Warnings: Slash (Colt/Punk), AU setting, Profanity
The rest of the weekend passes without incident, and for that Phil's more than grateful. Even Philippa's second visit to the Colton residence on Sunday went without a hitch. Scott's mother once more attempting to feed his female veneer up, and Scott spending the entire charade being far too amused. Really, the only note worthy event of Sunday had been meeting Scott's dad. A tired, harried man with bright smile, and a quietly depressed mind. It'd taken a lot to not soothe his dark thoughts and make the inside of the man match the cheerful outside. He, rather like Scott's brother, had been surprised by Philippa for the reason she was a girl. It appears only Scott's mother is clinging to the idea that her baby boy is heterosexual. He'd not bothered telling Scott that though, it seemed too trivially personal to share. When, if, Scott decides to tell his family that he's dating Phil and not the veneer of Philippa, then at least two out of the three will be easy. One thing Phil was little disappointed in was that there'd been no more touching, at least no more touching with the intent to push things further. There'd been more of that unexpectedly pleasant licking, and nipping behind his ear, more gentle strokes down his back, and more kissing, lots more kissing, but nothing that indicated Scott wanted to go further, nothing that indicated the hesitantly returned gestures Phil offered were appreciated or really enouraged. It's nowhere near what Phil needs to be focussing on, he knows this for a fact, but as ever when it comes to Scott, he seems to take precedent over everything else, even the incredibly important things.
'Morning.' Scott sounds buoyant as he wakes Phil up on Monday morning. His fingers trailing in a maddeningly light dance over Phil's face.
'Urgh... How can you be so cheery this fucking early?' Phil burrows against the pillows, desperate to sleep more, utterly unimpressed when Scott uses his talent to force Phil's body to move out of bed, and start pulling clothes on. 'This is highly unfair.' Phil yawns, glaring balefully at a laughing Scott.
'I indulge you entirely too much.' Scott steps closer and kisses Phil on the tip of his nose. It's one of those odd little places that Phil's found he likes being kissed entirely more than he should. The tip of his nose, his ankles, the inside of his wrist, just behind his ear, all places he'd never considered particularly sensitive that apparently are, all shown to him by Scott's gentle kisses. Slowly the rest of humanity trickles back into Phil's mind, Scott removing the block as they make their way down stairs.
'I wouldn't object to being indulged more.' Phil rubs his eyes and walks straight into Scott's back. 'What?' Scott's frozen in the kitchen doorway, blocking it entirely.
"Hey Mom." He says cheerfully, and Phil has just enough time to pull the invisible man trick on Scott's mom before she turns around and grins at him.
"You're up early." The woman smiles and sits at the table, pushing the chair opposite her out with her foot. The scent of freshly baked muffins is hanging in the air, along with Scott's mother's bustling energy. Her mind is buzzing with some kind of excitement, it seems Philippa made another positive impact on her; the muffins are for Scott to take to his little girlfriend.
'My mom's up early... Why?' "Ah... Ha... Well, uh..." Scott sits in the chair and Phil perches on a counter behind Scott's mom, smirking slightly at him.
'She wanted to make breakfast for your girlfriend... She thinks I'm too skinny.' Phil shrugs, mildly put out that his quiet morning with Scott has been interrupted, but more concerned that they'd almost been rumbled. Really, he needs to remind Scott to take the block down before letting him leave their, Scott's room.
'She did?' Over the link is mild confusion and Scott glances up at Phil, something oddly fond in his expression, with where he's sitting, Phil isn't too sure if that look is aimed at Scott's mother or him.
"So, where have you been sneaking off to every morning, young man?" Scott's mom sips at her cup of coffee, and her thoughts are decidedly sweet and sappy. It reminds Phil of a more PG rated version of Amy's brain.
"Uh... Well... Phil's school is on the other side of town, mom." Scott's rubbing at the back of his neck, looking nervous, and his mother chuckles at him. Phil isn't even being that kind, he's nearly doubled over with laughter. 'I don't have any idea what to say here... Help me!' Scott looks briefly desperately hopeless, and something in Phil's chest gives a tight little squeeze.
'What'd you like me to do?' Phil smirks, but fidgets slightly, trying to work out how best to help in this situation. He doesn't like that look on Scott's face, it's not an expression that has any right to be there at all.
'I don't wanna lie to my mom, but I don't think she's gonna appreciate the truth.' Phil hops down from the counter and stands behind Scott, draping himself over his back. It's kind of silly, but there's a part of Phil that feels like he's somehow helping Scott by giving him this all-encompassing hug. If nothing else his thoughts are a lot less panicked.
'I could convince her to let you leave, I guess...' Which would be more useful than what he is doing, because he's sure all this is doing is forcing Scott to have to keep himself from leaning back into Phil's arms, over the link is something thwarted and mildly frustrated, but utterly content. A confusing jumble of emotions that Phil can't even begin to work out.
"She's a sweet girl your Philippa, Scotty." His mom's thoughts remain sugary and rose tinted. "Maybe have her stay over one night? I'm sure you'd happily give up your room for her." She smiles, and wanders over to the cooling muffins on the counter.
'This your doing?' Scott is sitting very still, trying very hard to not look like he's got Phil's dead weight pressing down on him, because that's all Phil is at that moment. He'd not planted the idea in Scott's mother's head. This is all her, and he's shocked that this is the same woman who was accused him of being a corrupting harpy the first time she set eyes on him, well her. It's confusing to remember that she has no idea that Philippa is actually Philip.
"Maybe Friday? Or Wednesday, if that's better for her. I'd like a chance to have a talk with her... Get to know her some." Scott's mom is holding a bag of muffins and wearing a happy little smile. "Hot chocolate in the flask there." She points to the big flask by the kettle. "If you hurry, you can watch the sun come up..." Her smile takes on a rather dreamy look, and Scott uses his power to move Phil off of him, taking the bag and flask, before kissing his mom on the cheek.
"Thanks mom... I'll ask her, okay?" He sounds strangely pleased; over the link is something bewilderingly sweet. 'C'mon, scruffy punk... Let's go find the sunrise.' Phil blinks up at Scott, and nods, too confused by what just happened to really argue.
"Your mom wants to talk to me..." Phil mutters once they're in the car, heading towards the city. There's very little but a softly contented hum coming from Scott, and Phil can't help but think that perhaps, he's entirely too calm about this whole thing.
"She does." He grins over at Phil, his expression fading, confusion trickling over the link. "You don't want to talk to her? She's nice... She likes you." Phil shakes his head and toes off his sneakers, resting his heels on the car seat, hugging his legs close.
"She likes Philippa, Scott." He says softly, the smell of the muffins making his stomach grumble. He's hungry, and the sooner Scott pulls over to let them eat the better.
"Huh... I guess. But, Phil you're you no matter what you've got people convinced you look like. It's not like you really edit your personality when you're a girl." Scott takes a turn off, heading towards their park.
"I... I guess not." Phil sighs, it's true enough Philippa is really just him with a different skin, but honestly, it's all strange and confusing. He's never been in a position where someone else's mother have been so concerned over him. He's absolutely certain his own mom doesn't know that muffins can be made at home, so for Scott's to wake up at stupid o'clock in the morning to bake him some is strange.
'I know that face... What is it?' Scott takes Phil's hand as they wander through the park, sitting at their usual bench, the birds sleepily delighted to see Phil, hopping over in hopes of food.
'What face?' Phil fidgets, opening the flask of hot chocolate and pouring two cups out, trying to peak at what flavour of muffins Scott's mom made. A little jolt of amusement comes over the link, and he leans over, handing Scott his cup, trying to peek at the slightly crumpled note in Scott's hand. "What?"
"Hmm... Nothing, my mom's just a silly old woman sometimes." Scott stuff the little note into his pants' pocket and hands Phil a muffin. "She thinks you'll like these ones." He hands Phil a muffin. It's big and undeniably tasty looking.
'I hate your mom... She's gonna make me so fat.' Raspberry and white chocolate, it was a good guess on Scott's mother's part. Scott laughs at him, and picks out what looks like double chocolate, eating it at a more sedate pace than Phil devoured his.
'She likes you. So will you officially stay over? Instead of just sleeping in my bed all clandestine?' He grins at Phil, unreasonable amusement flooding the link. Phil nods, taking another muffin, and more than pleased that it's another of his favourite. "Good, I was thinking Friday, I mean D-Day is Saturday, may as well make Friday as nice as possible, right?" Scott sighs, and stretches his arm along the back of the bench, absently playing with the ends of Phil's hair. "I'll talk to Amy today. See if she'll meet us somewhere after school?" Phil nods again, not really paying all that much attention, more focussed on eating, now that he's started, he's found he's ravenous. "You even listening to me, my little punk?" Scott tugs on Phil's hair lightly, and Phil glances up at him.
'Of course I'm listening. Sleepover Friday, meeting Amy today... I'll ask Piper to postpone today's training session. We can meet somewhere near your school, give her home field advantage and all that.' Phil smirks at Scott, and sips at his hot chocolate. 'What? I can multi-task.' Scott tugs his hair again, and grabs another muffin. "I ate the raspberry ones." Phil smirks, mildly disappointed when Scott merely shrugs.
"Good. I hate white chocolate, nothing but milk and sugar. Blurgh." Scott scrunches up his nose and takes a bit of his second muffin. "Double chocolate, the king of muffins." He grins offering Phil a bite.
"Yuech... No thank you." Phil picks up what he thinks is blueberry from the box, surprised that there's only one left. Scott's mother had packed six muffins, meaning Phil managed to demolish two in mere minutes.
'Wha? Why?" Scott mumbles around a mouthful of muffin. "It's the king of muffins, Phil." Phil stares at him, and shakes his head.
'Don't like chocolate cake, muffin... Whatever, you know what I mean.' Phil starts slowly pulling apart his last muffin, pleased to find it is blueberry as he'd suspected, eating it slowly.
"Strange little punk." Scott mutters, looking at Phil dubiously. 'I really can't be bothered going to school...' His arm wraps around Phil's shoulders pulling him close.
'We gotta.' Though, if Phil's honest, he'd much rather stay snuggled up with Scott like this, much rather that they could spend the day together without having to worry about classes, or what they've got to do this weekend. 'It'll be over soon.' It's perhaps presumptuous, but Scott doesn't object in the least when Phil moves and straddles his thighs, his hands cupping his face and drawing him in for a kiss. In fact the link is flooded with delighted surprise, and Scott's hands are attempting to be everywhere at once, moving from Phil's hair, to his waist, to his ass and back with little rhyme or reason.
'You're feeling bold this morning.' Scott doesn't break the kiss to talk over the link, and Phil's sure he's still not as good at this kissing thing as he needs to be. There's no way he's focussed enough to be able to carry out a conversation with Scott's tongue in his mouth.
"Bold? Nah..." How Phil really feels has a blush spreading over Scott's cheeks, and Phil laughs at him, finally feeling like he has an upper hand in their relationship. It's childish, but the amount he wants to get Scott off is as alarming to him, as it is terrifying to Scott. Yet, Scott's too afraid to let things progress, too afraid to hurt Phil to let him have everything he wants. It's almost frustrating how much Scott seems to want to bundle him up in bubble wrap and keep him safe. Phil gets that he's vulnerable, he does, but he's nowhere near as fragile as Scott seems convinced he is, and Scott is nowhere near as dangerous as he assumes, probably at least.
"Phil... C'mon... We gotta go to school." Scott's very gently ushering Phil off of his lap, and Phil stands, a frown on his face. 'You know I can't, and even if I could, it wouldn't be out here.' Scott finishes the last of the dregs of his cup, and starts tidying the remnants of their breakfast away. "Here, you want this one?" He holds the last muffin out, and Phil shakes his head, distracted by a group of joggers, who he makes change their route away from Scott and himself.
"Nah... You keep it, was your one anyways." Phil murmurs, yelping slightly when Scott's arms wrap around his waist. Over the link comes an unexpected flood of concern that almost floors Phil. He's got absolutely no idea what could be troubling Scott right then, other than the whole not wanting to lose control thing, but that's not usually something Scott seems to dwell on. It's almost like he's resigned himself to a life of never coming, and that's something Phil intends to force him out of sooner rather than later.
'You gonna tell me what was bothering you earlier.' Scott's chin digs into Phil's shoulder, just a little, just enough to be reassuring of Scott's presence. Phil sighs, and tries to think what was bothering him earlier. The problem is his brain rarely wants to cooperate with him when he's standing in the safe loop of Scott's arms, all it wants to focus on is how nice it is to be held, how good Scott smells, how warm he is, and a thousand other entirely accurate but utterly unhelpful things.
'When? You're gonna have to narrow it down for me.' Phil turns round, and snuggles up to Scott; he's rapidly growing annoyed with the fact that he and Scott are basically the same height. He wants to be able to nuzzle at Scott's throat the way he found out last night makes Scott moan with the most incredible deep rumble of a noise, but it's not something he can achieve with a vertical base. It's a fairly new annoyance, but Phil's pretty sure it's going to be one that sticks around for a while, unless Scott hits some major growth spurt or Phil shrinks.
'When we first got here...' Or Scott moves his head to the side like he just did, baring the little spot to Phil's nuzzling. Phil smirks at the deep, soft rumble Scott makes, and tries to remember what he'd been thinking about when they'd first gotten to the park.
"Your mom." Phil steps away, taking Scott's hand and walking back to the car. "She's more of a mother to me than my own, and she's never even met me." Phil laughs, mostly because if he didn't laugh he thinks he'd cry. It's pathetic how little his own family care about him, pathetic how despite how much he wants them to, they don't. Over the link comes a burst of horrified shock. Scott suddenly pulls him in to a tight hug.
'My precious little punk...' It feels like one of those random stray thoughts that wasn't meant to be heard, but the emotion it's bundled up in makes Phil's eyes burn. 'If you want...' "Only if you want to, we can introduce you to my mom. I mean, I'm pretty sure Gregg and my dad are more shocked that I'm dating a girl than the fact I'm dating. My mom'll love Phil just as much as Philippa. Hell, you can convince her that you were always you, and then it'll be no hassle, right?" Scott's hands cup his face, and Phil blinks rapidly, trying to keep the tears he can feel forming in his eyes at bay. It's stupid, he knows it's stupid, but somehow Scott's words make him feel better.
'It's okay... This is okay.' He tries to glance away from Scott, he doesn't want to make his mom uncomfortable, doesn't want to disrupt her happiness in any way. It's actually good practice convincing her he's a girl; it's good for his training, at least that's his story, and Phil's adamantly sticking to it.
'You sure?' The wave of concern from Scott is something Phil's selfishly greedy for, almost revelling in it. Its glorious being wrapped up in the warmth of Scott's emotions like this. 'If you change your mind, my little punk...'
"I'm sure Colt." Phil smiles at him, kissing his forehead. "Go on. Get your ass to school."
"Again with the Colt?" He laughs, and starts walking again, Phil pulled tight to his side, their hands entwined.
"Ha, yeah... I kinda like it." Phil laughs nervously, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. "I mean, I should give my first boyfriend a pet name, right?"
"Does it have to be horse based though? And if it does, couldn't it be something cool like Stallion or Stud?" Scott laughs, and Phil bumps his shoulder, a smirk on his face.
'I've no idea if it should be or not.' The blush that comes to Scott's cheeks has Phil laughing. It's a nice change to be able to tease Scott; it's one of those little moments that makes Phil feel a lot better about how timid he's been as of late. He's not usually so very fragile emotionally, but Scott brings that out in him, the strange situation they've found themselves in hasn't helped, but Scott himself brings out a curious vulnerability in Phil. Though, if he's honest, it's not one he's overly surprised by, whilst he's never been in a relationship before, other people are always thinking about how they change in relationships. He doesn't think he's changing, growing maybe, but not changing, and if it is change, it's for the better, at least that's what Phil thinks. It feels like he's changing for the better if nothing else.
"Whatever, dick." Scott bumps into his shoulder, and Phil laughs at him, freeing his hand from Scott's and leaning against the car.
'That's my point.' He smirks, pulling Scott to him, wrapping his arms around him, and kissing him. 'Though, if you wanna skip school for that... Well...' Phil breaks the kiss with a grin. "I'm up for it." Scott groans, and shakes his head.
"I think I liked you all mousy a lot more, you punk." He opens the car door, and gets in. "Go to school, be good... Bout four-thirty?" He smiles up at Phil; over the link is a flood of the soft syrupy emotion that Phil thinks is more than likely something like love.
"Pff... Whatever, Colt." Phil leans down and kisses Scott's forehead, not resisting when Scott's hand rests on the back of his neck and pulls him down for a proper kiss. 'Four-thirty, just tell me where Amy decides, kay?' "I really do gotta go, and you're gonna be late." He stands, and closes the car door. He's going to be cutting it fine in getting to school on time, but he thinks he'll manage. Scott on the other hand is going to have to risk a speeding fine if he wants to make it.
'Later, Punk.' Scott laughs as he pulls away, a lazy smirk on his face. Phil stares at the car in mild shock, he's kind of used to being call a punk, but for it to be how he's actually address is a surprise. 'What you get to give me a silly nickname. That's by and far the most appropriate one for you, my little Punk.'
'But... Your last name is Colt-on... Mine makes sense!' Phil really isn't sure why he's arguing this, he's pretty sure Scott'll forget this silly idea soon enough, though he does kind of like Colt as a pet name for Scott, he's pretty sure he's going to keep it. Scott on the other, Phil's sure will get sick of calling him something ridiculous like Punk, even if he will concede it's kind of appropriate for him.
'You are what you are, Punkers!' That one however might stick, it's twee, it's cutesy, and Phil can already feel the pull of affection behind it, the sentiment Scott's already placed on it. He might have to get used to being Punkers whether he likes it or not.
Once school is finally over, Scott tells him where Amy wanted to meet, some little mom and pop diner near the school she and Scott attend. He'd said that she seemed excited enough to be talking to them, which is almost a relief. Whilst Phil's not entirely sure how integral Amy is to the plan, she might be the cornerstone so her being excited is a relief.
'Kid... Where the hell are you?' He'd forgotten about Piper, and Phil feels briefly, but utterly guilty. 'Got more important business to take care of? Or did the knight in shining armour go too rough on you?' Piper laughs, and Phil can feel a blush on his cheeks. 'For the love of... I'll get Hack to talk to him, honestly...'
'Why are you so invested in my love life anyway old man?' Phil snaps, strangely offended by Piper's constant almost brotherly interference. The old man hasn't done anything wrong. In fact, if anything he's the only real ally Phil has but Scott. Yet, there's so much he doesn't know about this man, so much he doesn't know about his motivation, his reasons for helping. A burst of surprise comes from Piper, and Phil's eyes narrow, trying to trace something more. The odd little slips the older telepaths he's encountered are things that Phil keeps trying to take advantage of, he wants to know what they keep behind those shields of theirs.
'I'm not... I'm invested in you, kid. I need you to focus, to be-'
'Why?' More surprise, and a tiny chink, a tiny hairline fracture in Piper's shield appears. Phil almost panics, surprised that Piper's control has slipped that much. 'What the fuck is your angle anyways? What's the deal with those kids? What happened with you and Heyman? What the fuck do all you people want from me?' The hairline fracture is longer, a little deeper, more surprise, concern and a healthy dose of frustration bleeds over from Piper. Phil can feel a smirk on his lips, it's a tiny little glimpse of what Piper really feels, and it's almost like having the upper hand for a change.
'Look, kid... There's a lot going on that isn't really anything that concerns you...' Piper sighs, and Phil tentatively prods at the fracture, wondering if he can make it big enough to peek through. 'I don't know what you're planning either kid... I know you're up to something against Heyman, but you worked out how to shield yourself at the most inconvenient time.' Piper laughs, and Phil gives up, the fracture is as big as he's going to get it for now.
'I'm just tired... Sorry Piper... You've been nothing but a friend to me, and I'm being an asshole.' Phil can feel a wave of understanding and sympathy come from Piper, and he feels guilty once more. Piper more than likely isn't his enemy, and if he is, well he's not very good at being the enemy. Phil's sure that villain one-o-one is don't train your opponent, but then Heyman gave him training too, and that thought makes Phil feel bitterly sick. 'Look... I...' He stumbles for words, not sure what he wants to say.
'What is it, kid?' Piper sounds so genuinely invested, so genuinely interested in what Phil's going to say to him that it throws Phil for a loop. He's not used to people other than Scott being this interested in him. He shakes his head, trying to focus, there's no doubt Heyman is the enemy, there's no doubt those kids need help.
'How much can you train a telekinetic?' It's worth asking, because Phil's certain Amy's going to agree, she seemed so eager to help when he saw her last, so eager to be involved, that even if her part in the plan is nothing more than opening doors, Phil's certain she'll be up for it.
'A little... Uh... Why?' Suspicion creeps into Piper's tone, and Phil can't blame him for it, for all that Piper's told Phil nothing, he's told him as little in return.
'I've a friend who might be interested in getting some training... She-'
'This for your thing against Heyman? Look, kid... Phil... Paul's dangerous, he's strong... Don't underestimate him.' Though, not being told hasn't stopped Piper from guessing apparently, and guessing well. Phil sighs, forced into stopping his walking to the diner by a red light at a crossing.
'I'm not... I don't think I am at least...' He doesn't think he's underestimating Heyman for the simple fact he's not making any assumptions about the man's real strength yet. It's horribly foolhardy, but he doesn't know anything about Heyman, other than the man is ridiculously strong, and Phil is no match for him. He needs to puzzle out some way to take Heyman down, but that's for another time. However, he only has till Saturday to plan this. The bitter sick feeling rising in him again, maybe he should speak to Heyman again, try and get more out of the slimy man.
'I'll train your friend... The park tomorrow, but I'm keeping you late... You and I, we need a talk. I think it's time I explained some stuff to you.' There's an odd torrent of concern from Piper, the sort of concern Phil's only ever felt from Scott, and he almost misses the green walk signal.
'Thank you.' He surprises himself with how much he means that, he's grateful for the promise of training for Amy, even more grateful for the promise of some explaining. He feels like he's on the periphery of something that wants to consume him whole, and there's so many pitfalls and blind turns. Even just a little light being shed on the situation will make it more bearable, because right now Phil feels like he might collapse under the weight.
'Hmm... Don't thank me just yet, kiddo. Go have fun, say hi to the knight for Hack.' Piper laughs, and their connection is cut. Phil can feel a blush on his cheeks at having to say to Scott for someone else, it feels curiously like being in a real relationship where you've to carry other people's good wishes to your other half. That thought has him stalling, other half might be exactly what Scott is to him, might be exactly what he is to Scott. It's a kind of daunting realisation, daunting but right now, incredibly comforting, because as daunting as his relationship with Scott is, everything else is much worse.
'Punkers, where the fuck are you and what the fuck are you spacing out about?' Scott's voice over the link startles him out his daze, and Phil scowls. It seems he was right about Punkers sticking around.
'On my way... I'm not spacing out... I was talking to Piper.' Phil guesses he's not too far from the diner, the buildings look a lot like the ones in the image Scott had sent him early. He easily spots Scott's car parked on street, and smirks, a little devious trick bubbling in the back of his mind. He opens the door, pulling the invisible man trick, and sits down. "Boo!" Scott jumps and Phil lets the illusion drop, laughing at the shock on Scott's face.
"Dick." He mutters, pulling Phil close. "Amy's meeting us in like ten minutes. You tell Piper you weren't meeting him today?"
"Yup." Phil leans over and kisses Scott quickly. He's getting a lot more confident in his ability to give kisses, and is more than grateful for that fact. The horrific nerves of not so long ago have all but dissipated in the wake of practice. "He says he'll have some stuff to teach her... If she agrees to helping us... How'd she seem? You think she'll wanna help?" He wriggles out of Scott's hold and settles in the passenger's seat.
"I didn't ask her... Figured that'd be best coming from you." Scott shrugs, and grins over at Phil. "You're the one who's got the whole mind-control deal. You're clearly the more persuasive of the two of us." Phil scowls at him, and glances away. He's not going to force Amy. If she doesn't want to potentially risk her life, and her freedom, in helping them free a bunch of kids she doesn't know, she doesn't have to, it's her decision to make, and Phil won't take that from her. "What?" Scott sounds unimpressed, but over the link is more familiar concern.
"I'm not going to make her do something she doesn't want to." Phil mutters, based on the shock from Scott, he gets the feeling he was jumping to conclusions.
"Good. C'mon, let's grab a table." Scott gets out of the car, and Phil follows along behind him. 'What is it? You seem... Off.' Scott sits at a booth by the window, and forces Phil to sit opposite him, taking a hold of his hands across the table top.
'I do? No, I'm fine.' Phil really does think he's fine, he doesn't think he's off at least. He might have a lot on his mind, a lot that he needs to skulk off and think about, but he's focussed on the task at hand.
'Punkers...' Scott really is too attached to that name, Phil thinks. He can see a future where he never hears Phil from Scott's again so very easily, and he's not entirely sure he minds all that much.
'Really, I'm just... I'm not sure I want to drag more people into this mess, Colt.' If Scott's going to use nothing but twee nicknames, he's getting Colt as a repayment for it. Scott raises his eyebrow, over the link comes a flash of disbelief, and Phil's slightly worried he's going to get called on his cheap answer. He is worried about Amy, but right now, that's the least of his concerns.
'She's probably the quickest way to get those kids outta there... Bust open the crates, then escort them out... We can set up a diversion or something, have everyone busy with that and she can sneak them out the back?' Scott's thumb keeps moving over the back of Phil's knuckles, the gently little movement is deeply distracting, and Phil's grateful that Scott didn't call him on his bluff. Whilst it was clearly thought up on the moment, the idea Scott just proposed is actually a halfway good one, one they should probably go with.
'Yeah... That might work... That might actually work really well. See, I knew you were more than a pretty face.' Another cheap tactic to keep Scott from asking too many questions about what's really on Phil's mind. He grins up at Scott, watching a slight blush creep over his cheeks, grateful it seems to have worked.
'Shut up you... I'm getting food.' Scott lets go of Phil's hands, and joins the queue, as Phil spots Amy walking by the window. Her thoughts are buzzing, flitting from topic to topic, practically thrumming with excitement.
"So, Scotty, tells me you guys wanna talk to me?" Amy sits at the table, her eyes dancing around the diner, looking for Scott, and panicking about Phil peeking at her thoughts. Phil sighs, she's far too paranoid, but she wouldn't need to worry about him overhearing the never-ending smut in her head, if it wasn't there.
"We do." Phil's aiming for genial, but really, he would rather like to just tweak her brain so she focuses on the matter at hand. Though to be fair, they've not told her what the matter is, so she can't focus on it. Scott sits down beside him, setting a burger and fries in front of him.
'You've not eaten since breakfast.' He nudges Phil's shoulder, and grins. Amy's thoughts are buzzing with romantic inclinations, and Phil shakes his head, starting to eat the burger. 'Good, eat before you waste away.'
'Sheesh... Fattening me up is a family trait then? Honestly... You hoping to eat me or something?' Phil takes another bite of the burger.
'Hmm... I could definitely something you.' Scott smirks at Phil, and steals a fry, licking his fingers exaggeratedly.
"So, you asked him out then?" Amy's eyes are focussed on Scott, and Phil can feel a blush forming on his cheeks at her words. He might have jokingly asked if he could tell Amy they were dating, but now that it's official, he's not sure he wants to share something so preciously private. There's a covetously greedy part of him that wants to keep Scott locked up somewhere safe, somewhere no one but Phil can get a hold of him.
"I was ordered to." Scott laughs, stealing another of the fries. "I'd have gotten round to it eventually, but he's demanding... Hot, but demanding." Phil's blush deepens at being referred to as hot He's seen how other people think of him, he's heard other people's attraction to him thousands of times, but for Scott to so causally confirm it is different. Possibly because Scott is the first, and at this stage, Phil's certain, only person who's opinion on his physical appearance he's interested in.
"I'm not demanding... Just..." 'I wasn't putting out till I was officially in a relationship.' He smirks at the shocked expression that crosses Scott's face; over the link is a confusing jumble of desire and fear.
'Phil...' Scott's emotions are a confusing spiralling tangle, and they're going to need to discuss things, going to need to talk things through, because Phil most definitely wants to put out, even if Scott's afraid, he's sure he knows how to negate the reason for that fear.
"Uh guys... Still here." Amy interjects, a smirk on her face, and she too steals one of Phil's fries. "So, this mysterious talking... It's about that warehouse, right?" Her smirk softens to a grin, and Phil can feel a wave of amusement coming from her. "You want my help after all, right? I'm right, aren't I?" Phil looks at her pointedly, and she huffs a sigh. "I'm gonna get a milkshake, you want something Scotty?"
"Nope." 'Just to never be called Scotty by anyone other than my mom ever again.' Phil snorts a laugh at the petulant tone of Scott's mental voice, and he gets a swift little kick to his ankle for it.
"Phil?" Amy's looking at him, all wide-eyed innocence. Her thoughts are entirely sappy, and fixated on how cute he and Scott look sharing fries, and how much cuter they'd look sipping a shared milkshake.
"Milkshake." Phil supposes indulging her a little won't hurt, and Scott did forget to get something to drink.
"What flavour?" In her head, she's doing a stupid little happy dance, and Phil has to resist the urge to start laughing at it.
"Chocolate." Scott answers for him, looking at Phil strangely. 'Is she thinking weird things again? I'm not sure I like the idea of you and her hanging out... She's going to be a bad influence on you, and you don't need any more of those.'
'She thinks we're cute.' Phil nudges Scott slightly, moving a little closer, feeling more comfortable once their thighs are pressed together. It's silly and more than a little needy but he likes the feeling of being pressed against Scott.
'Well, she's half right.' Scott presses a quick kiss to Phil's temple, and the milkshake is set down in front of him, two straws poking out of the top of the glass.
"So, gentlemen, was I right?" Amy retakes her seat on the other side of the booth, grinning. Her mind is a happy little swirl of smug satisfaction and mildly perverse anticipation. Phil nods, and catches one straw, sucking down some of the shake.
"You're right... I had a change of heart... I, we need your help with Heyman." He can feel the explosion of happiness a second before she starts laughing, her eyes light up in triumph.
"I knew it!" 'I absolutely knew cute and scruffy would need my help! And then I can edg-'
'Ahem... I can hear you.' Phil's entirely certain he doesn't want to know which station that train of thought was heading for, based on the blush that overcomes Amy's face it was nowhere PG.
"So, yeah... We need you to do some box opening." Scott chimes in; looking between Phil and Amy, over the link is a healthy dose of confusion and mild irritation. 'What's she saying?'
'It's not what she's saying that's generally the problem, some people think in images.' Phil finishes the burger, and starts folding a napkin out of a nervous habit he's accidently picked up from a man in the back of the diner, a man sitting waiting for his girlfriend, passing time by folding cranes.
"Open boxes? I don't get it..." Amy looks confused, and Phil wonders if it would be too traumatic to just show her what he knows the same way he did with Scott.
"What we saw in the warehouse isn't what's in the warehouse." He starts, setting one finished crane to the side of the table, and starting another. "It's all an illusion Heyman made up to... Trick us? Tempt us maybe... Whatever, it's not there. What is there is a big ass warehouse, that's empty but some cages."
"And some guards." Scott adds, taking the second crane from Phil's hands, staring at it, looking mildly impressed. 'I didn't know you knew origami?'
'I don't... Guy in the back does, he keeps thinking it over and over again... It's easier to go with it than to fight it.' Phil shrugs, not looking up from his folding.
"So... You want me to bust open these cages, right?" Amy's mind is filled with possibilities for what could be in the cages, some of them quite fantastical indeed, Phil sends a little prompt to make her just ask the contents of the cages. "What's in the boxes?"
"Kids." Phil sets the latest crane down, and looks up, meeting Amy startled expression. "Three little kids, in three little cells. We need you to crack the cells open and get the kids outta there." 'Can you?' He knows perhaps he should have led into this more gently, but time is short and if Amy isn't willing to help, maybe they can track down one of the other telekinetics from the group.
"No problem." She sounds firm; her mind is hardened in its resolve. Kids and animals, those appear to be her two weak spots, the only way she could be more in is if it turned out Heyman was also experimenting on puppies.
"You're sure?" Scott sounds disbelieving. 'She's agreeing awful quick...' He mutters over the link, and really, Phil almost agrees, but quick is good. "This is dangerous, like really dangerous." He starts nervously rubbing the back of his neck, and without thinking, Phil catches Scott's hand, lacing their fingers together. A burst of overenthusiastic mental squealing comes from Amy, and Phil has to fight the urge to scrub the fangirl out of her head.
"No one should pick on kids, Scotty... It's not fair... And we've got super powers, right? May as well use them for good." Amy laughs, and steals one of the few remaining fries. "So, do you have a plan to distract all the guards, and Heyman too I guess."
"Ah..." Scott laughs nervously, his hand twitching in Phil's clearly desperate to start with the neck rubbing once more. Phil squeezes his fingers, and shakes his head.
"Not yet... The plan... It's a work in progress." He smiles awkwardly, ignoring the part of Amy that's cooing over how cute his smile is, and adorable it is that he and Scott are holding hands. "You're welcome to throw ideas into the pot." He tries to prompt her to focus, and it seems to work, her mind trying to decide on a good distraction.
"Fire." She says suddenly, her eyes filled with glee. "Start a fire in the corner of the warehouse, they'll all be distracted with putting it out, and if they're not... Well you can make them, right?" She looks as Phil, an excited grin on her face.
"And whilst their all putting it out, we sneak in and get the kids outta there?" Scott finishes for her and Amy nods, holding her hand out for a high five.
"It's an awesome plan, right?" She crows, and Scott high fives her. It's a plan, Phil will give her that, at least fifty percent more plan than he and Scott had on their own, but to be fair their team is now fifty percent bigger.
"It's a start... So you're in?" Phil asks, he's desperately hoping that concern for the kids isn't what's swayed her; he's hoping this is entirely Amy's own decision, because this is going to be dangerous, this isn't going to be easy.
"I'm in, I'm so in." Amy finishes her milkshake, and stands. Phil nods at her from where he's sat, and shakes Amy's hand. She laughs, and pulls him to his feet, bundling him up a hug. "This'll be fun." She grins, and tugs Scott to his feet, hugging him too. "We'll be a great team, I'm sure of it." She picks up her bag and throws it over her shoulder. "But, if we're being superheroes, we're gonna need to pick awesome code names... See ya school tomorrow Scotty!" She laughs and leaves. Phil drags Scott back down beside him, and snuggles up at his side, feeling Scott's arm wrap around his shoulders. It takes very little effort to make their little booth invisible to the rest of humanity; the silence of Amy's departure is almost comforting. It leaves Phil free to think over how they can arrange a distraction. Her suggestion of a fire has promise, but it might be risky, it might cause more harm than good, but at the moment, it's the best thing they've got, so it might be what they have to go with.
"You think she's serious?" Scott says suddenly, his mind had been buzzing quietly, unobtrusively, his thoughts soft and fuzzy almost, his voice comes as a surprise to Phil.
"Bout what?" He turns to look at the almost stricken look on Scott's face, his thoughts still fuzzily content, completely at odds with his expression. Phil nuzzles against his neck a little, watching the expression change, his thoughts still softly content for a short while, before an awful sense of dread fills him.
"I can't think up a good superhero name, Punkers... This is important, stop laughing at me." Scott sounds utterly indignant, and Phil can barely breathe for laughing. It probably should worry him more that this is the most pressing concern that two thirds of his attack force are facing, but as Phil sits tucked under Scott's arm, it really only amuses him.
Many thanks to the lovely Ladies and Gentlemen who reviewed:
AshJovillette, shiki94, Rebellecherry, littleone1389, Brokenspell77 and alizabethianrose:
*^-^* Its always relief when a chapter gets the reaction I was hoping for - I was aiming for cute and awkward as hell for their first time, and it seems that was achieved so YAY!
So I go away and come back to write a monster of a chapter that fell well behind schedule, and means the damn story will be longer than anticipated. Wonderful...
As ever trepidation haunts me with this fic... as such: Please leave a review, even if it's just "Hey, that didn't suck", I'd be so far and beyond grateful. Heck even if you thought it did suck, tell me too, something is better than nothing after all. :D