CHILD OF ATOM

𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝   +   @thewhitcking​​    (   🕶  &  💎   )   / / / /  *      𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠

WHEN THIS CAME TO BE, Emmet’s idea was something that didn’t fall too far from his usual pattern. Spread chaos and confusion wherever he went. Scott and James were sinking faster than the Titanic ever did and that was an opportunity to get one up against the man who had left him comatose for over a month. Drooling and incontinent weren’t exactly the sexiest of things for someone to be. But — these encounters — these moments where no one would barge inside their office and demand attention… those were becoming far too precious for the White King to ignore.

TELEPATHS TALKED LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME. Away from prying eyes and opinions – alone in their own world without people bothering them. How often was someone able to be able to hear themselves think? To remember how their voice sounded, how their thoughts operated? It had been something he sought to use to his advantage – but things never truly went the way they should, right? Scott opening up to him, seeing the man he was under all that grief and loss and trauma? When was the last time Scott remembered who he was? The man he was before a certain force of destruction came into his life?

“AND YOU HAVE IT.” Not one for ceremonies – unless they had a point – Emmet crouched by the chair and took Scott’s hands onto his own. Fidgeting them was always a clear sign of stress. Even inside his mind – Emmet could feel the pressure probing against his temples, the weight of the world crushing down onto his shoulders. “We have all the time in the world, darling. That’s the thing with telepaths. Time in here doesn’t work the same way it does out there. You can be doing whatever you do while a portion of your subconscious remains here. With me.” God have mercy on him. Seeing Scott like that made Emmet feel like someone had punched him in the gut. And for once… he truly wished to help. To help Scott see himself the same way he did. Through someone else’s eyes.

“IT’S BECAUSE HE’S BACK, ISN’T IT?”

    *  / / / / /      ❛  emmet’s words came as a big relief. his mind was a sea of agitated thoughts that calmed down at the sound of the white king’s voice. the hand touching, however, came as a surprise. “ i’ve always assumed that your touch would feel chilly. ” a soft chuckle bloomed. “ cause of the whole diamond skin thing. ” a brief pause followed. “ it’s stupid, i know. ” he put his hand over emmet’s, pressing it lightly. but itsn’t cold. it’s smooth and warm. the thought was casted directly to the man. somehow, everything just felt easier with him - - scott couldn’t quite put his finger on it yet, but something definitely clicked.

“ it is because he’s back. see, just when i had some progress on dealing with his loss, moving on after all that grief, he returned and everything is a mess again. this last time really took its toll on me. i was sometimes angry, sometimes blatantly confused. had a million nightmares. but now it's . . . frustrating. ” he confessed, granting those obscure feelings a way out. “ don't get me wrong, i'm glad he's back. but where does that leave me? ” it was uncertain what was left of the leader that scott used to be. but he knew that once words were spoken, they could not be taken back. a rush of shame flared through his expression, turning it into a bright pink hue, even though he felt comfortable with emmet. “ i don't know what to make of this anymore. james feels like a ghost, haunting my every waking moment. one that sometimes comes alive. without warning. ”

𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝   +   @onetruephoenix​    (   🕶  &  🔥   )   / / / /  *

Decided to take a break from room moving. James found himself stopped by the emptied classroom where they once taught by the professor himself. He traced the edge of the wooden table with the tips of his fingers, walked toward the spot he usually sat. He could almost pictured them once more. When they were in their younger days. That first time when Scott took the seat next to him-

Speak of the devil.

“…I am.” James gave Scott a brief look before he turned his face away, glanced out through the window to suppress the urge to adjust the man’s glasses for him. No, it would be…inappropriate. Listened to the man’s words, he couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh. “…So you just went from a möbius strip straight from hell to I miss you? Scott-” He knew this would eventually happen. The confrontation. James admitted, he has ran through this scenario in his head for a thousand times. But when this finally happened, he found himself speechless. Brain went blank in an instant.

“Don’t do that.” James finally spat out a few words. Despite what the other man might interpreted, he meant the gesture, of Scott leaning against the door frame. He used to do this when he waited for James to walk out from the classroom. James sighed, shut his eyes and tried to shut those memories away.

Oh, he could feel the soreness in his eyes already. No. He will not be broken by this. He won’t let himself to.

“…Understand that I need time, Scott.” He finally said, managed to keep his tone steady. “I died. You moved on. Our vow did say till death do us part.” It was harder than he anticipated, and he pondered if he has sounded harsher than he should have. But it was only then that he realised, his entire history of relationship has always only been Scott. Despite how old or mature he has become, this was still new. He wanted to say he was not angry…But that would be a weak lie.

Slowly, with a deep breath, James removed the wedding band from his finger. Something he should have done a while ago. It was hard, why was it so hard? He pulled, the ring finally released, he stood, placed it carefully on the table where Scott used to sit.

“You should go back to him. I don’t think Emmet would appreciate us talking in private. I dare say my return has shaken him a little.” James did not blame him. It wasn’t about power or who was the stronger telepathy. It was about a man encountered an unforeseen risk of losing his love one. James understood that. “Is there anything else you need from me, Scott?”

     *  / / / / /      ❛  scott knew that the conversation wasn’t exactly an easy one. his heart trembled at the words spoken by james; this time, however, there were no butterflies flustering on his chest. “ i said it because both things are equally true. we were on a möbius strip and i missed you. ” he replied with a careful tone.

things were so much easier when they could just translate each other’s affects through a psychic link. now that they had to talk in the old-fashioned way, he wasn’t sure of how much genuine he actually sounded.

slowly, he approached the man before him. even after so much time has passed, james’ presence alone sent shivers down his spine - - - something scott just didn’t know how to deactivate. at least, not now. “ i understand you need time to process a lot of things. i don’t want to cause any harm to you, jamie, ‘never did. ” a profound breath followed james’ sharp words. till death do us part, huh? that struck scott with memories buried deep inside his heart. buried, sure, but not forgotten. every fiber in his body wanted to hold james in his arms at that moment. he refrained himself after the man took off the ring. it was a delicate gesture - - james always was - - one that created a knot on his stomach. this was real. unjustly real.

“ i guess everyone’s a little bit shaken with your return. even me. ” memories of james’ death subtly filled his mind. the agony, the uncertainty. it was anxious times, loaded with sleepless nights, tearful days and empty-bed mornings. scott adjusted his glasses once again to avoid spiralling down that hole. he didn’t want to project those grim thoughts on james anyway. “ i just need some type of closure. there’s a few things we should discuss, so we can heal properly. ” he took off his wedding band as well. “ when you feel ready. ”

*  / / / / /      ❛  he slightly lowered his glasses, just enough for a thin optic blast to hit the cap of the bottle and shoot it off with an audible pop!, allowing the chill fog stored in the beer to escape the bottleneck. it's been a few weeks since scott had any free time to spend with a friend, especially one with a schedule as tight as his. the night couldn't be more inviting; a cloudless sky that looked like a dark starry mat, matched with a pleasurable warm breeze that softly rumpled his hair back and forth. they were, of course, at the rooftop of the institute, a place where they could run away from students. a place that was theirs since rogue came to be a member of the old classic x-men. “ here, buddy. cheers. ” he passed the beer on and took a sip of his own. “ how you're doing? it's been a while since the last time we spoke. ”

*  / / / / /      ❛  the armchair was comfortable, the minimalist design of the room was a delight for his ordely gaze and scott was no stranger to telepaths probing his mind. and still, he could not, for the sake of his life, stop fidgeting with his hands. scott wasn't the type of guy that loves risky things. on the contrary, he'd proudly brag about his self-control and discipline on most circumstances.

this occasion, of course, was an exception.

he never had any kind of therapeutic experience and to accept psychic counseling from the white king himself? quite the unusual for him. but since the conventional ways wasn't helping, one might as well try a new one. maybe it had to be this way cause nothing else worked.

finally, he let out a deep sigh and stood his head up so his eyes matched the icy blue ones. emmet was looking handsome as ever, even behind a desk.  “ first of all, it was so thoughtful of you to accept me here today, i won't take too much of your time, i mean, i hope so, also i completely understand if you're busy and can't take new clients-patients-whatsoever, i just really need to talk to someon- ” the words rushed through him, scrambling their way out. this wasn't scott-like and that was exactly the point. “ i... need help, emmet. your help. ”

*  / / / / /      ❛  his feet felt heavier with each step, like walking through quicksand. the hallway, however, was just as usual; young promising mutants going on with their classes, some old faces here and there, the air filled with that characteristic bubbling atmosphere that made everyone feel that they belong on the institute. scott missed that. feeling like nowhere else in the world would make him feel like home the way this school did. feeling like he and james would forever be the timeless high school sweethearts that never had any problems and would always be in love. he knew now that this was certainly not the case. 

still, scott hoped that everything would turn out fine. if that was naiveté or just a reminder of how things used to work between them, he couldn't tell. maybe both. he stopped before the door to adjust his glasses and took a deep breath. “ so... you're back. ” a light chuckle followed his arms crossing and his figure leaning at the wooden frame. “ guess we're on a möbius strip straight from hell. ” he paused for a moment, studying the room. it felt unfamiliar. his gaze then turned to the red-haired male. “ i missed you. ”

   ❛  well, that's kinda his thing, you know? his signature move. being the hottest guy around this place? that's your signature move. i'm sure there's nothing to be worrying about. but i love when you get a little possessive, it's so sexy.