The Aegis of Noah Hart

21-Overwhelmed

"Man, it's nice to have my old buddy back for a moment."

"Yeah? Why? It's only been a few days for you."

"I know, but I was afraid that after seeing, ya know, space and become like a superhero and everything you'd be too cool to play Super Smash Bros with your old pal."

"Nobody is too cool to play Super Smash Bros with his old pal!"

Phil and Noah laugh. In truth if not counting his time on Velos it had been several weeks since his last visit to the Godwins' home. Originally he could blame this on his mother he pressured him to focus more on studying and developing himself hence discouraging him going to Phil's house to play video games or vice versa. Admittedly his time spent away from normal life and using his abilities on Velos had in fact made him disconnected from video games. Even now as he decided which character to use for battle, Noah could remember his previous visits where he was all too enthusiastic about staying up late to play and chat about anything guys could think of. Tonight he had difficulty keeping his mind from wandering, listening to the voices of people in distress across the globe, listening for "work" as Phil called it. Though coming over to Phil's didn't just remind him he could be listening to certain people in danger but also there was someone who he could never talk to again.

Mom? I've been going around helping people with my abilities. Is it OK that I did that without using my education? And gaming...I feel sort of guilty to be here playing right now. I feel like I'm not here for my own enjoyment so much as to catch up with Phil if that makes things better, but I hate not knowing what you'd think about what I've been doing. Is it selfish if I wish I could hear you one more time? Is it stupid or mean that I want to hear you complain just one more time? You're with God now. I should be happy, but I-

"Hey, did you pick someone or is it me?"

Noah looks up at the screen. Phil has selected Mario, the trademark "plumber" in his red and blue outfit, a solid character with decent attacks and minimal weaknesses. Not sure who to go with this round, Noah picks an old favorite, Link, the green tunic wearing knight from the Legend of Zelda franchise.

"Oh you would pick Link!"

"What? He's not as good as Mario?"

"He's good when you play him."

Noah smiles.

"3. 2. 1. GO!"

The rounds are intense. Playing free-for-all style with two NPCs or non-playing-characters each time, the redhead does his best to keep up. Between each round, the boys have to pause to scarf down some of Noah's homemade caramel kettle corn.

"This stuff is amazing! But you didn't make it with cinnamon this time?"

"Ha ha, no..."

Noah wipes his hands on his gray gym shorts. The memory of eating the apple cinnamon cupcakes and then immediately falling out on the floor choking for several seconds comes to mind. Yet that didn't stop him from waiting a few hours and eating another one and another one until all of them were gone. To recover without causing a scene, he made the habit of eating a treat then using his Dura to return to Velos for afew hours only to come right back in seconds time on Earth. His father was not too happy with him but didn't' verbally protest his actions as he knew "a girl" had made the sweets for him.

He hadn't mentioned this to his father, but Noah did tell Phil that after he complimented Katie on her hair one afternoon he "discovered" she had decided upon baking him some snickerdoodle cookies whenever she was free. These cookies would be covered in cinnamon that he fully intended to eat. Of course Noah would have to take them home to eat and couldn't eat them in front of her or anyone for that matter, but she wouldn't have to know. And if he did have trouble with getting through the cookies, Phil had agreed to help him finish the treats in secret. Noah couldn't help but smile at his friend with pride knowing he was always on his side.