Tobias Grey really likes backgammon and popcorn (freudianexcuse) wrote in superbabies, @ 2013-03-09 00:13:00 |
|
|||
From a strictly logical standpoint, Tobias had to admit that as far as prison sentences went, he’d gotten a very, very good deal. Yes, the threat of a lobotomy was dangling over his head at all times, keeping him (mostly) well-behaved, but the freedom to roam wherever he wanted (albeit with armed guards), the access to decently stocked kitchens (with, again, armed guards to make sure he doesn’t do anything with the knives), a computer with monitored-but-unlimited internet and, of course, access to Gwendolyn and Alexander each whenever time and desire permitted. In its own way, it was nice. But the fact that he had to share a kitchen with the various residents, faculty, and worst of all students was almost enough to make him wish they’d just tossed him onto the Raft. Still, a man had to eat, and thus he’d found himself in the kitchen, his guard standing by the door to make sure he didn’t cause too much trouble in preparing a sandwich. He’d almost rolled his eyes at the thought of it, but it at least meant they still feared him. That was a good sign. Ready for lunch after a long day of moving in, Eli got himself to the kitchen and got to making something worthwhile. So, he grabbed some pasta, made some alfredo sauce, cooked up some shrimp, and began making some garlic bread. More and more, he’d been throwing himself into trying to make an actual meal each time he was hungry rather than go out and buy something. It certainly saved him some money. Some days he had enough to feed himself for a couple of days, but something told him that wouldn’t necessarily be the case around here. The garlic bread had just finished when Tobias had entered the kitchen. Eli hadn’t quite noticed him. He was too focused on his food to really do so, and so he quietly hummed to himself as he pulled out the cookie sheet with the baking toast and set it down on the stove and began to serve himself some of his food. He felt oh so accomplished and couldn’t help the grin that slipped on his face. When he finally heard Tobias, he merely said: “Hey there, if you’re hungry help yourself! Way more than I meant to make.” When he glanced up, his brows raised. “Oh, hey,” he paused, “bro.” Kind of awkward, huh? “How’s it hanging?” They’d warned him that Tobias was around, but seeing him was still surreal. Eli managed to muster a cautious smile. Tobias froze when he saw exactly who happened to be in the kitchen this time. Of course. Of course it’d be him. Every other member of their ragtag little family was running about this damned school. Why not add the one he least wanted to run into and put him directly in Tobias’ path to lunch. “It’s hung better in the past,” he said coldly, his eyes narrowing at the word ‘bro’ and crossing his arms. “And I believe it best if you address me as Tobias, Elijah.” “I hear that can happen when you get old,” he replied with a small grin, bringing the plate up and taking a fork full of pasta.” He motioned toward the pot. “Offer still stands,” he replied, “Tobster.” Okay, so Eli totally knew that this was so not a good idea to antagonize him because...well for obvious reasons, but he couldn’t help himself. “How’s life at Mutant High working out for you?” he asked. He was genuinely interested, too. It had to be better than twitching in some vegetable state in an asylum somewhere. It was only the threat of what Cuckoo and his medical cronies would do if he grabbed one of the knives that kept Tobias’ temper under control -- barely. The quip made his lip twitch into a momentary sneer, moreso because he knew he’d walked right into it than anything else, and his fists clenched, but he restrained himself from wrapping his hands around the other man’s throat. For now. “Oh, just lovely,” he spat. The name earned no response. He knew that’s what Elijah wanted, the least he could manage was not to give it to him. “Really. Sitting around with nothing to do but listen to teenagers gripe over their love lives on the network is really my idea of Heaven. More to the point, however, is why are you here?” It was a question that had plagued him since Power had let that little tidbit of information slip. Bailey. Joshua. Adam. Joanna. Jeanette. Even Arianna. It seemed far too many of his blood relatives had decided to collect at this establishment, and he was starting to suspect that Elijah’s arrival was part of some plan. Two was a coincidence, three a pattern. Seven was nothing short of a conspiracy. “You sound so utterly at peace with it all,” he replied with a quirked brow, “which is a step up for you, I hear. What with all the fire and brimstone and threatening people’s lives.” Yeah. He heard about that. Not that it was all that out of the ordinary. Tobias’...less than enthused attitude toward their family was not a secret. However, his extreme discontent and irrational aggression toward Eli himself was always so confusing. It’s not like Eli had ever done anything to him. In response to his question, he shrugged his shoulders. “Why do you think, Toby?” he replied. “Because mom missed me,” he began, “because I missed home, because I’m clearly plotting ways to drive you insane, because I want to shake up the residence halls by disrupting all forms of peace.” He sighed dramatically. “Take your pick.” Clearly, his trademark sarcasm had only been nurtured and cultivated during his time away. After a moment, he said, “Truth?” He grabbed a bowl and poured a spoonful of the alfredo in it with a healthy helping of shrimp. Grabbing a fork, he offered it to his brother -- because whether either of them liked it or not, psychotic tendencies or not, Tobias was still family and didn’t every family have at least one crazy? Of course, theirs had more than their fair share. -- and then decided to level with him. “My roommate set the dorm on fire while I was out.” He chuckled because the irony was not lost on him. “So, they kicked us out.” He paused. “Well, him. Me? They didn’t have anymore housing available. So.” He motioned toward the building. “Home.” See? No need for conspiracies. The mention of Mom made Tobias sneer, though he quickly composed himself. Civil, he’d promised Emmett. Civil, or he’d be made civil. “Your... roommate committed arson,” he said flatly. “And so you had to move back here. That... that is the most ridiculous story I have ever heard.” Which, of course, meant it was tragically more likely to be true. You couldn’t just make up something like that. He was starting to miss the conspiracy theories in his mind. “Why not get an apartment? Surely you don’t want to be surrounded by these brats?” God knew Tobias didn’t. Oh, sure, it had its amusing points, but that hardly made up for the fact that they were everywhere. Like rats. He gave the man a nod. “Committed arson. He’s kicked out and paying for repairs and shit.” That’s how the world worked, you know. When Tobias asked about the apartment, he shook his head. “I don’t like asking my parents for money,” he replied, “and most of my money is spent on books and school. Whatever job I’m qualified for would not nearly pay me enough for rent in New York.” Eli was a lot of things. Loud. Obnoxious. Sarcastic. Kind of a dick. But he was responsible. He knew how to take care of himself and knew the difference between a dumb move and a smart move and as much as it loathed him to come home, it was the smarter move. Especially if he was going to try and give it a go in culinary arts and open up his own restaurant. So, the next ten years of his life were going to suck, but if he did it right -- it would be worth it. At the ignored bowl, he set it down. If Tobias was going to get it, it’d be there. He doubted it but no one could ever say that Eli didn’t try. Right? Tobias supposed he couldn’t fault the other man for that. Students and money were rarely in the same place at the same time, and the desire for some independence from his parents was admirable, in its own way. He almost sneered again. Clearly he was going soft, letting praise fall on Elijah. His eyes drifted to the bowl, then back to his so-called brother. No. Eating Elijah’s food was just what the other man wanted. He would give him no such satisfaction. Even if it did smell delicious. “Well, hopefully once you’ve got your degree you can find your own way,” he said with a bit too rigid of a smile. “Won’t that be nice.” “Kind of every parent’s hope, isn’t it?” he replied absently. He shrugged. “I got a couple more years off, but it’ll happen. Eventually.” Eli tilted his head and his brow furrowed. “Unless we delve into some kind of apocalyptic war, a interstellar battle, or the mansion’s attacked again. Then it could go longer.” Which, if they were honest, around here? Very much a possibility. “Same could be said for you, in a manner of speaking,” he replied, “maybe someday you’ll learn nice with all the other kids.” He grinned. “Instead of trying to attack like a pitbull.” He took another few bites as he ventured to the fridge to pull out the bottle of soda he’d stuck in their earlier. “Ever think maybe if you stopped being so angry all of the time you might actually like it here?” “I happen to like quite a few things about being here,” Tobias replied quickly. “I have a few friends here, in fact.” The thought of being lectured by Elijah regarding his anger was enough to make his temper flare again, even if it did perhaps prove the younger man right. “I’ll learn ‘nice’ when the other kids are worth the effort, Elijah,” he sneered. “Not a moment sooner.” “And by quite a few do you mean like two?” he asked quirking his brow. “People you sleep with don’t count as friends.” He paused and chuckled, shaking his head. “That’s your problem,” he said, “you spend so much time thinking everyone has to earn your respect when, unfortunately, it’s the other way around.” He took a swig of his drink. “If you want to be a free bird again,” he replied, “maybe you should rethink that whole philosophy because being nice doesn’t hurt. Nor does it take effort.” He paused. “Patience, though.” He nodded. “That might be your issue. You don’t exactly strike me as a guy who can wait for very long before..” He paused. “Exploding.” For lack of a better word. Truth be told? He didn’t know him other than what he was told and the very few interactions they’d had together. “Not everyone can be the smartest man in the room,” he added, “especially when the smartest man in the room can read your thoughts.” “I will decide whom I like to count as friends, Elijah,” Tobias hissed. “Not. You.” He kept repeating Cuckoo’s threat in his head as the other man spoke, but it was becoming harder and harder to keep a handle on his anger. “I already have a therapist, thank you very much.” He finally snapped. “So I don’t need you to tell me what my issues are, or how you think I should resolve them. I am quite capable of understanding without your input and, frankly, am better off without it.” Without the cuffs, he’d had likely burned the kitchen down by now. He’d certainly have blasted his brother to pieces. As it was, for the first time since he’d been captured, he felt truly powerless, limited to standing there and fuming lest he incur the good doctor’s wrath. “Perhaps,” he grumbled. “I should go back to my room. No doubt Tweedle Dee is getting antsy listening at the door...” Elijah just held up his hand. “I’m not trying to offend you,” he replied, “and I’m not telling you to let me choose your friends for you.” He set his bowl down. “So, relax,” he replied, “and tone it down, yeah?” Elijah was being super nice right now and not pointing out the fact that Tobias had, essentially, just proved his point about being quick to explode. However, never let it be said that Elijah wasn’t good at taking cues. “You came here for something,” he said, “and it’d be a dick move to make you go back to your room without eating anything because I pushed your buttons.” He finished off his bowl and set in the sink, grabbing his soda, and backed away. “So, I’ll go, you stay, get whatever it is you came for, and it’ll be like I wasn’t here. I’ll just come back in half an hour to put all my shit away.” He turned and headed for the door. He smirked. “Catch you later, Tobster.” Trying to offend or not, Tobias couldn’t help but roll his eyes at Elijah’s placating. Just what he’d expect, really. He sighed, his fists clenched at his side as he reigned himself in. “Well,” he mumbled. “Thank you for your generosity.” He watched as the other man backed out of the room, almost wincing at the nickname and pointedly not making a response. This, he realized, was going to complicate matters. He needed to talk to his therapist. |