Thursday, about 1 pm

[x-polarisstar.livejournal.com]

Alex gets fed up with the world at large and declares it non-computer time in Suite Summers-Dane.



Growling softly to himself, Alex signed off his laptop and went into the living room where Lorna was typing on her own. He let her finish the response she was working on, then leaned over from behind and snapped it shut. "I think that's enough...anymore and I'm going to go out and find Manuel and blast him into the next county."

Lorna jumped and looked up at him, eyes wide. "He's fine. He's just saying what should be said." She started to lift the lid again but Alex's hand pressed firmly down on it. She took a moment to register the anger on his face and sat back from the screen. She wasn't used to this much emotion from him, particularly toward friends. "Alex, it's all right. I swear. I have to get used to this."

"No it's not alright. None of this is your fault. They have no right to say those things, especially Manuel. I guess tact was too much to expect." Since he was standing behind her chair, her wrapped his other arm around Lorna's shoulders, hugging her close to help calm himself.

Lorna sighed and reached up to rest her hands on his then slid off the chair, turning in his arms and leaning into his chest. With her head on his shoulder, she hugged him tightly. "I don't expect anyone to understand. The ones who are just accepting are the ones who worry me most."

Alex sighed softly, he hugged her close. "Why? Why won't you just accept that we are not going to blame you for what Malice did with your body?" He closed his eyes and added softly, "Does that mean you worry about me?"

"I worry that you're all going to start listening to me when I tell you that she was just a program and it's still my fault," she mumbled into his neck, as always these days, fitting herself as close to him as possible. "Then you'll all realise I'm not a good person and you'll walk away."

Sighing softly, Alex wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling his head into her neck as he had numerous times in the past few days to calm both her and himself. "I would never walk away from you...ever. And neither will most everybody here and we will tell you until you believe it."

"Everyone is so certain that it wasn't my fault. But how can they know? She couldn't have done it without me." It was a common question, one she couldn't help asking over and over again, desperate for some kind of answer that would make it all make sense.

"Magneto could have picked anyone to be in that collar to get the same results. Unfortunately, he picked you." He sighed and kissed her the top of her head, rubbing her back gently.

"He picked me for a reason. He went to a lot of trouble to get me and now that I'm back I don't know if he didn't make the right choice. No one else who's gone to him has done so well." She made a face and hugged him tighter, "Relatively speaking."

"But he had help with you. He needed Malice to control you and you had a power he understood and could easily manipulate." Alex sighed softly as she squeezed tighter and responded in kind. "Yes you were probably the best choice for him...but that still doesn't put any blame on you. No one can blame you just because you happen to have the same power as him, it's just a cruel twist of nature."

"It's not a trick of fate, Alex. It's blood." Lorna said softly, "He's my father. He had DNA tests to prove it."

Alex shook his head. They'd been over this already and he really didn't want to get into how DNA tests could be faked again. "Enough of this. You were doing so well and I will not let some idiots bring you down...what can I do to cheer you up?"

She clung to him, part of her needing nothing more than to stand here with him, safe and loved. But the rest of her needed something to focus on. Anything that wasn't the mess she was in. "I think...I want to bake something."

"How about, you bake us something and I'll make some hot chocolate. Then we can curl up on the couch...how does that sound?" He leaned back so he could look down at her.

She nodded and hugged him again, reluctant to let go. "That sounds good. Nathan was going to come by after classes. I should put some coffee on too."

Sighing and mentally still cursing at various mansion dwellers in his head, Alex wrapped his arm around her waist. "Alright. come on...let's get cracking so we can some quality snuggling in before Nathan shows up."

Before she let him go entirely, Lorna made sure to give him a soft kiss as if reminding herself he was really there. "I think that sounds like the perfect plan. I'll even put in extra chocolate chips this time."

Pulling her back, Alex pulled her in for a proper kiss. "I love you and no Malice or Magneto is going to change that..."