“This is a terrible idea,” Scott muttered as he followed Jean and Bobby down the long hall of the institute. His voice echoed slightly in the quiet mansion.
Bobby shot him a grin over his shoulder. “Relax, Scott! It’s just a midnight swim. Live a little, man.”
Scott frowned, adjusting his visor. “Yes, but the professor doesn’t know, and if we get caught—”
“He probably already knows,” Jean interrupted, reaching for his hand as they walked. Her smile softened his scowl a little. “Besides, we deserve a break. It’s been a long week.”
Scott sighed but didn’t pull away from her touch.
As they neared the door, Hank caught up with them, a knowing smirk on his face. “So, I take it everyone’s in on this little midnight escapade?” he teased, glancing between Scott and Jean.
“Pretty much,” Bobby replied nonchalantly. “But remember, you didn’t hear it from us.” The youngest then gestured to Jean who rolled her eyes. The redhead had helped (Telling them the plan in their thoughts) after the idea was formed from Warren and Bobby.
Hank chuckled, adjusting his glasses. “Right, because the X-Men sneaking out at night is definitely going to go unnoticed by the professor.”
At the door, they found Lorna, Alex, and Warren waiting.
“What took you guys so long?” Lorna asked, bouncing slightly. “We were about to come find you!”
“Not a chance,” Bobby grinned. “Scott was just warming up to the idea.”
Scott crossed his arms, trying to appear disapproving. “More like trying to talk some sense into you all.”
Alex leaned against the doorframe, a smirk on his face. “You’re not scared of a little swim, are you, Scott?”
“Scared? No,” Scott shot back, though a hint of amusement crept into his tone. “I just don’t want us ending up with weeks of danger room sessions.”
“Or worse!” Lorna added with a laugh, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Come on, let’s go before the professor really catches us!”
With that, they pushed the door open, stepping out into the cool night air, running towards the edge of the property.
The group made their way through the moonlit grounds. The cool night air filled with laughter.
“Are we really doing this?” Scott asked, glancing over at Jean, who walked beside him, her smile radiant.
“Of course we are!” she replied, squeezing his hand. “It’ll be fun. Trust me.”
They reached the edge of the lake, where the water glimmered under the stars like a million tiny diamonds. The peaceful sound of gentle waves lapping against the shore filled the air.
“Last one has to swim back alone!” Bobby shouted, already pulling off his shirt and sprinting toward the water.
“Hey! That’s not fair!” Warren laughed, rushing after him. Lorna and Alex quickly followed suit, undressing and splashing into the cool water with joyous shouts.
Scott hesitated, watching the chaos unfold. “I can’t believe we’re actually doing this,” he murmured again, glancing at Hank, who stood beside him, a bemused smile on his face.
“Live a little, Scott,” Hank said, nudging him.
Finally, with a deep breath, Scott joined Jean, who was already toeing the water. “Okay, okay. Just… let’s not tell the professor, all right?”
“Deal,” she grinned before plunging into the lake, dragging Scott along with her. “If he finds out, it’ll be fine! Most of us are adults, and we’re still on the property!” Jean told Scott as they adjusted to the lake's icy temperature. She held his wrists, looking up at him with a playful spark in her eyes.
Scott sighed but didn’t argue.
“Just don’t let him see us,” he said, the cold water making him shiver.
“Come on, you worry too much,” Jean teased, splashing him with water. “We’re just having a little fun.”
Scott rolled his eyes, a reluctant smile creeping onto his face. “Right, just a casual midnight swim.”
Jean tightened her grip on his wrists, leaning in closer, her eyes bright with mischief. “Exactly! Just friends enjoying the night. What could go wrong?”
Scott’s heart raced at the distance between them, the warmth of her touch contrasting with the frigid water. “We’re probably going to get in trouble for this,” he said, though part of him didn’t mind.
“Let them try,” Jean said confidently. “We’re here, we’re having fun, and that’s all that matters.”
With a determined pull, she dragged him deeper into the lake.
The group eventually settled into a game of "Tag," and it all started when they teamed up to catch Bobby and dunk him in the water.
"Get him!" Jean shouted, laughter bubbling up they all lunged forward.
Bobby, realizing he was the target, scrambled to evade them, splashing through the water with a frantic energy. "No, no, no! Not me!" he yelled, trying to dodge their grasp.
Everyone was laughing as they dunked Bobby and the game switched to Everyone trying to get Alex, then to Scott then to Warren.
What none of them knew was that a figure watched from the shadows, a content smile spreading across his face.
“Oh, my X-Men,” he murmured, his voice soft but filled with warmth as he observed the scene.
Seated in a wheelchair beneath the sprawling branches of a nearby tree, he leaned slightly forward, eyes sparkling with amusement. He had watched these young mutants grow, and now, he savored the sight of them enjoying a rare night of freedom, laughter echoing through the air.
With each splash and shout, his smile deepened. They were more than just a team; they were a family, each carving out their place in a world that often misunderstood them.
“Let them have their fun,” he thought, warmth swelling in his chest. “They deserve this.”
He took a moment to appreciate their joy, knowing that these memories would be the ones they clung to during the stormy days ahead. In the midst of the chaos, he allowed himself to indulge in a fleeting sense of peace, grateful for these small moments of happiness in their tumultuous lives.