A/N: You should already know by now which series this has crossed over to.
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Rose-Colored Boy (Omakes)
-stuff that maybe could have made the cut but didn't-
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Roxy gives Caitlin a pep talk
Roxanne Spaulding folded her arms. "What are you so scared about, Sis?" She couldn't understand why Caitlin couldn't put her money where her mouth was. If she had assets like Caitlin, there was no way she'd flounder around like an indecisive school girl. "Just put out and take him. You know nobody can resist you." Hell, even her own boyfriend couldn't keep his roaming eyes away from her sister!
If she'd had Caitlin's assets, she'd make sure her man couldn't even think to look at another woman!
"That's not true." Caitlin tried to deny.
"Oh, it's true alright." Roxy grumbled. "Look, even Sarah's tried making out with you several times, and she knows you don't swing her way. Hate to break it to you, but you're like an aphrodisiac to anybody with even a hint of a libido." Roxy sighed and gave her sister a patient look. "If it makes you feel any better, I know Scott's got a libido, and you definitely get him going."
Caitlin looked stunned at the information. "How are you so sure? You can't even see his eyes. And he doesn't say anything."
"I know. Dude's pretty uptight and polite."
"So…?"
Roxy grinned. "But his body tells a very different story. He's such an honest person that it's kind of sweet. In a sickening, preschool sort-of way."
"I'm not sure I'm following." Caitlin admitted, growing even more confused.
"Look," Roxy reached up, squeezing her sister's shoulders insistently. "I've only met him a few times, but even then I know he can't keep his thoughts away from you. It's in his body language, Kat! His shoulders are always pointed at you—surely you've noticed?"
At the shake of her sister's head, Roxy sighed. Sometimes, she forgot that before Caitlin became a gen-active powerhouse, she was just a romantically inept college nerd whose greatest ambition in life was to graduate with a distinction.
"Looks like we're going to need some time to work this." Despite her grumbling, there was a determined glint in her eyes. "But, as half of my blood runs through your veins, you won't be such a v-word once I'm through with you!"
And hopefully literally, too!
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Scott & Caitlin are attacked again
A swarm of masked men holding various weapons—from firearms to knives to spiked baseball bats—surrounded them.
"Die, mutant scum!" One of them yelled, joined by a chorus of his comrade's cheers.
Caitlin turned to her date, arching a brow at him questioningly. "Friends of yours?"
"More like, Friends of Humanity." Scott sighed as he slowly took his time replacing his shades with his visor. "Anti-mutant extremists. One of many private groups."
"So, decidedly non-government." Caitlin nodded to herself, fists clenching in eager anticipation. "I can work with that."
It was nice to not be on the receiving end, for once. This must have been how Scott felt when the Ratkillers attacked on their first date.
Scott frowned at her. "You know I can handle this by myself."
"And rob me of the best part when a hate group interrupts my date?" Caitlin teased, "Are you trying to ruin a good time?"
Scott sighed, a small smile tugging on his lips. No, he wouldn't dream of it. "Just so you know, I did pack you a spare change of clothes for after the fight."
Caitlin blushed, but immediately tried to deflect. "Anticipating getting me naked in public, Scott?"
"I just like being prepared." Scott grinned back.
Caitlin's blush deepened. "I—I notice you didn't deny it." She eventually stammered. He flipped the table.
Scott's grin only widened.
"Boss," One of their attackers turned to their leader. "Are these muties flirting in front of us?"
"Damn scum." The leader spat. There was more jealousy than venom in his voice, however. Shaking his head, he rallied his troops. "Alright, men! Remember the drill! That's Scott Summers and Jean Grey! She might be taller than our intel suggested, but just get close enough and her powers won't be a problem!"
"Yeah!" The group cheered and swung their weapons high in the air.
Caitlin sighed as their enemies charged at them. "Should I feel insulted?"
Scott shook his head. "Don't. With amateurs like this, we'll definitely still have time to go out tonight."
"I aim to be pleased, Mister Mutant." Caitlin wagged a finger at him before curling her hand into a fist and smashing it into the face of her attacker.
"No promises, but I'll do my best." Scott nodded and then dialed his visor to fully open.
The battle was extremely short-lived.
And Scott did his best to give Caitlin her privacy as she changed into the spare clothes he prepared.
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Caitlin breaks Scott out of his shell
They were in the private pool in Gen13's home base when Caitlin sprung up a surprise. It had been Roxy's idea, really, and while Caitlin was initially against it, she still found herself complying.
"Caitlin!" Scott gasps, and then promptly turns around. "I—I don't think that's appropriate."
Caitlin flushed—her whole body as red as her hair—and she hesitantly asked, "A-are, are you disgusted?"
"No." Scott snapped to her in vehement denial, before his eyes widened underneath his shades and he quickly turned away again. "It's—it's not that. You're—you're beautiful, Caitlin. In more ways than one, but—it's just that…"
"Scott…?"
Scott's heart twisted at her imploring tone. He swallowed the nervous lump in his throat. "I—I just don't think I'm ready."
Caitlin frowned as her natural color started to return, her initial embarrassment giving way to confusion. "I don't understand. It's just skinny dipping, Scott."
Scott stared down to where all his blood had drained into and engorged, and he cursed. "Trust me, Kat, it's more than just that to a guy."
"I know." Caitlin admitted as she ran a hand through her wet, red locks. "I saw." Scott stiffened and waves of shame seemed to roll off him. "But I don't mind. Aren't you interested, Scott?" In me…?
"I am." Scott admitted. "Just—just give me a moment. And maybe put something on…?"
Caitlin's frown deepened, and irritation flashed in her eyes. "You know that's not the point, Scott. You don't have to feel ashamed checking me out Scott. I mean," sprinkles of red colored her cheeks, "I- I check you out, too, you know. I just-" her breath hitched as she recalled her conversation with her sister. With a long sigh, Caitlin carefully admitted, "I just wanted to know if you're interested in me the way I am in you," She slowly said, suddenly feeling awkward. The water against her naked flesh certainly felt a lot colder, now. "Just a small sign, Scott—but a clear one."
"I do like you." Scott admitted. His tone was so low that Caitlin almost didn't hear it. "I—I always have a lot of fun hanging out with you. You get me in ways—you make me feel things, and it makes me very happy."
Caitlin slowly got out of the water and approached him. "And… that pains you?" She asked.
"Yeah…" Scott through his gaze upwards. He could hear her moist steps—could feel her large presence steadily approach. His heart beat anxiously and his stomach churned. "I don't know if I'm supposed to feel this way."
Caitlin's footsteps stopped, and she tilted her head questioningly. "I think mutants are still allowed to feel things, too, Scott." She pointed out matter-of-factly. And then, a chilling thought struck her, "Did somebody tell you you're not allowed to…?"
"Not exactly." Scott's face fell into his palms in shame.
When he wouldn't say anything further, Caitlin reached out and gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze, silently urging him to continue.
Scott inhaled deeply, and against all reason, admitted, "The Professor—all this time, we trained on keeping my emotions in-check. To make me a better field-leader." He said, before quickly shaking his head. "No, not just that. It was to keep my powers under control. I-" why was he still talking? Why was he telling her this—making himself more vulnerable before her? "I indulge in my emotions too much, apparently, and I might hurt somebody one day. If I cut loose."
Caitlin could imagine that. Of the little bits of information Scott told her of his years before becoming the Professor's first student, Caitlin could imagine the large chip on his shoulder. And yet, "The Professor told you that, Scott?" She began, slowly and deliberately, as she felt a spark of resentment against a man she's never met. "He told you that? Really?" she repeated, her every word increasingly laced with anger and venom.
Scott's head bobbed in a singular nod.
Caitlin's grip on his shoulder tightened. "This was the same man that will wipe your memories clean of a brother that tried to rescue you? The same man that enslaved a sentient albeit alien artificial intelligence so it could keep training you to fight his battles?"
"That's not fair, Kat." Scott, for the first time, looked at her. He glared up at her behind his ruby-quartz shades.
"No, it's not." Caitlin shook her head. Her eyes remained hard and intent as she stared down at him. "But neither was him asking you to repress your emotions." She argued, her tone suddenly soft but still heated. Insistent. As if wishing her tone, alone, would get him to understand. "You're allowed to feel, too, you know…"
It was at that point when Scott heard it. Her voice dripped with pain—but it wasn't hers. It was for him.
It dawned on him that she was furious for his sake, and it stirred his already turbulent heart.
Scott let out a long sigh. "I'm sorry, Caitlin." He had so many issues, he knew, and he was grateful this thoughtful, beautiful woman actually put up with them. That she cared enough to be affronted for his sake- when the people he thought were his family stood by while a grown man threatened to kill him in front of the whole school.
"You're right, and I'm sorry." He repeated, sincerely. Grateful and humbled and heartened beyond what simple words could convey. "I'll—I'll try to think less about what's appropriate, and more about us." Gazing up at her, locking eyes with her, he vowed, "I promise."
The brilliant smile that split Caitlin's face was like the rising sun.
And Scott found he suddenly needed to feel her. More of her.
Caitlin watched as Scott took her hand from his shoulder and into his.
"Scott?" she asked in wonder. Emerald eyes widened as he planted a tender kiss against her palm.
Her whole body lit up like a furnace.
"A small, but clear sign." Scott echoed her earlier words, still holding her gaze and her hand.
And then he pressed her palm against his pounding heart.
And, just like that, all of Caitlin's doubts were washed away.
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The X-Men steal Scott's phone
"Wow!" Bobby yelled, drawing his team's—sans Scott, again—attention.
"What's up, Bobby?" Warren asked.
"I just borrowed Scott's phone-"
"Borrowed? Yeah, right."
"-to find clues for Scott's changes, and I tell you—the man definitely has a type!" Bobby held up the phone. Unfortunately, the phone was locked and nobody knew Scott's password. Scott seemed particularly paranoid about his phone, too. They knew he changed his password at irregular, almost whimsical, intervals. What other reason could he be doing that apart from paranoia? "Look at his home screen photo."
Scott did, indeed, have a type.
Flaming red hair, shimmering emerald eyes, with an unbelievable eleven-out-of-ten body wrapped inside a green leotard that left very, very little to the imagination. Fit in all the right places, and definitely woman in all the rest, with the most charming smile he had ever seen. She held up a large, military-grade machinegun easily, and the effort only seemed to pronounce the definition of her toned arms.
Warren had seen and courted many beautiful women, but even he would stutter if he tried to approach such a beauty.
"Wow!" Warren whistled appreciatively.
"That's what I said!" Bobby agreed. "Damn, if I met a babe like her, I'd definitely question my sexuality."
Warren continued staring. "You know, she almost looks like Jean if Jean were-"
"I don't think you want to finish that sentence, Warren." Jean cut in menacingly.
Warren's mouth quickly shut with an audible click.
"It's just a picture, anyway." Jean dismissed it. "Scott probably stole it off Instagram, or something."
Indeed, there were many people cosplaying as superheroes online. The ones with skimpier clothing seemed to amass a greater following, too. Jean spared the picture another glance. The subject looked like some pin-up girl—too good to be true, or even natural. Debasing, even.
Well, at least she knew Scott was still interested in red-heads…
Hank, who had remained silent throughout his friends' discussion, continued studying the picture. "If I may, doesn't that speck of blue at the bottom edge of the screen resemble Scott's shoulder?"
The comment immediately drew Bobby, Warren, and Jean's eyes back to the image. After several moments of silent debating, Jean finally shook her head.
"No. That speck of blue could be anything." Jean said.
Bobby nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah. Besides, if it were true, when would Scott have had the time to hang out with her?"
"And why would Scott even have a picture of her?" Warren chimed in, just as unconvinced.
Hank thought about it, and then sighed. His friends raised excellent points.
And, really, the only way to know for certain was to actually ask the owner of the phone that Bobby pilfered.
Speaking of, "You better return that phone before Scott notices." Hank warned. "You know how touchy Scott gets about his privacy."
"Eek, you're right!" Bobby remarked, suddenly looking uneasy. "I swear Scott didn't use to be this anal. It's like he's hiding something!"
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Scott & Caitlin play bingo
The two were cuddling on the living room couch. Caitlin had her legs drawn as she curled up against Scott's side. Despite her frame being much larger and more toned than his, Scott didn't seem to mind. Instead, with his arm around her waist, he only drew her in closer as the night slipped by them.
Caitlin took a bite from her tenth slice of all-meat pizza before responding, "I've got that one, too."
"Alright." Scott scratched 'absentee father' from his list. "You know, looking at this, we have share a lot of things "
"Yeah," Caitlin nodded in amazement. She then reached for her eleventh slice; she'd stop feeling embarrassed about the amount of calories it took to maintain her physique shortly into their relationship. Scott never once teased her about it, and only offered her more food without question. "But what about this: when I found my dad again, he was a pirate. I even went sailing with him."
"Does 'Space Pirate', count?" Scott grinned. "Because my dad has his own ship and crew. I joined them a few times, too."
"Really? Wow, you're right." Caitlin blinked in surprise. "We really do have many things in common."
"I know." Scott nodded. He then let out an exaggerated sigh, and listed, "Old mentors teaching us how to control our powers while keeping personal secrets from us, leading our teams on missions while fighting government agencies out to capture us, time-travelling and going off-world, a close friend named Bobby, hell," Scott's perfect teeth revealed themselves in a teasing grin as he added to the list, "We both don't have college degrees."
"Oh, you-!" Caitlin fumed and stabbed his cheek with a pizza crust. "You're such a jerk!" She accused, and then giggled as Scott bit into the weaponized bread.
Scott smiled at her cheekily, and Caitlin wordlessly brushed the crust crumbs from his cheek with her thumb. Her first digit lingered, and she tenderly brushed his cheek once more just to be sure.
"That's bingo, by the way." He absently told the woman in his arms.
"And that's bingo for me, too, mister." Caitlin whispered back.
Her eyes widened slightly when she realized just how close their noses were. When did that happen?
Her heart thundered.
"Do I get a prize?" Scott asked her softly.
"Only…" Caitlin absently ran her tongue against her lips, moistening them in anticipation. She wasn't sure who was leaning closer onto who, but she didn't care. Her greasy, pizza-smelling hands snaked around his neck. She felt his fingers dig into her hip, and the needy pressure lit a fire inside her. "Only if I get a prize, too."
Scott's smile caressed her lips.
"I suppose that's only fair."
Caitlin's lips parted against his.
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The rest of Scott's X-Men team notice his changes
"Dude, I'm telling you, something's up." Bobby told the rest of his class sans Scott.
"Scott looks the same to me." The young Jean argued.
"I think you're just imagining it." Hank chimed in.
Bobby turned to Warren. "You believe me, don't you?"
Warren looked thoughtful, as if recalling something, before starting, "Well, Scott has been more into his work lately."
"That's not new." Jean waved off the comment.
"True." Warren nodded, "But last time, I caught him whistling."
A stunned silence struck the group.
"W-wait," Hank, ever the first to gather his wits, stuttered, "He was whistling while he worked?" He clarified.
"But that means Scott was having fun doing work!" Jean exclaimed.
Warren nodded his head grimly.
Bobby looked at the rest of his class before folding his arms. "I told you, so." He threw his eyes up to the heavens, and lamented, "Our dear Scott has changed!"
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Caitlin notices Scott's new perfume
Caitlin's nose crinkled as she stepped back from their embrace. "Scott, you smell… strange." She leaned over, sniffing his neck again. There—just a hint. It was some type of musk, but it distinctly wasn't Scott's scent.
Scott scratched his head sheepishly. "It's one of my teammates. From the X-Men." He began, obliviously, "For some reason, I always seem to catch her just as she finishes her workout, and she's been greeting me with a hug." He didn't think much of it. She was just being friendly, after all, and it was a huge step forward from where they first started.
"She?" Caitlin repeated.
"Yeah."
The gears in Caitlin's mind worked. "What are her powers?"
"Well, she's got these metal claws—more like knives, really—coming out of her hands and feet." Scott listed, "She also has exceptional regenerative abilities. Oh, and heightened senses, too."
Caitlin frowned as her mind drew a conclusion. "She sounds very animalistic."
Scott nodded. "That's a fair assessment. She started taking up her father's namesake, too. She calls herself Wolverine, now."
"I see." Caitlin sucked in deeply through her nose. She closed her eyes and formulated a counter-attack.
"Caitlin?"
"I've decided." Caitlin declared, opening her eyes to reveal burning emeralds. "I know where we're going today. You and I are going wall-climbing."
Scott- dear, sweet and oblivious Scott—smiled back in agreement. "Sounds like a plan. I don't mind working up a sweat."
"Me, too." Caitlin smiled back.
She planned to work her boyfriend quite a bit.
So, this Wolverine woman was trying to mark her territory?
Well, two can play that game.
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Imminent Catastrophe & The Promise
Tachypsychia… an accelerated perception of time's passage, where the brain seemingly stretches seconds into minutes—or hours.
Caitlin Fairchild wracked her brain for an eternity, seeing scenario after heartbreaking scenario unfold. She glanced at her team—her family.
Grunge, ever the gentle soul, was comforting a sobbing and hysterical Roxy. Sarah and Bobby were curled against each other, lips locked, imprinting all their repressed feelings of close friendship and camaraderie into each other as the end steadily crept nearer.
Quietly, she closed the door behind her and stepped outside, glancing up at the clear blue sky that would, very soon, turn red.
It felt surreal to the tall red-head.
All their adventures, all the hardships they survived—and for it to end at the hands of a trigger-happy and paranoid I/O executive…?
Caitlin would have laughed if she could. All this started from I/O's whim, and so, almost poetically, it would end.
How do you avoid being evaporated by a nuke…? She pondered even as her heartbeat steadily grew louder, and deafening.
For all their power and ability, they knew there was no escaping this. No matter how far they went, they'd never be able to outrun this.
The end was coming, and it was too late.
Their luck had finally run out.
Distantly, she heard her phone ring. She glanced at it, and feeling suddenly returned to her as she read the caller's name.
Scott Summers.
She choked back a sob. Shakily, she pressed the phone against her ear, unable to bring herself to turn on the video feed.
"H-Hello…?"
"Caitlin!" He roared. Just at the sound of her name from his lips, she could tell he was frightened and panicked. "Is it true?"
"Yes, Scott." Her eyes blurred with water at being forced to admit the truth. "A nuke was launched—with us at ground zero."
"Fuck."
Scott's curse drew a smile from her. He must have been really upset because she rarely heard him curse. In fact, the only times she heard him utter such language was whenever they were…
"I'm coming." He suddenly declared.
Caitlin's eyes widened. "No, Scott! It's too dangerous." She pleaded with him. "It's not worth it. It's—it's—" God! "It's too late for me. I-"
"It's not too late. I'll—I'll do something." He stammered. "Run, Kat. Please."
"How can you stop a nuke, Scott?" She asked him softly. "And running—it doesn't feel right. Not when everyone else in the city will die because of us."
"Caitlin-" Scott's voice was pained, and it broke heart.
"No, Scott. If—if this will be our final conversation, I don't want us to argue." She urged him. Her other hand reached up, clasping her phone in both hands and pressing it against her cheek, imagining it was his hand cupping hers. "Live, Scott. And—and avenge us. And don't forget me." Caitlin asked, hoping to give him purpose so he could survive what her death would no doubt put him through.
Slowly, she shook her head. She forced a smile on her lips. "I—thank you, Scott." She choked. It was so difficult not to think of their impending doom, but she needed to remain strong. She didn't want her tears to be Scott's last memory of her.
Her eyes pressed tight, and she dearly remembered him, and she yearningly missed him, and she desperately wished they all could have had more.
There were so many things she wished they could still do.
There were so many words she wished she could still tell him.
She sucked in a deep, laborious breath.
"Thank you," she repeated, this time in a steadier tone, "At least—at least I'm not going to die a v-word." Caitlin joked—and even she could hear how hollow it rang in her ears, but if this was their last memory, then this was how she wanted him to remember.
"I'm not giving up on any of you, Caitlin." A solemn voice behind her declared.
Caitlin's eyes shot open and she turned around wildly.
"Scott…?" Caitlin gasped. Why, her mind screamed. Shakily, she reached out towards him in disbelief. This couldn't be—
He enveloped her in his embrace.
-Why was he here?
"Why are you here?" She cried, even as her arms wrapped around her lover tightly. "You stupid idiot!" She slammed her fist against his back and sobbed, "Why are you here?"
"Because I made you a promise." He tenderly whispered against her ear. "I'll be there in your direst time, remember? We'll get through this, Kat."
"Idiot!" She yelled, drawing herself back just to crash her lips against his angrily. Desperately.She bit his lip hard, splitting it cleanly, and lapped at the blood it spilled in a violent and confused haze. "How are you going to stop a nuke?" She hissed.
Scott, bloody lip and all, gave her a gentle smile. "By becoming the nuke."
And then, Scott gazed defiantly up at the heavens. Caitlin followed him and—
There.
There was a speck that was gradually growing bigger.
The nuke.
With a snarl, Scott ripped off his shades.
And Caitlin was, indeed, right.
The whole sky turned red.
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A/N: Just a few snippets I needed to get out of the system so I can move on.
Oh Jeen, you're definitely in denial. Even Laura's stepping up her game~!
The last scene was a callback to Adam Warren's conclusion to Gen13 v2, where a nuke vaporized our cast (and my heart). The line about tachypsychia was lifted from the book, and its inclusion makes the whole conversation and deus ex with Scott questionable- I'll leave it to you to decide if it really happened. As for why Magik didn't just teleport the nuke elsewhere, eh, Magik is too convenient of a plot device :'D Or, for some semblance of a serious answer, the nuke would only destroy wherever Magik would send it, causing an unknown severity of harm that might backfire on them (or some BS like that).
The line "How do you prevent being evaporated by a nuke? Become the nuke!" was actually taken from the manga adaptation of a Japanese light novel titled Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! (lit. To Be A Power in the Shadows! / The Eminence in Shadows). It was such a cool line, in my opinion, that I couldn't help but add it. I'd like to think Scott's Mega Optic Blast, at full-power, could completely vaporize a nuke and all its radiation. But that's just me- the opinion of a Cyclops fan.