#Shades of Heroes Series Part 1: events out of their control land the X-Men in the spotlight and bring the military down on them. Can they ride it out or will the team be shattered like glass? #
Disclaimer: Making no money out of this
A/N: Back again! This is the first part of four fics, so you're going to have to be patient with me to get to the end of the tale. I've never tried to write something that is quite as serial as this, so I'd really appreciate any comments you have on how I do? Reviews are always welcome. Luv Lamby
Shattered Like Glass: Scene 01The night was young. The streets were busy with the Saturday night commute, shoppers leaving and revellers arriving by foot or yellow cab. Thousands of people blitzing New York City dressed in their best and intent on having a spectacular time. Neon lights throbbed, offering a stolen and bleak redemption. The air smelt rich with aromas of car exhausts, food cooking and garbage rotting in darkened alleyways. Overhead the skydimmed and grew heavy as though tired of the world. It would rain soon, wash litter from the gutters and flood the storm drains. Yet despite this the temperature was mild, and the teenager wasn't cold even though she didn't wear a coat.
Samantha Hawley was breaking the rules again, but at least this time she wasn't dragging her school chums along with her. No, Shockwave had left them watching a film and stuffing their faces with popcorn, along with most of the other pupils of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. The tall brunette, her hair in a sleekly styled ponytail with copper and blond streaked bangs around her face, had feigned a headache and ducked out of another night being treated like a child. She was seventeen, and in desperate need of some fun.
Tugging her ruby sequined top straight over her toned form, Sam crossed the road nonchalantly, waiting for a break in the constant sigh of the traffic to dart across. She dived into a bar as the heavens finally opened as though God was trying to wash the city clean. Glancing round with her sharp hazel-green eyes, Sam's shoes clicked on the hard, polished floors. Until like a rabbit caught in the headlights of a speeding car she stopped dead.
Pyro, the former student of the Xavier School, though he'd left a good five years ago to join the swelling ranks of the Brotherhood of Mutants. Shockwave had not been at the school when John had been there, but she'd met him just after her mutant power had developed. She'd broken his collarbone and left him by the side of the road two years ago. No doubt he would still hold a grudge if he saw her tonight, but Sam was nosy by nature and she wasn't about to leave without finding out what Pyro was up to.
The small booth Pyro sat in was lit by a low orange glow. Whilst he sat facing the front door and Sam at a slight angle, the partition wall and the subdued illumination concealed the person he was talking to. Sam walked forward carefully, taking in how little John's appearance had changed since she'd first met him. His blond hair slicked was back from his forehead and a day or two's worth of stubble ran across his jaw. He was smiling as he manhandled a beer bottle, didn't notice the teen watching him. Too busy flirting, Sam realised indignantly. Indeed Pyro was talking flamboyantly and all the while maintaining eye contact with the girl he was sat with…
Shockwave's blood boiled as she recognised Pyro's companion. A young woman dressed in flared chocolate cords that matched her mocha suede, v-necked strappy top. As usual, the woman's long red ringlet curls hung loose about her shoulders almost to her waist. Her full rose lips smiled, taking Pyro's attention easily. His hand stroked her upper leg. Her hand brushed his across the tabletop as she reached for her soft drink. And when Shockwave cried out in her betrayed anger at her teacher, the X-Man turned with her chestnut eyes dilating in surprise.
"Traitor!" Shockwave accused the X-Man, barely noticing Blaze flinching as though slapped. "Hanging out with one of them!" Her tone filled the words with venomous insults, spitting the word 'them' as though it tasted bad.
"Shockwave!" Blaze lurched to her feet, knocking Pyro's drink all over him. "Sam, what are you doing here?" Her accent was English, her tone panicked. As well it should be, Sam thought.
"I don't think you're in any position to challenge me about what I'm doing Blaze." Sam's father was a senator. Sometimes it showed, sometimes it didn't. "Xavier is going to flip over this, you cheap slut!"
Blaze stormed towards the younger mutant, her strappy shoes pounding the floorboards. Quicker than Sam could react the redhead had hold of her by her bare arm and was dragging her to the ladies room. Sam squealed, gasping "Hot! You're burning me!" Blaze knew she was hurting her student, but she didn't let go until she'd got Shockwave through the door and was stood blocking the only escape route. Sam rubbed her scalded arm, staring Blaze down with angry green eyes.
"Don't think you can bully me into keeping my mouth shut. I'm not scared of you Blaze!"
"You stupid little brat!" Blaze accosted Sam, spreading her arms wide in a dramatic gesture. "This isn't what you think! I'm on a mission here!"
"To get laid off one of the Brotherhood? You make me sick!" Sam tried to get past Blaze, only succeeding in getting pushed up against a washstand by an infuriated Blaze.
"An X-Man mission, Shockwave! Can't you get that into your thick head? And you turning up has just made it a whole lot more difficult!"
"What kind of mission involves you flirting with Pyro?" Sam spat back nastily. "I really don't see how that's going to further mutant-human relati0ns!"
"Do you really think the only missions the X-Men ever go on are the ones in uniform on the X-Jet, rushing to save the day at the last minute? Oh please Sam, its not that simple!" Blaze groaned exasperatedly.
"I refuse to believe the Professor ordered you to do this…"
"The Professor is a leader, Sam, and a damn good one!" Blaze put her hands on the mirror to either side of Sam's head, blocking her in. The heat warped the glass and made it shatter, making Sam wince. "He knows his team's strengths and weaknesses. Think about it, if he needs someone to talk to business or government types he asks Scott because they are impressed with how perfectly anal he is! If he needs someone to talk to scientists he sends Hank or Vixen, because they speak the same language! He sends Logan after those only interested in violence, Gambit after criminals and rogues who need it putting in underworld terms for them… That's why Wolverine and Remy are away so much, what they do has to be kept as distant as possible from the school!"
"I get all that." Shockwave confirmed. "I don't get why you're chatting up the guy who kidnapped me for Mystique so she could blackmail Dad!"
"For information!" Blaze hissed. "Xavier knows I can get at men like Pyro in ways no other X-Man can! We know more about what the Brotherhood are up to now than we ever have, all because he's trying to impress me! He's put his own life on the line though and he knows it. If Magneto or Mystique find out he's been seeing me…"
"This has been going on for a while? Blaze you're sick!"
"Sam listen to me! Pyro thinks none of the X-Men know what's going on. If he thinks you're going to tell them, he'll clam up. Or worse, he'll try and kill us both to protect himself!" Blaze strove to make the girl understand, but Sam was having none of it. She ducked out from under Blaze's arms and stepped away, shaking her head.
"I don't believe you. I'm telling the Professor, and there's nothing you can do about it, traitor…"