Something you Somehow Haven't to Deserve.

[Warren Worthington III]

"So, last chance to back out… you’re sure you want to go through with this?"

It’s the third time Warren has asked Josh essentially the same question in the last fifteen minutes, and he realizes his own anxiety is being more obvious than he’d like. Not that it really matters, since Josh is usually fairly aware of his moods anyway, but this meeting is likely to go better if he gets more control over their expression.

So he doesn’t actually wait for an answer, just gives an quick apologetic shrug before ringing the doorbell. "Oh well… too late now!"

He doesn’t recognize the young woman who opens the door; apparently she’s a new employee. Judging from the way her eyes widen when she sees his wings, though, it’s clear she recognizes him. No doubt they’d expected him to wear his harness, like he used to when he lived here. Things have changed, folks. I’m not hiding anymore… best you start getting used to it.

Warren gives her a friendly smile with an introduction. "Good evening. I believe we’re expected: Warren Worthington III and Josh Dalton?" Of course, she knows who they are, but it should give her a moment to recover… which she does smoothly, to her credit. “Of course. Please come with me?” She steps aside to invite them in before leading them down the hall.

Their hostess is waiting for them in the sitting room, sipping champagne from a fluted glass; she stands gracefully from the couch with an utterly artificial smile. “Warren! So lovely to see you again.” She gives the wings a quick glance and a disappointed frown, much as he’d expected – she never was comfortable with him keeping them uncovered outside of his rooms – and he meets her eyes without flinching; his smile an almost perfect copy of her own.

"Hello, Mother. It’s been a long time." He looks over to see how Josh is handling this, and grins more genuinely. Probably better than I am. "Mother, this is Josh Dalton, my partner. Josh, Mrs. Kathryn Worthington, my mother."

It’s weird being back, after over a year away, but not as weird as he’d feared… and it doesn’t feel at all like coming home. No surprise, I guess. This hasn’t been ‘home’ in a long time.

[Josh Dalton Worthington]

> "So, last chance to back out… you’re sure you want to go through with this?"

Josh gives Warren a nervous smile, but says nothing. Don’t tempt me…

Classes were finally over, and Josh somehow found himself standing with Warren outside his parent’s house. House seems like too small a word to encompass… this. He resists the urge to look around. Warren’s parents were loaded. His own family was definitely… comfortable. Josh’s mother, Dr. Rachel Dalton, was a university professor, but their house was nothing in comparison to this. It actually took a fair amount of time to get from the front gates to the mansion itself. The Worthington estate made the Institute look positively cozy.

The truth was the two of them needed a vacation, desperately. While visiting Warren’s family wasn’t exactly on either of their lists for relaxing activities, Warren really did need to reestablish contact with his parents, and they figured it might be tolerable if they were gone sightseeing much of the time. Josh had never been to California, so they had lots to do.

Again, Josh looks around in slight awe as they pass through hallways towards their destination. You didn’t tell me your family was quite this well off… wow. Looking around at the casual opulence was a nice diversion from what was coming. Meeting your significant other’s parents is always a trial, right? Somehow, he had a feeling this would be anything but easy.

> "Mother, this is Josh Dalton, my partner. Josh, Mrs. Kathryn Worthington, my mother."

Josh isn’t entirely sure what he’d imagined Warren’s mother to be, but she seemed to fit his expectations on the first sweep. Granted, she hasn’t morphed into a dragon yet, but everything else seems right. Kathryn Worthington seemed to be a textbook example of a well-dressed woman of high society. He extends a hand in her direction.

“It’s really nice to meet you, Mrs. Worthing - - - ” His greeting is interrupted as Kathryn sweeps her champagne flute in his direction. “Emily, darling, please bring another two glasses of champagne.” Oh. um… Josh sits back quickly on the sofa next to Warren, giving him a slight smile.

She takes a sip of her drink. “It really is marvelous to see you again, Warren. It seems like you’ve been gone for months! So much has happened. The Mitchells down the road decided to move into their summer home on a regular basis - I miss Barbara already! - so they sold the manor. We’ve gotten some beastly people from the East Coast in there now. The woman’s husband is the CEO of something or another, and she whips past the front gates in that Turbo Carrera at unseemly speeds. I can’t even enjoy breakfast out on the patio without hearing the racket…” Kathryn pauses.

Josh blinks slightly at her words. Is this lady for real? She didn’t seem particularly grounded in real life. More to the point, that jab at the East Coast stung a bit. He’d grown up mostly in Florida, but his mother’s family was from Massachusetts. Probably shouldn’t let that one slip.

“But enough about me… what have you been up to? I daresay you’ve nearly vanished from the tabloids.” She laughs dismissively. “Of course, I don’t keep up with them, but your father’s staff does. They were relieved that things quieted down before they had to do any damage control.” A slight frown forms, but vanishes. “I did notice that you’ve been in the company of the UN ambassador… Harold McCoy, is it? A prestigious position, to be sure.” Her discomfiture with Dr. McCoy seems to do battle with her interest in his position.

He does notice she doesn’t seem much interested in initiating conversation with him Well… maybe she just wants to catch up with Warren? Josh tries to be optimistic, but he’s fairly certain that’s not the case, and tries again. “You have a beautiful home, Mrs. Worthington.”

[Warren Worthington III]

> You didn’t tell me your family was quite this well off… wow.

Warren shrugs, suddenly defensive for no obvious reason. Yeah, well… I figured I’d keep it in reserve to impress you with if you ever get bored with me. It’s meant as joke, but the thought comes out more bitter than he’d intended. Sorry, he adds hastily. I didn’t mean that… this place is just getting to me a little, I think.

He doesn’t belabor the point, trusting Josh to understand… Josh has been in his memories enough to know what his life here had been like once his mutation started to manifest.

Looking back on it now, Warren realizes that the worst part of it hadn’t actually been the regular self-mutilation, or the side-effects of the various “treatments” his father’s doctors put him through, but the complete lack of real friends… something he hadn’t really recognized until he got out and made some genuine relationships. One in particular… have I told you lately how much I love you?

Warren’s mother is polite enough during initial introductions, and he sits on the couch hoping that maybe this won’t be as bad as he’d feared… a hope that lasts for the whole five seconds it takes for her to pointedly snub Josh. OK, then. Usual house rules apply, I guess. Kathryn’s version of the insult-game is a lot more subtle than what Warren’s gotten used to living with, but a year’s worth of hostile interviews and talk-show appearances has left Warren much better at it than he was when he left.

> “I did notice that you’ve been in the company of the UN ambassador… Harold McCoy, is it? A prestigious position, to be sure.”

"And Hank has earned it." He lets the tabloid references go by untouched and puts no emphasis on the name-correction; she’ll have to work much harder than that to needle him. "He’s easily the most all-around brilliant man I’ve ever met… I don’t know anyone else who could handle his political workload while still doing cutting-edge biochemistry research and taking the time to mentor new students... and maintaining professional respect. " That last is a private “joke” of sorts, a reference to all their discussions about how Warren’s wings would lose him “professional respect” if they were seen in public… and though he promised himself he wouldn’t go off on a mutant-rights tirade tonight, it’s an enormously satisfying nod in the direction of one.

> " You have a beautiful home, Mrs. Worthington."

Josh’s compliment, coming on the tail of Warren’s barbed comment, throws Mrs. Worthington into brief confusion and her first real acknowledgement of Josh’s presence. “Well, that’s very kind of you to say, young man. It’s been in the family for over three generations.” She frowns then and regains control. “What about your family? Dalton, you said? I don’t think I’ve heard of them.” It isn’t quite an accusation, but it hovers on the edge of one.

[Josh Dalton Worthington]

> have I told you lately how much I love you?

I can feel it, even when you don’t tell me. But I appreciate it anyway. It was true; if he concentrated briefly, it wasn’t very hard to pick up Warren’s feelings towards him. The near-physical presence of it anchored Josh, and he suspected he’d need it to get through the rest of this conversation.

> “What about your family? Dalton, you said? I don’t think I’ve heard of them.”

Oh, boy… here we go. Josh’s hand slides slowly towards Warren’s. He wasn’t sure whether she’d make an issue out of their relationship - Warren hadn’t really given him any clues either way. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to show any signs of it? Jesus Christ, she’s not a tyrannosaurus rex, she’s Warren’s mother. Josh takes a breath in.

“I’m from Florida, but my mother’s family is originally from Massachusetts. My mother, Rachel, is a professor of marine biology at the University of Miami. My father is the CEO of Alliant Industries. His work has been taking him around the world since I was a kid, so my mother pretty much raised me.” He’s slightly discomfited at how her eyes seem to register ‘CEO’ more than the entirety of his mom’s accomplishments.

At this point, Emily sweeps in with a pair of champagne glasses. Josh carefully takes a glass from the offered tray. “Thanks.” Emily nods, moving the tray in Warren’s direction.

[Josh Dalton Worthington]

(( OOC: Note that the rest of this thread was done over IM, so this is long and there are multiple viewpoint characters interleaved. Speech is colorcoded for clarity: Josh is "green," Warren is "blue", Dad (Kenneth) is "brown", Mom (Kathryn) is "teal," the maid (Emily) is "purple". Thoughts are italic, telepathic communication is colored italic, and changes of physical location are indicated by different posts.))

Warren takes the champagne flute from Emily's tray, raising it just slightly in her direction as he does so with a knowing grin, as if to say "yeah, I know how they are." She smiles back appreciatively for just a second, before returning to Kathryn's side. Mrs. Worthington carefully eyes Josh over her glass. "Oh? I don't believe I've heard of, er, Alliance Industries, was it? What do they do?"

Warren manages to keep a straight face, aided by the champagne glass, as he sends Josh the telepathic equivalent of an eye-roll at his mother's ongoing name game. Remember, I did warn you.

Josh glances over at Warren out of the corner of his eye. Yeah, I suppose you did. But it’s too late to bail on this one. "Well… he doesn't talk about work much... but I think Alliant works in the robotics field."

" Oh, do they make those adorable little vacuum-cleaner things? Kenneth was all agog over them at first, but really they weren't nearly as useful as Emily here." Emily actually manages a smile at that before fleeing the room.

Kathryn catches Josh in the middle of a drink of champagne, and he splutters slightly. He coughs in an attempt to cover up his surprise. Is she joking? I don’t think she is… "Uuhm, no, I think they mainly do work for industry. I think they have some defense contracts... Like I said, Dad's not really around much. Mom’s the one who raised me and Molly, really."

Warren admires Josh's composure here, but is rapidly losing his own. OK, mother… if that's the way you want to play this… "They're more like the robots the X-Men use to train with, Mother, " he adds cheerfully. "You know, for security and military applications. I should show them to Father, actually, he'd appreciate them... just the thing to maintain the upper hand during difficult negotiations. "

Josh can’t help but laugh at the mental image. Fortunately for him, Kathryn is too wrapped up in the mental battle between herself and Warren to notice.

Kathryn's annoyed glare doesn't shake Warren's blandly helpful expression, but their eyes lock for several seconds longer than they need to. Do you really want to keep this up, Mother? I can bring up the X-Men every time you insult Josh's family, and if that doesn't work I can move on to discussing our sex life. You've got more buttons in play here than I do. She isn't a telepath, of course, but she's adept at reading this sort of unspoken challenge; Warren is confident she's gotten the message.

"Well, perhaps he would, dear… but don't you think that's enough business talk? This is supposed to be a friendly gathering, after all." Her recovery is smooth, and only a moment's hesitation betrays her decision to escalate. "So, dear, did you hear about Muffy's daughter? You know, the Guthries down the street, the one with the eccentric hair who took up with that…" she actually shudders for a moment, as if the word itself were distasteful, and Warren silently applauds the performance "…musician, the poorly groomed young man with the impulse-control problems? Well, it seems she's actually marrying him now, if you can believe that. Poor Muffy is quite overwrought, as you can imagine; she's had to cancel all her engagements… the poor dear, she's practically too embarrassed to show herself in public."
Nice shot, Warren acknowledges privately. As little as six months ago her covert censure of his own no-doubt-embarrassing lifestyle would have left him either speechlessly apologetic or incoherently defensive. He's gotten way better at this game since then, though, not to mention a lot more comfortable in his own skin. "Oh, Melanie's getting married? How wonderful for her, and for…" he pauses for just a moment, as if hunting for the name "…Scott, was it? Yes, of course, Scott… the jazz guitarist. I remember him. He's got talent, actually. Plus he's gorgeous. You know, I went to a few of his sets after I… moved… out, and he was…" this time, the pause is clearly deliberate, and Warren is darkly pleased to see a moment's horror flash in Kathryn's eyes as she takes refuge in her champagne-glass, "…obviously hopelessly in love with her. She's a lucky girl. You'll give Muffy my compliments, won't you?" His gaze is implacable… I mean it, Mother. Cut. It. Out.

Josh feels somewhat like a spectator. Even with his telepathy, much of the meaning to Warren and his mother’s banter seemed concealed a layer down. He’s mostly happy that he can tell there’s a second layer. Some of that has to do with Warren, though. It’s not too hard to read his boyfriend, although the pause about the Scott guy gives him a very brief pulse of jealousy, until he realizes it’s for Kathryn’s benefit. I don’t like where this is going. What’s gonna happen when his dad gets back?

Warren turns toward Josh, briefly startled as his anxiety spreads across their mental link like dye in water, then takes a deep breath and visibly relaxes. I'm really sorry. I hadn't meant this to turn into a fight, but I just can't sit back while she… His thought stammers for a moment, then… he'd been about to say "insults you" but he realizes that's neither accurate nor fair; this isn't actually about Josh at all, and he feels guilty at having dragged his boyfriend into the middle of a family fight. Unsure what else to say, he settles for the mental equivalent of a hopeless shrug, letting Josh sense the entire muddled complex of emotions stewing in his mind by way of explanation.

Hon, it’s fine. I can tell, honestly, and you have nothing to apologize for. I’m just gonna sit here and drink my champagne… Josh flashes a grin over his glass as he takes a drink. A question comes to mind. "So, Mrs. Worthington... what do you do for a living?"

"Oh, dear... I let Kenneth take care of all of that." Her dismissive wave is followed by a carefully calibrated probing shot: " Of course, I have nothing but respect for… professional women -- you did say your mother worked in a school somewhere, yes? – but I suppose I was just never cut out for it, myself."

"Oh, right... my mistake. Yeah, mom is on the biology faculty at the university back home." Josh shakes his head slightly. Did you really think she had a career? The truth was he was mostly grasping at conversation straws. Mrs. Worthington seemed to vacillate between ignoring him and subtly jabbing him family and background. Your mom is definitely something… He looks around briefly. “Is Mr. Worthington home?”

"Not yet, but he should be home any minute now... he had some kind of meeting with his legal staff, I believe. More of those tedious business matters, I'm afraid. I do try not to let him bring his work home with him, but you know how it is with ambitious professional men… I suppose it was the same with your father and his… robots… and all that world traveling you mentioned." She watches Josh's face carefully for a reaction, though maintaining a perfectly bland expression. "That must have been difficult for your poor mother, raising a child on her own like that. Although she must be quite devoted to her teaching to keep up with that, as well. (sigh) I suppose that's why I was never a working woman, myself… it was all I could do taking care of my family."

Warren had mostly regained his cool, reminding himself that this was supposed to be a friendly family gathering, and resolving not to let Josh get caught in the crossfire of his little covert war with his parents. But this time she really was going after Josh, and he simply wasn't going to put up with it. "Oh, right!" he adds brightly, turning to face Josh on the couch. "I'm not sure I mentioned that. Worthington Industries is facing some lawsuits... it turns out some of my father's lawyers may have pulled some strings to accelerate the FDA testing process for his "Cure" – of course, we're all sure it didn't affect the drug's safety – right, Mom?" He turns to her with an enthusiastic grin, then turns back to Josh before she has a chance to speak "After all, he was willing to use the stuff on his own son, right? But you know how lawyers are; someone's claiming negligence, and there's a class-action suit getting started. Mostly wealthy families claiming pain and suffering, that they'd been promised a normal, mutant-free family they could be proud of, and then *poof* it turns out they have to put up with their mutant kids anyway. "

Josh’s jaw drops. "You're joking. They’re pulling the mental anguish card? I'll give them mental anguish..." His eyes narrow slightly. His own family had been pretty accepting of his mutation - granted, his really didn’t have any outward indications. Sometimes he wondered how they would have been had he sprouted wings like Warren. I hope they’d have been pretty much the same… He understood academically that not everyone was quite as blasé about it, Warren’s family included. It shocked him that Mr. Worthington had been willing to test the Cure on Warren with minimal FDA testing.

Warren's voice is smooth and brittle, like the pieces of a broken mirror. "Yes, can you imagine? The way some families think about their children…" He shrugs. "Well, I suppose it can't be helped. But you'd think they'd at least have the social grace to avoid airing their dirty laundry in public like that... right Mother? " He barrels on without giving her a chance to respond, turning back to Josh "Of course, it could be worse: for a while there it looked like the state of California was going to hold my family personally responsible for the damage to the Golden Gate Bridge. But our lawyers talked them out of that. "

"But that was Magneto's fault, not yours. I mean, how could Worthington Industries have stopped him from wrecking it?" Josh can’t help but ask this, despite the possible topic taboo. The morose expression on Mrs. Worthington’s face deepened at the mention of Magneto.

Warren nods. "Yes, that's more or less the argument our lawyers used. Of course, it's not like the state could sue Magneto for damages… mutant terrorists with hidden private armies are a bit tricky to subpoena."

Annoyed, Josh lets out a breath. "Magneto makes the public think of all of us are terrorists."

Kathryn's composed expression has been suffering throughout this whole exchange, but it finally breaks at Josh's scowl. "Oh dear…" she doesn't quite edge away from him, but her body language manages to convey the impression anyway, " Oh, my. Please, young man, I assure you nothing personal was meant… please do calm yourself?"
At this, Josh looks to Warren, confused. What… um. What just happened?

"Of course not, Josh… nothing personal at all." Warren can't keep the emotion out of his voice this time; his mother's genuine expression of fear – of Josh, of all people – calling forth an equally genuine expression of outrage. It loses him points in their strange little family game, but he no longer cares, and the bitterness in his tone is unmistakable.

"We Worthingtons never discriminate – we're terrified of all mutants, aren't we Mom?" He gets to his feet as his wings flare -- just a little, but for a moment they seem to fill the room. Josh stands as well, unsure as to what was going to happen next.

Kathryn stands abruptly, clearly desperate to re-establish control over the conversation. " Oh, that must be your father coming now... I hear the car coming into the garage."
Warren just looks at her, fully aware that she hears no such thing, shakes his head slowly and takes a series of deep breaths, folding his wings neatly against his back as the inevitable awkward silence settles. I'm sorry… again. I did warn you, right? He's about to point out to his mother how much better his hearing is than hers when he actually does hear his father's car pulling in… no doubt they'd arranged the timing beforehand. "Why, so he is. Shall we go in to dinner, then?"

Don't worry. Just trying to figure out what to not talk about. It seems that the X-Men, the school, mutants, mutation, and our relationship are just a few of the subjects on the list… Josh gives a small smile.

Kathryn calls out sharply to the kitchen: "Emily! Please show our guest into the dining room, and see to Mr. Worthington – Senior, I mean!" Recovering her aplomb, she takes Warren's arm, carefully avoiding his wings. "Dear, I almost forgot! I have to show you the work we've had done in your room while it's still light out. Don't worry, we've left everything the way you arranged it, but I think you'll like the changes…" Meanwhile, Emily appears from the kitchen and smiles cheerfully at Josh.

Warren sighs, getting himself under control again for the second time. Do you mind being separated for a minute? I'm sure they've got something in mind, we may as well find out what it is.

At this, Josh nods. I’ll be fine… just not too long, okay? I have no idea what I’m going to say to your father…

Mrs. Worthington leads Warren upstairs, and Josh follows Emily into the dining room. Whispering, he glances over at her. “Is she… um. Always like that? You know, with people she’s just met?” He sounds worried. Emily looks behind her back, checking that Kathryn is out of earshot. “Something like that. But you’re the first boy her son’s brought home - and a mutant, too. I was expecting worse, to tell you the truth…” Emily quickly replaces her veneer, gesturing with a hand to the end of the dining room, where the table is already set for four.

[Josh Dalton Worthington]

The elder Warren Kenneth Washington is already in the dining room when Josh arrives. "Ah! You must be Joshua. Good to finally meet you!" His smile is broad, effusive, and not obviously fake; his handshake firm. Josh returns it, not exactly sure what to expect from the next few minutes. This could go either really good, or really bad… but judging from Warren’s mom… “It’s great to finally meet you, sir.” Josh looks him in the eye. But too much eye contact is bad, right? Oh… I’m so nervous! He tries to reel in his feelings. While there was pretty much nothing he kept from Warren, nobody wanted their boyfriend’s anxious thoughts fluttering around the back of their mind, right?

"Please, call me Ken… everyone does. It would be altogether too confusing if we all went by "Warren," don't you think?" He walks to the bar as he talks, and pours himself a shot of something clear and nondescript from an unlabelled crystal carafe. "Care for a drink?"

“Sure, whatever you're having is fine with me." Josh resists the urge to take a slow breath in. Warren had made his father seem so… predatory. As if he’d swoop down on any apparent weakness. He’s probably sizing me up right now. Warren… don’t take too long…

Ken pours a second drink. "Careful… it's stronger than it looks." There seems to be a second message buried in that as he hands the shot-glass to Josh and looks him over systematically, as if he were a steer at auction. " You know, I've been after Warren to bring you around for quite a while now. I wanted to see what kind of a man my boy has gotten himself... involved... with." All at once, his face gives away nothing.

Josh takes a drink of whatever Mr. Worthington gave him. Whoa, strong! "Well, thanks for your hospitality, sir. I appreciate it."

Oh, boy… I recognize this routine, Josh… he used to pull it on all my school friends so they'd stop coming over. You're about to get the offer you can't refuse.
"Wha…" Huh, what? Probably due to the current stressful situation, the mental exchange with Warren throws Josh off temporarily, and he stares into the wall and towards the floor above.

Sorry, didn't mean to startle you. Sharp ears, open corridors… eavesdropping. Do you mind? Josh relaxes slightly. Of course not. He threads a mental hand towards Warren. Your dad is really intimidating…

"Of course, of course. All of this…" he gestures around the room, seeming to take in the entire grounds and, more broadly, their entire lifestyle " It must seem pretty impressive to you, huh? A lot better than what you're accustomed to, I would imagine."

He shifts slightly in place, giving the room another glance. "Well, sort of. The Institute is pretty big, but we've also got a lot of students around it to fill it up. Sometimes things get a little crowded. Warren and I have our own room so it's not too bad, usually…" Ohmigod. Josh’s eyes widen slightly. Did I just mention that? To Warren’s dad? Josh figured it would be awkward enough to admit that kind of thing to your parents if you were totally heterosexual. And Mr. Worthington’s not exactly king of social justice, I’m thinking… Despite the older man’s friendly-seeming demeanor, Josh had serious concerns about the direction their conversation was going, especially after Warren’s comment.

Ken almost manages not to stumble over the shared-room reference as he carries on garrulously. " Of course, of course. And, look, you need to understand that I'm not judging anyone, here. None of us are… we all understand that Warren has been a little... confused, let's say... since he moved away from home, and that's not in any way your fault. You just saw an opportunity and you took it… I admire that, it shows good business sense. But, all right… you've proved your point by now, and I'm going to show you the respect you deserve by not pretending you don't have a strong bargaining position here. You absolutely do, and I'm fully prepared to discuss mutually acceptable terms."

Warren’s been confused? Mutually acceptable terms? Josh's eyebrows knit. "Sorry, sir. I'm not quite sure what you mean."

Warren's sense of outrage is clear over their mental link, colored only by a pervasive lack of surprise. Why that unbelievable – Josh, you have my official permission to dump him in the pool for that comment. It's right around the corner from the dining-room French doors… and hey, if you miss the water I won't complain, either.

Meanwhile, Ken's demeanor has instantly gone from good-old-boy to impatient-prosecuting-attorney. "Oh, come on. We're among men here, right? We both know how this game is played. You have valuable assets here, no question about it, but – and I'm telling you this as a piece of friendly advice – the biggest mistake novice players make is to hold onto their assets past their peak-value window, and… well, to be frank, your peak-value window is rapidly closing. I'm actually surprised it's lasted this long; Warren's attention span isn't usually so… extreme. The clock is ticking here, boy… there are limits to how long I can keep an offer on the table."

My peak-value window is rapidly closing? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Josh feels foolish after a moment, when Ken’s purpose becomes clear to him, but then becomes incredulous. "Are you trying to buy me off? You can’t be serious, Mr. Worthington.” This isn't happening....right?

I warned you… right?

Josh sets the glass of nasty-tasting liquor down on the dining room table. "Mr. Worthington, I'm not sure what kind of person you think I am, but I love Warren. He means the world to me. I think I should be insulted that you seem to think I'd take money in place of him, but that's beside the point. There is no price. I'm crazy about him." He folds his hands across his chest.

"Oh." Ken's surprise is obvious for just a moment before he recovers gracefully with a broad smile. "Well… all right, then! I'm damned glad to hear it." His smile becomes less intense, more casual. " I'm damned glad to hear it. I'm sure you can understand… people in Warren's position, they get a lot of gold-diggers and would-be celebrities and, well, that sort. And you know how they are, they can be very… convincing." He chuckles smoothly, adding "Why, some of the girls who came after me in college… well, you'd have to get a lot more booze into me before I told those stories, but they'd curl your short hairs, I can tell you that!" He pours another shot into Josh's glass as he thinks of it.

Josh swallows, a bad taste in his mouth. I’m sure I don’t like the way he wheels and deals, especially with his own son’s emotions. This is revolting.

"So, you understand? It's nothing personal, I just had to be sure you genuinely had Warren's best interests in mind." He smiles again, then leans in seriously.
Wait for it… here comes the pill… Warren's mental voice is almost amused at this point. You know, if he knew you were a telepath, he'd probably be more worried about soundproofing… though he probably just forgets I've got more than the wings. Sloppy research always was my father's downfall.
"But Josh – do you mind if I call you Josh? – Josh, you have to appreciate how tenuous Warren's position is right now. He's young, sure, and everyone expects him to have his little flings, but that only goes so far. And I'm sure your sort of... thing… is perfectly fine for that Institute of yours, and for the sort of places Warren frequents, but it simply won't do at the highest levels of industry. It doesn't give the proper air of responsibility, you understand?"

At that, the amusement in Warren's mental tone is abruptly replaced by hostility. All right, that's quite enough of that. I'll be there in a minute.

"I mean... well..." Josh bites his lip. There you are… you’ve got me. He could reject Ken’s offers of money all day long, but when put in terms of Warren’s future success, it didn’t only affect him anymore. Despite that, he tries to keep on the offense. "Mr. Worthington... I care about Warren. A lot. Our relationship has moved far past 'fling'.”

Ken nods sympathetically and spreads his hands broadly, the very image of a reasonable man faced with an unreasonable reality. "Oh, I know that… I can see that. And I agree, it's utterly unfair… but it's the way things are in industry. It's how the real players see things, you understand? It shouldn't be that way, but that's the way it is. "

“Have you ever even asked Warren what he wants for his own life? I don’t think Warren’s interested in industry in that kind of way.” I hate this. Anything he said was simply turned around on him. It’s what happens when you try to argue with a world-class negotiator. He wasn’t going to win this… it was up to Warren to come save his ass. Warrenwarrenwarrenwarren…

Ken looks suddenly disappointed. "Very little surprises me, Josh. But what I'm trying to say here is that those of us who really care for Warren need to take care of his future, you understand? I assure you, you may not think it to look at me now, but I was young once… I remember what a young man's first… love… is like. It's like nothing else in the world matters, right?" Ken's hand on Josh's shoulder was no doubt supposed to feel supportive and sympathetic, but is also quite a bit more forceful than he probably intended… although then again, maybe it isn't. "But Josh, you're -- both of you – are still so very young. I know, I know, nobody ever likes being told that by their elders, but it's true. The truth is, other things do matter. Sometimes caring about someone, really caring about them, means being willing to make sacrifices for them. Sometimes it means being responsible enough to give the people we love what they need… even when it isn't what they want, or what we want. Can you understand that? "

The French doors opening from the outside as Warren storms in aren't quite as dramatic as a sudden lightning-bolt in the darkness, but they aren't bad either. "Ken… I'd say Josh understands the situation a lot better than you do. How many of those college girlfriends of yours ever risked their own lives to save yours?"

Ken's startled jump is covered almost immediately by a dismissive chuckle. " Oh, please Warren... such a flair for the dramatic! Let's not exaggerate the situation. " Relieved, Josh takes a step towards Warren, but Mr. Worthington’s hand seems glued to his should like a clamp.

Warren prevents himself from exploding with a visible effort, made primarily for Josh's sake. His words, when they finally come out, are cold and flat. "Exaggerate? I have three words for you, Dad: 'Golden Gate Bridge'." He takes a deep breath and tries again, more sincerely, wrapping a wing around Josh's waist as he joins them. "You really need to get this: we've got more important things to worry about than whether your Board of Directors approves of me, or approves of my love life. Or, frankly, whether you do."

Josh concentrates carefully, releasing Ken’s iron grip on his shoulder telekinetically but subtly, and leans into Warren’s embrace. Thank god you’re here. Your father… Josh isn’t exactly sure what he’s meant to convey, but his frustration and sadness are obvious through their telepathic link. Yeah. Your father. The words really sum it all up.

Ken pulls his hand away from Josh's shoulder suddenly, very much as if it had been bitten by a snake, and turns on him angrily, essentially ignoring Warren's outburst. "Well, all right… as long as we're getting everything out on the table, have you considered that this… this paramilitary mutant personality-cult of yours… stands every chance of getting my son killed? You think my staff doesn't keep me informed; that I don't know about what happened in Paris, or about that Waco re-enactment you staged at your Institute?"

At this point, Josh begins to lose his composure. We almost died in Paris! How dare you? "Paris? We were having dinner and they attacked us! We weren't looking for trouble! Do you think I wanted to get attacked and almost blown up on my 18th birthday?"

"Dad, you so don't want to go there. In case your staff didn't fill you in on this little detail, the woman giving the orders in both cases was the same underdressed, oversocialized psychopath who was throwing the party I last saw you at. How much are Hellfire Club dues these days, dad? How many of the bullets Josh kept out of my skin do you think you paid for?"

[Josh Dalton Worthington]

The sudden gasp from the dining-room door announces Kathryn's presence, although it's hard to tell whether her shock is due to Warren's implied connection between her husband, the Hellfire Club, and the attack in Paris, or merely due to Warren's poor taste in mentioning it. The subsequent long pause turns into an awkward silence, punctuated by Emily's cheerful "Soup's on!" as she arrives from the kitchen, balancing a silver tray with four clear bowls of steaming broth.
"Well, I'm certainly not going to sit down to dinner and be accused of -- well, I don't know what! -- by my own son." Kenneth is obviously thrown by the last few minutes' conversation, and Warren feels suddenly guilty about throwing that in his father's face. Emma Frost wasn't even working for the Hellfire Club when she arranged that little fiasco, and as far as Warren knows his father wasn't even aware of Project: Strikeback's existence. Yeah, but he would likely have supported it if he did know.

"Emily, I think we can wait just a moment for the soup." Kathryn waves Emily away as she crosses the dining room to take her husband's arm. "Now, dear, surely we can all be civilized enough to eat a meal together… whatever Warren said, I'm sure he's sorry. Aren't you, Warren?" Technically speaking, there's a pause there into which Warren's apology might have fit, but mostly Kathryn goes on as if silence implied consent.

"Of course. You know how impulsive he can be, dear. Please sit down."

From time to time, Warren has envied Josh his genuine telekinetic power. But right this moment he's grateful that his own TK talent is as limited as it is, as he suspects he would have shattered every plate and piece of glass within thirty feet before he calmed down. There's probably some rule that I'm not allowed to apologize for screwing this up the same way three times in a row, so I'm not going to say "I'm sorry" again, but… well, I am.

Josh looks up into Warren’s eyes. You're not screwing up... he's totally out of line. It's your dad, i mean, but... sorry. I didn't mean to mess up your reunion.

Oh, believe me, you didn't. None of this is really about you, you know? It's just… us. Me and my folks, I mean. It's all about control, I guess. Warren suddenly laughs out loud for no apparent reason, drawing a glare from his mother and no response from his father. You'll appreciate this, he adds, sending Josh his memory of overhearing Emily gossiping to the cook:

" They're gorgeous! I've never met their boy before, but of course I've seen him in the papers and such. I think the Missus has a picture of him somewhere... anyway, his boyfriend is sexy too. Why are the really attractive ones always gay? Anyway, he could be my son-in-law any day."

Josh suppresses a laugh at the snippet. She seemed like a decent person. It must make her crazy to work for these people. Quickly, though, his thoughts return to dismal reality. Briefly, he feels very much like Laurie. She always seems like she’d sink into the couch cushions if she was capable of it. That pretty much sums him up at the moment. Not that he was embarrassed, per se… but Warren was right. The conflict really was between him and his parents. He’d support Warren in any way possible, but things weren’t looking bright.

Warren finally just shakes his head. "This was clearly a bad idea. Mother, I'm sorry, but I think we'd better go before I start regretting having saved Father's life." To Josh, he adds "Do you think we can make it back to the East Coast tonight? Or should I get us a room somewhere?" That they are not staying in his parents home after all that goes without saying.

"Maybe we should just get a room for the night? I don't know if I can stand another flight today." Josh hesitates for a second. If Warren walked away from his parents now, there was no telling how long - or even if - they’d reconcile. But it was hard to come to a compromise when they wouldn’t budge at all. Maybe we can explore the city tomorrow? I’ve never been to San Francisco. And... you sure you want to go, love?

"You might as well rent the best room you can find, Warren." His father's voice is cold and he's still facing the far wall. "Tonight will be your last chance to indulge yourself, your little friend here, and your new celebrity crusader lifestyle at my expense. I'll be having my lawyers terminate your signatory authority tomorrow morning."

Kathryn's eyes go wide at that as she whirls on him. "Kenneth! Take that back this instant; you know perfectly well you don't mean it." At her husband's continued silence she turns to Warren "Now, dear, you know your father doesn't mean that. It's been a long day for all of us, I'm sure many things were said that we didn't really mean. Why don't we just sit down and…" she trails off into a silence that seems to flood the room.

He’s… oh, no. He’s going to cut Warren off completely? "Maybe I should just go, and you can meet up with me later after you’ve talked with them for awhile?” Josh throws the idea out as a last resort, but he’s virtually certain Warren’s not going to go for it. It was the least he could do as the catalyst to all of this. You don’t know that - Warren’s grown up a lot from last year. This probably would have happened had you not come along. The only thing keeping Josh from moving in the direction of the door is Warren. Through their past few mental interactions, it was clear he didn’t think Josh had anything to with the fiasco.

Josh's voice brings Warren out of his silent reverie. He'd been stunned by his father's threat (and really, he's well aware that it was a threat, intended to start negotiations; if he'd meant to do it he'd simply have done it), but what really startles him now is the realization that he'd withdrawn so completely into himself in shock that he'd stopped hearing the background noise of Josh's mind. It's that, more than anything else, which clarifies for him the choice he's being forced to make… and when he starts feeling their link again, it's that which makes it easier to choose than he'd ever expected. "Sure, exploring the city together sounds fun," he responds to Josh, ignoring the last few rounds of conversation. "I haven't ever had the chance to show it to someone new. I can tap Institute funds for now, and work out some arrangement with Ororo when we get home."

"Warren, how far do I have to go to make you listen?" For what seems like the first time this entire evening, Warren's father sounds genuine. "Believe me, I know how exciting all this celebrity business can be, the flying around and the television appearances and the sex and the drugs and all this, but you've got more important things to do than waste your life on all that! You're throwing away everything your mother and I worked our whole lives to provide for you… do I really have to cut you off to make you see that? Son… please don't make me do this!"

Warren hadn't meant to continue the argument with his father, but something in the man's voice convinces him to try again. "Dad… you know, you're absolutely right. " He ignores the startled, pleased-but-wary expression on his father's face and keeps talking. "I really was confused about all of that, when I first moved out. And we could get all up into the business about why I took off, and who did what to who when…" he waves that away, though being in this house again is bringing back memories he'd thought safely tucked away, and it takes him a moment to recover.

"Anyway, that's beside the point right now. The point is: you're absolutely right, there are more important things for me to be doing… and they don't involve managing pharmaceutical corporate assets. That's your life, and grandpa's, and maybe some day it'll be mine too, but right now I'll settle for keeping the next fourteen-year-old boy from taking a knife to his own body, and keeping his parents from doing it for him. Which I can't do if I treat these like some kind of disease, or if I pretend it's OK when you do it."

He flares his wings for a moment for emphasis, and tries not to take it personally when his parents back away, and slips his hand into Josh's. "And while we're on the subject, the same goes for who I love. I know your golfing buddies don't approve; I don't care. If their disapproval means I lose my father's support, then I'll have to find a way to live without that support." It seems to Warren like there ought to be more to say… but at the same time, it feels like he's already said too much, so he leaves it at that.

Warren, I don’t want to come between you and your family. Are you sure about this? I really can leave for awhile. Josh is visibly upset.

Warren's thought is tinged unmistakably with his own surprise at how difficult all of this is turning out not to be; his realization that he made the important decisions a long time ago without quite knowing it. That's one thing you couldn't possibly do… right this moment, I think you're the only real family I've got. "Come on… let's get out of here."

No matter what happens, I’ll always be your family, Warren. Josh starts towards the door. "It's fine for tonight... I made sure to bring enough cash along. I’ll give Ororo a call tomorrow, depending on how long we’re going to stay. I don’t think it’ll be a problem."

Kathryn doesn't quite shake off her paralysis until the couple have already walked through the French doors into the garden. She calls out after them: "Oh, don't be ridiculous, Warren, of course you're staying here tonight. Emily already went through all the trouble of preparing your old room, and a guest room for your friend... "

Warren looks over at the garage and laughs, adding with a smirk though it looks like I'll have to owe you on Dad's Rolls... Josh glances over and smiles slightly. It’s okay, there are plenty of cars back at the Institute. His look turns wicked. Like Jake’s, for instance…

To Warren's surprise, his mother has actually run out into the yard after them, still saying something or other about the soup and dessert and the guest rooms, and he explodes. "For the love of God, Mom, can we stop pretending here for just thirty seconds?!? We were never going to sleep in separate beds, and you know it." He takes another deep breath, then shakes his head. "At least Dad got around to being honest with me. If you can do that too, well… you know where we live and you're welcome to visit." He lets his wings flare out to full extension then, enjoying the shadow the setting sun behind him casts on the house, and adds – not ungently -- " You might want to go back inside... I kick up a lot of wind on takeoff, I might ruin your hair. "

You sure you don’t want to stay tonight, just for your mom’s sake?

If you think I’m going to subject us to staying here tonight, you’re crazy, Josh.

Well, I just wanted to make sure.

Love you.


Warren slides an arm around Josh's waist as his mother retreats indoors, and launches them straight up. Of course, he knows perfectly well that Josh can lift both of them more easily, and without any backblow... but he ignores that, as he usually does. His way is more fun.

I know.

Josh circles his arms tightly around Warren, and the two of them take off, leaving the Worthington estate far below them.