Sons and fathers.
Wednesday 28th March
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It was a strange feeling. One that Michael had to acknowledge he hadnt felt for a long time. Longer than he would have liked to admit! Home!! It meant so many things. It threw everything out of phase! This feeling of belonging that he had with the institute! After all, wasn’t that what he was supposed to have left behind in Scotland? Except that now, when he got right down to it he realised that it wasn’t! Not really.
Oh yes, there were things that he still missed, that was certain! Things that only family could provide no matter how dysfunctional they might have been! Love for one thing. Inadequate as that had proved .Tempered always by the feeling of being an outsider no matter how hard he tried. Set aside by his personality even before he had been a cripple Or a mutant for that matter. And yet…….
There were bonds there he couldn’t release. Bonds that ran deeper than intelligence or intellect Even if now he was forced to acknowledge that, as he had always suspected, there was something beyond the petty horizons his father had confined himself with! A world that, in the end, opened its doors to him, shut his parents out? Was it wrong to admit that, despite everything, despite all the loss he felt when he thought of what he had been forced to leave behind, he had needs only Xavier’s Institute seemed to fulfil? Maybe! And then again maybe not! For in the end university could well have created the same gulf between him and his family as his acceptance at Xavier’s had. Without the trauma that either his mutation or his brothers betrayal would have inflicted upon them.
It was a question that had circled round in his head ever since he had got back from Bens. And that in itself he had to admit had been a revelation. After all Bens parents were so understanding……… they had taken Michael in without a word, showing him a whole life that he could have lived if he had only been born with a brother that loved him.. And a mother and father who understood him even remotely!
God he was so ungrateful. Even thinking like this seemed a betrayal. *But then again maybe that runs in the family* he thought with a sigh. Hadn’t he always had a roof over his head, no matter how precarious? And if meals had mostly had been left by the microwave then the food had at least always been there. On that level at least he had never been treated any differently for the others children. Each one of them had more or less fended for themselves while their father sat with a beer bottle in his hand watching football and their mother moonlighted as a hairdresser or went out with her friends to her beloved bingo.
Who then was in the wrong if he had wanted something more? Something they just hadn’t been able to give him. Encouragement for example, instead of ridicule! Recognition of what he was, even if it wasn’t necessarily what they could handle. Though thinking back, maybe that had in fact come at some point. ”Michael’s the brainy one in the family” they had said, only seeming to be half ashamed of the fact as he had grown older. Unlike all those times during his childhood when he had been laughed at or yelled at for being a wimp! As if keeping out of fights and trouble had been some kind of a fault. They had only been half right though. If Michael had excelled in the purely academic field, George was far from being stupid. He had just excelled in other domains. Like getting ahead by walking over other people! Or selling his brother off to demons!
Whoa! This so wasn’t the road Michael had wanted to go down. He was supposed to have been, however guiltily, savouring this moment. And after all he told himself, taking a deep breath; in the long run maybe he had earned it. So yes, however unlikely it may have seemed, if it did hurt like hell not to be able to pick up the phone and have some stupid discussion about how Glasgow Celtic was doing in the championship league with his semi drunken father, he still had to admit that he was glad to be here. Even if he would surely have liked to have come under different circumstances! In the end this was his future. And if it wasn’t the one he had actively planned, then it had rapidly become the one he wanted!
After all what more could he have asked for? Here he had friends. Friends like Ben who asked him to stay over simply because they knew that parent’s day could have caused him pain. Or like Scott, who had counted on him to stand up to his parents and speak this mind. Or like Illidan who had in the end asked him to risk his humanity in order to perhaps save a soul. And as for Paige .. well… that was complicated……… as complicated as his feelings for Madison…for Paige had asked nothing at all even if he had risked everything for her.
All of his was new and painful. Possibilities he had never dreamed of. Or rather that he had in fact dreamed of but never thought he had a chance to fulfil.. And, despite everything, all the suffering, all the worry, they were welcomed, as nothing else had ever been in his life. Because this was just that! His life! And if sometimes it scared him witless to be out here living it so soon, at other times it felt all too right. As if some restraining umbilical cord had suddenly been cut! Not in the kindest fashion he had to admit but once and for all. And maybe that hadn’t so much severed him from his family as given him stable ground on which to renew his relationship with them If he only could have, that was, without putting them into danger.
He had always wondered if he would simply have severed his links with them. If he had in fact graduated and gone on with his career, would he have looked back or simply turned the page? Now he had the answer and if it hurt deeply then it also comforted him. Yes! They were his family! Maybe they didn’t understand him. But then again he didn’t understand them. And if certain members had betrayed him then the others had been there when he needed them, unable to help but trying all the same. And in the end that was all that mattered.
So in a way it was true, the lie George has sold them. He was actually getting the best medical treatment available for his condition. And he was happy. Against all the odds! Safely delivered from harm and living the life he wanted to. And not only on the intellectual level that he had thought to be his only refuge but also on a physical level that let him help people who like himself thought they were lost for ever. Even if that was far from what George had intended.
After all he had always wanted to do more. To pass on his passion for books and history! To change lives by education if he could. And yet here at Xavier’s he had been offered the opportunity to do that and so much more.*Here I can really make a difference* he realised. *And if at the same time I can be happy then what is there to feel guilty about?*
This was his choice after all and one he had seized with both hands. Ok he was cast adrift, obliged to start his life again penniless in an unknown country. But he wasn’t alone. In fact in many ways he was less alone than he had ever been back in Scotland. * Like Sebastian in Twelfth Night, saved from the seas and finding fortune in a new land!* Michael thought with a relieved laugh. ‘And if I feel a little cast adrift then I am also free! And that is surely something to be taken into account.’
So somehow, finally, he was content and smiling as he made his way across the front hall and out into the grounds, taking his time on the always trecherous steps as he did so. This was his Illyria and, no matter what sadness lay behind, he intended to make the most of it And that meant making friends outside his team mates! Which he might just have an opportunity to do right there and then. As Michael carefully made his way down the steps he noticed someone he knew. Max! Ok they weren’t exactly bosom pals but at least they had met before. And under rather auspicious circumstances! Paige liked Max .And Paige didn’t like a whole lot of people.
So Michael was already more than half way won over to Max’s side even before he approached. Though there was no doubt that the meeting would be awkward.Ok… in theory they had met before, but in practice Max had only been in contact with Hood………. And Michael wasn’t stupid enough to believe that was enough to prepare anyone for the reality of the situation. So though he really wanted to go up and say 'hi remember me'he held back.
Which in the end was probably just as well! Max had a visitor. Michael wasn’t one hundred per cent sure but given the resemblance it looked like it might have been his father .Or at least some other family member. And if that was the case then his meeting certainly took precedence over a run in with passing acquantance. And one that Max wouldn’t probably recognise as even that!
Whatever Matt's problem was, Max didn't care. Not at this point. For the first time in Max's life he had been scared he'd never talk to his parents again and now he had his father calling, calling to meet up, calling to apologize? Max didn't care about that either.. just the fact that his father called.
Arrogance and excitement sat on Max's shoulders like an invisible cloak, his attention withdrawn only to himself as Wolverine's Wilderness class pulled up to the school. Each student made their way off, Max's form brushing by the others who dared not move out of his way. First order of business was to make himself presentable. A shower and fresh clothes beckoned him like sugar summoned a sweet addict. Max's haste enabled the youth to get into the gates and almost reach the front hall before his phone went off, his father having been in a car across the street and already making his way towards one of Xavier's more prone troublemakers.
"What's the hurry?" Steven's voice sounded cool, though hardly affectionate. That's ok though, Max was used to it, it's just who his father was. The comment caused Max to look back, as it suggested his father could see him, and with a smile, the attractive student found his gaze settling on the powerful man that followed Max into the grounds. Dawdling was not an option, and Steven knew this! Time was precious and short, and he couldn't wait around! The younger of the two Chadstone’s moved towards his father, aiming to meet half way.
"I was just going to go and have a shower and change, we just had Wilderness classes." As if to show the need for the shower and change of clothes, Max's hand tugged at the base of the shirt where dirt soiled the fabric. Though it hardly mattered to Steven, the dirt that soiled his son could hardly be washed away, and all the elder man could see anymore was filth. "Don't bother." The phone was snapped closed as Steven finished speaking, the words heard easily enough by Max both over the phone and by voice.
"I'll just be a minute, you can come up an-" As a hand motioned towards the front hall, the other hand was grasped, a firmness that threatened to grow increasingly worse if Max didn't behave, though for the life of him Max couldn't see what he was doing wrong! Cutting off in mid sentence, Max turned his attention towards his dad again, looking away from the entrance to the school he had previously been signalling.
"Don't test my patience Max, enough of my time has been taken up by you as it is," The voice was clear, strong, too easily defined, at least one head turned, perhaps more, Max felt the stab of surprise ebb away to embarrassment as he wondered what the other students would say about seeing this. Everyone loved it when Max got in trouble, it was like he got his just rewards for all his bullying, Max could deal with it if it was just some teacher, he was a student, he was supposed to run amok, and they were supposed to tell him off. It never mattered, he could always laugh it off, he always played it as if he was too cool to care what punishments they gave him. Sure, he didn't like them, but he never let it known, it was more fun if people though he just didn't care about anything. It frustrated them to no end.
However, his dad? What a field day they'd have, pointing out that he was scolded at by daddy dearest. He'd seen what happened to others who got teased after being chastised by their parents, hell, he'd done a hell of a lot of teasing for it himself.
"You have more then enough clothes at home to last you the next couple of days till we figure out what to do, just come with me to the car." As fingers tightened on Max's arm, both a wince in his features and a move of his arm occurred at the same time, his other hand resting over his dad's grasp. Last me a couple of days? There was a pause, despite the tug of his father's arm pulling Max a step closer, there was still a resistance in Max's legs, still a stubborn refusal.
"What are you talking about?" It was always amazing how quickly it happened, the snap, the moment that went from one scene to the next, from normal to extreme. So blind was Max to the signs, that there never seemed to be a lead up, then again, the anger never seemed to vanish, and if anger was a constant, a normality in his life, then how could Max be blamed for not knowing anything else?
Drawn even closer to his father with a strong tug, Max's feet struggled for a balance as they were forced to find their ground again, another tug grabbing hold of him but this time Steven's other hand took a fist of hair in his grasp. Pulling Max's head slightly back and causing his son to grow instantly quiet. The voice that followed was strained for any resemblance of calm, almost callous in its attempt to remain level and unwavering.
"Don't you dare question me." Humiliation swelled instantly to a point even Max's cheeks started to burn, though by the end of the sentence Steven shoved Max enough ahead of him to stumble forward a few feet, but not to fall over. "Now stop wasting my time Max and get into the fuckin' car you little disobedient shit."
Re: Sons and fathers.
Bloody. Damn. Stupid. Three words that he kicked around in his skull like cans, their echoes bouncing off its walls as he stared out of the jet window, completely shutting out the world around him. It wasn't supposed to be this way. He shouldn't have to be feeling responsible for Max like he did, right? It obviously wasn't his fault Steven had decided to go all violent maniac on his son, nor did Matt feel like he should get the blame for the rich boy's interest in his own gender. At this point, the contrasting mutant was almost entirely convinced that the two were connected, and that his theory of who had beaten up Xavier's infamous school bully was correct.
But in the end, wasn't he just making excuses? His conscience sure told him so, and the nasty thing had a habit of being especially persistent in its nagging if it was right. Then again, he hadn't brainwashed Max, nor tipped off Chadstone senior. Could he really take the blame for this bizarre string of events? Did he have to, as his actions had been the trigger, if not the underlying reason? If there had been a chance to undo it all, would he have taken it, or rather continued in his self-righteous pretence of defending the younger male's right to a free choice of lifestyle?
And there it was, the final realisation. Goddess, he was such an egoist. True, what was happening, the attitudes that reigned and surrounded Max were wrong, and completely so. Yet the motives out of which Matt had been trying to go against them was far from altruistic. And what hit him even harder was the fact that despite that sudden insight, he still couldn't muster any regret, nor truly feel ashamed. As selfish as it maybe was, the light-elemental couldn't help but think that in the end, it had been all worth it.
Just that things were not exactly over yet. Steven had called. And as much as he would have liked to hope otherwise, Matt was pretty sure trouble was the only thing that could come out of the meeting the two Chadstones had agreed on. Bloody. Damn. Stupid. Why couldn't Max see what was really going on, the twisted nature of his father's doings? In every child's life, there comes a time when it realises its parents aren't perfect, that they might in fact be far from it. Yes, even that one may be better off on the other side of the world without retaining any contact whatsoever. Self-preservation, a quality Max seemed to be entirely lacking when it came to his genitor.
However profound the realisations drawn from such reflections, they didn't change the fact that a certain anger remained in Contrast, smouldering. Lack of understanding caused frustration with the stone-shifting student so easily; it was like talking to a brick wall. A particularly dense one. And still he'd try to help somehow, though Matt had to admit that he was lacking any idea as to what exactly it was he could do.
Finding a way to make sure he knew where Max was in case he'd be lying around bleeding again - or worse - seemed a good plan though. He assumed there'd be at least a little time until the dreaded meeting occurred, and so he he didn't bother checking what was actually going on on Max's part but went directly for the mansion's entrance, overtaking the school bully on his way. Surely Aurora would have something to help him out with. There had to be something good coming from being a computer whiz and team leader... hopefully...
There comes a time when everyone of us has to take over responsibility for their actions. It stands to argue whether there is also a time when we can get rid of it again.
Re: Sons and fathers.
The alarm had sounded as soon as Steven Chadstones vehicle had been spotted lurking in front of the Institute. Damn him for a pretentious fool! Did he really believe even now. after Hank’s all to, explicit warning that they would let him just waltz back into the school unsupervised? That idea was the product of an egoism that bordered on folly and one that Hank was more than happy to make him pay for. If only his hands hadn’t been tied that was.
Despite everything that had gone before and all the good that his reconciliation with his brother had done, Max still seemed stupidly ready, no actually eager, to invite his father back into his life. And that was something Hank couldn’t actively forbid. No matter how much he wanted too. So against his better judgement, until Max asked him not too Hank was obliged to let the car into the grounds. Even if it made him sick to his stomach to do so!
Still he didn’t have to leave Max without supervision. In fact he would have to have been dead and buried before he would even have contemplated such a thing. This was Xavier’s Institute after all, and if it had once failed to protect a student from a sadistic parent than Hank was damned sure it wasn’t going to do so a second time.
So that was why Scott had been waiting discretely in the wings, watching over Max’s arrival from the island. Ok he wasn’t exactly at the top of his form but even with on arm tied behind his back Cyclops was more than a match for Steven any day. And in the end seeing someone with an obvious handicap stand up to the great and revered father figure could only be beneficial as far as Max was concerned. Though Hank hoped that if things turned sour Max might just do that on his own.
It wasn’t to be though. Max walked into his fathers arms like a lamb to the slaughter. Even so Hank did try to give him time to react despite Scott’s voice sounding insistently in his ear "Not yet" he said ,hating himself all the while as he saw the all too familiar pattern of abuse escalate into violence. Logan would have disregarded his words. Most people would have. But then again Scott wasn’t most people. He was used to commanding a team and he knew that if you trusted your leader then you didn’t go against orders. No matter how badly you wanted too. This was Hank’s mission and in the end Scott respected him enough to trust his judgement
*Come on Max! Do something!* Hank prayed * For once take a stand* It was a lot to ask. Too much probably, although this all too public revelation of Stevens violence could have been just the trigger Max needed to push him over the edge. Instead, to Hanks immense disappointment Max seemed as surprised as ever when Steven turned nasty, grabbing his hair in a movement that saw the doctor shred a mouse matt in sheer reflex.
*Go* The word was already on his lips when he saw that someone had unexpectedly and against all logic got there first. The one unpredictable element that inevitably got in the way of so many perfect plans,. Human nature had chosen to intervene. And Hank hesitated in the face of its righteous indignation.
He had perhaps wanted to show that Steven could be confronted by someone less than perfect. This however was above and beyond the call of duty. Michael! Hank knew all too well how frail his body was. But he also knew the strength of his determination. And that coupled with his sense of right and wrong was what had driven him to intervene between Max and his father. They should have seen him coming. God knows he wasn’t exactly the fastest thing on two legs. But the fact was that he was there, a force to be reckoned with, and an appalled Scott was asking what to do and..
There are some decisions that aren’t easy. Almost all of them when you were a leader! Or a doctor for that matter. Hank had already let this boy put himself in harms way once in order to help another student. He didn’t know if he was capable of doing it a second time. And yet…. Michael’s movement, if ungainly was natural. The frank and open reaction of a boy confronted by a cruelty he couldn’t and wouldn’t condone.
This wasn’t a teacher being overprotective. Any reaction on Steven’s part wouldn’t have a nice convenient excuse to hide behind. It would be a wake up call of the worst sort. And if Michael had hesitated for even a second then Hank would have called it off.
“Scott… hold off” he said softly... “ This is my call.. and God knows I may well live to regret it”
.......
Bags Micheal to go next....
Edited by: HankMcCoy13 at: 12/21/06 4:07 am
Re: Sons and fathers.
Relationships between fathers and sons weren’t always the easiest of things, that much he was ready to admit . But Michael was sure they should never have gone this wrong. Always assuming that this aggressive man actually was Max’s father that was. Which Michael sincerely hoped he wasnt!
Staying out of Max’s family reunion had proved a lot easier to do in theory than it had in practice. Oh it was clear that no one else wanted to get involved. In fact the remaining students were circling around this incident like vultures surrounding a corpse. Or, in a more generous frame of mind, like drivers with ten years no claims bonus surrounding a traffic accident! Maybe that was because they had never found themselves in Max’s place. Held pinned and helpless while onlookers did what they always did! Watched and feared. Or gloated, given their disposition. But in the end did nothing to help.
Maybe if it had just been that twisted arm and that raised, cultured voice then Michael too would have passed by. Perhaps if he hadn’t already been focused on Max’s presence then he wouldn’t even have noticed what was going on, concentrated as he had been on his own safe negotiation of the steps and the subsequent hardships of the self imposed walk that lay ahead of him.
None of that mattered now. He had been there, where Max was and done that, not with someone old enough to be his father certainly, but, all to often at school and time and time again with George at home. And, lord knows, he had worn the tee-shirt till it had fallen to pieces. And if there was one positive thing he had learned from the experience, then it was that giving in was never an option. Well that and the fact that a helpful hand was never unwelcome.Though he had to admit that he’d never actually walked into a family quarrel until now!
It did change things! This bond of blood that undoubtedly lay between Max and this unknown man! But in the end it still didn’t give him the right to force Max to comply to his will, as he so obviously was trying to do. Still , concerned as he was by what was going on in front of him Michael wasn’t completely suicidal. There were risks involved here and he knew it. Did he really want to put himself in the picture?
Suddenly though all doubts fled as things went to a whole other level. The action, the hostile hand grabbing Max’s hair in itself should have been enough. But somehow, what really shocked Michael into realising that this wasn’t something he could ever walk past was what the man was saying, the words so at odds with the voice that uttered them “Don't you dare question me” The tone alone had been enough to stop him in his tracks but what followed had been decisive. “Now stop wasting my time Max and get into the fuckin' car you little disobedient shit."
It could have been something Michael heard everyday in the streets of Easterhouse. Except that the person saying it seemed to have more money than most of the people Michael had grown up with would ever earn in their entire lives and an education to go along with it. And that made all the difference.
Some people in the suburbs of Glasgow had simply incorporated swearing into their language until it became second nature, the words that should have caused offence subdued and diluted until they passed unnoticed. . But every instinct that Michael possessed told him that this wasn’t the case with Max’s visitor. He used words as a weapon, and he was out to kill.
Which was why Michael intervened! Or at least that was what his rational side told him. In fact he would have waded in anyway, Because that was what he did! Even if he usually got his ass kicked for doing so!
The crutches for once had cooperated completely, moving him forward faster than even he expected. If Max and the man hadn’t been so caught up in their own little drama they would have seen him coming. As it was though he surprised them , not exactly materialising out of thin air as his alter ego was so capable of doing but rather stepping between them as Max struggled to regain his balance. The face he turned towards Steven was lacking its usual smile and the grey eyes were resolute. “Excuse me sir” he said calmly “but I really think you need to take a deep breath and calm down.”
Re: Sons and fathers. What on earth? It seemed all that could come to Steven's mind other then a resonating blank stare. However as surprise settled, annoyence rose. And it rose all the more as soon as Michael spoke. “Excuse me sir” Could this brat see they were busy? Couldn't he see they were pressed enough for time as it was without him here getting in the way? “but I really think you need to take a deep breath and calm down.” Was that... an order? Albiet a neatly wrapped one? Yes.. yes a deep breath was definitely in order, before he smacks this little disfigured rodents head off.
Now what? One minute Max was happily striding towards his room, the next he's shoved around and blind swiped, now some one else was in on the act? Great. Just what he needed. Steven hated it when people interferred with his affairs, absolutely hated it. Just go away.. for your own fucking sake you deranged idiot! What did the guy think he could accomplish? why was he even here? Did he always intrude into other people's issues?
"Move you impudent little bastard," The annoyence and irritation rang clear in Steven's demands, though the tone that followed was more stern and far colder. "Before I move you." At Steven's thread Max felt almost exasperated! What the hell was so important about getting into the car? One day it's 'never talk to us again' the next Steven's having a fit because Max isn't getting into his car fast enough? Fuck this, I'd rather sleep then take part in this bitch fight. But then again... his dad did seem rather hot blooded at the moment, and as Max tried to figure if he knew the rogue student from somewhere, Steven's following comments all but shattered whatever trail of thought Max was on.
"You're one of them aren't you?" Accusation hang thick in his words, though Steven didn't make clear what exactly he was accusing Michael off, Max had a feeling he knew all too well! "You filthy shit, why I ought t-" Swiftly Max's voice cut between his father's word, an almost panicked tone woven amongst the desperate words. "Stop it! I don't know him! I'll get into the fucking car, I don't see what the big deal is!" Max's arms were thrown into the air, frustration swelling, humiliation rising. God! Max wanted to punch someone right now!
Re: Sons and fathers.
He hadn’t really expected his suggestion to be met with an apologetic smile and a promise to play nice. But Michael had, perhaps against all the odds, hoped that reason might have somehow percolated through the mans rage and made him see that if nothing else he was making a scene that wasn’t exactly going unnoticed. And it was something that wasn’t doing his reputation any good! Unfortunately as it turned out this particular guy didn’t seem to give a damn about that. All he wanted was Max and he was determined to get him whether anyone stood in his way or not. "Move you impudent little bastard” he told Michael furiously "Before I move you."
It wasn’t an empty threat, that much was frighteningly clear, and if the mans eyes didn’t contain the same sly cruelty that the young Scot had seen in Alex’s just before he had grabbed Michael’s crutches and sent him crashing to the floor, there was still no doubt that this stranger was prepared to do as much and more to get what he wanted. Regardless of what damage he inflicted in the process.
Memories of the gut wrenching pain he has felt when Alex’s booted foot had stamped down on his damaged leg filled Michaels mind. Oh god he didn’t want to go through that again and he had been stupid, truly stupid to put himself in a situation where he might just have to. Although of course when all was said and done he didn’t have to, did he? He could just do as the man said. Step aside. Leave these two angry people to fight this out between themselves! It was the intelligent thing to do, because it looked as if words weren’t going to solve this conflict. And words were all he had to offer. Well that and his frail bodily presence between them.
*All the same this is above and beyond the call of duty* he told himself *And I have given Max time to pull himself together. Maybe that will be enough . maybe now he’ll be able too….. The thought was never finished, for it was cut short by the degree of sheer hatred that suddenly entered the mans voice "You're one of them aren't you?" he said viciously.
One of them? Michaels grey eyes flashed wide in understanding. Was that what this was all about? Mutancy? Could it be that like Ben, Max had kept the fact that he was somehow different, hidden from his family? It would go a long way to explaining this outburst, though it did nothing to excuse it.
Michael had never experienced any of the discrimination that was directed against mutants before. His powers were too discrete, too easily hidden for them to call down instant condemnation upon him. And to be honest, he had naively failed to recognise himself as a mutant until George’s little moneymaking scheme had brought the fact home to roost in spectacular and ugly fashion.
How would the rest of his family have reacted if he had suddenly announced such a thing? He really didn’t know. Bewilderment? Disappointment? Or would they just have said 'that’s nice dear' and ignored it, hoping as they had done with so many other aspects of his life that it would just go away or at least that they wouldnt have to actively deal with it.
In any case it wouldnt have been like this he suspected. Oh his dad may well have got drunk and shouted. But the violence he was facing now was George’s domain not his fathers. And as Michael well knew he had decided to exploit the fact that his little brother was a mutant rather than to chastise him for it. Which didn’t seem to be the road Max’s virulent relative had chosen to walk!
"You filthy shit, why I ought t-" Michael had actually braced himself for the blow when Max cut in. "Stop it!” he yelled, the fear in his voice matching Michael’s own and perhaps, absurd as it may have seemed given the situation, even exceeding it. * No. Its not absurd at all* Michael realised chillingly.*Because I can only imagine what this man is capable of whereas Max…… shit.. he’s seen him in action. And that makes all the difference! *.
“ I don't know him!” the older boy added quickly, probably telling the truth from where he was standing rather than a lie designed to get Michael off the hook. After all he had only ever met Hood and Michael felt pretty sure that he looked nothing like a legendary hero right at this moment. Still, whether he had been recognised or not Max’s next words were either very brave or very foolish. And while Michael appreciated the gesture he was damned if he was going to let his fellow student pull such a stunt simply because he himself had decided to get involved. “I'll get into the fucking car,” Max told the angry man “I don't see what the big deal is!"
“Well I do” Michael said with a calm he was far from feeling. Even if his resolution was back with a vengeance! He couldn’t step aside no matter how much he wanted to, just as he couldn’t have refrained from intervening in the first place. Because this was wrong! And when something was this wrong then someone had to say so. Even if they got stepped on in the process!
“Firstly.. you don’t want too. Secondly…. you shouldn’t have to. Sir” he said, never once having taken his eyes from Steven. “I have no idea what your issues are exactly but there’s one thing you need to know. Here at Xavier’s it doesn’t matter if we’ve met before or not. We look out for each other. And I’m truly sorry but until I’m sure that Max will be safe with you…. then there’s no way I’m moving. “
Re: Sons and fathers.
“Well I do” The reply to Max’s rhetorical question came smoothly and it caused the Chadstone youth to almost hesitantly lower his arms and draw them towards his front, half way between a defensive and curious posture. While perhaps Max wasn’t initially wanting a reply to his statement, the stone shifter found himself waiting for one as Michael stood there, taking on an attitude of ‘all knowing’ that people just didn’t do around Steven. It was almost frightful the scene, Max had been on crutches once when his father lost his temper, Max had just completely messed up a first impression his father was trying to make with an official from another company, hobbling in most ungracefully and his appearance dishevelled from laying down most of the day.
The reason Max had wanted to make his way to the kitchen on his own instead of calling for someone to bring him food however was just because of that, he was tired of laying there and wanted to get up and move… Which would have been all ok if he hadn’t hobbled into the middle of a formal greeting and therefore drew attention to himself, Max assumed it was because his father was guilty over accidentally hurting him, though it was only a sprain it was serious enough that he couldn’t put weight on it and it was swollen. After the guy left Steven had been all in a rant about first impressions and how Max had screwed his chances up with the much coveted business partner, that Max had any idea what all the fuss was about. Being shoved aside on crutches caused Max to topple over and that had been a world of ouch.
“Firstly.. you don’t want too. Secondly…. you shouldn’t have to. Sir” Didn’t want too? Shouldn’t have too? What was this guy on about? It didn’t matter what was wanted or not, if ones father demanded something then a good son would follow through without question… that’s what Steven’s children were told and trained to believe was true without fault or flaw or doubt, all in a harsh vigour dominated by Steven’s need for control. Max’s feet took a few hesitant steps towards Michael as his father, the chiselled expression of his fathers features like a neon light over a strippers club, bright and unable to be missed, especially for those who know what they’re looking for. When Steven was at his calmest, that’s when things were at their worst, when anger melted away and a stern glare, focused breathing and a silent glower was all that seemed to be given… It was as if for a few moments Steven seemed to draw in on all his negative energies with an intent focus, and then unleash it all at once!
“I have no idea what your issues are exactly but there’s one thing you need to know. Here at Xavier’s it doesn’t matter if we’ve met before or not. We look out for each other. And I’m truly sorry but until I’m sure that Max will be safe with you…. then there’s no way I’m moving.“ The insolence… the utter disgrace of it all! As if merely having to step foot into this pit of chirpy brainwashed fools wasn’t bad enough, Steven was now being LECTURED by one of the impudant try-hards! The tension in the jaw became more obvious as a slight tremble shivered through barely noticeable and yet still distinct, at least as far as Max was concerned!
It was amusing as well really, the manner in which these misguided hot air balloons seemed to think they could threaten him, threaten to keep him from his own son of all things as well! They couldn’t keep Max from Steven, the only one with the power to decide where Max was or wasn’t allowed to be was Steven himself! And since he had resigned in allowing Max to come here, he has just as much right and ability to demand Max move out, there was nothing this place could give Max that Steven’s own empire wouldn’t give, of that Steven was convinced.
For a moment, in the fray of thoughts and panic, Max found himself almost frozen, and with himself the world around him too seemed to slow, it was as if short microseconds spanned in minutes. So heavy was Max’s heart beating now that it felt as if the entire front of his chest was pulsating with it! The very tips of the stone shifters fingers thumping along with every beat, just like when Steven loomed over James as they were kids, the sense of helplessness Max had felt as he stood by, the feel of guilt as it seemed impossible to do anything but just stare. If only he was stronger, faster, more resilient, if only Max was as large and strong as Beast or as deadly and seemingly unbeatable as Wolverine, if only he could summon the storms or drain all the energy, if only… if only Max was anything but this helpless dead weight he felt himself to be!
“Such refined impertinence…” The words were coolly spoken, only a touch of anger still resonated within his voice, so carefully contained was the anger for the moment, “…makes sense that with it you’ll bare such a rigorously tapped well of inanity.” And there it was, that jerk of movement, that rush of force, a strong hand shoving back the frail form of the thinly figured student. Each hand like that of a striking snake, one shoving and the other already lashing out to grab hold of the boy, Max’s own hands already reaching out try and help stop Michael’s fall, only to have Steven’s hand gripping onto the astral powered mutant and tug the boy towards him, stepping aside so that the boy could be discarded with ease and tossed out of his way. And just as one hand was releasing Michael, the other was grabbing at Max’s wrist, firmly and frightfully quick, his son’s jerking reaction to the sudden grasp stopped by force of will as Max realized doing so would just upset his father more. Compliance was the best with Steven, even if Max wasn’t sure what he was complying to.
“You’re making me very upset.” The words were almost almost growled out quietly between clenched teeth, and while Max’s free hand rested against the other hand that grasped his own, panicked eyes watched over Michael, Max’s legs frozen and his breathing rapid… This was all wrong, this was all so stupidly wrong! Everyone would hear about it… why did that kid have to interfere? It wouldn’t have gotten so bad if Michael had just hobbled on with his own business… at least… that’s what Max wanted to think for now, even as fear over what Michael had said, about refusing to let Steven take his own son until he knew for sure Max would be safe… why was everyone so worried about his safety? If they all stopped budding in he might be a whole lot more safer!! All Max could do was freeze up, his face wincing from the pain of the grip and his eyes firmly focused on Michael. Max wasn’t sure why… but he felt bad for him, it was his fault after all that Steven was here and that Steven was this angry… if it hadn’t been because of what Max had done the last few weeks, his father wouldn’t be here, and he wouldn’t be this angry.
Re: Sons and fathers. OOC: Ok... I rambled... and it got late, so if there're shifty sentences and odd content and stuff, please tell me and I'll edit... when it's not 4am XD
That building had way too many stairs. Or those stairs had too many steps. Or the steps were too high. Either way the walk up towards the team dormitories was longer and more tiring that he remembered it to be, a fact that could of course also have been due to the hours they had just spent playing hide and seek with Wolvie, pardon, Mr Logan in the woods. The more self-critical part of Matt also decided to point out that his stamina was simply as bad as his overall condition. He really wasn't a jock. Maybe he should consider actually doing something instead of weaselling out of phys ed or going by the least effort principle like he usually did, Contrast thought as he had to slow down midway, despite knowing every second could be decisive now.
Whether it was fate, coincidence or his sparkly hunch fairy godmother telling him to look out of that window precisely at this moment, the light-elemental couldn't know, but what he saw made him instantly forget the fatigue that had got him there in the first place. People gravitated to a certain spot halfway between where they had landed and the mansion, in the way bystanders became spectators of a car crash or some particularly interesting brawl. Considering the nature of this place, however, it actually had to be something really interesting, involving someone many of the students knew to explain the level of attention it was getting. Someone like one of Xavier's infamous school bullies.
"F*ck! Matt cursed and hit his com badge. "Contrast calling Circe, I need you to work some of your mojo please, and quickly!" In retrospect, he was rather glad Aurora had been busy with team issues and other work as usual; he obviously didn't ask further about any of that at this point. Had she known what he needed the tiny device for that now safely rested in his fist instead of simply accepting his hurried "It's important but I'll sort it out, don't worry.", there was little doubt she would have brought down fiery vengeance on Steven Chadstone. Especially if he had told her of these suspicions he was almost entirely certain of. Being heir to the Ferelle empire, there was nothing she had to fear, her family's influence being on a par with the Chadstones after all.
Yet that wasn't the goal, was it? Max was blinded, but leading him around forever wouldn't help in the long run. He needed to take that cover off his eyes, see for himself and, most importantly, finally understand. How exactly that could be achieved, Matt was not at all sure of, but blazing in and threatening to roast his father alive was rather unlikely to do the trick, no matter how much Circe may have contradicted. She seemed so calculating and untouched a lot of the time, but occasionally - especially when it concerned her personally - she had quite a temper, only remembering reason when the damage was already done. If your powers could literally turn somebody into a pile of ashes, however, regret had a tendency to come too late. No, this really wasn't what they needed now.
Hurrying back to where the commotion was attracting more and more of an audience, he couldn't possibly have failed to find out who was the centre of the scene there. There really were an impressive lot of people who weren't exactly Max's fans, or so Matt guessed from their loud and cheerful proclamations (from those at a safe distance anyway) of just how much Chadstone had had it coming for a while now. The closer he got, the clearer it became that what had looked like a solid circle through the window was more of an accumulation of numerous people. Some pretended to be busy with something, some were simply watching the show, but all avoided to form any kind of coherent group or get too close. From the perspective of those at the focal point of their attention, it may just as well have seemed as if it was simply lunch break and surprisingly many people had decided to eat their sandwiches outside. And it was exactly that which made it so much easier for Matt to interfere.
He hesitated for a moment as he began to come close enough that a random look into his direction would immediately identify him as someone approaching the three. *Wait, three?!* The dark-haired youth needed a moment to get an overview of the scene unfolding in front of him, its components rather self-explanatory but still not entirely unambiguous. He just arrived in time to see the impressively quick reactions Steven could call his own, grabbing that frail kid who appeared to have come in the way of whatever was supposed to happen and virtually toss him to the side like a rag doll - unwanted, unworthy and unimportant. It probably was lucky coincidence said side happened to be the direction Matt was coming from, his reaction rather instinctive as he made a few quick steps forward and caught the other before he could fall to the ground.
Sharp bones hit him hard, Steven having put enough force into the move to almost send the physically disabled student a-flying. Was that guy even thinner than he was himself, Matt wondered, noticing the worrying lack of flesh on the other's body. Well, the part of his body he had contact with when catching him anyway. "You alright?" he quickly asked in his semi-British accent, quietly, taking a step to the side as he was suddenly very much aware of their almost intimate proximity. Considering the circumstances, that rather awkward track of thoughts was even more superfluous than it was embarrassing. There really were more important things at the moment than worrying about what others would make of it.
It had all gone so fast; the older Chadstone had just growled his reproach when Matt focused on him and his son again, assuming the younger boy the billionaire had dealt with so carelessly was alright. Michael was wiped off his mind when he saw the flicker of pain pass over Max's features though, everything, everything leaving his consciousness for a moment but this image of abuse and cold, unwarranted fury.
He was vaguely aware that Max was looking their way, however, his eyes were locked on the father's features, an unspeakable hatred that one visible wince had triggered dominating the shadow-walker's thoughts. For it wasn't just that single act he saw. Every single occasion at which his friend had revealed his warped idea of the world, the occasions on which Matt had noticed bruises on his body up to when he had ended up in medbay with rather serious injuries, all of it seemed to overlap then, adding up to a single, unspoken accusation. It was all this man's fault.
In that very moment, Matthias Evans knew the feeling of wanting to hurt for no other reason than to inflict pain onto someone. Had he had the power, Chadstone sr. would have been suffering the consequences of his actions then. Each strike, each blow, every single case of emotional abuse all paid back at once and with interest. It was this moment of intense focus that, strangely enough, made Matt realise deep down the precise nature of that family relationship. And it was this that broke the spell, quietened the roaring flame of hate in his eyes that had actually just been blazing for a single second. Whatever happened now... ultimately, Max would be held responsible for it.
So very often it's a useful thing, that subjectivity of time's passage.He didn't know about Max, but Steven most likely hadn't noticed anything, too focused on intimidating his son, too convinced of the unimportance of everyone at the Institute other than him. It was that arrogance which would keep any reasonable word from getting through to him, that would take any moral reproaches sent his way and twist and bend them into his son's failure. And in some warped kind of way, Max would believe it was true, just like he always did. There was nothing, at this point, Matt could do. A crushing realisation.
But that wasn't entirely true, was it? There was still this pinhead-sized, sticky, grey ball he had slipped into his pocket on the way here, that would at least help to show them what was going on, keep them assured of Max's relative well-being. Fingers crossed.
A grip, a thrust, a catch, a wince, and some thoughts later, a wink of an eye after Steven had announced his dissatisfaction: light. A diffuse crackle of white energy, barely visible in bright daylight and from any farther away than a few metres, flickered over his form as Matt activated his contrasting powers and effectively blinded the two Chadstones, if only for a moment. Some silent steps, and the tracking device vanished in the smaller compartment of Max's jeans pocket. That space was one hardly ever used by anyone, and he had done his best to drop it in discreetly, hoping the added confusion of suddenly not being able to see would keep his former companion from noticing anything.
And thus, mere seconds after Matt's painful encounter with that kid's bones, Max was properly bugged and the light-elemental back on his position in time to withdraw his control of their eyesight and make sure to be busy with anything that looking Steven's way, apparently checking on Michael's state. If he sometimes encountered dizzy spells or near heart attacks - something not too unlikely considering his obvious tendency towards choler - and with the added bonus of not knowing Matt's abilities, there was a slight chance the older of the two would just shrug it off. After all, nothing had changed really, had it? And Max himself, well, if he did know what other than shadow-walking Contrast was able to do, he hopefully was smart enough to not say anything. Otherwise, things might get nasty. Or nastier.
Realising it could seem strange if he didn't comment at all, considering he had picked letting the young Scot undergo a quick visual check-up as cover, Matt decided to turn again, trying his best to keep the searing emotions from before not to break through the surface. "Is there anything I can help you with, Mr Chadstone?" he asked as neutrally as he could possibly muster, lacking an idea of what else to say. They couldn't risk making him even angrier than he was now, he observed, or Max would have to bear the consequences. And really, he couldn't be having with that. No, not at all. Not he.
There comes a time when everyone of us has to take over responsibility for their actions. It stands to argue whether there is also a time when we can get rid of it again.
Re: Sons and fathers.
Things had gone still, almost peaceful, but Michael wasn’t fooled. The rage hadn’t dissipated, it had just sunk deeper into the man's heart and there it had changed from something fiery into something cold and far more dangerous. It only took an instant but the young Scot recognised the process all the same. How could he not, when the same icy fury sometimes coursed through his own veins?
“Such refined impertinence…” Now the vocabulary matched the cultured voice, swearing left behind his mood worsened. “…makes sense that with it you’ll bare such a rigorously tapped well of inanity.” Michael paid little attention to the insults. Instead he was doing what he had been taught to do in training. Watching his enemies eyes. Trying to catch that moment when he would attack!
And to be fair he did catch it, swift as it was. He just couldn’t avoid it that was all. Still he had a split second in which to brace himself against the rough push he knew was coming his way, angling the crutches to at least try to catch himself when he would inevitably start to fall.
It was a desperate move with very little chance of success but it was better than nothing. Or at least it would have been if all Steven had done was shoved. Instead, just as Michael effectively began to topple, he suddenly found himself grabbed and jerked forwards, his body actually hauled off the ground by the force of the movement, before being spun of to one side, his crutches left dropped and useless behind him.
Spinning wasn’t what Michael did best. It required the body to move in ways his just didn’t any more. At least not of its own accord! Steven though had given it no choice. Damaged joints screamed in protest and the only reason Michael didn’t scream with them was that he had no breath left with which to do so. He was going to go down that much was certain. And he was going to go down hard. Already he was falling, his right hip heading maliciously for the ground as if it too, like Max’s father wanted to see him suffer. But then somehow there was contact. Still hard! Still painful! But nothing like the agony Michael had expected.
"You alright?" someone asked, the voice surprisingly as British as his own , the English accent only adding to Michael’s disorientation as he struggled to get the pain under control. Someone had caught him! One of the students! Maybe forced out of their voyeurism and into action by the sudden violence of the scene before them or maybe riding in filled with righteous indignation on a white charger. Michael honestly didn’t care. All he knew was that they had just spared him a world of suffering and that was more than worthy of gratitude.
Not that he could exactly express his appreciation right at that moment. Not with the pain trying its best to make him pass out. Already it was nothing short of a miracle that he was managing to stay upright without the aide of either his crutches or his unexpected saviour, who having caught him, didn’t seem to feel either the need or the desire to hang on to him. Or rather to let Michael do the hanging!
In fact the astral mutant wasn’t much mistaken he was moving away. Oh crap that wasn’t good. Although anger and indignation were keeping Michael on his feet it was a close run thing and his chances of staying there for much longer were fading fast. No that wasn’t true. He wouldn’t let it be true. The young Scot forced himself to breath deeply , pushing the pain back or rather refusing to let it dominate him as it wanted to. Later he would give into it. But not here and now. Not in front of this man.
Words from Shakespeare drifted back into his mind as they so often did when he felt desperate.This time it was Hamlet.. Polonious’ advice to his departing son. *Beware of entrance to a quarrel; but being in, Bear’t that the opposed may beware of thee.* Michael could do that. Make this opponent look upon him with wariness if not with fear. All he had to do was become Hood. Put an arrow to his head and insist that he let Max go.
But of course if he did that he’d be declaring himself as a mutant, maybe even blowing Max’s cover as well, and while coming clean seemed like a good idea to Michael it wasn’t his decision to make. It was Max’s. And if he thought it was worth putting himself through all of this to keep his powers a secret then who was Michael to judge. It didn’t make things simple though. But then simple was one thing this situation had never been.
Still half dazed and with no clear plan of what to do next Michael felt movement at his side and realised that the other student was back. "Is there anything I can help you with, Mr Chadstone” he asked with a politeness to match Michaels own, providing a name to go with the angry face. Michael breathed easier just knowing he was there, that maybe he didn’t have to do this on his own. Because whatever happened he wasn’t going to give up. He wasn’t going to let Max be dragged into that car and driven off into the unknown. Even if he had no idea how he was going to stop it. And he somehow thought that his new ‘team mate’ felt the same way.
So shaky as he was, Michael’s head came up again, his grey eyes pain filled but defiant, noting in passing the black hair and pale face of his new companion before coming to rest on Stevens triumphant expression and Max’s pained one. Somehow the sight filled him with new determination if not exactly with new strength. *Ok* he thought stubbornly. *I went down but I’m not out. Ding Ding. Its round two and…… against all the odds I ’m still standing. And as long as that’s true then anything can happen. *
Re: Sons and fathers.
And just as it seemed things couldn't get any worse, just as the guilt built up so high Max was sure he'd crumble apart at the slightest push, that's when it seemed that the seemingly worse possible situation just grew unfathomably worse. And Max knew it... he knew it not because the voice that spoke, not because of the face that suddenly appeared, for no other reason but simply the painfully tighter grip taking firmer hold of his wrist.
"Is there anything I can help you with, Mr Chadstone?" Both Chadstone's eyes seemed to become fixed on Matt, though where Steven's seemed flickered with an almost renewed sense of rage, Max felt himself almost break apart with a desperate need for Matt to just vanish. This was all so embarrassing! The eerie silence didn't fool any of them, Max was sure of it, he found his eyes staring firmly towards Matt, drifting only after what seemed forever towards Michael, they both stood their grounds against his father and Michael wished they'd just go away, go away and stop making it so much worse!
Things wouldn't have gotten so bad if people just minded their own business, Max could deal getting into trouble, but he couldn't deal being made a show of, and right now it seemed he was just that, a show, a mockery made public. And as Steven's hands seemed to pull Max closer and position the younger Chadstone in front of Steven, forcing Max to stand between his father and the other two as if some sort of make shift barrier. A heavy hand seemed to find itself resting down on Max's shoulder, and grip on his wrist eased as Steven let go and allowed that hand as well to move to the other shoulder of his should, letting both rest, his fingers lightly starting to grip but not tight enough to cause Max's any real discomfort, not when his wrist was throbbing more then enough to distract his thoughts.
For a short moment, it seemed all went almost black for Max, all those around him faded to leave but a small selected handful, and those handful weren't any in his immediate proximity. No, instead the young Chadstone's eyes found themselves resting on two of the youths who were passing off rather upbeat comments about what they saw. What did they know? Max glowered at the boys who smirked back, mouthing a few retorts just for him to try and figure out.
"How dare you," Since Max hadn't spoken, he got a slightly confused look as his eyes turned towards Matt, it took a moment longer for Max to realize it was Matt his father had addressed, and with that Max squirmed slightly in an attempt to wiggle away and try to walk off. This was getting worse, definitely getting a whole lot worse, and Max didn't want to hang around and let it happen. Then again, Max wasn’t even sure at this point what he wanted, with his dad storming in like this and making such a scene, he almost wanted these guys to stand him up, it’d be worth the punishment dished his way later. Making all this fuss, intentionally trying to humiliate him! That had to be it, his father wanted him to remember that regardless of where Max was staying Steven still had the ability to make things difficult if his son misbehaved.
What would people say at this point? What would they think of him? How embarrassing! Max almost found himself glaring for a moment, scolding the very thought that these twerps even thought for a moment they’d get away with mocking him! They’ll just have to be reminded about respecting their betters! Though, Steven’s tone of voice and words drew Max’s attention back after a moment, the younger Chadstone couldn’t see the scathing look on the elder’s face, though Max’s eyes settled on Michael. It didn’t look as if the other blonde was much of a fighter, though Max was positive the face had been seen before, whether it was on the team missions or in the halls, in class or somewhere around the school, Max couldn’t put his finger on exactly where. There was a defiance though, and Max couldn’t figure why, it wasn’t like… well… ok, so his dad was causing a scene but it wasn’t only because they were too! Surely they saw that? Maybe if this guy with Matt kept causing trouble then Steven would just walk off, it wasn’t uncommon for Steven to storm off and opt to deal with a situation in a different manner or at a different time.
"The nerve of opening your diseased mouth around me you twisted little fõck," Max blinked, the hiss of words chasing away thoughts of Steven’s sudden retreat, panicked eyes shifted towards Matt, Max’s body cringing as Steven’s fingers dug into Max’s shoulders, the flicker of pain shortly ended as Max was pushed a few stumbling steps forward and out of his father’s grasp. "How dare you show such appalling behaviour you contemptible little bastard," For a moment Max was confused on who Steven was addressing, the words were understood but they weren’t the kind Max could give an exact dictionary meaning for ‘contemptible’, though in the end it never mattered what words were used, just what punishments were issued. The shameful downturn of Max’s gaze didn’t lift until his father’s voice continued on, smoothly, effortlessly, though as he spoke it seemed to be moving away.
"You’re not worth the time Max, not if this is the kind of deplorable shame you bring upon your family, hanging out with such… sordid abominations!" Max turned his head and slowly twisted his upper body to allow him to look back towards his father… the sudden retreat he had thought might occur indeed had… just not in the manner for which Max would have found more bearable. It was all happening so fast, and yet felt as if moments dragged on, thoughts froze on various memories that both found himself agreeing and yet disagreeing with all the things his father was saying… Steven just didn’t understand… He didn’t like the X-men and he didn’t like what Max had done, but Matt himself wasn’t all that bad, sure he was something Max could correlate to as a bad influence, but there had been moments where… things hadn’t seemed all that ‘sordid’ with Matt, ok, it wasn’t often, but so what if Max made some mistakes, he could learn from them, get over them, he just needed a chance to get over them!! The beating of Max’s heart thudded in the depths of his throat, though despite the tangling struggle of breath and panic, Max managed to call out to the elder man’s turned back.
"But dad-" Already shaken by the previous comments made by Steven, Max’s voice seemed a little unsteady, though for a moment he felt able to make a comment, fuelled by the anger of the humiliation and yet limited by the shame of letting his family down, Max’s stand was short lived however, as soon as Steven turned about, the very look that caused Max’s body to scream with alarm bells and warnings, he’d stepped too far, some how, managing to trip over the invisible wire that had been the difference to it all ending and it all exploding in his face once again. Three brief steps drew Steven suddenly right back, too close, Steven’s hand rose, not in a motion to strike but to jab a finger towards Max, though his son still flinched. Though he finger moved towards Matt and a very serious tone flowed scathingly from Steven’s angered lips as he addressed Matt. "Stay away from my hotel, or actions will be taken for trespassing on the grounds, you sick depraved shit."
For a moment the fright dissipated from Max, whose tension was sapped by a sudden indignant righteous flame that demanded a correction of what was just said. It's not you're hotel! Clenched fists were the closest to a reply Max got, It belongs to James and I! We worked hard, it's not yours! And just because Max made a mistake didn't mean his father would just take away the hotel his sons had worked so hard to make!! It wasn't fair! It was their’s, they worked off any debt they had with their parents by now, the hotel was a boom, ok not the grandest of all in existence but definitely well worth all the attention it’s gotten over the years! James had been fantastic, and the people the young Chadstone’s hired had helped them run it smoothly until the boys were old enough to take control as best they could. He was sick of his dad’s threats of taking away the Panacea! Now James was back though… Maybe James will help fight to keep it? What a shock that’d be for Steven, he’ll see they weren’t hopeless, they’ll shove him he was wrong, they were useful! Max just needed a chance, and so did James perhaps, Max just wanted their dad to give them that chance again!
(OOC: I edited the end slightly... hope it's ok now.)
As moments passed and Steven's infuriation began to turn into something worse, it dawned on Matthias that his attempt to counter anger with politeness hadn't exactly accomplished what he had hoped it would. The question why was simple to answer: he hadn't expected the elder Chadstone to remember him as anything other than some random classmate of his son's, if at all. They had been cautious. He had been cautious, avoiding any compromising behaviour where people were around. It had got him confusingly mixed reactions from Max, still he had done his best to keep what they shared a secret. How had this man he had only ever seen once found out about it?
Vague memories of that mirror-walled elevator emerged, and with it the wondering worries he had shortly had. Security cameras. Had there been any after all? Had the security staff really deemed it appropriate to inform Max's father of his son's hugging another guy? It was a bizarre thought, yet people sometimes acted so strangely, so petty and ignorant to the wider effects their actions might take, Matt found he wouldn't be all that surprised to find it had been just like that. Maybe the employee that had been fired that night had wanted to get back on his young former boss, or maybe his father was routinely checking the tapes for some reason the contrasting mutant couldn't think of at that point.
As Max was released from the brutal grip and moved in front of his genitor, Steven's starting to spit his spiteful words effectively stopped Matt from saying anything for a while, taking the abuse staring in shocked amazement, not believing his ears. The hateful contempt that was thrown at him like kicks and punches was so intense, he found it to be almost palpable, making it hard to breathe for a moment. And there was the main reason why he didn't speak his mind, smart-mouth something back like the "It's not contagious, you know?" that had been trying to get out ever since Max's change of position. He was terrified, simple as that. For if there was one thing Steven Chadstone's words were conveying for Matt's empathic mind, it was that his life was of no value for the other at all.
If they had been alone somewhere and the elder had had a gun on him, chances were he'd have fired it empty by now. The realisation hit him quite like its own kind of bullet, and Matt really hoped it wasn't so, but remembering the state he had beaten his own son into, a fact Contrast was not at all doubting anymore at this point, it seemed more and more likely to be the truth. *He's a monster...,* he thought with growing panic, body trembling ever so lightly, his face giving away only a fragment of what he felt inside - a good thing considering that it would have been hard to understand their extend without knowing what his heightened sensitivity towards people's emotions told him.
Strangely entwined with the seemingly irrational fear, there was some relief that Steven apparently did no longer have any intention of taking his son with him. Was that a victory, if only a small one, or nothing worth anything really in this struggle to make his friend see how horribly wrong this all was. How do you make someone see the true nature of their parents if they've been conditioned to consider it normal throughout their entire life? Can you anyway? Not that Matt felt like spending much thought on such fundamental questions, waiting anxiously to see Chadstone senior leave after his final threat. The implications of that last statement were clear enough though. The hotel. It seemed he had been right in his assumptions.
Although the intimidating man didn't seem to be doing anything to further his demand, there were some more moments in which he still felt unable to move, waiting for the tension to fade so he could be sure to be able to walk without shaking with the excess of adrenaline or whatever it was insane quantities of which his body had spilt into the blood stream. If asked, Matt wouldn't have been able to say what had hit him worse: the words itself, or the fact that he had said them out loud in public. By this he had clearly shown he saw nothing wrong or socially deviant in his behaviour, an attitude his son had been brought up to share. Was that the ultimate sign for what he had been fearing all along? Was there really, truly no way for him to save Max? Not one?
There comes a time when everyone of us has to take over responsibility for their actions. It stands to argue whether there is also a time when we can get rid of it again.
Re: Sons and fathers. How dare you? Michael’s vision had stopped fading in and out at least for the moment , so it wasn’t hard to follow Steven’s angry look nor to see who was on the receiving end of it. So as well as stopping the young Scot from ending up in a heap it also seemed that the newly arrived Goth also drawn Chadstone’s wrath his way. Not that the manswords had been any less hateful when they had been directed at Michael himself. Well at least they were back to the swearing dad as opposed to the calculating one. And from where Michael was rather precariously standing that seemed to be a good thing. Though he wasn’t sure that either of the other youths saw it that way!
That fear was present on both faces was only to be expected. This guy was after all seriously scary and had already shown that he was capable of actions just as brutal as the words he now threw their way. And talking of throwing things their way…. suddenly it was Max who was thrust towards them, stumbling a little as he came but managing to keep his balance none the less. "How dare you show such appalling behaviour you contemptible little bastard," his father yelled . It didn’t matter who the harsh words were in fact directed at, Max took them for himself and it was clear they hurt him, causing his handsome face to fill with shame A shame so deep rooted that Max seemed unable even to look at them as his father railed on.
Diseased and twisted! That was what the elder Chadstone had called them. Was that how Max really felt about being a mutant? As if it was something sordid and contemptible rather than a source of wonder. It wasn’t the impression Michael had got when they had first met . But then again on that occasion Max had seemed so confident, so sure of himself. As if he was in control of everything around him. Especially his life. Which, it had now been shown, was so blatantly not the case..
It was a spectacular fall from grace. Or rather no! Max hadn’t so much fallen as been dragged down by someone who should have been there to support him. And that was wrong no matter which way you looked at it. Though Max didn’t seem to see it that way. Otherwise surely he would have fought back?. If not enough to actually come in conflict with his father then at least enough to break free and face him on his own terms instead of waiting to be cast off like so much garbage.
. "You’re not worth the time Max,” Chadstone told him contemptuously, his tone stirring flashes of anger in the astral mutants eyes. “not if this is the kind of deplorable shame you bring upon your family, hanging out with such… sordid abominations!"*Hell Id rather hang out with people like us than someone like you anyday* Michael thought furiously, though he managed to keep the words from bursting out. For the man was finally walking away. More importantly he was leaving his son behind. And that after all had been the object of this unpleasant little exercise, hadn’t it? To make sure that Max didn’t get into the car with this madman? And however messy and painfull it had been to achieve they had still managed to pull that off. Now wasn’t the moment to jeopardise all that with righteous anger. No matter how justified.
Or then again maybe it was. For Max anyway. Oh it wasn’t the bright flare of indignation that Michael was trying so hard to keep under wraps but it was something. The first spark, however small, of anything resembling defiance that the Scot had seen up till now! Just two hesitant words. Even so he felt like applauding. Despite the fact that he was pretty sure they would be costly. And he didn’t have to wait long to be proved right.
Michael knew Chadstone was fast. He had learned that the hard way. Still the speed with which he returned was shocking. Even someone with two good legs under them would have been hard pressed to intervene and Michael, already hurt and bereft of crutches certainly stood no chance. All he could do was watch helplessly as the man's hand came up, not as he has first feared to strike, but to point savagely first at Max and then at the black clad youth standing close by. "Stay away from my hotel, or actions will be taken for trespassing on the grounds, you sick depraved shit."
This was personal, that much was obvious, and all the nastier for that. The anger and contempt were still there in Chadstone's face but for an instant they had peeled back revealing a deep rooted hatred that was truly frightening. And yet for all that it only seemed to strengthen Max’s resolve. Michael noted the way he straightened, the way his hands clenched at his sides. Something in what had been said or done had triggered this reaction in him and although it undoubtedly would make things all the more complicated Michael was heartily glad to see it all the same. His erstwhile saviour on the other hand had eyes only for Max’s father, shocked no doubt, as anyone would have been by the intensity of the hatred directed his way.
Michael was on the side lines now, forgotten or more likely dismissed by Chadstone as being of no consequence. He had after all no place in this particular phase of the drama, no previous history with Max that could be dredged up and spat at him as seemed to be the case with the gothic youth. If things exploded into violence, as they so easily could, then he was out of the line of fire. Safe. If he didn’t call attention to himself that was. If he just stood still and kept his mouth shut. Yeah right. As if that was going to happen! He had been falling and there had been someone to catch him. Now the person who had stepped up for him was pinned like a deer in the headlights of Chadstone’s anger. At the very least Michael could break that seething gaze.
He could move without his crutches. Not far and not easily. An ugly hopping step or two at most with pain, as usual, as the price to be paid. And he was still hurting from the rough treatment he had received just moments ago. Two steps though were all that were needed to put him between the dark clad youth and Max’s father and so he took them, a gasp of pain escaping him as he did so.
Michael’s thin hand grasped the older boy’s shoulder for a support he desperately needed as he drew himself upright and faced the angry man once again, his eyes showing behind the suffering a steadiness his body didn’t possess. And then the words came. Not the diplomatic ones he should have been reaching for but the ones he actually wanted to say. And although it was stupid and suicidal and all the other foolish things he knew it was, lord at that moment at least it felt good
“I think you’ve made your feelings quite clear Mr Chadstone” he said softly,though not so soft that his words couldnt be clearly heard by those around him, his quiet politeness at stark odds with the businessman’s ranting. “And if anyone actually gave a damn about your opinion I’m sure we’d all be most upset. But as it is…. the only one looking sick and depraved around here is you. I thought” Michael smiled sweetly, “ for the sake of your reputation, that it was only fair to point that out.”
Re: Sons and fathers.
Everyone seemed to have frozen, or at least that's how it felt to Max, who stood both irritated and nervous in the middle of it all. Sapphire eyes trailed along his father's arm and stared at the tip of Steven's extended finger, soon after moving over towards Matt who, for the first time around Max, seemed unnerved. Seriously so...and rightfully so, though Max didn't want to see Matt get hounded as others had been in the past by his father. Matt didn't deserve that anyway! He wasnt like the ones that Steven talked about, he wasnt diseased or mentally deranged in any sense, there wasnt anything wrong with him, not really.. not once you left out the fact he slept with the wrong gender. Not that Matt thought it was wrong, than again, he was rather biased on the matter, wasnt he?
Max's fingers went numb, his entire palm started to go as well, and it didn't take long for him to realize his anxieties was triggering his mutation , as it always did when he got exeedingly frustrated or frightened. It helped a little focusing on his own body and attemptin to stop the sense of numbing that first occured before the visual hardening of his skin spread, last thing they all needed was his father even more angry over Max using his powers disrespectfully against his own father, that just would not go down well.
Movement from Michael however dragged Max's attention, slightly breaking the focus as the young man hobbled his way between Matt and Max's father. It obviously hurt Michael to have moved, even if it wasnt that great a distance, and Max looked down at the crutches that ought to be helping the crippled youth stand. While Max was just confused on what Michael thought he was doing, Steven looked on with a wicked blend of amusement and irritation, as well as a touch of surprise.. than again, these kids of Xavier's usually were thick headed. The fact he couldnt even stand on his own made it almost entertaining to see what was to happen next, mutants were always full of surprises and Steven was almost longing to see what sort of surprise this brat had to give, mutants were always impressive, especially when their powers helped them overcome their human weaknesses... Steven wondered off hand if the crippled boy had the handicap he was inflicted with counted by his mutation.. Steven always loved it when mutant abilities came to the fore as the human body failed them. as it turned out, Steven was disappointed as all that came was more talk, and no matter how big mouthed one could be, it was never as impressive as the mutancy that could so much better sway ones mind.
“I think you’ve made your feelings quite clear Mr Chadstone” It seemed strangely mature of Michael, at least to Max, who would have imagined a more angered reply from the youth, especially considering how displeased he looked through the whole thing. Steven on the other hand felt the words spoken were ridiculous, as he'd hardly gotten half of what he REALLY wanted to say out, but he'd rather not scream out point blank what upset him the most... it wasn't easy admitting your own son was sick and depraved, naturally they'd somehow blame the parents for how twisted Max was acting lately! “And if anyone actually gave a damn about your opinion I’m sure we’d all be most upset. But as it is…. the only one looking sick and depraved around here is you. I thought” Both chadstones stared, though Steven's eyes narrowed slightly, Max's opened a little wider, he'd never seen anyone say such things to his father before and people have gotten hurt for saying a lot less! “for the sake of your reputation, that it was only fair to point that out.”
Max's heart raced all the more quicker, he wasnt sure that would have been possible, but apparently it was! The urge to rest his hands over his chest came, to just quickly grab his front and make sure his heart wouldn't burst its way out of the cage it was housed in. Instead, as his hands slowly lifted, they seemed to detour, not a single thought in his mind as the palms of his hands lashed out and managed to make impact with something.. his eyes widened even more as he realized grey palms had just countered the movement his fathers hand had made to grab at Michael again, instead detouring the grasp off to the side and missing the boy entirely.
'Shit.'... The moment between Max knocking aside his fathers grasp for Michael and his fathers reaction was barely noticable, though for Max it had felt like a long span of stillness between. A stillness whose ending Max new well, like a well read novel, the ending was known but if it was written dramatically enough it still held you in suspense. Personally it was a story Max was eager to put aside, he didn't want to recall how it ended, he was tired of all the cliché's, at least what he found as typical anway.
"You dare challenge me, you little runt?" At Steven's hiss of words, Max had drawn in a sharp breath, though this time as his father's grasp wrapped about his sons right wrist, Max noted the difference in level of pain, it was far more dull while his wrists were semi-stoned, and growing more solid in panic. It had been felt before, it always was better, but in the end, the result was always worse if he ever turned to stone. A step back draw Max away from the group, he could almost feel his father about to lash out even worse, it always got worse when he lost his temper like this, and just as he had done to Michael, steven would attempt to discard Max aside with a simple toss. A panickly breath was drawn into his lungs, his legs felt wobbly though they they were as hard as stone, his flesh fading all over to protectively encompus the mutant's form, though it was doing so against Max's own will to stop it.
The young Chadstone's mind still sat blank, his eyes open and staring at his dad as Steven's face drew closer to his with another soft hiss of words "You're more repulsive than any human." There was only the slightest of squirm, those words in itself was almost as frightening as any raised arm, causing Max to tense, his stone grey jaw persed together tightly. To say something, or not to say something... the temptation seemd almost sinful and just as tempting as many sins could be. Michael's words crept back to Max's thoughts, finally a spark of life in his mind as he stood there, pinned down by the threat of hi father's nearness, the knowledge that Steven was mere inches from lashing out, all Max had to do was be submissive and he might go awy... or be smart mouthed and make it worse for himself... could it get any worse? Those students watching on as if this was all some amusing form of entertainment, sick little pricks, dont they have other things they ought to be doing? If they're not careful Max would have to go out of his way to remind them just why they ought to respect him and his privacy.
"That's ok Dad, he wont go anywhere near your hotels.. he has free stay up at mine, James wouldn't mind.." Max knew full well that Steven had referred to the Panacea as being 'his', but there were two things in this world that Max cherished, his brother's watch, and his hotel, which half belonged to his elder brother. "..I'm sure Kevin woulnd't mind either." The shift in expression on steven's face was instant, talking about James was something Max had done on a few occasions, referring to his brothers wishes and preferrences even though James wasnt around to voice them himself, which for the parents had been irritating. But at the mention of Kevin, Steven had actually hesitated, the threat of aggression still oozing off of him and keeping Max's defensives up.
It was then something happened that Max hadnt been prepared for... getting hit was what Max expected, a good slap for disrespecting talk, but instead Steven had turned, and instead of Max getting the retort of anger, instead it was Matt who was targeted, a large hand lashing out, Steven's fingers open and the sudden reach for Matt's throat sent flares of panic through Max who stummered out a rather fretful "No!"
Re: Sons and fathers.
Sometimes events are like a train going past you while you're patiently waiting at the crossing, busy making a phone call, chatting to a friend or getting distracted by bumblebees. You're remotely aware of something going on outside the little world that opens up for the duration of your unrelated actions, but the details of these things are all blurred and even if you took a sudden interest in them, you'd find it difficult to grasp what really is going on before all you'll be able to see are the backlights of some heavy green and grey wagon.
In this case, however, it wasn't as if Matt didn't pay any attention to the events in question. Everything just happened so fast he found it hard to follow. It all started to become strange like that when Michael grabbed his shoulder. Of course it had all been rather bizarre before, but that moment of distraction partly threw him out of the loop and the following moments, trying to catch up was what kept him busier than the actual catching up itself. Said contact came at a point when tense anxiety was still holding his heart firmly in its grip. He winced, resisting the urge to shake off Michael's hand just in time as information trickled in. Contrast knew full well why his whole system was throwing a frenzy, but neither that nor the cool analytic voice in his head telling him he was overreacting like a nine-year-old facing some grumpy pubertal teen helped to calm down his nerves.
*Goddess, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!* Matt's thoughts screamed at the disabled student's impertinent words in polite disguise. Steven had clearly shown that he wasn't above violence and this frail boy dared oppose him like that? It sure was brave, but also incredibly stupid - unless he had a backup plan, some sort of surprise should the elder Chadstone suddenly decide to leash out. It was that hope which let Michael earn more respect than disbelieving irritation from the light-elemental.
Steven's attempt of an attack on Michael, Max's intervention and what that actually meant - it was all too much, too surreal to be happening on these grounds with other students more or less discreetly watching from safe distance, loose accumulations of spectators Matt would have felt a certain amount of disgust for could he have been sure he'd have acted any different. Maybe some wanted to stay nearby in case their help would be needed... a rather naive thought, but one that was easier to live with at that time than their preying on the sight of a bully put down by one more powerful than he.
And then it returned, the focus onto his person, and with a suddenness that made any reaction on Matt's part an impossibility. They hadn't been standing in arm's reach, Max and his father, yet given circumstances and events hadn't placed them far away from the main target of Steven's odium either. A few quick steps of impressive nimbleness may have been enough for Max to release his panicked cry, yet not for Contrast to trigger his gift, let alone evade.
In the very second before the infuriated man's hand closed around Matthias' neck with crushing strength, time seemed to slow down for the bisexual teen, creating the illusion that he could have done something against what ensued. One thing it installed though, and that was a strange kind of calm. There was a purpose to this, a use of some kind that wasn't entirely clear to him, but for some reason he believed to know it was there. Maybe it'd be the final push needed to show Max what kind of person his father truly was.
When the world returned to normal speed, Matt tilted back his head a little, waiting for this millisecond to pass, and swore to himself not to let his gaze wander away from Steven's face. That one moment when he had been deluged by Chadstone senior's hatred had enabled the light-elemental to see into a heart he never had wished to know, and that knowledge supported him as forest eyes set about to interlock with their cold-flame counterparts in the aggressor's contorted face.
There comes a time when everyone of us has to take over responsibility for their actions. It stands to argue whether there is also a time when we can get rid of it again.
Re: Sons and fathers.
Hank had asked him to wait and so he would. Though he didn’t have to like it! Still you didn’t teach diplomacy for over twenty years without giving it a chance. Even if experience told Scott that in this case it was doomed to failure. Though he had to admit that this kid was having a damned good try all the same!
“Excuse me sir” the disabled boy said, his Scottish accent pronounced as he continued politely “but I really think you need to take a deep breath and calm down.” It was a suggestion, mildly put and with the obvious frailty of his body standing as a guarantee of the pacific nature of his intervention. In the end though that didn’t matter. He was still putting himself out there all the same. Which was more than could be said for the rest of the students standing around, watching this sordid little drama as if it was some episode in a daytime soap, with reactions that ranged from fear, to confusion and all the way out the other side, to an amusement that Cyclops found totally unacceptable?
Ok he was no fool. He knew that Max wasn’t exactly the most popular of pupils despite what Max himself may have thought on the subject. But then again bullies rarely were, and while looks, charm and money may have earned the young Chadstone a place amongst those pupils of the cheerleader/jock mentality, the vast majority of ordinary students were either glad he hadn’t turned his attention to them or lived in terror of his next petty cruelty.
So yes.. much as Scott hated to admit it, for some of those spectators this must have seemed like a dream come true. Some ultimate justice handed down by a god who had finally listened to their prayers. And not what it really was. The reason behind Max’s violence! The example he had been forced to live with. Pain and retribution handed down in such an arbitrary manner that right and wrong somehow got lost along the way and the degree of power you had over others was all that counted.
Then again, Scott told himself, these whispering students were young. Such realisation came with a certain degree of maturity. And looking round it was noticeable that none of those present were assigned to teams. Apart from Michael that was.
Scott hadn’t been around when that decision had been made. And if he had been he knew that he would at best have played devils advocate and at worst opposed it. It was too dangerous. He was too much of a liability. Both to himself and others That was what Scott’s logic told him. But the results from the training island fiasco had been positive and now…. OK . Maybe Michael hadn’t been at the Institute long enough to know exactly who Max was but he had still stepped in. And what was more important Hank had let him. In the same way as he had let him go to training island! And, if Scott had understood things correctly, to put himself in harms way in order to save Paige. Neither decision was one that Hank would have taken lightly. If at all! Just as he would never have asked Scott to stand back now if he didn’t think that something positive could come of this situation. Scott only hoped that he was right. And readied himself all the same to intervene if, for once, he wasn’t.
"Move you impudent little bastard, Before I move you." Cyclops tensed at the very tone, waiting for Michael to back down. Given the young mutants physical condition this wasn’t just a casual threat. Something that, at worst could be avoided! Avoiding wasn’t something you did easily on crutches. Physical limitations were just that. Limitations! And while intellectually that was something Scott had always known, it was only now, with his own capabilities impaired that he fully realised what it meant. It was hard to stand up to someone who might be able to knock you down. It was a damned sight harder when you were already only standing with the aid of crutches.
"You're one of them aren't you?" Scott had never fully taken his attention off Steven. Neither, he had noted ,had Michael. But that was as it should be. He was after all the enemy. Even so the words caught him by surprise. In the mouth of any other parent he would have thought it an anti mutant slur, but Steven Chadstone? He prided himself on his abilities. And Cyclops seriously doubted that it was Michael’s ethnic origins that posed a problem. So where was this venom coming from? Oh it had been nasty from the start but this had risen to a whole other level.
"You filthy shit, why I ought t-" “Hank are you getting this” Scott asked worriedly, never taking his eyes off of the scene before him. Despite the rising anger Michael hadn’t backed down. Though from the look on his face he was all too well aware of the threat facing him! Yes Scott I am the doctor replied tensely and I admit I’m as bemused as you are”
That wasn’t good. It was an unknown factor in an already volatile situation and that was never something to be desired. ”Ok at the first sign of trouble I’m going in” Scott said ready to step forward and do just that when"Stop it” The words weren’t directed at him nor would they have stopped him even if they were. Rather they were directed at Max’s father And that made all the difference.” I don't know him! I'll get into the fucking car, I don't see what the big deal is!"
The big deal was that Max had reacted! That he had told his father to stop! It was what Hank had hoped for when he had let this situation get out of hand. And it was reward enough to make Scott hold back, though both he and his team mate knew that violence wasn’t necessarily far away. In any case some victory had been gained. If Max went now it would be more of a sacrifice than mere capitulation. And in any case Hank would never let him get into that car. That much had been established from the very beginning.
He had sworn that Chadstone would never again lay hand on his son. And if that rule had been broached, at a cost Scott could hear reflected in the deep growl coming from his friend’s throat, a growl he doubted Hank even knew he was making, then it was only to bring about a greater good. Some psychological breakthrough that in the long run would be more important than any fear provoked here and now.
And so they waited, the doctor and the teacher. For Steven to react! For Max to revolt. “Well I do” The answer to a question that wasn’t supposed to have been answered. Scott realised that he had almost excluded Michael from this dangerously balanced equation having felt the weight of Stevens regard once more fall upon his son leaving the young Scot, if not safe and clear then momentarily at least on the sidelines. But now, calmly and surely knowing what he was doing he had re-entered the arena.And for better or for worse he was still using words as his sword.. if not exactly as his shield.
“Firstly.. you don’t want too. Secondly…. you shouldn’t have to.” Concise and to the point. And polite! Though it would do him no good. For no matter how it sounded it was still defiance . And that wasn’t something people like Steven let you get away with.Sir I have no idea what your issues are exactly the British boy continued steadily but there’s one thing you need to know. Here at Xavier’s it doesn’t matter if we’ve met before or not. We look out for each other. And I’m truly sorry but until I’m sure that Max will be safe with you…. then there’s no way I’m moving. “
Oh Michael. Hanks worried sigh came over the intercom both he and Scott knowing what would follow such a declaration and yet, suicidal as it had been, neither of them was truly sorry that he had made it. It was foolish certainly but it was also exactly what Charles would have hoped an X man would say and even if his body was broken and his gesture futile, in that moment Michael certainly was an X man. Which wouldn’t stop him from getting hurt all the same.
“Such refined impertinence…“ Chadstones voice was as friendly as a snakes and just as venomous. …makes sense that with it you’ll bare such a rigorously tapped well of inanity.”
Scott had been sent down to intervene if things got too ugly and this was certainly pushing things to the limit. Every part of him wanted to take Chadstone down and yet he could recognise too what Hank had been hoping to achieve by letting things run their course. Michael’s intervention had already sparked some reaction in Max. There was no telling what he would do if his father actually laid hands on the disabled youngster.
It was a cruel strategy, a trade off; one boys certain physical pain against the slim chance of a psychological breakthrough for the other, and not one that Scott liked. It was however one that he could force himself to see through. Especially since he had witnessed Michael’s determination! If the young mutant had looked for one moment as if he didn’t know the risks he was taking then Cyclops would have put an end to things there and then. But that wasn’t the case. Michael knew better than any of them what this could cost him and apparently it was a price he was prepared to pay. So cynically and hating himself for doing it ,Scott let him.
It happened fast. One moment they were talking and the next the boy was grabbed and thrown, his crutches falling as he too threatened to hit the ground. Then ,miraculously, someone was there to do what Max had tried to do and failed. Catch him! Scott let out a breath he hadn’t even realised he’d been holding as the black clad figure intervened and the roar that had escaped Hank as Steven had attacked settled back once again into that low rumbling growl. They had got lucky and they knew it.
Though now there was another protagonist to be taken into account. Which made things even more complicated. Was it significant that this student too was on a team? Scott thought that it was. After all they picked the next generation of X men precisely for qualities like this. Courage. Leadership. Resourcefulness….
If Steven could move fast then so too could this young man. Scott noted the discrete use of his power and the transfer of something from Matt’s hand to Max's pocket with approval and he had to admit curiosity. There was some plan behind the action that much was clear and yet nothing had been openly done to antagonise Max’s father any further. Instead there was a return to that polite tone that Michael had set and kept too despite the verbal and physical abuse that had been thrown at him
"Is there anything I can help you with, Mr Chadstone?" This voice too was British and by the looks of things the youth knew who he was dealing with. Even so there was nothing in his words to provoke the hatred that Scott could clearly hear in the businessman’s voice as he yelled yet again. "How dare you, "The nerve of opening your diseased mouth around me you twisted little fõck," Behind the visor Scott’s unseen eyes widened in surprise as now Max was cast off in his turn ,scathing words still raining down all around him. "How dare you show such appalling behaviour you contemptible little bastard,"*
There was no telling how this was going to pan out now. There were too many unknown factors not the least of which was this overwhelming animosity that Chadstone clearly felt towards Matt. "You’re not worth the time Max,” Steven went on turning back towards his son “not if this is the kind of deplorable shame you bring upon your family, hanging out with such… sordid abominations!"
Max didn’t like any of this that much was clear but again there was that glimmer of defiance in him that Scott had hoped to see. Because if there wasn’t then this had all been for nothing and that would have been such a waste. Suddenly though Chadstone’s dangerous anger changed target once again"Stay away from my hotel, he told Matt spitefully or actions will be taken for trespassing on the grounds, you sick depraved shit."
Scott saw the blood drain from the gothic youths face as if the words had been so many blows, his eyes growing wide with fear as the man glared his hatred at him. Then unexpectedly that antagonistic gaze was broken as Michael hauled himself between them. It had hurt, that move. Though pain had been clearly etched in his face ever since Steven had grabbed him this was fresh and stark and it left him as white as Matt. There was nothing frail about his voice though.
“I think you’ve made your feelings quite clear Mr Chadstone” he said “And if anyone actually gave a damn about your opinion I’m sure we’d be most upset. But as it is…. the only one looking sick and depraved around here is you. I thought” Scott gasped as Michael gave a smile worthy of an angel though the sentiments behind it were anything but innocent and added “ for the sake of your reputation, that it was only fair to point that out.”
Of all the things Cyclops had imagined happening now , this wasn’t one of them and while part of him was horrified at the risk the boy was running another part wanted to applaud. Then things were moving again, hideously fast, as violence always was. Max reacted openly this time, thrusting away the hand that reached once more for Michael this time with the specific intent to hurt.
Scott suspected the action surprised Max almost as much as it did his father and Steven’s response was swift to come and brutal as ever. "You dare challenge me, you little runt?" he asked viciously grabbing his sons wrist. A wrist that was in the process of transforming! Yes! Hank’s triumphant exclamation showed that he too had noticed the change. “Thank god.. he’s defending himself! Finally!”
It was indeed a major breakthrough, vindicating to some extent the drastic measures that had been taken to bring it about. And if Max still looked stunned at his own audacity then he had at least found his voice again and what he used it to say was anything but defeated. "That's ok Dad, he wont go anywhere near your hotels.. he has free stay up at mine, James wouldn't mind.." From the look on his face Steven didn’t like what he was hearing but his expression changed as Max went on "..I'm sure Kevin wouldn’t mind either." Max had struck a nerve that time that much was certain. And he had done it as Michael had earlier, knowing what he risked
Not that Scott had the slightest intention of letting him get hurt anymore than he already had been Enough was enough. He and Hank had already let this run longer than they probably should have in the hope of getting just such a reaction from Max. Now they had it there was no need or indeed justification for holding off any longer.
Still the attack when it came wrong footed him. Concentrated as he was on Max’s safety he was too slow and too far away to stop Steven’s sudden attack on Matt. Or to prevent Michael’s fall as the shoulder he had been leaning on was snatched away. But he was damned if he was going to let Chadstone do anymore damage.
Pupils rarely saw Scott angry. Disapproving, yes! Annoyed certainly! But not like this. They didn’t need to see his eyes to read the emotion and recognising it for what it was the students melted away before him , leaving him a clear path towards his target. Each one thanking their lucky stars that the aforementioned target wasn’t them! Because, injured arm or not Mr Summers looked fit to kill.
Re: Sons and fathers.
Thanks for pointing that out! I have edited.. and.. checked on Max's movements before posting this
....................
This time he hadn’t even tried to brace for what he felt sure was coming. After all if he hadn’t managed to do so successfully when he had his crutches to help, he was hardly likely to succeed when all he had for support was a tenuous grip on someone’s shoulder.
So instead Michael tried to relax his body hoping to make the inevitable impact with the ground less catastrophic when it eventually happened. Tried and failed! Relaxing may have been a great idea on an intellectual level. In the real world however you couldn’t help but tense up when someone lunged at you as Steven now did So there was a sharp intake of breath on Michael’s part and his body flinched backwards as he saw the angry man attack once more. Though the attack never struck home
If Michael was less able to move this time round then it seemed Max was not ,for he struck his father’s arm, deftly deviating it from its intended target, his speed and precision no doubt the result of long hours spent in team training.
To say that Michael was relieved would have been an understatement. He had been ready to accept the consequences of his actions but all the same, under the brave exterior there had been real fear, and now that the immediate danger was past he found himself trembling in its wake, as he watched the confrontation between father and son.
A confrontation in no small part brought about by his words. He supposed he should have felt guilty and maybe he would later. But then and there he didn’t have time. There was too much still going on. "You dare challenge me, you little runt?" The violence may have been deflected but it was far from having dissipated. Michael winced in sympathy as Steven’s hand closed around Max’s wrist. That had to hurt. Though……. there was something strange about the other boys hand, some discoloration that seemed to be spreading…
Michael’s gasp this time was one of realisation. This change had to be Max’s mutant power manifesting itself. Holy crap, how was his dad going to react to that, he who was so deeply anti mutant. If things had been bad before then surely they would only get much worse.
Now Maxs body was almost completely grey his mutation so obvious that it was clear his father couldn’t overlook it. Michael readied himself to trigger his own power if things got any further out of hand. After all now that Max's powers were revealed his own mutancy would just be another nail in the coffin.
So convinced was Michael that he had correctly identified the source of Steven’s hatred towards them that the mans next words left him completely and utterly confused.
"You're more repulsive than any human." What? There was no doubt that was what had been said. But that would mean…..Michaels mind balked at the implications. That Chadstone had known all along about his sons powers… ?Maybe even that he himself was a mutant?
Michael struggled with this idea, momentarily as thrown intellectually as he had previously been physically and this time with no one there to catch him. Everything he had thought he had understood since the beginning of this incident had been false.
Well no That’s wasn’t true. Nothing truly important had changed. The basic fact that Max’s father was a brutal bully who was trying to take his son from the school against his will remained. And in the face of that everything else faded into insignificance.
Mentally steadied again, even if his mind was still full of a thousand questions, Michael focused on the present ,knowing now from bitter experience how quickly this situation could change.
It certainly didn’t seem to be mutancy that was the bone of contention between Max and his father at the moment. Instead it was this question of a hotel that seemed to be taking up all their attention "That's ok Dad, Max told him he wont go anywhere near your hotels.. he has free stay up at mine.
Michael had presumed that Max and his family had money. It showed in Max’s clothes and the way he held himself. Not to mention the expensive car parked beside them. It was only now though that he began to grasp just how much money and that revelation wasn’t exactly a welcome one in the present circumstances. Though it did go a long way to explaining Chadstone’s arrogance! The problem was that rightly or wrongly money equalled power. And that just made him an even less desirable enemy.
It was too late to go back now though and Michael knew that, even if he had been aware of all the facts when he had first witnessed this altercation, he would still have intervened. Just like the young Goth beside him! He had known full well what he was stepping into and who he was going up against and yet here he was. Scared and out of his depth like they all were.But here all the same . And that raised him even more in Michael’s esteem.
Max’s conversation was losing Michael now, names bandied around that he knew nothing of. James! Kevin! That one seemed to have knocked his father back a pace, hitting another blow for freedom if only a verbal one and Michael for one was glad to see it land. Payback though still caught him off guard. It seemed to be one of Chadstones specialities, changing target , and this time too, it proved effective.
Michael had tried to put himself between his rescuer and Max’s father but there were limits to what he could do. Limits dictated by his handicap and his need to lean on that slender shoulder. So in the end, despite everything, he was helpless as the brutal hand passed him by and settled itself around the dark clad youth’s throat, yanking him away from the young Scot who felt his balance desert him even as he heard Max’s desperate shout.
Now though, he didn’t care. In that split second when Chadstone had passed him Michael had seen his eyes and he had known instinctively that this time things had gone to far. So he went down almost gratefully, knowing that it didn’t matter. That he would be rising up again soon enough.
As Hood coalesced, nothing suddenly becoming something, ghost and then flesh of a sort, he saw Max grab at his fathers shoulder, trying to pull him back. It was going to take more than that to break that vice like grip though. *My God would he actually kill him?* Michael asked himself as Hood materialised fully, the possibility that the answers to his unspoken question would be yes suddenly all too real and present to be ignored.
Then suddenly there was a burst of red light, exploding the ground next to Max’s father and his victim, drawing all attention to its source. “Let him go Chadstone. Unless you’re ready to stop picking on kids and face someone your own age!”
A new voice cut into the chaos, like ice or steel. As sharp as the blade Hood now held in his hand, its presence suddenly answering his unspoken desire, not to attack, but certainly to defend. And which he now moved smoothly round to hold in Stevens sight saying.. “Though the kids can also hold their own. If they have too. ”
Re: Sons and fathers.
It seemed already that Steven's fingers were gripping into Matt's neck, a vision that did little but strike more panic in Max as all surrounding audiance vanished from his mind and left the youth focused only on the very frightened image of his father with a grip of iron around the goth's neck. Stoned fingers reached for Steven's shoulder, the elder man's son almost completely able to ignore Max's attempts of prying him and Matt apart with futile tugs.
Of all of them, it had initially seemed Matt were the lesser defiant one, and yet to Steven's infuriation, the darkly dressed youth seemed to lock his pale bright eyes with his and refuse to look away. It felt revolting having to touch something that was such a bane to life.. how dare this fiend have evevr touched his son! How dare these people not have stopped something so offensive! This boy was a vile example of people using and abusing Steven's own property! No one was allowed to touch what was his, too many risks entwined the very thought of what could happen! The livid expression upon Steven's face only enhanced the brutally focused look in his eyes as they tried to bore their way into Matt's own subversive stare.
However as Steven's attention remained solely into his anger towrds Matt, Max's own frantic gaze had managed to catch Michael, who's altered form sparked a look of recognition upon the known bullies handsome features. Paige's friend.. The words flew into Max's mind, almost as if merely because Michael was the friend of the girl whom had once helped him without reason, suddenly everything made sense, everything felt slightly safer. The young nurse in training was a helper, and it seemed so was her friend! She's be really upset to see he's been hurt.. Max's fingers still clung to his father's shoulder, though it felt as if he was just an item of decoration for all the difference he seemed to make. Not only was Matt getting strangled for knowing Max, now one of Paige's few friends too was getting pushed around, and both by his dad, and while Max could understand the reasons his father was so angry, he didn't like the manner in which Steven was dealing with it!
The split second of thoughts that rang through Max's overworked mind, his fright causing the blast from Cyclops to make the stoned mutant clutch even tighter and closer to his father. The look in his eyes clearly flashed a sense that Max had assumed the attack was for him, not his father who was just furious with his own sons 'insidious' actions. Though as Max peered towards Mr Summers, Steven himself turned his irascible glare towards the X-man.
“Let him go Chadstone. Unless you’re ready to stop picking on kids and face someone your own age!” Cyclops. Steven's mood did not improve at all, his grip remained tight on Matt, the boys arms now reached to grab at the larger arm that held him, as if the survival instincts had finally kicked in. In turn, Max's own hands seemed to hesitantly start to slip away from his father's arms, looking a little confused as he wondered if it was he or his dad that Mr Summers had been speaking to. No one talked to his father in the manner all these people were, it was confusing and Steven was definitely not liking this sort of treatment.
“Though the kids can also hold their own. If they have too.” The threat didn't worry Steven in the slightest, he was used to threats, it took more then a mere threat of violence to shake the hardened businessman. Though that made him in no way invulnerable to assaults, and Max once again rested his hands against his father's arm, giving it the slightest of shake.
"Please, just let go of him," The words were softly spoken to Steven, Max's hands trying once again to help pull the grasp away, and Steven did rip his grasp from Matt, but just to shrug Max's own hold off with a disgusted grunt. The vulger growl managed to get ignored by Max who reached out instead to try and help support Matt, who had started to fall forward as if to collapse to his knees. Instead Max's firm arms m[/b]anaged to grap and support the other.. this was all Max's fault, everything that was happening right now. All the hurt and anger that was being thrown around, none of it would have occured if Max hadn't done the things he had done.
"And how many of your precious students had died due to their own misguided bravado?" There was a scoff of ridicule as the one low key supporter of the Brotherhood used his insider knowledge to remind Scott the many of Xavier's youths who had fallen by following the telepaths inane beliefs of humand and mutant equality. "Enough to have you're own graveyard established within your grounds." Steven replied to his own question, though the words actually unnerved Max further as he wondered about which students, and remembers having heard about such things briefly and yet, as many youngsters did, brushed it off as something never able to occure to him.
"You're causing a scene dad." Although Max was trying to get his father to realize this, as if Steven was blind to the havoc he was causing, Steven threw a glare at Max that silenced his son. Seeing Max standing there, with Matt in his arms, it was as if Steven had just watched something absolutely abhorrent. Max's worried eyes had been looking over Matt as he recovered, though sensing his fathers eyes had left Scott Summers and turned to them, Max looked at his father. Holding eye contact was almost impossible, and soon enough, Max had failed his stand, lowering his gaze yet not letting his hold of Matt go, even as his father turned his back to them all. There was a loud growl that was baleful and deep, though an obvious retreat was being made by Steven who felt too disgusted to remain anywhere near his son and that vile youth who his son had his arms about, and not for the first time either...
It was like a hurrican, his father had come and laid waste to the area it seemed, only to leave just as deadly as he had come, a quivering silence hang in the air as everyone tried to either assess what had happened, or figure out what was next to occure now the damage was done. Matt had his own feet, and while Max would have rathered just sunk away into the goth's embrace, he instead slipped away carefully to reach and collect up Michael's crutches. He made no attempt to touch the body however, and seemed to hover between Hood and Matt. He clutches held close and his eyes focused on the retreating form of his father, the stone element Max had taken still enveloping his form.
Re: Sons and fathers.
It had been a stupid step to take, even though it was rather the absence of any steps that had got him into this predicament. As it was common for that kind of decisions, there came a flood of reproachful regrets right after, yet semi-expected as they had been, Matt managed to get over them quickly enough. There really was no energy he could spare for such things, every little bit of strength being put into holding on to consciousness and staring into his attacker's eyes as the choking grip around his throat limited his breathing capabilities.
And yet he could not let go of either, could he? This whole ordeal was supposed to get some things into motion, however, he wasn't suicidal. And it seemed to work! A stone-skinned hand grasping the elder Chadstone's shoulder, no matter how futile an attempt; it meant such a major breakthrough, the hint of a triumphant smile played around the corners of his lips, twinkled in his eyes. The feeling was cut short by that very human urge to breath, restricted by Steven's hand; a bench vice, as it were, compressing his airways ever tighter.
Pale hands rose more out of instinct rather than anything else, uselessly taking hold of the aggressor's arm. The world was beginning to fade out of view, though for the time being he could still call it back if he just focused strongly enough. For how much longer, Matt couldn't fathom, and any thought spent on that subject was nothing but a waste of precious energy. The reason why Cyclops' optic blast didn't make it to anything above a footnote in the light-elemental's mind was most likely to be found in that simple fact too, his brain too busy keeping up the general perception of the world to bother with the proper reactions to a sudden explosion.
The back and forth of words went by almost entirely unnoticed by the contrasting mutant who was having more and more difficulties at tearing the black veil threatening to cover up the world. His array of perceptions was beyond limited then, his world consisting of nothing but that hand around his neck and the pain it was causing to breathe, to think, to stay awake. Maybe if he rested for just a moment, he could continue that struggle with renewed strength? The flaw in that plan he was oblivious to, a development as typical as it was dangerous.
Then suddenly it was gone, the constraint, his body unsure of how it should react to the unexpected freedom. The flat breathing was continued while he slipped away, towards the ground, anticipating a collision with cold stone or hard soil that never came. The first sense that returned was that of smell. A deep inhale of breath brought much needed oxygen and a scent that - strangely enough - felt like home. "Thank you, Max," he whispered slowly, his throat signalling him it would take some more minutes until he would be able to speak normally again.
A kaleidoscope of emotions showed its facets, and while his mind slowly tried to remember how to focus on more than one thing at once, a fundamental realisation seeped in. Something between a sigh and a groan escaped his lips as the light-elemental allowed his head to sink against Max's shoulder, and he hoped against reason that what he had found in his heart was but an evanescent result of what had just happened. *Stupid. You're so damn stupid!*
And then he was gone and as far away as he'd always be, leaving Matt to struggle with the gravity of both the earth below and the weight within. Even as his sight was clear again, he couldn't see. Not really. Still he had to pretend things were different, that everything were alright. More importants matters needed tending to, so he told himself, while all he wanted was to be selfish. Nothing more.
There comes a time when everyone of us has to take over responsibility for their actions. It stands to argue whether there is also a time when we can get rid of it again.
Re: Sons and fathers.
It was all over bar the shouting, as Michael’s granddad used to say. That much was obvious. Even if Chadstone still refused to accept it. For even after Mr Summers warning and Hood’s appearance he still hesitated to release the young goth, his boiling anger almost carrying him past reason and all the way into folly. Though not quite!
“Please just let him go.” Max asked him quietly, his fingers lending pressure to the softly spoken words as he tried once again to force his father to loosen his grip. And to be fair the grip did loosen, though not with any good grace and not, in all likelihood, because of his sons efforts. Nor, Michael suspected, his own! Hell he didn’t even seem that impressed by Mr Summers warning, which in the astral mutant’s mind was a big mistake, one only stupidity or truly overwhelming arrogance could lead him to make. And from what he had seen of Max’s father Michael strongly suspected it was the latter. Had he truly believed that they would sit back and let him choke the life out of someone without intervening? Or did he see their restraint as weakness instead of what it was. Strength of character!
Still at least the black clad student was finally free. And safe as well, for Max was there to stop his fall, catching his slim frame as it faltered and slumped from lack of air. No crippled legs now hindered Michael’s movements for Hood was all supple grace and speed. Swiftly he moved to put himself, not between Steven and the other boys in yet another obvious confrontation but rather to one side of them ready to intervene if need be, knowing that this time he was fast enough to do so, his sword still poised and balanced in his hand though no longer pointed in Chadstone’s direction. For if for the moment the businessman’s spite seemed concentrated on the newly arrived teacher, Michael had learned only too well that, like a snake this man could change direction in an instant and strike where you least expected it. And he for one didn’t mean to get caught out again.
"And how many of your precious students had died due to their own misguided bravado?" Steven asked maliciously though he obviously knew the answer and wasn’t above sharing it. . "Enough to have you're own graveyard established within your grounds."
He was good, Michael had to give him that. What he had said had to hurt.. Even if Mr Summers face didn’t let it show. If it were true that was. And somehow Michael knew that it was. Missions were dangerous. Lets face it even training was dangerous. It would be foolish to think that there would be no casualties along the way. After all, if it hadn’t been for Madison he himself would in all probability have ended up buried somewhere on these grounds and while it wasn’t a pleasant fact it was one that you had to accept. Though Michael was perhaps more apt to accept it than others having come to fast and bitter terms with his own mortality years before. And several times since!
That wasn’t the case with most of the students though, especially the vast majority who had no idea about the very special extra curricular activities some of their peers were involved with. A murmur of surprise and concern went through the watching crowd. Well in a way it served them right. They had come to watch other people’s misery. It was only right and fitting that they should sleep a little less well tonight. Though Michael would have been happier if they tossed and turned due to a guilty conscience rather than some phantom fear! But that was their problem and he didn’t feel particularly concerned by it. Just as they hadn’t seemed particularly concerned by his! It was rather a bitter reaction he knew and one he would probably talk himself out of later. But the fact remained that here and now they had watched while Steven ranted at and hurt and abused, fellow students. And if he had expected nothing more, then still he had hoped for better.
As far as Steven and his snide comments were concerned he had a reply all ready and waiting to go, poised, like one of the arrows he carried on his back. “At least none of them have ever been put there by their own father!” Would he have launched it despite everything? Mr Summer’s forbearance! The pain it might have caused Max? That was something he would never know, for suddenly there were whispered thanks beside him, issued from a throat that was already bruised and broken and that brought the world home with a jolt.
Yes he could get the satisfaction of saying it. But at what cost! He had already provoked Chadstone and hadn’t been the one to pay. Enough was enough. If Max’s father could walk away with only a contemptuous glance then he wasn’t going to stop him. Though it was hard. Hard enough to melt the sword from his hand and replace it with a bow that followed the car as it set off for the gate.
An arrow could so easily have punctured a tire or left a wonderful scrape on the bright paintwork. But that thought too Michael caught and tamed before it came to fruition. Instead he concentrated on the crutches that Max had recuperated and the still shaken youth that stood, more or less upright at his side.
“Its over.” A crisp voice reflected his own thought to the surrounding onlookers. “There’s nothing more to see! And by the way. For everyone who stood and enjoyed the show. 5000 words on the nature of civic duty. Due tomorrow! Enjoy.. and just so you know. I don’t wear this visor because my eyesight is faulty. Don’t even think I didn’t see you.”
While the Mr Summers dispersed the crowd, Hood turned to the other boys, ignoring the heap his body made on the ground and said “Well that was.. intense.. to say the least” before sighing and enquiring sincerely “ No really…. Sorry…. That might have sounded flippant …… I guess I’m just a bit shook up…. are you two ok?”
Re: Sons and fathers. “Its over.” Was it? Max wasnt sure, and his eyes followed the departure of his father. There was a day so many years ago where Max stood before the entrance of the school, clutching a bag and staring off as his father drove away to yet another interview, leaving the 14year old to meet with Xavier on his own on the first day of his schooling there. Though that day Max had wanted nothing more then to make his way back to the Chadstone's estate and leave the school well enough behind him. All the terrible things his father ever said about Xavier's, all the ripping remarks that made it almost embarrassing for Max to be there at the time... But at this point it seemed everything had changed. For the first time Max was almost relieved that things had gone wrong, almost.. he didnt want to be in that car right now with his dad.
“There’s nothing more to see! And by the way. For everyone who stood and enjoyed the show. 5000 words on the nature of civic duty. Due tomorrow! Enjoy.. and just so you know. I don’t wear this visor because my eyesight is faulty. Don’t even think I didn’t see you.” The sapphire eyes of the usually proud school bully shifted over towards the group of students watching, they were letting out groans, though some mumbled a retort that it was worth it in the end and if Max wasnt so distracted he'd have shot them a deathly glare.
“Well that was.. intense.. to say the least” For a moment longer the young Chadstone youth let his eyes skim over the faces of those whom had circled, almost subconsiously taking mental pictures so that they could be scruitinized over later and possibly dealt with if the oppertunity arose. “ No really…. Sorry…. That might have sounded flippant …… I guess I’m just a bit shook up…. are you two ok?” As a few students that flocked had begun to slow drift away with grumbling chatters or barely audible taunts, Max then turned his gaze to Hood. The guy stood so poised, ready for anything, though also as if he was half ready to run out to some halloween party. Tight leather, broad shoulders, blonde hair and blue eyes, he was a looker and one dressed in a manner that allowed the imagination to wonder. However Max was hardly in the frame of mind to think such things, instead he just saw how wrong it might look for someone dressed like this, looking like this, to be standing up and trying to protect him.. Steven must be convinced half the school here were gay.
It took a moment for Hood's question to really sink in, and when it did, Max looked over towards Matt, the crutches in his hands aptly moved to support Chadstone's weight almost autimatically as he thought. While Max had always hated it when he had to use his crutches, he always found the swinging motions fun, when his broken leg healed Max had kept the crutches for years and still had them to this point. Which was good because the amount of sprained ankles Max had over time put those crutches to good use... They were awkward and frustrating at times, and made you slow and clumsy, but if he was healthy, then they took on a more amusing aspect.
Matt didnt seem ok, not that Max expected the other to be bouncing back after what had just happened.. But the youth felt almost helpless on what to do. Sapphire eyes turned to where Max's father's car had last been seen.. thoughts swirled inside his head for a moment, wondering if it would be better should Max just make his way back home and try to talk to his parents. All this time he did expect to get punished if and when his parents found out about his 'disgraceful activities', but he hadn't expected others to get the brunt of his punishment too. Usually he'd not care, but for once these were people who seemed to be trying to help, or at least, something they considered helping. Stone arms soon realized the fact that the crutches werent his,and quickly moved to hand them to Hood.
"Here..." While not really replying to Hood's question, it also helped to say that Max was definitely not alright, but he was hardly going to say that. People had seen enough weakness already, it was bad enough that Matt had to see him freak out in the dark over the most stupidest of things, now this? Would Matt be as patient with this as he had been with the situation in the hotel? All Max wanted to do was go and hide away in his room.. But at the same time, he found himself staring at Matt, Max had never felt so guilty about something before, he'd gotten yelled out, driven some people to tears, but he'd never felt bad.
Would Matt be angry with how Steven had treated him? Would Matt not want to spend as much, if any time with Max if only to help avoid seeing Steven ever again? Max wouldn't entirely blame him.. but he'd be really disappointed and upset. To the outside world it would easily just be assumed and seen as one friend looking out for another, though things were never as simple as that when it came to Max, even Matt had his ample issues with trying to figure out Chadstone's ways and attitudes. But for once, Max was really trying.. not to help himself, but to be supportive for someone else, and it was new, strange, and he wasnt sure what exactly he should do.
"Matt?" The tension in Max's voice was trying to ease, though it gave an almost inaudible quiver due to the stress from just before. "Maybe you should go lay down for a bit?"And maybe I should tag along with you.. The last thought however remained unspoken, and though Max would have preferred curling up on a bed with someone there for silent company (or perhaps not so silent), he found himself wondering once again if he should just go talk with his family... Get all this out of the way and stop his father from coming down here and bothering Matt and anyone else again..
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