author: Lucinda

for teen and older readers.

main character: Xander

pairing: Fireworks contains Xander/Jubilee, with side pairings of John(Pyro)/Faith and Bobby/Marie(Rogue)

number fourteen in the 'Fireworks' series.

disclaimer: I do not own any characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer or X-Men: the Movie, nor do I hold any legal rights to the comic sources for some of the additional background information for Movie characters.

distribution: XanderZone, INeedAParrot, Twisting the Hellmouth, Cat if she wants it. Anyone else ask.

note: going rather AU after Becoming for Buffy (yes, all the way back to season 2!), post X-Men the Movie (Sequel? what sequel?).

Xander could feel someone standing behind him as he finished breakfast. Not his lovely Jubilee. Not Ms. Munroe who smelled like rain and flowers. But not something that felt like it wanted to eat him and stank of slime or rotting flesh. Unfortunately, his luck held true as words jumped out of his mouth - "I didn't do it, you can't prove anything."

"No, you didn't. Now you will. Training session in the danger room, now," Logan's voice sounded amused.

"Right," Xander sighed. Looking at his friends, he gave a small wave, "Someone come scrape me up from the floor later?"

John snickered, "Only if he's done with you. He's scarier than you are."

"Thanks a lot," Xander teased back.

Following Logan down to the Danger Room, Xander stuck his hands into his pockets. "So, will this be you leaving me exhausted and bruised with another how to fight lesson, or will I be staring at things trying to make them burn?"

Logan chuckled, "Probably some of both. I'm supposed to talk about how you need to focus your powers, and something about responsibility coming with power, but I think you know that part. Thing is, from what you've said, you tend to react and use that power out of instinct, not out of a calm wantin' to burn things. So, if me chasing you around the Danger Room doesn't start a few fires, at least you get more done than just starin' at something long enough to make your eyes itch."

Xander didn't like the sound of that plan very much, and he didn't like the fact that it sounded reasonable. "Do I have to like the fact that you made sense?"

"Like it? Nah," Logan punched in a code at the number pad outside the Danger Room. "But you've got to do it."

Contrary to the way Xander had joked, Logan didn't start by just throwing punches at Xander. He went over a few basic moves, showing Xander exactly how to move. Then things started getting less enjoyable.

"But I'm fragile," Xander grumbled under his breath, not liking the last sentence that had come out of Logan's mouth.

"You'll heal. I'm going to attack you. Use the moves I just showed you to dodge and counter. I won't be going full speed or force, and I won't use the claws," Logan had a small smile on his face.

Xander's grin was definitely weak. He didn't like this plan at all.

He didn't like the part where Logan started to move faster any better.

The part where a steel robot came out of nowhere and joined in was even less enjoyable.

Xander dodged, his shoulder hitting the ground as he rolled, glaring at the robot. Maybe it didn't have claws, but those ball-things that it had at the end of those arms could still break bones. At least he had a bit of experience dodging multiple opponents from helping patrol with Buffy.

He dodged again, glaring at Logan, "This isn't fun, why are you smiling?"

"I'm having fun," Logan retorted.

The robot came at Xander again, with a soft clicky-whirrr that he was starting to find really annoying. Sweat had his clothing sticking to his body, and caused his hair to block his eyes, and muscles were aching the way they normally only did after a long night patrolling. Those green sparks were dancing over his skin again. With a rather unfrightening growl, Xander threw everything he could into a punch at the robot's chest. As he did, he noticed the odd prickly-numb sensation that enveloped his hand.

The green fireball that accompanied the punch had quite the impact.

Xander just stopped; his jaw dropping as he stared at the robot. Smoke flowed upwards as white and gold sparks hissed over wires. Plastic melted, and the steel casing was starting to glow a nice cherry red. Green flames danced over the torso of the robot.

"I did that," he whispered.

"Yup," Logan's voice lacked surprise. "Not a bad start, though you can't just stop in the middle of a fight."

"I… I felt something this time. This weird feeling that went down my arm and then… fwoosh!" Xander pushed his hair back, shaking the sweat onto the floor.

"Try again, without the robot," Logan insisted.

Xander tried to hold that feeling again, and focused on a place where the metal floor panels met. He focused on images of leaping flames and green sparks.

A handful of green sparks jumped from his hand towards the floor

"Its progress," Logan grinned, one hand thumping against Xander's shoulder. "Now you just need to keep practicing."

Xander nodded, pushing his hair back again. "Goodie for me, I got sparks when I wanted them. I guess I have to start somewhere."

"Next step – take a shower and go sit with Jubes for a while. Then go drag your pal away from the computers and out into the sunlight. There's more to life than fighting, and if you practice much more, you'll fall over," Logan wrinkled his nose, and pulled out a cigar. "But start with the shower."

Xander laughed as he walked towards the door. Logan's plan sounded pretty good.

End Fireworks 14: Sparking