xp_logs | Midafternoon Tuesday, Alex and Shiro

Shiro comes home from classes to Alex watching ESPN. They chichat a bit about a few things but in the end, Alex finds something to do at the mention and Shiro gets him to actally smile for the first time in a long while.

Alex sank deeper into the couch as he scrolled through channels on the TV. In Hawaii, he would have died for this much free time to go surfing, but here, at the mansion...he had too much time to think. And TV in the middle of the day just plain sucked. Sighing, he settled on ESPN highlights from last weekends college games and resisted the urge to close his eyes.

"I swear, I can speak English better than those morons who supposedly teach the language." Shiro was home. He dropped his bag on the floor and collapsed onto his bed. "Just because they are American does not qualify them to teach their bastardized language. Hi, Alex," he added.

To lazy to move, Alex hung his head over the side of the couch, regarding his best friend upside down. "Hey. Bad day in English class? And why are you taking in English in college anyway...didn't you take it here?"

"I am required to take a writing class," replied Shiro, desperately wishing for a manifestation of telekinesis so he could grab a box of Pocky out from under his bed. "College is dumb, by the way."

"Ick I'm sorry." Blood rushing to the head was not a good feeling so Alex turned around on the seat so he could lean his arms on the back of the couch. "Hey! I happened to like college."

"Oh, I enjoy it too," Shiro clarified, "When I am doing the art stuff, ne? You know, the courses I actually want to take. General education requirements are evil, a plot from the man to keep the poor college student down."

Now that made Alex nod. "Tell me about. General Chemistry was kicking my ass before I had to leave. I'm partially glad I have to start over next semester,"

"Well, that could be because chemistry is an Evil all to itself." Oh, science. Shiro couldn't articulate how relieved he was to not have to study that. Not that he did poorly in high school, but he couldn't care less how things worked as long as they did. He'd rather spend his time actually doing something worthwhile and create.

Again Alex nodded. "I think I'm going to get hank to give me a crash course while I'm here. Physics too. But it's stuff I gotta know if I want to go play with the volcanoes." He rested his head on his arms, cracking a small smile. "I just hope it's all worth it...and I get to go back."

"Of course you will," Shiro said, flailing his arms in a futile effort to find Pocky. "We are on her trail, you know." Sort of, at least. "You two will be back in Hawaii in no time." The way he said it, one might even think that Shiro believed it.

"Yeah..." Both Alex's voice and demeanor got quieter. "I hope so. I just want this nightmare to be over. All this varying stages of not knowing is killing me." He looked down at the carpet, biting the inside of his cheek.

Shiro finally gave up and crawled on his bed so he could lean over the side and grab his snack. He opened the box and tossed a package to Alex. "I do not know what to tell you, my friend. We always seem to come out of situations like these, not much worse for the wear, so I believe that a satisfactory ending is attainable." But who knew what the cost would be?

Alex caught it without looking, his gaze still on the carpet. "Yeah." There was silence for a few long moments before he spoke again. "Still sucks." Then he finally looked up at Shiro through his bangs. "Why can't things just stay not sucky around here?" Yes he was using the vocabulary of an eight year old but he didn't care. It fit how he felt.

"Because when you place people like us in close vicinity, we become a black hole from which no super villain plot of evil can escape?" Shiro offered. "It is the life we lead as mutants."

Alex rolled his eyes but busied himself by taking a bite of Pocky. "That sounds like a bad comic book. Maybe you should start one, see how many people actually believe it's true."

"We live in a house with a team of super heroes. Life is bound to be like bad manga." Shiro stuffed a couple of sticks into his mouth and pondered. "At least neither of us have died and then come back to life inexplicably just because we were missed."

Groaning, Alex rubbed his temples. "Can we not talk about Jean please? Have they announced their re-engagement here yet? Or was I the only one to get that glorious news?"

"Not publicly, but you know how gossip spreads around here." Shiro
shrugged. He liked Mr. Summers and he liked Dr. Grey, so he had no
issue with their engagement. A shame that Alex didn't feel that way,
too. "I assume that you are less than thrilled."

"Something like that." Alex was staring at the wall, a far off look in
his eyes. "I'm glad he's happy...I just wish it wasn't her..."

Shiro just nodded. He'd grown used to Alex's obstinacy about his
brother and his fiancée. "What are you going to do for the rest of the
term?" he asked, changing the subject.

Alex smiled his appreciation at the subject change and took another
bite of Pocky. "I don't know. I e-mailed the staff to see if anyone
needs help with anything...." He shrugged again. "I'm waiting to hear
back, but till then. Don't know."

"Leyu-chan would love for you to teach her physical education class
again, I've not doubt," Shiro said, grinning. Leyu had been beside
herself with giddiness when Alex had returned.

Now his smile turned more genuine. "I did enjoy that alot. Will have
to see if I could again, but I'm sure all the equipment is in the same
storage closet I left it in...." He got a thoughtful look on his face
as he thought about all the things he hadn't gotten to do last time he
had taught it....

"She has already befriended all of the new young children," said
Shiro, trying to make the option even more tantalizing. "Your class
would be full. You would hardly have any time to think."

"Have her friends got out of the cootie stage yet?" He laughed before
he continued. "I hope not. I don't want her crush to spread. That's
the last thing I need is a bunch of little female squibs attached to
me while I'm trying to teach them how to play soccer." Still grinning
Alex nodded his head. "You know what, I would love to do that again.
I'll talk to the professor about it but I doubt there would be a
problem....this is awesome!"

"I think that you are the exception to cooties. If Leyu-chan clings to
you, then the other girls will follow suit." Shiro smiled. Not just at
the mental image of Alex drowning in a sea of infatuated little girls,
but because Alex was smiling. If Shiro could make him do that, then he
knew there was still hope for Alex.

Alex laughed heartily again, having to wipe the beginning of a tear
from his eyes. "It's the hair isn't it? Or is it the way I talk? Why
do 8 year olds find me so attractive anyway?" he paused to take a deep
breath. "Then again, maybe I don't wanna know." The customary sparkle
was back in his eye as it had been missing since he'd realized Lorna
wasn't in California. "Thanks man."

"You have minions, Alex. Little tiny energetic minions who will do
anything you ask if you just smile at them." A knot in his chest that
he hadn't realized was there loosened when Shiro saw Alex's genuine
smile. His Alex was back, even if just for a little while.