Scott and Tommy, Scott and Alex

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

Scott stops down to see Tommy and tell him that he can expect a new roommate. There are productive bits in the conversation, but Scott also lays down the law. Tommy's not entirely receptive.


"Laptop working okay?" Scott asked, standing in the doorway of the medlab room.

Said laptop was sitting closed on the bedside table as Tommy had gone back to more traditional amusement. Having finished "!984," he had moved onto Twain's writings of Huck Finn. He looked up, not so startled by his second visitor of the day and frowned slightly. "Summers, right? I though you had glasses?" His voice was flat and emotion less, as was the norm lately

"I did," Scott said with perfect aplomb. "Then I was helping the National Guard control a riot and someone threw a Molotov cocktail at my head. Now I don't need the glasses." He stayed in the doorway, watching the boy.

Uncurling himself from his protective position, he streched slightly before standing to meet the man. Tommy refused to back down anymore. "Fortunate accident for you then. As one who suffered an unforunate one, I envy you." It was purely conversational, nothing threatening but coldy polite. "May I ask why you are here?"

"A few things. Firstly, I wanted to reassure you that the two people who assaulted you have been punished, and it's been made very clear to the student body that no one is to emulate their very bad example. Given that such tactics are more suited to the Friends of Humanity than responsible and compassionate human beings." He had toyed with the idea of going soft, here, given what had happened, but had discarded it almost immediately. Soft was not appropriate. Calm and firm was what was necessary. Kyle had had a point. Tommy needed to know what was inappropriate just as much as the other students did.

Tommy nodded, his gaze moving past Scott to the wall. He fought back the urge to bite out how he doubted anything would have been done if he hadn't tried to kill himself, but he stayed silent. He was going to keep that promise to Dr. Grey and try to have faith. Even with the jab to his former life. "You have my word sir, I have no intention of hunting out young ones to beat for fun." Oops, well, that defensive jab got out.

"Excellent. Some bad habits should be broken as soon as humanly possible." Scott took a step or two into the room, then leaned back against the wall, his arms folded across his chest. "Jean suggested, and I agreed, that we made the wrong choice in assigning you to a suite alone. Once he can get his things together and move, you're going to have a roommate."

Now that made him raise an eyebrow. "And which unforunate soul did you draft for that position, as I doubt you had a line of volunteers..." His stomach began to not at the thought of sharing close quarters with a mutant, but what made Tommy sick was he couldn't tell if it was hate or fright.

"I asked," Scott said, his voice very slightly sharp, "one trustworthy older student, who slept on it, and then agreed. I believe you've met Shiro. He attends college in the city, and lives here with his sister Leyu."

"Have I?" Ahh right, the Japanese siblings he came across on the way back from physio that day. One of the few people he had encountered who hadn't attacked him on sight. "Right, he seemed decent enough." What choice did he have anyway?

"He'll be there for a number of reasons," Scott went on inexorably. "Firstly, to give you someone to talk to. I think we've established that would be a good thing, and Shiro happens to be something of an expert when it comes to culture shock. He'll also prevent any further incidents like the two this past week, in case anyone doesn't quite get the point."

Tommy just nodded. What more could he say to that though the thought of a bodyguard, or was it babysitter, was a bit condescending. He couldn't wait untill he was physically back to his former self. Though he did have a question, "If I might ask, how did he get over his shock? I assumed it wasn't by beating such as I..."

"He kept his eyes and his mind open. He made friends. The customary and non-violent way of adapting to a new situation. He didn't do it overnight, and like all of us, he still has his moments of backsliding. But he will understand, possibly more than you think," Scott said, thinking of last summer and that explosion over the Atlantic. But that was Shiro's story to share, if he chose.

Finally looking back at Scott to see what looked to be, to him anyway, sincerity in the man's business-like expression, Tommy nodded again, this time with a defeated sigh. "So your telling me there is hope, is that it?"

Scott blinked at him. "Um, no. I'm telling you that you have the opportunity to move forward here, put your life together. No one's going to stop you, and in fact we're going to do what we can to help you. But," Scott said, letting his arms fall back to his sides, "we can't make you take that help. If there's hope here, you make it for yourself. What we're giving you is the chance to do it... and not letting you throw that chance away while you're still unable to see it."

"Now that's a speech I can believe, vice Dr. Grey's continued ones on hope. I will try not to squander the opporunity." Tommy couldn't help it, a grin perked at the side of his mouth. "Is this where I thank you?" and his defensive sarcasm kicked in.

Scott closed his eye abruptly as the itching sensation started up. Damn, this was ridiculous. At least he had that moment of warning. "Just keep in mind," he said, keeping his eye closed and willing it to pass, "that people tend to forget the rules if you goad them to it. It's human nature. I expect you to excise the word 'freak' from your conversational vocabulary. Any sort of verbal assault on your part is as unacceptable as a physical assault on you."

"I didn't start either of those confrontations, nor did I goad them into starting, if that's what your implying...I only fought back once under attack. I'm neither stupid nor wanting to start trouble in the one place giving me a chance." If he was to be insulted, then this conversation was over. Tommy moved back to the bed and picked up his book.

"Let me put it this way, then. This place has become a sanctuary for you, a necessary one. There are people out there who would hurt you, possibly kill you. This is the only place, right now, where you can be safe. True?" Oh, he was so going to need to use the heavy bag after this.

Tommy rolled his eyes. This conversation was just as trying on him. "That has been established, yes. And no, I won't do anything to screw that up."

"What seems to be escaping you is that you are not only not the only person in that position, but part of a solid percentage of the student body." Scott opened his eye. Cautiously. "At least, in terms of the circumstances that first brought them here. We have students who were threatened, assaulted, rejected by the people who should have loved them, even taken and used by people who believe that mutants are useful tools."

Tommy closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the wall. "Really, I know. I was told such when I woke up. But how many of those were assulted in this very place where they were supposed to be safe? How many of them felt sandwhiched between this place and the outside world, leaving no where else to go but inwards...and not finding comfort there either." He shook his head and opened his eyes before the other could respond. "I am not making myself to be a martyr. I am not saying I am better or worse then anyone else here. Trust me, I wish I wasn't nearly this much trouble for you. I do honestly wish I wasn't here, in this situation, being a problem for you. I was minding my own buisness and trying to be good, trying to give this place a chance while battling my own deamons, so don't bring this down on me. Using your words, yes I may be a bigot, but I. Am. Not. Stupid." Then he looked back down at his book. "I meant all of it, so I hope I said what you obviously wanted to hear."

"Are you going to let me finish?" was all Scott asked.

"Are you going to quit repeating things to me like I'm in grade school?" He didn't even look up.

"Unless you've spontaneously developed telepathy as a secondary mutation, you have no idea what I was going to say." Scott came over to the bed and took the book out of Tommy's hands. "What Manuel did to you," he said, "Was unspeakable. He is leaving, within the week. What Kyle did to you? Stupid, cruel, and appallingly irresponsible. He's been punished. He's also sixteen years old and went through something just as bad as you did before you came here, so guess what, Thomas? He gets cut a little slack, too, because just like you, he hasn't had the opportunity to learn any better."

"But," Scott went on, biting off the end of each word, "I will tell you something that's oddly similar to what I told him. If someone comes at you, saying things you don't like? Walk out of the room. If someone's stopping you from doing that, shout, either aloud or inside your head so that one of the telepaths can hear you and break it up."

Tommy just glared at him for a moment. Scott hadn't been there, hadn't seen him cornered by both mentioned mutants. But the man was right, Tommy wasn't stupid as he said and knew better then to say something, so just nodded, though the glare persisted. "So Dr. Grey displayed Sunday morning. I will remember, as long as things over heard in my head are not used against me. I may be trying to change but don't expect miracles, which include striking 'freak' from my inner dialogue." Then he held out his hand for his book.

"Ask Jean about the exercises that will help you keep your thoughts to yourself," Scott said, and handed the book back over. "They take work, but they improve your level of mental privacy. Given that we have a large number of telepaths in the house, some of whom are younger than you and still learning, it's everyone's responsibility to learn to keep their own mental house in order. And I believe," Scott said, stepping away from the bed, "that I said conversational dialogue. Think anything you want, although I'd recommend that if you're thinking things like that, you talk to Doctor Samson about it. My only concern is whether or not you make the rest of my students feel less safe. It's inevitable that you will to some extent, but sparing them the comments about freaks and fags will minimize that as much as possible."

"I have yet to say anything to that extent unless provoked. If they leave me alone, I will leave them alone. Plain and simple. And as *I* said, don't expect miracles over night. Dr. Grey has introduced me to your Dr. Samson and I am trying, I assure you." Tommy had opened his book as he spoke, finding his page. Then he looked over the top of it at Scott. "If I have to have faith in this place, I would appreciate a little faith in me."

He had missed the point. Entirely. Scott stared at him for a moment, then shook his head. "I'll say it one more time," he said, very quietly. "If anyone tries to start something with you, walk away. You don't meet one assault with another. Two wrongs don't make a right." He turned away, heading for the door. "I'm sorrier than you can know that two of our students behaved this disgracefully. But faith and compassion are two different things. You get the second free of charge, without having to ask. The first is going to take a lot of work on both our parts."

Tommy sighed slightly in frustration. He knew exactly what Scott was trying to tell him, but how could he tell Scott that before Sunday morning, Tommy didn't think anyone would come if he called...he had thought he was truely and utterly alone. But he was trying hard to *not* think about it in favor of trying to push forward. "Then know I'm going to try just as hard you."

"Good," Scott said, and paused in the doorway. "Shiro will move in as soon as he's packed."

"Alright then. I'll join him once he's comfortable. That way people can help him without encountering me." He also didn't want to leave this room which had become his safe place, but he wasn't about to admit it. "Is that all I can do for you Mr. Summers?"

"Think about what classes you want to take next term," Scott said over his shoulder. "The student handbook's online."

"Will do." Tommy threw back before reclaiming his place in the book to calm himself, his hand going into his pocket to find the lead twig.


Later, Scott's managed to work himself into a migraine, between Round Three with yet another problem student and too much reading. Alex decides that it's time to solicit his opinion on a matter of much importance.


Alex was humming softly as he walked down the hall towards Scott's office. His hand were in the front pocket of his sweatshirt as he walked, though he did pause to wink at one of his students as they walked by. Once he arrived at his destination, he knocked cheerily on the door. "Ohhh big brother? Got time to talk?" Alex said in a sing song voice as he stuck his head in the door.

"Mmmph. Go away." Scott was lying on the couch in his office. Facedown on the couch, as a matter of fact. He had tried to push to get through some of the reading he had to do, and was now paying for it.

Frowning, Alex came in anyway. Scott looked like shit. He came over and kneeled by the couch. "Hey bro, what happened? Can I get you something?"

"Just the usual. Water, pills, new eye if you've got one in a pocket somewhere..."

"Can't do anything about the new eye dude, but give me a sec..." He popped up and retrieved the necessary items before returning to his positiong, kneeling by the couch. "Here. Now, wanna tell me what happened? You didn't over work yourself again did you? I still have pouncing permission you know..." Alex mustered a fake glare.

Scott managed to at least turn over so that he could take the pills, with a swallow of water. He should have gotten up to get them himself twenty minutes ago, but the couch had just been... okay, so he hadn't wanted to get up. "I can't sit around and be an invalid," he said, more irritably than he really meant to sound. "Work to do. The eye can just suck it up and cope."

Alex leaned his head on an elbow he propped on the edge of the couch. "Your going to be an invalid again if you do too much work too fast. What else is bothering you?" He refused to believe that Scott wasn't overworking himself without a reason, especially since he was under threat by both him and Jean.

"Well, let's see. I have students assaulting each other, which I really sort of thought we were past. But I suppose since we keep getting students, there's a whole new crop of people who haven't done the same old stupid things yet. And felt left out."

Biting the inside of his cheek, Alex nodded slowly. "It's the FOH kid isn't it? Figured that's what Storm's post was about. Poor kid." Then he shook his head slightly. "I can see that being stressful on you. Let me guess, you did the disciplining?"

"Something along those lines. And let's not talk about it any further or the migraine will bring friends." Scott rubbed at the injured side of his face, wincing. It wasn't scratching. Jean couldn't scold him when it wasn't scratching. It just ached, bone-deep, enough that he felt dizzy. "You were looking for me? Wanted a minute, or something?"

Alex frowned but nodded. "Yeah I do have something to ask, and it's a much happier topic, I promise." A small smile appeared on his face that he couldn't fight. "What would you think of me proposing to Lorna on Christmas?"

Scott had unfortunately taken a sip of water just then, and there was a little sputtering to be done. "Uhh..." he finally said, then blinked at Alex. "I'd think, Christmas is a good time if that's what you want to do? Although are you sure you're not rushing things a little, after what she's been through? I know Nate proposed very publicly to Moira all of a month after that nastiness last summer, but they were... uh, older, and had known each other longer."

Alex just kept grinning, even as he wiped some water from his cheek. "It's because of those things that gave me the idea. She still doesn't believe we aren't all going to change our minds and leave her. I want to give her definate proof that I'll never leave her, come Magneto or high water." Then he laughed a bit nervously. "We're still going to wait untill after college to get married and stuff...but I want to give her the commitment. I've already asked her father and he's agreed. Now, I just need to know how you feel about it..." He paused, fidgeting slighty, his whole body speaking of how important Scott's opinion meant to him.

"I think," Scott said slowly, "if you really believe you're ready for this, then you are. It is a symbol, in the end, Alex. It recognizes what's already there, makes it formal."

His eyes widened slightly. "So, your okay with it?" Alex needed the concrete answer so it would click in his head. "I need a definate answer here Scott..."

"I'm worried about you doing this to prove something to her," Scott said, trying to be honest. "But if it's just doing something now that you wanted to do anyway, and this is just one more reason to do it..."

"Oh trust me, this isn't the first time I've had the marriage conversation with her father. It's just the first time I brought it up." He reached out and grabbed on of Scott's hands. "I need you to finish that thought. I don't have a parent to ask if this is a good idea Scott, so I'm asking you." It wasn't ncessarily eloquent, but Alex wanted to impress on Scott how important his brother opinion was in this decision. "You can say it's a bad idea if you really think it..." But I hope you don't.

"If doing it now is just one reason, and not the most important reason, then no, it's not a bad idea." Scott really wished that Alex had asked him this on a non-migraine day. He was probably making a mess of it. "If it's the main reason, I'm worried. I won't lie to you."

Alex shooks his head quickly. "We had every plan of getting married when we were out of college and were a bit older. I just want to move up the engagement so Lorna won't doubt those plans." He couldn't help a wide smile. "So you're okay with it?" He tried very hard not to get up and jump for joy.

"Alex..." No, he did not get to snap at his brother when he was this happy just because his head hurt. "You have my blessing, all right? Just don't give me the puppy eyes."

Now Alex did stand up, unable to contain himself. "Thank you Scott!" He leaned over to envelop his brother a large hug. "Just don't tell Lorna, okay? I'm going for the surprise effect here." He gave Scott a playful wink as he pulled away then winced. "Oh, sorry...forgot, headache. Can I get you anything else?"

"Yes, I'm going to rat to your girlfriend that you're going to propose to her," Scott grumbled, slumping back against the couch. "Just don't do it with buttertarts. That was my personal piece of dorkiness."

Alex bit his cheek not to laugh. "Buttertarts? Do I want to ask?"

"No, you really don't." Scott sighed, rubbing at the side of his face. "Help me drag my sorry carcass upstairs? If these pills really kick in, I'll be stuck down here."

Rolling his eyes, Alex dragged Scott to his feet, getting an arm around his waist. "Come on ole fart. Let's get you upstairs." As they made they're way across the room, Alex added softly. "Thanks Scott. I really mean it."