"Hey Scott, whatcha doing here at 9 O'clock? Isn't it too early to work?"
She sat on the table nearby and looked around the room. She had never noticed how many computers and screens there were nor the number of multicoloured buttons, which flashed on all walls.
"'Course it's not too early to work!"
"Ok, well I'm not sticking around here for long. I'm real hungry so let's just get my file done quick."
Cyclops turned around to her. "You know it's gonna be quite a long task and I think we should get Storm here, being co-leader."
"Well can't you just show her the form once it's done?"
Sidney did not know what type of questions she'll have to answer but suddenly she realised it was best to do it fast and without too many ears around. He nodded and turned back to his screen, opening up a new file.
"Basically, you just answer my questions as best as you can. Ok first question: Your full name?"
Natura suddenly turned around and started to walk out of the war room. "Ok, maybe we do this later, huh!"
Cyclops understood at once her sudden reaction. "Oh so now you won't even tell us your full name? How do you expect me to trust you Sidney? If that is your real name - "
This was inevitable! She didn't want to tell them who she was, where she came from but she couldn't understand why. Maybe opening up to the X-Men meant that she would definitely be part of the team, for real and she wasn't ready to accept it.
Opening up also meant looking back at all those years, painful years which she couldn't share.
He's right though. I have to start trusting some people here. Otherwise I'll be alone all along. She turned around and felt her body quiver. The part of her life she was trying to forget and avoid for sometime was now a reality again that she had to face.
She stared at him thoughtfully, straight into Scott's bewildered eyes. I'm done for!
"No, my real name isn't Sidney, well it's my nickname. My real name isIsabelle but when I'm abroad I use Sidney or Sid, whatever. And just in case you hadn't already guessed, I'm French."
After a long silent pause, Cyclops decided it was best not to comment her last words. Sidney held her breath. What if he understood who I am, what if he's realising that -
But Cyclops only smiled at her. "Well at least that's a start. Don't you want to give me your full name?"
"I prefer not to. It's not that I don't wanna tell you or anything. It's just well - for your safety and for the others - "
His smile disappeared leading on to a bewildered frown again. "My safety? You're kidding right? Don't tell me I risk getting killed to know that you're called Smith or Jones?" His smile reappeared as he laughed as his own joke. This is plain ridiculous.
His smile vanished again as she answered him quickly. "Well something like that. I mean I don't know what would happen if he knew I was here at this moment with the X-Men, but - "
Her rapid speech was confusing Cyclops but his ears picked up a particular word. "Wait who are you talking about. Who's he?"
Did I say he?Damn why don't I ever shut up when I should! Now what do I say? She shuddered at the thought of meeting up with "him" again but put a reassuring hand on Cyclops shoulder. "Listen Scott, I bet I'm not the only one with the dark past 'round here especially with that Gambit guy around."
She laughed at her own accusations but well maybe it would stop Gambit from being to curious about her again. "But you really musn't come and stick your nose into my past. I don't want to deal with it and that's how I intend to keep it. I'll answer the other questions some other time sweetie 'cause by the looks of you, I think we should do this one question at a time."
She gave him a faint smile and disappeared out of the war room.
Natura spent the day with Rogue. They had gone out for a walk in the park next to the lake and sat down to talk about the old days.
Remembering the old days back in her homeland made Sidney uneasy. She had pushed those times so far back in her head that now reviving her memories of Rogue, as her foreign friend who had stayed at her house for several weeks, was painful.
Rogue's presence around the mansion though relieved her. Not only did she have a friend to confide to but also someone who knew about her past at least some of it.
Their walk in the park still was refreshing and where Sidney could at last confide in Rogue all her worries and fears about the X-Men. How Wolverine had been ignoring her since the day she arrived, how Gambit with indiscreet questioning was merely stressing or how she felt bad about not being able to tell Cyclops, the team leader after all about her life back in France.
As they walked back to the mansion, Rogue finally spoke up to reassure her friend.
"You know Sid, Ah wouldn't worry so much 'bout that file. Ah mean, Cyke isn't gonna kick you out 'cause you didn't tell him 'bout Paris. B'sides no one knows meh real name! But Ah'd watch out f'Gambit. That man is a real player wit' feelings. His empathy powers jus'always get the upper hand, wh'ever ya do t'dodge his questions."
Sidney smiled and looked at Rogue with a curious thought. "You seem to know him well though he keeps as much secrets as I do. Have you guys been by any chance - you know - been more than just friends?"
Rogue kept on walking, trying to hide her blush. "Ah'll tell you some other time sugah. But whatever happened b'ween us is definitely over. Ah'm not letting mahself get involved with him anymore!"
Her voice was firm but Sidney could also sense a lot of pain through her words. She caught Rogue's arm, causing her to stop her quick pace.
"Rogue, you called it off because of your powers didn't you? Not because of your feelings, right?"
Rogue turned to face her friend and looked at her straight in the eyes. Her glare had become defiant. "Ah don't wan' none o'your pity Sid. O'course it's about mah powers, it always is! Ah can't touch another human being without hurting him. What's the point in getting into a relationship knowing that?"
Sidney didn't like her sudden outburst but she had anticipated her friend's reaction. Rogue never liked to confess even to her about her feelings and the psyches in her head. Even our friendship won't make her open up to me. I just hope her feelings for Gambit don't make her suffer.
"It's ok Rogue, I didn't want to be nosy but I just wish I could help you like you have for me."
Sidney looked up sadly at her friend. Her white bangs had fallen in her face which showed her facial features in a cuter way.
She's so pretty, she's always been a model of beauty for me. It's just so unfair that she can't touch! She's completely right - I do pity her.
Rogue saw her sparkling eyes suddenly fill themselves with tears. She put her gloved hand on Sidney's shoulder and they continued their walk, arm in arm. "I'm so glad you're here Sid. Things are gonna be just fine now."
As they reached the mansion's front door, they found Ororo waiting for them, sitting on the grand stairway, her arms neatly tucked in her lap. Natura wiped her eyes with the back of her hand quickly, avoiding her leader's suspicious stare.
"We were awaiting you." She spoke out. "Cyclops has called a general meeting in the war room, Magneto is up to trouble again."
As they arrived, the others had already reported to the war room and Cyclops was standing in front of them next to a screen. Rogue and Natura sat down in their seats while Wolverine, still chewing on his fried chicken, commented on their lateness.
"Fine since we're all here, I might as well start straight away. Magneto is up to mischief again and this morning he has been terrorising Washington DC with the Brotherhood."
"Didn't the Professor and Beast leave for DC this morning, something about the Congress?" Bobby remembered them leaving with one of the jets.
Cyclops turned to Iceman, grateful that someone at least was listening to him. "Exactly, the Professor and Hank left to attend Congress in order to pass an act which they have been working on with deputies for some time. Today's vote is very important, it will eventually give more human rights to mutants but Magneto apparently doesn't want it that way."
Natura frowned at the name. Magneto - Isn't that the terrorist mutant I saw on TV? She looked at Rogue questioningly but the Southern girl was only looking at Cyclops.
"Why d'ya tell us now, if he was being a bad boy this mornin'? And how come we didn't here 'bout this on the news?"
"Other super heroes have been fighting him all day but now it's our turn to battle. Also the government wants to keep away humans from the site and so police forces are also there to keep journalists away. It's too dangerous for humans and any casualties will only delay or even cancel the vote. You have 10 minutes to get ready before we're off. Any questions?"
Wolverine having finished his chicken, threw it in the nearby bin and turned around to face Natura. "Yeah, is she coming?"
Natura looked back at him angrily but then looked up at her leader, fearing his answer.
"Yeah of course, we're a team. Anyone else?"
She relaxed and saw Rogue smiling at her and then glaring at Logan. Cyclops response caused Wolverine to curse under his breath. Natura though spoke up this time.
"Yeah, could someone explain who Magneto and the Brotherhood are?"
"Ah'll keep ya informed on the way sugah."
"Thanks Rogue." It was good to always have her around.
"Aw, real touchin'!"
Storm as co-leader intervened this time. "Logan, watch it. Everyone, you're dismissed."
Natura's eyes though were flashing out with anger. She didn't understand what was wrong with Wolverine but she wasn't going to take it. She decided to face Wolverine afterwards and concentrate on the mission first but a strong, hairy hand caught her shoulder before she could leave.
"So ya ready for the show? Can't wait to see the martial artist in action - "
Before Logan could finish his sentence though, Rogue interrupted him. "Piss off Wolvie, it's her first day!"
"I'm only kidding, darlin'!" He said and walked out the war room laughing to himself. Natura caught up with him though and blocked his way to the jet, facing him.
"Ya better get out of the way bub, before someone gets hurt." He extended his claws, growling like a beast.
"What the hell is your problem Wolverine? Just spit it out!" She didn't care if the others were watching, she had to know.
Wolverine grunted back at her. "I don't trust ya. You got away too easy back at the hospital and no one gets away that easy with me!"
Great, so this is just about his own pride, how pathetic! She rolled her eyes and turned around without answering. Rogue followed her as she sped down the corridors towards the blackbird.
"Logan!" Cyclops spoke up, as Wolverine retracted his claws. "It's ok, there's no need to be on your guards anymore, she answered some of my questions today and I sort of know where she's from - "
"I dunno Cyke, her face seems familiar to me, like I've already seen her before and that usually isn't a good sign!"
Cyclops watched Wolverine walk away with a puzzled face.
And what if we were all mistaken? The team-leader pushed back his thoughts though, after all, he trusted Jean's judgement about Sidney.
Gambit standing casually his back against the wall, had followed the scene in silence and smiled to himself slyly, decided to found out even more about Natura's true identity.
Ok there you go, another chapter not much longer than the others though hopefully they will be. Next chapter, they'll definitely be more action and more will be revealed in the following ones. Hopefully I wont take so long to update now that my exams are over with. Read and review please. it's always very helpful for the authors ! (
SadYear: Coucou.. je v finalement pouvoir repondre a qq remarques ke tu as fait. Bah.. a propos de Scott c peut etre vrai ce ke tu dis mais je voulais le montrer comme chef des X-Men, ki se prend o seriuex etc mais apres avec Jean, un homme bcp plus doux et amoureux ki ferait n'importe koi pour son bonheur. A travers Le DA original des X-Men c comme ca ke l'ai apercu. Bref, autrement ta raison, mon personnage Natura a le meme prenom ke moi mais l'age et son histoire n'a rien avoir, sauf ke g vraiment une cousine ki s'appelle Heline mais rasure toi elle n'est pas ds le coma. ( Or ce personnage ds mon fanfic joue un tres grand role plus tard mais ca c pour bcp plus tard. C dommage ke le 15 tu n'est plus acces a Internet, j'espere continuer avoir de t nouvelles tt de meme si ta acces aux ordis de t copains par exemple. En tout cas je viendrai surement a Nantes pdt les vacances donc je te tiendrai o courant. Voila, bonne lecture !
The next chapters are already written so they should be running shortly. Muchos kudos !