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Possibly more unaware of what exactly was going on between their best friend and Merrick than anyone were Lily and Landon. The pair of cousins were rather occupied with their studies at Columbia to keep as close tabs on what was happening back home in Bayville. They were both happy that come next fall Ashley, Tommy, Cora Lee and Malcolm would be moving into the massive Manhattan house they were living in. Lily had picked up a job working as a gofer at the New York Times which was kind of a dream come true given she was studying Journalism wanting to write for a paper as respected at the Times some day. Merrick was still playing his gigs around the city with Blaze Halo and working weekends in Bayville at the flower shop, he mostly kept the job as just another reason to go home every weekend and see Rachel. He knew Rachel appreciated the consistency of him at least seeing her on weekends, he knew that she unnecessarily worried about him being off at college without her.
Yes he was around a lot of girls and many older than him, but his eyes didn’t wander. And as the new semester was starting Landon found himself running late for his first class having over slept and had a hard time grabbing a cab. “Last time I agree to play a Thursday night gig till close.”, Landon grumbled as he raced to the lecture hall and into the room. He looked around trying to find and open seat and spotted one near the middle of the class and had to awkwardly make his way past other students to get to that seat. As he sat down he looked around and realized he’d found a seat where he was surrounded on all sides by girls. He focused his eyes forward to the professor pulling out a notebook and his tablet setting it to record mode. He kept a recording of every lecture as reference along with his notes. Though with his tablet it wasn’t just recording sound it was recording video so he could basically relive the lecture. It was a rather nice upgrade he’d worked on with Forge and even installed on a tablet for Lily to help her keep track of what happened in her various classes.
The blonde to his right raised an eyebrow looking at him seeing the tattoo peeking out of his shirt collar and then the sleeve tattoos on his arms as she’d pushed up his sleeves. She smirked a little and took out her phone sending a text to the brunette on his left which then her attention turned and they were both looking him over. Landon could feel this eyes on him but didn’t react or say anything. He’d been looked at since he was thirteen and started getting tattoos, and for all he knew they recognized him from gigs he played with Blaze Halo. He instead kept his focus on taking notes and listening to the lecture looking at his text book as he needed. The blonde leaned a little closer to him. “Psst. What’s your name?”, she whispered. “Landon. Now I’m trying to pay attention.”, Landon whispered back not taking his eyes off the teacher and the whiteboard where he was writing things down. “Landon what?”, the brunette asked in a whisper. “Bryant. Again paying attention here.”, Landon said politely enough. “We like your ink.”, the blonde whispered ignoring that he kept saying he was trying to pay attention to the lecture. “Thanks. If that’s a pick up line you need a refresher course. Now excuse me the professor is talking.”, Landon whispered back jotting down notes. The blonde smirked and leaned over and wrote a phone number on the edge of his notebook and the name ‘Amber’ before looking to her text book. The brunette wasn’t going to apparently give up and wrote in the margin of his notebook her number and name ‘Laura’. Landon rolled his eyes and kept taking his notes.
The class ended and Landon started to gather his things. “So you going to call either of us? Could maybe study together sometime.”, Amber asked. Landon raised an eyebrow and looked from Amber to Laura and laughed a little. “No. I will not be calling. Thanks for the numbers if you want I can hand them off to my cousin Merrick back home, he likes to keep his options open.”, Landon said moving to push past them. “Excuse me?”, Laura asked folding her arms not really liking being turned down. Landon turned and looked at them. “I’m not interested ladies. That simple.”, Landon said with a shrug. “Are you…”, Amber asked. Landon smirked and shook his head. “Gay? No. Just have a girlfriend back home.”, Landon explained. “And how far away is back home?”, Laura asked. Landon rolled his eyes. “An hour train ride and even if it was further wouldn’t matter. I’m her property, branded and everything.”, Landon said with a smile pulling at the collar of his shirt just enough to show the Arabic tattoo on his chest. “It means Joy which is basically her middle name. Now if you’ll pardon me ladies I have another class to go to. Was nice meeting you.”, Landon said fixing his collar before heading out of the lecture hall to find his next class just to run into Lily. Lily was glaring at both Amber and Laura. “Are those girls giving you problems cousin?”, Lily asked folding her arms. The two girls raised an eyebrow each looking at each other then at Lily a bit confused. Landon laughed softly and put an arm around Lily’s shoulders. “Come on Lily, leave the nice girls alone. They made an honest mistake and I corrected their error. Now come on we actually have a class together.”, Landon said leading his cousin away. Lily still looking over her shoulder giving the two girls a look that said ‘look at my cousin wrong I’ll end you’.
“I need to put a name tag on you that says ‘Hello My Name is: Property of Rachel Howlett’?”, Lily questioned. Landon laughed. “That actually sounds amusing. Maybe that’s what I’ll do this semester. Each day wear a different Hello My Name Is sticker with a various way in multiple languages say I’m spoken for. You are just soo full of ideas Lily. Can we make you stickers that say ‘property of Tommy Maximoff too?”, Landon teased. Lily rolled her eyes. “Oh I don’t get it as bad as you.”, Lily stated. “Oh please I’m getting the stink eye having my arm around your shoulders by some of these guys. Because you know why would a guy put an arm around a girl’s shoulders unless they are together.”, Landon chuckled giving a wave to one such guy who was looking at him. “Who’s that one?”, Landon asked. Lily glanced at the raven haired boy they passed. “He is in basically all my journalism classes and works at the times. He annoys me to know end. I’ve told him I’m with Tommy but he doesn’t seem to think that means much. If it weren’t’ for the fact I promised no sending people to the hospital he’d be a regular.”, Lily answered. “Want me to say something to the guy?”, Landon offered. “Yeah because that won’t look bad.”, Lily said rolling her eyes. “Alright so tell Tommy to speed his ass into the city one school day to meet you for lunch and the little speedster can make sure your little stalker is given clear marching orders in the opposite direction of you.”, Landon suggested. “Maybe I will.”, Lily commented as they walked into their class and found seats next to each other.
Finally the day of classes was over and Landon got into a cab with Lily to head back to the house when the boy with the black hair grabbed the cab door before Landon could close it. “Can I share a cab?”, the guy asked. Lily leaned over on the seat to see what was going on and rolled her eyes. “Judging by my cousin’s eyes roll that’s a no. Accept it and move along.”, Landon stated. “Cousin?”, the boy questioned. “Yeah we’re cousins.”, Lily said. “So you aren’t Tommy?”, the boy asked. Landon laughed. “Fuck no. Tommy is about this high.”, Landon said holding his hand up to just around the bridge of his nose. “Green eyes and pure white hair.”, Landon said still laughing. “Now just walk away guy. You don’t stand a snowballs chance in hell with my cousin. Tommy owns the key to her heart and he ain’t giving that up.”, Landon said getting into the cab and without giving the guy much choice but to pull his hand back to avoid it being slammed between the door and the cab. Landon looked at Lily as the pulled away from the curb. “Okay so that boy is creep factor 11. Handle him or I handle him for you.”, Landon stated glancing through the rear window to see the guy still standing there watching their cab. Lily nodded. “I’ll deal with him my way. So no turning him into whatever pops in that twisted mine of yours.”, Lily said. “If I’m not allowed to use my…abilities…here in the city neither are you.”, Lily said keeping her voice low as she didn’t trust strangers. “Alright well handle it then or I won’t use my abilities I’ll just beat the crap out of him instead.”, Landon said firmly. Lily nodded. She knew she’d have to deal with the guy somehow. She had just kind of hoped he’d give up being told no so many times and having her tell him on various occasions she had a boyfriend and was in a committed relationship.
Landon paid for the cab and followed Lily up the stairs as she typed in the security code to get into the house. The security was already outstanding but Forge offered some new tech upgrades he wanted to test out on a private residents, didn’t tell Landon why and Landon didn’t ask. Landon trusted Forge so the additional upgrades had been added. And he and Lily both agreed the security now felt as insane as the Institute. Which was actually comforting even though they knew they lived in a nice area of Manhattan. But given they were college students and come fall four of their friends would be moving in they felt more secure. And the additional security was a leverage point when talking to John about Rachel living there if she got into Columbia or NYU which were two local places she’d applied to. And so far it seemed that maybe Rachel’s dad was going to relent and let Rachel live at the house if she got into one of the colleges in the city area. Landon was pretty sure if John allowed it it’d be because he wouldn’t want to leave Rachel’s safety in the hands of a college dorm and that with the house came all the security and she’d have a bedroom and there was a number of people in the house who’d act as indirect chaperones for him. As soon as they got in the door Landon’s phone started ringing. He smiled picking up as it was Rachel.
“Hello beautiful. See I think of you and poof you call.”, Landon greeted with a grin. Lily rolled her eyes but her phone rang as well as she picked up. “Hey Speedy.”, Lily greeted and Landon shook his head at his cousin as it was her boyfriend calling her. “Hi Landon. Waited till I knew you’d be out of classes for the day.”, Rachel answered with a smile. “Hey back at ya. So are you home now?”, Tommy asked. “Well good timing I just walked in the door with Lily. Was going to grab something to eat. What’s happening in Bayville?”, Landon asked walking in the direction of the kitchen. “Yeah we just walked in. What’s up?”, Lily asked plopping down on the sofa. “Well I’m not actually in Bayville right now.”, Rachel answered. Landon cocked his head to the side and raised an eyebrow as he took a water from the fridge. “On the train, I know I’m taking normal transport, with Rachel we are on our way to see you guys.”, Tommy explained. “You’re coming here?”, Lily asked looking around at the mess that her and her cousin left the house in having both been too busy to clean this past couple weeks. “Why aren’t you in Bayville Rach?”, Landon asked. “Because I got permission from mom to come to the city with Tommy to see you and Lily. So I’m sitting on the train with Tommy and we should be there in a few minutes. Just wanted to make sure you were home.”, Rachel explained. Landon looked around thinking the same thing as his cousin the place was dirty as hell. “Um thanks for the notice. We’ll see you soon then speedy. Love you.”, Lily said getting off the phone. “LANDON!”, Lily shouted from the living room. “It is okay that we are coming?”, Rachel asked. “Yeah of course it is. I’ll see your shortly. Love you.”, Landon said ending the call. “I know! We need to seriously CLEAN!”, Landon said getting into the cabinet under the sink for the cleaning supplies.
Lily took a breath and closed her eyes focusing as she started walking around the house a trash bag suspended in air and trash flying from various corners of the house into the bag. Landon started rushing around picking up anything not garbage and using the cleaner to wipe down all the surfaces. “Days I wish I had Tommy’s power…”, Landon said out of breath throwing the cleaning bottles back under the sink and leaning against the counter. Lily walked back in from putting the bags of trash into the cans outside and nodded in agreement. “We shouldn’t go two weeks without cleaning, seriously.”, Lily said leaning against the counter next to her cousin. “Agreed. At least we do laundry every week so no dirty clothes scattered around.”, Landon said. “Did you clean your room?”, Lily asked. “No. Why would I? Rachel’s not going up there.”, Landon questioned. Lily chuckled and shook her head. “If you think so.”, Lily teased. Landon rolled his eyes. “Seriously it’s not going to happen. Between her own morality, her dad and mom’s influence, oh and let’s not forget that new dragon she got in Romania it’s not happening.”, Landon stated. Lily shrugged. “I’m just saying from what I understand Rachel has been a bit more…what was the world you described that first weekend after she got that dragon…ooo I remember wild.”, Lily teased. Landon sighed shaking his head. “Still doesn’t mean I’m taking her upstairs to my bedroom. That’s just way too much temptation for me.”, Landon said. Lily snorted. “I’m just saying if she wants to go upstairs you might not be given the choice in the matter. And she’s sixteen that’s legal.”, Lily said pushing away from the counter hearing the doorbell.
Lily skipped down to the front door and pulled it open and screamed in surprise. It wasn’t Tommy and Rachel waiting to be let in but Addison, the boy from university and the newspaper. He grabbed her and started to pull her away from the house putting a hand over her mouth while keeping an arm tight over her arms. Landon heard the scream and ran for the door, since it wasn’t a scream of joy at seeing Tommy he heard. Lily chomped down on her attacker’s hand causing his to yell in pain but let her to yell. “LANDON!”, Lily shouted. Landon ran down the stairs and down the street. “LET MY COUSIN GO NOW BEFORE YOU GET HURT!”, Landon shouted. Addison looked at Landon and tightened his grip on Lily. “Oh and how are you going to hurt me without hurting her?”, Addison asked. A blur of white went past Landon and Addison and within a blink of an eye Addison realized he didn’t have Lily. “He’s not the one that’s going to hurt you shitface.”, Tommy said setting Lilly down. Addison spun around to look at the white haired man with green eyes as Landon had briefly described earlier. “You must be Tommy? I’m not scared of you.”, Addison scoffed. Tommy looked to Landon. “Does Haven law apply in this situation?”, Tommy questioned. Landon shook his head. “NOPE! He’s free game.”, Landon answered. “Good…”, Tommy said and in a blur started landing jabs to Addison’s face and torso till Addison stumbled back and found himself against Landon. Landon placed his hands on Addison’s arms. “Think he’s done Tommy.”, Landon said looking at the blood and bruising. “You have enough creepy stalker?”, Landon asked looking at Addison. Tommy stopped and stood back glaring at Addison. Addison simply nodded his head.
Rachel came running around the corner having been left behind by Tommy who’d been in a hurry to see Lily. Rachel had not wanted to be carried because running at Tommy’s speed made her sick. “Whoa what did I miss?”, Rachel asked rounding the corner. Lily walked up behind Tommy and wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his shoulder blades. “Alright speedy, idiot has learned a valuable lesson. Let’s just calm down.”, Lily said kissing the back of Tommy’s neck. Landon looked over his shoulder to Rachel. “Um hey sweetie.”, Landon greeted. “So here’s how this is going to go down. You go find yourself an ER make some shit up about why you look like a couple dozen guys kicked . You say one word about my friend here try to file a police report and my cousin gets to file a police report about you trying to abduct her. And if that’s not enough to get you to keep your mouth shut I’ll come for you and what my friend here did in defense of his girlfriend will feel like a blessing to what I’ll do.”, Landon said letting Addison go. Addison stumbled forward a little and looked at Landon and then back at Tommy. Rachel cautiously walked up hearing Landon say ‘abduct’ and linked her arm to Landon’s holding his hand tightly. Addison nodded and ran across the street and then went as far away he could. “Someone want to tell me who the FUCK that was and why he was trying to snatch MY Lily?”, Tommy asked still fuming.
“Let’s go inside and then we can talk.”, Landon suggested. Rachel nodded in agreement heading for the stairs. Tommy just stood there still angry. Lily hugged him tightly and lightly stroked the back of his hair. “Let’s go inside Speedy.”, Lily suggested nudging him to the stairs. Tommy grunted but went inside. Landon keyed the lock code getting the houses security armed incase Addison was as stupid as he looked. The four sat down in the living room and Tommy looked from Lily to Landon waiting for an answer to his question. Rachel curled up on the sofa next to Landon holding his hand. “His name is Addison.”, Lily stated. “He goes to the university for journalism and is in almost all my classes. He also works at the times too. He’s been bothering me since start of freshmen year. I’ve told him I’m not interested and that I have a boyfriend. He didn’t seem to get that I was serious. Today he saw Landon and I walking to our one shared class and Landon had his arm around my shoulders like he tends to do being all buddy buddy. Addison took that to mean something more. He tried to stop Landon from getting in the cab to leave school. Landon firmly told him to leave me alone and made it clear I’m his cousin and that my boyfriend is rather real. I guess he followed us or something I don’t know. But the doorbell rang and I thought it was the two of you so I went to turn the alarms off and let you in and he grabbed me. I’m not a telepath so I don’t know what the fucktard thought he was going to do. I screamed before he covered my mouth, then I bit his hand and yelled for Landon. Landon came charging out and next thing I know you’ve got me in your arms.”, Lily explained.
Tommy tapped his foot still angry against the floor. “I should go kill him. And what were you doing Landon?”, Tommy asked turning to Landon. “You said you’d watch out for her.”, Tommy added angrily. “Excuse me Thomas Pietro Maximoff? You going to take that tone with me? I ran as soon as I heard her scream, like her I thought it was you and Rachel at the door. The second I heard her scream I was running for that door. I wasn’t going to let him take her or hurt her. She is my cousin, she’s like a damn sister to me. If you hadn’t rushed in he was going to be mud literally. You run faster than my powers can transfigure someone. So don’t for a damn second think I’d have let someone take Lily.”, Landon said pointing at Tommy narrowing his eyes. Rachel reached over and gently brought Landon’s hand back down and Lily snuggled up to Tommy to try and get him to chill. “Alright Speedy take a few breaths okay. I am extremely capable of taking care of myself you know. If you hadn’t zoomed in Addison was going to get clobbered across the back of the head with a piece of an iron railing from the house next door. So don’t either of you point fingers or get mad. Besides Tommy you came here to see me and spend time with me and lord knows you have to get on the train home before the last train leaves so can we not be all angry and just enjoy the hours we get?”, Lily requested. Tommy sighed and nodded. “And I’m not taking the train back tonight. I told Ma and Pop that I was staying the night.”, Tommy said referring to Aislinn and David. Lily smiled and hugged him. “Yay! A weekend with my speedy here? I can do that. Let’s head upstairs hero….”, Lily said getting up and grabbing her hand. “See you two…I don’t know when but we’ll eventually leave my room.”, Lily said with a little wave to Rachel and Landon as she took Tommy upstairs.
Landon shook his head smiling. He knew Tommy and Billy didn’t call his parents ma or pop to their faces, but they’d slip and call them that sometimes. Landon knew it’d mean the world to his mom to hear it. Sure she didn’t give birth to Billy and Tommy and didn’t really raise them as they’d only been at the Haven for two years, buts he cared for them as her own. “Well I’m sure it’s safe to guess you aren’t staying the night here.”, Landon commented putting an arm around Rachel. Rachel smiled. “Yeah even mom wouldn’t agree to that. So I do have to take that long train ride all alone tonight.”, Rachel sighed. Landon smirked bringing his hand to tilt her head up to him. “Who said you’d be going alone? I’m going home this weekend. So I’ll be with you.”, Landon said before leaning down kissing her softly. Rachel smiled into the kiss wrapping her arms around his neck wanting more than just a soft kiss running her tongue across his lips. Landon smirked and opened his mouth letting her in. As the kiss continued the pair moved to be laying on the couch on their sides. Landon’s right hand moving up and down her side and along her back occasionally grasping at her ass getting little squeaks from Rachel every time he did. As his hand moved up her back it found her bare back as her shirt had ridden up slightly. Landon quickly pulled his hand back and from the kiss as his index finger was bitten. “God damn it Nazir. You are probably the smallest, at the moment please I do not need or want to see your full size, and ever vigilant cockblocker ever.”, Landon cursed. Rachel giggled a little but sighed. “Nazir, don’t bite Landon. His hand was fine on my back. You know what why don’t you go forage the kitchen I’m sure there’s from fresh fruit you can find.”, Rachel suggested to her white dragon.
Nazir let a puff of freezing cold air snort out of his nose as he pulled off from Rachel’s skin, Rachel wincing ever so slightly as he did. Rachel and Nazir had only been bonded for two months and were still adjusting to each other. Her father assured her that after a while of being bonded it would be second nature and it would not hurt when Nazir left her skin to no longer look like a white tattoo on her skin. She turned her head and looked over to Nazir. He was a pure white dragon with the coldest ice blue eyes, he’d grown to the size of a medium sized dog at this point and was walking away to go find a snack. Rachel sighed and looked at Landon taking his hand that Nazir had bit and first kissed the finger he’d nipped and then just to tease Landon, it was obvious Rachel had been spending too much time with Blaire, sucked on his finger. Landon blinked at this act and shook his head. “You are horrible…but god I love you. Now come here.”, Landon said grasping the back of her head and pulling her closer kissing her deeply taking advantage of her parted lips to return to his exploration and cohabitation of her mouth. Rachel moaned a little into the kiss, she’d have to remember Blaire was right even the tiniest thing could get a boy to think dirty. Rachel pressed herself closer to him letting one hand stay in his hair her fingers playing with the short black hairs, the other moving lower and under his shirt getting to roam freely across his body as she wedged right leg between his legs to be as close as she could get on the couch. Landon was doing his best to ignore the Crow voice that was screaming and going insane with each little movement she made and instead focused on the kiss and letting his right hand roam again mostly rubbing at her thigh outside her jeans and grabbing at her ass again and even up the back of her shirt staying below the bra now that Nazir was gone.
While Landon and Rachel both worked to maintain some amount of decorum in their making out Lily and Tommy were not bound to such things. No, the second Tommy shut Lily’s bedroom door Lily had turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck kissing him running her tongue along his lips. Tommy smiled opening his mouth letting his tongue mingle with hers as his hands rubbed his hands down her sides and started moving up under her shirt. Lily pulled back from him and the kiss raising her arms up letting him take the top off her before turning in his arms reaching back to grab the loops of his jeans as she walked forward. Tommy smiled and wrapped his arms around her letting his hands run up her chest rubbing outside of her bra enjoying the sounds of Lily moaning softly under his touch. The bedroom was the one place Tommy did everything he could to go as slow as possible. Though it seemed Lily wasn’t in a slow mood tonight as she turned back around to him and started pulling his shirt off him then undoing his pants letting them fall to the floor of her bedroom before setting her sights on removing his boxerbriefs next.
Tommy chuckled a little feeling slightly exposed but not minding in the least standing there naked in her bedroom. Lily smirked and turned him about and pushed him to be sitting on the bed. Tommy smiled up at her letting his hands run over her sides before leaning forward and starting to kiss at her abdomen. Lily moaned a little smiling as she reached behind her unhooking her bra and tossing it aside, which to Tommy was just an invitation as he kissed higher for the ‘mountains’ as he liked to call them. His hands moved to start unbuttoning her pants bout got annoyed with the number of buttons and pouted a little in frustration against her breast. “Darn pants..”, Tommy cursed as he kissed at her breast. Lily giggled a little and batted his hands away unbuttoning her jeans for him and started to slide out of them. “Thank you..”, Tommy said moving to her other breast as his hands pulled down her underwear. “Why buttons are such a problem for you is beyond me.”, Lily teased. “Why you have to wear pants with more than one button is beyond me.”, Tommy said grabbing her waist pulling her closer as he laid back on the bed bringing her with him. Lily giggled a little as the fell back onto the bed as she moved away from him to get further onto the bed. Tommy turned his head watching her move up the bed and smiled before moving after her. “Get back here.”, Tommy said before kissing her letting his hands roam down her body.
As things were getting ‘interesting’ at the Manhattan house Lily wasn’t the only of the Bryant triplets having drama with the opposite sex at university. Over in Boston Josalyn was staying at another one of the Frost family houses just east of Boston University. She didn’t mind that she was alone living in the five bedroom house, there was the possibility that some of the her old Academy classmates would be coming to Boston. She knew her little sister Emma wanted to go there and that Alexander was applying along with many other medical schools. Which anywhere Alex went Talia was going to follow, Josalyn didn’t really see Talia letting Alex go to college without her. Not in a Talia didn’t trust Alex to be faithful to her but that Talia doesn’t trust other girls around Alex. Josalyn for now was actually enjoying the quiet the house provided. She’d made a few friends so far during her freshmen year as a political science major, but many of these classmates were a bit more about partying than she was. So anytime she wanted to just escape the noise she just made an excuse about studying and went home where she got her quiet. And it wasn’t just the noise of partying college students that Josalyn liked to escape from. Back in Bayville Josalyn hadn’t really had an issue with guys. They generally kept their distance from her since most often she was with her triplet Merrick, till of course he moved to the Haven and after that she was generally in the company of the other Academy students which many of the local boys found the young Apollo to be intimidating just based on his height. But here at college Josalyn didn’t have those ‘guard dogs’ to intimidate and keep unwanted individuals at bay.
Now she had to deal with the stupidity of college boys including the idiots in fraternities. One such idiot was Robert Cooley a junior journalism major. Robert was friends with a few of the students in her political science classes so often during the time in between classes Robert was around. He’d tried talking to Josalyn a number of times with stupid lines trying to get her to agree to a date with him. Every time however he fell flat. His smile and puppy brown eyes may have worked on girls in Plymouth where he was from and even other girls attending the university but Josalyn was consistent on giving him the cold shoulder. This evening was no exception. Josalyn was hanging out in a dorm common room with some of her fellow students studying for a test. Robert had just finished a late class and walked into the coed dorm and stopped on his way to his dorm seeing Josalyn and three others with books opened. Robert walked over and slumped down into the space next to Josalyn on the sofa which was a bit of a squeeze. “Hey red.”, Robert greeted. Josalyn rolled her eyes. “I don’t get how you can try to argue, Katie, that modern media doesn’t influence politics.”, Josalyn said shaking her head. “I’m not say it doesn’t I’m just saying that it’s more a negative impact because it may get information out there but when that information is flawed or slanted to meet the political aspirations of the particular company that owns the media source it’s not helping anyone.”, Katie answered. “Yes it’s flawed because journalists these days no longer have any integrity or back bone to just give the facts and not add their own political standing or that of their employer. And worse yet is when these journalists think that their political opinions can be counted as facts. Opinions are opinions and facts are facts. There isn’t a gray area on that. “, Josalyn stated.
Robert coughed a little. Josalyn and the others looked at him. “What Robert? You got something of relevance that MIGHT be considered an intelligent thing to add? Because if you don’t do us the favor and keep your mouth shut.”, Josalyn snapped. “Well I’m a journalism major after all. So, yes there are journalists out there that don’t just report the facts, they aren’t paid to report the facts. And the guys giving the facts and being real aren’t getting published because the owners of mass media don’t care about facts. They care about how many readers they get or how many viewers if you are talking news. And otherwise they want to push their own political ideals because politics is the most asinine thing this country has. Politics and money seem to make our country go round and it is crap but that’s how it is. And as long as people are willing to bend on their own integrity it’s going to continue to be corrupt.”, Robert stated. Josalyn blinked and looked at Robert in actually shock. “That is the first thing you’ve said since start of the school year that wasn’t stupid. Did you hurt yourself? Should you go lie down? I understand that sometimes when too much strain is placed on the brain it can be tiring.”, Josalyn teased with a smirk. Robert smiled a little. “Well now that you mention it..”, Robert said moving to try and lay down on the couch across her lap. “Oh I don’t think so.”, Josalyn said shoving him off the couch. Robert laughed landing on the floor. “Hey, you are the one that asked if I needed to lay down. Figured that was as close to an offer as I’d get from you.”, Robert said. Josalyn shook her head while her friends laughed. “Robert why do you keep trying? Josalyn has turned you down how many times since the fall?”, Katie asked. Robert shrugged. “I’m a journalism not a math major. And I keep trying because those eyes…..”, Robert answered smiling looking at Josalyn.
Josalyn rolled her eyes. “Yes well there are three others with the exact same set back in New York. Go try making googly eyes at one of my brothers, they’d break you in half, or worse try your antics on my identical twin if she doesn’t put you in the emergency room her boyfriend will.”, Josalyn said. Robert still smiled. “Well I don’t swing that way so your brothers would be out of the question. And identical is nice, but does she have your sass or better does she have your ass?”, Robert questioned. Josalyn scoffed and kicked his leg with her heel. “I’ll take that as a no. And besides I don’t go for taken women. And you’ve yet to say you’re spoken for.”, Robert said rubbing his leg. “No but as pointed out by Katie I’ve turned you down a few thousand times.”, Josalyn said. “True but I get banking that eventually I’ll get a yes. Because really you shouldn’t say no to someone without at least trying them out. You don’t really know me, well beyond the way I am when being stupid around friends. You might be surprised at the type of man I am when I’m with a woman.”, Robert said. “So again I ask would you have dinner with me and if I don’t offend you during the dinner go to a movie?”, Robert asked. Katie nudged Josalyn’s arm. Josalyn sighed. “Fine. One date then when you botch it like I know you will you never ask again.”, Josalyn agreed. Robert smiled and stood up dusting off his jeans and picked up her book closing it. “Then let’s go.”, Robert said. Josalyn blinked. “What? You mean literally right now go on a date with you? I’m not exactly dressed for a date…”, Josalyn said. Robert tilted his head to the side and looked at her. “Sneakers, jeans, and a Boston University tee? Look dressed to me. So come on.”, Robert said setting the book aside and grabbing her hand. “Um..alright. Guess I’ll see you guys later.”, Josalyn said as she was being half dragged away from her friends.
“So why the immediate time frame?”, Josalyn asked pulling her hand away from his as they walked down the hall. “So you can’t try and cancel on me.”, Robert said stopping at the door out of the dorm and holding it for her. Josalyn walked through with an eye roll. “I am capable of opening a door you know.”, Josalyn said. “I know, but I was raised that you always open doors. Plus saved you from possibly slamming it on my face.”, Robert added. “My car’s this way.”, Robert said leading the way to his little four door blue Mazda hatchback. Josalyn followed mentally preparing herself for the worst evening of her life. Robert unlocked the passenger door opening it for her. Josalyn rolled her eyes getting into the car but Robert just smirked and closed the door once she was in the car. Robert got in and pulled away from the campus. “So where are we going?”, Josalyn asked. “Brown Sugar Café. You’ve said Thai is your favorite. And after dinner go over to Coolidge Corner to watch Woman in Gold which I know you wanted to see but none of your friends were willing to go.”, Robert explained. Josalyn raised an eyebrow. “So you pay attention, you want a cookie?”, Josalyn asked folding her arms unimpressed. Alright so in a way yes she was, she didn’t really think he actually listened. Since in her history guys don’t listen they are just looking for any angle to try and get in her pants. At least that was how it was with boys in Bayville that tried to approach her when she didn’t have her brother or one of the Academy boys nearby. Robert laughed. “A cookie could be nice. But I pay attention to what you talk about even if you think I don’t. I know more about you than you think.”, Robert said as he pulled into the restaurant getting out. “Oh like what?”, Josalyn asked getting out and walking into the restaurant with him.
“Well for one I know you’re a…mutant.”, Robert said whispering the last part as they stood in the restaurant waiting for a hostess to come to the stand. “And you figure that how?”, Josalyn asked. “Well because I’ve seen you run, really run it’s how you get to your classes so quickly. You think no one notices that you get from one side of campus to the other in half a second. Because no one sees you but I’ve seen you go from standing still to suddenly gone and just a little blur of red from your hair.”, Robert explained. “Just two?”, the hostess asked. Robert nodded. “Yes please.”, Robert said. Josalyn remained silent as they followed the hostess to a table and waited till she walked away. “Alright so you’ve caught me using my powers. What are you going to do about it? Leverage it against me, because I wouldn’t recommend that because I might not look it but I could probably kick your ass.”, Josalyn said keeping her voice low. Robert laughed and shook his head. “I’m not going to do anything. Why would I leverage you being a fellow mutant against you?”, Robert asked looking at the menu. “Wait you’re a mutant too?”, Josalyn asked. Robert paused and looked to the waitress. “Can I start you with some drinks and appetizers?”, the waitress asked. “I’ll take a Sam Adams for a drink.”, Robert said looking to the waitress. “I’ll need ID.”, the waitress said. Robert dug out his wallet and showed his licenses that showed he was over 21. “Iced tea for me.”, Josalyn answered. “And how about the combo platter?”, Robert suggested. Josalyn nodded. “Alright I’ll be right back with your drinks and the appetizers should be just a few minutes.”, the waitress said walking away.
“Yes I’m a mutant too. We can’t all be from Bayville and attend the Academy or Institute now can we. My parents wanted to keep me out of the strife between your schools so I stayed in Plymouth and learned to control my flying and heat vision.”, Robert answered still keeping his voice low after the waitress walked away. “So you know about the schools?”, Josalyn asked. Robert nodded. “Yeah when my powers started my parents were approached by a Jean Shadow from the Xavier Institute and by a Christian Frost from the Lehnsherr Academy.”, Robert explained. Josalyn shifted in her chair a little uncomfortable as he said the named. Robert raised an eyebrow. “You’re related to Christian right? I mean your last name is Bryant-Frost.”, Robert said. Josalyn nodded. “He’s my dad, well technically step dad. And I’m related to Jean too, because my biological dad is her father-in-law.”, Josalyn explained. Robert nodded. “Must have been really complicated for you going to the Academy with your sister-in-law and I’m guessing older half brother at the Institute.”, Robert said. “My half brother Demitri never went to the Institute and doesn’t associate himself as a member. He is a member of the Haven which is a neutral group of mutants. Complicated was when my identical twin Lily chose to leave the Academy to study at the Institute. Complicated even further when my mother, and my brothers left the Academy before my senior year to live at the Haven leaving me with my little sister and dad at the Academy.”, Josalyn explained as their waitress sat down their drinks and their appetizers.
“Are you ready to order?”, the waitress asked. “I’ll take the Shrimp Pad Kee Mow.”, Josalyn stated. “I’ll go with the Nau Yang Num-Tok?”, Robert said handing over his menu. “Those will be up shortly.”, the waitress said leaving them alone again. Josalyn took a few items off them platter and put them on a separate plate to eat. “So things were complicated back home. But you aren’t there anymore. Now it’s just you here in Boston. No siblings to deal with being on the opposite sides of the fence with. Though a little funny that you are triplets and one sends up on the institute side, you on the academy and then your brother at the neutral side.”, Robert commented. Josalyn shrugged. “Hadn’t thought about it that way. Lily is technically the oldest then Merrick then me. So we are the ‘good’, the neutral, and the ‘bad’ in that order.”, Josalyn mused. Robert laughed a little eating some of the appetizers. “I remember the pitches that Jean and Christian gave for their schools. Neither really sounded good or bad, they just differ on mutant politics. Which as a political science major you should know all about that.”, Robert commented before sipping his beer. “Yeah it’s all about politics really. Though I still believe and agree with the Academy’s political standing. Mutants should not be oppressed by humans and humans should not be coddled and protected when payback is given for the pain they cause mutants is given. If they can’t give us equality I say we give them back what they’ve dished out over the years to mutant kind.”, Josalyn stated.
Robert nodded. “I actually agree with that. I’ve been treated badly growing up by humans in my town and then the FOH in general, and I wouldn’t mind giving them some payback for what they’ve caused. But growing up my parents wanted me to be neutral and out of it. So I was.”, Robert explained. “Was?”, Josalyn asked. “Yeah till my senior year of high school when the FOH burned my family’s house to the ground hoping I was in it and instead killed my parents and my little brother and sister and none of them were mutant like me. So they murdered four of their own kind because they wanted me. I went to the police but they didn’t listen because well in my town the FOH control the police. So instead I got my own retribution finding the FOH members I heard were responsible and got my vengeance. It doesn’t bring my family back but it sure felt better.”, Robert explained take a bite of a ravioli he’d dunked into the spicy sauce and quickly grabbed her iced tea to drink away the heat. “Excuse me? That’s my drink…”, Josalyn said. Robert nodded setting the drink down. “I know, sorry but that sauce is god damn. And beer plus heat equals badddd.”, Robert explained. Josalyn covered her mouth to hide a laugh but Robert caught it. “Did I just..did you just laugh?”, Robert teased reaching over pulling her hand away from her face. “Aw look at that a smile. You look even prettier when you smile. It lights up those green-yellow cat eyes.”, Robert commented. Josalyn rolled her eyes taking her hand back. “Anyways. So you got your revenge? You killed them?”, Josalyn asked. Robert nodded silently as the waitress was coming over and set their meals in front of them.
“Yes. I thought it’d be harder for me to do, in regards to my conscious but it wasn’t. The fact they took the lives of four innocent people made them murders and if the judicial system would fail me I would instead be judge, jury and executioner in its place. They received no worse and no better than what they gave.”, Robert explained before starting to eat his meal. Josalyn nodded and started to eat. She’d not actually killed anyone, but since she’d been a student she had not been sent out on missions. Azazel had assured after college her full potential would be utilize for the cause. As she ate she looked over at Robert realizing maybe the goof that he presents was just his way of dealing with his pain. She couldn’t imagine how much it would hurt if someone killed her parents and siblings. Even Lily or Demitri. She may not be close to them but if someone was to kill them Josalyn knew she’d want vengeance and to inflict equal if not more amounts of pain to the offender. “So this might seem too personal and you don’t have to answer it. But how is it that your half brother is like the same age as your parents?”, Robert asked. Josalyn sighed. “Like I said you don’t have to answer if it’s too personal.”, Robert said. “I don’t particularly like talking about it. But you told me about what happened to your family. So…”, Josalyn sighed. “Demitri’s dad, my biological father Calvin Shadow…he raped my mom. Thus me and my siblings. And that’s about all I’m willing to discuss on that subject.”, Josalyn stated. Robert nodded. “You didn’t even need to discuss that much if you didn’t want to. So um how about you tell me exactly how it’s possible you left Bayville without a boyfriend? Or did you break someone’s heart to move to Boston?”, Robert asked trying to change the subject.
“I didn’t have a boyfriend back in Bayville. And the why is simply one word Merrick.”, Josalyn explained. Robert raised an eyebrow. “Your brother? How do you figure?”, Robert asked. “Merrick is 6’4” and wide shoulders and the strength of an African Elephant when he wants it. So boy come up to me and looming nearby is my brother who’s bite is worse than his bark and everyone in town knew it.”, Josalyn explained. Robert chuckled and sipped his beer. “Bark is worse than his bite huh? Good to know. Guess I should be glad he doesn’t go to Boston University with us.”, Robert joked. “Yes you should. Merrick would have flattened you the second time I had to say no to a date with you. He’s got a thing about when a girl says no it better be obeyed.”, Josalyn explained. “Well if tonight goes belly up I promise I won’t ask so no calling sicing your brother on me.”, Robert said with a smile pointing his beer bottle at her before taking another sip. “Surprisingly you haven’t botched it, too much.”, Josalyn said finishing her meal. Robert smirked finishing off his meal. “So we still going to the movie?”, Robert asked. “Alright but don’t think for a second you are going to try anything in the dark theater.”, Josalyn warned. Robert held up his hand to get their waitress’s attention. “Check please.”, Robert said.
After paying the bill it was off to the small independent theater to watch a movie he knew she would want to see. They didn’t talk during the movie. At one point during the movie Robert yawned stretching his arms up and put an arm along the back of her chair. Josalyn rolled her eyes at this pathetic attempt and just ignored him watching the film. There was only a hand full of people in the theater so it was quieter as everyone was watching the film. “So did you enjoy it?”, Robert asked as they were leaving. “It was rather good. Thanks.”, Josalyn said stepping out of the theater. “Guess I should head home. It wasn’t terrible, good night Robert.”, Josalyn said starting to walk up the block. Robert raised an eyebrow and followed after her. “Wait a tick. You walking home? I screw up or something that I don’t get to drive you home?”, Robert asked catching up to her. “Um I don’t live all that far and can get there faster than you could drive on my own.”, Josalyn explained. “I get that, but it’s a date can’t I at least take you home? Or am I not supposed to know where you live?”, Robert asked. Josalyn sighed, she didn’t generally have people at her house because she felt weird explaining why she lived in such a nice place. “Fine you can drive me home.”, Josalyn said allowing him to escort her to his car. She gave the addressed and he blinked. “That’s a nice neighborhood…”, Robert commented as they drove.
He pulled up out front and got out and looked at the house. “Wow. Ritzy.”, Robert commented. Josalyn sighed and shrugged. “It’s my family’s house. The Frost family owns a number of properties.”, Josalyn explained walking up the steps to the door unlocking it. “Well thanks for dinner and the movie. It wasn’t as terrible as I thought it’d be.”, Josalyn said extending a hand. “Good night Robert.”, she added. Robert looked at her and then at her hand and back again. He smirked and leaned in kissing her instead. Josalyn blinked having not expected that. Robert was waiting to be shoved or something but Josalyn actually lightly kissed back. Robert smiled a little as he pulled back. “Good night Josalyn. It was fun and I hope you let me take you out again.”, Robert said. Josalyn rolled her eyes but was smiling. “We’ll see. Bye.”, Josalyn said slipping inside the house shutting the door. She leaned against the door and touched her lips. It wasn’t her first kiss but it was technically her first date and first goodnight kiss. She laughed a little and locked the doors peeking out the window a little and laughed again seeing Robert. He was literally walking on air as he didn’t even walked down the stairs but just stepped off them all together slowly floating down to the sidewalk before getting in his car.
Thirteen hours away in Tokyo Xavier was hurrying across campus from the building his class was in to get to his dormitory to meet for his Skype date with Ashley. It was 1 in the afternoon for him but 10 o’clock at night back in Bayville so this was his chance to see her and talk to her before she went to bed and then they wouldn’t talk again for another eight hours which would be shortly before he went to bed. So Xavier never missed a Skype since he only got two hours a day to ‘be with her’. As he raced through the crowd he bumped into someone and caused them and him to drop their books. “Gomen'nasai. Watashi ga okonatte ita tokoro, watashi wa mite imasendeshita.” (I am sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going.), Xavier apologized stooping to start picking up his books and the other persons. “Zabieru o shinpaishinaide kudasai. Anata wa watashi ni subete no jikan o banpu suru koto ga dekimasu.”(Don't worry, Xavier. You can bump into me any time.) a somewhat familiar female voice giggled bending down to help him get the books. Xavier blinked as he looked up to see the face of his ex girlfriend looking at him. “Suki? Watashi wa anata ga koko ni ikimashita shirimasendeshita.” (Suki? I didn't know you went here.) Xavier commented standing back up checking to make sure he had all the correct books. Suki smiled. “Hai. Watashi wa kono gakki de tensō. Watashi wa anata o mite totemo ureshīdesu. Anata ga chūshoku no tame ni watashi ni sanka shimasu ka? (Yes. I just transferred in this semester. I'm so happy to see you. Would you like to join me for lunch?) Suki asked smiling brightly.
“Ā, watashi wa dekimasen. Watashi wa Amerika de watashi no gārufurendo to watashi no sukaipu no dēto ni okurete jikkō shite iru yo.” (Oh, I can't. I'm running late for my Skype date with my girlfriend in America.), Xavier quickly explained trying to get past Suki. Suki raised an eyebrow and stepped in his way. “Gārufurendo? Amerikadeha? Anata wa jōdan suru hitsuyō ga arimasu.” (Girlfriend? In America? You must be kidding.) Suki questioned not finding that believable. After all she had broken up with him two years ago when he moved to study in America. What American girl would want to date someone half way around the world who might never come back. Xavier sighed looking at his watch. “Hai, gārufurendo. Kore wa hijō ni shinkoku realtionshipdesu. Watashi ga shitte iru nan'ninka no hitobito to wa chigatte, watashi no saiai no mondai o kyori mitsukaranai. Suki sayōnara ima.” (Yes, girlfriend. It is a very serious realtionship. Unlike some people I know, my beloved doesn't find distance an issue. Now goodbye Suki.) Xavier said before abruptly pushing past her and rushing for his dorm. He ran up the stairs and straight into his dorm booting up his laptop and sitting down on his bed Indian style as the Skype program launched. The second he logged in he instantly got a video call from Ashley.
Xavier smiled brightly as the image of Ashley laying on her bed came into focus. He knew she had the laptop on her pillow based on how the dorm room looked. “You are late, Hansamu.”, Ashley teased pulling her blonde into a ponytail and getting comfortable stretched out on her bed. She was rather fortunate that with Lily being gone she didn’t get a new roommate at the institute. It made the times that their Skype became more personal less weird. Xavier nodded. “I am sorry Saiai. I was rushing and ran into my ex Suki, literally and dropped books and had to pick them up. Then she tried to talk to me. And I explained I was running late to Skype with my Saiai. I’ve missed you. How was school and training today?”, Xavier asked wanting to know everything going on back in Bayville. Ashley thought for a moment when he mentioned his ex but obviously the girl had just been a speed bump in getting to her so she didn’t matter. “It was a good day, missed you like crazy of course. Right after classes Tommy and Rachel headed for the train to go into the city to see Lily and Landon. So did you think about what we talked about last week about summer?”, Ashley asked.
Xavier nodded. “Yes. I have talked to my mother. And she thinks flying you here for a month would be do able. Just need to decide which month you’d like to come visit June or July since August you’ll be needing to get moved and ready to start university and Julliard. I am still so proud that my Saiai is going to Julliard.”, Xavier answered. Ashley smiled brightly happy with this news. “That’s great. I’ll talk to my parents but probably July will be best. Rose used to tell us and show us pictures all the time of your parents house and property. It’s so beautiful. I can’t wait to see it and more importantly you in person.”, Ashley said. “And I can’t wait to see you and show you around my childhood home. I think you’ll find the gardens very lovely in July.”, Xavier agreed. “So your parents know and won’t mind that we are intimate together and would be while I’m there? I just don’t want to offend or do something wrong. I’ve only met them a handful of times ever and only once since you’ve been here.”, Ashley asked. Xavier laughed and nodded. “My parents know. My father was a bit awkward about the situation but my mother was raised a bit more modern and doesn’t think any of it. My family already likes you and since I love you they will as they get to know you better.”, Xavier said. The pair continued talking for the rest of their hour time limit before Xavier had to return to his studies and Ashley had to get sleep.

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Possibly more unaware of what exactly was going on between their best friend and Merrick than anyone were Lily and Landon. The pair of cousins were rather occupied with their studies at Columbia to keep as close tabs on what was happening back home in Bayville. They were both happy that come next fall Ashley, Tommy, Cora Lee and Malcolm would be moving into the massive Manhattan house they were living in. Lily had picked up a job working as a gofer at the New York Times which was kind of a dream come true given she was studying Journalism wanting to write for a paper as respected at the Times some day. Merrick was still playing his gigs around the city with Blaze Halo and working weekends in Bayville at the flower shop, he mostly kept the job as just another reason to go home every weekend and see Rachel. He knew Rachel appreciated the consistency of him at least seeing her on weekends, he knew that she unnecessarily worried about him being off at college without her.
Yes he was around a lot of girls and many older than him, but his eyes didn’t wander. And as the new semester was starting Landon found himself running late for his first class having over slept and had a hard time grabbing a cab. “Last time I agree to play a Thursday night gig till close.”, Landon grumbled as he raced to the lecture hall and into the room. He looked around trying to find and open seat and spotted one near the middle of the class and had to awkwardly make his way past other students to get to that seat. As he sat down he looked around and realized he’d found a seat where he was surrounded on all sides by girls. He focused his eyes forward to the professor pulling out a notebook and his tablet setting it to record mode. He kept a recording of every lecture as reference along with his notes. Though with his tablet it wasn’t just recording sound it was recording video so he could basically relive the lecture. It was a rather nice upgrade he’d worked on with Forge and even installed on a tablet for Lily to help her keep track of what happened in her various classes.
The blonde to his right raised an eyebrow looking at him seeing the tattoo peeking out of his shirt collar and then the sleeve tattoos on his arms as she’d pushed up his sleeves. She smirked a little and took out her phone sending a text to the brunette on his left which then her attention turned and they were both looking him over. Landon could feel this eyes on him but didn’t react or say anything. He’d been looked at since he was thirteen and started getting tattoos, and for all he knew they recognized him from gigs he played with Blaze Halo. He instead kept his focus on taking notes and listening to the lecture looking at his text book as he needed. The blonde leaned a little closer to him. “Psst. What’s your name?”, she whispered. “Landon. Now I’m trying to pay attention.”, Landon whispered back not taking his eyes off the teacher and the whiteboard where he was writing things down. “Landon what?”, the brunette asked in a whisper. “Bryant. Again paying attention here.”, Landon said politely enough. “We like your ink.”, the blonde whispered ignoring that he kept saying he was trying to pay attention to the lecture. “Thanks. If that’s a pick up line you need a refresher course. Now excuse me the professor is talking.”, Landon whispered back jotting down notes. The blonde smirked and leaned over and wrote a phone number on the edge of his notebook and the name ‘Amber’ before looking to her text book. The brunette wasn’t going to apparently give up and wrote in the margin of his notebook her number and name ‘Laura’. Landon rolled his eyes and kept taking his notes.
The class ended and Landon started to gather his things. “So you going to call either of us? Could maybe study together sometime.”, Amber asked. Landon raised an eyebrow and looked from Amber to Laura and laughed a little. “No. I will not be calling. Thanks for the numbers if you want I can hand them off to my cousin Merrick back home, he likes to keep his options open.”, Landon said moving to push past them. “Excuse me?”, Laura asked folding her arms not really liking being turned down. Landon turned and looked at them. “I’m not interested ladies. That simple.”, Landon said with a shrug. “Are you…”, Amber asked. Landon smirked and shook his head. “Gay? No. Just have a girlfriend back home.”, Landon explained. “And how far away is back home?”, Laura asked. Landon rolled his eyes. “An hour train ride and even if it was further wouldn’t matter. I’m her property, branded and everything.”, Landon said with a smile pulling at the collar of his shirt just enough to show the Arabic tattoo on his chest. “It means Joy which is basically her middle name. Now if you’ll pardon me ladies I have another class to go to. Was nice meeting you.”, Landon said fixing his collar before heading out of the lecture hall to find his next class just to run into Lily. Lily was glaring at both Amber and Laura. “Are those girls giving you problems cousin?”, Lily asked folding her arms. The two girls raised an eyebrow each looking at each other then at Lily a bit confused. Landon laughed softly and put an arm around Lily’s shoulders. “Come on Lily, leave the nice girls alone. They made an honest mistake and I corrected their error. Now come on we actually have a class together.”, Landon said leading his cousin away. Lily still looking over her shoulder giving the two girls a look that said ‘look at my cousin wrong I’ll end you’.
“I need to put a name tag on you that says ‘Hello My Name is: Property of Rachel Howlett’?”, Lily questioned. Landon laughed. “That actually sounds amusing. Maybe that’s what I’ll do this semester. Each day wear a different Hello My Name Is sticker with a various way in multiple languages say I’m spoken for. You are just soo full of ideas Lily. Can we make you stickers that say ‘property of Tommy Maximoff too?”, Landon teased. Lily rolled her eyes. “Oh I don’t get it as bad as you.”, Lily stated. “Oh please I’m getting the stink eye having my arm around your shoulders by some of these guys. Because you know why would a guy put an arm around a girl’s shoulders unless they are together.”, Landon chuckled giving a wave to one such guy who was looking at him. “Who’s that one?”, Landon asked. Lily glanced at the raven haired boy they passed. “He is in basically all my journalism classes and works at the times. He annoys me to know end. I’ve told him I’m with Tommy but he doesn’t seem to think that means much. If it weren’t’ for the fact I promised no sending people to the hospital he’d be a regular.”, Lily answered. “Want me to say something to the guy?”, Landon offered. “Yeah because that won’t look bad.”, Lily said rolling her eyes. “Alright so tell Tommy to speed his ass into the city one school day to meet you for lunch and the little speedster can make sure your little stalker is given clear marching orders in the opposite direction of you.”, Landon suggested. “Maybe I will.”, Lily commented as they walked into their class and found seats next to each other.
Finally the day of classes was over and Landon got into a cab with Lily to head back to the house when the boy with the black hair grabbed the cab door before Landon could close it. “Can I share a cab?”, the guy asked. Lily leaned over on the seat to see what was going on and rolled her eyes. “Judging by my cousin’s eyes roll that’s a no. Accept it and move along.”, Landon stated. “Cousin?”, the boy questioned. “Yeah we’re cousins.”, Lily said. “So you aren’t Tommy?”, the boy asked. Landon laughed. “Fuck no. Tommy is about this high.”, Landon said holding his hand up to just around the bridge of his nose. “Green eyes and pure white hair.”, Landon said still laughing. “Now just walk away guy. You don’t stand a snowballs chance in hell with my cousin. Tommy owns the key to her heart and he ain’t giving that up.”, Landon said getting into the cab and without giving the guy much choice but to pull his hand back to avoid it being slammed between the door and the cab. Landon looked at Lily as the pulled away from the curb. “Okay so that boy is creep factor 11. Handle him or I handle him for you.”, Landon stated glancing through the rear window to see the guy still standing there watching their cab. Lily nodded. “I’ll deal with him my way. So no turning him into whatever pops in that twisted mine of yours.”, Lily said. “If I’m not allowed to use my…abilities…here in the city neither are you.”, Lily said keeping her voice low as she didn’t trust strangers. “Alright well handle it then or I won’t use my abilities I’ll just beat the crap out of him instead.”, Landon said firmly. Lily nodded. She knew she’d have to deal with the guy somehow. She had just kind of hoped he’d give up being told no so many times and having her tell him on various occasions she had a boyfriend and was in a committed relationship.
Landon paid for the cab and followed Lily up the stairs as she typed in the security code to get into the house. The security was already outstanding but Forge offered some new tech upgrades he wanted to test out on a private residents, didn’t tell Landon why and Landon didn’t ask. Landon trusted Forge so the additional upgrades had been added. And he and Lily both agreed the security now felt as insane as the Institute. Which was actually comforting even though they knew they lived in a nice area of Manhattan. But given they were college students and come fall four of their friends would be moving in they felt more secure. And the additional security was a leverage point when talking to John about Rachel living there if she got into Columbia or NYU which were two local places she’d applied to. And so far it seemed that maybe Rachel’s dad was going to relent and let Rachel live at the house if she got into one of the colleges in the city area. Landon was pretty sure if John allowed it it’d be because he wouldn’t want to leave Rachel’s safety in the hands of a college dorm and that with the house came all the security and she’d have a bedroom and there was a number of people in the house who’d act as indirect chaperones for him. As soon as they got in the door Landon’s phone started ringing. He smiled picking up as it was Rachel.
“Hello beautiful. See I think of you and poof you call.”, Landon greeted with a grin. Lily rolled her eyes but her phone rang as well as she picked up. “Hey Speedy.”, Lily greeted and Landon shook his head at his cousin as it was her boyfriend calling her. “Hi Landon. Waited till I knew you’d be out of classes for the day.”, Rachel answered with a smile. “Hey back at ya. So are you home now?”, Tommy asked. “Well good timing I just walked in the door with Lily. Was going to grab something to eat. What’s happening in Bayville?”, Landon asked walking in the direction of the kitchen. “Yeah we just walked in. What’s up?”, Lily asked plopping down on the sofa. “Well I’m not actually in Bayville right now.”, Rachel answered. Landon cocked his head to the side and raised an eyebrow as he took a water from the fridge. “On the train, I know I’m taking normal transport, with Rachel we are on our way to see you guys.”, Tommy explained. “You’re coming here?”, Lily asked looking around at the mess that her and her cousin left the house in having both been too busy to clean this past couple weeks. “Why aren’t you in Bayville Rach?”, Landon asked. “Because I got permission from mom to come to the city with Tommy to see you and Lily. So I’m sitting on the train with Tommy and we should be there in a few minutes. Just wanted to make sure you were home.”, Rachel explained. Landon looked around thinking the same thing as his cousin the place was dirty as hell. “Um thanks for the notice. We’ll see you soon then speedy. Love you.”, Lily said getting off the phone. “LANDON!”, Lily shouted from the living room. “It is okay that we are coming?”, Rachel asked. “Yeah of course it is. I’ll see your shortly. Love you.”, Landon said ending the call. “I know! We need to seriously CLEAN!”, Landon said getting into the cabinet under the sink for the cleaning supplies.
Lily took a breath and closed her eyes focusing as she started walking around the house a trash bag suspended in air and trash flying from various corners of the house into the bag. Landon started rushing around picking up anything not garbage and using the cleaner to wipe down all the surfaces. “Days I wish I had Tommy’s power…”, Landon said out of breath throwing the cleaning bottles back under the sink and leaning against the counter. Lily walked back in from putting the bags of trash into the cans outside and nodded in agreement. “We shouldn’t go two weeks without cleaning, seriously.”, Lily said leaning against the counter next to her cousin. “Agreed. At least we do laundry every week so no dirty clothes scattered around.”, Landon said. “Did you clean your room?”, Lily asked. “No. Why would I? Rachel’s not going up there.”, Landon questioned. Lily chuckled and shook her head. “If you think so.”, Lily teased. Landon rolled his eyes. “Seriously it’s not going to happen. Between her own morality, her dad and mom’s influence, oh and let’s not forget that new dragon she got in Romania it’s not happening.”, Landon stated. Lily shrugged. “I’m just saying from what I understand Rachel has been a bit more…what was the world you described that first weekend after she got that dragon…ooo I remember wild.”, Lily teased. Landon sighed shaking his head. “Still doesn’t mean I’m taking her upstairs to my bedroom. That’s just way too much temptation for me.”, Landon said. Lily snorted. “I’m just saying if she wants to go upstairs you might not be given the choice in the matter. And she’s sixteen that’s legal.”, Lily said pushing away from the counter hearing the doorbell.
Lily skipped down to the front door and pulled it open and screamed in surprise. It wasn’t Tommy and Rachel waiting to be let in but Addison, the boy from university and the newspaper. He grabbed her and started to pull her away from the house putting a hand over her mouth while keeping an arm tight over her arms. Landon heard the scream and ran for the door, since it wasn’t a scream of joy at seeing Tommy he heard. Lily chomped down on her attacker’s hand causing his to yell in pain but let her to yell. “LANDON!”, Lily shouted. Landon ran down the stairs and down the street. “LET MY COUSIN GO NOW BEFORE YOU GET HURT!”, Landon shouted. Addison looked at Landon and tightened his grip on Lily. “Oh and how are you going to hurt me without hurting her?”, Addison asked. A blur of white went past Landon and Addison and within a blink of an eye Addison realized he didn’t have Lily. “He’s not the one that’s going to hurt you shitface.”, Tommy said setting Lilly down. Addison spun around to look at the white haired man with green eyes as Landon had briefly described earlier. “You must be Tommy? I’m not scared of you.”, Addison scoffed. Tommy looked to Landon. “Does Haven law apply in this situation?”, Tommy questioned. Landon shook his head. “NOPE! He’s free game.”, Landon answered. “Good…”, Tommy said and in a blur started landing jabs to Addison’s face and torso till Addison stumbled back and found himself against Landon. Landon placed his hands on Addison’s arms. “Think he’s done Tommy.”, Landon said looking at the blood and bruising. “You have enough creepy stalker?”, Landon asked looking at Addison. Tommy stopped and stood back glaring at Addison. Addison simply nodded his head.
Rachel came running around the corner having been left behind by Tommy who’d been in a hurry to see Lily. Rachel had not wanted to be carried because running at Tommy’s speed made her sick. “Whoa what did I miss?”, Rachel asked rounding the corner. Lily walked up behind Tommy and wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his shoulder blades. “Alright speedy, idiot has learned a valuable lesson. Let’s just calm down.”, Lily said kissing the back of Tommy’s neck. Landon looked over his shoulder to Rachel. “Um hey sweetie.”, Landon greeted. “So here’s how this is going to go down. You go find yourself an ER make some shit up about why you look like a couple dozen guys kicked . You say one word about my friend here try to file a police report and my cousin gets to file a police report about you trying to abduct her. And if that’s not enough to get you to keep your mouth shut I’ll come for you and what my friend here did in defense of his girlfriend will feel like a blessing to what I’ll do.”, Landon said letting Addison go. Addison stumbled forward a little and looked at Landon and then back at Tommy. Rachel cautiously walked up hearing Landon say ‘abduct’ and linked her arm to Landon’s holding his hand tightly. Addison nodded and ran across the street and then went as far away he could. “Someone want to tell me who the FUCK that was and why he was trying to snatch MY Lily?”, Tommy asked still fuming.
“Let’s go inside and then we can talk.”, Landon suggested. Rachel nodded in agreement heading for the stairs. Tommy just stood there still angry. Lily hugged him tightly and lightly stroked the back of his hair. “Let’s go inside Speedy.”, Lily suggested nudging him to the stairs. Tommy grunted but went inside. Landon keyed the lock code getting the houses security armed incase Addison was as stupid as he looked. The four sat down in the living room and Tommy looked from Lily to Landon waiting for an answer to his question. Rachel curled up on the sofa next to Landon holding his hand. “His name is Addison.”, Lily stated. “He goes to the university for journalism and is in almost all my classes. He also works at the times too. He’s been bothering me since start of freshmen year. I’ve told him I’m not interested and that I have a boyfriend. He didn’t seem to get that I was serious. Today he saw Landon and I walking to our one shared class and Landon had his arm around my shoulders like he tends to do being all buddy buddy. Addison took that to mean something more. He tried to stop Landon from getting in the cab to leave school. Landon firmly told him to leave me alone and made it clear I’m his cousin and that my boyfriend is rather real. I guess he followed us or something I don’t know. But the doorbell rang and I thought it was the two of you so I went to turn the alarms off and let you in and he grabbed me. I’m not a telepath so I don’t know what the fucktard thought he was going to do. I screamed before he covered my mouth, then I bit his hand and yelled for Landon. Landon came charging out and next thing I know you’ve got me in your arms.”, Lily explained.
Tommy tapped his foot still angry against the floor. “I should go kill him. And what were you doing Landon?”, Tommy asked turning to Landon. “You said you’d watch out for her.”, Tommy added angrily. “Excuse me Thomas Pietro Maximoff? You going to take that tone with me? I ran as soon as I heard her scream, like her I thought it was you and Rachel at the door. The second I heard her scream I was running for that door. I wasn’t going to let him take her or hurt her. She is my cousin, she’s like a damn sister to me. If you hadn’t rushed in he was going to be mud literally. You run faster than my powers can transfigure someone. So don’t for a damn second think I’d have let someone take Lily.”, Landon said pointing at Tommy narrowing his eyes. Rachel reached over and gently brought Landon’s hand back down and Lily snuggled up to Tommy to try and get him to chill. “Alright Speedy take a few breaths okay. I am extremely capable of taking care of myself you know. If you hadn’t zoomed in Addison was going to get clobbered across the back of the head with a piece of an iron railing from the house next door. So don’t either of you point fingers or get mad. Besides Tommy you came here to see me and spend time with me and lord knows you have to get on the train home before the last train leaves so can we not be all angry and just enjoy the hours we get?”, Lily requested. Tommy sighed and nodded. “And I’m not taking the train back tonight. I told Ma and Pop that I was staying the night.”, Tommy said referring to Aislinn and David. Lily smiled and hugged him. “Yay! A weekend with my speedy here? I can do that. Let’s head upstairs hero….”, Lily said getting up and grabbing her hand. “See you two…I don’t know when but we’ll eventually leave my room.”, Lily said with a little wave to Rachel and Landon as she took Tommy upstairs.
Landon shook his head smiling. He knew Tommy and Billy didn’t call his parents ma or pop to their faces, but they’d slip and call them that sometimes. Landon knew it’d mean the world to his mom to hear it. Sure she didn’t give birth to Billy and Tommy and didn’t really raise them as they’d only been at the Haven for two years, buts he cared for them as her own. “Well I’m sure it’s safe to guess you aren’t staying the night here.”, Landon commented putting an arm around Rachel. Rachel smiled. “Yeah even mom wouldn’t agree to that. So I do have to take that long train ride all alone tonight.”, Rachel sighed. Landon smirked bringing his hand to tilt her head up to him. “Who said you’d be going alone? I’m going home this weekend. So I’ll be with you.”, Landon said before leaning down kissing her softly. Rachel smiled into the kiss wrapping her arms around his neck wanting more than just a soft kiss running her tongue across his lips. Landon smirked and opened his mouth letting her in. As the kiss continued the pair moved to be laying on the couch on their sides. Landon’s right hand moving up and down her side and along her back occasionally grasping at her ass getting little squeaks from Rachel every time he did. As his hand moved up her back it found her bare back as her shirt had ridden up slightly. Landon quickly pulled his hand back and from the kiss as his index finger was bitten. “God damn it Nazir. You are probably the smallest, at the moment please I do not need or want to see your full size, and ever vigilant cockblocker ever.”, Landon cursed. Rachel giggled a little but sighed. “Nazir, don’t bite Landon. His hand was fine on my back. You know what why don’t you go forage the kitchen I’m sure there’s from fresh fruit you can find.”, Rachel suggested to her white dragon.
Nazir let a puff of freezing cold air snort out of his nose as he pulled off from Rachel’s skin, Rachel wincing ever so slightly as he did. Rachel and Nazir had only been bonded for two months and were still adjusting to each other. Her father assured her that after a while of being bonded it would be second nature and it would not hurt when Nazir left her skin to no longer look like a white tattoo on her skin. She turned her head and looked over to Nazir. He was a pure white dragon with the coldest ice blue eyes, he’d grown to the size of a medium sized dog at this point and was walking away to go find a snack. Rachel sighed and looked at Landon taking his hand that Nazir had bit and first kissed the finger he’d nipped and then just to tease Landon, it was obvious Rachel had been spending too much time with Blaire, sucked on his finger. Landon blinked at this act and shook his head. “You are horrible…but god I love you. Now come here.”, Landon said grasping the back of her head and pulling her closer kissing her deeply taking advantage of her parted lips to return to his exploration and cohabitation of her mouth. Rachel moaned a little into the kiss, she’d have to remember Blaire was right even the tiniest thing could get a boy to think dirty. Rachel pressed herself closer to him letting one hand stay in his hair her fingers playing with the short black hairs, the other moving lower and under his shirt getting to roam freely across his body as she wedged right leg between his legs to be as close as she could get on the couch. Landon was doing his best to ignore the Crow voice that was screaming and going insane with each little movement she made and instead focused on the kiss and letting his right hand roam again mostly rubbing at her thigh outside her jeans and grabbing at her ass again and even up the back of her shirt staying below the bra now that Nazir was gone.
While Landon and Rachel both worked to maintain some amount of decorum in their making out Lily and Tommy were not bound to such things. No, the second Tommy shut Lily’s bedroom door Lily had turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck kissing him running her tongue along his lips. Tommy smiled opening his mouth letting his tongue mingle with hers as his hands rubbed his hands down her sides and started moving up under her shirt. Lily pulled back from him and the kiss raising her arms up letting him take the top off her before turning in his arms reaching back to grab the loops of his jeans as she walked forward. Tommy smiled and wrapped his arms around her letting his hands run up her chest rubbing outside of her bra enjoying the sounds of Lily moaning softly under his touch. The bedroom was the one place Tommy did everything he could to go as slow as possible. Though it seemed Lily wasn’t in a slow mood tonight as she turned back around to him and started pulling his shirt off him then undoing his pants letting them fall to the floor of her bedroom before setting her sights on removing his boxerbriefs next.
Tommy chuckled a little feeling slightly exposed but not minding in the least standing there naked in her bedroom. Lily smirked and turned him about and pushed him to be sitting on the bed. Tommy smiled up at her letting his hands run over her sides before leaning forward and starting to kiss at her abdomen. Lily moaned a little smiling as she reached behind her unhooking her bra and tossing it aside, which to Tommy was just an invitation as he kissed higher for the ‘mountains’ as he liked to call them. His hands moved to start unbuttoning her pants bout got annoyed with the number of buttons and pouted a little in frustration against her breast. “Darn pants..”, Tommy cursed as he kissed at her breast. Lily giggled a little and batted his hands away unbuttoning her jeans for him and started to slide out of them. “Thank you..”, Tommy said moving to her other breast as his hands pulled down her underwear. “Why buttons are such a problem for you is beyond me.”, Lily teased. “Why you have to wear pants with more than one button is beyond me.”, Tommy said grabbing her waist pulling her closer as he laid back on the bed bringing her with him. Lily giggled a little as the fell back onto the bed as she moved away from him to get further onto the bed. Tommy turned his head watching her move up the bed and smiled before moving after her. “Get back here.”, Tommy said before kissing her letting his hands roam down her body.
As things were getting ‘interesting’ at the Manhattan house Lily wasn’t the only of the Bryant triplets having drama with the opposite sex at university. Over in Boston Josalyn was staying at another one of the Frost family houses just east of Boston University. She didn’t mind that she was alone living in the five bedroom house, there was the possibility that some of the her old Academy classmates would be coming to Boston. She knew her little sister Emma wanted to go there and that Alexander was applying along with many other medical schools. Which anywhere Alex went Talia was going to follow, Josalyn didn’t really see Talia letting Alex go to college without her. Not in a Talia didn’t trust Alex to be faithful to her but that Talia doesn’t trust other girls around Alex. Josalyn for now was actually enjoying the quiet the house provided. She’d made a few friends so far during her freshmen year as a political science major, but many of these classmates were a bit more about partying than she was. So anytime she wanted to just escape the noise she just made an excuse about studying and went home where she got her quiet. And it wasn’t just the noise of partying college students that Josalyn liked to escape from. Back in Bayville Josalyn hadn’t really had an issue with guys. They generally kept their distance from her since most often she was with her triplet Merrick, till of course he moved to the Haven and after that she was generally in the company of the other Academy students which many of the local boys found the young Apollo to be intimidating just based on his height. But here at college Josalyn didn’t have those ‘guard dogs’ to intimidate and keep unwanted individuals at bay.
Now she had to deal with the stupidity of college boys including the idiots in fraternities. One such idiot was Robert Cooley a junior journalism major. Robert was friends with a few of the students in her political science classes so often during the time in between classes Robert was around. He’d tried talking to Josalyn a number of times with stupid lines trying to get her to agree to a date with him. Every time however he fell flat. His smile and puppy brown eyes may have worked on girls in Plymouth where he was from and even other girls attending the university but Josalyn was consistent on giving him the cold shoulder. This evening was no exception. Josalyn was hanging out in a dorm common room with some of her fellow students studying for a test. Robert had just finished a late class and walked into the coed dorm and stopped on his way to his dorm seeing Josalyn and three others with books opened. Robert walked over and slumped down into the space next to Josalyn on the sofa which was a bit of a squeeze. “Hey red.”, Robert greeted. Josalyn rolled her eyes. “I don’t get how you can try to argue, Katie, that modern media doesn’t influence politics.”, Josalyn said shaking her head. “I’m not say it doesn’t I’m just saying that it’s more a negative impact because it may get information out there but when that information is flawed or slanted to meet the political aspirations of the particular company that owns the media source it’s not helping anyone.”, Katie answered. “Yes it’s flawed because journalists these days no longer have any integrity or back bone to just give the facts and not add their own political standing or that of their employer. And worse yet is when these journalists think that their political opinions can be counted as facts. Opinions are opinions and facts are facts. There isn’t a gray area on that. “, Josalyn stated.
Robert coughed a little. Josalyn and the others looked at him. “What Robert? You got something of relevance that MIGHT be considered an intelligent thing to add? Because if you don’t do us the favor and keep your mouth shut.”, Josalyn snapped. “Well I’m a journalism major after all. So, yes there are journalists out there that don’t just report the facts, they aren’t paid to report the facts. And the guys giving the facts and being real aren’t getting published because the owners of mass media don’t care about facts. They care about how many readers they get or how many viewers if you are talking news. And otherwise they want to push their own political ideals because politics is the most asinine thing this country has. Politics and money seem to make our country go round and it is crap but that’s how it is. And as long as people are willing to bend on their own integrity it’s going to continue to be corrupt.”, Robert stated. Josalyn blinked and looked at Robert in actually shock. “That is the first thing you’ve said since start of the school year that wasn’t stupid. Did you hurt yourself? Should you go lie down? I understand that sometimes when too much strain is placed on the brain it can be tiring.”, Josalyn teased with a smirk. Robert smiled a little. “Well now that you mention it..”, Robert said moving to try and lay down on the couch across her lap. “Oh I don’t think so.”, Josalyn said shoving him off the couch. Robert laughed landing on the floor. “Hey, you are the one that asked if I needed to lay down. Figured that was as close to an offer as I’d get from you.”, Robert said. Josalyn shook her head while her friends laughed. “Robert why do you keep trying? Josalyn has turned you down how many times since the fall?”, Katie asked. Robert shrugged. “I’m a journalism not a math major. And I keep trying because those eyes…..”, Robert answered smiling looking at Josalyn.
Josalyn rolled her eyes. “Yes well there are three others with the exact same set back in New York. Go try making googly eyes at one of my brothers, they’d break you in half, or worse try your antics on my identical twin if she doesn’t put you in the emergency room her boyfriend will.”, Josalyn said. Robert still smiled. “Well I don’t swing that way so your brothers would be out of the question. And identical is nice, but does she have your sass or better does she have your ass?”, Robert questioned. Josalyn scoffed and kicked his leg with her heel. “I’ll take that as a no. And besides I don’t go for taken women. And you’ve yet to say you’re spoken for.”, Robert said rubbing his leg. “No but as pointed out by Katie I’ve turned you down a few thousand times.”, Josalyn said. “True but I get banking that eventually I’ll get a yes. Because really you shouldn’t say no to someone without at least trying them out. You don’t really know me, well beyond the way I am when being stupid around friends. You might be surprised at the type of man I am when I’m with a woman.”, Robert said. “So again I ask would you have dinner with me and if I don’t offend you during the dinner go to a movie?”, Robert asked. Katie nudged Josalyn’s arm. Josalyn sighed. “Fine. One date then when you botch it like I know you will you never ask again.”, Josalyn agreed. Robert smiled and stood up dusting off his jeans and picked up her book closing it. “Then let’s go.”, Robert said. Josalyn blinked. “What? You mean literally right now go on a date with you? I’m not exactly dressed for a date…”, Josalyn said. Robert tilted his head to the side and looked at her. “Sneakers, jeans, and a Boston University tee? Look dressed to me. So come on.”, Robert said setting the book aside and grabbing her hand. “Um..alright. Guess I’ll see you guys later.”, Josalyn said as she was being half dragged away from her friends.
“So why the immediate time frame?”, Josalyn asked pulling her hand away from his as they walked down the hall. “So you can’t try and cancel on me.”, Robert said stopping at the door out of the dorm and holding it for her. Josalyn walked through with an eye roll. “I am capable of opening a door you know.”, Josalyn said. “I know, but I was raised that you always open doors. Plus saved you from possibly slamming it on my face.”, Robert added. “My car’s this way.”, Robert said leading the way to his little four door blue Mazda hatchback. Josalyn followed mentally preparing herself for the worst evening of her life. Robert unlocked the passenger door opening it for her. Josalyn rolled her eyes getting into the car but Robert just smirked and closed the door once she was in the car. Robert got in and pulled away from the campus. “So where are we going?”, Josalyn asked. “Brown Sugar Café. You’ve said Thai is your favorite. And after dinner go over to Coolidge Corner to watch Woman in Gold which I know you wanted to see but none of your friends were willing to go.”, Robert explained. Josalyn raised an eyebrow. “So you pay attention, you want a cookie?”, Josalyn asked folding her arms unimpressed. Alright so in a way yes she was, she didn’t really think he actually listened. Since in her history guys don’t listen they are just looking for any angle to try and get in her pants. At least that was how it was with boys in Bayville that tried to approach her when she didn’t have her brother or one of the Academy boys nearby. Robert laughed. “A cookie could be nice. But I pay attention to what you talk about even if you think I don’t. I know more about you than you think.”, Robert said as he pulled into the restaurant getting out. “Oh like what?”, Josalyn asked getting out and walking into the restaurant with him.
“Well for one I know you’re a…mutant.”, Robert said whispering the last part as they stood in the restaurant waiting for a hostess to come to the stand. “And you figure that how?”, Josalyn asked. “Well because I’ve seen you run, really run it’s how you get to your classes so quickly. You think no one notices that you get from one side of campus to the other in half a second. Because no one sees you but I’ve seen you go from standing still to suddenly gone and just a little blur of red from your hair.”, Robert explained. “Just two?”, the hostess asked. Robert nodded. “Yes please.”, Robert said. Josalyn remained silent as they followed the hostess to a table and waited till she walked away. “Alright so you’ve caught me using my powers. What are you going to do about it? Leverage it against me, because I wouldn’t recommend that because I might not look it but I could probably kick your ass.”, Josalyn said keeping her voice low. Robert laughed and shook his head. “I’m not going to do anything. Why would I leverage you being a fellow mutant against you?”, Robert asked looking at the menu. “Wait you’re a mutant too?”, Josalyn asked. Robert paused and looked to the waitress. “Can I start you with some drinks and appetizers?”, the waitress asked. “I’ll take a Sam Adams for a drink.”, Robert said looking to the waitress. “I’ll need ID.”, the waitress said. Robert dug out his wallet and showed his licenses that showed he was over 21. “Iced tea for me.”, Josalyn answered. “And how about the combo platter?”, Robert suggested. Josalyn nodded. “Alright I’ll be right back with your drinks and the appetizers should be just a few minutes.”, the waitress said walking away.
“Yes I’m a mutant too. We can’t all be from Bayville and attend the Academy or Institute now can we. My parents wanted to keep me out of the strife between your schools so I stayed in Plymouth and learned to control my flying and heat vision.”, Robert answered still keeping his voice low after the waitress walked away. “So you know about the schools?”, Josalyn asked. Robert nodded. “Yeah when my powers started my parents were approached by a Jean Shadow from the Xavier Institute and by a Christian Frost from the Lehnsherr Academy.”, Robert explained. Josalyn shifted in her chair a little uncomfortable as he said the named. Robert raised an eyebrow. “You’re related to Christian right? I mean your last name is Bryant-Frost.”, Robert said. Josalyn nodded. “He’s my dad, well technically step dad. And I’m related to Jean too, because my biological dad is her father-in-law.”, Josalyn explained. Robert nodded. “Must have been really complicated for you going to the Academy with your sister-in-law and I’m guessing older half brother at the Institute.”, Robert said. “My half brother Demitri never went to the Institute and doesn’t associate himself as a member. He is a member of the Haven which is a neutral group of mutants. Complicated was when my identical twin Lily chose to leave the Academy to study at the Institute. Complicated even further when my mother, and my brothers left the Academy before my senior year to live at the Haven leaving me with my little sister and dad at the Academy.”, Josalyn explained as their waitress sat down their drinks and their appetizers.
“Are you ready to order?”, the waitress asked. “I’ll take the Shrimp Pad Kee Mow.”, Josalyn stated. “I’ll go with the Nau Yang Num-Tok?”, Robert said handing over his menu. “Those will be up shortly.”, the waitress said leaving them alone again. Josalyn took a few items off them platter and put them on a separate plate to eat. “So things were complicated back home. But you aren’t there anymore. Now it’s just you here in Boston. No siblings to deal with being on the opposite sides of the fence with. Though a little funny that you are triplets and one sends up on the institute side, you on the academy and then your brother at the neutral side.”, Robert commented. Josalyn shrugged. “Hadn’t thought about it that way. Lily is technically the oldest then Merrick then me. So we are the ‘good’, the neutral, and the ‘bad’ in that order.”, Josalyn mused. Robert laughed a little eating some of the appetizers. “I remember the pitches that Jean and Christian gave for their schools. Neither really sounded good or bad, they just differ on mutant politics. Which as a political science major you should know all about that.”, Robert commented before sipping his beer. “Yeah it’s all about politics really. Though I still believe and agree with the Academy’s political standing. Mutants should not be oppressed by humans and humans should not be coddled and protected when payback is given for the pain they cause mutants is given. If they can’t give us equality I say we give them back what they’ve dished out over the years to mutant kind.”, Josalyn stated.
Robert nodded. “I actually agree with that. I’ve been treated badly growing up by humans in my town and then the FOH in general, and I wouldn’t mind giving them some payback for what they’ve caused. But growing up my parents wanted me to be neutral and out of it. So I was.”, Robert explained. “Was?”, Josalyn asked. “Yeah till my senior year of high school when the FOH burned my family’s house to the ground hoping I was in it and instead killed my parents and my little brother and sister and none of them were mutant like me. So they murdered four of their own kind because they wanted me. I went to the police but they didn’t listen because well in my town the FOH control the police. So instead I got my own retribution finding the FOH members I heard were responsible and got my vengeance. It doesn’t bring my family back but it sure felt better.”, Robert explained take a bite of a ravioli he’d dunked into the spicy sauce and quickly grabbed her iced tea to drink away the heat. “Excuse me? That’s my drink…”, Josalyn said. Robert nodded setting the drink down. “I know, sorry but that sauce is god damn. And beer plus heat equals badddd.”, Robert explained. Josalyn covered her mouth to hide a laugh but Robert caught it. “Did I just..did you just laugh?”, Robert teased reaching over pulling her hand away from her face. “Aw look at that a smile. You look even prettier when you smile. It lights up those green-yellow cat eyes.”, Robert commented. Josalyn rolled her eyes taking her hand back. “Anyways. So you got your revenge? You killed them?”, Josalyn asked. Robert nodded silently as the waitress was coming over and set their meals in front of them.
“Yes. I thought it’d be harder for me to do, in regards to my conscious but it wasn’t. The fact they took the lives of four innocent people made them murders and if the judicial system would fail me I would instead be judge, jury and executioner in its place. They received no worse and no better than what they gave.”, Robert explained before starting to eat his meal. Josalyn nodded and started to eat. She’d not actually killed anyone, but since she’d been a student she had not been sent out on missions. Azazel had assured after college her full potential would be utilize for the cause. As she ate she looked over at Robert realizing maybe the goof that he presents was just his way of dealing with his pain. She couldn’t imagine how much it would hurt if someone killed her parents and siblings. Even Lily or Demitri. She may not be close to them but if someone was to kill them Josalyn knew she’d want vengeance and to inflict equal if not more amounts of pain to the offender. “So this might seem too personal and you don’t have to answer it. But how is it that your half brother is like the same age as your parents?”, Robert asked. Josalyn sighed. “Like I said you don’t have to answer if it’s too personal.”, Robert said. “I don’t particularly like talking about it. But you told me about what happened to your family. So…”, Josalyn sighed. “Demitri’s dad, my biological father Calvin Shadow…he raped my mom. Thus me and my siblings. And that’s about all I’m willing to discuss on that subject.”, Josalyn stated. Robert nodded. “You didn’t even need to discuss that much if you didn’t want to. So um how about you tell me exactly how it’s possible you left Bayville without a boyfriend? Or did you break someone’s heart to move to Boston?”, Robert asked trying to change the subject.
“I didn’t have a boyfriend back in Bayville. And the why is simply one word Merrick.”, Josalyn explained. Robert raised an eyebrow. “Your brother? How do you figure?”, Robert asked. “Merrick is 6’4” and wide shoulders and the strength of an African Elephant when he wants it. So boy come up to me and looming nearby is my brother who’s bite is worse than his bark and everyone in town knew it.”, Josalyn explained. Robert chuckled and sipped his beer. “Bark is worse than his bite huh? Good to know. Guess I should be glad he doesn’t go to Boston University with us.”, Robert joked. “Yes you should. Merrick would have flattened you the second time I had to say no to a date with you. He’s got a thing about when a girl says no it better be obeyed.”, Josalyn explained. “Well if tonight goes belly up I promise I won’t ask so no calling sicing your brother on me.”, Robert said with a smile pointing his beer bottle at her before taking another sip. “Surprisingly you haven’t botched it, too much.”, Josalyn said finishing her meal. Robert smirked finishing off his meal. “So we still going to the movie?”, Robert asked. “Alright but don’t think for a second you are going to try anything in the dark theater.”, Josalyn warned. Robert held up his hand to get their waitress’s attention. “Check please.”, Robert said.
After paying the bill it was off to the small independent theater to watch a movie he knew she would want to see. They didn’t talk during the movie. At one point during the movie Robert yawned stretching his arms up and put an arm along the back of her chair. Josalyn rolled her eyes at this pathetic attempt and just ignored him watching the film. There was only a hand full of people in the theater so it was quieter as everyone was watching the film. “So did you enjoy it?”, Robert asked as they were leaving. “It was rather good. Thanks.”, Josalyn said stepping out of the theater. “Guess I should head home. It wasn’t terrible, good night Robert.”, Josalyn said starting to walk up the block. Robert raised an eyebrow and followed after her. “Wait a tick. You walking home? I screw up or something that I don’t get to drive you home?”, Robert asked catching up to her. “Um I don’t live all that far and can get there faster than you could drive on my own.”, Josalyn explained. “I get that, but it’s a date can’t I at least take you home? Or am I not supposed to know where you live?”, Robert asked. Josalyn sighed, she didn’t generally have people at her house because she felt weird explaining why she lived in such a nice place. “Fine you can drive me home.”, Josalyn said allowing him to escort her to his car. She gave the addressed and he blinked. “That’s a nice neighborhood…”, Robert commented as they drove.
He pulled up out front and got out and looked at the house. “Wow. Ritzy.”, Robert commented. Josalyn sighed and shrugged. “It’s my family’s house. The Frost family owns a number of properties.”, Josalyn explained walking up the steps to the door unlocking it. “Well thanks for dinner and the movie. It wasn’t as terrible as I thought it’d be.”, Josalyn said extending a hand. “Good night Robert.”, she added. Robert looked at her and then at her hand and back again. He smirked and leaned in kissing her instead. Josalyn blinked having not expected that. Robert was waiting to be shoved or something but Josalyn actually lightly kissed back. Robert smiled a little as he pulled back. “Good night Josalyn. It was fun and I hope you let me take you out again.”, Robert said. Josalyn rolled her eyes but was smiling. “We’ll see. Bye.”, Josalyn said slipping inside the house shutting the door. She leaned against the door and touched her lips. It wasn’t her first kiss but it was technically her first date and first goodnight kiss. She laughed a little and locked the doors peeking out the window a little and laughed again seeing Robert. He was literally walking on air as he didn’t even walked down the stairs but just stepped off them all together slowly floating down to the sidewalk before getting in his car.
Thirteen hours away in Tokyo Xavier was hurrying across campus from the building his class was in to get to his dormitory to meet for his Skype date with Ashley. It was 1 in the afternoon for him but 10 o’clock at night back in Bayville so this was his chance to see her and talk to her before she went to bed and then they wouldn’t talk again for another eight hours which would be shortly before he went to bed. So Xavier never missed a Skype since he only got two hours a day to ‘be with her’. As he raced through the crowd he bumped into someone and caused them and him to drop their books. “Gomen'nasai. Watashi ga okonatte ita tokoro, watashi wa mite imasendeshita.” (I am sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going.), Xavier apologized stooping to start picking up his books and the other persons. “Zabieru o shinpaishinaide kudasai. Anata wa watashi ni subete no jikan o banpu suru koto ga dekimasu.”(Don't worry, Xavier. You can bump into me any time.) a somewhat familiar female voice giggled bending down to help him get the books. Xavier blinked as he looked up to see the face of his ex girlfriend looking at him. “Suki? Watashi wa anata ga koko ni ikimashita shirimasendeshita.” (Suki? I didn't know you went here.) Xavier commented standing back up checking to make sure he had all the correct books. Suki smiled. “Hai. Watashi wa kono gakki de tensō. Watashi wa anata o mite totemo ureshīdesu. Anata ga chūshoku no tame ni watashi ni sanka shimasu ka? (Yes. I just transferred in this semester. I'm so happy to see you. Would you like to join me for lunch?) Suki asked smiling brightly.
“Ā, watashi wa dekimasen. Watashi wa Amerika de watashi no gārufurendo to watashi no sukaipu no dēto ni okurete jikkō shite iru yo.” (Oh, I can't. I'm running late for my Skype date with my girlfriend in America.), Xavier quickly explained trying to get past Suki. Suki raised an eyebrow and stepped in his way. “Gārufurendo? Amerikadeha? Anata wa jōdan suru hitsuyō ga arimasu.” (Girlfriend? In America? You must be kidding.) Suki questioned not finding that believable. After all she had broken up with him two years ago when he moved to study in America. What American girl would want to date someone half way around the world who might never come back. Xavier sighed looking at his watch. “Hai, gārufurendo. Kore wa hijō ni shinkoku realtionshipdesu. Watashi ga shitte iru nan'ninka no hitobito to wa chigatte, watashi no saiai no mondai o kyori mitsukaranai. Suki sayōnara ima.” (Yes, girlfriend. It is a very serious realtionship. Unlike some people I know, my beloved doesn't find distance an issue. Now goodbye Suki.) Xavier said before abruptly pushing past her and rushing for his dorm. He ran up the stairs and straight into his dorm booting up his laptop and sitting down on his bed Indian style as the Skype program launched. The second he logged in he instantly got a video call from Ashley.
Xavier smiled brightly as the image of Ashley laying on her bed came into focus. He knew she had the laptop on her pillow based on how the dorm room looked. “You are late, Hansamu.”, Ashley teased pulling her blonde into a ponytail and getting comfortable stretched out on her bed. She was rather fortunate that with Lily being gone she didn’t get a new roommate at the institute. It made the times that their Skype became more personal less weird. Xavier nodded. “I am sorry Saiai. I was rushing and ran into my ex Suki, literally and dropped books and had to pick them up. Then she tried to talk to me. And I explained I was running late to Skype with my Saiai. I’ve missed you. How was school and training today?”, Xavier asked wanting to know everything going on back in Bayville. Ashley thought for a moment when he mentioned his ex but obviously the girl had just been a speed bump in getting to her so she didn’t matter. “It was a good day, missed you like crazy of course. Right after classes Tommy and Rachel headed for the train to go into the city to see Lily and Landon. So did you think about what we talked about last week about summer?”, Ashley asked.
Xavier nodded. “Yes. I have talked to my mother. And she thinks flying you here for a month would be do able. Just need to decide which month you’d like to come visit June or July since August you’ll be needing to get moved and ready to start university and Julliard. I am still so proud that my Saiai is going to Julliard.”, Xavier answered. Ashley smiled brightly happy with this news. “That’s great. I’ll talk to my parents but probably July will be best. Rose used to tell us and show us pictures all the time of your parents house and property. It’s so beautiful. I can’t wait to see it and more importantly you in person.”, Ashley said. “And I can’t wait to see you and show you around my childhood home. I think you’ll find the gardens very lovely in July.”, Xavier agreed. “So your parents know and won’t mind that we are intimate together and would be while I’m there? I just don’t want to offend or do something wrong. I’ve only met them a handful of times ever and only once since you’ve been here.”, Ashley asked. Xavier laughed and nodded. “My parents know. My father was a bit awkward about the situation but my mother was raised a bit more modern and doesn’t think any of it. My family already likes you and since I love you they will as they get to know you better.”, Xavier said. The pair continued talking for the rest of their hour time limit before Xavier had to return to his studies and Ashley had to get sleep.