For all of you saying there isn't enough Havok *pointed look at Druid Archer*, don't worry, I'm planning a big scene for him and Elisabeth. Not trying to get ya in trouble, Druid, just poking some fun. I love you guys; you're the best readers an author could have!
Erik's group had only been there for two days, and the girls were already getting sick of them. Elisabeth had discovered a deep hatred for Janos, whom the others called Riptide or whatever. The cocky Latin man had no respect for her personal space, always sitting down right beside her or standing much too close for comfort. Alex simply smirked whenever she threw him an exasperated look.
Lucy tried her best to distance herself from Erik, but he seemed to have taken an interest in her, always asking her about her power or how she was. It worried her, so she tried her best to stay as close to Sean as possible whenever she could. It wasn't hard, Sean told her himself that he liked it more when she was around.
Rosabelle found Emma Frost and her power rather interesting, asking for demonstrations sometimes. Emma was happy with the attention, and Charles had to replace two windows because she kept cutting circles into them with her diamond finger.
Marianne had been mostly keeping to herself, staying away from the expectant Erik and from Raven, who seemed to have glued herself to Hank's hip.
"I don't even know why they're here," Lucy said the third day of their stay, pulling at the grass as the girls sat in the yard on a particularly nice day. "It's stupid."
"Charles told me they're here because Erik is a good friend of his, and Raven is like his sister," Rosabelle told them. Marianne blinked at the sound of her name, but that was the only emotion she showed. "Emma Frost is rather nice, although she is a bit cold." A coy smile appeared on the telekinetic's face, and she laughed at the cat calls that she received for her bad joke. "But seriously, Emma is okay."
"I hate that stupid Janos," Elisabeth hissed, scowling. "The word 'no' apparently isn't in his vocabulary." Lucy smiled and patted her hand. "You're awfully quiet, Marianne. Is everything okay?" Marianne nodded and Lucy leaned over, whispering what she thought was wrong in the brunette's ear. "Oh. Well anyway, I think we should all go out and try to forget about them for just one day, if anything. Do I have any agreement?" Everyone raised their hands and she laughed with a nod.
"I just need to get dressed," Marianne said, standing and walking back towards the mansion in her pajamas.
"It's that Raven girl! She's been latched to Hank since she got here," Lucy told the group, shaking her head. "It's ridiculous. Hank obviously had feelings for Marianne, but after she showed up, it was like Hank completely forgot about her."
"Tragic," Rosabelle murmured, watching the red-head walk up the steps and into the house. Marianne turned a corner and started in the direction of her room when a puff of blue smoke appeared and Azazel smiled politely at her.
"Erik wants to know if you have decided," he said and she scowled.
"I still need time, considering he's planning to take me away from my family."
"But they aren't your family." She whipped around and glared as Erik stepped out from behind a wall and leaned against it.
"They're the closest thing. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get dressed." She turned and walked past Azazel, but Erik was hot on her heels.
"Why should you have to stay for them? They're talking about you right now, as we speak."
"I'm sure they are Erik," Marianne said, rolling her eyes and pulling out the key to her door. She was whipped around and pressed against the door, Erik's hands pinning her wrists against the door.
"Why won't you just accept the fact that I'm trying to help you?" he hissed.
"By taking me away from the only people who care about me? That's not helping," she responded, and winced as his grasp on her wrists grew tighter. "Erik, you're hurting me."
"Have you ever considered the thought that maybe I care about you?" he whispered, his face hovering centimeters above hers. "That I want to take away all your pain and heartbreak?" Charles then turned the corner, but stopped and backed up, peeking around it instead.
"You've only known me for two days," she said. "There's no way you already care about me." Finally, she set her jaw. "Let go of my wrists." He tried to fight it, but her power was too strong. His hands were wrenched from her wrists and he gasped, looking up at her in shock. She cupped his cheek with her hand. "Erik, if you cared about me then you wouldn't be doing this." She unlocked her door and walked inside, holding onto the doorway for a moment. "Good luck with your cause, but if it means leaving the people I love then I won't be a part of it." With that, she closed the door right in his face. Erik just stood there, staring at his hands in shock.
"She's powerful, isn't she?" Erik turned around and nodded at Charles, who was walking down the hall with his hands in his pockets. "Only two days and you're already trying to corrupt the young people? Shame on you." Erik smirked and Charles held out his hand in the direction of his office. "I believe we have an unfinished game of chess." The smirk grew wider and Erik followed Charles down the hall.
xxxxOxxxx
Marianne stared down at her wrists, shocked at the glaring red marks that wrapped around them. She pulled off her tank top just as a knock sounded on her door. She walked over to it and leaned back against the wall beside it. "Who is it?" she asked, her voice cracking.
"It's me," Hank's familiar voice called out. "Can I come in?" Marianne's hand automatically went to the lock on her door but she hesitated, drawing in a shaky breath. "Please?" With a sigh, Marianne reached back out and unlocked the door, walking over to her dresser as it opened and Hank walked in. "Oh geez, uh…" She looked up to see him looking at anyone but her, rubbing the back of his neck.
"What? It's not like you haven't seen me like this before," she muttered, grabbing a long sleeved shirt and a pair of pants. "Would you mind closing the door?" He nudged it shut with his foot and glanced away as she pulled off her shorts and pulled on her jeans. "What do you want?" His eyes flicked to her wrists and concern knitted his eyebrows as he turned into Dr. Hank McCoy. He crossed the room and took her hands, studying her wrists.
"What happened?" he asked, looking up at her with those pretty blue eyes.
"It was nothing, just a disagreement."
"With who?"
"None of your business!" she snapped, pulling her wrists out of his grasp. "If you didn't come here to talk to me about anything important, then I suggest you run back to your girlfriend. I'm going out with the girls and she's probably looking for you anyway." Hank looked confused for a moment.
"My girlfriend?" She gave him a look, pulling on the shirt. "Raven?" Another look. "Marianne, she's not my girlfriend."
"Could've fooled me." Hank watched her pull on her shoes and he sighed through his nose.
"You should know that I don't like Raven. You should know exactly who I like."
"Well you certainly haven't been acting like you have feelings for me. You haven't talked to me once since Raven got here."
"You could've talked to me!"
"She was always glued to your hip, Hank! I didn't want to be rude!" She stopped and took a deep breath. "I'm not fighting with you today. Not when I'm already in a terrible mood."
"So let me make you feel better," he said, reaching for her hand. She took a step back and he looked at her with a look that reminded her of a lost puppy. "Marianne, don't do this to me." The mere tone of his voice automatically made Marianne feel guilty, and she let him take her hand and pull her into his arms. "I'm so sorry Marianne. I never meant to make you think that." She sighed and pulled back, patting his arm a little with a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, I forgive you." She started pulling away, but he pulled her back towards him, leaning down. She smiled, thinking that there was no way they could be interrupted this time.
Knock, knock, knock. "Hey Marianne! You coming or not?" Elisabeth's voice called from behind the door and Marianne sighed.
"Every time," she whispered, then called out, "I'll be right out." She stepped back from Hank and smiled before opening the door and walking out into the hallway, following Elisabeth down the hall. Hank sighed and leaned against the doorway, running a hand through his hair.
Next time, I'm not going to let anything interrupt us.
xxxxOxxxx
"What are you doing here Erik?" Charles asked, moving one of the chess pieces.
"Am I not allowed to visit an old friend?"
"After you tried to blow up hundreds of ships with thousands of people near Cuba? Not really, no." Erik chuckled.
"Alright, you caught me. Raven wouldn't quit bugging me to visit you, so I decided it would be nice to visit you as well." He smiled and shrugged. "Besides, I thought it would be nice to see everyone again. You got some new mutants, I've noticed."
"Yes, and you seem to have taken a personal interest in Marianne. Care to explain?" Erik stopped reaching forward to move his chest piece and sat back, smiling a little.
"She doesn't realize how powerful she is, Charles. She uses her voice for her power! That's magnificent! Think of all we could accomplish with her! We could make the humans accept us, and then we wouldn't have to hide!"
"That's the easy way, but it's not the right way. We can't do that Erik. They have to accept us over time, or else it just wouldn't be moral." Erik gave him a hard look and stood.
"Well, it isn't your decision to make, Charles. It's up to Marianne." With that, he turned on his heel and walked out of the room, fully intent on forcing Marianne to join if he had to.
xxxxOxxxx
"Janos, I swear to God if you don't back up about five feet I will personally kick your ass into next year." The Latin man just smiled and snaked up closer to Elisabeth, who had returned from shopping with the girls not too long ago.
"It would be worth it," he whispered in her ear, twirling a lock of hair around his finger. Elisabeth scowled and shoved him away, shaking her head.
"Piss off!"
"Is there a problem?" The voice made Janos visibly shrink away from Elisabeth as an arm snaked around her waist and a pair of lips pressed against the corner of her mouth. "Janos, are you bothering Elisabeth?" Janos held up his hands and backed away.
"Of course not," he said, and then threw Elisabeth a wink. Alex took a step towards him and Janos high-tailed it out of there. Elisabeth smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest. He smelled like pine trees today.
"Thank you," she mumbled into his chest. He responded by kissing the top of her head. She pulled back and stood up onto her tip-toes, pressing her lips gently against his. He responded eagerly, placing a hand on the back of her neck and back and pulling her closer to him. She smiled in the kiss and pulled back, resting her forehead against his. "I love you," she whispered and he grinned.
Something about those words coming out of her mouth just seemed right, and he murmured, "I love you too."
Aww mushy gooey fluffiness at the end! Oh, my muse has a cavity…oops, maybe too sweet. While I take her to my mental dentist (I seriously think I'm crazy), please review!