New Friend

As the warm afternoon sun filtered through the window, ten-year-old Desmond sat perched on the windowsill, his gaze fixed on the world outside. Unlike most children his age, who might be engrossed in toys or television, Desmond found himself drawn to the bustling activity beyond the glass.

Justus approached her son, a gentle smile on her face. "Hey hun, what are you up to?"

Desmond's ears twitched beneath his hat as he turned to his mother. "Mom, there's some people in a large truck. What are they doing?"

Justus peered out the window, her eyes following her son's gaze. "Hm... oh, they must be the new neighbors," she replied. Then, noticing the spark of curiosity in Desmond's eyes, she added, "Why do you ask? Do you want to meet them?"

Desmond's face lit up with excitement and a hint of nervousness. "Yeah!? Can I?"

"Sure, we can go together," Justus nodded, her voice warm but cautious. "But remember-"

"Tuck my tail and wear a hat, I know, I know..." Desmond finished, a mix of resignation and understanding in his voice.

"Good, now get ready," Justus said, giving her son an encouraging pat on the shoulder.

As Desmond hurried to get dressed, his mind raced with anticipation and anxiety. He had never spoken to anyone other than his mother, and the prospect of meeting new people filled him with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.

Adjusting his hat in the mirror, Desmond took a deep breath. Okay, I can do this, he thought to himself. "Just say 'Good afternoon, I'm Desmond Smith, nice to meet you'... Yeah, just like they do on TV."

"Are you ready?" Justus called from the living room.

Desmond squared his shoulders, his resolve strengthening. "Absolutely! Let's go," he replied, his voice filled with determination.

As they stepped out into the sunlight, Desmond felt a flutter of nerves in his stomach. This was more than just meeting new neighbors; it was his first real step into the wider world.

As Justus and Desmond stepped out of their house, the warm sunlight embraced them. 

Desmond's hand trembled slightly in his mother's grasp as they crossed the street, his nervousness palpable. Justus gave his hand a reassuring squeeze as they approached the neighbor's door.

With a deep breath, Justus knocked. Desmond's mind raced with anxious thoughts, but before he could dwell on them, the door swung open.

"Hi!! The afternoon is good!! Nice of you to meet me!!" Desmond blurted out, his rehearsed greeting tumbling out in a jumble of words.

The woman at the door looked puzzled for a moment before Justus stepped in. "I'm sorry, he's just a little shy. I'm Justus Smith, and this is Desmond Smith. Nice to meet you."

The neighbor's face softened into a warm smile. "It's fine, nice to meet the two of you. 

I'm Tanya Star. You're the first neighbors to meet me today. Would you like to come in?"

"Of course," Justus replied, gently nudging Desmond forward.

Tanya turned her attention to the boy. "And would you like to come in, little guy?"

"Yes!! Ma'am!!" Desmond exclaimed, his enthusiasm overcoming his nerves.

As they entered the two-story house, Tanya called upstairs. A young boy descended the steps, his movements hesitant.

"This is my son Timothy," Tanya introduced.

Justus cooed, "Aww, what a cutie. How old are you?"

Timothy held up his hands, his voice soft. "I'm 5."

"Desmond, say hi to Timothy," Justus encouraged.

Desmond stepped forward, noticing Timothy's shyness—an emotion he knew all too well. This recognition only fueled Desmond's desire to connect with the younger boy.

"Hey," Desmond offered, his voice gentle.

Timothy remained silent, his eyes downcast behind his glasses.

Desmond, undeterred, tried again. "What's that you're wearing over your eyes...?"

After a moment, Timothy's quiet voice responded, "...It's my glasses....what's that you're wearing around your neck....?"

"It's a collar," Desmond explained. "My mom says I've had it since birth."

Timothy's brow furrowed in curiosity, "....??"

Though the conversation started slowly, the ice gradually began to thaw between the two boys. As the morning progressed, Desmond found himself engrossed in a playdate with Timothy. They explored Timothy's toys, shared stories, and even laughed together over a silly game they invented.

Meanwhile, Justus and Tanya settled into the living room, their conversation flowing easily as they discussed the neighborhood, their families, and the challenges of raising children.

For Desmond, this simple playdate was a monumental step. It was his first real interaction with someone his own age, someone who didn't know about his unique traits. As he played with Timothy, he felt a sense of normalcy he had never experienced before. The weight of his differences seemed to lift, if only for a little while.

As the children played, Justus and Tanya settled into a comfortable conversation in the living room. Justus, her eyes still on the boys, asked casually, "So, where's your husband?"

Tanya's expression tightened for a moment before she sighed. "Oh, that deadbeat left a long time ago when he found out I was pregnant. So it's just me and my little Timothy now." She paused, then turned the question back to Justus. "But what about Desmond?"

Justus's face fell, her voice softening. "He... he passed away years ago..."

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know," Tanya said, her voice filled with genuine sympathy.

Justus managed a small smile. "It's fine, don't worry about it. Besides, I have a son to take care of." Her gaze drifted back to the boys. "Speaking of which, both of them seem to be getting along."

Tanya nodded, her eyes brightening. "They sure are. You know, Timothy and I were just about to go on a trip to a museum. Would you and Desmond like to join us?"

"Sure, that sounds like fun," Justus replied, grateful for the change of subject.

Tanya called out to the children, "Hey kids! So, your mom and I were talking, and we decided that a fun trip to Mayhem Technology would be great."

"What's Mayhem Technology?" Desmond and Timothy asked in unison, their curiosity piqued.

Tanya explained, "It's a company building owned by the most successful and smartest businessman in the world, and he allows people to go on tours."

"Think of it like a science museum," Justus added, seeing the confusion on Desmond's face.

"Where is it?" Desmond asked, his eyes wide with excitement.

"It's in Metro City," Justus replied.

Soon, they were all piled into Tanya's car, heading towards the bustling heart of Metro City. As they toured the museum, marveling at the scientific achievements of Mayhem, Desmond's keen eyes caught sight of something intriguing. Men in dark suits, bearing the Mayhem Tech symbol, were entering a room marked with a "Do Not Enter" sign.

Desmond nudged Timothy, his voice low with excitement. "Hey Timothy, see that? What do you think is in there?"

Timothy hesitated, his voice uncertain. "Maybe... grown-up stuff?"

"Let's go check it out," Desmond suggested, a mischievous glint in his eye.

Timothy shifted nervously. "I don't know about that. It seems like a bad idea."

But Desmond was already moving towards the forbidden door. "Come on. It'll be fun. You do like fun, right?"

After a moment's hesitation, Timothy relented. "Well... Okay..."

As the boys crept towards the mysterious room, Desmond felt a thrill of excitement. This was more than just a museum trip now; it was an adventure. Little did he know that this simple act of curiosity would set in motion events that would change his life forever.

Desmond and Timothy crept into the mysterious room, their hearts pounding with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. As the door closed behind them, they found themselves in a space that seemed plucked straight from the pages of a science fiction novel. Sleek machinery hummed softly, and strange devices blinked with multicolored lights.

Desmond's eyes were immediately drawn to a back door with an intriguing label. He squinted, reading aloud in a hushed whisper, "Subject: 11.9.20.20.5.14." His brow furrowed in confusion. "What? Subject?" he thought, the word echoing ominously in his mind.

While Timothy wandered around the room, wide-eyed and curious, Desmond approached the labeled door. Carefully, he slid his hat up just enough to press his ear against the cool metal, making sure Timothy couldn't glimpse his unique ears.

Through the door, Desmond could make out a man's voice, crisp and authoritative. 

"Good, good... its speed has increased tremendously, but its strength could use some work. Assistant, send it back to the training room."

Desmond's mind raced with questions. What were they talking about? What kind of experiments were happening here?

Suddenly, a deafening crash shattered the silence. Desmond whirled around to see Timothy standing frozen next to a shattered glass jar, its contents spreading across the floor in an ominous puddle.

"What was that?" the voice behind the door barked. "Men, go check it out!"

Panic surged through Desmond. He grabbed Timothy's arm, his eyes darting around the room for a place to hide. The sound of heavy footsteps approached rapidly from the other side of the door.

"We have to get out of here," Desmond whispered urgently to Timothy, whose face had gone pale with fear.

As the doorknob began to turn, Desmond made a split-second decision. He pulled Timothy behind a large piece of equipment, praying it would be enough to conceal them. 

His heart hammered in his chest as the door swung open, and the sound of multiple sets of footsteps filled the room.

In that moment, Desmond realized that their innocent curiosity had led them into a situation far more dangerous than they could have imagined. As they huddled in their hiding spot, he could only hope they would find a way out of this predicament without being discovered.

As the footsteps drew closer, Desmond's mind raced. He knew they couldn't stay hidden for long. With a deep breath, he made a daring decision.

"Timothy," he whispered, "when I say 'now', run for the door we came in through. Don't stop, no matter what."

Timothy nodded.

Desmond focused, channeling the power he'd spent years learning to control. His fists began to glow with a faint yellow light. Just as the men were about to round the corner of their hiding spot, Desmond shouted, "Now!"

He leapt out, his hands outstretched. A burst of energy erupted from his palms, knocking the surprised men off their feet. Alarms blared to life, bathing the room in flashing red light.

"Run!" Desmond yelled, grabbing Timothy's hand and sprinting for the exit.

As they burst out of the room, they found themselves face to face with more security personnel. Without hesitation, Desmond scooped up Timothy and, with strength far beyond his years, leapt over the stunned guards.

They raced through the corridors, alarms echoing all around them. Desmond's hat had fallen off in the chaos, his cat-like ears now fully visible. Timothy stared at him in shock, but there was no time for explanations.

"Stop them!" voices shouted from behind.

Desmond skidded around a corner, nearly colliding with a group of scientists. He dodged past them, his enhanced reflexes allowing him to navigate the crowded hallways with ease.

As they approached the main entrance, Desmond saw it beginning to close – a security lockdown. With a final burst of speed, he dashed forward, sliding under the descending barrier with Timothy in tow.

"We need to find our moms," he panted, still holding Timothy's hand.

Alarms blared through the halls of Mayhem Technology, cutting the tour short and sending visitors into a flurry of confusion. Security personnel swiftly began escorting everyone out of the building. Justus and Tanya, separated from their sons in the chaos, frantically searched for them.

"Desmond! Timothy!" Justus called out, her voice rising above the cacophony.

"Mom! Over here!" Desmond's voice responded, relief flooding Justus as she spotted him and Timothy weaving through the crowd.

The boys ran to their mothers, their faces pale but unharmed. Holding hands tightly, the group made their way out of the building and into the safety of Tanya's car. The drive back home was filled with uneasy silence, punctuated only by the occasional glance between the boys, each hoping that their little adventure would remain a secret.

Tanya broke the silence first. "Do you think it was a bomb threat?"

Justus shook her head. "No, I think they would have at least said something."

Desmond and Timothy exchanged worried glances, their minds racing with the memory of the mysterious room and the voices they had overheard. They hoped fervently that nothing more would come of the day's events.

Once they arrived home, everyone said their goodbyes. The boys, still shaken, clung to their mothers as they parted ways.

For Desmond, the day's events had been a stark reminder of his differences and the responsibilities that came with them. As he lay in bed that night, he promised himself he would be more careful in the future.

Desmond was jolted awake by a noise in his room. He rubbed his eyes and sat up, blinking in the dim light, only to find Timothy standing by his bed

"Timothy?! How did you—? Why are you here?" Desmond stammered, his heart racing.

To his surprise, Desmond realized his ears and tail were showing. He quickly tried to hide them, fumbling with his hat and blanket.

"No need to hide," Timothy said calmly. "I knew something was off about you, but I didn't know you were a deviant. I guess that makes us both deviants now, huh?"

Desmond froze, his eyes wide. "What are deviants?"

"A deviant is a human with abilities. You didn't learn this in school?" Timothy asked, tilting his head in curiosity.

Desmond shook his head. "So that's what I am. I was only homeschooled. Wait, you said both. Do you have abilities?"

Timothy nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yep. I possess an elevated level of intelligence, surpassing that of the typical five-year-old. I estimate my cognitive abilities to be on par with those of a high school student. Moreover, if my hypothesis holds true, my intellectual development will accelerate at an exceptional rate as I age."

"Cool! Finally, someone like me," Desmond exclaimed, a sense of relief washing over him.

Timothy's smile widened. "Yeah, it's nice to know we're not alone."

The two boys sat in the quiet room, the weight of their shared secret binding them together. For the first time, Desmond felt a sense of belonging, knowing that there was someone else who understood what it was like to be different. 

As Timothy and Desmond continued their late-night conversation, the young genius's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"You are a mutative deviant," Timothy explained. "A deviant with a physical change. Which is why you have a tail and your ears are different."

Desmond nodded slowly, processing this new information. "Oh... okay. So does that mean there are other deviants like us out there?"

Timothy smiled. "Of course. 20% of the world's population are deviants. Although if you're not a mutative deviant, it would be hard to tell. Which means most don't even know it until they accidentally use their abilities."

Desmond's eyes widened with excitement. "Wow!! More people like me!"

Timothy's expression turned serious. "I have one question for you. If you don't mind me asking."

"Sure Tim, go ahead," Desmond replied, curious about what his new friend wanted to know.

"Tell me the truth, where is that collar around your neck from?"

Desmond touched the collar reflexively. "I was telling the truth when I said 'my mom told me I had it since birth.'"

Timothy frowned, his analytical mind working overtime. "But that doesn't make sense. People can't be born with accessories, and wouldn't you outgrow it?"

Desmond shrugged, looking puzzled. "I've had it ever since I can remember, and it never felt tight, always felt perfectly fine. My mom and I tried to take the collar off a number of times, but it just doesn't come off."

Timothy's eyes narrowed as he examined the collar more closely. "That collar looks high-tech. It grows to fit your size, it's always been with you, and it can't come off. You're just filled with mysteries, huh?"

As the boys pondered the enigma of Desmond's collar, a sense of unease settled over them. The collar's origins and purpose remained a mystery, one that hinted at a deeper, more complex story behind Desmond's unique nature.

As the first light of dawn began to creep through the window, the boys realized how long they had been talking. They agreed to meet again soon to continue their discussion.

As Timothy prepared to leave, Desmond felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. He had found a friend who understood him.

As the sun rose over Metro City, casting long shadows across the gleaming facade of Mayhem Technology, Professor Mayhem sat in his dimly lit office, his eyes fixed on a bank of security monitors. The footage from the previous day's incident played on loop, capturing every detail of the unauthorized entry into his secret lab.

"My, my, so there's another one," Professor Mayhem mused, his voice a mixture of surprise and intrigue. He leaned forward, his fingers steepled beneath his chin as he studied the images of Desmond and Timothy. "And here I'm thinking that Subject: 11.9.20.20.5.14 was the only one. This is good, this is very good."

The professor's mind raced with possibilities. Two young deviants, each with unique abilities, had stumbled into his domain. It was an unexpected development, but one that could prove immensely valuable to his research.

Without taking his eyes off the screen, Mayhem called out to his assistant. "Call in the subject. I have more tests to do."

As his assistant hurried to comply, Mayhem rewound the footage, focusing on Desmond's distinctive features - the cat-like ears and tail that had been briefly visible. A slow, calculating smile spread across his face.

"Well, well, little star child," he murmured. "It seems your kind isn't as extinct as we thought. And that collar... I wonder if you even know what it's capable of."

Mayhem stood, pacing the length of his office as he considered his next move. The appearance of these two boys complicated matters, but it also presented an opportunity. If he could capture them, study them, perhaps even harness their abilities...

The possibilities were endless.

As the sound of approaching footsteps signaled the arrival of his test subject, Mayhem's smile widened. Today's experiments would be particularly interesting. And soon, very soon, he would set his sights on acquiring two new subjects for his collection.

"Let the games begin," he whispered to himself, turning to face the door as it swung open.