Defining Factors

Another Coffee Shop Au

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Warnings: None

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James was once again, staring at his phone and all the messages he'd received from, for the lack of a better term, his friends.

No no. There's a better word. Friends don't attempt to kill you.

With a sigh, James tossed down his phone and worked the gloves off his hands. His hands were always blindingly stark when uncovered, standing out against the black of his clothes. Nothing to be done about that though, except gently messaging the joints. It didn't really make much of a difference, since he had very few nerves in his hand, but it helped him, in some weird way.

Andre should be carrying out phase one of their plan over the next few weeks. That left James with very little to do except reanalyze plans repeatedly until his eyes bled or Mulligan dragged him off to do something else. But Mulligan was out at the moment and James had nothing to do. So he scooped up his phone again.

Thomas, two weeks ago: At least take me with you.

Aaron, One week and four days ago: James, feel like going to a coffee shop? Just the two of us. No one needs to know.

***

Aaron was in his room, lying on his bed, tossing a snowball into the air and catching it again. It was a rather bland room, to be honest. Perfectly neat, nothing out of place. His journal sat on his desk, a pen right next to it. A few belongings here and there. The doors of his closet were closed. Yep. This was home. He supposed.

The snow ball spun in the air until it hit Aaron's hand again. Then it was in the air again. This continued for a long while, Aaron lost in his thoughts, until the snowball landed just slightly wrong in his hand and burst apart. The soft, crystalized water particals showered down around him.

A sigh passed his lips.

The hairs on his arms rose and he jolted up, spinning his body around on his bed until he was facing the unannounced intruder.

"James?"

James nodded in greeting. Aaron didn't exactly relax, but it was something close, with his guard remaining up. "What are you doing here?" He looked the same as always. Clad in black from head to toe. Though he seemed to have lost the cloak like sweater he seemed to favor. Or wait, their team shredded that when they tried to kill him.

Gloved hands started to form words. "Yeah, sorry dude, I still don't know sign language.

James sighed. Of course not. No one ever does. James fished out his phone. It was inconvenient, but it was a form of communication, nonetheless. He texted Aaron. You invited me for coffee. No strings attached. I was wondering if the offer was still available.

"I sent that like a week ago," Aaron said. "You never responded."

It's hard to respond from texts in different eras. Next time, I'll etch you a message on the side of a pyramid.

"Sarcastic as ever, I see," Aaron observed. "Yeah, alright. Let's go have coffee. I'm not doing anything anyway. I'm not driving though."

James rolled his eyes, set a hand on Aaron's upper arm and they disappeared.

Two seconds later, someone knocked on Aaron's door.

James landed them just outside a nice coffee shop on a street busy enough that know one really noticed then just pop into existence.

"Where are we?" Burr asked.

James didn't answer, leading them inside and claiming a booth for them to slide into. Only then did he pull out his phone. Virginia.