X-Men Oneshots

Out of the Shadows (Alex Summers)

The night was still, eerily quiet as Y/N and Alex stood side by side, the soft glow of the moon barely illuminating the forest around them. They were miles away from civilization, deep in enemy territory on a mission that required complete stealth and absolute trust in one another. It wasn't the first time they'd worked together, but this was different. This time, there was no team, no backup—just the two of them.

And the tension between them.

For as long as Y/N could remember, Alex had always been there, watching her from the shadows. He was quiet, reserved, rarely letting his guard down in front of anyone. But there were moments—fleeting glances, a brush of his hand—that made Y/N wonder if there was more to him than he let on. She had noticed it for a long time now, the way his gaze lingered on her just a second too long, the way he always seemed to gravitate toward her during missions.

But neither of them had ever acted on it. Until now.

They were holed up in a small, abandoned cabin, their mission requiring them to lay low and wait for intel. The isolation had brought an unspoken tension to the surface, one that neither of them could ignore. Y/N had tried to brush it off, to focus on the mission and push down the thoughts that had been creeping into her mind all day. But with Alex so close, his presence both comforting and maddening, it was getting harder to pretend that she didn't feel it—that pull between them.

The silence between them was heavy as they stood in the cabin, their only light coming from a small lantern on the table. Y/N busied herself with checking her gear, trying to ignore the fact that Alex hadn't taken his eyes off her since they arrived. She could feel the weight of his gaze, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife.

"Everything okay?" Alex's voice broke the silence, low and gravelly, making Y/N jump slightly.

"Yeah," she replied, forcing herself to look up and meet his eyes. "Just... on edge."

Alex nodded, his expression unreadable as he leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. "Makes sense. It's a tough mission."

Y/N could only nod, her pulse quickening under his gaze. There was something in the way he looked at her tonight, something different. It wasn't just the usual guarded expression she had grown accustomed to. No, this was something deeper—something she wasn't sure she was ready to face.

But the truth was, she had always been drawn to Alex. Even when he kept his distance, there was a quiet intensity about him that had captivated her from the beginning. He was strong, capable, but there was more to him than his rough exterior. She had seen glimpses of the vulnerability he tried so hard to hide, and now, in the stillness of the cabin, she felt like she was seeing it again.

"What about you?" Y/N asked, her voice soft as she stepped closer to him. "You seem... different tonight."

Alex's eyes darkened slightly at her words, his jaw tightening. "Different how?"

Y/N hesitated, unsure if she should say what was on her mind. But the tension between them had been building for so long, and now, with no one else around, it felt impossible to ignore. "I don't know. Like you're... distracted."

For a moment, Alex didn't say anything. His gaze flickered away from hers, his body tense as if he were fighting some internal battle. Then, after what felt like an eternity, he let out a soft sigh and met her eyes again. "Maybe I am."

Y/N's heart skipped a beat at his words. She had never seen Alex this vulnerable, this open. The guarded, stoic mask he always wore had slipped, and for the first time, she could see the truth in his eyes—the truth he had been hiding for so long.

"Alex..." she began, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I've been trying not to," he interrupted, his voice rough with emotion. "I've been trying not to let it get to me, but... it's been hard. Every time we're on a mission together, every time I see you... I can't help it."

Y/N felt her breath catch in her throat. She had suspected—no, she had known—that there was something between them, but hearing him say it out loud made it real. "What can't you help?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Alex took a step toward her, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her knees weak. "You. Being around you, it messes with my head. I try to stay focused, to do the job, but... you're always there. And I can't stop thinking about you."

Y/N's pulse raced, her mind spinning as she processed his words. She had spent so long burying her own feelings, convincing herself that it was all in her head, that Alex didn't feel the same way. But now, standing so close to him, she could feel the truth in the air between them. The attraction, the tension—it had been there all along, simmering just beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to boil over.

And now, that moment had come.

Before she could stop herself, Y/N closed the distance between them, her hand reaching up to gently touch his arm. "Alex, I—"

She didn't get the chance to finish.

In an instant, Alex's hands were on her, pulling her closer as his lips crashed down on hers with a force that took her breath away. The kiss was intense, full of the passion and longing they had both been holding back for so long. Y/N melted into him, her arms wrapping around his neck as she kissed him back with equal fervor.

The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the heat of their bodies pressed together, the undeniable connection between them. Alex's hands gripped her waist, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them. Y/N could feel the strength in his touch, the way his fingers pressed into her skin as if he were afraid to let her go.

When they finally broke apart, both of them breathless, Alex rested his forehead against hers, his eyes still dark with desire. "I've been wanting to do that for a long time," he murmured, his voice low and rough.

"Me too," Y/N whispered, her heart racing in her chest.

Alex's grip on her waist tightened, his lips brushing against hers once more. "This wasn't supposed to happen."

Y/N smiled softly, her fingers trailing down the back of his neck. "Maybe not. But I'm glad it did."

For a long moment, they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, the weight of their unspoken feelings finally out in the open. The isolation of the mission, the trust they had built over the years—it had all led to this moment, to the walls between them finally breaking down.

And now, there was no going back.

Alex's hand cupped her cheek, his thumb gently stroking her skin as he gazed down at her with a tenderness she had never seen before. "I don't want to hide this anymore," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Neither do I," Y/N replied, her heart swelling at his words.

In the quiet darkness of the cabin, they had finally stepped out of the shadows—no longer hiding, no longer pretending. What had once been unspoken was now undeniable, and Y/N knew that, from this moment on, everything had changed.

And for the first time in a long time, she felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be.