Envisionings (2nd Edition) Part 12 💉🩸

Later - Rogue's Dorm at X-Mansion

She and Bobby are alone - Rogue looking troubled.

"He should've had his powers back bah the tahm he woke up."

Bobby shrugs: "Maybe you've just leveled-up like Cyclops and Havok. We have needed your powers to finish the missions lately."

"Maybe. . ."

Bobby tries to keep going with it, adding with a smile: "Makes me excited for when it'll be my turn."

By his disposition or her own decision, Rogue drops her concern; teasing: "Don't think you're already cool enough?"

"Hey you tell me." He leans in, as does she, about to share a careful kiss when Rogue pulls back.

"Maybe we shouldn't raght now. If ah have leveled up. . "

Bobby flicks away any disappointment, keeping the moment light: "Think you'll be too much for me?" Taking her gloved hand in his instead, and running his other over her arm.

Gradually smiling, Rogue brushes her other hand over his ear.

Meanwhile, at a certain Youth Center.

Alex comes out having noticed a boy and his mother on the corner, considering the place with hesitation. He wears welcoming smile. "Hey there, folks! Nice day, huh?"

With encouragement from his mother, the boy approaches. Alex meets him halfway.

Boy: "My Mom's gotta' take some extra shifts so we can get groceries. Am I allowed just to hang out sometimes by myself, like this evening?"

"Sure can -you won't be alone at all! We've even got some snacks and stuff -enough you can take some home so your Mom doesn't miss out." He glances up at the mother with understanding. "And you've come on a lucky day. We're having a party here tonight."

With a little smile, the boy turns back to his Mom, flashing a thumbs up. She waves, giving an appreciative look to Alex before heading for a bus stop.

Alex ushers the boy towards the door: "Come on, I'll introduce you to everyone who's here."

Meanwhile at a florist's on Crosby Street, we see another mother and her son, this one we've seen before. It's Holo's new friend, Eeco.

Looking noticeably dejected, he walks into the store under the supportive arm of his Mother, who assures him quietly: "We'll grow as much as we can on our balcony."

Eeco looks up at her, unsure.

She meets his eyes; her manner caringly resolute: "You can have more in your room."

His Mom moves to speak to the florist while Eeco, after a moment, walks up to a row of house plants, some with flowers. He glances towards his Mom, looking like he'd like to get her one of these, and reaches out to feel their leaves and petals; communing with friends as much as checking the plants' health.

Seconds later he gasps, watching the plants wither before his eyes.

Later, back at X-Mansion

We see Jones* watching TV beside Graysen, who has his hands in his lap, fingertips touching. His body language indicative of not feeling fully comfortable he's not going to accidentally disintegrate something.

*You remember Jones from X2, eh? He's the kid who can change channels with the blink of an eye! -Character-Refresher-Tra

Meteorologist (lighthearted): "--egg on our faces for stating its rarity as incredible, we still have our confidence when it comes to the cause. Though that hasn't stopped some citizen scientists from coming up with their own explanations."

The screen changes to interview footage.

Older Gentleman Wearing Aviator Sunglasses: "It's magic from the Otherworld seeping into ours! Or someone's plan for a new tourist attraction: 'come to New York, see the 'Mystical Mist'!"

Jones blinks to another channel.

Newscaster (speaking over a screen displaying a list of incidents): " ... venient excuse of 'I didn't mean to' and we normal individuals just 'don't understand'. Well what we do understand is that the majority of these recent cases have involved those previously thought to be normal humans, leading some to cry 'conspiracy'. A resident from a community hosting them speaks out."

Scathing Woman from Community Garden: "One of those people have been using their perversion to 'cultivate' the community's garden. Leaking their problem into the vegetables or doing it on purpose, I don't know what. But I wasn't taking any chances with my family and neighbors."

Footage is shown of the garden - now unrecognizable as the one Holo visited; the plants appearing to have been bleached to death.

Scathing Woman: "The respectable members of this community can start over once we determine the safety of the soil."

Newscaster: "The residents' concerns seem supported given an incident that occurred at a popular florist on Crosby Street earlier today, involving the mutant in question-"

Jones flicks to something else,

and we pan back to see Rogue and Bobby have been watching too.

Bobby (bothered/arms folded): "That garden's by the Youth Center. None of the cases that they're thinking are new mutants have even been from around there."

Rogue (likewise): "Downsahd to being anonymous. Once a mutant's outed," she unfolds one of her arms towards the TV, "they think something's in the water."

"They had to have heard about this at the Center. I wonder if that's going to change anything, tonight?"

Rogue: "Yeah- ah'd lahk to get goin'." She looks around. "Only where's Cyclops?"

Bobby: "Still fixated on what's over and done with, I bet," he starts heading for the elevator, "come on."

Cut-To Ready Room

As predicted, Scott stands staring intently at the data displayed on the monitors when the door opens, revealing the two younger X-Men.

Bobby: "Hey Cyclops. Are you still coming to the party? If so we should get going."

Rogue: "And we just saw on the news how someone messed up the community garden over there."

Scott doesn't appear to acknowledge their presence until this point. Though after looking at Rogue, he sighs and looks down, as if in an inner debate of where he should spend his time. "Yeah. . I'll meet you at the car."

Bobby leaves but Rogue lingers.

"Found anything?"

"No. . .but there has to be something." He looks back up at the screens, yet the action is coupled with a turn towards the door, as though he's gradually stepping away from the problem; giving the information one last chance to click before committing to a break -or working on it remotely.

"Ah think you're raght."

Her confiding tone surprises him, prompting another look at her.

"It hasn't felt lahke it usually does after I've touched someone. Ah can feel something different lingerin'. . .not from their powers or their heads."

Scott's look turns perplexed.

Rogue looks down: "Ah know. It doesn't make much sense to say." Still from her place in the doorway, Rogue looks towards the monitors. "But there's definitely something different about these ones."

Scott looks back at the screens like maybe some piece of the puzzle is becoming apparent, a just-forming thought spoken aloud under his breath: "Symptoms. . ."

Rogue looks at him, before movement back in the hallway catches her eye; Bobby.

Sensing the potential importance of the problem, Rogue adds to Scott: "Ah can explain to Alex wah you're not there."

Another second, then. . . "No." He briefly rubs at his forehead, "I said I'd be there." and strides past Rogue. "Sorry I kept you both waiting."

The Youth Centre is a large, open concept space with multiple areas: games, lounge, kitchen, meditation area, media area, and some free space. Padded dividers currently propped against walls show the spaces can be made more private if desired - but for now open space is the word. The place is decently full.

An office area off to one side is the only proper other room.

Besides the bathrooms of course.

Near the media area, a couple of the youths are speaking with Bobby and Rogue.

Youth Center Kid # 1: "It's terrible- that garden provided us with a lot of good stuff."

Youth Center Kid # 2: "We didn't see who took care of it much. I mean we helped out sometimes, but that boy is shy. He doesn't visit here so we don't know how he's taking it."

Bobby: "Not good by the news."

Youth Center Kid # 2: "You mean that incident at the florist's? I'm sure they got that wrong."

Youth Center Kid # 1: "One thing we know about that kid, he'd definitely never hurt plants. Even if he was upset. And it's not like the florist was the monster who destroyed the garden."

These two go off to where a karaoke machine's been set up, intent not to let such "monsters" wreck another good thing by having talk of them monopolize the party.

And we join back up with Scott, now talking to his brother near the centre of the room.

" ... both used language accordant with needing a fix. With our new student it could just be 'growing pains' but the mutant at the park definitely appeared stimulated."

Alex's face is serious. "I don't know anything like that." He adds a little protectively, "and you can take my word for it none of the kids here do. Anyway you said it doesn't fit all your cases? So it probably isn't the answer you're looking for." He takes a sip of a drink in his hand.

"I might be wrong in thinking all of them are connected."

"What you're wrong about is where you think you are."

Scott stares at him quizzically.

Alex cracks a smile: "This is a party! Your brain can work on that problem in the background. Have a drink." He passes him a cup from his other hand.

Taking it, Scott soon realizes: "This isn't non-alcoholic punch?"

Alex points across the room to where the punch bowl is on the kitchen counter, "that is. But I got something stronger for us. 'fact mine's not even punch." He sips some more.

Scott appears unimpressed.

"There are other staff here, okay? Jeeze. And this isn't anywhere the kids can find it if that's what your problem is."

Scott's expression shifts to one like 'you're sure about that?'

Alex is unimpressed.

Back at the media area, we see why Colber chose the name of "Rockman" as he produces middle-of-palm-sized rocks right out of his, giving them to some of the other youths to paint. Once he's no longer "in demand", he joins Bobby and Rogue who are listening to the karaoke - all the latest hits by Dazzler; the Center's singers putting on quite a show of it.

"So do you guys have a drama class at the mansion?"

Rogue (ha): "Yeah, it's called Logan and Cyclops in the Danger Room."

Bobby smiles.

"Who's Logan?"

"Oh, he's another one of the X-Men. He takes some getting to know, but then he's really cool. Ah lahke it the best when he's around." A smile fades.

"He gone now or something?"

"He's been on a mission with one of the others. Well actually, not the same mission. They came back a couple tahmes but were sent out again so soon it feels lahke one long tahme."

Bobby adds: "Yeah. You wouldn't think he and the other X-Man, who goes by Nightcrawler, would've hit it off like that."

"Missions, danger rooms. You guys lead some strange life over there."

"To think about, yeah ah guess. But ah mean it doesn't feel that way living it."

Bobby: "The way I think about it, our lives were always going to be strange. Might as well be strange in a-" he sculpts an X within a circle in ice between his hands; the X-Men emblem, "-cool way."

Rogue smiles.

Colber appears undecided towards this, and Rogue's expression suddenly shifts. Though we see it's for a separate reason as she asks, looking around: "You gahs have any gym equipment around? Ah feel weird in mah body -lahk I need to work something off."

Bobby: "You okay?"

"Yeah," her mouth twists with uncertainty, "just a restlessness."

Colber: "Yeah we've got that. Got a whole out-building with it. Come on."

He leads the way to the door.

As they make their way to an outbuilding just beside the main, we see by the puddles and dripping overhangs it's been a rainy evening.

Inside this smaller building is a gym mat and various containers or pieces of equipment, some looking improvised.

Rogue goes over to a bench press and starts selecting weights from two stacks nearby. "Where's the other of this sahze?"

"Oh, we don't have it. We get this stuff secondhand." He shrugs. "We usually just balance with lighter if we're gonna' use that size." He cocks a brow like 'but you're not, are you?'

Rogue looks for the balance while Bobby speaks up: "I got it," using his powers to make a weight of ice to place on the other end of the bar.

Colber appears skeptical until Rogue begins. "Colour me impressed."

While it does take effort, Rogue manages a number of reps, grinning at Colber when he remarks: "You're deceptive for your size!"

Setting the barbell back in the j-hooks, Rogue explains: "A wahle ago ah thought some extra strength training would help me deal with other powers."

Colber: "Has it?"

Rogue shrugs: "Ah think so."

Bobby: "She's definitely able to catch people off guard," he grins, "with or without her own powers now."

"Caught me." But then something in Colber's disposition seems to have shifted again as he asks with an uneven smile: "So how's it taste to have your cake and eat it too?"

They look at him, confused by his tone.

"I mean you guys get to play superhero keeping things from being worse for mutants, then go home to your comfortable mansion where you're not dealing with those things yourselves. Like d'you know if you've got a mutant in the family, you have to pay a bigger damage deposit even if it isn't the kind of mutation that could damage a building? Like where's the guaranteed living for them."

Bobby (mildly defensive): "Hey we do what we can, Colber. That sort of stuff isn't really in our control."

"That's wah two of our professors are at the Unahted Nations summit. They're speakin' on mutant rahgts." Colber reacts like he didn't expect that. However: "I don't think they'll make much headway until we're seen as people first and mutants second."

He draws a breath, running a hand through his hair like he didn't mean to change the mood. "Look, you guys actually wanna' take a walk or something? Now I'm feeling restless," he looks out one of the windows, "and I always like the air after it rains."

Rogue: "You gahs can go ahead. Ah'm gonna' stay here a little whahle longer."

Bobby heads out with Colber while Rogue heads for a punching bag.

Back in the main building.

Alex returns from getting himself a fresh drink to join Scott observing the karaoke.

Scott: "How is Dazzler?"

"Dazzling select audiences from coast-to-coast." He takes a sip. "She sent me a post card from Nevada."

Abruptly, Scott looks around. "Do you see Rogue and Bobby? I think we'll have to go."

Alex eyes his brother from the side: "Duty's done, huh?"

Scott looks at him: "Excuse me?"

Alex focuses on his drink, idly swirling it. "It just seems like I don't fit into the other pieces of your life much."

Scott turns to face him: "I'm not the only one with other commitments. We've each chosen to be where we're needed."

Alex stares into his cup. . .until he notices Scott rubbing at his forehead.

He turns to face him, incredulous: "What? The topic of conversation's too much for you?"

"I'm getting a bad headache. That's why I think we've gotta' go."

"Well we have OTC meds here. What's your preference?"

Scott stops short of shaking his head. "It's an optic blast headache. Medications have never worked on them. .at their worst they can knock me out." He grimaces.

Alex's previous feelings give way to concern -and suspicion. He asks like he's gauging something: "That a thing you get a lot?"

"Not since my powers came to stay, actually."

That seems to settle something for Alex: ". .your body adjusting to the increase, I guess. . . .I thought it was just me."

Scott stares at him.

"My bones feel like they're on fire. I haven't experienced that since I was a kid, either." He gives a breath of a laugh. "Talk about 'growing pains'. And you're right, medications don't help." He indicates his drink, "this does to a point," taking another sip.

Scott regards him a moment: ". . I'm sorry I wasn't there for you then."

Alex shrugs, then flashes his brother an uneven smile: "Hey, you couldn't help it."

The compatible moment the brothers have been missing, provided by a fraught trip down memory lane. . .it can't last.

Scott holds his head in one hand.

Alex: "I saw them go out with Colber. I'll find them."

"I'll be in the car." He tries to navigate with his gaze kept low; taking in as little of the party's visual stimuli as he can.

"Maybe I'll help you find that, first." Having set his cup down on the closest surface, Alex moves to guide his brother.

Cut-To

Alex finding Bobby and Colber down a wide alleyway.

"Hey, boys! Scott's not feeling well, he needs to get home."

The youths exchange a look. Alex is already heading back.

At the car, we find Rogue already in the driver's seat while Scott has settled himself in the passenger side, seat reclined a bit. Bobby gets in the back.

Bobby: "Whenever I had a headache back home my Mom would give me a cold washcloth to put on. If you like I could cool things down?"

Rogue (pulling away from the curb): "More lahk give 'im brain freeze."

Scott: "Just, drive please."

Later - X Mansion - Garage

Bobby: "We're here, Cyclops. . .Cyclops?" He pushes on Scott's shoulder.

Rogue: "He told me he can black out from these." She eyes his steady breathing. "Yeah, so did Alex when I asked what was up."

"Apparently it can be a wahle. Let's get him to medical." She starts getting out of the car. "I'll let Beast know he'll be there." Bobby gets out. "He can help us take him, too."

Following morning - early - outside the Youth Center

We see a tired, vaguely distressed-looking Colber arrive.

He has a key.

Letting himself in, he turns on a light in the kitchen area, starts a coffee machine,

then goes to haul a couple of bean bag chairs into the meditation area, grabbing pillows afterward.

He then uses the moveable dividing walls to make himself a private space where he sets the bean bag chairs next to each other, pounds them into a suitable surface to lie on, then grabs a pillow and, with a heavy sigh, gets comfortable --after sweeping out from under his pillow some skipping-sized stones he unintentionally just created.

He doesn't have much time in his refuge when he starts hearing a noise.

He's instantly alert.

 After getting up to investigate, he realizes it's coming from the offices.

A thief?

No.

There's a groaning.

Colber hesitates, but his instincts push him to act.

"Someone okay in there?" he calls through the door, hand halted on the handle.

"Colber?" It's Alex's voice; sounding strained. "Come on-" his words are lost in a grunt.

The younger man enters, finding the office area looking disordered -actually like a small bomb went off. His mentor doubled over on his knees beside --the smoldering remains of a desk. The floor a small crater. Alex clearly in a world of pain.

"What's happening?"

Alex groans, "pain all over -I can't shake it. I- . . the Mansion." He clutches tight to his torso.

"Uh-h-okay- this way-" Colber doesn't seem sure about touching him, but gingerly guides Alex outside. . . .