Cyclops: Fear No Gods (Marvel)

There was an unnatural intensity to today's training.

That much was clear to Scott from the outset.

Something about the way the others were committing themselves felt different. No, that wasn't completely true as it was the shift of one person that had caused the others to match the increased intensity of the training session.

That person?

Bobby.

Despite the events of the prison break, Bobby had always treated training as a way to fit in, a means to an end as he settled in. He was always just going through the motions, but never pushing himself too hard or challenging his limits properly. His focus often wandered, preoccupied with typical seventeen-year-old concerns that Scott, despite himself, envied at times.

Yet today, Bobby was different.

He darted through the Danger Room course, his movements quicker and more deliberate than usual, freezing moving obstacles that he couldn't avoid in time. All the while he used his organic ice form to glide and dodge past the others as he quickly approached the end of the course. It was a noticeable improvement from his prior attempts, but his gestures were large and clumsy though they were passable for now.

As the inbuilt heaters Scott had requested to be added to the Danger Room slowly began to melt the ice Bobby had formed, the course began to move once more. However as Scott watched Bobby cross the finish line with detached approval, he noted that at the lower levels, Bobby's powers gave him an undeniable edge. Though as Bobby progressed Scott intended to make sure that he would hit a limit and struggle because that was when real improvements would begin.

For now though, it was a start.

Hank was next up, his large frame moving with a grace that belied his size, his powers aided by his athletic background and natural talent made the physical aspects of the course easier for him than for the others. Years of football training had honed his reflexes and endurance, and his enhanced strength only added to his potential.

But Scott could see the hesitation in Hank's movements, the split-second pauses as he approached each trap. Like always, it wasn't his body holding Hank back, no it was his mind. It was that fear of what if, that overthinking and borderline obsessive mindset that caused Hank who should be far higher than he currently was, to struggle more than was necessary.

Even so, Scott could see that Logan's tough-love approach to training since the prison and Bobby's increased determination today had led to Hank completing a number of levels in succession. He had broken through a limit and Scott allowed himself a smile at the sight, Hank was beginning to be build up slowly and if he managed to overcome that mental block then he would be well on his way to surpassing the strength Scott had seen Beast possess.

As Hank finished the course, he moved to stand with Bobby who congratulated him on his success, all the while Warren stepped up for his turn. His usual confidence was turned up to the absolute max, wings unfurling in a single fluid motion as he rolled his shoulders before bursting forward. The difference between his course and the other two was obvious from the moment it began. The obstacles were far more numerous and moving with much greater speed, if even one hit landed it would make it impossible for Warren to complete the course due to injury.

Not even Hank's courses which were faster than Bobby's were comparable to these, a showcase of just how far ahead Warren was in his training. His navigation of the course also showed this as in the early stages he weaved through the obstacles effortlessly, even adding little moments of flair in his movements. Unlike Hank and Bobby, Warren had already faced life-and-death situations before and it showed in the way he handled himself as he used his experience as the Avenging Angel to stay out of danger.

No, fear wasn't an issue for Warren.

Effort was.

For most of Warren's life, things had come easily to him, a naturally talented and prodigious child who came from wealth. When it came to physical exercise, there was little that had ever been able to push Warren to his limits nor had there been many who could beat him. Yet since meeting Scott, Warren had for the first time been pushed beyond his limits and forced to face that inevitable wall that all must face. A ceiling that everyone had that could not be overcome through sheer talent alone but one that required hard work and dedication.

In the beginning of his time amongst the X-Men, his pride at 'losing' to Scott and the lingering trauma of his time at the hands of Vulture had kept him motivated. This had allowed Warren to quickly cement himself as the strongest of the three, second only to Scott in terms of skill. However, he had a few days prior to the prison incident, Warren had begun to start slacking off, maybe having become content with the insurmountable gap between him and Scott, or simply because he finally had someone in Hank he could be above.

Yet, he was once again taking to the training with the same fervour and determination he had when he first arrived.

Scott nodded his head, silently observing as he twisted the dial of the control pad causing the course level to rise by one level even as Warren approached the halfway mark. Warren's confidence and flair disappeared instantly as he quickly began to find himself struggling under the increased bombardment.

"Fuck!" Warren cursed loudly making Bobby and Hank laugh.

Scott allowed himself a small smirk as he watched Warren's pace slow as he began to take the course more seriously. He didn't partake in the course training all that much, only ever doing it sporadically when Warren began to approach his level. At this point, Scott would step forward and raise the bar even higher ensuring that Warren constantly had to push his limits and grow stronger. This ensured that even as Scott stood here, silently observing and studying their forms and movements his presence was felt.

He had spent countless hours studying the Danger Room's systems, designing and testing each course before introducing it to the team. Every trap, every obstacle, every possible design had been carefully calibrated to push them to their limits, While Bobby remained in the first tier of difficulty due to only having been here a week and his prior lax approach to training, Hank had managed to in that week move onto the second. However, both fell short in comparison to Warren who was nearing the fourth.

As for Scott, though in the eyes of the trio he was only at the fourth tier, in actual fact, Scott had managed to design and test up to a tenth tier. Though with the current limitations of the Danger Room, Scott had concluded that it was the limit for the moment in time. He had spoken with Charles about improving the Danger Room further in the future at which point the course could be expanded also. Yet even so, if the trio managed to reach the fifth tier then they would be more than ready for most of the threats of the Bronze Age.

As the session continued, Scott glanced toward the control room where the source of the sudden shift amongst the boys watched over them.

Jean Grey

She was standing there beside Charles and Logan, Scott turning back to the control and clenching his fist tightly by his side as Cyclops' memories stirred within him. Those memories brought with them a surge of emotions that weren't entirely his own, the love that Cyclops' had held for her was almost overwhelming.

But that love had also been the source of his greatest pain.

He hated this feeling.

He felt powerless and unable to control himself, something Scott despised especially when his instincts and emotions pushed him to be near her, spend time with her and love her once again. Especially with Logan standing there beside her, that sight only made those emotions rage uncontrollably within him further.

Scott forced himself to focus on the present.

Jean's presence was affecting the others, especially Bobby, but Scott couldn't let it distract him.

There was too much at stake.

He had affirmed his new path forward, to forge the X-Men into a proper hero team while working within the shadows with another team. But how was he meant to do that when the emotions of Cyclops distracted him and prevented him from fully focusing on the task at hand?

-X-

Later that day, Scott sat alone in the crowded cafeteria, his notepad open in front of him as he tuned out the chatter of the students around him. His pencil moved steadily across the page as he reviewed his notes, making a few corrections here and there. He stopped momentarily, frowning as he taped his pencil against the paper as he looked over his notes on the fragmented timeline of Cyclops' memories.

Yet his thought process was disrupted when Hank set his tray down across from his, sitting down at the table as Scott glanced up briefly. He caught the curious looks of nearby students as they questioned Hank's decision to sit with him. Considering that Hank had become a member of the Bayville football team he had become quite popular, something Scott knew that he wasn't.

Stereotypically, Hank's decision seemed to be attracting attention.

"What're you writing?" Hank asked, his voice casual.

Scott didn't miss a beat. "Just planning areas for improvement."

Hank nodded, seemingly satisfied and went to say something but was interrupted. "Wow, Summers," Bobby said, dropping his tray onto the table with a grin as he sat next to Hank. "Didn't know you were such a people person." Having been in the same class as Bobby, Warren was not far behind, sitting down next to Scott only furthering the gazes. Warren's natural charisma and family name had made him an instant hit at Bayville, and Bobby, with his easygoing nature, had quickly become popular by association.

Scott didn't respond, his pencil still moving across the page.

Warren smirked as he sat beside Scott. "Ignore him. He's just jealous that you're the most interesting guy here right now."

Scott finally looked up, his expression unreadable trying to hide how uncomfortable this whole thing was making him. "Is there a reason you're all here?"

They didn't seem to so much as blink as if completely unaware or purposefully ignoring his discomfort. "Can't we sit with our fearless leader?" Warren teased, earning a chuckle from Bobby.

Scott sighed, closing his notepad. "If you're done, we have training after school. Don't be late."

"Man, you really don't know how to switch off, do you?" Bobby asked, shaking his head.

Hank leaned forward, a thoughtful look on his face. "I've been wondering about that too. Why is training so intense? I mean, we're already doing more than most people would even consider."

Scott's gaze hardened. "Because it's only going to get harder from here."

The table fell silent as Scott's words hung in the air.

"You saw what happened during the mission to rescue Bobby," Scott continued, his voice measured but firm. "The people we're up against aren't going to hold back. They're getting stronger, and more dangerous. If we don't push ourselves now, we won't stand a chance later." Hank nodded slowly, his expression serious, Warren and Bobby exchanged a glance, the weight of Scott's words sinking in.

Scott tapped his pencil against the table, glancing around the room, attention like this was uncomfortable to him, it felt too...normal. He preferred gazes of judgement, analysis, wariness and danger over mundane curiosity. That was more familiar to him and more comfortable and Scott was okay with that despite how unusual he knew that made him.

Cyclops was a leader, someone people followed and looked to for guidance and advice, those instincts were ingrained into Scott. They had moulded his thoughts and actions, so sat here, the centre of curious gazes and whispers that were not life-threatening, sat amongst peers who laughed and joked naturally with one another about normal everyday things, Scott was at a loss one what to do. He didn't know how to respond, didn't know what to say or do and he most certainly didn't know how to handle this uncomfortable and unnatural feeling.

So he just stayed quiet, keeping those thoughts to himself.