A/N: This story is really starting to slow down on the review scale. I don't know if that's a bad thing or a good thing. But I promise the pace will start to pick up. It actually starts in this chapter so PLEASE continue reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it.
Chapter 9 - Cerulean Thoughts
Jean closed the door behind her and sighed, leaning against the heavy wooden frame. Her auburn hair fell forward, shielding her face as her green eyes stared into the fine polished wooden flooring, before closing delicately to think.
The mystery of Tristian was eating at her. She hated having it right in front of her, beckoning her to come and follow, but being tied down from going. The answer to him was right in front of her but she couldn't see it, like looking through a foggy window and not quite being able to observe what was inside, just behind the glass. She had to be patient, she had to wait to find out. In time, he'd tell her. She knew he would, but he needed to be with himself right now.
Jean had felt his tension building around Logan, but not because of the man. Because of his own fatigue. His mind was having trouble sorting too many things at once and it built up on him, piling one after the other with no break in-between. It was starting to get to him, heightening his stress. With it she felt something else. Something that wasn't tension or fatigue or stress for that matter, it was power. Clear and crisp, thick and heavy, raw and real. It closed in around and buzzed through her skin, absorbing into her body like a cool mist that left her gasping involuntarily. She never felt anything like it, nothing that powerful in her life. Tristian was the real deal. He was powerful beyond all comprehension, maybe more so than he knew or wanted to find out.
He knew though. The look in his eyes when his power was brought up told her the truth without uttering a sound. No one could have such a hurt and darkened look without having been through some sort of trauma in the past. He knew what he was capable of. The thing that excited her and scared her all at once was knowing she would find out soon too, they all would. That little build up of tensioned power she had felt was nothing, though it was a current delight to her own senses.
Logan had felt it, not as much, but enough. She had seen the look in his eyes and saw him tense with rejection towards it, denying it access into his own body and blood. But she felt the majority of the wave, having the Phoenix's power did that to her, almost made her crave and feed off it, but she deprived the hunger, reducing it to nothing with her on abilities though she sensed it rise in him, filling him like a glass and she knew if it got too full, it'd spill out and that wouldn't be good from a trimutant. It would be like a tsunami, causing nothing but destruction in its path.
Tristian was one she would take responsibility for. Everyone else was too afraid of him. Xavier was frightened by his increasing power, too caught up in the thought he would become too strong to control, that his powers would exceed his own. He was used to being the one in command of the school, losing that was beyond all thought and someone stronger than he was a steadily growing nightmare, more so with Tristian now.
Ororo didn't have to verbalize her fear of the young man. She had a hard enough time not fearing St. John and his abilities to manipulate fire along with his short circuit temper and malicious smile that held the fiery glint in his eyes, sparking the smoke in them. With both of them, her friend was terrified and she knew nothing of Tristian's power. Only that he was a trimutant. That word alone sent shivers down Storm's spine, knowing there was something more powerful in the mansion that could take over whenever he pleased, bend his will over the entire school. The last thing Storm wanted was to become a servant to a dominant power and be forced to obey his will.
Scott…he didn't show it. He was a rock and passive that way, never giving away anything that could be used against him. Tristian could be. Or at least the way he felt about Tristian. He, just as the others, feared what Tristian was capable of. Ever since he blocked the Professor from his mind and gave him quite a headache did he fear the mutant. Or maybe it was when Tristian went so quietly with them onto the jet, no commotion, no dispute, just utter compatibility and regulation. That had to be when the fear started to grip Scott. It was the first thing she picked up, the first scent of fear from him.
Tristian scared him because of his quietness and the fact that maybe, just maybe he'd lose his leadership to the younger man. It was the only thing Scott had. His leadership over the X-Men and his place at the school as the regulator of all. He trained the students, he worked on the X-Jet, and he commanded the missions and organized the operations. It was his job. He was the strongest, the most reliable, the boy scout, and now he wasn't the strongest adult mutant, he wasn't the best at training. It was a threat to his pride and he wouldn't lose it, not even to Logan and he'd be damned if he lost it to Tristian.
She didn't fear him though. Not one ounce or gram of fear resided in her. She knew just as much as they did about him, even more possibly, but still there was no fear. He should frighten her, she knew he should, but he didn't. Maybe that was why he trusted her so much, because she didn't fear him for what he was. He seemed too gentle to ever hurt her. She could viably say that she could hand him a knife and turn her back on him and trust him not to stab her with it.
And the trio, Bobby, Rogue, and John, they seemed to like him and not fear him at all. But they didn't know what he was yet and she wasn't sure if their feelings would change towards him and they'd turn just as the others did. She doubted John would. He'd more than likely embrace the fact that there was someone as dark, even darker, than he when it came to power. Rogue and Bobby she couldn't be sure of. She only hoped they'd understand him and give him a chance as they did with John even after the teenager came back.
Coming back brought up more perplexed and muddled memories for the doctor. She still wasn't sure about her own return. All she knew was that ten months ago she was back in the school, back with her memories, back with her family. The last thing she recalled was lifting the jet and then the mental exhaustion and strain hitting her. She let go of the heavy wall of water behind her and let it take her in a giant comforting sweep. She could remember thinking of Scott and his sweet smile and comforting arms, the way she fit so perfectly against him. Logan and the passionate kiss they shared, her feelings for him burning in her with a new fire. And then…nothing. The darkness had swept over her then and the memory after that was waking in bed nearly 2 months later. Everyone relieved and ecstatic to have her back.
Memories of the Phoenix were still present then just as they were now. It was part of her, she could feel it inside, swimming inside her, delicately trudging the edges of her skin. Not wanting out, just lurking and teasing.
John was there when she awoke, back at the school. As far as anyone told her she owed her life to him. Ororo let spill that Magneto had gotten his hands on her, found her after the dam burst and she was washed away. He tracked her down and brought her back to his hideout. John had recognized her, watching her delicate frame float in the water filled tanks, an air mask keeping her alive along with other wires and gadgets. Apparently the teen felt so accountable he managed to contact the Xavier and tell him where he was and what he knew. He risked all to save her, Jean knew that. But she kept it as a silent secret between them. It helped him keep his reputation as a bad ass and helped her keep a secret. A silent bond so to speak.
She let go of those memories, not wanting to try and remember anything more from the past two months she missed and forgot. She had Tristian to consider and assist for the time being along with her own personal tribulations.
"What are you doing here?" a voice from down the hall spoke. It wasn't directed towards Jean though.
"I have every right to speak to her as you do," another voice spoke, apparently she missed part of the conversation as it was slowly rising to aggressiveness.
"Like hell you do," the other hissed and she heard the first sound of skin on skin, a fist hitting a face.
Jean opened her eyes and jerked her head up, looking down the hallway to watch the fight break out.
PLEASE REVIEW. THE MORE REVIEWS THE MORE MOTIVATIONS I GET, THE SOONER I WRITE NEW CHAPTERS, LOL!!!!
BEEZER
Chapter 9 - Cerulean Thoughts
Jean closed the door behind her and sighed, leaning against the heavy wooden frame. Her auburn hair fell forward, shielding her face as her green eyes stared into the fine polished wooden flooring, before closing delicately to think.
The mystery of Tristian was eating at her. She hated having it right in front of her, beckoning her to come and follow, but being tied down from going. The answer to him was right in front of her but she couldn't see it, like looking through a foggy window and not quite being able to observe what was inside, just behind the glass. She had to be patient, she had to wait to find out. In time, he'd tell her. She knew he would, but he needed to be with himself right now.
Jean had felt his tension building around Logan, but not because of the man. Because of his own fatigue. His mind was having trouble sorting too many things at once and it built up on him, piling one after the other with no break in-between. It was starting to get to him, heightening his stress. With it she felt something else. Something that wasn't tension or fatigue or stress for that matter, it was power. Clear and crisp, thick and heavy, raw and real. It closed in around and buzzed through her skin, absorbing into her body like a cool mist that left her gasping involuntarily. She never felt anything like it, nothing that powerful in her life. Tristian was the real deal. He was powerful beyond all comprehension, maybe more so than he knew or wanted to find out.
He knew though. The look in his eyes when his power was brought up told her the truth without uttering a sound. No one could have such a hurt and darkened look without having been through some sort of trauma in the past. He knew what he was capable of. The thing that excited her and scared her all at once was knowing she would find out soon too, they all would. That little build up of tensioned power she had felt was nothing, though it was a current delight to her own senses.
Logan had felt it, not as much, but enough. She had seen the look in his eyes and saw him tense with rejection towards it, denying it access into his own body and blood. But she felt the majority of the wave, having the Phoenix's power did that to her, almost made her crave and feed off it, but she deprived the hunger, reducing it to nothing with her on abilities though she sensed it rise in him, filling him like a glass and she knew if it got too full, it'd spill out and that wouldn't be good from a trimutant. It would be like a tsunami, causing nothing but destruction in its path.
Tristian was one she would take responsibility for. Everyone else was too afraid of him. Xavier was frightened by his increasing power, too caught up in the thought he would become too strong to control, that his powers would exceed his own. He was used to being the one in command of the school, losing that was beyond all thought and someone stronger than he was a steadily growing nightmare, more so with Tristian now.
Ororo didn't have to verbalize her fear of the young man. She had a hard enough time not fearing St. John and his abilities to manipulate fire along with his short circuit temper and malicious smile that held the fiery glint in his eyes, sparking the smoke in them. With both of them, her friend was terrified and she knew nothing of Tristian's power. Only that he was a trimutant. That word alone sent shivers down Storm's spine, knowing there was something more powerful in the mansion that could take over whenever he pleased, bend his will over the entire school. The last thing Storm wanted was to become a servant to a dominant power and be forced to obey his will.
Scott…he didn't show it. He was a rock and passive that way, never giving away anything that could be used against him. Tristian could be. Or at least the way he felt about Tristian. He, just as the others, feared what Tristian was capable of. Ever since he blocked the Professor from his mind and gave him quite a headache did he fear the mutant. Or maybe it was when Tristian went so quietly with them onto the jet, no commotion, no dispute, just utter compatibility and regulation. That had to be when the fear started to grip Scott. It was the first thing she picked up, the first scent of fear from him.
Tristian scared him because of his quietness and the fact that maybe, just maybe he'd lose his leadership to the younger man. It was the only thing Scott had. His leadership over the X-Men and his place at the school as the regulator of all. He trained the students, he worked on the X-Jet, and he commanded the missions and organized the operations. It was his job. He was the strongest, the most reliable, the boy scout, and now he wasn't the strongest adult mutant, he wasn't the best at training. It was a threat to his pride and he wouldn't lose it, not even to Logan and he'd be damned if he lost it to Tristian.
She didn't fear him though. Not one ounce or gram of fear resided in her. She knew just as much as they did about him, even more possibly, but still there was no fear. He should frighten her, she knew he should, but he didn't. Maybe that was why he trusted her so much, because she didn't fear him for what he was. He seemed too gentle to ever hurt her. She could viably say that she could hand him a knife and turn her back on him and trust him not to stab her with it.
And the trio, Bobby, Rogue, and John, they seemed to like him and not fear him at all. But they didn't know what he was yet and she wasn't sure if their feelings would change towards him and they'd turn just as the others did. She doubted John would. He'd more than likely embrace the fact that there was someone as dark, even darker, than he when it came to power. Rogue and Bobby she couldn't be sure of. She only hoped they'd understand him and give him a chance as they did with John even after the teenager came back.
Coming back brought up more perplexed and muddled memories for the doctor. She still wasn't sure about her own return. All she knew was that ten months ago she was back in the school, back with her memories, back with her family. The last thing she recalled was lifting the jet and then the mental exhaustion and strain hitting her. She let go of the heavy wall of water behind her and let it take her in a giant comforting sweep. She could remember thinking of Scott and his sweet smile and comforting arms, the way she fit so perfectly against him. Logan and the passionate kiss they shared, her feelings for him burning in her with a new fire. And then…nothing. The darkness had swept over her then and the memory after that was waking in bed nearly 2 months later. Everyone relieved and ecstatic to have her back.
Memories of the Phoenix were still present then just as they were now. It was part of her, she could feel it inside, swimming inside her, delicately trudging the edges of her skin. Not wanting out, just lurking and teasing.
John was there when she awoke, back at the school. As far as anyone told her she owed her life to him. Ororo let spill that Magneto had gotten his hands on her, found her after the dam burst and she was washed away. He tracked her down and brought her back to his hideout. John had recognized her, watching her delicate frame float in the water filled tanks, an air mask keeping her alive along with other wires and gadgets. Apparently the teen felt so accountable he managed to contact the Xavier and tell him where he was and what he knew. He risked all to save her, Jean knew that. But she kept it as a silent secret between them. It helped him keep his reputation as a bad ass and helped her keep a secret. A silent bond so to speak.
She let go of those memories, not wanting to try and remember anything more from the past two months she missed and forgot. She had Tristian to consider and assist for the time being along with her own personal tribulations.
"What are you doing here?" a voice from down the hall spoke. It wasn't directed towards Jean though.
"I have every right to speak to her as you do," another voice spoke, apparently she missed part of the conversation as it was slowly rising to aggressiveness.
"Like hell you do," the other hissed and she heard the first sound of skin on skin, a fist hitting a face.
Jean opened her eyes and jerked her head up, looking down the hallway to watch the fight break out.
PLEASE REVIEW. THE MORE REVIEWS THE MORE MOTIVATIONS I GET, THE SOONER I WRITE NEW CHAPTERS, LOL!!!!
BEEZER