Finished with his food, he just slid the plate back and crossed his arms now over the table. Cocking an eye brow at the question, Kaelan had to think about all that happened since that day he’d been struck down with lightning. Back when he thought he was bisexual and striving to do something productive at work. From then on it had been a whirlwind. Between three failed relationships, too much drama to stomach, and too many bruises to remember or recount, he just said. “I think that everything has turned out better than we could have imagined.”
He shrugged, “I’m sure there’s still things we need to work on…but considering how much of an asshole I was and the messes I made, I’m kind of happy that I’ve downgraded from asshole to idiot and that the only time I screw anything up is in the privacy of my lab instead of. You know. Ruining relationships or being framed as some sort of suspect.”
Kaelan had to smile, “For me, things have turned out alright…and for you, well. You seem to be doing pretty well. Like I said, though. There’s things to work on. Nothing’s perfect. Besides, it’d be pointless to live if everything was just as we wanted it. The whole point of living is to strive for something better. At least I think so.”
Eli decided that it probably wasn’t something he should have asked his ex, but the question just sort of…slipped out. Perhaps he was over thinking it anyway. Kaelan wasn’t just his ex after all. Considering what they’ve been through, he was much more than that.
“Yeah,” Eli agreed with a sigh. “You’re right.” He definitely was happy and didn’t really want anything more. Well maybe he did, a little bit, but it’s not like he needed it to happen.
“Yeah I can see how I’d be wrong,” Kaelan murmured with a gentle scrunch of his nose until he just grinned. Watching Eli eat for a moment, he also enjoyed how he made him hold back laughter or grin. He hadn’t seen much of his supposed friends lately. Having only time between family and work while also trying to avoid his crazy mother, he sort of hated that about himself. That he didn’t reach out as much to the people he supposedly cared about. Then again, those people…
never mind.
“Well good. I’ve always learned that sometimes when you set up big plans they all tend to come tumbling down within moments of making them. Life is funny like that, and fluid.”
“Yeah, funny,” Eli replied a little dryly. A lot of his plans did tumble down and while he just accepted and got over most of them, there was still one little thing that he kept hidden in his apartment. He didn’t know what to do with it really because he wasn’t sure if it was even going to be used for its purpose at all.
After he finished one half of his sandwich he leaned back and pressed his lips into a thin line. “Do you think things turned out for the best?” he asked.
Admittedly he was relieved when Kaelan understood what it was he meant. Eli nodded slowly in understanding. He supposed that it really wasn’t too much for Kaelan. For himself however, it sure as hell would be too much. Their lives went in strange directions, that much he knew. “Yeah, sorry. Apparently I’m not any less concerned,” he said with an amused scoff. “Annoying habit.”
He took his arms off of the table when the waitress brought him his order. Eli thanked her, before he looked at Kaelan again and smiled.
“Thanks, so do you,” he replied.
Grinning, the teleporter just shook his head, “Focus all of it on your crazy boyfriend or something. I’m sure he’d appreciate the attention.” Shrugging his brows, he continued to shove the salad down, chewing as quietly as possible and thinking about what he had to do before he focused back in on Eli himself. “I always look good, have you seen my face?” He winked and finished his coffee just to take the water that was given and sip a little.
“So, any big future plans? Buying a house, promotion, trips? Any juicy gossip,” He teased.
“You’d be wrong,” Eli responded. Russell’s always annoyed with him for being worried. He looked down as he started eating his sandwich, and wondered just how much will change in the next two years. And will it be for the better or for the worst? He should stop thinking about it anyway; thinking about the future stressed him out.
Speaking of which, Eli had to hold back a laugh when Kaelan asked him that. “No, definitely not. I’m just…going with the flow.”
Eli’s response made it click and softly Kaelan went, “Oh.” He nibbled at a bit of carrot, lowering his gaze, he sighed. “No, it’s not too much. The past two years have sort of made me tough, had me buck up and realize that I can deal with a lot of shit.” Propping his chin up on his palm, he rolled his eyes, “People tell me to slow down or to lighten the load but I get eight hours of sleep and I eat right. I take care of myself. I have a day off sometimes. But I love working and I love using what I have for good.”
Tracing the edge of his mug, he sighed, “If I just sat around and let it go to waste, I’d feel pretty…well I just wouldn’t feel as good as I do now. But there’s no need to worry alright? Besides, you’ve got your own things to deal with. Don’t let mine drag you down.”
The waitress came over with Eli’s order and fluttered off to get Kaelan a water when he asked for it.
“It’s good to know you’re well though. You look good.”
Admittedly he was relieved when Kaelan understood what it was he meant. Eli nodded slowly in understanding. He supposed that it really wasn’t too much for Kaelan. For himself however, it sure as hell would be too much. Their lives went in strange directions, that much he knew. “Yeah, sorry. Apparently I’m not any less concerned,” he said with an amused scoff. “Annoying habit.”
He took his arms off of the table when the waitress brought him his order. Eli thanked her, before he looked at Kaelan again and smiled.
“Thanks, so do you,” he replied.
Lifting his head up a little, Kaelan squinted right back, blue against blue, he almost envisioned a spark like in those shows his aunt’s grandson would watch where the rivals would meet eyes and suddenly it was a duel. Or a fight. Or a make out session. He really needed to tell his aunt to watch out for that kid, too much tv could mess up a person’s mind. He would know.
“Too much? It’s not like I’m making a huge tower full of lights or buying a mansion to honor my glory. I’m doing what I love. I’m creating new things with technology, I’m growing, I can even use some of the tech I have to help with particularly big fights or. Stretching my powers if worse comes to worse.” Kaelan furrowed his brows as he sipped his coffee again, “I’m not trying to become some comic book character. I’m helping…when people need me. But I’m also expanding on what I love to do. People wouldn’t hire me, so I hired myself. Made something with what I have.”
Lowering his mug, he said, “And besides even if I did become Bruce Wayne, I don’t see that being a terrible thing. The guy’s amazing.”
Frowning, Eli shook his head at the way Kaelan responded. “That’s not what I meant. I didn’t mean you were doing too much, going overboard and all that. It’s not what I meant at all. I just thought…mm, never mind. It’s not important.” Honestly he was probably one of the few people with a power that were trying to live a normal life. As normal as possible, anyway. Every now and then he had to tend to Russell’s injuries from a not-so-normal lifestyle.
Eli came close to screwing his life up for good. He doesn’t want to see anyone else go through that.
Lifting a shoulder, Kaelan waved his fork with some thought, “I have been working on producing my own personal spotlight. Sort of like the batman one, you know? Just not sure how to make the symbol. My assistant suggested Star Trek jokingly but I almost agreed. She had to talk me out of it. That was a sad day.” Eating a bit more, he waved the waitress over so that Eli could order and looked back up.
“Good. I’m glad. I’m fine. Just working all the time really. Between White Noise Industries getting big and you know, saving people, it’s been good. Been keeping me on my toes for the most part.”
Kaelan was definitely pleased with his life. Perhaps not fully content but even while he had longings and dreams he had no complaints. Not really.
Eli snorted softly in amusement. “Oh, you have my sympathy.” When the waitress came over he smiled up at her and ordered a BLT. After she left, he folded his arms on the surface of the table and looked at Kaelan again.
“Well you’re becoming a big deal, huh?” he teased. “As one of the little people I feel so humbled that you’d still allow me to be seen with you.” Unable to help himself he just laughed and shook his head. “Seriously, though. Is that…the plan? Bruce Wayne by day, Batman by night? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not judging. But it seems like…” Eli squinted. “Too much.”
idk if i want her to have a power
but if yes then i’d probably go with force fields
hmmm
“Oh please,” Kaelan rolled his eyes, “That guy’s all show and mess.” Grinning he went on, “And besides, we’re not even on the same spectrum. I was during your ‘high class and adventurous’ phase, obviously.” Drizzling the rest of his dressing over his salad just to take up a space of silence, he then shoved some of the greenery into his mouth and arched a brow.
Chewing quickly, he smirked, “I could always use a sidekick. That way you can up the illumination on my spotlight. Make me look good. You know.”
Shaking his head, he sighed, “How have you been, haven’t spoken to you in a few months. Keeping busy and healthy?”
Eli has never actually seen Russell “in action” (he plans to keep it that way), but he had a feeling that he was more than that. Russell can get…intense and precise when the occasion calls for it. Eli didn’t voice his thoughts though because he knew that Kaelan was mostly kidding anyway. He’s definitely gotten better with knowing the difference.
“In your dreams,” he retorted. “Besides I’m pretty sure you don’t need any help with that.”
Smiling faintly, he shrugged. “Yeah, actually. I’ve been working out, eating better, and I got a job at the library. What about you?”
Kaelan smiled when he heard the music of the police wailing past him and just happily sipped at his bitter cup o’joe. The waitress was kind enough to bring him his salad a few moments later and just as he was about to spear his fork through a slab of iceburg lettuce his ear was flicked. “What the hell,” Kaelan exclaimed a moment later and slapped a hand over the tender spot.
Pouting back at Eli, he replied, “Whose else would it be? Only I can make something so classy and together. Neat. Perfect. Productive.” Grinning, he lowered his hand and waved towards the opposite end of the table where the chair was. “Would you like to join me? Or is it your nightly duty now to harass people by flicking their ear?”
Rolling his eyes, the man shook his head. “Well sometimes I have to flip a coin to decide if it’s you or Russ. That must mean I have a type, I suppose,” Eli replied. His expression turned thoughtful at the invitation before he sat down across from Kaelan.
“I feel a bit out of the loop. Maybe I should risk my life too,” he teased lightly. “But I wouldn’t want to steal the spotlight.”
