It's been two long, very drawn out, never ending days. And it didn't help that I haven't been feeling well. Physically, not mentally for once. Stomach has been aching and upset, feel slightly dizzy and my head had a dull throbbing pain that didn't want to go away.
But I did start feeling better on the second day. Took me a while to even notice that.
I had been standing near my open window, a nice cool refreshing breeze coming through it when someone knocked on my door.
First I thought it was Jubilee which was kinda stupid since she was on the "cure" mission... and had left over an hour ago, I had even walked her down to the hangar...
It was the Professor. I knew it had to be something quite serious for him to actually physically come up to my room and not telepathically alert me.
You think it would be the other way around. But it isn't, although sometimes it can be. Ok, I am confusing myself.
Anyway he looked quite anxious, he explained to me that the mission that Logon and Ororo and the rest of the team were on, did in fact get ambushed by Magneto. But that wasn't what had him worried. We have dealt with him before. It was the part that Magneto destroyed the Blackbird (Yes it finally got fixed) and they had no way to escape. And they knew it wouldn't be long before they were overtaken and Leech was taken from them. They had rescued him, and McCoy had appropriated cure files along with some vials of liquid that supposedly held the cure inside of it.
So he wanted Scott, me and him, to fly down there, assist them anyway we could and do whatever we had to do to get Leech and the files out of there.
"I thought I was too much of a liability." I told him, quite reserved for me.
"You've never been that Rogue, and nobody has ever considered you as such."
That was what he said to me. I actually wanted to tell him no. He must have read that in my expression all though he read my reasoning behind my reluctance wrong. He told me he knew I hadn't been feeling well lately. I told him I was feeling better. But that wasn't what he wanted to hear. He wanted an answer. I thought of Jubilee.
"When are we leaving?" I asked him, watching as his shoulders dropped slightly as he looked very relieved.
"Right away."
So I followed him down to the hanger bay, quickly changed into my sometimes dreaded X-men uniform and started to make my way to our backup jet. But a voice in my head stopped me.
"Rogue over here." The Professor said to me. Him inside my head used to unnerve me to no end, but I am pretty used to it now.
"Where?"
He showed me in my mind, I followed the path and found my way to an area I have never seen before. Xavier told me a code, I entered it on a key pad and doors slid open.
What awaited me was a very sleek, very expensive and totally black jet that I have never seen before. I stood and gawked at it for a couple long seconds before the Professor urge me to get on board. I walked up the steps, stopped before entering and touched the surface of the vehicle. It was interesting. I knew it wasn't metal.
As if hearing my thoughts, the Professor, who was sitting in a chair right in front of where I was entering, told me that it was made of highly dense and strong plastic, or something along those lines.
"Why didn't the other team take this? 'Specially if they knew they were probably going t'face Magneto?"
It was Scott who answered that one, he motioned for me to sit in the co-pilots chair beside him.
"It's in the experimental stage."
"Experimental stage? As in could fall apart at any given moment?" I made a show off getting out of the chair so I could make my way to the exit.
He laughed at that, gave me a wicked grin for him, pushed me back down in my seat, and pressed a button. The hangar doors started to open and we started to ascend.
"Buckle up Rogue, this might be a bumpy ride." He was back to the serious Scott or more amply serious Cyclops when he spoke those words, the humor he had shown before not even evident.
So there we were, The Professor who I have never seen go along on a mission himself.. he usually just monitors them, although you could count the Alkali Lake incident, but that was just chance that he was there on that one. Scott who was trying to explain to me how the equipment worked as we sped through the sky. And me, me thinking what a life I led and praying that Jubilee was ok.
It didn't take us too long to arrive at our destination, it wasn't hard to locate either. We would have been able to without all that special equipment on board if we had to.. lighting and other abnormal colorful bursts in one spot of the sky while the rest was totally clear.
So we ended the bumpy ride, the landing more rough than I was used to, but after actually crashing you would think I wouldn't have noticed. We parked about half a mile away, that is what Scott told me anyway. I thought Xavier was going to get off with us, but he just handed us each a com link and said he would be there with us, as he tapped the side of his head.
Scott took off in a brisk run, I hadn't even put the ear device on, nor gotten out of the jet. I guess he was a little anxious to meet Magneto. I certainly wasn't.
We had already notified the team. The back noise filled with screams, grunts and other strange sounds made me think they did indeed need some help.
I hadn't expected to find our half a dozen people pitted against Magneto's group of more than twenty. How they held there own so long was amazing.
I also saw pieces of the blackbird littered all over the ground in the forest area that the fight was taking place at. I was surprised to see no uniformed guards from the compound that the items had just been taken from, but there could be many reasons behind that.
Storm noticed us, actually she noticed Scott first and told McCoy to take Leach and the pilfered information and go to the jet. She was holding off most of the attacks with fierce winds and well placed lighting bolts that made most of the brotherhood back off. Most. The ones that didn't found out what it was like to be struck by pure elemental energy. Wasn't a pretty sight.
Of course Logan was doing his slice and dice fighting. Keeping everyone from following after the now retreating McCoy who bounding away with Leach in his arms.
Kitty was holding on to Bobby, phasing them both in and out as what looked to be wooden spikes and other unidentifiable objects kept passing through their ghostly figures. When they became solid again Bobby would shoot off some ice, cementing someone to the ground or hitting them with small baseball sized ice balls.
Jubilee was letting off flashes of bright light from her fingertips, ones that could blind someone for a good couple of minutes if they looked at it a certain way. She also knocked people down with it when anybody got to close to her, or just kicked them or hit them with well practiced moves. Not bad for a little firecracker.
The minute we arrived Scott had adjusted his visor and let off a wide optic blast. It knocked at least ten people off their feet, six of them remained unconscious. I could have stood their and watched it all but I wasn't there to be a spectator.. I focused my attention on Jubilee and started making my way over to help her when I came face to face with the Master of Magnetism.
He moves pretty fast for an old guy, because I certainly didn't see him coming. The way he looked at me I knew he saw me as no threat. And his words confirmed that fact.
"My living failure." He practically spat out at me as he looked at me with derision, and intolerance. His hands wrapped inside the folds of his trademark cape. If he was facing anyone else I bet he would have had his hands out ready to do some damage. Or already doing damage. He really thought I wasn't worth it. If I didn't know better I would have felt really worthless and totally out of place. Although his eyes did keep a watch on my hands in case I tried to unglove them and touch him. Yeah Right, like I need an updated version of his tortured memories.
I just stared at him, without fear, and with too much understanding of the kind of person that he was.
"My would be murderer." I said to him with abhorrence.
"Come to save your fellow X-men?" I heard the humor in his voice. And the skepticism that he believed I couldn't even if I wanted to. "None of you will escape."
I looked quickly behind me and saw that McCoy was already long gone with Leech. So our goal had been achieved.
"We came prepared." Was all I said.
"Yes, your plastic little air vehicle. How quaint." He said sanctimoniously with a strange chuckle that made shivers shoot down my spine.
Something was off, why was Magneto even bothering to talk to me at all? Especially as he acted like I wasn't even worth his attention. But then without warning I felt a wave of heat coming near me, I almost didn't respond in time.
Dodging quickly I turned and saw Pyro coming at me. More flames already being launched at me. I tried to look in his face, find some of the John that I thought about ever once in a while. John who I had embraced and had strange conversations with. But I saw only Pyro. A very stoic one.
I knew Bobby was on the scene when suddenly ice formed in front of where Pyro had been running toward me. Fire boy went sliding and then crashed and fell hard on the ground. Bobby grabbed my arm from behind and looked at Magneto who was just standing there looking amused, but otherwise doing nothing.
"We got to get out of here Rogue!" Bobby yelled at me.
I looked behind him and now saw now sign of Jubilee.
"Where's Jubilee?"
"She's on the jet, So is everyone else except for you, me and Cyclops."
He tugged on my arm again, I looked at Pyro where he was already getting off the ground. Bobby and I both watched as he let off another burst of flame. And then another and another.
Bobby was able to stop the first and the second one with some well placed blasts of cold air. He tried to nudge me out of the way as the third and now forth and fifth flame were coming right at me. But I was fascinated. I could feel the flames. Their hot scorching energy filling my head. Bobby tried to pull me to the side again, out of the way, but I pushed him away from me and held my ground.
And then they reached me, and as I bent them to my will they circled my body, dancing round and round me. The heat and rush of hot wind as they did so mesmerizing. But that only lasted a good twenty seconds. I now know I could have really hurt myself. But right then, I really didn't think about that, nor care.
The flames jumped away from me, intensifying, their direction aimed at Pyro of course. Pyro who was standing there his mouth slightly open, while watching me with open fascination at what I was doing with his fire.. all which made him a little slower to respond than he normally would have. I could have killed him. I knew that. But I wasn't going to.
I let it come to him close enough so that even from where I was standing his eyes looked as if they were on fire as they reflected the hot flames.
I took off in a slight run, distinguished the fire with a mere thought and kicked Pyro to the ground who looked like he was just about to try something. Bobby who I hadn't even noticed following me, iced Pyro's hands to the grassy ground. Afterwards the Iceman looked at me stunned. Stunned and confused. It was the first time he had seen me use my "borrowed" powers.
Pyro tried to struggle with the thick ice manacles but it did him no good. Especially since they were covering his flame throwers. He finally stopped and looked up at me, then over at Bobby. Then back at me.
"Didn't know it was going to be so soon." He said, slight regret in his words, more of the John I knew coming through them. Not that I knew John, or Pyro, he had just tried to kill me! Whatever I thought I had with him, a rapport maybe, an understanding, melted away when he did that. And all I felt for him was pity. Pity because he was on the wrong side and didn't now it. But he probably feels the same about me...
I didn't think we were going to have to fight so soon either, But where Magneto was, Pyro and Mystique usually were. I guess I sort of knew that even before I left. But I didn't know he would make a point of attacking me, Magneto distracting me so that he could. That would never happen again.
Bobby looked at me as if he wanted me to explain his words, but I offered nothing. Only Scott and of course Jubilee knew how I had seen Pyro, less than a month ago. And he is Pyro, no longer John to me. What a shame.
We were suddenly alone, Bobby grabbed my arm and forced me away from Pyro who was struggling with his bonds again. Magneto was no longer in sight, although there were a couple strange looking people getting themselves off the ground, groaning as they stood to there feet and looked in our direction.
"We got to get out of here!" Bobby yelled at me again as he took off in a run, unwilling to let go of my hand as if he expected me to run away.
I didn't see any sign of Scott, But there had been some com link chatter, and his voice had been one of them, I think he said something about how it was time to go.
"We are on our way!" Bobby said over the open line, which elicited a response from Kitty that made Bobby blush, knowing that everybody had just heard what she said.
So we arrived at the plastic vehicle safe and sound. But it was too easy. Way too easy.
Bobby was getting on the jet, Kitty already hugging him. I stopped before entering and turned slowly around and walked back down the stairs.
"What are you doing Rogue!" Jubilee screamed down at me. I really didn't know what I was doing.
But everything seemed wrong, and yet...
And then I knew he was there. I knew it. I could feel the level of metal in the area rising, as if something large was coming our way.
"Get out of here!.. Magneto is on his way and he..."
But my words were left unfinished. For suddenly Magneto was lowering himself down to the ground from high above us, as his followers were coming out of trees and everywhere else. We were surrounded. Again.
But that wasn't what put me on edge. It was the building size chunk of metal that magneto had welded into a huge ball, probably from our Blackbird. One that he was aiming right at the Jet. Right at us. Right at me.
Scott came out of nowhere and tried to deflect it with blast. But it didn't even seem to touch it. Bobby tried to freeze it. Storm tried to blast it away with a burst of hard wind.
But it didn't even slow it down.
My thoughts were strange. All I could think about was that Kitty and Logan would be the only survivors. For Kitty could phase right through it and Logan would heal. He always heals.
But could I? Could I stop it? Should I try it, or would it just be a desperate attempt to survive. To save my friends.
Yes, I had to try.
I took two tentative steps forward, right underneath the falling ball of doom. Raising my head I brought my hands up. Felt the metal, so much so that it was almost as if I was becoming one with it. Melding with it.
It was exciting, strange, scary and empowering.
And I stopped it. Barely. It was so close to me that if I jumped up I could have been able to touch it. Ending it's deadly descent made me see black spots and made my footing uneasy. But I held on to consciousness, defied it to try to make me fall. I stood upright. Borrowed more strength that I didn't know I had and hurled the ball away from me, away from the X-men..
The sound as it hit the ground a short distance away was deaf defying.
Magneto would have really killed us, just to stop us from knowing, or from having Leach.
I heard people screaming at me, trying to say something to me but it was if they were just whispers that barely registered.
And then suddenly I was being confronted by Magneto again as he landed in front of me. He approached me while informing the rest of his followers to stay put. I couldn't help but look at them for a quick second, one had spikes sticking out of him, another had hot energy building up in the center of her outstretched palms.
I turned my gaze back at Magneto. His unfriendly yet, strangely astounded look that actually held admiration.
"That was interesting," he said, a slow piercing and malicious smile taking over his face "But how long do you think you could hold out against me?"
He waited for me to respond. His expression just daring me to make a move. I blinked slowly and almost rubbed my aching temple but thought better of it.. no need to show him a sign of weakness. Or how much what I had just done had drained me.
"As long as I have to!" I said my voice so strong and assured that I couldn't believe it was me speaking.
His smile dropped off his face as he looked behind me. I don't know how I knew that it was Xavier without having to look behind me back. I didn't want to risk doing that. I had about fifteen angry looking mutants looking at me not more than twenty feet away and Magneto, one of the words most powerful ones staring at me right in the face. No more room for distractions.
Man what a predicament I had gotten myself into.
"There is no reason to continue this Erik.. we are both after the same thing.. we both want to know if the cure really works." Xavier said, his well cultured voice filling the area where I was standing, his words partially echoing back toward him.
Magneto narrowed his eyes, as a frown deepened on his face. But he didn't respond, didn't even bother answering him.
He just looked back down at me. Being the center of his world at the moment wasn't the least appealing at all.
"A cure Rogue, is that what you want? To become another deplorable Homo sapiens, just so you can know what it is to touch?" He obviously didn't want my answer as he continued," from what I have seen that would truly be a waste."
I think he had just complimented me. I would have been truly stunned if I had comprehended that then.
"What she wants is none of your concern!" That was Scott speaking, A Scott that sounded so cold and hostile that his voice was almost unrecognizable to me. I wanted to turn around and look at him, but I couldn't seem to move, as if I was frozen in place. I knew Scott was coming toward me but I yelled at him not to. For some reason that got Magneto's attention. His malicious smile was back and he flicked his hand up and down so quickly that I didn't realize what he was doing before it was too late. He had formed some sort of field that was barely visible and propelled it past me and forward. I shot around no longer caring about being careful and watched in horror as the odd projectile collided with Scott and threw him down on to the ground. He didn't move, nor get back up. That gave me another big dose of reminder reality of just how powerful Magneto was.
I started to run toward Scott but was stopped by a similar field that blocked me from the jet, from Scott, from everyone.
I turned around, forcing myself to try to remain in control as I denied the tears that were trying to form in my eyes.
"Why!" I screamed at Magneto, noticing that Mystique and Pyro were now standing a couple feet behind him, there expressions impassive while their pitiless eyes were on me. But I felt much better when Xavier telepathically alerted me that Scott was fine.
Magneto took two steps toward me, I backed away from him, not out of fear but repulsion.
"Because I can." He told me, no emotion behind his words not even the pretentious arrogance I usually heard from him. Just as if he was making a statement of fact.
The Professor left a telepathic link open and I could see in Xavier's minds eye that they were taking Scott on board the jet while Bobby, Jubilee, Logan and the Professor remained on the ground. The three were all trying real hard to break through the field while Professor sat there calmly watching Magneto with unease and me with obvious concern.
I was still a little weak. Or I would have taken the field down myself. Not that I really knew how. But at the moment it was too much effort. And from the very colorful words I heard from Logan, the angry shrieks I heard from Jubilee and the frustrated grunts from Bobby I knew they weren't fairing very well themselves.
And then I had an idea. One that wouldn't expel or require to much energy but would be risky and would probably only be a one time thing. I told the Professor what I was planning through our mind link.. for after all I would need his help.
"Just because y'can doesn't mean y'should!" I yelled at him, watching him fastidiously, not willing to let any of his movements go unnoticed again. I had already in a round about out way caused Scott to get hurt. That was another thing that wasn't going to happen again.
"Join me Rogue." Magneto said, I waited for the punch line to come, the part that would have made me laugh, but I knew he was serious.
"You've got t'be kiddin' I would sooner join the devil than you." Not that that was true. I wouldn't want to join either.
He acted as if he didn't even hear me.
"You're strong Rogue, more powerful than I would have thought, with me you won't be restrained, won't be held back, will be able to learn the true extent of your powers... Join me Rogue!"
I couldn't believe it! Did he really think I would? After all that he had done to me? Maybe I didn't hate him as much as I used to, unfortunately him touching me made me actually a little sympathetic toward the man who had tried to kill me. But join him! I think not. Never. Not ever.
"I would rather die young like Ruth than be a part of what y'stand for." Flashes of his first love getting shot by the Nazi went through my mind. It was a cold, harsh, very mean thing to say. But I needed to get his attention. Distract him. Just for a second.
That had done it. He seemed aghast and startled at hearing her name. I bet it's been a while. She was someone to admire. I wonder if Erik's life would have been any different if she had lived. If his parent had lived. Of course he would have.
His eyes widened and a grim shadow took over his face. One that showed what was going to come. What he was going to do. But he didn't get a chance to act.
I did.
I reached out with my mind, it was very easy to find what I was looking for, his helmet. The only large metal object in the immediate area. I reached up my hand quickly, his helmet coming off his head in a flash. I felt the tug as he tried to pull it back toward him, but to no avail.
For Xavier acted immediately, attacking Magneto with his mind. Magneto didn't even get a chance to look surprised.
He clutched his head as he fell down on his knees to the ground. I actually felt pity for him. It looked painful. Pyro and Mystique came rushing forward, but the shield must have dropped because a huge wall of ice formed right in front of them.
I took one more look, although there was now not much to see, and took off running. Somewhere along the line Logan grabbed my hand and led me on the jet. After that things became fuzzy as my head pounded in my ears and my eyes started hurting right along with my body. I didn't even know that my nose was bleeding until Jubilee ran to McCoy and came back with a tissue that she handed to me.
"You nose Rogue." She said as she took the seat beside me, Jubilee didn't seem to want to stop staring at me. "That was amazing!" She told me after grabbing my hand and giving me a soft squeeze.
When we took off I remember getting out of my seat and going to the back of the vehicle and finding Scott. He was still unconscious.
"He'll be fine Rogue, Thanks to you.." McCoy told me.
"Me? You've got t'be kiddin', because of me Magneto nearly killed him."
I remember he responded with what was supposed to be reassurance and something about how I wasn't responsible for Scott's injuries.
I took Scott's hand in mine, wishing that I could peel my glove off and touch his skin, if only to feel his soft skin against mine.
I felt someone staring into my back and found Logan looking at me. In a way that made me feel.. very empty inside. I turned away, feeling partially indifferent about him.
So we made it back to the mansion, McCoy started analyzing the info, and Leach was pronounced healthy and uninjured after he was brought out of his drugged state. I don't even remember seeing him on the ride back but I was preoccupied.
Of course Scott is going to be fine, he woke up ten minutes after we arrived back. I should know I was right by his side.
He was still in his slightly torn X-men uniform, looking more like Cyclops than Scott but he was awake and that was all that mattered.
I must have smiled because he smiled too.
"Man I have one killer headache!" He told me, trying to smile, but it turned into a grimace. "Anybody have any Advil around here?"
I looked down at the ground suddenly feeling guilty again. McCoy brought us both some pills and water and then left us alone.
"It's not your fault Rogue, I made my choice, you aren't omnipotent, you can't stop everything."
How does he always know what I am thinking? I didn't say anything to that. But I was feeling a little relieved. I mean I knew he wouldn't hold me accountable but that didn't mean I could stop blaming myself.
Scott tried to get to his feet and nearly toppled over, I managed to stop his fall, he steadied somewhat and offered me a small smile.
"Thanks." And then his smile disappeared as his hand made its way to my face, I tensed up and backed away from him. He frowned at that.
"Your nose. It's bleeding." He said pointing to me face. So it was.
McCoy came over, took a small light out of his pocket that he somehow managed to balance in his huge hands and shone it into my eyes.
"How are you feeling Rogue?" He had already looked me over on the jet, I didn't want to have to go through it again.
"Fine." I said testily. He wanted more of a response than that obviously as he waited for me to say something else.
But he already knew my recent ailments. So I felt no need to repeat them again.
"You probably just need some rest, your body has been thorough a great deal, it needs some catching up time. But come back to me if the symptoms appear again."
I let out an aggravated sigh at that but didn't argue.
"I'll take her up to her room and see she gets to bed." Scott told McCoy while latching his hand on to my arm. He was going to take me to my room? Scott was the one who looked like he needed help, although he seemed to be recovering quickly for a guy who had just been knocked out. Maybe he's used to it..
We almost made it to the staircase but Xavier came out of his office where he had been talking to Bobby and Kitty. He was concerned about me, and my show of powers, yet also very proud of my being able to control them. He wanted to talk to me at a later date about them, and was also happy to see Scott back on his feet.
Halfway up the stair case Logan came barreling down them like an enraged animal as he purposely nearly bumped into Scott. I couldn't help but wonder if Ororo and him got into a fight.. or.. who knows.
I had the full intention of leaving Scott at his door, but he became a little wobbly again so I had to help him into his room and onto his bed. He didn't stay put long, he mumbled about no way was he going to sleep in his uniform, went to the bathroom after grabbing some clothes out of his dresser and came back wearing striped pajamas and his glasses in place of his visor.
"That's better." he told me. Going back to his bed where he sat back down. I gave him a half smile and started to leave his room.
"Rogue?"
I turned around slowly, my world spinning for a second. I focused in on Scott.
"Yes?"
"Would you like to stay here with me tonight?"
His words totally astonished me.
"I wanted t'go check on Jubilee.." I told him fishing for any excuse and not knowing why I had to.
"She's fine."
He's right she probably was. She didn't even have to have McCoy look her over on the jet, she was the only one left unscratched.
"I..."
"I'm just asking you to spend the night with me... for comfort, for peace of mind. I want to wake up with you in the morning, find you by my side.. Is that too much to ask for? I'm not asking for anything physical," He paused, but didn't break his intense stare that was directed at me ".. just want you near me.. and besides I still feel a little like I have been run over by an elephant.. and could use someone to watch over me." I heard humor in his last words, but him being beat unconscious by Magneto wasn't something I wanted to laugh about.
"I'm not exactly up t'par either, " I said thinking of my bleeding nose and my still very present headache, "I wouldn't be the best nurse."
"I don't need a nurse, I need you." I heard the pleading in his voice. Something that made me lose some of my resolve not to give in to him.
"Scott I.. "
"What? " He asked me, his shiny red sunglasses still aimed at me.
He waited for another excuse but I gave him none.
"I'll need t'change." I said suddenly realizing that my uniform kinda smelled like it had been cooked and had dark blotches on it from where it had been burned. "And I'll need t'take a shower."
He smiled at that. Looking quite happy as he got up and opened the door for me.
"You've got twenty minutes."
"And if I am not done by then?"
"I'll come looking for you." He said with a mischievous grin. Scott used one of his fingers to put some hair behind my ear that had fallen out of my pony tail.
It was my turn to smile then. My first one all day. Him having to come after me was for some reason very appealing.
I did check up on Jubilee on the way back but she was OK, in fact she was sound asleep, still in her uniform her light still on. I turned it off, pulled up the covers around her small form and touched her lightly on the shoulder out of reassurance for myself.
So I made it back to Scott's about twenty two minutes later, knocked on the door softly, although I probably didn't have to. He answered the door standing there looking at me suddenly very amused. I knew why.
I had light pajamas on, gloves, socks, and because I had been feeling quite silly at that time, a scarf wrapped around my neck, which was what he found humorous. My hair was very wet, still dripping from the shower, but I smelled better, and probably looked better.. No need to tell him that I saw black spots after I exited the shower and had to grab onto my bathroom sink to stop me from falling down to the tile. Especially since that feeling passed so quickly that I almost doubted that it had taken place at all.
"I don't think that will be necessary " Scott said as he unwound the thing from around my neck. Stepping in a little closer than he had to as if he wanted to breath me in.
He let it drop to the ground, I waited for him to pick it up and place it elsewhere since he was a very neat, meticulous person, but he didn't even bother.
"What side would you like to sleep on?" He asked me, causing me to look away from the scarf and back up at him.
"I can sleep on your couch."
He laughed at that.
"You sure don't make it easy for a guy do you?" Scott took my hand and lead me to his bed where the covers were already turned down. Making sure I understood where he wanted me to be.
"Whichever side is ok." I finally said, giving in completely. Most people wouldn't be so apprehensive about the sharing of a bed with Scott Summers. But, I wasn't most people.
I didn't bring up my skin, didn't warn him that I could hurt him. He knew. I knew. He went and grabbed me a towel which I placed on the pillow for my wet hair..
I got in on the right side, under the fresh smelling and soft sheet. I had picked the part of the bed closer to the door, usually I like to sleep closer to the window.. but... Scott got in also and turned off the light, but not before I saw how pleased he was. He brought the covers over him and then over me, which was unnecessary, but rather charming. He leaned over toward me like he wanted to do something, but then thought better of it.. Rolling over to the left side of the bed he told me goodnight.
That's it? I remembered thinking. But that wasn't it. Somewhere along the line we started to talk. We didn't stop until many hours later..
Scott positioned on his side looking at me through the dark, me lying on my back looking over at him every once and a while.
We laughed, I cried. Which made him scoot closer to me and embrace me lightly for a couple long minutes.We joked and he said things that made me blush profusely and leave me with nothing to say in response as I became even more aware of his proximity to me. I don't know who fell asleep first, I think him though, because I remember the soothing sound of his soft breathing as it slowed down and smoothed out. I fell asleep right after him, allowing myself a couple more conscious moments of feeling his hand resting on my arm, and the way I felt such peace. Such contentment.
It was an unconventional way to end such a frightening day.