Henry looks down at Avalon from where he's perched in his office chair, putting some final touches on his history report. "I promise that your math book does not possess any brain-eating space-parasites."

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Rolling his eyes some, Avalon gives Henry a long-suffering look and then says flatly "I'm not talking about earwigs. I think that I've just had enough. My brain meats are starting to get words mixed up. I'm not even sure anymore whan language I'm talking; thank goodness for universal translators!"

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Henry gets to his feet. "I know the feeling, Blue," he admits, rubbing his temples, sounding a little drained. "I think I've hit a wall."

He turns to Avalon, offering a hand up. "Come on. I'll make some milkshakes and we can take a break."

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Always up for Henry's milkshakes, Avalon accepts the hand up and clambers to his feet and pulls his clothes down abck into order. "That sounds like a plan - I'm proud of myself for getting this far.." he says, all the while wearing a smile. "Can I have a chocolate one?"

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"No!" Henry declares seriously. "Too much chocolate will kill you!"

Then he grins. "Of course you can have chocolate. You should be proud, man. You're in a tough class. And Ms. Rander?" He lets out a low whistle. "She's tough."

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Avalon just grins at Henry and clutches his milkshake to himself playfully as his hair is ruffled. Still, the talk of What To Do makes him sober a bit and he sighs. "Whatever we do, we can't forget Josh and Katima.." he says softly. "Even if that means traveling around a lot - not that getting anywhere is too hard. Just more time consuming."

He drinks some more of his milkshake then, idly watching Henry's face. "Well, at least we're lucky that we have another year before we have to decide what we're gonna do." he then says, quite thankful for that. "I don't know.. growing up here is so much more dramatic. I just got turned loose on my own more or less. Here there's college and work and.. all that stuff."

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Henry nods. "I won't forget Josh and Kat. Some people break up with their high school sweethearts when they go away to college. I think that's kinda dumb. We'll live close by, and will still be able to see them every day." Henry considers. "Besides, Kat's only going to school until the end of this year. They made her a senior, so she'll graduate after a couple more months of this."

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"All of this is all so new to me, I'll have to take your word on it," laughs Avalon. "I just know that I'm kind of shy at school - I've still not figured out if the other kids like me or not so I just try to be quite. I really don't want to have to make new friends because I rather like the ones I have!"

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Henry laughs. "That's high school, Ava. That's true for everyone." He shrugs. "You think Rick or Amanda or Shultz actually like me? No, they pretend to like me, because I'm popular. But lots of people do like me... or at least the person I pretend to be at school... so it's okay."

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"I think that a lot more people like you than you are aware of, Henry." says Avalon. "You should really give more kids credit, they're pretty genuine about how much they like you." He grins some, "They like me well enough because I'm your 'cousin', but I think that you really do have a lot of genuine friends. You're not weird or awkward or anything like that.. at least at school."

Avalon smirks some and then pokes at Henry's side in a playful way as he says "You wear so many masks, even at school. I still feel like I'm getting to know you."

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Avalon just rolls his eyes again, this time more so, and then shakes his head at Henry. "Of course I'm off the charts." he then says with a certain amount of amusement and winks as he says, "But then again I don't think the charts are made for winged aliens."

He sighs then, and says softly "I've been.. working on my Blue stuff too." he looks nervous, "Sometime soon, I want to start working on navigating high gravity. I'm going to need your help to get out into Space deep enough." he pauses, then says in a whisper, "We need a black hole."

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Henry nods confidently. "Alright. We'll go tame ourselves a black hole."

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Avalon starts to smirk, his expression almost wicked as he asks "Have you ever traveled through a black hole? I did - when I was training - with Sister Sercy.. It's madness!"

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"We did in basic training with Wog. And I did once before with my dad, but I was too young to remember it." He shrugs. "We can do it."

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"Only the most experienced of Blue Lanterns can do it on their own.. I've been intimidated by it in the past, but as of late.. I've been feeling much more confident." Avalon shares. "Then again, it wasn't until they made us partners and I came to Earth that I really got to take control of all my powers. Most of them won't work without you near." he smirks, "That's how Malicor got me.. I couldn't even blast his sorry butt."

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"You will know when it is time." replies Avalon gently, before he leans in and presses a gentle little kiss to Henry's cheek. As he pulls away, his fingertips are the last part of him to lift away, almost trailing off Henry's chest as he settles back into his own space.

"And he loves you, Henry. You shouldn't fear telling him truths about yourself.." he then says, gently reminding Henry of something that the other teen already no doubt knows.

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"I know," Henry nods. "It's not that I'm afraid. And I don't think he'd care... not really. But let's face it... I don't think even the best parent would necessarily let their son's three boy- and girlfriends live in the house with him."

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Well, I come from a different place where you would have been considered an adult two years ago." points out Avalon. "Then again, even if he didn't want us here, I would have to stay. I can't be that far away from you, in case we are needed." he then adds in a softer tone "And Josh, for as brave and strong as he is, is also very fragile. He must be kept close. Katima is even more fragile than Josh.. I spend a lot of time with her wrapped up in bonds.. It's.. hard to explain." he laughs then, and pats Henry on the shoulder as he says "Just face it Henry, we are all so much a unit that if we tried to put too much separation between us, we would all just fall apart."

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Henry nods in agreement. "We're a team. But here, now... we're not considered adults. At least, I'm not; not until October. Josh won't be for almost a year more than me." He puts his arm around Avalon. "Don't worry. We'll stick together."

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Avalon can't help but smile and lets himself be pulled in towards Henry. He nuzzles his face into the crook of Henry's throat and then sighs out a deep breath.

"It's more than just being a team, Henry. This is my family." he says softly.

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Ava gives a laugh and rounds the kitchen bar, trying to keep it between him and Henry. He's getting that predatory look on his face that he sometimes gets - it seems the play is bringing it out of him.

"You're too slow, Mister Jordan." Replies Ava teasingly.

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Henry eyes him. "You've never complained about my speed before," Henry says quietly, just as predatory. He feigns right, then left, then dodges around to the left towards Avalon.

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"Slow and gentle.. hard and fast.. either way, I like it from you." He replies. As Henry darts around the bar, Avalon give a laugh and then circles around the other side, accidentally trapping himself in the kitchen by the fridge. Despite the fact that he's got his back to the wall, he just grins at Henry with that same intensity.

"But I wasn't refering to your other skills." He says breathlessly, "You're too slow on your feet."

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Henry grins, closing in on Avalon, trapped by the fridge.

"Oh, am I? What happens if I prove you wrong and catch you?" he demands.

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"Well.. I don't know. Maybe I'll owe you something..." Ava teases, his expression decidedly naughty. "You know there are all sorts of favors that I can do.. I'm particularly talented with my tongue."

He glances up and decides that the ceiling is too short for an arial escape. So, Ava darts, trying to get past Henry, all the while grining like a madman.

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