Jared & Garrison | Kitchen wisdom

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Garrison bumps into Jared and shares some wisdom with the young man…

Jared was wandering around the house for a few minutes now. He woke up from his nap with a weird taste in his mouth. Although what he called a nap was actually passing out after a bad trip on Coricidin. When such things would happen, he would just walk around in his underwear, half way between walking and cruising. The kitchen was a good place to stop. There, he could stick his head in the cool of the fridge. As he proceeded, he heard someone calling.

"Dude, there are teenagers living here. Put on some damn pants." Jared had just started turning when the pair of Xavier's school sweatpants hit him in the face. Garrison Kane had emerged from the hall, having stuck his head inside the closet to grab the gym pants on seeing Jared walk past. There was something about the man in his underwear that was just, well, unhygienic.

"I'm pretty sure some people here would pay for a piece of that" he said, turning around while adjusting the pants. He had clearly identified Kane and remembered how Kyle insisted that he should lay low, especially around cops. "So, how's it goin', agent Kane? Apart from enjoying the view of that gorgeous body?"

"Yeah, gorgeous body." The Canadian rolled his eyes. It was days like this he felt very old. "I know the strike teams in black leather kind of skew things, but this place is supposed to be a school. Trolling in your gitch like it's Church Street on Saturday night is not a way to win friends and influence people. It's more of a way to have the Professor pour Earl Grey down your throat while he threatens you with spending three weeks believing you're a Mormon insurance salesman in a pencil lined grey suit. Just a word to the wise."

"Is that a personal experience?" Jared laughed as he went for a can of soda in the fridge. Idaho was not so far from Nebraska, and the few Mormon people he had met in college turned out to be some kind of wild people. "Because I can totally picture you being on your knees right now!" He moved aside to sit on the kitchen counter. "And, what's Church Street?" His past time in New York had kept him way north. Everything going on below Central Park was a mystery.

"Tell me, does this actually work on anyone?" He leaned against the kitchen island, a little amazed by Jared's change over the last few months. He'd gone from being contained, almost repressed, to swing the pendulum the other way into a manic brazenness. Part of him wondered if this was as easy a mask for him as the secretive aloof one he'd held before.

Jared's face went from playful to depressed. Kane was too much of a good cop to be lied to. Plus he had been one of the first people he had met. "What do you think? People hate me, my powers suck, my career potential is close to zero and I live with a law-abiding citizen who put his life at risk to help people." He started drinking. "How's it working for you?"

"It makes me want to clip you upside the head a lot less." Kane admitted. "Look, Jared, I'm not going to play guidance counselor or anything, but this place has been a new starting place for a lot of people. If you think things suck, here's where you're going to get a chance to try turning it around, eh."

"Yeah, right! The college drop-out who goes from bartender to stripper! So much for the success story..." Jared was realistic. There was little room for a country boy like him in this place. He was obviously talentless and socially awkward beyond anyone's standards. "I spin shakers for a living. What do you want me to do? Be like you?"

"No. I don't want you to be anything in particular. But it sounds like you'd like to be someone else. Pretty desperately too." The Canadian shrugged. "My point is that if you want to try, being here means that you'll have support, no matter how many times it doesn't work. Come on, Jared, ditch the 'poor me' bullshit for a minute and be honest. What is it that you really want?" 

"Dude, wake up! I'm too young to be bored! I should be in college, go to parties, date, play football. But I can't, ok! I can't feel anything, I am a freak!" He sighed. For once, he had let it out, and it felt good. "What if I hit on everybody, uh? It's not like anything was going to happen... I'm like one of those bitches on covers of magazines. I'm there, I'm hot, but that's it, there's nothing beyond. So here's what I want: I want somebody to care about me, for once. Not a big bro or little sister. At least, that would be a start..."

"Wow, you've been trading on this a long time. Seriously, Jared, sack up." Kane wasn't angry, but his words showed no pity. "You can do anything you want to do; it's just easier to call yourself a freak and dive into the safe cocoon of self-loathing. Marie had the same issues, except she got on top of that the fact that her touch could kill people and shove their voices in her head for good. She went to college, went to parties, and even dated a guy who in my opinion was far from good enough for her."

Kane reached into his pocket, pulling out a business card and scribbling a couple of notes on it. "It's bullshit to say dealing with any of this is easy, but, I can tell you first hand that it can be managed. If you want it enough." He flipped the card over to him. "That's the number for Joseph Twoyoungman. He's a friend, and he helped Marie out."

Jared grabbed the card and got off the kitchen counter. "Thanks... Now let me show you something." He pulled the pants down, and once he was back to how he was earlier, he moved towards Kane. "See, your friend can't touch without killing. So she just doesn't. Problem is, I can. I can touch whatever." He got even closer, his stomach slightly touching Kane's clothes, his face getting closer. "See, I can do that, anytime. But I won't get off on that." Jared didn't know what to expect from that. Kane would either be pissed and hit him as hard as he could, or he would play clueless and give a weird look.

"I really don't think you get it, Jared. You and her have a lot more in common than you think." Kane didn't shift, even with the obvious challenge from the younger man. If anything, he looked even more relaxed. "You're both stuck living stuck a half-inch away from normal contact with the rest of the world. But what you've been doing isn't going to make it any better, Jared. Or make you feel any less alone."

Point made, the Canadian straightened up, the movement forcing Jared to either back up slightly or deliberately push himself forward. 

His almost naked body followed the movement, though Jared grabbed the man by the hips to gain some balance. He was not moving. He was staying close to Kane in what would have been a highly erotic moment for any bystander. But the look in his eyes was more sad than intense. "Thanks for reminding me of that. You know, sometimes, I actually forget, when I am really really drunk." He started hugging Kane. "I just wish I remember how it feels." Then he let him go. "Just... Don't tell anyone about that, okay?"

Kane looked around for a moment. "I can't imagine I'd have a an easy time explaining this to anyone." He said wryly. Kane poked Jared in the chest, forcing him to take a step back. "Call Twoyoungman. Start wearing some clothes around the place. You'll be amazed how quickly things start to seem like they're getting better."

"Is he a shrink? Because I don't do that, lying on a couch and talking. It's kind of gay." Jared was using this word in the least offensive way he could, considering the situation. His left hand has still on Kane's arm. "Okay, your turn. How's it goin' since your girl moved out?" He was just returning the favor by offering a right to bitch about life.

"Twoyoungman is a shrink and a shaman. So it's less lying on a couch and more manual labour in freezing temperatures while he makes fun of you and makes up old Native stories." Kane said. "As for Adrienne, that's not something I want to talk about. Especially sober."

"A shaman... I'm not in that shit either, but I'll make the effort, someday." He bent over to pull the pants back up. "For the rest, why don't you come over to my place sometime. We can drink and just watch TV and... I'm a great cuddle buddy. I can't complain about that..."

 "I think you're barking up the wrong tree there, Jared. But I will be in Harry's tomorrow for a beer and the ballgame." He gave the man's shoulder a squeeze before turning to leave. "Call him. It will be the biggest favor you'll ever do for yourself."

"If you don't use your tongue, it doesn't count..." He said that as a joke, a frat boy thing, though it was true for him, as he wouldn't feel a thing, were he only using his lips. "But yeah, drop by, I'll get you some great drinks. He slid the business card in the waistband of his underwear. "See you around, then..."