Shout Outs...
j.d.: Well, here's more.
Blue-Eyes White Knight-BEWK: Here ya go.
To Everyone: If you haven't figured it out, James Gemini is my OC. Abigail is Cloud Nine from The Avengers: Initiative, Victor is Anole from New X-Men and Theresa is Siryn from several X-Titles.
Reviews are always appreciated, even if it's to point out a flaw.
0--0
"Before anything else, I would like to welcome you all to the Institute." Xavier said, seated behind his desk, Logan flanking him as he looked over the new arrivals, each of whom had showered and received a change of clothing, save X-23 who opted to stay in her usual uniform. James had borrowed from Scott and seemed uncomfortable in his sweater while Victor seemed fine with Bobby's clothing on his back. Abigail and Theresa wore one of Kitty's usual outfits, and even that hung loosely on the younger girl. "I'm sure you all have questions, but first I'd like to mention that your parents or guardians have been contacted. I've discussed with them of the possibility of enrolling you all here, you can talk to them once we're done here about that. Is there anything you need to know?"
"Why am I here?" X-23 demanded stepping forward. "I just want to be left alone!"
"Settle X, settle..." James said soothingly, setting a hand on her shoulder, feeling her tense up at the contact. "We might have ended up back in that cell if they didn't find us when they did."
"Hey, I ain't arguing with the man." Victor piped in. "I mean I was stuck in that place way too long! Rather be in the Artic than back there."
"Whatever..." X-23 replied. "When we're done here, I'm leaving."
"Leaving?" Abigail. "But..."
"Kid, hold on a minute..." Logan began.
"I am not a kid!" X-23 bellowed back.
"Please, calm down, all of you!" Xavier insisted. "X-23, please listen to me." He began. "I can't force you to stay here against your will. You've been through enough, that's why I want you to stay. Learn to develop normally, regain some of your lost childhood."
"I am not a child!" X-23 angrily replied, her left claws popping out, her fellow new arrivals backing away from her slightly.
"No." Xavier agreed. "You are a young woman, a growing young woman who has a lot to offer, not as a weapon but as a person. I want to provide that opportunity. The opportunity to be the person you want to be."
"...Why?" X-23 asked as she pulled her claws back into her arm.
"It's my purpose, to help my fellow mutants. To make humanity understand we are nothing to fear." He replied. "To help people like you adjust to normal society. I can help, but only if you're willing to be helped."
"I don't want help!" She replied, crossing her arms with a huff.
"Well, you wanna get back at these Hydra guys, right?" James asked, scratching at his ear. "Isn't the old saying 'Living well is the best revenge?'" He asked as X-23 turned her head away pondering for a moment.
"...Fine." She relented, uncrossing her arms. "...But don't expect me to stay long."
"I hope to change your mind on that opinion." Xavier replied. "Theresa, your parents are waiting in the common room. The rest of you may call your parents and make whatever arrangements needed, either to move in or return home. I will provide transportation for you or your belongings based on your decisions."
0--0
'Dear Diary...' Kitty wrote into her book, sitting on a bench outside. 'It's been a couple of days since the new arrivals moved in. I didn't think this place could get any more crowded, but here we are. It's kinda sad what happened to them, but I'm glad they got out. And they're an interesting bunch too...
James is a bit of a hunk, but he's got super-strength so that's a given. He's gotta have muscles if that's his power. Well it's not his only power. I heard when the Professor asked how they got out of the place he said he could turn into a girl. That is seriously weird! He didn't want to talk about it at first; I guess he's embarrassed about it. I know I would be if I turned into a guy. Anyway he said his girl form looses all the power and gets speed in return. I haven't seen him change yet. Rouge doesn't seem to like him, but I think that's because Mystique turned her off to any kind of shape-shifter. He seems like a nice enough guy.
Then there's Victor. He said he kinda turned into what he is slowly. He's like some kind of lizard guy. Says a classmate calls him Anole, which is a name of some kind lizard apparently. He seems to kid around a bit like Kurt, only not as much. Which is good, we don't need another prankster around here. He's kinda freaky looking, but with Kurt and Mr. McCoy here I've kinda gotten used to that sorta thing. He's kinda cute, when you get past the scales. He and James got roomed together, but they seem to be pals so that's cool.
Then we got Abigail, or Abi. She is... Well... FLATCHESTED! It's not like I'm being mean or anything, but she is flat as a board! I mean I know I'm not a Vouge model or anything, but next to her I might as well be. And she wears these clunky looking skier goggles too! She's cool though, she mostly just flies around in the backyard on her cloud stuffs. She seems a little bummed out too, but rooming with X-23 will do that to ya I think.
I don't know what to make of her, X-23 I mean. She mopped the floor with ALL of us! I mean the only guy she didn't knock out was Mr. Logan! Okay, things would be different if she hadn't sneaked up on us, but still she is like a total bad-ass! And she's not really trying to be nice. She sometimes hangs out with the other new guys, and she at least seems to listen to James, but still... And she doesn't know anything! Well, not like anything, those guys who made her taught her lots of stuff, but she didn't even know what a pizza was! The Professor had some brought over for the new guys yesterday, make them feel at home. She stared at it like it was some kinda alien before Mr. Logan told her to eat.
Well I can say one thing about her. She loves deluxe pizza.
Last one is Theresa. Rahne used to baby-sit her apparently and she is so adorable! Real shy too. And cute. She got these two little pigtails that make her look so sweet! She hugged her father for so long before he left, telling her he'd call often. She doesn't talk much, but I think it's because she's shy, she'll warm up. She already likes Kurt. Rahne says she thinks he's like a big teddy bear!
Speaking of Rahne, she's finally been allowed to stay here again! That's so cool! Now if we could only get Jubilee back. I miss mall-crawling with her.
You know, I wonder what they're up to right now?
0--0
"All right you guys." Scott said as he and Jean entered the room James and Victor shared, both boys and the other new arrivals littered around the room, X-23 leaning against a wall, the boys on one of the beds, Theresa in a chair and Abigail sitting on one of her clouds. "Ready to hit the mall for some duds?"
"Just hold on a bit." James said. "Sandra?"
"Maria?" Victor ventured.
"No and no." X-23 replied curtly.
"Alyssa?"
"Allie?"
"No and again, no."
"What are you guys doing...?" Jean asked, tucking a red lock of hair behind her ear.
"We're trying to get X-23 to get herself a name. A real one." Abigail sighed as the boys continued to spout out names. "She hasn't heard one she likes yet. Which sucks."
"Serenity?" Victor asked.
"Dude, does she LOOK serene to you?" James replied.
"Good point."
"Look, I don't need a name." X-23 insisted.
"Except for the fact that people are going to look at you all weird when you go 'Hi, my designation is X-23.'" James replied. "Come on, just something to use to not attract attention."
"Like Mary Susan." Victor pointed out.
"That just sounds... Perfectish." James replied.
"Is that even a word?" Abigail asked.
"Is now." James shrugged.
"God, why is it so hard to give a girl a name!" Victor cried out.
"Guys, settle down!" Scott called out. "X, do you have any ideas? Just so we can all go to the mall, if nothing else." He asked as the clone sighed, a memory nagging at her.
0--0
Dr. Risman set a hand on her shoulder as she limped back to her desolate white room, shivering from her cold and wet body. She had failed the sandbag practise she was given, and after a verbal reprimand was sent back to her cell of a living space. She gulped down the fear that she wasn't supposed to have, a living weapon could have no fear they said.
"I know..." Deborah Risman, her creator, said so softly only she could hear it. "Be strong... My little... Laura..." She ended the sound of her voice barley audible by her own senses.
0--0
"La...Laura..." X-23 began, rubbing at her chin. "I think Dr. Risman called me Laura once..."
"Good a name as any." James shrugged.
"I think it's quite fitting myself." Jean replied. "Do you want to use it?" She asked.
"...I suppose..." The newly dubbed Laura said as she sighed.
0--0
"Why are we going to this place again?" Laura asked James, the two in the backseat as Jean drove the van to the mall, Victor in the front seat playing with his new wrist watch disguised image inducer. Behind them Scott drove his red sports car, Abigail and Theresa riding with him.
"Okay, it's like this." James began. "Me and the others are getting our stuff shipped over, but you ain't got squat. To make us feel all at home and cozy they're getting us clothes and stuff. Most of the clothes will be yours, since all ya got is that admittedly hot leather deal you have on."
"...Hot?" Laura questioned.
"Never mind." James replied.
"Whatever." Laura huffed, turning her head to face the window. "I'm not staying long you know."
"Well you'll still have more stuff than you got here with."
"And besides." Victor piped up, the image inducer disgusting him as a tanned youth with a spiky hairdo. "The Professor is footing the bill, not you."
"Pretty much." Jean added. "And Laura, please give the institute an honest try. You might like it."
"I doubt it." The clone snorted, her arms crossed.
0--0
"What about this?" Abigail said as she held up a shirt as the group looked about the store.
"We're done getting clothes for you." Scott said sternly. "We need to get more for Laura."
"It IS for Laura." Abigail insisted.
"I don't think pink is her colour." Victor replied. "Even with the slogan." He added, pointing to the words on the shirt that stated 'It's not pink. It's lightish red.'
"She's more of a dark clothes kinda girl ya know?" James added. "In my opinion anyways. Maybe some jeans."
"Leather..." Theresa added softly.
"Yeah..." James replied. "She'd look good in that."
"No..." Theresa said, shaking her head. "Look..." She added, pointing to where the clone had stepped out of the changing rooms, causing all heads to turn and look.
"Uhh... Not what I expected..." James muttered.
"Guess the folks who made her didn't say anything about modesty..." Abigail added as they stared at her current outfit, a maroon leather mini-skirt with small slits on the sides, a studded belt with a large buckle on the front. Her torso was clad in a matching leather corset, tied at the front with shoulder straps. Black biker boots were fitted on her feet as well as a pair of leather fingerless maroon gloves.
"Does this look okay?" The clone ventured inquisitively.
"It's... nice... even if it's a little skimpy." James said.
"Logan will have a heart attack if you wear that!" Jean declared looking her over as a grin appeared on Laura's face.
"I'll take it." Laura replied.
0--0
"What's weirder?" James asked Victor as they sat on a bench outside the Victoria's Secret store, Scott sitting next to James. "That she wore the outfit out of the store, that she picked it in the first place, or the fact that a female clone of some dude has nice legs and I'm checking them out?"
"All the above?" Victor replied.
"Come on you guys cut it out." Scott replied.
"Hey! Just admiring." James shrugged, smiling slightly. "What about you Viccy, see anything you like?"
"Uhhh, they're all cute girls, I guess." He replied, scratching behind his ear slightly. "But, uhh, ya know... Nothing strikes my fancy or nothing."
"Really?" James said as Scott sighed. "I'd thought you and Abi woulda hit somethin' off."
"She's... not my type." Victor replied. "Nice cute gal, don't get me wrong, just not my type." He added as James leaned towards Scott.
"Is he gay or something?" James whispered.
"Knock it off!" Scott hissed back. "And wouldn't you know, being as you trapped with him for a week or so?"
"Not like I asked." James replied shrugging slightly as the girls exited the store. "Let's just hope Laura didn't get any g-strings as it is, or Logan is gonna have a stroke to go along with his heart attack."
"That's why I got two." Laura replied as the girls carried a few bags out.
"Oh right... Good hearing..." James sighed as the boys stood up. "Poor Logan... I knew ye... For about a couple days or so..."
0--0
"It's a burger X..." James said, dipping a chicken finger into dipping sauce as they took a break at food court. "You bite it, not the other way around." He said as the clone looked over her hamburger as if examining it.
"So what do you think about all of this, Terry?" Abigail asked the younger girl who munched on her fries slowly.
"I'm not really sure..." She said softly. "But the Mansion is... Nice..."
"Wow, that's the most I ever heard come outta her mouth." Victor mused as Laura tentatively began to eat her hamburger. After taking a bite her eyes seem to brighten slightly before she began to eat with more gusto.
"We have a winner." James muttered as he shook his head. "So what's next after we eat?"
0--0
"What's the point of these things?" Laura asked as she looked over the necklaces in the jewellery store.
"It adds to your look." Jean replied simply. "See anything you like?" She asked as the clone's eyes rested on a black leather collar with a silver cross hanging from it.
"I'm just glad I found a little diddy like my last one." James said to Victor, looking in a mirror at a gold ring with a ruby in it hanging from his left ear. "I miss that old thing... My kickboxing sensei gave it to be the first time I beat him in a spar."
"Ouch, that sucks..." Victor replied. "That you lost it I mean. What happened to it?"
"Those dorks musta taken it out." James replied with a sigh, referring to the men who abducted them. A moment later he looked over to Laura who had placed the collar on, as well as an additional necklace with a silver cross on it, four other crosses flanking it. "Looking sharp Laurie!" He called out.
"See." Jean replied with a smile. "It does add to the look."
"I guess." She replied with a shrug.
"And I thought we were only getting things for the girls." Scott sighed, shaking his head as he walked over, noting the earring in James' ear.
"Just replacing something I lost." James replied. "Say, where's Cloudy?"
"Abigail you mean?" Scott replied, looking about. "She was with me a moment ago." He replied looking about.
"There she... Uh oh..." Victor began.
"What d'ya mean... Uh oh..." James agreed as the saw a tall brunette girl shove the petite blonde back a few steps, a black-haired girl with her. "Excuse me while I take care o' this." He said ambling over to two female bullies. "Okay, party is over, leave her alone now." He said simply, waving his hand dismissively.
"Who do you think you are?" The brunette said with a snotty tone, looking him over as Abigail stepped behind him.
"Better than you for starters." James replied, crossing his arms. "Now get! Don't you have a street corner to be on?"
"What did you just say to me boy!?" The brunette shrieked slightly as a blonde-haired man turned his head to look at the confrontation.
"Okay, since you need it repeated I'll say it slower..." James mocked. "Go... Back... To... Your... Street... Corner... Find... John... Spread..."
"I am not a... You god damned..." The brunette stuttered as the blonde guy snorted, stomping over to them.
"Uh, oh..." Victor began. "Jock at two o' clock..." He muttered to Scott as the other girls moved to join them.
"What's this?" Jean asked.
"Girls picking on Abi." Victor began. "James picks on girls. Jock gonna try and pick on him."
"Come on, we should stop this." Jean hissed to Scott.
"Wait..." He replied. "Let's see how he handles this."
"Who do you think you are punk!?" The blonde Jock yelled at James as he moved over to the brunette, wrapping an arm about her waist.
"I'd say 'Better than you', but that goes without saying." James replied with a grin. "So, how much you pay for her?" He asked, Abigail wincing as the jock, who easily stood six inches taller than James towered above him menacingly.
"Think your funny punk?" He said, staring down at him. "See how funny you are after I kick your ass."
"Hmm... Let me think here..." James mused. "You think... You can beat me? In a fight?"
"I'm Bayville High's Quarterback!" He declared. "Frank Winston! And I'll teach you to respect me punk!"
"Like I care." James snorted. "That's your only qualification?" He mocked. "Let me explain this to you, I posses a black belt in kickboxing. I posses another black belt in capoeria. I can think, off the top of my head, nine ways to really hurt you right this minute. I've taken on guys your size and left without a scratch. But since I'm such a nice guy, you can get the first hit for free. Cause then AFTER I've whooped your ass I can plead self defence for knocking you on your rear end." He said spreading his arms with a grin. "Still wanna start soemthin'... Punk?" He said as Frank stepped back slightly, James allowing himself to smirk as he approached the retreating football player. "Come on. Where's this lesson about respect?" He asked as Frank continued to back away.
"Yeah well... Screw you!" Frank said before turning about and walking away briskly as the brunette and dark haired girls looking at his retreating back nervously.
"Hey, street walkers..." James began, pointing a thumb at Frank. "You're sugar daddy is leaving." He said, the two girls glaring at him before leaving as well. "Not gonna get any business with that walk!" He added before turning to Abigail. "You okay there Cloudy?"
"Yeah, thanks." She said as the others walked over to them. "Damn, you told them off!"
"Meh, don't worry." James replied with a smile. "I ain't one ta let people pick on my friends." He added, playfully wrapping an arm about her shoulder.
"Not the best way to handle it." Scott summed up. "But it worked."
"Damn straight!" Victor replied. "Did you see how he backed down? Priceless!"
"He might try something you know." Laura pointed out as she crossed her arms. "Get revenge."
"Please..." James snorted. "I don't need mutant powers to knock the dickens outta him. They just help."
"But calling those two street walkers?" Jean asked, frowning slightly.
"Hey, come on!" James retorted. "If ya can't take it, don't dish it out on someone else. Anywho, we done here?"
"...Yeah, I think we are." Jean sighed as she shook her head.
"Good."
0--0
"Home again, home again..." James said as he picked up a number of bags, passing a couple to Victor. "Man we got a lotta stuff..."
"Welcome home." Ororo said as she walked over. "X-23, the Professor--"
"Laura." James interrupted. "We got her a name. Well, she REMEMBERED a name she got called once."
"Oh, pardon me." Ororo replied. "In that case, Laura, the Professor would like to speak with you."
"What about?" She replied, adjusting her outfit.
"Identification, who your legal guardian is, a few documents." The weather witch replied. "Logan apparently called Nick Fury to--"
"S.H.I.E.L.D!?" Laura cried out, clenching her fists.
"I was with him when he stated he wasn't going to pursue you." Ororo said calmly. "He said he'd rather have a well-trained willing solider than a perfectly trained unwilling solider."
"...Fine. Whatever." Laura spat out before stomping off to the mansion's front door.
"Such an angry child..." Ororo muttered. "And who exactly dressed her in that outfit?"
"What the...?" Victor muttered as he paused, bags loading into his arms. "We didn't dress her!"
"She's not five years old Ms. Monroe." James added. "She picked it out herself! Surprised us with it too."
"Really?" Ororo said blinking. "Oh my. Logan is going to have a tough time if he really wants to be a father to her."
"Good luck trying."
0--0
"You wanted to see me?" Laura said as she entered the Professor's office, Nick Fury seated beside the desk and Logan standing nearby, glaring at her outfit.
"Where the HELL did you get that from?" Logan demanded, growling slightly.
"The mall. Picked it myself." Logan's clone replied, a bit of a grin on her face.
"Looks like you've got a typical rebellious teenage girl on your hand there Logan." Nick mused with a chuckle. "Come on over here Kid, we need to have us a little talk." He said as Laura stepped closer. "First things first, Logan asked me to drum up some ID for you. If you want he'll adopt you as his daughter and you can take his name as your family name, once we've made up a first name for you."
"Laura." She replied. "The others had me pick one out before we went to the mall, and I remember Dr. Risman calling me that once."
"Well, you can be Laura Logan then." Nick retorted.
"Assuming this is acceptable to you, of course." Xavier added. "I can take you in as my own ward, should you so desire, but Logan is rather set on being your parent."
"...Why?" Laura asked. "Why would you? You never had a say in my creation! Why would you care!?" She nearly screamed out.
"Look Kid..." Logan began. "I might not have made you, but you are made up from all my DNA and stuff. So I guess that makes you my daughter in a manner of speaking, even if I didn't have a say in it." He added gruffly as he sighed. "I ain't gonna promise nothing. I never thought I'd be a parent, and not to a kid who's already half grown up. But I want to try, alright. People sometimes ask if I gotta kid. And I want to tell them I gotta daughter. One I'm proud of for dealing with the crap she's dealt with." He said as the girl's face softened slightly. "So you ready to make a choice then?" He asked as she nodded.
"I guess... It's alright..." Laura replied slowly. "So I guess I'm supposed to call you... Father?"
"You can call me Dad if you'd like." Logan said with a smile.
"Or you can call him Old Man whenever you're pissed off." Nick added with a chuckle as Laura raised her arms slightly, before hesitantly lowering them. "It's alright. Kids hug their parents all the time..." He said softly.
"I'm just... I don't know, I think I'm... Nervous..." Laura said as she walked over to Logan, wrapping her arms about his chest, the gruff man wrapping his about her shoulders.
"You're entering a brave new world Laura." Xavier replied with a smile. "Things may seem strange, even scary... But here you are among friends who are willing to help you find you're way..." He said as the newly made family slowly stepped away.
"Well, with all that squared away I should get going." Fury said, standing up as he placed a toothpick in his mouth. "I should be able to get you the documents to get X... Laura in school for Monday... Heh..." He chuckled lightly. "Hydra's perfect weapon going to school... Viper must be rolling in her grave." 'Course this isn't going to be easy on her either.' Fury added to himself. 'School's one battlefield she isn't trained for...'