Dedicated to Juan Mann and many of my friends.
Takes place after The Mission, but before the others. I'm exploring X23's character.
XMENXMENXMEN
X23 slunk through the small town nearest her neck of the woods. Today had been shower day, using the restrooms within the community pool. By now many of the people were used to seeing her on her rounds, carrying armloads of old food and ripped-up clothing. Some even set out plates of heated food, but these were touched only by squirrels.
Today her feet took her past the strip mall. She intended to go around the back to the Dumpsters, but something else caught her eye. In her life of living from day to day without money or family, she had developed selective senses. Certain words popped out at her, like "free." In front of the fountain towards the center of the long line of stores, someone was holding up a sign for "Free Hugs." Everyone seemed to be passing this offer by, so she went straight to the person.
For a moment she stood before him, unable to think of anything to say. He set his cardboard sign to one side and opened both arms. With a grin, she embraced him.
The crowds rippled in response. Many came over to get hugs from this man. The "line" was getting long, so the people began to break up into pairs among themselves. There was still a flow to either side that gave them strange looks. A number of these people would come back a few moments later for a hug or two before continuing. Several people pulled out cameras to record this occurrence.
Within the crowd, X23 had gained her own sign and was reaching out to everybody. The same goofy grin stretched across her face all the while.
XMENXMENXMEN
Night was falling as she crept back into the den she had made for herself. She set the sign down on top of the cardboard box in which she kept all her worldly possessions. For a moment she stared at it before her eyes filled with tears. Her claws burst forth from between her knuckles and she began to tear at herself. Flesh was ripped off to fall on the ground, but was soon replaced by new cells and tissue. Bone was laid bare, shining in the last of the sun, before quickly disappearing again. This only lead to a more frenzied attack against herself. The rate of regeneration was slowing.
At last she fell to the ground. Deep breaths and sobs wracked her body. Her clothing was in tatters, conveniently covering certain areas, of course. There she lay as the stars winked into view above. Her claws slowly retracted as she drifted off to sleep.
XMENXMENXMEN
The sun rose on the small town and the woods beyond. X23 rose and looked around. Bloodstain clothing still littered the ground, as well as maggot-covered slices of meat. She tossed these off into the woods along with what was left of what she was wearing. She staggered over to her box and pushed the sign aside. She rifled through the various pieces of cloth, finally finding something larger, much more substantial. This she pulled out, spilling the upper layers onto the ground. A large stuffed beagle emerged, large black eyes wide and questioning. She stared at it before bringing it into a close embrace. Her nose picked up on the faint, but still comforting, scent tangled deep within the fur and she felt a smile come to her face. Quickly she donned clothing for that day and rushed out with the sign in hand. Maybe she would try a plate of pancakes this morning.