An Autumn Afternoon – by Darlin

Disclaimer – All X-Men characters belong to Marvel and no copyright infringement is intended.

-xox-

Being a super hero took a lot out of you. Fighting world usurpers and evil combined with dealing with new team mates all from different countries could be more than difficult. For Ororo Munroe, known as Storm more often than not now that she’d joined Charles Xavier’s cause; it meant reigning in her emotions more than she’d ever had to before. For a person who controlled the weather where a fit of anger could easily send the elements into a fury keeping ones emotions on an even keel was essential. Any break away from the team, away from fighting and people in general was a blessed relief and weekends were usually reserved for much needed rest. Something about villains needing the weekend to recuperate or so Kurt had jokingly told her.

Unfortunately this crisp autumn afternoon was anything but peaceful. After months of battling aliens and super villains the new X-Men now faced the torturous drudgery of cleaning. Yes, even super powered mutants had chores to tend to and the first weekend of autumn was, for Scott, like the first weekend in spring, the perfect time for a major clean campaign.

Not negligent in her tasks but seeking some small pleasure this day Ororo was up in the sky, soaring like a kite caught on the wind, her snow white hair streaming behind her. The lush grounds of the school were usually a haven for her even more so than the attic she’d turned into a virtual greenhouse. She was free under the sky, free to fly, to laugh, to sing as gaily as she cared with no one to observe. Usually. Sometimes she was forced to share the peaceful outdoors with Wolverine who often went running through the woods. Occasionally he’d stop and sniff the air or stoop low to the ground sniffing what she did not know. Hunting she’d devised one day when she’d seen him capture a rabbit. An amazing sight seeing that little man catch a live rabbit on the run but even more so because once caught he released it with a kind of rough pat to its trembling head.

Full of contradictions that one, she thought. But everyone there was full of contradictions she was sure. She sometimes wondered what had truly brought them all to this luxurious estate, to give up their lives for one man’s dream. And sometimes she would feel such shame and anguish that she lived there in luxury whilst the people she’d served for so many years in Africa continued to live in poverty – forsaken. It was harder than she’d imagined trying to adjust to so many changes and when her thoughts grew too overwhelming taking to the skies, as now, was her only salvation.

They were a merry group she thought as she soared above watching her new friend’s at their assigned duties. The air was cooler than it had been since spring, fresh and clean. She breathed in deeply. Leaves of vivid shades of red and yellow drifted leisurely from the many trees that covered the extensive lawn of the School for Gifted Youngsters. It was her task to dispose of these leaves.

As always Scott was fair in assigning each member a job which complemented their unique skills. Peter, as the strongest, was given the task of carrying bags of debris and leaves, Kurt, the most agile, was to clean the gutters, Sean had been given the task of cleaning out the garage as his skills did little to aid him in any job. Wolverine had been given the mundane task of raking leaves along with Ororo. He was grumbling under his breath as he dragged his rake through the multi-colored leaves. Sometimes he would glance at Ororo who, truth be told, hadn’t been much help so far. She’d returned to earth though you wouldn’t know it by looking at her. She was staring into the horizon lost in thought, her rake idle in her hands. Her not doing anything but taking off to fly around every once in awhile irked him even more than having to do peon work.

Occasionally he’d glance up at the sky wondering what she was looking at and more than once, with some annoyance, he wondered if she would ever acclimatize to her new environment. With her everything was new and wondrous which was all good and well but when there was work to be done goofing off like a space cadet wasn’t cutting it. The sooner they finished the sooner he was free to get out of there and head into town where he could drink in peace.

Finally, enough was enough.

“You gonna help or you gonna keep goofin’ off, sweets?”

Startled from her reverie she turned to Wolverine but instead of replying she gave him a tiny self-conscious smile. She wondered if she’d ever get used to this little man with his gruff, crass demeanor. Whether or not that happened she did have an obligation to assist him and so with a mere thought a great gust of wind swept the leaves before them up into the air. She easily directed them to land against one side of the garage.

“Is that better?” she asked as the sea of leaves settled into a large pile.

“Lots, babe. Now all we gotta do is bag ’em.”

It never ceased to amaze him, this woman and the incredible powers she wielded.

“Excellent work, fraulien and for that I bring you a gift,” Kurt said.

One moment he was on the roof and the next he materialized in front of her, his arms full of leaves. Before she could get over the shock of Kurt’s sudden appearance a shower of somewhat sodden leaves fell over her and then Kurt was gone almost as suddenly as he’d appeared; his tell tale burst of flame and smoke appearing in front of Wolverine who received his own pseudo baptism of leaves. Then, just as suddenly, hanging upside down from a tree, his tail wrapped firmly around a sturdy branch he tossed his empty lawn bag at Wolverine and then he disappeared again.

“I’m gonna kill you, you crazy Elf!” Logan raged. “We spent all morning raking those blasted leaves!”

“Ah, but I saw the lovely Ororo sweep these pesky leaves away like they were nothing. I am sure she can do so once again can you not fraulien?” Kurt said now standing behind her.

Ororo laughed. Kurt was ever the gentleman. As requested the leaves at their feet were caught up in another breeze and sent to join the pile by the garage.

“Now, what do you think about a break my friends?” Kurt suggested.

“Brother, I’m all for it, beers on me but if you wanna play games I’m gonna have to break your neck,” Wolverine said tossing his rake aside and starting back for the mansion.

“It is always beer with that one,” Ororo commented as she picked a stray leaf from her hair.

“And Canadian beer at that. Now if it were up to me we would stay stocked in German ale or lager, the very best mind you.”

“You can keep your lager, bub,” Logan shouted over his shoulder.

“I will never understand that intolerable little man,” Ororo murmured.

“Vas? There is not much to understand, Ororo. What you see is what you get but when we are to fight then I am glad he is on our side.”

Not quite sure if she agreed with Kurt she walked with him to the garage where they quickly enticed Peter and Sean to join them in the kitchen for refreshments. As if Charles had read their minds he too came down to join them brining Hank, who was taking a day off from the Avengers to help out. They had been sharing cleaning duties in the library, Charles taking care of the bottom book shelves while Hank scampered along the top shelves dusting and reorganizing.

Not long after they were seated, some at the kitchen table and Hank on a countertop, Scott and Jean wandered in. Jean was giggling, her eyes full of joy to be back with Scott after her short hiatus and Scott looking happier than he’d looked since the new group had saved the original X-Men from Krakoa the Living Island. Both were assigned to attic duty. Wolverine suspected they weren’t getting much cleaning done as Scott’s mouth was smeared with pink lipstick.

“Working hard, bub?” the Wolverine asked.

“Scott,” Jean cautioned quietly when she saw the all too familiar twitch of her boyfriend’s jaw.

That was happening a lot lately. In fact, ever since Wolverine had shown his independent streak, which had been since day one, Scott had acquired an even sterner attitude to accompany the twitch. Now Scott clamped his mouth shut and forced himself to ignore Wolverine. Why the professor was so keen on keeping the midget around Scott didn’t understand but he felt he owed it to the professor to do his best to try to tolerate the upstart.

“Ororo, what do you think of our autumn?” Jean asked as she poured herself a glass of iced tea.

“So many colors it’s truly beautiful.”

“We should take a drive in the country, there’re some gorgeous scenic routes I’d love to show you,” Jean said.

“I think I would enjoy that.”

While the women chatted the men drank in silence unconsciously eavesdropping and covertly watching them. They made a stunning contrast, both beautiful and yet so very different and what’s more they got along unlike many women the men had known. Jean liked Ororo, she liked her a lot. There was an openness to her, a freshness mixed with an uninhibited mind that delighted Jean but she was also slightly worried about those same qualities. She had taken Ororo shopping, had introduced her to her roommates Misty and Colleen and discovered in the process that Ororo was deathly afraid of being trapped underground, claustrophobia most likely.

When they had ventured into the New York subway Ororo had panicked, too afraid to go down the steps. It was something Jean had kept to herself but felt needed to be discussed with Scott sooner or later or at the very least with Ororo. Surely the Danger Room would be a good place to help her overcome her fears. Then, as if Scott could read her mind he announced that there would be a training session two hours before dinner.

“Be prepared people and be on time,” he finished despite a few quiet grumblings.

“Ain’t enough we’re workin’ like slaves for you, Summers?” Wolverine barked, not one to keep his opinion quietly to himself.

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work,” said Hank.

“You ever talk plain English, bub?”

“Thomas Edison,” Hank replied with a chuckle. “Astute words my friend. It means . . .”

“Who cares what it means? I’ve had enough flamin’ work to last me for the rest of the weekend. I’m tired of being used for free labor – you got a giant walkin’ talkin’ island to fight I’ll be at Harry’s.”

Everyone watched Wolverine stalk out, grabbing an extra beer on his way. All eyes turned to Scott who, caught off guard by the sudden rebellion, ran a hand through his hair and sighed.

“The chores have to be done people – Hank’s right.”

“That was not exactly what I was attempting to relay, fearless leader,” Hank said.

“Regardless, you’ve all got your assignments and I expect everyone to see that they get done and that’s an order.”

“Ach, I see someone’s up to ninety a wee bit, yeah?” Sean whispered to Kurt.

“Scott, we’ve had so much to do all week maybe working this weekend isn’t what we need right now. You know the saying all work and no play,” Jean said with a smile she hoped would win him over.

After counting slowly to ten Scott forced a tight smile that came out more of a grimace.

“I’m going to have a little talk with Wolverine and in the meantime team you have five minutes to finish here and get back to work,” he said.

Sean and Kurt groaned. None wanted to go back to work but neither did they speak up. The last thing any of them wanted was to suffer through one of Scott’s talks.

“And we’ll skip the Danger Room session for today; we’ve been working pretty hard lately,” he added after Jean gave him a hopeful look.

A cheer went up from Kurt and Sean and Jean gave Scott a grateful smile.

“You’re all right mate,” Sean said, patting Scott on the back.

Scott didn’t know if he liked being thought a good mate. He rather preferred to be thought of as a good leader but he gave Sean a curt nod and was glad to see they all went back to work without complaining any further.

“If we must work then at least it is a beautiful day is it not?” Peter asked as he heaved several heavy bags of leaves into a flatbed truck.

“So much so I wish I could fly away,” Ororo teased.

“Weekend duties are annoying but necessary,” Kurt said. “Yet still . . . I think we should take a page from Wolverine’s book and play hook do you not think so?”

“Ach, steady on, muckers if it’s hooky you be meaning to play you better be thinking twice, yeah?” Sean said as he came up to them. “I’ve been meandering the thought over a wee bit meself, you know mi-wadi’s not what it used to be in my younger days and I could surely use a holiday, but Scott won’t take kindly to a mutiny.”

“It is not a mutiny if we hurry to complete our work first,” Ororo said, her winds blowing away the leaves that had fallen on the lawn while they’d been inside.

“All good and well but none of us have your powers, Ororo. It will take me all day to clean the gutters,” Kurt said.

“Then what do you suggest?” Peter asked.

“We should finish first and then . . .”

But before Ororo could reign in the errant workers with words of wisdom Wolverine came flying past them. He landed with a loud thud and to all appearances he looked as if he was dead. Stunned, his teammates started to help him when they saw him tried to sit up. He was immediately knocked back down when a strong red beam of energy shot out striking him in the chest. He went down for the count.

Ororo, Peter, Sean and Kurt looked from the lifeless body to the man who’d just taken Wolverine out. At first they’d thought they were under attack but there was no mistaking the very familiar optic blast. Scott walked calmly towards them. He was adjusting his visor with one hand and looking dead serious as a man can look without revealing his eyes.

“No one skips out on chores,” Scott said. “Are we clear?”

“Clear indeed, comrade,” Peter said and he and Sean ducked into the garage.

“Do we have an understanding, Wolverine?” Scott asked.

Wolverine looked up. His flannel shirt was in rags and there was a hole oozing about six inches in diameter in the middle of his stomach but he still managed to stand, albeit on shaky legs. They studied each other for a long minute and then Wolverine nodded. Once. Scott noted the anger on the other man’s face. It didn’t matter as long as Wolverine understand and did his fair share. The last thing he needed was the Wolverine questioning his every move.

“Is this how you talk things over?” Ororo asked.

“This is none of your business, Storm,” Scott replied.

“Are we not a team?”

“Yes, but sometimes . . .”

“Sometimes patience and leniency and understanding are more valuable weapons than perhaps your way of talking,” Ororo said, her tone ice cold. “I am sure the professor would agree.”

Scott chewed at his bottom lip more than a little amazed at her audacity and feeling soundly chastised.

“Well, the professor’s not in charge of the team, Storm I am and this is between Wolverine and me,” Scott said. “Now I’d appreciate it if everyone would get back to work.”

Frustrated, Ororo walked over to Wolverine.

“Are you all right?” she asked.

“I’m fine as rain.”

“Rain,” Ororo whispered and a smile flickered over her face.

“Get busy people!” Scott ordered. He picked up a rake and tossed it at Wolverine.

Kurt caught it in mid air then handed it to Wolverine who yanked it from the elf.

“He is a hard task master,” Kurt muttered before he disappeared in a foul smelling puff of fire and smoke.

“What he is, is a flamin’ sonuva . . .”

“Sssh,” Ororo whispered, interrupting Wolverine, a finger on her lips as she looked at him with mischief in her eyes.

The look accompanied by a wink threw him. Storm never winked. She was too uptight for that. He had no time to dwell on her unusual actions though. A smattering of rain pelted his face. Scott felt it too. He paused before heading back to his own chores. A sprinkle wouldn’t interfere with getting the work done outside he considered but then, out of no where, rain began to batter them.

“Storm, do you think you could hold this off for a while, just until we finish out here?” Scott asked.

“I do not like to interfere with nature unless there are . . . dire circumstances,” Ororo said with a sweet smile.

“Oh. Right. Of course,” Scott said somewhat taken aback by her refusal, logical though it was. These new members were too independent he mused and yet he wasn’t so sure he’d had the right to ask her to tamper with nature to suit the team’s needs – his needs, he corrected himself with sudden realization.

“All right people take the rest of the day off,” Scott said finally admitting defeat and he trudged back to the mansion.

Kurt, who had been peeking out from the garage where he’d gone for safety, gave a joyful whoop then teleported. Sean caught up Peter and with a screech that was deafening shot out of the garage and into the air. Only Wolverine and Ororo remained. She lifted her face to feel the deluge smiling, happy in her element.

“You did this didn’t ya, Storm?” Wolverine asked, not minding the downpour.

“Dire circumstances,” she whispered, her lips twitching in a conspirators smile.

Wolverine grinned. He was beginning to think Storm might be all right. Scott, however, wasn’t quite sure what to make of the dignified erstwhile goddess. But Jean, who met him at the door with a kiss, was certain she was going to get along fabulously with Ororo. After all, it wasn’t every day someone could so easily put Scott in his place.

“Looks like they win,” Scott said giving her an affable grin.

“It’s not you against them, Scott and the sooner you start believing that the sooner everything will fall into place,” she said.

“Maybe.”

“And another thing . . .”

“Jean . . .”

“I won’t say anything else after this but Scott, honey, you’re really going to have to work on your talking skills,” Jean laughed thoroughly tickled.

Irish Interpretations more or less (if wrong please let me know):

Up to ninety - near boiling point, ready to explode

Muckers – a friend or mate, someone you muck around with

Mi-wadi – my body