xp_logs | (no subject)

After everything that happened with Shiro, Alex needed to get out of the mansion, but he only really knew of one place to go.

It should be raining. It would fit with the mood Alex was in as he stood in the biting cold. After his encounter with Shiro earlier in the day, he'd had to get out of the mansion and away from him. He couldn't risk Shiro somehow feeding off him anymore. The unfortunate thing was that he didn't know anyone in the city. Well that wasn't true, he was friends with people in his classes, but not well enough to go to them after this. Not this.

Which was how Alex found himself standing outside Lorna's door, duffel bags at his feet and Crush sitting next to him, looking up from his leash. He didn't know how long he'd been standing there staring at the door. Finally, biting his lip nervously and running his hand through his hair first, he knocked.

She was getting ready to go out when she heard the door. As expected, Lili went tearing out of the room, barking furiously. Lorna followed, shoving pins into her hair as she went. Her make up was only half done and she hoped that this wouldn't take long, whatever it was. She jerked the door open, "H...oh."

There were a few things that Lorna might have expected less than this. A hand-written apology from Magneto perhaps. Zala meaning it this time when she said she was only interested in helping. Logan in a gold tuxedo singing and dancing...actually that was oddly easy to imagine. But among those unlikely events was this one and Lorna felt that standing in the doorway gaping was entirely justified. It wasn't nice exactly but it was understandable.

There were tears on Alex's face. She knew precisely how miserable he had to be for that look to be on his face. She'd put it there more than once herself. Metal crumpled beneath her hand. Finally she closed her mouth and stepped back out of the way. "Alex...it's freezing. Come in."

Crush tugging at the leash and Lili jumping on his leg brought Alex out of his thoughts more then Lorna's words. His thoughts were too scrambled, seeing her in this state of half-dress that he hadn't seen since...well it was far too long. It wasn't that he hadn't seen her, he saw her on campus and at the mansion all the time, but he was just suddenly sentimental. Maybe breaking up with someone you loved did that, who know? He shook his head slightly as he led the Golden into the house.

He had to take a deep breath before he could figure out what to say and even then, he hid his eyes behind his bangs when he looked in her direction. "I...err, I need to get out of the mansion for a few days and, well, I didn't really know where else to go..." His voice was soft and hesitant, any confidence he'd had whilst dealing with Shiro had drained before he'd left the mansion. "If it's too much, I can always go to a hotel or something but..." He didn't know how to finish that. It felt odd telling her that he'd feel safer being somewhere where he definitely knew he and his powers were safe from prying intentions.

I'll kill him. Lorna thought viciously and plastered a calm look on her face. "You can have the spare bedroom. Stay as long as you like." A twist of hair fell out of her half-arranged curls and flopped against her cheek. She tucked it behind her ear with a quick irritated motion and held out her hand for a duffel. "Alex...whatever it is. I'm here, okay? If all you need is a room, then it's there but..." Lorna took a breath. "Well, anyway. You're welcome to stay."

Automatically going through the motions of handing her the bag containing mostly Crush's stuff, he managed a polite smile from somewhere. "Thanks Lorna. I'm sorry for imposing on you like this and all...but really, thanks." He paused, wondering for a moment before he continued, "I think I just wanna be alone for a bit." He wanted to relax, especially since he hadn't released the complete block on his powers since he'd closed them off in his room and it was starting to really tire him out. That and the emotions he was starting had been threatening to brim since before even that. He really just needed to relax and he hoped here he finally could.

Lorna nodded. "Okay." She chewed on her lower lip, considering saying more then just repeating, "okay." Turning, she led him to the spare bedroom, somewhat separate from her own, thankfully. "I...I'm supposed to be going out to a show and dinner. There's stuff in the kitchen, help yourself. I'll be back about 11." Maybe by then he'd be ready to talk. Or she'd get the courage enough to push him to.

Somehow sensing what was on her mind, he turned to her once he'd set down his bags and released Crush to go play with Lili. "Lorna...I...Later? Right now, I'm just tired out." While Alex wasn't up for talking at the moment, he did actually want to talk about this, contrary to how he used to be. He actually felt the urge to tell someone and hopefully, confirm that this wasn't his fault. He knew it, mostly, and if he could talk about this with anyone, it would be Lorna. It was funny almost, that when this happened, she was the one he turned to, but he really didn't feel like laughing. Right now he just wanted to sleep...after finally sobbing his heart out.

"All...right." Lorna waited a moment longer and then went back to getting ready for her date. She wasn't going to feel guilty about going on her date. Alex wanted to be alone and she'd made a commitment and she was allowed to go out. She called out as she left, locking the door behind her. Her teeth were clenched as she got in the car. This was going to be an interesting evening.

Later he would wonder more on where she'd gone, but right now he concentrated enough to change into sweats before curling up onto the bed and finally letting go, in more ways then one.