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A Diamond in the Rough	By : DrunkenScotsman Category: X-Men - Animated Series (all) > General Views: 4545 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 19
- 20
Chapter 20: The White King (2832)

Emma spent Sunday morning sulking.Despair suffused her apartment like the steam in a sauna. Yesterday’s defeatcertainly smarted, but the specter of what she’d have to tell Jean haunted herjust as much, if not more.
Around mid-afternoon, she tried topull herself together. Despite my preferences to the contrary, I can’tcontrol what’ll happen tomorrow. I can, however, prevent what happenedyesterday from happening again.
With that in mind, she set up herchessboard and pulled one of her theory books from her shelf. She flipped tothe section on the Albin Counter-Gambit and played through each of thevariations. One by one, she committed the positions to her sharp memory.
In the evening, she logged backonto Scheming Mind to review her game with SlimShady. Emma saw he’d left amessage: < Good game. If you hadn’t accepted my queen sacrifice, I wastoast. Hope to play again soon! >
< Likewise, > she typed inreply. You’d best be ready, SlimShady. If there’s one thing I pride myselfon, it’s that I never lose the same way twice.

XXXXX

Emma’s phone rang shortly afterlunch on Monday. She needed a few rings to feel fully ready to answer. The hourhad come, though, and she could no longer delay the inevitable.
“Hey, Emma. Did I manage to catchyou at a bad time?”
A flush rose to Emma’s cheeks atthe sound of Jean’s voice, and her heart began to race as she remembered theredhead’s warm lips against her own. Her resolve softened, already beginning tomelt away. “No, not at all,” she managed, deciding to plow ahead before shecould change her mind. “I’ve been thinking a lot about what happened onFriday.”
“Me too,” replied Jean, and Emmacould hear the smile in her voice.
A smile started to curl Emma’s lipsas well, but it collapsed before it could fully form. The longer I delay,the harder this gets, she reminded herself. “We can’t let it happen again,you know.”
A long beat of silence ensued, longenough that Emma wondered if Jean had hung up. Finally, though, the redheadresponded: “I… didn’t expect that.”
“We avoid being friends openly,”Emma reminded her, “much less…” Unbidden, an image arose within her mind: thetwo of them strolling across campus, hand in hand, fingers interlaced, untilthey arrived at the Huntington Building, where Emma had her political scienceclass, where they parted with a kiss. A beautiful fantasy, but a fantasy allthe same.
On the other end of the line,Jean’s sigh dispelled the illusion. “You’re probably right,” she agreed. “Ithink part of me hoped we could figure out a way to pursue it… carefully.”
I want to, Emma thought, andwanted to say. I wish we could, but wishes aren’t horses, are they?Aloud, she promised, “If I change my mind, I won’t hesitate to tell you.”
Jean sighed again. “Thanks forbeing honest with me, at least, and doing it quickly.”
“You deserve that much.” Youhonestly deserve better, but I can’t give you that.
A brief silence reigned until Jeanchanged the subject: “Leaving all that aside, I thought I should still tell youthat Professor Xavier still wants to meet you.”
Emma frowned; even if Jean couldn’tsee it, she could likely hear it in the reply, “I told you, I’m not going tothat Institute.”
“You wouldn’t have to,” Jeanreassured her. “We can establish contact using Cerebro.”
“Ah, yes, that device that wouldlet him read my mind from the other side of the planet, and probably scrambleit, too,” Emma replied acidly.
“Actually, I’d be the one usingit,” responded Jean. “The Professor thinks I need more practice with it anyway,so this seems like a perfect opportunity for that.”
Emma pursed her lips. She’d toldJean that, even if she didn’t trust this Xavier, she did trust her friend. Now,Jean had created a situation that forced Emma to put her proverbial money whereher mouth was. “It seems like you’ve addressed my concerns,” she admitted.“What should I do on my end?”
“I know you like to dress toimpress; I’d encourage you to do so. However you look when I make contact ishow you’ll appear to us,” explained the other telepath.
“Couldn’t I just imagine how Ilook?”
“You can, but it’s moretaxing.” A brief pause ensued. “Did you have something specific in mind?”
“No, but I’m not dressed forcompany,” Emma told her. “I’ll need to change. An hour should suffice.”
“Great!” enthused Jean, and Emmacould hear a note of relief in her voice. “I’ll ‘call back’ in an hour. It’llfeel like a tap on the shoulder.”
“Until then, Jean da—” Emma cutherself off. “I… probably shouldn’t call you that, should I?”
“Actually… I wouldn’t object.”Another brief pause ensued. “Even if we can’t pursue our feelings, it’s nicehaving that little reminder they’re still there.”
A small smile curled Emma’s lips.“Quite. In that case, until then, Jean darling.”
“See you soon, Emma darling,”replied the redhead, matching Emma’s inflection.
With that, they hung up, and aprofound warmth filled Emma as she readied herself for her meeting withProfessor Xavier.

XXXXX

An hour later, Emma sat in one ofthe chairs in the living room portion of her apartment. For her outfit, she’dchosen a tea-length dress in peppermint pink with white polka dots, accentuatedwith a fleecy white sweater and matching heels and nude hose. Classic pearls onthe neck and in the ears, along with a white hairband on top, completed theoutfit. Because she felt the need to impress, she added lipstick and eyeshadowin soft pink to supplement the look.
Despite expecting it, the tap onher shoulder, when it came, startled Emma because she was alone. She turned tosee Jean standing behind her, clad in a dark bodysuit with a green front panel.The suit came with a partial cowl that covered her neck and forehead whileleaving most of her (pretty) face and hair uncovered. Plastic patches onher upper arms bore a black X on a red background.
The redhead sat on the sofa nearEmma, who smoothed her dress to cover her mild discomfort at the apparition.Jean flashed a warm, soothing smile. “Sorry to startle you, Emma. I’m so usedto this kind of projection now that I forgot to warn you how weird it mightfeel.”
Emma waved dismissively. “Thinknothing of it, Jean darling. I was taken aback more by… that.” She gestured.“Your X-Men uniform, as I recall seeing on the news.”
Jean tucked a strand of red hairbehind her ear as she explained, “I have a training session with Wolverineafter we finish.”
Emma blinked. “Why are you traininga wolverine?”
Jean also blinked. “What? … Oh.It’s a codename. One of the instructors at the Institute. He mostly handlessecurity and combat drills.”
Emma nodded as she processed that.“All of you use codenames?”
A small smile curled Jean’s lips.“Originally, they were meant to protect our anonymity while we were out in thefield. Now that we’ve been publicly identified…” She shrugged, and her facepinched. “We still use them, mostly out of habit.”
“Yours is Phoenix, I presume.”
Jean laughed sheepishly. “I neversettled on one before we were outed. I did consider that one, among a fewothers.”
Emma hummed and smoothed her dressagain. “We shouldn’t keep your professor waiting, Jean darling.” The warmth ofthe answering laugh brought a flush to Emma’s cheeks.
Jean rose to her feet, and Emmafollowed suit. The redhead gestured behind Emma. “Emma Frost, this is ProfessorCharles Xavier, Headmaster of the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters.Professor Xavier, this is my friend from Bernhardt, Miss Emma Frost.”
Emma turned to see a bald man ofmiddling height, the depth of the crow’s feet by his eyes indicating middleage. He wore a bespoke charcoal suit, white oxford shirt, and navy tie stripeddiagonally with broad gold. His dark eyes shone with a combination of keenintellect and profound kindness. She curtsied, and he responded by grasping herproffered hand and bowing over it, his grip at just the right amount of firmnessfor an older gentleman meeting a younger woman.
“A pleasure to meet you, ProfessorXavier.”
“Likewise, Miss Frost,” he repliedwith a gentle smile. “Your curtsy brought back all those formal etiquettelessons I had to endure as a lad. I hadn’t used them in ages, but they cameright back. Pavlovian, really.”
“We just covered him in ourpsychology class, as it turns out,” Jean chimed in.
Emma gestured to the sofa. “Please,sit, Professor. Thank you for making time to meet me.”
Xavier sat, pausing only for thebriefest of moments. Emma recalled having seen him give talks on the news froma wheelchair, giving context for that brief pause. “I was about to say thesame, Miss Frost,” the Professor replied. “I understand you have somereservations about me.”
Emma’s eyes flicked over to Jean,who flashed her an encouraging smile. “I do, I’m not ashamed to say. YourInstitute takes in young mutants – scared, confused, often naïve – to teachthem, train them to fight for the ideals you hold. With the nature of yourability, you can understand my concerns, I hope.”
Xavier steepled his fingers, andEmma could see that he was taking her concerns seriously. Eventually, henodded. “From a certain perspective, I can indeed. Jean tells me that you’veused your powers to alter memories and implant commands. Is that true?”
Emma raised her chin.“Self-defense, sir. Two men were threatening me.”
“And your mother?” Jeaninterjected.
Emma shot her a look. “Alsoself-defense. From her tedious vapidity.” At Jean’s sour look, she added, “Shewas trying to get me to dress in ways that would have made me uncomfortable.”
“And the guy at the coffee shop?”the redhead pressed.
Emma’s jaw clenched. “That time, Iwas protecting both of us. From the potential spread of salacious rumors.”
Jean hummed. “My point, though, isthat you’ve used telepathy in a similar way that you’re accusing the Professorof doing.”
“For reasons that are at leastsomewhat justified,” Xavier added, opening his palms in a conciliatory gesture.“While I don’t generally use my gifts in the ways we’re discussing, I certainlyhave, when necessary, to protect my students.”
Emma mulled that over, and anuncomfortable feeling bubbled up from deep inside her as she remembered howthose two cretins at the start of the semester had ended up hospitalized. “Doesit bother you, even when it’s necessary?”
A shadow passed across Xavier’sfeatures as he nodded. “I’ve lost more than a few nights’ sleep.”
Even though she was beginning toget the sense that she could trust this man, Emma had to ask: “Have you everaltered the memories of, or exerted control over, any of your students?”
Jean interjected: “The Professor’salways respected our privacy in every way. The guiding principle he taught mewas not to read anyone’s mind without permission, much less anything else.”
“Even with permission,” addedXavier, “I keep my presence and influence to a minimum, and I don’t snooparound.”
Emma hummed. “You’re certainlysaying all the right things, Professor. I almost believe them. Part of mewishes to do so.”
Xavier steepled his fingers againand regarded Emma with an intense gaze. “What’s stopping you, Miss Frost?” heasked in an even tone, one that indicated curiosity rather than judgment.
Emma met his eyes coolly. Sherefused to show how Xavier’s gaze made her feel like an insect beneath amagnifying glass, even without any mental probing (that she could detect,anyway). “I have difficulty believing that you, or anyone with our shared capabilities,wouldn’t exploit them to the fullest.” Jean recoiled, prompting Emma toadd, “That’s always been the Frost way: One should always take advantage ofone’s advantages.”
The redhead frowned. “If you’regoing to use your power to control people, either directly or by seeking outtheir deepest secrets…” She took a deep breath. “I don’t know if I want to befriends with someone like that.”
Emma’s heart leapt into her throat,and her mind scrambled into overdrive. How do I fix this? she wondered,and kept wondering.
“Now, Jean, I think you’re being alittle harsh,” chided Xavier. “You know that, despite our differences, Magnetoand I have been friends for decades, even if that friendship has often beenstrained.”
Jean’s (dazzling) green eyesflashed. “Yes, Professor, I’m aware of that,” she bit out, “but frankly I’venever understood it.”
One of Xavier’s eyebrows quirked.“A conversation for another time, perhaps. My point” – here he paused foremphasis, and Emma caught the sharp edge in his voice – “is that sometimes themeasure of friendship lies not in perfect compatibility, but in the stresseswhich it can endure.”
Jean pursed her lips, and her gazeturned towards Emma. “When you told me about what happened with those twocatcallers, and when you used your powers on your mom, I got the impressionthat you felt at least a little bad about it.” She bit her lip. “Was I wrong?”
Emma swallowed the lump in herthroat and shook her head. “I didn’t mean to hurt Mother; I just wanted her toleave me alone about wearing a skimpy swimsuit,” she replied. “Even with thosetwo simpletons, I didn’t intend for them to hurt themselves.”
“You want control, then,” surmisedXavier.
Emma nodded once, a short, sharpnod. “I detest the sloppiness of those incidents. I’ve no wish to harm anyone;I only want the precision to protect myself to whatever degree necessary. Isn’tthat essentially what you’ve taught your students, sir?”
“Indeed,” answered Xavier. “Mutantpowers, uncontrolled, can cause a great deal of damage – to individuals, toproperty, and to the fragile relationship between humans and mutants.” Heglanced over at the redhead, who squirmed uncomfortably.
I’ll have to ask about thatlater, Emma mused.
“Miss Frost, Jean has informed meof her tutelage and of your concerns about officially joining the Institute,since your mutant status is currently a secret. If you’d be interested, I’dlike to prepare some exercises for you to hone your control under her continuedguidance.” Xavier favored Jean with a proud smile. “She’s one of mylongest-tenured students, and I have complete confidence in her. I can sensefrom the way she’s spoken about you that you’ve forged a connection, and Ithink you both should continue to foster it.”
Heat rose to Emma’s cheeks, and shesaw Jean’s face flush as well. Did she tell him about…?
Jean shook her head slightly, andEmma wondered if she’d read her expression or picked up on her emotions throughthe telepathic link.
“Is it alright, Miss Frost,”continued Xavier, breaking the moment, “if I ask Jean to keep me apprised ofyour progress?”
“Of course, sir. I appreciate yourwillingness to teach me, even if indirectly.”
Xavier inclined his head. “Ofcourse, Miss Frost. I’m happy to help any mutant, especially a friend ofJean’s, and a fellow telepath to boot.” His expression clouded. “I’m all tooaware of the pitfalls and growing pains involved.”
“Everything he’s learned, he had toteach himself,” Jean added, voice filled with awe.
Emma found the idea daunting, soshe could understand why Jean might feel such admiration. Aloud, she said,“Quite impressive indeed, sir.”
Xavier peered over his steepledfingers once more. “As for your capacity for transformation into livingdiamond…” He frowned, though Emma got the impression that it came fromuncertainty rather than displeasure. “I’ve never seen transformation paired withtelepathy. In fact, I must admit far less familiarity with transformationpowers in general. I’ll speak with Colossus to see what insights he might haveto offer”
“He’s one of our newest members,”added Jean helpfully. “He’s the one I mentioned before, who transforms into atype of organic metal.”
“I’ll also confer with Dr. McCoy,”continued Xavier. “He’s a brilliant chemist who managed his transformation fordecades, though it’s now become, to his dismay, permanent.”
Emma smoothed her dress. “I’drather avoid that if possible, please,” she replied dryly. “No telling how muchof my wardrobe I’d have to replace.”
Xavier chuckled.
Jean rolled her eyes, barelysuppressing a smile.
Before anyone could continue, Emmaheard a chime from her bedroom. She excused herself from the telepathicconversation to check her cell phone, which showed she’d received a text.Unexpectedly, it had come from Father.
On reading the text message, Emma’sblood ran cold.
Jean’s voice floated in from theother room: “Emma? I felt a spike of anxiety just now… What’s wrong?”
Before Emma could answer, her phonerang. “I’m afraid I have to take this,” she answered shakily. “It’s Mr. Shaw.”
______________________________________________________________________________________
A/N: Dun dun DUNNNNN!!! The plot thickens.
Professor Xavier is a little tricky to write. I do think that he's a genuinely good person trying to do good in the world, but the nature of his powers and the ways he's shown to use them, especially in the context of the show, are certainly of debatable ethicality. Likewise for Emma, who has a much more pragmatic/cynical mindset than I do, though this version of her doesn't hold that mindset quite as strongly, not having been groomed by the Hellfire Club (...yet? Stay tuned!).
Anyway, thanks for reading! Please leave your thoughts in a review!
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A Diamond in the Rough