The journey to P3 is made in a comfortable silence, as Chris stares out the window in deep thought. I had expected to be slightly distracted by my passenger's prensence, but all I felt was a calming focus on driving.
It didn't take long for us to pull up behind the club in my assigned spot. I try to give him a smile as I turn off the engine, but he seems too absorbed in his thoughts to even notice our vehicle has stopped.
"We're here," I announce, and his green eyes swing over to meet my face. He doesn't say anything as we get out of the car, he just grabs the fresh sheets and pillow Piper had enthusiastically supplied from my trunk. I took the lead as we head through the door in the back alley.
I bring him to a small room with a metal framed cot. The area is filled to the brim with boxes and other bits and pieces from the club.
"Well, here's your new room, I guess. Sorry, it's not very impressive. No one else really comes back here." Just me when I work too late and don't have the energy to drive home, but I wasn't about to admit that.
I offer to help him clear out the area, but he smirks and holds out his hands to remind me that wouldn't be necessary.
You'd think the reminder of orbing to make me feel queasy like it did back at the mannor, but instead I feel a bright joy spark in me and I laugh at how I could forget his magical abilities.
"Besids," he says, a smile on his face but concern shining through his green eyes, "I don't think you should be doing anything too straining right now."
I let out a groan of frustration, "I wish you'd all stop worrying, like I said earlier I feel fine! Better than fine, I feel great." I add, leaving no room for arguments, "Infact, I'm going to finish up my work."
I turn and make my way to the bar hearing his footsteps behind me, "Let me help at least then-" he says with concern.
"I got it," I interupt though gritted teeth.
"-please."
Dam, I really can't deny him anything. "Fine you keep going over there and I'll get started on this side. Just make a note of anything thats running low in my notebook," i hand it to him after ripping out a page for myself, "Oh, let me know if you find my phone too - I think I left it here somewhere yesterday." I add as an afterthought.
He gives me a nod and we make quick work of stock taking and reorganising the bar.
Our pace is interrupted when he suddenly says, "Hey, I think I..."
I turn my head to see why he's trailed off, and as I do I think I hear something - like plastic sliding on wood.
When I see him, I notice his hand is held up like he just tried to swat a bug or something and he has a guilty expression on his face like he just got caught doing something he shouldn't have. I shoot him a quizzical look and he drops his hand quickly.
"I, uh, I think we need to order more bourbon. This bottle is nearly empty." He shakes it for emphasis and I am even more confused now.
"Soo, write that down like I told you..?" My statement comes out like a question and he turns a little red.
"Right, yeah. Sorry." He quickly scribbles in my notebook before going back to what he was doing.
That was strange, just like so many of the things this guy does. Our silence becomes more tense as I start to ponder our situation. This guy.. he's from the future? 'Just like twenty years or so,' I hear his causal claim in my mind. It's incredible; how much the world would have changed in that time. What must his childhood have been like, horrid if the Titans had full rule of it I imagine. How old is he right now? Is he running around as a toddler somewhere in the world, has he been been born?
"How old are you?" I find myself asking before I can stop myself.
He pauses what he's doing and answers with his back turned "Twenty-two." His throat clears and he asks, "how, er, how old are you?"
I mentally count the months, "twenty-three in about.. two months."
He makes a happy noise at the revelation, and continues on with our task.
I don't want to pester him with too many future questions but I have to ask, "Do we, know each other in the future? Or, well, I guess, do you know me?"
I wish I could see his face as he responds, "yeah, uh, a little. You know, in passing. We've met a few times."
"I must have been like mid-fories then, huh? I real old crone. I wonder what my life was like.." the last question is said to myself as I know anything he tells me is from an alternate path and might not even be true for this reality.
He forces out a "hm" noise at my statement and continues with his working. I get the impression he's done answering my quesitons, I've probably bothered him enough for one day. The rest of our task is completed in silence.
We meet in the middle and I start transferring my notes from the piece of paper I was using to my notepad, calculating quantities for our order as I do. While I'm doing this, he just kind of stands there and watches me with an odd look in his eye.
As soon as I finish I look up at him and his gaze flicks to the floor as he shuffles his feet awkwardly.
"Well, I guess I better get out of here now that that's done," I say. Wishing I had more reason to stay I ask, "Are you going to be okay here?"
He putts his hands in his pockets and shrugs, I get the feeling he doesn't want me to leave either; but I must just be projecting.
A realisation hits me, "Wait, do you have any spare clothes? Do you even have any money? I'm sure Piper can get you a job here if you need," I add thoughtfully before asking, "Do you want me to take you shopping? We could get you a few things to help you feel more settled?"
He makes a face at my last two suggestions like he just ate something really sour. He shakes his head and says, "I'm fine, I have ways of getting anything I need."
What does he mean by that? Surely not.. "Chris!" I exclaim with an aghast expression, "please tell me you are not going to steal from innocent people."
He smirks at me as he replies, "No Cassy, I'm not going to steal from inocent people. I'm going to steal from multi-chain super stores."
I gasp, why that cheeky little, "You can't do that Chris, it's not right!"
"Think of it this way," he tries to explain, "if I make and spend money that could change the entire structure of the economy in the future. The best thing I could do would be to take a little from people who have too much, it's not like it will hurt their bottom line."
I still don't like the idea and grumble out a protest knowing nothing I say could stop him. I cross my arms and look away a little upset.
"Look," he approaches me and puts his hand on my chin, tilting my gave up so my eyes meet his. The sparks fly anew under my skin and this time it only deepens my frown, why does he have such an effect on me? "If it makes you feel any better I've already got a bag stashed away with a few things from when I first got here so it shouldn't be too much of an issue."
His words don't do much to reassure me, but right now I'm more distracted by the feeling of his touch. I want to ask if he feels it to, this jolt of electricity that flows between us, but it's too embarrassing. If he said no I might literally die from embarrassment, and if he said yes... I don't know what I'd do.
I take a step back out of his reach and ignore the disappointment I think I see flicker in his eyes. Whether I'd like to or not is irrelevant, I know it's time to leave.
I toss him the spare keys and tell him to stay out of trouble, not stopping to hear a response before I jump in my car and carefully drive to my apartment.