Chapter 2: Long-Distance Relationship
Celeste had been sitting at the computer banks in the room she shared with Melody for some time now, rereading the letter she'd written to Jayce to explain why she wouldn't get to see him during one of the few times his whole family was in Westchester. Yes, he'd come to the school to learn about his powers, and yes, the Quills always visited as often as possible, but Celeste was getting tired of writing letters in between his visits.
Hey, Jayce.
Sorry this keeps happening to us. I know I promised you we'd go on a real date for Christmas, but my dad packed up the family to go to Hala instead. Maybe if we're still here after the holidays are over, you can swing by in the Milano and rescue me from the boring politics we're going to have to sit through, since my sister is officially "courting" the future king, and everything she does is going to be scrutinized.
Which means she'll be in my head a lot of the time asking me to scan Kree minds to make sure she isn't upsetting anyone too badly.
I know you keep telling me that I need to stop being her crutch, but she's my twin sister. What am I supposed to do, not listen for jerkish Kree who think my family is a bunch of genetic rejects from another dimension and who look down on the Terran side of our family tree? Because that happens a lot more than you'd think it would, all things considered.
You know, if we do end up becoming Guardians of the Galaxy together, I'm not going to end up being the go-to person for diplomatic missions just because I can read alien minds, am I? That just occurred to me, and now I can't get that thought out of my head. Ugh. Don't let that happen to me, Jayce. I'd wither away to nothing.
Anyway, just wanted to keep you in the loop. Hopefully, this will be a short trip. Try to stall your dad so you don't go back to space without saying hi again. Sit him down with a Howlett baby. That always works, right?
Miss you.
Celeste bit her lip, debating whether to add another line to the letter. She'd been hoping to see Jayce in person and use the "l" word at Christmas, to try it out and see if she thought it fit her feelings. But now that she was in space while he was on Earth…
No, she decided, shaking her head to herself. If I'm going to say that, I want to see him in person. I can wait. Long-distance relationships are all about patience.
She had to keep repeating that particular mantra to herself — often and loudly. She and Jayce had started out simply having fun with each other and exploring a mutual crush, but once they realized that they both had a tendency to fall in love hard and fast — taking after their parents in that way — they had both shifted to something else entirely. Celeste couldn't even remember when they had moved from teasing each other into kisses to talking about building a future together, but it had happened all the same.
And it wasn't the kind of future talk that their parents would have worried about, either. They weren't talking about marriage and kids — they were still teenagers, after all — but about teams and logistics. For as much of a goofball as Jayce could be, he had his mother's level head when he needed it, when he wanted to stop joking around long enough to truly focus on what he wanted to do. And so, when Celeste had poured her heart out to him, he'd helped her try to decide what she wanted to do with herself.
She still hadn't come to an actual decision, but he helped her sort out her thoughts and feelings from what she felt like was expected of her family and heritage.
The truth was that she felt like she should have gone out for the X-Men by now. She knew that Melody had no interest in being a hero; her sister preferred to get lost in relationships and, more recently, in fashion. Kate was actively encouraging Melody's fashion senses, and Noh seemed perfectly happy to let his daughter pursue a Kree prince. But Celeste didn't have the same sense of purpose. She didn't have the X-Men like Sying did; she didn't have fashion like Melody did; she didn't have the ocean like Ael did.
She probably could have been an X-Man if she put her mind to it. She knew she and Melody had a lot of work to do — still — to control their powers better. But she was also strong and fast, just like Sying. And if she decided to put her focus on training, she could probably be good enough for the junior squad before long.
And she was training. She wanted to do more of that. But she didn't want to join the X-Men. Not after seeing what the team had done to her brother. Not after watching him drown in self-blame, not after watching the hero life chew Sying up and then spit him back out.
Most of the time, when Celeste said that she didn't want to join the team, people accepted that as the only reason she needed to give — at least out loud. But she could hear their thoughts. She could hear people thinking that she was lazy, that she just didn't want to put in the work to rein in her telepathy so she could pass Logan's test.
If I had her powers, I'd be a shoo-in, she'd heard more than one student think.
Probably scared off by what happened with War, she'd heard more reasonable ones think — but always in a judgemental, not an understanding, way. They didn't understand why she wasn't willing to put herself through the same hell her brother did — or put herself in harm's way to stop him and the other older members of the junior squad from suffering anymore.
And yeah, that was a big part of it. She didn't want to get hurt. She was selfish that way; she'd admit that much freely. And she felt like she was justified in that kind of selfishness, honestly.
But… there was more to it than that. There was a real fear, specifically, about her family and their place in the X-Men.
She knew that Sying had done his best to shield her and her sister from the blowback from his time as War. Whenever he realized that he was getting lost in his memories or thinking too much about the guilt of knowing he'd enjoyed bringing destruction to all the people who had wronged him, he stopped and strengthened his mental defenses, blocking out whatever glimpses his sisters had seen.
And, honestly, Celeste and Melody went out of their way to stay out of Sying's head recently. When he'd first come back from Apocalypse's influence, he had been intolerable to be around without turning off their powers or at least blocking him specifically. Their mother hadn't blocked herself off, and Melody and Celeste knew that Jubilee had been peeking at Sying's mind more than she let on, especially when she was scared she might lose him to the same despair that had claimed James. But Melody and Celeste were still kids; they didn't know what to do with the intensity of Sying's memories and projections and nightmares.
Still, they hadn't managed to avoid hearing everything, so they knew that Sying was still struggling with the knowledge that the Kree had left a foothold in his mind like they'd had one in their dad's mind. Sure, it wasn't a central foothold, and it was harder to break into, but it was a big vulnerability, and Sying thought about it more than he let on. He was terrified of being taken over again — because he'd enjoyed having a master to follow.
And that was what scared Celeste.
So many of the X-Men's villains were intent on turning mutants into weapons or laboratory creatures. So many would jump at the chance to turn one of the team members against their friends and family members. And Celeste couldn't bear the idea that she might join a team and be terrified every day that she'd end up like Sying, happy to serve.
Sure, she knew that the Avengers and Defenders and even Guardians dealt with similar bad guys, but it felt less personal, somehow, than the ones that went after the X-Men.
She knew that if she tried to talk to Kari or Cody or any of the others her age, they'd think that she wanted to be a Guardian because of Jayce. But there was so much more to it. And she didn't know how to make herself understood when she barely understood her own thoughts.
With a sigh, she pulled herself out of the spiral that she so often found herself circling lately. The older she got, the more aware she was of the fact that all her friends had plans and ambitions. Melody was practically all set to become the empress-to-be. Kari was making waves with her art. Cody was an EMT. Zoe was one of the most popular Avengers since Leslie Ann had first joined the team. Kaleb and Sadie and Chloe and Howard were dancing around each other in a somehow even more dramatic dance than the one Sying and Krissy and Chance and Elin had done — but still, they all had ambitions. Kaleb and Chloe on the team. Sadie in the ballet. Howard with his father's company.
Celeste, no one expects you to know what to do for the rest of your life. You're still a teenager, Jubilee's voice broke into Celeste's thoughts, startling her nearly out of her skin.
Mom! You can't just eavesdrop like that!
Excuse you, I'm not the eavesdropper. So not my style! You were projecting! Jubilee pointed out. But if you think I'm going to sit back and listen to my daughter think she's not every bit as awesome as her friends just because she doesn't have an X-patch on—
But you fought to be an X-Man! Celeste pointed out. It means the world to you. I know it does.
Yeah. to me. For me, Jubilee agreed. Just because it's what I wanted doesn't mean it's gotta be what you want. Besides, I care way more about you.
Mom, I get it. You care about me. But you have to. You're my mom.
Dude. No. Even though Jubilee wasn't there in person, Celeste could hear her mom letting out a long sigh mentally. I don't have to do anything and you know it. And for the record, I think you'd probably be running the Guardians within six months if you decide to join them. Lockheed has been hanging out on the Milano, so you wouldn't even be the only telepath, she added, her teasing tone practically singing a laugh to Celeste.
Celeste shook her head at her mom. Right. I'll talk to the dragon.
Heck yes, you would. Lockheed's awesome. Besides, that was totally a compliment. Lockheed doesn't talk to just anyone, even if they are telepaths, Jubilee said. Learn to take a compliment. They're going to happen more often the more you let people see how amazing you are.
Oh, I got the part where you said I'd be running things.
Good, because its totally true. Jubilee paused to choose her words. You know what? Between you and Mel, I think you've got a better chance at living the hero life. You've got the head for it.
Because her head's always in the clouds?
As if you're both not with your heads in the stars. I just mean you're finally stepping out of your creepy Shining twins phase and into your own people. You're both amazing with big potential, just in totally different ways.
Wow, you and Kate are spending too much time together.
Whatever. Take it or don't, but I'm trying to be honest with you. Oh, and if you're gonna assume everything I say is a play on words about how you're always daydreaming your initials into the constellations thinking of your Star Duke…
Ghost Punk.
Tomato, potato. Celeste could hear her mom smiling through their mental connection. You should so totally be grounded for how super secret serious you two have been getting when everyone's backs are turned.
It's not like we've been keeping it secret.
No, but you've always been all giggles and jokes until now.
Well, yeah. He's been depressed since his mom died. When I see him, I'm trying to cheer him up.
Jubilee lost her teasing tone entirely when she heard that bit of information. You really are totally awesome, you know that?
Love you too, Mom.
I mean it. You're just so … sweet. You get that from your father, you know.
Pretty sure you're just as much to blame, Mom.
Well, yeah for the awesomeness, obviously, but it's good to let him claim stuff too. Especially since he's always going on about how old he is, Jubilee teased.
To hear Dad tell it half the time, he's the older one between the two of you.
He sure thinks he is. And acts like it.
Remind me again what the age gap is?
Jubilee laughed. Um … pretty sure some of that's totally null and void since I was a vampire for a while, so … like … hard math and dyscalculia don't mix. Oh well. Wait, are you trying to use logic against your father?
I know. What on earth would make me think that would work on him? Not like he's always talking about how the Kree might not be as musical and artistic as Terrans but at least they aren't as emotional…
Still racist after all these years.
Pretty sure it's engrained. Even I catch myself thinking things like "The Kree way is supreme" if I spend too long on Hala, Celeste admitted — which was as close as she would get to talking about the big worry in the back of her mind, even though she knew her mom probably already knew about it, considering she'd been helping Sying with his issue.
Sure enough, Jubilee didn't let the pitch go over her head. You know, she said slowly, carefully, if you want, I can sit down with you and Melody and make sure your defenses are stronger. 'Cause you two have natural telepathic shields with your powers that we weren't thinking about—
It's okay, Mom. I know why you've been focusing on Sying. And it's totally deserved. He's, like, a trouble magnet.
Also genetic, Jubilee decided.
Yeah, that's what I've heard. Celeste paused and bit her lip. But… um… yeah, if you wanted to double-check things for us, that would be great. I know Melody hasn't been thinking about what it'll mean for her if she and E'tann do end up together long-term and she's on Hala all the time.
I didn't know that just being here was causing you guys headaches, Jubilee said, sounding truly distressed about it. After all, her kids had been fighting stupid Kree brainwashing this whole time, and she was only just realizing how deeply the Kree had their hands in her kids' minds after Sying got coopted. She'd known about Noh, but after seeing him struggle just to set his own terms and free will when they were first dating, she hated the thought of watching her kids stumble through life the same way.
She could still remember how Hank had basically put on his best Beast interrogation techniques to convince Noh to pull his head out. Sure, her kids weren't that bad, but it had been a pain, and she didn't want to go through all that again.
But, well, the girls had good heads on their shoulders. That much was obvious from the fact that Celeste was more focused on making sure Jayce had someone around who understood that he needed to grieve than she was focused on sexy times. Which was good, because Jubilee could hear Jayce when he was around, and… yeah. He was about like every other teenage boy in that regard.
At last, Jubilee let out a sigh. And here I was worried about making sure you both had good birth control so you didn't get space herpes or alien babies. Okay. I'll let you get back to writing your sweet love letter.
Oh my god, mom. Stop. You knew I was writing him all this time, Celeste reminded her in a sing-song tone.
Totally. Good thing he's too far away to get into any real trouble, Jubilee replied, matching her sing-songy tone. Space pirates being dirty …
Celeste rolled her eyes. Love you, Mom.
Love you too. Try not to get all caught up in all the what-ifs and comparisons or I'll sic your father on you for some philosophy lectures.
Now there's a threat.
Considering everyone except Ael has been spending most of this flight to Hala not thinking about how we're going to make this Christmas awesome but about how they've got some big hangups that they don't think they'll ever escape? Yeah, I'm totally gonna pull out the big guns.
Sorry, Mom. I'll start daydreaming about chasing Jayce around with mistletoe.
At least that would be semi normal teenage behavior.
Celeste laughed. You're so weird, Mom.
Only by Kree standards. Everywhere else, I'm amazing. I don't know what you're talking about.
Sure, Mom. Celeste shook her head, still grinning as the telepathic conversation tapered off. But now, she was in a much better mood to finish off that letter to Jayce, read through it, make sure she didn't sound as dramatic as her mother was making her out to be, and then send it off.
"You've been strangely quiet," Noh observed. He and Jubilee had been sitting together on the bridge, but she hadn't moved from where she was. When he glanced over at her a few times, he had noticed her facial expressions shifting, though, so he gently prodded her once he thought she might be done with whatever she was up to.
"Just talking with our resident drama queen," Jubilee said, pulling a face as she moved closer to Noh.
Noh couldn't help but smirk at her. "And which one is that? I thought they were all dramatic."
"Totally. They take after you, so that was bound to happen."
"Of course." Noh smiled and leaned over to steal a kiss. "Anything new — or is it simply the usual woes?"
"Yes and no," Jubilee said, biting her lip. "You know all that work we put in with Sying…"
Noh frowned before Jubilee could finish her thought. "If you need me to talk to him—"
"No, it's not him," Jubilee said.
Noh's eyebrows shot up, and he turned away from the console to fully face his wife, trusting the Marvel to alert him if he was needed. Obviously, this conversation was much more important. "Oh?"
Jubilee nodded. "The girls can feel that same pull of purpose in their minds, too. They just haven't said anything about it because they wanted to make sure Sying got the help he needed."
"If they think we can't split our focus, they don't know our family as well as they should," Noh pointed out, though his frown was biting deeply into his forehead. He sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry, Jubilee. I didn't realize my weaknesses would be forced on them."
"So not your fault," she told him bracingly. She paused, sucked in air through her teeth, and added, "Buuuut we might want to be careful about going to Hala too much. The girls say they can feel that pull most when we're there."
"That's going to be a difficult proposition if Melody gets her way with E'tann," Noh pointed out.
Jubilee smirked. "You would so very, very much would like your daughter to rule the Kree Empire, wouldn't you?"
"Wouldn't you?" Noh shot back.
"I'm not the one with a built-in superiority complex, mister," Jubilee teased, pointing her finger at him for emphasis. "You are practically planning what you're going to wear to the coronation."
"Oh, well, actually, I know precisely the thing for—"
"I knew it," Jubilee cackled. "You're such a peacock sometimes, you know that?"
Noh smiled, especially at hearing her laughter, and caught her around the waist, pulling her closer to him. "One of my many good traits, yes?" he teased as he started to kiss her neck.
Jubilee grinned. "Do you need a list to battle your failing memory?"
"Yes, I think I do," Noh said, still kissing her gently.
Jubilee giggled and then turned into him properly, kissing the sense out of him until they were both breathless and tangled in each other and not at all paying attention to the Marvel or thinking about their kids and their latest dramas.
Noh grinned at her when they broke for air. "I like that list."
"I thought you might," she agreed — and then got tangled in him all over again until they were involved enough that the Marvel pointedly opened a path for them to steal kisses all the way back to their room.