Xaviers!

"I mean, you're probably right. I just think she uses them as a crutch. You're supposed to try to overcome your limitations, not just give up because of them."

"Such as, perhaps, relying on the fact that you're a defense department project purchased by the school on paper, rather than a legally liable stateless person to lock up."

"You want to see me behind bars, is that it? Is that why you keep harping on this?" the boy frowned. "Because I could harp on your inability to keep your own mind from being taken over and trying to harm people, if that makes you feel better. And I'm not even a telepath! I'm not supposed to have defenses!"

Sam pinches the bridge of her nose and sighs.

"I'm saying that breaking the rules probably isn't an option for her."

"So she did an end-run on them. Using what she had available to her. And you hate her for it all the same."

"We'll have to agree to disagree here. She's had a demonstrable history of trying to hurt me and/or the people I care about, so you'll pardon me if I don't assign her such altruistic qualities."

"You know, I realize this is going to sound funny coming from me of all people but..."

"...not everyone has to be an adversary, aye?"

"That is an odd thing to say, coming out of a fight.

You're not wrong, of course. But it doesn't mean everyone's a friend, either."

"It's just all I've really seen of you since you were split, aye?"

"You're too close to...Will," he said, frowning as he used the name. "We were fighting, so of course you take his side, so of course you see me as an adversary. It makes sense."

"You were also trying to keep him away from me for a bit there."

"...Is this about the time I kept him stuck as a tree? Because, to be fair, that was hilarious."

"No, this is just before I got stabbed an indefinite number of times."

""On the mission, you mean? It might have gone smoother if it had been the original plan of just me and him -- because they TOOK the bait, and they captured him, and rather than having me chase after them, I had to drag your perforated butt back to the med center, and then go all Dick Cheney on the one we had in lockup. Not a super-pleasent experience for anyone involved -- you, getting stabbed; him, getting captured; me, having to play bad cop, and her, getting a first-hand look at what it's like to be an appetizer."

"So did he get all the bits that lead to actually letting your teammates know what you're planning?"

"I forget where you were, Sam, but there was a briefing, where we discussed this plan with ASHLIE and with Sean and with everyone else who showed up. You were off doing your stompy Morrigan thing, I assume."

"And did you tell them your plan?" She quirks a brow, gazing at him intensely.

"Mostly," he admitted. "I told them I was going to spring a trap, and that we were going to fool them into thinking their targets were the ones they were fighting. ASHLIE approved it; Sean and Natalie concurred."

"How much did you trust your team in the prize fight?"

"Thoroughly," he said, straightening up to look Sam in the eyes. "Too much, actually; it turns out, I should have taken more into my own hands rather than trusting them. You live, and you learn."

"I don't think Haley and Nailah really knew what you had on the line, there."

"I'm not sure I follow you," the boy frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Did you miss that bit at the end?"

"Where they tried to stop you and Sean from tearing reality apart, or whatever it was you were doing?"

"You and Sean were out for blood. Nailah and Haley were in it for fun."

"And I get it. I get why you fought so hard. But did they?"

"I was out to win. I didn't want to hurt you -- hell, I tried to use your Will as a distraction to get Viv, Tereza and him out of the picture before a punch was thrown. Didn't count on Tereza manning to keep her base instincts under control as long as she did; I though they'd go to town on their dognip chew toy.

You, on the other hand? Every single person on my team was picked to counter you. A teep to block your mental prowess. A precog to predict what you would do. A mage to bind the mystic elements. And we still lost. If it looked like I was out for blood, well, it's only because I know far too well how hard it is to stop a Morrigan in her tracks."

"Well you managed. Give them some credit."

"I didn't manage, or else we'd be having a different conversation," the boy smirked. "I mean, you won. Go and revel in it some."

"I'm going to," she sighs.

"Just... you're half of the person I thought was a friend too."

"I'm more than half, I think you'll find.

But you did sort of pick your side, didn't you?"

"He's... familiar."

"But so are you, when you let yourself be."

"You're about as clear as mud, you know that? What does "when you let yourself be" even mean? And what do you mean by "familiar"?"

"Neither of you is Will Stanton all by yourself, arbitrary sporting events notwithstanding."

The boy looked back down at his bleeding hand for a moment.

"I won't deny we have some of the same instincts. But there comes a point where you leave childish things behind you."