The Element of Change {Xmen first class}

Ch. 7 "Breakfast"

Lei woke up early that day, despite the pain her body still felt from training the day before. The young woman groaned and heard a resounding pop in her lower back as she got up and stretched.  Charles really knew how to push it, but it didn't come unwarranted. In just a few days they would be fighting against Sebastian Shaw. If it went well they would prevent World War III, but if they failed, it could ultimately result in the death of millions.

After all their hard work, the team needed a "pick-me-up."

The sun was just beginning to rise and it would be a good hour before anyone else was awake. Lei smiled and turned around to look for her slippers. She then threw on her robe and walked out the door.

The sweet smell of pancake batter hung in the air of the kitchen and bacon sizzled in the pan on the stove. No doubt everyone would be hungry. No one in the mansion could really cook, so she'd had to start on it herself. She just hoped nothing was getting burned. Of course, that might not be the case if her braid didn't stay out of the way. Lei pushed it back over her shoulder to keep it out of the skillet, but in doing so knocked over a pitcher of orange juice.

The waterbender prepared herself for the loud noise of the metal pitcher against the tile floor, but it never hit the ground. Instead, it slowly levitated back up into the air and was gently placed on the counter.

"You need to be more careful," a voice said from behind her. Lei jumped in surprised and grabbed onto the marble counter top, her heart pumping before she noticed Erik standing there with a sly grin on his face.

"Erik! It's too early to sneak up on people," she huffed, throwing her braid back over her shoulder and stepping back around to flip the bacon onto the plate. Of all the people to be the first up, she had expected Hank or Charles, so she was surprised to see Erik that morning.

"I could have cleaned it up you know." Lei looked over her shoulder to smirk at the metal wielder.

"I know," he purred, brushing past her.

"I see you've made breakfast," he said, walking up to the counter. Lei turned to look over at the large amount of pancakes that were steaming on the fancy plates she'd found in the cupboard.

"Oh... yeah. I hope I made enough," she mumbled, picking up her spatula to flip a few more.

"It seems you've made enough for an army."

"Yeah, what about a mutant army?" She asked. It was supposed to come out as a joke, but the joke died once it left her lips. Wasn't that what they were? They were going to war.

Erik looked down at her with a frown. His tall frame almost towered over the petite girl. "It was kind of you to make any," he murmured, his voice deeper than usual as he took a step towards Lei, his body now brushing against hers.

Lei started to say something, but stuttered when Erik looked down at her. His steel blue eyes connected with hers with an intensity she had never experienced before. Her breath hitched as he began to crane his neck downward.

"Oh sweet, breakfast!" Someone shouted, jerking them away from their positions. Erik cleared his throat and took a step backward. The two element benders looked to the doorway to see Sean with a happy look on his face.

"What were you two doing?" He enquired, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

Lei coughed and smoothed down her pajama shirt nervously, trying to forget the odd situation she had experienced moments before.

"Did someone say breakfast?" Alex asked, popping his head out of the threshold. His eyes found the stack of food and he tumbled inside.

"Everyone, Lei made breakfast!" Sean shouted down the hallway. Suddenly everyone filed in, still half asleep but eager for the homemade breakfast. The curly haired teen kissed Lei's cheek before running to fight Alex over the pancakes. Charles was flirting with Moira by the bacon, while Hank picked out his choice of fruit. His furry eyebrows were pulled together in concentration, trying to figure out which would be the best option.

Lei chuckled before glancing back towards Erik, who smiled politely back at her before turning to pour himself a cup of coffee. Lei sighed and leaned against the counter, her eyes sweeping over the kitchen. Everyone chorused their thanks and she smiled back at them, before noticing Raven's blue eyes staring back at her.

Raven smiled and mouthed a thank you, both for the breakfast, and for giving her the advice the other day. No matter how hard it was to admit, Raven knew Lei had been right. They all had their hardships; better to admit it and move on.

The breakfast chef smiled back at her before jumping in to stop Sean and Alex from having a fist fight over the last chocolate chip pancake.