Slightly Better Than Twinkies - Peter Maximoff

1. Pawn to E4

Word Count: 3506

Warnings: floof

"What is Atticus's relationship with his children like?"

"Atticus is an incredible father, offering to read them stories and give them comfort when they need it, but he's also not afraid to teach them about the harsh truth, like that one time he took Jem with him to tell Tom's wife Helen about his death," you recited, having looked at these notes about a thousand times over.

It was a warm spring day, and you and your group of fifteen-year-old Mini X-Men (as you liked to call yourselves) were taking advantage of the weather and the pool so conveniently placed in the backyard of the Mansion.

You and Jean were laid down on separate floaties; Jean on a rainbow unicorn you had named Francisco because it's a fun name to say, and you on a poop emoji because, as Jean liked to point out, "It's a piece of shit, just like you." You had named yours Pooh Bear, both because you loved Winnie the Pooh and because the pun was too perfect not to take hold of.

Scott, Kurt, and Peter were closer to the middle of the pool, volleying a ball to each other as the two of you studied, and music from a speaker you still hadn't quite figured out the placement of was playing some of the classic rock music you had on your phone.

The Professor and Raven were doing something with the actual X-Men, but what were they doing? You had no clue. All you knew is that you were assigned to read To Kill a Mockingbird in a few days with a test at the end of the week, so you didn't ask any questions.

Jean, being the perfectionist she is, had actually laminated her notes (who the hell does that?), but you were grateful because it meant you were able to go in the pool and study at the same time.

"Tell me about his parenting style," she prompted, and you sighed. Your eyes were closed under your sunglasses as you floated in any random direction around the pool, your pretty much dry body lying motionless on the floaty while the tips of your fingers wiggled around in the cool water.

"Okay, so Atticus was a very wise man-"

"You know," a deeper voice mused as you could suddenly no longer feel the sun on your skin. You peeked your eyes open to see your best friend's upside down face staring down at you with a large grin. His wet silver hair gleamed in the sunlight as water droplets rolled down his face, neck, and chest. "You're being very boring right now."

You laughed and closed your eyes again, perching your sunglasses on the top of your head while his hands rested on the floaty. "If boring's what I gotta be to get a good grade on this test, then I guess that's what I'll be."

"You should come play a game with us," he suggested, wiping away the bit of water that dripped from his forehead to yours.

"So I can get my ass handed to me for the thousandth time? No thank you." You laughed and slightly adjusted on the floaty, though it wasn't moving anymore since Peter was keeping you still.

"Come on, one game."

"Jean," you called as you peeked one eye open to see Peter's damp silver locks falling in your face. "How many more questions do we have?"

"Uh, seventy-two."

Peter's eyes widened. "Seventy-two?!"

"For Part One," Jean confirmed from the other side of the pool, and Peter ran his fingers through his hair.

"I think we're going to be a while," you hummed, knowing that the questions also weren't going to have simple one word answers, but essays instead. You loved Jean, but holy shit.