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The day was just like any other before, Ian got up early in the morning to prepare for the day. He had his outfit set out for the day, A long sleeve blue plaid shirt, a white tea, and a pair of blue jeans, along with his New Uniform, courtesy of one Dr. Hank McCoy. It was a straight dark blue suit all the way, with the under arms down to his waist being red. His pants were all blue. He had short sleeves that came halfway down to his biceps. And dark blue wrists bands with a Red X on the front of them. It was all wrapped up by a pair of blue combat boots, there was metal plates covering the boots on all sides. His shirt and pants were both bulletproofed as well.
Ian took one look at the uniform and smiled.
" Always could count on the good Doc. He made it just like I wanted." Ian spoke. He placed the suit on first, and then his regular cloth. " Always better safe than sorry."
Once he was dressed, Ian took to the halls of the institute and made his way down to the mess hall. There were a few people up and about currently, most of them being the few teachers that weren't out in the field, and about two other students, namely David and Victor who usually got up early as well. Which was weird, because Ian normally would see Laura early in the morning as well. In fact, she tended to get up earlier than he did. But then again, she had been avoiding him for quite some time. Ever since that night she hadn't spoken a word to him unless it was absolutely necessary, and Ian just couldn't understand why.
Ian, sat down at an empty table to eat his food in peace and try to clear his mind when Scott and Hank. came over and sat down next to him.
" What's up, Summers? Mr. McCoy?" Ian asked the men. Curious to why they moved over from their table with the others.
" Good morning to you, too. How are you doing today?" Scott asked the boy.
" Sorry, about that. Good morning and I'm doing alright. Got the new suit today, thanks for that, Mr. McCoy." The boy replied.
" No worries. I believe the other one had gotten a little tight. So, what is it?" Ian asked again.
" Well, we figured no one should sit alone. It is better to have company. And we figured having one more Logan around would benefit no one." Hank joked.
Ian gave a slight scoff at the man's joke, obviously offended by the insinuation of being another Logan.
" Speaking of Logan, I don't see him around, or Laura. They're both usually here in the morning. Did something happen?" Ian asked.
" He and Laura left a little while ago. Don't worry, they said they'll be back in a few days. Something about wanting to spend a little time together." Hank replied.
" I didn't know about this. When did he tell you that Hank?" Scott asked, he was obviously a little tight about Logan and Laura leaving without saying another word to him.
" Well, it was right after we got back from helping Rogue's team. Speaking of Bobby is doing fine and so is Sam. But Emma still hasn't been able to find Rogue." Hank explained to the man.
" Wait, so what happened with that? You never did tell us why Exodus and his men attacked us." Ian spoke up. It had only been a day ago, but the reason behind the attack was never apparent.
" They were after a franchise of books written by renown author Irene Adler, or better known in the mutant community as Destiny. She was a mutant who had the ability to see a set of futures. And she used her powers to write those books. The only problem is we could never tell what was to be or what was a possibility. She had that problem too, so of course she wrote them down. The ones Exodus found here were decoys we used to hide the real ones." Scott explained to the boy.
" I see. So, something big must be coming for them to go through all this trouble of spreading everyone out like they have. Do you know what it is?" Ian asked the man.
" Nothing at the moment, which is why I didn't want Logan or anyone else for the matter leaving the institute. It leaves spread out and defenseless." Scott stated.
" Come now, Scott. The students are getting restless. Even if I do agree with you, perhaps we should try a little R and R time? A little trip away from the school would do wonders for everyone." Hank spoke up.
" Hank."
" Here me out, Scott. We could try engaging with a little extracurricular activity. All I'm asking for Scott is a simple game in the park, or a trip to the museum or even to the cinema." Hank explained.
" Hank, these are the last mutants on Earth. We can't risk putting them out in the open. And besides the One don't like us going into the field in the first place. Getting them to agree to take the kids out is going to be next to impossible." Scott replied to the man.
" Come on, Scott. Surely it couldn't be that hard. I'm sure with some proper convincing on our part we-"
" Hank, I understand what you're trying to do, but no. That just wouldn't work right now. Any other time and sure, I wouldn't mind. But as things are now it's just not plausible."
" Scott, just listen."
What started as a good conversation, slowly began to turn into an argument. One that Ian grew tired of watching.
' You know, when I didn't sign up for this when I woke up today, I just wanted things to be quiet.' Ian thought to himself. He quietly picked up his tray and proceeded to dump it, while the two men began to get flustered with one another. " Maybe I'll go see if Noriko is up. I do think it would be nice to take her out." Ian spoke. He then left the cafeteria and made his way towards the stairs. " But where would I take her?" He asked himself. " Scott's right about one thing, bringing her into town might not be the best idea, so maybe taking her a little further out? Well, there is Tony's diner but.... Eh that probably wouldn't be the best idea. And I'm almost certain that the cinema is out of question." Ian rounded the hall and started walking up the stairs towards the girls' rooms. All the while racking his head on where he could possibly take her, where she would be comfortable. Then it hit him." The Grindstone. That's perfect. We can sit down and eat, and she can see how her old boss is doing. Yeah, that's it." Ian exclaimed.
He walked up to Noriko's door with a little more pep in his step and knocked.
" Ugh, who is it?" Ian heard the girl groaning on the other side of the door.
" It's me, Ian. Can I come in?" Ian asked the girl.
" Yeah, doors unlocked." Noriko groaned back.
Ian smirked and shook his head. He twisted the knob and opened the door and when he stepped in, he started to laugh.
" Look at you. You look perfect." Ian joked. When he entered the room, he had seen Noriko, ass up and face down in the pillow.
" Shut up." Noriko replied. " What do you want? It's early." Noriko complained. Noriko rolled over to her side and huffed.
Ian approached the girl's bed and sat down next to her.
" Nori, it's seven in the morning. That's not exactly early." Ian told the girl.
" It is for me." Noriko groaned.
" Ha! Well, what do you say we go out for a drink? I know the Grindstone was finally rebuilt." Ian told the girl.
" Sure, that sounds fine. But can we go later? I still wanna sleep a little longer." Noriko asked.
" Sure." Ian replied. He then lifted his feet up on the bed and laid down next to the girl.
" What do you think you're doing?" Noriko asked the boy.
" What? I'm laying down." He replied.
Noriko slapped him on the chest.
" Not on my bed you aren't. Get those things off." Noriko told the boy.
Ian sighed and sat back up. He leaned down and started undoing the laces to his boots and as he did so, he spotted a picture on Noriko's desk, which depicted her with black hair a brother around her age, and two other whom Ian supposed were her mom and dad. She looked so different from how she did now. But then again, he figured that's what happened with time. Though this did make him more curious about her history.
" Hey, Nori?" Ian called out to the girl.
" Yeah?" She asked.
" What was your home like?" He asked the girl.
Noriko was surprised by the question. She rolled over and looked at Ian, who had already laid back down after taking off his boot.
" Why did you ask?" Noriko asked the boy.
" Well, I saw the picture on your desk, and you look so happy. I just wanted to know more about your family, I guess. What were they like?" He asked.
" Well... That's hard. Mom always was good to us. Me and my brother Keitaro loved her a lot. There's nothing much I can really tell you about her. She loved us, she always made sure we ate well, she listened to our concerns and our problems. I love her so much. My father on the other hand.... My father was a strict man. He always has been. Being the best, performing the best. It was all he ever preached about. That and his honor, to him, were of the upmost importance. Being the best was everything and that meant we had to be the best as well. How we ate, how our grades looked, how we dressed, everything right down to how we spoke and how we walked. He controlled it all. It was suffocating, you know. I couldn't listen to certain kinds of music without the fear of him breaking my CD player. If I stepped out of line even a little, he would hit me, Keitaro too. IT was so hard, but I got through it, thanks to my brother. Keitaro was my pillar of strength. His love kept me going, through all of it. Whenever dad would get angry because I made a mistake, or when he came home from work angry and something was wrong, Keitaro would always get involved and protect me from him. He was guardian angel for so long. Whenever I cried, he would hug me tight and curl up into a ball, and just laugh. He would tell me everything was going to be fine, and that he would be there for me. But one day, father got so angry. I don't know why, but when he came home, he was yelling louder than usual, he came to my room, while Keitaro was gone and beat me. He beat me so badly, that I couldn't see out of one of my eyes for a few days." Noriko sat up in the bed and looked over at her picture. She pulled her legs up to her chest and hugged herself tightly.
Ian joined her. He wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her close to him.
" Hey, it's alright. We don't have to talk about this anymore if you don't want to. I didn't know it was so bad for you Nori, I'm sorry. I really mean it." Ian told the girl. He remembered how his father had turned against him, but never had he gone through what she did with his parents. Not even a little bit. He couldn't imagine what that must have been like.
" No, it's fine. There's not much left to tell anyway. That night I had run away from home. I left Keitaro a note, and then in the middle of the night, while everyone was asleep, I slipped out of the house. It was hard at first, I had no money and no food. And I hadn't a change of clothes. But I got lucky, I managed to stowaway on a ship set for America. For days, I hid inside a small crate on the ship, eating nothing but garbage and scraps the men onboard left out or were too lazy to throw into the trash cans. It was no easier here. I barely survived at first, but then I met others, a group of hermits who survived on the streets. They took me in and taught me how to survive on the land. They gave me clothes, a place to lay my head and even helped me find a way to keep my powers under control when they first manifested. Then one day, I heard news of a place in Salem that welcomed mutants like me. A place where people like me could go to learn to control their powers. So, when I got the first chance, I made my way to the school I thought was welcoming to all strangers. But when I got here, Julian turned me away. I asked him to let me in and he said that this place was a school for mutants not a fucking soup kitchen. That strangers like me weren't welcome."
" He did that?! I know me and Julian ain't have the best of history. But.... Actually, never mind, I can totally see him doing that." Ian stated. He was baffled at first, but then he remembered who it was he was talking about.
" It's fine." Noriko rpelied.
" Like hell it is. The whole point of Xaviers is to give people a second chance. To welcome fellow mutants. No matter what their history may look like. Here everyone is given a second chance. Of course, I'm against letting murderers lounge around. But that's a special case. This is supposed to be our sanctuary. And you being homeless at the time shouldn't mean a damn thing. Even if you weren't a mutant, you still needed help. Julian shouldn't have turned you away like that. At the very least if he didn't feel comfortable, he should have gotten one of the teachers to see you." Ian explained. He was used to be ostracized and to see others going through it, only hit further home with him. Made him understand that person better. " Look, Nori, I know a lot's happened. But I want you to know, I'm here for you now. If you ever need help with something, no matter how small or how crazy it may seem, you come to me. I'll be there for you. I mean that." Ian spoke. He leaned over and planted a kiss on the side of Noriko's face, which made the girl smile.
" Hey, what do you say we go out now?" Noriko asked the boy. " I'm feeling a little hungry and I don't want what's in the cafeteria today."
" All right, that sounds like a plan, I'll step downstairs and wait for you." Ian told the girl. He got up from his seat behind her and started putting his shoes back on.
" You know, you can stay. It's not like you haven't already seen me naked." Noriko spoke.
" Yeah, I could. But I want to give you this moment alone." Ian replied. He gave Noriko a wink and a wave and left her room.
...
About an hour later, Ian was still standing at the front entrance of the school waiting on Noriko.
" What is that girl doing?" Ian asked himself. " It's been an hour. I can understand taking thirty minutes. fifteen to get showered and the fifteen to get dressed, but an hour just seems too much." He complained.
" Hey, you can't rush perfection, you know." Ian looked up upon hearing Noriko's voice and felt his jaw drop. Noriko came strolling down the stairs, wearing a pair of khaki's, a no sleeve dark blue blouse, and a pair of blue slip-on shoes. It was a big step up from the baggy pants and crop top, she usually wore. " See? I told you; you can't rush perfection." Noriko told the boy. She took one look at his face and smiled.
Ian shook his head, realizing he was staring like an idiot, and wiped the drool away from his mouth.
" You look amazing." He spoke.
" Why thank you. Now, who's coming with us? Is Mr. Summers?" Noriko asked the boy.
" No. Why would he?" Ian asked the girl.
" You didn't ask if we could leave? Are we even allowed to?" Noriko asked the boy.
" No, but it shouldn't be a problem. Besides if anything happens, I think you and I can handle ourselves just fine. Now, come on. Just trust me." Ian told the girl.
" Allllright. If you say so." Noriko replied.
" Good attitude, now hold on." Ian told the girl. He walked up to her and put his arm around her waist and held her tight.
" Wait? What are you doing?" Noriko asked. Her face was visibly concerned of the boy's actions.
" What? You didn't think we were gonna walk all the way to Salem? No, we're rolling in style today, gorgeous. We fly." Ian told the girl. He then lifted her up off the ground.
" Ian.... Ian? Ian Wait." Noriko told the boy.
" Nope no waiting. ALL ABOARD!!!!!" Ian yelled happily.
" IAN WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIT!" Noriko yelled. But it was too late, Ian had already taken off.
Noriko held her eyes shut and clung onto Ian's chest. She had been flying in the X-jet many times, but never had she been above the clouds without a jet to keep her from falling, so needless to say she was scared.
" Hey, easy now. It's okay." Ian told the girl.
" No it's not!" Noriko yelled back.
" Yes, it is. Nori, trust me." Ian told the girl.
He wasn't going fast; in fact, he was barely going above the speed of a car doing twenty-five.
" Trust me." Ian spoke once more.
Noriko, despite being a little scared, opened her eyes slowly and was hit immediately by the sight of the sun rising over the clouds, the puffy white clouds rolling by them, the wind brushing past her face. Ian's energy kept her warm all the way to Salem.
......
After quickly flying over a couple miles in what should have been about an hour long walk or a thirty-minute run, Ian and Noriko landed in an alley in Salem.
" Okay, I admit, that was really beautiful, Ian. Is that what it feels like every time you fly?" Noriko asked the boy.
" Yeah, it's a gift I'm glad I was able to receive." Ian told the girl.
" Something you picked up from space?" Noriko asked the boy. " Because I don't remember you being able to do that before." Noriko spoke.
" Yeah. Actually." Ian replied.
" Okay, can we talk about that? Because you never told us what happened in space. What was it like?" Noriko asked.
" I'll tell you in due time. How about we go see how the Grindstone is doing, first?" Ian asked the girl.
" Okay, but you're telling me all about it." Noriko told the boy.
" Of course, ma lady." Ian told the girl. He gave her a simple bow and the girl laughed.
Ian and Noriko walked, arm in arm, to the recently rebuilt store, and once inside the girl immediately went to see Luna at the counter.
The woman, who was injured during the bombing of the Grindstone when Kimura attacked Laura and Cessily, had finally returned to the store after such a long time. And when Ian and Noriko walked in, she quickly greeted them with a smile.
" Noriko! It's so good to see you again." Luna told the woman.
" Luna, I'm glad to see you're okay. When we heard the store was attacked, I was worried about you." Noriko told the woman.
" Yeah, Doctors were barely able to save me. I got some pretty bad burn marks on my arms and legs. And... well." Luna motioned to the large scar on the side of her face.
Noriko and Ian both looked at the woman and frowned.
" I am so sorry, Luna." Noriko told the woman.
" It's fine. I'm at least thankful to be alive." Luna replied.
" And you returned to the grindstone? I would have thought you'd move away. Or at least find a new job." Noriko asked the woman.
" I love this place, Nori. I've had so many memories here. And besides if I left, I wouldn't be able to see any of the beautiful ladies that walk in here. Even if they don't exactly like to look at me anymore." Luna explained.
" Hey, don't be like that. You're still a very beautiful woman, Miss." Ian told the woman.
" Oh, my Nori, who is this?" Luna asked.
" This is my boyfriend. Ian." Noriko told the girl. She gave Ian a gentle push on his arm and Ian walked forward.
"Oh, wow. He's handsome. Way to go, Nori." Luna told the girl. Luna then extended her hand. " Hi, the name's Luna DePaula. It's nice to meet you." Noriko told the boy.
Ian shook Luna's hand and smiled.
" Ian, it's a pleasure to see you alive and well again." Ian told the girl. " I've been in here before, but not for very long."
" I see, well, feel free to take a seat anywhere. We got plenty of space. What can I get for you guys?" Luna asked.
" We'll have two croissants and two large cups of coffee, with French vanilla cream and two sugars." Noriko exclaimed.
" Alright, is that all?" Luna asked.
" Sounds good to me." Ian replied with a grin. He found it amusing how excited Noriko sounded when placing their order.
" All right, take a seat and I'll be back with you." Luna told the two. She then walked into the kitchen and Ian and Noriko took a seat at the table.
" Man, I'm glad to see she's doing well after what happened. She's too good of a person to have had to go through what she did." Ian spoke.
" Yes, she is. But did you see how sad she looked?" Noriko asked.
" Yeah. So many people died that night. The fact she's alive though is something we should all celebrate. Even if she will have to live with the scars the rest of her life." Ian spoke.
" Yeah." Noriko sighed.
" It'll be fine, Nori. Nothing like that will happen to her again. Kimura's entire facility's been effectively dismantled. And even if they do regroup, it'll be a while before they're ready to perform another attack like that." Ian explained to the girl. " For now, however, let's not worry about them. Instead, let's focus on us." ian told the girl.
Noriko's frown turned into a small smile, and she nodded.
" Alright, now. I believe you promised me a story on space?" Noriko asked the boy.
" That I did. Now, sit back and let me regale you the story of my great space travels." Ian exclaimed.
He began telling Noriko all about his trip to space, obviously leaving out the more intimate moments he shared with a certain red head. Noriko found herself amazed by the boy's story. His tale of adventure.
Ian and Noriko spent the morning telling each other stories about their pasts, their child hoods, their dreams, and struggles, all the while enjoying Luna's company and her food. It was a good time for the three of them really. It was a breath of fresh air, after the long months of constant danger and death.
Eventually, however, the time came for the two to return to the institute. No doubt, Scott and the others would have noticed their disappearance.
" Bye, Luna! I'll call you later!" Noriko yelled to the woman.
" See ya, Nori. You too Ian. Don't be strangers now!" Luna yelled back. She waved happily to the two as they prepared to leave the store.
However, before they could end the evening, Ian opened the door to the Grindstone and bumped into an older woman. The boy immediately froze. His face looked surprised. But not a good surprised. He was more shocked.
Noriko, looked from the boy's shocked face to the older woman in confusion.
" Ian? What's wrong?" Noriko asked. " Who is this woman?"
" Mother?!"