TIME WARP: A Host of Thieves (Odion)

[Lani Hunter]

Lani hid his smile behind his hand. That was really good because Lani wasn’t about to change. Odion had changed him so much but there were some things that had just stuck. These things were the core of himself and as much as the sands shifted around the core would always be the same. “Good,” he finally said, “because I’m not going to let go very easily.” He gave Odion a sly look. Lani chuckled at Odion’s expression and the way he turned the same shade as his hair. He considered this for a moment and leaned back a smidge. “You are rather insane,” he agreed with an exaggerated sigh. His face didn’t stay serious for long and his eyes sparkled with a teasing nature. “You know your face is matching your hair.” He teased Odion mercilessly. It wasn’t often he got a step up on Odion. Lani rolled his eyes and nodded. “Vultures.” He muttered darkly. He hadn’t realized how jealous he could become.

Lani’s eyes and heart warmed and he hugged Odion. He wanted to snuggle with Odion for the rest of the night and forget about the job they had to do. “There’s not a better pair of eyes I’d rather have, either,” he said with a sweet smile. He looked into them and just like every other time he felt like he might get lost in them. Lani grinned at Odion, Odion was trouble just as much as he was. But it was good to know that Odion would always have his back and Lani would always have Odion’s. Lani shrugged and looked Odion over. “Probably, but I still wouldn’t care,” he said with certainty. No he didn’t love Odion for his looks. Though they certainly helped but there was so much more to him than that. Lani likened him to an iceberg. So much hiding under the surface. “As long as you keep eating and you know sleep a few hours here and there, you know.”

Odion got caught up in work quite a few times. Lani was sure it annoyed him to no end when Lani decided he hadn’t been eating enough and plopped one of his creations on a plate and that plate on whatever it was Odion was working on. Lani smiled absently remembered the time he had pushed bread onto Odion with his power. Now he hadn’t had to go that far but he was worried that Odion was forgetting to eat. It really wasn’t too common and Lani did it as well. Oh well, eating, sleeping and living. Who needed a job and rules and all that jazz? Lani’s hands flitted around and he couldn’t even remember when he used to be clumsy and fumbled with the picks and locks. Lani closed his eyes and listened as Odion took care of obtaining their loot. Lani cracked open an eye to watch the pick pocket work. If Lani was fluid Odion was invisible. His hands moved with such skill that it wasn’t hard to see how it was he could slip something out of Lani’s pocket.

He smiled back at Odion and whispered a grateful thanks as he dry swallowed the two pills and waited for them to take effect. He started to notice the light shaking and realized that holding the lock in this tricked position was pulling more out of him than he realized. Sure his power was strong but it was this small stuff that often appeared easy that drained him more because he didn’t feel as if he was using as much power as he was. Now something big, he knew he was using a lot of power and so he braced himself. “Odion,” he whispered, “Can you hold the light?” He asked as he set to work on putting the lock. This was what made them so good. No one would know that the lock had been tinkered with unless they took it apart again. It would look as if a ghost had really stolen the gold. Lani sighed with relief as the last of the lock slipped back into place and he put the card reader back on. Done. He wiggled out from under the case and stretched in a sitting position on the floor. He was a little stiff. Oh yes he was not as young as he used to be.

[Odion Martins]

“Good,” Odion said, “because it’s been a wild ride so far.” Lani really had added a lot of mess to Odi’s life, but, he wouldn’t have it any other way. Odion scoffed, shaking his head. “Ha! That’s rich. Then you’re insane for being with me,” he retorted in good humor. Reaching to his frock of red hair again, Odion patted it down a bit, before giving up. “Maybe I should dye it,” he offered a solution. Then Lani couldn’t harp on about his matching skin and hair tone. “Well according to you I don’t have to try...” he teased, wondering if he was going to get smacked around a little for such a comment. God he hoped so. When they went out, Odion sort of reveled in making Lani jealous. The blonde got a fire in his eyes that Odi liked to see. Of course, Lani wasn’t shy about coming up to whoever Odi was talking to and asking how he liked the acquaintance of his boyfriend. Good time good times.

Damn it, why did Lani have to have such a profound effect on him? Odion swore he was wrapped around the blonde’s little finger. “Oh, you shouldn’t do this to me right now,” he said in a whiny voice. Lani was the most attractive man on the planet to Odion. But they had other things to do and Odi balled his hands into fists, trying to keep his hands to himself. Lani was his parabatai – they were a matched team of warriors, ready to protect each other and guard each other’s backs. Odion had been looking at a lot of different Greek mythology ever since he met Lani, and he found most of it quite fascinating. “You wouldn’t care if I stopped bathing?” He asked, a quirky grin on his face. Really? Lani would have to care about that. Odion was determined to find something in his grooming habits that Lani would sorely miss if discontinued. Odion rolled his eyes, before giving Lani a good and playful shove. “Sleeping and eating are required to live, not a matter of preference.”

Time turning had its toll on Odion. It affected his mind and his social habits, and sometimes he altogether forgot about dates with Lani, about training with the kids, about a lot of things. Sometimes he forgot himself. And no matter what it was that Lani dropped in front of him, Odion appreciated the reminder of the present. He had expressed his concerns to Lani about feeling like an old man with amnesia, constantly forgetting things and time itself. It was why he worked so hard. He needed focus, almost all the time or he’d zone out, and forget to eat. Honestly, if Odion had had the drive and desire, he could’ve been a doctor – he had the steady hands and the focus. It was something he hadn’t lost and only continued to perfect.

Odion nodded, slinging the pack over his back and nearing Lani. “Course,” he said, his hand over the light in an instant, making the shaking stop. Odi watched Lani set to work once more, and the ginger shifted his weight from side to side, keeping the light still. He was getting antsy. They had the goods and now that impatience was starting to set in. Without Lani, Odi would’ve bolted by now, but this operation required a little more finesse. If Odion had patience teaching, he had zero patience for this kind of stuff. His senses were on high alert, even though he knew everything was literally on hold and they didn’t even need to worry about anyone walking in. Lani finally finished, and Odi smiled a bit as the telekinetic sat down. “Are you alright?” He asked quietly, sitting next to Lani, crossing his legs under him. As eager as he was to leave, some things were worth waiting on.

“What’s the next step, love?” Odion asked excitedly, in a hushed tone.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani grinned at Odion. He really had opened a can of crazy in Odion’s life. Sure they had both agreed that they were insane but it there was one to go off the deep end he really wasn’t sure who it would be. But messiness was definitely Lani’s forte. Lani shrugged innocently lifting his hands palm upward. “I never said I wasn’t.” He gave Odion a wink and laughed. Oh laughter felt good. The telekinetic found it hard not to smile when Odion messed with his hair. It really did look good messy, Lani always felt he should cut it shorter but then shorter hair was his own style preference and if Odion asked him to grow it out he might really go insane. Lani wrinkled his nose in distaste. “What would you dye it? Blue?” A new grin grew on his face, “Then you could match your eyes!” He shook his head as he laughed. Good thing he doubted Odion would dye his hair. Because then Lani would have to protest.

A laugh grew from his chest and he smiled brightly at Odion. “Oh fine,” he relented. They had stuff to do. Lani would always listen to Odion. He wouldn’t say he was whipped, he really didn’t want to have that conversation again. So sue him, he liked to make sure his partner was happy. Was that wrong? Lani didn’t think so. And since he had in a sense figured himself out, kind of, he had not been afraid of the fact that the feeling he had were real. Lani gave Odion a skeptical look. Odion would never stop bathing. “I would throw you in the tub.” He nodded and crossed his arms giving Odion a mock stern look. Well it wouldn’t have been the first time… But certainly the first time Odion talked about not bathing. Lani would give him a few days, a week at the most before Odion himself broke down and showered. Really Lani liked Odion the way he was but he was sticking by the idea that he would like him either way. Lani opened his arms giving Odion a ‘what’ expression. “But you know if you had the preference would you really pick my cooking?” He asked a joking tone in his voice.

Odion wasn’t as far gone as he thought. Half of that was coming from the growth of age and the fading of the time when both would have rather partied all night and slept all day. So what if they didn’t do that so often. There were things to be done during both the light and dark hours. Lani had found a patience he hadn’t had before with Odion. He understood when Odion forgot and lost time. Lani would either wait thinking that Odion would remember or he would go and remind him with a phone call. Before when he had only encountered a fading of attention once or twice he had been hurt. But Odion didn’t mean to. And if Lani had to jolt him back into the present he was more than happy. Of course it worried Odion and it worried Lani as well. So Lani had just assured Odion that he wouldn’t let him forget. Lani wasn’t sure what he would do if Odion really forgot completely and just drifted away. But what will be will be… oh screw that. He wasn’t going to let Odion drift away because some fate willed it so. It wouldn’t be the first time he had waged war on fate.

Lani let go of the flashlight with relief and worked quickly. Lani blinked a few times in the darkness and slowly waited for the medication to work. It really wasn’t as bad as it would have been if he was still a new telekinetic. They had been right the raw feeling had healed and Lani could do more for longer but the headaches were still a constant. Lani gave Odion a smile and nodded. He’d be fine. It really wasn’t so bad. “Just give me a minute,” he replied and he slowly detached his power from the lock. He closed his eyes and let his focus grow hazy and his power reached out feeling everything. It was strange that it felt better to have his power settled everywhere than nowhere at all, trapped in his mind like a dragon being confined by glass. He opened his eyes to find Odion next to him and he leaned toward him resting his head on Odion’s shoulder. Next step? Lani lifted his head and ran a hand through his hair. “Back out the door, back through the lasers, then home free.” He rose to his feet and extended his hand to Odion. “You won’t win this time,” he said mock determination filling his voice and covering up some of the real determination in his mind.

[Odion Martins]

“True, but I still think you’re pretty lucky,” if you know what I mean Odion said, laughing with Lani and shaking his head. They were really something else, insane or not. Sometimes Odi did cut his hair so it was a bit on the shorter end, but once it grew out, he liked to keep it that way for a while. It wasn’t like it went past his ears or anything, he wasn’t a hippie. “Ugh,” Odion said, a hand to his face. He slung an arm around the blonde’s shoulders as they walked, his face getting ever closer to Lani’s. “Must you always ruin all my fun?” He asked. “But back to the hair thing, I think it’d look good brown,” he mused, trying to get a better reaction from Lani. Odion didn’t want blue, he wanted something realistic.

There wasn’t any point in suing Lani, Odion would just be taking from himself. He shot Lani a smile. Whipped wasn’t exactly the best word for it. The word implied something you had to do, or else, which also implied an unequal playing field and they were most definitely on the same level. The word didn’t even cross Odi’s mind, in mockery or in seriousness. He was happy, and he was glad that Lani was the cause for that happiness. Odion’s eyes darkened, a thoughtful smile on his face. “I’d take you with me,” he said threateningly. Not that he’d mind a bath with Lani... Odion laughed and gestured at himself. “No, I’d definitely eat my own cuisine. What’s your point?” Was Lani going to say that eating his food was like getting to pick which version of Odion he liked best? How was this related at all? Odion smirked – Lani’s mind must’ve been somewhere else.

Partying had never really been Odion’s thing. Now drinking, he had done a lot of that not that long ago. This particular weakness lasted well into his twenties, but he didn’t have a reason to get off his face anymore. He drank when he was a teen because his life was horrid, now, it wasn’t, therefore, the drinking was few and far between, and only on special occasions. Odion couldn’t say he missed it, he had better things to do now. Besides, what kind of example would he be for the kids if he got wasted all the time? Odion had to keep his wits about him, and alcohol would only hamper that. He needed to be ready in case someone dropped the ball on him. He couldn’t afford those wasted nights of drinking anymore.

Waiting in silence, Odion nodded, hearing the lock slip back into place. “Has anyone ever told you you’re quite good at this?” He asked with a grin. He’d never tire of flirting with Lani Hunter. Odi could feel Lani’s powers surround him, Lani physically resting on his shoulder. Odi touched Lani’s hair, looking down at his favorite blonde. Lani stood, and Odion took his hand, a grin plastered onto his face. He couldn’t remember what it felt like to be angry at Lani. “And if you do, it’s ‘cause I let you win.” Odion said, making his way towards the door. He didn’t stop running as they bent in and around the lasers for a second time. He couldn’t wait to be out of the building, and let time resume.

---

Remembering that they had passed a park on the way to the museum, Odion veered into it and took a seat on one of the many benches. It wasn’t the best time, since he still had the gold and everything, but really, it was the right time. He just checked his watch. “Lani,” Odi started, waiting for the blonde to sit next to him before continuing, “you know I love you, right?”

[Lani Hunter]

Lani winked at Odion his smile widening. “Luck has nothing to do with it.” Luck had a lot to do with it. Lucky Lani. Lady Luck always had a way of finding him. Bearing good or bad luck it always found him. His old grandmother on his greek after meeting Odion for the first time (and trying to feed him until he burst) gave both of them a mati charm to ward off bad luck. Lani had laughed, but she was a superstitious woman and so he had taken it with great thanks. But not before giving Odion that face. The one that he hoped would make Odion laugh but also told him he’d better do as the woman said or she might curse them. Lani guffawed he loved it when he was able to earn a facepalm from Odion. He gave Odion a sly look and only shrugged in response. He didn’t like to ruin the fun, he just liked to have fun informing Odion what a bad idea it was. Lani wrinkled his nose and looked at Odion picturing him with brown hair. “It would be… weird,” he decided before shaking his head. “Why do you want to change it, you look great the way you are!”

Equality, that was something that had been new to Lani. Not new in the sense of their relationship but in a sense of having someone to protect and be protected by them. It was strange at first but certainly not unwelcome. Lani realized he liked having someone prop him up as much as he propped other people up. Lani matched a stare at Odion until he finally answered. His brow raised but Lani let a sly smile slip onto his face. He wouldn’t be too upset by that scenario. Lani grinned at Odion and shrugged, “You’ll get clean one way or another, or have we not learned not to argue with a telekinetic?” He asked teasingly. But really Lani couldn’t move living things so that threat was empty unless he wanted to dump Odion into the bath fully clothed. Lani laughed a little harder and shook his head at Odion. “My point is, if you keep zoning out then I will become the official cook and then no one will be happy. So if you only eat to live then I might just take over that job.” He raised a brow wondering how much Odion would protest that. Whenever Lani cooked there were always groans from the kids.

Lani remembered the first time he had gotten drunk with Odion very well. He didn’t let Odion forget that night how he admitted that Lani was ‘amazing’. But Lani had never been much of a drinker and though his vow had been broken he had figured out why it was best for his mind not to be muddled. After all tossing cars when drunk was not a recipe for a good thing. Shaking his head at the thought he smiled to himself. Lani grinned at Odion as he spoke. He let out a light laugh. “I like to think its cause I have a lucky charm,” he winked at Odion. No he never got tired of messing with Odion for being Irish. If he ever found a four leaf clover Odion would never hear the end of it. Lani followed Odion and closed the door setting the lock back before following after Odion. He panted as he followed after Odion as he restarted time. “You had a head start,” he said.

Strangely Odion didn’t bolt right back home like he normally did. Lani followed him curiously to the park. Maybe this had something to do with the secret. This was strange. Unsure of what was going on he hesitated as Odion went to a bench. As if summoned by his name Lani sat next to Odion angling himself at the redhead. He looked at Odion his eyes confused but he was sure about one thing. “Of course, I love you too,” he reassured him. He gave Odion a sideways look wary about where this was going. “Is everything ok?” He asked unable to stop himself. Something was wrong, it had to be, or else Odion wouldn’t be stopped here on a bench, he would be rushing home to put their goods in a safe place.

[Odion Martins]

“Oh I see how it is, you make your own luck?” Odion asked, challenging Lani. The ginger remembered Lani’s grandma, dear sweet thing, but she really didn’t know the meaning of ‘full’. Sharing ‘those looks’ with Lani happened frequently. Odion was learning, slowly but surely, that words weren’t always necessary to get a message conveyed. Of course, Odion ate until he almost threw up, and only when he was turning slightly green did grandma ease off. It was a good day. “I dunno, it looks good on Dec,” Odi said with a shrug. He often wished he had his brother’s hair instead of being cursed ginger. Oh well, Lady Luck was always on his bad side. “You’re allowed to mess up my life but I can’t dye my hair?” Odi asked with a grin. Oh how he loved teasing Lani. He absolutely adored the blonde.

Lani had always been who he was, the real adventure for Odion, had been trying to help Lani get used to that idea. Lani had always been strong, focused, determined, and stubborn, but he had also been kind, gentle, and loving. Those last few traits were ones Odi hadn’t been expecting, but they were found none the less. Odion had done a lot of soul searching himself while dating Lani. Lani, it would seem, was someone he would never be without. Odion laughed with Lani. “You know I don’t just eat to live...” Odi frowned, before laughing again, rubbing the back of his neck. “Honestly, I have no idea what we’re talking about anymore,” Odion smiled sheepishly at Lani. And he didn’t really care. So just like that, he let the matter slide.

Of course Lani was amazing, he still is. Odion didn’t want to remember that part of that night for a while, didn’t want to deal with it when Lani was taken by someone else. But hey, at least Lani knew back then that if he ever needed the truth from Odi, a little alcoholic pressure would do the trick. Odion rolled his eyes, shaking his head while wearing that lopsided grin. “You were lucky when I met you, so therefore, you are the lucky charm.”

---

“Good,” he smiled at Lani, before taking his hand and getting down on one knee. “Because I wouldn’t have known love if it weren’t for you. You’re my best friend, my partner in crime, and my equal. I want to give you everything, because you are my everything. So,” Odion gave the signal, which was him standing. He watched Lani for a reaction, still holding his hand, as two people appeared from the shadows of the park, each carrying boxes. Caroline was just behind Odion to the right, smiling beautifully. And Dec, well, he was on the left, grinning like an idiot and waving at Lani.

With a flourish, like Odion had asked for, they both opened the ring boxes at the same time. Each box contained about fifty different rings for Lani to choose from, and Odion had stolen them all very carefully over the years. He couldn’t bring a single one of them with him tonight, because Lani would’ve felt the strange presence with his power. Odion stepped closer to Lani, a small smirk on his face that seemed ever present since the day they started being together.

“Will you marry me?”

[Lani Hunter]

“I’m a regular Harvey Dent,” he said giving Odion a nerdy grin. Probably not the best of comparisons considering his inevitable Two Face transformation. But hey Lani had already gone through his Jekyll and Hyde phase and that had not been fun for anyone. It hadn’t even been anything really bad and it was a comparison his sister had coined when his moods switched like the wind on a stormy day. Lani grinned he had kept his mati hung in their room keeping watch over the door. So maybe Lani was just a tad superstitious. He shook his head at Odion. “But you’re not Dec,” he said with a wrinkle of his nose. He would really rather Odion not be like Dec. He loved the man but it would be weird. To have the fun loving Irish bloke looking even more similar to Odion. It was enough to make his head spin. Lani gave Odion a sly grin. “Precisely.” He shook his head with a laugh. “I think red is a good look, honestly. I mean if you wanna do something different you can get a tattoo,” Lani suggested with waggling eyebrows.

To imagine that there was a time when he had almost walked out of Odion’s life altogether, and at the redhead’s request made him believe that for once his stubbornness had been right about something. Even though he hadn’t realized it then he had cared deeply for Odion and he wasn’t ready to let him walk away without a fight. Sometimes in his nightmares he had faded and he wasn’t sure what the outcome was but he just remembered the feeling but he could never remember the dream. It was time like that that he realized how without Odion to fight for how unhinged he really might have become. He laughed and shook his head at Odion. “Good, because I think I lost it too,” he shrugged. Odion really had been much more than his best friend at Hammel, he was a lifeline. Just the kind of person Lani needed when he needed someone to pick him up but also there to tear him down if he got a little too big headed. Odion had taught him so much, about trust and about truth, and about humility.

Lani cocked his head at Odion and smiled leaning close to Odion. “Tell me why we never gamble?” He grinned at the little joke. Easy answer, because luck had nothing to do with good and bad, it had to do with chance. What were the chances that two people who were so different and yet had so much alike had met, and even more what were the chances that they had stayed friends through it all and even farther odd the chances that they had both been bold enough to act on their feelings. Well, better late than never.

Lani’s mind was swimming, Odion wasn’t sick was he? That was perhaps Lani’s greatest fear, not as irrational as it seemed but rather irrational. But it was the first thing that had run through his mind. He squeezed Odion’s hand his eyes spelling confusion and worry. Only Lani would go to the worst case scenario at a time like this. Lani’s heart gave a squeeze at the beautiful words. He knew he had never felt a love like this one, and would probably never again. Lani’s mind was no longer on illness. No this was different. But how? Because Lani was Lani and cluelessness didn’t seem to have a cure. His heart raced and he opened his mouth to say something. He closed it as Odion stood, realizing that Odion had said it all. They shared those feelings and anything Lani said now would come out lame and frankly he didn’t know how to follow that.

Eyes wide with curiosity and confusion Lani’s eyes darted for a moment as Caroline and Declyn walked out of the shadows. His eyes snapped from them for a quick moment giving Declyn a hesitant wave back. But his eyes were back on Odion his eyes locked onto those blue ones. Lani couldn’t keep his jaw from dropping as the boxes opened and there were so many rings of different colors and shapes Lani could barely believe his eyes. But he looked back at Odion his happiness making him speechless and immobile. He couldn’t believe this was happening. This had to be a dream! But Lani couldn’t move to pinch himself. For then the words came. It was probably a good thing he was sitting or he might have fallen over. Lani was having a hard time remember when he was ever this filled with joy and the last time he was this silent.

Realizing his silence might be misinterpreted Lani rose to his feet and wrapped his arms around Odion giving him a kiss that spoke volumes more than he could ever have said with words. Looking into Odion’s eyes Lani put his hands on Odion’s face and found himself laughing. “Yes, Odion. Nothing in the world would make me happier.” At that declaration there was a squeak of joy from Caroline. “Oh my god,” Lani whispered high on the joy and he was pretty sure he was floating somewhere miles above cloud nine. “Odion, I love you.” Forget the rings, Lani was more excited about this moment here with Odion. The gestures were romantic and just like Odion. And he loved them. He loved Odion. How was it that four simple words were enough to make a grown man weak in the knees and giddy as a child? Because it was coming from the right person.

[Odion Martins]

“Harvey Dent?” Odion asked, confusion on his face, before he smiled again. “This must be coming from yet another movie I haven’t seen,” he said, slightly interested, but he probably wouldn’t shed a tear over missing said movie. Odi would always remember the first time they didn’t something as simple and mundane as watching a movie. Back to the Future he believed was their first movie night. Horrid piece of film really, but it was amusing at least. Stealing had been easier than having to sit through watching a screen for over an hour as people pretended to know what time travel was like. “Thank you, Captain Obvious,” Odion said in a mock serious tone of voice, saluting his friend. “Now that hardly seems fair. I can make my own messes thank you very much.” Oh now he was just playing. Odion laughed. “A tattoo? Aren’t I a bit old for that type of shenanigan?”

Odion scoffed, that know it all grin on his face. “Speak for yourself, I gamble all the time.” The ginger wasn’t opposed to betting some of his ‘hard earned’ money on things he thought would win. But yes, it was all chance, despite how Odi thought he knew everything and then some. Yes, better late than never. Odion couldn’t remember how it all happened, they hadn’t really made it official, but the two of them together just seemed like the right thing to do. Well, they couldn’t have been more right.

---

His heart was thumping in his chest as Odion waited for Lani to say something, but once again Odi was shown that words needn’t always be the way to go. He wrapped his arms around Lani’s shoulders in a tight embrace, and smiled into the kiss. Everything had gone off without a hitch, Lani hadn’t seen this coming at all, hence the slight hesitation. Timing was everything, after all. But this was amazing, to see Lani’s true reaction. After all this time, Odion was still ever grateful that Lani trusted him so much, was so vulnerable and real in his presence.

Odion grinned madly, loosening his grip on Lani as he finally said yes. The ginger glanced to Caroline and pointed at Lani like he had won the grand prize, “He’s all mine now.” Lani’s sister giggled and Odi chuckled and turned his head to look back at Lani, snatching another kiss. “I love you too.” It was so cheesy, but it was definitely a fine cheese. Declyn had closed the ring box and made to sit on the now unoccupied bench, just watching them with a mad grin of his own. Odion was staring at Lani, getting lost again. The brunet of the twins nudged Odion’s calf, nodding towards Lani.

“Oh! Right. I almost forgot.” Odion couldn’t contain his smile, or his secrets. He reached behind Lani’s ear, and like magic an envelope was in the ginger’s hand. “You get to pick where we go,” he said brightly, wondering if Lani was listening at all, “for the honeymoon bit.” He took Lani’s hands again and put the envelope full of plane tickets to different destinations in them, staring at him with his big blue eyes, making sure Lani understood what he was about to say. “Any time period you like.” Part two of the big night. Now Odion was out of secrets, and happiness was just seeping through him.

[Lani Hunter]

“Yeah, you know, from Batman,” Lani waved his hands as if that would help Odion make the connection, “The one that came out like ten or so years ago. He had the two sided coin… never mind.” He shook his head a little. “We’ll have to watch it, it’s rather good, I think you might like it.” Lani remembered it well. He also remembered being bewildered by Odion’s opinion of the movie. Lani loved that movie, for a movie from the eighties it was one of the classics. They had to admit that had been better than the time they had tried to watch the Godfather. Good movie, but not necessarily the best memories called from the movie. Lani grinned at the old nickname and term. “Anytime, Lieutenant Clueless,” he replied to the old joke. Now it was Lani’s turn to laugh. He shook his head. “Yes you could, but you won’t.” He knew Odion would rather have everything organized and in its proper place. Lani was more of the ‘if I put this here it’ll make sense’. It had been a lot of getting used to at the beginning. Odion would clean and Lani would lose something and then Lani would use something and put it in what he thought was a logical place but then Odion wouldn’t be able to find it.

Lani just shook his head at Odion. Better he gamble than Lani. Lani had a good poker face, mostly because he could always look like he was bluffing and trick people into betting it all. But then they didn’t always work.



Lani couldn’t stop smiling his ears were ringing and he felt like he was floating on air. How could this have happened? Lani’s thoughts were exploding in a million different reactions and it was probably a good thing he wasn’t trying to trap his power or else it might have done something to ruin the moment. Lani wouldn’t have taken back anything. The good, the bad, to get to this moment. The good, because that was the reason that they had worked so well together, and the bad because it had shown what they were able to overcome. He couldn’t take his eyes off of Odion. He was a little awed that he had planned something so well. He hadn’t even caught a whiff of it from Caroline and usually he could tell if she was keeping something from him without very many problems.

Lani laughed at Odion’s declaration and even more as Caroline stuck her tongue out at the redhead. Lani’s breath was taken away as Odion kissed him. He needed to keep breathing. Breathing was a good thing, or so he was told. Suffocation or not he felt rather good right now. More than good. Outstanding. He grinned at Odion then turned his grin to his sister and to Dec. This moment could not have been any better. Not when they both had their sibling here with them. He pulled Odion close with one arm and held out his free hand pointing it at his sister. “How long did you know about this?” He tried to ask accusingly but it came out too much of a joke because he couldn’t stop laughing and smiling.

Called back to Odion Lani looked at him confused again. What could he possibly have forgotten? Everything was perfect. He jumped a little, he would never get used to Odion’s magic skills. Especially when his power was having a hard time following where the object had come from. But true to his word Odion had not given anything away. And every time Lani thought he had something it failed miserably. “What?” He asked startled by the plane tickets. Geez, how much time did Odion spend doing this in secret? He nearly swallowed his tongue in shock. And then the bigger surprise came. Any time period? “What?” He repeated his eyes wide with shock. Did he hear him right? He must have meant ‘any time’. “Wait… You don’t mean… You mean any ‘when’?” His eyes were wide with shock and he was starting to wonder if he really might go weak in the knees. “Oh,” Lani’s eyes were about to pop out of their sockets and he held onto Odion for a moment as the world swam. How had he been this lucky?

He gave Odion a kiss again. Odion had given him everything already and was still finding ways to outdo himself. Lani wasn’t sure he deserved it all the time but he was grateful for it none the less. He always tried to keep up but he wasn’t sure he could ever come so close to anything like this. “Oh my god,” Lani repeated laughing. He never wanted to let go of Odion, as if when he did this might all disappear. “Odion, I love you and thank you, thank you so much. For everything.” For keeping him sane and keeping his feet on the ground. For giving him that extra boost when he needed and that extra dose of reality, for always being there even when Lani made a mess of things, and for accepting his apology so many years ago.

[Odion Martins]

The good had brought out the best in them, but the bad had brought out the passion, drive, and determination necessary to get here at all. Lani had finally told Odion about Caroline, and Odion had told Lani about Dec, and now the both of them were here with them. Honestly, Odion couldn’t have picked two better people to help him out tonight. And yes, Odion had accepted long ago that everyone needed help sometimes. Besides, they were just as eager as he was to share in this moment. Odion laughed from under Lani’s arm.

“How long has it been Odi?” Caroline asked, sitting next to Dec on the bench. Odion shrugged. “I don’t know, haven’t been keeping track of time.” They shared a laugh together and Odi swore he fell a bit more in love with Lani’s younger sister. “It was for your own good,” Caroline added, her eyes on her brother. Lani sometimes stuck his nose where it didn’t belong, and had Odion not been as careful with his words Lani would’ve figured it out.

Odion still liked showing off for Lani, especially his magic tricks. It was something he had without having to use powers. Vain, Odi was definitely vainer since having met Lani. The blonde stroked his ego without having to try very hard. The ginger laughed, his head bowing down to look at the ground before rising again to capture Lani in this moment. Lani just couldn’t believe what was happening. “You heard me,” Odion said, smiling, “anywhere, any when you like.” Odion laughed again, both of his hands gripping Lani’s shoulders. “Don’t go falling on me.”

Instead, Odion was greeted with another kiss and Declyn whooped. Everything was going as planned, actually, better than he could have ever imagined. He was glad that he hadn’t destroyed the road map of his life during the most troublesome times of his youth. Odion did all this, not because he was trying to shine, but because he wanted to keep proving to Lani that he was worth trusting, and that Lani was worth being doted on. Odion pressed their foreheads together, and closed his eyes, just enjoying the moment. “Any time love,” he said, his lips over Lani’s once more. Tonight was the best night of his life, so far.