[text message to Elliott]

[hardtoignore]

Elliott. I need help with something.

Comments

[bearshermark]

[He doesn't expect to die, but he does half-expect it to hurt.

And then a moment passes and nothing changes, and he drops back onto his hands as Clarence pushes him back.

Elliott throws his head back and laughs, something giddy and slightly hysterical that goes on just a little too long. He breathes and shakes his head, flashing his friend a tired grin. That was probably the stupidest thing he's ever done, but it worked]

There, see? I'm okay. You won't hurt anyone you don't want to.

[hardtoignore]

[He watched Elliott laugh without a trace of humor, and when the laughing went on a little longer than it probably should have Clarence started to feel concern. But then Elliott's idiot plan came out and... well, Clarence would have to admit, he did feel more reassured.]

[Still, he sighed and sunk down from Elliott's bed to the floor next to his friend.]

That was so stupid.... What an idiot.

[But he pressed his forehead against Elliott's shoulder, unsure how else to show he was happy in a weird way. It didn't seem right to say "thanks" when the guy put his own health at risk...]

[bearshermark]

[Elliott reaches over to pat his arm and breathes again, incredibly grateful that the tiny hunch he'd had pulled through]

Yeah, it was pretty stupid. But it worked out, and now you don't have to be afraid of yourself or your power. It was worth it.

[hardtoignore]

[Clarence let his face remain hidden a minute more, then looked up, mouth pulled tight in an unamused frown.]

See, this is why I keep saying you're going to get yourself hurt one day. You're too good for this world, you big dummy.

[He sighs, then moved to stand and reaches to help Elliott up.]

Guess I'm a dummy for taking a dummy to a dumb dance now, too.

[bearshermark]

[He accepts the hand up, but doesn't let himself rely too much on Clarence's strength to haul him up.]

We're gonna have fun. Couldn't just let you sit out junior prom.

[hardtoignore]

[Yeah, that's probably for the best.]

Hmm, yeah, I guess. And if it doesn't end up all that great, we could always ditch early and go get pancakes anyway.

[bearshermark]

[He smiles]

Sure, if that's what you want.

[He runs a hand through his hair]

So I guess you'll just be borrowing my closet for a few days, then.

[hardtoignore]

Hey, pancakes make any situation better.

[Clarence scratches at his nape again, shaking his head.]

I mean, I don't know how to explain to Kris and Phil how I even got that suit...

[bearshermark]

[He shrugs, then grins]

Just tell 'em it's mine from when I was like.. 12.

[hardtoignore]

Hey! I'm short but that doesn't make me a little kid!

[Still, he can't argue with that kind of alibi. He sighs.]

I'll just say that Yotsuyu tailored it for me as a surprise or something.

[bearshermark]

[He chuckles, looking only slightly apologetic]

Yeah, that's good. I'm sure Mom wouldn't mind if we just told her that if your guardians ever asked about it.

[hardtoignore]

Yeah...

Um, speaking of that... I ran into Mister Martin the other day.

[bearshermark]

[While his brain spends a brief moment struggling with 'speaking of', he's definitely more concerned by the rest, stomach sinking fast]

..Yeah? What did he want?

[hardtoignore]

[Clarence's face twisted into something sour.]

He accused me of causing trouble and said I should trust everything he said was true. You know, that kinda bullspit.

It's like he was accusing me of doing things to upset the Bureau on purpose or something.

[bearshermark]

[Elliott frowns]

But.. you haven't, right?

[hardtoignore]

Of course not! Despite all appearances, I'm generally well-behaved.

[But it's definitely a bummer that people can't take the hint that "Leave me alone" face and posture often translate into "I'm a terrible person who does terrible things and you just haven't caught me yet" in most adults' eyes.]

[bearshermark]

[Elliott's arms fold]

He came to me, too.. asking about what I knew about an anti-Bureau sentiment. I guess they're worried we are going to cause trouble for them.

[hardtoignore]

Oh, like the stuff Anakin goes on about? Thinking they're up to something...

[Clarence shrugs.]

I mean, even if we discover the truth behind the Bureau, what can we do about it? There's only like... what? Maybe fifty Different at most? A hundred? That's hardly an army.

[bearshermark]

[Elliott moves to sit on his bed]

I don't know.. We're getting superpowers now, so I can see why they'd be worried. A rebellion would be kind of disastrous. But.. they shouldn't automatically assume we're causing trouble, either.

[He sighs] I told Mr. Martin they should communicate with us better. I really think that's important. Otherwise, they just look like a shady organization that no one has any reason to trust.

[hardtoignore]

I guess... [He knew his abilities could get strong enough to kill someone, if his memory was any indication. But luckily they were harmless for now.]

He just seemed to get angrier with me no matter what.

I don't like him.

[bearshermark]

Me neither.

[His hands drop between his knees and twist together, biting his lip with an unusually heavy expression]

The more I think about it... If they think we're plotting against them, I wonder what they might do.

[hardtoignore]

[Clarence rolls his eyes as he drops down next to Elliott.]

Jeez, tell me about it. I thought for sure this was some sort of human trafficking scam at first, but so far no one has disappeared that I've met yet so...

[He falls back, closing his eyes.]

Is it really something we should worry about? Isn't that what the adults should be doing?

[bearshermark]

[Elliott joins him in laying back, and stares up at the ceiling. It does feel so much bigger than them]

I guess. But this affects us too, and we're almost adults. We can't just sit back and let someone else handle everything for us. Maybe if I knew they were doing something about it..

[hardtoignore]

I get that. It kinda makes me anxious, too.

[He peeks an eye open to look at Elliott.]

... Have you ever wished to just stay a kid forever?

[bearshermark]

[Elliott turns his head toward him]

Not really. I do wish I wasn't Different, though. I wish all I needed to worry about was matching my date for prom and going to the beach this summer..