Leg Cramps and Road Trips

It had taken Amelia approximately two minutes to get to the administration building and less than a minute to obtain a leave of absence –she was that good.

She met up with Charles and Erik and told them she needed to pack a few things. That had annoyed Erik –but really, she going away for an unspecified amount of time and she needed essentials. Everything could be replaced but she'd be damned if she walked away without a change of underwear.

She went to her dorm (a single, because really –she wasn't sharing) and started packing. She'd call someone to handle everything else if that became necessary.

She was ready to leave. Literally and figuratively.

It wasn't particularly sane –running off with two men she just met. But Amelia figured it was better than staying were she was.

She was a twenty year old college student and she still didn't have a major, she didn't know what she wanted to do with her life, and she didn't want to do what the society she had grown up with dictated: get married.

The point of moving from Manhattan to Virginia? To get away from her parents (not that they'd notice), to get away from her social circle (not that she had actually sought out company), but most importantly so she wouldn't get bored.

Amelia was used to having all the luxuries money could buy. Her father was extremely successful (something to do with banking –she didn't really care) and her mother came from old money. She was an only child and they weren't particularly close. She grew up in the care of various nannies while her parents travelled (business trips for her father). Debutant balls and dinner parties became a regular occurrence when her parents decided to spend more time at home. And for everything money couldn't buy there was her power.

So that was her dilemma: everything anyone could ever want at the palm of her had –and it was driving her mad.

In her perspective, this running off and meeting other mutants and possibly helping the government take down a madman seemed like a good idea. At the very least she wouldn't be bored.

And this not being bored thing was pretty important. She could bankrupt a city, rip people's lives apart, and have people thank her for it. She didn't want to use her abilities in such a way, but there were times when she was dangerously close to saying 'what the hell, why not?'

Amelia sincerely hoped Charles would be able to help her. He did say something about using her powers responsibly, right?

Erik was another animal altogether. She could feel what he wanted. And it sure as hell wasn't helping others. His top priority was murder –in the most painful way possible.

Because her power was limited to getting people to do what she wanted and knowing what they wanted, she learned pretty quickly how to surmise the motivations behind those wants.

Charles wanted to help because there had been no one there for him. Erik wanted revenge on Mr. Diabolical (government wanted madman she had yet to learn the name of) because of something personal –love?

Amelia walked to the designated area she told Charles and Erik she'd meet them. She was starting to have second thoughts now. Charles was nice enough. He seemed like the type of man she would have met at a party back home (minus the mutation). He was curious about her telepathy –he wanted to take her under his wing.

Erik on the other hand… she hand managed to get under his skin. Maybe she shouldn't have used her powers on him? (Not that she regretted it). And he didn't seem particularly happy at her flippant response to her abilities –how long had he believed himself alone? And she could tell he disapproved of her apparent wealth. That meant he wasn't a man of means, that meant he wasn't used to real conversations with rich people (not including Charles), that meant the other mutants he had helped recruit probably weren't like her.

Great. She was going to be learning about her abilities along side people who probably wouldn't like her.

It was okay though, her abilities might have gotten people to do what she wanted in a telepathic-persuasive way but she was also genuinely persuasive. She could win over the other mutants without using her powers if she had to.

They were waiting for her by the sycamore tree she told them about.

Not surprisingly, it was Charles who greeted her. "Excellent –you're ready."

"What can I say, I'm a light packer." She looked pointedly at Erik. She really couldn't help it –she was already under his skin, why not have some fun with it?

He looked like he was trying not to roll his eyes. "Good for you."

She opened her mouth to argue but Charles intercepted. "The car's this way." He pointed toward the main parking lot.

She followed, purse strapped around her left shoulder and carrying a moderately sized suitcase.

Apparently Charles liked Austin Martins. She was a little disappointed. "I had you pegged as a Rolls Royce type of guy."

He chuckled. "Maybe in a couple of years."

Charles began unlocking the car. She gave a small smile and turned to Erik. "I call shot gun." She was poking the bear.

"I beg your pardon?"

"You and I both know if I want it I don't have to ask your permission."

"Amelia…," Charles warned.

"Fine. If the precious seat means so much to him –by all means…"

Erik gave her a look like he was sizing her up. He pulled open the back door and dramatically gestured for her to get in.

This was going to be a long drive.

A rode trip to the CIA headquarters was a lot more uncomfortable than Amelia thought it was going to be. She was getting a serious case of leg cramp. The company and conversation was far more entertaining.

"So aside from the fact that this Shaw guy is working with Communist Russians, you don't really know his plans?"

"I'm afraid not." Charles was driving but doing most of the talking between him and Erik.

"And he has his own telepath –so you can't do the whole mind thing… Why did you guys decide to recruit? I know you said you don't want us fight, Charles, but then what's the point of getting us all together?"

"Hopefully it won't come to fight. But if it does…"

"It's best to be prepared." Erik supplied.

Amelia resisted a snort –Erik definitely wanted a fight. "Why isn't the CIA with you guys now? You're working with them."

She was expecting Charles to answer but it was Erik who replied –sounding like he was restraining a lot of frustration. "The government doesn't need to be involved with people like us."

Touchy subject –was he speaking from experience? "What are they like then –the other mutants?"

Erik answered again. "A lot less annoying. Nervous?"

"Please –I could care less what a room full of strangers thinks about me. I'm curious… I've never met other people like me before."

"They're young, inexperienced, and were dumb enough to join us without thinking of the consequences –you'll get along with them just fine."

"What makes you think I didn't think of the consequences? I got a leave of absence for crying out loud."

"Did it ever cross your mind that you might not come back?"

"Do I want to die? No. Am I prepared to die? Well… I don't have anything better to do."

"And what exactly does that mean?"

This was getting too personal. She didn't want Erik to know about the dangers of her boredom –that kind of information was a potential weapon. She deflected. "What about you? Assuming we all live and this Shaw gets stopped –what happens to you? Are you prepared to live?"

It seemed that was too personal for Erik to. He turned to a clearly uncomfortable looking Charles. "How much further?"

A/N: Thanks to Gollum4077 for reviewing and everyone else whose put this on their altert/favorites list and just for taking the time to read it. Please bare with me -this is the first long-ish story I've ever done. Also, I need to buckle down and do some personal work and after chapter three I'm diving into moving territory so I don't know how fast I'll be able to update.