warm hearted

“Because I’m a goddamn delight to be around.”

“Well unfortunately for you, I don’t value your mother’s opinion.”

“Considering that my brain doesn’t feel like it’s being churned around in an ice cream maker anymore– yeah. I’m feeling pretty great.”

“Well that’s-- that’s uh- that’s great, Warren.” Real creative response, dumbass. Bobby blinked, mind wandering as the conversation stalled.

“Yeah, I’m not usually out of the loop but recently I’ve been keeping my head down where mutants are concerned. Let me guess, something went boom?”

Bobby debated explaining the entire thing, but surely Carol was partly joking, as Bobby was almost certain he had seen her present at at least one of these informational meetings on their current and past situation. That or he truly was losing his mind.

“Eh, long story short, the little guys are here to stay. Don’t ask me how, but the world has yet to implode, so that seems pretty positive.”

“Get used to it, cause it doesn’t really ever change. You just need to adapt around it.”

Bobby let his head dip forward to rest against the tabletop he was sitting at in frustration, “I’m sorry-- you’re right. This is probably not at all how you imagined spending your evening.”

Felicia just looked at him for a moment. “It’s not a good look, you might want to look into changing that about yourself.”

“Obviously I can’t speak for all of mutantkind, but we’ve got kind of a-- you know, storied past-- this shit’s been centuries in the making.”

The jest at himself brought a small smile to her lips; he was funny in the moment. “His presence can be, at times.”

“Oh,” Bobby snorted, feigning relief, “Good to know. I’ll work on that.”

“I can look like many things. I was raised to be adaptable. But,” Yelena smiled. “You’re right.”

Bobby blinked, intimidated but intrigued, “What do you mean by adaptable?”

“Have a drink. It helps Alexei.”

“That’s a suggestion I’m hearing more and more of, and now I’m wondering if I shouldn’t warn my younger self. You know-- protect our liver.”

“Help yourself then.” The Valkyrie gestured to the bottle. “Why’re you drinking?”

“What’s the cliche answer? -- uh, to forget?” Bobby shrugged.

“I woke up and everything was different. Mutants are sovereign and the war is over. It’s unsettling to miss the middle. You’re right though. We’re all uncertain. I’d never pretend to be the only one struggling.”

“I get that. I do. And if there’s anything at all I can do to help you adjust to all this, please, just let me know.”

“Oh, hey, I like movies. Ones with happy endings, though. Is that okay?”

“Sure, Nadia. That’s absolutely okay.” A movie sounded great. But mostly, a movie sounded like a distraction. And that was exactly what Bobby needed right now. Retrieving the remote for that particular room’s television, Bobby sat down on the couch and invited Nadia to sit as well before booting up Netflix.

“Anything in particular you had in mind?”

“All you have to do is reach out. I’ll keep my mind open so I’ll hear you and come over. It’s nothing crazy, I promise.”

“Although maybe things’ll get better?-- Since I don’t have to stress over my younger self being sent back in time anymore. Or maybe I just sound insane? I don’t know anymore.”

So weird, she shot back out of habit. Her mind had opened up to the team a long time ago.  The original X-Men had been so small that they had maintained a familiarity that Krakoa was almost too big for. 

“Everything. We have everything to lose, and I’ve lost it before. I don’t want to again. As much as I don’t want to admit it, keeping the kids here may do that and we have a lot to lose.”

Bobby massaged his forehead briefly with the heel of his hand, eyes squeezed shut in minor discomfort, “Yeah, but what if we’re wrong Jean? That’s what I keep dwelling on. Sure, there’s a huge risk, but what if it pays off? Or what if we make the wrong choice?”

“Do I have to guess or will you tell me who that is?”

“Myself?” Bobby let out an exasperated sigh, “I thought that much was obvious, Jean,” a desperate and slightly disappointed chuckle followed, “Although I’m definitely starting to think I’m right, and that crawling under a rock would be a much better option.”

Without meaning to Jean’s eyes rolled at Bobby’s concern. They were friends. She still felt bad about calling him out - literally - but she wasn’t making mental invasion a habit. “I’m not inviting Scott, so we shouldn’t invite Warren. It may just be you and I, buddy.”

Bobby shook his head at the mention of their teammates. As surprised as he was that Jean was refusing to invite Scott, Bobby agreed. The lack of invitation for Warren as well was reassuring. To be frank, he wouldn’t have minded if Hank decided to tag along as well, but quality time with Jean wasn’t something Bobby was too eager to pass up.

“I am absolutely okay with that.”

“You can call me kid. I don’t care.”  Jean shrugged. “And I know I’ll always be treated differently from other students. All five of us will be. How could we be considering who we are?” Of course, she was speaking about things he hadn’t physically vocalized.

Bobby refrained from replying for a few more moments as Jean voiced the thoughts hanging in the air between the two of them. He hadn’t been thinking those exact words, but Jean was remarkably empathetic as well as telepathic, so it was no surprise she’d know just what he was intending to say.

“Yeah, I guess that’s true. But you’re also still us. We’re you. And as I say that I’m realizing how ridiculous it sounds, but you know exactly what I mean.”

“Mhm, well, keep him around too long and you may be stuck. It’s how crazy Lorna came to be.” That and a chemical brain imbalance.

Bobby let out a slow, calculated breath, “I know the last thing you need or want for that matter is probably sympathy, but that must’ve been rough. I’m sorry.”