Grass Gazing (Kealey)

Andrew turned from looking out the window when he heard the footsteps. There she was, right on time. The blonde settled in an arm chair and got right down to business. Andrew appreciated that. He motioned to the snacks and drinks first though.

"Feel free to grab whatever you like if you're hungry or thirsty."

He took a breath before he let loose with his thoughts.

"So, first question, what were you and Ghost doing there at all? The cops didn't react like you were unexpected heroes or something of that sort."

His voice wasn't that of someone who felt betrayed. Andrew didn't feel betrayed. He understood the need for secrecy in some matters. He just hadn't expected to find out in precisely that manner. No one expects to be a hostage and then to be saved by their friend. This wasn't a big deal, it was simply that he was curious why someone like Kealey would be out saving lives. If he were to guess then they, and possibly others, were on call to the police for bad situations involving mutants. But that begged the question of why? Was Sam involved? Kealey had said that he was her boss. Given his new perspective on her he wondered if that meant something beyond her library job.

Inwardly he smirked a little that she reached for a brownie. It really did feel good to see his baking appreciated. Even if he wasn't entirely willing to claim it as his to anyone but a select few. Kealey answered that question and he mulled over the answer. So the X-Men, a name he'd heard on the lips of some cops including the detective that had pulled him back in the window, worked with the cops sometimes. That was just about right on the money as far as he'd figured.

"Alright, what are the X-Men and how does this place tie in to them?"

Maybe the emotions from the other day were carrying over and making him ask such direct questions. Andrew preferred to think that it was because he was comfortable enough around Kealey to get right to the point. As to the question, they were getting to the real meat of the conversation. He wanted to know just what he'd put himself near.

Andrew didn't think that Kealey would be involved with anything unsavory. They were working with the cops after all. Whatever the X-Men were they couldn't be that bad. Unless the school and good actions were just a cover for something more sinister. He didn't want to believe that but...it was a possibility.

So they were a militant group of mutants who tried to save the day as a way of showing the world that being a mutant didn't mean you were evil? Had he walked into some sort of superhero tv show when he wasn't looking? It sound ridiculous but Kealey had spoken with such sincerity that he could only believe her. Andrew thought back over all of his experiences here already. Looking them over with that tidbit did sort of cast them in a new light. It helped him connect the dots so to speak.

"So Sam is what? Some kind of leader or something?"

Because he certainly didn't seem like the sort of guy to run a school or work at one.

"And you make costumes for the team right?"

Andrew almost laughed. Even just asking those questions felt silly. While he was having a good mental chuckle at the images his mind was conjuring the more rational side of his mind was having a good think and broadsided him with something that deserved real consideration. Did they have any enemies? Could he expect to be in danger just by being associated with them? The humor went out of him at that thought.

"Enemies. Do the X-Men have any?"

Because if being around here was going to earn him more situations like yesterday then he'd have to have a good think. Andrew loved it here and he was equally fond of the people. However he didn't want to get drawn into more scuffles like with Mittens on a regular basis. At least not without some ability to keep himself relatively intact. He didn't like having to rely on other people for that.

Andrew nodded. Kealey had known what he was getting at and told him bluntly that they didn't take the lives that depended on them lightly. That was good. It was the only place most of them had. Andrew supposed that was true enough for him too. Sure he could go out into the rest of the world but not even his parents knew about what he was. Andrew had gone to great lengths, until recently, to keep anyone from knowing. It only made sense to him to shield himself from people that would likely love to get their hands on his mutation.

That was still mostly true but it didn't scare him as much as it once had to tell someone about it. With his concerns for safety allayed Andrew was free to grin at Kealey's affront over the use of the other word costumes instead of uniforms.

"And uniforms? What are you running an army here or something?" he said with a good natured chuckle, "Sounds to me like you're trying to dress up the fact that you dress up and play heroes."

A clear smirk settled over Andrew's lips. He hadn't taunted someone like that in a while and it felt good to have someone he felt like he could do that with. Though, using the word heroes had brought back that moment in the grocery with Ahorta and he could understand why they did it. It felt very good to help others out. Maybe if his mutation wasn't so useless he'd offer to help them out. As such he'd have to be content with remaining on the civilian side of things.

Andrew blinked a couple of times. She really went all out for these uniforms of hers didn't she? Well at least these X-Men were as safe as she could make them. Though he did have to wonder about the gold thread and jewels. Did the person manipulate jewelry or something? Andrew chuckled when she made the comment about heroes.

"Glory, sparkles, pain, responsibility, danger. It's a great job if you're into that sort of thing."

She likely knew the risks a lot better than he did so he left the rest of his reasons against it in his mind. Of course it did feel great when things went right. Andrew turned his attention elsewhere. Namely to Kealey's grabbing of a second brownie.

"Enjoying the brownies then?"

Over all the questions had gone fairly well. Andrew couldn't think of any more off of the top of his head. With other mutants out there ready and willing to use their powers for things that were less than savory he could understand the need for something like the X-Men. It was the sort of thing he might do, if he were capable of it that is. He wasn't and he knew it though. Still, why did Kealey do it? Her powers weren't exactly great for combat either. They'd proven useful with Mittens but still...why?

"Another question, why'd you join them?"

Might as well go for broke if you're just blurting out every question that comes to mind.

Almost as good? Almost? Andrew was almost insulted. He was darn good at his baking thank you very much.

"I'll have to meet this guy some day."

Andrew sat quietly as Kealey described her decision to join the X-Men. It was almost creepy how close she came to his own feelings. What good would he be? Andrew honestly couldn't think of a single instance where his pathetic power would be useful. Kealey had her uses. She'd kept himself and his fellow hostages from doing something stupid and he figured she'd kept their captors confused. What could he do though? Go undercover or something? That would be ridiculous. He envied her that usefulness. In a fight he was useless and it wasn't as though he could do much outside of a fight either.

"I can understand that. Honestly I sort of envy you that chance to help out."

Had he just said that? Oh crap he did. Kealey seemed to make him run at the mouth like that. Oh well, not point in covering it up. He grabbed a bottle of water, twisted the cap off, and took a drink. Let her make what she would of that statement.