warren and jay: in the sky

[x-highflying.livejournal.com]

The first thing Warren does on his trip back to the mansion is hit the skies, and he quickly discovers he's not alone. Cue the awkwardness when he doesn't recognise his former student.

It had been years since Warren had flown over the grounds of Xavier's - and years since he'd had the freedom to fly without having to worry about being seen. California from a bird's eye view was fantastic, but the annex just did not have the sort of property that the mansion did. As soon as he'd had the chance to escape the city, he had, driving up to Westchester and abandoning both his car and half of the suit he'd been wearing in his haste to stretch his wings. He hadn't even thought about the presence of other fliers in the sky, which is why he was honestly surprised to see another winged figure in the airspace. Huh?

Jay's flight took him high in the sky, tossing around the clouds, well above the mansion and contemplating diving into the birds flying south when he turned and spotted a very bright pair of ivory wings splaying out. For a instant, he paused and contemplation turned to instinct as he arched in a dive. His wings pulled tight to his body and he opened his mouth in a cry attack and stopped abruptly, catching the wing to crane him back up as he recognized Warren's trademark wings.

"Worthington?" he asked as he fell a fraction in the sky, just enough that Warren could hear him. Godamn, he still looked good, if not better. Age suited him.

Warren had automatically turned in towards the other flier, curious as to their identity. He remembered there being another flier at the school, Sam's little brother, but he'd had red wings. He was pretty sure. His eyebrows shot up at being recognised, and he took a couple of extra seconds to reply as his gaze quickly swept over the other man.

"The one and only," he said with a bit of a joke in his voice and his lips curving up into a smile. "Though that's not entirely true, technically there's three of us." He kept his gaze on Jay, the smile not leaving his face just yet. "And you've got me at a distinct disadvantage, since I don't know who you are."

"It's me," he said, waiting for the recognition to flash across Warren's face. "It's Jay... Guthrie?" It came out as more of an awkward question - hell, he didn't think he changed that much and flew closer, looping over Warren and back up and around to face him. "The one and only", he echoed the joke lamely.

"Oh my god," Warren said with a laugh, shaking his head. "I'm not doing too well with recognising people, I nearly didn't recognise Amanda when I caught up with her. It's been way too long since I've seen anyone." And he wasn't exactly prepared for how much Jay had changed. He really should have kept up with his report reading better.

"It's all right. This is more like a bad hair cut," he joked, running a hand nervously through his hair and averted his eyes. "Except Ah don't get to grow this one out, yanno?" Maybe for just this one time, he'd thank his lucky stars he was blue and not looking like everyone else - hides the blush better.

"No, not really. But at least it suits you better than a bad haircut," Warren said with a rakish smile. So maybe he shouldn't be flirtng with a guy who used to be a student of his - but it had been years, and Jay certainly wasn't a teenager anymore.

"Well you look good," he gestured. "You back now or just vistin'?" he asked. Again his hand raked through his hair and suddenly conscious of the habit, he locked his hands together to stop them from fidgeting.

Warren's only response to the compliment was a further broadening of his smile, not really needing the ego boost but appreciating it nonetheless.

"Back in New York for good, but just visiting the mansion for now. I'll be back on the team full time once I'm settled, so I should be spending a fair bit of time up here."

"Well Ah usually go out flyin' with some other guy," he said off the cuff. "But Ah reckon Ah have time to burn if the ol' man can keep up," he teased. It was awfully quiet flying out by himself since Jean-Paul left. "Ah sure could use a challenge."

"Oh, if you think you can spare the time," Warren said with a smirk. "Last one back to the mansion buys the first round at Harry's." And Warren was off, the lazy flap of his wings replaced with a strong beat as he wheeled himself suddenly back in the direction of the mansion, putting on a burst of speed.