Things between Ororo and me changed after our moonlight flight, but a lot stayed.
There was more teasing and flirting between us but it mostly stayed relatively tame. I was in no hurry to take the next step for now.
I don't want it to be just a one-time thing. That type of relationship is honestly just not for me.
My training is going rather well and it's still as fun as before. As I'm getting better with the Hercules Method, I get more and more surprised with the sort of bullshit I can pull off. From balancing myself on one finger while doing a hand, or in this case, finger, stand, to having the pure strength to punch holes through boulders, having an enhanced vision that lets me see through people's skin and organs.
The last one was simultaneously disgusting and extremely useful when some people in the tribe were injured and needed some treatments. This let me quickly assess damage done to them and easily help.
But by far the most important one is the endurance and healing factor that I now have. It's been a while now since I felt any kind of tiredness.
The amount of time I sleep is slowly being reduced. I outlast Ororo in our spars. I can work all day with no real burden.
The healing factor is interesting, because it's not really one at all. It's a result of the Mind over Matter part of the Methode. I could will muscle tissues, skin and organs to knit themselves together. I could stop the blood from flowing out of a wound. Really neat stuff.
My physique itself didn't have the dramatic transformation that Luther had in the original comics. I still have a reasonably muscular body, but not really bulky.
***
A conclusion I came to as I spent more time in this world is that the X-Gene is bullshit. Developing powers in puberty because of a little genetic mutation is something that shouldn't be possible. The knowledge I have from Gundam is telling me that it shouldn't be possible to get something like Reality Warping from something like that, but this is Marvel.
And the Celestials were involved so who knows what they can pull out of their metaphorical asses.
Even with my annoyance at the illogical nature of this world, I still love my powers. At first, I was obviously a bit reluctant to accept them. I mean they almost got me killed in their activation.
But at this point, they are becoming a part of me. It's mostly the little comforts and luxuries that my powers permit that solidify this. From having a warm bath on demand in a place devoid of modern appliances, the new senses they give me of the world, the ability to fly, and so much more. Speaking of.
"You know, sometimes, I get envious of your development, dear. " Ororo said as she drew circles on my chest as we were cuddling in a bath.
"I mean, I did get a goddess for a teacher" I responded as I kissed the crown of her head.
She playfully slapped my arm, but I felt the water cool down a bit, showing her real emotion. Shit, I messed up.
" Hey, I didn't mean it that way," I said as I warmed the bath again and held her closer. " You know I don't really believe all that. Just that you're an amazing woman."
" I'm starting to resent this arrangement of letting myself go." She mumbled.
"You need balance. You can't keep yourself constantly wound up and strict with your emotions." I started saying.
" And I'm human, and emotions are an integral part of the experience. How come you are the one teaching me that instead of the other way around, you were ..." She waved vaguely to the sky.
I shrugged, "I spent a lot of time with the various villages, they don't really have any sort of veneration towards me, they just treat me as a weird and exotic outsider."
She hummed, her hands still tracing odd patterns on my chest, her hand slowly drifting lower.
My hand was also slowly lowering as I slowly caressed her back and started kissing her neck.
She turned and fully straddled me and gave me a passionate kiss. Our tongues playfully battled as our hands explored each other's bodies.
We continued like this for minutes, and before we went further, I asked a question that had been burning on my lips for weeks now.
"Would you leave with me 'Ro? " I asked softly, our foreheads touching, her blue eyes mesmerizing.
She looked at me deeply, then her lips curved into a grin," So you have finally asked what has been weighing your heart?"
I blinked, thrown off by her playfulness. I wasn't expecting this reaction. At all.
Before I had the time to get my bearings, she resumed kissing me with more vigour. " I've told you before my foolish Gabriel, you have 'wooed' me. I shall be by your side as long as the Bright Lady allows me so." The weight this lifted off of me was heavier than I thought, I felt myself melt in relief.
She then paused as if realizing something. " Is this what has been keeping you from taking the next step in our relationship ?"
I did not blush at her question, total body control for the win. But looking at Ororo, I'm pretty sure she guessed my embarrassment.
" I won't say that it didn't have a part in it. But it was also genuinely because I wanted to get to know you better." I scratched the back of my head a bit" We weren't in any real rush, no ?"
" Dear, you are a fool. It has been a month or so since we became lovers. And we have not done a lot of the loving part." She slightly ground herself on my member; the heat of her body and arousal seemed to dwarf that of the water. " Now that you have eased your conscience, no need to restrain yourself."
She kissed me again, and I responded just as hungrily. We made out intensely for several minutes before we broke our kiss for air. Well, she needed it. I took the time to admire her and how the light reflected off her wet skin and her mesmerizing blue eyes.
I knew I wouldn't stop anytime soon when I started, and she knew it too, given the lustful grin that she gave me.
***
The first rays of sunlight saw me lying down with Ororo softly snoring in my arms, looking absolutely spent but content, and my bed irrevocably tainted with our fluids. And a dumb grin on my face.
I'll probably have to replace all of it. Worth it though. I mean, who wouldn't be proud to bring their lovers to the height of ecstasy and outlast them in bed?
I was right, I didn't stop until, 'Ro was on her last legs. Unfortunately(maybe?), I was still rearing to go. Nigh-limitless stamina seemed to translate here as well.
I wasn't even that bothered by not being completely satisfied, just the peaceful look on her face right now is worth the momentary discomfort.
I decided to take a couple of hours of rest, to be 100% for the day and the discussion we would surely have about leaving.
I'm sure it's not an impulsive decision that she made but it's still nice to be prepared.
And that was the last thought I had before I dozed off.