Julian had finished up the board meeting at Lexcorp, making his way back to Star City from Metropolis. Using the teleportation technology the League had created, the Zeta-Tubes, Julian made his way to Star City within moments.  His driver, Caleb greeted him at the airport in the black sedan, as the two drove to Corrigan for Julian to attend his lectures that he could still make it to. Responding to the text he had gotten earlier from Kieran. He wasn't in a talkative mood, still. The board members had exhausted him, and the young billionaire was surprised to find that he was actually [i]mourning[/i] his 'father'. 

After a 20 minute drive, a drive Julian had changed from his 3-piece suit into chinos, a muscle shirt and leather loafers. the pulled up on the school grounds, Julian told Caleb to drive home, Julian would give him a call when he needed a ride next. Truth was that the Luthor just wanted to be alone. He needed to clear his head. Slinging his backpack over his shoulder. Heading into the school grounds, A.R.C Session would start soon, so he was looking forward to that. He had a backpack of new gadgets he had picked up, and made while at Lexcorp, that he looked forward to trying out.

Kyle didn't think the situation could get much worse. Hanging limply in Blondie's grip, he focused on not touching her again. Of course then she turned her gaze from Professor Todd to him. Kyle couldn't help the small shiver that ran through him. They locked gazes for what felt like an eternity. Was she going to harm him? Kyle wouldn't stop her, but it didn't mean the prospect appealed to him.

Then she dropped him forcefully onto the soft grass. Thankfully soft grass for by the time he stopped moving he was nearly up to his knees in it. He was still staring at this trapped legs when she spoke.

Kyle's head snapped back up and he gaped at her. She was going to hunt him down? After class? Well, he did owe her an explanation. He could have killed her. But he didn't want to see her again. She was up there with S'tann: scary.

As Kyle gaped, Blondie walked off. By the time he had collected his thoughts she was gone. Kyle blinked and looked around to see if the Professors were still around. Part of him wanted them gone, a large part, but Todd was still there. Professor J'onzz had gone when Kyle wasn't looking.

Professor Todd looked extremely disapproving. As if it was Kyle's fault he was out here and ruining his day. Which wasn't a new look for the professor. Just a less likable one when he was ankle deep in mud and grass and more than a little stuck.

Kyle wiggled one foot then the other. Both were stuck fast. If he pulled out his feet he was going to loose his shoes. Kyle covertly looked back at the Professor who was looking more and more unhappy. [i]Right[/i]. Kyle told himself. No time for waffling. Kyle yanked out his feet from their trap as fast as he could. He barely winced as the soil tore at his soft skin. At least his socks protected most of his feet. 

Now free, Kyle stuffed his hands down the holes he had made and pulled his shoes as hard as he could. Nothing. Kyle readjusted his grip and tried again. Still nothing. Kyle worried his lower lip as the Professor began to grumble. Kyle gave one last almighty heave and one shoe popped free of the mud. 

Kyle surprised at the sudden lack of resistance ended up falling backwards onto his butt. He could feel the cold and wet soak in to just highlight the day. Getting covered from head to toe in mud was [i]not[/i] on his to-do list.

Still there was still one shoe. With another glance at Professor Todd, who was now glaring at him, he struggled to get his other shoe out of the ground.

Julian made his way onto the grounds, heading for the mess hall, but on his way there, he saw quite the sight. The esteemed physical education teacher, former Superhero, ex-convict, and previous Robin, Jason Todd, a.k.a 'that guy with a really long résumé' towering over a fairly small - more so emotionally than physically - person. [i] Who else but Kyle[/i] Julian thought to himself, casually walking towards the two. His suspicion had been correct when he saw his friend crawling in the mud, the Physical education teacher glaring at the poor kid. Julian tapped Todd on the shoulder with his robotic limb, Jason smirking. "Reminds me of Arsenal." he mentioned - a comparison Julian had grown used to hearing from Todd.

"Care to not gloat at the poor guy?" Julian asked politely, Jason smirked and headed off to whatever it was that guy did. Hunching down next to Kyle, Julian looked at him. "Hi there pal. Pardon my pun, but.. Need a hand?" gesturing with his prosthetic.

Kyle, so intent on his task hadn't seen the new comer. Not until after he had been spoken to. Though it took a few seconds for the fact to sink in. Kyle stopped struggling with the shoe and looked up at the extended hand and blinked.

"[color=004b80]Julian? When did you get back?[/color]" The incongruous appearance of his friend threw him. And made him realize just how ridiculous he must look, kneeling on the grass, reaching into a hole and plastered in mud.

A warm smile on his face, the ginger chuckled. "Just now, pal. What did you even do to get yourself into this mess?" seeing his friend reaching into the ground, and his sock-clad feet, Julian quickly pieced together what was going on - well, almost. "S'Tan put you through the ground? You do know I have a flamethrower, right?" Julian said, half-joking, folding his long sleeved shirt up on his prosthetic arm, before jamming it into the ground, pulling Kyle's shoe out with ease thanks to the mechanical strength. Handing the shoe to Kyle, Julian smirked. 

"Class starts in a bit, but you should get cleaned up. Besides, I have a surprise for you, I brought something pretty kickass with me from Metropolis." Luthor said, chuckling slightly. 

"[color=004b80]Thanks.[/color]" Kyle mumbled as he accepted the newly liberated shoe. 

"[color=004b80]First period's over.[/color]" Kyle pointed out. Grasping at the normal part of the conversation. Something he desperately needed. For if he stopped to think about what had happened this morning, he just might lose it and do something embarrassing; like cry. And wouldn't that be the cherry on top of everything?

"[color=004b80]A surprise?[/color]" A glimmer of life returned to Kyle's eyes as slowly stood from his muddy wallow. "[color=004b80]What is it[/color]?" Kyle completely ignored the fact that Julian tried to mother hen him into decency, more interested in a potential goodie. A fact made even sweeter because it was for [i]him[/i].

"Seriously, though, pal. You need to shower and a change of clothes. ARC session shouldn't start for another 20 minutes, should be enough time for you to not look like Oliver Twist." Julian noted, pointed for Kyle to head to the dormitory. "Besides, my gift is a bit complicated to explain." Julian promised Kyle, as he headed towards the dorms.

Kyle frowned at Julian as they walk and sighed. "[color=004b80]Yeah. I know.[/color]" At least Julian wasn't going to dangle a surprise and never tell him. He had known the guy long enough he should stop expecting the worst, but habits were hard to change.

"[color=004b80]So if I shower, you'll show it to me? I'm sure I can keep up.[/color]" Kyle nearly pleaded, trying to sound like he didn't care, but failing. He also was forgetting he sucked at technology and technological terms and he probably couldn't keep up. Unless it was very, very simple.

Julian nodded, headed off into the dorms, it was just a couple minutes of walking, as they arrived in Kyle's dorm. Julian opened up his bag, getting out several gadgets, four different types of grenades, for instance. He smirked at Kyle, nodding for him to head into the shower. Julian was talking through the door as he heard the water running inside. "So, you know how I said that I'd help you out, first day of the semester when we were partnered up for orientation, right? I accidentally touched your skin and it fried my hand. Good times."  Julian began. "Well, when I was over in Metropolis, I had a few days to go through my.. Uh, Dad's stuff. And he had a design that set my mind in motion." sounds could be heard of him digging through his backpack.

"I made something for you in the Lexcorp lab. I think you'll like it, pal." Julian explained, waiting for Kyle to get done so he could reveal his surprise. 

Kyle tugged on a new set of clothes and emerged still towel drying his hair. "[color=004b80]Do you always have to bring up the hand?[/color]" He groused, not all that upset about it anymore, but still going through the old routine. 

However he quickly changed the topic when he spotted the items now lying on his bed. His black eyes widened.

"[color=004b80]What are those?[/color]" He asked inching closer, but not daring to touch.

Julian smiled. "I believe that was a vine-trend quite some time ago." he remarked, before turning his attention back at Kyle's question. "These? These are new gadgets I made, or modified from my father's old arsenal. I also found a whole power-armor, it was pretty cool, but I couldn't really fit that in my backpack." Julian began. digging into his backpack. "I unpacked to show off, but also to get to your gift." Julian said, pulling out a plastic bag, like the kind you'd get from clothes stores, and handed it to Kyle. "Put it on." Julian said, nodding at the shirt Kyle held in his hand now. 

Kyle stared at the shirt in his hands. Then back up at Julian. Then back down to the shirt. The finally back up to Julian.

"[color=004b80]Um, what is it?[/color]" Kyle hesitated to touch it outside of it's safe wrapping. Was there something in it he could ruin? Knowing Julian there was bound to be come electrical component in it somewhere. "[color=004b80]And are you sure it's okay? Because I'm not.[/color]"

"I'm sure. It's got no technology in it. It's all non-electric. Your powers won't interfere - quite the opposite, in fact. Put it on and you'll understand." Julian promised with a smile, his confidence near overwhelming.

With a skeptic look at Julian, Kyle tore open the plastic and carefully extracted the shirt. When nothing terrible happened the teen grew a little more confident, stripped off his old shirt and replaced it with the new one. It was a snug fit but not tight. Kyle wasn't quite sure about it, but it was a nice look and had the long sleeves that were an absolute must.

There was no understanding on Kyle's part. But admitting that to Julian wasn't something he wanted to do. The genius the older teen exhibited always daunted Kyle. And Julian wasn't someone he wanted to let down. He let himself run a hand over it, feeling the texture, but still not getting it.

"[color=004b80]It's,[/color]" Kyle hesitated. "[color=004b80]Nice?[/color]" He wasn't sure quite what to say. Julian grinned, seeing the look of hesitation, then confusion on Kyle's face, but the younger teen quickly changed his facial expression, probably didn't want to let Julian know he was confused. Luthor understood the sense of pride Kyle had, and didn't call him on it.

Julian smirked. " You don't feel different, huh?" Julian asked, taking a step forward towards Kyle. Making sure that Kyle didn't have time to react, Julian threw his left hand - one still made out of flesh, into Kyle's right arm, to shake his hand. Much to his delight, Julian did not end on the floor in a seizure. Their skin touching only for a second, before Julian pulled away. "Holy crap it worked!" Julian said, putting his head down to take a relieved sigh. "I'm sure you're confused - but the shirt absorbs the bio-electricity your body generates - well, most of it, at leas -" Getting stopped by Kyle.

"[color=004b80]It worked?![/color]" Kyle nearly screeched, his brain processing the fact that for the second time this day he had full on skin contact with someone. Made worse by the fact the first one ended up having a freaking seizure!

"[color=004b80]What do you mean it worked?![/color]" Kyle continued. "[color=004b80]What the hell were you thinking? I could have seriously hurt you and you didn't know if it WORKED?![/color]" He emphasized the last word by nearly yelling it.

Kyle couldn't take much more of this. The teen sat down on the ground hard and focused on breathing. Breathing was good. And simple and he didn't have to think about the fact his only friend in the entire world was trying to get himself killed. Suicide by Kyle.

A muffled hysterical laugh/sob escaped Kyle before he could stop it. 

Julian began chuckling when Kyle started questioning what he meant. Julian sat down on the other end of the bed to Kyle, smirking. "Well, first off, am I a genius, or what?" He asked, with a brief laugh. "Secondly, like I said, it absorbs the bio-electricity you generate. The shirt hinders your skin from sending out the electrical impulses that well - messes up just about everything - people included. " Julian began "But, I haven't tested it enough, couldn't do that at Lexcorp, so I wouldn't suggest you start hugging people just yet. But the shirt should prevent you from zapping someone if they graze you. Extended exposure to you might still hurt someone." Julian said, a grin on his face, when he saw Kyle start to laugh, and sob at the same time. "But dude. I  now know that my idea works. I'll make it better as soon as I can. Consider this training wheels, and I'll make better ones for you till you can control it on your own." Julian promised Kyle, smiling as he did.

Having Julian laugh off Kyle's fears, didn't quite make the teen feel better. However the reasoning behind it was a slight balm. And since he was focused on breathing, he couldn't interrupt and listened to the entire spiel.

When Julian was finished Kyle gave him a reproachful look. [i][color=004b80]Where were you earlier?[/color][/i] He couldn't help but ask mulishly, if only in his head, his mind replaying Blondie twitching on the ground. But it wasn't fair so he didn't say it. 

Then Kyle sighed and sagged into himself, trying to let the anger go and focus on what Julian had done for him. 

"[color=004b80]How long's extended?[/color]" Kyle was trying to be happy, he was. He just couldn't wrap his brain around the fact that he could touch someone without harming them. It was too foreign a concept.

Julian smirked, but his smirk was washed off when Kyle asked his question. "Well, I can't know for certain. But after school, we could head into the tech wing, I'll borrow Carter's lab, and we should be able to run a few tests. I  sadly don't think you can have contact for more than a few seconds. But, like I said. I'll build something better, now that I know this works." His tone was cheerful, almost happy. He was happy for helping Kyle, but Julian's mood was still not the best.

Anyway. "Wanna head to A.R.C? I heard Stewart's in charge today. Don't want him to send us to Green Lantern Boot Camp."