Johnny and Jean-Paul

[x-cynosure.livejournal.com]

Jean-Paul delivers some good news to Johnny as the students are ushered out of the festivities.



It was nine and the students were being not-so-subtly nudged out of the boathouse and back toward the mansion so that the adults could cease even pretending to behave themselves. Johnny was one of the last to leave, and it took Jean-Paul personally escorting him outside to get even that, though the older mutant seemed more amused than annoyed at the boy's persistence.

"Trust me, I will still be here tomorrow," he promised. "Hangover and all."

"Yeah, but you're no more fun than anybody else with a hangover," Johnny protested as they walked out toward the porch, his feigned pout wearing a visible and growing smile under it. The man seemed to be enjoying himself and the relaxed posture of his face, amusement at the teen's expense and all, made him happy that he could help put it together. Even if his role had been a small one.

"And I am just a barrel of laughs without one? Tsh. At least I have an excuse with the hangover." The porch itself was hosting a mutant or two, but they were more or less alone by the time they hit the bottom of the stairs. "Thank you again for the gift. And for helping with this."

"Maybe even two barrels," the teen assured him with a wide grin that wore gradually down while they walked the distance of the porch and stilled to linger on the steps. As Jean-Paul spoke again Johnny took on a faintly sheepish look and tucked his hands in his hoodie's pockets, "You're welcome on both counts...You've done a lot for me, you know? I want you to know I appreciate it."

"You do not need to do anything for me, but, still...thanks." Jean-Paul hesitated. "I have gotten in touch with your father about the trip."

"But I want to." Johnny was still smiling, though the mention of his dad made it stagger, dwindling down into a straight line with forced little curves at each end. What if Darren had said no? The fact that the man still had such control over his life after dumping him here without a word made him angry and depressed in the same moment. He pushed the feelings out of himself as best he could and ventured the obvious question, "...What'd he say?"

Johnny's fading smile made Jean-Paul immediately regret having paused long enough that he had to ask. He still wasn't entirely sure just what it was that infuriated him so about Johnny's situation; despite his distaste for the elder Gallo, Jean-Paul had to admit, however grudgingly, that he was not the worst example of parenthood among the student backgrounds.

"It has all been arranged. We will be leaving on the ninth."

Still, how easily the man had agreed to sending his son off to another country with a man he couldn't have identified by sight if something went wrong didn't give Jean-Paul any new reasons to admire Johnny's father.

The change in the white-haired teen was immediate, his energy returning in a wave as his features lit. Darren was obviously forgotten. "Really?"

Jean-Paul nodded. "I will be renting a car, we will take a day to drive up, and take our time coming back down to the school. It should be fun, hmm?"

"Definitely!" Johnny replied cheerfully. After a moment, he cracked a grin and gave Jean-Paul a look of playful accusation, "...You're just giving me good news now so I'll leave without a fight, aren't you?"

"I would never. I am telling you now so that you have time to pack before we go. I have seen your room. I think it will take that long just to get your laundry done."

"It's not that bad!" Despite Johnny's immediate denial of the accusation, his lopsided grin suggested it might not be too far off.

"I would beg to differ." There was something about this interaction that sounded a faint warning bell in the back of his mind, but Jean-Paul pushed it away. Tonight was for enjoying the company of friends. "But we can talk about this more later."

Whatever concern lingered within Jean-Paul's mind did not exist in Johnny's and did not even manage to manifest itself enough to catch the younger mutant's attention. He took a half-step half-hop off the final stair, bobbing his head and resigning himself to his necessary departure. The man needed to get back to his party. He offered a smile, "Later then. And happy birthday, Mr. Beaubier."