Ma Soleil
Chapter Twenty-Two: Breaking Up is Hard to Do
Disclaimer: All Marvel Characters are the property of Marvel. This is a work of fanfiction, not an attempt to infringe on Stan Lee's personal arsenal of hotties. I can wish all I like, but Sabes is never gonna show up to collect me, and that's that. Oh, yeah, I'm making zero profit off this and if you want Beck, just ask.
As always, the lifeblood of the fanfiction author is reviews. I will respect constructive criticism, but flames are sincerely unappreciated. My e-mail address is seraph_taurus@thekeyz.com. Thanks for your time and God bless.
#-indicates thought
^-indicates telepathic conversation
XXX
Two men sat across from one another at a quiet sidewalk café not a half-hour from downtown Manhattan. One was young and beautiful and all-American, with blond hair and light blue eyes, sculpted features, and a slim, agile build. The other looked perhaps nearer forty, with close-cropped, shaggy hair that looked as though it had been brown once upon a time in his life, but had been bleached nearly white by the sun. His features were craggy, ruggedly handsome, with shy sun-wrinkles. He was shorter, and built like a WWF wrestler. Both had cups of black coffee, and a plate of muffins and scones sat at the centre of the small round table. "So you're staying in Westchester?" the older man inquired.
"Look, Richard, it's not like I'm further away than usual. It's a safety precaution. I told you what happened last week, and honestly, as much of a rush as it was, I wouldn't really like to repeat the experience." Warden shrugged.
"I just wanna get something straight," Richard muttered, the edges of his words sharp and pronounced. "Do you or don't you want me?"
"Of course I. . ."
"What I mean is, do you want this relationship to work? You've gotta look at things from MY perspective, Chris. I. . .I love you, and I don't want to lose you, but your work seems to be getting in our way. At the rate you're going, you're going to be in hiding for the rest of your life! I don't want to have to hide out from some Crimelord! Granted, I don't mind your being a merc. I understand that. I was Intel once, you know? But still. . .I wish you'd just put us first every once in a while."
"I DO put us first. Richard, I don't want this relationship to end any more than you do. I want us to be together for years and years and years. I don't intend to die any time soon. I'm safe with Becky and the X-Men."
"I'm sure you are, but it's not that. Before this Clyde thing went down, I was gonna move in with you and Rebecca. Where did that go? Are you just gonna put it on the back burner because now she wants you to be in some institutionalized atmosphere where she can chant mantras at some old bald guy?"
"It's not like that, Richard. This is for the best. For everyone. For mankind."
"Yeah, I've heard all that Xavier crap. I just can't believe you're getting sucked into it, as well." Richard rolled his eyes, selected a raisin scone and smeared cream cheese onto it. "This is ridiculous. You'll make sacrifices for your partner, but not for your boyfriend. Maybe you're in more of a relationship with Rebecca than you are with me."
"How could you say something like that, Richard? How COULD you? I love you! You know that, and I don't want to be with anyone else! This is just a temporary thing. If you don't have the patience to wait this out, then maybe you don't have the patience to be with me!"
"Maybe I don't, Chris," the other man replied harshly, "You know, I'm not gettin' any younger here! The first step toward a committed relationship is a move-in, and obviously I'm not welcome at this Xavier facility! You know what, if you're gonna make it this difficult, I might as well start all over again."
"What're you talking about?" Warden demanded.
"I'm talking about splitting up, Chris."
"You've gotta be kidding!"
"I'm not. I'm dead fucking serious."
"B. . .but I TOLD you," the younger man's voice cracked slightly, his blue eyes widening in terror. "I told you this was only going to be TEMPORARY. Maybe a few months, just until this situation blows over. Wouldn't you rather take a few minutes more travel time than have a dead boyfriend?"
"I don't HAVE a boyfriend anymore, damn it!" Richard slammed his fist on the table, upsetting their drinks. "We've grown so far apart, I feel like I don't even know you anymore. You've changed on me. I'm not gonna stand for that, we should just. . .just put an end to it."
"But Rick, babe. . ."
"No, I'm not listening to your bull anymore, Chris. I'm outta here." He tossed a bill on the table, grabbed his coat, and left. Warden sat alone for a few minutes, his features registering complete shock. After a while, he paid for the coffee and muffins, got into his car, and drove back toward the mansion.
As he drove up to the gates and entered the security code, he took three deep breaths. He parked his car neatly in the giant garage, and walked into the kitchen through a side-door. The members of X-Cell were preparing dinner. He greeted them politely, inquired what they were making, and headed for the elevator. He walked into his room, changed out of his slacks and turtleneck, and tugged on frayed jeans and a t-shirt. He strolled down the hall to Rebecca's room, which was empty, curled up on her bed, and closed his eyes.
XXX
Soleil and Xavier sat facing one another on the tatami mat floor, both in the lotus position, their eyes serenely closed, but darting to and fro as though in REM sleep. Between them lay a small silver bracelet with three buttons and a keyhole on its outer side. It was unclasped, and the key sat beside it. Neither of them seemed coherent, but the moment anyone came within five feet of their meditative pose, Soleil immediately sent them a sharp telepathic warning that they might observe, but from further away.
And observe some did. Since Soleil and the Professor had first begun training, Jubilee had dutifully sat and watched carefully, monitoring both of their brainwave patterns. Rebecca had requested that she break their connection should either of them be in any danger. Within a few days, X-Man and Chamber had joined her. And it was not only the resident telepaths who were interested in the Professor's sudden decision to regain full control over his slipping powers. Scott, Beast, even Skin hovered round the display at times to monitor what they could.
Things had changed greatly since Xavier and Jean had been home. For one, there was the addition of baby Quinn, who took up much of both Scott and Jean's time with her almost incessant crying. For a while, they had been worried about her, but after Beast performed a few tests, he found that her eyes were simply weak, and prescribed some drops for them.
Sinister had also become a common sight around the Xavier Mansion, especially in the MedLab. He and Hank would tinker and babble in their geneticist's jargon and push one another round the small clinic. No one had really bothered much with him, but he was always scrupulously polite, and both Leech and Artie had become somewhat attached to him. He'd helped Xavier break the news to Lilandra about his decision to remove the inhibitor. Though Lilandra had been shocked when he'd informed her of this, she'd said nothing to indicate that she was displeased. She'd suggested that the Shi'ar physician who'd implanted the device be the one to remove it, but Xavier insisted that Rebecca be present during the operation. Now he wore a Genoshan bracelet almost constantly, removing it only during the four to six hours a day, when he trained with Rebecca.
He had strengthened enough for the third psi-presence to be done away with, and their training sessions had shortened, but had become far more intense, with Rebecca raising psionic villains in her own mindscape and having him demolish them without injuring her in the least. Things were going as well as they possibly could, with none of the predicted villain attacks. Prominent families were paying legendary sums of money to get their mutant and non-mutant children into all three schools, and it seemed as though a mutant protection bill would soon pass in the Senate.
Rebecca soothed Xavier's thoughts, much like a fitness instructor would have decreased the intensity of his programme for the cool-down. They'd trained for five and a half hours straight, and both were exhausted at the strenuous psionic exercise. After a few minutes of telepathic cool down, Soleil withdrew from the Professor's mind. They opened their eyes, and Xavier snapped the Genoshan bracelet on, while Rebecca took the key and hung it around her neck. They stretched their limbs and stood up, then moved wordlessly away from one another.
Rebecca took immediately to her bedroom to shower, and found Warden curled up on her bed. She was about to demand what the hell he thought he was doing, when she noticed wet splotches on her pillow. Moving toward him, she sat at the edge of the bed and patted his shoulder. "I'm awake, Becky." He muttered.
"What's wrong? Didn't you see Richard today?"
"Yeah. I got back about an hour and a half ago."
"What're you doing in here? What happened?"
"He left me, Becky," Warden pulled himself into a sitting position, leaned heavily against the pillows, covering his face in his hands. "Damn it. I'm not even sure why."
"Oh, my God." She pulled him into a hug, and he buried his face in her shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Chris. I. . .damn, I'm going to hunt him down and murder that little bugger."
"Don't. Please just leave it alone." He sniffled, pulled back, and wiped his nose against his sleeve. "I just wanna be depressed."
"I've got a half-bottle of rum in my cupboard. One moment," she rose and retrieved the bottle, took a swig, and handed it to him. He gulped and guzzled like a drowning man. "Hold your horses. I'm not letting you drink yourself senseless. Wait, I want to hear about it so I can help."
Warden sighed and set the bottle on the end table, a mild buzz already settling in his brain. "I love him, Becky."
"I know, Chris. Just tell me what he said."
"Don't go after him. Don't."
"I promise, I'll stay right here with you."
"He jussst said that he thought I should like. . .move back to the city. He wanted to move in, you know? And then I just pulled the rug out from under him."
"And?"
"He said his biological clock was ticking and that he wanted us to be serious. I told him I wanted that too, an' that this was just temporary. An' he left."
"That's ridiculous! I knew he was a selfish sonovabitch, but I didn't expect something like that. Who the fucking hell does he think he is, messing with us like this?"
"Messhin' with mee, Beck. ME, not us. He said I should. . .leave you." She blinked. "I'm not GOING to! Of course, Becca. That's just stupid." He gulped again from the bottle. "I just wanna be with him. Cause I love him." He drew a breath; let it out as a convulsive sob. "Damn it. Asshole, bastard, motherfucking sonovabitch, I HATE it when life screws me over like this!" He collapsed back into her shoulder, and she felt tears soaking through her shirt. She tightened her arms around him, stroked his hair gently.
"Chris, babe, it'll be fine. I'm here, darling. Don't worry about a damn thing." She sighed, and rubbed his back consolingly. "Don't worry. Everything will turn out well." They stayed there for some time, while he wept and she comforted. Finally, he sighed and lay back on the bed. He turned to his side, and she settled in as well, facing him. "I'll take care of you." She murmured, and dropped a kiss on his forehead.
"Thank God." He sighed. "You know, I'd probably be a blathering lunatic right now if I didn't have you to come back to."
"Don't be sarcastic, I'm really worried about you, and I'll take good care of you." She knit her brow, smoothing his hair out of his eyes.
"I'm not being sarcastic. I love ya, Becky."
"Good, because I do believe you're beginning to grow on me." She grinned, then sat up. "I've got to take a shower. Do you want to go out for dinner, or shall we eat in?"
"Let's go out. I don't wanna be surrounded by strangers while I'm in mourning."
"All right, then. Get dressed nicely and get back in here. I'll need help with my clothes and hair." She ordered. Warden grinned sloppily, and kissed her gently on the cheek.
"Love ya, Becky."
"Get outta here."
XXX
Chapter Twenty-Two: Breaking Up is Hard to Do
Disclaimer: All Marvel Characters are the property of Marvel. This is a work of fanfiction, not an attempt to infringe on Stan Lee's personal arsenal of hotties. I can wish all I like, but Sabes is never gonna show up to collect me, and that's that. Oh, yeah, I'm making zero profit off this and if you want Beck, just ask.
As always, the lifeblood of the fanfiction author is reviews. I will respect constructive criticism, but flames are sincerely unappreciated. My e-mail address is seraph_taurus@thekeyz.com. Thanks for your time and God bless.
#-indicates thought
^-indicates telepathic conversation
XXX
Two men sat across from one another at a quiet sidewalk café not a half-hour from downtown Manhattan. One was young and beautiful and all-American, with blond hair and light blue eyes, sculpted features, and a slim, agile build. The other looked perhaps nearer forty, with close-cropped, shaggy hair that looked as though it had been brown once upon a time in his life, but had been bleached nearly white by the sun. His features were craggy, ruggedly handsome, with shy sun-wrinkles. He was shorter, and built like a WWF wrestler. Both had cups of black coffee, and a plate of muffins and scones sat at the centre of the small round table. "So you're staying in Westchester?" the older man inquired.
"Look, Richard, it's not like I'm further away than usual. It's a safety precaution. I told you what happened last week, and honestly, as much of a rush as it was, I wouldn't really like to repeat the experience." Warden shrugged.
"I just wanna get something straight," Richard muttered, the edges of his words sharp and pronounced. "Do you or don't you want me?"
"Of course I. . ."
"What I mean is, do you want this relationship to work? You've gotta look at things from MY perspective, Chris. I. . .I love you, and I don't want to lose you, but your work seems to be getting in our way. At the rate you're going, you're going to be in hiding for the rest of your life! I don't want to have to hide out from some Crimelord! Granted, I don't mind your being a merc. I understand that. I was Intel once, you know? But still. . .I wish you'd just put us first every once in a while."
"I DO put us first. Richard, I don't want this relationship to end any more than you do. I want us to be together for years and years and years. I don't intend to die any time soon. I'm safe with Becky and the X-Men."
"I'm sure you are, but it's not that. Before this Clyde thing went down, I was gonna move in with you and Rebecca. Where did that go? Are you just gonna put it on the back burner because now she wants you to be in some institutionalized atmosphere where she can chant mantras at some old bald guy?"
"It's not like that, Richard. This is for the best. For everyone. For mankind."
"Yeah, I've heard all that Xavier crap. I just can't believe you're getting sucked into it, as well." Richard rolled his eyes, selected a raisin scone and smeared cream cheese onto it. "This is ridiculous. You'll make sacrifices for your partner, but not for your boyfriend. Maybe you're in more of a relationship with Rebecca than you are with me."
"How could you say something like that, Richard? How COULD you? I love you! You know that, and I don't want to be with anyone else! This is just a temporary thing. If you don't have the patience to wait this out, then maybe you don't have the patience to be with me!"
"Maybe I don't, Chris," the other man replied harshly, "You know, I'm not gettin' any younger here! The first step toward a committed relationship is a move-in, and obviously I'm not welcome at this Xavier facility! You know what, if you're gonna make it this difficult, I might as well start all over again."
"What're you talking about?" Warden demanded.
"I'm talking about splitting up, Chris."
"You've gotta be kidding!"
"I'm not. I'm dead fucking serious."
"B. . .but I TOLD you," the younger man's voice cracked slightly, his blue eyes widening in terror. "I told you this was only going to be TEMPORARY. Maybe a few months, just until this situation blows over. Wouldn't you rather take a few minutes more travel time than have a dead boyfriend?"
"I don't HAVE a boyfriend anymore, damn it!" Richard slammed his fist on the table, upsetting their drinks. "We've grown so far apart, I feel like I don't even know you anymore. You've changed on me. I'm not gonna stand for that, we should just. . .just put an end to it."
"But Rick, babe. . ."
"No, I'm not listening to your bull anymore, Chris. I'm outta here." He tossed a bill on the table, grabbed his coat, and left. Warden sat alone for a few minutes, his features registering complete shock. After a while, he paid for the coffee and muffins, got into his car, and drove back toward the mansion.
As he drove up to the gates and entered the security code, he took three deep breaths. He parked his car neatly in the giant garage, and walked into the kitchen through a side-door. The members of X-Cell were preparing dinner. He greeted them politely, inquired what they were making, and headed for the elevator. He walked into his room, changed out of his slacks and turtleneck, and tugged on frayed jeans and a t-shirt. He strolled down the hall to Rebecca's room, which was empty, curled up on her bed, and closed his eyes.
XXX
Soleil and Xavier sat facing one another on the tatami mat floor, both in the lotus position, their eyes serenely closed, but darting to and fro as though in REM sleep. Between them lay a small silver bracelet with three buttons and a keyhole on its outer side. It was unclasped, and the key sat beside it. Neither of them seemed coherent, but the moment anyone came within five feet of their meditative pose, Soleil immediately sent them a sharp telepathic warning that they might observe, but from further away.
And observe some did. Since Soleil and the Professor had first begun training, Jubilee had dutifully sat and watched carefully, monitoring both of their brainwave patterns. Rebecca had requested that she break their connection should either of them be in any danger. Within a few days, X-Man and Chamber had joined her. And it was not only the resident telepaths who were interested in the Professor's sudden decision to regain full control over his slipping powers. Scott, Beast, even Skin hovered round the display at times to monitor what they could.
Things had changed greatly since Xavier and Jean had been home. For one, there was the addition of baby Quinn, who took up much of both Scott and Jean's time with her almost incessant crying. For a while, they had been worried about her, but after Beast performed a few tests, he found that her eyes were simply weak, and prescribed some drops for them.
Sinister had also become a common sight around the Xavier Mansion, especially in the MedLab. He and Hank would tinker and babble in their geneticist's jargon and push one another round the small clinic. No one had really bothered much with him, but he was always scrupulously polite, and both Leech and Artie had become somewhat attached to him. He'd helped Xavier break the news to Lilandra about his decision to remove the inhibitor. Though Lilandra had been shocked when he'd informed her of this, she'd said nothing to indicate that she was displeased. She'd suggested that the Shi'ar physician who'd implanted the device be the one to remove it, but Xavier insisted that Rebecca be present during the operation. Now he wore a Genoshan bracelet almost constantly, removing it only during the four to six hours a day, when he trained with Rebecca.
He had strengthened enough for the third psi-presence to be done away with, and their training sessions had shortened, but had become far more intense, with Rebecca raising psionic villains in her own mindscape and having him demolish them without injuring her in the least. Things were going as well as they possibly could, with none of the predicted villain attacks. Prominent families were paying legendary sums of money to get their mutant and non-mutant children into all three schools, and it seemed as though a mutant protection bill would soon pass in the Senate.
Rebecca soothed Xavier's thoughts, much like a fitness instructor would have decreased the intensity of his programme for the cool-down. They'd trained for five and a half hours straight, and both were exhausted at the strenuous psionic exercise. After a few minutes of telepathic cool down, Soleil withdrew from the Professor's mind. They opened their eyes, and Xavier snapped the Genoshan bracelet on, while Rebecca took the key and hung it around her neck. They stretched their limbs and stood up, then moved wordlessly away from one another.
Rebecca took immediately to her bedroom to shower, and found Warden curled up on her bed. She was about to demand what the hell he thought he was doing, when she noticed wet splotches on her pillow. Moving toward him, she sat at the edge of the bed and patted his shoulder. "I'm awake, Becky." He muttered.
"What's wrong? Didn't you see Richard today?"
"Yeah. I got back about an hour and a half ago."
"What're you doing in here? What happened?"
"He left me, Becky," Warden pulled himself into a sitting position, leaned heavily against the pillows, covering his face in his hands. "Damn it. I'm not even sure why."
"Oh, my God." She pulled him into a hug, and he buried his face in her shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Chris. I. . .damn, I'm going to hunt him down and murder that little bugger."
"Don't. Please just leave it alone." He sniffled, pulled back, and wiped his nose against his sleeve. "I just wanna be depressed."
"I've got a half-bottle of rum in my cupboard. One moment," she rose and retrieved the bottle, took a swig, and handed it to him. He gulped and guzzled like a drowning man. "Hold your horses. I'm not letting you drink yourself senseless. Wait, I want to hear about it so I can help."
Warden sighed and set the bottle on the end table, a mild buzz already settling in his brain. "I love him, Becky."
"I know, Chris. Just tell me what he said."
"Don't go after him. Don't."
"I promise, I'll stay right here with you."
"He jussst said that he thought I should like. . .move back to the city. He wanted to move in, you know? And then I just pulled the rug out from under him."
"And?"
"He said his biological clock was ticking and that he wanted us to be serious. I told him I wanted that too, an' that this was just temporary. An' he left."
"That's ridiculous! I knew he was a selfish sonovabitch, but I didn't expect something like that. Who the fucking hell does he think he is, messing with us like this?"
"Messhin' with mee, Beck. ME, not us. He said I should. . .leave you." She blinked. "I'm not GOING to! Of course, Becca. That's just stupid." He gulped again from the bottle. "I just wanna be with him. Cause I love him." He drew a breath; let it out as a convulsive sob. "Damn it. Asshole, bastard, motherfucking sonovabitch, I HATE it when life screws me over like this!" He collapsed back into her shoulder, and she felt tears soaking through her shirt. She tightened her arms around him, stroked his hair gently.
"Chris, babe, it'll be fine. I'm here, darling. Don't worry about a damn thing." She sighed, and rubbed his back consolingly. "Don't worry. Everything will turn out well." They stayed there for some time, while he wept and she comforted. Finally, he sighed and lay back on the bed. He turned to his side, and she settled in as well, facing him. "I'll take care of you." She murmured, and dropped a kiss on his forehead.
"Thank God." He sighed. "You know, I'd probably be a blathering lunatic right now if I didn't have you to come back to."
"Don't be sarcastic, I'm really worried about you, and I'll take good care of you." She knit her brow, smoothing his hair out of his eyes.
"I'm not being sarcastic. I love ya, Becky."
"Good, because I do believe you're beginning to grow on me." She grinned, then sat up. "I've got to take a shower. Do you want to go out for dinner, or shall we eat in?"
"Let's go out. I don't wanna be surrounded by strangers while I'm in mourning."
"All right, then. Get dressed nicely and get back in here. I'll need help with my clothes and hair." She ordered. Warden grinned sloppily, and kissed her gently on the cheek.
"Love ya, Becky."
"Get outta here."
XXX