Xaviers!

Posted: **Tue Apr 28, 2020 1:14 am**

*Thonk thonk.*

Unexpectedly talking to his former friends had left Leo restless.

*Thonk*

He needed some fresh air.

*Thonk thonk thonk*

With a swing of one massive arm, quills flew and several joined the others already stuck in one of the trees on the school grounds. Many more were stuck in the grass around the tree, having missed the mark entirely. He wasn't doing a very good job of murdering his complicated feelings about his former friends.

Posted: **Tue Apr 28, 2020 1:41 am**

Ainsley approached carefully and made his presence known well outside of what he thought Leo's range was, just based off watching him.

"I'm home."

Posted: **Tue Apr 28, 2020 2:42 pm**

He stopped preparing for the next swing and lowered his arm before turning to Ainsley.

"Care to tell me how you happened to run into those two?" he asked. There was a strange mix of gratitude and accusation in his tone.

Posted: **Tue Apr 28, 2020 9:55 pm**

Ainsley knitted his brow.

"Well if you gonna be a sassy bitch, I guess I'll just keep this ball." He replied as he dug Leo's special baseball out of his bag and held it up for Leo to see.

Posted: **Tue Apr 28, 2020 10:24 pm**

Leo's defensive attitude evaporated and his eyes widened as he hurried closer.

"You... but how?"

Posted: **Tue Apr 28, 2020 11:15 pm**

"I'm basically magic mate." He stated, giving the ball a twirl and catching it in his palm.

Posted: **Tue Apr 28, 2020 11:37 pm**

"So that's how you met Ed and Molly..." he said quietly.

"But why... why do so much for a guy you haven't even known that long?" he asked in the tone of someone not accustomed to random acts of kindness.

Posted: **Wed Apr 29, 2020 12:11 am**

Ainsley held out the ball for Leo to take.

"Does it please you to have it back?"

Posted: **Wed Apr 29, 2020 12:21 am**

He took it almost reverently, careful not to hold it too hard with his powerful hands.

"Are you kiddin'? This is the nicest," he said, voice growing heavy with emotion, "The nicest thing anyone's ever done for me."

Posted: **Wed Apr 29, 2020 12:33 am**

"Then that's why." Ainsley replied with a shrug.

"The old man is old. He'll die soon, and no one will care about the ball.

But you are young and you still very much care about it."

Posted: **Wed Apr 29, 2020 12:58 am**

"And you want nothing in return?" he asked, part of him waiting for the catch.

Posted: **Wed Apr 29, 2020 1:18 am**

"Nothing I can think of, no. The school provides me with everything I need, same as the other students." Ainsley replied, flopping down in the grass in lotus position to sit and draw. Away from the quills, of course.

Posted: **Wed Apr 29, 2020 1:40 am**

Leo stood there, holding back sudden wetness in his eyes. He was happy. Eventually, his eyes dried up and he sat down next to Ainsley.

"I owe you one for this. I mean it. And don't you dare say I don't need to."

Posted: **Wed Apr 29, 2020 2:23 pm**

"You know me well enough to know that threats aren't going to work on me.

I do what I want." He replied, looking at Leo over the edge of his sketch pad micheivously.

Posted: **Wed Apr 29, 2020 6:26 pm**

"You say that to everyone twice your size?"

Posted: **Wed Apr 29, 2020 6:35 pm**

"No.

I hate to tell you this Ace, but it seems like you may not have noticed and I don't want you to embarrass yourself.

I have a disability where I literally can only say it to you."

Posted: **Wed Apr 29, 2020 6:57 pm**

Ainsley wouldn't have been able to see Leo blushing, but it was somehow obvious.

"I... uhh... right. Shit. Sorry."

Posted: **Wed Apr 29, 2020 7:19 pm**

"No worries." He replied. His tone was conversational, so he definitely wasn't offended.

Posted: **Wed Apr 29, 2020 9:43 pm**

"One less worry anyway," he said, starting to gently toss the ball up and down.

"God, this thing really makes being a friggin' giant hit home."

Posted: **Thu Apr 30, 2020 4:36 pm**

"Did you prefer being smaller?"

Posted: **Thu Apr 30, 2020 7:22 pm**

"I would prefer a more human size. Being this big gets in the way sometimes and there's absolutely no way short of actual magic I could avoid sticking out."

Posted: **Thu Apr 30, 2020 7:28 pm**

"Being small isn't exactly fun times either, to be frank. At least you can scare the piss out of anyone foolish enough to pick on you."

Posted: **Thu Apr 30, 2020 7:56 pm**

"I never needed to be this big to do that," he said with tough-guy bravado, though it rang hollow.

Posted: **Thu Apr 30, 2020 8:34 pm**

"wWe're you always a hardass then?"

Posted: **Thu Apr 30, 2020 9:31 pm**

"I've done what I thought I had to do to protect myself. I don't know anymore if that makes me strong or afraid."

Posted: **Thu Apr 30, 2020 9:39 pm**

"I don't think they are mutually exclusive, do you?"

Posted: **Thu Apr 30, 2020 9:50 pm**

He sighed. "No. I guess not. Not as long as I don't let fear control me, right?"

"The last thing I want is to become a monster on the inside, lashing out at every perceived threat."

Posted: **Thu Apr 30, 2020 10:49 pm**

"I wouldn't worry about that.

I'll let you know if you're turning into a little shite." He smirked.

Posted: **Thu Apr 30, 2020 10:58 pm**

"I can believe that," he smiled.

"Enough about my issues. It sometimes feels like that's all we talk about."

Posted: **Thu Apr 30, 2020 11:57 pm**

" I'm game. What would you prefer to talk about instead?"

Posted: **Fri May 01, 2020 12:01 am**

"Movies, music, what you want out of this place. Stuff like that."

Posted: **Fri May 01, 2020 12:35 am**

Ainsley thought about the suggested topics and chose the easiest one.

"I'm just looking for a consistent roof over my head and a hot meal in my belly.

If that means signing up for throwing myself at megalomaniacs then i guess that's what I'll be doing. Not any less safe than sleeping on the streets, and the foods better here."

Posted: **Fri May 01, 2020 12:43 am**

"No plans for after? There's got to be something more you want than going back to Lambeth."

Posted: **Fri May 01, 2020 1:04 am**

"I don't really think that far ahead honestly. I try to live in the moment. Stuff changes too quickly to get too comfortable."

Posted: **Fri May 01, 2020 1:34 am**

Leo gave a single, rueful bark of laughter.

"This place might have me thinkin' more about future stuff more than usual, but I'm right there with you on that one."

Posted: **Fri May 01, 2020 9:01 pm**

Ainsley smiled at Leo's laughter.

"What have you been thinking about beyond becoming a awesome super hero?"

Posted: **Fri May 01, 2020 9:18 pm**

"I never said I had any idea. Not beyond the trade skill slash art stuff we already talked about. I guess I might try to use what I learn here to help the others like me."

Posted: **Fri May 01, 2020 9:20 pm**

"You could become an art teacher here." He suggested helpfully.

Posted: **Fri May 01, 2020 9:26 pm**

He shuddered. "Me? Teach? Are you nuts? 'Cause that's nuts."

Posted: **Fri May 01, 2020 9:33 pm**

"Why?"

Xaviers!

Ainsley's Lion

Ainsley's Lion

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