Love, or Something Like it
Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men, but I do own Alexis.
AN: And part two of chapter two has arrived! Technically, this is chapter three, but it takes off from the cliffhanger of chapter two.
Thanks to my reviewers, I luff you guys so much! Especially you, Jenn. You made no sense, but I know it's a compliment. After all, I have known you for two years now!
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Previously, on "Love, or Something Like It":
Cerebro picks up signs of a mutant on the grounds. She's found, but is barely alive. After a strange meeting, the girl decides to open up to Xavier and his X-Men.
"I'm guessing that you all want an explanation, right? Well, I guess it wouldn't harm to tell you guys. But I need to start at the beginning. That would be back in ninety-six, when I was seven-years-old..."
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Chapter Three: Saturday, February 5th, Afternoon
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Alexis cut herself off, before looking out the library window, her eyes misty and depressed. "That was the year my mom and dad lost me and my brother to Child Services. I don't remember why; it's probably better that I don't. But still, I remember crying the day we had to leave. My brother didn't leave with me though..." She paused and clutched her locket tight in her fist. "He was five then, and the social worker told me not to worry about him. But I did, and I still do. I haven't heard of him since; for all I know, he could've been adopted in another country or something..."
A few people in the room shifted, namely Scott, Kurt, and Rogue. The three all had similar stories, in a way: Rogue not knowing her real parents from a young age, Kurt being adopted and only knowing who his real mother was, and Scott not knowing that his own brother was alive for nearly ten years.
Alexis cleared her throat and took another long sip of her tea, before continuing, her voice now containing more emotion. "After a few years in a single foster home, I began to 'bounce'. No place seemed right to me, so I just kept going from place to place. I had finally thought I'd found a home a few months ago, in November. But then the trouble started.
"In December, my mutant powers first started to develop. They weren't very strong, so they were easy to conceal. But as they started to get stronger, they got out of control. I decided to take a walk one night, after one especially disastrous incident, to get my head together. But then, something happened. I don't remember what it was, but the next second it was dark, and I was in some city I'd never seen before. And some guy was with me. He told me that his name was Erik, and that he wanted to help me. I was scared, and I knew that staying there wouldn't be right, so I ran. I ran, and I ran, and I kept running. I was just trying to get away."
Xavier closed his eyes. Erik, what did you do to her? And what do you plan to do? He turned back to Alexis, asking delicately, "Then what did you do?"
She shrugged. "Tried to survive on the streets. I didn't know most of the places I was in, but I knew I was moving north. It never crossed my mind to go back; it wasn't really an option. Anyway, that guy, Erik, 'Magneto', whatever, kept following me everywhere I went. I didn't always see him, but I could feel him. I knew he was there."
The X-Men could relate. That guy really had a way of letting you know he was around. Alexis noticed the few glances and shudders around the room. "Y'all know him?"
Scott nodded. "Let's just say we know what you went through with him." Alexis raised a thin eyebrow, but shrugged and continued. "To stay on my feet, I had to steal things every now and then. Or I'd work for what little money I could get. Looking back now, those four weeks look, and felt, more like years. Except the past few days, the days I've been here in Bayville. Those felt like eternities.
"I'd bummed a ride from a tucker up here, since I heard that there were a lot of people like me around."
Jean looked puzzled. "Runaways?" A flash of anger played in Alexis' eyes, before she stiffly replied, "No, mutants." She cast here eyes down to the floor. "I thought I'd be safe if I could make it to the place I'd heard about. But I couldn't seem to find it. That is, until Erik chased me there. He wanted me to stay with his little 'group', but I couldn't stand being tired down by him, or being told what to do. I was never there, so I don't even know what I 'missed out on'. All I know is I wanted out of Bayville. So I set out last night for the city. There, I figured I could finally lose Erik. But he found me when I left, and this time, he was pissed. He told me that he wasn't playing 'cat and mouse' anymore, and that I had to surrender. But I wouldn't and-"
"he chased you though the city and up here. He tried to capture you, but you got loose and tried running here for help. But Magneto still got to you in the end," Xavier finished, looking sympathetic. Alexis slowly nodded, before turning to everyone in the room. "Y'all are mutants right? Like that guy and this one?" She jerked a thumb at Xavier and Beast, who had returned from the lab with Ororo. Scott and Jean looked around nervously, but Kitty piped up, "Yup, that's us! All mutants, just like you!"
Alexis pulled back slightly, both eyebrows arched in a way that spelled "dude, chill out". But she just said, "Really? Thought so."
"Well, are ya gonna go on?" Rogue asked, breaking the dull silence forming in the room. "What? Oh...um...yeah, uh, s-sure..." Alexis stumbled over her words, seeming nervous now. "Well, after he cornered me, I sorta...lost it. My control that is. He can do this weird thing that seems to make me lose control over my powers, and when I was by the gate, he did the thing. I lost all my control, and my powers went wild. I don't really remember how; my head was pounding so hard and I couldn't see well. But when my powers stopped, he left, thanking me for...what I had done." Alexis dropped her head in what looked like shame. "After that, I was so exhausted and out of it, I just passed out. I was so sure I was going to die, but I didn't all that much care. And then this morning I guess y'all found me, and well...yeah. This all happened."
The room was silent. It wasn't that Alexis' story had them stunned; they were just surprised. And a bit disturbed. During the whole duration of her life story, Alexis failed to mention what her power was; the thing she possessed that she could barely control, and that seemed to have bad effects when they went wild. A few X-Men exchanged glances, all being worried looks. Xavier seemed to be picking up on the vibes in the room, and he turned to Alexis. "If you could, Miss-"He held back, not sure of her last name. Or of her first for that matter. No one had asked, she hadn't said, and the only clue was that one of her bracelets was inscribed with AV all around it.
Alexis smiled a small smile. "Alexis. Alexis Valentine."
"Ah, yes. Miss Valentine, if you don't mind, could you please tell us what you mutant power is?"
Alexis looked at the ground, her eyes shifty. "I dunno..." she muttered, kicking at the rug. She was visibly nervous, her hands shaking slightly as she set her cup down. "They're...not easy to explain. Or to understand. Unless, of course, you've, um...felt them." She looked up from the ground, looking worried herself. "I manipulate emotions my means of subconscious trances. In laymans terms, I put trances on people that have certain reactions. But I cannot control the reactions except in a few rare cases, as far as I know. Which, to put it plainly, sucks. I have no control of how long the trances last, nor of what they cause." Alexis seemed a bit relieved now, but Xavier felt that she was still holding back. "And, what kind of trances are these?" he asked, moving closer to the girl.
Instantly, a guilty look came over here, and Xavier could've sworn she had another ability; one that aided her in her rapidly changing emotions. "Fyrewurvfrancids..." she muttered, and everyone was confused again. "What now? What are they?" Xavier prodded, and Alexis sighed deeply. "They're...just trances."
Logan rolled his eyes and growled. "Listen girly, just tell the man what ya do and get it over with already! We've already sat through your sob story about how horrible your life's been and how much Mags scares you. Now, spare us another pity-party and just say it!"
Alexis turned on the couch, her eyes narrowed. "I didn't have to tell you. I could've just left without saying a word, which I wanted to do in the first place. But I took a chance, thinking y'all could help me. Well, I guess I was wrong." Her eyes flashed a dangerous-looking fuchsia color, and Alexis' breathing quickened. "No," she muttered, closing her eyes and leaning forward. She muttered to herself, taking short, deep breaths. After a minute or so, she opened her eyes slowly. They were a dark blue again, and she brushed the little "episode" off easily, as if they happened all the time.
She stood up, wide-eyed faces watching her every move, and set down her empty teacup. "Thank you Professor Xavier, but I feel that I have been enough of a burden. If I could just use your phone, I'll be on my way." She pulled a thick wallet from her back pocket, something that had been overlooked when she was found, and waved it back and forth. "That Erik guy might scary as hell and want me dead, but man, he's loaded. Gave me this when I was 'supposed' to join his little group. I'm betting that this is enough for a cab and a plane ticket." She began to walk out of the room, when a hand shot out and caught her.
"Hey, hey, hey." The boy Alexis identified as Kurt held up his furry blue hands. "Don't leave. At least, not yet. We can really help you here. Really. Don't listen to Logan; he's always grumpy and impatient like that." He flashed her a smile, but Alexis still looked upset. "I don't know..." she started, when Scott stuck his nose in.
"You might as well stay you know. It's not like you have anywhere else to go." He folded his arms across his chest, his ruby-quartz glasses glinting in the pale sunlight filtering in from the windows. Alexis locked her eyes with his, and as if she was staring into his soul, she planted her feet firmly in the carpet.
"If –and mind you, this is an 'if'- I stay, what do I have to do for you?"
This whole time, the adults had carefully been watching the girl, Logan with suspicion, the other with curiosity. It was like being on a roller-coaster, listening to Alexis: one minute she was sad, then angry, then losing it, and now cautious. Were all of these emotions covering for something else?
"Well?" Alexis' voice grew impatient, and her foot began to tap. "I'm waiting..." The room was silent, its occupants not knowing what to say. Finally, Rogue spoke up. "If ya stay, ya hafta train wit us 'n learn how ta handle yer powers. Ya hafta live here 'n go ta school wit us 'n everythin'. We gotta deal?"
"Not quite. What's in it for me?"
"Ya'll get control. An' friends. Ain't that what ya want?"
Alexis' eyes bore into Rogue's, the girl carefully going over the words. Finally her eyes cleared, and she held out a slim hand. "Deal."
The rest of the room winced as Alexis hit the floor, hard. Rogue stood up and put her glove back on, before making for the door. "Ah'm sorry, but she was getting' on mah nerves."
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Saturday, February 5th, Night
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Alexis groaned, rubbing her head, as she sat up. Instead of being on the library floor, she was now on a bed, a real bed. Which was in a rather spacious room, one with a television, radio, dresser, and desk. "Damn, how long have I been out?" she muttered, turning to see a balcony near her bed, complete with long windows, the curtain pulled back to reveal the waxing moon.
"Oh, I'd say about six hours, give or take an hour," a voice near her said lazily, causing Alexis to jump. "Don't do that!" she half yelled as Scott turned on a lamp on the bedside table. He was sitting on another bed, a grin plastered on his face. Alexis scowled, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. "So, I'm guessing that this is my room?" she asked, not even touching the subject of what had happened. She had a feeling that it would include a lengthy answer to a simple question.
"Not exactly. It's your room for the night, but tomorrow you'll be moving in with your new roommate. After you go do some shopping with the girls and have a training session with us." He put on his leader face. "You'll be training with all of us."
"All?"
"Yeah, all of us X-Men. Even our lesser-experienced members."
Alexis slowly nodded. "Yeah, OK, whatever. Right now I'm going to crash. It feels like little miss Mississippi Goth Queen ran me over with a freight train. That, or I was attacked with rampaging, club-wielding Furbies on acid." She smiled, expecting Scott to laugh. But he only looked at her strangely, remaining quiet. "Uh, hello? Earth to Shades. Hello? Huston, we've lost contact."
Scott laughed. "Oh Alexis, your hilarious!" She raised an eyebrow. "OK, I'm funny, and thanks. But it wasn't that funny."
"Yes it was!" Scott continued to chuckle, and Alexis rolled her eyes. Suddenly, Scott stopped. "You know, when the moon falls on your face like that, you look so beautiful..." He stood up, Alexis watching him carefully. He sat down next to her on the bed, before cupping her face in his hands and bending forward. Alexis knew what was happening, and roughly shoved Scott away. "Dude, what do you think you're doing?!" she cried, backing away. Scott blinked for a few seconds before shaking his head. "I...I don't know. It felt like...like I..."
"Say no more," Alexis replied as a blush crept up on both their faces. "I think I'm fine now, so go on, get out of here." She made "shoo" motions with her hands, and Scott stood up, rubbing the back of his neck. He reached the door, before turning back to Alexis. "I'm...sorry. That –it didn't- I mean-"
"It doesn't mean anything, right? You have no clue what you were doing, and this never happened?" Alexis more commanded than suggested. Scott nodded slowly, muttering, "Yeah. It never happened." He walked out of the room, still confused, and closed the door quietly behind him.
"Yeah, nothing ever happens, does it?" Alexis whispered, falling back onto the bed and pulling the sheets and comforter over herself. The moon seemed to grin down at her like the Cheshire Cat from "Alice In Wonderland". "But what I did, did happen. And it's starting to take effect. Again, I ask myself: what the heck have you done Valentine? What have you done?"
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AN: Fwee, that was a fun chapter to write, especially the end. I'll be bringing the Brotherhood in on this next chapter, along with a few New Recruits. They'll all have parts though, rest assured. Now, press the little purple button and review this puppy!
Oh, and a question:
Why don't those damn kids just let the rabbit have the cereal? It's not like it'd kill them to let him have one box! And why won't the other damn kids just leave the leprechaun the alone?
-Rose