Disclaimer: I do not own any of the X-Men/Generation X characters. They belong to Marvel Comics. No profit is being made from this story.
Author's Note: This story is set just after Generation X #87.
Night had fallen at the Xavier Institute for Mutant Education and Outreach. In one of the trees that dotted the grounds, Lin Li AKA Nature Girl was sitting up in the branches. Two baby opossums were sitting on her antlers, another on her right shoulder, two more were playing in her lap and the last was in her hand. Lin smiled fondly as she stroked its fur. She was always happy to look after various baby animals while their mothers foraged for food. However tonight especially something had been weighing on her mind and she was glad for the distraction.
Hearing a faint scratching sound, she looked over to see the babies' mother coming across the branch. The marsupial stopped and looked at her.
"Hello Mrs. Opossum" she said happily. "No, they weren't any trouble at all. Your babies were all very well-behaved."
The baby opossums dutifully scurried down from their perches and gathered on their mother's back. Lin reached over and lightly rustled her head with a fingertip.
"Hmm? Yes, there is something troubling me. I would appreciate your advice Mrs. Opossum."
She paused for a moment and then continued. "Do you remember some time ago when the ground shook and I asked you to watch Shogo, the little human? There was another human with us. Yes, that's right."
"No, he is not. I want to but I am unsure. There is still much about humans that I do not understand. Mrs. Opossum, when you met Mr. Opossum, how did you know he was the right one?"
She listened intently for several moments. "I understand. Thank you. Goodbye."
Lin jumped from the tree and landed lightly on her feet. I will tell him tomorrow she thought as she walked off.
Trevor Hawkins AKA Eye Boy freely admitted that he was high-strung, somewhat neurotic and had a tendency to over-analyse everything. With that in mind he knew he shouldn't think too hard about what was currently bothering him. Unfortunately, old habits died hard. That was why he was sitting on his bed replaying a scene from a few days ago in his mind over and over again.
"Are you two arguing because Benjamin likes Quentin?" Lin asked.
"What?" Benjamin exclaimed.
"Lin… Ixnay on the entinquay. Benjamin likes Nathaniel" Trevor whispered.
"But Benjamin always follows Quentin around. Like you always follow me around" Lin replied.
"Huh? Ah… I mean, uh…"
"By the way, Lin and everyone else, just because I'm gay doesn't mean I can't just be friends with other dudes" Benjamin exclaimed.
"So, Lin knows that I like her" he muttered. "Is that good or bad? I mean she didn't say she had a problem with it, but she didn't say she was happy with it either. But she misunderstood about Benjamin and Quentin. Maybe she misunderstood how I feel about her too. And if she did then what should I do? Aggh, this is driving me nuts!"
Trevor stood up and marched through the corridors until he reached Benjamin and Quentin's room. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
He opened the door to find Benjamin sitting on his bed and reading a book.
"Hi Trevor, anything I can help you with" he said as he put down his book.
"Uh, yeah there is" Trevor replied. "I wondered if I could ask you for advice on something?"
"You should talk to Lin and tell her how you feel" he said without hesitation.
"Wait, you knew that's what I was going to ask? Are you a telepath as well as a shape-shifter?"
Benjamin laughed. "No, it was just obvious." Then his expression turned serious. "Look, I know what it was like when I was unsure about how Nathaniel felt about me. The best thing to do is to make everything clear. I know that's easier said than done. Hell, I chickened out on asking Nathaniel out for a while. But trust me, the sooner you know exactly where you stand with Lin the better off you'll be."
"I don't know. What if she thinks I'm being too pushy?"
"Just be honest. Tell her you want to be more than friends. If she says yes then great. If not… well you know her better than me. Do you think she'd stop being your friend?"
He shook his head. "No way. There's still a lot about Lin that I don't understand but I'm sure she wouldn't do that."
"There you have it then."
"Thanks Benjamin."
"No problem. Glad to help."
Trevor went back to his room and lay down on his bed. "I'll talk to her tomorrow" he muttered to himself.
For the next few hours, he had to will himself not to go over exactly what he was going to say tomorrow. He knew that if he did then he'd be up all night. Even so sleep did not come easy to him.
Thankfully the following day was Sunday which meant there were no classes. Trevor wasn't sure he'd be able to sit through any without suffering an anxiety attack.
He showered and dressed, then combed his hair meticulously. It was foolish, Lin wasn't the type to care about such details, but even so he wanted to look his best. If nothing else it would add, slightly, to his confidence and he could use all the help he could get in that area. With one last look in the mirror and a muttered, "you can do this Trevor, you can do this," he set off.
It did not take long to find Lin. She was crouching in front of a tree and looking closely at a squirrel that was sitting on its hind legs and peering up at her. Not wanting to interrupt their conversation he stood back.
I wonder what they're talking about he thought. Maybe they're discussing different nut types or ways to avoid cats?
After a while the squirrel turned and scurried up the tree. Lin smiled as she watched it go.
Now's my chance, before any more of her animal friends show up.
But before he could say anything she said, "good morning, Trevor."
"Uh, hi Lin" he said. "How did you know I was there?"
"Mr. Squirrel told me" Lin explained as she stood up and turned to face him.
"Oh yeah, of course" he said with a nervous chuckle. "So… how are you today?"
"I am well. How are you?"
"I'm fine too. Um…" He trailed off and awkwardly scratched his head. Lin said nothing, merely stood back and looked at him curiously, letting him speak in his own time.
"There's uh, something I've been wanting to talk to you about" he finally managed to say. "You remember a few days ago when Monet attacked the school?"
"I remember."
"Yeah well, do you remember how just prior to that you said how Benjamin always follows Quentin around like I always follow you around?"
"I remember that too. I hope I didn't upset Benjamin or Nathaniel" she said.
"I'm sure they're fine" Trevor replied. "Anyway, the thing I really wanted to say is…"
Again, he trailed off anxiously and again Lin waited for him to continue. He appreciated that.
This is harder than facing down Monet. Come on say it! Before someone else comes along and the chance is lost! Come on Trevor, you can do it!
"I like you Lin" he blurted out. "Not just as a friend, although I absolutely consider you a friend, I, I… I like you the way Benjamin likes Nathaniel!"
I can't believe I just said that. A part of him was mortified but another part was relieved. Whatever happened next at least now he would know.
Lin's smile widened. "I like you too Trevor."
"I'll understand completely if you… Wait, what?"
"I like you too" she repeated. "After what happened when Quentin left, I thought perhaps I had made a mistake but last night I talked to Mrs. Opossum and she helped me understand."
Trevor chuckled softly. It figures I'd have a thing for a girl who asks an opossum for romantic advice. Then, as he fully comprehended what she had just said, a joyful smile spread over his face.
"So then… You really…"
She nodded. "Yes. I would very much like to be your mate."
All of his eyes bulged and his face reddened. An odd mix of excitement, relief, dismay and disbelief swept through him as he tried to make sense of what he'd just heard. "Uh Lin, when you say "mate" that word conjures up certain, uh, images. Not that I wouldn't want to, because I would. It's just that uh…."
Before he could fully dissolve into a flustered mess Lin laughed gently. "It's okay, I don't mean literally. I know that neither of us is ready for that."
Trevor sighed in relief. "So then, would you like to go out with me?"
"Yes."
He held out his hand and she accepted it. "Where should we go out first?" she asked.
"Uh, how about for dinner tonight? I know a great vegan restaurant that's mutant-friendly."
"I would like that."
"Okay. I'll pick you up at say six?"
"Okay. I'll see you then."
Trevor walked off, feeling a warm glow suffuse his face. I can't believe it she actually said yes! Oh God please can this just be a nice, normal date without any super-villains or mutant-haters bothering us?
As he left, he didn't notice two of his classmates, Quentin Quire and Roxanne "Roxy" Washington, watching from behind a corner. Roxy turned to Quentin and grinned fiendishly.
"There! I told you he'd do it! Now pay up Quire!"
"Ugh, fine, it's not like I don't have money to burn" Quentin replied. He took out his wallet and produced a pair of bills, fifty dollars each, which he handed over. Roxy grinned and made a show of caressing the bills.
"I admit I'm impressed. I was certain he'd wuss out" Quentin mused. "Heh, I bet he'll still make a fool of himself on the date though."