X-Men: Fate

Calm Before The Storm

Adrian sat on his bed in his room with the door closed in deep thought. His thoughts were on everything, all at once, and how he felt emotionally toward all of it: apprehensive, excited, worried, and happy. His heartbeat had picked up speed, thinking about becoming an X-Men, becoming part of this team, having positive role models and people he looked up to, potentially establishing some type of serious relationship with someone, for the first time, especially a guy, and facing Ororo in regards to their actions.

Instead of straight out fear, sweating about leaving his room and being around others as he had when he first arrived to the school, his leg bounced with anticipation and he couldn't keep from smiling. He wanted to know what this place had in store for him next. Finally, he even felt ready to handle it.

Adrian went to open his door, so he could leave to find Reva and Reth, and he found Reva already standing there about to knock.

"Morning," Reva said cheerfully. "You ready, Lone Wolf, or is it Lover Boy now?"

Adrian tried to hide his blushing. He didn't say anything for a moment.

"You want to go get Reth for the meeting?" Adrian asked her when he recovered from her question.

"I do," Reva said, "but I wanted to talk with you first if that was okay."

"Sure," Adrian said. "Open door conversation or closed door conversation?"

"Closed door," Reva said. She waited a beat. "You going to invite me in?"

"That didn't stop you before," Adrian said and laughed.

Reva chuckled as well, but she respectfully waited.

"Come on in," Adrian told her, and she did. He closed the door behind her.

Reva had already eaten breakfast. Everyone had gone to sleep early this morning, so she should've been one of the ones still clinging to her bed, but with their meeting with Ororo around the corner she had been only capable of grabbing a few winks, going for a run, taking a shower, and then getting some food. She couldn't believe she actually sat still long enough to read one of her textbooks this morning. When she reached a time she hoped Adrian would be up, she made her way to his room. As she stood across from Adrian, she wasn't sure why she was a little nervous. Yes she did. She never did anything like this.

"I wanted to say I'm sorry," Reva looked and picked at her hand at first, but then she gave Adrian her full attention. She never apologized. "I'm sorry."

Adrian looked taken aback.

"Sorry?" Adrian questioned. "What do you have to be sorry for?"

"Sometimes I can be intense," Reva said. "When we first met, when you first got here, you rubbed me the wrong way. I thought a lot of things about you, and I've called you out of your name a few times too. My point is what we're about to go into will require a clean slate. You and I hated the same things when this started, but I like you. We both like Reth. You might be a teammate, but I wanted it to be clear that I consider you a friend. I hoped, even if not today, at some point…" She looked away, she kind of dug her foot into his floor, held her arms behind her back, but she refocused on Adrian. "At some point, I hoped you might consider me yours too." She couldn't believe she said all that, but it was the truth. This was going to be as sentimental as she got for the rest of the year. Clean slate time. Fresh start.

"I'll admit you did piss me off a few times," Adrian said and laughed. It was wild hearing himself laugh after so long of trying to hold on to suffering. He watched Reva give him a look. "But if you have to apologize, so do I." He watched her face soften.

Reva hadn't expected him to say that.

"When I first got here," Adrian continued, "I thought everyone should be wary of me. It pissed me off because you actually were. I thought it admirable though that you let me know to my face. You didn't whisper or give me glances of suspicion. You were upfront." He thought this was the longest he'd talked to someone outside of Forge and Kurt. "Apology accepted. Sorry I acted like an asshat toward you. I used to be a Purifier. My dad used to be a leader in the group. I wasn't hating you but more so hating myself."

"You don't have to apologize," Reva said. "Apologize accepted. You went and got all deep on me. You didn't have to…Thank you for telling me a little bit about your past." She wasn't good with things like this, but she was glad they had this talk. Normally news like that would've had her beating him senseless, but then he had mentioned his dad… That affected how she received and perceived his news. She somehow knew she and Adrian had an understanding. They wanted to believe in change, but if Adrian slipped back into his old self they knew Reva would be the first to beat the sense back into him.

Adrian wanted to tell Reva he thought she was beautiful and talented, but they could both see their talk had made them a little uncomfortable. They smiled at each other not realizing they were thinking the same thing; Reth would be right at home in this type of situation.

"You're not going to start treating me differently now," Adrian said, "are you?"

"What?" Reva said, and she shook her head. "Of course not. One member of this threesome has to keep the other two humble and on their toes. Might as well be me."

"I agree," Adrian said.

Reva smiled, and Adrian laughed.

Adrian gave her a quick hug. This time Reva was the one that found herself taken aback between the two of them. He let her go and then went to open the door for her.

"Come on," Adrian said. "Let's go get Reth."

"That Sleepyhead," Reva said. "I can't even believe he's still in bed."

"And hey," Adrian said, "in the future, feel free to barge into my room anytime."

Reva nodded. She left the room, and so did he, closing his door behind the two of them.

Reth was still sleeping, which was unlike him, because of all the energy he exerted the day before, and because he wanted to stay in bed and avoid facing the fact that he basically made out with Adrian in front of almost everyone. He remembered he used to love living in the moment. He and his best friend had loved creating moments, and memories, that shifted the routine and sparked life, an emotional response, and this would bring them both joy. After everything that happened, everything that was going to happen, no longer could he or would he let his memories of her bring him sadness or grief, it was time to honor her and those memories. Live again. Be himself again.

He sat up just as Reva barged into the room with Adrian right behind her.

"Rise and shine," Reva said. Adrian smiled and gestured for him to get up with his hands.

Reth eyes grew wide for a quick second and then he looked down. He quickly looked up though. Life comes at you fast. You got to just embrace it. He and his old friend you to say that.

"You're usually the last one down and the first one up," Reva said. "I'm a little happy to see you acting young for once." She crossed her arms and chuckled.

Reth got up, wearing a black t-shirt and pair of boxer briefs, before he threw on his tie-dye harem pants.

"Morning Reth," Adrian said. "You almost made it to the afternoon but not quite. Means you're still an old man."

That got a laugh out of Reva.

"Good one," Reva said.

"Morning Adrian," Reth said. "Morning to you to Reva. Guess it's a good thing I took a shower last night, er this morning. You two look dressed and ready to go."

"You actually look comfortable for once Boy Scout," Reva said. "You wearing that?"

"I sure am," Reth said. He finished getting dressed. "Should we go see if Professor Munroe is ready for us?

"She's probably been ready for us," Reva said.

"We're supposed to meet her in her office," Adrian reminded them.

"You think we're going to be inducted into the team," Reth said, "or expelled from the school?" He laughed.

"That's not funny," Adrian said, shaking his head. He hadn't even thought about the possibility of getting expelled. He sighed.

"We're not going to get expelled," Reva said. "Our plan was awesome, and the best part of it? We executed it. Jean's awake, and The Phoenix is out of commission."

"I'm thinking they're regarding the plan as reckless or careless," Adrian said.

"A lot of stuff could've gone wrong," Reth said. "When you think about the Dark Phoenix incident, a lot of stuff had to come together for us to not only help Miss Grey regain consciousness but also incapacitate the Phoenix. Can't forget using an experimental device, traversing someone's mind, and battling the Brotherhood: surviving all of this."

"You know you make a good point," Reva said, slowly nodding in agreement. "It's almost like it was…"

"Fate?" Adrian questioned.

"Fate," Reth said.

"I don't know if I believe in fate," Reva said, "but if it means we're meant to be X-Men I'll accept it."

"Would it mean something great or something terrible is in store for us?" Reth questioned no one in particular.

"Let's not go down that road," Adrian said. "Better to think we have some semblance of control of our lives."

"Mostly," Reva said, "we don't though."

Adrian, Reva, and Reth laughed together.

"Well gentlemen," Reva said. "Time to take that long road to see our Headmistress." She headed out the door past Adrian.

Adrian rocked on his feet looking Reva straight in his eye for a moment. She winked her understanding in return.

"Let's mosey," Reth said, walking for the door.

Adrian stepped in front of Reth. He leaned in and kissed him. Reth kissed him back.

"Wanted to return that," Adrian said. Their eyes met. Adrian turned from Reth and left the room.

Reth still couldn't read how Adrian felt, but he now knew how Adrian felt. He smiled to himself as he shut the door behind the three of them, and they all walked for the Headmasters' Office.

!

Ororo heard a knock on her door, and she already knew who it was. She had a busy and productive morning. Most of the staff had. Even though their evening had gone from disquieting to joyous, most everyone stepped up to take care of the students and their professional obligations. They had all agreed before bed to attend a team meeting. Remy was tardy and Logan as well, but that was to be expected.

When it came to matters of the X-Men, a conversation with Kitty, Kurt, and Jean still had to be had, but Ororo decided that could wait for a little while: no rush. Those three needed not and had not been present during the team meeting and the debriefing that followed last night's events. One of their major priorities for that meeting had been to make a decision about Reva, Adrian, and Reth.

"Come in," Ororo said, turning from standing and gazing out her window. She came from around her desk.

Reva came to stand before her. Reth and Adrian closed each door together before they stood at Reva's sides.

Ororo rested her eyes on the three of them as she recalled the conversation with her fellow colleagues and friends.

Ororo had stood gazing out of the window at the beginning of that meeting as well.

"They really did come through," Danielle said. "We thought they were capable. They were. I'm proud of them."

"We can go ahead and put this to a vote," Remy said. "Regardless of that test we put them through, I'm still of the mind we chose right when we chose them. Make them X-Men, and then we can celebrate again!"

Danielle couldn't help smile while she shook her head.

"While they did succeed," Forge said, "they lied to us, stole from us, and endangered their lives as well as Jean's. I don't think they thought about that when they put their plan into action. They also had ulterior motives. It was probably less about saving Jean and more about proving themselves."

"While I agree with a majority of what you've said," Emma said, "I do disagree with you on the why of their actions. I will admit I had an idea they would put a plan together. During all the commotion on the day we tested them, I happened to read Adrian, Reva, and Reth's thoughts, and Reth had been the one to put a plan together. I suspect, in showcasing his leadership abilities, he placed his plan before the team and together they altered it to what it became. They did want to prove themselves X-Men, but they also genuinely wanted to return Jean to us. They understood the risks, and the risks didn't deter them from wanting to accomplish that important goal."

"You monitored them and did nothing?" Forge asked her.

"Had events gotten out of hand," Emma said. "I would've stepped in. I wanted to see how it all played out."

"I hate to break this to you lady," Logan said. "Things got out of hand. You weren't even around to step in."

"We are arguing semantics," Emma said. "At the end of the day, they did what the X-Men do, they came through."

"They couldn't have done it alone," Danielle said. "They managed to come together, working together through the whole process really, put a plan into action, and execute it. They survived the attempt, and they seemed to have grown closer during it and because of it."

"So," Remy said, "can we go ahead with the voting?"

"Ororo hasn't said anything on the subject," Forge said.

"Without the vote," Ororo said, "I already know that Remy and Emma are FOR their induction, that Danielle and Logan are UNDECIDED, and Forge and I are AGAINST it."

Danielle and Logan glanced at the other.

"We've changed positions," Danielle said. "Haven't we?"

"They came up with the plan because of me," Logan said. "They knew what I wanted. They're too emotional."

"You're afraid for them like I was," Danielle said, "and I believe in them like you did."

"Ororo," Remy said, "if you have the final say, it doesn't matter what we think or say, right?"

"No need to debate or deliberate," Emma said.

"Before I went to sleep and after I arose," Ororo began, "I would have agreed that it would not have mattered." She turned from her gaze upon Professor Xavier's memorial statue to face the people that had helped her rebuild. "A lot happened between then and now."

"How much could've happened?" Remy asked.

Ororo had truly smiled for the first time in a long time.

"Walk with me," Ororo instructed Reva, Adrian, and Reth. They followed her. She walked over to the bookshelf and pulled on the first book written by Professor Xavier. It caused a bookcase to slide over that revealed an elevator. They boarded it, and Ororo took them all down into the subbasement. She led them to the Danger Room.

Logan, Danielle, Emma, Remy, and Forge were waiting.

Emma and Forge stood side by side with Forge having some material draped across his arm.

Logan and Danielle, with Logan hanging back and Danielle before him, stood, and both Danielle's arms were hidden under some material.

Ororo joined Remy and turned toward the three; Remy had some material draped over his shoulder.

"People important to us died," Danielle had said.

"Ororo wanted us," Logan said. "She wanted all of us to come back together. She called us back. She brought us back."

"She told us everything had happened for a reason," Forge said, "so we rebuilt a new foundation, a new school, and a new class."

"We were going to lose Jean," Emma said.

"Anna became head of The Brotherhood," Remy said.

"Those three came along," Ororo said. "Jean is with us again."

- Jean stirred in her and Scott's old bed. The sun was shining through the window. Danielle had left her a post-it note that read: Morning Sister. Logan had brought her breakfast. Remy had provided her a bell to ring in case she needed anything. Forge had monitored her health with various wireless machines. Kitty had bought her a whole outfit to wear. Kurt had hooked up a tv and radio for her to enjoy. Ororo had placed a potted flower beside her bedside.

"Kurt and Kitty have decided to become staff again," Ororo continued, "offering to help with what undoubtedly will be an expansive workload here. They will act as the Theology and Chemistry teachers respectively."

- Kitty phased into her classroom carrying a chemistry set and more than a few personal touches from home.

- Kurt teleported multiple times around his classroom, moving and placing books, photos, and some relics.

"One of the two transfer students arrived to get settled," Ororo said, "Sorcha Argyris."

- Sorcha and her mother stood on the balcony that looked out over the pool, courts, gardens, and greenhouses.

"I still don't believe you should've come here," her mother said with straight, shoulder-length crimson red hair. "It's too dangerous."

"You were outvoted mother: two to one," Sorcha said. "If father and I aren't worried, you shouldn't be." She was a red-head, strawberry blonde, with a bob cut. Even in her sweater jacket, anyone could tell she was muscular. A breeze blew. She watched with a slight smile as it drew colorful, autumn leaves from her hair.

"Armod Bishop, the other, is on his way set to arrive later today," Ororo said.

- Armod and his granddad were on the side of the road. He was looking under the hood of the car examining the engine while his granddad leaned on the car putting some of his weight on his cane.

"I can't believe they let you in," his granddad said. He chuckled. "The odds were stacked against you: you being a non-mutant and having a history with that group. Why would they let in a non-mutant, funniest thing, and what was that group called again?"

"I can't believe grandma still lets you drive this old Cadillac when you could buy three new ones and have them delivered today with one phone call," Armod said. He had a diagonal fade with his 360 waves; he used his a-shirt to clean off his glasses. When he leaned back over the engine, his Purifier ring slipped out on the chain and hung from around his neck. He looked it over a moment before he stuffed it back in his shirt. Then, he went back to work after wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"I have received the signs," Ororo had said. "We are pushing forward. We will renew the X-Men as well. We'll start with these three, honoring the old way."

"You three shall become X-Men," Ororo said. The trio contained their excitement as best they could. Adrian succeeded at this the best, Reth in the middle, and Reva flat out failed.

"Like the members that came before you," Danielle said, "you're induction is right here in the Danger Room."

"We've got you some spiffy outfits to wear on missions," Remy said. "Got to have a uniform."

"It does come with conditions," Forge said, "but we welcome you to the team."

"You three proved yourselves," Logan said. "Don't get cocky. You've got training to do. I'm going to make you hate your lives from here on out."

"You will be sent on missions," Emma said. "After all, the Brotherhood has new acolytes of its own."

"While you will act as your team's leader Reth," Ororo said, " each of you will have two mentors. One or two of your mentors will always be a point man or supervisor of your mission until we feel you're ready to act solely on your own."

"We'll call it a probationary period," Remy said.

"There had to be some consequences for your actions," Emma said.

"You're getting off easy," Logan said.

"We thank you and appreciate what you accomplished though," Danielle said. "We wanted to make sure you knew that."

"Emma and I will act as your mentors Adrian," Forge said. "Hopefully, you won't have a problem with that."

"Not at all," Adrian said. He nodded to both of them.

"I along with Logan will take on mentoring you Reva," Danielle said.

"It's going to be tough," Logan almost growled.

"This is great!" Reva said. "It's going to be a blast!"

"You're stuck with the two of us mon cher," Remy said. "The two extremes to match your two extremes."

"We will guide you," Ororo said. "We will also provide balance."

"I will do everything I can to learn all I can," Reth said seriously, and then with a laugh said: "and have a little fun along the way."

"Look sharp," Logan said, trying to sound tough but smiling through it.

Reth, Reva, and Adrian got serious and stood together ready.

"Reva Parker," Logan said. "Codename: Sparrow."

"Adrian Luca," Emma said. "Codename: Tenebrae."

"Reth Whitfield," Ororo said. "Codename: Renegade."

Reth, Adrian, and Reva received their uniforms, and they went wild. They brought smiles and joy to the old guard: the veterans.

"Welcome to the X-Men," Ororo said, drawing their attention. Then, after having gained everyone's attention, she said: "Welcome to the family."

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"Matthias," Rogue said, standing outside his cell. "I found you."

"I never doubted you would," Matthias said, raising his head to greet her properly with a smile. "We better hurry."

"We've got a lot of work ahead of us," Rogue said.

"We do," Matthias said, "and we won't have much time to do it."

Thus, X-Men: Fate

[It's first arc ends: New Class]