Children of the Atom

by J. Marie AKA Askani’s Daughter

Warning!! This a slash fanfiction starring Cyclops (Scott Summers) and Gambit (Remy LeBeau) and in part 2 Angel (Warren) of the X-Men. It is rated NC-17. Translation: This story features graphic sexual encounters between two men. If you have issues with male homosexuality, or are under the age of 18, please don't read this story. It will give you coronary heart disease. And don't complain to me about it. I'll laugh at you.

Author's Note: This story is set in a slightly alternate continuity to what Marvel has set forth. I go back a little into the past, when Scott and Jean had been married for a year, and were still with the X-Men. I also added a little spice to Scott's past. The X-Men's ages are based off of educated guesses from what little Marvel comics has given us. If I'm wrong about something, please don't correct me. It's either an intentional change, or I just plain don't give a damn.

Part One: Heat

Scott Summers rested his head down on the cool kitchen table, letting the cold formica soak up the heat of his face. He wished desperately to remove his ruby quartz sunglasses, and let his entire face press against the table. He looked up and around, seeing no one. Scott closed his eyes and removed the glasses, placing them on the table and respositioning his hot face.

It had only been two hours since he and his team had been able to defeat Sabretooth. The crazed mutant was actually taken down by a fighting mad Rogue, after Scott had blasted the precipice Sabretooth was hiding under with his optic beams.

Optic beams. His bane, and his strength. The mutant power that granted him the terrible ability to emit force beams of energy right from his eyes. Yet Scott, known as Cyclops, could never gaze into anyone's eyes because of this ability. Never had his wife seen his pale blue eyes. Ever since puberty, Scott Summers was cursed to cover his eyes with ruby quartz, or destroy all he gazed upon.

Scott tried to forget all this, tried losing the heat of the battle. The red in his cheeks from the long, hard fight Sabretooth had put them through faded away some. Sweat dripped down his toned back, making his blue spandex costume stick to his body even more.

He lay like that for a while, letting his heat, his exhaustion, his frustration soak out into the cool formica table. The endless battles. The constant worry. The need to be the perfect leader for the X-Men. The act. Jean. The sham that was his life. A performance. If life was theatre, he would be a toasted Academy Award winning actor.

Scott felt hands on his shoulders, massaging gently. Jean. His wife. Their one year anniversary was tomorrow. He leaned back into the massage, some of the tension of the day, of his life, ebbing away into the caresses. He kept his eyes closed, careful to never let the harmful effects of his eyes escape his eyelids. Scott smiled slightly, glad that Jean had come to help him feel better.

The whiff of cheap French cologne. The hands caressing his shoulders were larger than Jean's, stronger. Not as delicate. A masculine chuckle behind him.

Scott sat bolt upright, feeling for his visors. They were gone from where he laid them.

"Mon ami. I t'ink you need a hot shower, eh?"

Thick cajun accent. Smooth, yet rough voice.

Gambit.

Scott stood up, quick as greased lightning. "Remy! Give me back my visors now!" he ordered, the authority of a ten year veteran of battle in his voice.

"You're so forceful, Scott... Definitely a top, neh?" Scott could hear the sly grin on Remy's face.

"I have no idea what you're going on about, Gambit. But if you don't give me back my visors, I'm going to open my eyes and look for them," Scott threatened, quiet thunder in his even baritone.

Scott felt a thump at his feet, and he bent over, feeling around until he discovered his visors. He stood up, putting them on and adjusted them blindly before he opened his eyes.

The ruby quartz was red, yet through a special prism filter built by Forge, Scott could see every spectrum of the rainbow. He could see the smirk on Remy LeBeau's handsome face. The perpetual five-o-clock shadow and the tan. The light brown hair. The black eyes with red irises. The sinewy, lean body leaning against the wall, his trenchcoat framing him.

"I did not find that amusing, Gambit," Scott said quietly, but the steel in the voice was undeniable.

"Don' be so touchy, Scott.... Somebody might t'ink you enjoyed de little massage too much to be so upset...." Remy grinned, looking smugger than usual.

"What are you trying to insinuate, Gambit? You were the one touching me..." Scott hissed, his eyes narrowed behind his visor.

"Insinuate?" Remy asked, putting his hands up and widening his eyes in feigned innocence. "Mon ami! I wasn' bad mouthing you.... Jus' commenting about how pleased you was....."

"Only because I thought you were my wife...." Scott hissed, obviously upset, as the red returned to his cheeks.

Remy's smile became very sly. "Don' t'ink I haven' noticed how you look at me, mon ami. Or some of de other more attractive boys in dis little group....." he said, standing up and looking straight into Cyclops' visor.

Scott's face turned red, and he tried to regain his composure. "You're delusional, Gambit. Now if you don't mind, I think I will go take a hot shower," he said, his voice a little too stressed for his taste. He brushed past the lean Cajun, beginning to climb the stairs to his room.

"I t'ink you better make dat a COLD shower, mon ami," came the taunting creole voice.

Bastard.

Scott walked past the sleeping form of his exhausted wife, and into the bathroom. He peeled the blue and yellow uniform off of him, and switched his visors out for the ruby quartz goggles. The world turned red as he stepped into the shower. He wished it was possible to put Forge's prism in all of his eyewear.

Hot water poured from the showerhead, trickling down his tense back. Muscles try to relax, yet remain tense.

How could he know?

Scott lifted his face up to the water. He closed his eyes and peeled the goggles off, letting the hot water pour across his hot face.

Jean didn't even find out until a few years ago.

Scott bowed his head beneath the stream of water, letting it run against his neck.

I'm so tired of this..... Of everything. I can't live like this.

Scott reluctantly put back on his goggles, and opened his eyes.

Why can't I be what I want to be?

The rustle of cloth as he dried off with a towel. He stepped over to sink and stared at the mirror.

I look so normal. The Ken doll of mutants, Wolverine called me. If only he knew.

Scott opened the mirror door of the medicine cabinet and helped himself to the bottle of Advil.

How normal I'm not.

He tilted his head back and knocked back two pills. He swallowed some water from the faucet and stepped back into the cool bedroom he shared with Jean.

Jean Grey-Summers slept peacefully on her bed, her red hair splayed about her body, making her seem like a sleeping angel of fire. Even though Scott wasn't there, she slept on her side of the bed with one arm draped over his side. Scott sat next to her and gently brushed her fiery red hair from her pretty face, careful not to wake her. He smiled gently at her.

He loved Jean, he always had. But not like she loved him. If she had loved him a little less, she would have left him before they even married. But he did love her. With all his heart and all his soul.

Just like you would your little sister.

Scott sighed and stood up, reaching out for his black silk boxers and putting them on. Khaki pants, and a red polo shirt soon followed. He combed his hair without looking at a mirror. Ruby quartz goggles are replaced with ruby quartz sunglasses. He put on a pair of loafers and passed the dresser mirror on his way out.

I look like a yuppie.

He opened the door and stepped out into silent hallway. It was late afternoon, but after the battle, most everyone was either asleep or out partying. As a result the mansion seemed empty and dark.

Scott Summers decided he liked it better that way.

Once upon a time, a young man named Charles Xavier had a dream. He met an orphaned youth and shared this dream. The boy grew into a man, believing in this dream. The boy saw only the dream. The dream was his life. He used the dream as a way to cover up his real feelings. He became the dream. Charles Xavier's dream was Scott Summer's reality.

And now the dream was choking him.

Scott walked for awhile, eventually finding himself at the boathouse. He made his way inside and sat down on the wooden floor, listening to the sounds of the water lapping at the shore. He felt lost and detached. Why was he losing it? Why now?

He sighed as he sat down. He already knew why his life was coming apart. He was twenty-eight. For the past thirteen years, he had been working on being perfect. But perfection under pressure was very difficult. He was the leader of the X-Men, loving husband, loyal friend. His little brother Alex was dead. Charles Xavier was not the same man he was.

Scott Summers was just tired. Tired of being Cyclops. Of the endless battles with supervillains hell-bent on world domination. Tired of clones, and his children of the future coming to meet him. Of losing his infant son to a fatal disease, and realizing his son was now a bitter man old enough to be Scott's father. Tired of watching his brother turn his back on him and his beliefs. Tired of watching his family die. Tired of realizing his family tree was more twisted than Mr. Sinister's genetic manipulations.

A tear rolls down his face, followed quickly by another. Silent weeping ensues, his strong body shaking with emotion.

"Mon ami. Don' cry. It gets better."

Scott looked up quickly, wiping his face with the back of his hand. "Gambit?" he asked, unsuccessfully trying to keep his voice from quivering.

"De name's Remy," a shadow rumbled and revealed the lean Cajun, his odd eyes peering at Scott intently.

"Remy. Sorry," Scott said, his voice regaining strength.

"What so bad you wan' cry over? And I t'ought my life sucked....." Remy said, putting out his cigarette.

Scott blinked. Had he perhaps seen a glimmer of compassion on the Cajun's face?

"If I said I had something in my eye, would you leave me alone?" Scott quipped, feeling contrary.

"Ooo. Wit. I'm impressed. And no. I won't. Not until you tell me why a man who has everything would be as unhappy as you are," Remy said, leaning against the wall, ever the picture of cool and collected.

"Everything. Yeah, I have everything. Everything I don't want," Scott sighed, leaning back against his wall.

"Then why'd you take it then?"

"Because I thought I was suppose to at the time."

"Dat de best you can do?"

"That's the best reason I'm gonna give you right now, Cajun."

"Fair enough."

Silence.

Scott stared at the ceiling, Remy at the floor. Remy looked at Scott, Scott looked at Remy. Both men quickly looked away.

"Ever been wit' a man?" Remy finally asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"What?" Scott asked, startled.

"You heard me."

"No. Yes. Maybe. It's hard to explain."

"Care to explain it?"

"It's a touchy subject."

Remy nodded, digesting this information. "Who?" he asked.

"None of your goddam business," Scott spat, his cheeks flushing again.

"Is it the one you stare at all the time, when you t'ink no one be lookin'?" Remy asked, raising an eyebrow.

Scott looked away. The look on his face was answer enough for Remy. Scott sat like that for awhile, his face a mask of pain. His short auburn hair was unkempt. His face seemed perfect, like a living Michaelangelo sculpture. Remy imagined his eyes to be lovely, though he had never seen them. He was dressed like a yuppie, but for once, Scott Summers didn't look like a yuppie, preppy, pretty boy.

He looked like a man who lost his way.

"What you gon' do 'bout Jean?" Remy asked quietly.

"What are you going to do about your cheesy french accent? At least make it consistent," Scott retorted.

"Answer the question."

"I don't know. I can't live like this. It's not fair to her. She knows, but she says she doesn't care. But I think she does. I think she loves me too much."

"Leave her. She needs to be happy, and so do you. How happy do you t'ink she's gonna be, married to a gay man?"

Scott swallowed. There it was. Out in the open. Spoken aloud. Gay. He was gay. Always had been. He tried to make it go away, but it didn't.

"It's not just that, Remy. It's not just Jean. It's the X-Men. It's the dream. It's everything. It's me. I'm tired of it all," Scott confessed, hanging his head in shame.

"Then leave, Scott. Sometimes a man's gotta go his own way. Find out what his life should be. What really makes him happy. Pretending to be perfect hasn't made you happy. De X-Men'll be here wit' or wit'out you. Jean'll carry it on. Dere's Wolverine. Rogue. Storm. Everyone. We'll miss you, but we'll keep fighting." Remy had never made a speech before. He wondered if that meant anything.

Scott stood up and walked in front of Remy, eye level. "You're not as shallow as you'd like us all to believe, Remy LeBeau," he spoke.

Remy smiled sardonically. "Don' go ruining my reputation...."

"Don't ruin mine, and we'll call it even."

Remy leaned over and kissed Scott.

It wasn't much really. Remy's thin lips brushing against Scott's fuller ones. But it was enough.

Scott blinked. "I.... But Rogue....? And all those women...?" he asked quietly, eyes widening behind his ruby glasses.

Remy grinned. "Women take care of specific sexual fulfillment. Men take care of another. I like 'em both."

Scott licked his lips. "I didn't think that you...."

"Dat's you're problem, Scott," Remy interrupted. "You t'ink too much."

Scott couldn't think of anything to say to that and instead remained silent, staring into Remy's odd, almost frightening eyes. He couldn't decide what to feel at the moment. He just decided to let all his emotions roam around, at the same time.

Remy decided to kiss him again.

It lasted longer this time. The kiss was deeper, fuller, more passionate. Scott found himself kissing back, his eyes closed. A short kiss, but very intense. Both men were breathless when it was over.

Scott licked his lips again, watching Remy's face. Remy, for his part, had a smug grin on his face, and a gleam in his eye.

"You never kissed a man before, no matter what you say or don' say. I can tell. Ever gone all the way?" Remy asked, still smug.

Scott turned his face. "No. Not even close," he sighed.

"Wish you had?"

"Sometimes."

Remy dropped his eyes, his smile more wistful than smug now. "I'll bet he has no clue how much you love him."

"I don't want to talk about him."

"It's not necessary," Remy whispered, kissing Scott again.

Scott instantly closed his eyes. He felt bold, so he drew himself close to Remy, so their bodies lightly touched. He was unsure of what he was suppose to do, and settled for drawing an arm around Remy's waist. He felt Remy's tongue pushing against his lips and parted them slightly. Their tongues explored the other's.

Scott was instantly hot. It wasn't so much the fact that Remy was arousing him, as it was the feelings Remy was bringing out of him. Raw, base, physical feelings. His entire body seemed alive. Lust was an emotion he buried as a teenager. When he touched Jean, he felt warm, only from the brotherly love he felt for her. He performed for Jean, only because he wanted to please her. The sex was there, but for him, it was meaningless. As much as he loved Jean, it was hard to touch her. He only wanted to hold her, not be pressured into sex. He still felt empty, because deep down, it wasn't her he wanted to spend his life with. When he had been with other women, he had been cold, putting effort into arousal. He was always left feeling sick, empty, and disgusted. But with Remy.... with a man.... he was hot. His body was screaming with desire he had suppressed for years. Scott wanted Remy. It made his hands tremble as he discovered this emotion.

Remy almost seemed to know what Scott was thinking as he pulled back from the kiss, but not away from Scott. He pushed his body closer to Scott's, so their bodies were completely touching. The heat began to rise in both men. Remy licked Scott's ear, satisfied at the soft sigh Scott gave him. He placed his lips on Scott's ear.

"It's beautiful, isn' it? Lust. I live for lust. For de heat. But in de end it's jus' lust. Heat, but no fire. When you're done wit' me, you'll be as empty as you were before. But at least you'll know what de heat is. But when you're t'rough, and you leave me sleeping alone, you need to leave, Scott. Find de fire. It's de fire that makes us human," Remy whispered, unbuckling Scott's belt.

"Fire...?" Scott whispered back, not even realizing he was unbuttoning Remy's shirt.

"Love," Remy said simply, pulling Scott over to a pile of blankets.

"You're very philosophical for a bisexual player...." Scott chuckled, pulling Remy's shirt off.

"Nobody understands me...." Remy sighed with an impish smile, pulling Scott down on top of him.

Scott covered Remy's lips with his own, feeling aggressive now. All his repressed emotions were released. He used his slightly larger body to push Remy against the blankets, his hands roaming the Cajun's smooth chest. Remy gave a soft moan, and slipped a hand between their bodies and found the growing bulge in Scott's pants.

Scott gasped loudly, feeling the heat almost reach a boiling point at the simple caress. He found himself paralyzed with pleasure as Remy started rubbing his hardening arousal. He was breathing into the curve of Remy's surprisingly slender neck, smelling the cheap French cologne. Forever would that scent remind him of this.

"...... cat."

"Hmmm?" Scott asked, recovering from the shock of pleasure, and returning to removing Remy of his clothing.

"You're like a cat..... Once a man finds de right spot, you jus' want to flop on your back and be petted," Remy chuckled, allowing the leader of the X-Men to divest him of his garments.

"Don't worry, Cajun... I pet back....." Scott whispered, smiling down at Remy, pleased that he had managed to get the slim cajun naked.

"You better.... I get anxious pretty fast...." Remy whispered, stretching out like a cat himself, allowing Scott to enjoy the view.

Scott couldn't take the lecherous smile off his face. However you looked at it, Remy LeBeau was downright gorgeous. The Cajun man had managed to define his muscles and still remain slender. His light brown hair tumbled across his face in appealing waves. The five-o-clock shadow gave him the appearance of rough beauty on his handsome face. His legs were long, and between them.........

Remy sat halfway up and grinned impishly at Scott. "So you goin' to stare at it all day long? Or do somethin' about it...?"

Scott blinked and then licked his lips. This was all so new.... But he already knew what he wanted to do.

Remy cried out despite himself, surprised that Scott would act so impulsively. He gasped and then rested his left hand on Scott's auburn hair, holding himself halfway up with his right. Scott just enjoyed the feel of Remy's cock slowly sliding into his mouth, taking the sensation for what it was. Only in his wet dreams had he ever done anything like this.

Scott wasn't sucking yet. He just let his tongue explore Remy's hardening erection, feelings the ridges, the wrinkles, the taste. It was exquisite. He closed his eyes, and brought Remy deep into his mouth, almost gagging as he did so. Scott wanted to feel every last inch of Remy, to taste him. He was realizing his most secret of fantasies, and was quite literally going to milk it for all it was worth. The heat was all around him, but he used to his benefit now.

"God... Scott!" Remy moaned, rolling his head back as he was deepthroated. The Cajun had suspected that there was something wild in Scott that wanted to be let out, but when confronted by it so suddenly, it still managed to shock him.

Scott pulled back a little, just so Remy's erection felt comfortable in his mouth. He was pleased to note that he was able to hold almost the whole length in his mouth comfortably. He began to suckle gently, tasting the tip as he did so. Remy was very disciplined and only squirmed slightly.

"Suck harder, Scott..... And keep your lips tighter. You'll want suction... It's like a lollipop," Remy panted, running his fingers through Scott's hair. He brought his thighs up slightly, cradling Scott's head between them.

Scott followed Remy's advice, sucking on his prize harder. He brought his hands up to Remy's thighs, and caressed them, surprised at how smooth and silky they were. Something to ask about later. Scott heard Remy moan again and realized there was a new taste in his mouth. Scott used his tongue to explore Remy's tip, realizing that Remy was leaking. He smiled, but never let up on his sucking. Scott eased forward, sucking harder still, encouraged. Remy was moaning regularly now, his hands rhythmically tightening around Scott's hair, his thighs squeezing Scott's head.

Scott continued to suck harder, leaving himself breathless. He felt Remy's body arch and freeze, and thrust hard into his mouth when the Cajun came. He pulled back, swallowing what he'd been given, deciding he liked the taste of it.

Remy lay back, panting, and looked over at Scott, his sweat-soaked hair in his freakish eyes. Scott smiled slightly, deciding that the odd effect of Remy's eyes added to the other man's sex appeal.

"I'm impressed, mon ami. You're eit'er naturally good at dis sort of t'ing, or you lied and did it before," Remy grinned.

"Everybody's got to be good at something, I suppose....." Scott said, his voice trailing off as Remy went back to his original activity of rubbing Scott's crotch.

"Dere's lots of t'ings I'm good at, chere. You still got your clothes on... And you're still hard.... Want me to fix dat for you?" Remy asked blithely, increasing the massage of Scott's groin.

Scott closed his eyes and licked his lips, still tasting Remy on them. "What is it exactly that you're good at....?" he asked tentatively, knowing what he wanted to do, but not sure what Remy wanted to do.

"Whatever you want to do to me, Scott. Like I said, you're definitely a top. And I've been told I'm a good bottom," Remy grinned, guessing Scott's thoughts from the look on his face. Remy unbuttoned Scott's pants and let Scott's own impressive erection spring from his pants.

Scott blinked and then grinned, leaning over Remy. "Any particular position you prefer?" he asked.

Remy answered, by lifting his hips and wrapping his legs around Scott's waist, rubbing himself against Scott's erection. Scott gasped and rubbed back, a little surprised, but very pleased. Remy leaned back, resting his weight on his back, and bringing himself to a comfortable position that allowed Scott perfect entry. Scott licked his lips and swallowed before thrusting into Remy, going slowly, unsure of exactly what pace one should use at this moment.

Remy smiled at Scott in encouragement, pushing back. "It's okay, Scott. I'm not china. You can go in all the way. I actually like dis sort of t'ing," he whispered, removing Scott's shirt.

Scott closed his eyes and pushed himself all the way in, panting hard as he did. The heat was all over him, hotter than ever. He felt Remy's smooth hands pull off the rest of his clothing. He felt the incredible tightness around his erection, Remy's hands caressing his chest, his back, gripping the cheeks of his ass. He realized that he was thrusting instinctually into Remy, realizing that he had been doing since penetration. He let his hands slide across Remy's chest, brushing gently against the Cajun's nipples. Remy was hard again, Scott could feel the other man's erection rubbing against his stomach. He slid a hand back up to it, caressing Remy's shaft gently, almost maddeningly gentle to the Cajun X-Man.

Scott lost all sense of time in the heat. There were the sensations, and it seemed to be all he lived for. All there was. Sex with women had been mechanical, like eating. This was just... exquisite.

Scott was jolted back to reality by his own orgasm, coming hard into Remy, banging the Cajun's head against the wall. Remy came soon after, despite his head being knocked against the wall.

Both men stared at each other for a few minutes, neither knowing what to say. Scott soon withdrew, and sat back, unsure of what to feel. Remy had been right. The heat had left him empty afterwards, but it at least had given him temporary satisfaction.

"You gone now?" Remy finally asked.

Scott looked away and collected his clothing. "Yeah. I guess I am. Thanks," he said quietly.

"S'what I'm here for....." Remy grinned, giving Scott a mock salute.

Scott left without saying anything else. There wasn't anything left for him to say.

How should a man feel before he begins a new life? Especially when it is at the cost of another?

Jean hadn't said much when he got back. She just gave him a sad smile and wished him good luck. She had left the room quietly, allowing Scott to decide what he wanted to take and not take. Scott didn't even have to say a word.

Benefits of marrying a telepath.

Scott felt guilty, but not for leaving Jean after a year of marriage. He felt bad for even starting a relationship he couldn't devote himself to. Jean would hurt, but she was strong. Now she could find the relationships she deserved; that Scott had prevented her from getting.

He packed very little. Scott already knew that his yuppie wardrobe would change drastically soon. He sighed and took the credit card that allowed him access to the trust fund Xavier had left to every X-Man for when they left. He couldn't live off of it forever, but Scott was almost looking forward to getting a job. Living a normal life.

Scott smiled at that. Maybe it wouldn't be all that normal. But it would be a learning experience. He would change, he knew. Maybe in a good way, maybe in a bad way. He wasn't sure what to feel. Cyclops was dead now. The X-Men had been a big part of his life. It had been his life. And now he was leaving it behind.

But Scott Summers knew he would be back.

Part 2:

Part Two: Fire

Jean Grey stood out in front of the X-Men mansion, anxiously awaiting the arrival of her ex-husband. It had been a year since they last saw each other, and she missed him.

Logan came and stood beside her, his short frame providing her a vast amount of support. He was smoking a stogie, watching the road leading to the mansion with her.

"Who's he bringing with him, again?" the mysterious Canadian known as Wolverine asked Jean.

"His roommate. Her name is Maxi. Maxi Starr. She's a lesbian, so please don't try to be obnoxious about homosexuality around her," Jean said, running a hand through her long, fiery red hair.

"Maxi Starr? That's the fakest name I ever heard. I thought he left you to be gay with men, not with women," Logan growled, still angry for Jean.

The X-Man known as Phoenix sighed, closing her emerald green eyes. Logan had been furious when Scott had left Jean a year ago. It was all she could to convince the temperamental warrior from hunting Scott down like a dog and killing him. She never revealed why Scott left, even though through their fading psychic rapport and her powerful telepathy she knew the exact reason. Instead she gave them part of it, explaining to the X-Men that Scott had left to discover himself, to be free of the shackles of self-restraint. To be himself. After much discussion, Rogue was named leader, as Storm had gone on a private sojourn. Rogue was not pleased, but proved an able and intelligent leader.

But now, a year later, Scott had come back for the X-Men family reunion. Professor Xavier, returned from his self-exile after Onslaught's attack had wanted to be with all his X-Men, past, present, and affiliate. Scott had talked to Jean, and begged his ex-wife to tell the X-Men the whole reason why he had left. Scott could never come to them and say he was gay, so Jean, protecting him as always, did so for him.

The X-Men, after all they had been through, found Scott's homosexuality harder to swallow than Professor Xavier's betrayal more than two years ago. All his close friends had reacted with disbelief. But they all came to accept it at Jean's insistence.

Jean opened her eyes at the sound of rumbling car. She and Logan watched as a beat-up old mustang came careening down the road and skidded to a screeching halt in front of them. It was covered in bumper stickers, mostly filled with rude or sarcastic comments such as "Jesus Loves You, Everyone Else Thinks Your An Asshole." Others advertised frightening or alternative bands such as Marilyn Manson and Cake. And then there were two rainbow stickers.

Logan choked on the dust, cursing under his breath. The car doors opened, and two people came out. Scott Summers exited from the passenger side, looking pale and shaken. A petite girl with obnoxious blue hair stepped out the driver's side. Scott grinned at his ex-wife, a woman he still loved, though as a sister and gave her a big bear hug. Jean returned the hug, smiling like a fool.

Logan would have ogled the attractive young girl Scott had brought with him, but was too busy gaping at Scott Summers. The former X-Man leader known as Cyclops was completely different. He had frosted the top of his auburn hair, which was styled close to his head, and sprayed down. He wore a tight black t-shirt and loose blue corduroy pants, with a chain belt and wallet chain hanging out of his back pocket. He had a tattoo on his right arm, which looked like barb wire wrapped around his biceps. He wore black combat boots, shined bright. A total of five earrings, three on one ear and two on the other graced Scott's ear's, as well as a eyebrow ring. Logan would have swore Scott was wearing lipshine. He looked..... nothing like he did before. Even nearing the thirty mark, Scott looked no older than twenty-five.

"Logan... long time, no see. I'm sure you missed me," Scott said with amusement in his voice, pulling his stylish sunglasses up on top of his head, his baby blue eyes twinkling at Wolverine.

Logan's jaw banged against his knees. "You..... Your eyes... Your optic blasts....." Logan sputtered.

"Courtesy of Maxi's mutant ability, I no longer have to worry about controlling my mutant power. She has the power to twist nerve endings. She manipulated my optic fibers, leaving me with complete control over my powers. But let me introduce her to you. You two would love each other. You could hang out and break things together. Maxi, this is Logan, but you can call him Wolverine too. Wolverine, this is Maxi Starr, my best friend," Scott said smoothly, holding out a hand to bring the adorable young woman next to him.

Blue pigtails. Stylish sunglasses. Frosted blue lipstick. White "Pimp Momma" baby doll t-shirt with blue lettering and tight blue capri pants and blue flip-flop platform sandals. The girl was attractive, her figure full and voluptuous, fashion-conscious and full of attitude. Logan found her very attractive.

"How do you do ma'am? How'd a pretty girl like you get to be a lesbian anyways?" Logan asked Maxi Starr as Jean winced and clapped a hand to her forehead. Tact was never Logan's gift.

Maxi, however, didn't look offended, but grinned wide, flashing Wolverine her white teeth. "It's part of a conspiracy against men. We lesbians get together on purpose to spite male oppression and your incessant demands for sexual favors," she said, never missing a beat.

Scott chuckled, grinning wickedly. His demeanor, as well as appearance was completely changed. "Don't use too many big words around Logan, Maxi," he warned.

"Aw. I'll just have him carry around a dictionary at all times. Where's the grub?" Maxi asked, turning her attention to the beautiful Jean Grey.

Jean smiled pleasantly. "Well, just drive your car over to the garage, and I'll have someone fix you some food. Anything you like?" she asked the blue-haired girl, wondering if her hair was dyed or part of her mutation.

"Sure. I'll have the fish. Scott will take salty hotdogs with mayo," the vaguely Hispanic looking girl grinned.

Scott began to laugh so hard, tears poured from his eyes. Jean and Logan stood there, motionless, not getting the joke. Scott and Maxi grinned at each other slyly. "Never mind. Whatever you have is fine by me," Maxi quipped, walking back to her car giggling with Scott.

Jean's eyes widened when she used her mutant ability to read minds to learn the joke. She began to titter as Maxi drove over to the garage under Scott's instructions, leaving an annoyed Wolverine out of the joke.

Even when her laughter subsided, the surprise at her ex-husband and love of her life's new look and demeanor remained.

Scott Summers unpacked his bags, silent and stony. He was already feeling the pressure of his former life return to smother him. Maxi unpacked her luggage as well, knowing Scott well enough after their year long close friendship to leave him to his thoughts. With all the X-Men in the mansion, everybody was forced to share, and Scott found himself in his old room, sharing a room with Maxi. Nobody else wanted to room with him.

Scott couldn't really say he was surprised. He knew Jean had told him he was gay. But their reaction still hurt. They were still his friends after all. His family.

Professor Xavier was pleased to see him, the only one who treated him the same. Scott wondered if the powerful telepathic man who founded the X-Men had known all along. Rogue, the new team leader, was thrilled to see him, not reacting much differently to him. She was begging him to take his old job back. Maxi, who was ogling the beautiful, but untouchable mutant woman, did make her uncomfortable, though. Gambit gave him a sly smile, complimenting his new look. Gambit was the same, acting as if he had already known how Scott would turn out, after suggesting to Scott that he leave a year ago.

It was all Scott could do to keep from blushing at the memory of the passionate night he'd spent with Gambit before he left.

Everyone else however, was a different story.

Iceman refused to shake his hand, making stupid excuses not to, and kept staring at the floor, unable to meet Scott's eyes. Beast kept adjusting his glasses, not able to keep from staring at Scott. Storm watched him coolly, eyeing both Scott and Maxi with barely concealed disgust. She had been wearing a tight white halter top and a short pair of cut-off jeans. Ororo did not react well when Maxi, who sensed the African X-Man's dislike of homosexuality, asked the regal woman if she was aware of the fact that half of her ass was hanging out the back of her shorts. A few of the X-Men had covered their laughter with coughs.

Nightcrawler didn't react much differently, but still kept his distance. Psylocke looked at him sadly, as if she was mourning the loss of his heterosexuality, something that had never really existed. Banshee kept coughing and looking away and Cannonball kept stuttering and blushing. Kitty Pryde and Colossus greeted him warmly, but gave him the oddest looks, whispering behind his back to each other. Forge watched him in shock, and Jubilee stared at him like he was an alien.

But one hurt the most.

That being Scott's own son, Nathaniel Christopher Summers, or Nathaniel Dayspring, more simply called Cable. Cable, through time travel, was old enough to be Scott's own father, and he spent the whole time giving Scott stern looks, as if Scott had somehow done something wrong. He barely spoke to Scott, exchanging an almost imperceptible nod and a terse greeting. Scott felt wounded. His own son hated him.

Scott moped around the room, noting that Jean and Maxi were engaged in an animate conversation about mutant powers. He bumped into someone and discovered it was Angel, Warren Worthington III. Warren greeted Scott coolly, looking at him curiously.

"Hey, been awhile, Scott. I hate to sound like a parrot today, but I have to know. Is it true?" Warren asked bluntly, sipping at a can of beer.

Scott swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry. He had led an openly gay lifestyle for the past year, passing through various meaningless sexual relationships. He had been allowing himself to view his own gender as sexually desirable for a year.

Warren was every bit as beautiful as he'd remembered. Golden blonde hair tumbled past his shoulders, his skin powdery blue. His features were chiseled, as lovely as any statue by Michelangelo. His white wings fluttered slightly behind him, giving him the appearance of the angel he was named after. His body was slender, yet sinewy with corded muscles. Calisto had once kidnapped Warren, dubbing him as the most beautiful man in the world.

Scott had traveled all over the world, and had yet to find anyone or anything that contradicted Calisto's statement.

"Yeah. It's true, Warren," Scott said, recovering his voice, a million things racing through his head at the sight of his long-time friend and sometime rival.

Warren blinked and sipped some more of his beer, his golden bangs falling across his crystal blue eyes. "You never acted gay before. Not a hint," he said evenly.

"That was the idea at the time. How are you doing?" Scott sighed, changing the subject.

"I'm fine. Nice outfit. Love the hair. Are those tongue rings I saw?" Warren asked, being as tactless and blunt as his spoiled upbringing demanded.

"Yes, I have two. How's Betsy?" Scott said, clacking his tondue rings against his teeth in emphasis.

"She's great, I guess. I haven't seen for two months before today," Warren sighed, downing the rest of his beer and crushing the can in his hand.

"You two broke up? But you were so tight...." Scott blinked, surprised at this revelation. Warren and Betsy seemed close to marriage before he left, wrapped around each other.

"Yeah, well so were you and Jean. Bad things happen," Warren said sourly.

"I... I know I broke a lot of promises to you and Wolverine that I made before I married her. I meant to keep them..... For the record I do love her, but like a sister...... She understands....." Scott sighed, turning his face, his light mood that he had came with departing him.

"Yeah, well, the rest of don't. You just left, Scott. Without a word. You just left. That hurt a lot of us. We depended on you, trusted you. You were the dream, as much as Xavier was. And now you ran away just to be gay? That's really fucked up, Scott," Warren spat out, looking angry.

"I'm sorry you feel that way, Warren. That all of you do. But it wasn't just being gay and wanting to live the life. It was about freedom. it was about being me. It was about choking on my responsibility. It was about the fact I was choking on my life. I stopped believing in it. Alex was killed. My brother. My father's missing. My son is old enough to be my father. My mother's been dead. I was tired. Tired of fighting for something that feels so hollow to me now. Look at you, Warren. Look at all of you. We all preach about treating everybody equally, but I admit to being gay, and no one can look me in the eye. All of a sudden I'm a mutant freak, but it has nothing to do with my genetics. This is what I was tired of......"Scott said, back, his voice filled with passion. The tall man turned from Angel and stalked from the room, followed by Maxi soon after.

He didn't notice the shocked look on Warren's face as he left.

"Scott....." Maxi broke into Scott's train of thought as he unpacked. "Why do you let them get to you? You've spent a year, learning how to be yourself, fending for yourself. Why do their opinions of you mean so much?"

"Because they were all the family I had for most of my life, Maxi..." Scott sighed, sitting down on the bed, his lesbian friend sitting behind him, giving him a shoulder rub. They had lived together for almost a year now. They were like brother and sister, and Scott found himself attached to the spirited young woman as much as he had been to Jean.

Maxi sighed. "That blonde with the wings you were talking to... That's him isn't it.....?" she asked gently, turning her best friend to face her. Maxi was known for her quick wit, and alternative personality. She rarely warmed up to people, but when she did, she loved them with all her heart.

"Yeah... Warren Worthington III. Angel. Archangel. And now Angel again. His life has been as rocky as my own. I don't think he even remembers back when... But I do... I remember it every day of my life....." Scott sighed, burying his head in hands.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Maxi asked, her face a mask of concern. Scott had fallen apart many times during the past year. He was so intense, and yet so repressed. But she had stuck through it, helping him piece himself back together.

"No, not now... Maybe later... Let's go eat dinner, alright? Jean told me it was ready just now..." Scott smiled at his friend's concern for him.

"Nice to have telepathic friends, eh? Never miss a meal...." Maxi grinned and bounced out, towing Scott behind her.

Scott was silent at the meal, reminiscent of his recalcitrant personality. He ate slowly, concentrating on his meal, trying to ignore how uncomfortable many of his former teammates had grown around him. Jean gave him looks of support, and sent sympathetic emotions to him through their psychic bond. He gave her a wobbly smile.

Maxi, however, as combative as ever, was enjoying the mild hostile air.

"And why should I devote my mutant powers to the X-Men? I don't care about your dream. All the fighting in the world isn't going to help the mutant problem. I think that's been proved too. Just let it be, and eventually they'll come to accept us, like whites accept blacks now..." Maxi said, responding to Storm's arrogant inquiry at her neutrality.

"Yet you've devoted your mutant powers to helping Scott. Now he can see without the aid of his visor. If you can do for one, why not for many?" Ororo asked, having already developed an intense dislike for the Hispanic mutant with blue hair.

Maxi flipped her blue pigtails from her face and ate her food with gusto. "You see, Scott is my best friend. He's like the brother I never had. I'd help him without a second thought. But, not to be mean, I don't give a flying rat's ass about anyone else...... I devote myself to those I care about... No one else is gonna go out their way for me.." Maxi said with a shrug, returning Storm's dislike.

"How very selfish of you. What about when bad things happen to those you love?" Ororo debated.

"Then I'll fight for them, until the threat's over and go back to my life. I'm not dissing your views, so don't dis mine. Not all of us can be haughty bitches with delusions of grandeur. Somebody has to be the little guy....." Maxi smirked, baiting the haughty African woman.

Scott only half-listened to Maxi's debate with Ororo. Once, he would've sided with Storm and the X-Men, but now he understood what Maxi meant. Someone had to live. He had done his duty. Now he was living.

Scott kept watching Warren despite himself. The beautiful X-Man remained carefully silent, as he had left the X-Men many times with Maxi's own views, but always came back. Scott wondered what drove Angel back over and over again. Warren caught Scott staring at him, and evenly held the other man's gaze, until Scott looked away, afraid he might betray his own desires.

Looking at Warren made his heart ache more than it ever had. Before he quietly squelched all feelings he'd ever had for the winged X-Man. Now that he was living the life... It was hard to push back what he had worked so hard to pull out of himself. His mind kept drifting back to what Warren had been like years ago, when he first arrived at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. What had happened between them. It had meant everything to Scott, but he doubted the blonde beauty even remembered the event.

When the dinner was finished, the huge group disassembled into their own cliques, mingling and talking. Scott sat off by himself, as Maxi, who was feeling impish, was flirting with Jean, who was shocked and nervously seeking out Logan as a form of protection.

The handsome auburn-haired man started when Warren sat down beside him on the loveseat. "Warren... Hi. Sorry if I was rude earlier...." Scott said, surprised.

"No, I'm the one who should apologize to you. You're right. We all seem to be spitting on the dream. Here we are, defenders of human equality in all people, and we're treating you like an alien simply because you're gay..... I'm sorry. I was being a bastard..." Warren said quietly, holding two glasses of wine, pouring one for Scott and one for himself.

Scott took his glass with a soft smile, trying not to think of the fun wine could lead to with different people. "You are hereby forgiven, Warren. For the record, yes I do feel guilty about leaving, and yes I'm sorry I kept Jean away from all of you, when you wanted her so bad," he sighed.

"It's alright..... I think Logan loved her more... Besides, I'm kinda over her..... Actually been over her for a long time. I just wanted to bust your balls about something I guess. And I got so use to flirting with her, it became a bad habit. She and Logan have been getting kinda tight since you left, though..." the rich mutant shrugged, sipping his wine.

"I expected as much. He loved her a lot. I was wrong to cling to her like that. And she let me... I led her on too..... And I'm sorry for that...... I guess I'm trying to say I'm sorry for a lot of things......." Scott sighed, smiling as he sipped from his wineglass.

"It's alright. Rogue's a great team leader. She's giving you a run for your money. Jean's happy, I think. Everybody really is okay. We're just all still shocked about you....." Warren consoled.

"I'd say I'm the same person, but that would be a lie. I'm different, but I'll always be Scott Summers. I'm still the guy you knew, but I've changed... Life does that....." Scott said.

"True....." Warren nodded.

"So. Why'd you and Betsy break up? I thought you guys were in love...." Scott asked, curious despite himself.

Warren sighed deeply, and stared at the purple haired beauty across the room, who was now engaged in a conversation with Maxi. "It just didn't work... Like every other relationship I've had. Candy... Jean..... Now her. I just can't make it stick... I want it to stick every time, but I just can't go the distance. I admire you, Scott. You were gay, but you stuck out your relationships with women....... You have a totally different sexual preference, yet you still did it... That's fortitude....." Warren sighed, downing the whole wineglass and pouring more into it.

"I see. I like deep relationships, I guess. If it makes you feel better, I haven't been able to commit to a man yet. I wander from lover to lover, wondering if this one is it, and it never is....." Scott sighed, hoping Warren wasn't turning into an alcoholic.

Warren chuckled at that. "Now that's irony.... I wonder if Betsy's gonna accept.....?" Warren asked, watching how close Maxi had gotten to the violet-haired woman, flirting intensely.

Scott raised an eyebrow, staring at his best friend and his former teammate, a woman who had once admitted to love him. He could've swore Psylocke was flirting back. "I dunno...... I didn't figure her for being bi....." he said, sounding astounded.

"You'd be surprised. Don't feel too bad. There might be more sexual deviants amongst the X-Men than we all thought..." Warren chuckled. "I hope she does. Maybe they'll let me watch."

"Knowing Maxi, she'd only let you watch if you let her watch you have sex with another man..." Scott chuckled.

Warren raised an eyebrow. "You're kidding......" he said, disbelieving.

"Not at all. Maxi likes men just fine. As long as they're not touching her, and touching each other. I let her watch me sometimes, when I'm in the mood....." Scott shrugged, then paused, realizing what he had just admitted.

"And you never seemed like an exhibitionist either. I took you more for a voyeur..." Warren chuckled, apparently not offended.

"Depends on who I'm watching, and who I'm letting watch..." Scott said, gently testing the waters, hoping against hope......

Warren stared at Scott for a few minutes. Scott's sky blue eyes looking deeply into Warren's true blue eyes. Scott felt like smoldering embers deep within him were trying desperately to rekindle. Scott saw the barest hint of a blush appear on his friend's cheeks before the blonde beauty turned away, standing up.

"I...... gotta go........" Warren said nervously, disappearing into the crowd.

Scott was left alone, but he wondered......

"So.... You're trying to get it on with Psylocke. Is it working?" Scott asked that night, as he and Maxi lay down in the bed.

"Yep. How fares your attempt to convince angel boy into your bed?" Maxi grinned at him.

"I don't know... I honestly don't......" Scott sighed.

"He seems to make you feel better..... Just talking to him cheered you right up..." Maxi said, the quip gone from her voice, sounding maternal.

"Yeah.... He always has...." Scott sighed.

"Wanna tell me about it now?" the blue-haired lesbian asked him.

"Alright..... He joined the X-Men at fourteen. I was fifteen, and hadn't quite grasped how to hide my homosexuality yet..." Scott began.

He was beautiful, Maxi. Gorgeous. He looked like an angel. And he was spoiled rotten.

I remember watching him walking in the door, brought by his father, Warren Worthington II. His father was wearing Armani, and giving the Professor a lecture on the care of his young son. Warren had on a huge coat and was looking surly. The Professor nodded quietly, saying nothing. Hank was with me, and up to that point, we had been the only two students at the school.

Warren's father left. The Professor asked him to take off his jacket and show us the mutation he had been hiding from his parents. Warren had a beautiful pair of white angel wings. I remembered whispering the word under my breath, and Hank caught it, suggesting it for Warren's name. Warren took the idea, flouncing his longish blonde hair. The Professor had us show off our mutant abilities to him and then left us alone to help him unpack in his new room.

I remember staring at him as he bossed us around, ordering us on where his things should go. Hank was bristling, and was immediately engaged in a battle of wits with Warren. Hank won, hands down. Hank left whistling, leaving me to help with Warren. He kept grumbling under his breath about not wanting to be here.

"It's really not so bad....... I really like it here. Professor X brought me here from the orphanage. He's really nice and you learn a lot of things...." I said quietly, not having spoken to him directly yet.

He stopped and looked over at me, blinking his beautiful blue eyes at me. "You're an orphan...?" he asked me.

"Yes..... My parents and little brother died when I was ten....." I told him.

"I'm sorry..." he said, sincerity in his voice. He actually looked at me with compassion, instead of a little rich brat. That's when I knew I loved him. I could feel my heart skip a beat.

While Hank was my best friend back then, Warren did his best to become everyone's rival. He wanted to be the best. He never settled for being second in anything we ever did. It was irritating, but endearing.

I hated it when he would whisper about pretty girls, or drool over his playboys. I wanted him to look at me like I was something different than a mere friend or rival. But he never did.

The Professor brought us to cabin in the woods, to teach us survival. There were only two bedrooms, and whoever got there first was the one who got his own. We ran through the woods like maniacs, and Warren flew. He was slow back then, his wings only half-grown, and he was unused to flying. Hank was quicker than either of us, and made it there first, holing himself up in his new room. Me and Warren grumbled and set about begging Hank to cook us dinner. I was secretly delighted.

Hank relented and cooked dinner, being the best cook out of the three of us. We played monopoly until bedtime, and slinked off to bed. It was sort of a vacation for us. The next day we were going to go fishing and exploring.

There was only one bed, a double, in the room me and Warren shared. We got into the bed, and kept bumping into each other. His wings kept hitting me, until I made him turn the other way. It was hard to share that bed with him. I was fifteen, and my hormones were raging. I wanted him desperately, feeling myself get hot just lying next to him.

It got worse when he snuggled up to me in the middle of the night. I was so hard it hurt. I had to get up, escaping to the corner to find some sort of release. I slept on the floor, afraid if I got back up there I was just going to get hard again.

We went fishing the next day, enjoying the lake by the cabin. We talked about whatever we wanted, and being teenage boys it mostly revolved around girls, sex, and team sports. I was bored out of my skull, as you can imagine.

We got back and fried up our catch. Between me and Hank, it cooked up pretty good. When Warren looked helpless just trying to boil water, we decided he wasn't allowed to cook.

The next night I planned on sleeping on the floor again. But things were different.

I had came in after my shower, and Warren was already in bed. He was huddled up, a pillow across his lap. He was blushing furiously.

"Are you alright..?" I asked him, toweling off my hair and sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Um... no....." Warren squeaked at me, his voice strained and high-pitched. His face was beet red.

I shrugged and pulled out a book, Dune. I intended on reading until Warren fell asleep and was then going to crawl back onto the floor. Warren, however, didn't move, only turning redder, and shifting slightly.

I had no idea what was wrong with him. "Warren... Do you need to see a doctor or something..? Are you sick...?" I asked him slowly.

Warren looked near tears. "I..... I've got a hard-on....." he confessed.

I blinked. I wasn't really expecting that. "Okay. Would you like me to leave you alone so you can take care of it.....?" I asked slowly, wondering why he didn't just come up with some excuse to get me out of the room.

"Th-that's the problem..." he whispered, turning so red I wondered how he could have an erection with all the blood in his face.

"I'm not understanding you," I told him, confused and a little embarrassed. Hank would be laughing and making smart comments, but the thought of him aroused was only serving to make me hot.

"I tried....... It won't come out..... And it really hurts....." Warren whispered.

I almost did laugh. It was the most ridiculous thing I ever heard of. During my readings I had come across reading about sexual dysfunctions, but this was just absurd. "You tried... beating off..... And it didn't work..?' I asked him incredulously.

"Yeah... Please don't laugh... it hurts too much to laugh.." Warren mewled. He sounded pathetic.

"Um... Why don't you try cold water?" I suggested, putting my book down.

"I can't move..... It hurts too much....." Warren mewled. He was blue-balling. Bad.

I was tempted, Maxi. So tempted. I wanted him, and I could hear every ounce of testosterone in my body screaming at me. I was on fire, Maxi. He made feel on fire. I hated myself even as I said it. "I could... help....." I offered, wondering what he would think of that.

"Help...?" he asked me plaintively, his blue eyes glittering.

I was dying. Just the thought already had me going. I put a hand on him, and he let me........ He even did it back. No sex. No kissing. Just staring at each other in the dark, listening to each other breathe hard. I felt so miserably ashamed after that night, I couldn't look him in the eye for a month. The entire time we were at that cabin, we would touch each other at night. No words, no nothing. Just touching. We barely spoke to each other after that.

Not until Jean came.

Warren was all over her the moment she walked in the door. I was so jealous, I started to flirt with her, just to try and keep him away from her. I was jealous of her. It was all so strange. How I wound up loving her. How close Jean and I got. She was my rock for so long.... She didn't even know that I was gay until she began to develop her telepathic powers. By then I really did love her, and she loved me so much she took my excuses and kept on with our relationship.

But I always thought about him. Every day.

And here I am.......

"Well......." Maxi blinked in the dark, mildly surprised at Scott's story. She had known almost everything there was to know about Scott's complicated life, except for this.

Scott remained silent, staring up at the ceiling.

"That was totally bogus. You do realize this, right?" Maxi asked pointedly.

Scott turned to face the elfin girl. "What...?" he asked, confused.

"Don't you get it? Warren was just as attracted to you as you were to him. But unlike you, he was clever enough to find a convenient excuse to get you to touch him. So he played the poor sweet innocent routine, who just couldn't beat off. So he needed you to do it for him. And you wanted to, so you did. If he was completely hetero, that boy wouldn't have touched you back. Tell me something, Scott. If he had some sort of sexual dysfunction that caused him to have trouble orgasming, did you ever have a problem when you gave him his handjobs?" Maxi asked in her no-nonsense voice.

Scott was silent for a moment, the wheels clicking and turning. "...... No. He came pretty easily, I guess......" he said after a few minutes.

"I'd put money on the fact that your little angel is as bisexual as they get. He's been trying to cover up the fact that he likes men as hard as you tried. But homeboy wanted a little fun where he could get it. And he figured he'd try to get you to do it. Until he found out you were gay, he probably thought he was solely responsible for the touchy feelies that night....." Maxi smirked.

Scott sat up. Maxi was a psychology major, almost ready to have get her B.A. She was also exceptionally smart. He wondered how he didn't realize this years ago.

"So... Instead of moping to me about how much you love him, and moping about your sorry sex life, why don't you go find him, talk to him about it, tell him how you feel, and have wild passionate sex?" Maxi asked bluntly.

Scott grinned over at his best friend. "I'll send you the pictures."

Scott stared at Warren's door for fifteen minutes before knocking.

He heard shuffling and the door was opened by a sleepy, half-dressed Warren Worthington. Warren blinked blearily at the man before him.

Scott has always been handsome, the picture of All-American good looks. But he seemed so much... sexier..... His frosted auburn hair was styled flat against his head, his face strong and chiseled. His body piercings gleamed, and Warren could hear the clacking of his tongue rings against his teeth. He was wearing an iridescent silver shirt and baggy gray pants. He was wearing his gleaming black combat boots. Lip shine made his lips glisten in the soft light of the hallway. He looked so alternative now... Nothing like he did before.

"Uh... Hi, Scott. It's 3 am. Is Magneto here or something?" Warren quipped, yawning.

Scott's powder blue eyes skimmed over Warren's slender frame, appreciating the beauty of it. Warren was wearing only a dark blue thong, and seemed completely unashamed of showing off his beauty. As arrogant as ever.

"No. And I wouldn't care if he was. We need to talk," Scott said forcefully.

Warren shrugged effortlessly. "Come in. I'm sharing with Nightcrawler, but he snuck out to go flirt with Rogue," Warren yawned, letting Scott in.

"Kurt's flirting with Rogue? What about Amanda?" Scott asked as he went in, sitting down on the easychair.

"They broke up too. Separate lives. He and Rogue have been getting kinda tight since she rarely speaks to Gambit after finding out his involvement with the Marauders," Warren said, sitting down across from Scott, curious as to his appearance.

"Everything's changed, hasn't it? I really should see if Maxi would be willing to help Rogue with her powers... She helped me... And I think Maxi would like Rogue if she got to know her...." Scott suggested, more to himself.

Warren blinked. "Maxi can do that...? She can control other mutant's powers like that?" he asked incredulously.

"Yeah. Why do you think I no longer need my ruby quartz glasses? She'd only do it for some she liked though....." Scott said, smiling slightly.

"Imagine what fighting Magneto would be like if she manipulated his powers so he couldn't even magnetically manipulate a paperclip....." Warren wondered aloud.

"Maxi isn't an X-Man. She doesn't want to be. So don't ask her. Because I'm sorry to say I stand with her. I just can't do it anymore...." Scott sighed.

"I understand. I've been considering retirement again......" Warren sighed as well.

Scott tilted his head slightly, examining Warren intently. The blonde beauty wriggled slightly, uncomfortable under his gaze.

"I was talking to Maxi earlier. It's why I came here....." Scott began, his voice serious. Warren nodded, listening.

"I was wondering. Do you still have that problem orgasming? What do you ever do when no one else is around?" Scott asked, his tone idle.

Warren blinked. He smiled slightly. "I surprised you didn't figure it out to begin with......." he confessed.

"I'm a little naive sometimes, I guess. I'd thought you'd forgotten what we did........"

"Never. I always thought about it....." Warren smiled, a blush appearing on his cheeks.

"So... Are you really like me, and in the closet, or are you merely bi?" Scott asked.

"I'm bi....... But the only man I ever really did anything with was you..... I never got the nerve again," Warren confessed.

"I see," Scott said quietly, watching Warren. The blonde X-Man was sprawled across his chair, almost like he put himself on display. He always acted like he was modeling, posing. Scott wondered if the beautiful Angel did it on purpose, or if it was just subconscious. He could feel those smoldering embers again.

Warren gazed back, watching Scott intently. He never completely understood the motivations of the handsome former leader of the X-Men. Scott had been an island for so long, closing off everything about him, even to Jean. He had always found the man fascinating, pulled in his direction, be it for sexual attraction, rivalry, or friendship. There was so much chemistry between them, left unspoken for years.

Scott got up, and stood before the reclining Angel, staring down at him. Warren looked up at him, his heart racing. His heart seemed such at odds with Scott, who slowly, carefully slid his legs beneath Warren's, perching on the chair with Warren on his lap. The winged X-Man blushed, feeling like he was fourteen again.

Scott stared at Warren for a long time. No words were spoken. Only the sounds of their breathing filled the room. Sky blue eyes gazing into deep blue eyes. Scott leaned closer, gently touching his lips to Warren's. Warren mumbled something inaudible, kissing Scott. Scott enveloped the slightly smaller man's lips in his own, their kissing growing in hunger and fervor. Scott felt a small flame within him at the touch.

Scott slipped his hands down, running them across the lines of Warren's thong, pushing it down to free Warren's length. Warren moaned into the kiss, his hands beginning to unbutton Scott's shirt. Scott pushed the thong down a little farther, stroking the soft blue skin of Warren's hips. Warren squirmed a little, growing aroused as he slid Scott's shirt off, marveling on how Scott could define his muscles so extently, but still be slim. Scott sighed at the feel of Warren's soft, cool hands rubbing the muscles of his chest. The auburn-haired X-Man brushed his hands across Warren's growing erection, causing the blue-skinned angel to gasp. The flame began to grow.

"I have every intention of taking you to your bed and fucking you until I can't move anymore," Scott whispered into Warren's ear, as the winged mutant undid Scott's pants.

"Just don't bitch when I fall asleep afterwards....." Warren chuckled, as Scott slid the thong entirely off his body.

Scott stood up, lifting Warren in his arms and draped the beautiful man on the bed. Warren was lighter than most men his size, his entire body built for flight. Warren smiled up at the handsome mutant, and practically ripped Scott's pants off, discovering he had nothing on underneath.

"Nice underwear," Warren chuckled, admiring Scott's naked length with appreciation and a little envy.

"Why bother? I had a feeling you were going to be willing..." Scott chuckled as well, pausing to remove his shoes.

Warren welcomed Scott back into his arms, the two men enjoying the feelings of their naked bodies pressed against each other. Scott pressed Warren against the bed, hungrily kissing him. He paused suddenly and sat up, looking a little alarmed.

"What? What?" Warren asked with a sigh, annoyed at Scott stopping.

"I'm not... hurting you.... Am I?" he asked.

"What? You mean my wings...?" Warren asked, fluttering his feathered limbs slightly beneath him.

"Yes... I mean... Do you want to be on top....?" Scott asked, concerned.

"I've always liked being on the bottom, Scott. And you were doing such a good job up there, I have no reason to usurp your position. I'm very comfortable. It's takes a lot more than bed pressing to hurt my wings. Get a pair of knives and it might hurt, but they're pretty tough," Warren smiled, touched.

Scott looked relieved and returned to kissing Warren, pleased to have free reign. He slipped his hands down to Warren's hips, massaging the creamy blue skin. Warren nipped Scott's lip, wriggling, trying to call attention to his aching erection. Scott chuckled, moving his hands farther away from Warren's erection, instead gripping his firm blue ass. Warren moaned in irritation, reaching with his hands to grip Scott's well-shaped ass, wriggling his erection against Scott's in desperation. Both men gasped at the sudden pleasure. But Scott was something of a tease in bed, his prowess in bed as extensive as in battle. He was reveling in the fire that enveloped his body.

Warren mewled in exasperation when Scott moved his hips away from Warren's. Scott moved his hands upward, massaging the flesh around where Warren's large white wings joined his back. Warren sighed and closed his eyes, that area having always been sensitive. Scott chuckled, remembering reading a medical report on Warren, and gently explored the wings right after they jutted out from Warren's shoulders. Warren gasped, not knowing that he had an erogenous zone there. Scott kissed his lover's neck, exploring the area, sending sweet shudders of pleasure through Warren's body. The fire seem to become even hotter.

Scott nipped Warren's collarbone. "Lubricant.... Have any?" he whispered urgently, feeling incredibly aroused at the sounds Warren was making.

"No... not really.... Nightcrawler has the lotion he uses on his tail on the bedstand over there......" Warren whispered back, pressing his erection against Scott's stomach.

"Lotion? Even better....." Scott whispered, getting up quickly to retrieve the bottle and returning back to the panting Warren.

"This might hurt a little..... Just relax..... and it will only last a moment...." Scott whispered, squeezing out the lubrication on his hand as Warren kissed his face and neck.

"God, now I really feel like a virgin......" Warren laughed, thinking of all the times he had said that to some virgin girl he was about to bed.

"Well... When it comes to this, you are....." Scott whispered, spreading the lotion across his erection, and pushing Warren to lay flat on the bed.

Scott smiled down at his beautiful angel, and squeezed more lotion on his fingers, pressing them against Warren's virgin entry. Warren gasped a little, wiggling.

"Ready...?" Scott whispered.

"Yeah.... go ahead...." Warren whispered back, gasping when Scott fingers went inside, lubricating his entrance. He wriggled, but Scott put a reassuring hand on his stomach, whispering for him to relax. The blue-skinned man forced his body to relax, and felt the slight pain recede quickly. He closed his eyes, beginning to find the sensation almost enjoyable. Scott was indeed skilled, and soon found a spot deep within him that he didn't even know he had.

"OH-hhhhhh" Warren cried, arching his back. Scott smiled, watching in fascination how Warren's wings fluttered beneath him in pleasure. He pressed against the bundle of nerves for a few more minutes, then withdrew his fingers. Warren moaned at the departure, then felt something much larger pressed against his opening. He opened his eyes, gazing up at Scott. The