Ham sandwich Mondays aren't exactly a Xavier's tradition, but they probably should be. The meat's pressed between two pieces of bread that are just the right amount of toasted. My body's still humming from the Danger Room session, muscles pleasantly sore in that "I just survived something ridiculous" kind of way.
Emma was merciless today. Those diamond hands of hers pack a punch that would make professional fighters weep. Three weeks of dating her, and I'm still finding new bruises in places I didn't know could bruise. Though the shower afterward more than made up for it.
I take another bite of my sandwich, savoring the moment of peace. The dining hall's mostly empty this time of day, just me, my lunch, and the distant sounds of students changing classes.
"Mind if I join you?"
I look up to find Gene Grey standing there, his auburn hair pulled back in that perfect man-bun that probably takes him an hour to get right. He's holding a salad that looks like it cost more effort than I've put into anything all week.
"Uh, sure," I say, gesturing to the empty chair across from me.
He slides into the seat with that effortless grace he does everything with. His emerald eyes scan me like he's reading a particularly interesting book.
"So," he says, delicately spearing a cherry tomato with his fork, "how's dating Emma going?"
I nearly choke on my food. Gene Grey, voluntarily starting a conversation with me? About my love life? This has to be some kind of trap.
"Better than I expected, actually," I admit after swallowing. "Way better."
A smile spreads across his face, not his usual condescending smirk, but something that almost looks genuine. "The age gap is kind of crazy, but you two seem so happy together. You're the talk of the mansion, you know."
I chuckle awkwardly. "Yeah, I've noticed the staring. And the whispering. And the occasional pointing."
"That's Xavier's for you," Gene says with a theatrical sigh.
I take another bite of my sandwich to buy myself time. Gene being friendly is throwing me completely off balance. Last time we were alone together, he was reading my mind and telling me life was a disaster.
"You're acting awfully friendly toward me," I finally say, unable to keep the suspicion from my voice.
Gene's eyebrow arches as he meets my gaze. "You're not single anymore," he says simply, "which means you're finally trustworthy."
"Ahhh," I nod slowly, finally understanding. "So you're only being nice because I'm with Emma now."
"And you clearly like dating her," Gene observes, studying my expression with those unnervingly perceptive eyes of his.
"Yes," I admit, feeling a smile tug at my lips despite myself. "I really do."
He sets down his fork with a satisfied nod. "So then Scotty is finally safe from the horny man from another world."
"I would never have gone after a woman in a relationship," I protest, feeling heat rise to my face. "Especially not your girlfriend."
Gene's green eyes soften unexpectedly. "I believe you," he says, surprising me. "But I was really intimidated. In walks this barely legal cute boy who sees the world as his oyster..." He gestures at me with his fork. "You have to understand how that felt from my perspective."
I chuckle awkwardly, shifting in my seat. "Please don't call me 'barely legal.'"
He laughs, a genuine sound that makes his face even more annoyingly handsome. "Sorry," he says, looking genuinely contrite. "I was just terrified you'd take everything from me. It was wrong of me." His voice drops lower, more serious. "I've been keeping track of you. You seem to be trying really hard."
"Thanks," I say, not quite sure how to respond to this sudden vulnerability from someone who's treated me like dirt until now.
"I want to be friends," he says, catching me completely off guard.
I stare at him for a moment, searching for any sign that this is some elaborate prank. Finding none, I nod. "I'd like that."
The scrape of a chair against the floor draws our attention. Xorna's massive helmet appears in my peripheral vision as she sets her tray down at our table.
"Good afternoon, Jack," she says in that metallic voice that somehow still manages to sound warm. She turns to Gene, her blue eye-slits pulsing slightly brighter. "Good afternoon, Gene."
Gene straightens up, clearly fascinated by her. "Hey," he says. "Xorna, right?"
"Yes," she confirms simply.
Xorna tilts her helmet slightly, studying Gene. "You are the Phoenix, correct? That is your mutant designation?"
Gene's perfect features shift into something more complex. Pride mixed with what almost looks like regret. "Yeah... but in my mind, I'm still Marvel Boy."
"Wait, you changed your superhero name?" I ask, setting down my sandwich. Something about the way he said it makes me think there's a story there.
Gene sighs dramatically, absently pushing a strand of auburn hair behind his ear. "One day we were escaping from this space station, and I had to fly the shuttle home. Nobody else could handle the radiation levels but me." He waves his hand dismissively, like piloting radiation-soaked spaceships is just another Tuesday for him. "Long story short, we crash-landed in Jamaica Bay. Everyone thought I was dead, but then..."
His eyes take on a distant look, almost glowing. "I rose from the water with fiery hair. I had become the Phoenix."
My brain short-circuits on one specific detail.
"You've been to SPACE?" The words burst out of me.
Gene laughs. "Lots of times."
My heart pounds against my ribs. "Can I go to space?" I'm practically vibrating in my seat.
Gene's smile widens.
"I'm sure if you're on the team long enough, you'll end up in space eventually," he says casually, like he's talking about a trip to the mall. "Xavier's dating some alien emperor anyway, so space missions are practically guaranteed."
"What?"
"It's all horribly complicated," Gene waves dismissively again, emerald eyes twinkling with amusement at my reaction. "Intergalactic politics and all that."
Xorna's massive helmet tilts to one side, the blue glow from her eye-slits pulsing slightly. "I do not understand something."
Gene turns to her, eyebrow raised. "What don't you get?"
"Why take a new name?" she asks, her metallic voice somehow managing to sound genuinely curious. "What was wrong with Marvel Boy?"
"Oh!" Gene's expression shifts. "I had only survived the radiation and crash landing because a cosmic entity called the Phoenix Force entered my body."
"What?" I repeat for what feels like the hundredth time.
"Yeah," he nods, pushing his salad around with his fork. "Originally, I just thought I got a lot stronger, but eventually, when I started looking into myself, I saw this fire within me." He taps his chest lightly. "Like, literally saw it."
"You have a..." I gesture vaguely, not even sure what words to use.
Gene shakes his head. "Don't think too hard about it. It's inconsistent in how it works… It usually just makes me stronger."
"Well, that's cool," I say lamely, because what else do you say when someone casually mentions they're possessed by a cosmic fire entity?
"Yeah," he agrees, taking another bite of his salad.
"Does it talk to you?"
Gene nods slowly. "Yeah, it does. Sometimes."
"What does it say?" Xorna asks.
Gene's expression shifts, becoming more guarded. He pushes another cherry tomato around his plate with his fork. "Nothing that important, really. Just..." he trails off, shrugging one shoulder. "Cosmic stuff."
I want to press him for more details. What the hell does "cosmic stuff" even mean? But something in his face makes me hesitate. That guarded look reminds me of how I feel when people dig too deep into my trauma.
"Well," I say instead, picking up my sandwich again, "I really hope I get to go to space soon."