Skill Training

An hour later, Jean threw up her hands in anger.

“Damn it! I can’t get through.” she said angrily, and hurled her phone at the wall.

“Hey, calm down.” I soothed, and Jean quickly did.

“Ok, I’m calm. Sorry, I just really wanted to be helpful.” Jean apologized.

“Oh, don’t worry about it.” I smiled. Jean smiled back brightly.

“So, will I be trained in using my powers?” I asked her.

“Yes, you will. AFTER I analyze the means of your ability.” Jean explained, putting on latex gloves and a white lab coat. I laid down on the operating table in just my boxers, and Jean took a handheld X-Ray machine, along with other tools I didn’t recognize, and got to work.

Not even twenty minutes later, we were finished. Jean offered me her hand and helped me stand up, and she crossed the room to the TV.

“So, it appears your powers of low-level persuasion are because of a sort of chemical you emit. It’s very subtle now, but at full blast it’d be reminiscent of mind control.” Jean explained.

“I see. Is the chemical working on you?” I asked her, coming up behind her. She glanced over her shoulder at me, and blushed a little.

“Yes. A little.” she admitted. She turned to face me, and I noticed a loose strand of red hair. I reached up to tuck it behind her ear, and she blushed a little harder.

“What does it feel like, this chemical?” I asked her. Jean pondered that, my hand lingering on her cheek.

“Sort of like a ****. I feel hooked. But when I leave your proximity I’m probably going to crave the chemical. A hopeless addict.” Jean sighed. I chuckled dryly.

“Let’s test that.” I said, and we backed up to opposite corners of the room. Jean instantly looked dizzy, and her eyes were unfocused. I crossed the room to her quickly, pulling her curvaceous body into my arms. Soon, she was lucid and happy again.

“We’ll have to tell Professor X you accidentally got me addicted.” Jean sighed. I nodded, and stepped back slightly as Jean instructed me to get dressed. I did, and then Jean led me up into the office of the bald man from earlier.

“Ah, Jean! How did the tests go?” Professor X asked, giving me a warm smile.

“So, good and bad news. Good news, I found his power’s expression. He emits a highly addictive, mostly suppressed chemical from his pores. I don’t know how or why it’s suppressed, but it is. Only traces of it are leaking out, and those are quite powerful in its’ own.” Jean explained. X steepled his fingers.

“Bad news? I accidentally got hooked on Dean’s chemical during testing.” Jean sighed. Professor X looked wary.

“How powerful is this chemical?” the man sniffed.

“Extremely, if you’re close, like, say, a medical exam. Even from your spot behind the desk, the chemical will be mostly dissipated by time it reaches you.” Jean explained.

“So... I’ll have to quarantine him until he can fully master his chemical release.” the Professor decided.

“I can stay with him, though, right?” Jean asked urgently. The Professor looked worried by her addiction.

“Yes, of course.” Professor X soothed. Jean nodded, relieved.

X wheeled around the desk and led us to a simple room with full metal walls, strictly one way air vents, and a BIG lock on the door. Professor X used his telekinesis to close it, and I noticed Jean looked a little woozy. There was a fairly big gap between us. I crossed the room and Jean sighed happily when my chemical once again surrounded her. I had never been aware I was releasing a chemical, but now I felt bad for all the people I’d influenced and then ignored. They just have felt like Jean does now, except worse, because they’re hooked on a chemical they didn’t know they’ve been exposed to.

“Having you touching me is the easiest way to get my fix.” Jean concluded a half hour later. We’d been testing the range of my chemical emission, and it was at about 2 yardsticks in any given direction. But half of that was so faint it barely did anything. Move out of range and Jean started immediately suffering.

“Ok. So do you want me to stay in contact with you?” I asked. Jean nodded, sliding her hand into mine. Just then there was a knock. Jean pushed a button on the wall, and it slid open to reveal a pane of glass separating us from Scott and Professor X. Scott stared at my hand laced with Jean’s. She followed his gaze.

“Oh! I know how this looks, but it’s really not. I accidentally got addicted to whatever chemical he puts out during the medical exam. Physical contact is the best to not get any withdrawal symptoms. It’s the easiest way of physical contact.” Jean explained reasonably.

“Yeah, Charles explained.” Scott shook his head in disbelief.

“So, I use my powers on someone, and BAM, addict?” I checked. Jean turned to me.

“No. It’s continued exposure. I’m only addicted because I was doing all those medical checks in close proximity to you.” Jean explained to me. I nodded in understanding. So maybe not everybody I’ve influenced is a hopeless addict now. Good.

“How long until they’re out?” Scott asked loudly.

“A device that inhibits the chemical’s natural airborne emission is being made right now. But I’m afraid Jean won’t be able to leave Mr. Wayne’s side, all things considered. We don’t have a method of curing her addiction, but once Hank returns from the mission, he’ll surely be happy to help.” Professor X answered. Scott huffed. The wall panel slid back closed, and Jean gave me a comforting smile.

“Hear that? A device is being made that’ll stop the subconscious spread of your chemical. But I guess we’re stuck together now.” Jean shrugged, “And could be worse, huh?”. She gave me a playful smile, and I laughed. Jean pushed another button on the control panel and out popped a drawer of board games.

“You play checkers?” Jean asked, grinning mischievously.

———

It was several hours later when the device was finished. Jean and I had had a blast playing a ton of games, we watched a movie, very basic hangout things. I felt like we were pretty good friends after that. We both turned away from our Scrabble game as the heavy metal door opened. In walked Scott, wearing a hazmat suit. He was holding a belt buckle, and offered it to me.

“That’ll stop the release of your chemical through the air. But your skin is still coated in the stuff. So don’t touch anybody.” Scott said seriously. I nodded. Having Jean dependent on me was hard enough. Having two people? Yikes. I put on the belt buckle and pushed the button. It made a faint hiss. Jean, who wasn’t touching me, grunted in quick pain, and I quickly grabbed her hand. She took a second before she seemed to be back to normal.

“Well, it works.” Jean smiled.

“Oh, great. Now you’re always holding hands.” Scott threw up his own.

“Scott, I’m really sorry.” Jean said honestly. Scott nodded.

“I know. But I can’t even kiss you because you’re dependent on holding his hand, and that’s just plain awkward. And I guess you’re rooming with him. Whole lot of awkward.” Scott huffed and walked off. Jean looked after him sadly.

“He’ll be OK. Besides, you should be cured of the addiction soon.” I assured Jean. The voluptuous redhead woman nodded, and leaned against my side.

———

“Ok, so your first class is going to be... History with Professor Munroe.” a student said to me, but he kept glancing at my hand entwined with Jean’s.

“Oh, Ororo’s class, huh?” Jean smiled.

“Do you need directions?” the student asked me after handing back my schedule. I probably could have just asked Jean, but I wanted to meet some new people.

“No, I’ve got him from here.” Jean smiled. She led me through the halls to a classroom door and opened it. Inside, a busty African woman with nice curves, though she was a bit more slender than Jean, was up front teaching. The only seat left was in the very back row, and there was no room for Jean, so she had to sit on the floor. It sucked she had to do that, and I offered to try to share the chair. She just argued that then we’d both be uncomfortable.

The class went by fast. Professor Munroe was really good. After the class, which was the last one on my schedule, she came up to us.

“Hi, Jean. Who’s this, and why are you holding hands?” she asked.

“This is our newest recruit, Dean Wayne. Dean, this is Ororo Munroe, also known as Storm” Jean introduced. I smiled and held out my hand for a handshake, but Jean pushed my arm down.

“What’s his power?” Storm asked.

“He releases a highly addictive chemical from his pores. But don’t worry, that’s fixed now. But physical contact still gets you hooked. I got hooked accidentally during the medical exam. And now that his cloud of the chemical is gone, I have to stay in contact with him, or...” Jean demonstrated, dropping my hand. Instantly, she started coughing violently, and her skin started turning very pale. I quickly grabbed her hand and Jean slumped into my arms.

“Wow. That’s normal?” Storm asked, stunned.

“No. It’s like the withdrawal symptoms get worse the longer she’s hooked.” I said grimly.

“What was it last time?” Storm asked.

“Dizziness and a bit of muscle pain.” I said. Storm clicked her tongue.

“Ok, well, let’s see what’s going on.” she said, and bent over Jean, and Storm’s hand brushed my arm holding Jean’s hand. She looked up at me worriedly.

“Am I...” she trailed off.

“I don’t think so. It’s constant exposure that’s the problem.” I echoed what Jean had told me. Storm studied me for a second before leaning over her **** friend. I reached out and put my other hand on Jean’s cheek, trying to pump more chemical into her.

“It’s not working.” Storm said, a little panicky.

“Back up.” I ordered, reaching for my belt buckle. Storm scrambled backwards and I pushed the button, and the cloud of chemical misted outwards. Jean started to stir, engulfed in the chemical as she was.

“Dean?” she groaned.

“Hey.” I grinned down at her. I looked back to Storm, and my smile dropped when I saw her much too close to me. I winced.

“Back up, a little bit more.” I said nervously. Ororo did, and started swaying, the addiction already set in.

“Damn it!” I barked as Ororo staggered back into the mist cloud. She huddled close to me and Jean, drinking in the chemical. I put my empty hand on her arm, and she gave me a grateful smile.

“I better call Charles.” Ororo realized.