Chapter 42: The bald man that was supposed to be in a wheelchair.

The sun had barely begun to peek over the horizon when Ororo Munroe, otherwise known as Storm, woke up with a smile on her face. It had been a wonderful night, one that had left her feeling lighter, more alive than she had in a long time.

She let out a small sigh, stretching her arms above her head as she replayed the events of the previous evening in her mind.

Her thoughts wandered back to Darius, to the way he had looked at her, the way he had effortlessly charmed her even when she was trying so hard to play it cool.

And then there was the moment by the pool, when his touch had sent a jolt of electricity through her, leaving her breathless and longing for more.

Ororo shook her head, a soft laugh escaping her lips. She needed to get a grip. She was a teacher, a leader, an X-Man for goodness' sake. She couldn't afford to be distracted, especially not by a man, no matter how intriguing or attractive he might be.

But even as she told herself that, she knew it was futile. The memory of Darius was seared into her mind, and nothing she did could shake it loose.

By the time she made it to breakfast, the smile on her face had only grown wider. She was practically glowing, her usual calm and composed demeanor tinged with an air of playfulness that hadn't gone unnoticed.

In the dining hall, the students were already buzzing with their usual morning chatter, but as soon as Ororo walked in, the conversation hushed for a moment, heads turning in her direction.

"Ms. Munroe looks really happy today," one of the younger students, a girl named Jubilee, whispered to her friend, eyes wide with curiosity.

"Yeah, I've never seen her smile like that before," her friend replied, equally intrigued.

Rogue, who was sitting at the teachers' table, noticed the looks and couldn't help but smirk. She leaned over to Jean Grey, who was just finishing her breakfast, and nudged her playfully. "Looks like Ororo had herself a good time last night."

Jean raised an eyebrow, glancing over at Ororo with a knowing smile. "She does seem a little... different this morning, doesn't she?"

Ororo caught the look from across the room and narrowed her eyes at her friends, but the smile didn't leave her face. She made her way to the teachers' table, greeting the students warmly as she passed, and took her seat next to Rogue and Jean.

"Good morning," she said, her voice cheerful.

"Morning," Rogue replied, a teasing lilt to her tone. "You seem awfully chipper today, Ororo. Something you wanna share with the class?"

Ororo rolled her eyes, but there was no hiding the blush that crept up her cheeks. "Nothing to share," she said, trying to sound casual. "I just had a nice evening, that's all."

"A nice evening, huh?" Jean echoed, her smile widening. "Would this 'nice evening' happen to involve a certain someone?"

Ororo bit her lip, trying to fight back the smile that threatened to break free. "Maybe."

Rogue laughed, shaking her head. "Girl, you are smitten, aren't you?"

"Who's smitten?" Kitty Pryde asked as she joined the group, her breakfast tray in hand.

"Ororo," Jean and Rogue said in unison, grinning like Cheshire cats.

Kitty's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? With who?"

"Darius," Rogue said with a wink. "You know, that mysterious guy who's been hanging around lately."

Kitty's jaw dropped. "No way! Ororo, you and Darius? When did this happen?"

Ororo sighed, realizing there was no getting out of this. "We've just been spending some time together, that's all. It's nothing serious."

"Oh, but it could be," Jean said, her voice laced with excitement. "I've seen the way he looks at you, Ororo. He's definitely interested."

Ororo groaned, burying her face in her hands. "This is why I didn't want to say anything. You're all going to blow it out of proportion."

"Us? Never," Rogue said, placing a hand over her heart in mock innocence. "But seriously, Ororo, it's good to see you so happy. You deserve it."

"Thanks," Ororo said, smiling softly. "I just... I don't know where this is going, or if it's even going anywhere. But it feels nice, you know?"

Jean nodded. "Yeah, we get it. Just take it one day at a time."

"Speaking of which," Rogue added, a mischievous glint in her eye, "when's the next 'nice evening'?"

Ororo laughed, shaking her head. "I don't know. We haven't made any plans yet."

"Well, keep us posted," Kitty said, winking at her. "We're living vicariously through you."

Ororo rolled her eyes again, but there was no denying the warmth that filled her heart. Despite their teasing, she knew her friends were genuinely happy for her, and that made all the difference.

As the morning wore on, the students continued to cast curious glances in Ororo's direction, whispering among themselves and speculating about the source of her good mood.

Some of the older students, like Bobby and Warren, even tried to get in on the gossip, though Ororo expertly deflected their questions with ease.

In the teachers' lounge, the conversation inevitably circled back to Ororo's mysterious night out, with Jean and Rogue leading the charge.

They were all smiles and playful jabs, but there was no mistaking the underlying support in their words.

"Just promise us one thing," Rogue said, leaning back in her chair. "If this thing with Darius gets serious, you'll let us throw you a big, fancy party."

Ororo chuckled. "If it ever gets to that point, you'll be the first to know."

The rest of the day passed in a blur of classes and training sessions, but no matter what she was doing, Ororo couldn't shake the thoughts of Darius from her mind.

His smile, his laugh, the way he had looked at her with those piercing eyes—it was all so vivid, so real, like a dream she didn't want to wake up from.

By the time evening rolled around, Ororo found herself standing in front of her mirror, brushing her hair and wondering if she should call him. Just to say hi, maybe see if he wanted to hang out again.

But before she could make a decision, her phone buzzed on the dresser, and she glanced down to see a message from Jean.

Jean: "Hey, we're all heading out for drinks tonight. Wanna join?"

Ororo smiled, feeling a surge of affection for her friends. They were giving her an out, a chance to relax and enjoy herself without worrying about what might or might not happen with Darius. And honestly, that sounded like exactly what she needed.

Ororo: "Sure, I'll be there."

She put her phone down, feeling lighter than she had in weeks. Maybe tonight would be just what she needed—a chance to unwind, laugh with her friends, and forget about everything else for a little while.

But even as she tried to push thoughts of Darius aside, she couldn't help but wonder what he was doing at that very moment, and if he was thinking about her too.

==

=

Professor Charles Xavier sat in his study, sipping on a cup of tea while he reviewed the various reports and updates from his team. It was a quiet evening at the Xavier Institute, the kind of peace that usually allowed him to focus on his work without distraction.

However, tonight, his thoughts kept drifting back to one of his most trusted team members: Ororo Munroe.

Over the past few days, Charles had noticed a significant change in Ororo's demeanor. She seemed lighter, more carefree, and there was a subtle glow about her that hadn't been there before.

While it was heartening to see one of his dearest friends so happy, something about the situation was troubling him.

It wasn't just the change in Ororo's behavior that had caught his attention, but something far more unusual.

When he had tried to check in on her earlier in the day, simply to sense her emotional state, he had encountered an unexpected barrier in her mind—one that was completely impenetrable.

Charles furrowed his brow, his thoughts swirling with concern. This barrier was unlike anything he had encountered before. It was as if Ororo's mind was being shielded by an external force, one that was beyond his comprehension.

He had no doubt that Ororo herself was unaware of it, but it raised a series of questions that he couldn't ignore.

Who or what could create such a barrier? And, more importantly, why? 

Charles set down his cup of tea, his fingers steepling under his chin as he considered the possibilities. There was one person who had recently entered Ororo's life who might hold the answers—Darius.

The mysterious man who had appeared out of nowhere and somehow managed to capture Ororo's attention.

He knew very little about Darius, only what Ororo and some of the other X-Men had mentioned in passing. The man seemed to have an aura of enigma surrounding him, a presence that was both intriguing and concerning.

If Darius was capable of placing such a powerful shield around Ororo's mind, then he was far more than what he appeared to be.

Charles wasn't one to jump to conclusions, but the circumstances demanded a deeper investigation. He needed to know more about this man, to understand his intentions and the true nature of his abilities.

Ororo's well-being was his primary concern, and if there was even the slightest chance that Darius posed a threat, he had to take action.

With a determined sigh, Charles decided that it was time to meet Darius face to face. He couldn't rely on hearsay or speculation; he needed to see for himself what this man was all about.

A meeting would give him the opportunity to assess Darius's character, to gauge his motivations, and, perhaps, to find a way to break through the barrier that now shielded Ororo's mind.

But how to approach the situation? Darius didn't seem like the type of person who would respond well to a formal request. No, Charles would have to be more subtle, more diplomatic in his approach.

A casual invitation, perhaps. A meeting under the guise of discussing Ororo's role in the X-Men, or even a simple chat over tea. Charles could extend the invitation and let Darius decide the setting—after all, a man like Darius would likely appreciate the gesture of respect.

Yes, that seemed like the best course of action. Charles would reach out to Darius, offer him a chance to meet and talk in a neutral environment. It would allow Charles to observe him, to get a sense of his true nature, without raising any immediate suspicions.

There was, of course, the possibility that Darius would refuse. But something told Charles that the man's curiosity—or perhaps his own intentions—would lead him to accept.

Charles leaned back in his chair, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. Yes, it was time to meet this enigmatic figure who had so quickly become a part of Ororo's life.

And, if Charles's instincts were correct, this meeting would reveal far more than just Darius's intentions.

With his decision made, Charles sent out a mental message to one of the mansion's staff members, instructing them to draft an invitation for Darius. He made sure the tone was friendly, the language welcoming, with just enough intrigue to pique Darius's interest.

As he watched the sun set beyond the window, Charles felt a mixture of anticipation and caution. The path ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear—Darius was not someone to be taken lightly.

And if he was the one responsible for the barrier around Ororo's mind, then Charles needed to be prepared for whatever might come next.

With that in mind, Charles returned to his work, but his thoughts remained fixed on the man who had so suddenly become the center of his attention.

He would get to the bottom of this, one way or another. After all, the safety of his X-Men, and especially Ororo, was his top priority.

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