Mission End

[miniclaws]

[The team parted at the entrance. Wolverine gave his reports to Cyclops alone. It suited X23 fine. She sniffed the air for Julian's sent and began to trace it to it's origin. He would call her Laura and she would feel less like a monster. The clothes with the bloodstains would go to the wash and she would start anew again.

She opened Julian's bedroom and walked in] I am back.

Comments

[miniclaws]

You are mine. I did not think you'd feel the same

[hellionated]

It's been that way for a while, Laura. You always come back to me. [And not everyone does. He's been abandoned too many times. Even when she's away with X-Force, she always comes back.]

[miniclaws]

I look forward to coming back each time. You are home.

[hellionated]

[He smiles at that] You don't normally say things like that.

[miniclaws]

No. I don't. There is rarely a reason to. You gave me one.

[hellionated]

I'm glad...that's what I want to do. [He's managed to surprise himself with that one]

[miniclaws]

So. This means something more

[hellionated]

You mean a lot to me.

[miniclaws]

You. You are in my thoughts a lot. Even when you shouldn't be.

[hellionated]

Am I? [He's surprised] ...when shouldn't I be?

[miniclaws]

When I am fighting, it is a distraction. I get random thoughts.

[hellionated]

Everyone does. [He's watching her closely] ...you think of me when you're fighting. What do you think about?

[miniclaws]

Things. A person's eyes can remind me of a yours. A scent on the air that could be yours..

[hellionated]

[Watching her]

...

[The fuck can he say to that? If it were anyone else...but this is LAURA.]

Why do you think... [Damn it, Julian. Just talk.] I think about you too.

[miniclaws]

Why did you stop the question?

[hellionated]

Cause I'm being dumb. [Hesitation. Then he reaches over and touches her hand] ...I know what you're saying. I don't mean to distract you. But I...

...

think about your eyes, too.

[miniclaws]

[she looks at him curiously] what do you think about them?

[hellionated]

[Sticking with honesty? Just do it. She was honest with you.]

...that they're beautiful.

[miniclaws]

They are? I prefer blue

[hellionated]

Blue like mine? [He's smiling] ...s'okay to say that. [Fuck this is weird. He never thought he'd be having this kind of talk with Laura.] Thing is I like green. I like yours. ...I like you, Laura.

[miniclaws]

Like how? I like you a lot. More than anyone else. Except Wolverine

[hellionated]

Like... [Oh, man. How is he supposed to explain? This is...God, he's not good with this stuff. Charm, sure, flirting, definitely. But saying it so blunt as this? New territory. And new also because it's Laura, and he...

Shit. He doesn't want to mess that up.]

Like a different kind of liking. Not like with Cess, or...

[Keller, you suck.]

God. Like this.

[He quickly kisses her lips, then moves back again. He really, really hopes he hasn't been reading this wrong.]

[miniclaws]

[Laura quickly recloses the distance and kisse him back properly, a hand going round the back of his neck to keep him there. This she understands and likes]

[hellionated]

[And...goodbye, coherent thought. Luckily his body's going on instinct. His hands move to her waist and he kisses her back, closing his eyes while he presses her against him]

[miniclaws]

[Laura is nearly in his lap when she pulls back from the kiss and smiles slightly] You are a good kisser