au_hogwarts | (no subject)

"And do not, under any circumstances, let go of your brothers."
It was the last thing she'd said, the very last time he'd seen her alive. It was easy to keep up on his promise when they were at Xavier's, less so to the point of impossibility at Arkham. Here at Hogwarts though, he was trying his damnedest to comply with Shen's last wishes.

Every morning he woke at dawn to meet Leonardo for a jog around the grounds, then they would eat breakfast together. After breakfast he'd meet up with Donatello for 6th Year Charms, and following that either lunch or the library. The evenings found Mike either seated at the Gryffindor table with Raph, or just across the way at the Hufflepuff table. Then they would spend the rest of the night goofing off and avoiding homework until either lights out were called, or he was asked to leave the Gryffindor common room.

But right now? In the sweet spot just post lunch and before dinner? That's his time. And today he's utilizing that time to sit on the steps outside the front door and sketch the surrounding grounds.

It was amazing what you could buy, borrow, or snag from people at this school. Nearly everything was for sale or lease for the right price. Through a series of favors and promises Mike had managed to scrape together a semi-decent art kit. Today was the day he was going to try out the charcoals he'd gotten in a trade from a really cute girl in Ravenclaw.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Well wouldn't that serve them right for not knowing how to tuck and roll," he says without looking up from his sketching.

Well, she can't say that he doesn't have a point.

She just leaps over the step in question and carries on up.

Mike just grins when there's silence where the retort should be.
Then it hits him:

That was Mel that just passed.
There're few ways to get that girl off the pitch.

He turns towards her. "Hey Mel? Is practice over?"

And one of them is food, so this better not take long.

She stops and glances over her shoulder, down at him.

"Yeah. Why? You wanted to spy on technique?"

Mike begins to pack up his supplies. It seems his Alone Time will soon be at an end.

"Please, like I'd be any help what so ever with that. I wouldn't know a good play if it jumped up and down on my head doing the Macarena."

Again. He has a point. Mell shrugs. "It's nearly dinnertime anyway."

Well, it's not. But she's hungry.

"Aww man, already? But...I just got here!"

He reaches for a pencil and pulls a face.

"I think my butt fell asleep."

"You need a kick up it to get the blood moving again?"

She's apparently serious.

Pause.

"Tempting. Anyway I can get a raincheck?"

"Uh."

She shrugs again.

"Sure."

"Groovy," he says with a broad grin. "In the meantime, can you do me a favor?"

With his bag now packed, he stands.

Oh here it comes.

Mel relaxes, shifting her weight casually to one foot and stretching her neck against her broomstick, horizontal across her shoulders.

The scar on her cheek crinkles as a smirk forms.

"What d'you need?"

"Just some information relayed. Tell Leo: She's on to you."

No muss, no fuss.

Mel is about to ask him why he doesn't ask a Ravenclaw for that, and changes her mind when she readjusts Leos in her head.

"That all?"

No challenge? She's disappointed.

"Pretty much. My needs are simple, my wants are few," he shrugs.

"I'd come and tell him this myself, but you guys are kind of uptight about who you let in your commonroom."

Which is funny, because an outsider hasn't been in the Hufflepuff commonroom in generations.

"OK."

Another shrug. Another adjustment of her broom so it's on one shoulder. Again, a disinterested Mel is on her way.

The amount of chipper he is at her is directly proportional to the amount of disinterested she is at him.

"Thanks Mel."
His reply is almost sing-song.

"See you in detention?"

She doesn't turn around, but the self satisfied smirk is evident in her voice.

"Not this week."

She didn't get caught.

Mike just laughs as he swings his satchel over one shoulder.
Off in the distance a very familiar, Yo, Mikey can be heard. Free period's over, once again Mike's back on the clock.