Chapter 4: Mutant Crush

Jean walk back and forth in the room as Ethan try to watch the TV in his room. She had just come back with Logan from some car show and was talking about it like crazy. Ethan however didn't really listen as the TV had him more interested.

"Ethan!" Jean call and try to get his attention. It didn't work so she used her powers and took the TV control from his hand and shout the TV off.

"Why did you do that?" Ethan complain.

"Have you been listen to anything I said right now?" Jean ask him and he struggle. "For God sake, forget it." She thought the control on him but he dug so it hit his bed. She walked and left through the door to the hall and Ethan was fast to run after her.

"Jean, I'm sorry!" he called. They run past Kurt who looked out through his door to see what was happening and Scott who stop Ethan to run after her. "Scott move out of my way." Jean didn't stop and disappear around the corner.

"What did you do to her?" he asked, not moving a centimeter.

"I was just watching the TV and she was talking."

"That's not polite, did you listen to her?"

"Scott, I don't need your jealous right now, so move out of my way before I make you!"

"Sorry, but I don't plan on moving-" he was cut off as Ethan use his power to make Scott see a wall pressing him to the side. In real he just moved and struggle as he press himself to the left, letting Ethan past. He run down the hall and enter the hall for the girl rooms. He stopped in front of the closed door to Jean's room.

"Jean, come on!" he called. "I'm sorry, I promise to listen from now on!" the door opened and he enter the room.

"I should tell your father the TV isn't good in your room." Jean muttered as she placed down some cloth in her dressers.

"Okay, I have said I'm sorry, now tell me what you were so upset about." Ethan sat down on Jean's bed and look at her. She sighed and told him about the show and the teenager who had stop two cars from driving. "And my father thinks he is a Mutant?"

"Yes, however Logan told me that we should go when we didn't find him afterwards." Jean said and sat down beside him, one of her legs on the bed and the other down to the floor so she sat to face Ethan. He turned his head only to look at her.

"And why are you so upset about that?" he asked. "You didn't found him, you can't do anything about that."

"It's just people laugh and he was so… angry. I feel sorry for him, you know." Ethan laugh and stood up.

"I know who you are, Jean and I know you feel sorry for him. Like Cyke is a control freak you have a heart too good to be true." he kiss her forehead. "Try to sleep, you couldn't do anything and if he is a Mutant you will lightly meet him again."

"Thanks. For you listen, even if I had to take that TV from you."

"Yeah, no problem." he told her and was on his way to go back to his room. "Who does it go with you and Kait?"

"Not that good. She is still a bit on her guard, but I have make her accept to have lunch together tomorrow. I don't think she is ready to see you or the others yet, but I'm working with her." Jean look a bit suspicious on him as if he had told her a secret she didn't believe in or that she thought it was something he didn't told her but she could guess.

"You and Kait going to eat lunch together?" she asked to get it clarified. "Like only the two of you?" Ethan got a smile on his face as he heard her voice.

"Not jealous, are you?" he joked. "Don't worry, I promise to eat with you sometimes, like we don't already do it every day normally."

"I'm not jealous, why would I?"

"I don't know."

"You know what, I just become so tired, I think you should go to bed too." Jean told him and Ethan gave her a last smile before he left her room and walk to his own, bumping into Ororo on the way.

"Everything okay?" she asked. "Sounded like you two was fighting for the first time on ages."

"No, everything is fine. We just talk a bit."

"Okay then, I was going to ask if you wanted to come on Evan's game."

"Sorry, but I think I will have to pass, don't want to be an intruder, plus I think I might surprise Jean with dinner out."

"Like a date?"

"More like; I'm sorry I didn't listen to you when you were talking." Ororo nodded in understanding and laugh a bit.

"You two are so… difficult to figure out. One day you fight, another you flirt or are like siblings." Ethan was on his way to cut her off and say they didn't flirt but she just continued to talk. "Anyway, you will at least have to meet Evan, he like Kitty and Kurt look up to you, you know. Your social skill has getting a lot better."

"Yeah, sure…" Ethan said not sure what else to do. "I will go to bed, but I see you tomorrow."

"Alright then, goodnight."

"Goodnight." with that he walked back to his room and almost fall in sleep the second his head hit the pillow.

Ethan was on his way to class when he got the sight of Duncan and a big blond guy. He held him with one hand and as Duncan said something he thrown him down on the floor.

"Hey!" Ethan yelled and walk forward. "What are you doing?"

"He just attacked me!"

"Shut up, Duncan." Ethan told him. "Don't you have class to go to?" Duncan just look angry at him, but left as he was afraid to the big guy. "What the hell are you doing here?" Ethan ask the big guy as he felt he was a Mutant. "I don't know what your problem is, but you can't go around and scare people off like that!" Ethan laughed. "Even if it was quite fun." he added smirking. It had not been a smart move as the guy become angry.

"Don't laugh at me." he yell and rip one of the lockers from the wall. He turned to throw it at Ethan but stop as a new voice echoed in the hall.

"Eh excuse me, you must be new here." they both look around to see Jean standing there. "I'm Jean Grey." the guy become all nervous and Ethan could feel he just wanted to hit the guy. "Ethan, go to class, I will be fine." Ethan look past the guy to Jean.

"Yeah, I am. New I mean." the guy said and put the lockers down. Ethan seeing how series Jean look at him got away from there and walk to wait around the corner. He could hear Jean be nice and welcome him to the school and ask for his name. When he had present himself as Fred Dukes she helped him to find his classroom and when she came around the corner.

"He seems nice." Ethan made her jump and when walk by her side to the class.

"Yeah, it's Fred, he I and Logan was and saw."

"Hate to say my father is right, he is a Mutant." Ethan told her and look over his shoulder to be sure no one was there.

"Figures, he is quite strong."

"Don't be too nice to him, Jean." Ethan said and made her stop. "I don't trust the guy and he seem to be easy to make angry." she just look at him. "He can be dangerous if you are alone with him and I don't trust that guy. I might not like Duncan but he just grabbed him, with other words am I glad it was Duncan and not someone from the institute."

"I can't believe you!" Jean said angry. "You don't trust me with him and think I can't take care of myself?"

"I didn't say that."

"Wasn't needed to." Jean told him, still angry. "He is alone and need friends, and you have no right to judge me right now."

"What are you meaning with that?"

"You and your lunch date?"

"You mean Kait?" Ethan ask all confuse. "I just try to make her not be afraid of us so my father can make her join us. I can handle her."

"And now you are doing it again." Jean comment. "With other words, you don't believe I can handle Fred. You know what, I don't know what your problem is this past days. You are all isolated from me. You don't talk to me and I know you have something in your mind you are not telling me. If any of us shouldn't trust the other, it's me who shouldn't trust you."

"Jean-"

"Do not Jean me, Ethan." she cut him off. "I'm tired right now. You are keeping secrets from me than I am nothing but honest. I can help you, Ethan!"

"No!" he yelled and made her speechless. "You can't help me with this. There are things you are not ready to know about me yet."

"What are you-"

"Forget it Jean, I have class to attend to. I will see if I'm on the mode to drive you home later." Ethan turn around and left her, still speechless. She can't remember the last time he had yelled at her like that. It was not often he did that or keep secrets from her. Their bond became stronger, they both knew that, but Jean start to wonder if it was good or bad. They both learn how to keep the other out for a while and they both could tell than the other is in danger. They didn't need to talk about it to confirm their bond become stronger. But maybe, just maybe Jean thought, their bond would destroy everything else as it seems to go downhill instead of up.

"I promise, don't eat the sandwich from the cafeteria." Ethan told her. "It's like the school want us to be sick so they can have less job to do." Rogue, or Kait as Ethan and the others knew her as, smile a bit. She felt more comfortable with Ethan now than in the beginning. He was funny and kind, but he could be hard and kind of evil too. Maybe not evil, more heartless sometimes. However, she couldn't judge him for it because it showed her how human he could be. "Hey, why don't you take a seat, I will get the best from the cafeteria." she eyes him and he smile. "Don't trust me to make a good choice of food for you?"

"No, but how do I know you don't try to poison me?" Rogue ask him.

"I don't know Kait, I guess you don't so you will just have to trust me." he told her and walk to the cafeteria to get food as she walked to take a table. Ethan couldn't have come in a better moment as the guy Fred was in front of him, his plate all filled with food.

"Hey, you took everything!" Ethan yelled as he saw the cafeteria being all empty.

"Yeah, do you have a problem with that?" Ethan wanted to say yes and start a fight, but he just shook his head and look at the woman behind the disk. Fred left and he ask for anything she had left. All she had left was a hamburger which Ethan then took.

"A hamburger?" Rogue ask him as he sat down beside her with the only hamburger he got.

"Well, you see the guy walking to that table," Ethan pointed at Fred. "he might have taken everything so this hamburger was the only thing I could get." he sigh. "Guess it's your lucky day, Kait, you can have it."

"Really?" she asked.

"Yeah, I will be fine."

"I hope Summers are as nice as you are later."

"You mean Scott?" Ethan ask. "Why do you hope that?"

"Right, I haven't told you but I will have to play a romantic scene with your friend." Ethan smile.

"Scott Summers will be acting? You have to record it." Rogue was going to tell him to forget it but was cut off as food flew and hit the table Duncan sat at. They look around and saw it was Fred who had try to sit down and somehow landed on the floor and thrown the food. "Oh, boy this is going to get messy." Rogue look at Ethan and like he had seen the future the room was filled with food flying around and scream as the lunch had become a food war. Fred being in the middle and yelling.

"Are you going to stop him?" Ethan shook his head and took Kait's hand, shocking her. She was wearing gloves so he could without problems drag her with him out from there, without getting hit. He was going to go as he open the door for her, but stop as he saw Jean running to Fred who lift a table.

"Go, I will be back." He told Rogue and she walk out as Ethan turn and run to Jean. He saw Scott and nodded to him. Jean trip and as Fred was on his way to hit her Scott made the table to break down so he hit the tables foot in the air. Both Scott and Ethan come up to each of Jean's side. Scott standing ready to shut again and Ethan holding around her to help her come up.

"Jean?" Fred ask as he first now realize Jean had been close to get hit.

"Back off, big guy." Scott said. "But if you want a fight, why don't try us?" he said, referring to himself and Ethan. Fred grown.

"Scott, Ethan go. I will be fine, won't we Fred?"

"They shouldn't have laughed at me."

"No, you right, they shouldn't." Jean told him and turn to Scott. "Don't you have class or something?"

"I will be close if you need me, real close." he told her but look at Fred before he walked to go out from the room. Ethan however didn't move and still hold Jean up from lay on the floor. He eyed Fred to show him he wasn't afraid to fight him. He wouldn't care to be careful with opening the doors, or hold back if it comes to it. Jean, understanding it too with the look he gave Fred try to calm him down. She put her hand on his chest.

"Ethan, go I will be fine."

"I don't trust him." he muttered loud enough to let Fred hear.

"I know, but do you trust me?" Jean ask. Ethan didn't answer as he was staring at Fred. Jean took her hand to make him look at her. "Ethan, do you trust me?"

"You know I trust you." he told her, meaning the words.

"When leave. I will be fine, I trust Fred." Ethan didn't like it, her trusting him, but he didn't fight her as he helped her to her feet.

"Contact me the second he does something you don't like." he told her thought mind and left.

Outside the room, he saw Scott leave one way and Rogue the other. The Principal standing at the lockers. He guessed the two of them had spoken when she came. He shook his head and walk over to her. She just looked at him as he crossed his arms and lean against the lockers.

"What?" she asked him, her voice being neither kind or angry. Friendlier annoying. Ethan sigh.

"I don't get why you are still here." he told her. "Father doesn't like you being here, you know."

"Like I care that Charles thinks." it became silent for a while before she asked, "How are you holding up."

"With the fact that Mystiquemakes the girl you talk to scared of us, or that I have hard time to sleep, have parents that are on different sides about Mutant, which make myself wonder which side I'm on, my dad being all 'see the good' about me while my mother seems to not want to have anything with me before I join her side? Well other than that, I'm super."

"You know that's not true." the Principal told him, her voice being lower and more… sympathy. Ethan snorted.

"Which part?" he asked. "That the girl is afraid, it's true. Me having hard time to sleep, it's true. My parents be on different sides, true that too."

"You know that I mean." she told him and he did know what she meant, but he didn't believe her. "So, why do you have a hard time to sleep?"

"Why do you care?"

"You know I care, you are-"

"A mutant with powers you would like to use for your own game." Ethan cut her off. "Sorry to tell you, but you will have to go know, if I don't mistaken, haven't you a work to do or are you going to stand here all day?"

"Don't you have class?"

"Lunch." Ethan said and she didn't say anything. They look at each other, and she ended up being the one turning her back and leave. Which didn't surprise him. He walked back to the door just as he saw Jean coming walking. He opened it as Fred call her name.

"Yes?"

"Nothing." he told her and she walk out with Ethan.

"You are such a jerk sometimes." Jean told him.

"Well, you seem to be happier now than before." Ethan comment.

"Yes, I might have got Fred to agree to come to the institution to meet the Professor someday."

"Great." Ethan muttered.

"Do you still have the extra cloth I put in your car for that game?" Jean ask him, ignoring his comment. He nodded and she held her hand out for him to give her his keys. "You will get them back when we drive home later. Okay?" he sighed and gave her the keys. "See you later." she told him and left. He stood there, just watching as she left before he went to find his next class, which he had with Rogue.

Ethan run out from the school and was going to his car as he heard Jean in his head.

"Ethan!" she called for help and he stop in his tracks. He tried to look at her as their bond somehow start letting them locate each other if they really concentrated. He also used his powers and found her beside the school there they as repeating the school building. He saw her with Fred, trying to get away from him by using her powers to throw things at him.

"Hey!" he yelled and run over to them, but as he reached them the scaffolding went down.

"Ethan!" Jean scream and Fred try to cover Jean, but she got hurt as they both came under all the scaffolding. Ethan, not getting any cover at all jumped and use some of his powers, but in the end, he was unconscious under some of the scaffolding too. Fred, seeing the wound on Jean and how Ethan look almost not alive took them both with him and left the school.

Ethan opened his eyes to find himself bond around some chair with metal and a gag. He could feel Jean being close and look around. The building was old, that was for sure. He however couldn't figure out where he was. Just as he was about to contact his father the door in the other side of the room opened and he saw Fred coming out and spotted Jean sitting in a similar situation as himself, just with no gag and a lot of candles and a nice table.

"I see you have a nice date…"

"Ethan!" Jean call but the door was closed again. It didn't stop them from communicate, but Ethan felt he was bleeding and was unsure how long he would be able to keep using his powers. "Ethan, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Don't lie, I can feel your pain."

"It's just a scratch."

"Feels like a lot more than a scratch." Ethan look down, his shirt was all filled with blood. How long before he would faint of too little blood, or die? He looked up and saw Fred all happy and singing. "I have contact your father, if we lucky they will come."

"I hope so, Jean."Ethan responded, feeling weaker and weaker.

"Ethan don't lose your consciousness, talk to me."

"I'm just a bit tired."

"God, Ethan, don't leave me!" the sound of a fight made Ethan look up again. He hadn't noticed Wolverine had come and start fighting Fred. he whoever didn't seem to stand much to a chance. "Ethan, don't give up, I will get to you. Stay awake."

"How much longer?"he asked, fighting to not close his eyes. He lost concentration on the fight but could somehow hear Scott for a moment and when his blasts flew. The next thing he knew he saw Jean in the small room again and Fred be on his way to let a machine fall on him. Ethan gave it all he had to make Fred see fire and lava come running down at him. He lost the machine and start to scream. When Scott's blast came again, but this time Ethan got the sight of Rogue before he passed out.

"Ethan!" Jean call. Rogue fought Fred as she used Scott's power, having control. She sent him flying and then run over to her only friend, or what he now was.

"Ethan, wake up." she hit him a bit on his cheek and he ended up opening his eyes for a moment.

"Kait…?" he whispered, "I… I knew you had it in you." he told her referring to her being a hero and save others and not being selfish and save herself, but also the fact she had use her powers and had control.

"Ethan, I will get you to the hospital, stay awake!" he closed his eyes but opened his mouth.

"No… no hospital, Jean… I need Jean-" Rogue look unsure at him but turn around to see Jean trying to get free. Rogue left Ethan and walk over to her.

"Kait, please…" Jean said as she saw her standing in front of her.

"Why does he need you?" Rogue asked. "Your powers?"

"No, not only my powers, can you please just let me go so I can save him from himself and then get him help!" Jean scream as Kitty and Kurt just run into the building and saw Ethan all bleeding. Kitty talk to Charles thought mind and he told them to prepare the car to get him home, fast. Jean still thought to come free and the tears. "Kait, please, I promise he or I will tell you everything later, I- I just can't lose him!" Rogue look at her and understood she was serious with her only be able to save him. So, she used Fred's powers and let her free. Jean thanked her and run out to Kitty, Kurt and Ethan. She sat in front of him in his high and didn't hesitate as she kissed him. The others didn't really look shock as Charles had told them about their bond, but Rogue did. She left as Jean work with closing and locking all the doors before leaving his mind and tell Kurt and Kitty to help him free. Kitty, knowing her powers wouldn't work on Ethan took the metal instead and let it go through him. Jean when was fast to make him levitate to the car.

"Go, I and Kurt will help Scott and Logan." Kitty told her and Jean nodded thanks before she drove back to the mansion.