Disclaimer: X-Men Evolution belongs only to those who had the amazing sense to create it before I came along.
Title: Slowly
Summary: Love can be a scary thing—how powerful it is, what it can do to you. Not to mention, how much it can hurt.
Author's Note: Here is my first X-Men Evolution fanfic, but I have had this idea in mind for a few years. I love me some X-Men Evolution. I think it is a wonderful idea that was wonderfully developed. Now, to get on with things. Mutations are no longer applicable, but instead school is the main focus of everyday life. Instead of Xavier Institute being for the training of mutants, it is actually a regular boarding school. Therefore, it is Xavier Institute, a boarding school for specialized studies. Think of it as a means to study away from the distractions of family life—a strict regimen of classes, electives, clubs, and studying. It is a way to get the children exposed to what real life should be like, in a way.
This story regards four of the main girls of X-Men Evolution and the different trials they will each undergo. I am forewarning you, though I do not know just yet how graphic I intend to make it. I was inspired by the song Falling Slowly from the movie Once, which is awesome, by the way. Actually, a few songs from that movie inspired me. Subject to my own interpretation, as is everything. I am always up for any suggestions as to where the story can be headed/how it should end. Though I fully intend to showcase a few of the characters, there may be some that are present more than others. This only partakes in the X-Men Evolution universe. Please excuse any differentiations in character personalities as they relate to the show. As this is an entirely new situation for all of them, I expect they would each react uniquely to it, and therefore intend to represent these new reactions.
Chapter 1
- A Single Moment
A single moment can have such significance on one's life, even if just briefly; and, such moments occurred the night of the first soccer match between the Xavier Institute and Bayville, two of the most prestigious private boarding schools in northern New York. Despite the sticky humidity in the air, there was still an exceptional turn out for the match. Being rival schools, there was always one thing or another to compete over, and spirits always ran high during such events.
The crowds refused to mingle and instead remained on their respective sides to cheer for their respective team. The concessions area was the only place that saw a blending of the two rival colors: red and gold for Bayville and silver and black for Xavier's. The match was held on the grounds of Xavier Institute that year, which did wonders at energizing that portion of the stadium. Needless to say, the opposing side was not too thrilled about this advantage. By half time, it was clear that they both were already agitated by the other.
"Just look at them," Kitty Pryde mused to her roommate in the stands of the Xavier Institute section. They were fairly centered on the bleachers with roaring fans to either side of them. Still, her baby blue eyes were focused down on the field where the female players were catching their breath.
"Really? Watching them makes me want to gag," Rogue informed truthfully, adding a brief motion to go with her feelings.
Kitty and Rogue could not have been more different from one another. Kitty, with her long chocolate locks, had entered the institution as bright eyed as they could come. Rogue, on the other hand, had chopped crimson locks with a rebellious white streak down the front and quite a pessimistic attitude.
"Rogue, you know you can't pretend around me," Kitty drawled playfully above the noise of the crowds, which produced a sour expression from her friend.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Rogue insisted in her rough southern accent, crossing her arms stubbornly over her chest.
Despite how different the two girls were, their strained relationship had blossomed into one of friendship and understanding. They had met their very first year, having been thrown blindly into a room together, and they had remained friends and roommates ever since. It was still easy to recall their initial awkward encounter. Yet, after a few months of long patches of silences and many good shouting matches, they had grown quite fond of one another. That is why, now two months into their second year at the Xavier Institute, they were able to interact in a civil and even loving manner.
"Besides," Kitty continued, "we can't all have crushes on our TA's."
By the way that Rogue blushed and frantically looked to either side of the stands to determine whether or not the person in conversation was within earshot, told the truth of what Kitty had spoken. Rogue grew defensive and pointed an accusatory and even somewhat threatening finger at Kitty.
"Hey, you promised you would never mention that out loud." She pushed the piece of bleached hair nervously behind her ear. "Besides, I am embarrassed enough as it is."
"There's nothing to be embarrassed about. After all, just look at them." Kitty shrugged and pointed toward the couple down on the field she had been admiring.
Both the boy and the girl that made up the couple were seniors, as well as at the top of the popularity polls. The female, whose personality could be as fiery as her long mane, was Jean Grey. She seemed to have it all. She was athletic, intelligent, beautiful, nice, and paired with the perfect guy, Scott Summers. Scott exuded natural authority, so that there was no mistaking his presence in the halls. He was handsome and mature, the latter being a special trait found in that generation. And, the trendy pair of shades he always wore were more mysterious than they were odd. Together, they formed the perfect couple—the pairing that everyone could not help but envy and adore.
At that moment, the pair was lip-locked for about the tenth time just during the brief break in action. They really had no shame in public displays of affection, to the dismay of some. She pulled herself away to not only catch her breath, but to also upset the catcalls from some of their more immature peers in the stands.
"You really have to talk to them," she insisted, though dotingly. She smiled as if she enjoyed the attention.
Scott sighed playfully. "They don't mean any harm. Besides, it's not like we discourage them."
Jean rolled her eyes at his excuse, but she knew he was right. She never really cared that people watched them in their displays of affection. For her, it was only Scott that mattered. But because he made her realize this, she grew somewhat bitter and regretful.
"Or the rumors," she added.
Scott could tell she was frustrated. He took her by the shoulders. "Listen, why don't we just cool things down for a little while, until everyone finds something more interesting to speculate about?"
"I love you, Scott Summers," Jean said with a smile, "so the last thing I want to do is stay away from you."
He paused for a moment, contemplating. "Well how about this," he finally offered, seriously "if you can make the winning goal tonight, we'll cool down in public and move our relationship into a more private setting."
She stared at him skeptically at first, but the challenge in his tone was certainly alluring. If there was one thing Jean couldn't resist, it was a challenge. "You're on, Summers." She smiled deviously and kissed him hard on the lips.
"Come on, Grey!" Coach McCoy called sternly. "The match isn't going to wait, even for Xavier's star player!"
Jean detached herself from Scott and hustled out onto the field. Though she kept a crowd pleasing grin on her face, she couldn't subdue the anxious feelings that were creeping into her stomach. For once, she wasn't completely sure she wanted to win the soccer game.
Kitty couldn't help staring at Scott as he merged back into the stands with the excited cheers of Jean's loyal fans. She sighed aloud, which Rogue was somehow able to catch amidst the deafening roar. She whipped her head around, somewhat annoyed.
"You really have to stop watching them," she ordered. "You are starting to creep me out a little."
Kitty shot a disgusted expression at Rogue and stood. "I'm going to go get some more soda. Do you want anything?"
"Not a chance."
Even as tiny as she was, Kitty still found it difficult to push through the packed bleachers to reach the stairs leading to the ground. She somehow managed, though felt a bit frazzled afterward. The line at the concession stand had thinned greatly from what it had been at the beginning of half time. She had no qualms about waiting and missing out on all of the action that the soccer match had to offer. Truthfully, she wasn't really into sports because of the simple fact that she was terrible at them. She only enjoyed going to them because of the social scene.
She had moved up to being fifth in line when she saw two of the people that she dreaded most in the school. She attempted to disappear from view by simply wishing it to be so, but it didn't work. They had already spied her and had decided to take advantage of their rein over her.
"Well if it isn't little Kitty cat," Sydney White greeted with a mocking manner and a snarl. She flipped her bobbed blonde hair as she approached.
It was impossible for Kitty to attempt to ignore them, she realized. They would just act out even worse if she continued. She whipped her head in their direction, her ponytail flying through the air.
"Like, what do you want?" she asked more than a little annoyed.
Riley Finn was the one that usually led the two in making Kitty's life a living hell. With her hands on her hips, she came forward, a mischievous gleam in her eye. It made Kitty unconsciously back up a step and swallow her pride.
"Thanks for holding our spot for us in line," Riley squealed.
Riley sort of shoved her way in front of Kitty and knocked the petite girl off balance. To the sound of the girls giggling, Kitty careened backward. Her empty soda cup flew from her hand and rolled across the pavement spilling its ice innards everywhere. It was about that time that everyone finally decided to take notice of the situation.
'Great,' Kitty thought to herself as she was falling, 'just in time to watch me make a complete ass out of myself.'
She squeezed her eyes shut and readied herself to hit the hard ground. However, she found herself pleasantly surprised. Lanky arms wrapped around her, cushioning her fall. She eased back and bumped against a body instead of pavement. Her eyes remained tightly closed for another moment or two, as if she was too embarrassed to face whoever had so gallantly stepped in.
It was when the mocking laughter began to wane that Kitty finally opened her eyes and looked up at the one who had caught her. The young man was smiling down at her, his large eyes shining. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart could have ceased beating in that single moment. Her eyes readily devoured his entire appearance. It was that bleached slicked back hair and those icy blue eyes that would haunt her forever.
Author's Note: So I don't usually leave a note at the end of the chapter unless I feel I really have to. I just want to apologize about Scott because I don't believe he would necessarily act that way. However, I did have to have some sort of catalyst to start Jean's story and that was what I came up with. I tried to make it as subdued as possible.
Also, I don't know if anyone has guessed who the mystery guy is that saved Kitty. It should be pretty obvious, so I am not going to give it away. I will just say this, though, that I like his character a lot, so I feel a little bad making him the worst person in this fanfic. However, I believe he is cocky enough and carefree enough to make it work. Also, I needed his sister to somehow show up so that her story can take place. Ok, I think I did give it away. :(