「 The Professor & I 」VOLUME II

(292) Tag Line

Xavier's School, February 2005

Lynn's POV

I hurried to the main doors, swiftly hurling the entrance wide. The heavy timber swung energetically and if not for another force field erected behind them, they would have crashed into the walls with a boisterous bang.

Braving the strong gust of air that flooded into the mansion, I expeditiously rolled onto the flushed porch and threw my arms around the hour glass figure of the blonde girl I called my sister.

"Where the hell have you been?!" I barked agitatedly, glaring up at Raven as I lightly smacked her voluptuous bum and she rolled her eyes, faking a dramatic grunt.

"Busy," Raven retorted with a smug look as she repeatedly rubbed the area of impact, escalating her pretense of pain to a more convincing level if one could only ignore that haughty smile on her face.

"It's good to see you, Charles," Hank greeted amiably.

Peeping over, I caught a glimpse of the boys excitedly exchanging a friendly handshake that spontaneously evolved into a manly hug. Ostensibly, their display of courtesy was in stark contrast to the rowdy mischief exploding between Raven and I as she vigorously ruffled my hair while I sent invisible flicks to disturb her back.

"Same to you, old friend," Charles replied politely, giving Hank a firm pat on the back.

"It's nice to see you, Mr. Secretary," I teased in a playful tone, almost bursting out in giggles as Raven sneakily ambushed my sides with her ticklish fingers.

"Lynn, please. I've had enough of that from Raven already," Hank pleaded laughingly.

"What? It's my fault now? Didn't hear you complaining when I was working hard to get you into the President's good books," Raven snapped in a sarcastic tone as she angrily crossed her arms.

"That's not what I meant, honey," Hank coaxed and, with a kind kiss to her cheek, he reintroduced a grin to her lips.

"Guys, did you bring someone with you?" I remarked in a puzzled tone, faintly detecting another voice in my mind.

As if on cue, my chair was suddenly reeled from its position and spun around in a dynamic whirl almost like it was ensnared into a wicked tornado determined to dismantle the earth. Discomforting palpitations rapidly dominated the insides of my chest, plaguing it with an acute pain in addition to the vilely nauseating sensations induced by the bedazzling view.

Yet, when the motion abruptly ceased and the blur focused into a white-maned teen, I could barely resist smiling.

"What? You didn't see that coming?" Peter taunted cheekily as he slotted his hands into his pockets and erected a haughty pose.

"Don't you steal my tag line, young man," I cautioned in a threatening tone undermined by incessant panting as I unknowingly clutched my chest.

"Lynn!" Charles and Raven synchronously exclaimed, hastily gathering around me.

"I'm fine. Don't fuss," I begged in a feeble tone but was only reciprocated with absolutely stern glares from both of them as oddly turbulent currents whizzed past us again.

"I'm sorry, Lynn," Peter murmured apologetically as he crouched before me, offering up a bottle of water and the small canister containing my prescribed aspirin.