A Few Hidden Suprises

“So let me get this right.” He yawned. “Instead of knocking like an actual person, you decided…or your powers decided to interrupt my sleep. Is that right?” He asked, “Because you could have fallen more, but you ended here. Were you trying to watch me while I was sleeping?”

“You know, you’re a pretty astute person. I’d say you’re right on the money, but you’re making this out to be more than it really is.” Eli said, his face flushing a right red. “Watch you sleep, no, maybe appreciate you from a distance for like. A solid minute before moving on, you know? I mean. Surely you know what you look like.” Eli tugged at his collar, feeling hot, and not trying to meet the man’s gaze. “Listen, I’m new here, didn’t pay attention to orientation and just trying to get a good layout of the place. Was mostly just lookin’ for the mess hall. Some grub. A man gets hungry, yeah?”

You better have a good reason to wake me up because I was having the best dream.” He said as he rubbed his eyes while sitting up to is bed. “And it was not about you.”

“Oh no, I’m so disappointed.” Eli replied sarcastically, picking himself up off the floor, and dusting himself off. “Disturbing you wasn’t really intentional, I was mostly just exploring and sort of... Fell... or I guess phased through your roof. Still working out some ability kinks.”

“If I recall correctly, my knife was what made you phase. You’re welcome.” He turned back to the wall and started to rinse himself off. “Safes … I’ll keep that in mind. I don’t think The Advocates would like to hear that though. Remember, we’re trying to make heroes, not criminals.”

“It wasn’t the knife exactly. Just the knife being inside of me. There are few things that I allow inside of me, and a knife just isn’t one.” Eli turned the shower head off, his feet splashing through the wet floor as he made his way to the towel rack. Rubbing is mop of dripping hair as thoroughly as he could. “I mean. What if the safe of a notorious villain? Maybe he stole some poor town’s gold reserves, and I’m just... Stealing it back? We can flip this into a Robin Hood story to play it off to the boys upstairs if need be.”

His face had settled back on a small smile. “Blonde Adonis? Nice to know what you think of me.” Thomas kept his head turned to Eli as he scrubbed himself down. “Usually they run out of breath because I’m too hard to handle. What about you? I imagine you just jack-rabbit with guys and then it’s over in a minute? Or is it two?” The man grinned at him. “Hey, it’s pretty cool that you can phase through walls. If you ever learn how to control it, it’ll be pretty useful.”

“I am offended that you would think so little of me, I’m not some down low, drunk, frat boy. I know how to make a man call me back for more.” Eli winked at Thomas and chuckled, turning back to rinse his hair under the running shower. “Well thank you. Maybe if you stop pointing a knife at me and started with something a little less panic inducing, I could get there a lot faster. I’m pretty good at safes, so if you ever wanted to rob a bank. I’m your inside man.” He said laughing.

“That’s the lifestyle where you have to buy the whitest of white breads, and the plainest american cheese that you can find. Quite a life, isn’t it? Let’s hope that cleaning lady is doing better.”

Tom turned his head, curious as to how two parents could let his son get into that. But maybe that was enough of an inquisition for now. He backed off, raising an eyebrow as Eli hit him back. “Hey, do as I say, not as I do. I can do bad things and still tell you not to do ‘em.” The Chimera looked back at Eli again. “So, did going through an inter-dimensional portal stunt your growth? Or was it the lack of greens?” 

“God, I hope so. She had enough evidence to sue the motel owner for so many levels of negligence. All she needed was one under-dog lawyer to take her case.” Eli chuckled.

His mouth dropped open, but couldn’t keep the grin appearing on his face, relieved Thomas had stopped pressuring for more details, and for the change in conversational topic. “Oh, the blonde Adonis has jokes, does he? I know you’re not trying to read me for my height with that bean-stalk body. You got your own climate up there Goldilocks?” He teased back, tossing a little soapy foam at the man. “Do guys ever make it to your summit? Or they gotta quit halfway up if there’s a bad storm coming in?”

“You had a cleaning lady who wasn’t trying to rob your stuff? Lucky dog.” Thomas grinned, laughing a little as he thought about it. “God, I could never go to a motel again in my life and I’d be fine. Those things are like … gateways to hell.” 

His eyes widened. He hadn’t heard a story like that in a long time. “How does a guy like you end up in an inter-dimensional portal? As far as I know they’re not on every other block like Starbucks.” He pressed the loofa to his body and started to scrub, occasionally looking back at Eli, seeing barely anything as the steam got thicker. “I grew up learning how to fight and steal. I can get in and out of places without being seen.” He smiled to himself, happy that he could say he had no abilities, except for one. “I’m just a really talented mercenary. So when you say legal defense, does that mean you’ve done things you shouldn’t have?”

“She was already robbing the motel owner, she didn’t need to rob a sixteen year old kid.” Eli said chuckling. “Besides, it’s not like I had anything to steal anyway. I had like two shirts and one ripped pair of jeans in a small backpack. I was living what is now considered a ‘minimalist’ life style.”

Eli looked down at the soapy water swirling around his feet, a small grimace on his face. He was a fairly open book, but that didn’t mean there weren’t topics that didn’t made him uncomfortable. He took a moment trying to find the words, “You could say it was sort of a family project. My parents studied dimensions. They were physicists.” Eli blinked, looking at the shining red swatches across his abdomen where he’d been scrubbing his skin raw with the louffa. He let out another sigh.

Raising his eyebrow again, Eli turned to the man. “When you say mercenary, you mean like, criminal for hire? And you’re asking me about things I shouldn’t have done?” He teased, before growing somber once more. This conversation was starting to way heavily on him. He thought he’d have been more over the events that transpired by now. “I mean. I had to do a lot of filching and pick pocketing to be able to pay for my room at the motel. I was caught a number of times... on top of other things I was already being sought after for.”

His smile seemed to get bigger as they talked. “Actually I can relate to that. I’ve been in far more motels than I have penthouses. It’s not a glamorous life, is it? Tell me you never swam in the pools, right? That’s how you catch death.”

Thomas dropped the towel and used a shower head opposite to the younger man. “I know what they are. I’ve used ‘em. Not a big fan. They make me itch.” He grabbed a bar of soap, a loofa sponge from the wall and started to rub the two together. He pushed his hair back and soaked his face, giving it a beat before he answered. “The Advocates and I have a common goal in mind. I happen to be quite skilled and they needed skill.” Not everyone needed to know where he came from. The less, the better. It wasn’t like he could trust Eli. “What about you? How’d you get your powers? Toxic-waste? Bitten by a radioactive ghost spider?”

“Oh I definitely swam in the pools. Took me maybe three times before I figured out there wasn’t any actual chlorine or cleaning chemicals in the water and I was mostly just swimming in a stale, cloudy cesspool. I was so sick, but thankfully the cleaning brought me that good, home made chicken noodle soup. She was the sweetest woman I’ve ever met.”

Eli was quiet for a moment, placing a hand against the shower wall as a wave of sadness washed over him. Thinking about having to rely on the kindness of a stranger to help feed him when he didn’t even have the energy to snag a few bucks out of the motel safe for delivery. And there had been so many delivery packages piled high in that small room. He shook the feeling off himself, realizing he hadn’t been listening to Thomas, but was thankful to at least catch his question.

“I joined because I was a dirt poor and needed better legal defense. As my powers, I was inside an unstable inter-dimensional portal when it blew up. Boom. Meshed that inter-dimensional goo with my very DNA.” He refrained from mentioning more. “What skills was it the advocates needed? What are your powers anyway? Are you proficient at threatening to stab people?”

Thomas shrugged. “I don’t know. But this is what they have you doing. Maybe the idea is to get you physically fit to climb a tree, so you save that kitten.” As the kid talked, The Chimera cracked a small smile. Someone had filled his head with ideas of a cushion-y life, and Thomas wanted to have a word with them. “This place is nicer than most of the hotels I’ve spent my life at. I would not be surprised if they had all that. Why don’t we go and find out.” He patted Eli on the back, walking him out of the training room and to the showers.

-

“They have Dove for Men, is that close to your bath bombs?” Thomas stood with a towel around his waist as he examined the bathrooms. “They also have conditioner, nice.” He hadn’t used their showers much. Usually after training he would leave to go for a post-workout run, then shower in some gym before coming back.Usually a Planet Fitness; the people there were easy to scam.

“Oh, we got a rich guy here, hotels? I raise you one seedy budget inn motel named ‘Nuttin Special’. Right off the high way, rented by the hour. Bullets still embedded in the wall. And a front desk clerk who hit on anything breathing that came through the lobby.”

Eli turned with a raised eyebrow at Thomas before taking the soap out of his hand. “You don’t even know what a bath bomb is, do you?” He flipped open the cap and took a whiff, finding the scent rather pleasant and relaxing. While there weren’t any grandiose, claw-footed tubs to relax in, Eli had to admit the showers were quite nice. Slick concrete and huge, shining, chrome heads that heated the water up fairly quickly. They even managed to somehow curb the stank of sweat within the locker room. He turned his back to Thomas as he undressed. Small shivers shook him until he finally managed to get under the running water. Letting his soreness melt into the stream.

“How uh... How did you come to join the Advocates, Thomas? I don’t think I ever heard.”

Lukas couldn’t help but to sigh as he heard the other man’s words. “And do you think your opponents will lessen their skill level in order to make you feel better?” Lukas asked with a raised eyebrow as he watched the other bend down to catch his breath. “Besides, the information I’m gaining from this will help me come up with a good way to help increase your skill set and attributes.”

Lukas allowed his magic to wash over the room, commanding the simulator to pause. “If you wish to quite, feel free to do so. I merely figured you’d want the data to know what you’d like to work on.” The support offered. “I’m a support, I’m not very much help when it comes to some of these other fighters we have here. However, as the tactician I’ve watched them fight enough and come up with enough plans and formulas to be able to imitate a somewhat reliable battle strategy.”

“If I ask nicely, yes, I do.” Eli retorted. It took him an embarrassingly long moment to collect himself, and stood up with a small flush in his cheeks. Still breathing heavily, but no longer dying for air. He wondered briefly if the dusty and dilapidated homes and motels he’d stayed at for the past few years had left him mildly asthmatic. “You’re talking like I’m a video game character here, does that mean y’all keep track of my progress and I can level up? Are there rewards for doing so? I could use a handsome masseuse. Lot’s of tension built up from this,” He gestured around the training arena.

“So you’re like the brains of everything going on here, huh?” Eli looked around, still not used to the technology that surrounded him at Advocate Hall. “Uh, yeah though. Let’s call it a day. I’ve been here a few hours, and I am severely out of shape. Would you be up for some food? A drink? Feelin’ a bit like a camel. Could chug a whole well right now. I’m also very curious about this magic stuff you’ve got going on, like, can anyone learn it, or were you born with it? Is there a spell to summon cute boys? Love potions? Can you conjure the new Animal Crossing game for me?”

He had an eyebrow raised. Thomas never went to get his some sort of suit created for him, but also there was a big difference between Eli and him. Eli could use the direction and know-how. Thomas already had all that down pat. 

Thomas kept the knife raised, never once bringing it down. But there was the tiniest hint of a smile on his face as Eli sunk beneath the floor and was able to get out from him.  The man stood up and sheathed the blade. He crossed his arms and sighed at the kid. “You did it though, didn’t you? Maybe it’s not how you would have liked to get there, but you got there and that’s what matters. Out there Eli you need to be ready. And out there, those guys won’t hold back like I will.” I was one of those guys, he thought.

“Look, that’s enough for today I guess. Why don’t we get you cleaned up and get out of here.”

Eli didn’t take his eyes off the knife, even when Thomas put it away. He was now very wary of the weapon having been on the man, and questioned whether or not Thomas would have actually tried to use it to help him work his powers. “I know they won’t. I just... I don’t know, the whole hero thing didn’t really strike me as being this physically exhausting. I was thinking more fire fighter work. Rescue a kitten out of a tree ordeal. Low level heroism? Is that a thing?”

Sighing with relief, Eli lifted his shirt to wipe the sweat from his face. “Thank god, cause I want to soak in a hot tub and just relax for a bit. Do we have those bath bomb things? Bath salts or scrubs? Or is this a cold gym shower cause everyone else was up in here earlier using the hot water ordeal?”

Thomas didn’t answer him on that. If Eli wanted to be here, he needed to get with the program - and fast. He did however, find what he asked next a bit amusing. “Well, Eli … at boarding school, you need to wear a uniform. Here, when the heroes aren’t out saving the world, they can dress in whatever they want. Give it time, you’ll see how strange some of these people look.” 

He pulled that punch, giving a look of pity to the boy. He looked like a puppy. Thomas was entirely sure he belonged with him - though Thomas was the one who offered to watch over him for the time. As Eli crossed under him and sprung up, The Chimera spun around, grabbing Eli’s leg by his ankle, twisted it, then used his foot to kick out Eli’s leg that held him up. 

Thomas spun to the ground, creating a low center of gravity. Eli fell next to him, and Thomas took the chance. He sprawled out over the boy, whisking a knife from his boot and bringing it up. “When you’re out on the field seconds can mean the difference between life and death. No, you shouldn’t have told me where you’d hit me. But right now, what you’re going to do it phase through me and get out of this. Otherwise, you’ll get stabbed.”

“I mean... technically the uniforms are self-assigned? They had me in meetings with the super suit creating team for quite some time...”

Eli’s eyes went wide with surprise, and let out a soft gasp when Thomas twisted his ankle around and bit his tongue to keep from yelling out as he hit the floor. His head rebounded off the ground with thud and saw the lights spin for a moment. He stared up at Tom blearily, trying to focus in on his face. The flash of a blade finally pulled him out of his haziness.

‘Wh-whoa! Whoa! No! T-Time out man, c’mon! Y-You’re not really going to stab me right?” Eli gulped, feeling his heart skip a little bit in his chest as the small knife glinted at him once more, and squirmed trying to get out from under Thomas. He took a deep breath, trying to concentrate, and tried to will his body move through the other man’s. Eli flailed as his body began to sink into the floor, and managed to wriggle and phase himself out from under Thomas. He pulled his legs out of the floor slowly and turned to face his opponent. “You keep that thing away from me o-or else dude.”

“I’m pretty sure it’s already set to beginner, Eli.” Thomas looked down at tablet in his hand, rereading the info on this boy. He sighed, vision going back up to the kid. He was only a few years younger than Thomas, but the skill level might has well have had them being a hundred years apart. He walked over, offering a hand to help Eli up. 

The man blinked a few times, wondering what wisdom he could offer Eli, if he even could. “You talk about it like this a boarding school. I’ve hardly been here the longest, but from what I can tell, everyone here wants to do better. Everyone here can do better. Don’t think you’re the only one who has learning to do. Now, take a deep breath, set yourself up. We’ll go for a few more rounds.” Thomas put the tablet down and stopped the simulation all together. “Let’s try something else. So far you’ve been fighting an enemy that isn’t really there. You focus may get better when the man you’re fighting is right here.” Thomas got into a fighting stance. “I’ll even give you a warning: I’m going to punch your shoulder.” And then he swung.

Eli looked at Thomas in disbelief. “Is there a setting below that?” He asked, taking the man’s hand trying to regulate his breathing once more. He rested his arms on top his head, feeling his heart pounding in his ears. “I mean, isn’t it? Basically? Sort of. For adults...” He wondered briefly if most people ever were annoyed by their coach, mentors, or trainers trying to be inspiring. Eli understood Thomas was just trying to be encouraging, but it didn’t stop him from feeling irked.

It took a moment for Eli’s exhausted brain to register what Thomas’ new plan was, and even with the warning the man had almost connected with his shoulder. Legs wobbling, Eli ducked down, struggling to move his feet out from under him. Wincing as his leg muscles cried out from being so sore. Standing upright once more, he held up his fists and took a stance of his own. “Am I supposed to tell you where I’m hitting now? Rear kick.” He said, diving through the man’s body, rolling to a stop. He hopped up and prepared to kick Tom in the ass.

“H-hey, tell me something... y-you. And don’t give me any looks, I don’t remember a lot of names, how long did it take you to be able to hold your own around here? Feels like I’ve got a rather large learning curve.”