Power Swap: Something has Changed(Odion)

[Lani Hunter]

Lani frowned at Odion. He couldn’t really think that. Sure the situation was different but the point behind it wasn’t any different. Lani’s eyes dropped, that hurt a little, more than a little. He could read between the lines. What Odion hadn’t known had hurt him, what Lani didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. Well, when Odion was going to have a hard time out lasting Lani on this one, patience was a gift Odion had but he really hadn’t had to deal with Lani’s stubbornness being fueled by something he really believed in. Listening to reason wasn’t something that Lani was prepared for because in his mind he was the one making sense. Lani took a deep breath and stuck his hands into his pockets his wings raised a little with his slouching. “Fine,” he began still not looking at Odion. “So it was different. That doesn’t make it any more right.” He now turned his eyes locking them with Odion’s.

The corner of Lani’s lips twitched up at the admission. Odion over thought things too much, and without his power he was on his toes more than before. Lani couldn’t help the impish smile that was threatening to give away the fact that he kind of liked the unfiltered and un-over-thought Odion. If Odion thought the only reason Lani was sticking around was for some debt the redhead was very mistaken and Lani would honestly have been very insulted if Odion thought that was what Lani thought of him. No he didn’t see Odion as some someone who was there when he needed him and out of the picture otherwise. Why else would the first thing he did after he found he had wings have been to go to Odion? Lani’s smile was short lived and he shook his head at Odion. He couldn’t help himself anymore. He reached out and flicked Odion in the forehead. “Bullshit.” Hurting people is not what Odion did. Sure he could be terribly mean sometimes but that didn’t make him a villain.

“Clearly you don’t,” Lani replied, “And if you want a safe life you might as well go crawl into a hole now.” Lani’s eyes were sharp and he was not going to let Odion win this one. He crossed his arms and his stance was one of a person who would not be moved. “So what, you hurt a few people, so does everyone else,” Lani finally started to try to explain, “But that is not what you do, Odion. What you do Odion is hold people at arms length because you’re afraid of hurting them and being hurt. So don’t tell me that hurting people is what you do.” Maybe that was a little unsympathetic but Lani didn’t realized that until after his speech was done. He sighed and his eyes softened, “So what?” He asked, did it really matter that Odion only cared for a few people? No. “Look, Odion, you’re the best person that I know and I just wish you would let other people see what I see.”

Lani really wished that was so. Lani knew Odion was a caring person, he might be malicious sometimes, but Lani knew it was all a defense mechanism. Odion loved people, but he was afraid of them. He would people watch all day, Lani was sure, but he would never reach out his hand to introduce himself. But for now Lani would do what he could to show Odion that he shouldn’t not reach out to people on the fear that he would be hurt. It was good to have the caution when meeting new people, one never knew where they stood or what to expect from them. After all, they both had been afraid of letting each other in but that had happened and neither had used the information they had against each other. Lani had to admit that there was a ‘yet’ that had to be added to that but he trusted Odion.

Lani laughed and shook his head at Odion for a moment. “It totally matters,” Lani said shaking his head. “One is a terribly annoying detective and the other is an asshole with claws.” Lani said to hide the fact that they were having this conversation from himself. No they were not deciding which one was better looking… not at all. But it was Sherlock hands down. Lani raised a brow at that one and nodded his head a little bit, well if Odion was going to be Sherlock he was going to need a Watson. Lani supposed he could live with being the sense behind the brains. Lani looked at Odion in surprise and his face broke out into a smile. “Ah, so you’ve figured it out? But the first one has an answer.” He nodded to himself. It was rather simple when one thought about it. When Odion could find him a mystery that couldn’t be solved Lani would allow Odion to call himself Sherlock Holmes.

Lani huffed and his feathers puffed a little in his irritation. He crossed his arms and angled his nose in the air as if it wasn’t of any concern to him. “Whatever,” he echoed. He fluttered his wings a little bit and his hand reach back to rub his back where they had come out. “Geez, this is the craziest thing I think that has happened the whole time I’ve been here. Can you believe that?”

[Odion Martins]

Odion could sense the disappointment Lani had, whether in himself or for Odi well, the redhead couldn’t tell. Whatever pride Odi had left was sticking around to play games with the both of them and Odi wasn’t quick to be sentimental over things. Lani had hurt him not too long ago, and Odion was healing slower than he wanted to admit. Odion sighed, looking at Lani and then looking away. “Fine.” Maybe they were just looking at this the wrong way. It took Odion an awkward moment of silence to figure something out. “What I meant before, was that I don’t want anyone else’s help, but, yours.” Not exactly eloquent, but he added on what he deemed as an obvious piece of the puzzle. “And if you want to help me with,” his hands made an obscure gesture, “whatever you think is wrong with me, then we’ll deal with that.” Odion wasn’t willing to think of it in terms of potential relationships. This was about them or it was about nothing.

This was completely unfair. Odion losing his power was essentially losing a part of his personality. “What?” He hissed at Lani, who seemed far too amused at the thought of Odion not having enough time to process things. Lani was such an ass. It wasn’t that Odion truly believed that Lani kept him around for debt repayment purposes, but rather, that’s when he wanted to believe. Lani was trying to tell him that he was worth sticking around for, that he was a good person, and Odion had never been told those things, neither explicitly nor implicitly. It was like a nice slap in the face. Surprising but needed to realize things and grow. What really mattered to Odion, was Lani, and he couldn’t understand this business of trying to get him more friends. He didn’t want more friends, he had a friend and that was what he wanted. At least, that’s what he thought he wanted. Was it wrong to put what little trust you had in humanity on one person’s shoulders? Oh great, so now he was needy. And even better, they weren’t even dating.

Odion was completely unaware that Lani had come to him first today. He wasn’t a mind reader, nor had he ever been one. But neither of them were a fan of admission, so this small tidbit wouldn’t be shared. Odion frowned. “What the hell was that for?” He asked, rubbing at the spot Lani hit. “Bunch of... asshole...” Odi was muttering under his breath. Odion had never gone out of his way for someone to be kind to them, not unless there was something in it for him. That’s how their relationship had started. And then, cliché as it was, Odion ended up really liking who Lani was, even though he was about as screwed up in the head as he was. Maybe there was beauty in there somewhere. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” he said finally, obviously cross. They were being honest, fine, he was being honest about not wanting to be honest.

And then Lani really cut into Odion, nearly to the bone. It hurt a lot, more than the redhead expected. A deadened expression overcame him and that tickling sensation of needing to cry stung his throat. Odi had been trying to win, yes, but he had also been trying to reveal himself and now look where that got him. He picked up the bricks to build back the walls around his heart, but was stopped short. He didn’t have time to both shut Lani out and piece together what he was saying, so the building would have to wait while his heart bled. He had to listen. “Yes Lani, I get it Lani, but what I’m telling you, is that I can’t do that.” Hello? Was it not completely obvious to Lani what was happening right now? Odion intentionally hurt people to teach them lessons he had been taught in the same way. He was a modern day Frankenstein. He would’ve continued but his mouth slammed shut and he turned his head away sharply, unable to look at Lani. He still didn’t get it, did he? The very fact that Lani could see him the way he just described, well, that was life shattering. It meant something to Odion. “Did you ever stop to think about why I don’t want to do that?” He challenged Lani quickly and suddenly, but renewed somehow. He was bordering on a breakdown turned into enlightenment. Had Lani not been a thief, this story wouldn’t even exist. Did Lani really think that about... him?

Odion smirked. “Wouldn’t be the first time you combined things for my sake, would it?” He teased. “So I’ll be terribly annoying, smart, and luckily a catupine has claws and is most definitely an asshole.” It was so much easier to agree to these attributes. “You didn’t tell me about the first one until now,” he justified, wondering at Lani’s pretty smile. But hadn’t he given Lani a mystery to solve already though?

An eyebrow raised in Lani’s direction. “I’d say that other power of yours was crazier.” Where was Lani going with this?

[Lani Hunter]

Lani’s eyes dropped to his feet as well, everything was so strange. He almost wished he had his power if he had his power then at least he could have something to focus on, he wasn’t used to being able to let his mind wander and even now he kept hesitating when he did. What if his power did come back and it came back like a firestorm. He nodded a little his eyes peeking up at Odion. Lani cocked his head a little to the side and his expression was guarded as Odion spoke. His eyes widened a little but he recovered quickly. Lani shook his head. “There’s nothing wrong with you,” he protested, “But I’m here to help, you know that.” How many times did Lani have to say that? Odion wasn’t getting it. He kept thinking it was some scam that Lani was playing by caring but no, Lani couldn’t explain the reason he wanted to drop everything and come when Odion called. Really it almost made Lani uncomfortable to feel that way. It was strange and terrifying, but it was exciting and enticing.

“What?” Lani echoed as if he hadn’t heard Odion right. Lani bit back the desire to welcome Odion to the life of the average person. Though Lani had to admit that it was strange. Really just thinking of Odion without time control was a little mind blowing. Would his power work to come back to this moment if it in fact came back? Oh god, what if their powers never came back? Lani shuddered at the idea. Wings were great and he had flown! He would never forget that and he was eternally grateful for the universe’s gift but it could potentially ruin the entirety of his hard earned skills. One couldn’t be a thief with wings, Odion had already pointed that out. On the other hand Lani should understand that not everyone wanted a large amount of friends. People were different and Lani liked to know a lot of people, but he needed to understand that not everyone was like that, some people like Odion would rather have a few close friends.

Lani raised a brow, well he couldn’t say he didn’t expect to be called that or worse. It wasn’t about going out of one’s way to be kind it was just being kind in general. It really was too bad for Odion that Lani was already on his soapbox and plowing over everything in his path. Lani finally shut his mouth he knew he was in for a storm from the look on Odion’s face. So he had gone too far, he could see that now but he didn’t think he was wrong so he wouldn’t take it back. He would however listen to Odion now. Lani frowned, was it really can’t? Or was it ‘won’t’? He decided it was best not to argue with that. Lani’s chin lifted a little and he clenched his jaw before he figured out just how to answer that. Odion didn’t trust people, it made sense that he didn’t want to trust people to get close to them but that didn’t explain why he pushed people away on the fear that he would hurt them. “Why don’t you?” Lani decided to ask. He was also seeking enlightenment of the situation. Help me understand, Lani thought.

Now Lani laughed and shook his head emphatically. “Oh no, no, no, no, you don’t get to be both Wolverine and Sherlock. Though I will give you the annoying part,” he winked at Odion and grinned to show he was teasing. He shook his head a little, “I don’t know that you’ve earned the role of Sherlock yet,” Lani taunted, “I did, didn’t I?” Lani vaguely remembered that but now Lani wasn’t going to tell Odion again. “Well, either way, solve that and I will accept that you are Sherlock. But you don’t get Wolverine as well.” He snorted, that was too much epic for one person. Great, now Lani’s mind was on X-men. He supposed the closest person to his power was that Jean Grey person. Really Lani was jealous, her power was infinitely more epic that Lani’s was. Lani’s eyes locked onto Odion’s and he almost laughed at himself. When did that smirk go from being infuriating to being so damn adorable. It made Lani want to do something that would wipe it off and replace it with that equally adorable shocked face.

Lani chuckled and nodded. “Nope, I don’t think there is any contest there. I don’t know what side effects or whatever there are now, but I could get used to this.” He waved around his head. It was so quiet, so calm, peaceful. He could hide his emotions from himself again without them coming raging to the forefront. “Have you found any side effects?” He asked but a fluttering in the air called his attention. A little cardinal fluttered by then came back and landed on Odion’s head. Lani didn't even have a chance to comment on the way the bird blended into Odion's hair for he was too busy trying to hold back the laughter that was threatening to tear out of his throat. Now whose bird brained?

[Odion Martins]

“Yeah, that’s what I meant,” Odion said with a sigh, not bothering any more. He thought there was plenty wrong with him, but Lani didn’t think so. Odi couldn’t change Lani’s mind, even though he’d tried many times. He could argue that people didn’t need help unless there were problems, but he didn’t. He could remind Lani of what a terrible monster he was, but he didn’t. Odi didn’t think it was a scam, he just wished Lani had focused more on the first part of what he said. Lani could stop trying to get Odion to make friends because it wasn’t going to happen and it wasn’t going to make him happy.

“Don’t play dumb,” Odion nearly growled. “You like that I don’t have time control.” It wasn’t a question, it was a statement. When his power returned, he’d be sure to go over this, maybe even alter it a little. Odion wondered if those thoughts were being conveyed at all by the little light that had gone off in his head. He shot Lani a glance – the blonde better watch what he said.

Maybe if Odion doled out some harsh words and did some plowing of his own, Lani would be pushed off the soapbox. Sometimes you had to go too far with stating the obvious in order to really hit someone hard. No one else could get Odi to that point of clear sightedness. But Lani didn’t want to stop digging, and Odion couldn’t bear it. He gave Lani a warning look – he wanted the truth, so be it. “Because I don’t know how.” Odion knew that Lani thought about him often enough, so what was the blonde’s prognosis of him? All Odion had wanted was acceptance, he didn’t expect Lani to want to get into the nitty-gritty bits that made up Odion. He only let people in a certain distance before he started to fight them back out. Odion averted his gaze and turned it to stone; he absolutely refused to acknowledge how much this affect him. “I don’t know how because I don’t let people in. I’ve only ever tried twice.” And tried was the key word, for both had failed. He wasn’t good at this. No, he was good at stealing and keeping to himself.

“Well if I can’t be both then you’re not allowed to call me annoying,” he said, grinning like mad. This was too much fun. Odion rolled his eyes. “You, Lani Hunter, are more than a handful of work.” He chuckled a bit and shook his head. “I’ve just Wolverine then, seems easier.” Because maybe just one thing could be easy between them. Odion smiled a bit when Lani said he could get used to his new power. Odi could get used to this too. “Not that I know of,” he said, watching the bird suspiciously, only to have it land on his head. He grimaced at first, the little bird tilting its head to the side to observe Lani. Odion glared at Lani, and then an idea came to his mind. “Think I could get it to shit on people?” He asked innocently, as the bird hopping over to sit on his shoulder. His power was birdsong after all.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani frowned and shook his head a little at Odion. This was coming out all wrong. It wasn’t that something was wrong. No Odion was just overly cautious and perhaps rightfully so. But Lani just wanted to show Odion that that caution wasn’t an excuse for being mean to people. Pushing people away, holding them at arms reach, that wasn’t caution that was shutting oneself off from the world. It was cowardly. Lani frowned he really shouldn’t talk about cowardice but he wished that Odion would give people a chance before he wrote them off. Hell, hadn’t he given Lani a chance. What made him so special? Lani sighed and cocked his head at the redhead. Why? Why him? Why was he let in? “Why?” His voice asked softly without his permission. He didn’t want to ask but it seemed like his voice was giving him a choice.

Odion normally would have been terrifying at this moment but Lani was having too much fun not to mess with Odion a little bit. He gave Odion a shocked innocent expression before shrugging exaggeratedly. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Lani was never going to admit that he liked having Odion on an even playing field. Odion could beat at it all he wanted. It was true Lani liked that they were even but he still missed his power and he knew Odion missed his. He didn’t miss the glance and he made sure to give Odion his best smile. Lani couldn’t be sure if the time traveler could go back to this point but Lani was sure if he didn’t say anything then he couldn’t get in trouble for it later. Then again, those were the normal rules. Normal had been thrown out the window with the two of them.

The tables had turned. Lani was used to being the one under the microscope, Odion wasn’t. Now that Lani had a glance he wanted to know more about Odion. He knew Odion well enough, sure but he wanted to know all of the finer details and also the darker pieces. It was true that both would fight to hide the darker sides of themselves, but it was just those things, the acceptance of those things that would make them see clearer. Lani swallowed and his eyes softened. “But you don’t want to learn either?” Lani asked his voice soft and gentle. He didn’t blame Odion. “Twice?” Lani asked cocking his head curious. He figured one of those people was Rhett. He didn’t blame Odion for that one, Rhett, in Lani’s opinion, was too selfish to even care about what that meant. “Because you’re afraid of getting hurt? Is that why trying to let people in is hard?” He asked his heart going out to Odion. He had a feeling he was on to something but it would take more analysis later.

“That’s not fair,” Lani whined putting his hands on his hips. Lani put a hand on his chest and shook his head. “Me? No way.” His impish grin ruined his possibilities of looking innocent so instead the mixture of an innocent look and the grin made it look like he was planning something. “Tisk, tisk, Odion, I never imagined you would take the easy road.” Lani teased. Lani finally couldn’t hold it in any longer. Odion’s expression was just too priceless. He had to hold his sides as he tried to get himself back under control of his laughter. “I can think of one,” Lani burst out between laughter but had to stop and get himself under control again. He grinned and shrugged his shoulders. He snorted a little at Odion’s question. “I don’t know you’re the one who has a special connection with the birdies,” he said causally tapping his temple. “You should try it,” Lani said his eyes alight at the possibility of a prank. There were plenty of staff members here who he just knew were asking for it. “You should get the principal.” He encouraged.

[Odion Martins]

There wasn’t any excuse to be mean to people, no, and that was the point. Odion wanted people to know he was vile and cruel and played off of people’s weaknesses. The only reason Odi hadn’t dangled Caroline in Lani’s face, was because Lani was a fellow thief. Odion had been suddenly faced with comradery when he never had before. He couldn’t relate to people who had it all, to people who complained about petty things when they didn’t even know what pain was. And he knew everyone had their hardships, he just thought they were making a big deal out of nothing. Lani was different in too many ways to name, but he was someone Odion respected. Odion wasn’t so merciful to anyone else, and he still very much so challenged and tested Lani on purpose, because he wanted to know just how ‘good’ humanity is.

Odion knew and accepted his cowardice. What else was an orphan, gypsy, thief supposed to do? Rise above it all? Maybe he didn’t want to, maybe he wanted people to stay away if they knew what was good for them. But apparently Lani didn’t know what was good for him. He was special because he was there at the right time and for Odion, timing was everything. No one else had indulged his fiasco with Rhett, and no one else deserved to know the details of that subject. Odion decided not to answer Lani’s ‘why’.

Pointing a finger at Lani, Odion jabbed Lani once in the collarbone. “Yes. You do. I can read your emotions like a book.” He may have lost his powers, but he hadn’t lost his knowledge about Lani and all his habits. And Lani’s power may be gone, but his eyes were still the gateways to his soul. The ginger scowled as Lani smiled at him, wanting nothing more than to slap it right off his face. Odion was under the impression they were already an equal playing field, he had no idea that Lani felt more on the same level now that their powers had gone astray.

Wiping at his face, Odion breathed in deeply and fought for control. Lani still didn’t get it, the height Odion had fallen for him. Until he understood that, Lani wouldn’t understand anything. But it wasn’t just romantic entanglements, it was all relationships Odion had trouble with. But like it or not, it was who he was. He supposed he was afraid, part of the cowardice, but he was also unwilling to be hurt by anyone he tried to be friendly with. Better to snob everyone off and have absolutely no liking for them at all. Odion wasn’t about to admit to anything either way. “I don’t know. I try to learn, and it always comes back to hurt me again.” How could he explain it and not hurt Lani in the process?

“Nothing’s fair,” Odion pointed out quickly. He smiled coyly at his favorite blonde. “I already have to deal with you, not that I mind.” Anything, anything at all to get Lani to shut up and stop flirting with him. Not because he didn’t like it, but because he did. Odion cast a warning look to his laughing friend, wondering why this was so amusing. Lani had goddamn wings on his back. And then Odi smirked and gave himself away. “Really? Hmm, I was thinking of testing it out one someone, oh I don’t know, closer to me than the principal.” He glanced at the bird as though the two of them were in cahoots. “You know me,” he turned his head back to Lani slowly, “I like staying in the shadows.” He gave a little whistle and the bird jumped about on his shoulder, before flying towards Lani, and Odi’s eyebrows rose in anticipation.

[Lani Hunter]

It was good thing that Odion got along with Caroline, because the choice would always be her. Caroline had been used against him before and if she was used now then Odion would be no different than any other person looking to use Lani. He just couldn’t see Odion as the evil person he was trying to convince Lani that he was. He didn’t see any horns, blows were pulled and apologies made. If Odion was who he said he was then he wouldn’t care. He would have used what he had and all of the ammunition Lani had given him both wittingly and unwittingly to tear down to a level where perhaps the blond would not recover. But no, he hadn’t, not even when Lani had taken Odion down with him. There was anger, yes, but not malice. Odion had aimed his words to hurt but he didn’t destroy Lani’s life like he could have.

The subject moved on and Lani suppressed a sigh, well that conversation was over. He couldn’t say he was disappointed, it was bordering on an argument, but then he wished he had been able to get through to Odion. Oh well, there would always be another time for this kind of conversation. It was getting too heavy for a day that Lani had hoped would be worry free. But then, when was Lani ever completely worry free. It made his worry ease a little that he hadn’t gotten a call from Caroline about power craziness. Perhaps whatever did this had left her out of such a thing. She was still new to her power and Lani was only glad that she was getting along with one power, let alone a change of one.

Lani swayed back a little from the force, it hurt just a tad but couldn’t keep the sly smile off of his face. He chuckled and rubbed at his bone, the bone hurt more than it should, that didn’t make sense. It wasn’t like the bone was any weaker than it was yesterday, right? It didn’t even cross his mind that birds have hollow bones and perhaps he had them as well, so he would be light enough to fly. “Can you?” Lani teased loving how flustered this was making Odion. Now he could see why Odion loved to pick on him so much. Lani couldn’t make his smile vanish but his eyes softened a little as Odion scowled. This had to be frustrating, Lani knew it was for him a little liberating, but then he got the one thing he had always dreamed of. “Hey, I’m sure it’ll come back in no time. You shouldn’t worry.”

It was a sobering thought. That every time Odion tried to reach out he was burned. Lani didn’t like it. After all, hadn’t he also burned Odion. He frowned and crossed his arms a little carefully not to lean back to far he hummed as he thought about that his eyes flickering between Odion’s eyes. Those blue eyes that were so good at hiding what the redhead was really thinking. Lani searched for the answer in Odion face but came up empty. Lani’s brow came together and his humming ceased. “Odion,” Lani said softly, “I’m sorry, I know I hurt you.” Lani’s eyes paused on Odion’s before he let them drop and his wings folded tightly to his body. How many times had he apologized? Lani didn’t even know but he knew that the number would never atone for the pain he caused.

Lani sighed and was glad for the lighter mood. “Haha, you’re hysterical,” Lani drawled sticking his tongue out at Odion. Lani raised his hands a little and got himself under control his hands rising and falling as he regulated his breathing. Lani couldn’t do anything but smile back at the warning look. Yeah he was working on digging himself a nice deep grave at the moment, he knew but he couldn’t stop. Then Odion’s old smirk came on and Lani got a little worried. He wasn’t saying… “Oh no,” Lani muttered more to himself than to Odion. Odion turned toward and bird and Lani took a step back. Lani’s eyes flickered from Odion to the bird and when it took flight so did he. He was not going to be outsmarted by a little bird. “Call it off!” Lani called beating his wings for altitude as the cardinal followed. He didn’t really think about how humorous it probably was that there was a little songbird chasing a much larger human-bird. He wasn’t sure if Odion did call it off or if it just became bored with the chase but Lani lost sight of it. He grinned down at Odion and decided to play a trick of his own. He tipped his head back and folded his wings. The thrill of falling was glorious. He spied Odion and angled toward him opening his wings in time to beat them and hit Odion with a massive blast of air.

[Odion Martins]

But he could have. Didn’t that scare Lani at all? Didn’t Lani wonder when Odi was going to reveal his master scheme? Odion found it hard to believe that Lani totally trusted. Because one, he hadn’t totally trusted him before, and two Odi was more than capable of exacting revenge. Of course he wasn’t going to, but he was curious about the faith Lani had in him.

If Lani’s bone density had changed, Odion hadn’t noticed. “Yes, you’re an easy person to read,” he said, brow furrowed, “it’s no wonder the school’s always catching you red handed. And those wings aren’t going to help.” Anything, anything to get them away from this subject. Lani knew damn right what Odion was getting at, he was just choosing to pretend like he didn’t know. What else was new? Odion stared straight ahead, still pissed off. “Take your own advice,” he said tonelessly. Lani was the last person who had merit to give advice about worrying.

It was a fact. Odion wasn’t exaggerating when he said that anyone he let come close to him, ended up stabbing him in the back. Except those who didn’t really know him, or only knew a couple of his masks, they couldn’t hurt something they didn’t have a hold of. And like a computer starting up, came the humming of Lani’s thoughts. It happened often enough for Odion to notice when Lani was lost in his own thoughts. He glanced back to Lani, whatever tears had appeared were already gone. Time for more truth. “I wasn’t trying to remind us of that, I’m just trying to explain that I’ve been hurt to that extent.” Maybe now Lani would understand. “And, you’re forgiven Lani,” he held Lani’s eyes boldly, “I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t.” But it still hurt, and not everyone was worth being hurt over.

“Thank you,” Odion said, smirking to himself, unwilling to accept Lani’s sarcasm as such. And then Captain Obvious finally caught a clue. “Oh yes,” Odi said, a winning smile gracing his face at the very thoughts going through his mind. And then it was Odi’s turn to laugh, and he was reminded that all was fair in love and war. “Aw come on Lani! What’s the big deal?” The worst that could happen was Lani got a little shit on his shoulder, and well, his clothes weren’t that great to being with. The little birdie flew off into the trees and Odion watched Lani descend upon him. “Oh, not again...” he said, taking a few steps back only to fall once more to the ground. He landed on his rump and sat back in the grass, a small smile on his face. Lani was still fun to watch because he was so graceful when he wasn’t trying to be.

[Lani Hunter]

Perhaps Lani was waiting for something, a little bit of revenge he would expect but even that hadn’t come. But Odion had also done something he could never even dream that someone might do for him. He had not only found himself and Adrianna a way out but a way out for Lani as well. He had opened the door and Lani had become free of his chains and that was something he could never repay. If Lani didn’t trust Odion who could he trust? No one. No one at all. Lani was taking the hesitant steps onto snow covered ice without any idea of how thick the ice was beneath his feet. Hopefully it wouldn’t crack, water was not his forte.

“I have never been caught red handed,” he protested, “I’ve always been caught on suspicion. They just get me on the assumption that I’ve probably done something.” He pointed out jumping onto the subject change. Sure he was always being caught, but he was never really caught doing anything explicitly wrong. There was a boatload that he got away with. When he tried he wasn’t caught. A little book on meta criminal was a testament to that. He looked over his shoulders, “Or a great distraction.” He ruffled them a little trying to get Odion to smile again and lighten up with his joking. “But I don’t think sneaking is going to be possible. But I think I could be a great distraction with these things.” Lani sighed and rolled his eyes. Hadn’t Odion ever heard of doing as he said but not as he did? He couldn’t not worry, he just didn’t work like that. But Odion could let Lani worry about it; it would at least help take some of the burden.

Lani had his hands empty he was not Brute waiting for the right moment. But then he hadn’t needed to be to hurt Odion. All it had taken was a little, or not so little, secret to come to light. What did Lani’s trust mean now if he hadn’t trusted Odion when it mattered? Odion didn’t want to let people in, but he was letting Lani in. Perhaps letting was the wrong word. The problem was that Lani wanted to be let in and he wanted to know when something was bothering Odion. Lani’s brow creased and he looked at Odion struggling to hold back the part of him that wanted to fling himself at Odion’s feet and beg. But the lies. It wasn’t the action but the lies. The lies that stung like the salt in a deep wound. Lani’s breath caught as Odion gave his forgiveness. Lani felt for a moment like he couldn’t breathe. It took a shaky breath and his eyes fell from Odion’s. Well at least that made one of them. He glanced back up. “Thank you,” he whispered. His heart throbbed and it felt like the ice shards were melting in his heart but leaving painful gashes. He looked down at his feet taking his fingers and squeezing the bridge of his nose to keep the tears from coming.

The recovery from that was not so quick as Lani wanted it to be. He smiled as Odion took his statement as a complement but he didn’t have so much time to dwell on the confusing condition of his heart and the guilt and the relief and the joy it felt. He had a bird to dodge. Hearing Odion’s laughter Lani couldn't help but smile. He loved that sound. Odion didn’t disappoint. Apparently he was not keen on being crushed by a flying Lani again. He beat his wings one more time strongly before he dropped his feet to the ground and stumbled a little. He chuckled at himself and moved quickly to offer Odion a hand up. He couldn’t resist. “Sorry Odion, I didn’t realize that I swept you off your feet so much,” he teased giving the redhead a wink. He silently scolded himself and tried to tell himself it wasn’t flirting. He was flirting he couldn’t deny it. No this wasn’t right, he shouldn’t be flirting.

[Odion Martins]

If Odion was the trusted ice beneath Lani’s feet, then the blonde could rest assured that there would be no cracks. He might fall along the way, but across the vast expanse, Lani would eventually find his answers.

“You have so been caught red handed,” Odion said. That was a totally different story, but it was still a valid point. “Distracting or not,” he started to say, “they’ll still be rather difficult to maneuver with.” He didn’t them the ruffling very funny.

Odion had only wanted to help Lani, but just like everything else, he had to force his way in. It was sheer dumb luck that had let Odi be at the right place, at the right time. Odion smiled slightly and gave a small nod in place of ‘you’re welcome’. He was trying, he wanted to start new, and he wanted to try again with Lani, but that meant moving past the pain. Odion wasn’t good with letting things go. That, and he’d tortured Lani enough, and that wasn’t the point of being with Lani. Odion extended his arm across Lani’s shoulders and gave them a squeeze, feeling the beginning of the other boy’s wings just beneath his arm. “Everything will work out you know,” he said, releasing Lani. If Odion would shoot someone for Lani, there wasn’t a lot he wouldn’t do.

Taking the offered hand, Odion pulled himself up, surprised that Lani hadn’t fallen from the force of it. Odi grinned a tad, starting to walk towards the school. Lani was hard to predict sometimes. One minute he was all serious and philosophising, the next, he was flirting and Odion wasn’t sure how appropriate it was. He did know that he liked it though. “Come on, lets get back inside before your ego knocks you over,” he said, thinking about tripping Lani on the way in.

[Lani Hunter]

“Never have,” Lani assured Odion raising his hands as if to show that they were blameless. Lani fanned them a little bit and laughed. “Yeah I can’t imagine it’ll make life very easy.” He could imagine doors becoming hard and god forbid he every got stuck somewhere. Lani already didn’t do well being trapped and he could only imagine if he were trapped in a small room. Locks also could be a problem again. Oh well, better follow Odion’s advice and keep the lock picks on hand at all times. “Or a decoy,” he wondered.

It appeared Lady Luck was to be blamed, or rather thanked for the circumstances they had both been forced into. Lani missed the nodded words. He was too overwhelmed with emotions to be in any state to be of any help. Part of him wanted to go and sit on this and contemplate what it meant but the other part of him was terrified that he might be knocked back into a relapse of darkness by this happy news. It was so great! He could barely keep himself from hugging Odion in relief and then the other part of him reminded him that he shouldn’t be forgive and the rollercoaster began anew. He thought hearing those words might be able to make everything better, and partially they had, Lani just needed to figure out who he was or who he wanted to be. Lani took a deep breath and feeling Odion’s hand on his shoulder he looked up into the blue eyes and his heart stopped beating so painfully. A smile flashed on his face at the encouragement. “You’re sure.” Lani said trusting that Odion knew what he was talking about.

Lani laughed and shook his head as if clueless. “Ego? I don’t have an ego.” Lani lied. He would have a problem fitting through doors if the wings kept up, not for their size but for the size of his head. Lani shifted his wings and walked with Odion working on keeping them off the ground and out of the way of his friend. He didn’t want to swat him in the face again and really Lani had knocked him over too many times to begin with. He took a look back at the sky. He had done it, his dream of flight realized. He could fly away. He could soar over those walls and never look back and never return. He could do more than vanish, he could escape across oceans and across lands. He sighed at the old dream and glanced back at Odion before looking back at the sky. Given the chances this time last year he would have taken it. But now, now he didn’t want to.

[Odion Martins]

“Oh really,” Odion said, his last words before he accusations began. “So what would call me catching you red handed on the rooftops?” He asked, brow raised, a hint of a triumphant smile beginning to form. Lani was quick to convince others he had selective amnesia. His dark blue eyes snapped to Lani, “Hmm.” Was all he could say as different ideas began to formulate. Lani could be the best decoy – the best partner in crime, with or without wings.

Seeing Lani happy was some of the best medicine. He gave a smile, glad that Lani knew the amount words meant, especially in this situation. Odion wasn’t just saying things, he wasn’t lying. He really had forgiven Lani, that didn’t mean he would forget, but he was trying to move on, and he believed this was a crucial step. “It’s the only thing I’m sure about,” he said, looking back in front of them, and then to the sky where birds were playing. Nothing in life was easy, or simple, but he was sure their friendship would last. It was breathtakingly scary, and the most beautiful thing he’d ever realized.

Odion stole a glance at Lani, wondering if they were thinking the same thing.

Cheating is easy. To borrow against the trust someone has placed in you costs nothing at first. You get away with it, you take a little more and a little more until there is no more to draw on. Oddly, your hands should be full with all that taking but when you open them there’s nothing there.

Fin.