NOVEL NEXT Chapter 048 – Blink
[2009 – June]
Cooking breakfast was an enjoyable task as always, especially so with Jean being especially affectionate and hardly leaving my side.
I knew she was still rattled after last night's revelation, which made her a bit more clingy, but I didn't mind at all. I loved her and knew that right now she needed someone to rely on, someone that cared about her and who she could trust.
I wanted to be that someone. And gentle kisses and tender touches were hardly a price I couldn't afford to pay. For Jean, I had those in spades.
Settling down with her on the leather armchair after breakfast, I started reading another book, while she just relaxed in my embrace and watched some TV.
“Do you think she will come?”, Jean asked softly after some time passed.
My legs were resting on the coffee table, as Jean was curled up on top of me. Her head was buried in the crook of my neck, while her body was draped over my own. My hands were wrapped around her waist, while Jean had placed her right hand on my left forearm, her free hand softly stroking the left side of my chest where my heart was.
The book I was reading being kept in position by a barrier.
“She will.”, I answered lightly, no doubt in my heart.
And as if on cue, a pinkish portal opened up the next moment a few feet away as an icy blonde beauty stepped through it, the portal disappearing right after.
“Emma.”, I greeted with a slight smile, while levitating myself and Jean into a standing position.
“Thank you for coming on such short notice. This is Jean Grey.”, I continued, before turning to Jean, “Jean, this is my half-sister Emma Frost, I told you about her.”
"N-nice to meet y-you, Ms. Frost.", Jean greeted politely, a nervous stammer in her voice while her cheek gained a rosy tint.
“Nice to meet you too, Jean. And you can just call me Emma, dear.”, Emma replied with a perfect smile, giving me a curious look, “Still, I didn't expect you to contact me so soon, Elijah.”
"There have been some changes to my- … Well, our situation.", I stated, as I gave Jean an affectionate look, taking her hand in mine before I continued, "But please, take a seat first before I tell you what all this is about."
Saying so, I pulled Jean with me to the couch, while leaving the armchair to Emma, who accepted the seat with a small nod.
"The last time you invited me to live with you and I declined, as I had other plans. This time I want to ask you if your offer still stands. And if that offer extends to Jean too.", I went straight to the point, seeing no point in being unclear about my objective.
A surprised look crossed Emma's face, as she gave me and Jean a deep look before asking: "Do you know what you are asking of me, Elijah? Taking you in would be one thing as we are blood-related and you aren't really a student of Xavier's. Jean though is different. She has lived in the mansion for nearly ten years and Xavier definitely sees her as one of his own.", Emma voiced out, a small frown on her face.
Jean's grip on my hand tightened, as she heard Emma call her 'one of Xavier's' and I brushed over the back of her hand my with thumb affectionately in response, reassuring her of my presence and care.
Still, I knew that what Emma said was mostly true, I also knew that she mostly said it for dramatic purposes. She was very aware of Jean's worth and potential, but a lifetime of manipulation isn't that easy to shake off after all.
Sighing audibly, I gave her a blank look as I answered calmly: "Please, no games Emma. We are two Omega-level mutants with basically limitless potential. I am very clear on our value as potential students of your Academy, as are you. I came to you because I trust that you will be honest with me. You want us to be family, now is your chance to act like one."
“You are right, forgive me, Elijah. Old habits are hard to lay down. And yes, I will gladly take both of you in.”, Emma voiced out, a bitter smile on her face that gradually turned more natural.
She continued as a serious look appeared on her face, "But I have to ask, what is your reason for this? I suspect it has to do with something Xavier did?"
"It's easier to show you. Try and read my mind.", I said, as I created a barrier around the three of us and opened my telepathic shield just enough so that she could see my memory of yesterday's talk with the Professor.
Thanks to my new mental capabilities, I had gained incredibly precise control over my mental barrier and could decide to show others parts of my thoughts and memories if I wanted to.
Emma likewise closed her eyes, as she watched and relived my memories. Opening them a few minutes later, she gave off a sigh.
"As ruthless as ever, Charles.", Emma voiced out quietly, before she continued, "I understand why you want to leave, and you are right to do so. While the Professor has the good of mutantkind in his sight, he sadly lacks a certain restraint when it comes to the methods he uses to achieve that goal. As long as you come with me, I can guarantee that you will be safe from his attempts to control you."
Taking down my barrier and shielding the entirety of my mind again, I answered her.
“I thought as much.”, I remarked quietly, before I continued, “I think it's for the best that we move as soon as possible to avoid further troubles.”
"Agreed.", Emma nodded, as she asked, "How about I call someone that will help you pack your things, Jean, while I talk over the details with Elijah?"
Jean gave me a hesitant look before I leaned in and gave her a quick, reassuring kiss, causing her to turn back to Emma with rosy cheeks as she addressed the older blonde quietly: "Mhm."
Emma closed her eyes for a moment before the same portal appeared once again and a young girl stepped through it.
The girl had lilac hair, striking green eyes, and looked like a girl of asian descent while I guessed her age to be around my own.
She was wearing tight-fitting black jeans, ankle-high black boots, and a loose light-pink blouse, with a dark-blue waist-high leather jacket over the blouse.
“This is Clarice Fong. One of my students and a member of my Hellions.”, Emma introduced, “Clarice, these are Jean Grey and my brother Elijah Frost.”
Sporting a calm look, she greeted us: “Nice to meet you, Elijah, Jean. You can just call me Blink.”
I gave her a nod, while Jean smiled lightly and answered: “ Nice to meet you, Blink.”
“Clarice, please go and help Jean pack up her stuff, before taking it back to the mansion on the school grounds.”, Emma instructed calmly.
“Yes, Headmistress.”, Blink answered well-mannered.
Taking the Sling Ring from my pocket and raising my hands, I opened a portal to Jean's room with it. Knowing that it would be better if this whole ordeal would pass quietly.
“That is new.”, Emma remarked in surprise, while Clarice looked at the portal with intrigue.
“It's magic, not a mutant ability. I will tell you about it later.”, I replied, before turning towards Jean.
“I will see you in a bit.”, I whispered quietly, before I placed a small kiss on her cheek, my fingers softly brushing back a lock of her hair.
"Mhmm.", Jean nodded, her own hand caressing my cheek, before she turned around and walked towards the portal, Blink following behind.
Closing the portal again, I turned to Emma.
"Thank you.", I said sincerely, knowing that she wasn't obliged to help me at all. I would make sure to remember this favour, so that I could pay her back in the future.
"You don't have to thank me. I told you last time that you are a Frost and that makes you my family.", She replied with a smile, a hint of softness hidden in it.
"Mhm.", I accepted her words whit a nod, before I continued with a calm tone, "And while I don't want to threaten you, please don't try and repeat what Charles tried to do to Jean. Because family or not if you force me, I will destroy you and everything you love, Emma."