500 Miles – Ruins II
By Princess Alexandria
"Be careful." Vange's voice was oddly tense. "Don't cut yourself on the glass."
"I broke it?"
"I think we should call it a night." Emma spoke. Christy couldn't hear anyone paying, but then the noise at the other side of the restaurant was still loud as people tried to revive a dead man. That man wouldn't be getting up again; they never did after Christy felt their deaths. After a long minute Emma was by her side. "You don't have a killer stare. You can open your eyes and walk out of here."
Christy felt her heart racing and a tear crept past her eyelid. "The humans."
"I've got you covered. They won't see anything." Emma sounded so convinced, but Christy could almost see the last time humans had seen her eyes glow and how she couldn't run fast enough to get away. "Christy."
Christy took a deep breath and opened her eyes. Emma's sky blue eyes were the first thing she saw. The waiter coming up behind the woman was the second. She held her breath as the man glanced at her, but he didn't stare. He didn't see it did he? "See, they don't see anything." Emma gave Christy a slight confident smile. "Shall we go?"
"You're awfully tense for a little case of glowing eyes." Vange muttered as Christy picked up her jacket.
"They tried to kill me because of these eyes. Sorry if I'm a little nervous." She growled at the lawyer before turning to leave, but she stayed very close to Emma as she did it.
The drive back to the hotel was a bit quieter, and Christy knew it was either the dead man's or her fault. Probably both. When they got to the hotel Christy glanced in the mirror and saw her eyes were almost normal. "I wish I knew what was happening to me." She whispered, but Emma seemed to turn to her sharply.
"What?" Emma stared at her.
"Nothing." Christy sighed and moved to open the door. Vange and Dani were already getting out, but Emma reached out and grabbed Christy's hand.
"No, what did you say? Is there more that's changed than the way your eyes glow?"
"No, I'm fine." Christy gave Emma a small smile. She couldn't point to anything specific, and she may just be paranoid. She just felt different. It wasn't something she could really put into words.
After getting out of the car Emma turned to her. "Well, let's see about ordering a bottle of wine and staying in." Emma said it so casually, but Christy felt like the topic wasn't really dropped.
Christy took her shower, one she'd felt she needed earlier, but she didn't have the time once she decided to come with Emma. The large t-shirt that served as her pajamas were nothing like the sexy pajamas that she'd seen Emma take out of her bag, but Christy suspected Emma packed with the belief that Scott would be coming with her. "It's all yours."
Emma was wearing that silky, sexy, white nightgown. Christy almost stumbled over her own feet when she saw the woman leaning against the wall with a bottle of wine in her hand and two wine glasses in the other. "I'll shower in the morning." The way Emma slinked closer was easily the sexiest thing Christy had ever seen. "Wine?"
"Sure." Was what came out of her mouth, even as her mind screamed that she shouldn't drink tonight. She sat on the bed and took a sip of her wine just minutes later.
"I wouldn't mind if you wanted to stay at the hotel, or see the city while I went to the trial." Emma moved to lay on the bed, one arm holding her body up and the other her drink. "It's sweet enough that you chose to come."
"No, no, I'm going." Christy wanted to be there. She knew Emma wouldn't show it, but she'd take it hard if she had to watch the court take Kevin away.
"Thank you." Emma's words were soft and Christy just gave the woman a smile before turning back to her glass. "I notice that you're alcohol tolerance is improving."
"It's all that hard work. Practice, practice, practice." Christy smirked and set her glass down on the night table. Her smile faded a little as she studied Emma.
"Oh I know that look." Emma's voice was a little deeper and less amused. "And no, I'm not an alcoholic."
"I didn't say anything." Christy had thought it once or twice though. Emma wasn't happy and she drank. Did the telepath even see that in herself? Did Emma notice that whenever Scott was insensitive or something bad happened she was drinking? And that meant lately she was drinking an awful lot.
"You don't have to." The gentle touch on her shield made Christy feel like hiding her concerns, knowing Emma was double checking, but she did the opposite. She lowered the shields and let the woman in. She let Emma see her concern and replayed images of an angry, or sad, or irritated Emma pouring a glass. Christy had seen that vision more than enough times.
"The other Christy said your double's mother died of an overdose." Christy spoke softly while reaching out to rest a hand on Emma's arm. "I just worry."
"Well, you don't have to." Emma set the glass down after finishing the last of it. Christy didn't know what to say so she didn't say anything. Part of her really blamed Scott for the drinking.
The silence was tense, so Christy got up and grabbed the glass to put it back on the table. She really wished that it hadn't been brought up. She hadn't brought it up, so it wasn't fair she got tricked into doing it.
"What did you mean when you said you wished you knew what was happening with you?" Emma asked and it sounded very much like Christy wasn't getting out of it. She turned to look at the blonde.
"I just feel different, and it's like I NEED to do the shield thing every night. I never used to do that unless…" She blushed as she remembered guilty nights alone in her bed letting that power bring her pleasure. It was sick, but it felt so good.
"Unless?" Emma's lips turned up into a smirk. "Oh do tell me."
"Ah…" Christy noticed Emma lean forward just a little, eager for this conversation. "Well…" Christy only talked about this once, with her ex, and that hadn't gone over well. "Sometimes I lower the shield so I can feel it. It's better than anything I can do myself." And better than anything her one lover had been able to do for her too. But she'd gone without during their years together out of respect for Michelle's disgust with that part of her.
"So," Emma's smirk grew. "Instead of masturbating like the rest of us, you just lay back and let it wash over you?" Christy was startled by the word. It wasn't like she hadn't seen or heard it before, but a woman like Emma saying it to her kind of threw her off. Hell, she'd heard Emma… A blush once again made her look immature, as Christy thought about what her double had heard, and therefore she had. Her double had almost gone back for more though. That was one thing Christy was grateful she didn't do.
"Sometimes."
"When did you start doing that? Did you stop one night trying to do it the old fashioned way and decide to try something new?"
Christy sighed. Her sexual history was a bit embarrassing. She wasn't exactly like other girls. Even so, she didn't think about not talking with Emma. It was nice to have someone she could talk with about these things. "My powers started to kick in when I was fourteen. Nothing much, just a strange sensation once in a while. Like a breeze against my skin really. I didn't pay too much attention; I was too busy worrying about other things." Like the fact that she'd developed some serious crushes on her friends. It wasn't fair that around the same time gay teenagers are figuring themselves out, most mutations occur.
Christy scooted back on the bed and rested her back on the wall. This was obviously going to be a long talk. "We lived in an apartment for a few years and when I was fifteen I woke up with my first orgasm. It was a little scary waking up to that," She gave Emma a slight smile. "But I got over that pretty fast. I didn't know anything could feel like that, and I couldn't figure out how it happened." Her eyes fell to her hands as she played with her fingers. "Turns out the apartment manager died that night. He was a pretty old man."
She looked up. "I still didn't figure it out." Emma wasn't looking disgusted or pitying. She was just waiting for Christy to talk again. "It wasn't the best neighborhood. Maybe a year later I felt it again. It had been so long, I held onto it as much as I could and suddenly that night my shield came down for the first time." Christy shuddered a little at the memory. It had been a huge effort to not scream as the power flooded her that night. Her fingernails had left bloody half moons in her palms. "Death after death hit me. I didn't understand what was happening. My range with the shield down is pretty big. Until then people needed to die within less than a block of me for me to get it hard. I figured out later that the breeze I sometimes feel is death just outside my range."
"And today with that man at the restaurant?"
"My shield is stronger. If I don't have it down I don't get the same rush, but I still feel something, get something. Now, unless I lower my shield or a mutant dies really close to me, my eyes won't glow."
"Do you feel that pleasure every time you lower your shield?"
"A little. It depends on how low I take it." Christy moved her legs under the covers, before she did something that flashed Emma. Then she could bend her knees and rest her arms on them. "When Rahne was attacking you I only lowered it enough to pull in some power, not enough to really enjoy it. It wouldn't make sense to be out of control when I needed to fight."
"You didn't need to fight, but thank you for considering it."
"Yeah, well." Christy gave Emma a shy smile. "You're the only person in that place I really know. I didn't want her to kill you."
Emma looked a little concerned. "Is that still true?"
"Well, I don't hang around with other people." Christy felt a bit embarrassed, but she'd never been good at making friends. "I mean, they're nice enough, but I don't spend time in their offices talking like we do. You're my only real friend there." My only real friend period, Christy thought, feeling a little sorry for herself. Friendly talk while working didn't count the same. She didn't feel like she was part of everything like the others were. The other teachers treated Christy like she was a cross between a student and an equal, and that kept her apart. Sure, she was a student, but she was Emma's student and Emma didn't treat her like that. Then there were the people that knew her double and Christy suspected liked that woman better. Hell, there were a lot of times Christy liked that woman better too.
The gentle hand that rested on her covered knee drew Christy's attention to a blonde that had moved a little closer to her. "I don't have a lot of friends there either. I'm glad you're one of them."
"Thanks." Christy's shy smile returned.
"But dear, we really need to get you out of the mansion more often. When was the last time you left to just shop or maybe eat out?"
Christy felt a little guilty. She knew they both knew the answer to that one. It was a few days after Christy had control of herself again and Emma insisted she needed to get out, shop a little, and see the world again. Christy suspected the time out was more for Emma's benefit than hers, but she'd been glad to get dragged out with her.
"Okay, that does it. When we get back we will have to go out. I know of a lovely restaurant in town and we could see if we can do something about your wardrobe while we're out."
"I don't have enough…"
"Don't be silly. I'm buying so I can see you in something more attractive than jeans and tshirts. It's for me really. To spare my sense of fashion from the abuse." Emma teased her.
"Oh, well I wouldn't want to be abusing your fashion sense. Okay." Christy felt a little awkward about letting Emma pay, but the last trip to town taught her she couldn't talk the woman out of it. It was kind of nice to be able to shop though. Hopefully Emma never felt like Christy was taking advantage of her.
"My powers developed more slowly too." Emma moved a little, and Christy thought she was seeing Emma settle back into her seat instead of pouring the drink she'd been considering. She couldn't be sure, but it seemed like Emma had wanted to get up and pour another drink. "I'd hear voices in school. It wasn't too bad, but eventually it got stronger and I had a hard time blocking them out." Emma's eyes seemed to sparkle with mischief. "Of course I didn't get to experience the late night fun you did, but I learned to enjoy my powers anyhow." Emma told her about her family a little more, making the other Christy's comment about her Emma's mother's funeral make more sense. Christy felt angry but without a target she could reach. Emma's family was horrible, her father especially.
"We need to get up early." Christy finally said it after the pause in the conversation lasted a little too long.
"Are you saying it is bedtime?"
"Yes, and I'll tuck you in if I have to." Christy smiled. "Do you need a blanky little girl?"
"No, that isn't necessary, but don't be surprised if you become a teddy bear tonight." It was supposed to be a tease, a joke, but Christy wouldn't have minded it Emma meant it.
"Yes, the cute and cuddly gatherer of death. I'm sure the toy stores will have a hard time keeping me in stock."
"If you were actually on the shelf they might, but you aren't letting yourself be on the shelf now are you dear?"
"What side of the bed do you want?" Christy ignored what would have been a long talk about her not dating. She wasn't ready. The memory of her double's love, the visions she got in dreams about that couple, made her think that settling for less wasn't worth it, but getting that wasn't possible.
It must have been an hour later when Christy laid down as Emma turned out the light. It was past their bedtime, given when they had to wake up, but Christy wasn't feeling tired. Her eyes seemed to refuse to close and she found herself staring at the shadows on the ceiling. Her body seemed to hum, and laying still was a conscious effort.
After trying to calm down for what seemed like forever, but time was hard to judge when every second grated on her nerves, Christy sighed heavily. She'd hoped she could go just one night. Just one. It looked like she couldn't.
Were her powers addictive? She felt like a junkie needing another fix. Christy ran her hand through her hair, grabbing at strands, pulling some of it in her frustration. She flipped onto her side and stared at the window that was on her side of the room. The city lights kept it from getting completely dark in the room.
After finding she couldn't stop moving, a shifted foot here, a clenched fist under her pillow, she gave up. She couldn't do it. She couldn't pretend it wasn't bothering her. Her shields needed to come down. Christy gritted her teeth and rolled over to stare at her companion, a telepath. She couldn't do this here.
Emma was on her side, facing away from her and Christy didn't see any movement. Maybe she'd already fallen asleep. It felt like hours had passed, but Christy glanced past Emma to the clock and saw it had only been twenty minutes. God, time sure was dragging.
She carefully rolled out of bed, trying not to wake Emma. She needed to get out of here. The dresser drawer squeaked a little too loud as she tried to slowly open it and Christy winced at the noise.
"You know, it's been a while for me, but I thought I remembered that people trying to sneak out of my bed in the middle of the night normally had sex with me first." Christy's froze as Emma's voice filled the room. The click of the lamp was followed by the soft light filling the room. Christy turned with her pants in hand to face a slightly mussed blonde. "Care to tell me why you're running away?"
Christy didn't speak for a moment. Somehow in her need to leave she hadn't planned this talk out. "I just need to take a walk."
"You'd do it on the city streets rather than here?" The way Emma said that didn't make it sound like a walk. "That's what it is, isn't it? You need it. You said you need it every night." Christy's eyes were helpless as she stared at Emma. She didn't like how out of control she felt. She'd never tried to go without, not since she got her body back.
"I'll be back in a half hour." Christy took her shaky hands and tried to slip a foot into a pant leg. Normally she'd be shyer about how much Emma could see, but she needed to get out of there.
The sound of sheets moving and Emma's feet hitting the ground told Christy she wasn't getting away that easily. "Please." Her voice was too pleading. "Just a half hour." Why was she asking? She was an adult. She could leave the room if she wanted to.
"I had no idea. You tried to tell me didn't you?" Emma spoke gently and Christy felt the soft touch of Emma's hand under her chin, pulling Christy's eyes up to Emma's. "You're shaking." Christy let go of her pants and they fell down her leg again as Emma touched her. Her shaking intensified. "You can't go out like this."
"But…" Christy's eyes widened. No, she couldn't feel like this all night.
"Just do it here."
Christy moved her head, breaking free of the gentle hold and stared down. She felt ashamed at this loss of control. "I thought I could go a night. Just one damn night, without." Her body actually ached a little. "What the hell is wrong with me?" Tears started to trail down her cheeks and she didn't fight it when Emma pulled her into a hug.
"When we get back to the mansion I'll have Henry look at you. You really should have told me sooner."
"I didn't know it was this bad." Christy turned away from Emma, pulling out of the hug. "I'll just go take care of this."
"No you won't." Emma's voice was demanding. "What do you do at the mansion? Where do you do it? I'd have heard if you spent all your time near the water like your double."
"I have to lower my shield." Christy's jaw clenched as she stared at Emma. "I can't do that with a telepath around!"
"I've always been around. I live there too."
"But not this…" Christy reached down to grab her pants again. This was ridiculous. Just get out of here, she decided, get out and deal with this later.
"It's not safe for you to do this in some alley." Emma batted Christy's hand away from her jeans.
Christy knew Emma was right; her hands shook as she gave Emma a helpless stare. "What am I supposed to do?"
"Get back in the bed and do it there." Emma's words gentled. "I need to monitor you. Maybe I can help figure out why it's become like a drug you're addicted to instead of just part of your powers. You're acting like a junkie that was just told couldn't have their fix. Argumentative, angry…"
Christy wanted to protest, feeling too exposed already. Instead she stepped out of her pants and back towards the bed without looking at Emma. "Whatever." She did feel out of control. "Just one night." She muttered as she laid down, angry with herself for this lack of control.
Emma slid back into bed beside her and Christy tried not to think about the beautiful woman in bed with her as she tried to do this. "Maybe your body needs this power right now." Emma moved close and stared down at Christy. "What I wish we knew is why it needs it."
Christy felt ashamed. "I'm sorry about how I talked to you."
Emma gave her a small smile. "No need to apologize, I've heard worse. You were down right polite for a junkie." Christy grimaced at being called that, even if she wondered if it were true. She was always so careful not to get involved with drugs and now her own powers did this to her.
The warm caress to her shield made her take a deep breath before lowering it just a little. Not enough. "That's it dear. Let me take control will you?"
"Oh God." Christy whispered as she felt her shield lower just a bit more. Emma had it, controlled it. It felt more intimate.
"Oh yes." Emma's soft words just barely were loud enough to hear. "This is a nice little power you have. Lets take it for a real test run."
Her shield lowered further and Christy gasped as her body convulsed. "EMMA!" She managed to yell out, wanting Emma to slow down. It was too much, too fast. Her breath came in gasps as she felt the warmth of Emma's mind in hers. So close. So sexy. "God Emma."
Christy's body pulsed with it. Her hand reached out and pulled the blonde closer, rolled over and captured soft lips and moaned into the contact. Hands grabbed at her head, pulling her closer, lips consumed her. The silk of Emma's nightgown felt good as Christy's hand caressed curves.
"I'm sorry." Christy wrenched herself away from the blonde once she realized what she was doing. "I'm sorry." She struggled to lower the shield, but it was still being held open by Emma.
"Don't be." Emma's voice was deep, needy, and the blonde pushed Christy back onto her back. "Oh God, this is so good, Christy. No wonder you want this every night." Emma arched into her, making Christy gasp, moan. The telepath's breath tickled Christy's ear as Emma whispered. "Oh God." A slender hand caressed Christy's breasts.
"Scott." Christy managed to get the word out even as her body sought that caress.
"Isn't who I want to be thinking about right now."
"I can't…" Christy pulled hard on her shield, trying to take control back. The shield was raised some, but not enough. The hum, the ache still filled her blood. Both of them were panting from the experience. Emma's body pressed down on her and Christy ached to wrap her arms around the woman. Christy was rambling, speaking too fast. "God I want… not like that."
"Shh…" Emma whispered. "Shh…"
"God, you're so…" Christy's voice cracked. "I do want… but."
"It's okay." Emma caressed her cheek gently then moved to get off of her. "We just got a little out of control. It's okay now."
Christy took a shaky breath and tried to calm down. Her power was good, but it wasn't that good. She'd felt Emma inside of her and it was so deep, so warm. It was so good. When Emma leaned down Christy just let herself become part of a tender kiss that seemed to go on forever. She knew she shouldn't.
"Christy." Emma's lips trailed over her neck. Christy moaned as she tilted her head. She needed to stop this.
"God Emma." Her voice was too high as Emma found the spot behind her ear that made her squirm. "I… please. I can't play the other woman." Christy felt Emma freeze and Christy closed her eyes, hating that she was saying no. Hating it. "I want you so much, but… I can't do that. It would hurt too much." The power holding her shield open retreated and Christy finished closing it. It helped her try to regain some control.
Emma's eyes were closed off when Christy saw them. Emma pulled her body off of Christy's. "I'm sorry dear. I didn't mean for things to get so out of hand." The smile seemed false. "You're power packs a bit of a punch." Christy's jaw clenched. It was about her power, not her. She looked away feeling her eyes start to water. It wasn't about her power for her. She liked the feel of Emma. Oh hell, what did it matter? "Christy." The woman's voice was softer and she was still in Christy's personal space. Christy tried to squirm further away. "I'm sorry. That wasn't quite fair." Emma leaned closer and Christy was surprised to feel a soft kiss on her ear. Another on her cheek had her turning towards Emma. She moaned softly as Emma's mouth captured her own. She shouldn't want this, but god she did.
"You are so good to me." Emma whispered as she pulled away. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I really only meant to map your powers." And Christy's heart felt like it had been crushed. All that was missing was let's just be friends.
"I know." She managed to get it out. "It's okay." She lied.
"Did you get enough to be able to sleep?"
"Sure." It wasn't her power that would be keeping her up now. Emma was attracted to her, but not enough to leave Scott, the ass that let her come here alone. When Christy rolled onto her side it was to keep the lone tear from being noticed.
…………
The next morning Christy struggled to not act awkward as they woke up. She was surprised that she'd even managed to fall asleep at all. Emma had not changed overnight, but Christy couldn't help but feel the woman looked more human, more accessible, even though she couldn't point to anything clearly different as she glanced at Emma blow drying her hair.
It made it harder. With a heavy sigh she pulled on her shoes. Her eyes focused on the task instead of on the blonde. It was one thing when she thought Emma was completely out of her reach. It was a fantasy she'd enjoyed a time or two but didn't let get out of hand. Now it was an ache in her soul.
She could have had what her double had. Maybe. Maybe it wouldn't be as good, but still it was so much more than she had now. Love. Christy undid her shoe lace, which she'd managed to make a tangled mess and started again. But this Emma had Scott, a man that was in no way good enough for her.
"Can you hand me my makeup bag?" Emma's voice interrupted Christy's staring contest with her now tied shoe.
"Sure." Christy got up and moved to the table that had Emma's bag. It was a guess which one was a makeup bag, but Christy grabbed it and headed for the bathroom just as Emma was shutting off the hairdryer. "Here."
Emma sighed and didn't take the bag Christy was handing out to her. "Are we down to one syllable words now?" Christy could see Emma felt a bit hurt by this, so Christy forced a smile.
"I'm not much of a talker at this hour." It wasn't even seven yet. "And I didn't get much sleep…" Her words trailed off as she wished she had the power to kick herself.
"Yes, about that." Emma took the bag and set it on the sink before turning to give Christy too much of her full attention. "I'm sorry if I made you feel at all taken advantage of. That wasn't my intention."
Invisibility would have been a nice power too, Christy thought as she wished they could just pretend that it hadn't happened. "Christy, look at me." Emma's voice was soft and pleading. Not something Christy had heard from the woman before. She had to look up into those sky blue eyes. "We are both adults here. We kissed." Christy thought that was a bit tame of a description for what they'd done. "Okay, maybe we did a little more than kiss, but still it's hardly a disaster."
"I doubt Scott would feel that way." Christy's words were quiet, but they were strong. She was glad she didn't sound weak or childish.
"That's not the issue here." Emma took a step closer to her. "What I'm concerned about right now is that yesterday you were my friend, the only one that would get on a plane for me even though she was terrified of flying," Emma gave her a small smile, showing Christy that she hadn't managed to hide that. The smile faded and those ice blue eyes stared into hers. "and today you can't even talk to me."
"Just give me a little time." Christy swallowed trying to loosen up her tight throat. "It'll be okay. I just… haven't…" been touched like that before, her mind supplied what she wasn't going to admit to. Emma's touch had been so perfect by itself, but coupled with Christy's powers it had been too much. Christy's ex never liked the idea of Christy using her powers when they were together. It made her feel inadequate, and rather than deal with the bitchiness, Christy only did it the once. "I haven't been with anyone in a long time."
What would it have been like if they actually had sex? It would have been nice to find out, but Christy wasn't going to be Emma's dirty little secret while Emma continued to be with Scott. It was hard, but Christy respected herself too much for that. She was pretty sure that Emma wouldn't have stopped them last night and equally sure that it would have been over in the morning.
"You shouldn't deny yourself like that." Emma reached out and gently caressed the hair in Christy's face, pushing it to the side.
"It's hard to meet people." Christy sighed, hating that the person she'd want to meet was right in front of her. "And I don't want to tell just anyone that I'm a mutant. I was so scared my last girlfriend would tell someone after we split up. She didn't really like it."
"It? It's a part of you." Emma's anger at Christy's ex made Christy feel warmer more cared for. Like they had some connection, even if it wasn't what Christy wished it was.
"Well, it's a part of me she didn't like." Christy moved to lean against the wall. "She didn't say it, but you can just tell sometimes if someone doesn't like something like that."
"Yes you can." Emma sighed as she glanced at the clock. "I need to get to the courthouse by eight, but if you want to stay here…"
"I'm going with you." Christy gave Emma a small smile. She still felt awkwardness and pain, but she wasn't going to stop now. She came to support Emma and she'd do it, even if the woman proved to be less perfect than she'd thought.
"Okay." Emma reached out and gently touched Christy's arm. "I know this may seem a little inappropriate given the circumstances, but thank you for sharing your gift with me."
The pink tinge showed her embarrassment, she was sure of it. Her gift? God, Emma wasn't even disgusted by where that power came from. What do you say to something like that? You're Welcome? Thank You? None of those seemed right. Christy gave Emma a shy smile, "I can go get us a scone or something. There was a bakery next door." Christy didn't take a lot to get ready. She barely wore makeup and she'd put that on in the main room while Emma showered.
"If you could add a latte from Starbucks to that order I think it would be perfect."
"Give me ten minutes." Christy turned to leave and Emma's hand stopped her. It rested gently on her shoulder. The gentle kiss to her cheek was a new habit, one that Christy found she liked even if her heart ached at the show of affection. Emma smelled so nice. "Thank you dear."
…………
They walked up to the stairs to the courthouse and Christy got in line behind Emma as Dani went through the metal detector. When it beeped differently than it had for the man before Dani, Christy watched the guard stand up straighter.
"Mutation?" He spoke as a clipboard was pulled out and Christy felt like the air had been stolen from her lungs. They could tell that?
"Excuse me?" Dani sounded a bit insulted at the question and glared at the man. His hand shook just a little.
"We need to make sure you aren't trying to influence the ruling. We require all mutants to check in like this."
Christy could actually feel her skin grow cold. She stared without blinking as Dani told him that she showed people their nightmares. She also offered a demonstration, but he quickly told her she didn't need to do that.
"You could check out the library." Emma turned to look at her. "This is bound to be very boring." The blonde was making sure not to say what Christy was thinking. That she'd have to tell someone what her mutation was if she went. Emma then took her step through the detector. Neither Christy nor Dani let themselves react when Emma claimed that her diamond form was her only mutation. They might not let a telepath in.
"Next." He looked at her. He wasn't putting his clipboard down either. Christy stared at the doorway. "Look are you going to come or not. There is a line up."
"You could meet us for lunch. I could come get you." Emma offered, but Christy felt like a coward.
"I'm coming." She took a step forward while holding her breath, before she could change her mind. Nothing. She turned to look at the guard, who just nodded and put the clipboard away. No beep.
With her jaw slightly opened she turned to Emma, who took her arm. "Let's go before we're late."
They didn't talk until they were several feet away. "How did you…" Dani started and Christy looked over towards her.
"What floor did we need?" Emma stopped that line of talk and Christy saw Emma share a look with Dani before the other woman just nodded and stayed quiet.
The elevator was empty aside from them. "I'm glad you decided to join us." Emma spoke softly and Christy felt the brush against her shield. She lowered it.
We'll find out why you didn't register on the detector later. Don't worry about it now. Emma sent her telepathically.
"It's horrible that they make people go through that." Christy spoke out loud, not used to telepathy and it just needed to be said. Her heart still hadn't returned to a normal beat. She'd been so scared. She clenched her fists to hide her shaking hands, embarrassed at how things like this bothered her. Emma and Dani had been insulted, but not terrified. Not like Christy.
"Well, this is what the world is like for mutants. They will always hate us, fear us. No amount of dreaming will change that." Emma's words seemed to irritate Dani even more, but the woman didn't say anything. She just stepped out as soon as the elevator doors opened. "Hopefully Kevin won't suffer for other's dreams." Emma glared at Dani's back and spoke more softly, just directing those words to Christy.
When they got out of the elevator Dani was already marching up to Ms. Whedon. Christy still couldn't believe a woman that looked like that could be a lawyer. It wasn't that she was an obvious mutant, she wasn't… it was just that her hair was so wild, more suitable for the dance floor than the courtroom.
After all the tension about Kevin getting arrested, after all the worry and the trip to another state, the trial itself, once it did get started, was done in a matter of minutes. Christy just stared at the boy who was slowly starting to smile as it sunk in to him too. They were calling the death an accident. Kevin wasn't going to prison.
"Don't look at me, I didn't do it." Emma's whisper caused Christy to glance over at Emma, and past Emma to Dani who was giving Emma a questioning look. They all were stunned.
After a brief courtroom celebration Emma, Christy, Kevin, and Ms. Whedon started to walk away. Dani was still talking to the detective. Christy just glanced at her and hoped she'd catch up before they took the elevator down.
The wait for the elevator was a little awkward and Christy started to think she came all this way for nothing. Emma didn't need her. Surprisingly it was actually good news.
"Kevin, I know you might have seen her around." Emma's voice was a little louder. "But this is Christy. Christy, Kevin." They were introduced. Christy held out a hand to shake and he slowly did. The poor boy was covered from head to toe. His gloves felt thin, but it had to get hot in the summer. "We couldn't have kept Christy off the plane to come here if we tried." Emma smirked at her.
"Well, um… thanks." He didn't seem to know what to say. Christy could empathize with that. She avoided the same problem by just nodding.
Dani was looking a little thoughtful when she joined them, and Christy noticed how Kevin moved closer to her and Emma in the elevator. He seemed to be trying his best to avoid Dani. That was hard to do in such a small space.
Sometimes when Christy watched people embarrass themselves on T.V. she'd just have to change the channel. She felt too bad for them. That didn't work when it was in real life. Dani tried three times to talk with Kevin and the boy was clearly not interested. He wouldn't look at her; he wouldn't say more than three words to any question. He didn't want anything to do with her.
They were on the front steps before anyone did anything. Emma suggested that she and Dani could go get the car and meet them at the street. It seemed like Emma wanted to talk to Dani about her continual attempts to talk to Kevin. Christy hoped so. Vange had her own car, but she stayed and chatted with them, well, mostly Kevin, but he had just been through an ordeal.
"I don't care what the fucking courts say." A loud male voice, angry, carried to them easily. "Muties should all be locked up. I don't care if they killed their old man or not." Christy turned to see three men standing behind them. Big, strong, angry humans.
She felt like she needed to run, like she ran in New York, but Ms. Whedon wasn't moving. Kevin stood staring at them as well. She couldn't exactly run away without either of them.
Run or fight… run or fight… she struggled to make up her mind. When one of the large men moved toward them she slammed her shields off and sucked up everything she could. They already assumed she was a mutant.
"Looky at that one." The man furthest from her spoke. "Gonna attack us with headlight eyes."
"If no one finds the body can they prove anything?" Christy glared at the men while asking Ms. Whedon.
"There's usually some DNA evidence left at the scene." She spoke calmly and Christy felt a little bit more powerful as she noticed the humans hesitate. Christy did her best to remember her double. She stood taller and gave the men a small smile. Please god, let me get out of this alive, she prayed as she struggled to look unafraid.
"Not the way I'd do it." Could they hear the way her voice shook? Christy could and it didn't sound very confident. Not at all like her double.
"Is there a problem here gentlemen?" Emma's voice had Christy sagging a little in relief. She had no idea what Vange's mutation was, and Kevin couldn't kill someone else just minutes after getting out of jail.
Emma must have done something, because the bulky men got a blank look on their faces then moved towards the fountain. Christy stared as they started to take off their clothes.
"Get in the car." Emma's voice rose louder. Christy must not have heard it the first time. "It won't be long before the police arrest those three for public nudity and I thought I'd spare your eyes the sight."
Christy slid into the backseat with Kevin. Ms. Whedon closed the door for her and then left for her own car.
"You did that?" Kevin asked Emma as he stared out at the men frolicking in the fountain. They looked a little gay the way they were doing it. Emma just smiled.
…………
They landed a little after three. Christy had to close her eyes as Emma lowered the large plane into the small space that was below the basketball court. She could imagine a dozen ways that this could go wrong. Her arms and neck were tensed as her hands gripped the chair. It took her a little while to relax them after she felt the plane stop moving.
"Well, here we are." Emma flipped a few switches. "Please stay seated until the flight attendant turns off the seatbelts sign." Emma joked as she glanced over at Christy. The hum of the engine stopped and Dani got up to grab her bag. Kevin was still pretending to be asleep so he didn't have to talk to Dani.
"Kevin, we're here." Emma stepped out of the cockpit and Christy got to her feet to help Emma with her bag. "You can stop pretending to sleep now. I'm sure Dani knows you don't feel like talking." He sat up and Christy actually felt bad for Dani and a little embarrassed again to be witnessing this. Dani slipped out of the plane quickly, but not before Christy noticed the hurt expression on her face.
As Christy walked down the ramp she saw Scott practically marching over to them. He smiled at Kevin. "Glad to have you back." Christy saw the boy's fist clench just a little, before his voice answered politely. It looked like Scott wasn't forgiven, but not as unforgiven as Dani. "Well, your room is just like you left it." And he just dismissed him. After turning him over, telling him to talk before a lawyer was around, and not going to see if Kevin miraculously got to live his life free, he just acted like Kevin had been in detention, not jail.
When Scott moved closer to Emma and kissed her gently Christy started to walk for the doors, seeing that made her sick. "Oh Christy. Report to my office after you've unpacked." He commanded.
"I don't think that's necessary Scott." Emma turned to stare at him. Christy wanted to leave, but it seemed like she was supposed to stay.
Scott looked at her. "Christy, we can't have our TA's abandoning their job like that." It seemed like he decided to just do it here. Christy's eyes narrowed.
"Why not?" Her voice was cold, biting, more like her double than herself, but she didn't even think about that. She was beyond fear of what people would think of her. "You abandon your job all the time, or was that you ordering windows and arranging for permits this summer. Oh, maybe it was you making sure the lumber came in, or you comforting the kids after Kevin was taken away." The last thing was really the only one she herself had done. Her voice raised a little and she could see both Emma and Scott were surprised at her, but she was pissed; pissed at him for being an ass and at Emma for choosing him over her. "Lets not forget how loving and supportive you are to everyone, or how you make sure that the kids aren't dragged out of here by feds or killed in fires."
"That is enough!" His face was red.
"Write me up twice. I don't give a shit." She glared at him and turned to leave. She'd had enough. She marched past the doors while she heard Emma and Scott starting to argue. God, she'd never liked him before, neither had her double, but right now she hated him.
Emma was still with him. He treated Emma like shit while he pined over his dead wife and Emma was still with him.
…………
Christy. Emma's telepathic voice startled her. Christy's shield wasn't down long. When you're done come to my office, please. It was like Emma had been waiting for Christy to do her pre-bedtime power collecting.
She sighed as she raised her shield. She'd been in her room since she yelled at Scott, debating about leaving the school. She really had thought she'd be okay, but seeing him kiss Emma was hard. It was like a light came on during their trip and Christy realized she was so close to being in love, she didn't just like Emma, and she didn't want to feel like this. Like her happiness was stolen, the happiness other Christy's had.
She hated Scott Summers. He took Emma for granted and probably didn't love her.
Emma deserved love. Why was she settling?
Christy changed back out of her pajamas so she could make the trek across campus to Emma's office. Her face was stony as she prepared herself for what had to be a write up for talking to the lazy ass headmaster that way. Scott was making Emma do it for him, how wonderful.
Emma called for her to come in when she got to the door and Christy lost her resolve to stay in control and cold when she saw her. Emma had a glass hanging loosely from her hand as she sat at her desk. Her shoulders were slumped. "What's wrong?" Christy moved to Emma's side and squatted down beside her.
"Oh, nobody died." Emma waved a hand in the air. "Well, not lately at least." Emma set her glass down. "Go ahead and have a seat."
Christy sat across from Emma's desk, instead of in the comfortable chair she'd normally sit in while they were here. Emma was seated at her desk, so it didn't make sense to move further away.
"Scott wanted me to fire you." Emma sighed. So it was business. Christy took a deep breath and prepared herself for this. While she didn't really need the work she'd liked it and having Emma fire her made it worse. She sat more rigidly as Emma stayed silent. Emma's voice was softer when she did talk. "I told him no. You were my employee and you were valuable. I also explained how you were here for training and it wasn't like you should sit in on high school classes during the day. We might as well make use of your time." Emma gave Christy weak smile. "So you aren't fired. I don't think it should have been a consideration to begin with."
"Thanks." Christy couldn't quite manage to get excited about the save.
"That doesn't sound like you're happy about that." Of course Emma caught that.
"I was thinking maybe it's time for me to leave." Christy had to take a deep breath to try and calm herself. It hurt. "I don't really belong here, and it isn't like we've made much progress with my powers. I've never even made a portal. I'm too scared of what happened to her."
"We don't even know why you're having trouble going without yet? And what about your ability to fool scans into thinking your human?" Emma was speaking a little too fast. "You can't leave. We are just getting some sort of understanding of your powers. The work I did last night, I did find some things that may need more research."
Christy just went quiet and stared at the top of Emma's desk. She didn't want to say this, but maybe she needed to. "I can't stand him. He takes you for granted and has no idea how lucky he is. I can't stay here and watch that."
"Oh." Emma gave her a humorless laugh. "Well that makes sense. You're throwing away your potential because you're jealous of HIM." Emma shook her head. "Well, you don't need to worry all too much. He's made an ultimatum. He doesn't like you here. He claims you're disrespectful and thinks that you might want me. He trusts me so much he wanted you out of here. I didn't even tell him about our little kiss. I told him no, you were staying."
"What?"
"He said that if I didn't send you packing he'd do it. I stopped him." Emma poured herself another drink, the best sign Christy had that things between Emma and Scott didn't go well. "Did I tell you Kevin joined my Hellions?" The change of topic was too jarring. Christy felt like her head would spin.
"He said that this thing with the arrest showed him who was looking out for him and who wasn't. The Hellions and I were there for him, caring about him, while Dani and her New Mutants were more concerned with the big dream." Emma shrugged, "Well that wasn't his words exactly, but it was the point."
"I may have told Scott after that meeting that it made me think. That ever since Jean died; the only person that seemed to be watching out for me was you. You or your double. He hadn't been there for me. That you were right and he'd been neglecting a lot. I told him I was tired of being taken advantage of and that I was clearly not his first choice, since he never has said he loved me and he spends all his time pining away after Jean." Emma sighed. "I told him that I was tired of it, tired of being his last priority unless he wanted sex."
Christy's eyes widened and her heart ached in sympathy for the pain she saw in Emma's eyes. "I'm sorry." She whispered.
Emma took a deep drink. "So your job is safe. Don't leave now. I just destroyed my relationship for you."
"It wasn't making you happy." Christy didn't feel comfortable being blamed for this. "And I'm sure when he calms down he'll listen." She hated having to be the one to say it was all okay when she wanted to say dump the jerk. "Maybe he'll change."
"He didn't go to Georgia because he would have had to work over the weekend to plan his lectures then. He decided that I could represent the school myself." Emma set her glass down. "He has no problem flying and everyone already knows he's a mutant. He just wanted the weekend off." Christy scooted forward in her seat. "I can't imagine him facing his fears for my comfort. For my life, yes, but for my comfort… no. It's pretty clear he wouldn't."
"I'm sorry." Christy didn't know what else to say.
"Why?" Emma took a deep breath and stared at her. "You're the one that's been there for me. You've been the one I go to when I need to talk. You're the one that came with me just in case I needed someone." Emma shook her head. "You have nothing to apologize for."
"Okay."
"So, you're staying right?"
Christy could see some hope in the distance. Part of her wanted to run, because this could hurt. "Yeah, I'm staying."
…………