ALL MY LIFE
PART TWO
Mid-Morning.
She was happy, to say the least.
Ororo Monroe and her companion Rafe Wallace lay facing each other, in a jumble of sheets and limbs. He was lightly tracing the contours of her face with his hand. The past hours had been a mixture of lovemaking and conversation. As the gentle light of morning glided through the glass of the balcony doors, the stresses and the weight of her responsibilities at home were the farthest thing from her mind.
Rafe suddenly had an odd look on his face. He raised up so that he was leaning on his elbow looking down at her.
"You’re an X-Man!"
"What?"
"You’re an X-Man. A mutant. That’s where I know you from."
"What are you talking about?"
"A year or so ago. That whole Zero Tolerance mess. On the news, they showed some military craft or something that was supposed to be under attack by the X-Men. You were one of them. I knew I’d seen you before." He was looking off in space now.
Storm remained silent. She sighed, rolled over and sat up, preparing to get out of the bed.
"Where are you going?"
"What do you mean, where am I going? I am leaving."
"Why?"
"Why???"
"Yeah, why?"
"What you just said. . ."
"Was I wrong?"
"About my being an X-Man, no. About us attacking the military plane, yes. It was the other way around."
"Oh, I knew that! I just meant that was the way it was portrayed on the news. I could tell it was a set up. It was just a little too convenient that the cameras were turned on after the fighting began."
"So. . . you do not have a problem with mutants?"
"Ororo," he sat up and kissed her. "My older sister is a mutant."
"She is?"
He nodded. "Telekinetic. You can’t imagine how unfair our snowball fights were when we were kids. I only had my two hands. She could whip fifty snowballs at me at once!"
Storm had to laugh at this, and he joined her.
"So, we okay now?"
She smiled sheepishly. "I am sorry." She leaned back. "I have just been under a great deal of pressure lately, all having to do with my lifestyle. I fear I am getting to a point where I almost expect every normal human I run into to be hateful and angry at mutants. I find I am constantly having to remind myself of what I am fighting for."
"My dad was a cop. He use to say, the day you become so jaded, you forget what you're fighting for, it's time to find a new cause."
"Where is your father now?"
"Dead, seven years now - in the line of duty. My mom lives with my sister and her husband out in the suburbs. Big house, trees, three kids, the whole deal. How ‘bout your family?"
Storm closed her eyes, and before she realized it, she was telling this man, whom she had only known a few hours, the tragic story of her parents and her childhood in Cairo. This was something she had only told to the X-Men and a few close relations, as it was such a painful story to tell in full.
He listened intently and remained silent once she was finished.
"That is why I am so claustrophobic."
"That's all?"
"What do you mean?"
"Claustrophobia. That's all that ails you from that experience? You just moved on?"
"It was what they would have wanted."
"I was twenty when my dad died, and I couldn't bring myself to look at him at the funeral. I think it would have driven me mad. Yet you were buried alive with them both, at only six years old! Woman, if you came away from that with only claustrophobia, you've got to be the strongest person I've ever met!"
"My strength comes from the support of those who care about me. Their love and the love of others allow me to go on. I consider myself fortunate, things could have been far worse."
"And she's modest too."
He wrapped his arms around her and they were silent for a moment.
"Ororo. . . " he began slowly. "Is this a one night stand type of thing?"
"Do you wish it to be?"
". . . No."
"Nor do I."
"Good. Have anything major planned for today?"
"Besides spending it here with you?"
"Yeah, besides that."
"No. Not really."
"Hold that thought." Rafe leaned over Ororo and grabbed the telephone on the nightstand beside her. He quickly dialed a number.
"Hey Doug. It's Rafe."
"…"
"Cause you're always there this early. Look, I'm taking a personal day."
"…"
"That's personal. 'Sides, I'm due, I haven't taken one in a while."
"…"
"You're problem. Have a nice day."{CLICK} "Now where were we?"
Storm held up a hand. "Wait. Time out. It is my turn." She picked up the phone.
"Xavier Institute."
"Jean?"
"Ororo! My god, where are you? Are you all right?"
"Calm down, my friend. I am fine."
"But you've never stayed away all night. Not without leaving a note or something. We were getting worried!"
"I assure you I am fine."
"Where are you?"
"With. . . a friend."
"A friend?"
"A friend."
". . . Ohhh, a FRIEND! I see. Uhh, when will you be home?"
Rafe was kissing Storm's shoulder and moving up towards her neck.
"Umm, I shall see you tomorrow, Jean."
"Tomorrow. Right. Okay. I'll see you then."
"Good bye, Jean."
"Ororo!"
"Yes?"
"I'll want details!" she whispered loudly.
"Good bye, Jean!"{Click}
"Well?" he asked expectantly.
"Game on."
* * * * *
Storm glided carefully through her skylight. It was 2:30am, over twenty four hours since she had been in her attic apartment. Everything was where she had left it with the exception of one mysterious lump of sheets on her bed. It was breathing.
"Remy."
"Mmm?"
"Remy, get up."
"Huh? Wha-- 'Roro!" He threw the sheets off of himself and sat up. "Where d'hell you been girl? You got any idea what time. . . what day it is?"
"I called."
"You called Jean. She say you fine, an' das' all she say! Got ids smile on her face like she swallow d'cannary. What goin' on Chere?"
{Sigh}"I met someone."
"You met someone?"
"Yes."
"So what dis homme name?"
"Why?"
"Gonna have a talk wit ‘im. What kind'a guy keep a girl he jus’ met 'way from her home f'so long?"
"Someone like you."
"Hey!"
"Out! I am tired and I wish to sleep." She was pushing him out the door.
"We ain't done wit dis Stormy!"
"Good night, Remy."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Bon nuit."
Ororo removed her sandals and fell into bed. She was asleep in minutes.