Chapter 31: A reunion

"What the...?" Wolverine muttered, his claws retracting as he looked around in confusion.

Storm stepped forward, her eyes scanning the area. The doors to the hospital swung open, and out walked Darius, with Zuri padding alongside him. His long white robes flowed behind him, and his presence was as commanding as ever. Zuri, the black panther pup, looked at ease, almost playful despite the recent violence.

Ororo's eyes widened in surprise. "Darius!"

Darius turned to face her, a calm smile playing on his lips. "Ororo. I see you brought reinforcements, though it seems they weren't necessary."

Cyclops stepped forward, eyeing Darius warily. "Who are you? And what happened here?"

Darius glanced at the subdued terrorists. "I handled the situation. These men thought they could take over a hospital full of mutants and enhanced beings. They were wrong."

Ororo walked up to Darius, relief washing over her. "It's good to see you, Darius. You've certainly made an impression."

Darius chuckled softly. "I seem to have a knack for that."

Wolverine sniffed the air, his eyes narrowing. "You've got some powerful abilities. We could use someone like you on our team."

Darius shook his head. "I'm not looking to join any teams. I'm just here to explore and help where I can."

Ororo placed a hand on his arm, her eyes softening. "Thank you, Darius. You saved lives today."

Darius nodded. "It's what I do."

The X-Men gathered around, some more wary than others. The situation was under control, but there were still questions to be answered.

Storm turned to Cyclops. "We should secure the area and make sure everyone is safe. We can debrief later."

Cyclops agreed, and the team dispersed to check on the patients and staff. Ororo stayed with Darius, a mix of emotions playing across her face.

"You always did have a flair for the dramatic," she said, a hint of a smile on her lips.

Darius shrugged. "It's part of the charm."

They walked through the hospital together, ensuring that everyone was safe. Darius recounted the events, how he had walked into the hospital, only to find it under attack. Using his immense powers, he had swiftly neutralized the threat, saving everyone inside.

Ororo listened, her respect for Darius growing even more. He was a powerful being, but he used his abilities for good. They reached the main lobby, where Zuri was now playfully chasing a butterfly.

Ororo looked at Darius, her expression thoughtful. "You've done so much already. What's next for you?"

Darius looked out at the city beyond the hospital. "Maybe relax a little. I have been in a lot of troublesome situations lately.

Ororo nodded, understanding. "Just promise you'll stay in touch. We could use someone like you, even if you're not officially part of the team."

Darius smiled. "I'll always be around when you need me, Ororo."

"Well umm..." Ororo began, she found herself standing next to Darius, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. She glanced at the X-Men, busy ensuring everyone's safety, and then back at Darius, who seemed calm and collected despite the recent chaos.

Taking a deep breath, she decided to take a leap. "Darius," she began hesitantly, "would you like to go out with me? You know, to catch up and... talk about old times?"

Her words hung in the air, and the immediate area fell into a stunned silence. The X-Men, who had been preoccupied with their tasks, suddenly stopped and turned their attention towards her. Cyclops raised an eyebrow, Wolverine's mouth twitched into a smirk, and even Jean Grey looked intrigued.

Darius, always one to notice subtle changes, looked at Ororo with a curious tilt of his head. "Ororo, are you asking me out on a date?" he asked, a playful glint in his eyes.

Ororo's cheeks flushed slightly, but she held her ground. "Maybe I am," she replied, trying to maintain her composure. "We haven't seen each other in a long time, and I thought it would be nice to catch up outside of... all this." She gestured around at the hospital and the lingering aftermath of the attack.

Darius's smile widened. "I'd be delighted. It sounds like a wonderful idea."

The X-Men exchanged glances, some with raised eyebrows, others with amused smiles. Wolverine chuckled, his gruff voice breaking the silence. "Well, ain't this somethin'. Never thought I'd see the day."

Cyclops nodded in agreement, looking at Ororo with a mixture of surprise and approval. "You deserve a break, Ororo. Enjoy yourselves."

Ororo shot them a grateful look before turning back to Darius. "Shall we?"

Darius extended his arm, which Ororo took with a slight smile. Together, they walked out of the hospital, leaving behind the astonished and bemused team.

As they stepped into the cool evening air, Ororo felt a sense of excitement mixed with nervousness. It had been a long time since she had asked someone out, and Darius was no ordinary person. She glanced at him, his long white hair catching the light of the setting sun, his presence exuding a quiet strength.

"So, where shall we go?" Darius asked, his voice gentle.

Ororo thought for a moment. "There's a small café not too far from here. It's quiet and cozy, perfect for catching up."

Darius nodded. "Lead the way."

They walked side by side, their conversation flowing easily as they reminisced about their past adventures and shared stories. Ororo felt a sense of warmth and comfort in Darius's presence, the bond between them rekindling with every word exchanged.

They reached the café, a quaint little place with a warm, inviting atmosphere. As they settled into a corner booth, the initial tension melted away, replaced by genuine laughter and heartfelt conversations.

[With the young couple- café booth]

Ororo and Darius sat in the cozy corner of the small café, the warm light casting a soft glow on their faces. The hum of quiet conversation and clinking of cutlery around them provided a comfortable backdrop as they settled into their seats. Ororo ordered a herbal tea, while Darius chose a rich, dark coffee.

Darius leaned back in his chair, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "You know, Ororo, I must say, I'm quite flattered. It's not every day that a goddess asks me out."

Ororo laughed, shaking her head. "Goddess? I think you've got it backward, Darius. You're the one with the divine aura."

Darius leaned forward, his gaze locking onto hers. "Perhaps we're both divine in our own ways. But tell me, what prompted this lovely invitation? Was it my irresistible charm?"

Ororo rolled her eyes playfully. "If I recall correctly, I didn't exactly phrase it as an invitation to a date."

Darius raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "Oh, but I could hear it in your voice. The longing, the desire to catch up with someone as captivating as myself."

Ororo couldn't help but laugh again. "Always so modest, aren't you?"

Darius shrugged, his expression becoming more serious but still playful. "I try. But in all seriousness, Ororo, I've missed our conversations. It's been too long."

Ororo nodded, her smile softening. "It has. I've missed you too, Darius. Life has been... busy, to say the least."

Darius's eyes twinkled. "Well, let's make up for lost time then. Tell me, what have you been up to? Saving the world, I presume?"

Ororo sighed, stirring her tea thoughtfully. "More or less. The responsibilities never end, you know. But enough about me. What about you? What brings you back to our world?"

Darius took a sip of his coffee, savoring the rich flavor before answering. "I've been... exploring, enjoying the simpler pleasures of life. But something drew me back here, to this place, to you."

Ororo tilted her head, curiosity piqued. "To me? That's quite intriguing. What exactly do you mean?"

Darius leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Let's just say, you've always had a way of pulling me in. Your strength, your grace... it's magnetic."

Ororo felt a warmth spread through her cheeks at his words. She met his gaze, feeling a familiar spark between them. "You always did have a way with words, Darius."

He chuckled, a low, melodious sound. "And you always knew how to see through my charm. But seriously, Ororo, I've been thinking a lot about the past, about us. There's so much we never got to explore."

Ororo's heart skipped a beat.

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[Ola there again, miss me??? Anyways, 2 chaps coz I missed a day yesterday.]