"Oh, ah," Liam admitted, "yes… how did you know?"
Arthur was smiling and he looked thrilled to be meeting Liam. That wasn't a new experience for the empath. He probably wanted relationship tips or something. The Frenchmen was silent next to Arthur just staring at Liam.
"You're a telepath?" a voice called out, "Oh my god man! That's so cool!"
Liam felt himself be dragged away. He looked up to see another blonde. This one had an American accent. Was this really the delegate for the United States? The American pushed Liam into the conference room and yelled out, "Yo guys! I found a telepath! How cool is that bros?"
Liam looked up to see all the foreign dignitaries staring at him. Some had their jaws dropped, other's exclaimed, and others loudly protested that their was no such thing. But Liam could feel what they all felt. And they all felt surface curiosity, but under that was pain, pain, pain. And betrayal and unrequited love and joy and bitterness and friendship. Liam started to hyperventilate. He needed to get out of here. This was why he liked to work alone!
He tried to pull away from the tall American, but his grip was too strong. He was sending out an overwhelming air of bitterness, anger and false cheer. It was sickening for Liam to feel and he hated the American for pretending he was ok when he wasn't. The young empath tried to stretch his connection to find a stable emotion. To his right was a man wearing a pink scar with an more negative emotions. Liam tried not to let in well in him, but they were those negative emotions were strongest and closest emotions.
"I've got no idea what you're talking about." Liam said, "Telepath's don't exist. I'm just the attendant for the building."
Liam could feel when Arthur and his make-out buddy entered the room. He hoped they would be able to distract the annoying blonde so he could escape back to his desk. Their were too many emotions here. He couldn't think properly.
"But I just heard you say that to Arthur and Francis!" The American said, "didn't he?"
Ah so Francis must be the Frenchmen. Fitting.
"I believe it is time for the lunch break!" Arthur exclaimed. This got a physical reaction out of everyone and Liam wanted to kiss him for getting everyone to leave so quickly. One short brunette even leapt from his seat shouting, "paaasta!"
Pretty soon the room was empty except for Liam, Arthur, the tattle-tale American, yet another blonde and a brunette. The American was still sending out his bitter cocktail of false cheer and resentment. Arthur turned to the American and said, "Alfred, I saw a McDonald's down the street this morning. I bet you could make it there and back during the lunch break."
Alfred looked like he was going to refuse, but then seemed to realize something and exclaimed, "of course! The hero needs to have his awesome lunch!" Alfred turned for the door, "I'll see you dudes later!"
With that Alfred dashed out of the room. Liam was left with Arthur and the mystery duo. Now that other people had left the room, Liam was able to read them and they all practically vibrated with surface excitement.
"I'm really not a telepath. You know that right?" Liam didn't want to talk to them. "I appreciate you getting me out of that," Liam gestured to the room, "but I have work to get back to."
"But you are something special, otherwise Arthur would never have stayed." The blonde said coolly, "My name is Lukas Thomassen and I'm sure your paper work can wait."
"Very nice to meet you, Mr. Thomassen." Liam replied, "I'm William Ferry and it really can't." He really shouldn't be reacting based on his emotions though. Liam knew that. If he left for his desk, he had a feeling though that if he left they'd just follow him. Arthur hadn't given Liam a last name to address him by, but this guy, he demanded formality.
"Yes, the boy is an empath," Arthur said, ignoring Liam's statement about work.
The brunette tipped his hat at Liam, "Ion Noica, pleased to meet you." His accent was thick making his words slippery and hard to understand, but he had cheerfulness, curiosity and kindness floating on the surface.
"Um," Liam murmured. His smile widening at the cheer then he himself fall into a half glare again. No more reacting to their emotions. Liam greeted him back quietly. The three herded him over to a seat, telling him they had questions for him. They just stared at him for a moment and Liam looked down. The concentrated attention of these three was equal to what he felt like to be in a classroom in high school.
The table needed to be windexed when the delegates left today. Their were finger prints everywhere. Like a rising wave, Liam watched as the three foreigner's curiosity built up. He knew any moment they'd be asking him bunches of questions and he had to figure out how he'd answer them or escape.
Arthur knew he was an empath. He'd figured it out just by watching Liam. Although admittedly most people didn't just start making out with strangers… but he could have just been eccentric! But no, Arthur had realized he had some affinity for empathy after just a few moments with Liam. Why had he confirmed it? He could have just lied then and said no he was just really horny! This was a complete mess.
"How does your empathy work?" Arthur asked.
Liam expected that since Arthur was the one who'd stumbled across Liam. The blonde spoke fast and even without his empathy Liam would have been able to tell he was in a better mood then the first time he'd seen Liam. He had a smile on his face and a little notebook out. Was Arthur really going to be writing this down? He'd just be direct. He wasn't a lab rat after all. And usually people just wanted advice, not how it worked!
"Sorry, I think you're confused." Liam said, "I never agreed to answer any questions."
All three faces fell at the same time and Liam could feel confusion from Mr. Noica and Arthur and almost scorn from Mr. Thomassen. None of them were apologetic. He wondered how they'd feel if he asked them why they felt so much pain, pain, pain. They probably would think it was an invasion of privacy. What they didn't understand was this was the same thing. He didn't ask them, they shouldn't ask him!