"Hey Ali-Cat" I smile into Alia's ear.
As I expected, she's awake next to James. She smiles, blushes even, but keeps her eyes closed, and giggles a little at the punny nickname.
She opens one eye.
"Good morning" I say.
" ...stop lookin at me" she groans and turns her bod the other way.
I climb over James and her and place a light kiss on her cheek.
"No" I answer.
Alia sits up and we smile at each other.
"Ali-Cat?" she finally questions.
"Its cute" I smile. "It fits you".
"Who else do you have nicknames for?" she asks.
"I'm not big on nicknames" I laugh. "You're just cute".
She blushes.
I love it when I make her do that.
"Can I see this?" I ask as I pick up her notebook.
"No" she says, snatching it away.
"Have you drawn any more pictures of me?" I smile.
"No" she denies.
" ...let me see then" I say.
"Why?"
"Because I want to"
"You're too nosy"
"You're too secretive" I accuse.
"Well, so are you" she says and suddenly pulls my collar down to the tattoo of the white bird on my chest. "What does this mean anyways? You haven't told me that".
" ....you wanna know?" I say quietly.
She stares at at before meeting my eyes and shyly nodding.
"It was my mother's favorite" I answer. " ...I don't have a lot left from her".
" ...what happened to her?" Alia asks.
I felt comfortable talking about my mother now more than ever.
"She got depressed that my father wasn't around" I answer. "Made her so sick that it killed her"
I tangle my finger in a strand of her ombre hair.
" ...I'm sorry" she says.
" ...I got the tattoo maybe a year ago. I-Its stupid, I know, I just wanted a piece of her with me" I say.
"That's not stupid" she says. "I draw things I like, that's stupid".
"Are you saying you like me Alia....I still don't know your last name" I say.
"I don't have one" she lies.
"You mean you don't wanna tell me?" I say.
"I can't" she says.
"Sure you can" I shrug. "Aren't we friends?".
"That doesn't mean we have to tell each other everything"
" ...tell me anyways" I softly say.
She stares into my eyes; her hands ball my shirt in her fists and I wanna kiss her innocent little face.
But her eyes fill with tears.
"I want to. I want to tell you everything, but-" she begins.
"Hey" an aggressive voice calls.
I release Alia and look over my shoulder.
Warner is heading towards us from the elevator, anger in his eyes. His hands are in fists and he looks furious.
I stand.
"Move, Kent. I'm in need of a firm talk with the little one" he says, eyeing Alia.
"You're not saying anything to her" I growl.
"I'm not in the mood to deal with your shenanigans, this does not involve you in the slightest" he growls back.
"He's right" Alia quietly speaks up. "I-I made a mistake, it was my fault".
"Is this about last night?" I ask her.
"Meet me in the locker room" Warner says bitterly to Alia.
"Alia" I say.
"Adam" she responds, but heads to the locker room.
"Don't punish her for this, its my fault. You're not laying a finger on her" I tell Warner.
"Lower your voice, unless you choose to wake your little brother" Warner says, cocking his head to sleeping James on the floor.
"What's going on?" Kenji interrupts.
"Please control your....friend, Kishimoto. I need to address something with the girl" Warner says as Kenji pushes us away from each other.
I watch Warner walk away, step into the locker room, and close the door behind him.
"Mind telling me what the hell that was about?" Kenji says.
"Warner found out about last night" I say. "And he's punishing Alia for it. God, d-do you think he'll kick her out for it?".
"I don't know, Kent. I told you not to go" Kenji sighs.
"If she goes, I go" I say. "I don't care about the plan....James can stay here, where its safer".
" ....you'd be willing to leave your brother behind for a girl?" Kenji says.
I don't say anything.
"You've really got a thing for Ali. Damn" Kenji says. "I-I just need to process this all. I've known her for years, a-and I thought you and Juliette were solid, now you're both...so different.....Juliette was right".
"Can we get back to what the hell Warner is doing with Alia?" I say. "Kenj, I know I don't deserve any favors from you....but can you please just sneak in there and see what's going on".
" ....I can tell this means a lot to you so of course" he says.
"Thank you, Kenji" I sigh in relief. "Thank you".
"Its nothing, I'll go check it out. I'll be back in a jiffy" he says.
He turns his ability on, and disappears.
