Disclaimer: I don't own The Gifted.
A/N: Sorta short chapter, but I wanted to write something for this fic!
Chapter 4
With Clarice's portal, John's super strength, Lorna's magnetism, and Harry and Shatter joining in with Marcos, it only took them half an hour to get everything into the apartment. Granted, the living room was full of boxes, and Clarice still wasn't sure about how she wanted to set everything up, but at least they didn't leave anything out in the front yard.
Before the others left, Clarice unpacked her espresso machine and coffee maker and made everyone a cup of whichever they wanted thanks to the blessing of K-cups. She had to hunt for a hot chocolate one for Riley and Lorna, but she eventually found a couple at the bottom of a box.
"I'm bringing you some creamers later," Harry said, sipping at a mug of coffee, "As a house-warming gift."
"I won't turn them away," Clarice said with a smirk. John made a mental note that she liked espresso and she also maybe liked creamer in her coffee then wondered why he made the note. Because he wanted to be a good friend in the future and remember things like that. That was definitely the reason.
"I'll come by after work and help you unpack, if you want," Lorna said. She kept glaring at her coffee cup, as if her hot chocolate would suddenly turn into the caffeinated coffee that she was supposed to be staying away from. "I only work half-days now anyways."
"Yeah, sure," Clarice replied, "Where do you work that lets you do that?"
"More like makes her," Marcos said, earning him a sideways glance from his wife.
"That's because Charles is overprotective when it comes to babies," Lorna said, rolling her eyes.
"They are the future and must be well cared for," Marcos said in a rather good British accent.
John decided to interrupt before his friends could descend into arguing or flirting. "Lorna works at Xavier's, with me and Marcos," he said, looking at Clarice.
"It's my school," Riley piped up, "I go there." She had dashed off, leaving her hot chocolate beside John's coffee, so she could play with Shatter's fluffy brown dog, Reggie. Judging by the envious look in Clarice's eyes, she probably wanted to be playing with the dog, too.
"I've heard of it," Clarice said. She sipped at her coffee. "I have an interview there on Friday."
John blinked and pointedly avoided Marcos, who he could feel was staring at the side of his head, wanting to make eye contact.
"Really?" Lorna lifted an eyebrow. "Wait, are you taking the student counselor position?"
"I hope to," Clarice said.
"Well here's to you getting the job," Harry said, holding up his mug. "To new adventures."
Clarice smiled and knocked her mug gently against his. She looked at him and Shatter, who had finished his coffee and sat down on the floor with his dog and Riley. "And where do you guys work?"
"I work at one of the banks in the city," he said, "Not exactly the most exciting job, but it's got its perks."
"I'm a software engineer," Shatter said, "I work at a start-up with Sage. She lives in this building, too." He smirked. "Actually, she works part-time at Xavier's, too."
"Does Xavier own this apartment complex or something?" Clarice asked, looking amused, "Should I be concerned?"
"Yep, it's just a big conspiracy," Marcos teased.
John shook his head. "No, this complex just…" He sighed and decided to go for honesty. "The owners don't hike up the renters insurance for people with powers so a lot of us live here."
"Noticed that," Clarice said, tilting her cup toward him in acknowledgement.
"Charles gives everyone the option of living at school for free," Lorna said, "But hell if I'm going to deal with the kids twenty-four seven."
"Yeah, that doesn't sound so great," Clarice said, "Do people actually take him up on that?"
"A handful," John said, thinking of the main X-men team. They all also worked at the school, and they were all on the main team full-time. With Riley relying on him, he couldn't do that anymore, though there had been a time when he was a full-time member as well.
"Hey, Clarice, hand me your phone," Lorna said, holding out her hand, "I'll put in all of our numbers so you can text us if you need us."
Clarice glanced at the others, uncertain. "Are you sure you don't mind?"
"Go ahead," Shatter said, nodding to Lorna, "I don't mind."
Harry smiled. "Sure, no problem."
"You can add me, but if something breaks, call John," Marcos said, holding up his hands, "I can fix a few things, but he's better at it."
"He's good with his hands," Lorna put in, a definite teasing tone in her voice. Great.
It was John's turn to stare at Marcos, who was perfectly fine with fixing things around apartment complex. He helped multiple people out, and he was great when it came to fixing electrical things. "I can help," he said simply, trying to make up for his friends.
"I'll keep that in mind," Clarice said.
"You can call if you want to watch cartoons or something," Riley said, popping up from the floor. Reggie scrambled up and followed her as she darted over to Clarice and leaned against the counter she was perched on. "I like a lot of stuff! But you have to call my dad's phone."
John met Clarice's eyes and smiled. "Don't feel like you have to babysit her or anything…"
"It wouldn't be babysitting, Riley's not a baby," Clarice said, shaking her head at Riley as if to say John was being ridiculous. "It would be hanging out. Right, kid?"
"Right," Riley said, beaming.
"Besides, I'm Riley Number One babysitter, and no one's taking my job," Lorna said, getting a grin from the five-year-old.
After everyone finished their coffee, they headed out, most of them already late to work except for Shatter, who worked later hours. Clarice bent down to ruffle Reggie's ears before Shatter left, promising she could take Reggie for a walk whenever she wanted.
Soon it was just John standing in the doorway, holding Riley on his hip with one arm. "Hey, about what Marcos said…I really don't mind helping out, if you need me," he told Clarice, "Don't hesitate to call."
"We'll bring pizza! What kind of pizza do you like, Clarice?" Riley said, her wings spreading a little in excitement. "Can we bring pizza?"
"Yeah, we can," John said. That was actually a really good idea. "Do you like pizza?"
"Doesn't everyone?" Clarice said, looking a little surprised, "But you don't have to do that."
"Pizza's good for you, it's got all the food groups, Marcos said so," Riley said.
John leaned his head to the side, bumping it gently against Riley's. "She's a pizza-eating machine. And we can help you move stuff where you want it. Or I can."
"I can, too," Riley said, making a face at him.
Clarice seemed to consider it, wavering at the idea. "I don't want to bother you—"
"We get pizza, it's not bothering!" Riley said, waving her hands, "Pleeeease?"
"Really, it's not a problem," John said.
Clarice finally nodded, her hand on the doorframe. "All right…"
"Text me what kind of pizza you want," John said, heading for the stairs.
"What if I want anchovies and olives and banana peppers?" Clarice called after him.
He stopped at the top of the stairs, turning around to look at her. She was leaning against the doorframe, her thumbs hooked into her jean pockets, her eyes daring him. John smirked. "I'd have to say you have weird tastes, but I'd get it."
"Eww," Riley said, twisting around in his arms.
Clarice grinned. "I'll text you later."
John smiled back and headed down the stairs, tickling Riley. "You think that's gross, huh? What if I said pepperonis were gross?"
"No, you're gross!"
"That doesn't even make sense."
