Let me just begin by saying that I promise the story will be humorous, even if this chapter isn't.
But all great comedy needs a good setup, and this is it.
So please stick with the story for another chapter or two, because that is where the humor is!
The helicopter slowly made its approach over the grounds of the vast estate belonging to Charles Xavier. The monotonous sound of the blades slicing through the air lulled the occupants of the XM-Velocity into a sleeplike state. Not that they could be blamed, they were all exhausted.
It had been a scant few hours ago that they were all fighting for their lives, attempting to save the world from the nefarious plots of Apocalypse. This particular batch of mutants was pitted against one of the most powerful mutants alive, Magneto, who was under Apocalypse's control. Despite outnumbering the horseman of Apocalypse ten to one, they had been beaten. They had almost failed.
Eventually, Apocalypse's control had been broken, and the mutant sent spinning through the cracks of time. Magneto woke to find his two children standing over him, concern etched across their faces.
To the mutants he had fought, there was relief that he was no longer a mindless zombie. To his children, there was elation that he had not met his end. To the Master of Magnetism himself, it was if he had awoken from a long, terrible dream.
The only one awake on the helicopter besides the pilot, Magneto looked down upon the sleeping forms of his children. The two had fallen asleep, curled on his lap, exhausted from their ordeal.
Reflecting on the conversation he had with the twins during the flight, Magneto realized how much he had put them through, the amount of pain and grief they had suffered on his behalf. At that very moment, Magneto silently vowed that he would make up for his past faults. He had been given a second chance with them, and he would not mess it up.
"Where are you going?" Pietro asked his father. It had only been a few days since the battle in Mexico. The family had remained at the mansion since their return, and Magneto had undergone rigorous testing along with the others possessed by Apocalypse. The results of the tests had come in and Magneto had been given a clean bill of health, and more importantly no trace of Apocalypse's control remained.
"I have some matters to attend to Pietro," replied the elder mutant. The three stood on the grass swept plain of the Xavier Institute.
"What?" Pietro asked again, trying to fathom why his father was abandoning him again.
"I have made some wrongs in my life Pietro. I intend to set them right. And that includes the two of you. When I return, I promise that I will make amends for past errors. I promise," Magneto solemnly told his children.
"When will you be back?" Wanda asked her father. Magneto paused for a moment before answering.
"I hope within a month or two. I have some people to find, and they are not always easily found," Magneto replied as he took to the air, his feet lifting off the ground. "I'll be back before you know it."
"Just take care of yourself Father," Wanda replied, her sadness at his departure flashing in her eyes.
"I will, and take care of yourself, and your brother."
"Hey! I can take care of myself!" Pietro objected. The family shared a quick grin. Magneto began to lift off into the air, but recalled one more thing to tell his children.
"Don't forget. School starts in two weeks!" Magneto called to his children, smirking at the curses that came in reply.
It had been two months since that day. Two months since life had returned to normal. School had resumed and the Brotherhood attended regularly, and even found that they had supplies to last for a while.
It was a quiet Saturday morning. The air was brisk and clean. The sunlight sparkled majestically on the grass. Singing birds filled the morning with peace. That is until…
"WHAT?" a loud shout came from the decrepit building known as the Bayville Boarding House. Inside the home the Brotherhood had gathered around their employer. And their employer looked down at his son.
"You are all moving in with me," Magneto replied to his son, displeased that he had to repeat himself.
"Moving in?" Lance asked. Magneto turned to look at the boy.
"Yes. Moving in. With me. Get your things."
"Why?" The question came from the most diminutive member of the group, who flinched when Magneto turned his gaze on him.
"If you want to move without your possessions, then by all means go ahead."
"Why are we moving in with you, Father? Don't you move around to much anyway?" Wanda chipped in.
"No. I have, for the moment, put aside that type of living style. I have purchased a home in Bayville, not quite the size of Xavier's but large enough for the lot of you."
"But why?"
"I promised to make amends with you. This is merely a step. Also I can keep an eye on you and make sure you aren't forced into horrific living conditions."
"So it'll be us and you?"
"Pyro too."
"What? Are you crazy?" Pietro practically shrieked. Magneto frowned.
"Pyro is the only Acolyte left. Remy and Piotr bolted to the X-Men. And I am not abandoning him. Besides, you'll adjust."
"If by adjust you mean have third-degree burns," Pietro retorted.
"Enough, Pietro. Go pack. I will return in an hour for you all," Magneto declared as he whirled around and marched out of the Brotherhood House. The teenaged mutants stood in silence for a few moments, letting what they had just been told sink in. Wanda silently began to walk off when the silence was broken by a snickering Fred.
"So what do you think he'll do when he finds out about your 'friend' Wanda?" Fred asked gleefully. The rest of the Brotherhood joined the large boy in a shared smirk. Wanda whirled around, daggers flying from her eyes.
"Shut up!" she hissed, her words betraying a threat of bodily harm. The boys quickly ended their chortling.
"No one is to tell Father about that. If anyone does, I'll make sure their life is a living hell. Clear?" Wanda snapped. It was at times like these where the resemblance to her father was apparent. The others watched as she spun on her heel and marched out of the room. A few moments passed and the chuckling began again.
"You know something guys, life is about to get real interesting," Pietro mirthfully said.
Who is Wanda's friend?
What is going to happen?
And how will Pyro figure in to all of it?
Suggestions welcome!