There were many things which Margo disliked, but she currently found herself disliking one thing in particular and that was early mornings. Waking up early morning, was just horrid. Even when institutionalised they'd wake her up and then leave her alone. This wake up was different.
“Why did you have to be a teacher?” She had quietly grumbled while huddling more in the bed. “Out of all things. A teacher?”
“Even if I chose to be something else, I’d still have to get up early.”
“But did you have to wake me up too?”
“Margo, you're being dramatic. You were already awake.”
“Was not.”
“Perhaps, but your thoughts certainly were. You were quite verbal at times. I can't say I approve of you cursing children being so loud.” Charles said with a frown. At this Margo had lifted her head up from the pillow she had buried herself against and looked at him with narrowed eyes.
“Apologies.” She said while flopping back down. She didn't intend to move any time soon. Even winding up sleeping back in his room wasn't something she had intended. After telling Hank to get out more, or to the roof, or where ever, they had all spent much time talking until the early hours of the morning. Somehow, though she was not aware how, she had managed to go to sleep against his shoulder. Apparently Charles had instructed him to carry her to his room. She didn't mind, honestly she didn't. It just didn't compute the early hours that he'd wake up.
Six in the morning is a joke, she thought absentmindedly before hearing a short cough behind her. She winced and looked to him. “Sorry, again.” She apologised.
“You seem to be in a fine mood this morning.” Charles merely commented with a certain level of smugness. She narrowed her eyes and then slowly smirked, he didn't like the sudden shift in expressions. That usually signalled that she was scheming up something. With quick actions she simply changed sides and shut her eyes contently.
He on the other hand let out a sigh. “I need my arm back, Margo.” She had rather speedily pulled one of his arms around her and huddled closer to him.
“Five minutes.” She whispered with a nod.
“Five minutes,” he repeated while easily leaning his head on top of hers. “What are your plans for today?”
“I'm going to see if I can help Hank, or you know...drag him out.”
Charles couldn't help but smile. Between them both they'd get their reclusive friend out into the world. Though sure, Hank wouldn't appreciate it, but they would be actions done for his own good.
----
Walking down the hallways, Margo was struck by how silent it really was when all the children were in lessons. The whole morning had been an orchestra of noise. She didn't totally mind noise, but this noise was on a new level. Her earlier thoughts of why children had to be noisy came back to mind. Who was ever this excited to attend lessons? From what she could remember of the school days she attended, she hated it. Despised it. Yet, she hardly knew it really.
With a frown she pushed away from the wall she was leaning against. She was watching a lesson. More specifically she was watching a lesson Charles was teaching. He seemed so well suited for this job. Attentive and helpful, patient and curious, he was good at what he was doing. Her presence didn’t go totally unnoticed.
Your fault for keeping the door open. She simply thought when some students had pointed out that she was loitering.
“Come in, Margo.” Charles waved a hand at her and smiled as she simply slipped into a chair at the back of the room. She slouched and stretched her legs out, by all means she looked like the typical image of boredom. But far from it, she sat with a light frown and actually find herself paying attention.
When the lesson had seemingly finished she stood and shuffled out of the room and made a point of being one of the first out. Walking down a set of stairs she walked along a clinical corridor and stopped at an open circular doorway. Knocking on the metal of the door she smiled when Hank snapped his head up to look at her.
He pulled up the dark goggles up and off of his eyes. “Yes?” He seemed to be welding something. Margo walked in and looked around, her boots lightly scuffed along the walkway before she stopped where he was knelt.
Sitting down cross legged she looked to him. “Need help?”
“Did you get sent down here?”
“He's doing lessons, so no. I generally need something to do.” Margo leant back on her hands and smiled. “That and it'll get Charles off your back about socialising.”
Hank rolled his eyes and looked at her with a smile. “Just speaking to you won't be enough for him, you know that.”
Margo scrunched her nose up. “It'll have to do for now.” She said decisively. “Now, help. I’m here to offer help, so please what can I do?” Hank tilted his head to the side before relenting and instructing her on what to do. She took his place with welding together metal while he took to sorting out the wiring in a centre console. Margo looked over her shoulder at him and nodded slowly.
“Ever thought of teaching?” This caused Hank to scoff and look at her from over a sea of wires. “Just saying. You're pretty good at instructing.” Shrugging she got back to work and then paused to look at him again. “Can I ask you a legitimate question?”
“The teaching one wasn't legitimate?” Hank shut a compartment on the console in front of him and looked to her. “Shoot.”
“Would it be weird if I enrolled as a student?” Margo asked in an uncertain tone. Hank looked at her curiously while moving back to where she was. She watched as he sat down and took to packing certain tools away.
“Are you hoping for private tutoring?” Hank said sarcastically only to receive a nudge to the shoulder.
Margo laughed, “Why I do believe you made a joke, Hank.” He looked around the large circular room confused before looking to her. “No, is the answer. Just, I sat in on a lesson and actually found it quite interesting. I never finished school, as such. I’ve got nothing to do here, I can't teach, I can't build things like this.” Margo gestured to the room around her. “I want to learn.” She whispered while looking to her hands which were fiddling with the dark goggles.
“I think,” Hank started while thinking over his words. “It'll be good, for you.” Margo raised an eyebrow at his awkwardly said words. He looked rather awkward and uncertain whether he said the right thing or not. Margo merely rolled her eyes and smiled. That was as good as an answer as she was going to receive she guessed.
----
(A/N: I’m in two minds over this. Part of my brain is like 'what you've wrote is shit' then the other part is like 'wahey, you've wrote your way into your DoFP plan.' (<- Trust me here.) Boo, just boo. My brain's hating on me. Whatever I’m off to erm...idk, sleep? Do have work tomorrow and all that. Boo again!)
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New Divide
FanfictionThere is a rare – border lining non-existing – understanding on those who have developed mutations. Skill sets which far outdo and exceed the norm of everyday humans. Being institutionalised was the answer to Margo Barrett's parent's prayers. Only...