drakegraysonx

[drakegraysonx]

ofjackconway​:

-

“I’m fine, really, and dealing with it.” Jack said leaning against the counter and crossing his arms; it was his own stubborness in play. Between he and Drake they both could be hardheaded and probably why they’d had some pretty good fights between them. It was the memory of that last one a couple weeks before everything changed that kept coming to the forefront the moment Drake had stepped in the kitchen. But now wasn��t the time to drudge up memories, they were actually having a civil conversation despite what weirdness might have been there. 

“Sorry,” he apologized breaking his gaze and instead looking around the kitchen like it was the most interesting thing.  A lot of it was the same but different. Jack shook his head, “Nah, I’m fine, it’ll pass.” That was his mantra now, ‘i’m fine’, and maybe if he said it enough it would actually be so. “But, thanks for the offer. I appreciate it.” It sounded awkward as he did but that was what were supposed to say. 

Accidents were prone to happen with mutants and their uncontrolled abilities; Jack had once believed in helping them all. “Well, I’m glad your okay.” He was allowed to say that right? He quickly continued into, “You said leaving on a bus, is the resistance finding safe places for a lot of the refugees that come in?”

The playful tease felt for a moment like old times. His lips turned for a moment into a quick smile in the corners before disappearing. “Well, not everyone’s blessed with good looks, some of us have to work on it.”

Drake was no therapist. He attended one psych 101 class in his lifetime, but when all he dealt with was the mind he felt like he had a good understanding about people. However, no one needed to be good at psychology to see that Jack wasn’t okay. How could anyone be okay with being held captive for a year of their life. Being put through experiments, stress, and all the while know it’s not because they view you as a equal but as a freak that doesn’t care. Needless to say, Drake saw through the facade. He just wouldn’t push it. 

“We’ve found a good number of places but mostly we’ve just moving them around.” Drake said, “There are so many from  around here needing us we can’t hold onto them all. So we try to transfer them and see if they can get them to safer outposts or maybe Mexico or Canada.” Drake wasn’t part of the process of where to allocate everyone. His focus was communal life within the compound as well some other various tasks. 

Drake chuckled letting his head hang, not exactly sure what to say he went with whatever felt playful. It was easy to forget all the bad shit at least for a moment. “With the lack of sleep I’ve gotten I’m lucky I’m not crusty. So how’s it being a guest here. Do we shape up to a 5 star hotel?” 

[drakegraysonx]

ofjackconway​:

-

Jack remembers the few conversations they’d had about Drake’s ability but of anyone, Jack was the least experieced with having to deal with a power that could be flipped on and off, controlled. He’d been lucky, able to hide away what he was without fear he would hurt someone. The only thing he could offer was encouragement to try and control something like Drake’s ability.

“Maybe,” he shrugged. “I’m getting settled into the room I have now and technically I’m not fullfilling my old position anymore, so…” It was nice to talk small talk - to catch up and try not to make this awkward though it easily could be. Ease in to things, he figured. There was plenty he could have and want to say. For now he kept it to the official stuff. “No, I didn’t know the numbers were that high. I’m kind of out of the loop on it all and like I said, I’m not in my old job. I’m a refugee now.” The words sounded strange when he said it outloud. He offered a small glimpse of insighed into his headspace. “It’s weird…I don’t know…everyone says it’ll get easier. It’s only been a couple weeks so will see.”

Jack had lived pretty minimalist in way of possessions. Mostly clothes, a few books and photos. “I’ll ask, but just assume my clothes are wandering around on someone else who needed them.”

He watched Drake finally come all the way into the kitchen and to the cabinent where the mugs were. Casually he listed off all that was happening; business as usual, new mutants, they all work too hard. At least some things didn’t change. He might have deflected away from the question, but Jack stared like somehow he formed x-ray vision and could see whatever back injury the other hand (he couldn’t and hadn’t).

“Oh, no,” he shook his head. “I’m good. Caffine will just leave be wired and I’m already having trouble sleeping.” He instead turned the conversation back to what Drake had said. “You said the thing about your back? Are you alright?”

Drake’s involvement was nonexistant. He had no idea what they wanted to do with Jack. The few things he knew about Jack since he had come back to them was that he was alive and been captured about a year (with experiments probably conducted on him). The semantics of his return was kept hidden from Drake through his own stubbornness. He had thought about looking through Jack’s file or interrogate everyone Jack might have talked to inside the compound but he didn’t. He couldn’t get involve it was complicated. “I hope it does for you. Whatever you went through for that year I hope you can somehow work through it.” He meant that. No matter what no one deserved to be a pet rat to be poked and prodded at. 

“You might get lucky and it’s in the clothing storage room. I’ve been doing my best to gather any random lost clothes and put them there for others. Yours might have ended up in the pile.” It made the most sense, but it was just as likely they were all gone. A year of mutants coming and going someone had to have taken his things by now. 

Jack’s gaze sent a chill up his spine. He didn’t have to look at Jack to know he was staring either at him or his clothed back. It wasn’t a superpower he had it was just human intuition. Drake’s first thought was to ask about why he can’t sleep, but he knew the reason. It made no point to make Jack talk if he didn’t want to. Drake nodded, “Take a picture it’ll last longer.” He spoke up. “Want me to get you anything from the city that could help with the sleeping?” He offered. 

Drake nodded waving it off. While it was a big deal he downplayed it because Juliana was able to heal his back completely. Otherwise, there would’ve been hell to pay. “Yeah I’m fine now. Jules helped me out. It wasn’t a big deal just some punk kid who claims he accidently torched me. Dunno how you accidently do that but he did.” Drake mumbled as he finished making his cup. He faced Jack again hiding behind the cup of coffee. “Can’t even tell I was badly burned. Either way that kid is getting on the first bus out so I won’t have to deal with him much longer.” 

Drake’s eyes settled on Jack’s features. He wanted to take it all in. Not because they were former lovers but because Drake had believed he would never see Jack again. People hold on far longer than Drake did, but he watched people like them die for less. Most nights Drake wondered if it was better that there was no body to bury. Until he couldn’t handle it and placed it on a shelf. “You look like shit.” He commented with a wry smile, “Beauty sleep is a real thing Jack.” He playfully prodded at Jack. 

[drakegraysonx]

ofjackconway​:

-

At least there was one person who wouldn’t treat him with kid gloves. Everyone was so cautious with their words and trying not to refer to the fact to his missing year that it just made it weird. it was actually welcomed being called an idiot and for a moment it was like all times. he shrugged, “Well, I’ve been called worse.”

Jack held up a hand, “Yeah, no, I’m good. I’m pretty sure messing around with my head right now anyway would be a bad idea.” Again, making light of all this. He watched Drake’s side eye a cabinet at the far corner and okay, maybe the opening and closing of the cupboards was a little redunant when he could just ask. Jack walked over there and opened the cabinet to find said mugs, though honestly now as he looked at them, he didn’t want coffee or tea anyway. His pause made his wonder about his last year where he had no memory of what had happened. He closed the door and looked back to Drake as he asked.

“Uh, no, I guess it’s occupied. I don’t blame Octavian or anyone reassigning it, clearly it was needed. There’s a lot more refugees here then I ever remember seeing.” Plus who left a room for a year for a dead man. “I’m over just in one of the temporary rooms. Someone said I might have a box of stuff somewhere, but haven’t really gone looking. I figured it also was probably reallocated to someone who needed it more then me.” He wasn’t bitter over that, if anything, Jack had always been too compassionate. 

“What about you?” He asked trying to sound casual. “I mean, how are…things?”   

Drake had a bad habit of offering his powers up to mess with people’s heads. Though it was all bark and no bite. He could never bring himself to use his powers on someone within the compound. His lack of control meant that it could wear off in 5 minutes or last 3 days. Either way, it wasn’t a fun experience. He had briefly dabbled with other parts of his ability, biggest being manipulating mental disorders. However, when he watched someone happy with life on the verge of a panic attack because they were hallucinating from his powers- he locked it away. Drake was terrified of what he could do to a person and the everlasting damage it could leave on them. 

“That’s what I figured. When they move on to the next outpost you can take it before someone takes it. It was yours first.” He offered. “If I remember when they were counting the numbers its about 45% increase. The more and more Sentinel raids the outpost the more we’re taking on.” He explained. Though he assumed Jack knew that. It was easy to make small talk rather than pouring salt on their wounds. 

Drake was going to tell him he had most of his things, but couldn’t speak up. He had no idea what Jack would think of him. Let alone anyone else who knew. Drake only kept the things that were most valuable to Jack. “Most of it I think was... I’m not sure. I wasn’t the one who cleaned it out. Maybe Lil knows?” He offered up. 

Somehow, Drake managed to strike up the courage to enter the kitchen fully. It was time for another cup of coffee maybe five more. He grabbed a mug from the cabinet and went to work to make his perfect cup of coffee. He had gotten it down to a science. Drake took a lot of pride in making a good cup of coffee. It was meditative to continue the process, “I’ve been good.” He said simply glancing over at him. “I got my back deep fried by one of the teens around here. There’s a new girl name Kate she’s being targeted by Sentinel and is hiding here like you. Audrey’s working hard she never takes a day off if she can help it. Thea’s being a pain. Things have been good.” Besides his back incident Drake was trying his best to deflect the question away from him. “Were you wanting a cup?” He motioned towards the coffee, “Or did you want become best friends with our mugs?” 

[drakegraysonx]

lilvale​:

“much appreciated.” she let out a snort. “bold of you to think you can toss thea anywhere.” her face scrunched slightly. “you know, i never thought about it. maybe that is why she doesn’t want us on the roof. but mostly i think it’s because my brother is a butt and she does whatever he says.”

lil leaned forward slightly and sniffed the caffeinated air. “drawing another masterpiece. i think this is number eleven? twelve if you count the one on my door. sometimes i make that one glow just to bother him.” she grinned, pleased with herself. “what about you? what’s it like being a nocturnal creature? do you eat garbage from a trashcan? howl at the moon?”

Drake hadn’t seen Octavian around for a bit. He was starting to think that O had been avoiding him. He knew it wasn’t the case. It was a big operation that they were all running. Sometimes it was a few days before he saw Audrey and she was a friend of his. They had to chisel time out of their day to see each other. Despite that Drake tended to do his own thing. He worked hard but kept his head down. The refugees saw Drake more than anyone else because he was always trying to make them feel comfortable. It was the only thing he can do for them while they stuck around. “She probably has something going on up there.” He nodded towards the ceiling. “Don’t follow.” He said, “Like the two are dating and she’s up his ass that way?” 

He hummed as he scooted his chair forward, “Can I see?” He asked. Drake’s hands were clutched firmly around the mug enjoying the heat that radiated from the ceramic. “Good at least someone is annoying him. It keeps him on his toes,” Drake grinned. He settled back in his seat laughing at the thought. “Give me enough tequila and some eyeliner I’ll kill two birds with one stone.” He said taking another sip of his drink. “It’s peaceful at night. It’s easier to keep an eye on things.” He began thinking about everything. Jack was back home, Drake’s back got torched by a fire mutant, and Xander still hates him. Besides the mutant setting his back on fire none of those topics Drake wanted to talk about. He was private about his personal life. Everything else he could talk about but his own feelings and problems were his own burden to bear. “I’ve been good, Lil. I went back into the city the other night. It’s the same old shit out there. Nightlife still pretty nice if you can manage it without being noticed. When was the last time you got off the compound?” 

[drakegraysonx]

katherine-smith​:

Katherine could understand why he didn’t exactly liked when she said that she belonged to them, but for her that was just a fact, she had no family, no happy childhood, only learned what they thought it would be useful for them, even branded her with the tattoo, it was truly a miracle that she didn’t had a chip giving her location every second of the day, but again, maybe that was because they expected them to be able to  leave.

She followed him, trying to remember the path, so she would be able to find her way back in case he had something better to do, she didn’t expect him to be her guide after all. 42 knew how dangerous her powers could be, the scars on her body being a constant reminder of that fact. She pay attention when he started to tell her what she could do, tilting her head a little when he said she wouldn’t be able to see what he was doing, mental powers, that sounded cool and also dangerous at the same time. Kate was forced to train and develop her powers regardless if she wanted or not, she doubted if she had grown up in a normal house, that she would be able to use her powers with so much precision, so it was easy for her to assume that he didn’t practice his that much. “If you want, you can practice on me, I  wouldn’t  mind.“ She offered

With soft yellow paint the words ‘Clothes Storage’ was painted on the dark wooden door. Drake opened the door and flipped on the switch. It was a medium size room with rows of metal shelving and portable clothing racks. The clothes were separated by male and female clothes with it grouped in sizes and styles. There was no two shirts alike. The sizes were always different. It was a lottery game to see if someone could find an article of clothing they liked and fit at the same time. In the back corner was a thick curtain that was on some pvc tubing. It was a mini dressing room for people to try things on. Drake motioned at the aisle of clothing. “You can look through all this. If you need help let me know.” He offered sitting down on one of the chairs inside the room. 

Katherine’s offer was enticing. Drake had never had anyone willingly offer up their mind for him to practice on. The only way he was ever going to learn was trapping some heinous higher up and practiced on them. At least if he tried to mess with their mind it wouldn’t matter if he fucked it up. It would just be a mental prison instead of a physical one. “That’s nice of you, but I can’t.” He said. “I don’t know what I can do or how to control other parts of it.” He leaned forward clasping his hands together. “It took me a long time until I was able to stop unconsciously making people suggestable. You’ve been through a lot. You don’t need to be tested on again, not here.” He told her. 

[drakegraysonx]

xanknows​:

To some, it wasn’t an insult. To Xander, it was the most cutting, despicable thing he could think of. He shook his head, deigning the conversation over on his end. But he knew what was coming next. He could feel it stirring in the back of Drake’s mind, before it was even a fully-formed thought.

“No.” His voice was curt. For once, he didn’t care that his happy-go-lucky image was stripped away to the bare-bones pain of the past. “You’re fucking heartless, Drake.” He wanted to stop, leave it at that and finish out this assignment in tense silence. It’d be better that way. But the words fell out. “There’s no just when you murder someone.” He knew he couldn’t convince him. “You’re only sorry because you hurt me. Not because of what you did. And I will never be good with that.”

Drake sighed as he clenched the steering wheel tighter. If he was super strong it would’ve snapped in half. He wanted to shake Xander out of it and explain how ridiculous he was being. He had told himself he wasn’t heartless. The mental walls he had put around himself was so high it was nearly impenetrable. The only time he would agree with Xander is when he was being truthful to himself. Even then he victimized himself to the point that it justified his actions. They [humans] started it. I never hurt a single soul until they went around trying to kill people. It’s not my fault that I have to kill to protect my own. 

“You’re so goddamn dense Xander. One day you’re seriously going to get stabbed in the back.” Drake shook his head. “I’m not anymore heartless than every person who stood by and watched our kind die.” Drake countered. He would use the strong-man method of facing problems as long as it got people to see the truth. “You’re a fucking idiot.” He retaliated back after a few moment of letting the heartless comment linger between them. “You claim to see so much but are so fucking blind.” 

[drakegraysonx]

ofjackconway​:

-

Honestly, Jack was doing the whole avoidance thing as well. It was strange enough to be back in the headquarters to learn a year of his life was gone, but to see familair faces he once knew. For them it had been a year, everything was still fresh in his mind. He’d definitely been avoiding Drake and their combined efforts had led to a solid couple weeks of not seeing each other. Probably not healthy for either of them and suddenly stomachs in need of food had won out the battle and they both found themselves in the kitchen. He paused for a long moment, his eyes closing as he mentally prepared himself to turn towards the other.

He turned around and found himself looking at Drake and maybe allowing himself to do a once over to see all limbs and whatnot were still attached. He looked good. Strange to think it had been a year when the fight was quitre vivid in his memories. Jack was standing there and not saying anything. “Yeah, I forgot how they open and close.” he said all too seriously and punctuated that with opened a drawer to his left and closing it again. He chuckled, “I’m kidding by the way,” He offered, making light of the predicament he found himself in. He was fine. “Coffee cup. They got moved. And trying to find them again.”

He had it coming with the sarcastic comment. It was inevitable like breathing it just had to be done. He watched Jack open and shut the cabinet door. It took every fiber of his being to not smack him upside his head for being an idiot. It also took a lot not to laugh at how stupid of the joke truly was. Drake loved sarcasm, dark humor, and all things ironic. It was like God was writing in funny moments in the grand novel of life. Drake bit down on his bottom lip trying to stifle a laugh, “You’re an idiot.” He replied not budging from his spot. It was the first time in over a year he had seen Jack’s face, and it wasn’t in a picture. 

“And you don’t need my help?” He asked. Drake subtly eyed a cabinet in the far corner. He could’ve nudged Jack mentally but Drake was keeping a lid on his powers. It was easier that way for him, but it meant he wasn’t as powerful as he could be. It was a checks and balance game. “Did they put you back in your old room?” Drake wondered. He remembered the last time he ever stepped foot in Jack’s room. It was four days after Jack’s disappearance. Drake drank himself into a bender. He never cried but that night Drake sobbed. It was a messy night that had him catatonic for a month before he began to get himself together. Drake never fully recovered but he was always better at hiding his pain. 

[drakegraysonx]

audreyxroscoe​:

x

Even if Drake was past it now, she couldn’t imagine how severe it must’ve been in the moment. The thing was, it’s possible that a wound like that on Audrey would’ve been worse. At least at the beginning. That, or she would’ve been able withstand it better. Again, it came down to ice and fire having the capabilities to harm each other or cancel each other out, depending on the situation. Perhaps it came down to experience too. Regardless, Drake seemed to be in good condition now, though. But maybe Audrey was just naturally concerned for her friend, and so when he tried to wave it off as nothing, she sighed.

“Well, I’m just glad you’re fine,” she pointed out earnestly, watching him for another moment before she took another sip. Audrey was about to give another joking remark, but Drake explained how the fire mutant attacked him without warning, and when his back was turned too. A cowardly move. She narrowed her eyes, shaking her head. “That’s inexcusable,” she murmured lowly. “And he can try.” Audrey seemed irritated by it all. “There’s no place for that shit there.” No way.

Drake agreed silently. He was thankful the guy didn’t try to torch his face or kill him. Whatever his intentions were at least they weren’t in the murdering business, just severely harming people. “He was probably upset that even the resistance has rules. You know how it was to be a teenager. You want to constantly say fuck authority because you think you know everything. All because you had to grow up quickly...” Drake’s voice trailed off. He didn’t want to make excuses for the kid but he also understood his rationale. “If he ever tried anything with you I think you would freeze his hand off,” Drake snickered as he took another sip of his drink. 

A man sauntered over to the far end of the bar by the two of them. It was the most secluded part of the establishment. “I hate fire mutants always hot heads.” Drake commented as an off handed joke that the other overheard. The man snickered as he waited for his drink. “I hate them all. Don’t know why anyone tolerates those freaks. I’m shocked that they opened this place to the lot. There money isn’t any good you know. Can’t work a job, don’t pay no taxes, and if they don’t like ya they kill ya. Bunch of rats amiright?” The guy spoke. 

Drake’s back stiffened as he looked over at the guy. Unsure if he realized who he was talking to. He hadn’t got a clue. It was just a working class Italian who was holding onto the mainland with an iron fist. Yet, Drake surmised, he hasn’t left the states not even to go back to Italy. “Yeah whatever,” Drake tried to push him off hiding behind the rim of his drink. It kept him from saying something stupid in return. 

[drakegraysonx]

Drake had heard Jack came back. It was all over the compound and after a year has passed Drake couldn’t bring himself to seek him out. No matter how hard he tried he couldn’t do it. Jack was baggage, a part of his past he wanted to lock away and never look back. He avoided Jack’s arrival for a few weeks. He managed to dodge him at every turn even going so far as to eat at odd times just in case. The things a person did to avoid painful memories. 

After weeks of avoidance he finally walked in on Jack. Drake was ready to turn on his heels and run away, lock himself in his room, and drink himself to the point of unconsciousness. He leaned against the door frame trying to figure out what he was doing. Maybe they fucked with his head so badly that he has tics. Drake sighed as he parted his lips, “Glad to see you made it back in once piece.” He offered up. “What are you trying to figure out? How doors work?” 

This is how it feels to come back from the dead. Technically he wasn’t dead but assumed to be since for a year and some months he’d apprently been with the government. Found in a reserach facility, Jack doesn’t remember any of it. Physically he’s fine, it’s been a couple weeks and anything that might have been wrong has been healed by his particular mutation. The real problem is that he’s in familair settings, he recognizes and knows people from before and there’s of course more new faces; a lot of mutants need help. Maybe this is what it feels like to live in limbo? He’s not quite part of this yet but this had been home once upon a time. It’s a weird state.

Currently he finds himself in the kitchen and open and closing cabinent doors as he attmepts to locate a cup. Because, of course, they aren’t where they use to be and have since been relocated. He closes another cabinent, still unsuccessful as someone else comes in. He doesn’t look stubbornly says, “Before you even offer, no I don’t need help. I can figure this out.”

[drakegraysonx]

julesxbeaumont​:

Jules just smiled, a gentle hand going to his back now to make sure he stayed up right. “You’ve survived worse.” She hummed, “And in terms of this wound, this shouldn’t be that bad.” As he laid down, her hand went to the back of his neck, smiling. “Your body has been through enough today, and if you need the rest, I’ll enjoy the company. Ready to finish it?” 

Drake repositioned himself letting out a shaky sigh. At least the couch was more comfy than the floor. The floor was cold and nipped at the parts of skin that hadn’t yet meet the floor. “After this I’ll owe you one,” He told her. Drake nodded as he clutched the pillow once more. “Yeah let’s get this over with.” 

[drakegraysonx]

xanknows​:

He shifted in his seat—his discomfort with the topic was getting physical. He didn’t just have his own tensions to deal with, he was hearing all Drake’s feelings twice over in his head. “There didn’t have to be any killing at all,” he snapped. Game over. It wasn’t a game to Xan. Human or mutant, none of them deserved to die for the sake of the other. Especially not just because Drake thought it was necessary.

Xan looked away again. He’d rather get killed than end up a murderer. “You should join the Brotherhood with that attitude.” It wasn’t quite a fair dig… But Xander believed it. If all mutants thought like that, there would be no humans left.

Xander wasn’t wrong. Drake should have joined The Brotherhood with his views. The bloodshed was enough for him to hate every single one of them. Drake watched too many good people die to believe they should follow the mundane. All of them could create a change singlehandedly fixing the problem, but they were still following a government that betrayed them. “Yeah and that’s all you got?” He countered back. 

“So are we good? Can we just say fuck it this was fluke and move on?” Drake asked desperately. He wanted to put it behind them. Their death was just a casualty of war. Drake couldn’t change the past and he just wanted to move forward. “I’m sorry that it was someone that meant something to you. If that helps.” 

[drakegraysonx]

audreyxroscoe​:

x

Audrey smirked under her breath as she watched Drake devour the next shot within seconds of the first. He did it as if he really needed it, like he really needed this evening to be away from work and to relax. She took her time with her own second shot, but finally followed suit. Thanking the bartender with just a sharp nod, she took sips of the next drink that was delivered. Turning more on the stool so that she was half facing the rest of the club, she let her eyes sweep the crowd too. So many mutants, so many strangers. Drake’s remark could’ve been met with various sarcastic comebacks but Audrey held her tongue, just smiling slightly.

The mention of the new fire mutant brought her attention back to Drake. She remembered hearing about their arrival near the start, since well, ice and fire. Ice could be susceptible to fire and fire could be susceptible to ice. Maybe the extent depended on various factors, but still. Audrey had always been careful around fire because of that. And so, hearing that Drake’s back had been torched by said fire made her eyes widen slightly. “They did what?” She said just out of initial surprise, furrowing her brow. “No, I didn’t– Grayson… damn. Are you alright now?” It was genuine concern before she then just huffed.

“What the hell did you do to provoke them?” Audrey scoffed. Yes, it could’ve just been the fire mutant’s doing without Drake having done anything to piss them off, but Audrey decided to taunt anyway.

Drake nodded his head slowly letting his words sink in. “I’m fine Jules took care of it.” He waved it off. He was thankful to the healers in their group. Otherwise, Drake would’ve been dead ten times over by now. A lot of the time it was from the same mutants they saved. It was either accidental or they meant to cause harm. Both made him understand why there were so many laws in place. The mutants who couldn’t get their shit together are the reason no one can have a good life. 

“I didn’t do anything!” He exclaimed. “I thought we were good but next thing I knew I was walking away and the guy torched it. He claims it was an accident but I don’t know how you accidentally do that.” Drake wasn’t going to let himself dwell on the bullshit. “Doesn’t matter he’s going to be leaving in the next charter we can set up.” He glanced over at her. “Just be careful. If he’s starting shit he’s going to try to go through you.” 

[drakegraysonx]

audreyxroscoe​:

x

Audrey kept the vigilance regardless of where she was. She could be chatting with a comrade in the hallways of the compound and still be on alert. And she would especially stay alert when she wasn’t in the compound, like they found themselves now. A club full of mutants, but ones that were still strangers. The thing about mutants was that not all of them were allies. Yes, mutants fought for survival and for rights and the like, but not all of them were friends. The same was for humans. Some were good; some were bad. And so, even if there was mild comfort in the fact that she was surrounded by people of her own kind, Audrey was still being careful.

As far as she was concerned, the only person in that room she trusted was Drake.

“For the sake of security, I can’t,” she countered in a murmur. “Not fully.” Yes, she knew there were plenty of other guards that would always be on rotation even if she was off for a time. But still, she was always protective anyway. “I can do you one better than bragging rights,” Audrey pointed out with a nonchalant shrug. “My company. That always suffices, right?” She gave him an amused smile. Besides, Drake did ask her to join him on this club run for the evening.

Holding up the shot, Audrey turned more in her seat toward him. “Cheers to three years,” she echoed. “And hopefully many more together.” Many more years of the resistance family. Hopefully less of the misfortunes and heartaches, though that was more of a far off wish, it seemed. Audrey gently clanged the shot glass against Drake’s before downing the drink.

They clinked the shot glasses together careful not to let the liquor slosh out the edge. Drake knocked it back in one go. He grabbed the next shot and downed that equally as fast. The burn didn’t feel as nice from the second shot. It was like sandpaper in his throat. The upside was the warmth that began to spread all through his belly and up to his chest. 

The bartender returned with their actual drinks. Drake had ordered a Moscow Mule. The copper mug was cold to the touch. “I never minded your company.” Drake sipped on his drink as he eyed the crowd. “You’re not annoying or have a stick up your ass.” Drake spoke as if he didn’t have a stick up his own ass. 

The only takeaway was that Drake was able to balance both work and play. It’s only of the ways he was able to be calm all the time. “Mmm did you hear what that new kid who has fire did to me?” He rhetorically asked. “The kid torched my back. It was severe. I was with Juliana for a few hours while she healed me.”  Drake recalled the excruciating pain he went through as she pulled the healing cells to the surface. 

[drakegraysonx]

audreyxroscoe​:

x

It was noticeable, the way he was uncertain for a moment. If the bouncer wished for Audrey to elaborate on her power, then she could turn the hallway into a temporary winter wonderland if that would satisfy him more. She was even prepared to do so, giving him a waiting look. But he gave into what she initially offered, and the two resistance members were able to further enter the club. The area was quite diverse with different kinds of mutants. She let her gaze casually sweep the proximity as she walked alongside Drake. And where they sat at the bar counter was definitely calculated based on where the entrance was as well as the cameras.

She sat beside him and nodded simply without even having to look over to where Drake had motioned to. “I noticed them,” Audrey murmured, raising an eyebrow. “Leverage is a hot commodity.” Yes, if Drake was able to scrub any of that data before they left, that would probably be best. Just in case. “The best answer I can give you is that it’s been a while. Are you feeling nostalgic?” Audrey glanced at him with a smile but nodded in agreement. “I know.” Fun sometimes seemed like a stranger. After ordering something, she watched the bartender go off to prepare everything before she spoke again.

“Lately, various people have been trying to get me to… loosen up a little,” she admitted with a light laugh. “You’re the one who actually dragged me out of the compound, though. Maybe you win the medal for getting the furthest.” 

If there was one thing Drake loved about Audrey was the way she was aware of her surroundings. Before he was 2 feet into a room he was already of aware of every camera or person in the room. It was a constant strategy game of sizing up the surroundings. Whether she meant that or not is beyond what Drake cared to think about. Drake shrugged his shoulders, “Kind of,” He really wasn’t sure what it was. 

Drake’s smile grew thinking how right everyone was. Audrey worked hard and barely took any time off. She had a physically demanding job. That was also never ending. They had to find pockets of time to relax because there was no coming back later sign they could put up. “Yeah? There not wrong. You don’t let your guard down for a second.” The bartender poured the four shots of Kamikazes out for them while they finished up with their other drinks. 

“What do I get out of it? Bragging rights?” He joked. “Not much of a win in my books but fuck it I’ll take it.” Drake held up the first shot, “Cheers to...” Drake paused unsure of what to be cheerful about. Things haven’t changed. Except it was getting harder and harder as time went on. With nothing else to think about her went to the next best thing. “Cheers to 3 years.” 

[drakegraysonx]

julesxbeaumont​:

She knew it sucked, she knew he’d be okay in the long run. Pausing now, Jules moved to move the man’s hair out of his face some. “You’ve got the energy to move up on the couch? If you’re about to pass out, I’d rather you look like you’re napping vs…. dead on the floor.” She hummed, moving to pull the other up by his shoulder some. “I’ll cover you up, you’re welcome to stay as long as you need.” 

Drake’s breathing was heavy as the foot slowly released his neck. He had a half-hearted smile. He had always liked Juliana. She was someone Drake found dependable. Juliana was a warmth of a fire with the tinge of pine to Drake. Slowly pushed himself up onto his knees. Drake slowly stood up and made his way over to the couch. “You could’ve said I was trying out my dream job of being a door mat.” Drake laid himself onto the couch. “Thanks I think I’ll survive this. I mean it can’t get any worse, right?” 

[drakegraysonx]

audreyxroscoe​:

x

Complete discretion was something that was instinctively sought after, especially in the area they were in. Trekking down dark streets in an area where organized crime wasn’t a stranger didn’t seem to faze her. Not like it would’ve if she were eighteen again, back when she was just starting to embrace herself as a mutant, back when she was first brought to Xavier’s school. That was a long time ago. Times had changed, she had changed, the world had changed. Regardless of her otherwise fairly calm demeanor, she still walked with a natural air of caution around her. She casually snuck glances over her shoulder every once and a while too, as if making sure she and Drake weren’t being followed.

Audrey watched as a certain sequence was played out for the secret door to open, and then she walked in after him. She briefly looked at the first bouncer they passed, but it was the second that made the move to stop them. He wanted visual proof that Audrey was like them, that she possessed the x-gene that some saw as a curse while others saw it as a blessing. Her green gaze remained on the bouncer but she made no move to deny his request. It wasn’t an unfair one. It was understandable he was being careful. Lifting a hand high enough for him to see over Drake’s shoulder, ice formed on it, and the hallway seemed to immediately get a little chillier. 

Drake was at the helm ready to protest. He understood why it needed to be done. It was the only way to preserve their secrecy. Money may get you far but it was the secrets that you keep that kept you alive. Drake looked over his shoulder to watch her hand create ice out of thin air. No one batted an eye at her powers. The guard was pensive as if questioning whether her powers were just a trick of the light. He finally stepped aside to let the two of them pass. Drake led Audrey to the bar. It was on the far end where the edge of the bar met the adjacent wall. 

He motioned the bartender over to them. “Sorry I forgot they did that to new people.” Drake rubbed the back of his neck. “If you want I can scrub your face clean later on.” He motioned to the cameras that were trained on the entrance way. It was how they got their leverage by making all the mutants perform in front of them. They had their abilities, face, and whatever else they could gather as the night progressed. “I’m trying to remember the last time we actually drank together.” Drake thought for a moment. “Or when was the last time any of us did anything fun.” The bartender finally strolled over and Drake was quick to put down an order of four shots on top of whatever drinks they ordered.  

[drakegraysonx]

lilvale​:

“yeah…. remember that some of us have brothers who run the place and therefore have to live here full time for the unforeseeable future. so no leveling in here-” she gestured to the room, but she clearly meant the entire building. 

“you wanna take on thea? cool. go into the woods or something. much fairer fight and much easier cleanup. also, do me a favor and tell her to bring back any trees that inevitably come down in the process.” her eyebrow raised at his question. as much as she hated it, thea was supposed to be on the roof. “presumably her job?”

Drake looked around the room, “I’ll keep half the building for you to live in. Just keep Thea on the other side and we’ll be good.” The idea of taking on Thea would be interesting. Although, he thought he had a shot if powers were being used. Drake didn’t even need to let her know he made it onto the battlefield before making her docile. That’s if he wanted to be nice. Although, his powers were shaky since he didn’t get to practice them on anyone. He was stuck among allies. It would be fucked up to mess with their minds just to do some training. 

“If you need trees we’ll just toss her out into the woods. Her initial reaction would be all you needed.” Drake finished making his coffee and went to pull up a seat across from her. “Right, you made it seem like she had something on the roof she didn’t want us to know about.” He sipped his coffee. Drake yanked on the stings to make sure the hood didn’t fall off. He wasn’t ready to invite the world in. “What have you been up to?” He changed subjects.