January 2nd

It ain't easy being green. That might be true, but Kermit the Frog left out the most troubling part of being him. It wasn't easy being slow either. It had been a month and a half since Billy, super smart sorcerer supreme that he was, screwed up his mojo and took Tommy's powers. Why is it that the innocent (and sexy) are always meant to suffer?

"I'm telling you Annie," Tommy said to his new friend as they sat in the sunshine outside the X Men's base in Utopia. "Just be happy you're not me. It's hard out here for a slowpoke."

If Tommy's situation had come with any perks, it was that, in slowing down, the boy took the time to get to know some people he more than likely would not have. Without his powers tilting the world around him, the former speedster was able to see people for what they were without the pressing need to move on so quickly. Turns out, once you stop long enough to give somebody a chance to answer your questions, they're not so bad.

Anole was quickly becoming a good friend. He was quiet sometimes, and a good listener, which was nice since Tommy, even slowed down as he was, never seemed to shut up. He was gay like Billy and green like Teddy, which left Tommy batting around a strange future-son-lost-in-the-past theory that he quickly disregarded after seeing that Anole, unlike Billy and Teddy, didn't piss him off.

" I mean, I don't even know what I'm doing here Annie. Truth is, if my powers don't come back the only things that makes me a mutant are white hair and a superhuman penchant for making bad decisions."

The concept of tanning was almost completely lost on a green skinned mutant. Especially one that was green from birth. It was a novelty indulged in by those who possessed a less verdant hue. That being said, the thought of laying in the sun seemed to trigger some kind of hidden reptilian instinct in Victor, and he relished the opportunity.

His shirt was removed and made into a makeshift pillow, propping him up just enough to allow him to write. A notebook was laid on one of his bent knees. Hanging out with Tommy was fun, no doubt. But there was still school work to be done. And invariably, there was someone waiting for him to be finished so they could ask for his help on something or other.

A smirk formed on his face as the now speed-less speedster spoke. This friendship had seemingly bloomed from nowhere. Which was fine with him. Something about Tommy reminded him of his friends back in Fairbury. So the very least he could do was lend an ear to the boy in his time of need. His grin faded, the amusement at Tommy's phrasing wearing off in the light subject matter.

"Hey, don't knock the hair. At least you've got some." he said with a slightly weak grin, jotting something down on his notebook. His face grew somber for a moment though, looking Tommy directly in his eyes. "Besides, I'm sure Billy is working hard to get your powers back to you. I mean, it's not like he's ever done something that he couldn't fix, right?"

Hey...

That was one lap around the fence.

Isn't...

Two.

That...

Three.

Tommy?

Surge skidded to a halt, trying to judge just when and by how much she needed to hit the breaks, and coaxing herself out of a full run slowed her down enough to where she could keep her balance and not go tumbling head over heels. She'd been working on her reflexes, which weren't physically enhanced by her mutation, as they were in the case of someone like Tommy, whose superhuman abilities had built in compensation for his astronomical speed.

Or had, rather. It had become apparent to Surge that he'd lost his powers, probably much as it had become apparent to the rest of the school. It wasn't exactly a secret, and even if it had been, that was no guarantee. If Xavier's made keeping secrets difficult, Utopia made it downright impossible. People had known about her and Rho before the two of them had even arrived, it seemed.

Slowing first to a normal run, then to a jog, she finally came to a measured stop a few dozen yards away from Speed, who was sat next to Anole in the sun next to some great stone pillar.

"Hey guys." She said, closing the gap at a brisk jog.

She war her training uniform. white and gold sleevless top , X-emblazoned sweat pants and a pair of Utopia-issue sneakers designed to withstand the sort of friction generated by running at speeds a few clicks south of the sound barrier.

Noriko felt bad for Speed, she did. Unlike him, her ability to move fast wasn't at the center of her abilities. It didn't effect her like it effected him. She sat down at the side opposite of Anole, giving his shoulder a friendly squeeze. "How's life as a snail?"

She bit her cheek almost immediately, knowing that came out more caustic than she'd meant it.

"I mean, well... how's it... Billy hasn't figured out how to fix it yet?"

Things were bad. This was clear. It was clear in the way Tommy sank into himself, in the way his voice cracked as he spoke, in the endless spew of complaints that he had dealt to anyone who would dare to listen since Billy stole his powers away. He was unhappy, desolate, inconsolable, and whatever other synonym for crappy that you could think of. Then, like a doughnut tray outside a Weight Watchers meet, Nori came speeding by to make it all that much worse.

She was glorious in her movements. Tommy had never seen things from this side of the coin before. A blur of blue and sparks, she moved like heaven might, if it was mobile. To have that back, to be able to stand in one continent and, in seconds, be in another. He took it for granted. it was like walking or breathing. Nothing to be cherished, nothing to be considered. She sped to a stop and the thought that, only a month ago, he could have lapped her twice while circling the planet almost caused him to double over.

He was still a guy though, still prideful and he'd be damned if he was gonna cry in front of a girl. He already lost his speed, to lose his macho sex appeal would be too much.

"Well, you know, I'm-I'm okay. Just killing time, trying to savor life. Billy's working on a cure, but you know, I told him 'Don't worry about it Bills. It's kind of cool this way. I'm really enjoying life like...this.'"

"I can't do it! This is hell! How do people live like this?! I was trying to be cool. I wanted you to think I was okay. I'm not okay Nori. I'm really really not."