Disclaimer: I don't own the X-men. Marvel does. So don't sue.
Song Suggestion: Je Realise - James Blunt feat. Sinik
Jubilee stumbled into the rec room, glaring at the redhead who had given her reluctant feet a telekinetic push forward. Thanks to the meddlesome mind reader, making a break for it was no longer an option. Without so much as raising her head, she scanned the room taking note of everyone who had decided to grace this little affair with their presence.
Betsy and Warren were situated on the sofa looking bored. Bobby sat beside them, mumbling to himself as if he were practicing some stupid speech. Beast was perched a few feet away on a stool, trying to keep his expression light and cheery for her sake while Cecilia stood at his side, one hand placed on his shoulder for support.
Moving her view in an arc across the room, her gaze fell over Marrow. Her lips rising in a hidden snarl as she registered the barely concealed glee on the bony girl's face. Cannonball sat on the floor in front of the psychotic Morlock looking downright confused, while Bishop hulked menacingly in the corner looking extremely uncomfortable. Within seconds, Rogue, Joseph, and Gambit rounded out the parade of X-men, entering the room at the last minute – Gambit looking as if he had been dragged by force.
Giving a quick acknowledgment to Rogue's suspicious eyes, Jubilee lifted her head high and strode purposefully into the room. Stopping right in front of the man who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else than dealing with his on-again/off-again lover and a furious firecracker.
Channeling as much hatred as was humanly possible, she stared straight into the red on black eyes of the only person who had dared to earn her respect. The Acadian unashamedly probed back into Jubilee's molten irises. The silent standoff dragged on until sensing what she was about to do, he moodily broke off contact. Glaring at the wall instead of her. The heat in his gaze could have put Logan's to shame.
Taking a seat as far away from him as possible, she plopped herself down with more attitude than she currently possessed . She only hoped that the others got the message loud and clear. After all, she was projecting loud enough to wake the dead. Jean and Betsy had actually winced at her telepathic screams that she was done with the Cajun and he should have minded his own damn business.
She knew Gambit would pick up on the black hole that was beginning to spiral out of control. Better to let him think it was aimed at him. Though it wouldn't have killed her any less if someone had ripped out her spleen and fed it to her. Out of everyone, Gambit was the one person she couldn't blame. But the time had passed where she could show any type of gratitude. Maybe, just maybe he would understand why she couldn't let him take the fall with her. Her eyes stung, but she held back the single tear that threatened to leak out. She couldn't fuck it up now.
Cyclops leveled her with a steady gaze, casting a meaningful glance at Jean who ever so slightly shook her head. Apparently she hadn't caved like they'd hoped, rendering this little intervention unnecessary. Well, if they expected Jubilation Lee to give in just like that, she might as well give them the performance of a lifetime.
She turned her eyes impatiently to Cyclops who towered above them all in the center of the room, taking his usual place next to Xavier's wheelchair. The clearing of his throat marking the beginning of the torture. "Alright people, I think we all know why we're here. Rogue and Jean should have filled everyone in by now. Before we begin, though, I believe the Professor has a few words to say."
A swish of air sounded as Xavier hovered to the center of the room, commanding the attention and respect of everyone there. "Thank you Scott. I wish to start by saying that I have a great deal of love and respect for all of you. We have come together after all of these years not only as a team, but as a family. Yet, too often we deal with our sorrows and problems on our own. Which only leads us to separation and encourages a lack of compassion for the trials that each of us face. We have all had our share of hard luck and bad situations. But it is time that we come together and face it as one. Now is not the time to turn our backs on one another or to let fear and hurt come between us. My only wish is that you would see each other as I see you. If not for your own sake, then for the sake of this team." Xavier paused to let the words sink in. "Time is a precious commodity. Let us not waste it with acts of hatred."
"The Professor's right." Cyclops interjected after a weighted silence. "In light of recent events, I think it's high time that we address some things which have been causing serious problems. First off, we don't have time for personal vendettas. We can't allow our pasts to interfere with the job we have to do on the field. Every member is important when there are civilian lives at stake. We simply don't have time -"
"I thought we were here for the girl." Marrow's throaty voice cut through Scott's soliloquey. "Not a slap on the wrist for demanding justice."
Xavier responded in kind. "We are here to come together as a family. I have taken you in and given you a place in my school, but that does not give you free reign to interfere with my efforts to create a safe haven for all of my students."
The bone that Marrow was toying with dropped to the carpet with a menacing thud. "Whatever you say Professor." The edge in her voice was laced with venom, yet she had the sense to know when she was in over her head. There was no move to interrupt further.
Cyclops picked back up, unphased in the slightest. "After speaking with the Professor and Jean, we've decided that the best course of action is for everyone to participate in mandatory team building sessions in addition to regular training. The Professor and Jean will also conduct individual psychic scans so that we can get to the root of all personal issues that are interfering with the team."
A collective groan resounded as the room erupted in a series of mutters, curses, and multiple death threats. Scott ignored them all.
"As X-men, we all have obligations. And I won't let individual grudges interfere with that. I, for one, am going to make sure that we operate in the most effective way possible. That means sacrifices will have to be made for the good of the team and for the sake of your teammates. If anyone has a problem with that, then you're saying you have a problem with your fellow mutants. None of us are perfect, but we're fighting a war. And if we turn on each other, there'll be no one to carry on the legacy that we fight for. We're all that we've got. So if you want out, there's the door."
Cyclops took a moment to survey the room, looking pointedly at a few people. Marrow was the only person who didn't have the common decency to look the least bit ashamed. She wasn't about to change her dogmatic ways, but she also knew she didn't have any other option with Callisto gone and the Morlocks scattered to the winds.
Throwing a scathing look in Jubilee's direction, the Asian responded by sticking her tongue out. Marrow took out a bone and made a slitting motion with her throat, unbeknowst to anyone else.
There was now some question in Jubilee's mind as to whether this meeting would fulfill her expectations. If they turned on Marrow, she would be forced to reevaluate her family's loyalties as well as her own. Unfortunately, luck was not on her side. Nor had it ever been. Scott turned the conversation to her before current events caused the room's occupants to turn on each other.
"There are a lot of things that need to be said between us. And make no mistake, they will be said...or fought out in the danger room. Either way, they will be dealt with" Scott's visor flashed in warning to those who would question this fact. "But today is not about that. We are here to focus on one person and to provide support."
He turned to face Jubilee, who had the sense to look mortified. "Jubilee, I want you to know that this entire team cares about you and only wants what's best for you. But we're all concerned that you need to take some time off to recuperate. As we understand it, the Professor has arranged a place for you at Muir Island. We can't make the decision for you. However, everyone is here so that you can understand how your decisions affect the team as a whole."
Jubilee raised a delicate eyebrow but amazingly controlled her mouth. An uninterrupted truth would be better than getting upset over half of the things that would be left unsaid if she lost it.
So she put on her game face and fixed Cyclops with questioning eyes. "So…all that stuff the Professor said…about not dealing with stuff on our own…I don't understand how sending me off helps fulfill that dream."
"That's why we're here now. To help you 'deal' and make an important decision. We've come to realize that you need something more than what the team can give you. You have to realize that we, as your adopted family, have an obligation to you. And right now you need targeted attention and a focus on healing. We'll be there for you every step of the way. Muir Island has state of the art communication, so don't think that just because you're not at the mansion that you'll be cut off from us."
Jubilee tried her best to look placating, although she knew that "being there" would include a barrage of phone calls that would taper off the minute she didn't appear to be "losing it". With a great amount of effort, she projected thoughts filled with hope. Jean sensed the shift in her mood and took it as an encouraging sign. Gambit, however, wouldn't look her way at all. He simply refused to watch her play the part she had come to hate.
Cyclops was none the wiser. "I'm saying this because lately, we've all been worried about you. We know you've had some...issues…with your powers and it's been affecting your performance. Surely, we all know how frustrating it is to not be allowed in the field. But we never dreamed you would take matters into your own hands and actively seek a fight with Friends of Humanity just to prove your value to the team! It's no secret that your behavior is becoming increasingly erratic…"
Jubilee bit back a few choice words. Bobby deserved way worse than a space heater for spreading such garbage. They didn't know her at all if they thought she would actively choose to have those mutant hating racists focus their stupidity on her just because she was upset with the team. She may have been itching for a fight, but she had put the X-men first, not wanting to do anything that would draw unnecessary attention to them. And it hadn't been because of some misplaced sense of self-worth.
But her tone betrayed nothing of her anger. "I'm sorry. I just didn't know what else to do." She implored, egging their fearless leader on with his sentiments. "You wouldn't even let me in the danger room. And I thought I could handle a couple of lousy thugs on my own. I figured if I broke up one little faction, you'd have to let me come with you guys fer sure." If only Wolverine could hear her now…big surprise he didn't show.
"There are other ways to go about letting us know how you feel." Cyclops reassured her with a gentler tone. "Going vigilante isn't the way to prove yourself. We work together as a team. If you want to be a part of it, you have to let us know what's going on."
"I didn't think anyone would understand." She stole a glance at Gambit and Beast to prove her point. Beast was troubled at the thought, clearly unsure as to what to think. Gambit, on the other hand, was harboring a murderous expression. Though it only shone through in his eyes, leaving his face otherwise unreadable. Not that it mattered what anyone else thought, but just knowing that one person believed in her made this all the more bearable.
"I think you'd be surprised." Cyclops answered, drawing her attention back to him. "You have a lot of friends here, and I think you'd be interested to hear how your attitude is affecting them. Bobby's your best friend and he's really been having a hard time with this." He turned to look in Iceman's general direction before adding "I hope you'll consider his side of things."
"Uh…right." Bobby stuttered, obviously out of his element. "Jubes, you know we all love you. And we want what's best for you. I just hope you know you can trust us." He looked at her imploringly, if not a bit accusingly. "You can trust me." He affirmed. "I've known you better than anybody and I can tell when you're joking around and when you're serious. And ever since you got back, you've been keeping to yourself and shutting me out. It's kinda been a downer. Which means that something must really be wrong. You used to be all sunshine and fireworks…and now you're just, I dunno…depressed! I miss my partner in crime. I miss being able to talk to you about anything and everything. I wish you would open up and just tell me what's wrong so I could help. I know I screwed up back there, but I also realize that maybe I'm just not the person you need right now. Maybe this Muir Island really is a good place. I mean, it's not like you won't come back right? But maybe they can help you deal with whatever's buggin' ya. So we can get the old you back." He broke off then, the words catching in his throat. Leaning back, he once again became quiet, his eyes intently focused on Jubilee's reaction.
She wanted so badly to roll her eyes right back at him, but something stopped her. As aggravated as she was with Bobby, he didn't deserve this. He was caught up in the hype of the team, and didn't really have anyone to help him cope with it either. He cracked jokes to lighten the mood for everyone, and it had done its part in keeping up the team's spirits. Really, it's not like he was a bad guy. Even if he did have warped opinions. Still, he did have her best interests at heart. In fact, he was just as protective as Wolverine when it came to the people he loved, so obviously he would feel threatened if someone violated that sanctity. It still didn't give him an excuse to act like an idiot.
Resisting the urge to punch him for being so stupid, she allowed the tears to run down her cheeks and began setting him up for the only question she had any interest in knowing. "I know I can trust you Bobby. I guess I just made an…error…in judgment." Her stomach twisted as she forced herself to spit out the rest. "I wish to God I could turn back time and make things go back to the way they were. But I can't. I don't even know what happened to make me this way. But you're my best friend Bobby. I need your support. And I need your honest opinion. What's happening to me? What's making me feel like this?"
"Jubilee, I don't think that's a fair question…" Jean started.
"NO! It's a great question. No one wants to talk about it but somebody freakin' needs to." Bobby shot back.
"Talk about what?" Jubilee asked as innocently and pitifully as she could manage.
Bobby rushed ahead. "C'mon Jubes, it's no secret that Wolverine's been an ass lately. Sure you had problems with this Bastian guy, but every time I tried to bring up how bad you were letting it get to you, he totally bailed. Said you could handle it on your own. But the truth is, I don't think you can. I think you just had a really hard time dealing with some of the stuff that's happened, and now you need a break to process everything. It's not a big deal. Not everyone handles the problems that come with being an X-man in the same way. Sure we're always getting kidnapped, shot at, framed, ambushed, robbed, attacked by the craziest people the galaxy has to offer…"
"Bobby!" Cyclops snapped him back to attention. "Get to the point."
"Right! Anyways, I'm just saying it's a lot to handle. And in order to be an X-man you have to be able to deal with that kind of stuff without breaking down."
Real smooth Bobster. Way to win me over. Make me out to be a basketcase. "You think it's just a nervous breakdown? That I'll get over it?" She asked, inflecting her voice in a hopeful tone.
"Of course Jubes! It's nothing to be ashamed of. Right Rogue? I mean Carol Danvers took over your head and Jean helped you through it and everything came out just fine."
"Thank yah Bobby for bringing that up again." Rogue bit out through gritted teeth and a forced smile. Finally she composed herself and carried the weight of the conversation. "Bobby, tactless as he is, has ah point Jubes. We all have our issues. Some jest take more tahme tah sort out. Muir Island ain't such a bad thang sugah. It'll give yah a chance to relax. Take a vacation from this place."
"I never thought about it like that." She sniffed.
"Well yah should. Lord knows we have enough tah deal with without throwin' personal issues into the mix. Ah don't mean – it's jest there's a lot tah take in here, and it ain't easy tah deal with all tha stress if yer head ain't sorted out. Take it from someone who knows."
"You really think I can't handle it?" Her lips curled into a pretty pout, causing Rogue to look about as uncomfortable as Bishop. "Sugah, no one could handle it in yer position. Yah're so young! Yah should enjoy it! It jest ain't fair tah ask yah tah deal with everything we take on here."
At this point Betsy interjected and Marrow's grin grew even more sadistic. "To put it bluntly my dear, you have a few years left until you're in the big leagues. Perhaps you should follow the example of your classmates. After all, they seem to have all made lives for themselves doing very commendable things. Angelo and Jono are in L.A. as I understand it. Sam's sister has been instrumental in establishing a mutant outreach program. And Monet, who is perhaps a bit better suited to this lifestyle given her upbringing, is working with a detective agency. They are waiting to take on all that is required of them. The question is why are you so ready to take on this responsibility when you can't even handle what little has been put upon you?"
"Little?" Jubilee repeated, dumbfounded. She could have sworn she heard a soft swear coming from Gambit's general direction.
"Hang around the X-men long enough and you'll see what I mean. A mere kidnapping and insignificant spar are just the beginning. You can't say you've truly lived until you've fought your way to an early grave only to be brought back from the dead staring yourself in the face."
"But…" Jubilee forced her face into a confused frown. "Eventually you're gonna get old. What about the other students in the school? How are you gonna train them to take over and deal with the stuff you think I can't handle?"
"That is Xavier's concern. Not mine. Not yours. At least until the time comes when we are ordered to start training them. Then again, judging from the looks of things, you could stand some training yourself. It is apparent that you were not the victor in your recent tiff. Which isn't surprising considering we've all had to waste time watching your back in the danger room. Frankly, it's exhausting and unnecessary."
"Betsy, please…" Jean begged.
Betsy tossed her head in response. "I am not in the business of babysitting. I'm not going to hold back because I'm afraid of hurting what little feeling she has left. She needs to know the truth. Maybe then her little ego can be taken down a notch and the real work can begin."
"What work?" Jubilee bit out, genuinely curious.
"Your attitude for one thing. Maybe you could start with that." Angel threw in. "You seem to have a knack for expressing opinions on situations you have no experience in."
Well looks like mine isn't the only bruised ego around here… "I have just as much insight as anyone else thank you very much. Just because I'm not some blue-blood original X-man, you all think I'm a few french fries short of a happy meal. Here I am trying to point out a couple of things that nobody else has the balls to say. But does anyone around here listen to me? Nooooo!
"I rest my case." Warren seethed.
Jubilee however persisted, locking on her target. "Puh-leaze. You never liked me because I just happened to point out the fact that all you do is brood. You never had anyone's back except Psylocke's and any time there's the teeniest little argument, you're smack dab in the middle pointing fingers."
"Jubilee, that's quite enough." Professor X said sharply, quelling her rage.
Warren leaned forward until he was staring her down. Ignoring the Professor to calm his words, he let loose with what had been a long time in coming. "As far as I'm concerned, you insignificant brat, Xavier has spoiled you rotten. Always letting you into places you have no buisness being. The only real weapon you possess is your horrid little mouth. Not that you know how to use it considering you have no respect for your elders, nor for yourself. You should welcome the chance you've been given. Perhaps Moira can teach you a thing or two about manners so that you will refrain from making a nuisance of yourself when you return. If you return."
Cyclops was too busy massaging the bridge of his nose to intervene. The fights between Jubilee and Warren occurred too regularly for him to be all that concerned. But this was getting ugly. He had specifically asked Warren to tone it down. He should have known this wasn't going to turn out the way he had planned.
"That is not for you to decide Warren." The Professor scolded. "Do you have anything of value to add? If not, we will not linger on this subject."
"There's nothing else to say." Warren huffed. "Except perhaps that she needs to be committed."
"And you all think I'm the one with the chip on my shoulder." Jubilee mumbled to no one in particular.
"Understandably, we have a lot to overcome in order to understand and work with each others' perceived weaknesses. Surely you two can find some strengths to focus on as well."
"Well, he is a non-putrid shade of blue…"
"And she has ditched that appalling travesty of a canary yellow trenchcoat." Warren spat, after being all but forced by Jean, Betsy, and Rogue.
A chill passed through Jubilee at Warren's hostility. It wasn't so much the fact that he despised her so much his offhand remark about her wardrobe. Her clothing had once been an expression of who she was, and he had forced her to question that very issue. Did she even know who she was without the X-men to define her?
Beast took note of her confusion, and attempted to pacify the situation. "Speaking as one who has known Jubilation for quite some time, may I speak on her behalf?"
"Certainly Hank! The floor is yours." Xavier enthused, grateful for the change of subject.
"I have come to grow quite fond of our resident firecracker. I may not have the sparkling wit of some of our members, but I fancy myself to be a generally good judge of character. And as I have recently observed, our Jubilee has rather a conflicted one. On the one hand, she wishes to fit in here and make a place for herself. On the other hand, she knows that there are things which she must face internally, with or without the support of her friends. Whether or not she faces them in one setting or another is irrelevant. I believe that any decision she makes will be in her best interest. I really don't believe there is any need to threaten her into making it." He glanced casually at Betsy and Warren.
"I could not agree more. That was certainly not the intent of this discussion." Xavier quickly spurred the conversation onward. "Perhaps someone else has something productive to offer? Joseph? Gambit?"
Xavier's eyes fell on Remy who looked as calm and collect as ever. One would never know an internal debate was raging within him. Should he blow la femme's cover and expose this ridiculous game for what it was or let the others keep pushing their biases onto her and help her make a decision that would ultimately kill her?
Her plan was genious really. By reverting back to the role of a teenager, she had confirmed how truly self-absorbed this "family" was. Not only that, she had made her death wish that much more apparent. The woman was honestly trying to get the team to give her an excuse to kill herself. She was trying to make it look like it was just the stress of the situation when she was really just protecting them from being exposed to enemies because of what she knew and she was capable of. Whether or not the rape even factored in as anything more than a catalyst was something he hadn't been able to discern. But now that this chain of events had been set in to motion, there was nothing he could say to her now to get it to stop.
He had to let her make her own decisions and be there despite the consequences. Otherwise, he would be in danger of controlling her fate, just like everyone else. Let Jubilee play whatever head games she wanted. He would be there when it counted.
Making the difficult call that whatever happened was now up to Jubilee, he quietly spoke up. "Gambit not gonna be a part o' dis. De woman know how ta make her own decisions." With that, he turned on his heel and left the room.
Rogue stood to chase after Gambit, as Joseph held his hand out to stop her. Not that it did any good. She snatched her arm away and flew out of the room. Leaving Joseph alone to hold up his hand in negation when Xavier turned to him.
The Professor seemed troubled at this reaction but said nothing. He then turned to the remaining X-men. "Marrow? Bishop? Sam?"
Bishop cleared his throat rather abruptly before Marrow could jump in for the kill. "I think the point has been made." He stated authoritatively. He didn't know a lot about human emotions, but judging from Jubilee's drooping shoulders and weary expression, he could tell the girl had had just about enough.
"Very well then. Jubilee we will leave you to make your decision. I will meet you in my office in a few hours to hear your thoughts. In the meantime, Henry will escort you to your room."
Jubilee knew good and well that she had just isolated the few people who'd held her in any esteem. Particularly the only one that mattered. Her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach as everyone went their separate ways. Bobby lingered, but the Professor's hand on his back told him that now was not the time. As soon as it was just her and Beast left, she allowed herself to feel the stress as it overtook her body. Her legs collapsed underneath her as massive tremors shot through her torso and limbs. Tears burned behind her eyes, but she struggled to keep them bound. Until in a rare moment of weakness, she could contain them no longer and broke out sobbing into Hank's fur as he picked her up in his massive arms and carried her upstairs.