milliways_bar | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Ororo slips into the bar quietly, shutting the door behind her as she takes a moment to look around. She has not seen Kate the last two times she has been here, but tonight...

Tonight she does.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

And Kate sees her.

This is what we call "Mutant Glomp of Glee."

"Kitten!"

Ororo is not perhaps a glomper by nature, but the word may be appropriate.

"Oh, my kitten, it is so good to see you. It has been far too long."

"I know. I know. I missed you, 'Ro."

Glomp may have turned a little into clinging.

Because she really did miss her, and she doesn't want to let go right now.

"I miss everyone. Just--things."

Kate is eloquent.

She's also not too worried about it right now.

Ororo is not averse to the clinging. She may even be doing a little of it herself.

"You are missed in return, my kitten. So very much."

"I'm working on figuring things out."

Things = coming back. She sort of assumes Ororo will know that, but she's going to talk about it in more detail later either way.

"How're you doing?"

"I am well."

It's not a lie. It's not completely true either.

"I remain in the city for the time being, aiding the Fantastic Four. I believe that the presence of T'challa and myself is doing some good there."

"We like good. It so rarely shows up."

That's a little rueful.

"...Did you get the blue uniform?"

Because now she's picturing Black Panther mask with the blue spandex, and it hurts her head a little.

Ororo laughs at that, surprised and amused.

"Oh, my kitten, only you would ask that. No, neither T'Challa nor I are wearing the traditional garb of their team. We are not permanent members, after all."

A distinction as important to her as it is to the Fantastic Four themselves.

"Probably for the best. Though you could pull it off. ...T'Challa might have a bigger problem given the panther gig."

"Indeed," Ororo manages before laughing again at the thought of T'Challa in blue spandex.

"Of course, given some of my own past costumes, perhaps I should not laugh so much."

"The mowhawk was really not you, 'Ro," she says wryly.

Well, it wasn't.

X sees Ororo again tonight.

She says nothing, just shifts from her table to a position next to the other woman.

"Hello, Laura."

Ororo greets her with a smile.

"It is good to see you again. How have have you been?"

"Here."

It seems simple enough to X.

"It is safer."

Ororo sighs.

"I cannot argue that, I fear. It seems this place has become a refuge for many of us."

"Not for me."

X does not come to the bar because it is safer for her.

For the most part, that is.

It takes a second for her meaning to dawn on Ororo.

"Oh, Laura."

Ororo is silent for a moment, somewhat at a loss for words.

"You would not be at the mansion if any of us believed that you were solely a danger to the other students or to yourself."

Laura just looks at her.

"Emma does."

There is not much that truly challenges Ororo's serenity, but Emma Frost certainly qualifies.

"Emma Frost has no reason and no right to say that of anyone."

(Out back, a clear night sky starts to cloud over.)

"We are not very far removed from the days when she herself was one of the greatest dangers to the X-Men. I would not give her opinion any weight, Laura."

Laura just watches Ororo, expression perfectly calm.

She has learned control very well.

"I can be triggered. It is not safe."

Beat.

"But Logan called."

And they need her. So she will stay.

Ororo takes a breath.

(Stars reappear in the sky as the cloud drifts away.)

"It is never safe."

Not anywhere.

"But I agree with Logan. It is where you should be."

X continues to watch Ororo.

"I do not want to hurt them."

"I believe you."

Ororo meets her eyes steadily.

"And I believe that we shall find a way to give you control over that, to undo enough of what has been done to you so that you no longer need to fear yourself."

"I do not know."

How do you undo that much conditioning?

How?

"I make no promises," Ororo says gently.

"But I have seen many extraordinary things happen in my time with the X-Men, and many problems solved that I had thought impossible. I do not despair for you, Laura. I would ask that you do not despair for yourself."

"I do not."

This is very true.

There is no understanding of despair in her.

Ororo looks at her for a long moment.

"No, you do not," she says finally, and there is a trace of sadness in the words.

"And neither do you hope."

X-23 does not look away from Ororo.

She does not often give ground.

"No."

Ororo smiles a little sadly.

"There have been times recently when I would envy you for that, Laura. But now... now I think I will just have to hope for you, since you do not do so for yourself."

X-23 betrays nothing of what she might think of Ororo's words.

She just shrugs, ever so slightly, and says, "Okay."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only