Stopping Time - Stopping Himself (Open.)

[Odion Martins]

“Perfect,” Odi repeated before venturing off deeper into the store on his own. Sage was acting a little too appreciative for his taste and he needed some room to breathe.

Odion had been far too distracted by a dark brown teddy bear in need of stuffing, to have immediately noticed his uniform clad boyfriend enter the store. That, and his powers often made him lose track of time, and he kept staring at the bear as though he were planning on hugging it right then and there in the store. Finally turning his head to see what Sage was up to, the ginger’s smile faded. Wasn’t Rhett supposed to be working? What was he doing here?

Taking the bear with him, Odi was just about to ask what Rhett needed, when he was attacked with a long kiss that made his eyes pop open wide and his face flush red as he nearly dropped the limp bear. Since when had his blonde become so possessive? It must’ve been the Logan thing – Odion would have to talk to him later. “Rhett,” he said, looking at Sage apologetically, “this is Sage, he’s buying a Christmas gift for his sister and I offered to help.” There, the simple truth. The younger blonde was totally innocent, and Rhett was about to feel really stupid for trying to be so macho about the whole thing.

“I met him five minutes ago,” Odion said then with a smirk, his hand slipping around Rhett’s. There was really nothing to be jealous about, Sage couldn’t hold a flame to Rhett, not even maybe. “Aren’t you supposed to be working?” he asked then, glancing back at Rhett with his big, blue, sad eyes. He wasn’t going to make a show in front of Sage, but why didn’t Rhett trust him yet? Maybe Rhett was just the jealous type after all.

[Rhett Goddard]

"Too comfortable?" Just what does that mean? Rhett definitely didn't like the thought of them being 'too comfortable'. "I guess I would say something like 'nice to meet you', but unfortunately it is just not the case," He said after Odion introduced them to each other. "so whatever, really."

Odion's following explanation of how they met just five minutes ago didn't completely appease the blonde. Some weeks ago he was sleeping naked with friends and now he was holding hand with strangers? Seriously, was Odion doing all of this on purpose? What was the fun of having Rhett jealous? Ugh. He rolled his eyes. Maybe he was the jealous type.

"Well, not when my boyfriend is holding hands with total strangers." He replied to the ginger while releasing his grip on his hand. "So, Sage," What kind of name is that anyway? He turned his attention to the fellow blonde. "care to keep your hands off him next time you feel like getting inadequately comfortable with someone? Thanks."

[Sage Ersilia]

Sage felt so terrible for having gotten so close to Odion. He should have known that it was not proper for him to hold the hand of a stranger like that. He had gotten far too comfortable, and now he was surely paying for it. Rhett seemed infuriated with him, and he did not blame him one bit. Odion did much to try and protect him, but he could not ignore Rhett’s irritation.

“He’s right…I broke through the boundaries of what is acceptable. I shouldn’t have touched your hand, Odion. I’m sorry. I tend to just be a little too friendly sometimes and forget that it’s not always wanted”

Sage held out his hand to Rhett, trying to be respectful and introduce himself properly.

“I’m Sage. It’s nice to meet you Rhett, even if you do not feel the same. I promise to keep my distance from now on”

The boy looked him directly in the eyes so that he would know he was telling the truth, and he smiled, hoping it would ease the other’s conscious about the whole situation.

[Odion Martins]

Rhett just wasn’t willing to let things be. Sage and he had a simple encounter, the blonde became a little too excited at the prospect of someone caring about him enough to spend a little time with him, and Rhett happened to be working in the same vicinity Odion was in. Let’s also remind everyone that Mr. Goddard’s powers are stronger and more in tune with the happenings of his boyfriend. Lucky Sage, and lucky Odion. Seemed like they had a guardian angel in their midst, or perhaps just a Rhett.

Odi frowned deeply when Rhett shoved away his touch. “Lay off Rhett, he wasn’t hurting anybody,” the redhead said to the back of his boyfriend’s head as he decided to give Sage a piece of his mind, though he wasn’t that intimidating in his McDonald’s uniform. The freckled boy was unimpressed with Rhett. Odion could handle his own battles, and he wasn’t going to do anything stupid, like oh I don’t know, cheat on Rhett with Sage. Just like he hadn’t cheated on him with Logan, or anyone else for that matter.

Rhett wasn’t here to be sweet, his actions said as much, he was here to claim what was his, or so he thought. Odion smacked Rhett with the paralytic bear. “If you want to spend more time with me, just ask, you have nothing to be jealous of here.” He said. What he really wanted to say was ‘get back to work, I can take care of myself’ but they were in a relationship now, and things needed to be handled with more care. Just a bit more though.

A small smile graced Odion’s face from behind Rhett at the genuineness in Sage’s voice. "Apology accepted," he said. Rhett didn’t need to be so harsh; it was like he wasn’t allowed to have friends or something. What next? Physical abuse? The ginger didn’t expect Rhett to formally introduce himself, but this didn’t disappoint Odion as much as Rhett wasting his break on this pointless display of ‘power’, instead of spending it with him for once. He was totally devoted to Rhett, why was he acting like this?

They were starting to draw others’ attention, and Odion was highly aware of the many sets of eyes on them. “Come on now, kiss and make up, there’s nothin’ worth fighting for here.” Perhaps not the best choice of words, but he was trying to get a point across.

[Rhett Goddard]

Sage was admitting he shouldn't have done it and was complying to Rhett. Good. Re-introducing himself, however, was just a waste of time for the blonde.

"I meant it," He reminded Sage. "whatever."

Odion's case was good, even if it included smacking Rhett's head, but what was he to do? Sit silently in his job while his boyfriend holds hand with another, maybe equally cute, blonde? He didn't want to admit at first, but truth was that being jealous had lots of sense. To Rhett, Odion -is- Rhett's possession, and just as dogs, he needed to mark his territory and growl at whoever walks into it. In Rhett's mind, Odion should feel flattered instead of annoyed at this. Kiss and make up? Rhett rolled his eyes Odion's comment, thinking that the ginger was in fact worth fighting for.

"I need to get back to work." He said softly before kissing Odion in his forehead and directing his attention at the other blonde for a second before returning it to the time-controller. "Be good, ok?"

All he really meant was "don't make me feel jealous". Was that too much to ask? After looking at Sage up and down again with a dreadful look, Rhett decided to turn around and leave before he got in trouble at his job.

[Sage Ersilia]

Sage was grateful to Odion for defending him and accepting his apology, but he could see that his presence was putting a small strain on the boy’s relationship. He shuffled a bit in place, intimidated by Rhett’s obvious dislike of him, and the boy even reiterated how it was not nice to meet him. He was used to not being liked by some, but he had never been spoken to so harshly, and he would have been lying to say that it didn’t hurt at least a little bit.

“…M-maybe I should go…”

Sage was mentally cursing at how badly he had screwed up. He had come to buy a Christmas gift for his sister, not ruin a relationship. Even if Rhett had been overly protective and accusatory, Sage did not want to be responsible for tainting something Odion truly cared about. Rhett wandered off back to his work after another warning look, and Sage hugged the unstuffed elephant to his chest.

“I’m sorry, Odion…had I known this was going to happen, I would have never done that…he’ll feel better if I go, right? Thanks for helping me find the gift…”

He looked down, almost afraid to make eye contact with the ginger in fear he would be attacked again.

[Odion Martins]

Odion smirked slightly at Rhett’s being stubborn. At least he meant what he said, right?

He smiled as Rhett bid them him farewell, and went back to work. Odion watched him leave and couldn’t help but think how good looking he was. Is. He wasn’t trying to make him feel jealous; the French boy could only be as jealous as he allowed himself to be, Odi could only do so much to help in that area. Although he would hate to be able to read minds at this point, he would hate to be compared to a dog for the hundredth time.

The ginger glanced back to Sage, who was adorably hugging the lifeless elephant. “Don’t mind him,” he said with a grin, “he’s just... Rhett.” Odion had said his boyfriend’s name with a bit more feeling than anticipated, but he couldn’t take it back now. “You didn’t do anything wrong,” he offered, before making his way towards the stuffing area of the shop, beckoning to Sage with his hand, “and we have a bear to make for your sister.”

It was probably the sweetest Odion had been to someone who he didn’t owe anything to.

The End.