Chapter Text
Off the back of another well-fought victory. Scott Summers retreated back into his bedroom.
With a well-earned sigh, he focused on slowly unraveling his gear and thinking on how to carefully debrief in his own mind.
Rewinding the battle in his head, play-by-play, finding mistakes and mentally writing down notes for future conversations with his team.
His concentration intensifying, he sat at his desk in order to more efficiently write down the notes in his journal. Carefully scribing the details and his mind slowly created a narrow path towards future victories.
Just as he had finished a couple pages, he could hear knocks against his door increase in volume as his mind let go.
“Come in! The doors unlocked anyways” and he turned away to focus on his writing again.
Feeling a hand rustle his hair in sweet affection, he turned up to notice the blond-haired terror smiling down at him.
Little snowflake, Magik. Illyana.
“Everyone’s asking about you, come down and celebrate with us” She continued passing her hand through his but she already knew the answer.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be right down, just making some quick preparations for everyone. Just in case y’know.”
Just in case. Ever the case with someone so embedded with leadership qualities and the burden of mutant liberation.
She retreated back to his bed, sat down and let herself collapse over the duvet.
A few sweet moments pass by, the sound of a pencil on paper scratch and the atmosphere is filled with a sweet mutual silence.
Like honey, she watches nearby. Wherever is Cyclops, there’s Magik nearby as well. Same as it ever was, their presence to each other was equilibrium.
“You’ve done great work. I haven’t gotten the chance to but I wanted to tell you how much I’m proud of you.” He looks back at her, flashing her his best Summers smile while resting his arms on the back of his chair.
She returns his smile but just as quickly, her eyes turn somber “We’ve held on strong but… It’s different in all ways.”
“I never thought I’d have to step into that position, to be a real leader in real consequences with circumstances far greater than anything I’ve ever experienced.” She squeezed the bedsheets and curled even harder, her vulnerability rare. She closes her eyes, breathes and then opens them once more.
“I missed you more than you could ever know, not only as a friend but as someone who could inspire us.” Shifting her eyes and looking at all sorts of pictures that Scott has hung up. Few of the X-Men, Jean, Hope, Cable, Rachel and she spots the one of them eating pancakes at that one spot in New Orleans.
“I can’t tell you how many times I thought to myself ‘I wish Scott was here…. He would get us out of this situation’ and now you’re here and my relief explodes”. Silently listening, Scott stands and sits down at her side.
Cupping her cheek as she’s lain down. He studies her features and remembers when she was younger. Less experienced, Ill-tempered, rash, prone to anger, impulsive, so on and so forth.
It even caused him to chuckle, because she’s still some of these things but she tries harder every day.
Her face was older and it struck him a blow to the heart. Her features sharper, a young girl to a woman with the assertiveness to take charge, make the calls and rally everyone behind her. Only he knew this side of her, the one that still needs that affection and encouragement to keep going.
She shifted to a more comfortable position on the bed and turned around. Quickly pulling the duvet over herself.
Her words had struck a chord In him, their relationship always meant a lot to him. Prone to making enemies, Scott never minded being by himself. However… soon after meeting Yana. He couldn’t quite shake off the small expectation of having a voice behind him exclaiming ”What’s next?” Or “Who are we picking for the next team?”.
He whispered in her ear a small “I love you.” And heard a buried, muffled one in return. Sitting still and caressing her back until he heard the small rhythm of breathing beneath the sheets.
He simply stood up, went back to his desk and let her rest. There was much work to be done. He knew that she had his back and that he would have hers.