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.
David awoke feeling better than he had felt in a long time. The sun Shone brightly and David smiled at the warmth of it on his face. David got out of bed with an unnecessary build up of energy but decided it probably was not a bad thing. He made his way into the bathroom to shower before heading to breakfast. David began dreading how big of a deal he knew they were going to make his birthday. Charles wasn't exactly known for being subtle when it came to his students and with his mother there as well David knew it was going to be much more than he wanted. He stepped out of the shower and decided to just face it head on. David donned his usual black tee shirt jeans and boots before heading down to breakfast.
"Todd your up early." David said as he walked out into the hallway seeing his friend.
"My damn stomach woke me up. I thought I would hit the cafeteria. I'm glad I ran into you because I don't remember how to get there, this place is huge." Todd said in a gruff tired voice.
"Everyone gets lost the first few days. I was heading there anyway lets go." Said David leading the way.
"So how has everything been back home?" David asked curiously.
"Well you becoming a mutant was news for a while. Most took it as you probably thought they would." Answered A yawning Todd.
"Freaking out that a mutant invaded their humble country town?" David half asked half stated.
"Yea pretty much." Todd said as they reached the stairs and made their way down.
"As much as I enjoyed the country I'm glad to be away from there although sometimes I wish I could go back to visit." David said as they reached the cafeteria and passed through the large doorway.
"You should come visit. It hasn't been the same without you." Todd stated grabbing a muffin that had been set out for some of the students who wake up before breakfast is served.
"Maybe some day. I just don't want anyone getting hurt because they are associated with me."
"Uh huh." Said Todd with a mouthful of blueberry muffin.
David grabbed one of his own and sat down next to his friend. "Where did you get that scar? That's a new one." David said spotting a rather nasty scar on Todd's forearm.
"About a month ago. You know how Jake always carried that blade with him."
"Jake Hahn? We were always cool. What happened there?" David asked before realization hit him. "It was because of me wasn't it?"
"Its nothing a needle and some fishing line couldn't fix." Todd admitted without actually saying yes.
"Damn it. That's exactly why I left." David said angrily.
"It was kind of our fault. He was just talking about you in a way we weren't too happy with. We decided to shut him up." Replied Todd as casually as any other statement.
"Todd you shouldn't have done that. Let people say what they want, its not going to bother me especially here in New York." David said looking at Todd's scar again.
"Things have started to die down since. Its not a big deal." Said todd calmly. "I'm just glad you were able to forgive me after being such a dick." He then added a bit of shame becoming apparent.
"Its water under the bridge man. I'm glad you came." David said back a friendly smile crossing his face.
As the two sat and ate more students began to fill the cafeteria. David's usual group he ate with, along with Kevin and his family soon joined. The room slowly became more and more packed but breakfast had yet to be served. A few students questioned it and David looked around and didn't see anything. A few more seconds passed by and David soon knew what was going on. He decided to try to make a getaway but was too late as Charles rolled into the cafeteria followed by two of the kitchen staff wheeling in a large cart. On the cart sat an incredibly large birthday cake.
"Chuck, you didn't have to do this. I don't eat cake anyway its too sugary for me." A red faced David said to Charles while all other eyes were on him.
"You do not have to eat the cake it is more of a symbolic gesture." Smiled the elder gentleman from his wheelchair.
"You shouldn't have gone through all this trouble." David said again clearly not enjoying the attention he was receiving at the moment.
"Nonsense, it is not everyday that one of my students has a birthday especially one as big as an 18th birthday." Stated Charles.
"At least tell me a stripper is going to pop out of it." David joked earning him a slap from both his mother and Jubilee.
"That was my idea." Logan chuckled from where he was leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed. "Charles shot that down."
A chorus of happy birthday was sung and everyone received a slice of cake apart from David who respectfully declined and Logan who threatened to start a food fight if any was given to him. Everyone finished eating their cake before Charles made another announcement.
"Now that the cake is finished I would like everyone to gather on the front lawn where the festivities will continue."
Everyone headed outside the front lawn was filled with balloons and happy birthday banners that nearly nauseated David. David then noticed off to the side a rather large object that was covered so that he couldn't tell what it was.
"Alright now David I know that you are to old for traditional birthday activities so we decided against any such activities." Charles said with a grin on his face.
"Thank god." David said relieved. "So what's up with this monstrosity." David asked cocking his head toward the large tarp covered object.
"This was actually recommended by your very own Jubilee." Charles replied more excited than usual.
"What did you do Jubes?" David asked slightly nervous now.
"Well, why don't we remove the cover and find out." Jubilee answered through a grin slightly too large for her face.
"Logan, Piotr, if you would do the honors." Charles said to the two men.
The two large men approached the object where Logan unsheathed a claw to cut a few strings tying the cover down. They then each grabbed a side and began pulling the tarp off and David immediately started laughing. Before David's very own eyes stood a large padded platform and in the middle was a mechanical bull.
"Jubilee your crazy." David said grabbing her around the waist and pulling her into him.
"Come on Mr. bull rider. Show us what you got." Jubilee said looking up at the grin on David's face.
"Your in for one hell of a show." David replied making his way toward the center of the platform. "Give it everything its got." He added once mounting the bull.
"Do you think he can do it." Jubilee asked Kevin off to the side as Logan took the control.
"I think he might surprise you. But with that guy controlling it, I couldn't say for sure." Kevin answered back while gesturing to Logan at the controls.
"You seem pretty confident in him." Jubilee then stated.
"Lets just say there has never been much that David wasn't good at. Things have just always come natural to him. Maybe its part of him being a mutant. He has been that way since he was young." Kevin explained as the bull started to move slowly. "I guess we're about to find out."
The bull gradually began to buck harder and faster and David held onto the reins. David lasted longer than anyone thought he would and Logan began getting frustrated after not being able to knock him off.
"Can we make it a little tougher for him Ro?" Logan asked Storm who was standing next to him.
"I think I know just what you have in mind." Storm replied before a strong gust of wind came forth and shook David slightly.
David glanced over and saw the white eyes of the weather goddess and knew immediately what was going on. Before he had a chance to do anything about it the gust became much stronger and not only blew him off of the bull but off the padding as well.
"Oh goddess, David are you ok?" Storm asked hurrying over to where David had landed.
"That was a cheap trick Ororo." David said picking himself up off of the ground.
"Oh David you are bleeding." Storm said noticing a rather deep cut above David's eye.
"I'll heal." David said winking at Storm while the bleeding had already come to a stop. "I'm not as good as captain claws over there. But ill be right as rain in a few minutes." David finished gesturing toward Logan.
"I'm am sorry David. I did not mean to hurt you."
"Ororo, relax. I had to let someone else get a chance at some point right." David said to the sorrowful woman.
David then returned to Jubilee with a large smile on his face. "That was one hell of a ride." David said smirking at Jubilee obvious pun intended.
Jubilee just shook her head at David's remark before replying. "Ya but things end pretty quickly if you get blown."
Several students laughed before David glared at them and Charles grimaced at the comment. Many others took turns riding the bull and getting thrown off. The beginning of the day passed quickly and many of the students began to head inside.
"Now that the fun is over, no birthday would be complete without gifts." Charles said as he began wheeling himself to some picnic tables that had been set up on the lawn.
Charles pushed a button on his wheelchair and the garage door opened revealing a pile of wrapped gifts. Jubilee's eyes widened in anticipation as she saw them. She ran to the pile and returned carrying a medium sized box.
"I want you to open mine first." Jubilee stated smiling at David who took a seat on top of one of the picnic tables.
David took the package from the excited Asian and began to rip the paper off of it. Earning a slight frown from Jubilee. "What did you want to keep the paper?" David asked.
"No but I spent a lot of time on that, and it just gets ripped off in three seconds. seems a bit of a waste." Replied Jubilee.
"Your such a nerd." Remarked David before he continued tearing at the paper.
The wrapping paper was soon removed revealing a shoe box. David opened the box and a large smile spread across his face as he turned back to look at Jubilee. "These are the ones I saw at that store last time we went into the city." David said pulling out a pair of expensive leather cowboy boots that he never would have spent that much money on himself whether he loved them or not. "Jubilee, they are amazing thank you, but you shouldn't have spent that much."
"I know how much you wanted them just accept them and shut up." Jubilee said leaning forward to give David a kiss.
"Here is my gift." Cordelia said handing David a slightly smaller package. The wrapping paper on it received the same fate as the last package and David now held a photo album. "I know its not very extravagant but I want you to fill the second half of it up with new memories." She then said as David began flipping through the pages and seeing pictures of himself his family and friends throughout his childhood.
"Memories." David said softly to himself thinking back to what Logan had told him. "Mom this is incredible thank you." David added as he got up to give his mother a hug.
"Here's mine." Logan said setting down a mini fridge he carried over from the garage. "I didn't wrap it." He then added.
"I can see that." David laughed. "Thanks Logan."
"Don't open it until you get it to your room." Logan then whispered knowing David's trained ears would pick it up. He received a wink from David signaling that he had heard him.
"This one is from us." Kevin said holding out an unwrapped obvious black tee shirt.
"Thanks guys, now I have 101 of these." David said looking at the folded up shirt.
"Look at it dumbass." Todd added.
David unfolded the shirt and immediately shot a death glare at his friends as he read the writing on it.
"What is it?" Jubilee asked curiously.
David turned the shirt around revealing yellow lettering that said 'Jubilee's bitch' in big lettering. Laughs could be heard from everyone except for David and Charles who merely smirked.
"There is still one more." Charles said causing David to glance back toward the garage and not seeing anymore gifts. "Piotr if you wouldn't mind grabbing it from Logan's truck." Charles asked the giant Russian.
Piotr only nodded before heading into the garage where he could be seen lifting a rather large object out of the bed of the pick-up. David squinted to see what it was and was barely able to make it out until Piotr turned toward them holding it.
"Is that what I think it is?" David asked shocked.
"Its not a puppy." Logan shot back as David began walking toward the object Piotr had set down.
"It is that's a 1947 Harley knucklehead." Excitement overflowing in David's tone as he saw the bike frame.
"Not yet kid. That's just the frame and Original Motor. But I am going to help you restore it." Logan replied a little excited himself.
"Wow this is the coolest thing I have ever seen. Thank you so much Chuck." David said as he picked the man up in a hug earning a gasp from everyone else until he set him back down.
"I am not the only one you should be thanking David." Said Charles who didn't seem to be phased in the slightest about being picked up. "It was Jubilee's idea and Logan's Connection with local motorcycle shops that made it happen."
"This was your idea Jubilee?" David asked shocked that she would thank to do something like that for him.
"Well you sold your car to help your family after you came here and you have been talking about getting one. When Charles needed a gift idea this came to mind." Jubilee replied happy that David was overjoyed with his gift.
David turned to her and picked her up as well spinning her around before kissing her and setting her back down. He the turned to Logan.
"If you hug me Ill gut you bub." Logan said gruffly.
David walked over to him and extended his hand to him instead. Logan extended his own hand and David grabbed it and pulled Logan in to him. David decided put a friendly arm around his shoulder instead of a hug. David then released him and jumped up on the picnic table to get everyone's attention.
"Now I know its not typical fashion but I have a surprise for all of you." David said loud enough for the group that remained to hear.
"What kind of surprise David?" Cordelia asked her son.
"Wait right here I will be back shortly. "David replied before heading into the mansion.
The group stood there looking at each other questioningly hoping someone knew what was going on. A few minutes later David's voice was heard coming from high up. Everyone looked up and saw David standing on the roof.
"Ladies and Gentleman and Logan. I would like to introduce you to the high flying death defying amazing David Alexander." David yelled from the edge of the rooftop.
"David, don't you dare do it!" A frightened Jubilee yelled up at the roof.
David took a few steps back earning a collective sigh of relief from the group. David got a running start and leaped from the rooftop arms spread as wide as they would go. David shut off his senses and was unable to hear the screams coming from the ground beneath him. He began plummeting immediately gaining speed. One floor down, two floors down, The third floor down. David closed his eyes and concentrated as hard as he could. Just as he was moments from making impact with the lawn he swooped back up into the air. David released an excited victory cry as he was very shakily flying. After gaining a little control he did a few laps above the group and began lowering himself. As he was hovering just above the crowd he lost control and fell on his face.
"Ouch." David said lifting his head and rubbing the side of his face.
"Ouch? I'll show you ouch do you have any idea how bad you just scared me and your family?" Jubilee said with a terrifying scowl on her face.
"Jubilee, I flew!" David replied surprised.
"I saw and you and I thought you were going to." Jubilee began saying before what David had just said fully registered in her anger filled brain. "Why did you just say that like you were surprised?"
"It never worked before." David began digging his grave even deeper.
"What do you mean it never worked? You just jumped off the roof." Anger filled tears began welling up in Jubilee's eyes.
"David I cant believe you just did something so incredibly stupid!" Cordelia Joined in on David's verbal well deserved beating.
"Sorry, I had a feeling." David said, his excitement clouding his judgment as to why they were so upset with him.
"You Almost killed yourself over a feeling! I cant fucking believe you David!" Jubilee screamed before running into the mansion tears breaking free from her eyes. A fuming Cordelia shot David one last glare before following the young girl.
"I just fucked up bad didn't I?" David asked of no one in particular as he began picking himself up off of the ground.
"While I am overjoyed that you achieved your dream of flying. You must think about what just happened from their perspective. You just risked your life in front of a group of people that care about you deeply. It would have been one thing to have known that you were capable of flight. But to find out that you were unsure and still jumped is all the more frightening." Charles stated oddly calm.
"I have been able to slow myself down before. But you have seen how my powers work Chuck many times. I don't know what my powers are capable of until I find myself in that situation. And besides I heal." Defended David.
"I understand your view on the situation David, however not everyone's mind works as yours does. While you are often brash but fearless and don't mind seeing your own life flash before your eyes. You just forced your mother to watch your life flash before her eyes and Jubilee to watch the the past months of your relationship to flash before her eyes." Charles explained.
"I see your point Chuck. Guess I better go do some Damage control." David said to the group. "I'll catch up with you later." He then added before heading into the Mansion to find his two favorite women.
David soon found Jubilee sitting on the sofa in the rec room, her knees pulled into her chest and her head down. Cordelia sat next to her rubbing her back comfortingly when she realized David had entered the room.
"Now is not the best time David." Cordelia said anger still evident in the tone she used.
"I beg to differ mom." David said back shame filling his argument.
"I just almost witnessed my son die. She just almost witnessed her boyfriend die. The you just come walking in here." Cordelia began before getting cut off.
"Perfectly fine." David finished for her.
"That's not the point David."
"I know." David had to agree with her.
"Do you have any idea how it felt watching you fall not knowing if that was going to be last time I saw you alive? Then come to find out you didn't even know if you were going to walk away from it." Jubilee stated looking up sadly make-up running down her face.
"I don't, I'm sorry." David solemnly said back while stepping in front of where jubilee sat.
"You should leave David." Jubilee said as more tears began to flow.
"I cant do that Jubilee." Said David refusing to budge an inch. "I admit I don't know what it was like for you to watch me fall. But I know I am no stranger to falling I have been doing it for months." David said cupping Jubilees cheek and making her look up at him.
"What are you trying to say David?" Jubilee asked the tears momentarily stopping.
"I am saying that every time I see your face. Every time I smell your bubblegum. Every time I feel your touch, I feel like I can fly." David said hoping to get a rise out of the girl.
"David!" Warned Cordelia.
"Sorry mom, bad joke." David said before turning back to Jubilee. "I guess what im saying is that knowing I could lose that feeling at any minute scares the hell out of me. And what I am trying to say most of all is that I love you Jubilation lee." David finished with a hopeful smile on his face.
Both Jubilee and Cordelia released surprised gasps at the words David had just spoken. Jubilee's sad confused face broke into a grin as she jumped into David's arms wrapping her own around his neck.
"Can you say something Jubilee I am feeling kind of awkward right now." David said holding the girl up while his mother just looked on surprised from her spot in the room.
"If you ever and I mean ever almost kill yourself again I will kill you. And I love you too you big jerk." Jubilee said before kissing David.
David kept one arm wrapped around Jubilee and the other around his mother and walked back to join the rest of the group. He received congratulations on being able to fly and a few more people scolding him for attempting it, but he didn't care apart from the one setback he was having a great day. Day soon turned into night and many of the mansions residents began heading to bed. David grabbed his surprisingly heavy mini fridge and Jubilee grabbed his other gifts they then headed for his room.
Once they reached his room Jubilee opened the door as David Had his hands full. They entered the room and David set the fridge in the corner. He then plugged it in before remembering what Logan had said about opening it when he got to his room. David slowly opened the door not sure what to expect and he immediately began to laugh.
"What is so funny?" Asked a curious Jubilee.
David stepped out of the way so that she could see what he saw. An obvious bottle of liquor two cases of beer and a box of cigars were all neatly giftwrapped inside the fridge.
"I cant believe He would do something like that." Jubilee laughed hysterically.
"I Know he didn't wrap it I wonder who helped. The bastard didn't even bother to wrap the fridge."
The night continued full of soft pillow talk before the two fell asleep in each others arms happier than they had been in a long time.