Time Warp: If You Were Gay (Chase and Niko)

[Event !]

It's never easy to talk to your kids about this kind of stuff. Never.

[Nikolai Campbell]

Seven years had passed, which meant the once nine year old weather manipulator of the Hammel Institute had reached the age of sixteen. It was a very, very long time, those seven years. It was also the approximate time between his parents death and his move to Hammel, but more importantly, it was the amount of time that had passed since he had first left Hammel to live with James and Chase. (a choice that he couldn't imagine not having made) Better still, Nikolai was nearly eighteen now. That milestone was one he still strove for, though he had a happier home life than he could have ever dreamed of.

In fact, now this 'cabin' he'd been amazed by so long ago, was simply home. Niko could look back and know that it's title as home hadn't really been in question for him. James and Chase made it his home well before he was familiar enough with it to know what was around each corner, or behind each door. They made it his home with their words and their emotions, and later, with the way he felt like he belonged with them. For that Niko owed them more than he could ever express. He settled for giving them as little trouble as possible. Despite being sixteen and a high school student at Hammel now, he stayed pretty far below the radar beyond recognition for his effort academically, mostly out of respect for James and Chase.

It was also out of respect that Niko took up the cooking for Chase while they were fending for themselves without James. Niko really, really didn't want his father injured, as dealing with the injury was more problematic than cooking by himself was. Besides that, he had a great teacher in James over the last few years, so cooking was an enjoyable way to pass the time for him. Since that had been the first thing he'd done when being invited into their home, it seemed natural, and it fit into the routine Chase and James established before he came into their lives- a routine he was rather fond of. Though he didn't have OCD like James, there were traces of his previous foster home still etched into him, particular preferences really, that perhaps a normal person may not faithfully adhere to. While most young children would likely revel in the idea of no routine in their life, Niko knew the value. Not that he hadn't allowed James and Chase to veer from the routine plenty of times- oh, he did, and he would. It was just that he enjoyed the routine, too, rather than resenting it. At the moment that was the last thing on his mind. He was more focused on the current task of getting a pot out of the cabinet, a remarkably simpler train of thought. Pasta was always a safe bet for a meal, something easy, and something Niko had a specific fondness for.

[Chase Campbell]

Seven years ago, Chase and James had only begun to look into adopting a kid. It was also seven years ago that a young weather manipulator had come into their lives. Chase could still remember the first time he’d ever met Nikolai Curtis. It seemed like a long, long time ago now. Now, Nikolai was less of his student, and much more his family, his son. They’d adopted him a few years ago, officially, and they really were a family. Of course, he was also a teenager. A good teenager, but a teenager all the same.

Years ago, days like today would have scared the hell out of Chase. Days that James had had to go on a recruitment himself, because the family situation of the child he was attempting to bring to Hammel was delicate. He would have been scared of screwing up with Niko, somehow. Now, it wasn’t a huge deal. He didn’t even mind that his son would beat him home, because he had a make up session with a struggling student. He’d already told Niko there would be a delay, which hadn’t seem to bother the teenager too much. Chase had promised to make it up to him (probably with a late movie night, it was Friday, after all). Of course, by the time he made it home, he was just tempted to order out for the two of them and crash out for the evening.

“Nikki?” Chase called out his son’s nickname as he pulled off his shoes and pushed them onto the rack (habit). He heard noises in the kitchen, which made him hope it was Nikki. (Then again, what kind of burglar would stop and make dinner, really?) Milo came trotting over and nuzzled his owner’s ankle before darting away again, jumping on the kitchen table to watch his still smallest person. Chase grinned when he saw Niko in the kitchen. “Hey, kiddo. Whatcha doing?” Yes, he knew he was still the biggest fail when it came to the kitchen. But was it really so bad that Niko had to do the cooking when James was gone? … Apparently. “Y’know, I was thinking about ordering out. But since you’ve got this started, you want a hand?” He had a feeling he knew what the answer would be, but really, how pathetic was it that your own son had to take over the kitchen duties? “Come on. Let me do something.”

[Nikolai Campbell]

Niko wasn't particularly fond of going home without James or Chase, but he wasn't going to admit it. He appreciated his privacy just as much as the next person, of course. He just preferred when he could walk home, and then hide in his room or go outside for the much needed privacy. But Chase had promised to make it up to him and Chase was good for his word. Beyond that, Niko knew both how important it was to train, and just how great of a trainer Chase was. Not that Niko entertained the idea of training in the same way anymore. Chase making it a game all those years ago was genius. Now Niko knew it was work, work he didn't particularly enjoy.

There was very little he'd refuse to do for Chase, all things considered, but Niko certainly did not have the same devotion he'd exhibited when he was nine. Now he openly adored Chase and seemed unimpressed by the lessons. Every time he could get out of using his ability in an 'educational' setting, he did. Outside of a classroom? He'd flaunt his ability, especially to impress the other students (a 'trick' he'd picked up from countless other students that came before him.) as though it were effortless.

His thoughts were interrupted when the door opened. Familiar, but somewhat distant sounds followed. Then, there it was; Nikki. That made him smile. He didn't stop what he was doing on Chase's behalf, but he did smile. Chase was bound to find him so stopping seemed silly. And, as expected, that was exactly what Chase did. Followed by a question.

"Making dinner,"Niko answered smartly, a smirk on his expression as he set the now water-filled pot on the stove. Once it was up there, but not yet on, he turned to face Chase to address his next statement, and the dreaded question that followed. The idea of Chase ordering out, though appealing, was one Niko wasn't quick to take him up on. It was easier, and it may even have been better, that fact Niko couldn't deny. If nothing else, Niko appreciated the offer.

"Dad,"Niko began, doing his best to sound stern (while trying desperately not to laugh) "I'll let you help, but only if you're careful, and if you promise me you won't tell James." Niko knew better than to give in, but it was hard to deny Chase anything when James wasn't there to be the voice of reason. Besides, Niko was confident in his ability to help Chase. Now, if only he had the mind control ability. Actually, more and more often, Niko was jealous of Chase's ability and the things he could do. He got stuck with the weather, and Chase got that? Stranger still Chase didn't seem to enjoy using his ability, something Niko found harder and harder to grasp. In the same way Chase was simply unbelievable, almost inhumanly insane, he was also admirable to Niko in a whole new way that was completely unique to where he was at in his life.

"Is there anything you think you'd like to try to make? We can make something else to go with the pasta, if you want to."Niko suggested. It would just be the two of them, but if they ended up with extra, they could save the left-overs with James as proof of their accomplishment- yes, Niko was being hopeful. It would probably end badly if Chase helped. To the extent, even, that Niko was sure that they'd probably have to resort to Chase's initial idea of ordering out. But he wouldn't let that stop him from trying to humor his father's rather insane impulse to help.

[Chase Campbell]

Chase had discovered a long time ago that having a kid around all the time, watching him grow up, was different to the interactions he’d had with his nieces and nephews, or even the students at the school. Watching Niko grow from a nine year old to sixteen had been an experience in and of itself. He’d made his mistakes along the way, like letting the kid have copious amounts of sugar less than an hour before bedtime. That had been fun. But the older Niko had gotten, the easier it was to relate to him. At least on a personal level. As a student, though his control over his powers was incredible, Chase knew Niko was getting a little lazy. He didn’t train him as often, and he was in the higher level group as a result. But he was a pain in the butt sometimes. More than once, he’d had to give the kid a mental nudge to pay attention. ... At least he hadn’t had to toss him in detention. He was a good kid, as far as teenagers went.

... Smartass kid. Chase had to smirk as he watched Niko. Just like James, he was proficient in the kitchen. Granted, he’d had seven years of helping James. Chase had more, but there was just something thing in his head that didn’t connect as far as cooking was concerned. He’d gotten better over the years, but he was still trumped routinely by both his husband and his son. “I can see that, smartass.” Yes, he just swore. Niko heard much, much worse around the school.

The “stern” tone wasn’t going to work. Mostly because Chase could hear the laughter that was threatening to break free. The conspiracy idea made him cop a grin, though. “Oh come on Nikki. I’m not that bad. ... Anymore.” The poor kid had been witness to several disastrous attempts involving Chase and the kitchen. Most of them, he was clever enough not to repeat. With their luck, the one time James wasn’t there to supervise would be the first time in a long time that Chase managed another injury.

Chase shrugged. “Whatever you want, kiddo.” If he could be put to use, he’d rather that. It felt a little like child abuse, having Niko be the one responsible for cooking, though really, it was probably the safest option, aside from ordering out. “I just feel kinda useless standing here. Anyway. How was school?” Though it might seem odd to anyone else, asking that when Niko attended the same school Chase taught at, well, they didn’t know Hammel. Chase didn’t see Niko very often during the day, especially not recently. Sometimes he missed those days, when Niko was smaller.

[Nikolai Campbell]

"No, of course you're not that bad."Niko replied, his tone now sweet as though he'd relented and could suddenly see the logic behind what Chase had said. But in his mind there really was no logic to be seen even if he had wanted to. Not that he'd say so- instead, Niko nodded, trying to think of something for Chase to help with. Something easy but something that wouldn't take too long, either, if Niko could manage it. The safest bet was something of the desert persuasion. Niko looked up at Chase when he asked that question. It had an immediate effect on Nikom making him grin, although not without a bit of mischief in his eyes. Niko had a hard time hiding his emotions and by now he hardly bothered to. But Chase's question could be met with so many different answers, plenty of them ones Chase would just as not associate Niko with. Which was why Niko spoke of the least interesting part of his day as he went about retrieving other ingredients for the pasta.

"I aced a science test on something or other,"Niko answered with a shrug as though it were no big deal. Actually, the test was on genetics, and he knew it. Genetics fascinated him, though he found it hard to compare things he learned to his life. It was the most challenging to understand which made it interesting. But science was the one subject Niko had never had a hard time with, and if he was doing poorly in that class, he just wasn't trying. The rest of the classes were another matter entirely. His biggest problems were staying on task, as focus was something Niko still hadn't mastered. He'd rather be running around than sitting in a classroom. And motivation? Niko was still working on that, too. At least he could hold his own when he bothered to. He wasn't destined to be at the top of his class, but he'd come close if he tried. Hammel, on the other hand, did not foster a sense of success in him. It was more like a place to have fun and make great friends. The education was just a necessary evil that he put up with for James and Chase's benefit.

"I survived the other classes without being told to focus more times than my teachers would put up with. It was a good day, actually. What about you? Did everything go okay for you today? Other than staying after, I mean." The lunch hour and the free time he had to mess around with his friends? That wasn't getting mentioned unless Chase specifically asked. So Niko would switch topics. Finally, he came up with something for Chase to help with.

"Dad, how about you help me with making brownies for after dinner?"Niko suggested, hoping that Chase wouldn't take the simple process as Niko's way of saying he didn't trust him. But, he didn't. How badly could he mess up brownies, anyway? Niko certainly wouldn't let him burn them, at least. But, Niko'd spent enough time with Chase to know that even when he was sure of something, Chase could surprise him.

[Chase Campbell]

Chase knew better than to trust that sweet tone. He dealt with far too many teenagers to trust it. He’d been a teenager once too. If he was trying to play innocent, he’d adopt that sweet tone as if it would disguise the fact he was being a sarcastic little bastard. ... It didn’t take long for his mother to catch on. “Why is it I don’t believe you, Kiddo?” Not that he really thought that Nikki was a little bastard. He was just a teenager, albeit a fairly well behaved one. All he wanted was to help his son with dinner. Was that really such a crime? Well, in their house... maybe not a crime, but close. Especially without James there to rescue whatever disastrous attempts that were made. Chase could recall several instances where James had worked late, so he and Niko had attempted something that resembled dinner. ... Yeah. Those nights tended to end with take out, and a lot of cleaning.

He arched an eyebrow at the offhand comment. “... How the hell did you ace it if you don’t even know what it was on?” He had to smirk a little. He knew Niko, and he knew the kid liked science. “Come on, more than that.” He was glad that Niko expressed an interest in at least some of his studies. The only classes Chase had ever liked had been gym, and the little bit of biology when the whole class had been snickering. Though he’d been better at Hammel, he’d still found the classes relatively dull, and easy to skip when he put his mind to it.

There we go. A little more information, but don’t think Chase didn’t catch the mischievous look in Niko’s eyes. “Good. Because guess who gets to hear about it in the staff room when you’re in your own little world.” He shrugged and leaned back on his elbows on the counter. “It was okay. We had a fight break out during group training, but they calmed down.”

The topic change temporarily distracted Chase, at least enough to consider this. “You mean that mix stuff, right? Just add water and eggs?” It wasn’t that hard. He’d done it before. “Yeah, I can do that.” He headed to the cupboard and pulled out the box of brownie mix, tossing it onto the counter while he got a mixing bowl out. Now he felt useful. As he set to work on that, he looked over at Niko. “So what else did you get up to today? Did you and your friends do anything fun?” He copped a little grin. “You got a crush on any of ‘em?” Was he asking to be mean? Not really. Was he asking out of revenge for the cooking barbs? Well... maybe.

[Nikolai Campbell]

"Sometimes I just don't know, Dad."Niko answered in his still sweet voice, as though he didn't have seven years of experience that proved he was right in his assumption that Chase would come to harm if he worked in the kitchen."But I still love you more than anything," Niko actually had a habit of saying he loved James and Chase. So, despite the tone, he was being completely sincere. He knew from experience that if you didn't say it while you could, you wouldn't necessarily get the chance to later. And he did love James and Chase more than anything else in his life. He felt that they needed to know. Often. It made Niko feel much, much better.

"Well, you wouldn't have that problem if you just avoided the staff room all together. It's really not that special. Just 'cause the students can't go in, you guys think you're so cool."Niko stated with a shrug. He wanted nothing more to be invited into that room, even though he knew it wasn't that special. It was just the fact that they said no that made him want to go in so badly. Though he'd thought about it, it wasn't until recently that he made the desire known. Mostly, though, at this point it was just so that he could tell his buddies he could get in.

"But they exaggerate. I'm not that bad, I promise."Niko added, not sure if Niko would believe that. But he let that thought go in favor of realizing he was relieved. At first it seemed like everything was going to be okay. He'd averted the question, and Chase was content, it seemed. So Niko, quite satisfied with himself, busied himself with the next steps of preparing the pasta. He'd done this before, so he was quite comfortable. But Chase wouldn't let that happen. Apparently he did want to know about his friends. . .That did not surprise Niko, really. But he didn't look at Chase, in an attempt to avoid letting him know how much he didn't want to answer that. Unfortunately, Chase asked a question that made Niko's face turn bright red.

"Chase!"Niko objected, his eyes wide as he finally looked up at Chase."That. . .I. . .Really. I'm sixteen! So what if I am? Why are you asking, anyway? I mean, it's not like I'd do any- I mean! Not that I'm saying I am or anything." Nervous, much? His face got brighter, and finally Niko just groaned, tilting his head back and putting his hands on his face to cover his now closed eyes. He did have a girlfriend. But Chase was better off letting that be proof enough, without going into details. Not that Niko wouldn't admit everything if asked.

[Chase Campbell]

That sweet tone really wasn’t getting Niko anywhere. If anything, it made Chase suspect that the kid was up to something, so he simply arched an eyebrow at him. His suspicions were only made worse when Niko claimed he loved him. He did it often, and sometimes Chase wondered if it was a comfort thing for the kid. A little like an animal you adopted from a shelter – they knew it was their second chance at life. And between him and James, Chase knew they’d tried to make Niko’s life a good one. Though he couldn’t say the kid was spoiled, he was definitely not lacking for attention. “I love you too, Nikki.” Dammit. Once again, Niko had weaseled his way out of suspicion by simply being cute. He played dirty.

“... That’s not a solution, Kid. And suck it up, we’re cooler than you.” Oh, he knew about Niko’s desires to see the inside of the room. The rare students that managed to weasel their way inside could tell him that it wasn’t all that special. Coffee machines, couches, a fridge that had definitely seen better days. “That’s why we’re allowed in and you’re not.” Now he was just teasing. But it was a gently, playful tease. Nothing malicious about it.

“I think you are, considering the amount of times I hear about it in the week.” Now it was Chase that was exaggerating, but it would give Niko something to think about it. Then maybe he’d apply himself a little bit more. “You’re so good with your powers, Nikki. All you have to do is finish your academics, and you’ll graduate, no problem. So just... focus a little, hey?” He didn’t really have high hopes that the teenager would listen, but it was worth a shot. It was better than berating him for daydreaming. Hell, it wasn’t like Chase had been the golden boy in school either. But he knew teenagers, and he knew that the way Niko refused to make eye contact meant that he’d done something. Though he usually respected the kid’s privacy, well, after the little jabs about his lack of kitchen skills had him wanting a little playful revenge.

The violent blush made Chase grin. Bingo. “Hey, when I was sixteen, I was in my first year at Hammel, and I had a girlfriend.” Of course, he’d also been sixteen. And was perfectly capable of causing trouble at that age. Much as he was enjoying this, it was also reminding him that James had talked to him about this very sort of thing just a little while ago. That Niko was getting to the age where a certain talk might be necessary. ... He didn’t want to go there just yet. He was just enjoying making Niko squirm. “Come on kiddo, spill. I know that look.” If Niko thought he was going to drop this kind of entertainment, he had another thing coming.

[Nikolai Campbell]

Though Niko expected him to say it, he still genuinely smiled when Chase told him he loved him. He didn't respond, though. He didn't want to push his luck. Then Chse went on, and Niko didn't like that as much. In fact, Niko was not addressing that. And he was not letting Chase see the smile. Though he wanted to pout, he was amused with Chase all the same.

"I'm sorry they nag you about it."Niko stated, looking up at Chase. He was sincere with that statement, no funny tone. It did bother him a lot, and he did try hard to avoid it. Sometimes. "But, Dad, really. Outta all my friends, I get the highest grades by far! And I get sent out less frequently. It's never for anything too serious. My behavior isn't out of line. I do try. They like me, even when I'm distracting." Yes. The daydreamer, the one who couldn't keep his eyes away from the window, did in fact abuse his powers to amuse his classmates on a regular basis. Actually, he was a bit of a bully in that regard, making it rain on fellow students. But otherwise he was harmless. Sort of. Most of the time (especially in history or English) his teachers didn't notice the change in the weather, or if they did, they couldn't pin it on Niko.

"Really. It's just because I'm your kid, and they don't want me to feel too special, though obviously I am. And that whole, 'everyone knows your name 'cause you came here when you were nine' fame thing kinda puts them off their game, as if I weren't enough of a handful on my own. Really, they should be blaming you and James. James for letting me come so young, and you both for adopting me and helping me develop all this confidence."Niko was grinning now, amusing himself with his comment. And he truly believed it, too! Now new people didn't scare him, and he could take on the world. James and Chase's fault entirely."I'll graduate just fine. I promise. But, I'll try to." The conversation went from salvageable bad, to worse.

"Really! Please? No, Dad, I did not hang out with the usual crowd today. I spent the day with Katie. That's all. No trouble at all. That does not make her my girlfriend."Niko offered, his tone rushed as if that would somehow help in the situation he was getting himself into. His definition of 'trouble' may have to be redefined. And, him saying that didn't make her his girlfriend may have been true, but what they spent their time doing pretty much did. At any rate, Katie. The girl he liked. Though he didn't provide a last name, Chase may know her well because Niko did spend a fair bit of time with her (though usually surrounded by familiar buddies, giving the impression that she was just one of the gang.). She was considerably more daring than Niko, the kind of girl who was impulsive and unapologetic. What made her most appealing was the fact that she had a way of loosening Niko up.

In return, Niko had a way of keeping her from pushing people too far. That wasn't easy, because Katie had the ability to control a particular gas- helium. Most knew that if inhaled it'd make the person talk funny. That in itself made the power far better than most. It was also a cooling agent, but Katie and Niko both preferred it's first use, especially since she didn't have to be touching someone for it to work. It amused the hell outta Niko to hear his teachers talk in a helium-induced tone, probably more than it should have. Katie knew it was dangerous, as it kept the oxygen from getting to the person's brain, but in moderation she was quite daring. Fortunately for Chase, Niko's only crime was sitting next to her and cracking up with the rest of the class. There was no reason to believe he suggested she do it. Or at least that was the case for now.

[Chase Campbell]

Niko’s apology sounded sincere, otherwise Chase would have picked on him for it. Instead, he just copped a grin. “I know you are.” Really, he was the same way in his Hammel days. Easily distractible. “I know, kiddo. I think I just hear about it more than your friends’ parents do because I’m around, right? You’re a good kid.” He smiled fondly at the teenager. He could still remember doing this when Niko was a lot younger. Back when just about everything he said would be met with curiosity from the kid. Now, he was lucky if his son listened when he asked him to clean his room, or do his homework. And his “cool” training stories? Not so cool anymore, apparently.

Oh, he wasn’t turning this on his parents. No way. Chase turned away from the counter to face Niko, his arms across his chest and one eyebrow arched. “Hey. You come to school when your powers manifest. It doesn’t matter if you’re six or sixteen.” He was exaggerating a little there, and he knew it. But it would get his point across. “So don’t try pinning that one on your dad.” As for the confidence, well, yes, it was nice to see Nikki being able to interact freely with his peers and teachers, without that shy shield up anymore. “Yeah, well, confidence is a good thing. In moderation.” He shook his head. “Just be good.”

Of course, watching Niko squirm like this was a surprising amount of fun. Now Chase knew how his mother had felt, all those years ago, as she drilled him on the same thing. Of course, if he really did have to talk to Niko, at least he could make it a little less painful than his own mother had. (Much as he’d tried to block it out, he remembered being dragged to the drug store and stood in front of the condoms while being given the talk. Yeah. He wouldn’t be as cruel to Niko.) The more Niko talked, the deeper his hole was getting. The rushed tone, the denial that Katie (a name he’d heard Niko mention several times before) was his girlfriend, Chase just grinned. The brownie batter sat forgotten on the counter, because this was so much more fun. “Yes, really. So what did you and your not-girlfriend do today, then?” Really, he was just aiming to bug the kid. He was pretty sure he knew which Katie the teenager was referring to. He knew most of Niko’s friends. It was hard not to in a school like Hammel. She was no more disruptive than most of the teenagers in the school, but he’d never really had suspicions that she and Niko were more than friends. Now... well, yeah. There was something there. And he was going to get it out of Niko.

[Nikolai Campbell]

Niko knew the battle was lost so he just raised his hands in surrender. There really was no way to argue with Chase, not that he could see, and he was just getting himself into trouble now, especially by dragging James into this when he knew better than most students, just how unfair it was to blame the head recruiter.

"Okay, okay dad. You're right. I'll be good."Niko agreed. On the other hand, coming to Hammel and meeting Chase was one of the single greatest moments of his life, up until they took him in to be fostered, and up until the adoption became final. So, whether he was nine, or sixteen, his powers and James' influence in getting him to the school, truly changed his life for the better. As much as he hated to 'lose', Niko was glad he was wrong.

Niko was not nearly as amused as Chase was. When Chase asked what they'd done, Niko was quick to seal his lips, biting at the inside of his top lip to ensure nothing slipped out without his knowledge. Lying to Chase was never okay, but telling him was a daunting task. So, for now he stood, his hands firmly against the counter top, his eyes anywhere but Chase. But he had to say something. Silence was incriminating, too, wasn't it? After the pause, he decided he'd give him an answer.

"Chase. I honestly do not want to go into that."Niko responded. Yet, he didn't give any pause between that and his next statement, so if Chase would have let him off the hook, Niko didn't acknowledge the possibility. "I mean, come on, please? I like her. Really. I do. And besides. We already established that I'm sixteen, and that you had a girlfriend at sixteen. Surely you're not surprised. I mean- not that this sort of thing is just a careless teen act, or something just anyone could do, or anything. Because I don't think it is. Obviously that means you might not have. But, I'm not ending the world, either. It's not a capital offense! And you shouldn't act like it is. Really. It's just sex, Chase!" Niko hadn't expected to repeat the part about Chase being sixteen, especially since Chase had just told him it was so, but it seemed like it'd help his case. He also hadn't expected to actually use the word sex, and when he realized he had, his eyes widened in surprise and his hand went to his mouth, as if to physically retract the words.

If his hand couldn't retract the words, at least it could keep more details from coming out. If he could have disappeared he would have. As it was, he couldn't bring himself to duck behind the counter, though it was seeming like the perfect solution to his problems at the moment. Instead, he stood there, one hand still against the counter, the other against his lips, his face red by now, and his expression one of surprise and alarm. This was not a conversation he wanted to have with his dad. Sex in general was kept off the list of appropriate topics in Niko's mind, out of both respect and personal preference. Well, sort of. They were still Hammel staff. So, his own sex life, and the lives of his father's was kept off the topic list. Niko wasn't opposed to sexual conversations otherwise. Unfortunately, this conversation had become a confession, and Niko didn't like it.

[Chase Campbell]

It wasn’t just the head recruiter Niko was blaming with that sentiment, it was his father. Well, one of them, anyway. And he wasn’t going to get away with it.

At least he was agreeing now. He’d try to be good. “I’m gonna hold you to that, Nikki.” They’d see just how long that agreement actually lasted. If James was home, Chase would have attempted to take up a little wager with him. Really, he didn’t think that Niko could stick to behaving for more than a week. If behaving encompassed paying attention in class, and not using his powers on his fellow students. (Yes, Chase knew it was Niko. He was the only current weather manipulator that had control enough to do what he saw and heard about during the day.)

The silence was answer enough. Whatever Niko had gotten up to, he obviously didn’t want to share. At least not with his father. He wasn’t sure what to think. Two things came to mind. Sex, and drugs or alcohol. The two things a teenager was most likely to dabble in. At the moment, he wasn’t sure which he’d really rather. In fact, he was hoping more for something along the lines of ‘skipping classes.’ That, he could handle by himself.

And then Niko started talking. He would have interjected, but the teenager didn’t give him a chance. So he just closed his mouth and arched an eyebrow as he listened to… what, exactly? It sounded more like a very drawn out confession. But the end made him draw in a long, deep breath.

Shit.

“Nikolai…” It was very, very rare that Chase used Niko’s full name. It was normally Niko or Nikki or Kiddo. But he felt this warranted full name usage. “You had sex. With Katie.” Dear God, he did not want to do this. Not in the slightest. “… Please tell me you were smart enough to use… y’know. Protection.” Did he sound that slightest bit awkward? Why yes, yes he did. If Niko felt like disappearing right now, Chase was in no better of a position. “You know what? Come here.” He pointed to the living room. “I know you don’t wanna do this, and neither do I, but we’re gonna. Sit.” James was probably going to kill himself laughing when he heard about this. But right now, Chase had had to concentrate. This was not going to be fun.

[Nikolai Campbell]

Nikolai. That was not good. Niko even winced in response. Of course Chase wasn't impressed, but that didn't mean Nikolai was prepared for it. Niko drew his arms up, crossing them over his chest defensively, one hand rubbing at his arm nervously. He cast his gaze away from Chase, trying to keep himself calm. It was useless, of course. Then, Chase said it aloud. A direct conviction. Niko wasn't supposed to feel ashamed about this! What, did Chase expect him to ask his permission first? Niko had to fight back the defensive anger. Getting mad would just make Chase mad, and, well, Niko couldn't stand the idea of Chase being mad right now. The next question was yet another reason he could have yelled at Chase, could have put up a fight. Niko refrained, turning his gaze to Chase again and nodding before he verbally affirmed it.

"Y-yeahh, we were- I mean, we did. . ."Niko mumbled. Niko was all for families, all for that bond, but he knew how it felt to go without parents, and he would never put anyone else through that if he could help it. He'd be married long before he got a girl pregnant (or, at least that was what he told himself.) but he wasn't going to tell Chase that. It seemed almost irrelevant to the situation, considering the fact that he just admitted to having sex in the first place. Justification was just grounds for an argument.

There was no point saying no to Chase. Chase could make him, and just knowing that, Niko obeyed (although he seemed to drag his feet, trying to stall). He dropped his arms to his side, only to avoid giving Chase the wrong impression (he wasn't folding his arms to pout or seem defiant, and he hoped Chase wouldn't see it that way), his gaze never meeting Chase as he walked toward the living room. Niko was far more worried about what Chase was thinking, and whether or not he was disappointed. Niko could only assume he was, and that bothered Niko far more than an awkward conversation could. Oddly, Niko wanted sympathy in that moment. He wanted Chase to tell him it was okay, that the sudden shame he felt was misplaced, that the guilt was not necessary. But, he was beginning to wonder if he really should have had a discussion with Chase or James before he'd done anything. Was that the right move, the respectful one? He wasn't honestly sure there was a right answer. He obeyed again, when told to sit. Once on the couch, he clasped his hands loosely and kept his gaze on them, as though they were the most interesting thing in the room.

"Chase- I do get it. You really don't have to- we don't have to talk about this. I already slept with her, it's kind of pointless now,"Niko attempted, his tone mumbling, his gaze not lifting. He wanted to get away from Chase about now, and that wasn't about to happen if Chase intended on lecturing him.

[Chase Campbell]

The wince made Chase feel bad, but only just. Now he knew how his parents really felt. At least Niko had some clean himself, rather than have his parents digging around behind his back. Really, he should have come to expect this. For the most part, Niko was a good kid. But he was a still a sixteen year old boy. He really couldn’t expect much less. But if Niko was doing that, then he seriously did need ‘the talk’ and Chase was still not thrilled with the idea of giving it to him. Though he was positive he could make this less painful than his own mother’s rendition of it. But that didn’t mean that Niko was getting off so easily. The defiant look only served to make Chase look that slightest bit sterner.

The mumbles were difficult to decipher, but Chase managed. It didn’t help Niko’s case, though. “Obviously.” He’d gotten that much from the kid. Really, considering he’d been roughly the same age as Niko his first time, now he was older, it just seemed too young. Maybe it was just because Niko was his son, or maybe it was the fact he was too far on the other side of sixteen. Either way, sixteen just seemed much, much too young.

Though he hated using his power against his family, if Niko was going to be a defiant little brat about this, he could, and would. For the most part, Niko had never really given him a reason to use it against him. He was fairly well behaved. At the very least, he moved of his own free will. Chase watched his progress, albeit slow, and trailed after him. He wasn’t so much disappointed, or even upset with Niko. He could hardly fault the kid. He’d been so inclined at the same age. It was only to be expected. Really, all he was trying to do was the responsible thing, here. This was not going to go well. He already knew that. He didn’t think he could make it though seriously. It was just his way. This was where James would excel. Granted, he was the poster boy for what could happen if you weren’t careful. Chase had no such stories himself. At least Niko sat down. Chase sat down beside him, but far enough away that Niko still had his space.

“Yeah, well, too bad. We’re gonna talk about it.” He really didn’t care if Niko looked at him or not. “First of all, Dr. Neville’s gonna be doing one of his sex ed lectures coming up. And you’re going.” He wasn’t trying to punish him, honestly. It was just a good idea. “And second, you’re gonna talk to me.” No, he did not want intimate details. He just wanted to make sure that Niko knew what he was doing. “You’re only sixteen, Nikki.” He sighed. “How serious is this thing with Katie?” Might as well get the basics down first.