Title: Starting Over
Pairing: Well, several. Jean/Logan and Scott/Emma for sure. Maybe a bit of Kitty/Colossus and Rogue/Remy for fun and flair. We'll see what we get into. :)
Rating: T at the beginning (mainly for language, because dude...seriously...Logan swears a lot.), M (for fluff, maybe?) later on.
Author's Note: Squeeeeeee, let's bring on the drama. I apologize in advance for how this chapter is going to end. A short chapter, but another one should be coming soon, I promise.
ALSO: I have some links on my profile page now! Pics of the Logan in my head, pics of Jean, the song that kinda fueled the rewrite of Chapter 1, and the cover of Devil Inside by London Grammar. Please let me know if you check them out!
I think there's a flaw in my code
These voices won't leave me alone
Well my heart is gold and my hands are cold
Gasoline - Halsey
Jean Grey knelt in the snow, head hanging and eyes closed tight, as she attempted to fight off the panic and the tears that exploded throughout her being. Reasonably, she knew she'd been lucky to have these 5 months with no X Men, no fears about her going nuts, and a sense of normalcy that most mutants of high enough power levels could only dream of. It still galled her, however, to feel like it was all cut short. She could hear the shock from her former teammates as they came upon her in the snow with Logan. Several of them were more positive, glad to see her. A few were worried, one focused on if they needed to remake the egg that contained her last time and how quickly the parts could be gathered. The most forceful ones, though, were the ones who would decide her fate for the very near future, and it wasn't looking good.
She heard Scott walk up to Logan and the tightness in the voice as he spoke, and her eyes flicked open at his scathing tone.
"Logan, we were needing your assistance with that case we picked up in San Francisco." Scott paused, eyes narrowing on both Jean and Logan. "Then Emma told me you had a visitor you neglected to inform us of. Tell me, Logan, were you going to invite us to this illicit meeting? Or were you just going to hold out until the Phoenix ate the whole planet alive?"
Logan's fists clenched, his chest heaving in rage at the insinuation.
"Look here, boyscout. I had the situation under control. I ain't stupid, because unlike you idiots I don't go pissin' off of a force of creation. But you," and he stabbed a finger in Scott's direction, "you seem to think walkin' up in here with Ice Bitch, takin' names and bein' your usual bullheaded self will keep that stupid head of yours on your shoulders."
Emma smirked at the nickname before speaking, checking her nails with almost blase snark.
"Logan, dear, you wouldn't find me such a bitch if you weren't so completely wrapped up Jean's trail of bodies. You should really consider a new profession besides traitor to your team."
Logan's claws shot out and he moved forward, deadly intent on his face. Scott had moved in front of Emma, preparing to blast Logan away if necessary, while Kitty and Peter moved to flank both figures opposing the X Men in the snow. Jean's hand reached out, and in Logan's mind she spoke softly, a contrast to the roaring anger swirling in his thoughts and emotions.
-Don't. Please. I'm not worth it-
He pulled up with a start and then had to duck to the left as Scott let his optic blasts loose on the target. Just narrowly missing the sting of the energy beams, Logan stumbled back as Jean bellowed out a request to all who were watching.
"STOP."
All of them froze except for Scott, who snarled at Jean. "You can't just use your powers on us to get away. I'll end this." He turned to fire again at Logan, but stopped when Emma flicked her eyes at him. The silent exchange happening between the two would have made Jean laugh if she weren't feeling so miserable.
She'd hoped that she'd have more time to live and prove herself stable before having others find out she was back. With more therapy, with time, and with the entirety of the Phoenix Force having been sent back to the White Hot Room, there was actually a chance for her this time. One chance without being corrupted, without being copied, without being brought back too early. The anxiety of the facedown was making it impossible for her to use her therapy, to reframe and be as detached as needed to work through the emotions. And there was no way to withdraw, to collect her thoughts and employ the
I can't. I can't I can't I can't.
Breathe.
I can't!
Tightness wound her around her chest, the fear of exploding in power and the fear of her old teammate feeding the flames of terror. Her fingers dug into the mittens, hands shaking as she scrambled to mentally regain control. She caught a few flickers of surface thoughts coming off Scott and Emma's conversation.
-...wasn't her, they...-
-...I was the only one not...-
-...still care, for some idiotic...-
"Enough."
Logan's growl came from just to the left of her, ahead a few paces. "You can all quit yer stupid bitchin'. If you'd lay off for two minutes and not jump all over us, maybe we could not have a damn fight. It's too cold for this shit."
Logan stepped towards her, gentle in his movements as he crouched down and lifted her red face up to look at him.
"I'm sorry this got messy, Red. But you're safe here. Nobody's gonna hurt you, because I-" and with this he turned to look Scott right in the eye, "-won't let them do anything. And you know I mean it, Cyke."
Scott shook his head, fed up with the attitude one of his team members was giving him. He opened his mouth to speak, but before Scott could get a word out, his eyes flicked to something behind Jean's head.
Jean had one last thought before the pain exploded in her skull.
At least they can't see my palms glowing where Logan is crouching.