SCENES
DISCLAIMER: M-X, Don't own them. Enjoy!
THANKS TO ALL WHO ARE REVIEWING AND EMAILING! I LOVE THE ATTENTION. IT SEEMS THE JUNKIES ARE READY FOR ANOTHER INSTALMENT, SO BUCKLE UP!
REALITY CHECK
"Em-ma," Shalimar said, not believing the psionic had told her no to something. "Why is it not an option?"
"Because, it's the start of the CWS syndrome." The red-head watched the confused feral as she pulled into a parking lot. The blonde turned to her.
"English please."
"Could've, would've, should've. Everything that you don't do now, you'll wish you did in the future. Then it'll turn to full on regret. Keeping this bottled in will only hurt you, and quite possibly Brennen."
Shalimar looked out the window in contemplation. The waves rushed in and out of the coast, teasing its much-wanted lover. Much-wanted the feral thought, pushing open the car door. The night was surprisingly warm against her skin. Emma followed, hopping on the hood of the automobile alongside her friend. She could see where the blonde's thoughts were and felt sorry for the woman being so torn. She's just trying to protect herself, the woman thought. What smart woman wouldn't? The battle between head and heart could be as confusing as it was destructive. Only now, that battle included a third party unyielding on its animalistic wants. Shalimar could neither move nor stand still in her feelings. And as all women knew, that meant one thing. She was stuck in an unending fall. Emma exhaled cool air against the night. All we do is keep falling.
"Emma, you knew Brennen before me. So, you know why I won't say yes to that,,,option. As good of a person as he is, he's still not a person ready to commit. And I don't want anything open." The woman toyed with her fingers for a moment, "And he's nothing but open!"
"Yeah," The red-head interjected. "A more than likely, he's open on you. I mean think about it; the real issue could that you send HIM mixed signals." The woman looked back at Emma with serious denial. "And you know you do."
Shalimar could've cracked her upside the head at that. She slumped forward, resting elbow to knee while hands covered her face. She didn't have to look to see the woman staring at her all-knowingly. Even as the feral sat back, Emma had that 'I know I'm right' smirk, typical of her royal psionic highness. The blonde shook her head. "Okay. Okay! I do 'tease' Brennen sometimes."
"Tease?" Emma arched a perfect brow in disbelief.
"Okay, I 'taunt' him!"
"Shalimar! You torture the man with your yes/no's. Either you're about to kiss him, or you're pushing him away. And let's not forget how you treat him when he is with someone else. Remember Miranda?"
"Don't remind me. That ditz was in the bubble so long, her legs sprung open for anyone new. She knew she was going to fuck Brennen before he got in her house!"
Emma again raised an eyebrow. "Jealousy?"
"Exhaustion." The feral replied. "I mean it takes so much nerve to say something. ANYTHING, and when-"
"When you finally get up to it, something or someone knocks you down."
"Yes, Emma! And I'm tired of playing this game! I'm tired of it being in the back of my mind that if he's not in Sanctuary, some 'woman' has him knocked out in her bed! I don't deserve that shit!"
"No, you don't." The red-head replied. "And now you're talking about Lorna."
Shalimar only made a face.
"But, Shalimar, you were still mourning Richard when that happened. Were you developing feelings for Brennen that early?"
"I just didn't see it at the time." She started. "I was caught up in Richard."
"What happened to put you in this neutral position?"
Shalimar leaned her chin on the loose construction of forearms. "All of it."
In actuality, Lorna never bothered her as much as Miranda, neither did any of the blasts from the pasts between them. It was the faceless ones that scratched her nerves. The feral still had yet to understand how a man could go into hump mode over practically anything strutting by. It had bothered her to the point that she avoided going to the club or partying with Brennen all together. While her ego stood solid, her heart would cave at him dancing with some half naked piece of fluff. And what didn't cave in would reform just to shatter when he disappeared with her (or sometimes several of them). If that wasn't enough, her ears continuously caught the 'guy talks' between him and Jesse over what did go on. Sometimes, calling Sparky a man-whore was a term of endearment.
"There was one night when we were at some club out of town. It was the four of us and we were out searching for some new mutants being forced into an illegal fighting circuit."
"I think I remember," Emma nodded. "We were there for like a week."
"Yeah. Anyway, that night, Brennen somehow talked me into dancing with him. And,,,"
"And, you got caught up."
"Yeah." The feral whispered. "This slow song seemed to go on forever, and I knew we were the only two on the floor. I know there was a crowd, but the floor felt empty. And the heat was soft, not so intense or raw. It was just inviting. I could have stayed in his arms all night." In his arms, lost in his eyes or entangled in his lips. Even though they only danced, her mind was providing imagery that made the woman keep her head lowered. The feral could have laughed at herself for being so shy, but some how the elemental did make her feel like a schoolgirl. "Somehow, I managed to believe he felt it too. We held each other so close, Emma. And I could feel his heart racing, right against mine."
"You kissed?"
"No." she spat. "And now, I'm almost glad we didn't."
Emma shifted in her position, pulling her coat against the incoming wind. "Why, Shal?"
"Because as soon as the song was over, I go to get a drink and he,,,"
"He what?"
Shalimar rubbed her temple against an ache truly in her heart. "He pulled some Brennen shit."
That moment had her sipping the amaretto sour cautiously as her heart calmed. She returned to the spot where they danced to see him gone. The woman gave into her feral instincts, and followed the trail of his scent through the sweaty crowd. It carried her up the stairs and onto the second floor, through another crowd. This area was darker and secluded from the mass hysteria of the dance floors. She sat her drink on the table, eyeing the darkness intently. There in a shadowy corner she saw him, lost in one of his signature activities.
"He had her up against the wall." She continued, feeling Emma's hand on her shoulder. "They were so rough with each other, and he didn't seem to know I was watching. If I had my drink, the glass would have dropped."
"Why do I think part of you wanted to throw it at him?"
"Another good reason it wasn't in hand." Shalimar smirked. The image of some faceless female with her legs around his waist burned on the curve of her mind. "I left after that."
Emma stroked the golden hair gently, seeing the heartbreak on her friend's face. She had never known Shalimar to be so weak in her feelings. Now, they consumed her.
"And the late night prowling stopped then?"
"Yeah, this part of me didn't want to look at him for so long. That's when I started 'prowling' outside of Sanctuary. Said I was mutating to cover it up."
"Shal, I'm sorry."
"Then he starts getting all concerned and following me out at night. And I couldn't stand him for it. Still, part of me was glad he was there."
Emma sat back, her mind working under the falling red hair. She bit her lip in concentration, and eyed the feral for several moments. "Y'know, Shalimar. I think we've been looking at this all wrong."
The feral looked out at the waves, lost in their actions. "How so?"
"Maybe it's not you with the issue. Maybe Brennen has feelings and doesn't think he can approach you. It would make sense. He thins he's not able to be with you, so he acts out with whom ever. The way you turn him on and of would be enough to make him give up. So he'd be out there with them while wanting you."
"That's bullshit, Emma." The woman snapped. "I honestly love Brennen, but he's a shit head. Maybe our actions have messed up how we perceive each other, but that's not an open door to go out and sleep with just anyone! He gives him self away like it's nothing!"
"Most men do!"
"Yeah, well, I don't want most men! And I'll tell you something else; I'm tired of trying to say something to him about how I feel! If anyone is going to say ANYTHING, he's going to be the on to come to me."
"And you still don't know if you'd say yes." Emma smirked.
"I would say no till it killed him," the woman finally broke as tears spilled down her cheeks. "Just the way this has killed me."
Emma hugged her teammate till the sobs stopped. She felt her own heartbreak at Shalimar's defeat. "Somehow, honey. I think it is."
DISCLAIMER: M-X, Don't own them. Enjoy!
THANKS TO ALL WHO ARE REVIEWING AND EMAILING! I LOVE THE ATTENTION. IT SEEMS THE JUNKIES ARE READY FOR ANOTHER INSTALMENT, SO BUCKLE UP!
REALITY CHECK
"Em-ma," Shalimar said, not believing the psionic had told her no to something. "Why is it not an option?"
"Because, it's the start of the CWS syndrome." The red-head watched the confused feral as she pulled into a parking lot. The blonde turned to her.
"English please."
"Could've, would've, should've. Everything that you don't do now, you'll wish you did in the future. Then it'll turn to full on regret. Keeping this bottled in will only hurt you, and quite possibly Brennen."
Shalimar looked out the window in contemplation. The waves rushed in and out of the coast, teasing its much-wanted lover. Much-wanted the feral thought, pushing open the car door. The night was surprisingly warm against her skin. Emma followed, hopping on the hood of the automobile alongside her friend. She could see where the blonde's thoughts were and felt sorry for the woman being so torn. She's just trying to protect herself, the woman thought. What smart woman wouldn't? The battle between head and heart could be as confusing as it was destructive. Only now, that battle included a third party unyielding on its animalistic wants. Shalimar could neither move nor stand still in her feelings. And as all women knew, that meant one thing. She was stuck in an unending fall. Emma exhaled cool air against the night. All we do is keep falling.
"Emma, you knew Brennen before me. So, you know why I won't say yes to that,,,option. As good of a person as he is, he's still not a person ready to commit. And I don't want anything open." The woman toyed with her fingers for a moment, "And he's nothing but open!"
"Yeah," The red-head interjected. "A more than likely, he's open on you. I mean think about it; the real issue could that you send HIM mixed signals." The woman looked back at Emma with serious denial. "And you know you do."
Shalimar could've cracked her upside the head at that. She slumped forward, resting elbow to knee while hands covered her face. She didn't have to look to see the woman staring at her all-knowingly. Even as the feral sat back, Emma had that 'I know I'm right' smirk, typical of her royal psionic highness. The blonde shook her head. "Okay. Okay! I do 'tease' Brennen sometimes."
"Tease?" Emma arched a perfect brow in disbelief.
"Okay, I 'taunt' him!"
"Shalimar! You torture the man with your yes/no's. Either you're about to kiss him, or you're pushing him away. And let's not forget how you treat him when he is with someone else. Remember Miranda?"
"Don't remind me. That ditz was in the bubble so long, her legs sprung open for anyone new. She knew she was going to fuck Brennen before he got in her house!"
Emma again raised an eyebrow. "Jealousy?"
"Exhaustion." The feral replied. "I mean it takes so much nerve to say something. ANYTHING, and when-"
"When you finally get up to it, something or someone knocks you down."
"Yes, Emma! And I'm tired of playing this game! I'm tired of it being in the back of my mind that if he's not in Sanctuary, some 'woman' has him knocked out in her bed! I don't deserve that shit!"
"No, you don't." The red-head replied. "And now you're talking about Lorna."
Shalimar only made a face.
"But, Shalimar, you were still mourning Richard when that happened. Were you developing feelings for Brennen that early?"
"I just didn't see it at the time." She started. "I was caught up in Richard."
"What happened to put you in this neutral position?"
Shalimar leaned her chin on the loose construction of forearms. "All of it."
In actuality, Lorna never bothered her as much as Miranda, neither did any of the blasts from the pasts between them. It was the faceless ones that scratched her nerves. The feral still had yet to understand how a man could go into hump mode over practically anything strutting by. It had bothered her to the point that she avoided going to the club or partying with Brennen all together. While her ego stood solid, her heart would cave at him dancing with some half naked piece of fluff. And what didn't cave in would reform just to shatter when he disappeared with her (or sometimes several of them). If that wasn't enough, her ears continuously caught the 'guy talks' between him and Jesse over what did go on. Sometimes, calling Sparky a man-whore was a term of endearment.
"There was one night when we were at some club out of town. It was the four of us and we were out searching for some new mutants being forced into an illegal fighting circuit."
"I think I remember," Emma nodded. "We were there for like a week."
"Yeah. Anyway, that night, Brennen somehow talked me into dancing with him. And,,,"
"And, you got caught up."
"Yeah." The feral whispered. "This slow song seemed to go on forever, and I knew we were the only two on the floor. I know there was a crowd, but the floor felt empty. And the heat was soft, not so intense or raw. It was just inviting. I could have stayed in his arms all night." In his arms, lost in his eyes or entangled in his lips. Even though they only danced, her mind was providing imagery that made the woman keep her head lowered. The feral could have laughed at herself for being so shy, but some how the elemental did make her feel like a schoolgirl. "Somehow, I managed to believe he felt it too. We held each other so close, Emma. And I could feel his heart racing, right against mine."
"You kissed?"
"No." she spat. "And now, I'm almost glad we didn't."
Emma shifted in her position, pulling her coat against the incoming wind. "Why, Shal?"
"Because as soon as the song was over, I go to get a drink and he,,,"
"He what?"
Shalimar rubbed her temple against an ache truly in her heart. "He pulled some Brennen shit."
That moment had her sipping the amaretto sour cautiously as her heart calmed. She returned to the spot where they danced to see him gone. The woman gave into her feral instincts, and followed the trail of his scent through the sweaty crowd. It carried her up the stairs and onto the second floor, through another crowd. This area was darker and secluded from the mass hysteria of the dance floors. She sat her drink on the table, eyeing the darkness intently. There in a shadowy corner she saw him, lost in one of his signature activities.
"He had her up against the wall." She continued, feeling Emma's hand on her shoulder. "They were so rough with each other, and he didn't seem to know I was watching. If I had my drink, the glass would have dropped."
"Why do I think part of you wanted to throw it at him?"
"Another good reason it wasn't in hand." Shalimar smirked. The image of some faceless female with her legs around his waist burned on the curve of her mind. "I left after that."
Emma stroked the golden hair gently, seeing the heartbreak on her friend's face. She had never known Shalimar to be so weak in her feelings. Now, they consumed her.
"And the late night prowling stopped then?"
"Yeah, this part of me didn't want to look at him for so long. That's when I started 'prowling' outside of Sanctuary. Said I was mutating to cover it up."
"Shal, I'm sorry."
"Then he starts getting all concerned and following me out at night. And I couldn't stand him for it. Still, part of me was glad he was there."
Emma sat back, her mind working under the falling red hair. She bit her lip in concentration, and eyed the feral for several moments. "Y'know, Shalimar. I think we've been looking at this all wrong."
The feral looked out at the waves, lost in their actions. "How so?"
"Maybe it's not you with the issue. Maybe Brennen has feelings and doesn't think he can approach you. It would make sense. He thins he's not able to be with you, so he acts out with whom ever. The way you turn him on and of would be enough to make him give up. So he'd be out there with them while wanting you."
"That's bullshit, Emma." The woman snapped. "I honestly love Brennen, but he's a shit head. Maybe our actions have messed up how we perceive each other, but that's not an open door to go out and sleep with just anyone! He gives him self away like it's nothing!"
"Most men do!"
"Yeah, well, I don't want most men! And I'll tell you something else; I'm tired of trying to say something to him about how I feel! If anyone is going to say ANYTHING, he's going to be the on to come to me."
"And you still don't know if you'd say yes." Emma smirked.
"I would say no till it killed him," the woman finally broke as tears spilled down her cheeks. "Just the way this has killed me."
Emma hugged her teammate till the sobs stopped. She felt her own heartbreak at Shalimar's defeat. "Somehow, honey. I think it is."