"Oh!" Jean Grey exclaimed, coming round a corner too fast and walking almost straight into Vixen. "Ilehana, hi… Um, you're back then?"
"Evidently," Ilehana marvelled at the redhead's skill for stating the obvious, "but don't worry, I'm not moving back in."
"Good," Jean began, unsure of her ground as Ilehana narrowed her eyes and started to pass the telekinetic. "I mean that you're back. Are you sure you don't want to move back in? Only the X-Men could really use your help right now and…"
"Ilehana, good to see you," Scott gave Vixen a genuine smile which she gracefully returned.
"You too One-Eye. You've grown up," there was something a little too approving in the way Vixen said those words, making Jean suddenly very possessive of Scott. Ilehana was already leaving, letting Cyclops bare the brunt of Jean's snide disapproval.
"Can't you ever just play nice with Jean?" Logan asked when he caught Ilehana up. "She's not a bad kid you know."
"Oh I know she's just Little Miss Perfect. She's a better daughter to my father than I am…"
"Humph," Logan stepped into pace besides Vixen. "You and I both know that's not true. How'd it go with your Dad anyway?" For a few moments Vixen didn't reply as they passed several more of the newer students at the institute who Ilehana didn't know.
"Alright I guess. My memories are my own now," There was weariness from crying too many tears in Ilehana's tone.
"If you ever need to talk," Wolverine began in an uncharacteristically altruistic tone.
"I know," Ilehana smiled a tired smile at her friend, "but right now if you don't mind I think I need to be alone."
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Blaze and Gambit zigzagged back to the apartment she shared with Ilehana, laughing at some half forgotten joke. They'd drank too much coffee and enjoyed a leisurely meal at a rundown diner. Then as it dawned on Blaze it was getting too late for her to have to play taxi driver to Ilehana, they'd hit a particularly seedy bar where Gambit seemed almost a celebrity. Of course both were acting tipsier than they were. It was all part of the game.
Yet even as he was undoubtedly enjoying himself, Gambit felt uneasy and concerned. Blaze played his games too well, she'd told him very little that Magneto would find interesting. She'd told him very little at all if he was honest, but he still had one card left to play that would make this whole exercise worthwhile. Maybe he couldn't get Ilehana Xavier for Magneto, but he had an idea Blaze herself would be a worthy ally.
Blaze fitted her key in the lock with ease, proving she was pretty much sober after all and impressing Gambit with how much the girl could knock back. She toyed with the idea of inviting him in before deciding against it. So instead she turned to him and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. He twisted his head slightly to make more of it but she pulled away smiling.
"G'night," she whispered, pulling his trench coat closed around him. "I'll see you again soon." Then the door closed and she was gone.
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"You gonna sit out here all night?" Wolverine found Ilehana sat on her log, this time in the pensive shape of an over-large tabby cat. Her tail swished from side to side gently as he spoke to her.
#I like it out here,# she admonished him telepathically, #no noisy kids.#
"Good point," he agreed, relieved to see her begin to shape-shift back into her human form. Talking to a cat was just a little too weird. "So, guess you'll be up an' leavin' again then. Now you got your head straightened out an' all."
"That depends," Ilehana spoke quietly, shaking her hair out of her face and re-tying her flaxen locks into her customary ponytail, "on whether anyone can give me a reason to stick around."
"You know the X-Men could use you. Between Magneto, Mystique, the Acolytes, the Brotherhood and the Sentinels, not to mention the rest of the world that hates mutants, we need all the help we can get…"
"That's not what I mean," Ilehana muttered, smiling at the hopeful confusion on Logan's face. She stood and kissed his cheek gently. "Blaze won't thank me if I make her come pick me up this late, so I'll walk home."
"You could stay here," he pointed out but she shook her head.
"Thank you but no thanks. Hey don't look so glum Wolverine. I won't be far away…"