X-Force: Beyond Omega

The entrance to the theme park was a chaotic blend of neon lights, excited chatter, and the clanking of roller coasters. The usual scent of popcorn, fried dough, and just a hint of engine grease from the go-kart track nearby... It was just so normal than their usual chaotic life. Aron adjusted his ball cap as he strolled beside Jubilee. He was using shapeshifting to hide his identity.

"So let me get this straight," he said, glancing at her. "Of all the attractions in this place... roller coasters, haunted houses, the Ferris wheel, you want to start with bumper cars?"

Jubilee, walking with an extra bounce in her step, spun on her heel to face him, walking backward. "Hell yeah, we are! It's the one place where it's socially acceptable to crash into people at full speed!" She pointed dramatically toward the brightly lit arena ahead, where kids and adults alike were ramming their cars into each other. "I need to see if you can handle my elite driving skills."

Aron raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so this is a competition now?"

She smirked, poking his chest. "Everything's a competition, big guy. And I don't plan on losing."

They approached the ride, joining a short line. The hum of electricity in the floor panels crackled faintly as the current turned over the bumper cars. 

Jubilee rocked on her heels as they waited, hands shoved into the pockets of her bright yellow jacket. "Alright, ground rules. No cheating. No fancy reflexes. No reality-warping if you start losing."

Aron scoffed. "You really think I'd use godlike powers to win at bumper cars?"

Jubilee folded her arms. "One hundred percent. You have serious main-character energy."

Before he could argue, the ride attendant waved them in. The two rushed forward, picking their cars—Jubilee picked a pink one, while Aron slid into a black one. As soon as they buckled in and grabbed the steering wheels, Jubilee leaned over.

"Prepare to eat rubber, loser."

Aron smirked. "Try not to cry when I send you flying across the arena."

The buzzer sounded. The ride came to life.

Jubilee floored the pedal.

Aron barely had time to react before her pink bumper car slammed into his side with a satisfying thunk!

Jubilee threw her hands in the air. "WOOO! FIRST HIT!"

Aron narrowed his eyes, gripping the wheel. "Oh, it's on."

He whipped his car around, dodging two unsuspecting kids who were locked in their own battle, and set his sights on Jubilee. She was laughing, weaving through the chaos like a natural. He had to admit—she was good. But he was better.

He accelerated.

Jubilee's eyes widened as she spotted him coming at full speed. "Oh sh—"

BAM!

Her car spun, nearly doing a full 180 before she regained control. She looked at him, stunned, before her lips curled into a grin.

"You wanna play like that?" she taunted. "Fine. No mercy."

What followed could only be described as carnage.

They spent the next few minutes ruthlessly targeting each other, dodging and slamming into each other like warriors in a grand arena. Other riders got caught in the crossfire, yelping as the two maniacs rammed into anything that moved.

At one point, Aron found himself surrounded—two kids blocked his left, a dad on his right, and Jubilee directly ahead, grinning like a madwoman.

"Checkmate," she whispered.

She hit the pedal.

Aron braced for impact.

CRASH!

The ride attendant had to physically separate their bumper cars by the time the round ended. Jubilee practically fell out of hers, wheezing with laughter. Aron stretched his neck, shaking his head.

"I might have underestimated your dedication to vehicular violence," he admitted.

Jubilee wiped a tear from her eye. "That was the best thing ever. Oh my god. Your face when I boxed you in? Priceless."

Aron shook his head with a chuckle. "Alright, you win this round."

She grinned, bumping her shoulder against his. "Damn right, I do. But the date's just getting started, hotshot. Next stop... cotton candy!"

As they walked toward the snack stands, Aron couldn't help but glance at her from the corner of his eye. Her eyes were still bright with excitement, her laughter... It made his heart race faster. She looked so beautiful and carefree. Maybe this whole "normal date" thing wasn't so bad after all.

He smirked.

"Lead the way, champ."

Jubilee practically dragged Aron toward the snack stand, her eyes locked onto the swirling towers of pastel-colored sugar. The scent of spun sugar filled the air as they approached the vendor, where a teenager in a red apron lazily twirled a cone inside the cotton candy machine.

"One pink and blue mix, please!" Jubilee chirped, bouncing on her heels.

Aron raised an eyebrow. "You're this excited over sugar fluff?"

Jubilee turned to him, her expression scandalized. "Okay, first of all, it's not just sugar fluff. This is art, Aron. A delicate balance of science and magic. And second," she grabbed the massive swirl of cotton candy as the vendor handed it over, "I bet you don't even know the correct way to eat this."

Aron smirked. "There's a correct way?"

Jubilee held up a hand. "Observe."

She dramatically plucked a piece of the cotton candy and let it dissolve on her tongue before making a satisfied "Mmm" sound. "You have to let it melt. If you just chew it, you're doing it wrong."

Aron stared at her, then reached over, pulled a chunk off, and immediately shoved it into his mouth—chewing aggressively.

Jubilee gasped, clutching her chest like she'd just witnessed a crime. "What are you doing?!"

He chewed louder. "I'm enjoying my sugar fluff."

"You absolute heathen," she whispered in horror.

Aron smirked, swallowing. "Tastes the same either way, Jubes."

She narrowed her eyes. "I don't know if I can date someone who eats cotton candy like a barbarian."

He shrugged. "Guess this was fun while it lasted."

Jubilee gasped again, dramatically placing a hand over her heart. "You wouldn't dare break up with me over this."

"Try me."

Jubilee huffed, then promptly shoved a fistful of cotton candy into his face.

Aron blinked, slowly peeling the sticky remains off his nose.

"Oh, you're so gonna pay for that."

"Catch me first, slowpoke!"

And with that, she bolted, laughing, leaving Aron to chase after her through the park.

Their next stop was the shooting gallery.

"Alright, hotshot, let's see what you got."

Jubilee leaned against the counter of the shooting gallery, watching as Aron inspected the old-fashioned BB rifle. The game was simple—hit the moving targets, rack up points, win a prize. And from the look of things, Aron was already sizing up the mechanics.

"I take it you've done this before?" she asked, smirking.

Aron shrugged, cocking the rifle. "Once or twice."

"Think you can win me something cool?"

His eyes flicked up to the prize wall, then back to her. "You got your eye on something?"

Jubilee pointed to the top shelf. "The giant Charizard."

Aron followed her gaze to the absolutely massive plush Charizard, easily the size of a small child.

He exhaled. "That thing is way too big."

Jubilee batted her lashes. "But it would make me so happy."

Aron sighed, lifting the rifle. "Fine. But only because I like seeing you happy."

Jubilee grinned. "Damn right you do."

The game began. The targets popped up, moving unpredictably, but Aron barely seemed to be trying. Each shot landed perfectly—ding, ding, ding—until he had maxed out the score in record time.

The game operator, a tired-looking man in his fifties, whistled. "Well, damn. I think that's a first."

Aron casually leaned the rifle back on the counter. "I'll take the Charizard."

The operator shrugged, handing it over. Aron turned to Jubilee, holding out the giant plush like an offering.

She gasped, hugging it immediately. "I love him."

Aron smirked. "I have officially been replaced, haven't I?"

Jubilee patted his arm. "You were a good boyfriend while you lasted."

He chuckled, shaking his head.

Next stop, basketball throw.

Aron spun the basketball in his hands, testing its weight. "Okay, so, I just have to get five shots in a row to win?"

The game attendant nodded. "Yep. Simple enough."

Aron shrugged. "Alright. Let's do this."

Jubilee folded her arms, leaning against the counter. "This is gonna be good."

Aron lined up his first shot. He aimed. He focused. He—

Clang.

The ball bounced off the rim.

Jubilee barely held back her laughter. "Oof. That's rough, buddy."

Aron narrowed his eyes and grabbed another ball. He had this. He'd fought cosmic beings, bent reality itself—this was nothing.

He shot again.

Clang.

Jubilee bit her lip, her shoulders shaking with silent laughter.

Aron exhaled through his nose. "The rim is rigged."

Jubilee snorted. "Suuuure it is."

He tried again. And again. And again.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

Jubilee finally lost it, doubling over in laughter. "Oh my god, you suck!"

Aron scowled. "Alright, you try then."

Jubilee wiped a tear from her eye, stepping up to the line. "Oh, baby, you just activated my final form."

She grabbed a ball, spun it on her finger for dramatic effect, and then—

Swish.

Aron blinked. "...Beginner's luck."

She shot again.

Swish.

Aron's jaw clenched.

A third shot.

Swish.

A fourth.

Swish.

By the time she hit the fifth shot, the game attendant was nodding in approval. "Damn. You play?"

Jubilee smirked. "Hundreds of hours of arcade basketball, baby. This ain't even a challenge."

She turned to Aron, positively glowing with victory. "So, what do you want? I can win you that tiny stuffed duck."

Aron crossed his arms. "Hell no. I don't want a creepy stuffed duck."

She picked up the duck, placing it in his hands. "You get what you get."

Aron looked down at the tiny, smug-looking duck plush. He sighed. "I hate this date."

Jubilee grinned. "No, you don't."

"...No. I don't."

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[14 advance chapters] [No double billing] 

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