The Day I Met Him

It had been the first time i'd ever felt seen. I've never felt so vulnerable, and for once, I felt like an equal. His name was Gamble. 

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The first snow was due later that day yet the air was a cool warmth. There was a slight dry breeze that rushed through the air every couple of seconds. 

I had walked up to the group of men and peered down at the man being kicked around.

I firmly placed my hands on two of their shoulders.

"Stop." 

I waited while they stood there with blank expressions. It was a while before the other guy had noticed anything wrong. He looked over at his two friends.

"Hey what's wrong with you two?"

I quickly walked over to him and grabbed his arm as I whispered to him,

"Take your friends and go." 

He grabbed both of his friends as they hurried off.

"So you're one too?" A low husky voice escaped from the man on the ground, he grunted a bit as he tried to push himself off the ground.

I looked over at him seeing a now clearer view of his face. He looked young, too young to have children even. 

"What's your name, at least tell me your name." He spoke. 

"I'm no one, you need to forget that you even saw me here."

 I reached out my hand to help him up. I paused a little as I caught a gentle reflection in his eye. I almost decided to get him to forget me at that moment, but for some strange reason, I didn't. 

"You should hurry and get home to your children. "

He sighed.

"Aren't you tired? Of always having to run, to hide? I mean how are we any less human than them! They're the real monsters." 

I could see the tension rise in his face.

"You shouldn't talk about it so loud."

We started walking and talking around for a bit. 

"They fear us.." I told him.

"... but I mean, you can't think of it in such a bad way. Or else it all becomes meaningless.. I have to believe the reason we're born like this..is all for a reason." My expression turned gloom.

He notices my face as he stops walking and turns to face me, he reaches out his hand. "My name is Ariel but my friends call me Gamble, it's nice to meet you."  He nodded towards me.

His hand peeked into my view. I reached towards it and shook it. I glanced over at his expression and noticed the gentle look in his eyes again. 

"Oh.. right.." I said nervously as I looked around and squeezed my shoulder.

"My name is.." I stuttered not knowing to say my real name or alias.

"Layla." I nervously looked away.

We continued to walk and talk for what had felt like a short while before the sun had started to rise. He explained to me that he didn't have kids, that he just yelled it out in desperation. We also found out that we had a lot in common. We were the same age, hell we even had the same birthday. 

"You are my good luck charm. I think there is a reason we met. From now on I plant to keep you close." He gave me a smile and a warm embrace before he left. He came to visit me many more times after that night. 

I later learned that his mutation allowed him to steal luck from others, but that there is a balance and that if he is not careful he can accidentally steal their unluck too. 

He says he gambles for a living and that is how he got his nickname. 

It had confused me at first but then he explained that the night he met me, the night those guys had beat him down, it was because they had been cheating and could not believe he had won, unless he had an ability. 

He explained to me that the moment I appeared, was pure luck. 

I told him about my abilities, something I probably shouldn't have done.

"So you're Psychometric?" He looked intrigue as he asked that.

"I guess.. I am..somewhat."