It had been a week of constant torment. Alex Smith tied the laces of his sneakers. The track was deserted early on Saturday morning. There was football practice later in the day, but for now the track was his. He stretched, arching his back. Time for a full, unobstructed run. He'd be able to do more than five miles. He smiled to himself. And it would be quiet. He settled into his long-run pace easily. His legs ate up miles. He barely noticed when he was joined by someone at a matching pace. He didn't speak to her, knowing instinctively who it was. After fifteen miles, he stopped, walking another two laps.
"You didn't tell me you could run," Rachel said.
"You're not even winded," he replied. "I'd say it's not all on my side."
She had the decency to blush at that. "True. So what else do you do that you haven't told me?"
"A lot of things. Telling you anything requires a major effort." He handed her a bottle of Gatorade-water mixture. Then, he took one himself.
"Do you run before or after school?"
"Before."
"I'll join you."
Alex shrugged. She'd do whatever she wanted anyway.
"So what are you up to today?"
"Work. I've got to get going. Bye." Rachel watched him leave.
"But I'll keep you," she whispered. "You don't have to work at all."
He didn't hear her and kept on walking. He threw his bag into the car. He started the engine with a prayer. It didn't turn over. He banged his head on the steering wheel. He popped the hood, then stared down at the battery. He knocked some of the corrosion away from the connectors. A shadow peered over his shoulder.
"I'll give you a jump if you promise to let Chris look at this heap."
Alex laughed. "What harm could it do?"
"To your pride? Loads. To the car, nothing."
"I'll get the cables."
****
Rachel settled at the kitchen table. "Mom, can you explain men to me?"
Jean looked up form the proofs of the Institute's brochures. "I can try, Sweetie. Is there a specific man?"
"There's a boy at school. He's mostly shy, but he can skewer someone with words if they tick him off. He keeps trying to cover me up."
Jean's brows rose. "Conservative?"
"As much as Dad is."
"Maybe he's worried about you. High school's not like here. There are going to be boys who aren't afraid to hit on you."
"I've met them already. Slimy bastards." Rachel shivered. "There's one who'll have to be shown his place, but that's not it. He knows I can handle them."
Jean considered. "Maybe he just isn't comfortable with you showing skin. There are people who believe it's immoral."
Rachel considered. "He is a preacher's son."
"Then that's a possibility. Is he cute?"
"Mom!"
"That's the only reason I can think of that you'd care about his behavior."
"I was just curious."
Jean just smiled.
"Mom."
"Sorry, honey."
"This is the last time I'm asking you anything!"
****
Remy passed the picture to Alice. She smirked at him. "You're turning into a good boy."
He scowled at her. "Just want t' know if'n they plan t' tag any of the team. Someone created the file the police got. I need t' know who got that kind of access. If'n they made one, dey can make more."
Alice kissed his nose. "Don't ever change, Rems. I'd have to call and exorcist if you ever trusted the cops."
She looked around her newly refurbished nightclub and smiled. "So what do you think of the Red Queen's Palace?"
"That mebbe y' advertise too much."
"I'm hiding in plain sight, silly." She tweaked his nose. She straightened his tie. "Go get 'em, Tiger."
"Y' gonna drive m' t' drink."
"I can't believe you're doing actual business with the Kingpin."
"Merde, chere, y' know the Guild got a non-aggression pact wit' the man. Why shouldn' I?"
"You take stupid risks with your life. But that's why it's such a trip to love you." She shooed him out of the club.
****
Scott leaned back in his chair. "Rogue, you know damn well I'm not letting you partner with Gambit for a foreign job."
"But he speaks Russian better'n I do and he's got the contacts."
"So why should I send you?"
Rogue's mouth worked for a moment. "It's my contact."
"So I'll send Husk."
Rogue scowled. "Stop playin', Cyke."
Scott grinned at her. "You're getting better, but I’m still not sending Gambit. He's on another project. Collosus will meet you in Moscow."
"I thought he was out?"
"He's got a translator for you. Beyond that, it's your show. Who do you want as backup, barring Gambit?"
She considered. "Firecracker."
"You think you'll need a thief?"
"I might. She's quick on her feet."
"I'll get her down for briefing. Your flight leaves at 1500. Don't be late or I'll leave you."
"You're flyin' us?"
"I'm the only one with Moscow landing clearance. Take commercial if you don’t like my flying."
Rogue snorted. "Right, sugah."
****
Wolverine lined the class up for their opening katas. He loved teaching the advanced class.
****
Warren frowned at the latest R&D offer from Nightwing. "This is robbery, Remy."
"This is the cost of good work, Warren. Y' don’t' want it, I'll take it t' Nakamura." Remy shrugged. It was an oddly comforting gesture. Warren was always disconcerted when he had to deal with Remy in the business sector.
"Let me run the numbers. I'll talk to you in a week."
"Eight hours," Remy stated. "I got a tele-con with M. Nakamura at nine t'night. If y' don't talk t' me by then, I'll feel free to extend the offer to him."
Warren felt his wings spasm in the harness he always wore when he was at work.
"830 then."
"Oui." Remy stood, gathering his portfolio."
"LeBeau."
"Oui?"
"Just for the record, you're still an asshole."
Remy grinned. "Y' always so sweet, Worthington."
****
Alex settled at his desk in the precinct. He relaxed as the hustle and bustle of everyday life surrounded him. He started writing his weekly summary report. "Yo, Alex, come'ere," Piggy said with a wave of his hand. "Tell these boys about your pet slut."
"She's not a slut," Alex stated. "If she were, she'd be in your bed. Isn't she just the sort of girl you like? Innocent but sexy?"
"Don't sneer. She's been sitting in your lap, Reverend. Although how you two skate under the teacher's radar I don’t' know."
"My lap?" Alex was confused. "Oh, you mean after school yesterday? There's this prick of a jock who's trying to intimidate her. He doesn't want to take 'no' for an answer."
"And so she was in your lap?" Vinnie asked.
"Protective camouflage. I've given up on getting her to wear a full shirt. Listen, I have actual work to do, Piggy. Talk to you idiots later."
"She's got him in the palm of her hand."
"She wishes," Alex called over his shoulder. "Blast, lost my train of thought."
****
Chris held Trey's hand as they walked around the lake. //Trey, I wanted. . . I need to talk to you.//
//What's up?//
//This love thing. . .//
//Just spit it out, Chris.//
//I love you.//
//I've known that for over a year now.//
//I've known since we were eight.//
//What?//
//You're my one and only own true love. The be all and end all of my life.//
Trey refused to turn into a pile of sugary goo, but he gave his boyfriend a sappy smile. //This is going to be messy isn’t it?//
//Only for the people you flirt with.//
Trey laughed out loud. //So what I'm hearing is, I'm a jealous bastard, Trey, but I won't hurt *you.*//
//Exactly.// Chris grinned, a dangerous glint filled his eyes. He looked an awful lot like Logan right then. Trey shook his head.
//You're a freak. But I love you anyway.// He kissed Chris on the cheek. Chris caught his chin and brought him close for a gentle kiss on the lips.
****
Jubilee bounced on her toes. "A field experience out of the country. And the catch is?" She gave Cyke her best glare, but couldn't keep from smiling.
"It's Russia."
"Oh fuck. Hey, aren't I wanted there?"
"No, that's Georgia."
"Cool." Jubilee popped a stick of gum into her mouth. "What's the op?"
"Contact meet. Collosus is providing a translator. We leave at 1500. Bring whatever you might need. I've got a KGB friend providing security on the jet."
"Trustworthy?"
"Afraid of blackmail." Scott grinned. "He's a friend. We helped him out a few years back."
"What 'we' white man?"
"The team. Don't worry. You'll like him."
"What makes you so sure of that?"
Scott just grinned.
"Yer like a fucking Cheshire Cat! Never answering the right questions."
"Maybe you don't *ask* the right questions."
****
Rachel ran through her tumbling runs again. She wanted to show Papa up in something. He was driving her crazy. When I was your age, I was married, he'd told her the other day. Enjoy your freedom while you have it.
Freedom. What sort of freedom is there when your heart betrays your libido? I'd kill for Alex and he won't even play with me!
"Whoa, Ray! Don't blow the place," Bobby chided form the sidelines. Rachel looked back at the mats. They were glowing.
"Shit." She carefully returned the bonds of the molecules to their natural state. "Sorry, Uncle Icecube."
"So what's got you so riled?"
"Nothing."
"Bullshit. Come on. Tell Uncle Bobby your woes."
She snorted. "Boy trouble. That's all."
"What sort of trouble?"
"I don't want to talk about it?"
"Which boy do we have to kill for hurting you?"
"It's not like that!"
"Oh."
"Oh, shove it, Bobby." Rachel stalked out of the room.
"Oh yeah, definitely Woverine's."
****
Matt settled down to watch Alex's apartment. Saturday night shouldn't be wasted watching movies, he thought. Unfortunately, not only was Alex a goody-two-shoes, he watched high-brow movies. Shakespeare was tonight's choice. "God, man, if you at least did drugs, I'd be able to figure out why you're a poor as a church mouse."
Matt picked up the scope and peered up at Alex's window. Alex was pacing. He was chewing on a thumbnail as he read some sort of letter. It wasn't good news. Matt felt a twinge of conscience. But dammit, he was going to help Alex whether he wanted it or not.
****
Rachel left the den in disgust. Chris and Trey were cooing at each other on the windowseat. The rest of the older teens were glued to the _Die_Hard_ marathon. Papa Remy was out on the town. Dad was in Russia. Daddy and Mom had gone out to dinner. That meant there was no one to curl up next to for comfort. All of the assorted older folks didn't know how to sleep in a jumble and the other students would take it the wrong way.
She slunk out towards the woods. Maybe she'd find something to hunt. Halfway there, she stopped. She looked up at the moon. It was full and bright. She paced around the lake. The shadows by the pier eventually resolved into her Papa. She didn't know how long he'd been watching her. She ran to his hug. She wrapped her arms around him and let him rock with her.
"Come on, petite. We watch the fire." They curled up on the couch. They didn't talk about anything important. Eventually, they stopped talking completely. Remy smiled down at Rachel's sleeping face. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
FINIS