Telepaths- The other retcon (Locked to Jackson [not_skywalker])

[psi_flames]

After that conversation with some Ianto in the Nexus, Jono retreated to think. And the more he thought about it, the more ill he felt. Because he was selfish enough to not want to lose his lover friend

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[not_skywalker]

His place in the Nexus is small, much like a dormitory, but the time he's spent here (that he can remember) has been used filling it with an assortment of things. Jackson seems to have a love and appreciation for books, given the stack piling high on the back of the desk shoved against one wall, the rest of its top strewn with the juxtaposition of two clocks - one digital, one clockwork - he's apparently in the middle of taking apart. The bed is made, though missing a pillow, and he's slung a small hammock in the opposite corner, which is obviously occupied from the blanket and bare leg dangling over the side.

Jackson isn't asleep, just reading something while listening to a jumbled collection of music on a rather ragged looking music player. The best thing about having a lover friend who's telepathic is never needing to take out your earbuds to hear what they're saying. "Hey, Jono," he greets, leaning a little to get a better look at his friend. Yes, he's been keeping to himself lately, since meeting John in the Nexus and finding

[psi_flames]

The hammock gets a raised eyebrow before Jono turns back to Jackson. He leans down, pressing his forehead to Jackson's temple in an approximation of a kiss. Hey. He pulls over a chair and sits down. How're you doin'? Any headaches? Now that he's figured out what's likely causing them, he asks about them. It's part of making certain Jackson's okay.

[not_skywalker]

There's no beach, no pathetic scrubby excuse for trees, and nowhere to sling a proper hammock to read while enjoying the warm breeze. So, Jackson is improvising.

He smiles at the intimate little gesture and tosses the book onto the bed to give Jono his full attention. The earbuds are tugged from his ears, making it painfully obvious he's listening to Vivaldi. (Vivaldi will crash rather jarringly into The White Stripes, though. Where did he get this collection, or is it on random?) Jackson sits up to face Jono, letting both legs dangle over the side of the hammock, and gives him a wan little smile. "Still hurts. Been taking something for it, though, so it's not so bad."

[psi_flames]

He nods, leaning forward. His mind brushes soothingly against Jackson's, doing his best to get rid of some of the pain. Was thinkin'. Back home in me world, we've got some telepaths. I mean, not jus' me, but others. An' some of 'em, well, they're the ones what taught me. Think maybe one of 'em might be able t' help you out. Weed out Adam's false memories. With any luck, get the real memories back out from under them. The false ones had to have something to work off of, after all, right?

[not_skywalker]

When Jono leans forward, Jackson meets him halfway, nudging his nose lightly against Jono's own. The way Jono feels in his head is perfect, like a cool drink of water on a hot day, and Jackson tilts his forehead against Jono's with a soft sigh. Yeah, that's nice.

"Yeah," he agrees, sliding his arms around Jono's shoulders lightly. "Yeah, that sounds good. I'd appreciate it." Something, anything. He can't believe he's forgotten the things he's forgotten, doesn't want to think about how he feels to have had Adam so far into his mind ...

[psi_flames]

Jono hates the very idea of it. That someone would press themselves so deeply in someone else's mind that they'd supplant the very memories that make someone who they are.

He wraps his arms around Jackson in return, holding him close. If it don' work, might be somethin' else that we can do. But we'll do this firs'. 'Cause, frankly, I doubt there's anythin' in there that Professor Xavier can't handle.

[not_skywalker]

There's a certain amount of violation to it that Jackson just isn't going to address.

He nods, drawing himself as close as their respective seating will allow, though he practically feels like settling into Jono's lap to soak up all the comfort his friend is offering. "What's the other thing? I mean, if this doesn't work. Not saying it won't, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared, right?"

[psi_flames]

Jono goes quiet for a few moments, running his hand up to cup the back of Jackson's head. Met a bloke in the Nexus called Ianto. Know some stuff 'bout 'is world. They've got a drug called 'retcon'. It'd make you ferget ever knowin' that Adam bloke. He pauses, then, But you'd have t' ferget everythin' from the moment you met 'im forward.

[not_skywalker]

Jackson has met Ianto and a few alternates in the Nexus, doesn't recall the full extent of knowing one in particular, but he knows enough to not trust the universes they seem to be from. (Ironically.)

"No," he answers the minute the realization sinks in that he met Jono after the headaches start, after Adam messed with his head. "I don't want that. I-I'd forget you and I don't -- " His arms reflexively tighten around Jono. Please. Please, no.

[psi_flames]

He tightens his arms around Jackson, pressing his forehead against Jackson's temple. Then he pulls Jackson from the hammock and into his lap. Because, God, he needed to protect him and keep him from hurting. I won't, he agreed, already putting the thought away. If Jackson didn't want it, they'd find another way. It won' happen. We'll fin' another way if this don' work.

Tracking down Adam and making him take it back seemed like a good place to start.

[not_skywalker]

The reassurance Jono gives that he won't is more comforting than Jackson can describe. He slides easily across the very short distance to straddle Jono's lap, wanting the warmth and comfort of proximity. He agrees to everything else with a simple nod. As long as this isn't taken away from him, too, he can cope with anything else. (Almost anything. He wouldn't want to let Adam back into his head, even if it was to take it all away.)

"This'll work," he decides with necessary confidence. "This professor of yours is good, isn't he? Nothing he can't handle? It'll work."

[psi_flames]

Jono rubs Jackson's back, pressing his bandages to Jackson's shoulder. The place where his mouth should have been. 'E's the best, he agrees, voice soft as he holds Jackson closer. Yer gonna need t' get dressed, mush. An' then we're gonna portal back t' me world. Easier if we don' use the PIN.

[not_skywalker]

Jackson tilts his head against Jono's, soothed by the warmth against his shoulder, rather than the idea that Jono might have kissed him there if he had lips. It just escapes his train of thought now. "Yeah," he agrees on the subject of getting dressed, relatively certain that he can't meet any of Jono's really brilliant professor types in just his skin and a pair of tight boxer briefs. "Clothes."

As much as he wants to stay just there and feel Jono's hands on his back, his warmth against his skin, Jackson carefully disentangles from his friend. Having not located his original clothes from Boeshane, though the bag he brought with him was still here, Jackson has acquired more 'contemporary' clothing. He slips into a pair of jeans that actually fit and digs a clean undershirt out of the closet, shrugging into a short-sleeved button-down next. "Is this okay? I don't want to dress badly to meet your professor."

[psi_flames]

Jono stands, watching Jackson as he moves. Some part of him knows that these aren't the clothes Jackson must have come to the Nexus in, but where they are may be lost in the morass of memory screwing that Adam did.

He nods, offering his hand to Jackson when he's ready. You look fine. Might wanna add a jacket, though. Still a bit nippy where we're goin'.

[not_skywalker]

Jackson runs a hand through his hair, trying to tame it down a little, and looks pleasantly blank at the suggestion of a jacket. It sinks in a moment later and he grabs something jacket-like from the closet and shrugs it on. It may not be heavy or warm enough if there's winter weather, but he'll survive. This concept of cold weather is really throwing him off.

Without a word, he takes Jono's hand and lets him lead the way, suddenly very nervous.

[psi_flames]

Jono looks a little amused at Jackson's choice of outerwear, taking Jackson's hand when it's offered. Don' worry, he says, hand tightening on Jackson's. It'll be awroight.

He prays it will be, at least.

The walk to the portal doesn't take long. Yes, the PIN would be faster, but that would deposit them in his room. And for the sake of staying in Xavier's good graces, not appearing in the Mansion out of the blue is probably a good thing.

It is, thankfully, not windy when they arrive through the portal. There's still some snow on the ground, though it might not be the thing that catches Jackson's eye to start with. That honor may well go to the large red and purple robots standing on the front lawn of the Mansion. Or the many tents to the side. The mutants who don't want to go stay inside the former school. Though there were fewer these days.