Return of the Shadow X-Men Evo Story 2 Chapter 2: Homecoming

"Blade!" Jean shot up from her bed, breathing frantically. Gradually her heart slowed and her breathing normalized.

"It was just a dream." Jean opened the windows of her room and levitated up onto the roof. She sat down and pulled her knees up to her chest as she gazed at the full moon. She turned her head to the side. He should be here, she thought, sitting next to me, playing his guitar. Tears came unbidden to her eyes.

"I miss you so much."

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"Scott, watch out!" Scott leapt to the side to avoid Gambit's exploding cards. The street was in chaos. Immediately outside of the mayor's office, the battle raged. Screams and roars punctuated the air as the X-Men frantically tried to stop Magneto's acolytes from killing the mayor. Wolverine growled but flew backwards as Sabretooth landed a heavy blow to his head. Wolverine smashed into a nearby building, crashing through the wall. He gave a small moan and slumped down unconscious. The battle continued to spiral out of control. Sabretooth spotted Jean trying desperately to shield herself from Pyro's flames. He loped towards her, easily breaking through her hastily constructed barrier, and caught her by the neck. He laughed aloud as she gasped for air.

"Nobody's gonna be able to help you! You're dead!" Jean grabbed Sabretooth's arm in a quickly weakening grip. Sabretooth suddenly gave a roar of pain and dropped Jean, who began to cough uncontrollably. He stared in mute wonder at the foot long dagger that had buried itself up to the hilt in his forearm, jutting bloodily out the other side. The punch that next caught him in the face sent him farther than Wolverine.

Jean looked up at her would be rescuer and gasped in shock. In front of her stood Blade, aglow with power. He turned his head to her and gently smiled. He looked taller, gaunter, and the worry lines that were now on his face had not existed before he had left. Jean's eyes were captured by his hypnotic gaze. Her brown eyes locked with Blade's crimson eyes. It was like she saw Blade, but an eviler, more demonic Blade. His smile seemed to twist from reassuring to frightening. He turned his head back and gave his full attention to Pyro, who was trying to catch the two of the by surprise. He seemed to disappear, suddenly appearing next to Pyro. Pyro's eyes widened in surprise as he tried to avoid Blade's punch. As he ducked low, Blade's right fist contacted under his chin, lifting him bodily into the air. Blade spun around, delivering a tornado kick to Pyro's ribs. There was an audible crack as three of Pyro's ribs shattered under the impact. He sailed backwards, straight into Gambit, smashing both of them into the ground. Colossus halted his attack on Nightcrawler and gazed at the carnage around him. The rest of the acolytes lay on the ground in crumpled heaps. He watched as Sabretooth dazedly struggled to stand.

"Fall back! We are defeated!" So saying, Colossus scooped up Pyro and Gambit and ran full tilt toward the waiting metal spheres Magneto had provided. He hoisted his fellow acolytes into them before climbing into his own and zooming away.

Cheers erupted from the X-Men as they watched the vanquished acolytes fly away. Wolverine groggily got up and immediately grabbed his head, cursing at the pain that coursed through his injured body. His healing powers finally finished repairing his body as he limped toward the others. He stopped before Blade and extended his hand.

"Thanks, kid. We'd have been screwed without your help." Blade looked at the proffered hand before spinning on his heel and walking away, his long black cloak fluttering behind him in the dying wind.

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Those eyes.. Jean awoke with a start, waking up from her dream. Once again those horrible, yet strangely beautiful crimson eyes invaded her mind. Along with them came the new image of Blade, who had saved her just that evening. Jean shook her head and shrugged off her cover. I won't be getting any sleep tonight, she thought to herself. She opened the window and allowed the cool, crisp night air to caress her body. She took a deep breath and willed her heart to slow down. After standing there for a few moments, Jean levitated herself up onto the roof. She settled down on her favorite spot and gazed at the peaceful town of Bayville. But Jean knew better. She thought back to that fateful day when mutants had been exposed. It had been shortly after Blade left, early in their senior year. School had ceased being a place a learning, turning overnight into a hostile environment. Former friends now shunned her company, former teammates forming circles that no longer left room for her. It was hell, walking each day into the school to be greeted with insults and cries for her to 'get the fuck out of here'. The teachers were barely better, ignoring Jean, no longer treating her as the gifted student they had once treated her as but instead like a leper, avoiding her and the rest of the mutants. Outwardly, they maintained a face of neutrality, but inside they harbored the same hatred for mutants. Jean could especially sense it with her powers, hearing the harsh mind- whispers that proclaimed her a monster, a freak, or every so often, a 'disease on mankind'. She wanted to scream with rage at the unfairness of it all. Every day she protected the citizens of Bayville and was rejected in return. Tears of pain slipped down her white cheeks as her shoulders heaved. She couldn't cry in front of anyone, not the students, not the X- Men, not the Professor, not even Scott. Only here, on the roof, where she was all alone could she cry.

No one knows what it's like

To be the bad man

To be the sad man

Behind blue eyes

Jean's head snapped up in surprise. To her shock, she found a familiar figure strumming on his guitar a few feet away from her.

An' no one knows what it's like

To be hated

To be fated

To telling only lies

But my dreams

They aren't as empty

As my conscience seems to be

I have hours, only lonely

My love is vengeance

That's never free

No one knows what it's like

To feel these feelin's

Like I do

And I blame you

No one bites back as hard

On their anger

None of my pain an' woe

Can show through

But my dreams

They aren't as empty

As my conscience seems to be

I have hours, only lonely

My love is vengeance

That's never free

No one knows what it's like

To be mistreated

To be defeated

Behind blue eyes

And no one knows how to say

That they're sorry

An' don't worry

I'm not telling lies

But my dreams

They aren't as empty

As my conscience seems to be

I have hours, only lonely

My love is vengeance

That's never free

No one knows what it's like

To be the bad man

To be the sad man

Behind blue eyes

The singer held that final note for what seemed like an eternity. He gently set his guitar down and removed his black sunglasses. Behind them, Jean gazed into Blade's familiar shadow grey eyes. She uttered a cry of happiness and jumped into his arms, covering his mouth with hers. They kissed passionately, all of their loneliness and fear transforming into joy and love. They reveled in the feel of each other as they spent the night as lovers do.

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Jean awoke to find Blade already gone. She stretched her limbs luxuriously. She knew full well he intended to stay, at least for a while longer. She showered and dressed quickly, making her way to the living room. She was surprised to find the rest of the students already there. Scott stopped pacing for a few seconds and regarded Jean.

"The Professor didn't want to wake you. The rest of us got mind summons." He resumed pacing. Bobby stretched out on the couch and looked at Jean, grinning lecherously.

"Rumors have it he's back. Your boyfriend, that is."

"But ya'll knew that already, didn't ya?" interrupted Rogue. Jean blushed a shade as red as her hair. Rogue sauntered up to her and whispered into her ear. "Ya'll are lucky Ah'm the only one who heard you." She winked at Jean and grinned slightly. "Keep it down from now on." Whatever response Jean had formulated was interrupted as the Professor wheeled into the room.

"X-Men, it is my distinct pleasure to welcome back Blade Shinigami." Jean noticed Blade winced slightly at the mention of his name. "Please make him feel at home." As Xavier finished talking, Blade bowed slowly. His glasses were off and his grey eyes were once again there. Rogue looked deep into those eyes and could feel the pain, so like her own, emanate from him. Her thoughts were interrupted as Kitty squealed and latched onto Blade.

"Like, you saved all of us last night!" She laughed and giggled as Blade desperately tried to pull her off.

"Really Kitty, it's no big." He pulled and tugged but could not unlatch the bubbly teenager. Jean chuckled at the sight and Rogue gave an uncharacteristic smile. Kurt and Bobby, on the other hand, were rolling on the floor, laughing their asses off. Blade finally gave up the futile battle and concentrated on not getting the life squeezed out of him.

"Kitty, do you mind?" Kitty blushed furiously and let go, mumbling apologies. Blade shook his head.

What have I gotten myself into this time?