Tensor

Josh sighed, leaning back in his wheelchair and looking up at the sky. It was a beautiful day. Blue sky, bright sun, cool breeze (which was likely someone's doing) and lots of shade. He didn't know how long they'd been outside, but he was starting to get agitated.

He shifted uncomfortably, frowning slightly when it didn't relieve anything immediately.

The beeping was what he noticed first. A slow, high pitched 'Boop, Boop, Boop' that was incredibly annoying. He was accustomed enough to the sounds of hospitals that he knew what it was and how to turn it off, but was also aware it only made that sound when attached to someone. He listened to it for a while, trying to read the patient's stats and not liking what he was concluding.

It wasn't until he tried to move that he realized he couldn't. Nothing would obey him. His eyes didn't open, his lips didn't part, his head didn't roll and his fingers didn't twitch. The only thing that did respond was the pitch of the machine that was suddenly blaring 'Beep, Beep, Beep' in an urgent, even more annoying tone.

It was about then Josh made the connection. The machine was attached to HIM. Which meant he was in the HOSPITAL. Something that was supposedly impossible.

The panic followed almost directly after the realization. Why was he in the hospital?! What'd happened?! Where was he?! And more importantly, where were Kevin and Julian?! Were they hurt too? Were they even still alive?! What was happening?! The questions swirled faster, lumped closer together until Josh's brain was only processing: Hospital. Kevin and Julian missing. HOSPITAL. The 'DEETDEETDEET' of the machine gave way to a screeching 'EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE'

Josh felt the pressure rising and braced himself as it exploded in all directions. And suddenly he could move. His whole body rocked with the start, eyes flying open at the same time as he gasped, back dropping into the bed. His free hand gripped the material beneath him like a vice as his left heel slid against the bed. His body weak and half of it weighed down so heavily he didn't even shift.

And then it hit him. A WAVE of pain that had his chest seizing, and his nerves on fire. His throat was dry and he swallowed to the feel of tubes. Suddenly surrounded by people, he tried to pull at his power and ended up feeling his head explode. He barely felt the blood slide down, but he tasted it as it dripped into his mouth.

Hands gently but firmly pushed him down. Voices, muffled and far away shouted at him. And then his body got tired and he felt heavy and slow, and the pain bled away.

( Somewhere South of Heaven )

( I just want you back. Any way I can have you. )

Katherine Ford carefully smoothed the hair back from her son's face with a gloved hand. She hadn't anticipated the first time she'd be able to do that in nearly two years involving narcotic and stress-induced sleep, and she sighed quietly as she turned away from his bed, wishing she could follow the touch with a kiss to his forehead the way she had when he'd been little.

"He'll wake up soon, Grace. I'm sure of it," she told the other woman in the room as she crossed to Josh's bed...and stooped to give him the kiss (on his cheek, carefully away from the bandages swathing his head) that she hadn't been able to give her own son. "Even if it's just self-defense against mortification." She smiled and reached across to touch her hand gently. "He was such a beautiful little boy," she added quietly. Fondly. "Just as beautiful as he is now."

Though most of the week had been rainy, Saturday was shaping up to be a nice, sunny day. The change in weather had brought tourists and locals alike out of hiding, and the mall was buzzing with activity. The students and chaperons of the Xavier Academy were spread throughout the mall and museum buildings, having agreed upon times to meet up and check in before being sent off to see as much as possible in the time they had. By about an hour after lunchtime, a lot of them had breezed through at least one of the museums and were headed on to their scheduled tours or to their next destination.

Few, if any, really noticed the young man crossing the grass in front of the castle, wearing nothing that identified him as a member of any of the numerous school groups on the grounds that day. He was obviously disoriented, sweating profusely and staggering as he made his way out of the castle and across the mall. He stumbled once and nearly fell to his knees before he recovered, which prompted a girl nearby to stop and take notice of him. She asked him if he needed help, laid a hand on his shoulder as he turned wide, pain-filled eyes on her...and then they both disappeared in a blast of heat and light that ripped across the mall like a tiny nuclear explosion.

The people nearest the blast were incinerated almost instantly, though the heat dissipated away quickly as a concussive blast rolled across the lawn, tossing people in front of it like rag dolls thrown by a giant's hand. The west wing of the castle simply buckled at the impact, stone toppling down to crush the dozens of unsuspecting tourists in and around it before they even had time to register the explosion. The east wing buckled and groaned dangerously as well, its collapse simply slower and less complete as the shock wave continued on, buckling walls and foundations, blowing out windows and bringing down sections of roof in the buildings beyond.

But even as the initial explosion finally reached its limit, a domino effect magnified the chaos as hundreds of powered tourists, adults and children alike, reflexively powered up in response to the catastrophe, some of them losing control entirely. There were smaller explosions and tongues of flame here and there among the ruins as dust swirled in the air, and it was only a matter of moments before the first sirens began to wail in the distance. At the scene of the disaster, though, the sound of them was lost almost completely in the sound of panicked voices crying out in fear and pain.


(OOC: Please create sub-threads below for the events and immediate aftermath. Feel free to actually play out the actual explosion and how your character responds or to simply do a narrative of what happened to them and move to the aftermath if you're more comfortable with that. Remember, there's about a ten minute window of opportunity for heroism before local emergency responders and SHIELD will be on site and beginning to take over, though the cadets will definitely be co-opted into the rescue effort. The worst injured will, initially, be taken to area hospitals once rescued, but the Academy students will, once stable, be transported back to the school's med center for continuing treatment there. Parents are, of course, welcome to take their children home for treatment if they desire, but between the school and the SHIELD facility attached to it, they have access to pretty much the best healers in the country. This does, however, still mean a relatively slow recovery for anyone with severe injuries given the general caliber of even exceptionally talented healers does not begin to compare to the very very few omega healers scattered across the globe.)

ETA: GUYS, WE KINDA SUCK AND FORGOT TO TELL YOU THAT THEY GOT BUSED UP TO DC FRIDAY AFTER SCHOOL so they could have all of Saturday at the Smithsonian, and thus why they already got to see cool stuff Saturday before boom rather than spending it all on a bus. Also, for sleeping arrangements, if your roomie went you got matched up with them plus the 2 others you share a suite with (so 4 to a room, and if you have no PC/NPC roomies then NPCs will have taken the spots), other than the chaperons who got spread around in singles for supervisory purposes. Sorry!

Josh was nervous. He didn't like the fact that he was nervous about something that related to Kevin. Unfortunately, a few months of unaccustomed and unwelcome feelings in regard to his boyfriend helped soften the blow. It didn't make him any less nervous however. In fact, it made him more nervous.

He'd ordered the gift half a year ago, when everything had been normal and happy for them. When they still understood one another. When every thought, gesture or spoken word from Josh wasn't some delegated time bomb to hurt Kevin. Not that he was doing it on purpose. God, if he could be doing none of it at all!

The unfortunate fact was, he was and he would continue to. He didn't know how long it would last. He didn't know how long any of them could endure it. And the minute one of them could no longer bear it would be the minute Josh lost everything.

He mentally shook himself. Today was not that day. Today, Kevin still loved him. More importantly, no, most importantly today was Kevin's birthday. A day that, eighteen years ago - even before he was born - would change Josh's life forever.

He smiled to himself and fingered the wrapped box. God, he hoped he didn't hate it.

Josh was still reeling from being handed the Nagyvary. Sure he had owned instruments before that had cost a few thousand and maybe his entire collection was worth a couple more, but to have a single instrument be worth so much was highly unnerving. Kevin was helping him cope, and he was getting more comfortable with handling it, but he still felt compelled to carry it around everywhere for its safety and his own peace of mind.

As it was Saturday, he was on his own. By his own contract damned to spend it alone. And as it was a beautiful day out, he'd decided to take a walk. The Nagyvary sidling along for the ride.

Who: Josh, Kevin and Julian
When: Wednesday 4/27
Where: Josh and Mark’s room
What: Try to work it out.

( How should we do this? )

Josh had a lot on his mind. And while playing no longer seemed to work, the weight of his violin over his shoulder was comforting. The feel of its case across a small sliver of his back, reassuring. Playing might not offer the same sense of security it once had, but wandering around with his instrument made him feel less naked. Though, in truth it was Kevin's. Which probably both complicated and alleviated the whole situation.

Julian had said yes. After two weeks of waiting. Of preparing himself to gracefully accept a no, after doing his best to accept the fact that what he was asking was simply too much. But Julian hadn't said no. He'd said yes.

He'd said yes, and now Josh had to tell Kevin. Had to try and work out a way for them all to get together. A peaceful, civil meeting. Where they'd discuss the new rules of this...relationship.

Josh scrubbed at his temple and continued to shuffle.

Right. Because it was so damn easy. Because it'd go so very well.

Sighing heavily, he leaned against a wall, shoulder rocking against it until his temple met it as well. He looked up and it was about then that he realized where his meandering had taken him.

For all that he never seemed to be able to fully comprehend Emma, for all that he felt jealous at times, threatened...intimidated...There was always one thing about Emma he never had a problem understanding.

The flow of her body was like a well written piece. She seemed to put all of herself into the motions, and for those few moments it didn't matter what the world thought. She'd always been beautiful, but when she moved, it was another thing entirely. He'd never really considered it before, but as he watched her, he wondered...was this what people saw when he played?

Josh was kind of weirdly edgy and standoffish every time Kevin saw him. They didn't have breakfast together - or Kevin didn't sit with Josh for his breakfast, since he didn't eat - like they'd gotten back into the habit of before spring break. Kevin didn't see him at lunch either, and he was starting to get pretty damned nervous about what was causing it, especially since he knew Josh had spoken to Julian right after he'd gotten back from Nepal and that he was still waiting for an answer. So he used the last few minutes of lunch break to log onto the journal network, intending to leave Josh a message, ask if they were still on for getting together after classes to hang out and do homework...and saw Josh's post.

Kevin dug out his earbuds and listened to it four times through before the end of lunch bell rang, and another three times before he was shooed out of his seat in a quiet corner of the library by a librarian and dashed off to class, chest aching. Even if he'd had time to replay at that point he didn't think he would have. He didn't want to talk to Josh about this online, he wanted to be able to see him and touch him, and he was jittery for the rest of the day as he waited for a chance to hunt him down and talk to him.

Which didn't come until after both classes and his mandatory daily training session were over. Kevin didn't bother changing after training, just made sure the ash was all wiped from his hands and almost bolted for Josh's room. Josh should be there by now, and Mark should be out and about. He knocked on the door, quick and soft, but didn't bother waiting for an answer before letting himself in.

"I saw it," he told Josh quietly as he pushed the door closed behind him. "But not until just at the end of lunch. I listened to it over and over until they chased me out of the library to classes. I...jesus, Josh, I miss you talking to me with your music."

Monday night and not only was Josh still not back, but he'd missed their lunchtime Skype date...which might mean (hopefully meant) he was on his way back (because one of the alternatives was that something had gone wrong and the thought made his stomach ache and his skin go cold), but that didn't give Kevin any clue when he might show up. If he would. He'd been restless and worried all afternoon, unable to focus in any of his classes, or on his homework after. Yeah, Josh had missed another date earlier in his trip because they'd been moving between cities at the appointed time, but that didn't mean that was why it had happened this time.

By the time night rolled around he'd gone from a bit worried and distracted to kind of a wreck, even though he knew there was no point letting himself get caught up in worry. He wouldn't hear anything from Josh until their next scheduled 'date' at the earliest. He'd gotten ready for bed early, because the alternative was pacing more and being a general pain in the ass, and maybe if he could get to sleep he'd at least be able to stop worrying. Or he'd just have hellish nightmares. Like the last time.

Either way, he changed into pyjamas and crawled into bed not long after nine. He didn't even bother trying to read, he knew he'd just read the same sentence over and over and over again. He was still lying in bed, awake, when he heard Santo get ready for bed and crawl in as well. And then he lay there in the dark and silence and tried very very hard to remind himself that Josh was traveling. Schedules got shot all the time when you were traveling - not that he'd know - and it was no big deal. He'd hear from him tomorrow, or maybe see him if he was finally coming back, and everything would be fine. Really.

There was nothing quite like being home, even after everything. There was nothing quite like having the excuse of training to miss classes either. He'd been offered assistance, they'd offered to deliver his bags to his room, but after over a week in the beautiful open spaces of rural Nepal, all he wanted to do was walk. Walking back to his dorm would help him get back into the flow of school. Help him drift back down to his life. There was a lot left to work through. He still had to talk to Julian, though he felt perhaps things with Kevin were slowly reverting to normal. Or what was normal for them.

Julian was another matter entirely. Other than a few minutes on his birthday before Josh had to leave for the airfield, they hadn't had any real contact. No talks, no touches, and always that kiss. Josh could still feel the passion of it when he closed his eyes. Sometimes, he didn't even have to go that far. Julian couldn't possibly ignore him forever. There was only so much running his best friend could do before he backed himself into a corner and people started ducking for cover.

He smiled slightly at the thought. Julian wasn't anywhere near as grouchy and uncaring as he liked to put on. Knowing that, knowing he was still privileged enough to see that, warmed him.

He began to wonder if maybe he should have taken the agents up on that offer though, after a while. He'd come back with considerably more than he'd left with. Lifting and balancing aside, there were still other objects and doors and the like to contend with. It struck him as odd that this being a ritual, had gotten so difficult when it was as it always had been. Then he remembered. He usually came home with Julian. And Julian's tk could compensate for anything.

Sighing, and missing him for far more than his lifting capabilities, Josh trudged along. Determined to get back before there was no one around to ask to hold open the door.

( Emergency training. Sorry. My room after )

Without his instruments to play - not that he would play them if he still could - Josh's therapist had commissioned a painting. It was non-negotiable and was due at the end of the week. Outlets were outlets for a reason, apparently. And if Josh could best communicate only through creative expression, then expression was going to be seen to. Whether or not Josh liked it.

Generally, Josh had music playing in the background when he painted. But music no longer held any allure. So he let his thoughts feed his white noise.

He'd been working for three days. Seeing to his mandatory studio time. The requirement wasn't putting any undue stress on his schedule. So he couldn't try and wiggle out of it. Surprisingly, the painting was coming along solidly. He wasn't losing anything between his breaks of class, meals, practice and sleep. If anything, it seemed to be forming faster.

He pulled the brush against the canvas, blue swirling with the darker shades. Layers of it. One upon another spanning the entire canvas from corner to corner. He wasn't ready to touch the central figure. Wasn't ready to admit it to himself yet. That would be last. He still had time.

Who: Josh and Kevin
When: Sunday, 3/20 (After Josh/Julian)
Where: Kevin's studio
What: Confront infidelity

( It hurts when I see you struggle. )

Josh closed his laptop and leaned back in his chair, sighing heavily. He was tired. So tired. He was tired of fighting. He was tired of ignoring each other. He was tired of pushing things away so he wouldn't have to face them. They festered like infections, feeding in the dark. The worse type of illness. Something his powers couldn't touch.

His half of the room had never been so empty. Instruments gone forever. All their bases, stands and accompanying pieces moved into the closet. Along with every last scrap of sheet music, book and cd he owned. His external hard drive, filled to the last byte with mp3s was under his bed. He still couldn't bring himself to wipe it.

Every knick knack and photograph had likewise been shoved under the bed until he decided what to do with them. The only personal items still out and about was his fish, his laptop and his schoolwork. His tree...his tree was safe with a chlorokinetic he trusted. She'd take good care of it until he could have it near him again.

Looking up at the ceiling, Josh wondered how the hell they'd gotten to this point. And more over, whether or not when Julian walked out the door tonight, if it would be for the last time.

Who: Bobby and Josh
When: Thursday, 3/10
Where: In class, before the teacher arrives
What: An attempt at cheer

( You want to talk about it? )

Who: Kevin and Josh
When: Tuesday, 3/1 immediately after the lake party
Where: On the way back to the dorms and in Josh's room
What: Dealing with fallout

( It's not okay! It's never going to be okay! )

Fortunately Josh had been in his room and hadn't been hard to talk into heading over to have a look at Jay. Sam felt a little bit guilty, like he was taking advantage, but he wasn't about to let that stop him. Not when it came to family. Jay'd been suffering too much for too long and Josh was the most powerful healer in the place.

"Here it is." He stopped outside Jay and 'Berto's door and made himself do them and their room-mates the courtesy of knocking, even though he wanted to just barge right in. "Thanks again for comin', Josh. I really appreciate it."