Two
Lights flashed off the surface of the whiskey in his glass, but he was too focused on the alcohol to pay much mind to the annoying red tinted flashes. Trying to force his hand to not shake Scott tossed the fiery liquid down his throat without even a grimace; it was his own personal ritual. "You're a little young to be hitting the hard stuff Bub." A gruff voice interjected over his shoulder.
Scott didn't even glace up-Logan's growl was distinct even amongst the din of the dingy bar; "I may be but Alonzo Bartley isn't…Go ahead and tell the Professor. He'll probably know when I stumble in later tonight any way."
Without asking permission the feral man sat next to the teen and motioned the bartender for a drink, "I'm not gonna rat on ya. You get one freebie…if I catch you here again it's another story. Yeah, I'll have what my friend here is having."
"Scotch on the rocks," the bartender nodded and looked pointedly at Scott, "You havin' another."
"No ice this time."
The barkeep quirked an eyebrow at the younger man's request-it was after all his fifth drink in less than two hours, "Special occasion?"
Logan cleared his throat and gave the man a dark look, "We're toasting a friend."
Shutting up the bartender moved to the glasses and bottles to pour the drinks, setting them down in front of the men then leaving them to their own devices. They sipped in silence both neither willing to break and talk first. Lacking in experience with such things Scott spoke looking into his glass, "I feel like I should have been punished…it's been a year…"
"From the looks of things," Logan answered sternly unused to this kind of emotional conversation, "You've been doin' a good enough job punishing yourself."
Slamming his drink down Scott whirled on Logan; emboldened by the scotch swirling through his bloodstream, "What the hell do you know about it?"
"Yeah 'cause I don't know anything about making mistakes," the reply was caustic.
"It was my fault." Scott's tone moved from anger to self-pity, "She would have gotten clear if I hadn't been for me."
The last of Logan's patience snapped, along with his control. Out of everyone he was probably the one who knew exactly what the world had lost when Asli Fraser died; he had after all helped to train her. In another lifetime. She hadn't been good or bad but one of those completely grey people who most often didn't get involved. But this time she had-and like the good solider she had taught to be Asli had seen things through to the bitter end. The Wolverine had probably been the only person not surprised by her sacrifice.
Pulling Scott around to face him Logan stared into the lenses of the young man's ruby glasses, "Listen Bub. She may or may not have made it out in time. But that doesn't matter. She didn't intend to survive that fight kid; she knew what was needed to take bucket-head down and she did it. You played a part but don't fool yourself into believing that everything would be sunshine and fucking roses if she had lived. It demeans who she really was."
Rising from his seat Logan tossed a few bills on the bar to cover his drink, "I'll be waiting for you at the Mansion. Try not to stay out too late."
**************************
"Did you see me Rogue? Wasn't I the best Wicked Witch of the West?" Illyana jumped up and down still clad in her costume and green face make-up.
The Goth smiled at the little girl, "Of course you were Sugah…"
"You had Remy scared Petite," Rogue watched her boyfriend sweep down and pick small girl in his arms to twirl her around, "You were just like Rogue first thing in the mornin'."
The Cajun ducked a half aimed swipe at his head laughing as he set Illyana back on her feet. Turning to Rogue he pouted theatrically, "Chère if you don start treatin' Remy better he might just have to replace you."
"Yeah," Illyana hopped up and down like a bunny on crack, "With me! Cause I'll be old enough and…"
"Whoa!" Rogue shot a grateful look to Kitty Pryde as she broke into the conversation at just the right time. Ideally before Piotr found out that his little sister had a crush on Remy-over protective was an understatement when referring to the large Russian.
All three made sure to check that Piotr was still talking quietly to the school's Drama teacher before they continued. The friendly young woman was the one who had talked Illyana into performing in the play. As far as they knew Ms. Bignell was the only teacher that didn't have a problem with mutants attending her classes. All one needed was talent.
Moving as if he had no bones in his body Remy slid down so that he and Illyana were eye to eye, "Petite, you know Remy is flattered…but a girl like you would break his poor heart…it's best he be stuck with Rogue." He lowered his tone to a conspiratorial level, "For some reason she loves Remy."
"And only God knows why," Rogue rolled her eyes and yanked him to his feet they smiled at each other as Illyana ran over to talk with one of her classmates, "Come on Swamp Rat, there's a victory dinner waiting for us. I think it's your turn to treat."
Remy pulled a shocked face, "A gentleman always pays ma chère."
"Then why are you bothering?"
Kitty nearly jumped when Piotr's warm hands came to rest on the tops of her shoulders, she had been so engrossed in Remy and Rogue's banter that she hadn't heard him approach. "Sometimes I wonder if they ever stop." His voice was quiet so as to not draw their attention.
"I think it's their idea of foreplay." Kitty shot back with a smirk, "Maybe they need more time in the danger room?"
The shaking in Piotr's chest told Kitty he was doing something he rarely did anymore-laugh. "Perhaps, but then some one would have to let them out. They would be worse than ever."
"Do you think they'd notice if we just left them here?" Kitty quirked an eyebrow in question.
"Niet," Piotr answered a small smile lifting his lips, "When they are together the world stands still."
The wistfulness in his voice clamped Kitty's mouth shut. Try as she might she couldn't shake the idea that Piotr was daydreaming about holding Asli not herself. Biting her lip Kitty swallowed her jealousy and smiled-it had been her mother's best piece of advice. A smile could hide anything. Even a broken heart.
**************************
The mutants assembled around the large whit table were unusually silent by any standards. Able to face just about anything they found themselves cowed by the cold calculating face and blood red eyes of Nathaniel Essex freed of his image inducer.. Once everyone had made themselves comfortable the good doctor rose to his feet, "You are the best, the purest of your kind. Each with their own strengths and weaknesses. In the past you sold your skills to the highest bidder but that time is over. I have brought you here to turn you into one coherent body acting to wipe clean the world of genetic abnormalities that give us all a bad name."
"Why should we care?" the silver haired man introduced as Riptide asked with a sneer.
Essex's eerie eyes locked onto the malefactor with a baleful glare, "You will care Mr. Quested because I will pay you to care. You will care because by following me you will get to kill as many as you would like. But most importantly," Essex offered a parody of a smile, "You will care because I will use you for my genetic experiments if you do not."
"Sounds good to me." the crystal skinned Prizm shrugged and lowered himself into his chair in an attempt to doge Essex's attention, "But I don't see you leading us."
The doctor's smile was reptilian and everyone shifted in their seats with the possible exception of Sabertooth who merely growled at Prizm's cowardice. A look from Essex quieted the notoriously short tempered feral mutant, "At first I was going to let Sabertooth front this enterprise-after all he's ruthless and blood thirsty. But then again so are the rest of you…that's why I asked you here. Instead I've asked my lovely assistant to escort you on your field trip."
This time it was Harpoon who spoke up he jerked a large thumb towards Arclight and Vertigo, "We're going to take orders from one of these broads?"
"No," an even voice called from the shadows behind Essex as Malice stepped out of her hiding place, "You're going to take orders from this 'broad'."
The reaction from Sabertooth was instant, "You!" he growled and lunged to get a hold of the empath, claws at the ready.
He succeeded in pinning her against the opposite wall but curiously enough she didn't quake in fear-Malice looked into his enraged cat eyes and laughed. "Awww not happy to see me Vicky?"
"What is she doing here? I saw you die." Sabertooth rounded on Essex keeping a firm hold on Malice, "She's probably playing you…its what she does best."
Twisting while his attention was lagging Malice moved out of Sabertooth's grasp and pulled his arm behind his back with all her body's considerable strength. She caught the larger man off guard and was able to pin him against the same wall she had so recently decorated. A dark smile played with the edges of her lips giving her an impish look-but her all black eyes were cold and empty.
Malice sighed and pressed herself against Sabertooth revelling in his confusion; leaning in she licked the side of his face, "I'd ask you not to but any holes in the body…it's so hard to find a good host these days."
"Host?" Riptide's arrogant voice broke in.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Essex continued his lizard like smile, "May I introduce you to your team leader Malice."
Sabertooth snarled but was helpless to do anymore-the girl holding him was stronger than he remembered, "That's not her real name…"
"Dear, dear Vicky," Malice purred next to his ear enjoying his attempts to struggle-it made holding him that much more enjoyable, "But it is…" her smile was evil as she leaned in even closer making sure he was the only one to hear her, "Cypher doesn't live here any more."
She pulled away so that she could watch the play of emotions run across his face. Looking into the all black eyes of his captor Victor Creed felt a shiver of fear run down his spine; Cypher wouldn't have killed him unless he gave her reason to. This stranger wearing her face would kill him to see if his insides were red. It was a small difference but an important one.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
I don't own the song 'Sympathy for the Devil' I wish I did….but that's all Mick and Keith's.
The Rolling Stones – Sympathy for the Devil
Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
I've been around for a long, long year
Stole many a man's soul and faith
And I was 'round when Jesus Christ
Had his moment of doubt and pain
Made damn sure that Pilate
Washed his hands and sealed his fate
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game
I stuck around St. Petersburg
When I saw it was a time for a change
Killed the czar and his ministers
Anastasia screamed in vain
I rode a tank
Held a general's rank
When the blitzkrieg raged
And the bodies stank
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name, oh yeah
Ah, what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah
I watched with glee
While your kings and queens
Fought for ten decades
For the gods they made
I shouted out,
"Who killed the Kennedys?"
When after all
It was you and me
Let me please introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
And I laid traps for troubadours
Who get killed before they reached Bombay
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah, get down, baby
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what's confusing you
Is just the nature of my game
Just as every cop is a criminal
And all the sinners saints
As heads is tails
Just call me Lucifer
'Cause I'm in need of some restraint
So if you meet me
Have some courtesy
Have some sympathy, and some taste
Use all your well - learned politesse
Or I'll lay your soul to waste, um yeah
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, um yeah
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, um mean it, get down
Woo, who
Oh yeah, get on down
Oh yeah
Oh yeah!
Tell me baby, what's my name
Tell me honey, can ya guess my name
Tell me baby, what's my name
I tell you one time, you're to blame
Ooo, who
Ooo, who
Ooo, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Oh, yeah
What's me name
Tell me, baby, what's my name
Tell me, sweetie, what's my name
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Oh, yeah
Holy cliff hanger…ummm…trademark man! I'm writing this stuff faster than the loyal can review it…Help…I can't pry my fingers form the keyboard! I need help!
Pixie-Flyer – My loyal little book worm…yes…I dedicated it to you…without people like you to read this I wouldn't bother writing. Have I made Scott suffer enough for now? I mean there will be more…then you can do whatever you want. Look I even brought Cypher back to life for you…
