Shout Outs...
Proud to be an X-Nerd: I still don't get why you thought it was the end. I'll tell people when it's the end, trust me.
The Notorious SMP: That would work up until he found out what happened. Then the bloodbath would continue in the backyard.
X00001: A grenade to the back would do that to a guy.
0--0
To say James had walked to the kitchen would be an overstatement of the facts. Slowly limped would be considered far more accurate as he staggered along past the stairs on the way to his destination with slow but steady steps. "What are you doing up?" He heard turning his head to see Kitty rush down the steps to him dressed in a short blue skirt and white shirt with lace edging. "You should still be in bed!"
"A guy can only lay face down staring at the same wall for so long." James replied with a slight shrug as he continued on. "Besides, I'm hungry. Therefore I'll go eat something."
"Well, yeah. But still shouldn't you ask someone to get it for you?" Kitty continued as she watched his ponderous walk. "You still don't look too good."
"Yeah, well taking a grenade to the back'll do that to a guy." James said dryly as a jeep pulled up in front of the mansion. "Someone expecting company?"
"Oh, that's my boyfriend!" Kitty squealed turning to look out as three people exited the vehicle. "...And two of his friends..." She added dryly as Todd, Freddy and Lance walked in. "Lance, what are they...?"
"Hey, don't look at me." Lance said, wearing a pair of black slacks and a cream coloured t-shirt. "They wanted to see the Prof, so they pestered me for a ride."
"Hey, it's you again." Freddy said as he walked over to James, patting him on the pat strongly.
"GAH!" James cried out dropping to a knee as Freddy gasped.
"BLOB!" Kitty cried out, glaring at the huge mutant as the other boys winced.
"I'm okay..." James groaned out.
"Jeeze man, what happened to you?" Todd asked.
"Hey, I didn't hit you THAT hard!" Freddy added.
"He got hit with a grenade yesterday! He's still hurt!" Kitty shouted as James forced himself back to his feet.
"A grenade!" Todd cried out, looking the wounded student over. "Man, if I get hit with one o'those I hope I just end up like you."
"Thank you." James said dryly as he rotated his shoulders.
"Are you okay?" Kitty asked after she was done glaring at the other, setting a hand on his arm.
"It's fine." He replied, groaning slightly as he began to limp away to the kitchen. "Don't worry. Just go on your date, I'll be okay."
"Hey, I was just worried!" Kitty spat out as Lance took her arm.
"He's just being a guy." Lance said. "If he wants to tough it out let him. Keep his pride from being wounded."
"Ugh, men..." Kitty groaned out, turning to the door and walking through it phasing her body past the doors rather than opening them.
"We'll go see the bald dude now, you go get her stuck in a tree." Todd said, chuckling slightly.
"Shut up man." Lance said, shaking his head as he walked to the door, ending up walking right into the door since he did no possess his girlfriend's powers. "Ow..." He let out before opening the door, walking outside as his friend's laughed aloud.
"Aw man, that was good!" Todd laughed out. "Now, let's see if ole Xavier can give us a hand."
0--0
"Oh, come on Kitty. Take it easy." Lance sighed as he pulled his jeep up to a local restaurant. It wasn't high end, but it wasn't a fast food joint either with a warm and cozy environment.
"Lance, he really got hurt." Kitty replied as she exited the jeep. "At least care or something."
"Hey, nothing I can do about it." Lance replied, stepping from the jeep as well. "I'm just saying if he can move around let him." Groaning slightly he stepped over and gently took her arm. "Look, let's drop it for now, okay? I promised I'd take you out for a good date, so let's make it a good date."
"Yeah, I guess." Kitty replied as she let herself be led into the eatery. Their relationship had been going through a rough patch, punctuated by Lance's attack on Abigail.
Well 'attack' may have been stretching it, 'test' would have been closer as all he was supposed to do was force Abigail to use her powers to defend herself, the ability to make her yellow clouds and fly on them.
The ability to create earthquakes mattered little if the target wasn't on the ground to begin with.
Still it was the principle of the matter in her mind, Lance shouldn't have done it, Magneto's orders or not.
Their differences either drew them together or pushed them apart. She wanted a strong man would could keep her safe (Not that she needed it, but she loved the feeling) and who's soul she could heal. He needed direction and someone to help smooth off his rough edges.
On the other hand their views tended to conflict with her morals and optimism clashing with his world weary and sometimes pessimistic views.
She sighed as the waitress led them to a table. It wasn't the first time they had a rough patch, and it wouldn't be the last. She just wished it would go away.
She was finally done letting him languish on second base, she wanted him on third.
0--0
"Ohh, pretty lights..." Todd let out as he and Freddy looked at the ceiling of Xavier's office as Ororo walked inside the room.
"Why are those two on the floor of your office?" She asked, stepping around the two bodies. "And why are they acting like Kurt did after his 'five minute English lesson'?"
The 'five minute English lesson' was dubbed such as it was a technique a telepath could use to teach an individual another language if needed, along with the written version. The user merely implanted the knowledge from one brain to another. For a telepath it meant he could speak any language, provided he could reach the mind of a speaker of that language. Implanting it into his mind was effortless, into others however...
Those people saw stars for around half an hour or so.
"They wanted to learn Japanese." Xavier replied, looking over his ledger. "Why I am not sure, it was not place to pry too much. They did say they were planning to go there."
"I see." Ororo replied, looking down at the pair as Freddy began to hug a chair, calling it 'Sugar Bunches'. "Anyways, I asked my friend in Las Vegas for any information on the FOH that he could find. Turns out there is someone who was leaving them large donations of cash, anonymously I may add."
"Go on."
"He overheard a rumour that the donation was from a 'quote' military man 'unquote' who left a few pieces of equipment."
"Weapons?" Xavier asked with a slight frown.
"He couldn't find out, but that was the impression I was left with." Ororo sighed. "No names were mentioned, but I get the impression it was Trask. Might have been someone in the armed forces, but I doubt it."
"Agreed." Xavier nodded. "The FOH seem to be under armed right now, but not anywhere close to enough."
"James' injury was not your fault." Ororo said, moving around the desk to set a hand on his shoulder.
"No, I know that." Xavier replied, patting the hand. "But it bothers me that anyone would try to kill someone for a difference. I realize it has occurred throughout history, but I would hope mankind would have learned by now. Had it not been for his powers..."
"He will be fine Professor. He just needs some rest is all."
0--0
"Oh my god, shouldn't you be in bed!" Amanda let out as she saw James in a chair at the kitchen, a bowl of cereal and glass of milk before him.
"I got hungry." He said with a shrug. "Besides, I'll live to fight another day and all that jazz." He added, bringing a spoonful of Special K to his mouth for eating.
"You took a grenade to the back!" She continued. "I don't care how tough you are--" She began before a BAMF and a cloud of brimstone announced Kurt's arrival.
"Oh, hey Amanda." Kurt said, kissing her cheek. "James. Surprised you're up and about. Shouldn't you--"
"Be in bed." James finished for him. "Look, I got hungry and I got bored of staring at the walls. Give a guy a break, will ya." He groaned.
"..Vell, try not to overwork yourself." Kurt said, moving to a cupboard and pulling out a granola bar, then a second. "Vhen everyone heard what happened to you we all got kind of vorried. Not saying you can't be moving about, but... take it easy, okay."
"Yeah, yeah. No lifting Scott's car for light workouts." James said dismissively. "I'll be fine, quit worrying." He said before continuing to eat his cereal.
"Uh, Kurt." Amanda began, taking hold of the furry mutants arm. "We should talk." She said before dragging him out of the kitchen.
"Not asking." James sighed as he continued to eat.
0--0
"What is with him?" Amanda asked Kurt as they entered the lounge. "That guy is acting like he can just tough through this like... like..."
"Like a guy?" Kurt supplied.
"More or less." Amanda said as Xavier wheeled himself into the room. "He's hurt, he shouldn't be up."
"I'm assuming this is over our dear Mr. Gemini." Xavier said, casing the teenagers to jump. "I just overheard you is all."
"James is in the kitchen have a bowl full of cereal." Kurt explained. "It's not so much the fact he's up, it's how he's trying to act like nothing is at all vrong. I mean, yeah he's tough, but still..."
"I just think he must be hurting too much for this." Amanda added.
"He is in pain, but he is managing it, I could sense it from my office." Xavier explained. "But I don't think that's what concerns him at the moment, it's his pride."
"His pride?" Kurt parroted. "Quite honestly Professor if I survived a grenade to the back I doubt I'd need to worry about pride."
"True, but consider his powers for a moment." Xavier began.
"Super strength?" Amanda asked.
"Gender shifting." Xavier clarified.
"Gender... He can turn into a girl?"
"A girl with enhanced speed, agility and reflexes." Xavier continued. "But still a girl, and with it the social stigma of a man becoming 'feminized', for lack of a better turn. Old taunts such as 'you hit like a girl' or 'don't cry like a girl' are easily shrugged off, but if you turn into one..."
"You think he's overcompensating?" Kurt asked.
"Possibly." Xavier replied with a nod. "He may feel the need to assert himself in more male dominated aspects, such as coping with pain or dealing with situations aggressively. I think he will come to terms with his powers, most likely with help, but for now he feels the need to be... macho."
"So he wants to be a guy." Amanda sighed. "I mean more of a guy then guys want to be."
"Yes, quite." Xavier said with a nod. "For now it's best we leave him be. He will recover, I've little doubt."
0--0
"Okay, I'll admit it." Kitty said with a soft smile, as the waitress lit the candle between them. "When you go all out, you go all out."
The fact that Lance had a bouquet of flowers delivered to their table was a pleasant surprise, as was the scented candle brought over for them. All they needed was two Italians with an accordion and a big plate of spaghetti to make in complete. The private booth and dimmed ever so slightly lighting just made the atmosphere a little more intimate.
"I played here in the evenings for some cash." Lance said with a shrug, referring to his guitar work. "So I said I wanted to treat my girl right, and they jumped to help."
"You should so join a band." Kitty said with a soft smile, resting her chin on a palm. "You're good enough."
"Long road trips, drugs, sex and rock and roll?" Lance chuckled slightly with a scoff. "Nah. Sides, we got a good thing going. I wanna stick with that." He said leaning forwards slightly.
"Lance..." Kitty said softly, her hand travelling to meet his.
The journey stopped as a crash sounded at the window. "Mutant loving filth!" They heard as they turned to the window.
A Molotov Cocktail had exploded on a table, burning a man seated there as a group of men in paramilitary garb began throwing more lit bottles through the broken widow, each wore with a mask on their face, gas mask, ski mask or even a hockey mask. Chants of 'Mutie lovers' and 'Destroy all mutants' filled the air.
"Oh, they are so..." Lance growled out as one of the waiters pleaded with the mob to disperse, a rock smacking into his head for the trouble. "Kitty, get everyone out of here!" He barked out as he rushed to the window.
"Wait, Lance!" Kitty cried out as he stopped moving, an open hand aimed at the ground as the tremors began to shake the earth below them. Plates fell off tables to the ground and glasses tumbled over as the mob toppled over. "Lance, stop, we don't want to wreck the joint!" She added as Lance continued to focus, a fissure opening outside the window as the earth pushed up, lifting the frightened mob and spilling them backwards before lowering again.
"Run!" A mob member cried out as he turned tail. "Run for it!"
"The hell was that!?"
"That mutant tried to kill us!"
"Peh, should of." Lance muttered, rubbing at his head before turning to look at Kitty. "You okay?" He asked before she slapped him across the face. "OW! Kitty, what was that for!?"
"You could have dropped this place down on our heads you jerk!" She snapped with her fists clenched.
"Hey, I got more control then that!" He yelled back, jerking a thumb at the flames as waiters and waitresses began spraying them with fire extinguishers. "And besides they just tried to BURN it down around us! I just saved our lives here!"
"By nearly killing us!?" She shouted back. Sure, she could have phased herself through the falling building, but no one else around was that lucky. "And THEM!?"
"Hey, they just tried to kill us for being different! Don't blame me!" He shouted back as Kitty forced back tears.
"You know what, forget this. "I'm going home. WALKING home." She added before turning the entrance, phasing through the material as she stomped away.
"Ugh, not again..." Lance groaned, moving to sit down.
"I see that your girlfriend can be a bit..." The manager began as he walked over to Lance. "Fickle."
"At times." Lance sighed, rubbing his head. "She can be irritating too, but she's kind, sweet and just... makes a guy feel right, ya know?"
"Even so, is it worth the arguments?" The man asked. "You might want to leave now, before the police come. Thank you for stopping those men..."
"Don't worry..." Lance sighed as he stood up. "I gotta defend my favourite joint, right?"
"Just be here for six on Sunday."
"Wouldn't miss it."
0--0
"Stupid Lance..." Kitty grumbled as she stomped down the street. Even as she fumed she logically realized that something had to be done back there, and Lance had done it. And he had directed his powers pretty well. And the building didn't crash down. And maybe she shouldn't have gotten so riled up about it.
But maybe in the end she was angry because she just wanted things to go right, to be normal. There were times that she wished she could give her powers to someone else, to be a normal teenage girl again. To be able to walk down the street without wondering were the next mob was or what Magneto was up to. Today was the day things were supposed to be normal. It hadn't and she took it out on the easiest person to take it out on, Lance Alvers.
It was so easy to blame him, he was the bad boy. He was supposed to do bad things and get blamed for them. It was just so easy to blame him for everything else in the as well. Fake being heroes? Blame Lance. Can't tell Magneto no? Blame Lance.
Mob attacks during a hot date? Blame Lance.
It was too easy. And, she reflected, too instinctive.
"Why can't I be normal...?" She groaned, turning her face skywards.
0--0
"You're not fooling anyone." James heard as he walked into the lounge where Laura sat on the couch, controllers in hand as Link and Mario battled it out on the T.V. as a barrel rolled onto the bridge the characters were battling on. "You shouldn't be up."
"Well I am." James let out as he walked about the couch to avoid obstructing her view before sitting next to her. "Deal with it."
"You don't heal like I do." Laura replied as Mario was sent skywards from a bom-omb.
"Only Logan heals like you do." James replied. "I just don't want to be cooped up in a room, okay?"
"Is that all?"
"..."
"It's not my place to ask, but..."
"...I just don't like feeling weak, okay..."
"...I think I understand that, but why would you feel weak?"
"I've been face down in my bed since yesterday. Why wouldn't I?"
"You took a grenade to the back and lived. I don't think that's weak at all."
"...Thanks."
"You're welcome. Now, shut up and play me."
"...Sure."