Genesis of a Legend

Disclaimer:  I don't own these characters.  Marvel does.

Chapter 6

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I can't believe how much that test kicked my ass.  I'd never tried a duration test.  I guess I didn't think my power was finite.  When I got out of that room I was so tired I wouldn't move on my own.  Hank had to carry me.  It was embarrassing.  I didn't realize it would make me pass out.  I think the Professor did, and that made me mad.  He says that he knew there would be no lasting effects, but he wasn't the one who came up with the solution to the extreme fatigue and migraine.  Jean was. 

Now, I'd been so upset that I let me temper get the better of me, and snapped at Jean.  I regretted it, but I was just mad at everyone.  I thought for a little while there, amidst the pain, that I'd blown all chances with her, in that one instant.  But my fears were assuaged when Jean showed up again in the morning.  She made me go outside, and man, I felt so much better.  It was a little hunch of hers that the sun would recharged me.  It seems to be right.  I can't even describe how much it meant to me that she cared so much. 

We sat outside on the grass for a few hours.  It was so nice.  The weather and the company.  It really seemed like Jean might be feeling the same way about me as I felt about her. 

"Want to go out on the  boat?" I asked.

Jean looked up from her book.  We were sitting in a comfortable silence. 

"Let's eat first.  My skin needs a break from the sun."

I nodded and stood up.  I felt great!

"Am I burnt?"

I looked at her.  God she was beautiful in her tank top and shorts.  "Umm…"  I looked really closely, and shook my head. "Sorry Jean, I really can't tell."

"Oh!  I'm sorry…I didn't mean to…"

"Shh…its okay."  I pressed a finger to her lips.  They were so soft.  I wanted to explore them further.  Instead, I reached out my hands to pull her to her feet.  We were mere inches apart.  I swallowed hard.  I really couldn't think when she was that close.  I pulled her into a hug.  We stood there for a moment, just holding each other.

"Scott?"

"Hmm?"

"You ready?"

"Yeah,"  I followed her across the grass into the kitchen.  We weren't wearing shoes.  I opened the fridge and peered inside. 

"Leftovers?"

"What are they?"

"Looks like pot roast."

"Yuck.  I'll make a sandwich.  Eat that if you want."

"Whatcha making?"

"Cheese and tomato."

"I'll have that.  We can take it back out," I grinned.

She smiled and set about making the sandwiches.  I cut up some carrots to take as well.  Her long, red hair was down, and she repeatedly fought it out of her workspace.  It was adorable. I must have snickered, or something, because she glared over at me. 

"It's cute."

"Ha. Ha."  She flipped me the bird, and fished around in her pocket for an elastic.  Finding one, she reached up and gathered her hair into a ponytail.  She looked fucking amazing with her arms over her head like that.  I was in a trance.

"You're adorable when you get like that."

"Huh?"

"You're adorable when you're in a daze."

I pouted.

"That's even cuter."

"I don't do cute and adorable."

"Yes, you most certainly do."

"Mmmnh!" I whined.

Jean had a huge smile on her face.

"I don't do cute and adorable.  I do rugged and manly."

She laughed out loud at that one.  Why didn't girls understand that guys didn't like to be called cute?  She walked over to where I stood, at the counter and looked me right in the eyes. 

"I like it when you're adorable."

I stared at her for a moment.  God, she knew just how to put it.

Jean reached up and patted my shoulder.  "Really."

I grasped her hand.  "Only for you."

"I can take that."

I clasped her hand in both of mine and just held it.  We kept our gaze for a long time.  She mesmerized me, always managing to find my eyes behind my glasses.  Her hand was so soft, and as I looked down at her lips, I could imagine how soft those were as well.  She leaned down and kissed my hands, then broke away and went back to the sandwiches.  I swallowed, hard, and turned to look at her.  She had me so turned on.

"Could you wrap these? I want to get a long sleeved shirt, so I don't burn too much."

I nodded, still unable to speak, and went over to the sandwiches.  Haphazardly, I shoved them into small baggies, and added the carrots.  I threw it all into a plastic bag, and waited for Jean to return.  She had thrown a sheer blouse over her tank top. 

"Ready?"

I nodded, and she took my hand, dragging me out to the dock.  Carefully she climbed into the boat, and reached up to take the bag from me.  I joined her and grabbed the oars.  We glided out to the middle of the lake silently.  I was aware she was watching me, and it occurred to me that my own shirt was still lying on the grass. 

"Here's good. Let's eat."

I pulled out a sandwich, and devoured it quickly.  Jean took a much longer time with hers, savoring each bite.  It was so hot.

"It was good," I managed. 

She smiled, and crawled over to where I sat, and turned to lean back against me.  I wrapped my arms around her and held her tightly.  We sat contently for a while.

"Do you have enough sunscreen on?"

"I should."

"Good.  I don't want you to be in pain."

"How are you feeling?"

"Completely fine.  This sun is wonderful."

"Good."  Jean spun around, and knelt to face me.  She pulled me into a deep hug. 

"You had me so worried."

"I'm sorry I snapped."

"I know.  Are you mad at the Professor?"

"I was.  But, now that I know that this sun takes care of it so easily, I'm not as mad."

"But he didn't know that it would work like that, did he?"

"I don't think so.  But now we do.  And I do understand the importance of the test."

I lay back a bit, pulling her with me.  I reached up and pulled her hair out of the ponytail, so that I could play with it.

"Hey!  Give that back!"

Jean lunged forward to my hand, and tried to grab the elastic, rocking the boat.

"Woah.  Be careful."

"Give it back."

I held it out of her reach.  She lurched toward it, pushing her feet underneath her, and spreading them apart to get better leverage.  I grinned.  She smirked, and made another pass for the hair tie.  I tossed it in the water.

"Scott!"  She smacked my chest, hard.

"Ow!"

"You deserved that."  She leaned right over me.  I became acutely aware of the fact that she was straddling me.  Her hair fell into my face, and she looked down at me.  We were only inches apart.  Suddenly, she closed the distance, bringing her lips to mine.  It was a rush of fire.  I ran my hands through her hair, and she brought hers up to mine.  Her hand flickered against my glasses and I jumped away, pushing her off me.  I curled me knees up to my chest.  That scared the hell out of me.  I don't know what I'd do if they slipped.  Jean crawled over to me. 

"It's okay.  They didn't move."

"They could have easily.  They could have…"

"Shhh…."  Jean ran her hand along my shoulder.  I bit my lip.

"We should head back in."

"Scott…"

I grabbed the oars and started to row us back to shore.  I'd blown it.  I had her, and I'd blown in.  Jean was watching me, but I wouldn't look at her.  We arrived at the dock and I hoisted myself out, extending my hand to help Jean.  She took it, and refused to let go when I tried. 

"Scott…Look at me, Scott."

Slowly, I looked up at her. 

"Scott,  I only brushed against them."

"Jean…"  I returned my gaze to the ground as I faltered for words. She grabbed my chin and pulled it back up.  "I…I just need to think about all this.  I'm just a little scared."

"I know."  She grabbed my hand.

"I just need a little time.  I don't know.  I thought I knew exactly what I wanted.  But, Jean, the practicality comes back to kick me in the ass.  I'm dangerous."

I started away from her and she pulled me back. 

"Scott…"

"I just need to be alone for a little while."

"Don't get too upset.  Please."

"I won't."

"I'll stay with you if you want."

I looked her in the eyes.  "I don't want to bother you."

"You'll worry me more if I'm not with you."

I sighed.  "Just a little while.  I just need to calm down. Thank you though."

This was so hard.  I didn't know what to do.  I was so confused.  I wanted her so badly, but I was terrified.  Jean wrapped me in her arms.  I tensed a little, then relaxed into her embrace.  I was shaking.  It didn't seem like I had deterred her, but I wasn't sure.  I rested my lips on the top of her head, and held on tightly.

"Relax."  She rubbed my back.  "You really want me to go?"

I didn't answer.  I couldn't answer.  I didn't want her to go, but I couldn't explain myself to her right now.  I couldn't figure out a good way to assure myself that this was okay.  Her hands felt so good, and I didn't want to let her go.  I shivered.

"You cold?"

I nodded.  She led me by the hand back to where we'd laid on the grass, and stooped to retrieve my shirt.  Taking it from her, I pulled it on, careful not to knock my glasses.  I looked at her again.

"I'll be okay.  I'll be okay. Just a little time."

Jean nodded.  "I'll be around if you need me."

She grabbed my hands, and leaned in and kissed me ever so gently on the lips.  I squeezed her hands and nodded to her.  She walked towards the house.  It was an extra precaution, her taking my hands, I realized.  She didn't want to scare me again, so she made sure her hands were nowhere near my glasses.  I lay down on the grass, trying to find a way to assure myself that I could do this and not endanger her.  It hadn't even occurred to me before, not really.  I had to find a way.  I needed her.

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