Monday afternoon, Pietro and an old friend

[x-ccelerate.livejournal.com]

While taking a day in New York, Pietro runs into his old college roommate, and manages to catch up on old times without ever actually mentioning what he does now or has been doing the past few years.



The last of his deli sandwich in his hand, Pietro stepped out onto the street, pondering his next move. It was early in the day and he had one of the world's most famous cities at his metaphorical feet. . . what to do, what to do. Well, perhaps he'd visit the library. It wasn't too far away, even constrained as he was to human speeds so as not to alarm the public.

Not soon enough, he mounted the library steps, only to be jostled by a thin, dark-haired man in an obvious hurry. He whirled, ready to verbally eviscerate the careless idiot, but his first salvo died in his throat as he got a better look. Subtract ten years, add a few inches of hair and the freshman fifteen, exchange the blazer for . . . well, a rattier blazer . . . "Eddie Wyndham? Is that you?"

"No one's called me that in ages," the dark haired man said. "It's actually Dr. Wyndham now," he added, a smile crossing his face as slowly dawning recognition made him slow and stop in his tracks. "Pietro Maximoff. What are the odds? It's been what, almost a decade?" He shifted the papers he'd been holding into his left hand, extending the right to shake the other man's firmly.

"Near enough. And congratulations, Doctor, I hadn't heard. What are you doing in New York?" Pietro grinned. "And how is the modern generation of hamster coming along? Still doing their chores, or have they taken to wearing little black dusters and playing their devil rock music too loud?"

Eddie shrugged as he let out a slightly embarrassed laugh. "I've grown up since those days. There are more important ways to spend my time than teaching parlor tricks to hamsters." An answering grin did finally find it's way onto his face though and he laughed again, shaking his head. "I work here now, researching paleontology at ESU, which I'm sure is a big surprise. And what brings you to the Big Apple? Or are you just...speeding through?"

"My shock cannot be contained. Though I have to admit, I would have put money on the real live animals keeping your attention." Pietro chuckled, running a hand back through his hair. "I'm . . . at Xavier's, actually, these days. I did end up tracking down my father, but it didn't work out, so now I'm meddling in the future of mutantkind. You know, just to pass the time, keep myself busy."

"I'm sorry things didn't go well with your dad. But Xavier's?" Eddie said with a note of surprise. "Not quite where I would've expected you to be. A teacher, eh? I fear for the next generation."

"Not nearly as much as I do. I've seen them." Pietro shuddered dramatically. "You know, I'd love to catch up, but am I taking you away from work? You seemed to be in a hurry there." He smirked. "Or as much of a hurry as any of you people ever manage."

"I was in a hurry, but how often do I run into an old friend?" Eddie replied, checking his watch. "I can spare time for a cup of coffee at the least. Something tells me we've got a lot of catching up to do." He glanced at the paperwork in his arms, a petition he'd been collecting signatures for over the course of the day to stop a lab from using animal subjects. "And you know, there is something I'm working on that maybe you'd like to help with."

Pietro rolled his eyes, chuckling. "Another Wyndham crusade, eh? You haven't changed. I tell you what, I won't order a ham sandwich with my coffee. I get credit for that, yes?"

"You have changed, if you won't be ordering the sandwich to eat in front of me just to get a reaction," the British man replied, continuing in the direction he'd been heading. He knew even his quick pace was painfully slow for Pietro, but it didn't take long to reach a nearby coffee shop, signs advertising organic products plastered in the window.