A.N. - I own nothing except for Shade/Leah. I do not own any x-men. Please R+R! Thanks!
"Give me the god damn scissors!" Leah yelled at the barber.
She had just run away from home… again and was planning on joining the war. I mean for god's sake she was sixteen years old! She wasn't about to get married, like her parents wanted, and with her 'special abilities' she would be a great fighter.
The barber a little frightened of her outburst and well… her in general, handed her the scissors.
Leah pulled her long hair back in a ponytail, took the scissors, and chopped it off where her hand held it together. She let the hair fall and ruffled her now short hair around so she looked more like a man. She had stolen her step-father's revolution gun and uniform and snuck out in the middle of the night. She went from Pennsylvania to New York in a night hitch- hiking and walking. Granted her step-father's clothes were big but she had to at least look like a man for them to let her on the front lines.
She turned back around and gave the barber a sweet smile.
"Thank you, Sir. Do you know where the nearest regiment sign-ups are?" She asked with a sweet if- you- tell- anyone- about- this- I'll- kill- you look.
"Yes. They're in N- N- New Y- Y- York, Sir." He stuttered back, putting emphasis on sir to let her know her secret was safe with him.
"Thank you, Sir." She said walking out.
Now to look like a man. Her voice was naturally deep so that wasn't a problem. But a name. That was a challenge. She had to find something common but not too common. If she remembered correctly her real mother was full-blood German and her real father was half Cherokee. Daniel Koons that would have to work.
"Next!" Called the guy behind the registration desk, gruffly, "Name!" He demanded when Leah approached the desk.
"Daniel Koons. That's spelled k-o-o-n-s." She said sternly, "I'm here to sign up with the cavalry."
The guy looked him up and down and smirked, "The cavalry?" he giggled.
Daniel got frustrated, I'll prove it! Show me the worst horse you have!"
The man stood and led Daniel to far corral still obviously skeptical. A group of men gathered curious as to what was going on.
"There he is, the worst son of a bitch that ever lived. No one can even get near him without risking their life." he said.
In the corral was beautiful buckskin with a black dorsal stripe and the same color mane, tail, and stockings. The horse was obviously nothing but muscle.
"He a mustang?" Daniel asked climbing over the fence.
"Yes and you're gonna get yourself killed!" He said like a nagging mother. Daniel went in regardless.
"Keep back I'm warning you!" The horse said when Leah/Daniel got too close.
"It's okay. I don't want to hurt you okay? But I am gonna be in charge here. He said telepathically to the horse.
The horse reared and charged at him but Daniel held his ground. He'd done this before.
"Somebody grab me a rope and whip!" He called behind him. Soon they were both thrown to him. He swung the rope and when the stubborn mustang didn't budge he cracked the whip. The horse leaped into a canter and Daniel made him stay on the outside of the corral. He made in into an angel right before their eyes.
"Saddle!" He called a few hours later. She tacked him up and rode him like a pro.
The registration man that had laughed at him earlier was stunned and stood there with his mouth hanging open.
The cavalry captain saw a crowd around the corral that held the only horse they couldn't break. He came over to find Daniel riding the horse like it was simple.
"Who is that man?" The captain asked the awestruck registration man.
"That's Daniel Koons." He answered never taking his eyes off the man on the horse.
()()()()()()
"You ready for this?" Victor asked his slightly distracted brother.
"I guess." Logan answered.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"Nothing. Let's get registered." He said snapping out of his daze and pushed forward to join the line.
"Okay you boys'll be travelin with the Calvary. But don't worry you'll get to see the front lines." Said the man, "By the way ya'll got a star in the Calvary. So it's an honor if yer in his platoon." He mentioned.
()()()()()()
Leah sat in her tent; she immediately accepted into the Calvary and made a lieutenant. The story of what she did was all over the camp and she couldn't go anywhere without being recognized. However, she had a bigger problem. She had to share a tent and she needed to get out of her foster- father's clothes. Her original plan had been to sneak off into the woods and changed but that was defiantly not gonna happen now. She was like the freaking president or something considering she joined the Yankees. Then she got an idea.
"Hey!" A guy said trying to catch up to Daniel, "Wait! Please!"
Daniel slowed to a stop and when the solider was beside him he began walking again.
"The captain wants to know if you'll give a demonstration for the president, Sir." He said out of breath.
"Why sure when is it?"
"In ten minutes, Sir." He answered still huffing a little.
"Okay tell them I'll be there."
Daniel answered and watched the solider run off. He waited until he was out of sight and pulled out his uniform, headed for the woods to change. He was supposedly looking for a lost horse, which he purposely let out to prove his excuse. Once changed he called the beautiful bay mare and she came immediately. She was sweet and an easy spirit. She wanted to be around people and followed Daniel willingly.
When he showed up back at camp, a little late for his demonstration, nobody noticed because he had found the lost horse.
"Sorry I'm late I happened upon this little one and had to get her back here." He handed her off to someone with a halter and lead rope, "Now, what would you like to see, Mr. President" He asked with a low bow to the very tall President Lincoln. Then again Daniel was very tall himself standing at Five ten.
"Why whatever it is you do to tame your horses, Son. I hear it's amazing to watch you work. Just do what you do. Just use the gift god gave you." He said like a father.
()()()()()()
"Hey what's goin on over there?" Victor asked veering for the crowd of people around a corral.
"Don't know let's see." Logan answered curious as well.
()()()()()()
Daniel grabbed the buckskin because he needed more ground work. He was still on the wild side. Daniel moved him to the outside of the ring the opposite way as before. Immediately he started throwing a fit. He bucked, kicked, reared, and tried to run him over. Daniel could hear murmurs and gasps coming from the crowd but he blocked them out. He hit the buckskin when he ran for him and chased him back to the outside of the ring. Eventually he lowered his head, kept an ear towards Daniel, and licked his lips. When that happened Daniel turned his back to the buckskin and looked at the ground.
The crowd was silent in wonderment and anticipation of what was going to happen.
He stopped and looked at Daniel for a moment. Then he moved in and knocked Daniel's cavalry hat off his head playfully. Daniel reached up and rubbed the stallion's face, never taking his eyes from the ground. Then he walked forward and the horse followed him as if he had a halter and lead rope on.
The crowd that had gathered applauded and the President gave a standing ovation.
"Come here, Son." President Lincoln said as he walked up to the fence.
Daniel walked over the buckskin on his heels.
"How would you like to come back and train more horses and their men?" The older man asked putting a hand on his shoulder.
()()()()()()
Victor and Logan watched in amazement and wanted to ask the man some questions.
()()()()()()
"I'm sorry, Sir, but I'd like to go to the front lines. If I stayed back I wouldn't feel that I've really done anything. I'm sorry, Sir, but I have to refuse your offer." Daniel said.
"That's quite alright. I understand the ambitions of a young man. I was once one myself." Lincoln replied still merry. He was then whisked way by soldiers who wanted to meet the president.
After the president left two soldiers walked up to Daniel.
What can I do for you boys?" He asked.
"We were told you you're our lieutenant." Victor said. At that the buckskin pinned his ears and snapped at Victor.
Daniel turned on the horse.
"Hey! What was that? Huh!" He yelled. The horse backed up and Daniel followed.
Victor and Logan both jumped when the horse snapped at Victor.
Daniel continued yelling and backing the horse up until he lowered his head and neck. After Cooper had submitted to him he walked back to the soldier he was talking to.
"Sorry about that he's a spirited one. What were you saying?" He apologized.
"We were told you were our lieutenant." Logan repeated.
"Oh! Well then, my name is Lieutenant Koons." Daniel shook hands with them both.
"My name's Victor Creed." He shook the other man's hand flashing his all knowing smirk.
"And I'm Logan Howlett." Logan said quietly. When he shook Daniel's hand he knew that he'd known him before. the way he spoke and acted was eerily familiar. He also caught a whiff of his scent. He thought he smelled familiar and… female? he pushed it to the back of his mind for now and listened while Victor continued chatting with the Lieutenant.
"When do we head out, Sir?" Victor asked. he kept putting emphasis on the word sir and it was making Daniel uneasy. something wasn't quite right with this guy.
"We head out first thing tomarrow. Are you boys foot soldiers?"
"Yes we are, Sir." Victor answered with his infamous smirk. Logan elbowed him in the ribs.
"Well, I'll see you boys tomarrow then." He said and put away Cooper. It was getting late and she should be getting to bed.
Logan couldn't stop thinking about how familiar and strange the lieutenant had smelled. He also couldn't figure out why Victor was acting so strange when he was talking to Koons.
"Victor?" Logan said quietly into the darkness.
"Yeah?" His brother mumbled, "What? You interrupted a great dream."
"Did our Lieutenant smell… funny… to you?" He asked thoughtfully.
"By funny you mean female?" Victor questioned. Logan sat up and looked at him.
"Yeah just like that… but something about…her…him… seemed familiar for some reason." Logan muttered looking back at his covered legs.
"How?" A sleepy mutter.
"Like I've met him/her before."
"Yeah a few hours ago, Logan. You sure you're feeling okay?"
"No- like waay before today." He insisted.
"You're crazy, go to sleep and let me get back to my dream." Victor rolled over.
As Leah lay in her bed that night she couldn't get over how familiar Logan had smelled and looked and how weird Victor had acted. He sent chills down her spine and not much did that. She just couldn't place Logan though. She closed her eyes and suddenly she was back at the house in Canada with her real father.
She heard the soft murmur of her maid say, "I'm sorry, Sir but she wishes not to be seen."
"I want my daughter in her best dress and downstairs now!" Came the angry yell of her father.
She heard the soft pitter-patter of her maid walking back to her room, "I'm sorry Miss…"
"I know, pick something out. I don't care what it is." Leah said as she slowly sat up in bed and swung her legs over the side.
"This is a nice one." The maid said pulling out an elegant red dress with a matching petticoat.
"Fine." She sighed.
Her maid put on her corset and helped her into the dress.
As she walked down the steps she could hear her father saying, "Well it's very nice to meet you, Mr. Hayes. You're just what my daughter needs to help cheer her up."
"Why thank you Mr. Alexis. Is this her here?" She heard a voice respond.
She continued down the stairs to find a young man talking with her father. He turned to look at her and she knew instantly that it was Logan. Leah woke with a start to find Logan hovering above her.
"What are you doing in here Soldier?" She hissed.
"I'm sorry, Sir. I couldn't sleep and I was wondering where you're from." He whispered back.
"I'm from Canada but I came here from Pennsylvania."
"I'm from Canada too but as of late I've been in the New York and Vermont area. Could I ask you one more question, Sir? Have we met before?" He asked uneasy about the answer.
"I believe we have before, Logan. In Canada how about we sleep though." She admitted.
"What's your first name?" He blurted.
"Daniel."
When Daniel said his name it sparked a long forgotten memory for him. He remembered he worked for a guy named Stryker to "court" a girl and see if he could find out if she was a mutant or not. However, it was to be strictly business nothing more, nothing less. No emotional ties, they'd only get in the way. But from the first time he saw her it was more than just business, or at least he wanted it to be more than that.
"I'll leave you to get your rest. Sorry to bother you, Sir." Logan left but not before looking into his commanding officer's familiar bright green eyes a moment longer.
()()()()()()
"Steady men!" Daniel shouted to his regiment as the Rebel army advanced towards them. The horses were prancing in place ready to go.
"Charge!" He screamed and they took off. Blood spattered from Union and Rebel soldiers alike.
Suddenly he was hit in the chest by a bullet. Then he was hit again in the head and he fell off his horse into blackness.
"Victor!" Logan called for his brother, "Help me with him."
Logan and Victor carried Daniel off the battle field and into some secluded woods, where nobody would find him.
"Let's see if our noses were right." Victor said unbuttoning the uniform. It revealed that Daniel was in fact a woman. Logan finally regonized her he imagined her long hair and that beautiful red dress she wore the first time he saw her in Canada. He remembered the bright green eyes of the girl he had courted and he was looking at her dead body right now.