Wolverina: The Fangs of Revenge

Written By: June Gilbert

X-men Next Generation Book 1

Part One: Before My Eyes Opened

Chapter Two: Jean

"Rob, one more burn like this one and no more mutant baseball until you can dodge properly," Jean Grey scolded gently as she led a certain student of hers to the medic bay.

Seeing Robert's forlorn look, she added, "I just want you to try to be more cautious. Zoe keeps clipping you with her fire. Please use more armor when you play baseball with her, alright? Ask Principal Scott about it."

Robert sighed unhappily, "She didn't mean to hit me… And how do I get practice at dodging if I don't get hit once in a while?"

"Once in a while is one thing mister. Once a week at least is something else entirely."

"Fine…"

Jean knew when Rob was sulking, and this was one of those times. Sometimes the team she had been assigned could be a handful.

The Element 4- the team name, as decided by the kids- consisted of four mutants; Zoe, a fire breather; Robert, a telekinetic like herself; Chloe, a water user who got into squabbles with Zoe almost daily; and Henry, a super-strong mutant whose kind heart usually prevented some of the worse squabbles turning into fights when Jean couldn't be around. She still really couldn't figure out why she had been assigned such a volatile team- beyond the fact that Professor X knew she could handle it.

Even if Scott technically ran the school, Professor X was still in charge of building the teams and assigning mentors. Scott said it was because the Professor needed something to do in the school he founded, but Jean knew better. The Professor still had plenty of time to himself even while assigning teams.

That's what worries me sometimes... If only Scott weren't so bull headed he'd see that something was wrong with Professor X... Even Sheila knows there's something up with him. He spends too much time alone, since neither of us can be with him every minute of the day and he only talks to the younger ones if they ask him something directly. Then again, that girl is the closest any one young mutant has been to him in a long time. Oh Scott... How I wish you'd listen to us...

Jean sighed sheepishly, thinking of the times she had been called away from her team only to deeply regret it later on. However, it was somewhat distracting when your boyfriend was also your boss. Rob winced when he put his hand on the door handle.

"Be careful. I'll open it for you," Jean sighed, noting a burn on Rob's dominant hand. With a flick of her wrist, the door opened soundlessly as if on its own. Rob grinned gratefully and stepped in. Jean followed, only to be met by Elixir. The golden skinned boy smiled amicably.

"Rob get himself into trouble again?"

"Yeah, yeah Elixir don't rub it in," Rob groused, brown eyes sparking irritably.

"Geez, relax. Mind if Gideon tries his hand at healing those? They aren't too bad," Elixir observed, blue eyes critically inspecting the burns on Rob's forearms.

"Nah. Gideon doesn't backfire, so I'm fine."

"Hey! I SO do not backfire, you little-"

Jean ignored the boys bickering. Seeing Gideon curled up in a chair in one corner of the well-lighted Medic bay, she walked over to say hello. The dark skinned boy looked up at Jean's approach, white eyes still a bit unnerving for Jean.

Gideon was technically blind, but he could "see" living things in a way no other mutant the Xavier School had run across could. Instead of the world, he saw human and animal bodies with "colors". Plants and nonliving objects, however, he couldn't see.

Jean understood the basic mechanics of it, having been inside Gideon's mind upon the Professor's request. It had started as a simple foretelling of death when he could still see, but after the accident Gideon's powers accelerated. There was much potential in the boy, that much Jean knew. He had the ability to become an Omega class mutant, if he perfected his powers. Gideon's beaded dreadlocks clinked slightly as his head turned to stare uncannily directly at her.

"Miss Jean? What's up?"

"Elixir and Rob are bickering again. Might want to come over so we can break it up."

"They need me? And I already heard them bickering from all the way over here."

"Yes. Rob has burns-"

"Second degree burns. From Zoe, I presume. They look like her work, even from over here."

Jean blinked, trying to not get off kilter. Gideon was a quiet teenager, but uncannily smart. Which sometimes translated over to being a smart aleck, but not often. Gideon rose, walking with unerring surety over to the still bickering pair of boys.

With a few calm words, he separated them. Elixir headed off for some personal business, and Rob docilely let Gideon treat his burns. Jean was silently relieved as she left, wondering if Gideon's gift extended to maybe a slight telepathic ability. He seemed to be able to subtly manipulate the emotions of those around him, like with Elixir and Rob. Then again, that could just be a skill with people. Jean shook her head.

Only time would tell, really.

Oh no. I can practically sense the anger coming off him… Great. What's got Logan angry now?

Jean worriedly followed the anger radiating off the Canadian mutant's mind. Maybe it had something to do with last night. Jean wasn't very sure what happened yet, because Chloe and Zoe getting into a fight had distracted her for most of the last night. Jean sighed as she saw him going into the garage.

Or, more widely known as Logan's Garage, because he used the area to store his collection of vintage and modern motorcycles. She entered after him, and Logan grunted in irritable surprise when he saw her. One wall of the shed was completely covered by tools, wrenches, screwdrivers and more complicated tools Jean didn't know the name of, while another wall held a scarred work desk and the other wall without bikes leaning against it held the door out. Logan had a battered knapsack on his back and looked ready for travel.

"Jean, buzz off."

"Logan, are you going to run off again?"

"Why do you care?" Logan was scowling irritably.

"I care because you're my friend Logan. And the rest of us care too. Why are you running off?" Jean asked, feeling a bit frustrated.

"That's classified," Logan grunted, moving onto his favorite bike, a Harley.

Jean's frustration was growing.

"And why is it classified?" Jean moved in front of the bike. Logan scowled irritably.

"Questions, questions, too many questions," Logan grumbled, getting off the bike. Jean smiled. Things were finally going her way.

Or so she thought.

Logan was in front of her, and before she knew what was happening, Logan's lips connected with hers.

Frozen by surprise, Jean couldn't move until Logan got back on the bike with a satisfied smirk on his face. Everything suddenly just snapped back in- as if the kiss had stopped time for a few seconds.

Jean scowled in embarrassment as Logan roared off on his Harley. Drat. That Logan... He's so IRRITATING at times... He knows full well I'm dating Scott, and yet he pulls stuff like this... A loud spout of cursing snapped her out of her reverie. She didn't even have to swivel her head to know who was cursing- she recognized both the mental fury and the voice.

Jean sighed, turning around to see her boy friend of many years behind her. Scott angrily kicked the wheel of one of the more expensive bikes. He was scowling wrathfully- the kind of black look he only gave those who acted out or, well, Logan.

Oh dear. This is gonna be a long day...


I know it's been soooo long since I updated, and I apologize sincerely! :) I hope you like this chapter. I promise I'll get to the meat of the story in this next chapter, but this is a vital bit. Don't understimate it :3 BIIIIG Mistake if you skip this one. Leave a review please!

Anyway, how did I do on Jean and Logan? Did I portray Scott's temper tantrum well? What do you think of the dynamics of my version of the Xavier school? Is it good? Please leave a review!

Hugs and virtual cookies to everyone who reviews

-June