It had been some months now, Alex's mind had gradually become used to seeing Darwin around the mansion. And on one evening, when Darwin was walking towards his room, Alex had stopped him and asked him if he wanted to talk. This sparked something else, and from then on they would sit in Alex's classroom talking and chatting.
"I can't believe you did that" Darwin muttered his eye bright with laughter, it died slowly in his chest and he shifted in the seat. Alex gave a weak smile before his gaze shifted downwards.
"Well I grew up since then" his words ended the conversation about past pranks and mishaps. He didn't know why, but he hated to have Darwin think of him as a child that did nothing more than pranks. Keeping in mind Alex was nice, easy going, easily a favourite teacher of the students, yet he wanted to be known as something more. Alex was 25, a man to say the least. He had lost the youthful face, instead his jaw was harder, more angular, his eyes had become darker, there was always a hint of stubble and his pale blonde hair had turned dirty blonde. He was no longer the boy Darwin had known.
"We all did" the other man noted his eyes showing something that his face and words would not give away, maybe an understanding that they where no longer boys, no longer freshman, newbies, the new kid, whatever you called it. Alex did not move his gaze from the edge of the desk; instead he found comfort in not seeing Darwin's face. He would not admit he was scared to disappoint Darwin.
"Do you think things could have gone differently, you know, if maybe we saved Angel" at his words Alex's dark gaze shot up quicker than ever before. As suddenly as his gaze shifted his face turned hard.
"Let's not talk about it. Ok" he lifted his drink up to his lips, downing the remains of the brown liquid before setting the glass down on the desk. Alex never spoke about that day, no one did. Even Charles himself would stop the conversation at certain points. No one wanted to relive those days, those weeks. Something in Alex's eyes gave his thoughts away, and naturally Darwin leaned forwards in his chair wanting so badly, to touch Alex's hand.
"I'm sorry" his voice was a whisper and all Alex could do was give a silent nod his gaze once more turning down.
"I think I might go to bed" he uttered after a few minutes of silence, standing as he pushed the chair back.
"Goodnight Armando" was all he said as he left his classroom to go find shelter in his room. Darwin sat for 7 minutes and 46 seconds before he too followed the other mutant. He had no idea why, but he found himself outside Alex's door. One hand placed under the room number.
On the other side Alex sat on his bed under the sheets, all but light off, the room filled with a lonely silence as he hugged his blue sheets to his bare chest.
"Goodnight" Darwin muttered so quiet he too had trouble hearing his own voice, with a heavy heart he turned to find his own room one level above. Alex slept better knowing that the mutant wanted to reach out and touch his hand. Darwin slept little knowing he could have reached a little further and touched the other mans hand.