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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[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.]

I always miss you.

[And that just came out. Like that. Right out in the open where everybody could just look at it.]

I would be honored to attend movie night. [He clears his throat.]

[Airy feels her cheeks dust a light pink but turns away hoping that Nathan doesn't notice. It's a little embarrassing considering she had meant it as a joke but somehow his response made her happy.

As selfish as it is she doesn't really want rumors about them getting started. It'd just complicate matters for her and she's already very aware of how she feels. She doesn't need people around HQ reminding her and making her friendship with Nathan awkward.]

Awesome! Want to pick the movie or watch something new?

[Movies are a nice topic.]

There was...Starwar's Episode VII, The Martian, Mad Max but I don't really want to watch that again... Furious 7, which is more wacky time wasting nonsense. The new Avengers movie... Inside Out was cute. Cinderella...

[She pauses looking up at Nathan.]

I think you get the idea.

[Nathan looked away, too, but not before noting how the blush complimented her eyes and made her even more adorable than she normally was.

He blinked at the list. He had missed the new Star Wars movie...]

I don't know. You pick. Eventually I'll need to watch all of them.

How about Inside Out? It's easy and not a really intense movie.

[She doesn't know if she wants to watch anything serious or depressing right now.]

It's a cartoon about emotions in our heads.

[Of course it is. It sounds like something Airy would love.]

And that's not intense...how?

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