The Day After - For WearingtheStars

[helpdesk_hero]

He knows it the second he wakes up. Because there's this void in his head. Can't explain it, can only say it's wrong. As deeply wrong as anything has ever been in his life. Of course the only reason he even woke up was because of all of the shouting. The fear and the pain. And David swallows hard because he's reaching and there's nothing.

Which is what gets him grabbing at his jeans and a t-shirt, throwing himself out of the room, barely even acknowledging Josh as the gold-skinned idiot wakes up. No, his concern is the room across the hall. Is pushing past people so he can pound on it. Billy.

"Billy!" he shouts through the door. He should have fought harder when Emma found out they were dating. He shouldn't have let people change their rooms. He should be in there, knowing if Billy is feeling this same emptiness too.

An emptiness that can't just be David, because he thinks he just saw a girl that used to have purple skin and horns walk by. Without either of those.

"Billy, open up! Dammit, Jay, if you're in there, open the door, I need to see Billy."

Comments

[wearingthestars]

"If it's as widespread as they made it seem then I dunno how much good that's gonna do. People are going to be talking about. It's probably trending by now."

Maybe. Depending on how long they were out for. It felt like a good little while.

[helpdesk_hero]

"Well, we can check when we get to my room."

Which feels so far away. And there's David, of course, having to deal with not being able to see the best. He needed another healing dose from Josh soon.

[wearingthestars]

Draining his glass, Billy balances the empty cup on his plate so he has a free arm to hook silently with David, as though he can sense what's bothering David, quiet until they reach his room.

[helpdesk_hero]

Well now what was Billy going to drink? How silly. But David doesn't protest, and lets his boyfriend guide him back to his room. And, unsurprisingly, it's empty when they get there. David puts his food on the desk and takes out his Prodigy-glasses, putting them on to start bringing data up and doing searches and there's...

"Oh god."

It's beyond bad.

[wearingthestars]

He drank. He's just going to have nothing to wash down that horrible toast.

Billy tries to eat a little while David gets set up, but that exclamation has him looking up anxiously.

"...What'd you find?"

[helpdesk_hero]

"There's... Someone attacked X-Corp offices. There were explosions. People are... Oh god, they're attacking, Billy. This is hours old and we're being attacked."

And David just leans back against the desk, shaking.

[wearingthestars]

Tensing, Billy's at David's side in a moment, hand at his arm, expression twisted with worry. "Atta- w- who??" he presses, mind reeling as he tries to figure out what to do.

They should be out there. Those of them who still have their powers, they should be out there protecting everyone who doesn't-

[helpdesk_hero]

"They don't know. There's a few anti-mutant organizations claiming responsibility."

And he just leans into that light touch.

"I think Scott and Emma are trying to lock us down for our own sake."

Safety here. They're the next generation. Or some of them are.

[wearingthestars]

"...Fuck," Billy breaths, and his arms wrap loosely round David, pressing a kiss to his jaw.

It's something they've always had to worry about, though Billy tried not to let his thoughts dwell on it. Now though, it seems far too real, and he's frightened of someone coming to this place they've called home. Hurting them, or their friends.

"...Maybe we shouldn't be looking at this."

[helpdesk_hero]

And David was the one who had come to this place to protect his family. For him, this has always been real. But he can't take off the glasses now, not when he's seeing so much.

"Someone has to witness this for them."

He's took weak to look away.

[wearingthestars]

"It doesn't have to be you-" Billy protest with an anxious look. He doesn't want to see David hurt like this.

[helpdesk_hero]

If not me, then who?

[He hates this, he hates it so much.]

[wearingthestars]

David-

[Billy frowns, and his fingers catch at the glasses, not pushing yet, but he makes a pleading sound.]

[helpdesk_hero]

[He sighs and reaches up to frame Billy's hands and pull them off.]

This could be the end of a species.

[wearingthestars]

[Well that's a terrifying thought, and Billy's expression twists anxiously, as though he hadn't quite thought that far ahead. He knew this was a devastating hit, but that people would take advantage of this moment to completely wipe them out is something his mind hadn't dared to believe.]

You don't really think that, do you?

[helpdesk_hero]

Really? The Jewish kid is asking me that?

[Surely Billy should have seen it first. The hate, the fear, the pain. And the way people lash out.]

[wearingthestars]

I want to believe people are better than that.

[That humanity might have learned.]

[helpdesk_hero]

[They haven't. And David knows that deep down. He was here, after all, because people wanted to attack him for what he was. But there's only so much he can do. So he tries to eat instead.]

Let's just eat and try to trust other people will help figure something else out.

[wearingthestars]

[It's not something they should have to worry about at their age. Certainly not something they should have such personal experience with. Billy nods, and tries to put on a smile for David. With so much bad right now, he wants there to be some small bit of good.]

...We're safe here.

[That at least he's sure of. For now.]

[helpdesk_hero]

I know. So long as we have the X-Men, we'll be safe.

[He finishes a bit more food before moving to sit on his bed. Thing is, at this moment, he really believes it. He thinks they can be safe here.]

[wearingthestars]

[They both do. And so Billy feels sure enough to encourage-]

Exactly, So rest that big brain of yours for a bit, mm?

[He moves to join him on the bed, offer a reassuring presence.]

[helpdesk_hero]

[Big brain? Hardly. David frowns and leans against Billy. It's stupid to ask 'will you still like me if I'm not a mutant'. Clearly Billy already does still care about him. So he isn't going to protest.]

I guess I don't have to fear that i might abuse my powers some day. Can't abuse what you don't have.

[wearingthestars]

...We still don't know if this is permanent.

[Billy reminds gently, but he understand. As best he can from the outside at least.]

With or without your powers, you're going to do amazing things, David.

[helpdesk_hero]

[Will he? How much of his intelligence is even still his?]

Billy? Can you stop being the most amazingly supportive boyfriend ever? Call your parents and tell them you're okay or something.

[wearingthestars]

[Billy flushes, unsure if that's a compliment or admonishment at this point. He nods, and pulls out his phone, shifting away so he can make his call.]

I'll tell them you're okay too. [In a manner of speaking.]