Memories
A Game of Questions
Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men or any of their characters. Tora and Weapon X-ii are my own though.
Luke wandered into the kitchen to find Tora muttering what sounded like death threats against Hank, Logan, Scott and life in general. He was about to edge out when she called him back in.
"It's okay Luke. Do you want something to eat?"
Now she mentioned it, he was starving. She set about making some killer sandwiches and put most of them back in the fridge with a note telling the others to help themselves. She pushed a plate over and sat down.
"You've been avoiding me. Why? Did I injure you too badly when we sparred?"
"No. It's just I don't know anything about you."
"Fine. I don't know much about you either. I have a game. A question for a question. You can ask anything you want. Sound alright?"
"Suppose yeah."
"Then you go first."
Luke paused. She was leaning back in her chair, a look of polite concentration on her face. In the end he settled for the easiest question.
"Who are you?"
"I am many things. I was born Marie Circen-"
"So Eloise is your sister?"
"One question at a time please. For a long time I was Xii, a weapon with little knowledge of humanity. Then I came here and became Tora and Tigress. Does that answer your question?"
"Yeah, I suppose. Who-"
"Ah. My turn. You said you span illusions. How did you find out about your gift?"
"I was angry at a teacher. I ended up spinning an illusion that drove her mad. I wasn't in control and it scared me. How did you learn about yours?"
"It's not pretty. I always knew I was a mutant, just not what kind. I attempted to escape my prison but I was caught and thrown to some savage dogs. While I was there, my friend was thrown in. She was dead. The emotional pain caused my mutation to kick-start."
Luke couldn't really think of anything to say. Tora was looking at him politely.
"So you exactly are you?"
"I'm…I'm just Luke Hargreaves. Born in the Lake District, lived there all my life until I found out I was a mutant."
"And that isn't a proper answer. No one is just anything. I was never just Xii or just Tora. I have always been Xii and I have always been Tora."
Luke stared. The look in her eyes and the measured tone of her voice suggested she was mildly interested but the line of questioning suggested a greater interest.
"I'm not spoiling a party am I?"
Etana was standing in the doorway looking slightly harassed.
"Does anyone have Cap's number? Fury is pestering me again. Oh, lunchtime…"
She dived into the fridge and began to search through the sandwiches.
"Oh, found one. So, do you know Cap's number? Not the Avengers number, his private line?"
"Logan might."
"Logan happens to be away with the others. Oh well, I'll just go and see Steve in person."
"You see a lot of him don't you?"
"So? We're friends. And I'm going over all the stuff his other friends forgot to tell him about. He's never seen Monty Python Tora. He hadn't even heard of them! So we've been sitting through all four series and I've got him hooked on The Holy Grail. Now all I have to do is show him The Meaning of Life and he'll be addicted. I had Captain America rolling on the floor laughing at the Hitler in Minehead sketch."
Luke gasped.
"You like Python?"
"Love them. Never missed an episode. Went to Tunisia to see them filming Life of Brian."
"Cool…"
"Now I have to go. My best record is two minutes before he fell off his chair laughing. Just wait till I show him the Goodies…"
There was the usual light burst as she teleported away. Tora sighed.
"Learn something new about that woman everyday."
Then she got up.
"I have some errands to run and I apparently have a lunch date with Sue Richards. I hate the way we heroes gossip."
Then she leant over the table and grabbed a coat.
"Tell Eloise to help herself to the food. I shouldn't be gone too long. Try not to set the place alight. Hank's in the lab if you need him."
"I'll tell her."
Tora walked swiftly out of the house. It shouldn't be too long a walk and now she was banned from training she needed to exercise even more. Hiding just outside the mansion, a figure watched as the woman marched along the street. So close… Just a little closer…
Jean shifted.
"How long are we going to be looking at this for?"
"I'll go to your wedding if you want. But this is about Tora. About sacrifice. About the past."
"It always is the past."
Tora watched from the window as the dancing took place. She couldn't dance. Fight, yes. Dance, no. But she could see Etana doing some sort of complicated solo dance that had people watching in wonder. Then she swept up Logan who grumbled and pulled away so she grabbed Cap's hands instead. Logan stumped in shortly afterwards.
"What happened to the real Etana?"
"I think she's just happy. Why didn't you dance?"
"I don't dance."
A giggle disturbed them as Jean and Scott came in. Logan pointedly looked the other way before leaning in to whisper to Tora.
"See no evil, hear no evil, smell no evil."
She nodded. They left the kitchen, walking up the corridor in comfortable silence. A scent caused Tora to stop. Logan frowned, sniffed then smirked. He walked over to the library door and pulled it open to reveal a kissing couple.
"ELOISE!"
Tora's sister disentangled herself from Luke and blushed.
"Eloise! Un garcon anglais, comment pourriez-vou!"
There was a slight smile around her eyes that suggested she actually found this highly amusing.
"We were just kissing Tora."
"And in a public place I might add."
"I saw you kissing Logan on the sofa last night."
"I am married and an adult. You are sixteen and single."
"Hypocrite."
Luke was edging towards the door.
"Come here you two."
And she hugged them both.
"I think you better go out and dance with Kitty and Jubilee. They seem very lonely."
Rather relieved that she wasn't going to tease them anymore, the two teenagers ran out. Logan and Tora continued walking down the hall. A raised voice caused them to pause.
"You're pushing too hard Discus-Boy! Give me time! I've never done this before. I'm centuries old. I can't just go against my entire life in a year."
A low male voice, somewhat distorted so it was impossible to tell who it was spoke next.
"Etana, I'm not asking for that. All I want is to know if you meant it."
"Yes. No. Maybe. I don't know."
"I understand…"
"No Discus-Boy, you don't understand. This is against everything I taught myself to be. It's like you suddenly deciding you weren't human anymore."
"Etana, please…"
"Look, give me time. I'll know before the year is out."
"You told me you'll die in May!"
"Time is never stable. I could die, I may not. It's just highly probable."
"Etana, why are you so…cold. Sometimes I think there's something there. Then it goes."
"I'm sorry."
Then the door flung open and Etana walked past, her fur streaked with tears. Logan tried to peer round the door but Tora yanked his arm and prevented it.
"We shouldn't have heard that."
Jean sat back in shock.
"Etana…?"
"Yes."
"You will have to enlighten me."
"Maybe later."