Xaviers!

Leo the human put on his best groveling face and knocked on Ainsley's door. While he waited, he scratched another itch around the tape of his bandage.

Ainsley opened the door and looked at Leo rather blankly. He expected he'd show up at some point.

"I'm a big, dumb idiot. I got scared and I shut you out and I'm sorry," he said with complete sincerity.

Ainsley rolled his hand in a circle, the universal sign for 'and what else?' or 'continue'.

"And I'm sorry I said you were imaging things when you were just worried about me. For all I know, the power loss has glitches."

And now, a vague shrug that clearly signaled 'anything else?'

With a feeling of dread that he was in trouble for something else that he didn't remember, he said, "For not apologizin' faster. I'm... not always quick with the self analysis."

Ainsley let him in as it did feel a bit like Leo was reaching at this point and he probably didn't have anything else in him apology wise.

Ainsley sat down and started to draw. He honestly didn't know what he was to say to Leo.

"Well, maybe there is one more thing," he said as he sat on Ainsley's bed, "You've been really patient with my issues and I think I was startin' to take that for granted. I'll try my best not to do that anymore."

While he spoke he started rubbing a throbbing muscle in his right bicep.

Must've pulled something.

Ainsley nodded, then didn't respond for an uncomfortably long time.

But just as things started to feel too awkward to bear, he broke the tension by flipping a page and beginning to write.


"When we going after that bracelet?"

"I have tomorrow fr-" he said before being interrupted by terrible pain in his bicep.

"Gah!" he cried out as he grabbed at it. It was squirming with waves of chaotic swelling, returning partway to normal between each violent growth.

Ainsley hopped up off the bed to investigate, a troubled look on his face.

"Oh God it hurts!" Leo cried out in pain as the pulses of unstable growth began straining his sleeve. Then, with a tearing sound, the fabric gave way to reveal his swollen bicep. Pinpricks of black fur were growing and receding in chaotic waves. It was as if his body couldn't decide what shape to take.

Ainsley did what any sane person would do.

Immediately texted medical staff to get their assistance.