The Eyes of Fate (Currently in Rewrite)

Changing Plans

Fang

The C'mon Back Diner

Laine, Oklahoma

December 9th, 2019

Fang arrived at the diner just after it opened, giving the opening employees enough time to wake up fully and be ready for the day before he walked through the doors. The C'mon Back Diner had been refurbished since he left town, but it was still the same place: 50's themed décor, Elvis on the jukebox, and teenage staff who, even though it was obvious they'd rather be anywhere else, were polite and courteous to him. He took a booth near the back, sitting where he could still see the entrance, and waited.

He hadn't told the man he was meeting to be there for another half an hour, but Fang had been itching to get out of the house. Being back under his parents' roof, and their scrutiny, after so many years away left him feeling uneasy. He couldn't help but feel like they were only comparing him to the Tyler that had left their house, judging and weighing him against who they thought he should be rather than who he was. He had started leaving his room at night, leaving the twins and Sentinel to sleep in his room. He made sure that he was back inside before his parents woke up for work, and while he knew his team knew what he was doing, they hadn't said anything about it.

The others, on the other hand, seemed to love staying with his parents. They had spent the past few days integrating themselves into the Diamond's lives in ways that were helpful rather than instructive. Vyper was helping with meals, while everyone else was pitching in where they could. Oracle had been helping Fang's father with some computer issues he had been having, and Ranger and Sentinel were going to help them rebuild the fence around the patio this weekend. Fang had even walked in on Chesyr appraising his mom on what kind of paint would make the white walls of the living room look better.

They were playing house, enjoying a sense of normalcy that they didn't get even at their own home. Fang could see how much they liked it, and so he swallowed his feelings and let them have their fun. If it meant seeing them smile more, then he could bear anything.

Fang sighed, taking a long drink off his glass of orange juice. He could feel how being back home was affecting him, but he couldn't explain it to anyone else. He could feel himself falling back into old habits, though, and that couldn't mean anything good.

Maybe you're trying to pick up where you left off? Go back to being Tyler for a little while? A feminine voice spoke in his head. He saw a flash of blonde hair out of the front window and shook his head.

Yeah. Old habits.

Also on the "bad habits" list was that Fang had gone out alone and not told anyone else where he was going. It was the first time any of them had been in public since wrecking up the Church's training site. Fang hadn't wanted to take anyone else with him, even if they had been awake. He was easily the most recognizable of the Eyes, so if anyone was going to be noticed, it'd be him. If nobody noticed him, then it was safe for them all to go out again. If he did get noticed, then he could go full bore without worrying about scaring his team, or about them getting hurt; and if something did happen to him, then it would be no real loss to the rest of them.

Luckily, the contact he was meeting also had a penchant for showing up early, and his arrival broke Fang from his dark train of thought. The black man was dressed in a clean suit with an overcoat, beanie, and gloves keeping him warm. Fang couldn't help but chuckle at all of his gear, considering he had only worn an old letterman jacket from his closet that still mostly fit. The man approached Fang's table as he took off his hat, revealing his bald head. Fang rose and stuck out his hand.

"Agent Hantare." Fang greeted the man.

"Fang." The man responded, his white teeth shining in his dark face as he smiled at Fang.