Don't Be The Hero

Twenty Nine

Nina pov

The next morning I woke up to crowds of people. What happened? Then I remembered. Oh. But where was I you ask? Thankfully not on the side of the road, with a bunch of people wondering if I was dead. It looked to be about noon, and I was on the roof of a building. I remember driving all night, and then parking my bike somewhere. I remember hopping a large fence and climbing the side of a building. I looked down. I'm not sure what gave it away, the tourist looking people, or the large globe thing I could see from my position. I was at Universal, in Orlando, Florida. How did I get here so fast? Not really sure. I scanned around, and I was in the superhero section, sitting on top of the Captain America diner. I climbed down the side, and half ran to the nearest snack stand. Thankfully, I had remembered my wallet. I leaned against a wall, and took in my surroundings. There were large pictures of everyone plastered to the sides of buildings. Dad, Rouge, Ice man (like he deserved his own cut out), some avengers, everyone. I even found one of me, but it was hidden in an ally. Yeah, real nice. I devote my life to saving people and I get an ally? I'm not really one of the main ones, so I guess that's fine. At least I got a cutout. I suppose I should ride at least one ride, but that wasn't happening. I hate roller coasters. Anything that takes my feet off the solid ground, where they belong. The jet is an exception, it's my job.
Soon someone noticed me. It was a cute little girl, blonde hair, blue eyes, big happy smile. Looked around nine, and sadly, approached me. "Are you Nina? The x men? The real Nina. All them importers are trying to fool me."
Um. Should I lie? Or make a kid happy? "Yes, I am."
"Prove it, so I know your no lying to me like all the other ones." I crouched down to her height, and slipped a hand behind my back, unsheathing a hand of claws, and hiding them so only she could see.
"I don't think many other people can fake this." She lit up like a Christmas tree. I sheathed my claws, just as she hugged me. "I knew it! My brother and his friends wouldn't believe me. Can you sign my note book?"
She held out a pen. And I did. She thanked me and ran off. I finished eating my food, when she came back with a few more people. I signed their stuff too, and then they brought more people, and soon there was a line. What did I get myself into. Soon some rail thin supervisor in a yellow shirt came up to me and whispered in my ear. "Marlene, what are you doing! Your not suppose to be out here for another half an hour. And why aren't you wearing your uniform?"
Whaaat? Who is this guy talking about? I put it together. He's talking about the imposter me. "Yeah, I'm not Marlene. I'm Nina. N-I-N-A" I spelled it out slowly for him.
"Good job staying in character, but seriously, get back with the others." He tried to push me back. I grabbed his wrist. "Seriously, I. Am. Nina." I took my other hand and unsheathed the claws. The children cheered. The employee's face paled. "Oh! I am so sorry for mixing you up, Miss Nina. No hard feelings." He backed away slowly. There was a small group of importers around the corner. They were gawking at me like I was a sideshow. I finished signing the kids stuff, and then walked out. This dang park is weird. And their hot dogs stink.

I drove my bike back to the north, and ended up at some beach. Not sure where, but it was the west coast of Florida. I was walking along the sandy beach, looking at some shells, watching the wide ocean swallow them up. It was warm, the sun shining bright over head, a few clouds drifting by. I could taste salt on the wind, along with decaying seagull, somewhere near the rocks a quarter mile away. I could smell it too. There were many people, but with my sun glasses on, and my hair down, no one recognized me. At least not until the jet flew in and parked in the parking lot. Not expecting that. I could see Jean loading up my bike and Storm was out looking for me. I ran up to her. Before I could choke out any words, she engulfed me in a hug. "Nina! You had us all so worried! Don't ever do that again. How'd you get to Florida so fast? We were expecting you around Tennessee. But I guess we figured you stopped to sleep." She guided me up the ramp and Jean got us in the air. Storm sat in the back with me, by my bike. "How did you find me?" I asked. "There is a tracking thing on your bike. How did you get out here?" I told her about my morning, my time in universal. "Wow. I've always found those importers creepy." I smiled. "You and me both." We laughed so hard I would've fallen out of my seat if I wasn't buckled in.
"Why did you leave?" I told her about my walk in on Jack and Lyrica, and pathetically started crying. Storm put an arm around my shoulder and hugged me close. "Calm down. We both know that Jack would never do that on purpose. To be honest I've never trusted either of them, Lyrica or Lucas. They just seemed a bit off. He still loves you."
I nod into her shoulder and straighten up, wiping away the tears. "I know. He forgave me when Lucas kissed me, so I should forgive him." Storm had her 'what?!' Face on. "Um. Yeah. I don't like either of them."
I'll forgive Jack if he is truly sorry.