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(((¯·. Chapter 2 .·´¯)))
((((¯·.Green with Envy.·´¯))))

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Brian decided that as soon as he was back on Earth he was going to find a heavier jacket. Riding with Stormy meant being surrounded by rain and constant electricity. Sometimes he thought she did it just to aggravate him. But at least she was nice enough to help out even when she didn't agree with what he was doing.

They were now flying low and hard over the city of Detroit. Brian hadn't recognized it at first and Stormy had been short when he asked. It was large the New San Diego and of course had more sky scrapers and actually buildings. These people here hadn't been hit with the flood. However like any other big city left in America they were struggling with providing homes and jobs to the survivors when there was none to give.

Stormy brought Skydancer down in a dark alley way being as discrete as possible. Brian slid off the horse brushing some of the rain droplets away the clung stubbornly to his jacket. She slid down smirking at him as she tossed her dark locks about.

"So which Color Kid is here in Detroit" he asked trying not to be entranced by the beautiful color of her hair.

"Oh trust me, you won't miss her" Stormy said with a sly smirk, "there's a club at the end of the street called The Whipstitch, you'll find her there"

"A girl then? Canary perhaps?" Brian asked raising an eye questioningly. It would be nice to see the bubbly young girl again. However if his experiences over the past few days proved anything the Color Kids were probably nothing like the friends he once had.

"You'll see" Stormy said hoisting herself back up on the back of her massive horse. The horse reared up a cloud gathering around its broad hooves.

"Wait, how will I reach you to pick us up" Brian said his voice a little panicked. Stormy rolled her eyes and sighed as if she was terribly put out by this whole affair. She reached under her black tank top and pulled out a glittering necklace. It was a simple long silver chain with a tiny lightening bolt at the end. Stormy leaned down and dropped it in Brian's hand.

"Just hold this in your hand and say my name, I'll find you from there" she said leaning back up and tangling her long fingers in Skydancer's mane.

"Thanks Stormy" Brian said with a smile. She looked down at him for a moment the cloud getting larger and larger under the horse's hooves as it rose slowly.

"No Brian, thank you" she said softly before the cloud zoomed up into the sky leaving him alone. He watched after her bewildered for a moment. With a sigh and a shrug he headed down to the alley and out onto the street.

The club was easy to spot due to a large neon light hanging over the door. It blinked and spluttered as if it was dying out making the puddles on the street shimmer in a multitude of colors. A small line was forming along the wall beside the bright red door under the sign. All of the people were about Brian's age, in their early twenties or younger. They wore a variety of clothes so Brian fit in fine with his torn jeans and denim jacket when he slid into place at the end of the queue.

It wasn't long before the door to the club opened and the long line of people waiting were allowed to flood in. Must the Brian's surprise there was all ready quite a few people inside. The Whipstitch was not a large place and felt even smaller so crowded with people. Along one wall was a large bar sitting opposite was a stage with instruments all ready set up on it.

Brian made his way over to the bar and ordered a drink as he casually looked around the club. No one yet struck him out of the ordinary. They were all normal people coming here to relax after a long day. None of them seemed like the save the world type. He sighed heavily beginning to wonder if Stormy had been wrong.

Just then a young man leapt up on to the stage clearing his throat into the microphone that was covered in green streamers. He announced the band as the filed onto the stage but Brian never actually heard him his eyes were fixed on the only woman on stage at the moment.

She was wearing a short black and green stripped tube dress that left her legs bare. Black combat boots covered her feet green laces pulled through them. One her left leg just above her knee was a tiny green band-aid looking out of place on her smooth skin. Her wrists were covered with all sorts of green bracelets jelly ones and sparkly ones. Around her graceful neck was an elegant green choker sparkling in the stage lights. But the most shocking thing of all was her brilliant green hair held back by two large barrettes. It tumbled down her back ending just inches above the dress.

"Patty O'Green" Brian said softly to himself as the announcer introduced her giving the same name. She stepped up to the microphone slinging an electric guitar over her shoulder. It was also green bright silver stars stuck all over.

"Hey everyone" Patty said into the microphone. Her voice hadn't changed much it was just older and richer. Brian couldn't help but smile as her band started singing and playing. They were actually rather good.

He spent most of the night just watching her on stage. She was full of life and energy and seemed to light the place up. Everyone around admired her and it was obvious they had come to see her and her band. The bar got more crowded as the night went on but Brian never moved until the lights were flicking off and the bar tender was asking him to leave.

Patty was lingering around with her band packing things up and Brian was afraid to approach her with so many people lingering around. So instead he left and hung out around the stage exit. He felt like such a stalker standing there in the dark alley his hands shoved into his pockets.

"Okay Fred, see you later" Patty's voice filled the alley was as the door opened slowly and she stepped out a heavy green coat covering her. She shut the door carefully but then she jumped a little seeing Brian lurking under the street lamp. It seemed she chose to ignore him as she started down the small set of concrete sets and toward the mouth of the alley.

"Patty" Brian said a bit desperately afraid to lose her. She turned a little a hand reaching into the pocket of her coat.

"Do I know you?" she asked carefully, her hand obviously gripping something in her pocket. For all Brian knew it could have been a gun but it was more likely a taser or a bottle of mace. He couldn't blame her for having protection in a neighborhood like this.

"Yeah, well sort of. I knew you when you were a kid" Brian explained hoping that he didn't sound menacing.

"You must think I'm stupid to fall for a line like that" she said with a roll of her eyes. Patty turned and head for the street again. Brain took a few steps after her.

"I'm not lying, I knew you Patty. It's me, Brian" he said in a rush desperation filling him. His first attempt at this was not going so well.

"I didn't know any boys when I was young" she snapped over her shoulder at him. He frowned getting frustrated as the both headed out on the street. Brian made sure to stay a few steps behind her so she didn't use whatever weapon that was in her pocket.

"Yes Patty, don't you remember Buddy? Or Red?" Brian asked daringly hoping that she would recognize the names of some of the other boys. Patty stopped for a moment her head cocked to the side, green hair flowing all about her in the wind. It seemed as if she was actually considering her words. Then she shook her head quickly and started walking again her steps much faster.

"The names, you recognize them don't you Patty?" he called after her hastening to keep up. He could have easily over taken her but didn't want to scare her.

"No" she said shortly not even looking over her shoulder at him this time. He was running out of options, he needed to think of another way to convince her and quick. It came to him suddenly as he was watching the way her hair moved across her back.

"I bet a lot of people compliment you on the perfect dye job on your hair" he said softly hoping that what he was saying was true, "but what they don't know is that it's real"

That made her stop short, every muscle in her body going rigid. She spun around and looked at him the can of mace finally coming out of her jacket. Holding it up at face level she approached him. Of course no one knew that her hair was natural, it would have labeled her a freak of nature. No one was born with green hair.

"No one knows about that" she hissed softly her piercing green eyes staring at him harshly.

"I told you, I knew you when you were a little girl. You had green hair then too" he said softly trying to shy a little away from the mace. She looked a little defeated as she looked him up and down slowly lowering her mace.

"Look, let's get one thing straight. I don't believe you. But if you want to take me to dinner and explain yourself I'll more then happily go" she said with a smart little smile. Brian sighed and nodded glad that he had some money on him.

She turned and led him down a side street to a small restaurant nestled between two large buildings. The people their greeted her as if they knew her and seated them right away. It turned out to be a pizza parlor and Patty knew exactly what she wanted.

"Large pepperoni, extra cheese" she said smiling up at the waiter as she handed the menu back to them. Brian looked across the table at her shaking his head a little. Patty waited until they were alone before she turned her gaze back to him.

"So how do you know me?" Patty asked quirking a single green eyebrow.

"Rainbow Land" he said simply hoping she would recognize the name. It was obvious by the blank look in her eyes that she didn't.

"Was that another orphanage or something?" she asked as their drinks arrive. Straight away she started sipping on hers staring across the small table at him.

"Um no, it's where you used to live with the other Color Kids" Brian said realizing how ridiculous he sounded. She laughed a little and shook her head.

"Sorry but I have no idea what you are talking about. I lived in Bretenhouse orphanage for girls until I was eighteen. Once I came of age trust me I was more then happy to get out of there" Patty said with a shake of her head.

The pizza arrived then and the two of them were quite as the dug in. At first Brian wasn't going to eat but then he realized just how hungry he was. It felt like it had been ages since he had eaten. But with all the things going on he hadn't been able to think of trivial things like nourishing himself.

"Before the orphanage Patty, you lived in another land. One full of color and laughter" Brian said softly.

"Bri, I'm afraid if you continue on with this non sense I'm going to have to write you off as a nutter and leave you be" Patty responded swallowing.

"I'm telling the truth, Patty, please. Just let me show you" Brian pleaded. He could have Stormy here in minutes both of them whisked off to Rainbow Land.

"I've got to get home" she said standing up. Throwing her coat back on she looked down at him with another shake of her head. Without another word Patty turned and headed for the door.

Brian sighed and buried his face in his hands not sure how to proceed. This was all such a mess and he was beginning to feel like he would never be able to convince Patty of who she really was. The bell above the door tinkled and he didn't look over to see her walk out of the place. He looked up reaching into his pocket to pay the bill. But she hadn't left; she was standing by his side again looking down at him with a little frown on her face.

"Got a place to crash tonight?" she asked a bit cautiously. He shook his head in response throwing some money on to the table.

"Come on, you can sleep on my couch" Patty said softly her eyes looking thoughtful as she watched him put his coat on. Brian's heart lifted at the offer thinking that he wasn't out of options yet.

"All right" he agreed as he followed her out of the pizza parlor.

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Patty's apartment was not large by any means. However it was a lot better then he or his parents had been doing back in New San Diego. The kitchen and living room were pretty much one room smashed together. A small bedroom was through a door to the side attached to a tiny bathroom. All of it was distinctly Patty O'Green the whole place decorated almost exclusively in different shades of green.

The couch Brian was sitting on could hardly be called a couch at all anymore. It was tattered and torn but at least it was something to sleep on. Patty was hunting around the kitchen cupboards.

"I swear I had some extra blankets around here some where" she mumbled to herself as she opened the cupboard under the sink. She made a little aha noise as she pulled out a threadbare olive colored blanket. Brian took it great fully with a smile.

"Stormy is sure going to work out there" he said softly gazing out the window at the rain that was pouring down. It had started just as they were heading toward their apartment leaving them both soaked to the bone and shivering.

"Uh Stormy?" Patty asked a bit skeptically.

"Yeah, she makes it rain. I'll introduce you tomorrow" Brian responded casually as he shed his jacket. Patty shook her head and laughed running her fingers through her hair.

"I must be crazy" Patty said heading for her room, "inviting a man I don't even know to stay in my house over night"

"I'm not dangerous" he said softly feeling a bit sad at her words. He wanted her so desperately to remember him.

"I know" she said quietly stopping at her door looking over at her shoulder at him, "I don't know why I know… I just do"

"See you tomorrow, Patty" Brian said with a little smile.

"See you tomorrow, Brian" she said smiling back as she closed the door to her little room. He sighed and leaned back against the cushions on the couch. It at last seemed like he was making some progress with Patty O'Green. Tomorrow he would introduce her to Stormy and take her to Rainbow Land.

Maybe, just maybe, that would be enough to make her remember her past.