Shampoo

    Clint hadn't moved for ten minutes. He was standing opposite the shelves of shampoo. Why were there so many different brands? What was the point? They all did the same thing. They cleaned hair. Clint's gaze was dull, a little shaky, as he scanned the labels in front of him. His hair was partially hanging in his face but he didn't bother to move it, hands in his pockets.

    He slowly moved forwards, picking up a bottle of store-brand shampoo. Cheap and it did the job. Sounded good to him. Or... Clint's gaze wandered to a different brand, a fancier brand. Did that shampoo really do a better job of cleaning scalps as the label claimed? Why did this have to be so difficult?! Clint growled a tiny bit, picking up both bottles. Fine, he'd try both.

    Before he could leave Clint caught sight of yet another bottle. This one had a different smell to it. Well... Maybe he could try all three? What the heck? Why was this so freaking hard?! Why couldn't there just be one brand?! That would make life so much easier! Clint just stood there, trying to make a decision, his free hand balling into a fist.

(XDD Too much Shampoo!!) Zephyr hated this place. There were too many people around for his liking, but he had to come to get supplies. At least it was better than big grocery store. Zeph strolled around the shop and grabbed a granola bar off the stand before opening it an eating it. Honestly he didn't care if anyone came and found him. He highly doubted anyone would, and if they did, he could deal with them. Zephyr had to eat something though because he could feel himself weakening. As fantastic as his gift was, it was a real pain that he had to constantly fuel his body to stop himself from passing out. Ah well. The granola bar wouldn't do much, but it was better than nothing. Protein was what he needed. Protein and some shampoo. As much as it seemed like Zephyr didn't care about anything, he did like to stay neatly kept and organised. 

   Zeph strolled down to the shampoo isle and sighed when he saw someone else there. Couldn't they just eradicate at least half of the population. Then maybe he could have some peace. Life was rather bleak for Zephyr, but he managed to keep busy, which mainly involved eating a lot of food, and going out and buying a lot of food. As he came up to the section where the shampoo was held he muttered some foul things under his breath. Why did that have to be so many shampoo brands. Honestly. Didn't they all do the same thing? 

    He had been here for far too long. He was sick of this. His parents did the shopping for him even after he'd gotten his own place, they swung by with things like shampoo. Now that they were gone he had to do crap like this on his own. Clint was clearly not prepared for any such responsibility, angry over nothing but a few shampoo bottles.

    Clint gave up on the bottles he was holding, simply dropping them on the ground because why not? He didn't feel like putting them back. Instead, he looked around for the brand his parents used to get him, shoving bottles around on the shelves and growling to himself. He didn't even notice the other guy in the aisle, causing bottles of shampoo to hit the ground without any sign of caring. He continued his mild tantrum until he finally found what he was looking for, scooping up a bottle and huffing in satisfaction, reading over the label to be absolutely positive that it was the one he'd been looking for. He seemed to be ignoring the mass of bottles all over the floor, deciding they weren't his problem.

Zephyr stared at this punk blankly and sighed in annoyance again. This was exactly why the population should be eradicated. It was people like these who just pissed him off. "Are you going to pick those up?" Zephyr asked him in a board tone. His face shoved that he obviously didn't approve... of his existence that was. Zeph never went out looking for fights, and usually he wouldn't bother with some kid like this, but truthfully, since he was hungry, he was easily irritable, and this person was irritating him. He took another bite of his stolen granola bar and just stared at the guy, waiting for his response. Even though he was weaker than usual, his gift was still very strong, but in an hour that would not be the case. Without the proper sustenance he would pass out. Usually Zeph kept caffeine shots on him, but he ran out of those as well, hence his visit to this accursed place. 

    Clint could hear the guy standing behind him, but he didn't say a word to him, continuing to scan the label of the shampoo bottle again before deciding he truly was pleased with the brand. Yup, it was his usual brand, the one his parents used to buy for him. He turned to leave the shampoo bottles on the ground, shuffling through the mess he'd made before deciding he'd get himself a soda or something.
    
    He was hungry, and thirsty. Besides, he ought to get some actual food for his place. He had the money for it now, so why not? Maybe he'd cook himself something... That would be nice... What should he cook? This internal conversation continued as he shuffled away from the guy who'd asked him about the mess he'd made of the shampoo aisle.

Zephyr sighed an pinched the bridge of his nose as the guy ignored him. Why did he even bother wasting his time on these people. He wouldn't normally bother, but Zeph was in a bad mood, so he decided to confront the guy. "Put the bottles back on the shelf," He commanded. However as soon as he did that he felt another wave of dissyness approach. Damn, he really had to eat something substancial, not these stupid granola bars. Zeph pulled out a red bull that he had swiped earlier and began to drink it. Red Bull gives you wings. Yeah right. He thought bitterly and rolled his eyes at the stupid slogan. Who would want wings? They would be so cumbersome and get in the way of everything. 

    Clint grunted, stopping and turning back towards the bottles. Put them back... Okay. In what felt like a daze, Clint leaned down and scooped up the bottles, setting them back on the shelves. He set them facing the right way, in neat rows, in an organized fashion. Once he'd completed the task he rubbed his eyes and looked down at his hands, realizing he no longer had the bottle of shampoo he'd wanted. He'd put it back? What the hell?! Clint snapped in irritation at himself, grunting and kicking the metal stand before snarling and snatching the shampoo he'd wanted off of the shelf.

    He still hadn't said a word, growling and snarling like an animal rather than speaking in confusion or distaste. It was probably better than swearing though, not shouting cuss words across the family-friendly convenient store.

Zephyr looked on with a satisfied feeling. Although he didn't usually use his gift for petty things like these, it felt kind of nice to put this guy in his place. Now however he had to get some food or else he would pass out in the middle of the store. The Red Bull had done little to help him out, and so he went storming away to find something to quench his eternal hunger. Zeph threw a bunch more energy drinks in his basket, and about a whole shelf full of five hour energy things that only really lasted him an hour. Oh well. He really had to work on finding a formula that would solve his hunger problem. Maybe he would get some scientists to sort that out for him. Perhaps a shot of adrenaline would work...

    Clint glanced at the guy walking past him and into another aisle, his nostrils flaring. He didn't like that guy. Something about him wasn't right. He was far too chill for Clint's taste. So, he tailed him, in need of something to drink anyways. He glanced at him every so often while he read over the labels on the drinks, trying to seem nonchalant but his vibe was one of anger, which didn't exactly help him.

    People often looked his direction just because he came off as so angry and mad. He just gave off a vibe that caused people to avoid him. Maybe that was why he didn't like this guy. He hadn't avoided him the first time, he hadn't been startled when Clint lashed out, he'd been smug. Whatever it was, Clint wasn't a fan.

Zephyr was aware that this guy was tailing him, but honestly he didn't care. He could handle himself. However it would get annoying when it was time to check out, because if someone was watching him this closely then it would be obvious that he wasn't going to pay for these things. Ah well, he would have to come up with another idea.



Zephyr casually walked through the employees only door and went up to the first person he saw. "Give me forty dollars," He told him, and the man obliged. When he first started out with this gift he did kind of feel sorry for people, but not anymore. They were just means of his survival. Having gotten the money, hopefully in private, Zephyr walked out of the back of the shop and headed over to the cash register where he paid for his things with the money that he had just stolen. "Have a wonderful day!" The old lady at the checkout said to him, rather enthusiastically. A wonderful day? Zephyr just stared at her and walked out of the shop without replying.

    Clint followed him, but missed the interaction with the employee, having been watching him go through the door and come back out while picking his drink from the fridge. He grunted ever so slightly, paying after the guy had paid. He didn't make eye contact with the woman, dropping the cash on the counter before he headed to follow him out of the store.

    He figured the guy knew he was following him. Clint didn't seem at all nervous about that, tipping his head to the side while followed him. Why'd he go through the employees only door? He clearly wasn't an employee in that store. How did he not get into trouble for it, hm? Clint was coming to the conclusion that the guy was gifted. That meant Clint ought to get rid of him. No, it meant Clint would get rid of him.

This guy trailing him was beginning to get really annoying, and he wanted to get rid of him. Of course he could turn around and tell him to leave, but then he would also have to compel him to forget everything, and he still hadn't eaten anything so he didn't want to spin that much of a web. Another way it would have to be then. Just because Zephyr was gifted didn't mean he had to only rely on his gift. 

As Zeph walked away from the store he strolled down a back alley way until he found what he was looking for, the young homeless child that always sat here. "Pretend i am your brother," Zephyr quietly told the kid as he sat down next to him. "Hey Alex, its okay, i'm here now," He cooed softly. "Start crying," Zeph whispered to the kid. Compelling children was easy and didn't require much strength at all. As the child cried in his arms Zephyr stroked his hair gently. "I got you something bud," He said and handed him a chocolate bar which the child took gratefully. Honestly acting was very easy, and maybe this guy following him would get bored of the 'homeless brothers' interacting and leave. If that didn't work he always had plan B, this was just easier. 

"I've been looking for jobs recently, and i spoke to a man in the store today asking about work. Maybe soon we will have enough money to pay the rent on our old apartment. What do you think about that?" At least this would be an excuse for his entering the employee only area. It was a rather strange sight to see, Zephyr comforting a child. He didn't do that.

    Well wasn't this touching? Or not. Honestly, Clint couldn't decide. He watched from the end of the alleyway, grumbling to himself as he attempted to decide whether what he was seeing was real or not. He decided that he'd watch for just a little while longer. It was only safe to be certain the guy wasn't playing him.

    He stood there, leaning on the wall, clearly staring at the guy and the little boy, his gaze shaky and his jaw clenched. Clint wasn't a fan of waiting for gifted scum to reveal themselves, it was obnoxious, but he'd have to handle it. His hair hung in his face however he simply didn't care enough to move it out of his line of vision.

Zephyr did not like children, and since this child thought they were brothers he insisted on telling him how his day was going. Honestly, what was wrong with children. He however had no doubt that he was probably like that. Before the calling he was a completely different person. "Would you just shut up," He hissed at the child who immediately stopped talking. Finally, peace and quiet. Zeph decided to take on of the five hour energy things to boost his strength, but of course as soon as he got it out the little toe-rag had to get his grubby little fingers everywhere. "Thats it, no more," Zephyr shook his head and stood up. "Stay here," He muttered. "I'll be back in a bit Alex, I am just going to go and see if the soup kitchen has any leftovers," That sounded like a good excuse.

   Zephyr then got up and left the kid where he was. Hopefully the person following him would leave him alone now. He was pretty sure the guy was a seeker because he looked vaguely familiar. Zephyr had worked with the seekers before, helping them cover up things, but he didn't do it that often, only one or two of them knew he was gifted, and he made sure it stayed that way. Zeph had used his gift to forget about him, unless he told them to remember. He would rather only help them if it was in his best interest. 

    For now, Clint decided, it was the best course of action to avoid confronting this fellow. If he was gifted, then Clint would probably need backup to handle him. He hadn't been on many solo-missions so far and didn't want to risk it. So, he turned on his heels and headed along back towards his place, thinking to himself about the research he'd be doing the next few days to see if anybody knew this character or if he would be able to pinpoint where the guy stayed for the majority of his time. Then Clint would have the apprehend... That sounded like a better plan than just going for the kill without any knowledge of the guys abilities, if he even had them. Maybe he was just a homeless bum. Alright, alright, enough dealing with gifted scum for one day, he was starving.