Memories

Chapter Twenty-Seven

"Professor, I'm not saying that I don't trust you... But are you sure it was such a good idea to bring them into our home?" Alex asked slowly, trying not to offend Charles.

"Alex, they are still mutants, and our home is open to any mutants that do not seek to harm us," Charles replied easily, not even looking up from the book his nose was buried in.

"Yes, but these mutants are dangerous. Magneto attacked us just the other day!" Alex exclaimed, becoming frustrated. Darwin was standing, leaning against the wall behind Alex, watching his lover and their professor silently.

Darwin hadn't developed an opinion over Erik's team just yet. He hadn't been there when Erik joined the other side. Darwin hadn't witnessed Charles become paralyzed, the team forced to watch helplessly. He hadn't experienced the fight between their groups. He had no clue what it was like after Cuba, watching Charles spiral into a pit of depression and alcoholism, the boys unable to help him.

All he had known was Angel's betrayal, and the emotions Alex had experienced after that.

"Alex, I am done discussing this. They are staying, and that's final," Charles responded curtly, and Alex was startled by his dismissive, stern voice. Alex huffed and spun around, storming out of the room. Darwin followed him out, hoping to comfort his boyfriend.

"Stupid professor, stupid Magneto, stupid Raven, stupid Angel." Alex was grumbling to himself, getting madder and madder as he walked down the hallway. Darwin hurried to keep up with him, grabbing his shoulder to stop him.

Alex quickly threw off Darwin's hand, turning around angrily. Charles's behavior had quickly flown him into a rage, and Darwin hoped he had control of his powers. "He just dismissed me! He isn't listening to any of us! We're trying to protect him, but he just keeps blowing us off!" Alex screamed.

"Alex, you have to understand. He loves Erik," Darwin said calmly, his hands up to show that he wasn't a threat.

"But Erik isn't good for him! Erik is Erik! He's cold, he's manipulative, he's dangerous, and he's destructive!" Alex cried out, pacing now. "Yes, but Charles doesn't see or want to see that. He sees the potential in Erik to be good, just like I saw it in you the day you showed us your powers," Armando explained, his voice soothing and downing the volcano within Havok.

Alex stilled his body, and Darwin moved closer to him, encircling Alex's waist with his arms. Their foreheads connected gently, staring into each other's eyes. "I love you," Alex murmured against Darwin's lips, and Darwin's lips widened into a big, toothy smile. "I love you, too," Darwin answered back. Their lips met in a sweet, passionate kiss that conveyed their longing. No one else mattered. The world fell away, leaving just the two of them in an abyss of love.

They were pulled out of their own little world by a throat clearing. Darwin looked flustered and apologetic, while Alex just had a smug look on his face. They looked around and saw the White Queen herself in her usual get-up. Her face was pinched in annoyance, her pink lips forming a line.

"I see that fraternizing in the hallways is normal for this team. Tell me, is Charles running a school or a brothel?" Emma asked mock-curiously, and Alex's temper rose in indignation.

"He runs a school. The brothel was Shaw's," Darwin replied coolly. The edges of his mouth were turned up in a smirk, yet his eyes were narrowed. She let out a light laugh that was somehow condescending then walked passed them. The boys shared a glance and walked the other way, towards their room.

"You like stirring up trouble and tempers, don't you?" An amused, deep, surly voice asked, startling Emma. Emma turned, spotting the huge man known as Wolverine.

"Yes, it is quite fun seeing them hurry to defend their teacher. Such loyal pets Charles keeps," Emma replied, her amusement showing in her crystal blue eyes.

"His students are human- they have loyalties, they love, they hate, they feel. You should give it a try. Or does that crystal form of yours make your heart crystal in every form?" Logan asked, smirking.

Sarcasm- he was teasing her.

"You know, the general rule is to not poke the caged snake," Emma observed, her features becoming pinched once more.

"Are you suggesting you're a caged snake?"More amusement.

"Are you suggesting I don't feel?" An eyebrow twitch.

"Only a little bit, doll face." Logan let out a hearty laugh, as if this was the funniest thing in the world.

Her jaw ticked.

"Contrary to popular belief, I do have feelings. I'm human, too. I had a family; I loved, I cried, I hated, I wanted to protect people. None of that is new to me," Emma growled, her voice low and thick with emotions.

Memories were flooding her- things she wished she could forget.

"Ah, yes. There's the humanity of the White Queen, the great Emma Frost. So, what's your story? What made you so cold?" Wolverine pressed, stepping closer. Emma stared at him, her body frozen and her throat constricting.

"Nothing," Emma retorted when she'd finally gathered her senses, now avoiding eye-contact. She'd revealed too much to this man already. Emotion was weakness- a weakness she couldn't afford.

"And there it went. Snuffed out by a wave of indifference." Logan sighed, leaning back. Emma realized with apprehension just how close Logan was standing and was desperate for space now. Emma slyly took a few steps away from him, slowing her racing heart.

With that, Emma swiftly turned around and walked away, leaving Logan alone in the hall.

"Ouch- you just got rejected," Logan heard a young voice, and he turned to the sound. Alex's brother, Scott, was standing there, smirking. The kid rubbed Logan the wrong way.

"Oh, really? Is that what just happened?" Logan asked with annoyance, rolling his eyes at the kid. "Yeah, actually, it is. She's in some sort of emotional denial thing, and you're hung up on her," Scott replied, either not noticing how annoyed Logan was or not caring.

"No kidding," Logan grumbled, not really listening to the teenager; he wasn't going to be taking relationship advice from a kid anytime soon. "Yeah. It's so obvious it's painful. You should really move on and stop bothering the lady," Scott said, and Logan rolled his eyes.

Logan wasn't bothering her. He wasn't flirting, either. He was just... making harmless conversation with one of his new housemates. He wasn't paying Emma Frost any special attention, it just happens that Emma was the one he most ran into. It wasn't his fault that he liked making small talk.

Just then, a little redhead popped out of one of the nearby rooms, spotted Scott, and gave a bright grin. Her teeth were sparkling white, there was a dimple on one of her freckled cheeks, and her bright green eyes shone like emeralds. She walked with a little spring in her step over to the two guys, and Logan scrunched his nose up at Jean's suddenly close proximity to Scott.

She was way out of the older boy's league, in Logan's opinion.

For starters, she wasn't even half as annoying.

"Hi, Scott! Hi, Logan." Jean smiled brightly at both of them, and Logan felt his heart warm slightly at the girl's happiness. She was sweet, and Logan had never encountered much kindness in his life.

Logan buried the nice feelings quickly, though, simply grunting in response and walking away, leaving the two kids to talk.