l o y a l t y

"I try to do so! I see. I hope you the best then! I think you’ll be a really good prosecutor."

he said and then gave her a small wave.

"Well, it's been nice talking to you. Hopefully we will run into each other again sometime. And since you're new here I hope you'll consider joining some clubs."

He smiled at her pleasantly yet again and turned to leave. She had to have been one of the most kind-spirited students he'd ever met.

"I look forward to it," said the naive older man. He, unfortunately, had no one to warn him about the natural disaster that was Flynn’s cooking. "We’re just about done," he said as he put the last pieces of bread into the frying pan. A few more seconds and he was bringing the steaming plate, along with plenty of fixings, to his small coffee table.

"Anything to drink? I’ve got milk, water, oj? I think I might have some juice left or some generic pop." He went back to get a couple of plates and the syrup, setting them gently down on the table in front of Flynn, next to the powdered sugar dispenser and butter.

Flynn was already planning a few things he could make smiling happily as he waited for his meal. He for the moment, had forgotten that they were student and councilor or even that they attended and worked at a university. He really felt like a friendship was forming. 

"Milk would be fine,"

he said and eyed the powdered sugar. While he wasn't the biggest fan of sweet things he enjoyed them to a fair degree. But he especially liked it sprinkled on french toast - which also looked amazingly soft and perfectly golden brown. He reached his fork out and grabbed two pieces as he began fixing it up.

"I can't thank you enough for this."

"French toast it is," he said. He started to gather the ingredients he’d need as h e watched Flynn preening.

"No, I’ve got it. Thanks though. But you can use my bathroom if ya want to," he offered, grabbing a large mixing bowl from the top shelf. He cracked some eggs into the bowl and poured some milk in as well. "I’ve got a comb in the top right drawer." He started adding some cinnamon and vanilla, as was common, but then started adding a few other ingredients like a dash of nutmeg and a few other things before he mixed it all together with a whisk. "I’ll make some eggs or something on the side if you want,"

Flynn thanked him and head for the bathroom as delicious smells began to fill the air. The pasta he had last night was good so he was sure that the french toast would be amazing. He didn't think Raven looked like the type to be good at cooking. He found the comb in the drawer as mentioned and then fixed up his unruly hair. Once he was satisfied he put on his glasses again so that he wouldn't forget them later.

"That smells great,"

he complimented as he made his way back to the couch. He really did feel more comfortable now. There was something about the natural aura of the small and yet humble living space that made him feel really at peace. He was almost jealous of it, no matter how nice and convenient his dorm room was. 

"I'll definitely cook for you later as thanks. It's the least I can do."

He got up, stretching again, and walked lazily to the kitchen. “Any requests?” the older man asked as he started to rummage through his refrigerator. “I’ve got eggs and bacon if you like. Or I could make pancakes, or french toast. Any of that catch your fancy? Oh, I might have some small sausage links in the freezer, too.”

He looked over at Flynn, and noticed that he still looked a bit sleep-rumpled. He could only guess what he himself looked like, but he’d deal with that later.

"French toast sounds delightful,"

he said, smiling. He remembered how his mother and father used to make that for him when he was just a child. He hadn't really eaten it in a long time. He couldn't make it like they could. He tried straightening out his hair a bit with his hands though he somehow felt he was making it worse. 

"Do you need any help?"

"Yes, exactly! I’d like that connection with the patients, if possible. Ah, but what about you? Are you planning on being a prosecutor or defense attorney?"

     To be honest, she could definitely see him being both. Perhaps she’d guess that he leans towards more of a prosecuting side against criminals and the like! How exciting that sounds in comparison to being a nurse - not that she thinks her dream job is boring by any means.

He had honestly considering being a defense attorney at one point but decided against it. He felt he had more strength being on the other side of that one. He wasn't sure he could stand and defend certain people, but there were many cases where he felt prosecution was the best path to take. 

"Absolutely!"

Now mostly awake, he was still quite reluctant to get up just yet. He’d actually quite forgotten that Flynn was there. He’d spent many nights on his couch, though that usually had him with a glass and a couple of empty bottles scattered around him.

He was a bit startled, then, when he heard some noise in his bedroom. He sat up, and relaxed when he saw it was Flynn. He remembered now. "Mornin’. Sleep well?" he asked with a large yawn. For once he wasn’t smiling. He’d always found it harder to be chipper in the early morning.

He noticed that Raven didn't really seem to be much of a morning person so he felt more than a little guilty that he had given in to surrendering to taking away his bed. It should have been him asleep on the couch.

"I did sleep very well. Your bed is comfortable,"

he said, feeling his face heat up with a bit of embarrassment.

"Could I trouble you for my jacket?"

Flynn had left it on the couch that night, forgetting to bring it with him due to his sleepiness.

He smiled at the sleepy boy. “Good night, Flynn. Sweet dreams.”

He watched as the boy wandered off into his room and sighed softly.

He really was glad for the company, but you could only take so much comfort in the company of a student. He stood indecisively in his kitchen for a moment, then took out a glass and a bottle of brandy.

He poured himself a little of the fiery liquid and stared at it before downing it in one swift gulp. He let the alcohol warm him a little before pouring another glass. 

Downing that one last glass, he put everything away and went to make himself a bed out of his couch.

"You sure are a sad sight, Raven," he sighed to himself as he laid down.  While he refused to look at his own life too closely, he knew it wasn’t a good thing if you couldn’t fall asleep without a few drinks. He sighed again and closed his eyes. After a few moments he managed to fall into a restive sleep.

Flynn slept extremely soundly in such a comfortable bed. It was far more comfortable than the mattress at his dorm room, which he had actually been meaning to replace himself. He needed something a lot softer and in this bed it was as if it hugged his body. When the light peered in unwanted through the window he groaned a bit. Getting a good night's sleep after such a long time he was hesitant to wake up.

No matter how well rested it seemed the internal clock in his head would always wake him up for his classes. He slowly began to rise out of the bed, eventually grounding his feet on the floor. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and yawned, standing up then and making his way towards the living room as before. He hoped that Raven was not still sleeping since he didn't want to accidentally wake him.

"That’s a great dream. I hope you succeed in it then! To be honest, I thought being a doctor at first would be better. But I think nursing is a better match for me. I want to heal people, but I also want to give them support if they need it. Ah, I hope that doesn’t sound too silly."

     Doctors do help patients and people get better or try to, but they rarely form that sort of connection Cheria is really looking for. They’re there for a brief flicker of time whereas nurses spend a lot more time with patients, caring and helping others. She has nothign against doctor’s; the job is incredibly admirable. But it isn’t going to give her what she wants in life.

Flynn didn't know so much about her field, but that's all he'd ever heard. It seemed that Doctors had sort of a bad rep at times. Not to say of course, that all doctors were bad. In fact if Cheria ever went down that road he thought she'd be good at that too. 

"Thank you,"

he laughed pleasantly.

He finished up his own food and picked up all the dishes. “Why don’t you head off to bed. There’s some pj’s in my dresser if you’d like something to sleep in.”

He carried his food over to his sink and rinsed them out before letting them sit there to be washed later.  “I’ll write up that recipe and give it to you in the morning.”

"I've taken enough of your things. I'll manage in my own clothes."

he laughed and followed him to the kitchen. He was really impressed with how kind and courteous the other man had been to him.

"Thank you again... I promise not to take up your space again. One time mistake. I .... hope you sleep well."

With a small nod of his head he wandered off to the bedroom which he was also curious about but he didn't want to snoop. It was fortunately dark so he really couldn't see a thing. He just fell back onto the bed and into sleep.

"Ah really? You like it?" he asked, surprised by the compliment. "Yeah. It’s dinner from a couple of days ago. I just threw it together so it’s nothing special."  He ate another bite. "I could write down the recipe for you if you like," he said, not knowing that Flynn cooking was death for all who consumed it. 

He was eating quickly then without notice, until eventually his entire bowl was clean. He set it aside with a satisfied sigh. 

"I'd like that. "

He smiled and rested his hand gently on his stomach with closed eyes. He was about ready to fall asleep then and there now that he had a full stomach. 

He’d heated up some left-over pasta he’d made the other day and brought a couple of plates of it over to Flynn. He set them down on the coffee table and sat next to him. “Well you can take the couch, but I’ll just sleep on the floor,” he said, grinning. “Your choice.”

"Fine, have it your way..."

He finally gave in and tried to eat as politely as possible even as he was tempted to stuff forkfuls and forkfuls into his mouth.

"This is really good, did you make it?"

He had to turn away when Flynn started to remove that tie, however, busying himself with his fridge. The thoughts that tie provoked would not lead down a good path.

Letting the cold air from the fridge cool off his tinted cheeks, he rummaged about for something simple to make.

"And I won’t hear anything about you staying on the couch. You’re supposed to be relieving stress."

Flynn leaned back into the couch, really and truly grateful that he could sit down. He realized just how much he'd been going back and forth all day long and when he sat down now he almost felt like he were still spinning. But soon enough the softness of the cushions got to him and made him feel quite at home.

"This couch is stress relieving enough. I'm not taking your bed away."

He decided to remain stubborn on this. It would be totally unacceptable.

"I'd be up all night feeling guilty that you're not in bed,"

and then quickly corrected,

"By yourself, I mean. I mean with me not on the couch. You know what I mean."

Raven felt a bit awkward. He hadn’t had company in many years and wasn’t used to it. Still, he didn’t want Flynn to be tense, that would be counter productive, so he gently encourage him to relax. "Flynn, go ahead. It’s not very big but feel free to get comfortable. I can heat something up if you’re hungry. Otherwise, if you’d rather just go to bed the bedroom’s just there on the left and the bathroom’s attached if you need it."

Raven draped his purple coat over a chair casually and stretched a bit.

He let go of his initial nervousness and tried to get used to his new surroundings. He shrugged his jacket off as well and carried it with him to the couch. He had a tie on, so he undid that for comfort purposes. 

"I can't take your bed from you. And I can't take your food either,"

he said stubbornly though he was really hungry. He hadn't really eaten anything at all that day. 

"Thanks for taking me in for the night. I really appreciate it."

He laughed a bit in an attempt to lighten the mood. “So much for relieving stress, huh?”

It didn’t take them long to arrive at his apartment building and, after a short moment of rummaging in his large pocket, he was able to produce a key. He opened the door for Flynn to go into the building first, and did the same for his actual, tiny apartment. “Please excuse the mess,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting company.”

The apartment wasn’t honestly that bad, but it was clearly lived in. There were a few dishes in the sink and a couple more on the coffee table, and a couple blankets thrown about, but all in all Raven tried to keep a clean house. "Make yourself at home."

He looked a bit sulky but it wasn't any fault of Raven's. He really was just scolding himself for forgetting something really important. And although he was told it was no inconvenience he still felt like he was intruding on someone's personal space.

When they got to the building he looked around curiously. The apartment complex itself seemed rather simple and cozy. He really liked the surrounding area from what he could see of it in the dark. It had been awhile since he visited so he barely remembered it. As Raven was opening the door he felt some excitement. He really wondered what his home was going to look like. You could tell a lot about a person by looking at their living space after all.

His eyes darted this way and that once they were inside. It was messy by his standards but he knew his standards were military clean. It wasn't something he'd scoff at at all, in fact, it seemed rather comfortable. It was as relaxed as his personality seemed to be with a touch of his own personal flare. 

"You have a nice home,"

he said, starting to feel more and more excited to be there. He did say he needed to do something new that he'd never done before. This certainly fell under that category. He wasn't sure where to go, though. Since this was a new place he felt hesitant to go anywhere without permission.

"Well I suppose there’s nothing for it. Come on," he said as he started walking away with Flynn’s books. "You’ll have to stay with me tonight."

He wasn’t entirely sure if it was allowed, but hey it’s not like Flynn was in high school, or under age. And he hadn’t quite broken curfew yet, but they were cutting it close. If they had to go all the way to school, find the keys, unlock everything and so forth, it would mean a lot of paperwork all around. Yes this was simply the best option.

Flynn blurted out in a jumbled and frantic frustration. Besides, what if someone saw him go in? What if someone saw them leave together? What would people think of him being driven to school by... a councilor? Rumors would surely spread. He thought that maybe he was being a bit paranoid about it and he wasn't one to care what people thought or said when it came to immature gossip, but could it escalate into a mess?

"It is almost passed curfew though,"

he said, side glancing a clock that hung in the hallway. There really was no other option - he knew his friends were all asleep by now anyway. He didn't want to admit to them that he'd been so careless either. He picked up his books again.

"I'm sorry about this but... lead the way."