Gabriel & Maya

[x-velocidad.livejournal.com]

Gabriel and Maya have a conversation. Nobody punches each other or runs away.

Maya had spent most of the time that she was grounded exploring the insides of the mansion - that is when she wasn't writing lines or looking appropriately chastened in order to reduce what was particularly painful given how few places indoors didn't already have occupants.

Even the roof wasn't safe - seemingly the haunt of the more drug addled of the mansion's contingent of wastrels and strays. Not that Maya knew what a wastrels was, she supposed she could look it up but where was the fun in that?

Third floor was also off limits - as if she'd want to hang out with old people anyhow - well, not most of them. Cecilia was pretty cool, and Wade was sort of growing on her...like a fungus. There were a couple of new adults who were maybe promising, Darcy shared her hatred of morning cheerful people and Topaz didn't seem a complete waste of space.

She needed out though - which was why on this particular afternoon she was headed right for the great outdoors and if she was lucky, she wouldn't have to share it with anyone.

But fate wasn't on Maya's side. As she stepped outside the mansion, a blur in black was running toward the building.

It was chilly, even for November, but Gabriel had wanted to go for a run, and he had a policy to avoid the treadmill for as long as possible. So he'd thrown on a few layers, laced up his running shoes and hit the jogging path. He'd taken it easy at first, warming up as he warmed up, but the last mile had been particularly tough. So he cut his run a bit short and was now in overdrive as he made his way back to the steps.

He came to a stop a good few yards from the door, returning to normal speed and normal time as he switched to a cooldown walk. The sun was in his eyes, so he shouted a greeting and raised his hand in a wave before he caught sight of who this other person coming toward him was.

Maya waved back, trying not to look as annoyed as she felt at discovering yet another place at the mansion full of people.

She supposed she couldn't really complain - even though it was chilly out, outside was infinitely preferable to inside.

It was only when Gabriel got closer that he realized just who he was approaching. A sigh mixed in with his breathing, barely noticeable above the panting. They were headed straight toward each other, and he was clearly at a stop, so there was no running around the other side of the mansion to avoid this exchange.

"Hey," he said when he was within hearing distance, smiling a little as he beelined for the stairs. A giant water bottle, left outside where it would cool, was sitting where he'd left it earlier, and he squatted slightly to pick it up.

Never trust a handsome man's smile - that's what her Grandmother always said. They were too used to the world just giving them what they wanted - even if that just happened to be an easy conversation.

"Hi," Maya signed, fishing out her hearing aids from her pocket.

He twisted off the cap of the bottle. Unlike a surprising portion of the mansion's residents, Gabriel did not sign. "Heading out?" He raised his eyebrows before taking a big gulp of water. "It's kind of cold and damp. Might want a scarf or a hat or something."

Maya looked at him for a time, her lack of response almost uncomfortable before she finally answered.

"Do you want the polite answer to that?" She finally asked - tone curious. "Although - it is a bit chilly."

Gabriel shrugged. "Not forcing you to talk, if that's what you're asking." He wiped sweat off his forehead. "And if you were planning on telling me to go fuck myself, not gonna stop you."

"Do you normally do what other people expect you to?" Maya asked, having placed her hearing aids in and using the words she read on his lips as reference. "Because most of the time, I find it more fun to do exactly the opposite."

She pushed her hands into the pockets of her jeans - Sooraya had been particularly thorough during their shopping trip, making sure she picked up warm clothes. Frankly - Maya hated the cold.

"Not really." He could feel his muscles starting to tighten, so he put one ankle on a step and stretched his hamstrings. "I mean, I don't think so. Not really sure what people expect from me. You stop caring as you get older."

"Right."

Maya didn't bother to call bullshit - if Gabriel honestly didn't care than more power to him but she'd seen enough adults fall all over themselves to impress people that age had absolutely nothing to do with it.

"So what kind of mutant are you anyway?"

"A speedy one." Gabriel didn't react to the obvious skepticism, because he was trying to be civil. "Not faster than a speeding bullet or anything, but, fast enough." He switched legs, looking down at his feet instead of up at her. "What do you do?"

"Don't know yet," Maya replied with a shrug.

That it seemed to mostly consist of trying to stab people so far was a little concerning but she figured now that Rogue's brain was a little less crazy - they might be able to find out more.

"What's being super fast like?"

"It's — well, convenient, obviously." He looked up at her with a half-shrug. "I mean, you know. Can fit a lot more into the day. Although it's more tiring than you'd think. My metabolism's out of control." He hunched his shoulders as the wind picked up. Leaves shuffled along the grass around them, and he watched a few go by before he looked back at her. "But it's also, like..." He pursed his lips a bit. "Like, when you're going faster than the rest of the world, and it's just you, there's something kind of surreal and awesome about it. I don't know how to describe it."

"Like how I feel when I'm in the woods, and there's no people nearby," Maya replied, trying to understand - a seeming first for her considering she hadn't made a disparaging comment yet. "Sometimes it shows me things, not like, words or anything but I can feel it and it's like everything is in it's place and nothing is not doing what it should be doing and it's sorta like peace would feel, maybe."

"Maybe," Gabriel agreed, "but it's not really — I mean, it's a little more intense. Not really peaceful or serene or anything. It's like..." He held up his hands, gesticulating a bit as he tried to think of a way to explain. "I mean, everyone pictures that thing in that Matrix movie, where you're dodging bullets or whatever and slowing down time. But, like, you know how when you're on a really high swing, and you're at the top, and the swing kind of stops for a millisecond, and it's great, but you also kind of feel like you could fall, even though you know there's a chain?" He shrugged. "Sometimes it's like being frozen in that moment."

"Sure," Maya replied, eyebrows raised. "I always jumped off at that point. Used to drive my family spare but I figured if you're up that high, might as well make the most of it. You ever run into anything?"

"Uh, yeah," Gabriel nodded. "At first, for sure. Takes some getting used to, and like, you're running at one speed, and then suddenly, you're running at another. Hard to anticipate." He shrugged. "Better than some people's power problems, I'm sure. I didn't set anything on fire or poison anyone or anything."

"People here have done that?" Maya asked, suddenly not sure if this place was as safe as her Dad and Wade had made it out to be. Who went around poisoning people, or setting them on fire and called that a school? "I'm not gonna explode or something am I? Do mutants normally do that?"

"I dunno." Gabriel shrugged. "People don't really — nobody has a good "how I got my powers" story, not really. And it's kind of rude to ask, so..."

"Really? Why the hell would that be rude?" Maya gave him an irritated look before shrugging it off and taking a deep breath. She'd promised herself that she'd make more of a go at being a reasonable person rather than a raging asshole. "I'd think it was just a story, like how you got a scar, or why you ended up kissing the head jock behind the bleachers at half-time. Everyone's got at least one crappy story, not like it's that big a deal."

Gabriel stared at her for a few seconds, his expression neutral, as he sized her up. That he was judging her was abundantly clear, and there was no point trying to hide it. He'd already given her more of the benefit of the doubt than anyone else at this place had; he certainly wasn't going to hide that she was trying his patience.

"I trust you not to blab this to the entire mansion," he finally said, "because the last thing you want is to end up on more of your housemate's shit lists." He dropped his eyes to the water bottle, then looked her squarely in the eye. "But the night I got my powers, my dad tried to assault me, and I got kicked out of my house." He watched her for some sign of a reaction. "And my story's not even the worst one out there. It might not seem like it to you, but this shit is deeply personal. Not everyone wants to talk about it."

Maya chewed at her bottom lip for a moment, eyeing him the same way he was sizing her up. She hadn't really talked a lot about her own story - mostly because she wasn't exactly sure if it counted as a manifestation.

"I'm sorry you had a shitty Dad," She replied eventually, meeting his gaze and holding it. "And I'm not the type that blabs - not cause I give a crap about shitlists, I could care less. I just don't like gossip, it's stupid and people who do it need to get better hobbies."

"Not really my point," Gabriel shrugged. He wasn't particularly worried; so few people, it seemed, were even willing to talk to Maya, that it wasn't like there were that many people to tell. "Just warning you. It's not just a story for some people here."

"Right - because me telling you I don't gossip was somehow unclear." Maya replied, anger spiking just below the service of her words. "Look, I get it, what happened with your Dad wasn't right - family isn't meant to treat you like that. I won't go around asking people randomly for their 'how I became a mutant' stories. Why'd you share that with me though? Not like I'm top of your list for favorite people."

"I'm not sure you're not on anyone's list of favorite people," Gabriel pointed out, crossing his arms. "But I'm trying to give you a shot. Because I get that you're 14, and you think life's not fair, and everyone's out to get you. And you've got shit to learn." He needed a cigarette. He really needed a cigarette. "So, maybe, instead of treating you like half the people here, I'm trying to tell you why you should stop saying some of the rash crap you say. Because going through shit alone is bullshit, and nobody should have to do that, but seems to me like you're coming dangerously close."

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him to fuck off - not that any person raised by her Grandparents would use that kind of language. She paused though and took a breath, reminded herself that he was trying, and that she hadn't exactly been friendly to anyone.

"You're wrong about fair - Life is what it is - fair, not fair, it's just life. It's not that people are out to get me either, or that I think that. I don't."

Maya waved him silent as she tried to think of how best to explain what had been going on with her. How the constant anger seemed to warp any interaction she had.

"I'm meeting with that Haller guy soon, Wade's arranging it for me. I don't want to be a total asshole to everyone - just easier that way sometimes. Thanks though? It counts that you're trying - it does. I didn't know what manifesting was like for the others here."

Gabriel shrugged again. "I — being an asshole is easier," he agreed, "but then it gets hard." A breeze picked up, blowing leaves across the grounds of the mansion. He looked down at them as they flew by his feet. "People here are overbearing and kind of full of it," he looked up at her, "present company included. But once they get over themselves, they're really not so bad. Promise."

"Including you?" Maya asked, but her tone was teasing and there was a genuine smile that reached her eyes. "We can go in, if you want. It's colder out here then I thought."

"Probably should." Gabriel smiled back, but his muscles were already starting to get a bit sore. "I could use a shower, actually, if I have to be around people. And be indoors."

"You are a little funky smelling," Maya noted with a wrinkled nose but still the bright smile. "Go on - go do you. I'm pretty sure I can be trusted to walk inside without insulting anyone mortally."