Author's Note: Finn and Symphony are two of my characters from my superEarth unsiverse. Finn has the ability to absorb light and expell it, while Symphony is a sonkinetic hypnotist. Both have had years of training with their abilities in a special metahuman highschool, so for Finn to suddenly claim he can't help absorbing light seems a bit off. Symphony grows quite annoyed by the whole ordeal.

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“You‘re glowing,” she points out. She snaps another picture and the bulb of her flash explodes in a dizzy of shimmering fragments. They fluctuate as if breathing, as if alive and there are rings of color pulsating around their dark cores. He touches a hovering circle of color with his fingertips and it is soaked up by his flesh until his index finger is bright with absorbed spots of light.

“It can’t be helped,” he mutters, and there is another flash of great radiance. The light is practically sprayed upon his body like one of those spray-on tans. He soaks up every bit until his flesh exudes a glow that could keep a dim room ablaze.

When the second photograph is taken, she lowers the camera so that it hangs about her small neck though still tight in her grip. “You’re stupid, of course it can be helped. Just.. you know, concentrate.” The camera is lifted and briefly hides away her dark eyes. She watches him through the viewfinder and waits for his glow to die down.

This wait is far longer than she’d like and it seems as if it may never end. A minute passes and she has since lowered her camera so that she can glare at him.

“You’re being stubborn and for absolutely no reason.”

“You’re supposing I’m just lying to you, for absolutely no reason. I’m telling you, it can’t be helped because it can’t be helped.”

“You’re impossible!”

“You’re impossible to please.”

“You’re impossible to.. to..”

Following an inability to insult is the usual foot stomp. It’s endearing, really, and causes the faintest of smiles to curl upon his lips. It is the wrong sort of expression for him to have and she will not tolerate it.

“This isn’t funny! This is serious! You said you were going to help me and now you’re just.. grinning like an idiot and glowing too much to get good pictures and I know you, Finn Grady! You’re doing it to get me mad, but you know, you know what happens when I get mad and isn’t fair that I can’t possibly express my anger properly and it’s just mean! Downright mean!”

“I’m telling you, I can’t help it. It’s the same thing as you gettin’ angry, you can’t help breaking windows with all that emotion. I can’t help glowing!” Now his glow takes on a redder tint. He is not good at admitting such silly things like the way emotions can affect his powers. He can hardly look her in the eye, so instead he glances out a window and watches Rafe water the gardens.

“Oh please,” scoffs she. “What on earth could you possibly be overwhelmed with that would cause you to light up brighter than Las Vegas.” The moment the words spill out her mouth she feels a pang of worry. If he is telling the truth, then what is it causing the problem? Is he mad about something? Is he frustrated? He hadn’t been smiling much when she started their session, rather, he kept staring and staring at her in the strangest manner. Finn Grady never quite looked at Symphony Jones. He always seemed to look around her, or beyond her, or right through her as if he didn’t care.

Never had she felt he was looking into her, as he did today.

“Nervous,” he finally admits. “Just nervous.” He is still staring out the window and now she regrets her harsh words. After all, Finn is just as human as she. Isn’t he allowed to feel emotions like anxiety and sadness? Her camera is taken from where it hangs upon her neck and placed on a table beside his chair. She is quiet for a long while... then..

“What are you nervous about?”

“Well. In about... oh..” he breathes deep and glances to her. “maybe ten seconds, I’m going to kiss you.”

“Oh. Why?”

“It’s the kind of thing you do to a girl when you love her.”

True to his word, after only a second taken to stand, Finn Grady kisses Symphony Jones. There is a great flash of light, and though her eyes are closed she can still feel that warmth he gains through absorption.

“You’re glowing,” she whispers.

“I told you, I can’t help it,” he mumbles back and his hands are warm upon her waist.