London, Still Not Regency Era, Saturday Fandom Time

[apocalipped]

It was bound to happen.

No, not Sugar embracing the controversy, pointing to Jono and bragging about him being her latest flame to the press. Show business. He got that. Of course that would happen. If you were thrown a hook, you took it. Anything less would leave the fans bored and looking for some other source of gossip. Hell, Jono was actually almost enjoying it. Aside from the threats from Sugar's manager, it wasn't half bad, being in the limelight. Backstage access was usually worth it, all on its own.

No, what has been bound to happen was the appearance of yet another bloke with an X on his belt. This one was lurking in the men's room when Jono made his way in, needing a moment's respite from the press, and from the dirty looks that Sugar's production team kept throwing his way.

"Not a bad life, huh, kid...? Looks like you got it all figured out now."

//Oh, hell. How'd you find me here?//

Logan didn't move. Just stood there, his arms crossed over his chest, leaning back against a bathroom stall. Creepy little Canadian.

"Followed yer scent. It wasn't hard. Your particular stink is all over London."

Oh, marvellous. Could Jono get through just one day without somebody telling him how terrible he smelled?

//So they're sending in the big guns, aren't they?// Jono's tone was dry, to say the least. //Hard line recruitment time. Why can't they just leave me be?//

"I don't have to tell you what you already know, Starsmore. I won't." There was a moment's pause as Logan pushed off from the stall door, stepped up to the mirror, and proceeded to make a big show of checking his hair in the mirror. Lord only knew why. Maybe he was perfecting that 'small, hairy wild-man' look that he'd managed to make all his own. "We'll always be there to catch you if you fall. Even me. I just figured I'd come in and say hello in person. And maybe... just maybe... you'll figger it out before you fall."

Yeah, Jono had heard just about enough. He was already turning and walking back toward the door. He'd take his chances with the dirty looks, if it meant that he didn't have to deal with this gobshite.

//Nobody's fallin' anywhere. Thanks for the visit. You can go back to the woods now...//

And that was about the point that the door bloody near hit Jono in the face. One of Sugar's bodyguards stepped in, looking down at him with an expression that suggested that he'd probably drawn the short straw when he'd been chosen to play fetch-the-mutant.

"C'mon, Freak. Sugar's headin' back to the hotel."

"Hey, Chunky," Logan's voice came from behind Jono, his tone somewhere between a growl and a scoff. That never did mean anything good, with Wolverine. "Who you callin' 'Freak?'"

The bodyguard should have known to back off. Sticking his finger in Logan's face and calling him the Dog-Faced Boy was... not bright. Which he learned a split-second later, in spite of the fact that the man was damn near twice Logan's height, when he found his hand twisted back so hard that Jono could hear bones grinding together, and then he was shoulder-checked clean through the door to the nearest bathroom stall.

"Don't call me 'boy.' I'll see ya 'round soon, kid."

And then Logan left, leaving Jono standing in the restroom, staring at the massive man who was currently blowing bubbles in the toilet bowl.

Brilliant.

---

Shit really began to hit the fan while Jono and Sugar were discussing a performance that she'd been asked to do for a certain halftime show. And, while it was nice to know that Sugar's reputation had been gaining her recognition even overseas, there they were. Those seeds of doubt. Sugar's entire life was some sort of freak show. It made sense enough that he was starting to feel comfortable in the middle of it. His life was one, too.

And in a heartbeat, as Sugar's manager bloody near busted the door down in a fit, it turned right around and got just a little bit more freakish.

Sugar Pregnant With Mutant's Baby!

It was a load of utter tripe. But it was the sort of utter tripe that could destroy a career in this world. Especially when it found its way to front page news.

---

A drop in record sales.

Cancelled stadium tours.

Sugar herself was beginning to lose it. Apparently kicking over furniture was the 'in' thing this time of year, as the television set fell victim to her foot in a fit of frustration. And the coffee table. And the ringing telephone...

//O-kaaaay. Feel better?//

"Don't you dare condescend to me, Jon. Just... Don't... My whole life is going straight to hell. Is this how you've felt, Jon? Is this what your life is about? The whole world turning on you? I... don't think I can take it."

Ouch.

---

"Sugar! Comment on the pregnancy?"

"Sugar! Is it a boy or a girl--?!"

"- Or an insect!?"

"Sugar! Will you have an abortion!?"

"Pull back the hood, Sugar! We can't see you!"

"Sugar! Will you breast-feed the mutant spawn!?"

"Sugar! Do mutants have bigger--"

"Sugar! Look this way!"

"Sugar! Has the royal family contacted you!?"

"Sugar! Will you keep seeing the mutie, now that you're carrying his baby!?"

"Sugar! Response to the protests!?"

"Sugar! Will you still drink Okay Cola?"

"Give us a quick flash for page three of the sport--"

God. They couldn't get inside, away from the press, quickly enough. Sugar had a gig, and maybe it was idiotic for Jono to tag along in light of the recent media explosion, but... what else was there to do? Sure, he was getting hell from Sugar's manager, now. He was standing too close to the window, giving the media more fuel for the flames just by being visible, but... This was something he needed to see.

A press of bodies down below, like ants, all swarming toward the locked door, trying to get in. All looking for more dirt to dig up on the teen pop star and her so-called mutant 'boyfriend.' It was enough to make him want to retch. Hell, retching would probably be a more enjoyable way to spend his time than this.

He shrugged and stepped back from the window, just as the door exploded in on itself, sending Jonothon reeling. Men in what looked like some sort of freakish radioactive protection suits stepped in, threw him to the ground, collected Sugar, and left.

And Jono was left there, pulling himself to his feet, staring after them, and trying to make sense of her manager's words.

"It's alright! Let her go with them! I'll take care of this. You just stay out of our way. And don't talk to any reporters."

Right.

Jono hated his life.

---

Back in his room. Watching the telly. Trying to figure out what was going on.

A talk show. Sim, Sugar's manager. Spewing drivel about how it was their duty as human beings to curtail the 'so-called Evolutionary Process' by any means necessary.

Jono was mostly not paying attention as a bellhop came into the room. Told him that it was no longer being paid for by Miss Kane. He'd have to vacate immediately, and would he please use the back service entrance when leaving?

//Sure... Whatever you say...//

---

There was a car waiting outside. Not for him to get in. Why would anyone want him in their car? Especially her. Especially right now.

//Glad to see you're okay. Although, I figured you were. I've seen the news...//

"Sim set the whole abduction-thing up. He said it needed to be dramatic to convince the public I was... clean." Even Sugar sounded bitter when she muttered that word. Or was it bitterness? Maybe she was just ashamed, saying it to his face as though it would have been some sort of disease. Just another anti-mutant slur, but this time, coming out of her mouth, instead of everyone else's. "It wasn't supposed to play out like this, Jon."

Jono was going to hear her out. So help him, he was. As she talked about how she needed to take care of herself. About her old Good Girl reputation. About how her image needed an edge.

And about how he was that edge.

//You used me.//

Jono didn't know what stung more. The fact that he should have seen this coming, the fact that he'd let himself think even for a moment that this might actually be something like friendship, or the fact that the X-Men were right.

Assholes to the core, but right.

"Look... My 'career' doesn't have much of a shelf life if I don't evolve! Teen pop is so six months ago! And I won't end up in the 'Where-are-they-now' file! And don't act like you didn't get something out of it, Jon! You know you did!"

//Maybe... I never wanted to be a star, Sugar.// Not really. It was a nice perk, riding along in her wake. It was a crazy ride. Hell, he'd enjoyed it. But... //I never cared about how famous you are. But I just... wanted to belong somewhere.//

"No one 'belongs' here, Jon. I sold my soul to go platinum. Take care of yourself. Find a home... A real home... if you can."

And then her window rolled up. And then she drove away.

---

This was a stupid idea.

It was the most stupid idea Jono had ever had. Making his way onto the Blackbird as it sat at the airport. Waiting for the X-Men to board. He was aware that it was like admitting defeat. He was damn aware that it would be rubbed in his face. In what was left of it. But at least they didn't give a toss just what he was. He could make himself useful. He could blow things up like a real champ.

He had nowhere else to go.

He heard their voices before he ever saw them board. Bobby, Kurt, Logan, and Warren. And he made a point to play it cool, sitting himself down in one of the seats in the cockpit. Casual. There was no slipping out the back door, now.

//Got room for one more...?//

They looked his way as if he'd grown another head. Waited for some sort of explanation. He shrugged, looking at them past the fire, and pressed on. He supposed if he was going to play stowaway and run around in their silly little uniform, the least he owed them was that much. //She... Really didn't like me. You've probably seen the papers. As soon as I became a career liability, she bloody well changed her tune. I thought his time would be different.// And, of course, what they were waiting for... //I guess you were right.//

"Your pain brings us no pleasure, Jon," Kurt assured him. "Nor does being correct about your situation."

"Hey, man... You're better off with us, anyway," Bobby insisted, throwing his arms open. "We never go out of style."

"I dunno... He may be more trouble than it's worth..."

"Stop teasing him, Logan," Kurt chastised. "This was meant to be."

Was it? Jono felt fairly certain that some higher power was probably laughing at him right now. That was about all he was getting from the blue, furry man in the Roman collar standing in front of him.

It was Logan, out of everyone, who was the voice of reason.

"Tell him that." Thank you, Wolverine. Jon was sitting right in front of them. Didn't need anyone talking about him as though he wasn't even there. He'd gotten his fill of that just hanging around with Sugar and her crew. "This ain't a step backwards, kid. Take it from someone who knows. Besides, you got better taste than bubblegum, anyway."

//... I never liked her music...//

"We each commit ourselves in our own way," Kurt added. "We each learn our lessons. Perhaps you learned yours. So you may not quite understand what I mean when I say this, Jon, but welcome home, mein freund."

//'Home...'// Jono shook his head a little. He was tired. Too damn tired to really care where they were headed, anymore. //We'll see.//

And as the others got the jet ready for liftoff, Jono contented himself to find some dark little corner, to pull out his phone, and to fire off a text. If the Blackbird's systems couldn't handle working around one little cell phone firing off texts across time and space, there was no hope for technology as the world knew it.

Heading back for America. London didn't work out so well, after all. I'll give you a writing address or something when we've landed and I've had a chance to settle in.

This was going to be one of those days.

[NFB for distance, and taken right from the pages of Uncanny X-Men, issues 397 and 398. Open for texts or e-mails, if anyone's interested. So, so glad to have the Poptopia arc out of the way. My brains might have melted a little trying to make it actually make sense alongside GenX and FH canons.]

Comments

[furnaceface]

Jono wrinkled his nose a little, trying to figure out a way to condense the whole story in a way that wouldn't make his phone explode for trying to text it.

Made friends w/a pop star in London. Media blew friendship horribly out of proportion, decided she and I were an item, made up completely bullshit story about how she was carrying my baby. Fine by her. Friendship w/me was just a publicity stunt anyhow.

And then, in another message, he added,

On X-Men's jet right now. Probably should wait until we land somewhere before you visit, at least.

Not that they weren't used to someone randomly appearing out of nowhere, given the company they were currently keeping, but still.

[trigons_child]

Raven was somewhat familiar with the media and false speculations, since she'd run into that on some of the Rumor Gal sites she read when people started gossiping about the stars' personal lives. She avoided those threads because she felt they were rude, but she imagined how unpleasant it would feel to be the person being talked about in such a way.

I am sorry. Is there anything I can do? Then as the rest of it sank in: A publicity stunt? She was not a true friend to you?

He was probably right about teleporting on to the jet. Startling the X-Men was not a good way to make an introduction.

[furnaceface]

People were losing interest in her. She had that 'little girl' image that only works in the industry for a short while. So she decided to get mixed up with a freak. Start some controversy. Lucky for her, it worked.

If Jono had a tongue or cheek to his name, one would be in the other fairly solidly.

[trigons_child]

Raven would have a few choice words for her should ever they meet. She scowled at the words on her phone as if her disapproval could somehow transmit through them to Sugar.

She sounds like a very unpleasant person, and I am sorry she betrayed you in this way.

And you are not a freak!

[furnaceface]

I believe you, Sunshine. It would just be nice if, for once, the rest of the world did, too.

Oh, good. He was getting melancholy again.

[trigons_child]

There will always be those who let fear and ignorance rule them. But humans have an amazing capacity to learn and grow.

Just far too slowly in some cases.

I would suggest you come to Fandom for another visit but we would probably end up transformed again. No, someone wasn't frustrated by that at all. She was beginning to suspect she'd never get a weekend just to laze about with Jono.

[furnaceface]

Much as the prospect of spending a weekend as a pony or an angry cowboy appeals, I think I might have to pass on that one for a while. Besides, the X-Men will probably want to put me to work right away.

Doing... something or other. Jono had no idea what, exactly. Just that it had warranted a damaged coffee table and a lecture about responsibility. So it had to be important. Right.

With the time difference, I don't know how much time I can afford to spend away. But Xavier shouldn't have any problem with you visiting. He is the one with the grand vision of peace between humans and mutants, after all.

[trigons_child]

I think I would like to meet him. Advocating peace? Instant Raven magnet.

But will you be happy there? she had to ask. You are not merely joining them because you think you have no other options, are you?

[furnaceface]

Dammit, Raven. You knew your boyfriend entirely too well.

I don't really know how I'll like it there until I get there, I suppose. And the cause is good. I'm hardly the only mutant who's ever had a target painted on his back, after all.

Yes, that did totally evade her question.

[trigons_child]

That didn't exactly make her feel better, though from what she understood all mutants in his world had targets on their backs from those who hated and feared them.

Please promise me if you are in need of me -- or my gifts -- you will send me a message? I will come immediately. She knew he knew that, but the reminder couldn't hurt, right?

[furnaceface]

It couldn't hurt at all. Especially right now.

Thank you, Sunshine. You know I will. I promise I will.

There you had it, right there in writing, Raven. Now you could totally hold this against him in the future, if he ever screwed it up!

[trigons_child]

Oh, look at that, her phone had an option to "lock" a text so it couldn't be accidentally erased.

I love you. Please let me know when it would be all right to visit?

[furnaceface]

I'll be certain to. In fact, with the way time flows differently between us, you might start getting annoyed at how often I ask for your company, love.

Well. Possibly not. But it was a possibility, so long as Xavier didn't run him completely ragged.

[trigons_child]

She laughed out loud at that response. Oh, Jono, don't be absurd.

I could never be annoyed. I treasure every moment we spend together.

[furnaceface]

Aww, Raven. You probably had no idea just how badly Jono needed to read that, right then.

Excellent. I'll try not to steal you away so much that your grades suffer, then.

[trigons_child]

Grades are very important -- she couldn't help but take pride in hers, being what she was -- but you are more important. And the summer classes are very easy and "laid back" anyway.

And even after half the summer, she still wasn't used to not feeling his presence on the island.

[furnaceface]

Well, Jono certainly had to concede that point, yes.

I hope you realize that I completely intend to send you back for your classes. It would only work out to a few hours at a time, over here on my end. I'm not going to be the one who messes up your grades, Sunshine.

By being all needy. He'd feel like a complete arse.

[trigons_child]

You may try to send me away, but I am the one who is able to teleport, she texted, smiling as she did so. Do not worry. I will not allow my grades to suffer.

Though he came first, and if she had to miss a class here and there, she was certain her teachers would be understanding.

[furnaceface]

I hope not. I would have to see how well I fare by looking at you with big, sad eyes.

He probably wasn't half as good at it as any of the girls in the entire universe who had used the same eyes on him, but at least not having most of a face meant that his own eyes were extra expressive.

[trigons_child]

Of course, Jono had the bonus of her being able to feel his guilt if her grades slipped, which would make her feel guilty right back. Not that she was going to tell him that, however. It might only encourage him.

My secret weakness! I would be so helpless before you.

[furnaceface]

Aha! Victory, then, even before the fact!

Picture, if you will, one Jonothon Evan Starsmore, climbing to his feet in the hull of a black aircraft, a cat in a carrier beside him, a phone in his hand, flames billowing out around him. Picture him doing the mashed potato in victory.

He wasn't. He was just doing as close to a smirk as he could manage while he sat on the floor, typing on his phone. But it certainly made for a great mental image, right?

[trigons_child]

Best. Mental. Image. Ever. Except it would have meant that Raven would be giggling so hard she couldn't type back.

But if you had me so that I was willing to do anything for you, would you truly wish me to leave? she teased.

[furnaceface]

I suppose that depends entirely on whether we can arrange for you to take skipped classes by correspondence or not.

Because Jono was a benevolent and fair victor who would see to her well-being while also holding her near and dear to his flaming psionic heart.

[trigons_child]

I can surely arrange for someone to email me notes. And for my heroism class, I could perhaps even gain extra credit for calling my time in your world research.

She just wouldn't tell Hercules that the majority of her time there was spent cuddling.

[furnaceface]

When you were cuddling an emo with an X on his uniform, that could totally be counted. Moral support was important when you were trying to make a point to a world that hated and feared you, after all.

There certainly wouldn't be any shortage of heroes, that's for certain. I imagine I could introduce you to one or two. You might even recognize a few faces.