Yvette and Julian - Old Friends (backdated to September 24)

[x-penance.livejournal.com]

Having caught up with his other old friends, Julian seeks out the elusive Yvette, still embarrassed after his party.



Now sufficiently caught up with his old roommate, Julian headed through the halls of the lesser used manor wings to find another friend to reconnect with- one he'd first come to know as the Apple Ninja. Fred had caught him up on the budding relationship between he and Yvette, which he was happy for, but it also explained Callie's bummed-out mood. Dressed in his day-to-day suit, he wandered through parts of the mansion he wasn't certain had been walked through before. Getting lost several times on his way, he finally found his way to the X-Corps office and, after checking to make sure he looked alright, knocked on the door.

"Come in." Yvette's voice sounded distracted, not as perky as usual, and when he came in, she was at her desk, paperwork scattered all over it, a far cry from her usual neat piles. Her eyes were dull as she looked up, but at the sight of him, they brightened, literally, echoed by a smile. "Julian! I had heard you were back!"

The chaos of the office was nothing out of the ordinary for Julian, as he'd never visited them before. "I am indeed back," he smiled and approached her desk, taking a seat on the edge of it. "Or I arrived a while back but have been ridiculously busy with getting my East Coast affairs in order- though from what I hear, you enjoyed the party I threw rather thoroughly." With a wink, "Perhaps too much so?" Not bothering to press the point he shifted slightly, "In any event, time has finally freed up and I thought now would be a perfect time for me to take you to lunch and rescue from this...place."

If she could blush, Yvette would have turned crimson. As it was, she coughed and looked away, mortified. "I did," she managed at last. "It was an interesting night." Too interesting, definitely, but at least she was rethinking her coping mechanisms - or lack of them - over a bit more. "I am sorry that Fred and I left when we did."

"I think the invite said the party went to question marks- you didn't have an obligation to stay to any certain time, so don't worry about it." Julian smiled and stood up, "I'm just glad you enjoyed yourself, but I'm more worried about today- as in, us getting lunch. Your choice, my treat," he smiled and nearly offered her a hand up, but thought the better for it.

She noted the gesture and reached for the gloves that lay on her desk - she'd taken them off to practice her control, and while she was fine with practicing with paper, she wasn't confident enough to take his hand. "Lunch would be lovely," she said pulling them on. "You can tell me about your plans, since I did not get to talk to you much at the party, yes?"

"I think that's a fair trade," he helped the heavier-than-she-looked Yvette to her feet and offered her his arm. "You have two choices to make, Yvette- first, top up or down on the convertible, and second, where would you like to go?"

"Have you been to Catseye's deli yet?" Yvette asked. It was an easy choice, mostly because she didn't feel like dealing with anti-mutant bigots today. Or worry that someone was spitting in her food. "Because she has the sandwiches to die for."

*

"So, I heard from Angel that you are helping out with the New Mutants?" Yvette asked as they walked into Deli-CAT-essen, Julian of course being the gentleman and holding the door open for her.

Getting into the cue for food, Julian nodded, "I figured she could use a hand with it- though I have to say, everyone has been so cynical about it. Did you know that I was helping with the youth program at the West Coast Annex for most of my time in California?" He shook his head, there had been no end to the puzzled looks when he told people. He could have sworn that the ever-placid Charles was even a bit surprised, but he was probably just misreading things.

"Well, it is not like you were very upfront about telling people what you were doing in California," she replied, teasingly. "Did you forget your email password perhaps?"

Julian chuckled, "No, it wasn't the password, it was the username- a bit too much head-trauma during my time as an X-Man Trainee." Julian ordered two sandwiches for himself and waited for Yvette to place her order before motioning toward an empty table. "So you and Fred are dating now, hmm?"

Yvette ordered mac and cheese - apparently she'd forgotten breakfast again - and sat down before answering the question. "Yes, we are." She smiled fondly. "For about a year or so now?"

"How did that come about?" Julian pulled out Yvette's seat and scooted her back in as she sat down, before seating himself.

"By accident?" was her reply, accompanied by slightly impish grin. "Actually, it really was by accident. We had liked each other for some time, but we were both too... how do you say? Clueless? to do anything about it. Then Fred kissed me under the mistletoe at Christmas, and we got into another muddle, and eventually we just decided to try the date." She shrugged a little. "Or something like that."

Her old friend smiled and leaned back slightly, "And the rest is history." With a widening smile, Julian gave her a slight nod, "I'm happy for you both...really, I am. You two make an adorable match." Unconsciously, his hand drifted to the pocket watch in his vest, "So when will you two be getting married?"

It was lucky that they didn't have drinks yet, or Yvette would have choked on hers. "Married?" she squeaked, once she could find words again. Then she burst into giggles. "Oh, I wish Fred was here to hear this! His head would explode! We haven't even..." She cut herself off, then, eyes flaring brightly with embarrassment at the near-confession.

Now it was Julian's turn to feel lucky he hadn't been taking a drink, "Oh, well- that's...." Not entirely certain how to respond to that, he shrugged, "I'm sure he's just shy?" Wincing, Julian chuckled and looked around the busy room. "I missed a lot in my time away- there's only one student at the school that I actually remember, and I hear we have to worry about demons now...awesome."

Yvette leapt on the change of topic with relief. "We have definitely been busy with the new students, yes," she agreed, as the drinks arrived. "I have not had so much to do with all of them, but there have been one or two interested in the Red X program. Clint, for one."

"I have not had a chance to meet him yet," Julian paused as their beverages arrived. "I have a feeling that statement could be applied to most of the people living at the mansion now. And so many of them have moved out too!" Taking a sip of his drink, "I'm glad you're still around Yvette."

"Where else would I be?" she replied with a wry grin, checking her gloves before reaching for her own glass. "This is my home now."

Julian's smile and nod at her comment were insincere, so many had already left, and so many here were still strangers to him- it felt more familiar returning to Xavier's than it ever had when he returned to California, but in some ways it was still very alien. "I'm glad you're around none-the-less," now he gave her a sincere smile.

"And I am glad you have come back, also," she replied, with her own smile in reply. "And now, the gossip. Tell me what you were doing all this time!"

A beat of silence passed between them as Julian's eyes widened, "Well..wow, I've been all over really. I went back to California, went to school for a bit. Took some time off to go travel in China. Met a girl, fell in love, lost her. Dad got arrested and now, I'm back here." Bobbing his head to the side slightly, "Okay, maybe that's an over simplification, but it's accurate at least." Their drinks and food were delivered by a smiling waitress, who Julian recalled having left a very nice tip for the last time he'd been in.

"I am sorry, about your girlfriend, and about your family." Yvette's voice was sincere. "I know you were not always so close to your father, but it must be difficult for you. And not just because of the publicity."

Julian smiled, trying to hide how right she was, "It's fine- dad obviously didn't want me around even when I went home. He tossed me away to college, and to minor positions in the company...and then apparently funded a bunch of people who'd like to see us all dead." With a shrug he continued, "I always seems to end up in New York when the chips are down...and things usually work out...after a great deal of pain." Taking a sip of his drink, he looked downward, sighed a bit internally and looked up at Yvette with a slight smile.

"There is something about this place that calls people back," she acknowledged. "And your mother? Your brother? How are they?"

"Fine," Julian said curtly. After a pause, "I mean, they lost everything when dad got arrested. James has his trust intact, but he can't access it until he's 21. I gave them what I could, but from what I hear they're selling off property and moving in with my grandparents." He shrugged, "So things could be worse...I could be moving in with my grandparents- they're even worse than my dad is."

Yvette nodded, taking in the curt tone. She considered asking why, if his mother and brother were in such a situation, Julian was buying penthouse apartments in New York and hosting extravagant multiple-day parties, but decided against it. He was unhappy enough and she didn't want to fight. Especially in Catseye's restaurant. "Well, I hope things are better for them. And for you," she said at last, perhaps a little lamely. "I am sorry, this is the difficult topic for you. I should not have been so nosy."

Shaking off the gloom, Julian's smile returned- the same manufactured one he'd mastered at this point through muscle memory. "It's fine, Yvette, they're fine, I'm doing well enough and I'm back here with my real friends." Lifting his cup, he cocked his head and gestured to indicate he meant her.

She smiled and raised her glass in return. “Here is to better times, yes?”