Chapter 027 – Metaphysical

[2009 – June]

My thoughts raced through my head, as an idea suddenly came to my mind.

I had created this mutant power for something more than just creating and manipulating physical barriers. The best example was how it protected my mind passively without the need for a physical barrier.

So theoretically, I should be able to create a formless barrier that shielded Jean from the thoughts of others.

In my mind, I imagined the thoughts of people being emitted from their brains on a metaphysical level while Jean's much stronger mind couldn't help but receive these thoughts.

What I had to do was create a barrier that shielded her from this metaphysical flow of information, and for this, my barrier didn't have to have a physical form at all.

Raising my left hand to her cheek, I guided Jean's head to look at me.

Seeing her eyes glittering with tears of relief and affection, I momentarily forget what I wanted to tell her. And when she tip-toed slightly and pressed her lips against my own, I was hardly able to keep up the barrier anymore.

Captivated by the texture of her lips and the sweetness of her mouth, I nearly lost myself in this moment before I regained my wits and broke the kiss.

Both of us breathing raggedly, my forehead was pressed against hers as we shared a deep affectionate look with each other.

For a few moments, neither of us spoke before I took a deep breath, inhaling her flowery scent once again, and addressed her.

"I may be able to shield your mind from being invaded by others' thoughts for longer. But for that, I will have to take the barrier down. Is that alright?", I asked her softly, aware of the burden she had to shoulder without my barrier.

Shuddering slightly in my embrace, Jean nodded softly as she replied: "It's ok, I am used to it."

Saddened that her words were the truth, I vanished the barrier a moment later.

I could feel her tense up for a moment, a frown appearing between her brows, as she closed her eyes and tried to cope with the influx of foreign thoughts. I waited a few seconds for her to adjust to it, as I stayed attentive to her reactions.

Seeing Jean open her eyes a moment later and giving me a small smile, I felt relieved.

Raising up my left palm, I closed my eyes and focused on what I wanted to achieve.

A barrier without form. A barrier to shield from thoughts. A barrier to protect her.

Suddenly a soothing warmth rushed through my brain as something changed inside my mind. I didn't know how I knew it, but when I opened my eyes a few moments later and looked at my empty hand, I was sure I had succeeded.

I could simply feel the intangible shield revolving in my palm with a sensory perception that was wholly foreign to me until now.

I could 'feel' my barrier, something that wasn't possible before. I didn't have to see it to know it was there. I simply sensed its position in space. It was as if my senses had opened up to allow me to better control the shields I created.

I was half-sure that I had just gained a minor secondary mutation as if my mind had suddenly adapted to my powers.

Pushing these thoughts out of my mind, I commanded the ethereal barrier in my hand to grow and envelop the red-haired beauty in my arms.

…

Even with her incredible and superhuman senses, Jean couldn't feel the shield's existence, but when silence returned to her mind she knew that Elijah had succeeded.

This time the relief wasn't any less, nor the joy and gratitude she felt for him, but there was also great surprise inside her heart.

Elijah's abilities were simply astonishing for a newly awakened mutant.

The versatility with which he used his barriers was stunning. In all the years she had lived in the mansion, Jean had never encountered another mutant with such gifts and talents.

Wrapping her arms around his midsection, Jean pressed herself against his athletic form, causing a pleasant shiver to run through her as his hands brushed over her exposed lower back and the side of her neck.

Looking into his bright green eyes, Jean couldn't help but wish to be even closer to him.

"I can use this barrier at any time to help you relax, but you have to be careful. You can't become dependent on it.", Elijah suddenly stated in a serious tone and she knew him to be right.

While it felt almost heavenly to have only her own thoughts inside her mind, she was an incredibly powerful telepath, and linked with this identity were burdens she had to carry.

She had long since learned to live with this, but sometimes it was hard for her as she couldn't switch it off and have some peace and quiet.

The Professor had told her of old students and acquaintances of his who had telepathic abilities and turned crazy, one of them even took his own life as he was unable to endure the voices of others in his mind any longer.

Jean, being the incredibly powerful telepath she was, understood how they felt, though she had the inner strength to endure the trials her powerful abilities forced upon her, and more than that she wanted to live.

Still, being embraced by Elijah, while the voices in her mind had been silenced for a moment of peace, Jean couldn't help but feel blissful.

…

The bright smile of pure bliss shining on Jean's face was certainly something I would remember for a long time.

Though our moment was interrupted a moment later when the intercom turned on and Charles' voice echoed through the training room.

"Elijah, would you please come to my office? A guest has arrived to meet you."

"I will be right up, Professor.", I answered while giving off a sigh.

"Alright, take your time.", the Professor's voice could be heard one last time, before the intercom went quiet again.

"Seems like I have to go. Ready?", I asked Jean gently.

"Yes, you can take it down.", Jean answered softly.

Letting go of the barrier, I felt her tense up for a second before she exhaled deeply and relaxed again, adapting several times faster than before to the cacophony of voices ringing inside her head.

Lowering my lips onto hers, I soothed her with a deep kiss while her hands were buried in my hair and tightly holding onto my shoulder at the same time. My own hands were wrapped around her waist and likewise buried in her fiery mane, pressing her smaller frame into my own.

It was only several long moments later that we managed to separate from each other and I made my way towards the Professor's office. Playing around with a barrier in my hand and changing its form from physical to ethereal on my way there.

While at it, I realized that I had just made an incredible leap forward in manipulation and fine control, thanks solely to my new ability to sense the barrier's shape and receive tactile feedback from it, instead of having to see and/or imagine the form of the barrier.