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3:00. James flipped over the sheet of paper that had been his focus for the past half hour, with notes and ideas lining the margins. The form detailed a new student; a new arrival from South Carolina. Enhanced smell. Not directly related to his power, but since it dealt with the senses, James was assigned the student. He was at a point in his career now where he felt more confident taking on students outside of his immediate knowledge.
Closing the new file folder, James stood up and put his jacket back on. With no more students left to see for the day, he figured it was time to call it quits. Return home and start again tomorrow. The all familiar routine that no longer felt mundane, but... satisfying. Fulfilling, even.
There was only one thing left to do, one more person to see. Turning off the lights, James locked his office door and took the few necessary steps down the hall to another office. The lights were still on. A quick knock to signify his presence, despite knowing that she likely heard him before his fist even connected with the door.
Lips curled upwards at the sight of Ella, once he opened the door. "Hey," James spoke. "I'm gonna head home now. You plan on being around for a bit longer?"
The end of the ordinary day was expressed like every other school day. Three on the dot signified freedom for most, but Ella mulled over the latest notes from her last session like they'd make sense if she just stared at them long enough. It was hard for the hemokinectic to disconnect herself from everyone she dealt with long enough to be objective.
She ran her hands through her hair, elbows resting on the desk as she closed her eyes finally. She took a few deep breaths to try and settle whatever stress could have overwhelmed her. Before her mind could wander any further, her attention filtered out into the hall. She couldn't hear him walking this way, but she could recognise the rhythm of his unique heartbeat. She was already leaving her seat when he knocked on the door.
Ella was smiling before she managed to open the door, but the sight of him always brought a special kind of light to her eyes. She could feel the rhythm in her chest pick up on instinct, and she didn't try to hide it from him.
She didn't like the idea of him leaving without her, and so she frowned instinctively. "I hadn't really thought about it, to be honest." She admitted. Reaching out, she brushed her fingers across his wrist, down to the palm of his hand before she moved to hold onto it properly. "I can come home with you, if you want." It wouldn't be the first time she worked from their home.
Deep breaths confirmed her presence; James could hear them before he even approached the door. Sound gave everything away before the process of sight. He tried not to use his ability to pry, only when the noise became too much to handle, too overwhelming. Any indication of concern and he used it to his advantage.
But they both did. The way their abilities worked in tandem provided an advantage for the pair.
Eyes met hers, and James features lit up. He could hear the way her heartbeat responded to his, and how his own responded to hers. Even now, James lacked control when it came to managing the rhythm in his chest around Ella. He listened as the two heartbeats matched each other's time.
As soon as she offered a connection in the form of her hand, James opened his hand to hers, pulse shifting as her fingertips brushed over his wrist, until fingers interlocked. His eyes didn't move from hers. Giving a gentle squeeze, James replied "We can always stay a bit longer." He knew it wasn't ideal to work from home. Maintaining some separation was necessary, but he also understood that it happened. Work always had the possibility of interfering with daily life. "I don't mind." His free hand moved to her waist, bridging the distance.
Of course he'd offer to stick around and wait for her. Ella looked at him with apologetic eyes immediately, "You don't have to do that." She explained, but she knew those words would fall on deaf ears. He'd do what he liked, and he was attentive enough to do just about anything for her, even if it was so mundane.
"There's not much I can do anymore, anyway. I'm just sitting here staring at a page like it's gonna change itself." Ella added then, her mind drifting back to the details on her desk still. "Let me get my stuff and we can go home." Without a second thought, she stepped back inside with the door wide open, reaching for her bag and doing her best to ignore the file on the tabletop.
"I know," James reassured her, as the last thing he intended was to bring out feelings of guilt, especially when he was the one who interrupted her thoughts. Plus there was no point in going home to an empty apartment, even it meant being around the school for a couple hours longer. They had gone through worse.
Nodding, his gaze followed Ella as she went to collect her stuff. "What's it about?" He asked, with a head gesture towards the file on her desk. Being in the same line of work as his girlfriend allowed for greater insight; they both understood the struggle that came with the job.
"You could bring it home, at least. Looking over it again in a couple hours might do some good." James offered as a suggestion.
Ella should have known he would ask what it was that was troubling her so. This was, after all, his line of work too. And he'd been doing it for a lot longer than she had, so she knew his advice would always be sound. "Oh, uhh-" Ella dragged. Suddenly, she felt a little embarrassed to have to admit the issue she was having. Fingertips reached out and traced the manila folder on her desk.
She slung the handle of her bag over her shoulder, turning back to face him and moving to keep the distance at a minimal. "Have you ever had a kid who just... Doesn't want to... Do anything?" She asked him, tilting her head to the side. In the same motion, she pressed a hand to his chest lightly, trying a smile for him. "Not wanting to use your abilities is one thing, and trust me, I get it." There was nothing good about blood powers, and she'd never thought otherwise, "But like, not even talking? Is it really enough to just sit there with a kid until they're ready to deal with you?"
Hesitation lined Ella’s voice, but James remained silent. The falter was all too clear for someone with such perfect hearing. His gaze shifted from the file folder back to her expression, as she drew closer. A thoughtful expression crossed his features, remembering all the students from his time spent as a trainer.
Her hand crossed the distance in between and the moment Ella made the connection, his pulse shifted in response to her touch. Even the light physical contact had such a strong impact on James. Moving to rest his hand over hers, he reciprocated her smile. “Yes... and no. Yes, I’ve had students who don’t want to do anything but they usually vocalize their opinion.” Even when he didn’t ask.
“That’s where the no comes in. I’ve never had a student who doesn’t at least say something.” James finished, unable to help the frown on his face. It was strange, to say the least. “How many times have you met with them?” Moving downwards, his hand tracked the length of her arm.
James was smart enough to offer a smile, and he must have known it would be comforting for Ella. Like most other people, she didn't like to admit when she didn't think she was doing well at something. He made it sound like this happened frequently enough that he could give advice on it, and that fact didn't comfort her like it could have. Especially when he twisted it, like this really was new territory.
"Today was the third time." Ella pointed out. She supposed that fact didn't make it so bad. Three was better than a whole year of nothing. "I don't like getting into the whole thing about how they don't graduate if we don't sign off on their training, because that feels like a threat. It feels like a huge step back." She explained, cringing at the fact. "And honestly, it sounded like a pretty... Volatile manifestation. I'm assuming that's why everything's quiet right now."
"I mean, to be fair, all students react differently. Plus, our training style could also have an impact on it." James suggested with a slight shrug. Ella was patient and attentive, letting the students approach the situation first. By nature, he was more demanding, even abrasive in his earlier years. He forced a reaction out of students. Complete silence had yet to be an experience for James. "Not so much anymore but I used to get a lot of quick-tempered students." The kind who were hot-headed and eager to come out swinging.
Nodding in agreement, he didn't add anything to Ella's explanation, because it was a threat. Especially so early on in the process. "Yeah, if it was volatile, it was probably more than a little traumatic. Just have to give them some extra time." Taking a step forward, James drew closer in proximity to Ella. "Same ability as yours or different?" He asked, knowing the volatile possibilities that came with being a hemokinectic through her.
His words immediately made her consider the differences between them. Truly, she never understood taking an approach that wasn't a nurturing role. She recalled her own manifestation and how horrific it was, and so she couldn't imagine pushing someone in her same situation. Her trainer had never done that to her, and it was perfect. But he was right; every situation was different.
The idea of a quick-tempered student made her cringe. She tried not to make it too obvious, but she was glad he got them and she didn't.
"Same." She felt herself frown. She'd never been overly happy with her ability as it was, and it instantly made her feel like a kid again. "I get the feeling telling my story isn't going to help." It quickly dawned on her that he didn't even know that story. It wasn't exactly the kind of thing most people chose to talk about, despite the fact that they both had powers.
From his own experience, both as a student and trainer, a harder approach was necessary at times. As a student, James was arrogant and believed that he was above training sessions. Had his trainer not given him a good reality check right near the start, he likely wouldn't have graduated on time. His own manifestation was relatively harmless, especially compared to other abilities. A push towards the right direction did him good. But, it couldn't be forced.
As soon as Ella frowned, James felt his expression mirror her own. Although he knew few details, he couldn't imagine that would go over well. "No? Not even if you mention how you're doing now?" James had no idea if that would even help, but it was a possibility.
A smile appeared on his face again at Ella's question. "I was thirteen. The first time it happened, I remember I was sitting in band class. The bassist had unplugged his instrument, but I could still hear him playing chords. It was so loud, he might as well have been playing right next to me. Nobody else said anything so I kept quiet." He paused. "Their voices in the hallway were too loud but I tried to ignore it."
"A few days later, I was with my parents in the grocery store. Nobody was in the aisle, but I heard a conversation between two older ladies. I vaguely remember running towards the sound and it was... deafening." He exhaled, in amusement. "And I caused a bit of a scene. Started asking a bunch of questions but no one answered. No one could answer. My parents and I left the store without any groceries. I'm sure they were embarrassed. Only took a day or two for the recruiter to show up and explain everything to myself and my parents. Then, I left."
"Nothing really eventful." James concluded, his eyes meeting Ella's. "I'm sure especially in comparison to your manifestation."
His story was, in a word, cute to her. Ella couldn't help the natural smile she wore at the little story he spun for her. She was also a little jealous somewhere amidst the overwhelmingly good way he made her feel. He as so lucky.
Still, the potential damages for his ability carried its own kind of fear. She wouldn't wish it on anyone as much as she'd wish her own on them.
She offered a dry laugh to his ill-equipped assumption, because it was so incredibly right. Patting his chest a few times, she let go and turned around again, stepping past him back towards the door. She held it open for him with a small motion of her head that he should follow.
"You don't want to hear that story." She said, assuming for him.
Tilting his head, James couldn't help his reaction given her laugh. Of course, he knew nothing because it wasn't a topic the two discussed. Until now. After a pause, he followed Ella's lead towards the door. He stepped into the hallway, turning around with the same inquisitive expression on his face. Her statement almost read as a challenge, and he felt that he could handle the awful details of her manifestation.
"Try me." James spoke, his hand reaching for hers on instinct. "Unless you'd rather not."
Ella realised that when he questioned her, the story she'd have to offer ran deeper than just a simple explanation of what happened to her when she was fifteen. There was context that felt a little more revealing than most would generally offer. But this was James she was talking to.
After she locked the door, she took his hand and offered it a little squeeze before she started walking. "Well, you know I'm adopted." He'd met her mother over the holidays and she loved him. "So when I got adopted, they suggested I go into therapy. So I did that from when I was about six or seven." For Ella, it was a little embarrassing, especially because she'd never really had a choice.
"Anyway, by the time I was fifteen I was over it, I guess. And I had a really bad session and I was really mad. The second I walked out the door my-" She glanced at her free hand, raising it briefly before dropping it down again, "-Veins like, popped, or whatever. Blood everywhere." She didn't remember that part, but she knew she didn't need to go into any detail. "I woke up in the hospital in restraints. Lost way too much blood. Apparently I nearly died. I think it was the hemokinesis that kept me going."
Nodding in response, James gave Ella a smile at the mention of her mother. He couldn't remember if she had mentioned therapy before, but her explanation made sense given the circumstance. He listened to her story, his eyes following her movement towards her free hand. Eyes went wide at her next sentence, his heart faltering for a beat or two. She would notice, of course. But it was the only reaction he could give at the moment. The image was terrifying enough but to actually live through the experience left him speechless.
Stunned into silence, he opened his mouth to reply but nothing. "Shit." James finally breathed out, giving her hand a squeeze as they continued walking. Never in his experience had he heard about someone nearly dying from their manifestation.
"So, your ability kept you alive but also nearly killed you." He commented. "I can't even imagine what that was like for you." Even knowing some of the details now.
