I do not own X-Men anything.

You'd think I'd run out of words by now. You'd be wrong.

Reaching Out

Chapter 2: The Importance of Words

When Hank kissed her, Hope kissed him back. For several heady, delightful minutes. Then reluctantly detaching from his tentative embrace, she found a container for the roses and filled it with water. Placing it on her mess of a desk, she poured the remnants of a half empty Sprite bottle into the flower water as well.

Should have cleaned. But how was I to know he'd just appear? I've been waiting forever.

Then she smiled at Hank and, wrapping her arms around his neck, kissed him again.

And took him down to the floor.

Sat them both down cross-legged, face to face. Backs resting comfortably against the sides of opposite beds. And insisted that he come clean and tell her the entire story. From start to finish.

Brave Hank looked deep into the eyes of the beautiful girl who had just told him she loved him and had waited for him.

And decided to trust her.

So he did.

He had already told her about his upbringing in Dundee, Illinois. He had already told her about attending Harvard at such a young age though he had not told her everything.

He had already told her about working in the government facility, inventing, researching. Being around nothing but distracted, distant, self-serving adults on a constant basis.

So now he told her the rest.

He told her about meeting them. Charles. Raven. The other young mutants.

He told her about his infatuation with Raven and the interactions they'd had.

Hope remained quiet and listening, refusing to allow her initial jealousy cloud her reaction to his honest tale. He was finally telling her everything that he withheld all these years and she wasn't going to miss a single thing. She'd waited to hear it all for so long and now that most of it was obviously painful for him to relay, she would listen carefully and then never force him to speak of it again.

He told her about the attacks from Shaw and his attempted coercions. And how he immediately seen right through them and into that heart of destruction and darkness.

He sorrowfully told her about the obliteration of Darwin and the guilt it had obviously caused Alex.

He told her about the training and the comradery he and the rest had all started to tentatively partake in.

He told her about his desperation, his mistakes, his regrets.

And she put her hand comfortingly on his knee and he, to his credit, did not shy away in shame.

He told her about piloting the plane and the ensuing battle and she could not resist a smile slipping past her lips at the thought of gentle Hank pummeling anyone. Even though she had seen the Paris feed of him, it still was difficult to imagine.

But she was glad he had it in him.

He told her about Shaw's demise, about Erik's betrayal, and Raven's abandonment.

She covered her mouth with a horrified hand when the bullet severed Charles' spine.

He told her about the school and its hopeful beginnings.

He told her about its decline. The years of despair, of loneliness, of misery.

And she swallowed her tears so that he would not see and be distracted from the once and only telling of his tale. She swallowed as well her rising anger at Charles' self-pitying behavior and the profound effect it had on Hank's existence.

And if she was going to be completely honest, she felt a little like smacking Hank as well for allowing himself to be consumed by it for so long. But since it was over and she kind of understood, she chose not to.

He told her about the running, about the music, and about finally looking up and seeing her.

She smiled then, remaining silent and still, refusing to stop the tidal wave of his words.

I've never heard him talk so much. It's like he's been holding it in all this time. And now he's presenting it to me. Almost like a gift. Like my roses.

He told her about the day he had woken up and decided to come to her. And about Logan's abrupt, painful arrival.

He told her about every single thing that had transpired up to the point that he had knocked on her door.

Sometimes she laughed at his sarcastic thoughts. Wiped a tear away at his heart-wrenching struggles. Barely refrained from sounding a cheer at his victories. Felt her heart swell every time he mentioned thinking of her in times of distress and solitude.

Oh, Hank. When you're done, I'm going to paint everything orange, I swear.

Concentrated on not clenching her jaw at his interactions and feelings regarding what was apparently a completely naked, crocodilic, redhaired, female smurf.

Hope knew she was being unfair in her internal critisms of what she understood must be a strongly principled, highly-driven young woman whom she should admire for her fortitude and independent nature and stance.

But since that same woman had hurt her special Hank, Hope found it difficult to feel any initial emotion but anger.

He told her about his weeks of self-assigned solitude, about his miserable internal conflict, about his final decision.

And he told her the significance of each one of the roses. And then she did weep. Just a little.

And when he was done, Hank sat still and silent. Horrified at the notion that he had said too much, revealed too much, expressed too much.

He had talked for over an hour straight.

Growl.

I know. That was a lot of words. Especially for me.

Growl.

Well, at least I got to kiss her once before she threw me out of her life forever.

Growl.

Maybe. Anything's possible.

His throat was sore and dry. His head hurt a little and he felt slightly raw at reliving everything all over again. He found he could do nothing but sit and await her judgment and decree.

He didn't have wait long.

She sighed, gazing at him, considering everything he had revealed. The good and the bad. And she made her decision.

He needs to be touched. He needs to be loved. He needs me to accept him for exactly who and what he is right now.

Hope reached out with a sticky mutant finger and pulled his glasses off his face. Placed them up on her desk next to the roses.

He let her.

Better to not see her face clearly when she reveals her final ruling and punches me in the face anyway. Been a lot of that lately as I recall.

And then she, she with the orange painted toes and the emotion for a name, shocked Hank more than he could ever have imagined.

By climbing onto his lap, wrapping her arms and upper legs around him and pulling him into a full embrace. Cheek to cheek, she placed her lips shiveringly close to one ear, uttering murmurings he could barely hear over the pounding of his own heart.

She told him how proud and grateful and relieved she was for everything he had survived and accomplished. She told him how much more she would have helped if she had only known. How she would have kicked Charles right in the junk if he had only confided in her. She told him she believed in him and trusted him and loved him.

She told him he was wonderful. She told him she was so grateful he had chosen to look up and was here now.

And Hank McCoy who had endured alone stoically for so long, sat very still. Eyes closed, arms tight around his Hope. Basking in the warmth of her body, the tickling of her soft breath into his ear. Smelling the faint, sweet fragrance that was all hers. Listening avidly to those sincere words whispered into his hungry heart, filling him up with gratefulness and love and relief and hope.

His insides and hers both quaked with emotions that were too big to be fully expressed.

I'm still not going to cry, he thought, tasting the salty tears in the back of his throat. Nope. Still not. I think. Pretty sure.

And then she pulled her lips back from his ear, leaning back to study his open countenance. He loosened his embrace, opening his blue eyes and silently gazing at her, completely overwhelmed at her forgiveness and acceptance.

But Hope wasn't done just yet.

Cupping his face delicately in her hands, she tilted it up to hers. Palms feathering his jawline, fingertips lightly grazing his earlobes. And slowly, deliberately kissed him. The center of his smooth forehead as his eyes slipped closed in bliss. Each silky eyelid, then the tip of his nose, causing him to ghost a smile. She turned his head from side to side and kissed each cheekbone in turn.

As her lips and hands gently drifted like soft mist over his face, his entire body relaxed, losing all its bones as they melted liquid out of his pores. His arms slackened, hands lying limply on his knees near her hips. All the discomfort in his head, in his throat, in his soul were gone, brushed away by her attentions.

Nothing had ever felt so good to Hank. Not even the power of the beast.

Then, gently stroking the planes of his handsome face, his eyebrows, his cheeks, his jawline, she finally kissed his lips. Again. Sweetly, tenderly. With openness and love and acceptance.

And as they continued their kisses and he tightened his embrace around her again, Hank gradually began to realize that his emotions and physical reactions to her presence, her body, her touch were changing, evolving. And he was now experiencing other emotional and physical reactions as well.

They were strong. Very strong.

But he hazily decided not to mention them. Or fully express them.

There would be time for that later.

Right now, he didn't think he could handle anything more.

So he kept his hands still, curved around her back.

At least he thought he did. With her fingertips now lazily stroking light trails around his ears and the nape of his neck, he couldn't quite be sure of anything.

What he wasn't aware of was that his dear Hope was experiencing the same reactions. And had also come to the same conclusion about him and herself.

Eventually, coming up for air, Hope calmed her body and mind as best as she could.

And spoke the first words that came to mind.

"Come on, let's go outside for some air. It's warm in here."

It certainly was.

So Hope donned a jacket and Hank retrieved his glasses. They passed a few body calming minutes discussing the boring aspects of college life. Then Hope took Hank on a walking tour of her university. Arm in arm, they strolled in the chilly sunshine. Every so often one of them would kiss or caress the face or hand of the other. They both suspected they looked like a couple of lovestruck kittens to any observant viewer. And neither of them very much cared.

It seemed to Hank that everybody on campus knew Hope and wanted to be introduced to her tall, bespectacled companion.

Or maybe he was just overwhelmed.

"Hey, this is my boyfriend, Hank."

Hey, I said 'boyfriend'. Cool.

Boyfriend. She said 'boyfriend'.

"Hey, good to meet you. So you're the reason she wouldn't go out with me? Lucky you, man."

Yes, lucky me. Definitely.

"Oh, finally! Can you tell us why she always paints her toenails orange? She says it's a secret. And she just won't change them."

Don't you tell them, Hank.

Nope, not gonna tell. Not me.

"Oh, so you're Hank. Hope talks about you so much I feel like I already know you."

Oh, I doubt that. But thanks.

"Oooh, Hope, you were right. He is cute."

Cute. She thinks I'm cute.

And on it went. Hank nodded and smiled and spoke courteously to every single person that walked into their path.

At least he thought he did.

Yep, this chapter is super sappy too. What? You telling me, Hank doesn't deserve it? Uh-huh, that's what I thought. *winks

Anyway, this was not all about hormones. It's also about being accepted and loved just as you are at a moment when you feel you should not be allowed such grace.

That's one part of it. That being said, it is also partly about hormones. But that's okay too. They're both people of principal and they'll hold out. Plus, it's my story and I'm holding the reins here. So trust me, yeah?

'Crocodilic'? You say it's not a word? Well, it came out of my mouth, didn't it? *smirks

Okay, my brigid1318 (thanks for the review, btw and hope you like your Reese's here), you wanted Hank to come clean and be honest. How's that?

And thanks to lol as well for coming on back for another installment. Yes, there will be drama sprinkled about, just not to the extent of the other stories. And thank you for speaking up. Reader opinions are always important to me and I will be taking requests and suggestions on this story.

Thanks as well to Shanynde, ChiefPam, MoonlitShadowsoftheHumanSoul, and Pandiichan (keeping working on that name and let me know, sweetie) for reviewing.

Thanks to I've Been a Labrat for what might be the most hilariously fantastic review I've ever read. Whoo!

Thanks also to Ssg1, Hiniko, ABewilderedBear, Mr . Kittles3, Jasper6509 for adding your support to this tale.

See you all tomorrow for chapter 3! More sweeties for our sweeties! :D