Saturday night - Scott and Ororo

[x-storm.livejournal.com]

Scott returns to the mansion! Ororo is overjoyed, and not just because it means another person to help with the paperwork.

It certainly paid to have so many martial artists and ferals hanging about the mansion, Ororo thought as she walked quietly down the hallway. Not to mention her own childhood training helped in the stealth department as well. Maybe she wasn't quite as sneaky as Logan, but then again, no one expected the headmistress of the school to be skulking down the mansion's dark hallways. She had the element of surprise on her side.

A few more steps and she then switched from 'stealth' to 'speed', bursting into the well-lit office and wrapping her arms around the surprised man standing there. "You're back!" she declared with a grin, giving Scott's ribs one last squeeze before finally letting go. "Welcome home."

"...well," Scott said with a mock-wheeze that maybe wasn't so mock as he liked to think, "I suppose I should be glad you didn't actually tackle me to the floor. You have done that before, after all." He grinned at her, raising an eyebrow. "Okay, so... you still have all your hair, and it's no whiter than usual. Was it a quiet June?"

"Quiet? No. Uneventful? Not exactly. But we are still here, and the mansion is still standing, so I believe I would qualify it as a month well-passed." Ororo grinned back, thrilled that Scott had returned (and from a vacation, no less!). "How was your trip? I have heard tales of turtles of unusual size and planes, but not much else."

"Ah-hah - you noticed my comment about the plane, did you?" Scott's smile was softer, but faintly awed, and his real eye was suspiciously bright for a moment. "Phillip decided there'd been enough messing around and dragged me down to get recertified while we were there." He cleared his throat, then went on, more naturally. "As for the turtles of unusual size... we were in the Galapagos for the first two weeks. I have all kinds of pictures."

"Oh, Scott, good. Congratulations." Ororo made a mental note to send Scott's grandfather a thank-you note... or maybe a fruit basket. She couldn't help herself from reaching out to give his arm a squeeze. "Horatio would be jealous."

"Oh, he's not speaking to me," Scott said brightly. "I need to win back his affection, clearly... I figure I'll have time." He patted her hand where it rested on his arm, then went around to the other side of his desk. "I brought something back for you, too..."

"Oh?" Ororo asked curiously. "I cannot even imagine what sort of souvenirs come from a place that grows giant turtles..."

"Well, actually, your gift Jean and I got in Quito, not in the Galapagos. We had some time between coming back from the islands and flying to Hawaii to see Alex, so we did some shopping." Scott pulled the flat case out of the bag and handed it to Ororo. "Ecuador's big on silver jewelry. We found this little shop, and Jean thought you'd like this."

Ororo unwrapped the case, her eyes widening at the sight of the ornate silver necklace. "She was right," she said, grinning and glancing up at Scott. "She always did have very good taste. I'm glad you both were able to enjoy your time away. It was certainly about time."

"In a lot of ways," Scott said, raising both eyes, if still smiling, as he leaned back against the edge of his desk. "We were in Vancouver, too. She got a chance to see some of the people she knew while she was living there... closure was definitely the name of the game."

"You were certainly busy," she said, wrapping up the case once more. "But it is good that you were able to do that, and together."

"It's good to be home, though." Scott looked vaguely surprised, hearing himself say that. "I mean... I was actually looking forward to coming home, and not just because it meant seeing everyone again. I want to get back to work, too." He smiled a bit hesitantly. "Do you know how long it's been since I could say that and mean it?"

"You do not have to dwell on that, Scott. We are glad you have returned, as well. And you will be glad to know that there is plenty of work for you to get back to." 'Ro winked at him and perched on the arm of the chair. "As always."

"Now I really know I'm home," Scott said, then grinned at her. "I may have caught up, just a little bit, before you found me. What's this about scratched night vision goggles?"

Holding up her hands, Ororo got a mock-defensive look on her face. "They were victims of some improvisation. And despite the damage, I think it was worth it. You have to agree, the safety of children rates above the well-being of some goggles."

Scott's grin grew. "I read the mission report. I think the goggles can be written off as a small price to pay. You handled that nicely, 'Ro."

"Thank you. Despite some internal issues... the mission went well enough." She smiled. "And I will handle replacing the lenses, it is only fair. And at least I did not smash them into a wall."

"Oh, was that a possibility? I imagine moving around was a bit hairy, in the midst of a sandstorm... what is it with the African missions this last year?" Scott asked almost whimsically. "We're overdue for something in South America or something, I swear..."

"Please. If there is one thing I have learned over the years it is that we do not need to ask for more missions. I am sure one will happen soon enough, or something else entirely to distract us from the lack," Ororo said, rolling her eyes.

Scott knocked quite deliberately on the wood of his desk, then pushed himself away from it, still smiling. "I should go try and get some sleep," he said. "I'm not precisely sure what time zone my body think it's in, and I suspect I'm still a bit scrambled. Jean probably had more sense and went right to bed."

'Ro nodded and hopped up, smiling. "Take it easy for the first few days back - I will be glad to dump the work on you as soon as you are back with us entirely." With a grin, she started toward the door. "And if Horatio will not forgive you, tell him that no matter how big and impressive the other turtles are, nothing can compare to old friends."

Comments

[xp_daytripper]

what is it with the African missions this last year? We're overdue for something in South America or something, I swear..."

Nope. Asia or Australia, since you have covered those continents yet. *grins*