A Thief in the Night [Ch. 12]

Chapter 12: Growing Pains

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Told 'No' by his best man. X didn't understand it. He had to see the twins to get it. But that's not the real reason why Conner was scowling in front of the full-length mirror like a scorned honey badger.

He shifted uncomfortably in his suit as he stared past his own reflection in deep thought. The tailor stopped folding the edge of a pants leg and looked up, "Please stay still, Mr. Luthor."

Mr. Luthor.

Ripped away from his thinking, he immediately groaned at hearing the title and made it a mission to fix his posture and stay still so he wouldn't have to hear it again. It was like a stain on his skin that absolutely wasn't going to go away. His mother wasn't even married to him anymore. -- Besides the fact that the man was now dead, thankfully. Maybe. Conner didn't know. He expected him to appear any moment, round that corner, and tell him how much of a failure he was.

Delores slid in front of him to fix his deep blue blazer, pressing out the wrinkles with the skill of a person who'd done this for years. She then moved a step-stool over to get a better standing point, and used it to ensure his crimson collar was more than satisfactory. "You look wonderful, dear."

Seeing him smile back with not much enthusiasm, her head tilted. "Quarter for your thoughts?"

Conner blinked back to reality. "Huh? Isn't it a penny?"

"So it is. What has you down, young man?" she asked as she continued to work. The frills lining his buttons had to be proper before his tie could be placed.

He looked away then looked back at her. "I have this friend." He wasn't quite sure how to word it, but he remained careful. "I haven't seen him in a long time..."

"Oh? And you're not... happy to see him?"

"No, no, it's not that..." He sighed. "It is, I just... I thought we were close..." he mumbled. Thinking about it. Was that it? Was he just annoyed X came to the main house first and didn't even call him to say he was back in town? Or just pop-up at their usual spots? Two years. Two years and nothing...

"... ah?" Her head tilted.

"Since he's come back, I wanted to hang out with him. See why he just disappeared all of a sudden with no word. But.." He paused. This probably sounded strange. How would anyone talk about the thief without talking about the thief?

"Well, have you ever tried just reaching out and talking to him during that time?"

"No..." He shifted again then heard a 'Mr. Luthor', and he almost growled at the tailor. "I mean, it's complicated. He's hard to get in touch with."

"A recluse?"

"No, worse." A grin crept up on his lips, "A traveling clown."

Delores laughed at that. "I see, well, maybe he doesn't know how you feel. So when you see him again, talk to him." She was just about done. With a little adjustment to his golden tie and then it tucked in his vest, he was all set. "There."

Talk to him. A man that dodges more things than words. No pressure. He had time to figure out what he wanted to say and how.

Conner gave Delores and the tailor both his thanks and he walked out the fitting room. His dress shoes clicked against the floor of the estate. He was headed to Eden's study to show it off and see what she thought of it. Once he opened the door though- Lo' and behold X was already there with Eden and Kara. Conner stood there for a time then noticed his own pause. He was just about to pass the threshold when Eden moved across the room his way.

"I'll be right back," she chimed to Kara and X who gave a light wave. She spoke like she was secretly up to something. She closed the door behind her. "Should we take a walk?"

Definitely up to something...

His mouth was open; unable to really get a word in. His sister was already on the move, leading the way as per usual even though they walked side-by-side. He closed his mouth and his eyes drifted to the painted walls; finding the plainness more interesting than the paintings hung there.

"What's that look?" Eden chimed, pivoting then standing in front of him.

"What look?"

"Conner, I know you too well. You can't hide anything." she teased.

He sighed then rubbed the back of his neck. "Its nothing." His eyes averted Eden's gaze, but he already knew he wasn't able to hide anything from her. "Its just that... he's been gone so long. I thought something happened. His phone got disconnected. He never went to any of the spots we met up at. He just went ghost." Conner looked back at her, unsure. "Like.. he would tell me if something happened, right?"

Eden's eyes softened. She couldn't speak on if X ever would've. Though she knew him enough that he would skate over it and not give the full story even if asked outright. And poor Conner, if he ever knew the truth of what their father had done, he would've dug up that man's grave to piss in it. Not that she wouldn't encourage it. Hell, she'd bring the shovel. But they couldn't afford to do that with his men poking at the corner. Those who worked for him would turn on Conner in a heartbeat. Yes, they were Luthors by blood. His children. But everyone who knew the man understood that he would choose power over any of them. Except maybe Kara. She was his shining angel. There was no one that would argue otherwise.

"Some people have their secrets. Sometimes you need to wait until they're ready to share." She then tilted her head with a smile bringing warmth into the room. "That is, if he has anything worth telling."

"So you think it's nothing?"

There was the point.

And then there was Conner.

He realized how it sounded and brushed his fingers beneath his lip, thinking. It wasn't like Eden knew. She was just trying to help out with her wise words. "I guess I'll just talk to him or... wait?" Delores' and Eden's opinions were conflicting. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't come out and say it but then again who knew when the phantom would disappear for another two years or longer?

"How about focus on the present?" Eden twirled back around like a swan. "Just do what feels best." Her hand then reached up to pat him on the back. "You look good by the way. Those twins won't have enough of you."

Hearing that, he turned beet red. "Eden..." He then looked around to check if they were alone. "You heard that part?"

"Conner, you and whispering don't get along." She teased again with a light chuckle. "Ever."

He was filled with embarrassment and as they rounded the corner, he almost ran right into the head chef. "Oh crap! Sorry, Brian." He held his hands out in case there was anything he needed to catch that came loose from the almost-collision.

"All good, Sir Conner." Brian replied before continuing his journey.

"Wait, wait." Conner blurted, thinking of something. "Did you finish dinner yet?"

Brian turned to look at the two. "No, not yet. It will be in 30 minutes."

"Is there a way to have another plate?"

"Oh, you're expecting a guest?"

"Uhh-"

"Conner just feels like eating five plates to himself tonight," Eden chimed in with a smile. "But we would like some privacy after the table is set. Have you seen Delores?"

"I can do that!" Brain was more than thrilled they wanted more of his cooking. "I saw her not too long ago in the library."

"Thank you, Brian." Eden waved him off then looked up at her brother. He was a sly one, wasn't he? The question then became would X go for it.

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Some time passed and Conner changed out his suit to a comfortable grey T-shirt and joggers before he and Eden came back to the office in time to see a shadow disappear into another corner of the room. They both shook their heads with smirks lining their faces.

Eden spoke first. "I hope we weren't interrupting anything."

The thief's head popped out of hiding between the file cabinets. How he could even squeeze himself there was another one of the mysteries of fantastic Mr. X.

"No, not really," Kara replied. She moved some printer paper she scribbled on behind her back; holding in a bundle of laughter that threatened to come out any minute.

A brow of Eden's rose then fell. Her sister wasn't a bag of rattling sticks anymore. Which meant--

"Hey, X." Conner grinned as he walked forward. "How long you going to be here for?"

Good question. It was such a good question, X didn't know how to answer it. Truthfully? Just come out and say before morning after he sleeps with his big sister? He'd be dead. Fighting off assassins, infiltrating military bases, stealing dangerous chemical compounds, eating Taco Bell after midnight... all to get killed by Conner.

Yeah, no.

"Uh, probably when you all get bored of me." Safe. Yes, that was safe.

"Great." Conner slung his arm over X's shoulder and the thief immediately felt like his life was in jeopardy.

"You're having dinner with us."

X's mouth opened, and then words trailed later. "Did... I do something to you?"

He laughed. "What you mean?"

The thief squinted; brows furrowing partly under the guise of his dark glasses. Conner was usually the easiest to read, but sometimes the words on the page had no plot. His attention then went to Eden, but her face never told anything. And Kara was as clueless as he was.

Great...

X stared at him longer as he was being guided out. The brute was holding him like he would escape if he didn't. Conner was correct to do it. He was already thinking of ways to avoid this... 'dinner'. Maybe it actually was sitting down and eating. Conner was spontaneous that way. But... Maybe he knew about him and Eden and was trying to poison him.... That would explain the grip!

They made their way to the dining room with the table already set. Ivory cloth. Golden trim. Centerpieces gentle on the eyes and not outlandish were spread out evenly among the long table. Eden sat at the head with Kara on her right. X sat in between Eden and Conner, and already felt overwhelmed.

This really was dinner.

X's eyes shifted for anything out of the ordinary. However his hearing alerted him first, and like a cat, he hid under the table when someone else came in. Two sets of shoes. One a man's and the other a woman's. The woman's shoes he had seen before. Flat. Black. White stitching design that was subtle. A little worn on one side of the right from slight imbalance. It was Delores'.

The clatter and clanking were dishes being set down. The smell of a homemade meal hit him like a dream in the gut.

"Can I have my extra one here?" Conner grinned at Brian.

Brian didn't question it at all and set the extra plate down where X's spot was. He then bowed. "Have a wonderful night."

Delores set the rest down but just had to fix the corningware that was a little off-center. "Just ring me and I will be right over."

"Thank you, Delores. Thank you, Brian." Eden smiled.

"Yes, thank you so much," Conner added.

"Thank you~" Kara chimed.

And then some peace.

Conner sighed lightly. "Sorry, I should've warned you. But they wouldn't say anything if they saw you. Everyone's gone out now. It's just us."

X had enough time to slink away. The table was long enough and he had been in more uncomfortable places, but something had him stay. Slowly, he crawled his way back up into his chair; the full scent of a full course meal hitting his nostrils.

It was alien and he didn't know why. He's been to dinners. Been to plenty. Some big, some small, some one on ones. Other times alone when he's stalking prey. Was that it? This was just a meal with no strings attached? No hidden agendas. Was that-?

"You going to eat?" Conner cut through the thief's thoughts.

"Yeah." X picked up a fork then lightly stabbed through three spiraling noodles, a collapsed cherry tomato, and a shrimp. He lifted it to his mouth, the velvety orange sauce clinging perfectly to the deep ridges of the rotini. It was just a bite. Just a taste, yet the flavor made him groan. He closed his eyes as he savored every chew.

Well shit.

Brian was the best damn cook alive.

"Good?"

He opened his eyes to see Conner staring at him in wait after his ask. Eden and Kara were also looking at him. For once he felt uncomfortable. "What?" X felt heat crawling up his neck and licking the tips of his ears. "Yeah, it's good." He went to get another forkful. "It's great, actually," he corrected.

The stares turned to smiles, and somehow it made him feel lighter. Lighter and weird. Like he was floating without having to do any acrobatic stunt to defy gravity. The thief ate through his confusion about it. Though he couldn't make anything of what this feeling was, he liked it more and more.

There was idle conversation here and there. More about Kara's school and classes. Then it pivoted to Conner taking his own classes in the 'odd' areas of gun training, target shooting, and boxing. Can't see why he would want those... Yes, this is sarcasm speaking. Hi.

Eden was hush-hush about her work. Only Kara kept trying to pry and the princess so skillfully redirected her every time with a new shinier topic. It was fun to listen in.

X was just about done, honestly wanting seconds when a question arose for him.

"That Hope Diamond, was you?" Conner grinned all-knowing.

"You wearing a wire?" the thief joked.

The Luthor patted his chest down as if to make a point. "Nope." X just gave him a smug grin and that was all he needed, but he already knew it was the thief. He just wanted to make small talk. "Hey, you've been to the tower in Paris? Like you climbed it?"

X tilted his head as he dished up more of the creamy tomato roni dish. "Like a monkey?"

Kara nearly choked on her drink mid-sip.

"Ughh. You know what I mean." Conner then shook his head. "Hey, no wait. You enjoy that stuff. I remember you climbing five stories instead of using the elevator."

"They expected me to come through the elevator. I had to surprise them." He shrugged.

Eden slipped X a side-eye before taking a sip of her own drink. He knew he enjoyed it.

"So dangerous," Kara mumbled, using her glass to hide her mouth. "So cool," she mumbled even softer.

"But to answer your question, no. I've been to the cathedral though."

"Did you..."

X rolled his eyes though lucky for them all, they couldn't see it. "Fine, I climbed it a little." He took his cup and slurped the iced tea down to hide his defeat with obnoxious sounds.

They all had a light laugh.

Conner got up but then had another wonderful idea as he did. "Oh, oh! Let's get a photo." He turned to X with pleading eyes "I won't post it, I promise."

X tensed for a long moment then relaxed, but not fully. Conner disappeared then reappeared with a grey t-shirt like he had this planned from the start. He gave it to him, and the thief held it up to himself. The shirt mirrored Conner's 'I'm with Stupid', stating 'They're the Stupid one' with arrows pointing to each other.

... He expected him to wear this?

"You're kidding..."

The thief was laser focused on Conner, but seeing the idiot's face with that dopey look like that, how could he say no to him? This was going to bite him later. Really, really hard and it was going to be his own fault.

Defeated, X stood then put the shirt on over his. It felt two sizes too big and looked awkward- at least from where he stood.

Seeing the thief commit to it, he wasted no time in pulling out his phone and positioning himself next to him. "C'mon. We'll laugh about this some day." Conner grinned, pulling X closer so he'd get in the frame. "Say Super Bros."

X groaned unapologetically with regret and embarrassment.

"Photobomb~!" Kara popped in at the last second mid-laugh, pulling Eden along with her. They made it just in time!