Jay and Kurt Saturday

[x-icarus.livejournal.com]

Backdated: Jay bounces somethings off Kurt late at night when the rest of the mansion sleeps.

Jay woke with a start, bathed in a cold sweat from head to toe. Sitting up, he took a deep breath and shivered, despite the warmth of the body next to him. He cast a look over to the sleeping Kevin, and moistened his chap lips. His mouth was parched and he took another few deep breaths, trying to slow his racing heart. He wondered if he was coming down with a fever, and touched his forehead, checking to see if it was hot, even though he felt fine. Just a headache and stiff shoulders, but nothing else to show for it. Getting up and sliding his feet down to the floor, it struck him that he was not just sweating, but that his clothes were dampened by it. He brushed a hand over where he was laying, and true enough, it was damp there too. Briefly, he paused, using that very same hand to brush over Kevin's shirt, touching the contours of his back. How he longed to just curl that stray strand of hair behind his ear. So beautiful, yet so untouchable and it brought some semblance of peace watching his boyfriend sleep.

He got out of bed and walked into his own room, pulling his shirt off and fetching a new, dry pair of pyjama pants. He choose not to wear a t-shirt this time, but would come back and put one on later, the need to air off his skin. He hated wearing the constrictive material anyways. Walking around the suite barefoot, Jay pause in the washroom to splash his face and then headed out, making his way downstairs. He needed something to drink, preferably something cold from the fridge and possibly a midnight snack.

He wasn't the only one up and awake, even at this hour. Kurt was on one of his periodic nocturnal patrols of the school, and happened to be just passing the bottom of the stairs as Jay started down them. He looked up, yellow eyes bright in the dark, and then smiled slightly. "Good evening, Jay."



He jumped at the voice, no matter that it was a soothing one and Kurt's yellow eyes didn't help easing him any. He felt like he was walking into another nightmare. "Heh, Kurt, ya scared me half ta death. Don't ya know how ta make noise o' somethin'?"

"I try to be quiet. And I do not wear shoes", Kurt said with a shrug. "I am sorry to have frightened you. Having difficulty sleeping?"

Jay let go of the banister, realizing he was gripping it until his knuckles whitened. "Yeah, just a bad dream," he shrugged, raking fingers through his hair as he made his descend down the stairs. It worried him that some telepath was messing with his dreams, though he knew that was unfounded paranoia. "Jus' a lil' shaken' up."

"They are not as uncommon here as some might wish for", Kurt said quietly. "Would you like to go and get a warm drink? I could use some coffee, but perhaps hot chocolate for you."

"Sure, tha' sounds good," he said, and followed Kurt to the kitchen. "Wha're ya doin' up late? Had a nightmare too? Or jus' makin' a habit outta being scary?" He went to a cupboard and pulled out a hot chocolate container, followed by the coffee.

"I do not sleep as much as some, though that is purely out of a habit. It is just something I have always done, and since I have been here, I like to check on the school while I am up. In case of homesick newcomers, insomniacs who might want company, and so on."



"Yeah, Ah guess that makes sense. Don't ya think tha' not sleepin' might be somethin' medical? Or ya been like tha' as long as ya can remember?" He didn't like the idea of being an insomniac for even longer then a week, let alone, his whole life. He craved the sunlight and the morning air. He liked walking with the living, not the zombies at night.

"I do not think so. I do not even know if it is something physical. I got used to rising with the dawn a long time ago, in my family's camp, and it is not usually that I cannot sleep. Just that I seem to need less per night than most people."



'Sounds a bit rough if ya ask me. If Ah don' sleep, then Ah'm worse then tha grinch takin' Christmas. Can' help maself though, especially when Ah'm writin' music. How many hours do ya get?" Jay filled the pot of coffee for Kurt and the maker all up, though he made six cups in case someone else wandered it. The kettle switch was flicked and he double checked to make sure it had water in it too. "Ya ever get home sick?"

"It varies. Sometimes the full eight, but usually closer to six." The second question gave him a moment's pause, but he nodded. "Of course I do. Not as much now as before, when I could not go home, but still, I miss it. But I know I can return whenever I feel the need."



"An' when do ya feel tha' need Kurt? All tha time? Half tha time? Sometime?" he was trying to be funny but it flattered. "Sorry," he said, turning around to fetch two mugs and set them down on the counter. After a moment of pause, he turned around. "Say, this 'ere's gonna be outta tha blue - sorry, no pun tended - but Ah want yer honest opinion. How do ya think Ah'd be, if Ah, say, wanted ta try out tha team?"

That question was, indeed, unexpected, and Kurt had to stop and think before he could answer. "It is not always easy to tell, without the person actually trying. But when you say 'try out' - understand that it is a commitment, Jay, though of course no one will stop you walking away if you decide it is not for you."



"Course. Yer right. Just wanted to know. Ya know? Ah'm readin' up on it, feelin' it out. Just, ya know, everyone's gotta good skill ta work with. Ah ain't gotta hope in hell of being useful. Long arms an' legs are only good for knockin' things over." Fetching a spoon, he distributed equal amounts of coco into each mug before putting the hot chocolate away and waited for the kettle to boil. "Ya know how to juggle an' do gymnastics Kurt?" he inquired.

"You also have wings", Kurt pointed out. "Someone who can fly can never be called useless. And yes, I do, though it is quite some time since I did any juggling."



"Ya think ya could teach me both. Ah mean, Juggling cause ah wanna be able to juggle bottles, an' if Ah have a little trainin', ya know, manuverin' all acrobatic-like, then Ah have a better chance, an more o' a reason ta be on the team." He felt hopless in asking, and a little on the stupid side, but Kurt was a nice guy and he would probably do it, or Jay hoped he would. "Just a lil' lesson."

Kurt considered the boy in front of him, assessing. "The juggling, certainly. As for the acrobatics, I will try - but you must be sure to tell me if I ask too much. There are things I can do that... should not be asked of a human body."



"Oh Ah'll tell ya - already tried it, the acrobatics, an' Ah can't seem to put it all together when Ah do. Not with my wings anyways. But shouldn't that give me an advantage o' somethin'?" The water was boiled and poured into the mugs, stirring before he passed it off to Kurt.

"In one way", Kurt said thoughtfully, accepting the mug. "If you can learn to use them for balance while you are on the ground, as well as in the air. It should be possible."


"Ah'm a bit better on the ground then Ah am in the air." He didn't practice too often, but when he was flying, it was usually in a straight line with no need to dodge anything. He was sure he could dodge if he had to, but how fast could he really be? He had forgotten Kurt wanted coffee and the pot behind him beeped until he turned it off. "Shoot, sorry," he said and fetched out another mug, "Ya still want that coffee?" he asked, holding it up unless the coffee was declined.

"It would be a shame to waste this hot chocolate", Kurt said with a smile. "The coffee will stay hot until I have finished it, I think. When would you like to start training?"

"Whenever. The sooner the better? Ah need to get the jugglin' down as soon as possible - if that's al'ight with ya." Putting the mug away, Jay took a sip of his own hot chocolate before blowing on it to cool.


That got him a curious look. "The juggling will probably be the easier part, but... may I ask why it is so urgent?"



"Ah booked in some classes, so Ah could be a bartender - ta make some money, 'course. Ah wanna be flashy when Ah do it - apparently ya get more tips an' this school places ya when yer done. It's mutant friendly too." He was eager about it, even excited to try and make some money, even fit into a place that wasn't the mansion. "Maybe it'll get me a gig later on."

"Ah." Kurt grinned. "In that case, we will get you taught as quickly as possible - and I wish you the best of luck."