brought here? Im a criminal... why didnt i go to trial? Why wasnt I executed? Thats what they told me... a lethal injection was the way i was supposed to go. Why was i brought here?"