Points of Authority (Taitum)

[Lani Hunter]

It had been a few weeks since his early morning breakdown. Whether Taitum Marshall had written him up or not Lani wasn’t sure but he had indeed had his door pounded on that day. That they knew he had wrecked the hall didn’t necessarily mean that Taitum had told someone, it was just simply that of all the people here only a few people were capable of trashing a door like that. At least that was what his roommates had told him. For by mid afternoon Lani had risen refreshed but his mind was no more satisfied and slipped off into town disappearing for a few days. He hadn’t gotten anywhere with what Taitum had told him. He growled at the memory, ‘Like a five year old with a machine gun.’ How true that analogy had been. ‘Dangerous.’ Those words had struck Lani and anger boiled in him even now as he recalled them.

Why did everyone think he didn’t understand that? If anything he understood his instability more. He was dry tinder. Any spark would set him off and he wasn’t sure if that was because of the imprisonment of Hammel or his irritation at the constant headaches for this godforsaken power. Either way he had been keeping out of the way recently. He really didn’t want to hurt someone like he had almost hurt Taitum. He had spent a lot of time just doing his job. Out in the town for several nights he had just arrived back to get a barrage of lectures about how ‘worried’ they had been. Yeah, worried he had accidentally killed someone, worried they would have to explain to his parents that they had lost him.

In a way the yelling had been easier to deal with because he knew where they stood on things. Taitum he wasn’t sure, it made him uneasy. He didn’t trust him and perhaps that had been his initial mistake. A five year old with a machine gun. A wildfire laying in wait. It terrified him. He didn’t even know what he was capable of. He had to get out of this business. It was killing him. He couldn’t even look at himself in the mirror anymore without feeling like he was looking at the face of a criminal. How had his honorable stumble become a dishonorable addiction? “I don’t want to do this anymore.” He said aloud to himself as he slumped down onto a bench. He had apologized to Cassie, he felt like she knew his way and it hurt him to deceive her. He couldn’t imagine her reaction if she knew his way. She was so unlike Caroline but he loved her as if she were his own sister as well. It was strange, it was because of Caroline that he had gotten into this business, but perhaps because of Cassie he could get out of it.

So here he was, waiting for Taitum. He had lost too many nights of sleep thinking about what that man had said and he stubbornly refused to accept them. But it bothered him, he needed to ask questions, and since Taitum worked the graveyard shift he had to risk detention to do talk to him. (He might have stolen a peak at the records and seen his work schedule). A vibration in his pocket startled him out of his thoughts and he pulled out the phone. Mom, the screen read. “Hello?” He answered skeptically. "Hi, Dad," he said flatly. He paled when his father started yelling. Apparently the school had called and told him about him skipping class and sneaking out. He screamed and screamed. "Do you think I care? Face it! I'm not going to college!.... Yeah well maybe I don't want to be you're son anymore either!" With that he snapped the phone and threw it. It landed in the soft grass with a thump instead of the crash he was hoping for. He sighed and looked up at the setting sun.

[Taitum Marshall]

All Taitum could think of was Aracelli. He too was experiencing sleepless nights because of her. He'd seen her return back to her old routine. She was slipping in and out of the dance studio where Reece was causing him to believe that there was something going on between the two. Upon close inspection he'd noticed she wasn't wearing his ring. He should never have walked out that morning but she meant so much to him already. Taitum tried to shake the thought as he stared at the alarm clock on his bedside table flashing 6.59 pm.

Work. Duty was calling and he felt like his world was coming crashing in once more. His mundane life. The alarm went off and switched the radio on at exactly seven pm and Taitum got out of bed and headed for the bathroom so he could take a shower. At exactly 7. 30 pm, Taitum was on his way to work. The drive in the dark had a hypnotic feel to it. It always did. This was why he liked the graveyard shift. Everything was calm and there was certainly more to see and do if you were a anti-social ex-soldier.

He drove through the gates, parked his car and moved into the building to sign in for his shift. Taitum headed off to make his rounds when he heard the screaming leading into the courtyard and he quirked a brow at the end of the conversation. Taitum slowly headed closer to the boy and came to a stopped beside Lani eyeing the phone.
"That's just perfect. Just what I needed. Another head to head with the fire cra-"
Taitum fell silent when he saw Lani's face before slowly making his way over to the soft snow covered grass.

He picked the phone up from it and shook off any bits of snow on it turning his eyes back to his minime.
"You don't need your parents. You don't need your siblings and you certainly don't need your friends. It's your life right?"
Taitum said softly, his voice holding very little emotion in it.

"He's just trying to protect you. You're his son. They don't get us because they don't know us. We're Gods remember? They're only human... what did you expect? "
Taitum shrugged and started towards Lani holding the phone to him.
"You have one hour. I'm circulating around the training field. When I come back I better not be seeing your face here or anywhere else you're not supposed to be. "
With his free hand he pulled out a packet of cigarettes and flipped the box open with his thumb then bit into the bud of a cigarette pulling it from the packet while waiting for Lani to agree.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani stared at the phone, a strange mixture of despair, abandonment, and anger. He had never felt so alone in his life. And that made him angry. He was used to being alone, independent, he didn’t need anyone. But it was kind of nice to know that someone would always be there for him. Even if he never needed them. His mother would be there, but he had always looked up to his father. Then when it came clear after Lani didn’t stop stealing Lani’s admiration of his father turned to hate, why did he have to take care of everyone? Why was it Lani’s job to keep his family safe? His father had been alright with it when Lani was giving it to Caroline’s medical bills. But now it was unheard of, he was the shame of the Hunter family? And now his father wished he had never been born. A great sense of unfairness settled over him. He knew he was throwing his life away but after relying on himself for so long he couldn’t bring himself to obey his father.

He heard the crunch on the snow as someone approached. A glance out the corner of his eyes told him who. The man he was waiting for. He suddenly didn’t want to have anything to do with him. With anyone. He fought against the anger and the sadness. He averted his gaze when he started speaking. Five year old with a machine gun. Taitum’s voice faded and Lani watched numbly as he walked to get the phone he had cast into the grass. Lani forced himself to swallow his anger and sorrow. He was in better mental shape than when he had last met Taitum. Then he had been tired and unable to keep his wits about him.

His eyes flickered up as he spoke again. The words were flat and soft but Lani found no comfort in them. Embarrassed at his conversation having been overheard Lani sat quiet. He tried to keep his face indifferent but it visibly fell at his words. They were his own words and that was what stung. He needed them, he knew but he liked to think they needed him as well. He hung his head. “I... I hate this.” he said a little bitterness filtering into his voice. "They don't tell you how hard it is." He had to much pride to admit that he needed anyone because would mean admitting defeat. He was used to protecting others, not the other way around. He needed a little guidance and that was why he had been here waiting for Taitum to come around. Over the nights he had thought about how he might approach without getting angry and getting into another fight. The conversation with his father had totally blown all of his calm out of him.

Lani shook his head at Taitum. “It’s not like that,” he said then as an afterthought added, “Stop making assumptions.” His father wasn’t trying to protect him. Maybe at one point yes, but it had changed into accusations and shunning. He cocked his head at Taitum. “What the hell do you mean by that? If we’re Gods, why does everything feel so…” He paused searching for the words. “So damn human?” He clenched a fist and waving it in a gesture of helplessness.

He took his phone and without looking at it placed it into his pocket treating it like a venomous animal. He looked back up at the security officer. He shrugged as if everything in the world had lost its meaning. His curiosity pushed through his anger and gave his mind a mental slap. He’d better not waste this opportunity. “Wait,” Lani said, “I need to talk to you. Do you mind if I walk with you?” That was more of a courtesy. After that phone call Lani wasn’t in a mood to be dismissed and Lani made the silent decision to be as annoying as possible if he was brushed off.

[Taitum Marshall]

Taitum half smiled when he heard the boy mention how they never give out a warning during adolescence. How many times had he heard that before? 'Marshall, This is hard.' 'Why did I ever join the army? They never tell you how difficult it's going to be.' Hadn't he said something alone similar lines before in his life? 'Being a man is hard.' That was it. Where had he heard it? His father of course. The full saying went : Being a man is hard. Suck it up, soldier. Yup, that's what the old man said before he was forced onto a plane to god knows where.

It was truly horrible to feel rejected like that. Just thrown aside like nothing. Maybe that was what made people say that very phrase to one another. Taitum sighed and shook his head.
"It's not meant to be easy anyway. "
Taitum mentioned in his level careless tone. Better the boy learn at some point. Some stay in the happy little bubble till they are forty, divorced and aimless. At least Lani knew that there were no freebies in this life.

With the cigarette between his lips and lit, Taitum felt just a little more clear headed and ready to answer that stupid question. He shook his head.
"I don't know Lani. I know about survival and I know about staying strong. I know about staying distant and untouchable. I know about fighting and war and not feeling. "
Taitum was just about to turn and leave when he heard Lani ask him if he could join him on his rounds.

What was this? What was this boy after, clinging to him like some lost soul? Taitum shot Lani a little glare, his face grim before he sighed in exasperation.
"If you absolutely must. Don't slow me down or I'll leave you behind."
Taitum said pausing for half a moment to allow Lani the oppurtunity to fall in beside him before he turned and headed away.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani frowned his mind adrift. When had things changed between his father and him? It hadn’t been too long after Caroline got better things started to get hard. Lani couldn’t just pack up and leave and his father didn’t get that. So instead he had gone to alarm systems and locks. Little did his father know that Lani had more than enough experience with those things. His boss taught him well. He had wanted out the whole time, after Caroline got better but he had a debt. Now he had more than paid off that debt but one didn’t simply stop being a thief. Not when someone knew that they could hold your family’s safety over your head. He once asked a senior if he could leave and then man hadn’t said anything but when he was called in for his assignment the next day his boss asked him about it. When Lani reluctantly admitted it to him the boss wondered innocently about his sister and what he would do to keep her safe. That had been it. He was slowly disappearing now but who knew if he could slip away.

Lani looked up as Taitum answered. He sighed; he couldn’t say he was anticipating a different answer. He had hoped but oh well, it was true nothing in life was for free. He shrugged in return and pocketed the phone. “Fair enough,” he replied. It was really no mystery why older people envied children. It was so easy to ignore the pain that those older cannot get away from. He remembered carefree times and he wanted his sister to know carefree times for longer than he had.

He shifted uncomfortably as Marshall took a drag of his cigarette. He reached up absently and scratched at the burn he had received about a week earlier in a fight against that bastard. It was going to leave an ugly scar but at least it had stopped hurting. He usually had it bandaged, mostly because the doctor made him and it always freaked people in class out. It really wasn’t very noticeable, a lot smaller than he had initially thought, just a fat line that ran down from his ear. They said they could heal it completely but Lani liked to keep it as a reminder. He had never liked them but if anything now he loathed them. They made him uneasy and even though he knew he could move them he didn’t want to even touch them with his power. He frowned at Taitum, that wasn’t the answer he was hoping for. “Is that it?” Lani asked, “Stay distant, untouchable? Am I supposed to leave everything, everyone, behind?” Lani’s first thought was his sister then Cassie, he couldn’t leave them. It would make disappearing easier. He could if he really wanted to but there was so much holding him here.

Lani raised a brow at the man’s glare. He wasn’t intimidated just curious. What did the guy think he was going to do? Latch onto him? Fat chance. He wanted help but he didn’t want someone to figure out his problems. They were his problems, he had gotten himself in and he needed to get himself out. And also he just didn’t want anyone to know about them. “Yes sir,” Lani said not smiling. It was strange, how much he had hated Marshall that night but the more he thought about it the more he respected him. He rose slowly and fell in step with Taitum. “You were in the army weren’t you?” Lani asked after a while. He already knew the answer but he was interested to hear it from Taitum. “Is that why you called me a soldier that night?” He raised a brow curious. He couldn’t really tell is Taitum hated him or not. He wouldn’t doubt it, there was certainly no friendship there.

[Taitum Marshall]

Taitum frowned, but didn't allow Lani to see the frown at all, instead keeping his face to the shadows. Lani's words and questions told Taitum he was treading on dangerous ground here. Did he want Lani to become bitter and cold like he was, incapable of loving anyone except from a distance like he was doing with Lani, Thyme and Aracelli? Taitum felt they were all safer if he kept his distance. The old soldier was so frightened that one day he'd crack, pull out a gun and go on a rampage.

God, Taitum hardly needed a gun if he pulled forth his power to the point where he was willing to face death by using it. Any meta was capable of killing is they used all their power. Taitum was no different. He needed no gun to go on his rampage. It was a very scary thought and one he was not at all fond of. Taitum had other things to concern himself with right then anyway. He had a boy looking for advice on being a man. A boy that had all the focus in the world set on whatever Taitum would say.

Taitum didn't want to be in this possition. He felt like Lani was about to enter his own personal little battle against the world and he expected Taitum to give him words of encouragement for it. Did Lani not understand that he was so far from human or so beyond being any sorts of kind that asking him for advice was like praying for the devil to possess you. Taitum shot Lani a bored look and shrugged his shoulders.

"I haven't said anything of the sort. I'm saying it works for me. You wanna be lonely the rest of your life? Sure run away and leave it all behind. Everything in life has to keep moving right?"
Taitum said choosing his sentences way too carefully for his own taste. He was never cautious about what he said but there with Lani he was. Lani seemed to have a way of making him cautious.

Then came the biggest question. Taitum twitched sharply and flashes his eyes to the ground blinking at the two shadows heading for the open field ahead. Students often hide along the tree lined field in hopes of slipping out when no one was looking or hooked up in the darkness for some moonlight kisses, or slipped curfew for a few hours longer. Taitum knew all the tricks by now. Taitum took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"You remind me of my cadets...."
Taitum said with a tone of caution and let his eyes meet Lani's. It was Lani and Thyme. The two boys who were most like little soldiers in his eyes. Most like Livius. Most likely to die young.
"That's not a good thing. Half of them died. Don't be stupid. Be careful."
Taitum said the last five words slowly and carefully. Maybe it would sink in and Lani would turn to those words when in doubt.

Then again... did any of these young warriors?

[Lani Hunter]

Lani shifted uncomfortably when Taitum was silent for so long. He bit the inside of his lip and his mind drifted. Perhaps he should leave, it would be safer. Or was that just running away from his problems. If he could keep his boss from finding out about Hammel he might have hope but if he vanished his boss would make sure he paid. No way out, he felt trapped. If was worse than the fear of prison. He wanted to stop, but he couldn’t. It wasn’t totally his boss’s fault though, he had to admit, he certainly enjoyed life on the edge. He smiled a little thinking of Adrianna, she would probably have a heart attack if she really knew what was going on. She was yet another reason things were getting complicated. Now the question wasn’t ‘could he leave’ but it was changing into ‘did he want to’. He didn’t like it. Perhaps Taitum did have all the answered, perhaps not. But he was certainly farther along than Lani who generally had no idea which way to turn. Already Taitum had treated him as more of an adult than anyone else. He loved making his own decisions but it was the taking responsibility that Lani was having issues with.

Lani cocked his head curious when Marshall finally answered. He had a good point. What did he want? Well it certainly didn’t help that Lani had no idea. Maybe he should just go to jail and never have to worry about things like this. He stuck his hands in his pockets and considered his answer. “What if you don’t have a choice? Life keeps moving and we’re all swept up in the tide.” There was a strange parallel in this statement, Lani remembered the choice Taitum had given him, he hadn’t trusted him, and honestly still didn’t trust him very much. But sometimes there really weren’t any choices. And the ones you had were artificial. He shrugged and gave Marshall a little smile. “But what will be will be, eh?” It had always been Lani’s sayings. It was part of the way he let himself drift though life never paying too much attention to one thing or another.

As they walked Lani watched as his shadow stretched and turned his eyes up to the sky. Oh what he would give to fly. To escape and be truly free. He had already decided if he ever was able to master flight on an object he would use that skill and escape the world for a while. Lani wasn’t very politically active or interested but he did care about the economy and how health care was changing. He personally loved the idea, with it if Caroline got sick again they didn’t have worry about the money. Perhaps if his parents had had health care when she was sick Lani wouldn’t be in the position he is now.

Lani spent an ungodly amount of time thinking about the ‘what ifs’. He wondered if his power would have come out at all. If he hadn’t been pressured like he had, would his power have remained dormant or would it have blasted out anyways. He doubted anyone had the answers to those questions and they weren’t worth asking but his mind dwelled on them. He glanced at Marshall and frowned, his question about being in the army fearing he might have overstepped his bounds. Lani would put it past himself he had a rather large mouth when it came to things like this. He smiled sadly remembering the old English teacher, Dalton that almost got too close. If there was anyone here Lani had been close to it had been him. He sighed sadly, but he had betrayed him too and now he had no idea where he was.

Taitum spoke and Lani’s eyes snapped up in surprise. He met Marshalls eyes and was nearly leveled by the look. He reminded him of cadets? He wanted to protest and say he was far from it. Reckless, yes. Adrenaline junky, very much so, but he wasn’t anything like a cadet. He didn’t follow orders, he was arrogant and careless. What worried Lani was the way he said it. Caution. He probably didn’t know the extent of Lani’s risk but he had guessed as much and that was impressive. He frowned and his curiosity only peaked when he spoke again. Well this was interesting, he thought Lani was careless.

Lani decided to casually press the subject. “But what do I have to be careful about?” Lani gave him a little innocent smile, “I’m safe and sound here at Hammel, and if anyone messes with me I’ll flatten them.” He said taking a jab at Hammel and adding a touch of annoyance to his last words. Why not? He could probably toss someone from here to the lake if he had the mind to. Sure he’d probably pass out, but still. It had already been agreed on that Lani was dangerous by pretty much everyone. Reckless, danger to society, the list went on. There was no way he was going to be able to get out of here. He was trapped until someone else deemed him ready, and he wasn’t on the road to getting that approval.

[Taitum Marshall]

Taitum frowned at the boy. Something was wrong with him. The moment Lani replied with the 'no choice' thing, Taitum's eyes narrowed. What had the boy gotten himself into? Lani had made a connection with Taitum the night they met and Lani really did remind him of one of the soldiers he'd lead into battle. It had been a big responsibility for a twenty four year old but the US government thought that if you could shoot to kill, you could shoot to protect as well and that made you a man. A fully fledged man.

Taitum licked his lips for a moment eyeing the boy as if trying to take a look into the very core of Lani's soul.
"Lani? You'd better tell me what shit you got yourself into. "
Taitum's tone was threatening and his eyes were harder now then they were. They were further away from the school building now and the air was cold and crisp out there where the were walking.

The snow was still thick on the ground the further they went away from the building. Deeper into darkness. A student trusting so that he was safe with Taitum.... Lani was either brave, stupid or desprate. Taitum shook his head at the boy's smile.
"No Lani. You control your own destiny. You have a life. You're not a child forced to kneel at your parents feet. You're not forced to kneel at anyone's feet..."
Except of course Taitum's.

Someone needed to control the boy right?
"You always have a choice. It's either the hard one or the easy one. The hard one can hurt like hell. The easy one makes you believe you have no choice. Don't be a coward. What's going on? You'd better tell me..."
Taitum said carefully, his words crisp and cold like the night air around them. That shrug and confidence was not going to get Lani through whatever situation he seemed to be having.

Taitum heard the cocky words and nearly snapped. That was what they had said that night wasn't it. Somewhere along those lines.
"Come on Seargent Marshall. Show your old man that you're better then he is. Let's flatten them. Why wait for reinforcement. Just a bunch of Arabs."
Taitum twisted to and used both his hands to shove the boy praying he'd hit the ground so he could pin Lani there.

His powers tingled at his finger tips begging to be used. They were far from sight. Did Lani not realize he could die at any moment. Just get killed. A bullet. A punch to the head. A crack to the skull a snap of the neck.... a grenade.....Taitum felt that sick choking in his throat again. They Gods trapped in the bodies of human beings. They could die and bleed and hurt. Lani was cocky. He wanted to whip that out the boy right here.

"What makes you think you're superman huh? You have brawn for brains. You act on your balls instead of your brains. I'd be very surprised if you think at all. Lani, you're gonna fuck up your life because you're a KID with a Machine gun and you don't have a clue how to use it. Now tell me what the HELL is going on with you so I can fix it before it kills you?!"
Taitum flinched when he realized what he'd said. He... he cared? Yeah so? He shrugged it off and tightened his back, sqauring his shoulders.

"I will choke it out of you if I have to and we're out in the middle of school grounds. No one would be the wiser Lani. "
His threat wouldn't work. Taitum was well aware that Lani was immune to his threats and would be even more immune now. Taitum cared for him. Taitum wanted to protect him. It was as clear to see as the wall he put up to keep people from getting in but Lani... Oh Lani was immune to that wall too it seemed.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani raised a brow in askance as Taitum gave him a soul piercing look. He didn’t understand why such an innocent question would warrant such a strong reaction. He didn’t like it. He squirmed under his gaze and unconsciously sidestepped his path a little away from Marshall. His eyebrows tried to merge with his hairline at the next statement. “What?” Lani practically squawked. Taitum’s gaze was menacing and Lani didn’t like lying but it was second nature, especially when it came to this. He would never admit to anything. He’d bite off his own tongue before that. The setting sun was causing the air from their breath to mist and Lani just stared at Taitum for a few moments in shock watching the puffing of his own breath.

He regained his composure and shook his head as if he couldn’t imagine what on earth Marshall was talking about. He rolled his eyes and shrugged dismissively. “Didn’t I tell you not to make assumptions? I promise you, Marshall, I am not into anything I can’t handle.” He smiled easily letting the lies flow off his tongue smoothly. Some people had a ‘tell’ when they lied, Lani had trained it out of himself for the most part. Sure there was that impish glint in his eye, but that was always there. As much as if annoyed Lani most of Taitum’s assumptions were probably right. Lani was starting to wonder if he was treading on dangerous ground. He turned is eyes to the snow as he walked through. His footprints just a little smaller that Taitum’s, he wasn’t sure why that bothered him.

He squinted over at the man. What was with people? Why on one hand did they encourage him to live his life and with the other dangle the keys to his freedom out of his reach? He ground his teeth and frowned. “Maybe not my parents,” Lani agreed, they hadn’t held any control over him in a long time. “But how can I control my destiny when people like you are stopping me?” He said accusingly. Yeah, he didn’t trust Taitum as far as he could throw him. When then was Taitum the one he was going to for help? Maybe it was because out of the entire faculty here Taitum was the one that had been the most straight-forward with him. He didn’t cushion his answers and it was that reality that Lani knew he needed to see.

“I am not a coward.” He snarled emphasizing every word. Lani just shook his head. “Again, there is nothing going on.” He shrugged easily and took a deep breath pushing his anger away, he was trying to understand what Marshall hoped to accomplish by doing this. Lani had only wanted to ask a few questions, about Marshall and about life. How had it turned into this? He calmed himself down forcefully and looked back up into Taitum’s eyes and shrugged. He swore silently to himself that when he got out of this mess he wasn’t going to answer to anyone. His boss was probably one of the only people who could really intimidate Lani, Marshall was working on a close second. No one, he was going to be the definition of freedom.

Lani didn’t know his cocky statement had hit a nerve with Marshall. The man turned on him so fast Lani didn’t even realize he had said something stupid until he was already shoved back. The rage shocked him and he was unprepared for a physical assault. He couldn’t keep his balance and went crashing down on his backside with a little ‘oof’. “What the hell, Marshall?!” He yelled his body vibrating from his flight or fight instinct. “I didn’t—” He was cut off from saying more when Taitum started yelling. He flushed and looked away as the onslaught of words came. He gritted his teeth and forced himself not to talk back. He did not where this was headed. There it was again. A kid with a machine gun. He surged back to his feet. “Well it’s too late for that, isn’t it?!” He snapped back. “I’m already fucked up! But you already know that don’t you? You just know everything!” He waved his hands around adding to his sarcastic tone. Lani’s mouth was running away with him, yet again… Taitum wanted to fix it for him. That boiled Lani blood, he wanted advice, he didn’t want Taitum involved, much less fix it for him. This was his mess! “I don’t want you to fix it for me!” He blurted and in that moment he wished he could have swallowed those words, a slip of a confession.

He glared prepared for whatever Marshall could throw at him. He pressed his lips together. His secrets squirmed deep in his heart, they could not be forced out of him. But what was that last thing Taitum said. Marshall wasn’t worried about him, was he? He shook his head, he didn’t care. Taitum’s threat fell on deaf ears for he knew Taitum wanted to protect him not hurt him. It was a strange feeling to be on the receiving end of protection. He had always been the protector, for Caroline and for Cassie now. He raised his chin defiantly and somehow found it in himself to stay calm. “I appreciate your concern Marshall, but it’s unnecessary.” He lied. Could this problem really cost him his life? His heart nearly stopped, his boss knew him and if he hurt Caroline it would kill him.

[Taitum Marshall]

So the boy beside him was uneasy in his company. Good. He should have been. That was what would keep him safe. That was what would keep him under the radar because the very last thing he wanted to do was hurt Lani ... well, hurt Lani badly. Taitum let him side stepped and walk a few steps at a distance though it wouldn't really stop Taitum from reaching out and smacking the boy hard. He had a funny idea that Lani deserved to be smacked around a little bit. The boy's brains were all in a twist.

Taitum could tell there was something dreadfully wrong that Lani did not want to discuss with him in the slightest. It made Taitum feel on edge and exposed. He didn't want Lani to get hurt after making the connected that Lani was one of his boys. The surprise on Lani's face when Taitum guessed that something was wrong, confirmed that something was wrong and Taitum felt even more uneasy and on edge. This only made anger bubble up inside of him like a volcano that was about to errupt.

Then Lani lied to him. Wasn't that what people said when they lied. 'I assure you' and 'I promise'. Lani had already given himself away by his reaction prior to the lie. He'd figured the boy was smarter then that. Smart enough to understand that lying would only get him into more trouble. The smile didn't phase Taitum and the fact that Lani's eye found ground after the lie made a ripple pass through the volcano man. Taitum understood what Lani meant by not having the ability to create his own destiny.

He didn't want to tell Lani what he was thinking. He didn't want to tell Lani that the reason they were curbing him was because he wasn't heading toward the correct destiny. As a child, one never saw what would happen in the future of you stayed on a certain path. From the outside looking in, Adults seemed to have a strange sixth sense about these kinds of things and Taitum kept developing one around Lani and Thyme these days. Lani hit the ground but like a trooper the boy was back on his feet.

Taitum narrowed his eyes and squared his shoulders taking a stance of authority over the boy and listening to those words, so mocking.
"See sense or you'll stay a child. "
Taitum said simply at the back bite he recieved after he'd shoved the boy.
"There is one thing I do know. The look of a dead man walking and you have that look in your eyes. You can't get out of this alone or you would have already. "

Taitum lifted his hand to point back to the school. If Lani wouldn't tell him what was going on then Lani could kiss his night times goodbye. Taitum was NOT letting the boy even exit the building that would keep the boy when night fell.
"Start walking."
Taitum said each world, slowly, clearly and through gritted teeth as he pointed into the direction that held the Cafeteria.

"As Long as I am on duty, you're not leaving the grounds. Maybe you'll be willing to loosen your lips for freedom then."
What Taitum meant to say was: Lani, I'm worried about you. This is the only way I can protect you. I'll keep you safe if it's the last thing I do. I'm not letting you step into the danger waiting for you outside, whatever that may be....

[Lani Hunter]

Lani was a in a world of mistakes, he had dug himself so deep that he didn’t know how to get out and he had far too much pride, and fear, to ask for help. If Taitum were to help him chances were he would help him get a one way ticket to prison. And if not that case then Taitum would probably join him in said prison for covering up for him. He gritted his teeth in frustration, it was better if everyone just stayed out of it but he kept dragging people into it without even meaning to. Now Taitum was insisting on Lani telling the man his secrets. Fat chance. If anything his forcefulness only increased Lani’s resolve to keep his mouth shut.

This was not something that Marshall needed to be involved in. Lani blinked slowly at the older man shaking his head a little as he did so. He was right about one thing he needed help. But there wasn’t any help to be given. The hopelessness of the situation filled Lani with despair. He swallowed it down and was a little afraid of the fact that he had started to consider alternative options. “Why is it adults think they always have all the answers?” He challenged giving into the sullen teenager side of himself a chance to come out. Why was it that they were right and he was always wrong? He knew enough about life to make decisions on his own but everyone seemed to think he was incapable. So he had made a few bad decisions in the past, but he was working on fixing that.

Lani occupied himself in the residual silence of his outburst by dusting the snow off of his pants. He glowered unhappy at the current state of cold seeping through his clothing. If what Taitum was after was to make Lani walk in line, he would be sorely disappointed. Half the problem wasn’t just finding a way to free himself of his boss but there was part of Lani that didn’t want to stop. He liked a life on the edge and like any drug addict he would steal without provocation just to feel the thrill of it. Part of him wondered what kind of a challenge it would be to slip into Taitum’s home and snag something, but the other half didn’t want to upset the man anymore than he already had. He was just an adrenaline junky.

His head snapped up and he glared up at the man. He was intimidating and Lani was pretty sure that he was going to smack him. He squared his shoulders right back though his stance was less certain. He was making himself smaller without even meaning to. Despite his best efforts to resist the effect Taitum was getting very good at intimidating him. He didn’t like this attention, he felt like Marshall was looking at him under a microscope, it certainly didn’t help that he was good at reading Lani. He huffed a little in response to seeing sense. Deciding to ignore the statement just to spite Marshall. In Lani’s mind he was seeing sense, because it didn’t make sense to admit to a myriad of crimes to someone who could potentially make sure that he didn’t see the sun ever again.

Taitum spoke again and Lani’s bristly attitude faded minutely. Well in that Taitum was right, not even Lani’s irrational irritation could deny that. He swallowed hard denying the urge to go and hide. He didn’t allow for anything more than a twitch of an eyebrow at the comment. His eyes became hard with denial and defiance. Lani glared up at Taitum, angry at him for pushing Lani for his secrets, angry that Taitum had again goaded him into anger, and mostly angry at him for being right. He raised his hands and forced a lied again to pass his lips. “I haven’t gotten myself into anything I can’t handle,” he protested adopting an arrogant pose. “Nothing to worry about, I’m not a dead man walking or whatever.” He waved his hands dismissively through the air.
He was ashamed to admit that when Taitum lifted his hand he flinched back a little. When the blow for his insolence and mocking tongue didn’t come Lani followed his finger with his eyes to the school building. He raised a brow at the man. His eyes narrowed and he felt like a scolded child being told to go to his room. He lifted his chin defiantly and narrowed his eyes. He was not about to just do as he was told, didn’t he and Taitum go through this last time? His eyes widened in surprise at the threat. Choking his secrets out of him was one thing but he knew very well that if Taitum really intended to shackle Lani to the school ground he could do it. Taitum, it seemed, also wanted to control Lani. He felt a little chill at the words, his lips were sealed, sure sometimes they could be loosened but that was normally by something rather papery and green. But then no one had ever threatened that freedom that he held so dear.

He didn’t hear concern, he didn’t hear worry. What Lani heard was a challenge. And Lani was more than happy to oblige. He gave Taitum a sly impish smile and shrugged. He raised his hands in yielding. “Very well, Marshall, keep me from whatever imaginary rendezvous you seem to think I’ve been having.” He shrugged and as he turned to follow Marshall’s directions let out a little laugh and shook his head. What a foolish man, Lani knew his work schedule and he couldn’t be everywhere at once, all he had to do was wait it out. No one limited his freedom. His hands itched, he needed to do something, he knew his pick-up was coming soon and he hardly had anything. Taitum’s insistent pushing tried Lani’s temper and he needed to do the only thing he knew how to do when pressured. Run and hide and perhaps steal a few things here and there. Just to show that he could. No one could stop him. He loved to get beyond these walls and beyond his boss’s reach, even if that was an imagined thing. But now Taitum had presented a challenge. He had to rise to it, didn’t he?