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#ch: alison blaire
xmenuniverse · 2 months
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18 Dazzler icons from Dazzler (1981), requested by @elvain. 130 x 130px. Please like/reblog if using. No credit necessary. Find them under the read more:
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roguestorm · 2 years
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Uncanny X-Men #231
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616rogue · 4 years
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dazzler layouts.
source: dazzler: x-song (2018), by laura braga.
→ any of the following icons/headers can be used on any social media platform. please, like or reblog if you’re going to use or save any of them. credit is not necessary, but appreciated. thank you!
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clinquaant · 3 years
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12 DAYS OF GIFMAS…IN AUGUST! | DAY TEN: A GIFSET OF YOUR FAVORITE COUPLE — ali blaire and peter parker from dazzler
it feels like coming home, after being gone too long, the way i gravitate to the good in you…
how i just crave that goodness in you
— @butterfliesrising
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ollyarchive · 5 years
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Years and Years’ Olly Alexander, Lucy Spraggan and Sir Ian McKellen among Top 100 in 2019’s Pride Power List
The list celebrates all that is good and great in the LGBT+ community
This year’s Pride Power List has been released and it includes musicians Years and Years‘ Olly Alexander and Lucy Spraggan, and also actor Sir Ian McKellen.
Today, celebrations are taking place in the nation’s capital to commemorate Pride in London – honouring the lives, achievements, history and future of the LGBT+ community.
To coincide with the occasion, the Pride Power List 2019 has been released, revealing the members of the LGBT+ community in the UK who have made a significant impact in the fight for the equality and inclusion of LGBT+ individuals.
“The list celebrates all that is good and great in the LGBT+ community and has a unique mix of celebrity, community, celebrity and business leaders,” said Linda Riley, founder of the Pride Power List.
Individuals included in this year’s list include musicians  Years and Years‘ Olly Alexander, Lucy Spraggan and Westlife’s Mark Feehily, and actor Sir Ian McKellen.
The Pride Power 2019 List Top 100 LGBT+ individuals:
Ruth Hunt – chief executive of Stonewall.
Sir Ian McKellen CH CBE – actor and LGBT+ rights advocate.
Phyll Opoku-Gyimah – co-founder of UK Black Pride.
Owen Jones – columnist, author, commentator and political activist.
Peter Tatchell – LGBT+ campaigner and activist.
Sandi Toksvig OBE – writer, actor, comedian, presenter and producer.
Michael Cashman CBE – Labour peer, actor, former MEP and LGBT+ campaigner.
Munroe Bergdorf – DJ, activist and feminist.
Edward Enninful OBE – editor-in-chief of British Vogue.
Liz Carr – actor, comedian and disability rights campaigner.
Clare Balding OBE – broadcaster, journalist and author.
Graham Norton  – television and radio presenter, comedian and actor.
Gok Wan – fashion consultant, author and television presenter.
Saara Aalto – singer and musician.
Mhairi Black MP – Scottish politician.
Heather Peace – actor, musician and LGBT+ rights activist.
Nicola Adams OBE – professional boxer.
Liv Little – founder of gal-dem magazine.
Stephen Fry – actor, presenter, writer, comedian and activist.
Anthony Watson – founder and CEO of TBOL.
Lord Waheed Alli – media entrepreneur and politician.
Dawn Airey – Getty Images board and NYT chair.
Alan Carr – comedian, television personality and author.
Cressida Dick – commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
Paris Lees – journalist, presenter, feminist and transgender rights activist.
Hannah Bardell MP – SNP MP of Livingston Constituency.
Lucy Spraggan – singer and songwriter.
Adele Roberts – radio presenter and DJ.
Sara Geater – chief operating officer of All3Media.
Alison Camps – partner and deputy chairman of Quadrangle.
Claire Harvey – diversity and inclusion consultant.
Charlie Condou – actor and columnist.
Ruth Davidson – Scottish politician and leader of the Scottish Conservative Party.
Mark Feehily – musician and one of the lead singers of Westlife.
Dr Ranj Singh – TV presenter, author, columnist and doctor.
Jane Hill – BBC journalist and broadcaster.
Olly Alexander – songwriter, actor and lead singer of Years and Years.
Chardine Taylor-Stone – cultural producer, writer and activist.
Tim Jarman – assistant director for diversity and inclusiveness at EY.
Amy Lamé – writer, performer, presenter and London’s night Czar.
Evan Davis – presenter, economist and author.
Annie Wallace – actor.
Kiki Archer – author.
Bobby Cole Norris – TV personality and presenter.
Horse McDonald – singer and songwriter.
Susan Calman – comedian, television presenter and writer.
Dr Elly Barnes MBE – CEO and founder of Educate and Celebrate.
Ollie Locke – television personality, presenter and writer.
Angela Eagle MP – Labour MP for Wallasey.
Brian Ashmead-Siers – partner at PwC.
Reeta Loi – writer, musician and activist.
Sophie Anna Ward – actor and author.
Vincent Francois – regional chief auditor executive at Societe Generale.
Jack Monroe – best-selling author and activist.
Baroness Liz Barker – House of Lords, Liberal Democrats.
Benjamin Butterworth – journalist for i newspaper.
Dr Liam Hackett – founder and CEO of Ditch The Label.
Pema Radha – chief of staff to Global Head of Managed Services at EY.
Mark McLane – head of diversity and inclusion, M&G Prudential.
Bisi Alimi – gay rights activist, public speaker and blogger.
Julie Wilson – CEO of Optimus Cards.
Mary Portas – broadcaster and TV personality.
Val McDermid, FRSE, FRSL – author.
Michael Salter-Church MBE ​– co-chair of Pride in London.
Ryan Atkin – professional referee.
Kelly Simmons MBE – FA director, Women’s Professional Game.
Wes Streeting MP – Labour politician.
Ryan John Butcher – journalist.
Andy Woodfield – partner at PwC.
Charlie Craggs  – trans activist and author.
Dan Hughes – PR specialist.
Dolly-Rose Campbell – actor.
Suki Sandhu OBE – founder and CEO of Involve and Audeliss.
Charlie King – celebrity personal trainer and columnist.
David Ames – actor.
Emma Woollcott – partner at Mishcon de Reya.
Polly Shute  – partnership director of Parallel Lifestyle. ‏
Kezia Dugdale – director of John Smith Centre.
Cliff Joannou – editor-in-chief of Attitude magazine.
Jacqui Gavin – Diversity and Inclusion Centre of Excellence manager at Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion.
Jodie Taylor – professional footballer.
Mark Anderson – executive vice president of Customer Experience at Virgin Atlantic.
Professor Sue Sanders – professor and chair of Schools Out. UK.
Daniel Lismore – artist, designer and writer.
Simon Jones – PR specialist.
Ian Massa-Harris-McFeely – events producer, voice coach and makeup artist.
Justine Greening – Conservative Party politician.
Darren Styles OBE – publisher of Attitude magazine.
Rikki Beadle-Blair – actor, director, screenwriter, singer, choreographer and songwriter.
Lord Collins – Labour peer and LGBT+ rights advocate.
Jen Brister – comedian, writer and actor.
Russell T Davies – screenwriter.
Amrou Al-Kadhi – writer, performer and filmmaker.
Pav Akhtar – co-founder and director of strategy of UK Black Pride.
Tag Warner – CEO of Gay Times.
Dr Catherine Lee – deputy dean of Anglia Ruskin University.
Suzi Ruffell – comedian.
Scott McGlynn – presenter, blogger and author.
Mridul Wadhwa – transgender rights campaigner.
Dotty – rapper and radio presenter.
Read more at https://www.nme.com/news/lucy-spraggan-years-and-years-olly-alexander-and-sir-ian-mckellen-among-top-100-in-2019s-pride-power-list-2525081#w1Fgr9ZqxIuiStF7.99
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Come Running Back Ch. 5
John's brother James is in town. With a tendency toward recklessness, that means his visit starts off with a bang. John and Clarice have to rescue James and his injured girlfriend Alison Blaire, aka Dazzler, after they attack an Atlanta anti-mutant shipping magnate, starting a whole new round of problems for the Underground. Never a dull moment when James is around... 
Ao3 | FF.net
There were four new holes in the brick wall. John sighed as he brushed his thumb across the crumbling edge of the first one. While James rarely did anything like John, he did deal with pent-up frustration, guilt, and helplessness almost the same way as John. It wasn't the best trait to inherit, but their mother had been much the same way. She would smash things or got outside and tear the laundry off the line. Their father had been the quiet one, pushing his anger into silence and tension, or at least that was what John remembered.
It had been a long time ago.
John followed the holes down the hall to where his brother was sitting in the corner, his hands buried in his long wet hair, his elbows on his drawn-up knees. Forcing him to take a shower had been John's first major accomplishment, but after that, James had refused to do anything else besides station himself outside of the makeshift operating room.
He had eventually been chased off by Shaan, who was an empath. Shaan couldn't handle James' roiling emotions, and the distraction wasn't helping with Ali's surgery so James had been asked to get at least fifty feet away or go hang out in the safe.
Reluctantly, James had left, and John hadn't followed him. If he was James, and Clarice had been in Ali's place, he would've wanted some time to himself. For a while, he had settled down on a couch with Clarice, stroking her hair until she nodded off against his shoulder. Donating blood had taken a lot out of her, and even a cup of coffee and half a ham and cheese sandwich hadn't been enough to take the edge off her exhaustion.
Once Clarice was fully asleep, he slipped away, gently laying her down on the couch and covering her with a blanket. He would come back later to take her to bed. For now, she was fine where she was, and everyone else knew better than to try and wake up Clarice. She was particularly snarky when she was abruptly awakened.
John looked down at James, wanting to yank him up into a hug. But James was a scrawny little twelve-year-old anymore, and maybe a hug wasn't exactly what he needed in this moment. Instead, John sat down beside him and waited.
"She could die." James' voice ragged and reluctant, sharp-edged with horror at the very real possibility.
"Cecelia's an actual surgeon, and Shaan worked in the ER," John said, "They both know what they're doing." He wasn't going to say it couldn't happen, though. Those had been serious wounds, but he did believe in Cecelia and her skills.
James lifted his head, shoving his hair back. He roughly wiped a hand over his face. "There was a lot of blood."
"I swear they'll do everything they can," John said, reaching out to touch his arm. James jerked away from him, and John backed off. "And Ali's going to fight, too. From everything you've told me about her, she's not the type to give up, and she'd be pissed off at you for thinking she would."
"I know but…it's really bad, isn't it? I screwed up so bad," James said. He got up abruptly and took a few steps forward before turning around. "This is on me, it's my fault."
"I seriously doubt you wanted this to happen," John said, watching his little brother clench his fists.
"No, but I wanted to hurt that guy," he snapped back, "I wanted to make him pay, and now…" James lashed out at the wall, which crumbled under the blow, bricks giving way and turning to red powder. He slammed his fist into the dent, widening it, before he leaned against the wall. "I can't even do anything. I can't help her."
"You're here for her, and that's what you can do right now," John said, "You can also stop punching those bricks. Your knuckles are going to eventually split open."
"Not anytime soon," James mumbled but he turned around, resting his back against the wall.
After a few quiet moments, John glanced over at his brother. "What happened out there? Why were you at Griffith's?"
"Because he's a bastard," James growled. He bumped his head against the wall and gritted his teeth. "We had a plan."
John nodded. "Mhmm." Yeah, and that plan had obviously gone awry, based on the results.
"We did." James shot a glare at him and pushed away from the wall. "We waited until the guard changed and found a weak spot in the fence. Ali took out the lights near that spot, and we were going to burn a few warehouses."
It was John's turn to glare. "And you two thought that was helping the mutant cause how?"
"Because he throws all his money behind those anti-mutant people!" James responded, "And even with insurance money, losing all those warehouses would be a blow."
"At least until he pinned it all on mutants, getting even more support for those hate groups and lobbyists," John said, "Which is exactly what he's going to do."
"Will you just—" James bristled and looked away. "Can you…can you wait until later to lecture me."
John winced. "Sorry." He hadn't meant to lay into James right now, not when he was already under a lot of stress.
James shrugged. "It was okay until we hit this one spot. It was like…I don't know how, but Ali's powers stopped working and so did my foresight. I still had strength and enhanced senses, but I couldn't see what was coming. And then these extra guard came after us, and I got separated from Ali, and you know what happened." James dug his fingertips a couple centimeters into the bricks. "I got her and got out of there. So no, you don't have to tell me how stupid it all was, I'm figuring that out on my own."
John shook his head. The idea of some way to turn off a mutant's powers remotely was worrisome, but they could talk about it some other time. James needed support, not condemnation, but John had started thinking about the potential fallout and the possible aftereffect of what they had done. There would be time for that later, after Ali was better and this night was behind them. "I shouldn't have said anything."
"What if she dies. I can't—" James stopped talking and crossed his arms tight over his chest, as if he was holding himself together. Guilt and fury raged in his dark brown eyes, but soon a sheen of tears took over. He looked down, avoiding John's eyes.
John got up and stepped over to James, grabbing his arm and pulling him into a hug before he could protest. For a moment, James tensed up then he dropped his forehead against John's shoulder. Yeah, James wasn't a kid anymore, but that didn't mean he couldn't use a hug. It was the best way John could show that he was there for him.
He wrapped his arms around James and hugged him tighter, only letting go when James did. He squeezed James' upper arm and moved back, giving him some space. "Come on, I'm getting you something to eat."
"I'm not hungry."
"Then you can just look at it," John said, heading toward the stairs. "Let's go." After hesitating, James followed him after.
Both of them were silent as John fixed James a ham and cheese sandwich (his specialty tonight, apparently) and a giant plastic cup of water. He made another cup of coffee for himself. He put James take the sandwich and the water and grabbed his own mug before leaving the kitchen. He could faintly hear the sounds from the operating room, so he hurried through the building with James in tow until they reached one of the side doors.
Outside, the night air was crisp and clean and cool, refreshing after the stuffy, boarded up bank. He sat down on the steps as James dropped onto the low concrete wall nearby, setting the food and cup on the wall as well. With no lights in sight, it was easy to see the stars hanging overhead, scattered across the darkness.
He heard James take in a deep breath and looked over to see him take a bite out of the sandwich. However long he needed to, John was going to stay with James. He willed Ali to be okay. She would be. It was a gut feeling, but John had learned a long time ago that his instincts were usually right.
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marvel-comic · 9 years
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a-force #001 (2015)
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Let Your Heart Be Light Ch. 4
John is home on leave from the Marines and Clarice is home on winter break from grad school. While they used to date in high school, Clarice and John haven't been together in a long time... But it's Christmas time, and it seems like everything and everyone in their small, holiday-obsessed hometown is trying to get them back together. Modern Thunderblink AU!
Ao3 | FF.net
What was she supposed to do with her hands? Clarice wasn't nervous or anything, but she just couldn't figure out where she should put her hands. If she put one on the middle console, it would be too close to the elbow that John was resting there. And if she put them in her lap, that was awkward. And she just kept thinking about how the last time she rode with John in a truck like this, they were holding hands like it was the most natural thing to do. She settled for tapping her fingers against the dashboard, listening to the Christmas music on the radio station she had picked out.
"So, who exactly is in charge of this theater thing?" Clarice asked, looking back at Norah and Riley in the mirror. James had managed to get a window by actually pick up Riley and plunking her down in the middle seat. They had spent the first five minutes of the ride fussing and then there had been a couple songs that she and the girls had sung along to, which meant Clarice had managed to avoid awkward conversation for that long.
But really, talking to John hadn't felt as weird as she thought it would. Actually, back at the house, it had almost felt like nothing had changed. But everything had, and she had to keep that in mind.
"Mr. Kurt," Riley said. She was leaning against James and playing a clapping game with Norah. "He's going to be the Ghost of Christmas Present."
"Kurt Wagner?" John asked.
"Yeah, him," Riley said, "He really likes acting a whole lot."
"That sounds like him," Clarice said with a grin as she glanced over at John. He was smiling too, probably remembering how goofy and playfully dramatic Kurt had been back in school. Kurt had been the leading guy in practically every play and musical the little high school had put on. Their senior year was the one year that Clarice had coaxed John into being in the musical, though he had only joined in as a background pirate in some pirate-based musical their director had found for cheap. Still, there was video out there somewhere of John and Marcos in pirate outfits, singing along and waving swords.
"Norah told me that you're playing Tiny Tim, Riley," Clarice said, turning around in her seat, "Are you excited? That's a lot of lines."
"Yep, I've got a bunch of them memorized," Riley said, "James has been helping me."
James shrugged and gave her ear a tiny pinch. "Because you pester me about it all the time."
Riley just grinned at him. "You don't care! And you're doing it because Al—" James' hand came down over Riley's mouth and he pulled her to him, squishing her.
"That's enough out of you."
"Don't crush her," John said, "But now I'm putting two and two together."
"Ditto," Clarice said with a smirk. She glanced over at Norah. "Is Alison Blaire in the play?"
"Yep," Norah said innocently, "She's the Ghost of Christmas Past."
John and Clarice shared a look, and Clarice laughed. "Wait, when did you officially start liking Ali as more than a friend, James? I mean, I always assumed you loved her but—"
"No one said that," James said, still wrestling with Riley, though now it was pointless. "I'm just hanging out with her and Romeo while they're at practice."
"Oh, is that it?" Clarice said, "Just hanging out. And pining."
"I'm not pining! She's my best friend!"
"I guess we'll call it staring from afar and sometimes sighing," Clarice said, merciless in her teasing, "Would that work?"
"John, I think Clarice wants to walk from here," James said, nudging the back of Clarice's seat.
"It's too cold, I think she should stay in the car," John said, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth, "You could just admit your crush, though. She'll might leave you alone after that."
"Might is a strong word," Clarice said, giving James an evil grin. She had always suspected that James was infatuated with his best friend Ali, but it had never been this clear before. Apparently senior year of high school had put some things into perspective for him. "Is she dating someone else? That Romeo guy?"
"No, no way," James said, "He's dating Bobby Drake, so no."
"Is anyone else from their group in the play?" Clarice asked Norah.
"Um, Jubilee and some kid named Ethan," Norah said, "There's a few kids, and then some older people, and a lot of retirees."
"Clarice, drop it, I don't like Ali like that," James said, clearly suffering.
"We're here," John said, pulling into a parking spot.
Clarice turned around in her seat and opened her door. "You're lucky, James."
The community center that also worked as the town's only theater was in the middle of Westchester, and it was covered in white Christmas lights. Old-fashioned black cast iron street lamps lit the path to the front door, and Norah and Riley linked arms as they headed up the brick path. Riley grabbed James' arm and tugged him along with the two of them as they skipped along to the front door, leaving John and Clarice to walk behind them.
She wanted to joke more about James and how she couldn't believe he wasn't already dating Ali, but suddenly it didn't seem right.
"How long are you going to be in town?" she asked John, quieter now that it was just the two of them.
"The rest of the month and a few days into the New Year," he said. He matched her pace as they headed up the path, cutting down his longer stride so that they were in step. "What about you?"
"About the same amount of time." Her breath swirled into the dark winter sky. "It feels like snow."
John took a deep breath and then nodded, letting it go slowly. "Yeah. Are you going to make snow angels?"
That had always been one of her favorite things to do. There were so many memories of flopping back into the snow, laughing and making an angel, then letting John help her up. His arms going around her as he lifted her from the snow, his hands on her hips, pulling her close. Her eyes lingered on his chest, his broad shoulders, anything that kept her from meeting his eyes for that moment. "Probably. Maybe Norah will make them with me."
"Riley's probably going to want to make some kind of snowman."
"Do you remember that snowman massacre we made in Marcos' yard?" Clarice said, laughing at the memory.
John chuckled. "I thought his dad was going to kill us. I still can't believe you brought all that red food coloring."
"So much fake blood."
"The spray bottle was a great idea, though."
Clarice nodded and she was about to say something about how it was his idea to block the car in with a snowman when her boot hit an icy patch on the pathway. Her foot slid, nearly sending her tumbling, but John reached out and grabbed her elbow. He stepped forward and ended up in front of her, holding her up. And so close.
"Are you all right?" he asked, not letting go of her.
"Y-yeah," she said, steadying herself and finding her balance. He still didn't let go, and she didn't mind…
"Are you guys coming or what?" James yelled from the doorway.
That broke whatever was going on between the two of them, and they started up the path, John following right behind Clarice. He was probably ready to catch her again if she fell. That was so him.
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Come Running Back Ch. 4
John's brother James is in town. With a tendency toward recklessness, that means his visit starts off with a bang. John and Clarice have to rescue James and his injured girlfriend Alison Blaire, aka Dazzler, after they attack an Atlanta anti-mutant shipping magnate, starting a whole new round of problems for the Underground. Never a dull moment when James is around...
Ao3 | FF.net
AN: Still lots of mentions of blood. It'll get away from that eventually! Also, Cecilia Reyes in this fic looks like Rosario Dawson, since the New Mutants movie is going with someone else and I'd rather stay canon with her.
Talk about a 180. It had been a quiet night until Sage had interrupted Clarice and John, and since then it had become chaotic, messy, and nerve-wracking. Clarice tightened her hold on the side of the van as it roared down some country backroad, heading toward HQ as fast as they could go without alerting the cops.
From her left arm, an IV trailed from her to Ali. The girl didn't have that grey-blue look to her anymore, but she was still so, so pale, it was hard for Clarice to tell if the transfusion was doing her much good.
Clarice leaned her hip against the bolted-down table. Ali hadn't woken up really since they left that store back in Atlanta. She had opened her eyes a couple times but she had only looked around, disoriented and distant, not answering them when they talked to her. She kept drifting back into unconsciousness.
"You okay?" John asked, looking at Clarice anxiously. He had one hand pressed to the wound in Ali's stomach while he kept the other against her wrist, on her pulse. "Are you feeling all right? You're not dizzy or anything?"
"I'm fine." Clarice shook her head. "But we need to get there faster."
"If we go over the speed limit too much we'll get pulled." John spoke louder, emphasizing that in case James made the decision to speed up.
Sentinel Services was still out there looking for them, and it was a miracle that they hadn't run into any roadblocks. Sage had called to check on them a few minutes ago, and she had said that most of the search was still back in the city. It wouldn't be long before they extended it, especially with Griffith egging them on. Sage had also said Cecilia was back at HQ and prepping their medical area, so she would be ready for them when they got there.
"Or we could outrun them," James said, not looking away from the road.
"Stay the speed limit," John replied, his voice firm, not leaving much room for arguments.
"I could portal us there," Clarice said, looking down at Ali. She wanted to say that she was worried that Ali wouldn't make it, that the ride was too much, but no matter how quietly she said it, James would hear. Instead, she just gave John a long look, leaving it to him to understand what that meant.
"It's too far," he said, shaking his head, "And if we do that, someone might see it and report it."
"I can speed up," James said, "We're pretty far from the city."
"No," John said, "We can't draw attention to ourselves, and we can't get pulled."
Clarice sighed and nodded, hoping that James would go along with that logic as well. If they got pulled over by the police right now, Ali would probably die before the authorities could get her to a hospital in Atlanta. On top of that, the rest of them would doubtlessly go to jail. Their best bet was to get to HQ, though this speed was painfully slow. If only she was better at her portals.
On the table, Ali stirred, her eyes squinting open for a moment. She blinked rapidly as John switched to gripping her hand, as if he could hold her in that second of consciousness.
"Hey, you're safe, okay?" John said, gentle with her, "Do you know where you are?"
"Where's James?" she mumbled, looking at John uncertainly.
"I'm here!" James yelled from the front of the van, halfway turned around in his seat. "Ali, I'm right here, you're going to be fine. I swear."
"What's going on?" Ali asked, "I don't…" She winced and gave a small cry while above them, a sharp beam of light appeared. It twisted and turned, contorting like it was writhing. It spread out into a spindly star. Clarice noticed that where it brushed against the ceiling of the van, it left scorch marks.
"Ali?" James said, "Ali, it's okay, you're okay, I'm here."
"John, don't let that touch you," Clarice said, still watching the glow and letting go of the side of the van so she could grip the table instead. She kept her left arm elevated, letting the transfusion work. "Ali, you need to stop the glowy thing. You're safe, we promise. James is safe."
"Where…"
"He's driving, we're going to HQ," Clarice said, touching the girl's arm, knowing she was afraid and bewildered. Hell, anyone would be if they were in her shoes. "We're going to get you some help there, but you have to get rid of the laser star thing."
"Ali, sweetheart, I know it hurts, I know," James said, and Clarice could hear the fear and worry in his pseudo-calm voice. "But you have to get a handle on your powers."
"James?" Ali shifted, straining a little against the straps that held her down. Panic lit up her confused blue eyes, but John squeezed her hand.
"Ali, it's okay, I promise," he said, leaning down, his other hand still over her wound. "Just stay awake."
"I…can't." The slowly spinning laser star dissipated back into an uneasy blue glow. A sob broke out of her, and tears trailed down her face. "M'tired."
"You have to stay awake," Clarice said, rubbing Ali's arm.
"Alison Elizabeth Blaire, you better listen to them," James put in, a razor edge to his words, "You have to. Don't you dare fall asleep again."
Ali's eyes sparked just a little and she nodded. Clarice reached out and gently brushed her hand over the girl's hair before wiping away her tears. "We're going to take care of you both, I promise."
Ali leaned her cheek against Clarice's hand and half-closed her eyes. She looked so young, a lot younger than eighteen, and Clarice wished she could take all that pain and fear away from her. She looked up and over at John, who looked tense and worried. It wouldn't take too much longer to get to HQ, but it felt like it was taking forever. This shouldn't have been happening.
If the laws weren't the way they were, Ali wouldn't be in this situation. She and James would've both been high school seniors, applying for colleges and prepping for scholarships and spending their last year being stupid kids. Not out antagonizing some anti-mutant scumbag and getting shot in the process. Still, they shouldn't have been doing that anyways, no matter the reason.
James pulled onto the dirt road that led up to the abandoned bank, and the moment they were off the pavement, he slammed down on the gas. Clarice swayed and had to grab the table, and John reached across Ali to catch her arm, holding her up.
"James," John snapped, "Slow down."
"I will in a minute." The van fishtailed a bit as it tore up the driveway, gravel spitting behind it. The wave of fear that hit everyone caught them for a split second before the lookout realized who they were and stopped. The gate was pulled back in preparation, and the van nearly jumped the speed bump that was in front of it.
"You're going to hurt her if you don't slow down," John warned, letting go of Clarice's arm, fingers trailing down her sleeve.
James didn't say anything, but he slowed down just a little as the van roared up to the front of HQ. He parked it as close to the steps as he could get without actually driving up them. While James jumped out of his seat, John reached over and slid the needle out of Clarice's arm. They had a tiny blood bank inside, so if Ali needed more, Cecilia already had it ready.
James rushed to Ali's side and scooped her up, holding her against his chest. "Hey, hey, Ali…" He plucked the IV bag off its hanger and held it along with her, his eyes wild since she had dropped into unconsciousness again.
Clarice did feel a little faint now, but she powered through it, ripping a portal open in the back of the van that led straight to Cecilia's infirmary. "Go," she said, "Hurry!" Giving all that blood to Ali had taken more out of her than she realized. James rushed through, followed up John and finally Clarice. Her leg buckled as she stepped through, and John caught her by the waist, hauling her up against his side.
"You need to eat something," he said, "And rest."
"Later," she said, looking around the room.
If Cecilia had been at all startled by a portal opening up in the infirmary, she didn't show it. Instead, she was focused on Ali, moving with efficient speed, cutting off the girl's shirt and getting right to the wound. Shaan, a relatively new arrival who had been working on his nursing degree before going on the run, was assisting her by hooking Ali up to some monitors they had scrounged from some discard sale.
"I need you all out of my OR," Cecilia said, glancing up for a second at Clarice and John, "I need to focus. This is…It's going to take some time."
"I'm staying," James said, his hand tight around Ali's.
Cecilia's eyes landed on him, sympathetic but unyielding. "The best thing you can do for her right now is let us work. Okay?"
James started to shake his head, to get a tighter grip on Ali's hand, but John wrapped a hand around his upper arm, giving him a gentle tug. "Let's give them some room," he said, quietly, as he pulled James toward the door.
For a second, it looked like James might try to fight John right there, but finally nodded. He reached over and brushed his knuckles against Ali's cheek. "Don't leave," he pleaded, his voice catching. Straightening up, he stormed out of the room, but Clarice could see the shine of tears in his eyes. The kid was terrified. And he had every right to be.
"Keep us updated, please," John said, looking at Cecilia.
She nodded back to him, and Clarice and John headed out, closing the infirmary door behind them. John started to run a hand through his hair and then stopped. She realized he was staring at the blood on his hands, the spatters trailing up his wrists. He closed his eyes for a moment, gathering himself. "We should find James. And get you something to eat."
Clarice sighed. He always worried about her. "We can bring James something to eat, if we're doing that."
They all needed coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.
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Come Running Back Ch. 3
John's brother James is in town. With a tendency toward recklessness, that means his visit starts off with a bang. John and Clarice have to rescue James and his injured girlfriend Alison Blaire, aka Dazzler, after they attack an Atlanta anti-mutant shipping magnate, starting a whole new round of problems for the Underground. Never a dull moment when James is around...
Ao3 | FF.net
Mentions of blood and needles...
The smell of blood was overwhelming. James was covered, streaks of dark red down his arms, smudged over his cheek and neck, a stain across his chest. None of it his. It was smeared on the door, the frame, and now John's wrist.
John pulled away from James' grip and rushed over to the table where Alison was laying, propped up on one elbow and dull lights flickering in the air above her. The lights faded when she sunk back down as John stepped up to the table, his hand automatically applying pressure to the gunshot wound. She winced and weakly jerked to the side, but she looked up at him with blue eyes he recognized from pictures James had sent.
"Hi, John," she said faintly, "Not exactly how I was hoping to officially meet…but hi."
"Hey, Ali. I have to agree." It was hard to pair that bright and happy 'hey, jerk, tell John and Clarice I said hi!' voice in the background of his and James' phone conversations with the faded girl on the table.
"She got shot, I've been trying to stop the bleeding, but—" James fumbled the rest of what he was going to say as he reached over and grabbed Ali's hand. James looked up at John with such desperation that John forgot about being furious at him for the moment. He shoved his anger into the back of his mind, compartmentalizing, and focused on keeping Ali alive. He had some rudimentary medical skills from his time in the Marines, stuff that would help out in life and death situations like this one.
"Cecilia said she'll meet us back at HQ," Clarice said as she hurried over, stopping at John's elbow. A flash of shock crossed her face at the sight of Ali, but she quickly masked it and grabbed the girl's other hand. "Hey, you. You know we would've come to see you guys without you getting hurt, right?"
Ali gave a pained smile. "Yeah." She was starting to struggle to breathe, each breath sucked in through gritted teeth.
"Can't your doctor come here?" James said, "We can't move Ali, she's…" It was bad, but he didn't want to say that. He didn't have to, both of them could tell just by looking at her. "We can't move her."
"Make him go," Ali said, her hand gripping Clarice's, her eyes dull. "Can't stay."
"Would you stop already, I'm not leaving you here," James said, his anger rushing up to mask his helplessness. "So just—stop."
"You're both coming with us," Clarice said firmly, "None of us are staying here, so quit arguing about it."
"Ali, I'm going to take a look at this…" John said, lifting the cloth away from her wound for a moment so he could get a better idea of what was going on. He had seen gut shots like this before on the battlefield and also while out trying to protect mutants, and they were never good. There were too many vital organs that could've gotten nicked or pierced, and she was losing too much blood and her pulse was weak and rapid. She was going to go into shock soon if he didn't figure something out.
She might go into shock no matter what he tried. She was already starting to show the signs. Even as he took her pulse, Ali's eyes fluttered and closed.
"No, come on, baby…" James pressed his hand to her cheek and then shook her shoulder, his panicked brown eyes locking on John. "She did this earlier, she'll wake up again."
John put the towel back in place and applied pressure. "We're going to have to take the chance," he said, "We have to get her back to Cecilia."
"No," James snapped.
"James, look, if we stay, if she stays—"
"She'll bleed out and die if we move her. So no."
This was ridiculous, he was going to get them both killed. "What are you going to do, fight off a whole Sentinel squad by yourself? What about the spider drones?" It was surprising that they hadn't already sent out those drones, but maybe James had crushed them all.
Clarice cut in, probably recognizing the stubborn look on James' face as an identical copy to John's own expression. "She's not going to bleed out, I'm O negative and we brought a transfusion kit because we thought ahead." Unlike some people was the silent implication, but she wasn't going to scold him now either. She looked at James pointedly. "But we have to get to the van first so we can go."
James scowled and then looked back at John. "Fine."
"Pick her up, I'll keep pressure," John said before turning toward Clarice. Before he could even ask, she was already tearing a portal in the air. Through it, he could hear the very first faint, far off wails of the police sirens. James hear it too, and his head jerked up.
"Six cars," he said, "Three are Sentinel Services." The sound on those was slightly different, higher-pitched than a regular police car. Plus, they were heavier, their prisoner areas reinforced to transport people with powers.
"Move," John said, and James immediately lifted Ali off the table. They hurried through the portal and Clarice jumped after them, racing to get to the driver's seat while James and John climbed into the back. The van had been fitted out a long time ago to help them pick up and transport injured mutants, so there was a medical exam table bolted down to the back. They had scavenged it from a junkyard months ago, back when Cecilia joined the team.
"I'll drive," James said, his hand landing on Clarice's shoulder as she climbed into the driver's seat.
"I've got this," Clarice said, pulling the door shut.
"No, if you have to do a blood transfusion, I need to drive." He looked back at John and Ali anxiously before turning back toward Clarice. "C'mon, Clarice, you know it makes sense."
"You're going to be distracted."
"No shit, we're all distracted," he said, earning him a glare from John for talking to Clarice like that when she was trying to help.
But Clarice took it in stride. "I know, but are you sure you can focus on the road? It's not going to do us any good if we get smeared on the pavement."
"I've got good reflexes. This gives me something to do," James said, "I need to do something, Clarice."
John knew that feeling. It always seemed like he and James were so different, but on things like that, they were just the same. If their positions were swapped, if Clarice was the one injured, he would've wanted to do something to help, too.
Clarice nodded and got out of the seat while James slid into it, both of them maneuvering around each other. In the back, John worked quickly, strapping Ali in for safety and setting up an IV as James started the van. Clarice stumbled as James took off too fast, and John reached out to steady her, leaving a bloody hand print on her arm. She grabbed his elbow so she could get her balance and then stepped to his side.
"What do you need me to do?" she asked, taking Ali's hand again.
"Talk to her, try to get her to wake up," he said. He was worried about the blue tinge on Ali's lips, and he wondered if they had resupplied the oxygen tank after that last emergency trip. But first, he needed to get fluids and blood into her. She was going into what Cecilia would call hypovolemic shock, and if he didn't get that under control, she could start going into organ failure.
"Hey, Ali, I need you to open your eyes," Clarice said while John opened the transfusion kit. "You know, I heard John say that heavy metal was better than electro pop. He's got the trashiest taste in music, so what does he know? You should help me insult his music." She rubbed Ali's arm, trying to get her to wake up. "Ali?"
Up front, James took a corner too quickly, and John had to shuffle his feet to keep his balance. He looked at James in the mirror before going back to prepping Ali's arm. "Does Clarice need to drive?"
"Sorry," James said, "Did she wake up?"
"No, now pay attention to the road," John said. He knew that was harsh, but they each had a job to do here, and James had chosen to drive. John slid one needle into Ali's arm and then held out a hand to Clarice. She extended an arm, and he swabbed it with alcohol before looking her in the eyes. She met his gaze and nodded, and he jabbed the needle as carefully as he could into her arm.
This was going to be an awful ride.
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Come Running Back Ch. 2
John’s brother James is in town. With a tendency toward recklessness, that means his visit starts off with a bang. John and Clarice have to rescue James and his injured girlfriend Alison Blaire, aka Dazzler, after they attack an Atlanta anti-mutant shipping magnate, starting a whole new round of problems for the Underground. Never a dull moment when James is around…
Note:  POV switching to James for this chapter. Mentions of blood, there’s a lot of it.
Previous Chapter
Ao3 | FF.net
James slammed his steel-toed boot into another door, busting the frame, decimating the lock. He rushed inside the closed convenience store. Bandages, towels, he needed something to help keep Ali from bleeding out.
In his arms, she winced, her fingers pressing into his skin where she had one hand looped around his neck. Her other hand was pressed against her stomach, trying to stem the flow of blood from the bullet wound.
“Let me melt the lock next time,” she mumbled, “You’re so noisy.” A weak glow flickered in the air in front of them, an array of red and blue, a reflection of the police lights that kept following them.
“Hell no,” James said, “We don’t need the extra attention.” And he didn’t want her to waste any energy. He had to keep her talking, though, so making her angry seemed like the best route. “You’re seriously too laser happy, you know that?”
“And kicking down the door like you’re in a bad cop movie is subtle?” She let out a halting breath that would’ve been an annoyed laugh in better circumstances. “You can shut your mouth.”
“Better than going all sci-fi blasters on it,” he said, heading down one of the small, short aisles. He nodded to the glow that was still in front of them, lighting the space just a little as it turned white. “Stop it. You know I don’t need it and someone might see.”
The glowing ball shuddered and dissipated, leaving them in shadows again. “Sorry…it hurts.” And when she was in pain, her powers usually came into play.
James’ heart clenched and so did his hands, tightening around her, trying to keep her with him. “I know, I know, I’m sorry,” he said, his voice softer, worry seeping into each word, “I’m going to fix it.”
“James—”
“I am,” he snapped, not wanting to hear her say it was okay, that she didn’t expect him to perform some kind of miracle. He was going to find a way to save her, no other options allowed.
They didn’t have much time, the cops and Sentinel Services would be on them any moment. He and Ali had been running for too long now, like they were playing some kind of messed up game of keep-away with the Sentinels that had to come to a close. They had gone from the warehouses to the streets of Atlanta, but he hadn’t been able to find a place to stop. For a few minutes, they had hid in a building on Westmont street, but the Services had shown up too damn quick.
Ali was partially right, by destroying the doors, he was leaving a more noticeable trail than they would if she just melted the locks. But he didn’t have time to think about that, he had bigger things to worry about, like how she was going to die if he didn’t get her some real medical help.
Ali needed a hospital. That bullet wound, he had no idea if it had torn through something vital. There was so much blood. Maybe he could break into an OR and hold a surgical team hostage? Or catch a surgeon somewhere? No, no, that would make things worse, and Sentinel Services would still come for them.
He heard Ali’s breath catch in her lungs, focused on the unsteady but still there beat of her heart.
But. He was keeping that open as an option.
If he could just get ahold of John, his brother would figure something out less dramatic, something sensible. He or Clarice would know someone in the area who could help them. But James’ last burner phone was gone, it had gotten waterlogged during the mission before this one, and finding a payphone was laughable right now. James could get to John’s HQ easy just by memory, but Ali would be dead long before he got there.
“I don’t hear sirens,” Ali mumbled.
James shook his head. “I think we lost them for a while.”
“Hooray. Let’s throw a party.”
“That’s actually why we’re here, babe, I thought we’d go ahead and pick up some supplies. What kind of chips do you want?”
She laughed but it turned into a cough.
He found the aisle with something he was looking for. Hand towels, the kind people bought to wipe up oil, that would at least help. Adjusting his hold on Ali, muttering apologies as she gasped, he was able to reach out and grab a handful. A car passed by in front of the store, and James looked up as lights cut across the top of the shelves. Not a cop car, but they couldn’t be far behind.
Ali’s grip around his neck went slack, fingers sliding across his skin, and her head dropped backward as she went limp. James snapped his arm back, pulling her closer, cradling her head.
“Shit, Ali, don't—” He rushed down the aisle and toward the back. Rounding the corner, he shoved open the door to the staff workroom. There wasn’t much back there, just boxes and crates, storage. There was a sink in the corner, a fridge, a long table. Holding her the best he could with one arm without hurting her more, he swept the table clean.
“Alison, wake up,” James demanded as he carefully set her on the table and pulled the bloodied jacket away from her stomach. It was the black one she had been wearing during the fight, but they had been using it to help temporarily patch the gunshot wound. James tossed it away and grabbed one of the towels as blood started to pool again. Ripping her shirt, he pushed the sticky cloth away before pressing down the fresh towel.
Blood seeped into the cloth as he pressed his hand harder against Ali’s wound, and his own heart pounded. “Ali? Damn it, Ali, open your eyes,” he said, cupping his over hand around her cheek before pressing his fingers to her neck. He could hear her heartbeat, hear it flutter as she lost more blood, but he wanted to feel her pulse, wanted the extra reassurance. She needed a transfusion, she needed the bullet taken out, she needed so much more than he could give her.
“Say please…” Her eyes flickered open but stayed half-lidded as she glanced up at him. Blue eyes filled with pain, a half-crushed sob at the end of her tease. He had to do something for her now.
James ran his knuckles over her cheek. “Don’t do that.”
“Sorry.” A grimace stormed over her features and she started to twist, curling toward her wound. He put his hand on her shoulder, pressing her back down.
“Stop moving around, you’ll make it worse.”
“How?” she mumbled, but she stopped. Her gaze roamed around the room before landing on him again. “Where are we?”
“Back room of the store,” he answered. She was so pale, her skin almost grey. She was probably only conscious due to sheer willpower, if that was possible. “You have to stay awake.”
“I’m trying.” She reached out and put her hand on his arm, her fingers trembling. “James. We can’t stay here.”
“We have to for a minute,” he said, his voice hardening, “We can’t move.” If he picked her up, she would bleed more, he couldn’t keep pressure on her wound if they were moving, not the way he needed to. She couldn’t lose much more blood. Her body wouldn’t be able to take it.
“Okay. You can’t stay here.”
He looked at her, fully meeting her eyes, and knew automatically what she was saying. “I know where you’re going with this, and you better not.”
“Just listen.”
“No, I won’t. I’m not leaving you to Sentinel Services. Are you insane?”
“I’m not asking you to…not like that.”
He froze, except for his left hand, the one that was resting on the table. His grip tightened and the metal bent under his fingers. “Then what, exactly, are you asking me to do?”
“Let me go,” she said, tears welling up in her eyes. She pushed feebly at his arm, at his hand that was pressed to her wound. “Just stop and run.”
He didn’t budge a centimeter, but he did reach up and grab her wrist, gently pulling her hand away. “And what are you going to do when I’m gone?”
She didn’t meet his eyes, and he shook his head, glaring at the door. He knew what she would do. Both of them had always said they would never let Sentinel Services take them alive, that they would go out fighting, that being captured wasn’t for them. Closing his eyes, he could see her intentions in a flash of the future, the blaze of laser streaks that would engulf the building, destroying the support beams in a blast of her signature power, the siren howls becoming deadly light, taking out Sentinel Services and her with them.
Bending down, one elbow going onto the table, he scowled. “No. You’re not doing that.”
Ali turned her head away, tears streaming down her face. “It’s my choice.”
“And I have a choice, too. I’m staying.”
“James, please—”
Someone was there. He could hear somebody coming into the shop, using the door he had broken. Two people. Urgent steps. James straightened up, every part of him going on the defensive. With his free hand, he yanked one of his long blades from its sheathe on his thigh. Grabbing Ali’s hand, he moved it to the towel, his thumb running over the back of her hand before stepping away, stalking toward the door. A glow filled the room, light yellow, a warning.
Those footsteps, though, he recognized—
James flung open the backroom’s door before John could open it. Relief yanked at him as John lunged at him, grabbing him by the arm. Behind John was Clarice, her green eyes luminous in the faint light of the red exit sign over the door.
“What the hell happened?” John asked as he looked James up and down, hunting for an injury that wouldn’t be there. Old habits died hard was the saying, wasn’t it.
James yanked John into the room, toward the table, toward Ali. “Do something, help her. You can yell at me later, just help her.”
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