When Life Slows Down

[iwillcatchup]

It is a major downer for Peter to have a leg cast right now. His whole life seems to be crawling along at a snail's pace. He is used to being the first to class... but is now the last. He is used to living life in the fast line... but is now stuck behind some senior going half the speed limit. And he feels like he is that senior.

And he can't focus right. Which is why he was headed to his hide-away in the attic, and took all that effort to drag himself up one step at a time...

When his head popped up in a whole new area that definitely was not the attic. His eyes went wide as sights and sounds surrounded him, and he was not even all the way out into the Nexus plaza yet.

He tosses his crutches onto the ground of the plaza, then pulls himself all the way up out of the hole in the ground that is his Nexus portal. And sits there on the ground for a moment. His eyes seem to move very quickly surveying everything around him.

He doesn't seem concerned about moving off the ground right now. His finger tap quickly on the floor beside him. More than anything in the world he wants to see everything... visit every Nexus shop... sample every exotic treat. But the cast has him contained. Sullen and contained.

"What would be your version of 'being between a rock and a hard place'?"

Comments

[iwillcatchup]

"Ohhh man... that would be a hard decision." For most people who don't have Peter's abilities. And right now, without being able to use his mutation, he is able to relate to these problems more.

"If we were doing would you rather... I would pick black hole."

"But what did you end up doing?"

[fiveofnone]

Caspar makes a face. "Nothing. I just lay there like a chump, bleeding out. My sister saved my life." Which he ultimately learned to appreciate, although at the moment he didn't care either way.

"How about you? What's your rock and a hard place? Gotta tell you, though, gunshot is way less brutal than a black hole, unless you're going for the novelty."

[iwillcatchup]

"Right now, my rock is telling my dad that he is my dad, or the hard place, pretending that it doesn't matter and still being around him all the time." Peter leans back on his elbows.

[fiveofnone]

That's the lamest "would you ever" that Caspar has ever heard.

"Dads are over-rated," he replies, crossing his arms over his chest. "You think he won't like hearing the truth?"

[iwillcatchup]

"He just lost his wife and daughter. They were murdered." Peter explains softly. "And I don't want him... to think I am trying to take their place."

[fiveofnone]

"So he's grieving right now." Caspar frowns a little, working his jaw. "I'm not an expert on human emotion, but if he's lost his family, don't you think he'd be at least a little glad to get some of it back?"

[iwillcatchup]

"To end up with a loser like me as his family?" Peter is just parroting words said to him by a few bad father figures in his life.

"I am not sure about that."

[fiveofnone]

Caspar raises an eyebrow. "Is that what he calls you now? You said he lets you spend time with him."

[iwillcatchup]

"Not him." Peter frowns. "Step-dads. Boyfriends of my mom."

[fiveofnone]

"All right, well, your mom has shit taste in men." He pauses a moment, then adds, "You could very well be a loser for all I know, but someone who truly loved your mother wouldn't insult her son like that."

Caspar knows a thing or two about dysfunctional families. Impatiently, he gestures for Peter's hand. "I'm getting tired of staring down at you, let me at least get you into a chair. What does dad think of you, huh? That's the only variable that matters here."

[iwillcatchup]

Peter nods slightly at Caspar's assessment. He takes the offered hand, and relies on the other man to get up to his feet.

"A chair would be good."

"We have not had any interaction. Besides helping savetheworldandrebuildtheschool." The last few words are blurred in his quickness.

[fiveofnone]

Caspar helps him up without trouble. He finds a chair (a comfortable one, he's in a generous mood) and drops Peter into it, then hands him his crutches.

It takes a moment to parse his speedy reply. "Is that how you broke your leg?" He sits in a nearby chair, his eyes not leaving Peter. "Doesn't sound like you've got much to lose, if he doesn't even know you. It's worse when they do, trust me. Then they're full of expectations."

[iwillcatchup]

Peter smiles with appreciate with both the chair, and the fact his crutches are nearby.

"Yeah. I thought I had the upperhand in the fight, but then the other guy caught me." That makes him frown. "He used his powers to make the earth catch my leg."

His fingers are tapping restlessly. Very quickly.

"Maybe I am a little scared of his expectations already."

[fiveofnone]

"His powers..." The kid must be from a world like Harley's. He makes note of the restless finger tapping. "So what can you do, then?"

It never ceases to amaze Caspar when someone is willing to admit their fears. He'd cut his own tongue out before he admitted that the real reason he's been brushing off talking to the Final Five is because of his very real fear that he'll learned something about himself that he'll wish he didn't know. "Why don't you start small, then? An anonymous letter or something. See how he reacts to learning that he has a son in the first place."

[iwillcatchup]

"I can move really fast." He answers the question. And then looks down at the cast on his leg. "Usually...."

Peter likes the idea of an anonymous letter. "Hey... yah... I could do that."

[fiveofnone]

"How long until the cast comes off?" he asks. The kid looks like a caged animal, sitting immobile like that.

He was ready to have his idea turned away. When it isn't, he can't help but smile, if only for a moment. "The name's Caspar, by the way." He leans over, offering Peter a hand. "Does your father have powers, too?"

[iwillcatchup]

"Professor McCoy says it should only a few days." His healing abilities will make it come off faster than usual. But it still feels like months for Peter.

"Peter Maximoff." He smiles with the introduction. And returns the handshake.

"He does. He is the Master of Metal."

[fiveofnone]

"Only a few days? Could be worse." He can tell Peter is itching to get it off, though. "Took me a few weeks to heal from getting shot."

"Nice to meet you, Peter." He settles back in his seat, although there is a distinct note of tension in his frame when he learns about his father's powers. "What does that mean? He can control anything metal?"

[iwillcatchup]

"Fast healing goes with the fact I move fast." Peter explains.

"It is called Magnetokinesis. He can manipulate all forms of magnetism and metals." Peter smiles slightly. "He used his powers to help the Professor rebuild the school."

[fiveofnone]

"Lucky," he says, although he doesn't entirely regret his lengthy convalescence in a hospital bed. It gave him some time to get his act together.

Even though Caspar isn't made of metal, he can appreciate how much influence such powers could have. "Is this a school you go to? Is he sticking around? Your dad, I mean."

[iwillcatchup]

"Yep. The Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters." Peter smiles.

"Not sure yet. He and the Professor are talking about it."

[fiveofnone]

"'Gifted youngsters,'" Caspar repeats. He smirks. "Doesn't sound like a school for losers to me. You should write that letter soon, in case he decides not to stay."

[iwillcatchup]

Peter smiles shyly. "Once my leg heals, I should be able to drop it off without him even seeing me too."

"I guess I just have to find the right words."

[fiveofnone]

Caspar gives a close-mouthed huff of amusement. "Yeah, I guess you can, can't you."

"Well, that I can't help you with. My family is the epitome of dysfunction." He smiles, but there's a sharp, self-loathing quality to it. "I'm pretty sure I'd only make it worse if I tried."

[iwillcatchup]

"Well then... what would you recommend I don't say?" Peter smiles.