Tweak

InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "My eyebrow is broken."

Username: 
Password:    
Remember Me
  • Create Account
  • IJ Login
  • OpenID Login
Search by : 
  • View
    • Create Account
    • IJ Login
    • OpenID Login
  • Journal
    • Post
    • Edit Entries
    • Customize Journal
    • Comment Settings
    • Recent Comments
    • Manage Tags
  • Account
    • Manage Account
    • Viewing Options
    • Manage Profile
    • Manage Notifications
    • Manage Pictures
    • Manage Schools
    • Account Status
  • Friends
    • Edit Friends
    • Edit Custom Groups
    • Friends Filter
    • Nudge Friends
    • Invite
    • Create RSS Feed
  • Asylums
    • Post
    • Asylum Invitations
    • Manage Asylums
    • Create Asylum
  • Site
    • Support
    • Upgrade Account
    • FAQs
    • Search By Location
    • Search By Interest
    • Search Randomly

Noah Gray [Heroes AU] ([info]sonofsylar) wrote in [info]colligo_threads,
@ 2009-08-25 22:22:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:!closed, gabriel 'sylar' gray

WHO: Noah Gray and Emma DeLauro; Sylar to join in a bit later
WHAT: Emma asked for Noah's help and he's happy to oblige.
WHEN: Right after this.
WHERE: #106D
RATING: TBD
STATUS: In Progress

Although Noah would admit that the new housing area was a little off the beaten path when compared to the location of the others, he was also grateful for the walk it took to get there as it gave him time to clear his head. Finding out that Emma lived directly next door to his parents had unnerved him a lot more than he'd let on. Someone as powerful as she was, with an ability like hers, was potentially in very real danger should Sylar ever learn of it. And with her being right next door, Noah knew the odds of that happening were doubled, if not tripled.

Plus there was the added question of whether or not Sylar would be able to tell he was visiting Emma and the subsequent questions that might follow. There was simply no way for him to explain why he was visiting her at such a late hour without delving into her ability and that was something he was simply not willing to consider doing. In the same vein, he couldn't refuse to help Emma after already agreeing, based solely upon her proximity to Sylar without explaining to her just why he was so hesitant to have the two of them cross paths.

It was quite a conundrum and finally he'd just decided that there was no easy solution and he was going to have to take his chances of running into Sylar in the hallway or something, because he couldn't bring himself not to help Emma. He wasn't a very good liar but he decided as his destination came into view that, if nothing else, he'd skirt around the real reason for his late-night vision to the point that hopefully innuendo would keep Sylar from figuring out what was really going on. Provided, of course, that they even crossed paths.

Stepping into the building, he made his way to room 106 and pointedly ignored even thinking about the room beside it as he raised his hand and knocked softly against the door.


(Post a new comment)


[info]telempath
2009-08-26 03:10 am UTC (link)
Emma had been laying on the floor in the dark after she'd turned off her PDA. She'd been attempting to block out all of the outside distracts that had been filtering in, spreading her consciousness outward only enough to be able to lock onto one singular point in the chaos. The happiness that was being exuded from next door was a comforting buoy in a sea of anger, irritation, and grief. That was, until he mind snapped away at the knock on the door, and Emma pushed herself to her feet, opening it without hesitation and smiling at the individual that she'd felt on the other side.

"Thank you," Emma managed through her squinting into the hallway. A migraine was thrumming behind her eyes, the feelings only compounding it, and the light just made it that much worse. "For doing this. I really hate to bother you, but I've been trying to go to sleep for the past two hours, and it hasn't been working," She said, stepping back so that he could enter the completely darkened apartment save for a few candles on the coffee table.

"One good night's sleep will... Well, it'll mean a lot to me. I don't think I've ever really had one."

(Reply to this) (Thread)


[info]sonofsylar
2009-08-26 11:33 pm UTC (link)
Noah gave her a smile that was sincere but also tinged with worry. Although unlike his walk over, his mind was no longer preoccupied with concern about Sylar's proximity or potential discovery of Emma's abilities but rather for Emma herself. She looked as though she didn't feel well. Strained, he supposed, was a good term. And the dark of the apartment only added credence to his worry for her.

Stepping inside, he glanced briefly around in order to take stock of the situation. Being constantly aware of his surroundings had saved his life on more than one occasion back home and, while some of his habits had fallen to the wayside upon arriving in Colligo, he doubted that was one that would ever completely leave him. Once he realized that the layout was identical to his own apartment, though, he relaxed ever so slightly and allowed his gaze to flicker back to the girl in front of him.

"You don't have to keep thanking me," he told her, the smile still in place as he stuffed his hands inside the pockets of his jeans. "Like I said before, if I can be of some help I definitely don't mind."

He wasn't sure quite what he felt at the admission that she had never had a good night of sleep. He understood nightmares and had been subject to quite his fair share of sleepless nights over the years but, much like when he had first learned that his grandmother didn't sleep very well due to her power, he knew that this was something entirely different than what he was used to. There was the typical feeling of... not necessarily pity, but not quite sorrow either. Rather a strange mixture of the two emotions rolled into one. He ignored it, though, and focused on correcting the problem as best he could.

"I'm not sure how long I'll be able to stop your ability," he admitted after a second. He shuffled from one foot to the next a bit awkwardly at the statement but knew he owed it to her to be honest. "Now that I know what to expect it shouldn't bowl me over like the last time but..." He gave a half-shrug and met her gaze directly with a partial frown aimed at his own inability to offer a guarantee.

"I just can't promise anything."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]telempath
2009-08-27 05:20 am UTC (link)
"Whatever you can do," Emma said gently, a quiet understanding in her voice as she settled a hand on his arm. She'd felt his reaction to her appearance, but those were emotions that she'd long since gotten used to feeling from those around her. It was a comfort, though, that he didn't feel either fully. Just enough that it was clear both were likely just a gut reaction instead of conscious. "Anything will be appreciated," She said, giving his arm a light squeeze as she guided him through the half dark and over to the couch, sitting the both of them down. It was better that they both be more comfortable. Especially if this was going to throw him for a loop and likely make her panic for a very brief moment. She didn't like being empty. She hated it, in fact. But the emptiness right now was preferable to pain and no sleep.

"Is there anything I can do to make it easier?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]sonofsylar
2009-08-27 01:13 pm UTC (link)
Noah flushed ever so slightly at the hand on his arm. Physical contact, while not something he was unfamiliar with at all, was something that he tended to only receive from his immediate family. To have someone he wasn't related to, or didn't at least know quite well and for years, well within the confines of his personal space and not trying to harm him, was a somewhat unique experience for him. Not unpleasant - definitely not - just different.

He followed her wordlessly to the couch, taking a seat and trying to remind himself that it wasn't going to be the end of the world if he could only buy her a few hours of respite. As she'd said, anything would be appreciated. So he didn't need to push himself too hard (even though he knew he would) and he didn't need to beat himself up once he simply couldn't contain her ability within him anymore (even though, again, he knew he would). He just had to relax, do what came naturally, and hope that maybe he'd get lucky and when he returned her ability to her she'd be in a deep enough slumber that it wouldn't wake her instantly.

Her question pulled him from his mental musings and he smiled, giving a light shake of his head. "Just... relax," he told her. Sitting up a bit straighter, he rubbed his palms absently against his jean-clad thighs and half-turned so he was facing her a little better. Then he raised his right hand ever so slightly and waved his fingers a bit. Not much - a barely noticeable movement unless you were watching for it - but it was enough.

Feeling the first bit of her ability instantly try to force its way back up from wherever it went when he negated it, Noah dug his left hand into his thigh and kept at it. Slowly, not even half as fast as he'd done it the last time, he began to make her ability shut itself down so that there was nothing but a normal, everyday girl sitting beside him instead of the veritable powerhouse that Emma normally happened to be.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]telempath
2009-08-29 05:42 am UTC (link)
Emma felt the pain ebbing away, being replaced slowly by that dull, empty feeling that had come so quickly before. But this time, she'd been prepared for it, slowly her breathing, focusing her own thoughts to keep from panicking. After a few seconds, the initial fear started to drain away from her, and she was able to accept the relief that the absence of pain was. Her head was tilted against the back of the couch, her eyes blinking sleepily as she peered at him through half lidded blue eyes, a grateful smile gracing her features.

"Are you all right?" Emma asked. She knew that she was perfectly fine, better than she had been most of the day, and right now, her concern was focused on him. He'd been bowled over by it last time, like a sucker punch in the gut. The last thing that she wanted right now was for him to get into that position again. He'd already done more than enough for her. The last thing that she wanted was for him to strain his limits just because he felt he had to.

"If you need to lay down, there are better places that you're less likely to roll off of."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]sonofsylar
2009-08-30 02:56 am UTC (link)
It wasn't easy, but it wasn't half as overwhelming as it had been the last time he'd negated her ability. Noah supposed that was in part because he was taking his time and also due to him being a little more prepared for what was in store for him. Even if it was some other reason entirely, though, he found himself grateful. Yes, he was strained and he had a feeling he was going to end up with a headache when it was all said and done. But for the time being he was doing better than expected and the slight smile he gave her revealed as much.

"I'm... well, fine would be a lie, but it's easier than before," he answered truthfully. It wasn't that Noah couldn't lie or didn't. He could, he did, and at times he would admit that it was somewhat justified to do so. However he didn't want to lie to Emma and especially not about this. He wanted to appear strong enough to handle it and more importantly wanted to be strong enough to handle it, but he knew that a lie would be shown for what it was soon enough and he didn't want her trust in him to be ruined.

Rather than try to keep up the bravado he did allow himself to rest against the back part of the couch and slowly exhaled. His eyes slid shut for a second so he could compose himself as his own ability began to work at an active pace to keep hers from surging back to life. Re-opening his eyes, he gave her another smile.

"Feeling well enough to sleep?" he asked curiously. Part of him hoped that she wasn't, not quite yet, as he enjoyed her company. Yet another part of him hoped that she could if only because that was the reason she'd asked him to help and it was obvious she needed some solid, uninterrupted rest for a change.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]telempath
2009-08-30 04:11 am UTC (link)
"I'm feeling a lot better," Emma said, smiling at him as she reached out, brushing back the hair that had fallen down into his eyes. "But I think I need to get a bit more used to feeling this way before I try and go to sleep. Better learn to control the panic that wants to rise," She said softly. Not to mention that she really did want to talk to him a bit more. She hated the idea that she'd only asked him over just for a favor. It seemed...incredibly selfish, and as desperate as she had been at the time, she could see that now.

"And I know you told me not to, but thank you. Truly," Emma said. "You're a good person, Noah."

She could feel that, even as conflicted as he seemed to be internally at times, there were a clear undercurrent of goodness in all of it. She had learned a long time ago that someone didn't have to be pure of duty to be pure of heart and that someone pure of duty could be as blackhearted as they came. Noah fell into the former of the two categories, and even if she couldn't feel it now, she knew that it was true.

"So. Your parents are right next door, huh?" She asked after a moment with a teasing smile. "Think they can tell you're here?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]sonofsylar
2009-08-30 05:38 am UTC (link)
He flushed ever so slightly at her light touch against his hair. Grateful that she currently couldn't sense the strange mixture of arousal and embarrassment that he was feeling, Noah shifted a bit so that he had a better view of her and allowed a somewhat relaxed, lazy smile to drift across his face. "Take all the time you need," he assured her. Granted he didn't literally mean it, and he assumed she'd know that, but there wasn't any rush. He could maintain control for a lot longer now that he'd taken his time and suppressed her ability the right way instead of just doing it via a 'knee-jerk' reaction in a crowded gym like before.

There was a slight flush to his cheeks at her compliment but he didn't bother arguing the point. He tried to be a good person. He knew he fell short of the mark at times, but it did make him feel a bit better to hear someone acknowledge his attempts at least. Even if he thought she was mostly saying it out of some sense of obligation.

So instead he stayed quiet, the smile he was wearing dimming a bit at the mention of his parents. He sat up a bit, glancing over his shoulder at the wall that separated the apartment he was in from the one where his parents were located. After a second, he looked back at Emma.

"I'm pretty sure Sylar can," he stated simply. He couldn't bring himself to say 'my dad'. He wanted to, but he just couldn't. Writing it was one thing. Saying it out loud - especially where the man could potentially hear him? That was something else entirely.

A bit more of a fidget and Noah sighed softly. "With him, though," he admitted, "it's hard to tell what he can and can't do. I'm not sure what abilities he's managed to pick up or what ones he actively uses and what ones are just... there." He didn't really want to discuss this, not here and now, but now that the topic of his parents had been broached, he felt almost obligated to do his best to explain if only to ensure Emma's own safety.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]telempath
2009-08-30 05:45 am UTC (link)
"Sylar?" the question in her statement was practically obvious. "You call your Dad by his first name?" What kind of name was Sylar, anyway? She had heard it as a last name before, sure, occasionally, but as a first, it seemed to have a distinct ring of someone who didn't have any idea what they were doing when they were naming their son.

But the rest of Noah's statement was much more confusing. Abilities he had picked up? So. His father was like Peter? He could use the abilities of others. Was he the same way, that he just apparently had to be close enough to them?

"Well... Would he have gotten mine?" Emma asked, glancing at the wall that separated the two rooms as well. "Peter seemed to have picked it up without me having any idea about it. Is it something like that?"

She had to admit that she was curious. None of the Children of Genomex that she'd met before could use other people's abilities.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]sonofsylar
2009-08-30 06:01 am UTC (link)
"No," Noah replied, lips turned ever so slightly downward as he shook his head. "His name is Gabriel. Or, at least, my dad's name is Gabriel. This version of him goes by Sylar. He-" The teenager paused, not wanting to say 'he's not a good man' because, well, he couldn't exactly say that now could he? He knew what he'd been told, of course, but he also knew that the Sylar he'd met in this place wasn't the same as the one he'd been warned about. It was part of the issue he was having in being around the man, in fact. The image he had in his head and the one that was a reality here simply didn't add up.

With a soft sigh, Noah tried another angle. "Remember when I said that the version of my parents that were here were younger, alternate versions than the ones I was used to? That's one of the differences. Back home, my dad goes by Gabriel and I call him dad. He stopped being Sylar before I was even born. The one that's here, though, is still Sylar. And... I just can't really bring myself to call him 'dad'."

That made sense, right? Noah thought so, at least, so he pressed onward despite the fact that every single fiber of his being wanted nothing more than to change the subject. He couldn't, though. She needed to know. She deserved the truth.

"Intuitive aptitude." He said the words with a heavy heart, brow furrowing slightly. "That's the name of his original ability. He just... knows how things work. Including how someone's power works, and how to use it himself. The only problem is-" Again he hesitated, spent a few seconds making sure that his preoccupation with the subject wasn't causing her ability to re-assert itself. He met her gaze and finally just said what needed to be said.

"There are two ways he can get someone's ability. He can form some kind of... empathic bond with them, which is a pretty drawn-out process unless he has a lot in common with them. Or," he sighed, "he can kill them. Examine their brain, figure it out that way."

Noah paused there, not wanting to say anything more until she'd had a chance to digest what he'd just told her. He felt slightly sickened and knew it had very little to do with the heavy feeling of her ability trying to claw its way back into action and had a lot to do with the current subject. Not to mention the worry that she was going to refuse to even so much as speak to him again, once she found out that the man with whom he shared half of his DNA was capable of being a cold-blooded killer.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]telempath
2009-09-01 01:44 am UTC (link)
Emma had to laugh a bit, even if it was a mostly sad laugh, raising a hand to press against her forehead, "Apparently Gabriel is a very popular name for people that have a habit of killing their own kind," She said, rubbing her forehead before heaving a heavy sigh. This was... a lot to take in. Still, even if it was confusing for him, there was that potential there. "If he stopped before, he can do it again, right?"

Ashlocke had been a sociopath. He hadn't cared who he hurt or what he destroyed to get what he wanted. But if Noah's father was really and truly capable of changing...

"He doesn't feel evil," Emma said gently. "Confused, lost, angry, desperate, but far from evil," she said, reaching out and settling a hand lightly on his arm. "And trust me, I know what evil feels like."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]sonofsylar
2009-09-01 02:15 am UTC (link)
Noah didn't agree or disagree. He didn't make so much as a sound. He simply let her words register in his mind. After several seconds, he finally stated, "Just because his ability drives him to kill doesn't automatically make him evil." It was as close to a compromise as he could come. Sylar was an unflinching killer. There was no denying that. That didn't mean he was evil incarnate, though.

It also didn't mean that he had to approve, either.

Shifting ever so slightly, he gave Emma a semi-smile. "I'm hoping he can change," he confided, voice little more than a murmur. "My dad... he doesn't have to be badass to be awesome. And that might sound stupid or whatever but, it's true."

Noah shrugged. "I'm just not sure that this version of him really gets that," he admitted. "Although having a kid with my mom is part of what helped him before. Who knows. Maybe this new baby will do the same." Then he smiled a little bigger.

"And enough about me and my messed up family. New subject, if you don't mind," he said lightly.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]telempath
2009-09-06 04:52 am UTC (link)
Emma laughed at his last statement, a wistful smile crossing her face, "Hey, don't knock it. I would have given a lot for a messed up family that stuck around," She said, reaching out and nudging his shoulder lightly. She had a messed up family to call her own, truly, but only in vague memories that came before she was dropped off to be fostered to people who were ready to be parents in a way that hers weren't.

"My parents left when I was ten. I haven't heard from them since," She said, allowing her eyes to close for a moment as the exhaustion was starting to creep up on her. "It's partly true, you know. That foster homes can turn you into a teenager delinquent," She said, half mumbling the last statement before she forced her eyes back open.

"All right. I think maybe I'm ready to sleep."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]sonofsylar
2009-09-06 05:25 am UTC (link)
She was right, of course. He should be grateful for the family he had, for the fact that his parents were here - even if they were some alternate, younger versions that he wasn't familiar with. He wasn't alone, and that was what really mattered.

He just wish that it wasn't quite as messed up as it all was. That, at the very least, he could get a grasp on this version of Sylar that was nothing like the version he'd been told about. Warned about. Trained to stop, if it ever proved necessary.

Noah didn't allow himself to dwell on the thoughts for long, though, too busy listening to Emma's own tale. Her parents had just... abandoned her? At age ten?

"Their loss," he finally stated, and knew it to be true. She was... well, truthfully, Noah wasn't sure he could quite explain just how he saw Emma. He just knew she was something special and that anyone who would abandon her clearly didn't deserve her in the slightest.

When she at long last admitted what was quickly becoming obvious to him, Noah simply gave her a relaxed smile of his own. "Okay," he agreed. Pleasure swelled within him at the thought that he'd actually been able to help. He wasn't sure how long he could last once she was actually asleep, but at least he'd helped her get there and he'd stick it out for as long as he could manage.

"Good night," he murmured after a second's pause. "And sweet dreams."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]telempath
2009-09-06 05:38 am UTC (link)
Standing, Emma stretched, lingering near the couch for a moment as she smiled sleepily down at him, "Aren't you coming?" She asked, a playful lilt in her voice as she offered her hands out to help him stand up. "I promise, you can sneak out as soon as I'm asleep," She said, smiling a bit deeper. "But I'm not exactly keen on the idea of trying to actually conk on when I'm on my own."

Even if that was partly because of a rather childish fear of being alone. not being able to feel anyone right now, as much as she was starting to calm down from the feeling and get used to it, was not what was used to. Normally, she faded off to sleep with the presence of several other people well aware in the back of her mind, so much that she knew that even if she wasn't physically close to those individuals, they were there.

Right now, though, she didn't have that.

So the physical closeness would help.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]sonofsylar
2009-09-06 05:57 am UTC (link)
Noah blinked, certain that he'd heard her wrong for a moment. When she assured him that he could leave as soon as she was asleep, however, he knew he'd heard her right. By the time she'd finished giving her reason why, he'd already placed his hands in hers and begun to rise to his feet.

He stayed where he stood for a moment after getting upright. The room swam in front of his vision, briefly, before settling down around him. Once he was certain he wasn't going to tip back over onto the couch, he said softly, "Not a problem."

And it wasn't a problem for him. Yes, it was somewhat awkward. But, Emma had asked and Noah wasn't about to deny her request.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]telempath
2009-09-06 06:20 am UTC (link)
"You look like you're about ready to fall over, too," Emma said, her arm looping lightly with his to keep him as his feet as she headed from the sitting area towards her room. He really was a dear for putting up with her like this and for going to these lengths. She wasn't even sure that she could manage to thank him properly after all of this, express just how grateful she was for him trying to managing to make her feel so much better.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]sonofsylar
2009-09-06 06:38 am UTC (link)
Noah knew better than to put up any act of bravado. He was well aware of the slight trembling in his limbs and his paler than usual complexion. However he couldn't help but assure her, "I'll be fine."

Because, while he did feel like he might crumple beneath his wobbly legs at any given moment, falling flat on his rear wasn't going to cause any permanent damage - aside from maybe a bruised ego.

Still, his weakened state got him a chance to be closer to Emma so he certainly wasn't complaining. He simply let her lead him in the direction of her room and focused on making sure that his feet kept up. After a few steps, he added, "Besides, you needed help. What kind of guy would I be if I said no just because it might be a little tough?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]telempath
2009-09-06 06:47 am UTC (link)
"A normal one," Emma said with a slight laugh, leaning over and pecking his cheek. "Instead of you."

Pushing open the door to her room and leaving it open so that he could sneak out easily whenever she managed to pass out, Emma crossed over the bed, gently letting go of his arm as she kicked off her shoes and crawled into the bed, shuffling under the covers and kicking her pants off into the floor after she had, scooting over as soon as all of that was done to make room for him to sit down. Turning over on her side, tucking her arms around the pillow, Emma smiled up at him.

"I hope this isn't too awkward."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]sonofsylar
2009-09-06 07:05 am UTC (link)
At the comment, Noah smiled. At the kiss, however, he couldn't help but blush. His cheek tingled from where her lips had brushed against it and his stomach tightened ever so slightly at the feel of her soft skin. It wasn't a feeling he was used to and certainly wasn't accustomed to kisses - even chaste pecks on the cheeks - from girls in general. Especially ones that he found himself beginning to have a crush on.

Fortunately, his thoughts were stopped at that point as they'd reached her room. He half-turned as she slid into bed, waiting until she seemed settled before making his way to the edge and sitting down. Noah peered down at her, throat suddenly tight as he tried to speak. After a second, however, he managed to form words as well as another, somewhat shy, smile.

"It's awkward," he admitted, "but not in a bad way... if that makes any sense?" He wasn't sure it would, to anyone but him anyway, but he found that the new experience wasn't something he objected. He simply wasn't sure quite how to react to it. But it definitely wasn't a bad thing, not by any means.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]telempath
2009-09-11 01:33 am UTC (link)
"Awkward in an 'I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to be doing right now, and I don't want to cock it up' sort of way?" Emma asked, a playful yet tired smile gracing her features as she slipped one hand out to take one of his, turning his hand down on the down, palm up, tracing her fingers idly over the lines.

"You have a really jagged fate line, you know," Emma said, looking up at him. "There's barely a point here that's connected."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]sonofsylar
2009-09-11 02:42 am UTC (link)
"Yeah," he heard himself agreeing even though he didn't want to, necessarily. He worried that'd make him sound even more unaccustomed to something like this than he was. But he wasn't about to lie and, besides, he had admitted it was awkward himself.

Then he discovered a whole new meaning of the word when she took his hand in hers. In fact, he was pretty sure his heart skipped a beat or two, and he knew that his stomach dropped all the way to his feet.

Swallowing hard, he slowly raised his gaze from their hands to her face when she spoke. Noah barely heard what she said but, once it had registered, he blinked before frowning ever so slightly in confusion. "My fate line?" he echoed. Peering down at his own hand, he didn't see what she meant. All he saw were lines across his palm.

"What's that mean, that it's jagged?" he asked a second later as he looked back to her. She looked exhausted and, briefly, he felt bad for asking a question that might make her stay awake even longer. But... she was the one who had brought it up and now he was curious.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]telempath
2009-09-12 06:31 am UTC (link)
"It means..." Emma started, frowning to herself as she traced her finger lightly over the line again, mentally counting the disjunctions. She had five within her own fate line. Two in childhood, three in adulthood, but his seemed to be divided at practically every mark. "It means that your life is pulled and pushed in directions by forces that are outside of your control," She said, looking up at him. "Every division is a point where they life was shoved into a direction that you couldn't keep it from going in," She said, frowning softly as she looked back down at his hand, tracing her finger slowly back up the line until she reached the first division. "So young," She said, almost whispered it to herself.

There was part of her that still put a lot of stock into the things that her mother had taught her while she was still a child. Astrology, palm reading, so many of the different 'sciences' that were considered odd and 'out there' for most people. Sure, a lot of it was conjecture, guessing, some of it was flat out lies, but palm reading was one of the few things that she had seen more often than not have some sort of substantial bearing even if it was still a bunch of hocus pocus. Of course, what they could do was also a bunch of hocus pocus.

Her fixation, however, was broken as she realized just how this had to seem, having the decency to look sheepish as she smiled lightly up at Noah, gently letting go of his hand.

"Not that it really means anything," She said. "It's certainly not scientific."

(Reply to this) (Parent)


[info]sonofsylar
2009-09-13 04:51 am UTC (link)
He was hanging onto her every word, his brow furrowed not in displeasure but rather concentration. By the time she pulled her hand away, he realized two things with startling, crystal clarity. The first was that he thought he might know just when it was she was talking about, in regards to the first jagged spot on his fate line. The second was that he missed the feel of her hand against his almost the instant that she pulled away.

"You have enough power to probably wipe out this whole city without much effort and I can stop someone from going nuclear just by focusing hard enough," he pointed out in a somewhat sardonic tone as he met her gaze with a hint of a grin. "Science only holds so much weight for me and definitely doesn't make something more or less legitimate."

Straightening up a bit, he scooted around so he was more firmly on the mattress rather than merely hanging on the very edge. As he leaned up against the headboard, Noah peered down at his own palm for a minute. When he spoke again, his voice was quiet. Contemplative.

"I was four, when I found out that people could have special abilities." His gaze slid away from his own hand, back to Emma. His expression was carefully neutral but his eyes were filled with the memory of that fateful day. "People broke into my house and wanted to capture my uncle. My dad told me to hide and I was going to hide behind the kitchen table. Instead I ended up going to this little... hidden hole in the wall that I'd only just found a week or so before."

He exhaled slowly, the corner of his lips quirking upward as he met and held her gaze. "I don't think my dad and Knox fought for more than two minutes before there was nothing left of that table besides a few pieces of broken wood. I would have been killed for sure, if I'd hidden there, and might have been killed anyway if my mom hadn't shown up and evened the odds a little bit." Noah closed his hand into a fist and dropped it back into his lap.

He stopped speaking there, re-focusing his efforts on keeping her ability at bay as he let his emotions from the memory die back down. He'd never told anyone about that day before and, idly, wondered why he'd told her now. A quick glance at his now-fisted hand gave him his answer and he looked back at her with a little bit of a smile.

"So, like I said. Science or not, there might just be something to this whole fate line idea."

(Reply to this) (Thread)


[info]telempath
2009-09-13 05:23 am UTC (link)
Emma's hand settled lightly on his arm. As tired as she was starting to get and without her powers intact, she appreciated and understood how hard it must have been for him to tell her that. It certainly didn't sound like that sort of thing that he would just go around telling people especially since she knew how private of a person Noah felt like.

"I found out when I was five," Emma said, smiling gently up at him. "My parents had taken me to a rock concert with them, and I got lost in the crowd afterward. I couldn't hear them, and they couldn't hear me. And there were too many people, and I was too low to the ground to be able to see through the crowd. But I wanted to find them so badly that I just... Reached out until I felt them. Even through all the disorientation of the crowd, I knew what they felt like. I'd just never actively searched before then. That was the first time I ever thought that...maybe what I could do wasn't something that everyone could, that maybe I just a little bit different from everyone else."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]sonofsylar
2009-09-13 05:34 am UTC (link)
Noah had a mixture of emotions he felt at her tale. Firstly, he was touched that'd she'd share something like that with him - nevermind that he'd told her something equally personal. Secondly, he was... shocked, to put it mildly, that she spoke so easily about parents who would take their five-year-old to a rock concert in the first place, much less lose them while there. Such a concept wasn't something that he could easily understand, namely because he couldn't imagine his own parents doing something like that. Yes, they had their own share of faults but being irresponsible when it came to his safety wasn't one of them.

Still, Emma had mentioned that she didn't necessarily have a family of her own so he guessed that talking about parents who weren't in her life wasn't as difficult as he might think it would be. Either way, it was clear she was exhausted and he was starting to feel the beginnings of a headache behind his eyes, so he wasn't going to dwell on the thought any longer.

Instead he gave her another smile and replied, "I'm glad that you're different. I'm not sure I'd know how to act around someone who was completely normal and didn't know what kind of responsibility came with having an ability." Then, quite without thinking, he reached out and gently brushed a lock of her hair away from her face before adding quietly, "And you should get some rest while you can. I'll stay right here until you're asleep. I promise."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]telempath
2009-09-13 05:46 am UTC (link)
Emma smiled, her cheeks tinging a little as she blinked her eyelids. They were quickly growing heavy, and he was probably right. She shouldn't try and fight it any longer. Even if there was part of her that really didn't want to drift off and have him leave. But then again... "I am having a hard time keep my eyes open," She said, smiling as she finally allowed them to close and didn't bother opening them again.

"Thank you, Noah. Truly. You're a good friend."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]sonofsylar
2009-09-13 06:05 am UTC (link)
He didn't respond to her statement. Even if she were still awake, he wouldn't have known what to say. Out of all of the people that he knew, out of everyone that he'd helped and those he hadn't been able to, Noah honestly wasn't sure he could ever remember any of them calling him a friend. At least, not in the actual, real definition of the word. Maybe, once or twice, when someone was trying to manipulate him to get him to tip the odds in their favor in a fight... but considering he mostly spent his time with his family, that didn't happen often. And really, what self-proclaimed teenager was actually friends with their own parents?

So it was a foreign concept to him and, while unexpected, he realized as he simply studied her relaxed form that he rather liked the thought. Granted he would like something... more, when it came to Emma. He wasn't an idiot. He knew what a crush felt like and he knew he had a rather strong one on the girl lying beside him. However, he also knew that they had to start somewhere, and that being a friend was better than being someone she didn't know. Or, worse than that, an enemy.

And if a friend was all he'd ever be to her, well, Noah decided with a small grin that he could accept that as well.

He wasn't sure how long the thoughts continued to churn through his mind but waited until her breathing had been evenly spaced for quite some time before finally beginning to move. Slowly, gently, he slid his arm across the bed and held his hand above her forehead. He didn't need any movements to make his ability work, especially to return someone's own ability to them, but it helped to keep him a little more in control. And considering the sheer power that he was dealing with, he wanted all of the control he could manage.

So with a soft exhale, he slowly began to release his hold over her ability. He felt it rush back to the surface, churning like a malevolent sea that refused to be placated. Rather than let it out in one giant wave, though, he created a mere crack and, slowly but surely, allowed it to seep back through again. The entire time he worked, he kept his gaze on Emma for any signs of distress or waking. By the time he'd finished giving her back her ability, his arm was trembling and there was a light sheen of sweat across his forehead.

Wiping it on the back of his arm, he withdrew his hand and slid completely from the bed. In the doorway, Noah glanced back one last time and then he left, his footsteps as silent as falling snow as he exited her bedroom, and then her apartment. It wasn't until he was in the hallway outside that he allowed himself to breath fully once more, back pressed against the wall and eyes sliding closed in a brief display of just how much of a toll her ability took out of him.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]inaworldsocold
2009-09-13 06:32 am UTC (link)
"You look like death warmed over," Sylar said, the door to his own apartment having cracked open a little over a second after Noah had exited Emma's apartment. Sylar had been able to tell that his son had entered the older girl's apartment, but he hadn't actually snooped past that realization. He'd been vaguely aware when they had moved, and the second that he'd been able to tell that Noah was leaving the apartment, he'd excused himself and went out to meet him.

"You certainly can't walk all the way back across town like that," Sylar said, crossing over to Noah and settling a hand on his shoulder. He knew how awkward this likely was going to be. He knew that he and Noah still had a lot that they had to talk about, a lot that they had to work out, but right now, he wanted to try and make sure that his son wasn't going to do something stupid and end up passed out in the street half way back to his own apartment. "We've still got the spare room. You'll stay with us tonight."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]sonofsylar
2009-09-13 06:42 am UTC (link)
And, there it was. The headache that had slowly been forming behind his eyes spilled over into a full-fledged migraine at the voice that greeted him. If he weren't so exhausted Noah probably would have sighed rather melodramatically and possibly flinched away from the unexpected hand upon his shoulder. Instead he simply cracked open one eye and peered up at the man with a slight furrowing of his brow.

"I'll be fine," he stated. His voice sounded hollow to his own ears. Drained. Much like the rest of him felt at the moment. "I just need a few minutes to collect myself. I've been through worse."

Still uncertain as to what abilities this version of Sylar had in his veritable arsenal, Noah made a point to keep his thoughts as clear from Emma has he could manage. Which really, wasn't all that easy. The more he tried not to think about her, and her ability, and that being the reason he was so damned worn out, the more he couldn't think about anything but all of that. So to try and steer his thoughts away in a bit more productive of a fashion, he glanced past Sylar to the door he'd exited from.

"How's my mom?"

There wasn't any accusation in his tone - if nothing else, his chat with Emma had made it quite clear to him that Sylar had no intention of harming his mother. Instead he just sounded curious, as well as exhausted... although honestly, he couldn't help that part at the moment.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

Home | Site Map | Manage Account | TOS | Privacy | Support | FAQs