JP and Alex (it works because Kari said so)

[thenorthstar]

Jean-Paul is having the worst year of his entire life. And he has had some terrible years. He thought there would never be anything worse than the year his sister was tortured, saved, and then begged to come home to hide where she felt she belonged - just when Jean-Paul was trying to make a life in New York.

But things had gotten better. Jeanne-Marie was stronger, sometimes. And Jean-Paul had found the purpose he'd always longed for in sports. Skiing suited his mutation but didn't totally draw from it; it was like he finally had a way to channel this thing he couldn't bear to live with.

And he did it. He won gold.

And he was outed as a mutant, stripped of his medal, and all but exiled.

Jean-Paul didn't know how to come back from it; his pride was too great for this blow.

So, New York. Again. So, museums, and coffee alone, his sister too afraid to venture out unless she was too comfortable to venture out.

Usually the park wasn't his thing, but there he was at Madison Square Park, relishing the brisk chill of oncoming fall, idly watching squirrels, clutching a cup of (bad) coffee. Trying to learn to be still.

Comments

[secondsummers]

"Well, you know which way I would vote on that, if it were up to me."

[thenorthstar]

Jean-Paul glanced at him, happy about that answer. But it wasn't the only factor. "That's your answer, but I have to live with a scandal, and I don't know if this is the right place to be." The staring was obviously happening less than it did at home, but he was still so aware of it.

[secondsummers]

"I know." Alex had been the subject of a lot of staring and speculation before, and it wasn't a great feeling. He couldn't blame Jean-Paul for wanting to minimize that. "Though I'm having a hard time picturing you hiding out in a small town somewhere where you wouldn't be recognized."

[thenorthstar]

"So am I," Jean-Paul admitted, with the slightest smile. "I would be too restless. I much prefer the idea of melting into a bigger city. It's just that I don't know if this is the city."

[secondsummers]

"What about Jeanne-Marie? Is she here with you?" Considering what she was like the last time Alex had seen the twins, he didn't think Jean-Paul would go anywhere without her.

[thenorthstar]

"She's here. She doesn't really go outside. I don't know if-" he was pained "she would be happy anywhere."

[secondsummers]

Alex reached over and squeezed Jean-Paul's hand as they walked. "I'm sorry. I wish it were better for her. For you both."

[thenorthstar]

The gesture was deeply, deeply appreciated. "So do I. I worry about her... she's always worse when she can sense that I'm not alright."

[secondsummers]

"I can't blame her. It's distressing seeing someone so beautiful in pain." He was flirting, a little, to try to cheer Jean-Paul up, but that didn't make it any less sincere.

[thenorthstar]

"You try telling her that and see how she takes it," Jean-Paul said, but oh, he was pleased.

[secondsummers]

"No thank you! Your sister awes and intimidates me."

[thenorthstar]

"I awe and intimidate you."

[secondsummers]

"Absolutely."

[thenorthstar]

Jean-Paul smiled, and reached a hand up to stroke the back of Alex's neck.

[secondsummers]

"If you keep doing that, I'm going to forget to feed you," Alex warned, eyes fluttering shut for just a moment.

[thenorthstar]

"I'm sure you can find creative ways to nourish me." He leaned over, pressed a quick kiss to the side of Alex's neck.

[secondsummers]

It was like Montreal all over again, except they were going back to Alex's place instead of Jean-Paul's. "I changed my mind, you can't stay in New York. You have to move to the moon because you are too hot for any Earth city."

[thenorthstar]

"I could actually live on the moon," he said casually, "I'm fairly certain I can breathe in space." Since he could fly through the sky at ridiculous altitudes."But that wouldn't work for you, sunshine man."

[secondsummers]

"Are you sure you're not an alien? You are too pretty to be from Earth and you can breathe in space and fly and your ears are pointed and you could live on the moon." It was entirely possible Alex was nerding out and lusting at the same time. It was kind of great.

[thenorthstar]

"Alex," he said, trying very hard not to laugh, "You are not at all cool."

[secondsummers]

Alex gave him a ridiculous grin. "No, I am not. Are you just figuring this out? You are normally much quicker than that."

[thenorthstar]

"Oh no," Jean-Paul assured him. "I've known for a long time. But today you have no composure." And then he grabbed Alex's collar with both hands, pulled him towards Jean-Paul, and kissed him deeply, there, on the street, because he wanted to.

[secondsummers]

Jean-Paul was right; he had no composure. It was easy to see why, though. Alex made a small sound and kissed back, his hands going to Jean-Paul's hips.

[thenorthstar]

Laughing, now, properly shaking off his melancholy, Jean-Paul pulled away with a tsking sound. "Don't get carried away. We still have to make it to your home."

[secondsummers]

"Sir, yes, sir," he replied, taking a step back and giving a jaunty salute, all echoing back to the first time they'd met. Jean-Paul had always been surprisingly easy to be around.