xmutanthigh | [closed thread] flying times. like old times!

Entry tags:

[closed thread] flying times. like old times!

Characters: Julian, Rogue.
Setting: Outside. It's fall. Super pretty and colorful.
Content: Stuff happens.
Status: Complete.

[Julian's decided this nice, crisp fall evening is just as good as any other evening to go for a quiet flying session. He's deep like that. It's been an okay week; things have calmed down considerably the last few days, so he feels the need to take a breather. He's floating high in the air, parallel to the ground as the sun's starting to hang low in the sky, bundled up in a light jacket.

He peeks down and what do you know? Rogue's walking a path below him. Just the girl who's avoided him all week. Or maybe she hasn't, he isn't sure. God knows he's been keeping himself busy. Then again, he's been dead to her in the Danger Room.

He smiles a little, drifts downwards and hangs upside down in her way, arms folded across his chest.]

And where do you think you're going, sugar?

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[Rogue is tired, okay? She doesn't feel like dealing with one Julian Keller right now. Not that she's been avoiding the crazy person hanging upside down in the air in front of her. Why would she ever do something like that? Unless, of course, she'd had some sort of terribly embarrassing break down in front of them. Which she had.

She folds her arms across her chest and gives him a very unamused look.]

To the mansion. Obviously.

[He raised a brow at her, gives her a little bit of a playful narrowing of the eyes. But he senses her hostility, even understands it. She never really tries to hide it, and its purpose is kind of predictable. For a moment, he sucks at his bottom lip thoughtfully.]

So is this how it's going to be now, sweetheart?

I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about. [Except she totally does. She's making a study of some lovely trees over to the right though.]

No, I'm sure you do. [He says this lightly, because he's a step ahead of you this week, Rogue.] I saw something you didn't want anyone to see. You hate it. So now you don't want to see me. [He doesn't mention that pesky little other part. The part where, oh right, he held her and brushed her hair back and he's pretty sure she liked it too.]

Edited 2010-10-29 22:16 (UTC)

You look ridiculous right now, sugah. [No really- it's the monkey bars look he's got going on. Ridiculous, okay? It's not at all an avoidance tactic.]

[He almost cracks a grin at that, but he holds it back, turning right side up, feet landing on the ground. Maybe he lands a pace or two closer to her then he was before.] Better?

And you know, the kicker of this all is that you're mad at me, right? You're avoiding it and taking it out on me, just because I'm the one that cares about you, and you take care of yourself. Am I getting warmer?

[She's really not comfortable with the way this conversation is going and her face definitely shows it. So she bites her lip nervously and continues her study of trees and switches it to the ground after a few seconds.]

I don't want to talk about it, Julian.

[He sobers even further now, licks his lips and looks to the ground. He had expected that too. One of his hands slips casually into his pocket.]

You never do, but that's okay, sweetheart. Because I got it. I know.

[He sighs a little, his free hand lifting. He's not nervous about touching her, but he's not necessarily sure either, and the question is on his face as his hand settles on her arm.]

[Her eyes narrow and she flinches away from his touch instinctively. It's mostly a reflex though because she's far too busy being irritated at him and his prying.] No. No, you really don't know.

[Well, ouch. That stings. The sting is more or less passing in his expression as he looks down though, the hand that had touched her finding his other free pocket. After a blink or two, he looks back up.]

So you don't want to talk about it, you just want to keep avoiding me, and I don't know anything. I just want to be clear.

[She doesn't say anything for awhile as she studies the ground a bit more, biting her lip again.] It's not so much that I'm mad at you, okay? [The words, when she finally says them, are muted and she still doesn't meet his gaze.]

[He definitely has feelings for her, otherwise he wouldn't feel so goddamn emotional at that. She might as well have just admitted she feels the same way, not that she's not mad at him. He could punch himself.]

Then what is it?

[Her hands drop and start wringing in front of her. Her voice is barely audible at this next bit.] You... you were right before.

[He looks down at her nervous fingers, thinks about taking his hands out of his pockets, stilling hers like he had before. His own voice is low, only a few decibels louder than hers.] Which part?

What... what happened the other day. It wasn't something I... that I ever wanted anyone to see much less know about. [Yeah. She still can't even look at him. The embarrassment's starting to come back a bit.]

[He doesn't know what to say to that, so he doesn't respond for a long moment. Finally, he responds in some way, hesitating as he brings his hands out of his pockets, slowly lets them hover over hers, giving her ample time to pull back, flinch, whatever she wants to do. Still, he doesn't lift his gaze either, not until he begins to speak.]

I'm not sorry I saw it. I'm just sorry that I couldn't... do more. And I'm sorry that you... feel like you do about my seeing it. For what that's worth.

[She doesn't flinch away from his touch this time. There's enough time for her to force her instinctive flinch away.] There's nothing... nothing that anyone can really do when... it happens. [It's such a careful line she has to walk here. It's already bad enough he saw it; she can't handle him knowing what was actually going on. But she finally looks up at him for the first time in awhile.] I just wish you hadn't seen it.

[He takes her hands as she speaks, squeezes them gently. It hurts him a little, that she wishes that. But he understands. There are so many things he keeps buried, things he wouldn't want anyone to dig up. Maybe how much he cares is because of that. Partly, at least. Because looking into her eyes, he knows the other part.] I wish you wouldn't. Because I'm... I want to... [He smiles a little at himself, looks down for a second.] I don't know, sweetheart, I just... feel better knowing. For you. Like if something happens, maybe there is something I can do, to help you. Does that make sense?

[She can't help that bitterly amused and dry little laugh.] Makes sense but there's really not anything you can do to help with this.

[The laugh brings in back to himself and the situation more, and he takes a moment to think her sarcasm over, licking his lips before bringing his eyes back to her.] So when I found you, I didn't help at all?

[Cue Rogue being really really really uncomfortable again. She shifts anxiously from foot to foot for a moment before mumbling an inaudible reply.]

[And even despite the seriousness of the situation, he thinks she's adorable. He tugs gently at her hands a little, bowing his head a few inches to better catch her words.] What was that, beautiful?

Maybe a bit.

[That effectively pleases him. Julian Keller likes to be needed, okay? That's why he's smiling a little soberly as he looks down at their clasped hands. He's a goner for her. And he's going to stop smiling like that soon.

Now.

Okay, now. Maybe he doesn't succeed fully, but it's not as bad. And now his smile is light and playful and he's just trying to move past the hard part of this conversation, like he's sure she wants.]

You know, I think that what you really need right now is to let me take you flying.

[Her eyes go wide as she looks up at him. Flying? What?]

You think we should what?

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