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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[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.

[Airy's gaze moves over towards Nathan, those almost piercing emerald orbs watching him.]

This place is a distraction? But it's your home?

[He shakes his head.] All the people in it are distracting...if that makes sense. That and...construction and development mutes the flow of energy? I sound like a hippy, but it's true.

Oh...

[Somehow that answer isn't what she's expecting and she doesn't really like it. Airy turns back to her soda feeling a little deflated. She looks over at Gus curiously, trying not to let her disappointment show.]

Is breakfast ready yet?

[Gus knows her well enough to know something's bothering her, but he's not about to ask around Nathan. He'll wait. Instead, he just nods, plating for both of them.]

Right on time, kiddo. Here you go.

[He looks to Nathan, too, and for some reason the expression he gives the druid makes him a little anxious. Was Gus disappointed in him or something. It was a look he'd gotten from his dad a lot and he could recognize it a mile away.]

Uh, thanks, Gus.

[Gus nodded.]

Anytime.

Edited 2016-02-23 07:29 (UTC)

[Airy smiles as the fumes of her breakfast fill her nose. She doesn't wait however she mumbles a quick thank you before digging in. She cuts everything up first before taking small bites on her fork. After a moment she glances over at Nathan.]

So, what do you think?

[She assumes this is the first time he's really had Gus cook. Personally she likes it but then Gus has had a year to figure out how she likes her meals prepared as well as a lot of conversations about breakfast.]

I don't really eat out anymore because I'm pretty sure Gus can make anything.

[Except she'll sometimes order dumplings or pizza.]

[But that point, Gus has moved off to cleaning up from other peoples' meals, but with ears like his, he doesn't have to be too close to hear her comment, and he chuckles slightly, shaking his head.

Nathan, meanwhile, was fully engrossed in his plate. It's better than anything he's had in the last year...mostly because he's cooked almost all of it.]

...I don't blame you. This is the best food I've had in the last year.

[Airy's eaten Nathan's breakfast and he's an okay cook. She eyes him curiously, the fork heading towards her lips paused in mid air.]

Did you cook for yourself then?

[Cooing over a fire can be tough, except she's used to camping with her family.]

Did you at least get to sleep in a tent? Or with a sleeping bag?

[Nathan laughed, partially because the idea of eating Cairn's food was laughable, and partially because Airy's adorable when she's eating.]

Trust me, no one wants to live off Cairn's food, so yeah. I cooked myself, for both of us.

[He shakes his head, then pauses.] No...well, sometimes, but most of the time I slept in a bed in a cabin with no power.

[Airy smiles and then remembers she was still eating and quickly takes a few more bites before looking back at Nathan. She picks up a piece of bacon between her fingertips and spins slowly in the air.]

A Cabin doesn't sound too bad. It'd keep the wind away.

[She looks back towards Gus, then her bacon and then takes a bite before looking over towards Nathan.]

I've been learning to cook better too.

[Mostly due to Gus's amazing teachings.]

[He shrugs, continuing to eat, himself.]

I guess? I mean, the trees do a pretty good job of that by themselves.

[He smiles, though, looking over to her.]

It's not to be back, though. [With you, here, and stuff.] You know, civilization.

[His smile makes her pause and smile in return. She doesn't think she has the voice to say how much she really missed him. Each day he's crawled his way into her thoughts at least once. She feels a strange pang in her chest but ignores it as she looks back towards her breakfast.]

Civilization is nice.

[She wishes she had something better to tell him but instead she finds herself finishing her eggs, then bacon and then potatoes. When she's finished she places her silverware on the plate.]

I'll be right back.

[Airy smiles before getting up and moving her plate over to the area set up for dishes. Her coke glass remains with the intention of filling it and sipping it while Nathan finishes his food.]

[Nathan frowns momentarily, wondering if he'd said something to hurt her feelings. He hoped not. There hadn't been a day that went by while Nathan was away that he hadn't thought of her, of how he'd never even gotten to say goodbye, and wondering how a girl he'd only known for a moment could have become so important to him so quickly.

Even after a year, he hadn't been able to really figure it out. Cairn hadn't help, keeping him busy focusing on one task or another. Part of Nathan even though that, maybe, he was doing it to him on purpose because of Airy, but most of the time he wasn't so sure about that.

He watched her run off, only to realize all she was doing was putting her dishes away before coming back. He'd nearly finished his own meal also, savoring it rather than wolfing it down like some people.]

Welcome back. [He smiles.]

[Airy feels an involuntary smile slip over her lips. Her head tilts to the side spilling dark brown waves over her shoulder.]

Did you miss me?

[Her tone is light and teasing as she takes her seat once more. Seeing that he's almost done with his food she doesn't bother to take the time to fill up her glass. She does however, yawn, her fingers rising in front of her lips to stifle it.]

So. [She turns to face Nathan.] What do you want to do today?

I asked for the morning off so I'm free all day. I wanted to show you around [Though she doesn't know if Cairn will want him or if he'll be busy soon.] After lunch is movie night, which isn't named well but I couldn't think of anything else. I usually wait for Tony to be awake and he shows me some of the old movies he likes but I thought we could do it. There are so new movies you missed that I think you'd like.

[He's had a year of no movie theaters after all. She'd offer to just take him to the movies but being trapped in a dark room with one source of light generally made her tense.]

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