Chapter Text
There are three main roads to get from the city to the Mansion. No one outside of the mansion inhabitants knows about the one from the side of the mansion that leads through the fields so the Taxi driver always comes to the front entrance. Peter has a 50/50 chance of picking the same one the driver would. Peter chooses wrong. He quickly doubles back.
Getting into a moving car is easy for Peter. He got to practice when Wanda was learning to drive. For their sixteenth birthday she got a car. Their mom could only just afford one very old second hand car from her friend at work. They could’ve shared but peter had already been outrunning cars for years anyway. After Wanda passed got her licence she taught Peter enough for him to pass the short (relatively to her) test.
Peter slows down his speed to a slow jog alongside the car and waves to David inside. He climbs in effortlessly, taking the abrupt change from running to a sudden seated stop with utter grace. David smiles at him.
“How did you get here?” The driver suddenly notices him with a lurch from the breaks. Peter nearly crashes into the seat but his reaction time is impeccable (Hank said so himself) and so he manages to catch himself in time.
“What are you talking about, man? I’ve been here the whole time.” Peter responds smoothly, pulling on his seat belt. He turns to David with a smile “Hi, by the way.”
The driver wears an annoyed face until it looks like he changes his mind. “Yes, Of course. What was I thinking? Sorry about that.” He directs his apology to the woman sitting in shotgun in front of Peter who he hadn’t noticed before. David’s always previously arrived in the taxi alone. So who is this?
“Peter, this is my mum. Mum, this is Peter.” David introduces them.
Peter turns on his best ‘parent smile’, The smile that says ‘I’m a normal friendly human with good intentions’.
“Hi, Mrs...Haller? I’m Peter Maximoff, it’s really cool to meet you.” He leans forward in the cramped space of the car and offers his hand through the space between the seats.
“Ms.” She responds awkwardly shaking his hand. “I know who you are. David, I don’t like when you do that.”
“Sorry, mum.”
Peter isn’t sure what she means.
-I made the driver believe you- David supplies privately.
-Okay. So your mom’s here? She doesn’t usually come with you.-
-She’s coming to talk to my Dad.-
-What about?- Peter has never been able to resist his curiosity.
-I’ll tell you later.-
“How long have you been with Charles, Peter?” Ms Haller queries.
“Only a few months. Well I met him like 10 years ago, but I only moved in this year.” He leaves out the part about having met Charles because a time-traveller said that Peter was the best person to break his estranged biological father out of the pentagon. Prison breaks don’t generally make the best first impressions. She watches him closely. Peter can see the family resemblance. But when David shares that look of interest it looks a lot more like fondness than scrutiny.
“And how exactly did you meet Charles, all those years ago?”
“Uhh...” Peter was hoping they’d skip past that. “He asked if I wanted to join the school.” That seems like a safe enough answer. With the driver still in the car, Peter is trying to avoid mentioning powers.
-He can’t hear us talking- David reassures him.
-really? He’s right there.-
-I’ve made it so he’s only listening to the radio.-
-Okay. That’s a good idea.- Peter isn’t sure how much of a fan he is if this use of telepathy but it does seem very convenient.
“I was under the impression that the school wasn’t operational at that time.” Ms Haller replies.
“So are you like us too or...?” Peter tries to change the subject.
“No, David takes after his father in that respect.”
“Right. Me too. I mean, I got my powers from my dad aswell.”
“So what do you do at the school? Are you a teacher or a student?”
“Um, neither?” She’s asking a lot of questions that Peter doesn’t really have answers for.
“Peter helps out with some of the classes and gives tours to new students.” David chimes in with a better answer.
“You do?”
“Uh, Yeah. Some of the kids are pretty young and some of them come from all around the world so it can be scary for them. I try and help them get settled and make friends and stuff.”
“Right.” Ms Haller seems to accept this. Not that Peter can tell how she’s actually feeling. He gets the impression that she’s hates him.
-She doesn’t hate you. She’s just apprehensive. You’re doing great.-
-Thanks But it doesn’t feel like I am-
-Don’t worry, she’s like this with everyone.-
Peter responds with a sceptical smile to David. At least the car is moving up the driveway now. Car rides have always been too slow for Peter but this one has taken an exceptionally long time. He feels damp from nervous sweat and can’t wait to get out into open air.
Ms Haller pays the driver and they all step out of the car to where Charles, Hank and Raven stand waiting for them. Erik stands close by but off to the side.
“Charles.” Ms Haller greets him formally.
“Gabrielle, it’s wonderful to see you. This is my assistant head of school, Dr Hank McCoy.”
“I read your work on the human genome. Very informative.” Ms Haller says as she’s shakes his hand.
“Thankyou.”
“And you remember my sister, Raven?”
“Of course. You look like you’ve barely aged a day.”
“Good to see you again.”
Ms Haller seems friendly enough to the two of them but fixes a cold look to Erik. He meets it confidently before she turns back to the Professor.
“Charles, if we could speak alone?”
“Yes, Of course. We can speak in my office. David, why don’t you and Peter catch up while you’re mother and I talk?”
“Okay bye.” Peter tries not to laugh at how responds with such little enthusiasm for the Professor.
David’s parents enter the mansion and turn towards the office while the others disperse to do whatever they do.
“So what do you want to do today?” David asks.
“I was thinking you never really got the full tour. You should see the danger room.” Peter responds, taking his hand and leading him inside.
“Peter, No.” Raven stops from where she’s going to warn him.
“Relax, I’m not gonna turn it on.” He waves her off. She frowns at him but then rolls her eyes and walks away. She’s mentioned loudly and at length before how she won’t be involved in controlling the students. ‘Not my problem’ and ‘above my pay grade’ where some of her previous quotes on the matter.