Jessica panted as she ran hard, through brush and grass, vaulting over logs, rocks and other things and dancing through trees and terrain as if her favorite music was playing in the background. She'd left the others behind, how far behind? She didn't know, all she knew was she was going to win this race one way or another. She smiled inwardly as she could see the finish line. A healing factor truly was a great advantage! It would make running a marathon feel like a walk in the park to any sport lover.
Instantaneously she heard something from a short distance away, she didn't care that she had competition, in fact she liked the competition. It meant more energy, more adrenaline, more high in this low world she found herself trapped in. Her lungs and legs pumped harder as she was determined to win this one.
50 feet, 30 feet, 10 feet,
She jumped to reach the prize first, grabbing it she landed on the ground like a puma, she smiled as she looked at the prize in her hands to see nothing. Her face dropped in disappointment.
"Hey!" She said loudly to her brother Evan who was right beside her panting as well, he looked up to her surprised not expecting the bite in her tone.
"What?" He asked, she straightened out still catching her breath.
"That, was mine!" She stated, he held his hands up in a shrug gesture.
"Hey man, it wasn't me ok? I almost got it and I would've if you hadn't been using your powers this whole damn time!" The sky darkened and thunder rumbled.
"Who cares about using your powers!" She shot back really not caring about the rules of the game. He dropped his arms and started walking away.
"Whatever! I don't care you go ahead and have your own damn tantrum by yourself, I ain't playin!" She snarled at his back but he didn't care.
Her sudden attitude development had gotten Evan and Ayotunde in trouble four times already this month, and he didn't want it to happen again. He didn't care about the rules either a lot of times, but the attitude she had right now and on a couple other occasions was getting very old and he didn't want any part of it anymore.
"You almost got the prize… almost." Jessie turned a scowl coming over her face as she looked to her side seeing her older half sister Laura holding the item she had competed for. Laura waved the little flag this way and that as if examining it.
"I thought you said no powers." The darker skinned of the two said plainly, X23 smirked.
"I did… but if one person breaks the rules, then what's wrong with everyone doing it?" She asked looking to her for a brief moment, then back to the woods as she started walking toward the others who had just broke through the trees and were trying to catch their breath.
"Nice try guys, maybe we'll do better next time." She said matter of factly. Audible sighs of despair could be heard from everyone.
"I hope you like ruining the game for all of us." Said Tom, one of the boys as he walked up to and past Jessica shoving her with his shoulder
"Maybe I do!" She snapped back at the guy, he turned back to her anger marring his usually handsome face.
"You know, maybe you should've died instead of your father!" He nearly shouted in her face.
The moment the last word left his mouth thunder boomed so loud the others screamed and plugged their ears and she pounced at him with all her might, he was lucky to be so agile and fast, otherwise he would most likely have spent the next few days in the infirmary recovering from several cuts and puncture wounds. She swiped across his chest several claws making contact slicing his skin.
"Aah!" He yelled but turned back swinging himself, she ducked her head avoiding his blow then rammed him into the ground using a technique her parents had taught her.
Everyone wasn't sure what to do as the two brawled on the ground, each getting in a hit here and there. It ended when Laura was forced to intervene after Jessie tore into the teen below hers face with all five of her claws.
"HEY!" The voice seemed to snap the kids partially out of it.
Tom shouted out in pain at his clawed face. Tom took the time that Jessica looked back to Laura to punch her right in the lower chin and throat causing her to collapse on his chest. He shoved her off of him kicking her when he got up. Laura grabbed his wrist taking him to Clark. Seeing his teammates condition he flinched.
"Do your thing." She instructed as she held her hand out to him to enhance his powers. Clark grabbed her hand, and put his other hand on Tom. Tom's face healed within a few seconds. He felt his skin a second later. It was whole again. He looked back to the girl who was still on the ground trying to steady herself.
"Don't even think about it. You're not off the hook Tom." Laura spat out as she walked from the newly healed young man back to her sister.
She could smell that while Tom was still in shock from being mutilated then healed a moment later thanks to his teammate that was by his side… He was thinking about getting back at Jessie for clawing him like that. He wanted to make her hurt, bleed… But Laura wasn't going to let that happen. She had already seen too much suffering in her fairly short life, and knew that revenge just brought about more suffering no matter what the point was meant to be.
He huffed out as he watched his teacher help his "attacker" (as he thought of it) Then walked away mad.
"You ok Jess?" Laura asked her, she nodded finally able to breathe again. She looked to the woman, and then to the two boys a little ways away.
"Yeah." She responded flatly. Laura could sense everything that Jessie felt, it was still painful to witness even though she'd become accustomed to it the last while.
As you would know the cure that Ororo had thought of which was having Clark, the mutant that could take ones power and manifest it to others didn't work as well as everyone hoped it would. It did help him to heal and feel a little better, but he had to be around him a lot for it to work constantly. So while it did for a time it wasn't as productive as they wished…
Jessica didn't know how to handle that fact. She had no problem with Clark, the guy himself was cool, but the fact that he had the ability to cure her dad and couldn't left her with a sour patch in her heart. She was slowly getting over it, but it was difficult.
They all had their routines that they stuck to. Training sessions, lead by Storm, Forge, X23, Cyclops, Jean, and occasionally others as well. Meals, free times, missions, and other individual things to each one.
Laura never saw herself at the institute before other than to get to know her father… then with the introduction of Ororo and slowly the kids as they were born into their family she became attached to them and grew to love them all. Becoming what they all referred to as their big sister, rather than just someone that they knew.
Now with the man she was spawned by gone it was easier to slip into his role than she would've imagined, sometimes she had to remind herself how it even happened. Nonetheless she was having more fun with it then she thought she would. She felt guilty whenever people would say that she was "taking his place" or "covering for him". The only way she could do that was if he wasn't there, and he wasn't.
Sometimes Ororo would run a training session alone, she did for a long time after her husbands passing, but after that she and Laura would do it together, and then her and Forge, sometimes all three, but lately Laura would have her sessions, then Ororo would find herself working with The Tinkerer, as they'd all nicknamed him. The nickname first came into play when Logan had threw it behind him while walking away from a closing conversation. Since then everyone accepted that as a second name for him and he didn't seem to mind.
Forge had been working with Ororo on a project for Hank, they had worked particularly fast and the thing was done before the deadline they had given themselves.
"You catch on faster than I thought you would Ororo." Forge said as he glanced to the woman, the side of her mouth tilted up slightly.
"I work fairly quick Forge, and you do as well." She smiled to him, he warmed at the look she was giving him. It was just a smile, but she was one beautiful woman. It was no wonder her children were some of the most interesting and gorgeous people there, they'd all gotten it from her, Logan to of course, but more from their mother as far as their good qualities go if you asked him anyway.
"Heh, I can see that. You sure you're not trying to take my place anytime soon?"
"Hm-hm, not unless there comes a time you cannot help us. Even then Henry is more technical than I."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. But he doesn't look as good doing it." A sly smile appeared on her face, he smiled inside himself knowing she got his meaning. They worked side by side making idle conversation the rest of the time.
"Thank you for the help Forge."
"Oh no, I should be thanking you, it's not every day I get to have help from someone who actually knows what they're doing… and is the most beautiful member of the team."
She looked to him smiling sweetly as he did to her. He admired this woman before him. She was one of the top members of the X-Men, a leader actually… she was intelligent, witty, down to earth when in the mood to be and a beauty to behold… And recently single… You couldn't fault him for looking or even taking a taste. No one could ever resist her, even some who acted the part of racists still couldn't turn a blind eye to her magnificence.
She looked away as her heart fluttered slightly at his comment… she hadn't gone that long without a man, but it was very nice to have ones attention again. Suddenly feeling he may have overstepped his boundaries he attempted to mend any awkwardness between them.
"I'm sorry if that was weird… it's just that you're very beautiful, and I like spending time with you..." He blurted out the best he could. She smiled back to him understandingly.
"It is alright Forge, it is good to be with you to. I enjoy working on these things with you as well." He smiled back to her relieved that she understood him.
"I will see you later my friend."
"You sure will..." He said rather quietly. He stood there a moment watching as she walked away, then turned back to what remained of his work. The smile stuck as he continued on.
Ororo walked out of the elevator. Her emotions a mix of things. She had enjoyed working with her colleague, and the attention and remarks she got from him were sweet. But something wasn't sitting right. She knew what it was, but she refused to acknowledge it. It would just bring back the pain… the rage… and she knew that was something that no one needed. Especially from her.
Down in the kitchen she got herself some tea. Something to distract her. Maybe also a part of something that rubbed off on her…
YEARS EARLIER:
They were down in the rec room. Her, Scott, Jean… and Logan. They had just ended a discussion about something that was now irrelevant to her. She went to the kitchen. She was stressed from the day, it was so normal to her she didn't even realize it anymore really.
She didn't realize someone else was there until there was movement on the couch.
"How long have you been sitting there?" She the inconspicuous man sprawled out on the sofa.
"Wanna take a guess darlin?" She smirked, his whit was always something that came out of the blue, sometimes like a snowball hitting you in the face to remind you of reality, and others as an old friend giving you a space to relax… like now.
"Long enough to have been staring for a while." He smirked at her, she turned to her chosen task of tea making. She retrieved the tea bag out of the box wrung the string free from the bag, and placed it in the cup she had chosen. She startled when she heard a click and turned to see Logan had activated the kettle and was now standing a few feet away from her.
"Goodness Logan, must you always do that to me?" She asked him, he just looked at her.
"Can't help it Darlin." She rolled her eyes, she knew he loved giving her those little jolts, whether it was a start in times like these, in the danger room, out in the open world, or in bed. He loved her reactions. The two stood in silence as the kettle boiled the water. Moments passed. The silence fell comfortably between them like a veil that weighed barely a feather. She stared at him as if looking at a prize that she was determined to win, and he ogled back the look of a man who had just won a prize and was now taking in its fullness.
After the water had boiled she took the kettle pouring it into her cup. She heard the tap of porcelain on marble a second later, looking to her side she saw another cup that also had a bag of tea inside. After pouring the hot water into it as well she looked into hers summoning the slightest of winds to influence the water into a stirring motion. Logan couldn't help but be fascinated by this. He knew her inside and out, but he always loved finding new things about his wife. It was a hobby of his now.
Liking how awe struck her man looked over her drink she did the same thing over his, and soon both their cups had barely visible mini typhoons over them, a stray thought got to her and she allowed the wind over his to rebel slightly blowing toward him brushing one side of his face and taking his bangs with them. His right eye closed in response to the sensation of colder air. He looked over to her and her back to him, both their faces turned to each other. She straightened up not all that taller than him with just her bare feet. Strutting over to him he straightened up as well. She turned to be almost parallel with him as she molded her body against his. He leaned his head on her shoulder and into her neck as she leaned her head on his.
"Ya wanna leave those little balls of chaos goin'?" He asked her referring to the winds above their cups that were now slightly more intense.
"You do not like my handiwork?" She asked him.
"I know how you like your tea preferably in the cup rather than out."
"It will be fine my love." She retorted, then closed her eyes to bask in the feeling of being with him like this. He was her safe place, and he knew it, it was the same way from him to her. Right then it was as if nothing else was happening. No chaos upstairs, or outside. No plans to get ruined, nothing to worry about at all… just a husband and wife enjoying their own personal time together as one, like they were always meant to be. Returning to their drinks the two sipped in silence.
Looking at him once again she noticed something that she'd missed other times… he'd drink, but then he'd wait, holding his face above the cup as if letting the steam from it warm him. Sensing her eyes on him he looked up his meeting hers. She tilted her head slightly in curiosity, though a part of her already knew what he was doing
"One of the best things about tea is the scent… I love drinking it, but then also just letting the smell be absorbed into me. When I was in Japan I would do this to calm down, re-center myself. Focus on the warmth, the different undertones of the scent." She thought about that and then thought it was a good idea to try it for herself. She focused on the warmth of the steam, the scent. A minute went by… two… three... she felt as if no time had gone by at all. She always wondered what he'd meant when he'd told her that there was more than just one way of meditation, now she knew.
"You are quite the philosopher my husband… are you sure you're not related to one of the many greats?" She asked him. He chuckled to himself slightly.
"Who knows… I might just be one of em… But I doubt the rest would let me back into their club if I was." She shook her head chuckling herself.
"Perhaps not, but it is better to join a group of the living than of the dead." He smiled as he took a sip.
PRESENT DAY:
She poured the water into her cup of mint tea stirring it with a spoon lightly and as it was still in motion, she took a deep breath in inhaling the warmth and aroma of the beverage. She closed her eyes, using the sensations she took in to distract her from the pain of the thoughts and feelings that attempted to assault her mind and heart. After a few minutes of this she managed to numb herself. Being numb while being a mother to a six year old was hard. She often wondered if this meant she was no longer a good mother to her children, but she quickly pushed that thought out of her mind knowing it would do nothing for her. She was doing the best she could and that was all that mattered.
Fuck other people's opinions on the matter.