nwo_cyclops (nwo_cyclops) wrote in nwo_xmen, @ 2008-07-09 19:09:00 |
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WHO: Scott and Paige
WHEN: July 7th
And once again, it was a beautiful day but Scott was stuck in his office. It was more out of choice than anything else this time around. Now with both Emma and Jean back at the mansion, things were tense nonetheless. He still hadn't had a chance to speak with either -- rather, he was avoiding them as much as he possibly could and he knew they knew and he knew they were angry about this. Oh well.
Instead, he'd decided to sit back and try to figure out what exactly was going on with the team. He had yet to speak with Gambit, mainly because of his apparent association with Wolverine (and the eventual conversation with Logan was not appealing to him at all), but other than him, it seemed like most people were training in the Danger Room. Which was good.
The only exception was Paige and while he knew she had never been on active duty with them, he still felt he should have a discussion with her regarding her position in the house. He'd called down to her a few minutes previously and while he was waiting for her to arrive, he decided to do some paperwork.
Paige couldn't quite figure out why Scott wanted to see her. She tried to keep quiet...follow the rules... She couldn't be in trouble, could she? Knocking on his office door, she peeked in. "Mr. Summers?" She feels like a naughty student.
"Paige," he said, looking up from his papers. "Come in, have a seat." He could see the worry on her body, and he felt slightly bad about it. To be honest, they'd rarely had much to do with one another, but it wasn't normal times. He needed to know what was going on with his team.
Stepping out from behind his desk, he came around to the front and, propping himself on the edge, he crosses his ankles. "How long has it been since you've been back at the Mansion, Paige?"
"Umm..." She counted back in her head as she took the aforementioned seat. "A few weeks, since I got back from Kentucky, I think. Not more than a month or two."
"That sounds about right. And in that time, I've noticed you've been very motivated about your exercise regiment. Running every day, about, what five miles would you say?" She nodded.
"Right. Unfortunately Paige, I don't think that's going to be enough training. I believe you should be doing some Danger Room sessions, with a senior member of the team," he added.
"How often? And with who?" She questioned. She really shouldn't have teased Rogue about the training sessions. Karma is a bitch.
"Well, I realize this might be out of the blue, so I don't want to put you on as strict a schedule, as say, Rogue is. At least three times a week though. One with Logan." As much as he hated to admit it, he knew that Logan was one of their more.. experienced members and would be able to really show Paige what it would be like in the field.
"And the other two times?" She questioned. Just ironing out all the details. "And what, if I can ask, brought this up?"
She had every right to ask but Scott wasn't sure how much he could tell her. "Well one of those session will be a group session. We generally have those Monday mornings, before classes and Friday afternoons, as I'm sure you know. The other session, I'll let you find a member, someone to work with. I'd like you alternate it, if you could. Learn from everyone."
He pushed himself off lightly from the table and began to pace towards the window. Sighing, he turned away from her. "Something's happening Paige. Something big. We don't know what exactly and well, we don't really know anything other than it's inevitable. I want to know you're prepared." He turned back towards her, his face locked. "And right now, I'm not sure how much of an asset you are. I need to know you're able to function when that time comes."
Jaw set as she listened to him. She's killing herself and trying to be a good X-Man and he's not sure that she's an asset? "I see." Fine. Okay, that's his opinion, he's welcome to it.... She's just a little hurt, is all.
"I'm sorry to have been so blunt, Paige. It's just that I have to be honest with you, if not for the team's sake, but for your own. I want you to be the best X-man you can be, however that looks." He hated being the bad guy, he really did. He could see the anger flash across her face but he was prepared for it.
He tried to keep his voice as calm and level as possible, to show her he wasn't attacking her.
She wasn't angry. Well..not only angry at him. Rather angry at herself for not doing all she could to improve herself. "No, I get it," she nodded.
"Good. I appreciate how easy-going you are about this. I know that this can't be easy for you, to hear this." He turned towards her and gave her a small smile. "If you're okay with it, I'd like to start the session tomorrow. Give you the rest of the day off. Is that alright with you?" He knew it sounded weird, to suddenly give her an option but he did anyways.
She nodded. "Yeah...that sounds great, Mr. Summers." Should she be calling him by his first name now? Oh well.
"Scott. If you're going to be a full member of the team, it's only fair."
He walked back towards her and sat down in his chair. "How do you feel about that, Paige? Being a full member of the team?"
A shrug. "I'm not sure," she admitted. "It's been awhile since I've been an actual member of any team. Since Gen X disbanded. And it's not like I haven't wanted this since Sam joined up..." It's complicated.
"Well, I always heard good things about you when you were with Gen-X and I have to say, I was very happy to see you come here. I'm sure you're wondering why I didn't ask you to join the team sooner though, right?"
"The thought had crossed my mind," Paige nodded, perhaps flushing slightly. "I mean...I wasn't unhappy to go computer-geek, but..."
"And it really is convenient for us that you enjoy doing that. Kitty's not around as much as before, so it was definitely handy for us." He folded his hands in front of him. "To be honest, I wanted to have a chance to observe you on my own, see how you handle yourself. And like I said earlier, I like how you took it upon yourself to train, even without anyone telling you to. You get along with everyone in the house. I've heard nothing but positive comments from the others. If you can promise me that I'll see nothing but the best in those danger room sessions, we'll make this position official. How does that sound?"
"Honestly? It...sounds great," Paige answered. "Like I said...I've wanted to do this for awhile." She'll just have to get over the whole perfectionist, beating herself up thing. "I...thanks." She hesitated for a moment and then leaned forward, giving Scott a one-armed hug. "Thanks a lot Mr.... Scott."
The hug startled him but he allowed it to happen. "Anytime, Husk." He extracted himself from the embrace and smiled. "Now go. Tell everyone. I know you're dying to."
She grinned. "Just the dozen or so Guthries around this place."
He shook his head but he still bore a grin. "I expect to see you first thing tomorrow morning, ready for the Danger Room."
"Bright and early," she promised. And she'll still do her five miles beforehand.