Stopping Time - Stopping Himself (Open.)

Sage was very excited about the Christmas season. It was his favorite time of year, where everything was lit up, people were filled with cheer, and families got together for perhaps the only opportunity they had. The stores were full of lovers, parents, grandparents, and excited children with their faces pressed to the glass, shielding magnificent toys. Sage loved to window shop, but it was during Christmas time that he could step within the boundaries of the stores and finally give in to temptation. However, this was only because he was shopping for people other than himself.

The blond had been searching far and wide for the perfect gifts to give his family and friends, and so far, he had had some good luck. Finding them had been easy enough, but he was still struggling to find the right gift for his sister. Stella was not picky or anything, but Sage wanted it to be special and something she could easily remember him through despite their separation from each other. As he wandered around, he came across a jewelry store and was instantly attracted by the sparkle of gems. They reminded him very much of stars, like the ones he and Stella used to watch every night on a clear day. Could it be that the right gift for her was in this place?

As Sage searched around, he finally stopped in front of a simple, stunning, and beautiful yellow gold locket. He smiled softly at its beauty but nearly choked on his own breath at the price. Two thousand dollars?! The price was insane and certainly not affordable, but Sage could not help but feel something resonating off of it. There was something special about the locket, and he soon realized that this was because someone else had their eyes on it.

Emerald eyes glanced to the brunette boy outside the store, whose eyes were staring intently at the fabulous piece of jewelry. However, a blink and a single breath later, the boy seemed to be still in the same place, but looked vastly different, as if he had gone through some kind of emotional battle. Sage gasped quietly in realization. Although it was not completely obvious, he remembered seeing him around the school. The boy was a meta, like himself, and the blond moved to the outside beside him, smiling as kindly as he could.

“Hello. I saw you were looking at that locket…were you thinking about buying it for someone?”

It was plain to see that Odion had been debating whether or not to do something, but Sage thought that maybe it was over whether or not to purchase the locket, not to steal it. However, the boy did not reveal this fact, and instead told him with a grin that his assumptions were not exactly the case. The blond did not try to pry, and he tilted his head, watching Odion as he seemed to be deep in thought. His hand was held out to shake, and Sage eagerly took it, happy to introduce himself to someone who was in the same school as him.

“It’s nice to meet you, Odion. I’m Sage. And yes, I attend Hammel. I’m assuming you’re a meta as well?”

Odion’s French accent came out, and Sage nearly bounced in excitement. He simply loved French accents, and he had pushed himself to learn the language by the time he finished high school. His mind had been taken completely off the locket, and he smiled gleefully at the prospects of a possible friendship growing.

Sage smiled a bit at his laugh, even if the intentions did not necessarily mean well. The boy was most definitely not one that anyone would consider to be threatening, but that only served to help him in making friends. His name was repeated by the ginger boy’s lips, and he blushed slightly at the comment and visible attention to his eyes. However, Odion seemed hesitant to believe that Sage was actually a meta, since he looked powerless and stated something that should have been quite obvious.

“Um…right…sorry. I’m still growing used to meeting other metas outside of the school, that all”

The boy was asked if he was Christmas shopping in the mall during that particular visit, and Sage nodded quickly.

“Yes. I was looking for a gift for my sister, but it may be more difficult than I thought”

Sage felt a bit nervous as he spoke, feeling this strange intensity emanating from Odion as he could not look away from his blue eyes. He was almost frozen in place, but he smiled when the boy inquired as to what led him to approach him in the first place.

“Well, I thought I had seen you around before, so I thought I would ask…”

His gaze managed to break for a brief moment, glancing to the floor before he looked back and became locked in once again.

“…What about you? Are you looking for something?”

Sage could see that Odion relaxing a bit, and he wondered if he would open up at all. He wouldn’t hold it against him at all if he was the type that rather liked to keep things secret, but he could tell that there was a kindness in him.

“Yes, I am in the dorms. I just got moved, but my roommates are all really nice”

The blond did not notice any of the jealous feelings that Odion felt at the mention of family, but if he had known, he surely would have never brought it up. However, it was clear that he did not have any ill will towards him over it. Odion also didn’t seem to have any clear reason for coming to the mall, but one didn’t need to have the desire to buy things to visit the shops. Sage smiled and nodded in understanding before blinking at the peculiar question.

“If you weren’t who I thought you were? Well…I guess I would have to face the situation at that point, but I don’t like to judge anyone on first appearances…I learn firsthand, even if it ends up coming back to haunt me…”

It was necessarily the smartest thing in the world. Sage knew this philosophy was flawed, but he believed it was truly one of his best traits.

Sage nodded in agreement in regards to the comment about Hammel being abundant with friendly people. He had yet to run into any person he would deem evil. He intended to give each and every person he met a chance to prove the good in themselves that he saw every day. Perhaps that was the reason he could continue keep his light.

“I know I’ll be all right no matter what”

Sage smiled and without intention, he began to light up, his body glowing like a star and the rays reflecting off the gems behind him. A moment passed before he realized what he was doing, and he quickly made the light disperse, his head bowing down in embarrassment.

“Sorry. It comes out like that sometimes when I’m not paying attention”

Sage was enthused about the idea of a stuffed animal. What a perfect idea! Stella loved animals, and if it was one he picked out himself, she would certainly treasure it.

“I like that idea a lot. That’s a great idea, Odion! I bet they even have a place where you can make your own…”

Odion did not seem at all bothered by his sudden show of light, and he was grateful for that. Some people found it annoying to look at it when it was too bright as it had just been. Sage always tried to keep his light dimmed so that he would not blind anyone, but when he got excited, it was difficult to maintain. He said that ‘it wouldn’t hurt anybody’, and he took the words to heart. It was only when he overheated that there was any chance of someone getting hurt, and it was more likely to be himself.

“Thank you…”

He smiled and glanced in the direction Odion pointed, and he could faintly see the store sign when he squinted his eyes. Oh, Stella was going to love this. Sage looked back excitedly to the ginger boy when he offered to come, and he nodded eagerly.

“Yes, please! I would like that very much”

Sage took the boy’s hand and gently tugged on it to raise him up and off of the bench.