Work Text:
The Xavier Institute for gifted young people has always been a place of learning, evolution and, of course, challenges. For Y/n, a mutant with fire powers, being an X-Men meant more than just fighting for a better world. It was about family, companionship and believing in the potential of each one. However, since Emma Frost joined the team, a new challenge had emerged.
The blonde telepath never hid your opinion about s/n. It was not a declared hatred, but a constant attitude of superiority and disdain. Emma liked to test her patience, always with sharp comments, and s/n, as much as she tried to stay respectful, sometimes she felt her temperament explodes - that literally.
________________________________________
The day started like any other at the institute. Jean Gray coordinated a training room training, Scott Summers reviewed combat tactics with the younger ones, and Wolverine, as always, was in a bad mood. Y/n, in turn, he tried to keep his mind busy training his accuracy with flames.
"If you keep setting fire everywhere, you'll end up setting the institute on fire," Emma's voice echoed through the hall. His tone loaded with sarcasm.
S/n closed his eyes for a moment, inspiring deep before turning around.
- Good morning to you too, Emma. Are you watching me training or just waiting for an opportunity to criticize me?
Emma gave a small smile, crossing her arms.
- Just finding a fact. Not all have the subtlety and sophistication necessary to manipulate their powers with absolute control. But continue, honey, maybe one day learn.
S/n felt the heat rise to his face, and it was not because of the fire. Before he could answer, Kitty Pryde appeared on the side, crossing the wall.
- Hey, no bullshit before breakfast, ok? Kitty looked at Emma and then to s/n. "Don't let the Logan hear that, or he's going to throw you both in forced training."
Emma sighed dramatically. - As if I needed it.
S/n rolled his eyes, but before he could say anything, Scott entered the room with a serious look.
- Team, we have a mission. I need you in the meeting room now.
Everyone gathered quickly. Jean, Ororo, Bobby, Kurt and Hank were already there. The mission seemed simple: a possible trainee foray had been detected in a nearby area. The team needed to investigate before something worse happened.
During the preparation, S/N noted Emma watching her, as if analyzing her every movement. When the X-Men finally took off on Blackbird, the tension was palpable.
"Remember, Y/N, don't get carried away by emotions," Emma whispered as she sat next to her. - Your fire burns stronger when you lose control.
S/n just stared at her, controlling the desire to release a small flame just to test the patience of the blonde.
The mission, however, did not come out as expected. What seemed to be a normal patrol soon became a direct confrontation with advanced sentries. The X-Men were separated during the battle, and s/n was arrested with Emma in a dead end.
"Great, of course it had to be you," she grunted s/n as she tried to make her way with her flames.
- The feeling is mutual, dear. Now, if you can stop throwing up and let me think…
But before Emma could draw a plan, a sentry advanced with a radius of energy. S/n reacted by instinct, creating a fire barrier around them.
"Well, it looks like my" lack of subtlety "has just saved your skin," said S/N, panting.
Emma straightened her blond hair and smiled sideways. "You may have your moments of brilliance."
Combining his powers, Emma used her telepathy to distract the sentry while S/N increased her temperature to the maximum, melting part of the robot's armor. When the rest of the X-Men arrived, the two had already neutralized the threat.
Back at the institute, while everyone recovered, Emma approached s/n in the corridor.
"I admit, you're not as impulsive as I thought." Today, at least, he proved that he can work under pressure.
S/n crossed his arms, arising an eyebrow.
- Was that a compliment? Because it almost seemed.
Emma smiled mysteriously before following her way.
- Interpret as you want, honey.
S/n shook his head, a small smile appearing on his lips. Maybe, only maybe Emma wasn't that unbearable.
The Xavier Institute was in a celebration climate. After weeks of intense missions, Charles Xavier decided that the team needed a moment of rest. Thus, a fraternization was organized in the institute's gardens, and all the X-Men were present.
S/N mixed with others, holding a glass of juice as he talked to Laura Kinney. Wolverine's clone was rarely involved in parties, but it seemed comfortable in the conversation with S/N, which was starting to be honestly smiles from both. The brightness of the lights illuminated Laura's sharp strokes, and the proximity between the two did not go unnoticed by a certain pair of blue-ice eyes.
Emma Frost watched the scene from a distance, her expression impassive, but a small crease on her forehead revealed her irritation. She took the glass of wine to her lips, drinking slowly as her gaze narrowed to see S/n throwing her head back in a genuine laugh.
Jean Gray noticed and smiled in the corner.
"If you look longer, Emma may be able to set Laura on fire only with thought."
"Don't be ridiculous, Jean," Emma replied coldly. "I just bother me to see certain team members wasting your time with trivial conversations."
Jean laughed softly. - Right. Of course. This has nothing to do with the fact that s/n is having fun with someone else, isn't it?
Emma threw a freezing look at Jean before she diverted her eyes from S/n and Laura. With an air of forced boredom, he walked to the other side of the garden, where Ororo and Hank talked.
Y/n, however, felt a sudden chill, as if it were being observed. His gaze crossed the garden and found Emma, now apparently disinterested at the party. But S/N knew the telepath well to know that all that coldness was a mask.
Curious, s/n said goodbye quickly from Laura and walked to Emma.
"You look even more distant than normal today." Is everything okay, Frost?
Emma lifted an eyebrow and looked at her to s/n. - What a observer. But don't worry, honey, my night does not depend on your presence to be pleasant.
S/n crossed his arms, a small smile playing on his lips. "So my presence affects you?" Interesting.
Emma did not bother to answer, only turned the glass of wine in her hands. But s/n noted the way his fingers were more tense than normal.
"If there's something you mean, you can say," S/N continued, now closer. - I don't bite ... a lot.
Emma turned to face her, her indecipherable look. After a moment of silence, she smiled enigmatically and said, with a low and controlled voice:
- Be careful, Y/n. Playing with fire can be dangerous ... even for those who are made of it.
And with that, Emma walked away, leaving s/n with a mix of confusion and a strange heat in her chest.
The doors of the institute opened quietly when s/n passed, hasty steps echoing through the empty corridors. The mission had been a success, but at what cost? Her body hurt, cuts scattered around her arms, bruises darkening her skin. Professor Xavier and the others were in the meeting room, probably waiting to celebrate the victory. But she had no strength for smiles or words of relief. All I wanted was the loneliness of your room.
Arriving at his destination, s/n closed the door behind him and let out a heavy sigh. He withdrew the jacket, revealing a deeper cut on the side of the abdomen. The vision of the blood made her head spin for a moment, but she ignored it and went to the bathroom, looking for something to clean the injuries. Before he could do anything, a soft knock on the door made her frown.
"I know it's there, Y/N." Emma Frost's voice sounded firm, but there was a soft tone that made her hesitate. - I saw you coming in. It's no use hiding.
- I'm fine, frost. Go away. S/N replied, trying to keep his voice firm.
"You're bleeding," Emma completely ignored the refusal and opened the door without ceremony. S/n did not have the strength to prevent it.
Emma's penetrating blue gaze analyzed the scene, her impassive countenance as she approached. She took her own shoes, as if she wanted to show that she was not there to force anything, and took a clean cloth before soaking it with antiseptic. S/n retreated instinctively.
- I said I'm fine. Her voice sounded weak even to herself.
"And I said it's not stubborn." Emma knelt beside the bed, the cold touch of her fingers finding the heated skin of s/n. A shiver ran through her spine, but she had no strength to protest when the blonde began to clean her wound with surprising delicacy.
The silence between them was not uncomfortable. Emma focused on care, but her eyes climbed from time to time to find those of s/n, who diverted whenever she felt her intense look at her. Emma's touch was firm, but soft, as if he said more than words they could express.
"You don't have to do that," S/N murmured, trying to keep the composure.
"I know," Emma answered her voice low, almost a whisper. - But I want to.
A knot was formed in the throat of s/n. The proximity between them was undeniable, and when Emma slightly tilted her head, s/n caught her breathing. The delicate smell of perfume and something solely Emma filled the air. His eyes met again, and this time, S/N did not deflect.
The moment extended between them, loaded with something not said, something electrifying. Emma lea a little more, her lips to a wire from hers. S/n could retreat. Could push her away. But it didn't.
It was a soft touch at first, hesitant, but soon deepened when s/n gave in, letting itself be carried away by the warmth of the kiss. Emma held her face with unexpected delicacy, and for the first time that night, s/n was truly safe.
When they broke up, Emma kept her forehead against hers, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Now let me finish taking care of you." Her voice was dyed with unexpected affection.
S/n only nodded, allowing, for the first time in a long time, to be cared for.
S/N's breath was still accelerated when Emma finished cleaning the injuries, but it was not just because of pain. The careful touch of the blonde, the blue eyes analyzing every detail of her skin, all made her feel vulnerable in a new, scary way.
- Ready. Emma announced, setting the bloodstained cloth aside. - Now, you need to rest.
S/n let out a low, tired laugh. "Since when do you worry so much about me?"
Emma tilted her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "Since when you stopped worrying about yourself."
S/n looked away, but Emma held her chin gently, forcing her to face her. The intensity in that look was almost tangible, and s/n felt a cold in the belly. She was used to fighting, defending herself, hiding who she really was. But Emma ... Emma always seemed to see beyond.
"You don't have to hide anything from me." The telepath murmured, her fingers sliding down the arm of s/n, rising to her shoulders. - I already know.
The heart of s/n jumped in the chest. - What are you talking about?
Emma arched an eyebrow, a fun and at the same time full of tenderness. - I know about you, about your condition. I know that, for so long, you believed this was a weakness. But I'm here to remember that it is exactly the opposite.
S/n was silent, feeling a mix of emotions. No one ever talked about it. It was always a well -kept secret, a barrier between her and the rest of the world. But Emma didn't hesitate. Did not go back.
- Like you...?
"I didn't have to read your mind to realize." I just watch you. Emma slid her fingers through her hair, pushing some dirty -dirty locks away. "And I think it's time for you to stop hiding."
S/n felt his throat tighten. I didn't know what to say, because no one had never accepted it that way. Emma's touch, her sincere eyes, everything in her said there was no repulsion, just admiration. I just wish.
And then, without thinking too much, s/n pulled Emma close, her lips meet again in an intense kiss. This time, there was no hesitation. It was complete delivery, the heat of two souls that finally allowed themselves to be seen.
When they walked away, Emma smiled at S/N's lips.
"I said you didn't have to hide anything." He whispered.
S/n closed his eyes for a moment, absorbing that moment, that truth. For the first time in a long time, she felt whole.