Chapter Text
Morph has been dreading this moment. And this is coming from someone who has had a lot of dreaded interactions in the past few months. Acclimating back to the X-men after being brainwashed by gay Dracula has had its fair share of bumps in the road. Though they probably have the best excuse in the world, Morph still feels responsible for their actions under Sinister. Their head was so fucked with that they still aren't sure how much of their feelings were manufactured and how much was genuine.
The X-men, for their part, were very forgiving. Beast said he'd needed a good workout in the Danger Room anyway, and Gambit said they were a good kisser. Logan, well, he practically thanked Morph for ruining Scott and Jean's wedding. They felt awful about it, of course, but neither of the happy couple seemed too torn up about it. Jean said she was just happy Morph was okay, and Scott... well... Morph strongly suspects that he still feels guilty over leaving them behind. And yeah, Morph has had a little trouble forgiving him. They know he tried his best to make the right call, and who knows? If the X-men had stuck around with the Sentinels, maybe there wouldn't be an X-men today. Despite that, there's still a lingering feeling of betrayal.
Morph knows how hard forgiveness can be, so they don't hold it against any of them to bear a grudge. Especially her.
Jubilee sits across the kitchen table, arms crossed as she blows her bubblegum. Her piercing gaze is trained on them like a hawk, and they try not to fidget in their seat too much. A pink bubble pops.
"So." She finally says, breaking the tension, "Not only am I stuck house sitting while the other X-men get to go on a cool mission." A raised eyebrow. "My babysitter has a track record of trying to kill me."
"I mean... I wasn't trying to kill you, per say-"
"You just thought I'd walk into the Friends of Humanity headquarters and not get hate-crimed?"
They grimace. "I admit, not my finest moment. Sorry."
She leans into her hands. "It's fine, I guess. You were, like, being mind-controlled.." Her expression is hard to clock. "But, like, why me?"
"Why you?"
"Why did you hate me the most?" The teen frowns, growing a bit quieter. "I never even met you. Why was I on your vengeance vendetta?"
Morph doesn't love remembering how they felt during that time. All those twisted thoughts and emotions.. "It was just pettiness, really." They finally say, regretfully honest, "I came back and it was like the X-men didn't care I was gone, and they went and replaced me with some teenage mall rat. I hated that you were there and I wasn't."
Out of all possible reactions, Jubilee's dumbstruck face changes into a giddy smile.
"What?"
"Nothing!" Jubilee snorts, "Just a full-on adult beefing with a teenager." She cackles, and Morph sits back, half annoyed and half impressed. "You even stole my pithy quips. How dare you."
"What can I say, I have usurped your throne and become the team clown!"
"Brat."
Morph laughs and Jubilee joins in, and soon enough they're gossiping and discussing the latest Dazzler single.
'Damn it. I can't believe I love this kid.'