"Faith Wilkins?" The Slayer continued flipping through the automotive magazine she had recently acquired, ignoring the people standing in front of her. She smiled; Faith liked that title: "The Slayer" and this time it was for good. Buffy had been cremated –her own wishes – she apparently didn't want to take any chances on coming back again. Faith respected her for that.
She finally learned when to step off the stage.
The stern looking man, dressed a lot like Wesley Faith noticed, interrupted her thoughts once more, "are you Faith Wilkins?"
"Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to," she looked up at him through her long lashes. "Scott."
Her smile grew into a smirk as gasps reached ears.
Took you guys long enough to find me, Faith thought bitterly, projecting her thoughts purposely.
Scott seemed at a loss as what to do and looked around him to the other for assistance.
Faith raised her head to meet the dagger-throwing glare from a rather prissy redhead.
Little Miss Grey, how did martyrdom work out for you?
Jean's nostrils flared and Faith noted how easy flustering her would be. Turning her head away from Jean, Faith scanned the rest of the room and its occupants. A slight pang of disappointment hit Faith but she brushed it away quickly.
Why don't you come out where I can see you Charles? Erik's words coming out of her mouth, after all this time, seemed natural, like second nature to her.
I can't promise I'll play nice with your students without some adult supervision.
The slow sound of wheels turning signified once again Faith still had control, however small, over the righteous Charles Xavier. His wheelchair came into view and his students parted like the Red Sea for Moses. Faith nodded to the African woman standing next to Xavier, "Ororo."
The woman nodded back but kept her voice void of any emotion, "Slayer."
Always with a flair for the dramatics, Faith placed her hand over her heart, "Mother Nature remembers me. I'm touched. Tell me how's your nephew doing. Enjoying life behind bars? I know I did." (Evan Daniels, currently in jail for mutant rioting)
Ororo's eyes rolled white and Faith tsked at her, "now, now Stormie. None of that storm brewing trouble or the good Professor might send you to time out."
A tall lanky man near Ororo placed a hand on top of her shoulder, shaking his head. A German accented voice poured out of his lips, "Ororo, don't. She is just trying to upset you."
Ororo nodded in agreement as her eyes returned to their natural brown coloring. She patted the man's hand reassuringly.
Faith smiled wide and clapped her hands together, "oh goodie. You finally have a foreign exchange program. See Xavier, I had a few bright ideas back in the day."
Xavier's response, if he had one, was interrupted as two teens (a dark haired young man and a girl with white bangs on top of her chestnut brown hair) came up from behind the professor and whispered in his ears.
Faith a double take.
No fucking way.
"Johnny?"
The young man looked up, seeing Faith in the room for the first time, and a look of recognition flashed across his face. Faith leaped up as he made his way towards her, brushing past Jean. Suddenly his grabbed his head, moaning in pain loudly, and fell to his knees. Without a moment's pause, Faith reached out and grabbed the girl by the neck, silencing her cries of Johnny's name.
Faith applied pressure with her thumb and locked eyes with Jean, "release him now."
Careful to avoid the girl's skin, this was Marie after all, Faith tightened her grip further. Marie tried clawing at Faith's hand but the gloves she wore only hindered her doing so.
"Xavier, explain to your star pupil a high school grudge isn't worth the life of an innocent." Faith could feel Marie's tears on her hand and she looked at the young girl. With a slight nod from her, Faith knew Marie understood what she was doing, saving John.
The others just seemed to stand there, frozen in time.
"If you force me Xavier, I will kill her. You know I will." That seemed to do the trick.
The man next to Ororo reached over and grabbed Jean's arm before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.
So we've got a teleporter on the team now, huh?
John had ceased his moaning and his arms fell limp. Faith set Marie down on her knees quickly before rushing to John's side. She pulled him close, running her fingers through his hair and whispering reassuring words to him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and clung onto her tightly, whimpering softly.
After shushing him a bit, Faith turned her cold, hard eyes towards Xavier, "get out."
Xavier extended his arm to her, "Faith please."
"I said get out."
Surrendering to her wishes, he motioned to Scott who went over to Marie to help her to her feet. Marie however couldn't bear to watch her boyfriend be cradled in the arms of another woman and it seemed to drain her further. Scott gave up assisting her and just lifted her up in his arms, and without a word, left.
Xavier wheeled around with Ororo's assistance and proceeded to following Scott out. However he stopped in the doorway, "it wasn't meant to happen like this, Faith. You have to believe me."
Faith looked up at Xavier's turned back and snarled, " I don't have to do anything you say Charles. Not any more."
You forget I'm no longer one of your brainwashed X-Men.
Charles raised his hand and motioned Ororo forward. The rickety wheels of Xavier's chair echoed down the hall as Faith held John close and rocked back and forth.
(EoC) Hoped you like, more is on the way.