A/N: Hullo! Not much to say here except Evey is a little munchkin beyatch of angstin this chapter BUT it's just her character so don't hate her just yet. But if you do already hate her then good because I don't particulary care for her either! Thanks for my reviews and enjoy!
LostAcanthus - Cookie! Or left-over party food of your choice (we have a lots) You really hit the nail on the head with the Evey-from-V-and-also-Kate/Evangeline Lilly-from-Lost musing in your review! I'm a total Lost freak (Go Foxy!) and I thought Evey really suited Natalie Portman in V. But my Evey is neither! She's a total opposite little beyatch! Now, if you can guess who I got her last name from, you can have left-over party booze of your choice too!
Chapter Three - Angel Eyes
Evey had fallen asleep in Warren's arms mid journey, something which he was grateful for as it gave him a chance to think over his situation. He knew she would be asleep soon enough as she had exerted herself greatly this morning.
Warren tried to enjoy the scenery below him as he crossed state from state but his eyes kept being dragged back to the sleeping form in his arms. She looked pretty peaceful but Warren had witnessed and received the brunt of her fiery nature, something he didn't know she possessed.
Evey stirred in his arms and tightened her grip around his neck before she awoke with a start. She caught Warren off guard and he almost let her topple out of his arms.
"Christ Evey, you almost gave me a heart attack!" Warren exclaimed as Evey clung to him for dear life as she gathered her bearings. "You can retract your nails from my back now by the way."
Evey blushed and loosened her grip before unwinding her arms from his neck and settling them into her lap again. "Sorry."
"You didn't think I was going to drop you?" Warren asked mildly.
"What like you did when we were in San Francisco?" Evey replied shortly. "Where are we anyway?"
"Somewhere near Chicago I think," Warren replied. "Getting close now."
"I don't know where this academy is," Evey admitted. "I just know it's in New York."
"I know where it is. I looked it up after you told me about it," Warren explained with a smile but he relaxed it again soon after. "Do you feel ok?"
"I'm fine," Evey replied coolly. "I just want to get to the academy."
"I don't want you to be mad at me. I made some bad choices but can't we just forget everything now and move on?" Warren sighed. He'd hoped a sleep would've brought her around.
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned Warren and it's about time you learnt that," Evey replied simply and Warren screwed his mouth up in both confusion and annoyance.
"If you're going to be like that then why don't I just drop you off and you can get a train back to San Francisco then? It's obvious you don't want to be with me," Warren said, pouting.
"Thank you for finally realising! The screaming and kicking wasn't enough huh?" Evey said sarcastically.
Warren began to fly lower with her last comment without saying a word.
"Woah! What are you doing?" Evey exclaimed, grabbing her churning stomach at the sudden change.
"Dropping you off," Warren replied.
"You can't just abandon me in some redneck town Warren! Are you crazy? I don't even have any money for a train back!" Evey shouted, wanting to throttle her friend very hard.
"Well, what do you want then?" Warren asked sternly. "Because I'm damned if I know!"
"I want you to understand!" Evey cried. "I'm upset about many different things and I just want you to understand! You dragged me away from my home without permission and told me you loved me while we were soaring through the skies at a thousand feet! I'm very confused and I need support."
"I'm here for you Evey. You need to understand why I wanted you to come, I wanted to protect you and take you somewhere safe as well as having my best friend by my side to help me go through with it. I'm scared Evey, I don't even have a home or a father anymore and there's a war threatening to break out at any minute. I did what I thought was right," Warren explained. This whole trip was nothing but truths it seemed.
"I understand. Thank you," Evey said stiffly. Warren was right; he had done what Evey would've done in his position. Had she not broken through railings trying to protect her friend and save him?
Her answer was met with silence as Warren beat his wings harder and veered off to the right slightly. His speed increased for one last final push and Evey saw the tale tell skyscrapers of New York in the distance. Evey put her hand on Warren's chest as the extra energy he was exerting would need to be replaced. She looked out across the world before her and sighed heavily for she had been expecting a normal, run of the mill day while fretting over why Warren hadn't called but instead had travelled across most of the United States of America in the arms of the very person she wallowing in self pity over.
- - -
"It's beautiful," Evey exclaimed as she and Warren's feet set upon the grounds of the academy. She clung to Warren for support as her legs were numb from the journey. Warren stretched out his arms, enjoying the freedom.
"Looks ok," Warren shrugged as he looked up at the manor house from the driveway where they had landed. "I guess we find the front door."
The pair began to walk up the gravel toward the manor and Evey read a sign introducing the academy as she passed it.
"Professor Xavier," Evey repeated. "Take it he's the headmaster?"
"I guess. Better find him first," Warren nodded.
"What are we actually going to say when we reach him? This is a school and we've both graduated from college," Evey asked, hoping Warren had an answer better than hers for she had no clue what to say.
"We'll ask for shelter, that's all," Warren replied simply as they reached the grand entrance door. Warren opened the door with ease and went to step inside.
"Don't you think we should knock first?" Evey hissed but Warren was already inside and she had no choice but to follow. The floors were polished hardwood and the manor had been decorated quite lavishly. Everywhere was silent except for voices coming from down the hall which Warren was following toward.
They reached the door to the room where the voices were coming from and Warren pushed it open without a word. Evey cringed, he was so damn rude!
The people inside stopped talking and turned to where Warren and Evey stood. Evey tried to hide behind Warren and she grasped his hand tightly for reassurance.
"I heard this was a safe house for mutants," Warren said boldly, offering himself to their mercy. Evey noticed the only woman in the room smile sadly at him.
"Sorry kid, not anymore," A giant blue man replied harshly. Evey recognised him as a mutant rights leader from TV.
"Don't be ridiculous Hank. Let me find you a room," The woman said kindly to Warren as he pulled Evey to his side so she was visible properly. "Ah," The woman added with a smile. "No problem."
"Thank you," Warren said. "I'm Warren and this is Evangeline."
"Good to meet you. I'm Ororo Munroe," Ororo declared as she began leaving the room. Warren and Evey followed her back down the hallway. "I saw you both on the news this morning."
Warren and Evey were unsure how to respond so Ororo went on.
"You did the right thing, be proud of yourselves," She said softly as she swung open a heavy mahogany door which led into a double room. It was nicely furnished and looked comfortable enough.
"Thanks," Evey said and smiled at the woman and her kindness.
"I'll leave you to settle in. Don't be afraid to make yourselves at home for as long as you need," Ororo replied simply and left them to it.
Evey went and sat on the bed against the left wall and swung her small bag over her head and laid it down next to her. She looked at the floor, out of the window across the gardens and at her hands before she finally looked at Warren.
"You were right. I heard them talking about a war," Evey shivered and brought her legs up under her chin. She surveyed Warren with questioning brown eyes.
"I need to keep an eye on the news to see if Dad does unveil Alcatraz Island as the resting place for the cure," Warren replied. "He's just a little boy."
"Who?" Evey asked sharply.
"The cure. He's a mutant just like us. He's around ten years old I guess," Warren explained.
"Jesus. Really?" Evey replied, astounded. She mulled over what she'd just heard for a few moments, feeling incredible empathy for the child.
"Evey…" Warren began but never finished his sentence for he leapt from the bed where he was sitting and scooped Evey into a kiss that dragged her to her feet. He held her tight against him as they kissed and because it had taken Evey by such surprise, she didn't fight it straight away.
"Warren…no," Evey uttered against his mouth before she managed to pry herself away from him. "I can't. I'm sorry."
Warren let his arms slip from their hold around her and looked at the floor sheepishly. "Sorry," he mumbled quietly and Evey was unsure what to do next.
"Ahem," Came a gruff voice from the doorway and the pair turned to see who their visitor was. Evey recognised him from the first room of people they encountered; he had been standing with Ororo. "Here."
The man tossed Warren a white t-shirt and he slipped it over his head. It was loose but did the job as he'd been topless since Worthington Labs.
"I'm Logan, Ororo asked me to show you where the kitchen is. You've missed lunch but there should be some stuff left for sandwiches," Logan said roughly, eyeing both Evey and Warren before turning and motioning them to follow down to the kitchen.
"One thing," Logan added as Evey went past. His arm was blocking Warren from following. "Make sure your moves are consensual only."
"Got it," Warren replied hotly, pushing past his arm and following after Evey. His cheeks were burning with extended embarrassment from the whole situation and he hated it.
"Just help yourself to some food. There's a mess hall through there if you want and the living area is just down the hallway," Logan explained as he led them into the kitchen area. "I'll be around."
Warren watched him leave and turned to Evey who was busying herself looking for bread and fillings in the refrigerator.
"What do you want?" She asked him over her shoulder as she took out a dish of butter and half a loaf.
"I'm not hungry," Warren replied, leaning against the work top and folding his arms. "Not anymore."
Evey didn't reply. She began buttering some bread before slapping on some peanut butter on each slice before slamming them together, putting the sandwich on a plate and handing it to Warren forcefully.
"Just eat it Warren and stop being pathetic," She said as the sandwich was met with a sour look.
"I said I'm not hungry," Warren replied childishly and shoved it back in Evey's hands. Incensed, she snatched the plate away and began eating it herself just to spite him.
Warren watched with folded arms and a sneer as Evey ate his sandwich. They were just too alike to be friends anymore.
"Why did you kiss me?" Evey asked, still eating the sandwich. She didn't look at him but her tone was firm. "Just now. Why?"
"I don't know!" Warren replied angrily. "What do you want from me Evey? For me to grovel at your feet? To court you or something? Tell me now because I know this is about the summer before college. If Kate is bothering you then know she didn't mean a thing to me."
"It's not that easy Warren. You can't say sorry and I forget it ever occurred. You hurt me a lot, Hell, I'd go as far as saying you ripped my heart out but you don't care! You're kissing me and kidnapping me and I'm eating a fucking peanut butter sandwich in a mutant academy kitchen!" Evey blasted, slamming the plate down on the counter. "I've had enough of wanting you Warren, I've waited for you all these years and it's enough now."
Despite the situation, Warren laughed. It wasn't a nervous laugh but a rich, long awaited chuckle. This made Evey extremely angry.
"Forget it! I'm going home," Evey cried, storming out of the kitchen and back down the hall.
"Evey, wait!" Warren called, still laughing. "Come on, wait up!"
But Evey was walking so fast that she was running. She reached the entrance doors and burst through them, out into the sunshine.
"Evangeline, I'm telling you to stop and turn around and face me. That's an order!" Warren commanded, knowing it would catch her attentions.
Sure enough, Evey stopped, turned and faced Warren and swung a fist at him while she was doing so. Lucky for Warren, she missed but only just.
"Go to Hell!" She yelled and began storming through the gardens. She'd taken a wrong turn but was too proud to turn around now. Warren caught hold of her wrist and stopped her from going any further.
"Listen to me; you want to know why I kissed you? Because I'm still in love with you. I loved you when I was twelve, all the time I was with Kate and it'll carry on through whether we end up together or not. That's why Evey," Warren explained angrily. "And I'm laughing because we've felt the same for nearly ten years and have only just kissed!"
"I don't find that funny," Evey huffed, folding her arms. The sun was beating down on them and the smell of flowers was almost intoxicating.
"Come on Eves," Warren jibed. "You haven't smiled all day."
"Maybe because I've been waiting for a phone call apology for the past four days? Maybe because I've been waiting to hear you say you love me for the past, what ten years?" Evey replied coldly, looking right at him.
Warren looked at her for a moment, studying her hard features. She was glaring quite nastily at him and it made him uneasy. Had he blown it for real this time? Warren sighed raggedly and dragged a hand through his blonde hair.
"I'm really sorry but I can't change the past. I did what I did because I was an idiot but I'm changed now, you saw what I did – I stood up to my father for the first time in my life. I kissed you and told you how I really feel, isn't that enough?" Warren asked slowly, still studying her face. Thankfully, her features had softened again and Evey was looking at him quizzically.
"I'm not sure anymore," Evey said sadly, shrugging at him.
"Look, whatever game you're playing with me or however you're trying to punish me won't work this time. You've pushed me far enough Evey so let's just forget it. Go on home if you want," Warren said, getting quite angry. His fists were clenched at his sides as he watched Evey process the information. She didn't look mad, she looked hurt.
Warren sighed loudly and turned on his heel so he could go back to the manor and keep an eye on the news. He couldn't stand amongst flowers all day with a girl who may or may not hate him. He didn't have time for it anymore.
Evey weighed up the situation and looked down at her feet. Truth was, she didn't want to leave Warren here and she certainly didn't fancy trudging around New York looking for Grand Central on her own so she followed after him, keeping her gaze trained on the ground. She wasn't giving up that easily.