Chapter 1 – the return and hunt
Pietro took a deep breath and sighed happily. It wasn't the sent he'd grown used to over these past three months but he felt happy and comfy. He looked at the building in front of him and knocked on the door.
"I hate school yo", Todd said. "The teachers have something against me."
"Maybe it's your hygiene", Rouge said as she, Kitty, Kurt, Lance and Todd was driving home in Lance jeep. Sam, Amara, Bobby and Tabitha were driving home in the X-van.
"Or the fact that you used to steal from them", Kitty said.
"Never teachers yo", Todd defended himself. "Only jocks and one and another goody-goody."
"Anyway I agree with ya Todd", Lance said.
"Figures", Kitty grumbled.
"School's no fun", Lance continued. "At least it's weekend now so we can have some fun."
He parked the jeep in the garage and they entered the mansion with calls to the grownups.
"Welcome home", Ororo said and smiled. "There is a snack waiting for you in the dining room."
"Thanks Storm", the children chorused.
"Oh Todd, Lance", Ororo stopped them.
"Yes ma'am", Todd asked.
"The professor wants to meet you in his study."
"What have you done now", Tabitha asked as she walked by them.
"Nothing", Lance grumbled.
In the dining room the children were joined by Jamie, Hank, Scott, Jean and Logan. Just as they sat down to eat they heard a scream from the professor's study.
"That was Todd", Kitty exclaimed and rose. "He like sounded terrified!"
"No", Tabitha said and shook her head. "That was a Todd Tolansky happy as hell scream."
"What do ya s'pose made him so happy", Bobby asked.
"I dunno", Tabitha answered with a shrug.
"Everybody", the professor said as he wheeled in and smiled when he saw all worried faces. The only one not looking worried was Logan and Storm came in from the kitchen looking pleased. "You don't need to worry."
"Professor we heard Todd scream", Scott said. "Is he okay?"
"Oh yes he is more than alright, he was just happily surprised."
"How?"
"I want you all to welcome our newest member", the professor moved aside and in came Lance, Todd and…
"Pietro!" Tabitha exclaimed and hurried over to give him a hug. "You're back!"
"Yeah I got tired of staying with my old man", Pietro answered and hugged her back. "And I got tired of his stupid plans."
"Now that that's settled", Logan said and rose. "I want you all down in the training room. I have a special thing I've wanted to try for a long time."
"Come on Tro let's find you a suit and get you settled", Lance flung his arm around Pietro's shoulders and they walked away, Todd jumping after them happily.
"Professor", Jean said through her thoughts. "Are you sure Magneto didn't send him here to spy on us?"
"Yes Jean I am."
"But are you sure? I couldn't get a reading from him."
"To tell the truth Jean barely can I. Pietro's mind like the rest of him is moving in super speed. But I felt that he really meant what he said. He's fed up with his father and wants to fight with us."
"Exactly he wants to fight with us!"
"I mean alongside us not against us."
"Come on red", Logan yelled. "We need you."
"What exactly are you planning for us Logan", Bobby asked as all the X-men gathered in the danger room.
"Something I've wanted to do for long", Logan said with an evil grin. "We are going to do a variant of tag. Rule number one, no powers… except for Pietro."
"Me", Quicksilver asked stunned. "Why me?"
"Put this communicator on", Logan ordered him and he did so. "Now your mission is to tag as many of the others as you can. I will tell you who to tag and you'll try to do it. The rest of you… your only goal is, without using your powers, to catch Quicksilver. Quicky will get a point for every member he tags."
"How are we supposed to stop him", Berserker asked annoyed. "He's too fast!"
"I'm not done yet", Wolverine snarled. "I will turn the holoprojector on and you'll be in a forest. Pietro when you hear a whistle you'll need to hide somewhere. The rest of you will have to look for him. You got ten seconds and during those ten seconds you aren't allowed to move Quicksilver. Here the others will be able to find the helpers. The helpers will be Cyclops, Iceman, Jean, Avalanche and Berserker. If you find Cyclops he must fire a blast within ten seconds or else Quicksilver will get two points. If Cyclops blows Quicksilver's cover or hit him you all will get ten points and the game is over. If you find Iceman he is allowed to use his powers once, whenever you want to. If you find Avalanche he will use his power for a minute, making it harder for Quicksilver to run… and for you too. Berserker have two blasts he can use whenever it pleases you. Then there is Jean… If you find her she can use her powers to keep Quicksilver still so you can touch him. But finding Jean will also give Quicksilver ten points."
"Are we all allowed to look during the hide and seek", Shadowcat asked.
"No only one and I will tell who… and the others can't help in any way."
"This will be fun", Quicksilver said and smiled.
"Stop", Kitty yelled and tried to grab Pietro.
"Come on Kitty, you can't catch me… I'm too fast." Pietro taunted.
"This is hopeless!"
"Tag you're it", Pietro said and tapped her shoulder. "Whoa!" He jumped aside when three X-men jumped at him.
"Logan they'll lose big time", Scott said, already been found he'd had to leave the room with Berserker.
"I know… that's the point. They need to learn that they won't always win. Time for some more hide and go seek."
The whistle came and Pietro was gone.
"Nightcrawler go seek", Logan said grimly. Nightcrawler went around and saw walked up to a bush.
"Aha", he said.
"Hi there", Iceman said. "Glad you found me."
"Quicksilver… tag Toad."
"Understood."
"Now we can get him", Rouge said. "If you miss Bobby I'll skin ya. Okay first we must lure Quicksilver towards you and then you can blast his feet."
"Fine."
They all tried to grab Pietro and they actually managed to drive him towards Iceman.
"Freeze", Iceman yelled and fired at Pietro dead on… or so he thought. He missed by an inch and by doing so froze Sunspot.
"Hey!" This called. "Not me you idiot."
"Okay X-men that's it for today… Quicksilver wins."
Pietro smiled and reached his hand out for Kitty to take. She'd fallen when Pietro stopped. She just sneered and ignored him. Pietro shrugged and walked over to help freeing Sunspot.
"Now how are we gonna do this without hurting him", Amara asked. "If I use my powers I'll fry him."
"I know", Bobby said and grabbed Pietro's shoulder. "Pie if we hold your shoulders can you run on the ice till it melts?"
"Okay one never ever call me Pie, secondly we can always try and three… Make sure I don't slip."
"Fine with me."
"That was a good practice in taking defeat", Logan told them. "Most of you took it really well." He looked at Kitty and Jean who were both moody after the practice. "Quicksilver…"
"Yeah", Pietro asked.
"Good work, you got some logic in that head of yours. Use it wisely."
"Me oui!" Quicksilver made a salute and the X-men left.
"Ya know I don't think that uniform works on ya yo", Todd said as he and Lance walked towards the room they shared. "I can actually count your ribs."
"So?"
"It's creepy."
"Sh… Listen", Lance said.
"Chuck I'm just saying that it would be good."
"That's Logan", Todd said. "What are they talking about?"
"I don't know and I don't want to know", Lance said. "Now come on."
"Aw shoot", Pietro said. "I'll be with ya in a sec I forgot something in the library."
When Todd and Lance were out of sight Pietro leaned in further to listen to the grownups talking in Charles' room.
"I know it would be good with a spy at Magneto's place Logan", Charles said. "But we can't risk using one of the students and he would never believe any of us would want to join him."
"What about the Cajun, Russian or the Aussie?" Logan asked. "They seemed to like being X-men when they stayed here."
"No… Eric will keep a close eye on them…"
"What about Pietro", Hank asked. "Magneto would never suspect his own son."
"Absolutely not", the professor almost yelled. "Pietro's been through too much acting as a spy for his father and he's made it clear to Eric that he doesn't want to be part of his plans. I won't endanger any student and that's final."
Pietro ran into the library and got what he was looking for but kept thinking:
"Maybe I should…"
TBC
