Disclaimer: Don't own X-Men. Marvel does. They're rich and powerful. I'm poor and…not powerful.
John wrapped his arm around Ali. For the moment, she didn't even react. No blush, no movement, nothing. She just stood still as a statue, her eyes on the red carpet.
"Ali, come with me," said Professor Xavier. "Logan, Remy, Jean, and Rogue, too."
Ali nodded and pulled away from John's embrace, following the professor to his study. She still did nothing but keep her eyes on the ground.
Jean followed, her jaw set firmly. She didn't know why the professor had asked to see her, but she knew that it must have been important.
Logan came next, anger flooding his veins. It took all the strength he had in him not to run out and attack Ali's parents. He needed to be here, to find out all the details. That was probably what the professor was planning to do, anyway.
Remy followed Rogue, who was pissed at Remy for even daring to enter the Institute doors. Remy just enjoyed seeing the girl angry; he thought she was cute when she was mad at him.
Rogue closed the door after she entered, nearly hitting Remy in the face. Lucky him, he had quick reflexes, and easily caught the door. He closed it softly behind him and leaned against it, grinning broadly at Rogue, who merely rolled her eyes at the Cajun's vain attempts to woo her.
The professor told Ali to sit down in a chair. The mutant obeyed his command, sitting in the leather seat and, again, keeping her eyes to the ground.
Professor Xavier finally coaxed Ali to raise her eyes off the ground and to look into his. "I'm just going to re-watch the events that happened. Nothing more," he explained.
Ali nodded to show that she understood and closed her eyes, concentrating on the events that had played out previously that night.
Professor Xavier set his fingers gently on Ali's temples and closed his eyes, using his mind to dig into her thoughts. He was suddenly jolted forward mentally and landed on the ground. To his right was Ali. In front of the two was Ali's father. Xavier watched everything happen, his eyes widening when Ali's parents so far as to what he called "attack" her. He was relieved when Remy showed up and he quickly cut out before he heard the conversation between the two mutants.
Ali's eyes fluttered open, looking at Professor Xavier with a questioning look, as if asking what he thought.
Xavier avoided her eyes, holding his head in one of his hands. "I don't know what to think," he muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear. "I honestly don't know."
Ali nodded. She felt the same way. She didn't know whether or not her parents had truly wanted her to come with them or if they were working for someone. Heck, she didn't even know if those people had been her parents.
Logan growled. "I don't like the looks of this, Chuck," he said.
Xavier nodded his agreement. He turned to Ali. "Ali, for your own safety, you are not allowed to leave the Institute without the company of at least three other mutants," he said.
Ali nodded. Easy enough.
"And you must be in the company of an adult."
Ok, bad news.
Yes, Ali liked the adults at the institute. But that could mean bad news for doing things that they wanted. Restrictions would be set down. She sighed. She never should have gone out to see her parents.
Professor Xavier sighed. "I don't know what to tell you, Ali, except to be alert for any sign of your parents. If you so much as sense them, get back to the Institute. Understand?" Xavier asked.
Ali nodded her understanding.
Xavier sighed again. "You are all dismissed."
Everyone left the study except Logan. The mutant walked over to Xavier's desk looking down at the crippled man.
"Do you think they were trying to harm her?" he asked. He had let down his tough facade. A student was in danger. And all the students were like nieces and nephews to Logan.
Xavier looked up at Logan. "There are many theories I can come up with, Logan," he began wearily. "They could be working for someone to kidnap Ali. They could be posing as Ali's parents. They could actually want to be her parents. I just don't know."
Logan nodded. "Don't stress yourself out over it, Chuck. She can take care of herself," he said.
"Yes, that's what we thought. But she was nearly kidnapped."
"She didn't use her powers on them, though. It may turn out different next time."
"Logan, I hope to God that there isn't a next time."
*
"Ali, are ya feelin' ok?" Rogue asked, biting her bottom lip.
Ali nodded. "I'm fine. Why do you ask?" she said, turning to Rogue.
Rogue shrugged. "You know…what happened. Ah thought you mahght be actin' different, that's all," she replied.
Ali nodded. The time on the clock was past nine. "I'm going to bed," she announced and headed up the stairs to the dorms.
John followed. He knew something was wrong.
"Sheila? You ok?" he asked.
"Fine," she replied without turning around.
"If you're fine then turn around and talk to me," he replied.
Ali stopped and turned around. Her eyes were on the ground again so that John was unable to see them.
The fiery mutant grabbed Ali's shoulders and shook her angrily. "Why don't you look at me?" he demanded. "Why do you keep your eyes on the ground?"
"I don't know!" Ali yelled, her eyes still on the red carpet. She prayed that he would leave it there.
"Yes you do," John replied. "I can tell just by the tone of your voice."
Ali looked up at him. The look in her eyes was startling: she was angry, hurt, and confused. "Do you understand?" she asked.
"It's because of your parents," John whispered.
Ali nodded. "I don't know what to think about them, John. And I can't believe that they would attack me," she explained. "I don't want anyone to know how I'm acting."
John's gaze softened. "Ali, you've got guts. But stop trying to act like the ultimate person. You're only human. Well, a little more than human," he said.
Ali smiled. "I know," she replied. "I'll try to do better."
John grinned. "How come you don't listen to anyone else but me?" he asked, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Not that I mind, but I like it, sheila."
Ali rolled her eyes. "I only listen if I'm told something twice. You just happen to say it for the second time," she replied.
John grinned. "I'm sure," he replied.
Ali rolled her eyes. "I'm going to sleep," she said and gave John a quick kiss on the cheek. "Night."
John grinned. "Night, Ali."
*
Kitty walked phased through the wall and into Ali and Rogue's room the next day.
"Wake up!" she yelled, shaking Rogue.
The Goth girl grumbled something and rolled over, pulling the blankets over her head. "Leave meh alone, Kitty," she mumbled, promptly falling back asleep.
Kitty frowned and moved over to Ali. "Wake up, Ali!" she said, shaking the girl.
Ali batted Kitty's hands away and pulled the blankets over her head also. "Go away, Kitty!" she grumbled. "I'm trying to sleep."
Kitty rolled her eyes. "Well I can, like, see that," she retorted.
"Then go away."
Kitty began to shake Ali again. "You're not asleep if you can, like, make comebacks like that, now get up!" she demanded.
Ali groaned. "I can make comebacks even if I'm only half asleep, which I am. Now go away!"
"Ali, you faker! Get up!" Kitty yelled.
Ali flung the blankets off and glared at Kitty, crossing her arms across her chest. "This had better be good, Kitty," she said, her voice deadly calm.
Kitty nodded. "It is," she affirmed. "You better come downstairs, though," she said.
Ali rolled her eyes. "If this isn't something groundbreaking, I'll kill you," she said.
Kitty smiled weakly. "No you won't. Now let's go. You too, Rogue," she said.
The three made their way down the hall, two trudging grumpily while the other urged the two to hurry up.
Kitty led them into the kitchen, where Remy, John, and Scott were arguing and Kurt was trying to be a mediator. 'Trying' being the key word.
"You'll blow up the whole house!" Scott yelled.
Remy frowned. "Remy's used de stove tons o' times, 'n he never lit de house on fire," he retorted.
"There's a first time for everything," Scott snapped.
"Remy, if you won't be making your Cajun omelets, then I will, mate," interrupted John.
"You're not touching the stove, either!" Scott yelled.
"What the bloody hell gives you the right to decide who uses the stove, mate?" John demanded.
"No one. I'm looking out for everyone's safety, that's all."
Remy rolled his eyes. "Remy tinks either he's lost his marbles or he really cares for a femme here," he said.
John grinned. "That's right, mate. He loves Jean!"
Scott's face flushed with embarrassment. "She's my girlfriend!" he yelled.
"Exactly," John replied.
"Can't we all just get along," Kurt moaned. Everyone ignored him, though.
Remy grinned. "Remy tinks we have blackmail, mon ami," said the Cajun slyly.
John nodded his agreement. "Mate, if you don't let us use the stove, we'll tell Jean some incredibly embarrassing information about you," he said
Scott groaned. "Fine. Use the stove. But it's your fault if the Institute goes up in flames," he said, and with that stalked off.
Remy grinned and suddenly spotted Rogue. "Hello!" he cried, walking over. "Remy tinks you look lonely over here, chere," he said with a cocky grin.
Rogue rolled her eyes. "Get away from meh before ya die," she threatened.
"Who's gonna kill me?" he asked.
Rogue pointed to the window seat. "Logan," she replied simply.
Indeed, on the seat sat the mutant who was slowly tearing the newspaper. Remy gave an, 'eep' and ran from the room. The teenagers in the room began laughing uncontrollably. It was a good turnaround from the previous night, and a much needed one at that.
******
*stretch, yawn* tired. Spring break is boring. This fanfic is saving me.
Made it to 50 reviews! Yay! Actually 51, which is even better! Woot!
Reviews:
Karakin: no problem about using your idea. Just tell me if you like this.
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~Jojo~