Operation Clipped Wings

Posted on Fri Apr 12th, 2024 @ 6:30pm by Jean Grey & Warren Worthington III

2,022 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 0: X Lang Syne
Location: Mansion Rooftop
Timeline: November 15, 1985

The November sunrise was a disappointing event thanks to the overcast skies and the dreary drizzle. Rather than a majestic display of pinks and oranges, the sun arrived with only a pale glow of white light that turned the mansion grounds for the deep blue of twilight to a sad dove grey.

Warren wasn’t surprised that he witnessed a rather disappointing act of nature, it seemed the fitting end to a horrible day. He failed to move once the sun had risen, the numbing cold and isolation on the mansion roof seemed just as good as any other place he could be. So Warren sat and wallowed without any real plan for himself.

Jean had risen early, like she always did, and despite the lack of morning training with the rest of the X-Men she found it hard to sleep in. Dressed for the gloomy cold, she made her way outside for a run, or at least she thought she was going to run until she felt the heavy heart and dark thoughts of Warren coming from the roof. Without hesitation, she changed her plans and made her way to him rather than into the woods. With a single leap and gentle telekinetic lift, she stepped onto the rooftop with little effort.

Warren felt Jean’s presence before he saw her. She always felt like that gentle warming sensation of sunshine, when it hits your skin after breaking through the cloud cover. It was hard to forget and was a welcomed experience, especially on a day like today when bleak weather consumed Warren internally and externally.

“Hey Jeannie.” Even his greeting was soggy as he continued to gaze out over the grounds.

“Hi Warren.” Jean returned his salutation but there was a touch of compassion and optimism despite her attempts to match his muted tone. “You’re up awful early, especially for you.”

“I haven’t been to bed yet.” Warren admitted as he leaned back on his hands “I got some bad news yesterday and I’ve been mulling a lot of things over because of it.”

“I’m sorry.” She empathized while taking a seat next to him on the shingled roof, making herself comfortable before asking the question she already knew the answer to. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Warren hesitated before responding, she had saught him out in that way that Jean always did. Whenever one of them needed a confidant or compassion, she had that way of showing up. Despite how terrible he could be at times, she still appeared and offered him an ear, it made Warren feel even more like a cad.

He finally answered her question with an explanation. “My father has denied my seat on the board of Worthington Industries. I’m not responsible enough for such an important position because my head is in the clouds… We are in aviation. Where else is my head supposed to be?” Warren smirked at his own self-deprecating joke.

“Denied forever or denied for the time being?” Jean asked with a frown, knowing far too well that this was a hard blow to Warren. He was born and raised to take over this family business, to become the next titan of the industry. To remove him from the board was to take away his purpose in life.

“Of course he gave me conditions.” Warren said with a defeated sigh. “I’m eighteen and have my high school diploma, I shouldn’t be at Xavier’s anymore. I should be enrolled in college back home, where I can further my education and become serious about the business. I need to leave New York and go home, I need to give up being an X-Men. Then, and only then, can I have my spot on the board of directors.”

“Just give it all up, despite the good we do?” Jean’s shoulders slumped along with his. While Warren had his moments, the same conviction and drive was found in him that they all possessed. He had even fought crime on his own, before the X-Men, because his desire to stop injustices was so strong.

“This doesn’t matter to him.” Warren made a sweeping gesture towards the grounds. “Our family legacy and billion dollar corporation is what matters.”

“So what are you going to do?” Jean had to ask because even her telepathy could tell he hadn’t decided yet.

“I’m not exactly winning any popularity contests around here. Maybe it is best that I just go. Do as I’m told and forget about this.” Warren said in defeat.

Jean felt his disappointment and his desire to stay. He didn’t want to leave but he needed a reason to stay. “If you don’t want to go, if you don’t want to stop being an X-Men, then you shouldn’t. That regret will change you. Besides, he didn’t say your position was revoked, just denied until you’re ready for it.”

Warren’s mouth quirked upward in an expression that wasn’t exactly a smile. “But I’m so hated here, even Bobby was ready to ring my bell. I could tell Bobby to jump off a cliff and he would.”

“You know why, don’t you?” Jean dared to probe that unspoken topic.

“Yeah, I know.” Warren huffed “Which is why it’s even more of a slap in the face.”

“So fix it.” Jean replied with a rather matter of fact tone. “If you want to stay and you don’t like your relationship with everyone, fix it.”

Warren chuckled at how simple of a solution Jean made that sound. “I don’t even know where to begin.”

Jean matched his reclined position and placed her weight on her palms, the roof shingles were damp and cold still from the rain. “You can’t just expect people to be your friend or do as you say. You have to earn their trust and respect.”

“Earn.” Warren shook his head at the word “I come from a world where everything was given, never earned.”

Jean scoffed at his response. “You put in plenty of hard work when something matters to you. That six pack for starters.”

Warren finally smiled thanks to her comment on his physique. “Yeah, it is pretty impressive.”

“And your work with the team, attending training and drills. You didn’t at first.” Jean reminded him about his early days at the school.

“I started because I wanted to beat Scott’s ass. Not exactly a noble call to action.” Warren clarified, surprisingly self aware of who he was and why he did things for someone who seemed so conseated most of the time.

“But you stayed and worked things out.” Jean remembered how tense and aggressive those first few sessions had been between Warren and Scott. Using the excuse of training to take heavy shots at one another. It took time, but they eventually worked it out and at least developed a mutual and cooperative respect for one another. “We all work so well together as a team, as X-Men. When we’re on a mission all those personal issues disappear and we take care of one another. I have no doubt that the same could be done outside of a mission.”

“So just punch my way into the hearts of everyone, easy enough.” Warren joked because he didn’t want to admit he didn’t know how to go about this.

“Not exactly. Scott’s desire to lead and to look out for you, that definitely played a part in his efforts into work with you. He was willing to hash it out physically but that isn’t the case for everyone.” Jean sighed as she stated the obvious. “We’re all different, you’ll have to find a way to work with each of us.”

“You’re really going to stay with that stick in the mud? He’s such a boring boy scout.” Warren commented once Scott was brought up.

“Yes.” Jean said with a smile that wasn’t for Warren. “I want a life with him.”

Warren flexed his wings and rolled his shoulders as he thought about her words but more importantly he thought about Jean as a person. After a long pause he finally spoke. “I’m sorry I objectified you and I’m sorry that I haven’t respected your choices and your boundaries.”

Jean leaned forward so she could see Warren’s eyes. She forced him to look at her before she continued. “Thank you Warren. Apology accepted.”

He took a moment to appreciate the lush green of her eyes but he broke the stare and snorted a laugh through his nose. “So that’s it? I just have to say I’m sorry to everyone?”

“Mostly.” Jean said with an easy shrug. “But I’m the easy one to make amends with. I can tell if you’re sincere or not without you having to openly express it. Other people may have a harder time believing you, you might need to say it more than once.”

Warren chuckled a little at her explanation, she still managed to wow him. When he first met her, his attraction to Jean had been superficial. She was a prize to win and show off like every other girl he dated. But as time went by and he saw more of her, his motivations changed to a more genuine interest. Then she fell head over heels for Summers and that loss turned into bitterness and resentment. He had treated her badly because of it and yet she still was kind to him. “You know if Scott hurts you, I beat his ass into the ground.”

Jean had followed Warren’s train of thought and wasn’t completely caught off guard by his statement. It was Warren’s way of letting go while still remaining protective. He was a defender through and through. “Yeah, I know.” She replied with a small affirmative smile.

Warren nodded his head in agreement with the choices being made and how this conversation made him feel. He was at a crossroads in his life and she had been the one to ask and the one to care. A corner turned between them thanks to a few simple words and shared thoughts.

“I don’t even know where to begin with Bobby. I jerk him around sometimes just because I can.” Warren admitted, again with more insight than expected. Making his bad behavior worse, mostly because he knew he could get away with it, until he didn’t.

Jean sighed. There was a lot more to say about that topic than she had the right to. “Bobby just wants to belong, he wants people in his life that he can care for and care about him. Just be his friend, Warren and all will be forgiven.”

“As for the rest…” Jean watched as the sun began to break through the clouds. Little dappled spots of light appeared on the mansion’s green lawn. “Give them respect and friendship and you’ll get it back from them in return. No one here is so hard-hearted that they won’t forgive you.”

“Even smart-mouthed Alex?” Warren snorted.

“He holds some grudges but I think in due time he’ll let go of them.” Jean shrugged “I don’t know if the two of you will ever be friends but you can at least be civil.”

Warren let out a heavy sigh as a weight lifted from his chest. It felt good to have some direction in his life, to feel hopeful again. He wanted to stay and be a part of this team, when he was dressed as Angel was when he felt the most like himself. “Alright so it’s a plan. I feel like it needs a mission title to make it official.”

“Operation Clipped Wings.” Jean said with a smug expression. “You need to learn how to fly again, Warren.”

Warren chortled at the title but understood the sentiment behind it. “Operation Clipped Wings is a go.”

RSS Feed