Everything Important

Chapter Six: Consultation

"Professor?" Scott leaned hesitantly around the door. "Are you alone?"

"Yes Scott. Do come in."

"I thought I heard voices." Scott glanced around the room.

"Kitty just left through the Dali." He sighed and gestured toward the painting on the wall.

Scott noticed it was crooked and he straitened it with a slight touch.

"Thank you." Xavier smiled in good humor. "What did you wish to see me about?"

"This new guy that Rogue's been spending all her time with." Scott struck a solid pose. "She's missed two danger room sessions and three of Storm's 'Controlling your powers' lectures."

Xavier grimaced. "I didn't realize that Storm was giving those lectures this week." He paused. "Is she still video taping them?"

"Yes sir." Scott admitted, almost embarrassed to think that Rogue would have to sit through his 'Forty-Two" fiasco on video.

"Then I am not going to press the issue." Charles turned to face out his window. "Abair's time with us quite limited – and the assignment he's about to embark on will have precious little time for recreation or diversion." He turned to look back at Scott. "And, tell me, have you ever seen Rogue so happy?"

"Sir, I …" He began but Xavier interrupted.

"Scott, when fate gave you back your brother, it healed you, didn't it? In a way I never could have facilitated?"

Scott hesitated, suddenly unsure of his argument.

"And the best thing for me to do – when life is healing a person – is to get out of the way." He smiled at Scott. "I will see to it that she makes up the work and the training. You were right to bring it to my attention."

"It's not just that." Scott shook his head. "It's him."

Xavier chuckled, bouncing slightly in his chair. "He is a pain in the ass, isn't he."

"Professor!" Scott was stunned for a moment and it made Xavier laughed all the more.

"Oh, you don't have to tell me." The Professor smiled. "I've been negotiating with him for the better part of a year. All to determine three details in an almost standard contract. He's even difficult to read psychicly – never any thoughts – just the occasional emotion." He was laughing again. "The problem is that he's an anarchist."

"He's a what?" Scott shook his head, trying to follow the sudden turn of the conversation.

"An anarchist. He doesn't believe in any form of governmental or regulated structure." Xavier was amused by Scott's astonishment. "That's why he shows no respect for any form of authority. He has no respect for any form of authority."

"So how do you deal with him?" Scott asked.

"One on one, as a person." He smiled. "And carefully, upon some common ground."

"Don't you think it's a little … detrimental? To let someone like that spend so much time with Rogue?"

"I hardly think they're discussing politics." Xavier replied. "And I can't imagine that he truly wishes to cause any difficulties at this stage of our negotiations. He need only pick an options package and our business is concluded." He exhaled slowly. "And he truly loves her."

"That speaks volumes to me." Xavier steepled his fingers against one another and turned his thoughts to Scott. Xavier could read him by his body language alone.

"You've had problems?" Xavier asked. "The two of you?"

"Words." Scott told him. "I might have overstepped myself."

"And he happily overstepped right back, I've no doubt." Xavier finished. "How did you leave it?"

"We're staying out of each other's way." Scott told him.

"A good plan." Xavier told him. "The second best one you could have."

Scott eyed him warily. He knew what that meant.

"And the first would be to put it behind us, right?"

Xavier nodded a few times. "What do you think?" He said at last.

Scott leveled his stoic 'poker face' at Xavier. "I'll talk to him tonight." And I hope there is some common ground between us.

"Just be yourself Scott, and try not to provoke him. He's very short tempered."

"I've noticed." Scott curled one corner of his mouth as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"He used to play hockey." Xavier told him. "They called him 'Basher' because he liked to fight on the ice."

"Was he any good?"

"At the game or the fighting?" Xavier smirked inwardly.

"Either." Scott told him flatly.

"Yes actually. He was good at both – so far as it went. After all, a hockey brawl is a far cry from what we consider fighting."

Scott nodded absently.

"Let me know how it goes." Xavier said. "After you've spoken with him."

"I will." Scott looked up, suddenly, as though his mind had wandered. "Thank you."

Xavier sat back and relaxed as he watched Scott go.

He picked up his little tape recorder and pressed the small 'record button'.

"Note to self." He began. "Rogue needs to review the entire Controlling Your Powers lecture on tape and schedule Danger Room time to make up for her absenteeism. " He paused the recorder and thought for a moment before keying the button again. "Effective in one week." He clicked it off again.

Until then, he thought, enjoy each other as much as you can. He sighed. He had no idea that they would get so close so fast – or that what he thought might be a good fit, in fact, fit like destiny's glove.

I hope she's not hurt when this is over … He thought to himself. Because it's all but assured that they will never have another chance at love together.

And Charles Xavier did all that he could. He turned to the large bay window and it's bright blue sky, and just – let it go.