AN: I had so many bad ideas for this chapter…everything ranging from after-school special territory to three ways in bed. So, I took an element from each (well, aside from the three way. I'll leave the NC-17 stuff to the masters.) Two chapters to go, wanna start the countdown?
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The walk back was in a stiff, awkward silence. Yukio stared at her friend's back, straight and proud as ever. Only now, with a hint of a previously suppressed swagger that had long lain dormant, concealed in order to maintain a firm influence over her powers. Yukio frowned; she was scared of very little in this world. She had seen events time and time again that could be considered apocalyptic, and they only got her adrenal glands fired. But, as Yukio admitted once in the fight against the Phalanx, Storm's well being and the fall of it frightened her to the core.
Snorting, Yukio shoved her hands in her pockets, idly glancing at the few fluttering papers that passed by in the breeze. It wasn't far to their shared apartment. And then what? Yell, scream, and point her finger like she was disciplining a wayward child? Hardly. She wasn't worried about Logan; his death wouldn't be the greatest loss ever in her life. In fact, it might simplify a few things. But Ororo's change? No.
A chilly breeze kicked up, causing Yukio to hunch over and look at the ground to keep warm. Was this the real Ororo? The one who didn't have to evaluate each and every reaction to ensure that a hurricane would not follow a spat? Or a blizzard to follow a brush with sadness? The creak of metal told Yukio that Ororo was ascending the staircase to the apartment, and she quickly followed, fishing her key out of her deep pocket. Once inside, Yukio paused and caught Storm's attention with a cough.
"Yes, Wild One?"
"Um, well, do you plan on going back for Wolverine?" Yukio tumbled out, uneasy about her feelings of insecurity.
"No," Ororo stated, as if it were a final pronouncement.
Gathering up her breath, Yukio glared at Ororo with a sudden fury. "What the hell was that about? Stabbing him? Damn it, 'Ro, you don't stop the hearts of your teammates!"
"And why not?" Ororo shrugged. "Was it not you who was pushing me to forget the X-Men?"
Yukio shook her head and stepped up to her friend. "Not by killing them!"
"Logan will hardly die from a temporarily stopped heart."
"That's not the fucking point, 'Ro!" Yukio wiped her face with the palm of her hand in frustration and annoyance. "I thought he was your friend! You gonna do that to me now?"
Ororo rolled her eyes. "Stop worrying, Yukio. It hardly suits you. But, would that not be a bitch, though?" Ororo paused, thoughtful. "To have the one all the other X-Men dump their problems on, the rock of the team be the one to take them down? I call it irony."
"I call it sick!" Yukio sat down on the edge of the couch, looking up at Ororo. "This isn't like you at all! Are you so un-fucking-believably reliant on your connection to the earth that the second you don't feel it, you feel license to do whatever you damn well please?"
"If that were the case, I believe I would shut your mouth for you," Ororo fiercely whispered, eyes narrowed.
"And back to the threats. Have you progressed one damn bit in the time you were here? Maybe Logan was right, you should leave."
"Really?" Heel, toe. One foot directly in front of the other, Ororo stalked up to Yukio in a similar manner as she had Logan moments before. Yukio stood up, taking matters into her own hands, and slapped Ororo hard across the face. Ororo's head turned with the blow, and she brought a hand up to the heated flesh where Yukio's hand had stung. "Hmm. So you want to play, huh?" Ororo leaned down, her hair falling between the inches wide gap separating the two women's faces. "Very well, it's my turn. Are you ready?" Laughing low in her throat and eyes white, Ororo looked every bit the part of a demon sent for redemption.
"Back. Off."
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Damn. Note to self: girls with lightning claws are bad for your health. Sitting up, Logan shook his head to clear it and looked up to the sky. Must be about three in the morning or so. Popping his back into place, Logan stretched and began the walk to Yukio's apartment. He was going to retrieve Ororo, and if it meant a knock down, full on fight, so be it. He needed a good brawl anyway. Claws slipping out, he picked up the pace. Ororo Munroe was going down, hard and fast.
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Stray licks of power teased and wound themselves in both girls' hair, their close proximity allowing the electricity to easily jump from the white to dark tresses and back. "What are you going to do, Yukio? Stick me with the knife I see just out of range?" Eyes shifting back to blue, Ororo released the walling power, and walked away. Yukio took a deep breath, allowing her body to sag back into the cushions. Too close. That was entirely too close.
Ororo sat in her room, legs curled under her. She was terrified. Terrified of not having her connection to the earth, terrified of the future, and most importantly, terrified of herself. What had possessed her to lose control with two of her dearest friends? Maybe it was too much, too soon. Or maybe she couldn't divorce her powers from her emotions without consequences on her psyche that she wasn't prepared to deal with. Sighing, she stood and entered the living room again. "Yukio?"
"Yeah?"
Ororo reached down, and pulled her dearest friend into a tight hug, allowing her body weight to sag onto Yukio's slight frame. "Thank you," she whispered, tears wavering into her shaky voice.
Yukio pulled back slightly and smoothed Ororo's hair. "I love you, 'Ro. Don't forget it."
Ororo smiled, relieved. "And I you, Yukio."
The heavy steps of boots to metal alerted the women to an intruder making his way up the stairs. "That is Logan, Yukio. I must go."
"I understand. It was nice having you here."
"Thank you again." Ororo planted a soft kiss on Yukio's forehead, as Yukio placed one on Storm's cheek. Releasing each other fully, Storm opened the sliding door leading to the balcony, and took off in flight, leaving only her silhouette behind.
A pound on the door, followed by an explosive burst revealed a snorting, angry Wolverine. Claws extended and eyes wide, he sniffed and growled at Yukio. "Where's 'Ro?" he snarled.
Yukio smirked; glad to have bested the feral man. "Gone. Out of your reach."
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Months laterIn a remote place of Africa, a small tribe gasped as unseasonable rains suddenly graced them, renewing their thirsty crops and refilling their dry tributaries. From the mountaintop, a former goddess smiled as saw the villager's reactions to the precipitation. Offering a silent prayer to the goddess, the figure flew off, directed through a renewed connection to the earth as to where needed her.
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Two weeks later
Toweling off her short hair, Yukio yelled colorful obscenities at the phone. Of course, she was in the shower. When else does the phone ring? "Kuso! I'm coming! Hold on!" Snatching the receiver off the base, Yukio held the phone up to her ear. "Hello," she questioned, clearly irritated.
"Yukio?"
"Wind Rider!"
"I'm going home now."
Yukio smiled, genuinely happy. "Good for you. Do you want me to call ahead and let them know?"
Yukio could feel the smirk forming on Ororo's face, as she responded, "No. Let me surprise them."
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AN2: Whoo, buddy! Thank Pete that's over! Two to go, two to go…hoo-ray! And now, it's that time again! Time to wash our socks? No, time for…The Wheel of Morality! Sorry.
Jezzy-B: Thanks, and they'll be shocked, Logan most notably. *evil grin*
Rhapsody: His girl, eh? I think she'd zap ya for that one. ;) Thanks for the encouragement!
Stormfreak: *in a taunting tone* No-o! No smut for you!
Scififreak: Thanks. I live to throw Logan off guard. And having Storm doing it is such a bonus.
Ororis Storm: Yeah, but ain't it fun?
Jubes2861: I don't think it's necessarily more realistic, but neither is "I Am Goddess On High. Worship Me, Mortals!" ;)
Rhiannon: Thank you so much for your encouragement. It *really* helps.