Thunder & Lightning: We're all leaves in a hurricane. (Gifted) (5 page)

As I walked into the command center, I was greeted by Nick, who looked to be shutting down the system. After our last encounter with Shifter and Polar, we’d been distant from each other, probably out of grief.  He didn’t seem to be grieving. I knew it was a front because he’d known Polar since they were knee-high to a grasshopper.

I found it admirable that Nick didn’t fall apart.

“How are you?” He asked.

“Looking for the nearest bottle of anything alcoholic. You?” I asked.

“I’ve seen better days.” Nick smiled politely.

There was an awkward silence between us. I really wasn’t sure what I should say in this case, so I went with the first thing that stumbled into my head.

“Sorry your best friends tried to throw you off a bell tower.”

Nick chuckled, “I’m sorry that your…was he your boyfriend?” He asked.

“I don’t know. We kissed, but of course you knew that.” I smiled. He nodded and I continued, “I’m kind of asking myself if it was real.”

“He felt deeply for you in the short time of knowing you.” Nick said, “I’ve never seen him like that with anyone, let alone…You were in his heart. I’d wager you still are.”

“I’m not sure what to say.”

“You’ve said enough. You don’t need to say anything else.” Nick said quickly.

I looked down at the floor, “What do we do now? I can’t go back to running and I’m pretty sure that
normal
life fantasy isn’t coming true anytime soon.” I stared at him, waiting on his reply.

“I believe our next step would be moving to the School. My family’s Mansion has a lot of space and I’ve began contacting mutants from the asylum.” Nick said, gauging my reaction.

I shook my head, “I’m not teaching material.” I said quickly.

“I’m putting together a team. I plan to call us the gifted. I would like you to be on that team.”
Nick smiled, “Will you?”

“I wouldn’t have to do anything against my strict moral code…like teach, right?” I asked. He chuckled and shook his head, “Fine
Professor X
. Sign me up.”

“Our first order of business will be to establish relations between the gifted and the non-gifted.”

“Second?”

“Find Polar before he doesn’t something idiotic.” Nick explained.

“Like attempt an assassination of a close friend? Throw his…whatever I am to him…across a room? I think that ship has sailed.” I smiled.

“You’ll need a name.”

“You sound like—”

“A codename.” He corrected, “Weather Wizard?”

“Too long.”

“Storm?”

“Been done.”

“Hurricane?”

“No. It’s a little restricting.”

“Ah! I’ve got it!” He smiled, “On one of my many trips to Africa, I was introduced to a deity named
Oya.”

“I like that.” I smiled, “
Oya. It’s African and pretty cool. Back to my roots.”

“We should pack. I have a feeling that the next few months, maybe years, are going to be very busy.”

“Oya’s ready.” I smiled.