A Model X-Man

Scott Summers and Jean Grey walked side by side along the nearly-empty pavement of New York City. Jean clutched nervously at her bag as the two walked in silence. If Scott was feeling any discomfort, he had hidden it perfectly. With the sound of each footfall, Jean became increasingly nervous. It wasn't often that the X-Men failed to notice someone who had developed powers, and it was rarer still for that someone to have passed their twenties without being discovered. But this case was different.

She could still feel Professor Xavier's eyes burning into her, communicating the urgency and importance of their mission.

"This could be the one."

A mutant with a power so great that, not only would they be able to defeat Magneto's regime, but they could also win over those who feared and reviled mutants. A mutant who could herald an era of peace…

But the situation was complicated. The man had reached adulthood – he had a career, a family, and a comfortable, glamorous life. Should they approach him in the wrong way and frighten him off – or worse, send him toward Magneto's camp – the results could be disastrous. Jean was often nervous about approaching those who didn't know about their powers because she remembered the pain and denial that it brought for her. How it had forced her to realize and come to terms with the fact that when she felt she was different, unlike most children, she actually was. With the implications of this man's power, however, the pressure and feelings intensified.

Finally, she couldn't hold it back anymore.

"Scott, what will we do if he rejects us?" She turned to him, her red ponytail trailing like a comet.

"We'll worry about that when it happens. We have to stay focused and treat it like any other case. Thinking about his potential will only make us more likely to alienate him. Treat him like the others and hope it goes for the best." He replied curtly in a way that was uncharacteristic of him.

So the pressure is getting to him, too. She felt relieved not to be alone.

They approached the graveyard, knowing that it was never the best time to visit someone here, but also knowing that there was virtually no other way to approach him in public.

As they came upon the row of three graves, they found the man kneeling to lay a beautiful bouquet of lilies at the foot of a large statue, which depicted three young men dancing about with gasoline pumps. Clearly his wife and child had already gone home.

Noticing the sound of their approach, the man stood and turned abruptly to face them. The intensity of his icy blue eyes accented by his smooth, porcelain skin and jet-black hair struck them full force, and it was all either of them could do to prevent themselves from gasping aloud at the sheer majesty of his face. He pursed his lips in confusion.

"What do you want?" He asked in a smooth, tenor voice.

"We're sorry to have approached you at such in inopportune time, but we have very important information that you need to discuss with you." Scott began, sounding very serious.

His left eyebrow raised in confusion.

"Is it about the academy?"

"No. I'm afraid it's much more important than that." Jean sighed, looking almost apologetic.

"More important than teaching children to read good?" His other eyebrow raised and he looked saddened at the very thought.

"It may very well be. I'll be blunt: you may be the key to a peaceful future between humanity and all of mutant kind. You, Derek Zoolander, have a power so special and vital that it could prevent a war." Scott explained.

"You mean, being really, really, really, really, really-"

"Ridiculously good looking, yes." Jean cut him off in the interests of time.

Although he looked pensive, Jean detected nothing inside of his gorgeously vapid head.

"I need some time to think." He said at last. "I'm a male model, and that comes with duties to all of mankind. I have to weigh the needs of the many against the needs of the world." He gave an emotive, desperate look, "I can only give so much!"

Then, running with his arms swinging side to side like a girl, he sobbed in a sweet falsetto.

"…" Scott had no idea what to say.

"That was slightly incomprehensible." Jean put a hand to her temples. "But he's just so beautiful."

"I didn't follow him…what's the issue here?"

Jean had a sudden premonition.

"Derek, LOOK OUT!" She yelled as there was the loud crack of a massive tree breaking.

Derek looked up in time for his blue eyes to widen in confused surprise as an ancient elm tree began to fall on top of him. Were it not for the quick action of Jean Grey using her telekinesis to push it out of the way, he would have been killed for sure.

Any question as to the identity of the assailant was swiftly answered.

"So it is true." Sabertooth intoned darkly, glaring at the three with menacing, hungry eyes. "But I see his power isn't fully realized." He grinned, putting one foot up on the splintered tree stump.

Gene stood at the ready as Scott reached for his glasses.

"What do you want?" Derek asked.

"What I want depends on what you want." Sabertooth smiled ominously. "If you want to come with me, then I'll take you to my employer, who is a very powerful man. If you want to go with them, then I'll kill you."

Derek's eyes widened in surprise and fear.

"What?" He whispered.

"Don't listen to him, Derek! He represents the side of those who want to destroy humanity in order for mutant kind to rule the world." Scott's hand was paused halfway to his sunglasses, painfully aware that Sabertooth had his eyes on both of them with his claws poised, ready to strike Derek at a moment's notice.

"Think carefully about what you want, Derek. Do you want to live in peace with humans, or do you want to destroy them?" Jean, getting a feel for Derek's character, used small words and simple phrases.

"I…I…." He raised his eyebrows in helplessness and pursed his lips. "I only wanted to help people by looking really, really, really, really, really ridiculously good looking!" He cried. "Why must others fight over me?"

As he weakly pounded his immaculate fists against the well-kept cemetery grass and cried tears of feeling, the two factions stood facing each other waiting. The outcome of his decision would determine how much bloodshed this encounter would generate.

Come on, Derek. Jean thought tensely. The world needs you now.