Chapter 19. Study in Psychology.
Lance ran his free hand through his hair, trying to shake off the immense feeling of confusion around him. There was too much to do, and he didnt even know how much time he had.
As he approached the hall with his room, he let out a sigh, trying to calm down. It would do no good to look anxious in front of them; it would just make them worry, and they were already worrying more than they should. Besides he had finally gotten them to be more or relaxed- everyone had been in Pietro and Fred's room, just talking, when he had left to go to the infirmary to talk to Beast.
He was not about to have them all nervous and worried again.
"Hey Rocky."
Lance turned at the voice, unconsciously stepping back, and moving his hand off the supportive wall.
"What?"
Logan mentally shook his head at the look in Lances eyes. This wasn't going to be easy. Why did Chuck have to ask him to talk to the kid anyhow? It wasn't like he was good with this stuff.
But Hank was still trying to make some conclusions on Lance's test results, and Ororo was in a danger room session. And Charles had decided to help Hank out with the studies. So that left him. But really, couldn't they do better than sending him?
He seriously doubted his skills in comforting people, especially not thickheaded kids like Avalanche, who was, in addition to all that, decidedly not comfortable even being around Logan, much less talking to him.
"I just want to talk to ya."
Lance looked at the older man, visibly skeptical. "About what?"
"You. Charles and Hank tell me you're overreacting to your little situation."
"Do you people have any sense of confidentiality around here?"
"Don't give me any of that, I'm not good at this to begin with, you don't want to make things worse."
Lance took a step back, but didnt drop his glare. "I'm not overreacting to anything. Just leave me alone."
"You don't really think youre going to die, do you?"
"Everyone dies," Lance turned towards his room. "Being human, I'd say yeah, I do think I'm going to die. That's pretty much the idea- you're born, you live for a while, and then you die."
"Yeah, but you're not dying anytime soon."
"You don't know that."
"Neither do you."
Lance glanced back at him. "Nothing ever turns for the better in my life. If there is a worst-case scenario, that's whats going to happen. And like I said to Beast, I think I know my life better than you." With that, Lance opened the door to his room and went in, closing it before Logan could reply.
"Not depressed, yeah right," Logan murmured as he headed for the infirmary.
Lance was very glad to hear footsteps moving away; he probably shouldnt have done that, considering the fact that Logan was pretty much one of the most dangerous people he had ever met. Besides the fighting skills and the healing factor that probably made him near invincible, and his temper, the man had adamantium claws running in him. Seriously. It probably wasn't such a good idea to get him mad.
But then again, Lance really didnt care right now.
Lance fell onto his bed with a sigh.
"You could always just focus on other things, 'Tro," Fred suggested.
"Yeah, you have to stay away from Spykey," Tabitha looked at the silver- haired boy.
"I-know-I-know, I've left him alone so far, havent I?"
"And we're so proud of you," Tabitha chuckled.
"But still, Pie' what are you going to do when you're bored, yo?" Todd asked.
Pietro shrugged. "I don't know; I'll deal with it. I'm bored most of the time anyhow." He looked over at Tabitha. "So, why are you so mad at Roguey?"
"Who said I was? I don't care about her," Tabitha replied.
"Please, you were practically going Mystique on her."
"Except without the yelling," Todd supplied after Pietro.
"And the blue-skinned thing," Fred added.
"And the threats of death or worse," Pietro nodded.
"And the-"
"All right, all right, I get the idea. I just don't like her, all right? If you want to talk about the whys, whyre you and Spyke mad at each other? Didn't you used to be friends?" Tabitha shot back, looking at Pietro.
"That-is-none-of-your-business!" Pietro snapped. "Besides, Daniels is an idiot and a jerk."
"Whoa guys," Fred half got up. "Calm down. We're just on the edge about Lance, we don't need to start fighting."
"Yeah, Freddy's right yo, we all just gotta chill."
Tabitha and Pietro looked at him, then Tabitha sighed, the tension leaving her as she sat down again. "They're right. Sorry Quickie."
"We're going crazy if Blob's the voice of reason, and Toads the first to see that," Pietro sighed as he leaned further into the pillow behind his back. "No offense, Freddy, Todd."
"None taken."
"I still say this is a bad idea."
"And Ah say give them a chance. Just cause they're the Brotherhood doesnt mean they're naturally evil or something," Rogue snapped. "And if yah even think of saying people don't change, Ah'm taking mah gloves off. Ah changed, didn't Ah?"
Evan cringed at that, and mumbled an apology.
"But having danger room sessions with them does seem a little fast," Jean said. "I mean, they've only been here a day."
"More like way too fast," Evan muttered. "We could wait a century, or even just a decade."
"Professor X thinks it'll help us build trust between each other," Scott replied, giving Evan a look. But behind the ruby-quartz sunglasses, his eyes darkened at the thought. "I wouldn't trust Alvers with anything," he murmured, quieter and to himself.
"Would you stop that! You're practically the reason Lance left the first time he came here, just give him a chance!" Kitty glared at Scott.
Evan watched as Kitty left the room, leaving a very still and stunned Scott. "Harsh."
"Let's just try to verk vith zem," Kurt suggested. "Zey looked like zey vere trying."
"Yeah, you're right Kurt. They said they'd try, we should try too," Scott nodded. "Besides, the thing with Avalanche seems pretty serious, the least we could do is try to be nicer."
The X-Men nodded in agreement.
