[OP: "Oxygen"-- Switchfoot]

Finally, Mira spoke. "Did you tell me that so I'd like you more?"

"No...I just thought you should know the truth," Jinu said, grimly.

Silence again, then Mira sighed.

"I don't hate you, you know."

"You don't?"

"No...I just didn't trust you, but...look maybe it's not my place to say what you can and can't be. I'm...not perfect. I've made a lot of mistakes, and I turned on Rumi as well...but she still saved me. And Zoey. So...who knows? Maybe I'm the problem. I just can't let stuff go. I wish...I was kinder, like Rumi."

"She does have a temper though," Jinu said amusedly. "Not like you're not kinda alike in some ways."

"Maybe..."Mira said. "But... I've been making it harder for you guys because I can't let go of my...fears of what happens when things change. But... to the point where it's been a problem, so... I even mad Abby feel like crap over it, and h'es the nicest one out of you all."

"Feels like he didn't really deserve this, right?" Jinu said, almost wryly. "I mean the demon thing, Gwi-ma seems to exploit people caring too much."

"Maybe...maybe you cared also..."Mira said slowly. "It sounds like you wanted to help them, maybe you were too scared to do it, and maybe it's despicable, but, Gwi-ma...takes your souls...who know when that process really starts... maybe he blames people for problems he gives them to begin with. I don't know anymore. We can't use that as an excuse. I mean high standards mean it's more serious for you to fail, right?"

"Oh, that's not really right, you girls did you best to help," Jinu said. "And we knew you didn't deserve us trying to take you out, we were just... desperate and didn't care about anyone other than ourselves. At least. you care about other people."

"But, honestly, Jinu, I'm not nearly as much like that as Rumi and Zoey are," Mira said, as if confessing some great fault. "I fight for Huntrix because it's where I belong, and it's my safe place... and would I discard anything else to save it? I gave up on it because I thought Rumi betrayed us not because I have a real moral objection to her being part demon... So am I really better than you guys? I'm not smarter than you are, I was just taught about this by Celine, but that's not even full immunity. So who knows? I mean, maybe I'm no less selfish than you are."

"You are," Jinu insisted. "All of you are. Don't cut yourself down like that... we're the bad guys, we know it."

"Are you though?" Mira sighed. "Maybe not...but, if we don't make it out of this alive, I guess, I'm kinda sorry for giving you such a hard time. I didn't...I didn't know all the stuff you did to help Rumi anyway, she told me more the other day, and I see it, kinda. I wouldn't have helped you if I were her, but it's not as black and white as I thought it was. I still don't really like your personality, though."

"Seriously, what did I ever do personality-wise that was bad?" Jinu huffed a little.

"There's just something about you that's annoying." Mira was merciless but she sounded wry and not angry this time.

"There are times I wonder what Abby likes about you so much too," Jinu shot back.

Mira flinched though.

She was not as adept at brushing that off as Jinu was.

"Uhh... sorry." he said.

"Hmrph, sometimes I wonder that too," Mira said in a low voice. "I'm not sure it's serious, really, it's just messing with me, mostly, but, I don't want him to die."

Jinu was sure Abby liked her for real, but didn't think he should say since she was this upset.

They lapsed into downcast silence.

* * *

The fight with the Morlocks, as told later, had been ridiculously easy for the X-men to win once the only one who was problem to them-- Plague-- was gone.

Shine realized she'd left once she'd gotten up and looked around, and she knew that was bad. She had no time to ask anyone to go after her though.

She rushed to take out Annalee, who didn't even expect to win once Shine was up. Rogue had stopped Sunder and while Erg was turning to Storm, Morph had recovered from the other blast and tripped him up before he could do much.

Callisto was no threat to them if she was alone.

Still, the Morlocks outnumbered them and might have turned the tide if Wolverine and Emma had not found them right then.

Wolverine took care of Erg easily and Masque got knocked out by Emma's mental blasts before he even had time to try something else.

Emma was in contact with the X-men while they were going on, trying to figure out where everyone had gone, the pop stars had left Rogue to try to get away and they knew that Tar Face, Plague, and Ape had follow them. Then she found Zoey and Mystery when she stepped outside to try to focus without worry about the fight.

When she confirmed what had happened, and informed Shine that Plague had used her powers, Shine became very angry.

Callisto had not run, knowing it was useless, so she just stood there, and Wolvering had his claws at her just in case.

But Shine walked up to her.

"Plague poisoned two people," she said.

"So what?" Callisto said. "They'll get over it no doubt."

Shine smacked her with her sword flat so hard that Callisto fell over, which surprised Logan.

"I don't know if they actually can," Shine said in a deadly tone. "They were humans, Callisto. Not mutants."

"But they never told us they weren't mutants," Callisto rubbed her face, too surprised to even strike back. She had never seen Shine do such a thing.

Logan had, but he knew not to get in her way.

Storm was next to him, tired without her powers, and she was now worried.

"Those poor children..." she said. "How serious is it?"

"Serious," Emma said, with her hand to her head. "But Wally should be nearly to them even as we speak. Shine, do you wish to catch up to them."

"No, even if I could find them, I can't portal them if they're in such a taste, let Wally do it," Shine said. I will go the plane and if I can help then, I will. I have to go. You all can deal with this mess. We'll talk about whether or not we're going to reconcile later."

"You even want to at this point?" Logan said incredulously.

"Not really, no," Shine said darkly. "But still, some of them are innocent mostly... well, Callisto is the problem, isn't she? I will see what I'm led to after this, but I'm far too angry to think about it now."

She walked away.

"I think that is the least forgiving thing I've heard her say," Storm said. "Now, you will let us walk out of here now."

"Do as you wish," Callisto frowned.

The X-men had not beat on the Morlocks that much, they had only done enough to stop them from fighting back, they didn't wish for real damage. Most were just too stupid or weak willed to have gone against Callisto, it was clear their hearts wren't really in this fight to begin with.

Even when Tar Face and Ape ran into them on their way out of the tunnel, they sheepishly said they were sorry about it.

Logan was in no mood to be forgiving, and Storm, Rogue, and Morph were only willing to say that they hoped this would be the last time they fought.

Morph was pretty worried about the two who got infected.

But the time they found Zoey, she had long since stopped being calm about it. She'd rallied herself long enough to get to Emma, blurted out the truth, and then she'd started crying.

Mystery was not in much better shape about Abby, so Emma had her hands full trying to talk them down while still balancing her telepathic communication.

Emma's temperament was not suited to this and it she said she was really that comforting.

Lucky for her, Storm and Rogue took them in hand.

"There now Sugar," Rogue patted Zoey's shoulder. "It's usually curable, don't fret yourselves too much. Hank is real good at his doctorin'."

"Yes, I'm sure they will be all right once Wally takes them back to the med bay," Storm said. "Hank is going to met us there right Emma?"

"If he can get there fast enough, but Shine will bring him if she is there first," Emma reflected.

* * *

It wasn't that long a wait for Mira and Jinu, but it felt much longer because of how distressed they were.

Wally found them only 8 minutes or less from when Emma first said he was coming.

Even in this time though, Abby seemed to be having more difficulty breathing and Rumi start shaking with chills.

Jinu was on the verge of going to pieces, but only the fact that Mira looked more freaked out than him kept him trying to stay calm at all.

If Mira had been crying, it might have been less frightening than the somber, hopeless expression she did have.

But like music to their ears, they heard Wally's voice.

"Hey kids."

Jinu whipped the flashlight upward.

Wally was in his super suits, which they hadn't seen before, and it was quite strikingly bold.

"Sorry I'm late," Wally proceeded to look over both of the sick poele. "Oh wow...this is bad."

"Is it?" Jinu thought Wally would be more optimistic at others.

"Yes, this is a pretty severe reaction, I've had the bug bore, and even for me, it was nasty," Wally shook his had. "But I think first, we have to purge it out of them. Then their immune system can fight off the effect better."

"How do you do that?" Jinu asked.

"Well... Shine and I usually just do it with our gifts," Wally held out his hands. "Since it's an invasive substance from a person, it's kind of is like witchcraft, same principles so...uh, are either of you squeamish? It can be weird to watch the first time, and you already look like death warmed up."

"I'm fine," Jinu said.

"Okay, stand back so I have room," Wally said.

They both got up and stepped back, their feet were nearly asleep now.

Wally took out a sword like Shine's. "Haven't had to use this thing in over a year, never really liked weapons, but sometimes you need to cut stuff, as Shine would say."

"Shine is sometimes more like one of the hunters than I'd expect," Jinu said faintly.

"Oh yeah, when I heard about them I thought Shine would be perfect for that team," Wally said lightly. "Okay...Rumi, let's get this out of you."

Jinu was thrown off when he just stabbed her with the sword.

"Whoa!" he cried.

"Sorry," Wally said. "I should have said this won't hurt her. Doesn't hurt humans."

"Oh like Raven's blaster," Jinu was more relaxed now. "It's... ethereal?"

"Uh, guess you could say that," Wally took it out.

Rumi coughed and flinched a little.

"Should be out of her system now, but it could take a bit for her to feel better," Wally guessed. "Okay Abby, wow...he looks worse than she did, Emma was right. Must be 'cause he's just human.'

"So you think Rumi is better because she's a hunter?" Mira asked, in a dreadful voice.

"Yeah probably, with that spirit boost you guys get, resisting an infection like this would be a little easier for you," Wally didn't think saying this would be upsetting.

"What do they say? This hurts me more than it hurts you?" Jinu said, trying to distance himself.

"Oh, yeah for sure," Wally moved to Abby now.

Probably because he was sicker, Abby had a much worse reaction to the process, flinching violently.

Jinu thought it was grotesque, but when he looked at Mira to see how she was taking it, he thought she'd gone pretty pale.

"Uh...Mira?" He aid. "You okay?"

Wally glanced up. "She's going to faint." He said, rather calmly considering.

Jinu wouldn't have believed him, but then Mira did start to collapse.

He managed to catch her before she hit the floor.

"What...seriously?" he strained. "Mira of all people? She's the tough one."

Abby finally stopped flinching and Wally sighed. "That was rough...well, I think he'll be okay now, I gotta get him to the ship right away."

"What about Mira?" Jinu was trying to get to the floor without dropping her.

"Must have been the shock...it's not...pretty to see this," Wally admitted. "Normally, she's not the type, huh?"

"No, no, this is really weird," Jinu said. "And awkward for me, can you--?"

"You'll just have to bear it for a second, I have to take them first."

Wally plucked Abby up with an ease that Jinu found staggering. Did he have super strength also?

[If you're curious, the Flash does have enhanced strength, though not on the level of Superman or Wonder Woman.]

Wally then was gone.

He was back in less than 2 minutes, and took Rumi, then back again in even less time for them.

Being carried by him was not...fun, the wind rushing past was kind of hard and a little nauseating, but it was better than being in the sewers for a second longer than they had to be.

Suddenly they were on the Blackbird, the X-men's special plane. It was huge.

"There you are," Shine was waiting, she was standing by Rumi and Abby, who were on two medical beds in this part of the plane.

Hank was tending to them still.

"They seem to be at least stable for now," he said. "I'll put them on IVs, but Shine, you must tell me if there is to I can't do because they are aliens."

"Regular IVs should be fine, but any medication you use on the X--men could be a dangerous thing for people like them," Shine advised. "I think anything you'd give me, they can take unless they have allergies... We need to ask the other two...Oh Mira is unconscious."

"She fainted," Wally said. "The shock." He put her down. "But she'll wake up any second, probably."

"Mira does not seem like the type to faint from shock to me," Shine said.

"I have seen a side of Mira today that I didn't know existed," Jinu stated. "And I hope I never see it again. I think her bullying was better than this. Is Rumi going to be okay?"

"She should be fine," Shine said. "She's tougher anyway... Mentally and physically. The others will be hear once they can get out of the tunnels, it's not that far to walk, so it should be soon enough."

Mira stirred a little and Shine went to kneel next to her. "Hey," she said. "It's going to be okay now."

Mira couldn't believe she'd passed out. "I...what happened?"

"Wally brought you back to the Blackbird," Shine said, gently, like she was talking to a child. "The worst is over... come on, I think it's best if you sat in the front instead." She took her arm and helped her stand up.

She got her out of the room before Mira had time to really see their state again.

Jinu sank into a chair. "Can I stay?"

"Yes, you won't be too distracting, but it may be a long wait till they show improvement," Hank was getting the IVs ready and some other medicine also."

"I'm so sorry, Jinu," Wally said. "Must have been a terrible thing to go through. And we had no idea something like this would happen while you we here, the Morlocks been quiet for son long..."

"No, no, I know, "Jinu shook his head. "They told us clearly it wasn't planned. They heard Mystique was around and they took the shot. They hated her so much... I mean, I see why but, don't they care that she tried to make it better?"

Wally sat next to him. "Sometimes, people don't care if your heart changes, all they can see is their own pain."

Since, there was nothing to say to that, Jinu thought.

"It's true," Hank confirmed somberly. "Even us mutants don't try to understand each other as much as we should."

"But, don't let that discourage you," Wally patted Jinu's shoulder. "I've met way more people who just need to see that someone has truly changed before they softened toward them. It's easier for us to forgive stuff than we think, when the person no longer seems like they'd do it anymore. Most of the Morlocks, honestly, they wouldn't have gone for revenge, Callisto is bitter and always has been. She's got her own pain behind that, but, the others aren't all so bad. They're just...sheep. Sheep led by a wolf, though she wasn't all bad, but she's gotten more angry over time. I think she feels guilty for what she did, but she can't admit it, so she just doubled down."

"I know what that's like" Jinu said firmly.

"And, maybe someday, she'll get tired of the guilt and seek forgiveness instead, " Wally said. "At least, I hope so. But it's a choice people have to make for themselves, Jinu. We're sorry that you got caught up in this, but it's not your guys' problem to worry about, it's ours, so don't hang onto this all okay? They won't bother you again while you're here."

"As long as Rumi and Abby are okay, I don't care, even though it was unpleasant," Jinu stated. "But if they...aren't...well, I would regret ever coming here."

"Fair enough," Wally winced.

"Once the virus takes effect, it's very quick," Hank said, "But since it's almost not a real virus, it doesn't do lasting damage. So if they get through the reaction to it, they will be good as new in a day or two at most. Maybe just a little tired."

"That's good, I guess," Jinu said.

Rumi suddenly stirred and opened her eyes. "Jinu..."

Jinu got up. "Right here... Are you okay?"

"I...ache all over..." Rumi croaked. "What...what...did she do to me?"

"That's a normal symptom, and it will pass," Hank said. "She's awake--that's a good sign. I think she'll be fine. But take it easy, young lady. Plague is not a joking mutation. It's taken Gambit out of a fight before, and our own Mr. West."

"Not the funnest hours of my life," Wally grimaced.

"Do you remember what happened before that?" Jinu asked.

"Yes...we were running..." Rumi tried to sit up. "Where're Zoey and Mira--"

"Lay down." Hank pushed her back gently. "You friends are both fine. Unharmed."

"And so are Romance and Baby, by the way," Wally said. "In case no one has told you that yet."

"Oh, good..." Jinu had almost forgotten about them in the scuffle over Plague.

"Yes, and no worse for wear once we got them out of the sewer," Hank said. "They should be here soon."

"Okay, good..." Rumi finally relaxed a little bit. "And, uh...can we never take the subway again?"

Wally laughed. "We'll take you anywhere you want to go without it for the rest of your stay, okay?"

"Okay..." Rumi closed her eyes.

* * *

Shine sat Mira down in the front of the plane.

"I've never passed out like that in a crisis." Mira sounded ashamed of herself.

"I'm sure, but you're in a strange world, and that wasn't something you're used to," Shine said gently, like she was explaining a book to her. "Normally, you might be wired against it, but that can mess with your reactions to things. I've often been more easily startled. Sometimes that lasts only a few days... Fainting is nothing, really. You'll be back to normal when you go home. So don't worry about it. And besides...it must have been... a very difficult experience. And I'm so, so sorry about it. I had no idea they wanted revenge."

"Not blaming you." Mira wasn't. She might've been mad if she'd had the energy, but she knew that Shine hadn't been responsible for what happened.

"Hey." Wally joined them. "Rumi woke up. She's gonna be fine. She'll hurt for bit, but, it'll pass soon."

"Oh, good," Shine said in relief. "Thankfully, no one else was hurt."

"And Abby?" Mira said.

Wally looked a little sober. "Well, he's still out. Hank is working on him though. At least the poison is out of their systems. That's good."

"It would be very unlikely for them to die, Mira." Shine put a hand on her arm. "Most people survived the plague who got treated. It's...uh, it's worse than before because of Apocalypse's machine making them stronger, but it didn't have a 100% mortality rate even with regular people. And it's out of their systems, so there's a pretty high chance he'll be fine soon."

"But it's not a sure chance," Mira said.

"Nothing is ever sure, but I prefer to hope," Shine said, simply. "And we will pray. We'll know in a few hours one way or the other, so we don't have to wait long."

"Yeah...not long at all..." Mira said.

Wally and Shine both looked genuinely sorry for her.

"I think I'll just wait for the others to get back. I heard Zoey was...kinda upset." Wally didn't think Shine could handle two of them being like that at the same time.

Shine nodded.

Wally went to the back of the plane.

"I feel so stupid," Mira said after a long silence. "Shouldn't have gone after that thief...or got distracted in the fight. If I hadn't looked at Rumi, I could have dodged that Plague myself. Abby didn't need to block her."

"Is that what happened?" Shine didn't react other than to sound sorry. "I'm not surprised."

"Why does this stuff happen so much now?" Mira asked. "For years, we could protect each other from demons, but you add the guys into the mix and...the new Honmoon, and everything is different. We get hurt, we lose, and other people suffer for it too. You said it's a lack of conviction? So what is wrong with me?"

"Nothing is wrong with you," Shine said seriously. "It would have happened to anyone else. It was unavoidable. You think I'm just saying this, but I've been to many worlds and met many people who protect them--it's the same. But is this really what bothers you about it? Or is hating the changes really only a cover for what is truly haunting you?"

Mira glanced at her sharply. "What do you mean?"

"This is not the best time to discuss this." Shine regretted her words. "You're already upset."

"Just say it."

"I should've known," Shine sighed, realizing that Mira wouldn't let it go now. "Well, I would do the same, I guess... Mira...the truth is...this situation or another one, it doesn't matter. You'd feel like this sooner or later. You've been feeling helpless for a while, right? That plays out in your powers. Isn't it your source of shame that you coudln't help Rumi before? That she needed Jinu because you weren't good enough for her to confide in?"

That felt like a slap in the face.

Yet...it was all true.

Mira sat back and stared at her. Then she put her face in her hands.

"I think, maybe, you do know why it was Jinu," Shine said slowly. "Like in your head, it makes sense. She needed someone who was like her. Sometimes that's what we need. But it must make you feel like you failed, and I think Zoey feels the same, but not for the same reason. She feels that way because she thinks she just wasn't skilled enough to help, but you think maybe you just aren't worthy of it."

Mira glanced at Shine, then at her hands. She wasn't crying...yet...but she was pretty close.

"I know how that feels." Shine's tone said these were not empty words. "I thought I could never help anyone, you know, when I was younger. My father made me think that I made everything worse for everyone, but, you know...he was lying. Or maybe he's just blind. It took years to change it for me, but...I finally realized that my temperament was to protect my family. And if I had not pushed back at him, they would never have dared to try either... You are a force of nature, right? You pushed Rumi, and she didn't trust you. That must be hard to take. I know how it feels... Sometimes gentler people just get farther because they raise less warning bells in others. I've often envied Wally's ability to get around people's guard so easily because of that... But you know what he's told me? That he thinks I get past it in another way...that there are some people only someone who is stronger and more stubborn can get to, because honestly, other people give up too easily. I never learned how to quit or not push for what I want, but there are people who cannot be reached any other way. A meeker person would give up the fight so as not to upset them. I think I see this in Zoey already. And you can't think that you didn't help Rumi at all... I maybe shouldn't say this to you, but there were many times she thought of telling both of you the truth, and she might have...but Celine always stopped her."

"She...did?" Mira didn't remember if Rumi had said this. Maybe she had, but it had gone over her head that it implied anything about how Rumi felt towards them.

Shine nodded. "Ask her later... It wasn't anything you did. Jinu found out by accident and pushed for it. Listen, we need multiple people in our lives. We're wired that way. She needs him, sure, but she needs you as well. You know that."

"I...yeah." Mira looked up. "Yeah, on paper, I know that...but why am I so useless then? When we're not fighting, I'm totally at a loss, every single time, and it hurts the team. All...of them."

"And now even the fighting part has gotten harder." Shine finished the thought she didn't even know she'd had, but yeah...that was it.

"You realize how creepy that is, right?" Mira said, though it was half-hearted.

"I've been told, but I can't help it, you know... My gift doesn't turn off just because I want it to. And I understand how this has to feel. I went through this phase as well. It's part of the changing process. You have to learn new skills... You don't always feel equipped to go forward. But understand, it's not an accident it was the three of you. I know you're necessary to this, and if it's hard for you, it's only because you have more to give to begin with. 'To whom much is given, much will be required,' as Jesus put it. No one who's ever achieved greatness has ever had an easy life, Mira... The world is too precious a thing to not be hard to fight for. Just slaying demons isn't enough--you must confront the things they most prey on people over. And if you thought that would be easy, well, you were delusional."

"Hmmf, that's what Morph and Raven said too," Mira recalled. "But Rumi and Zoey don't have the same problem as I do."

"No, for which I think they really should be more pitied." Shine tapped Mira's arm again. "Your problems are clear. You'll get past them much sooner than the other two will, and then you'll pull them up to your level. They still have no clue what's really eating either of them. Didn't you know that? We can't help them as much. We can start you on the right path, but they have a long way to go. You've come further than either of them have. And trust me, I've taught enough people to know this. And, uh...things line up that way for a reason, you know. I'm not worried about you overcoming your issues."

"Wow...sure." Mira didn't buy it.

"Fine, don't believe me. You'll get it soon enough anyway." Shine didn't seem to care if she doubted it. "But don't beat yourself up about Abby either. I know how you don't like it when people protect you instead of you them--don't know how to handle it, right? Again, I have the same problem, but I've gotten used to it a bit more over time."

"That'd be easier to take if we...were sure..." Mira said slowly.

"I know...but either way, it's not your fault. He's the kind of guy who will do something stupid to save someone because that's just how he is." Shine shrugged. "I know so many men like that. I'm very blessed. I married one, in fact. I get scared when he does reckless things to protect me and other people as well...and yet, I'd much rather know he's someone who will do that than anyone I'd have to second guess it with. There's no safety in that. A weak man is worse than no man, in my opinion, because not only will he fail you, but he will do things that make you more open to attack. I'm sure you've known such men. Left you open, right? But not all of them are like that. It hurts to have a good guy sometimes, but...I think that pain is clean. The slow poison of a man who will never come through for you is...worse and more damaging. So, whatever happens to him, remember this is what he wanted. He seems like the type to want to know he was at least right to help."

"So that makes it okay then? Like, that's it? We just write it off because it's what he wanted?" Mira was angry with her. "Screw that! What about what I want--" She stopped short.

Shine stared at her but not like she was surprised.

"Well," she said, finally, "that is for you to decide, isn't it? What did you want, Mira? Be honest with yourself. At least then you can process it. But denying it is not going to help you feel better, no matter what outcome we get... I know you're upset. We all are... It's okay to let yourself feel things, you know? Because then you can breathe. That's all I wanted..."

Mira didn't think she'd have broken just to please Shine after she said that.

But the words sunk in, and she realized how much she'd been trying to keep herself from feeling anything...this whole time.

That made her crumble.

She started crying.

[The point of what Shine said is not that Mira is better than Rumi or Zoey, but that she has progressed farther than they have at understanding her issues, which I got from the movie, actually. She had her problems, but she at least knew she did, and she was trying to overcome them in her own way, while Zoey still seemed to be not sure of what her problem was.

People mature at different rates, that's the point.]