Roads Untraveled(Odion)

[Lani Hunter]

It was certainly the most exciting Christmas Lani had had in a long time. Most of the time it was the same old same old. Odion offered something new, something to break the stagnant air of the holidays. Over and over again it was the same routine, Lani found it harder and harder to keep from fighting with his father. Having someone not in the family there gave both of them a reason to pretend to be pleasant and friendly to each other. At least on the surface, it probably still wasn’t a good idea to leave the two alone with each other for too long. The holidays gave a good break in the stress of life. It was very easy to let their guard slip but this was indeed when life took the most dangerous turns. But at the same time expecting the worst and being rewarded with the best was something Lani loved. He was surprised that nothing had shown up this Christmas that was not of the pleasant sort. But it also gave him confidence that he and Odion did scare his boss at least a little bit.

Lani howled with laughter as his sister went flying. Lani had cradled her a little with his power but he found he didn’t have to. Odion wasn’t foolish enough to be rough with Caroline also it was clear he adored her as much as Lani did and Lani found himself falling deeper for the redhead. This was a hard holiday in more than one way. It was so hard to keep himself from being honest and at the same time he relished in hiding glad that for a few more moments he could pretend that his life wasn’t being turned upside down in a million different ways. It was a good day and with a layer of fresh snow to disturb he was more than ready for a tumble in the snow. Out after Caroline they both knew that their alliance was temporary but it would serve its purpose. The door swung closed behind Odion and Lani lobbed a ball. He didn’t need telekinesis to hit his mark and he laughed as Caroline threw worked on something else.

He would have liked to keep an eye on his sister as she set to work but Odion was now after him. Lani yelped and sprinted out of his hiding place. He wanted to try to skirt past Odion to Caroline but he didn’t think he could run fast enough to keep from getting cut off and Odion looked rather determined. He glanced over his shoulder to see how far Odion was and he skidded to a halt at what rose up behind him. A giant wall of snow was sitting in front of Caroline and Lani only had a chance to call out a quick warning before it flew at them. Lani could hardly believe his eyes and how powerful Caroline had become. The wall of snow rose like a wave and crashed toward them. The similarity that it had to a real wave paralyzed Lani in fear and his throat caught. He had enough sense to duck and cover his head as the mound crashed on them. Lani didn’t know where Odion was all he knew was that the next moment he was sitting in a few feet of snow shivering as snow snuck down his coat.

[Odion Martins]

Lani looked up in awe behind Odion’s shoulder, and Odi paused, looking as well. A wall of snow was about to fall on them, quite literally. So it would seem they were outmatched by a singular girl. There wasn’t time to react, only time to stop it completely, and somehow Odion figured Caroline would deem that cheating. So he waited. When it hit, it wasn’t as rough as an avalanche, but it was enough to knock the wind out of him as he fell down with an ‘oof’.

Shaking his head, snow flitzed around as Odion smiled to himself, covered in snow from head to foot before he stood up, still more snow falling away. “You’re good,” he commented loud enough for Caroline to hear. She was smiling too, and Odion hadn’t forgotten about Lani, he just had a new target now. Stopping time, Odion ran behind Caroline, and time resumed. She squealed in surprised when Odion trapped her in a bear hug from behind. At least if she planned on doing that again, she’d get covered in snow too. “You’re full of snow!” She shrieked, and Odion could only laugh, glad that she wasn’t getting away with this scot-free. Caroline whispered a truce, obviously not wanting to give up but not really wanting to be covered in snow either, and really, she had won, so Odion let her go, and was intent on following her into the house. Instead, his eyes swept the area, finding Lani. Surely snow wasn’t that petrifying.

Shaking himself off again, Odion tried to pat himself down, getting rid of as much of the snow as he could. “You coming?” He asked Lani, nearing the blond. Caroline’s wave had gotten him a lot harder than it had Odion.

[Lani Hunter]

It took Lani a moment to poke his head out of the snow mound and he came out gasping for air. He was breathing, he was fine. It was just snow. He kept telling himself that over and over again but it looked so much like a wave. And he hadn’t been ready for it to be so heavy when it hit. He closed his eyes oblivious to the frolicking of the other two in the snow. He hated this. He hated being afraid of something so silly. It wasn’t even water, well not really. But it got this way every time he even thought about drowning. He opened his eyes and his eyes found Caroline as she shrieked and he took a few more deep breaths and reminded himself that he was fine. Far from any sort of water. He recovered slower than he thought and rose to his feet as Caroline dashed into the house. Lani looked after her for a moment and brushed himself off taking another gulp of air.

His breath was a little short and he was trying to force it to be longer and more regular. He wasn’t hyperventilating, thank goodness. “Huh? Yeah,” Lani called glad his voice wasn’t too shaky. Why on earth did his sister have to have water control? He covered whatever shaking it happen with a chattering of teeth and shivering from cold. He smiled and waded through the snow to join Odion. “How about that, bested by a little girl,” he said with a little laugh. He took a few more deep breaths, blessed oxygen and nitrogen. “It’s cold, maybe there’s some hot chocolate.” He said trudging toward the house more intent on acting normal. He wasn’t afraid of snow. He was afraid of water. But somehow snow in the shape of water was still terrifying. He didn’t think one could drown in snow. One could be crushed by snow but not drown in it. It was different. So it was no wave. There was no water.

On the stoop Lani was greeted by his sister in a hug and his mother in tow. “Bug,” Lani commented affectionately squeezing her. “Come in out of the cold, ya crazies.” his mother said but not before making sure they knew that wet jackets and snowy boots were not allowed in the house. “You know I never get tired of these white Christmases,” She said to Odion as he passed into the house and stood looking out the open door a moment longer her hand resting on Odion’s shoulder. “It really just sets the mood.” She closed the door and ushered them into the house again humming a Christmas tune. The house had already started to smell like something wonderful. The mix of so many different flavors and spices. It was enough to make the mouth water. Lani still needed his revenge on Caroline though. He grabbed and ice cube from the freezer and caught her by the back of her collar and dropped it into her shirt. She shrieked and wriggled as Lani laughed, recovered quickly from his near panic attack.

[Odion Martins]

Odion gave Lani one last look of concern. He supposed he might’ve been in the same shape had he not had the common sense to run just a bit farther away from the wave. It was like Lani had been paralyzed as soon as he saw the thing. Odion supposed that people just reacted differently, or in Lani’s case, not at all. Odion smiled alongside Lani as they trotted through the snow. “I don’t know, she’s not that little,” he said, because he had to redeem his and Lani’s dignity. Odion frowned after Lani. Something wasn’t right, he was acting peculiar, like he was forcing himself to be normal. When people did that, they were anything but. Normal Lani would be making fun of Odion right now, picking up more snow and shoving it in his face to add insult to injury. Or normal Lani would be whining and complaining about Caroline and her victory. This Lani was running inside, eager to admit to defeat and carry on. What happened?

Odion stood off to the side, his hands in his pockets as the family reunited. Well, it hadn’t been that long had it? Getting into the house, Odion respectfully hung up his wet winter clothing where Lani and Caroline had, and had just slipped out of his boots when Lani’s mom approached. Odion just smiled, unsure of what the mood was supposed to be, though he did pass a glance to Lani. Did she know something they didn’t? Or was this normal?

Odion had settled himself by the living room window, trying to stay out of the way and at the same time still keep an eye on everything and everyone. Lani’s mom had gone back to preparing things and Lani had snuck into the kitchen as well. Odion smirked to himself and went back to looking out the window as Caroline turned around to smack Lani. “Why don’t you make yourselves useful?” Lani’s mom suggested to the siblings. Odi was lost in his own thoughts as he continued to wonder what the mood for Christmas would be. This year’s mood was certainly different from the one he normally felt, which was quite lonely and depressing. Christmas in England was bleak, the snow was dirty, and there wasn’t any holiday cheer crowding around a fire made in a garbage can. He felt his heart steeling and watched the family’s reflection in the window, puttering around in the kitchen. They were too naive to know any better than this, and Odion wished he could release himself of his past demons which were haunting him now.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani chuckled. Odion could try but the fact still remained that they had been bested by Lani’s little sister. Two thieves with all of their skills had been bested by a twelve year old. Caroline heard them talking and turned to flex her arm muscles at them. As soon as Lani was far away from water like substances Lani was going to get her back. He really didn’t know what it was about situations that reminded him of water that made him panic. He could drink water, no problem. Shower, nothing wrong there either. Well, unless water started to accumulate then Lani had issues. But maybe it was the sheer size. The fact that enough of it could kill him was the problem. He’d tell Odion eventually but he was too afraid that Odion would laugh at him. At least Odion being afraid of flying had grounds to defend. One could die if a plane went down. And it could happen to anyone. A lot of people were afraid of flying. And Odion had flown before. He was already farther through facing his fears than Lani was. Not everyone was in trouble in water. Especially not the super scary water in a bathtub.

Lani laughed ducking as Caroline beat him with her hands. Both siblings were cowed by their mother’s slight scold and answered in unison, “Yes, mom.” Lani glanced back at Odion and smiled to himself. Well as much badness that had happened he must have done something good in his childhood for the universe to decide to bring him and Odion together. He looked back at his family. How was he going to tell them? He couldn’t even be sure that his mother wouldn’t shun him for this one. She was very religious and didn’t make it a secret that she wished Lani would go to church more often, or at all. And his father… well he was always going on about what it meant to be a man and what it meant to be a Hunter. Lani had already failed most of those and well, what was one more. He turned back to the kitchen letting Odion have his moment alone. It was probably a lot to take in being around his family. They were kind of insane.

Already having washed the Christmas dishes Lani was set to work stirring. Caroline however snuck off somewhere. Lani wasn’t too concerned, he trusted everyone in this house. Even his father. He didn’t necessarily like the man but he trusted him. Caroline had gone up to her room and grabbed a woven bracelet and brought it down with her. “Odion,” she said sneaking up on the redhead, “Merry Christmas, I’m so happy you came.” She held out the bracelet. “It’s a friendship bracelet, let me put it on.” The youngest Hunter was not going to take no for an answer and took his wrist to tie it on. She glanced over her shoulder toward the kitchen. Lani caught sight of them out of the corner of his eye but he couldn’t hear their words. “Lani told us what happened,” She said spilling Lani’s secrets in a whisper, “I know he’s too stubborn to say it. So, thank you for saving my brother.” She gave him a peck on the cheek before grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the kitchen. “C’mon, sometimes we have snacks while dinner’s cooking.”

[Odion Martins]

So they had been bested – there were worse things. Besides, Caroline needed a few victories before the harsh realities of life kicked in. Odion caught Caroline flaunting and couldn’t stop from snickering. She was like her brother in so many ways. Enough of anything could kill someone, so this little fact wasn’t something Odion would figure out without a little help. Once he did figure it out, as the thing itself was inevitable, Odion would not laugh. He might question it, but he wouldn’t laugh. Odion wouldn’t exactly call taking enough Dramamine to pass out before lift out as facing his fears, but Lani didn’t need to know that. Sometimes the end justified the means, and he hadn’t gotten on that plane nearly two years ago to conquer his fear, but to conquer someone. But there was plenty of time to learn about one another.

Odion wondered what this family was like when they were all a little younger. It fascinated and saddened him at the same time. Perhaps that was a solo trip he would take some time. Odion saw Lani looking at him, but he didn’t make the fact known. Odion could see Lani was thinking of something important, and there seemed to be longing in his eyes as well. How were they going to do this? Odion knew before just how important Lani’s family was to him, but now Odion knew why. Was it really his place to take that away from Lani? And was it right to offer Lani relationship knowing it might hurt the telekinetic in unbearable ways? Odion didn’t care about who thought what of him, but he knew Lani cared. What were they to do but feel things out slowly? What it meant to be a Hunter was what Lani wanted to make of his life – he would be a Hunter no matter what. Odion could promise only one thing, and that was that he would wait and be along for the ride, no matter how long it should be. Odion didn’t feel so insane for wishing for a family of his own from time to time. Although this one wasn’t prefect, he expected none were.

Hearing his name coming from a petite voice, Odion broke his reverie to glance down at the hand woven bracelet. The redhead broke into a demure smile, holding out his left wrist at her command. It was a thoughtful gesture, and Odion was glad she had put it on because he doubted he could’ve completed some so intricate. “Thank you,” he said, a pain of guilt flooding him as he realized he hadn’t gotten anything for her. She was going to think him weird for not knowing the protocols. But what struck him even more was that she considered him a friend. He didn’t have many of those. Odion looked over at Lani when Caroline did, wondering if anything was the matter before Caroline spoke. A look of understanding came from the redhead. Odion didn’t know Lani’s family knew, but as the gratitude was given, he gripped Caroline’s hand for a moment. He wouldn’t have done anything differently, although he wished Lani had told him sooner so Odion could’ve helped sooner.

Caroline didn’t break contact as she dragged Odion into the kitchen. Sure enough, there was a little platter of cheese being made, and Caroline’s mom gestured towards it. “Help yourselves, but don’t overdo it,” she said, going back to cutting while something else was cooking happily in the oven. Odion took exactly two slices of the cheddar while Caroline had taken more than six. “So what’s your favorite part about Christmas Odion?” Caroline asked, making herself comfy by leaning against the pantry. Odion smiled to himself. There was always some kind of conversation going on around here. He didn’t want to lie. “Making new memories,” he said vaguely, but Caroline’s face contorted slightly. “You don’t like presents?” She asked skeptically. Odion laughed. “Well yes, but you asked what my favorite part was,” he replied smartly, taking a dainty bite of cheese. Caroline smiled as a thought came to her mind. “My favorite part was the look on your faces outside!” She laughed and Odion looked down sheepishly, a smile still on his face. She had him there.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani was put on chopping duty. He was enjoying that worried expression that his father had on his face when he was chopping carrots by hand and a pepper and onion with his power. Sometimes he liked showing off. Especially when his father had been one of those people who doubted him the most. His father was busy supervising and his mother was periodically shooing him from the kitchen to the table. Finally with enough frustration she told him to start working on appetizers. That gave both of the high strung Hunters something to do and it gave Lani something to concentrate on. He couldn’t let his mind wander when he was using his power and so he focused on every motion and every feeling that was in his mind. The millions of invisible hands in his brain. Christmas, well, who would have imagined that miracles could happen. Lani smiled to himself they could deal with the problems later.

He glanced up when Odion and Caroline appeared and only then realized that Caroline had been off being sneaky. He wasn’t sure how he felt about not knowing what she was up to. Well, she was almost a teenager now. Lani paled a little at the thought. That couldn’t be right. She couldn’t be that old yet. He hummed along to a tune in his head as he worked. Soon enough his mother picked up the vocals of the tune and swatted at Lani when he chuckled at her. His mother had a beautiful voice but she got so flustered when people teased her it was impossible not to do so. Lani smiled brightly. Odion and his sister getting along was like a dream come true. He wondered if Odion would have gotten along with her if he hadn’t know she was his sister. He had a feeling so. Caroline was impossible to hate and well, anyone who did had better not act on it. It was no secret that Lani was extremely protective.

Of course right after his mother warned them not to overdo it Caroline took several pieces. Lani shook his head at her and placed the knife in the sink having finished chopping. He toweled his hands dry on his jeans before plucking a piece of cheese from his sister’s hand. Something about stealing it made it so much more delicious. He giggled and twisted away when she punched him. She was a lot stronger than she used to be. “And this is why we don’t go out in public,” Justine explained dryly. “She loves us,” Lani said in exchange giving his mother a charming smile. He could be charming when he wanted to. He wasn’t as good as Prince Charming with the red hair but he could hold his own. Lani nibbled at some cheese feeling rather mousy as he listened to the conversation going on around him. He watched Odion with interest as Caroline asked the hard question. His answer made Lani smile and he glanced at his parents before dropping his eyes and chewing on some more cheese.

Lani found himself giving a sly smile to the redhead and his sister. His sister who was inhaling cheese like it was going out of style and Odion who was treating it like a delicate treat. “Lani,” a voice called him out of his thoughts earning a very eloquent ‘huh’ from the receiving party. “I need to get at the veggies.” His father said and Lani realized then he was very much in the way. His father chuckled and ruffled Lani’s hair as he moved out of the way. Lani made a grumpy face back at the old man. Lani ended up next to Odion and couldn’t help himself. He had missed whatever his sister said but Odion’s expression was great. Lani laughed brightly not realizing that he was also the butt of the joke. “Don’t let it go to your head.” He turned his head watching Odion out of the corner of his eye. “Plenty of new memories to come. The eyes are like cameras and every time you blink you hold a snapshot of life.”

[Odion Martins]

Odion grinned at the analogy, thinking it rather clever but not saying such – there was no need to inflate Lani’s overinflated ego. “I think they’d be closer to a video camera,” he said for argument’s sake. His hands were at his sides once more, his stomach feeling queasy again. This was another reason why Odion didn’t worry, or rather couldn’t afford to. But teenagers weren’t supposed to have ulcers.

Caroline, who had a look of satisfaction spread across her features, had turned around to trail after her father, presumably to fetch some vegetables to devour. Odion encroached on Lani’s space since they had a spare moment. It was really too close for comfort, but Odi didn’t seem to mind. “I have to be gone by the twenty ninth,” he said, leaving no room for argument between his well articulated words, “thought you ought to know.” That way he had enough time to find where he was staying with Avi, and also to explore Boston a little better. Odion leaned away as though nothing had happened. It was better that they didn’t expect he would be staying the whole break.

Caroline had returned, a handful of raw pepper slices in her hand now. “Mom said dinner will be ready soon,” she said, despite their mother being less than five feet away. Odion nodded respectfully and stared at the clock. He would make this visit last longer if he could, but he would want to change one thing about his presence, especially when it came to his and Lani’s relationship. In that case, wouldn’t he want to speed time up?...

[Lani Hunter]

Lani’s mind quirked into a smile and he leaned against the wall his arms crossed over his chest. His head tipped up toward the ceiling. Oblivious to Odion’s discomfort Lani jumped on the train of thought. “Hmmm, what if you’re blind?” Lani questioned taking the topic farther in one sentence than he guessed Odion ever wanted to go. “They have memories, their ears are like recorders. Lani closed his eyes and smiled. “I bet the sighted are deaf.” Lani’s power poked at Odion’s and after a few seconds Lani decided he was probably deaf and blind. He relied on his power for so much. “Maybe we’ve got computers for brains,” Kevin supplied with a snort of his own laughter. “I’m telling you right now Lani I’ve took a few philosophy classes in college. The professors are always on drugs.” Lani’s smile turned sly and without opening his eyes he said, “It’s legal in Colorado.” He didn’t catch what his father muttered but either way he felt successful.

He opened his eyes now and glanced at Odion. Lani opened his mouth to protest but then he remembered Odion telling him that he was meeting Avi. Lani still had yet to meet her and he was curious about Odion’s friend. Lani nodded in understanding. He wondered if all hell would break loose in the Hunter house on the thirtieth. No guests, no filters. “Ok,” Lani said all the years of training and practice made the words come out without a hint of the disappointment Lani was feeling. They were just friends, anything other than that would have set off alarms. At least he thought so. Somehow being here with his family he had a feeling that every little gesture, every word, every thought was known and they were moments away from being found out. It was kind of exhausting. He was being paranoid. He was so afraid that there was only so much left. Everything would come out and everything would change. He wanted to delay that.

Lani smiled at his sister a made a face. She returned the face. “Good, I’m so hungry.” Lani said with a laugh. The next moment a stack of the plates were in his hands and his mother patted his cheek affectionately. “Then make yourself useful and we can eat sooner.” Lani sighed dramatically and pushed himself off the wall. Lani saw his mother’s hand out of the corner of his eye and ducked avoiding getting a tweak to the ear. “Kidding!” He slipped off and set to his task. “Go and sit down, honey,” She said sweetly to Odion and shooed him away. “I think you’re her new best friend.” Lani said teasingly to Odion. He opened his hands and was preparing to distribute plates with his power and make it quick when someone practically shrieking his name almost made him drop all of them. He looked over at his mother his heart racing as he looked for something wrong. She seemed to be embarrassed about her little outburst and added in a much smoother voice. “Hands. Please. Those are the good plates.” Lani nodded and gave Odion a look that spelled out that that was the reason no one crossed his mother. He set each plate down gently by hand then with extra care to appease his crazy mother.

[Odion Martins]

Odion raised an eyebrow at Lani. “There are many ways of viewing the world,” he said philosophically. Lani acted rather daft at times, as though spouting the first thing that came to his mind was equivalent to the smartest thing. Odion wasn’t sure where Lani was going with this topic, and taking another look around, knew he didn’t want to take it any farther than this. He wasn’t about to have an argument with his friend right here and now. Odion blasted a look at Kevin, and he gave Lani a look. Apparently Kevin was all logic and no pondering. What a sad waste of a man, but Odion barely knew him. He didn’t like Lani’s father already.

It would’ve been interesting to be a fly on the wall in this house, rather than a guest. Odion knew all were putting their best foot forward, and this wasn’t what a normal day looked like. This was a special occasion, and though he was enjoying it, he was curious as to the other three hundred and sixty four days. Odion managed a small smile at Lani’s response. The blond had something on his mind and was unwilling to share. He never settled anything with a single word. “I’ll miss it here,” Odion continued unfalteringly. While he really would miss the Hunters, there was on in particular who would consume his mind during his absence.

Well, at least someone was hungry around here. Odion smiled at the mother-son antics before doing as he was told. He sat just to the left of the head of the table, where presumably Kevin would later sit. The redhead watched Lani with hawk eyes, feeling rather useless in the position he was in. The shriek received nothing more than a glance upwards from Odion who, already in a state of distress, felt like the shriek was coming from within himself. His eyebrows rose at Lani’s look, and when a plate was set before him, his eyes did all the touching to start. “She’s right,” he said, glancing over to Lani’s mum before looking back to Lani, “it’s exquisite china.” The detailing was lovely, and when Odion thought no one was looking, he ran his fingertips over the detailing, the bumps and ridges smoothed, perfect for eating off of. He wouldn’t want anyone manhandling his most precious objects via telekinesis either.

[Lani Hunter]

“One for every human being,” Lani agreed with a nod. Another reason he and his father got along in small bursts. Lani could go on and on and his father just wanted to be told things. His mother was not very into the whole philosophy thing but she was willing to entertain it. Lani really had no idea where he got that from. Lani wasn’t logical, not usually. He was the one person who would come up with the most irrational reason for something. Logic came and it went but it never visited the telekinetic for long. Lani wondered how long it would take for that to become very annoying for Odion. Lani was good at seeing logic when it applied to other people but nothing in his life was logical. After all he was a meta human, logic and reason went out the window. There was no logical reason to have telekinesis. He even had irrational ideas to get himself out of being logical.

Lani gave Odion a glance before turning away again. “We’ll miss you too, Odion, I’m so glad you could come.” His mother said with a bright smile. “You’re welcome anytime. Are you getting home by train?” Lani really didn’t want Odion to go. How could he say something about that without sounding clingy. However, he thought, it would be easier being around his family without having to worry if they caught onto anything. Maybe there would be a good time to think things through. Setting the plates down with extra care he glanced at Odion and then across the room at his mother who was digging something out of the oven. His father drifted into the room and filled a cup with water and set it down. “Do you want something to drink?” He asked of Odion before glancing at Lani and Caroline including them in the question. Lani set a plate in front of Odion and then the last plate next to that one.

“Thank you,” his mother colored with pleasure as she set a plate of ham slices on the table. “They belonged to by mother. She passed them down to me when I got married.” A warm smile crossed her face and she paused long enough to give her husband a light kiss. Lani smiled. One thing he could give his parents, they were still very much smitten with each other. After all of these years. His father finished delivering cups to the table and Lani leaned against the table his arms crossed over his chest. Caroline grabbed his arm before resting her head against it. He smiled down at her and shifted so he could put an arm around her shoulders. She wrapped her arms around his waist and giggled a little bit. “What?” He asked with a laugh of his own. “Nothing.” She replied making Lani suspicious. He shook his head at her and detached himself from her to take a seat. She took the seat next to him and when his mother and father had finished bringing stuff to the table they sat down as well. “Merry Christmas,” his mother said brightly, “I’m so glad we’re all together and that we have had a chance to share this holiday with someone new.” Lani smiled and stole a glance at Odion.