thisavrou_log | (no subject)

[ Her face falls and eyes widen at the metal claws. She's taken off guard by that, her heart twisting at the memory of Logan. She missed him. The one she had known.

But was still mad at him for leaving her. Leaving when he said he wouldn't. First Charles and then him. Her family falling apart and leaving her alone again.

She barely hears the words as she watches the claws go back in. Jean nods, blinking back tears that were coming on way too fast. ]

Yeah. I promise.

[ Her voice is soft, almost wavering, distracted. She tucks the book under one arm and moves past Laura, going back out the room and into the hallway, taking in a deep breath.

It shouldn't hurt this much. People leave. She just needs to get over it. ]

[Laura can pick up on the sadness rolling off of Jean. Even without her enhanced senses, it would be easy to tell. But since the older girl is putting on appearances and Laura isn't good at dealing with emotions, she initially just reaches out to lightly brush her hand against Jean's as they walk through the hallway.]

You are sad.

[She eventually points out in a blunt fashion.]

Why?

[ The light touch causes her to flinch some but not pull away. It's unexpected but, once again, endearing. This girl keeps surprising her.

Doesn't mean she's going to admit to much, however. Shaking her head, ]

I don't want to talk about it, okay? It's... complicated.

[ She just knows she's mad and hurt for lots of reasons and dealing with it sucks. She'd much rather distract herself from all that. ]

[Laura shrugs, quickly pulling her hand away so she can rub her fingertips against her jeans. She understands what it's like to not want to talk about things. Especially things that are complicated and confuse her, and cause her insides to twist in unpleasant ways.]

Okay.

[She repeats the simple word, allowing some silence to fall between them as they walk through the hallways. Her eyes take in everything, occasionally knocking on doors before opening them and sticking her head inside right after. She'll get the hang of knocking to be polite eventually.]

This is a school?

[She finally asks, wondering if that's why her father wants to stay here. She has a sneaking suspicion that he thinks she's going to learn a few things here.]

Like what Charles ran, a very long time ago.

[ Jean watches her knock and peek around in silence, her mouth quirking every now and then at her behavior, feeling the curiosity buzzing from her. Jean is about to answer her first question when Charles' name is dropped. ]

...you know Charles? Charles Xavier?

Yes.

[Laura peeked out from one of the rooms to glance back at Jean.]

I knew Charles. He said that he ran a school a long time ago.

[Her hero, really. He helped calm and guide her in a time when she needed it the most. She would've been killed by Pierce and the Reavers if it wasn't for him.]

And that my father was not a good student.

[That makes her smile, at least. She can see Logan being a terrible student.]

[ And the hits come in waves for Jean. She doesn't even need to ask who her father is. She can guess. She had suspected but now it was pretty obvious.

And she knew Charles. Jean grips the book tighter and forces a smile. ]

I know. I went to his school. He taught me how to control my powers.

[ She swallows hard, ]

He was like a father to me.

[ Still is. She just hopes she'll get to see him again some day. Even if she's still mad at him now. She rubs at her eyes, ]

He wanted this place to act as a school, too. But we don't really have many teachers.

[Laura once again reaches up to touch at Jean's hand. It's a brief, fleeting gesture. But she doesn't know how to comfort others when she can tell that they're sad.]

If that was what he wanted, then we will make it happen.

[She trusts Charles, even after his death. She'll trust whatever version of him that was here, and try to help this place become a school. It's probably what Logan wants for this place too.]

I miss him too.

[Just in case Jean needs to feel that kind of solidarity, Laura can provide that to her.]

[ This time, she doesn't flinch at the touch. She actually reaches for the smaller hand this time. A gentle hold that gives a little squeeze. Jean can feel the loss, the sadness, and pain from Laura even more clearly and it mingles with her own, amplifying it for one suffocating moment.

She takes it all, surprised she's still standing, and closes her eyes as the tears slip from her eyes. She doesn't even want to think about Charles dying. But there is a comfort in knowing that he was still the Charles she knew, right to the end.

The book is tucked against her chest as she uses the hand to wipe at her face. She gives Laura's hand another squeeze before her voice enters the girl's mind, ]

Thank you, Laura.

[ If she had known Charles, hopefully, this won't startle her too much. ]

[She's startled at first, but aside from a slight flinch and a wary sound, Laura quickly realizes what's going on. Warmth fills her, a sense of happiness at knowing that someone that's like Charles is here. He's not with her anymore, but like this, a part of him can be.

Carefully, she tries to project as many memories of Charles as she knew him that she can. Her mind focuses in on watching a movie with him, of riding around the hotel room in his chair, of having dinner with the Munson family.

Before she realizes that she's doing it, she feels the warm sting of tears trickle down her cheeks, and she makes a sad huff as she uses her free hand to angrily wipe them away.]

You are not alone without him. I will be here with you.

[ All of them were such good memories. Warm and full of affection. And oh, how bald Charles was. A laugh is startled out of her at that, still crying tears of her own. But then she sees how Laura is crying. Her smile is sad but tinged with a whole different kind of affection now.

She gets on her knees and sets the book down before pulling the young girl to her, embracing her -- if she'll allow it. ]

[She does allow it, for a few seconds. She stands there awkwardly, lightly patting a hand against Jean's back. Hugs still don't come naturally or easily to her, especially not in situations where she feels vulnerable.

When the proximity causes Jean's scent to fill her nose and overwhelm her, she makes a soft sound and gently pulls herself back and away.

Awkwardly shuffling, she nods to the older girl, a silent show of gratitude.]

[ She lets her go when she starts to pull away but is still smiling. Still on her knees, so she's eye level with Laura. ]

I'm glad you're here. I don't know what I expected after he left. I kept thinking I would end up alone here.

[ After the whole fight with Peter and Logan leaving, as well, it was hard for Jean not to think that way. ]

You were a very unexpected surprise.

[That makes her smile, a shy little tug upward of her mouth. It doesn't last long, but Jean manages to put it there. Laura knows that she's too young for them to be friends the way that she is with Rictor or Delilah, but Jean is old and kind enough to teach her plenty of things. ]

I will not let you be alone. Promise.

[ She gives a nod, ]

I promise you the same thing.

[ Because it gives her more of a reason to stay rather than just give up and leave. Even without the Professor or the Logan she knew, even without being on good terms with Peter, she can be here for Laura and Kurt, at least.

She moves back to her feet after picking the book up. ]

Do you want to see the gardens?