Disclaimer: I do not own the X-men or any rights to any other marvel characters. I do not profit from the solicitation of said heroes or villains and sadly I most likely never will. However I wont let that deter me, I will continue to write as long as you continue to read so here you go with the next exciting installment.
I would sincerely like to thank everyone who has reviewed and encouraged me to continue to make this story what it has become. I never expected it to be this long in fact I expected maybe half of this and there is still much more to come. David and Jubilee's Story is far from finished so please stick with me. I will try to make it as exciting of a trip as I can.
David began training harder than ever now that he was a full fledged member of the X-men. He would train once in the morning until his energy was depleted and each evening once it recharged he was back in the danger room again. David awoke on Sunday morning later than usual. He had slept in after an especially grueling training session from the night before. David was used to most of the members using the danger room for group sessions and on Sundays it was usually empty. David headed to the cafeteria to get breakfast before heading to the sub-basement.
"Good morning sunshine. Your up late, but you were exhausted last night." Jubilee said as she ran into David heading downstairs.
"Yea what are you up to babe?" Replied David fighting off a yawn.
"Nothing for an hour or so. Then I am going to hit the pool with kitty for a while." Said Jubilee.
"That sounds good, you could use some sun." David smirked.
"Whatever, are you going to have time for me this afternoon?" A hopeful Jubilee asked.
"Yea I will make some time before training." David answered the young girl.
"Ugh I swear, you spend more time training than you do with me. I am beginning to feel neglected. You know what happens when women feel neglected by their boyfriends?" Jubilee asked trying her hardest to sound serious.
"Yea but you couldn't find anyone better than me." David remarked full of cockiness.
"Your awfully sure of yourself." Jubilee rolled her eyes.
"Alright would you please not cheat on me if I decided not to train this afternoon, and instead spent it with you?" David offered through a mock frown.
"Hmm I don't know. Cheating does sound tempting." She Joked back.
"Jubilee!" David raised his voice playfully.
"Alright alright, you have a deal." Jubilee agreed after a few seconds of appearing in thought.
"Ok I'll see you this afternoon then." David said as he started heading in his original destination.
"Uh David aren't you forgetting something." Jubilee more stated than asked.
"Right sorry." Was David's reply as he walked back toward her and gave her a kiss.
"That's better, now be safe." Jubilee said before letting him get on with his day.
David reached the cafeteria without any further interruption other than the occasional "Hi Professor Alexander" The students took to calling him after realizing he didn't like it. David ate quickly so that he could still get a somewhat early start. He cleared his tray and left the cafeteria at a brisk walk. He reached the elevator and pressed the only button he ever used. If anyone had asked he wouldn't even be able to tell them where the other buttons led to. He stepped off of the elevator to the sight of the metal hallway. David reached the danger room and began to enter his code.
"Danger room session in progress." Informed the computerized voice of the danger room.
"What the hell, no one uses the danger room on Sundays." David groaned to himself in frustration.
He decided to see who dare interrupt his morning session. He headed up the stairs next to the danger room to the observation room. David punched in his code and the door slid open revealing all of the X-men except one. The one that was currently delaying his training.
"What's going on everybody?" Asked David curiously.
"The Danger room is getting the better of Logan. First time I have ever seen it happen." Scott answered clearly enjoying it.
David approached the large viewing window and looked down over the action. "Stop simulation!" David yelled after seeing the last thing he ever expected to see.
"Someone better have a damn good explanation for cutting me off." Wolverine growled looking up at the observation area while the skin on his face began to grow back.
"David would you mind informing us as to why you chose to end Logan's simulation?" Charles asked turning to face David.
"Not at all Chuck. Would you mind telling me why Logan is fighting my Dad? Or better yet why he is in one of your simulations in the first place?" David asked in return earning a gasp from everyone and a cough from Logan below.
"David, are you feeling alright? Are you sure your not delirious or hallucinating?" Charles asked hoping that was the case rather than what David had just said.
"I'm fine Chuck now tell me what the hell is going on." Demanded an angry David.
"David would you mind telling me what your fathers name is?" Charles then asked him.
"It's David I was named after him. Now quit running me and answer my question." David's raised his voice although there was no playfulness this time.
"David the man that Logan was fighting is named Sebastian Shaw. He is a very powerful Mutant and one of the greatest enemies the X-men have ever faced." Charles explained while searching the young man's features.
"Guess the apple didn't fall very far." Logan said as he entered the room.
"What the hell are you talking about?" David asked as questions were popping into his head quicker than he was receiving answers.
"Your gifts David, and the level of power you have Achieved. Sebastian Shaw is an energy manipulator much like yourself. Only he is able to absorb energy as well. Much like you did with Jubilee's own energy, only he is able to absorb any energy without it being directly introduced into his body." Charles went on shocked at the recent turn of events.
"I know my dad was a world class prick and possibly a carrier of the X-gene but are you telling me he was evil?" David asked his anger now confusion.
"David I would love to tell you more, however I believe this is a conversation you should have with your mother." Stated Charles.
"I believe your right Chuck." David remarked as he headed toward the phone at the desk in the observation room.
"David, don't you think this type of information would be better received face to face? Your mother is flying in tomorrow, is she not?" Charles asked although he was the one that made the flight arrangements.
"She is but I can not wait. I need answers Chuck." David said turning back to the man.
"I understand that David and I am sure your mother will too, however I would ask that you be patient. All talking over the phone is going to do is further increase your anger." Charles said hoping to reason with him.
"Your probably right Chuck. I need some air." Were David's final words before leaving everyone behind.
"Charles, you don't really think he is Shaw's offspring do ya?" Logan asked for the man's opinion.
"It would certainly explain a lot. I can only hope for his sake that it is all merely a coincidence. It has after all been nearly 8 years since David has seen the man. And I couldn't picture shaw settling down and living the family life long enough to have multiple children." Charles answered although he knew it was a long shot.
"That is kind of strange. Lets just hope my previous statement about the apple doesn't hold true of the kids nature. I would definitely prefer it if he stayed on our side." Logan's gruff voice was met with a round of agreement.
"David spent his most influential years without the man in his life I believe we are safe regarding that matter Logan." Charles remarked although only hopeful that he was right.
"Lets hope." Scott added. "We have all seen Shaw in action and we have seen what David is capable of. Could you imagine if they had joined forces."
"I shudder to think. But for now I see no reason to believe he would. Seek vengeance against his father maybe, but I couldn't see David join the man. We will give David time alone with his mother tomorrow. I would like all of you to give him space, however I have no idea how their discussion will go and David may need some support from friends." Charles informed the group. Nods and agreements made their way around before the group all went their separate ways for the day.
"So David's birthday is Tuesday, What are you going to give him apart from the obvious?" Kitty asked of Jubilee as they lay out by the pool.
"What is the obvious?" An oblivious Jubilee responded.
"Duh, birthday sex." Was kitty's response.
"Oh my god kitty!" Jubilee screamed rather embarrassed at the girls bluntness.
"What? It's only Sex. Even if the boy is 'Gifted' for lack of a better term." Kitty stated earning a glare from Jubilee.
"What the hell do you mean by that?" Jubilee asked Shocked removing her sunglasses and staring at the girl.
Kitty was more shocked in her response. "Jubilee, you have had sex with him before right?"
"Uh..." Was all Jubilee managed to get out before Kitty began again.
"Oh my god, you haven't. How have you kept him around this long? Most guys I could understand, but David with his past I couldn't imagine he would stick around if he wasn't getting something." Kitty remarked in disbelief.
"Kitty, David is not like that. And that doesn't answer how you know he is 'Gifted'." Jubilee replied still curious and angry.
"Oh sorry, His second day here the professor sent me to fetch him for the tests beasts wanted to run. He answered his door naked that morning. Said he fell asleep before changing into pajamas." Kitty answered unaware that she was seconds from getting hit with a paff.
"Oh ok, that makes me feel better." A more relieved Jubilee said. "But you don't really think he would just move on do you?" She then asked.
"You know him better than I do. I'm just sayin if you can prevent it you shouldn't let him slip away." Kitty answered.
"Is it going to hurt?" Jubilee asked embarrassed to be having this talk.
"You mean to tell me you have never. Not once?" Kitty asked even more shocked now.
"Kitty I am only sixteen. Wait have you and peter?" Jubilee then asked her.
"Not yet. Peter is going to have to work for it. I had a boyfriend before I came here and we did. It does hurt the first time or so but it starts to feel amazing once you adjust." Informed Kitty.
"So you think I should, on his birthday?" Jubilee asked unsure.
"Or earlier that way you have a little practice and its not terrible on his birthday." Kitty stated before turning over so the sun could hit her back.
"Ok, I'll try it tonight." Jubilee informed her friend.
David sat in his room with his face in his hands trying to make since of everything he had just seen and heard. "Why wouldn't mom tell me? Did she even know? Was she a part of his evil ways? How am I going to bring it up? Is she going to lie about it? What else has she not told me? I would have think she would have told me when she found out I was a mutant if she knew. Maybe there is a reason she kept it a secret. How did they manage to hide it all of those years?"
David began replaying memories of his childhood in his head hoping he could pick up on some clue that he had missed as a child. Nothing came to mind and David had started getting frustrated so he decided maybe a hot shower would relax him. David stood under the hot water allowing it to run over his tense muscles in the hopes that something would help to ease his troubled mind. David had been in so long the water began to cool. He stepped out of the water just as tense as he went in. He dried himself off and laid back in his bed. He closed his eyes and laid awake thinking. David was drawn away from his thoughts by a knock on the door several hours later.
"David are you in there?" Jubilee's hopeful voice floated through the door.
"Yea come in Jubes." David's solemn reply traveled back.
"Hey sweetie is everything alright? Nobody has seen you since this morning." Jubilee asked as she could tell when something was bothering him.
"Yea, well kind of." David said unsure of how to respond. Physically he was fine just tense. Emotionally he had been on a rollercoaster all day.
"What does that mean?" Jubilee asked trying to coax him into talking.
"I don't know." Was all David said.
"Uh, ok well do you want to talk about it?" Jubilee asked concern the concern growing within her voice.
"Sure, Join me." David replied as he made a spot next to him on the bed.
Jubilee joined him on the bed and laid in his arms. "Go ahead babe, vent. What's going on in that big head of yours?"
"I found out my father is evil." David said flatly.
"I thought you already knew that." Jubilee replied unsure of what news he received about him.
"No I knew he was weak, I knew he was a coward, I knew he was the type of man to walk out on his family. I'm talking pinky and the brain take over the world kind of evil." David said as he pulled her tighter into her embrace and took in her scent.
"What is Pinky and the brain?" Jubilee asked tilting her head to look up at him.
"As much tv as you watch, you mean to tell me you have never seen pinky and the brain? It was a tv show with two mice, on the WB, you know what never mind." David then said not really caring to get into that.
"So your father is evil, care to elaborate?" Jubilee bounced back to the original topic. She would google pinky and the brain later.
"Apparently he is an Enemy of the X-men. He used a fake name as long as I knew him or thought I knew him. Or maybe he was using his real name and the name Chuck knows him by is fake. I really don't know it is all confusing." David explained.
"And now you are an X-man the irony is thick in here." Jubilee joked hoping to lighten the mood.
"Jubilee!" David shot back although he smirked a little.
"Sorry go on." She then told him.
"I don't know if my mom hid it from me or if she even knew or if she took part in his evil ways. I don't even know what his evil ways are. I tried getting answers from Chuck and he wont tell me anything all he said is I should talk to my mother. I don't even know how I am going to broach the subject. Or whether or not she will try feeding me lies. Or how I am going to be able to take it if she tells me the truth and its not what I want to hear." David finished by drawing in a large breath.
"David calm down, breathe. Your so tense I can feel how tight your shoulders are. You are going to have a brain aneurism." Jubilee tried calming the large bundle of tension.
"I would welcome a brain aneurism right now." David said sarcastically.
"David don't even joke like that. Look I never knew your father and I barely know your mother, so I don't know if anything I say will help. But your mother is a sweet kind caring wonderful woman if she did keep that information from you its not without good reason. As far as the rest of it goes I cant help you. All I can say is we will face it as it comes."
"We?" David asked.
"Yes, we. As much as I have been through with you this is just another bridge to cross and I wont make you do it alone. In the meantime I have an idea that may help release some of your stress." Jubilee said as she got off of David's bed.
"Oh, and what's that?" Inquired David.
"Turn over." She then demanded of him.
David did as was instructed and Jubilee soon climbed on top of him straddling his butt. Jubilee then pressed her hands down on David's lower back and began moving them in slow circles.
"Hmm a massage that's great but you don't know what your getting yourself into." David replied with a heavy sigh of relief.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jubilee asked as she began working the slow circles slowly up David's back.
"Now I am going to grow to expect massages more often." David then informed her.
"No you get them when I say you do, that's all." Jubilee sternly stated.
Jubilee reached David's shoulders and clamped her small hands onto them. She began massaging them with a surprising amount of force. David could feel the tightness slowly beginning to fade away and a calm washed over him. Jubilee moved both hands to David's right bicep and began working it over as she did his shoulders.
"Hold on Jubes. Can you get up for a minute?" David asked and hated himself the moment she stopped.
David sat up and removed his shirt before resuming his place so Jubilee could continue. Jubilee retook her place straddling David's butt and picked up where she left off on his left arm. She then moved her hands from David's arm to his sides and began placing pressure on them as well. Jubilee made her way lower and lower until she reached David's hips. She began sliding her hands further and further towards the front of him. As she got closer to where David wanted her to touch the most he knew he had to stop her.
"Jubilee, What are you doing?" David asked as his body and brain were at war with each other.
"Trying to offer a little stress relief." Jubilee responded feeling rather rejected.
"Not like that." David replied softly hoping she wouldn't take it personal.
"Why not?" She then asked.
"Because I can tell your not ready and even if I was the type of guy to take advantage, I'm not exactly in the mood." Was David's half lie.
"Aren't guys always in the mood? And how do you know I am not ready?" She asked him slightly angry slightly relieved.
"Usually but not always, and the further south your hands travelled the more they began to shake. It's not that I don't want to Jubilee, but your first time should be perfect and if I ruined that for you I would hate myself. I wouldn't want you to give that up because I'm having a tough time." Informed David.
"It's not just that." Jubilee added.
"Then what is it?" David asked unsure of what to expect as he turned over underneath of jubilee so that he could look at her face.
"I don't want you to get bored with me and move on." Jubilee replied as she turned her head not wanting to face David.
David reached up and cupped her face turning her head back to him. "Who is putting this in your head?"
"Kitty, she told me that guys like you come to expect sex and if you don't get it from me then you will get it from someone else. You have been spending more and more time away from me and in the danger room." Jubilee explained.
"Out of all people why would you listen to kitty? Shes not exactly one for relationships look at how long it took her and peter to finally get together. Both of them were completely clueless as to how the other felt when anyone with eyes could see it. She is the last person I would let steer my relationship if I were you. As far as the danger room goes I have tried to get you to join me." David argued.
"Training for hours at a time twice a day, getting sweaty and hurt is not my idea of a good time. So if its not to avoid me, why have you been training so hard lately?" Jubilee asked curious because he had been spending an abnormal amount of time training.
David sighed deeply unsure if he was ready to admit what he was going to say next. "I'm scared Jubilee."
Jubilee's jaw dropped before responding. "Of what? Your not scared of anything."
"Of screwing up. I'm a member of the X-men now a group that has been fighting side by side for years. What if I don't measure up? I don't have Scott's blasts, Storm's control of the weather, Jeans telepathy or telekinesis, Hanks speed and agility, or Logan's hand to hand skills. I have never been on a mission and I don't want to be the reason one goes south and somebody gets hurt, so I run simulation after simulation in hopes that when the time comes I am ready." David explained.
"Why haven't you told me you felt like this." Jubilee asked looking down into David's eyes.
"Its kinda embarrassing, and emasculating. I have never been one to question my value and I think its because I never wanted to prove myself so badly." David said as his eyes met hers.
"David you have impressed everyone at every turn. The professor wouldn't have offered if he didn't think you were ready." Jubilee said as she leaned down and laid her head on his chest.
"But there is that chance that I'm not. As smart as Chuck is, I don't think he can add seer to his resume." David replied.
"Have you ever known him to steer you wrong before? If you did mess up is there anything about the X-men that leads you to believe they couldn't pick up your slack? They look out for each other and whenever the need has arisen you have looked out for them and others. As much as I would prefer you not risking your life out there fighting, I know that you can help make a difference and I wouldn't try to take that away from you. Not that trying would do much good. I happen to think you make an excellent addition to the X-men ranks." Jubilee encouragingly stated as she listened to his heartbeat along with hers.
"Your the best Jubes, your like my own personal hype man." Said David before he kissed the top of her head.
"Hype woman." A smirking Jubilee replied.
"You always know what to say to make me feel better. What do you say we get out of here and go find something to do?" David then asked feeling the need to get out of the mansion.
David's mind now drawn away from problems he was facing decided to have as much fun as he could before his Mother arrived the following day. He even went as far as to cuddle with Jubilee on the sofa in the rec room while she watched some god awful television show. He then made her go with him to the pond as a compromise they had made for the tv time.
"Watch your step babe." David said as they walked hand in hand down the path through the trees.
"David there is nothing there." Jubilee replied looking down at the dirt path.
David let go of Jubilee's hand and walked to the edge of the path. He reached down and placed his hand in a pile of brush where he pulled out a rather large snake.
"Oh my god David, that's disgusting!" Jubilee remarked as she took a few steps back from him.
"Relax, Jubilee its not disgusting, its nature." Smirked David.
"David that thing could be dangerous."
"How so?" David asked curious as to what her response would be.
"Aren't some snakes poisonous?" She asked him cautiously.
"Some, but not this little guy. If you look closely at its eyes you can see they are rounded like a persons pupils. If a snake has slanted eyes like a cat it is poisonous." David explained.
"And what do you mean little guy, that thing has gotta be 10 feet long."
"Your exaggerating babe he is a little closer to three feet." David laughed slightly.
"Whatever, its still disgusting. Slimy nasty things. They eat animals." Jubilee said thoroughly disgusted by the reptile.
"So do you, the only difference is yours are killed before hand." David defended the snake. "A lot of animals eat other animals. Snakes are only doing what they must to survive. And they are not slimy. Here feel for yourself." David then added holding it out towards her.
"No, Get that thing away from me David, or I am leaving." Jubilee said jumping back away from him.
David complied and placed the snake back where he had found it where it quietly slithered away. David resumed his place next to jubilee but she refused to hold his hand again until he washed it. They continued along the path until the pond became visible. David removed his shirt and began to remove his pants when Jubilee spoke up.
"David what are you doing?" Jubilee asked as he began to undress.
"Going for a swim." Was David's reply as he removed his boots and socks.
"There is a perfectly good pool a few hundred yards that way." Jubilee said pointing over her shoulder with her thumb.
"Too many chemicals. I prefer it this way. More natural." David said in amusement at the girl so much different than himself.
"David the water is dirty." Jubilee informed him.
"Geez would you quit being such a girl. That's what showers are for. Now are you coming in with me or not?" David asked as he stepped out into the water.
"No there are fish in there." She argued.
"OK, snakes and now fish is there anything else you are afraid of?" David laughed.
"Its not funny snakes and fish bite." Jubilee huffed.
"Snakes bite to eat or in self defense. Fish eat smaller fish."
"What about piranha?" She then asked hoping to make her point.
"You watch way too many bad sci-fi movies Jubilee. It is very rare that piranha attack anything that's not already wounded. Besides you would have to travel pretty far south to come across piranha."
"What like Texas?" She then asked the man she was currently learning was much smarter than she knew.
"Try brazil sweetie." David replied through a smile.
"How do you know all of this?" She inquired.
"Well apart from being a country boy, when I watch TV its educational shows." David said wading further into the water before turning and facing her.
As different as the two were she could not stop her eyes from drawing to his body. The broad tanned chest and shoulders immediately drew her gaze.
"Come on Jubilee, I promise I will protect you from snakes and fish." David said Joking with the young girl.
Jubilee hesitantly agreed removing her shirt revealing the bathing suit top she had on at the pool earlier in the day. David's eyes grew wide at the sight before him he had never seen Jubilee reveal quite that much flesh. She began removing the shorts she was wearing and they joined the pile of clothes that sat on a log by the pond. David could not take his eyes off of the slender frame that stood at the edge of the water dipping her foot in to test the water.
"David, its muddy." Jubilee said as she felt mud between her toes.
"What did you expect?" David asked his eyes not leaving her for a second.
"I don't know, sandy like a beach." She said eliciting a chuckle from David.
"This is not the ocean Jubes." David laughed.
"Shut up, I'm from California the only time I swim in water that's not a pool, it is the ocean." Jubilee responded splashing water at David as she slowly made her way towards him.
"See, its not that bad is it?" David asked as Jubilee reached him the water reaching the bottom of her chest.
"No I guess not, but I would still prefer the pool."
The two splashed around in the pool laughing and joking with each other until the sun began to go down.
"See jubilee the fish and snakes left you alone." David said sarcastically.
"I know you were right, there was nothing to be Scared of." She admitted.
"I don't know about nothing." David said as he dove under the water. He resurfaced a few seconds later with a turtle the size of his head.
"Oh my god David!" Jubilee screamed once more and began hurrying out of the water. "How long was that thing right next to us?"
"I felt him scrape my foot about half an hour ago." Answered David still holding the turtle by the shell behind its head and the back of its shell.
"And you didn't warn me it was there?" She asked angry that he had let the turtle invade her space.
"It wouldn't have bit unless you stepped on it. Every time you got close I steered you in the other direction. Not all animals are evil Jubilee this big guy wouldn't have bit unless it felt threatened. Snapping turtles are relatively calm creatures they just look scary." David informed her.
"That's a snapping turtle? Why are you holding it so close to its head?" She asked fearful for David.
"Because their necks are a lot longer than they let on they can reach around to the side but not behind them this is the safest place to grab them." He informed her.
"And you have experience with them?" She asked still shocked for some reason after everything.
"I'm no expert but I have caught a few back in Ohio. Want to hold it?" David asked ah he began carrying it towards her.
Surprisingly Jubilee didn't back up this time. "Maybe another time, or maybe if you catch a turtle that couldn't bite my face off."
"OK babe, another time then." said David as he knelt down at the edge of the water to let the turtle go.
"Its starting to get cold David can we go back?" Jubilee asked as a slight breeze made its way through the trees.
"Of course Jubes, lets go" David said as he handed Jubilee his shirt to put on.
Jubilee got dressed and put David's shirt on over top of her own. David put his pants and boots back on his shirt now being donned by his girlfriend. David placed his arm around Jubilee's slim waist and proceeded to close the distance to the mansion. The pair entered the mansion shortly later and David walked Jubilee to her room.
"Thank you David even though it was a little out of my comfort zone I had fun. And if I ever need another nature lesson I know who to turn to. I think its about time to call it a night though and I still need a shower." Said Jubilee weariness evident in her voice.
"Want some company?" David smirked.
"I don't think the professor would be ok with us sleeping in the same room again." Jubilee replied.
"I meant in the shower." David joked.
"Hmm I could use some help washing my back." Jubilee replied with a flirtatious smile.
"Really?" Asked a surprised David.
"God your such a guy. Goodnight David."
"Goodnight Jubilee." Said a disappointed David who then gave Jubilee a goodnight kiss. He then retired to his own room where he took a long hot shower and then hit his own bed for some much needed rest.
I have gotten pretty far ahead in my story so I would like to make an offer to my readers if I receive 5 reviews telling me how you have enjoyed the story by the end of 05/06/2013 I will add 5 more chapters. Not that I don't appreciate guest reviews but I will not count any that use the generic guest name as it could be one person posting 5 reviews.