"She's fine. The hit to the head put her in a bit of shock but she will be feeling much better tomorrow." I blinked up at the fluorescent lights as Jean probed my cheek. "Once I clear off this gunk your eye will be fine. Nothing to worry about."
"Who said I was worried?" I retorted. She paused to grab some kind of metallic torture looking device.
"Professor X is not pleased. You should at least be worried about that." Scott reaffirmed with a nod.
"I'm least of all worried of that." I snapped back despite the knot that was growing in my stomach. I probably just blew it. All of it. A heavy silence fell over the room as Jean carefully cleaned the slime off of my eye.
"Jean?"
"Hmmm.."
"I'm going to head off. Feel better Nadia." Scott leaned down and pecked Jean on the cheek before departing. As the metal door clinked shut my heart began to speed up as I glanced wearily into the focused eyes of Jean.
"What is it?" She huffed.
"I thought maybe you'd… stop helping me after.. y'know the witnesses left." I murmured shakily. I nearly jolted where I was laying when a soft laugh filled the air around the stiff lab.
"Nadia. Don't get me wrong, I don't particularly like you. You're loud, self-absorbed, and a little too comfortable with my boyfriend." A flush spread up my neck. "But we're still on the same side."
"But you tried to-" I started.
"I struggled.. With control sometimes. I'm handling it. The person who wanted your powers…. That wasn't… well it was… but it…" She rambled.
"Hey. I get it. I get swept up into my emotions sometimes-"
"No. That's different. With me-"
"Where is she?!" A voice squealed as the door once again swung open. I cracked my good eye open to see Rogue standing in the doorway her gloved hands clutching her cheeks.
"I'm okay!" I reassured as she ran forward now with an angry scowl on her face. Wait hold on.
"You stupid idiot! You know you're not supposed to get involved!" Rogue growled lowly as she stalked over me. My eyes widened as I saw her fingers inching towards the edge of her glove as if she was fixing to rip them off.
"Rogue. I'd appreciate it if you'd leave me to my work." Jean replied coolly still having not even looked up from her task. I couldn't help but smirk as Rogue's anger was replaced with disappointment.
"Nadia. We are having a talk tomorrow!" She said threateningly before leaving once again.
"Both of you are insufferable." Jean said with the hint of a smile. This is a new side of her. It's very strange. The two faces of Jean. Who knows which one she'll wear tomorrow.
I carefully approached the door dreading my meeting with the notorious Professor X. A nameplate had never looked so menacing as it stared down at me from its perch. I wrung my hands before sticking them in my pockets. Geez Louise am I-
"Most conversations occur when two people are standing face to face." A familiar but now terrifying voice reverberated through the wood of the door. I took in a deep breath and pushed through keeping my eyes on the ground as I closed the door behind me and took a seat.
"You wanted to see me?" I said confidently even though I couldn't even look the man in the eyes.
"Nadia. Yes. There is something we need to discuss." He said ominously, his words laced in ambiguity. I braced myself. "Yesterday, I was informed that you intervened in a strictly observing mission." I winced but nodded shallowly. "You risked your team's well-being as well as your own. A very foolish thing for you to do Nadia. I expect more from you." My shoulders tensed as I waited for an expulsion from the team or worse the school. Would I get expelled or fired?
"Well.. Don't do it again." I froze before lifting my gaze to meet his.
"That's it?" I asked disbelievingly.
"Were you expecting more?" He asked with a tilt of his head and a grin.
"A little yeah."
"Would you like a punishment?" He asked with a chuckle.
"Well no…"
"Then I don't see the problem."
"It wasn't as dramatic as-"
"What was that Nadia? Speak up!" I blushed feverishly.
"It wasn't as dramatic as I hoped."
"Dramatic?"
"Yes. Drama brings life to this dull world."
"hmm… Nadia do me a favor?"
"Yeah?"
"Get to work." He laughed before waving me off.
"Okay… children." I shouted over the crowd of chattering students. As expected, none of them listened except for one small girl in the front with her bangs shielding her eyes and her hands flat on her desk unmoving. "Come on guys." I huffed as a paper airplane moving at speeds roughly 30mph went hurtling by my head. "Guys…"
"Shut up!" A voice bellowed throughout the room, shaking the walls, and knocking any loose papers on the ground. My eyes darted to the front where the still girl kept her head lowered as her hair blew around her like a halo, her eyes a deep red. My jaw dropped open as everyone quickly silenced and sat down looking the least bit perturbed at this loud command.
"Well… I umm—thanks.."
"Katelin." She murmured softly.
"Katelin." I gasped out while keeping my trembling hands behind my back away from the curious eyes of the student.
"I'm filling in for… your history of mutations teacher today." A chorus of groans echoed throughout the room. Well… that's definitely a change. Just last month I crossed my fingers repeatedly for the chance to be graced with a substitute teacher.
"So… We'll be starting with you all's assignment." I reached behind me and grasped at the clipboard lying on the mahogany desk behind me. The surface was relatively clear which made the notes easy to find.
"Okay… Well today it says you'll be taking out your projects on the evolution of gene mutation from 1931 to-"
"That's for the other class." A voice called out. I briefly glanced up and then flicked over the paper nervously.
"Oh okay then. Here it is. You will be reviewing your notes on Professor X's lecture of-"
"We did that last class." A new voice chimed in. I rapidly flicked to the next page already feeling my cheeks heating up. Leave it to a bunch of third years to humiliate me.
"Of course. Yes. Here. Now I have it. You are to read quietly your journals." I breathed out a sigh of relief as a rustle of papers could be heard along with the slamming of hard covers on the desk. I placed the clipboard down behind me and crossed my arms in a symbol of mock authority as they all began working. All except one. Katelin. She stayed facing the front her eyes blankly staring at the desk I was currently leaning against.
"Katelin?" I asked softly. She nodded in acknowledgement without even glancing at me.
"Do you need an extra copy or something? I'm sure I can find one…"
"No." She stated softly drawing me out of my rambling.
"Then.. Why don't you begin reading?" I jumped back slightly startled as a girl with golden hair shot her hand up, watching me with dark snake-like eyes.
"Yeah?"
"Katelin can't see. She only participates in the lectures unless the Professor is present and can help her with his mind powers." Wow. Guess I have a Hermione Granger on my hands. I gazed back at Katelin whose face was still blank.
"Would.. you like me to read to you.. Katelin?" I asked softly, unsure of what to do." She shook her head.
"I… Well.."
"Usually Mr. West just explains the subject to me. Seeing as you're a substitute you probably don't know too much about the journals." She explained softly. Once again an embarrassed blush took over my features. I cleared my throat and brushed my hair from my face.
"Yes… I don't know too much about…"
"History of mutations?" The blond finished. I gave her a sideways glance before looking back at Katelin.
"Yeah. That." Katelin remained silent, her black hair shielding me from her eyes.
"It's okay if you sit here until class ends?" I asked hesitantly. She nodded and tensed up as footsteps began echoing from the hall, filtering through the open door. I gazed up to see Storm stepping into the room, a smile on her face as she saw me.
"Nadia. I'll be taking over for this class period. Logan wants to see you." I straightened and with one last unsure glance began heading out, brushing lightly past Storm. I turned down the hall and immediately felt Xavier in my head.
Nadia. Logan is going to assist you in training before he heads out tonight. We have a new mission that we need you to participate in…. alone.
I didn't bother responding as I ended up once again in the training room, softly closing the door behind me as I came face to face with Logan, in a pair of ripped jeans and a white tank top, straining on top of his bulging muscles.
"Hey wolfy." He didn't bother turning to face me as he let out a deep chuckle.
"Nadia. Good job last night with getting your ass handed to you." I raised an eyebrow before stepped forward. He turned and chuckled again before eyeing me up and down. "What are you wearing? You can't expect me to train you in that." I glanced down at my pencil skirt and button down top. I rolled my eyes and took another step forward.
"Why? Afraid my heels might stick your eye out?"
"No. Afraid you might fall and twist your little ankle." He huffed as I bit back a growl. I ripped my heels off and began to peel my shirt off, exposing the black tank top I had underneath. He raised an eyebrow but motioned to my skirt. "What ya' gonna do about that?"
"Want me to take it off too?" I asked cheekily, silently applauding myself for the rare dusty pink that began to spread over Logan's cheeks.
"No." He coughed. I laughed and rolled up the hem enough that I could freely move my knees.
"Okay. What are we doing first?" We sparred for a good forty five minutes before I began to loosen up.
I shrieked with laughter as again I leaped onto his back and swung my legs around him before tugging at his hair. He growled before bending and flipping me off of him, only to smack against the cold hard floor. My skirt was already ripped at the sides from all of the times I had tripped and spread my thighs a little too wide. He said he'd pay for it… after suffering the threats I kept shouting in his direction as I clutched desperately at the torn fabric.
He crawled over to me attempting to get a hold of my wrists as I wrapped my legs around his neck and tightened until he began gripping at my skin attempting to wrench me off.
"Logan… Go you now!" I giggled before twisting and throwing my weight onto his. I grabbed his wrists and moved to straddle his waist as I positioned my face over his so he was in direct line of my power.
"Checkmate." I smirked as he rolled his eyes. I was about to get up when suddenly the door swung open exposing Scott and Jean who immediately halted their conversation as they took in our compromising position.
Of course Logan chose this moment to play off the situation. "Hey Jean-y" He hummed with a deadly as sin smirk in her direction. Pig. Her face grew as red as her hair as she shuffled closer to Scott whose jaw was struggling to close as he continued to gulp. I began to stand as I felt a similar flush covering my cheeks but Logan gripped my hips, refusing to let me budge. The hell?
"Professor X wants us in his office. New information has been gathered." Jean said coldly, swallowing down whatever emotions that threatened to bubble at the surface, before turning and striding out. Scott nodded and confusedly turned around before following after Jean. As the door shut I threw off his hands and made to stand up.
"What the hell Logan?" He pretended to look confused before turning to grab his bag. "Listen to me and listen carefully. I will not help you make Jean jealous."
"I'm not making Jean jealous." He murmured unconvincingly before swiveling to meet my gaze. "She obviously likes me more than laser eyes-"
"It doesn't matter it's still not right to-"
"Don't preach to me Nadia. I know you have a thing for the Cyclops, I saw how you looked at him when he came into the room."
I blushed furiously, "I don't—Well it doesn't matter. If they make each other happy… that shouldn't matter. We shouldn't insert ourselves in places we don't belong." I said only believing half of what I was saying.
"Oh don't get all high and mighty on me now. You know as well as I do Scott doesn't make her happy.. He's too.. boring and shrimpy." At this I couldn't help but clench my fists and bite back,
"He is not! If anything Jean is to shifty and doesn't show enough affection!" At this he smiled and lifted an eyebrow.
"Nadia, understand. Jean and I have history, I'm not giving this up. I don't care if you go after the one-eyed wonder but just don't get in my way." He said gruffly before moving to leave. I could only watch and cross my arms before sighing.
Asshole.
Hey guys! Sorry I haven't updated in so long! Working out final kinks in college plans! I'll be updating more regularly for those still following! Thank you!