Chapter 11

A few hours after lunch, John and I found ourselves back in his room. I knew it was time for me to head back to the Institute. I could see it in my lover's eyes before he even thought of how to tell me. I walked up to him and wrapped my arms around his waist. He looked down at me in surprise.

"What's wrong, kid?"

I smiled faintly. "I need to be returning, don't I?"

He sighed but leaned into my embrace. "Yeah, you do."

I tightened my grip a bit and buried my head against his shoulder. My love brushed his hand over the back of my head absently. I grinned, but he didn't see it. He was too busy brooding over the fact that I had to leave. I knew that was what he was doing, but I also knew that he wouldn't admit to it. He realized that I didn't want to go, but there was no way he'd let me stay.

I tipped my head up so that I could see him. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Everything. I don't know what would've happened to me if you weren't here."

"You'd have spent the weekend in the sewers."

"If the Morlocks would let me. Of course, you did things that I'd never do with them."

That got a smile from him. I arched up and kissed him lightly. The kiss was neither demanding nor pleading and John didn't try to deepen it. He understood that I needed reassurances right now; we both did.

We broke off the kiss and he rested his forehead against mine. His hands settled against my lower back gently. We stood there comfortably silent for a few minutes before John spoke again.

"We really need to get you out of here soon or I may decide to keep you."

To anyone else, it would seem really strange that my staying would be a bad thing, but I understood. He wouldn't risk having me around for a long period of time when Magneto was still in charge. I was surprised that he'd let me stay this long, but then again, he was worried about me.

I felt tears pricking my eyelids but willed them not to fall. I looked into his eyes, unwilling to do otherwise. I could see the tears beginning to pool. I faltered a bit, because the only time I'd ever seen him cry was when I'd confronted him after Mystique tried to kill me and the other "new recruits." I ghosted a kiss over his lips as my tears began to spill. We absently maneuvered to the couch and collapsed in a crumpled heap. I loved having some of his weight on me while he had some of mine. I rested my head against the first part of him I met. Then we merely curled up, held on, and cried.

I held back my sobs and opted for silence. John had been holding everything together the last few days: the situation, me, and himself. I could tell that he needed to get all of the emotions out before they poisoned him. We both cried openly, letting out the fear and anguish. I let him hold me and touch me as he pleased, trying to support him while trying to feel safe as well.

After a while, we both managed to stop our tears. I pulled in a ragged breath and looked up at my love. He wrapped one of his arms around my waist, reassuringly.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, drawing in a shaky breath.

"Don't be," I returned, shifting into his grip. "It's been a long weekend."

He ran his lips over my cheek and, thus, cleared away the tear remnants. I brushed my hand over one of his cheeks. He smiled faintly and caught my hand as I lowered it. I glanced at his face as he linked our fingers together. He squeezed my hand faintly. I smiled adoringly.

"What happened to the hyperactive fireball I fell in love with?" I asked.

"Do you miss him that much?"

"I was just wondering what caused the sudden change in your personality," I reiterated softly.

"He took the backseat for a serious issue," came the equally soft reply.

"And being blackmailed into genocide isn't serious?"

He paused. "That doesn't hurt you yet. The instant it does, it'll be serious."

I rolled my eyes at him. He always managed to use his affection or compliments to diffuse a potentially ugly situation. I squeezed his hand lightly as the arm around my waist disappeared. I berated myself as I realized that I all ready missed his touch. It was going to be a long week... and that was assuming that Magneto didn't have other plans in mind.

I felt my hopelessness dissipate as John's now-free hand fluttered over my face. I leaned into the touch hopefully. He smiled and pulled me in for a warm, affection-filled kiss. Again, neither of us tried to push it any deeper.

We broke it off gently. I pulled back and looked at him again. I watched forlornly as a single tear ran down his face. That was love at its purest, I realized. He loved me so much it hurt.

"You need to get cleaned up so you can be returned," he murmured.

"I know," I sighed.

Somehow we managed to climb to our feet without injury or disentangling much. John gripped my waist again and pulled me against him. I felt a smile tug at the corners of my mouth. I let my head rest against his shoulder.

"I thought I was going to the shower," I teased.

"You are, eventually," he returned, laying his cheek atop my head.

"Unless we stall too long."

"Or that," he amended.

I paused a moment before speaking again. "What am I going to tell the others? They're going to want to know where I've been."

"I don't know, kid. Xavier may have a few tricks up his sleeve or you might just have to flatwall them until you come up with a good alibi."

I grunted in frustration. "Ray is going to be worried. I won't be able to shut him out at all."

"Then talk to Xavier as soon as you get back to set the record straight."

"I'll be back here next weekend no matter what happens," I said, forcefully. I was all ready thinking about the lecture I was sure to get about being with the enemy, especially if Scott found out. At least Logan was on my side.

"I know you will. And after that talk, where are you going?"

I couldn't stop the grin that crossed my face at his protective behavior. I equally failed to keep the amusement from my voice. "I'm going to the infirmary to be examined in the unlikely case that you missed something."

He lifted his head and ruffled my hair in mock irritation. "Good."

I looked up at him and beamed. He chuckled and removed his arm from my waist. I stepped back and looked at his other hand, still grasping mine. I brought it up to my face and kissed it nonchalantly. My lover caught the back of my head with his free hand and kissed my lips lightly.

He pulled away and dropped his hand after a few seconds. "Now you really do have to get in the shower. I don't want you to be late."

"Late? You mean that you actually have this thing planned out?"

He smirked, "Naturally."

"Schemer." I rolled my eyes, but the affection in my voice was still obvious.

"Yep."

"So..." I paused. "What did you do with the clothes I had?"

He hesitated a moment, "I threw them out. I figured you wouldn't want to see them and I don't think we could've saved them anyway."

I nodded, "But what am I going to wear home?"

"I'll find you something while you're in the shower."

"OK." I moved toward the bathroom and was reluctant to feel our hands slip apart. This was a big change for us. We were never this sentimental and sappily adoring. I entered the bathroom and shook my head faintly. It had been a crazy weekend and I still had to make it back to the Institute with Ray. I let the hot water cascade through the showerhead, enjoying the steam a bit. I quickly stripped out of John's clothes and stepped hesitantly under the hot stream.

I set to cleaning off the crud that seemed to draw to my body. I supposed it was just a characteristic of all teenage boys. I quickly shampooed my hair, turned off the water, and climbed out of the shower. It never took me long to shower, but I really wanted to see my lover for a little bit longer. I shook my hair semi-dry before wrapping the towel around my waist. I moved to the door and grabbed the knob, but voices in the bedroom made me stop.

"He needs you." That was Piotr-

"I know." -and that was John.

"Then tread carefully, John, because you need him just as much."

I couldn't hear the reply, so I cracked open the door. I decided to pretend like I didn't know Piotr was even there. "I need some clothes in here!"

I heard both of them laugh before John hurried over with some clothes. He pulled open the door and stepped into the bathroom. I felt blood rush to my face as he shut the door and set the clothes on the counter. He stepped up to me and kissed me affectionately. My eyes slipped shut as I felt my emotions beginning to overwhelm me again. It was going to be disastrous when he left town again. There was no way of knowing how violently depressed I would probably become. John broke off the kiss gently and I gazed up at him through half-lidded eyes. He chuckled yet ran a hand through my damp hair. I gave him a lazy smile.

"Come on," he murmured. "You need to get dressed before..."

"OK, what'd you bring?"

"Just some of my stuff. You should be able at least to make it back to the Institute without problems."

"Thanks."

He shrugged, "It's the least I can do. I'll leave you to it."

I nodded gratefully and he left the room. I don't know why I was self- conscious around him sometimes. It wasn't like he hadn't seen me naked countless times. I changed into the boxers and pants he'd left me. They fit amazingly well... for someone a few inches taller than I was. I rolled them a few times before turning to the shirt. It was a well-worn orange tee shirt I recognized immediately. It was John's favorite shirt.

TBC