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 Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 9:37 am
The library had become a sort of safe haven for Evan, not because he even cared to read that much, but because he could get there, and home, by himself. It was a stupid little thing, something he was proud of himself for. It didn’t matter that he was running out of books to pick up; sometimes he’d just go and pretend to look, because it meant he could tell Zac and Cambria that he’d gone out.
The people there were friendly, and the librarians always seemed nice and like they wanted to make him feel comfortable.
He’d wondered if they were like that for everyone, or if he just looked so pathetic and lost that they were kinder to him. He didn’t want to know the truth, though; he just wanted to keep his safe, happy little place away from home, that made him feel like he was a part of society—in his own, private little way.
Today, he had gotten one of the few recipe books he had not already read, and a few of the books one of the librarians, Emily, had recommended for him. He was on his way to check out when he rounded one of the library’s corners and came face to face with someone he knew.
Or, at least, that Malus knew.
But Evan’s brain hadn’t caught up that quickly, so when he spotted Tobias (only a few inches away from running into him) he froze up. A gasp slipped from his lips; three books slid from his arms and clattered to the floor, though he managed to clutch the last one tightly enough to his chest that it didn’t fall.
“Hi,” he blurted, almost immediately regretting it. His ears burned, his cheeks burned. He was pale enough that any flow of blood was visible and he wanted to kick himself for getting so flustered so easily.
There was no way someone wasn’t going to out him as a Senshi one of these day; he was going to disappoint Cambria and Zac so much. And probably get himself killed.
Or worse.
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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 9:41 am
Tobias didn’t need to be in the library. He had access to plenty of books, and even had the ability to buy any books that he really needed online, or if he had to, he could use the library over at DCU, but today he felt like heading over to the library, perhaps there would be someone good looking at the library, or at least someone who he could mess with.
And he had a paper due soon and just felt like it.
Really, he didn’t need any excuses. It was just nice to have them.
And right now, he felt as though going to the library had been nothing less than an act of fate. Here was a cutie pie who seemed so flustered by his good looks that he was saying hello and dropping books everywhere. Oh. This was adorable.
“My goodness, let me help you with those.” Leaning down, Tobias picked up the three fallen books, keeping them in his own arms for the time being. “Hello yourself. Did I startle you? I apologize if that was the case, I’m Tobias.” He flashed a grin and inclined his head towards a snug little table in the corner. “Perhaps we could sit over there and you can arrange the books so they don’t topple on you again? You’ve got quite a lot.”
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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 9:42 am
Evan had to swallow the lump in his throat; he hated making a fool of himself and was struggling not only to react to knowing this guy (sort of) but now he’d gone and dropped (basically) everything and it felt like everyone was staring at him.
He shifted positions quickly and looked away. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention. My mind was wandering.”
His voice was quiet, not just because they were in a library but because now that he’d made a fool of himself it was just difficult to find any volume. He didn’t think he really needed that much help to go rearrange the books but he found himself nodding instinctively and shuffling over towards the table Tobias had pointed out. “I’m Evan,” he introduced as they walked; it was only half an introduction. The other half was reminding himself not to say anything stupid and out himself as a Senshi.
“Thank you. For helping,” he mumbled, setting his one book down on the table. He felt a little self conscious about the books; he tried to seem nonchalant but he kept shifting on his feet and looking away.
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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 9:43 am
“Hey, it happens.” Tobias plopped the books he was holding onto the table and sank into a chair, stretching as he made himself comfortable. “It’s nice to meet you, Evan.” His eyes took in the other male once again and he gave a small nod, clearly enjoying the sight of him, then turned his attention the books on the table. “It’s no problem at all, I take it you like cooking? Or at least you like food, hm? I also like food. A lot. But, really, who doesn’t, right?”
He pulled one of the cookbooks off the table and began flipping through it, pausing when he saw this insane looking twelve cheese macaroni dish. “Oh hell. This looks amazing, these books would drive me up the wall, Evan.” Tobias held the book open, pointing at the cheesy concoction. “I swear, one of these days I am going to die from a cheese overdose, and it’s going to be the best thing ever.”
The teal haired male watched Evan, trying to gage what his reaction would be, this was far more fun than working on a dumb paper. And this was why he went to the library.
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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 9:44 am
Evan still seemed self conscious about all of this, but the sight of the macaroni made him pause. His mouth was watering from the thought alone and he nodded. “I love macaroni and cheese,” he confessed, though he left out the part that his comfort food was boxed Kraft macaroni and cheese. An insult to anyone who would think to call them a chef, he knew, but it was one of the few comfort foods he had.
He didn’t want to be talking to strangers, especially without someone he trusted around, but macaroni and cheese was such a safe conversation topic.
“I’ve always enjoyed cooking.”
His eyes lingered on the image in the book and slowly slid over to try and meet Tobias’. “Do you cook?”
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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 9:45 am
Tobias grinned, then let out a laugh. “Oh god no. The last time I cooked anything, and thank goodness it was only for me, but the last time I cooked for myself, I ended up in the hospital for two days with food poisoning. I’ve pretty much given up all hopes at ever being a good cook. Or a decent cook. Or a person who makes anything other than microwave dinners and frozen pizzas. But I appreciate those that do cook. One of my many guilty pleasures is watching the Food Network and Cooking Channel, and I always tell myself I’ll be able to make something that won’t make me sick, but thus far…no go.”
He sighed and looked longingly at the picture once more, though paused. “Hey. How about we hang out sometime, and you can cook this for us, I’ll set the table and do the dishes and compliment you all night long, if you’d like.” Tobias winked. “Maybe we could do it tomorrow? I’ll get all the ingredients and everything…or maybe it would be safer to give you the money so you could get them. Or we could just shop together. Whatever you want to do, but I’m telling you right now.”
He paused for a moment, just for the effect of it. “I need this. This dish would complete me.”
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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 9:46 am
When confronted with the invitation, Evan immediately found that his mind went totally blank. He couldn’t concoct a single excuse, a single lie to get out of it. So instead, blank faced and uncertain and feeling the pressure of Tobias’ eyes on him, he nodded.
And then it was too late to go back.
“I guess,” he answered meekly. He tried to justify, “I haven’t had the chance to cook for anyone else in a while.” Except for Cambria and Zac, but they didn’t count; they’d eat anything you put in front of them. Zac, he’d noticed, had been far more supportive about his cooking.
“I don’t exactly know if I’ll have a ride anywhere, though. I don’t mind cooking! But I don’t know if I can go out…”
Out, with a stranger? The idea suddenly paralyzed him. Alone, at someone else’s house? What if he was still there when it got dark? He couldn’t just invite him over; it’s not like it was his house—though, Cambria probably would be delighted if he asked to have a friend over. He’d be safer at his place—was it safe to have someone over? What if he was secretly some sadistic murderer?
His brows knit and, worried about the idea of being murdered, he blurted, “I don’t want to cook anywhere but my kitchen. My kitchen is perfect, it’s got everything I need, right where I need it. Nothing else is good enough.”
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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 9:49 am
Tobias blinked for a moment, rather confused. He was about to offer to pick Evan up, but the comment about him needing to cook in his own kitchen threw him. And delighted him. He grinned, rather like a cat and laughed, a little too loudly for the library.
“All right. Well, we can accomplish that one of two ways, Evan. Either I can come over to your house, and again, do the dishes and set the table, or you can cook at your place, and I could help you, then drive you back to mine and back home again. Your choice, and either one is good for me.”
This kid was a hoot. If he was this amusing, perhaps he would be someone good to keep around, especially if he cooked as good as he claimed to. That would be the real test, in all honesty. “So, what will it be, Ev. Can I call you Ev? We’re buddies now, right?”
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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 9:50 am
Buddies?
Evan seemed perplexed but once again instinctively nodded. “Uhm-yeah, we can be…buddies. You—yeah, my friends call me Ev, that’s fine.”
He cleared his throat and tried not to look like he felt strange inviting someone over. He wasn’t about to explain the fact that he was living with his friends and didn’t actually have any real stake on the place, or that he still had to ask like if he were some kid in high school.
He just prayed that Zac would be fine with some stranger he just met came over.
“My place,” he insisted. “Just—my place is best. And it’s right near here. Here,” he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, drawing out his contact list. “If you put in your number, I can text you the address.”
He tried to hide the fact that his background was a wall of cute little animals and that everything embarrassing wasn’t immediately accessible. Holding the phone out, he had to force the lump in his throat down. “I mean, if that’s okay.”
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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 9:54 am
“Sounds perfect. If you want I can drive you there today so I know where it is.” He winked. “Maybe we could even do this shindig tonight, or later on in the week, I have to say, I’m absolutely dying to try that dish. And I wouldn’t mind getting to know you a little more either.”
He plucked the phone swiftly from Evan’s hand and put his number in, sending himself a text, and taking a very flattering selfie for Evan to use as a contact image.
“Perfect. Now, do you like phone calls, or just texts, because I can, and will do both. I want to see just how adorable you can be, because if you’re half as cute as I’m thinking, well, I’m never going to want to stop talking to you.”
Tobias winked shamelessly and laughed. “You have the best reactions, Evan. I love it.”
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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 9:54 am
Evan seemed like he was ready to bolt as soon as he got his phone back, but Tobias kept through curve balls and he wound up stunned every other sentence. When Tobias returned his phone, he pocketed it quickly.
Tobias’s words had left him fully confused; his brows were knit and any time he tried to think of something to say, the thought ended abruptly. He was overcritical of himself; he wasn’t used to people being nice to be nice. Usually he had to throw himself at people to get them to notice him, to like him.
The gears in his mind were grating together and it was only a matter of time before Evan snapped. He tried to say something polite or respectful or nice, but instead he blurted, “Are you flirting with me or trying to be nice? Because, I already said I’d cook the food. You don’t have to put in all this extra effort to suck up to me, uhm, so if you come into this thinking I’m, like,” he looked embarrassed to have received any complement and almost whispered the word, “cute, you should just. Not think like that, because I’ll wind up disappointing you. I’m not that interesting—but my food is. I know my food is, that is not disappointing.”
He seemed insistent; he might not have had confidence in his appearance or his personality, but he knew his food was good. “And—I’m pretty sure I’m not supposed to get in the car with strangers. For all I know, you’re a cannibal and the only reason you’re talking to me about food is because you know I’m small enough to fit in an oven without much work.”
He was sufficiently flustered and wanted to kick himself because assuming someone was a cannibal was probably not how to make friends. His face was red and his eyes suddenly flashed with alarm. Desperate to backtrack, he suddenly tried a few different sentences at once and wound up stumbling over his words, explanations and apology mixed into some garbled half language. Which, he realized, wasn’t any better than calling people cannibals, so he promptly forced his lips shut to try and save what little dignity he had left.
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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 9:57 am
For a moment, Tobias could do nothing but stare at Evan, and then again he burst into laughter, laughing until tears pricked at his eyes. He reached out, taking the shorter male’s hand so he couldn’t run while Tobias was distracted by his own mirth, and, finally, gasping for breath he shook his head. “Oh my god. You see? This. This is why I want to get to know you better. You think I’m a cannibal? I mean, sure, if you were made out of cheese, I might take a nibble or maybe even two, but I can assure you, Evan, I have no desire to nibble on that soft flesh of yours.”
He paused, looking Evan over once more. “I mean, not to eat you, that is. But, perhaps if you were ever willing, I wouldn’t mind a nibble. And yes, that is me flirting outright with you, I come off strongly, I won’t deny it. I think you are adorable and it’s quite fun to see just how red my words can make you, but, if you’d like, I will take you home, just so I know you get there safe and all.”
Tobias’s voice grew a little more serious and he shrugged. “There’s some strange s**t in this city, and I wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”
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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 9:58 am
This was hopeless.
Evan wasn’t sure if Tobias was just laughing or just laughing at him, and a certain amount of anxiety once again flooded through him. Tobias was teasing him, but it didn’t seem out of maliciousness, and despite the knots twisting in his stomach, Evan finally felt a bit of relief.
He was starting to feel better, starting to forget everything in the city that scared him. Evan didn’t like to take risks, but he didn’t like walking home alone—even if he was getting better at it. Between being jumped by Negaverse agents (albeit those with good intentions) and approached by Mauvians…
Was getting in the car with a stranger really that bad? If anything happened, he could always call Cambria or Zac…or power up, if he really needed to.
“I…I guess, if you really wanted to know where it is, I can show you. I need to check these out,” he said, pulling his books close again. He wasn’t making eye contact, more for his own comfort than anything else. “…You sound like you’ve got some stories to tell. About the strange things, in the city.”
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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 9:59 am
He grinned, pleased that it was so easy to get his own way, and while he was concerned for Evan’s safety, because he was. He didn’t want this boy getting chomped on by any rabid boars any more than he wanted that to happen to himself again, but.
But that was really half the reason he wanted to drive Evan home. The other half was the fact that he was quite sure, that the male would block his number if given the chance and he would never get the chance to try that delectable looking Mac and Cheese dish, cooked lovingly by this cutie pie in front of him.
“Do you like movies, Ev? Perhaps if our dinner goes well enough...I could take you out to the movies one day, if you’re feeling up to it.” He reached out and took Evan’s hand once again, nudging the books back on the table and using his other hand to cup the boy’s chin, lifting his face so he could look at him properly. “You don’t get a lot of people interested in you, huh? That why you seem like you have such low self esteem? I can’t imagine why, you seem like a great guy, and I am genuinely excited to get to know you better. And eat your cooking.”
He grinned, his dark eyes blazing.
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Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 10:00 am
The closeness made Evan tense; a part of him like the attention, liked the idea that someone could be interested in him. Maybe it was about the books, maybe it was about the food, or maybe it was just about his appearance, but for a moment, Evan wasn’t thinking about the vanity of basic human attraction.
Sometimes, he still forgot that he wasn’t a youma. Sometimes, when he felt very small, it was easy to remember when he was very small. He had been embarrassed several times during this conversation and now, looking up at Tobias, Evan felt small again.
Only, he wasn’t.
Tobias was attractive; he had handsome features and seemed like he took care of himself. And he was paying attention to Evan, for whatever reason.
Because Evan was a human, and that’s what humans did.
It was hard to look up at Tobias; the touch might have been gentle, but Evan felt trapped. He felt like he was being inspected, but it wasn’t even Tobias’ grip that made him feel like he couldn’t move or pull away. It was something in his eyes.
Or maybe it was the whole conversation.
His heart was pounding and he tried to swallow the new lump in his throat.
“It’s not that,” he whispered. “Not that, exactly, I mean. Usually I don’t let people get to know me enough to be interested in me. The self esteem thing, that’s…”
He cleared his throat. “That’s something else.”
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