xp_logs | Alex, Scott- Sunday afternoon

Yes it's time for THE talk. Scott comes to see Alex about his problem with Jean and Alex figures out exactly why he has such a problem with her, or at least onf the reasons. Summers Brothers fluff that actually has a point, you figure.

Scott steadied himself on his crutches, then freed one hand to knock on the door of Alex and Lorna's suite. Past time he and his brother had this discussion, he thought determinedly. Wasn't going to be pleasant, he had that very strong suspicion already, but it needed doing.

Turning the TV on mute, Alex uncurled himself from the couch and wandered over to the door. Lorna was asleep again thanks to the wonders of pain killers so Alex had just been entertaining himself untill she woke. He opened the door and he grinned. "Hey Scott! Glad to see you up and about."

"I've been up and about for days, brat," Scott said amiably, hobbling in as Alex stepped aside to give him room. "I just haven't let you catch me at it, because you'd have fussed."

Alex only smirked as he followed Scott over the couch. "Fuss? More like tease bro. Can I get you anything?" He changed course to go the kitchenette, opening the fridge to get a soda.

Scott lowered himself down onto the couch, carefully. "Water would be good," he said, and watched Alex come back out into the living room, can of soda in one hand and bottle of water in the other. He propped the crutches against the wall beside the couch. "I'll be so glad when I'm off these damned things."

"I'm sure." Alex replied as he handed Scott the bottle and sat beside him. "So what brings you to our humble abode? I'm afraid Lorna is sleeping off he latest dose of pain meds so if you can to see her about some X-men thing, your outta luck."
"Actually, I wanted to talk to you. Surprise, I know." Scott took the cap off the bottle and a long sip before he went on, his voice more quiet. "I've been kind of putting it off. Well, that and the fact that the last couple of weeks turned very busy... but I don't think I can put it off any longer."

"Wow...dude this sounds serious...What's up?" Alex turned to his brother, folded one leg under him. He couldn't imagine what Scott would need to talk to him about, but whatever it was, he was all ears.

Scott was thankful for his glasses. They tended to neatly hide it when he rolled his eyes. "Well," he said patiently, "let's see. She's almost six feet tall, red hair... ringing any bells?"

"Oh." His shoulder slumped and he immediatly looked away. Seem's Alex little conersation with Jean had trickled down. "What about her?"

"You and I need to sort some things out, I think," Scott said very calmly. "Firstly, I owe you an apology."

Alex turned back to her blinking. "Apology? From you? Apology for what? "

"For falling apart like that, the first night she came back." Scott smiled a little ruefully, reaching out and ruffling his brother's hair. "You didn't need to have to deal with that. And I think it's gotten you and Jean off to a really bad start, for which I feel responsible."

"Scott, for christ's sake, that's the last thing you should be apologizing for. It was the least I could do to be a shoulder for you to cry on. You needed support and damnit, I'm your brother, I should be the one to give it..." He stopped before he got to Jean, maybe if he gave Scott a false sense of security he would think everything was fine and drop it.

Scott, however, didn't succumb easily to false senses of security, wherever they were coming from. "Don't get me wrong," he said, still firmly but more quietly. "I appreciated it. I wasn't... that weekend was so hard, Alex. I think I came pretty close to losing it entirely."

"And that's nothing to be ashamed of nor to apologize for. Geez, you've did the same for me after my fight with Lorna, it's the least I can do." Alex began to pick at the cuff of his jean, not looking up.

"But you know that how I reacted... that it was all me, right?" Scott said, looking at him intently. "Jean didn't make me fall apart like that. Jean didn't do anything but come looking for help."

"I know that." He responded softly, still not looking up. Sure he knew that but he still blamed her, but he wasn't about to tell Scott that. "What are you getting at bro?"

"Alex..." Scott looked down himself, wondering just what he could actually hope to accomplish here. "She and I... are talking, now. Not a lot just yet, but a little. We have to sort out a lot of things, and I'm not sure how that's all going to turn out."

"That's great. I'm glad." If things were going well fine, Alex wasn't going to ruin anything for Scott. But he still didn't like her.

"I'm not here to tell you that you need to try and make friends with her, you know," Scott said with a sigh. "I just... want you to think a little about why you have such a problem with her."

Alex couldn't take it anyone, he stood up and paced a bit in front of the couch. "I don't want...I don't have to think about it okay? I don't like her, that's it! I don't antagonize her, I wouldn't even have talked to her if it hadn't been for Shiro! I just ... I don't want anything to do with her...is that so much to ask?"

Scott paused. "Yeah," he finally said, very simply. Alex stopped and looked at him. "Like I said, I'm not here to tell you that you need to be friendly with her, or treat her with anything beyond basic courtesy if you pass her in the halls. But you don't get the option of not dealing with why you feel the way you do." He stopped again, wincing inwardly, but told himself that he had to say it. Because it was true, even if part of him writhed in self-loathing at making Alex take this into consideration. "If for no other reason than the fact that she and I have a lot to sort out, Alex. If you want to be there for me, support me... are you going to tell me 'No, I don't want to hear anything about her' if I need to talk? Or tell me to do one thing rather than another just because you don't like her?"

Alex stared at him blankly for a few long moments. then with a large sigh, he collapsed back down onto the couch. "First, I would never do that. Despite whatever I feel for her, you are my top priority and if she makes you happy...I wouldn't jeopordize it." Then Alex sighed again, looking down at his laugh. "Scott...would you promise not to laugh if I told you why I don't like her? I finally...I finally figured it out."

"I can guarantee you," Scott said very firmly, "that I am not going to laugh at you. Not for an instant, whatever you say."

"It's stupid...and selfish...but like I said before, I can't help how I feel..."He stammered, not sure how to say this. "Jean...She...to me she represents your life before I came back into it. I guess...subconsiously...I'm afraid I'm going to loss you to her, and well...it scares me. Alot." Alex was blushing and he turned completely away from Scott, suddenly feeling horrible.

Scott tried not to let his jaw drop. "Not going to laugh," he finally managed, his voice a little strangled-sounding. "May have to smack you upside the head, though..." Instead of doing that, he reached out and pulled Alex into a quick, fierce hug. "Don't be scared. Whatever happens with me and Jean, you're my brother, Alex. Nothing's ever going to change that, or how much I love you. Doofus."

Alex hugged Scott back as if his life depended on it. "I just...It took me years to find you again...I couldn't...I couldn't handle losing you again." he sniffled then looked up at Scott. "Tell Jean I'm sorry...It's going to take me a while to get around to liking her, I still do hate how much pain she put you throught...but I'll try."

"I think she understands already, Alex," Scott said quietly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "She's like that, you know. Always was..." And still was, trouble with her powers or not.

He nodded into Scott's shoulder, sniffling softly again. "I really do hope she makes you happy, you deserve it."

The breath caught in his chest for a moment. "Jumping the gun a little there, junior," Scott said, his throat tight. "Ever if... that's what we both decided we wanted, in the end... that's a long ways off. And I haven't even told her about Betsy yet."

"Well I'll be here to help you, no matter how long it takes. I can promise you that. "Finallly, Alex managed a small smile.

Scott smiled too, although the expression was a little strained. "Didn't ever really doubt that, you know." He hugged Alex more tightly for a moment, then let go, drawing back a little. "And I promise, no more falling apart."

"You fall apart as much as you like, if anyone has deserved it in this mansion, it's you." Alex quickly wiped his eyes then looked up at Scott. "I'm sorry for being a twit..."

"Not a twit. Just protective... and human." Scott reached out and squeezed Alex's shoulder. "I should go," he said, taking a deep breath and reaching for his crutches. "Haven't stopped in to see Nathan today... I've been trying to do that every day."

Alex quickly stood up and after handing Scott his crutchs, he helped his older brother to his feet. "Speaking of which, I need to go visit my big blue brother. With looking after Lorna, don't want to ignore Hank."

"We're all going to be okay, you know," Scott said reassuringly, setting the crutches properly under his arms. "Not that you worrying after the lot of us hasn't been really endearing..." He gave Alex a subdued grin.

Alex rolled his eyes playfully. "Someone needs to look after you all after you've gone anf banged yourselves up."

"And of course, you're eminently qualified, because you're a mother hen at heart," Scott teased, manuevering himself towards the door. "No wonder you and Hank get along so well."

Moving ahead, Alex opened the door for him. "Damn straight bro..." He was grinning now. "Damn straight."