Chapter 50 Car Trouble
Hawks stares into space, processing what Logan had just told him. He swallows the tear he can feel welling inside him.
"Well, I think I'm going to head back to Japan. Good to see you, Silver Claws. "
"Wait, you just go here. You're not going to see your lady?"
"I mean, from the sounds of it, maybe she's not mine. I'm not sharing her, so if she's not all mine, I don't want anything to do with her."
"Whoa, there. That's not what I was saying. I'm just saying I don't want to tell you her business. Just go talk to her. You'll probably help cheer her up."
"… but then wouldn't I be another 'big, strong man coming in to save her?'"
"No, you would be a kind, sensitive man supporting her through a hard thing."
Hawks looks up to Logan, surprised at the words that had just escaped Logan's mouth.
"Thanks, Silver Claws. I owe you one."
"Hawks, I've never seen Jean this happy before. Please don't fuck this up."
.*.*.*.*.
Hawks was curled up with Jean with his left wing draped over her lying on her bed. Jean's head is tucked under his. Hours have passed, though it only felt like minutes.
"Kei, baby we should go check in with the others." Jean says, gently tracing his arm.
"Do we have to? I mean, if we do, I can make thing REALLY awkward when we see Scott."
"You wouldn't!" Jean squeals playfully.
Hawks wraps her in his arms as she tries to get out of bed, pulling her closely and kissing her jawline. "Are you sure we have to go?"
"I mean, not everyone has rebuilt trust with you around here. They'll probably think you kidnapped me if we're gone too much longer." Jean jokes.
Hawks reluctantly gets up with her as they untangle from each others embrace. Jean's hands rub his, then she runs them through his wings. "Relax, baby, and try to have some fun, alright?" She kisses him and heads for the door. Smiling, Hawks follows.
As Jean opens the door, Scott was standing on the other side mid-knock.
"Oh, am I interrupting something?" Scott asks.
"No, we're just leaving. Is there something you need, Scott?" Jean asks.
"Oh, yeah. Professor asked for us to come to the library to meet him. He says it's important." Scott says, glancing behind Jean to Hawks. "I guess you can come, too." He says to Hawks.
"Sure, if I can help, I'm game for whatever it is." Hawks grins.
.*.*.*.*.
I'm SO not game for this. Hawks thinks still staring at the keys in Logan's hand. He wipes his sweaty palms on his pants.
~5 minutes previously~
"Thanks for meeting me here, everyone, and, son, it's good to see you, too. I know your time is limited here today." Professor X greets the trio as they walked into the library.
"You as well, dad." Hawks says. "What's going on that you need help with?" Hawks' eyes scan the room for an indication of the problem the are being called for.
"You don't miss a beat, so you?" Professor X smiles at Hawks. "I have a special assignment. It'll be challenging, so you need nerves of steel to be able to do this."
"Ha, ya think we are the right people for the job?" Hawks ask as Jean and Scott shift nervously. Hawks sees a knowing exchange between Jean and Scott. Do they know something I don't?
"With all due respect, Professor, I don't think-" Jean starts.
"-I'll do it." Logan cuts Jean off, walking towards Professor and tossing the toothpick he had been chewing on onto the floor. Sounds dangerous."
All eyes are on the burly man. Hawks catches a smirk cross his father's features which confuses Hawks even more.
"It very well could be." Professor X replies.
"Then I'll do it." Logan declares. "I could use a good adrenaline rush."
Jean looks at Hawks and Scott. Scott smiles quickly. "Okay, no problem. It's yours." Scott says and backs up to the door with Jean.
"You owe us, Logan. Come on Keigo." Jean said tried to pull Hawks with her and Scott.
"In a minute, Chickadee, I want see what's going on." Hawks says.
"Your funeral." Scott replies as they leave the room.
"So, what needs doing? Any explosive involved?" Logan asks.
"Hopefully not." Professor X holds up a set of car keys.
~end of Flashback~
"Half Pint! Let's go, we have driving lessons with me and Feathers." Logan calls out to Kitty as Logan and Hawks reach the living room from the library after their conversation with Professor.
I'm dead, I shouldn't have said yes until I knew the mission. Hawks thinks as Kitty leaps over the couch and runs up to them.
"This is going to be awesome! I've always wanted to drive!" Kitty squeals.
.*.*.*.*.
Jean and Scott watch from a distance as Hawks and Logan climb into the van with Kitty. Hawks struggles to get into the vehicle for a while, but finally manages. Jean notices Hawks fathers are tight against his back. He only does that when stress and scared. I hope he's okay.
"Man, I almost feel sorry for him." Scott says as the van jerks forward and zoom towards the gate.
"Scott, be more considerate, would you? He's trying to help and be part our lives." Jean sighs, then gasps as she sees the van not slowing as it approaches the gate. "AH!" Jean screams as the van phases through the gates. "I mean, oh, of course. I knew she would do that."
"Speaking of lives, have you told him your plans for college yet? Hate to see him come here and find out you're gone at school."
"I haven't yet, no."
"Best do it soon. After all, he won't be around forever and registration for classes starts this Friday." Scott walks off heading back inside.
Jean looks at the gates, longing to go after them, but it would be no use. Good luck Kei. You'll need it.
.*.*.*.*.
Hawks lurches forward as beads of sweat fly off his paled forehead. His wings are cramping and the lukewarm acid burns his throat. He vomits again. He has lost count by now. His gloves are stained by the bile as his wings seize and hands grip the handle.
"Feathers! Dammit, Kitty, pull over!" Logan barks as she phases through another sign as a by standing car honks at them. He glances back at Hawks. The whole car reeks of stomach acid and half-digested food — chicken to be specific.
"Look there's the mansion!" Kitty says excitedly, whipping the car around the corner.
THUMP*
Hawks is shot from where he was sitting and slams against the door. A groan and hiccup escapes Hawks as she takes another tight turn and phases through the gates, then comes to a squealing stop.
Hawks' head is spinning. The van is suddenly quite after Kitty and Logan's doors slam behind them. Just as Hawks takes a breath to try to sooth himself, his door opens.
"You okay, feathers? Come on, let's get you out of here." Logan says, pulling Hawks out of the van.
Whining, Hawks slumps into Logan's arms once his wings got freed from being crammed inside the now-damaged van. His hand clasps over his mouth again as his stomach jerks, coughing again into his hands with more bitter bile. Hawks' eyes sting from salty tears.
"You're on the ground, it's over now. Let's get you inside and lying down."
Logan says, leading Hawks, whose legs are shaking. "It feels like the world is spinning." Hawks says.
"Alright! Can't believe all those crazy drivers out there. Hey when's lesson 2?" Kitty yells after them oblivious to Hawks' her part in Hawks' current condition.
.*.*.*.*.
Hawks lies his head on Jean's lap, sprawled on the couch. Her hand caresses his cheek. Scott surprisingly offers to fetch clothes for Hawks to wear as his uniform is washed. "Why didn't say ya get motion sickness? We could have helped.. I could've help you."
"I didn't want seem weak and like a pussy in front of you guys. Heroes don't show weakness."
"Who taught you that?"
"My handlers."
"They're wrong, we all have weak points. We've talked about this before. Next time, speak up if you're uncomfortable and don't want to do something, okay, baby? And Kei?"
"Yes? What is it?"
"I might not be around a lot starting Friday. Rouge , Scott, and I will be attending college, so I might not be able see you as much as I can now."
"Are you leaving the mansion and the state? Hate we still going to be able to see one another?!?"
"Calm down, I'm not leaving the state. I'm attending medical school, both online and in person. It's only 3 hours away from here. I will still be around, and so will the other two. we'll just have school work to do now."
"Medical school, huh. Is that because of me? All the times ya took care of me as I healed?"
"A bit, though you were a terrible patient. Seriously, though, l have always been interested in medicine, and want to be a doctor and help people."
"You will make a good doctor, Chickadee. Maybe you should study overseas in Japan. It would be easier for us to see each other when we're free."
"You'd love that wouldn't you." Jean smiles, twirling parts of his hair in between her forefingers. "Maybe one day. I might, there's so much to learn, and I want keep helping here at the mansion too, there's so much to do."
"You'll figure it out, I'm sure of it. Until then, ya can just stay right here and be my girlfriend and pillow." Hawks smiles, as he looks up to her, warmly, as the two settle down into a comfortable silence together. After all he had to get home soon, before he was missed.