acontritemess | Reunion;

Reunion;

[That meeting had been annoying, awkward, and left Nathan with a bitter taste in his mouth. The last time he'd joined the lot of them in battle, he'd nearly killed them all, himself included. Now they wanted him to join a concerted effort to assault one of their adversary's weapons depots.

It felt really weird calling them "adversaries", but that's what Natalia insisted on calling them, and who was he exactly to argue with a centuries-old vampire? He couldn't help but smile at that thought. Tony'd hate him for it. "Does that make me an exception, Nathaniel?" He could hear it already. The little meeting they'd had after the main one was boring, and he let Cairn do the majority of the talking.

He was actually finding himself a little exhausted from all the meeting he'd been doing. A year was a long time to be in seclusion and contemplative meditation with only one other person for company and he could already tell it was going to take some to to acclimate to being around people again. There was actually only one person he wanted to talk to at the moment. He hadn't seen her for over a year, and she looked so...different now. Not anything too noticeable, just subtle differences. She held her shoulders straighter, made eye contact. She was more confident, that was it, and it was hot.

Adorable, but hot. Like she'd always been, like he'd remembered her to be. Finally he was dismissed for the night to go back to the rooms they'd prepared for him, and he didn't waste any time getting out of there.

What he wasn't planning on was stumbling upon Luther the Egotistical Prick and Airy in the hall. She didn't look happy to be there and Nathan's eyes immediate narrowed.]

I'm not interrupting anything, am I? [His voice was even, controlled. He didn't like what he was seeing, but the past year had taught him that much at least. How to control his anger, at least to an extent.]

[Luther responds to his question, but doesn't even give Nathan the respect of turning to look at him when he does.] As a matter of fact you are.

[Nathan's tone darkens slightly.] I wasn't asking you.

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[As if on cue, Nathan's stomach growls. It's not that he really knows Gus is essentially in charge of the food. His stomach just chose that moment you announce he'd been ignoring it.]

Heh, yeah. I guess we should. I...need to thank him, anyway.

Why thank him?

[Airy asks as she slips from her bed and waits for Nathan to follow. It isn't a short walk to the dinning area but they at least don't have to worry about running into anyone weird.]

He...found you. [He stands, running a hand through his hair to even it out.]

...when you were taken, he was the one who tracked you. I never got a chance to thank him.

Oh...

[Airy knew that of course but it sounds weird coming from Nathan. She shifts a little awkwardly before stepping towards the door. She smiles at Nathan, her expression warmer than before.]

Then let's go say thank you.

[Airy doesn't know what she'd do without Gus.]

[Nathan nods, completely in agreement.]

Lead the way. You're the one with the map in your head. I'm still the new guy.

[Airy laughs softly.]

You know, I still get lost around here sometimes.

[Once they are out of the room she closes the door behind her. Not that it will keep anyone out but it makes her feel safer. Seth had set up an alarm around her room in case someone ever does force entry into it. She waves at Nathan to follow before grinning at the thought of food.

Gus will probably be peeved that Airy is late to breakfast, except that Nathan's back so she has a good excuse this time.]

Gus will probably make a lot of food to welcome you back.

Gus makes food? [That was news to him. He follows dutifully at her side.] I bet you get lost less than I would.

[Airy laughs softly and then shakes her head.]

Probably, when I get lost I just wait for Antonio or Lu- [She cuts herself off.] Someone to find me. [She has no idea why she feels so awkward about bringing up Luther. Yeah, he's a jerk but he isn't all that bad or he wasn't. Airy isn't really sure of her opinion on him anymore. It isn't a great opinion but it isn't awful either.]

Oh! We're close.

[She walks a little faster as the smell of food fills the hallway. Since they are late the cafeteria is full of others who call this hideout their home. Everyone turns to stare at both Airy and Nathan as they walk in.

Airy ignores them spotting Gus's gaze and waving.]

[Gus waves in return, his worry over her lateness evaporating as he sees who she's with. He waves the two of them over, motioning for them to take a seat at the bar.]

You two must be starving. Get over here.

[Nathan smiles at Gus. He hasn't seen him in over a year, except at the meeting, where he didn't actually say anything. The feeling he was having currently was weird, too. It was like transferring to a new school. All these groups of people knew each other and he was the outsider. He followed Airy dutifully, though, at Gus' command.]

Morning. [He said as he got within earshot.] It smells amazing in here.

[Gus chuckled.] It damn well better.

[Airy's smile brightens when she takes a seat at the bar next to Nathan. Her elbows rest on the counter and she leans forward as if to see what Gus is hiding in the kitchen.]

Got anything really good this morning?

[She'd say all of Gus's food is amazing but she isn't that much of a suck up. Her gaze looks over at Nathan as if to fill in the blank she hadn't mentioned before.]

Gus is in charge of the kitchen.

Don't you know by now, kiddo? My food's always good.

[Gus looks over to Nathan, a slight smirk on his face.]

At least you only forgot about me for a year this time, kid.

[Nathan laughs.] Yeah, but I didn't exactly want to go this time.

[Gus shook his head at that, looking over to Airy.] And now he's making up excuses. You really gonna put up with this guy?

[Airy's smile falters slightly and she has to stop herself from getting flustered.]

No one else will.

[She laughs looking over at Nathan and then holding up her palms as if in defense.]

I'm just kidding.

[Gus laughs, seeming to be pretty satisfied with that answer.] He really much of a pain in the ass? Who am I kidding? I knew that already.

Hey! [Nathan laughed too, looking between the two of them.] I'm right here, you know!

[Gus, still laughing, crossed his arms.] So, what am I feeding you?

Uh... [Nathan was noticing a distinct lack of menus.] ...omelette? Hashbrowns? [Gus nods, and looks to Airy.] What about you, kiddo?

[Airy's grin widens a little bit and her gaze flicks over to Nathan for a quick second before landing back on Gus.]

Bacon, fried potatoes and over medium eggs.

[She likes breakfast and no longer has to go into detail about how she likes things cooked.]

Oh, and a coke.

[Soda is totally a breakfast drink and she ran out of coffee.]

[Gus started about making her food even before she finished her order. He knew if she wanted bacon it needed longer on the grill than a normal order of bacon needed. He nodded when she'd finished.

He slid her a glass for her soda, smirking at her momentarily. She could get her own coke. He also set about scattering some shreded potatoes across the grill for Nathan.]

Coffee for you? [Gus looked to Nathan, who nodded.]

[Nathan's eyebrows rose, watching him.]

So...you look like you've done this before.

[Gus chuckles.]

I used to own a diner.

Wait...seriously? [And Gus' chuckle ended, but his smile didn't.] No, I just made that up.

[Nathan chuckled a little self-consciously, feeling even more like he was an outsider around here. He swallowed, now that he was here, uncertain of how to approach the subject. Maybe being direct was the best way to go.]

Gus...I never got a chance to thank you. [Gus' smile faltered and he looked over to the young man.] Thank me for what? [Gus, honestly, isn't used to being thanked around here for anything from anyone...except Airy, but that's a different situation.]

For...leading us to them. You were able to track them down. It was risky, considering who was involved. You didn't owe us anything, but you did it any-

[Gus waves a hand, cutting Nathan off.] Cut it out, kid. You're...welcome, or whatever.

Edited 2016-02-16 15:29 (UTC)

[She gives Gus a look but raises from the seat to grab a coke. Hearing Nathan and Gus talk however made her pause and look back at the pair.

Airy watches the exchange with interest. First, she’s the only one that she knows who is usually so nice to Gus. Even those like Rachel treat him a little bit differently; more like hired help than a guy who’s as amazing as Gus is. She doesn’t like it but Gus assures her that it’s just how things are and that some people just don’t get it.

It’s hard to argue with Gus about things concerning him, so she just silently thinks it’s stupid and doesn’t bother talking about it with anyone. Seeing Nathan talk to Gus now is perhaps more awesome because of that.]

Are you blushing?

[Airy is smiling at Gus while Nathan offers his awkward thank you’s. The empty glass is still in her hand as she steps back up to the counter. He’s totally blushing.]

Your soda's not going to get itself, Airy. [Which just meant that Gus was blushing and didn't want to talk about it.

Nathan can at least tell he's made Gus uncomfortable, so instead of commenting further, he just moves on.]

So, are you always in charge of food around here? [Gus nods.] Pretty much. We've all got a job around here.

[Nathan smirks.] Does that mean they're going to put me on the payroll?

[Gus chuckles.] If you want to earn your keep, I'm not gonna stop you, but that's above my pay grade, kid.

[Nathan frowned slightly, a little confused, realizing that Gus made a point whether he realized it or not. No one had mentioned anything about his doing anything aside from fighting when they needed him to.]

[Airy goes and fills up her glass with the dark unhealthy liquid. Before turning back she swipes a straw from the container and moves to sit back at the counter. She catches the tail end of Gus's and Nathan's conversation and decided to add her two cents.]

I help out with Gus sometimes. [When they let her.]

It's a lot of fun.

[He looks over to her, smiling as she has a seat, but he raises an eyebrow at her claim.]

You...like working at a diner?

[Gus narrows his eyes at Nathan, but there's enough mirth in his eyes to make it obvious he's teasing.] What? You got a problem with people liking to cook for other people?

...Uh, no, Gus, that's not what I meant...

[Gus smirks.] Then what did you mean?

[Nathan shook his head, taking a sip of the coffee Gus has brought him.] I don't think I get to win this one.

[And Gus laughs.] At least he's a smart one, kiddo.

[Airy looks away at Nathan's question. He probably means nothing by it but considering the number of times that she's gotten comments from Luther about working with Gus, she just doesn't like it. She looks back towards her coke and takes a long drink as if that's what she had meant to do in the first place.

Gus, as always, manages to lighten the mood with a well timed jab. Airy however is mid-sip and she snorts, coke pulling up her nose in the process. She pulls away from her drink, her fingers covering her smile.]

Gus!

[She pulls a napkin over her nose and face.]

You never let up do you?

[Airy's going to start counting the number of times he makes fun of Nathan. She can tell it's all in fun, he missed Nathan too but she can't stop herself from laughing which just seems mean.]

[Gus continues his cooking of their food, shaking his head as though deeply confused.]

Let up? What's what mean?

[Nathan couldn't help but laugh himself, shaking his head. It was nice...being around people again, and it almost didn't even matter who they were.]

...I missed you, Gus.

[Gus laughs.] Really? With Cairn's winning personality, how'd you even notice I wasn't around?

[Nathan can't help but laugh at that one.] Gus...sticks in the mud tell Cairn to loosen up.

[And it was Gus' turn to lose it. He's still chuckling as he responds.] I'm gonna tell him you said that.

[Smells fill Airy's nose and almost completely grab her attention. It's hard to focus when she can smell her impending breakfast though now she wishes she asked for sausage and bacon.]

I'd really like to meet Cairn.

[She quickly begins to explain the statement even though neither of them asked her too.]

I just mean... he's technically the first person I met here when... [She looks over at Nathan and wonders if anyone told him what happened to her.] Not that he told me anything other than 'I'm here to help' [Airy deepens her voice and tries to sound as male as possible.] And then introduced Seth before... leaving.

[She knows what he's like but she'd like to at least say hello.]

I'm also pretty sure that Cairn knows he's no fun. [She takes a sip of her coke.] It's just the impression I got.

Some people never want to be any fun. [She can name a few.]

The old man's not so bad. [Nathan sort of skirts around the idea that Cairn met her first, while she was unconscious. He was a healer, after all, nothing on the scale of his grand daughter, but he could hold his own.] And I think he think he's not allowed to have fun.

[He shrugs.] He never got my jokes, anyway.

[Gus chuckles, but looks between the two of them.] He didn't like the idea of leaving, not after everything we'd learned. Knowing him, he probably took it out on you.

[Airy's gaze is pulled back to Gus, her bright green eyes studying him intently.]

Why did they have to leave then? No one has ever given me a good answer to that question.

[Sure Nathan had the power to blow a bunch of people up but they could have trained closer to home... at least so that Airy hadn't had to live a year without Nathan around, or even a place with cell service to call him.]

Maybe you should ask him. [He points to Nathan.]

[Promptly looks up at Gus with a look that clearly says "don't put me on the spot or anything.]

It took me a while to get it, too, but...I did, finally. It takes a lot of focus to do what I do, and...control more than that. I needed a place with no distractions, and a place I could...feel the power around me. New York's too...I mean, I can feel it if I look for it, but I didn't know how to then.

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