^The institute^
Sound Track: Oh Quiet Night - Will Stratton
*****
It felt strange to be back. It felt as though I had never actually left. People were smiling and chatting all around me as if they were completely oblivious to the outside world. I heard stories from people over dinner and in turn, people wanted to know how how everything went so I told my stories as well, trying not to hyperventilate out of an anger-filled panic at the thought of everyone I left behind the entire time. I only got sympathetic smiles and words of endearment from people.
***
Eventually the sun sank below the horizon and the pink streaks of the last colors of the day faded into nocturnal blue. I sat on my bed in a pale blue tank top and black and white striped pajama bottoms, looking out of the window that was next to my bed.
I had managed to escape the onslaught of interacting with people only just long enough slip away and squeeze a shower into my night. It felt amazing to be clean. My hair was in neat and unfrizzy curls compared to the ratty poof it had been earlier. My hair hadn't been in curls like it was now since I left. It was more like strange squiggles.
The moon had snuck out from the dark corners of the sky to shine directly into my room, flooding it with a cool pale light. I heard and felt the familiar sensation of moving air next to me. I didn't bother to look away from the smiling man on the moon to my friend.
"I've always wondered what the world looks like when you do that." I said beginning to lazily count the stars, "how you can open my door and I won't ever see it." I finally spared a glance, he was smiling.
"It looks like I'm the only one who's moving" he said simply, "but if you look close enough everything is moving... just a whole hell of a lot slower than I am."
I grinned, trying to imagine what that looked like. I wished I could look back into some of his memories to see for myself like I normally could, but I still had promised him privacy all those years ago.
"How'd it go?" I asked casually changing the subject.
Peter gave away no blatant emotions on his face, but I knew him well enough to see all of the little micro ones.
"It didn't go well did it?" I asked with a mildly grim expression.
"They're just trying to work out what the hell to do" he said with an utterly exhausted look on his face and running a hand through his hair.
It hurt to see him like that. I scooted over on my tiny twin-sized bed and beckoned him to join me. I ended up being utterly squished against the wall. He wasn't actually that big, he was just doing it to piss me off.
"I wonder if they are still doing-" I had begun out of sheer curiosity. My question was answered when I heard the familiar knocking that started at the end of the hallway "dorm checks" I finished with a huff.
The next thing I knew the sharp rap was on my door. I clamored over Peter unceremoniously then face planted into my rug before popping up to my feet and tugging the door open, slightly out breath.
I began my rambling before the elderly woman even got a syllable in, "Ms. Downing!" I exclaimed throwing my hands up like one would when on a roller coaster then proceeding to hug her.
"How are you!? you're looking well! Jumped on that kale train have we? I heard its an absolute miracle food! Not that you would need it... Oh, it's so nice to see you again!" I said in one big breath and hugging her again.
"Josephine, my dear, it's lovely to see you again as well" a rather flustered Ms. Downing said, patting my back awkwardly. I released her then stood back with an absurd grin on my face.
"It's so nice to be back at the institute! Knowledge is power, ya know what they say.... Well, Goodnight then!" I said waving a small goodby which she reciprocated meekly, looking utterly flabbergasted over the whole thing.
After shutting my door I had to pinch my nose shut and hold my breath to keep from absolutely losing it. Her face was just too perfect for the whole thing. I slid against the door, holding my abdomen.
"Oh my god I can't believe that actually worked" I said wiping a tear from my bottom lashes after I had managed to compose myself.
"Ah yes, the ol' shock and run tactic, works every time" Peter said like an old scholar.
I was still chuckling as I made my way back to the little sliver of bed that I had been so graciously granted by this metallic-haired Sir. I jumped over him, and landed on my butt exactly where I wanted to be. I grinned triumphantly.
"Someone get this girl to the Olympics" Peter remarked rolling his eyes and I stood up, taking a bow.
"I'd like to thank the academy-"
"Alright there Katherine Hepburn" he said and I sat back down, still chuckling.
We sat in a light hearted silence for the next ten minutes. Eventually I couldn't help but say what was gnawing on my mind, "has your mutation changed recently?" I asked suddenly, relieving a huge weight from my chest.
"Not that I'm aware of. What makes you ask?"
"I feel like mine has" I said sitting up and wrapping my arms around my knees.
"How so?"
"I don't know" I sighed, staring to regret brining up the topic entirely. "I just feel like I can't do some of the things that I could any more"
"Like?"
"Looking at memories, feeling emotions from other people... hell, I couldn't even tell if you were happy or sad right now" I said pressing my forehead into my hands.
"But it's not possible to just lose an ability, isn't it?"
"I don't know" I admitted miserably. "Maybe I'll go talk to Sage tomorrow."
I felt him sit up and snake and arm around my waist. I melted into his side at the touch.
"Well can you tell what emotion I've got right now?" Peter asked me in a startlingly gentle voice.
I shook my mind free of these thoughts and concentrated hard for a moment. That extra sense I always envisioned as dark murky cloud that told me other people's emotions was reaching out blindly, grasping only empty space.
"No" I said quietly after awhile.
"I'll give you some help on this one cause it's kind of a tough one; picture someone taking a physical representation of safety. What do you see when you think of safety?" He whispered into my ear as he leaned his head against mine.
"An old comfy chair next to warm fireplace" I said a smile dusting my lips. If I had spoken my mind I would have said "you"
but I had stopped myself.
I heard him chuckle at my answer. "Now what do you see when you think of being content?"
"A happy family" I said and he didn't reply right away. "What? Not my family, one of those hallmark Christmas movie families with the perfect lives."
"Alright then... lastly what do you see when you think of helplessness."
This last one threw me off guard and had my mind scrambling for an answer "being stranded at sea with only water proof suit cases to keep you afloat."
"So you're Tom Hanks now?" He asked smiling.
"Shut up, you know that'd be terrifying."
"Now take all of those images and put them all in front of you side-by-side then put it all on a spin-cycle on low and like magic, you've got my emotion at the current moment. Does that make you feel any better?"
"I guess so. Although it took a good five minutes longer than normal" I smiled and looked up from my comforter. He looked rather proud of himself.
"You're something, you know that?" I said scrunching up my nose.
"But it did made you feel better, didn't it?"
I nodded "of course it did Peter" I said laughing. Of course it did.
*
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A/N: Hey guys!! So I got a lead on our schools fall play this year: a Wrinkle in Time (I'm Mrs Whatsit!!!) so if I seem a little laggy (which I shouldn't, but in the case that I do) you know why! Also anyone to name the movie I referenced when I mentioned the floating suitcases get my appreciation and a lovely lovely shout out!
Question of the day: what do you guys think about the deadpool movie being green-lit? (Being confirmed)
Me?: *singing and dancing in circles* I'm so excited!!!