Cousins in Arms

[Raven]

"My friends parents let them do more stuff too, and they're way worse than me and Willow," Kailen said.

[Gifted]

"Willow's a bit of a square." Liam agreed. "But you know, lenient doesn't always mean good."

[Raven]

"I know, but strict doesn't either," Kailen muttered. "Anyway, I'm glad you like living with your grandpa."

[Gifted]

Liam nodded. "Come on, we're here, let's go inside."

[Raven]

Kailen got out and headed inside to get food. "Did you always like living with Grandpa?"

[Gifted]

"Well what do you mean? There were certainly days where it sucked a lot, but overall I only could compare him to my father, and I would never wish to be back there in a million years."

[Raven]

"I mean, from the start," Kailen said. "Did you ever consider trying to live with us instead?"

[Gifted]

Liam shook his head. "Honestly, I don't really think I ever did." He admitted. "When I first got there, I was enamoured by the money. All the stuff I could do, you know? Then I gained a bunch of friends, and then I realized how much power I had and how much I could do- it's complicated."

[Raven]

"Why is Grandpa such a big deal there? Is he the mayor or something?"

[Gifted]

Liam chuckled. "No, he's not the mayor." He answered. "He..." Liam sighed. "I dunno if I'm ready to tell you this." He chuckled. "I mean, you're gonna find out if you come to my city, and it's not a secret, exactly... I'd have told him if Uncle Adam had ever bothered to ask. Honestly I'm not sure why he hasn't yet, he knows what Aaron does for a living and he has more than a right to ask whether or not I'm involved. My only guess is I suppose he just doesn't want to know but..." He frowned. "I dunno, your family are a bunch of squares." He sighed. "You can't tell Willow. Or Adam! God knows what he'd do if he found out. And I'm not ready to tell Willow yet. I don't know how she'll react. I don't want to lose everyone."

[Raven]

Kailen frowned but he nodded. "Alright. You can't tell Willow you're giving me cigarettes, I won't tell her whatever this is," he agreed. "And I don't tell my Dad anything."

[Gifted]

"Okay, um... how do I say this so you understand but you won't freak out... You ever seen a cop show? Like a really good cop show... no, you're a comics nerd... so... the Penguin. No... Kingpin. My grandfather is Kingpin."

[Raven]

"I'm not a comics nerd," Kailen said, but he clearly understood. "Seriously? Grandpa is Kingpin? And you like living with him?"

[Gifted]

"Hell yeah, are you kidding? You know how I got you those smokes? I walked into a store and asked for them. They know I'm fifteen, but no one is going to card me. My grandfather has the criminals of the city in his left pocket and the cops in his right, we're basically untouchable."
The waitress came over and asked for their orders. "Oh, right." Liam quickly glanced over the menu. "Could I get the mushroom burger, please? And a Coke."

[Raven]

"I'll get the chicken strips," Kailen said, waiting until the waitress was gone before saying, "That's crazy. He's okay with you buying stuff like this?"