Lex and Nico - Lost in the garage

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When Nico gets lost and finds herself at the garage Lex offers to show her around Salem Center







Without Forge around to keep the place immaculate the garage had begun to look like a sty. Lex tried to keep the place organized but everyone seemed to have their own ideas as to what exactly that meant. He put the wrenches away and then decided to hell with it. If people wanted to find specific tools they could do it themselves. Instead, he looked for all of the ones he would need for the jeep, which had sat forlorn since Scott left, and put them in a tool box, which he marked with duct tape, 'Lex's tools, don't you fucking dare.'


He brought the box over to the jeep and popped the hood. There wasn't a whole lot left to do, but Lex had been away from it for too long. He tweaked a few parts, adjusting the tightness of a valve or two, and then ran some current through the starter to see how it ran. When the thing started up he could hear something wasn't right. He tried to shut it down but it caught, and died in a great wheeze of black smoke. Maybe it needed more work than he thought.


Turning away he tried to wipe the smoke and grime off his face.


The Mansion, with capital "M" and everything, was huge.

Not just ready to get over the ordeal of classes, Nico had one last day to convince herself that regardless of the impassible twists of her life, she still needed to get her studies done; the sole idea of going over school again was completely alien, but she would oblige, happy to have a way to pay the gesture of allowing a not-so-mutant stay in their little haven. Still, she considered seriously to ask for a map -or a dozen- next time she found someone remotely responsible-looking; a smile curled her lips when she imagined Catseye pulling her all over the mansion, pointing at anything remotely interesting and making ample descriptions of them. Well, as much as she liked the idea, she really needed to get a tour.

Nico soon found herself close to what could only be the garage; while she didn't have any reason to go there, it was as good as anywhere else, and there could be someone around, too. Upon getting closer, the noise of an engine confirmed her suspicions; there was a man there, working on what looked like a jeep; Nico knew as much as cars as chemistry, and she sucked big time on that subject. "Hello?", said, not sure if she was interrupting something, aware that many males had some sort of weird ritual between them and their machines. "Everything alright?"


Coughing, Lex grabbed at a nearby towel, "What, yes, I'm fine. It appears this jeep needs a bit more work than I originally thought." He continued coughing as he wiped what was left of the grime out of his eyes. When he opened them again he was met by a strange sight. The small Asian before him was staring at him, least he thought she was, and tried to make himself a little more presentable before deciding it was a lost cause. "I've never seen you around before, are you new here?"

"Certainly looks like it needs...something." The guy -Nico decided he wasn't that old- failed to clean himself, and went straight to the point. "That's right, I just, uhm, arrived recently. I'm Nico, the way."


"Lex," he said, looking at both his hands before extending his left, it was much less grubby. "It needs a lot, but I'm sure it will wait." He threw the rag on the toolbox, "So what are you in for?"


Nico's left hand went and greeted Lex's; fairly pale skin with jet black nail polish, but a strong, decided grip. "Ah? A reason? Hiding,
I'd guess, but I guess Amanda wants to keep me watched." Two seconds of silence, and Nico dropped The Question.

"What do you do? If you don't mind telling me..."


"My technical position, I'm one of the Self-Defense teachers. I also work here in the garage in my free time." He didn't know if she meant his position or power so he added, "As for my mutation, it allows me to control electricity. Comes in handy when dealing with vehicles and the like."


"Ah." Self Defence? Now she was interested. Nico had asked about his mutation, but the information resulted being almost as interesting.
Almost.

"You...shoot electricity? I wonder how that works."


"I'm an electrokineticist," he answered simply, "I am able to feel and shape electricity with my mind. My particular power is different than others because it allows me to interact with electronics in a very beneficial manner, mainly that I can manipulate energy levels within a given system to increase its potency or to shut it down. If you want to know more you'd have to ask someone smarter than myself." He gave her a sly smile, letting electricity arc across his finger tips. He remembered being the new person, and he wanted to make her feel welcome.


"I thing I get the general idea; let's not bother the smart people." Nico was caught by surprise when the bolts appeared, her mouth going all "Ohhhh!!" This Lex guy was quite a nice guy, which only made her decide she shouldn't avoid the subject. "I don't do anything; latent mutant and all. I hope...that's okay with you; I do magic though, or at least a bit, actually."


"Why would I mind that? Before I was forced to come here the only people who knew I was a mutant were my parents." He smiled as he spoke, "However, if you want to learn how to become more powerful, or at least gain a better level of control over your gifts, you've certainly come to the right place." He smiled and let the electricity die from his hand. Two months ago he would never have been able to do that, and he was still surprised it had worked so well. It was probably because he didn't want to frighten a new student.


"I want to be stronger." Nico's voice changed, hardened; she was dead serious in a second. "I said I was hidding, but I don't plan to do that forever; I'm powerless, unlike others, so I need to improve what I can."


"As I said, you've come to the right place." He paused, he didn't know who was in charge of teaching magic, "I'm sure they'll teach you everything you need to know. I, on the other hand, can only help you learn to defend yourself without your powers." He arched an eyebrow, "Speaking of which, shouldn't you be in class?"


"No, wait, I was talking about the physical training; I guess Amanda will handle the magical stuff." She seemed to calm a little then; Nico simply nodded to the rest of his statement; she considered it was necessary to make herself as clear as possible. Lex's sudden mention of clases almost makes her wince of discomfort.


"That would be tomorrow; this would be my last day of freedom", she explained with a sigh.


"Well then," Lex said with a devilish grin, "You should enjoy today, free time is a precious commodity around here. Have you been into town yet?"


"Dude, I didn't even know I could leave!" Of course, not leaving like forever, but Nico was unsure of what Xavier could think of her going out, she wondered if she at least had that priviledge. "And I don't have either a liscense nor a car of my own, so I'm limited to asking, I guess??"


"Here, give me figure out what's wrong with the jeep and I'll take you into town. There's a coffee place most of the students talk about, I think it's called CoffeeQuake." Lex chuckled as she spoke, he remembered being that new: lost without any knowledge of the boundaries and rules. He knew she'd catch on sooner or later.

"Sounds like a plan; okay then, let's do this." Nico gave a couple of tentative steps towards the car, and then read what Lex had so graciously put on his tool box. Smilling, she waited for him to do the repairs. It was always a man and his machine...