Disclaimer: I do not in any way shape or form own anything resembling the fascinating world of the X-men. Please don't sue- I'm poor and a little little person.
P.S. Sorry again, looong time before posting. Please enjoy.
Quiet Discovery
I'm standing, somewhere in the midst of swirling fogs and clouds so that clarity is impossible. I try to clear it from my path, to move the twisting masses from me. I don't like the way they float, I don't like their coldness and I can't stand their silence. If colour permitted penetration, it would be grey, all grey and white and black and silent. My eyes squeeze so tightly that a headache forms. I ignore it and press on. Suddenly the stretching open burns with images- some are my memories, some are imagined moments. I press through these to the darkest end, where all the mist and fog seem to avoid. I move, though there is no floor beneath me nor sky ahead. My head pounds, but it can be ignored. I stand on the brink of an opening, the pressure increases, and the pounding turns into sound- audible sounds. Voices.
"Mister Hayes," I hear, not in a welcoming tone, but threatening. I can taste fear on my lips. I smell smoke- he smokes, the man who has this power. Focusing on the conversation, I realize it's like learning a song from a scratched c.d. The voices ebb, like waves, and the images freeze and skip and speed so that understanding is as possible as seeing through that fog. I press on. "We were under the impression…our plans." There is illumination like that of a match flickering and with it, I recognize a face. My lips part and there's a gasp and somewhere sniffing- someone knows. The light recedes and I hear more mumbling until there is a sickening scream and popping sound. Only darkness remains.
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Logan shuffled down the hallway- it was quarter to five and though he did not require sleep like most others, he enjoyed the solitude and comfort of bed. He'd already changed into the mandatory jogging suit and zip up hoodie, their soft fleece still no consolation to the cool morning air. He stopped before Jubilee's room, whose door was (of course) closed and locked from the inside. Pressing an ear to the obstruction, he heard the murderous pulsation of the alarm clock though there was no movement within. He sighed, how the hell can someone sleep through that flippin' thing?
"Jubilee," he hollered, banging uncaringly on the door. "Get up." He paused. Nothing. "Jubilee!" he was louder this try and the alarm (thankfully!) turned off. "I know you turned off the alarm, now get up and open this door." This he could not hear, but he was certain a growl was her chosen response. He waited, but there was again no movement, no hurried movements, only the soft snoring of a lazy sixteen year old. He drew a long breath and grumbled, "Why the hell do I always get stuck with wake up duty?" a deep breath. "Open the door right now or so help me god Jubilee!" the beams rattled as he yelled and downstairs the sleepy students chuckled. Finally, he heard her small frame drop on the floor and scuffle to the door. It rattled for an instant and he grabbed the knob, yanking it open. He frowned at the lump at the end of the bed. Before he could growl, Jubliee's muffled voice interrupted.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" her voice was hoarse and drowning in sleep. "The sun's not even up yet!" Ignoring her complaints, he strode over, grabbed a visible foot, and dragged her off the wide (and very high) four post. She landed with a muffled 'oof!' and groaned.
"Put on your suit, its time to exercise." Her eyes would have popped agape if she were awake enough to control her body's response.
"What?" He pulled the remaining bits of blanket from her body and she yelped. "But its early! And cold!" She held out a malnourished arm. "Sides," she pouted. "I don't need to exercise. I need to eat." A face full of fleece was his only sympathy. Grumbling she pulled the heavy knits over her pyjamas and slipped her already socked feet into the pair of sneakers she had tossed aside last night.
"Let's go," he grabbed her upper arm and, ignoring her continuing arguments, pulled her to the main foyer.
"Alright," Scott grinned, irking cheerful for the lack of daylight. "Let's get going."
Forty-five minutes later, Jubilee dragged her sore feet up the increasingly long staircase. The deep hunger she'd felt upon her rude awakening had faded, replaced with sad muscles, furious at the voluntary exercise she'd put them through. "I'm sorry legs", she breathed, massaging her bony limbs, "but Wolvie's evil…you'll have to blame him." A long hot shower and cup of coffee seemed to help her body finally awaken and it was as she sat amongst the others for breakfast that she recalled the strange dream that had kept her from sleeping. Yawning, she poured herself another steaming cup of coffee and picked at the muffin before her. Normally, she would simply disregard such obscure dreaming- but this one; it was far too real and far too relevant. "I wonder", she spoke beneath her breath. Then suddenly, her mind blinked. The man, the one with the smoke- she had seen him before. Her brows bend in concentration. She could almost see whom, and where, no, not quite- oh, she groaned. His name she could not recall, but the other presence, his scent she would recognize anywhere. What would Sabretooth be doing with Him?
"You know, talking to voneself is a sign of insanity?"
"Gah!" Jubilee jumped as Kurt stuck his fuzzy blue face before her. As she had learned this morning, this was his true appearance, hidden from others by a very clever holographic machine tripped by his watch. Who knew? Charlie should really patent some of these ideas. He should also warn others who are not so informed. She sighed. "Don't, don't do that please, it's way to early." Beside her, there was a giggle.
"Better get used to it. Professor X makes us do these workouts everyday." Kitty shrugged. "You'll learn to like 'em." Jubilee downed the last remnants of her coffee.
"You're all like extremely dysfunctional, you realize that?" The group laughed and cleared their dishes away. Stuffing a remaining mouthful, Jubilee crept from the chaos and wandered to the front doors. Climbing up one of the vast bases of the columns, she leaned against the warming stone and pondered.
"Shirkin' dish duty, are we?" she shrugged.
"I put my cup in the washer." Logan rolled his eyes and in two leaps, landed beside her. Nodding, she grinned. "Ooh, talent." And her eyes closed again. A moment of silence passed between the two, though Jubilee could sense Wolverine had something to say. She allowed him his time.
"How do you know 'im?" she peeked from a corner of her eye.
"Who?" Logan skipped a beat. Maybe it was too personal. Really, it was none of his business that she knew- and already she'd told him her explanations would come. Perhaps it was better to wait. But she did know Sabretooth, his mind countered. Why would that be? Nothing good ever came from associations to that beast. He reprised.
"Sabretooth," her body stiffened. "From the fight the other day, you were fightin'…" he trailed. When she still didn't answer he nodded. "Look, you don't have to talk about it if you're not ready, but you gotta' know Sabretooth's not the kinda' company you want darlin'." Jubilee rubbed her eyes, hiding her lips in her palms.
"I was thirteen, an' lived in The Hills. Daddy was the head of a major bank, and leading in a new international financial processing." She smiled wryly, rolling her head to him. "Funny isn't it? Me, the daughter of financial wizards, hah," her sigh cut the sarcasm short and she continued. "So anyway, on that day I'd gone to see Dad at work and overheard him talking with someone from Telware-"
"Telware?" Logan marvelled. "They're the leaders in satellite and GPS technology, what interest would they have in a bank?" Jubilee lifted her brow and Logan stopped. "Oh, sorry darlin'." She continued.
"Anyway…They were arguing, you know, in the way mature adults do when they know they can't step outta' their ranks er whatever. Later that night I get home", She paused, her mouth searching for the right words. "They said it was a car accident. But I was there- I saw…" Her jaw tightened and she blinked the burn from her eyes and tried to cover the flush.
"It's okay, cry, let it out," Logan wrapped her reluctant body into his. Her tears were silent, slipping thickly down her cheeks and soaking his shirt.
"I've been tracking him," her voice was void of all youth and humour. Logan froze. Straightening, she stared him in the eye. "I promised I would. I've been tracking him for three years. Do you know what I've discovered?" Logan kept her icy gaze. "He wasn't working alone."
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The following days passed in a daze. Neither Jubilee nor Logan brought up the subject they'd discussed so seriously that first morning. A secret agreement seemed to have passed between the two. As those days fell into weeks, and those into months, a bond formed, tighter than could have been predicted between the two.
Professor Xavier watched them quietly from his study. A game of capture the flag fought itself brilliantly beneath the spring sky. The air was still cool, although the waning sun shed warmth that was expected.
"Professor?" Hank knocked softly on the sturdy wall, knowing there was no need.
"Come in, Hank." The burly Doctor lumbered through the door with a grace not akin to others his size. Though physically he appeared frightening with a blue furry body like that of Kurt's and a snout holding sharp fangs, his very demeanour was calm and poetic, juxtaposition. When his abilities had shown in tender pubescence, this man had taken and sheltered him from others that would pounce with cruelty upon his regard. For that, he was eternally indebted. Seating himself across the mahogany desk, he leaned in.
"To what to I owe such an honoured appelle?" Noting Xavier's grim face, he turned and realized for the first time the television was on. Xavier turned up the volume.
"In other news, conference between Telware and Lee International Banks continue. The founder of LIB and his wife tragically died in a freak automobile accident just over three years ago. Today marks its first day's lead by Jason Hudson, cousin to Telware President Mathew Hudson. Merger has been rumoured for years between the two corporations, although neither…" Xavier clicked the mute, sending the room in silence. Hank dropped his jaw.
"Could it be possible?" Charles crossed his hands pensively on the shiny surface.
"If the rumours hold true, yes. And it will almost certainly be very disastrous for us." Hank shook his head.
"Impossible- even if that were his intent, to do such a thing within the public eye? And without approval from senate it would never be possible…" Charles rubbed his forehead, easing a tense breath from his lips.
"Let us only hope, my friend. Let us hope."
