our brains are sick.

Emma was now the head of intelligence in Genosha and, to be fair to her, she ran a tight ship. Of course, Emma was selecting those she deemed suitable. Of course she picked her darling Cuckoos, her proteges, to work under her. However, Emma didn’t forget her duty to her people and, of course. Though she was certainly not keen on the humans that visited, she did however believe in a peaceful coexistence.

However, she always made sure to keep an eye on things. She didn’t want the same mistake to happen; create a safe haven and then watch everyone you cared about be killed because you were took off guard. Unprepared. Stepping into the bar, it seemed she was right as there was an altercation between a mutant and a human. Waltzing over behind the bar, like she owned the place, she surely was a diamond in the rough. “We need to talk about your behaviour. I’m sure the gentleman can have whatever he wants.” She told the mutant before looking to the gentleman.

“You don’t want a margarita. You want a flat, half-empty beer.” She told him, looking him in the eyes as her telepathy took grasp and he happily obliged with the command. “Now that is addressed, as you were.” She told them, not caring with whether her actions attracted attention. This was her turf.

\\

For the most part Alex minded his own business, whatever was going on behind him doesn’t bother him just yet. He focuses on the beer in his hand — maybe this is his third one? The blonde doesn’t really remember but can handle his liquor well enough not to be too tipsy yet. Alex eventually turns his head to see that Emma was dealing with some Human and what looks to be a Mutant. How did that start? Maybe it the man paid more attention ... the knowledge would be there leaving him with more of a clue.

When the Human is walking back to his table with a beer Alex subtly slides his foot out from under his table to trip him. It doesn’t send him landing on his face since the stranger caught his footing but the drink flew out of his hands and onto the floor. Which causes quite a few curse words to fill the room before storming out of the building.

“Well at least that’s over.”

The glasses were a familiar weight against his face, a safety blanket he’d been clutching since childhood. They were a necessity, of course, but… They were a comfort, too. They gave him an excuse not to look people in the eyes, a reason to pretend it was the ruby quartz barrier blocking him from making eye contact and not the insecurities in his own head. He offered Alex a grateful smile as the glasses found their home against his nose, breathing a quiet sigh of relief. He’d never much liked red, but it was safe.

“Always,” he agreed with a stiff nod, trying not to remember the years where that hadn’t been true. The years where they were separated, where Essex told Scott on repeat that Alex was better without him, happier. He’d been trying, Scott suspected, to build up resentment there. He’d only ever succeeded in making the dark cloud in the back of Scott’s mind a little darker, a little more prominent. Scott had never hated Alex for what they’d gone through — he’d only ever hated himself. 

He nodded in agreement at Alex’s statement. Cowards, without a doubt… but it was probably better this way. If they went on a killing spree, it was doubtful that the government would listen to anything they had to say. And with the cold rage in Scott’s chest, it would have been nothing less than a killing spree if the men had stayed to fight. “I’m fine,” he replied, tilting his head to get a better view of Alex’s face. It was difficult to separate bruises from skin with the reddish tint his glasses offered, but he could make out an already darkening spot on his brother’s face. “You look like you just got into a fist fight,” he replied blandly, a dry smile tugging at the corners of his lips. 

\\

Alex wonders sometimes if Scott ever resented him for growing up normal. His Mutant abilities didn’t surface until he was older than most and lived so much of his life thinking that he were Human like the rest of his adoptive family. Although, the blonde knows now that his powers actually came in much earlier but Sinister played a hand in making sure that those memories were blocked. Alex remembered what that manipulative man made him forget. The missing pieces back again but they weren’t pleasant memories. They look out for each other when they can, always have, but Alex feels bad about that time they spent apart. How often did Scott worry? When did he stop worrying about him? Someday he’ll tell him that he always wished the Blandings adopted Scott too. How he always wondered what would have happened if they were both taken in by them. What would he think about his mom’s weird cooking? At least they have each other now — no more wondering.

The Humans are cowards for leaving but it would have ended in far more blood being shed. Would that help their cause or hurt it? Probably the latter knowing u reacts to the things Mutants do. All they have to do is breathe and they’re riled up. “You sure?” Alex doesn’t want Scott to pretend everything is fine if there was an injury or something wrong. He’ll have to trust him on this though. He laughs a little, a fond smile stretching over his face. “I hope Lorna digs the bruised look then.” He stupidly pokes the forming mark and winces. What did he expect? 

Lorna grinned wider, feeling lighter than she’d felt since the siege. How Alex managed to do that, she didn’t know, but it had always been like that. She nodded, daring him to take a hit at her. Lorna had figured out that she could use her powers to create a sort of forcefield around herself, strong enough to stop things coming at her. Now she was going to see if it was strong enough to stop a plasma blast from a powerful mutant.

As the energy fired towards her, Lorna lifted her hands lightning quick. Green glowed around her in a dome, and though she felt the impact of Alex’s power hit her hard enough to almost make her step back, the shield worked. In fact… It seemed to do more than work. When the blast passed, and Lorna dropped her shields, she was stunned to realise she felt stronger than she had before. “Shit…” she breathed, laughing quietly. “Alex, do that again! I want to see something.”

\\

While there’s always a worry deep within him, concerned about possibly bringing harm to Lorna — he doesn’t ever want to underestimate his girlfriend either. She’s powerful and doesn’t want to ever make her feel any different. They’re always good together, combining their efforts to achieve a common goal. Maybe it’s what they fit so well together on missions.

After sending the blast toward her, Alex takes a step back to look at their surroundings. A little of the terrain is torn up but that’s okay. Mainly his concern resides in seeing if his boat harmed Lorna but she’s standing there without a scratch. The blonde can’t help the smirk that  forms on his face while seeing that whatever she just did seemed to work. Alex couldn’t be more proud. “Again? Okay — you got it, babe!” He charges up another, taking in some of the cosmic radiation all around him before firing it her way coming out of his chest this time. He’s curious to find out what theory she’s testing out.

one word prompts — caring // @disarraycd

Lorna had assured him that Alex was okay, and Scott knew she wouldn’t lie to him. The fight was over, the casualties were kept to a minimum on both sides, and Alex was okay. Scott knew all of these facts individually, but… Some things, you just needed to see for yourself.

For years, he’d been separated from Alex. He’d always known his brother was all right during that time, had understood that Alex had been adopted out by a nice (albeit human) family (one that Sinister had assured Scott hadn’t wanted him), but he’d always had that aching feeling in his chest all the same. It was the same now. He knew Alex was safe, he knew he was okay, but he needed to see him. He needed tangible proof.

So he was here, in front of his brother’s door, ready to knock. Scott’s brand of caring always fell somewhere between cold and suffocating, depending on who was on the receiving end. Sucking in a deep breath, he knocked at the door and shifted as Alex answered it. “Lorna said you wore yourself out,” he said in way of greeting. “I wanted to make sure you were… That you didn’t need anything.”

\\

The blonde can’t help yawning while approaching the door. He has felt pretty depleted recently since the siege but is starting to feel like himself again. Maybe all the sleeping that has been going on is reason for that. Who could be at the door? Any number of people can be there knocking on the wooden structure. After opening it up his lips stretch into a smile when seeing his older brother there. Is Scott checking on him? Which doesn’t really surprise Alex at all. The dynamic has always been a constant, knowing that the other Mutant has taken care of him even when they were kids.

Maybe being separated all those years when his Human family adopted him into their lives meant wanting to actually see each other after something happens. They spent so much time apart that being reunited again meant Alex wouldn’t be surprised if Scott wanted proof deep down. Even if they were both adults some habits never change. The blonde likes to see his brother though so a smile is visible on his face.

“Lorna is right. I did exhaust myself. One too many fights and used up every ounce of energy stored in my body. It didn’t feel so good.” He rubs the back of his head while moving into his room and gesturing for Scott to come in if he would like to. “I’m starting to feel better and have the energy to go outside which is nice. Unless you have food in your pocket you don’t have to give me anything. Spending time with you is enough, Scotty.”

///

Jean had always been empathetic. She’d always fed more off the emotions of others than listening to her own, always found that her heart beat more strongly for the people around her than it did when she was the one being targeted. It wasn’t for her time on the Raft that she fought, or the spray painted mutie across her locker in high school. It wasn’t about her father begging her not to go through with it on her wedding day, or her mother looking at her like a stranger when she even bothered to show up. It wasn’t about what Jean had suffered, the microaggressions and outright violence that she’d faced since she was eleven years old. It was all about her family, and feeling Alex burning with rage beside her only fed that dark part of her mind that said we could destroy them all in an instant, and no one would have to remember. We could make them forget. We could …

They’d done it before. Jean didn’t know the details, could barely grasp them, but she knew they had. Entire worlds, decimated. Planets cracked in half, cosmic fire burning through food supplies. She couldn’t stop it from happening, was asleep when it did, but there was a part of her that wanted that destruction, a part of her that the Phoenix latched onto.

A part that was burning through her now, as the humans screamed and Alex shot off another concussive force and the metallic taste of blood was in the air …

And then Alex spoke, breaking Jean from her thoughts.

Should we let them go?

No.

Yes.

They killed Scott, killed Sara. Killed everyone who meant anything to her, and harmed the rest. Jean raised a hand, and then found herself hesitating. “We aren’t like them,” she said, finally, letting her hand drop beside her waist. “We could’ve destroyed them all centuries ago. We’re not like them. Let them go.”

\\

Alex can do easily let loose too much if he let it happen — all sanity slipping through his fingers like water. It would feel nice to make them all suffer for how much tragedy his family wen through. They took away his older brother and why should they get away with it? He wants some sort of justice but maybe it isn’t his place to be seeking it. This is for Scott to think about which makes Alex calm down a little. He can’t make the whole world burn becuse then there would be nothing left.

Alex is angry, so angry. He wants to look at Jean and ask where he can place the anger down but maybe nobody has the answer he seeks. His hands lower though when Jean speaks about what they should do.

The glow leaves his hands and his chest appears to be normal. Maybe they spilled enough blood but at least a few of them would have lasting marks. He didn’t kill anyone which is a start — maybe that makes him better than them for being able to hold himself back.

“We’re better than them. We’re better.” Alex admits while turning to Jean as the protestors are all gone by now. They should feel so lucky. He takes a step closer to his sister — hoping that they can rest if only for a few minutes. “All if that aggression tired me out. Can we get out of here?”

&

She’d gotten so used to the New York anonymity, a faceless body in a sea of thousands. Chicago wasn’t much better–the Midwest kind was a thin veneer over frostbitten disdain–but at least it had been home, and parts of its waterfront were swimmable. (Genosha was probably due to get an influx of Mutants who’d gotten their powers taking a dip in the Hudson.) She loved the city, she really did, but it was cold and gray and so, so tall. Its skyscrapers jutted over the horizon like teeth scraping at the sky. You were on your own there.

The friendliness of Genosha startled her. The people she loved (almost all of them), all in one place, no one to hurt them but each other. Kitty didn’t believe in utopias, because they implied infallibility, and human beings, no matter how powerful, would always be fallible. The island couldn’t be a utopia, but she could see how it might be mistaken for one. The bare bones were all in place.

The street signs were not.

Thank god for Alex Summers, who was not a cold-shouldered stranger, but a friendly face who actually somehow seemed to know his way around. Kitty knew she should have known the place even a little bit better by now, but they all had their ways of coping with change. Alex’s was wandering a half-built mutant paradise. Hers was watching Star Wars on loop, falling deeper into a bottle of whiskey, while Lockheed dropped the battered remains of his prey at her feet. Yeah. Utopia.

“Literally or metaphysically?” she said. “Because, I mean, I think I’ve been lost for a solid decade and a half, you know? But also, like, twenty minutes. I’m just trying to find the council offices.”

\\

Sometimes it could be beneficial to blend into the crowd. Nobody would stop you, not often at least. Alex hadn’t been used to it when growing up in a more rural part of town. His family was well off enough to afford to have a bit of space around their home. Occasionally he misses getting the chance to explore the woods that were next to his childhood home. Although climbing trees wasn’t always the smartest choice for him to make. His sister usually having to help him out and asking why he continues to do this. Alex would simply just confess to liking the view from being up high.

Genosha is different than living in a small town, knowing that they build will soon become a bustling community. Their own city where they can all thrive with comfort knowing that they can be themselves. It might not be perfect but it’s their own little piece of safety and also peace.

They really should start putting up some street signs, maybe everyone wouldn’t get so lost if they were in place.

Alex has always been one to enjoy exploring and this isn’t any different. While at first glance everything seems to look similar, if you look closer there’s a way to tell everything apart. Each structure being built is starting to look different and the blonde couldn’t be any more excited. Everyone has their way of doing things and everything is still so fresh.

“Both? I think we’re all constantly lost depending on how you look at it. I don’t know where my mind goes sometimes but twenty minutes? I can help show you around. The council officers are in the opposite direction actually.” Alex says with a grin while he turns around and starts heading that way — waving for his friend to follow him. “It’s amazing how much progress we’ve already made isn’t it?”

“I’m okay” Illyana replied as she leaned back in her chair. She was still a little tired from moving the institute to Limbo and then teleporting everyone in Stark Tower out just a couple of days later. She was also having some doubts about what they were doing but she kept it to herself as she did with most things. “How are you holding up?”

\\

“Are you sure?” Alex asks out of genuine concern, knowing that the two of them have been through a lot recently. It isn’t like this is the first time they’ve been through hardship but for the first time maybe things would go their way. Alex knows that Illyana has been using her teleporting abilities a lot and wonders if that made her tired. He could relate since his energy levels are pretty depleted from how much his powers have been used. “I’m alright just a bit tired, you know?”

/

There was an old rumor that claimed if you lost one sense, the rest strengthened in its absence. Scott didn’t know if it was true or not, wasn’t versed enough in the science of it to understand whether the brain really worked that way or if people tended to grasp at straws when they needed to make the best of a bad situation. Jean, he suspected, would know the answer, or Charles. Hank definitely would. But Scott wasn’t Charles, wasn’t Hank, wasn’t Jean. He liked the clean numbers and certainty of math, but he’d never excelled in science the way others had. He couldn’t tell you how the mind worked, couldn’t tell you about the neurons in your brain. 

When his glasses came off and his eyes snapped shut, he didn’t notice any kind of difference in his other senses. Sound didn’t become sharper, taste didn’t become crisper. It didn’t feel like he’d been handed an advantage to counteract the disability that came with the sudden loss of sight. What it felt like was being blinded in the middle of an altercation. 

Fortunately, it wasn’t the first time.

As a teenager, Scott taught himself to fight like this. He went into the Danger Room with a blindfold over his eyes, ran simulation after simulation and earned bruise after bruise. You don’t have to keep doing this, Jean had told him once, and he’d smiled with bloody teeth and shaken his head. I do, he’d said. I really do. And this was why. Without his glasses, Scott was worse than powerless… unless he made himself work around it. Unless he taught himself how to excel in spite of it. Someone swung a fist towards him, and he tilted his head to feel the air shifting so he could dodge it, grabbed their hand and twisted until he felt a pop. A scream followed, and Scott had always disliked hurting people but he felt a vicious vindication with it now. He smiled, pulling the man closer and delivering a sharp kick to his gut, knocking him down. He dispatched another man similarly, a flurry of movement and rage.

Someone else approached, and Scott moved to take them out, too, only to pause before making contact. A familiar pulse of energy thrumming from within them, a warmth he could feel even at a distance. Alex. His hand dropped instantly, falling to his side as if he’d accidentally brushed it against a hot stove. He almost hit his brother. The thought left an acidic taste on his tongue. “Thanks,” he said, movements stiff as he reached out and took the glasses. He slipped them back onto his face, opened his eyes to a world bathed in red, to a few men still left standing.

“You can go now,” he said, voice authoritative. The men seemed nervous, skirting around their fallen friends in a hasty retreat. Scott watched them go, and a part of him was disappointed. 

(You should have killed them, a voice in his mind insisted. You should have turned them to ash. He pretended he didn’t agree.)

His hands carefully hand the glasses over to Scott, trusting that he would know it’s him. Although considering the circumstances he wouldn’t hold it against his brother if a fist flew his way. The energy flowing in both of their bodies is familiar and their powers can’t harm each other which is a reassurance Alex can count on. He felt angry that the protestors dared to throw any kind of hit toward his older brother. Which is the reason for the powerful blast released so it would be bright enough to make the protestors unable to see anything else for a minute or two until it dissipates.  

Which meant being able to turn his attention back to Scott and giving him his glasses. Although sees that he moves to try hitting him, but can’t blame him for not recognizing that it’s Alex at first. “You’re welcome. We always look out for each other, right?” The glow of his blast gone and he doesn’t have a lot of energy left stored up within him right now. He had enough that could hold off any other brave Humans who would dare to try to come at them again.  They didn’t though, scattering away and helping their friends leave. “Cowards, all of them are cowards.” He mumbles before relaxing his posture before looking back over to his brother.

///

Being a mutant meant living a life where she had to hide, always. Jean was one of the lucky ones in many respects – her parents didn’t disown her completely, they just wanted her to hide who she was, a fundamental part of herself that made her feel connected to the world around her, she could pass in the dormitories of medical school until her friends arrived and were obviously other, she had the power to read people immediately and know if they were likely to respond in a certain way when they found out she was a mutant. She was one of the lucky ones, but she was still intimately familiar with the look the humans were giving her and her brother-in-law at that point in time, the hatred that raged through their veins.

She should hold herself back. She was trying to stop the haemorrhaging, trying to keep a lid on the chaos that she had a hand in creating – but tonight, Alex wasn’t holding back and neither was she. The smell of blood was in the air in an instant, cosmic fire burning away the evidence in a second, and the men were screaming and they were all alive, still, they should stop now, they should leave it as a sign they could stand up for themselves and be done …

But Jean didn’t want to stop. (She wanted to, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t.) She remained off the pavement, her face impassive, her hands clenching into fists at her side. “They don’t get it,” she said, as the men started to cower back, hands up in surrender. “They never will, Alex. They’re the ones who killed Scott.”

No. No that …

“Humans killed Scott.” And they’ll never stop coming for you, Jean, a voice whispered.

\\

There would be no holding back now that they were here — feeling no amount of guilt for the blood he spilled. The anger only growing when reminded of how Humans like this were the ones who killed his brother. It makes him suddenly desire to make them feel that same anguish he was made to feel. All that mourning done — countless screams in pain while trying to come to terms with the fact Scott had been taken from him too soon. Alex wants these people to feel what it’s like to lose part of themselves — to suffer in the way that they all have.

It doesn’t end or start with Scott either. Countless Mutants discriminated against over the years and the death of his brother had been the tipping point. “They’ll never understand what it feels like to be discriminated against for being born different. Humans won’t ever understand but maybe it’s time they learn to open their eyes.” He shoots out another blast that knocks another one of the people over on his back, leaving behind a third-degree burn on his chest in the form of a circle. “Your kind killed my brother and you dare stand here spewing your hate at us.” He says while pointing at the few men left standing. He won’t let anyone come close to his family or any Mutants again if he had anything to say about it.

send ↱ for KITTY’S reaction to being lost with alex || @disarraycd​

Genosha wasn’t that big, but it was big enough, and it was new. When she had first gone to Xavier’s, Kitty needed a full two weeks to stop getting lot every time she went looking for the bathroom. It took another month to to find all of her classes and most of the grounds without a map. That had been a single estate; this was something else entirely. 

She was trying to get to her office (or what was to become her office, once the dust settled and the construction was entirely finished), and she had been so confident when she’d set out that morning. It was close, she knew that. It wasn’t hard. She didn’t remember it taking nearly this long, and the way was looking less and less familiar. Lockheed was getting angry at her, but he was probably just hungry. Or calling her an idiot. Or both. 

They needed a map in the welcome packet. A Genosha-specific navigation system, maybe. Just for mutants, because logging themselves into Google Maps didn’t seem like a good idea. She’d put it at the top of her to-do list, right under Make Magneto a Magneto-Proof Cell Phone. 

At least she knew most of the people here. In the city, everyone you passed was a stranger, and every single one of them would ignore you on the street. Here, there were familiar faces who could maybe point her in the right direction, if she could get over her pride. Here, she saw Alex, who she hoped was less lost than she was. 

She sidled up to him and waved. “Please tell me you also have no idea where you’re going. Or that you do know your way around? I don’t know. I’m getting real tired of getting lost.”

\\

Genosha is very new but Alex felt good about stepping foot here. He felt less worry filling him up while being somewhere that was specifically for his people. They all knew each other for the most part and it wasn’t like being over in New York where you’d be lost in a crowd full of strangers. The only thing about being here though is that it seems there was so much construction being done. This is to be expected though when you truly think about all the different ideas people have for the land. Everything kind of appears to be the same but soon it will all be bustling with life and buildings of all sizes.

The blonde had been taking a stroll around the various streets, admiring the progress when suddenly someone is approaching him. He was full of hope for their future which is putting him in a rather good mood today. Alex turns with a smile, waving back at Kitty.

What a nice surprise.

“I have a pretty good idea of where things are. Well, let me rephrase that. I have a good idea of where things will be once they’re finished being built. I just might spend too much time wandering around. You need help finding somewhere? I’d be happy to help you out.” He smiles as he looks around them, ignoring the sounds of the construction. His blue eyes settling back on Kitty. “How long have you been lost? Where are you trying to go?”

OPEN STARTER | FOR EVERYONE

— Koriand’r gave a wince after crashing into the other person. She had been staring at her phone looking over some of her latest designs when she bumped in them. “I am of the sorrys, friend. You are not hurt, are you?” She asked them as she went to pick up her phone from the ground, not worrying much about the scratch that it had.

CLOSED STARTER | Still accepting from here

19. — fireworks / Alex summers - @disarraycd​

— With everything going on you would think it would have made Kaine want to change but it doesn’t seem like it. Here he was still being the giant asshole trying to do good in the world, literally. If anything things had just made him stay angry and continue on doing the whole vigilante thing because he was too stubborn to even think about joining team. Not too mention he was taking some higher classes and it seemed to add to his mood. Sitting at a bench in the park with book in hand, he watched as some kids play with fireworks when a thought slipped out of him not noticing the other near him. “are they really that dumb to be playing with fireworks in a park? it’s like they’re asking for trouble.

“You ready?”

Lorna turned to face Alex, a smirk on her face, ready to spar. Just because Sentinels were being recalled, just because the mutants had won their island, it didn’t mean they didn’t need to train. Their powers could always be improved, and Lorna had a feeling that the threats weren’t gone just yet. And besides, sparring with Alex was fun. He challenged her, pushed her to be better, and she hoped she did the same to him. It was a good release after the stress of the last few weeks.

“Come on, take your best shot,” she dared him, hands glowing green. @disarraycd​

\\

“I’m always ready,” Alex admits with a smirk forming on his face. He feels better after getting some well-earned rest since the siege ended. There was also nobody better for a sparring session than Lorna. They can push each other to be better which might be why their powers work so well together. They’re kind of great as a team.

He wants to be ready for anything and he is the head of war on the council after all. Alex doesn’t think that they should get too comfortable because he believes that Humanity will always come after them with new tricks.  His own hands glowing blue and his chest too under his shirt. “You sure about that?  You want my best shot?” He would be interested to see how she blocks a blast like that. “Here it goes then ...” The plasma energy bursting out of his chest and ripping apart his shirt into ash as it fires toward her. Orbs of blue light coming from his body and he uses his hands to rip up some of the ground around them at the same time.

///

The Phoenix showed the truth. It burned through lies and self deception. It tore through the parts of a person that they hated, that they tried to keep buried, that they covered over with pretty layers in an attempt to appear normal and palatable to the people around them, and it showed who they really were. When the flames engulfed Jean, she couldn’t remember what had happened. She looked down at her hands covered in dirt or purple dust, and she was confused, but she could feel it. She knew what she was capable of when emotion gripped her. In everyday life she was kind, and she was respectful, and she was rational, logical, intelligent. When something got under her skin, though, she changed immediately.

That had always been the way. Maybe that’s why she felt such a connection to Scott and Alex, why she was drawn to them long before she was officially their family and shared their name. Jean got angry, and she wanted the world to burn with her. She didn’t care what or who she hurt in the process, and that terrified her – at least most times.

This weekend wasn’t most times. This weekend was an exception. She felt the flames burn up in her veins and she didn’t get that sinking feeling in her gut. Instead, she allowed them to grow.

Alex pushed one of the humans back, he spoke to them, and they should’ve stood down but she knew, in her heart of hearts, they wouldn’t. They always looked for war, especially with their people. The good humour faded from Jean as the humans took another step forward, going to stand in front of the two who Jean and Alex had already harmed, and she could feel the hatred rise in them.

(She should stop this. She could stop this. Alex deserved a life that wasn’t associated with burning. He deserved a life of peace. She was supposed to protect him, and she’d already failed him once.)

Flames licked at her fingertips, and Jean lifted slightly off the pavement, looking down at the humans. “I think their answer is yes, Alex,” she said, and she waved her hand, setting one of their clothes alight with cosmic flame.

\\

Emotions can be a powerful tool but also so easily able to consume someone and drive them to do things with the abilities they possess. Alex has control over them on your average day, except for when there’s too much cosmic energy stored within his body waiting to be released. He was constantly absorbing more of it while they’re standing outside with these protestors. Some might consider him unstable, so quick to become angry and not care if he hurt those that stood in their way. Alex likes to think that this is all under control and what needed to happen. Enough being pushed around by those who view Mutants as less than.

Alex watches as the Humans stood in front of the ones they injured a moment prior to protect them. Of course, they would look after their own but do they not realize this could have been avoided if they were a little more open-minded? They clearly have made their chance to embrace hatred over anything else.

Equality is always the dream but so far out of reach.

“They’ll regret their choice but time to show these guys what we’re really capable of and get a glimpse of who they’re messing with.” There is a sense of awe in watching Jean lift herself off the ground for what comes next. Screaming fills his ears as one of their clothes are set on fire. It wouldn’t stop there and now it would be his turn to do something.  

//

It seemed like nothing mutants ever did won them any appreciation, but now they were positively screwed. But as Remy had already ruminated, it did not matter where in the city they went. They were going to get this sort of treatment anywhere, and since they had already drawn attention to themselves, why not show whoever came out just what they were made of. He grinned at Alex’s suggestion of a light show. Between the two of them, that would be quite the show. “D'accord. Bet dey ain’t ever seen fireworks like ours!” And there was their “audience” for said show now, a whole crew of guys who looked none too pleased. “Ah, bonjour hommes! You come for de light show? Or did you jus’ want a floor show?” With that, he whipped his staff under the feet of an oncoming attacker, sending him sprawling to the ground. When another guy swung at him, Remy managed to duck his punch, whacking him in the stomach. “Non, save de applause for last, s'il vous plaît!” Flinging his charged cards, he sent another two guys flying backwards. “Hey Alex, you think they can handle a double act?”

\\

What would it feel like getting some appreciation? Mutants never seem to get it nearly enough even when they did something good. Maybe the world is forever doomed to work against them — but they can make the best out of the situation they’re in. Even if it means fighting their way out of this mess. “We’ll ruin any future firework display they see.” While it might be an exaggeration their explosions will put on quite the display. The guys who showed up don’t seem pleased with them and he shakes his head a little. “Something tells me they won’t appreciate our act. So maybe we need to knock some sense into ‘em!” He doesn’t always go along with some banter in a fight but it feels fun today. “How about we find out?” He asks while that glow is still surrounding his hands ready to be released at any moment. “Lets light this place up, Gambit! Ready?” They could fire at the same time and at least one of the men seemed scared, he could tell by the way his hands were shaking but he doesn’t lower his weapon. When it was time he let the Humans them have it, a blast coming out of his hands but keeps it at a level where they wouldn’t get hurt too much and just knocked back. “Now we’re talking!”

***

Foolish, perhaps, but brave and protective too. Lorna loved that about Alex, and she’d do the same for him. But she also couldn’t leave him behind, no matter what he tried to do. She grinned at him and nodded. Always.

She scanned over him quickly, but he seemed to be telling the truth. Nothing too bad, no blood that she could see. Some bruises probably from being thrown back, but they’d both had worse before. They could check properly once the Sentinel wasn’t a threat. “Once we get there we can crash,” she promised, running with him. It’s not far, and Alex’s blast had been powerful enough to keep the Sentinel down long enough for them to reach safety. Adrenaline pumping, Lorna had to laugh. Until that jostled her arm and the burn made itself known again. She winced, glancing down at it warily. “Jean’s gonna kill me if she sees this.” She looked to Alex. “Are you okay?”

\\

They always have each other through anything that goes on. Alex could try to make Lorna go by to safety but deep down knows that the two of them are alike in their mindset of sticking around. Alex knows that Lorna would do the same if the situation were reversed.

There were no injuries aside from your obvious bruises and scrapes. He did get thrown to the ground with some force but Alex shouldn’t have a concussion at least. “I look forward to taking the longest nap when this is all done.” He admits but knows that they’ll have so much to do if they pull this off. The two of them manage to reach safety and it was a relief. He doesn’t relax just yet because treating the injury his girlfriend got is more important. “Do you want me to patch you up? I’ll be gentle.” He offers a smile as he tries to take a closer look but then his blue eyes shift back to Lorna’s face to make that contact with their gaze. “I’m okay, just feel like all the energy got pulled out of me but that’s just because I used everything I’ve had stored in me. I’m okay, more worried about you.”