WAGING WAR
"In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns."
"I'm here. Sorry, I'm late. "I was preoccupied." Scott addressed the three mutants who were gazing him down. Laura sniffed and gave him a look, immediately recognizing who he had been with. Illyana had her own suspicions and grinned devilishly at Scott. "Where were you?" She inquired, knowingly.
Out of his depth, Jean-Paul cocked an eyebrow at the situation. At a second glance, he saw Scott's disheveled appearance and chuckled. "It appears that someone had a nice time."
Scott was a bit nervous. He flashed them a grimace and ignored their observations. "Let's get down to business." The meeting took place. Illyana informed Scott about the new mutants' training, which included a few choice curse words directed at the problematic students, whilst Laura stated that she had no recollection of what had happened in the vault because her memories had been erased once she was resurrected. Scott was informed by Jean-Paul that X-Factor was still looking into claims of missing mutants. Illyana and Laura dispersed after the brief meeting, but Jean-Paul remained.
"We need to talk, Scott" Jean-Paul turned to face him and scanned to see if they were alone. Scott nodded. "Go ahead."
"Are you certain we're going to do this?" He questioned quietly. He had a troubled expression on his face. "I'd like to know if this comes to an end, Kyle will be safe."
"Yes. We don't have a choice," Scott asserted. "I'm working on that. I'm working to ensure Kyle, you, and your family, as well as everyone we care about, will be safe from this."
"How about you?" Knowing that Scott was placing himself in grave danger, Jean-Paul wondered. "Will you be safe?"
Scott's jaw twitched. "Let's take it one step at a time." He gave a vague response. Jean-Paul's eyes widened. "Will there be consequences for you, Scott?" He let out the breath he'd been holding.
"All I've ever wanted for mutants is safety and freedom. I have to make some difficult choices. You understand that sacrifices must be made, Jean-Paul, because you are a leader." Scott stated. The truth was, he was afraid of what was to unfold. But he didn't want the other man to be aware of his insecurities. He'd decided to go down this road and was determined to see it through.
"Merde! What about your friends and family? " Jean-Paul noted the significance of what they were about to do. They were entering perilous terrain, and the result could go either way. But the fact that Scott seemed unconcerned about his own safety still disturbed him.
At Jean-Paul's comment, Scott tensed up and squared his shoulders. "They'll be fine. Is that it?" He replied quickly because he didn't want Jean-Paul to see his vulnerable side.
"Who were you with before the meeting?" Jean-Paul asked, curiously, after deciding to change the subject to a lighter tone. "Your rumpled clothes imply that you didn't have time to shower or change, and also that you wore this outfit yesterday. He smiled gleefully at Scott's obvious discomfort.
It's none of your business. It would be prudent if you kept this information to yourself." Scott locked his focus on him, silently cursing himself for failing to inspect his appearance before leaving Warren's penthouse.
"Oui. Welcome to the club, by the way. Warren's feather is stuck in your belt." While Scott frantically turned to check his belt for the feather, Jean-Paul laughed. He stuffed it in his pocket once he found it and looked terribly uncomfortable. "Not a word of it to anyone, or I will make your life a living hell." Scott hissed angrily.
Jean-Paul chuckled. Flirted. ""Are you coming on to me, Scott?" He added, with a snicker, "Désolé, mon cher. However, I must say that you two would make a gorgeous couple. That is, if you're sleeping with him, oui? Or should I assume that you're available? In that case, where do I sign up?"
"Jean-Paul…" Scott delivered a warning tone, "Do I need to tell Kyle about you trying to flirt with me?"
"It's harmless flirting, non? Besides, what about Jean? I thought you were together?" Jean-Paul interrogated him.
Scott rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed in exasperation. "We…we're…"
"…it's okay, Scott. You don't need to explain." Jean-Paul noticed that Scott was filled with conflicted emotion and felt sorry for him "But, is this your first time with a man?"
"…No. No it isn't" Scott confessed, remembering the times he had been with other men. Warren may have been the first time he thought of a man romantically, but it was Achmed who he ended up spending nights with when he had merged with Apocalypse. It was never easy remembering that chapter of his life. And then his time-displaced version had spent a few adventurous days with people and aliens. Suffice to say, choosing a romantic partner based on their gender was never a problem with him.
"So…why didn't you ever come out?" Jean-Paul asked. "I never imagined you'd be…" He trailed off, unsure about his orientation.
Scott spoke up. "….I just didn't feel the need to. I don't really care for labels. It's not like I'm only interested in a particular gender. It's just that a person means more to me than their physical form. And I've always been too busy with my job that I didn't give myself enough time to explore…"
Jean-Paul added for him "….other options. Oui. I get it. As leaders, our lives are put in the spotlight, and if we take one wrong step…"
"…we're fucked." Scott finished. Jean-Paul let out a loud laugh at Scott's short but apt way of describing the situation. "That was…direct. And very unlike you."
Scott rolled his eyes at Jean-Paul, not understanding why people considered him to be a clean-cut boy scout. Not that there was anything wrong with that. "You think so?"
Jean-Paul glanced at Scott for a minute before speaking, "You were the last person I expected to be into men. You were always the poster-child for straight men. Stoic. Brave. Handsome. Plain. Until today, that is."
Scott wrinkled his nose and stared at Jean-Paul. "Is that what people really think of me?"
Jean-Paul smiled sadly at Scott. "I don't want to lie to you, so, yes."
"I'll have you know that I am quite adventurous." Scott uncharacteristically boasted. Jean-Paul smirked, not believing him. Scott noticed the smirk and frowned. "We're not talking about a mission here, Scott." He teased.
Scott looked at him and gave him a lopsided smile. "Who said I was talking about missions. If you don't remember, I was in a relationship with Emma. And then there was the time when Maddie…" He trailed off.
"What was that, Scott?" Jean-Paul was eager to tease Scott about his sex life.
"Nothing!" Scott blushed. "Look, is there anything else? I need to go." He quickly changed the subject, wanting more than anything to leave and pretend he didn't just share all his personal life details with the other man.
"Non. Take care, oui?" Jean-Paul spoke and placed a hand on Scott's shoulder to reassure him.
Scott nodded and with a smile, Jean-Paul raced away. He shook his hands in the air and let out a cough when Jean-Paul literally left him in the dust. Smiling to himself, he left to change for his next mission.
Summer House, Moon
We must have a discussion." Scott spoke once he stepped out of the shower and changed into his uniform. He couldn't understand why she was lying on his bed in his room when she had her own room, despite the fact that they were married. While she always slept next to him when he was at the house, she never slept in his room when he was out on missions and preferred to have her own room rather than share one with her husband. That should have been enough of a clue for Scott to figure out why his marriage was falling apart.
"What it is, Scott?" She lifted her head and gazed at her husband.
"I think we should get a divorce." He began to speak calmly and exhaled a sigh of relief he hadn't realized he'd been holding in. He felt liberated for the first time in ages. "Look, I know we agreed to stay together for the kids, but this isn't working," he continued when she did not reply. "Do you really want to stay in a marriage that isn't working?"
Jean was stunned and looked at him in disbelief. "A divorce?" She let out a cry. "Think about the kids, Scott! You used to say you loved me, and now you want to divorce me? What am I supposed to do now, after everything I've been through? After all that I've put up with you?" Her face flushed with rage.
Scott flinched. "The kids have grown up. I also know that you've been having an affair. And I can see why. This marriage is no longer working." He held firm in his convictions when she began to cry.
"You...It only happened once!" She shed tears and pretended to be a victim.
"No, it wasn't. I truly want the best for both of you. But I have to get on with my life." Scott persisted in his attempt to appease her.
"How dare you! You son of a bitch!" She screamed, generating a commotion that drew everyone in the residence to his room.
"What the hell is going on?" Logan hurried in and stared at Jean's fake tear-streaked face. When he saw Scott standing there, a flicker of rage shot across his face. "Scott's divorcing me." She wailed and fell into Logan's arms.
Logan cocked his head, unsure how to react to the revelation. He wondered if Scott was aware of their affair. While Jean blubbered in Logan's arms, Alex and Gabriel glared at Scott with disapproval.
"What the hell, Scott!" Alex screamed. "Seriously? Jean is a wonderful woman. You absolute asshole, why would you leave her like this? It wasn't enough that you abandoned Maddie, and now you're abandoning Jean?" He continued to chastise his older sibling. Scott frowned. Alex's accusations had hurt him a lot. And the fact that his own brother defended Jean made him doubt if anyone would ever truly support him. "This has nothing to do with you. It's between Jean and me."
"Like hell it is!" Alex snarled fiercely. "You're breaking up your family. Think about your kids!"
Logan remained silent, which was unusual for him. Scott, on the other hand, was aware of the reason for his quiet. Logan was probably feeling guilty about having an affair with Jean behind Scott's back. "Alex, please. I've thought this through." Scott pressed his fingers against the bridge of his nose, anticipating the onset of a migraine.
"Thought this through? No, you haven't! You're a selfish, horrible man, Scott Summers!" Jean screeched and threw a lamp at him telekinetically. Scott deflected it just in time, but his anger was building. He clenched his fists and spoke with gritted teeth. "No Jean, you're selfish. You've been having an affair behind my back and you expect me to be okay with it? You can be vengeful, shallow, and unnecessarily abusive at times. Not to mention the way you've always thrown things at me or tossed me around. All I wanted was a divorce so I could be free of your bullshit. Yet, you pretend I'm the worst man on this planet. Why don't you just LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE if I'm such a horrible man?" He yelled. His heart was beating wildly, yet he felt good. For the first time, he stood up to her and it felt right.
The look on everyone's faces was priceless. When the truth was revealed, he could see how conflicted Alex and Gabriel were. Logan appeared startled rather than outraged. Jean was driven to the point of fury. "Don't even think of raising your voice at me!" She slapped him and yelled at him. Scott did not flinch this time, to his credit. He tried to keep his emotions in check as he glared at her. "You'll be receiving the divorce papers soon. Let's take a mature approach to this. I'd prefer it if we told the kids together, rather than burdening them with our personal grudges. I have to go on a mission, but we can discuss once you're ready." Under the ruby quartz visor, his eyes glistened with tears as he rushed out of the room. Jean's actions had triggered him badly. He wiped his cheek as he felt the burn. He took a long breath and remembered the wonderful night he had spent with Warren, which had been full of promises he had been looking forward to. He couldn't cry. He refused to cry. Not with the way she had always left him in misery. She wasn't worth it. He walked away after regaining his control.
Warren had texted him just as he was about to debrief the team. Scott took out his phone and began reading the text. A smile graced his lips and he felt the stress dissipate. 'Good luck on your mission. Come back to me soon. Also, last night was fantastic.'
'Thank you. How does dinner sound? Tomorrow night? I should be back by then. I agree. Last night was…one of the best nights I've had in a while.' He responded back, hoping for a favorable reaction but also apprehensive about what had happened between them. This was all new to him. Warren was the last person he imagined to be interested in him. He wanted to spend more time with him now that they had spent the night together. Warren was everything he sought in a companion and then some.
'Only one of the best? We have to fix that, Mr. Summers. See you at my place at 7.00 pm.' Scott laughed as Warren typed and sent him a series of explicit emojis. He couldn't wait to get back to Warren's place.
'If I agree it was the best, you'll get tired of me. Gotta keep you on your toes, Mr. Worthington.' Scott returned the flirtation. When he was reminded of how they had sex practically all night, his face flushed with a mix of happiness and longing.
'I think it's safe to assume that I will never get tired of you. If I do get tired, it will be because you've probably killed me with all the great sex.' Warren added suggestively with winky face emojis.
'People usually get tired of me, Warren. With or without sex.' Scott replied back, uncertainty creeping up on him because of all the years of disappointing relationships.
'I'm afraid you need to rethink your approach if that's your opening pitch. Drop the PowerPoint presentation off at my place and I'll edit it for you. In all honesty, they have no idea who you are. Scott Summers, you are gorgeous, intelligent, incredibly sexy, and fun. Let no one tell you otherwise.' Warren typed furiously, trying to cheer Scott up with a joke. He meant every single word he wrote. He was well aware that they had not had the best of relationships with their exes, but this new beginning with Scott felt right.
Scott grinned as he read Warren's message and snorted at the presentation quip. A flood of warmth washed over him, melting the layers of inhibition. 'I'm not sure, War. It's just...everyone says I'm boring, and I don't disagree. I'm sorry, but I have to go; I'll see you tomorrow.' He typed quickly when the team had gathered. He added a couple of heart emojis, sent the message, and then switched off his phone.
It had taken him a long time to finish the mission. He was exhausted from work and all he wanted to do was be with Warren. He and his team had survived, but they were exhausted and sleep-deprived. He dashed home to take a shower and was relieved to discover that Jean was not around.
Scott grimaced inwardly as he saw Alex in the living room, watching TV.
"Where are you going dressed up so…not you?" Alex questioned, his sight falling on his brother, who was dressed in pressed beige slacks, a light blue shirt, and a navy blue blazer.
"Out." Scott shrugged without attempting to give a thorough response.
"Scott….I'm sorry. I didn't know you and Jean were… I didn't know she was cheating on you." Alex apologized for the way he had blown up on Scott.
"Whatever." Scott scowled, still angry by Alex's earlier rant. "I'm not staying the night. Tell anyone looking for me that I'm busy. They can ring my phone if there's an emergency."
Alex cocked his head and nodded. "Have fun wherever you are going." He smirked, figuring out that Scott was on his way out on a date, based on the smell of his cologne and the overnight bag he was carrying. He looked at Scott, apprehensive about his brother's out-of-character behavior, which was evident in his clothes and bag, "Call me if you need help." Scott just nodded and left the room.
When Scott pulled out his phone, he discovered one unread message from Warren.
'You're not boring, Scott. If yesterday was any indication, you are much more than you give yourself credit for. I'm not going to let you diss yourself, mister. Go do your mission thing.' Warren had responded to Scott's last text message.
'The mission was a success. I'm on my way.' Scott sent a text to Warren and headed to his penthouse.
'Great. Can't wait to see you.' Scott's heart leaped when Warren responded with a kiss emoji.