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xp_logsAfter everyone's returned to the mansion, Forge and Jay talk about what they were up to during the crisis. One of them is more forthcoming than the other.
He was anxious for many reasons, all of which had to come out in some form or another, otherwise, he felt he would explode. It was so stupid to be excited, he thought, but he hadn't had something to be excited over for awhile. He left the door ajar, knowing Forge would come this way, or hoping it would, while testing the strings out again for sound. It had become a mindless habit, while he waited, to test and retest the strings, as though they could be just a little more perfect then the last time he played. The tension in his A string was weak, and he had an inkling it would break soon, especially if he kept testing it the way he was.
Sure enough, after a few short moments, Forge rapped on the doorframe of Jay's suite, nudging the door open with one hip and carrying in a covered plate. The smell of Dani's frybread filled the room as Forge set the plate down on a small table. "Kitchen to door delivery," he said as he pulled up a chair and reached over to take a wedge of bread, drizzled with honey. "Just another one of the benefits of coming home, huh?"
He stopped playing, the rap at the frame pulling his attention outward. His blank expression turned up into a smile at the covered place and set the guitar aside, next to the couch. "An' if ya weren't comin' barin' gifts, Ah don't think Ah could've called ya a true friend." Especially since it was food he was bringing - the sole way to gain an audience with Jay. Lucky him, he wanted to talk to Forge, not the other way around. He snagged himself a piece of bread, and adjusted his wings behind him, situated on the backing of the couch. "Home away from home maybe," he agreed. "Heard everyone's had a rough time an' ya got a good eight hours sleep outta it. Wanna talk 'bout wha' happened?" Of course, he wanted to hear all about Forge first.
Forge shrugged. "Big terrorist thing with the Brotherhood, they had to mobilize all of us trainees to go pick up the team after they got scattered. With Scott on the mission, that left Ororo and I as the only ones who could really fly the plane well, and with all the modifications I'd made to it for the mission," he shrugged and swallowed another bite of frybread, "I wound up behind the stick for a few trans-oceanic flights and a few moments of 'oh my god we're all going to die', but it all came out all right. We're professionals," he joked with a smile that turned more serious. "Really, though. We did good. There's some stuff that can't be talked about just yet, but it was important, and I got to be a part of it. Makes all the stress worthwhile."
"Didn't know tha brotherhood was still causin' trouble. Is everyone al'ight? Anyone missin?" he asked, savoring the flavour of the bread. "An' who made this bread 'ere? Ah didn't catch 'er name. O' course it'd be a woman, 'ight?". He didn't think any guy's cooking skills could be as exceptional as Lorna's or whoever made it. "Ya really can't tell me huh? No form o' bribery would get ya ta talk?" he coaxed.
Forge shook his head. "Everyone's back and accounted for now. And you weren't gone long enough to forget Dani, crazy used-to-be-pregnant woman who slept on our couch for six months on and off? Kept trying to get me in touch with my allegedly-important ethnic heritage? She's handling a lot of the admin stuff running the school, since Scott and Ororo occasionally have... other concerns." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair before looking over to Jay. "And no, it's one of those things that's actually a matter of potential national security. But believe me when I say it's resolved, and we're all safe."
"Was that who that was?" he asked surprised a little. "Didn' reconize 'er. Ah feel like Ah've been runnin' a marathon ta catch up, an' update maself. Find mayself not even reconizin' journal names anymore. Not that Ah'm any good at computers. That's yer department"
He cocked an eyebrow, chewing on the crust. "Wha' other concerns? Oh c'mon Forge. Yer holdin' out on me. Ah'm so outta the loop, it's almost depressin'. Who'my gonna tell huh? The New York Post?"
"I'm serious, Jay," Forge insisted. "I take my responsibilities to the team seriously, trust me, if it was something I could talk about, I would. And once I can, I will. So, to change the subject - what was so immediate that you had to talk to me right now urgently?" he asked, remembering Jay's post. "I doubt Dani's frybread was an emergency."
He hated it that Forge wouldnt' tell him anything, but resolved to be satisfied with what he was told. Maybe he would hear more later. Hopefully. "Ya, well tha' frybread is good, but it ain't the sole reason fer an emergency call." Jay got up off the couch, went to the door and locked it. "Ah got more than a roommate this year," he practically beamed, if it could be said that Jay beamed at all. He pressed his back to the door and looked smitten with himself. "Ah think Ah got a boyfriend - or somethin' like that." He wasn't really sure.
Forge raised an eyebrow as he smiled in surprise. "Well... that was quick. I didn't think you... wait, Kevin? With the... and..." He cocked his head in puzzlement. "Um, you're aware how his skin, um... well, with your healing factor and all, but... do I want to ask?"
Jay felt himself redden at the questions. "Nah, ya don't. But 'e can do a lot more than 'e lets on. Ah just," he paused, frowing. "Quick? Ah havn't had anything since Kyle, so Ah don't think quick is tha word fer it. Anyways, we're sorta together. Ah say sorta cause we havn' really defined what we got."
"Are you happy?" Forge asked sincerely. "I mean, seriously. Are you?"
"Ah think so, ya, Ah'm happy. Ah mean, we ain't all roses an' daisies. 'e's gotta couple o' hangups but ya know, who doesn'? Don't Ah look happy?" He felt happy enough.
"World of difference between looking happy and being happy," Forge said, walking over to Jay and putting a supporting hand on his shoulder. "But so long as you're happy, hey, I'm happy for you."
"Ah am happy." He hadn't expected to be asked if he was happy and his words came out a little defensively. For a brief moment, the hand on his shoulder reminded him of his father and he inclined his head, nodding before smiling. "Thanks man. Means a lot." He had wanted to tell someone and not have the whole school know.
"Then I think we can classify Kevin's secondary mutation as 'miracle worker', because I think he's just achieved the impossible," Forge teased with an impish grin, "You've got your friends around, you've got a boyfriend, and you've still got your truck. What kind of country musician are you, man?"
"Guess we know why Ah didn' make it - ain't got no consistancy. Can't classify Kev as a miracle worker thou'. 'E's just got some secrets tha' work on me." Happy jsut didn't cover it for him right now.
Forge was curious, but decided not to press the issue. Some things were better left personal. "So are you guys going, y'know, public? Or is this a sort of 'don't say anything' thing?"
"Ah.. Maybe ya could just keep it ta yerself fer now, cause we aint, you know, comfortable yet. Plus, everyone's still callin' me Kyle's ex an' its gettin' annoyin' now. He must think it's great or givin' 'im some kinda ego boost cause he don't try and correct any o' his friends. INstead, Ah gotta do it." He moved back over to the couch, glad to have Forge to share this with. "Kyle's good at makin me like a third wheel lately."
"It's been..." Forge paused, trying to reconcile the passage of time in his head. Two and a half "lost" years in Attilan always made it somewhat difficult to try and compare how long ago things were to him and to the rest of the world. "It's been a while," he settled on, trying to keep his voice neutral. "I think Kyle's moved on, it's just that everyone else seems a bit unclear as to what you guys are. I mean, you guys were more than just a couple. And I know he screwed things up. I also know he was sixteen and stupid. Maybe you need to sit down with him and get some, I don't know, closure."
"An' wha? Ya think Ah havn't moved on yet? That Ah like ta be called his ex? If he's moved on then why am Ah still called his ex? Kev don't know about Kyle, cause Ah havn't told 'em and Ah probably won't unless he asks cause it ain't important." He picked up another piece of bread and ran a finger down the crust before biting into it. "Maybe things'll sort themselves out. Ah wouldn't know what ta say ta Kyle anyways - at least nuttin' that won't make me angry. It was a lot easier ta talk ta 'im through email then havin' ta put up with him in house, an' in journals."
"So get angry," Forge said flatly, "because as long as you're both here, you're going to have to come to some kind of understanding. And do you really think that keeping Kevin in the dark about you and Kyle's relationship is a good idea? Trust me, Jay, that's not going to be something you want surprising you later. I might not have the best track record with relationships, but I know enough to know that you can't leave things unfinished. If you're tired of being referred to as Kyle's ex, take it up with the people doing it. You can't put that responsibility on Kyle when it's you that's upset."
He sighed, looking down and shaking his head. "You guys are the best friends I've ever had, the both of you. If I've got to chain you together and drop you both out in the quarry to get you to square things, don't think I won't."
"Ya know how it is. Like goin' round in circles with Kyle. Ah don't think we'll resolve much. Just like it'll only cause problems if Ah tell Kev cause then, ya don't think he'll be wonderin' wha's goin' on everytime Kyle an' Ah talk" He pushed his bangs back away from his eyes, blowing out a long sigh.
A long moment stretched between them before he regarded Forge. "Ya know, Ah can't talk ta him. Ah'm still sore 'bout wha' happened an' it's not like Ah can turn it on an' off. Ah wanna concentrate on Kev, an' just ferget Kyle, but it ain't ever been tha' easy."
"I suppose it's difficult," Forge said knowingly, then shook his head. "Sorry, I keep forgetting it's been longer for me than it has for you. Two and a half years on an island out of phase with the time-space continuum gives a lot of time to be introspective about things that you once thought were the end of the world. Trust me, the hurt? It passes. Kyle's done some dumb things, but he's a good person. Sometimes the past's best left in the past. Doesn't do any good to look back on it with regret."
Cocking his head, Forge's lips moved in repetition, then he gave a small chuckle. "Dammit, am I sounding like the Professor again?"
"Ya know, ya go through some serious shit - ya'll should be writin' a book or somethin'." Jay paused, his face blank. His hands panned out, mocking an vision. "Call it 'Forgin' On.'" His hands dropped into his lap and he grabbed another piece of bread. "Except it'll prolly be as borin' as hell, an' only 'em super brains will be able ta understand it. An' yah, ya sound like 'im more an' more everyday. But maybe a bit o' Summers in there wit a dash o' Storm."
Forge scoffed. "If I was sounding like Scott," he insisted, "I'd be all 'Jeeeeeean, I need my piiiiills...', and I might point out that along with Ororo, I'm one of the few uninjured folks from the past week. Because I am awesome."
He stopped and then cocked his head at Jay. "Wait, 'Forging On'? Did you just make a pun? Did the moping, depressive stoic Joshua T. Guthrie just engage in humor? Holy crap, next you'll be smiling and spreading glitter and hugging your sister in public."
Jay shifted, looking relatively uncomfortable, and he rubbed the back of his neck before his hand slid off and into his lap. Selfconsciously, he picked a piece of lint off his jeans, mumbling, "Ya well, don' go flappin' yer gums 'bout it. Ah don't need ta be writin' ma own book - Forgin' six feet under."
He was anxious for many reasons, all of which had to come out in some form or another, otherwise, he felt he would explode. It was so stupid to be excited, he thought, but he hadn't had something to be excited over for awhile. He left the door ajar, knowing Forge would come this way, or hoping it would, while testing the strings out again for sound. It had become a mindless habit, while he waited, to test and retest the strings, as though they could be just a little more perfect then the last time he played. The tension in his A string was weak, and he had an inkling it would break soon, especially if he kept testing it the way he was.
Sure enough, after a few short moments, Forge rapped on the doorframe of Jay's suite, nudging the door open with one hip and carrying in a covered plate. The smell of Dani's frybread filled the room as Forge set the plate down on a small table. "Kitchen to door delivery," he said as he pulled up a chair and reached over to take a wedge of bread, drizzled with honey. "Just another one of the benefits of coming home, huh?"
He stopped playing, the rap at the frame pulling his attention outward. His blank expression turned up into a smile at the covered place and set the guitar aside, next to the couch. "An' if ya weren't comin' barin' gifts, Ah don't think Ah could've called ya a true friend." Especially since it was food he was bringing - the sole way to gain an audience with Jay. Lucky him, he wanted to talk to Forge, not the other way around. He snagged himself a piece of bread, and adjusted his wings behind him, situated on the backing of the couch. "Home away from home maybe," he agreed. "Heard everyone's had a rough time an' ya got a good eight hours sleep outta it. Wanna talk 'bout wha' happened?" Of course, he wanted to hear all about Forge first.
Forge shrugged. "Big terrorist thing with the Brotherhood, they had to mobilize all of us trainees to go pick up the team after they got scattered. With Scott on the mission, that left Ororo and I as the only ones who could really fly the plane well, and with all the modifications I'd made to it for the mission," he shrugged and swallowed another bite of frybread, "I wound up behind the stick for a few trans-oceanic flights and a few moments of 'oh my god we're all going to die', but it all came out all right. We're professionals," he joked with a smile that turned more serious. "Really, though. We did good. There's some stuff that can't be talked about just yet, but it was important, and I got to be a part of it. Makes all the stress worthwhile."
"Didn't know tha brotherhood was still causin' trouble. Is everyone al'ight? Anyone missin?" he asked, savoring the flavour of the bread. "An' who made this bread 'ere? Ah didn't catch 'er name. O' course it'd be a woman, 'ight?". He didn't think any guy's cooking skills could be as exceptional as Lorna's or whoever made it. "Ya really can't tell me huh? No form o' bribery would get ya ta talk?" he coaxed.
Forge shook his head. "Everyone's back and accounted for now. And you weren't gone long enough to forget Dani, crazy used-to-be-pregnant woman who slept on our couch for six months on and off? Kept trying to get me in touch with my allegedly-important ethnic heritage? She's handling a lot of the admin stuff running the school, since Scott and Ororo occasionally have... other concerns." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair before looking over to Jay. "And no, it's one of those things that's actually a matter of potential national security. But believe me when I say it's resolved, and we're all safe."
"Was that who that was?" he asked surprised a little. "Didn' reconize 'er. Ah feel like Ah've been runnin' a marathon ta catch up, an' update maself. Find mayself not even reconizin' journal names anymore. Not that Ah'm any good at computers. That's yer department"
He cocked an eyebrow, chewing on the crust. "Wha' other concerns? Oh c'mon Forge. Yer holdin' out on me. Ah'm so outta the loop, it's almost depressin'. Who'my gonna tell huh? The New York Post?"
"I'm serious, Jay," Forge insisted. "I take my responsibilities to the team seriously, trust me, if it was something I could talk about, I would. And once I can, I will. So, to change the subject - what was so immediate that you had to talk to me right now urgently?" he asked, remembering Jay's post. "I doubt Dani's frybread was an emergency."
He hated it that Forge wouldnt' tell him anything, but resolved to be satisfied with what he was told. Maybe he would hear more later. Hopefully. "Ya, well tha' frybread is good, but it ain't the sole reason fer an emergency call." Jay got up off the couch, went to the door and locked it. "Ah got more than a roommate this year," he practically beamed, if it could be said that Jay beamed at all. He pressed his back to the door and looked smitten with himself. "Ah think Ah got a boyfriend - or somethin' like that." He wasn't really sure.
Forge raised an eyebrow as he smiled in surprise. "Well... that was quick. I didn't think you... wait, Kevin? With the... and..." He cocked his head in puzzlement. "Um, you're aware how his skin, um... well, with your healing factor and all, but... do I want to ask?"
Jay felt himself redden at the questions. "Nah, ya don't. But 'e can do a lot more than 'e lets on. Ah just," he paused, frowing. "Quick? Ah havn't had anything since Kyle, so Ah don't think quick is tha word fer it. Anyways, we're sorta together. Ah say sorta cause we havn' really defined what we got."
"Are you happy?" Forge asked sincerely. "I mean, seriously. Are you?"
"Ah think so, ya, Ah'm happy. Ah mean, we ain't all roses an' daisies. 'e's gotta couple o' hangups but ya know, who doesn'? Don't Ah look happy?" He felt happy enough.
"World of difference between looking happy and being happy," Forge said, walking over to Jay and putting a supporting hand on his shoulder. "But so long as you're happy, hey, I'm happy for you."
"Ah am happy." He hadn't expected to be asked if he was happy and his words came out a little defensively. For a brief moment, the hand on his shoulder reminded him of his father and he inclined his head, nodding before smiling. "Thanks man. Means a lot." He had wanted to tell someone and not have the whole school know.
"Then I think we can classify Kevin's secondary mutation as 'miracle worker', because I think he's just achieved the impossible," Forge teased with an impish grin, "You've got your friends around, you've got a boyfriend, and you've still got your truck. What kind of country musician are you, man?"
"Guess we know why Ah didn' make it - ain't got no consistancy. Can't classify Kev as a miracle worker thou'. 'E's just got some secrets tha' work on me." Happy jsut didn't cover it for him right now.
Forge was curious, but decided not to press the issue. Some things were better left personal. "So are you guys going, y'know, public? Or is this a sort of 'don't say anything' thing?"
"Ah.. Maybe ya could just keep it ta yerself fer now, cause we aint, you know, comfortable yet. Plus, everyone's still callin' me Kyle's ex an' its gettin' annoyin' now. He must think it's great or givin' 'im some kinda ego boost cause he don't try and correct any o' his friends. INstead, Ah gotta do it." He moved back over to the couch, glad to have Forge to share this with. "Kyle's good at makin me like a third wheel lately."
"It's been..." Forge paused, trying to reconcile the passage of time in his head. Two and a half "lost" years in Attilan always made it somewhat difficult to try and compare how long ago things were to him and to the rest of the world. "It's been a while," he settled on, trying to keep his voice neutral. "I think Kyle's moved on, it's just that everyone else seems a bit unclear as to what you guys are. I mean, you guys were more than just a couple. And I know he screwed things up. I also know he was sixteen and stupid. Maybe you need to sit down with him and get some, I don't know, closure."
"An' wha? Ya think Ah havn't moved on yet? That Ah like ta be called his ex? If he's moved on then why am Ah still called his ex? Kev don't know about Kyle, cause Ah havn't told 'em and Ah probably won't unless he asks cause it ain't important." He picked up another piece of bread and ran a finger down the crust before biting into it. "Maybe things'll sort themselves out. Ah wouldn't know what ta say ta Kyle anyways - at least nuttin' that won't make me angry. It was a lot easier ta talk ta 'im through email then havin' ta put up with him in house, an' in journals."
"So get angry," Forge said flatly, "because as long as you're both here, you're going to have to come to some kind of understanding. And do you really think that keeping Kevin in the dark about you and Kyle's relationship is a good idea? Trust me, Jay, that's not going to be something you want surprising you later. I might not have the best track record with relationships, but I know enough to know that you can't leave things unfinished. If you're tired of being referred to as Kyle's ex, take it up with the people doing it. You can't put that responsibility on Kyle when it's you that's upset."
He sighed, looking down and shaking his head. "You guys are the best friends I've ever had, the both of you. If I've got to chain you together and drop you both out in the quarry to get you to square things, don't think I won't."
"Ya know how it is. Like goin' round in circles with Kyle. Ah don't think we'll resolve much. Just like it'll only cause problems if Ah tell Kev cause then, ya don't think he'll be wonderin' wha's goin' on everytime Kyle an' Ah talk" He pushed his bangs back away from his eyes, blowing out a long sigh.
A long moment stretched between them before he regarded Forge. "Ya know, Ah can't talk ta him. Ah'm still sore 'bout wha' happened an' it's not like Ah can turn it on an' off. Ah wanna concentrate on Kev, an' just ferget Kyle, but it ain't ever been tha' easy."
"I suppose it's difficult," Forge said knowingly, then shook his head. "Sorry, I keep forgetting it's been longer for me than it has for you. Two and a half years on an island out of phase with the time-space continuum gives a lot of time to be introspective about things that you once thought were the end of the world. Trust me, the hurt? It passes. Kyle's done some dumb things, but he's a good person. Sometimes the past's best left in the past. Doesn't do any good to look back on it with regret."
Cocking his head, Forge's lips moved in repetition, then he gave a small chuckle. "Dammit, am I sounding like the Professor again?"
"Ya know, ya go through some serious shit - ya'll should be writin' a book or somethin'." Jay paused, his face blank. His hands panned out, mocking an vision. "Call it 'Forgin' On.'" His hands dropped into his lap and he grabbed another piece of bread. "Except it'll prolly be as borin' as hell, an' only 'em super brains will be able ta understand it. An' yah, ya sound like 'im more an' more everyday. But maybe a bit o' Summers in there wit a dash o' Storm."
Forge scoffed. "If I was sounding like Scott," he insisted, "I'd be all 'Jeeeeeean, I need my piiiiills...', and I might point out that along with Ororo, I'm one of the few uninjured folks from the past week. Because I am awesome."
He stopped and then cocked his head at Jay. "Wait, 'Forging On'? Did you just make a pun? Did the moping, depressive stoic Joshua T. Guthrie just engage in humor? Holy crap, next you'll be smiling and spreading glitter and hugging your sister in public."
Jay shifted, looking relatively uncomfortable, and he rubbed the back of his neck before his hand slid off and into his lap. Selfconsciously, he picked a piece of lint off his jeans, mumbling, "Ya well, don' go flappin' yer gums 'bout it. Ah don't need ta be writin' ma own book - Forgin' six feet under."
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