Ororo Munroe looked around the crowded state room and wished she could
leave. She had never particularily liked playing ambassador, but with the
events that had taken place lately she was even more reluctant to plaster
on a smile and play nice with the locals-or foreigners- or whatever. All
she wanted was to go home and crawl into bed for a long time. When the
news had come in five days ago she had rained storms down upon London all
day that were strong enough to break records and raise much speculation,
but she had regained control and tempered them by the evening so that it
merely looked like a freak warm front. What she had REALLY wanted to do
was force the rain on and create the largest hurricane ever seen, but logic
had ruled out in that battle. She'd have to wait until she could go
somewhere remote to do that.
Another statesman from Brazil came up and offered his condolences and she managed to sound gracious while accepting them. She really wanted to scream and shout and cry and tell these people that they were her friends, her family, her EVERYTHING... But the real world required moderation and calm and she had to play the part of the good mutant diplomat no matter how she felt inside. She sighed and looked around anxiously again.
"Ms. Munroe?" came a voice from her side. She jumped and turned to find one of the waiters at her elbow
"Yes?" she responded, regaining her composure
"There is a call for you from a Mr. Worthington. He says its important" the plump man answered and she nodded, excusing herself from her companions and following him with much relief out the door. The waiter showed her to the main desk and the phone awaiting her and then left to rejoin the event. Ororo looked down at the reciever in her hand for a moment, not sure if she wanted to talk to Warren. For a moment there was an irrational fear that someone else had died and she couldn't handle that right now...Her hand hovered over the cradle of the phone
"Ms?" the receptionist asked, startling her out of her reverie. Storm lifted the phone to her ear
"Hello?" she asked hesistantly, her accent more pronounced than usual
"'Ro? It's Warren" said the voice on the other line
"Is everything ok?" she couldn't help herself
"Better than you think. They're alive 'Ro!" Warren's voice came across in an excited breath. storm caught her breath
"I..What...what did you say?" she breathed back
"They're alive!! Jean and Logan and Rogue..well, sort of Rogue" Storm found she couldn't breathe.
"I..I..." she stuttered.
"They're coming here to meet me in California. You gotta come, theres a lot to talk about but not right now. Something's rotten in the state of Denmark Storm and it's not Remy's cooking" Storm nodded mutely, forgetting how to speak, and then how to breathe just before she passed out cold on the floor.
****
Logan shifted nervously in the leather seat of the private jet; first leaning back, then sitting up, then leaning back again. He couldn't get himself comfortable in the plush leather seats, though it had nothing to do with the furniture itself. Having nearly plunged to his bloody death in a plane a few days before, his panic button in the permanent "on" position and the beast inside was telling him he should not be here, no matter how safe the human inside insisted he was. His brain was telling him it was safe, but he wasn't sure he believed it. His only comfort, as sick as it may have been, was that the girls were feeling the same way. They sat a little further back, arms wrapped around each other in sisterly comfort as they tried to hold back the nauseous feelings they were getting simply from being inside a plane. It was not a pleasent trip.
With a deep sigh, Logan closed his eyes and attempted to meditate to calm himself. The past few hours had followed suite to the past few days of their lives and they found themselves moving quickly to catch up. Upon exiting the bathroom, Logan and Carol had been surprised to find Jean not only concious but talking on the phone as well. Logan wasn't sure what was said but he could tell by her patient expression that Warren was probably- for lack of a better expression- freaking out on the other end of the phone. After about 20 minutes or so the conversation was over and she informed them that they were going to California to meet Warren and talk over what they needed to do. Without further ado the trio went about getting their belongings, however meager they were, gathered and ready to go.
The ride to the airport had been relatively uneventful, though he could smell the anxiety flowing from their bodies and knew his own scent mingled in the same manner. The tension slowly mounted as they made their way to the check in desk and were informed a private jet had been arranged for themselves. By the time they boarded the small, though comfortable aircraft it was palpable and he was breathing it in with every gasp. The take-off was the worst, he was relatively certain he was going to pass out, or wet himself or any one of a million embarassing scenarios that could put a huge dent into his macho image, but damned if he wouldn't be justified in doing any one of them.
And that brought him back to now. The long minutes of dead air time, just SITTING in this tin can of death. OK, so maybe that was extreme, but it didn't help him FEEL anymore confident. Grunting he shifted his position again and let out an agitated sigh. If he never had to get on a plane again it would be too soon....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The trio exited the plane with a triumphant sigh of relief, thanking their Pilot and Copilot for getting them there safely and then stepping into the warm California sun. The light kissed their skin and warmed them in a way that they hadn't been in many days. Carol and Jean giggled a little behind him and he couldn't help the smile that split his face in half. They survived their first challenge.
They traipsed down the stairs, Jean linking her hand with his as they hit the bottom, Carol coming up on his other side to stride with them towards the airport entrance. Nothing was said, but they all felt a sense of accomplishment and for the first time a glimmer of hope. They just might make it through this...
There were two figures standing in front of the airport and even from a long ways off Logan could recognise the one on the right as Warren wearing his inducer. Well, that and he could smell him. The other one he did not recognise though and summarily dismissed him as a chauffer or something. As the drew closer he could feel Jean speed up next to him, eager to see another familiar face. With a bitter smile he released her hand and she jogged off towards Warren. Turning to Carol he noted her concerned look and squeezed her hand in reassurance. Looking up at his face she gave him a tense smile back and tracked along next to him.
As they approached Warren, Logan took note of his dubious expression, knowing he didn't fully recognise Jean or Rogue from their wardrobe and superficial changes. Pushing back the brim of his hat he let go of Carol's hand as well and in a few strides overtook Jean so that he would be the first to meet Warren. As the Angel's eyes alit on his shorter friend's frame he seemed to freeze and Logan could smell the emotions; disbelief, sadness, fear, and elation all rolling off his body in a dizzying mix that sent his stomach roiling and his head spinning. Regardless he reached out a hand to clasp one of Warren's own
"Warren" The blonde man still hadn't managed to find his voice, but grasped Logan's hand in his own and then glanced over his shoulder to the anxious brown eyes of Jean
"Jean?" he asked, amazement in his voice. Nodding timidly she smiled and, quite suddenly, found herself wrapped in his arms and wings in a tight embrace. Wrapping her arms around him she buried herself into his warm body and sighed deeply, "Jean, I was so afraid I'd never see you again" came softly in her ear
"Me too" she whispered back, and then stood silently in the protectiveness of his embrace for a long moment. Finally, they broke apart and she gave Logan a sheepish grin when he raised an eyebrow in her direction. Turning she beckoned Carol forward. Carol bit her lower lip at the movement and nervously crossed her arms in front of her chest, "Warren, I don't know if you remember Carol Danvers...."
"I remember him" came Carols soft reply and she held out a gloved hand to clasp his own bare one, "Nice to see you again Worthington"
"Likewise" came the proffesional reply, but there was an obvious unease in the air and in his stance as he stared and Rogue's face and spoke to her alter-ego. After a moment of Aukward silence Logan coughed and stepped forward
"We gonna stand here all day?" he asked, his voice gruffer than usual. Warren turned to him, a look of relief coming over his features and nodded
"oh, ah, uh no" he stammered, "Unfortunately I didn't have much time to prepare for you guys, but theres some extra rooms back at the suite you can use..." The trio nodded and Logan shrugged
"Anything is good" he responded and Warren nodded, gazing curiously at the shorter man, "What?" came Logan's terse question
"I uh, I thought you couldn't hear..." Warren began. A sardonic smirk grace the Wolverine's face and he had the brief satisfaction that what he said next would make his friend more than just a teensy bit uncomfortable
"I read lips. Have for a long time. Its amazing the things you can learn when people don't think you can hear them" True to form, Warren blushed and coughed, clearing his throat to hide his discomfort.
"Yes well, lets be off then"
Another statesman from Brazil came up and offered his condolences and she managed to sound gracious while accepting them. She really wanted to scream and shout and cry and tell these people that they were her friends, her family, her EVERYTHING... But the real world required moderation and calm and she had to play the part of the good mutant diplomat no matter how she felt inside. She sighed and looked around anxiously again.
"Ms. Munroe?" came a voice from her side. She jumped and turned to find one of the waiters at her elbow
"Yes?" she responded, regaining her composure
"There is a call for you from a Mr. Worthington. He says its important" the plump man answered and she nodded, excusing herself from her companions and following him with much relief out the door. The waiter showed her to the main desk and the phone awaiting her and then left to rejoin the event. Ororo looked down at the reciever in her hand for a moment, not sure if she wanted to talk to Warren. For a moment there was an irrational fear that someone else had died and she couldn't handle that right now...Her hand hovered over the cradle of the phone
"Ms?" the receptionist asked, startling her out of her reverie. Storm lifted the phone to her ear
"Hello?" she asked hesistantly, her accent more pronounced than usual
"'Ro? It's Warren" said the voice on the other line
"Is everything ok?" she couldn't help herself
"Better than you think. They're alive 'Ro!" Warren's voice came across in an excited breath. storm caught her breath
"I..What...what did you say?" she breathed back
"They're alive!! Jean and Logan and Rogue..well, sort of Rogue" Storm found she couldn't breathe.
"I..I..." she stuttered.
"They're coming here to meet me in California. You gotta come, theres a lot to talk about but not right now. Something's rotten in the state of Denmark Storm and it's not Remy's cooking" Storm nodded mutely, forgetting how to speak, and then how to breathe just before she passed out cold on the floor.
****
Logan shifted nervously in the leather seat of the private jet; first leaning back, then sitting up, then leaning back again. He couldn't get himself comfortable in the plush leather seats, though it had nothing to do with the furniture itself. Having nearly plunged to his bloody death in a plane a few days before, his panic button in the permanent "on" position and the beast inside was telling him he should not be here, no matter how safe the human inside insisted he was. His brain was telling him it was safe, but he wasn't sure he believed it. His only comfort, as sick as it may have been, was that the girls were feeling the same way. They sat a little further back, arms wrapped around each other in sisterly comfort as they tried to hold back the nauseous feelings they were getting simply from being inside a plane. It was not a pleasent trip.
With a deep sigh, Logan closed his eyes and attempted to meditate to calm himself. The past few hours had followed suite to the past few days of their lives and they found themselves moving quickly to catch up. Upon exiting the bathroom, Logan and Carol had been surprised to find Jean not only concious but talking on the phone as well. Logan wasn't sure what was said but he could tell by her patient expression that Warren was probably- for lack of a better expression- freaking out on the other end of the phone. After about 20 minutes or so the conversation was over and she informed them that they were going to California to meet Warren and talk over what they needed to do. Without further ado the trio went about getting their belongings, however meager they were, gathered and ready to go.
The ride to the airport had been relatively uneventful, though he could smell the anxiety flowing from their bodies and knew his own scent mingled in the same manner. The tension slowly mounted as they made their way to the check in desk and were informed a private jet had been arranged for themselves. By the time they boarded the small, though comfortable aircraft it was palpable and he was breathing it in with every gasp. The take-off was the worst, he was relatively certain he was going to pass out, or wet himself or any one of a million embarassing scenarios that could put a huge dent into his macho image, but damned if he wouldn't be justified in doing any one of them.
And that brought him back to now. The long minutes of dead air time, just SITTING in this tin can of death. OK, so maybe that was extreme, but it didn't help him FEEL anymore confident. Grunting he shifted his position again and let out an agitated sigh. If he never had to get on a plane again it would be too soon....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The trio exited the plane with a triumphant sigh of relief, thanking their Pilot and Copilot for getting them there safely and then stepping into the warm California sun. The light kissed their skin and warmed them in a way that they hadn't been in many days. Carol and Jean giggled a little behind him and he couldn't help the smile that split his face in half. They survived their first challenge.
They traipsed down the stairs, Jean linking her hand with his as they hit the bottom, Carol coming up on his other side to stride with them towards the airport entrance. Nothing was said, but they all felt a sense of accomplishment and for the first time a glimmer of hope. They just might make it through this...
There were two figures standing in front of the airport and even from a long ways off Logan could recognise the one on the right as Warren wearing his inducer. Well, that and he could smell him. The other one he did not recognise though and summarily dismissed him as a chauffer or something. As the drew closer he could feel Jean speed up next to him, eager to see another familiar face. With a bitter smile he released her hand and she jogged off towards Warren. Turning to Carol he noted her concerned look and squeezed her hand in reassurance. Looking up at his face she gave him a tense smile back and tracked along next to him.
As they approached Warren, Logan took note of his dubious expression, knowing he didn't fully recognise Jean or Rogue from their wardrobe and superficial changes. Pushing back the brim of his hat he let go of Carol's hand as well and in a few strides overtook Jean so that he would be the first to meet Warren. As the Angel's eyes alit on his shorter friend's frame he seemed to freeze and Logan could smell the emotions; disbelief, sadness, fear, and elation all rolling off his body in a dizzying mix that sent his stomach roiling and his head spinning. Regardless he reached out a hand to clasp one of Warren's own
"Warren" The blonde man still hadn't managed to find his voice, but grasped Logan's hand in his own and then glanced over his shoulder to the anxious brown eyes of Jean
"Jean?" he asked, amazement in his voice. Nodding timidly she smiled and, quite suddenly, found herself wrapped in his arms and wings in a tight embrace. Wrapping her arms around him she buried herself into his warm body and sighed deeply, "Jean, I was so afraid I'd never see you again" came softly in her ear
"Me too" she whispered back, and then stood silently in the protectiveness of his embrace for a long moment. Finally, they broke apart and she gave Logan a sheepish grin when he raised an eyebrow in her direction. Turning she beckoned Carol forward. Carol bit her lower lip at the movement and nervously crossed her arms in front of her chest, "Warren, I don't know if you remember Carol Danvers...."
"I remember him" came Carols soft reply and she held out a gloved hand to clasp his own bare one, "Nice to see you again Worthington"
"Likewise" came the proffesional reply, but there was an obvious unease in the air and in his stance as he stared and Rogue's face and spoke to her alter-ego. After a moment of Aukward silence Logan coughed and stepped forward
"We gonna stand here all day?" he asked, his voice gruffer than usual. Warren turned to him, a look of relief coming over his features and nodded
"oh, ah, uh no" he stammered, "Unfortunately I didn't have much time to prepare for you guys, but theres some extra rooms back at the suite you can use..." The trio nodded and Logan shrugged
"Anything is good" he responded and Warren nodded, gazing curiously at the shorter man, "What?" came Logan's terse question
"I uh, I thought you couldn't hear..." Warren began. A sardonic smirk grace the Wolverine's face and he had the brief satisfaction that what he said next would make his friend more than just a teensy bit uncomfortable
"I read lips. Have for a long time. Its amazing the things you can learn when people don't think you can hear them" True to form, Warren blushed and coughed, clearing his throat to hide his discomfort.
"Yes well, lets be off then"