Out of Control
By Mrs. Chaos
A/N: This is my first shot at an X-Men fan fiction. I've read some of the comics, but most of what I write about will come from the movies. If I get something wrong, either tell me politely or not at all.
I am looking for a beta, so if you're interested please let me know!
Anyway, enjoy chapter one. : )
My name is Janae Sullivan, and I can control people's thoughts and actions.
Sounds sinister, right? "Who am I going to manipulate today?" I'm not that criminal. Really, the most I've done is convince my landlord to let my rent pass for a month when my check came in late. Well, and those few instances where I was craving a Dr. Pepper and cajoled the cashier to give me a few. ...And the time I persuaded that police officer to not give me a ticket for speeding.
Maybe I'm more criminal than I thought.
But you know what the sad thing is? They never even saw it coming.
It's just that some temptations are overwhelming. Sometimes I can't resist convincing a bodyguard to let me into a club, then getting a few free rounds inside. Or sway my chemistry Professor into giving me an A on an exam I know I failed.
But one temptation I'm an expert at resisting is telling people. Only one person on this planet knows about me, and he took off a long, long time ago. I thought our love for each other was strong enough to withstand my secret, but I'd thought terribly wrong. He took off without even letting me try and explain that he's the only human being I'd never used my power on.
So I began picking up the pieces of the life I'd lost, only as a completely different person. I was no longer known as Janae Sullivan, but as Lilly Walker. I completely altered my appearance, turning my blonde hair a deep burgundy and covering my brown eyes with bright green contacts. I got a nose job, dropped about 30 pounds and three pant sizes. I moved from San Diego to Boston and began a new career as a model, made possible by my transformation. Despite my aching heart, I continued living under my new alias.
Everything was going just fine with my new life. I made enough to get myself a penthouse apartment, a new sedan, a Boston Terrier and still keep up with the designer fashions. I went to at least four or five photo shoots a week for a wide variety of events and met a lot of people I never think I'd even be in the same building with.
Then, one day, everything changed.
I was at a shoot themed 'Beauty and the Beast.' The female models were all dolled up in gowns and the male models were dressed as various bikers. We were sometimes posed on the bikes, sometimes on the bikers. The photographer was extraordinarily famous, someone I'd only dreamed of working with. I was itching for him to notice me on his own, without my help. [You see, I'd get more satisfaction out of that.] When it was my turn to pose, I focused my energy on my biker partner giving me a compliment loud enough for the photographer to hear.
Nothing happened.
I made an incredibly ugly face in surprise as the photographer snapped the first picture.
"Miss, get with the program or get out." He snapped and brought the camera to his face again.
I nodded, composed myself and did my best with the remaining time I had.
After we were done, I my eyes never left my partner. I followed him around the room, willing him to do a wide array of actions. First small things, like smile at a waitress or sip from his cup. Then, as I got more frustrated, bigger things, such as jumping out the seventh story window or stabbing a model with his toothpick.
I was exhausted with mental effort by the time he headed towards the door. My first instinct was to follow him out, but my logical side told me he was no big deal and to let him go.
I have a habit of ignoring my logical side.
I followed him out the door and caught up in time to get in the same elevator with him. He hit the button for the first floor and we began out descent downward.
Ram your head against the wall, I commanded.
He stood perfectly still.
Tell me I'm a hideous beast.
Still no movement.
Who was this man? How was he immune to my power? As insanely frustrating as this was, it was just as much intriguing.
He exited the elevator and I paused a minute before following, putting more and more distance between us. I never stopped issuing commands, despite my growing exhaustion.
Step in front of that taxi.
Punch that glass window.
Pull that girl's hair.
He never moved an inch in the direction I willed him to go.
Was my power depleting? Panicking slightly, I silently gave a man walking in front of me a demand. Immediately, he turned around and began walking in the other direction.
Hmmm. My power worked on others still… just not this man.
I continued following him as he took a left off of the street into an alley. I waited to follow, but turned the corner anyway, finding him now in deep conversation with a few other men.
Naturally, with my luck, the alley had a dead end… and the men heard me coming.
Suddenly the man wasn't so intriguing and the idea of running became very attractive. I was just turning to dart away, when a gruff voice spoke from behind me.
"Where you going, hun?" The man asked. "You not so interested in following me anymore?"
I created an air of confidence and turned. "You know what? You looked like someone I know, but I can see you're not." I moved to leave again.
"Well, why don't I introduce myself?" He said.
With a sigh of irritation, I turned again, saying, "Listen, I-"
I stopped. He was suddenly right in my face instead of the ten feet away he was just a second ago.
He smirked. "My name is Logan."