Author's Note: I know I'm a little late to the game but I'm still rebuilding my iTunes library, so I wanted to have more than ten CDs before I did the iPod Challenge (which, if you don't know, is to put your iPod on shuffle and write 10 drabbles/mini-vignettes inspired by the first ten songs that come up—you're only supposed to have the song's length to write but I totally cheated). Each chapter is titled for the song used and has a lyric excerp at the top because I feel like it. The reason I decided to put each drabble/vignette as its own chapter is two-fold: (1) I'm a total author's note whore and, (2) I am super OCD about continuity. So it was either chapters for each or one incredibly long note that likely wouldn't make too much sense. I should also note that these are all unbeta'd—I'm still missing my main man—so let me know if you find anything that needs fixing! All right, first up is a mini-vignette that's set between Dani's exit from New X-Men v2 and her reappearance in Avengers: The Initiative. Cheers.
Disclaimer: Characters mentioned are used without permission and are trademarks of Marvel Characters, Inc. I do not own them and am simply borrowing for my purposes. Please don't sue.
You gotta let me inside even though it hurts
Show me the broken parts that I need to see
-- "Whatever It Takes" Lifehouse
She thought she loved him. She thought he understood her (despite his non-mutant status). She thought they had a real shot at making it. She thought a lot of things that didn't mean jack when she was facing down the reality of their situation.
Justin Pierce was a good man and he loved her. That should've been enough. She wanted it to be enough. Silently, she promised to do whatever it took to hold them together. She was so sure her will, strong as it was, wouldn't fail them. She thought it'd be enough…
But then he called her on it. He told her that if they were going to be together, she'd have to let down those walls she's spent so many years meticulously building. He told her he wouldn't have half of a relationship. He told her she had to choose—let him in or let them go.
She packed her bags that night. She could give everything else but to trust him that fully? She wanted to, but she couldn't. And, like it or not, that was how it had to be. Otherwise it wasn't fair to him—or to her. They both deserved better.
