When Push comes to Shove: Chapter IV
Theme Song: Stand by Rascall Flatts, I recommend you listen while reading.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the custom characters and plotline.
He kept his emotions well hidden, years of hiding had taught him how to do that. It was devastating, and yet it confirmed the nagging fear he'd harbored since the day she first came to the mansion. He pushed his thoughts aside and said what needed to be said, "I will be here for you, like I said I would. And will be here for the baby, he needs someone to look out for him." He said as he looked into her eyes. "I will always protect and care for you both. But now I have to go and help Logan with his bike." He managed to get out without conveying any emotion, then he turned and left. As he walked to the garage it started to rain, a fitting touch he thought to himself. As he expected, Wolverine was buffing out scratches on his bike. "Finally come to help?" "And think, mostly think." Logan got up-to-date on the situation just as they finished up. "You know what the options are, keep the baby or give it up for adoption." "I definitely want to keep him, I just needed some input on how to deal with this. I made a promise and I'm going to keep it. I always wanted a family, but if it wasn't my child. Would it really be my family?" Ian looked to his elder for advice. Wolverine might not have any PhDs but he was far from stupid. "I think a family isn't the blood that runs through peoples veins, but whether or not they care for each other." Ian talked a little longer with the crazy Canadian before deciding to take a walk through town.
He walked through the mansion like a thief, avoiding everyone. He felt emotions well up inside him, so many that he had suppressed over the years. Mammoth amounts of pain and fear were mixed in with sorrow and rage, all of which had been hidden under a thick shell. But now the shell was cracking and he could feel the energy building up inside of him. All the pain and sorrow had made him stronger, the fear and rage had given him a power over the years. Not just as energy that fueled his powers, but as an energy that fortified his mind and strengthened his will. He walked through the front door and continued on through the front gate. The rain continued to come down, and thunder rolled across the sky. He headed for downtown, nobody cared who was down there nobody cared if some buildings got demolished. Thoughts dashed through his head, it was like a war inside his brain. Part of him wanted to rage and destroy everything, then go and kill Josh. The other half of him wanted just go and be there for her, forgive and forget. But currently the raging part of him wanted control. He walked the streets, deep in thought he walked until he came to the part of the city scheduled for demolition. He entered one of the larger buildings, about twelve stories tall, he walked through what once was beautiful but was now scarred and tainted by the world. He smiled as he thought of what this place might have been like. He quickly found the elevator and used his mutation to lift the device. The part of him that wanted to destroy Josh, then her, then both of their families was growing stronger and darker. The part of him that wanted to forgive and forget was slowly becoming more violent. He stepped off the elevator when it reached the roof. The storm had worsened and lightning was frequent now. He raised his hand into the air, and summoned the electricity generated in the clouds. He'd sucked electricity from batteries and other electronics before, but being struck by lightning would test his abilities to the limit. He cleared his mind, calmed himself and waited in peace. Then his bolt came, it rushed into his body and filled it with sensations never even dreamed of. His entire body began to crackle and glow, feelings of unbearable pain mingled with unimaginable feelings of comfort and ecstasy. The feeling was power, undiluted, unfiltered power. To the observer it appeared he was having a spasm, except that his movements were fluid. He was channeling the energy, keeping the deadly force away from his vital organs. He built the lightning up in his arm, then loosed it back into the sky. Although the pain he felt was in his heart, a new pain began to creep into his chest. He walked back to the elevator shaft and summoned the elevator. He had kept the lightning away from his heart and other vital organs. He stopped it at the sixth floor and stumbled out onto the floor. As he fell to the floor he clutched his chest, a burning sensation filled his chest and extremities. He let out a cry of agony as his entire body let out the most powerful electricity it ever had; every inch of his skin let out thousands of volts. He fell through what once were all the floors above the ground except for the roof. It was like the tossing of a coin, not because the outcome dictated what was to happen. But because in the brief time it's in the air you know what you're hoping for. By some miracle, he landed on a sheet of plywood that was at the perfect angle to deflect and roll him almost without harm. He walked into the lobby and lifted the ancient guestbook from the case. He wrote simply, "Ian Matthews, Age 17. Sorry about the mess." He walked for the mansion, passing a familiar face. "Hey, Joe." Ian called as he quickened his pace. The heavily intoxicated man just nodded, and threw his arm into the air.
When the mansion came into sight he broke into a sprint, he cleared the gate in one, mutant enhanced, bound. He rushed through the front door, past the stairs and made a beeline for the dining room. She was alone, sitting in front of an empty bowl with teary eyes. He rushed up to her, wrapped her in his arms and kissed her. He knew people might be watching, he knew what people would think if they saw it and he didn't care. What mattered now was conveying to her what he knew his words and pried could not allow him to. He held her close and looked down into her eyes. She knew his decision, so she presented him with a new one. "Now what?" "We confront him. You can do the talking, I'll be, umm, moral support." They split their paths at the top of the stairs, after a hasty goodnight Ian realized his room was three floors down. He tore down the stairs and snuck into his room, as he opened the door to his room the sunlight filled his window and his eyes. "Crap." He stumbled around blindly and managed to get into his bed. After an hour and a half of tossing and turning he opted for energy drinks instead of sleep. They got ready to go when they were approached by a horde of people. "Jaime, I know you want to come but we have to do this alone. It's our battle to fight and you don't wanna be a part of it." "But as soon as you get back, we go get a pizza. Guys only, we need to have a man talk." The Jaime army said simultaneously. Ian looked to Elizabeth, "Can I leave you two alone at the mansion for a couple of hours?" Beth laughed, "I won't burn down the mansion if that's what you're asking." Ian handed Beth the keys to Piotr's truck, "Go ahead and get it started. I have one more thing to do." As soon as Beth left Ian slipped a small pouch to Jaime. "Go to the third men's shower room. In exactly forty-seven seconds Lance's water will undergo some temperature fluctuations. Sprinkle that powder in his underpants and between his shoulder blades on the shirt." Then they both made a mad dash to their positions. Ian had to fluctuate the water manually, any use of powers could be tracked by Professor Xavier. They executed the plan perfectly, Jaime was undetected while Lance was struggling to regain control of his water. They met where they began their mission and Jaime returned the pouch. Then Ian turned and got in Piotr's car with Beth and drove away, leaving none the wiser.
"You ready?" Beth asked as Josh's house came into view. Ian took a deep breath and replied calmly, "I'm ready if you are." Beth smiled as they came to a stop, they walked side by side up to the front door. Beth rang the doorbell, then when she reached for Ian's hand she found him missing. When Josh opened the door she got nervous. "What do you want?" He asked rudely as he looked out. "I need to talk to you, it's important." Josh slammed the door behind him and walked out towards her. He motioned to a bench near some flowers his mother had planted. "Josh, I know you don't want to be with me, and I don't want to be with you. This isn't about me or you it's about someone else, someone very close to the both of us." Josh looked her up and down, he was good at reading people. It gave him an advantage on the field. "Josh, do you remember that night?" "Of course." "I'm pregnant, you have a son or daughter." Now, it's important to note that the bench they were sitting on was about three feet from the overhang of the roof. "What did you say?" Josh stood up and backed away, he was a mixture of fear and rage. "I said I'm pregnant with your son or daughter." Beth got up, she didn't step towards him but she didn't step back either. "I want it gone." He said as the fear and rage spewed forth. "I want it aborted, or I want you to kill it after it's born. I want no word or evidence that the child's mine. I don't ever want that thing to see the light of day." From the time he said the first word, she began to cry. But now she was sobbing, she knew he didn't want a child but this was too much. Josh was ready to go one step farther, "I'll end this problem right here!" He reached into the vegetation and produced a metal pipe. Beth got behind the bench and began to scream. "Nobody's home!" He took one step forward, and Ian leaped from the overhang. He kicked off from Josh's shoulders and flipped. "Take one more step, see what happens." Ian said as he stood in the middle. With a shout of fury Josh stood, raised the pipe and swung down. Ian grabbed the pipe as it came down, and crushed it in his fist. "Big mistake." Ian punched Josh in the chest with all his strength, "Run! Get back to the truck!" Ian shouted. As Josh's ribs cracked under his fist, Beth managed to get to the truck. Josh managed to shrug it off and swing again, something Ian didn't expect. He smashed the pipe down hard across Ian's shoulder blades. Ian hit the ground and rolled. He looked his opponent in the eye, "My turn!" Ian put both his hands in front of him and loosed electricity from his hands. Josh hit the ground, screaming as it burned his flesh. Ian stopped the flow of electricity and let Josh rest for a second. "Come near us again and you may not live to tell the tale." However Josh wasn't beaten so easily, he pretended to flicker in and out of consciousness. When Ian reached him Josh swung the metal pipe into the side of Ian's knee. As Ian hit the ground Josh was on him, punching his face and chest. Ian had enough and rolled onto Josh, punching and electrocuting him. After about three more cycles of this Ian managed to get away and stand up. Wiping the blood from his mouth he said, "Since you threatened my girlfriend and my child, I cannot let you off the hook so easily. And given the fact that you pride your self on being athletic, why not take that gift from you to teach you a lesson?" Ian then stretched his hand towards Josh's body. He put a barrier on the electrical impulses in his legs. "You won't be able to move them for a month." He said coldly as he picked up Josh and carried him inside. He set him at the bottom of the stairs and turned to leave. "People will think it's a miracle in thirty days." With that, Ian shut and locked the doors. He ran to Piotr's truck, got in and left.
Super sorry about the wait, I had holidays then a birthday then school and I got overwhelmed.
Notice the romance stuff up there, writing that stuff kills a little piece of me every time. This is the last chapter with romance for a long time.
The next chapter will not feature much by the way of character development with familiar faces. So, get ready for that!
Thanks to all of my readers and reviewers!