A Space Case

“No it’s not, she’s always had a way of inspiring people, of inspiring me,” he smiled back at him. “Sorry, man. I should clearly cover my eyes with glasses at all times,” he laughed. 

“Okay will do, as soon as Cel confirms things, we’ll let you know. I think the way things are, this whole circle thing, I think we all need to be there for each other. Something has brought us all together.”

Garth nodded. “She’s a strong leader indeed. A proper Captain America for our little avengers.” But he paused with a sudden frown.

“I really hope you can learn to trust us. I know you’re not from here but you’re one of us now. We want you to feel welcome. I know, I know, I sound like Cel. She’s rubbing off on me but she’s right.” He squeezed his shoulder gently. “And you seem like a brave guy to me.”

“Oh god, I’d be laughing like an idiot,” he smiled, thinking back to his low tolerance as a kid. “That should be our group motto.”

“Well, as far as welcome wagons go I couldn’t have asked for better. And that’s not a bad thing to get from her, t-b-h.” Garth said with a small smile. “Ah, man this is getting super mushy. How ‘bout a fist fight or rock, paper, powers so I don’t have to keep looking at your big ol’, pretty, and sincere eyes.” He laughed.

“Just tell me the time and place, I’ll be there. You guys can start to count on me. For now.” He said, honestly, knowing how fickle he was. One devastating outburst and he could run away into hiding, he’d just have to watch out and be honest.

“No, believe me. I think it’s something we all have to come to on our own terms. It took me a long time to accept myself. I still don’t think I’m fully there but I am doing better and you will to,” he tried to reassure Garth.

“You’re not alone, remember that but there’s no need to rush yourself.” He nudged him slightly. “Weed? I haven’t done that stuff since school,” he laughed a little. “I believe you, man.” 

Garth danced on the balls of his feet, prosthetic still clutched tightly in his good hand as he listened to Gray. If other people in this so called circle were going to be like Cel and Gray, then really he had little to worry about and more reason to start looking to stick around. 

“It’s cool, but not that sexy. Literally gives a new meaning to heat of the moment.” She let out a little giggle. 

“You leave Damien alone he’s just… obviously a bit shy and takes some time to warm up to people. We’ll crack him like an egg.” She pointed at her face. “No one can resist this charm.” The grin grew on her lips. “You are terrifying and we need to find you a hobby, fast.”

Garth scrunched up his nose, but let the comment slide since he’d needled her about it enough for one evening. But he raised his hands innocently. “I’ll leave him alone when he learns how to even crack a smile, is all I’m saying. My wit is almost on par with your charm and when I talked to him he looked at me like he wanted to kill me!” He said, as oblivious as he was being honest.

“Sorry, I think sometimes I get carried away. I should be stopped,” he laughed lightly. “I know… believe me. I know. I ran. And it didn’t help anything. All I did was push people away.” He sighed. “Mate, we’re not asking you to be overjoyed and shit… fuck, I’m still nervous.”

“I know you’re mocking but we all mean well. I promise.” He nodded. “Yeah, something like that. Though you also go some equally weird friends.”

Gray smiled. “Why not? Why not be a team. Support each other.”

“The way Cel talks about it sometimes, I just think I’m missing something here. It’s all so right to her, all of this.” Garth shook his head, “But I’m glad to hear even you’re nervous. Means I’m not just chicken shit.” Garth said, kicking at the sand a little with his feet, arms locked over his chest.

“I know, it’s like this feeling. Like… I can almost feel your energy. I think I knew something, I felt drawn to you. It’s a weird feeling, huh?” she rambled, her tone light. “No, no. It did. Like… we all have a connection. Even if we’re not sure why yet. I trust Cel, I do believe she knows what she’s talking about.” She gave him a gentle smile, almost wanting to reassure him. 

“Like yeah… yeah. Literally. It’s so old. Notes, scribbles, all these words and images my bloodline has recorded. It’s crazy.”

“I hope not literally with my energy,” He laughed. “Last thing I’d want is to shock you. But I agree, it’s all very weird. It’s scary.” Garth admitted, his tone softer and lower. “Knowing you trust her really is more reassuring to me though. I can’t imagine doing this on my own.” He still wanted a way out, but he was more willing to try now that he really knew how big this was.

Will laughed. Americans. “I appreciate it man. I know a few guys in the area. Maybe i’ll hook you up.”

He couldn’t help but chuckle, Garth was funny… he was light. He was what they needed right now. Will shrugged “Whiskey does the trick sometimes… mainly because I just pass out. But then i’ve got to hope i sleep dream free.” 

“Oh my god, you’d be a lifesaver!” Garth whined, “You have no idea how hard it’s been to ration out what I got while I was backpacking. I mean the pain in my hand is back, making all sorts of things spark and I’ve been having all sorts of weird dreams, man.”

Garth listened, face scrunched up in a frown at the choice of alcohol but perked up at the mention of dreams. “You too, huh? Cel said we tend towards dreams.” And he wiggled his fingers dismissively. “The high seemed to have blocked most of them from me cause now I’m dreaming more than I ever have and I don’t like it. I mean I barely understand anything I’m seeing. What kind of BS prophetic shit is it supposed to mean!” He said, agitated a little at the very idea of the dreams.

Cel laughed, smiling at him. She was enjoying it. “Sometimes when he gets over excited he sets stuff on fire? Although not sure that’s the same thing…” 

“Don’t worry it’s Gray’s thing. None of us have any choice. I used to hate halloween. Now it’s a pretty special day.” She narrowed her eyes. Watching the colour rush to his face. “Oh… Yeah, Tallulah is coming. That makes you excited huh.” She wiggled her brows. “Please tell me you aren’t planning costumes already. I won’t wear anything with a cape.”

Garth shrugged, but he broke into a laugh. “I guess it’ll have to do. But it kinda makes him sound cooler. Fire is super cool.”

“I’m just as excited at anybody who is coming, very much, you know, equally.” He stuttered a little. “Well, except Damien cause well that dude is just creepy.”

“I have to find something to pass the time. I don’t have a job over here. Might as well start getting into fashion. I’ll be like Edna Mode, darling!” He said, with a bad accent.”

“I mean, you… it’s real electricity, right? Wouldn’t be a totally insane idea,” he shrugged lightly. “Well, good be good for the environment,” he joked a little. 

“Yeah, me either. But I think it could be good for us all,” he smiled, despite Garth’s laugh. “Maybe. I don’t know. I think trust, especially in people like us is pretty important. I was alone with it for a long time.” He laughed slightly. “I’m literally a flame don’t spark me up.”

“Don’t encourage me. “ Garth said under his breath, actually starting to think about it a little. “I just. I’ve spent so much time trying to find a way to stop this,” He paused with a long sigh. “I don’t know if I can just switch to being so enthusiastic about being a damn live wire even if I’d be single handedly making red water the most green town in the world.”

Garth nodded still unconvinced. “I’ll be in it for the matching sweaters. I’m thinking they can say, “My family came from Redwater and I all I got was their ancestral baggage.”

“Oh yeah? I’m not just a pretty face,” she laughed gently, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I think, I think that’s what magic is. Like… I can control water. Like i can tap into it. Cel is the weather. Gray is fire. It’s like the elements right. We draw from nature and energy. These natural forces,” she rambled on. 

Tallulah smiled softly. “Cute. But… I found it in some stuff. My real parents left for me. I always just thought it was some old book. Then… I got my powers. And… it’s like things my bloodline collected.”

“Yeah, Cel had mentioned it and now it makes sense why when I first me you. When I met all of you. It’s like I knew even before I knew.” He made a face, scrunching it up. “Ahhh,  I don’t think that makes sense. But I guess Cel is right. There’s something bigger happening here.” Garth seemed a little troubled about it, even if he was now closer to being on Cel’s side than before.

“I’m a complete nerd for this stuff. It’s cool. The tide is the rise and fall of water caused by gravitational forces of the moon and sun on the oceans of the earth. Like that is pretty amazing to start with. How all of that falls into place,” she said, blushing just slightly. “Well… what if I’ve already found a book?”

“I love it when you talk science.” Garth said trying very hard to make it seem like he was teasing, wanting to hide all his affection behind jokes. “And all that gravitational force, imagine taping into it? Maybe that’s all that magic is, taping into forces we’ve yet found scientific ways of explaining.” 

Garth’s eyes narrowed. “Really? Was it called Garth’s Most Pressing Questions Answered, too?” He joked.