The Messiah and Redd
XXX
"N. . .Nathan?"
"Chase," a smile spread across Cable's features, softening his mouth and the craggy lines which made him look as though his face had been cut out of marble. "Ya want to be a little gentler next time you decide to let the Phoenix out on my Mindscape?"
"I'll try, but I can't promise anything." She leant down, her features strained and her emotions tugging at the leash. *I will NOT cry,* she promised herself, taking one of his giant hands in both of hers and passing her fingers over his deeply-lined palm.
"Well," Nathan coughed roughly. "I come back from the dead after hours of psionic surgery and all I get is an 'I'll try?'"
"What did you want?"
"Maybe a welcome home kiss." He made a huge effort to pout, and was rewarded with a smile. She brought his hand to her mouth gently, fingers wrapping tightly around his sinewy forearm.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I didn't mean to let that one last bomb go, it was supposed to be an intimidation device. I thought he'd go before I had to stomp on your mindscape like that."
"That was you?" he lifted a snowy brow. "I thought it was a pack of elephants."
"Damn you, Nathan. What prompted that? Stryfe's been latent for years, and I never thought he could come back so strongly."
"Why are you changing the flonqing subject?" he demanded, his voice going up an octave.
"Because I can. And because I don't want to discuss how it was me who put you in here."
"It wasn't you, Chase."
"Yes, it was."
"I'm not going to argue with you like this. It's what destroyed my relationship with Dom, and I won't have the same thing happening with you."
She shut up instantly.
"Though I in no way see you as a romantic interest," he added, with a familiar wry grin, "I want us to work. You know what I mean."
"Yeah, I do." She sighed, and nudged his arm. "Shove over," she instructed, and he scooted as far to the edge of the narrow MedLab bed as he could, and she carefully lowered herself into it beside him, resting her head in the curve of his chest and shoulder. "I missed you. I missed the link."
I hate it when you shut it down, even partially, he whispered.
"Hey, don't do that, Nathan!" she slapped his chest. "You should rest your telepathy for now, even if it IS facilitated by the link."
"You're right. But I hate feeling incapacitated."
"You're six foot eight, you can bench-press five hundred pounds! You're NOT incapacitated."
"Then why is Hank insisting that I stay in the Medical Bay?"
"To make sure you don't manifest any evil tendencies. You're getting out tomorrow; don't be so petulant."
He shrugged, flattened her hand against his, measuring their fingers against one another. "So little."
"Who isn't, to you?" she growled irritably.
"I hear Wisdom's mailing a letter to your parents from Boston."
"Don't start that."
"You know, we have to communicate. It's a central pillar of maintaining a healthy friendship."
"You read that in Scott's Magic of Marriage book, didn't you?"
"Guilty. But don't change the subject. Why won't you get in contact with them?"
"You're my family now, Nate. I don't want them to have to be involved more than they need to be."
"Why not? They love you. You're their only child now, and you have a responsibility to them to keep in touch."
"I'm keeping in touch!"
"What are you telling them? That you're going to a junior college in Boston? Or perhaps you've excelled and are attending Harvard?"
"I WILL be attending Harvard, if all goes well."
"Don't. Xavier's has a more student-centered staff, and the training is just as good. Besides, Harvard doesn't prepare you for life as an ostracized mutant."
"That's right. I'd forgotten that you hated the Ivy League and all it stands for."
"I attended it."
"You're a brilliant lawyer."
"True, but I'm also a telepath."
"And it looks good to have Harvard on your résumé. But it isn't as though I'm going to waste my life doing something other than protecting the Universe." She shrugged. "Remember? My classifieds reads: Chase Devoneaux, human, legal, beautiful and plucky. Comes with Intergalactic Cosmic Fighting Force. Not sold separately. Remember that?"
"Yeah, but. . .lying to your parents. . ."
"It isn't as though YOU never did that at one point or another."
Nathan rolled his eyes. "That's different."
"Because you're older than Scott and Jean? And you know better? I can just HEAR the lecture. 'Now, listen, Scott Summers. I don't want you speaking to me in that tone of voice! I'm your son from three thousand years in the future, and I know what's best!'"
"I actually DID say that to him. . .not in that precise context, but it was pretty similar."
"You bastard!" she laughed and squeezed his ribs, at which moment Jean decided to walk in. Seeing her "son" in the hospital bed with his young protégée, she cast her eyes down and cleared her throat as though they hadn't noticed her.
"Hello, Nathan, hello, Chase."
"Redd,"
"Mrs. Summers," Chase nodded, color rising to her cheeks, and wishing she could disappear behind Nathan's giant metal arm.
"How are you feeling, Nathan?" Jean checked his pulse, prodded his psi-signature for signs of possible post-surgery trauma. Finding none, she nodded. "Warren's gone, I understand?"
"No, not exactly."
"So he's staying?"
"No, he's going to leave before the weekend is out."
"Why?"
"He's a financial mogul, Mrs. Summers. . ."
"Jean." The woman said shortly. "My name is Jean, but you never call me by my first name. I'm not your teacher anymore, Chase. It's all right to call me that."
"He's not running away from you, Jean." Chase said quietly.
"No, he's running away from YOU."
Chase slipped away from Nathan and took Jean's arm gently. "We should talk about this privately. Will you excuse us, Nate?"
"Sure," he muttered, then sent a brief message over the link, suggesting she shut down it down partially.
No, that's all right. I only need the physical privacy.
I'd feel as though I were eavesdropping, he shrugged. I think we should shut it down.
All right. But not too much. I want to feel you. she brushed a telekinetic hand against his. He smiled as she left the room.
"What's going on between you and Warren?" Jean planted her hands on her hips and faced the younger woman head-on.
"I'm his caretaker. His psychological support. I'm trying to help him get over Betsy's loss, which we both felt very deeply."
"Is that all?"
"Yes. On my side, anyhow."
"Then if he took it into his head to fall in love with you, you'd push him away, wouldn't you?"
"It would only be professional to do so."
"That would be where you're wrong. The X-Men aren't a professional taskforce. We're a family. And I've known Warren for over fifteen years. He and I were two of the Original Five X-Men. We're extremely close. There have been hundreds of mutants to pass through Xavier's but none, I repeat NONE have the experience and respect for the X that we do. And none of them are closer-knit than we are."
"I understand that you must be concerned about Warren, but I assure you, I have no improper intentions toward him."
"You're not getting the point, are you? I don't want you to be cool and professional with him! Do you think HE feels cool and professional around YOU? No! He loves you, Chase!"
"I love him, as well. We've gotten to be very close friends during these past few months."
"Not that. I mean he LOVES you."
"That's impossible," Chase laughed. "He's still in love with Betsy's ghost."
"He got over Betsy a long time ago, Chase. And when the fog cleared, you were the only woman standing in front of him. He wants you. Only you."
"I can't. . .it's not within my power to gratify that. . ." she stammered, and though it was scarcely news to her, the shock of hearing the confirmation of Warren's feelings from, of all people, the original Phoenix, made her step back and assess her own outlook on the winged man who called himself an Angel.
There was a long, awkward silence in which neither woman wished to interpose on the moment lest the other had something of significance to say. Then Jean sighed, and touched Chase's shoulder. "Listen, I don't completely understand your relationship with my son, but if he's the one you love, I don't want that to hurt Warren."
"Is THAT what you think I'm doing with Nathan?" Chase laughed. "I thought you were a telepath, too! Dear God, no! He's in love with Domino. He probably always will be. There's no romantic attraction between us whatsoever. We're friends. Bonded. Rather like. . .you and Wolverine." She nodded. "Yes, like you and Logan. Perhaps there was once something I wanted, but he's always been in love with one person."
Jean sighed. "And how does that fit in with your feelings for Scott?"
Chase took a step backward, something not-quite-human igniting a dangerous fire behind her eyes. "Who told you?"
"You psi-signature flares up every time you see him, or every time he's mentioned. Remember in Ireland, when Banshee knocked him out and you decked him?"
The high color racing to the younger woman's cheeks betrayed her.
"It's all right. I married him, after all, so I know how wonderful a man he is. Besides, the feelings you have aren't even yours, by all accounts. They're mine. And even if they weren't, Scott is an attractive, wonderful man. Seems to attract more female telepaths than most, but still. . ."
"Listen, Jean, I'm sorry. I shouldn't be. . ."
"Chase, that doesn't matter. You've taken those emotions so well that I've learned to control myself, also. We're really very similar, you know."
"No, we aren't." Chase smiled. "No offense, Mrs. Sum—Jean—but we aren't at all alike. We've had shockingly similar experiences, but we've handled ourselves quite differently."
"Well, you haven't committed suicide yet. . ."
"That's not what I meant. Besides, that wasn't you, that was the thing in my head. No offense."
"None taken. I still think you should talk with Warren."
"You didn't say that was what you wanted."
"Wasn't it? I thought I'd made myself clear."
"I seemed to think you wanted me to take up with him, regardless of my own feelings."
"What kind of woman do you think I am?" Jean pressed a hand to her chest, her brows knitting. "Why should I ask you to do that?"
"That's not. . .all right, I think I understand you, now."
Jean laughed nervously, sighed. "I think you should go back inside. I'll see you later."
"No, Nathan's all right. We've talked for long enough. I think I'll go find Warren just now."
"I guess I'll catch you later, then?"
"All right." Chase nodded, walked out of the room, but not before bringing the psi-bond fully to life, sudden intimacy flaring up between herself and Nathan. I'm going to go find Warren."
All right? Do you want me to. . .
No. Of course not!
All right, I just thought. . .
No, if anything, I'm going to need you more than usual.
All right. But I won't actively listen in.
Whatever you like.
I love you, Chase.
She blinked, did a double-take. Rare was the occasion that Nathan declared so willingly his feelings, though he lavished frequent signs of affection on those he loved. I. . .I love you, too, Nathan.
He smiled and the bond dwindled to normal once again. She paced down the hall quickly, cursing her sensible shoes and the way they tapped on the polished floors every time she took a step. Stepping into the elevator, she selected the dorm floor. As the polished chrome doors slid open, she ambled toward her room. Warren was on their bed, laying on his stomach, wings outstretched above himself. His eyes were closed, but he wasn't asleep. Chase slipped off her shoes and eased herself down beside him.
XXX
"N. . .Nathan?"
"Chase," a smile spread across Cable's features, softening his mouth and the craggy lines which made him look as though his face had been cut out of marble. "Ya want to be a little gentler next time you decide to let the Phoenix out on my Mindscape?"
"I'll try, but I can't promise anything." She leant down, her features strained and her emotions tugging at the leash. *I will NOT cry,* she promised herself, taking one of his giant hands in both of hers and passing her fingers over his deeply-lined palm.
"Well," Nathan coughed roughly. "I come back from the dead after hours of psionic surgery and all I get is an 'I'll try?'"
"What did you want?"
"Maybe a welcome home kiss." He made a huge effort to pout, and was rewarded with a smile. She brought his hand to her mouth gently, fingers wrapping tightly around his sinewy forearm.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I didn't mean to let that one last bomb go, it was supposed to be an intimidation device. I thought he'd go before I had to stomp on your mindscape like that."
"That was you?" he lifted a snowy brow. "I thought it was a pack of elephants."
"Damn you, Nathan. What prompted that? Stryfe's been latent for years, and I never thought he could come back so strongly."
"Why are you changing the flonqing subject?" he demanded, his voice going up an octave.
"Because I can. And because I don't want to discuss how it was me who put you in here."
"It wasn't you, Chase."
"Yes, it was."
"I'm not going to argue with you like this. It's what destroyed my relationship with Dom, and I won't have the same thing happening with you."
She shut up instantly.
"Though I in no way see you as a romantic interest," he added, with a familiar wry grin, "I want us to work. You know what I mean."
"Yeah, I do." She sighed, and nudged his arm. "Shove over," she instructed, and he scooted as far to the edge of the narrow MedLab bed as he could, and she carefully lowered herself into it beside him, resting her head in the curve of his chest and shoulder. "I missed you. I missed the link."
I hate it when you shut it down, even partially, he whispered.
"Hey, don't do that, Nathan!" she slapped his chest. "You should rest your telepathy for now, even if it IS facilitated by the link."
"You're right. But I hate feeling incapacitated."
"You're six foot eight, you can bench-press five hundred pounds! You're NOT incapacitated."
"Then why is Hank insisting that I stay in the Medical Bay?"
"To make sure you don't manifest any evil tendencies. You're getting out tomorrow; don't be so petulant."
He shrugged, flattened her hand against his, measuring their fingers against one another. "So little."
"Who isn't, to you?" she growled irritably.
"I hear Wisdom's mailing a letter to your parents from Boston."
"Don't start that."
"You know, we have to communicate. It's a central pillar of maintaining a healthy friendship."
"You read that in Scott's Magic of Marriage book, didn't you?"
"Guilty. But don't change the subject. Why won't you get in contact with them?"
"You're my family now, Nate. I don't want them to have to be involved more than they need to be."
"Why not? They love you. You're their only child now, and you have a responsibility to them to keep in touch."
"I'm keeping in touch!"
"What are you telling them? That you're going to a junior college in Boston? Or perhaps you've excelled and are attending Harvard?"
"I WILL be attending Harvard, if all goes well."
"Don't. Xavier's has a more student-centered staff, and the training is just as good. Besides, Harvard doesn't prepare you for life as an ostracized mutant."
"That's right. I'd forgotten that you hated the Ivy League and all it stands for."
"I attended it."
"You're a brilliant lawyer."
"True, but I'm also a telepath."
"And it looks good to have Harvard on your résumé. But it isn't as though I'm going to waste my life doing something other than protecting the Universe." She shrugged. "Remember? My classifieds reads: Chase Devoneaux, human, legal, beautiful and plucky. Comes with Intergalactic Cosmic Fighting Force. Not sold separately. Remember that?"
"Yeah, but. . .lying to your parents. . ."
"It isn't as though YOU never did that at one point or another."
Nathan rolled his eyes. "That's different."
"Because you're older than Scott and Jean? And you know better? I can just HEAR the lecture. 'Now, listen, Scott Summers. I don't want you speaking to me in that tone of voice! I'm your son from three thousand years in the future, and I know what's best!'"
"I actually DID say that to him. . .not in that precise context, but it was pretty similar."
"You bastard!" she laughed and squeezed his ribs, at which moment Jean decided to walk in. Seeing her "son" in the hospital bed with his young protégée, she cast her eyes down and cleared her throat as though they hadn't noticed her.
"Hello, Nathan, hello, Chase."
"Redd,"
"Mrs. Summers," Chase nodded, color rising to her cheeks, and wishing she could disappear behind Nathan's giant metal arm.
"How are you feeling, Nathan?" Jean checked his pulse, prodded his psi-signature for signs of possible post-surgery trauma. Finding none, she nodded. "Warren's gone, I understand?"
"No, not exactly."
"So he's staying?"
"No, he's going to leave before the weekend is out."
"Why?"
"He's a financial mogul, Mrs. Summers. . ."
"Jean." The woman said shortly. "My name is Jean, but you never call me by my first name. I'm not your teacher anymore, Chase. It's all right to call me that."
"He's not running away from you, Jean." Chase said quietly.
"No, he's running away from YOU."
Chase slipped away from Nathan and took Jean's arm gently. "We should talk about this privately. Will you excuse us, Nate?"
"Sure," he muttered, then sent a brief message over the link, suggesting she shut down it down partially.
No, that's all right. I only need the physical privacy.
I'd feel as though I were eavesdropping, he shrugged. I think we should shut it down.
All right. But not too much. I want to feel you. she brushed a telekinetic hand against his. He smiled as she left the room.
"What's going on between you and Warren?" Jean planted her hands on her hips and faced the younger woman head-on.
"I'm his caretaker. His psychological support. I'm trying to help him get over Betsy's loss, which we both felt very deeply."
"Is that all?"
"Yes. On my side, anyhow."
"Then if he took it into his head to fall in love with you, you'd push him away, wouldn't you?"
"It would only be professional to do so."
"That would be where you're wrong. The X-Men aren't a professional taskforce. We're a family. And I've known Warren for over fifteen years. He and I were two of the Original Five X-Men. We're extremely close. There have been hundreds of mutants to pass through Xavier's but none, I repeat NONE have the experience and respect for the X that we do. And none of them are closer-knit than we are."
"I understand that you must be concerned about Warren, but I assure you, I have no improper intentions toward him."
"You're not getting the point, are you? I don't want you to be cool and professional with him! Do you think HE feels cool and professional around YOU? No! He loves you, Chase!"
"I love him, as well. We've gotten to be very close friends during these past few months."
"Not that. I mean he LOVES you."
"That's impossible," Chase laughed. "He's still in love with Betsy's ghost."
"He got over Betsy a long time ago, Chase. And when the fog cleared, you were the only woman standing in front of him. He wants you. Only you."
"I can't. . .it's not within my power to gratify that. . ." she stammered, and though it was scarcely news to her, the shock of hearing the confirmation of Warren's feelings from, of all people, the original Phoenix, made her step back and assess her own outlook on the winged man who called himself an Angel.
There was a long, awkward silence in which neither woman wished to interpose on the moment lest the other had something of significance to say. Then Jean sighed, and touched Chase's shoulder. "Listen, I don't completely understand your relationship with my son, but if he's the one you love, I don't want that to hurt Warren."
"Is THAT what you think I'm doing with Nathan?" Chase laughed. "I thought you were a telepath, too! Dear God, no! He's in love with Domino. He probably always will be. There's no romantic attraction between us whatsoever. We're friends. Bonded. Rather like. . .you and Wolverine." She nodded. "Yes, like you and Logan. Perhaps there was once something I wanted, but he's always been in love with one person."
Jean sighed. "And how does that fit in with your feelings for Scott?"
Chase took a step backward, something not-quite-human igniting a dangerous fire behind her eyes. "Who told you?"
"You psi-signature flares up every time you see him, or every time he's mentioned. Remember in Ireland, when Banshee knocked him out and you decked him?"
The high color racing to the younger woman's cheeks betrayed her.
"It's all right. I married him, after all, so I know how wonderful a man he is. Besides, the feelings you have aren't even yours, by all accounts. They're mine. And even if they weren't, Scott is an attractive, wonderful man. Seems to attract more female telepaths than most, but still. . ."
"Listen, Jean, I'm sorry. I shouldn't be. . ."
"Chase, that doesn't matter. You've taken those emotions so well that I've learned to control myself, also. We're really very similar, you know."
"No, we aren't." Chase smiled. "No offense, Mrs. Sum—Jean—but we aren't at all alike. We've had shockingly similar experiences, but we've handled ourselves quite differently."
"Well, you haven't committed suicide yet. . ."
"That's not what I meant. Besides, that wasn't you, that was the thing in my head. No offense."
"None taken. I still think you should talk with Warren."
"You didn't say that was what you wanted."
"Wasn't it? I thought I'd made myself clear."
"I seemed to think you wanted me to take up with him, regardless of my own feelings."
"What kind of woman do you think I am?" Jean pressed a hand to her chest, her brows knitting. "Why should I ask you to do that?"
"That's not. . .all right, I think I understand you, now."
Jean laughed nervously, sighed. "I think you should go back inside. I'll see you later."
"No, Nathan's all right. We've talked for long enough. I think I'll go find Warren just now."
"I guess I'll catch you later, then?"
"All right." Chase nodded, walked out of the room, but not before bringing the psi-bond fully to life, sudden intimacy flaring up between herself and Nathan. I'm going to go find Warren."
All right? Do you want me to. . .
No. Of course not!
All right, I just thought. . .
No, if anything, I'm going to need you more than usual.
All right. But I won't actively listen in.
Whatever you like.
I love you, Chase.
She blinked, did a double-take. Rare was the occasion that Nathan declared so willingly his feelings, though he lavished frequent signs of affection on those he loved. I. . .I love you, too, Nathan.
He smiled and the bond dwindled to normal once again. She paced down the hall quickly, cursing her sensible shoes and the way they tapped on the polished floors every time she took a step. Stepping into the elevator, she selected the dorm floor. As the polished chrome doors slid open, she ambled toward her room. Warren was on their bed, laying on his stomach, wings outstretched above himself. His eyes were closed, but he wasn't asleep. Chase slipped off her shoes and eased herself down beside him.
