Project X [18+] [Fanfiction]

Chapter XVIII: The Wall

   The Vixen, as mysterious as she ever was, had shown up on our radar once more. This time, the target was in the southernmost tip of Mexico, where there was recorded footage of a mutant capable of controlling the waters in the gulf. Nothing had been lost aside from some property damage, but each time the mutant would show up, he would batter the coast with high waves before vanishing back into the abyss. It was certainly enough reason for us to investigate, and the X-Men were speeding our way there via the Blackbird.

  The normal life was nice while it lasted.

“It will be a few hours until we arrive.” Storm was piloting the Blackbird, her eyes focused and her voice as determined as ever. She had been taking the Vixen case particularly hard; perhaps feeling that her control over the elements was somehow bastardized by what The Vixen was doing to young people. She had been making monstrosities that had a dark fragment of Storm’s power, and whether or not her experiments were directly linked with her powers, I imagined it was a bit unsettling.

   I would not need to run into mysterious mutants with claws more than once to begin wondering if there was a connection, and both humanity and mutants alike had proven time and time again that they weren’t above experimenting on our kind. As Storm glanced back to the rest of us in the Blackbird, I lifted my head to regard her calmly, my typical, stoic personality taking control now that we were on a job.

  "I recommend getting some rest. Kurt will remain here with me, the rest of you should prepare for what’s to come.” The rest of us gave a small nod of agreement as we started to rise from our seats. Tackling an enemy in the water called for a group with diverse talents, and as we walked to the back of the ship I bumped elbows with Iceman as well as Pixie. Useful for the situation because of their particular skills, while Shifter was a natural thanks to his ability to chose a power when the moment called for it. Of all of us, I alone was the odd woman out, being unable to fly and typically needing a solid surface to fight from. I was the lean muscle to take in case there was any fighting on the shoreline, but from the sounds of it I’d be doing most of my slashing while perched on one of Iceman’s frozen, floating platforms.

   I did not terribly mind; it was an interesting challenge to tackle, and there were many of my teammates there to work with me. Between Iceman, Nightcrawler, and Storm, if even one of them were able to get me to the target, the target would fall. In many ways, I was akin to the single bullet in a sniper rifle’s chamber, and that role suited me well. And after I had been so thoroughly enjoying my normal life only to have it interrupted with The Vixen's blasphemy, I was eager to be fired.

  We went to our respective bunks in the back of the Blackbird, each one a tiny room with a single cot and a closed door. The walls were thin, built for function rather than privacy, and usually we only used the rooms during long trips or if we were wounded. I shared a small glance with Shifter before I headed into my room, my boyfriend taking the one right beside me. We had said little to each other so far during the trip, each of us wishing to show to our teammates that our public relationship would not be a hinderance to the team. We were able to compartmentalize and focus when there was a task at hand, but with an unknown amount of free time on my hands I was almost immediately wondering if I could feasibly sneak into my lover’s room.

  I pushed the thought from my mind, and shook my head with stubborn resolve. If we were caught doing anything on the Blackbird, there would likely be punishment from the Headmistress, not to mention the embarrassment of being seen by my close, trusted teammates. With a sigh I dropped onto the cot and rested my hands on my knees, my body garbed in my typical working clothes. Tight leather pants and thick, sturdy boots, and a simple black leather tank top that gripped my chest while exposing my stomach and keeping my arms open and flexible. My body creaked onto the cot and I paused for a long moment, taking in the sensation of being on the Blackbird again.