X-Men: Fate

Sparrow's Song

The Night Before - Sunday Night's Sessions

"I know you three had a busy afternoon with the luncheon," Ororo said, "so Danger Room training with Logan has been cancelled. However, tonight, you'll each have an hourly session with Jean, Emma, and Danielle. They're mandatory. If you wish to continue on your path as an X-Man, you'll listen to what they have to say and be as open with them as you can be. I task you to push yourselves in that regard. If not for the good of yourselves, then the good of your team. On your own, each of you is remarkable. Together, I look forward to what you'll be and accomplish."

"How did I end up the first one in here?" Reva questioned herself, sitting across from Danielle.

"I think it's because you're not very good at Rock, Paper, Scissors," Danielle said. She smiled. "I overheard."

"It's better that I'm first anyway," Reva said. "I'll be easy. Those two?" She rolled her eyes.

"How guarded the three of you are is actually something you have in common," Danielle said. "You and Reth are just better at playing it off, and Reth makes the most effort."

Reva blinked.

"I can't believe you just said that," Reva said: a little surprised.

"Reth is the optimist," Danielle said. "Adrian is the pessimist. While you, you're the realist. If I'm not real with you, you won't be real with me. It's the reason, until Reth, Adrian, and Sorcha arrived, you didn't have many friends but associates: people you tolerated, or am I wrong?"

"I always wondered," Reva said. "She's so sweet. She's like the kindest person. How could she have been an X-Man? That doesn't seem like her. I used to think you were…weak because of that. Boy, did I have you pegged wrong." She brought a smile to Danielle's face.

"Because of my ability," Danielle said, "because of my childhood, I had to overcome unnecessary fear. I was afraid to be myself for so long, but after everything I've been through, the X-Men have been through, I had to be me: for myself and the people I cared about most. They need me to be me like I needed them. And I chose to speak with you because I see the same of you in regards to your relationships with Reth and Adrian."

"I will deny this if it ever gets out," Reva began, "but I'm starting to get afraid. It's stupid. I wouldn't tell the guys, I can't tell Sorcha, but I care about them. I don't want to lose them. I don't want them to get hurt. I'm afraid that'll happen. That fear makes me angry. Makes me want to fight."

"You can trust me," Danielle said. "You can trust that what you say here won't reach others. Emma's ensuring no one in the school is privy to these conversations, and she's not listening in either. " She leaned forward, clasping her hands together. "You have a reason to fight. That's not a bad thing."

"It's bad to care," Reva said. "Look at what it did. Look at what it does. I've taken care of myself my whole life. It's one thing to fight for others. It's weird for me to want, to take care of them."

"You don't want to be seen as weak," Danielle said.

"I don't," Reva admitted.

"Then you have to talk to me," Danielle said. "I understand if you don't want to be vulnerable with your team or your closest friend, but you have to take care of yourself if taking care of your team is important to you."

"It is," Reva said.

"Your feelings aren't stupid or weird," Danielle told her. "They're valid. And if you didn't know that, don't know it, I have to make sure you do."

"I'll give it a shot," Reva said. "Might as well. Don't have anything else to do for an hour."

"Where would you like to start?" Danielle asked, sitting back and smiling.

"I want Sorcha on the team," Reva said, "but I don't think she's ready. Reth and Adrian really like each other, but they're boys and dumb, so they work well together, they're good together, but awkward. Some times, I worry that might affect our voting system one day. At the same time, I don't worry because they're all about the team. And I hate myself because I kind of have a crush on Armod. All right. That's enough out of me. I don't usually talk this much, about me, but I do trust you. Professor Moonstar, Danielle, I'm not someone you need to worry about."

"I won't worry about you," Danielle said, "but don't you appreciate having someone listen: without thinking, my stuff is stupid, frivolous, not worthy of burdening others with."

"I do," Reva said. "There's some things I could get off my chest. I'll start with you. I do want to be more open with people. If only to show them, I don't not care."

"Do or don't," Danielle said. "If that's something you want, go for it, but people know you care. No doubt about that." They both laughed. "Some things to ponder: Sorcha is a good candidate. Prepare her if you'd like her to succeed. Is it that you don't think she's ready, or you're not? You like Reth and Adrian together, and you're impatient, even though it's not your relationship. I never would've taken you as a romantic. Let them take their time. Armod is an intelligent, attractive, capable young man. People have fallen for worse. Are you impatient with them because you want your own romance, and isn't it possible, whether you like Armod or not, that if you two gave each other a chance maybe you could at least learn from each other, grow, see your experiences and thinking in a different light?"

"Are you sure you aren't related to Reth?" Reva asked.

"I'm sure," Danielle said. "Looks like our time is up."

"Oh," Reva said. "That was fast. You've given me some things to think about. Got in my head like Reth. Got under my skin like Adrian." She got up from the chair, stood to leave, and leaned on the back of it. "I want to say this before I go. I've never been a part of a team, but I've always wanted to be a part of this one. It's dangerous, it's fun, and it's meaningful. I've had a good life, I have a great one, I'll talk here, I'll do what I've got to do to be a part of this team, but don't worry about me. Focus on Adrian and Reth. I think they need your worry most."

"You're that concerned?" Danielle questioned her.

"Not of their ability to be X-Men but of their well-being," Reva said. "I think they could be happier, more complete, more themselves. I think we can help them with that."

"Then we'll help them get there," Danielle said.

"We sure will," Reva said.