Chapter 14: "You Have to Say It"

E'tann had thought private lessons with Logan meant he was failing spectacularly, but … once he got into the class, he was taken aback by how the lessons had shifted from the simple self-defense the students all had to know into a much more targeted course that covered specifically how to utilize most of what he'd learned so far as it related to Kree biology. It made so much more sense to him when it was something he could relate to — and much of what Logan was teaching him would have been devastating should he be attacked by another Kree.

"The whole point of self-defense is to put an end to it fast," Logan told him. "It's not about fighting. It's about stopping an attack cold. Ain't gonna do you a bit of good if you can only apply it to humans."

"Do you teach this to Melody and her family as well? I know their anatomy is slightly different with their advances, but…" E'tann asked, genuinely curious.

"Of course I did," Logan said with a frown.

E'tann nodded at that. "I was just wondering if it was different. Melody has told me about her family's … unique traits."

"Just because they're unique doesn't mean they'll need to know how to stop one of their own. They needed to know about the Kree in this world."

"And you've been teaching this since they were young." E'tann almost chuckled to himself.

"What're you getting at?" Logan asked, crossing his arms and scowling.

"I was just thinking that Melody could likely deal with any dangers I faced on Hala better than my own royal guard."

"She's my granddaughter. Of course she can," Logan said, sounding almost insulted.

E'tann held up his hands. "I didn't mean to question you," he said. "I was just thinking that she was capable of such when I met her. And I wonder if my guards even knew."

"Depends on how smart they are," Logan said.

E'tann nodded to himself. "Well, I'm sure if they don't know, they will learn in time," he said. "She has a way of commanding respect and admiration."

Logan stopped what he was doing and narrowed his eyes as he turned toward the boy. "Why the hell would they need to?"

E'tann blinked at Logan and looked caught for a moment before he cleared his throat and nodded. "Well, she… I had hoped-"

"You really want to tell me about this, or do you want to get the hell out before I come to my own conclusions?"

"I think… I should probably leave, yes," E'tann said, nodding to himself as he inched toward the door. "Though I assure you — you don't need to come to any dishonorable conclusions, please."

"Better not."

E'tann nodded again and then quickly slipped out, his face rather purple after how quickly the conversation had gone sideways, though now, with Wolverine thinking on what he'd said, E'tann wondered if it wouldn't be prudent to talk to Melody's family sooner than later.

Which was how he found himself outside of Jubilee's gymnastics class as it came to an end — where he knew that not only Jubilee but Noh would be there, since Noh made it a point to zip over after his intergalactic relations class was through.

And sure enough, the students had left, but Noh and Jubilee were still there. Noh had his arms around Jubilee and was talking to her so quietly that no one but Jubilee could hear it, though she was grinning at him crookedly. And E'tann was sure that Noh had heard the door open, but he didn't seem interested in seeing who it was until E'tann cleared his throat.

"Is there something I can do for you, E'tann?" Noh asked, not stepping too far from Jubilee.

"Actually, yes," E'tann said, closing the door behind himself before he straightened up. "I only have a few more of your months left before I return home, and I wanted to ask Melody to return with me — but I am not entirely sure Wolverine will not kill me if I ask. So." He straightened up a little further. "I would like to ask you, as her parents, if I might bring her back — and ask you as X-Men how to do so without being killed."

Noh couldn't stop the grin at the familiar scene, since it seemed a lot like his own conversation with Logan, but he did have the wherewithal to turn to Jubilee and at least try to tone it down. "I'll defer to you, my Jubilee. You are the expert."

Jubilee blinked at him for a moment and then seemed to come back to her senses as she focused on the boy's mind, trying to cheat a little by sifting through the thoughts at the front of his mind — which mostly revolved around not getting Logan to kill him. "I guess this is where we ask what your intentions are beyond just … taking her back with you. What for? Why do you want to take her with you? Is it because they want her for something? Because you think she belongs there? Or is it because you're completely and totally head over heels in love with her and don't know how to breathe without her nearby?" Jubilee asked in a tone that started out harsh, but by the time she reached the end of her rapid fire questioning, she had one eyebrow raised, her arms crossed, about two seconds into blowing a bubble before E'tann could even process it.

E'tann looked like he had to take a moment just to recover from the rapid questions before he nodded quickly. "Yes, of course, that's true," he breathed out.

"Nuh-uh," Jubilee said, shaking her head with her eyes closed. "You gotta say the words. Yourself."

E'tann took a moment to compose his thoughts before he slowly let out a breath. "I want to bring her back with me because I think she is the love of my life," he said. "And would like to bring her to Hala so she can see the life I'd like to give her."

Jubilee tipped her chin up at him and looked down her nose at him as she considered it. "Does she know you want to take her across the galaxy and away from her entire support system?"

"We've… discussed her coming to Hala, yes," E'tann said. "For more than a few days' visit when you are there for business."

She narrowed her eyes further. "Maybe I should have you talk to Logan…"

E'tann looked alarmed at that and shook his head quickly. "He seemed…."

She clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and started for the door. "You stay here. I have to think about this." She stopped in the doorway and pointed a finger at Noh. "You won't let him out of here." As she spoke, a few hot pink sparks flew from her finger at him.

Noh shook his head, though he couldn't hide the fact that he was clearly entertained. "I will stay right here with him," he promised.

You better, Jubilee projected. You're too soft on him. No reassuring him, mister.

Jubilee, you know and I know that they are both mad for each other, Noh pointed out gently.

Do not start with me! I want to know if it's more than just puppy love. Stop that!

It's just that I can't help but recall a smitten Kree not so long ago looking for Logan's permission...

It's just that you're projecting yourself here, sweetheart. You should be watching out for your daughter first. Not defending the enemy! It was hard to miss the amusement in her mental voice, though.

Noh had to shake his head at that. She could do worse than the prince of an entire planet, you know.

She could do better too, Jubilee argued. Gold digger. Or … throne digger. Whatever. You know what I mean.

Yes of course, my dear, lovely, protective wife, Noh said, clearly amused by that point.

Just for that, I should have him talk to Logan. And K.

You are being cruel, Jubilee, Noh said. Speak with our daughter first.

I'm telling her you said that. Jubilee was skipping down the hall by that point, just for how ridiculous she thought Noh was being.

And she will agree with you, Noh argued, still shaking his head.

Jubilee was nearly cackling to herself by that point, though when she found Melody, the girl was totally distracted in a mental conversation with her sister and hadn't put up enough shielding to stop Jubilee from getting through. "So. When were you going to tell me you were planning on following your prince to Hala?"

Both girls spun on the spot toward their mother — and while Melody looked taken off-guard, Celeste was just crossing her arms with a 'told you so' look on her face.

Jubilee kept her volume level up high enough that she was sure one of the ferals had to have heard her. "Were you even going to tell us, or were you planning on leaving with a note?"

Melody looked even more alarmed as she shook her head quickly. "We — we were just talking about a visit, not like I was gonna run away or something!"

Jubilee smirked and raised one eyebrow. "Really? Because I was just skimming his thoughts when he came to ask us if you could bunk up with him, and that was not the impression I was getting."

Celeste snerked as Melody looked even more taken off her guard. "Well, he — he hasn't asked yet, and that's something I want him to ask, not… think," she blurted out, her cheeks redder and redder.

Jubilee looked even more smug, somehow. "He's quaking in his boots that I'm going to send Logan up to talk to him. But I was thinking K might be better at this point. You know. Get her started on the whole 'Accuser Slayer' mindset first ..."

"Mom!" Melody shook her head. "Don't kill him! I like him!"

"I'm just saying: I know we have the footage somewhere of your granny stabbing Ronan in the face.… It's educational."

"Mom, please," Melody said, shaking her head. "I was gonna tell you when he asked me!"

"Well, he asked your father and me," Jubilee pointed out. "He might have just had a session with Wolvie. Maybe." She tipped her head to the side. "And … if he was that nervous, I'll bet he said the wrong thing to him — and got scared."

Melody looked like she had no idea what to do with the situation she'd found herself in, though it was Celeste who stepped in. "He's been thinking for ages about how he'd probably have asked her to be his betrothed by now if they were on Hala," she put in, totally ignoring the betrayed look on Melody's face. "But we do things differently here, age-wise and culturally and stuff like that."

Jubilee grinned her way. "They have some kind of test of manhood, right? Right?" She started cackling as she spun on her heel again and headed back the way she came, giggling and rubbing her hands together. "This is going to be great."

"Mom!" Melody called out, rushing after Jubilee. "Wait, what are you going to do?"

"I'm gonna get the gauntlet!" Jubilee sang out, though she was texting on her phone lighting fast.

Don't worry. They won't actually kill him, Celeste projected to her sister, though that just earned a glare from Melody, and Celeste ended up cackling to herself.

Like you're not planning to run off and be a Guardian.

Yeah, with Peter Quill and the Guardians. Who we know.

I hate you so much right now.

Don't be hateful just because you're jealous! Celeste all but sang at her sister.

Jubilee hooked Melody's arm with hers to keep her from rushing ahead. "Don't worry. They'll meet us up there."

"Oh. Great," Melody said, looking like she would rather sink into the ground than face the "gauntlet."

The three of them got to where Noh and E'tann were waiting, and when they came in, Jubilee let her smile settle into something more stony. "Wait. I want you to think for a moment about what you're asking — and how you want to ask it," she said, watching E'tann. "You can speak when I say so. And the girls will not cheat, or it's an automatic no."

E'tann quickly nodded his agreement — even if both Melody and Celeste looked like they'd been robbed.

Jubilee crossed her arms, and after a moment or two, her gaze tracked toward the door. She smiled to herself before she simply stepped out of the way as Logan and K stepped in, looking deathly serious. "What did you want, Jubes?" Logan asked, though he quickly focused on E'tann and narrowed his eyes.

Jubilee didn't take her eyes off of the girls or E'tann. "The prince had something he wanted to ask." She smiled at him — though it didn't look nearly as sweet as it usually did. "Go ahead." She shooed E'tann with both hands.

For his part, E'tann looked a much lighter blue than usual, especially when Logan and K were both giving him unreadable glares. "I had hoped," he said slowly, every word measured and quiet, "to bring Melody back to Hala with me when I return. So that she can see my life and family as I've seen hers."

"Why?" K asked.

E'tann looked toward Melody for an instant, though she looked just as wide-eyed as he was. "Because if she finds she can part with all this to be there…" He trailed off as he glanced between the ferals and Melody. "Normally, I would ask this in a more private setting — of her alone."

"Well, ask it anyhow," Logan said. "Since if she changes her mind, it's gonna be us coming to get her back — and that's a long way to just be stewing and ticked off."

E'tann frowned for a long moment before he finally let his breath out, nodded to himself, and straightened up, turning Melody's way. "If you can live on Hala, I'd like to ask you to be my betrothed," he said.

Melody bit her lip and glanced at her family members before she nodded very quietly. "I'd really like that," she said.

K and Logan shared a look, nodded once, and simply turned around. "Have fun, kids," Logan said before the two of them headed for the door.

"Yeah, don't do anything that'll make us come looking for you," K agreed. "Unless it's the wedding invitation."

Noh was outright chuckling by that point as K and Logan left before he was sure to sweep Melody into a hug that spun her around. "Of course. Nothing short of royalty for my little girl," he teased her and kissed her forehead — as Melody looked simply stunned by how well that had gone.

"Hey! Waitaminnit!" Jubilee shouted out the door. "What gives?"

"Hey," Logan shouted back, only turning so he could face her as he pointed a finger her way. "You trying to tell me you'd have listened to me if I said I hated the bug boy? No. This is her problem. Not yours."

And while Noh stepped forward to pull Jubilee into a kiss, Melody glanced over at E'tann with an almost nervous smile until he took a few steps forward to take her hand. "I did mean to ask you alone," he told her.

"I know," she said, nodding quickly.

"On Hala, there would have been an entire ceremony-"

"Yeah, no, I think — I think we can do that when we're there," she said, blushing quietly. "Since, you know, I do want to see what it's like living out there…"

E'tann nodded. "Of course," he agreed.

"But in the meantime…" Melody stepped forward and quickly stole a kiss, then thought about it and stole a much longer one. "I'm really glad you finally asked."

E'tann couldn't help but smile at her as he stepped into her to kiss her back. So am I.