X-Men Oneshots

Leaning In (Scott Summers)

The halls of the X-Mansion were quiet, with most of the students tucked away for the night. Y/N walked through the dimly lit corridors, her mind racing as she headed toward the training room. It had been a long day of missions, strategy meetings, and keeping up with the ever-present tension that came with being an X-Man. And yet, she couldn't stop thinking about one thing—or rather, one person.

Scott Summers.

It wasn't unusual for Scott to take everything onto his own shoulders. He was the leader of the X-Men, after all. But lately, Y/N had noticed a shift in him, a heaviness he didn't usually carry, and it bothered her more than she wanted to admit.

Reaching the door to the training room, she paused. She knew he was in there—he always was when he needed to blow off steam. And tonight, she had the distinct feeling that Scott needed more than just a workout to clear his head.

Taking a deep breath, Y/N pushed the door open and stepped inside. Sure enough, there he was, standing in the middle of the room, his visor glowing faintly in the dim light as he worked through a series of combat drills. His movements were sharp, controlled, but there was an underlying frustration in the way he hit the targets.

"Scott?" Y/N called softly, not wanting to startle him.

He paused mid-punch, his head turning toward her. "Y/N?" His voice was steady, but she could hear the tension in it.

She walked closer, her steps slow and careful. "I thought I'd find you here."

Scott sighed, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. "Just needed to clear my head."

Y/N crossed her arms, standing a few feet away from him. "Everything okay?"

He didn't answer right away, his jaw tightening as he turned back to the training dummy. "Yeah. Just... the usual."

Y/N frowned. She knew Scott better than that. "It's more than that, isn't it? You've been different lately."

Scott's shoulders stiffened, and for a moment, she thought he might brush her off. But then he let out a long breath, his hands dropping to his sides.

"I guess I've just been feeling the weight of everything," he admitted, his voice quiet but honest. "The missions, the team... it's a lot to handle. And sometimes, I don't know if I'm doing enough."

Y/N felt a pang in her chest at his words. She knew how hard Scott was on himself, how much he carried the burden of being the leader. But hearing him say it out loud made it all the more real.

"Scott, you're doing more than enough," she said gently, taking a step closer. "You're leading the team, keeping everyone safe. You don't have to do it all on your own."

He shook his head, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "It feels like I do sometimes. Like if I don't stay in control, everything's going to fall apart."

Y/N reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "That's a lot to carry by yourself. You don't have to be perfect, you know. We're a team for a reason."

Scott turned to face her, his eyes hidden behind his visor, but she could feel the intensity of his gaze all the same. "I'm supposed to be the one holding everything together."

"You are," Y/N said softly, her hand still resting on his arm. "But you don't have to hold it together all the time. It's okay to let people in, Scott. You don't have to carry the weight of the world by yourself."

For a moment, there was silence between them, the air heavy with unspoken words. Scott looked down at her, his expression unreadable, but there was something vulnerable in the way he stood—something that made Y/N's heart ache.

"I don't know how to do that," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Letting people in... it's hard for me."

Y/N smiled softly, her hand sliding down to take his. "Then let me help you."

Scott's breath hitched at her words, and for the first time in a long time, Y/N saw a crack in the armor he always wore. He didn't pull away from her touch, didn't brush off her concern. Instead, he just stood there, letting her be the one to offer support for once.

"I've always admired that about you, Y/N," Scott said quietly. "You make it look so easy... caring about people, being there for them. I don't know how you do it."

Y/N squeezed his hand gently. "I do it because I care about you. And I know how much you do for all of us. You don't have to be strong all the time, Scott. It's okay to be human."

Scott was quiet for a moment, his thumb brushing against the back of her hand. "It's hard to let go of that... that need to be in control."

"I know," Y/N said softly. "But you don't have to be in control with me. I'm here for you."

There was a long pause, and Y/N could feel her heart racing in her chest, wondering what he was thinking. But then, to her surprise, Scott stepped closer, his free hand reaching up to cup her cheek. The gesture was so gentle, so unexpected, that Y/N's breath caught in her throat.

"Y/N," Scott began, his voice low and full of emotion, "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You won't have to find out," she whispered, leaning into his touch. "I'm not going anywhere."

For a moment, they stood there, the weight of everything they hadn't said hanging between them. But as Scott leaned down, his lips brushing hers in the softest of kisses, Y/N realized that maybe words weren't necessary. The way he held her, the way he kissed her—it said everything she needed to know.

When they pulled apart, Scott rested his forehead against hers, his breathing a little uneven. "I'm sorry if I've been distant. I just... I didn't want to mess things up between us."

"You haven't," Y/N assured him, her voice soft. "You're allowed to feel things, Scott. And I'm here for all of it."

Scott smiled then, a real smile that made Y/N's heart swell. "I guess I'm not used to having someone I can lean on."

"Well," Y/N said with a playful grin, "you better get used to it."

Scott chuckled, pulling her closer into his arms. "I think I can manage that."

As they stood there, wrapped in each other's embrace, Y/N couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over her. Scott didn't have to carry the weight of the world on his own anymore. They had each other now, and that was more than enough.

Whatever came next, they'd face it together.

4o