New Divide

New Divide: 46

“You do realize that beakers and test tubes are not suitable company? I had hoped that when students did arrive, that you would play a part in socialising. You can't keep yourself locked away in here, Hank. If you don't get out of this room, I will result to mind control. Go, get out, get some fresh air.” Charles said sternly yet jokingly as he appeared in Hank's laboratory. Hank in return looked up from a microscope and looked to him.

He narrowed his eyes at the slightly smug disposition of his friend and mentor. Slowly looking to the ceiling he smiled. “I've already socialised today.” This wasn't the first time that Charles had come in here in an attempt to get him out. It wasn't that Hank was opposed to socialising, just he had work to do which took priority. Mainly looking back into the serum. He was close to a breakthrough, he knew it, he could feel it.

Charles raised an eyebrow, evidently not believing him. “That's good, Hank.”

Leaning an arm against the table in front of him, Hank rested his chin against his hand and continued to smile. Clearly his sudden happy state confused Charles even more. “This particular social visit ended with a magnet.” Hank explained. He didn't exactly need to further on with the hints. Charles picked up straight away, he looked over his shoulder to the corridor behind him before flicking his eyes back to Hank. “If I remember rightly, food was next on her list of things to do. Or so she said, you just missed her in fact. If you were five minutes earlier you'd have crossed paths.” Hank explained with a simple sigh while returning to the microscope in front of him. He smirked when the possibility of making him leave the laboratory seemed to instantly flit out of the line of thought of his friend.

“Right,” Charles said while coughing awkwardly and looking over at him. “In that case I suppose I’ll leave you to your work.”

“See you the same time tomorrow then.” Hank replied dryly. After lessons Charles had got into a habit of visiting him with prompts to leave and socialise with the other students. Seeing as how Hank wasn't exactly a student as such he saw it as a completely fruitless task. There was only so many strange and confused looks he could receive before he wanted to shut himself away and work. So that's what he did. Each time Charles tried to get him to leave, he made up an excuse and it seemed to work. Though he did leave to go on a walk with Charles the other day, but that was only because of the company he was with. Going on his own was a different story altogether.

“Oh, don't be like that, Hank,” Charles smirked as he started to wheel himself out of the room. “You like our little ritual here.”

“I like it as much as-”

“Yes, yes, I was joking. You don't need to give me an analogy.” Charles rolled his eyes and commenced travelling down the corridor. By now most students were shut away in their rooms doing homework, or at least he hoped they were. Homework was a dreaded thing by most students no matter the age. He could clearly hear laughter from the large living room, and some more quiet voices from a study room.

Eventually though he turned and stopped in the doorway to the kitchen. Sitting on one of the counters contently eating was Margo. She kicked her legs against the cupboard and seemed most interested in the sandwich she had made. Her hair looked slightly lighter from travelling in the sun, that seemed to be the only real change he could spy.

“Please don't sit on the counter tops, Margo, it isn't very hygienic, is it?” Charles said faking seriousness.

She slid off of the counter and shuffled over to the table. She straightened her faded band t-shirt out with one hand while the other kept a hold of her meal. She slunk into the seat and looked at him with a bored expression. After a moment of looking at each other with rather blank expressions, it was her who broke the silence by laughing. He joined in not long after and moved over to stop in front of her.

“Welcome back, my dear, how was your little adventure?”

Margo twirled the plate around on the table and pouted. “Eventful.” She answered in a simple tone while looking up at him. With a smile she stood up and stepped in front of him, leaning down she wrapped her arms tightly around him.

“I get the feeling I was missed.” Charles looked over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow as a few students walked past looking at the two strangely.

“You were.” Margo whispered while sighing quietly and shutting her eyes.

Reaching up and managing to gently push some of her hair out of his line of sight, he leant his head against hers and just held onto her. Margo didn't seem to want to move yet, and he found he was rather fine with this. It's strange, it wasn't until she had gone that he realized how much her company meant to him.

“Come on, you have the details of your travels to tell.” Charles patted her on the shoulder. He smiled up at her when she took a step back.

“I best go find Hank too then. He asked about my minor holiday as well. I thought it'd be easy to tell you both at the same time.” Margo smiled and gave a shrug. “Think of it as a catch up. I’m not the only one who has details to tell.” She smirked and tilted her head to the side. “It has not gone unnoticed that there's an influx of residents.”

“Ah,” Charles gave a nod and turned around and started to leave the kitchen. She walked behind him holding onto the wheelchair handles loosely. “Yes, I suppose in regards we both have things to explain.”

“Something tells me your side of things is going to be more interesting.” Margo said while quickly leaving him to go into the laboratory. Charles sat and watched as Margo came out of the room pulling a rather disgruntled Hank with her. He couldn't help but laugh, he may have the words to prompt Hank to leave his safe haven, but it seemed Margo had the actions.

“I said I was coming, you don't have to pull me around.” Hank said irritably while shooting a look to Margo. She simply patted him on the shoulder with a rather humble smile on her face.

“If I waited for you to finish your work, I’d be waiting an eternity.” Margo said, she'd entered the room to receive a 'give me five minutes' from Hank as he peered through his microscope. Five minutes to Hank would be a week, maybe a month. Margo had rather rudely grabbed a hold of his arm and commenced pulling. It was a one sided tug of war, Hank was so much stronger than her, yet he seemed to give up and come with her in the end.