A/N: Fic 3! This time, I thought I'd do a little action with one of my favorite Marvel characters, X-23. Also, my first multi-chapter story, although it will probably be only 2 or 3 chapters. So here's the setup since I don't think it'd fit in the story itself very well. It takes place in the X-Men Evolution universe. Wolverine convinced X-23 to come to the Institute, and Season 3 is long over. X-23 now has her canon name of Laura, although she still responds to X or X-23. She's a little more outgoing than in the comics (Hey, it's an alternate continuity and she's had some time to adjust. Sue me if she's not exactly like she is in the comics I rarely read, not to mention can't find, even at Comic Con.) and does have a decent friendship with Jean and a more shaky one with Kitty. She also volunteers with the local animal shelter. And this is getting really long, so let's get started!
"So you're just headed to the bank, and then you'll be headed back, right? Do you need a ride?"
"No thank you, Jean. I can get back on my own."
"Ok, just be careful, Laura."
"I'll be fine."
Hanging up her cell phone, Laura, aka X-23, continued on her path towards the bank. She was just planning on depositing the money from the shelter's last few donations, and then heading home to the Institute. She still couldn't believe how quickly her life had picked up in the months since joining the Institute and the X-Men. It still had some room for improvement (a lot of kids in school were still assholes toward mutants, and even technically having Wolverine as your father didn't get you immunity from that), but it was definitely better than living on the streets.
As she walked into the bank, she remembered something she hated about this- waiting in line. She sighed quietly to herself, wondering exactly how much trouble she'd get in if she cut in line-literally. Just as she was deciding it wasn't worth it, gunshots split the air, and everyone dived for the floor.
"No one move, and no one try anything funny! Anyone tries calling the police or tries to be a hero, then someone dies!" the apparent leader of the group of thugs that had rounded people up into a corner shouted. Half the gang had herded people into little groups spread around the floor of the spacious building, while the other half headed down to begin ransacking the safe. Hidden almost completely in shadow, a skill she had learned during her training with HYDRA, Laura watched this happen. "None of them would notice me if I climbed up and stayed in the shadows…" Laura thought to herself. She silently popped her claws and dug them into the wall, climbing high up onto the walls, sticking to the shadows, watching and waiting for the moment to strike. She didn't have to wait long.
A/N: And so ends Chapter 1! Yes, I do realize it seems a little Batman-ish, but the reason she's not going berserk is because that would just get people, including herself, shot. And now for the teaser: Laura is in quite the pickle here- she has to take these thugs out as quickly and quietly as she can, and keep them from killing anyone. Can she succeed in her self-appointed task, or will these criminals have the last laugh? Find out in the next chapter of X-Predator!
