[ the problem with trying to keep a secret of trailing kavinsky and his gang of idiots when they go out hunting is that it takes a considerable distance to do so. part of the reason for it is that any one of the prejudiced little boys who have more complicated reasons for what they do (complicated in so far as prejudice is complicated) than kavinsky, who just likes making violence happen, would turn on their leader in a second if they knew what john was to him. the other part of it is joseph's own pride.
but a moment exactly like this is why he does it. a cascade of bad luck and crappy friends, that all go scampering when a group big enough and powerful enough shows up to put some real fear into them. the kids that ran almost slam into john on his way to catch up to the skirmish, and he sends them slamming into nearby walls to knock them out with a flicked finger - maybe snaps a bone or two, out of spite. maybe it's intentional, maybe it's because the meds that keep him calm enough that another disaster like grand central station doesn't happen again. he already has enough nightmares about waking up among a pile of rubble and bodies.
john murphy rounds the corner just in time to see the whip fly, and watch the short girl steal some kind of power from the others, before she gives chase. he comes from behind them, boots crunching stray glass from a tossed aside beer bottle as he paces up to the girls still trying to breath on the ground. a hand lifts, and up they go, floating into the air, and an invisible pressure starts to compact on them from all sides, squeezing their ribs against their lungs, their throats closed, gasps turning into strangled cries. enough that Blue should definitely be able to hear from where she is. ]
zooms on it
but a moment exactly like this is why he does it. a cascade of bad luck and crappy friends, that all go scampering when a group big enough and powerful enough shows up to put some real fear into them. the kids that ran almost slam into john on his way to catch up to the skirmish, and he sends them slamming into nearby walls to knock them out with a flicked finger - maybe snaps a bone or two, out of spite. maybe it's intentional, maybe it's because the meds that keep him calm enough that another disaster like grand central station doesn't happen again. he already has enough nightmares about waking up among a pile of rubble and bodies.
john murphy rounds the corner just in time to see the whip fly, and watch the short girl steal some kind of power from the others, before she gives chase. he comes from behind them, boots crunching stray glass from a tossed aside beer bottle as he paces up to the girls still trying to breath on the ground. a hand lifts, and up they go, floating into the air, and an invisible pressure starts to compact on them from all sides, squeezing their ribs against their lungs, their throats closed, gasps turning into strangled cries. enough that Blue should definitely be able to hear from where she is. ]
Back off, or I'll crush them into dust.