Author's Note: HAPPY BELATED SAINT PADDY'S! Thank you guys SO much for the continued support! It really means everything to me for this story! And for those of you just joining, thank you for giving this fic a chance! I tried to get this done YESTERDAY as a Saint Paddy's Day Thank You but sadly it didn't get done, but it's still a bleated present!
To My Loyal Fans:I wanted to take this time to thank you ALL once again for your kind words and continued support. Without you, John and Kitty's relationship would have never made it this far. The more reviews I get, the more inspired I become, and for this, I thank you.
As I stated in my last two chapters, I have opened the opportunity to choosing the description for the story from a line out of the story. So far I have a suggestion to pull form the letter in CH 36 (KatharinePryde23) OR pull from the Comatose scene in Chapter 35 (Revanite201).
The chance is still open to those who wish to have the opportunity to have a hand in changing the description of this story that would capture a potential reader's attention. If there are any lines that you absolutely love, send me a P.M. or post the Sentence it in a comment, it can't be anymore than 385 characters long. The best candidates will be posted in chapters to come followed by an opportunity to vote for them via Review and P.M. A forewarning, I am VERY picky when it comes to this sort of thing, so make it a good one! :)
Disclaimer: The song from which this title was inspired from belongs to Ellie Golding. The X-Men movie verse from which this came belongs to Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Marvel, 20th Century Fox and now Disney. I own nothing but my idea behind this story. They created this sandbox, I just play in it. :)
Chapter 38
Beating Heart
John was restless, as he laid awake in a hotel located in Niagara Falls, Canada. Sitting up he rubbed his face as thoughts of Kitty ran through his mind. His hair had grown down to just above his shoulders and was temperamental. Some days it was naturally hot iron straight, others it was wavy and disobedient. 'I'm going to have to trim this tomorrow.' He thought as his fingers brushed along the short, unruly beard which now downed his jawline.
He heaved a tired sigh as he pushed himself to his feet grabbing the beloved Zippo from the nightstand, walking toward the sliding glass door clad in nothing but his black Hanes Boxer Briefs, his skin was stretched across deep ridges and cuts of a well sculpted chest and torso, the taught muscles disappearing into the waistband in the perfect V that he had always had. It was surprisingly easy for him to keep his low body fat percentage as he continued his vigorous worked out everyday.
With his left forearm resting against the frame, he flicked the lighter in his right causing it to admit the soothing Fwit, Snikt. He found so comforting. Honey colored eyes watched the breathtaking water; from the vantage point that his room within the Oakes Hotel offered it appeared that the incessant moving water was flat and jagged before sinking into a massive hole as it flowed down the Niagara River.
The young man had traveled to 26 different countries and locations, spending two weeks in each sending an article every Thursday for his column with the Daily Bugle; the first week was reserved for the food and local culture the second for the tourist traps and sights. Dialect of different tongues came to him instantaneously once he heard the language spoken. He couldn't place how he was able to analyze the foreign spoken words and form a response as rapidly as he did, but he new his power well enough to know it was not something he possessed. The thought troubled him deeply, but didn't want to question it further until he returned home in fear that the ability would leave when he needed it the most. As a result of the bridge between languages, he spent time with both children and elderly. He volunteered for things he never would have as a teen.
He had seen more beauty in the world than most people had in a lifetime but it all meant nothing without her by his side to enjoy it with him. For every place he visited John made sure to send a Post Card back home to Kitty. Not knowing how long it would take for each one to reach her, he numbered them in the order of the countries he had visited.
Deep down he knew he should have told her of the offer he had received and while he truly wanted to, everything he had written that day on the subject just sounded like a lame cop-out. He tried to call the Mansion several times, asking for Kitty but hung up out of fear before she could ever reach the phone. The one time he managed to force himself to stay on the line, he melted at the sound of her voice. When he didn't saying anything she spoke his name causing a mixture of excitement and fear to shiver down his spine. He hung up the phone without ever uttering a syllable. 'What do you say to the person you abandoned twice?' He thought dejectedly at the memory.
'You speak from the heart. You tell her the truth about everything, even if it's painful.'
John cranked the flint of his lighter conjuring a plume of raging flame in his hand as he turned, ready to fight any intruder brave enough to challenge the man as the flickering light illuminating the dark empty hotel room.
"Show yourself." He called to the darkness, his eyes scanning for any sign of a forced entry. A figure slowly materialized, a mist at first but then became the solid form of the closest thing he ever had to father. Wheelchair and all.
"Xavier?" He asked in wide-eyed disbelief, the flame dying to the size of a flickering match before roaring back to life as anger gripped him. "Xavier is dead. Who the hell do you think you are? You have seconds to explain yourself before I incinerate you back into the depths of oblivion."
The soft voice of his former mentor echoed in the depths of his mind as the figure before him chuckled with a soft smile. 'You would have to incinerate yourself for the figure before you is merely a projection of myself I have created within your mind. But I can assure you, I am Xavier and very much alive.'
"Oh yeah?" John challenged. "Prove it."
Suddenly the word around them crumbled, giving way to crowded street, as he wheeled himself toward the doors, John realized he was seeing through Xavier's eyes as the world gave way even further to a hallway that the Pyromaniac instantly recognized as Goulburn Boys Orphanage in New South Whales Australia.
"I must admit to some confusion upon receiving your phone call Mr. Xavier." The woman beside him spoke as she led him down the hall. "In all the years John's been here he's never once had someone interested in his adoption let alone a visitor."
"I can't imagine why and please, call me Charles." The professor instructed kindly as she came to a stop just shy of John's door.
"I must warn you, there have been incidences with the boy. Nasty things." The woman spoke with fear as she looked at him imploringly before knocking hesitantly on the door, pushing it open. "John, you have a visitor."
'They're finally sending me away to the home for crazy people.' The thoughts bombarded Xavier's mind before he had a chance to block them out of respect for his fellow man.
"Hello, I am Professor Charles Xavier," He stated with a smile as he wheeled himself into the room, his eyes fixed on a very young, fearful Saint John Allerdyce. "And I can assure you my school isn't a place for crazy people."
The boy's medium shaggy brown hair was tapered up and around the ears and neck. Long thick bangs held a wispy texture as they stopped just above his eyes. Faint dirt covered the child's face. John studied the man for several moments before speaking, his voice accusing and dejected. "I don't believe you. She wants me looked at. They think I'm different."
"And perhaps they're right. Xavier's is a school for Mutants." Xavier's smiled never faded as he leaned forward slightly, placing the tips of his fingers together. "You can do things, can't you John. Things other children can't."
"I can only make it grow once it's lit. But I can't start it." John was very quiet for a moment as if debating on opening up to the man before him, before reaching deep into his pocket, pulling out a red Bic Lighter he had stolen from one of the caretakers who smoked. Pressing down, he rolled the spark-wheel, a small flame flickered to life. He stared at it in concentration before removing his thumb from the Fork, effectively closing the valve that controlled the gas. But instead of extinguishing, the small flame wavered before growing slightly in size. His small fingers slid down the base, twirling the lighter as he examined his work, caution etched across his face. "When I do make it grow, it hurts people, even when I don't want it to, or catches things on fire."
'You have more power than you can imagine, John. The question is, will you control that power,' John jumped as the voice of the man before him filtered into his mind. With his concentration broken and nothing for it to cling to, the flame suffocated. 'Or let it control you?'
The memory collapsed in on itself as the world sucked him backwards, returned back to its normal state. There was only one person beside himself who could have known the events of that day in such detail. Not even Kitty knew what had transpired word for word. He became aware of the inferno, which still flickered dangerously in his grasp and quickly suffocated it in his fist. The weight of his actions over the last few years crashed down on him once more as he hit his knees. Guilt consumed him as he violently remembered the words he had spoken to Magneto in light of his fellow Mutants death. 'I would have killed the Professor if you'd given me the chance.'
"I am so sorry Professor." His quivering voice betrayed him as he spoke. "I failed you. I let my power control me and hurt those I cared about most in the process. I'm not asking for forgiveness and I don't expect to receive it from anyone, especially you and Kitty."
'Quite the contrary John, it is I who have failed you. I didn't guide you through your troubles like I should have and as a result you turned to the one person who offered you that guidance. It is I who should be asking for forgiveness.' Xavier's words shocked him deeply.
"You have nothing to apologize for." John insisted. "I take responsibility for the actions I chose. Your not the one who stepped off that Jet."
'While that may be true, I still failed you as a mentor. I should have been there and I wasn't.'
John sighed. Once Xavair had made up his mind, it was very difficult to change it. "If really want forgiveness then fine. But I don't feel you've done anything wrong."
'The feeling is mutual, John.' Silence fell over the two as Pyro mulled over his own thoughts. 'Your wondering how I am still alive.'
"What happened to not reading other peoples thoughts?" The man laughed as he moved from the floor to the edge of his bed.
'It's hard not to when I'm telepathically linked.' The smooth voice chuckled. 'When Jean obliterated my body, I transferred myself to psychic dimension known as the astral plane where I remained until I possessed the body of my brother.'
John was stunned into silence once more. He couldn't imagine the intensity of Xavier's turmoil on the astral plane. What he had done broke his own moral code. Something the Professor prided himself on. To make matters worse for himself, it was the body of his brain-dead twin brother who was under the care of Dr. Moira Mac Taggert at Muir Island that he transferred his mind to.
Realizing the other mutant was still in his head he cleared his throat awkwardly. Uncomfortable silence was still the bane of his existence. "I am glad that you're alive and well."
'And I, you. You took quite the blow from Bobby.'
John scoffed. "Yeah, well, Asgard knows I deserved it."
Xavier's booming voice laughed in his head. 'Try to get some sleep. You have a big day ahead of you. Goodnight, John.'
"Night Professor." John stated and suddenly a slight pressure he didn't know was there lifted from his head as Charles released the mental connection.
Kitty's fingers held the silver clasp as she snapped it into place, securing the Olive Drab Cordura Duffle Bag shut. Effortlessly she threw the twenty-pound bag over her shoulders and made her way down the stairs. Some of the students were leaving for a camping trip for the annual agriculture class with Colossus and herself offering to go along to help Logan and Strom, who was no longer headmistress now that Xavier had returned, with managing the teens.
Nine months had passed since Kitty embarrassed herself in front of Pitor the night they had drank the Rum beside the lake. The relationship ended that night and they both decided that if anyone asked, to save Kitty from potential backlash, that it had been a mutual break-up due to the fact that they were such close friends. It wasn't a complete lie, but she knew the separation had hurt him more than he let on. Surprisingly, despite it all, things weren't awkward between the two Mutants, as it had taken her and Bobby a few weeks before they could be in the same room together after their near kiss.
Life in front of the Mansion was crawling like busy ants as every scrambled around, saying goodbye to Xavier and checking bags before loading them below the bus incase anyone had forgotten something. Each X-Men was assigned a group of Students to keep track of and aid in gathering their belongings before the trip.
"Ray, did you get everything you may need? We wont be back for about a week so you better make sure you have everything." Kitty said as she approached one of her assigned teens, fumbling with his backpack at the foot of the small steps.
"Ranger Rolled and ready to go Shadowcat." The fifteen year old nodded as he held up his rucksack in one hand and a hydration pack in the other. "Well, sortta. Can you help me attach my Camelbak?"
"Yeah." Kitty laughed at the memory of her first struggle attaching the two as she set down her duffel bag taking a knee beside the boy she took the items and began to snap them to his bag. She had just finished the last buckle when Storm's voice joyfully greeted the last person she had expected to see.
"John?" Kitty's head snapped to her left as she watched between scrambling students as the weather witch darted toward the figure which dropped a bag with a loud thud, enveloping him in a suffocating hug that could only come from the motherly like figure.
"Storm!" John greeted as he lifted the Mistress of the Elements off the ground in a bone-crushing hug before placing her back down gently as Xavier wheeled himself to them. "It's so good to see you! And you too, Professor!"
Kitty moved to a standing position as the crowed thinned her arms crossed taking in the sight of her former lover for the first time in just a few days past a year.
A white, form fitting men's button-down shirt clad his shoulders with the sleeves rolled up over a black wife beater and the strap of his laptop bag slung across his body. A loss pair of authentic Lucky You jean's hung off of his hips. His once shaggy, short hair now fell in long, straight locks, stopping just above his shoulders. It was by far the longest she had ever seen it, but by no more than an inch. What surprised her most were the smooth lines of his closely trimmed beard that surrounded his mouth and clung to his face from about mid cheek halting just under his jawline but not extending to his neck. She had never seen facial hair on him before and it stirred something long suppressed within her. 'Don't do this to yourself again Kitty.' She mentally scolded as she began to eavesdrop on the conversation.
"How was your flight? I see you had to buy a new bag." Storm asked earnestly as she grinned.
"Yeah well," John ran a hand through his hair as he glanced at the expensive Burton Performer Duffel Bag Black 50L. "I was going through customs at the airport in Australia when the strap got caught on a railing and ripped it clean in half."
"I'm so sorry to hear about that." Xavier commented.
"What can you do?" John nonchalantly shrugged.
"Well now that your home, I'm sure Storm and Logan could use an extra hand with the students on the Camping Trip, we have a rather surprising amount going this year." The Professor offered with a knowing smile.
John looked around at all the bustling students as storms explination of his possible jetlag fell on deaf ears. For brief moment, he could see Kitty, watching him from a distance beside her own X-Men issued duffel bag. His stomach lurched as his breath caught in his throat. He fought the urge to rush toward her and wrap her in his arms. As the crowed moved past she was gone.
"I would love to." John stated, still scanning the crowed for her before glancing back at Storm. "Really, I've done so much traveling, it's just nice to finally be home."
"Are you really going to just let him go with us?"
"Yes Kitty, I intend to." Xavier replied as he said his farewells to a few passing students.
John disappeared back into the Mansion after his return to gather some camping equipment from the storages and no sooner did he leave the court years, did Kitty begin failing at convincing Xavier to keep John at the mansion. She needed time to process his return and get her rapidly betraying feelings back to gather.
The Professor turned to face her, his eyes piercing her own and suddenly she was a shy teen, afraid to challenge authority once more. "Do you have a good reason for him not to attend? From the looks of it you guys are going to need all the help you can get."
Kitty sighed dejectedly. "No."
"Alright, it's settled then." Xavier announced. Taking note of her unease, he gently placed his hand on her fore arm comfortingly. "Just give him a chance. I think you'll find that he's a changed man but that his feelings for you are the same as they had always been."
The Professor offered her a comforting smile before navigating his chair toward a couple of late coming students, leaving a confused and unsure Kitty to stare at his retreating from, a storm brewing between her heart and her mind.
John grinned as he causally crossed his arms while admiring his handy work with the small tan and blue two-man Ozark Trail dome tent complete with a yellow rain cover. From a short distance away Kitty watched as his amber eyes scanned his shelters secure posture; his muscles rippled beneath the grey form fitting shirt that bore the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters crest over the right breast. Kitty quickly found herself lost in his presence. Her fluttering heart gave way to stampeding elephants and her palms became clammy with sweat. As if sensing her gaze, he turned his head toward her and suddenly she was a dear caught in headlights, mesmerized by him as if he were the lure and she the fish. Embarrassment flooded her as she returned to her own tent, feebly trying to ignore the feelings he once again re-ignited.
That evening, just as the sun had begun to set, Kitty circled the camp checking the parameter to make sure that everything was in the proper places, inspecting for poisonous plants or anything that might warrant unwelcomed guests. It was done briefly before they set up camp, but she was bored and hadn't done it yet herself. She had just finished inspecting a tent when the sound of giggling reached her ears. Curiosity got the better of her as she peered around the side of the medical tent.
John stood in the center of the camp, surrounded by many of the students as he held a Gecko in his hands much to the dismay of several girls.
"Come on!" He said with a smile as he held the small creature closer as the girl shirked in terror, clinging helplessly to her boyfriend. "Just give him a little pat! I've got him so he's not gonna hurt you."
"No! That's disgusting Mr. Allerdyce!" She laughed as she continued to cower.
"It's funny you called the little guy that. Lizards are like natures garbage disposal. All those little bugs you don't like? He eats them." John said as he petted the small being. He continued on, explaining the benefits of the small creature to the environment before placing the small Gecko on a nearby tree, watching as it scampered away. Turning back to the class, he grinned holding out his arms. "Now, who wants to play with fire?"
Kitty couldn't help herself as she laughed quietly when the kids all began calling out in excitement. John pulled out his lighter and the fire flashed into existence in a wash of red and yellow sparks. The dangerous beauty swayed like a flowing river, so unruly. But John was perfectly in control as he held his arms out, one palm to the ground the other to the sky; the fire dancing across his shoulders into the waiting open right hand. Once there he morphed the flame into several creatures; a large bird, an otter, a squirrel, a dragon before landing on a bunny.
The semi-transparent rabbit leaped from his palm, wisps of red and gold trailing behind. Once on the forest floor, the small animal slowly hopped forward a few feet, rearing back on its haunches, it's button nose twitched for a moment before rubbing its face and ears.
Sniffing the air it hopped closer to one of the boys, before "placing" its tinny paw against his knee, leaning up to get a closer look. The teen watched in awe as it returned to the floor, hopping softly by each student. The girl who had been shrieking before now remained as quiet as a mouse as she reached out gingerly, the animal arching into her hand in a similar manner a cat would; the flames moving around the girls hand, close but never touching. Suddenly it's ears perked forward, twitching as it "listened" to the forest around them. The display captivated Kitty as she found herself leaning forward for a better like she once had many years ago.
As if sensing danger, it ran back the direction it came, circling the fire pit before leaping into the waiting timber, igniting it in a plume as the smoldering, fire licked the bottom of the wood like a hungry kitten with a saucer of milk. Crackling, the plumes of black grey smoke wound itself around the empty air like a great hungry serpent.
A smile that reached her eyes broke across her face as the teens erupted into cheers. John smiled and took a gracious, low bow. 'Something's never do change.' Kitty thought shaking her head before moving toward the ice chest's to grab the food they planed on cooking.
Every chance he got, John attempted to talk with Kitty and every chance she got she distracted herself with something else. It wasn't until after she had finished her 'Tent Count' and everyone had gone to bed that he had finally managed to corner her.
She was walking across the camp toward her tent with her L.E.D lantern in hand when a stick crack from behind, causing her to round on the noise, ready to fight or Phase.
"Easy." Her lantern illuminated John's face as he stood at the edge of the light, hands raised in surrender as he slowly approached. "It's just me. I was hoping we could talk."
Kitty rolled her eyes as she turned back toward the direction she had been heading, her heart fluttering against her ribcage. "Nope."
"Kitty!" He drew out her name deflated as he dropped his arms, continuing his relentless pursuit. "Kitty, just talk to me! Please?" Stopping in her tracks the brunette spun around so quick her hair flew over her shoulder, framing her face as it contorted in an anger John had never seen before.
"Why should I?" She snapped. It was the closest he had been to her since his return. He never thought it was possible, yet somehow she had grown even more than before. He blinked as his mind scrambled for an answer, but found none. As he looked into her eyes he could see the pain he had placed there, and it flooded his soul with a throbbing guilt. With eyes narrowed in anger she shook her head. "You will never change John."
"But I have changed." He pleaded to her retreating form. "Just give me a chance to prove it to you."
"Yeah? We'll see about that." On the surface the retort was sudden and thick with doubt, but just a nail scratch beneath the rigid exterior, she had already begun to see the truth behind his words and though she would never admit it, had already irrevocably begun to fall for the Pyromaniac all over again.
Try as she might, Kitty couldn't seem to keep herself away from John for very long. She often found herself watching him, mesmerized by how easily he spoke to the teenagers. She was captivated by the way he would navigate the forest with ease on hikes. The way his hands drew lazy lines over leaves and trace outlines of animals as explained the different flora and fauna enchanted her. When his eyes would meet hers from across the camp her stomach would erupt into butterflies. And when he would flash his trademark smirk her direction, a strange new excitement fizzled through her entire body causing her hair to stand on end. Her words became less and less harsh but she still never spoke more than a few words to him at a time until late one evening when she could no longer see a reason to stay away from him.
Kitty approached John as he sat beside the fire, fiddling with a piece of fishing wire one of the students had tangled. Taking the vacant seat beside him she handed him a Styrofoam plate loaded with pre-cut steak, baked potato and freshly picked green beans from the garden back home. "You hungry? I brought you a plate."
"Thank you." John said as he looked at her; the fishing line in his hand completely forgotten as he gingerly took the plate, as if moving too fast would cause her to disappear. Quickly gaining his composure he spat the first thing that came to his mind with a playful smile. "Is it any good?"
"It's our special recipe," Kitty replied, pretending to be offended. "But I've got to be honest Logan made it so I have no idea how good it actually is."
"Ah, the truth comes out," John laughed.
"That's the funny thing about the truth," she said. "It usually does."
Gripping his fork, John stabbed the cubed piece of steak and popped it into his mouth, groaning as the flavor of hickory smoked mesquite exploded across his pallet, reminding him for the first time of how hungry he actually was.
"You've got to try this," He said, as he chewed his food. "It's delicious."
Scooping her own piece of steak into her mouth she nodded in blissful agreement. "I have to give the man more credit. Surprisingly, Logan's a good cook."
"I heard that half-pint!" Logan called as he walked past her, a plate in his hand with a bottle of Dr. Pepper dangling below between two fingers and a cigar in the other.
"Sorry Logan." She called sheepishly his simple smile told her no hard feelings were taken. But before she had a chance to speak to John a teen approached, holding his camelbak in his clutches.
"Sorry to bother you Mr. Allerdyce," The boy said sheepishly. "But on our hike today my water pack got snagged on a branch tore the material. I'd fix it myself, but I don't have the tools, do you think you could?"
John set said his plate as he looked over the thin gash item before nodding. "Yeah sure buddy. Go ask Storm for the purple tool bag and tell her I sent you."
"You know how to sew?" Kitty blinked in astonishment.
"Yeah, it's a skill I picked up a while back." Pyro nodded, choosing his words carefully. Trying not to mention his time with the brotherhood.
"So you used to be tough." Kitty smirked, unable to resist the opportunity to tease the man earning a chuckle in response. "Maybe you still are a little bit."
"Mhm. I just wish some people would stop taking just one look at me before running the other way."
"You don't scare me John."
He blinked unbelievingly. "No?"
"Nuha."
John swallowed hard as he looked into Kitty's eyes, suppressing the urge to apprehend her lips with his own. "Well you scare me."
"She was confused when I asked for it," The teen said as he approached the log they had been using as a bench. The sight of him doused her with a cold splash of reality. "But I managed to get it."
Not knowing what else to do, Kitty began to gather her meal. Panic sank in as John desperately grasped for the right words to stop her. "You don't have to go."
"No, it's fine." Kitty honestly reassured as she turned to face him. "I have to talk with Logan and Storm about what we're doing tomorrow. But I'll see you soon?"
"See you soon."
That night John couldn't help but smile as he laid in his tent. She had spoken to him. It wasn't long, but it was a start.
As they days went on Kitty and John's conversations grew more and more until it became an effortless necessity. Over the course of the week it had felt as though the problems they had in the past disintegrated into ash, even Pitor and Logan seemed to have forgiven the Mutant after John took Storm, Logan and he aside to formally apologize. Soon they found themselves faced with the last night of the trip much to Kitty's dread.
"What are you doing all the way over here by yourself?" Kitty asked as she approached Pyro. He was lying on his back in a small clearing just outside the camp using both arms as a pillow. She had been looking for him after everyone else in the camp had gone to bed.
"Just watching the stars." Was the simple answer as he removed his right arm to pat the vacant spot beside him. "Why don't you come here and take a load off."
Doing as requested, Kitty plopped onto her back, folding her hands neatly across her belly. The luminaries above looked like backlit canopy with holes punched into it as they twinkled billions of miles away. Stargazing had always made her realize just how small they actually were.
"You know I never did understand how to navigate by the stars." She confessed. She could see John look at her in surprise before turning back to the sparkling diamonds in the night sky.
"I thought they taught you how to do that as an X-Men."
"They do, but I never comprehended it. The way it was explained was just so," She paused, searching for the right words. "Complicated."
John nodded. It was confusing for him too until Mystique explained it in a different way. "Imagine one night you arrange to meet a friend under a lamppost on the other side of a hill. As you walk towards your friend you would see the light appear over the brow of the hill, long before your friend became visible. You would know exactly what direction they were, even though you couldn't see them. It's the same basic concept; the stars can act as our lampposts."
"I'm not quite sure I follow."
"The stars are constantly moving across the sky. All except one; Polaris, or more commonly known as the North Star. Do you know where the Big Dipper is?"
"Yeah." Kitty reached up with her left hand and pointed toward the sky toward a cluster of seven stars in the shape of a ladle. "The Dipper's right there."
"Okay." John began as he pointed to the sky. "Now you see the corner of the cup the opposite side of the handle?"
"Yeah."
"The North Star will always be five times the distance from there. It's directly over the North Pole and so True North lies directly below that star."
Kitty pointed to the star just above the tree line. "So it's that big bright one right there?"
"Yeah! Now you're getting it! The Dipper rotates around this star counter clockwise, but no matter where you are in the world, or where that constellation is, it will always be the same distance from the outer edge of the cup to the star." John enthused before pointing his fist to the sky. "Having found the North Star, wherever you are in the northern hemisphere, the North Star will be the same angle above the horizon as your latitude. An estimate can be made using an outstretched fist. We are all different shapes and sizes, but we share proportions. An outstretched fist makes an angle of close to 10 degrees for most people. In an under a minute and with just your bare hands you can now find north and estimate your latitude."
"That's awesome!" Kitty exclaimed as she mimicked him.
"The constellation, Orion, rises in the east and sets in the west. Orion's belt, the only three bright stars that form a short straight line in the whole night sky rise very close to due east and set very close to due west." John explained as he dropped his arm back to his right side. "If you want to be really accurate then the first star in the belt to rise and set, called Mintaka, will always rise and set within one degree of true east and west wherever you are in the world."
"So that's North, behind our heads is South to our right is West and to the left is East."
"Exactly!" John exclaimed with excitement as Kitty dropped her hand, her pinky colliding gently with his last two knuckles causing jolts of electricity to surge through their bodies. They both froze, each expecting at any moment for the other to move their hand away, but to their shocking surprise neither did. Before the brunette girl could muse any further on the subject, something in the sky caught her attention.
"Woah!" Kitty exclaimed in surprise as John's eyes went wide at what they were witnessing.
A bright point of light suddenly raced across the sky, moving rapidly as it covered nearly the entire space of their large clearing. White faded to green and then to blue as it tore a scar in the heavens before fading.
He knew it was childish, but John silently made a wish as he watched the shooting star disappear and for the first time ever, it was answered. Gently he felt Kitty's pinky followed by her ring finger cautiously climb his extremities like a ladder, each tip brushing against the smooth skin. He held his breath and kept his eyes glued to the stars as the slender fingers rounded the top of his index slowly before finding their homes nestled between his extremities, filling the empty space of more than just his hand.
Kitty's heart beat so rapidly she was sure that John could hear it, but if he did, the Pyromaniac gave no indication. His calloused thumb rubbed against hers gently as they continued to lie beneath the canopy of stars, nether wanting the night to end.
In the distance, a tall figure watched the two as an exhale of smoke left his lips. Logan didn't know what to think of the possibility that one of the two girls he considered daughters could get hurt once again by the man she loved. He sighed, deeply troubled. He clearly wanted to try and trust Pyro, but it was easier said than done.
"Logan?" Storm called, her voice soft and gentle as she walked up to his side. "What are you doing out here?"
"Just, uh," The mighty Wolverine cleared his throat as he casted his gaze toward the ground, trying to act casual but failing miserably. "Having a smoke."
Storm noticed the two figures lying in the clearing, a knowing smile playing across her lips. "You're a terrible liar. But you get an A for effort."
"It's that obvious hu?"
"I can see them over there, just as easily, as you can."
Logan picked at the loose tobacco protruding from the unlit end of his cigar. "I don't trust him 'Ro."
"He's a changed man. I doubt he'll ever hurt Kitty like that again. Get to know him and see." Storm concluded, placing a soft kiss against the side of the rough, hairy cheek before turning to head back toward her tent. "Get some sleep. We have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow."
Logan took Storm's words of advice, to heart as he reluctantly turned back toward his own tent. She did know the boy better than anyone besides Kitty after all. He could only hoped she was right about him.
On the ride back to the mansion, John and Kitty sat beside one another, holding hands the entire ride. Upon their arrival they unloaded the bus before heading to their rooms for a well-deserved shower. As Kitty Phased into her bedroom Rogue rose from the edge of her bed rather quickly.
"Hey Rogue." Kitty greet cheerfully, but soon wiped the smiled from her face as she noticed the distraught look on her friends face. "What's wrong?
"The cure," As she spoke, her southern accent was much more pronounced, emphasizing how stressed she actually was. The green sweater she had was long sleeved, but she pushed it up past her elbow to reveal the long black silk glove. "It's wearing off."
"Oh my god!" Kitty stared at the glove, momentarily dumbfounded. "But, how?"
"Bobby and I were watching T.V. I leaned in to kiss him and suddenly his thoughts, his memories filtered through my mind. My power had just barely begun to effect him by the time I pulled back." Rogue sniffed before wiping away a stray tear. "I broke up with him because I'll never be able to have a normal relationship with anyone."
Without a moments hesitation Kitty wrapped Rogue in a warm, comforting hug. The untouchable Mutant cried helplessly into her shoulder, clinging to her friend as if she were a life preserver. She offered what comforting words she could find, but knew just how devastated the other woman truly was.
It was the sound of Jones screaming their names that caused every X-Man in the mansion to rush toward the young man's side. He stood in front of the 65 inch L.E.D. Vizio television, a shaky hand pointing at the television.
A man with shaggy blonde hair stood before a press podium. He was dressed in a blue pinstripe suit with a pink tie that Kitty instantly recognized as the worlds most expensive attire dubbed "Alexander Amosu" after the designer himself. Plastered across the screen was the words: Larry Trask: C.E.O of Trask Industries. It was no secret the man was an anti-Mutant activist with incredibly deep pockets and the crowed went wild, as if he were Tony Stark.
"He looks just like his father." Xavier's voice mused aloud but before anyone had a chance to question it the C.E.O cleared his throat.
"Thank you." His surprisingly deep voice spoke into the microphone, and almost instantly the roar died. "Long ago, our fair President George W. Bush, had established this camp as a detention center on the war against Terror, but today Trask industries is proud to announce its new purpose, the war against Mutation." He paused, allowing the crowed to cheer before holding a hand up, wordlessly asking for silence.
"The steaks are great. The Mutants have shown what they intend for us. And we're not gonna forget. We're not gonna forget the fact that they kill without regard for the rules of war. Without regard for their fellow man. There nothing but a bunch of cold-blooded killers and that's the way we're gonna treat them. They built bridges to target the innocent. The Mutants will not be stopped by mercy or by conscience. But they will be stopped." Once again more cheers, tearing a scoff from Logan.
"We're not waiting for another attack. We can't wait for another attack to employ the full power of America in this cause. We're acting now, not only to protect the American people, but the people of the world and to shape a future of peace. This war, like others, is not going to be won on the defensive. With the help of our allies, we have enforced a clear doctoral that states if you harbor a Dangerous Mutant, if you feed a Dangerous Mutant, if you hide a Dangerous Mutant your just as guilty as the Dangerous Mutant. We've destroyed some of the many camps where Mutants train and have many more in sight. We've emptied caves and sewers where they hid. Some have met their fate by sudden justice. The rest will be answering questions very soon at our newest Mutant Detention Center located here at a newly renovated Guantanamo Bay. Ladies and Gentlemen. I present to you, Camp X-Ray."
As he gestured behind him the crowed erupted into deafening cheers, the camera panning out to show a wide shot of the camp. A fence standing at least twelve feet topped with razor wire surrounded the complex. An old wooden guard tower over looked the complex. The entire picture sent shivers down Kitty's spine. 'How could humanity become so cruel?'
"Professor, he said that he has more mutant training facilities," Pitor noted as he pointed at the television. "You don't think he means us, do you?"
All five pairs of X-Men eyes, Jones included landed on Xavier who suddenly looked deeply troubled. "I honestly don't know, but I know someone who might."
Kitty made her way toward John's room. The news of Camp X-Ray troubled her deeply and the only person she knew that could ease her troubled mind was just a few rooms down the hall. As she approached she could see that his bedroom door was open ajar. 'That's odd.'
Gently she pushed open the threshold to reveal an anxious John shifting through his dresser drawer frantically. 'He's leaving.' Suddenly the world around her began spinning in a blur as her heart clenched painfully. She had once again fallen for his ploy. She struggled to catch her breath as tears welled up in her eyes just seconds before sorrow gave way to a fiery anger as she stepped into the room, slamming the door behind her.
"How could you!" The sound of her furious voice startled him so badly that he dropped the toothbrush and toothpaste into the dresser drawer, forgetting about his fallen lighter deep within the depths of the pulled out cabinet. "That whole speech about changing was just another load of your endless bullshit!"
John was by Kitty's side in less than a footfall. His hands took her shoulders gently, but was no match for the quick speed that her martial arts training had taught her as she slapped his hands away. "Kitty I,-"
"Don't you dare touch me! After I had just barely begun to believe I could trust you, you run once again just because things are a little tough!" She snapped, but he was relentless as he tried once again to grab her, his grip more firm, but not hard enough to do any sort of damage. He had to make her see the truth, even if that meant the risk of her using her mutation against him.
"Kitty,-"
"I said don't touch me!" She said as she once again slapped his hand away.
He held his hands up, clearly seeing that was the wrong idea. "Kitty, please just-"
"Just what? Listen to another lie?"
"No!"
"Watch as you tear my heart out once more?"
"Kitty!" He argued running a hand through his hair, wishing he had found the lighter sooner. "Please just liste-"
"Fuck you John Allerdyce! I'm done listening to your lie-"
"I'm not leaving!" He boomed seconds before she phased through the floor, catching her like a foolish deer in the headlights. "I'm un-packing. See?"
Kitty watched as John stepped aside and she fully took in the sight of the neatly folded clothes 'You dipshit!' She mentally cursed herself. It was now her turn to run her hand through her hair, tears blurring her vision, this time in relief. John stepped forward, gently placing his hands on her shoulders, looking deeply into her eyes. "I'm not leaving you ever again unless it's what you wish of me. Besides, I get the sickening feeling that the school will need my help soon."
"I don't want you to leave," Kitty spoke quickly, the word-vomit coming before she had the chance to stop them. "The thought of you doing so makes me fall apart at the seams, but I'm still terrified of being hurt again."
"And that's perfectly okay." He gently reassured as he looked deeply into the chocolate orbs he had missed so deeply. "I told you once that I would wait forever if I had to and that's something I'm prepared to do. I love you Kitty. Nothing will ever take me away from your side again."
Kitty darted forward, closing the gap between them in a crushing hug as she rested her head against this chest, inhaling the scent of his Lucky You cologne. Surprised washed across his features as his arms slowly hugged Kitty back. She felt blissful in his arms, like a body pillow made just for him.
That night was the first of many over the course of a month that she slept beside him. Simply slept, no expectations, no pressure. He would hold onto her as if she was his lifeline and she would trace every line of his jaw as he slumbered peacefully for the first time in nearly two years.
Before either of them knew it, three months had passed. Xavier assured them that as far as Hank knew the Mansion was not under any immediate threat of Trask, but the moment he knew anything he would notify them.
Meanwhile Kitty had been allowing herself to fall madly, irrevocably in love with John all over again. They were back to the way they had been, never one without the other. She knew what he had spent the last year doing and she showed him, much to his astonishment, that she had kept all 26 of his post cards. Despite the fact that they had yet to kiss or formally announce that they were together, everyone on the outside looking in knew that it was only a matter of time.
It was late one night and John was reading cross-legged on his bed by candlelight. It was something that John had grown so used to doing back during his time with the Brotherhood, due to lack of electricity, that it became second nature to him. He knew it was bad for his eyesight, but it was a hard habit to break.
His face broke into a grin as his favorite sound in the entire world reached his ears. He didn't have a chance to move his gaze from his book before she pounced onto his bed with her Angelic laugh that he adored so much.
"I saw that grin." She teased.
"Only for you." He shrugged closing his book. "What brings you here so late?"
Kitty thought for a moment before landing on the truth. "Curiosity."
"I know I've told you to be careful about that. You know what it does to Cat's." She laughed at his teasing, blushing under the intensity of his stare. She never ceased to captivate him and tonight was no different. He marveled at how the shadows from the flickering candles crossed her face. Reaching out, he couldn't help himself as he brushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear.
"Did you really mean all those things you said?"
"Every word." The question drew him from his thoughts as he spoke with a sincerity she never knew he could possess. He noticed the corner of her lower lip caught between her teeth and smiled slightly. It was something she now did when she was nervous. "What?"
"I've missed you so much." Her confession was a soft whisper as he waited patiently for her to continue, knowing she had more to say. "These last few months, well it's felt as though nothing ever happened between us." She paused as she took in a shaky breath. It had taken every ounce of strength she had not to Phase through the floor. "I love you John. I always have."
John's breath hitched in his throat at her confession. He had waited so long for her to say those words to him and now that they were uttered, he suddenly felt as though they were the last two people on earth despite the Mutant and Human war that raged on just out of reach.
Acting on instinct he leaned in and captured her lips between his unable to resist the temptation any longer. Kitty snaked her arms around his neck, her fingers digging into his hair and suddenly the lingering bitterness of the last two years melted away until the only thing that remained was the love she had for him. One thing that randomly stood out to her was how soft his beard was but the thought was quickly shoved from her mind as his blissful scent enveloped her.
Nearly two years of fear, love, hurt, worry, need, want and desire was contained in that single kiss. He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tight, and they nearly smothered one another before they finally came up for air, clinging to one another tightly.
"I love you too," John whispered against her lips. He wiped away the tears that had suddenly slid down her cheeks, and then kissed her where the drops had been. In turn he kissed each eye, then her tiny, perfect nose before gently kissing her lips again.
Gripping her waist with his hands, he pulled her into his lap with an ease that had never been there before. Her own small hands ran along his back and beautiful shoulders, touching and caressing the soft skin surrounded by the fabric of his white wife beater. Their kisses became more passionate as the candles flared higher going unnoticed by the two Mutants. He ran his tongue across her lips and she granted access easily, moaning at the deepened contact. Her clit throbbed with longing as she threw caution to the wind.
Reaching between the two of them she tugged at his shirt, breaking the kiss long enough to send it sailing across the room, and for brief moment she marveled at the sight of his perfectly sculpted lean muscle of his bare torso for the first time. During the nights they had spent together he had always worn a shirt but now that there was no barrier she realized just how much his body had changed. Lust took hold as they collided once more.
Using his palms, he could feel the muscles that now rippled across her arms and back and noted that she wasn't wearing a bra beneath the thin cotton of her black Green Day band t-shirt as her hardened nipples grazed across his bare chest through the fabric. The very thought of what he was doing to her made the blood rush toward his lower region as it began to swell. Moving to her neck he sucked and nipped gently as she threw her head to the side with a ragged breath.
His hands moved beneath the shirt, his hands caressing the soft six pack of her abs as they rose until they found their destination earning an enticing gasp followed by a deep moan. She was the perfect size for him as she filled his cupping hand, goosebumps rising beneath his fingertips from the heated contact.
"Take it off." She whispered breathlessly and John willingly obliged as he pulled the fabric over her head and sent it to join his own tank top the sight of her body took his breath away.
She was a few pounds smaller than when he left, but even more beautiful than he remembered, although he always thought she was the most beautiful person on earth. He had dreamt of her body every night that he had been gone. He knew every line, curve and freckle, and wasn't in the least disappointed as he looked at her lithe, toned body in the candlelight. It was all he could do not to literally ravage her where she sat.
They were both very young the first time they had been together, and her teen-aged body had filled out into luscious womanly curves, but beneath it all she still looked like the young girl he'd fallen so madly in love with.
Her nipples were hard, pointed, the softest shade of pink, teasing him. Her hands brushed his long hair out of his face as he moved his gaze over her, she was innocence and vixen all rolled into one.
Closing the space between them once more her hips began to move in a blissful rhythm against him in response eliciting an approving groan from him. Placing a hand against her back he leaned forward, pushing her back until he was on top of her, he legs spreading to welcome his gentle weight.
His lips placed feather light kisses across her jaw as he slowly made his way down her body, leaving no part unloved pausing at her neck long enough to gently kiss and nip at the nape of her neck before moving to the valley between her lushes breasts. He had wanted this for so long, he wasn't about to rush as he kissed a trail along the sides of each mound before moving to the hardened nipple which, standing tall and hard waiting for his sweet attention.
Sucking the hard sensitive numb into his mouth he looked into her eyes, love and desire reflecting back to his own. Her hands knitted into his hair, holding gently as his tongue flicked and sucked working an unimaginable magic that darkened her eyes with lust and longing.
Kitty moaned as he sucked hard, pulling back until his lips released the pink nub before continuing his way down, kissing along her abdomen until he stopped at the waistband of her red plaid pajama pants. His fingers hooked over the waistband and gently pulled them down her slender powerful legs, fighting the hunger that welled deep inside him until they too were tossed uselessly aside.
Lowering himself in between her knees, he moved to her inner thigh, grinning wickedly as he could see the silent begging for his mouth to kiss the most sensitive part of her body reflected in Kitty's chocolate orbs. But instead he turned his head to the side, slowly and deliberately rubbing his lips along her thigh, sending chills through her small body.
As John passed over her neatly trimmed mound he found that it was exactly as he had remembered. As he inhaled growl ripped from his chest. All those nights away from her and he'd never forgotten the scent of her aroused, just for him.
Her hand came to rest atop his head as a whimper vibrated through her chest. His head tilted and pressed his face into the vixen he could no longer ignore. His tongue sought her treasure, and finding what he searched for, he drew his tongue through the soft folds of her, tasting her for the first time in a very long time. She groaned. Her hips thrust forward, thighs parting wider, pleading for more as her head thrashed to the side.
John smirked as he slid his tongue inside her, urgently lapping at the thick nectar that awaited him as he penetrated her. Moving his head slightly, he sucked her clit into his mouth as she groaned loudly. His tongue swirled and danced across that sensitive bundle of nerves, driving her nearly to madness with the sensation of his hot, wet mouth wrapped around her. Kitty gripped his hair as she begged him not to stop. His eyes never left hers as he ravished her body. It wasn't long before she was softly crying out, her knees trembling as her body rocked against him, soaking his face with her juices as she squirted into his waiting mouth.
He moved up, with the intention of wrapping her in his strong arms as she spasmed, riding out her intense orgasm. But within seconds she shoved him backwards onto the bed, surprising him with her strength moments before her hands roughly yanking down his black pajama bottoms and camo boxer briefs his stiff, throbbing member springing free of is confine.
Gripping him she moved her hand in long, sure strokes before wrapping her small mouth around him sucking hard before and pushing forward until she was about halfway down, holding all she could handle of him in her mouth. She withdrew to the very tip of him, dragging her tongue in circles around the flared tip, and then greedily devouring him again.
Lost in the ecstasy of her mouth, his hand tangled itself in her dark hair, careful not to push down, growling and groaning as he fought the urge to grind against her face.
He love the way she swallowed him, her mouth working urgently up and down the length of him as she greedily worked to have him explode in her mouth. When he felt himself drawing near, he gently stopped her by pulling at her arms until she was laying ontop of him. He kissed her deeply as he wrapped his arms around her naked body and grinding his cock between them. He kissed her all over her face, her neck, biting at her collarbone and shoulders as if he planned to eat her alive.
"You are too perfect." he growled as he kissed her. "I want to be deep inside you."
Kitty took matters in her own hands once more as she reared back, gripping his cock as she inserted him deep inside her before he could speak.
Kitty shuddered as she pushed herself onto him, crying out as he instantly hit bottom. It had been so long since he had been inside her. She had forgotten the proportion of her tiny body to his size, and she was almost as tight as the very first time he'd taken her. She held herself pressed against him, her arms shaking and her breathing ragged.
"You okay?" He asked in concern.
"Yeah." She breathed as she began grinding her clit against his pelvic bone and twisting her hips with him throbbing inside her. She leaned forward and kissed him, then whispered, "Just tell me before you come."
She began to ride him. The first few strokes were slow and easy as her body adjusted to him inside her, but her movements quickened and she was rising and falling onto him in frenzy. John's hands cupped her breasts; his mouth moving from one nipple to another and back again as he fed from her engorged nipples. It had been so long since he had been inside her and he was nearing the edge fast - too fast. His balls tightened painfully as he managed to moan out a barely coherent "cumming".
"Let go." Kitty moaned as she continued to ride him as nearing her own orgasm, marveling at the feeling of only him inside her. John was blinded by light shooting through his brain as he exploded almost instantly.
She was shocked by the sudden groan that fell from his lips as he released his seed into her, filling her with warmth. He knew she had been close and felt bad. Kitty began to slow her pace, but instead of letting her stop, he gripped her hips and quickly flipped her so that he was the one on top. Fighting the painful sensitivity that enveloped his lower half, he pumped as hard and as fast as he could into her, determined to bring her to another climax.
Realizing what he was doing Kitty reached down between them as she played with her clit. The combination of his unrelenting pumping against her G-Spot and her wondering fingers brought her to the edge so quick that all she could do was grip the sheet with both hands as she let out a guttural moan that tore from the depths of her throat.
Her body tingled all over as if someone had electrocuted her and suddenly she could no longer feel the bed below her. She felt as though she were floating, flying through a wave of ecstasy before she was suddenly brought back to reality as her back collided painfully against the hardwood floor.
"Oh my God!" She shrieked, ecstasy-giving way to panicked embarrassment as she realized she was no longer on John's bed, or even in his room for that matter but in the Rec-Room. With a cat-like reflex she reached up and snatched the blue blanket from the back of the couch just as a surprised Artie turned toward her.
"Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!" She chanted getting to her feet. Wrapping the cover more securely around herself she sprinted up the stairs passing a shocked Pixie, much to her dismay. Digging her feet into the hardwood she charged toward John's room, only to be met by the surprised man at the door holding a towel wrapped around his waist with one hand and a bath robe in the other.
"Are you alright?" He asked quickly as she approached noting her panicked incantation he stepping aside to let her into the room.
"Oh my God," Was her only response as she moved into the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind her. "I Phased through the floor!"
"Are you alright?" He asked again his towel and robe dropping to the floor as he gently gripped her shoulders, checking for any sign of damage.
"Are you?" She asked trying to catch her breath.
"It was strange." He admitted fighting off a smile.
"I can't believe I Phased just then! That's never-" John began to laugh uncontrollably at her irresistible blush. His throaty chuckle caused her to smile in return. "Why are you laughing? It was totallyyour fault!"
"I'd like to think so." He beamed, earning a smack to his abs as the two of them erupted into a roar of laughter. "I'll get you for that one Pryde!"
Reaching forward he lifted her up into his arms as she shrieked, wrapping her arms around his shoulders letting the blanket fall uselessly to the floor as he carried her back to his bed.
Logan sat in the kitchen, the mornings news paper clutched in his hand as he scanned the sports article when Kitty and John rounded the corner.
"Morning." Kitty called, freshly showed and dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a black tank top. Beside her a clean-shaven John was clad in a dark blue shirt that had a white stripe across it, the sleeves pulled up to his elbows. Both wore a look of hesitation across their features as they stood in the doorway.
Logan looked to both of them, with a knowing eyebrow arched brow before returning to his paper. "Bout time."
"Okay," Kitty blushed deeply as she walked toward the nearest cabinet. "So coffee?"
"Yeah, please!" John ran an embarrassed hand through his hair as he replied. "Are we the first ones up?"
"Yeup." Logan replied without looking up from his paper, confirming that word of what happened had passed through the entire mansion in one night.
Author's Afterword: I would DIE of embarrassment, I'm JUST That last part was stolen from a Comic where Kitty Phases through the floor as when her and Colossus have sex and I thought it was just too funny not to put in here.
Also if you like the song or have never heard it before, if you wanna re-read the bedroom scene put on "Style" by Taylor Swift, it really kind of fits (Shut up, I LOVE her music, always ). OR "Beating Heart" by Ellie Golding works as well. Also if you want to listen to "If Everyone Cared" by Nickelback during the Star Gaze, that song inspired it when I was driving to drop off Paperwork for my C.D.L. "It's Only" by ODESZA feat. Zyra goes PERFECTLY for the opening scene.
If you want to know what John's beards looks like, simply picture a longer version of the one he has in Nikita. For the shorter, trimmed and well kept version picture a SLIGHTLY thicker version of his beard in 12 Monkeys promo photos and his hair is a straighter version from the same show. I had found the photos before but sadly they were like that one diamond in the rough that are nearly impossible to find unless you're a moronic, flailing Kyro fangirl determined to find reference
I do also want to apologize if their relationship suddenly seems rushed, Revanite201 and myself have been talking about Timelines and the events between X3 and DOFP (Days of Future Past) and I noticed that if I took as long as I had wanted to, it would have screwed with the timeline ENTIRELY… and I know many of you are sitting here reading this mentally screaming "But Rain, it's a FANFICTION, you can alter the timeline to make it work!" I know guys, I know I could, but that's just not my style. I like to stick as close to the original timelines in my stories as much as possible. As it is I have altered MANY things from the original timeline to make this work, for example: The years the story takes place SHOULD be somewhere around 2006 but because I was only 11 in 2001, I couldn't remember much so mine takes place closer somewhere between 2006 to present day with X3 taking place around 2013 or 2014 (DOFP WILL be in 2023, don't worry about .)
As for my thoughts on this chapter, the "fluffy" stuff, (no not the lemons, get you heads out of the ) will become more and more scares as we approach DOFP… That comic is by FAR once of the darkest times in X-Men HISTORY and possibly Marvel's as well. As we get closer… you MAY not like what I write. We're talking things only discussed in WWII… I'd rather go the darker direction because it's what I feel would honestly happen in that situation, and some of it is BRIEFLY touched in the opening scene through audio when Xavier is using Cerebro, but due to Disney, money and I'm sure a BAZILLION other things, it wasn't done as graphically. So consider this the first of my TWO warnings. The second one will manifest before the beginning of the chapter in question, so just… be prepared… The night is always darkest before the dawn… (Yes I know, it's a D.C. Movie quote, but come ON Heath Ledger made an AWESOME Joker and Aaron Eckhart made a BRILLIANT Two Face! X-Men, Spiderman Batman and Superman were what got me started with comics at the impressionable age of 5 so be )
Well, that's all for now guys! As always PLEASE let me know what you guys thought of this chapter as well as your thoughts and opinions of this taking a darker route! If I get to many objections I'll change some things to a more PG style, although I'd rather not. It takes hours, sometimes days to write, and an only moment to review, but each one makes me so happy to see! And the best part? You don't have to be a member to do so!