X-Men: An Angel's Tale
Part 4: Cupid
She was beautiful.
Warren Worthington had seen some pretty girls in his time, Jean Grey for one, but this woman who was among the group that had come to his rescue had a grace and elegance to her that he hadn't seen too many times before. Her skin was a light brown and smooth, like milk chocolate as Warren pleasantly realized, and her eyes matched his in both shape and color, with him looking at them being akin to looking at a reflection of his own blue orbs. But most distinctive of all was her hair, which was long, majestic, and most unusually, white as snow.
In all she took his breath away just by being in front of him. Catching himself staring, Warren averted his gaze. Considering that they were still in the belly of the beast, the last thing Warren wanted was to be distracted by a pretty face, even one as incredible as hers.
"Man, am I the only one noticing this writing?" Deadpool asked. "I mean come on: milk chocolate? What clichéd romance novel did he get that one from?"
"Shut up and fight Wilson!" Omega Red snarled as he twirled his wrist-cables around and around.
"Ah come on Whiplash wannabe, I'm busy observing this guy's cheesy romance writing…"
"WILSON!" Maverick ordered. "This is not the time for your insane ranting!"
Deadpool made an indignant huff and feigned offense: "I prefer to think of myself as unusually enlightened. I mean, I'm the only guy here who knows we're in a fan-fiction…"
Wolverine lunged at Deadpool as he spoke, bringing the full force of his adamantium claws down in an attempt to cut Deadpool to ribbons. Seeing him coming in time, Deadpool activated his teleporter and vanished.
"Ha! Got ya Wolvie! Man, I'm so glad the author gave me this doo-hickey. It makes life a heck of a lot easier…"
But as Deadpool was saying this, he failed to notice two white booted three-toed feet strike him hard in the face, sending him flying backwards. Rolling with the attack, Deadpool landed and stared down his opponent.
"Me and the blue elf eh? Alright. What the heck. Its better than getting stuck with Cyclops"
Nightcralwer vanished in a puff of red and black smoke. Not to be undone, Deadpool activated his teleporter once more and he too vanished. So began a fight that saw both opponents teleporting all over the entirety of the room, each one completely and utterly incapable of landing a hit on the other as they constantly vanished in thin air only to reappear moments later somewhere else and then vanish again. Thus the fight was an impasse.
"Just like in Marvel Ultimate Alliance!" Deadpool declared happily as he teleported again before adding: "Cool! Italics!"
Meanwhile, Angel watched as the snow haired beauty called down powerful gusts of wind after Cyclops blasted open several holes in the ceiling, followed swiftly by bolts of lightning directed at the various Weapon X members, forcing them to scatter.
"YOWZA!" Deadpool shouted as one lightning bolt narrowly missed him. "Little too close for comfort there. And how come I had to be singled out here? Why couldn't you let someone else almost get hit by a lightning bolt? Like Cyber?"
Ignoring Deadpool's ranting, Angel flew at a distracted Omega Red, ramming into him as hard as he could. The impact of his colliding with the villain managed to knock him back some, and before he could retaliate, he was slashed across the back by Wolverine's adamantium claws. Snarling, Omega Red spun around and swatted Wolverine away with one of his steel cables, only to be punched repeatedly by Angel. Omega Red rolled with the blows and then struck Angel across the side of the face with one of his cables, only to be frozen at that moment by Iceman.
"Thanks Bobby" Angel said. "I owe you one"
"Actually you owe me three. There was that time I saved your butt from Pyro and the other time when we fought the Hellfire Club…"
"Iceman look out!" Cyclops shouted as Maverick took aim at the young mutant. But before he could fire a sonic scream from Banshee sent him flying backwards.
"Keep your head in the game laddie" Banshee advised Iceman.
Iceman nodded and unleashed a small blizzard from his hands, blinding Cyber and forcing him back as Colossus charged into him with the speed, power, and force of a train. Cyber stood his ground and weathered the attack before grabbing Colossus with both hands and hurling him right over his head. Wolverine moved in at that moment to take his turn, slashing at Cyber's side with his adamantium claws.
"That little scratch won't keep me down Logan" Cyber growled.
"Bring it bub" Wolverine countered through gritted teeth.
As this happened, Angel continued to fly about the battlefield, the closed confines making it difficult for him to maneuver as well as he could, which in turn caused his effectiveness to sharply decrease. But he still found ways to be useful.
Swooping to grab Maverick he picked him up and then hurled the masked gunman before he could do a thing to stop him. "Bobby, freeze em'!"
Turning to see Maverick sailing through the air, Iceman nodded and unleashed a blinding blast of ice that froze Maverick solid. His ice-encased form clattered harmlessly to the floor.
"One human popsicle served!" Iceman quipped happily.
Looking around to see what else he could do, Angel saw Cyclops blast open several more holes in the roof, and from these a torrent of rain and hail fell out of dark storm clouds and right into the Weapon X forces, driving them back and leaving them vulnerable to the combined efforts of the two X-Men teams. Looking around for the source, Angel saw the same beautiful dark-skinned Mutant from before with her arms outstretched and eyes now two blank white orbs. Realizing that she was the cause, Angel quickly deduced what her Mutant power was.
She can control the weather…
"No duh bird brain!" Deadpool remarked as he continued his duel with Nightcrawler. "I mean, I would think that would be pretty obvious going by the evidence…"
But as Deadpool said this, he left himself open to an attack from Nightcrawler, who managed to kick him square in the chest, cracking the center of his teleporter device and knocking him back. As Deadpool forced himself back up, the teleporter began to give off sparks and crackle.
"Uh-oh. That doesn't look good…"
Next thing Deadpool knew he was blasted backwards by a small discharge of electricity, which also knocked him flat on his back.
"Ow! My Kidneys!" Deadpool whined.
"One of these days I will tear Wilson's tongue right out of his tiny head" Cyber snarled as he attempted to grab and throttle Wolverine, only for his smaller opponent to avoid him with ease. A sonic blast to the back courtesy of Banshee drew his attention to the Irishman, who flew out of the way of Cyber's retaliatory strikes.
"Storm, take Cyber down!" Cyclops ordered.
Seeing the fight, Storm nodded and directed her next bolt of lightning down at Cyber. The lightning struck his mechanical body and snaked through it with a brilliant flash and shower of sparks. Cyber howled in pain as all of his circuits were simultaneously fried before collapsing, now smoking but still breathing.
"Holy crap…" Angel had seen some fairly powerful mutants, such as the Professor, Magneto, and Wolverine. But Storm's downing the massive Cyber with a single summoned bolt of lightning threatened to top the list. Seeing Storm's command over the weather, Angel couldn't help but be reminded of the Avenger Thor, though with him he had never seen it so up close and personal. And to say the least, it was quite humbling.
Lady Deathstrike and Sabertooth the last to fall, engaging Wolverine in a deadly dance that saw them slash, cut, and skewer each other repeatedly before Telepath used her namesake to force Lady Deathstrike to yield. Sabertooth tried to kill Telepath while she was distracted but Colossus grabbed his arm before he could slash at her and then hurled him across the room where he slammed into the wall with force. Quickly getting back up, he was all set to run at the assembled X-Men before a high-powered optic blast to the face from Cyclops put him down.
No sooner had Cyclops subdue Sabertooth did he take to using his optic blasts to blow open an exit for the X-Men to escape through. As he was doing this, Angel found himself unable to keep his eyes off of Storm, who's beautiful face had become dispassionate and distant now that the battle was over. She almost seemed lost in another world, which if anything just seemed to draw Angel to her more, compelled to know what she was thinking. Really, he just felt the great desire to get to know her more.
Then he caught himself.
"Settle down Warren" he chastised. "You of all people should know you can't rush these things. They take time. Just be patient and wait it out. See where it goes…"
Angel nodded silently in regards to his more rational half winning out, but even so, he found himself greatly looking forward to getting to meet Storm for real back at the mansion…
-X-
Following the battle with the Weapon X forces, the now two X-Men teams returned to the Xavier Institute feeling suitably triumphant and pleased with themselves. The rescue mission by the newcomers led by Cyclops and Storm had been a complete success.
"I don't know about any of you" Iceman said, "but I'm glad to be home. I think this calls for a little celebrating"
"I second that" Angel agreed. "I could use some time to kick back and relax after being cooped up by those Weapon X bastards for so long"
"You all did great out there" Cyclops congratulated. "I'm looking forward to fighting with all of you in the future"
"I'm agreeing with the boss man for once" Wolverine said with a nod. "You all did great. Especially you Storm"
Storm nodded and smiled. "Thank you. I am glad I was able to help free your friends"
"Just stick with us lady" Iceman said happily. "You're all one of us now!"
"It's been a long time since I was part of a family" Storm replied with a smile. "Thank you"
"Alright, alright" Logan said interceding. "Let's not get all sappy."
"You know Logan, you should really try being happy some time" Scott said. "I swear it's not so bad"
"Watch it Boss-Man" Logan said. "Ya may be able to charm Jeanie with that dork stuff, but not me"
Storm turned to Warren, which made his heart race as he saw her face up close. "Do those two always bicker" she asked.
Warren smiled and nodded. "Pretty much, yeah. They're closer than you think, they just don't want anyone else to think that"
"I heard that Warren" Logan said.
"Oh shit"
-X-
As the assembled mutants all got settled, everyone took to doing their own thing. Nightcrawler and Bobby had hit it off almost immediately due to sharing a similar sense of humor and easygoing personality, Banshee took to charming Jean, and Logan as always, kept to himself. As for Colossus, Warren noted that he had taken to quietly working on a picture of some kind, which intrigued him.
"So he's an artist…."
Realizing that the one Mutant he couldn't find was the one he wanted to see the most, Warren went outside looking for Storm, and found her flying through the night sky by herself. Smiling at the sight of the attractive weather goddess being in his home turf, Warren extended his wings and took to the skies after her. It didn't take him long to catch up with her, and when she saw him, she smiled.
"Hello there. I'm sorry, I did not get your name before…"
"My name is Warren" the charismatic young Mutant replied with a smile. "Warren Worthington"
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Worthington" Storm said politely. "You may call me Ororo"
"Alright Ororo" Warren said before adding: "So anyway, what's a gorgeous angel like you doing up here?" Warren asked.
"I find it strange that you ask me that question when it is you who are called Angel and not I" Storm replied simply before adding: "I sometimes seek the comfort of the wind and the clouds"
"Ah. Well, that explains it then. Its…uh, its really nice to have someone to share the sky with" Warren said awkwardly. He kicked himself mentally. He was usually a lot smoother than this, especially when flirting with women, but Storm was different it seemed. She did something to him that caused him to lose his focus, and even more unsettling, he didn't seem to mind.
"Yes, I agree" she replied. "I have often felt lonely soaring through the air alone. Your companionship is most welcome"
"I'm glad you think so" Warren said, the relaxed and confident tone he had grown accustomed to using when talking to women finally managing to come back to him. Desperate to keep it going, he continued: "So what do you think of the X-Men so far? It must be different from what you're used to. I know it was for me…"
"It is a little unusual I admit, but I do not believe I shall have too much trouble adjusting…"
"That's good to know. I…I'd certainly like to see you stick around"
"I'm flattered that you so enjoy my company Mr. Worthington" Storm replied politely. "I must say I am enjoying yours more and more as well. Your friends seem to be similarly generous"
"I think that's because they, like me, see the possibilities."
"And what possibilities would those be?"
"You and me Storm" Warren said. "Together. Us making something together, something beautiful"
"…I am not sure I understand"
Warren smiled. She was so innocent, not unlike most of the other women he'd been with before. He liked that. There was a certain purity about Storm that Warren was pretty confident he wouldn't be able to find anywhere else. He didn't want to sully it.
"I think its something better explained through deeds rather than words. After all, actions speak louder than words…or so I've been told"
Damn! He cursed in his head. I just used a cliché. Smooth move Warren. But its not too late to salvage this…"
But Ororo didn't seem to mind. "I agree, actions do carry more of an impact than mere words. But…what actions are you suggesting?"
"Well, I…"
But Warren never got to finish his sentence. Down below Cyclops shouted out to him and Ororo: "Warren! Ororo! We need to move! The Professor says Purifiers are attacking Mutants on the other side of town and we're the only ones who can get to them in time!"
"Purifiers?" Ororo asked.
"The Purifiers." Warren clarified as the X-Men raced to the Blackbird. "The worst of the worst. They believe we mutants are the spawn of the devil and that they're instruments of God, so they go around killing as many of us as they can find…even children"
"These men murder children?" Ororo asked horrified. Warren nodded. "Sometimes. In fact just as often as they do older mutants"
"What kind of god would condone something as barbaric as that?" Ororo asked disgusted. Warren shrugged in response. "No idea. Just that their idea of God tends to be a lot different than mine and most other peoples besides"
"I can see why" Ororo's normally serene voice had taken on an edge to it, and her disgust was very evident in both her tone and the scowl her pretty face had taken on. "If what you say is true, these men have more than earned what is to come"
"No arguments there" Warren agreed.
-X-
"Keep running Jenny!" the Mutant boy shouted to his sister. "They're getting closer!"
"I can't!" Jenny cried. "Help me! I'm too tired!"
"No one's here to save you monsters" one of the Purifiers spat. "We're sending you back to your master"
But as the Purifiers came close enough to their prey to take aim with their guns their attention was diverted by the arrival of the Blackbird, which spun around to confront the surprised Purifiers. Next thing they knew several bolts of lightning were called down on them, as well as a withering and merciless amount of hail and frozen rain.
"Scatter!" the Purifier captain roared. "The demons have called for help from more of their own!"
The Blackbird's ramp lowered as the Purifiers were retreating and out flew Wolverine, thrown at the Purifiers courtesy of Colossus. Claws extended, Wolverine dived into the group of Purifers, who's bullets did nothing to stop him as he tore into them with his adamantium claws. Angel was next down, swooping down on the Purifers and grabbing one. Soaring into the air with him, Angel spun around and then hurled the hapless Purifer back down to the ground before flying into another one and punching him as hard as he could. The other X-Men followed right behind, with Iceman, Colossus, and Cyclops making swift work of the group of Purifers. One tried to shoot Cyclops as he blasted another back, only to have his gun slashed to pieces by Wolverine's claws.
"Brave guy trying to kill kids." Wolverine growled. "Not so tough against the grown ups though huh bub?"
As the X-Men laid waste to the Purifier forces, Storm continued her punishing blizzard, which kept the Purifiers further disoriented as finally the last of them were taken out. Wolverine kicked one of the downed fanatics and spat on him.
"Scum"
With the Purifiers eliminated, Colossus destroyed the discarded weapons as Angel and Cyclops ensured that all of the Purifiers were in one place for the police to pick up. As this was happening the two mutant children the Purifiers had tried to kill stayed huddled in a corner, too terrified to speak or move. Only watch. Then Storm descended and, seeing the two terrified children, approached them with an extended hand.
"Come out. Its okay. Those men won't hurt you again. I promise. You're safe now"
The two children didn't move at first, still rooted in place by the traumatic experience of nearly being murdered in cold blood, but ever so slowly, one of them inched cautiously to Storm, who did not hesitate to hug her tightly to her.
"Its okay" she repeated. "You're safe now. We're here to protect you"
Watching this, Angel was left stunned at how Storm had gone from decimating the Purifier forces to now hugging a terrified child and assuring them that they were safe. The shift was jarring, but somehow, Angel didn't seem to mind. Instead he was impressed. The Weather Goddess was a beauty inside and out.
"At the rate this is going" Angel thought, "I'm gonna fall in love with her in no time at all…and maybe I already have"
Author's Note: Hey boys and girls! Its me, Deadpool! Just thought I'd take over the author's notes today. So what'd you think of my appearance? Pretty cool huh? I mean, you at least gotta admit I'm cooler than Wolverine and Omega Whiplash right? Come on, at least admit I'm cooler than Wolverine!
Anyhoo, as you all may have noticed, this here fiction's shipping Angel and Storm. Odd choice right? Eh. Better than her and Black Panther I guess. But how on earth will miss purple-haired ninja react? Maybe she'll give the good ol' Merc with a Mouth a chance? I mean we're only sharing a video game really soon.
Now for those of you who missed some of the more obscure Marvel lore references, I'll be sure to help fill ya in!
Cyber, Omega Red, and Maverick are all X-Men villains that have been members of the shady group Weapon X, who we all know Wolverine got those shiny adamantium claws of his from! And the adamantium skeleton. Cyber's a nut who served with Wolverine in World War I and just really hates him for some reason (the dude killed his girlfriend and took out one of his eyes!). Omega Red is a Russian supervillain with whips (not Whiplash), and Maverick, also known as Agent Zero, is a cool dude who likes guns and can absorb and redirect energy. All in all a pretty rough bunch.
Banshee was a member of the X-Men for a time, and joined the same time such big names as Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Wolvie did. He's not quite as major as them, but he sure is a nice guy! You may have seen him in the movie X-Men First Class!
Anyways, be sure to leave reviews as always! Especially positive reviews! We all love positive reviews don't we?
Oh and, I'm gonna be in more chapters right? (…) WHAT? WHADDYA MEAN I PROBABLY WON'T BE IN MORE CHAPTERS?