A cooking lesson
A/N at the request of EzzieRulez!
Aiysha stands in the kitchen, chopping carrots for the stew. Cooking falls to her generally, because of her ability to heal quickly. That way, if she burns herself, or cuts herself, she doesn't feel too much pain, and it doesn't slow down her training.
She doesn't know whether to take this as a compliment. But, she enjoys cooking, and Moira gave her a special cook book, so maybe it's not so bad. It's not really like she has anything else to do anyway.
Since Lena's been unwell, although neither Charles or Lena will tell them why, Aiysha thought she'd do something quite British. Lena's accent is certainly British, but her origin is unknown to most of the team.
Moira, Erik, and Charles probably know. The four of them spent so much time locked in Charles' study; they must be talking about something. To be honest, it's a bit annoying, but Aiysha sort of understands. Those four are the only ones over 25, and with any common sense( not that she'd admit that to the others).
Aiysha ponders where Lena could possibly come from. She said her parents were in the Fantastic Four, but they are the same age as her. Aiysha may be only 16, but she certainly not stupid. Something is going on, and she would quite like to get the bottom of it.
Lena seemed pretty shaken though, so she doesn't want to push it.
Aiysha lifts up the chopping board, and scrapes the carrots into the large pan using the knife.
She pulls the parsnips out of the cupboard above her head, which she has to use a stool to reach. She puts them down on the chopping board, then turns to the other cupboard for a peeler.
There's a blasting noise, then she smells burnt parsnip.
"Alex!" She yells, as she spins around, forgetting she is standing on a small stool. Aiysha lets out a squeak as she falls, straight into Alex.
To her great annoyance, he's strong enough to remain standing, and he grins down at her. She scowls.
"Aww, you're cute when your angry!" He comments, earning him another scowl, which makes him laugh more.
"Why did you destroy my parsnip you idiot!" She folds her arms at him as he set her back on the ground.
"Hope that's not a euphemism!" He jokes, but the I'm-as-hard-as-steel-don't-mess-with-me look on her face seems to demands an explanation. "I hate parsnips. Everyone does. You do!" He smiles at her.
He does have a point.
"Lena does. And so does Charles." She retorts.
Alex shrugs.
"It must be a British thing." He laughs. "Anyway, why are you so eager to please Lena?" He leans his head to one side, like an owl.
"She seemed pretty shaken last week. I just want to make her feel better."
"Aww, the kindness of my beautiful healer." Alex beams at her. "But I think Lena is fine."
"Why would you say that?" It's Aiysha's turn to look puzzled.
He grins his most impish grin, and Aiysha shakes her head, laughing. "What did you do?"
He gasps in mock horror, feigning being innocent.
"I have done nothing. You'd better ask Charles. It's him, not me.."
"Tell me!" (A/N Hehe, Loki reference! Sorry, couldn't help it :-) ) she glares at him impatiently.
He mimes sealing his lips.
"Fine!" Aiysha throws her hands up in the air, and stirs the stew, turning away from him. She smiles to herself. Alex is rubbish at keeping secrets, he'll tell anyone anything. At least if she finds out first she might be able to just stop him from telling the whole world. And, as its to do with Lena, she will have to make sure he doesn't tell Erik. Erik won't take anything lightly, and seems to hate Lena's guts.
Aiysha sighs. The reason for Erik's dislike is yet another mystery presented to her she feels obliged to solve.
Alex cracks sooner than she expected. He hops up onto the work surface, knocking the chopping board onto the floor. He, sensibly, keeps the knife in his hand. But maybe the knife would be safer on the floor, Aiysha thinks, as he has a tendency to wave his hands around whilst talking.
"Okay, okay, if I give in!" He trills, clapping his hands together. Aiysha's eyes continually watch the progress of the knife.
"I think Lena is perfectly recovered, because I found her making out with Charles."
Woah. Aiysha was not expecting that. But, it's so cute; it was obvious to any girl that they fancied each other. Much to the annoyance of Moira, which was probably the only thing Erik likes about Lena. Erik dislikes Moira even more than he dislikes Lena.
"Are you sure?" She says, because you can never really tell with Alex what is truth and what isn't.
He nods cheekily.
"Well, I'm happy for them." Aiysha tells him, turning off the hob, then transferring the stew to the oven.
"Come on, Aiysha, it's not like they're getting married!" She laughs.
The knife flies out of his hand, cutting her forehead slightly. Alex leaps of the work surface, grabbing her head in both hands, apologising quickly.
She winces slightly, but then grins up at him as she feels the cut seal itself. He grins, relived.
"I'm never going to get used to that." He says, shaking his head. He kisses her forehead. "Come on, that stews done, let's go do something fun."
In the lounge, Charles and Lena are sitting across from each other at the chess board. Neither makes any movement, they just stare at each other. Charles first two fingers pressed intently against his temples, but Lena's chin is resting on her arms, which at vertical. Their eyes are level.
Alex and Aiysha share a look. Hank catches this (he misses nothing) and jerks his head in the direction of the supposed chess players.
"They've been like that for a good 45 minutes. Neither of them has moved, not once."
Alex smirks, but to Aiysha's surprise, doesn't say anything.
"Bloody Telepaths." Erik informs them, from his usual place in the corner. "They're probably having a very nice conversation ,but of course, we're not invited."
They can't help agreeing with him, although he seems to take a more pessimistic approach. The telepathic business just sort of makes the rest of them laugh.
Hank stands up.
"Aiysha, can I talk to you for a bit?" She nods, and follows Hank to his lab, which used to be Charles' when he was little( or so Raven says).
Hank pulls a small device out of the desk drawer. He flicks a few switches, and the contraption whirs, a aerial poking out the top.
"What is that?" She asks.
"Something new I've been working on. It picks up telepathic signals. I was just wondering if you thought it was okay if I used it. What Erik said; about us not 'being invited' to the conversation, I thikn maybe he doesn't get it. Maybe it's because they don't want us to hear it."
Aiysha ponders this. Hank does have a point, but she would also like to know what so secret about their conversations.
A thought hits her. "So why have you made it then?" She asks, folding her arms.
"because I'm nosy and curious. And come out n, you have to admit, we all are!" Hank laughs. It's true.
"okay, but we won't tell Alex. He will take it too far." Hank agrees with her on this. "Does it work here?" Hank nods. "Well, let's have some fun then!"