Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men. Ilehana Xavier belongs to Corrinth. All other characters belong to me.
A/N: Thank you to all my reviewers out there; you really are all stars.
Scene 19"You gotta get the X-Men to Hawaii!" Samantha Hawley nearly yelled the infirmary down as she entered at a charge like some infuriated rhinoceros. Her father's aide was barely two steps behind her. Matthew had been pulled from packing to leave the mansion by her terrified grip on his wrist. "The President's calling a top secret meeting about something to do with the virus!"
"How on earth do you know that, Shockwave?" Cyclops asked sceptically, but not sceptically enough that it masked his sudden concern.
"Because his daughter overheard him on the phone when he thought she was asleep! They know something, Professor, they have to!"
"Very well," Xavier began, sitting up straighter and trying to take charge. "Storm, my wheelchair please..."
"No you don't Dad." Ilehana admonished him, placing a long hand on his shoulder. "You're not getting involved in this, Doctor's orders, you need to rest. And I'm not leaving you here to go off to Hawaii either, so don't think you can sneak into Cerebro behind my back. Scott?"
"No problem." Cyclops replied seriously. "We can handle this Professor."
"I'm sure you can." Xavier voiced his trust in his team with confidence that made all the X-Men glow. "But perhaps to reason over our future with politicians, we need a political mind of our own on the mission. Matthew?"
"Professor, he's not even a mutant..." Scott started, cutting across Matthew's would-be reply. "He'd be at risk, put us all in danger..."
"It wasn't a request, Cyclops." Xavier turned his stern blue eyes on his foster-son. "Take Storm and Nightcrawler too. And Jubilee, a change of scene and a chance to make a difference will do her a great deal of good."
"All right." Scott nodded once, "Shockwave, round up Jubilee and Nightcrawler, we'll meet in the briefing room for you to tell us what you know." Sam nodded, taking the responsibility Cyclops place on her well, and left. "Blaze, if you're not busy, can you fit Matthew up with a uniform?"
"Sure Cyclops." Blaze agreed, with a sideways glance at the Professor. "You don't need me on the mission?"
"I think you've been busy enough." Xavier answered carefully, smiling as Scott and Ororo left the room. "Good luck Matthew, and welcome to the team." Matthew nodded nervously, before following Blaze out the door. It was Mercury who next spoke, her voice soft like tempered steel.
"Something tells me this place, whatever it is, is unique. And that I've just arrived in the middle of a crisis..."
"Take it from somebody who visits the Xavier School as often as possible," Hank answered with a caring smile, taking off his glasses to clean them on his lab coat. "This place is indeed unique, and neither is it ever far away from being in some sort of crisis..."
"Hank," Xavier replied with a smile as Ilehana helped him to lie down again. "My friend, you know us too well ..."
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"I guess Bobby's uniform would fit you best, and he's sweet enough not to mind you borrowing, unlike some of our more territorial walking lumps of testosterone..." Blaze commented with a smile. "Naming no names, obviously."
"Obviously." Matthew returned the smile, green eyes dancing. "Where do I put my stuff?"
"Just ditch it anywhere, it'll be fine." Blaze shrugged as Matthew removed his watch and placed it on a shelf. "Anything else you need, or shall I leave you to it?"
"Can you just warn me, is it as uncomfortable to wear as it looks?"
"Oh yes." Blaze replied seriously, handing the uniform over. "Twice as, at least. But at least it looks good..."
"Blaze." Matthew replied just as seriously, taking the uniform slowly. "A girl like you would look good in a uniform of yellow spandex..."
"Are you flirting with me, Matthew?" Blaze inquired gently, lifting her chin and knitting her brows together in a mixed expression of curiosity and amusement.
"Would you mind if I was?" Matthew stepped slightly closer, breath shallow, cheeks flushing slightly as Blaze didn't back away.
"Matthew..." She began, but was interrupted by a loud "Hey Blaze!" as Gambit stormed down the corridor at a furious pace. Blaze turned to greet her friend, making Matthew sigh his disappointment. Gambit frowned as he saw them and folded his arms.
"I'se hope I ain't interruptin' nothin'?"
"I'm just sorting Matthew out with a uniform, he's on the mission." Blaze pointed out, not quite knowing why she sounded so defensive. Turning her back on Gambit she smiled at the politician. "Good luck Matthew, I'll see you later."
"I'll catch you up." Gambit told her as she went to leave, voice dangerous. Matthew's eyes narrowed as Blaze shrugged and left, what did the Cajun want now? Gambit's glance fell back on the human instantly. He nodded to the timepiece on the shelf. "Nice watch, for a fake."
"How'd you know it's a fake?" Matthew retorted back, defensive of his property.
"'Cause I wouldn't steal it." The thief replied, revealing far more than he ever had about his chequered past to Matthew. The politician frowned, wondering how Blaze had ever gotten to know such an unsavoury character, or why the Professor kept Gambit about. But his thoughts were cut short as Gambit, now sure Blaze had actually gone, spoke again. "She ain't available."
"Excuse me?" Matthew asked harshly, perfectly understanding.
"You heard me." Gambit strode forward purposefully. "Blaze ain't in no state for you to be messin' wit' her head. She ain't available, an' for you she never will be."
"I don't see how it's any of your business, Gambit." Matthew replied, then wished he hadn't as Gambit pinned him up against the glass door of a uniform locker. "If she's not available," Matthew spluttered, not attempting to physically wrangle free from the stronger man, relying instead on his politician's tongue, "Who's she with? You?" Gambit pushed Matthew back harder, mutant eyes cold. "Go on Gambit, spit it out, all you gotta say is that she's with you and I'll back off..."
"You'll back off 'cause I'se told you to back off!" Gambit snarled, before letting go of the human and storming away in the direction Blaze had left in, back towards the infirmary. Matthew shook his head slowly, barely believing what had just happened, before realising how late he was for his first briefing as an X-Man...