Memories

Kinship

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If you want to use Tora, or any of my other characters, PM me.

She stared down at students, watching as new faces, new mutants gradually integrated themselves into this small school. She was…trapped…trapped…couldn't escape… Then she turned away, heading into the Danger Room. First training session.

She flipped up onto the first of the gym equipment. Still not cleared for combat workout but this was okay. She gripped the bar and held herself upside down then slowly walked across it with her hands. And then a soft, accented voice.

"You're doing it wrong."

"I'm doing it perfectly well."

"No, you aren't. You're going to-"

Tora's elbows buckled and she fell forward. Instantly, gentle hands caught her.

"Leaning too far forward. Not like you to make a mistake like that."

She opened her eyes. Warm pools of liquid gold stared down at her.

"I'm tired, Kurt. So very tired."

"Come on. Parallel bars. Let's go."

He guided her up and helped her stand. And then she leapt and span before pushing herself onto the other bar. He was on the trapeze above, flipping and soaring like a natural. Which he was, of course. Tora span around once more, then began chatting.

"What do you think of the new students?"

He span around.

"Lots of drama, a lot of good kids, haven't spotted any bad ones."

"Kurt. You think everyone is good until they prove you totally wrong."

"That's not true! Give me one example."

"You're looking at her."

"And you are far too hard on yourself."

"Oh, shut up, Kurt."

She flicked herself off and span onto the mat. Then up onto the beam. Somersault.

"Tora, you've always been hopeless at seeing your best points."

"Go on. List them."

"You're loyal."

A flip, leap and catch.

"You always do what's right, not what's easiest."

A somersault.

"You're good at listening and then giving decent advice."

A flip caught by the tail, so he hung upside-down as she leant backwards into a handstand and walked herself down the length of the beam on her hands.

"You always know that, at times, what you really need is just a bit of silent comfort."

Tora was about to respond when the Danger Room protocols spoke.

"X-Men team approaching."

Tora stiffened, tumbled from the beam and crashed to the mat.

"Terminate program!"

And the equipment, mats and Kurt gently faded away. Tora got up and walked out the door, entering the changing rooms and stripped, stepping under the shower. Warm water. Good. She heard voices. Rachel and Kitty entering the changing room. Turn the shower off and pull oneself onto the seat so feet were pulled up, so a glance under the stall wouldn't reveal her. And now to listen. Always so interesting.

"How's things with the new…old…time-displaced X-Men, Kitty?"

"It would be fine if Jean didn't keep seeking out Tora all the time."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Considering what Tora told Jean, yes."

"What did she tell her?"

"To watch out for the dark inside her."

"Not too bad advice."

"Yes, but she told her just after saying they were reflections and then that she had something dark inside her. It freaked Jean out."

"For pity's sake…!"

"You two finished!?"

"Coming!"

She heard them hurry out and closed her eyes. Already they were forgetting her, brushing her aside. Had any of them noticed? No, they hadn't. She hadn't slept in nearly two weeks. She hadn't eaten in five days. Hadn't drunk for twenty-eight hours. They didn't notice, didn't care, not even Hank who was supposed to be making sure she was okay. Did they even care anymore? Maybe not. Logan would notice but Logan was off doing 'Logan stuff'.

She looked down at her wrists, old scars. Maybe she should just open her wrists. Damnit, she'd wanted to die doing something good, something helpful. And Logan had dragged her back against her will. She closed her eyes and pressed her face into her knees, hoping to quell the tears welling up.

Phoenix looked so sad.

"Tora… Oh, you poor thing…"

"This is morbid. How about a little interlude?"

"Oooh! Other Tora please!"

"You really want to see that?"

She closed her eyes. It all came down to this. She looked over. Kurt had one hand out, waiting for her to follow him and the man who had once tortured her. Logan was staring at her, waiting for her to denounce the man she loved. And Tigress felt her whole world crumble away. No one would hear her desperate pleas. None of the others were responding. She looked from Logan to Kurt and back. And then she made her choice.

She turned and took the hand extended. Kurt smiled at her and she heard Logan swear violently. She turned round to look at him.

"I'm sorry. But I love him."

And she left with him. Because of so many things. Because she missed her friends. Because she wanted to go home. Because she had to act as a limiter.

And then later she saw the look in his eyes and knew he was going to die for both worlds and took his hand once more.

"Together."

He squeezed her hand.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course."

And they embraced as they teleported into the portal, to close it forever.

"Oh, how sad."

"Phoenix, you are not a sixteen-year-old girl anymore."

"Spoilsport."

She didn't want to be here. But Pym had insisted and then she entered the room and Hazmat leapt over and hugged her tightly.

"Thank you! Thank you so, so much."

"Calm down, Jenny. This isn't like you."

"They told me you almost died!"

She leant back, grinning fondly at the girl in the suit.

"Jenny, I almost die every single time I do something 'recklessly selfless' as my husband keeps calling it. I call it 'doing the right thing'. We argue about it a lot."

And then Laura was beside her and in a rare display of emotion hugged her.

"I was scared for you."

"Laura, you know how hard it is to kill me. Should be called Cockroach, not Dragon."

A slight smile cracked Laura's face.

"I'm still not calling you Maman."

"I don't expect you to."

"But I'm fine with you calling me your daughter. I'll just call you my stepmother/sister-in-law and watch the horrified looks on everyone's faces."

Tora sniggered softly.

"What, that I married your brother and your father? Or that your 'father' and your 'brother' are the same person?"

Laura grinned.

"Jeanne-"

"So you're talking again?"

Laura narrowed her eyes.

"Yes. I'm going to want to talk to you about that."

Tora laughed and wrapped one arm around Laura.

"Come on."

They sauntered over to a corner and Laura glanced over at the tables set up with food and drink.

"Want me to get you anything?"

"I'm fine."

Laura frowned.

"B-"

"If you swear, I will ensure you lose your allowance."

"That's…rubbish! You're not fine. When did you last eat?"

Tora shrugged.

"Can't remember."

"Right. I'm getting you a decent meal."

She got up and stalked over, coming back a few minutes later with a plate piled high with food and then put it down and cross her arms.

"You are going to eat all of that."

"Yes, mother."

"Oh, shut up."

They looked at each other and suddenly laughed. Laura sat down and promptly stole some food from Tora's plate.

"Great. Now I can't eat all of it and you'll get mad at me."

They giggled again and Tora glanced down at the plate of food. She felt something rise up in her throat but she pushed it down. Okay, she hadn't eaten for a while for a reason –the scent was too strong, overpowering- but Laura obviously cared. And that was good, even if she was the only one that did.

"That is so sweet."