Scott and Jean-Paul

[x-cynosure.livejournal.com]

Scott delivers an update on Nathan's status to Jean-Paul.



They hadn't made any sort of official announcement to the mansion at large; there hadn't seemed to be much point, at least not right now (although Scott was well-aware that it might become necessary, depending on how events played out). But it was becoming obvious that this wasn't a situation that was going to be solved today, and while discussing the possibilities with Charles, Ororo, and Jean, another concern had come up.

It was with the intention of having a few quiet words to try and alleviate that particular concern that he sought out Jean-Paul; the older man was already aware that Nathan was gone, Scott knew (Angelo had told him about their exchanges of text messages), but there were a few more details that might at least give him some hope that 'gone' didn't mean 'dead'.

Jean-Paul opened the door before Scott's knuckles hit the wood a second time, and wasted no time on pleasantries when he saw who it was.

"Has there been any word?" His entire posture was stiff, radiating tension and braced against whatever bad news was forthcoming. "Has he been found?"

"No. But we need to talk." Scott waited until the door had been closed behind them again before he went on. "I should have come to you with this earlier, but things have been a bit hectic. We have every reason to believe that they quite deliberately took him alive, and will need to keep him so for at least a while."

"That...that is something." Jean-Paul crossed his arms over his chest, uncrossed them, gave up and began pacing. "I am guessing I cannot be trusted to go on a retrieval mission, given...everything." The bitterness in his tone was not directed at Scott, likely not directed outward at all.

"I don't think that'd be a good idea," Scott said, firmly but not harshly. Without asking, he went into Jean-Paul's kitchenette, hunting down - ah-hah. He poured one small glass of whisky and brought it over to the other man. "Here. And sit down, okay? You're going to wear yourself out."

"Good. It is not as if I am going to be able do anything useful, am I?" Jean-Paul took the glass, made as if to toss back the contents, and paused abruptly, frowning at the liquid sloshing in the glass. "Nathan is stronger than...he's a telepath. They will not be able to do to him what they did to me. He is stronger than that."

"They won't. They want something else from him." Scott sat down, hoping Jean-Paul would follow his example. "They found out that the Trojan Horse can be used to... bulletproof the conditioning they're using on the kids," he said slowly, leaving Machado out of it. He wasn't sure why. Frankly, he wanted to bounce the woman's head off the nearest wall for betraying Nathan like that... except, simultaneously, he didn't. Did he feel sorry for her? He wasn't sure. Pursue the ambiguous feelings later, Summers. "But they need to reverse-engineer it. Which means that they've got to keep Nate alive until they do that."

Which meant that they were going to as good as take a scalpel to his brain as well. The drink vanished. When the glass shattered against the far wall a moment later, however, Jean-Paul looked startled at the sound. "I...desole. I did not..." He took a breath. "I will find a broom."

"Leave it. I'll get it." Scott got up, but moved towards Jean-Paul instead of towards the kitchen to look for said broom. "He's survived worse, for longer," he said quietly. "And Charles will find him. Charles finds all of us." He gave a soft laugh that didn't have much in the way of humor about it. "I told Johnny that, you know. When you and Nathan were missing the last time."

"I am sure he took it better than I am." Jean-Paul shifted restlessly. "I assume this not something I should share, should anyone ask?"

"No," Scott said quietly. "But I needed to tell you." Because however far his recovery had or hadn't progressed, Scott had known one thing for sure; the other man couldn't afford to lose hope. However frail a hope it might be. "But I promise - as soon as I know anything more, so will you."

"Merci. It is better than...having to assume the worst." And Nathan dead was the worst possible outcome, no matter what else happened to him. "I am sure you have other things to do, Scott. I can take care of that small mess."

Scott could almost see the other man trying to close himself off. "If you need anything," he said, moving back - he got the sense that Jean-Paul needed space very badly right now, "you let me know." And I may be a meddling bastard and drop a word in your sister's ear.

"I will."

'Now please...GET. OUT.'