Full Circle

Posted on Tue May 13th, 2025 @ 10:16pm by Bobby Drake & Hayden Davis

3,090 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Episode 6: X-Fernus Agenda
Location: X-Mansion Grounds
Timeline: December 25th, 1990

As Christmas morning lazily turned toward afternoon, the sun filtered through the long, swaying tendrils of the great willow that crowned the gentle slope between the mansion and the lake below. It was quiet here, a little off the beaten path, just far enough to feel like another world, and so had always been a popular meeting spot for students at Xavier's. The snow beneath the tree was pristine, untouched but for the faint impressions of Hayden's boots where she paced, then stopped, then paced again.

Why out here? And where was he, for that matter? She paused in her pacing and looked back towards the mansion. There was no sign of Bobby anywhere.

A soft whoosh caught her attention from up high, and she turned just in time to see a gleaming arc of ice descend from one of the second-story windows of the mansion. The curve swept gracefully into the air like a frozen ribbon, glinting in the sunlight. And there, riding it with both hands casually tucked into his jacket pockets, was Bobby Drake, his usual swagger cut through with bashful and boyish charm.

As the slide curved downward and gently deposited him near the base of the willow, he stepped off with a practiced ease that was completely unnecessary and entirely for show. He wobbled slightly on the landing—just enough to not be perfect—and then stood tall, brushing invisible snow from his sleeve with a smirk and a raised brow.

"Your prince is here, milady," he said, voice teasing and warm, though his eyes held a softness that betrayed the nerves tucked just beneath his charm. "Or, uh... more like... your guy who slides out of second-story windows because he's too cool to take the stairs."

He cleared his throat, then held something tucked under one arm, the edge of wrapping paper peeking out. "Uh, let's start over. Hi!"

Hayden stood there, hands in her pockets, and giggled. "Maxin' and relaxin' all the way. And don't think I didn't catch that wobble right there, Slippy." Hayden saw that he had something tucked under his arm and smiled. "Yeah, we can do that. Heya!"

Bobby's shoulders dropped ever so slightly in relief at Hayden's warm reception. That easy laugh of hers, bright and unguarded, untied the knot that had been twisting in his stomach all the way from the mansion.

"I wasn't sure what to get you," he began, shifting the gift into both hands and offering it to her. "Like... all the cool, expensive stuff was definitely outta my price range. And I didn't want to end up picking something lame. So... I went with this. And then you gave me that snow globe and—" He smiled, eyes flicking to hers. "Yeah. I knew I picked the right thing."

Hayden’s smile softened as she took the gift from his hands. "You didn’t have to get me anything perfect, Bobby," she said gently, eyes lifting to meet his. "You already did the thing that matters, you thought about it. That’s what I’ll remember." Her thumb grazed the corner of the wrapping as she looked at it, then back at him. "And besides, that snow globe? That was just me trying to say...thanks. For really seeing me and having goofy fun. And for being you."

There was a pause, and then a soft laugh slipped from her lips. "But now I’m dying to know what you picked. This better not be socks. Or like…a bobblehead version of Cyclops."

The wrapping tore away with a satisfying crinkle to reveal a stylized picture frame, designed to resemble jagged, crystalized ice, frosted in hue and catching the faint moonlight like it was carved from a glacier. Inside, a photo. A perfect midair snapshot from their Empire State Building adventure: both of them in freefall, faces etched in delighted terror, eyes huge, cheeks flushed, smiles stretched from ear to ear.

"I've always wanted to do that," Bobby said, a little quieter now. "Jump off the Empire State Building. Not just to say I did, but because it felt like something impossible. Something that only existed in my daydreams when I was a kid. And I got to do it. With you."

His voice softened, his gaze lingering on her face. "You made it better than I ever imagined. And that's... new for me. Feeling like something's real and not scary." He looked down, thumb brushing the edge of the frame. "I think I'm getting attached. And normally that'd freak me out." He lifted his eyes again, a slow smile blooming. "But it doesn't. Not with you."

"Oh, Bobby…this is so cool," Hayden said, her fingers gently tracing the edge of the frame. "I’m really glad I got to be there for it, to join you." She looked up at him, eyes soft, then leaned in and kissed him, brief, but sincere.

Not expecting that. Bobby was stunned by the kiss which was over altogether too soon. He ran his tongue over his lips, instinctively chasing the lingering tingle.

"Thank you," she murmured as she pulled back, a shy smile tugging at her lips. "I really like it…and you." Her cheeks flushed almost instantly, and she dropped her gaze to the ground with a quiet laugh. "I wasn’t sure if what I was feeling was real, you know. It felt too good to be true." She looked up at him again, eyes clearer now. "But I’m glad I don’t freak you out."

Bobby blinked at her, a little awestruck by the moment. Then he laughed softly, shaking his head with that crooked smile of his, the one that was always more genuine when it was meant for her.

"You were worried about freaking me out?" he asked, half incredulous, half amazed. "Hayden, you're like... the perfect chick if there ever was one. If anybody got freaked out, it would be the other way around."

He rubbed the back of his neck, gaze dropping as his words picked up honesty and weight. "Most people just sorta... tolerate me. They put up with my dumb jokes, my bouncing off the walls, the whole joker thing. You? You actually get it. You get me. And you don't just put up with it...you like it. You like me. That’s... new."

He looked toward the mansion, the windows glowing warm with laughter and light, and then glanced further—toward the hallway where her gift still waited. Along with, if he was honest, a trail of broken hearts. That weight lingered in his eyes as he looked back at her.

"I've made a lot of mistakes. Said and done some dumb stuff I thought I could laugh my way out of. And I didn't want you to be another one of those mistakes." His thumb tapped the edge of the frame she held, absent-minded. "Me and Kennedy... we got close for a little bit. It didn't work out. Not in a bad way, just... not right. I gave her a snow globe like a month ago. It was like a peace offering and a belated birthday gift to say, hey, we're good. We're friends. Let's move on."

He paused, his brows knitting thought of the snow globe Hayden had given him in return. "I gave it away thinking I was giving up on love. Like... saying I was fine just being the funny guy, you know? That I'd stop looking for anything serious and just try to work on myself."

His voice grew quieter, more thoughtful.

"And then you gave me one. Out of everything in the whole world, you picked that. Like..." He gave a faint laugh, eyes flicking up to hers. "Like the universe hit reset on whatever I thought I was giving up. I don't know, it just feels like a metaphor or something. Like maybe this time, it's the real deal."

Stepping closer, more sure now, Bobby's presence forced the weight of what he'd said to settle between them. "I don't know what love is. I've screwed it up every time I tried. But with you..." He leaned in ever so slowly, his nose turning to one side while his eyes probed hers for silent permission for what he longed to do next. "I think I'm about to find out. And I'm not running from it this time," he added, his focus darting from eye to eye as he poured his heart out. "Not when love's brought me full circle."

She smiled, her eyes glistening with held back tears. Tears of joy and excitement of what could be. Despite that, she held his gaze steady and sure. He'd just been as straightforward with her as ever. “I don’t know what love is either,” she said quietly, a smile tugging at her lips. “But maybe it’s not about getting it right the first time. Maybe it’s about choosing it; messy, uncertain, and real. Maybe it’s about not being afraid to try again, about finding beauty in all the chaos and mistakes. I’m willing to see where this leads."

If that wasn't an invitation, Bobby didn't what would be. He let the short distance between their lips narrow even closer until they finally brushed together in a soft kiss that was hesitant at first, but deepened once the physical connection gave way to a profound inner one. He sighed in release of the tension he'd been holding in his chest by the waves of wondrous buzz and elation that rolled over him. In their kiss, Bobby found more than affection. For the first time since, well, he could remember, he found a feeling of ... home.

"Yeah," he whispered when they pulled apart just long enough to do so. Eyes closed, he leaned in for an encore after adding in a throaty hum, "I really want to see where this goes."

Hayden felt a rush that wasn't there the first time they kissed in the ice cream shop. This was different, way different. Her breath caught, her heart skipped at the press of his lips. The kiss was gentle and warm, like the slow bloom of something long-awaited. And when they parted, her eyes fluttered open to meet his.

A quiet smile curved on her lips, the kind that came from someplace deep and steady. Then, with a soft laugh that chased away the last of her nerves, she hummed an 'mhm' as they kissed again.

The kiss deepened again, laughter and breath mingling between them, and Bobby, unable to help himself, let out a bright bark of joy. Without thinking, he scooped Hayden up into his arms and spun her around beneath the drooping veils of the willow tree, the hem of her coat fluttering around them both.

When he finally set her down, both of them slightly breathless and laughing now, Bobby stole a moment just to look at her—really look at her—like she was the best Christmas present he could've ever unwrapped.

But as his eyes drifted past her, over her shoulder toward the looming silhouette of the X-Mansion, a self-conscious cringe twisted across his face.

"Man..." he muttered, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly. "I love this place, but..." His nose wrinkled. "It's kinda cramping my style right now."

He flicked his gaze back to Hayden, his grin returning, boyish and hopeful.

"How 'bout a stroll, Frosty? Just us," he offered, nudging his head toward the sprawling, frost-kissed grounds beyond the mansion’s reach. "No interruptions. No audience. Just the way Christmas oughta be."

“I like that idea,” she said. Hayden's smile was still lingering from their kiss. “The snow makes everything feel so peaceful and quiet. It's almost like the world’s holding its breath." She paused briefly. "Maybe we’ll catch a glimpse of a cardinal or hear some birds. It’d be like something out of a holiday postcard and we'd get to see it firsthand.” She glanced over at Bobby, her heart still racing.

They wandered away from the great willow in a lazy trail through the powdery snow. The mansion receded behind them, shrinking into the backdrop of winter-white trees and the quiet hush of Christmas afternoon.

Bobby stuffed his hands into his coat pockets. The edges of his smile still lingering from their kiss. He glanced around at the snow that covered everything in sight.

"Not sure how many birds we'll see this time of year," he said, kicking a bit of drifted powder aside with his boot. "But, man... it would be pretty crazy if saw some."

His words trailed off, like they were meant for the air more than anything. Because as much as he said he was looking for a bird, he wasn't looking at the trees or the fences or the sky.

He was looking at her. Hayden's cheeks were pink from the cold, her breath making little puffs in the air, her hair catching bits of snow like a thousand tiny stars. She walked with her hands tucked into her coat, her shoulders relaxed, her smile soft and genuine.

Bobby couldn't tear his gaze away. From the way she moved so naturally through the landscape to the way the winter light caught in her eyes to way being around her made everything inside him go still and warm, like finally coming in from the cold... Bobby had it bad.

He chuckled softly under his breath, more to himself than anything. "Honestly... I don't care if we see a single bird."

"Yeah, you're right, there probably aren't that many out here." Hayden looked over to Bobby and saw him starting at her. She blushed slightly and absentmindedly tucked a stand of hair behind her ear. "So, what did you get from the Professor?"

"Well..." It felt surreal just to remember it, much less consider what it meant. "You saw the cuff links which were pretty cool, but the real gift was a minor equity stake in the X-Corporation." Realizing Hayden may not know what that meant, Bobby elaborated a little. "It's the holding company for the Professor's assets. The mansion, the school, various investments, they're all under the corporate umbrella... and he made a point of giving a slice of that big pie to me as a Christmas gift." He chuckled through the growing lump in his throat. "He trusts me to help carry on his legacy, I guess."

"Oh wow, that's pretty intense," said Hayden. "I'm sure you'll do fine." She was silent for a while as they continued walking. Then a thought struck her. "Wait, does that mean you're partially my boss?"

Bobby glanced sideways, a slow grin creeping across his face. "Huh. I hadn't thought of it that way." He let the idea sit for a beat, then looked ahead, eyes twinkling with mischief. Before she could say more, Bobby turned, caught her by the hand, and spun her into him. Her boots skidded slightly on the snowy path, laughter escaping her lips as he wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close. The world slowed for just a moment.

"You okay with taking orders from me?" he asked, his voice low, teasing, but edged with something more underneath. A challenge, maybe. Or a hope.

A little breathless from the spin, Hayden lightly braced her hands against his chest as she looked up at him. “Hmm,” she mused, her eyes narrowing playfully, “depends on the orders, I guess.” She paused for a moment, her voice softening and her smile turning more sincere. “But if they all come with this kind of follow-through…” she leaned in just slightly, “I think I could get used to it.”

Bobby's grin deepened as he held her a little tighter. The snow crunched softly beneath their boots, but the hush of winter around them only made the moment feel warmer—closer.

"Oh, I can give you all the follow-through you want," he said, his tone dropping to that perfect sweet spot between teasing and sincere. "Perks of being the boss." Then, without letting go, he tilted his head and raised one brow. "If I said you have a beautiful body, would you hold it against me?" Try as he might, he couldn't hold back the snickering smirk at his play on words.

Hayden giggled, especially when she saw Bobby's face and his try-as-you-might restraint. "You know what, that has to be one of the corniest lines I've ever heard." She considered stepping closer, but instead... "I'm gonna need a full ranking of your top five cheesiest lines before this night is over," she said with a wink. "And yes, bonus points if any of them made someone swoon." But she still didn't move from his embrace.

"No bonus points for me then." Bobby stepped closer instead, feeling emboldened by Hayden's invitation. "Never exactly made anyone swoon before. But hey, first time for everything, right?” He leaned in just enough for the brim of his grin to brush close to her cheek, voice dropping into a mock-serious register. "All right, you asked for it..."

He held up all five fingers as he whispered in her ear. "Number five: Are you a snowstorm? Because I can't see anyone else when you're around."

Then another. "Four: If kisses were snowflakes, I'd send you a blizzard."

He tapped her lightly on the nose. "Three: Is it just the cocoa, or are you making my heart melt?"

Two fingers now. "Two: Do you have a map? Because I just got lost in your eyes."

He paused dramatically, holding up one finger. “And number one... wait for it..." He lowered his voice to a whisper, all mock gravity. "Do you believe in love at frost sight?"

Goose bumps had formed on her arms and her breathing had slowed as Bobby whispered in her ear. She was quiet for a few seconds after he finished listing his pick-up lines. But that last one... "Yeah, maybe, yeah, I guess so," she whispered back. Hayden was at a loss for words as she wrapped her arms around Bobby. It was a romantic gesture as well as one to keep her from falling.

"I didn't used to," Bobby said, "but things have changed."

They chuckled at each other for being so corny yet so genuine. After stealing another quick peck, they ambled along enjoying each other's company and the scenery.

Yet nothing could prepare them for what they saw next...

Continued in "Expect the Unexpected"

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