Whew, thanks to xfan2003 and Mayirella, I'm back on tracks. Thanks again girls for your comments!
There is a lot of Jean in it, but I guess I was trying to work out my Jean's issues because she's destined to play an important role at some point, and I just didn't want to write a bitchy Jean. But since I know she's gonna come across that way no matter what, at least I'm trying to justify her behaviours towards some characters. I've read too many of Terri's fics, who has also Jean's issues she lets out unabashedly, and they tend to rub off on me.
Ok, I'll stop with the lame excuses ;-)
Now on to the fic!
PS: If the guy introduced here would look like someone real, he would probably look like Rick Yune (The Fast and Furious, Die Another Day).
Jean was heading back to her Jeep after her first day back at college. The sun was now very low on the horizon. A so-far calm day. No mutant emergency, no need to save the world. A perfect day. But a little voice in her mind kept telling her that the peace was about to be shattered very soon.
She used to trust those voices -her instinct, or sixth sense, or whatever you wanted to call it- when she was younger. She used to be much more following her impulses as well. But that was less and less the case. It wasn't compatible with whom she had to be. When her life started to make sense again after her powers were revealed, she had promised herself never to be helpless against the assault of foreign thoughts in her head which had almost driven her mad, until the Professor took her under his wing. The only way she could do that at first was by keeping control all the time, her power-surge two years ago a reminder that she still needed to work on it on a regular basis.
Sometimes though, like when she could hear Rogue and Kitty both arguing and laughing, or see Kurt and Bobby prepare a prank on someone, she wished she didn't have to. Actually she was tempted to let go, to become again the girl she used to be in her early teens, if only from time to time. Deep down, she knew she could let go some, her daily control over her powers now effortless. But nobody at the Mansion had known her that way, and she was afraid of what they may think. And she knew she couldn't even bear thinking at Scott's, the Professor or Ororo's disappointment in her.
So she was trapped in her always irreproachable demeanours, even if they weren't completely hers, even if they left out this part of her. A wild, untamed and darker part of her. But she had become so estranged from that part that she was now fearing it, consciously trying to repress any open expression of it, especially lately, as again it seemed to want out, if her nightmares were anything to go by. She knew it wasn't a sane situation, but she was afraid that, by letting go, the dam would break for good, and that was not an option. She had been 'Perfect Jean' for too long now.
She had good comrades, even if they weren't the close friends she felt were missing in her life. She had parents who still cared for her –a luxury reserved to a few mutants only- although she could feel that her mutation had broken something in her relation with them. She had the sweetest boyfriend one could dream of, but sometimes, she wished he wouldn't be as sweet. She loved every single of his attentions, and she loved that he was such a good guy, but no matter how strongly she suppressed it, this part of her sometimes had her look at other guys, searching for a glint of adventure, or even danger she couldn't find in Scott.
She was now arriving at the parking lot. Still deep in thoughts, she was fishing for the keys in her bag, not paying attention to anything around her. She emerged from behind a truck parked there to cross the exit way and didn't hear the BMW until it was too late, too late for her to use her powers.
She was only beginning to realise what was about to happen when she heard a "Look out!" and felt herself being yanked violently back by the arm, the move so quick that she whirled around and ended up face against the wide expanse of the muscled chest of the man who had just saved her. She felt his arm come around her shoulder protectively while the BMW went past them, its driver shooting obscenities at her
As the noise of the car was dying out in the distance, she started to shake a little, the reality of what could have happened sinking in. She slowly raised her head only to find herself looking at impossibly deep and intense pools of dark, and she felt herself immediately drown in them, before being shaken out of her stupor by a velvety voice:
"I'd say it was close."
She disengaged herself from his embrace a little, pulling back slightly to have a better look at him. Now she was contemplating his whole face. His hair was the same dark as his eyes, his skin tanned and his cheeks and jaw finely chiselled, but there was nothing feminine about it. If anything, he looked exotic, with his almond-shaped eyes.
Breaking out of the circle of his arms completely now, she sighed a small "Thank you", before taking a couple of steps back. They looked at each other for what seemed like eternity, before Jean repeated, with what she hoped was a steadier voice "Thank you. You've just saved my life." The brusque motion had caused one of her bangs to get loose, framing her face. She straightened it behind her ear, feeling every bit like a blushing schoolgirl in front of the object of her crush.
"You're welcome." the man said with a small smile, shrugging it off as if it was something he did every day. She could feel he was about to walk away, and she knew she couldn't let him, not like that, not without knowing anything of him."
"No….no really! You….you saved my life out there. I'd like, I'd like to know if there's something I could do, anything, I owe you that much." She hated it, she hated it she sounded so unsure. That was not like her, but the fright or the weight of his gaze, she didn't know, had broken through her usual aloof demeanour.
His smile got a little bit wider, and there was now a glint of amusement in his eyes, but not the pity or condescendence she expected at her less than controlled behaviour.
"Actually, there's something you could do for me." He bent to take his rucksack that he had discarded to rush to Jean's aid. "You're in Psychology too, right?"
She nodded "I do follow a few courses there, yes, why?"
"I've just arrived. I'm a foreign student, from Hong Kong. I won't begin to study before next semester, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to come a little bit earlier and get to know the campus, and, well, the 'American way of life' a little. I have also a few tests to pass to be admitted directly in second year. I was wondering if I could ask you….to help me out, give me a tour of sorts. It's pretty big in here" He said with a little embarrassed laugh, scratching the back of his head.
Suddenly he almost jumped as if remembering something, and extended his hand to her. "Oh! And my name is Ryu by the way!"
She took the offered hand and shook it "I'm Jean. Welcome to America, I guess!" A pause "And yes, I'd be more than happy to give you a tour. What about tomorrow, after Mr Thomasson's class?"
His face lightened up even more. "That would be great. Thank you, Jean!" He let her hand go, but she barely noticed, transfixed by his joyous expression, finding herself responding to it with a grin of her own.
"There's no need to thank…."
"Jean?"
Both turned to see Scott running towards them, his expression unreadable behind his glasses.
"Jean" he repeated once he had caught up with her "we need to go, we have a….." he stopped, seeming to finally notice the presence of Ryu at her side.
"Ah, this is Ryu, a foreign exchange student, who've just arrived from Hong Kong and who's gonna be in some of my classes. Ryu, this is Scott. He studies here too."
"I'm her boyfriend" Scott added guardedly
But Ryu didn't seem to notice the almost hostile vibes Scott was sending his way, as he kept smiling and extended his hand again. "Nice to meet you Scott. Woaw, I'd never thought I'd get to know two people like you guys in my first day."
After a slight hesitation, Scott shook his hand in turn, not uttering another word. Then for a few seconds, an uncomfortable silence reigned, before Ryu cleared his throat
"Well, I've got to go. Scott, I'm looking forward to meet you again. Jean, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then. Bye!"
" Bye!" Jean wavered her hand until he disappeared from their sight. She then looked up at Scott, already prepared to lecture him about his hostile behaviour, but he beat her to it, urgency now clear in his tone a gestures. He grabbed her hand and walked fast towards their cars, dragging her behind while explaining the reasons of the rush.
"Jean, we've got to go. There is a young mutant who needs help. It looks like he can't control his powers anymore –something to do with gravity I think- and he's causing havoc in the tour nearby the hospital. There's no time to lose: they've already called in the army! Kurt is on his way. You get Rogue, she's at the newly opened art gallery!"
"Wait, what about…." But Scott had already jumped in his convertible and was now starting it.
"Just do it Jean, there is no time!"
At first she just stood their, watching him leave the parking lot, before opening the front door of her own car. It seemed pretty urgent, so she tried to squelch all the questions that assailed her. Like how they were gonna be the only four to face a scared mutant with what seemed like a formidable power? Why hadn't the Professor contact her as well with the situation at hand? What was Rogue doing at the art gallery when she was grounded?
But more than everything, she tried not to let her mind drift towards deep pools of dark, and the mystery that was in them.
As usual, read&review, thanks!