A Change in Fate

Chapter Four: Observations and Investigation

    "Would you quit blinding me?" Gregory shoved Mike's hand away.

    "I was just checking you for a concussion," he said, clicking off the flashlight he'd previously been shining in Gregory's eyes. "Earlier, your pupils wouldn't dilate. They're fine now. Guess I really don't have to take you to a hospital."

    "Yeah, you better not," said Gregory, voice tight and scowl in place.

    Michael's lips pressed together and his blue eyes searched Gregory's face. "Hmm. How long have you been on your own?"

    "I...I don't like you questioning me, you said you wouldn't," Gregory said, crossing his arms. "Remember?"

    "Alright, I'm sorry." Michael lifted a hand. "I'm just a bit concerned is all." He rose to his feet and sat on the couch beside Gregory. "So would you like to watch anything? I'm afraid my house may not be the most entertaining around." He gave a halfhearted chuckle.

    Gregory shifted his weight, some of his defensive nature fading. "Um...yeah, I guess that'd be nice." It certainly would. He hadn't counted on how boring it truly could be simply staying in a house like this, and awkward as well. After breakfast, Michael had advised Gregory to get some proper rest...which he did (or at least tried, seeing as he was too nervous in a stranger's house to sleep), then after he ate lunch, there wasn't much for either of them to do. Michael's job was at night, and Gregory found himself stuck in the man's company, despite the fact Mike gave him space.

    Gregory eyed Michael as he began flicking through channels, asking which one Gregory wanted. The boy declined to answer, still examining Michael while he thought him over. He couldn't figure Mike out. He didn't act like most adults, all of which Gregory saw as an enemy. Mike was kind, and thus far, showed no signs of deception. He was just...a guy, yet there was something else about him—something Gregory couldn't quite pin down. He didn't act normal in general.

    He would be lying if he said he didn't at least vaguely like Michael, but that didn't mean he didn't constantly keep an eye out for any suspicious behavior. Plus, trying to figure people out—their personality, their motives—was something Gregory had learned to do, from the various foster situations he'd been put into. Trying to decipher his new so-called "parents", attempt to gauge if they would be somewhat kind or just like every other terrible person who had taken him in, only there to neglect or mistreat him. It was a habit he couldn't shake, but it worked well when living on his own. Nothing about Mike screamed he was an abuser or a killer, nor much of a bad person at all. This relieved Gregory, but what frustrated him was he couldn't figure the guy out. He was kind, a bit snarky at times, sure, but friendly enough with quite the sense of humor. Despite how obviously sleep-deprived Michael seemed to be, he was strangely alert, much like Gregory himself, always examining his surroundings, even in his own home. Something was off, Gregory could feel it. But was it a bad thing? What was up with the rest of his personality? Michael never reacted to anything like he expected. He was a puzzle to Gregory; it was one of the things that kept him there, if he was being honest.

    "Greg?" Michael said, waving a hand in front of Gregory's face and snapping him back to reality. "You there?"

    "Huh? Hey!" He edged farther down the couch, away from Mike's hand which he drew back to himself. "Yeah, I'm here. I just zoned out. Whatever." He swallowed. "And don't call me Greg."

    Michael paused a moment. "Ah...sorry. I automatically call people nicknames, my bad." He held the remote out to him. "Anyways, I asked if you wanted to pick the channel for yourself. You just stared at me with the same blank expression, though. Guess you're prone to zone out too, hm?"

    "Sorta." Gregory took the remote from him. "Sorry for snapping. I, um...I'm a bit jumpy?" He shrugged.

    "Understandable." Michael focused on the television. "I get quite a few channels, but the signal isn't always the best. Sorry if anything cuts out."