Sorry I haven't updated in forever. I've been having writer's block with
this story, and the lack of reviews, though I thank whoever did review! So
. . . please review!
* * *
Ling enjoyed the kiss very much; it was like a happy tingly feeling.
Afterwards, she was blushing a lot, and for a few precious moments, she snuggled next to John and closed her eyes for a moment, taking it all in.
She wanted to stay like that forever, but eventually they had to get up and go find Bobby and Rogue.
* * *
They eventually found all the X-Men, including Bobby and Rogue, all walking around the kitchen and opening the cabinets trying to find something to eat. Some were already at the table and others looked hopelessly hungry.
"Uh, guys?" Ling tried. But the busy buzz of the X-Men caused her to not be heard.
"SHUT UP EVERYBODY!!!" Pyro yelled.
Everyone became silent and glared at Pyro. And Nightcrawler, being shocked by John's yelling, bumped his head on a cabinet, only causing the cereal to come out. So in short, Nightcrawler's head got nice marshmallow decoration to go with the tattoos.
"Okay, everyone find something you like and get in line, okay? Move people!" Ling ordered.
Everyone mumbled as they followed her orders, but eventually, everyone got a satisfying dinner.
* * *
After dinner, Rogue took Ling aside.
"So, looks like the supposedly girl-with-no-feelings has a secret boyfriend, huh?" Rogue asked, eyes glittering mischievously.
"What are you talking about?" Ling said, her eyes averting around guiltily, looking for an exit.
"I'm talking about you getting cozy with John."
"You were spying?!" Ling hissed.
"You two were gone, and me and Bobby were worried. So we went looking for you . . . and found you two kissing." Rogue explained sheepishly.
Ling rolled her eyes. "Is nothing private in this world anymore. Of course, I wouldn't know . . . and country music IS really annoying . . ."
Country music? Rogue raised an eyebrow. "Right. I suspected it before anyway, so it was only a matter of time."
"Hmm."
"So was that the first time you kissed him?"
"Maybe."
"C'mon, we're friends, you can tell."
"Fine, fine! I kissed him once before," Ling admitted.
"Ooh, when?" Rogue asked eagerly.
"During the mission. At first it was only to trick the guards into thinking we weren't trespassers, and I was hurt and . . . and then he kissed me again even after they left. I didn't understand why at the time. I don't think I do now. Feelings are now confusing for me."
Rogue nodded. "Yeah, I understand."
* * *
There were plenty of rooms, so the X-Men decided to stay overnight in the safe haven.
There were enough rooms for everyone to have their own, but some preferred to bunk with someone, since each room was different. Some had those Queen or King sized beds for couples, some had single mattress beds for one person, and others had two twin sized beds in a room.
Jean and Scott, obviously took the big beds, having much *cough* to catch up with. Storm, Wolverine, Professor Xavier, and Nightcrawler took the single beds. Rogue roomed with Bobby on the twin beds, and that left a very confused Ling to choose. Rogue winked at her as she went into her bedroom, which gave Rogue a glare back.
"So . . . you get first 'dibs' on room." Ling informed John, trying out that new word that she heard Rogue say.
"Ladies first." John said, grinning, seeing how obvious it was that Ling didn't want to choose.
"Yeah, well that never ever applied to me, so let's not start now."
So the excuse war began.
"Well you SHOULD start now, since you're with the X-Men and all." John pointed out.
"Well technically you're not with the X-Men yet, so those rules don't apply to you." Ling shot back.
"Ouch, that hurt. You're good at this."
"Flattery will get you nowhere. What room do you want? For god's sakes, pick all ready!"
"Why don't you?"
"This is really getting nowhere."
"I think that's the point."
So after more arguing, the two decided to get their own rooms. But unknown to them, a certain mutant couple were listening to them.
"God, they're perfect for each other." Rogue whispered.
"All I see is them fighting," Bobby observed.
"Yeah, but they say that when people argue a lot and tease each other, they're actually hitting on each other." Rogue explained.
"Rogue . . . that's gross."
"How is that gross?"
"Because you're basically saying that whenever me and John fight, he's hitting on me, which makes him gay, which means he can't like Ling cause he's gay- -"
"Oh shut up Bobby."
"Gladly."
And Rogue could spy on her friends no further, due to the fact that Bobby and kissed her on the lips for a second, and then dragging her to her bed, telling her that they had heard enough from the two for one night.
* * *
Ling woke up groggily in the morning, yawning and stretching her arms out. It was possibly the best night of sleep she had ever had. She felt newly refreshed and ready for whatever came for her that day.
So the X-Men had one breakfast, cleaned up the place, and then were on their way back home: to the Xavier mansion.
Once they were there, Xavier let them rest up a little bit, but then he called in the team, including Rogue, Bobby, Ling, and John, to Logan's disapproval and worry.
"They're too young!" Logan argued.
"Logan, it was them who found the secret message." Professor Xavier pointed out. "And Ling is used to surviving, Logan; she can take care of the others. John has always been rebellious, and he has the power and instincts to take care of himself. Bobby and Rogue were more sheltered, but they take care of each other. Actually, Logan, I'd say this is an excellent group of new X-Men."
"Ok, fine, whatever bub, but I'm still worried about John. How do we know we can trust him?"
"I've read his mind. He seems to have come with us of his own free will, and not the will of Magneto. I think he's been wanting to come back for some time and see his friends, but there was another moving factor there." Professor Xavier said with a smile.
"And what would that be?"
"That's something that will remain untold until further notice."
"Oh no, the Professor's getting a sense of humor."
"Very funny Logan."
"I know it is."
"You wanted to see us Professor?" Rogue's voice came from a tiny crack in the door.
"Yes, Rogue, I wanted to discuss with you four about what you found. I don't believe we've talked about it yet." Professor Xavier gestured for the four to sit down.
"Fist of all, what did you find?" Scott asked.
Ling took out the remote from her pocket and handed it to Scott. "It's a coded message of where the machine was. It was encrypted in Stryker's code, but I knew his simple method of codes, so I was able to decipher it."
"What does it say?" Scott asked, confused at what looked like gibberish to him.
"It says, 'Project Mutant Control is located at Florida Science Center.'"
Shivers went down everyone's spine.
"Project Mutant Control." Logan growled, "When will these government clowns stop all these stupid things?"
"Probably never. There will always be evil people doing evil things to little ten year olds." Ling said, her voice suddenly dropping to an emotionless monotone.
Logan nodded sadly, understanding what she meant. He of all people should know exactly what she was feeling, except she got it worse since she wasn't able to escape as Logan was able to.
"Right, well, I suggest we go to the Science Center, then." Storm said, sighing.
"But which one? There's gotta be more than one Science Center in Florida." Rogue pointed out.
They all looked at Ling.
Ling thought for a moment, digging deep into what memories she had and pieced pieces of the puzzle together.
"The one in Orlando, Florida. That was the only place in Florida Stryker's ever been to." Ling said. "I'll bet it's there, at the largest one."
"Well, boys and girls," Scott said, "I think we're all going to Florida."
* * *
Ling enjoyed the kiss very much; it was like a happy tingly feeling.
Afterwards, she was blushing a lot, and for a few precious moments, she snuggled next to John and closed her eyes for a moment, taking it all in.
She wanted to stay like that forever, but eventually they had to get up and go find Bobby and Rogue.
* * *
They eventually found all the X-Men, including Bobby and Rogue, all walking around the kitchen and opening the cabinets trying to find something to eat. Some were already at the table and others looked hopelessly hungry.
"Uh, guys?" Ling tried. But the busy buzz of the X-Men caused her to not be heard.
"SHUT UP EVERYBODY!!!" Pyro yelled.
Everyone became silent and glared at Pyro. And Nightcrawler, being shocked by John's yelling, bumped his head on a cabinet, only causing the cereal to come out. So in short, Nightcrawler's head got nice marshmallow decoration to go with the tattoos.
"Okay, everyone find something you like and get in line, okay? Move people!" Ling ordered.
Everyone mumbled as they followed her orders, but eventually, everyone got a satisfying dinner.
* * *
After dinner, Rogue took Ling aside.
"So, looks like the supposedly girl-with-no-feelings has a secret boyfriend, huh?" Rogue asked, eyes glittering mischievously.
"What are you talking about?" Ling said, her eyes averting around guiltily, looking for an exit.
"I'm talking about you getting cozy with John."
"You were spying?!" Ling hissed.
"You two were gone, and me and Bobby were worried. So we went looking for you . . . and found you two kissing." Rogue explained sheepishly.
Ling rolled her eyes. "Is nothing private in this world anymore. Of course, I wouldn't know . . . and country music IS really annoying . . ."
Country music? Rogue raised an eyebrow. "Right. I suspected it before anyway, so it was only a matter of time."
"Hmm."
"So was that the first time you kissed him?"
"Maybe."
"C'mon, we're friends, you can tell."
"Fine, fine! I kissed him once before," Ling admitted.
"Ooh, when?" Rogue asked eagerly.
"During the mission. At first it was only to trick the guards into thinking we weren't trespassers, and I was hurt and . . . and then he kissed me again even after they left. I didn't understand why at the time. I don't think I do now. Feelings are now confusing for me."
Rogue nodded. "Yeah, I understand."
* * *
There were plenty of rooms, so the X-Men decided to stay overnight in the safe haven.
There were enough rooms for everyone to have their own, but some preferred to bunk with someone, since each room was different. Some had those Queen or King sized beds for couples, some had single mattress beds for one person, and others had two twin sized beds in a room.
Jean and Scott, obviously took the big beds, having much *cough* to catch up with. Storm, Wolverine, Professor Xavier, and Nightcrawler took the single beds. Rogue roomed with Bobby on the twin beds, and that left a very confused Ling to choose. Rogue winked at her as she went into her bedroom, which gave Rogue a glare back.
"So . . . you get first 'dibs' on room." Ling informed John, trying out that new word that she heard Rogue say.
"Ladies first." John said, grinning, seeing how obvious it was that Ling didn't want to choose.
"Yeah, well that never ever applied to me, so let's not start now."
So the excuse war began.
"Well you SHOULD start now, since you're with the X-Men and all." John pointed out.
"Well technically you're not with the X-Men yet, so those rules don't apply to you." Ling shot back.
"Ouch, that hurt. You're good at this."
"Flattery will get you nowhere. What room do you want? For god's sakes, pick all ready!"
"Why don't you?"
"This is really getting nowhere."
"I think that's the point."
So after more arguing, the two decided to get their own rooms. But unknown to them, a certain mutant couple were listening to them.
"God, they're perfect for each other." Rogue whispered.
"All I see is them fighting," Bobby observed.
"Yeah, but they say that when people argue a lot and tease each other, they're actually hitting on each other." Rogue explained.
"Rogue . . . that's gross."
"How is that gross?"
"Because you're basically saying that whenever me and John fight, he's hitting on me, which makes him gay, which means he can't like Ling cause he's gay- -"
"Oh shut up Bobby."
"Gladly."
And Rogue could spy on her friends no further, due to the fact that Bobby and kissed her on the lips for a second, and then dragging her to her bed, telling her that they had heard enough from the two for one night.
* * *
Ling woke up groggily in the morning, yawning and stretching her arms out. It was possibly the best night of sleep she had ever had. She felt newly refreshed and ready for whatever came for her that day.
So the X-Men had one breakfast, cleaned up the place, and then were on their way back home: to the Xavier mansion.
Once they were there, Xavier let them rest up a little bit, but then he called in the team, including Rogue, Bobby, Ling, and John, to Logan's disapproval and worry.
"They're too young!" Logan argued.
"Logan, it was them who found the secret message." Professor Xavier pointed out. "And Ling is used to surviving, Logan; she can take care of the others. John has always been rebellious, and he has the power and instincts to take care of himself. Bobby and Rogue were more sheltered, but they take care of each other. Actually, Logan, I'd say this is an excellent group of new X-Men."
"Ok, fine, whatever bub, but I'm still worried about John. How do we know we can trust him?"
"I've read his mind. He seems to have come with us of his own free will, and not the will of Magneto. I think he's been wanting to come back for some time and see his friends, but there was another moving factor there." Professor Xavier said with a smile.
"And what would that be?"
"That's something that will remain untold until further notice."
"Oh no, the Professor's getting a sense of humor."
"Very funny Logan."
"I know it is."
"You wanted to see us Professor?" Rogue's voice came from a tiny crack in the door.
"Yes, Rogue, I wanted to discuss with you four about what you found. I don't believe we've talked about it yet." Professor Xavier gestured for the four to sit down.
"Fist of all, what did you find?" Scott asked.
Ling took out the remote from her pocket and handed it to Scott. "It's a coded message of where the machine was. It was encrypted in Stryker's code, but I knew his simple method of codes, so I was able to decipher it."
"What does it say?" Scott asked, confused at what looked like gibberish to him.
"It says, 'Project Mutant Control is located at Florida Science Center.'"
Shivers went down everyone's spine.
"Project Mutant Control." Logan growled, "When will these government clowns stop all these stupid things?"
"Probably never. There will always be evil people doing evil things to little ten year olds." Ling said, her voice suddenly dropping to an emotionless monotone.
Logan nodded sadly, understanding what she meant. He of all people should know exactly what she was feeling, except she got it worse since she wasn't able to escape as Logan was able to.
"Right, well, I suggest we go to the Science Center, then." Storm said, sighing.
"But which one? There's gotta be more than one Science Center in Florida." Rogue pointed out.
They all looked at Ling.
Ling thought for a moment, digging deep into what memories she had and pieced pieces of the puzzle together.
"The one in Orlando, Florida. That was the only place in Florida Stryker's ever been to." Ling said. "I'll bet it's there, at the largest one."
"Well, boys and girls," Scott said, "I think we're all going to Florida."