Date: Friday, May 21, 2011, 7:00 pm
Location: Cactus City, Texas
The crisp Texas evening descended upon Cactus City, painting the sky in hues of fiery orange and soft violet. For most, it was the promise of summer freedom, the thrill of an end-of-year party. For Laura Kinney, it was a complex mix of emotions of anticipation, unease, and the persistent hum of an unresolved mission.
All day, according to both Jean and Professor Xavier, the elusive energy signature had been particularly active, a low thrum beneath the surface of the mundane. It was stronger, more focused than usual, almost as if it, too, was anticipating the upcoming party. This heightened activity only amplified Laura's internal conflict. Every casual conversation, every shared laugh in the school hallways, had felt charged with a dual purpose – normalcy for her cover, vigilance for the hunt. The anomaly, usually like smoke, now felt like a low-frequency vibration against her very bones.
Jean had tried, with surprising gentleness, to help Laura with her hair earlier. "Just a little wave, Laura," she'd cooed, patiently trying to curl Laura's stubbornly straight dark hair. "It'll soften your look." Laura had endured it for a few minutes before politely but firmly declining, opting for her usual, practical style – straight, just brushing her shoulders. She had, however, allowed Jean to convince her to wear a dress. It was a simple, deep crimson red, almost black in the dim light, that clung subtly to her athletic frame. It was both sleeveless and strapless, revealing the toned muscles of her arms, shoulders, and back, and stopped just above her knees, offering both elegance and unrestricted movement. She'd paired it with sturdy, dark ankle boots, a concession to her practical nature even on a date. No delicate heels for her.
As she looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror, a wave of unfamiliar nerves rippled through her. She rarely thought about her appearance beyond its utility. Tonight, however, was different. She wasn't just blending in; she was going on a date. With Julius. The thought still felt alien, exciting, and slightly terrifying.
"Whoever this Julius is, he is going to feel very lucky tonight being with you," Jean stated after examining how Laura looked.
A knock echoed through the quiet house room that Logan and she had been sharing. It was soft, hesitant, not Logan's usual heavy-handed rap. Laura turned, her senses immediately identifying Julius's scent on the other side of the door – a clean, fresh scent, a mix of laundry detergent and something distinctly masculine.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself, then opened the door.
Julius stood on the porch, bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun. He wore dark jeans and a simple, fitted white t-shirt that highlighted his athletic build, a dark, unzipped hoodie casually slung over it. His usually neat hair was slightly tousled, and a hesitant, hopeful smile played on his lips. His eyes, though, were what truly caught her attention. They held a nervousness that mirrored her own, but also a genuine warmth that sent a surprising flutter through her chest. He was... even better looking than she remembered.
"Hey, Laura," he said, his voice a little softer than usual. He ran a hand through his hair, a clear sign of his own nerves. "You ready?"
Laura nodded, her voice a little breathy. "Ready."
He seemed to finally take in her appearance, and his eyes widened almost imperceptibly. A faint blush dusted his cheeks, mirroring the one that she could feel creeping up her own neck. "Wow," he breathed, the single word filled with unfeigned admiration. "You... you look beautiful."
Laura felt an unfamiliar warmth spread through her. She was used to compliments on her fighting prowess, her tracking skills, and her ability to remain undetected. Not on her appearance. "Thank you," she managed, the words feeling clumsy on her tongue. "You... you look good too."
Julius chuckled, a nervous, happy sound. "Thanks. Just trying not to look like I rolled out of bed." He gestured vaguely down the porch steps. "My truck's just out front. Ah! I almost forgot I also got you some roses from my mom's garden." Julius quickly took out seven crimson roses and handed them to her.
Laura's face turned even redder, and she quietly whispered, "Thank you...I love them."
"So that's little Romeo, huh? Kid doesn't look like a total punk, I'll give 'em that." Logan grumbled, his eyes narrowed as he and Jean descended the stairs. He'd heard the kid was built, and yeah, the reports weren't wrong. Six-foot-four, a decent build, and from what Laura had grumbled under her breath, apparently a "good boy." Logan wasn't buying it. Not yet.
Julius, bless his Southern heart, stuck out a hand, politeness practically radiating off him. "You must be Laura's dad, sir. Nice to meet you, my name is Julius."
Logan's gaze flicked from the outstretched hand to Julius's face, then back to the hand, lingering for a beat too long. He slowly reached into his jacket, pulled out a cigar, jammed it into his mouth, and lit it with a deliberate snap of his lighter. The flame reflected in his eyes as he took a long drag, smoke curling around his face. He blew it out in a thick cloud, never breaking eye contact with Julius. The hand remained unshaken.
The air in the room thickened, practically humming with unspoken threats. Laura looked like she was ready to pop a claw or two, probably at Logan. But Julius, either incredibly smooth or incredibly dense, turned to Jean.
"It's also nice to meet you, too, ma'am," he said, a polite smile on his face. "Laura didn't say anything about having a sister."
Jean, who had been sending daggers at Logan for his Neanderthal act, did a quick double-take, her face softening instantly. "It's nice to finally meet you too, Julius," she replied, a genuine smile replacing her earlier scowl. "I'm not her sister, but I'm a close friend of hers from New York. Just down for a visit."
Julius quickly shook Jean's hand, his politeness unwavering, before turning back to Logan. "I'll make sure to bring her back before 11, sir."
He reached for Laura's hand, a gentle gesture, when Logan finally spoke, his voice a low growl that cut through the air. "Just know that if you do anything to her, you're gonna answer to me. And trust me, son, you don't want to do that." The unspoken threat hung heavy, a palpable warning from the veteran mutant.
Laura, her face flushed with fury, snatched Julius's hand, ready to yank him toward his pickup. She wasn't using her full strength; she never would with him. But even without her usual power, she expected him to budge. He didn't. Not an inch. Surprised, she turned to find him staring directly at Logan, a silent challenge in his eyes—a gutsy move most people wouldn't dare, even without knowing who Logan really was.
"I would never do anything to hurt her," Julius stated, his voice calm but firm, "and I will bring her back safe."
Then, he turned to Laura, a warm smile on his face. "Let's go," he said simply, and with a gentle pull, he led her out to his truck.
They walked in comfortable silence to his pickup, a beat-up but well-maintained Ford F-150. The air was filled with the chirping of crickets and the distant thrum of music, already carrying from the direction of Matt Davis's barn. Julius opened the passenger door for her, a small gesture of chivalry that Laura found surprisingly pleasant. As she climbed in, the familiar scent of pine air freshener and faint traces of motor oil filled the cab.
The drive was short, only about ten minutes, but it felt longer to Laura. She was hyper-aware of Julius beside her, his proximity a distraction she fought to ignore.
"So, um," Julius started, breaking the comfortable silence, "what do you think of Cactus City so far? Still adjusting to our... unique brand of Texas charm?"
Laura turned her head, meeting his gaze. "It's different," she admitted. "Quieter than where I'm from." Which was a profound understatement. The Xavier Institute was rarely quiet.
"Yeah, well, we don't have many supervillain attacks here," Julius joked lightly, seemingly unaware of the double meaning in his words. "Just the occasional rogue armadillo and gossip about who's dating who." He paused, a sheepish grin touching his lips. "Speaking of which, I hope the whole 'new girl gets asked out by Julius Valdez' thing hasn't been too much for you. Some people can be a little… intense around here."
Laura's mind immediately went to Tiffany and her friends. "I'm used to it," she said, her voice flat. "People usually have opinions."
Julius nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Yeah, I guess they do. You know, you're pretty cool, Laura. Not like... most people. You don't try to be something you're not."
The compliment, so genuine and unexpected, made Laura's chest tighten. She found herself at a loss for words, a rare occurrence. "I... thank you," she finally managed, genuinely touched. It was a simple statement, but it held more weight than any of the superficial flattery she'd sometimes overheard.
"No, really," Julius continued, his voice earnest. "You're smart, and you're good at, like, everything you do. And you're... real." He glanced at her, a shy smile returning. "It's nice."
Laura turned to look outside the truck window. She didn't say anything but felt guilty about his last statement. She wasn't real at all. He didn't know the real her, the mutant, the weapon. She knew that once this mission was over, more than likely, she would never see him again. Her chest tightened, and she kept quiet the rest of the ride.
They pulled up to Matt Davis's barn, a sprawling structure at the edge of a large, dimly lit field. Cars and trucks were haphazardly parked everywhere, and the bass thump of music vibrated through the night air. Laughter and shouts mingled with the pulsating beat, creating a cacophony that assaulted Laura's heightened senses.
As they stepped out of the truck, the full force of the party hit them. Hundreds of teenagers milled about, some dancing in the makeshift arena inside the barn, others gathered in smaller groups outside, talking and laughing. A bonfire crackled merrily in the distance, casting dancing shadows on the faces around it. The air smelled of sweat, beer, cheap cologne and perfume, and something vaguely metallic, like faint ozone.
"Alright, this is it," Julius said, a wide grin spreading across his face as he took in the scene. He looked genuinely happy, his earlier nervousness melting away in the festive atmosphere. "Ready to brave the wilds of a Cactus High party?"
Laura nodded, her gaze sweeping the crowd, trying to discern patterns, anomalies, anything that could give her a lead on the elusive power source. It was like trying to find a single drop of water in a monsoon. The sheer volume of emotions – joy, excitement, nascent romance, underlying anxieties, even jealousy – was overwhelming her, making it harder to distinguish the specific energy she was searching for.
"Hey, Julius!" a voice boomed from the crowd, and a large, boisterous figure clapped Julius on the back. It was Matt Davis, the host, his face flushed with excitement. "Glad you could make it, man! And you brought the mystery girl!" Matt winked at Laura, then turned his attention back to Julius. "Dude, I heard you got a big match coming up next week. You gonna tell her about your MMA fight?"
Julius just laughed, shaking his head. "Later, Matt. Let's just enjoy the party tonight." He then subtly moved closer to Laura, a silent signal of protection.
As they navigated through the throng, Laura was acutely aware of the whispers that followed them. "That's her, the new girl." "Laura Kinney, with Julius Valdez." "I heard she's super quiet." "What does he see in her?" The jealousy from some of the girls was a palpable, acidic tang in the air, making the already overwhelming emotional soup even more potent.
Julius, however, seemed oblivious or simply unfazed. He led her deeper into the barn, where a makeshift dance floor pulsed with bodies. "Wanna get something to drink?" he shouted over the music, gesturing towards a table laden with coolers.
Laura shook her head. "No, I'm fine." She needed to keep her senses sharp. Alcohol would only dull them.
They found a relatively quieter spot near the edge of the dance floor, allowing them to observe without being directly in the thick of it. Laura continued her subtle scan of the crowd, her enhanced senses straining against the noise and the overwhelming sensory input. The Omega level mutant was here, she was certain, but it was like a ghost in the machine, a whisper in the roar.
"So, what do you think?" Julius asked, leaning in closer so she could hear him over the music. "Pretty wild, huh? Matt always goes all out."
"It's... lively," Laura said, a slight understatement. She caught sight of Tiffany glaring at them from across the room, her arms crossed, a sour expression on her face. Laura ignored her, her focus elsewhere.
Suddenly, the music shifted, slowing into a familiar, melodic tune. A slow dance. Couples on the floor began to sway gently, holding each other close. Julius turned to her, his smile a little hesitant again.
"Wanna... dance?" he asked, extending a hand to her. His eyes were hopeful, vulnerable.
Laura hesitated. Dance. This was uncharted territory. Her training had prepared her for combat, for infiltration, for tracking. Not for slow dancing with a high school boy. But then she remembered her mission: "establishing a cover," "maintaining normalcy." And, beyond that, a flicker of that unfamiliar warmth, that undeniable excitement, stirred within her.
She looked at his outstretched hand, then up at his hopeful face. "Okay," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
Julius's smile widened, a genuinely happy, relieved expression. He gently took her hand, his touch warm and firm. He led her onto the dance floor, finding a small space amidst the other swaying couples.
He placed one hand lightly on her waist, and she, after a moment's hesitation, placed her hand on his shoulder. Their other hands remained clasped. He was taller than her, and she could feel the steady beat of his heart against her palm. The scent of him – clean, fresh, distinctly Julius – filled her senses, a comforting anchor in the sensory overload of the party.
They began to sway, slowly, awkwardly at first. Laura felt stiff, unsure of her movements. She was used to precision, to purposeful motion. This was... fluid, improvisational.
"Just relax," Julius murmured, his voice close to her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. "Just follow the music."
She tried. She focused on the rhythm, on the gentle sway of Julius' body against hers. Slowly, imperceptibly, her tension began to ease. She found herself relaxing into his embrace, her body responding to his subtle lead. The music, a soft pop ballad, seemed to wrap around them, creating a small, intimate bubble amidst the chaos of the party.
Her head was close to his shoulder, and she could feel the faint warmth radiating from his skin. He worries about finding the powerful mutant, though still present, seemed to recede into the background, momentarily overshadowed by this new, intense sensation. This closeness. This unfamiliar intimacy.
"You know," Julius said softly, his voice barely audible over the music, "I was really hoping you'd say yes."
Laura looked up, her eyes meeting his. His gaze was earnest, direct, filled with an open vulnerability that was disarming. "Why?" she asked, the single word sounding uncharacteristically small.
He chuckled softly. "Because... you're different, Laura. In a good way. You're not like anyone else I've ever met." He paused, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand. "And I like that."
A profound, almost dizzying wave of emotion washed over Laura. It was a mix of confusion, warmth, and something akin to fear. Fear of this vulnerability, fear of something she couldn't control, couldn't fight, couldn't track. It was a sensation entirely alien to her, yet undeniably compelling.
"I..." Laura started, unsure how to articulate the swirl of feelings within her. "You're... different too."
Julius smiled, a genuine, radiant smile that reached his eyes. "Yeah? How so?"
Laura hesitated, searching for the right words. "You're... kind. And you don't care that I'm quiet."
"Why would I?" Julius asked, genuinely puzzled. "Being quiet doesn't mean you're not interesting. It just means you listen more." He paused, his gaze softening. "And I like listening to you, Laura."
His words settled over her like a warm blanket, a stark contrast to the usual cold efficiency of her world. She found herself leaning into him, just slightly, her head resting near his shoulder. The low thrum of the Omega power was still there, but it was muted, almost a distant echo. For a few precious moments, the mission faded into the periphery, replaced by the simple, profound reality of being held by Julius.
That is when she heard a faint sound whistling in the air. She opened her eyes and pushed Julius as firmly as possible. Julius was moved back by a step. At that moment, a bullet landed at the very spot where Laura and Julius had just been embracing each other moments ago.
That's when Laura realized they were under attack.