◇The Plan◇

"Okay, so lets put this plan into action! You guys are obviously hungry, and if I let you get any hungrier we're doomed." Lu Xing said rubbing his hands together.

Yang Jun had managed to calm down Yang Jin and brought him down just in time.

"We'll plan this right." Lu Xing laid out looking at everyone, "For the first scouting trip on supplies, Li, Long Zexi, and I will go out."

Yang Jin opened his mouth about to rant more than likely when Yang Jun placed his hands over his mouth, Yang Jun's smile becoming slightly terrifying.

Lu Xing gave a warily smile at the sight and continued, "I'm doing a small group to lessen the burden on Long Zexi till he gets the hang of his abilities, plus he's obviously starved. There's just to many risk if we all go out. Risk to Long Zexi and to ourselves. Better the safer method."

Yang Jin shrugged, his eyes rolled and he gave a 'harumph' under Yang Jun's hands.

This made Yang Jun pull his hands away with a rewarding smile towards his cousin.

Yang Jin ear tips turned red.

'What an interesting reaction,' Lu Xing made a mental note to get Yang Jun on his side to rein in Yang Jin.

"So you'll be joining? Must you?" Stella asked her gaze piercing.

"I'm probably the only expert you'll find when it comes to abilities." Lu Xing once again reminded everyone, then added as he glanced at Long Zexi, "Plus my own ability is rather compatible with Long Zexi."

Long Zexi frowned.

'I'd rather have nothing compatible with you though.' Long Zexi thought.

'Good thing my flame type is actually as compatible as it is with C11 abilities.' Lu Xing thought his gaze on Long Zexi rather bright, 'I can't help the others as much, but Long Zexi will be an expert at his abilities under my guidance before long. Thank goodness all my theories are working out so far.'

The two were certainly on different wavelengths...

Kuan Bo suddenly frowned, he felt that something was off between these two but couldn't quite pinpoint what.

"That's another thing...how do you know all this?" Sho finally spoke up on his suspicions, "We're all having a hard time fully trusting you here because of this. Sure you've helped us but just how are you so knowledgeable? And your eyes? Just how?"

"I can't fully disclose the firts part, but lets just say I know some people from inside Z City." Lu Xing then quickly added as their expressions darkened, "Allies, other Mutants, hidden inside. I've lost contact recently and decided to personally pay a visit to check up on them, when I came across you guys."

Lu Xing inwardly made a (｀∀´)Ψ expression as he fibbed.

"As for my eyes, someone I know tested out a theory, and that theory allowed us to learn a suppression method for the eyes." Lu Xing pointed at his eyes as he wielded one to turn into a gold hue, while the other one remained an average brown hue, "Ever since, I've also been teaching other Mutants this method."

"I see." Sho let out as he glanced at Stella and Li.

"So you're gonna use us to get to your allies." Stella stated, her glare frosty.

Long Zexi felt a twinge in his chest, and subconsciously rubbed his chest as though to rid himself of the discomfort.

"Welp, you caught me," Lu Xing said in a rather carefree manner, as he raised up his arms and gave Stella a wink, "I just figured if I help you guys out, you might be able to help me out. A win-win sorta scenario."

Li suddenly threw an arm around Lu Xing and laughed.

"I quite like this fellow! He's honest, I like that in a companion, temporary or not." Li said a grin on his rugged tan face, his stubble brushing against Lu Xing's face, "I say we all help one another out."

Lu Xing wanted to throw the man over his shoulder, as he found that the sensation of that stubble was rather unpleasant.

'Isn't this guy actually way too friendly?' Lu Xing thought slightly appalled by the behavior now that he was victim to it.

Stella shrugged.

"At the end of the day, its not my call to make." Stella stated, her gaze settling on Long Zexi, "Normally it'd be Sho's call, but Long Zexi's the one you plan on using isn't that so?"

Her gaze turned towards Lu Xing, it was a prodding gaze.

"Yeah," Lu Xing rubbed his neck, "You caught me red handed. Hehe.."

"So its Long Zexi's call." Sho stated following his lover's train of thought, he nodded at Long Zexi, "Give us your verdict Long Zexi, do we let Lu Xing stay, or should we cut ties?"

That painful twinge came back in Long Zexi's chest as he looked at Lu Xing.

'I don't think I want this man out of my sight..' Long Zexi thought, ' Maybe its because he knows a lot...but he's definitely more dangerous away from us. It's better to keep an eye on him personally.'

"I think he'll be of help to us." Long Zexi grudgingly relented, "So stay and help us."

He gave a Lu Xing a piercing gaze when he said the last part.

Lu Xing felt that there was something off about Long Zexi's gaze but couldn't quite figure it out.

Since Li was also standing within Long Zexi's gaze, he could clearly see the difference in the kid's demeanor as the kid stared at Lu Xing.

'That's definitely the look of a wolf staring at prey.' Li thought with a grin, then mischievously...

Li abruptly turned Lu Xing's head with his hand and planted a firm kiss on the man's soft lips.

"Congrats on joining our group of misfits!" Li exclaimed.

Lu Xing's expression had darkened after the surprise kiss, and everyone else had been left stupefied by the abrupt action.

"You..you! Beast!" Kuan Bo exclaimed flustered, his entire face turning red.

"Who knew Li swung that way..." Yang Jin let out dryly, his arm swinging around Yang Jun in a possessive manner.

Yang Jun had covered his own eyes feeling rather flustered at the unexpected smooch, his ears flushed red.

Stella seemed taken aback but quickly looked at Sho.

Her eyes speaking volumes...

"No...nooo! I would never!" Sho placed up his hands as though to say 'I'm innocent', Stella sighed deeply after hearing that.

'I wouldn't have minded...I'd have had one more person to look after Sho if that had been the case.' Stella thought, 'And Li isn't bad looking...what a shame...'

Sho suddenly got goosebumps.