Dance With Me

Shockwave stared at the poster on the wall intensely, as if simply by watching

it, some idea would fly into his head and he'd know exactly what to do. The

school day had ended moments earlier, and already excitement was in the air,

excitement, Shockwave determined, that resulted from this poster, or one of the

hundreds just like it that lined the halls of Bayville High.

"So, are you going?" Kurt asked as he closed his locker door.

"I don't know..."Shockwave replied. "I've never danced before. I wouldn't know

where to begin."

"Oh, come on Shawn. It's DHE DANCE. Everybody's going to be dhere, and you

don't have to actually dance, just schmooze."

"Like I don't do enough of that during the school day." Shockwave said. Kurt

groaned and slapped his forehead.

"Man, Shawn, most people would die for popularity like you have."

"I didn't ask for it...and anyway, being popular is highly overrated.

Everything you do is so tightly watched, you can't even just be yourself. Be

thankful that you've got a normal life...so to speak."

Kurt laughed and playfully smacked his locker. "You are a piece of verk,

Shawn."

They turned and walked down the now empty hallway, their footsteps echoing and

squeaking on the freshly polished floor. As they passed by the Girl's Locker

room, the door opened and the familiar hyper voice of Kitty Pryde filled the

air.

"Man, it's like, totally ixom. I can't believe that Jean's not going with

anybody. I'd of thought she'd ask Duncan for sure."

"Well, at least she's got someone to ask." A very sullen looking Rogue replied,

her eyes drifting away from her bubbly friend.

"Oh come on, Rogue. Knock off the negative vibes." Kitty said. "I don't need

you bringing the house down while I'm here...Oh, hey guys." She said as Kurt and

Shockwave passed. The two girls fell into step beside their male friends. "So,

got dates yet for the dance tomorrow?"

"Ya, and I can't vait for it!" Kurt said, though he didn't have to. Everybody

who could hear already knew that Kurt had a date.

"Shawn, what about you?" Kitty said, tugging on his arm. "Have you picked a

lucky lady, cause I, like, have a friend..."

"Kitty, please. I don't think I'm going."

Kitty's face fell. "Not going? Why?"

"Can't dance. Besides, for once I'd like to be AWAY from ANY school. I was

thinking about maybe a movie."

"You're kidding, right? You have to go. Everybody's going!"

"No, I'm not. Are you going, Rogue?" He said. Rogue looked at him for a moment,

her face somber. Concern flooded through him. "Are you ok?"

Rogue nodded slowly, then whispered "Ah, Ah don't know. Maybe."

Kitty laughed and playfully slapped Shockwave's arm. "See, I told you

everybody's going. Now you have to go."

Shockwave put his arm around Kitty's shoulders. "We'll see. You still have a

day to convince me."

"I'll, like, take that as a challenge." She phased through his arm.

"By dhe vay, Kitty, who are you taking?" Kurt said, trying to inch closer to

her.

Kitty phased through Rogue. "That's close enough, fuzzy boy." She laughed and

brushed hair from her face in a very overacted motion. "Oh, just this new kid I

met in biology. He's really cute, and totally quiet."

Kurt's face scrunched up. "Are you sure you should be taking a newbie to dhe

dance? Isn't dhis an important social situation?"

Kitty frowned playfully. "Oh, Kurt, grow up."

The four friends walked through the front doors of the school and into the

fresh air and sunshine of a spring afternoon. Students milled about, chattering

about this and that, but mostly about the dance. Indeed, as Shockwave could

tell, it was the only thing on anyone's mind. Maybe he had underrated it a bit.

The line for the bus stretched around the corner of the school, with the people

waiting more in clusters than in a straight line. Kurt and Kitty headed directly

for the back, still talking about the dance in excited tones. Shockwave took one

look at the queue and stopped.

"I think I'm going to walk home. Anyone with me?" He said, rubbing his

forehead.

Kurt and Kitty stopped and, briefly looking at each other, shook their heads.

Rogue looked from the long line to Shockwave, then back at the line. "Ah think

Ah'll join you. No use waitin in this."

Shockwave nodded. "Meet you back at the Institute." He said, waving to a

departing Kurt and Kitty. Pushing through the crowds, he and Rogue crossed

through the school grounds, passed a strangely deserted athletic field, and into

the park that surrounded the back of the school.

The air was sweeter in the park, tinged as it was with the scent of pine, grass

and fresh earth. The soft ground was easier on their booted feet and twigs

crunched pleasantly underfoot. A few other students were passing through, but

for the most part, he and Rogue were alone. He looked over at her, saw the

apprehensive look that covered her face, saw her hastily avert her gaze, and

stopped.

"Are you sure you're ok?"

Rogue stared up at him, her face slowly reddening. "Yeah...It's just the dance,

that's all...Ah've had some bad experiences at dances. Ya know, with mah

power..."

Shockwave nodded. He was about to put his hand on her shoulder, but thought the

better of it. "I know how it feels...sort of." Though their powers were very

different in effect and nature, the results were similar, especially when

Shockwave stood near electronic equipment.

They resumed walking, passing from the relatively open fields into a dense

cluster of trees. The light from the afternoon sun flickered under the leafy

canopy, and a cool breeze blew a light chill into the air.

"Yah never answered mah question." Rogue abruptly said, moving closer to

Shockwave. "About how yah can touch me."

Shockwave stopped and slowly shook his head. "I really don't know what to say."

Rogue looked away into the forest. "Ah understand, but it makes no sense. Yah

shouldn't be able to."

"Sometimes the simplest answers are the best. Maybe it's just because my

gravity field interferes with your powers."

"Might be." She said, taking off her glove. Shockwave knew what she was going

to ask, he could see it in her eyes.

"Are you sure you want to try? What if you absorb me this time? My powers a lot

to handle."

"And if not? Ah mean, we should at least try it again. And anyway...ah kind

liked it, yah know."

Shockwave looked at her bare hand, then at his. "Worth a try. But if you feel

anything, let go immediately." The though of her reading his memories in

addition to taking his powers was very unsettling to him, but inside, he really

did want her to touch him. Both for her sake, and for his own.

Rogue nodded, holding her hand up, palm outward, fingers splayed. Despite the

heavy thud of his heart, Shockwave mirrored her, holding his own hand so close,

they were almost touching. He could feel the cold air around her hand, and with

it the apprehension she, too, was feeling. They stared into each other's eyes,

nodded once, and pressed their hands together. Both closed their eyes, waiting

for what should have been the direct flow of Shockwave's emotions, memories and

powers into Rogue.

Nothing happened.

They stood very still for several moments, very silent, listening to the sounds

of the forest around them, and feeling the touch of their hands together.

Shockwave spoke first.

"How does it feel?"

A slight smile crossed Rogue's lips and she laughed. "Yah don't know how good.

It's been a long time." She closed her hand, interlocking her fingers with

Shockwave's. She chewed on her lower lip for a second. "Ah never said thank

you."

"What for?"

"For savin mah life."

Shockwave closed his eyes and lowered his head. The incident in the danger room

wasn't even a week old and the memory still stung when he thought about it. His

grip on Rogue's hand slackened and her smile vanished.

"Ah'm sorry. Ah shouldn't have said..."

"No, don't be. I..." A twig cracked and Shockwave reflexively tightened his

grip on Rogue's hand. A chill swept over the back of his neck and he darted his

eyes around nervously.

"What's wrong?" Rogue said, squeezing his hand and glancing over her shoulder.

"Somebody..." There was a person nearby, of that Shockwave was certain. His

chest tightened and he pulled Rogue close, drawing his field around them.

"Is it?"

"No. It feels different..." Almost familiar, he thought. Whether malicious or

friendly, he couldn't tell, but familiar most definitely. "Show yourself!" he

said, raising his voice from its hushed whisper.

A light wind continued to blow through the trees. He heard the flutter of a

bird's wings, the rustle of a small animal as it moved through the underbrush.

Then all was silent, even the sounds of his and Rogue's fast breathing.

"Maybe it was nothing." She said, letting go of his hand. Shockwave let his

field drop. Rogue took a few steps towards one of the trees. "Maybe it was

just..."

Rogue suddenly screamed, falling to the ground. Shockwave felt his power build

and he whirled around, prepared to strike at whatever it was. What he saw made

him hesitate, the feeling of familiarity renewing its push. Jutting from the

tree, apparently phasing through, was a long cylinder of shadow, bobbing up and

down very slightly, as if it were looking at them. He felt a demi condense in

his hand, then the stab of recognition that he had been grasping for gave him

leave to disperse it.

"ShadowKnight?" He said, moving closer to the tree.

The black shadow peeled away, revealing a young boy with an unruly mop of black

hair and solid black eyes. A smile cracked his lips. "Shockwave..." He said,

phasing through the rest of the tree.

"ShadowKnight! What?...Why?..." A broad smile crossed Shockwave's face as he

pulled the much smaller boy into a massive bear hug. "You didn't say you were

coming here?"

"I...well, that is to say...surprise...I guess?" ShadowKnight stammered.

Rogue lifted herself off the ground and brushed dry leaves from her pants. "Why

Ah oughta!" She brandished her fist and the boy blanched, practically jumping

behind Shockwave.

"Relax, Rogue. He's an old friend." He pulled ShadowKnight out from behind him

by the collar. The boy was still shaking and fear was evident in his eyes.

"Rogue, meet my little brother ShadowKnight. Or is it Seth now?"

ShadowKnight nodded. "Seth, yeah. Pleasure to meet you." He gave Rogue a small

half-wave. "Sorry about that...I wasn't sure if it was really Shawn or not."

Rogue glared at him and he shrank back. Shockwave put his arm around the

younger boy's shoulder and squeezed. "Come on, Rogue. Cut him a break."

She folded her arms over her chest. "He coulda said something, stead a scarin

me like that."

Shockwave shook his head and looked at his brother. "So, what brings you to

Bayville? News about the others?"

ShadowKnight nodded. "I met up with..." He grew very silent and looked at

Rogue. "She's not a...norm, is she?"

Rogue's jaw dropped and her anger broke through again. "Ah'll have you know!"

Shockwave put his hand on her shoulder and shook his head. He knew exactly how

his brother felt.

"She's a friend. Anything you say will be kept strictly confidential. I'd trust

her with my life."

ShadowKnight nodded. "I met up with Torch, down in Brazil, like I said we

would. He told me to find you, then went off in search of Corona."

"Trouble?"

ShadowKnight nodded again. "I'm afraid so. But...could we get out of the open.

It might not be safe to speak about it here. Do you have a safe place we can be

alone?"

Shockwave looked at Rogue, whose expression had softened to one of concern. She

nodded in anticipation of his unasked question. "The Institute."

"Yeah, my thoughts exactly." He turned to his brother. "Follow us, we know a

place."

* * *

Cadaver saw the mound of biomatter he had grafted to his wrist mold and shape

into a hand. He flexed the fingers a few times and smiled with satisfaction. The

last reminder of his battle with Shockwave had been purged.

"You haven't lost the touch, I see." The smooth voice cut through the silence

of the room.

Cadaver nodded and clenched his new hand into a fist. "You don't lose that kind

of touch, my friend. It stays with you."

"Which is more than you can say for Shockwave." The voice added smugly.

Cadaver wheeled around, a snarl on his lips and fire in his eyes. "Don't you

start now."

The voice snickered. "You failed, Cadaver. That's why Mindbender put me in

charge."

"I swear, I will return him."

"As you promised once before. You're very fortunate you still exist, old

friend. Master could have finished Shockwave's work."

"I'm too useful. He wouldn't dare, not after what I've done for the Army."

Cadaver said, cracking his newly formed knuckles

"Master doesn't need you or your toys. He needs Shockwave, or else our number

will be incomplete."

"And we shall deliver him. " Cadaver said.

"Mighty words from one who nearly died at his hands."

Cadaver snorted. "Shockwave wouldn't kill me, he hasn't the will nor the mind

for it. That's why he ran away in the first place."

"He fled for his freedom."

"Why would he trade a life of relative comfort and stability for a life on the

run, consumed by anarchy? He could not abide by Master's plan. He has a soft

heart inside his iron body. I've seen it at work. Why Master wants him back, I

don't know?"

"Master has his reasons, and they are beyond our concern. However, if what you

say is true, my friend, then he possesses a great weakness. But how can we

exploit it? What could invoke such feelings that he would forego his liberty?"

Cadaver thought for a moment. Who did he care for, besides his cohorts? If they

managed to capture on of them, perhaps? Maybe the girl, Corona? Maybe...then his

eyes lit up, a feral grin crossing his mangled features. "The girl. We can get

to him through the girl."

"Corona? You know where she is?"

"No, not Corona...the girl who was following him. The southern girl...She will

do nicely. Shall I send for a retrieval unit?"

"No. Wait for the dance. We can put our plan into action then, my old friend."

* * *

Professor Charles Xavier sat in the dimmed control booth of the Danger Room,

his fingers flying rapidly over the keypad to Cerebro's interface.

"Anything yet, Professor?" Said a youth, half-wedged into one of the access

hatches.

"Not yet, Forge, keep trying."

"Roger that. I think I see the problem...wow! The entire central processor is

fried. No wonder the Room went haywire. And you said a mutant did this?"

"Yes." Xavier blinked as the screen before him flickered to life and

brightened. "Yes, Forge, that's much better."

Forge slid out of the hatch, the living toolkit that was his body retracting

into his arm. "Whoa, what mutant has the kind of power to fratz out an entire

computer?"

"A very powerful and special one." The screen flashed as Cerebro's backup

systems engaged. "I only hope that some of the data was saved. I would like very

much to find out more about him."

Files scrolled by, each relating to a different X-Man. At the end of the list

was an untitled folder, blinking to indicate newly recorded data. Xavier held

his breath and opened it.

"That what you wanted, Professor?"

Xavier reviewed the files, a smile crossing his lips. "Yes, Forge, exactly what

I wanted."

* * *

ShadowKnight looked out the window of Shockwave's room for what must have been

the hundredth time before he finally drew shut the curtains, plunging the room

into an eerie dimness. "Sorry. " He said. "Can't be too careful these days."

"You have nothing to fear, brother. We're completely safe here at the

Institute." Shockwave said, retracting his field so the lighted flashed on.

"Safety is a luxury." ShadowKnight replied, sitting rigidly in one of the

chairs by the closet. "But I trust you." An awkward silence descended on the

room.

"So, what's this big news?" Shockwave said, leaning his stiff body against the

wall.

ShadowKnight shifted his nervous eyes between Shockwave and Rogue, who was

laying across the bed. His fingers twisted themselves into a thick knot and he

leaned forward until he was almost off the chair.

"As I said, I headed down to Brazil to meet Torch. He'd been there since the

escape, waiting for word from any of us."

Shockwave nodded. "I was planning to head there myself, but..." He gestured to

his room.

"You're more fortunate here." Knight said. "Down in the jungles, it's hard to

breathe and very hot. But that isn't the problem." Knight gulped, beads of sweat

forming on his brow. His agitation was becoming contagious, for Rogue had now

propped herself up on her elbows and was staring at him intensely.

"If you can't say it, I won't force you."

"No, I need to tell you, in case...We found another facility. For the Army."

A coldness erupted in Shockwave, flooding out from an icy heart. "Another one?

But I thought Alaska..."

Knight shook his head." That one closed right after we left. They had to open

up another one if they wanted to keep Master's deadline. But that's not the

worst part. I saw him there. I saw Mindbender."

"So he's still around. I'd have thought Master would eliminate him after we

escaped."

"Torch thought so too. But he's still around, and I think he's getting

desperate about finding us. I saw him talking to..." Knight struggled to say

something, forming the words with his lips, but the sound not completing the

circuit.

Shockwave put a reassuring hand on his brother's shoulder. "Who did you see?"

ShadowKnight inhaled deeply. "Plague."

Shockwave nearly lost his balance. Knight nodded, leaning back in the chair and

letting out a whoosh of tension. Rogue sat up, completely confused, but sure

that 'Plague' was definitely someone to be worried about. The silence was thick,

but the apprehension thicker, as if nobody knew what to say to the news.

"Plague...so here survived." Shockwave said.

"He looked different, much more confident, much more charismatic, like he was a

new person. I almost didn't recognize him at first." Knight said, fidgeting with

the buttons on his shirt.

"He probably is...especially after what Mindbender claimed the operation would

do. This is bad."

"Ya'll think yah should tell the Professor?" Rogue said, her soft voice

unexpectedly slicing away the nervous edge to the conversation. Both mutants

looked directly at her, as if they had forgotten she was still in the room. A

feeling of mixed fear began to rise in her chest, telling her that she didn't

belong here. The silence had never sounded so loud to her.

"That might actually be a good idea." Shockwave said, smiling at Rogue. "I keep

forgetting that I'm...that we're, not alone."

"Can you trust him?" Knight said.

Shockwave pondered that thought for a moment. Xavier was a mindbender, someone

he had learned not to trust...to stay as far away from as possible. But he had

given Shockwave shelter from his storm, had not violated his trust, had even

given him aid when it was needed. " Yes."

* * *

Xavier sat behind his desk, trying to make sense of the data now arrayed before

him. The files Cerebro had gathered on Shockwave sat directly beside transcripts

of his early interviews with the mutant. What little knowledge he had acquired

from sources in the field occupied a tiny corner on the far side.

"Find anything, Charles?" Logan said, leaning against the wall next to the

window.

"Very little, unfortunately. Even with the DNA samples taken from the Danger

Room, he still doesn't appear to exist. Whoever removed his identity from

society did an incredibly efficient job of it."

"Why does it sound like there's more to the story than that?" Logan folded his

arms over his chest.

Xavier nodded, a somber expression gracing his face. "I have found something,

old friend, that I don't want to even consider." Xavier held up a file labeled

'Genetics' and Logan snatched it from his hand. The gruff mutant scanned the

contents, his eyes growing steadily wider as he progressed.

"Charles, this isn't possible." Logan said, returning the file to Xavier.

"I agree, but the facts stand. Shawn has no X-Gene."

"But that would mean he isn't even a mutant."

Xavier nodded. "True, and yet both of us have seen evidence of his powers. It

could be simply, and I hope that it is, that modern genetics cannot identify his

genetic makeup, for he is unlike any other mutant I've even seen. But

unfortunately there is a more frightening possibility."

Xavier pressed a button under the rim of his desk and a bookcase slid back,

revealing a highly magnified strand of DNA on a viewscreen. "As you know, for a

long time, man has tried to create genetically perfect people, beings with what

is referred to as 'ideal' DNA."

Logan grunted.

"What I have found is that Shawn's DNA is composed entirely of 'ideal' strand

combinations. In essence, Shawn is genetically perfect."

"But how does that explain his lack of an X-Gene? If anything, it should prove

he has one."

"On the contrary, my friend. Think about it: Shawn has no memories, no

discernable past, he has perfect DNA. It could be simply a coincidence, but it's

more likely that rather than being born with his powers, he was created

specifically for them."

Shock crossed Logan's face. "A clone..."

"As I said, an option I'd rather not consider." Xavier closed the viewscreen.

"And an option I'd rather not tell him about just yet."

"Kid deserves the truth." Logan said.

"And I wish I could tell him. But not yet, not until I've found more evidence.

That's where I need you, Logan."

The X-Man nodded. "Whatever it is, you have my support."

"Good." Xavier reached into his desk and withdrew a satellite tactics map,

which he promptly handed to Logan. "A friend in the government found this for

me. It shows the location of a classified civilian laboratory in Alaska, one

that sits very near the first place Shawn was sighted. I only hope you can find

something up there to help."

Logan glanced over the map, slowly nodding. "Very well, Charles. I'll bring

back what I can." He rolled up the map and stuck it in his back pocket."

"Good luck, Logan." Xavier said. The gruff mutant nodded and turned to leave

when a knock at the door interrupted him.

* * *

Shockwave rapped twice on Xavier's door, then turned the cold knob and entered.

the feeling of tension was evident from the moment the door closed and he found

himself face to face with a shocked Xavier and Logan.

"Am I interrupting anything important?" He said, stopping near the door in case

he needed to leave.

Logan and Xavier exchanged wordless glances, the unspoken conversation easily

noticed. Shockwave felt a lump begin to form in his throat and he resisted the

urge to tug at his collar or wring his hands.

"Uh, no, not at all, Shawn. Just your timing is a bit awkward." Xavier said.

Shockwave looked at a scowling Logan, then back at the Professor. "Talking

about me?" He jested with a smile.

Another second long interchange of stares informed him his attempt at humor

rang with truth. "You were, weren't you? Sorry."

"No, Shawn, no problem. In fact, Logan and I were simply going over data

extracted from Cerebro about your sim earlier this week." Logan gave a curt nod

and a grunt of affirmation.

"Ah...did I pass?" He attempted another joke. The thick air of apprehension was

stifling him.

"Yes, well...most of the data has yet to be separated and such. But altogether

your performance was rather...explosive."

Shockwave raised an eyebrow. "Your humor is worse than mine, sir."

Logan coughed lightly and cleared his throat with a loud rumble. Xavier's

attention immediately drew to the mutant. "Yes, Logan, you must be headed off.

Good trip." Logan nodded to Xavier, gave a slight tilt of his head to Shockwave,

and departed, slamming the door as he left.

"Is he always this...abrasive?" Shockwave said, crossing his arms.

"Logan has his ways. Now, Shawn, what can I do for you?"

Shockwave sat down in the chair, positioning it so it was only a few inches

from Xavier's desk. He leaned forward, a serious expression transfixing itself

on his face. "What I am about to say does not leave this room. A situation has

recently come about and I feel you should be notified. that, and I could use

your advice." He spoke barely above a whisper, but with enough force that Xavier

could not help but pay rapt attention.

Xavier folded his hands. "You have my help if I can provide it."

Shockwave nodded. "As you already know, I spent most of my life in a lab, being

tested, trained and whatnot. And you also know that five months ago, I escaped."

Xavier nodded.

"I thought that when I defeated Cadaver last week, that would be the end of it.

I was wrong. Apparently, Mindbender feels that I'm too important to let escape.

He's called out another old friend of mine, a mutant called Plague. Guess what

he can do."

Xavier frowned. "And you think they will come here?"

"Cadaver knows I'm here. It was my mistake not finishing him when I had the

chance. I have no doubt he will come, both of them, in fact."

"I understand." Xavier said. "Cerebro may be damaged, but I assure you that I

will not allow either of them to penetrate this school."

* * *

With the dance ripe on her mind, Kitty had little time for anything else. She

ticked off the things she needed to do in her mind: get her hair done; manicure;

makeup, done professionally this time. She was on cloud nine, and the fact she

was going with Paul Guilleire didn't take away from her jumbled mass of mental

memos and notes.

She was practically dancing now, as she thought about Paul. She thanked every

god imaginable for the millionth time that he had agreed to go with her. Yeah,

he was new, but he was sooo cute, with his wavy red hair, his sharp green eyes,

his charming smile. Everything about him was perfect. And Kitty was determined

to make the night one to remember for both herself and him.

It was getting a bit late, and the sun had begun to creep low on the horizon.

She was running behind. She picked up the pace, walking faster down the street

from the dress shop back to the Institute. The streets were almost deserted,

though it was a Friday night. Kitty began to feel uncomfortable. There should

have been more people around. Clutching the package with her dress closer to her

chest, she began to jog.

The ground suddenly became very rumbly, and she fell, her dress splashing in a

puddle of brown water. Kitty gasped at the ruined clothing first, then turned as

the familiar voice from behind greeted her.

"Hey there, pretty Kitty."

Her face was twisted into one part scowl, one part shock. "Lance! Why did you

do that? You, like, totally ruined my dress!"

Lance held up his hands. "Whoa, Kitty, chill. Sorry, but I wanted to get your

attention."

Kitty waved a fist at Lance. "Then call! You ruined my dress for the dance!"

Lance brew somber. "So you're going? With somebody else?"

"That's, like, none of your business! I can't believe you, Lance! You are,

like, so, inconsiderate."

Lance frowned. "I thought we could go together, you and I."

Kitty's jaw dropped. "What? After what you've done to me? No, thanks, loser."

Anger darkened Lance's face. He clenched his fist and the ground began to

shake. A look of concern passed over Kitty's face, and she hugged the ruined

dress tightly.

"I won't take no for an answer." The ground began to quake, and Kitty fell

down, bouncing up and down on the hard concrete.

"Lance, please, stop it. Lance, you're hurting me, stop it." Kitty pleaded.

Lance scowled. "You're going with me. I want you to go with me."

"She said no." Came a very loud and rather sharp voice from behind Lance. The

mutant turned around, anger imposed on his features. Kitty looked past Lance and

gasped. "Paul!"

Paul stood maybe ten feet away from Lance, a bookbag slung over his shoulder.

He wore a look of resolve tinged with anger, and he was rubbing the knuckles of

his left hand slowly and methodically.

"You stay out of this, punk." Lance said, stomping his foot. A long crack in

the cement traced the line of Lance's gravity wave.

Paul leapt nimbly over the wave, much higher than Lance would have expected. He

somersaulted in midair, rolled several times and crashed into Lance, knocking

him to the ground. The rumbling stopped. Paul grabbed one of Lance's arms and

twisted it behind the mutant's back. Lance hissed in pain.

"Man, get offa me!" Lance protested.

"Leave her alone." He tugged at the pained limb and Lance bit back hard a

scream.

The ground began to shudder. Paul twisted the arm and bent it. Lance grunted

and the rumbling stopped. For a moment, they appeared to be in standoff, Lance

refusing to submit, Paul showing no mercy. "Either leave her alone, or I swear

I'll snap your arm."

The pain on Lance's face couldn't help but illicit a bit of sympathy from

Kitty. "Paul...he wasn't..."

Paul looked at Kitty, his cold stare instantly warmed, and he smiled. "Don't

defend him. I saw what he did." He tugged at Lance's arm and the boy grunted

again, louder this time. "All he has to do is apologize and it'll be over."

"Fine, man, fine....sorry, now let go." Lance hissed. Paul released his lock

and relief flooded through Lance's arm. Paul reached down and patted the boy on

the cheek.

"Remember, chivalry never hurts. The judo armbar, however..."

"Yeah, yeah..." Lance mumbled, shakily getting to his feet. His head suddenly

hurt, his vision was getting blurry and his stomach was queasy. "See ya..." he

said, stumbling away.

"Wow, Paul..." Kitty ran to his side. "That was, like, totally ixom. Where'd

you learn that?"

"Travel mostly." A look of concern entered his deep eyes. "Are you alright,

Kitty? Did he hurt you?"

Kitty shook her head. "No, I'm fine." She looked into Paul's eyes and felt

warmth flood her. A powerful feeling of anxiousness bubbled up in her stomach.

"Thanks for being a hero." She felt his arms envelop her and she hugged back

tightly.

"C'mon, let's get something to eat. My treat." He brushed a strand of hair out

of Kitty's eyes and ran his finger down her cheek. She smiled and allowed him to

lead her down the street, hand in hand.

Lance watched from an open alleyway, scowling in disgust, but not caring much.

His head was throbbing, he could barely breathe, his entire body felt sore and

queasy. Jealousy was not an option right now. He turned to leave...and tossed

his lunch into a nearby trashcan.

* * *

Shockwave grabbed a can of soda out of the refrigerator and rummaged around for

some food. He hadn't eaten dinner, and he was so very hungry. He found a cold

bowl full of pasta and took it out, not really caring who's it was. After not

eating, anything felt good to him. He sat down against the window, popped the

tab off the soda can and proceeded to eat his dinner.

"Ah never realized how hard your life was." Rogue said, munching on a banana

and sitting across from him.

"It all seems surreal now that it's over. Like a bad dream." Shockwave scooped

a mouthful of pasta. "See why I don't talk about it."

Rogue nodded. After he had left to see Xavier, ShadowKnight took the

opportunity to get some sleep in Shawn's room, and now was sleeping pleasantly,

or so she hoped. Shawn had become strangely detached since.

"Ah understand. Ah always thought Ah had it bad."

"You always think your life is bad until you meet someone who's had it worse."

he said. Those words were very familiar to him.

"Yeah, Ah guess."

"Except I haven't found my person yet." Shockwave finished the pasta and threw

the plastic bowl into the sink. "But enough about that. It's depressing, and we

don't need that now, with tomorrow's festivities and all." He tried his best to

smile, but it looked very forced to her.

"Ah guess." Rogue said. Nervousness began to flood through her.

"So, are you going to go? I'm sure there'll be a ton of singles there to take

your pick of." Shockwave plunked down in the chair next to her.

"Ah don't know. What about you?" She said, eager for an answer.

"Probably. Kurt and Kitty seem dead set on me being there. I suppose it'll be

fun." He went back to the fridge.

"They usually are..." Rogue chewed at her lip. The anxiety was throwing a party

right now in her chest. Her hands were practically shaking. "Shawn..."

"Hmm." He said, sticking his head out, a celery stalk wedged in between his

lips.

"Ah was wondering...would yall like too...ya know...be...mah date for the

dance?" The last part flooded out in barely a whisper and she instantly

regretted saying it. She looked down and hoped he hadn't heard.

Shockwave took a bite off the end of the stalk and crunched it down. If he had

heard right, and he was pretty sure he had...

Rogue looked back up, directly into his eyes. "Sorry, mah mouth got the better

of me." The bass drum of her heart thudded out its heavy rhythm.

Shockwave closed the refrigerator door. "Sure. I'll go with you."

Relief plowed away the anxiety, and Rogue's face visibly brightened. "Yah

will?"

Shockwave nodded. "Shame for us to go alone."

"Yeah..." She kept her eyes locked into his and neither said anything for quite

a long time.