Title: Girls Go Boom
Author: Sophia (rockstar.usherette@gmail.com)
Fandom: X-men: Evolution
Pairing: Tabitha/Amara
Rating: PG
Notes: Unstability does not a good relationship make. I took a few liberties with the idea of mutant genetics, as well as with Amara's powers, which you'll have to forgive me for. I don't own X-men, X-men: Evolution, or any of the characters mentioned here. If I did, it would still be on.

The mutant gene is unlike any other on the Earth. It's constantly changing, highly unstable, and difficult, almost impossible, to harness.

Knowing this, it's a wonder that any mutants have ever had a successful relationship, much less with a fellow mutant.

Amara had been warned about Tabby. Professor X had told her that Tabby had defected and was living with the Brotherhood. Scott told her that Tabby was irresponsible and not worth associating with anyway. Kurt told her that Tabby was irresistible, but dangerous. They all told her to stay away.

Amara had every reason in the world to stay away from Tabby, but she couldn't help herself.

The mutant gene, as mentioned before, is highly unstable, but it is even more so in those who have powers of destruction. While all powers can be used for destruction, for some, that is their explicit purpose. For instance, those who can shoot lasers or blow things up, as opposed to those who can teleport or shapeshift. The more power a mutant has, the less stable.

One of the first lessons a new student at the Institute is not to let your power go to your head. Learn to control it. It's tempting to use your power for revenge, or for your own personal gain, but to truly have power, is to be able to control it. Use it when necessary, never else.

The students rarely listen to this lesson.

Tabby and Amara didn't start to date until Tabby had already left the Institute, and Amara was still young enough to think it was love. She was used to adoration, and assumed that, as the beloved princess, it was all genuine. She would think of Tabby's many former relationships, of the way they had all gone up in flames (sometimes literally), and decided that this was all their fault it had failed, never Tabby's. Something they had done, had said, rather than Tabby doing the same thing she had always done. She would not make the same mistakes.

And it did last, for a while. Tabby got kicked out of the Brotherhood (again, their fault, not hers), and, while still not officially associated with the X-men, she was friendly with them, and that made things easier.

Before a volcano erupts, it always gives warning signs. Small earthquakes or ground movement, the release of gases, anything to let people know that it is discontent with it's surroundings. Amara knows when, at any point in time, anywhere in the world, a volcano is getting ready to erupt. She can feel it. And when it does erupt, she feels that too. At first, when her powers were first developing, it was an eruption in her mind, something that made her fall out of bed in the middle of the night, doubled over in pain, head pounding, red everywhere. But as she grew more used to it and learned to control the volcanos, it became a distant pulsing in her temples, little more than the knowledge of what was happening somewhere else. The closer she was to the volcano, the clearer it was, but even standing right next to it, it was incredibly distinct, but never painful.

She blamed herself, for once, for not seeing the warning signs. The way Jean complained about Scott, but always had a warm glow around her, the kind that comes from either being in love, or getting very good sex on a very regular basis. It was a look that Amara was familiar, but Scott never had it. The way Tabby would come to the mansion, but was always finding reasons to disappear into Jean's room. Jean was helping her train, tutoring her in science, running lines with her for the school play. When Amara volunteered to help her with any of these things, Tabby would smile sweetly, and tell Amara that she didn't want to burden her with anything. So unlike Tabby to be thoughtful, but Amara appreciated it. She was just glad that Tabby and Jean, such polar opposites, were getting along.

Scott was the one who called her attention to it. He offered her a ride to school one morning, something he had never done before. When Amara pointed out that Jean was still getting ready, and it wouldn't be fair to leave without her, seeing as she usually rode with Scott, he refused to listen, and insisted they leave without even seeing Jean. Once they were in the car, he asked if Amara had noticed how close Jean and Tabby had been recently.

Students at the Institute are expected to build bonds among themselves. A lack of friendship between two X-men could mean disaster if they ever had to work together in battle. Personal grudges can get in the way of the greater goal. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, says Professor X, and they are all fighting against a common enemy.

Amara remained silent for most of the car ride, something rare for her. Scott explained everything to her, laid out the (irrefutable) evidence, and used very specific terms, as to avoid any confusion.

When they reached the parking lot, Scott turned the car off, but didn't move. Neither spoke, and the only sound came from the radio, on, but turned down so low as to be just barely audible. Amara tried to ignore the small explosions going off in the back of her mind. Finally, Scott broke the silence.

"I'm sorry," he said, "but I thought it was your right to know." He paused, waiting for a response, and seeing that he wasn't going to get one, continued, though it seemed to be more for his own sake than for hers. "You're probably just as confused as I am right now. Jean meant - means - everything to me. And... I know that I still mean something to her. I don't want this to ruin everything, but... I don't see how it can do anything else."

Amara wanted to nod. She wanted to be mature and tell Scott things would be ok. His and Jean's love was one that was true, and this was just a small bump, things would be ok. She wanted to focus on his problems, rather than hers, but she couldn't. All she could do was lean over and kiss him.

Neither kisser was sure what to do, and both were torn between fighting it and kissing back. Lips and tongues clashed in their mouths, and nothing seemed to fit in the right spot. Amara kept her eyes open, Scott closed his. Both of them kept their hands hanging awkwardly at their sides.

Scott was the first to pull away. He seemed dazed. "Amara, this... we can't. Jean... It isn't right." He paused, waiting for her to protest, almost wanting her to, but she stayed still and silent. There was silence for a few more seconds, and then he spoke again. "I've got to get to class," he said, turning around and fumbling for his backpack in the back seat of the car, "I'll... see you later." And with that, he was gone, racing to get to a class that didn't start for another 45 minutes.

Sometimes the mutant gene cannot be controlled. It can take over it's bearer, leading to dangerous consequences. To lose control of your powers is to lose control of yourself.

In the distance, Amara heard a soft rumbling from deep within the earth. She closed her eyes, and saw volcanos exploding, one by one, tiny eruptions in her brain. When she finally got out of the car, several minutes after the final bell had rung, there were scorch marks on Scott's leather interior.

Get yourself free