"You know, you scared the shit out of me," Hawks says, staring at the emerald eyes across from him as he takes another sip of coffee. "I'm glad we get a 'take-two' on a coffee shop experience together." Hawks chuckles.
"I can hold my own. I don't need you to worry about me." Jean defends.
Hawks' eyes fix on the spiral burn marks on Jean's hands. "No, no, that's not what I mean. You're a complete badass. Let me just say, I'm thankful to be on your side. Your combination of quirks - or whatever you call them - you're a beast. I just - seeing you on the street like that -"
Jean follows Hawks eyes to the burn marks on her hands, then quickly moves them under the table.
"He burned you!" Hawks snaps, his wings fluff out behind him and his golden eyes furiously jump back to meet Jean's.
"Kei, listen, it's not your fault."
"What kind of hero ends up with his comrades hurt?! I thought it would take my death before I would let anyone harm you, but here we are. I walked away scot-free and you - you're - you saved me. You're hurt. "
"Keigo, I got hurt because I wanted to protect you," Jean says, instinctively reaching out to hold Hawks' hands.
A sudden burst through the door of the coffee shop breaks Hawks' frozen stare in Jean's gentle eyes.
"It's your fault! Stay away from her!"
Before Hawks can turn around, a feather shoots from his wings but is quickly sizzled by the lasers shooting from Scott's eyes. Scott shoves Hawks off his chair. Hawks winces, landing on his right wing.
"Scott, stop!" Jean exclaims, putting herself between the two of them.
"Move, Jean! He's a loser." Scott shouts.
"No, you can't blame Keigo for everything bad that happens! Without him, we would have been killed."
"Without him, you wouldn't have been in that situation!"Scott shoots back. "He's not an X-Man or a leader. All he cares about is himself. First Rogue, now you. Who's next?! And we have his idiot villains on our turf now?!"
"Get out of here, Scott! LEAVE!" Jean screams.
"You're making a huge mistake, Jean. I can't believe you are trusting this asshole over me. I will prove it to you. Just hopefully not too late."
"Don't make me use my powers, Scott," Jean says.
"Jean - if you don't listen - You know what, fine. I'm done. You'll figure it out for yourself."
*****
The breeze shuffles through Rogue's silver-striped auburn hair as she sits on top of the picnic table staring into space. Misty snakes her way across the field, approaching Rogue from behind.
"What are you doing here alone? Are you okay?" Misty asks. "I heard there was a fire at the mansion; thought you would be with the others cleaning up the rubble.
"I'm just- clearing my head," Rogue responds disinterestedly.
"Sounds like you had a rough day." Misty presses as she turns to walk away. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, I'm just —I'm here if you need me, even if just to lend an ear."
"I — wait Misty." She jumps and calls her back. "I actually do want to talk about it. I just — that double."
"Yeah, I'm sure that would be hard. You were almost wrongly accused and saw your team try to kill you."
"No, it's not that. They did the right thing. That double was trying to kill them. It's just— the double was able to touch them."
Misty looks back at Rogue inquisitively.
YOU ARE READING
Flying Free: My Hero Evolution Wings of Change (X-Men/My hero crossover)
General FictionWhile out on patrol Hawks comes across group of strangers to himself. As he takes time to talk with them, little did they all know that their lives were now forever changed from that one fateful encounter.
