Tired...he was tired. Senshi and knights captured and then broken free was only scratching the surface of what had him so exhausted. He had tried to help some, risked his life, and had spent the past week being stressed out and looking all around himself like a paranoid person might, and he honestly was being paranoid for a good reason. If he got caught doing something suspicious he knew he could be taken in and questioned, or just outright killed if he was caught doing something particularly telling of his true allegiance.

That was over now though. The senshi and knights had been freed and he was able to breath again, if only just a bit more easily it was something. Mica could still question him or turn him over for questionable behavior and he’d have to explain himself. But wasn’t going to worry about that all though, if it happened it happened. He couldn’t stop Mica from whatever she’d do, that would only bring more suspicion down upon him, so all he could do was go on with life and that included attending classes.

Spring classes hadn’t started up and wouldn’t be starting for another week and a half and yet he was at campus and headed into the cafeteria. Alexandre had just bought his books for the new semester, he was taking another art history class, and now he was hungry and had decided to see what food this cafeteria would have to offer. The idea of school food turned his stomach but he was more hungry than anything right now and a salad, of some kind, couldn’t be that bad - right? A salad was an easy thing to make and hard to mess up, at least as far as he was concerned, and so he was willing to risk his taste buds by buying a salad here.

Pushing open the cafeteria doors he stepped inside slowly, his hands sinking into his pockets while his full school bag hung off his left shoulder and down his back. The bag was full, he hadn’t stopped by his car between the bookstore and the cafeteria, and took a look around. To be honest he had never been to the campus’ cafeteria for anything, he had no reason to till now. So the glance around was done in order to find where he should be walking in order to find what he was looking for - a salad. Noting the direction he headed that way and once he had a plastic bowl full of salad in his had, it had a top on it and a label as well, he went to pay for it and grabbing a fork and small contained of dressing he headed for a table.

Rather than an empty table, which he’d normally take, he decided to seat himself next to someone with a very curious set of...headphones on. They were cat ears and appeared to have lights? Very interesting he thought to himself as he looked at them as he came up on them from behind and made his way to their side. “Can I sit?”

With his music playing just loud enough to drown out the sound of kitchen staff putting trays of food out, or students congregating by the soda fountain waiting to get something to drink, poor Aiden remained oblivious to the person standing behind him till the shadow that fell across his open book shifted slightly.

Slightly self conscious and a little concerned that the person had not yet left, what with all the open tables around, the black haired boy set his pen down and removed his headphones. Non-lyrical melodies could be heard filtering through the speakers before he turned Pandora off on his phone and shifted in his seat.

Twin arched eyebrows raised nearly in surprise seeing the ashen blond young man he had coffee with last week. “Alex!?”

“I apologize, I didn’t realize you were there.” The tips of Aiden’s ears turned a slight pink as he shoved his loose paper in his binder and closed it haphazardly; unintentionally folding several papers in half in order to make room for him. “Once I get headlong into something I tend to zone out. Here!” He patted the spot next to him while still rambling on. “Sit, please!”

Seating himself, the heavy bag Alex had was let to slip free from his shoulder, and down his arm, before plunking onto an empty chair next to him. “It’s alright, I know what it’s like to get lost in something.” He tended to get lost in his art and his plants, both were things which he found relaxing and easy to do. Art was admittedly harder than tending his plants but both were easy enough for him that he could become lost for a good amount of time.

“It’s been a few days, how are you?” Aiden removed the headphones from around his neck and stuck them in his side bag for the time being.

How was he? he was tired. He wanted to say that but didn’t know how to say it and avoid the reasons why. How to avoid mentioning the war and the kidnapping and the task which was set before him, and yet thus far was unacomplished? The very idea of it set his nerves on edge and knotted his stomach up in a most uncomfortable, and ill feeling, manner. “Busy.” busy worked, that could mean a lot of things and just saying that he had work and school was reason enough for that. The two didn’t make him tired but when you added in the whole kidnapping plus the tea shop he was still running...well then tired became him.

“Yourself?” He questioned then. “What are you working on, if you don’t mind my asking?” He questioned as he was curious on what had taken the others attention so easily.

Aiden’s grin became lopsided. He let out a bit of a ‘humph’ sound a ‘you don’t want to know’ but he told Alex anyway. “I’ve been trying to work out my scheduling for next quarter between classes and work.” Thankfully his job was far more flexible than most and was willing to shift his hours around to allow for time to attend class and study.

Combing his fingers through his hair, slate blue eyes, not too unlike Alex’s own, fell on the half piece of paper that stuck out from his notebook with several dollar amounts and chicken scratch scribbled all over it. “I was also working on some budgeting.” Just like last quarter, no help would be coming from his family, especially his father, with the exception of his sister Jenna bringing him some leftover home cooked meals.

“Budgeting?” He questioned. It wasn’t something he’d had to ever deal with, though he of course knew what it was to budget...he just never did it. He didn’t have to worry over such things and so he didn’t even think of someone else, especially someone his age, having to budget things.

“Ah, I haven’t had issues with that yet.” No, he set his hours so he had classes during the day and then evening work hours. It was a simple and easy way to set things up, keeping it simple was good. he didn’t need to worry with work anyway, they knew and accepted that he was still in school. He wasn’t needed all the time as he wasn’t one of the more knowledgeable workers anyway. Working at a wiccan, pagan, shop and not subscribing to the religion meant he wasn’t so needed as he lacked the knowledge. He did however know about the herbs and medicinal uses for them, and he had looked into their magical properties just to be more helpful.

“Consider yourself lucky.” Unfortunately, even in Aiden’s wildest dreams, there was no room to entertain such fantasies. Then again for someone such as him, a person who loved math, not having a financial plan was like telling a fish not to swim.


Was he lucky? Alex didn’t think of himself as lucky. He might have more than others but was he lucky? No, he’d never thought himself as such. Watching the other for a moment he finally opened the package which contained a napkin, fork, and plastic knife. The knife was set aside, he didn’t need it, and he pulled the top off the salad contained and uncapping the dressing he poured some onto the mixed greens that he’d purchased.

Aiden’s eyes drifted downward out of nervous habit and what he saw made his stomach growl. He had been sitting in the cafeteria for so long he had completely lost track of time and in doing so forgot to actually eat his meal. Turkey and cheese sandwich on wheat bread with two chocolate chip cookies his sister brought over yesterday and a bottle water. Not exactly enough food if he planned on going swimming later at the school’s pool but it would do for now.

“So…” Aiden turned his attention to the ziplock back, “What classes are you taking this quarter?” He pulled out his lunch and quickly took a bite, shoving food in his mouth while he mentally berated himself for such an uninteresting conversation starter. Oh he was doing good… real good with this one.

Noticing the other seemed to have brought lunch and was going to eat he took a bite of his own food. The dressing wasn’t bad and the greens fresh - he could approve of this. The italian dressing was light and not too strong but not weak, he didn’t want something so strong he didn’t taste the greens at all. Eyeing the others choice of lunch he kept from saying anything, it looked rather sad.

Blinking he smiled. “History of art two, history of european art, intermediate painting, introductory sculpture. What about you? What are you majoring in?”

“I’m taking Accounting, Linear Algebra, a Nutrition class and Rowing.” Seemed to be a bit all over the board especially since he was a junior but he was trying to double major in a four year time period. “Trying to get a bachelors in mathematics and health nutrition.” Chances are, if he could afford it, he’d go back for an associates in physical therapy.

Numbers were a passion of his but staying active was what he lived for, plus he already volunteered at the parkour gym downtown, why not get paid for something he enjoyed?

“Accounting and linear algebra…” He knew what the first was but what the hell was the second thing? It was a math, that much was obvious, but beyond that he was clueless. “You sound like you enjoy sports.” Rowing plus a nutrition class. he might be making an assumption, he was really, but it sounded like he had someone sitting next to him who took care of himself. “I’ve never been one for sports.” Shrugging his shoulders.

“Sports is more of an umbrella term really.” Aiden took another bite of his sandwich then swallowed it down with a large gulp of bottled water. “You’ve heard the term, make a sport out of it right?” he made a bit of a hum sound. It was a dated saying so he might not have.

“I guess, in a way, it is kind of how some people don’t like exercise. Sports are just a fun way to spend time exercising with other people though under a different name.” Running or jogging were both exercise, whereas marathons were considered a sport same with track and field.

“You mentioned rowing...that’s interesting.” He knew what it was but it wasn’t something he’d ever watched or had an interest in. “Any other sports?” He questioned the other, curious, as another forkful of green entered his mouth. chewing and swallowing he settled his slate eyes on the other as he wondered if he was indeed into other sports. Rowing though...he likely had well worked arms from that...and he really shouldn’t let his mind wander that way.

“I’m in to parkour, that fancy jumping trick moves I did when we first met.” The same day he nearly fell on the blonde sitting beside him. “Otherwise, if I have time, I like to go to the pool and do laps.” No point in mentioning dancing. Yes it was something he enjoyed and was good at but it was his well kept secret unless he was at a family reunion with his family and his proud mother or talkative sister started to gossip about their last competition.

“What about you,” he finally asked having just polished off the last of his food. “What kind of activities do you enjoy outside of art?” It wasn’t hard to guess what Alex’s major was when all four of his classes leaned towards the more creative side of ones brain.

“Yeah, I remember when you landed on me.” he said eyeing the other. Oh, he wasn’t about to forget that any time soon, how often does someone land on you like that? “So you like to swim and row….you like water?” He questioned the other. Was he just one of those people who had a thing, an affinity, for water?

Aiden quirked an eyebrow at Alex and smiled “Almost..” he corrected the other with a playful grin “I definitely jumped over you.

“Alright, you almost landed on me. I’ll give you that.” He stated before forking more rabbit food into his mouth, his eyes leaving the others form. Alright, point to the other. Aiden hadn’t landed on him but he almost had.

There was a look of triumph in his eyes before Aiden diverted the conversation to a previous query “To answer your question yes I do like water.” Perhaps he was a merman or a fish in his past life with how much he enjoyed going to the pool or jumping in the canal for a swim. “You?” he questioned, curious if Alex too shared a love for it as well.

“Me? I go to the gym, I run in the mornings. I don’t do sports and I don’t do anything else activity wise, unless shopping counts.” Which he was sure it didn’t. He wasn’t about to tell the other how much shopping he did, or the sort of shopping he did, and for good reason. The other didn’t need to know the large amount of money he spent on clothing or how many hours he could go from high end fashion store to high end fashion store and than to a candle store and the mall.

Jenna may agree with you on that one. Aiden mused, the girl definitely liked fancy ballroom competition outfits.

However, if you wanted to know about me and water than no - I don’t swim or anything. I know how, my friend has a pool, but I’m not one to spend a lot of time in or around water.” He never had been though he did like the ocean...it was just a good distance from the city, taking an hour or so to reach by car.

“I have considered rock climbing and trying that.” Every since that date with Quenton Alex had thought of rock climbing, on rare occasions, and the rope course they’d gone to. It was interesting and maybe, come warm weather, he’d get into both. It would be a good work out for him without a doubt.

“So, what are you doing here.” Motioning around them. “Aside from the obvious eating and...budgeting.” He said slowly.

“My father came into town for a week so I moved back into the dorms early. He n’ I don’t exactly see eye to eye on a lot of things.” With a shrug of his own, not really wanting to talk more on the topic, Aiden quickly diverted the conversation back to the blond. “What about you? Aside from buying books.” He nodded in the direction to the stack of new textbooks beside Alex. “How come you’re here?”

At hearing about the others father and that he had already moved into his dorm he nodded. “I see.” He wasn’t about to ask about the others father, and their lack of relationship, as it certainly wasn’t his place to do so. They weren’t dating or anything of the sort and thus it wasn’t his place, not to mention their friendship was perhaps a bit new as well.

“I didn’t eat before I came here and I have work soon so I thought it best to grab lunch here rather than elsewhere, to save on time, so I can change clothing before I go to work.” And drop his books off, he didn’t want to leave them in the car in the parking lot a block from where he worked. Finding parking on the street in front of where he worked was never possible, thanks to the little restaurant next to where he worked and the bookstore down the block not to mention the area was residental. The curb was always filled with cars so he always paid for parking in a lot while he worked.

“Oh? Where do you work? Hopefully not too far…” It would be a pain if Alex were to tell him that he worked an hour away and was likely wasting his time chit chatting when he should probably be driving. Though if push came to shove, Aiden could always offer to drive him to work on his motorcycle; it wasn’t like he didn’t already have two helmets.

“Not too far, it’s a small shop called The Magickal Childe.” A pagan, occult, shop that he doubted the other had ever heard of, though he was also sure the name of the place might give the other some ideas about what the shop dealt with. He wasn’t one for religion, of any kind, but the store did offer some things he was interested in and things he knew a good amount about thus why he worked there, workers sale prices and his knowledge being put to use.

“I’ll be fine with being on time, no worries.” Waving his fork holding hand about before finishing the salad off in two more bites of rabbit food.

Aiden nodded his head. For a moment he became lost in thought, not entirely sure what to say since it was kind of starting to feel like a forced conversation and so he asked the next thing that came to mind. “I don’t suppose you’re free this weekend by chance?” It wasn’t like he was asking the blond on a date or anything, but just to hang out since school started the following Monday.

“This weekend...no - I’m free. Why?” Taken by surprise with the question he had turned his attention to the other to stare at him. Was the other about to ask him on a date? He hadn’t planned on dating any time soon, if ever. He didn’t want to risk the future happening this time around...but he was changing things, wasn’t he? So that loss wouldn’t happen again, right? But maybe he was getting ahead of himself in thinking Aiden was planning to ask him out, though that question did seem to often lead to the asking of a date. But the chance of it seemed high, at least in his mind, though he didn’t know if the other was even interested in other males. Damn, he really was making lots of assumptions where he shouldn’t.

TBC