Post by Nicolas Lucian on Sept 16, 2006 18:33:08 GMT -5
*Nicolas stepped out into the courtyard next to the dorms on the chilly autumn night. He was dress in his usual with the addition of his favorite leather jacket. At the bottom of the steps awaited Lucian, his mentor and guardian. As Nicolas came down the steps he realized the night was just bitter enough to summon clouds of condensation as he exhaled. Nick walked up to Lucian and the pair started walking the grounds, though with no particular direction.*
Nick: "So, what's up? Why the late night call?"
*It was well past midnight and normally prohibited for students to be out and about. Since he was with his guardian, he was an exception. He had also just recently celebrated getting off restriction following the vicious beating he'd given another student following Charlotte's little backseat affair in the parking lot.*
Lucian: "Just before I called you, I'd gotten off of the phone with Mr. Blaylock."
*For some reason a strange feeling creeped over him. Like when you were younger and you were sure you were in trouble. His eyes remained steely and cold, just as Lucian had taught him. They'd worked hard on Nick's temper the past couple of months.*
Lucian: "He asked me to come back to MI7."
Nick: "You're going back?"
*Lucian shook his head.*
Lucian: "I'm too old for that shit anymore. I've got Krista and Charlotte now."
*He sighed a bit.*
Lucian: "That time in my life is long past. But..."
*Lucian lingered a moment. Nick raised an eyebrow.*
Nicolas: "'But,' what?"
*Lucian hesitated. The conversation with Sean had been a little tense for Lucian. Sort of like a parent watching proudly but nervously as their child recieves their license and get behind the wheel for the first time. Though, the license was for another purpose, and the road much more dangerous.*
Lucian: "Blaylock's been keeping a close eye on you, Nick. Your academics have improved as has that short fuse of yours."
*Nick owed credit to Charlotte for helping him with his school work and Lucian for helping to kick his temper.*
Lucian: "Though you're still a bit of a loose cannon, and slick as you think you are, I know that you still borrow staff members cars in the middle of the night. So do they. They just can never catch you doing it."
*Nick smirked a bit.*
Nick: "I plead the fifth."
Lucian: "Good thing for you, that ability is a virtue in this particular line of work."
Nick: "What are you getting at?"
*Lucian sighed, stopping and turning to look Nick in the eye.*
Lucian: "You're good, Nick. Damned good. I should know, I've trained you. In fact, you may one day be better than I ever was. That's why when Sean asked me..."
*Nick waited. He laughed a bit, unsure of what Lucian was getting at, though he had his suspicions.*
Nick: "What?"
*Lucian looked Nick square in the eye.*
Lucian: "Sean wants to move you up to MI7 recruit training. He asked for my endorsement."
*Nick's eyes went slightly wide. He was taken off guard. MI7? Him, an agent? Really?*
Nick: "And...
*Lucian took a deep breath.*
Lucian: "I want you to understand what you're going to be getting yourself into, Nick. It's not an easy life--"
*Nick interuppted him.*
Nick: "Luc."
*Lucian sighed.*
Lucian: "I gave him my endorsement. It's up to you now."
*For Nick, time around them seemed to stop. This was life altering. Nick never really thought that he'd go to the Academy. It seemed like a far and distant option that was unrealistic to him. But, now, things seemed to have changed.
Lucian watched the gears turn behind his son's eyes. He watched the excitement, the shock, the uncertainty. He remembered for a moment what that feeling was like.*
Lucian: "Take your time. Go back to your room and get some sleep. Call me tomorrow with your answer."
Nick: "Alright."
*Lucian started walking away and Nick started back to his dormroom. Then he stopped and turned.*
Nick: "Hey, Luc?"
*Lucian stopped and turned.*
Lucian: "Yeah?"
Nick: "Thanks."
*Lucian smiled a bit and shook his head, glancing up at the sky and then back to Nick.*
Lucian: "Don't thank me yet."
*With that, he turned and walked back to his car and Nick returned to his room.
He probably would have driven his roommate nuts if he hadn't been such a heavy sleeper. Nick sat at his desk twirling a knife blade first on the wood top. He stared at the carving he'd made just below his pencil holder, next to a picture of Detroit from the Windsor side of the river at night, the last image he had of his grandparents together alive and well. It was a window to a life that now seemed distant and dreamlike. The carving was but three characters, carved out carefully in an almost script-like font:
MI7*