Title: mOBSCENE
Pairing: Helix
Universe: AU/616 mixture
Character notes: Hellion is mostly 616, up to Childhood's End arc. X-23, in this fic, is pretty much the Laura from my other fic—Helix (just note that while her base
personality is the same as 616, her mannerisms are different). What happens when they combine? I DON'T KNOW! Let's find out…
A/N: I had another weird idea…inspired by the words PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) from Snff. Interesting, my fics are inspiring—no, spawning—their own
fics now. This scares me.
Title notes: mOBSCENE is a cool Marilyn Manson song that my guy introduced me to, bless his little heart. It seemed to fit this idea quite nicely.
Summary: Julian Keller finally admits he is suffering PTSD from the events leading up to and including the battle with Nimrod. Emma Frost sends him to mutant counseling
with a popular therapist who specializes in the minority—and he meets several very strange people there, including an insane assassin chick with claws. Adventures follow.
-1-
don't die
"I don't need therapy, Ms. Frost," Julian said, looking away, scowling.
"Your friends would say otherwise, Mr. Keller. I say otherwise. This is my recommendation—I cannot force you—but if you want to recover faster—you would do well
to follow my guidance." Emma Frost smiled grimly. "I am, after all, your councilor, my dear."
"You make it sound like I have a problem!" Julian snapped. "I don't! I'm fine! I'm just a little stressed out, okay? I have a lot going on."
Emma sighed. "Julian…you have not spoken to your friends for weeks. You have avoided them, going as far as to take different tables at lunch, in class, and as far as
ignoring them when they do speak to you. You don't answer your phone—your parents are worried—you failed four tests and failed to complete your homework
assignments…and then this."
She was talking about Julian's energy explosion in the cafeteria. He'd gotten into a fight with someone—Alleyne—and he had injured him badly enough that Dr. McCoy
had to take him to the medical room. He'd proceeded to hurl Ashida out the window; it had taken her three minutes to run back to the school—with super speed.
"My parents," Julian sneered. "My parents disowned me. I don't really care if they're worried or not."
Emma arched her eyebrows. "They removed you from the will. They are still your flesh and blood, Mr. Keller."
"Not to me!" Julian said fiercely.
"And then…the incidents with the furniture. And your friend," Emma continued, ignoring his words.
Last Sunday, Santo had confronted him, shouting—he and Cessily had tried to make Julian talk to them.
"He was pushing it!" Julian protested. He'd thrown Rockslide out the window too—three stories down—and Cessily had backed off. "Besides, he's indestructible."
"That doesn't make this acceptable behavior," Emma said firmly. "Julian—I would prefer you go willingly. But, if necessary, I will inform your parents—and they have
related to me that they are willing to sign forms to have you institutionalized."
"Wha—so that's how you deal with me! Ship me off to the funny farm!" Julian glared at her; the chandelier on the ceiling groaned. Emma looked up at it and made a
slight tinkling noise as she shifted to her diamond form.
"Julian—"
CREAK. Julian looked up too, trying not to be so annoyed but failing. His temper was a little extremely agitated these days—about the only thing he was feeling.
"Stop that," Emma said, her voice firm.
Julian closed his eyes, and the chandelier relaxed.
"Thank you," Emma said. "Sleep on it. I will ask for your decision in the morning."
"It won't change," he hissed, shoving the chair away and stomping out.
…
Knock knock.
Julian gasped and sat up. The sound had broken the horrifying silence of the dream—even though there had been lots of noise, plenty of noise, during the bus attack—in
which forty-two of his friends had died—he didn't remember the sounds. It was always silent, full of tension, like a drum skin about to be broken. When there was sound,
it was always foggy and unclear, and always miserable.
Knock knock.
He rubbed his face, got out of bed and moved to the door, his bare feet making flat noises on the wooden planks. Usually he just ignored the door, but he was tired—he
wanted to sleep.
"Yeah—what?" he said, ripping the door open.
It was Cessily. "Julian—"
"Leave me the fuck alone, okay?!" he said, shaking his finger at her. "I'm trying to sleep! What's your problem?!"
"My problem is it's only 5 PM," Cessily said, baring her teeth. They looked very white between her silver lips. Colors were more vivid, now, although Julian had lost interest.
The only color that meant anything to him was red.
"God! What the hell are you doing!" she burst. "You need a haircut like it was yesterday! You look like an emo wannabe! What next, guyliner?!"
"This is why I don't talk to you!" Julian snarled. "I bet you're the one who got Frost on my case, too. Thanks a whole lot. It's just what I needed."
"You need help!" Cessily said desperately. "You're not handling this right! Julian—your brother called me to ask what's going on. He hasn't heard from you in forever—you used
to call him every weekend…"
Julian slammed the door in her face, hitting her nose, but not caring. He pushed hair out of his face—he hated the fact that Cessily was right—but what was the point?
His hair would just keep growing when he died anyways. Everyone here was going to die. It was a deathtrap.
He sat on his bed and stared at the wall.
…
Emma looked up as her door opened. She was in diamond form, brooding over something—pictures of dead students—and therefore she did not sense her student approaching.
"Ms. Frost…" Julian peered in.
"Julian." Emma closed her eyes and straightened. He noticed a curl of wood on her desk—three curls, and three matching gashes.
"Julian—my advice to you—don't let yourself turn to ice," she said quietly. "Go for help, before it's too late. I do not want to see you die."
He could tell she didn't mean die in the literal sense. He had a feeling her reference to ice was by experience—she was talking about herself. She looked at him with cold clear pupils.
Julian nodded slightly. "Okay."