A/N: the GINX universe has inspired me, and I really want to get this finished so that I can write another Kitchie story that kind of follows on from this one, so I'm going to storm through this with renewed vigour. I'll try to ensure that it's good though, don't worry. Four chapters are up. 1.
Natasha disliked the Mission Room when the senior X-Men gathered. It only ever happened when something was very wrong and a sense of dread was thick in the air. She had recovered since the Las Vegas mission but unlike Jake who had been 'distracted', the events burnt in her mind. The room was packed with most a lot of the original X-Men, Xavier, Logan and Scott addressed them, Natasha and Hank stood not too far away from the front with Ororo, Rogue, and Gambit. The others, Colossus, Iceman and Jean Grey stood around listening patiently.
"We were tracking someone our informant suggested was connected to Magneto when we were attacked." Logan explained. He had been talking for several minutes about how he came to be in Las Vegas. "In the course of the fighting Jubilee and I got separated, I tried to find her but my PDA wasn't working properly, I suspect they were jamming our communications. Obviously the range of the disruption wasn't very far as Jubilee was able to get a distress message to you guys."
"That may not be strictly true. The message was difficult to make out." Hank interrupted. "I suspect you are correct in your assumption they were jamming communications, and that Jubilee was on the edge of the jammer's range when she made her distress signal."
"They must have used highly advance technology to target just your communicators." Ororo said. "I do not think even we have such advanced equipment."
"I think that this should be discussed later." Xavier said with a raise of his hand. "Please continue Logan."
"There's not much more I can say that wasn't in Shade's report already." He said, using his nickname for Scott. "I pretty was searching for Jubilee until I noticed the kids wandering the streets, after I knew you guys had arrived I traced back to the Blackbird to find the Sentinel tearing apart the building. What we found out just before we were attacked is more important."
"What'd you mean" Asked Gambit.
"We found out that mutant was, none other Magneto's half naked, blue right hand."
"What was Mystique doing in Vegas?" Iceman asked, spitting out her name.
"We believe ruining Trawman's election campaign. It helps to explain the photos of her supposed affair." Xavier answered. "We knew that Magneto was connected to this election in some way, this confirms it."
"Ok, I'll state the obvious." Rogue said "Why would Magneto be helping some mutant hating ass to win the presidential election?"
"That is what we need to find out. Magneto always has a hidden plot behind everything he does. We cannot allow him to succeed." Xavier said. "We need to bring in Mystique, she the most obvious link to find out what is happening. Cerebro has had difficulty locating her, but I believe that Mystique is or was recently in New York. It is crucial that she be apprehended, for that reason I am deploying all X-Men teams to Manhattan immediately."
"Professor, does that include my team." Natasha asked. "I think they need time to recuperate after the Vegas incident."
"Your team's status is under review, until that is resolved you are not on active duty." Scott said.
"What does that mean?" She said harshly. "You can't seriously be suggesting you end my team."
"Not permanently, but the events in Vegas showed that they may not be ready for serious missions." Scott replied. "They were injured quite seriously, you have to ask whether it would have been different had a more experienced team been deployed instead."
"My team performed as well as any other in a hard situation." Natasha retorted. "I think they did very well, if anyone's performance is in question it is that of the senior X-Men who led the mission." Hank's gentle hand on her shoulder prevented her from losing it.
"I agree with Natasha." He said calmly.
"I think that it is necessary for Hack's team to be allowed some time to recover." Xavier soothed. "Their performance will be reviewed fully and fairly, as is right for X-Men their age, don't worry, and I don't believe their future as X-Men is in doubt. That does not mean that Beast and yourself cannot travel to New York, we need all the X-Men available."
Natasha allowed herself to calm down. "Yes professor." She said calmly.
"Fantastic, I have been looking forward to seeing the computer geek couple in action." Iceman joked. "Just don't drop another satellite onto us."
Mark rested his head gently on Jake's shoulder and wrapped an arm around him. They'd returned back from forest to find their lounge empty as everyone was still in class and decided to chill in front of the television. They traded small kisses occasionally as they watched some daytime soap opera, it was boring and badly acted but neither boy cared. Mark had never felt so happy, it was strange but he didn't know whether the true word was 'happy' or something more meaningful, he thought happiness seemed rather unstated.
"We should go to the mall this Saturday, together. We could see a movie or have lunch at a nice restaurant." Jake said cheerily. "I need to get some new clothes anyway."
Mark didn't reply, it sounded like a great idea but he didn't want or need to speak, he was content to listen. He liked seeing Jake happy and excited. Mark was suspicious of people naturally, and didn't trust easily yet he had liked Jake ever since they met. Mark had just arrived and was unsure of what to do when Jake, in his happy-go-lucky style sat next to him with the biggest grin her had ever seen and spoke to him. He was so friendly and happy.
Mark had lived on the streets as he travelled alone to the Institute, his time had given him the impression no one was nice unless they got something for it. Jake had proved him wrong from the moment they met.
"Mark, what should we do?" Jake asked a tint of concern in his voice. "Should we hide the fact were together or tell everyone? How do you think they'd react if they found out? It's not like if we didn't hide it no one would notice"
"Why should we hide, I don't think we have anything to be ashamed of." Mark answered proudly. "It's no one's business if were together, I want to enjoy our time together." Jake was still clearly unsure.
"Don't worry about what other's think." Mark assured, pulling the other closer to him. "If they have a problem with you they don't deserve your time. I love you Jake, because to me you're perfect."
Mark kissed him softly to soothe him. Jake relaxed and smiled again.
"If you think I'm perfect you're not as smart as I thought." He joked and chuckled gently. Mark smiled but secretly thought 'You are perfect'.
"We don't have to shove it people's faces." Mark said "I just want to be able to kiss in public, that's all."
Jake nodded and leant in for a hug, Mark doing the same and they slumped against the sofa in each other's arms.
"I like being with you." Jake said softly. They had just gotten comfortable when the bell rang, disturbing them from their peace. Mark stretched out and went to grab some food from the vendor. Kids started to wander in and soon any hope of more alone time was over. Instead they tucked into a small feast of snacks and talked about music for a few minutes.
"There you are." Quinn said behind them. "I was wondering where you guys wandered off to."
"We went for a walk." Jake said happily. "How are you?"
"You know me, always one step ahead of the guy trying to kill me." She said as he slumped between them. "My wing hurts like a bitch but I'm fine."
"Shame, I was hoping to finally get rid of you." Mark remarked, earning him a swift jab to his sensitive ribs.
"Shut it you." Quinn shot before joking. "You missed classes, you dirty truants."
"Were not in trouble are we?" Jake said concerned.
"No, but they made me go, how is that fair!" She said grumpily.
"Where's Caim?" Mark asked, expecting her to say the usual 'hiding somewhere' or 'under the stairs'.
"Caim's behind you." He said surprising the three of them as their fourth teammate moved round to sit on the floor in front of them. "Lars is in the gym." He added briefly. Mark wasn't too interested, he didn't know the guy all that and if he was honest didn't really want to. He turned his attention to Jake, who looked concerned again.
"Guys, I need to check on Jubilee, could you come with me." Jake said. They turned to him and agreed straight away.
"Sure Kitchie, no problem." Quinn said. "Err, will you be okay around the infirmary Caim, what about the blood." But Caim dismissed her concerns straight away.
A strong smell of disinfectant always filled the air whenever Jake went near the infirmary. It was also cold, as though the thermostat was permanently set on the lowest setting for some reason. It was quite an intimidating place to enter, though only because of the importance it had rather than any physical features. They were greeted by a stern Nurse he inspected them before looking at them condescendingly.
"Can I help you?" She said, obviously believing them to be wandering around.
"Err, yes." Jake said politely. "I'd like to see Jubilee. I want to make sure she's alright."
"Are you related?" She said without dropping her harsh tone.
"Jake was there when she was shot, he protected her." Quinn said with obvious annoyance.
"We just want to know she's ok." Mark said apologetically. She eyed them one last time before conceding, leading them to a bed surrounded by medical machines. She was very pale; her eyes shut her breathing barely noticeable.
"She is very ill and cannot answer you." The nurse said. "Be brief."
Jake knelt beside her bed and gently grabbed her hand. He was scared by the tubes and wires covering coming from her. He spoke softly. "Get better, you have too." Mark knelt beside him and wrapped and arm around his shoulders, pressing a gentle kiss into his forehead.
"Don't worry, she's a fighter you know that." He comforted. Quinn was confused but said nothing as Mark held Jake. Jake didn't seem to notice but in fact Mark's presence was what kept him together as he watched over Jubilee. He felt responsible for her since it was his objective to protect her, and she was so nice to him.
It only lasted a minute or so. The nurse returned and said they needed to leave, though she did so more gently. They left quickly and headed back up into the main Mansion.
"You two okay." Quinn asked, not sure how to put. She noticed Caim was interested too, confirming that something was indeed 'odd' and that she wasn't going crazy.
"Err, yeah, were fine." Mark said. "I think an explanation is fair, you guys should be the first to know." Jake's heart leapt, a thousand scenarios raced through his mind, all of which involved his two best friends getting mad.
"Jake and I, were, together." Mark declared. "As in romantically together."
"Since when?" Caim asked surprised.
"Today, kind of, I've known I'm gay for a long time, Jake just came to terms with it." Mark answered, "We stopped hiding it from each other and were now together."
"You're okay with it aren't you?" Jake said.
"You think I care about you guys being gay." Quinn replied indifferently. "You are who you are, mutant, gay, whatever."
"Quinn's right." Caim stated. Jake reacted by pulling them both into a hug, beaming gleefully and didn't let go until he was pried away gently. "Thanks guys, I love you" He said.
"There's nothing to thank us for." Caim insisted. "We'd be pretty bad people not to accept you.
Jack wrapped his arms around his 'boyfriend', he didn't know what to call it, and planted a peck on his cheek. What a difference a day makes, he thought before humming the tune to the in head as they walked back up to the mansion.
A/N Answers, progression and cuteness, it's the best I can offer. I don't claim to write award winning stuff but I like it so blah.