Disclaimer: I own nothing recognizable
Becki: Hehehe. Thanks! I'll try to hurry, this fic is near to being completed.
The One and Only Trey: All right, all right! Powers revealed in this chapter!
ShadyLady: They do. Too bad Wolvie's not there, or the ending might be different. Oh, well.
Kalika Aryn: You'll be surprised. . .I wrote the character, so I know what you mean, but I also know what's behind them.
Author's Note: All right! I think this story is nearing completion!! Only four or so more chapters.
*****
Ororo Munroe looked at the stack of papers on her desk and sighed. Grading papers, it was the worst part of being a teacher, and she was already quite tired as it was. Why did Circle have to be so draining? It was meant as a good thing, and many of the students saw it that way, but Ororo was beginning to dislike it.
"It's Grace, isn't it?" Ororo looked up to see Jean Grey standing in the doorway. "You do so much for her. Give it up, Ororo. She is beyond hope," said Jean, walking to her friend's desk and laying a hand on her shoulder with a sympathetic air.
"Not quite," said Ororo.
"This is hurting you," Jean said angrily.
"Jean, have you ever seen what is inside of that girl?" asked Ororo. Jean shook her head slowly. Of course she had not. "She is only afraid. It only takes a bit of faith in her--"
"Look at what that has done though. She shows no signs of improvement."
"Doesn't she?" Ororo opened a drawer of her desk and set it on top of the desk for Jean to view the contents. "These are things I have taken from my students for using during class, and these ones are Grace's." Ororo lifted out a pile of books and held them out to Jean.
"Classics," Jean commented as she read the titles.
"Well-worn classics," corrected Ororo. "They show the signs of being constantly in her hands. These are the beloved possessions of a frightened child. Look, would she be reading this if she believed herself without hope?" On that note Ororo selected a paperback copy of Little Men. "See how she's folded down this chapter?"
"Whatever you say, Ororo. I still think you are looking too hard for any hope with this one," Jean said, putting the books down. "Spend your energy on the ones with a future, children like Marie and Aurora."
"Aurora? I fear for her more than for Grace."
****
Meanwhile, the latter of the two girls being discussed was quite the center of attention. "Any liquid. Liquid is easiest, but I can do air and solid matter as well. Sometimes I loose control, but I have to work to initiate use of my power, and I pay the price for it. I used to have headaches whenever I didn't use my powers, but. . .I think that had something to do with the lab."
"Can we see?" asked one eager listener. Aurora's eyes glinted.
"Look over there," she said. Numerous pairs of eyes turned and watched as Rapscallion, sitting alone with headphones and a book, lifted her milk-- only to have it boil in her hands. The others quickly turned back inwards, gasping in admiration. Aurora, pleased, lifted her own drink--only to find the cup changing form, cutting painfully into her hands. She cried out and dropped the shifting cup, turning to see Grace standing behind her.
"Do it," said Rapscallion. "Boil my blood. Do it, I dare you. You know you can. Kill me. Do it." When nothing happened for many minutes she scoffed and walked away.
Becki: Hehehe. Thanks! I'll try to hurry, this fic is near to being completed.
The One and Only Trey: All right, all right! Powers revealed in this chapter!
ShadyLady: They do. Too bad Wolvie's not there, or the ending might be different. Oh, well.
Kalika Aryn: You'll be surprised. . .I wrote the character, so I know what you mean, but I also know what's behind them.
Author's Note: All right! I think this story is nearing completion!! Only four or so more chapters.
*****
Ororo Munroe looked at the stack of papers on her desk and sighed. Grading papers, it was the worst part of being a teacher, and she was already quite tired as it was. Why did Circle have to be so draining? It was meant as a good thing, and many of the students saw it that way, but Ororo was beginning to dislike it.
"It's Grace, isn't it?" Ororo looked up to see Jean Grey standing in the doorway. "You do so much for her. Give it up, Ororo. She is beyond hope," said Jean, walking to her friend's desk and laying a hand on her shoulder with a sympathetic air.
"Not quite," said Ororo.
"This is hurting you," Jean said angrily.
"Jean, have you ever seen what is inside of that girl?" asked Ororo. Jean shook her head slowly. Of course she had not. "She is only afraid. It only takes a bit of faith in her--"
"Look at what that has done though. She shows no signs of improvement."
"Doesn't she?" Ororo opened a drawer of her desk and set it on top of the desk for Jean to view the contents. "These are things I have taken from my students for using during class, and these ones are Grace's." Ororo lifted out a pile of books and held them out to Jean.
"Classics," Jean commented as she read the titles.
"Well-worn classics," corrected Ororo. "They show the signs of being constantly in her hands. These are the beloved possessions of a frightened child. Look, would she be reading this if she believed herself without hope?" On that note Ororo selected a paperback copy of Little Men. "See how she's folded down this chapter?"
"Whatever you say, Ororo. I still think you are looking too hard for any hope with this one," Jean said, putting the books down. "Spend your energy on the ones with a future, children like Marie and Aurora."
"Aurora? I fear for her more than for Grace."
****
Meanwhile, the latter of the two girls being discussed was quite the center of attention. "Any liquid. Liquid is easiest, but I can do air and solid matter as well. Sometimes I loose control, but I have to work to initiate use of my power, and I pay the price for it. I used to have headaches whenever I didn't use my powers, but. . .I think that had something to do with the lab."
"Can we see?" asked one eager listener. Aurora's eyes glinted.
"Look over there," she said. Numerous pairs of eyes turned and watched as Rapscallion, sitting alone with headphones and a book, lifted her milk-- only to have it boil in her hands. The others quickly turned back inwards, gasping in admiration. Aurora, pleased, lifted her own drink--only to find the cup changing form, cutting painfully into her hands. She cried out and dropped the shifting cup, turning to see Grace standing behind her.
"Do it," said Rapscallion. "Boil my blood. Do it, I dare you. You know you can. Kill me. Do it." When nothing happened for many minutes she scoffed and walked away.