'Flight' by GoldFox

Just a random idea I got! Enjoy!

I own nothing and noone! 'X-Men: Evolution' does!

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Warren Worthington III glanced out of his window. In the tall, cold building that bore his name, he stared out of the rain-streaked glass and observed the city. Dark, grey, harsh… The lights in the buildings attempted to light up the darkness of the summer’s night storm but they only succeeded in making the dark into a depressing gloom. Every now and again, a thread-like network of lightening would blast across the sky, lightening everything for a moment before the thunder rolled after it.

He sighed heavily for reasons unknown. What was he feeling? He felt a strange longing inside of him, an ache, a yearning for… something. But what?

Why was it that when he found himself always staring out the window? Always found himself glancing at the sky? Found himself all but shaking from this secret desire?

He had tried to control it by taking flights around the city, at night when no one could recognize or even see him. The night breeze would chill his face, chill his wings right down to the bones, but while it did feel wonderful… something was missing.

He rested his forehead on the cold glass, squeezing his eyes shut. What was this feeling so badly eluded him? What was it that pierced him to his core, made him feel terrible, made him feel… almost guilty?

Turning from the night, he went back to his chair, shuffling his shoulders as a manner of habit. His wings rustled softly at the action and then settled against his back gently, naturally. He suddenly looked up, at the night, and opened the window, putting one foot outside, intent to step.

He felt the cold rain splash onto his bare ankle, trickle down his foot to his toes. He started to breath a little heavily and almost stepped right out into the rain’s welcoming embrace. He wanted to fly in that mess… He wanted to soar through the rain, dodge the lightening as it light up the landscape in cold monochromatic tones…

Warren stopped.

Shutting his eyes, he withdrew his foot, shut the window. A bolt of lightening lit up the sky, and the following thunder made the building shake. It made the mutant shake too, but not with fear.

He sighed and then going to his bedroom, worked off his shirt, sliding the wings out of the slits in the back of his shirt. Though it was cold, he flapped his wings a few times and shivering in the breeze that this created. He stood there for a moment, still holding his shirt, suddenly feeling foolish for taking it off.

Sighing he threw the shirt to the end of his bed and sat down, unconsciously flexing his wings so that he didn’t sit on them. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, smelling the rain. The longing hit him again, hard this time, and he could only sit there and hold his breath until it passed.

It was only after it had left him cold and empty that he got into bed and forced himself to sleep.


Morning sunlight streaming through the windows didn’t help him and Warren only groaned as he rolled over away from the brightness. After lying there for a little while longer, he finally forced himself to get out of bed and walked slowly to the bathroom, getting the shower ready. Waiting for the water to get to the desired temperature, Warren again mused on the night before. He was still feeling that ache, but it had been really strong last night.

Brushing it from his mind, he undressed and got into the shower, trying to drown away the memories. Again and again, he posed himself the question of why he felt so odd. It was true he had felt these sensations in the past, but never so strongly! Perhaps it had something to do with his mutation? That was the only thing he could honestly think of! Other than that, things were going quite well for him. He was on good terms with his family, the company itself was prospering…

He got out of the shower and after drying his body, took time and care to dry his wings. Perhaps he should go and visit Professor Xavier? It was sure that even if the psychic was unable to give a proper solution to the problem, he would surely try his very best to help!

His mind now made up and his wings now dry, Warren went to get dressed. He frowned a bit to himself as he automatically grabbed his trench coat. He stared at it for a little bit. Looking unhappy, he put it on, hiding his snow-white wings.


The storm the night before had faded away now to clear skies and a warm day, though it was a little bit humid still.

Warren felt a bit nervous as he exited the taxi in front of the mansion. He started up at the iron-wrought gates, hearing the taxi drive off. All through the trip over here, he had been berating himself more and more about how this was an utterly idiotic idea and that he shouldn’t be bothering the Professor with such a small matter. Lord knows the man had better things to do than help one mutant with a small problem!

But even then, Warren scolded himself for being stupid and pushed the intercom at the gate. As he waited, he shuffled his shoulders again. His wings always got very cramped and uncomfortable under his coat, but he daren’t remove it just yet. He wasn’t yet someplace safe…

“Xavier mansion. Can I help you?”

He was jolted by the sudden words, but he pushed the button. “Hello… It’s Warren…” He paused, not sure what to say after that.

But thankfully he was saved the effort as the voice brightened. “Oh Angel! How are you? This is Scott!”

A smile graced Warren’s face, instantly remembering the kind teen who had helped him. “Hello yourself, Scott. I… I need to speak with Professor Xavier. Is he available?”

“Yes, he is… He’s teaching right now, but you’re welcome to come in!” There was a loud clicking sound from the gate. “Gate’s unlocked for you now, go right in.”

Warren smiled nervously as he pushed the intercom button again. “Thank you…” He turned and pushed at the gate and sure enough, it opened at his touch. He went it, shut it behind him, and then proceeded up the walkway to the mansion itself. He knew that he could have flown it, or have driven himself and spared himself the walk, but for some reason, he just preferred to walk.

Reaching the double glass doors, he pushed them open and smiled at the scene before him. Several of the younger students were in the lobby area, all relaxing in different ways. A few he saw drawing, other reading, others playing games. They all looked up at him in surprise and he felt his heart warm when they all greeted him kindly and politely.

Looking up at hearing footsteps, Warren was pleased to see the familiar face of Scott walking down the lobby steps to him. “He’s finished now and would be glad to chat with you… Follow me.”

Warren did as told, waving at the students that waved to him before going up the steps. As they entered the hallways, Scott asked, “So, how have you been, Warren?”

“Oh… Pretty good overall…” the winged mutant replied a bit evasively.

There was a slight pause before Scott answered. “Good.”

Another silence elapsed before Warren started to speak. “Um… Well…” How could he word these things?

But Scott only smiled at him. “You don’t have to tell me.”

“Thank you.” Warren said quietly.

“Don’t worry about it.” The teenager said with a grin. He then opened a door for the other mutant, saying, “Go right in…”


Thought still slightly nervous, Warren thanked him, and walked in, hearing Scott close the door behind him. He looked around at the beautifully furnished room before seeing it’s occupant by the window with a book.

Professor Xavier looked up upon hearing him and smiled warmly, putting the book down in his lap. “Hello, Warren.” He then brought his wheelchair closer, saying as he extended his free hand, “It’s good to see you again. How have you been?”

Shaking the offered hand, Warren frowned a little. “Hello, Professor, and to be honest with you, not so well.”

“Oh? What seems to be the trouble?” The Professor looked up at him and Warren was happy to see that he only seemed curious and eager to help.

“Well…” Warren sighed and put finger to his temples as he shut his eyes, trying to form his words. “You see, for the past few months, I’ve been having these very weird feelings…”

The Professor took his own position of crossing his hands under his chin as he listened. “Strange feelings? Feelings of what?”

“Of… of… Oh, I can’t describe them!” Warren snapped, turning abruptly. He felt his wings flex under his coat, but ignored it. “It’s like… I want to run but can’t. Want to fly but my wings are tied! Want to DO something! Do it so bad it ACHES!” He paused and looked to the large window in the study. “But I can’t. I just can’t…”

“Hmmm…” The Professor seemed to study him for a while, and then asked, “Warren, would you mind if I ‘felt’ these emotions for myself?”

Though he was instantly uneasy with the idea of someone entering his mind, Warren knew he had no reason to distrust the Professor, so he nodded. “Not at all.”

“Excellent. Then please, have a seat.” Warren sat down, adjusting his trench coat and wings accordingly. “Now, I want to concentrate on these feelings, these emotions… I have a feeling there is more behind them than what you may think…”

“All right…” Warren answered, closing his eyes as he felt gently pressure against his temples. He opened one eye slightly to see the Professor putting his other hand to his own temple and closing his eyes. Soon after this, Warren felt an odd sensation inside of him like someone was trying to come in. Sighing deeply, Warren shut his eye again and then opened his mind.


The rush of emotions stunned Warren and he gasped in surprise, his senses full to bursting. But the flood quickly receded, forced back behind a dam so he could think properly. He heard a voice in his head whisper to him. “Focus… Focus…”

Obeying, Warren then thought of the night before, thought of how he had felt, and in an instant, he arched his head back as the thoughts filled his skull, his heart, his soul; he felt anew the cold of the glass, the feeling of foolishness of removing his shirt, the rain on his foot, the sheets against his skin, but overall he felt deep in his heart again that terrible horrible emptiness, that ache, that yearning…

The yearning grew suddenly, an emptiness within him that could contain the sun, that WANTED to hold the sun, to gain in warmth in ways like never before… But then it also longed for the wind, for smells, for feelings he had never experienced before. It wanted things that were so intangible and free, things that could NEVER be captured. The realization of this almost made him weep, made his empty heart want to shatter like a china cup.

It was dark… So very dark and he longed for light, for warm light. But it was beyond his reach, no matter how much he longed for it.


Warren gasped as he was suddenly back in the brightly lit study, breathing hard as he sat there. He shut his eyes swiftly, already feeling a salty dampness behind the lids. The experience had brought everything back and he felt like crying from feeling so empty within.

Composing himself though, he looked up at the Professor helplessly. He was stunned to see that the Professor looked almost the same as he felt; hopeless, futile, empty.

After a few seconds, the Professor seemed to separate all the emotions in his head and he composed himself and sighed. “Warren… I am truly very sorry that you feel that way… However, I think I have a solution.”

Looking up, Warren asked hopefully, “You do?”

The Professor nodded . “Next week, Hank will be taking some of our students on a two-week geology trip out in the Midwest. They will be visiting many sites out there, from the Grand Canyon to Monument Valley and a few more. Would you like to join them?”

Wondering what on earth this could have to do with him, Warren asked, “What for?”

The Professor then explained, “Well, I think what you need, Warren, is a change of scenery. You have been in the city for far too long.” He then smiled. “And if you’ll pardon the expression, you need a chance to spread your wings for a little bit.”

Warren glanced over his shoulder at his hidden wings, and then turned back, sighing. He was silence for a minute before looking up. “But… other people…”

But the Professor shook his head. “I have worked with law enforcement over there in the past and I have gotten the word of several high officers that none of our students will be bothered by intolerable people. You’ll be quite safe.”

Standing, Warren went to the window and looked out over the extensive grounds. He saw that the students had moved outside and were all playing. He sighed. “I’m not so sure… What about the company?”

There was a quiet whirring noise as the Professor came to be next to him, saying with a quirked eyebrow, “Warren, we both know that you can easily arrange for a bit of a vacation for yourself.”

Warren chuckled in defeat. “You’re right…” He stared out the window for another minute before turning and smiling. “All right. I’ll do it.”

The Professor smiled hugely at this and offered his hand. “Wonderful. Hank will be very happy to see you. Come back on the 16th.”

Shaking his hand, Warren nodded. He had to pack…


TO BE CONTINUED!