Reunited and it Feels So Good - @goldtoxicity

[helpdesk_hero]

The idea of Krakoa hadn't called to David, when everything was said and all of the offerings made, David hadn't been tempted. It wasn't until one name in particular had been said that he had packed his things and made for the nearest gate. Because there weren't many things that would shift him back to mutant concerns.

Elixir was one of those few things.

So there it was, David heading through the gate, and into an amazing garden. Massive trees around him, vines, flowers, fruit. And so many mutants. David, back over his shoulder, looked around in awe of the place. There was so much going on here and he didn't know what to do about it. Or where to go.

"Uh," he says, approaching the first person that seemed like an authority figure, from how people were gathered around them. A figure in some sort of body suit. "Excuse me? What are new arrivals supposed to do? And do you know where I can find Josh Foley?"

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[goldtoxicity]

It wasn't all that long ago that every morning he woke up felt like a disappointment. Knowing that he would have to force himself out of bed, force himself through the motions of living his life, was often enough to keep him underneath his sheets or blackout drunk if the day seemed bad enough.

But not anymore.

When Xavier had offered this to him, he'd laughed in his face. The old man had promised him three months, just three months, to see his vision - and it had taken shape before his very eyes. Bit by bit, piece by piece. Now, Sofia Mantega flew by on a breeze. Brian Cruz reigned in Julian's wickeder sense of humor with a laugh and a hand on his shoulder. Kevin Ford touched organic life and wept when it didn't crumble underneath his fingertips. Gail Collins hugged her daughter and whispered about miracles.

A year ago, the mutant cure had eliminated any future they had. Now, they were redefining everything. Past, present, future. Powers. All of it.

And he was at the center of it.

In truth he doesn't bother with new arrival day. It's overwhelming, to say the least, and the more the Five do the harder it is for them to interact with the rest of the populace. He's here by himself, the golden hue of his skin temporarily switched to something normal to try (and fail) to blend in. Xavier had promised him that today the missing member of his team would finally turn up - and the other four decided to sleep in for once. Instantly he's recognized, and instantly people come to him - either with requests to revive lost loved ones, to thank him for their return, or simply to lay a hand on him to feel his power. It's - uncomfortable, to say the least, but it would be a lie to say he wasn't getting to enjoy it a little.

The voice that speaks catches his attention. Six years. It had been six years but he couldn't forget, no chance in hell. He whips around, rudely ignoring the young lady desperately trying to catch his eye. And the instant their eyes meet, he's a bright, brilliant gold.

And he's smiling. Huge, relieved, and damn near tearful.

"David!"

[helpdesk_hero]

David Alleyne is a genius. Put together a list of the top fifty minds in the world, and there was a damn good chance that his name would turn up on it, even without his powers. There was a spark of intelligence, learning ability, and pattern recognition that could not be dismissed from the very nature of David Alleyne, perhaps just because of the way his gift had fundamentally altered the structure of his brain both before and after that fateful day.

All of this was important to note because it still took David until three full seconds after Josh had turned and gone flush with goal to recognize his wayward teammate.

Seems, as ever, his ability to pick them was impeccable.

That didn't make the greeting any less... weird to him. Who were all these people hovering around Josh, clamoring for his attention, wanting a piece of Josh and staring at David for holding his attention? He thought he knew all the mutants worth noting.

Maybe he had, before. For now?

For now he just smiles and takes a step forward.

"Hey punk. Still listening to crappy music?"

[goldtoxicity]

"I think you mean great music," he laughs, delighted beyond all belief. David is here. David is finally here. "You're so late."

A pause, he glances to the crowd. All of them still hungry for his attention and his approval. They're not doing anything wrong and on any other day, he'd spend all day indulging them and reassuring them that they're safe.

"Please, bring all of these requests to Arbor Magna," he says, gesturing to David. "I need to show my friend around. But if you bring them to Arbor Magna, we'll get to them. I promise you, I promise you, that we'll take care of you."

And with that he reaches for David's arm, ducking a little closer.

"C'mon, lemme show you this brave new world."

[helpdesk_hero]

Josh's delight can't begin to rival David's. David doesn't even know the others are alive. What he knows is Josh is here, and he's smiling. He hasn't seen the other man in years. He hasn't seen him happy in far longer.

"Hardly late. Didn't seem like this was a place for a human," he points out.

But he doesn't have time for much more than that because he's left in awe as Josh sorta... deftly handles a social situation. That wasn't normal for him. Yet here his friend was, the man that always wanted praise and to belong, finally getting that praise and belonging. And... looking to David instead. Unexpected.

"Yeah," he says, shocked when Josh offers the tour. Or at least, David THINKS it's a tour offering. He shoulders his back again and tries not to feel awkward. "Seems like you're a celebrity here."

[goldtoxicity]

"Oh," Josh smiles broadly, ear to ear. A natural smile, simple and easy and unburdened with the weight of the world. "Yeah, you're right. We'll get to that."

He can't do it here. It's cutting the line massively, there are so many depowered mutants who desperately want their powers back but will need to face the Crucible to do it... but David's a special case. David gave so much for the fight, he's owed the chance to be whole again.

"Lemme show you around first. Oh! And the team wants you over for dinner. I made sure it wasn't Hope's turn to cook so don't worry, it shouldn't be burnt to a crisp."

[helpdesk_hero]

Who hadn't given so much for the fight? Who hadn't been picked and torn apart? Better that David have it offered without him knowing there was a line he was cutting. He'd feel horrible about it.

"The team? You've got a new team?" he asks, smiling. It's soft, and a touch sad because of the people he misses. But hey, Hope's still in a good way, so that's something. "You know, if you need and there are supplies, I can cook? I can't seem to remember you being able to make a sandwich."

Lead on, he says with the gesture of one hand. He will follow. Following would mean getting to gawk at all of this.

[goldtoxicity]

"Sort've. They're more like coworkers, actually. Like, we've got a 9 - 5 job here."

He starts walking. The best place to start is the beautiful scenery, to get them away from all of this. To then start digging in, to explaining everything that David needs to know about life on Krakoa.

There are mutants everywhere. The skies are full of airborne bodies. Some are parents with children, some move confidently and others stumble like it's their very first time. And for some, it is.

"And if you wanna, I'm definitely no master chef, but like, I'm pretty sure its not proper to have the guest of honor cook?"

[helpdesk_hero]

"Joshua Foley, holding a job. Well now I've seen everything."

The joke probably isn't that funny. But the air here is so light. The world feels so light. he needs to get into the mood of it.

"Guest of honor? Yeah, we both know I'm just an old administrator that someone is looking to rope into organizational work again," David shrugs. He doesn't have that high of an esteem for himself. "Maybe they'll let me open a restaurant instead. Do something less like pushing paper and being the token human."

[goldtoxicity]

"You won't need to worry about that," he assures, voice bright. "But dude, if that's what you wanna do? Do it. Blob - I mean, Fred - he opened a Tiki Bar. It's like the place to be."

And another glance, his smile lifting a little more.

"And don't be dumb. You're my guest of honor. I invited you here. If you wanna organize my schedule, go wild, but I just want you here."

[helpdesk_hero]

Wait. David comes to a stop, reaching out to touch Josh's arm.

"You invited me? Xavier didn't say anything about that. Only that you were here. That you missed me."

Which David had problems believing at first. This wasn't what he'd been told. But he'd been offered his former best friend as bait, and he'd fallen for it hard. Hadn't thought much about the flutter of joy in his chest. Just started packing.

"I... I can still cock. You're horrible at it. And so is Hope. I don't know who else you have on your team to provide."

[goldtoxicity]

He can feel the pulse of Josh's power, even through the layer of clothing. Just as surely as Josh can feel every part of his body working in tandem.

"I'm kind of a secret," he confesses, his hand covering David's. They're a little ways away from the crowd now. He gives a little squeeze, lets some of his power start to flow. To start doing the work that needs to be done. "It's different here, dude. Not like Utopia, or Westchester. Really, really different."

The air around them is starting to glow faintly golden.

"We changed the game."

[helpdesk_hero]

There are questions, so many questions he wants to ask. Like why he can feel Josh's power growing. He wants to make a quip about how his eyes didn't need fixed again so soon, he had been taking better care of them. And that old aches and pains were things he could live with.

Instead... Instead it just feels good.

"Changed the game?" he parrots back, torn between marveling at Josh's power, and asking for clarification.

[goldtoxicity]

"Completely," Josh replies, hesitating on clarifying. He can say it, but the weight doesn't sink in until you see it. Until you look around and see forty-five previously missing faces. Until you look up and see Melody and Sofia soaring through the sky.

He lets go.

"I want to tell you - but you won't believe me, not really. It'll make sense when you see the housing district."

[helpdesk_hero]

The slow working of power like Josh's is an insidious thing. Must take a bit of time, to rewrite and repair a person's genetic code. That's probably for the best, because it means they can start walking again.

"Well then, if you have a great big show and tell project, show me. Tell me."

[goldtoxicity]

"I'm getting to that." He clicks his tongue and starts walking again, leading them through the forests.

"Everything I show you - and I mean it, man, everything - you can't tell anyone who isn't here."

[helpdesk_hero]

"You have my word. And you know I don't break that."

Well, no. He got really frustrated post Utopia and had told Speed maybe a touch more than he should have. But he still stood by his point, even as he walked by Josh's side.

"You seem... happy."

[goldtoxicity]

"I am." A sidelong glance. "I finally understand where I belong... what I was meant to do."

And this time it didn't involve hurting anyone. Only healing. Only giving back what was taken.

"You seem more at peace."

[helpdesk_hero]

That's... a very profound statement. And David resists being jealous. Not that the feeling isn't down there, curling in his gut.

"Peace would be... grossly inaccurate. Just better in control of myself and the imagine I present to the world. I have practice. Sooner or later all wounds scar over, and you soften the scar up into workable flesh. But, well, you know it well. The flesh doesn't have the same sensation of old, and it aches, no matter how carefully you treat it."

He's not at peace. He hurts every day. He's incomplete. But he's accepted more about himself.

[goldtoxicity]

"Yeah..."

A gentle elbow.

"Good thing you have an omega level biokinetic who specailises in scar tissue," he quips. As he does, the trees start to thin. The housing district for the "young" mutants spreads out before them. Someone's already blasting music, drinks are being passed around like they're going out of style.

But most importantly.

There's a shit ton more mutants than there really ought to be. After having their population decimated so many times, after losing so many friends - there are familiar faces in the crowd. Vying for drinks and laughing.

"Turns out all wounds do heal with time, s'long as you've got the right tools."

[helpdesk_hero]

"Some scars don't heal," David counters. He's trying not to be bitter in this happy place. But it's still there.

David... stumbles to a stop as he looks around. Looks around and doesn't believe. So many mutants his age, or near enough. No, it's more than that. He knows some of those faces.

"Josh, you might need to check me out. I think I'm having a stroke. Because I could swear I see Brian Cruz having drinks with Cessily and talking to Kevin. And that's..."

That's not possible.

[goldtoxicity]

"I told you," he says gently, his fingers curling gently around David's wrist. Steadying him, grounding him.

"We changed the game."

[helpdesk_hero]

There's no steadying him. Not in this moment. Not with tears of joy in his eyes. His friends, his classmates. Alive and whole and... and looking like the day he lost them.

"How is this even possible?"

[goldtoxicity]

"We brought them back. Me and my team." It hadn't been easy by any stretch of the imagination. Still wasn't. "We're averaging about a hundred mutants a day... And we're just getting faster as we go."

The Hellions laugh like they've never been apart.

"I'll get into it more when we get to Arbor Magna."

[helpdesk_hero]

The Hellions laugh like they never laughed before. It's different. Very different.

So this was the secret. This was why Krakoa was important. The secret that could never pass his lips when he left. That mutants were returning. That the people he loved were back.

"Wait... our team," he asks, unable to keep the desperation from his voice. Yes, the can go to whatever this Arbor Magna is. But just... Jay and Laurie. He had to know.

[goldtoxicity]

"Jay's with his family right now, y'know, not much of a partier. And Laurie and her mom're living in the more residential area... Nori's around here somewhere, but like I think she's waiting until you're settled to come say hi."

He clicks his tongue thoughtfully.

"And I think Sofia's out with the Marauders right now. We're all home."