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Building Bridges....or Something; [Tags: Alex]
Topic Started: Jan 15 2008, 09:54 PM (363 Views)
Warren Worthington
Unregistered

Time of day: Evening
Place in the time-line: Directly after Time to Talk

Having found out that Alex Summers was in the garage, Warren had made his way directly there, wanting to get this over and done with. He wondered if maybe he was being a little harsh in his feelings towards Scott's brother especially after the talk they'd just had, but he couldn't help himself. He knew he should be more understanding, considering his own actions in the past but he has almost lost his best friend the same way he had lost Candy because of the thoughtless actions of the man he was about to go and play nice with.

Making his way into the garage, Warren glanced around for Alex, his eyes searching for the blonde haired man amongst the various cars and bikes. The sound of a radio playing loudly over the other side was a fairly good indication. Warren didn't move towards him immediately though, instead he turned into the alcove where the locked mini fridge was stored. Crouching down, Warren unlocked and opened the door, pulling out two bottles of beer. He'd spent a fair amount of time down here chatting and hanging out with Scott so he knew his way around pretty well. He hoped would make this whole thing less painful

Weaving through the various vehicles, he emerged next to the bike Alex was working on at the moment. The younger Summers brother was so absorbed in his work and the music on the radio that at first he didn't notice Warren and so the winged mutant had time to collect his irritation before moving forwards. He set the bottles down on the workstation and switched off the radio. The silence that followed was almost ringing and Warren turned back to Alex who by now was well aware of his presence.

He leaned his weight against the work station and lifted one of the bottles up."Want one?" he questioned, handing it to Alex without waiting for an answer. He wasn't really in the mood for disagreement, even over whether Alex took the beer or not.

"So I was just talking to Scott." He began, levelling a look at Alex and maintaining eye contact. "He thinks i need to make an effort with you and I guess he's right. You and I haven't really had a chance to talk since you arrived here." Despite his mild words there was a hard edge to Warren's voice as he spoke, the usual casual good humour that emanated from him gone completely. "Before we start, I'm doing this for Scott, because I understand what you mean to him... this is not because I like you or want to forgive you."

He supposed in a way he was bitter than this man was able to move on after what he'd been a part of, and not only that, but carry on in a better life. Warren had seen the love of his life tortured to death and he had been unable to do anything about it and even though years had passed, he was still haunted by her death. It meant that what had happened to Scott and what Jean had gone through as a product of that, had an extra layer of meaning for him. It wasn't just his best friends suffering, which was hard enough for him, it was anyone who had ever suffered in that way, including himself and Candy, and he doubted Alex really truly understood what he had done and what he was asking for with their forgiveness.
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Havok
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Alex was not a mechanic, not like his brother, but a poor college student with a love for his bike learned to do certain things for himself. He was also pretty good at following directions, so he sat on the cold floor of the garage, work coveralls over his black suit, an repairman's manual propped open, as he dug around in the belly of his beast, singing to himself in a low, but mostly on key voice. Helped that the music was loud and angry. Didn't require a lot of vocal skill to yell into a mic in his opinion.

The music suddenly snapped off and Alex was startled enough to lift his head too quickly and smack it on the body of his bike. He extricated himself from the tangle of automotive innards and was greeted with a beer thrust in his face. He took it, definitely able to tell that there was no option here. He looked up at Worthington and looked away again as the Angel made his feelings completely clear. Setting the beer down, he grabbed a rag and wiped his hands free of grease before he replaced his black gloves, taking his time as Worthington waited, his hands clearly trembling, his gaze downcast.

"I don't expect you to like me." Alex finally muttered, "And I don't expect you to forgive me. It's a mistake for me to be here, but he asked me to stay. I didn't know how to make him see that you, and his girl, and everyone else was going to look at me as just the evil bastard who tried to get Scotty killed. No one gives a damn that I was lied to from the start, that I didn't have any idea what was happening. If you can't stand the sight of me, I'll do my best to stay out of your way. This place is big enough for it."
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Warren Worthington
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Warren watched as the younger man jerked his head up as silence feel, the sound of the collision with the bike audible in the garage. Warren hid a wince, feeling a little guilty for causing that. Maybe he should have announced his presence another way but he dismissed the thought from his mind. It wasn't as thought Summers was making an issue about it. His gaze remained impassive as he watched Alex straighten up and clean off his hands, placing his gloves back on before retaking the beer. Warren took a customary mouthful and swallowed, not really tasting it. He noted the shaking in the other man's hands and looked away, wondering if he looked really that pissed off. He tried to remember what Scott had said about him liking Alex and finding things in common, this was supposed to a friendly thing after all.

"I well aware that you were lied to and manipulated but the only way you were going to sort this out is if you face up to your part it in. Excuses will only get you so far, excuses from you doesn't change what happened, doesn't make the memory of pain suffered any easier. You claiming ignorance and looking for sympathy is not going to help in any way." Warren took another mouthful of beer, his gaze turning away from Alex, mostly to take a moment to keep himself calm. He wasn't prone to anger, and even when he did he tried to keep it under control, but Alex's self centred whining riled him.

"Excuses wouldn't help if he'd died." Warren said quietly, and then looked back up at Alex. "Okay..look...Yes, you were manipulated and lied to, but regardless of that you you need to accept responsibility and stop looking for some kind of vindication for what happened." He gave a slight shake of his head. "Just grow up and take responsibility for what you did. The rest will follow. Believe me, I know what I'm talking about" he added, holding Alex's gaze firmly for a moment.
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Havok
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"I'm not looking for sympathy!" Alex snapped. He clamped his mouth shut, and got to his feet, not liking being below the other man. Made him feel too vulnerable... and kind of small and grubby, like a little kid in front of the principal. He began putting the tools in the tool chest, precisely, not because it was how he would have done it, but because it is how Scott had kept them, and he was trying to be mindful of his brother's things. Nothing like he'd been when he was a little kid and had broken Scotty's favorite robot toy carelessly.

He didn't look at Warren, couldn't bring himself to do it. "I'm not looking for sympathy..." he said, calmer now... somewhat... "I'm not. I don't know what I am looking for, but... Whatever it is, Scott wants to give it to me, and he is the last person who should. I wanted him to hurt like I was hurt, but in here." He tapped his head, "And in here..." he tapped his heart.

He sighed, "But not what Mystique did to him. I would never ever have wanted that and when I found out, I tried to stop it. I tried." He leaned on the wooden work bench, and his hands glowed lightly white, blue tinging the edges, as he remembered the sight of his brother, bound and battered. "That bitch shot me full of something.... I.... couldn't stop it from happening, and no matter what you or Miss Grey or anyone else think of me, I would never ever have done that to Scott, never ever. As much as I thought I hated him, as hurt and miserable as I was, my intent was always to make him be my brother again, and I was told he was brainwashed, that you people had kept him from me. I was told she'd make him be the brother I wanted my whole life."

Smoke had begun to rise from the wooden bench and but he didn't seem to notice. "It was incredibly selfish. But since my powers happened, every emotion is like blown up a hundred times. Every thought has to be thought, every word has to be spoken, every action has to be done. I don't know how to control it any more than I can control this." He jerked his hands way from the wooden bench and frowned at the blackened hand prints he'd left. He buried his face in his hands. "I need help, not sympathy."
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Warren Worthington
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Warren tensed subtly when the Alex snapped and got suddenly to his feet. He wasn't intimidated by the man but the aggressive gesture naturally caused a reaction in him, he doubted the younger man would do anything but he was volatile and the Professor had always taken pains to train his students how to deal with mutants like Alex Summers. He crossed his arms over his chest and watched as he carefully placed the tools back in the box, as meticulously as Scott himself.

Havok admitted to wanting to hurt Scott and Warren gave a small nod of acknowledgement despite himself. He understood the need to lash out when you were hurting, to direct your anger and grief somewhere, to the person you saw as having caused it. The circles of white hot heat that began to emanate from the other man's hands caused mild interest in Warren; he had never seen Havok's powers used in practice, having been in the Blackbird for most of the rescue mission. He understood they were incredibly destructive though, having seen the effect of them at the FOH headquarters. He would be an asset to the team if he learned control, Warren thought idly.

"The point is Alex, whether you meant it or not, it happened.” Warren said sharply, getting quickly tired of the victim complex this man had developed. He did feel sympathy for the guy, getting caught up and manipulated by Magneto, but giving him any glimmer of sympathy would not help him. He needed to face facts and grow up before he became a danger to those around him.

It was incredibly selfish. But since my powers happened, every emotion is like blown up a hundred times. Every thought has to be thought, every word has to be spoken, every action has to be done. I don't know how to control it any more than I can control this."

“Then you need to learn control. Of your powers and your emotions." Warren told him flatly, not about to dress things up and try to soften the blow. "Look at what your out of control emotions have done already. It's your responsibility to work on that, rather than just blaming it on your mutation. I understand you never had the benefit of having the Professor there to guide you, and being picked up by Magneto didn't give you the best introduction to being a mutant but now you have the chance to turn it around. Anyone at the Mansion would gladly help you with your control."

Warren gave an abrupt sigh, wondering how to snap Alex out of it, make him understand what he had had to instead of moping around, cursing everyone else for his own misfortune. "Your brother spent months with his eyes tightly closed to he wouldn't hurt anyone else. Jean has to constantly keep a check on her telepathy so she doesn't hear every thought of every person in the general vicinity. Rogue has to make sure her bare skin doesn't touch anyone else. Even I have to bind my wings every time I want to leave the Mansion. It's not pleasant and frankly quite uncomfortable, but I'm used to it. Just as Jean is used to keeping her shields up and Scott is used to wearing his visors and glasses. Being a mutant is all about gaining and maintaining control. It’s not fair, I think pretty much everyone agrees on that but it’s how it is. You need to deal with it or you will become exactly like the members of the Brotherhood."
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Havok
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Worthington scolded him and spoke of responsibility. Alex'd heard all this before and he sighed, rubbing a fist on the scorched workbench. "Is that what Xavier preached? Responsibility through control? How do you do it? How does Scott? I don't understand him.... He can kill someone by looking at them cross-eyed, and... he let himself be tortured rather than open his eyes. I just don't.... I don't get it."

He looked down at the hand prints he'd branded on the bench and said, "God, he's going to be pissed at this." He gave a dull, unamused chuckle, "He specifically asked me not to burn anything up. I'd think it was a joke if he was the sort of person to joke. He's not though, is he? I thought at first he was just all awkward with me because of this not being the greatest reunion in the history of the world, but everyone's been telling me that that's just who Scott is."

Alex retrieved his beer, and took a sip, muttering, "I had an image of my poor dead big brother as a hero. Find out I was right about everything but him being dead, and I went out of my way to make that happen, didn't I?"

Heaving a huge sigh, the younger man looked up just slightly to meet the eyes of the taller mutant, his faded blue meeting Warren's more vivid hue. "I know what I did was wrong, and Pietro... have you met him, I lose track of everything... anyway, he's given me all these papers and things Xavier wrote, said I should read them. It's... God, he wrote a lot of stuff, but it's all so much to absorb. I read them, and I want to believe in what he preached..." He looked down, his blond hair falling in his face, "I don't want to be a villain, Worthington, but I don't know if I am ever going to be a hero... so all that leaves is a menace."

He brought his hands in front of his face, staring glumly at the slick black of the gloves, so dark they absorbed every bit of light, no highlights, only shadows. "I'm stuck in this suit for the rest of my life, and everything I was before, I burnt up in the desert. You still get to be Warren Worthington, begging your pardon, but me, I am only Havok now. Sorry, if that I'm a little angry about it."

He raised his gaze again, "But I'm trying. I am doing my best to figure this out, to learn how to be Alex again. I'm not stupid, I'm not lazy... I'm just.... angry."
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Warren Worthington
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"Is that what Xavier preached? Responsibility through control? How do you do it? How does Scott? I don't understand him.... He can kill someone by looking at them cross-eyed, and... he let himself be tortured rather than open his eyes. I just don't.... I don't get it."

"Honestly I don't understand it either. The level of control maintained by most of the mutants here is only something I can understand through seeing them go through the struggle of dealing with it every day. Maybe that doesn't make me the best guy to talk about control but I've watched pretty much every one who came to the Mansion go through what you are enduring right now and come through the other side. You just have to want it, and you have to work for it. It's not going to come by feeling sorry for yourself" Warren gave a faint shrug, taking another mouthful a beer and softened just a little as he carried on.

"As for Scott, well, that's why he is the standard bearer for Xavier's dream. He is just a bit different from the majority. His entire life is governed by the control and tolerance Charles spoke about." He watched the other man steadily, a silence falling between them for brief moment. Warren shifted slightly against the bench and judged how to carry on. "I think it started the moment he hit the ground after falling from the plane." he said, his voice quiet. He didn't feel exactly comfortable talking to Alex about the event that had obviously changed the younger man's entire life, but Warren wasn't really sure Alex quite realised how completely those events had shaped Scott's life. Sometimes Warren himself didn't even understand and he'd had over ten years of close friendship with Scott.

Warren gave a non-committal shrug as Alex asked about Scott's joking, wondering how the conversation had turned away from the matter at hand. "He jokes. You just have to know him well enough to realise when he's doing it." he replied shortly, looking away and feeling oddly defensive of Scott, like he had to protect him from those kind of judgements and assumptions. He teased Scott about how uptight he was but it was done out of fondness and really, his friend gave as good as he got. The winged mutant was aware of the line though, where the teasing really began to affect Scott.

The other mutant gave a sigh, and Warren moved his gaze back to him, drawn from his thoughts. He began talking about Charles' writings and being a hero and Warren struggled to suppress a sigh of his own. Alex's attitude was more than a little wearing on him. He carried on about how Warren still being himself and the winged mutant gave a short, derisive shake of his head. Alex really had no idea.

"You still get to be Alex Summers. So you have to wear a suit all the time? That can easily be covered. You can still be yourself but you chose to let being a mutant change you completely, you let yourself change because deep down, despite everything, you still believe mutants to be monsters. That is why you can't reconcile Havok with Alex because you believe you were something better before you mutated. Until you sort that out, you're never going to be able to 'be Alex again'" Warren concluded, the slow burning anger showing in his eyes again as he spoke.
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Havok
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Alex listened to Warren. It might not look it, but he did listen. He stared down at his feet, dragging his booted foot through a small puddle of grease. Self pity. Again with that. Warren wasn't the only one to accuse him of it, and he admitted it to himself. It had always been his biggest vice, his tendency to mope and take things to heart far more than he should, wallowing in his unhappiness like a pig in mud.

"I'm trying to take control, I'm trying," Alex said, lamely, "I've been practicing and I haven't accidentally blown anything up in two weeks..." He drew an X in the grease with his toe and then erased it with a swipe of his foot. "I don't want to hurt anyone again..."

Warren told Alex who his brother was, what kind of person Scott had become. He mentioned the crash and Alex looked up at the other mutant, "He saved me. I remember falling and the parachute was on fire... He turned us, so I was above him when we came down, and he hit first. We were tied together by Mommy's belt..." His voice was distant and he didn't notice his use of the childish endearment. "But he held me so tight I had bruises, I remember I had bruises on my sides. I thought he'd died. They told me he didn't wake up, and I knew it was because he hit the ground first. I was five but I knew it."

He sighed, "I should know him... don't you think? I should know him, more than you do because we are blood, but... I don't, and I hate that fact that you have to tell me who he is, because when I look at him, all I see is the man in the warehouse, battered and beaten and mostly dead... the man I made him."

Warren accused him of bigotry then, race hating his own race and Alex bristled. He'd fought for his people against the FOH, murdered in the name of mutantkind, how DARE Warren suggest he... he... Good God.... was he right? Was he really just so damn selfish that he couldn't see past this black suit, and his own fear, unhappiness...

"I... " Alex's mouth worked but no sound came out. He looked away, chugging the rest of his beer, before spinning around and slamming the bottle into the wall in a spray of glass and foam. He brought his fists to his head, clenched into glowing white anger. "How can I NOT have been better?!" he growled, "How could I not have been? I never ever ever would have hurt Scott before this. Ever. I loved him so fucking much it was painful. I cried for years after I thought he died, years! Then this happens and I lose my damn mind and my damn soul, and he won't blame me for it. He won't yell at me, or tell me how stupid I was, or God, just hit me, just punch me in the face and call me a fuck up, something.... anything.... because punishing myself isn't working... it's not making sense to me..."

He buried his face in his hands, and screamed a frustrated, hateful growling sound like he wanted to tear himself apart.

"Why doesn't he hate me?" he moaned, "He should hate me... like everyone else does."
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Warren Worthington
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Warren resisted the urge to roll his eyes as Alex screamed into his gloved hands, asking why his brother didn't hate him. Instead of answering he took a seat properly on the work bench, checking to see if it was clean first, which of course, being Scott's domain, it was. He finished the last of his beer and set it down next to him, his fingers resting on the lip of the bottle while he spung the bottle against the surface. Each movement spoke of a 'when you're quite finished and ready to talk rationally' if Alex cared to take notice. He somehow doubted the other man saw much beyond his own nose, unless red glasses or green hair were invovled, and even then he was a little sceptical.

He guessed he could have just left after Alex's childish outburst, but one, he promised Scott he'd make nice, and two, he now genuinely wanted to help Alex. Warren could clearly remember how he himself had been on arriving at the Mansion, spoilt and arrogant and angry, lashing out at others. In his eyes his parents had abandoned him, signed him over to this place where had to share a room with a sullen, boring kid who obviously hated him. They had been hoping that the Professor would cure Warren, and in many ways he had, he had brought him down to Earth, helped turn him into the man he was today, and while that man was not always that impressive, he knew he was a hell of a lot better than if his upbringing had been left in the hands of his parents, or whoever they hired next.

More than anything though, the Professor had given him the love, guidance and acceptance he had already craved from his mother and father. Charles had become the father figure Warren had always needed, Scott and later, Jean, Hank, Mina and Jonathon had all become his family, stopping him from becoming the angry, bitter person he saw in Alex today. But Alex wouldn't have the benefit of the Professor's wisdom or guidance, he was going to have to work things out himself, with whatever help the people at the Mansion could offer in the place of the Professor.

The silence had stretched out between them as Warren considered how to proceed. "Look, Alex, Scott is my best friend. He has been for the part of my life that mattered. Yes, I consistently tease him about being so picky about everything, about being so in control and so...damm righteous all the time. But I wouldn't ever want him to change and I would give my life for him without a thought. When I found out that he had been taken by the Brotherhood... I couldn't even describe my feelings. I've lost a fair amount of people in recent years, and if I lost my closest friend as well...But Scott doesn't place that kind of value on his own life." Warren shook his head, fingers playing with the label of the beer bottle. He cleared his throat and carried on.

"I'm saying this because I want you to understand, to really listen and understand why Scott won't give you the hate you want, he won't punish you. He doesn't realise how much it hurt Jean and Rosie and me and everyone else who knew him because he doesn't understand, not really, how much he means to us. That's why he can so easily bring you back here. It's just who he is. And because Scott is who he is, he won't give you the hate you want from him. He's just glad to have his brother back. You're looking for the easy way out from this; Scott hating you and you working your way back into his good books because you're family and you want that connection and so does he. All in all, you feel vindicated and you have brother back, win win, right? Unfortunately it's the rest of us that you have to convince, and we're not family and we don't want this connection. And you have to convince yourself as well and that is going to be the hardest part. You're not going to get the forgiveness you need from Scott because he doesn't think there is anything to forgive so you're going to have to find a way to gain that peace yourself."

Warren stopped, finally deciding that he'd said enough for the moment. He watched the other man steadily, wondering how he was taking the words, whether anything he was saying was penetrating. He felt like he was repeating the point in a variety of different ways but it just didn't seem to be getting through to Alex.

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Havok
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Alex wanted to protest. He wanted to insist that Scott had to hate him, had to punish him and that Warren was wrong, wrong about everything. How could Scott not know how important he was to these people? For God's sake, half a dozen superpowered people with a hell of a lot of backlash to deal with, all the leftovers from the attack on the FOH HQ, had ignored the temptation to keep a low profile at this critical and dangerous time, just to find him and save him. The fact that they had not captured any of the Brotherhood, had not secured them first, showed that it had been a rescue and solely a rescue, and ever since that time person after person had told Alex about who Scott was, and how much he meant.

How could Scott not understand that? If half as many people wanted Alex around as wanted his brother, God, he would have considered himself the luckiest person in the world. So Worthington had to be wrong, he just had to be... didn't he? But, Alex knew he wasn't. He didn't know his brother, not like these people did. It wasn't fair. It wasn't right. But it was the way it was.

The infant mutant, who still thought of himself far too often as Havok and not enough as Alex, slumped down onto the workbench, ashamed of himself, reluctant to listen to what the older man told him, and miserable that Warren had his number so clearly, so damn clearly, just like everyone else around here did.

"I hate being so on display," he muttered, restlessly running his gloved fingers through his hair and trying to put it in some semblance of order. "I can't seem to help... anything, really. I act before I can stop myself, I speak before the words are half formed in my head. Since Egypt, since I... evolved... I'm angry every minute of every day and I never wanted Scott to be hurt. I know you probably don't believe it, but I never did. He's like always been the best person I knew. Even when I thought he was dead, I remember him, holding me the whole way down, and... saving me. I was in kindergarten when we were orphaned, and he wasn't even in Jr High yet, but he... was the best person I knew and the last person I would have ever wanted to be caught in my explosion, if... if that makes any sense."

He stood up, impatiently, restlessly, going to where the beer bottle had shattered, and he began to sweep the mess up, using his hands, not specifically to get cut, but because if he did, it was a pain he could control, something he could understand. "I'm not a villain," he said after a long silence. "I'm not sure I will ever be a hero. But..." he turned and looked at Warren, his face red, his eyes wet, "I don't know who I am anymore, but it's not being a mutant I don't like, not so much anymore... It's the fact that whether or not he thinks there is something to forgive is irrelevant, because, like you said, he's a bit blind when it comes to me, isn't he. He sees me still as his baby brother, falling from the sky, and if he has to give a year of his life to save me, he won't think twice because that's what a hero does, and no matter what else Scott is, he's a hero, like our dad was, like mom... But, you, and Ms. Grey and Mrs. Harker, and everyone else in this place knows that on this, Scott is wrong."

He balled a fist, and it glowed white hot, so hot that blue crackled on the edge, and the temperature in the garage leaped instantly, "This is who I let myself be, and this is not enough. There is a lot I have to atone for. Not just the FOH, or my part in Scott's abduction, but for letting myself turn into something unworthy of the sacrifice my big brother made when he saved my life. I just..." He banished his powers and the determined stance he'd taken slumped into confused unhappiness, "I've been feeling sorry for myself because everything was taken away by being a mutant, my family, my friends, my job, years of school, plans for the future. I'm a grown man, believe it or not, like it or not, I'm an adult and I have to make adult decisions."

He sighed, and looked at Warren, "I'm a selfish, mopey, spoiled brat, right? But that's not a luxury I have anymore, do I? I'm more than I've been, I have to be. Because I'm nothing right now, and Scott... he shouldn't have saved my life only to have me throw it away like this. But... your Professor... He's gone. He can't help me like he helped everyone else... How can I... Mr. Worthington, I honestly and genuinely 100% haven't the slightest idea how to get out of this pit I'm in. If Scott won't throw me a rope because he doesn't recognize I'm in a hole... how do I get myself out and prove to everyone that I'm not that... that... that thing Magneto tried to make me?"
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Warren Worthington
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"I've been feeling sorry for myself because everything was taken away by being a mutant, my family, my friends, my job, years of school, plans for the future. I'm a grown man, believe it or not, like it or not, I'm an adult and I have to make adult decisions."

"This is my problem Alex, what you've lost, you've let yourself lose. You haven't lost your family' I'm sure your adopted family are still waiting for news of you, and you've gained a brother. Friends, there are plenty at the Mansion if you're willing to work for it, I know you're close to the Maximoff twins, and Ari has always given you her friendship. You can get a teaching job here, or you can go out into the world and find one. Becoming a mutant is not the complete crisis you think it is. You can regain control over your life if you just try." Warren gave a shrug and shook his head slightly. "But I've said this already. It's up to you now."

He recalled what Scott and Ari had told him about Alex, both telling him to give him a chance. But Scott was blinded where Alex was concerned, and Ari was open hearted and generous enough to give her friendship to people who didn't always deserve it. He did want to try though, but Alex didn't make it easy.

The younger man asked how he could work his way out this mess and Warren lifted his gaze to study him. He honestly didn't have much of an idea how Alex could begin to work out the mess he'd made of his life. He was silent for a long moment as he turned things over in his mind. "Scott might not throw you a rope, but I'll do what I can to help you, even though I'm not sure how yet." Warren told him slowly, frowning slightly. "I guess to begin with you've just got to work out what you want and then figure out how to get there." he said. It wasn't exactly helpful, but Warren supposed it was a start. He glanced at his watch and realised it was time to wrap this conversation up.

"Listen, Alex, it's getting late and I have to be back in the City early tomorrow morning. I'll be back the next day though, come and talk to me then if you want, once you've had time to figure things out." He got off the bench and picked up the empty bottle, pausing before leaving. "I'm not saying things will be easy, but you've got people around you who want to help you. That's more than most mutants have." he said, and gave Alex a slight nod before heading out of the garage.

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Havok
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Alex had so much more he wanted to say, so much more that he wanted to scream about, yell, rant, rave... God, didn't anyone care, didn't anyone even want to understand what he was going through? But he realized suddenly that everything Warren was saying was right. He hadn't been an angsty teenager, really hadn't been as unhappy as he remembered himself being. The amplification of his emotions as he went through this weird evolution induced puberty had made him so--- volatile. There was no other way to describe it. It was as if everything that made him what he was had been geared towards exploding literally and figuratively.

He took a deep breath, trying to remember who he was before all this happened, trying to reconcile who he had been with who he was now and trying to figure out who he wanted to eventually be. Warren offered to help him, and he had done something that no one else had.

He had unbiased and bluntly told him what he needed to do, not how to do it, but just what needed to be done. Scott's advice was colored with his affection, Lorna's with her emotions, Pietro's with impatience... Warren had nothing to gain or lose with his words. He'd be civil and nonviolent for the sake of the peace and his friendship with Scott, but he couldn't care less about Alex, and so could afford to be blunt.

As he left, Alex slumped unhappily on the work bench and muttered, "I just want to be more than I am..."

But how could he do that? Could he really save himself by trying to save the world?

Alex stretched out on the workbench and thought for a long time, alone and cold and unhappy.


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