Cherish

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"It's like falling in love for the first time

To the point where it feels like destiny

When you hold me, I feel this way

There's nothing better than this... this dream..."

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Ororo Munroe closed her eyes as she stepped into the balcony, allowing the night breeze to sweetly comb through her platinum locks. The sound of festivities gradually muted behind her as she strolled, one hand caressing the stone railing while the other cradled a wine glass half-filled with red.

Her mind was light and heady, but she knew she was searching for someone.

The one person who would always covertly slip away.

Ororo took her last sip, leaving the empty glass behind, and rounded the corner with a knowing smile.

She found him gazing into the dark sky, to a place only he could see.

And then, silently, he reached out with a nervous hand.

He was going to disappear.

The soft smile on her face vanished. Her eyes widened; her heart thundered as a wave of panic and nausea assaulted her. Urgently, she rushed towards him and tackled him from behind.

"Who—Ororo?" He gasped in surprise.

"Stay." She murmured against his back. Her arms snaked around his torso in a tight embrace, telling him all the desperate words her paralyzed lips failed to form.

"Are you alright?" Confused and concerned. Always.

"Just stay, Scott. Stay with us." Her eyes moistened.

They had hated him for so long—but never as much as he hated himself.

She had shunned him, and blamed him for everything wrong that happened to her.

To them.

He knew. The memories finally unlocked—he would know how much they had scorned him.

If he left now—he might never return.

And none of them would be able to stop him.

She couldn't lose him, now. Not after life was cycling up again. Not after her family was returning. Not her dear friend.

His hands grasped her arms, but she only tightened her embrace before he could pry them apart.

"…Let go, Ororo." Scott told her quietly.

She shook her head.

"It's alright." He consoled her. "I'll be back."

"Don't—don't say that as if you're being sincere."

It broke her heart when he had no immediate reply.

"I really can't get anything past you, can I?" He chuckled, but she heard no mirth in it.

"Why?" Her voice cracked.

"I… it's time for me to move on." He shifted, and she felt his gaze upon her. "There's no place for me here."

"There is, Scott." She told him stubbornly and met his gaze. "The wounds we have inflicted upon each other will heal in time. If you let them."

He slowly shook his head. "Ours scar."

"Then I'll wear them with pride." She wouldn't be convinced. Never. "Don't give up on us—not now. Please."

There was never a time such as this when she desperately wished she could see his eyes—see the emotions that played around them so she could know the thoughts they hidden behind.

"Scott…?" She asked, hoping her words would convince him.

Please stay.

Her heart pounded against her ears when, at last, his flattened lips parted to reply…


A/N: No idea where I was going with this. I mean, I was just watching anime when I felt compelled to pull up Microsoft Word and then typed.

And typed five hundred words.

Granted, I have been trying to suppress writing anything X-Men/Marvel recently. But, ugh, after posting a one-shot in another fandom recently, the plot bunnies and compulsion to write came back with interest.

I really gotta stop wasting time. Maybe I should just go cold turkey again.

Song choice for this piece is Cherish by Otsuka Ai. And yes, thinking out loud as I re-read this before posting, it really does have Steins;Gate written all over it.

Tuturu~