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Nathan Summers (alter_nate_ive) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-05-06 10:24:00

Well, look who just leveled up!
Who: Nate and Tessa
Where: near Irvine General
What: Nate seeks out a friend
When: this last week, sometime or other
Warnings/Rating: PG-13ish
Status complete



Nate smiled as he headed for the ambulance bay. He’d been told that Tessa was there, about to head on break, and he wanted to catch her if he could. He was doing an odd thing, this week, trying to contact those he felt close to, and show them his new self, without waiting for a reason to come up. Some visits were short, some were long, but so far, all had gone well. He had some awesome friends.

And so it was that with hope, he set out to find Tessa, Belgian truffles and Italian sodas in hand.

Tessa sensed the presence of another soul entering the ambulance bay, and turned to greet him with a broad smile and raised brows. She’d recognized him before ever setting eyes on him, of course, but it was another matter to see the full effect.

“Well, look who just leveled up!” she exclaimed spreading her hands as if to ask what she had missed. “I didn’t expect to see you looking like this for a few years.”

Nate smiled as he saw her. “The OC apparently wanted me to grow up faster, already.”
He chuckled as he extended a hand, and when she met it, drew her in for a hug. “And if this has happened once, I have a feeling it wont stop, or rather, that it will happen again.” He jerked a thumb toward the street. “Heard you were headed to break. Want to get shakes?”

Tessa clasped his hand, then hugged him, her head now only reaching his shoulder instead of the other way around. She smiled up at him as she stepped back, and gave a nod. “Sounds like you could use a break, too. Let’s go.”

Nate nodded. “Definitely. I have snacks, to go with the shakes.” He grinned at her, and hoped the break would be nice. He still felt a little on edge about his new life, and his visits with Navi, Toph, Kitty, and Elaine had shown him he really didn’t know where he fit in any more.

Tessa clocked out for her break, and went with Nate to the shake shop, watching surreptitiously as they walked. It wasn’t that she hadn’t noticed that he was a handsome young man--he was--but that wasn’t what concerned her so much as the nervous energy that flickered through his aura. His physical development might finally be catching up to that of his mind, but she got the impression that he was still growing into himself. She hoped that she could be of some reassurance.

“So...I take it you’ve got growing pains again?”

Nate chuckled. “Yeah, that’s a word for it. I woke up seven or eight years older, in pain, hungry, and tired, and haven’t really changed that state in a few days. The aches are easing, and the hunger is only almost all the time now, but it’s definitely new and interesting territory.”

He smiled to her. “How are you?”

Tessa gave a sympathetic groan; thinking back to when she had worn braces in her teens, and the near-constant tension that came with it--plus the tedium of feeding oneself with bits of metal in the way and a jaw that ached after two minutes of chewing. She knew that what Nate was feeling must be even more frustrating, and painful.

“I’m all right,” she said, “I’m learning to manage my powers, so I’m not quite in constant agony whenever there’s a disturbance in the force--because there’s a lot of disturbances in the force around here--but it still gets tiring every now and then. But...” She pulled a necklace from beneath her uniform and flashed the engagement ring that dangled from the chain. “I’m happy.”

“Good.” Nate touched her hand and nodded as they walked. “I’m glad it’s getting better.” Then he blinked and smiled at her. “Yes!” He hugged her as she showed him that, and they reached the outside of the cafe. “When? Details!”

She smiled, and gave him another squeeze, then grabbed the door and shooed him inside. It wasn’t that she objected to letting him play the gentleman, but he was sore and achy, and she was not. So she got the door. “It was about a week and a half ago,” she said, “A little unexpected and spontaneous, but it feels right.”

He found them a table and nodded. "Good on you both. " He was glad for her and for her love. "You deserve happiness and joy. "

“Thank you,” she said, leaning over to rest a hand on his upper arm for a moment as they sat. “We don’t have a date yet, but I definitely want you to be there.” She smiled. “I hope life gives you a little breathing room before the next big plunge.”

Nate chuckled. “I’ll be there, for sure.” he smiled at her and leaned over to kiss her hand. “Got to check out the beau sometime, anyway. I heard about him and saw some of his work. He’s good.”

“Well, I’m glad you approve,” she said, smiling softly. “If my brothers-of-choice like him, maybe my blood brothers will too.”

“I have to believe they will.” His cheeks were colored at her calling him a brother. He liked that, a lot. He sighed and nodded. “Well, sister, I approve, and hope things only get better.” The waitress came, to take their orders and soon the sounds of shake-making were heard.

Tessa smiled, hoping that life would get better for Nate as well. At least he hadn't been stuck in a coma this time while his body aged--thought it would have been strange either way. "Are you looking forward to growing into yourself, or wishing you could fly away to never never land?"

“Both, really. I feel a little out of place being this old, and being this young. I think, while I might miss it if I aged up, I would get over it in time.” Nate nodded. It felt like he would, and could.

“Even so, sometimes, a part of me objects. Like when I move in my bedroom and things that took four steps take one.”

“Mhm.” Tessa nodded, her gaze going unfocused for a moment as she looked at Nate and saw more than just his person. “I can tell you’re not quite...finished yet.”

Nate squinted at her, then raised a hand to one of hers and gently touched her mind with his own. Can you show me? He was curious now, and his mind held wonder, curiosity, and care for this woman.

Tessa nodded, and opened up her senses so that he could see himself as she Saw him. His power, condensed within his being but growing ever stronger since the last time they had met; his restlessness within himself. She focused for a moment on how she could sense the inner conflict where spirit met flesh. That would be your soul. And it’s hard to describe, but have you ever tried to fit into a pair of shoes that’s just a half a size too small? Or watched a butterfly transforming inside of a chrysalis? Because those are some of the impressions that come to mind when I Look at you.

Nate nodded, ‘Seeing’, and wondering at the amazement. “Wow. That’s... cool.” He smiled softly at her as he withdrew, leaving warmth to her. “Thank you. You have an amazing gift.”

“You’re welcome,” she said, “You’re an amazing person, and an amazing friend.” She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “You’ll get through this in-between phase, I promise.”

Nate smiled at her. She was a nice person and he felt like he knew her better than he did. This was nice, he decided, if odd, and he grinned wider at her. “You’re a nice person. And thanks. I’ll try. Life never pauses, not really. I’m sure it will keep moving.”

“It will,” she agreed, “And hopefully it will get better, and easier to find your stride, soon.” She smiled. “And you know where to find me if you need patching up.”

Nate chuckled. “Which i will, sooner or later.” Then he paused. “Yeah, probably.” He nodded. “Thanks, Tessa. And if you need anything, let me know. I’ll come to help, whatever you need.”

“I will,” she said, nodding. She had no doubt that there would come a time when she might need a friend to lean on. “I look forward to our little ice cream socials.”

Nate nodded. “As do I. I have a feeling we’ll all need them, in the coming months.” He chuckled, eyes warm as he looked at her. “And I am very glad to know you.”

“And I, you.” Though Tessa could not predict the future, the recent past seemed to indicate that the current lull was just the calm before the next season of storms. But that was all right. She knew that none of her friends or family would be left to weather it alone.

~never the end~