Marvel owns the X-men, no profit is to be made from this work.
"Just wait until it tells you to insert your card, sorry though sugah as it's a heck of a lot slower than the old ones." Marie said for the hundredth time today.
Looking down the line she was glad she only had another fifteen minutes left this shift as her feet were killing her and she just wanted to head home. Spotting her opening she put the sign down to fend off any more customers, offering a polite smile to the man who made a sharp turn seeing he had missed his chance. Passing off the receipt to her latest patron, she looked to the next person in line and repeated it all over again.
"Did you want bags with that?" She asked as she scanned the first item.
Trying three times as she swiped it over the scanner she set it aside and scanned more while making that call for a price check, offering an apologetic smile to the woman who rolled her eyes. They had just gotten a new shipment in and it wasn't playing nice, this time it was a pint of blueberries.
"They were marked for a dollar." The woman said.
Overriding it, she put it in for the price and told her the total, repeating her mantra from a customer before as if the lady hadn't heard it. They had just changed the system last week and all it did was drag out the whole process as the customers were forced to wait until they could put in their pin. Ten minutes now and she was already thinking of where she'd go for dinner, alone again of course, wondering if she should try that new sushi bar that opened up where the old burger joint used to be.
"Here's your receipt, have a good night." Marie offered to the lady as she took her bags and left without even meeting her eyes.
Getting off the bus three years ago she had spent so much of her days worrying after everything that had happened. It was all like a dream now, surreal and crazy. The little money she had dried up fast and she had to make a choice fast. In a coffee shop with so many people talking about the novel they were writing or the screenplay they were working on, she paid for the time on a laptop and did her best to find herself. Nothing had come up.
"I'm sorry, this coupon has expired." Marie said to the last patron in line, some man looking like he had just finished work and looked as ready as herself to call it a night.
She had thought to try to waitress first but the thought of all those people so close to her, handing off food and taking orders left her petrified. Then she had still dressed as she had for so long, covering up out of fear even though she had taken the cure. Walking the streets after leaving the motel she'd been staying at she had noticed the sign in a window of a grocer, help wanted.
"Have a good night sir." Marie said in passing, going through all the things needed to clock out.
Walking down the rain slick streets she saw the lights reflection in them and pulled her phone out, waiting for a moment until the cars had passed and took a photo. Little moments like this had been everything she had been after when she left the school that day. Ever since that day when her world had been turned upside down all she wanted was a normal life and she had found it finally.
The clouds were clearing in the night sky and she could see the veiled moon slipping into view. Savouring the warmth of the breeze against her cheeks she had watched as the worst of that storm had pass by, glances stolen through the big picture windows that showed people racing to their cars and huddling under awnings. Listening to the hiss the tires of passing cars made she let herself enjoy it all not having to worry about anything more of the crowds that milled about her than getting bumped and jostled.
"Marie!" The friendly voice called out of the crowd.
Turning she found him standing his post as always, Juan, selling flowers by the news stand. Helpless against his charm she wound her way through the crowd to his humble shop consisting of no more than some buckets half full of water and every sort of flower she could imagine.
"Alone again?" Juan asked kindly for her to smile.
"Just haven't found the right man yet." Marie replied with the same old answer.
"Well then M'lady, let me give you a rose." Juan said as he found a single white rose from amidst them all.
Blushing, she took it and took in the fragrance as the soft petals brushed her nose. Watching a few men take notice and purchase a few flowers themselves, she waited until they were gone.
"How's business?" Marie asked.
"I get by, still working at the grocer I see. You need to get out of there, that's no place for a lady like you." Juan teased.
Charming as he was she could never tell him her reasons for working that simple job and enjoying her quite life even though she knew his own secret, that he like she had been, was a mutant. Gifted, she knew someone in her past might have said, Juan was able to breath life and vitality into plants. Working by day in a flower shop across town, he told her the one night she had accepted his offer for a friendly drink that he got all his flowers for free. Touching the sad, wilting flowers in the vase at their table, Marie had seen them bloom anew with their fragrance filling their booth.
"I like it there, the boss is nice and I get all the shifts I want." Marie replied, snapping the stem of the rose to place in her hair.
"Well, if you ever want to get into the flower business you let me know, alright?" Juan offered again.
"Will do Sugah." Marie had turned him down so many times but she couldn't fault him for trying as kind as he was.
"Now go, maybe that right man is out there for you." Juan said before greeting a couple that were looking over his stock.
Two hours later she sat alone nibbling at sushi and sipping sake, reading a book her friend had loaned her that was wholly trashy and utterly enjoyable. In that time she had rebuffed three young men who had come by working what they might have well thought were clever lines to come into her company with. Only one she felt sorry for, having heard the passing remarks as the other two had rejoined their friends with petty little remarks to stroke their wounded pride.
"Are you alright miss, is everything to your enjoyment?" The waitress asked as she gathered up an empty dish.
"Everything was great, could I get the bill?" Marie asked to see the waitress nod and leave.
The evening was getting late but tomorrow was the start of her midweek days off, wondering whether to just hop on the bus to get home or walk the rest of the way. Deciding on the latter she looked about a coffee shop for a cup to enjoy along the way when she felt her phone vibrating away in her pocket. Pulling it out she saw it was her friend, finding it odd that she'd call this late.
"Layla?" Marie asked, growing worried hearing the crying on the other end of the line.
"Marie? It's Abby, she's sick...or something. I don't know what to do..." Layla sputtered between sobs.
"What's wrong Sugah?" Marie asked as her heart began to race thinking of the girl, hardly any older than ten.
"She woke up with a headache, then she just started crying and I can't calm her down. I, I can't say more over the phone Marie..." Layla explained sounding distraught.
"Don't worry, I'm coming over. I'll get a cab, shouldn't be more than twenty minutes girl, can you stay strong till I get there?" Marie asked, her own eyes already looking at the world through a haze of tears hearing the muffled reply.
"Alright girl, I gotta hang up to call a cab then I'll phone ya right back." Marie promised.
"Thank you Marie..." Layla said as she hung up with a whimper.
Phoning three and taking the first that came, Marie called back and stayed on the line to Layla until she arrived at the apartment of her friend. Using her spare key she'd been given for just such an emergency she let herself in and once again found the elevator to be out of service. Running up the stairs taking two at a time she was out of breath by the time she reached the seventh floor and made her way down the hall. With her heart nearly broken hearing the crying girl through the thin walls she had to bite her tongue hearing the neighbours yelling curses at the noise so late in the evening.
Opening the door she found her friend on the couch with her daughter in her arms, both distraught. Racing to their side she took both into her arms and hugged them tightly as her resolve not to cry broke.
"Oh god thank you Marie, thank you. I don't know what's wrong with her. Marie, she...she's saying things." Layla sputtered in a moment after fighting to find her breath.
"What sort of things?" Marie asked as she listened to her friend while rubbing her back gently.
"Things she shouldn't know, things about Jesse. She just kept asking me to make them go away Marie..." Layla revealed as she shook her head in disbelief.
Marie felt a hand clench her heart thinking of what she just heard, worried now for both her friend and her daughter alike. Abby sat in her mothers arms with her hands on her head whimpering, mummers escaping her sputters telling them to go away. Kneeling next to the girl she gently set her hands on her cheeks, forcing herself to smile.
"Abby, it's your Auntie Marie. I need you to be brave girl." Marie said softly.
Abby opened her eyes and looked to her, fear and grief filling them but a touch of hope flashing then. Marie smiled even as she cried, nodding to the girl and gently brushing away her tears with her thumbs.
"I need you to listen to me, I'm going to start singing girl. You gotta sing along. It might be hard as I know it's noisy and scarey, but your Momma and I both love you and we're gonna take you someplace quiet okay?" Marie explained softly and felt her self sniffling seeing the fresh wave of tears in the girl's dark brown eyes.
"Okay, sing along with me, that song you like right? I'm gonna start now and you just try and listen to me girl." Marie said softly before going quiet.
"I...I thought you..." Layla asked between breaths.
Marie looked to her in a plea for understanding, shaking her head and going back to look into Abby's eyes. Blessedly her friend trusted her and sat with her rocking her daughter back and forth. Quiet at first Abby started to sing seemingly to herself and Marie knew then that she was right, fighting against the twist of her stomach and the fresh wave of tears that threatened her. Finding her strength she thought of them both and how confused they both must be, Abby just singing to herself as her tears stopped.
"Good girl, now I'm gonna run to your room and grab a few things, you just tell me if there's anythin' ya want alright? Your momma and I are gonna take ya somewhere nice and quiet, I promise." Marie swore again.
Listening to both Layla and Abby as they called out things they needed, she packed them both an overnight bag and gathered up their bedding. Checking her own key ring she found it just where she knew it would be, the spare key to Layla's car incase the poor woman ever locked herself out.
"Okay Layla, lets go take Abby to that park we saw the fireworks at, out by the lake. I'll drive." Marie said softly.
With the bag in hand and locking up behind her friend, they made their way down the stairs to the underground parking, packing up Layla's beat up old ford and heading out of town. All along the way Abby kept singing that song until finally as they neared the park she fell asleep, worn and tired. Meeting Layla's questioning gaze through the rear view, Marie just nodded to her friend knowing now she could finally give the answers to everything she feared and found to be true.
"Marie, how did you know that going here would help her?" Layla asked quietly.
Parking the car looking over the lake, she turned it off and unbuckled herself to turn in the seat. Trying to find just where to start with her thoughts still racing, she looked to the sleeping girl.
"Remember when I told you about myself?" Marie asked in a soft whisper trying not to wake Abby.
Layla nodded and hugged her daughter tighter, she was the only friend Marie had made in the three years that she had trusted with her secret. Something about the trust the older woman so easy offered her left her feeling safe to tell her and she hadn't been wrong. Reaching to gently brush a stray lock of Abby's hair she smiled to the child.
"I knew someone back then, they told me about how it was for them when it happened. You said Abby talked about things she shouldn't, about Jesse. It sounded a lot like everything she told me. When I started singing in my head and Abby picked up the song, I, I knew I was right." Marie explained quietly.
Layla looked to her daughter and Marie saw in her friend that she understood now. With her stomach in knots and unable to take a breath she watched as that long moment dragged on. Tears spilled freely watching Layla pull her daughter tight to her and start whispering a lullaby softly. Listening to the promises made in that moment she sat watching her friend swear never to let her go. Excusing herself, Marie left the two alone and wandered out to sit on one of the park benches looking over the lake.
The night was still warm and the clouds had long cleared, the stars spread across the havens with the moon hanging low over the distant trees. That Abby was a telepath Marie had no doubt, hearing all the thoughts of so many people must have been terrifying for the poor girl. It broke her heart to think of it, but she knew there was still hope even if it brought a past back that she had ran from. There could be no cure now knowing the truth, no, Marie knew all there was left was to help them in anyway she could. Pulling her phone out she looked at the number down near the very bottom and stared at it having not once called it in those three years.
Feeling a blanket draped about her she looked up to see Layla there with a couple of the cans of coke Marie had hastily packed in the overnight bags. Taking one she cracked it open and took a sip as her friend sat with her, pulling the blanket about them both.
"Marie, thank you. I, I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been here." Layla said softly with her eyes lost to the reflection of the moon on the lake.
No words could express just how she felt, Marie just wrapping an arm about her and resting her head against her shoulder. There was no way they could go back to their apartment, Marie shuddered to think of the filth and hate hidden in that run down building. That Layla had to live there raising her daughter alone was sad enough, but the woman had time and again been too proud to move in with Marie and find somewhere nicer. It had been the apartment she had shared with her late husband Jesse when Abby had been born, too many memories in it still.
"You can't go back there." Marie said quietly but refusing to budge.
"I know, but I don't know where to go. You're in a closet as it is, I couldn't impose on ya." Layla sadly replied.
"Abby's gonna need help too, she just can't go hiding away...trust me, that ain't no way to live. I..." Marie paused as she found her phone in her hand again, her thumb resting over that number.
"I know some people who can help ya both, and don't worry as I ain't goin' nowhere either. You just call your boss tomorrow and tell that prick no ands ifs or buts that you're taking your vacation time, and don't you go worrying about any money or nothing cause I've been pinching my pennies." Marie carried on stronger and finding herself smiling.
With a fresh wave of tears in her eyes Layla hugged her furiously as sniffles took her, the two just sitting there until they both let it all out and found themselves refreshed. Smiling to her as she walked back to the car to be with her daughter Marie sat until she heard the car door close, pulling the blanket tighter about herself finding it a touch cool with the breeze blowing. Pressing the call button she waited with her phone to her ear, the odd sniffle still coming until finally someone picked up the phone.
"Xavier's School for Gifted...you get the idea if you got this number." The voice said gruffly.
Gasping shocked and nearly hanging up, Marie struggled for a moment and remembered just who she was making this call for. Taking a shuddering breath she wiped her eyes and listened to him grow irritable.
"Hello? Hello? Dammit, if this is you, you gum chewing hazard sign I'm going to kick your ass when you get back here." The voice growled just as she remembered.
"Logan?" Marie asked quietly, the voice on the other end going quiet.
"Mare?" Logan asked.
"Long time Logan...I'm sorry, I." Marie started, pausing to hold the phone to her chest as she threatened to cry.
"Marie, Marie god dammit, are you alright?" The muffled voice of Logan carried, pressing the phone back to her ear and wincing at how loud he was and knowing he must have woken up half the school.
"I'm fine, I swear Logan. I...just need some help, a friend of mine...well, ya might want to go down to the kitchen and grab a blue cause it's gonna take a while." Marie explained, waiting until she heard the familiar his of him opening a bottle of beer.
Telling the story and everything she knew, Marie felt her past catching up to her as she knew the one place that could help her friend and Abby was the one place she had ran from years before.