Disclaimer: Original characters belong
to Marvel. The Kinda Mooks universe is Kaylee's
to play in. This is a sequel to 'People
Kinda Change', which isn't the official sequel to Kaylee's incredible
story, "Any Kinda Breath". I make the assumption
that Remy's going to die, which hasn't been revealed yet.
Thanks to those in #KJcorner.
I'm sorry Kael! Really!
Channel Surfing
(or, Kael Will Kinda Hit Me)
by Lise
Scott cleared his throat, and nodded to Bobby on the couch. He said,
voice friendly, "Could I have a minute, Bobby?"
Bobby said, "Sure." He was slumped down low, channel changer in one
hand. His whole body was lax and virtually unmoving, save for the
occasional click of his thumb over the remote control. Click, the
Discovery Channel. Click, Comedy Central. Click, CNN. Click--
"Bobby, would you turn that off for a minute?"
Bobby roused himself enough to look at Scott. He had almost sounded
frustrated. Scott moved into the room, and sat in the recliner facing
the couch. Bobby aimed the remote. Click, and the television was muted,
the mouths of CNN newscasters moving silently against a backdrop of
Easter European conflict. Bobby didn't even know what country they
were talking about, even before Scott made him turn it off. He hadn't
really been listening to begin with.
Scott cleared his throat again. He looked lost in thought for a minute,
and Bobby asked a little crossly, "What, already?"
Scott blinked. "I just thought..."
He looked distinctly uncomfortable, which Bobby might have grinned
at some months ago.
Click, a local station. Bobby glanced back at the television. The
pretty woman was pointing to a map of New York, and caricatures of
clouds appeared magically behind her. Apparently they were in for
rain tomorrow. Bobby looked back at Scott, getting impatient for him
to say whatever the hell was on his mind so he could go back to ignoring
the television.
"I wanted to ask ... is there something going on between you and
Warren, Bobby?"
He didn't mutter what was on the tip of his tongue -- 'Anything more
than the normal tension, that is?'
Bobby slouched back down into the couch cushions, and rested his
head against the back comfortably. "Is that all."
Scott said quietly, "All? Bobby, you know I'd never pry, but Jean
is beside herself trying to keep something from me, and I know something's
going on ... I'm your friend. You know we can talk, Bobby."
Bobby turned the volume back on, but set it low. Click, the TV listings
channel. He realized with a start that it was almost three o'clock
in the morning. Click, an eighties movie, identifiable by the hairstyles
and bad camera work. He raised an eyebrow, as another pretty girl
came onscreen. She was mumbling something about not having a date
for prom, and he snorted softly. His eyes stayed glazed, staring at
the people onscreen, while he answered Scott. "Warren and I slept
together last night."
Scott gulped audibly beside him. "You ... ahh." He seemed incredibly
unwilling to comment any further.
The shock appeal alone would have made Bobby grin, if it were months
before. Bobby swiveled his head to stare at Scott, before swiveling
back to the mindlessness on TV. Scott seemed to be waiting for more.
Click, an infomercial about the best Slicer and Dicer ever. He shrugged.
"It was just sex, Scotty."
"Ahh."
Scott was an intent audience, and so Bobby continued. "I don't know
why Jean's keeping it a secret. Maybe Warren's embarrassed, you'll
have to talk to him. I don't know."
Scott stood up, the concerned look on his face completely missed
by the man watching TV. He said uncertainly, "So ... it was just sex?"
Click, an ad for phone sex with women with very big hair. Bobby skipped
that one immediately. "Mmm."
Scott said softly, "Then why are you up at three o'clock in the morning?"
Click, Jerry Springer, and Men Who Wanted To Be Women, But Their
Boyfriends Don't Want Them To. Bobby cocked his head to the side,
and wanted to chuckle, except it hurt a little too much. Click, a
man in long black robes holding a bible. He turned the volume up a
little more, and the man began talking audibly about all the various
Sins unavailable to try. He muted the TV again when the word 'faggot'
was dropped. Click--
"Hmm? What's worth being awake for at three in the morning?" Scott's
voice was gentle, probing.
Bobby sat up a little bit, and looked at him. "I'm a compulsive channel
surfer who isn't being given any responsibilities on a team of superheroes,
so I've got a lot of time to waste." It didn't sound bitter, it didn't
sound angry. Not to his ears. "What are you doing up at three,
Summers?"
Scott stood up a little stiffly, hearing Bobby choose to call him
that. "I'm trying to reach out to a friend. But okay ... it was just
sex. Have a good night, Bobby."
Click, another cheesy movie about TrueLove(tm) at the high school
prom. Wait, this might have been the same movie as before. He eyed
the girl, and tried to remember if the other one had had blond hair,
or brown. He gestured to Scott absently, eyes still a little glazed
over. "See you, Summers."
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