Forge lowered his head. "Yeah, okay." He said to himself. "Just deal."
"What?" Wilson asked.
Forge shook his head. "You're a wave-maker. Sound, light, probably more."
"Oh, yeah, well that explains it then." Wilson nodded. "What's the problem?"
Forge swallowed. "Well, you were letting your emotions control your powers, right?"
"Yeah."
"And you were feeling good things when you did this?" Forge pressed.
"Yeah. Thinking about a girl." He shrugged. "Why?"
Forge lay a hand on his shoulder. And considered his words carefully. "We don't know your range yet. You might be limited to light and music… But I felt a tingling on my skin when I was outside on the deck. It felt like a sunburn and I think it was radiation."
"Oh!" Wilson sat down quickly. "I didn't think of that. Things like X-Rays or …"
"Or worse." Forge said softly. "Atomic or nuclear frequencies could destroy any human flesh in seconds. Certain high and low frequencies can effect human behavior. Microwaves could cook organs or cause human combustion."
Wilson had begun rocking in place with his hand over his mouth in shock.
"More over, in theory, certain waveforms go back or forward in time. You could displace yourself or others without knowing it … if the 'mood' struck you, you know?"
"What am I going to do?"
"Xavier's place." Lucy said. "He's got a school with great teachers and people who could help you."
Wilson looked at her. "Sounds expensive."
Forge smiled. "Kurt once told me he waves the fee for certain cases. And certainly I think you could be a contender."
"How bad is it?" Wilson asked. "Really?"
Forge sighed loudly. "If you could mirror the resonance frequency of the earth with enough intensity you could crack the Earth's crust. Molten lava would pour out in to the sea, the plates would contract, the Earth's surface could shrink and the oceans would cover the known continents. Worst case scenerio."
"I'm never going to sleep again." Wilson said in a nervous voice.
"Well, I wouldn't go to sleep upset. That's for sure. I think that you'll probably be fine so long as you keep your cool and mute the power when you realize it's working. Maybe we could wake you if it happens or something."
"Don't worry." Lucy told him. "Kurt, Kitty, Tabitha and Jean all went to Xavier's. He's the best. I've got family working there. It's a good place."
"Doesn't have that view from the deck though does it?" He smiled, looking slightly more relieved.
"No, but they've got some great toys. Xavier's a millionaire. His place is an honest to goodness mansion."
Wilson eyed them. "You're putting me on."
Lucy shook her head and there was no denying the honesty in her expression.
Wilson swallowed. "I was living under a bridge in a half a refrigerator carton just last week. And now you're saying I'm going to a mansion?"
Lucy smiled. "Be sure and check out the woods behind the man grounds. I love the back woods. I lived there for a while."
"I might try that myself." Wilson quipped. "You know, in case the mansion just doesn't suit me."
Emma stretched out and yawned. While she normally slept in the nude, today she had taken one of Kurt's pajama tops and was using it as a nightshirt.
She pulled back his covers and slipped in to Kurt's bed.
She sniffed the blankets. They had the faint trace of musk and sulfur. She smiled despite herself at the smell of Kurt.
Why did I do that to him? She wondered. It wasn't nessessary. It wasn't even true. Of course Kurt and I flirt. He's adorable. And if he were a darker soul we might have had some fun together…
But I know he means what he says. And if he says he's with Tabitha then he probably is.
She sighed slightly. But he knocked me down a peg or two. Frozen assets, no money, forfit the company for five years… I wonder if he's let me make executive decisions during that time of if I should appoint someone to run it for me…
She shook her head. Why am I changing the subject? Why did I do that to Kurt?
She closed her eyes and hugged his pillow. It's because he cut me. I thought I could get away with more where he was concerned. Or maybe I just hoped I would.
Five years… I'll be so old.
I wish I hadn't done that. Kurt didn't deserve it. He was cutting me a deal. It really is a favor. I've done as much as he has and Watts isn't here, is he? He's in jail and he's not getting out.
This really is for the best. And I actually believe that Kurt will give me a way to make it work despite everything else… She sighed. Oh, just do it.
She climbed out of the bed and crossed the room, opening the door just a crack. "Kurt?"
Kurt looked away from Jean and then told her "Just a second."
"Something wrong?" Kurt asked as he approached.
"I'm sorry." She said quickly through the crack in the door. "I got … dramatic there for a minute. You.. made me uncomfortable and I wanted to return the favor… But really, it was a mistake. So I'm sorry. And… thank you. For letting me off the hook… prison-wise I mean."
Kurt could feel her honesty. It was something he had never seen from Emma before and he wasn't sure how to react.
"Vell… You've made yourself useful in the past. And I owe you for the 'heads-up' on Watts." He sighed. "I guess you've got my respect Emma. I'm just worried that you'll do something to lose it."
"Will it take more than shamelessly prancing around topless to make you lose that respect?" She asked quietly.
"Yes Emma." He said with a smile. "That was actually kind of a … brave gamble. I know you were pushing my buttons. I just wasn't sure why. I thought maybe you were really…"
She smiled and he could see the humor in her eyes. "I… kind of am. You're something special. I know it's not right… But I don't need things to be right for me to proceed. I just… Wondered if… under different circumstances…"
Kurt smiled, half-embarrassed. "Actually… I've had real dreams about you Emma. You're a hard woman to forget. If I were unattached and you weren't … well… evil."
She let out a tiny laugh.
"If that were the case I'd count myself lucky. But… I have to be honest… Tabitha and I are serious. As much as 'we' might like the idea on occasion… It probably wouldn't come to pass any time soon."
She smiled again. "Forgive me if I can't help myself and I toss an innuendo or two your way?"
He looked considerate for a moment. "I guess I'd never really want it any other way Emma. You're fun. So long as we're on the same page as well as the same side."
"Sure." She closed the door a little further. "Good night Kurt."
"Sleep well Emma." Kurt smiled.
Kurt turned around to find Jean smiling wide and shaking her head. "Isn't she a little old for you?"
"Nope." Kurt bounced on the balls of his feet and smiled defiantly at Jean.
Jean looked slightly taken aback and then she milked it for a moment. "So… Are you with Tabitha again?"
Kurt nodded. "It's a new development but yeah, I think so. She's changed since we knew her in Bayville. She really cares about people now. And she's really trying to do some good with her life." He smiled. "And I can't help myself. My heart went out to her and now, she's got me."
Jean smiled. "She's lucky to have you."
Kurt smiled and looked away, embarrassed. "Honestly… I'm lucky to have the team I have. Tabby included. They're a great group despite their differences." He looked back at his closed door. "I suppose if Emma can apologize then there's hope for all of us, right?"
Back in the park Illyana threw herself forward, away from the pole, to vomit.
Betsy watched her carefully. I'm going to kill her if I keep this up… But she just keeps taking it and egging me on…
Illyana lifted her eyes and smiled at Betsy. "Is that all you've got?"
Betsy rolled her eyes in exasperation. It never ends!
Illyana smiled wider. "Tired much?"
"Listen, just shut up and let me think, okay?" Betsy took several deep breaths. A thick fog was slowly rolling in around them.
Finally Betsy dropped to her knees in front of Illyana. "I just need to hear you say it."
"… What? Do I need to say?" Illyana asked sadly.
"Tell me that you enjoyed it… Even after you were compelled to do it by that spell… You reveled in it, didn't you?"
Illyana's head bobbed up and down for a long moment. "I did." She said so softly that it might have been the wind. "Every minute and every act. It's why I deserve this." She said slowly.
Betsy dropped her head. That had been her argument.
"No." Betsy told her, reaching around to unclasp the handcuffs. "I did this for revenge. If it satisfies your need for forgiveness too then more power to you."
"Penance comes in many forms." She said softly. "I need to go to a hospital. I think my baw is boken."
Betsy looked confused for just a moment. "Oh, jaw is broken. Right. It is. I did that."
And Betsy slowly stood, lifting Illyana carefully from the ground and making their way towards the parks main front gate.