Elliot Knight groaned as his alarm clock rang raucously, insolently summoning him from his luscious slumber. He had ridiculously fallen asleep around one in the morning, really vacuous considering he was to apply for an at least sufficient career. Elliot was clueless on what a former thief was really capable of even attempting to do, so he was fervently hoping that perhaps he could at least scavenge a pitiful job, like a mere cashier or something similar as well. Elliot was snuggled comfortably on the comfy sofa with stupid Spiderman short-sleeved and short bottom pyjamas that Wally West had delightfully chosen and a thick blanket draped over him. He grudgingly rubbed the sleep from his amber eyes and hissed frustratedly as his sensitive demon ears heard the sound of Jinx changing tiredly in her gothic bedroom and Kid Flash energetically whistling as he poured himself piping hot coffee. With another fatigued, moody hiss, Elliot scowled grumpily as he waspishly threw back the oh so warm blanket and trudged crankily to the small kitchen table, with the useful, modern kitchen by it and the plain bedroom doors either side. Wally enthusiastically whistled as he merrily snatched a filling breakfast bar to consume and carried his piping hot drink to the hygienic table in a comfortable chair next to Elliot, who had his pale face biliously pressed to the clean table surface. Flash smirked amusedly at his sleepy, cantankerous friend and for the pure joy of irking him further, he ruffled Elliot Knight's long, unbrushed, black hair. Elliot annoyedly flashed an immensely piqued scowl and hissed warningly, though it only made Wally chuckle amusedly.
"So. Sleepy boi managed to drag himself out of bed, huh? I'm surprised, I thought I'd have to wake you up,"Flash teased brightly.
"Shut up, Wally,"Elliot snapped testily.
"Sure, grumpy pants. Do you want some coffee? Some cereal or breakfast bar?,"Wally offered cheerfully, still laughing at Elliot's sleepy, prickly state.
"Yes and just a cereal bar,"he grumbled moodily.
Kid Flash snickered teasingly,"No please?"
"No!,"Elliot hissed grumpily.
"Ok, ok keep your hair on!,"Flash sniggered amusedly, as he energetically pelted over to the modern kitchen cabinet and tossed him a nutritious breakfast bar.
Elliot Knight caught it agiley and munched non-committedly, still dreaming of sleeping again. To be honest, there was an actual reason he liked working at night. Wally forebearingly passed him his fresh coffee, watching amusedly as his fatigued, peppery friend sipped, the effective caffeine gradually enhancing his desired wakefulness. His once slumping position straightened; his drooping amber eyes fully opened; his drowsy, groggy mind cleared relievingly; his pointed, elvish ears impeded from sagging wearily; his disagreeably waspish demeanour lightened. By the time Elliot had slowly drained his boiling coffee and slowly consumed his filling breakfast bar, he was more or less prepared for the slightly unnerving day ahead. Elliot had a refreshing, cool shower to hopefully revive any vehemently required motivation for his new career he'd perhaps receive. He securely wrapped a patterned towel around his naked body and gazed anxiously at his strange reflection in the steamed up mirror, attempting to muse positively. Who was he kidding? When has he ever thought positively? Elliot sighed bitterly and shook his head with a mirthless laugh as though to clear his dark mind of any thoughts at all, except to do the daily necessities. With that, he continued dutifully with his morning requirements.
Soon, he was completely dressed in skinny, grey jeans, literally his only plain, black t-shirt that wasn't branded, (unlike the jeans, which were designer, of course, as Wally West's charm) and walked out whilst struggling to brush through his knotty, shoulder-length hair. It was probably Wally's fault that it was so messy really. He swiftly noticed Jinx had departed already to her own part career as a mere cashier at a vast beauty and cosmetics, which unfortunately left him alone with Wally West. As though by an eerie coincidence, Flash darted suddenly with impossible speed to him, smirking playfully. Elliot Knight was about to suspiciously enquire about his mistrustfully mischievous smile when Wally West ruffled his luxurious hair so fast and so much, he hissed startledly.
"Wally! I was trying to brush that, you idiot!,"Elliot yelled irritatedly, groaning at the almost painfully knotty hair now.
Aiming another irked glare at the fitfully laughing speedster, he began the terribly difficult task of tidying his messily splaying hair. Wally was so vacuous sometimes- well no, a majority of the time. Elliot hissed frustratedly as his usually efficient brush caught instantly in his knotty hair, tugging painfully. He literally couldn't do a single stroke with it and in the end, scraped it unneatly in an extremely messy ponytail, his smooth hair almost fluffy, much to Flash's immense entertainment. Wally placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled mischievously, guiding Elliot along merrily.
"So. What sorta job do you want?,"Wally West asked cheerfully.
Elliot Knight shrugged defeatedly and replied uneasily,"I don't know. Does it have to be...big?"
"Nope. Just enough to give us a bit of money. I mean, being a Titan gets you money, like a lot, you know all the people donating for us saving them all the time. But we still have little side jobs so when the crime rates are a little low, we can still hang on there,"Kid Flash explained enthusiastically.
Wally saw his pale companion's understanding nod and elaborated energetically,"So. I've been thinking really hard and...check this out! Well, you're a nerd, bookworm and all dark and gloomy, so I thought that you should get a job in a library, or as I like to call it, nerd cave!"
"Shut up, Wally and I'm not a nerd or anything like that, okay? I'm realistic,"Elliot prompted irritatedly, scowling annoyedly at Flash's mocking speech.
"Huh, believe what you want, Ellie. Do you want a job at the nerd cave or not?,"Flash teased curiously.
"Yeah, whatever,"Elliot sighed exasperatedly.
Wally smiled amusedly, clearly plotting to bring the two boys to the large library himself. Of course, Elliot objected profusely, instantly shoving the puckish speedster to the comfortable sofa.
"Wally, I'm teleporting us there! No way are you making me vomit when I have literally just got changed,"Elliot Knight hissed urgently, gently pushing Kid Flash to sit on the soft cushions.
"Awh, I know you love me carrying you in my manly arms,"Flash goaded mischievously.
"I'll tell you when I see a man,"Elliot snapped exasperatedly, pouting irritatedly.
Wally West gasped dramatically, clamping a hand over his heart thearatically and moaned in mock agony,"El! How could you!"
"You. Are. Such. An. Idiot. Wally,"Elliot Knight sighed annoyedly, nonetheless sitting on Wally's lap.
"The best idiot though,"Wally joshed roguishly, smiling puckishly at Elliot's evident pique, with a slight hint of entertainment he forgot to conceal.
"Ugh, I don't know why I am even agreeing to bring you along,"Elliot sighed amusedly, smiling slightly as Flash chuckled.
And with that, Elliot Knight teleported them away in a mere blink of an eye and they rapidly found themselves in the bustling streets of Jump City, Elliot instantly staring elusively at the uninteresting pavement due to the impertinent staring and pointing. Kid Flash smiled mischievously and playfully elbowed him.
"So, are you gonna look at me or the floor?,"Flash taunted brightly, attempting to enlighten the anxious mood.
"The floor,"Elliot hissed annoyedly, crossing his arms nervously.
Wally sighed exasperatedly and softened,"Look. You don't have to worry about going to jail, or anything. And you'll probably get an easy job like shelving the book or something. Oh, I'll let you go now, Ellie. Oh and by the way...I'm going to take you back."
Wally West burst into amused laughter and raced impossibly swift away before Elliot Knight could even begin to object. Elliot grudgingly accepted it and mustered all of his deteriorating courage as he gradually approached the old structure of the large library. With a deep, shaky breath, he hesitantly staggered through the vast double doors, struggling to not retreat due to the many eyes burning into him at his abrupt arrival at the quiet library. The only sounds were the almost silent shuffle as the differing novels were flicked through leisurely and the slight buzz of hushed whispers. The numerous shelves were long and packed in a harmoniously tidy structure, with the several spaces where some of the carrying books had been removed to enjoyably read. He detected a metallic trolley with returned volumes awaiting to be placed again in their initial position and a wooden desk with an old computer and countless paperworks stacked by it, a quaint, elderly man studying the bright screen intently. Shakily, Elliot approached nervously, knocking the side to alert the pleasant-looking man of his quiet presence. He looked up and much to his relieved surprise, he only smiled kindly, completely unbothered by his peculiar appearance. The man seemed to realise his thoughts as his courteous smile widened.
"You needn't worry about me judging you. It is all about the inside rather than the out, yes? I can tell you have no negative motives for your arrival. Why do you come?,"he said gently.
"I- err, was wondering if I could get...a job?,"Elliot Knight replied nervously.
"Of course. And this is only a side job, yes?,"the nice man enquired warmly, continuing at his agreeing nod,"Well. Truthfully, we don't really have any spaces free but...I will allow you a sneaky job. I can tell you aren't the kind of boy to cause trouble, son, so does shelving the books into their alphabetical order appeal to you?"
"Yes, of course,"Elliot agreed eagerly.
The elderly man smiled again and stuck out a hand for him to shake,"Henry Smith. You can call me Henry, son."
"Elliot Knight,"Elliot said cheerfully, keenly taking his hand.
"Well, Elliot. Does one oclock to five sound good, son? I'll pay you nine pounds an hour, yes? ,"Henry asked kindly.
Elliot nodded fervently, a slight smile lingering on his pale lips as he was passed a small pin badge, fingering it contently. He pocketed it enthusiastically, starting to feel satisfied for the first time since he broke the surprising news to the beloved Hive Five.
"Start tomorrow, Elliot?,"Henry Smith questioned gently.
"Yes, of course, Mr- err, Henry,"Elliot answered calmly, waving goodbye as he gradually left the vast interior of the old library.
Elliot Knight smiled broadly, gazing up with renewed satisfaction as he breathed in the fresh air. As expected, a colourful blur sped next to him and Wally grinned at his obvious victory.
"Told ya, Ellie. Anyway, you ready for a trip back?,"Kid Flash laughed mischievously.
"Wait, wait, I-,"Elliot started.
However, Flash swiftly picked him up bridal style and snickered teasingly,"You know you don't get a choice in that, right?"
And with an exasperated and amused sigh, Elliot let himself be pelted swiftly away back in their homely apartment, just glad that he was one step closer to a normal lifestyle.