Xaviers!

The punching bag wasn't having a very good morning, judging by the beating Leo was giving it. In truth, he wasn't really even thinking about the bag. He couldn't stop thinking about his last exchange with Ainsley. Had he really been acting like he had a thing for him? He had a girlfriend for crying out loud.

A girl who, when she cast him aside, thought he didn't really love her. Or had she thought he...

He rejected the thought and threw a punch with a frustrated roar.

(open)

Nika, with a gym bag slung over her shoulder walks into the gym and watches Leo wail on the punching bag for a moment, giving him a slight two-finger salute once he notices her.

He gave her a distracted nod of acknowledgement as he continued his barrage. She would notice that he wasn't quite using the stance she helped him figure out, his posture suggesting his mind was preoccupied.

Nika very much recognizes the distracted letting off of steam.

"Working through some things?" she asks as she gets closer.

He paused for a breather.

"You could say that."

"Been there." she commiserates. "Just make sure you don't let it get you into bad habits." she says, stepping closer to nudge his foot back a little bit to adjust his stance.

"And, of course, I can't even stand right," he said with a rueful chuckle.

"Because there's something else on your mind. Like they say, with your head in the clouds your legs are... wait, it doesn't rhyme in English. You get the idea."

"The clouds are the last place you can find my head right now," he sighed.

"I... don't think it translates well. What's wrong?"

"Something a friend said to me has me... questioning some things about myself."

"Like an insult or an argument?"

"No. Well, almost. He pointed out a bias I didn't think I had."

That's not what's bothering you and you know it.

Shut up.

"Against, let me guess, mutants?"

"As messed up as that would be, no. He..." Leo said, sighing, "...thought I might have a thing for him and I didn't react well."

"Oh." she says curtly.


"Well. I'm sure he did not mean to insult you."

"I know that. And I know I shouldn't be. I just can't stop thinking about how he got the idea."

And how he might not be the only one.

"Maybe it's something that's on his mind. Trying to see what he wants to see?"

"Wait... you think he might like me that way?" he asked as if anyone feeling that way about him was the absolute last thing that could have occurred to him.

"I don't even know who you're talking about. I'm just saying that might be why he's thinking about... that kind of thing."

He groaned, "You're not helping this be any less awkward."

Though deep down in the confused part of his brain, the idea wasn't entirely unwanted.

"Sorry. I know it's an awkward topic. Even if he is, I'm sure it's just some... college experimentation thing. A temporary confusion."

"I mean... if he is, he is. Not sure how anyone could be attracted to me though... not looking like this," he said, not hiding his sadness about that feeling half as well as he thinks.

"You're strong and you seem like a pretty alright guy under all that hair. Are you pretty? No. But if you asked some of the other furred people around here for some tips on hair-care you could probably manage handsome." she says, tapping her fist against Leo's shoulder.

Leo looked into her eyes appraisingly before saying, "You aren't just sayin' that to stop my mopin' are you?"

"I'm saying it to cheer you up, but I'm not lieing. And there has to be something there or it wouldn't have gotten you so riled up to begin with." Nika points out with absolutely no correlation to her own outburst in the gym not too long ago.

He froze, narrowing his eyes. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" he asked defensively.

"Hey, I'm just saying." she says, raising her hands, palms out towards Leo. "You'd have to ask him about that, really."

Leo visibly relaxed.

"I hope he isn't. He's the best friend I've had in a long time and I don't want to make things any more awkward between us by having to turn him down," he said. But on some level he wasn't entirely sure that was true.

"Not nearly as awkward as them hooking up with some... naive idealist." Nika mutters.

"Somethin' tells me we're not talkin' about me anymore," he said, ears perked and brow raised.

"Different kind of problem..." Nika avoids the topic. Somewhat.

"Want to vent?" he asked, "You listened to my shit."

"I don't vent."


"My charge, the person I swore to protect above everything else is... making some very questionable decisions and there's nothing I can do about it. She's digging a hole that'll make the inevitable dropping of the shoe so much worse and it is not my station to speak up about it. I can't question her decisions and I'm being locked out. I'm supposed to protect her but she's pushing me away. Replacing me with someone who is... not prepared."

Leo put the pieces together and realized Nika really was a bodyguard, to Katarina no less. And the naive idealist must be Jezabelle.

"Just what does Jezabelle need to be prepared for?" he asked.

"The harsh reality of Katarina's responsibilities. Their... situation would not be tolerated for a moment at court. And they think they're being so clever making her part of her retinue. Woman of the Bedchamber. Ridiculous!"

Having been too much in his head to pay attention to gossip, Leo hadn't heard about Katarina's revealed status. The surprise was evident.

"Court? Ha! I knew it!"

He cleared his throat and said, "Ahem. What... situation? Wait... the gay thing?"

"Yes. What else? The future Queen can't do that sort of thing. I mean, she can but it's not... It'll weaken her claim to the throne and our country will be plunged into civil war. Or worse. Symkaria needs a kind but strong ruler. Jezabelle makes her weak. I tried to fix that but they just don't get it!"

"I could see the heir part being a problem, but weak? I mean, I'm not gay but if I was I wouldn't be any weaker."

"Who am I kidding? A whole lot of people would think it anyway."

"That's not... Not physically. It undermines any possible reign. The other royal families would tear our country apart and leave us vulnerable. Symkaria needs her and I failed to protect her."