âOh shush.â Playfully he smacked Warren in the shoulder. It felt nice to fool around like this, and it wasnât something Scott often let himself do. Usually he needed to play the stoic leader, had to be the person being serious or who else would? He couldnât let anyone else take the burden away from him, not when theyâd become trapped under it like he had. It was rare when he felt himself free of it. Usually itâd simply be Jean he felt that freedom with, but lately his time with Warren had been warranting it as well. No longer being the protector, Cyclops the hero, but Scott the person. It felt strange. âYou couldnât take my flirting,â He decided instead to play along. âIâd flirt you under the bus.â That expression didnât sound right to his ears but he decided to remain confident about it instead of stumbling over it. He bit his lower lip as he spoke about his feelings for Jean, and his lame flirting that hadnât gone as under the radar as heâd hoped. âI didnât mean it to be flirting.â He admitted. âI just really care about her, and I didnât realize it was that until I did.â As Warren prompted him, Scott gave him an expression that would have been far calmer if Warren had told him the world was ending.Â
âThat is NOT the worst thing that could happen.â Scott stated with panic clear at the prospect. âThereâs so many worse things. It could ruin our friendship, she could not rely on me as a leader anymore- oh god what if she feels forced because Iâm a leader and the power dynamic plus sheâs already under so much stress already because of her powers and then- what if she said YES? What if we have an epic breakup that affects the whole entire team? One of us would need to leave the X-Men and like hell Iâll let it be her, she NEEDS them.â Scott needed them too but that was beside the point. âPlus itâd be fair cause itâd probably be my faultâ but thats not even edging the tip of what could happen if I ever confessed so.â So paranoia didnât even begin to cover his feelings on the topic, quite frankly.Â
Scott frowned, confusion abroad his features at Warrenâs words. âI know I donât have to.â He said. âI want to.â It was a statement, and without an ounce of hesitation. âYouâre my friend, and if I can help youâ even if itâs something small, Iâd like to.â He hated feeling useless. There was nothing more Scott wanted to do than help the people he loved. âThat is, if you want me to.â He didnât want to force it. He knew he had a habit of being pushy and forcing things at times, needed to reign himself in at times. Nonetheless, sans Warren rejecting the proposal, Scott was happy to help him. Maybe it was selfish of him, using Warren to feel useful about himself. But. He couldnât let himself over think things too much. It led to headaches.Â
âBobby laughs at every joke in existence. He laughs at my jokes. Thatâs not an accomplishment.â Scott told him, a broad smile along his face and chuckles following the words. He swallowed, and gave a nod as Warren spoke of the walk being short. Even the short distance made him nervous, he couldnât help it. He hated putting all this weight on Warren (and at the same time, he was grateful to be able to trust him). âShort is good.â He said curtly, trying to hide his nerves. He didnât want Warren to think he doubted him- he didnât. Scott just didnât particular care for the rain, or vulnerability. He held onto Warren steadily the entire walk, and gave a tired grin when Warren searched his pockets. âProbably should have handed them over before he left.â He mused idly. He slid into the passenger seat, keeping his eyes shut tightly for a good moment before he could breathe easy. Then, he wiped his glasses down with his jacket, keeping his eyes tightly shut the whole time. Finally, Scott put them back on and opened his eyes. âStill foggy,â He grimaced, wishing heâd kept proper glasses cleaner in his car. âBe gentle with her.â Scott didnât often let anyone drive his car, but if he trusted Warren to lead him in the dark then he could probably trust him with his car too. Probably.Â
It was always nice when Scott let loose around him. It felt rare and precious. Even if it was happening a little more often since Halloween, when he had to lean on Scott for support. Maybe the two of them grew as friends after that night? Heâd already considered Scott his best friend but neither of them were too keen on showing the other theyâre insecurities until recently. He let out a laugh at Scottâs words. âNo. You couldnât take mine.â He assured him, leaning in a little. His ocean blue eyes glancing over Scott before finally landing back on his red sunglasses. His smirk leaving his face when his friend started talking about Jean again. âTake it from a guy whoâs been there with Jean. If you donât act on your feelings, sheâll move on.â Warren told him honestly. Every instance when Warren was crushing on Jean, she didnât seem all that interested in him. Like two ships in the dark sailing right past the other blindly. Never intercepting.Â
Listening to his friendâs panic, he frowned a bit at him. He was starting to remind him of the same things heâd been thinking lately about Kate. Excuse after excuse. I donât want to ruin our friendship. I donât want it to go well until it inevitably fails and Iâm all alone again. He understood the anxiety much more than he was willing to let on. He didnât want to admit that he loved Kate. That he thought about her all the time, or that he smiled like a school boy when he did. It was scarier than any villain he faced. Maybe he shouldnât be giving Scott any advice. It wasnât like he was Cupid even if he looked the part. âYouâre right. Lots of bad shit can happen... youâre just in your head about it, Scotty.â He said, as if he knew at all what he was talking about. âIâm kinda.. in my head about things lately too.â He said, not clarifying at all what he meant or that he was thinking about Kate in that moment. That quick kiss they shared at the bar and their upcoming fake date. His heart pounded in his chest like a drum.Â
Scott said that he wanted to help him and Warren blinked at him. Why did he feel so shocked that Scott wanted to help him? Maybe it had to do with how rare it was that anyone offered to help him with his wings. Bobby used to help him into his harness when heâd asked and Candy helped him when they were dating but he was normally alone to take care of himself lately. Grooming them, preening them, dealing with their soreness after a long day of wearing a harness. He supposed that was a learned trait. He didnât typically go to anyone for help for anything. He was a Worthington and Worthingtonâs minded their own business. Took care of themselves and didnât rely heavily on others. That was what his father had always told him... but it felt nice to lean on Scott. To rely on him. Both as a leader and as a friend. This was just... so personal. He was letting him in. âI want you to.â Warren finally told him.Â
Warren smiled when he said that Bobby laughed at everything. He had a point there. Once the two of them made it to the car and he was finally in the drivers seat and out of the rain. He let out a gentle sigh. He didnât mind the rain too much but it did dampen his mood a little. Especially when he could feel a storm blowing in. Scott said his glasses were still foggy and to be careful with his car and he let out a laugh. âI drive just fine, you know! Besides, even if something were to happen to it; Iâd just pay for it to get fixed.â He said like it were the easiest solution in the world. After starting the car and turning on the windshield wipers, he buckled himself in. âShould we go to the institute or do you want to have a sleepover at my place?â He asked with a playful smile on his lips.