Who told you?! (Open)

[Lani Hunter]

Normally birthdays were met with joy and excitement. But with Lani it meant attention and as much of a peacock as he might be he still couldn't stand all the attention pointed at him. So he neglected to tell anyone. He had risen earlier than usual and Caroline had already come and wished him a 'Happy Birthday!' and gifted him with a new book. Lani had neglected to tell anyone else. He just wanted a quiet day. He wanted to escape the claustrophobic dorms. He needed a change in scenery. Unfortunately it was raining. Pouring in fact. Most people would find this a dreary day but Lani rather liked it. It made for perfect staying in and reading weather. It seemed his roommates were dozing away the weather and the common room was nice and quiet. It had a glorious view of the rain and he could hear it patter the roof rhythmically. He pulled out the compass Odion had given him for Chistmas and spun it in the air with his power. He waited until the needle pointed along with North and pocketed it again.

It was awkward trying to hold the new book. His hands were wrapped in bandages. His little game with Firecracker had left his hands and chest with rather nice wounds. The nurse had given him a cooling salve and he rubbed it on his blistered chest and red fingers. His chest was really the worst, it was awkward to bandage and if it wasn't it rubbed painfully on his shirt. The bandages around his hands made it look a lot worse than it was. He laughed to himself, he hadn't seen Odion since it happened two days ago and it hurt to much to text, he had tried and given up, and his head had been splitting up until this morning. Now it ached steadily but he could think. He laughed to himself imagining Odion's expression when he explained what happened. And how it was the mutual stupidity of two arrogant teenagers that did it. In all honesty it was an accident and the other kid had been hurt just as much as he was.

Like a cat he stretched out over the length of the couch smiling contently. He was nice and warm and comfortable. His upper body was propped up on pillows and he twisted his legs around each other further nestling himself in the folds of the couch. He rested the book on his stomach well under the sensitive wound. He wondered if this was how Odion felt when he had been turned into a bruise. He was still furious that that kid had left before Lani had been able to get his hands on him. He cupped the book gingerly in his hands and got lost in the world of magic and war. The rain pattered against the window in a soothing manner and the drum became a cadence in his mind. His heart beat seemed to adjust to match it, slowing and softening. It wasn't long before Lani dozed off, the book laying loosely in his hands and his head tilted gracelessly backward. He dreamed of flying and the gentle pattering of rain.

[Odion Martins]

Odion hadn’t heard from Lani for the past few days. It was perhaps for the better, considering he had yet to think of something to get for his boyfriend’s birthday. Odion was careful to make sure that no one had snuck into the school to kidnap Lani, and he hoped all was well. Lani hadn’t ever told him about today, but it wasn’t hard to find a date on a piece of paper where the records were kept in the school. Paging over them carefully, Odion finally decided to simply photocopy the top page of Lani’s file so he wouldn’t have to keep sneaking around. Besides, it might come in handy when they were done school, which was coming up faster than Odion could keep track of, which was for the best in the end. He didn’t have much to pack, but he would have to do that soon. Oh well, he had all the time in the world to do that.

After feeding the cats, Odion decided he would dress casually today. Not because it was just another day, but to make Lani feel more at ease. It was his day after all. With the present in hand, Odion pushed his fingertips through his hair once more. He’d finally had enough of it hanging in his eyes constantly and went for a close cut. It wasn’t quite a buzz cut, more like a crew, but not exactly. Walking to Lani’s room, Odion slipped inside with a few fast tricks, glad to see that no one else was lurking about. It wasn’t public that he and Lani were going out, but he knew people assumed things. Opening the door quietly, Odion didn’t want to startle Lani, wondering if he was even there, but the sight made Odion smirk and nearly laugh to himself. Lani had fallen asleep, his mouth hanging open at a strange angle with his head leaning back against the pillows. Blue eyes landed on the book practically falling off the bed, and that’s when Odi’s mood changed.

Sitting on the bed, he snatched the book right out of Lani’s bandaged hands. “So that’s why you haven’t been texting. What did you do to yourself?” Odion asked in astonishment – so much for not startling Lani. The furrow between his eyebrows was deep and he shook his head.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani didn’t register someone else entering the room. His power sensed it and sent a small tremor down his mind, but it recognized it and did not rouse it’s master. The snatching of the book definitely did the trick of alerting him. He came awake with a gasp of air and a motion showing he was ready to give whoever it was the fight of their lives. His eyes fell on Odion with relief and he sighed and put a hand to his heart to stall the racing it was doing. “Hey,” he said with a note of joy in his voice. He ducked his head guiltily. “Sorry.” He said and looked at his hands. He gave a pleasant smile and even laughed. “It’s actually a pretty funny story.” Lani shifted so that his legs were folded under him. A smile crossed his lips as he looked at Odion with such concern on his face. “Don’t give me that look. It’s not as bad as it seems.” At least his hands weren’t. His chest still burned a little bit but it was way more tolerable than when it had first happened.

He patted Odion’s arm willing him not to be so worried. He smiled encouraging Odion to do the same. Lani blinked and reached up and touched Odion’s hair. “You got a haircut,” he pointed out with a smile. “It looks good.” Odion’s hair style changed periodically and it always looked good. Though Lani had to admit he liked it better cut short. He could see more of Odion’s face that way. Luckily his fingertips were on a quick way of healing and didn’t need the bandages anymore. So he was able to feel Odion’s soft hair. Lani was now finding his and Xavier’s stupidity rather humorous. Lani would be impressed if Odion didn’t hit him. “Well, I didn’t do it, if that’s what you’re asking.” Lani commented lightheartedly. He was clearly not as concerned with this as Odion was. Lani grinned and chuckled a little at the memory. It was a painful memory, but at the time it had been rather fun. Well fun, until he’d been set on fire and the firestarter got a broken arm. Lani still felt pretty bad about that.

“Do you want the long story or the short?” Lani asked instead of answering immediately feeling that it was more important to press upon that it wasn’t that bad rather than how it had happened. What was Odion doing here anyways? He had come to almost expect surprise visits, he’d started doing a little of the same over the past few weeks. Odion just didn’t like to give warnings. He wondered for a moment what would happen if Odion came in and he was getting dressed or in the shower. His mind blanked over the idea and a small smile crossed his lips. He looked at the bandages. It did look pretty bad. But all it was really doing now was keeping the salve that was rubbed on not getting everywhere. He’d probably even stop wrapping them later today or tomorrow. Luckily the nurse had assured him that it wouldn’t scar, well, the one on his chest might leave a slight mark but she promised the salve would make it unnoticable. He was endlessly relieved for that. He already had too many scars.

[Odion Martins]

Odion honestly thought Lani could sense him when he wasn’t even looking, but sleep had a strange effect on the telekinetic. It was like everything was at peace when normally it wasn’t, and perhaps Lani’s telekinesis had simply gotten used to Odion being around, like a piece of the room. “Oh right, sorry, the next time I find my boyfriend covered in bandages I’ll be sure not to overreact,” Odion said in a flurry, obviously still worried and irritated at Lani. The redhead snapped his jaw shut and looked at the box in his hands, a flush coloring the tops of his cheeks. He couldn’t help what he said when haste and concern combined. He’d just officially called Lani his boyfriend, which seemed to leave Odion with a bad taste in his mouth – he didn’t want to be possessive.

Odion watched Lani as though he was someone he didn’t know. Perhaps Lani really wasn’t too badly hurt... “It was about time,” he said simply, though an appreciative smile came over him. There was something wonderful about Lani noticing the little things Odion sometimes did, or rather often, he just isn’t willing to admit it. When Lani tried to make light of the situation, Odion shot Lani a warning look. Odion sighed, holding the box in one hand and reaching out for one of Lani’s hands. “Well could you hurry it up, I have other things to do,” he said, annoyed. Unless Lani was a fantastic mind reader, he would have to piece together this puzzle himself. Odion was being mean on purpose, if only to trick Lani into thinking something was wrong when really there wasn’t, so that he could surprise the blond with the gift he had. But really, why hadn’t Lani noticed it yet? Odion blamed the lack of awareness on just waking up.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani’s jaw dropped and he was honestly unsure of what to address first. They had never made anything official but he had been calling Odion that in his mind for a while now. He shook his head a little bit and decided to save that for later. He looked down at his hands and toyed with his fingertips. Odion had an unnatural ability to make Lani feel guilty, when normally faking that everything was fine people just let it go, Odion didn’t let it go. Swallowing the question that wanted to pass his lips. It was then he realized Odion was holding a box. His brow creased momentarily with curiosity. If he went off spouting questions Odion might really hit him. Lani swallowed his pride, Odion had already seen him at the worst. “Your right, I’m sorry. I would have done the same thing,” he admitted. Pot calling kettle. “I promise it’s not bad. Really.”

The look in Odion’s eyes struck Lani and he lost his joking nature. Odion wasn’t laughing. Lani nodded, short then. He swallowed back a throb in his head. He had only brought it upon himself. Reaching out Lani folded his fingers into Odion’s. They were still a little sensitive but it the action didn’t hurt. Hopefully that would give Odion confidence. Hell, Odion hadn’t even seen the worst of it! “Okay, okay,” Lani sighed, “So the other day I was playing catch with a pyro…” Lani gave an abridged version telling Odion how they had started tossing tennis balls and both gotten over confidence. “So I was sure I could win if I was close enough to grab the tennis balls in the bucket, but he ran me down as well. He was on fire, it wasn’t really his fault, I don’t think he realized he was. But we collided and my shirt caught fire and I threw him.” Lani motioned to the area over his chest and mimed himself patting it out. Lani added in a small voice, “I broke his arm.”

Lani’s eyes found Odion’s and he waited not sure what kind of response he would get. He had been planning on telling it like an extended joke but just saying it out loud made it real. Lani smiled and shrugged off all signs of distress. “So we went to the infirmary, where they informed us that we were both idiots. And here I am.” He could pretend that Odion wasn’t being harsh, he was just worried, Lani told himself. Odion tended to lash out when something bothered him. Lani’s eyes fell on the box again and looked up at Odion again hoping that seeing the story Odion would at least be more exasperated than angry. “So, what’s in the box?” Lani wondered at it as if it were Pandora’s Box. He still didn’t know how to breach the topic of ‘boyfriend’.

[Odion Martins]

The material of the bandages felt foreign to Odion, but he didn’t think much about it. He himself had said that they eyes gave everything away. So far, so good – he was playing annoyed instead of actually being annoyed, but he was annoyed so often it was easy to fake. But the sad look in Lani’s eyes made Odi’s heart sink a little. It was the reaction he wanted, but it didn’t make him happy to see – was he that good of a liar, even to Lani who could see right through him? Damn. His eyebrows rose appropriately as the story continued. It was difficult to keep the smirk off his face, but he did. “Well as long as you’re alright,” he said, his eyes trailing over Lani’s torso. Of course, Lani would hide something from him, he really shouldn’t be surprised at this point. “Well I couldn’t told you that,” Odion said, throwing in a characteristic remark on Lani being an idiot. God this was killing him!

Ah, so he had noticed. “A gift,” Odion said simply, “I was hoping you would open it, but...” He glanced down at Lani’s hands. Silently, Odion took his hand back and opened the gift himself. The wrapping fell apart in one motion without ruining it at all, and inside lay a book. It was a King James Bible. Odion couldn’t help himself, and finally smiled the smile he had been holding back this entire time. He held it out to Lani in his rough hands. “Don’t be deceived,” he started. Opening the cover, Lani would be able to see that it was hallowed out, a small safe secured within the pages. “It’s a place to keep small things,” Odion said, giving a nonchalant wave of his hand, “fake ID’s or something.” It meant so much more than that to him, and he hoped Lani would note that a book ought not to be judged by its cover. “The combination, well, you might have to work to find out what it is.” Odion smiled slyly at that – who knew what could be inside.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani blinked at Odion. That was it? He wasn’t going to say anything about Lani not controlling his power? Not anything about the other guy, asking if he was alright? Nothing. That perhaps hurt more than the coldness from before. Lani watched Odion’s eyes. In his defense he hadn’t outright been keeping it from him, it had been part of the story. He wasn’t about to advertise that he wasn’t one hundred percent alright. At least not to other people. Lani couldn’t help smiling a little bit. Lani had a tendency to be thick and no one knew that better than Odion. Lani thought it was a joke and took it as such. “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” He waved his free hand dismissively as if someone would drum the idea into his head and never get any closer to getting the concept through to him. Acting like an idiot was part of his act, people often thought him too foolish to be clever. Though sometimes he was just well, an idiot. No excuses.

“A gift?” Lani questioned instead of flying into a fury of demanding who told him about today. “Caroline,” He muttered to himself. Lani followed Odion’s eyes and gave an innocent looking grin to his boyfriend. Lani’s hands rested in his lap as he leaned forward to watch what Odion was doing. A bible? Lani was halfway through considering asking Odion if he had lost his mind when Odion’s comment stalled the thought. Lani took the book and immediately the pages felt strange. He opened the cover and his lips formed an ‘o’. He looked back up at Odion and smiled at the redhead. Lani laughed a little bit. “You’re killin' me, Smalls!” He quoted and reached a hand out to Odion. “Thank you, I love it.” Now for the combination. Something told him that he needed to find out what that was as soon as possible. It looked like a standard dial mechanism. He bent a little to examine the numbers on the dial. “A date?” Lani asked, wondering if Odion would even give him the slightest hint. Maybe the day they had started going out. The day before Christmas last year. He lifted the book safe to his ear and listened closely as he started to turn the dial. Lani was already forming a list in his mind. If it were a date it would be one significant to the both of them. He choose that one because it was easiest to remember.

[Odion Martins]

Odion could only smile at Lani’s muttered assumption. Apparently Lani forget that Odion was a sneak, a thief, and he didn’t need to get the youngest Hunter into trouble for some simple information. It was a good thing he had checked on the date, otherwise he may have missed Lani’s birthday altogether. Their birthdays were fairly close together, however, they weren’t the same signs. Not that that mattered, it was just another piece of mull over.

Odion laughed in return, a sweet smile on his face that lit up his eyes. Only for Lani. “Good, I made it myself.” Lani wasn’t expecting any help obviously, seeing as he went to town before knowing how to get there. Odion giggled, letting out a sigh. “Yes that, or, you can think outside of the box.” The book had a slip on the back cover which led to the same compartment that the safe did from the front. Odion drew something from his pocket, holding the trinket between his thumb and pointer finger. It was a small silver key. Lani was so preoccupied with the front of the safe, Odion had to wonder if the blond would even catch onto the hints. But Odion was enjoying himself and the thrill of the game.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani looked into the blue eyes and smiled. Odion was a man of many hidden talents. How long had this taken to do? Lani no realized that he held in his hands something far more precious than a safe. Safe’s could be broken, but whatever was in this one was worth protecting. It wasn’t the massive safe shown for power and the protection of what one person would think was valuable. This was more than a safe. Lani’s heart warmed at the thought, but then the worried thought wiggled through, then why was Odion so annoyed? It didn’t count as lying if he hadn’t told Odion yet, did it? Lani sighed secretly. Would he ever really understand this honesty concept? Oh well, he could worry about that later.

Lani was sure he would get it, eventually, with his method. He handled it with more care, now knowing that it had been formed by Odion’s hands. The sound from Odion broke Lani’s concentration and he looked down realized he had missed the number. Lani sighed, at least he had been close with the date. He groaned and gave Odion an annoyed look. “The front doesn’t open at all, does it?” He guessed setting the book-safe down in his lap. His eyes were locked on Odion and he traced his eyes over Odion. The answers were here somewhere. Somewhere. Lani looked back at the safe and traced his fingers along the smooth and cold metal. Outside the box. Odion was really challenging him with this one. A safe opened from the front, that was just how it was. Thinking outside the box meant there was another way to open it. Or another place. The sides of back. Lani’s fingertips slid over the safe tapping it here and there looking for some sort of switch latch.

Would using his power be counted as cheating? Lani was sorely tempted but for some reason he felt that if Odion had made this with his own hands then Lani would figure it out with his. He flipped the book closed and traced the lettering on the front. He ran his hand along the pages and pressed here and there on the spine. Nothing. He flipped it over. Outside the box, behind the box? He tapped on the back and made an interesting discovery. It seemed to be attached to the safe. It made sense, the safe couldn’t just be hovering there. The whole while he turned the book-safe in his hands he was humming a soft tune. He drummed his fingers on the back cover noting the slight change of pitch from the pages to the safe. “Outside the box?” Lani flipped the book up on a spur of a thought to look at it from the bottom and sides and top. Something was different here. “There’s another entrance.” Lani said almost to himself, more sure of it as he looked for flaws in the covers. He held it up and smiled when he found it. He slid it apart, his face lit up with a smile only to sigh with great exasperation at the back of the safe and a key hole. This was torture!

[Odion Martins]

“Of course it does,” Odion said, but Lani would have to work at finding the right date or combination of dates. Odi was just trying to be mysterious, as usual, and put some thought and fun into the gifts he bestowed upon Lani. Otherwise, their relationship might grow dull and that was the last thing Odion wanted to happen. Yes all of the exterior things they went through were beyond exciting, like robbery and trying to leave a terrible crime boss, but what would happen once everything was settled? Then what was left?

Odion just let out a long laugh, covering his mouth with his hands. Lani was adorable when he got excited about things, and it encourage Odion, it let him know he was doing something right. Something right, and something kind; he never thought such a thing were possible. “Alright alright,” he relented, handing the key over as though he had had it all along and was giving the dog a bone. Odion gave Lani an encouraging look, egging Lani on, not that the telekinetic needed it.

The lock made a ticking, tinkling sound as the safe opened from the back like a book. Odion loved trinkets, but the safe made out of an old ballerina jewellery box would be the last of the trinkets, which Odion saw as the actual, physical gift. The safe was hollow, except for a small address book inside. “I made a list from memory,” the time turner started to explain, glancing at Lani “of all the places we should visit this summer.”

[Adrianna Carstyn]

She was going to end him. Flat out just going to beat the snot out of him. How could he just waltz into her room and take all of her stuff? All of the stuff he thought was a danger to her. Thought being the key! He was a nosy, no good, manipulative jerk! What was his problem? What made him think he could do that? He didn't run her life, he was barely even there to begin with! Yes, she was angry and irrational at the moment, but how dare he treat her like a child running with scissors. It was her decision, her life. She would do what she wanted with it.

Storming through the dorms to his and her other best friend's dorm room, she hoped it would only be him there. Guy would totally justify what Lani did and the last thing she needed was to hear from both of them that it was for her own good. Maybe she didn't care what was for her own good? Maybe she just wanted to do whatever the hell she chose to. Adrianna was determined to set him straight. Here she thought they had an understanding, that they were on the same page and that he trusted that she'd get better! How could he not trust her with her own life? Sure, she thought of taking it, but she never would bring herself to do it.

Adrian wasn't about to lose steam. Oh no, he wasn't going to hear the end of this until she got her damn razor back. She needed her razor to shave because there was no way she was about to go all Euro girl. Finally she reached his floor and walked briskly down the hall, looking at each number until she found 503. Taking a deep breath, her teeth grinding together, she pounded her fist against the door. "Lani Karl Hunter, I swear to God if you don't open the damn door I'm going to move it myself. I know you're here!" And of course her anger was clouding her power enough so that she was ignoring the other power that was present. A power she knew well enough.

She was far too furious to care at this point.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani just looked blankly at Odion. He had thought he was being clever and had figured it out. Apparently not. So it had two entrances. He would have to do a little bit of playing around with the dial to see if he could figure out the combination. One he had it though, he was sure that he would know exactly what Odion was referencing. The thought made him smile. The fact that Odion had gone through all of this trouble. Hell, all Lani had done was get a card and given him a mixed CD for his birthday. Lani was going to have to do better. He looked up giving Odion a mock sour look as he laughed at Lani’s skill at opening the box. One had to be smarter than the box. But sometimes the box was damn intelligent! Especially Odion’s box.

“Ah, ha!” Lani cried and reached out taking the small key carefully in his fingers. One look at Odion and Lani fitted the key into the lock. He could have cheated the locking mechanism much sooner but the feel of a key in his hand made it all the sweeter when the safe swung open. Lani blinked in surprise at the small noise it made. It was a tune he almost recognized but yet was mysterious. He glanced up at Odion. Mysterious like his boyfriend. Lani looked down and plucked the small book out of its depths. Lani flipped it open, a real book this time. He paused on a few pages looking at the strange addressed. None of them were ones he recognized, but before Lani could asked Odion started to explain. Could Odion read his mind? He smiled a little bit. Odion the trickster knew him well enough to know how to get him to get excited and bothered. But it was always worth it.

“Thank you,” Lani flipped through it and then folded it unconsciously to his heart. “I’m so excited.” Lani leaned forward and gave Odion a soft kiss. Lani paused his face just inches from Odion as he searched those blues. “Odion, did you really mean that?” He asked his mind jumping back to ‘boyfriend’. Lani wanted to tell Odion that he wanted to start telling people. He didn’t want to hide anymore. He wanted to call his parents, but he wanted Odion’s help. “I…” He started when he was startled out of his skin by someone pounding on the door. His head snapped toward the door to his room. Maybe it was… He winced hearing Adrianna’s voice carry through the common room into his own using his full name. Oh, she was mad. She must have discovered what he had done. “Oops…” He sighed and contemplated ignoring her for a moment in favor of staying here with Odion.

Lani sighed and gently placed the book back into the safe and not so gently shoved a space clear on his nightstand for it. He placed the key over it and rose from his bed. “I’m in trouble,” he informed Odion giving his hand a squeeze and a little tug imploring Odion to follow. He might need backup. Or at least someone to keep Adrianna from killing him. “Coming.” He called to stall her from kicking in the door. He gave Odion a look and took a breath gathering a mask of clueless happiness. He went through the common room and swung the door open. He gave her a bright smile as if he had no idea why she was mad. “Adrianna! How’s it goin’?” Seeing the fury in her eyes it was hard to not break his mask but he kept it. Oh hell, she was going to kill him. But smile away he did.

[Odion Martins]

The kiss was returned enthusiastically, Odion reaching up to touch Lani’s face in the process. It had all been worth it to get to this point. Odion blinked. “Mean what?” He asked, tilting his head to the side, trying to remember if he had said ‘Happy Birthday’ or not just yet. He didn’t think so, unless his mind and power was playing tricks on him. Perhaps Lani wasn’t the only clueless one in this relationship. Odion wasn’t even on the right track.

Suddenly, there was a pounding at Lani’s door, and Odion turned his head slowly towards it, totally calm. It did not surprise him in the slightest, especially since it was Lani’s birthday and unlike some people, he actually had friends. The voice didn’t sound friendly in the slightest, though it did sound familiar. Odion raised an eyebrow, giving Lani an annoyed look. “Karl? Your middle name isn’t on your paperwork.” It was easier to comment on that, than wonder why Adrianna was here to give Lani hell, for whatever reason Odion wasn’t sure.

Odion stood to follow Lani, not releasing his hand until they were in common area. Odion didn’t really think anything was going on other than a birthday wish, but then, why did she sound so angry? A look of sharp distrust came over his dark blue eyes. What exactly had Lani done now? He wasn’t... he wasn’t cheating, was he? Odion lingered near the couches, his arms across his chest as they two exchanged greetings. He would watch in silence, for now. Because Lani never told him anything about what was going on, and Odion didn’t feel like doing guesswork today. Odion wasn’t on anyone’s side other than his own.

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Oooh boy was she going to rip him a new one. That jerk! So much for being friends who trusted each other. Hadn't that been their problem when dating? Adrian didn't think she had to have the same problem now that they were friends! But hey, if Lani wanted to act this way, she'd have no problem doing the same. She didn't know how or when, but she'd do something to piss him off just as much as he'd pissed her off right now. Unfortunately, she was only good at hurting him through words and even that was on a rare occasion. An occasion they'd had all too recently. She didn't need another one just so she could get him screaming at her again.

Her fist was just about to hit the door once more, before it opened and revealed his 'innocent' face. But she knew he was far from being innocent and the expression made her want to go off that much more. His bright and bubbly greeting made her grit her teeth and grind them together in irritation. What the hell was he trying to pull? Did he really think sweet-talking her would make her any less furious? Lani was always telling her how strong she was, he was about to see that girl back at the club that smacked the hell out of the guy that grabbed at her. And he wouldn't like it when he did.

"How's it going? Are you kidding me?" She said through her teeth. Oooo she was going to beat him. "What the hell were you doing in my room rifling through my stuff? I know it was you, don't try and smooth talk your way out of it!" Adrian poked his chest and a tad bit of that power she was holding onto pushed him back, just a nudge, nothing too drastic, but nothing she'd have done on her own. She walked into the dorm, intending to search for her stuff and she whirled on him again, still unaware of Odion standing in the room, "And another thing, I thought we were past this whole invading on each other's lives deal. I was going to stay out of your way and you were going to let me take care of this on my own. What happened to your bull shit of me being so strong and able to handle things myself?"

She was heated and once she got going, there was no sense of her surroundings other than in her subconscious state. And that state of mind was screaming at her to stop because of the power that was slowly beginning to seep into her mind. She wasn't getting it though. Odion might as well have been a shadow.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani toyed a little with Odion’s fingers occupying his hand as well as his mind for a moment before he looked up again into his eyes. “Boyfriend,” Lani replied the word feeling strange and yet sweet on his tongue. It wasn’t just a word anymore. Not like when he said he was Adrianna’s boyfriend. Because she had been his girlfriend. That was ‘normal’. It meant that if he was Odion’s boyfriend then Odion was his. It was a big step, but one that Lani wanted to take. Lani felt he should know better about Odion. Odion never said things he didn’t mean. Lani would have loved to take a moment and discuss this in detail with Odion, they hadn’t had a quiet time to just be together in a long time. And yet more interruptions kept popping up. He withheld a sigh and just shook his head at Odion. “Yeah… I think she’s mad.” Lani said needlessly.

Lani really had thought he knew what he was getting into when he stole Adrianna’s sharp objects. He had actually anticipated her coming and trying to tear his head off. What he had not anticipated was Odion being caught in the crossfire. Lani missed the look from Odion, blissfully ignorant of Odion’s fears. The doubt in Odion’s mind, if Lani knew they were there he wouldn’t just be upset, he’d be devastated. Adrianna had doubted him and it had been the final straw in destroying them. If Odion doubted him, it wasn’t even a thought that crossed his mind. It wasn’t like he had a history of cheating, he had never done anything with Odion while he was still with Adrianna. Who looked rather prepared to send him to his grave. “Heh,” Lani half laughed in an acknowledgement that he knew he was in trouble. He raise his hands in mock defense.

Opening his mouth to speak when she poked him gave a chance for a little bit of a yelp to sneak its way out. His bandaged hand went to cover the hidden burn she had just poked and he stumbled back a pace. His eyes watered. It didn’t hurt, so long as no one poked it! Lani took a deep breath and did his best to ignore the sudden enflamed area on his chest. He didn’t even have a moment to wonder at her using his power against him. “Do you really need to ask?” Lani demanded a little bit of annoyance seeping out from the pain. “It’s for your own good.” He said carefully crossing his arms over his chest. Part to protect his injury and partially to cover the way his hands were shaking with pain. Lani turned to follow her into the dorm and kicked the door closed. His eyes found Odion’s and he frowned at the peculiar look on the redhead’s face.

He stopped short of Adrianna as she whirled. “When did I agree to that?” He asked, “You know that when I said I would help that kinda meant I was going to invade right?” He sighed and shook his head at Adrianna. She wouldn’t find her belongings here. He was not that foolish. “Are you taking care of it?” Lani asked and then cleared his throat and nodding his head in Odion’s direction. If she wanted her secret kept or at least the illusion of it she had better stop talking now. Also Lani didn’t want Odion to see what his and Adrianna’s relationship had become. A seemingly nonstop argument. “I didn’t lie Adrianna. And it’s not bullshit.” He pointed a finger at her his fist light around the bandages. “I know you’re strong but you don’t. This,” he pointed his finger toward the ground indicating this moment right now, “This is not handling things! Are you even thinking about what you’re doing right now?” He looked at her tilting forward a little to glare at her. “I mean really think about it. Are you mad because of what I did or because of what you can’t do now?” He demanded mercilessly. He turned his face up to Odion and wondered for a moment. Boyfriend. Adrianna didn’t know yet. Well, he wasn’t about to tell her when she was about to kill him, that was for sure.