CLUBLIGHTS
Diclamer: M-X! Don't own them! Enjoy!
The rain poured against the mountain, leaving the rock washed in reflective light. Shalimar sat on the couch, a knee tucked under her chin in thought. She watched her teammates; Lexa and Jordan attend a computer screen in silent comprehension. It was times like this that she missed Emma DeLauro. Her friend would have made a moment out of the boredom. The feral could hear her at times, cracking up in laughter at one of Jesse's jokes. She wished for the past, when they were the original four and Adam was safely nearby at the console, waiting to care fore them. Her brown orbs slipped closed, pressing away the emptiness. "So," her lips began the words needed to end this session. "What's this about, Lexa?"
The brunette looked up from the screen in question. Shalimar got that familiar feeling that so long racked her when staring at the woman. Lexa still did not sit right with her. Maybe it was the secrecy in her attitude or how she turned on and off at a moments notice. Sometimes, Shalimar just wanted to see if the woman could feel. Maybe then, she'd begin to feel human herself. "We have a mission."
"I'll call the guys,,,"
"NO!" the brunette's gaze was like ice in Shalimar's head. "They can't know, not about this one."
"Why not?" The Feral turned to her other teammate, Jordan. Opposite of Lexa, the woman was warm and open to the team. She had also been a part of Mutant X, version 1.0. Her elemental abilities of controlling wind combined with one of cellular regeneration and transfer. The woman could heal herself or anyone of them from almost anything. It was healing others, however, that left her momentarily weak. She sat, pulling her silky dreds into a bun at the nape of her neck. She's barely older than Emma, the feral thought, maybe twenty-four, at the oldest. How could she have survived their first installment?
"Because, macho egotism will get us killed in this one. They can not know at all."
"They'll know something!" Shalimar interjected. "Brennen and Jesse are like hounds when it comes to this team. They'll pick till they find us."
"Well, we'll deal with that when we come to it." Lexa shot glances at both the feral and the light-colored black woman sitting beside her. "Right now, we have new mutants to save."
Ambrosia was packed this time of night. The club unraveled in a swirl of muli-levels, encasing a ragging stream of music. Brennen stood at the bottom of the second floor stairs, eyeing the crowd intensely. Part of him knew he would see his teammates some where in the crowd. Shalimar would be lost in the rhythms, while Jordan would sway and turn in a style only signature to her hips and spine. The idea had him moving up the stairway to V.I.P. and past the come-ons of overly willing women. If not for his objective, his libido would have spun into overdrive.
Again he searched the floor, finding nothing but sweaty bodies and potential one-night stands. Now tired of his tour, he sat at the bar. His lips just opened to order a drink when the target came into view.
The man was leaning against the bar, lost in conversation with two gorgeous women-both redheads. This had become quite common over the last few months. Dealing with the death of his would be love had him in the streets almost every weekend, escaping the weight of Mutant X. In this place, he found solace in a rain of beer, bodies and unending hours. Over the past few months, his dirty blonde locks had grown to cascade past his shoulders, giving the guy an almost mid-evil look. But the women seemed to love it, and bought their time between playing in the strands and pulling him home with them. The actions reminded Brennen of someone he'd knew in a now distant life - the man he used to be.
"Jess." He smirked, coming to stand by the group. The molecular wasn't drunk, yet, but obviously well on his way. He unwrapped a hand from one redhead's waist to shake hands with his teammate.
"Brennen! Came to join the party?"
The elemental looked at the women inquiringly. Jesse had to be drunk if he thought these 'females' would in any way ease him of Emma's memory. "No, man. You haven't been home in days."
"I know."
Brennen gently pulled one woman aside, grasping the molecular's arm. "Come on, man. You need to get some sleep."
"No sleep!" He grinned sloppily. "There's no rest for the haunted."
The elemental stood for the moment, internally agreeing with his friend's words. Their cavernous Sanctuary seemed to be thick with ghosts. Adam, Emma, Mason, and sometimes, even Ashlocke. Jesse had tuned into this the moment Emma slipped from their world. The dark man secretly prayed for his friend. "Come on. Shal's worried and Jordan will be on your case if you don't come with me."
"She wasn't even there!" he blurted out. "She didn't show up till after the memorial." That was for the most part, true. "At least, Lexa was there to say no! I could see her watching us from the patio."
"Dude, just come home. Get some rest, something to eat and tomorrow, I'll bring you back out-show you where the real party is." Brennen placed a hand on the man's back, this time relieved that he was moving. "We'll get your car later."
Brennen pulled his friend from the disappointed groupies, and pushed past the gyrating crowd towards the front door. Jesse had so much become the man the elemental once was. Always in the clubs, knowing a woman's thighs before her name. In the days since Emma's death, the molecular had taken on a serious hard line in his psyche. He was no longer soft or passive in his actions. Now, the elemental felt personally responsible for his 'brother's' redemption.
"I think Emma's here,,," he grumbled to the elemental, as they entered the night air.
"She is, buddy. Just not the way we want."
"We have to what?!" Shalimar yelled. Her eyes had gone brightly feral at Lexa's demands. "You can't be serious if-"
"It's the only way we can get in, Shalimar." The brunette over emphasized her name as if being her mother. "The place is known for rounding up female mutants and selling them into the black market. There are mutants in there teens being forced to work there."
"And most of them are female." Jordan interjected. Much like the feral and Lexa, Jordan was forward. She, however, possessed a coolness and restraint not quite held by the older women. The woman swung in the chair slowly, crossing her long legs in a gracious motion. "If we don't do something, they could be sold as 'consorts' on the black market. And we all know what Mutant Slavery in tales."
"Jordan, this is too dangerous!" the feral reasoned. "We go in, with no cover from the guys and no know route of escape. How can we expect to rescue a bunch of new mutants if we can't get out ourselves? And what if they use governors?"
"We'll figure it out." Lexa snapped.
Jordan's voice was much softer and compromising. "Shal, these are young mutants, mostly female. They aren't in for their bubbly personalities. The three of us can survive because of our experiences, but they don't have that or the understanding of their powers to rely on. We all know what it was like to be a female new mutant at seventeen." Here, the female's eyes flashed in agreement.
"I just don't think we should go in without the guys knowing."
"It kind of makes sense." Jordan added. "If Brennen and Jesse knew what we were doing in a setting like that, they'd destroy the place to get you out."
"And you." The feral added. In the short time Jordan had been at Sanctuary, she'd managed to bond with the three of them distinctly. Even with her history of knowing Lexa, Jordan had become a sort of intermediary, attempting to hold the group together.
"Yeah, yeah." Lexa started. "You and Sparky used to be together, and Jess is a brother to you both." Shalimar knew that Brennen had a thing for Jordan, but she didn't however. It had been for the best that she and the elemental stop their 'situation'.
"Lex, they'd, protect you, too."
"Don't doubt it, but for now, we keep this secret. This has to start tomorrow night. So get rest."
Shalimar reclined back on the couch, holding her head in stress. The click of heels and a pulling weight caused her to look up. Jordan sat on the couch, watching the feral. Now she could see why Brennen was attracted to her. Her angular face and curvy frame was nurturing and inviting in the same instance. She's almost Emma's height, the feral thought as the woman leaned back beside her. That day in the factory, when the team was running from some enemy of the week, she'd dropped from the rafters in a rush of wind, pummeling the on comers in deadly force. It was then that they'd met an ally more so worthy of their trust then Lexa. Jordan gave them answers when the brunette was silent and was positive when they drowned in remorse. Shalimar could see why Adam had liked her. But, how could she not know about Brennen?
"You need anything?" she whispered.
"Just to strangle Lexa. I swear she's trying to get killed, sometimes."
"Lex is,,,difficult. But when it comes down to it, there's no one better to be our side. Once you peel back the layers, she's a genuine person. Just takes time."
"You should know, she actually is considerate of you."
"Shal, Lexa has lost, just like the rest of us, and knows what you're enduring all too well. Sometimes being the strength means not being embraced. She's able to understand that. Like it or not, you guys need her here."
"Whatever."
"Maybe, one day, you'll like her." Jordan stood brushing the hair from the feral's face. "For now, you've got me. AND I AM FABULOUS!" For the first time that evening, the feral smiled.
"If you say so."
"Come on, let's raid the fridge. You can use me as an excuse for junk food." Shalimar leaned on the woman as they descended the steps. "I know there's some cookies or something in the cabinet."
It was then that Brennen emerged from the garage, lugging a drunk Jesse behind him. The women stood silent as he pulled the antagonistic blonde into the foyer.
"Jess," Shalimar moved forward to help them. Her hands gently touched his face.
"We,,,We left Emma. She's back at the club. Brennen, lets go-"
"It wasn't her," He said for the millionth time. "Emma wasn't there."
"She was! I was with her last night." The blonde stumbled away from them. "I was with her! We," His words fell short when he fell on the couch. "I touched her."
"How much did he have?" Jordan asked, leaning down to stroke his hair. Her nose crinkled at the liquor on his clothes.
"I found him like that. He's been drinking for days."
Shalimar pulled the molecular up, wrapping an arm around his waist. "I'll take care of him."
Jordan watched the feral pull Jesse towards his room. Her thoughts had her proceeding to the kitchen, followed by a tired Brennen. The elemental watched as she started a new pot of coffee. "He won't drink it." His baritone started.
"This is for me," she started. "And Shalimar. We'll stay up with him, tonight." The man watched as she busied herself. Sitting down at the counter, he pulled off the duster and threw it beside him. This had to be the twentieth time he'd gone looking for Jesse, not to mention the times when he simply wasn't able to find the man. Brennen's hands slid over his face in a stressful defeat. It seemed like his only task in life was to bring the blonde back to StormKing, a place undoubtedly hunted by their memories. He'd been ready to fall on the counter when a hand touched his arm.
The elemental could have drowned in her dark eyes right then. Somehow, the woman had managed to implant herself into a house falling in chaos. He smiled tiredly, watching her concerned face. "He kept seeing her everywhere." He started. "Every woman around him was a tall redhead. And he just kept falling." Jordan stood by, silent. "I don't know how much longer I can do this, J."
"He'll be okay. Maybe, It'll take Jesse bringing himself home to move on. He's not strong enough yet to let go." The woman leaned her chin on Brennen's shoulder in thought; an action that pulled the large man from his stresses. He studied her quietly as she looked off toward the window, rubbing his back in thought. "Do you need anything?" His face had almost slackened in deviousness, thinking of some things he definitely wanted. The women turned to face him, causing his look to change back.
"No." he lied.
"You're not hungry or anything?"
"No, Jordan. Thank you."
"Alright. I'm gonna check on Shal and Jess. Goodnight, Brennen."
His eyes followed her out off the room, only to focus on the empty space her presence had occupied. His mind was suddenly not so tired. "Good night, Jordan."
Shalimar had fallen asleep by the time Jordan got to the molecular's room. He lay stretched across his bed in fresh clothes and apparently fresh out of the shower. The woman moved to open the door, but stopped in mid action. Lexa stood by the bed, watching Jesse with careful eyes. It was seldom the brunette was so defenseless and ran a hand through the man's damp locks. Jordan smiled softly before closing the door. Jesse would be well taken care of tonight.
Diclamer: M-X! Don't own them! Enjoy!
The rain poured against the mountain, leaving the rock washed in reflective light. Shalimar sat on the couch, a knee tucked under her chin in thought. She watched her teammates; Lexa and Jordan attend a computer screen in silent comprehension. It was times like this that she missed Emma DeLauro. Her friend would have made a moment out of the boredom. The feral could hear her at times, cracking up in laughter at one of Jesse's jokes. She wished for the past, when they were the original four and Adam was safely nearby at the console, waiting to care fore them. Her brown orbs slipped closed, pressing away the emptiness. "So," her lips began the words needed to end this session. "What's this about, Lexa?"
The brunette looked up from the screen in question. Shalimar got that familiar feeling that so long racked her when staring at the woman. Lexa still did not sit right with her. Maybe it was the secrecy in her attitude or how she turned on and off at a moments notice. Sometimes, Shalimar just wanted to see if the woman could feel. Maybe then, she'd begin to feel human herself. "We have a mission."
"I'll call the guys,,,"
"NO!" the brunette's gaze was like ice in Shalimar's head. "They can't know, not about this one."
"Why not?" The Feral turned to her other teammate, Jordan. Opposite of Lexa, the woman was warm and open to the team. She had also been a part of Mutant X, version 1.0. Her elemental abilities of controlling wind combined with one of cellular regeneration and transfer. The woman could heal herself or anyone of them from almost anything. It was healing others, however, that left her momentarily weak. She sat, pulling her silky dreds into a bun at the nape of her neck. She's barely older than Emma, the feral thought, maybe twenty-four, at the oldest. How could she have survived their first installment?
"Because, macho egotism will get us killed in this one. They can not know at all."
"They'll know something!" Shalimar interjected. "Brennen and Jesse are like hounds when it comes to this team. They'll pick till they find us."
"Well, we'll deal with that when we come to it." Lexa shot glances at both the feral and the light-colored black woman sitting beside her. "Right now, we have new mutants to save."
Ambrosia was packed this time of night. The club unraveled in a swirl of muli-levels, encasing a ragging stream of music. Brennen stood at the bottom of the second floor stairs, eyeing the crowd intensely. Part of him knew he would see his teammates some where in the crowd. Shalimar would be lost in the rhythms, while Jordan would sway and turn in a style only signature to her hips and spine. The idea had him moving up the stairway to V.I.P. and past the come-ons of overly willing women. If not for his objective, his libido would have spun into overdrive.
Again he searched the floor, finding nothing but sweaty bodies and potential one-night stands. Now tired of his tour, he sat at the bar. His lips just opened to order a drink when the target came into view.
The man was leaning against the bar, lost in conversation with two gorgeous women-both redheads. This had become quite common over the last few months. Dealing with the death of his would be love had him in the streets almost every weekend, escaping the weight of Mutant X. In this place, he found solace in a rain of beer, bodies and unending hours. Over the past few months, his dirty blonde locks had grown to cascade past his shoulders, giving the guy an almost mid-evil look. But the women seemed to love it, and bought their time between playing in the strands and pulling him home with them. The actions reminded Brennen of someone he'd knew in a now distant life - the man he used to be.
"Jess." He smirked, coming to stand by the group. The molecular wasn't drunk, yet, but obviously well on his way. He unwrapped a hand from one redhead's waist to shake hands with his teammate.
"Brennen! Came to join the party?"
The elemental looked at the women inquiringly. Jesse had to be drunk if he thought these 'females' would in any way ease him of Emma's memory. "No, man. You haven't been home in days."
"I know."
Brennen gently pulled one woman aside, grasping the molecular's arm. "Come on, man. You need to get some sleep."
"No sleep!" He grinned sloppily. "There's no rest for the haunted."
The elemental stood for the moment, internally agreeing with his friend's words. Their cavernous Sanctuary seemed to be thick with ghosts. Adam, Emma, Mason, and sometimes, even Ashlocke. Jesse had tuned into this the moment Emma slipped from their world. The dark man secretly prayed for his friend. "Come on. Shal's worried and Jordan will be on your case if you don't come with me."
"She wasn't even there!" he blurted out. "She didn't show up till after the memorial." That was for the most part, true. "At least, Lexa was there to say no! I could see her watching us from the patio."
"Dude, just come home. Get some rest, something to eat and tomorrow, I'll bring you back out-show you where the real party is." Brennen placed a hand on the man's back, this time relieved that he was moving. "We'll get your car later."
Brennen pulled his friend from the disappointed groupies, and pushed past the gyrating crowd towards the front door. Jesse had so much become the man the elemental once was. Always in the clubs, knowing a woman's thighs before her name. In the days since Emma's death, the molecular had taken on a serious hard line in his psyche. He was no longer soft or passive in his actions. Now, the elemental felt personally responsible for his 'brother's' redemption.
"I think Emma's here,,," he grumbled to the elemental, as they entered the night air.
"She is, buddy. Just not the way we want."
"We have to what?!" Shalimar yelled. Her eyes had gone brightly feral at Lexa's demands. "You can't be serious if-"
"It's the only way we can get in, Shalimar." The brunette over emphasized her name as if being her mother. "The place is known for rounding up female mutants and selling them into the black market. There are mutants in there teens being forced to work there."
"And most of them are female." Jordan interjected. Much like the feral and Lexa, Jordan was forward. She, however, possessed a coolness and restraint not quite held by the older women. The woman swung in the chair slowly, crossing her long legs in a gracious motion. "If we don't do something, they could be sold as 'consorts' on the black market. And we all know what Mutant Slavery in tales."
"Jordan, this is too dangerous!" the feral reasoned. "We go in, with no cover from the guys and no know route of escape. How can we expect to rescue a bunch of new mutants if we can't get out ourselves? And what if they use governors?"
"We'll figure it out." Lexa snapped.
Jordan's voice was much softer and compromising. "Shal, these are young mutants, mostly female. They aren't in for their bubbly personalities. The three of us can survive because of our experiences, but they don't have that or the understanding of their powers to rely on. We all know what it was like to be a female new mutant at seventeen." Here, the female's eyes flashed in agreement.
"I just don't think we should go in without the guys knowing."
"It kind of makes sense." Jordan added. "If Brennen and Jesse knew what we were doing in a setting like that, they'd destroy the place to get you out."
"And you." The feral added. In the short time Jordan had been at Sanctuary, she'd managed to bond with the three of them distinctly. Even with her history of knowing Lexa, Jordan had become a sort of intermediary, attempting to hold the group together.
"Yeah, yeah." Lexa started. "You and Sparky used to be together, and Jess is a brother to you both." Shalimar knew that Brennen had a thing for Jordan, but she didn't however. It had been for the best that she and the elemental stop their 'situation'.
"Lex, they'd, protect you, too."
"Don't doubt it, but for now, we keep this secret. This has to start tomorrow night. So get rest."
Shalimar reclined back on the couch, holding her head in stress. The click of heels and a pulling weight caused her to look up. Jordan sat on the couch, watching the feral. Now she could see why Brennen was attracted to her. Her angular face and curvy frame was nurturing and inviting in the same instance. She's almost Emma's height, the feral thought as the woman leaned back beside her. That day in the factory, when the team was running from some enemy of the week, she'd dropped from the rafters in a rush of wind, pummeling the on comers in deadly force. It was then that they'd met an ally more so worthy of their trust then Lexa. Jordan gave them answers when the brunette was silent and was positive when they drowned in remorse. Shalimar could see why Adam had liked her. But, how could she not know about Brennen?
"You need anything?" she whispered.
"Just to strangle Lexa. I swear she's trying to get killed, sometimes."
"Lex is,,,difficult. But when it comes down to it, there's no one better to be our side. Once you peel back the layers, she's a genuine person. Just takes time."
"You should know, she actually is considerate of you."
"Shal, Lexa has lost, just like the rest of us, and knows what you're enduring all too well. Sometimes being the strength means not being embraced. She's able to understand that. Like it or not, you guys need her here."
"Whatever."
"Maybe, one day, you'll like her." Jordan stood brushing the hair from the feral's face. "For now, you've got me. AND I AM FABULOUS!" For the first time that evening, the feral smiled.
"If you say so."
"Come on, let's raid the fridge. You can use me as an excuse for junk food." Shalimar leaned on the woman as they descended the steps. "I know there's some cookies or something in the cabinet."
It was then that Brennen emerged from the garage, lugging a drunk Jesse behind him. The women stood silent as he pulled the antagonistic blonde into the foyer.
"Jess," Shalimar moved forward to help them. Her hands gently touched his face.
"We,,,We left Emma. She's back at the club. Brennen, lets go-"
"It wasn't her," He said for the millionth time. "Emma wasn't there."
"She was! I was with her last night." The blonde stumbled away from them. "I was with her! We," His words fell short when he fell on the couch. "I touched her."
"How much did he have?" Jordan asked, leaning down to stroke his hair. Her nose crinkled at the liquor on his clothes.
"I found him like that. He's been drinking for days."
Shalimar pulled the molecular up, wrapping an arm around his waist. "I'll take care of him."
Jordan watched the feral pull Jesse towards his room. Her thoughts had her proceeding to the kitchen, followed by a tired Brennen. The elemental watched as she started a new pot of coffee. "He won't drink it." His baritone started.
"This is for me," she started. "And Shalimar. We'll stay up with him, tonight." The man watched as she busied herself. Sitting down at the counter, he pulled off the duster and threw it beside him. This had to be the twentieth time he'd gone looking for Jesse, not to mention the times when he simply wasn't able to find the man. Brennen's hands slid over his face in a stressful defeat. It seemed like his only task in life was to bring the blonde back to StormKing, a place undoubtedly hunted by their memories. He'd been ready to fall on the counter when a hand touched his arm.
The elemental could have drowned in her dark eyes right then. Somehow, the woman had managed to implant herself into a house falling in chaos. He smiled tiredly, watching her concerned face. "He kept seeing her everywhere." He started. "Every woman around him was a tall redhead. And he just kept falling." Jordan stood by, silent. "I don't know how much longer I can do this, J."
"He'll be okay. Maybe, It'll take Jesse bringing himself home to move on. He's not strong enough yet to let go." The woman leaned her chin on Brennen's shoulder in thought; an action that pulled the large man from his stresses. He studied her quietly as she looked off toward the window, rubbing his back in thought. "Do you need anything?" His face had almost slackened in deviousness, thinking of some things he definitely wanted. The women turned to face him, causing his look to change back.
"No." he lied.
"You're not hungry or anything?"
"No, Jordan. Thank you."
"Alright. I'm gonna check on Shal and Jess. Goodnight, Brennen."
His eyes followed her out off the room, only to focus on the empty space her presence had occupied. His mind was suddenly not so tired. "Good night, Jordan."
Shalimar had fallen asleep by the time Jordan got to the molecular's room. He lay stretched across his bed in fresh clothes and apparently fresh out of the shower. The woman moved to open the door, but stopped in mid action. Lexa stood by the bed, watching Jesse with careful eyes. It was seldom the brunette was so defenseless and ran a hand through the man's damp locks. Jordan smiled softly before closing the door. Jesse would be well taken care of tonight.
