With Flying Fox handled, for now, Booker had to turn his attention back to Javier, the man whom he had been dragged away from earlier. All he wanted was for Javier to have a good time at one of these things and here he was, in the middle of a warzone between two mutants. There were goods and bads to this, the good news was that if they were mutants they Booker could, conceivably, handle them, but the bad news was that Javier was getting an altogether bad impression of conventions as a whole. Truly he hoped that the other wouldn’t hold this against him, but he wouldn’t blame him either.

Still, those were thoughts he couldn’t spare right now. There was another mutant running around with Above Average Man’s powers and Javier could be decidedly in danger. Granted, none of them had seemed to notice Javier outright, which Booker still prayed was the case. Javier could be hurt, Booker would let them.

Running through the fires and smoke, he covered his mouth as he stopped and looked around to see where Javier had gone. All he saw were security still trying to rush in and pull people out of the mess. For a moment he could feel a swell of panic settling into his chest; where had Javier gone? Was he okay? Booker gulped, only momentarily glancing at piles of debris, not daring to think the worst had happened. Thankfully some shouting had drawn his attention.

There, across the showroom, was Javier squaring off with a floating and obviously crazed and angry Above Average Man.

>>"And you are no one...Therefore, you are part of the collateral."

Booker had only made a few steps towards them when he caught sight of the hero’s heat vision cranking up again. Dammit, dammit, dammit! He was too far back. He wasn’t going to make it in time. If Above Average Man was just another mutant then surely Booker’s aura could dissipate the heat vision, but he couldn’t run fast enough. Instead, he skidded to a halt, hand covering his mouth as he watched it all happen in slow motion, the heat rays burst through the ceiling, a rain of concrete fell, and Javier was buried.

He squeaked meekly, making a step forward, unsure he could wrap his mind around this atrocity. But, just as he felt himself sinking into that pit of sadness, his eyes rolled back up to the pile of concrete, watching as it began to...move?

His jaw hit the floor. Javier stood up, seemingly unharmed even though a literal ton of concrete had just fallen on his head. As the shorter man brushed himself off, Booker noted how easily he tossed aside one of the offending pieces of cement.

>>"You. Need. To stop!"

Booker took cautious step forward. It wasn’t possible. He slowly moved around until he was in Javier’s sidelong sight, moistened his lips and spoke. ”J-Javier…? he asked softly. ”A-Are you...What...Unharmed...Mutant?” What other explanation could there be?

There was dust and fire in the hall now, and people were beginning to get the idea that it was about time to clear out. Javier was gasping for breath too; his powers saved his life, but he knew they were not unlimited, and he was not sure how long he could hold on to them this time. He kept an eye on Above Average, who was still unsure in his next step.

"Dude... what the hell?!"

There was movement in his peripheral vision.

>>”J-Javier…?.. A-Are you...What...Unharmed...Mutant?”

Booker. He was alive, and still there, despite how bad things were going. Javier sighed at the question. This was... definitely not how he wanted to break the news to his friend.

"Yeah. Sorry, I should have told you earlier, it was just never... I don't usually..."

"DUDE!" Above Average was slowly catching up "That was freakin' EPIC!"

Javier stared at the guy, bewildered. What the hell was his problem?... He just almost killed a man, and he was impressed with what, Javier's powers?...

"You... really need to shut up." Javier sighed, suddenly feeling drained.

"Oh come ON! What else can you brush off?" Above Avergae, completely out of character, was excited about the prospect of the new fight.

The laser shots were not far behind.

Booker was flabbergasted. There was no other way to say it. In his time with Javier, though they had only hung out a handful of times, he had never once figured that he was a mutant. It wasn’t always easy to tell with mutants. Not every one of them had physical mutations to easily tell them apart from the rest of the populace, and that was pretty stereotypical too to even think. Still, if Javier had been a mutant this whole time, Booker figured if anyone would know, it was him. He did, after all, have the ability to turn off powers and mutants rarely let that go unsaid. So why did Javier? Did he know?

Still too stunned to talk, Booker just continued to watch Javier, surprise, relief, and uncertainty on his face. In all honesty, he just didn’t know what to think. A few stammering words came out of his mouth, nothing uniquely elegant or competent but there it was. Javier at least looked like he was somewhat bad about not telling him sooner.

>>"Yeah. Sorry, I should have told you earlier, it was just never... I don't usually..."

Booker started to shake his head. He wanted to tell Javier that he didn’t need to apologize. His secrets were his and all that comforting stuff. But before he could even get a syllable out, the sounds of surprise and elation from the crazed “Hero” drew both Javier and Booker’s attention.

>>"DUDE!...That was freakin' EPIC!"

>>"You... really need to shut up."

”Please! Take his advice!” Booker shouted back.

Booker shook his head as he eyed the man. Seriously! What was wrong with these guys! They were causing damage on a massive scale, risking lives, ending lives, and for what? To settle some stupid dispute on a stupid movie that would make the top of every “Worst Movie Ever” video on ViewTube? IT was enough to make even the librarian upset and he normally always tried to keep a sunny disposition whenever he dealt with others. Now, however, he simply didn’t know what to think.

>>"Oh come ON! What else can you brush off?"

Yeah, this guy was off his nut. Booker was ready to clock the hovering hero when he noticed that telltale glow of his eyes. Playing the hunch that they were definitely dealing with mutants, Booker quickly stepped in front of Javier, making sure that he was well within his adapted aura. If he was wrong and Above Average Man was some kind of robot or alien, then at least only Booker would get hurt. But, if he was right, and he had a feeling he was, then the hero was going to be in for so much more surprise.

The heat vision flew, cutting through the air like a hot knife. They could decimate anything in their path but, as soon as they came in contact with Booker’s aura, they fizzled out into streams of smoke. Booker finally released his breath (little realizing he had been holding it), and sighed as he looked up, watching the lasers fizzle out ten feet away from him. Shaking his head he started to walk forward, away from Javier and slipped his shield down into his hand.

”W-What?” Above Average stammered.

”It’s time to put away the costume, fanboy!” Booker shouted.

Lifting up his shield, he reared his arm back, aimed, and threw. In the movies Lieutenant U.S.A. could throw his shield and make it bounce over multiple surfaces before striking his opponents firmly on the head, knocking them clear out of the sky. It was always so amazing to watch. However, this wasn’t the movies and, as Booker didn’t have mutant powers or CGI magic on his side, the shield flew like a lead rock in three-times the earth’s gravity. It flew for a second before gravity mercilessly pulled it down for a warm hug on the ground, completely missing Above Average Man. Booker sighed and hung his head.

’That was completely uncool,” he muttered.

The heat vision was definitely going to hurt. Javier knew that he had nothing in his power set that would block that, and not enough time to get out of Above Average's line of sight in literally a blink of an eye. The best he could do was brace for impact... and then the red glow was blocked by something moving in front of him.

"B..."

For a moment, he assumed the worst. Then the moment dragged on, it turned into several moments, and there was a confusing lack of... anything. No cry of pain, or fire, or... actual pain. Javier was still registering the fact that Booker was standing in front of him, shielding him, from what should have been a lethal blast. Except, it kinda... fizzled?

>>”It’s time to put away the costume, fanboy!”

Javier shifted to look around Booker (the librarian was taller than him), and saw his own confused expression mirrored in Above Average's face. The shield flew, cutting across he distance... and then clattered harmlessly to the ground.

>>’That was completely uncool,”

"You two are both freaks!" Above Average spat, beginning to make his way to the nearest exit "Totally unrealistic! The both of you! Screw you...
freaks!"

Javier drew a deep breath, and actually felt it. Was this what it felt like to survive a fight? He looked up at Booker, who was still mourning the loss of a perfectly good shield throwing opportunity. Adrenaline was ebbing away, and it made him dizzy.

"I think... I'd like to... go to one of those not crowded places now, please?"

Gah! That was so lame! He had an awesome one-liner, he had the hero zeroed in in his sights, he could visualize how epic that scene was and...nothing. Absolutely nothing. His shield, clearly not as aerodynamic as the advertisements said, just clattered to the ground harmlessly. The silence was thick as it settled between everyone involved. Above Average Man hovered in surprise, Javier was silently looking around Booker’s bulky frame, and Booker himself winced, staring down a the ground, wondering how easily he could just melt into the carpet never to be seen again.

Thankfully it wasn’t needed. As he stood there, awkwardly trying to think of another way to drag the cape wearing hero down to the ground, Booker was surprised when the villain spoke up.

>>"You two are both freaks! Totally unrealistic! The both of you! Screw you...freaks!"

”Yeah, well, get a thesaurus! You whack job.”

Booker watched as the man flew off, making his way towards one of the exits. He almost wanted to pursue him, maybe make up for that epic corgi-flop of a shield throw, but it seemed fairly useless at this point. Besides, he wasn’t a superhero, let the X-Men or the MRC deal with that nutjob. So long as he and his friend were alive, that was all that mattered. Oh! Friend!

Quickly turning on his heel, he looked in Javier’s direction. The tailor was wavering a bit, seemingly a little dizzy after the encounter. Concern filled his features as he turned back to the tailor, placing a hand on his shoulder to help steady him.

>>"I think... I'd like to... go to one of those not crowded places now, please?"

”Oh yeah, sure,” Booker nodded. He did his best to ensure that Javier wouldn’t stumble as he guided him to the only, non-busy part of these convention halls.

A few moments later and Booker would push open the door to a presentation hall. Inside there was stadium seating, it was cool, dark, and on stage there was someone droning on about the next wave of marketing sales for the comic companies. Really the informational lectures at these things were always dead, plus it was empty, cool, and hidden away. Booker guided Javier towards the last aisle, at the very back, and helped him to sit where absolutely no one was around them. Only when Javier was sitting did Booker sit next to him.

It was a few tense seconds before the librarian finally spoke up. ”Are you okay?”

The few times Javier ha really gone over the top with using his powers, the aftermath had always been awful. He was already feeling dizzy, and the strength was definitely gone. If they had been attacked again, he knew he would be useless. Even Booker must have been able to tell, because his face was a clear look of concern.

Steadied by his friend, Javier walked out of the devastated hallway, and through a door into a darker, quieter room. Booker guided him to a seat in the back; the few people actually attending the lecture were towards the front, to no one even really looked up when they walked in. Also, somehow they missed the ruckus outside. Or they thought it was normal. Javier sighed as he sank into a chair.

>>”Are you okay?”

"Just drained" Javier nodded, focusing on his breathing. It would have been really embarrassing to pass out now that everything was done. "Are you okay?" He turned to take a closer look. Booker's costume was wrinkled, but it was not torn or even singed. The blast really never reached him, somehow, but Javier wanted to reassure himself by checking anyway. "How did you...?"

The whole way to the nearly abandoned hall and Booker was finding himself with more questions than answers. He didn’t know who those two freaks were back in the showroom, they were clearly mutants, but what could have made them think that something like this was okay? And how did they even get such precise powers? Booker simply had no idea what to do about that, but most important, it seemed that there were a number off questions about Javier that needed to be answered as well.

Well, they didn’t need to be answered, but he would have appreciated it at least.

Once he was sure that Javier was settled, Booker gave him a quick look over before he settled into the seat next to him. That really was a rather crazy incident, and one that he could scarcely wrap his mind around. He had never suspected that Javier was a mutant and, seeing him in action, was actually pretty cool. In all honesty, part of him wanted to geek out over what the tailor did back there almost as much as Above Average Man. But that probably would have been rude, right?

Booker checked in with his friend, asking if he was okay. He was sure that if Javier wasn’t he would have said something by now but it was polite to ask.

>>"Just drained"

’I can imagine,” Booker said. He snapped the buttons of one of his pouches and pulled out a energy bar. It wasn’t much but it should help. He offered it to Javier with a soft smile.

However he gift was ignored as Javier turned and immediately started to look him over. He checked his costume, peeked at his skin, generally made sure that everything was okay. Booker smirked a bit at the attention but he had to admit that it was understandable. After all, Javier wasn’t the only one harboring a kind of secret.

>>"Are you okay? How did you...?"

He sighed, chewing on his bottom lip he looked shyly away for a moment. He didn’t always like talking about being an adapted, especially with an actual mutant. It felt...invasive, what he could do. Who could stand the idea of someone just reaching into your body and stopping a natural part of what made you...you? It saddened Booker a bit but he had accepted long ago he was who he was. But other people didn’t have to and, for some reason, he really wanted Javier to like him and this felt like one of those make-or-break things for whatever relationship they were forging.

But he owed him the truth, Booker knew that much. So, with a breath, he spoke. ”I’m an...adapted.” He let that sit for a second. ”I’m not a mutant...I’m...something else. There aren’t a lot of us but, essentially, we give off this…” he mimed a bubble with his hands. ”...aura that can turn off mutants powers and their effects. So when Above Average tried to shoot you with his heat vision, my aura just...cancelled it out.” He chewed on his lip, hanging his head. ”I...I should have said something. I’m sorry. I always make it a point to tell mutants when I meet them because I never know how my powers will effect them. Some don’t notice anything, for others it can...hurt them.” He cast a small side look to Javier. ”I’m sorry, Javi. I should have been more honest.”

Javier was still not sure what happened, back in the vendor hall. Neither of them were really hurt (although he could feel he was going to have bruises), and definitely not dead, which was a win, but there was no explanation for it, other than, somehow, Booker managed to stand up to Above Average Man (or a very life-like replica of him), and win. He took the power bar when it was offered, but did not open it yet.

>>”I’m an...adapted. I’m not a mutant...I’m...something else. There aren’t a lot of us but, essentially, we give off this…...aura that can turn off mutants powers and their effects. So when Above Average tried to shoot you with his heat vision, my aura just...cancelled it out.”

Javier's eyes widened as he took in the information. Booker was not a mutant, but... he was... something. Adapted? With an aura that...?

>>”I...I should have said something. I’m sorry. I always make it a point to tell mutants when I meet them because I never know how my powers will effect them. Some don’t notice anything, for others it can...hurt them. I’m sorry, Javi. I should have been more honest.”

Javier just stared for a long moment, processing several levels of information: The adapted thing, Booker's guilty look and confession, that he should have...
... and then he laughed.

It was quiet at first, with a slow smile appearing on Javier's face, and then his shoulders started to shake, and after that, it was unstoppable. He covered his mouth with his hand in order to stifle it (there was still a lecture droning on, after all), but it was laughter nonetheless, and he felt tears appear in his eyes from the mixture of surprise and relief and just sheer amusement in hindsight of all that happened to them. It took him several minutes to catch his breath.

Oh god, he must be thinking I snapped.

"That was you!" he gasped finally, trying to keep his voice down "That's why my powers didn't work around you!" he laughed, shaking his head, trying to pull himself together "And I was thinking I'm such a dork..." he snorted, then covered his mouth again "I'm sorry... But... Booker, you didn't know I was a mutant either... it's not like you had a reason to tell..."

Booker felt bad. He always felt bad when he found out he was affecting a mutant. Juliette was the worst cause because of how dangerous it was to spend time with her. He had hoped that they could get past it but it wasn’t as if it were trying to get over someone’s bad habit or the personal beliefs, he was harming her the more time that they spent together. Being in a relationship like that, being that person, it shook Booker down to his core. It was why he ended things with her.

Then again, it wasn’t as if his and Javier’s relationship were in any way romantic, so why was he stressing about that? Booker would have to like the tailor as more than just a friend to feel any sort of guilt towards him and he didn’t feel that...right?

His nostrils flared as he took a controlled breath. He should have told Javier, but it wasn’t as if the tailor had let on he was a mutant this whole time. Surely he would have noted that his powers weren’t working, but Booker didn’t know the logistics of his abilities. Still, he owed him an apology, he felt that he did. Meekly the librarian looked down as he uttered his sorrowful words. Could the tailor forgive him?

The silence was deafening as Booker watched him, seeing the slight rise and fall of his shoulder. He looked like he was going to cry. Great. He had permanently damaged their relationship beyond repair, hadn’t he? He may as well just get up and leave no--wait...was he laughing?

>>"That was you! That's why my powers didn't work around you! And I was thinking I'm such a dork..."

Booker watched Javier in disbelief for a moment before he snorted and smiled. A wave of relief and glee washed over him, shaking his head as he couldn’t believe he was falling into the same laughter trap that Javier was. So he did notice but had figured it was something else all along. The best part was that he wasn’t trying to make him feel guilty about it; he was laughing! He was actually laughing!

The two grew loud for a moment and the presenters on stage paused, looking in their direction. However the duo managed to get themselves under control, long enough for the lecture to commence. Finally Booker just continued to silently laugh, shaking his head as he replied.

”Y-Yeah…” he snorted. ”I guess that was me…”

>> "I'm sorry... But... Booker, you didn't know I was a mutant either... it's not like you had a reason to tell..."

Still smiling, the librarian snort and nodded his head. He had a hard time forgiving himself for things that were far beyond his control, something that his sister and close friends constantly rode him on. He knew that he needed to not bear the weight of the world on his shoulders, he couldn’t keep apologizing for what he didn’t know. With his own laughter under control, Booker relaxed back against his seat, sighing as he looked over to Javier.

”Yeah...I guess not…” he said. ”I guess it’s just easier to apologize for nothing than to say nothing for everything?” He shrugged. ”My sister always says I’m a glutton for punishment,” a snort and a shake of his head followed. ”Maybe she’s right.” He took another second to look the other over. ”You sure you’re okay? That nutjob didn’t hurt you, did he?” Genuine concern rang in his voice. ”I...I’m not sure what I would have done if he actually hurt you.”

There was a clear look of relief in Booker's face, which made Javier feel a little less guilty about having a laughing fit. The librarian must have really worried about hurting his feelings with... canceling his powers, or at least not telling him that he had that ability. Bless him. They both laughed like teenage girls, and the presenter at the front of the room gave them a disapproving look. Javier blushed, and sank deeper into his seat. Really, none of this was Booker's fault.

>>”Yeah...I guess not… I guess it’s just easier to apologize for nothing than to say nothing for everything? My sister always says I’m a glutton for punishment. Maybe she’s right.”

"Yeah, my brother says the same" Javier chuckled. Really, he was no stranger to unnecessary apologies.

>>”You sure you’re okay? That nutjob didn’t hurt you, did he? I...I’m not sure what I would have done if he actually hurt you.”

The look in Javier's eyes softened. There was genuine concern in Booker's voice. It was probably because he had lured him out to the con, and felt responsible for the things that had gone wrong... but Javier did not really blame him for any of it. Especially after being saved by Booker.

"No, he didn't hurt me. Thanks to you." he put a hand on Booker's arm. He ha taken a hit by the falling debris, but survived thanks to his powers; but that would have been all for naught if the laser eyes had hit him. "So, when you stood in front of me... you were using your... aura, to protect me? Is that how that works?..."

There was actually a great sense of relief in Booker’s eyes once he realized that Javier was actually okay with him being an adapted. He may not have known that was the technical term for what Booker was, but the fact that he knew his was shutting off his powers, had been shutting off his powers this whole time, and was still okay with it made the librarian smile all the broader. It was probably the biggest secret that he had and Javier weathered it like a champ, something that he was grateful for.

Booker did have a tremendous sense of empathy for the world. Whenever he saw something bad happen to everyone, he usually took it upon himself to apologize for the situation. Maybe it was a overdeveloped sense of protection after knowing what his sister endured, maybe he just didn’t know how to properly channel the sadness he felt in the world. All Booker knew was that he was sorry that Javier had to go through what he did and felt that someone should apologize for it, even if he didn’t have to.

>>"Yeah, my brother says the same"

Booker smirked after their laughing fit, sighing as he rested back against the seat. He was learning more about Javier everyday, such as the fact that he had a brother. So, they both had siblings. It seemed that they had more and more in common every time they crossed paths.

Still, even with the bit of laughter the two of them shared, Booker still wanted to make sure that Javier was okay. He turned to him, sincerity in his voice as he asked the tailor if he had been hurt. Really he didn’t know what he would have done if Above Average Man had actually harmed Javier. He knew in that moment all he felt was an overpowering sadness in his heart at the idea of losing Javier. Which...was a little strange considering he didn’t know the tailor as long as he knew other people, and yet in that moment the loss felt nonetheless profound.

What did that mean?

>>"No, he didn't hurt me. Thanks to you."

”I’m glad,” Booker said, sweetness dripping from his words.

A hand was placed on his arm. It felt warm, even though the costume. Booker could feel that slight blush was it rolled across his kin and tingled both his cheeks. He turned, sharing a nervous glance with Javier before he looked back down, to his feet, and then back to Javier. He didn’t shy away from Javier’s touch, not at all, because as much as he didn’t want to admit it, it felt nice. But, before he could tumble too far down that rabbit hole, the tailor’s voice drew him back.

>>"So, when you stood in front of me... you were using your... aura, to protect me? Is that how that works?..."

A smirk. ”Kind of,” he started to say. ”My aura is kind of...always on. I can’t control it but it has a pretty wide radius. Soooo…” He looked down a bit nervous. ”I guess that...I didn’t really have to stand in front of you…” He gulped. He could have just stood next to Javier he still would have been well within his aura. But he stood in front of him, protectively. ”...that was just...kind of…instinct...I guess.”

They were both slowly relaxing into their seats as the excitement of the fight wore off. The lecture hall was dark and refreshingly quiet, and being inside Booker's aura somehow made Javier relax even more. Now he did not need to wonder why his powers worked or did not work. The fatigue from using them was still present, but for the time being, he did not have to go anywhere. He left his hand on Booker's arm. It was nice to have some reassuring physical contact, after what they had just been through.

>>”Kind of. My aura is kind of...always on. I can’t control it but it has a pretty wide radius. Soooo… I guess that...I didn’t really have to stand in front of you...that was just...kind of…instinct...I guess.”

Now it was Javier's turn to blush, and get a fluttery feeling in his stomach, vastly different from the cold fear before. For someone to stand in the way of a laser blast on instinct, to protect him, even if he knew he wouldn't be hurt... it was... something no one had done for him before. It was... movie level heroic stuff. And it kind of just came naturally to Booker. Like so many other amazing things.
Sure, Javier had shielded him too, early in the fight - but it didn't exactly go as well as planned, due to his powers not kicking in. Which made a lot more sense now, in retrospect.

"Well... I really appreciate it." he said finally "The instinct, I mean, it's just... I don't know how many people would have done that."

Booker really did not need to wear the costume for the whole superhero thing. Javier would have said more, but he did not want to make the whole thing awkward by implying that it was somehow... personal.

"And I'm sorry I didn't tell you either. About my powers I mean. I don't... use them all that much. I mean, it's just strength... and it's pretty unreliable."

Booker, of course, had questions; questions that he wanted answers to. Only, these were questions that Javier could answer. No, these were mysteries that only Booker himself could answer because they dealt completely with how he was feeling right now. Truth be told...he didn’t know what it was. There was something about being around Javier that had always just felt...nice. He had figured it was just because he was making a new friend and new friends usually gave him the warm fuzzies (Booker was an extremely social person). But this sensation was slightly different and something that he just couldn’t identify. Or, rather, he could but seemed to be resisting making that connection in his own mind.

He admitted to Javier that when he shielded him, he did so out of instinct rather than necessity. Booker once tried to test out the limits of his aura, and roughly estimated that at about ten-feet, he started to completely cancel out abilities. Ten feet was more than enough for him to have kept Javier safe, standing anywhere around him. He could have even stood about nine feet away, knowing perfectly well that the tailor would have been safe. In that case, why did he purposefully stand in front of him? Was it just instinct? Was he trying to protect someone innocent? Or was he protecting what he cared about?

Booker looked down, a little unsure how he sounded. He was stammering, unsure of his nerves, and felt like he was tiptoeing around saying something wrong. Thankfully, Javier never removed his hand from his arm and Booker sighed a bit in relief when she spotted the tailor smiling.

>>"Well... I really appreciate it...The instinct, I mean, it's just... I don't know how many people would have done that."

He blushed. Booker blushed. There was a lot of blushing going on here. Booker bit his bottom lip, sighing and just letting himself ride the wave of whatever this feeling was. Compared to out in the show floor, this was nice, private, and quiet (except for the lecturer droning on about next level comic sales); a stark difference compared to what they had just come from. Booker appreciated it and, apparently, so did Javier.

Booker took a steady breath, letting the relaxation sweep over him. It was nice to sit with the tailor, surprisingly relaxing after everything. Maybe the other’s hand on his arm just had a calming effect. Part of him actually wanted to experiment, turning his arm and seeing how it would be to hold the other’s hand. The idea made his cheeks heat up, but it was only a passing thought, and thankfully interrupted by the tailor.

>>"And I'm sorry I didn't tell you either. About my powers I mean. I don't... use them all that much. I mean, it's just strength... and it's pretty unreliable."

A soft smile split his lips as he shook his head. ”You don’t have to apologize for that, it...wasn’t my business to know...at least until you wanted to tell me.” He sighed. He turned to face him. ”They may be unreliable...but...they kicked in at the right time, I’d say.” His jade eyes flashed a little, catching the reflection of the dim light from the stage. His smile was earnest as he spoke. ”You’re alive, aren’t you? And that…” without realizing it, his hand was placed on top of Javier’s. ”...I’m very happy about.”

They settled in for the time being, in an exchange of apologies, blushes, and a whole lot of things to think through and not say out loud. Javier sat back, enjoying the closeness. Of course he could not really feel it, physically, but the idea of being inside Booker's aura was very comforting. He wondered why he had not trusted the librarian sooner with telling him about his powers.

>>”You don’t have to apologize for that, it...wasn’t my business to know...at least until you wanted to tell me.”

Oh, he wanted to. Being a mutant was a part of him... but somehow it never felt like the right time. It wasn't the fact that he was genetically atypical; more of the fact that there was no easy way to explain, or demonstrate, strength that sometimes was there and sometimes wasn't, and cut in and out without any reasonable explanation.

>>”They may be unreliable...but...they kicked in at the right time, I’d say. You’re alive, aren’t you? And that… ...I’m very happy about.”

Booker's hand found his, and Javier froze, a wave of warmth rushing through him as he looked into the librarian's eyes. There was something in the way he looked at him, something that was just... mesmerizing. Javier knew that the moment was bound to be awkward soon, but he was also not strong enough to break it. So he just sat there in quiet, enjoying the soft touch and the look. Was this... a moment? Did he feel something for Booker?... The warmth was definitely a yes. But the implications were too much to handle. He felt a little dizzy, as if he was going to fall forward any minute. Like Booker had some kind of magnetic field, instead of an aura.

"Can we... go somewhere else?" he said finally, in a small voice, knowing full well that he was being pathetic "I'm sorry, I wanted to spend the day at the con, but I feel like..." he glanced down at his outfit, dirtied by the debris and torn in a couple of places "I feel like I need to clean up." he sighed. Physically and mentally. The bruises were starting to hurt.

What was he saying? Booker watched the other’s eyes, trying to come to a conclusion that he was seemingly too scared to say out loud. He meant what he said, he was glad that Javier was alive. The man’s powers may have been “unreliable” but at least Javier was alive. That was what mattered most to the librarian and it felt important to let the tailor know that; whether to calm Booker’s own mind or Javier’s, he didn’t know, but it was said nonetheless.

The two seemed caught in a loop of just watching one another now, seeming unsure of where else to go from here. Both seemed too stunned or too shy to say anything further. Booker had never wanted to read other people’s minds but, jeez, if he could borrow Nessa’s powers for this one moment, he would have seriously given it some thought.

But finally Javier seemed to break the spell as the man looked completely exhausted and slumped a little. For a moment Booker was worried, figuring that maybe he was suffering an adverse effect for being in his field. But the tailor’s small voice momentarily quelled those fears.

>>"Can we... go somewhere else?"

Booker blinked, a look of concern on his features. Javier sounded okay, he just sounded really tired. Given everything that he went through, the librarian wasn’t surprised. Hell, he should have probably offered to take him out of here the second after they were done in the showroom. But there was no point in blaming himself for something in the past now, he concern, instead, was ensuring that Javier was alright.

>>"I'm sorry, I wanted to spend the day at the con, but I feel like...I feel like I need to clean up."

The was a reasonable request. To be honest Booker probably wouldn’t have allowed him to stay all day, despite how much Javier said he wanted to. He nodded, giving Javier’s hand a little squeeze of assurance and smiled. He was worried but he didn’t want the tailor to think he was upset at him for wanting to call out early.

”Yeah, of course,” he smiled. ”Don’t worry about. There’s always another con,” he said with a wide smile. ”And even some where murderous mutants are running amok, promise.” God, now he was hoping that was a promise he could keep. He waited until Javier was standing and started to lead him out. ”Umm, if you want you can always come back to my place,” he said nonchalantly. ”I don’t live far from here and it’s the closest I can think of for you to clean up. Trust me, after a con, I tend to need a shower too.”