Chapter Text
I watch a little boy run through the exhibit, popcorn falling as he bumps into a man who seems to be in a trance in front of one of Cap's old suits on display. The man has been here at least three times this week and it's only Tuesday, each time he's in the same worn brown leather jacket and a faded black ball cap pulled low over his eyes.
"You must really be into Captain America," I say craning into the man's view.
He stiffens before nodding once, "you could say that."
I straighten up bringing my gaze back to the suit on display, it's nowhere near the level of the suits heroes wear these days but it still holds a comforting charm that seems to warm the people around it. Too bad it doesn't seem to be helping whoever this is. "If you have any questions feel free to ask me or any of the other curators and please enjoy your visit." The man gives me a curt nod and I turn to finish making my round throughout the gallery when I feel something settling into my bones. It's so… cold. Why is it cold? The readings of the museum are all normal and no one else seems to notice anything. A feeling of dread begins crawling up my spine as I finally see it, a slight glint of something at the edge of one of the skylights. What is that?
A gun.
There's the muted sound of a single gunshot and then the display holding Captain America's suit shatters. Shards of glass join the forgotten popcorn on the floor only to be crunched beneath the boot of the mystery man as he spins to assess the situation. My boss comes on over the speaker system, "Everyone please remain calm, there is a small situation but the authorities have already been alerted and they are on their way," easier said than done.
I really don't like using my ability if I don't have to but this seems like the kind of situation you can break rules for. I push my consciousness outwards, up at first, feeling along the ceiling before seeping to the other side. Whoever was on the roof is long gone but the malice and frustration remain clouded at the edge of the skylight like a thick miasma. Then I feel out towards the people on in the exhibit, there's a lot of confusion naturally, some sadness, pockets of fear that feel like shards of ice pricking at my skin, then I reach the mystery man and sink into an abyss.
The man is filled with a torrent of emotions and empty at the same time. It knocks the wind out of me as I stumble back and try to keep my knees from buckling.
"What are you doing," he snaps at me.
I try again to steady myself, pulling my consciousness back within the safety of my own body, "I'm afraid I'm not sure what's going on but I believe my boss said the proper authorities are on their way".
I'm rubbing at my temples trying to will away the headache that's forming when the man grips onto my upper arm. Everyone else is too busy looking one another over or checking their phones for some sort of update to notice as he begins dragging me towards one of the emergency exits.
"That's not what I asked," his grip tightens and he pulls me closer to him.
"Attention everyone, I would like you all to calmly proceed to the nearest exit. The police will be taking statements and we will be closing the museum until we receive the go ahead to open things back up. I do apologize for the inconvenience, our curators will be out front distributing complimentary day passes so that you might continue your visit another day. Again we do apologize and enjoy the rest of your day."
After the announcement concludes everyone begins milling out of the main exit, "let's go". "What? Where are we going?"
He adjusts his grip as he begins making his way to a side exit with me in tow, "I don't know what you did and I don't like unknowns."
Finally the stupor of using my powers begins to ebb away, "listen I know just about as much as you do about what's going on, now if you'll excuse me I need to hand out complimentary day passes before I get hounded by Karens asking to see my manager."
The emergency exit door swings open and he continues pulling me along an alleyway, "the day passes will have to wait."
"No you don't understand, Karens absolutely do not wait," God I can already feel the sludge at the tips of my fingers and on my tongue, I still haven't figured out what emotion that is but dear God it makes me want to scrub my soul with dawn soap. Maybe if I'm lucky my boss will just fire me.