I actually don't know how hot it gets in New York because I have unfortunately never had the chance to visit much of Eastern North America. As I live on the West Coast, our summers are very mild, so I basically have this assumption that it's pretty warm in the East come May-June. Tsk for me, I'm a geography student. What would my climatology prof say to me now...
(Three months later since the last chapter and ooo, it's fun in the sun for our kids at the Xavier's institute. Yes, it's summer time. Oh and Scott's off to teach field school. NOT find his brother.)
Scott leaned against the back porch railing of the Mansion and peered into the backyard garden. It was summer in New York and even past dusk, the air was still warm. There they are. Scott thought to himself as he spied Jean and Marie sitting cross-legged across from each other on a blanket spread on the grass. Scott had seen them train their skills before, and by the way Jean held out her right hand over Rogue's face, Scott figured she was practicing her telepathy today. The X-Men leader sighed, sat on the porch steps and continued watching from afar.
Rogue! Here! Look out! Magneto's behind you! Jean shouted in Marie's mind while simultaneously projecting flashes of battle scenes into the girl's mind. She was testing Rogue's ability to stay focused and keep her gift in check. At the same time, she pushed her limits as a telepath by not only communicating via the mind, but also projecting images into another's. Throughout the past three months since Jean and Rogue had first tried on the 'mental spandex,' she and Marie had practiced their powers on each other almost everyday. Rogue dared not to touch Jean yet, but continued to work on her ability to stop her draining abilities on flowers. It took nearly a month and a half, and hundreds of Storm's flowers to gain the mental focus needed, but Rogue had done it. Now she was working on lengthening the time she was able to hold her ability at bay.
Jean on the other hand continued to develop precise control over her telekinesis by continuing to maintain the TK shield around Rogue as she ran around or jumped up and down while touching Jean. The red head also practiced her telepathy on Rogue. Telepathy involves reading minds and essentially being incredibly intrusive on another's mind. As such, Jean found it awkward to ask even her closest friends if she could practice this particular skill. While the Professor did help her, Jean often felt she was taking time away from him in which he could be helping the younger and newer mutant recruits. Rogue on the other hand insisted that Jean practice on her. Marie's rational was that since she had often come in skin to skin contact with Jean throughout the training, Marie felt it was unfair that she was always the one being intrusive on another's mind.
Rogue was doing well today. Her concentration held fast against the torrent of images Jean beset on her mind. Pleased with her student's progress, Jean upped the ante on herself and Marie. She set the TK shield in place and with her free hand, Jean touched Marie's bare knee. In addition, Jean moved the strands of hair around Rogue's face with her TK and tickled the teen's face and neck. Jean smiled as a gigantic smile broke out on the girl's blank expression.
"Stop that." Marie said, her eyes still closed as she continued to maintain her focus.
Jean chuckled and changed the images she put in Rogue's mind. She projected an image of herself childishly tickling Marie's feet with a feather while telekinetically moving the blanket they both sat on against Rogue's bare toes.
Rogue's eyes snapped open and she fell over laughing loudly. In her hand, the flower wilted.
The telepath broke off the mental link, but not the TK shield, and pounced on Marie. Jean grabbed her Marie's feet and tickled it for real.
"Goochie goochie goo! Ha! I can't believe you're ticklish!" Jean cried out, cackling.
"Cut it out!" Rogue laughed as she flailed about, waving her arms and kicking her feet.
On one particular kick, Marie caught Jean firmly on the chin and the TK shield came crashing down. From afar, Scott saw his girlfriend stiffen as dark veins appeared on Jean's hands. He bolted upright, ready to move in, but Marie had already torn herself away from Jean and moved back, waiting for the red head to recover.
"Okay." Jean said between gasps. "I think that's enough for today."
Rogue nodded, stood up and slipped on her flip-flops while waiting for Jean to stand. Throughout the past three months, skin to skin contact had been a reality of their training and Jean almost seemed like she was getting over the drain-shock faster as time went on.
"I think we're getting better." Marie said cheerfully as she looked up at the darkened sky. "We were at that for what? Two hours?"
Jean looked down at her watch. It was almost nine.
"Wow. That went by really fast." Jean stopped walking for a second and stretched her back. "But I'm feeling it now."
Rogue looked up at Jean as they continued back to the Mansion.
"The others say that my hair is starting to look a little red, and that my eyes sometimes seem flecked with green. Do you think your height will rub off on me too?"
Jean laughed.
"I'd hope not. It's hard being tall. Clothing is too small and you can't find the right size shoes. Why do you think I'm padding around in my bare feet? No one makes slippers that fit me. Besides, I think the hair and eyes will revert back to your normal colour eventually. But can you imagine what it would feel like if your body shot up to 5'11 and then shrank down to 5'5? Talk about osteoporosis!"
The two mutants arrived at the porch and Scott stood up the greet them.
"Had fun?" Scott asked, looking at the both of them.
Rogue nodded.
"Of course. But I better go find Logan. Bobby said he came back today and I need to give something back to him." Rogue bade the couple goodnight and ran into the house.
Scott turned back to Jean and kissed her lightly.
"You're really liking this aren't you."
It was a statement more than a question and Jean smiled in response.
"I am. I think I know what the Professor feels. Being able to help someone develop his or her powers. It's like nothing else, Scott. Nothing compares to the look they have as they realize they have control."
Scott laughed as they entered the Mansion and began walking to the garage. He remembered the moment when Marie was able to hold out against her powers. Jean had become sick after chasing down a new mutant through the sewers of New Orleans and was unable to help Rogue for over a week. Rogue, determined to harness her power, continued with her training and when she had managed to reach the level of mental focus needed, she burst into Jean's room at midnight screaming her success. Of course Jean didn't mind being woken up so suddenly, but spent the next give minutes coughing instead of laughing with joy.
Scott's expression sobered a little.
"So, I guess we'll go out to dinner when I come back?"
Jean blinked and made a clueless noise.
"What?" Jean's bewildered look quickly turned to shock. "Oh my god! Is it Tuesday? I forgot! I completely forgot!"
Scott signed but calmed Jean down.
"Hey, it's okay. You were busy."
Still frantic, Jean pleaded.
"Can we go now? It's not that late is it?"
Scott laughed softly.
"Jean, the reservation was for seven-thirty, and my flight is at midnight tonight. I need to go to the airport now. You know, for customs."
Sniffling, Jean hugged Scott.
"I'm so sorry Scott. I promise, when you're back from New Zealand, I am going to devote an entire week, no an entire month to you! Let me go with you to the airport."
Scott patted her back but shook her head.
"No. The Professor said that Storm found a dozen mutant children today in Buenos Aires' landfills. They're in really bad shape. She's flying back tonight and you'll need all the rest you can get before they arrive. I'll see you in five months okay?"
Jean sniffled again but nodded. They were in the garage now and it was apparent that Scott had loaded the rental car with luggage earlier. Scott suddenly smiled.
"You know, I thought I had to be worried about Logan taking up all your time, but I guess I forgot about Marie." He said jokingly as he kissed her lightly on the lips and then entered the car.
Jean waved and stood in the driveway until she no longer heard Scott's car.