Jump the Shark [closed]

[Rhett Goddard]

After explaining his slightly swollen nose to Odion with the complete truth over what had happened that morning with Lani, Rhett gave Odion another kiss as he finished putting Odion's bag in the back of the cab.

"It had to happen." Rhett said after his boyfriend enter the cab. "He put you in danger and he had to pay for it." He grabbed the ginger's hand. "I'd do it all over again, ten thousand times and hundred more."

He told the cab they were riding to the airport and Rhett accommodated next to Odion, leaning his head on the other boy's shoulder. Soon enough they were at their destination. The place brought him a deja vu of the last time he had been there with the objective of going away from Vermont to the same destination they were now going: Limoges. However, he turned to see Odion and smiled slightly, remembering one other, experience.

"Remember Vegas?" Rhett asked Odion as they walked into the building, tickets in hand. "The shower...?" Rhett smiled slightly as he grabbed one of Odion's hand and started to play with his fingers. "We didn't even ate in the whole day, did we?"

No they didn't. Not food anyway.

Since the tickets had been bought and printed online, as neither of them were carrying big bags, they entered the waiting room right away after going through the security check. For what they could read on the TV screens, they still had about an hour before their departure. Rhett sighed at this, but then again, it was usual with international flights, it was also irredeemable.

"Do you want to rest while we wait?" He pointed at the chairs in the waiting room. "Or we can go eat, whatever you want."

[Odion Martins]

It didn’t really have to happen, but it was nice to be defended. Although who was doing the defending and protecting and who the bad guy was, Odion wasn't sure. Still, he listened as Rhett put their things into the cab, not really wanting to think about all that right now.

Settling himself in the cab, Odion found comfort in Rhett’s presence. The ginger had never been one to be physically affectionate, but Rhett always wanted to be, so, Odi indulged him. His fingers went from holding the anticipated plane tickets, to Rhett’s leg and back again.

The ride to the airport was just like the last time they went. Though Rhett had been unwilling at first, they did end up having a lot of fun once they got to Vegas. Odion smiled as Rhett spoke, thinking the same thing he had been. “How could I forget?” Odi asked with a sly grin and a wink. Wow, it had been a while since anything like that had happened. Odion gulped, wondering if Rhett was thinking the same thing again right now. Food wasn’t always the number one priority on Odi’s list.

Stopping to look at the chairs, Odion’s hand twitched in Rhett’s, before dragging him and his baggage down the hall to the nearest men’s washroom. “I have a better idea,” he said. Oh they’d eat alright.

Glad no one was in here, Odion promptly put the yellow tape across the doorframe janitors used when they were cleaning the bathroom. He also closed and locked the door, just in case. With that done, Odion advanced on Rhett, his hands all over the blonde, a sense of longing in each kiss he gave him. They had an hour, maybe two if Odion extended it.

[Rhett Goddard]

Of all the things passing the blonde's mind, this was definitely not one of them. Not because of this he'd reject it, though, never he'd do that. Au contraire, it was a nice surprise, and it was just like old times. His swollen face and pained stomach along with Odion's own several bruises and punch marks forced them to be delicate, but if anything, it made things more romantic and feelings-oriented. Just the way Rhett had been wanting to reconnect with his boyfriend again.

"I..." Rhett said just after they were done, embracing and holding Odion as close and strongly as he could. "love you, Odion." The words were easier to say now that he had said them once. Rhett could even feel like he could say it thousand times, and he felt like he should, but instead, he looked at his watch. "Merde, we're late!"

They weren't that late, just ten minutes, but these were big planes, it probably already took about ten minutes to get everyone on board, so as long as they changed into clothes quickly enough, they should be able to not lose their flight. Shirt, pants, socks, shoes... wait, where are my briefs? Rhett looked around the floor in vain. Whatever. He put on all his clothes sans his underwear, not like anyone would notice anyway. He waited for Odion to finish changing and they ran towards their gate. They were the last passengers to board, but hey, they made it.

"Isn't your shirt inside out?" Rhett asked Odion after they had accommodated in their seats and placed their bags on the top shelves.

As expected, Rhett raised the chair arm and grabbed Odion's hand as the plane took off. Thirty minutes later the plane was already on their top height and the sign to keep their seat-belts off were off. It was going to be a long flight, and in all honesty, Rhett hadn't slept much. Maybe he could make up for that. But maybe there were other things that would classify as making up for time lost. He whispered in the ginger's ear and then softly stood up and walked to the plane's bathroom, closing the door behind him but leaving it unlocked. He just leaned against the hand-washer as he waited.

[Odion Martins]

It had been nice, and if Odion could say anything about it, just what he needed. Celibacy wasn’t in the cards for him. “Late?” Odion said, snagging one last kiss from Rhett. “Impossible...” He said. He thought he had been keeping track of time, but it was also equally possible to lose track of it. Slipping back into his clothes as fast as he could, Odi didn’t say a word as he paused time around them. They were not going to miss this flight.

He left the washroom with Rhett in tow, and a grin on his face that said he was hiding a dirty little secret. Odion decided it was the adrenaline rush and feeling of happiness that propelled him forward. He was completely out of breath as it was. The flight stewardess raised an eyebrow at him just as Odi let time resume. “Sorry, lost track of time,” he said, but she waved them through like she had seen this a million times before. Probably had, airports could be very emotional.

Nerves hadn’t come yet like they usually did when Odion was trying to avoid flying. He glanced down at himself, plucking at the label hitting his chin. He blushed deeply and tried tucking it in. No one would notice two boys, bruised and battered, one with his clothes inside out and the wrong way, the other his hair all a mess. He smirked at Rhett, ruffling the blonde’s hair even more.

It wasn’t the sex Odion had issues with.

Closing his eyes, Odion did his best to keep his stomach at bay as the plane took off. It was the worst part. Part of him felt like he was going to explode and the other part felt like the plane was going to hit something in mid air. Thirty minutes had gone by and as usual, they were the longest thirty minutes of his life. This was going to be a long trip... Rhett shifted beside him and stood, and Odi’s eyes went big as the blonde whispered something and promptly left.

Unbuckling himself slowly, Odion wondered if what he heard had been correct as he neared the bathroom, looking both ways to make sure no one was watching before slipping inside the tiny quarters. What was with them and washrooms today?

It was certainly a good way to pass the time, and get his mind off the fact they were on a plane, in mid air, going to Europe which consequently meant going over a large body of water. Still, Odion gave a wink to Rhett as he dressed himself for the third time today, “Lost your gitch somewhere? Now how did that happen?” It hurt to simile, but he did it anyway. Odion double checked to make sure his shirt was the right way this time before heading back to his seat. They couldn’t both leave at once.

Sitting in the aisle seat (Odion had to avoid the window at all costs), Odion waited for Rhett to sit before leaning onto the blonde. “Are you happy we joined the mile high club?” He asked very quietly. How much longer ‘til they got to France?

[Rhett Goddard]

"You took them off," Rhett was referring at the previous washroom, back in the airport. "I have no idea where you threw them." Rhett said as he buttoned up his shirt with a big smile on his face. "Come'on, chéri," Rhett landed a kiss in his boyfriend's lips before giving space for Odion to go out the door. "you go first."

After Odion got out, Rhett continued checking and accommodating his clothes for a while in the bathroom before walking back to his seat, smiling in a very formal way to the flight attendant that crossed his path. Back in his seat, Rhett grabbed the ginger's hand again and listened to his question. He sighed and smiled slightly while taking the younger boy's hand to his lips to put a small kiss in it.

"I'm happy about a lot of things." He said softly. "Are you?" Taking into account the recent events, it was not a very good question to be left out like that. "With me, I mean." He let the question sink in for a moment. "I want you to."

It was sheer honesty. Rhett wanted Odion to be happy, but as his words may had implied, he wanted Odion to be happy with him. It was maybe his only condition, it was Rhett's egotistical and possessive love.

"You were so good back there." He said with a playful tone. "You always are, I had almost forgotten."

Rhett yawned. Not only he hadn't had much sleep last night, but his episode with Lani that morning next to these two exhausting encounters with Odion had depleted all of Rhett's energies. It was maybe for the best, the flight was long as much as sex was a good way to pass the time, doubtfully any of the two would be able to spend the seven hours of the flight to Paris, not counting the additional half hour flight from France's capitol to Limoges.

It was going to be one long day.

===

"I'm pretty sure we were in Paris in july o-nine." Rhett continued arguing. "You're talking about Florence, when we scored our first black Amex." He smiled slightly. "The only one if you consider the other one was fake." He shrugged. "I did warn you that time, no good mark uses fake Pumas."

Having been back in the City of Light had brought back so many memories of their time before Hammel, Kocher and the whole meta situation. The good old times, if you may. All the way from Paris to Limoges, the duo did but talk about their memories and how much simpler life was back then. Rhett definitely missed that, even if now he couldn't imagine his life without his ESP and his experiences at both meta-schools. The present was not entirely bad, though, he was walking through the airport, holding the hand of the boy he loved, and soon they'd be in the cab on their way to the place Rhett had been dying to show Odion, one of the two main reasons they were in France, none of which he had disclosed to Odion yet.

"How are you?" Rhett asked Odion after they got on the cab and told the driver the address. "Generally, how are you? I want to know."

[Odion Martins]

A quiet grin formed on Odion’s lips. “Neither do I.” Besides, they could get more of those once they got to their destination. Or, they could forget about underwear altogether – they weren’t a necessity.

Odion’s smile faltered for only a moment. “I’m happy,” he said flawlessly, gripping Rhett’s hand. He was happy for now, happy to not be thinking about anything but the present and what the future held, as though the past didn’t exist. He wasn’t sure if he was happy with Rhett, and he couldn’t be sure of the feeling of his gut wrenching was from nerves, or something being horribly wrong.

“I don’t think you could forget,” Odion said, glad to get back to something purely physical. The ginger pressed his lips to Rhett’s temple after he yawned. “Do try and get some rest,” he said, smiling a bit. Despite how tired and achy Odi felt, he wouldn’t be sleeping any time soon. Not if he was on a plane. But he would happily watch Rhett sleep beside him, and lose track of time completely.

---

“And I’m pretty sure you’re wrong,” Odion argued right back, though he did smile at the memory. It was something he could revisit any time, and if he really wanted to, could bring Rhett back with him and prove that he was right. Still, he had never time travelled with Rhett before, and, he really didn’t want to.

Odion didn’t think life was so simple, ever, even a few years ago when all he had to do was keep his nose clean and the gang happy. Europe was beautiful in its own way, and though he felt a great sense of nostalgia being here with Rhett, it just wasn’t the same. It wasn’t what he wanted. Odion had unknowingly moved on from his past, had escaped it just in time for it to catch up with him again.

Admittedly, Odion pestered Rhett about where they were going and what they would do, but Rhett was keen to change the subject and keep Odi in the shadows, which was driving the time turner mad.

Slipping in besides Rhett, Odion’s eyes were glued to the outside world. “I’m alright.” Some much had changed. Odion glanced back to Rhett, still handsome as ever. “Between being kidnapped and then going to Europe in a forty eight hour period, I think I’m holding up pretty well, don’t you?” He teased, but there was a sense of hurt behind his dark blue eyes. Odion turned his head back out the window before Rhett could see that he missed Lani.

[Rhett Goddard]

((psst psst, sorry for how long this took. crazy long week and weekend and blabla write here more excuses ))

"I won't let that happen again." Rhett assured Odion. "Ever."

He smiled and nodded at Odion. The ginger was definitely, and indeed, strong. Just like Rhett. It wasn't like they had gone through something similar in their past, but their past had made them learn to endure this and all. Life could throw anything at any of them and they would survive it and punch back, just like Odion had survived his experience and just how Rhett had gotten Odion back.

"We're here." Rhett said as the cab pulled over in front of an old and seemingly big house.

The blonde leaned in, payed the cab and grabbed his boyfriend's hand to pull him out slightly. He walked with the ginger to the fence and opened it with a key he had just taken from his pocket. He had missed the peculiar sound the gate made as it opened. Before going through the modest front yard, all filled with several kinds of white flowers, Rhett gave Odion one short kiss and hug, he was really excited to share this with Odion.

"Nanaaaaa," The voice of a little girl yelled from inside the house as the couple neared the front door. "Rhett is hereeeeee!" Immediately, the door opened and a young gray-eyed blonde girl ran towards Rhett to attack him with a hug. "Brother, I've missed you!"

"Me too, sis." Rhett released Odion's hand and leaned down, grabbing the little girl by the hips and placing her in his shoulders, to what she exclaimed playfully. "You remember my boyfriend I told you about?" Rhett turned towards Odion. "Rosette, meet Odion. Odion, meet Rosette."

"Brother, but you said he was pretty!" She said shyly.

"But he is." Rhett blew one small kiss to the redhead.

[Odion Martins]

Feeling the cab stop, Odion continued to stare out the window. This wasn’t just a house. Rhett’s touched snapped Odi out of it and he slid out of the cab, eyes still glued to the house. This didn’t look like a grave. Odi absentmindedly kissed and hugged Rhett, wondering if this was a good idea at all.

Odion had simply traded Rhett’s woes for Lani’s and then back again. Wasn’t he going to visit Lani’s family in Boston? Granted, this meeting was a huge turn of events, but still. Everything was strangely predictable, like walking through a dream and knowing that although everything looked a little different, it was still the same on the inside.

It was surreal, the little girl opening the door, Odi’s heart clenching as she hugged Rhett. It seemed they were both brothers now. Odion felt his face flush as he smiled a bit at the little girl. But she had called out to someone else, who was now standing in the doorway and beckoning them inside. This must’ve been ‘nana’. Odion’s hands groped around for something to lean onto, but it just looked like he was trying to swim in air.

“Come inside!” The older woman said in flawless French. Odion gulped again, finding it difficult to breathe. This was unbelievable. He passed a look to Rhett. This may have been the single most meaningful thing the blonde had ever shared with him.

[Rhett Goddard]

Rhett grabbed Odion's hand and the three of them, Rosette still on top of Rhett's shoulders, went inside.

"So this is the famous Odion." The warm old lady said as they entered, greeting the ginger with a kiss on the cheeks and then doing the same with the blonde. "He talks wonders of you, boy."

"Nana!" Rhett exclaimed.

"I'm glad we finally got to meet you." She smiled. "I'm Emmeline LeBlanc, but you can call me Nana as well." She continued as she let the party to the living room. "Are you hungry?" She asked both boys. "I can put something in the oven real quick. Or maybe you're tired? Your rooms are both ready as well."

"You can't go to sleep yet!" Rosette started slapping Rhett's head. "I want to play!"

From the back of the room, like if he had been summoned, a big pale dog came running and tackled the ginger immediately before going to Rhett and then back to Odion again. Trouble had definitely grown since the last time Rhett had seen him, and he couldn't imagine how much he had changed to Odion. One thing was for sure, Trouble clearly remembered, and probably missed, the redhead.

"Hey boy." Rhett placed his little sister back in the floor and kneelt down to call and pet trouble. "I've missed you buddy."

Rhett looked around, he liked the image he saw: his boyfriend, his sister, his Nana and his dog. What else could he want? He had it all, he was smiling brightly.

[Odion Martins]

As tradition called for it, Odion kissed both sides of the woman’s face, smiling down at her. She was everything a grandmother should be, except the eyes. They were sharp and keen, just like her grandson’s.

Just about to answer that he’d love some food, he was famished, a great canine pummeled him to the ground, an “oof” escaping him. Odion laughed, scratching Trouble behind the ears, the dog licking at his face. The scent of the trio of kittens must’ve vanished. Odi stood again, brushing himself off.

Rhett’s family look at him expectantly. Obviously Rhett had talked him up and now Odi was blowing it. He had never once met anyone’s family before, and here he was still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that Rhett had one. They had been orphans together, and now... Just another thing to push them apart.

“I’m sorry I haven’t said a word, I’m just,” he laughed a bit, “really taken aback.” Odion’s French was just as lovely, and it made Rhett’s family smile.

Rosette tugged at Odion’s shirt, looking up at him questioningly. “Why are your eyes blue?” She asked, and he chuckled in spite of himself. What was he supposed to say to that? “Why is your hair blonde?” He answered, making the little girl frown and touch her hair, but she soon smiled, realizing that some things were just meant to be.

Nana pulled Odion into another hug and Odi glanced at Rhett over her shoulder. Was this what Rhett wanted to share? Or was it to rub in his face?

[Rhett Goddard]

"We're hungry." Rhett graciously after seeing Odion not react to Nana's questions.

"I'll whip up something." She said as she started to leave. "Rosette, darling, help me up in the kitchen."

"Come'on." Rhett grabbed Odion's hand and pulled him through the stairs as soon as both women had left the room. "This is our room." He continued as they entered a basic enough bedroom upstairs: a single bed, closet, desk and tv. "Here..."

Rhett took Odion's backpack off him and placed it in the deck, putting his on the same place. He then sat on the bed and invited the ginger to sit with him. He was nervous. There were basically two things Rhett wanted to accomplish by bringing Odion to France. The first one was done, for him to meet the blonde's family. The point of it was for Odion to understand what had happened, at least a bit, but Rhett knew even if images were worth more than a thousand words, more words were still needed.

"Did you see their eyes?" He asked softly. "Turns out gray runs in the family." He smirked softly. "The blonde hair does too. My real last name is also LeBlanc." He placed view away from the ginger. "It's crazy, it was crazy. It isn't that much now, really." He looked down now. "I just... I never expected to find all this and it overwhelmed, I couldn't say 'bye, I have to leave'. I'm not specially good at goodbyes."

Odion clearly knew this part, unfortunately.

"I always thought, not having a family was an advantage." He continued after a little bit of silence. "And it was, back when we met, at least. I didn't want a family. But we changed the game, and it changed..." He sighed and looked at Odion again. "This is what I want, but I don't want it without you. That's why I went back."

[Odion Martins]

The room was enough, and Odion was gracious for it. “Funny, I thought she said there were two rooms,” he smirked at Rhett. Really it didn’t matter, because one or the other was bound to sneak into the other’s bedroom.

But Odi’s humour subsided as the mood grew serious. He sat next to Rhett, wondering what this was all about. Odion smiled a bit, glad Rhett had found his family, and yet... Something was missing. Or maybe Odion just didn’t belong here. “Grey eyes, yeah,” he said half heartedly. Part of him wished he could make amends with his own family, but his parents were apparently alive and well and he hated them. Then of course there was this other set of grey eyes. Odion just listened. No, Rhett wasn’t especially talented with goodbyes. He was however, very good at leaving. That too, must’ve run in the family.

Not having a family an advantage? Odion hadn’t thought about family much at all, so yes, he supposed it could be. “So we start dating and you suddenly care about family?” Maybe he just wasn’t understanding this. He sighed, wondering how to put what was on his mind lightly.

What about what he wanted?

“Rhett, we’ve had some good times together, and I’m happy you’ve found this, whatever it is to you, but I won’t be a part of it.” Odion wasn’t surprised by his boldness, but Rhett, after having shown him all this, Odion just couldn’t keep lying to the both of them. Now would’ve been a good time to say he was sorry, but that would just be another lie. Odion wasn’t sorry for knowing that things with Rhett were coming to an absolute end. “You’ll have to have it without me.”