This chapter is for Shejams who was my only review last chapter and requested another chapter quick and not at my usual really slow pace. This is pretty much the Alex/Lorna version of last chapter so...if that's not your thing, please skip over this.
Alex woke up to a poking in his shoulder, "Alex? C'mon, get up."
Alex groaned and lifted his head up, trying not to grimace, and failing miserably, at the pain in his neck. Opening his eyes, he first came to the knowledge that he had fallen asleep at his desk. Second, his sketch from last night was stuck to his face. Third, Lorna was trying hard not to laugh at him.
Alex began to smile too and nodded to tell her it was okay if she laughed at him, to which she complied with. The sound made Alex relax. He ran a hand through his blond hair and stood up, ripping the page of his face as he did. He grabbed the clothes he had laid out for today off the table in the corner, also holding his stereo and wicked CD collection, and headed out into the hall, down to the bathrooms to wash the pencil off the side of his face.
Lorna felt a pang of hurt as he walked out without a word to her, but that was something she was getting more and more used to. Maybe it was a Summers thing. Sighing, she closed his bedroom door and settled for going downstairs.
She had no sooner hit the last stair when Bobby was right there, doing that guy thing where they lean against something and try to look cool, but fail miserably, "What's up Bobby?"
He flipped his head in a way which she had to cough not to laugh at and looked at her, "Nothing...yet."
She hoped with all her might that Alex would hurry himself up.
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Alex grabbed a worn washcloth he could swear had once been an appealing shade of green, got it wet, and began to wipe the gray marks off his face. He knew he should have said something to Lorna this morning, at the very least given her a thank-you for waking her up, but as distant as he was feeling when he woke up, he would have been shocked if he could have said something coherent.
After the last miniscule evidential speck of his late night habit had been washed away and a huge red patch left in its place, he got dressed in blue jeans and a red graphic tee. He missed being able to put on a bathing suit if he stepped out on a Saturday, but it was worth the control of his powers, seeing Scott, and having Lorna. Having taken a shower last night, he knew he could skip one until tomorrow morning.
Alex had decided last night to tell Lorna, but now he was losing his resolve. What would she think of him if she told him he couldn't remember something, or someone, that had meant so much in his past? He was so afraid of losing her. She gave him so much strength to get through every day. He couldn't lose her now.
All of those doubts dissolved at the scene unfolding at the bottom of the staircase. Bobby was trying to get in on Lorna, something he had been trying to do since Lorna got there (Lorna had gotten there before Alex), and it was quite common knowledge that Lorna and Alex were together. Guess that didn't mean much to the snowball.
Alex tried to calm himself down as he came down the stairs. Lorna was so out of it at the moment from trying to block out Bobby, she didn't see Alex until he put his arm possessively around her waist. She jumped a little, but she didn't push him away.
"Sorry Bobby," she said, interrupting him. "I've got to go."
Bobby scoffed, "With who? The human nuclear bomb?"
Now it was Alex's turn to feel trapped and Lorna's to get angry. She knew how scared Alex was that his powers were going to go out of control. It would be so catastrophic if it did that it was something Alex always had to have at the back of his mind. His powers weren't as easy to control as his brother's, though they did exhibit more overall control. The Professor was working on a bodysuit for Alex at the moment that should help him channel his energy better. Alex had almost broken off his connection to Lorna a few times simply based on his powers. Lorna would hear none of it.
In the now, Lorna took Alex by the elbow and pulled him straight out into the garden connecting to the mansion. There was a little bench next to a pathway that ran through the flowered paradise Storm worked so hard to keep, and Alex and Lorna set to occupy it. There was nearly always someone on it, so the Professor had been hard set to have a few more made. So far, no luck, so this was the only one. Amara and Sam gave them a glare they both promptly ignored as Lorna took Alex's face into her hands.
"Alex, you know it's never mattered to me about your powers," Lorna said, trying to get him to look her in the eyes.
"I know, it's just..." he trailed off not able to finish. He felt like he was lying to her without lying to her.
"You can tell me anything. You know that, right?" Lorna asked, letting go of his face, turning away from him.
"Yeah, I know, it's just...this is something that's haunted me for a while now...and I just...I don't know how to ask for help," Alex said, turning red.
Lorna looked into his chocolate brown eyes, "Why don't you try?"
Alex stared back into the bright green orbs she had for eyes, "Lorna...will you...help me?"
She beamed at him, "If I can, of course."
Alex then told her about that night and the second parachute. Lorna listened intently the whole time, not making a sound or a motion to interrupt him. When he finished Lorna let him have a moment to collect himself. After that, Lorna stood up, and she took his hand, making him stand, "C'mon"
"Where are we going?"
"To see Professor Xavier."