August 15, 1974
Alex looked down from the observation room in the Danger Room. The team was running a simulation based on the idea that they were protecting an urban area. Alex knew that the simulation was necessary, but he disliked it. It was too reminiscent of an all out warzone, and he didn't like to think that they would be in that situation.
No matter what Magneto said, no matter what Alex secretly feared, there was never going to be a war between mutants and humans. He was never going to see his students, his brother, standing against an army bent on their destruction. Not if they could stop it, and he'd learned that the X-men could stop many things.
At the same time, thinking about the Brotherhood made him uncomfortable. Thoughts of the Brotherhood inevitably led to thoughts of Magnetrix, or Lorna. Her real name floated beneath the one she had taken to go into the field, brought to his attention's by Terry's inquiries about her former protector.
She was a puzzle that, eight months later, Alex still didn't fully understand. A Brotherhood member was not supposed to have honor or care about human life. They weren't supposed to be dependable. Lorna had always taken after her father in Alex's eyes, a man who was incapable of standing by people in their hour of need.
Somehow his daughter had turned out different. Alex wasn't stupid enough not to see that. He had trusted Lorna with his life on multiple occasions, and he had never been let down. He had come out of it alive and knowing more about the strange girl with green hair who wore her father's colors like a shield.
The more she'd talked though, the more he'd gotten the feeling that she had seen a Brotherhood that was very different from the one that he had seen. He'd wondered if he was missing something, at least with some of the members. Part of him had even wondered if Azazel and Magneto had changed, were not the people that they once were. Perhaps the Brotherhood was, whether they knew it or not, becoming a little gentler.
Then he had seen what Mystique had done to Black Tom. Personally Alex had hated the man, part of him wishing that he had killed him years ago and saved Terry from years of abuse, possibly getting her back to Sean sooner. However, he knew in his heart of hearts that he would never be able to do it. Killing in revenge was something that Charles had managed to instill in him as wrong. There was a line there, and Alex refused to cross it.
Mystique had crossed it without a thought. He'd remembered then why he didn't trust the Brotherhood, why they would never be able to trust them. They had done too much, ruined too much, to ever be able to make up for. Alex did not want to be with people whose sense of right and wrong was so ridiculously warped. It had made him angry for thinking that things were different.
However, he remembered Lorna's expression when Mystique had murdered Black Tom. She'd looked shocked and horrified. No matter what had happened that day, she had not expected it. Alex wondered just how many lies she had been fed, how much she had believed just because her father had told her.
Despite the fact that Lorna was perhaps one of the smartest people he had ever met, she was still ignorant of what was going on. She was a warrior, but an innocent. Alex knew that she didn't want it to be that way, and that she hadn't gotten to that point by herself. He wished he could do something, but he had already extended an invitation to leave the Brotherhood that he'd known she would reject. He didn't blame her. They were her family after all, even if it was a family built on lies.
"Alex, I need to talk to you."
Alex turned around and saw Charles in the doorway. He shoved his thoughts about Lorna to the back corner of his mind. He knew that Charles wouldn't read his mind without his permission, but he also didn't feel comfortable thinking about Lorna around other people. It troubled him, but the quick talk he'd had with Charles several months ago at the end of the mission was all that he'd permit himself.
Charles's words filtered through his mind. He thought back to when he'd seen Moira crying the previous day and worry stole over him. Had something happened to her? He knew that he should have pressed her, but he'd never seen her break down like that before. He'd seen her red-rimmed eyes when Maeve had died or shining eyes when she'd held David for the first time, but never a break down.
"What about?" he asked.
"Warren," Charles said.
Alex blinked. He hadn't expected that. However, if it had to do with the winged mutant, then he knew that it couldn't be good. Sighing once he pinched the bridge of his nose. He looked down at the simulation. They were almost done. He'd need to stall. He dialed the difficulty of the simulation up a notch before he turned to Charles.
"What about him?" he asked
"I had my advising with him a few days ago," Charles said, "It appears that he's…unsettled."
Alex glanced back at the simulation. Warren was doing well, dodging bullets and giving aerial reconnaissance.
"His father giving him trouble again?" Alex asked.
"Yes, but I don't think that's the problem," Charles said.
Alex turned his back on the simulation.
"What do you think the problem is then?" Alex asked.
"Well," Charles said, "he appears to be under the impression that he's only second best. In everything."
"Second to Scott you mean," Alex said.
Charles nodded. Alex sighed again. It was a familiar frustration, one that he had felt ever since he'd made his decision regarding the leadership of the X-men after he stepped down.
"Scott's not going to be the next leader of the X-men because he's my brother," Alex said, "He's going to get the job because he's dedicated, hard-working, clever, and an exceptional fighter. His leadership skills are top-notch-"
"Alex," Charles said, raising his hand, "I'm not questioning you about your choice in a successor."
Alex nodded. At least there was that settled.
"I actually approve of your choice," Charles said.
Alex managed a grin.
"Really?" he asked.
"Yes. Scott is the best choice," Charles said.
Alex's grin widened. He couldn't help but feel pleased and proud. Pleased because of the confirmation, proud because it was his brother that they were talking about.
"So I'm not questioning you about that," Charles said.
"I'm glad," Alex said.
Charles nodded.
"I am, however," he said, "wondering if there isn't something we can do for Warren. He's always had…inferiority issues on the team, both because of how effectively he used his mutation and his father."
"Wish his father would learn to shut his damn mouth sometimes," Alex said.
"Alex, language," Charles said.
Alex laughed.
"I'm not fifteen anymore," he said.
"It sets a bad example," Charles said.
Shrugging Alex leaned against the control panel. Charles cleared his throat.
"Either way, I'm starting to wonder if what happened with Jean and Scott acted as a catalyst to those feelings," Charles said, "He's managed to keep a lid on them for some time, but I am worried about those feelings coming to a head."
His tone was concerned. Alex scratched his chin. There was some truth in what he said. He'd long known that Warren was jealous of Scott, although he doubted the rest of the team knew. Resentment didn't mean much, but when snap decisions and cooperation were an intrinsic part of your life, it could add up. Alex wasn't sure how they should go about handling the problem though.
"Short of removing him from the team," Alex said, "what do you think I should do?"
"Perhaps show that you value him a little more," Charles said.
"What?" Alex asked.
Charles put a hand to his temple, rubbing it up against what was left of his hair. Alex had noticed that it was thinning now. He supposed that it was the stress.
"There are several things that you can do," Charles said.
Alex gestured with his arm.
"I'm open to suggestions," he said.
"To start with, he is always given the second assignments," Charles said, "Just try to give him some more responsibility."
Alex tapped his chin thoughtfully.
"Okay, I see how that would work," Alex said, "They're all shit at flying the Blackbird, but he might-"
"Alex, again with the swearing," Charles said.
"Again with the me not being fifteen," Alex said.
Charles chuckled.
"Alright, alright," he said.
"He's alright with the Blackbird," Alex said, "But if I were to put some pressure on him, then he'd probably improve. It would be nice for him to be a co-pilot. Jean isn't bad but…you know how she can get when she's worried."
He saw the shadow coming over Charles's brow.
"Has she had another episode?" he asked.
Alex winced. Ever since Jean had hit sixteen she had, on and off, displayed disturbing bursts of power. They seemed to come on in times of intense stress, but she never seemed to remember them afterwards. Alex had discussed taking her off the team multiple times with Charles, but they couldn't afford to do so. Not with her medical and telepathic skills. Having her off the team would be more of a liability than her on it.
"No," Alex said.
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I'm just not sure that I feel comfortable with her being the back-up pilot in the Blackbird," he said, "Ororo isn't bad but, like I said, I could put Warren into that role."
"Good," Charles said, "And beyond that, you could show him that you could try to show him you value him in other ways. Give him longer critiques for instance."
"They don't want my critiques to be longer, trust me," Alex said.
"I mean just talk to him more," Charles said, "It's the easiest way to show that you value someone, to take the time to notice them."
He became quiet, his expression distant. Uncomfortable, Alex cleared his throat. Charles looked up, his eyes snapping back to Alex.
"In any case," he said, "This isn't something we can allow to go unchecked. Beyond that you'll need to have a talk with Sean as well."
"I understand," Alex said.
He glanced back down at the team. They were still battling their way through the final level of the simulation. He had time.
"Charles, I was wondering…" Alex said.
He trailed off.
"Yes?" Charles asked.
"Um, I was wondering if something was wrong with Moira," he said.
Charles frowned.
"Why?" he asked.
"Yesterday I…I saw her crying," Alex said.
Charles's face changed, his entire stance tensing.
"What?" he asked.
His voice was barely more than a whisper.
"She'd broken down," Alex said, "She wouldn't tell me what it was about, but it wasn't nothing. Has she been ill or something?"
He knew how he sounded, his words clunky. Charles hid his face for a moment and Alex felt that something was definitely wrong. He shifted from foot to foot.
"Charles?" he asked.
Charles shook his head.
"It's nothing Alex," he said, "Nothing at all."
"It doesn't seem like that," Alex said.
Charles shook his head again.
"I don't feel like discussing this with you," he said.
Alex narrowed his eyes as Charles began to wheel himself out of the room.
"I hope you discuss it with her at least," Alex said.
Charles looked over his shoulder, his expression a mixture of anger and anguish. Without another word he wheeled himself out of the room.