Who: Noah and Kevin Where: Sunny's Diner When: Early Morning - Sun
Kevin found himself at a diner early Sunday morning. Always an early riser he was pleasently surprised to find it calm and quiet. Actually expecting a church crowd of elderly citizens, he easily found a booth for himself and his sketch book. With the chilly morning he had grabbed his black hoodie throwing it over his Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt he'd gotten at a D.A.V. store on an outing trip with his friend/father figure Harold, he made note to go try and find a rain coat that didn't have holes. Looking over the menu he studied the foods presented to him with almost a new light. He could choose what he got, it was always an amazement to him, even a few weeks of it still made him giddy. Deciding on the southwest omelette with a side of toast, extra bacon, and sausage links with coffee and orange juice to drink he let the waitress take his menu as he sat happily waiting on his food sipping the complementary water.
Aden wanted pancakes. And not just any pancakes but pancakes from the diner. Noah wasn't one to deny his son anything he wanted but at the same time, he hated to give the little boy junk food. Noah just wasn't fond of diner food in general. It was greasy and unhealthy and though Aden had a stomach of steel, Noah did not. However this morning he decided to indulge his little boy and let them go out for breakfast. They both had a shower that morning (a quick hair wash for Aden anyway) and the two of them got dressed in some nice clothes and headed on out to the diner. It wasn't a long drive to Sunny's, but they'd made the trek enough times before for Aden to rib his dad about going to slow and he could walk faster then the car could drive them. His little boy a bit full of piss and vinegar this morning without his counter part Caius to play about with. Noah would be glad when the two of them were at the house all the time, it kept Aden occupied and that usually also meant that Rowena would be there, and he wanted her to be there always if he could have it his way.
They entered the diner and slipped in to a booth once situated. He took Aden's jacket off and the little boy automatically pushed the child's menu away from him. That was a silly notion wasn't it? A four year old with a child's menu? Of course...who would have thought. "Daddy I want them big pancakes. The big ones from that menu there." He drawled to his dad across the table, and looking around. Aden liked the diner for some odd reason and Noah could never really figure out why. It wasn't like there were toys or games, it was just a regular old fashioned diner.
"You'll get what I order you Aden." Noah teased his son, knowing full well he'd get his son a short stack and that after one pancake he'd be eating the rest. This was possibly why Noah always had an upset stomach after eating at the diner, he ate about two breakfasts worth. He looked over the menu but knew it well enough already not to worry about ordering off it. Noah listened to the man across the aisle give his order to the waitress before she turned and took their order. Noah ordered his son a stack of pancakes and a glass of milk, himself a cup of coffee and eggs over medium with toast. Maybe if he ordered something smaller this time... When the waitress left, Aden, was looking over at the man across the booth. Noah was just about to chide him for starring when Aden opened his mouth.
"Boy mister you sure well ordered lots. You must be real hungry." Aden called across the aisle.
"Aden, that's rude." He drawled at his son, but Aden, being full of piss and vinegar ignored him, continuing to look at the man.
Kevin blinked a moment before looking over at the small boy across the aisle from him. Putting on a smile he waved to the boy and the man. "It's alright," he chuckled. "I sure am, it sounds like you've got a hefty load yourself there. If you're not too careful you're gonna get eating your dad out of food at home." It was a joke and an innocent one at that. Even if he'd been in a mental institution for most of his life that didn't mean that he didn't know how to work with others, even children. He liked them better than adults sometimes. Children tend to be very honest about things while adults try to hide it. Most adults anyways. "I'd watch him if I were you," he chuckled looking up at the father. "He's a smart one."
Noah smiled at the man who said it was okay. Aden tended to be a conversation started even when Noah wasn't in the mood. He just had that habit and it drove his father crazy sometimes. The young boy just liked to talk and Noah couldn't control his mouth most of the time. Aden was coming out of his shell more and more since he'd had Caius to play with. The older boy was a good influence on his son though, at least, that's what he'd been hoping for. He knew that Caius liked having Aden following him around, idolizing him to a point. Caius meant more freedom from Noah for Aden, and clearly that was a very good thing as Noah tended to depend on his son just a touch more then any man normally would. Or a lot more. Noah just didn't want to admit that.
"I can eat all them pancakes no problem." he said to the man. "I'm a big boy."
"You'll eat 'bout one and give the rest of 'em to me. At least that's what I'm countin' on. I didn't order much for myself." Noah said to his son and then smiled at the other man. "He already does at home. I've got him to feed and my girlfriend's son, can't imagine what it's goin' to be like when they become teenagers." He shook his head. It was the truth after all and he hoped Rowena would be around that long. Hoping. He nodded his head at the man's observation of Aden. "He's goin' to be smarter then his daddy that's for sure."
Aden looked around the restaurant. "You eatin' 'lone mister?" he asked the man again curiously.
Noah would have reprimanded him for being noisy but he had the feeling he wasn't going to win this morning. So he just smiled apologetically.
"Nope," Kevin chuckled before holding up a mediumish sketch book. "Got my good friend Rufus here too." He never left the house without that thing. It was if it were his conjoined twin. "Do you like to draw?" He pulled out a plain pencil he kept for something like this. Someone wants to draw or write something down real quick and no one has a pencil handy, well Kevin does! That and he was kind of possesive of his charcoal. It was something special and kind of expensive to just he tossing around like a mechanical pencil.
Aden looked around for this Rufus character and looked confused. "I don't see nobody." he frowned still looking for this elusive Rufus. "What's your friend look like?" He asked peering around behind his father.
"I think he means his book, Aden." Noah provided chuckling. Aden, while he was smart, was still only just turning five. He could still be fooled by such things. Noah would be sad the day came that his son was smarter then the sweet boy he was now. When you couldn't pull a fast one on him anymore was the day Noah was going to have to hang up his hat on being the one that relied on his son. Until he knew better though, the boy would be what kept him together. By then hopefully he'd have Rowena around on a more permanent basis and he wouldn't need to worry about his urges anymore. Terrible, nasty urges that they were.
"You call your book Rufus. That's about silly ain't it? You should be eatin' with humans, books don't make much for conversation." he said to the other man. "I like to draw. I'm real good at drawin' pigs." It was something completely random that came out of Aden's mouth and Noah had no idea where it came from... Kids. "You want to sit with us and have your breakfast? Won't be botherin' us none." Aden offered and Noah almost groaned.
"Aden leave that poor man 'lone now. You're botherin' him." Noah actually said seriously. He turned to the other man, "I'm so sorry 'bout him, he's just full of it this mornin'."
Kevin just smiled and nodded. "Here how about you teach your dad how to draw pigs till your food comes and then let him try a few times to see if he can or not," he threw a wink at Noah as he tore off a piece of paper before getting up. Smiling down at the boy he handed him the piece of paper and the pencil. "Besides Rufus is my best friend. He's a great listener." he gave the child another smile as his food came. Sitting back down he smiled and thanked the waitress before he went to take a sip of his coffee. Making a quick face at how hot it was, he stuck just the tip of his finger into the cup instantly cooling it down to his liking before taking a more generous drink. Kevin wasn't one to hide who he was, but he also wasn't going to be flamboyant about it. Seriously, who in their right mind would let a schizophrenic elemental near them or their family? Subtltey was his friend.
Aden was interested in the piece of paper put in front of him, and the pencil. He immediately began to draw what he wanted to draw, ignoring the suggestion that he should show his dad how to draw pigs. "Daddy takes care of pigs, he don't need to know how to draw 'em, he sees 'em all the time." He said nonchalantly, distracted now that he had something to do.
Noah smiled at the man. "I'm a veterinarian, deal in live stock too." Noah explained. He held out his hand for the man to shake. "Doctor Noah Roberts." he said, and shaking the man's hand once it was offered. He let the man go back to his meal though as it was being served. He knew if he wanted to be left in peace the last thing he wanted was a kid bugging him. The waitress put down his coffee and said their food would be out shortly. He stirred in a sugar and some cream watching over his son as the little boy continued to draw.
Aden left the man alone for the next few moments, that was until the man put his finger in his coffee, making the steam disappear from it. "Whoa." He said his eyes going wide and looking at the man. "Hey mister what did you just do to that there cup a coffee?" He asked, actually getting up and going over to look to see what he did.
"Aden Roberts get your little behind back here and sit on down." Noah drawled at him with an annoyed tone but Aden, being Aden that morning ignored his dad. Noah had seen it too, but Noah wasn't so open about his abilities. It wasn't something he wanted to display.
"It's just a trick my mom showed me how to do when I was younger. Though back then I used hot cocoa," he chuckled. "It's a family secret though, so I can't tell you." Kevin watched the young boy bolt over to stare at his cup of coffee. He'd gotten a few looks before for being semi-open about his powers, but nothing threatening against him. "How's your drawing coming?" He asked changing the subject, hoping the boy would follow. Hearding the the father's tone, he was going to play it cool.
Noah had nothing against people who decided to be open about their differences, but he and Rowena decided to keep their supernatural abilities a secret, to protect their family. He may have been an elemental, but Rowena was the one that was hunted every month. Being a were was much more at risk to being found out and hurt then he was. He could always just set the person on fire if he needed to. Rowena still wasn't shifting by herself yet and she couldn't just make a quick get away if she needed to. He wondered idly if he should find somebody to help her with that. Then there was always Isis...maybe she could give Rowena some tips.
Aden was having none of his father's tone, nor was he having the change of topic. He was a kid, they were sometimes so set on one thing that there was little you could do to deter them. They were like elephants, they never forgot. Only when it was convenient for them. "Cool! Can you teach me?" he asked, ignoring the question about drawing. "I wanna know how to do that." He said climbing up in to the booth beside the man.
"Aden Roberts. Where the cotton pickin' hell have your manners gone and run off to?" Noah groaned but didn't get up. "I really am sorry 'bout him." Noah apologized again. He'd be learning his son of some manners later that afternoon if he didn't shape up real quick. Aden just got real comfy real quick with people.
"It's ok, he's just curious is all," Kevin chuckled. "I'm Kevin Fitzgerald by the way," he said looking back over at Noah before looking down at Aden. "I'm sorry kiddo, but like I said I can't. My mom made me promise not to tell. You know how important it is to keep a promise no matter how small right?" He glanced over at the clock for a split second to check on the time. It was about 6:45 AM and he needed to take his medicine by 7:15 at the latest after he ate. The way things were going now though, he'd have to go to the bathroom to do so so he wouldn't get twenty questions about his pills and labeled a druggie.
"So long as he ain't botherin' you." Noah said with a small sigh. "Nice to meet you Kevin." he said watching Aden. Of course, this man was a stranger, but if he got at all odd around his son, Noah had no hesitation of burning him up right then and there. He was slightly wary of this man. Clearly there was...something about him. He wasn't sure what it was. He of course had no actual knowledge that the man was a Elemental. He could have been a witch or something else that was unknown. He did know that automatically he'd not get along too well with him if the man was a Water Elemental. Noah was trying to reserve judgement though.
Aden was staring in to the coffee cup unsure. "I guess. I gotta keep a secret better then Caius, I promised daddy." he said scratching his head and looking at the table. "I could keep yours too if you want me to!" Aden, if he was anything, was persistent.
Noah shook his head. "Aden." he warned.
Aden looked at his dad. "Okay, okay. I just wanted to tell 'im I could be his friend an' keep his secret is all."
Kevin smiled down at the boy before digging into his food before it got too cold. At least get half of it down before he made a run to the restroom to take all EIGHT pills. He'd have to talk to his doctor about maybe trying to see if he can get it knocked down to at least five. Though for right now he had those fabulous SU-M-T-W-TH-R-F-SA pill boxes seperating them all for his week tucked away in his hoodie that laid between him and Aden. "I'll still be your friend even without the secret," Kevin said taking a quick swip of his orange juice. 6:55, he'd have to make a break soon or suffer through a day of nausia and headaches with a side of EXTREME twitching. Though so far, the side effects of his medication was small for the time being, as demonstrated by his hand curling into a fist quickly and tightly for a moment with just a few thumb twitches. They were easily missed as he set his hand on the other side of his empty coffee cup and orage juice glass.
Lucky for Kevin, the waitress trotted up with their food and dumped it on the table in their respective places. Aden was drawn by the smell of the pancakes. He wiggled out of the other booth and came climbing back on to the both opposite Noah. "Yum!" He proclaimed, forgetting all about the secret. Easily side tracked sometimes apparently. Noah, cut the pancakes for him in to pieces and then poured a modest amount of syrup on them before letting his son dig in. He himself cut at his eggs, letting the yolk drip out and dipping his toast in to it. They were a little too runny for his tastes and normally he'd give them a bit of a heat up.
However with Kevin already sitting across from him attracting attention, he dared not do anything and just ate at them runny. He turned to the man who was halfway through his meal already. "Thanks for puttin' up with my son. Hope he didn't put a bad spin on the beginnin' of your day." He said, being polite. He still thought it was a touch odd to call his book a friend, but who was Noah to judge?
"No no, he's alright. I like kids, they're pretty entertaining," Kevin chuckled as he switched sides with his hoodie. Easily reaching in and popping open his SU box, he poured the pills into his hand and shoved them into his pocket as discreatly as possible. Taking a small swig of orange juice he kept from swallowing and quickly made his way to the bathroom. Once the door was closed he pulled the pills out and popped them into his mouth. With the aid of the orange juice, he quickly swallowed them and washed his hands checking himself in the mirror real quick out of habit. "Not today Dad," he said staring at his reflextion. "You didn't get me today."
Noah smiled and nodded and then watched as the man fiddled at the table. He didn't want to be a bother, or too nosy so he focussed back on Aden and his breakfast's. Aden was already shoveling food down his face and when the man got up from the table, Noah took the moment to concentrate, cooking his eggs a little more. Over medium his eye. Why was it so hard to get eggs right? He was happier and they steamed a little more on his plate. Aden however was too busy chomping down his pancakes to care. "Slow on down there son, you're goin' to choke if you don't chew." He said smiling at Aden who smiled back at him, his face pleased as punch with the sweet syrup.
"I'm goin' to tell Caius I had pancakes, he's goin' to be real jealous." Aden commented pushing another forkful of food in to his mouth and then taking a long gulp of pancake to wash it down.
"I'm sure he will be jealous, but don't be gloatin' Aden, you know Rowena and I both care 'bout you and Caius the same." He sipped at his coffee and then worked on his eggs. "'Sides, you know Caius gets special days with his mama too."
Aden nodded looking over at the empty table. "Did Kevin leave?" he asked looking around.
"Don't think so, no. His sweater's still there." Noah answered. "Eat your breakfast young man."
Aden nodded, turning back to his food.
Kevin splashed some water on his face and drying it with a towel, the moisture making him just that bit better. Coming back out from the bathroom he glanced outside and smiled at the rain fondly like seeing a friend on a walk. Sitting back down in a bit more ease, he finished his breakfast before pulling his sketch pad and charcoal out he began to quickly sketch Noah and Aden eating. It didn't really take him long and it was easy enough with his rudimentary style. He was pleased with it enough. Kevin liked to draw everyday things that struck him. Like a father and son breakfast. Something that he'll never have, but it stuck out to him. That's all that mattered.
When Kevin returned to his table, Aden smiled and waved at him and was clearly about to get up again, but Noah put a stop to it this time. "Eat." He said, and Aden knew he meant business. Aden continued to eat and casually glancing over at what the other man was doing, but Noah didn't say anything. He finished up his eggs while Aden slowly shoved about a pancake's worth of peices in to his mouth and ate them down. He was starting to look a little full. He looked at Noah and was about to open his mouth when Noah held up his hand and then waved the plate over. "Give it here." he said as Aden passed him the plate.
Noah began to eat the pancake while Aden looked over at Kevin. He finished his milk, a milk mustache on his lip and he got up again. "Whatcha drawin'?" he asked Kevin, making his way over to the table and sitting across from him again. Noah had about given up on his son and continued to eat.
"A picture," Kevin chuckled as he picked up a shader and started to worth the black out a bit, give it a lighter touch. In just a matter of minutes Kevin was done, signing it real quick he blew of the spare little bits of charcoal and turned it around to show Aden. The picture caught the boy in mid chomp while the father looked on bemused with a cup of coffee in on hand and a piece of toast in the other. "What do you think?" He smiled softly at the boy as he observed the drawing.
Aden put his head on his hands waiting to see what the man had drawn. Noah continued to eat while keeping an eye on his son. When Kevin turned the picture around Aden stared at it hard. "Hey wait, that's me an' daddy!" He said eyes going wide leaning farther over the table to view it. "I'm eaten' pancakes." he said amused.
Noah looked over at the picture that was being shown to his son. "That's quite the talent you've got there." he said, smiling a little more then he had before. He still felt uneasy about the man but he was clearly harmless for the moment. And Aden seemed to take a shine to him. Clearly his son wasn't a fire elemental, and that saddened Noah considerably. He'd have to figure out if is son was anything sort of special. That'd come in due time though. "Looks just like you Aden."
"Yep," Kevin laughed at Aden's expression. "I would hope it is," he looked back over at Noah. "It's how I make my living." Flipping the pages of the sketch book loosened a picture stuck in the back. Not noticing it flutter to the table, Kevin got a fresh piece of paper. It was of three boys and two girls, all with identical blonde hair and blue eyes, with a blonde haired lady and blue eyed darked haired man standing in their bathing suites outside by a creek. On the back it read 'Summer '85 Kevin 15, Molly 13, Karl 12, Danielle 10, and Gerald 9 with Mom and Dad'
Aden was too busy watching the man move about pulling about a new piece of paper to mind much his father talking to him. He could ignore his dad like the best of the kids out there. Most kids could ignore their parents well enough. It was a special gift. Noah assumed he'd eventually grow the ability to ignore his son's asking for things. Like money and the car keys. Those things would come later anyway.
Aden picked up the photograph. "Hey mister, you dropped this." he said holding up the picture that the man had seemingly lost in the shuffle of papers. Noah continued to eat, only glancing over for a moment when his son spoke to see what he'd been talking about. The little boy looked at it. "I've never been swimin' before." He declared. His father had good reason for that. Large amounts of water made Noah nervous.
"Give that on back to Kevin Aden." Noah said after swallowing a bite of pancake.
Aden was too busy watching the man move about pulling about a new piece of paper to mind much his father talking to him. He could ignore his dad like the best of the kids out there. Most kids could ignore their parents well enough. It was a special gift. Noah assumed he'd eventually grow the ability to ignore his son's asking for things. Like money and the car keys. Those things would come later anyway.
Aden picked up the photograph. "Hey mister, you dropped this." he said holding up the picture that the man had seemingly lost in the shuffle of papers. Noah continued to eat, only glancing over for a moment when his son spoke to see what he'd been talking about. The little boy looked at it. "I've never been swimin' before." He declared. His father had good reason for that. Large amounts of water made Noah nervous.
"Give that on back to Kevin Aden." Noah said after swallowing a bite of pancake.
"Oh?" Kevin blinked as he looked over at the picture. He paused for a moment, looking at his family and him the summer before they died in such a happy place made him loose his smile for a moment as he carefully took the picture back from the younger boy. "Yeah swimming's pretty fun," he smiled returned after a moment. "Maybe your dad could take to you the kids pool some time." Gazing at the picture a moment longer he put it in this jacket pocket to put it in a safer place.
Aden looked at his dad and then back at Kevin. "Daddy don't like swimmin'." He declared and Noah sighed. He may have been a good secret keeper for Rowena but he wasn't doing a very good job of it for his own father. "Daddy don't like the ocean either, says it's too much water." He proclaimed and looked over at Noah and then slapped his hand over his mouth. "Oops, but I ain't supposed to say that."
Noah shook his head. "It's fine Aden." He had an easy excuse as to why he didn't go swimming already. "I never learned to swim," he explained to Kevin, "but maybe Miss Rowena will take you Aden."
Aden nodded his head. "With Caius." he said and then explained to Kevin, "He might be my brother. Might be." He nodded his head seriously at the strange man.
"It's OK," Kevin chuckled. "Swimming in a pool isn't as fun as the ocean, but it's pretty cold in the lakes even for this time of year." It didn't bother him though, he could probably swim in the Arctic ocean and not be bothered by it. Coldness was his thing, but that was him, the father looked like he would rather sit out in the sun. Of course this set Kevin's elemental senses tingling, metaphorically speaking. The rain was pretty steady, but light and he kind of wanted to take a walk in it now. Taking a moment he stared at the rain before turning back to Noah and Aden.
"So Aden, where do you go to school?" Kevin asked as he put on the smile for the boy.
"I don't go to no school yet. I'm only..." And he held up four fingers. "This many." He put his fingers down and fidgeted like all kids do once they've been sitting for too long. "Caius is goin' to kindergarden though. I get to join 'em next year." He announced proudly.
"He's just extremely well versed." Noah explained. His son was smart, but not a genius. He was just exposed to so much conversation all his life that his verbal skills were better then most four year olds. "He was speaking in full sentences before he was three years old." Noah explained, finishing up the plate of pancakes and feeling, already, like there was a rock in his stomach.
Reaching for his coffee he took a moment and realized it had cooled down enough to make it not so good. He wrapped his hand around his mug, convinced that the other man wouldn't notice and gave his coffee a bit of a warm, to the point where it was steaming again and he took a long slug. Never had to worry about being burned.
"Wow," Kevin said acting amazed. "That's pretty cool." He did indeed notice the other man's coffee start to steam up, but didn't say anything. The rain had started to come in a bit harder, but not by much. It would be a good day to go for a soak, at least in Kevin's mind. "That's better than me, I was still pointing and grunting till I was five," he chuckled as the waitress came by as poured more coffee into his cup. Adding the cream and sugar to his licking, he would wait till it cooled off normally. Didn't need to get Aden all riled up because of a cup of coffe, especially since his father seemed to be an elemental of the fire variety.
When the waitress offered more coffee to Noah he hesitated. He wouldn't mind a second cup, and it was interesting to watch his son with what he assumed was a water elemental. He wasn't sure if his son was a Fire like him anymore. He liked the water, and he didn't obviously mind this man, wasn't getting a strange negative vibe from him like Noah had come to be aware of. Sometimes strangers just did that, but now that he suspected the man of Elemental activity it made more sense why he didn't like him. He waived off the waitress. He'd finished what he had and then they'd go.
"Just the bill please." He said to the girl and then turned back to the man who had complimented Aden. "Aden say thank you.
"Thank you." Aden said to Kevin. "Can I have that picture of daddy and me?" Aden asked.
Noah paused, "Actually I wouldn't mind having that picture for his room. You say you're an artist right? How much?" The man asked looking at Kevin.
"Sure," Kevin said tearing the picture out of his sketch book. "Here you go," he handed the paper to ther four year old with a smile before turning to look at Noah. "No need, it was just random sketch I did. It's on the house," he said cooly. He usually didn't make people pay for his work that wasn't asked for. It seemed odd and rude kind of to do that. Sipping his coffee, still a bit too hot for his liking, he blew on it a bit, letting his breath cool it down this time instead of his finger. Much more to his liking, he took a more generous gulp.
"What do you say Aden?" Noah said to his son.
Aden smiled brightly. "Thank you mister Kevin." He took the drawing. "Goin' to put it up on the wall. Get myself a frame." He said nodding his head.
Noah smiled at his son. "Good boy."
The waitress came by and dropped the bill on Noah's table and he took a look at it before dropping Twenty-five dollars on the table and gathering up Aden's coat. "Aden, come here." He said to the little boy who hopped off the bench an came over to his father. Noah put the boys jacket on and then rolled up the picture in his coat so it didn't get wet.
Aden smiled and waved at Kevin. "Bye mister!" He said taking off towards the door. Noah smiled and stood up. He rooted around in his wallet and dropped a twenty on to Kevin's table. "For the picture, it'll at least buy you breakfast." He said with a small nod and heading towards the door.
Kevin smiled and waved at the boy. "Bye Aden." He stopped and stared at the money on the table. "Ok. . . I guess," he said blinking. Spying no one in sight, he grinned slightly sticking his finger in what was left of his coffee and freezing it. Paying for his breakfast, he got up and walked out. Pulling out his keys, he got in his beat up old car and started it before pulling out and onto the road. Driving the speed limit he came up on two figures walking in the rain. One adult and one a child. Slowing down and pulling over slightly, he rolled down his window.
"Hey there, need a lift?" Kevin asked Noah and Aden as he slowed down to nearly a crawl.
Noah had pulled out the keys to his car, and was heading to the door to unlock it when the man slowed down. He really was a strange fellow wasn't he. "No thanks, car's right here." Noah indicated to the car they were about to come up on. "Got it covered, Kevin." He said with a bit of a nod and a wave. "Thanks again for the drawing." Noah gave his keys to Aden to unlocked the door and watched him try and get in the back seat himself. When he couldn't, Noah waved again at Kevin, getting his son in to the car, and and buckling him in to his seat before heading around the car, getting in himself, on the driver's side and heading home.