xp_logs | Angelo and Paige talk...

Like most of the other students, Paige had received the call to meet Xavier down in the library. She had no great desire to go; knew that it consisted merely of him using his reassuring voice while telling them that everything was going to be okay. She really didn't know if she could deal with the reassuring voice right now, but made her way downstairs anyway.

Angelo was already in the library, having answered the call in order to ask the Professor exactly what was going on, and also suspecting that some help might be needed with the younger children. He had been proved right almost as soon as he arrived, when Illyana had latched onto his leg and refused to let go. Looking around, he saw that none of the older students had yet arrived, nodded a greeting to the Professor, and set about trying to prise Illyana off so he could sit down.

The room was nearly empty when she arrived and for this she was very grateful. It gave her the opportunity to slip in and out just like she had planned. She gently rested a hand on the Professor's shoulder, their eyes meeting making it obvious of the unheard conversation that was going on in her head, before drawing her hand away and making to leave.

It was Angelo that made her pause and she offered him a quick smile, trying to reassure herself as much as she was reassuring him.

Angelo finally managed to get Illyana to let go of his leg and sat down, only for the little girl to crawl into his lap and cling. Accepting this, he looked up to see if anyone else had arrived in the meantime, and saw Paige. He returned her smile.

The sight of Angelo and Illyana brought a surge of warmth, something easily identified, and instantly making her sick to her stomach. She took a deep breath, fighting the urge to flee immediately and mouthed words at Angelo, mindful of the listening girl. "Are you okay?"

Angelo frowned slightly, concerned for her. He mouthed back, over Illyana's head: "Yes. Are *you*?"

Paige couldn't lie to him, never could, at least not in words, and so just shook her head a little and smiled some more. It was all she could do.

Angelo shot her a look, unconvinced by her smile. He picked Illyana up bodily and carried her over to Artie, whispering to her as they went. She nodded, let go of his arm, allowing him to put her down next to the boy, and promptly grabbed Artie's hand instead. Then Angelo walked over to Paige so they could talk properly.

"Hi," she said quietly, so contrasting to the white of her teeth.

"Hi", he answered. "Now, tell me the truth. Are you OK?"

"No." It was a simple reply but she could offer no more. "I just want them to be safe now."

Angelo smiled sadly. "Don't we all? I still don't really understand how this happened..."

"I don't want to understand. Who would do such a thing, Angelo? And why?" She tried not to shake; crossing her arms across her chest but couldn't get the terrified look to fade.

Angelo reached instinctively to comfort her, then changed his mind halfway and dropped his hand. "I don't know who. But you have to know by now that mutants aren't the most popular..."

"Yes, I'm not quite that naive." It was so much easier to be angry than to hurt. She softened and gently chucked his shoulder. "I know. I just... I just want them home."

"I know. So does everyone. But they'll get them back, I'm sure of it."

Paige tried to look calm, but the opening of the library door sent her back into her jittery, terrified state. She jumped, eyes snapping over to recognize a fellow student before realising exactly what she'd done. "I should go," she said in a forced even voice. "I'm not doing anyone any good by being here."

"But will you be doing yourself any good by being alone?" Angelo asked softly.

"I don't matter in this grand scheme of things, Angel. The team matters." Her look was solid as was her stance. "I'll be fine."

Angelo looked at her evenly. "'The team'? You're talking like an X-Man, Paige. We're not - we're supposed to be just students. It's OK to worry about yourself."

"We'll never be 'just students'. We're mutants," she answered smoothly. "If I worry about myself, I do it with myself."

"That's not quite what I meant. It's OK to need a friend, especially at times like this... And you think I don't know what difference being a mutant makes? But that doesn't mean we shouldn't *try* to be "just students", especially here."

Paige looked past him to Illyana, holding back a sigh. "She needs you more than I do. They all do. I'm stronger than you give me credit for."

Angelo followed her gaze, to where Illyana was absorbed in the Professor's reading of "The Hobbit". "She doesn't really know what's going on. Although when I find out who told her about the robots, we'll be having words. She's scared for her brother, but she'll be OK. It's worse for those of us who understand."

"Maybe." She seemed unwilling to look at him, just in case she broke down again. Instead, she made to leave, turning. "I should really go."

Without thinking, Angelo caught her arm to stop her. Realizing what he'd done, he let go almost immediately, not meeting her eyes. "Stay. The kids need all the reassurance they can get, even if you won't admit that you do."

Paige swallowed hard against the bile rising in her throat, backing away. She cradled her arm, eyes wide. "I'll come back when there's news. Professor said he'd update me. You'll be fine, Angelo, just fine. The kids need you. I'll be back."

Angelo watched her back away, wishing he didn't understand why, but knowing he did. "Fine", he said curtly, trying to hide his emotion. "Guess I'll see you later, then."

"You will. See you later." She nodded and tried to smile. She knew that look and his short words stung. She wanted to hold him, and hurt just wanting it. Why did this all have to hurt so much? Taking one more step back, far enough away that she knew she couldn't touch him even if she tried, she turned and exited the room.

(ETA: Illyanamun, sorry about the extensive sockpuppeting. Hope you don't mind, and if there's anything you want changed, just say.)