AN: So I've had this sitting around for a long time and I do plan on finishing but wanted to upload this before I did. I know this is an uncommon pairing but I can see it happening. I hope everyone enjoys. Thanks for reading!
It was eight years in making but it was at last happening, the old high school gang was finally reuniting. It may not have been the complete first class but all the people Ororo shared the fondest of memories with would be there.
She now sat on a British Airways flight from London Heathrow to New York JFK. After college Professor Xavier appointed her as well as a few others she studied with to teach and help oversee things at a satellite school in England, providing guidance to younger mutants just as he had for her. She initially was reluctant to attend the affair but Sean Cassidy reassured it would be fine. "Go ahead lass. It's summer time. You deserve a break. Besides these wee ones know not to vex the Banshee," he affirmed in his Irish brogue. Between that and Jean's insistence on her attendance she relented.
Ororo flipped through the latest issue of "Times," that was left behind from the previous flight. Warren Worthington III was on the cover. Many in the gossiping public knew him as a billionaire playboy but she knew him as Angel. Ororo knew him better than probably anyone. At least she had at one time before. She placed the magazine down. She already read the article while she waited in the terminal. She now picked up "In Touch" magazine. She normally didn't bother with such trivial reads but she had five hours to kill and lacked a novel. He was in it again with a little blurb attached- "Billionaire mutie cutie Warren Worthington III was seen attending a black tie charity event in NYC with supermodel Adriana Lima. That makes six models in two months! Will a woman ever capture this Casanova's heart?"
Ororo couldn't help but smile a tad to herself at the question. She also knew Angel's heart at been captured one time before, a time when he was her Angel. But she put little stock into it now that they were adults and hadn't spoken in years. They were senior year sweethearts, they were the first persons they said I love you to, the first persons they shared their bodies with. When entering college they felt they could last. After all, they were not that far away with Warren attending Harvard and Ororo in Columbia but less than a semester in they came to the conclusion to end things though it hurt them both. Between classes, studying, partying and exams they hardly spoke anymore much less saw eachother. He said he didn't want either of them to regret being together. She agreed. And with that they were over. Even as teenagers they knew it was a realistic conclusion. Not everyone was like Scott and Jean.
She appraised the picture of him. Even if only in a magazine he was still striking with more mature, manly features. But he still had the same beautiful platinum blonde locks, sculpted cheeks and lips and sapphire irises. Wonder if he will be there… Ororo pushed the thought aside, assuming he would be too consumed running what was now his business for the gathering. She decided to try to nap. It was going to be a long flight.
After picking up her luggage from baggage claim she met Jean at passenger pick up. The best friends embraced with the same girly giggles that they had shared growing up. As soon as seatbelts were on Jean dove into girl talk.
"So is there anyone new back in England? Any cute Brits I should know about?"
"No, there is still no one of interest just as there hadn't been the other times you asked."
Jean teased, "I will never understand you 'Ro. You are in country full of guys with that sexy accent and still single."
"Because most of the population has teeth like Austin Powers," she joked.
"I am so happy to have you back. This is going to be great! The kids left for a month to Muir Island with the Professor so we have the place to ourselves. As you know Bobby, Scott and I stayed at the mansion. Alison arrived this morning from her Asian tour. Unfortunately Piotr and Kitty couldn't make it. Kitty is having early contractions and he didn't want to leave her side."
Ororo gave a minute frown. "Too bad, I was hoping to throw her a little baby shower."
A neatly arched ruby eyebrow rose mischievously. "And Warren is due in later."
Ororo's expression remained neutral until she caved into Jean's demanding gaze. "I never asked about him," she stated pointedly.
"No, just thought you may want to know seeing how you did lose your virginities to one another."
"JEAN!" Ororo snapped.
Her friend played dumb. "What? You guys did."
"Anyways we were kids then. He probably grew into a completely different person. Besides, he was seen at some party with Adriana Lima," Ororo dismissed then berated herself mentally for admitting to even being aware of his latest whereabouts.
"Have you been reading, "Star" magazine?" Jean questioned in slight surprise. Ororo confessed, "In Touch."
Jean shrugged, "Single guys are like rich guys and their obsession with cars. They buy some expensive collectors' edition because it's new and shiny but only take it out once before buying another that's just as new and shiny."
Ororo snorted, "Well, I'm sure he has plenty of cars." She meant it in more ways than one.
Warren decided to drive himself from his penthouse in the Upper West Side to Westchester. He felt his Bougatti was too flashy so opted instead for his Jaguar F-Type S, speeding whenever he felt the coast was clear. He would have preferred to fly to Salem Centre. He hadn't in quite some time due to be so busy dealing with Worthington Enterprises. A few of the half wit models that accompanied him to events and his bedroom at times asked to touch his feathers or if he would take them up in the air but he would politely refuse before showing them the exit. Even among mutants few understood the desire, no the necessity to fly. Only one other did. Storm. Warren was positive she'd be there. It would unlike her not to… If she hadn't changed any over time. He wished they stayed in contact over the years. Though the separation was mutual it was his suggestion. Perhaps if they remained in touch … I should have made more of an effort… For multiple reasons.
As soon as they stepped foot through the mansion's doors a tidal wave of memories washed over Ororo until the bombardment of hugs from her friends broke her concentration. Alison Blaire, better known as Dazzler to her adoring fans wrapped her arms around her before standing back to appraise Ororo. "Ororo Munroe you look great girl!" complimented the pop princess. "No Alison it is you that truly looks amazing, love the hair," she insisted while gesturing to her strawberry blond pixie cut. "Aww thanks. I decided to get rid of the pink dye when I was Singapore. I already kind of miss it," Alison sheepishly replied while ruffling her hair.
Scott embraced her as a brother would his sister. "It's been too long Ororo."
"That it has been."
The moment they let go of eachother she was swept off her feet and spun around. "'Ro!" Bobby exclaimed. "Robert put me down right this instant!" she reprimanded lightheartedly. His mother and Ororo were the only women Bobby didn't mind referring to him by his proper name. Once she was again on study ground she returned the hug properly. Although they were the same age it was difficult for her not to still see him as the immature, playful prankster that always found ways to make her either laugh or roll her eyes, especially when merriment shone in his chocolate eyes and his trademark boyish grin remained.
She was just about to ask Alison about how her concert tour went when a new member interrupted her. "Hope I didn't miss anything yet." She could place the voice without ever having to see the face. She turned around to find Warren beginning to greet everyone. He stopped before her and for a brief second the memory of the first time he laid eyes on Ororo played before him.
Seventeen-year-old Warren had just enrolled into the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters a week into the new school year. His parents debating his enrollment delayed his arrival. He was anxious about attending. He was coming his senior year and the Professor mentioned that many of the students entered when they were preteens. He was going to have to be social with people who knew eachother for years. Things didn't appear to be in his favor. Kitty Pryde gave him a brief tour of the campus before classes began for the day. She was a tiny thing with mousy brown hair. She'd be forgettable if it hadn't been for her bubbly personality he took notice of fairly quickly. Kitty introduced him to nearly every student she past and almost always informed him of their mutations. "And this is Lorna and Ororo." Warren didn't take much note of Lorna and probably wouldn't remember her if they hadn't had many classes together.
But Ororo was a completely different story. Warren was privileged enough to travel to many different countries and meet a variety of people but she was the rarest thing he had ever seen. Shocking white hair was pulled into a bun as two locks framed her gorgeous face. Cerulean cat like eyes peered back at him. Her cheekbones sat high and her full lips were in a perfect bow shape. Her milk chocolate skin looked so delicious he nearly pondered if her last name was Hershey. He hadn't even glanced at her figure yet and was already taken with her. "Welcome to mutant high," she welcomed and her voice… Her voice sounded far too refined for that a typical teenager. This place may not be so bad after all.
"It's good to see you again, Warren," Ororo said, bringing him back to the present, her voice as eloquent as ever. "As well as you, Ororo," he replied, equally as cultured before planting a chaste kiss on her cheek then turned his attention to Scott and Jean to ask, "So where should I put my things?"
"Jean thought it would be a good idea if we stayed in our old dorms," Scott answered with a bit of humor in his voice. "Sorry Alison. We had to take down your Destiny's Child and Britney Spears posters. Don't worry. I made Bobby take his down as well," Jean jabbed at Bobby's expense but he took it well as he joked, "It's all right. They have since been replaced with Scarlette Johansson and Mila Kunis."
"Well go ahead and get settled in. I made reservations for us at Baretti's in an hour," Jean beamed.
"Isn't that the place we had dinner before prom?" Alison questioned in surprise.
"The very place. So hurry up guys. I'm getting hungry."
When Ororo entered her former loft memories came barreling back. She smiled when she thought of when she held a slumber party in it. The girls stayed up all night singing along to JoJo and Outkast while gossiping, talking about boys and painting eachother's nails until Bobby, Scott and Piotr bum rushed in and peppered them with water balloons. But the girls had the last laugh. Ororo made certain they too were soaked from head to toe as they ran back to their dorms thanks to a rain cloud that followed them out that she created.
Her eyes drifted to the bed and automatically thought of the times she snuck Warren in. It started when a violent electrical storm woke Warren in the middle of the night. There was such ferocity behind it he knew it would have only been created by one thing, a sleeping Ororo who was suffering from a nightmare. His strong arms shielded her from her fears for the rest of the night. Initially it was only occasionally he would creep in. After awhile he didn't need reasons or invitations. Having him as a sleeping partner became habitual to the point she couldn't sleep without him near. Ororo pushed the memory out of her mind and decided to freshen up before dinner.
Humongous pasta dishes, two orders of bread sticks and four bottles of wine later the six former classmates were chuckling drunken fools as they reminisced while eating dessert. Scott and Jean argued over who spiked the punch during prom while Ororo took a bite of her tiramisu, a drop of chocolate sauce smeared her lips. She slowly licked her lips free of chocolate, savoring the taste until she felt eyes upon her. She instinctually turned to see who was watching. The two sets of cobalt irises froze on one another. Warren gave a miniature smirk, eyes drilling into hers as if searching for something lost. Ororo coyly averted her eyes downwards forcing back an automatic smile that tickled the corner of her lips before returning her attention to their friends.
"Remember when we went into town and got drunk at Harry's for the first time?" giggled Jean.
"With fake IDs made by yours truly," Alison boasted.
"It's not Harry minded. Our IDs may have been fake but our money was real. That's all he cared about," Bobby interjected.
Jean sipped her wine then suggested, "We should all go there tomorrow with our real IDs." Everyone agreed.
"Remember when we were sophomores and Ororo's and Bobby's lips got frozen together playing seven minutes in heaven," Scott recalled, his face becoming ruddy from alcohol.
Ororo hid behind an emerald linen napkin due to embarrassment. "That was my first and last time playing that silly game. We were stuck that way for nearly fifteen minutes," she stated once she found the courage.
"I couldn't help myself. My mutation flared up. I couldn't control it," Bobby pleaded before continuing, "'Ro has that kind of effect on guys. Isn't that right, Warren?" He winked at his male friend. A flash of crimson graced Ororo's face as she chortled along with her pals.
"Yes, that she does," Warren replied with his eyes on Ororo, the slightest of smiles secretively playing on his lips nearly going unnoticed if her eyes hadn't had matched the intensity behind his. Ororo gulped the remainder of her wine. If this was the first day she was curious to see how the rest of the week would develop.