Hey ya'll! Sorry for the long wait. This story is starting to wind down so I hope you enjoy the last couple of chapters!
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Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
Warren's full attention was on his desktop as he scrolled through the webpage he was on. In his search for the school Cameron had mentioned earlier that day, he came across Xavier's. He has heard about it before, in passing, but never realized "gifted" was the politically correct term being coined for mutant. Perhaps, it wasn't – maybe this was how that institution really saw its students. Regardless, Charles Xavier's school looked entirely too good to be true. Of course, thought Warren, looking through the offered programs, it was meant for students who hadn't finished high school yet. A boarding school, not a college, not for someone as old as him.
Still, wondered the blond, clicking to the staff page. He was met with the photo of Xavier himself, an amicable looking man with several awards from Oxford University for research he conducted there. Although it mentioned Xavier was a mutant himself, there was no description of his abilities, but rather how he connected with his students through his own experience growing up in England. Warren continued down the page, past the teachers listed, some catching his eyes. One, including a very blue, very furry man with glasses and a tie. Dr. Hank McCoy. Warren blinked, finding himself not as perturbed as he supposed he should have been and continued to the end of the page.
If you're interested in assisting with our programs, please contact us through email or phone. We also accept short drop-ins at the times listed below.
Warren grinned, matching on of the times for tomorrow in the afternoon.
"What are you so smiley about?" Warren whipped his head around to see Cameron standing at his room's open door, dishwater blond hair damp and wearing his t-shirt. One arm was wrapped around a bundle of clothing, and her other hand held one of the sandwiches he left in the kitchen for her.
"Er," started Warren, bringing his eyes back to the screen and exiting the browser. "Nothing too important. I see you found the kitchen alright?"
Cameron nodded, tossing the bundle of clothing at her backpack in the corner of the room and bouncing onto Warren's bed.
"Yup. Thanks for making me this. And for giving me your shirt." She looked away from him to stare down at her bare thighs. "You're a really nice guy, Warren."
Warren shook his head, getting up from his desk seat as he switched off his monitor.
"You're a guest. I'm sure you would've done the same for me if I were at your house," he said modestly, making his way to sit on his bed, kicking off his shoes and sighing as he laid his head into his pillow. It felt relieving to be home, his wings now free from any restraint, bare against the blanket on his mattress. Cameron turned to look at him over her shoulder, giving him a look. He couldn't help but break into laughter, and she joined him, bringing her legs up and laying down next to him, sandwich nearly finished in her hand.
"Yup, right after I dragged you through hell with my parents. Wanna bite?" she offered him the rest of her sandwich but he shook his head.
"I had three already," he said, red tinting his face as he looked away. He had forgotten how hungry he was with all the craziness that happened today, and nearly devoured everything in his fridge. Cameron laughed before popping the rest of the turkey sandwich into her mouth, and moving closer to him. They laid in silence, and Warren felt like he did back when they were at her house, in front of the mirror. Like everything was normal, everything was going to be okay. He felt Cameron's arm brush against his wing, and realized it didn't make the moment any less normal.
"Hey," started Warren, turning his head to look at her. She was closer than he remembered, now pressing her shoulder to his, eyes boring into his own. Idly, he realized that she was no longer wearing makeup, and the scar from her broken nose was dark against her fair skin.
"Uh, thanks for today. For helping me out," Warren fumbled out, starting to feel his heart race. It was the first time he had a girl in his room, let alone his bed, and he was as experienced with such things as much as a middle schooler. He blinked. Perhaps even less than a middle schooler.
"No problem. Saw a cute shirtless guy, had to jump on that," Cameron admitted, biting her lip to hold back a smile. Warren's head snapped back to her, eyes wide.
"What?" Cameron started to laugh, bumping his shoulder lightly.
"Why do you look like you're about to shit yourself?" she asked between giggles, sitting up so she could look down at him.
"I, uh, erm…"
"You're a cute guy. Handsome. Got real nice hair," she continued, smiling as she ruffled his near-dry flaxen hair into a mess. Warren swatted her hands away.
"Yeah, yeah, thanks, I really appreciate it," he mumbled back, about to turn away from her when he caught sight of her shirt riding up. He blinked.
"Are you wearing the shorts I gave you?"
"What? No." Warren made a choking sound and started to scramble away from her on the bed.
"Why not?" he sputtered out, feeling like he was in some sort of teenage movie and eugh.
"Because they don't fit," Cameron pointed out, crossing her arms across her chest.
"Well…"
"Well…" goaded Cameron. "Are you really getting all weird because I'm pantless. It's not that big of a deal. You act like you've never-"
The blond stopped, blinked, and suddenly smiled too wide.
"You're a virgin!" she accused, pointing at Warren's reddening face.
"No! I mean, technically, yes, but, my wings, and uh…" Warren decided he wasn't going to explain or defend himself as Cameron grinned ear to ear, and instead reached over to quickly poke her in the side. She immediately jumped, a giggle escaping her.
"Okay, okay," she said, still smiling. "It's kinda sweet actually. In a weird, romantic comedy way."
"Thanks," grumbled Warren, turning away, head against his pillow. "Guest room's down the hall."
It was quiet for a moment, and didn't sound like Cameron was getting up to leave. Warren turned over, ready to ask he to kindly let him sleep in the comfort of his own bed, when Cameron's lips pressed against his, hands reaching to settle on his shoulders.
She pulled away when she felt Warren stiffen up, not at all reciprocating.
"Erm," Cameron looked embarrassed, slowly letting go of his shoulders. "I-"
"Sorry," coughed Warren, quickly backing himself up and against the headboard. "It's not you, it's just, this isn't really the best time…"
The mutant trailed off, head spinning as he scrambled off his own bed and attempted to leave. Cameron's face fell, and she looked away, and Warren felt like a jackass.
"It's okay, I should've asked first. I mean, I'm probably really trashy compared to what you're used to," she joked, shooting him a tight smile. Warren wasn't used to anything. Not with his wings, not when he was just human.
"You're not trashy," mumbled Warren, slowly making his way back to the bed. "You're…nice. You're real nice, Cameron."
"Then why didn't you kiss me back?" she questioned, voice on the edge of anger.
"To be honest," started Warren, looking down at the bed sheets. "I wanted to. I really did. But you're my friend, and we've known each other for a day, and Christ, I'm a virgin so this isn't really my forte."
"You," mumbled Cameron, "you think too much." She let out a small laugh before tugging him over. Warren didn't resist, laying down and allowing Cameron to sidle up to his side.
"I know," he said, arm hesitantly lifting so Cameron could move closer to him and lay against his shoulder. She was careful to mind his wings, and Warren shifted, bringing them closer to his back. For once, he did not completely curse his mutation, finding it simpler to note it was there, and that was that. Gently, Warren, inexperienced yet feeling brave, curled his arm, and his fingers brushed along her upper arm where her sleeve didn't cover.
"I'll try not to do anything weird," Cameron offered, looking up at Warren with an apologetic smile, hand moving to settle on his naked chest. "Unless you want me to."
"This is fine," Warren relaxed into her. He had spent most of the day, most of his life, tense and worried and scared. And he just wanted to be okay.
"This is good."
Warren pulled Cameron closer to him, staring up at his ceiling, and wishing he could stay in that moment forever, where holding someone didn't feel so damn frightening, where he wasn't some pretender. It didn't matter that he couldn't explain what he felt towards Cameron, that perhaps it wasn't what she felt for him, it didn't matter as long as they were together right now.
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I hope you guys didn't find the Warren/Cameron thing too cliche. I didn't want to really hook them up, but I feel there was some sort of affection there (maybe too one-sided to really develop) that needed to be addressed. Let me know how you feel in reviews, thanks!