Elemental Feelings
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DISCLAIMER: I do not own any Marvel Properties! This is pure Fan Fiction, and is not intended as a violation of the appropriate Laws. I only lay claim to the OC's I have made.
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Chapter 10: Out In The Open
Bayville Train Station
Lance helped me up, and we just kept holding hands. It was so natural feeling, that until I saw the other X-Men gathering around us, and many of them staring at our hands, that I realized that there was no chance to hide it now. This is NOT the way that I wanted to break the news to everyone.
Now Lance has his arm around me, and despite what the others think, I think it feels RIGHT! Kitty is somewhere between screaming and crying. I do know that feeling. All too well do I know it. Still, she abandoned Lance. That made him fair game.
I calmly look at my fellow X-Men and say "Yes. What you see is real. A few days ago, I was having a very bad day. All the stress of acting as the mother of the mansion, coupled with the 'taken for granted' feelings that I had from everyone, PLUS the total absence of ANY Love or Romance for THREE YEARS, made me miserable. The Fear that I would grow old ALONE, was terrifying! The idea that I would spend the rest of my life alone, unloved by any man, was awful. The notion that I would be doomed to grow old without EVER having a baby of my own was a nightmare that I have actually suffered, repeatedly."
I took a breath and finished "Lance found me, and took care of me. He told me that I was so beautiful, that he had NO idea why I wasn't ALREADY married with children of my own! Lance and I talked and decided to have practice dates, as it has been a long time for me, and Lance needed dancing lessons, as well as to move on…"
I nodded, and joined in as Ororo wound down.
"As to moving on. Heck YEAH! Of course I did. It's been OVER SIX WEEKS since you booted me from your life, Kitty. I was MISERABLE for WEEKS! None of my calls answered. ALL the letters and gifts of apology were returned UNOPENED! Did you expect me to to lay in the dirt and just DIE? YOU dumped ME, Kitty! YOU have NO claim on ME! Over weeks ago!"
I took a few deep breaths, and continued "As far as Ororo is concerned...I'm eighteen, and old enough to date anyone I want. Deal with it. Ororo is over eighteen, and SHE has every right to find happiness! She has often been left behind during missions to play Mommy to the younger students that don't go on missions yet. In short, Ororo has been treated like a neglected housewife, WITHOUT even the joy of having a husband or kids of her own! That is just WRONG!"
I took another breath "She had Beauty like few women on Earth! Brains? Hell yeah! She is smarter and wiser than most of you realize. Courage is not just for the lion, and this LIONESS has plenty, which makes being left behind to act a sitter, a raw deal! Class is not something that Ororo simply has...She IS Class! When I was there for that week, I saw her LOSE, in the Danger Room, with more Class than most women could have pulled off when WINNING! Ororo Munroe is the woman that I Love. Deal with it!"
To hear such unrehearsed praise and adoration from Lance makes my heart and soul SOAR like the eagle! The shocked, and ashamed looks upon the faces of the X-Men makes it clear to me, that they are FINALLY understanding!
I gently squeezed Lance's hand.
Lance stops, and looks at me, as I smile for him. He shyly smiles back.
I finish our explaination. "After the first practice date we realised that we had feelings for one another. After the dance, well,,,I could not have stopped falling for Lance any more that I could have willed my heart to stop beating. He has been wonderful and patient. We were tempted to do more than talk, hold hands and kiss, yet we DID resist. I gave Lance the opportunity to have me spend the night, last night. He respectfully declined! I have made a good choice in Lance. He has matured, and become a better man. He is the man that I Love. Deal with it."
One could hear a pin drop.
I could see Wanda was awake through much of our explaination, and was crying softly. It's obvious even to her damaged mind, that Lance is out of her reach. Forever. Kitty is crying openly, into Logan's chest. He looks more at ease that I would have expected. Perhaps all the practice that he has gotten, has paid off now.
The Professor asked an important question "Was Mr. Alvers really going to take a Standardized Placement Test tomorrow?"
Lance said "Yeah. It would have been today, but, I didn't get much sleep, because of being chased after by Wanda. Ororo had to put me up in a motel. And while that was better than sleeping in a cave or in my jeep, I was stressed out. Tomorrow makes more sense…"
Professor Xavier looks at Lance and says "It will be in the Institute's main study room, tomorrow at noon. Mr. McCoy shall administer the test, while Ororo takes the afternoon off. You are correct, Ororo. We have over-relied upon you, with little regard to your feelings. I only wish that you had said something before. I apologize to you, and hope that you will accept."
This is unbelievable! The Prof is actually apologizing to Ororo!? Wow. I did NOT see that coming. Summers is looking guilty for some reason...DID he REALLY intercept my letters and gifts to Kitty? I hope not. I want her to have turned her back on me by herself. That way she gets over this jealousy thing faster.
The X-Men are standing there like fools, while the cops and firefighters are waiting to get in and do their jobs. I gently squeeze Ororo's hand, and nod to the waiting authorities. Soon, we are packed up and head for the Institute. I have Ororo, Logan and Jean with me in my jeep. The X-Van was getting crowded with two prisoners. I NEED to have a long talk with Todd about women…
Later we are all at the Institute, including Fred. He WAS at the hospital, but he'd just been knocked out for a LONG time. I knew Freddie was tough! Soon the love affair is made known to ALL the X-Men.
As I thought, Tabby had our backs, especially Ororo's "You GO, girlfriend! Way to bag a Cub, Cougar! Whoo Hoo!"
Little Jamie cried into the arms of the red headed Scottish girl. It seems he had a serious crush on Ororo. I have to admit it: I do NOT blame the little guy. Nope. No one little bit.
Beast was shocked, just like the others, but he DID reveal why he never made a play for Ororo: He's been secretly having an Online romance with a known reporter, Trish Tilby! Mr. McCoy apologized to Ororo, saying "I am truly sorry, my dear friend. I just was too embarrassed by my own affair, to acknowledge your own loneliness. The fault there lies entirely with my own self. I humbly beg your beneficent and magnanimous indulgence…"
Kitty was still upset. No surprise there.
Jean was surprisingly supportive of BOTH of us! She said to us, "I hope that it works out for both of you. I hope that you both can accept my friendship."
Ororo accepted immediately. I waited a moment, until Ororo stepped back from hugging Jean. I stepped in and shook her hand "Sure."
That was all I said, but at least I did mean it. No fake friendships for me. It's why I had been alone for so long. I can't stand 'fake friends'. You know: You don't really care for/about the other person, but you pretend to for some social reason. Nope. Never could stand that nonsense.
Logan and I just kinda nodded at one another. I'm glad that he did NOT smile, or else I'd have been expecting a smack-down from him, and I was in NO shape for that right now…
At the end of the day, I was allowed to stay in a guest room for the night. Mr. McCoy had checked out my few injuries, but they just needed soap and water, and one needed a band aid. After that I had showered, dried and found a set of familiar clothes folded on the bed.
It was the same guest clothes that I wore when I tried to join the X-Men last year. I wasn't entirely happy, or comfortable about it, but I wasn't upset about it either. After all, I really WAS expecting this. Not like it was a shock. Not at all.
When I got down to dinner, it was...Interesting.
At Xavier's Institute
When Lance came down to dinner, he was dressed in the standard X-Men guest clothes. He still filled them out wonderfully! Those well toned, young muscles, moving with powerful grace captured my attention. His easy smile, stole my heart once again!
As Lance sat beside me, I saw that Kitty and Kurt were thick as thieves.
Once everyone was present, the usual quick blessing said, but before the group could do or say anything, Kurt and Kitty made their move!
As one, they both stood up, holding hands!
Kurt started to say "Ve haff zomezing to zay…"
Kitty finished with "Like, Kurt and I are TOTALLY going out!"
There was dead silence for a second. Then Lance stood up. I think that we ALL expected something to happen with Lance, but this?
Lance stood up, and reached a hand across the table to Kurt. "Good for you two! Take good care of her, or else Wolverine will...'discuss the matter' with you! Kitty, try not to break his heart, OK. He's a good sport, so, be good to him, OK?"
TOTAL SILENCE.
Nobody moved, until I got up to congratulate the young couple, as well. That burst the social log-jam. Soon everyone was expressing their happiness for them!
Both Kurt and Kitty were happy, but rather stunned. Every so often they would stare at Lance, not believing his maturity in the matter.
But Lance, being Lance, just hated fake friendships, and so if he was acting like this, then that's how he really felt.
Fred Dukes followed Lance's example, and was polite, in that good ol' Southern way.
Dinner went well. Scott was the only one who was still unhappy at MY choice of man. Still, I chose not to let it get to me. Not even when Scott asked Lance "So, does this mean that you're joining the Team again?"
Lance shrugged and said "I wasn't really planning on it. As far as I'm concerned, I'm just gonna get my education settled, then go for auto mechanic school. As to joining the Team, I haven't really thought about it. I'll think about your offer, though, and let you know after I've had time to think it through. OK?"
Scott sat there, and realized that his question, phrased as it was, COULD be mistaken for an invitation. Poor Scott. I stifled a laugh, and hid my smile behind my glass of fruit juice.