Perfect Synergy
"No one would have crossed the ocean if he could have gotten off the ship in the storm." - Charles Kettering
"Are you sure about this?"
"Yeah, blast me."
"I don't want to k-"
"You won't kill me, stop worrying, I'll be fine! So just hurry up and blast me!"
"How the hell are you going to survive?"
"Uhhh, by using my powers, stupid. Converting energy and all that fun stuff!"
"You're the one being stupid! My powers have killed somebody! Recently too!"
"That was Shaw that did the killing. Now stop whining and hit me with it!"
How did this end up happening? It's a pretty simple thing. It was just after breakfast on the day before my birthday when I was heading down to the bunker to witness more of Alex's training. Rumor around the Palace was that Erik really drilled Alex during his target practice and I wanted to see his efforts in action. I was bounding down the stairs when I saw Hank and Charles lugging in another mannequin.
"Oi! Don't start without me!" I was about half way to them, about 40 steps up, when they stopped in the doorway. I surrounded myself with a powerful electrical field and leapt through the air. I landed right at the bottom step without a single scratch on me. Muchly improved from my leap off the CIA base. That was much more fun though. If you ignored the aftermath.
"I thought you learned better than that." Hank teased. Hank? Teasing me? Did I jump into an alternate universe? Probably, knowing my luck.
I stuck my tongue out at him. "I never learn." They pulled the mannequin into the bunker where Alex was already putting on his suit.
He looked up when we came in and frowned slightly. Rude. "Still with the mannequins? Erik at least had moving targets for me." Oh. He was frowning at Helen. I decided to name her.
Hank and Charles carried the mannequin all the way down to the end of the bunker, the usual place. When they set it up to stand, Hank's hand lingered just that extra second on its breast. Perhaps there were dirty thoughts in my perfect mans head. Good news for me!
"Wonderful work, Hank. Thank you." Charles said in a way I wasn't particularly sure he noticed the molestation of the mannequin as I had. Either way, Charles took a few steps to my right, his left, and Hank did the opposite, "All right, Alex, I want you to hit the "X" and try not to hit me. There's a good chap."
My jaw sort of dropped and when I turned to see to expression on Alex's face, it was complete disbelief. "You're serious?"
"I'm completely serious," Charles continued, completely ignorant to the flabbergasted look on Hank's face, "I have complete and utter faith in you." Which was more than you could say about Hank who was shuffling farther away from the mannequin. Even I was a little skiddish about being in the same room as Alex when he was using his powers. Oh well. I'd trust Erik's training and trust that Alex wouldn't hurt any of us. I leaned against the wall that the door was on to get out of the way regardless.
"Knock 'em out. Or knock it out... yeah, don't want you hitting them." I encouraged from the sidelines.
He gave me the Alex stare. "Thanks for the support." He said rather sarcastically before he flexed his entire upper body and a single stream of energy shot forward and hit the mannequin, perfectly, leaving the two brunettes unscathed. Alex laughed at his accomplishment, arms rising a bit in his own disbelief.
Hank looked smug from the other end of the bunker. "Am I still a bozo?"
"Yes, Hank, you're still a bozo." I punched him in the arm, the jerk. "But nice job." I punched Alex in the arm again. He punched me back. Hank smiled from the other end and I couldn't help but return it. How I wanted to kiss him but I was in the mood to do something reckless. And by reckless, I mean something downright idiotic.
Once Hank and Charles had put out Helen and brought her down I ran to the back of the bunker. "Hey, Alex?" I called.
"What do you want." He groaned in response.
I smirked. "I want you to blast me."
Charles, Hank, and Alex, all guffawed. It was a funny noise. They just couldn't seem to register what I was saying. I barely registered it myself.
"Could you please repeat that?" Charles demanded when he composed himself. Truthfully it was the only time I heard him speak harshly to anyone.
"I want Alex, the energy diaper boy, to blast me." I said as blatantly as I could.
"Um, no?" Alex said, treating me like I was stupid.
"Come on, hit me with your best shot, I swear on my life that I'll survive. Cross my heart and hope to die." I crossed my heart and gave Alex the best puppy eyes I could muster.
Alex let out a heavy and reluctant sigh. "You can't promise that."
That's when Charles decided to pipe in. "Alex, don't you even dare to consider this! It's absolutely preposterous!" He gave Alex and myself one of the fiercest glares I had ever seen. The fact that Charles even said this told me that Alex was considering it in some corner of his mind.
"Just do it!"
"Are you sure about this?"
"Yeah, blast me."
"I don't want to k-"
"You won't kill me, stop worrying, I'll be fine! So just hurry up and blast me!"
"How the hell are you going to survive?"
"Uhhh, by using my powers, stupid. Converting energy and all that fun stuff!"
"You're the one being stupid! My powers have killed somebody! Recently too!"
"That was Shaw that did the killing. Now stop whining and hit me with it!"
That's how we got to that moment when Alex puffed out his chest and blasted me with everything he was worth. I blocked the energy blast by concentrating a ball of electricity to absorb it, in one way or another. Wow that's a lot of juice. It took a while but I successfully converted Alex's energy into my own. I felt the surge going through me, as well as my heart increasing in pulse. My heart was already beating around 300 beats a minute without the burst. It felt like my heart was trying to reach liftoff, or something like that. I ended up laughing, the feeling was nothing short of elating.
Now, why did I do this? Let's just say that in some part of me I wanted to die. I wanted to stop worrying about everything and just end it. Sorry, this story could've ended a bit shorter than I'd wanted. Then, at the last minute, I decided against it. I couldn't put that sort of guilt back on Alex. Not that it ever truly left him, we could all see it eating away at him since Darwin vanished off the faith of the earth. I guess I didn't want to make him feel worse than he already did. Little did I know that my little stunt sped up my decay by a solid week.
"Max?" Hank yelled from the other end of the bunker when he saw me beginning to waver. He was next to me faster than I thought humanly possible.
I smiled weakly at him. "Yeah, honey?"
He looked me over from head to toe, and seeing that there was no evident damage he began checking my vitals. He checked my pupils response to light, he checked my forehead for a fever, but when his hand moved to check my pulse I held his hand.
"No, you don't want to do that." I croaked weakly, still. He ignored my protest, swatted at my hand, and rested two fingers against my jugular. I couldn't say exactly how fast my heart was going, I just assumed it was going scary fast. And by the expression on Hank's face at that point, I assumed correctly.
His mouth fluttered open and shut. "H-How? How is that physically possible?" He said quietly to himself.
"It's just a side-effect of my powers, I'm perfectly fine." I shooed his hands away and tried to stand but was met with painful resistance. My shoulder stung as if I had been stung by a bee the size of a grapefruit. I looked at my shoulder to see Hank's nails digging into it. The more I thought about it the more his nails looked like animal claws. Perhaps that was the heart attack settling down and causing me to be delirious. Oh whatever.
"Why do I feel like something's terribly wrong with you?" Hank whispered to me. "Ever since Washington you've been acting different." He was holding back tears. Fuck, I hadn't accommodated for the tears. I couldn't handle that from Hank. As I felt my pulse begin to settle down I flung my free arm around his neck. His hands shakily stopped clutching at my limbs and hesitantly wrapped around my back. My throbbing arm was then able to join my other arm. I kissed Hank gently on the lips. That's when I felt Charles in my head, fuming.
'Sleep.' He commanded harshly and I didn't have the energy to disobey so everything went black.
A few hours later I woke up in my bed with several tubes stuck in my arms. Damn Charles. Speaking of which, I could hear his voice yelling outside my room. I'd never heard him raise his voice before. I wrapped an electrical field around my head and listened carefully.
"If you knew about her condition how could you have possibly done that to her! She's dying, Alex. She isn't going to recover from what you just did to her! Why- why would you do that! From what I can tell she sees you as a brother, brothers don't do that to their dying sisters!" Charles yelled, rather loudly.
"Charles-" Someone tried to cut in, I presumed Alex, they sounded sympathetic but as if they were going to burst from the anger. Alex wasn't good at being yelled at.
"Don't- don't you even try to defend yourself." Charles seethed. "There's nothing to excuse what you've done. She could have less that an entire week left now thank to you! Hank made you that device so what happened with Darwin wouldn't happen again! He did not do it so you could kill the rest of our friends indirectly!" Charles continued to scream, louder than before. Perhaps everyone was out in town... they'd have to be on the moon not to be able to hear him. I felt the corners of my eyes get wet. Charles, it's okay...
"What the fuck was I supposed to do! Have you ever been in this situation before? Surrounded by people you love and knowing you're not going to make it? Did it ever occur to you that she's sick of waiting? Maybe she just wants to get it over with!" Alex yelled back just as loudly. "She's absolutely miserable! I can't watch her act like this anymore!"
"And that makes it alright?" Charles scoffed. "You justify murder with "she wanted it"? That is completely unacceptable. Preposterous. You do not have the right to decide when she passes. It's tragic enough that science can't help her, that what gave us our powers is preventing her from living her life! It's just- I can't believe- wait." He paused, back in his normal voice I had to strain to hear him. "I can't sense her thoughts, she must be awake."
Fuck. I sighed and let the inevitable transpire, rubbing at the corner of my eyes to prevent any more doting on me than necessary. My door swung open to reveal a red faced Charles and Alex. I waved, or I tried to. The tubes in my arm made it rather difficult.
"How much of that did you hear?" Charles asked tentatively.
I shrugged. "Since, "If you knew about her condition how could you have possibly done that to her!" or so." I admitted, yelling just as loudly as he had when he said those exact words.
The telepath looked at me with a worried look, sitting at the edge of my bed. "Why did you ask Alex to do that to you?" He asked.
"At first," I began, "I did- I wanted to get blasted so it could all end. It's maddening, being stuck with this." I sighed. "But then I realized that he's like a brother to me and I just couldn't pile that guilt on top of what he already felt. And then again I realized that if I wasn't technically "dying" then I probably would've asked him to do it anyway. To see if I could convert the energy. I've always been reckless like that. I didn't want this to change me." I explained, laughing a little.
As I spoke I saw Charles's eyes begin to soften and I saw the frown and vein of anger leave Alex's face. "I guess your right." Charles chuckled. "I seem to remember Hank telling me of a time when you jumped off the roof of the CIA base after just a single thought." He lifted his hand and tucked a lock of black hair behind my ear. "But you don't have to do such dangerous things like that just because you feel you would have, had things been different. We want you to live as long as you physically can... You're almost like a daughter to me." He said the last part quietly.
"So you-" Alex began but was silenced by Charles. My guess was that Alex was going to guilt-trip himself into making this his fault, like he usually would.
That's when I felt something being pulled out of my arm, I winced and looked down. Sure enough the IVs were being removed by Charles. He gave me a soft smile as the last one came out. "There. All better." He patted my wrist lightly before he got up and went to exit the room.
"Wait!" I called after him.
He turned. "Yes?"
I sneezed and sat up slightly. "How did nobody hear you screaming?" I didn't add the "besides Alex" because it was evident that he heard and I don't like being redundant.
At my seemingly naive words, he chuckled. "It's easy for ones mind to play tricks on you, is it not?" He said playfully with a gentle tap to his temple. He gestured as if he took off a hat to bid a girl adieu and left me alone with tall, blonde, and brooding.
"So-" Alex started but was silenced when I ran out of my bed and hugged him.
"Just shut up and hold me." I ordered him. He laughed quietly and did as I commanded.
"I wasn't going to go on about that. I was just going to inform you that we're trying to get the dodo to fly." Alex said cryptically.
I pulled away from him to give him my 'what you talkin' 'bout, dumb ass' look. "Repeat that?"
At that, he snorted, which he tried to cover with a cough. "They're hooking Sean up with wings to see if he'll fly."
"That sounds much more interesting than hugging you." I winked at my brother-like friend and ran out my door. I only paused to listen to see if he was behind me. I heard his flat footed self following me diligently. "So, where are they doing this?"
He pointed me in the right direction, and we started walking. It took us awhile but we finally made it to Hank's room/small lab. They were just finishing hooking him up too. Alex and I high-fived each other and waited by the windowsill in the room next door with Erik. Great seats for the show. For some reason, Raven couldn't be seen. She's not a wet blanket, where is she?
Back in the other room I started to listen into what they were saying. "And you're sure this will work?" Sean asked, clearly a bit afraid of jumping out of a window. Now why would he be afraid. I'd already done it.
"Anything is possible. I based the design on-" Hank began.
"Hank, stop talking." Charles interrupted as he finished hooking Sean into his wing harness, I know this because I heard it. I hadn't magically developed X-Ray vision. I glanced at Alex to be sure of my lack of X-Ray powers and silently cursed to myself. Damn, one day I'll be able to see through peoples clothes. That's the dream. "Come on." I heard Charles exclaim to Sean with a loud pat to the shoulder. My guess what he was being led to the window.
That's when all three of the boys let out some sound of surprise. "I've trusted Hank with something much more important than this, you'll be fine." A familiar feminine voice encourage Sean. That's where Raven was. The sound of a window being opened could be heard and all three of us leaned out the window. I wiggled in under Erik while Alex took up residence to our right. Once Raven had joined us by pushing Alex and Erik out of the way to lean out the window next to me the party really started. Sean hesitantly sat out on the window sill with Hank to one side facing us and with Charles to his other side facing away from us, I assumed. I couldn't really see him.
"Promise me one thing? When I die, jumping off this window, you're going to bury me nice." Sean said, a little shaken, to, I'm assuming, Charles.
I could practically feel someone roll their eyes, again, assuming Charles. "Pull yourself together it's only one-" Charles paused, "-story." He coughed slightly, guess he could understand Sean's discomfort.
"I could still break an ankle or something." Sean added, always the optimist.
I turned to Raven. "Think he's going to piss himself?"
She thought about it. "Maybe on the way down."
"I think he's pissing a bit now and will really let go once he jumps." I concluded with a smirk. We both laughed but Erik rolled his eyes at us.
"-right angle and they should carry you." Hank said, discouraging Sean.
"They should carry me?" Sean made a slight choking sound and cast a look to Charles. "That's reassuring."
Smiling, Charles clapped him on the back. "Good luck." To which Sean crossed his chest, praying to God of sorts. "And don't forget to scream!" Charles reminded him.
"Does he think he's going to forget?" I asked no one in particular to which I was shushed.
Sean then spread his arm-wings, looked back for a reassurance from Charles, fell from the window, squawked, and didn't fly. He landed face first in the bushes below, making a nice Sean imprint. We couldn't help ourselves, we all started laughing. I mean, what was that noise he just made? I swear the only time I heard a noise like that was when a crow crashed into our window "SHQRAAAAAAAAAWK". Well, it was similar enough. That crow died because of that impact. Down below I could barely hear Sean mumble. "I'm gonna kill 'em." He stumbled out of his self-made hole and continued to stumble until he got to the door that led back into the house.
Our laughter finally ceased. "Raven, care to join me for target practice?" A surprisingly sweet Erik Lensherr asked our resident metamorph.
"Uh... sure!" She replied, a little shocked. Like the rest of us. "I need to talk to Hank first."
I gave my dear friend a puzzled look. Now why would she be talking to my man? Apparently she read my thoughts again because she shook her head at me. Well, good. Nothing risque. I'm not really the jealous type but Hank and I hadn't solidified anything, he could be snatched away with me being none the wiser. She grabbed my hand, gave it a squeeze, and ran into the other room. I turned to see Alex- who was not there. Where the fuck did that boy go? Erik pointed out the door. Apparently everyone was reading my mind that day. Excuse me, last I checked, Charles was the only telepath on the premise thank you very much. I ran to the door when I heard some raucous laughter. Seems like Alex had caught up to Sean. I exited the room and rode the banister all the way to the ground floor where Alex currently had Sean pinned. To the ground, that is. And Sean was flailing as much as his limbs would allow.
"Fuck you, man!" Sean swore, flailing. He then rolled them over and successfully pinned Alex by the wrists. "Ha! Gotcha!"
"Give it to me." I said in a real deep and suggestive voice as I approached them. Immediately they separated, to hinder any more accusations. Not that there was any problem with it. I mean, Charles and Erik were up to who-knows-what.
Alex brushed off his jacket. "Not cool, Max." He said as he shook his head and before he smiled slyly at me. His smile looked extra devious with the sun setting. It was a beautiful sunset, don't get me wrong, but I didn't with the homicidal maniac look against it. I don't think I like the homicidal maniac look on anyone, to tell you the truth. It doesn't really tickle my loins.
"Stop fuckin' lookin' at me like that Alex! It's creepy!" I informed my friend even as I found myself slowly backing away. He didn't stop with the look and began advancing towards me. Immediately I broke into a run and I ran like hell. Another note about my powers, they helped whenever I wanted to run for miles on end. Lasting energy. As long as I didn't run until my legs were jelly I felt completely fine. Good thing because I could hear Alex, and Sean's?, footsteps gaining behind me. Shit I don't want to know what those two have in mind!
I ran back up the stairs with more speed than I thought I had in my thin little body. A few weird turns, staircases, and fake-outs later I found myself back where I started, minus Sean and Alex. Now if only I could do that on purpose. Back where I started turned out to be right outside Hank's room. I can hide here! Hank will protect his lady! I noticed that the door was already open so I put my hand on it but stopped when I saw Raven sitting on Hank's lap while she looked into a microscope.
What.
I was a bit- a lot, surprised. I almost couldn't believe my eyes. My hands balled into fists, who was I more mad at? Raven for insinuating it (I mean face it, there's no way Hank would yank her into his lap)? Or Hank for letting it happen? And just as I was about to barrel in there, guns blazing, I heard Hank say something.
"Raven... you know I like Max now, right?" He asked with his usual sheepish voice.
I heard her giggle and I watched her stand. "I just wanted to be sure. Can't have a wishy washy boy after my beautiful girl, now can I? He'll just hurt her." She said with a fingertip across his jawline. Her intimate touches were getting under my skin but I could tell that she had good intentions. She flung her hair over her shoulder and started coming towards me. I hid off in the corner when she exited his room. And just when I thought she didn't see me and was going on her merry way I heard her say; "You're welcome." quietly. God how I loved and hated that girl in so many ways.
Carefully I entered Hank's domain, too bad he didn't notice me. He was too busy massaging his temples or digging his nails into his leg. I snuck up behind him and wrapped my arms around his neck. "What's wrong." I whispered in his ear.
He didn't even look at me. Does he actually have feelings for Raven? Fuck. I was about ready to go out and go Vlad the Impaler on anyone I could when he finally said, "I almost kissed Raven." He admitted. Fuck. I was not going to be with a guy who liked two girls in the same house, that was just too difficult.
"Do you like her?" I asked, practically ripping my arms away from him.
Hank turned around in his swivel chair to look at me with sad eyes. "I did, when I first met her. I-I don't know anymore... I don't think I do..." He was barely audible when he spoke. His leaned forward so he could rest his forehead against my stomach. Then he spoke in that quiet voice again. "Please don't leave me."
At that moment I had no idea what to do. I didn't want to let Hank go but could I risk losing him farther down the road if I started to actually fall in love with this man? I really, truly, didn't know how much more pain my heart could handle. Then again, if I stayed with him, I could be the one that he falls for in the end, we could fall in love and have a happily ever after. Oh wait, no we couldn't. I would never see him again after Cuba, I would go home and never see any mutant ever again. I guess- I guess I could allow Hank those last three days of innocent love. I picked up Hank's head and placed small delicate kisses to his lips.
"I'll never leave you."