Jean did not pack much luggage. She grabbed a bag and left the bedroom.
Suppressing his excitement, Aaron walked with her toward the school gate. Once they passed through those doors, she should not even think about coming back anytime soon.
As for a month later... that would depend on the circumstances.
However, just as the two walked out through the gate, a black car pulled up.
Two people stepped out. One was Scott, Laser Eyes, wearing goggles; the other was a refined-looking middle-aged man with glasses.
"Professor Hank." Jean greeted him happily. "Why are you back today?"
"Charles asked me to handle something," Hank said simply, then looked at Aaron. "And this is?"
"My boyfriend, Aaron Gaius."
"Oh!" Hank suddenly understood, but in the next instant, he seemed to hear the sound of a heart breaking. Only then did he notice Scott's unnatural expression.
"Hello, Professor Hank." Aaron shook Hank's hand amicably.
"Jean." Scott hesitated. "You two are...?"
"I asked Professor Charles for a month's leave for Jean." Aaron stepped in front of Jean, explaining as though staking his claim. "I'm taking her somewhere to relax."
"That's right. I'll be back in a month."
"A month?" Scott forced out a smile uglier than a grimace. "If you leave for that long, the younger students will probably be unhappy."
"Piotr will help look after them."
"What if the X-Men get a mission and we're short-handed?"
"Let me know when there's a mission. I'll come back as soon as I can."
Scott still wanted to say something to persuade Jean to change her mind, but Hank interrupted him. "We should get going. Have fun."
"Thank you, Professor." Aaron smiled, then had Jean get on the motorcycle and sped off, quickly vanishing from the two men's sight.
Scott stared blankly at Jean's