Fate, My Elementals & I (Breaking Borders)

Serious or Arrogant?

****Devion’s POV****

Blending in backstage was easier than I thought. I assumed someone would be like, Hey kid you’re not allowed back here! Something. Guess being tall has its perks. My master disguise was basically leaving my jacket on my seat, back at the auditorium. Wearing a black t-shirt and jeans, I’m sure I looked like every other prop attendant. Now, to make sure I’m not stopped before, I see where this whirlwind that kept swirling around me is leading me to. I know this is not normal, but it feels that way. Like the air is a part of me. This part knows exactly where we are headed. I just hope the other part of me doesn’t remind me I am black and should run in the other direction.

Dressing rooms, ummmmm, I looked at the swirl, shaking my head. I ain’t about to get in trouble for peeping in on people. You had better have another way to go. Of course, it ignored my protests, it was literal air and kept spinning in place, right in front of the door. To be honest, it started looking angry.

“Lookie here, don’t start that sh!t. You are starting to look like a mini tornado and you are not going to get an attitude towards me. See that there,” pointing at the star symbol on the door, while whisper shouting to the swirl, “That means this person is important. I am sure it’s the girl from before. The moment she appeared, you did too. So I know it’s her. I am not too keen on scaring her. You need to figure out another way or somewhere else to go.” My refusal to even get closer, much less knock on the damn door, was as solid as a rock.

The swirl clearly did not like nor appreciate my stubbornness. I knew this because it started to grow by like two centimetres, spin in a larger circle,and if I am not mistaken, seemed about ready to charge at me, like a bull! Oh hellll nawwwwww! As Papa Bouche religiously says, every time he tries to teach me or any of the other boys down at the YMCA anything, “Lawd I ain’t got the patience nor the time today for this fool.”

“Listen here, swirl. You need to tone that energy down okay. I will talk to her but you have to get her to come out.” It slowed down slightly as though it was more open to suggestions, so I continued quietly, “How ‘bout you shrink, go through the bottom of the door and call her out?”

The swirl immediately fired up again, making me worried if it was real enough to knock something over. It proceeded to jerk front to back like I was missing something. “What!?” I sneered, “It’s a good idea.”

“Errrhhhh, actually I think only you can see your, what did you call it, oh right, swirl,” came a calm superior sounding voice from behind.

I spun around so fast, Yup that’s gonna hurt for a while……., I massaged the back of my neck, realizing that it was informing me of the other kid's presence. Looking down, to see a smug life-sized ken doll starting at me curiously. Surprised, he was not frightened. I easily had at least half a foot on him, and well, I’m black. Where I’m from, preppy white kids like him never visit and if we do end up in the same area for some reason, they cross the street, the corridor, anywhere that keeps them far away from me. You see, I’m not only tall, I have broad shoulders and a mean appearance. Yeah, most people think the worst. It intrigues me how he’s just standing there. Not saying a word. Only looking at me like I’m on display at the zoo. I can’t even be mad at him because he did just walk up to me, not only hearing me negotiating with a manifestation of air that he obviously cannot see, but also failing to win the argument as well. Another reason he should flee. Shouldn't he be fearful of a crazy person, to say the least?

I realised that he may be waiting for a reply, so I opened my mouth and what came out. Let’s just say I wasn’t very proud of my comeback.

“Who asked you?”

Great! I sounded like a three-year old on the playground. Unfortunately, he realised it too. If that sly caught your hand-in-the-cookie-jar-smile meant anything, it was definitely: I won round one.

Bastard.

“I was only trying to inform you,” doing his best not to sound condescending, NOT. “.....in case you were about to start arguing again, maybe draw more attention to yourself, and get us both kicked out of here before we understand the nature of this little adventure we find ourselves on,” he continued.

“Hold up there Ken doll….” Oh my, that surely ruffled his pristine feathers, swear he is about to growl. “Our adventure? I don’t remember teaming up here, pal. I snuck in all on my own, thank you very much. Plus, you just said that you can’t see what I was arguing with. So why don’t you run along and fire someone or something?”

He didn’t look very happy with my reference to his obvious I-am-richer-than-you persona.

Taking a deep breath, he stated, “You’re so juvenile.” Shaking his head like the superior jerk he looks like, “I had water leading me here, I am assuming your reference to the swirl was most likely air. I heard, mini tornado while walking towards you. So if your done freaking out, thinking your every little girls' nightmare, move aside and let me knock. We need to get to the bottom of this. I need to go back to my Dad. He isn’t always well and I don’t wish to worry him with my absence for too long.”

Well damn, I just got told. I wondered how his father got sick, almost expressed sympathy, then I looked at his harsh, cold ice-like eyes and changed my mind. He won’t accept it.

“You know what you’re right, go ahead…” I agreed, moving aside with a hand gesture. He c0cked an eyebrow, nodded his head about to step forward to do it, when…………………..

**** Cannon’s Pov*****

In the middle of doing the best impression of my Papa, ever! I heard snickering behind me. Twisting my body to the left, I found both sources of the sound and knew exactly who they were.

After leaving Dad, I came downstairs, flashed my backstage pass, claiming my Papa had organized a meet and greet for me. The bumbling staff barely waited for me to finish my sentence before scampering off to confirm with the organizers. Leaving me free to follow my trail in peace. No one questioned why I was back here knowing who booked the balcony. Also, if I walked the walk, as Papa says, no one would question whether you belonged or not. He was right. As per usual.

However, what surprised me was the young man in front of me. Though, clearly self-conscious of his social status, hiding behind a mask of bravado and witty remarks, seemed to have picked up on it as well. I can admire someone like him. Due to Papa’s influence, I look beyond someone’s age, social standing, race and religion. I look for the merits worth my time. Then decide to either exploit or invest. Simple as that. He is worth befriending. Not sure the same can be said for the other two. Giving them a once over. One represents every Neanderthal exhibited in the museum. Basic brawn, with a spark of something that may allow him to have valuable strategic advice on the field. Yes, there is a C on his jacket. Captain. The other has a quiet, deadly intelligence hiding, dare I say, a sadness so profound, I thought for a moment, my heart warmed.

No, that’s Dad’s influence. As Papa said, only Dad deserves my humanity. The rest of the world will only take advantage of it. Kindness is only a weakness when the recipient has not earned it. Words Papa has constantly repeated to me, since I could comprehend. These young men, may be from impoverished districts and backgrounds, but they seem to have the same calling as I do. For that, I will not destroy whatever is left of their puny existence. Plus, I know the Asian one only looks bored with the world. Mostly likely the one I will not be able to predict and in turn manipulate.

I do hope, however, this is not a competition though, because I will not go easy on anyone, even if the prize is not something I truly want or need.

“Are you really that serious, or just arrogant?” the Hispanic had the gall to question me.

“Ignore him, I think he is hangry,” the Asian flippantly suggested before I could chew the other out. See deadly. I still wasn't even sure who he was referring to and speaking to. It is a bit unnerving.

“Look, take a picture. It’ll last longer. Are we opening the door or not?” he queried.

This guy is impatient.

Trying to take control of the conversation, I replied, “You mean knock, right? You know a socially accepted gesture when one wants the attention of the person behind a closed door?”

He looked at me like I was testing his patience. Stepped up to the door and swung it open. We all, excluding the uncouth Asian, whom I thought is supposed to have the best manners of us all, due to heritage, inhaled in unison, expecting a shrieking little girl to call out for security, or just a plain old scream. The brace was clearly unnecessary, as the room was empty. Glaring at him, along with the others. He simply shrugged and sauntered in. Looking over his shoulder, he beckoned us to come along.

"I saw her talking to a lumberjack, near the pianos, calm down geez," he clarified, while touching everything within his hand's reach.

“Chatty isn’t he?” commented my first encounter, “What’s your name?” I asked. He looked slightly baffled, as though he would never expect to even be addressed by me. “Devion” he quietly informed.

“Pleasure, I’m Cannon”, walking in alongside him, with as much confidence as I could muster, wondering, as the door was unlocked, did this qualify as breaking and entering or trespassing. I looked at the other two in expectation of them introducing themselves.

The Asian looked annoyed that I was attempting to make conversation while he snooped, but replied nonetheless, “Brennon."

Hearing an “Addanon” from my right, I looked over and saw him checking the cupboards.

“What are you looking for?” Devion responded instead.

Brennon chimed in, “Well, whatever it is that led us here. Someone or something must have done something. Maybe testing out some new type of tech’, unless you can explain to me why there is fire dancing along my body, leading me to this room, and I haven’t been burnt yet?”

“Hold on, you said fire?” I stepped to Addanon, “You, what did you see?”

Looking extremely reluctant, he mumbled, “Flowers.”

“Huh?” Devion sounded from the other end of the room.

“Flowers alright, geez” he voiced, sounding embarrassed.

Brennon was the first to laugh, but it sounded like he wasn’t used to doing it often. Covering his mouth as though afraid to be seen. Curious. Devion then began to give a hearty chuckle, bringing forward my own snicker. All the while, Addanon expressed his abhorrence of the situation.

"I just met you all and I already know you're all a bunch d-bags," he dramatized.

Brennon, then, in what I believe to be quite an uncharacteristic manner, patted his shoulder, and said in a placating tone, " So, it will be more accurate for me to call you a Gardener, then?"

Was that a racist jab? I went to say how not okay that was, but then Addanon replied, heartily, "Sure you damn, calculator."

Causing another round of laughs.

“Oh sh!t!” Brennon suddenly exclaimed. We all stopped and looked in the direction of the door that only he was facing.

Busted.