xavier_institute

[Someday, Beast Boy wants to hear Jack's story. But today is not that day.]

Are we even allowed to have that stuff? I mean, it's a school...

I don't know. But I'm gonna get some anyway. I wanna smoke.

[Jack no]

Do you want some if I get it?

[Jack no]

Uh, yeah!

[Is that even a question? They don't let him do that stuff at home!]

[He raises his brows a bit. Even Jack Wynand started early on smokes and booze, though, so it's mostly the enthusiasm that surprises him.]

They don't taste that good, don't expect anything amazing. But I'll see if I can teach you how to smoke without killing yourself.

[Somewhere in the afterlife Andrew Ryan suddenly feels twice as disappointed by his son.]

Oh man, this is so cool!

[Surprised? This is forbidden fruit, Jack! Until today, Beast Boy assumed he'd never get a chance to try either! It's not like he could go buy some without everyone freaking out over his mutation.]

Don't even worry about it, dude. Loads of people do it, how hard can it be?

You've gotta learn how to smoke. 'Cause it's literally smoke going into your lungs, your body won't like it at first.

[Talking about smoking is nowhere near as nice as smoking, though. Hmmm how easily can he find some without getting crowded...]

...It's not as hard to get used to as ADAM, though.

Who's Adam?

[Ya lost him.]

ADAM is the drug that gives you superpowers. There's different kinds like Electro Bolt and Incinerate and Winter Blast... they're made out of sea slug blood, I think. Something in them makes mutants.

I used to have a lot of ADAM powers. Like.. ten. But I guess I don't anymore.

[Jack said he didn't want to talk about Rapture, but Beast Boy is having a hard time holding back the questions. Everything Jack says seems to bring up three more.]

Well, who needs that other stuff? Your natural power seems pretty cool on it's own, dude. You're tough.

[He punches his own hand. Like a tough guy.]

["Natural". That's hilarious.]

I miss some of my ADAM powers. But I got a glove from Mr. McCoy that works like Electro Bolt.

[Give him a second to fish it out from his pocket... And then he shows off an arch of blue lightning from a black glove on his left hand to the tip of the wrench in his right. He's so... Mixed feelings about still being able to do this.

Less importantly this gives Beast Boy a great view of his tattoos. Yet another mystery to unfold.]

[Tattoos too? How come someone as cool as Jack is even talking to Beast Boy? Aside from him not knowing how cool he is. Oh, and the electroglove is badass, too.]

Man. How come he didn't give me one of those? I wanna shock bad guys!

You can borrow it if you want. It's probably big on you.

[But his mixed feelings turn into quiet pride at Beast Boy's enthusiasm. Even Atlas didn't make him feel this cool, even if it is all normal stuff for him.]

I'll find a way to make it fit.

[He grins. Don't you worry, Jack. Don't you worry.]

What's up with the big ol' wrench, by the way?

[It's kind of a weird thing to have on hand, isn't it?]

[...He pauses, and then looks at his wrench as if he's noticing it for the first time. This is, in fact, the first time he considered why he has it.]

...It's my wrench.

[There's a small, subtle emphasis on "my". It's his wrench. His. He owns it. Wrench (c) him.]

Uh-huh?

[Go on... The wrench has to be a safe topic. How much trauma could a simple tool have attached to it? Not much, he thinks! Especially since Jack obviously likes the thing.]

Some splicer dropped it, I guess, and I... Uh....

[A look of terror dawns onto his face. That was when he met Atlas... Picking this thing up was the first command he received. The first proof he can clearly remember of being controlled. He squeezes his eyes shut tight, taking a shaky deep breath as his knuckles turn white around the wrench. And when he opens his eyes again he just looks horrified.]

I killed a lot of people with it.

[He would have gladly beaten Fontaine to death with it if he hadn't really needed guns and plasmids to kill him.]

Uh.

[OOPS.]

Why did you keep it?

...I don't want to leave it.

[Jack shudders and hugs the wrench to himself. The wrench is safe. Nothing can hurt him while he at least has the wrench.]

Professor Xavier said I couldn't keep my guns.

Oh, okay.

[He gets it. Beast Boy got so caught up in the smokes, booze, and tattoos that he forgot Jack is kinda younger than him. It's an easy mistake to make with someone who looks and sounds at least 20.]

It's better to stop people without like, shooting holes in them and stuff, anyway. That's what I think.

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