Unwilling Weapon

Blackbird, Fly

Half the mansion was in a flutter of activity getting ready for the trip up to Alaska for Scott and Annie's wedding, but when Noh announced that he'd finished putting the last touches on the new blackbird, it was a welcome distraction from the packing and the planning and the stress. Plus, he'd really wanted to get it done as an early wedding present to Scott so that it would be one less thing Scott had to worry about when he got back from his honeymoon.

Noh was absolutely beaming as he led the X-Men down to the hangar, excitedly explaining to everyone present what he, Forge, and Scott had done to create a "much better craft than that Shi'ar monstrosity you had before." The intuitive controls — the low-grade self-healing functionality that meant minor damage would heal itself ... that sort of thing. Though, of course, Forge and Scott seemed to be the only ones following half of his explanations as he just excitedly took them through.

But Noh and Forge had been working on the blackbird alone for the past few days while Scott had more pressing things to attend to — and really, they were only finishing touches, most of which Noh wanted to do himself. Making sure the Kree technology was fully integrated, making sure the intuitive controls wouldn't reject any of the potential pilots, and so on.

"And here she is," Noh declared happily as he swept an arm out to show off the new blackbird.

The design was definitely familiar from the outside at least, though perhaps a bit slimmer and sleeker. Even without the engines running, though, the whole thing seemed to hum slightly with energy that Noh explained was simply part of the Kree technology he'd integrated, though the low hum only contributed to a feeling of power that Noh was going for in the design.

"Scott, why don't you try her out for yourself?" Noh asked with a wide grin once everyone seemed appropriately awed.

Scott broke into a wide grin. "Let's see what she can do," he agreed as he climbed into the cockpit, the beaming smile obvious to anyone as he looked over the controls he and Forge and Noh had been working on for so long, clearly excited to see the plane in action.

Noh was in top form as he showed the rest of the team the upgrades they'd made, the slight changes to the interior of the craft, though he was sure to point out that they'd tried to keep much of the layout the same — like where the stash of medical supplies was — so that they wouldn't get tripped up on missions.

"Can't change too much or the dinosaurs get confused," Kate told Logan with a huge smirk.

"Rawr," he deadpanned right back.

As soon as Noh felt they'd seen as much as they needed to see, he suggested that everyone take a seat and then called up to Scott to tell him they were ready for the test flight — and Scott was clearly only too happy to oblige.

When the engines started up, they were almost silent except for the ever-present hum of energy — and then, for those of the X-Men who were listening, or who had enhanced senses, there was another noise just underneath the sound of the engines. A very soft, melodic sound of strings starting up.

The music only got louder as soon as the blackbird was in the air — and it was quickly apparent that Noh had chosen this song specifically for this moment.

"Blackbird singing in the dead of night," came the opening line over the speakers that Noh had been sure to set up in the plane — the sound system was perfect, and of course, it meant that they could hear every word.

The X-Men all glanced at each other and then at Noh, who was entirely straight-faced as the song continued: "Take these broken wings and learn to fly."

It was obvious as the song kept playing that it was starting to click for the team just how perfect the song was for the occasion — for Scott ... for the whole thing. And by the time they got to the second verse, Logan simply fell apart laughing. Not the usual chuckles they had all seen — but honest to God, clutching his stomach belly laughing with tears streaming down his cheeks.