Title: Sad Truths

Author: Counter Spark

Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men movies. Trust me, if I did Angel would've been in more than a combined three minutes.

Summary: It's been months since the Cure fiasco and the destruction of Worthington Labs, but Angel senses something strange is afoot when he wakes up in the middle of the forest, steadily losing his powers. Reluctantly, he asks for help from the only person he's ever learned to trust...her. Angel/Storm

A/N: This is post-X3, so it's up to date as possible. With that said, on with the literature!

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"Professor Storm?"

Slowly and reluctantly she came out of the dream, fluttering open her dark eyes and taking in the all-too-familiar landscape of Professor Xavier's old, roomy classroom; the rich smell of vanilla and freshly-picked begonias hitting her like a ton of bricks, reminding her that she was where she wanted to be. She was home.

Immediately she could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks, embarrassed above all things that she fell asleep. And at a time like this! She self-consciously ran a tired hand through her flyaway white hair, hoping that at least she didn't look like a wreck. Because she most certainly felt like one, not only from the crazy dream but also from the lack of sleep itself. But alas, these were things to be addressed at a different time. Not when your entire class is staring at you, amazed that you have the uncanny ability to fall asleep during your own lecture.

Had she only drifted off for seconds? The dream had felt like an eternity. "Oh, yes," she groaned, playfully smacking herself on the head. "Almost forgot. I'm teaching a class." The students sniggered under their breath, half of them wanting to laugh, the other half still too befuddled at her sudden siesta to muster a chuckle. "Although you've gotta admit, falling asleep while standing up is quite a feat."

That loosened them up enough. Enough to give her a couple seconds to recall just what that dream had been about; that vivid, crazy dream. All she could remember was the wind in her hair...and then it was slowly coming back. This was a mystery indeed...one that needed to wait for later, for the class had once again dwindled down into a spacey and uncomfortable silence.

"So, before that quick little catnap...what were we talking about? Bobby?" She narrowed her eyes in curiosity at the wide-jawed boy, whose attention wavered like a distracted toddler.

But impressively, he knew exactly what they had been talking about, and the sharpness in his blue eyes made him look direly serious, as though he somehow knew what she had been dreaming of. Like he was reading her mind. Too bad he's not a physic, Storm reminded herself with a sigh of relief. Don't get yourself in a tizzy, Storm. "We were discussing the recent phenomena of scientific interference with the mutant gene."

Sharp today, isn't he? "Ah, yes. Thank you very much, Bobby. You picked a good day to knock the ice out of your ears and listen." Storm gave him a cross look and continued with the lecture.

But even as she launched once more into the terribly descriptive lecture of scientific meddling with mutants (there was actually a mutant who lived in Idaho who was torn to pieces by a lunatic scientist searching for the right strand of DNA), she couldn't help occasionally coming back to that five second dream that had lasted like a lifetime in her head. True, she would have to piece it together later, but right now she had to hold on to the only thing she could remember at the moment, which was how wonderful the wind had felt against her face.

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He stood slumped outside of her classroom with his wings backed up against the wall, arms folded in impatience. Why he had to wait on her for permission to do anything around here was a mystery, but he recognized the fact that, as much as he hated to admit it, he was most definitely under her authority. And she could also most definitely kick his ass. And until that changed, he was going to have to ask her for permission to do petty little things like leave the school...it was just another of the many sad truths.

Closing his eyes, Warren heard the soft click of cowboy boots growing closer and closer in the emptied hallway; the boots that could only belong to one person, for only one person at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters had the fashion sense and the bravado to wear snake skin boots yearlong- Logan. Warren inwardly groaned as the sound of him approaching stopped, and he could tell he was standing right there next to him, probably snarling and smirking like the dog he was. "Logan," he muttered icily, avoiding eye contact.

He could hear him chuckle. "Ay, kid. What's up with you, leaning against the wall and gettin' your feathers all riled?" Warren grimaced as the smell of acrid smoke filled his nostrils. "Looks like you need a smoke, Angel."

Warren finally decided it wise to make eye contact with the man, for true, Wolverine was a dick but he was still deadly, and the best way to get on his good side was to give him some attention. He was a sucker for it. Twisting his lips into a curt smile, he held out his hand. "Light me up, then." Patiently he waited until Logan slipped him a slim between his long fingers. "And don't call me kid." Angel closed his eyes and took a long, bitter puff. He hadn't smoked for ages, but it still felt oddly soothing, like coming home.

"As long as you're new here, I'm calling you kid...Kid." Logan laughed lightly to himself and pressed on. "So what's getting you down? Ladies aren't into the idea of gettin' swept off their feet by you? Hell, I figured you have groupies by now."

Warren sighed heavily. "It's more like I'm an amusement park ride than you know, a person."

Logan opened his mouth and released a steady flow of gray smoke almost directly in Warren's face, acting as though he didn't notice. He smiled frankly. "Well, don't get into all that emotional bullshit. If a girl's willing, then she's willing, if you know what I mean. That's what I say."

For the first time Angel cracked into a reluctant smile and added wryly, "That's wonderful, Wolverine." Why I don't always come to you for advice is a mystery to me, he thought.

Their sweet little conversation was cut short as Storm's class ended and a steady stream of children came funneling out, the first of them not even bothering to open the door- she just walked through. Angel nearly jumped. It's going to be awhile before I get completely used to this place.

Logan laughed at him. "Jumpy little bird, aren't we?"

Warren was about to show him his fisticuffs before he saw Storm sauntering out of the classroom, eyes narrowed in suspicion at the both of them. He couldn't really get on her bad side now, considering he was about to ask her a favor.

"And what are you two doing out here polluting us all with your secondhand smoke?"

Warren folded his arms and looked at her tersely. Yes, she was a beautiful woman, but she had quite the tongue on her. And he had also come to learn that she loved lording her power over him, so he had to be apt in his words and not fall for her sex-kitten act. Well, maybe it's not an act. But I'm still not falling for it.

Logan spoke. "Angel here's having some lady trouble. Thinks that girls are only into him for his wings."

Warren opened his mouth in protest, blushing furiously. "T-That's not it, Storm-"

"That's Professor Storm to you, kid!" Logan looked like the circus had just come to town. Too bad he doesn't know he's their main freak, Warren thought angrily.

She was starting to look highly amused. Someone had to put a stop to this. "No, Storm, listen to me, the lesser of the two dicks." Flashing Wolverine the darkest look he could muster, he continued when he had her full attention.

"Yes?"

"I was just going to ask you if I could skip out of training today and go for a fly. I've got-"

"Errands to run?" Logan smirked. "Old ladies would have a coronary if they saw you in the supermarket."

This time Storm flashed him a nasty look. Needless to say, he shut up. "Continue, Warren."

He thanked her quickly and continued. "I actually have some things I have to do. People to visit."

She regarded him with suspicion shining in her dark, shadowy eyes that reminded him so much of something Egyptian. Maybe a minx. "You know I can't do this often. If I let you skip, I'll have Kitty and Bobby all over me, you know."

"Well, not exactly Kitty. She might be all through you..." Logan added, index finger pointed for effect.

"Logan, shut up! You are so..." Storm paused, searching for the right words.

"Childish, immature, annoying, yes, yes, I've heard it all. Sorry to burst your bubble, sweetheart, but it's the way I was made."

Angel closed his eyes in annoyance and willed himself to focus all his attention on Storm's answer. It was starting to look as though she were relenting before Wolverine opened that mouth of his. At length, she gained her wits again and continued, hope flaring up in Warren that she would let him go, just this once. God, this feels like I'm a child all over again, accept this time my mom is really, really hot. Warren silently scolded himself for thinking that. Funny enough, it was then, as he was too wrapped up in his own thoughts to notice, that Rosa, one of the school's more advanced physics, strolled by the three of them, sniggering as she read that thought. If he had noticed, he probably would've had a stroke.

"As I was saying, I can't do this often, Warren, so be thankful I'm in a good mood today, all right?" Slowly she looked in his eyes, flashing him the kindest of smiles. Warren, as much as he hated to admit it, respected the hell out of her, although he did resent the fact that he was still under her authority. But at least she was nice about it. He didn't even want to begin to imagine a school run by Logan. "Thanks," he said.

But as Angel stood there gazing into the young professor's entrancing eyes, he thought he saw the slightest traces of blue flesh underneath; signs of weariness, and he wanted nothing more than to be able to lift the heavy burden of the school off of her shoulders and let her rest. Besides, most other women her age were out on the club circuit having the time of their lives. Lord knows she could reel in any man she wanted. But here she was, trapped in this building, much like he had been trapped in his home the majority of his life, too scared to step a foot outside. It was then that he had an overwhelming urge to bed her.

But he hid this desire very well and proceeded in taking another puff of his cigarette. "So I guess I'll be seeing you two later." He looked back at Storm and held out his hands in caution. "And don't worry, I'll be back by six. That's the curfew right?"

"You got it," she grinned. "Just hurry back. I don't want to be stuck with this buffoon for too long."

Angel was turning the corner before he could hear Wolverine's retaliation, in which he guessed would be splashed with not only profanity but with interesting and colorful usage of it as well. Sometimes he got jealous of the bond those two shared, but he figured it was something he'd have to get over. And even though he hated to admit it, he had a feeling they'd get together one day. I mean, who else was left between all of them? He sighed as he ascended the marble steps to the roof.

He would forget it all in the sky.

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"Where you headed, pretty lady?" Logan asked her as she turned her back on him, heading after Angel. "No point in chasing that boy. He's probably halfway to the Prime Meridian by now."

Storm looked back at him as she jogged lightly down the hallway, approaching the steps. "I think I can catch him. I've got to tell him something, if you must know." She flashed him a spiteful glance as she ascended the winding, marble steps that led to the roof.

"Nice seein' you, too, Storm!" He called out sarcastically, waving at her retreating back. As she disappeared from sight, he stole another long puff of his cigarette and grunted under his breath. "Women. Can't live with them, can't live...with them." Laughing uproariously to himself, he stomped out his cig on the clean tile floor and headed towards the lunch hall.

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As she busted open the door that led to the roof, she was more than relieved to see him standing on the very edge of the roof, about to take flight, wings outstretched to their full miraculous length. Luckily, she had caught him in time, and, smiling, she called out his name. "Warren?"

He snapped his head around and looked at her with wide blue eyes, as though embarrassed. As though she had caught him at a personal time. But he covered it up well enough and fixed on his crooked smile; a smile she could see straight through. But at least he was giving trying to look happy a valiant effort, although sometimes she wished she knew why he was so unsure of himself. Probably had something to do with his upbringing, being labeled as a freak and whatnot. She could relate, unfortunately. He opened his mouth reluctantly. "Something up, Storm?"

"Yeah, I just wanted to make sure we were absolutely clear, you know, on six o' clock." She watched with wide eyes as he turned to face her completely, suddenly feeling as though she understood why he had looked so intruded upon. She could see the tattered remains of his shirt, which he had probably destroyed opening up his wings, flying away in the breeze as he stood before her shirtless; arms folded as they always seemed to be when she was in his presence. "You see," she continued, "it's not like I'm trying to treat you like a child-"

"Oh, I know," he said, furrowing his eyebrows and looking to the side, out towards Alkali Lake, which was glittering brilliantly in the hot, summer sun. Storm could see something in his eyes...something that resembled distraction. "Lots of danger and whatnot. Mutant persecution, blah-blah."

A strong gust of wind rushed over the two of them, tousling his blonde hair in the sudden updraft. As she gazed upon him in that moment, she suddenly realized how fitting the title 'Angel' was for himHe looked ethereal...like a Roman god. What a beautiful creature, she thought, bemused at how she had gone so long without realizing. Clearing her throat, she responded. "Yes, there is that. But truly, Warren, the way things are right now, if a human saw you just swooping overhead, they might get frightened and, I don't know, try to use you for shooting practice. Things are that crazy." She felt surer of herself as the most real-looking smile spread on his face.

"Don't think I haven't been shot at before," he said, eyebrows raised.

"No!" Storm exclaimed, genuinely shocked, as she clapped a hand to her mouth. "You've been shot at? By whom?"

"You know, crazy old poachers who think I'm a bald eagle or something. Luckily enough, they're always too slow." The laid back way in which he spoke about narrowly escaping a gunshot wound was eye-raising for Storm, who could hardly imagine being randomly attacked at by an ignorant, gun-toting human. But he didn't seem too ruffled by it, which she guessed was a good thing. She could tell he loved going out on his afternoon flies, and she couldn't really blame him. She knew from personal experience that there was nothing more exhilarating than being up in the air. Except for maybe battle. Or sex. And all three of those were excellent activities whenever you wanted to take your mind off of things.

"Which proves my point." Storm smiled warmly at him, and she was more than surprised that he smiled back, uncrossing his arms and letting them fall defenselessly to his side. Good, we're getting some progress here, she thought as she approached him with something in her hands. He didn't even tense up, like he usually did. "Here, I've got something for you." Opening up her palm, she showed him a minuscule, shiny black object that looked slightly like a dead cockroach.

His response was hard to read. "What is that?"

"It's a tracking device." His face went sour. "Now don't get shifty on me, Warren. I need you to wear this. Who knows what might happen out there?" Gingerly, she took his hand in hers and opened up his palm. "Please promise me that you'll wear it," she said lightly as she dropped the black device in the middle of opened hand.

She could hear that his breathing had gone shallow as well as the fact that he was refusing to look her straight in the eye. Storm guessed he wasn't really familiar with the human touch, seeing as how detached he had seemed to be when he first arrived at Xavier's. But she couldn't deny that school had loosened him up- at first he had locked himself in his room around the clock- but he was still a very reserved man, and trying to crack him out of his shell took as long as thawing a glacier. He swallowed hard. "I...promise." He looked up, and the sheer look of his piercing azure-blue eyes made her heart skip a beat. "But Storm, don't be worried. I will be back. At six. Like you said."

With the most gentle of touches, she closed his hand around the device and let her hand linger there on top of his. If anything, the poor man deserved to be touched by another. "Thanks, Warren. I really appreciate the cooperation. I mean, most people wouldn't be all right with this. And by most people, I mean Logan."

Angel laughed lightly and looked Storm straight in the eyes. "Well, I know you're already swamped with responsibility as it is. I don't want to create more problems, you know. So...it's nothing." A slight smile touched the corners of his lips.

She squeezed his hand in hers. "You're an angel."

"So I've been told."

They stood there for a couple of silent moments, his hand in hers. Storm couldn't believe that anyone would notice how much she busted her buns around here, and she was somewhat flattered that she was finally getting the recognition that she deserved. It seemed like everyone downplayed what hard work it was to run a school...I mean, she couldn't even remember the last time she genuinely had a good night's sleep. It seemed impossible, but a couple of months in Xavier's old position made her respect the late professor even more than she already did. And the fact that Warren noticed...it was sweet.

He started to tense up. "I uh- I should probably be on my way."

"Oh," she breathed, removing her hands from his, watching as he stuck the tiny tracking device to his black trousers. Storm took a step back, startled by the fact that he had actually let her touch him for that long. Usually he went beet red and tried to end the encounter as soon as possible. "You're right. Sorry for holding you up."

Warren shook his head. "It's nothing."

They looked at each other, both outlined in the golden rays of the sun.

"So...see you later, Warren."

"See you."

He turned his back on her and leaped off the edge of the building, dipping down and suddenly disappearing from view. For a moment Storm found herself genuinely afraid, that is until he appeared moments later, emerging into view and souring higher and higher into the blue sky, magnificent wings flapping and carrying him along the way. Storm imagined how good it must've felt, with the wind against your face like that.

And as he disappeared from view, becoming nothing more than a black dot in a sea of blue, she got the oddest feeling of deja-vu. As though she had been here before. But she shook off the feeling and turned back towards the building, feeling completely unprepared to lead the Training Class. Maybe I'll let Logan teach today, she thought as she walked down the cold, marble steps.

It was approximately 2:20 in the afternoon.

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Next time: Where's Angel going exactly? Will he be back by curfew? And what's Wolverine got to say about this whole situation? Find out in the next chapter of "Sad Truths"!

A/N: So that's chapter one for you! Yes, I feel like a pioneer for having written the very first (at least on this website) Storm/Angel story. But lemme tell you, things are going to start to happen, and soon. I'll keep it brief here and just tell you that I LOVE reviews, and that the more I get, the more motivated I'll become to please you all. So...you know...nudge...

-Counterspark