Elliot laid in bed, watching as the views trickled in on the posted interview. The comments were slightly more fun to watch, as they rolled in- a rough ninety-nine percent of them being one remark or another about incredibly attractive Danny was.
Not that Elliot was bitter by any means, he certainly understood where they were coming from. As the night tread on, he may or may not have re-watched that same interview.
More than once.
Maybe more than twice.
Even with his face concealed, there was something about just Danny’s aura itself that pulled you in. It made you feel secure. Made you feel like anything was possible. He made people feel like there was still some good in the world, and even if you don’t have the same abilities he does, you can still make a difference in your own way.
Shit, Elliot sighed, plugging his phone in to charge for the night, I really do like him.
Not that this information was of any news to Elliot of course, he just...he was very unaccustomed to being a sap.
And he was without a doubt being a sap.
~
Elliot awoke the next morning to the sound of frantic banging on his door.
“El! Wake up!” Winn said, hitting the door harder, “There’s someone here to see you?”
“What?” Elliot slurred, sleep still heavy in his mind, “Be quiet.”
“I’ll be quiet when you throw on some clothes and get out here.” Winn hissed, “Nice ones, preferably.”
Elliot felt a little flutter in his chest, Is it Danny?
“Hurry up.” Winn said with a little huff before lowering her voice, “It’s some suit from the Starlight Gazette.”
Elliot fumbled, rolling out of his bed and straight onto the floor, “Give me just a second.”
Not Danny, but much better. Elliot thought, his heart racing.
Dashing about his room like an idiot, Elliot scrambled for something to wear. Did she say “some suit”? What year do you think it is, Winona? Please tell me her mafia movie phase isn’t returning…
Elliot reluctantly grabbed for the pastel hot dog shirt and slipped it on, hoping that it would bring him luck. He was also happy it still smelled like Danny, but that was definitely not his primary reason for wearing it.
Straightening himself before leaving his room, Elliot stepped out into the living room. A familiar man sat on his couch, although Elliot had great difficulty placing him.
“Good Morning, Mr. Edison.” The man smiled, clearly placing Elliot much easier than Elliot could place him, “You may want to consider moving. It is entirely too easy to find you.”
Elliot frowned self-consciously, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr…”
“Please, just call me Adam. I believe we’ve had the pleasure of meeting before.” He said, offering a hand for Elliot to shake.
Elliot took his hand hesitantly, “We did?”
The man cleared his throat awkwardly as he stood, straightening the hem of his suit jacket, “There was a bit of unpleasantry exchanged with my sister downtown, you were with our Danny?”
Elliot felt his skin prickle, “Oh, yeah.”
“Wait, Danny Chae? How do you know him?’ Winn asked.
Elliot tried shooting her a look to drop the conversation, but Winn was entirely too inquisitive by nature.
“Friend of the family.” Adam replied simply, “But I’m actually here on business, Mr. Edison, do you mind accompanying me to the Starlight Gazette? There are several people who wish to speak to you.”
Elliot tried to grasp a coherent thought, but the oddity of who stood before him certainly did not escape his notice.
“I’d love to.” Elliot said, managing his best smile.
“Perfect. Would you pardon me? I need to make a brief phone call.” Adam said, smiling softly and stepping closer to the kitchen.
“Dude.” Winona said simply once she knew they were out of earshot of their guest, “This is awesome.”
Elliot pursed his lips, “I don’t know. This guy is creepy. Not as bad as his sister though…”
Winona clasped her hands on Elliot’s shoulders, “Don’t pay attention to that right now! You’re literally about to get a job at the biggest newspaper in the world. If people still read those. It's more internet based, now.”
“Yeah, I’m aware.” Elliot sighed, “I don’t know. He’s kind of a douche.”
“So are you.” Winona said with a grin, “I can’t believe it! Starlight Gazette!”
Elliot felt unease in his stomach, but decided it was just nerves.
It had to be.
“Are you ready, Mr. Edison?’ Adam asked, grinning.
Elliot swallowed, “Of course.”
Winn patted him on the back and whispered not to be nervous, but encouragement was not what Elliot needed. Elliot needed scotch and about four more hours of sleep. He was off his game, but he was about to pull himself together. He had waited for this moment his entire life.
He followed Adam out of the apartment complex and onto the sidewalk outside. About the time they stepped out, a limo pulled up in front of them.
Elliot surged with excitement, nearly bouncing as Adam held the door open and gestured him inside.
Adam slid in behind him, pulling the door closed before barking directions to the driver.
“So.” Adam said with a smile, “How on earth did you manage to pull that off?”
Elliot stretched his arms in front of him, “A good magician never reveals his secrets.”
“An exclusive interview with the hero of Starlight City is more than magic, my friend.” Adam said, leaning over to nudge Elliot in the side.
“So...what exactly is happening?” Elliot asked, trying to keep his voice at a professional level of excitement.
Adam blinked, clearly amused, “What do you mean?”
“I mean...you came to my house with a limo. This is...some kind of shake down, right?” Elliot asked, trying to play it off as a joke but a small part of himself unfortunately meant it.
Adam laughed, “What?”
“I’ve seen goodfellas,” Elliot said defensively, “You want my intel and next thing I know I’m dead in a ditch somewhere. It’s fine, really. I think only like, two people will miss me.”
If that, Elliot thought with a smile.
“I don’t recall a limo in that movie mate,” Adam said, trying to calm himself from his fit of laughter, “I think this is going to be something closer to an exclusive job offer, but I can’t tell you anything else.”
Elliot frowned sharply, “Why not?”
“Because, that’s not my job.” Adam said with a shrug.
Adam led Elliot into the pristine Starlight Gazette tower, the highest building in Starlight City, lined from top to bottom in beautiful windows. There was a cleanness to the design, geometric and organized.
They walked right past the front desk, everything decorated in white, and straight to an elevator towards the back of the main hall.
Adam reached over, pressing the button for the top floor.
What is it with my life and heights lately? Elliot thought bitterly.
“There’s no need to be nervous.” Adam said, reassuringly as the elevator made it’s way up the building, “Sorry...about the other day, by the way.”
Elliot blinked, “I mean, in all fairness to you, it seemed to be much more what’s-her-face with the beef.”
“Rebecca.” Adam corrected flatly, “My sister.”
“Right.” Elliot said, sensing a tension developing in the taller man, “Either way, it’s alright. I’m sure she was just having an off day.”
“Her day was just fine.” Adam retorted, his tone polite but his energy anything but.
The elevator grew silent until they reached the top floor, Elliot nearly crying in relief as the doors slid open.
Adam grabbed his arm as they stepped out, “You should probably get Danny to be more honest with you. Becca isn’t without her reasons for hating him.”
Elliot scrambled for some sort of witty retort, but found himself lacking. He wasn’t entirely sure what the issue was between them and he wasn’t sure what point he was allowed to ask.
Not that Danny seemed sensitive, but they weren’t there yet.
And Elliot wasn’t sure how to defend Danny without knowing his side of things.
Luckily, he was saved as Adam ushered him into a large room, the walls facing the rest of the floor clear glass. A woman sat at a desk, head propped on a closed fist while she stared intently at a computer screen. She was a dark woman, with bleach blonde hair cropped to her scalp.
“Mr. Edison, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” She said, her voice almost as attractive as she was, “I cannot describe how impressed I am with your video.”
“Really?” Elliot asked, relieved his voice didn’t crack on him, “I can’t describe how impressed I am with your set-up, so that makes us even.”
The woman barked out a laugh, “Oh, I like you.” She gestured towards the seat in front of the desk, “Please, take a seat.”
Elliot sat down and Adam went to join.
“Not you, you can go.” The woman said sternly, causing a look of anger to pass through Adam’s face, but it was only there briefly.
“Yes mam.” He said with a quick bow before turning to Elliot, “Good luck, Mr. Edison.”
“Thanks.” Elliot said, his mouth feeling dry.
The woman waited until Adam was out of the door before speaking again, “I wish I could figure out what the hell his problem is.”
Elliot snorted, “You should meet his sister.”
“Oh, I have.”, the woman grinned, “Bridgette Murphy, by the way.”
She stuck out her hand and Elliot shook it enthusiastically.
“So I’m going to spare you the stress and cut to the chase.” She said matter-of-factly, “If my boss wouldn’t have come up with this idea, I would have came up with this myself. We want you to do exactly what you did the other day, but we want it exclusively through us.”
That’s a lot of creative freedom.
“We’ll soup up your production values, of course, but if Merlin only wants to give you interviews, we want you to let us help.”
“That sounds reasonable enough…” Elliot mused, “What’s the catch?’
Bridgette laughed, “There’s no catch. Mr. Astra wants you to have whatever you need, as long as we’re exclusively who those interviews are viewed through.’
Elliot went to speak but his heart caught in his chest, “Mr. Astra?”
“Yes?” Bridgette asked, an eyebrow raising.
“As in...owns all of Starlight City Astras?” Elliot asked, trying to stop the tingling sensation in his chest.
“The one and only. It was at his personal request. He wants the city’s savior to get the respect he deserves.”
Elliot blinked in disbelief, pausing as he collected his thoughts, “What do I have to sign?”
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