Warren & Kohaku; backdated to May 9

[om_angel]

After catching sight of Warren in the sky, Kohaku follows after him and the two inevitably come to an agreement.


The nice weather had been such a blessing to Warren; while the snow and heavy winds of winter had provided a nice challenge for him while learning the basics of flight maneuvering and endurance, it had also been bitter and uncomfortable. The sun and warm temperatures now were just downright addicting, and he found himself up in the sky much more often now. Early mornings were a given, of course, but after classes and late evenings were a must as well; Warren found it much more helpful than any Danger Gym session.

Today, obviously, was no exception and the winged teen set off the roof elegantly, massive wingspan stretching out its entire length to allow him to soar over the front of the school with the grace of any other bird that occupied the clouds with him.

Perched on a flat section of roof with her knees tucked up to her chest and her face turned upward, Kohaku caught sight of Warren as his angelic silhouette cut across her view of the sky. Flight was nothing new to her, but there was something about seeing someone else do it that made her interest pique and she stood up abruptly, attempting to get a better view of the boy with the feathered wings maneuvering in the open air. Felix had mentioned him to her, but she couldn't remember the name, and catching up to him sounded more appealing that shouting after him anyway.

The abundant sunshine made manifesting her own set of ethereal wings (and the field of energy that would actually hold her up) a simple task and she stepped off the rooftop without hesitation. She dipped quickly, then rose and spun and straightened herself as she started after him, interest growing into excitement as she tried to close the gap.

Warren failed to notice anyone was following him for the first few moments, as he was entirely too wrapped up in his own flight. However, his eye sight was entirely too enhanced to not notice another body eventually, what with the turns and loops he liked to do for practice. Maneuvering wasn't as easy as he made it look, after all.

"Whoa! Hi there!" he greeted with a smile, turning to glide backwards while he spoke. "I didn't know anyone else was out here."

Maneuvering like Warren wasn't easy. When it came to flying Kohaku was proficient enough, but she didn't have the adaptations or the honed form that the boy had and catching up with him had been fairly difficult enough. Now she was catching her breath, her light face flushed from the effort but her smile broad. "I was there," she explained, pointing back with one hand, "On the roof. I saw you flying and...I wanted to say 'hello'."

Pumping his wings a little faster, Warren slowed to a hover so he could get nearer, just for ease of conversation (and to give the girl a bit of a break). "Hello. I'm Warren."

He smiled warmly. "Are you new here?"

Kohaku gradually slowed and stopped, her own wings still fluttering at the same pace as before because they were elegant embellishments that ultimately did nothing to hold her up. She smiled at him, grateful and convinced that she didn't need to apologize for being an interruption by the warmth of his expression. "Hai!" she confirmed, pushing the long wave of hair back from one side of her face, "Yes. My name is Kohaku. It's very nice to meet you."

No, she was not at all an interruption and it would show. Flying was something that Warren treasured it a lot, but it was also something he never minded sharing with people. Sometimes, he actually felt sorry for people who were grounded and wished that he could make it so that everyone knew how amazing it was to be in the sky. People who did know were people that Warren felt he could share a certain understanding with because he'd never met anyone who hated it.

"Have you flown much over the estate? It actually stretches a good span."

The bright amber eyes turned to look across the expansive space below them. As she gazed off, Kohaku's small body bobbed lazily in time with her superfluous wing-flapping, as if she were floating in water rather than fighting off the pull of gravity. When she looked back, she shook her head. "Not yet. There's so much. I have flown over the garden and around the building, but..." Concern creased her brow subtly and she looked at him as if seeking sage advice, "How far are we allowed to go?"

"Right to the end of the property and back again. There's a little fence next to where the trees start to get thick at the rear, and the lake is where we stop at the other end. The rest is all marked by the gates," Warren recounted by memory.

To be honest, he hated having the limitations at all, but he knew to understand and respect Xavier's wishes and not push it. It wasn't safe outside these walls, and that was a well known fact; all they had to do was think of the Dupree girl if they wanted to know how the public thought about a little bit of innocent flight. "I can show you, if you like."

If Kohaku registered Warren's displeasure at the limitations, she didn't show it, and her own reaction was nearly the opposite. She smiled brightly, turning one way and then the other and almost making a full rotation as she attempted to see all of the distant landmarks he'd noted. "It's so big!" she answered, and compared to the garden she'd grown up flying in it was, then clasped her hands in front of her as she met the boy's eyes again, "If you don't mind!"

Her excitement was infectious and Warren couldn't help but smile just as broadly as she was. He began to flutter backward and nodded his head in a gesture for Kohaku to follow. "I don't mind at all, but only if you make sure to tell me if I'm going to fast for you. Deal?"

Kohaku obeyed, her gossamer wings fluttering as she glided after him. At Warren's request her eyes got momentarily wide and she looked surprised, as if she'd thought she'd managed to conceal her effort decently well and was surprised to be called out on it. Then she looked sheepish, ducking her head so that half of her face was obscured by the long hair hanging down on one side. "Y-yes! Deal. But I will do my best to keep up!"

Warren stayed backwards for a few more minutes, watching the way his new company flew after him. "If it's not too intrusive, do you mind if I ask how your powers work?"

"It's not intrusive," Kohaku assured him, raising her head and fixing him with bright eyes and an apologetic smile, "But...I don't know exactly. I absorb energy from the sun and synthesize it so I can use it." She held out her arms, emphasizing the glow that encircled her body, then dropped them again. "I don't really know any more than that, though."

That sounded similar to Roberto, Warren couldn't help but think, only she didn't get the black energy effect. Interesting. "So you don't get the same kind of power when it's night time? And winter's not as good as summer, that kind of thing?"

Kohaku bobbed her head in agreement and then exhaled a small, slightly sulky sigh. Winter was a beautiful time of year, but it always forced her to be more careful with her powers. "I can store the energy I absorb, so...if I don't waste it, I usually don't run out. But it makes it harder to do things like this." She gestured out again with her arms to indicate what she meant; flying.

"That's quite the power you have. At least, on the upside, I bet that it makes a warm day like today extra enjoyable, hm?"

The resulting smile was shy but happy. "All of our powers are special," Kohaku said after a moment of consideration, "You can fly whenever you want! And I think you're more suited to it than I am."

"My power is basically to be built like a bird--and not just with the wings. So you're probably right about that," Warren explained with a smile of his own, and used the opportunity to drift into a more gently glide now, facing the proper way. "It just interests me to see different people be able to fly in different ways! I mean, the other powers are great too, don't get me wrong, but flight? I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Kohaku watched Warren as he turned, enthralled by his graceful movements and the curve of his real wings. Like a real angel. Then she shook her head. "I wouldn't either," she agreed adamantly, glancing down toward the ground and the few students whose shapes dotted the expanse of green beneath them, then back at her guide. She laughed to herself. "When I was small, I used to ask Sister Hisui to fly with me. When she told me that she couldn't...I cried. It's silly. But I still feel that way. Like...it's sad that not everyone has a chance to do what we're doing."

"I don't think it's silly at all. I'll admit, I have a bad habit of feeling sorry for people who are always grounded, too," Warren confessed.

In a way, he felt bad because it was like looking down on people; he could do something wonderful that they could not. However, he also wished people knew what it was like so they could maybe understand where he was coming from. The feeling wasn't meant to me condescending, but sympathetic. If that was somehow better. It would seem that Kohaku may have been in the same boat.

Warren swooped about and came back around to Kohaku's right side. "Does your sister have any powers at all?"

Despite herself, Kohaku's first response to this question was a soft laugh bordering on a giggle. Then she shook her head. "Sister Hisui is not my sister. She's a nun. She raised me. I think...she was more like a mother than a sister." A wistful expression touched her face, then she shook her head a second time and look back at Warren, "But no. She doesn't have any powers. Before coming here I'd never met another person like me." A thoughtful pause interrupted her answer and then she asked, "Do powers normally run in families? Like...with Lensherr-san and Pietro-kun?"

"I think in some instances they do," Warren explained thoughtfully, and glided over a nearby tree branch. "Pietro's got a couple of sisters, Betsy and Brian are both twins, as are Jean-Paul and Jeanne-Marie. Actually Alison has a cousin here, too, so maybe it's more common than I thought."

Still the follower to Warren's leader, even though they were nearly side by side now, Kohaku flew over the same tall, lush tree without giving it much notice. The tree was beautiful, but she could see it anytime that she wanted to and right now her attention was on Warren. And the foreign thought of the sort of families that shared blood and genes instead of just experience. "I suppose that makes sense," she admitted, then smiled sheepishly, "I've never thought about it. Not until Pietro-kun told me about his father. Do you...have any family like that?"

He was impressed to see her keep up like she was, especially when she'd been trailing behind him like she was earlier. It brought a smile to Warren's face. "No siblings and no cousins. All I've got are my parents, an aunt, and an uncle...and none of them have any powers. To be honest, my family is actually pretty boring!"

"Just because they don't have powers?" Kohaku asked, tilting her head as she looked over at the boy. But that couldn't be what he meant; then nearly everyone would be boring!

"That and all they do is work. Most of the day and all of the week," Warren informed her, and swiftly turned so he was gliding on his back and able to watch her. "Do you know what they say about folks who do all work and no play? They get real dull!"

Kohaku hadn't known that people said that, but it made sense. "That sounds so hard!" she lamented, shaking her head and looking dismayed and adding more quietly, "And boring." It was a rude thing to say and she seemed to regret the choice immediately, becoming flustered. "I mean! Well...a-ano..."

There was absolutely no offense taken on Warren's part, and he instead fell into a small fit of laughter. After all, he completely agreed with her! It was just the girl's reaction to her own words that he found to be amusing, in a good sort of way! "It's true, though! We both know it!"

Warren's laughter seemed to relax Kohaku again and she smiled faintly, answering in a soft, conspiratorial voice that barely made itself heard over the wind. "If I am being honest...Sister Touki is like that too," she said, looking guilty but simultaneously happy to be sharing something with the boy, "But they are still family, ne? If we try hard enough, maybe we can even make them smile every once in a while."

"You've got me. I can definitely get my mom to be that way," Warren reasoned with a thoughtful grin. Sometimes, every once and awhile, he did miss that woman. "So I bet sister Touki is, too?"

"Sometimes," Kohaku confirmed, remembering the petite, strict woman fondly, "But she doesn't make it easy!"

"I bet," Warren replied. "Does she stay in touch with you?"

That seemed to make Kohaku hesitate and her light eyes flicked forward, staying there longer than usual before glancing in Warren's direction again. "Yes. Sometimes. We...before I came here, I did something she did not want me to do. Told me not to do. I think she's still unhappy with me, so..." She felt a faint hint of moisture in her eyes, but blinked it away stubbornly and smiled, "So it is not as often as I wish it was." A pause. "Do you talk to your mom?"

It was obvious that the topic was a sensitive one and that making the admission was a very big challenge for Kohaku. Warren sympathized. It was a fight not to frown and, though he managed, Warren still turned himself again so he was flying right way up. It was only fair that he answer since she'd been brave enough to.

"The odd time she's not working. They don't really have all that much time for me at all, to be honest, never did." Which probably sounded more like a sob story, he was aware, but he was trying not to make it that way. It wasn't something he whined about, it was just a pathetic truth. "I'm actually closer with their house staff than I am with my parents."

Whether Warren had intended to pull on her heartstrings or not, Kohaku found that answer incredibly sad. Her own life had been relatively isolated, but the four people that had taken part in her upbringing had never let her feel alone. Her gaze dropped toward the earth below them. "That must be hard," she said finally, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up unhappy things."

The thought was easily waved off. "Don't be sorry. It is what it is and has been that way for...oh, seventeen years! Some families are close and some are not. Some are just obligated, and that's all."

If anything, that was sadder. Kohaku felt an ache that threatened to turn into tears and, while she managed to push it down, the resulting silence was noticeable. When she found her voice again, she said, "Family isn't just about who you're related to. River told me...that this is a good place to choose family too. I think she's right."

"That would be nice if she was." Warren had to admit that was agreeable. Truth was, he'd also made his rounds to many boarding schools just like this one ever since he was a kid! He hadn't stayed in many long enough to adopt any new kind of family (except maybe Andrew, but that hadn't lasted long either). This one had one obvious difference in it in which they could all at least be their true selves and didn't have to hide what they were. Maybe it would be different this time.

"I think it's worth trying," he decided with finality and shot a smile her way.

Kohaku smiled right back, happy to see Warren happy even if nothing had actually changed. "I think so too," she piped back, then hesitated before adding, "Warren-senpai...?"

He watched her expectantly, expression still warm. The honorific wasn't entirely familiar to him, if he was honest, but it did not seem like something said out of disrespect. "Yes?"

Warren's unfaltering kindness made Kohaku hesitate, but she'd promised to tell him the truth. "I'm getting a little tired," she admitted, her voice small and apologetic. With the abundant sunshine willing to power her indefinitely, she had nothing to blame but her unhoned body and concentration.

That slowed Warren down, but he still looked as content as ever. "Let's head down then. Are you going to be all right landing?"

"I'm good at landing!" Kohaku reassured him, embarrassed at her failing endurance but relieved that the boy didn't seem to mind. She observed the ground beneath them and pointed to an area relatively free of trees and close to a path that would take them back to the school, "There?"

"There's good! Let's go," Warren agreed and swooped down first, holding his pace back to something manageable for Kohaku. Landing was something that took a bit of maneuvering for Warren, yes, but he had perfected it and did it with grace. He set down on the path toes first, and wings spread wide.

He glanced up. "You good?"

If Kohaku had been subject to the standard rules of gravity, her landing would have been a disaster, but with her shield of energy allowing her to glide effortlessly to the ground at her leisure she touched down as neatly as he did before the golden glow around her dimmed and faded. Then she hooked her hands behind her back and smiled up at him. Way up. She hadn't noticed how tall he was until now! "Yes," she said, "I'm good. I've been flying for a long time, but never in such a large area. I guess I need to practice!"

Yet again, Warren found himself chuckling happily. "Well, hey, if you would ever like someone to practice with...I'm out here a lot. Everyday, actually, so feel free to come and find me anytime?"

Kohaku's determination gave way to a cheerful but surprised smile. "Honto ni? Even if I slow you down?"

"You won't slow me down for too long; the more you fly the faster you'll get, right? I don't mind at all."

That made sense to Kohaku and she nodded enthusiastically, "Right! I hope..." She glanced toward the school and then back at Warren, asking abruptly, "Do you like tea?"

"I love it."

This made Kohaku beam. "Then, do you want to walk back with me? I was thinking I might make some. And I would like to return your kindness!"

"You are already much too kind," Warren assured with a wide smile. "But yes, I'd love to."