It's Never Been Like That [1/?]
Title: It's Never Been Like That [1/?]
Author: JDMcool
Pairing: Jean-Paul/Walter, Jean-Paul/Bobby, past Jeanne-Marie/Walter
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 3,010
Notes: Uh... first time writing anything Marvel-y after 15 years of being into it. So yeah. Also, blatantly ignoring the existence of Kyle for this. Sorry.
Summary: He didn’t even think to say anything to other Canadian until they were outside, waiting for the valet while Jean-Paul babbled to himself just enough to rival his sister’s title as the crazy one. If not for that awkward moment, Bobby was certain he wouldn’t have dared speak to Walter instead of his newly mad not-boyfriend.
Bobby had no clue how everyone seemed so casual in those damn monkey suits. Granted, he was no stranger to the finer side of life, but really, the only time he tended to wear anything as nice as the suit he had on was when there was a funeral, and even those had grown lax over the years. After all, eventually the death just started to seem inevitable. So did the occasional return from the grave, which also may have had something to do with the casualness of funerals. People really needed to stop coming back from the damn grave, he decided as he tugged at his tie once again.
“If I see your hands on that one more time I will strangle you with it. Comprend?”
Looking over at the speedster, Bobby narrowed his eyes and reluctantly lowered his hands. “It’s weird. Not all of us dress up like some jerky French waiter every day.”
And he didn’t even have to look over at the other guy to know that his comment was probably taken the wrong way. Taking a deep breath, Bobby turned to face Jean-Paul with an apologetic look. Resting a hand on the man’s shoulder didn’t help from the way Jean-Paul just looked at it, but what did he care? In for a penny, in for a pound.
“I didn’t mean anything by the French waiter comment. I mean, I’m sure other restaurants have overly dressed jerks who spit in your food too. I just don’t eat there.”
Rolling his eyes, Jean-Paul casually moved the fraction of an inch it took to be out of Bobby’s reach as the man stumbled forward from the sudden loss of support. To anyone else it had to look like the poor guy was a bit too drunk as there was no way they could’ve seen how quickly Jean-Paul had moved just far enough.
Dusting himself off, Jean-Paul shook his head. “I am certain if they ever get waiters at McDonald’s you’ll realize that you are referring to a maitre d’,” he said coldly as he looked around the hall.
“For your information, I prefer Burger King.”
“Je ne parle pas anglais. Dans francais?”
“Tonight’s gonna be a long night, huh?” Bobby asked as he ran his hand down his tie. Certainly he couldn’t get in trouble for that.
“Stop touching that,” Jean-Paul growled under his breath.
Scoffing, Bobby continued to touch at it as he said, “I was admiring it. It really brings out my complexion. Kind of like how that grey suit brings out the blue in your eyes. Armani?”
“Hugo Boss. Armani is cliché,” Jean-Paul said as he looked off again, but at least this time he was smiling, which meant something.
Smiling as well, Bobby patted his friend on the shoulder before glancing around the hall. He wouldn’t have figured the benefit to be filled with so many people out to look like they cared either way about mutant relations and equality. He was willing to bet the lot of them were just there for the sake of saying that they gave to the unfortunately mutated masses. It kind of made him sick, but that could’ve also been related to the fact that he hadn’t really eaten anything for some time.
Sighing softly to himself, he furrowed his brows when he turned to see Jean-Paul staring at him with the most amused of grins. It was almost worrisome, since he didn’t think a compliment was enough to make the man completely at ease. In fact, he pretty much knew that it wasn’t.
“What?” he questioned tentatively.
Glancing at the hand still on his shoulder, Jean-Paul chuckled. “I didn’t know you liked touching me so much, Robert.”
“Oh,” he said, jerking his hand away. Clearing his throat, Bobby did his best not to look flustered by the other guy. Or to seem like he just jerked away from the guy’s joke. Honestly, he was perfectly cool with Jean-Paul’s ‘alternate’ lifestyle. That was completely and utterly his business. And judging by the way Jean-Paul just kept looking at him, he had to have been red as a tomato. Shaking his head, Bobby weakly pointed off at one of the buffet tables as he muttered, “I’m just… food. Yeah. Be back.”
With that, he made a quick dash for the table, not even wanting to eat with his stomach firmly lodged in his throat over his interaction with Jean-Paul of all people. He had no reason to be so flustered, right? They were pals and sometimes friends just casually rested a hand on the other’s shoulder because they felt nice and hot. Not that he thought Jean-Paul was hot sexually. No, it was just with his lowered body temperature and the fact that Jean-Paul’s metabolism simply made everything in him faster and also hotter; it was natural to think that the guy was as pleasant as a fireplace in the winter.
Groaning at the thought, Bobby simply shook his head and started to pile food on his plate. If he focused on the food, all would be well. Nothing bad could ever happen when focusing on food.
Of course, that was before someone came up to him. At first Bobby thought it was merely someone else trying to get to the food, but when the person seemed to linger specifically around him, Bobby felt the only thing to do was look up rather nervously at the person. Honestly, he didn’t know why the guy was smiling at him, but Bobby had a good idea. Shifting his plate to one hand, he smiled at the other man and held out a hand.
“You’re Wes Huntington, right?”
The man nodded as he shook Bobby’s hand. “Yes. And you’re the man lucky enough to be here with Jean-Paul Beaubier.”
He wasn’t an especially large guy, really. Definitely not any bigger than Bobby himself. His sandy blonde hair was neatly cut in a fashionable manner similar to what Jean-Paul had wanted from Bobby before inviting him out to the benefit. Of course, looking at the other guy, Bobby couldn’t help but think they’d be a perfect couple, this rich guy and Jean-Paul. Both looked far too nice for just one night full of so much benefacting the accountant in him wanted to cream his shorts.
Chuckling, Bobby shrugged. “Well, it’s Robert Drake, though these days I kind of try to go by Bobby. It’s easier to say.”
“Quite.”
And while Bobby really wanted to leave it at that, he couldn’t. Not with the way Wes was looking at him like he was an expensive portrait to be inspected. Resisting the urge to toy with his tie, he instead cleared his throat a bit nervously before looking around.
“So…”
“You’re Jean-Paul’s date, are you not?” Wes asked curiously.
A bit put off by the term date, Bobby couldn’t help but make a face before nodding. Sticking one of the finger sandwiches in his mouth, he ate it slowly before verbally responding. “Yes. We’re here together.”
“Such a lucky man.”
“I thought I was the lucky one?” Bobby teased playfully.
The man smiled and shrugged. “What can I say? You two make a very attractive couple on both parts.”
“Oh! Well, uh… you know, can’t really take credit for that. It was mostly my folks meeting and doing things I try not to relate with my parents.”
Chuckling, Wes nodded and took a sip from his drink. Bobby was starting to feel a bit awkward just standing there, but there wasn’t any immediate way out of the situation so he stood there and tried to discretely eat. Glancing around, he tried to find Jean-Paul, but couldn’t make him out of the crowd.
“What is it you do, Mr. Drake?”
“Please, it’s Bobby,” he said as he covered his mouth to finish chewing. When he was done eating, he smiled. “I’m an accountant for Jean-Paul’s company. It’s a passion.”
“Working for Jean-Paul?”
“I meant accounting, though that too takes a special kind of dedication.”
They both laughed a bit at his joke before Wes refocused his attentions on his glass of wine. Finishing it, the man furrowed his brows slightly before frowning. “You’re his accountant and his date?”
“Busy life, I suppose.”
“Interesting. So the man he’s so excited to see is?”
Turning around, Bobby frowned when he noticed Jean-Paul looking a bit too happy to see another person. A person that wasn’t him, which was a serious issue, not that he could let Wes know that. Smiling back at the guy, he nodded toward Jean-Paul.
“I need to go to him,” he said weakly.
Placing his glass down on the table, Wes nodded. “Well, let me come with. I’ve been wanting to speak with him.”
“I don’t know how much fun that will be.”
“Very.”
Bobby didn’t even get a chance to disagree before the man was heading over to the elfin mutant on his own. Sighing, he placed his plate down and started after him. It didn’t take much to make their way through the crowd. They all seemed more inclined to move for the man responsible for the event than they had been for him, which made Bobby a little happy to be with him. Except for the fact that he would’ve rather questioned the other man without onlookers.
Walking up to him, Bobby tapped Jean-Paul on the shoulder and forced a smile. “Hey. This is Wes Huntington, the reason for all of this.”
“Oh this event wouldn’t even be happening if not for benefactors like you, Mr. Beaubier,” Wes smoozed.
Jean-Paul simply took it all in stride as he shook hands with the other. “It is my pleasure to do so. Your cause is a worthy one.”
“And who is your friend?” Wes questioned with a smirk. “Not that I mean to intrude, but we noticed you two and since I had your date, I guess I was curious.”
“Date?” The other blonde questioned, seeming far too intrigued by the comment..
Paling, Bobby shook his head. “We’re not dating!”
Looking toward the amused gaze directed at him, Jean-Paul shook his head. “Robert isn’t my date. I mean, he is but we aren’t a couple.”
“Oh really?” Wes questioned. “Because that’s not what I heard.”
With all eyes suddenly on him, Bobby raised his hands in self defense as he shook his head. “No. You see, I said I was your date and that we were at this together. Anything else is assumption.”
Wes gave him a far too interested smile before looking back at Jean-Paul. “So, if that’s the case, who is your friend?”
Looking a little trapped, Jean-Paul stared at the silent man before rubbing at the back of the other’s neck. “This is my boyfriend, Walter Langkowski.”
It was nice to see that Bobby wasn’t the only one who seemed a bit surprised by the statement. If his eyes were wide, Walter’s seemed ready to bulge out of his head before he just glared at the speedster. Of course, with Wes there it wasn’t like they could actually say anything. No, instead Jean-Paul and Walter simply stared each other down before Jean-Paul caved and rolled his eyes.
“Desole. This is my partner. He so hates the term boyfriend,” Jean-Paul said casually.
“It makes our relationship sound young and tawdry,” Walter complained.
If he wasn’t busy staring down the other man with shock, Bobby might’ve missed the way that Walter just sidled up to Jean-Paul, an arm finding its way around the other’s waist. Honestly, he didn’t know what to do or think. Not that it mattered. No, Wes was quick to jump in and pose all the questions Bobby desperately wanted to ask.
“Your partner? Why bring your accountant with you if you have a handsome man like him?”
Jean-Paul looked at Walter critically before saying, “Someone told me he’d be busy at a conference.”
“It was dull though, JP. I mean, I love electromagnetic theory as much as the next guy, but there’s only so much evanescent wave coupling and Maxwell’s equations a guy can take before it gets old,” Walter said, laughing it off like any of them really understood what he said.
“And it’s statements like that which led me to believe a night with an accountant couldn’t be any more dull than going with Walter.,” Jean-Paul teased.
Wes, seeming a bit lost at Walter’s explanation simply nodded. “Yes well, I know I was having fun with him.”
“And I was having fun right back,” Bobby said eagerly before realizing how it sounded. Of course, he couldn’t just disagree with the guy right next to him; so instead, he just bit his tongue and stared at the taller blonde man who shouldn’t have been there.
“But considering this pleasant surprise, you can understand that we should be going,” Jean-Paul said, polite and smooth even as he tried to rush the situation.
Of course, Bobby wasn’t the only one who seemed to notice that. And while he himself was far more willing to just leave the event and call the night a disaster, Wes seemed to have a completely different idea.
No, the man merely smiled in an almost patronizing manner and chuckled softly. “Really? I know I’d love it if you stayed. Or at least left your accountant.”
“I would love to stay to, but there are certain things I should be doing soon.”
“Namely me,” Walter piped up with a smirk.
Clearing his throat, Jean-Paul nodded half heartedly, oblivious to Walter’s sudden cough. The scientist managed to wave it off as though it was nothing, but Bobby knew from the occasional experience that the other had just been hit at mach speed, which wouldn’t have been so bad if the speed didn’t seem to add to the pain.
“And I am sure Robert would prefer I didn’t leave him at some strange event on his own. I would love to meet up with you another time though. We could talk business then, non?”
Wes nodded after tearing his eyes away from Walter’s not so mysterious cough. “Yes. I’d appreciate such a thing,” he said as he handed the speester his card. Turning to Bobby, though, he handed him one as well. “I would love to see you again as well, Mr. Drake.”
“Right. Uh… thanks?” he offered nervously.
“The pleasure is mine.”
With that Wes walked off, which was more than fine with Bobby. Not that he was homophobic or anything, but getting hit on so blatantly was kind of awkward after years of girl’s simply giving in after his constant trying and a good douse of all consuming pity for him. Thankfully he didn’t get to dwell on the thought much as Jean-Paul tugged him and Walter out.
He didn’t even think to say anything to other Canadian until they were outside, waiting for the valet while Jean-Paul babbled to himself just enough to rival his sister’s title as the crazy one. If not for that awkward moment, Bobby was certain he wouldn’t have dared speak to Walter instead of his newly mad not-boyfriend.
“So…Nice night,” he muttered as he looked at the cloudy sky.
Looking up as well, Walter nodded. “Yep. Gorgeous shade of purple.”
“Hey, why are night clouds purple?”
“Light. Like the other week I was out and I saw a flame cloud, which is essentially a cloud that kind of looks like a rainbow flame.”
“…You saw a flaming rainbow cloud?” Bobby asked, trying to keep serious.
Of course, the other man had to have noticed. Noticed or just been psychic as well as prone to turning into a giant orange beast because the next thing out of Walter’s mouth was, “Yeah. All I needed to see was J.P. and his fairy ears flying around it and it would’ve been perfect.”
“Montez dans la voiture putain,” Jean-Paul growled angrily as he shoved Walter in the door.
“Someone’s angry.”
“What did he just say?” Bobby asked, never having been exactly the best at French.
“I said, get in the fucking car, Robert,” the man clarified as he pointed at the open door.
Nodding, Bobby quickly got in and tried to ignore how much like a kid it made him feel. Sitting in the back of a car with the angry adults in the front as Jean-Paul slammed the door and got in. Looking toward his partner in crime, he felt a bit as ease when Walter smiled.
“Gotta love how Jean can be angry and translate,” he whispered.
Bobby would’ve chuckled if he hadn’t caught the look of Jean-Paul staring him down from the mirror. That seemed to be the only predecessor to the invasion of his mind and a very annoyed voice.
“What the hell happened back there?” Scott’s voice rang out in his mind.
“Someone panicked,” Jean-Paul growled.
“I panicked? What about you hugging up on your national teddy bear?” Bobby argued.
Walter shoved him. “Hey! I’m the one who has no clue what the hell is going on here. So everyone get their panties untwisted and explain this mess since I haven’t been romantically connected to a Beaubier in awhile.”
“It’s cause we don’t find you attractive,” Jean-Paul sniped.
When Scott sighed, Bobby could almost feel it. Certainly could picture the man rubbing at his eyes which made him feel more than a little bad about the situation. It really was supposed to be so easy. After a long moment, Scott’s thoughts came through once again.
“Bobby and Jean-Paul were posing as a power couple to get close to that business man you spoke to because he’s been taking in young mutants for unknown purposes. Really, all we know so far is that he takes them in and they aren’t seen again. And now that plan is going to have to be seriously reconsidered.”
“I get the feeling this is really going to ruin my plans for the night,” Walter muttered.
Smiling at the other, Bobby patted his shoulder. “Pretty much the norm when spending time with an X-Man.”
Author: JDMcool
Pairing: Jean-Paul/Walter, Jean-Paul/Bobby, past Jeanne-Marie/Walter
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 3,010
Notes: Uh... first time writing anything Marvel-y after 15 years of being into it. So yeah. Also, blatantly ignoring the existence of Kyle for this. Sorry.
Summary: He didn’t even think to say anything to other Canadian until they were outside, waiting for the valet while Jean-Paul babbled to himself just enough to rival his sister’s title as the crazy one. If not for that awkward moment, Bobby was certain he wouldn’t have dared speak to Walter instead of his newly mad not-boyfriend.
Bobby had no clue how everyone seemed so casual in those damn monkey suits. Granted, he was no stranger to the finer side of life, but really, the only time he tended to wear anything as nice as the suit he had on was when there was a funeral, and even those had grown lax over the years. After all, eventually the death just started to seem inevitable. So did the occasional return from the grave, which also may have had something to do with the casualness of funerals. People really needed to stop coming back from the damn grave, he decided as he tugged at his tie once again.
“If I see your hands on that one more time I will strangle you with it. Comprend?”
Looking over at the speedster, Bobby narrowed his eyes and reluctantly lowered his hands. “It’s weird. Not all of us dress up like some jerky French waiter every day.”
And he didn’t even have to look over at the other guy to know that his comment was probably taken the wrong way. Taking a deep breath, Bobby turned to face Jean-Paul with an apologetic look. Resting a hand on the man’s shoulder didn’t help from the way Jean-Paul just looked at it, but what did he care? In for a penny, in for a pound.
“I didn’t mean anything by the French waiter comment. I mean, I’m sure other restaurants have overly dressed jerks who spit in your food too. I just don’t eat there.”
Rolling his eyes, Jean-Paul casually moved the fraction of an inch it took to be out of Bobby’s reach as the man stumbled forward from the sudden loss of support. To anyone else it had to look like the poor guy was a bit too drunk as there was no way they could’ve seen how quickly Jean-Paul had moved just far enough.
Dusting himself off, Jean-Paul shook his head. “I am certain if they ever get waiters at McDonald’s you’ll realize that you are referring to a maitre d’,” he said coldly as he looked around the hall.
“For your information, I prefer Burger King.”
“Je ne parle pas anglais. Dans francais?”
“Tonight’s gonna be a long night, huh?” Bobby asked as he ran his hand down his tie. Certainly he couldn’t get in trouble for that.
“Stop touching that,” Jean-Paul growled under his breath.
Scoffing, Bobby continued to touch at it as he said, “I was admiring it. It really brings out my complexion. Kind of like how that grey suit brings out the blue in your eyes. Armani?”
“Hugo Boss. Armani is cliché,” Jean-Paul said as he looked off again, but at least this time he was smiling, which meant something.
Smiling as well, Bobby patted his friend on the shoulder before glancing around the hall. He wouldn’t have figured the benefit to be filled with so many people out to look like they cared either way about mutant relations and equality. He was willing to bet the lot of them were just there for the sake of saying that they gave to the unfortunately mutated masses. It kind of made him sick, but that could’ve also been related to the fact that he hadn’t really eaten anything for some time.
Sighing softly to himself, he furrowed his brows when he turned to see Jean-Paul staring at him with the most amused of grins. It was almost worrisome, since he didn’t think a compliment was enough to make the man completely at ease. In fact, he pretty much knew that it wasn’t.
“What?” he questioned tentatively.
Glancing at the hand still on his shoulder, Jean-Paul chuckled. “I didn’t know you liked touching me so much, Robert.”
“Oh,” he said, jerking his hand away. Clearing his throat, Bobby did his best not to look flustered by the other guy. Or to seem like he just jerked away from the guy’s joke. Honestly, he was perfectly cool with Jean-Paul’s ‘alternate’ lifestyle. That was completely and utterly his business. And judging by the way Jean-Paul just kept looking at him, he had to have been red as a tomato. Shaking his head, Bobby weakly pointed off at one of the buffet tables as he muttered, “I’m just… food. Yeah. Be back.”
With that, he made a quick dash for the table, not even wanting to eat with his stomach firmly lodged in his throat over his interaction with Jean-Paul of all people. He had no reason to be so flustered, right? They were pals and sometimes friends just casually rested a hand on the other’s shoulder because they felt nice and hot. Not that he thought Jean-Paul was hot sexually. No, it was just with his lowered body temperature and the fact that Jean-Paul’s metabolism simply made everything in him faster and also hotter; it was natural to think that the guy was as pleasant as a fireplace in the winter.
Groaning at the thought, Bobby simply shook his head and started to pile food on his plate. If he focused on the food, all would be well. Nothing bad could ever happen when focusing on food.
Of course, that was before someone came up to him. At first Bobby thought it was merely someone else trying to get to the food, but when the person seemed to linger specifically around him, Bobby felt the only thing to do was look up rather nervously at the person. Honestly, he didn’t know why the guy was smiling at him, but Bobby had a good idea. Shifting his plate to one hand, he smiled at the other man and held out a hand.
“You’re Wes Huntington, right?”
The man nodded as he shook Bobby’s hand. “Yes. And you’re the man lucky enough to be here with Jean-Paul Beaubier.”
He wasn’t an especially large guy, really. Definitely not any bigger than Bobby himself. His sandy blonde hair was neatly cut in a fashionable manner similar to what Jean-Paul had wanted from Bobby before inviting him out to the benefit. Of course, looking at the other guy, Bobby couldn’t help but think they’d be a perfect couple, this rich guy and Jean-Paul. Both looked far too nice for just one night full of so much benefacting the accountant in him wanted to cream his shorts.
Chuckling, Bobby shrugged. “Well, it’s Robert Drake, though these days I kind of try to go by Bobby. It’s easier to say.”
“Quite.”
And while Bobby really wanted to leave it at that, he couldn’t. Not with the way Wes was looking at him like he was an expensive portrait to be inspected. Resisting the urge to toy with his tie, he instead cleared his throat a bit nervously before looking around.
“So…”
“You’re Jean-Paul’s date, are you not?” Wes asked curiously.
A bit put off by the term date, Bobby couldn’t help but make a face before nodding. Sticking one of the finger sandwiches in his mouth, he ate it slowly before verbally responding. “Yes. We’re here together.”
“Such a lucky man.”
“I thought I was the lucky one?” Bobby teased playfully.
The man smiled and shrugged. “What can I say? You two make a very attractive couple on both parts.”
“Oh! Well, uh… you know, can’t really take credit for that. It was mostly my folks meeting and doing things I try not to relate with my parents.”
Chuckling, Wes nodded and took a sip from his drink. Bobby was starting to feel a bit awkward just standing there, but there wasn’t any immediate way out of the situation so he stood there and tried to discretely eat. Glancing around, he tried to find Jean-Paul, but couldn’t make him out of the crowd.
“What is it you do, Mr. Drake?”
“Please, it’s Bobby,” he said as he covered his mouth to finish chewing. When he was done eating, he smiled. “I’m an accountant for Jean-Paul’s company. It’s a passion.”
“Working for Jean-Paul?”
“I meant accounting, though that too takes a special kind of dedication.”
They both laughed a bit at his joke before Wes refocused his attentions on his glass of wine. Finishing it, the man furrowed his brows slightly before frowning. “You’re his accountant and his date?”
“Busy life, I suppose.”
“Interesting. So the man he’s so excited to see is?”
Turning around, Bobby frowned when he noticed Jean-Paul looking a bit too happy to see another person. A person that wasn’t him, which was a serious issue, not that he could let Wes know that. Smiling back at the guy, he nodded toward Jean-Paul.
“I need to go to him,” he said weakly.
Placing his glass down on the table, Wes nodded. “Well, let me come with. I’ve been wanting to speak with him.”
“I don’t know how much fun that will be.”
“Very.”
Bobby didn’t even get a chance to disagree before the man was heading over to the elfin mutant on his own. Sighing, he placed his plate down and started after him. It didn’t take much to make their way through the crowd. They all seemed more inclined to move for the man responsible for the event than they had been for him, which made Bobby a little happy to be with him. Except for the fact that he would’ve rather questioned the other man without onlookers.
Walking up to him, Bobby tapped Jean-Paul on the shoulder and forced a smile. “Hey. This is Wes Huntington, the reason for all of this.”
“Oh this event wouldn’t even be happening if not for benefactors like you, Mr. Beaubier,” Wes smoozed.
Jean-Paul simply took it all in stride as he shook hands with the other. “It is my pleasure to do so. Your cause is a worthy one.”
“And who is your friend?” Wes questioned with a smirk. “Not that I mean to intrude, but we noticed you two and since I had your date, I guess I was curious.”
“Date?” The other blonde questioned, seeming far too intrigued by the comment..
Paling, Bobby shook his head. “We’re not dating!”
Looking toward the amused gaze directed at him, Jean-Paul shook his head. “Robert isn’t my date. I mean, he is but we aren’t a couple.”
“Oh really?” Wes questioned. “Because that’s not what I heard.”
With all eyes suddenly on him, Bobby raised his hands in self defense as he shook his head. “No. You see, I said I was your date and that we were at this together. Anything else is assumption.”
Wes gave him a far too interested smile before looking back at Jean-Paul. “So, if that’s the case, who is your friend?”
Looking a little trapped, Jean-Paul stared at the silent man before rubbing at the back of the other’s neck. “This is my boyfriend, Walter Langkowski.”
It was nice to see that Bobby wasn’t the only one who seemed a bit surprised by the statement. If his eyes were wide, Walter’s seemed ready to bulge out of his head before he just glared at the speedster. Of course, with Wes there it wasn’t like they could actually say anything. No, instead Jean-Paul and Walter simply stared each other down before Jean-Paul caved and rolled his eyes.
“Desole. This is my partner. He so hates the term boyfriend,” Jean-Paul said casually.
“It makes our relationship sound young and tawdry,” Walter complained.
If he wasn’t busy staring down the other man with shock, Bobby might’ve missed the way that Walter just sidled up to Jean-Paul, an arm finding its way around the other’s waist. Honestly, he didn’t know what to do or think. Not that it mattered. No, Wes was quick to jump in and pose all the questions Bobby desperately wanted to ask.
“Your partner? Why bring your accountant with you if you have a handsome man like him?”
Jean-Paul looked at Walter critically before saying, “Someone told me he’d be busy at a conference.”
“It was dull though, JP. I mean, I love electromagnetic theory as much as the next guy, but there’s only so much evanescent wave coupling and Maxwell’s equations a guy can take before it gets old,” Walter said, laughing it off like any of them really understood what he said.
“And it’s statements like that which led me to believe a night with an accountant couldn’t be any more dull than going with Walter.,” Jean-Paul teased.
Wes, seeming a bit lost at Walter’s explanation simply nodded. “Yes well, I know I was having fun with him.”
“And I was having fun right back,” Bobby said eagerly before realizing how it sounded. Of course, he couldn’t just disagree with the guy right next to him; so instead, he just bit his tongue and stared at the taller blonde man who shouldn’t have been there.
“But considering this pleasant surprise, you can understand that we should be going,” Jean-Paul said, polite and smooth even as he tried to rush the situation.
Of course, Bobby wasn’t the only one who seemed to notice that. And while he himself was far more willing to just leave the event and call the night a disaster, Wes seemed to have a completely different idea.
No, the man merely smiled in an almost patronizing manner and chuckled softly. “Really? I know I’d love it if you stayed. Or at least left your accountant.”
“I would love to stay to, but there are certain things I should be doing soon.”
“Namely me,” Walter piped up with a smirk.
Clearing his throat, Jean-Paul nodded half heartedly, oblivious to Walter’s sudden cough. The scientist managed to wave it off as though it was nothing, but Bobby knew from the occasional experience that the other had just been hit at mach speed, which wouldn’t have been so bad if the speed didn’t seem to add to the pain.
“And I am sure Robert would prefer I didn’t leave him at some strange event on his own. I would love to meet up with you another time though. We could talk business then, non?”
Wes nodded after tearing his eyes away from Walter’s not so mysterious cough. “Yes. I’d appreciate such a thing,” he said as he handed the speester his card. Turning to Bobby, though, he handed him one as well. “I would love to see you again as well, Mr. Drake.”
“Right. Uh… thanks?” he offered nervously.
“The pleasure is mine.”
With that Wes walked off, which was more than fine with Bobby. Not that he was homophobic or anything, but getting hit on so blatantly was kind of awkward after years of girl’s simply giving in after his constant trying and a good douse of all consuming pity for him. Thankfully he didn’t get to dwell on the thought much as Jean-Paul tugged him and Walter out.
He didn’t even think to say anything to other Canadian until they were outside, waiting for the valet while Jean-Paul babbled to himself just enough to rival his sister’s title as the crazy one. If not for that awkward moment, Bobby was certain he wouldn’t have dared speak to Walter instead of his newly mad not-boyfriend.
“So…Nice night,” he muttered as he looked at the cloudy sky.
Looking up as well, Walter nodded. “Yep. Gorgeous shade of purple.”
“Hey, why are night clouds purple?”
“Light. Like the other week I was out and I saw a flame cloud, which is essentially a cloud that kind of looks like a rainbow flame.”
“…You saw a flaming rainbow cloud?” Bobby asked, trying to keep serious.
Of course, the other man had to have noticed. Noticed or just been psychic as well as prone to turning into a giant orange beast because the next thing out of Walter’s mouth was, “Yeah. All I needed to see was J.P. and his fairy ears flying around it and it would’ve been perfect.”
“Montez dans la voiture putain,” Jean-Paul growled angrily as he shoved Walter in the door.
“Someone’s angry.”
“What did he just say?” Bobby asked, never having been exactly the best at French.
“I said, get in the fucking car, Robert,” the man clarified as he pointed at the open door.
Nodding, Bobby quickly got in and tried to ignore how much like a kid it made him feel. Sitting in the back of a car with the angry adults in the front as Jean-Paul slammed the door and got in. Looking toward his partner in crime, he felt a bit as ease when Walter smiled.
“Gotta love how Jean can be angry and translate,” he whispered.
Bobby would’ve chuckled if he hadn’t caught the look of Jean-Paul staring him down from the mirror. That seemed to be the only predecessor to the invasion of his mind and a very annoyed voice.
“What the hell happened back there?” Scott’s voice rang out in his mind.
“Someone panicked,” Jean-Paul growled.
“I panicked? What about you hugging up on your national teddy bear?” Bobby argued.
Walter shoved him. “Hey! I’m the one who has no clue what the hell is going on here. So everyone get their panties untwisted and explain this mess since I haven’t been romantically connected to a Beaubier in awhile.”
“It’s cause we don’t find you attractive,” Jean-Paul sniped.
When Scott sighed, Bobby could almost feel it. Certainly could picture the man rubbing at his eyes which made him feel more than a little bad about the situation. It really was supposed to be so easy. After a long moment, Scott’s thoughts came through once again.
“Bobby and Jean-Paul were posing as a power couple to get close to that business man you spoke to because he’s been taking in young mutants for unknown purposes. Really, all we know so far is that he takes them in and they aren’t seen again. And now that plan is going to have to be seriously reconsidered.”
“I get the feeling this is really going to ruin my plans for the night,” Walter muttered.
Smiling at the other, Bobby patted his shoulder. “Pretty much the norm when spending time with an X-Man.”