om_main | Simon and Jean-Paul, backdated 6/19

When Simon's injuries make Jean-Paul more protective than usual, it builds to a fight. Jean-Paul finally lets Simon in on his plans.

"Non."

Jean-Paul knew this was exactly the wrong thing to do as soon as he did it, but it was too late to take it back. So he folded his arms over his chest, stood his ground, and continued to block the way out of the bedroom. But at least he could explain himself.

"You had a concussion not long ago," he said firmly. "You really don't need to be riding horses after that." And never mind that it had been more than a week since Moira and Faiza had declared Simon out of danger. It had really not been long ago.

Simon stood in the middle of their room, dressed in breeches and boots and a polo shirt, staring at his boyfriend with a mix of surprise and contempt. "Who between us is the one training to become a medical doctor again?"

"Do not even try that one, Simon Tam. You are not the expert right now, you are the patient. And when it comes to that role, you are as stubborn as I am." Jean-Paul forced himself to lower his arms and try to salvage the situation. "Just give it another day or two, all right? The horses already have plenty of attention."

"This is not about giving them attention!" Simon scowled. "I have been cooped up in this room, unable to even concentrate on my classes. Do you think I ride just to exercise the beasts or myself? Some of us can only fly with the help of others."

Simon formal was bad. Simon formal and imperious meant Jean-Paul was lucky his boyfriend didn't have Scott's literal death-glare.

"So stay inside and work on the treadmill. Or the pool."

"Are you sure you are not afraid of me falling and hitting my head on the side of the pool deck?" Simon asked crisply, his ire rising. Of all the hypocritical moments, this seethed him the most. His boyfriend took insane risks with his health and that of others on a daily basis, even after his own injuries. It was all Simon could do to get him to take an interest in his own safety when it came to the lure of adrenaline and speed. Jean-Paul's healing factor certainly did not help matters, either.

"At least if you do that, I don't have to worry about the pool trampling you as a follow-up," Jean-Paul pointed out.

"At least a horse cannot drown me," Simon sniped back, then waved a hand, because it was all completely beside the point. "I will be fine! I know how to ride a horse perfectly fine, and I can read their reactions better than most of the people on this planet, thanks to my ability."

"I can get to you in time to keep you from drowning or bleeding out," Jean-Paul pointed out. "If anything goes wrong with the damn horse, you'll be more invested in scolding me for bruising it to save you than with whether or not it might have broken your neck!"

Simon pressed a hand over his eyes, taking slow, deep breaths. He could do this. He could get his childish teenage temper under control and act like a grown man and not solve his problems by shoving his boyfriend out of his way. "What is wrong with you? Where is this coming from?"

He looked up at Jean-Paul. "You've never had a problem with me riding before."

"I always 'knew' I could get to you in time before too," Jean-Paul pointed out.

Simon stared at him, uncomprehending for a moment, then understanding visibly took hold in his eyes. It broke over his face, the tight muscles starting to loosen and relax one by one, and he sighed. "Jean-Paul."

"Don't 'Jean-Paul' me," Jean-Paul huffed. "That's supposed to be the deal, right? I'm the one who gets the crap kicked out of him, you're the one who makes sure I'm put back together. You shouldn't have to do my part and I sure as hell can't do yours!"

Simon stepped closer, hooking a hand around the back of Jean-Paul's neck. "You know that there's no such deal. I'm going to get hurt again. It's inevitable. Hopefully it will never be as bad as...as that."

It was still difficult for Simon to talk about, even think about, and he could feel the air seize in his lungs a little as he tried to get the words out. He was a grown man. He couldn't afford to panic over something like this.

Jean-Paul caught the hitch of breath and knew it for what it was. He pulled Simon against him in a tight hug.

"And you know I'm going to worry," he muttered, pressing his face to Simon's neck. "And...I might not be around as much in a few months, so that won't help."

Simon paused with his arms around Jean-Paul, his heart suddenly doing a 180 just as he was starting to relax again. Immediately, he thought of Alpha Flight and tightened his grip to an almost bruising degree. "Tell me you're not going after them."

"Non." Jean-Paul pulled back just enough to kiss him, murmuring reassurance. "Desole, desole. Non. Je promets." But something was obviously on his mind; he was dropping into French far too readily for this to just be Jean-Paul's usual protective streak.

Just for a moment, Simon leaned his nose against the high ridge of Jean-Paul's cheek and breathed him in, relaxing and sliding his arms around Jean-Paul's hips. He caught his breath, then finally looked up. "What is going on, then?"

It took a long, tense moment before Jean-Paul would meet his gaze. "I'm going to college in January," he admitted.

You could have heard a pin drop in their bedroom. Simon didn't even want to breathe, his hands suddenly clammy and awkward against Jean-Paul's clothes. What did he say? If he said the wrong thing, he could scare Jean-Paul off of the idea. And what about himself? Suddenly, he felt scared. Where was Jean-Paul going to college? How long was he going to be away? There were suddenly too many questions, and he had no idea how to approach any of them.

Jean-Paul felt Simon tense, saw him freeze. He walked him over to the bed without so much as a murmur and sank down onto the mattress without ever letting Simon leave his arms.

"No, no," Simon managed to start saying halfway to the bed, though he didn't protest being guided down onto the mattress. "This is good. This is great! Where? Uh...how? I mean, not how, I know how, of course I know how. Did...did you...why didn't you...I...I know that I can be-"

"I'm going to LaSalle," Jean-Paul sighed. "In Montreal. The commute doesn't matter much to me, but it's just...everything."

"It is. Everything," Simon agreed, sitting back against the pillows and brushing his fingers through his boyfriend's hair. "When did you find out? Why didn't you tell me? When did you even apply?"

"Ages ago, not long after I told you I was thinking about going." Jean-Paul ducked his head sheepishly. "I...get through books pretty quickly when I put my mind to it."

"And you decided not to tell me because you thought I might protest?" Simon frowned.

"Some of it," Jean-Paul admitted. He reached for Simon's hand. "Most of it was...not wanting you do be disappointed if I didn't make it in. And when I got into LaSalle, I wasn't sure how to tell you without worrying you. Especially after what happened on my birthday."

Simon...hadn't thought about the fact that Jean-Paul would be in Canada all the time now. Maybe he wasn't taunting Alpha Flight, but he'd be there, in their faces, earning his degree and getting on with his life. He took a deep breath. "I think you're the one who's more worried at this point."

Jean-Paul laughed at that. "That doesn't mean you're not worried. Or that we don't have very good reason, non?"

"But you will be able to keep a closer eye on Raymonde," Simon pointed out.

"I imagine I'll be recharging at home a lot," Jean-Paul admitted. "Even I can get pressed for time, and Raymonde's will be easier than cooking when I get back here. Or that's my cover story."

"Why...wouldn't you just tell me?" he breathed out, though Simon slowly began to relax against his boyfriend.

"Mmm?" Jean-Paul made a puzzled sound at the back of his throat. "Which part?"

Simon lightly smacked his arm. "About school."

"Hey!" But the protest was mostly laughter. He rolled on top of Simon and pinned him in retaliation. "What's left to tell? First I didn't want to disappoint you, then I didn't want to worry you, and I know I don't want to leave you. There always just seemed like a good reason to put it off."

Simon eyed him quietly, not even trying to fight the pin, mostly because Jean-Paul knew he liked it. He coiled his fingers in the sides of his boyfriend's shirt and took a deep breath. "Then I got hurt."

Jean-Paul's smile faded. He nodded silently and lay his head down on Simon's chest. "Then you got hurt," he echoed. "And nothing else was important at all."

Sighing, Simon slipped his fingers into Jean-Paul's hair. "Thanks to Faiza, I'm not hurt now. My skull and brain tissue are healed. There are a few stray remnants of damage, but they're small, contained, and not affecting my overall mental facilities. I don't even have scarring. Wearing a horseback riding helmet will protect my head just as much as it will protect any other's, and horses do not like to step on people. In fact, they prefer to leap away when someone falls. I know you're worried about being able to save me..."

"You're the love of my fucking life," Jean-Paul murmured. "Of course I am."

"But you can't," Simon said softly. "Sometimes, you won't be able to. Just as, as sometimes I might not be able to save you. Hell, if I could go with you to Canada, I would. But you need this."

"I need you," Jean-Paul sighed. "I won't be gone a lot. Just...it'll be like your drive, oui? Only I'll fly."

Simon nodded, stroking his fingers along the edge of one of Jean-Paul's ears. "I know. And perhaps our schedules will overlap. We can both attend our classes and meet back here when we're done."

"Mmm." Jean-Paul leaned into his touch with a quiet sigh. "I love you. And I fucking hate being a grown up."

Simon chuckled softly. "I love you too, but I also love the grown up you're turning out to be."

Jean-Paul snorted. "When did your standards get so low, Tam?"

His boyfriend rolled his eyes. "Since I started dating this Canadian jackass."

"Well, we can't all be perfect. Everyone makes a bad decision now and then." Jean-Paul's smile didn't go as deep as his bios, and they both knew it. But it was an effort.

Simon leaned in, kissing him gently. "I love you too."