#jonathan!sanderson

He had barely even made it to the event and his hands had already begun to sweat. At first glance, Gregory looked like a simple, sharply dressed man but should he have to shake hands with someone, they'd come to realize his body was trembling. The healer kept playing with his suit buttons nervously, shoving and removing his pockets, uncomfortably waiting for something to happen. He wasn't too fond of events such as balls and parties. Socializing wasn't his forté and this time, he was accompanied by an unconventional date whom was his roommate, Jonathan Sanderson. Despite himself and his motivational speech he had given himself before heading to the ball, Gregory wasn't too sure what to expect of the students regarding his date. His mind battling itself, he stood there, waiting for the other.

"He must've gone further inside…" he thought to himself. Of course he would; Johnny was a social butterfly. He almost growled in annoyance at the thought he was making him go deeper into the mass of students. Finally, the teleporting roommate was spotted and Gregory raised his hand at him to get his attention.

His blue eyes continuously eyeing the others, hoping no one would pay much attention to them or attempt to make contact. Once the other made its way to him, his lips tugged sideways into a shy smile. Despite his efforts to seem casual, Gregory looked unbelievably stiff and uncomfortable. "Hey." The healer's eyes scanned Jonathan and his lips continued to hold a smile he hoped could come across as genuine. "You look uh…" he stammered, looking for words that wouldn't come off weird. He shook his nervous thoughts away, reminding himself to relax. He was talking to Johnny. Of all people, he probably wouldn't taking anything weirdly. "You look good."

Expecting the note to warn him there was no more toilet paper left and he’d have to buy some or something of the sorts, Gregory was taken aback entirely upon seeing the invitation.

He sat on his bed, thankful he had time to think it through. A part of him was honoured they’d want him as a date due to how rarely it would happen but… to go to a ball with a guy? Gregory was pretty open minded about it but it honestly scared him. Not that the boy was homophobic, far from it, in fact he had even considered it a possibility he wouldn’t be entirely straight and sexuality didn’t matter much to the young healer as long as they were good people. No. What he feared was how ignorant and  cruel people can be.  He didn’t want people to get ideas and eventually bully him for it. Gregory had enough of that kind of stress for a lifetime. On the other hand, Gregory recognized it to be a chance to get to know his roommate and that being in a school of mutants, two boys going to a ball together was probably going to be less “freakish” thing any student here could have seen. Surely, mutants would be more open about “abnormalities” than humans, right? Besides, they were going as friend! For the sake of laughing about it in the years to come and have good memories! At least this time he probably wouldn’t end up leaning on a wall, drinking alone and watching the others have a great time and eventually return home early to read a good book. Gregory sighed and gathered up his courage. “Fuck it.” The next morning, the healer stuck a post-it to Jonathan’s closet before heading to class, nervously awaiting what the night would turn out to be. "See you there. -Gregory”

Gregory shuffled through his papers, looking for a specific note before his concentration was interrupted by a stranger’s voice. He abruptly froze in the middle of his action. The boy shifted on his seat to look over his shoulder and stare down the stranger defensively, weary. "Why do you care?"