A shadow of a smile grace Max’s lips, though whether at the compliment to Lex or the comment about his teaching career it wasn’t certain. He was quiet a moment as his gaze fell on his glass of fine, finger running around the rim in absent thought before he hastily (neurotically) wiped both hand and class with the white linen napkin he had left atop his empty plate.
“Seems like a lifetime ago.” He said, dismissing the nostalgia in exchange for a much more tantalizing present. The truth was that there was a certificate or something somewhere on his wall of achievements constantly on display in his nearly always locked study, though the latter made it irrelevant. It had played to his advantage that he’d been alive long enough to remember when Latin was genuinely spoken and wasn’t listed as a ‘dead’ language.
Oh I know, you are a superhero, one who runs out on breakfast disagreements to save people they read about in the paper and now you are trying to save me from your arch nemesis who has threatened to kill anyone in your life.”
This time he laughed, light and genuine through and through.
“Something like that.” He nodded, hand reaching out to grab the wine glass that’s content was as rich as the humour. If Maxwell noticed Ivy’s scrutiny he didn’t show any signs. Instead, he raised his goblet in kind.
“To nonsense and trouble.” He seceded, clicking crystal against crystal and taking a lengthy sip.
Maxwell sat at a dinner table, the vinyl bench covering crackled uncomfortably as he stretched a long arm across the back. He was clean-shaven, and physically appeared a few years younger though age was relative in his line of work. His hair was combed up, slicked in a pomp that promised several showers wouldn’t remove the grease from his hair- but such was the style of the time. The noise quieted as a mechanical arm picked up a record in the jukebox and set it to needle in time for Max to hear the man across from him clear his throat.
“I just don’t get it, Max. Trouble seems to follow you like a shadow you just can’t shake, yet you seem to cut out like you were made in the shade.”
Max grinned. “What can I say, I’m as charming as the devil and as clever as a fox.”
“Well ain’t that a coincidence, because I wouldn’t trust either of ‘em.” The man signed, pushing away his cola as he leaned back in the bench.
Max sobered, eyes locked on his confidant. “Trust your instincts, Ivan. “
Ivan looked away. “Look, I know it’s not your bag, but all I’m saying is that you should cool it for while. You’re making the Council nervous, and they don’t like to sweat.”
“There wouldn’t be a Council if it weren’t for me.” All the humour was gone from his tone as he stared intently across the table. The man, younger, looked uncomfortable. His eyes stared out the window, voice low and defeated.
“I know, Max. I know…”
“What do you say we take the wine home and I can show you some of my superpowers?” His eyes smoldered, letting the innuendo hang in the air between them.