There was something amazing about them being here. David and his family together at the Grindhouse, the cafe that he had gotten used to now that he was living at Xavier's School. Here he was, ready to talk to his family who had been supportive enough to come to the school to see them. It was serious progress for his Dad. Sure, Mom had been nothing but supportive, but letters and calls didn't compare to his Dad actually being here.
"I spoke to my friend in admissions at Harvard, David."
Oh man, good news too. David can't help the grin and overwhelming hope at the statement. Harvard. It was his goal. Things had gotten weird since becoming a mutant and yeah, he'd given up a few things, but he definitely wanted to do something with his life. Something good. Law, or maybe medicine? He didn't know yet. Engineering could be good too. And there were some great minds at Xavier's that he was picking for all of these right now, so he figured he'd know soon.
"And? Did you show him my transcript? Did you tell him about the classes I took at the University of Chicago?" He knew that the dual-enrollment had been a great plan.
Of course all that energy and excitement was met with a disappointed look from his father. A pained one. And Mom, well, she was just sitting, watching. Seemed like she didn't know what was about to be said.
"David, he said... oh. This is hard," his father answered, and David could feel his heart breaking. Right then, right there. That wasn't his father's tone for good news. It was the 'I'm sorry we're not getting a puppy' tone. "He said they don't accept students from Xavier's."
AKA, didn't accept mutants. Fucking hell. Modern racism, always the best, right? And it was impossible to keep the pain from his voice. "Oh. Let me guess. My power makes it impossible for them to trust my grades," he sighed, because David got it. Sometimes he didn't trust it himself. "But just because I absorb other people's knowledge doesn't mean I can't learn it on my own."
Of course there isn't much more than the heartbreak that he can deal with. This was... crushing. In every possible way.
"We could sue them," Mom piped up, and David wanted to smile at her. It was fruitless, but damn if she wasn't trying to lead the charge.
"Dorothy," his father continued, again in that damn tone of defeat and stern disapproval. David didn't get it. Why couldn't they fight? "You know it wouldn't work. David's power aside, they'll claim they can't protect him. A student openly from Xavier's would attract violence. Harvard can't have that."
Can't have that? Can't... David grits his teeth and resists pounding a hand on the table.
"So what are you saying, Dad?" David asks, and through some miracle keeps the bitterness from his voice.
"I'm saying that if you want to go to college, you need to leave Xavier's."
No. No, that isn't something he can do. But how does he make them understand? How does he make anyone.
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E - Harvard - CW: Racism, Parental Disapproval
"I spoke to my friend in admissions at Harvard, David."
Oh man, good news too. David can't help the grin and overwhelming hope at the statement. Harvard. It was his goal. Things had gotten weird since becoming a mutant and yeah, he'd given up a few things, but he definitely wanted to do something with his life. Something good. Law, or maybe medicine? He didn't know yet. Engineering could be good too. And there were some great minds at Xavier's that he was picking for all of these right now, so he figured he'd know soon.
"And? Did you show him my transcript? Did you tell him about the classes I took at the University of Chicago?" He knew that the dual-enrollment had been a great plan.
Of course all that energy and excitement was met with a disappointed look from his father. A pained one. And Mom, well, she was just sitting, watching. Seemed like she didn't know what was about to be said.
"David, he said... oh. This is hard," his father answered, and David could feel his heart breaking. Right then, right there. That wasn't his father's tone for good news. It was the 'I'm sorry we're not getting a puppy' tone. "He said they don't accept students from Xavier's."
AKA, didn't accept mutants. Fucking hell. Modern racism, always the best, right? And it was impossible to keep the pain from his voice. "Oh. Let me guess. My power makes it impossible for them to trust my grades," he sighed, because David got it. Sometimes he didn't trust it himself. "But just because I absorb other people's knowledge doesn't mean I can't learn it on my own."
Of course there isn't much more than the heartbreak that he can deal with. This was... crushing. In every possible way.
"We could sue them," Mom piped up, and David wanted to smile at her. It was fruitless, but damn if she wasn't trying to lead the charge.
"Dorothy," his father continued, again in that damn tone of defeat and stern disapproval. David didn't get it. Why couldn't they fight? "You know it wouldn't work. David's power aside, they'll claim they can't protect him. A student openly from Xavier's would attract violence. Harvard can't have that."
Can't have that? Can't... David grits his teeth and resists pounding a hand on the table.
"So what are you saying, Dad?" David asks, and through some miracle keeps the bitterness from his voice.
"I'm saying that if you want to go to college, you need to leave Xavier's."
No. No, that isn't something he can do. But how does he make them understand? How does he make anyone.
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