RANT: Ascension II was a big disappointment. Jean Grey was the only reason why I watched it. That was arguably one of the worst ways to end the series (Rogue, Logan, Ray and Wanda fans should be very happy. Unfortunately, since I'm a Cyke and Jean fan, I'm not, except for Jean). Anyway, disappointments aside, this chappy was inspired by Xavier's "and seen the dearest of friends (Jean) turn into the most terrible of enemies," quote as well as sweet-like-chocolate and joanofarc Destiny fics. If you haven't read their stories, you should really check them out. And also inspired by the horrible Ascension II plot and what might happen with the Phoenix.
Summary: Scott and Jean take a look at their past as the two find solace in the beauty of a winter wonderland. A pre-Evolution look at their friendship, and hints of future romance.
Pairing (s): Scott/Jean
Rating for this Chapter: PG-13
Chapter 7
A single, green leaf was picked up by a cool, spring wind, fluttering gracefully in the air before it smacked into a hard, transparent wall. Inside a black limousine, an unknown driver activated the windshield sweepers of the expensive vehicle, quietly removing this new obstruction from his sight. He pulled up to a stop right before the gates of the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters.
Rolling down the car window, Mystique, in her Raven Darkholme guise, buzzed the mansion before speaking in a clear voice into the callbox. It took a few minutes before someone responded.
"This is Ororo Monroe," a regal voice flowed over the intercom. In the background, she heard a man in the background asking who it was. From the sounds of it, it was Wolverine. The two shared an... interesting past, to say the least. "Can I help you?"
"Yes. My name is Raven Darkholme. I have brought a good friend of mine along, Irene Adler. We've known Charles for a long time, and we wish to speak to him now."
After a momentary pause, Monroe's rich voice flooded the callbox again. "Alright. Drive down the circular driveway and park your car. We'll be waiting by the main entrance." The driver of their limo slowly eased the black vehicle forward as the metal gates swung open. Taking a quick glance at the woman sitting beside her, Raven asked, "Is she here?"
"I don't know. But I don't think so," replied the blind woman, one hand firmly grasping her cane.
"If we fail, and Charles decides that he's too weak to exterminate the problem, will we have to hunt her down ourselves?"
There was a pause before Destiny answered. "Maybe - I don't see everything. But I have a strong feeling that this meeting will have a significant impact on our mission."
"Yes, our mission," Mystique dragged out, staring enviously across the mansion grounds through tinted black windows. It was far nicer than her own boarding school.
"To find and kill Jean Grey."
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The bell rung, signalling the end of morning classes and the start of lunch. Jean got up from her desk, and, quickly shoving her books into her bag, walked briskly out of the classroom. ~Ugh, Mondays~ she thought with disgust. She hated Mondays - it meant a whole week of teasing and ridicule. Unfortunately, today was to be no different - down the halls standing by her locker was a group of girls that the telepath usually tried her best to avoid.
"Wow, look who finally decided to go to school," Elizabeth Nakao sneered as she walked by the familiar mass of red hair, 'accidentally' stumbling into its shoulder. Jean almost fell but regained her footing at the last second, clutching her heavy backpack tightly. Lisa's friends laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world.
"Grow up," Jean muttered, trying hard to ignore them. "Are you going to get out of my way, or what?"
"No. We sort of like it here," replied one of the girls. "Are you going to do something about it?"
For a second, the mutant girl visualized letting loose with her powers, flinging the assortment of bimbos in front of her with telekinesis before frying their brains with a little telepathy. Unfortunately, that was not an option: she could barely lift a pocket calculator and had absolutely no control of her telepathy. Sure, she sent some people flying, namely Scott, but it was by accident. Manipulating things with her mind while being in control was a completely different matter, one of the things the redhead still needed to master.
"So Jean, what did you do this weekend?" one of them sniggered. "Spend your time in Mr. Thompson's classroom for some private lessons again?" This educed another batch of giggles from the group of girls.
The redhead frowned, struggling to remain calm. "No, that's your job," she spat.
Much to her pleasure, the small crowd that have gathered around them started to laugh. Score one for me, she thought. Lisa, however, only got madder. "Hey, who gave you permission to talk?"
"I don't need permission; are you going to do something about it?" she shot back.
"Yeah." With a quick snap of her fingers and a call, a big guy stepped forward, presumably Lisa's boyfriend. "Close her locker. Permanently," she commanded.
"Are you sure?" the boy seemed uncertain.
"Yes. Now just do it already." With a quick glance at Jean, the boy positioned her lock on its side and kicked up with all his strength. The force of the impact bent the metal ringlet holding her lock upwards, jamming the whole locker in place. He kicked it a few more times, until the little grey tendril was twisted almost straight up.
"Now try to get your stuff out, princess," Lisa sneered while everyone else laughed. She walked away with her friends, leaving the redhead staring hopelessly at her locker. With a deep sigh, Jean found herself thinking about Scott. She can't wait to see him again this weekend.
~Just 101 hrs and 45 minutes to go~ Jean thought sadly, looking briefly at her watch.
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"I think ya like her," smirked Logan, his muscular figure crouching beside his pride and joy: his Harley. He and Scott were working on his baby, replacing some of the older parts with newer, and tuned up, equipment. "Diaphragm spring," he barked.
"Man, don't be ridiculous. Jean's just a friend," the younger boy replied, briefly skimming over the assortment of motorcycle parts before finding what he was looking for. "A very good friend. Nothing more," he added, handing over the circular part.
"Whatever you say," Logan snorted, busy with his motorcycle's clutch, "Slim."
At this, Scott's face flushed a little. He'd forgotten about that little incident by the pool when the redhead called him by that nickname.
"Uhh, what are you talking about, Logan?" Just act stupid, he thought. "Slim? Is that a motorcycle part, cause I can't find it."
"Yeah, sure kid." Unfortunately, his act didn't fool the Canadian for a second, but it always amazed the instructors how the kid feint stupidity so incredibly well. Eager to change the subject, Scott picked up a wrench and joined Logan by his bike. "Come on, let's finish this. I still need to complete that X-jet training sim, remember?"
Before the teasing could continue, however, they were interrupted when the callbox of the mansion buzzed with the voice of a woman. Surprised, Logan left to answer it, leaving Scott alone with his thoughts.
***
"Charles, you've got to listen to me. Jean Grey is an Alpha class mutant, an extremely powerful one at that! What if there are no limits to her powers?"
The Professor, Mystique and Destiny were discussing amongst themselves in the Institute's study. It was agreed beforehand that the information about to be shared remained confidential, since the two women regarded the issue as so important that they are present without the sanction of Magneto. Despite the fact that the three have decided to set aside their differences for the time being, not much progress was being made as the meeting continued.
"Don't be ridiculous," Charles scoffed. "We are all Alpha mutants here – the current Cerebro can only detect such powerful mutations. What makes you think Jean is more of a threat than you or I? Or Storm, for that matter?"
"Charles, that may be so, but you know as well as I do that she is no ordinary Alpha mutant," Destiny countered.
Charles opened his mouth as if to speak but remained silent. Deep down, he knew what they were saying was true - the redheaded girl was an extremely powerful mutant - but he refused to believe that a child as good-natured, as warm and as kind as Jean could be possible of the level of destruction and evil that these two women are talking about.
"If you lay one finger on her, I will hunt you down and turn you into vegetables with a single thought," he threatened, his voice icy. The blue shape-shifter snorted in disgust.
"Fine, I'm sure that you're familiar with the nature of Irene's powers," Mystique spat, playing her trump card. "Look into her mind and tell me what you see." Irene nodded in approval, eager to share her vision with the man in the wheelchair.
Left with no other choice, and with a deep sigh, Xavier closed his eyes and began to concentrate. His psionic essence slowly drifted out of its physical shell and onto the astral plane, where he quickly found Irene's psychic body and slowly slipped into her mind. The process was facilitated by her acceptance and the graveness of the situation.
A minute later, his eyes shot open in shock. No, it can't be...
"Do you see now? Do you understand why we must kill her while she is still vulnerable?" Mystique asked, pleased with his reaction. "Even your little X-men couldn't do squat to her."
Charles, after a moment of thought, clasped his hands together over his hardwood desk and pinned them with a gaze that could've melted steel. "If you think that I have changed my position, you are sadly mistaken. Jean is here to learn control of her powers so that such a future will be averted."
"Charles!" Irene gasped. "Do you really think that you could possibly control something that powerful?"
"Yes," he replied, his tone frosty. "I really do."
Growling in frustration, Irene threw her head sideways in disgust. Then something strange happened. A boy, no more than fourteen, walked in, asking, "Professor, is something wrong?" At the sound of his voice, Irene's mind was hurled into the depths of another vision, just as deep and clear as the one that warned her of the Dark Phoenix.
*Flash*
The scene in front of Irene was a familiar one. The city of New York was before them, in ruins, although the damage didn't appear to be as extensive as before. Better still, there were no bodies lying randomly on the streets, save for a few human soldiers. As she progressed closer into the heart of the city, she caught sight of a raging battle that showed no signs of slowing down.
Phoenix was again fighting the same group of mutant soldiers, probably Xavier's X-men, on the streets of New York. For some strange reason, the redheaded super-mutant has yet to rip them apart when she could've easily done so. The battle, however, abruptly ended when a beam of red light lanced through the air, striking the closest X-men in the chest and sending his hulking metal figure sprawling across the floor.
"Don't touch her."
A dark, tall figure walked out of the shadows, a glowing crimson slit where his eyes were supposed to be. Irene had never seen him before in her past visions. The others obeyed, albeit reluctantly. Phoenix glanced briefly at the new figure before she faltered, her flames dying as she collapsed onto the ground. Instantly, the man was by her side, cradling her slender body tenderly in his arms.
"Scott?" Her eyes seemed to flutter with exhaustion and a tinge of dreaminess. Clearly, whoever this Scott was, they were close. Perhaps they were even lovers.
"It's okay, Jean. Everything's going to be okay." He caressed her cheek lovingly, brushing a few disobedient strands of red hair away from her face.
She coughed a bit, choking back tears. "Kill me now, while you still have the chance."
"No." A small frown appeared just above his black visor.
"Cyclops! If I really..." she shuddered at the possible implications, "I could destroy this entire solar system! Please - am I really worth the risk? Am I really worth the entire universe?"
"You are worth everything there is and ever will be, Red," he responded, kissing her forehead. The X-men gasped in shock - their field commander was risking their lives for one woman? Phoenix also looked surprised, before smiling warmly at the handsome face before her.
"I love you too, Scott, with all my heart. Never doubt it, never forget it."
And then, they kissed. The passion and feelings that the two shared were overwhelming. Irene felt the warm flow of tears rolling down her face, the first since she was struck blind. Is it possible that love could alter destiny?
The couple's embrace was cut short, however, when a huge figure, far too big to be human, burst out of a nearby skyscraper. Clad in shining blue armour, Apocalypse picked up the young man with a large hand and slammed him into the side of a building, which fractured on impact. Jean cried out as his body fell to the ground, broken and bloody.
In the screech of a large predatory bird, Jean was engulfed in a mass of flames as she took to the air. In a bright flash of light, Phoenix hurled En Sabah Nur through several city blocks, soaring through the sky in pursuit of the mega-mutant.
*End Flash*
Destiny's vision abruptly ended as she snapped back into reality, before the stunned faces of Mystique, Scott and Xavier. It was then she noticed that her cheeks were damp with freshly shed tears. Everyone, especially Raven, was shocked - nobody had seen her cry before.
"Now do you see why I think such an incident could be avoided in the future?" the Professor asked. Obviously, he was still submerged in her mind and thus was likely to have witnessed the same vision. The blind mutant nodded slowly - she finally understood. As long as there was a chance that Phoenix would combat this Apocalypse, her life must be preserved. However, Mystique, who was left in the dark, continued to press their case impatiently in a burst of exasperation and impatience.
"You are a fool Charles! How can you not understand? She_must_be_eliminated!" she bellowed, forgetting that Scott was still present.
~She must be eliminated~ The words echoed over and over in Scott's head. They were going to kill her. Jean. Fury swelled inside of him and his ruby-quartz glasses started glowing a menacing shade of crimson. ~No~ he thought, ~I cannot allow that to happen. I've been losing things all my life - my family, my home, Alex - I am not going to lose Jean too~
He got up so fast that his chair flipped over backwards. Putting himself before Professor Xavier and the two women, he stood combat ready, his powers illuminating the room in an eerie pink glow, despite the bright sunlight flowing through the windows.
"I don't care who you are, or what you can do, lady, but if you even try to touch Jean, I'll blow a hole in you like a doughnut," Scott stated calmly, one hand on the frame of his glasses as they burned with barely restrained solar energy. It wasn't a threat; he was just telling the stranger what would happen if she even tried to hurt his best friend.
The shape-shifter was struck speechless. Very rarely would someone manage to frighten her, but this boy did. The anger in his voice was unmistakable. As the tension escalated, Charles Xavier looked on with proud, fatherly eyes. Normally, the telepath would've encouraged a peaceful resolution, but this time, it was not the case. ~Maybe I should stop socializing with Logan so much...~
"Mystique, what is the matter?" Irene asked, curious. She too, in spite of her blindness, has sensed the rising hostility in the room.
"It's the boy. His eyes... they are glowing," her friend snarled. Destiny nodded once again in comprehension. That was the one, the man in the vision. ~So, this is the one. Destiny has already started to take its course...~
Mystique continued to stare the boy down with a glare of her own, which shrivelled to a meagre proportion when compared to the fury that was blistering from Scott's glower. "Charles, what are this boy's powers?" the shape-shifter asked angrily, annoyed by the fact that she was intimidated by a mere child.
"Scott's eyes emit an extremely powerful concussive blast that he cannot control. Hence, he must wear his glasses all the time. So far, we do not know exactly how powerful his optic blasts are, since nothing has survived one at full power," the Professor chuckled, amused. "That includes brick walls, thirty-two inch thick titanium-steel plates and... human bodies." He didn't even bother to hide the threat in his words. By now, Storm and Wolverine had burst into the room, and the situation was starting to get out of hand.
"Raven, that's enough!" Destiny ordered, in an attempt to pacify the situation. "We must leave Jean Grey alone..." At this Mystique's jaw dropped in shock.
"Irene!" she snapped, appalled. A raised hand silenced the shape-shifter as Destiny continued.
"...for she may also be our only hope in a future of apocalyptic oppression. I will explain later, Raven. Charles and ...Cyclops, have opened my eyes, and for that, I am grateful." She smiled, and if it were not for her blindness, she would've been staring right at him - the future leader of the X-men. The young boy just stood there confused. Who was this Cyclops?
"Our fate is in your hands now, Professor. It is your job to raise Jean right, teach her control of her powers and use them for good, whatever the future brings. The world depends on it." At her beckoning, both she and a disgruntled Mystique got up to leave.
As Ororo and Logan escorted the two out of the study, Scott relaxed, exhaling slowly as the glow in his dark shades dissipated into nothingness once more. He didn't realize that Xavier was studying him with proud eyes, a single tear rolling down the side of his face. With friendship like that, the Professor was confident that the world would be protected from the wrath of Dark Phoenix. He had no doubt that one day, Scott and Jean's relationship will blossom into a love that will transcend space and time, even Jean's awesome powers. The anxiety in his mind was replaced by the soothing image of two people seeking refuge in each other's arms.
"You are worth everything there is and ever will be, Red"
"I love you too, Scott, with all my heart. Never doubt it, never forget it."
Charles Xavier found himself wondering how in the universe he could have ever doubted it.