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xp_logsHaller and Shatterstar have a small moment before the latter leaves for Muir. Haller and Arthur . . . less so.
Jack hesitated at the familiar figure in the corridor. Every impulse was screaming at him to just go, to take care of the details once they were safe, but that was Jim operating from a place of panic. Logically a few minutes more -- or a few hours, for that matter -- would make no difference. Besides, after Oregon he felt a vague obligation to spare the kid unnecessary distress.
Mind made up, the telekinetic slung his bag over his shoulder and called out.
"Shatterstar."
Shatterstar took in the sight before him. Clearly dressed for travelling, and the bag was telling by itself. It didn't take a genius to figure out Haller was leaving somewhere. It took him a moment to place the eyes and voice as being the cowboy's, Jack's, and not Jim's.
He and Jack hadn't ever exactly gotten along, but the two of them could do business-like. And... This was Jack reaching out, it looked like.
"X-Men things?" He asked.
"Personal." Mindful of the boy's personal familiarity with the subject, Jack decided to take the rare step of elaborating. "Everybody's safe, Jim's just got to get his shields straight again. We're going to see his old teacher on Muir for a tune-up. Thought I'd let you know."
"That's unlike you," Shatterstar said, thinking back to how Jack had insisted that he didn't owe Shatterstar anything. "Thank you." He meant it more than he knew how to show.
"We hope you fix things."
The telekinetic's only acknowledgement of Shatterstar's thanks was the barest of nods. He turned to go. "Not sure how long we'll be gone," he remarked, readjusting the duffle bag on his shoulder, "but email's fine. Jim'll update you later."
It ached to see Jack turn away, but not how Shatterstar expected it to. It was different this way, knowing where Haller was going and more importantly that they planned on coming back.
This was not being abandoned. And hopefully it would help prevent further comas in the future.
"I will email you."
What should have been a clean exit as interrupted as another, familiar figure appeared at the end of hall. Blond, lean, and glossy as usual, Arthur was absorbed in his notepad and not paying attention as he paced forward. That is, until he registered two of his favorite people. "Haller," he beamed, "Perfect. How'd it go with Jean?" The smile drooped as he noticed the bag. "What's with —"
His friend turned, but the face that looked back was devoid of warmth. The considerate thing to do would be to fill Arthur in, too, but "considerate" wasn't Jack's responsibility. Any answers Jack gave would just provoke more questions from the person Jim least wanted to speak with.
They didn't have time for this.
Deliberately, the telekinetic turned his attention back to Shatterstar.
"Blink's waiting for me," the alter said, and left.
Arthur blinked once. Twice. By the time his mind had caught up, however, Haller was already gone. The blond opened his mouth to say something, but stopped before any words could come out. The vibes were off.
His eyes snapped to Shatterstar, but he could only articulate one question. "Who was that?"
Jack hesitated at the familiar figure in the corridor. Every impulse was screaming at him to just go, to take care of the details once they were safe, but that was Jim operating from a place of panic. Logically a few minutes more -- or a few hours, for that matter -- would make no difference. Besides, after Oregon he felt a vague obligation to spare the kid unnecessary distress.
Mind made up, the telekinetic slung his bag over his shoulder and called out.
"Shatterstar."
Shatterstar took in the sight before him. Clearly dressed for travelling, and the bag was telling by itself. It didn't take a genius to figure out Haller was leaving somewhere. It took him a moment to place the eyes and voice as being the cowboy's, Jack's, and not Jim's.
He and Jack hadn't ever exactly gotten along, but the two of them could do business-like. And... This was Jack reaching out, it looked like.
"X-Men things?" He asked.
"Personal." Mindful of the boy's personal familiarity with the subject, Jack decided to take the rare step of elaborating. "Everybody's safe, Jim's just got to get his shields straight again. We're going to see his old teacher on Muir for a tune-up. Thought I'd let you know."
"That's unlike you," Shatterstar said, thinking back to how Jack had insisted that he didn't owe Shatterstar anything. "Thank you." He meant it more than he knew how to show.
"We hope you fix things."
The telekinetic's only acknowledgement of Shatterstar's thanks was the barest of nods. He turned to go. "Not sure how long we'll be gone," he remarked, readjusting the duffle bag on his shoulder, "but email's fine. Jim'll update you later."
It ached to see Jack turn away, but not how Shatterstar expected it to. It was different this way, knowing where Haller was going and more importantly that they planned on coming back.
This was not being abandoned. And hopefully it would help prevent further comas in the future.
"I will email you."
What should have been a clean exit as interrupted as another, familiar figure appeared at the end of hall. Blond, lean, and glossy as usual, Arthur was absorbed in his notepad and not paying attention as he paced forward. That is, until he registered two of his favorite people. "Haller," he beamed, "Perfect. How'd it go with Jean?" The smile drooped as he noticed the bag. "What's with —"
His friend turned, but the face that looked back was devoid of warmth. The considerate thing to do would be to fill Arthur in, too, but "considerate" wasn't Jack's responsibility. Any answers Jack gave would just provoke more questions from the person Jim least wanted to speak with.
They didn't have time for this.
Deliberately, the telekinetic turned his attention back to Shatterstar.
"Blink's waiting for me," the alter said, and left.
Arthur blinked once. Twice. By the time his mind had caught up, however, Haller was already gone. The blond opened his mouth to say something, but stopped before any words could come out. The vibes were off.
His eyes snapped to Shatterstar, but he could only articulate one question. "Who was that?"
