Frankie had kept to herself mostly since the incident at the museum, it only bringing to light that her powers weren't very useful when it came to an actual combat situation. She'd confided in a few of the teachers about the issue, but they'd only encouraged her to continue perfecting her abilities, especially the defensive ones, and that she would eventually get the hang of it, and even expand them. The all-ages night at the local Ronnie's was just what she needed to let loose, a situation to take her mind off it. She'd walked there on her own, despite having made a few friends, the fresh air clearing her head and helping her think. She'd managed to flash enough of a smile at one of the bouncers for them to allow her to gain a wristband, but hadn't taken advantage of it yet. She was settled against one of the walls by the empty areas assigned for dancing, her eyes on the musical entertainment, who wasn't too bad on the eyes, her head tilted, her glass of water rested against her lower lip, half observing the room, half listening to the music.
She soon spotted Duncan settling himself at the bar, and she hesitated whether to approach him. He'd been distant with her since the museum, and she wondered if her friendship had lost it's charm to him, maybe her powers had lost their appeal in his eyes, due to him protecting her at the museum. She took a deep breath and weaved her way through the occasional dancing couple in the centre of the main bar area. Placing her water on the bar, she rested her chin on one of his shoulders, stood behind him. Taking his beer off the bar, she took a sip and placed it back down, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "Why so blue, stranger?"
"Hey Franks" He smiled as she settled herself beside him. "I'm ok, you know me I always am" Duncan took another sip of his drink as Frankie looked at him. He knew that it was no use lying to her or being economical with the truth, she always saw right through the façade. With a great sigh he looked into her bright eyes. "I was kind of seeing someone on the sly and now she's gone. So I thought what better way to get over that than drown myself in a glass of beer? I'll be ok though, no need for you to worry your pretty little head about me" The British mutant turned his head and looked at the musician for a second before returning his attention to his old friend. "He's pretty good. Anyway, sorry I haven't really been in touch. How're you?"
"Mmm, I kind of guessed. I know everything, you know" She grinned at him, and tilted her head a little, chuckling softly. "I'd rather you didn't drown yourself in beer, what a waste, there are better ways to feel better." She looked over his shoulder at the musician strumming away at his guitar, now at a slightly faster tempo, more people joining on the dance floor, some in groups, some in different couples. "He is really good, cute too" She chuckled and looked back at Duncan, letting out a little shrug. "Ehhh, I've been better. I missed you." She looked at him for a second, her eyes scanning his face. "Hmmm, we're going to dance." She didn't give him opportunity to protest, reaching to lace her fingers between his, standing up from her chair.
"You're the worst, you know that?" Duncan didn't bother to fight her off, if had learned anything from his long association with Frankie, it was that no matter what, she always got her away. He allowed her to lead him out onto the dance floor, moving into a dancing position with their fingers laced together, his hand on her hip and hers on his shoulder. "You know I hate dancing, you know that. I swear you're like the devil"
"Oh just shush and cheer up" She chuckled softly, pressing her cheek to his as they danced. She swayed with him, humming softly along to the music. "This place reminds me of those dances they used to put on at the academy, where it was like we were actually allowed to be free. You used to cause so much trouble, I missed you when you left." She propped her chin against his shoulder gently, chuckling to herself a little. "I swear everyone was on edge, like something was about to happen any minute"
"I had to go. Our trainers didn't want a mutant on their books. Plus like you say, I used to cause so much trouble" Duncan to great pride in that last statement, it even helped him raise a smile. "Everyone was on edge, Frankie because we were supposed to be. It was a Naval Academy for God's sake. We were being trained to constantly be alert" He chuckled. "I missed you too but hey, we're together again now so we can cause just as much trouble here as we did there"
"You know what I mean. It was like they were expecting you to come racing around the corner in the Headmaster's car" She smiled to herself, shaking her head. "I suppose, I think you should keep your head down though, we had our fun, maybe it's time to grow up" She shrugged a little, watching the musician over Duncan's shoulder as they danced. "Although, causing a little trouble sounds like the kind of thing we need to cheer up."
"Didn't I do that once?" Duncan laughed, feeling a little better as they went down memory lane. "I know you're totally looking at the guitar player right now" He smiled. "Go talk to him when he finishes his set, you could do with the cheering up as much as I could"
"Probably. You did most bad things I could think of. I remember sneaking you back into the academy through my window." She wrinkled her nose and shook her head as he encouraged her. "Nuh-uh. That'd be so awkward, I'd look like a right groupie" She chuckled softly, tilting her head a little. "Since when did I ever approach guys, anyway? Not my kind of thing. I'm shy remember?"
"That kind of happened a lot. I was so bad" He laughed. "Uh-huh" Duncan shook his head. "So here's what happens next. At the end of this song, either I'm going to go up to the guy and tell him that you've been eye fucking him since you walked through the door tonight or you go over yourself and put what I said into more refined terms. Besides, you're not asking him to put a ring on your finger Franks you're just having a conversation with the guy"
"You're mean." Frankie pouted to herself, huffing softly through her nose like she did when she was displeased with him. "And pushy, and a pain in my arse" She rested her chin on his shoulder, leaning the side of her head against his. "What if I just want to be mopey with you until we can cheer eachother up? I get a choice, you know."
"No more mopeyness, for either of us" Duncan leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Thank you for trying Frankie, it means a lot" He stopped moving and took a step back. "Now go socialize, I'm gonna go see what movies playing in the other room" He winked and made his way back to the bar to grab his drink before moving into the other room.
Her pout disappeared a little when he kissed her cheek, but she still poked her tongue out at him when he winked at her. "Fucker" She muttered to herself under her breath, making her way back over to the bar once he disappeared, she motioned over the barman and held out her wrist. "I'm going to need a drink over here."