What Lies Below, tag;; Noah

Julian had been trying to avoid spending too much time at the bars and clubs lately now that his father was suddenly taking an interest in what he was doing. He was sure it was only because Owen was in town and Gabe was just waiting for Julian to mess up so that he could hand the family over to his ginger cousin. The two cousin had never really interacted yet aside from the family gatherings. The fact that Owen hadn't tried to befriend him when he arrived was suspicious enough for Julian. It had made Julian think that his cousin was up to something.

So it was times like these that Julian was glad that he had friends who were computer geniuses. Noah, especially, had help Julian find a way to spy on his cousin. Only to see what kind of things he was planning. Julian was more interested to see if his father was talking to Owen about taking over for him. It wouldn't surprise Julian, though he did think that Arran was on his side and probably Jonah too. Not that it would matter, he doubted anyone would go against his father.

It was strange for him to be staying around the house instead of going out and partying to all nights. At least he hadn't given up all ties to his former life, he still enjoyed racing both the betting aspect and the actual racing aspect. There was also the fact that after being shot at during Bates' speech and having his aunt end up in the hospital, Julian was a little wary of going out. Especially since he got a letter saying his own father was behind it. He couldn't help but wonder if one of those bullets wasn't meant for him, just to get him out of the way.

Until he figured out if his father actually did have it out for him, Julian was spending the majority of his time working on his cars. Currently, he was checking the brakes on his racing car, just to make sure that they hadn't been tampered with. Everyone would buy a racing accident after all. Was Legion just trying to turn everyone against the families or had his father and Cathleen Romanov really been the ones to to fire on the crowd?

Noah walked silently into the garage seeing Julian's physique crouched to meet the wheel-less rotor of his racing car. Noah chuckled to himself; it was weird seeing his friend rousing a dead party to full pulsating vitality. Noah scratched the side of his standing behind Julian seeing if he would notice is presence. Julian didn’t seem to fixated on the brakes more on his own thoughts. Noah slipped his hands in his pockets looking about the extensive garage, he tilted back on his heels, just waiting and waiting.

Noah raised his eyes brows as if saying “Oookay” he slipped his out of his pocket and reached into the inside of his friends car. With a suspenseful, silent pause he pressed the horn of the car the loud blaring noise exploding all over the garage. Noah winced looking to Julian with one eye open as he flashed that killer smile before laughing as he let go of the horn standing up. Sporting a white polo, jeans, and white loafers, Noah looked like something out of a catalogue.

“Hahaha! Hey Julian!”

Noah, of course, had a few of things to report on Owen, nothing major so far the kid was quiet about his comings and goings and what he was doing. Noah wasn’t a P.I. mainly tracking Owen’s transactions and messages seeing as the kid lived on his phone and credit cards.

“Dude…you got the garage open and you’re in la la land..anyone could came in here and do lord knows what. Maybe your lady friends could’ve came and taken advantage of you.”

Noah leaned against the car lightly crossing his arms.

“What are you doing anyway bro? You keep your car in pristine condition why are you checking the brakes? Trying to keep yourself occupied at home so the old man isn’t on your case?”

Julian really couldn't tell if he actually believe that his father would want to kill him. Sure he had always made his father out to be some sort of monster and Julian had seen what had happened to his mother, but to think his father would actually deliberately try to kill him and kill over a dozen others to cover it up... It was just a little hard for him to wrap his mind around. Following the attack, Julian had been convinced that Legion had been behind the attack, but now he just couldn't make up his mind.

Suddenly the horn of his car was blaring, making Julian jump about ten feet away from it as he let out a short yell. Shaking his head when he saw the culprit. "Geez No', you ever think of just saying hi," he responded with a laugh once he finally caught his breath. "And I know, just think anyone could have come in here and yet I ended up with you. Clearly I don't have very good luck. So what brings you here anyway? Figured you'd be out telling all the girls you invented the internet or whatever pickup line you use these days." He flashed his friend one of his signature grins, before wiping the grease that was on his hands to the pair of jeans that he was wearing.

Julian laughed lightly as he shook his head, "When isn't he on my case. I'm sure my car hobby pisses him off as much as any other thing I do." Sure he and his father had had something of a heart to heart the other day, or at least as close as the two of them could get. It didn't mean Julian was actually naive enough to think that Gabriel thought any better of him now though. "But you know, you can never be too careful," he added with a nod at the car. "You heard about Speaker's Corner right?" Who hadn't heard about it. It was all that was over the news when it happened.

Noah grinned, laughing as Julian jumped away from the car as if it bit him.

"I did say hi, well I said hey. Same thing. And what's wrong with me. I think you're luck is fine, I'm such a stud."

Noah flexed and blowing on his biceps as if they were barrels of guns.

"Who wouldn't buy tickets to the gun show?"

He lowered his arms grinning knowing Julian knew he was only kidding. Noah felt Julian was more the charmer then he was.

"You know girls don't fall for the 'I invented the net' line. They…just like…you know...thought the internet was always like there.'"

He mimicked the airhead girls they always seemed to run hanging his hand and throwing back his imaginary long hair. He laughed at his caricature watching as Julian wiped grease on his jeans.

"At least you're old man is paying attention to you."

Noah had told Julian about how if father was in his past and tried to get Julian to appreciate the presence of his father. Noah leaned off the car joining Julian looking to the corner his eyebrows ruffled in confusion.

"Yeah who hasn't heard about Speaker's Corner? What about it?"

Noah was concerned about how the subject changed. First they were talking about Julian's dad, girls, and cars only to move on to Speaker's Corner.

"And what's that got to do with the car?"

Noah nodded at the car like Julian did a slight grin forming on his lips before fading away. Julian seemed serious and Noah recalled him being so deep in thought that he didn't notice his entrace.

"Hey, man. What's going on?"

Noah was starting to worry. First the computer, the letter, and now Julian was acting strange. It all seemed to much to be a simple coicidence, something was going on but what? Noah had a feeling that they were all connected but how were they? He stared at the car contemplating over it all looking to Julian.

Julian shook his head with a laugh as Noah began flexing, "You're right, what am I thinking. How fun is some hot chick compared to you?" Now that Julian's heart was finally calming down, he had to admit that he was actually glad that Noah was here, even if he had almost given him a heart attack.

He had to laugh when Noah imitated some of the girls that they had met in their nights out. "We really need to find some smarter places to spend our nights at. If I have to listen to one more girl yell every time she does I shot..." He paused trying to think of something really dramatic to do, "Well, I'll do something and you can bet it won't be good."

Noah had always tried to get him to appreciate the fact that his father was taking an interest in him. Sure it was only twenty-eight years too late in Julian's mind, but Noah seemed to think that it was better late than never. "You know, he actually was interested in me the other day. He came and found me in the bar in Buckingham Palace. I think he was trying to get me to leave so he could put Owen in charge. But at least he's taking an interest right?" Of course, now Julian was concerned that his father was trying to kill him, so that had something to do with why Julian was sure that Gabriel had been trying to get him to give up his claim.

"Well I was there and my cousin was shot, she was standing right next to me. I thought it was Legion, but then I got this letter," he spoke quickly as he pulled the letter from his pocket. "It says that my father and the Romanov woman were behind the shootings. I just wonder if, well, that bullet wasn't meant for me."

"Hot dicks are like hot chicks."

No' slapped his knee in sarcastic, over-exaggerated laughing before laughing genuinely throwing up his hands in defeat.

"I just made it up bro."

Noah grinned stuffing his hands in his pockets looking to Julian as he commented on finding smarter places to spend their nights. He chuckled at the lack of Julian's wit on the consequences of a girl yelling over a shot.

"You always choose the wimpiest girls."

No' was always along for the ride but he never had the balls to be approachable like Julian was. He stood next to Julian and elbowed him as Julian mentioned his father but shook his head at the Owen sentiment.

"I don't think you're going to be replaced by Owen, but yeah it's good your old man is interested. Owen's spent the last few days in Scotland, texting a certain girlfriend, and I just found out he booked a Bed & Breakfast in Sutton. I don't even think Owen's out to replace you bro."

No' took in a breath and covered his mouth as Julian revealed the same parchment letter from the Legion. What the hell was going on? No' lowered his head rubbing his forehead looking to Julian.

"It says that your old man and Cathleen Romanov were behind the Speakers' Corner incident? No way. And you believe it? You really think your old man has it out for you Julian?"

No' scratched his head and paced about, he wasn't sure how to take what was going on. He rubbed the back of his neck looking to Julian.

"I got one too."

"Yeah, I didn't think that was the new phrase. Or is that going to be your new catchphrase" He let out a long laugh. Joking around with Noah was helping Julian to relax more and keep his mind off everything that had happened. It felt good to be able to laugh.

Julian shrugged slightly, a mischievous grin forming on his face. "Well, they're normally the easiest. My eardrums just have to pay for it. Besides it's not like I can mesmerize them with big fancy computer words." He had always felt like Noah had it easier when it came to girls. Julian was so well known that most girls thought of him simply as a playboy. Noah didn't seem to have that stigma. At least not yet anyway. It was part of the reason that sometimes when he went out, Julian would go by his middle name. Just so people didn't recognize him as easily.

He over exaggerated a wince when Noah elbowed him as he talked about his father. But what Noah said next caught his attention. Owen was at a Bed & Breakfast in Sutton? With a girl? The only reason he would be going so far away was because he didn't want anyone to know. "The girl wouldn't happen to be Bianca?" It had to be. So it really was true that Owen was hung up on a Chevalier.

Julian noticed Noah's reaction to the note. It was a odd note to begin with. "You're right. It stupid. Even my father's not that cold. Well, he can't exactly afford to be killing off sons." Sure he'd only had two of his wives killed. He watched as Noah paced about the room, he seemed on edge suddenly. "A note from Legion? What did it say?" Was everyone getting these letters?

"I don't think that would be a great catch phrase to mesmerize the ladies and I might get the attention of some musclehead named Jojo."

Noah grinned at Julian. Noah was glad to make his friend laugh let him feel more at ease and relaxed then all tense and brooding. With all the family business going he could see why Julian would rather party it up than stress with family issues.

"Yeah too bad the whole computer schpeel only works on someone like Sara."

Noah laughed, he knew for a fact Julian got further with women than Noah did. He was always the nice guy not the "it" guy the "Julians" of the world. He always got that comment "Oooh you're so nice." he felt if he heard that one more time he'd shoot himself in the head.

"The girl or whoever he is with is unknown, only he registered."

Noah nodded and shrugged off the ordeal. Julian did not have to worry about Owen.

"Ya know, it might not be a bad idea for you to try to get along with Owen. He'd probably tell you himself if you guys were closer. I mean isn't he on the outs with his old man like you are?"

Noah looked to Julian as he justified his father's involvement or lack thereof in the shooting. Noah noddedin agreement and seemingly froze when Julian asked him about the letter. Noah reached in his pocket and pulled out the letter handing it to Julian.

"Dude..it's like something out of a movie or something. And they did this weird...thing...with my computer the other night. It was freaky!"

Noah's eyes were wide with excitement as he explained the ordeal. He wasn't sure how to take it. He was beginning to believe that everyone was getting letters from the Legion. But why?

"Hey if that's what you're into," he countered with a grin. Since deciding to actually try and learn how to run the family business, this was one of the things that Julian really missed. Doing nothing but joking around with his friends as if they didn't have any thing else to worry about. "Yeah, and its too bad Sara's already taken, you two would have made a great match. Though I don't know how Sam would have felt about that." Noah and Sara were both super computer savvy. Julian barely understood two words when those two started talking.

Julian nodded, he was sure it was Bianca. Why else would Owen go so far out of town, if he wasn't trying to hide who he was seeing. And though Julian didn't really know the guy, he didn't exactly seem like the bed and breakfast type. "I don't know why he hates his dad so much, Arran actually seems cool." The thought crossed his mind that Owen might actually say that about Gabriel. "Still I guess its not a bad idea. What is it they say? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer?"

He read over the letter that Noah handed him, this was just too weird. It seemed like they knew everything about everyone. But how? And what did they want? Aside from the death of all the families. "They did something with your computer? I didn't think anyone could get into that thing." This was getting stranger and stranger by the second. Noah was the best with computers that he knew, if Legion could get into his, then they could get into anyone's. Maybe thats how they seemed to know about everyone. So did that mean they were telling the truth about his father?

No' punched Julian in the shoulder playfully, "No! So not into that." He grinned. No' had to admit that hanging with Julian took his mind off his troubles even though they lingered not too far away. "Duuude low blow." He commented on Julian's remark about Sara. He liked Sara a lot but she was taken and Sam was one of his good friends. "Besides bro, I had an interesting run-in with Maelie." His grin widened.

"I think if anything Owen's old man doesn't get Owen. I mean come on, he lost his mom and then his dad married his sister-in-law." No' shrugged as if it should be obvious that Owen and Julian are somewhat alike in that aspect. "You should probably talk to him and get me out of the espionage business." He nudged Julian with his elbow.

No' shook his head shoving the letter back in his pocket. It was weird. He didn't get it. What would the Legion want with him? He shook his head again. "Bro! They hacked my computer and put messages on it. Horatio couldn't find anything in IT." No' grumbled and slumped against the car defeated.

Julian raised an eyebrow at his friend, "Yeah, what kind of interesting run-in?" Were Maelie and No' suddenly going to become a couple. She wasn't exactly the type of girl that he thought Noah would fall for, she didn't quite seem to be up there on Noah's intellectual scale. But hey, it wasn't like it had to be anything serious. It wasn't like Julian had ever tried to make any of his flings serious.

Deep down, Julian knew that he and Owen were probably more alike than either of them wanted to admit. He just couldn't trust his cousin. Especially since he kept trying to date a Chevalier, and not just any of them. But the daughter of the family head. It was like he was trying to reenact Romeo and Juliet. Apparently Owen had never finished that book. "Yeah, but at least his dad hadn't been such an ass to his mum." That was probably one of the biggest things standing between Julian and his father finally reconciling.

"Oh? But you seem so well suited for espionage," he said with slight chuckle. He had always known that it wasn't Noah's thing, that he was only doing it because Julian asked him to. Still it seemed easier than actually talking to Owen. "I don't know, what am I supposed to say? 'How's sleeping with the enemy going?'"

It seemed Legion was more powerful than anyone in his family seemed to want to let on. Especially if they could hack into Noah's computer without him being able to find anything. "What do you think they want with everyone?" Did they know that Julian had once considered trying to join up with them?

Noah smirked at Julian, "She's just interesting." He did have to admit that Mae wasn't exactly on his level intellectually but her innocence had intrigued. Maybe that's what it was. She seemed untainted. He shrugged he didn't want to read to much into.

No' looked to Julian as he contemplated his comment about Owen. The way things were going Owen and Julian could probably be powerful allies if anything, especially if he was dating the Chevalier girl.

He laughed at Julian's comment about him being well suited for espionage.

"It must be my good looks and charm."

No' looked to Julian as he mentioned him not being sure how to approach Owen.

"How's sleeping with the enemy going? Great ice breaker."

Noah laughed he could only imagine the reaction Julian would get with such an opener. He shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know man. It wouldn't hurt to try get on some common ground. If he is for a fact dating this Chevalier girl that means he's not out for you right?"

Noah lowered his eyes thinking of the Legion. He wanted to know more about them but how?

"I'm not sure what they want...I just want to know why."