Chapter Seven: Save You

Tobi wandered into the kitchen at past midnight looking for a snack. She was unable to sleep with the ghosts of so many others screaming out in her nightmares. She'd woken up in a cold sweat, tangled in her sheets, and known she needed to take a breather. Tobi crossed her arms almost protectively over her chest, drawing in upon herself and feeling small as she opened the fridge door, feeling a little bad about raiding Charles's food supply – only this was supposed to be her home now as well. Shrugging, she helped herself to some cold custard.

After she'd eaten, Tobi still felt uneasy. She quietly washed her dish in the sink and then headed outside, just wanting to get away from the turbulent emotions of others, which neither she nor they could control in sleep. Her bronze hair blew around her face in the slight breeze and then she found she could sense the emotions of someone else, someone bitter and cold. She thought she knew who it was.

Tobi glanced around the grounds, but there was still no sign of Alex. No sign of anyone, actually. It was dead, just like it should be in the early hours of the morning. Suddenly, someone grabbed Tobi by the shoulder. A hand clamped over her mouth, stifling the scream that had been building in her throat.

"What are you doing?" Erik growled in her ear, sounding thoroughly annoyed, "Anyone would think you go looking for trouble. After what happened to Darwin, it's best you don't go wandering around outside in the middle of the night."

His tone was sardonic and Tobi wasn't sure how to respond as Erik released her. She couldn't exactly say she'd been looking for Alex – because then Erik would draw the wrong conclusion and she'd hurriedly have to explain what Charles had asked of her, which she really didn't feel like doing.

"I…"

So it was Erik whose mind had felt so sour, so uninviting. She remembered his reaction to Shaw's sudden appearance and now felt the flood of emotions flowing from him. Inexplicably, Tobi's eyes found the number that marked his arm, marked him for what he was…and she knew.

"Shaw hurt you, didn't he?"

Erik grabbed Tobi by the shoulders and pulled her close, shaking her so hard she was surprised her teeth didn't rattle. His expression and his emotions indicated the rage he now felt.

"Don't you ever talk about that," Erik snapped at her, "How do you even know? You're not a telepath."

Tobi was angry now, feeling that Erik had no right to question her so brutally. She grabbed his wrists and twisted hard, forcing him to let go of her. Her green eyes flashed as she glowered at him, becoming the dangerous girl once more.

"No, but I can tell what you're feeling. I can make your pain go away, Erik Lehnsherr. You're so afraid of letting other people in…but I can help you. Charles can, too. So why won't you let us?"

Erik sneered at her, teeth bared savagely.

"You're a child. What would you know?"

Tobi smiled sourly. "More than you'd think. Being disguised as a boy has its perks…but it has its downsides, too. I've seen beggars getting their faces slashed open, prostitutes being raped on the streets. Trust me, I'm not the naïve little girl you take me for."

Erik opened his mouth to speak, but then his eyes narrowed and he bared his teeth, glowering at Tobi, who was still gripping his wrists, a grim expression having come over her face.

"What have you done to me?" Erik hissed at her. "I…I can feel emotions that aren't mine. What are you doing?"

In all honesty, Tobi hadn't even realized what she'd been doing. Her emotions, so raw and true, were overpowering Erik. She staggered backwards, releasing him, her green eyes wide as she stared at him. Erik realized that Tobi was just as astonished by what she'd done as he was.

"Stay away from me," Tobi whispered, staring incredulously at the man before her and suddenly overcome by a terrible fear. She had mastered force fields and could control her strength – yet the surge of emotions that streamed between her and other people was an aspect she still didn't understand. "Just leave me alone!"

Charles had kindly given them all a little while to settle in before training would commence. Tobi welcomed this, as did the other teenagers. In fact, it seemed that Charles was insistent upon helping Erik develop his ability before he even started with the teenagers. Tobi hadn't forgotten what Charles had asked of her. The hardest part of all was getting Alex alone. In fact, her opportunity came in the most unlikely of circumstances.

Charles, Erik and Moira were very concerned about the possibility of nuclear missiles being shipped to Cuba. While they all lingered in the study downstairs, discussing the matter in murmurs behind closed doors, the young mutants were left to entertain themselves. After some convincing from the others, Raven had managed to nab several bottles of vodka from the depths of the pantry. Dusting off the cobwebs, the first bottle was already half-empty after making the rounds of the circle in which they sat in Raven's room.

Tobi lay half-hanging off Raven's bed, feet kicking at thin air. Sean sat directly opposite her, deliberately so that he could see down her shirt if the opportunity presented itself. Hank and Raven were sitting across the room, talking in whispers. Alex lounged on one of the chairs.

"So what are we going to play?" Sean asked, before raising his eyes hopefully, "Strip poker?"

"I didn't know you were so eager for me to take my clothes off," Alex responded dryly.

Sean pulled out his tongue and then looked lasciviously from Raven to Tobi, grinning all over his freckled face.

"You wish, Havok. I was thinking the girls could go first…"

Tobi's eyes narrowed dangerously and she sat up on the bed, folding her arms over her chest.

"Sure, Sean. We'll play strip poker."

Sean considered this statement with a considering frown, taking in her serious face and somehow doubting her words.

"Umm, really?"

"Yep. Just as soon as I've cut off your testicles and thrown them into the pond."

Sean gulped and decided that perhaps he didn't really want to play strip poker after all. Satisfied, Tobi turned her attention upon the most tasteful members of their little party.

"So, what does everyone else think?"

Raven smiled mischievously. "How about Truth or Dare?"

Hank nodded slightly, probably inclined to agree with whatever Raven said. Sean was looking rather pleased with this option, while Tobi was nibbling at her lip and weighing the odds.

Alex was doubtful. "I don't know, man…"

Sean chuckled in delight. "Why, you got something to hide?"

Tobi fixed him with a burning glower, which he didn't seem to notice. Alex stiffened noticeably, but Raven had already sensed the growing tension and crawled forward, picking up the vodka bottle and taking a swig before glancing around at the others.

"Alright, it was my idea, so I'll go first. This one's for everyone. Most embarrassing moment?"

Alex laughed. "Oh, that's easy. Probably getting slammed to the floor by a girl half my size."

Tobi couldn't help but smirk a little, knowing exactly which girl Alex was referring to. Raven nodded approvingly and raised her eyebrows as she glanced across at Sean, who was scratching at his head and avoiding everyone's eyes.

"Sean?"

"Umm. I'd say when we came home drunk that night from the club and I started trying to take my clothes off in front of Alex and Hank."

Both of the other boys grimaced and Hank shook his head slowly.

"Please, don't ever remind of that again. I think I still bear the mental scars. That being said, my most embarrassing moment was most likely when Moira caught me hanging from the chandelier that time."

This earned chortles from the others, before Raven turned pointedly to face Tobi, who was the only one not to have answered the question.

"I'd say the time when I had to try and explain my period to the other boys. I told them I suffered from hemophilia. Digit believed it, but Bishop was still pretty suspicious."

Raven slid the vodka bottle across to Sean, designating him as the next person to ask a question. He swallowed some of the liquid fire and slammed the bottle down with a satisfied sigh.

"Who's had sex and how old were you?"

This earned groans from the others, who felt that they should have known Sean was going to ask a question like this.

"Jesus Christ, Sean…" Alex muttered under his breath.

"Ha!" Sean jabbed an accusing finger at him. "You have, haven't you?"

Alex avoided looking at anyone, his face turning a shade of bright red that rivalled Sean's wild hair.

"I was sixteen. Happy?"

Raven just shrugged casually like it was no big deal.

"Seventeen, but don't tell Charles. It's a really good thing that he doesn't read my mind, you know."

She turned to face Hank, eyebrows raised expectantly. Hank coyly averted his gaze and shook his head slowly. Sean just shrugged, indicating that he too was a virgin, and when everyone turned to look at Tobi she burst out laughing.

"You can't be serious! I've lived as a boy, with boys, for two years or something…and you don't really think I got any action before I was fifteen years old, do you?"

Sean considered Tobi slowly, his eyes roving over her.

"I still don't see how you managed to disguise yourself as a boy. I mean, you've got boobs. Like, C-cup or something."

Tobi glowered at him and snatched the vodka bottle up off the floor.

"Thanks, Sean, for your consideration of my chest." She crossed her legs and took a swig, licking her lips as the vodka burned its way down her throat. "Okay. My turn. We haven't had any dares so far, so…"

Raven shook her head defiantly. "Nope, the truths are going good so far! I've got another one anyway. How did you all discover your powers?"

Tobi deliberately avoided looking at Alex, but he'd already got to his feet and now towered over Raven, his hands clenched into fists and his blue eyes full of fire as he glared down at her.

"Why is it any of your business? Next you'll be asking why I was in a prison. You know what? Screw it. I don't have to tell any of you anything."

Hank, Raven and Sean watched, astounded, as he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Tobi understood that this was her chance and she staggered to her feet, heaving a sigh.

"It's okay. I'll deal with him."

Tobi stalked after Alex down the corridor, hurrying to him and reaching out to grasp him by the arm as he made to stomp away from her. Now was her chance to talk to him, to use her power to help him. When she touched his skin, she felt the anger and grief inside him, sharp and penetrating as a bolt of lightning.

"Alex…"

He moved fast, gripping Tobi and slamming her into the wall so hard she grimaced. Alex gripped her biceps with enough force so that it hurt. His face was a snarling mask, before suddenly his expression softened and he stepped back, quickly letting go of Tobi.

"I'm sorry. I…I guess my anger just takes over sometimes. It's like my power. I can't control it. So what good am I?"

Tobi placed a hand on Alex's arm, a deceivingly placating gesture that was meant to accomplish so much more. Instantly, she found that could access the channel of Alex's feelings…and add in her own, putting in as much soothing energy as she could to placate him.

"Don't say that. You just need to learn. That's what Charles is here for. He's going to teach us to use our powers for good, all of us. He can help you, Alex. You need to stop shutting people out."

Tobi could see by Alex's eyes that her power was starting to take effect. His face was no longer contorted by frustration, but instead a smooth mask. He stared down at her, the girl that he'd once hated with a passion. Now he knew why: he hadn't hated Tobi, just the fact that she could read him.

In fact, Alex found himself struggling to discern what his feelings about her were. There were layers of it, really. They had a stable friendship developing, but there was more than just that.

Of course, there was the fact that Tobi was a seventeen-year-old girl and she was actually – okay, no more kidding himself – very hot. He was a nineteen-year-old guy and yeah, admittedly still at the age where hormones were raging. There was a part of him that wanted her really bad, but he always kept that part firmly locked away.

But that wasn't it. There was a…a connection between the pair of them, something Alex couldn't quite really describe. She understood him. She could get him fired up and then placate him just as easily.

"Can I trust you, Tobi?" Alex asked quietly of her, suddenly aware that he was leaning closer to her, "You know what I'm feeling and you understand…but I'm not sure whether I'm right to open up to you…"

He was very close now, so close that their lips were nearly touching. In fact, by the mixture of emotions swirling within him – serenity, admiration and…lust – he was probably going to kiss her…

The sound of a door opening made Alex take a quick step away from Tobi. Raven, Hank and Sean had stuck their heads into the corridor to see what was going on.

"You guys sorted everything? Coming back?" Sean asked.

"Yeah." Tobi nodded.

Alex suddenly realized something as they headed back towards Raven's room. He glanced consideringly across at Tobi, but kept it to himself that there was one question in the game that Tobi hadn't exactly answered.