S t r a n g e O v e r t o n e s

Chapter One: Stand-In


There are many ways to protect yourself.

New York was incredibly hot during the summer. July seemed to be the hottest month, before it shifted into fall. And with the Brotherhood not having any money, there was was no possible way to cool down. They had tried various methods. They stole a fan a few air conditioners, but with them not paying the electric bill, that plan didn't work. Then they tried getting ice, but the ice eventually melted. They needed something long-term.

It was Lance who said that they needed to get jobs. Fred was all for it. There were things he could do to get a job, and as long as he kept some of the money, he would be more than willing to put in his share. Wanda had agreed but on the grounds that she got proper help finding the job. She had no experience in such things. Pietro and Toad were the only ones who dissented, but they were outvoted.

It took a few months for everyone to get jobs, but eventually, they did. Lance found employment at a small delivery place. The owner there payed him to deliver packages to random areas around New York. Wanda was lucky enough to be with Lance on the day he was hired, she ended up being referred to a place in New York. It was a café, and since the owner was a bit taken by Wanda, she became a waitress there.

Fred did various odd jobs. From babysitting to hired muscle, Fred was never left without a job. Without a doubt, he became the top earner in the Brotherhood. Pietro never revealed what job he had, he made money and as long as they never got arrested, they didn't care about the source of his income. Todd being the odd one out, ending up delivering papers.

It was six moths after Apocalypse and the Brotherhood were proud to say that they were doing well. Without the help of Magneto, the X-Men or Mystique.

Lance was the only source of information about the X-men but after a rather nasty breakup with Kitty, they really heard nothing from them. And as they were living a generally okay life, they didn't care.

Considering the relationship between the Maximoff twins and Magneto, it was a slight surprise that he did even consider to contact them on the behalf of their well being. But he was planning big things with his Acolytes and the twins were more than happy to stay of his way.

They slipped into their own routines without complaint. They did their work and shared their fair amount. They simply lived together.

They were okay.

OoOoO

Wanda sat on the passenger seat of the jeep, observing the scenery as it whirled pass her eyes. Lance was dropping her off at her job today. The sounds of old 80's rock music blared through the radio as they headed for the city. It wasn't her brand of music but it did fill the silence.

Wanda reached to the backseat to grab her bag as Lance parked behind the café's building. She unbuckled her seat-belt and left his jeep. She turned and saw Lance studying her. She gave him a curious look and Lance shook his head.

"Are you gonna need a ride?" Lance looked at her expectantly.

He asked this question every time. Wanda gave him the usual response, a nod.

"Alright," he nodded back as he shifted gears, "I'll be here at nine."

Wanda waited until Lance's car left the tiny parking lot before going inside.

As much as she would try to deny it, Wanda loved her job. There was a kind of different atmosphere here. It was a type of place that Wanda loved to be in. It kept her distracted, and centered.

When Wanda finished changing into uniform, she clocked in and went up from to start her shift. When she went to the counter to start, she was surprised to see a tall blonde working the register.

"Where's Julia?"

The blond turned to face her and Wanda took in her features. An estimate of twenty at the youngest, blue eyes and a disarming smile. Wanda was having none of that. If this woman was going to take over Julia's job, not only would Wanda be out of a friend, she'd be out of a lot of money. The majority of her income came from tips. This girl was damn fine, so all of the attention that was originally on Wanda would transfer to her. The woman's smile grew larger.

"I'm Emma Frost," she introduced herself, holding her hand out, "I'm taking over for Julia today."

Wanda narrowed her eyes, still suspicious, but as long as she wasn't taking over her co-worker's job, then she was okay.

"What happened to her," she asked, ignoring her outstretched hand to weave her way around her to go on the other side of the counter. Emma shrugged.

"She told me that a guy gave her daisy's."

Wanda let out a small hum in amusement. Julia was allergic to all types of nature.

"Guess you're gonna be with me until Julia gets better," Wanda said, none to pleasantly. Emma, catching her tone replied in kind.

"I guess so."

OoOoO

It was a relatively slow day for the two. A few regulars came, grabbed coffee then left. No newcomers, not even people "just wanting to use the bathroom." Slow day.

Right now, Wanda had decided to take a break and just relax. She sat at one of the booths, drinking coffee and reading a small booklet on Algebra. She was the only one who didn't go to high school and though the thought of it appealed to her (to her brother's horror), Lance's suggestion of getting her GED was better.

She doubted that she would ever have a chance to do great things, like her father or the people at the Xavier Institute, but she did have a right to be educated. And if there was ever a chance to leave the Brotherhood, just a tiny chance, Wanda wanted to make sure she took it and increased her odds of reaching her goal.

She was skimming the section on polynomials when she saw silver flats flash her from the corner of her eyes. Emma. She kept her eyes on the booklet, trying her best to concentrate. But as the blond sat down across from her on the booth, Wanda couldn't help but draw her eyes up to meet Emma's.

"Look," she started, voice stern, "I'm trying to study so unless you have something important to say, either shut up or leave."

Rude.

It was Emma's voice, clear as day in her head. Wanda blinked, surprised then narrowed her eyes, not saying anything out loud or in her mind.

I take it by your reaction that your not the least bit surprised that I'm a telepath. Her voice again, with that Boston accent, was very sarcastic. Wanda frowned. The thought of someone in her head bothered her to no end. She may be a mutant, and she may be exposed to various types powers, but that didn't mean that she would have to be accustomed to it.

You know, it's a bit insulting to be turned away by your own kind. Wanda's eyebrows furrowed in restrained anger. Bitch was amused by this!

"Get out of my head," she told Emma. Emma, not surprised by her reaction, pulled back, mentally and physically. Now Emma had her back against the cushions, looking every bit as relaxed as she may feel.

"What do you want?"

"Me? Well I want to be able to not have you glare at me like that."

Wanda could see their boss at the counter, writing something in his little notebook.

"Well, when you have somebody in your head, it's pretty hard not to glare." Wanda clenched her fist and set her booklet down. Obviously, Emma didn't understand how much she didn't like people in her head. And obviously, she didn't understand just what she was capable of.

Emma blinked. Then a sudden look of realization crossed her face, before it turned to understanding. Emma looked away, guilty.

"I'm sorry. I didn't--" she stopped herself then continued again, "I'm not completely use to actually talking to mutants. You'd be the second one I've met. Ever."

Wanda studied the woman, very sure that she was lying, but she had her eyes lowered and that frown on her face, and her overall body language spoke of the guilt she must have been feel. Seeing her guilty made Wanda guilty. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair, embarrassed and frustrated.

"S'alright. Just please, stay out of my head."

Emma bit her lip, then nodded.

"As a way of apology, can I take you out?"

Wanda's eyebrows rose at the question until Emma's did the same and the now flustered woman shook her head.

"No. No, not like that. I'm not like that. I meant, 'can we get out of here and eat something else aside from bread?'" She looked at Wanda with a sheepish smile, "I'll pay."

Wanda smiled, relaxed and nodded her head. The two pulled out of the booth and told their boss that they'd be back. He nodded his acceptance with a knowing smile on his face. With that, the two girls headed out for lunch.

OoOoO

"Mental shields," Wanda repeated, curious.

"Yes. Anybody develop them, and they are great for those who try to attack you through the mind," Emma gave Wanda a meaningful look, before continuing, "It will be only one session. And I won't do anything you don't want me to."

Wanda hesitated, staring down at her plate of salad before turning her gaze outside to the people of New York. Anybody would be able to alter her mind, control her, without her knowing or being able to fight back. The thought sent a dark shiver through her. She looked at Emma, who seemed very patient with her, then nodded her head. Consent.

"Alright, when do we start?"

OoOoO

Wanda knew that what she saw before her wasn't real. That they were really outside, sitting on the back steps of the café's building waiting for Lance to pick her up. That these red skies weren't real, that the ground shouldn't have looked the clean, like metal. She knew that the outfit she donned now, the red tights, red tank top and red long sleeved mesh shirt and high heeled boots was simply what her mind wished her to wear. Because she knew for a damn fact that she would never wear a cape in real life, like she was now.

She saw Emma floating above her surrounded in a thin white aura patiently waiting for Wanda to take in her surroundings. Emma wore a white suit. The blazer she had was cut to show her toned stomach and instead of heels, she was wearing boots. The low ponytail that Wanda saw on her when they first met was taken down, and her platinum blond locks flowed freely about her. Wanda looked at Emma, curious.

"Where are we?"

"Your mind, dear," she answered, gesturing at the beautiful expanse. There was strange shimmers of fog and smoke surrounding them, different shades of red, white and black. It didn't hinder their sight, as Wanda could clearly see Emma smiling at her.

"So where do we go?"

Emma grinned, "Up."

Wanda looked up at the sky, squinting to see anything that would tell her where to go. She saw it, the sun. It was bright. Rainbow coloured and just brilliant. Wanda frowned; she couldn't fly.

"Make stairs then," Emma said, lowering herself so she wasn't so high above Wanda.

Wanda held her hands out and concentrated. She visualized thin platforms leading from her feet to that orb. She closed her eyes and held her hands out. When she opened them, the stairs were there. Glassy, red stairs. Wanda ran up the stairs as Wanda floated beside her.

They reached the top and Wanda looked at Emma, expectantly. Emma's expression took Wanda off guard. She seemed a bit... troubled, to say the least.

"Emma?"

She reached out to the orb and tapped the empty space around it. Or at least it looked empty. A piece of the orb fell off, revealing a smaller more radiant orb inside. Emma used both hands now to open the orb. It was working but Emma seemed to be struggling.

"Quick, Wanda. Get the light."

Doing as instructed, she reached pass Emma and took the orb, cradling it in her hands. It was warm and familiar and it was waiting for her. Emma pulled away from the rainbow ball and it fell to the ground, breaking apart. The light in Wanda's hands continued to illuminate the terrain, shifting the darker red black and white smoke it lighter shades.

"I believe that this may be the real portal to your mind," Emma said, "brilliant."

"What do we do now?"

"We create something to hide and protect it."

OoOoO

Wanda was still a bit dazed when she saw Lance's jeep drive into the parking lot. She shook her head when she realized that Emma was talking.

"What?"

"Your mental shields should stay up. When a real threat comes to attack, you should have some method of defense before you take them out externally."

Wanda smiled a bit as she stood up, taking her bag with her. Emma stood up as well.

"I don't know why anybody would want to attack me now."

"Can't hurt to be safe." Emma shrugged.

Lance honked on the horn for Wanda to hurry. Wanda frowned, giving him the 'one minute' signal. She ignored the exasperated look on Lance's face.

"Thank you," Wanda said, looking meaningfully into Emma's eyes, "you didn't have to do that."

"I did," she said, voice soft. Wanda shrugged, a way of her saying it wasn't that big of a deal. She started to walk over to Lance's car.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

The words were soft, near quite, but Wanda heard them.

"I hope so."


A/N: The summary is actually a quote from former president George Bush. No lie. Points to the person who knows when he said it. That quote has a very big role in this story, so don't forget first part, concerning the Brotherhood was going to be the prologue. But then I thought it sounded better in this chapter alone. My reason for choosing the Brotherhood to go in this direction was because in the show, they honestly didn't seem to care about mutant-human relations. Especially towards the end of the show, where they were kind of treated as a wild card. So I'm guessing that After the big bad from the series finale, Magneto up and ditched them while the X-Men don't know (or care) about what's going on with the Brotherhood. Dunno about Mystique. I figured she stopped giving funds a long time ago. As for Emma's place in this story. A big hint is shown in the chapter's title, depending on how you interpret it.

Disclaimer: The characters in X-Men: Evolution (and other Marvel characters used in this fic) is property of Marvel and I'm not profiting in any way from this story. I actually have no income coming in period.