Two
"No fucking way." Adele whispered as she looked down at the ticket Raven held out to her. She grabbed it and stared at it with growing trepidation. The younger woman's smile widened at her older friend's look of horror as she gazed down at the tiny slip of paper in her hands, paper that clearly told her she would be spending the next 14 hours in trans-Atlantic coach style. Raven sat down and closed her eyes in anticipation.
"Charles!" Adele yelled and the owner of that name peered cautiously out from behind a large potted palm in the lounge area of the terminal. Adele snarled at his handsome face, which paled rapidly.
"Yes my dear." He called from his safety position and even Moira smiled a little at the obvious terror in those three words. She and Raven were now seated next to each other and were watching the conversation like spectators at a tennis match. They shared an amused glance and waited.
"I bet five she kills him?" Moira whispered and she and Raven shook hands. Raven smiled and watched the two people she loved most behave like a pair of five year olds. Yep it was just like old times.
"What did I say about flying coach?" Adele asked sweetly and Charles visibly swallowed. A smart man would have lied but at that moment Charles Xavier was not a smart man.
"Not to do it." He offered and she pounced, sprinting to the potted plant with surprising speed for such a tiny person. Being only 5 ft. 5 people tended to misjudge her abilities… Charles was not one of these people. He quickly jumped one of the rows of seats and backed away; hands held forwards in surrender. Many people were watching and all of them had looks of sympathetic amusement.
"Adele, they were the only ones left and we have to be in Washington on the next plane out of London." He said, trying to placate his annoyed friend.
"You know I hate flying coach, you know that… why the fuck you do it?" She demanded and he sighed as she came nearer and nearer, a dangerous look on her face.
"Please Adele… you know this is important and please stop bloody swearing." He begged, flicking his brown hair out of his eyes to keep her in constant eyesight. She frowned angrily but stopped just before him. He towered over her but at that moment his 6 ft. frame cowered before her wrath.
"I know that Charles Xavier, it's the only reason and I mean the only bloody reason, why I'm actually going through with this." She said, jabbing his chest with each 'o' sound and he relaxed a touch.
"But man you owe me big time." She exclaimed and he nodded sticking out his hand tremulously. Under the watchful eyes of everyone in the lounge the young couple shook hands solemnly.
I truly am sorry Elle.
I know, but you still owe me.
What?
When I've thought about a suitable punishment you can bet your sorry ass you will be the first to know, believe me.
He swallowed and let go, moving towards the gate where passengers were now lining up to board the plane. Together the four of them boarded and set out to find their seats. Yet another problem hit the group.
"Well this day just gets better and better." She muttered as she realized the seats were separated. Charles found himself wedged between Moira and Raven whilst Adele, with a petrified squeak, sat herself down on the aisle side seat next to an ugly middle-aged man who smelled strongly of burnt apples. She sat tense and disgusted as his eyes fixed themselves solely upon her breasts, never moving even when she coughed to warn him, futilely, to behave. For some reason, although tiny, having no height, limited muscle to her arms or legs and no buttocks worthy of mentioning, Adele was cursed to being top heavy for the rest of her life ever since puberty set in. At first she had kept her jacket on and crossed her arms over her chest in an attempt to shield them from view however eventually the heat of the small space forced her to remove it and she was left exposed to this perverts hungry gaze. Horror washed over her and she was frozen as he continued to gaze unabashedly at her chest until in a belated blast of frustrated terror she used her gift to pull his belt to its tightest girth and, as he hunched over to loosen it forced the tray-table down on the top of his forehead as hard as possible. He swore and finally looked away, nursing his stomach and forehead allowed her some small respite from his staring. Raven who had seen the whole thing was doubled up with laughter until she caught sight of Adele's face and stopped.
"Are you alright Del?" She asked across the aisle and frowned at her feigned nonchalance.
"Don't you dare lie to me, what's wrong?" She demanded but Adele waved her off with a roll of her eye and a smirk. Eventually the blonde dropped it and Adele tried to relax in her chair. She closed her eyes and settled down to sleep.
A hand on her thigh brought her to a jerking start.
"Shush, if you stay quiet I'll be nice." The man whispered in her ear and she looked around to see everyone around was either asleep or nodding off. Terror washed over her but her vocal chords her paralysed and she could not speak.
"That's it, stay quiet… good girl." The man cooed in her ear and his hand slipped from her thigh to her breast. He pitched the nipples roughly and tears welled in her eyes at the pain. He kneaded the breast themselves then moved back to her hips, stroking and pinching the tender flesh beneath her top.
"Spread them." He said and she froze, terror making her limp.
"Very well." He muttered and slipped his pant down the front of her pants and under her panties. His rough fingers scraped at her most tender flesh and tears fell unheeded down her face.
"Please stop." She begged and he laughed. He took his sweet time and when he had finally tired of tormenting her rolled over and fell into a deep sleep. Hatred welled inside her and she smiled as the seatbelt curled around his waist tightening with every breath he breathed out. Soon it was even thinner then before, cutting off the breath in his lungs. He gasped and awoke but she merely feigned sleep, keeping the belt tight until the last possible moment. A calming memory entered her mind, Charles and her lying in his Westchester library laughing hysterically on their backs upon the floor after a huge party, brought her back to her senses and she let him go. Terrified at what she had been about to do Adele tried desperately to fall asleep, almost succeeding as the plane began to descend.
The moment they touched down Adele was up from her seat and out of the plane before anyone else had moved. Raven and Charles called out to her but she ignored them as she ran to the bathroom. Crouched over one of the toilets she dry retched into the porcelain bowl until she no longer could then simply sat down on the cold white tiles and sobbed. Eventually she figured she needed a strong drink and stood up. The others found her waiting for them at one of the bars, drink in hand and a lazy smile on her face. Charles frown and pressed his fingers to his temple.
What happened? He asked Raven who jumped slightly but answered.
Some disgusting pervert on the plane… I don't know what really happened, you'll have to ask her. She replied and shuddered and the dangerous gleam that suddenly entered her brother's usually kindly blue eyes. She smiled at Moira and led her away towards the baggage area. Adele watched through hooded eyes as Charles walked over and sat down next to her, taking her hands in his and gazing into her tired violet eyes. Of all the things Charles had missed about Adele it had been those eyes, they were so beautiful and rare he couldn't bring himself to look away until she blinked and the moment was gone. The shield came down and he couldn't see through anymore. She wasn't his Elle anymore, something had happened and he wished he knew what.
"Are you alright Elle?" He asked and she shook her head. He took note that a smile touched her lips at the old nickname but didn't say anything about it.
"Nothing changes does it?" She whispered quietly.
"What do you mean?" He asked and she sighed heavily.
"Raven can't even walk down a public street being herself for fear of people fearing her or hating her, the world can't stay safe for five fucking minutes and its always up to us to bloody sort it out and I can't get on a fucking plane without some bastard ogling my breast the entire trip and putting his hands…" She stopped and took a deep breath to calm herself. She realised the glass in her hands to her lips but didn't drink it. Charles felt fury unlike anything he'd ever felt before well inside him but controlled himself as he squeezed her hands gently.
"I can't even get drunk anymore… god its depressing being me sometimes." She whispered dully as she placed the glass back down on the table. Charles couldn't help it, he grinned.
"I promise Elle, the moment this bloody mess is over. You and I will go to the nearest pub and get so piss-drunk that we can't see straight." He said and she looked up into his face and laughed. Fancy that Charles Xavier trying to swear, it was like Christmas come early. She nodded and he pulled her into a tight embrace. He kissed her softly on the top of her head and, wrapping an arm around her shoulders guided her through the terminal and out to where Moira and Raven waited beside a taxi.
Some time later…"…and it may be that these changes may have already occurred in this generation with individuals already living amongst us. Thank you." Charles finished his presentation and sat down in the hard backed chair that was identical to the ones in which all the executives of the CIA were seated in. Adele sat next to him and her hand clasped his beneath the table, drawing an ugly look from Moira, and gazed around the room at all the stern-faced men around her.
"Agent McTaggart you've just earned yourself a one way ticket to the typing pool. Do you think that listening to some crack pot professor is going to make me believe in sparkling women and disappearing men? Get out." An aged looking man director commanded the auburn haired agent and stood to leave.
"Sit down Moira please." Charles said and didn't need a telepath to tell her he was pissed.
"Director I knew you wouldn't believe me seeing as the only thing you could think of during my presentation was what kind of pie they're serving for lunch, it's apple pecan by the way." He said to the man and Adele shared an amused glance with Raven who looked extremely young in this very adult room. Charles turned to face Moira and an apologetic look crossed his face.
"I'm sorry but I haven't been entirely truthful you see." He turned back to the director.
"One of the things my mutation allows me to do is that I can read your mind." He said deliberately. The director scoffed. He and the man next to him exchanged amused glances.
"I've seen this parlor trick before, are you going to ask me a number between 1 and 10 and multiply it by 5?" He jeered and Charles smiled patiently whilst Adele began to suppress the urge to throw something.
"No Director but I could ask you about your son William isn't it? I know your very proud of him, however I'm much more interested in the reason why American missiles are being sent to Turkey." He said quietly and the room flew into total chaos. Everyone started to yell, argue and many stood up.
"He's a spy, you've brought us a god-damned spy." Moira's boss yelled at her and she too stood up and began to protest. Charles, Raven and Adele exchanged brief looks and suddenly Raven stood and shifted into a mirror image of the Director. The room fell deathly silent as all people present were stunned into silence, Raven smirked at them all and Adele and Charles smiled at each other.
"How's that for a parlor trick?" Charles asked the amazed room.
"Best I've ever seen." Said a portly man at the back of the room who none had really noticed before and the room slowly came back to life.
"I want them in lock down until I know what to do." The director said and the man spoke again.
"My facility is off sight, I could take them." He said and Charles nodded. Raven shifted back to her original form and they all turned to leave.
"What can you do then?" One man asked Adele as she passed grabbing her arm and made her gasp in fright. Charles moved to stand beside her and she looked up at him. He smiled encouragingly and she stepped forwards with a small grin. She pointed towards a chair with a lazy wave and it shot straight into the air and hung there as though suspended on a string. It was soon joined by a whole host of objects that were not tied down or were breathing, although many would swear later they had left the floor momentarily. Chairs, the table, pens, glassed and even the projector were soon floating haphazardly around the room much to the amazement of the men in the room. Charles, eager to be going, placed a hand on her shoulder; making her jump slightly.
Sorry.
You owe me. She joked and he grinned.
"I'm telekinetic." Adele said and soon had everything back in its initial position. The room was silent as a tomb and she shuddered.
"Come with me." The portly man said joyfully and the mutants quickly left the silent conference room.
I've been the laughing stock of this agency for years but I always knew there were people like you out there." The portly man was saying excitedly as they moved out into the car park.
"I'm sorry to say that my facility is a little small, funding you know…?" He continued.
"That won't be necessary." Charles cut in as the four made their way through the rows of parked cars.
"What?" The man asked, confused and Adele grinned.
"Well, while we've been walking around Agent McTaggart and I have been having a lovely little chat and she got a lead on Shaw. We need to go now or we'll miss him." Charles said as Moira pulled up in a large black car. Adele was impressed; he hadn't even had a hand to the temple. Moira smiled through the window at him and opened the door. He grinned and ushered everyone inside. Adele smiled coldly as she and Raven got into the back.
"I can't I have to take you to the facility." The man complained.
"Want to see another trick?" Charles asked and the man affirmed.
"Get in the car." Charles said whilst pressing his hand to his temple. Ah there we go. The man nodded and got in next to Raven who was squished between him and Adele. Charles sat in the front and he and Moira exchanged a glance that made Adele's heart contract sharply from within her chest. It was just like four years ago but there was nothing she could do now. Swallowing a bitter lump in her throat she turned her face away and stared morosely out of the window. She desperately needed a cigarette, and a drink.
Fuck men. She thought bitterly.
Putting pedal to the metal Moira drove the car out into the setting sun and towards the coast. Raven shot her friend a worried glance but Adele refused to look her way or even acknowledge that there was anyone else in the car. She coughed to draw Charles attention and her brown haired moron of a brother looked at her questioningly. She indicated towards Adele and immediately his eyes snapped to his dearest friend and a worried look entered his gaze. A frown creased his forehead and she realized with a shock that Adele did not trust any of them anymore and that she wasn't allowing Charles inside her head. Those two had been close, inside each other's heads more often then not all through their childhood, this had always had Raven at an annoyed loss. Now it was a worrying sign that her best friend had changed since she had disappeared, what good was bringing her home if it was even Del anymore? Raven settled herself back into her seat and crossed her legs whilst Moira explained the Shaw situation.
The mission, think of the mission. She repeated internally until they pulled up beside a large, official looking vessel that awaited them in a dark dock. The five of them got out of the car and walked up the gang way. Raven watched as Adele moved to stand by the railing, her black hair whipping around her pale face as she gazed out into the dark. Charles moved to stand next to her and bent to talk to her but she turned away and refused to speak.
"Shit!" Raven swore as she watched her brother's shoulder's slump and her best's friend's dreams shatter.
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