Out of Season
Author's Notes: A sort of Alex and Scott: Redux. A different take on their relationship and first meeting in X-Men: Evolution canon. Will flashback to their childhood and do a great deal of retelling of each character's history. Point of view will rotate between the two characters. A bit of an experiment, so feedback would be swell.
* * *
"Lorna Dane."
"Here."
"Jamie Madrox."
"Here."
"Guido…"
"Here."
"Alexander Summers."
No response.
"Alexander Summers?"
'It made perfect sense to me that he was dead, the same flames that engulfed my mom and dad taking Scott away from me too. And that there was no sense in believing I would ever behold him again, in the middle of a crowded train station in New York for example, standing there with that stupid smirk on his lips and that green gaze full of fascination and wonder. Nope. No sense whatsoever.'
"Alex!"
"Here."
* * *
'I had known Lorna for three years before we spoke our first words to one another. It was at a field trip to the museum, I snuck away from the "official tour" to stare at the mummies under the Plexiglas for a while longer. By the time I had snapped out of my reverie, the bus was loading. Lorna had been sent out to find me and chided me sing-songly for being a "dirt nerd." I knew then I was in love.'
"Hey Lorna?"
"Yeah?"
"Not that I'm counting or anything."
"Of course not…"
"And not that I'm making a big deal about it or anything…"
"Never."
"But a year ago today we…well, we started going out one year ago today."
"That long, huh?"
"Yup. Never thought I'd be with you for that long."
Lorna Dane was pretty, not supermodel pretty, but beautiful like the web of a spider. Subtle, but deadly if collided with. Alex Summers was quickly reminded of that as she arched an elegant brow up at his fumbled words.
"I don't mean that in a bad way or anything…it's just, unexpected."
Lorna smiled and nodded. "Are you going to finish that or what?" she asked, pointing at the last slice of pepperoni and olives pizza.
"You go ahead."
"Thanks."
* * *
"What was he like?"
"Who?"
"The guy in the picture with his arm around you that you never want to talk about."
"Ah. Him."
'Dad always pointed out to people how I looked like mom and Scott looked like him. Well, except for the eyes. I had my dad's eyes and Scott had my mom's. Besides that with the reddish brown hair and regal stature, Scott resembled Major Christopher Summers down to the core. They even acted alike, both extremely protective, especially of mom and me and both introverted, but in a way that exuded confidence and was more than a little intimidating at times. But I loved my father and I loved Scott. If he were still alive, I'd even tolerate his arrogance just to be around him for a little while longer.'
"Well?"
"He was…"
"Alex?"
"My brother. He was my brother."
* * *
[One hour ago, Washington D.C.]
"Alex!"
Blonde haired, blue eyed Alex Summers looked down from the balcony of his hotel room in Washington D.C. and faked a salute to his classmate and good friend, Jaime Madrox.
"I swear that guy can be in six places at once," Alex muttered under his breath, before turning away from the view outside.
"You're daydreaming again."
Lorna.
"No I'm not," he fibbed. Ah, the dreaded eyebrow arches.
"Okay, okay, so I'm a little spaced out. Can you blame me? This all seems so…surreal."
"Why? Your dad is getting commemorated for his service in the Air Force, it's a beautiful day in D.C. and you're here with your friends and the girl on your dreams, what's so wrong with reality?"
Alex leaned in and kissed her lips.
"Green lipstick?"
"It looks good on me. Matches my hair," Lorna replied with a shrug of her shoulders.
Alex laughed, "You need to get your water checked. Too much chlorine or something," he told her, twirling a strand of light green hair between his fingers. "Okay, okay," he relented. "Life is good. Life is better than good. I just wish…"
"Yeah?"
"Scott should be here."
Lorna frowned. "He is here sweetie. As long as you're here, he is too." Trying to brighten a little she tugged on her sweater gently, "Let's go. I hear politicians get medieval on you if you're late."
Alex's blue eyes looked distant and faraway, but he nodded and allowed Lorna to pull him out of the room.
* * *
"Major Christopher Summers served on the United States Air Force for over ten years. His dedication and spirit was unparalleled and each officer here feels his loss as if so much time has not already passed. The world will not so soon see his like," General Hurst placed the tiny, golden star on Alex's palm. "Alexander Summers, as the son of Major Christopher Summers, I hereby bestow upon you the Medal of Honor in commiseration and in honor of the life and service your father gave to this country. Congratulations."
'Like I said before, knowing what I knew about life I never expected in my travels to turn a corner on a street in Maine and see Scott sitting on a park bench throwing bread crumbs at birds. No. He was dead.'
Ding.
'Dead.'
Ding.
'Dead.'
Ding.
'Dead.'
"Then why the hell do you have to keep repeating it to your poor, departed parents?"
"Jamie!" Lorna was horrified.
"Oh come on Lorna. Someone had to say it. 'Lex, are you going to snap out of this soon, because seriously," Jamie's voice softened noticeably, "You're starting to worry me."
Alex looked up, his blonde hair blown back by the wind so that only a few wisps dangled in front of his face. His usual bright blue eyes were a musty grey and the slight sag of his eyelids suggested lack of sleep. Besides that he looked like the same Alexander Summers who won last year's science fair with his volcano and paper on the different layers of the Earth's crust. He looked like the same Alex who won All American Meet for track three years running. The same Summers who called him out whenever Jamie went just a little too far with his jokes. It was Alex and Alex would be okay. Jamie smiled a gesture Alex returned, putting his arm around Lorna and walking away from the two headstones. Katherine Anne Summers and Christopher Summers, may you rest in peace. Amen.
TBC…
