Arthur steps back. His heart thumps against his ribs.
"What is your response to the parents of Naveen Patel who have accused you of murdering their son?"
"I-I-"
"Do you feel their reactions are justified?"
Arthur takes another step backwards but the reporter and cameraman follow his retreat. Behind them the remaining press begin to take notice.
"What would you like to say to the parents of Naveen Patel?"
"You're- you're missing Professor Vargas' speech."
One of the other reporters pushes forward. "Do you believe your powers are a danger to the public?"
"What about the movements in England petitioning for your arrest?" asks the first reporter. "Did you flee to America to escape justice as Mr and Mrs Patel claim?"
More reporters turn their attention his way.
"Where you aware of your abilities before you put Naveen in a coma?"
"Do you believe mutants should be segregated for the good of human and mutant kind?"
Arthur swallows and his fingers twist in the hem of his top. He searches for Alfred on the stage but his view is blocked by the reporters and cameramen.
"Do you believe your status as a mutant puts you above the law?" someone shouts.
"How many times have you hurt someone?"
"Do you have any remorse for Mr Patel's death?"
Arthur spins around and tries to escape but there are too many people blocking his exit. The press surge forward, circling and enclosing in on him.
"What is your view on mutants with fatal powers?"
"Do you believe mutants should be allowed to mingle with people when they have the ability to kill or maim?"
The first reporter stands close enough that Arthur feels her breath on his face. "Are you against the Mutant Registration Act because you believe it will hold mutants accountable for the harm and damage caused by their powers?"
"We are already accountable," Arthur says, trying to find space to breathe in.
"If that's true," says the reporter, "then why have you escaped charges for the murder of Naveen Patel."
"I didn't kill him!" Arthur shouts, his throat dry and horse. He blinks back tears and wills himself not to do or say anything stupid.
"But is it not true that your mutant powers put Naveen Patel into a coma for a year before he passed away?"
"How do you account for his death if-"
"That's enough."
Arthur glances up and finds Alfred pushing his way through the cluster of press, his body glowing against the sun and his stupid patriotic costume all sharp and impressive.
"Alfred, are you aware of Arthur's past?"
"Do you believe Mr Kirkland is dangerous?"
Alfred catches Arthur's hand tightly and leads him away.
The first reporter jumps in his path. "Mr Jones, are you defending Mr Kirkland because he is a mutant?"
Alfred turns around, nudging Arthur behind him as he faces the reporter. "I am defending him because he is not a murderer and he does not deserve to be punished for an outcome that was completely out of his control."
The woman opens her mouth.
"We're not answering any more questions. Please step aside so we can leave."
"What is your relationship to Arthur? Is there a reason you're protecting him?"
"Ma'am, if you don't move out of our way I'll have security escort you away for creating a disturbance." Alfred nods to the security guards before tugging at Arthur's hand. "Let's get out of here."
The press reluctantly breaks for Alfred even as they shout more questions and try to sneak past the security guards blocking them. Arthur follows at his heel and in minutes Alfred has led them from the press and the thick of the crowd and into the back of the van.
The moment Alfred closes the doors behind them, Arthur collapses to the floor and shakily exhales.
#
"Come sit with us."
Arthur fiddled with the tray in his hands. "They don't want me there," he said, hating the way he sounded like a petulant child.
Alfred shrugged. "I want you there."
"This may come as a surprise to you, Jones-"
"Alfred."
"-Alfred, but we don't always get what we want."
"When I was a kid I wanted to be a superhero and now I have superpowers. So buck up, Artie, I always get what I want." Alfred shot him a mega-watt smile before clamping onto his shoulders and pushing him to the table.
Silence fell as they approached, just as Arthur had known it would. Matthew turned to his plate when Arthur reached them and Antonio nudged Lovino behind him as if Arthur was about to fling himself across the table and grab onto the mute mutant.
"Hey guys, you don't mind if Arthur joins us, right?"
From the looks exchanged they did.
Face red and lacking any appetite, Arthur was ready to flee when someone spoke up.
"You're welcome to sit beside me," Kiku said, his voice soft but clear, "if Alfred doesn't mind finding another seat."
Relief rushed through Arthur and he strode around the table – leaving a wide berth between himself and the others – and sat down to Kiku's left. He could have hugged Kiku when the Japanese boy didn't so much as blink when their elbows brushed.
"Thanks," Arthur muttered. "I, er... thank you."
Kiku nodded and the two ate their meal in near silence as Alfred filled in the lull until the conversation picked up.
/
"You alright?"
The voice came in fuzzy and Arthur opened his scrunched up eyes. He blinked first at the hand waving in front of his face and then at Alfred. "I'm fine," he said, bowing his head towards his forgotten book.
"You looked like you were in pain," Alfred said, leaning across the table and ducking his head to see Arthur. The worry was evident on his face.
"It's nothing, just the noise giving me a headache."
"What noise?"
It took Arthur a moment to adjust to his surroundings, to the silence of the library where its inhabitants spoke in hushed whispers.
Arthur shook his head. "It doesn't matter."
Alfred opened his mouth to question further but stopped when Arthur began massaging his temples. He'd first noticed the habit a week earlier and before Alfred could bug him about it, Kiku's voice had appeared in his head suggesting it might be best to leave Arthur be.
Again he took Kiku's advice and let the question drop, though he couldn't help but wonder what it was that Kiku knew and when Arthur would share his secret, if he ever would.
/
Alfred cracked his neck and rolled onto his side. His gaze found Arthur, and lingered. Arthur's thick brows were knitted together and his other hand clutched at his hair. Math, Alfred decided. Arthur always looked two seconds away from a brain haemorrhage when it came to algebra or calculus.
"Want help?" Alfred asked.
"No," he said without looking up.
Alfred watched as he stabbed his work with his pen.
"You look like you need help."
"I'm working on my maths homework, not comic book trivia. When I want to know Thor's measurements you'll be the first I'll ask."
Alfred frowned. "I'm good at math."
"This is a little more advanced than the times table."
"Which is why you could use some help."
He was ignored.
"It's a bit mean of you to ignore someone you nearly killed three weeks ago," Alfred said in his saddest voice.
Arthur slapped his textbook down, its bounce on the duvet diminishing the display of annoyance. "Fine. You can help," he said, saying the word 'help' like it hurt him. "But you're really wearing out your blackmail material."
Alfred grinned and jumped up from his bed and hopped onto Arthur's. Arthur flinched when Alfred bumped into him but they both wore long sleeved tops and Arthur had his gloves on so it wasn't like anyone could get hurt. Still Arthur shifted away.
"So what are you having trouble with?"
Arthur tugged on his sleeves till they reached his fingertips. "Er, well all of it."
Alfred picked up Arthur's sheet of answers. A quick scan of his messy scrawl showed that his calculations were pure guesswork. "I see that."
"Like you have clue what you're doing," Arthur said with a huff.
"I know you don't have a single correct answer on this page."
"And how would you know that?"
"Probably because I'm an consistent A student in math."
Arthur turned to him, his eyes wide. "You're good at maths?"
"Duh, I said that already."
"But... but you're an idiot."
"Hey!" Alfred said and nudged him, though not lightly enough as Arthur almost fell off the bed. Alfred pulled him upright with an apology and a timid smile at the glare he received. "I can teach you this stuff if you want," he said before Arthur could bitch at him. "It's pretty simple really."
Arthur stared at him, his head tipped to one side. "Two days ago you wore your shoes on the wrong feet. How do you even pass maths let alone get an A?"
"I was in a rush when I put my sneakers on and I realised the mistake in first period-"
"-fifty minutes in."
"-and anyway math is easy compared to English Lit or something. At least math can't be interpreted fifty billion ways and there's only ever one correct answer. Math makes sense at least."
"Not from where I'm standing. I'd rather be writing a dissertation on Fifty Shades of fucking Grey."
Alfred ginned. "Then how about we make a deal – I tutor you in math and you tutor me in English?"
"Fine, but you better be a good teacher. And you better pay attention when I'm teaching you," Arthur said. "You doze off once and that's it."
"How could I ever doze off when I'm listening to you, Artie?"
Arthur frowned at Alfred. "Just..." He shook his head. "Just help me with this then. It's due tomorrow so don't mess about."
"I wouldn't dream of it."
They spent the next hour on Arthur's bed. Side by side, Arthur relaxing enough that he didn't move away when their limbs touched.
Progress, Alfred thought, but didn't say aloud.
/
["Goddamn freak," James spat as he eyed the boy in the changing rooms. "He shouldn't be in here with us."
Eric followed his gaze and his mouth twisted into a grin that was all teeth. "Yeah, we should sue the school for making us look at him; his face is bad enough but no one should have to see him getting undressed."
There was no smile on James' face. "Who the fuck does he think he is, acting like he's deserves to be here, like he's normal? It's not right."
"Let's start a petition. All we need to do is stick a photo of his fugly face on a poster and we'd have all the signatures we need."
"He's a fucking monster," James said. "Look at him! He has green skin and he still pretends he's human."
"Do you think he bleeds green?"
"Maybe we should find out. Right Jones?"
Alfred fumbled with shoe laces, failing to tie a knot for the fifth time. He mumbled a response.
James paid him no attention, his gaze still on the boy. "Fucking mutie scum."]
/
Arthur slid on his shoes, crossed the room and opened the dorm door.
Alfred watched him, a slight frown on his face. "Where do you go?"
The question wasn't particularly loud but Arthur jumped and looked over his shoulder.
"Pardon?"
"Where do you go that keeps you out till three in the morning?"
"Why is that your business?"
Alfred sighed.
Arthur shifted weight from one foot to the other. "Sorry," he murmured. "Habits and all."
"It's fine. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
Arthur nodded, but then didn't speak or move.
"You should go," Alfred said when Arthur remained frozen in place. "It's going to be curfew soon."
"Right." Arthur's hand lingered on the door handle for a moment before he slipped out of the room.
Alfred flopped back on his bed. He told himself it had only been a month since they'd started this new friendship, only a month he repeated as he tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his gut. Sometimes they seemed to be friends – eating lunch together, studying on their beds or the library, even hanging out while Arthur gardened – and then there would be occasions when still Arthur called him Jones, when he hesitated while Alfred coerced him into a conversation or times when Arthur disappeared without so much as a word. Trying to be Arthur's friend was more frustrating than competing in video games against a telepath.
Just as he was about to bemoan Arthur's inability to open up, the Brit returned and stood awkwardly in the door frame.
"If you want," he muttered, crossing his arms and glaring at the floor, "you could join me."
Alfred broke out into a wide smile. "Really?"
"Only if you hurry up."
Alfred jumped from his bed, threw on sneakers and grabbed his hoodie before hurtling after Arthur.
A/N: Congrats to shizuka who guessed a few characters correctly.
Antonio is based on Longshot who has a few powers including psychometry, superhuman agility, healing factor and probability manipulation (good luck). He joined the X-Men for a while and had a relationship with Dazzler. He also, unfortunately, has a mullet but from what I remember he seemed pretty popular with the ladies. Gilbert is of course Nightcrawler who is the son of Mystique and Azazel and brother to Rogue. Nightcrawler is deeply religious and has a great sense of humour - he enjoys pranking people and playing in the Danger Room. Nightcrawler is good friends with Wolverine and recently sacrificed his life to save Rogue... but he got better.
Lovino is based on a British mutant who's manifestation destroyed much of his chest and lower face and as a result he cannot speak and does not eat, drink or breathe. Emma (Belgium) is based on a mutant who creates marble sized balls of destruction and who has had a few different codenames along the way. To be honest most of my knowledge of her comes from X-Men Evolution.