X-Force: Beyond Omega

The cold mountain air bit at their exposed skin as Jubilee and Aron moved through the thick snow, their boots crunching with each step. The towering evergreens around them were dusted with fresh powder, their branches heavy with the weight of winter. The climb had been grueling... Steep slopes, jagged rocks, and paths barely wide enough for one person.

Jubilee, despite her usual boundless energy, was panting hard, her breath visible in the frigid air. "Okay… I'll admit… this is way harder than I thought." She paused, bending over to rest her hands on her knees. "I mean, I knew we were hiking up a mountain, but damn."

Aron exhaled heavily, rolling his shoulders. His body ached, not as it usually did from battle wounds or supervillain encounters, but in the raw, human way that came from actual, exhausting labor. It had been a long time since he'd done this much work without using his powers. No shortcuts, no reality-warping—just sheer effort.

"I don't know what's worse," he muttered, glancing up at the still-distant peak. "The fact that we have hours of this left or the fact that you somehow convinced me this would be 'fun.'"

Jubilee straightened, flashing a grin despite her exhaustion. "C'mon, tough guy. Where's that fighting spirit?"

"Back at the base camp," he grumbled. "Next to the hot cocoa and rational decisions."

Jubilee snorted and lightly punched his arm. "No backing out now. Besides, this is bonding, remember?"

Aron gave her a flat look. "I thought the roller coasters were bonding."

"That was my kind of fun. This is your kind of fun. Gritty, rough, survivalist-type stuff."

He shook his head. "I think you severely overestimated how much I like suffering."

Jubilee just laughed.

They kept climbing, their pace slow but steady. The higher they went, the thinner the air became, making every breath feel like it wasn't quite enough. The wind howled between the rocks, cutting through their winter jackets like a blade.

And, as usual…

They weren't alone.

...

A little ways behind them, three figures huddled behind an outcropping of ice-covered rocks, peeking out at their unsuspecting targets.

Kitty adjusted her binoculars with a smirk. "They look like they're dying. I give them another hour before Aron caves and uses his powers."

Emma standing beside her in an impeccably white fur coat that somehow remained completely clean despite the rough terrain, merely smirked. "You underestimate him. He's stubborn. He won't use them."

Jean, who escaped from Storm's grasp of signing and reading heaps of paperwork, decided to join in on their 'observation mission,' raised a brow. "And we're sure this isn't an invasion of privacy?"

Kitty snorted. "Says the one who peeks into everyone's mind."

Jean sighed but didn't argue. Instead, she used her telekinesis to flick a small snowball at Emma. The blonde woman didn't even flinch, the projectile stopping mid-air before it could touch her.

Jean smirked. "Just making sure you're still paying attention."

Emma gave a slow, amused smile. "Darling, I never stop paying attention."

Kitty rolled her eyes. "Okay, flirty banter aside, are we actually gonna do anything? Or are we just here to watch them freeze?"

Emma tapped her chin thoughtfully. "We could help… or, we could see what happens when Aron reaches his limit."

Jean smirked. "Oh, so you do want to mess with him."

Emma's eyes gleamed. "Always."

...

By the time they reached a small plateau, flat enough to set up camp but still a long way from the peak, Jubilee flopped onto the snow with an exaggerated groan.

"I'm dead," she declared dramatically. "Leave me here. Tell my story."

Aron dropped his pack onto the ground with a grunt, rolling his shoulders. "I'd love to, but your ghost would probably haunt me into hiking the rest of the way."

She grinned up at him. "Damn right."

They set up camp, the occasional sound of metal tent poles clinking and the wind whistling through the mountains. By the time the tents were up and a small fire was burning, it was already dark. 

Well, Aron did most of the work and Jubilee just sat there... She called it supervising.

Jubilee held her hands to the fire, sighing. "Okay, I kinda get why people do this. The view is pretty amazing."

Aron sat beside her, stretching out his sore legs. "Yeah, it is."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching the flames flicker.

"You hungry?" He asked after a few minutes of resting.

Jubilee rubbed her gloved hands together, the warmth of the fire barely cutting through the mountain chill. She glanced at Aron, who was digging through his pack, pulling out a small metal pot and a few tightly wrapped packets of food.

"You actually brought real food?" she asked, raising a brow.

Aron smirked, setting the pot over the fire. "Of course. If I left it up to you, we'd be surviving on nothing but snacks and stubbornness."

Jubilee gasped in mock offense, pressing a hand to her chest. "Excuse you, but snacks and stubbornness have gotten me through plenty of situations."

Aron chuckled as he poured water into the pot, letting it heat up. "Yeah, yeah. But trust me, you're gonna appreciate a hot meal."

She scooted closer, resting her chin on his shoulder, looking into the pot. "Alright, Chef Aron, what's on the menu?"

"Instant ramen and some dried meat." He shot her a look. "Gourmet as hell, I know."

Jubilee grinned. "Ooooh, fancy. I knew there was a reason I brought you."

As the water started to boil, Aron ripped open the ramen packets, dropping in the noodles and seasoning. The scent of rich broth filled the air, mixing with the crisp scent of snow and pine. Jubilee sighed dramatically.

"I take back everything bad I've ever said about hiking. If this is part of it, I might survive."

Aron handed her a makeshift bowl of ramen and settled beside her, close enough that their knees brushed. "So dramatic," he murmured, nudging her playfully.

She slurped up a noodle loudly, grinning. "You love it."

Aron didn't answer right away, just watching the way the firelight flickered against her face, making her dark eyes glow. His lips quirked up slightly. "Maybe."

Jubilee stilled for just a second, the warmth of the fire suddenly nothing compared to the heat crawling up her neck. She masked it quickly, bumping her shoulder into his. "You're lucky I like you."

Aron smirked, taking a slow sip of his broth. "I know."

Meanwhile…

A soft golden glow flickered in the distance, swirling like delicate embers around the camp. Jean, standing on a nearby ridge, let the Phoenix Force expand ever so slightly, shielding Jubilee and Aron's small campsite from the bitter cold without them even noticing. The air around them grew a touch warmer, the wind dying down as if nature itself had granted them a moment of peace.

Kitty, perched beside her, unwrapped a protein bar and tossed one to Emma, who caught it effortlessly. "You know, if you're going this far to protect them, we could've just brought them to a cabin instead of spying from behind a rock."

Jean took a slow bite of her bar, glancing at the two figures by the fire. "Where's the fun in that?"

Emma smirked. "Exactly. This is much more entertaining."

Kitty snorted. "You two are ridiculous."

Emma took a bite of her protein bar, eyes still on the couple. "They deserve a moment. Just let them be."

And so, under the quiet watch of their ever-meddling friends, Aron and Jubilee sat close, sharing warmth, stealing glances, and just for a little while letting the rest of the world fade away.

...

As the fire outside crackled and the wind howled through the trees, Jubilee and Aron crawled into their tent, the exhaustion of the day's climb settling deep into their bones. The tent was small—just enough room for the two of them and their gear, with their sleeping bags, zipped together to form a single cocoon of warmth.

Jubilee flopped onto the makeshift bed, sighing as she stretched out. "Okay, real talk? That hike was brutal, but I think setting up the tent was worse."

Aron chuckled, pulling off his jacket and tossing it aside. "You wouldn't know. You barely helped."

"Hey, supervising is a very important job," she defended, propping herself up on one elbow.

Aron rolled his eyes, sitting beside her as he peeled off his gloves. The temperature had dropped drastically, their breath misting in the air even inside the tent. The cold was seeping through their layers, and despite the insulated sleeping bags, it wasn't enough to keep them truly warm.

Jubilee shifted, rolling onto her side to face him. A playful smirk tugged at her lips. "You know," she started casually, "in extreme cold, the best way for two people to stay warm is by sharing body heat."

Aron raised a brow. "Yeah?"

"Yup," she continued, her smirk deepening. "And the best way to do that?" She paused for effect. "No clothes. Just skin-on-skin contact. More heat, more comfort. It's science."

"And?" 

Jubilee smirked, scooting closer. "And you do have a body..."

He huffed a laugh, shaking his head as she wiggled even nearer, pressing against his side. The layers of fabric between them did little to stop the warmth that radiated between them.

"Jubilee…" he started, but she cut him off with a teasing grin.

"Look, I'm just saying. It's science. Two people, close together, less cold. More comfortable." Her voice dipped playfully as she rested a hand against his chest. "Unless you'd rather freeze?"

Aron exhaled, his breath warm against her forehead. "You're impossible."

"And you like it," she whispered.

Silence stretched between them, the distant wind whistling outside, but inside the tent, it was just the two of them—their breaths mingling in the dim light, their eyes locked, the space between them vanishing as if drawn together by something beyond words.

Aron's fingers brushed against her cheek, tracing the chilled skin before trailing down to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Jubilee sighed softly, leaning into his touch, her usual bravado giving way to something quieter, more vulnerable.

And then, slowly, he closed the remaining distance, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was warm, lingering, unhurried.

**[Don't forget to 'favorite' the chapter.]***

If you like my work, you can support me on:-

www.patr /UnknownMaster

[14 advance chapters] [No double billing] 

---

Next Ch: 129: Jubilee's first

Ch: 130: Omnipresence

Ch: 131: Empathy

Ch: 132: The Serpent & The Mad Titan