A Scripta

When they arrived the next night, Lori and Jason were already at their car. "Want to follow us?" they called as the two men pulled up.

"Okay," Kevin called, and they followed them. The pair of cars parked in a large parking lot for a steakhouse restaraunt. Dmitrius got out of the car and looked up at the restaurant's sign. Jason thought he could read something like apprehension.

They went inside, and had to wait for a table. Kevin sat between Dmitrius and his parents, holding Dmitrius' hand. Jason turned away. The whole thing was uncomfortable. Jason didn't know if he would be able to stand a whole dinner like this.

They finally got a booth. There was a pail of peanuts, and Jason started to dig in. "So you're a hero too, Dmitrius?" he finally said, because he couldn't stand it anymore.

"Yes, I am," he said, in that deep voice of command again.

Jason pushed on. "What do you do? Like your powers."

"I have super strength, super speed, I am very agile, and I have tough skin." He looked around the table and got a fork. He turned his arm over on the table, and stabbed the fork down. Lori and Jason both gasped, then saw the tines of the fork bend away from his skin. "I also have the ability to make people afraid of me."

Jason sat back, thinking, That explains it. Dmitrius focused his eyes on Jason, deep dark eyes, almost crimson red irises. He looked away immediately, not believing what he was seeing. The waitress came over and they ordered. When they got to Dmitrius he said, "Just ice water, please."

Kevin's parents stared at him. Kevin looked down at his placemat. The waitress walked away, nonplussed. Dmitrius looked up. "I can't eat any MSG."

"You can ask them to not put it in."

"I am highly allergic to even trace amounts," he said quietly. "You can tell them not to add it, but it's already in prepared food." He took a small dropper out of his pocket. "In fact, I have to test everything I eat."

"Oh..." Jason looked a little more concerned. "Maybe we could have eaten at home."

Dmitrius said, "You can't afford it. I have to go to Whole Foods or other organic places to get my food. They guarantee no MSG."

"Don't worry," Kevin said, and put a hand on Dmitrius' arm. "He already ate."

Their drinks arrived and Dmitrius dropped something from the vial into the water. The water turned purple. He shook his head. "They're using tap water." He sighed, pushed the glass away. "It's not your fault. This happens all the time."

His parents dug in guiltily when they got their food, but Kevin didn't seem to mind. Then, Kevin headed to the bathroom. Lori glanced at Jason and excused herself as well.

Jason screwed up his courage to look this man in the eye. Dmitrius met his eyes. "Yes?" he asked.

"Let's step outside."

Dmitrius gave a small nod and pulled himself out of the booth. He followed Jason out the front of the restaurant and they stepped over to a bench. Dmitrius sat. Jason did not.

"I want to know who you are."

"What would you like to know?"

"How many businesses do you actually own?"

He gave him a small smile. "Own? Three international conglomerate companies. I'm on the Board? Maybe six more."

"How did you meet Kevin?"

"We were both working on the same assignment. It's classified."

Jason looked down at him, but still felt that Dmitrius was the one who was in command. "Okay, I'm going to come out and be straight with you."

Dmitrius sat back and crossed his arms. "Good."

His words came out in a rush. "I think you're taking advantage of my son. He's still young, he's in a strange city, and he sees you, and you're probably throwing all kinds of money at him. Kevin will not be bought."

Dmitrius inclined his head. "Go on."

"And this getting married, it's way too fast. Six months ago he had Michael. He had been going out with him for months, I heard. Now you show up all of a sudden. What happened to Michael?"

Dmitrius said, "Kevin was dumped."

"Oh, oh, that makes this even better!" He raised his hands and dropped them in frustration. "Now you're really taking advantage of him, with him coming off a rebound."

"Tell me, Mr, Nokimos, why would a man of my station, with as much money as I have, want Kevin?"

"Maybe you're one of those sugar daddies."

Dmitrius laughed, a booming sound. Jason flushed red with embarrassment. "That could not be further from the truth." Dmitrius looked at him, smiling. "Do you believe in reincarnation?"

"Yes..."

"Kevin's soul, and my soul, have been searching for aeons for each other. Now we will join as one."

Jason stared at him. "Is that what you fed him?"

"No," he said. "It is what he fed me."

Jason was stunned. Kevin believing in reincarnation? He didn't even believe in karma. That Paragon City was odder than he thought.

"Mr. Nokimos, I know you believe that I am the older man. He is the older soul."

Jason turned away. This was getting too weird, even for him. "And you believe this?"

"With all my heart."

He looked back toward the restaurant. "I really think you're going way too fast."

"Mr. Nokimos, has it occurred to you that Kevin may be taking advantage of me?"

Jason blinked.

"I have the money and the power. I'm new to the state. I know I have powers, but I don't know how to use them well. Kevin as a lot up on me."

Jason considered while Dmitrius rose fluidly. "I love him, and he loves me. Isn't that what marriage is about?" He started walking back to the restaurant. At the table, he picked up the check, smiled at Lori and Kevin, and paid it.


For the weekend, the two men visited twice again, and both times Kevin's parents didn't seem too much more endearing to Dmitrius. Kevin extended the invitation by phone to the wedding to his brothers, and told them something formal would be coming soon. They didn't sound that much more happy, either. Finally, Sunday, it seemed like they were almost glad to leave. They laid overnight in Detroit, and took the last leg of the trip home, arriving in Boston at 12:54 a.m.