xp_logs | Ororo and Nathan, Tuesday morning

Ororo clears a certain X-Man to return from the DL.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't still sore from time to time," Nathan admitted easily enough as Ororo skimmed through Amelia's medical report. The results of the solo training runs he'd done were displayed on the smaller screen where she was sitting; he'd convinced her not to put them on the big screen just in case anyone else walked into the Situation Room. To spare my pride, he'd claimed. Not that they were that bad, all things considered.

"Just as I would be lying if I said I did not understand why." Ororo glanced up, a scrutinizing expression on her face. "Not that there is anything wrong with that. The last thing you need to do is feel you are not entitled to actually feel the repercussions of what you have been through."

"Even Amelia admits I've healed up well, though," Nathan said amiably. There was no point in getting feverishly intent about this; either she'd conclude he was ready to be back on active duty, or she wouldn't. He trusted her judgement enough not to pressure her.

"Yes... a ringing endorsement if ever there was one." Pursing her lips, she looked back down at the folder in her hands, skimming over it one last time before setting it down and turning to the recordings looped on the screen beside her. "And how do you feel? About returning to duty?" she clarified.

"Well, I feel up to it. My shields still aren't where they should be, but I lived a lot of years with weak shields. It's not impairing my ability to use my telepathy, and they're still good enough to stand up to a psi-attack from most telepaths. At least, long enough for me to throw a car at them." Nathan offered her his best 'don't hit me' smile.

Luckily, a smack wasn't forthcoming, as Ororo merely chuckled and swung her chair back around to face Nathan properly. "Well then. It seems to me there is no reason that you should not be back on active duty - all the evidence suggests that you are ready to return. Weak shields are better than none, and I have no doubt that they will get stronger with time."

Nathan actually bounced slightly in his chair, grinning. "Oh good! I've been so bored." The manic tone was not entirely a put-on. "And my psimitar was gathering dust."

"I..." Ororo paused, unsure whether she should be actively disapproving of this attitude, or merely thankful he hadn't blown a hole in the Danger Room due to 'boredom'. "Well. I suppose now all you must do is cross your fingers for a disaster to happen and you will be set."

Nathan made a face, slouching. The shift in mood was a little more abrupt than most people were used to seeing from him. "Why don't I not, and just say I did. I'm afraid my latest personal nemesis might take me up on the wish."

Her only reaction was to reach over and turn off the recordings, leaving the screen blank and dark. "You can hardly blame yourself for that, Nathan... it would be foolish to do so."

"Can't I?" Nathan countered. "I mean, Jim made the point, a couple of months back... I seem to attract crap like this. I know I never asked to be involved with the Askani in the first place, but I was, and so that makes me involved with what Trask's trying to do. Even when she's not trying to lure me to the Dark Side and shooting me in the back."

"It is true she seems especially focused on you," Ororo replied calmly, even going so far as to nod. "Of course, I have yet to meet a maniac who, when denied the source of their obsession, did not immediately find something else to fixate on. If you were not here, Nathan, if you were not available to her... it would be someone else. Or something else. But she would not merely stop."

"I just hate feeling like I bring trouble," Nathan said absently, then grimaced again, rubbing his jaw. "Either way. I want to be properly operational again, and not just because it means I'll be able to help if she makes any more trouble. I really value what we do here, Ororo." There was an awkward sort of sincerity in the look he gave her. "I think we do good on a number of levels."

"Of course we do, Nathan." And for more than just the people we save. "Not that your contributions to society are not already impressive. Between your work with the school and Elpis, you do enough to ensure every level of good is covered a dozen times over."

Nathan raised an eyebrow at her - and then laughed. "Do I sound like I need a pep talk?" he inquired, smiling. Most of the tension was gone from his posture. "I suppose I probably do. I'm essentially a worrier, you know, and I've had a little too much free time to worry these last couple of months."

"Pep talks are why I became team leader in the first place," Ororo joked. "And I understand the tendancy to brood and worry when you are unable to be doing the things you want to do - especially meaningful things. But you are well on your way to doing them again, and that ought to be cause for celebration."

Nathan gave a half-shrug, but the smile lingered, and it was notable, that he left Ororo's point as it stood and moved on. "So. I'll keep working on those shields, and look forward to being back in team scenarios whenever you or Scott rejig the schedule. It'll be interesting to be working with our newbies."

"Depending on how evil we feel, it might be very interesting indeed..." Ororo smirked, looking all too pleased with herself. "I am glad you are back, Nathan."

"Oh, see, that's not alarming at all."