LOG: Warren and Scott

[x-highflying.livejournal.com]

After a gruelling Danger Room session, Warren and Scott have a beer and catch up.

"I'm really not sure if I can decide whether your training programs are worse than Garrison and Paige's or not," Warren grumbled as he left the Danger Room with Scott. "But really, I think you're all closet sadists. You should probably see some about that."

"You don't know... Warren I'm hurt", Scott held his hands over his heart, "How can you compare my masterpieces of pain and sweat with anything Paige and Garrison can offer." He smiled at Warren, "Still you didn't do too badly that time."

"I should hope not," Warren said with a rueful grin. "I've been working on trying to beat that scenario for about a month now. As I said, you're all sadists." He grinned properly over to Scott. "And now I need a drink. I've got some beer in my suite, want to join me?"

Granted, it was beer from a local microbrewery, but Warren preferred it to most of the beers generally served at the bars in the area.

"Well I really shouldn't" Scott started before returning Warren's grin. "Well maybe in the interest of making sure you don't have to drink all the beer alone." He gestured down the hallway, "Lead the way my friend, it'll be one of the only times you'll get ahead of me" Scott said with a laugh.

"I don't drink alone," Warren protested with a laugh. "Apparently I have too many friends who won't let me." He smirked at Scott before start to head towards the suite he shared with Kyle.

"And besides, walking behind you just means I get to check out your ass."

Scott blinked owlishly "I..ah..you" He cast a repentant look at Warren. "You got me there".

Following Warren to his suite he smirked, "Although the view from back here isn't too bad, you've been working out" he joked.

Warren laughed. "I'm just naturally this hot. I can't help it." For reasons only science knew, Warren was all muscle and no fat, no matter how much he ate.

Once they reached his suite, Warren waved for Scott to take a seat before he went to the fridge. The furniture in the suite was nicer than most, Warren had pretty much replaced it all when he moved in.

He reappeared with a couple of bottles of beers, already uncapped, and handed one to Scott before he sat down.

"So how are you finding being back? Not missing the California sun yet?"

Scott leaned back in the sofa and took a sip of his beer. "All the time" he smiled at Warren. "I can't really describe it, it's sorta like being high without the drugs. But it is nice to be back, free beer is a definite positive" He tipped the beer in Warren's direction. "I did miss Jean and you guys." He smiled happily at the memory, "I don't think she can quite believe that I'm back for good yet."

"How about you," Scott turned his attention to Warren, "anything significant in your life?"

"Free beer is always available," Warren said with a grin.

"For the moment just about all of my free time is taken up with setting up my law firm. I'm going into practice with a friend from law school who is also a mutant. We've got an office in District X, now we just need clients." He smiled a little ruefully. "And I've been trying to keep my mind off Vanessa."

"Vanessa?" Scott asked inquiringly. "What is going on between you two these days?"

Warren just shrugged, taking a long drink from his beer before he replied. "Honestly, I don't know. We've been on a break since she's been back and conscious, and things have just been... awkward, really. I don't know how else to describe it."

Scott grimaced, "You're talking to the man whose wife developed a split personality and slept with one of my friends, trust me I get the awkward." He took a long sip of the beer, "It gets better you know. Have you actually talked to her?" he inquired.

"See, that's the thing," Warren said. "We weren't together for very long before she was kidnapped, and we were still very much in the honeymoon period, I suppose. Getting to know each other and mostly just ending up in bed together a lot. And I want to be there for her, but..." He shrugged. "So far that just seems to have involved feeding her a lot. And I don't want to push her because of what she's been through."

"That's all you can do I guess", Scott replied, "just be there for her. You don't have to hold off too much though, let her know how you feel." He laughed wryly to himself, "I had always promised myself I'd never start talking in platitudes, now look at me." He turned to face Warren while talking, "I have to admit I'm kind of surprised you're living in the mansion instead of nearer to your offices in District X."

"Well, I'll probably end up buying an apartment there," Warren replied, somewhat glad to be off the subject of Vanessa. "But either way, I'd be commuting back and forth, since I'm here most days for team things. And the flight between here and there is good exercise." He flashed Scott a grin. "And it's harder to have a drink with people after training if the alcohol on offer is a good hour or two away."

"Maybe, but for the offer of free beer, I'd drive all the way to District X. Although come to think about it, I'd take any excuse to take my car out for a spin" Scott replied returning Warren's grin. "How is District X these days? I haven't had a chance to visit since I got back."

"Things are getting better," Warren said. "I think the community appreciates the work X-Factor does, and there definitely is a community feel to the area. There's still a lot of work to do, and there are places that are still a mess after Day Zero, but there are construction projects being finished and buildings becoming available for use."

"And it doesn't hurt that they have their own... high flying ... law firm to handle any delicate issues." Scott tipped his beer at Warren with a grin. "Of course, being unbelievably egoistic probably isn't going to endear you to many of your neighbors." he continued deadpan.

"It's alright, I save my unrelenting egotism for my closest friends," Warren replied with a cheerful grin. "And that was a truly awful pun, you are not allowed near any of our advertising."

'But I'd be soo good" Scott wheedled, "Summer advertising, can you imagine it. Walters and Worthington, we'll wing you to a better tomorrow." Scott grinned as he took another sip of beer. "Now you know the dark secret of why I've never left the mansion."

"I'm going to introduce you to Jen," Warren said with a laugh. "And if you can honestly get that past her, I think you might be onto something after all."

Warren didn't really like his chances.

Scott grinned, "Flowers and a bit of the Summer's charm and we're sorted. It got me Jean somehow didn't it." He winked at Warren.

"I'm not sure I should be advocating you trying to charm someone other than your wife. Aren't you already in trouble for ogling as it is?" Warren grinned back.

"Who said anything about ogling?" Scott asked, "I'm trying to charm a potential client." HE laughed and took another sip of beer, "Truth is I want to get Jean out of here over Christmas, go check into a hotel and enjoy some time away from the mansion. She's working way to hard as it is, and could really do with a break" he admitted to Warren.

Warren nodded at that. "It's a good idea, she certainly could do with the break." He paused. "I've been toying with an idea of heading off somewhere for New Year's, round up a group of people for a party somewhere. I don't really have an apartment to do it in anymore."

"As I recall, that's never stopped you in the past" Scott noted. "Were you planning on having your party in New York? or heading off somewhere else in the country?"

"Definitely out of town. The family has a house in Colorado, and I'm fairly sure my father won't be using it over that period. Ski fields, roaring fires, a hot tub. What more could you want, really?" Warren grinned.

Scott tipped his beer at Warren, "Not much," he agreed. "Although, I bet the hot tub is the main selling point." Scott peered at Warren, "How are things with dear old dad anyhow?"

"Hmmmmm," Warren replied. "They're... I haven't spoken to him or my mother in over six months. Not since I quit working for him and came out of the mutant closet." Not talking to his dad bothered him somewhat, but not talking to his mother was harder than he liked to admit.

Scott nodded sagely, "Parents" he agreed raising his beer bottle in a toast. "We can't live with them, can't live without them. Can't forget them throwing you out of a plane with one parachute." he smiled slightly. "Maybe you can invite your mother to hang out in the New Year? Maybe take her to a show without your dad knowing?"

"Maybe," Warren replied thoughtfully. "I'll have to think about it. And see if she'll take my call." He shrugged, then realised his bottle was empty.

"Another drink?" He asked, as he pushed himself up off the couch.

"I really shouldn't" Scott said as he started to push himself up from his seat. Looking over at Warren he grinned and dropped back down, "Maybe just one more".