The Dragon Tamer

(PG-13 for swearing and suggestive actions and words. P/OC (a little R/B) Comes into play after X:2. What are these dreams John's been having? And who is this new girl at the old mansion? (( ' Indicates thoughts))

Disclaimer: I do NOT own the original X-Men or the topic.

Chapter 3: Enter the Dragon

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John could hardly breathe. No one around took any notice of him, as they were trying to calm the redhead from his dreams. There she stood before him, with her arms outstretched in front of herself. Her thumbs were hooked and turned downwards so her hands formed an upside-down V, and they were glowing orange. That wasn't even the most bizarre part. Coming from her hands was a creature that looked much like a dragon the height of a leg. Only instead of scales it was made of fire and something else that he guessed was electricity due to the color and sound. Just then someone cried out "Jubilee!" When he was finally able to look away from the beast, he discovered why they said that name. Jubilee was the person the dragon was aimed at. She looked scared. He wanted to help her, but found it hard to move.

Finally Rogue found her spine and shoved her ungloved hand upon the girl's arm. With her power being sucked out of her, the dragon let out one last hiss and disappeared, she fell to the ground. Rogue had knocked her out. John shuddered; remembering what that felt like as an enormous wave of pity for the girl washed over him.

That was when everyone saw him. Bobby helped the very shocked Jubilee up and glared at John, then he began walking her up to her room. Marie was a different story all together. After staring at him for a few moments her face broke into a huge smile and she ran over and threw her re-covered arms around him. "I knew you wouldn't stay gone for long, you wouldn't do that to us." He began emotionally reducing in size. How could he tell her that he wasn't here for long? He gulped and looked after where Bobby had departed, Rogue let go and followed his eyes. "Oh, that. Don't worry about him, he'll get over it. He's just upset that you left us like that. But once he realizes you're back for real, he'll feel much better." Once again he began shrinking. "What took you so long?" He couldn't find his voice. "Oh well, you can answer questions later. See ya." With that she bounced upstairs after her boyfriend, leaving him to deal with the adults.

-Thirty minutes later. -

"So, let me get this straight John. You are only here to gather your belongings. And you expect us to just let you leave again?" Storm raised an eyebrow and flipped a couple strands of white hair back behind her. Professor Xavier, Cyclops, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Storm, and he were all seated in the living area of the school. From the looks on their faces, he once again found that he couldn't find his voice. She tapped her nails methodically on the coffee table. He had always wondered why some woman let their nails grow that long in the first place, only to have them broken or something. Now he knew why, to torture everyone else when they were upset with them by tapping them on things.

Thankfully Professor Xavier answered for him. "I have a deal for you John. You remain here for one whole month, and if you still decide you wish to leave us, then so be it. We won't try to stop you. If you choose to leave as soon as you get your things, we simply won't let you." Knowing that he couldn't possibly take on all of them at the same time he nodded his head in agreement. Just a month and he would be history.... or so he thought.

-Meanwhile-

Marie caught up with Bobby just after he dropped Jubilee off at her room. "Bobby! Wait up!" He turned around and smiled at the beautiful sight before him. There she was, the only girl he would ever love. "Hey, what's up?" She sighed.

"I want to talk about John." A frown found its way back to his face. "What's there to talk about? He'll only leave again."

"You're wrong Bobby. I think he'll stay. Can't you just give him a chance?" Doubt clouded across the ice master's eyes. She knew he was about to say no. "For me?"

How could he say no to that? With a long drawn out sigh he nodded his head and gave her a small smile. "For you, but I'm not getting my hopes up, and I don't think you should either. He just isn't predictable." She smiled wholesomely again and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. He grinned. If there was one thing he was glad that happened over the last week, it was that. They learned she could touch him, skin to skin, even if only for a few seconds. Wrapping his arms around her they both headed back downstairs for dinner. Mentally he prepped himself for the oncoming confrontation with both John, and the new girl.

-At dinnertime-

Everyone was sitting in random places like always, eating dinner. John was seated on the sofa, Marie right next to him, and Bobby on the other side. Just like it used to be. Bobby and himself had talked, and now they were almost as good of friends as they used to be. But he could tell Bobby still held some trust back, still wary of him. He finished eating, set his plate to the side, and was about to get into Bobby and Marie's conversation when someone caught his eye. The new girl was sitting in the corner, not touching her food. She must have sensed his stare because her head snapped up and she looked back at him with something similar to fear in her eyes. 'She must think everyone hates her for scaring Jubilee.' He smiled and gestured for her to come over. Bobby and Marie had stopped talking a few moments ago, they saw what John was doing and did the same. With them all asking her to join them, she did.

"What's your name?" The male with the brown hair asked almost before she sat on the floor in front of them. Still nervous she answered softly. "Amanda Orlan."

Marie: "What's your real name?"

"Everyone from my village called me Basilisk."

John was confused, "Basilisk? Isn't that a really big serpent?"

Amanda couldn't help but laugh at this one. "It can be. But in mythology a basilisk, or serpent, could also be considered a dragon."

Bobby: "Um. I hate to be the one to ask this, but why did you do that to Jubilee?" His eyes reflected that he wasn't entirely sure she could be trusted.

She sighed. Knowing that she and this Jubilee had been the only ones in the hall when it first started. Her thoughts returned to this afternoon's engagement.

"She reached out to shake my hand, but something went wrong. The static surrounding her reacted with the static surrounding me and it caused her to spark me. That spark triggered my defense system and I instinctively created what you all walked in on. I couldn't stop myself; I've never been able to. That's what I'm here for. To keep me away from normal people, and to teach me how to control my power. Isn't that what everyone is here for?" She looked around and noticed they were all nodding in agreement.

"So... what are all your names?"

John grinned. "I'm John, but I'm also known as Pyro." He flicked his lighter and took the flame into his hand. Forming it into a V just because he could. Before she could speak the blonde one started up.

"I'm Bobby. Better known as Iceman." He too felt the need to demonstrate, so he made laid his palm down on the coffee table and created an ice heart for her. She looked from one to the other and smiled. Finally feeling more welcome. Marie smiled too. "My name's Marie, but you can call me Rogue if you want to. I take people's life force when I touch them. As you've already felt." Amanda smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, you don't have to demonstrate again." Marie laughed nervously and there was a long pause.

Bobby broke the silence. "Hey, lets go get some ice cream before someone else eats it all!" Marie and John laughed and stood up, that was just like Bobby. As Amanda stood up she sighed. 'I sure hope Jubilee will forgive me. I should talk to her after this.'

"Come on Amanda, your gonna miss out!" She laughed and ran after John who was already in the kitchen.

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