The storm started as a low gathering of darkened cloud, building upon itself as it swept over Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. There was a rumble from the same direction, faint, a mere warning of what was about to be unleashed.
Them the lightning was brightening the entire mansion grounds in split-second flashes, the rumble had become a roar, and the rain sliced down at the grass, trees and brick below as if trying to wrench them apart at the seams. This fury was kept up only for a few minutes, then the rain softened into a regular patter and the echoes thunder and lightning faded back into the clouds.
In her attic room, Ororo Munroe clenched her fists and closed her eyes, not even caring that the weather outside reflected her mood.
Xavier, father to them all, teacher, leader, the heart of the X-men. Gone.
What made it so painful was the reason why. Her best friend, the closest thing she had to family, to a sister. All the hope that had surfaced when she found Jean's body lying on the rocky shore at Alkali Lake had crumpled into misery and bitterness and rage. Jean had not only defected to join Magneto, she had taken Xavier from them.
Scott. How she missed Scott's calm, his reassuring sureness about every situation. It wasn't easy on Ororo, having to lead the X-Men alone. She was used to doing so with Scott at her side. It was more than that, though. He, along with Jean and Hank, were her earliest friends. He had taught her how to act around horses when she was so nervous of the large animals, and later how to ride. He understood about her claustrophobia and took pains wherever possible on their missions to keep her out in the open. He told awful jokes only he thought were funny and cared about each and every student at the school.
Had cared.
Marie had deserted them and Ororo knew in her heart she had gone for The Cure. Turned her back on being a mutant, on herself, and Xavier's idea. Ororo didn't hold it against the younger woman, though – there was just the disappointment of her choice burning away inside her.
Now Logan had left. He had been her only support through this, a fellow X-Man. She had watched him go from the insolent rebel to... well, an insolent teammate. He had gone after Jean because in his heart he hoped that the old Jean, their Jean, could still be reached. Ororo wasn't sure if she were mad at Logan for the act of leaving or for the fact he was willing to try what she couldn't muster the courage for.
But most of all she missed Kurt. She missed his shy smile and his silly tricks, of walking into a room and finding him hanging upside-down by his tail from the light fixture. She missed the patient, uninterrupted way he listened to her and the nights they stayed up late watching movies together in the rec room.
Finally Ororo moved over to the wide window and leaned her palms against the sill. Noticing the rain still falling, she sighed softly and concentrated, a white mist clouding her dark eyes. She wondered how he was. She hoped he was happy and that he was finding his peace.
The skies cleared, and desperately Ororo prayed that Kurt would come back to the mansion, and back to her, because she'd never needed him more.