The X-men run missions and work together with the NYPD, striving to maintain a peaceful balance between humans and mutants. When it comes to a fight, they won't back down from protecting those who need their help.
Haven presents itself as a humanitarian organization for activists, leaders, and high society, yet mutants are the secret leaders working to protect and serve their kind. Behind the scenes they bring their goals into reality.
From the time when mutants became known to the world, SUPER was founded as a black-ops division of the CIA in an attempt to classify, observe, and learn more about this new and rising threat.
The Syndicate works to help bring mutantkind to the forefront of the world. They work from the shadows, a beacon of hope for mutants, but a bane to mankind. With their guiding hand, humanity will finally find extinction.
Since the existence of mutants was first revealed in the nineties, the world has become a changed place. Whether they're genetic misfits or the next stage in humanity's evolution, there's no denying their growing numbers, especially in hubs like New York City. The NYPD has a division devoted to mutant related crimes. Super-powered vigilantes help to maintain the peace. Those who style themselves as Homo Superior work to tear society apart for rebuilding in their own image.
MRO is an intermediate to advanced writing level original character, original plot X-Men RPG. We've been open and active since October of 2005. You can play as a mutant, human, or Adapted— one of the rare humans who nullify mutant powers by their very existence. Goodies, baddies, and neutrals are all welcome.
Short Term Plots:Are They Coming for You?
There have been whispers on the streets lately of a boogeyman... mutant and humans, young and old, all have been targets of trafficking.
The Fountain of Youth
A chemical serum has been released that's shaving a few years off of the population. In some cases, found to be temporary, and in others...?
MRO MOVES WITH CURRENT TIME: What month and year it is now in real life, it's the same for MRO, too.
Fuegogrande: "Fuegogrande" player of The Ranger, Ion, Rhia, and Null
Neopolitan: "Aly" player of Rebecca Grey, Stephanie Graves, Marisol Cervantes, Vanessa Bookman, Chrysanthemum Van Hart, Sabine Sang, Eupraxia
Ongoing Plots
Magic and Mystics
After the events of the 2020 Harvest Moon and the following Winter Solstice, magic has started manifesting in the MROvere! With the efforts of the Welldrinker Cult, people are being converted into Mystics, a species of people genetically disposed to be great conduits for magical energy.
The Pharoah Dynasty
An ancient sorceress is on a quest to bring her long-lost warrior-king to the modern era in a bid for global domination. Can the heroes of the modern world stop her before all is lost?
Are They Coming for You?
There have been whispers on the streets lately of a boogeyman... mutant and humans, young and old, all have been targets of trafficking.
Adapteds
What if the human race began to adapt to the mutant threat? What if the human race changed ever so subtly... without the x-gene.
Atlanteans
The lost city of Atlantis has been found! Refugees from this undersea mutant dystopia have started to filter in to New York as citizens and businessfolk. You may make one as a player character of run into one on the street.
Got a plot in mind?
MRO plots are player-created the Mods facilitate and organize the big ones, but we get the ideas from you. Do you have a plot in mind, and want to know whether it needs Mod approval? Check out our plot guidelines.
IC: Jacen's truck screaching to a halt in the parking space outside his building and he gritted his teeth against the pain that continued to come in waves from his shoulder. None of the splinters were deep enough to actually be dangerous but they were deffinately irritating.
Climbing out of the truck Jacen slammed the door closed and then made his way around to help Kealey out, only to find she'd already exited the vehicle. Without a word, the police officer turned and led the way into the building, up the stairs, and then over to the door of his apartment.
"Here it is... sorry you had to come see it like this." Jacen said with a slightly pained smile as they walked in the door that opened up directly into a small living room. The floor was carpetted with a deep, royal blue carpet that blended with the light sky blue walls. Various pictures and small pieces of artwork, mainly forest or mountain landscapes, were hung on the wall though it was obvious that none of it was very expensive. In the far corner was a TV, DVD player, and collection of various movies and tv show seasons. A black leather couch and one dark blue fabric easy chair sat facing the tv, with a cedar coffee table set up right in front of them. A doorway right next to the TV opened up into what must have been the master bedroom. Off to the left was a small kitchen that looked like it would be a tight fit for even two people to get in. A short hallway next to the kitchen ran off to the guest bedroom as well as the guest bathroom.
Over all the apartment was clean and relatively well maintained. It was the typical, comfortable home that most any middle-class american would live in. The only oddity was a table that sat right next to the front door. Three or four different bottles of various alcohol were set there along with glasses for serving. It was apparent that these were probably one of the few things Jacen splurged on because this wasn't your normal inexpensive beer and wine.
Grabbing one of the liqour bottles, Jacen poured himself a quick shot of brandy and then tossed it back with one swallow. Setting the now empty glass down he walked into the master bedroom. This room had the same carpeting as the rest of the house but the walls were a plain, stark white. Apparently the paint and decorations were mainly for the benefit of visitors. There was a decent sized queen bed in the center of the room with a light brown and teal comforter spread over it. Next to it was a single night stand and on the wall next it was a chest of drawers. The closet was on one side of the room while the door to the bathroom was on the other side.
In a few moments Jacen had walked into the bathroom, retrieved a first aid kit, and then walked back out to perch on the bed while attempting to look at the splinters himself. Jacen had never been one to ask for help unless it was absolutely necessary but he also never turned down help if it was offered.
For a while the maniac attacker seemed content to just sit and chat with his two would be victims but without any warning he suddenly rose and made his way over to the door. His movements were smooth and swift, the practiced motions of a true hunger. Before Jacen or Kealey could react the man was outside with the door firmly shut between them.
"What the hell was that about?" Jacen wondered out loud as Kealey suddenly ran across the floor and grabbed a hold of the door knob. Her efforts seemed fruitless and just as she said something to affirm what Jacen already suspected, the tell tale sound of a gunshot once again rang out followed a second later by the thud of a bullet slamming into the door next to Kealey's head.
Without pause Jacen and Kealey were both diving for the floor once again seeking cover from the mysterious sniper that had been terrorizing them for what seemed like an eternity but in reality was only the last ten or fifteen minutes. Once again Jacen found himself fighting off feelings of helplessness as he listened to bullet after bullet slam into the door and then change course into the living room. "What I wouldn't give for an M-4 with scope right now!" Jacen mentally swore to himself as he cowered behind the cabinetry.
"Jacen! Can you help me break out the rest of the door?"
Lifting his head from the floor, Jacen narrowed his eyes as he stared at the door. The light that shone through the bullets holes and cracks definitely looked promising but there was no guarantee. And worse than that, if he went for the door he was making himself an open target for the sniper that was apparently monitoring the apartment.
"Yes!" He finally decided, his voice strong and resolutely as he rose from his prone position into a crouch. Waiting until he heard a brief pause in the sniper fire, Jacen suddenly lept into a charge toward the door. Lowering his shoulder he momentarily closed his eyes, gritting his teeth against the pain that slammed into his shoulder. There was a loud cracking noise and then Jacen was through and crashing into the wall on the other side of the hallway. Shaking his head slightly to clear the cobwebs Jacen spun back around and stepped through the man sized hole in the door.
"Come on Kealey!" He commanded as he grabbed her hand and then turned to guide/drag her out into the hallway. As soon as the pair were clear of the shattered and splintered door. Without hesitation Jacen broke into a run, taking the stairs as fast as he could without pulling Kealey completely off balance and sending her into a tumble. As the pair slipped out of the outside doors, Jacen saw the first of the firefighters moving into the building to see exactly what the situation was. A couple of them began to head toward the pair but there was no way they could pause to chat with the officials. Never slowing his pace, Jacen soon arrived at the truck and threw open the passenger door for Kealey.
"Get in!" Jacen said even as he opened his own door and jumped into the vehicle. The key turned in the ignition and the engine fired to life. Leaning back in his seat, Jacen's hand moved toward the gear selector when suddenly his shoulder came in contact with the cushion on his seat.
"Aaaah!" Jacen gritted out pain, leaning forward quickly but not fast enough to keep blood from staining the upholstery. With the adrenaline pumping he hadn't realized that there were several 1 to 2 inch pieces of wood embedded in the area that had impacted the door. They had been bleeding freely but after being jarred by the seat they were now flowing even faster.
Facing an enemy on the field of battle was thing. That was what Jacen was trained to do. He was trained to face down the scum of the earth and remove them in order to protect the innocent. What he wasn't trained to face was a man that was interested in because of his secret abilities instead of his status as a military or police officer.
"The NYPD is an equal opportunity employer though most mutants do shy away from it." Jacen said as calmly as he could, trying to hide the fact that he was actually rattled, "And there's no way I can be human. With an ability like this I have to be some sort of mutant don't I... just like you. Maybe I'll go get my blood tested just to be sure but with an ability like this I haven't seen the need. Humans don't get powers."
Tilting his head to the side ever so slightly, Jacen's eyes narrowed as he studied the myster man's face even more intently. As if from a great distance he could hear alarm bells in his mind but his conscious was far to busy focusing on the current situation instead of allowing the subconscious to bring whatever information he needed back to the forefront.
"I'll have to try and meet the other mutant that has this particular ability." Jacen chimed up again, "As far as I knew I was alone with this power but I really shouldn't be all that surprised. I know there have been multiple fire and water manipulators show up on the news at different times so why not multiple nullifyers."
Jacen was itching to pull his Glock and make a move... especially when the red laser on Kealey's head dissapeared but something held him back. The man in front of him was to calm and collected to not already be prepared for whatever it was that the police officer might try. If Jacen got the opportunity it would only happen once which meant that he needed to just continued to bide his time.
Glancing at Kealey, Jacen raised an eyebrow ever so slightly as he watched and listening to the young woman. He had never seen her this bold or this confident before. Something had changed but Jacen didn't understand it in the slightest. Whatever had happened it was making Kealey seem a whole lot more like Lori.
He seemed to appear out of nowhere and with really no warning Kealey and Jacen's way of escape was suddenly cut off. The man who had apparently masterminded this whole situation was now in the room with them and worse of all he knew Jacen's name! "How the hell?" Jacen asked himself, mentally swearing as the blond woman rose to her feet and then slowly stepped out from behind the cover of the cabinet.
Glass crunched as Jacen slowly moved up into a couch as his mind continued to race. The intruder had never come into vue so there was no way the other man could know that he was armed. Likewise since he had stayed behind the cabinets the sniper, if it really was another person, could have no idea he had a weapon. swiftly Jacen replace his Glock back in its holster on his back and then slowly returning to a standing position. Stepping out from behind the counter, he paused and actually leaned up against the end of it as casually as he could pull off.
"I think I'd prefer to stand if its all the same to you." Jacen said evenly as he scanned the man's face, trying to come up with some sort of identification. As he waited to see the other man's response, Jacen's gaze also swept over the windows, trying to identify where the attacking sniper might be stationed. There were just far to many variables for him to deal with right at the moment. "And have we met somewhere?" Mr. King asked as he once again focused on the over confident person before him, "I rarely forget a face."
Nothing was going Jacen's way. He had come over to help Kealey and now he was pinned down the exact same way she was. Of course, he had pulled her away from the laser sight on her head and if he hadn't been here to see it she might have died without having any chance at all.
"I'm not going anywhere Kealey." Jacen said quietly as the young woman seemed to realize more and more that she was the target, "If he really wants you that bad he'll have to go through me and I'm not going to make this easy for him."
Finally Kealey seemed to come up with some sort of idea and immediately Jacen began to scan the area. He couldn't be exactly sure what sort of angle the sniper was firing some but surely there was some way for him to figure it out.
"I... uh... I don't think your kitchen's big enough but I bet I can get over to your couch. Why?" Jacen asked quietly, his voice just a soft murmur in Kealey's ear as he continued to look around him, "Do you think trying to sense his emotions is gonna help us escape?"
Shards of glass and ceramic rained down on the two and even though Jacen did his best to shield Kealey from most of the mess he knew at least some of it had to have become enmeshed in her hair. The weight of the Glock that now resided in his right hand was comforting but Jacen knew that it was no match for whatever type of gun their potential assassin was carrying. He might as well have been holding a sling shot for all the good it would do them in this situation.
Almost automatically, a mental map of Jacen's current location sprang up. The directionality of the bullets meant that his truck was parked safely on the opposite side. While that didn't particular help them at the moment, it would be a very good thing once they were able to get clear of this apartment. A quick getaway was very possible and if Jacen was really lucky then the sniper might not know who he was. Without a license plate to run for identification, sure he had a chance to get Kealey out and to safety before the assassin could identify her Saviour. Right?
"Don't underestimate this piece of dirt." Jacen reminded himself grimly as his left arm wrapped around Kealey to squeeze her reassuringly and hopefully calm her down a little bit while he formulated some sort of idea for this situation.
"No cover between here and the door." Jacen muttered as he swiveled his head to look around as best he could without getting up from behind the cabinets, "Cell phone!"
Momentarily releasing Kealey, Jacen reached down to his belt and grabbed the ever present cell phone. Lifting it up to where he could see it he felt his stomach drop when he saw the blank screen. Pressing the button several times it soon became clear that there was no turning off this phone. Since he had just had it plugged in last night there was only one conclusion to draw. The last time at his apartment, Lori had fried his cell phone without his realizing it until now.
"Damn!" Jacen swore suddenly as he tossed the cell phone up and over the counter and into the sniper's train of fire, just like the piece of trash that it was. "Sorry." He murmured an apology, the frustration still clear in his voice as he leaned his head back against the floor. Surrounded by shards of various substances, with a beautiful woman on top of him and a gun in his hand anyone looking from the outside would have felt like they were looking in on a James Bond movie. But for Jacen... he just felt helpless and useless.
"Shhhhh... calm down Kealey." He finally said as he brought his hand up to slowly comb through her hair and remove some of the debris while he waited for the sniper to make its next move, "The fire department will be here soon... we'll be alright."
A brother? Could Venus and Mars be brothers? Kealey had just described Venus as being extremely lusty so perhaps his brother fell into that same category. Maybe Mars was even playing with Lori's emotions and seeing this girl Elle at the same time unless... what if Elle and Lori were one and the same? Lori had given Jacen a false name to begin with so why wouldn't she give Kealey one?
"Sounds like Elle might not be quite as good a friend as we first thought." Jacen said quietly as he continued to massage and work at the knots that made their residence in Kealey's neck and back. Was it possible? Could Kealey's "friend" be the same woman that had actually made Jacen choose her instead of the innocent young woman in front of him.
Lost in though while focusing on Kealey's neck and shoulders, Jacen momentarily missed the laser light that had appeared on the back of his head. Only when she turned around to face his did his gaze travel back up to her face before his eyes suddenly widened in shock. Most normal people would have probably assume that the light was coming from a mini-pointer that a child was playing with but Jacen's military trained mind immediately tossed that option out the window. The light was remaining to fixed and steady to be a toy which meant...
"Get down!" The man yelled, as he suddenly grabbed Kealey's shoulders and went into a dive, pulling her tight against his chest and rolling so that he landed on his back and took the brunt of the contact with the floor. The idea was to get behind the cabinets and pray that they would provide enough cover from whatever weapon it was that the attacker was carrying.
"Sniper... you ticked off more than just some street punk." Jacen said quickly even as his hand darted for his back and grab the Glock he had brought for defense, "I've got to get you out of here!"
The idea of a sniper sitting across the street and looking in Kealey's window had yet to cross Jacen's mind. There was no reason to think anything like that. As far as he knew that man Kealey had met was just a typical street thug that would choose the violence of kicking in a door over the finesse of using a sniper rifle.
"You made a choice to help someone you didn't know when you knew they needed it." Jacen said quietly as Kealey rested her head against his chest, "It was a brave choice." It was also a stupid choice but Jacen wasn't going to say that. Kealey had already realized her mistake so there was absolutely no reason to beat her over the head with it. Perhaps if she'd had some sort of combat training then her decision wouldn't have been as foolish but obviously that wasn't the case.
Garrett, Elle, Venus, three names that for the most part meant little. With Kealey talking about a shelter in the same sentence as the name Garrett, it was more than likely that she meant the Sanctuary. Elle was the girl friend that had taken Kealey out for drinks and Venus. "Are you sure his name was Venus and not Mars?" Jacen asked, unable to help himself. The description fit the big red man that had been with Lori but the name didn't. Could it be the same person using different names ? Of course, since both of them used the names of planets it was quite possible they were brothers or something along those lines. Oh, that would make it even better. The girl Jacen had chosen was stolen away by a big red guy and then the girl he had hurt by not choosing had been prey for someone just like that. Had they slept together? Had Kealey's first true experience been with someone like that? It was difficult to push down the jealousy that threatened to rise up in his heart but as Kealey stepped away to look around the room Jacen did just that. Kealey wasn't his girl anymore than Lori had been but at least with Kealey there hadn't been any deception... at least not on her part.
The exhaustion was becoming more and more pronounced as Kealey seemed to be almost aimlessly wandering the apartment. Her shoulders appeared slumped and her eyes continued to broadcast the weariness she was obviously feeling.
"I told you to call me anytime Kealey and that offer didn't change because of my own stupidity." Jacen said quietly as he walked over to the young woman and gently gripped her arms, turning her so that she would be facing the counter with her back to him. Lifting his hands he began to gently massage her shoulders, working to take out any of the kinks that had begun to form from all of her stressing.
"Thanks for trusting me enough to call." Jacen said after a few moments as he decided to drop the subject of Kealey's attacker until her mind was a little more clear, "I... I honestly wasn't expecting to hear from you again. I was pretty sure I'd blown that particular bridge into splinters."
Looking at the material for coffee, Jacen paused as he tried to decide what to do. Kealey had just confirmed that she hadn't been sleeping well which meant that coffee was definitely not the best option. Closing the cabinet Jacen began to go through the rest of the cupboards as he listened to the blond woman try to explain the situation. Surely she must have some tea bags, hot chocolate packages, or even packages of jello around. While the last option might not sound the best, the police officer could remember his parents giving him hot jello liquid whenever he had been sick as a child.
It made sense that whatever trouble Kealey was in had come because of her own good nature. In fact it was the only thing that made sense. It was impossible to imagine her doing something that would hurt or offend another person. Suddenly his hand froze and his back stiffened as the implications of Kealey's last words struck him. Taking her identification would mean that this creep knew her address. No wonder she wasn't sleeping well!
"It's not your fault Kealey." Jacen said quietly as he turned his head so that he was looking directly into the young woman's eyes. Giving up the hunt in the cabinets, Jacen turned and walked over Kealey, slipping his arms around her for the most comforting hug he could provide at this moment. "And you should never worry about bothering me. It's what friends are for."
While Jacen did his best to keep his voice calm and comforting, he was once again looking over Kealey's head and sweeping his gaze around the room. Was anything different? Was there something that should be tipping him off? Silently swearing to himself, Jacen wished he had paid more attention to the apartment the last time he'd been here instead of the beautiful woman that he once again found in his arms.
"Is it just a feeling that you're being watched or have you seen, heard, or sensed something?" Jacen asked, his voice dropping slightly in volume, "It might be your subconscious is trying to warn you of something even though your conscious mind doesn't want to accept it."
Maybe Kealey was just over reacting because she was scared. Maybe the emotion of the situation had been to much for her to handle but Jacen doubted that was the case. Kealey had proven that she had plenty of mental strength so if she was this distraught about something, it was for good cause. Somewhere outside of this room there was a man that had decided it was worth it for him to hit a woman. That was going to turn out to be a very bad decision if Jacen had anything to say about it.
Not a word. She couldn't come up with a word to speak to the man that was walking away from her and so instead she turned her attention to the man she had chosen over him. That hurt almost as bad as having found them together in the first place. Forcing himself to look straight ahead, Jacen grabbed the door handle of his truck and then opened it. Sliding in he turned the ignition, firing up the engine without the slightest hesitation. Finally as he put the vehicle into gear he couldn't help himself. Glancing over he could only watch as Lori showed the other man the same affection that he had once thought was reserved for him alone.
Tearing his eyes away, Jacen stomped on the accelerator, desiring to screach the tires and race away. Unfortunately, with a bent axle, that wouldn't be happening. Sure there was a screach but it was mixed in with complaining metal as the wheels tried to turn in unison. With every rotation of the tired his beloved truck shook and rattled as though it were about to collapse into a heap of car parts.
"Damn you both." Jacen muttered as he pulled away, berefect of the dramatic exit had wanted, "You deserve each other."
It was taking to long. It was taking much to long for Kealey to get over to the door. "Maybe she's not at home." Jacen thought for a moment before immediately tossing that idea out. If her request had really been as urgent and needy as it sounded on the phone then she would be here. Finally he heard a muffled sigh before finally the rattling of the security chain and the click of the deadbolt could be heard. When the door opened, Jacen's eyes took in Kealey's somewhat tousled look without comment. From the fly away hair it appeared she'd been sleeping although the slight shadows around her eyes gave testament to the fact that she hadn't been sleeping very well. But worse than all of that was the obviously partially healed bruise that surrounded one of Kealey's beautiful blue eyes.
For a moment there was the overwhelming urge to wrap the young woman up in a hug but with their relationship definitely in the questioning stage, Jacen decided against it. "Alright... tell me where the tea or coffee is. You look like you could use something." He said after a moments hesitation. Slowly moving forward he walked past Kealey and entered the sparse apartment. Immediately his eyes were sweeping the room, making sure that nothing was particularly out of place that would make things seem more dangerous than they really were.
Once the front door was closed and they were more in the kitchen, Jacen kept a watch on Kealey out of the corner of his eyes. "Does your story include what happened to your eye?" He asked quietly, his tone concerned but with a slightly dangerous edge to it, "Did someone hurt you?"
Sometimes a person really had to wonder if life was worth all of the crap that got shoved their way. Not only had Jacen just experienced the emotional equivalent of an ice pick being rammed into his chest but promotions at the NYPD had just been announced. Thanks to his actions during a certain restaurant hostage situation, he had been passed over for the Squad Leader position he'd been hoping for. Who cared if he had ignored protocols by not stepping back as soon as he realized that a friend of his was inside. They had gotten the job done and no civilians had been killed. What more could they really ask for? It was amazing but even here in the NYPD, bureaucrats still felt they had the right to question decisions made in the heat of battle. Who the hell did they think they were? Let them spend just ten minutes on the front lines and they'd most definitely be changing their tune!
Jacen stalked back into his house at right around two in the afternoon. He had been called in extra early because of a possible bomb threat against the city subway system which, although it had turned out to be a prank, had done nothing to improve his mood. He was actually a little bit later than usual returning from this particular shift since he had momentarily entertained two different temptations on his way home. On the one hand he could stop by a certain blond's house and see whether they could be shower buddies all over again or he could stop by the liquor store and get himself a couple extra bottles. Both of them would temporarily relieve the stress and frustration of the day but the consequences far outweighed the advantages.
Tossing his bag of equipment into the closet, Jacen walked across the room to head for the shower when he noticed the light flashing on his answers machine. "No Lori... you can't come over." He muttered to himself as he walked over and mashed down the play button.
”Jacen…hi…It’s uh Kealey…look, I’ve been trying to figure out what I could call and say to let you know how sorry I am about how things turned out… I can’t come up with anything good. All I can say is that I’m sorry I acted so childish and I hope that you can forgive me, because Jacen…something happened and I could really use a friend…please call me, even if it’s just to tell me to get lost.”
For a moment Jacen was frozen as he just stared at the answering machine. He had never in a million years expected to hear that voice again. After the way things had gone with Kealey he would have thought that he was the last person she would talk to but even in his own agitated state he could tell that something was wrong. Her voice had always been a mixture of strength and playfulness not the weariness and desperation that now tinged her voice. Something was wrong... something was very wrong. Turning, Jacen actually jogged into the bedroom. There was no way he could show up at her door in his work clothes but he could sure get through the clean up process quickly.
***
About half an hour later, neatly dressed in sneakers, jeans, black t-shirt, and teal and aqua colored over shirt that was left untucked and unbuttoned, Jacen was standing in front of Kealey's door. Lifting his hand he rapped firmly but not overly loud before venturing to call out to the young woman inside. "Kealey? It's Jacen. You in there?"
Through the course of a fast shower and change of clothes, Jacen's frustration had melted away to instead be replaced by concern for his friend. Kealey had deserved better than how he'd treated her before but there was no way that he could turn down a cry for help like this. As he stood waiting for her to come and open the door, he could feel the weight of his Glock 9mm pressing against the small of his back. He didn't expected that he'd need it for any sort of trouble that Kealey could get into but... well... better safe than sorry.
For a moment Jacen was frozen. A part of his consciousness recognized the dull moan that was coming from the other man to mean that he was returning to consciousness but for the moment he ignored the warning.
"Well I obviously didn't mean it."
The words hung in the air and it felt like a knife through the heart. Sure, he had found her in only her underclothes with big red hands and a tail feeling her up like a teenager in the back of a car, but a part of him had still hoped there was a plausible explanation. Some reason she could give that would make him overlook it. Sure, it hurt like hell to find her in this compromising position but there was stil that touch of hope in the back of his mind... only now that hope was gone. Dashed, destroyed, and decimated. Looking up at her, Jacen began to wonder if he had ever really known this woman.
As the blond got off of Jacen's attacker and then went to push the man off of him, Jacen focused his own strength on joining the effort. After a few moments of straining there was enough room for him to squirm out and then climb back up to his feet.
It was just so damn frustration! As illogical and idiotic as it might sound, Jacen actually felt like he might love this woman! How in the world had he gotten in this mess? As they stood there, just looking at each other, he couldn't help but notice some of the things that had drawn him to her in the first place. The fire in her eyes... the slight parting of her lips... the rise and fall of her chest from the physical exertion she had just particpated in.
Moving suddenly, Jacen closed on her and slipped one arm around her waist and moved his other hand up to her cheek while his lips descended with almost bruising force. For a moment, just a moment, he allow himself to be lost in the pure emotion as he gave her everything he had with just that one kiss.
"Damn you Lori Faust!" Jacen murmured forcefully a moment later when he finally pulled away. Spinning on his heel he stalked toward his damaged vehicle, praying that it was still drivable. If it wasn't then it would most likely be completely destroyed once big red woke up.
Emotion had taken control which meant that even though his actions were infused with passion, they were also filled with stupidity. As soon as Jacen's feet left the ground his rational mind regained control as it screamed in outrage. What kind of idiot left his feet in the middle of a fight? Sure, a jump kick could give a great amount of power but if your enemy was quick enough it left you vulnerable.
As the mutant's hands grabbed onto his ankle Jacen's mind was going a mile a minute. His anger was fuel... power to be burned but it was never good to let the fuel control where the vehicle went. That was up to something less explosive.
Instead of fighting against his bigger and still stronger opponent, Jacen went along with the motion. As his foot was twisted and he was force toward the ground, he twisted his shoulder violently so that he began to roll his body as soon as he touched the ground. Reacting instinctively his free foot lashed out for the giant's face, trying to get some sort of shock and leverage that would allow him to escape.
BONG!
The grip on Jacen's ankle loosened but even as he rolled onto his back the giant toppled down to fall across him. Thankfully his right arm was still free but unfortunately he would be hard pressed to get enough leverage with just one arm to push the larger man off of him. Hard pressed, but not impossible. At least not until Lori came over and sat on the big man's shoulders, increasing the weight that now rested on top of Jacen.
His eyes narrowed and his lips pressed tightly against each other in a thin line as he looked up at the woman that had stolen his heart and then tossed it aside like it was a piece of trash or one of those "knick knacks" that she apparently despised so much.
"I can hardly believe you... Do you not know the promise of something without a real taste?"
"I'm afraid I never tried that." Jacen retorted immediately, "Obviously if I practiced that I never would have gotten in this situation with you."
"I have not been with anyone, since we met. Not even this one. Maybe that would have changed before you showed up... maybe not. Guess we'll never know."
"I guess not." Jacen snorted as he gave the dead weight above him a firm shove that managed to shift the weight slightly but not actually free him, "You know Lori, all you had to say was that you wanted to see other people at the same time. That's it. You want to know why I'm ticked? Because you had to go and say you loved me. What he hell do you think that is? Just some cheap phrase that can be tossed around because you slept with someone and happen to like them?"
There were lots of people in the world that treated the word 'love' just like that so Jacen really shouldn't have been surprised but he was. His family had been an average, normal family and so he'd seen what 'love' really was. He'd learned at a young age that it wasn't just some cheap word you used to get into a girl's skirt. "And worse... I said it."
Jacen's hand was just touching the doorhandle of his truck when Mars decided to reaffirm his presence by showing just what a manly mutant he truly was. Slowing dropping into a crouch, Jacen stared at the damage to his axle with his back still to the love birds. Jacen could feel his emotions turning more and more toward pure anger as he stared at what had just been done to his most prized posession. Sure, he knew this was a truck and it was made to get beat up by driving off road. In fact, that's what he used it for when he went hunting but that was damage that he caused. For someone else to touch his truck... well... the girl that had shot his floorboard had just been lucky that she was a female.
"You had to go make it personal." Jacen voice was low as he stood up and pivoted, his eyes locking on the big man's form. There wasn't the slightest trace of fear in his eyed as the man began to walk towad Mars, his fists clenching together into the powerful fists he had used in countless battles. He had no clue exactly what would happen to big red when he entered his aura, and quite frankly, Jacen didn't give a damn either. Maybe he'd get unlucky and the guy's muscle mass would stick around for some reason but he didn't care. This idiot has chosen to step in and not only seduce Lori but he had also damaged Jacen's truck!
Suddenly accelerating into a jog and then a flat out run, Jacen's eyes bored into the red man. He had no clue what this guys fighting ability was besides his strength but he did know that if he could get the guy in range and surprise him with his field then he just might be able to get this over really quick.
"NEVER TOUCH A MAN'S TRUCK!" Jacen gritted through his teeth as he quickly closed the distance. His plan was to get in range and then leap into a flying jump kick centered on the big man's stomach. If his field worked then maybe the guy would shrink and he'd do some damage. If his field didn't work... well... the hospital was a great place to get away from the world in general.
