"Warren!" Scott called, following Warren towards the training room. "Can we talk?"

"Not right now." Warren's words came out harsher than he had intended.

"Angel!" Scott snapped, suppressing a smile when Warren stopped walking. "As Cyclops, the leader of the X-Men, I'm informing you that we need a strict discussion in my room. Right now. It's crucial for the development of the team."

Warren knew Scott was lying, but he followed him back to his room anyway, sighing heavily as he did.

"What now, Scott?" Warren flicked his wings out, knocking the door shut with a loud slam.

"You were with him last night?" Scott's voice had suddenly dropped quite low and cautious.

"Yes."

"Did you... I mean... Has he..."

"Nothing happened." Warren cut in impatiently. Usually, he'd find the awkward way Scott tiptoed around sexual conversations cute, but not now.

"Oh..." Scott blushed, feeling even guiltier about what had happened with Laura. He told himself Warren was lying to dull the pain slightly. "Well... I... I want to give you the opportunity to explain."

Warren laughed slightly. "So, what? You trust me now? I go off and spend the night with another guy and you miraculously realize your mistake and give me a chance? No way, Summers."

"I do trust you, Warren. I'm just scared."

"I don't care, Scott! You ignored me when I tried to explain, but - even worse - you believed I would actually cheat on you, the boy I love!" Warren hissed.

"No, I just-"

"You just wouldn't give me a chance? Yeah, I know."

"Warren, I'm terrified. I didn't want to give you a chance, because yet again I was being foolish and taking the easy option out." Scott begged.

"If being with me is that scary, why try at all?" Warren turned his back to Scott, heading for the door.

"Because I love you!"

"You see, that's where I get confused." He turned back slowly. "If you love me like you say you do, then, surely, you can just ignore what everyone would say. I can. For you!"

"Because you're a guy! This is so... Wrong." Scott blushed again, looking at the ground.

"If you think our relationship is wrong, you might want to revaluate you beliefs, because they are what is wrong here!" Warren stepped closer to Scott, trying - and failing - to appear intimidating.

"I love you for who you are, Warren." Scott continued, seemingly ignoring Warren's statement. "Not what you are. But if you were a girl, this whole this would be so easy."

"A rose by any other name, would smell as sweet." Warren exited the room, leaving the words hanging in the air.

Scott cursed himself silently. He remembered clearly the day he and Warren had shared an 'almost' moment, whilst studying 'Romeo and Juliet'. To hear Warren quote the book now made Scott's heart do flips.

Scott knew exactly what Warren meant by that. He meant that he wanted Scott to look past the labels and just let them be together. But, of course, Scott could never do that. There was always going to be an irritating voice in his head that told him how wrong this all was. Scott knew that Warren didn't quite understand why he had such clearly defined outlines surrounding gender. Warren was so relaxed about it. If he was with a girl. Great. If he was with a guy. Great. What's the difference, right?

But Scott saw a difference – a very big difference. And it irritated the hell out of him. He wanted to be able to love Warren in every way he desired, but his mind held him back.

Scott left the room quickly, settling on finding Warren first and figuring out what he was going to say afterwards.

Stalking through the empty corridors, Scott's worry began to build. Warren was nowhere. He was also upset. Missing and emotional was never a good combination - especially for Warren Worthington III.

"Hey, Laura!" Scott called out when he noticed the black haired girl wandering towards the cafeteria.

"Hello," She blushed slightly and bit her lip, looking Scott up and down. "Are you okay?"

"I need to find Warren." Scott replied quickly. "Have you seen him?"

"Oh." Laura's expression dropped slightly. "I passed him leaving the building. I don't know why, or where he was going."

"Ugh." Scott pushed a hand against his forehead in frustration, before smiling gratefully at Laura. "Thanks anyway."

Scott knew they weren't really supposed to leave the school, but he didn't really have a choice. He had to find Warren, and soon. Plus, Warren was always going off to New York alone. He was sure Professor Kitty would forgive him just this once.

Stepping outside, Scott noticed the fresh footprints in the snow - undoubtedly Warren's. For a second, Scott felt relieved, thinking that maybe this would be easier than he had anticipated. But the trail of clues to Warren's whereabouts ended with the prints. He had obviously taken to flying, but Scott was still clueless as to where. But he knew he could figure it out.

He had to.