Chaper 5: Mind Over Matter… and Matches

            "Ah, Jean." Xavier smiled warmly, inviting his longtime student to take a seat and observe the games.

            "Afternoon, Professor." Jean took the seat.  "Scott said he'd show up shortly." She leaned towards her mentor conspiratorially.  "Just between you and me, I think he's brushing up on some of his tennis skills in private, before he has to come out here and face Logan."

            "Who is quite the quick study, I must observe." Professor X gestured to the court with the lessons.  The Wolverine had joined the learner's side of the court, with absolutely no interference from Kitty Pryde, though she had argued Nightcrawler's company earlier.

            Wolverine was just getting the hang of some overhead shots, taking delight in swinging the racquet violently.  There had been confusion over whether he was intentionally hitting Beast with most of his returns, or if he was just being himself.  It was Storm's opinion that there was no difference.

            Jean beamed admiringly.  "He is good." Her glance shifted downward, shyly.  "But I still think Scott can take him."

            "I'm not surprised." Xavier chuckled.  "Do you plan on getting any court time for yourself, or merely cheerleading for your favorites today?"

            "Well, with these new rules in place, I'm not sure who would make a compatible opponent for me." Her eyes drifted to the impossibly fast action on court two.  "For instance, I don't think I could compete with either of them… even with telekinesis."

            The argument forgotten, Northstar and Nightcrawler were playing a highly competitive game, each favoring the title of 'fastest mutant' for himself.  It was a difficult call in any case.  Jean-Paul seemed incapable of missing, probably because from his perspective the ball was moving so slowly.  His returns were dependable and powerful, and he wasn't losing any energy at all yet.

            Kurt's edge was obviously in his tricky shots.  It was impossible to tell what kind of angle was coming next, thanks to the inky purple smoke that interfered with others' vision when he teleported.  Besides that, years of practice in the circus made him agile enough to keep up with most of Northstar's returns.  But it was still a close match.

            "Yes." Xavier said softly, as the score was called deuce.  "I don't think even my mind could keep up with their speed."

            "League of their own." Jean concluded, returning her attention to the lessons.

            "That was a good one!" Wolverine was reporting happily.  He had just knocked the wind out of Hank with his last return.  "You okay, bub?"

            Hank held up an oversized hand, waving that he would be all right… or maybe he was gesturing for help.  Either way, Wolverine was enjoying the new sport.

            Jean bit her lip.  "Suddenly, I feel sorry for Scott."

            The declaration seemed to catch Logan's attention.  He turned to meet Jean's gaze, waving cheerfully.  "Here to cheer me on, Red?"

            "Hm." She replied noncommittally, keeping a burgeoning smile under control.

            Wolverine turned back to his practice and Professor X appraised the fellow telepath parentally.  "Who will you be cheering for when the match starts?"

            "Well… perhaps I could just be a neutral audience?"

            "Unlikely."

            Kitty was so busy chatting with Peter she hadn't improved in the least over the last half-hour or so of training.  "That was a good hit, don't you think?" She gabbed blithely, indicating Wolverine's ruthless aim.

            "Uh… Katia… incoming." Colossus warned her.

            The ball bounced towards her, but she phased through it as though it were less important than a passing fly.  "Oh, thanks for the heads up.  So anyway, there was like this hat in the window and I was thinking it would go great with that one shirt of mine… you know the one?"

            "Well…" Peter didn't know.

            "Yeah!  That's it!  So I went in, but the cashier person was so rude!"

            "Really…"

            "Yeah!  She was not even doing her job right, and I could do so much better if you ask me.  And so I asked 'how much?' "

            "Ball!"

            Kitty phased through another ball without a second look.  "Oh thanks.  And it was way too much money for a hat.  So then I saw these shoes, and I'm betting you're already thinking how well they would go with that one dress, right?"

            "Okay… what about the game?"

            Shadowcat beamed intensely.  "You are so right!  Shopping can seem like a game sometimes.  What with all the sales, and clearances, and other shoppers to think about!" She suddenly looked sly.  "Hey, since you're such a savvy shopper, maybe you and I could hit the mall today?"

            Three tennis balls came hurtling towards the distracted Shadowcat at the same time.  She hardly had time to phase through them.

            "Maybe instead, you could think about hitting the ball today?" Storm glowered, bouncing a fourth ball as though it were a weapon.  Beast and Wolverine were also preparing another salvo.

            "Hey!  You guys threw those at me on purpose!" Kitty wailed.  "You saw that, right Peter?"

            "Yes, but we're supposed to be paying attention."

            Kitty looked as though he had come up with an award-winning idea.  "You know, that's a thought!"

            Xavier shook his head as the people on court one began playing again, this time, with Shadowcat's interaction.  "Sometimes I wonder about that girl."

            Jean just grinned.  "She just has her own set of priorities.  She could be a great leader someday if she turned her fancies to more useful things."

            "Such as?"

            "Well," Jean shrugged.  "Something other than hats and shoes.  She's got a good sense of justice, and is very loyal to her friends." She accentuated the point by nodding toward Shadowcat giving Wolverine a high-five for another violent point against the other side.  Hank was rubbing his arm where the ball had just struck him.

            "True." The Professor looked troubled.  "But what about those who aren't her friends?" He was obviously speaking about occupants of court two.

            Jean seemed regretful.  "She's still young, and easily scared.  She will… evolve."

            "What are you talking about?" Cyclops arrived, lugging a professional looking tennis racquet case with half a dozen racquets inside and some expensive tennis balls.  He was wearing a designer brand tennis outfit, with matching shoes, sunglasses, and headband.

            "Hi!" Jean brightened.  "Just about Kitty."

            Scott nodded knowingly.  "Yeah… is Ororo mad with her, or what is up with that?"

            There was a mild windstorm ravaging court one at the moment.  Storm could be vaguely heard, instructing her instructees to pay attention to her instructions lest she strike with her structured weather attacks.  (Heh heh.)  "Mind your lessons!"

            Xavier and Jean both shrugged as though such things happened every day.  Actually, they did happen on a regular basis come to think of it.