First Encounter Amanda & Billy

[x-asgardian.livejournal.com]

Billy finished putting a few books on the shelf then stepped back to look around the suite that was now "his." It was sparse, not exactly home, but he didn't want to risk removing any more of his personal things from his parents' place. At least until graduation, he'd have to still play at living at home. "Getting a place of his own" would be more acceptable after that.

With a shrug, he flopped back on the bed, staring at the ceiling as he contemplated how much things had changed over the past several days.

Out in the hall, Amanda paused before the suite's door and gave herself a mental shake. This was a good idea, she reminded herself. No more abrupt surprises, like Wanda reappearing. Instead, she was going to be proactive and meet this person who was another version of her student, on her own terms and with full awareness of what to expect.

Except now she was here, she wasn't so sure it was a good idea.

"Stop being such a nancy," she muttered to herself and at last, knocked firmly.

Billy looked up at the knock, surprised since he wasn't expecting company. He rolled off the bed and make his way to the door. "Oh, hi," he greeted the unfamiliar face. "Something I can help you with?"

Whatever Amanda had been about to say died on her lips. She wasn't sure what she had expected, but this definitely wasn't her student. He was older, an adult, Billy's potential realised. "Um, hi," she managed, a bit more awkwardly than she had intended. "I'm Amanda. One of the resident witches. Thought I'd come introduce myself."

"Oh, hey," Billy said, amiably. "I heard you were one of the people I should look up pretty soon. Come on in," he offered, stepping aside to allow entry. "Can I get you something to drink? A Coke? Beer?"

"A beer'd be great," she replied, walking into the suite. "And I'm impressed - here five minutes and there's beer already in the fridge. A man after my own heart." If she was flirting, it was only because it was an automatic thing, the facade she wore when dealing with something difficult. "So, how are you finding things here at Xavier's Home for Wayward Mutants?"

"Don't be impressed," Billy laughed. "Priorities, yes; organization, hardly." He closed the door behind them and looked at her, then up into space thoughtfully, before beginning to chant. "I WANT TWO BODDINGTONS ALES...AND A BOTTLE OPENER,", he added as an afterthought. "I WANT TWO BODDINGTONS ALES AND A BOTTLE OPENER,". The beverages appeared in hand, and after a moment of fancy juggling, he had the caps off and passed one her way. "Thought you might like a taste of home."

He gestured at one of the empty chairs, setting his beer aside as he move a box off another. "Well, to be honest, it's still hard to believe this place exists. I've lived in New York all my life, and I've never seen so many mutants in one place. Well, outside of District X, if you dare step foot in there."

Amanda took the offered beer and took a seat. "We've worked hard to keep this place under the radar," she agreed. "And it works - not just as a school, but somewhere we can help others feel safe." She took a sip of the beer - it was perfect temperature, wherever he'd summoned it from. "How long have you been practicing? The magic, I mean."

"I can see why. Not really wise to be popping up on the news," Billy nodded as he settled into the chair and snatched his own drink. "That's a good question. I don't really even know. In some ways, maybe my whole life. Things have always just sort of...happened around me. For a long time, I didn't realize there was anything different. Kind of like Harry Potter not realizing talking to snakes wasn't normal. Practicing useful magic, though... several years, I guess. I tend to experiment with different things...figure out what works, what doesn't, try to keep it from blowing up in my face."

Despite herself, Amanda laughed out loud. "Yeah, I know how that goes. My own magic... it hasn't always been the most stable, and I've had to work a lot out myself." She grimaced. "Never thought I'd say this, but where's Hogwart's when we needed it?"

"Well, it seems like this place might give Hogwart's a run for its money. Fewer moving stairways, though. Well, that I know of so far," Billy said, scanning around the room. "I'm not sure I'd ever call my magic 'stable.' It's kind of a gamble; hard to predict exactly what's going to happen. Sometimes it just...works. Exactly what I wanted. A lot of the time, it's not quite, but close enough. Sometimes, though...well, those are stories that only come out after something harder than beer."

"We try. And, well, yeah, I try." Amanda shifted a little awkwardly. "I teach the new generation of magic users, as best I can, any way. Mostly to stay out of trouble." An image crossed her mind of the three of them, Tandy, Billy and Megan, sitting in a classroom learning to create werelights, and her throat tightened a little. She hid it with another swallow of beer. "It's not always as successful as I'd like, but at least they learn to get themselves out of the trouble they get into."

"Well, if that's a roundabout offer of training," Billy said with a quick grin, oblivious to any awkwardness. "I'd welcome any tips. Like I said--pretty much self-taught, and trial and error only gets you so far. I'm fair at a few things. Jumping. Lightning," he paused, ticking off the list. "Oh, and shields. Those are pretty easy too, for some reason. But if you've any ideas to help stretch that...I'm all open."

"We can see. And on the other hand, maybe you'd like to help teach sometimes - a different perspective is always helpful. Plus, my other job tends to take me out of the country on short notice." Amanda raised an eyebrow at him. "Think you'd be up for subbing now and again?"

Billy tried to hide a snicker, failing miserably. "Yeah, I can just see how that would go. 'Yeah, mom, I have a job. Substitute teaching. No, you don't want to know where.' Seriously, though. not quite sure I'm teacher material, but if my mishaps are of any use...sure, whatever."

"Fuck, I'm sure as hell not teacher material, but I was the only one who knew anything about magic when we wound up with Topaz and Megan, so it was a case of needs must." Amanda chuckled. "We'll see. You're here now, so that means anything can - and probably will - happen."