xp_logs | Lex and Kurt | Backdated to Saturday Afternoon

Lex learns that there's one good thing to be said about soap operas: they'll give you a reason to drink in the early afternoon.

Lex sat in the lounge with the television turned up loud enough to drown out his own thoughts. He had spent too much time in his room in the past few weeks, either bedridden or too exhausted to leave his suite. Having just recovered enough to wander about the house he was still having to deal with all of the thoughts of how weak he was. He couldn't believe that the mission had taken so much out of him, but when he looked back on it he had known that it was going to take it's toll on him. He wasn't even ready to be a full member of the team and it had already been six months.

"Fuck!" he shouted, and changed the channel. Everything seemed to come back to the fact that he wasn't good at being a mutant. He was just a soldier with special powers, but that didn't even help as he couldn't use them without sending himself to medlab. "Fuck, fuck, fuck."

"Something wrong, Lex?" came a mild voice from the doorway, pitched loud enough to be heard over the television noise. "It is good to see you out and about again."

Lex jumped slightly as he heard the voice. For a second he reached for his knives and then realized he'd left them in the suite. Turning slowly, he eyed the person standing in the doorway. "It's, uh, well," he paused, and decided to lie. "There's nothing but soaps on the tv, and it's damn frustrating." He tried to give a benign grin, but he didn't think he could fool anyone with it.

"Of course it is", Kurt answered with faint amusement, playing along since he didn't know Lex well enough to prod. "You were looking forward to watching something else?"

"Anything else, really. I've been cooped up in my suite for far too long and I think I started imagining there were things in the walls." He turned down the volume, using the remote and then looked around. There was no one else to be seen. "Care to join me?"

"Why not." He padded over on bare feet and curled up in one of the armchairs. "How are you feeling? Recovering well, I hope?"

"Sort of. My powers haven't come back as fast or as well as I had hoped." What he really meant was that he could barely sense systems, let alone affect any. He turned back to Kurt and smiled, weakly.

"It can happen that way sometimes with burnout", Kurt confirmed, returning the smile reassuringly. "But the chances are very good they will come back. I am Kurt Sefton, by the way."

"Lex," he returned, "I hope they come back soon. After the mission in India I realized that I need them, they are a part of me." He meant it. Something had changed when he collapsed on the deck of the ship and he realized that in the moment when he couldn't sense any electrical system he felt hollow.

Kurt nodded, understanding. "I have never been inhibited or lost my powers, personally, but others here have and many of them described it that way. I am sure you just need a little longer to recover."

There was a lot to be said for someone who could sympathize with a man as vulnerable as him. He changed the channel and sighed. "There's definitely nothing on," he turned to Kurt, "do you drink?"

"I am a German gypsy." He grinned. "I most certainly do. Shall we adjourn to one of our suites, or to Harry's?"

"Harry's, it's got more color and it beats the hell out of staring at blank white walls... even if the company is infinitely better than it has been." He chuckled and tried to turn off the tv with his powers. It didn't work. He tried it again, there was an arc from his hand and then the tv sparked and went out.

Kurt glanced between him and the TV, then suggested delicately, "Perhaps it might be best to rest your powers a little bit longer. I imagine it is something like a strained muscle, which needs easing back into full use. Harry's is a good place, also."

"As long as the television doesn't start smoking then I think I'm getting better. I've burnt out several things in my room those first few days after I woke up." He grinned, "I think I'm getting better."

****

Throwing the Jeep into park, Lex jumped over the side. He walked towards the entrance to Harry's with a wide grin. "This was definitely a good call."

Kurt, still not wearing any shoes, got out and followed him with a smile in return. "Sometimes it is good to get away from the same four walls, true. Especially since you are just now recovered enough to go out."

"I plan on making good use of my newly recovered health." Lex led the way into the bar, holding the door for Kurt. "I hope they let you in without shoes on, my friend. It would be a shame to have to drive back."

"Harry understands." He glanced ruefully down at his feet. "No one makes shoes that fit me properly. And leather chafes on my fur."

"Ah, sorry about that." He paused as he let the door close behind him, "Tell you what, the first drink's on me."

"I will certainly not say no to that", was the cheerful response, as Kurt waved easily at Harry behind the bar.

Lex followed suit and decided to sit at the bar for easy drink access. "So, where were we?" He paused for a moment in order to remember their conversation before pulling into Harry's. "Oh yeah, I was telling you about the new limitations of what I can do. You still want to hear about that, or should we get drinks first?"

"Conversation is always better with drinks", Kurt decided. "And then I will be glad to hear if you want to talk about it."

"Harry, I'll take a Bass," Lex paused trying to figure out what his companion might enjoy, "and get Kurt whatever he wants." He waited for the barkeep to acknowledge him and then turned, a broad smile across his face. Sometimes it was best to just keep things simple.

Harry didn't even bother to ask Kurt before bringing their drinks, just providing him with the European beer he always ordered. "So", he said after taking a satisfied sip, "we were discussing your powers."

"Well, it's strange," he said, taking the beer from Harry with a quick nod. "I can't sense systems like I could before. I am trying to, but there's some sort of block that stops me from using my powers like I used to." Lex watched the other man's eyes to see if he was following what was being said. "See, I've been trying to increase the amount of power I can safely sustain, and the maximum amount I can release in a burst, but every time I do I run into a strange feedback loop that incapacitates me. Or, well, I used to."

"Is it possible it is in your mind?" Kurt suggested. "Some people, especially after a trauma of any kind, have found that to happen."

"That, my friend, is a distinct possibility." He'd been thinking about it a great deal and remembering an old conversation he had with the strange diamond lady of the forest. She had looked into his mind and told him that he had far more potential than he was using. To Kurt he said, "I met Emma Frost in the forest last fall and had a very interesting conversation with her..." He trailed of as he tried to remember the specifics of what they had talked about.

"Emma is a very interesting person," Kurt said with a faint but warm smile. "And rather an expert on what the mind is capable of - as you might expect, really."

"That she is," Lex had to laugh. She had penetrated his mind faster than he could have imagined, even if he had known how telepathy worked when he met her. There were so many things he took for granted in those first days and he was hoping that he'd gotten past most of his ignorance. "She told me that I should look her up if I ever wanted a job or needed something with my powers."

"I can definitely recommend that", he said more seriously. "Dr. McCoy is an expert with the physical aspects of powers, but for some things you need a telepath, and of course we have the Professor, but if you wanted someone else... Emma would be the best second choice."

"I'll have to look into her. I was already interested in her business at seems like she makes some amazing hi-tech gadgetry..." His face twisted slightly as he spoke; a sad side effect of not having his powers was that he didn't feel tuned into technology, "but this gives me a great reason to go find her."

"I think she has fingers in a great many pies", Kurt said with a nod, "but the cutting edge is very much in her field of interest. My sister technically works for her, if you would like an in."

"I'll keep that in mind." Lex had a lot on his plate and it was good to be talking to people again. He didn't want to burden anyone so he decided that he would reach out to Emma on his own. "I appreciate that, and that you're here. I needed this."

"I seem to be good at being in the right place when someone needs company." He grinned. "Most of the time, at least. Sometimes even I get it wrong."

"Well, we can't be right all the time--with the possible exception of the Professor." Lex laughed as he spoke, trying to melt the atmosphere into something more pleasant. He slapped Kurt on the back in a friendly manner. "Thanks."

"You are more than welcome. I should have come to welcome you to the mansion long ago."