I'd like you to meet my OC, Avery Dianno, code name Physique. I used to think she was the greatest thing ever until I read a piece called "Top ten signs your OC is a Marysue." I changed her as much as I could. She's still a little Marysue-ish. And please be patient with me when it comes to her powers. She can sense when someone is sick or injured, she can heal people or make their injuries/ailments worse. (Turn mere cuts into near amputations.) Please people, I'm working with grade 9 biology textbooks and bits I picked up from CSI: Las Vegas, ER, and the Learning Channel so have some compassion.
Chapter 4
They'd been in the mall ten minutes and already Lance was getting edgy. Though she experienced harshness at school Rogue was the only other person to look at her with such contempt seething just below the surface. The feeling was mutual and Jean had a feel things would come to a head sooner than later. But she had to focus on the situation at hand. They walked into a men's clothing store. Jean smiled and closed her eyes to concentrate.
"Rosa, they're here!" The store owner cried to his wife with just enough excitement so the other customers wouldn't be disturbed.
"My nephews, don't worry I won't embarrass you, hugging you in public. No you just look around and you can pick some clothes and maybe a suit for your cousin's wedding, and boys, these are your graduation presents. Nicolas," she said pointing to Pietro, "You tell your mother we're not taking her money and that's final. My daughter's getting married, you guys are all graduating this year, I'm so happy." She said before running off to help another customer.
"Thank you, Auntie Rosa, Uncle Luigi." Todd said
"Yeah thanks, and tell Julia congratulations." Pietro said.
Jean, who'd been hiding by the leather jackets waiting for Lance to finally pick out some decent clothes, glared at him.
"Thank you so much," He said awkwardly, "We'll see you guys at wedding." He said with less strain.
They waved there good byes and left the store. Jean erased the whole encounter from the store owner's memory and stumbled toward a bench.
"That was sweet, hey you alright?" Todd asked.
"Yeah slight head rush but I'm fine, what's next people?" Jean asked. She looked up at Todd, grabbed his hand and they walked past Pietro and Lance and into a fine jewelry shop.
"Oh sweetums aren't they beautiful." Jean said dragging him to a display case.
"And the finest quality, I assure you. The rings in this display case are 30 off this week and if you want to try anything on just ask, I'm more than happy to help." The clerk said cheerfully.
There were necklaces and pendants in that display case not wedding rings. But when Todd got a better look at the clerk he noticed she had that same glazed look that Auntie Rosa and Uncle Luigi had. He also noticed an older lady in a full length mink coat heading for the exit, stop dead in her tracks, turn around, and wait by the cash register.
"So cuddle bumps, pick one already?" Jean said.
There was a delicate looking Celtic cross made of 24k white gold and it was covered with white diamonds and five large rubies. The rich lady paid for it and left. Jean made her think she was making a charitable donation. The clerk placed it in a black velvet box and held it out for Todd to take but when he went for it she yanked it back.
"What?" he asked Jean.
"If Pietro's telling truth why can't I find anything in his mind?" Jean asked.
"Its there OK, Mystique keeps everything locked in a safe but I've seen the files and some pictures." He promised.
Jean ventured into his mind and Todd guided her to the memory. Scandalous images flashed through Jean's mind and she was satisfied.
Jean smiled and let Todd have the present for Wanda's upcoming birthday.
"Everything OK now?" he asked.
"I'm really glad you like it." She said softly before taking his hand again. "You know Todd someone like you; your so angry because you've spent most of your life locked away, but you're the one building the walls now, around you, around heart, and why, when you could be free."
The puzzled look on his face faded as he began to understand and he searched his pockets for a pen and paper. "Oh man, I gotta write right that, yo!"
Rolling her eyes she brushed her fingers across his forehead burning the words into his brain. "Look Todd, here's some money, grab some lunch…I need a break." She said already looking past him toward an expensive boutique.
Shawn Desman - Red Hair (He's a Canadian artist you probably never heard of. This guy usually makes my skin crawl, and this song is annoying and his haircut in this video has reduced more than a few people to fits of hysterical laugher but this song would fit the scene if this were an episode.)
She slipped into the red dress. It was nice but she needed a second opinion.
Scott sat in his third period class staring at Jeans empty desk. The teacher seemed oblivious to this as she took attendance. He knew she was shaken up after what happened but he didn't think she'd skip. Just then he felt the tingling and pressure of telepathic communication. She made contact. He felt like he was there, standing nose to nose with her in the dressing room. She was in this beautiful red dress she did not wear to school that day.
He tried to talk but she stopped him.
"Wait until you get bearings, if you speak now you'll speak out in class." She told him.
He adjusted to his situation and they spoke telepathically. "Jean, what's going on? I know you're hurting but getting expelled for ditching school is not going to help."
"Scott, I needed some time. Between the car, rebuilding the mansion, Logan insisting that we train, and having no time alone I needed this." She told him.
"I understand that I really do but skipping school, and manipulating the teachers. If the Prof. finds out he'll kill you." He said.
"He's got bigger problems, besides I have well defined mental boundaries and he doesn't cross them without permission." She said.
He shook his head skeptic of her claim. "This shopping spree better be over by three. Logan's coming to pick us up, remember?" He nagged at her.
"We don't have any sessions after school today; tell him I took the bus downtown and that I'll be back by 7:00 at the latest." She said
"Is that why you need the dress, you going somewhere special?" He asked.
"No, all our stuff got totaled remember. I like this one but I really want to see the black one." Jean said as she pulled down the zipper of the red dress and let it fall to the floor. She stepped out of it and put it back on the hanger before reaching behind her to unclasp her bra.
"Its bare back so you can't really where a bra with this one." She covered the mirror with her jacket before dropping the white lacy thing on top of rest of her clothes.
His mouth was going dry, his heart was pounding. He wasn't sure he was ready for this and he hoped no one in class noticed that he was sweating. He was stunned. He couldn't believe this was really happening. She usually shot him death glares when she caught him scoping her cleavage.
She zipped up the black dress and asked him.
"Do you like it?" She whispered.
"It's beautiful." He said.
"Which one do you prefer?" She said in a harsher tone.
"There both great, it's hard to make a decision." He told her trying to stay cool.
"That's not good enough. You need to choose, Scott!" Jean hissed at him.
He felt his eyes bulge behind his visor. One minute she's flashing him now she's freaking out. Then he realized why. He thought about her, not Jean, Rogue. She saved his life and was always there for him, even when Jean was with Duncan.
"Make a choice soon Scott, because I'm not coming near again until you do. And choose wisely, one thing I learned in the past two years is that time you waste on the wrong things is time you never get back." She took his hand and gave it a squeeze before breaking contact.
Part of him was angry. The rest of him was horny. She dated that numb nut jock for two stinking years. She's the telepath. She knew he wanted to take this relationship to next level and he never forced the issue. Rogue was an X-man and one of his best friends. What did Jean want from him?
On the other hand…He was awestruck. He never wanted her more in his life. He waited too long already and did not want to wait forever.
He tried to reach in boy's room before anyone his state of arousal after Jean's little strip tease but it was too late.
A young woman tapped him on the shoulder. He didn't recognize her. She had guest pass pinned to her jacket and familiar look of desperation he'd seen more than once. She had to be a mutant. Even new kids who had yet to find a clique were told who the mutants where and how to treat them if they wanted any chance of fitting in. Principal Kelly made sure of that. She was about to say something when she noticed his "state" and the fact that he was heading for boy's room.
A look of disgust flashed across her face as her eyes darted between his "state" and the boy's room door. Her cheeks flushed and backed away humiliated.
Scott wanted to go after her but instead he retreated into the restroom.
She shook off that unfortunate encounter and scanned the corridor for anyone else she recognized from all the news coverage after the Sentinel was let loose on Bayville like it was Godzilla. Though she was never outed at her old school she watched the students who had been. Some of them liked to hide in empty class rooms during lunch period to avoid open season in the cafeteria. She checked classrooms as inconspicuously as possible when she spotted someone she thought she recognized. Two girls jumped to their feet and took defensive positions when they saw her standing in the door way.
Amara nudged Tabby to relax a little when they saw the intruder was alone. She came to same conclusion Scott had. Tabitha had pretty much the same idea but remained suspicious.
"Will you get in here before someone sees you?" Tabby seethed at her impatiently.
"Sorry." She said. She played out this scenario in her mind a hundred times and she really saw it going a lot smoother than this. She stared at both of them looking for a little help here.
"Its Okay," Amara told her. "I'm Amara, and this Tabby. What's your name?"
"And what's your story?" Tabby demanded.
"My name is Avery Dianno and I'll save my story for Ororo Monroe." She told them. "Anyone know where I can find her?"
Back at the mall, Jean used Duncan's money to pay for the dresses and left. She found the boys waiting for her outside and zeroed in on Lance.
"Give Pietro your keys and head toward the salon. Guys, you're catching up with him later." Jean demanded.
"Excuse me?" Lance said.
"Just start walking." She answered.