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There was only a few teasing comments made later about his hickeys as he drove the group back home. They were mostly trying to guess what girl it could have been. They all could easily rattle off a few names of girls they knew were into him. Landon just smirked and remained silent shaking his head at every name. As they got inside the school the group headed for the stairs but Rose grabbed Landon’s arm. “what?”, Landon asked. “You’re going to the infirmary with me and I’m checking those cuts.”, Rose stated. Landon groaned. “Do I have to? In a matter of hours it’ll be my birthday and I’ve got training at 5am. I just want sleeeeeppp…”, Landon argued. “Yes, or I’m handing you a hundred.”, Rose said. Landon looked at her confused. “What?”, he questioned before he remembered. “I am not stripping to my birthday suit I don’t’ care that in an hour it’s my birthday.”, Landon answered. “Landon, please? I’m worried and dad won’t make you go. And you’re too distracted by something to realize how bad you might be.”, Rose requested. Landon sighed. “I’ll go the infirmary if it gets you to stop being so concerned. But I’m not taking off more than my shirt. I think I’d require a few dates minimum before full nudity thank you. And you’re dad expects me at five on the dot birthday or not.”, Landon agreed. “So stop wasting time talking.”, Rose said with a chuckle dragged him down to the infirmary. “I’m telling you they aren’t that bad. He just nicked me twin when my guard was down.”, Landon protested following her. As he walked into the infirmary he slide his jacket off and pulled off his chi weapon tee. “See he got me once per side.”, He explained pointing to the two spots under the bandages. “Then stop whining and let me look.”, Rose said pushing him onto a stool. Landon grunted sitting down. She shook her head and started to unwrap the bandage from his chest.
At least he’d done a good job wrapping them. “It’s not whining. It’s knowing my body. I think I’d known if I needed to come see Uncle Mikali.”, Landon countered moving his arms out of her way. She chuckled and finished unwrapping his sides and started to look at the two inch long cuts. Landon winced a little as she poked the wounds. “We good now?”, he asked. “These need stitches, you dunce.”, Rose said shaking her head. “They looked fine to me. You just want to poke a needle into me.”, Landon teased. “No I want to increase the healing process and help protect it against infections. If you had just met with Mikali he’s have healed you up.”, Rose explained. “I was in a hurry. I had things to do and people to see. Plus it didn’t look life threatening. But, you’re the smarty pants that interns with Uncle Mikali. So do what you gotta.”, Landon said with a shrug. Rose shook her head and walked over to station and started pulling on some gloves and grabbing the medical needle and thread. “Do you need anything before I start, you know for the pain?”, Rose offered. “I’ll be fine. Do what you need to. I don’t’ have pain issues and sit for six plus hours for my ink.”, Landon said bringing an arm up out of her way for her to work. Rose shook her head and started stitching up the wound on his left side first. Landon held till and clenched his teeth a little but otherwise made no indication of pain. “Not exactly the relaxing humming of Squirrel’s tattoo machine.”, Landon commented.
“Yeah it wouldn’t be.”, She said cleaning up the stitched wound for good measure. “If you aren’t careful dad will kill you before anything you’re training for will.”, she teased.”Nah, sensei Logan likes me too much to kill me.”, Landon said with a smirk. “Maybe you’ll just get yourself killed.”, Rose countered. “I’ve got no intentions of dying for a long long time. That’s why I’m training “, Landon countered. “Yeah well, you’re doing a bang up job so far hero.”, Rose chuckled and moved to his other side. “Hey I’ve been training since January with him. This week I’ve just been elsewhere is all. With the party planning and you guys all pulling me in various directions wanting my attention.”, He countered raising his arm for her. “You mean us wanting our friend back after months of you being MIA?”, Rose asked raining an eyebrow. “I haven’t been MIA. I went to classes every day. I drove all of us to school. I haven’t missed any band practices. I work my shifts at the shop and I make all my team training and leader training.”, Landon answered. “But you never just…relax with us. You never come to the movies, you don’t joke around the same, it’s like you don’t have time to be a brother or my best friend.”, Rose said as she finished stitching. Landon sighed. “Look I’m just. I’ve got to start taking this more serious. I’m going to be a senior in the fall. I’ve got college applications to get in. And you know what Duncan wants from me and the pressure he’s been putting on me since new years. You try being told by the headmaster and even have it confirmed that the Acolytes think you’re the next Charles Xavier.”, Landon said with a heavy sigh. Rose frowned slight and looked up at him, tying off the last sound and grabbing some gauze to wrap the wounds. “Landon, what do you want?”, she asked.
“What do you mean? I know I need to make sure I can protect myself and you guys. And don’t’ give me the you can protect yourself line. I know that. It doesn’t change that I feel responsible for your safety.”, Landon explained. “I mean exactly what I said. What do you want? Do you want to take over Duncan’s place? Do you want to be a musician? Do you even want to be an x-men?”, Rose questioned. Landon sighed. “I..I don’t want to lead the x-men. I don’t care how much everyone thinks I should or could. I know I could, I get hat. I know all the others like to look to me for stuff. But my shoulders aren’t broad enough for that weight. As for being a musician, I love playing but I couldn’t make it my career. And I don’t know if I’ll be an x-men in the grand scheme of things. I just want to research mutant history. I want to know where we mutants come from. Find historical facts anything to really show our history.”, Landon explained. “So it sounds like you’re training for the wrong thing.”, Rose said softly. “For the immediate future, I’m training for exactly what I need. I get past this and I’m free to do whatever I want.”, Landon said with a shrug. “What are you training for Landon? Why won’t you tell anyone?”, Rose questioned. “I’m training to be where I need to be. And beyond that my reasons are between me and your dad and well Aunt Isis. They are the only ones that needed to know. Your dad because I sought him to train me.”, Landon answered. “You know…I actually disagree with everyone then.”, she said flatly. “A real leader would let his team be just that.”, she said as she pinned the bandages and thrust his shirt into his hands. “You’re not a leader when it involves yourself. You’re too secretive.”, Rose said getting up.
“Rose..”, Landon groaned pulling his shirt on. “What I’m doing doesn’t involve the team, alright. It’s personal and nothing more.”, Landon attempted to defend. “Yeah. Apparently it doesn’t matter to us either.”, Rose said running and starting to walk away. She knew that training with her dad to the point of injury was a sure sign that something bad was going on. Landon sighed getting up and chasing after her. “Roselyn…”, Landon said using her given name which was something he rarely ever did. Rose stopped hearing him actually call her Roselyn. “What? Going to try and explain to that it is nothing, it’s a personal issue, you’ll handle it? Because you’re the only one ever to want to question and distrust people?”, Rose questioned angrily not turning to look at him. “No. I’m going to tell you that I’m damn sick of fucking Howletts trying to walk out during conversations, argument or not. I don’t do the flight I only know fight.”, Landon said gently grasping her wrist so she couldn’t keep walking. Rose wanted to question about the Howletts walking out, but she turned to look at him as he took her wrist. “The reason I’m training is personal. I’m not strong enough alright? I almost got you, my sister and my best friends people I call family killed in January. I almost got myself killed. If your dad hadn’t…if he hadn’t gotten there I’d be dead. So pardon me for dealing with near death my way, training.”, Landon explained. He didn’t like lying but what he just said wasn’t a lie it was how he felt, he felt not strong enough. So this was the truth he just wasn’t brining up the vision or that he was going to fight Wanda again. “Your way of dealing with a near death experience is to stop seeing your friends, refuse their help, abandon your team for anything that’s not training and making your friends stay at the sidelines in the dark.”, Rose countered. It wasn’t that she was questioning she was making a statement.
“I didn’t say it was the right way. I’m just trying to get through this. And look I’m sorry if I’ve made you guys feel like I’ve abandoned you. I’m trying. Now that it’s summer and school isn’t taking up eighty percent of the day I can try to not lock myself up in the danger room and ignore everyone that means everything to me.”, Landon said. “Landon, I just. How can I trust you when you won’t even let me help you?”, Rose questioned. “Help with what? I don’t feel I’m strong enough. How are you going to alter that opinion? Your dad is training me, that’s helping. And Duncan mandated that I see Aunt Isis twice a month since new years to discuss crap. So she’s got that help covered.”, Landon questioned. “I feel useless!”, Rose suddenly shouted at him. “I feel like I can’t help you. I feel like..like I can’t protect the person who I don’t share blood with that means the most to me. I just want to do something…anything.”, Rose said letting her frustration out. Landon sighed mentally cursing Howlett girls. He was getting a déjà vu feeling as he was reliving almost the same conversation he’d had with Rachel. Difference being that Rachel knew the full story and reasons behind why he was trying to face this alone and what he was trying to face. “You aren’t useless. I haven’t gone full locked myself in the danger room because of you…and the others. I know I’ve not been giving myself much down time recently. And I’m gonna try and be better, okay. You and everyone poking and prodding me into doing stuff is how you are helping. By being the mondo pain in my ass you’ve been for nearly fifteen years.”, Landon explained. He wanted to just end the argument, to just pull her over and kiss her to shut her up and tell her that this isn’t something she can help him with or protect him from all she can do is give him reasons to want to live.
Rose inhaled deeply and looked at him frustrated. “That’s not good enough. You don’t realize how what you’re saying sounds to me. ‘Don’t help protect me’, ‘Let me fight this on my own’. I’m not someone who can sit back and do nothing. I’m an x-men, just like you. I know you don’t mean it like that, but it makes me feel like you don’t trust me to be an x-,en beside you. Something is threatening you, that much is obvious.”, Rose explained. Landon sighed his mind thinking back to the last time Atif had the vision and how it was Wanda having pinned and cornered the group and he jumped between them and Wanda to save them. “I don’t mean it like that. I trust you with me life. This is about me and not feeling strong enough. That’s a mental thing. You can’t fight that with me. It’s not like facing some opponent.”, Landon said. “Maybe you won’t be strong enough, ever, if you do this on your own. There’s a reason we work in teams. But, we’re just going to argue in circles. Heroes don’t let other heroes help them.”, Rose said with a sigh. “What part of this is mental aren’t you accepting Rose?”, Landon asked. “The part that is making you refuse any help from all the people who care about you. There is nothing I can do but be a pain in your ass. I’m going to bed, Prime. There isn’t anything else to say.”, She said using his codename to make her point of disconnection. “Trying to get me out of the danger room, to get me to go do things is a form of helping.”, he said sighing exasperated. “Rose, don’t’ be like this please.”, he pleaded before checking his watched. “Happy birthday to me..”, he grumbled letting her wrist go.
Rose blinked as he let her go and checked her watch. She sighed softly and walked closer to him and hugged him gently, being careful of the stitches she’d just sown. “I’m just so scared.”, she whispered. “I can’t lose you and you’re scaring me and making me think I am.”, she explained. Landon sighed and hugged her back tightly. He wanted to just pick her up and not let go, but he figured she’d yell at him about his stitches. “You aren’t losing me, Rose. You’re not going to lose me.”, he said trying to assure her. “Good”, she whispered resting her head against his collar. She closed her eyes and nuzzled into his neck a little. “I’m just scared and I hate no knowing.”, Rose said. Landon sighed having her this close and nuzzling his neck as killing him. It was made worse because he had hickeys on his neck from her cousin. “That’s life though, the unknown. It’s finding the way through the unknown that’s the adventure and what makes life fun.”, Landon explained. “You make life fun.”, Rose spoke softly. Landon laughed a little. “I try. But you’re the one that makes it an adventure.”, he answered before he sighed. “I guess I should let you go to bed huh?”, he said letting her go. Rose nodded and leaned back looking up at his face. “yeah. Promise me, you’ll try to be with us more? I mean you’re making out with random townies more than you spend time with us.”, Rose asked teasing a little.
Landon shook his head and rolled his eyes. “I promise I’ll try.”, he agreed. “And what jealous or something?”, Landon teased getting into the elevator. “Maybe.”, Rose said with a smile stepping into the elevator with him. “Aw. One day you’ll be the victim of someone not considering placement and visibility of hickeys and we’ll all harass you like you did me. Unless of course you’re jealous because these aren’t your fault…”, Landon added smirking. Rose returned the smirk and shrugged. “Maybe I am.”, she answered. Landon raised an eyebrow. “Oh really? I’ve got no response to that. No witty retort. You broke me.”, He teased nothing having a good response. “Must mean you’re let down it wasn’t me.”, Rose teased sticking out her tongue. Landon laughed a little. He thought for a moment about his time in the van that got him the hickeys and decided he wouldn’t have changed Rachel for Rose in that situation. He’d enjoyed making out with Rachel and wouldn’t regret it. “Maybe. Though they’d be more bite marks and hickeys I’d guess.”, Landon teased. “You never know.”, Rose teased. She chuckled stepping off the elevator and starting down the hall for her dorm. Landon shook his head getting out of the elevator. “And when might I get to find that out?”, Landon called after her. Though he quickly rethought letting that Crow remark slip out. Rose stopped and blinked before looking over her shoulder at him. She looked a bit shocked but smiled. “Whenever you decide to catch me.”, Rose answered before continuing down the hall to her room. Landon smirked. “I’ll keep that in mind. Night Rose.”, Landon said before heading to his dorm and quickly closing the door. “Fuck Crow. You’re going to get me in such trouble you keep this up.”, Landon muttered to himself as he undressed and crawled into bed. He glanced to the other bed glad that Atif hadn’t woken up for that.
It was a short sleep for Landon and it was far from restful. But he still crawled out of bed and got dressed, choosing to put on a turtleneck from Atif’s dresser to hide the marks from Logan. He wasn’t sure exactly how Logan would feel about those having been made by Rachel. Landon made it down to the danger room yawning as he walked in. Logan was already there getting the weapons out. Logan turned and raised an eyebrow looking at his student with arched brow. “What the fuck are you wearing a turtleneck for?”, Logan asked. “Um..”, Landon said trying to think of an answer. “It’s June and we are training you’ll sweat to death. Remove it and grab a spare shirt from the drawer over there.”, Logan instructed pointing to wear spare clothes were kept for training. Landon sighed and carefully removed the turtle neck and started for the spare clothes. “Wait, stop.”, Logan said walking over to him. “What the hell happened to you? You have a little too much pre birthday fun?”, Logan asked looking from the bandage around Landon’s chest to the marks on his neck. Landon blushed a little and rubbed the back of his neck. “Well the bandages are from when you cut me yesterday in training. Rose decided they needed stitches after we got home from the rodeo.”, Landon explained. Logan shrugged and then looked at the hickeys. “Whose are those from? Cause last I saw ya, you were here with my niece and then ya tell me you ended the night with my little girl.”, Logan questioned. Landon gulped taking a step back. “Um for the sake of not needing more stitches I’m gonna plead the fifth on that Sensei Logan.”, Landon said a little nervous. “That’s a good idea kid. But you’re no good to train if you’re injured. Can’t have ya popping stitches. So go back to bed birthday boy. We’ll pick up training tomorrow.”, Logan concluded. Landon blinked in shock. “Back to bed sensei?”, Landon asked confused. “Aye, back to bed. Consider that your birthday present. And hey means I get to go back to my warm bed and wake my wife.”, Logan said with a smile. Landon shook his head. “I don’t want to know. Thanks sensei.”, Landon said giving a respectful bow before heading back to bed.
Atif woke up around nine and looked assuming he’d find an empty bed across the room and blinked shocked to see Landon there sound asleep. Atif smiled and mentally thanks Logan for letting Landon not train today. Atif quietly got dressed and headed out to find the others, finding them all down in the kitchen eating breakfast. “So let me guess birthday boy is in the danger room with my dad?”, Rose asked looking up from her bowl of cereal. “Surprisingly, no. Woke up and he’s out cold in his bed.”, Atif answered pouring a bowl of cereal for himself. “Seriously?”, Cora Lee asked. “Yup. I say we let him sleep longer then someone can wake his ass up.”, Atif said sitting down and starting to eat. “Hey that gives us time to plan what to do today then. Demitri gave him the day off from the shop and if Logan’s not making him train, I say we make him spend today with us.”, Lily suggested. “Alright. How about movie marathon. Get out the blue rays of the Godzilla movies he loves as much as David does? We can even surprise him and make his favorite German chocolate cake.”, Ashley suggested. “This is a good plan, my brother needs to chill with us more. Do we invite any of the others to hang?”, Cora Lee asked. Rose shook her head. “No, today it’s just us five with him. Everyone else will see him at the party in a few days. And this way it doesn’t turn into Lily snuggling Tommy, Atif getting cozy with Billy or Ashley cuddling Xavier. Just the six of us like it was when we were little.”, Rose stated. “Agreed.”, they others confirmed. And from there the five made sure that no one was going to use the entertainment room at all that day, then made sure they were stocked on popcorn and soda while Ashley baked the cake.
It was almost noon when Landon opened his eyes and looked around the room. He moved to stretch and winced his sides a little sore from the stitches. “Atif?”, Landon said looked around and realized his roommate was gone. He looked to the clock and blinked realizing the time. “Fuck they let me sleep this long?”, Landon said getting out of bed. He grabbed his phone which had a flashing notification light. He checked his messages and saw he had nearly fifty messaged. “Fucking Christ.”, He said scrolling through the birthday messages. He stopped seeing a text for Rachel and opened it. He read the text aloud. “Hey Landon, Happy Birthday! Hope the gang didn’t raz you too much after you went home. Next time, if there is a next time, I’ll keep placement in mind.”, he chuckled shaking his head. “Oh lord.”, he whispered to himself. “Also hope the cuts Uncle James gave you are better. See you at your party if not sooner.”, Landon finished reading the text. He quickly responded as he started the shower. “Thanks Rach. They spent the drive home randomly saying names to see if they could guess. Next time huh? Sounds like fun. And my cuts are fine, Rose stitched them last night. Your Uncle let me out of training for the day. I’ll see you at the party. Hoping in shower.”, he typed and hit send before clearing the thread from his phone not trusting anyone. “Howletts..”, he muttered getting into the shower.
Downstairs the others had everything ready for movie marathon they just needed the birthday boy. “So who’s waking him up this year?”, Atif asked. Everyone raised their hands. “I say we just draw straws to be fair. We all want to be the one that wakes him up because Landon when he first wakes up is grumpy and so amusing. So short straw gets to go.”, Ashley suggested. She took five straws out and randomly cut them in various lengths then put them into her hand so that they all looked even and didn’t poke out the bottom of her hand. Atif pulled first getting a rather long straw and frowned. Cora Lee then Lily and Ashley were next. Cora Lee so far had the shortest straw. Then Rose pulled and her was almost a nub. Cora Lee pouted while Rose grinned. “Looks like I get to wake him up this year.”, Rose said getting up. “Just remember you see more than shirtless I want my Benjamin!”, Atif yelled after her. Rose laughed and headed to Landon and Atif’s dorm. She quietly snuck in but frowned seeing his bed was empty. But the frown turned to a smirk hearing the shower running. Rose decided to just stretch out on his bed with her hands behind her head watching the bathroom door waiting patiently for him to come out.
She didn’t have to wait long as Landon got out of the shower, dried off and wrapped his towel around his waist picking up his phone walking out into his dorm not suspecting a thing. “Morning birthday boy.”, Rose greeted smiling from her spot on his bed. Landon dropped his phone and nearly the towel as she startled him. He was quick to grab the towel before it went too far. “Fucking Christ Rose!”, Landon said catching his breath. Rose smirked and stretching casually not getting up from his bed. “So much for the show, guess I don’t have to give Atif that hundred dollars.”, Rose teased. Landon shook his head and picked up his phone setting it on his dresser. “So what’s this then? Birthday present or just here to wake me up like you guys do every year, since I stopped going to Texas?”, Landon asked adjusting the towel to make sure it was secure before leaning on the footboard of his bed looking at her. Rose shrugged while smirking. She considered playing into that line but as he leaned on the footboard she looked to the hickeys and decided against it. “Just here to wake you up.”, Rose said sitting up. “Shame. But as you can see I’m already awake.”, Landon said standing back up. Rose rolled her eyes and got up off his bed. “So did my dad still make you train today? I see my stitches held.”, Rose commented. Landon looked down having not put fresh wrapping over his wounds. “Nah your dad said I was worthless to train with stitches and sent me back to bed so he could go home and ‘wake’ your mom up.”, Landon explained. Rose chuckled a little walking closer and lightly touching the stitches. Landon drew in a sharp breath.
“So can I give you birthday hug now?”, Rose asked. “Can I put some shorts on first?”, Landon asked. Rose stepped back and crossed her arms turning around. “So get dressed then.”, Rose said. “How about you step out of the room.”, Landon suggested. “Aw afraid I’d peak? But fine.”, Rose said stepping outside into the hall. Landon shook his head and quickly put on boxers and a pair of shorts. “Clothed!”, Landon yelled digging for a shirt. Rose came back in. “You do realize that your shorts offer about the same amount of coverage as the towel did.”, Rose commented. Landon turned around having found one of his vintage Beatles tees, today choosing his black Srgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. “Yeah well shorts have less chance of falling off revealing more than I’m up for showing at the moment.”, Landon countered pulling his shirt on. “Alright birthday hugs.”, Landon said opening his arms. Rose laughed and walked over hugging him being mindful of his stitches. “Happy Birthday.”, she said “You realize that since you don’t have to work or train today you are spending the day with us.”, Rose advised. “Oh I am huh? And what am I doing? And if you say rodeo I swear I’ll go back to bed.”, Landon asked. “No rodeo. Godzilla movie marathon in the entertainment room. Now come on.”, Rose said letting him go and taking his hand heading for the door. “Alright I’m coming.”, Landon laughed but followed her downstairs where the other four were waiting in the entertainment room. Landon was pulled onto the sofa and Rose sat down between him and Cora Lee while Atif, Lily and Ashley occupied the other couch.
As the marathon went on starting with the original 1954 Godzilla film the six got comfortable in thier vegetative state eating popcorn and drinking water or sodas. Landon adjusted how he was sitting to get comfortable and Rose with her lack of caring about personal space was leaning on his side using Cora Lee as a leg rest. It was nearly six hours later when Landon’s parents decided to stop by the Institute since Landon hadn’t been answering his phone, having left it up in his dorm. David and Aislinn walked in through the doors and debated where to look for their son and daughter. Aislinn stopped in the center of the main lobby and listened and could hear the kids. “I think they are watching a movie.”, Aislinn said. “Oh alright then let’s go this way.”, David said taking her hand and they headed for the entertainment room. They stopped in the doorway, Aislinn looking through her husband’s eyes at the six teenagers scattered on the couches leaning on each other eating popcorn watching old Godzilla films. She smiled softly enjoying the sight. “Yo birthday brat, where’s your damn phone or you too good to answer for your parents?”, David teased walking into the room. The six kids all jumped a little at the sudden booming of David’s voice. Rose suddenly jumping up from leaning on Landon. Landon turned his head. “Oh um sorry dad. I left my cell in my dorm.”, Landon apologized. David and Aislinn walked over Aislinn bending over the sofa and hugging Landon kissing the top of his head. “it’s already sweetheart. We just wanted to say happy birthday on your birthday though you kids are having that big party this weekend.”, Aislinn said. “Thanks mom.”, Landon said. David just messed up his hair. “Happy birthday brat.”, David said. Landon laughed trying to fix his hair. “Thanks dad.”, Landon said.
David moved to sit down in a chair and looked at Landon instantly noticing the hickeys and chuckled. “Someone started celebrating early. Good for you.”, David teased. Aislinn using her husband’s eyes saw the hickeys and laughed a little. “Aw so who gave you those as a present?”, Aislinn teased sitting on the arm of the chair her husband sat in. Landon groaned and pulled a blanket off the back of the sofa and tried to just hide himself. Rose and Cora Lee laughed and pulled the blanket away. “No way you get to hide. Did you say last night you would wear your new spots with pride?”, Cora Lee teased. Landon sighed shaking his head but was smirking. “Well at least he takes after me in more than just looks. Was starting to wonder.”, David teased. Landon rolled his eyes. “I make out one time and I’m going to catch shit the rest of my life aren’t I?”, Landon asked. “Not the rest of your life, just till you tell us with who. And then depending on the who determines how much shit we give you going forward.”, Lily said. “Wait you kids don’t even know who?”, David asked. The kids shook their head. “Nope he showed up to the rodeo like that last night.”, Ashley answered. “So who’s the lass?”, Aislinn prodded. “I love you mom. But I’m not telling you. After all weren’t you the one that says gentlemen don’t kiss and tell?”, Landon countered. “Aye but ya can tell me. I’m your mom and I’ve wanted you to finally get a girlfriend for a few years.”, Aislinn replied.
Landon shook his head. “He won’t even tell me Misses Bryant and I’m supposed to be his best guy friend.”, Atif said pouting. “Ah look at dat face. How can you not tell him?”, Aislinn said pointing to Atif. Landon chuckled. “The pouty look only works on you, his mom and Billy. And he doesn’t get to talk. It wasn’t till a life or death situation came up that we all learned he was seeing Billy.”, Landon countered. “Please tell me that this isn’t’ an Academy girl. Cause in your age range there’s only what one girl not related to you?”, David questioned. Landon had to hold his sides and had to lean against Rose he was laughing so hard. “Oh god dad. Don’t make me laugh like that I’ll bust a stitch and Rose will kick my ass if she’s gotta re-stitch. I wouldn’t touch Talia with a eighty foot pole dad. Psychopaths aren’t really my thing.”, Landon said laughing. Aislinn raised an eyebrow. “Stitches?”, Aislinn questioned. “Don’t worry mom. I just got hurt in training when I wasn’t giving my full attention. Rose stitched me up last night when we got home from the rodeo.”, Landon said sitting back up as Rose shoved him playfully off her lap. David raised an eyebrow and nodded with his eyes in Rose’s direction. Landon gave his dad a confused look and then shook his head ‘no’. Rose noticed David looking at her and saw Landon shaking his head and she chuckled realizing that was David’s silent way of asking if it was her that left the marks. “Then who?”, David asked. “All I am going to say is she’s a human and if or when it actually becomes serious you will all know. Till then back off.”, Landon said.
David raised an eyebrow having an idea of one human he knew that Landon always seemed to favor, but never had said he liked, and who David knew liked Landon. “Oh boy.”, David said making his guess and shaking his head at his son. “You realize we could just ask every girl from school if they made out with you last night.”, Lily stated. “Oh good luck with that.”, Landon said with a laugh. “Oh this lass knows how to keep secrets?”, Aislinn asked. David just smiled. “Yes. But my point was you ask the girls from school question becomes how many would lie and say they did.”, Landon pointed out. “That’s why we have Hope ask so she’ll know telepathically who’s lying.”, Ashley chimed in. Landon threw a pillow at Ashley. “Leave Hope and her telepathy out of this. That’s not fair.”, Landon protested. Aislinn laughed lightly at the kids. “Well you aren’t talking…”, Cora Lee said. “Oh don’t even start little sister on not talking…”, Landon said. Cora Lee glared at him and reached around Rose to pinch his arm. “Ouch…”, Landon said rubbing his arms. “Alright leave the birthday boy alone.”, Rose stated. “See Rose is on my side. Thank you.”, Landon said hugging rose and moving her slightly to kind of shield him from Cora Lee. David laughed. “Alright we will leave you six to your movies and junk food. See you at the party.”, David said getting up and taking Aislinn’s hand. “Bye kids.”, Aislinn said with a wave. “Bye dad, bye mom.”, Landon and Cora Lee said with a wave before the group returned to their movie marathon. Rose getting comfortable again using the Bryant siblings as pillow and foot rest.
As the night dragged on the group started to drop out. First the Alston twins decided to head to bed first, followed by Lily then Cora Lee. Leaving just Landon and Rose on the couch watching Godzilla movies. Rose had moved to lean on the other side of the sofa where Cora Lee was. Landon readjusted to stretch out putting a pillow behind him letting his right leg hang off the sofa and his left bent at the knee on the sofa as he silently watching the movie. Landon lightly nudged at her feet with his right as it kept time with a song playing in his head. Rose glanced to him out of the corner of her eye as he kept nudging her feet. “You realize I’m not a drum.”, Rose commented. Landon turned his head still lightly tapping out the beat. “Huh? Of course you are.”, Landon said with a smirk. Rose grumbled and pulled her legs up and nudged his left leg out of the way and stretched out to rest her head on his chest. “So your answer to avoid being a drum is to make me a bed?”, Landon asked as she made herself comfortable on him. “Yeeess?”, Rose replied settling in bring her arms to lightly hold him as she looked to the movie. “You realize that doesn’t stop you from being a drum.”, Landon warned as he adjusted his legs to stretch out fully. He brought his arms around her and started drumming on her back with his fingers. Rose laughed softly and shook her head. “Whatever. I’m comfortable. I get the added warmth of your arms so sacrifices I suppose.”, Rose explained. “Oh so this wasn’t about trying to not be my human drum but instead about getting into my arms?”, Landon questioned with a raised brow. Rose shook her head and looked up at him. “Would you rather I slap your stitches and get off you?”, Rose offered. “No. I don’t like pain that much. And have I ever seriously told you to not use me as furniture?”, Landon smiled. Rose chuckled and shook her head. “I like you close. That’s all.”, she explained. “You’ve never believed in personal space. And I have zero issues with you invading mine. Most guys wouldn’t.”, Landon commented. Rose rolled her eyes and got comfortable again and went back to watching the movie. Landon shrugged and went back to watching the movie while occasionally drumming his fingers on her back.
Rose was enjoying laying there in his arms even though she was trying to ignore the elephants in the room. She wanted to ask him if this flirting was because he meant it or if it was just play like Tristan does. And then there’s the fact he was marked by another girl who he randomly made out with the night before. She just wasn’t sure how to even ask her questions when she feared the answers. But she realized this was one of the few times they were alone and she had him where he couldn’t just walk away from her. She wasn’t the only one conflicted at the moment. Landon was enjoying hold her in his arms and having her laying on top of him. But his mind kept returning to the night before when he was on top of Rachel kissing her lips and neck. He felt a little weird about having been with Rachel last night and tonight was holding Rose so close. Rose sighed deeply and reached to the floor finding the remote having made up her mind. Rose turned off the movie and adjusted herself on him to sit up straddling his legs placing her hands on his shoulders. Landon turned to look up at her and blinked confused. “Um Rose? What’s up?”, Landon questioned. “I want to talk to you. And figure this way I have your full attention. Because this is just going to get awkward and I’m trying to not back out of having this conversation.”, Rose said. “Alright. What do we need to talk about?”, Landon asked. “Us, or I mean you and I. When I kissed you at new years. You didn’t kiss me back and it kind of hurt and I thought maybe it just meant you didn’t think about me like that. Which whatever I could deal with that. But then with the whole flirty banter and such. I don’t know if that’s just friendly flirting like Tristan does with me or if you actually mean any of it. Because well when I kissed you it was because I like you. And last night you randomly make out with someone and I honestly was and still am jealous.”, Rose admitted speaking rather quickly to get it all out so he couldn’t interrupt and she couldn’t back out.
Landon looked up at her blinking as she talked. “Rose…”, he said with a sigh trying to find the right words. Instead of the words he just listened to the Crow voice who had been shouting at him since she laid down. Without hesitation he reached up with both hands and brought her face down to his and kissed her softly at first. Rose was ready for the inevitable ‘you are just my friend’ statement but she was caught off guard by him kissing her. “Mmm”, she said startled but closed her eyes kissing him back. This is what she’d wanted for so long even before new years. Landon brought a hand to hold the back of her head as he took the soft kiss and deepened it as she started kissing back. Rose mmed into the kissing moving her hands off his shoulders to hold the back of his neck as she leaned into the kiss her mind choosing to not think about the hickeys or the girl from last night. All that mattered was he was kissing her. Landon let a hand run down her back as they kissed. He held the kiss for a few minutes before pulling back. “Might go without saying but I like you too. So let me explain. I didn’t kiss you back at new years because you caught me off guard and I was still in shock of not being dead. And the flirty banter wasn’t ever just friendly flirting. I don’t friendly flirt like that. As for last night. That’s where things get complicated.”, Landon explained brushing some of her hair behind her ear.
Rose hadn’t wanted him to stop the kiss but patiently listened rubbing her lips together. She sighed as he said ‘complicated’. “Define complicated.”, Rose requested stopping herself from gulping. “The girl, she’s someone I like a lot too. And right now I feel like a complete jackass kissing her last night and you tonight.”, Landon admitted. “Are you dating her?”, Rose asked simply. “Um, no I’m not dating anyone.”, Landon answered. “Does she know you like me?”, Rose asked. “She knows I like someone else, I didn’t give her your name just as I’m not giving you her name.”, Landon answered uncertain where this was going. Rose nodded. “So why’s that complicated then? You aren’t dating her and you aren’t dating me. You’ve made us both aware that we aren’t the only girl you are into. I’m not afraid of some competition.”, Rose stated before leaning back down kissing him. Landon was about to say something but found himself cut off by her lips and despite better judgment kissed back holding her tight to him. This wasn’t the same as when he was with Rachel. Rachel was more timid and slowly became opened to more as the intensity scaled up. Last night Rachel had driven him insane in the back of his van. He wasn’t being driven insane by Rose, per say but god was he enjoying himself. He felt Rose run her tongue along his lips and he parted them for her and felt her tongue slip into his mouth. He moaned a little his hand on the back of her head grasping her hair as his tongue rubbed against hers. And there was that spark of insanity starting. In his mind he was having a war about what he was doing. The Crow voice encouraging the behavior, the Demtiri voice saying that kissing the cousins especially within the same twenty-four hours was deplorable, and in the back a small voice asking what about Rachel. It was that small voice that got through to Landon and he pulled back from the kiss.
“Rose…god I can’t believe I’m about to say this. But we should stop. I’ve got things I’m working through and I just…I am not looking to lead two girls on.”, Landon said. Rose sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. “I get that you have some stuff you are working through, I wish you’d let me help with that. But you aren’t leading me on. I know there’s someone else. But unless you say she’s the one I’m not going to care or think twice about kissing you.”, Rose said softly. Landon sighed. “Well I feel bad at this point. So how about we hit pause for now. I need to get my head on straight and figure out what I’m doing.”, Landon suggested. Rose nodded and gave him a soft kiss before sitting up and getting off him. “Can’t fault you for being a stand up guy you always are. Come on should get some sleep, I’m supposed to help tear down the rodeo tomorrow and you have work at the shop and probably training with dad.”, Rose said offering her hand to get him up. Landon nodded getting up. “Thanks for understanding. You know that no matter what happens I will always be here for you and will always be your best friend.”, Landon said. Rose smiled grabbing his shirt pulling him down to her and kissed him again. “Damn straight you better. And no matter what I’ll be here for you and will be your best friend. And don’t worry what just happened, it can stay between us. Night Landon.”, Rose said heading upstairs with a smile. “Night Rose.”, Landon said letting her go up first. “What the hell is wrong with me? I made out with Rachel last night and now Rose tonight? I seriously think I’m worse than my dad right now.”, Landon said to himself as he headed to bed.

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There was only a few teasing comments made later about his hickeys as he drove the group back home. They were mostly trying to guess what girl it could have been. They all could easily rattle off a few names of girls they knew were into him. Landon just smirked and remained silent shaking his head at every name. As they got inside the school the group headed for the stairs but Rose grabbed Landon’s arm. “what?”, Landon asked. “You’re going to the infirmary with me and I’m checking those cuts.”, Rose stated. Landon groaned. “Do I have to? In a matter of hours it’ll be my birthday and I’ve got training at 5am. I just want sleeeeeppp…”, Landon argued. “Yes, or I’m handing you a hundred.”, Rose said. Landon looked at her confused. “What?”, he questioned before he remembered. “I am not stripping to my birthday suit I don’t’ care that in an hour it’s my birthday.”, Landon answered. “Landon, please? I’m worried and dad won’t make you go. And you’re too distracted by something to realize how bad you might be.”, Rose requested. Landon sighed. “I’ll go the infirmary if it gets you to stop being so concerned. But I’m not taking off more than my shirt. I think I’d require a few dates minimum before full nudity thank you. And you’re dad expects me at five on the dot birthday or not.”, Landon agreed. “So stop wasting time talking.”, Rose said with a chuckle dragged him down to the infirmary. “I’m telling you they aren’t that bad. He just nicked me twin when my guard was down.”, Landon protested following her. As he walked into the infirmary he slide his jacket off and pulled off his chi weapon tee. “See he got me once per side.”, He explained pointing to the two spots under the bandages. “Then stop whining and let me look.”, Rose said pushing him onto a stool. Landon grunted sitting down. She shook her head and started to unwrap the bandage from his chest.
At least he’d done a good job wrapping them. “It’s not whining. It’s knowing my body. I think I’d known if I needed to come see Uncle Mikali.”, Landon countered moving his arms out of her way. She chuckled and finished unwrapping his sides and started to look at the two inch long cuts. Landon winced a little as she poked the wounds. “We good now?”, he asked. “These need stitches, you dunce.”, Rose said shaking her head. “They looked fine to me. You just want to poke a needle into me.”, Landon teased. “No I want to increase the healing process and help protect it against infections. If you had just met with Mikali he’s have healed you up.”, Rose explained. “I was in a hurry. I had things to do and people to see. Plus it didn’t look life threatening. But, you’re the smarty pants that interns with Uncle Mikali. So do what you gotta.”, Landon said with a shrug. Rose shook her head and walked over to station and started pulling on some gloves and grabbing the medical needle and thread. “Do you need anything before I start, you know for the pain?”, Rose offered. “I’ll be fine. Do what you need to. I don’t’ have pain issues and sit for six plus hours for my ink.”, Landon said bringing an arm up out of her way for her to work. Rose shook her head and started stitching up the wound on his left side first. Landon held till and clenched his teeth a little but otherwise made no indication of pain. “Not exactly the relaxing humming of Squirrel’s tattoo machine.”, Landon commented.
“Yeah it wouldn’t be.”, She said cleaning up the stitched wound for good measure. “If you aren’t careful dad will kill you before anything you’re training for will.”, she teased.”Nah, sensei Logan likes me too much to kill me.”, Landon said with a smirk. “Maybe you’ll just get yourself killed.”, Rose countered. “I’ve got no intentions of dying for a long long time. That’s why I’m training “, Landon countered. “Yeah well, you’re doing a bang up job so far hero.”, Rose chuckled and moved to his other side. “Hey I’ve been training since January with him. This week I’ve just been elsewhere is all. With the party planning and you guys all pulling me in various directions wanting my attention.”, He countered raising his arm for her. “You mean us wanting our friend back after months of you being MIA?”, Rose asked raining an eyebrow. “I haven’t been MIA. I went to classes every day. I drove all of us to school. I haven’t missed any band practices. I work my shifts at the shop and I make all my team training and leader training.”, Landon answered. “But you never just…relax with us. You never come to the movies, you don’t joke around the same, it’s like you don’t have time to be a brother or my best friend.”, Rose said as she finished stitching. Landon sighed. “Look I’m just. I’ve got to start taking this more serious. I’m going to be a senior in the fall. I’ve got college applications to get in. And you know what Duncan wants from me and the pressure he’s been putting on me since new years. You try being told by the headmaster and even have it confirmed that the Acolytes think you’re the next Charles Xavier.”, Landon said with a heavy sigh. Rose frowned slight and looked up at him, tying off the last sound and grabbing some gauze to wrap the wounds. “Landon, what do you want?”, she asked.
“What do you mean? I know I need to make sure I can protect myself and you guys. And don’t’ give me the you can protect yourself line. I know that. It doesn’t change that I feel responsible for your safety.”, Landon explained. “I mean exactly what I said. What do you want? Do you want to take over Duncan’s place? Do you want to be a musician? Do you even want to be an x-men?”, Rose questioned. Landon sighed. “I..I don’t want to lead the x-men. I don’t care how much everyone thinks I should or could. I know I could, I get hat. I know all the others like to look to me for stuff. But my shoulders aren’t broad enough for that weight. As for being a musician, I love playing but I couldn’t make it my career. And I don’t know if I’ll be an x-men in the grand scheme of things. I just want to research mutant history. I want to know where we mutants come from. Find historical facts anything to really show our history.”, Landon explained. “So it sounds like you’re training for the wrong thing.”, Rose said softly. “For the immediate future, I’m training for exactly what I need. I get past this and I’m free to do whatever I want.”, Landon said with a shrug. “What are you training for Landon? Why won’t you tell anyone?”, Rose questioned. “I’m training to be where I need to be. And beyond that my reasons are between me and your dad and well Aunt Isis. They are the only ones that needed to know. Your dad because I sought him to train me.”, Landon answered. “You know…I actually disagree with everyone then.”, she said flatly. “A real leader would let his team be just that.”, she said as she pinned the bandages and thrust his shirt into his hands. “You’re not a leader when it involves yourself. You’re too secretive.”, Rose said getting up.
“Rose..”, Landon groaned pulling his shirt on. “What I’m doing doesn’t involve the team, alright. It’s personal and nothing more.”, Landon attempted to defend. “Yeah. Apparently it doesn’t matter to us either.”, Rose said running and starting to walk away. She knew that training with her dad to the point of injury was a sure sign that something bad was going on. Landon sighed getting up and chasing after her. “Roselyn…”, Landon said using her given name which was something he rarely ever did. Rose stopped hearing him actually call her Roselyn. “What? Going to try and explain to that it is nothing, it’s a personal issue, you’ll handle it? Because you’re the only one ever to want to question and distrust people?”, Rose questioned angrily not turning to look at him. “No. I’m going to tell you that I’m damn sick of fucking Howletts trying to walk out during conversations, argument or not. I don’t do the flight I only know fight.”, Landon said gently grasping her wrist so she couldn’t keep walking. Rose wanted to question about the Howletts walking out, but she turned to look at him as he took her wrist. “The reason I’m training is personal. I’m not strong enough alright? I almost got you, my sister and my best friends people I call family killed in January. I almost got myself killed. If your dad hadn’t…if he hadn’t gotten there I’d be dead. So pardon me for dealing with near death my way, training.”, Landon explained. He didn’t like lying but what he just said wasn’t a lie it was how he felt, he felt not strong enough. So this was the truth he just wasn’t brining up the vision or that he was going to fight Wanda again. “Your way of dealing with a near death experience is to stop seeing your friends, refuse their help, abandon your team for anything that’s not training and making your friends stay at the sidelines in the dark.”, Rose countered. It wasn’t that she was questioning she was making a statement.
“I didn’t say it was the right way. I’m just trying to get through this. And look I’m sorry if I’ve made you guys feel like I’ve abandoned you. I’m trying. Now that it’s summer and school isn’t taking up eighty percent of the day I can try to not lock myself up in the danger room and ignore everyone that means everything to me.”, Landon said. “Landon, I just. How can I trust you when you won’t even let me help you?”, Rose questioned. “Help with what? I don’t feel I’m strong enough. How are you going to alter that opinion? Your dad is training me, that’s helping. And Duncan mandated that I see Aunt Isis twice a month since new years to discuss crap. So she’s got that help covered.”, Landon questioned. “I feel useless!”, Rose suddenly shouted at him. “I feel like I can’t help you. I feel like..like I can’t protect the person who I don’t share blood with that means the most to me. I just want to do something…anything.”, Rose said letting her frustration out. Landon sighed mentally cursing Howlett girls. He was getting a déjà vu feeling as he was reliving almost the same conversation he’d had with Rachel. Difference being that Rachel knew the full story and reasons behind why he was trying to face this alone and what he was trying to face. “You aren’t useless. I haven’t gone full locked myself in the danger room because of you…and the others. I know I’ve not been giving myself much down time recently. And I’m gonna try and be better, okay. You and everyone poking and prodding me into doing stuff is how you are helping. By being the mondo pain in my ass you’ve been for nearly fifteen years.”, Landon explained. He wanted to just end the argument, to just pull her over and kiss her to shut her up and tell her that this isn’t something she can help him with or protect him from all she can do is give him reasons to want to live.
Rose inhaled deeply and looked at him frustrated. “That’s not good enough. You don’t realize how what you’re saying sounds to me. ‘Don’t help protect me’, ‘Let me fight this on my own’. I’m not someone who can sit back and do nothing. I’m an x-men, just like you. I know you don’t mean it like that, but it makes me feel like you don’t trust me to be an x-,en beside you. Something is threatening you, that much is obvious.”, Rose explained. Landon sighed his mind thinking back to the last time Atif had the vision and how it was Wanda having pinned and cornered the group and he jumped between them and Wanda to save them. “I don’t mean it like that. I trust you with me life. This is about me and not feeling strong enough. That’s a mental thing. You can’t fight that with me. It’s not like facing some opponent.”, Landon said. “Maybe you won’t be strong enough, ever, if you do this on your own. There’s a reason we work in teams. But, we’re just going to argue in circles. Heroes don’t let other heroes help them.”, Rose said with a sigh. “What part of this is mental aren’t you accepting Rose?”, Landon asked. “The part that is making you refuse any help from all the people who care about you. There is nothing I can do but be a pain in your ass. I’m going to bed, Prime. There isn’t anything else to say.”, She said using his codename to make her point of disconnection. “Trying to get me out of the danger room, to get me to go do things is a form of helping.”, he said sighing exasperated. “Rose, don’t’ be like this please.”, he pleaded before checking his watched. “Happy birthday to me..”, he grumbled letting her wrist go.
Rose blinked as he let her go and checked her watch. She sighed softly and walked closer to him and hugged him gently, being careful of the stitches she’d just sown. “I’m just so scared.”, she whispered. “I can’t lose you and you’re scaring me and making me think I am.”, she explained. Landon sighed and hugged her back tightly. He wanted to just pick her up and not let go, but he figured she’d yell at him about his stitches. “You aren’t losing me, Rose. You’re not going to lose me.”, he said trying to assure her. “Good”, she whispered resting her head against his collar. She closed her eyes and nuzzled into his neck a little. “I’m just scared and I hate no knowing.”, Rose said. Landon sighed having her this close and nuzzling his neck as killing him. It was made worse because he had hickeys on his neck from her cousin. “That’s life though, the unknown. It’s finding the way through the unknown that’s the adventure and what makes life fun.”, Landon explained. “You make life fun.”, Rose spoke softly. Landon laughed a little. “I try. But you’re the one that makes it an adventure.”, he answered before he sighed. “I guess I should let you go to bed huh?”, he said letting her go. Rose nodded and leaned back looking up at his face. “yeah. Promise me, you’ll try to be with us more? I mean you’re making out with random townies more than you spend time with us.”, Rose asked teasing a little.
Landon shook his head and rolled his eyes. “I promise I’ll try.”, he agreed. “And what jealous or something?”, Landon teased getting into the elevator. “Maybe.”, Rose said with a smile stepping into the elevator with him. “Aw. One day you’ll be the victim of someone not considering placement and visibility of hickeys and we’ll all harass you like you did me. Unless of course you’re jealous because these aren’t your fault…”, Landon added smirking. Rose returned the smirk and shrugged. “Maybe I am.”, she answered. Landon raised an eyebrow. “Oh really? I’ve got no response to that. No witty retort. You broke me.”, He teased nothing having a good response. “Must mean you’re let down it wasn’t me.”, Rose teased sticking out her tongue. Landon laughed a little. He thought for a moment about his time in the van that got him the hickeys and decided he wouldn’t have changed Rachel for Rose in that situation. He’d enjoyed making out with Rachel and wouldn’t regret it. “Maybe. Though they’d be more bite marks and hickeys I’d guess.”, Landon teased. “You never know.”, Rose teased. She chuckled stepping off the elevator and starting down the hall for her dorm. Landon shook his head getting out of the elevator. “And when might I get to find that out?”, Landon called after her. Though he quickly rethought letting that Crow remark slip out. Rose stopped and blinked before looking over her shoulder at him. She looked a bit shocked but smiled. “Whenever you decide to catch me.”, Rose answered before continuing down the hall to her room. Landon smirked. “I’ll keep that in mind. Night Rose.”, Landon said before heading to his dorm and quickly closing the door. “Fuck Crow. You’re going to get me in such trouble you keep this up.”, Landon muttered to himself as he undressed and crawled into bed. He glanced to the other bed glad that Atif hadn’t woken up for that.
It was a short sleep for Landon and it was far from restful. But he still crawled out of bed and got dressed, choosing to put on a turtleneck from Atif’s dresser to hide the marks from Logan. He wasn’t sure exactly how Logan would feel about those having been made by Rachel. Landon made it down to the danger room yawning as he walked in. Logan was already there getting the weapons out. Logan turned and raised an eyebrow looking at his student with arched brow. “What the fuck are you wearing a turtleneck for?”, Logan asked. “Um..”, Landon said trying to think of an answer. “It’s June and we are training you’ll sweat to death. Remove it and grab a spare shirt from the drawer over there.”, Logan instructed pointing to wear spare clothes were kept for training. Landon sighed and carefully removed the turtle neck and started for the spare clothes. “Wait, stop.”, Logan said walking over to him. “What the hell happened to you? You have a little too much pre birthday fun?”, Logan asked looking from the bandage around Landon’s chest to the marks on his neck. Landon blushed a little and rubbed the back of his neck. “Well the bandages are from when you cut me yesterday in training. Rose decided they needed stitches after we got home from the rodeo.”, Landon explained. Logan shrugged and then looked at the hickeys. “Whose are those from? Cause last I saw ya, you were here with my niece and then ya tell me you ended the night with my little girl.”, Logan questioned. Landon gulped taking a step back. “Um for the sake of not needing more stitches I’m gonna plead the fifth on that Sensei Logan.”, Landon said a little nervous. “That’s a good idea kid. But you’re no good to train if you’re injured. Can’t have ya popping stitches. So go back to bed birthday boy. We’ll pick up training tomorrow.”, Logan concluded. Landon blinked in shock. “Back to bed sensei?”, Landon asked confused. “Aye, back to bed. Consider that your birthday present. And hey means I get to go back to my warm bed and wake my wife.”, Logan said with a smile. Landon shook his head. “I don’t want to know. Thanks sensei.”, Landon said giving a respectful bow before heading back to bed.
Atif woke up around nine and looked assuming he’d find an empty bed across the room and blinked shocked to see Landon there sound asleep. Atif smiled and mentally thanks Logan for letting Landon not train today. Atif quietly got dressed and headed out to find the others, finding them all down in the kitchen eating breakfast. “So let me guess birthday boy is in the danger room with my dad?”, Rose asked looking up from her bowl of cereal. “Surprisingly, no. Woke up and he’s out cold in his bed.”, Atif answered pouring a bowl of cereal for himself. “Seriously?”, Cora Lee asked. “Yup. I say we let him sleep longer then someone can wake his ass up.”, Atif said sitting down and starting to eat. “Hey that gives us time to plan what to do today then. Demitri gave him the day off from the shop and if Logan’s not making him train, I say we make him spend today with us.”, Lily suggested. “Alright. How about movie marathon. Get out the blue rays of the Godzilla movies he loves as much as David does? We can even surprise him and make his favorite German chocolate cake.”, Ashley suggested. “This is a good plan, my brother needs to chill with us more. Do we invite any of the others to hang?”, Cora Lee asked. Rose shook her head. “No, today it’s just us five with him. Everyone else will see him at the party in a few days. And this way it doesn’t turn into Lily snuggling Tommy, Atif getting cozy with Billy or Ashley cuddling Xavier. Just the six of us like it was when we were little.”, Rose stated. “Agreed.”, they others confirmed. And from there the five made sure that no one was going to use the entertainment room at all that day, then made sure they were stocked on popcorn and soda while Ashley baked the cake.
It was almost noon when Landon opened his eyes and looked around the room. He moved to stretch and winced his sides a little sore from the stitches. “Atif?”, Landon said looked around and realized his roommate was gone. He looked to the clock and blinked realizing the time. “Fuck they let me sleep this long?”, Landon said getting out of bed. He grabbed his phone which had a flashing notification light. He checked his messages and saw he had nearly fifty messaged. “Fucking Christ.”, He said scrolling through the birthday messages. He stopped seeing a text for Rachel and opened it. He read the text aloud. “Hey Landon, Happy Birthday! Hope the gang didn’t raz you too much after you went home. Next time, if there is a next time, I’ll keep placement in mind.”, he chuckled shaking his head. “Oh lord.”, he whispered to himself. “Also hope the cuts Uncle James gave you are better. See you at your party if not sooner.”, Landon finished reading the text. He quickly responded as he started the shower. “Thanks Rach. They spent the drive home randomly saying names to see if they could guess. Next time huh? Sounds like fun. And my cuts are fine, Rose stitched them last night. Your Uncle let me out of training for the day. I’ll see you at the party. Hoping in shower.”, he typed and hit send before clearing the thread from his phone not trusting anyone. “Howletts..”, he muttered getting into the shower.
Downstairs the others had everything ready for movie marathon they just needed the birthday boy. “So who’s waking him up this year?”, Atif asked. Everyone raised their hands. “I say we just draw straws to be fair. We all want to be the one that wakes him up because Landon when he first wakes up is grumpy and so amusing. So short straw gets to go.”, Ashley suggested. She took five straws out and randomly cut them in various lengths then put them into her hand so that they all looked even and didn’t poke out the bottom of her hand. Atif pulled first getting a rather long straw and frowned. Cora Lee then Lily and Ashley were next. Cora Lee so far had the shortest straw. Then Rose pulled and her was almost a nub. Cora Lee pouted while Rose grinned. “Looks like I get to wake him up this year.”, Rose said getting up. “Just remember you see more than shirtless I want my Benjamin!”, Atif yelled after her. Rose laughed and headed to Landon and Atif’s dorm. She quietly snuck in but frowned seeing his bed was empty. But the frown turned to a smirk hearing the shower running. Rose decided to just stretch out on his bed with her hands behind her head watching the bathroom door waiting patiently for him to come out.
She didn’t have to wait long as Landon got out of the shower, dried off and wrapped his towel around his waist picking up his phone walking out into his dorm not suspecting a thing. “Morning birthday boy.”, Rose greeted smiling from her spot on his bed. Landon dropped his phone and nearly the towel as she startled him. He was quick to grab the towel before it went too far. “Fucking Christ Rose!”, Landon said catching his breath. Rose smirked and stretching casually not getting up from his bed. “So much for the show, guess I don’t have to give Atif that hundred dollars.”, Rose teased. Landon shook his head and picked up his phone setting it on his dresser. “So what’s this then? Birthday present or just here to wake me up like you guys do every year, since I stopped going to Texas?”, Landon asked adjusting the towel to make sure it was secure before leaning on the footboard of his bed looking at her. Rose shrugged while smirking. She considered playing into that line but as he leaned on the footboard she looked to the hickeys and decided against it. “Just here to wake you up.”, Rose said sitting up. “Shame. But as you can see I’m already awake.”, Landon said standing back up. Rose rolled her eyes and got up off his bed. “So did my dad still make you train today? I see my stitches held.”, Rose commented. Landon looked down having not put fresh wrapping over his wounds. “Nah your dad said I was worthless to train with stitches and sent me back to bed so he could go home and ‘wake’ your mom up.”, Landon explained. Rose chuckled a little walking closer and lightly touching the stitches. Landon drew in a sharp breath.
“So can I give you birthday hug now?”, Rose asked. “Can I put some shorts on first?”, Landon asked. Rose stepped back and crossed her arms turning around. “So get dressed then.”, Rose said. “How about you step out of the room.”, Landon suggested. “Aw afraid I’d peak? But fine.”, Rose said stepping outside into the hall. Landon shook his head and quickly put on boxers and a pair of shorts. “Clothed!”, Landon yelled digging for a shirt. Rose came back in. “You do realize that your shorts offer about the same amount of coverage as the towel did.”, Rose commented. Landon turned around having found one of his vintage Beatles tees, today choosing his black Srgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. “Yeah well shorts have less chance of falling off revealing more than I’m up for showing at the moment.”, Landon countered pulling his shirt on. “Alright birthday hugs.”, Landon said opening his arms. Rose laughed and walked over hugging him being mindful of his stitches. “Happy Birthday.”, she said “You realize that since you don’t have to work or train today you are spending the day with us.”, Rose advised. “Oh I am huh? And what am I doing? And if you say rodeo I swear I’ll go back to bed.”, Landon asked. “No rodeo. Godzilla movie marathon in the entertainment room. Now come on.”, Rose said letting him go and taking his hand heading for the door. “Alright I’m coming.”, Landon laughed but followed her downstairs where the other four were waiting in the entertainment room. Landon was pulled onto the sofa and Rose sat down between him and Cora Lee while Atif, Lily and Ashley occupied the other couch.
As the marathon went on starting with the original 1954 Godzilla film the six got comfortable in thier vegetative state eating popcorn and drinking water or sodas. Landon adjusted how he was sitting to get comfortable and Rose with her lack of caring about personal space was leaning on his side using Cora Lee as a leg rest. It was nearly six hours later when Landon’s parents decided to stop by the Institute since Landon hadn’t been answering his phone, having left it up in his dorm. David and Aislinn walked in through the doors and debated where to look for their son and daughter. Aislinn stopped in the center of the main lobby and listened and could hear the kids. “I think they are watching a movie.”, Aislinn said. “Oh alright then let’s go this way.”, David said taking her hand and they headed for the entertainment room. They stopped in the doorway, Aislinn looking through her husband’s eyes at the six teenagers scattered on the couches leaning on each other eating popcorn watching old Godzilla films. She smiled softly enjoying the sight. “Yo birthday brat, where’s your damn phone or you too good to answer for your parents?”, David teased walking into the room. The six kids all jumped a little at the sudden booming of David’s voice. Rose suddenly jumping up from leaning on Landon. Landon turned his head. “Oh um sorry dad. I left my cell in my dorm.”, Landon apologized. David and Aislinn walked over Aislinn bending over the sofa and hugging Landon kissing the top of his head. “it’s already sweetheart. We just wanted to say happy birthday on your birthday though you kids are having that big party this weekend.”, Aislinn said. “Thanks mom.”, Landon said. David just messed up his hair. “Happy birthday brat.”, David said. Landon laughed trying to fix his hair. “Thanks dad.”, Landon said.
David moved to sit down in a chair and looked at Landon instantly noticing the hickeys and chuckled. “Someone started celebrating early. Good for you.”, David teased. Aislinn using her husband’s eyes saw the hickeys and laughed a little. “Aw so who gave you those as a present?”, Aislinn teased sitting on the arm of the chair her husband sat in. Landon groaned and pulled a blanket off the back of the sofa and tried to just hide himself. Rose and Cora Lee laughed and pulled the blanket away. “No way you get to hide. Did you say last night you would wear your new spots with pride?”, Cora Lee teased. Landon sighed shaking his head but was smirking. “Well at least he takes after me in more than just looks. Was starting to wonder.”, David teased. Landon rolled his eyes. “I make out one time and I’m going to catch shit the rest of my life aren’t I?”, Landon asked. “Not the rest of your life, just till you tell us with who. And then depending on the who determines how much shit we give you going forward.”, Lily said. “Wait you kids don’t even know who?”, David asked. The kids shook their head. “Nope he showed up to the rodeo like that last night.”, Ashley answered. “So who’s the lass?”, Aislinn prodded. “I love you mom. But I’m not telling you. After all weren’t you the one that says gentlemen don’t kiss and tell?”, Landon countered. “Aye but ya can tell me. I’m your mom and I’ve wanted you to finally get a girlfriend for a few years.”, Aislinn replied.
Landon shook his head. “He won’t even tell me Misses Bryant and I’m supposed to be his best guy friend.”, Atif said pouting. “Ah look at dat face. How can you not tell him?”, Aislinn said pointing to Atif. Landon chuckled. “The pouty look only works on you, his mom and Billy. And he doesn’t get to talk. It wasn’t till a life or death situation came up that we all learned he was seeing Billy.”, Landon countered. “Please tell me that this isn’t’ an Academy girl. Cause in your age range there’s only what one girl not related to you?”, David questioned. Landon had to hold his sides and had to lean against Rose he was laughing so hard. “Oh god dad. Don’t make me laugh like that I’ll bust a stitch and Rose will kick my ass if she’s gotta re-stitch. I wouldn’t touch Talia with a eighty foot pole dad. Psychopaths aren’t really my thing.”, Landon said laughing. Aislinn raised an eyebrow. “Stitches?”, Aislinn questioned. “Don’t worry mom. I just got hurt in training when I wasn’t giving my full attention. Rose stitched me up last night when we got home from the rodeo.”, Landon said sitting back up as Rose shoved him playfully off her lap. David raised an eyebrow and nodded with his eyes in Rose’s direction. Landon gave his dad a confused look and then shook his head ‘no’. Rose noticed David looking at her and saw Landon shaking his head and she chuckled realizing that was David’s silent way of asking if it was her that left the marks. “Then who?”, David asked. “All I am going to say is she’s a human and if or when it actually becomes serious you will all know. Till then back off.”, Landon said.
David raised an eyebrow having an idea of one human he knew that Landon always seemed to favor, but never had said he liked, and who David knew liked Landon. “Oh boy.”, David said making his guess and shaking his head at his son. “You realize we could just ask every girl from school if they made out with you last night.”, Lily stated. “Oh good luck with that.”, Landon said with a laugh. “Oh this lass knows how to keep secrets?”, Aislinn asked. David just smiled. “Yes. But my point was you ask the girls from school question becomes how many would lie and say they did.”, Landon pointed out. “That’s why we have Hope ask so she’ll know telepathically who’s lying.”, Ashley chimed in. Landon threw a pillow at Ashley. “Leave Hope and her telepathy out of this. That’s not fair.”, Landon protested. Aislinn laughed lightly at the kids. “Well you aren’t talking…”, Cora Lee said. “Oh don’t even start little sister on not talking…”, Landon said. Cora Lee glared at him and reached around Rose to pinch his arm. “Ouch…”, Landon said rubbing his arms. “Alright leave the birthday boy alone.”, Rose stated. “See Rose is on my side. Thank you.”, Landon said hugging rose and moving her slightly to kind of shield him from Cora Lee. David laughed. “Alright we will leave you six to your movies and junk food. See you at the party.”, David said getting up and taking Aislinn’s hand. “Bye kids.”, Aislinn said with a wave. “Bye dad, bye mom.”, Landon and Cora Lee said with a wave before the group returned to their movie marathon. Rose getting comfortable again using the Bryant siblings as pillow and foot rest.
As the night dragged on the group started to drop out. First the Alston twins decided to head to bed first, followed by Lily then Cora Lee. Leaving just Landon and Rose on the couch watching Godzilla movies. Rose had moved to lean on the other side of the sofa where Cora Lee was. Landon readjusted to stretch out putting a pillow behind him letting his right leg hang off the sofa and his left bent at the knee on the sofa as he silently watching the movie. Landon lightly nudged at her feet with his right as it kept time with a song playing in his head. Rose glanced to him out of the corner of her eye as he kept nudging her feet. “You realize I’m not a drum.”, Rose commented. Landon turned his head still lightly tapping out the beat. “Huh? Of course you are.”, Landon said with a smirk. Rose grumbled and pulled her legs up and nudged his left leg out of the way and stretched out to rest her head on his chest. “So your answer to avoid being a drum is to make me a bed?”, Landon asked as she made herself comfortable on him. “Yeeess?”, Rose replied settling in bring her arms to lightly hold him as she looked to the movie. “You realize that doesn’t stop you from being a drum.”, Landon warned as he adjusted his legs to stretch out fully. He brought his arms around her and started drumming on her back with his fingers. Rose laughed softly and shook her head. “Whatever. I’m comfortable. I get the added warmth of your arms so sacrifices I suppose.”, Rose explained. “Oh so this wasn’t about trying to not be my human drum but instead about getting into my arms?”, Landon questioned with a raised brow. Rose shook her head and looked up at him. “Would you rather I slap your stitches and get off you?”, Rose offered. “No. I don’t like pain that much. And have I ever seriously told you to not use me as furniture?”, Landon smiled. Rose chuckled and shook her head. “I like you close. That’s all.”, she explained. “You’ve never believed in personal space. And I have zero issues with you invading mine. Most guys wouldn’t.”, Landon commented. Rose rolled her eyes and got comfortable again and went back to watching the movie. Landon shrugged and went back to watching the movie while occasionally drumming his fingers on her back.
Rose was enjoying laying there in his arms even though she was trying to ignore the elephants in the room. She wanted to ask him if this flirting was because he meant it or if it was just play like Tristan does. And then there’s the fact he was marked by another girl who he randomly made out with the night before. She just wasn’t sure how to even ask her questions when she feared the answers. But she realized this was one of the few times they were alone and she had him where he couldn’t just walk away from her. She wasn’t the only one conflicted at the moment. Landon was enjoying hold her in his arms and having her laying on top of him. But his mind kept returning to the night before when he was on top of Rachel kissing her lips and neck. He felt a little weird about having been with Rachel last night and tonight was holding Rose so close. Rose sighed deeply and reached to the floor finding the remote having made up her mind. Rose turned off the movie and adjusted herself on him to sit up straddling his legs placing her hands on his shoulders. Landon turned to look up at her and blinked confused. “Um Rose? What’s up?”, Landon questioned. “I want to talk to you. And figure this way I have your full attention. Because this is just going to get awkward and I’m trying to not back out of having this conversation.”, Rose said. “Alright. What do we need to talk about?”, Landon asked. “Us, or I mean you and I. When I kissed you at new years. You didn’t kiss me back and it kind of hurt and I thought maybe it just meant you didn’t think about me like that. Which whatever I could deal with that. But then with the whole flirty banter and such. I don’t know if that’s just friendly flirting like Tristan does with me or if you actually mean any of it. Because well when I kissed you it was because I like you. And last night you randomly make out with someone and I honestly was and still am jealous.”, Rose admitted speaking rather quickly to get it all out so he couldn’t interrupt and she couldn’t back out.
Landon looked up at her blinking as she talked. “Rose…”, he said with a sigh trying to find the right words. Instead of the words he just listened to the Crow voice who had been shouting at him since she laid down. Without hesitation he reached up with both hands and brought her face down to his and kissed her softly at first. Rose was ready for the inevitable ‘you are just my friend’ statement but she was caught off guard by him kissing her. “Mmm”, she said startled but closed her eyes kissing him back. This is what she’d wanted for so long even before new years. Landon brought a hand to hold the back of her head as he took the soft kiss and deepened it as she started kissing back. Rose mmed into the kissing moving her hands off his shoulders to hold the back of his neck as she leaned into the kiss her mind choosing to not think about the hickeys or the girl from last night. All that mattered was he was kissing her. Landon let a hand run down her back as they kissed. He held the kiss for a few minutes before pulling back. “Might go without saying but I like you too. So let me explain. I didn’t kiss you back at new years because you caught me off guard and I was still in shock of not being dead. And the flirty banter wasn’t ever just friendly flirting. I don’t friendly flirt like that. As for last night. That’s where things get complicated.”, Landon explained brushing some of her hair behind her ear.
Rose hadn’t wanted him to stop the kiss but patiently listened rubbing her lips together. She sighed as he said ‘complicated’. “Define complicated.”, Rose requested stopping herself from gulping. “The girl, she’s someone I like a lot too. And right now I feel like a complete jackass kissing her last night and you tonight.”, Landon admitted. “Are you dating her?”, Rose asked simply. “Um, no I’m not dating anyone.”, Landon answered. “Does she know you like me?”, Rose asked. “She knows I like someone else, I didn’t give her your name just as I’m not giving you her name.”, Landon answered uncertain where this was going. Rose nodded. “So why’s that complicated then? You aren’t dating her and you aren’t dating me. You’ve made us both aware that we aren’t the only girl you are into. I’m not afraid of some competition.”, Rose stated before leaning back down kissing him. Landon was about to say something but found himself cut off by her lips and despite better judgment kissed back holding her tight to him. This wasn’t the same as when he was with Rachel. Rachel was more timid and slowly became opened to more as the intensity scaled up. Last night Rachel had driven him insane in the back of his van. He wasn’t being driven insane by Rose, per say but god was he enjoying himself. He felt Rose run her tongue along his lips and he parted them for her and felt her tongue slip into his mouth. He moaned a little his hand on the back of her head grasping her hair as his tongue rubbed against hers. And there was that spark of insanity starting. In his mind he was having a war about what he was doing. The Crow voice encouraging the behavior, the Demtiri voice saying that kissing the cousins especially within the same twenty-four hours was deplorable, and in the back a small voice asking what about Rachel. It was that small voice that got through to Landon and he pulled back from the kiss.
“Rose…god I can’t believe I’m about to say this. But we should stop. I’ve got things I’m working through and I just…I am not looking to lead two girls on.”, Landon said. Rose sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. “I get that you have some stuff you are working through, I wish you’d let me help with that. But you aren’t leading me on. I know there’s someone else. But unless you say she’s the one I’m not going to care or think twice about kissing you.”, Rose said softly. Landon sighed. “Well I feel bad at this point. So how about we hit pause for now. I need to get my head on straight and figure out what I’m doing.”, Landon suggested. Rose nodded and gave him a soft kiss before sitting up and getting off him. “Can’t fault you for being a stand up guy you always are. Come on should get some sleep, I’m supposed to help tear down the rodeo tomorrow and you have work at the shop and probably training with dad.”, Rose said offering her hand to get him up. Landon nodded getting up. “Thanks for understanding. You know that no matter what happens I will always be here for you and will always be your best friend.”, Landon said. Rose smiled grabbing his shirt pulling him down to her and kissed him again. “Damn straight you better. And no matter what I’ll be here for you and will be your best friend. And don’t worry what just happened, it can stay between us. Night Landon.”, Rose said heading upstairs with a smile. “Night Rose.”, Landon said letting her go up first. “What the hell is wrong with me? I made out with Rachel last night and now Rose tonight? I seriously think I’m worse than my dad right now.”, Landon said to himself as he headed to bed.