Disclaimer: I do not own the X-Men or any Marvel character. I only own Victoria and other original characters.
A/N: I decided I'd be awesome and get another chapter out tonight as an apology for the long wait. Oh and there might have been a mix up, me uploading the wrong chapter or something. I dont know, it might have been my imagination. Hahah (:
Oh and in response to Nadine: yeah, i'm a bit of a comic nerd too, so i've tried to stick to it. Actually the main storyline comes from the comic books, and you'll find out a bit mroe about Victoria's history which is all pretty in sync with the comic book. Except obviously her name isn't Luna, and she has different powers (:
Oh! and before I forget - I've got the rest of this story planned out chapter by chapter. There will be 13 chapters, maybe fourteen if I do an epilogue which I haven't decided. And there might be a sequel. Depending on how well this story is received.
Right, read on!
And don't forget to review!
It had been two weeks since my encounter with Pyro. I hadn't seen him since, not even roaming the corridors. I had a strange feeling he was avoiding me. No one else seemed to mention him, it was like he didn't exist. I felt kind of bad for insulting him, but even if I wanted to apologise I couldn't find him. Over the last few days, I had pushed him out of my mind and gotten on with things.
My training with Eric had been going well, I had progressed in freezing. After a few more sessions, I had been able to increase the length of the freeze for over a minute. Apparently the next step was using my powers in fight or something. I hadn't really been paying attention. Our session had run over again and the "X-Men" were getting ready for their training. I was slightly distracted by a certain someone suiting up.
I had developed a small crush, I'll admit. Piotr wasn't my usual type. I don't even have a type. But he was sweet, funny and charming - not to mention absolutely gorgeous.
"I don't see why I have to write this stupid essay." I grumbled into my desk, my hands gripping my hair.
Piotr, Bobby, Rogue and I were working on our homework. Charles had set us an essay on 'Lord of the Flies'.
"Because you're in the class, just like the rest of us." Bobby replied with a sarcastic smile.
"I've already written thousands of essays on this in school. It's stupid."
"Then it should be easier for you, so stop complaining." Piotr had spent about twenty minutes on his first sentence, English Lit. really wasn't his thing. I was a little taken aback by his snappy tone. "Sorry, I just… This is impossible."
"No it's not. Look what's your essay question?" I leaned over to him, and look over his shoulder. I blushed a little when I realised how close I was to him.
He looked at me, and I realised our faces were only inches apart. Pink tinged his cheeks, and I could feel the air getting warmer.
"Uhhh… Explain how the island itself could be considered a character."
I smiled a shy smile at him and began helping him with his work. I could sense Bobby and Rogues smirks at our little display but I brushed them off.
"Oi, kid, ain't you meant to be down in the danger room with Magneto?" Logan had walked by but stopped when he saw me at the desk.
I looked up at him confused before glancing at my watch, I was five minutes late and I had to get up to my room and changed. Bugger.
"Shit! I'm late!" I gathered together my books and bid goodbye to the others, "Thanks Logan!" I called back down the corridor.
I ran all the way up to my dorm, chucked my books on my small desk and grabbed my training outfit. A pair of loose tracksuit bottoms and a tank top. Simple and reliable; allowing for easy movement.
"Ahh you're late my dear." Eric spotted me running down the corridor.
"Sorry," I panted, "I was studying and lost track of time."
"That's alright Victoria, it appears our other participant is also late."
Eric lead me into the danger room which today appeared to be some sort of gym or dojo, quite unusual. Wait, other participant?
"Huh? Someone else?" I cocked my head at Eric, who just smiled coyly and left for the control room.
"Yeah, someone else."
Oh great. The familiar smug voice of Pyro ran through my ears.
"What are you doing here?"
He walked right up to me, towering over me, a smug little smirk plastered on his features. I had to admit, he was quite attractive. His eyes were dark though, full of… hatred and malice. A shiver ran down my spine.
"I'm here to beat the crap out of you." He grinned.
"W-What?" My eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.
"Calm down children." Eric's voice boomed over the tannoy, "Pyro is here to help with your hand-to-hand combat training."
I looked at toast boy and he winked at me. Oh boy, he's going to kill me. I've never had any sort of hand-to-hand combat. The most I've ever managed was a feeble slap when a group of girls turned on me at school. Bad memories.
"Right, Pyro here is going to launch attacks at you, and I want you to block them."
I nodded and loosened my muscles. Pyro was standing a few feet away from me with that annoying smug look on his face.
"You ready, princess?" He cocked his head to the side, and a sadistic grin spread across his features. Oh crap.
"Bring it o-" I was cut off by hi fist flying what seemed a thousand miles an hour towards my face. Instinctively, my hands flew up and I froze him in place.
I ducked, and moved out of the way, waiting for the freeze to wear off.
He stumbled forward and almost fell flat on his face. I snorted at his face full of panic and surprise.
I feigned innocence, "Didn't see that coming?"
He said nothing but jumped at me again. This time I didn't freeze him, I just ducked. I had a feeling he was going easy on me.
He flew at me with his right fist, and I jumped to the left. It was purely a game of who was quicker. Thankfully, the years of running from pricks at school had helped me build up my speed. I'll admit, I was getting slightly cocky. A smirk on my face appearing to match his own. Smugess is my downfall I guess.
I was too slow and Pyro landed a punch on the right hand side of my jaw. I stumbled back a bit, and looked up in shock. For a second I thought I could see surprise and regret on my attackers face, but if I did it was gone in a flash. He grinned at me, "Didn't see that coming?"
I stared at him in disbelief for a second, still clutching my jaw. It was definitely going to bruise. He was still looking at me, mocking me. Anger swelled inside me, I had vowed to myself over the past few weeks that no man would ever lay a finger on me.
With a quick flick of my wrists he froze, the superior look held on his features. Two swifts steps and I was in front of him, fist balled up.
I punched him as hard as I could.
Five, maybe ten seconds later he unfroze. He grabbed his face in pain, and glared up at me. From no where, we heard applause and laughter. Eric had wondered into the room.
"Well done my dear, that was quite a good shot." He patted me slightly on the back, "I hope it doesn't sting too much, Pyro."
I smiled triumphantly and looked at the boy in question. I jumped slightly when I saw the look in his eyes; a look of absolute hatred and abhorrence directed solely at me. It sent a chill down my spine.
Without another word, Pyro regained his stance and stormed out of the room.
"It seems you might have dented his ego, my child."
I bid my Grandfather goodbye and went after the haughty pyromaniac. I guess I should apologise, it wasn't entirely fair of me to use my powers when he couldn't.
I searched the nearby corridors and found nothing. There was no one in the classrooms nearby, and it wasn't until I approached the rec room that I found anyone.
Piotr was carrying a small side table under one arm and a computer monitor under the other.
"Wow, did you remember to lift with your knees?" I asked him as we grew closer.
"Aha. Always. What are you doing wondering around? I thought you were with Magneto?"
"Oh, well. There was a slight incident and now I'm trying to find Pyro."
Piotr's eyes narrowed at the mention of his former friend. I couldn't help but feel slightly bad for Pyro, considering how people reacted to just stating his name.
"Why you looking for him?" I caught something in the tone of his voice, but I couldn't quite place it.
"I did something which I need to apologise for." I nervously played with my hands. I wasn't sure if it was the close proximity to Piotr's godlike form or the prospect of having to see Pyro after our little punch up.
Piotr laughed at the idea, "No need Vicki, I'm sure he deserved it."
I felt a little jolt of something at his words, again something I couldn't place.
"Yeah, well. I still feel the need. You haven't seen him have you?"
Piotr's face fell a little, but he complied anyway. "Yeah, I saw him go out on the balcony a few minutes ago." I smiled appreciatively at him, "Just a warning, Vicki. He's bad news."
I nodded at Piotr, smiling at his conern for me. "I'll be fine. I'm a big girl."
I walked of down the hallway, not before looking back to find Piotr staring after me. When he realised, he looked away embarrassed. I couldn't help but giggle to myself.
Just like Piotr said, there he was. Pyro was leaning over the balcony - a cigarette in hand. Pulling out one of my own, I joined him.
"Got a light?"
He glanced over at me, eyes narrowed, but he obliged, holding his zippo up to my cigarette.
"Thanks."
We stood for a few moments in awkward silence. I wasn't sure how to go about apologising, or if he'd even accept it.
"Look, Pyro." I began, turning to face him. "About what happened. I'm sorry, it was wrong of me to use my powers."
He didn't even spare me a glance, just continued to stare out across the grounds. He was being difficult. I gritted my teeth and tried again.
"I just… I reacted badly, that's all. I apologise for it."
Again, nothing. Studying his face, I could see several emotions scaring it. Annoyance, anger, frustration, isolation. I followed his stare to find Bobby, Rogue, Kitty and Jubilee sat in the gardens studying and laughing.
Ahh. He missed his friends. Or at least, friendship - someone to talk to.
"You know, if you actually tried you could probably get your old friends back."
That earned my a glance. More of a glare actually, which turned into a bitter grin accompanied by a dry laugh. "You already seem to have stepped into my place there, sweetheart."
I was taken aback by his words. I hadn't taken his place, not intentionally. I had just made friends.
"Well, I'm sorry if I'm capable of making friends." I crossed my arms over my chest defensively.
"Hah. Not just friends, babe. I've seen you and Piotr making sex eyes at each other."
"Excuse me?" My eyes were as wide as satellites. How dare he say such a thing.
"You heard me." He threw the butt of his cigarette off the balcony and faced me. "I don't even understand why they would befriend you."
He spat the last word out of his mouth as thought it was poisoned. He looked me up and down, disgusted. I felt slightly violated, I couldn't help but shudder under his gaze.
"What's the supposed to mean?" My voice shook slightly.
"Your pathetic. You're weak. You can't control your powers. You're not worthy of being Magneto's new protégé." An malicious glint came over his eyes before he spoke again, "You even managed to kill your parents."
My mouth opened to reply but nothing came out. I was like a fish. How did he know that? Eric wouldn't have told him, would he? No, he wouldn't have.
"Yeah, I know you're little secret. Quite interesting really. Maybe I should inform you're new friends, Piotr would find it most enlightening, I'm sure."
A spiteful grin was dominating his face as he looked down on me. Tears were already forming in my eyes, threatening to spill onto my cheeks.
"Fuck you."
He laughed a little, "No thanks princess, I'd rather not."
The first tear fell, and I refused to let him see. I turned and marched back into the building. I kept walking and walking, trying to get as far away from that horrible, nasty, vicious, cruel excuse for a human. My eyes fixed to the ground, so no one saw my watery features.
Unfortunately, that meant I couldn't see where I was going very well and ended up walking straight into the chest of Logan. "Woah kid, where's the fire?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry." I adverted my eyes from his in hopes it would make my tears seem less obvious.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Concern covered his rough features as he laid a hand on my shoulder.
"It's nothing. I just…" Should I tell him? Or should I just leave it? "I guess I miss home a little, y'know?"
He seemed to buy it. He'd probably heard it from a few kids before, working at a boarding school.
"It's ok. That's normal, you'll be fine after a few days. You settled in ok? Made friends and stuff?"
"Yeah, yeah. Kitty made sure of that."
Thats all for today folks! Reviews make me happy! :P