(no subject)

[x-shinobi.livejournal.com]

During the softball game Wednesday afternoon, Shinobi and Elisabeth have a chat as they watch the fun from inside. Angst threatens to ensue, but something occurs outside that does one hell of a job of distracting them.



She stood by the window, overlooking the school grounds, and watching Alison play along with Doug. Most of the students were outside and she smiled despite herself. It looked like fun. Betsy wrapped her arms around herself, a wistful look on her face. She closed her eyes, aware of the audience. She did not move. "Hello."

"Hi," Shinobi grinned, craning his neck to see around Elisabeth and out the window from his spot a few feet away. It did look like fun - damn his busy schedule. At least it kept Paige busy. "You know, I've never played softball."

"It is." Betsy moved quietly to the side, allowing Shinobi to get a better look. Her eyes still on the diamond, she continued. "Why not join them?" Betsy hesitated for a moment. "I'm sure you'd be welcomed."

Shinobi briefly looked a bit puzzled by her initial response, but then it clicked. He grimaced, murmuring a quiet apology as he closed his eyes, focusing for a moment to try and better button down his shielding. "I'm sure I would be, too," he replied lightly, taking the opportunity to come closer to the window to get a better view. "It's just a lack of time, this afternoon. Self-imposed research mode, on top of the usual."

"Ever the vigilant, Shinobi?" Betsy afforded a glance in Shinobi's direction. The sound of jubilant laughter could be heard from the field. "I'm sure you could allot a few hours to leisure and cut it out of your sleep, if it was important to you."

"I need the sleep," Shinobi replied, grinning as he looked to Elisabeth. "I'm still getting up at five thirty for my run. Scarily enough, I think I might even be beginning to enjoy it."

"Then I'd say that you've been thoroughly brainwashed," Betsy quipped. "I'll have to commend the others on a job well done." She faced him now, pulling herself back. She couldn't survive by living vicariously through others, or on their happiness. She scowled. "How are you truly doing? I may not be ever-present, but I'm not blind to things. At least, not any more."

"I'm sure Scott'd be glad to hear people approve of the work he's done on me," Shinobi smiled, inclining his head slightly. He sobered quickly, though, when she scowled, blinking once and arching an eyebrow. "I'm tired, worried, and frustrated," he replied honestly. "But I'm doing something about all three, and keeping up my appointments with Samson, so really, I'm doing well."

"You should tell him, he's doing an excellent job." Betsy replied, coolly. A particular wild yell brought her attention back to the baseball diamond. "They seem so young, even Alison. Carefree. It's almost feels foreign."

Shinobi blinked a little at the just-as-sudden leap back to the topic of the game. This kind of mental hopscotch never ceased to be a bit disorienting. "I have told him, but I don't know if anyone else has," he replied after a moment, shaking himself and looking back out the window.

"Right," Betsy pushed her back up against the wall, her body obstructing the view. Her ire was palpable. "Why would I want to tell him anything?" Betsy closed her eyes, again. The mentioning of Scott needing anything made her uncomfortable. But being reminded of it, it was downright irritating. Betsy felt it at her core. The moment Scott left her. Betsy shook her head, trying to shed the unwanted thoughts. She wasn't stable.

Shinobi was getting that impression. Arching an eyebrow, he turned his attention back to her, regarding her silently for a moment before he spoke, choosing his words carefully. "Betts, luv.. do you need to talk?" he asked slowly, worry creeping onto his face. "You're bottling. It doesn't take a psychic to see that. If you need to talk, it doesn't need to be to me, it can be.. Hank, or Ororo, or Charles, or anybody.. but it really does sound like you need to vent a bit before you break."

Betsy opened her mouth, about to tell Shinobi exactly what he could do with his "help," when something changed. The noise from the game was no longer in the background. In fact, she couldn't hear anything. She turned away from Shinobi and looked out the window. It just wasn't possible. There was no warning. Betsy stared at the field in disbelief. "They're gone," Betsy whispered. "All of them. Gone. They're gone, Shinobi."

Shinobi seemed to pause as he realized there was no longer any background noise from the baseball diamond, quirking an eyebrow and turning back to the window at roughly the same time Elisabeth did. He was silent for a moment, but only a moment, and then he was turning to head for the door. "See if Charles can sense them anywhere," he suggested with a light tap of his own temple, his tone of voice subtly changed - he wasn't Shinobi now. He was Phase. "I'm going to see if anyone else is gone."

She nodded, watching as Shinobi made his way to Xavier. Betsy would not follow. She could not. Betsy looked about the abandoned hall, the emptiness gnawing at her. "It'd be easier to tell you who's left."