Reaching As I Fall (Lani.)

[Lani Hunter]

“Oh really?” Lani leaned forward interested in what Odion had observed. Lani raised a brow, he had a problem, huh? He thought about it and a small smile crept over his face. That was rather true. Recognition was something he loved, even if it wasn’t by his real name. Lani laughed. “I’ll concede to that, but I don’t think serial killing is my style. I like people too much.” He shuttered visibly. “No, I’m no sociopath.” Not to mention Lani was already guilt ridden as it was. He would never be able to hurt someone. Never. If anything Lani had too many emotions. If he hurt someone he would spend so much time apologizing that he would never remember why he had hurt them in the first place. Well, with a few exceptions. Rhett, for one. Lani leaned back his arms crossed and a cocky grin across his face. “They can’t catch a shadow,” he said his eyes flashing. He was like a ghost. Sure he had habits and that was leaving shadows, but no one could trance a shadow. “You think so, Red?” He asked a sly grin on his face. Way to make a competition out of it Odion. They both knew Odion was right but Lani would never admit to it. “That’s probably why we make a good team,” he said thoughtfully, “After all you do quite a good job of making me fit through doors,” he winked teasingly at Odion, “And I can make you a little more confident. You’ve got skills.” Complements, Lani must be drunk.

Lani’s eyes narrowed and a growl crept up his throat. He was drunk but not defenseless. But still Odion’s words only hurt so much because they were true. “I’m not avoiding myself,” he protested, “I know who I am.” The sureness was fake. But Odion didn’t snap back, that stole some of his thunder. He had been prepared to fight for that but to be the one raging against the mountain when it wasn’t reacting wasn’t winning anything. He was just shouting at the wind. He met Odion’s gaze and was struggling not to get lost in those blue eyes. He sighed finally relenting. “No, you’re right, I’m sorry.” Lani said slouching back in his chair. He had been trying to pick a fight; that was what was just happening. No, Odion had come here to forget Rhett and not to have Lani attack him as well. What kind of friend was he? Cowed by the sound scolding Odion had started in his own mind Lani flushed red. Lani looked up at Odion wondering if that was some trick. Finally he decided to take it at face value and he shrugged. “I already told you, anytime.” He wanted to avoid the compliment, it had been meant as an attack and he wanted to forget about it.

It was then he realized how terrifyingly right Odion was. He opened his mouth to protest but then he was right. No one. Not one person, not even his family, knew everything about him. He kept a lot of his school life from his family and a lot of his stealing and family secrets from people here at school. No. No one knew everything about Lani Hunter. And Lani Hunter was starting to wonder if even he knew. As soon as those words left his mouth he wanted to take those back. “Odion, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that…” He scrambled to fix his mistake. He looked into Odion’s eyes and wanted to hide from those hard accusing eyes. Those were the ones that always turned the eyes into a nightmare. Lani’s eyes went down to his hands and he realized he had really messed up here. He forced himself to look up into Odion’s eyes feeling more honest than before with the drinks in him. “I’m really sorry,” he began tasting the unpleasant bitterness of admitting his faults. If he had never know Odion he wouldn’t have felt the need to admit that he was wrong. It had been so long since he had had to admit he was in the wrong. “I shouldn’t have said that, and I’m sorry.” He finally pushed out feeling better in his apology but wounded in his pride. What a strange thing.

Lani couldn’t admit that it was a defense mechanism. He couldn’t tell Odion that he had gotten too close and so Lani had bitten back, but Odion already knew that. Maybe he really was a dog. A wounded one too foolish not to bite the hand of a kind stranger. It was easy to talk about one another’s relationships and their faults but talking between them, that was too close. Lani was likely to bite again if pressed. He hated that he was a coward about feeling things that made him want to fall, to break down and admit that there was something here. It got too close, too confusing. It was a terrible fault Lani had. He was afraid of getting close, it had been a miracle that he had gotten as close as he had with Adrianna, but he kept so much from her. Odion wasn’t just getting close he was getting close to the real Lani. That vulnerable boy that wanted nothing more than to stay hidden.

Lani laughed glad for the alcohol to make his moods swing easily from unhappiness to happiness again. It was good he had been happy when he had started to drink because then he trended toward the brighter end of the spectrum. “What would you do with it?” Lani cried confused at what the uses would be besides being drunk all the time. Besides some people were scary when they were drunk. Lani was seriously glad that Dan had run off after his little show of power. The man hadn’t completely freaked out which verified Odion’s prediction about him being meta. Well that and the fact that Odion was falling all over himself at the moment.

A laugh was pulled out by that comment. He shook his head at Odion. Why was he talking to the sewer? And why did he think he was in the sewer? Good thing Lani didn’t have his camera nor the ability to work his phone camera in this state, he was terribly ticklish and he did not care for Odion or anyone to find that out. “Yes, you are, crazy man,” he chuckled, “You’re very floppy tonight.” Lani shook his head at Odion wondering where his mind had run off to. What a crazy redhead his friend was. “I was never in this manhole,” Lani said crossing his arms and shaking his head. Then a thought struck him. He smiled and raised his hands as if he were called to put them in the air. “Alright, you caught me,” he gave Odion a wink, “I’m amazing.” He wondered if he could get Odion to admit that, if he could even if Odion was out of his mind drunk he would never let the ginger forget it.

“Tea is so gross!” Lani wrinkled his nose in emphasis. He had never been a tea fan. Lani met his eyes and narrowed them as if he were weighing whether or not he could get away with it. He groaned. “Oh fine, I’ll have your tea,” he smirked, “Then I’ll dump it in my harbor!” Yes he knew Odion was Irish but no he did not care to make the distinction at the moment. Lani didn’t have time not the coordination to move out of the way as the white hat slapped on his head. He couldn’t see for a moment, white out! He flicked it back on his head and grinned at his mediocre trick. “You think so?” He asked looking up at the white brim and hoping his blush didn’t show in the darkness. Lani laid back and the hat tipped back on the concrete. But Lani didn’t care, there were stars to be seen. The night air was helping to clear his head but he was far too drunk to be sobered so quickly. He did have time to reflect about what a terrible hangover he would have tomorrow. Lani closed his eyes. I wish for things to be made right, he thought wondering how it was he was still seeing stars through his closed lids. Lani peeked his eyes open and glanced at Odion. “It is,” he agreed. Lani giggled sticking his tongue out at Odion. “If I told you it wouldn’t come true, silly.”

Lani sat up and retrieved the hat that had been left behind on the ground. He twirled it in his hands before placing it on his head and grinning like a loon. Feeling a little bold he reached out and poked Odion in the stomach. “We’re gonna get hit by a car,” he said, “We gotta move.” He was speaking so eloquently tonight. With his slurs and stutters. Lani looked up at the stars not too enthusiastic to get up and leave this moment. He watched the stars and they slowly stopped spinning and his face became content and awed. He felt so small. Perhaps there were powers to make wishes come true. But maybe Lani should have been more careful with his wishes. Vague ones tended to cause problems before they gave their reward.

[Odion Martins]

Odion grinned. “You like people?” He feigned being shocked, shaking his head. Lani didn’t like people, not really. No thief liked people as a whole. Sure, each thief could like a handful of people, but not collectively. “You’re not a shadow Lani, you’re a man, and you are catchable.” Lani was playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse that wasn’t necessary. He was looking for recognition just for the thrill of it and not seeing the aftermath. Really Odi was surprised Lani hadn’t been caught yet, what with his powers often going off the deep end. “I also think you’re enjoying that pet name a little too much, overusing it if you will,” he teased with a smirk. Odion smiled, both pleased and a little embarrassed. They were a good team because they were equals, opposites, and yet so similar at the same time. “I don’t need more confidence...” Odi mumbled, looking down at the table. He knew he had skills, he didn’t need to prove himself to know that.

“No you don’t. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be so oblivious to the most obvious of things.” Maybe Odi was being a little harsh, but he wasn’t taking into account that not everyone was as good at reading people as he was. Not everyone jammed their way into someone’s life just for the want of getting to know them. But really, Odion didn’t want to fight, not with Lani. Yes, he wanted to throw some punches, but the right target wasn’t here right now, and that was the whole point of coming out tonight. Odion knew he was throwing Lani through a loop, somewhere in his drunk mind he knew that he was throwing Lani off the beaten track once again. “S’alright, I know you think I’m constantly testing you or something.” Odion grinned apologetically, glad that they were both soon to be on the same page, even though Lani looked more uncomfortable now than when they were starting to fight. “And for the record,” he said, not noticing Lani’s blush, “I am. Always testing you.”

Waiting for some kind of utterance to come from Lani’s mouth, Odion was only too pleased to find Lani was shell shocked. So there wasn’t anyone that knew him. “Like I said before, you don’t know who you are, and neither does anyone else.” Odion on the other hand, knew who he was. He was a nobody, a liar, and a damn good thief. He just didn’t know what he wanted. “It’s fine. Whatever.” Odion said, glad to get his hands on another drink and the night underway. Lani could pick on him some other time. And he could stop apologizing any second now. “Seriously, it’s alright.” Odi was half way through his new drink. He was glad Lani was sorry, but he wasn’t looking for grovelling. The last sorry had the ginger grinning a bit. “You’re still whipped though,” he said, taking another swig of his drink. By who, he didn’t say this time.

Lani didn’t have to admit to something being there, it was their shared elephant in the room.

Drinking was multi faceted, just like the two teens. Odion knew that drinking could appease pain, or it could make it worse, and the end results were dependant on your mind set, and who you were with. Thankfully, he was with a good friend, crush, whatever, and he was having a good time. He had had more than his limit, and would certainly feel it tomorrow, but the present was already being spoken for. Now, Odion was just trying to show Lani what he would do with such a power.

“Crazy cat man, thank you very much,” Odion corrected, sure of himself. “Floppy?” Odi had a worried look on his face. “Is that supposed to be...” He blanked on the words, before trying again, slowly this time. “Is that supposed to be an insult?” There, perfect enunciation. “Yes you were! I was rolling and rolling and rolling over the street, and when I came to this, this man hole, you were yelling to me! I could hear you inside of it.” Odion watched Lani in awe and wonder. “Are you magic?” He asked, shaking his finger at Lani and laughing again, as though he had figured it all out. “You’re some kind of magician.” He wasn’t exactly admitting to Lani being amazing, but hey, this was still pretty rich.

“Yay!” Somewhere in the back of his mind, Odion was kicking himself. Had he really just said ‘yay’? Really? But he was too busy laughing at Lani’s jokes. “You own a harbor? Wow, a magician and a millionaire.” Odion pretended to swoon, batting his eyelashes at Lani, before falling into a fit of giggles once more. “You’re right, I do giggle a lot.” He forgot to add, while he was drunk. “You should keep it,” Odion said in reference to the hat, before concentrating on the stars. Odi playfully hit Lani’s shoulder. “I’m not silly. I was just curious.”

Odion held his stomach like he had been seriously wounded. “But I’m already dead from that mighty jab!” He insisted as Lani zoned out. “Let’s travel by rolling,” Odi said, turning round and round as the world was under him, over him, then under him again until bonk. Odion hit his leg on a parked car and it’s alarm went off. He was upright and laughing, stumbling over himself in search of Lani. “Okay okay, make it stop! I swear I’ll walk the rest of the way home.” He giggled some more as the world kept wobbling out of focus, the car alarm blaring.

[Lani Hunter]

“Ha ha,” Lani uttered his fake laugh for Odion’s enjoyment. Though it was true, to an extent. Lani hated people for what people were capable of; he was constantly expecting the worst and enjoying being pleasantly surprised. But that wasn’t always the case. Sometimes people were just as, if not more, horrible than one could ever had predicted. Lani shrugged this information obviously having no effect on his arrogance. “Am I?” He asked his eyes flashing. “What if I am uncatchable?” It really was all luck. That and the fact that he had such a tight hold of his power when he was in the zone that he might as well not have had one. Lani grinned. “I like,” he declared, “But shall I start adding some variety? Oh Lieutenant Red Charming,” he said smushing them all together into one. Lani looked Odion over and shook his head. “Maybe,” he agreed but clearly not believing himself.

Lani was a little taken aback by Odion’s protests. He knew who he was. He did. Didn’t he? Well, perhaps when he stopped hiding from himself he would. “Not everything is so obvious,” he pointed out. For one, this. Them. To Lani this was anything but obvious. But then again, it was there and Lani was just ignoring it. He had always been good at ignoring things he didn’t want to think about. But Odion was changing that. It was probably a good thing he was drinking, at least he would probably pass out as soon as he thought about it. Throwing Lani off the beaten track was one thing when he was aware of his footing but right now every root and rock would make him stub his toe. Lani raised a brow and waited leaning forward a little. That was exactly how it was. But what was Odion saying? He wasn’t always testing him? No… wait yes. There it was the admission. He felt himself smile. He knew it. “And do I pass?” He asked without being able to stop himself.

“But, I know who I am,” he protested but it came out more of a question. If Lani didn’t know who he was then how was he supposed to think of his power as a part of himself. If Lani didn’t know who he was then who did? And who could tell Lani? It almost seemed as if super sleuth Odion had taken up that laborious task. And instead of thanking him Lani was fighting him every step of the way. “Who are you?” Lani asked suddenly narrowing his eyes at Odion. Maybe Odion knew who he was, or maybe he was just as lost as Lani was. Lani looked down at his hands. That didn’t sound very much like an acceptant response. The second sounded more genuine but it also sounded a bit annoyed. So Lani’s spine grew back then and he washed out the sour taste with a drink. Lani gave Odion a bemused look surprised that he was still going on about this. Instead of responding in a way that would get him deeper into this hole he had dug he settled for baring his teeth like a feral animal and leaving Odion to decide whether or not he wanted to step down that dangerous path.

It was a good thing that the pair of them had gone out together instead of just Odion going out. Lani wouldn’t have wanted things to end up just like they did when Rhett left for the first time. But at the moment his problems were looking rather small and he was satisfied with that. He would deal with the inevitable consequences tomorrow. For right now he was going to enjoy himself and pretend like the world didn’t rest on his shoulders. Was this how Atlas felt? Carrying every single thought and action on his shoulders like a bolder. Or was he carrying every single human and every single problem on this small speck of a dot in the vast expanses of space in the palm of his hand in the cradle of father time? Oh dear… Lani shook his head he did not want to get into this again.

Lani laughed glad his mind was taken off of the burdens of the earth. “Alright crazy cat man, let me know if you ever need a sanity check. Lani looked at Odion amused by his worry. He took his time humming and rubbing his chin as he considered his answer. “It is how you take it,” he responded giving neither a confirmation or a decline. Let Odion make his own interpretation of that. Lani at least had only been making an observation. A brow raised Lani did his best to hold in giggles as Odion told him his story with seriousness. Finally he shouldn’t do it anymore. This was too good! So Lani nodded and shrugged. “I can’t believe you caught me inside the manhole,” Lani gave him a woebegone expression and he could hardly hold himself back. “Shhh, it’s a secret, Odion,” he said, “You can’t tell anyone I’m a magician.” He winked at the redhead. He was enjoying this too much. Oh he hoped Odion remembered this in the morning!

Lani shook his head again and put his hands out in front of himself. “No, no, like the Boston harbor, the Boston Tea Party. Get it?” He asked moving his hands in a wheel motion as if that would get the wheels in Odion’s head turning. Lani couldn’t help himself from guffawing and laughing so hard he fell backwards clutching his stomach as the ache from laughter started up. Lani could only nod because he was too busy trying to catch his breath. He was sure he was growing red as he laughed. Wow did he sound like a hyena? He took several deep breaths getting himself back under control his shoulder shaking with the occasional chuckle. “I can’t keep it,” Lani said confused, “It’s yours.” It wasn’t like that had ever stopped him before but it was different being offered. Lani swayed a little too much from the impact and he shook his finger at Odion. “Well I’m not going to tell you.” He was acting like a child with a secret.

Blinking Lani came back to reality in time to shake his head a giggle at Odion’s reaction. “Let’s not…” Apparently Odion wasn’t listening because he was off rolling like a log down the street. “Oooodion,” Lani called after him staggering to his feet, “We can’t roll all the way back to Hammel.” Lani reached out for Odion as he shot to his feet and look like he was ready to topple back over. He put his arm around Odion half supporting him and half using Odion to prop himself up. The car alarm was little too much for Lani’s brain and his power decided that had to stop. There was a loud pop as the car flew straight in the air several feet before crashing back down the alarm dying with a pathetic little squeak. Lani flinched away from the car before he realized it was him who had done so. “Oooops….” He grabbed at Odion and dragged him in the general direction of away. “We gotta get out of here!”

[Odion Martins]

People had the potential to be good and bad, but for Odion, it was all bad. Everyone he had come across had hurt him deeply in some way. The only exceptions so far were Avi, and Lani, and the former didn’t really count because she didn’t really know him. Lani, well, Lani was starting to get too know him a little too well. Dangerously well, to the point where if something bad happened, Odion’s heart would be affected. He was afraid of that possibility, but without that possibility, their relationship was fake. And while much was being hidden, at least some things were being gained, a little at a time. As a whole, Odion didn’t like people, and Lani knew that already. Charming people and actually liking them were different things.

“You’re as uncatchable as I am.” Odion said. By some fluke, someone could catch Odi in the middle of his pickpocketing. It was completely plausible, and yet, he could change the outcome. He could change what people did and did not see him do. So what Lani was before was right, Odion had nothing to be afraid of because he didn’t really have anything to lose. But really, what was the fun of stealing if you always paused time to do it? Then you weren’t really a thief, you were a time turner with nothing better to do. “You remember those nicknames?” Odion asked, catching Lani in his own masked sentimentality, trying to come off as joking. Really though, when the time called for it, Odi had all the confidence in the world.

Rolling his eyes, it was Odion’s turn for a comeback. “Quit putting words in my mouth, and stop changing the subject.” He was going to put an end to this. “Just make whatever you want of it, but I never said everything is so obvious.” He just wanted Lani thinking about it. Odion smiled a bit, pleased that Lani was wondering how well he was doing in the ginger’s books. “You surpass.” Would Odi ask Lani to come out with him tonight if he wasn’t passing? Would he be trusting him right now? Lani was the first person Odion had gone to. Not Avi, and certainly not Rhett. Lani had even beaten the bottle to the punch. Odion would honestly rather just be talking than fighting. When would they pass into that territory, he wondered.

“It’s not a bad thing, not knowing who you are,” Odion was suddenly feeling philosophical, “life is a journey, and people don’t come with blueprints.” So what if Lani didn’t know who he was yet, it didn’t matter. However, he shouldn’t be pushing away the pieces that completed him once he found them. He was ignoring vital parts of himself, instead of getting to know them, and that’s why he was so unsure of himself. Odion just wanted to help with that, no strings attached. And there it was, Lani was more than just an interesting test, he was an interesting person, period. And Odi wanted to help him along the way, wherever that may be or what role he played in Lani’s life. “I’m a nobody, a pickpocket, a charmer. I’m anything I want to make you believe.” It was the truth, hidden in a subtle warning. Odi could change at the drop of a hat. He had just been vulnerable lately, and Lani had helped him, but Odi didn’t feel he was returning the favour.

“Sanity?” Odion asked. “Pfft, sanity shmamity, I’m drunk.” Odi was completely sane, he was just having a good time. Wasn’t it obvious? He hadn’t over thought a single thing in the last few minutes. He had done things because he wanted to, and it felt good. It was liberating and he wanted to keep doing it. Alcohol was a terribly addicting thing. “Well, tell me. I’m asking you, not myself,” Odion said, shaking his head. “Why are you trouble?” He asked, wiping his eyes with his hands. Nope, that hadn’t helped at all – everything was still blurry. Lani could add ‘talkative’ right under ‘giggly’ on his list entitled ‘Drunk Odion Traits’. “How did you even lift this thing?” Odion asked, crouching over the manhole, trying to move it with all his drunken strength, but it wouldn’t budge. “Must be the telekinz, teled- ah fuck.” Odion frowned. “Your power. You must’ve liften it with your powers.” He smiled again, quick to be happy. “I love secrets! Are you going to get into trouble for telling me?” He giggled again. “I’m not promising anything!”

Odion gave Lani a blank stare. And then it seemed like something clicked. “Hey, you’re from Boston.” Sober Odion was mentally bludgeoning Drunk Odion. The ginger copied Lani’s circular motions. “Is this part of the act?” Odi asked, wondering when the next magic trick was going to happen. But the stars... “You should keep it though, I’d like that.” Yes, Lani should keep the hat. Odion liked giving gifts to those he liked, and he really did like Lani. “Oh come on, tell me! I won’t tell anyone.” He could even promise, but only if Lani said it needed to be a condition.

A log, Odion had never compared himself to that. Besides, it was a terrible comparison because he had limbs, which were bound to get caught on something at some point as he flailed and rolled. Oh my, he’s going to have quite the number of bruises tomorrow. Odion wasn’t listening. They were going to roll back to Hammel, well, he had given it his best shot anyways. The ginger tried stifling his laughter as Lani found him, leaning into each other as they made to leave, Odion’s arm strewn across Lani’s waist in a lazy fashion. Hearing something behind him, Odi glanced over Lani’s shoulder. Odion’s jaw dropped, the annoying car slammed into the ground and abruptly became silent. “Fucking shit Lani!” Odi grinned and gave Lani a little shake, laughing. Clearly that was an awesome move. He wished he had Lani’s powers to do tricks with. Odion agreed, and pointed towards... something.

They hobbled for a bit, until there was a cab pulling up beside them. “Oh hey! Our friend!” It was the cabbie from before, looking more amused now than before. It took a while to open the door as Odi fumbled with the handle, but eventually, he went into the back, dragging Lani in beside him by the hand. “This guy’s a magician,” Odi announced to the cab driver, letting Lani go and buckling himself in. The driver nodded a couple times before starting the cab and heading back to the school.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani smiled absently with the help of the alcohol and the night’s previous antics he was oblivious to Odion’s internal struggle. Lani reflected that he would very much like to fly. Now outside in the breeze he wanted to feel that on his skin at high altitudes. Perhaps this was why Lani was such a flight risk. He had a terrible habit of standing in high places and feeling as if leaping off was all that would take to free him. Now for Lani that wasn’t a suicidal thought. No Lani didn’t want to die. He was too afraid of the unknown and what was on the other side of that river. No he wanted to fly. Like an eagle perched on a cliff leaping off and letting the wind catch in the sails that were his wings. But alas, his power was telekinesis and not flight. He would have to work with what he had.

Lani nodded his head. “Of course, because if anyone tried I’ll blast him.” He said with a grim smile. He found very little pleasure beyond freedom in that statement. If Odion was right and his power was himself then chances were that his power didn’t want to be caught either and so… He looked at the catupine and smiled absently as they discussed their catchable status. He grinned. “Of course.” Was his only answer. He remembered all of them, or almost all of them. Without wanting to go back to discussing his oblivious nature Lani spread his hands in mock defense. “I’m not changing the subject.” He protested. He was terribly obvious right now he knew but that didn’t mean he was always oblivious but he wanted it to seem like Odion was saying that so that he could argue about it. Lani shook his head at himself, he was in such a happy-go-lucky yet combative mood right now.

Odion wanted him to think about it and think about it Lani would. But in the morning. If he didn’t forget. Lani grinned at his performance review. He surpassed. He bit his tongue to keep himself from asking how much he was surpassing and if Odion had been surprised by his abilities. It wasn’t that Lani was brilliant, he was far from it. He was rather brick like when it came to some things but others he soaked like a sponge. Which meant that learning from Odion had been something Lani wanted to work at. He wondered in what areas he had surpassed, it certainly hadn’t been his stubbornness. And chances were it wasn’t his headlong trudge to help every living thing that breathed.

Lani leaned forward resting his head in his hands. Watching Odion he was slightly surprised by his answer. Still that strange stirring of not knowing who he was bothered him. He scoffed. “Well we should. Or at least a map. How the hell am I supposed to find myself if I don’t even know where to start looking?” He frowned feeling less philosophically sympathetic than usual. “But the answers don’t exist,” he continued giving more into his mind’s contemplative nature. “Because people are always changing, no one knows who they are, because there is no answer.” Lani’s eyes narrowed at Odion and he reached out and mimed a swat at the redhead. His intention not to hit Odion worked but he wasn’t sure that the point got through so he cried, “Nobody has blinded me!” He smiled and shook his head at Odion. “That’s a foolish thing to say. If you were nobody then you wouldn’t be here. You’re somebody to a lot of people.” Lani winked and pointed a finger at Odion as if his hand were a gun. “But honestly I’m more likely to tiptoe around a Nobody than a Somebody. Because a Nobody is just a Somebody who is just as lost as I am.”

A laugh drew out of Lani as sanity was launched out the window. Well he could roll with that. “Fair enough, my friend.” Obviously if Odion ever decided to come back and look this moment over he would be mortified. Lani just hoped he was able to come with so he could be weak with laughter. It was too bad no one was getting this on film. Lani hummed and paused for a dramatically long time. “A compliment, I guess,” he shrugged, “I’ve never seen you so loose.” Really Odion was normally so guarded that Lani felt like he was walking on eggshells. But really who was he to talk? “I’m trouble? You’re trouble.” He retorted unsure of where that question had come from. Oh Lani was starting to sober up slowly but he was loving drunk Odion. That last dose from Dan had really tossed Odion over the edge. Lani made his arms into hooks and flexed. “Strong like ox.” He said mimicking a strong Grecian accent. “Kinesis?” Lani supplied pronouncing it a little awkwardly slurring the vowels together. Lani smirked as Odion tugged at the manhole cover and just shook his head. If he trusted his power not to freak out he totally would have grabbed it and lifted it and really gone far. Lani nodded solemnly. “Very much so. Odion you have to promise. It’s one of those ‘I’d have to kill you’ moments. And I rather like you.” Of gravity had taken hold.

“Bingo,” Lani smiled giving Odion a thumbs up. Lani raised a brow and decided he was going to milk this for all it was worth. “It’s a warm up,” he said and raised his hands up and down twirling them in and out of each other. He wasn’t watching them he was watching Odion. At least Odion was relatively stationary. A charming grin grew on Lani’s faced and he took the hat off flipping it in his hands before placing it just a little off center of his head. “Then this will serve as my magic hat.” Lani laughed. Odion hadn’t given him any secrets to his card tricks so Odion wouldn’t get any secrets on Lani’s nonexistent magic tricks. So Lani shook his head like a dog and stuck his tongue out at Odion. “I’ll admit nothing.” He repeated. And anything that Odion said Lani would deny it.

Lani’s skin prickled as Odion hung on him like a coat rack. Lani was too busy watching his feet to really see Odion’s reaction. He glanced up when Odion shook him. He looked into the blue eyes and scratched the back of his head unable to even look the least bit innocent. “Sorry!” He cried and shrugged guiltily. Oh how he hoped he wouldn’t hear about this tomorrow from someone at school. Apparently though that was amusing to Odion. Lani failed to see the humor and just shook his head. “I didn’t mean to.” Like that made it better, if anything that made the situation so much worse. Half supporting Odion and half being supported by Odion Lani stumbled with him in the decided direction. Luck, it seemed, was with them this night. At first when the cab drove up Lani had the worst fear it was the cops considering the shape with the sign on the top. His heart rate quickly dropped and he was infinitely glad that it was the cab that had found them and not the cops. The cops would not have been so merciful.

The man had a grin on his face and Lani was sure if was because he had just found his customers wandering the streets being loud and laughing like they had just heard the funniest joke. Lani followed in clamoring in like the seat was too far away. It was good thing Odion pulled him inside or Lani might just have gotten in and let his legs drag out the door. Lani made a face and shook his head. “And this guy is terrible at keeping secrets,” he said in good humor giving the cabbie a smile as the man looked over his shoulder and rose a brow at them. The man asked around a chuckled if they had had a good night and Lani was more than happy to answer affirmatively. Lani hardly remembered the car ride back because he had rolled his window down and stuck his head out to feel the wind. The stop came to quick and Lani grinned waving good natured at the cabbie who waved them out after Lani handed over a bill. He was probably just going to enjoy the gossip. Back outside Lani stood and swayed looking up at Hammel. The thing looked like a fortress. He found himself laughing. “How’re we gonna get back in?” He asked. Someone was bound to notice to drunk teenagers walking back in.

[Odion Martins]

Hopefully, with Odi’s help, Lani would have his powers under control in no time.

Odion scoffed. “Blast him? Please, you have better control than you give yourself credit for.” He said, trying to help Lani better understand his powers. “I’m sure I’ve pissed you off more than the average person, I’m still intact,” he smiled, “well, my pride not so much, but you know what I mean.” He said, shutting his mouth before he started blabbing. Odion himself was ready for a change of subject. And for some reason, he believed Lani would just love to talk about his pride, and how Lani had brought him down a few notches. But it was a good thing. Before Rhett came back today, Lani was helping Odion let the other blonde go. Literally, and emotionally. Now, well, they were drinking him away.

In the morning, Odion wouldn’t let Lani forget anything that happened tonight. They would relive it, if only to remember what fun they had, and hopefully spur more nights like tonight. Lani couldn’t hide his pride at being able to surpass Odi’s expectations, and Odion smiled, glad that being honest had paid off. He liked making Lani feel good, wanted even. Like a friend. Maybe more… There were many ways Lani succeeded, and he would just have to keep proving himself if he wanted to find out what those things were.

Odion watched Lani, who was starting to appear more and more restless. “You have to make your own, and even then, it’s always changing,” Odi said. He leaned back in his chair a little, raising his hands. It always caught him off guard when he and Lani essentially said the same thing at the same time. “You of all people should understand this, Mr. Philosopher.” But Odi memorized Lani’s words. He didn’t know who he was and wished that he did. All in good time. He just wanted to reassure Lani that he would get there when the time was right. “No I’m not,” Odion said stubbornly, foolishly. He didn’t want to mean something to anyone. Not to Avi, not to Rhett, and especially not to Lani. Meaning someone to people was a lot to bear, and if he could convince himself that he was nothing special, a nobody, then he wouldn’t have to worry about people, wouldn’t have to worry about being hurt. “And,” he said pointedly, his eyes turning soft, “I’m not lost.” Again, he just didn’t know what he wanted anymore. His purpose for coming here didn’t exist.

That’s right, they were friends. Odion smiled to himself as he mused over this. He could roll with these punches, as long as alcohol kept him lubricated. He would be more than happy to bring Lani back to this moment in time. It would be hilarious, and uncomfortable, because it would be revealing of their true selves. Odion broke out into a dance move while sitting on the ground, his arms waving from side to side in one smooth motion. He was loosey goosey baby. They were always so guarded, why not forget about all that tonight? “Damn right I am,” Odion said with a wink. He was trouble and Lani better watch out. Odion grinned at Lani and shook his head. “I could still beat you in an arm wrestling match,” he said, showing off his own pipes. When in Rome… He pointed at Lani for the umpteenth time. “Kinesis! That’s it!” He said, with a laugh. Lani was so smart, he knew they were friends for a reason. “Aw, you wouldn’t kill me,” he said, shooting one of Lani’s puppy dog looks right back at the blonde.

Odion tried to twirl his hands around like Lani was doing, but it just wasn’t meant to be. His fingers kept colliding in on themselves and Odi was baffled. “How are you doin’ tha’?” He asked, still trying, his arms fully extended in the air. How did Lani have such skills like drunk? “I give up, I’m tired.” He admitted, he arms and hands coming down like bowling balls, and hung by his side completely useless. Tonight would not be the best night for stealing, and it was a good thing Odion had completely forgotten about that. Odion beamed at Lani. “It’s a lovely magic hat,” he said. Odion let out a honk of a laugh, his hand to his mouth in an instant. “No admission? Fine, screw you then,” he said, really wishing that car would shut up.

Laughing again, Odion looked back for another glance. “That was fucking unbelievable!” Okay, he really needed to calm down, but he couldn’t. Lani had said he had thrown cars before, now Odi had proof! Huzzah! He scoffed, holding Lani tightly. “Pfft, what’re you sorry for? That was funny.” Hmm, maybe Lani was funnier than either of them thought.

Odion smiled dopily at Lani, glad that he had had a good time. “I am the best,” he leaned towards Lani, a finger to his lips as he whispered, “secret keeper.” Odi didn’t look outside, there was really nothing to see, so instead, he stared at the cabbie, and fell into fits of laughter every once in a while. Once they got back to Hammel, Odion frowned. “I thought I paid that guy already,” he said, but the taxi was long gone, and it was too late for Odi’s after thought. He shrugged, not like it was their money to begin with. Odion grinned at Lani, “Give me a second,” he slurred, patting Lani on the arm as he went towards the school, but to the entrance. Odion took a seat on the ground once more and concentrated. Where had time gone? Ah, there it was. “You’re going to hate me,” he warned Lani with a smile on his face, “you might want to sit down,” he said as he pushed them forward in time. The further they went, the sicker Odi felt, but definitely more sober. He had the most ghastly of headaches, but a headache he could deal with. He could sneak past the guards while they switched shifts with a sore head. He stopped time as the overnight guard left.

Odion stood, a palm to his face. This wasn’t the first time he had done this, it probably wouldn’t be the last. He looked around for Lani, wondering if he was faring well. At least this time, Odi wasn’t losing his stomach.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani shrugged, not as confident in himself as Odion was. He knew that if it came to it to protect himself he would blast someone. He shook his head and laughed a little. “That is true,” he was willing to give him that. But Odion also didn’t frighten him, not the way the police would or someone who was attacking him. Odion was frightening in a whole slew of different ways but he wasn’t a danger to Lani’s physical self. “Yeah, but you also aren’t threatening to put me in jail for the rest of my life.” Adding that made it seem weak but it was true. He laughed lightheartedly. That could be said for both sides. Pride was something that they were both working on tearing off each other and that Lani knew deep down was for the best, but he didn’t like it. If he could be a prideful oblivious person he would have been just as miserable as he was before, but the tearing down hurt and he felt vulnerable without his armor.

Perhaps in the morning once he got past the hangover and the splitting headache he would look back at these memories and laugh. But memories would be his last concern once the hangover took over. Lani didn’t want to forget, that was certain. This night was different, even with their bickering instead of one of the two storming off they had rolled with it and there were no hard feelings. Also Lani wouldn’t forget that he was passing Odion’s test and probably for a little while wouldn’t let the redhead forget that either. Lani wasn’t sure where this floating feeling was coming from or why he felt so lightheaded but he was enjoying feeling like he was walking in the clouds.

Lani sighed and gave Odion a long suffering look. “It’s a map of the end of the world,” he said with a joking smile. ‘Here be dragons’ didn’t quite cover it. It was uncharted territory and it was properly unmarked. But off the map lay all the things that made Lani good and bad. Everything he wanted and didn’t want to discover about himself. And that was indeed a dangerous journey to embark on unaccompanied. Lani made a face but didn’t comment. He understood it he just didn’t want it to be true. Lani crossed his arms and gave Odion a smile which spelled out that he didn’t believe him. A laugh grew from Lani and he shook his head at his friend. “See? You’re so lost you don’t even realize you’re lost. Maybe you had a map but you lost it, or the lines changed,” he scratched his chin and narrowed his eyes at Odion examining his face. “But you’re not a Nobody, I will not give you that,” he said his expression going surprisingly stern.

Lani was sure to be mortified with himself if they came back to this. When he was drunk everything seemed to make sense and be profound but the things he had showed and the things Odion had shown were mixed in with their hazy eyes. Lani jumped when Odion started to dance and he fell over backward with giggles. “You look like an octopus!” He cried between laughter and held onto his sides that were starting to ache from laughing so much. Lani grinned and bobbed his head in agreement. Trouble was a collective middle name for the two of them. Lani sat up suddenly energized by the challenge. “Bet you couldn’t.” He replied his eyes flashing. Lani leaned back on his hands though examining Odion’s arms. He reached out and squeezed Odion’s arms. “Not with those noodle arms,” he teased. Odion was probably right though, he probably could defeat Lani at feats of strength. Lani smiled. No he wouldn’t kill Odion, no it was quite the opposite. Lani’s jaw dropped as he was giving a dose of his own medicine. He tore his eyes away and grumbled, “Yeah, yeah, fine.”

“Magic,” Lani answered with a wink loving the usefulness of the hat to shadow his eyes just enough to make him look like he had a mysterious secret. He laughed at Odion’s attempts. Lani’s coordination ended as he flashed his hands at Odion’s face. Lani chuckled and sat back on his hands. It wasn’t as hard as it was for Odion, after all Lani hadn’t had that extra dose from what’s-his-face. “I think the hat helps,” he smiled quite happy with his acquisition of the hat. Lani raised his hands. “What? You didn’t spill with your card tricks. You teach me those and I’ll teach you this.” He waved his hands around in what he thought was artfully but it was probably actually just a lot of flailing and flapping of hands. Nope, if Odion gave him a few pointers he certainly would be disappointed when Lani explained that magic had nothing to do with it.

Lani flushed and ducked is head really just wanting to vanish into the shadows. Why was Odion making such a big deal about it? Well more importantly, why wasn’t Odion running away right now? As much as Lani wanted to slip away and hide Odion had a pretty good hold on him. He chewed on the inside of his cheek and shook his head. Of course it was unbelievable, he shouldn’t be able to do that. Not so easily. Lani shook his head uncomprehendingly. “What? Are you crazy?” Funny? Odion really was insane someone could have been hurt! Dangerous! That was the first word he would hear when the school found out about this.

If Lani were sober he would have been startled by Odion’s closeness but drunk Lani didn’t mind. In fact he liked the closeness. He wrinkled his nose and laughed. “I don’t believe you,” he teased smiling back at the redhead. Lani shrugged looking after the taxi but he was gone. It wasn’t like the guy was going to point out they overpaid him. Lani looked at Odion confused. He followed after Odion wondering what he was planning. He wasn’t sure what the redhead had planned. Lani looked at Odion confused. “Odion I don’t see how this is helping.” Sitting on the ground wasn’t going to get them inside. Lani narrowed his eyes warily and delayed too long in taking his seat but as time started to move he sort of plopped down anyways. It felt like he was standing on a train as it jumped into high gear. He felt as if the whole world was racing forward and his stomach did not like it. It raged against him and it was all Lani could do to get to a bush before he emptied the contents of his stomach.

He grumbled his mouth feeling dry and his head swimming. Not drunk swimming anymore. More like his head was going to split down the middle swimming. He groaned and stayed on his hands and knees for a little while longer waiting for the motion to stop. But then it became clear it wasn’t going to. Ever so slowly and carefully Lani wiped his mouth and got to his feet. He felt sick. Odion messing with time normally made him sick, but he normally didn’t have alcohol in his stomach either. He reached out for Odion finding his shoulder. “Odion… Odion, I think I’m dying.” He over exaggerated. He was sure no amount of pills would help this. After all he had been too drunk to feel when he lifted that car and now that that had caught up with him he was more than willing to swallow a bottle and sleep for the next three days.

[Odion Martins]

Odion was thinking about it in a different way. He saw it as something right and wrong in Lani’s mind. If the telekinetic thought it was wrong to hurt someone, he wouldn’t do it. But if he really wanted to do some damage, he could. Odi was sure there were some grey areas in his logic, but if Lani hadn’t smite a cop yet, chances were he wouldn’t. “That was a bad example,” Odi said smirking, trying to find a better way to get his thoughts across. Pride would get in the way of a lot of things, so maybe it was a good thing that they were chipping away at it. Lani wasn’t vulnerable alone. “I just think you do have good control, but that’s not the issue,” yeah, that made a whole lot of sense, “the issue is that you don’t know how to let yourself just be.” Odion frowned. He knew what he was trying to say, somewhere in the back of his mind. “You’re trying too hard to control something that is... yeah, just is.” If someone asked him to explain his power to them, he wouldn’t be able to. It was a part of him.

This whole philosophy stuff was a bunch of crap. Really, deep down inside, Odi was a philosopher without thinking about it. He saw things as truths and ultimatums, or lies and deceits. Nothing was so complicated that it couldn’t be figured out, and usually the answer was right in front of you. He spent the better part of his time noticing the obvious, and studying people at face value. This whole, finding yourself thing, wasn’t his strong suit, and he knew that Lani needed someone to help him sort through his brain. Odion was doing his best. “You need the whole thing in order to choose what you want,” he said, “you don’t just get the ending.” Lani was making this much bigger than it was. Odion gave himself another moment, staring at Lani. “Maybe you’re not so oblivious, more...” what was the word? Lani could see what was in front of him, he just didn’t want to. He was choosing alright, he was choosing to ignore vital road signs. Odion sighed. Again, he couldn’t make Lani see what he saw. I don’t want to be hurt, Odi thought to himself. It’d be easier just to turn into Godzilla, destroy the old maps, and make himself a new one. But life wasn’t like that. “No, your issue is different than mine,” he said, not thinking about how much he was giving away. This was all hypothetical right? Had that even been discussed? “Being lost and not knowing where you’re going or what you want are different things. I don’t mind being lost,” he lied flawlessly. Life was an adventure meant to be had, but Odi had expected to take it with someone.

Odion fell into another fit of laughter, and then sighed. This whole laughing thing was starting to hurt. He watched Lani pinch his arm, and Odi swatted at him. “I bet you ten dollars I could beat you, even now,” he nodded, looking around. Hmm, there weren’t any tables around. “Okay, not now, but soon you will be beaten, and I’ll be richer,” he smiled, content with his decision. His smile only grew as Lani gave in. “I’ll keep your secrets anyways,” he said, giving his good friend a pat on the shoulder. It felt like they had been friends for a dogs age.

Lani didn’t need the hat to look mysterious. Odion always thought the blonde was such. The ginger pushed Lani’s hands away from his face, “Whoa, I’d like to keep my eyes intact, thank you.” He laughed again. His vision was completely useless right now, but you know, maybe later when it wasn’t blurry he would want his eyes to be normal, and not punctured due to Lani’s clumsiness. Odion shook his head, “No.” That was it, just no. Lani could keep his secret magic tricks. “My tricks are mine.” He didn’t even think Lani was being suspicious of foul play, he just didn’t want to share. “I gave you my hat already, that’s enough for one night.” He smiled again, touching the brim of the hat lightly. “It does look good on you though,” he mused, staring at the hat, and then lifting it slightly to peek at the boy underneath it.

“Haven’t we been over this already?” Odion said, swaying as they sort of walked away from the demolished car. “I’m crazy, you’re crazy. And that back there? That was crazy hilarious. Just imagine! That person, when they, come back to their car, BAM,” Odion gripped Lani tightly all of a sudden, before laughing again. That car was a wreck. Odion found destruction rather amusing so long as he wasn’t being destroyed.

Odion looked truly hurt. “But...” He frowned, trying to figure out why Lani didn’t believe him. Hadn’t he kept Lani’s stealing habits a secret? Hmm. And then Odi smiled a bit, going crossed eyed for a second before seeing somewhat clearly once again. “Oh, you’re teasing me again. I am a good secret keeper,” he said, talking more to himself than Lani. Time stumbled forward and Odi winced as Lani turned to nature for his sickness. “Sorry,” he said softly into the night air as Lani groped around for him, glad that he was starting to sound more like himself, and not so delirious.

Odion managed a lopsided smile at Lani, something in the back of his hung over mind clawed forward. “Pulvis et umbra sumus,” he said in Latin, before turning to look at the institute. “We are dust and shadows.” It was the perfect team name, and Odion had to wonder, as schooled as Lani was in philosophy, if the blonde knew of Horace or Greek poetry at all. Or maybe he was too busy being hung over like his fellow pickpocket. Odion was well aware of his actions now as he slung Lani’s arm over his own shoulders, making his way toward the school. His head hurt and his whole body was soar, but he was taking Lani back to the dorm. Odi held Lani in place with his hand over the arm around his shoulders, another hand around the blonde’s waist, keeping both of them upright. He did his best to ignore the closeness of their bodies. Odi’s eyes were nearly pitch black, the irises completely dilated from a night of heavy drinking, and the dark that still surrounded them as he guided them home.

Once he pushed them through the entrance, Odion staggered to Lani’s door and opened it. Odion hadn’t been in Lani’s room before, but he wasn’t paying much attention to it. He had two things to focus on: making sure Lani was safe, and the pounding in the back of his head. He dumped Lani on his bed, before slumping to the floor himself, too tired to move at the moment. “You’ll be right as rain tomorrow,” he stammered, a hand to his head. “God, why do I always forget about this part?” Odion let his head hang for a moment, his hands on the back of his neck as his forehead rested on his knees.

[Lani Hunter]

Odion had a pretty good idea about it. But Lani still wasn’t convinced. If it came to someone coming after him even a cop just doing their job he would blast them even though in that case he would be the bad guy. It had happened when his power first exploded. It really was too bad that his mind was still so raw. Perhaps that would help with his control. He had been told it would be better by now but his mind was recovering slowly. Lani nodded in agreement a small smile showing he wasn’t sure Odion could come up with a better one. Lani snorted, good control, now that was funny. Control was the last thing he had. Power, now power he had. But control wise he was the Hulk. He raised a brow and looked closely at Odion. “I don’t get it,” he admitted, “If I don’t know who I am then how can I just be? My power is not one that needs to be everywhere, it needs focus.” Focus Lani lacked. He shook his head. In many ways Odion was right but he was also wrong. “I can’t just let it be.” He said stubbornly. If he did that who knew what it would do?

Lani’s eyes brightened a little. Maybe if Odion would let him Lani could help him find himself as well. There it was. A problem he could try to solve. Something to keep his own problems out of his mind. Something he could focus on for a while. “A fork with a million choices,” he groaned. Lani cocked his head interested by Odion’s observation. What was he? “What? More what?” He asked curious but not completely sure he would like the answer. His head swayed a little more to the side than he intended and ended up looking at Odion for a long time before he realized he was looking at him sideways. He righted himself and blinked at the redhead. So Odion did admit he had a problem. Lani didn’t smile at this data acquisition. In fact it troubled him. What if Odion really believed that he was Nobody? What if that was it? Lani’s brow creased, how could he make Odion see how much he meant to him? Well… as a friend. Lani was too afraid to cross that line and he had balked from it even more after his conversation earlier with Adrianna. “That’s not being lost then,” Lani said pondering, “As long as the stars shine in the sky and sun rises in the east no man can be lost. So you wander.” He concluded. It made sense. Odion had already traveled so far.

“Bring it, Noodles!” He spread his arms unafraid and getting cocky. Lani giggled, Noodles, that was certainly not a characteristic nickname for Odion. Chances were if he remembered if after this moment it wouldn’t fit anymore either. Lani shook his head and laughed. “You’re quite sure of yourself.” Lani smiled warmly feeling that there was so much more in that simple sentence than met the ear. After all hadn’t Odion kept his secrets from the very beginning? It wasn’t like he was that blond girl who was insisting that he tell Adrianna everything even though she didn’t know the full story. “Thanks,” he muttered softly thanking Odion for all the secrets he had already kept. Who knew if there would be more to come but Lani was shakily starting to trust the other boy.

Lani collapsed in laughter and only laughed harder when he was soon joined by Odion. Keeping his hands away from Odion’s eyes was probably best. After all Lani didn’t know what he would do if he couldn’t look into those big blue eyes and feel his soul exposed. Lani pouted at Odion feeling a little deflated after that. Denied yet again, even under drunkenness, Odion’s secrets. Oh well, not like Lani gave away much more. After all there was no magic here, just physics and telekinesis. Lani grinned and nodded ducked his head hiding behind the brim. Odion lifted the brim and Lani’s eyes unrevealed locked with Odion’s blue ones. “Fine, we’ll leave it at that then,” he said softly and found himself getting lost in Odion’s eyes. “It looked good on you too,” Lani protested. Lani felt strangely small at the moment sitting here failing at hiding underneath the hat and staring at Odion’s depthless eyes.

Lani let out a halfhearted laugh at that. They were indeed crazy but crazy did not excuse people from the consequences of tossing cars. Lani was imagining but he was groaning and not laughing. Some poor person who had probably never done anything very bad in their whole life was going to return to their car and find it demolished. Well no good luck for the good person. Lani jumped a little at Odion’s exclamation and the way he clung to him for a moment probably kept Lani from jumping more than he did. He shook his head. “Oh god! I’m gonna be in sooo much trouble!” He pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes and rubbed them hoping for some clarity. How could they not know it was him? A thief could hide his crimes but a crazy telekinetic? That was a little harder.

Odion’s expression got to Lani and he nearly took it all back. But the relief was clear on his face and he nodded as Odion took on the realization. Lani winked at Odion and nodded. Odion was an excellent secret keeper. Lani heaved and he took several deep breaths to alleviate the shivering in his body. He waved Odion off indicating he didn’t really blame him. Really, after tonight it was probably going to happen at one point. Lani’s hand found Odion and he was glad for the added support and that he was able to add some support for Odion. At least Odion sounded better. Lani felt a twinge of jealousy, he felt like hell. “I am never drinking again,” he vowed, but it was an empty vow they both knew would be broken sooner rather than later.

“Huh?” Lani muttered lamely in response to the strange language. “Pelvis et umber somes?” He tried to mimic, failing rather well. Hearing the translation Lani nodded a little in agreement. That really did fit. Horace would hold no name recognition for Lani. No Lani was more well read in modern philosophies. And even then it was spotty because he felt that even his mind had the capacity to only read a few pages at a time. But his brain didn’t want to think about philosophy, in fact it really didn’t want to think about anything. Lani didn’t protest when Odion moved his arm and helped him. He did feel bad, after all he hadn’t been as drunk as Odion, if anyone should be helping anyone it should be the other way around. Lani’s stubbornness made him forget about his weariness and blinding headache. So he stumbled along with Odion working on keeping them both upright and letting Odion find the way. Lani felt his neck getting warm from feeling Odion next to him. Now sober he could tell that it really wasn’t anything about alcohol. The light of the dorms was almost too harsh and Lani really wished they had elevators.

Somehow they made it up the stairs with no large mishaps, probably because Lani’s eyes were fixed on his feet. It wasn’t until they had stopped he looked up and realized they were at his door. Lani didn’t bother getting out his key but instead his power reached out and flicked the lock and allowed Odion to open it. Even such a simple action sent agony racing through his raw mind. Oh why did he have to lift a car tonight? His head was killing him. Lani groaned as he was dropped unceremoniously onto thankfully the soft bed. “I don’t think so,” he said closing his eyes even thought the darkness wasn’t so painful. “Maybe a few days. A month?” The tone of Odion’s voice worried him. It was laced so strongly with pain. Why had he been so dependent and not thought about Odion?

Lani shook his head and immediately regretted the action. “Hold on.” He said rolling off his bed and moving with slow deliberate steps to his dresser where he dug out a box and pulling a new bottle of pills from it he opened it and not even bothering to count took a handful before swallowing them down with a water bottle. He passed the bottle of pills over to Odion and got another water bottle from his fridge for the redhead. Yes, if someone was in pain Lani’s room was the best place to fix it. Dropping himself back on the bed he removed the hat and placed it over his alarm clock to block out some of the light it was creating. “Better?” He wondered aloud as he waited for his own headache to fade.

[Odion Martins]

Odion shook his head. “I’m not kidding Lani, you have good control.” Really, if he hadn’t tossed Odi out the window yet, chances were he wouldn’t. It’s what Odi had to work with and he was sticking to his guns. “So, finding yourself means controlling your powers?” Odion asked, wondering if Lani would fall into the trap. If he said no, then there was another solution. If he said yes, then Odi would have to call him out yet again – if Lani was avoiding himself, he would never grow in his abilities. “Have you ever tried?” Odion asked with a single eyebrow raised. Didn’t the school have a place where everything would be safe if Lani just let his power roam over everything? “You spend more time fearing yourself, than getting to a point where you know who you are.” Wow, there. The corner of Odi’s mouth twitched up slightly. That’s what he had been trying to say this whole time.

Finding himself wasn’t something Odi felt like he needed to do. Really, he thought he had a pretty good grasp of who he was. He wasn’t the hero type, he was selfish, a coward, and nobody. And then he froze, realizing that Lani had truly changed all that. Odion had rescued three kittens when usually he would’ve run in the other direction upon hearing a strange noise coming from some bushes. So then, who was he? A thief that cared? Impossible. He put a hand to his head, an eye twitching. No, this was not the right conclusion. He wasn’t supposed to feel helpless and lost, he glanced at Lani. Odi didn’t need help. “I see all those choices you know,” he said, taking a deep breath, “with my powers I mean.” It was why he didn’t go back to chose a different one. It was too crazy and too complicated and often drove him mad with insomnia with all the what ifs. Admitting this gave Lani a different piece of the puzzle, but it also steered the conversation somewhere else, where Odi didn’t have to confront his demons.

Odion glanced down and then back at Lani. The last time he said something meaningful and hard to say, Lani had almost completely shut down. Odion shook his head. “Never mind,” he said. Odi couldn’t hurt Lani that way. He knew that Lani pushed reality away from him, but Lani needed to see it for himself. That wasn’t something Odion felt obligated to share, when Lani wanted to stay behind certain lines. “Are we wandering then?” Who was we? We as in humanity? Or we as in, Lani and Odi? Odion didn’t know, and he didn’t want to make the distinction. “Maybe we never find who we are until it doesn’t matter who we are anymore.” He said thoughtfully. Maybe life was all about the journey. “Maybe there’s no destination.” Odion felt himself getting lost in his mind and time, staring at his hands on the table.

“Whatever String Bean, you have nothing on me,” he said, for some reason taking on a more gangster attitude. His words even confused himself, as his brows furrowed and he wondered who had possessed him exactly. Odion smiled quickly, his mind jumping to the next topic, leaving the last in the dust. “Course I am,” he said, putting a hand on his heart, “I am a man of my word.” He wasn’t bluffing, but it definitely wasn’t something he would be announcing while sober. Odion just kept smiling like an idiot. He would keep Lani’s secrets forever, if that were even possible. It was nice to be trusted by someone who didn’t trust others very easily. That meant Lani’s trust was worth something.

Lani didn’t have any secrets to share, well, not when it came to hiding in sewers. The magic was all in Odi’s head, and his stubborn nature was the only thing keeping his card tricks to himself. Odion smiled, his lips turning almost completely sideways his smile was so crooked. Odion gave the hat a flick, “That’s why I wore it.” Why would he wear something that made him look gross? Come on Lani, give your ginger friend some credit here. Something stirred in Odi. Knowing that Lani thought he looked good in the hat, made Odion want to propel forward. Odion found Lani staring at him and he gulped, pushing himself away from Lani physically and emotionally. He closed his eyes, shutting them off from Lani. No stupid mistakes tonight. Time to roll.

“Hopefully they have insurance,” Odi said with a wink. The ginger was laughing at Lani now, wiping at his own eyes. “Nobody saw but me Lawni, just relax,” he said, but he was looking around to make sure no one else had seen. Of course, in his version of the world, everything was spinning and for all he knew, there might’ve been others in the cars around them watching. But no one seemed to care, all they cared about was their precious sleep. “You know what, I bet we did everyone a favour,” he reasoned with a nod. Never mind that he had been the one to set the alarm off in the first place. “It was annoying to everyone!” Odion giggled again. He really was crazy.

A knowing look passed over Odion’s drunken face. He liked being with Lani. It was surprisingly fun and meaningful. Such a flirt, Odi thought about Lani to himself, before sitting on the ground and preparing himself to get them back to school in one peace, records clean for another night. Odion was playing tough. He really did feel awful, but Lani felt worse, and he wasn’t going to rub that in. Odi laughed a bit, hauling Lani along beside him. “Right,” he said, before groaning. He would take on such a vow as well, if he thought it was possible.

Odi cringed as Lani completely butchered the phrase. He’d mention it again later, if a team name ever came up again. Why was he still dwelling on that anyways? Odion focused on the task at hand. This time, it wasn’t about the journey, it really was just about getting the fuck home. Preferably home free. Odion didn’t feel like he was getting the short end of the stick. Hell, he went out drinking far more frequently than Lani and was proving he could hold his liquor. It only made sense to help his friend. Odi blamed the wretched state he was in last time on the fact that he hadn’t been eating properly. So even though he’d had more than Lani, he was still faring better. He had to agree with Lani’s thoughts though – why were the hall lights still on?

Odion was just glad Lani wasn’t protesting. Odion knew Lani trusted him a lot, or else, he would’ve insisted that he could manage on his own. This revelation made Odi gulp. They had grown rather silent after the time shift, and he had a sneaking suspicion that it wasn’t just because of two, ridiculous headaches. There’s his door, Odi thought to himself, both relieved and disappointed to have to let go of Lani. Well, he really didn’t have to... Nope, he better just drop Lani off on the bed and be done with it. Odion lifted his head to stare at Lani. “You have any idea how much time I pushed us through?” He asked with a small smirk. The more time he passed through, and the more sober he became, the easier it was to fast track through the seconds, minutes, and then hours. No, this was like waking up and feeling like shit the next day. They still had all night to sleep the rest of the hangover off. Tomorrow, they’d be fine. Odi would bet on it.

Resting his head back, Odion watched Lani move about his room. His eyes adjusted to the lack of light as his head’s throbbing receded into dull thumping. It was then he noticed how disorganized everything was. It was shocking that he found the bed at all. Well, by his standards. Odi’s blue eyes grew large as Lani downed a good handful of pills. “Feeling that bad, huh?” He asked, taking the pills. Odion stared at them, remembering what he had once considered doing with a vial of pills. He simply shut the bottle, not putting any in his mouth. He took the water bottle though, and cracked it open, his body thanking him for the hydration. He downed it in seconds. “Yeah,” he said, reaching out from his spot on the floor to set the bottle on the dresser by the clock. He sighed, his eyes wandering over to Lani. How was he meant to thank him for tonight? Without actually saying anything? Odion passed both of his hands over his face, trying to wake up a bit. He still had to get back to his own room. “D’you remember anythin’?” He asked, finally closing his eyes.

[Lani Hunter]

“Yeah, right,” Lani said clearly still not buying it. He felt like he knew his own power better than Odion, but then he didn’t see it with the outside eye that Odion did. Lani glared at Odion and nodded, “Of course.” That was the answer wasn’t it? Hadn’t Odion said that his power was an extension of himself so understand the power and control the power and he would have ultimate understanding of himself. He wasn’t thinking that it worked the other way. Lani shook his head and found himself laughing. “Odion you have had way too much to drink! Do you have any idea what this thing will do without constant supervision?” People would get hurt because things would randomly start to lift. Lani just blinked in surprise. That couldn’t be it. “No…” He answered hoping he sounded sure. He wasn’t afraid of himself, he was afraid of this damn power!

If Odion wanted to help Lani it was only fair that he allowed Lani to help him as well. Odion might not be lost but he wasn’t choosing to follow the right path. Maybe Odion had it right. Take the map one step at a time and write your own fate. Lani watched Odion think about it occupying himself by chewing on an ice cube. Lani considered his friend for a moment and shook his head slowly. “That much be a terrible way to live,” he commented though he would have killed for something like that. “Besides I thought you didn’t like looking at the future?” But then Odion could have changed all of this. Lani smiled a little with the realization. If Odion had wanted to he would have made sure that Lani didn’t come out of his room that night, he could have changed everything. But he didn’t. For some reason that made Lani want to smile.

Lani cocked his head at Odion confused by the non answer. Maybe Odion had forgotten what he was thinking. Lani switched the way he was cocking his head and finally bounced his head right way up and rested his chin on his fist. He hummed a little tune and his eyes focused on empty space as he thought. “I suppose we are,” he replied slowly, “But I also suppose we could be wandering in a cave without stars nor sun. Then we might be lost, but when we see the light at the end of the tunnel is it hope? Or is it just a train?” He shook his head smiling a little at the last thought. Lani watched Odion taking this in enjoying the conversation now that it wasn’t directed at either. Now that it was theoretical. “Death is the destination,” he replied, “But maybe you’re onto something. All that matters is the sum of everything we’ve done when we cross that line. What happens when we die?” He wondered aloud not really expecting an answer.

Lani burst out in laughter. String Bean! That was rich! He laughed even harder at Odion and his accent trying to be gangster. “You need more swagger for that,” he laughed. Not that Lani was much better. When it came to attitudes he was as antigangster as one could get. Lani shook his head. “Well we shall have to see who really is the strongest.” He nodded head decisively. But that would certainly have to happen sober and in a setting not the middle of the street. Odion was arrogant and Lani smiled wondering if it wasn’t Odion that needed the humbling and not himself. How true was it that arrogance was a common trait among thieves, maybe that was why they couldn’t stand each other. But somehow these two thieves were the exception.

Lani shook his head and laughed. “So modest, Peacock.” He grinned and stuck his tongue out at Odion. He was very much preening himself. Lani couldn’t find the time or the effort to put into his wardrobe. Odion would be very sad to find that if they switched clothing he would be choosing from a lot of grays and blacks. A white if he was lucky, and any color that was faded with a gray appearance. Odion pushed away and oblivious Lani simply found it time to go. So he rose to his feet to move. Maybe Lani should be the clueless one. Lani looked up at the stars and stood there for a moment feeling himself shrink in the cosmos. Maybe the stars had the answers. Or a path. He was nearly swallowed by the size of the starry sky and he blinked himself back into awareness. What he would give to fly in a starry sky like this. “What if stars are like souls?” He wondered aloud.

Lani nodded in agreement and he found himself smiling despite the situation. He shook his head and made a face at his name. “’Ah’ it’s ‘ah’ try it with me Lah-nee. No, I mean who else could have done it. Someone’s gonna call the school…” He was starting to worry. He would be given the lecture of a lifetime and he would have to explain why he had been out after hours anyways. He raised a brow at the redhead confused. Why would that be a favor? Now Lani smiled and shook his head at Odion. Crazy cat man indeed. He shrugged, “I suppose. Perhaps I’ll get thank you notes.” He mused jokingly. Yeah ‘thank you’s indeed. Probably more of the ‘keep your crazy students under control’.

In the future Lani would break that vow but for the moment he absolutely meant it. Never again. This was awful! Worse than just a telekinetic headache was a telekinetic headache with a hangover headache! Odion wasn’t kidding. “You were right…” He said slowly, “You are better at drinking.” Lani cast Odion a jealous look. He didn’t look hardly as miserable as Lani felt. That wasn’t fair, Odion had gotten that last bit from that guy. Lani was just a lightweight with a headache problem. Well, to next time. Not that Lani would practice. After all, he had vowed off drinking. Lani cast Odion a glance and wondered if he had even heard the phrase right in the first place. Latin was not something he had gotten into. The closest he came was that is sounded relatively close some of the time to Greek.

Lani waved a hand at Odion from the bed and rubbed his eyes with his other hand. “Let’s not think about it.” He decided. He didn’t want to know how much time he had raced through or else his stomach would… oh no. He sat up like a bolt absolutely certain he was going to have to race to the bathroom, but… no, no he was fine. He flopped back down with a huff. Oh he hated being nauseous like this. Movement helped and so did the water, though the pills probably didn’t, but he was more concerned with his head than his stomach. He looked at Odion confused as he looked at the vial trying to determine how much he had just taken. He shrugged. “How…? You have no idea.” Really he felt like something was stomping on his head and he just really needed it to stop. He had to stop himself from asking how many he had just taken. He just shrugged it off, he didn’t have a problem, his power just burned through the pills that quickly, he convinced himself.

Lani found his bed amazingly comfortable. He opened his eyes in order to drink the rest of his water. He rolled over and his eyes tried to focus on Odion’s dark shape. His eyes were adjusting slowly. He rested his head in his hands. “Yeah, crazy night, huh?” He suddenly became alert. “You don’t think Rhett’s still haunting your room do you?” He asked. He hadn’t retracted his offer for Odion, but really if his own room was unoccupied at the moment it was probably for the best because Lani wanted to pass out and not be aware of anything for the next day. He would be a terrible host being comatose and all.

[Odion Martins]

Odion sighed. Nothing he could say or do would convince Lani that he had good control, would it? Damn stubborn mule that the blonde was. But Odi was stubborn too. “So then you’re never going to control your powers, are you?” He asked, wondering if his convoluted words would make sense in the context. If Lani was avoiding himself, he was avoiding the connection between him and his powers. Without knowing himself, there was no connection and therefore, no control. Odion thought he had this all figured out, and now all Lani had to do, was stop ignoring who he was and start exploring it. All of it. “Do you need to be constantly supervised as well?” He asked, still challenging Lani’s view of his own powers. Odion sighed. Lani was not making the right connections here. “Your power is a part of you, you are your power, you’re afraid of your power, you don’t know who you are, you’re afraid of yourself.” Odion raised his hand, stopping Lani from responding. “The fact is, you’re still trying to fight me on this, so therefore, I’m right.”

Fairness wasn’t what Odion wanted. He had helped Lani before, by keeping the blonde’s secrets, and asked for nothing in return. He wanted this to be different, wanted it to be a two way street and yet, he was afraid. What if someone tried cutting him off? What if someone tried passing him when there was oncoming traffic? “I’m used to what life hurls at me,” he said, trying not to make a big deal out of it. Odion’s ultimate fear, was being alone, and yet, that was what he pushed for. Maybe by trying to realize that fear, he could just get it over with and accept that it was going to happen. Because why would a crook like him ever find true happiness in life? “Do you like throwing cars?” Odion challenged. Sometimes Odi caught glimpses of the future in his dreams and in his daydreams. He let his mind wander and it went into the future. He didn’t want to change the past, it was just too messy. Odion didn’t like messes.

Smiling, Odion tried to imagine wandering through a cave. “That reminds me of something I heard once. A story about what reality is,” he glanced at Lani. Oh great, he was going to try and tell a story. “It was about how we’re all chained in a cave, looking at the shadows the fire in the cave makes on the walls because we’re forced to stare at the walls. So what we’re really seeing, is shadows, and the truth is outside of the cave.” Beautiful, not even a single stumble. “I dunno, I rather enjoy taking things moments at a time,” he was still staring at his hands, “don’t really care about a state I can’t control.” Yes he was a control freak, yes he was a little tipsy, he was bound to say things he might regret in the morning. Death wasn’t something he wanted to deal with until it happened. The last and final moment.

Odion laughed with Lani. “Nothing wrong with a little color and flare,” he said, giving Lani a wink. He could be a peacock, but Lani was the one staring and enjoying the show and Odion wouldn’t soon let the blonde forget it. Besides, being modest was no fun. Odi could rock the greys and blacks, he at least had colorful hair, and could add spice to almost any outfit.

“‘Law-ni’. Lani, that’s what I said,” Odion said, shaking his head and sneering. “No one’s calling the school you twat, stop worrying already.” Seriously, Lani needed to take a chill pill and just let the night be. No one saw, done. Time to move on. “What are you sending out thank you notes for?” Odion asked. Clearly something had been lost in conversation. “Je ne comprendep pas,” Odi said, talking to himself and giggling again. Sticking out tongues and giggling, honestly, they were a couple of love struck, preteen girls.

Odion smiled a bit. “Told you so,” he said in a bit of a singsong tone. “You just need more practice,” Odi said, hoping Lani would go back on his vow – eventually. Really Odion was feeling far worse than he was letting on, but he was starting to feel a little better even now. He needed just a bit of rest, and he’d be fine. Right now, a sharp headache and some dizziness was more than bearable. “You look right terrible,” he said to Lani, a happy smirk on his face, as he hauled Lani through the dorm building. Wasn’t that his hat Lani was wearing? Hmm, how much had really happened this evening?

Odion was glad he wasn’t having such a bad reaction from the night’s heavy drinking. There was a dull pain in his head, his stomach was a bit unhappy, but other than that, he was alright. Lani, on the other hand, was green in complexion. So long as he didn’t heave onto him, Odion wouldn’t mind staying a bit longer to make sure Lani didn’t choke on his own vomit in his sleep. “Well, best to get it over with now.” Odion said with a nod, as though trying to convince himself. “I really couldn’t have you giggling all the way to the dorms, we would’ve been caught,” he said, blaming Lani completely.

Dropping his hands to the ground, Odi chuckled. “Crazy is an understatement.” Really, all he could remember was getting to the club, dancing with a couple of bitches, going through time a bit, the part with Dan and Lani being quite cute and defensive, and then being back at Hammel. The rest was a blank. Oh, he also remembered all the flirting, the good conversation... Odion knew he was falling for Lani, and that moment back at the club with their hands. He gulped as Rhett was mentioned. “I don’t think so,” Odion said, staring at the floor, “he has his own apartment.” Odion hadn’t forgotten Lani’s offer, but that didn’t stop him from standing up slowly. “See you later Lani,” Odi said, patting Lani’s shoulder once before making to leave. Tomorrow would come too soon.