“Aww come on! Don’t treat me like Mags! She do the same thang to me! You ain’t never make me feel dumb.”
“Maggie makes you feel stupid?”
“Well, she don’t be tryin’, I know dat, but she get real frustrated wit me. She real smart, but she ain’t like you. She ain’t meant to be no teacher.”
Laughing much harder than he anticipated, “Oh that is hilarious, I can’t wait to poke fun at her!”
His face turning white, “No!! You cain’t tell her! She gonna beat my ass!”
“And she is abusive?! This is hard being so close to both of you, but I think you might need to leave Maggie,” he says still laughing.
“Now you just tryin’ to get me killed! You know she beat me jest if I don’t keep my room clean? Most people just get an earful, or don’t get no pussy or nothin’, not Mags, she just beat the shit out of me as she stand over and watch me clean up!”
“Yeah… you knew what you were signing up for when you got involved. Maggie is fearsome and fearless. You should have seen it coming.”
“This shit ain’t funny man…”
“Alright, alright. Enough of that, let’s get a better handle on what you can do with these cards, and how you can maximize them offensively and defensively.”
“Fuck yea!”
The first thing the duo worked to understand was just how resilient the cards were to a number of different forces, water included. Dan had made mention that due to the thicker nature of the cards they were inherently better defensive tools, but Anaar wanted to put that to the test. Anaar came to realize however that Dan was in short supply of the cards compared to his usual paper. Even though he had more cards he had not brought out, Anaar was not certain he would have enough for what he wanted to try.
Starting light, Anaar had Dan throw up a small barrier with the cards and tested their efficacy against knives empowered by his explosions. Considering his normal barriers were able to withstand far more, Anaar had no doubt the cards would pass the test, but he wanted a proper starting point. When the knives clattered harmlessly off the shield, Anaar decided to press further. From there he decided to see how the cards could withstand an indirect explosion hit.
When Dan was able to shrug off the effects of the indirect explosions, even the more powerful ones without incident, Anaar decided to kick it up a notch.
“I want you to make a dome for yourself out of cards. I understand if you need to crouch down due to limited resources, I just need you to be positive you are completely covered.”
“Aww shit… What the hell I done got myself into?”
“You’ll be fine!”
Doing as he was told, Dan was able to make a comfortable barrier for himself out of the cards. Screaming from the inside that he was ready, Anaar wasted no time with his assault. Thankfully they had chosen the Combat Complex South for their meeting, because the staging area was quite useful for what Anaar wanted to accomplish. Hoping that he would not be going overboard, he set his jaw and continued on.
Explosion after explosion, not exactly targeting the cards or the barrier itself, but being so close there was not much of a difference, resounded out into the distance. As Anaar continued to blast away at the barrier, only a few cards finally succumbed to the pressure and were unusable. When Anaar gave Dan the signal to drop the barrier, both of them were quite impressed with the results.
“How was that? Did you feel you had to work really hard to keep up the defenses?”
Thinking for a moment how best to articulate the experience, Dan finally had an answer. “Honestly I thank I’d be good wit dat even usin’ my regular paper. It prolly be harder for shore, but if it was to save us I could do it. Da cards… they real strong even without me tryin’, so it ain’t like it was too hard keepin’ it up.”
“Good to hear. I didn’t know just how hard I could go, so I decided to just increase it over time. Next up is the moment of truth, time for some water!”
“I ain’t never seen no water hose on campus. There be them sprinklers in the ground everywhere, but nowhere to hook up no hose. How we gonna do dis?”
Ugh, he has a point. It would be so much easier if Dan knew about my powers. I could help him out much easier that way. Maybe I should just tell him. It isn’t like it is just any old person, it is Dan…
“Your newfound freedom with exposing your Water attuned abilities has become like a drug it seems.”
Appearing in what seemed to be a doctor’s coat with a stethoscope, Hobb looks over Anaar disapprovingly.
Wait… Isn’t addiction a psychological problem? Why are you dressed like you are about to check my tonsils?
“That is a fair point. I wanted to make sure you understood I was coming to you in the interest of your health and safety.”
So you don’t think I should tell Dan?
“Absolutely not.”
Wow, that was definitive, why not?
“Because you have enough problems as is protecting people and keeping it contained. It would be foolish to endanger others.”
Is it my powers alone that is causing danger for people though? I mean, Maggie knows, and she hasn’t been targeted.
“While that is a true statement, it would be best to remain prudent and cautious. Also, if you were to tell Mr. Bedacholli, would that be fair to Ms. Lamar? Currently you have only told those who have been directly exposed to them due to extreme circumstances. If you take Ms. Lamar’s feelings into consideration if she were to learn she was the last of your close friends to know, it may give you pause.”
Well I wouldn’t tell Codi either.
“While it is true you have a deep relationship with Ms. Aya, there is a much higher probability she would blame Mr. Ingraham for keeping the secret rather than you. As such I do not believe the two are equivalent.”
It’s sad how obvious my friends’ mannerisms are… You are right… I guess we’ll just have to do this the hard way.
After conceding to making his life much more difficult, Anaar took Dan into the Combat Complex South where they surprisingly had a hose attachment for a sink. Though it would not simulate the force of an aquatic blast the way he or another Hydrokinetic could, it did allow them to address the most pressing issue. Typically Dan’s paper would wilt almost immediately after being hit with enough water to cover it, but in the case of the cards, they never wilted. They agreed they would need to test harsher conditions in the future, but for now they were satisfied.
Following their test with the water, they decided to utilize the facilities to see how they could best weaponize the cards. Dan showed Anaar how cards responded to different substances, and the two found the nature of their flight pattern opened up some interesting options. Because he did not need to focus as much on their rigidity, he was able to use them in a flurry of sorts that acted like many small blades that sliced anything in their area. The only time they needed extra reinforcement was when attempting to slice through tougher materials such as brick.
Since their practice with the cards was over, Anaar turned his focus to something else he had been wondering about. “Dan, I noticed you have taken to using more constructs lately.”
“What you mean by construct?”
“Well technically almost everything you do is a construct, but I more specifically mean like the paper golem you make.”
“Golem?”
“The paper stick person?”
Slapping his forehead, “Oh! Him! That is what you talkin’ ‘bout. I gots to be outta practice or somethin’ ‘cause I swear errythang you say sound like damn gibberish these days. What about him?”
“It’s a he?”
“Well it damn shore ain’t no she.”
“Why not? It isn’t like it has any distinguishable features that give it a gender.”
“It’s a bunch of paper man…”
“You’re right, I have been somewhat sensitive to people misgendering others and being assholes about that sort of thing ever since I became friends with Me
rc.”
“You friends wit Merc?!”
“Ummm yeah…”
“The Merc? Always starting some shit Merc?”
“I don’t think there is some overflowing cornucopia of people named Merc… Yes the same one, though I have really been trying to work on stopping that kind of behavior.”
“Huh. I guess you will be friends wit anybody.”
“Not JaMarkus, that ship has sailed, that’s for sure. What is that supposed to mean though?”
“I’m just sayin’ maybe you should be more careful wit da people you be trustin’ and stuff. Most people are out to get ya.”
“That’s a pretty dark way of looking at things. Somewhat true, but still dark. Back to your, dude, I guess? It seems you have taken a liking to that usage of your powers. How did that come about?”
Tugging at the short curls on his head, “Well, it just kinda came to me ya know? Like I was thinkin’ bout how heavy carryin’ somethin’ would be, and I was like ‘You know what would be nice? Havin’ somebody to carry dis shit for me.’ Then it just kinda happen.”
“You have the most interesting epiphanies… In any case I think it is good, and is something you should explore.”
“Explore how?”
“Well you have made far more complex constructs such as the tigers that mauled JaMarkus, and they seemed to be semi-autonomous, meaning you have it in you to do so much more.”
“Man, you know how that shit be. I do somethin’ and I ain’t got no clue how I did it. They was waterproof too, and you see I ain’t been able to do dat no more.”
“I know, and the waterproof thing, I can’t do much to help you out with, but I am positive I can do some serious work with you and constructs in general.”
“Ain’t your power bout makin’ shit disappear? How you gonna to help me put stuff together?”
Giving Dan an affected hurt gasp, “I’m also not a Papermaster and I have helped you with plenty of things so far, what is the difference?”
“You right. I don’t know, it just feel like I was so bad before, hell a cockroach could teach me ‘bout my power. Now it seem like I need somebody, I don’t know, who got the same experience?”
“Good to know I’m on the same level as a cockroach…”
“Aww shit I ain’t mean it like that-”
Giving him a placating gesture, “I know, I know, I’m just messing with you. I get what you are saying though. Before it was like you were in elementary school. Pretty much anyone could teach you because you lacked even the most basic of fundamentals. Now you need someone who has educated themselves to handle your specific needs.”
“All dat sounded good, but it ain’t what I meant.”
Raising an eyebrow, “Oh? What did you mean then?”
“I kinda meant somebody who could really understand what it feel like to not be good. I mean, the whole reason I wanted to get back to our studying is so I could get better, but honestly I was thinking more ‘bout school rather than just my powers. You teachin’ me school stuff just make sense, you better than most the teachers. Teachin’ me bout my powers though, maybe I should be a man and get better on my own.”
“Asking for help, or even just sharing in your experience makes you less of a man?’
Hanging his head, “Naw, I guess not. It might have to do wit Mags man. I mean she really be havin’ me by the balls, and I feel like I should be doin’ more to if not pass her, at least not embarrass her.”
Placing his hand on Dan’s shoulder, “Dan, Maggie is crazy about you. Like seriously, I think it may be a condition. Whatever you have done to win her heart, not saying I don’t recognize any positive traits, was done at your worst, and you have only gotten better. Maggie is a force, just remember that. It doesn’t make you any less to be eclipsed by her. She may be tiny, but she casts one hell of a shadow.”
Sighing while nodding his head solemnly, “I guess you right. Man you always be knowin’ the shit to say to make me feel better.”
“It’s pretty easy, I just tell the truth.”
Giving Anaar a smile, he decides to take him up on his offer to help with his construct work. Over the next few hours, Dan was surprised at just how much Anaar knew about the subject even though it had nothing to do with his own abilities. Though he did not make any massive leaps in his skill, he was able to pick up a number of small, yet very important things which he was sure could overall improve his performance, which made for a great end to the rekindling of their study sessions.
11
Because Phavian had been indisposed for a number a reasons, the Seeds of Life had been fearful about meeting without him. As a result, the first meeting that happened since the incoming Freshmen arrived was weeks later than it should have been. In the weeks since his attack, most people were whispering that he was not quite the same. Looking to take control back over his life once more, he began planning the mixer event everyone had been waiting on.
There was no doubt he questioned everything much more since the attack. Even though his relationship with Anaar had been nothing but pleasant and full of happiness ever since, it was impossible for him to just dismiss the events. He knew more than anyone how much he loved Anaar, despite their rough patches, but something in his subconscious still twitched and recoiled in fear upon sight of him. Phavian felt the world was a strange and complicated place, but he still could not understand how he had seen so many completely different sides to the man he loved.
When he first met Anaar, he was absolutely choked by the intense gravitational pull of the unsuspecting, distant man. Something about how completely perfect he was, so much so that he felt need to constantly shrink himself for the sake of others, was both considerate and self-aware of him. Where most people would flaunt their superiority, fully taking advantage of how much more they could do than those around them, Anaar chose obscurity, partially in hopes he would not be too overbearing.
Looking back on this time which seemed like so long ago even though it was barely over a year, Phavian wanted to consider it to be the worst of Anaar he had ever seen, but unfortunately he found it impossible. As difficult to deal with, non-responsive, and generally emotionally unavailable as he was, there was no doubt that person was Anaar through and through. At least this nuisance of a man he once was clearly exhibited his true self, and his desire to become a better person.
There then came the period of time where he and Anaar were not together, but Anaar had made great strides toward being more amenable to opening himself to others. If he was being honest with himself, Phavian believed this time might have been the happiest point in their relationship. Because there were no additional expectations from their romantic partnership, Phavian found this to be one of the purest incarnations of their time together. He could not expect Anaar to be more, just as Anaar placed no constraints on him, and together they were able to pave the way for what their feelings would become.
For a brief period, their relationship had been nothing but turmoil. From Anaar running out on him after confessing his true feelings, to the mysterious disappearance, to his own kidnapping, it seemed as if the price of admission for this majestic man’s love was as staggering as the attraction itself. Phavian had to endure so much in order to obtain his eventual prize, even being reduced to something far less than a man for a time.
It was in this moment, one of the lowest points, if not the lowest point of his life, that he had the sick pleasure of watching a true monster be born. Never had he seen such wanton disregard for human life, or pleasure in ending it. The hardest part of watching everything Anaar did was finding out somehow it was a manifestation of love. For someone to be so powerful that their way of displaying their affection was to dispatch dozens of people, although they had committed an unforgiveable act, as simply as someone brushes a piece of lint off their clothing was nothing short of terrifying. It also did nothing to help the situation that he was forcefully yanked into a realization that this man he loved was hiding so much from him.
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In all their ups and downs following his rescue, Anaar had been nothing if not honest and loving. When he needed it most, Anaar had the power to pull him back from a very dangerous and addictive path. He wondered what he would have done if Anaar could not have displayed his true powers to him in order to save him. Would he have allowed the abuse to continue happening, or would he have exposed himself anyway to save him? He never asked Anaar because he felt confident he already knew the answer, but their most recent incident caused him to have doubts.
Whereas the massacre of all the people who kidnapped him was a pure, though disgusting show of love, the situation where he had been so mercilessly beaten at the hands of Anaar was nothing but hate and contempt. As many times as he was forced to replay the scene in his head, nothing about that man said he ever had any love for Phavian. This is what Phavian found himself struggling with the most, because if there was even a possibility there was a side to Anaar that hated him so completely, how could he ever move on?
With Maggie no longer being a rival, and instead being a full ally, Phavian took comfort in the fact that his absentminded musings would not hinder their planning for the event. He too at one time had his misgivings and doubts about how formidable the woman was, but since the change in their relationship, he found she had only just begun. There was so much about Maggie that was excellence incarnate that he began to wonder if perhaps she was the one who was truly destined to stand by Anaar’s side. Thanks to her, he needed only worry about being the mouthpiece of the organization.
To his massive shock, the room was absolutely bursting with faces he did not know. Not only that, it seemed as if those who had only ever been to one meeting were also in attendance. The support shown by the school was overwhelming and heartwarming. Though one class of 100 had left, another had taken their place, and come out to support the Seeds in a massive way. In his shock he failed to notice his own partner standing amongst a group of faces he did not recognize. Moving over to him, Phavian was not surprised to find Anaar somehow already knew a group of the incoming Freshmen.
Apotheosis (Song of Sophangence Book 3) Page 14