A/N: Hello, my lovelies! It's that time for another update. Sorry about the delays, but they've been story-wide on this site. I haven't forgotten you all! Thanks for the reviews and I hope that I can continue to earn your kindness and affection with this story's next updates. For now, please enjoy this little number.
OOOOOOOOO
Scarlet was surprised to find herself in her bed when she came to. The window showed the dark world outside, telling her that she'd been out of it for a long time. Her eyes scanned her room, but found none of her roommates in their beds, so she knew that it wasn't time for everyone in the mansion to go to bed for the night.
"Christ," Scarlet muttered, rubbing a hand over her face and finding sticky residue of long dried tears. "Damn. I wonder if he saw me crying…God, I hope he didn't."
The mutant threw her legs over the side of her bed and slowly straightened. She walked barefoot across the room and through the door like it wasn't there. Little kids ran past her, laughing like they didn't have a care in the world. Her stomach clenched painfully at the sound that reminded her of her scarred childhood.
I never allowed myself to have friends after I turned nine. Not that some kids didn't try, but I couldn't let myself grow close to anyone at all. They'd die if they got too close during one of my uncontrolled moments. Too many of them did die. She raked a hand through her hair. This is the first time in years that I've let myself grow close to anyone and that's really scaring me. What if I hurt them? What if one of them dies because I have one moment where my powers are beyond my control? How could I live with myself?
Scarlet moved along the halls and slid down the banister to the first floor. She didn't acknowledge anyone who may have spoken to her and no one really tried to. The doors to the mansion opened for her, allowing her to step through them and out into the cool outdoors. The mutant walked out onto the grass and walked away from the mansion.
The voice is gone, she thought, wrapping her arms around herself. That dark voice that's been haunting me all my life, it's gone. And I hope it's gone for good. Chuck wouldn't have let me leave the mind room without knowing that it would never come back to haunt me. He helped me beat that voice. Her lips twitched into a half smile. I guess that the old man really does know what he's talking about…most of the time.
The cool breeze wrapped around her, bringing the scent of an approaching rain shower. Scarlet tipped her face up as the first drops of rain fell. Raindrops ran down the curve of her face, wiping away the remains of her tears. She uncrossed her arms and spun in a small circle for a moment, letting herself relax in the rain.
I don't remember how I got into my room, Scarlet thought, blinking against the rain. The last thing I remember is Chuck talking to me about how the darkness was gone…but I also remember a warm pleasant scent and strong arms. I know that he brought me to my room. I know that he did because he's the only one that cares about me and can handle my uncontrollable moments. He's the babysitter that Chuck sent after me. If Chuck hadn't, he wouldn't want anything to do with me.
The copy mutant's heart clenched painfully, drawing a soft cry from her lips. She closed her hand over her heart and looked back at the school.
Why do I care about that? Why do I give a damn about whether or not he wants to be around me for any reason? He's here to help me learn how to control my powers and keep me from destroying the mansion and everyone that's in it. He's a teacher and a babysitter, nothing more. But why does that hurt me so much?
The rain started to fall harder, pelting her until her body was chilled and her clothes were sticking to her like a second skin. Scarlet let a couple stray tears fall down the curve of her face, blending in with the raindrops that fell from the weeping sky. She closed her eyes and let the rain hit her.
He doesn't care and I don't care. We're two completely different beings and nothing can ever bring us together. I'm the job assignment that's been shoved upon him because of his abilities. I can't hurt him…but he can hurt me.
"Dammit!" Scarlet hissed, opening her eyes. "Dammit Scarlet! Stop thinking about that! Don't think about that at all! You can't change anything, so don't bother trying."
Lightning split the sky in two, followed by a very loud boom of thunder. Scarlet could feel the lightning inside of her and tried to calm herself down. There was no need to scare the little kids in the school with a nighttime thunder storm. She let her breath out in a small hiss and looked around. Her body was steaming where the rain hit flesh which she knew was a happy alternative to causing a bad storm.
"Relax," Scarlet told herself, crossing her arms once more. "Relax. Breathe. You can do this. You've already beaten the darkness inside. What's happening out here shouldn't be much harder to deal with."
She stood in the rainstorm for several moments, just looking up at the dark grey sky. Her body did relax until she heard a voice in the darkness.
"Maria," Logan's voice floated to her.
Scarlet turned her face towards the mansion and saw that Logan was standing a few yards away, without anything to shield him from the rain. Heat flooded her face when she noticed that his shirt was clinging to him like a second skin and recalled that her shirt was doing the same thing. She crossed her arms over her chest, hoping to hide anything that he shouldn't see on her. It didn't seem like he cared either way.
"What are you doing out here, Funny Hair?" Scarlet asked, turning to face him fully once she got control of her face. "Shouldn't you be nursing a bottle of Canadian beer right now?"
Logan offered a small smirk. "Maybe." He gestured vaguely at her. "Do you always do that when you're in the rain?"
Scarlet glanced down at her skin and saw that the rain was still steaming on her skin. "Most of the time, yeah. It freaked people out when I was a little kid, but I hated umbrellas." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I still hate umbrellas, actually. But I can walk around in the rain without freaking people out here…except maybe not, judging by your reaction."
Great, I'm mumbling again, Scarlet thought, shaking herself mentally.
"Why'd you come out into the rain, Funny Hair?" she asked with a frown. "Trying to win a wet t-shirt contest against Scooter to get Red's attention?"
Something shifted in Logan's eyes. "I was told to get you, so you could have dinner before we have our next training session." He tilted his chin up. "I'd win the wet t-shirt contest against Scooter any day, though."
Scarlet let a smirk touch her lips briefly. "I'd win against you any day."
She didn't miss the smirk on his face before he turned away from her. "Come on, darling. Let's get some food in you before I throw you around the Danger Room for a bit."
"You can try," Scarlet said, following after him. "But I think I can take you."
"We'll see."
OOOOOOOOO
"And the victor of this round is Scarlet Wayne!" Scarlet said, sitting on Logan's chest with her claws pressed against his throat. "You give, don't you?"
Logan grunted his response and Scarlet climbed off of him, dancing back away from the feral mutant. A small smile touched her lips as she watched Logan straighten and shake off the vines that she had wrapped around his arms. The feral mutant looked at her with black eyes and pulled his lips back with a small growl.
Scarlet moved into a defensive position, waiting for him to charge her. When he didn't move, the copy mutant dashed forward, long claws slipping from the tips of her fingers. She jumped up into the air and tried to stab him, but he raised his claws just in time.
Scarlet's eyes widened in surprise as blood trickled out of the corner of her mouth. She looked down and saw that Logan's claws were embedded in her stomach. Her gaze met his for a moment, seeing his surprise as if he suddenly realized what he had just done to her.
"Maria –" he began, losing the black gleam in his eyes.
The copy mutant shook her head and placed her hands on the Logan's fists. She made a small moan as she forced herself away from him and landed against a wall. A little more blood seeped from her mouth and Scarlet leaned against the wall for support.
"Are you okay?" Logan asked, taking a step towards her.
Scarlet threw up a hand, creating a small field around herself that he couldn't cross through. "Give me a moment, will you?" she ground out, placing a hand on one of her stab wounds.
She was surprised when Logan didn't listen to her. He tried to get through the field, even though it was standing strong against him. Scarlet rolled her eyes and looked down at her wounds, seeing the blood staining her flesh.
"Well, you stabbed me," Scarlet muttered, poking her finger in one of the wounds. "Stabbed me real good. It's gonna take me a few minutes to heal from these." She glanced at him with a small smirk. "I guess you've won this round, Funny Hair. In less than a minute. Congrats."
Logan's fist hit the field that separated the two of them. "That's not funny, Maria! I could have killed you!"
"Well, you didn't and that's all that matters." Scarlet ran a hand over her stomach, wiping away the blood that covered it. "We all make mistakes, Funny Hair. Remember?" She pressed her hand against the shrinking wounds. "You told me that. And I'm holding you to that."
A growl passed through Logan's lips as he slammed his hand against the field again. Scarlet's red eyes rolled again and she waved a hand in his direction. Logan fell forward when the field disappeared, but quickly straightened as if it had never happened. Scarlet watched him approach her, wondering what was so wrong about him hurting her this time.
"You're a dumb ass," Logan said, grabbing one of her wrists and staring at the blood that stained her hand.
"And you're an asshole," Scarlet countered, wrenching her hand free of his grip and wiping the blood off on her shorts. "There. Now we're both rude." She stepped back away from him, flattening herself against the wall. "Seriously though. I'm fine now. We can get back to training now, Funny Hair."
"No."
"C'mon!" Scarlet protested, forming her hands into fists. "You said that I need training and this is a perfect time to train. We still have a few hours before curfew."
"Maria, no."
Scarlet pushed Logan back. "Why the hell not? You stabbed me tonight, just like you would every other time in the training sessions we've had. Why should the fact that you got me in the gut this time matter? I can still fight and train. I'm not some fragile, little creature, Logan. I can handle being roughed up."
"Maria –"
"Shut up and fight me, dammit!" Scarlet ordered, her voice booming in the Danger Room like thunder.
She lunged forward and tried to punch Logan. The feral mutant stepped out of the way and caught Scarlet around the throat with his arm. Scarlet clawed at his arm, wanting to be free of his grasp. She went so far as to stomp on his feet, but apart from taking a hissing breath, Logan didn't seem to care much what she did to him.
"Our training session is over for the night," Logan hissed in her ear. "We can try again in a couple days, darling. All right?"
"No, it's not all right!" Scarlet growled back, earning a tightened grip around her throat.
"Tough luck. We're done for the night, Maria. When I release you, you're going to leave this room and head to your own. Don't start fights with anyone and don't try to sneak back here because I will know and I will be putting you in a headlock so tight that you won't wake up for a week."
Scarlet growled again, lowering her hands. "Fine. Fine. I accept your terms…Okay?"
Logan slowly let go of Scarlet and stepped back away from her. She rubbed her throat as she turned to face him. Scarlet's eyes narrowed at him, but she didn't say anything else. The feral mutant led the way out of the Danger Room and she followed quietly.
"Someone's coming," Scarlet said when they were halfway down the hall. "A lot of people."
Both stopped as the heavy sound of running feet headed their way. Scott, Jean, Storm, Hank, and the younger official X-Men came running towards them, dressed in their X-suits.
"What's going on?" Logan asked, looking at them.
"Magneto and Sabretooth are attacking a hospital," Storm announced, pausing briefly to tell him. "They've rebuilt their army and are ready to make their presence known again."
"Logan, we'll need your help," Jean added.
"I'll come too," Scarlet volunteered, moving to follow the X-Men into the direction of the X-Jet, but Scott stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
"You're not coming, Maria," Scott told her firmly.
"Why not?"
"Because you're still dangerously uncontrolled with your powers and you'd hurt more people than you can help." His eyes glinted behind his shades. "And you don't take orders."
"But –!"
"Not tonight, Maria," Jean said softly. "You can come with us in the next one, okay? There will be plenty of time to prove yourself in the future. But for now, you should go rest. You've had a long day and need your rest."
Scarlet looked at the faces of her friends and teachers, looking for any support for her side. Her friends awkwardly shifted their weight from foot to food and wouldn't meet her gaze. Scarlet's gaze slid onto Logan as he stood there.
"Logan?" she whispered.
Something shifted behind Logan's eyes. "Not tonight, Maria."
Scarlet stood in the middle of the hall, watching the X-Men run down it until they disappeared. Her hands clenched into fists and she saw red. Angry tears fell down her face in rivers and she made a loud roaring sound.
"I hate you bastards!" she called after them, though she wasn't sure that they could hear her. "I hate every single one you!"
She turned on her heel and headed for the nearest elevator. Thunder rolled overhead and she could hear the rain pelting the mansion's roof. Scarlet headed out of the elevator and out the front doors to the mansion. She lifted her eyes to the storm clouds and saw lightning before her eyes.
Scarlet sat down on the front steps to the mansion and stared out at the storm, not caring that she was soaked to the bone.
"I hate them all," she whispered. "Even him…"
OOOOOOOOO
A/N: So, there's that one update done. I honestly don't know where I'm going anymore, but I'll try to find out soon. Please don't hesitate to send a review or two to me. I love reading them and all flames will be welcome in order to make virtual smores. Thanks and have fun! –Scarlet