So I've Got This Problem...(Odi)

The more time Odi spent with Dec, the more he was beginning to realize that they were similar in a lot of ways. It wasn’t borderline creepy, no, the sentiment was one of mutual bonding, and maybe even trust was being developed. As it was, Odion didn’t fall for just anyone either. His criteria wasn’t written up but it went a little something like this: the person had to be interesting, had to be able to gain his trust, had to be able to get past his rough and tough exterior, and had to be male.

While he and Dec had gotten closer, they certainly hadn’t gotten close enough to just bring up those sorts of things. It wasn’t something Odi had ever talked about with someone before. Not with Lani, not Avi, not anyone.

Odion was going through enough problems of his own. He was still dealing with having a brother at all. He was beginning to fall even harder for Lani now that he’d met Caroline, and things with Adrianna seemed to be coming to a romantic end. What was he supposed to do with all this? It was still a giant mess of confused feelings and wanting to trust and not wanting to trust. Was trust even a choice? Or was it an earned object? Odion didn’t know. And let’s not forget dealing with time control – what a bitch.

Declyn thought Odion gave good advice? Wow, he really must be desperate. Why trust him at all was the real question. Odi had been entertaining the cats when a knock was heard at the door. He stood and brushed off the seat of his black jeans and pulled down his bright blue v-neck t-shirt, just in case. Opening the door to find Declyn, Odi smiled and let him in, shutting the door behind them, for privacy reasons and so the cats wouldn’t up and leave.

“Coming to me for more advice?” He asked, staring at Dec’s tattered old jeans. For once, Odion had no idea what the implications of his words meant. He made to sit on the couch, LJ making to sit in his lap, purring away already. Shadow went to inspect Declyn. Or maybe this visit wasn’t for advice at all, Odion thought as he scratched LJ behind his ears. Perhaps Declyn had finally noticed the family crest that was missing from his wall, but still, then he would have to know that Odion had stolen it.

Declyn had probably kissed a lot more people than Odion had. Contrary to what people believed about him in Kocher, he wasn’t a player. He may have charmed a few people, but his first kiss was with Rhett. Sadly, he was the only person Odion had ever had a kiss with, it just isn’t high on his priority list, not that he doesn’t have another person in mind who he’d like to kiss.

Odi had had an internal battle when he had first met Lani. The telekinetic had reminded him of Rhett in so many ways – they were all thieves, they all had bad attitude. But at the same time, there was something significantly different in Lani that Odion liked better than Rhett. Of course they were just friends, but Lani had shown Odion that he didn’t need to be with someone like Rhett who only saw him as an object to own. Lani had set him free.

“No need for apologies,” Odi said, actually in a pretty good mood. He was so sick of being apologized to by the people he cared about. But the Dec was proposing they talk about dating and Odion’s eyes went a little wider than usual before returning to normal. Obviously Declyn had no idea how little Odi knew about relationships in general. But he knew about people, so maybe he could be of some use. That, and he actually wanted to help his brother out.

Odion noticed Dec eying the cat uncomfortably and he sighed. They were so similar and yet, so different. Were they truly related? “Cat got your tongue?” He asked, smirking at himself. If Dec had a problem, he’d do well to bring it up now.

Odion believed there was very little innocence left in someone who was in high school. There were a few people here and there he had reason to believe were, but if his brother was anything like himself, then he most likely wasn’t innocent. Or whatever the term was for being sexually inactive.

But Odion also thought you should be with someone because you really liked them, not because of how much experience they did or did not have, or how long it took for them to realize what they want. Experience was always something you could figure out together. Odi just didn’t tell everyone his opinions on dating. Why would he? Who would want to know? Apparently Declyn.

Odion just watched his brother, his dark blue eyes bearing into the other’s. Odi would deem whether Dec was a fool or not after he spoke. But Odi wanted to listen, he wanted to hear his brother out and be helpful. It wasn’t very often that something like this happened.

Odion felt his brow rise. There was a girl, and a guy? Odi was more interested about the aspects listed that pertained to Declyn. He was sort of quirky, wasn’t he? And the guy he liked, was... not? “Who are they?” Odion asked, because he would have an easier time seeing the person and who they were rather than a tiny description of them. He wasn’t at all worried about whether they were one sex or the other. “So, you’re having a hard time deciding.” He said, stating the obvious. Maybe Declyn just needed to talk it through?

Rubbing the back of his neck, Odion watched Dec hold up the wall, and had to smile at the familiar movements. Declyn was uncomfortable about all this but still, had the courage to seek Odi out. For that, Odion’s respect for Declyn rose. He wasn’t a coward like his twin brother, though Odion had been working on that for the past year. He took a deep breath and decided to say the one thing that would put Declyn at ease.

“You know, I’ve only ever dated one person before, and he ended up really fucking with me...” All he was trying to say, was that maybe he wasn’t the best person to give advice, but he still wanted to be there for his brother. He really did.

Odion seriously doubted that Declyn could keep himself from hating Lani if the blonde were ever to hurt him. So even though gingers and blondes seemed to go together rather well, neither of them really liked it. But they were both on the same page in that Odion didn’t care if his brother didn’t like Lani, and well, Declyn probably wouldn’t care if Odion liked Cameron. So then what was the point of asking for advice? Did Declyn really expect Odi to give him a cheerio and a thumbs up?

Nodding once, Odion knew of Dakota Clemson, a shy girl who kept to herself. He’d seen her in the library often.

“The boy… is Cameron Osiris.” Odion could feel his stomach hit the ground. He wasn’t surprised that Hammel’s resident player had caught the eye of his brother. Declyn hadn’t made a lot of friends, so he was desperate for them, and apparently a little attention went a long way. Odion’s fists balled up and his stare bore into his brother as a warning. But he could see the look on Dec’s face, that little bit of hope in his eyes. Lani was helping Odion believe in people, that there was more to them than what he first gave them credit for.

Fuck that.

“You can’t date him,” he announced finally. It was better just to be honest. He’d rather say something now that watch Declyn be used. “That bloke’s trouble, believe me, he tried his ‘moves’ on me.” Cameron Osiris wasn’t a master at conning people though, he was just a total idiot. “That, and he’s been with half the school.” Well Declyn had succeeded in one thing at least – getting Odion to talk.

Declyn was far too willing to trust people around here. He was willing to trust someone he didn’t know before his brother. Granted, they weren’t very close, but Odi was a little offended that Declyn would rather go his own way after having asked for advice in the first place. It was frustrating, especially when it already felt solidified that the whole world was against him.

“You shouldn’t date him,” Odi corrected himself, wishing he had been more careful with his words. This was a fight waiting to happen. They had been arguing more than they had been getting to know each other. His eyes went wide at the reprimand, an eyebrow twitching. How similar he sounded to Lani. Odion pursed his lips together tightly before he shouted at Declyn outright.

“Why are you asking me then? Did you just want to hear yourself talk? Because it sounds like you’ve made up your mind already,” Odion said in a huff. Why was Declyn so eager to stick up for Cameron, but just as willing to accuse Odion of having a stick up his ass after everything he’d been through? At least Odion wasn’t lying about things, he was actually trying to help Declyn see the bad side of Cameron to make an informed decision.

“I’ll see you in a couple months to say I told you so.” The last thing Odion wanted to see, was Declyn’s feelings getting hurt. But maybe Declyn didn’t get as attached to people as Odion did when he let them. “Everyone at this school claims to have good intentions,” he added.

Maybe Odion wouldn’t have been a fighter, but his life required it. Bitterness was however, just a part of who Odion was. He didn’t trust people and he couldn’t see the good in them save for a few souls. People were mostly bad and there was no point in trying to think differently. He didn’t have hope for this world and he was hard pressed to care for those in it.

What Declyn said next struck a chord. Odion averted his dark blue eyes and felt his face redden. Strange, he had never felt ashamed before, but this had to be it. Declyn came to ask for advice, and if not that, then at least someone to listen to him. Obviously he trusted his brother, and obviously, Odion didn’t trust him in return. He’d better add guilty to that list. Odion was harsh because it was how he protected his heart. He didn’t know what Declyn’s intentions were, and he may never find out.

If his lip could curl up into a growl, it would’ve done so by now. “You’ve been here for a few months Declyn, you don’t know anything about anyone.” That, and he viewed everything through rose coloured glasses. And then Declyn hit another nerve and Odion lost his temper. “Good intentions aren’t good enough,” he stood up abruptly without apologizing to the kitten for practically flinging her off of him.

“And I’ll be as bitter as I want to be. My, our parents abandoned me Dec.” He needed to be at the same height as Declyn for this. “I’ve been in gangs, I’ve had to take care of myself, I’ve hurt a lot of people, and just when I thought I’d found someone worth fighting worth, worth crossing oceans for, he goes ahead and leaves me too. So yes, I am right! And you, you’re dead wrong, especially about Lani.” Odion wasn’t good enough for anyone, so why then would anyone be good enough for him? But he’d already said far too much. There was just no way in hell that he would leave his best friend undefended, especially when he wasn’t here. At least Odi had met Cam, if anyone was being hypocritical here, it was Declyn, who hadn’t even given Lani a chance.

Maybe Odion was afraid of this newfound relationship. He wasn’t ready to have a brother, and he never would be. He was afraid to think about it, he was maddened by how his parents really did exist, and through Dec, they were but a step away. Maybe he was trying to find reasons to not like Declyn because it was easier that way. He didn’t want more people to care about, he didn’t want more people tugging at the few heart strings he had.

There was nothing satisfactory except stealing, and even then, that didn’t always have the desired payoff.

But they came back for Dec. Odion wasn’t worth finding, he wasn’t worth being sought after, and since that’s how it was, he decided it was better to simply perpetuate it. Declyn simply didn’t understand him and he couldn’t understand Dec.

“I gave you my opinion Dec, I gave you exactly what you asked for. I’ll lie to everyone else but I won’t lie to you.” And that was one of the biggest stakes he had ever planted. “So now you tell me what you think you know so well about Lani that I don’t.” He crossed his arms before him and watched his brother carefully. “Go on, you might be surprised by how much I already know.” Even Lani had hurt Odion.

But hey, at least they were seeing each other now, and in a few months!