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King and Lionheart; [Tag: Cyclops and invite]
Topic Started: Jun 27 2015, 06:00 PM (279 Views)
Derek Addams
Unregistered

June 7th
10 A.M.
Cyclops's Office.
____________________


His heart wouldn't stop pounding.

Sure, they said they'd take him back, but that didn't take away the uneasy sensation this march gave him. He'd felt it from the moment he rode in on his motorcycle, to the moment he met a new kid near Breakstone Lake to this moment. It was time to check in, get the duty roster... and more importantly, talk to a dead man.

He'd heard about what happened. How he wasn't "really" dead, but that didn't change the weirdness of it. News in circles as these also tended to embellish, so maybe whatever happened was really none of his business.

Plus... as Derek came to realize, Mutants.... we just deal with weird shit.. but...

He paused, briefly, at the door to Scott Summers' office. He also remembered the time he nearly slammed this particular door off it's hinges. It was shortly after when he found out Alex Summers was formerly War, the Horseman who killed nearly everyone he knew back then. And then he remembered the time he cornered Havok and attacked him. And then got rescued by the very same man.

And for some reason, even his brother, and his wife who can read everything... they never approached me about it...

I'm done with vengeance, and I'm done with... I'm really done with playing the victim...
he thought before he raised a hand to knock on the office door. Scott typically left a list of noticeable malfunctioning equipment and horrid messes on a clipboard on his desk. Part of Derek's job before he left was to pick up the list, fix whatever was on it, and then note whatever else was going wrong so far as maintenance. But this time, the door was partially open already and Derek noticed before he entered that Scott was still in his chair. "Re-Interview" time, Derek thought just before a rather venomous voice raised up in his head.

You DID just up and take off with your boyfriend... you know, the one who came to his senses and decided a boorish and unintelligent man like yourself is probably never going to be able to provide for him. I'm sure he's got words for you... the voice in his brain chimed. Can you give one good reason why he should let you come back? Why a little parasite like you should be allowed to stay here? What are you, anyway? A sad little boy who happened to get lucky and unkillable? Maybe you should team up with Bambi and see how long the victim card lasts you...

Oh my GOD, do you EVER shut up? he thought before opening the door fully white-knuckled with a smile.

"Reporting for Duty, Boss." He casually said with a half-salute before he shifted uncomfortably, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Uh.. sorry 'bout the dummy on the playground. I'll add it to the list."
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Cyclops
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If this was during the active school year, Scott would have been in class at ten am, but in the summer, they restricted the school work to powers training (which never stopped), some remedial courses for students who needed to catch up, independent studies for the scholastically inclined and offence/defense courses for those who were on the X-Men tract. Scott, himself, trained every day, because he could not, would not allow himself to be caught lacking. So, he was just about to put his specially color adjusted computer to sleep, and head down to the Danger Room for some target practice, when the door swung open and Derek Addams stood there.

"Reporting for Duty, Boss." He casually said with a half-salute before he shifted uncomfortably, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Uh.. sorry 'bout the dummy on the playground. I'll add it to the list."

"Welcome back, Mr. Addams, and don't worry about the dummy. We buy those in bulk," Scott said, "just get a new one from the supply shed, and try to be a little more careful with him. We have plenty, but I'm not a fan of wasting money."

Scott was about to excuse himself, but clearly Mr. Addams wanted to talk to him, so he sat down in his chair, folded his hands in front of him on the desk and said, "So, Mr. Addams, what is it that brings you here today? I realize that you life didn't turn out the way that you had intended, but I'm sure you'll be able to live a fulfilling one anyhow."
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Derek Addams
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Bruiser smiled at Cyclops as he picked up the list. Nothing too big. The usual cleaning list, some extraordinary messes with a few leaks and some malfunctioning hardware here and there. Things he never would have even know how to fix if he hadn't spent years doing just that. The first year was rough, and he ended up breaking a few things more than fixing them, but in the end, he liked to think he at least got the job done.

"Welcome back, Mr. Addams, and don't worry about the dummy. We buy those in bulk," Scott said, "just get a new one from the supply shed, and try to be a little more careful with him. We have plenty, but I'm not a fan of wasting money."

"Yeah, I was mostly just seeing if I could still work my "bruises". He motioned air quotes with his free hand. Even though he hadn't been afforded the chance to test his new ability out while with the X-Men, he was sure they received the report from Dr. McTaggert.

A moment passed, before Scott sat down in his chair and folded his hands.

"So, Mr. Addams, what is it that brings you here today? I realize that your life didn't turn out the way that you had intended, but I'm sure you'll be able to live a fulfilling one anyhow."

Goddamned tacticians....

If there was one thing he'd learned in all of his years working with Scott Summers, it was that the man had an unnatural ability to catch tiny clues in people's behaviour. He may have been able to fool other people into saying he was fine, but not Cyclops.

He also knew that although the man seemed rigid, it was just how he worked. He wasn't trying to be cold, it was just how he operated.

"I'm sure I will, Boss." He answered as he folded the clipboard under his arm. "That's why I'm here."

He took a deep breath before looking Scott in the eye, visor, what-have-you before continuing. His leave of absence concerned his ex-fiance, so it was only natural he addressed it.

"His sister's safe and healthy. And so is he." He went on, "We argued about a lot of things, and in the end, we both decided we wanted to be with family. We just had different ideas about what that meant."

It was probably the most Derek had ever said to Cyclops concerning his personal life. He didn't like to bitch about the details of his failed relationships and doomed romances because that's all they were. The Past.

But hey, if you're offering...

"I came back because this is the only place I felt I was doing something worthwhile." He stated plainly. "Even if it wasn't much on the whole of what you guys deal with."
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Cyclops
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Listening to Derek's love woes, Scott nodded and said, "Well, the road to true love is never a smooth one, believe me, I know. I loved Jean for ten years before I was brave enough to tell her, and since then, we've been insane, we've fought, I almost lost her in the school attack, she did lose me to the Hand. But when it's right, it's right, and you'll know it. You'll find each other if you're meant to." He gave a small smirk, "But I'm not the authority on romance, so maybe on that point you might defer to my wife. The point is to live life the best you can, and to leave it better than you found it."

"I came back because this is the only place I felt I was doing something worthwhile." [Derek] stated plainly. "Even if it wasn't much on the whole of what you guys deal with."

Leaning across the desk, Scott said, "Mr. Addams, do you think that the only good this school does is training X-Men? We do work to save the world, and we have saved the world, but for every kid here, for every lost kid, scared kid, lonely kid, we save their world every day. I can't do it alone. None of us can. Every person here who makes the food, everyone who cleans the floor, mows the lawn, makes them a home in what could be a terrible situation, that saves them, that's their world."

Scott leaned back and said, "So, what we need from you is not another warrior. Warriors I got. Soldiers, fighters, they are in abundance here. You can be that too, you can join the field team and stand in defense of strangers... but what's more important to me is that I have people I can trust to stand in defense of our children."
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Derek Addams
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Derek listened as Scott told his own shorthand version of how he and Jean came to be a couple. And the hardships they'd endured all through the years. Some of which he'd been there during, some he had no clue about. He remained silent, occasionally pursing his lips as he tried to imagine the different scenarios.
It was impressive, when he thought about it. The kind of bond that could withstand that many trials by fire. He'd thought he'd found his own version, but, he was wrong, apparently. He silently returned Cyclops' smirk, momentarily considering the ways he could have said or done something different with Kel before leaning on a nearby shelf, absently glancing over the list before the man continued.

Mr. Addams, do you think that the only good this school does is training X-Men? We do work to save the world, and we have saved the world, but for every kid here, for every lost kid, scared kid, lonely kid, we save their world every day. I can't do it alone. None of us can. Every person here who makes the food, everyone who cleans the floor, mows the lawn, makes them a home in what could be a terrible situation, that saves them, that's their world. So, what we need from you is not another warrior. Warriors I got. Soldiers, fighters, they are in abundance here. You can be that too, you can join the field team and stand in defense of strangers... but what's more important to me is that I have people I can trust to stand in defense of our children."

It struck a rather long-forgotten note. For a moment, Derek's eyes shifted back and forth as he remembered, thumbing over the list again and taking another deep breath. He wasn't expecting such a deep interpersonal conversation today, so he really didn't know how much he should or shouldn't say. He preferred to keep it professional as far as his employer went.

But, then again, maybe that's why you're always nervous... he thought. He's already talking to you like a person, so maybe you should try talking to him like he's not your Boss. But keep it short, emo kid, ya know he's not "cuddly".

He smirked and huffed as he put the clipboard away again, looking at Scott, then down to his shoes. "Yeah... I remember when you guys took me in, when Assholcalypse pretty much wrecked my life. Took me a good few weeks just to be able to stand." He folded his arms as he shifted his feet, focusing on his shoelaces. "And I remember how thankful I was to still be here. And that I had people who for some damned reason, not only cared if I lived or died, were also determined to get me back up."

He glanced back Cyclops, an awkward smirk coming to his face. "I never really said it, but it was really inspiring, watching you guys. It's what got me wanting to do something. I don't know how good I am at it.... but I'm trying. I just was always used to feeling more productive swinging my fists than swinging a mop..."

Jesus Christ, you sound all of the 19 years you look... Came that familiarly venomous voice. Derek gave an exasperated sigh, shrugging and throwing up his hands. "I really should be more grown-up by now, right?"
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Cyclops
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Scott had never intended on being an inspiration or a role model. He'd had such a poor upbringing after the (presumed) death of his parents that the idea of being something to be looked up to seemed impossible. He had honestly only ever wanted to quietly do good and prevent others from the abuse he had suffered. Somewhere along the way, he had learned to be comfortable with the role he'd been thrust into... well, not comfortable exactly, but accepting. He tried, even after the hell that was his time with the Hand, to present himself as the sort of comforting presence that he had sought for in many fathers before the Professor.

If this was helpful to Derek, if it had inspired him to try to be better than Scott hadn't realized it, and this reminded him of what he was here for. The younger version of him, no matter his origin, the earnestness and the genuine need to do the right thing... It had reminded Scott of his importance, not in an arrogant fashion, but perhaps with a renewed vigor and passion that he'd thought the Hand had stripped away.

It was hard to be a good man when you had done such bad things, but perhaps it was that he had known darkness in order to recognize the light.

"I never really said it, but it was really inspiring, watching you guys. It's what got me wanting to do something. I don't know how good I am at it.... but I'm trying. I just was always used to feeling more productive swinging my fists than swinging a mop..."

Scott shook his head, "That's the problem, Mr. Addams. We don't fight for the sake of fighting. I'm a soldier by nature, but not because I wanted to be cannon fodder. I wanted to join the Air Force so I could fly, so that eventually I could be an astronaut. I don't like that my life is one endless battle after the other. The scars I carry are physical remnants of wounds meant to kill me. I have been tortured, beaten, broken... murdered... and I would take every last one of those injuries back again if it meant that some child would not have to suffer the same, and I sometimes wonder what I will do when peace comes and the war is over. I wonder if I have anything to offer, if I can be anything other than this. It's a terrifying thought that this might be all I can be. I don't want you to feel that way, I don't want you to believe that only by fighting are you worthy."
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Derek Addams
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Derek's eyes seemed to glisten over as Scott elaborated on the mission of the Institute and his own past. As much as he wanted, tried to believe that it was really as simple as doing a job and that the school didn't need another warrior, he knew better.

"Well, unfortunately, that's the world we live in." He remarked.

Holy shit, I said that out loud...

He gave an exasperated sigh as he realized there was no going back now. "I wanted to be an actor when I was growing up." He said as he shuffled his feet. "I liked the idea of becoming different people. Playing different characters. And apparently I was good at it."

He glanced at his feet before marking on his clipboard again, numbering which tasks seemed like they were of a higher priority. Generally, it came down to which ones could and couldn't wait. Many times, one or two of the things on the list would get pushed back depending on the priority. "But then, my mutation kicked in, and suddenly, all I could think about was fighting. No. Not fighting, getting even. I was so angry..." He shrugged. "And it's not even a unique story. But for guys and girls at the bottom, it's the way of life..."

He shrugged. "I don't even know what point I was trying to make anymore." He shoved his hands in his pockets again. "But, maybe it was that I think I get where a lot of kids comin' in here are coming from."

He began to scratch his head. "So.... I don't know if I'm needed, but this did feel like where I needed to be... if that makes any sense." He smiled before shoving his hands in his pockets again, lodging the clipboard under his arm. "And I've learned more about mechanics than I ever would have on my own. 'Specially if I went back to the streets. So, that's somethin', too. So I guess, again, it comes back to what I was sayin'. Even if it's not much. Even if it just helpin' where I can and who I can, this is where I felt I was doin' somethin' worthwhile." He smirked. "With or without saving the world."

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