Fervent Feelings

X1 Chapter 5 - Forwards Beckon Bound

"Scott, you look around, and Y/n, try to see if you can sense her anywhere. I'll check with the ticket agent," Ororo instructs, her tone sharp and focused.

The three of us exchange a quick, understanding nod before splitting up. I decide to stick close to Scott since I'm not accustomed to the whole 'missions' thing, and being near my brother makes me feel more secure.

Cyclops's eyes scan the bustling room, his gaze methodical and intense. I close my eyes, trying to block out the noise and chaos around me, focusing on what I felt the first time I met Rogue, and the time we chatted in my office. Part of my mutation works like a personal miniature Cerebro, allowing me to sense others based on their emotional blueprint. But it's tricky with Rogue—she and I never really got the chance to connect, and finding her through the haze of unfamiliar emotions is proving to be a challenge. I just remember she was so...scared.

My brows knit together in frustration. "Sense anything?" Scott asks, his voice cutting through my concentration. I shake my head and open my eyes.

"No, nothing. You see anything?" I ask, turning to him with a hint of desperation in my voice.

"No..." He exhales a disappointed sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Come on." He takes my hand, gently tugging me toward the departure board.

We scan the list of destinations, hoping for a clue. My gaze drops down, where I spot a young boy staring in awe at Scott, his small face lighting up with a grin he's trying to hide. Scott notices and offers a subtle smile back, an apparent softness in his expression. But the moment is cut short when the boy's mother notices and quickly pulls him away, her posture tense as she hurries him along. My heart sinks a little, feeling the sting of rejection for mutants, even if it's not directed at me.

Scott's jaw tightens, the brief moment of connection with the boy slipping away, replaced by the familiar weight of being seen as something dangerous, something 'unnatural'. But before we can dwell on it, a commotion breaks out behind us at the ticket counter.

We whip around to see Ororo being lifted off the ground, her throat caught in the grip of a tall man with wild, long blonde hair. The sight sends a jolt of fear through me.

"Is that Sabretooth?" I ask, taking in the feral figure. Cylcops nods grimly, his entire body tensing like a coiled spring.

"Stay here!" he commands, pointing a finger at me before charging through the crowd toward Storm.

"Scott, wait!" I shout, my voice tinged with panic as he barrels forward, determined to help Ororo.

But before he can reach her, something whips down from the ceiling—what looks like a long, slender rope, but with some kind of sheen— it snatches Scott's glasses right off his face. My heart leaps into my throat.

"Scott!" I scream as red lasers erupt from his eyes, the uncontrollable beams slicing through the ceiling, shattering a massive skylight. Glass and debris rain down around us, sending people scattering in terror. I instinctively throw my arms over my head, crouching low as shards of glass and chunks of the ceiling crash to the ground.

The beams vanish as quickly as they appeared—Scott must have closed his eyes, rendering him vulnerable. A low rumble of thunder echoes from above, and I know what's coming next. I glance up just in time to see a bolt of lightning streak down, striking Storm and Sabretooth. The impact sends Sabretooth flying across the room and crashing through a wall.

I rush over to Scott, who's struggling to regain his bearings, placing a supportive hand on his shoulder. He winces at the contact, his body still tense from the attack.

"It's me," I say softly, trying to calm him. "Come on, let's go." My eyes flicker to Storm, who gives a slight nod, motioning with her head toward the exit.