Disclaimer: I still don't own them since the last time I posted. A girl can keep hoping right?

A/N: Shorter, but action packed! I enjoyed writing this chapter, simply because Bishop is a hottie and I love watching him fight (yes, I am a fangirl). Hope you guys enjoy! More to come, including a continuation of the action I present to you in this chapter! Also, I'm sorry about the last chapter's formatting. I'm still getting used to transferring my chapters, and apparently format is something I need to keep my eye on in the editing process.

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"Why aren't you helping?"

Pietro glanced at Lance from where he lounged with a text book on the sofa. "Because I'm doing homework."

The older boy narrowed his eyes, but bit back whatever he'd wanted to say next. Instead he returned his attention to the stain he was scrubbing (unsuccessfully) out of the rug.

Todd was working on a similar task, only along the cracked and dilapidated walls, while Fred peeled old food from the ceiling. It was a disgusting job, and someone had to do it, but it certainly wasn't going to be Pietro.

"Besides," He added, letting his gaze fall to the pages in front of him. "I wasn't around when you guys decided to go cave man. Can I be blamed if Gambit wants this place cleaned up?"

"That's unfair, yo!" Todd said with a pitiful whine. He tossed his sponge on the floor, narrowly missing Lance's head. "I have no problem with live'n like this."

"And you have no problem eating flies. That's why you aren't making this decision." Pietro replied in a crisp decisive manner. He met Todd's imploring gaze with one of little humour. "I am not about to live in a garbage hole like this, Toad. And I'm glad Gambit finally brought it to issue."

"Ah that's it!" Todd made to lunge for the place Pietro had been sitting, but the speedy boy had already vacated it. Todd reeled in place in an attempt to locate his target, but Lance stop him with a restraining hand on his shoulder.

"It's not worth it." He told the boy, every word dripped with venom. "Let's just get this finished."

"I don't mind." Fred replied, a little too late to actually have a say in their argument. He chipped a petrified piece of pizza off the crumbling ceiling and eyed it thoughtfully. To the boys' relief he decided against eating it, and added it to a garbage bag at his feet. "We don't want to get in trouble, right?"

Pietro smirked from his position in the doorway and tapped his book to his head. "For once Freddy's thinking straight. Now once you guys finish in here, you've got a hazardous waste spill in the kitchen."

The floor trembled for a moment before calming. Lance let out a dejected sigh.

Pleased and somewhat relieved he didn't have to fight, Pietro retreated to his bedroom upstairs. He realised he was being an arrogant jerk for not helping, but he did make a valid point; for two reasons. One, he hadn't been the one to turn their Boarding house into a worst slum than it'd already been, and two, Gambit didn't have the authority to tell him what to do. Thus he wasn't going to lift a finger.

Besides, after nearly dying at the hands of Kitty Pryde of all people, Pietro wasn't in the mood to pick up a scrub brush and bucket of soap.

He tossed his homework on top of his backpack and fell backward onto his bed with a dramatic sigh. Being the son of a rich megalomaniac sure had its prices.

He crossed his arms beneath his head and kicked his shoes off. Perhaps old baldy over at the Institute for crazy Wackos had finally deemed him a worthy threat. That was actually a flattering thought. But then why had he sent Kitty out of all the other X-freaks? Besides it being a complete insult, he didn't really think it was her style to sneak around and do... well, whatever the hell it was that she did. His neck didn't hurt any more, but the memory smarted something fierce.

He didn't think she had it in her to off him; she was a girl after all. Maybe she'd chickened out at the last second and saved him. THAT scenario made more sense, though he hardly liked it any better. Kitty wasn't supposed to try and kill him. Despite her being an annoying little ditz with an odd fashion sense and bad taste in friends, he respected her good looks, and he hardly ever gave a person that much credit, so he expected something in return for that.

Something that WASN'T a murder attempt.

His temper flared with the realisation that he was dwelling on her again, and in a fit he tossed his pillow to the floor and stared at it long and hard. He couldn't believe he was being so stupid. Girls were the least of his problems, and he sure as hell wasn't going to be made to look bad by them; Kitty Pryde or not. He was Pietro Maximoff, son of Magneto. One day he was going to rule the world at his father's side, and remembering THAT was as good incentive as any to push aside his doubts and tiny feelings of betrayal.

A future ruler had to get his beauty sleep too, he realised, glancing at his bedside clock. Though he didn't have any tests at school, and it was a Friday after all, he needed to be wide eyed and vigil. His father wanted him there learning, and hadn't jumped through all the hoops to ban his expulsion.

Pietro set about changing into a pair of boxers and a spare t-shirt, organized his book bag for the next day and set his alarm clock. Giving his room a once over to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything he turned his bedside lamp off, climbed into bed-

And immediately leapt out when his ceiling came crashing down.

As the dust and ceiling plaster began to settle, he scanned its midst for the cause of the rude interruption. Standing at the centre was a large bulky figure, all muscles and long hair; stooped in an offensive position. He recognised it immediately. "Sabertooth?!"

Before Pietro had time to react the mutant lunged at him, all teeth and frothing spit. Even with his enhanced speed he barely managed to get out the way; slamming into the wall opposite his bed just as the box spring collapsed beneath the older mutant's weight.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Pietro shouted. He was amazed his voice sounded so authoritative when every inch of his body threatened to shake him apart with fear. Why was one of his father's minions attacking him? What the HELL was going on?

Sabertooth lunged toward the door, cutting off Pietro's escape route. It was dark, despite the hole above them that allowed some moonlight in, but even then Pietro could tell something was off with the older man. He looked, different somehow.

He tried to reason again, wondering vaguely why his friends hadn't come running at the noise. "Sabertooth...Victor, what the hell are you doing? Did the X-Men put you up to this?" But even as he asked, he realised his question didn't make any sense. "Did my DAD put you up to this?"

Sabertooth lunged again and Pietro jumped to one side. He would have made it to the door had he not tripped over a misplaced support beam that had fallen from the Sabertooth's initial entrance.

Pietro fell forward, catching himself with his hands and knees. He heard Sabertooth's roar and a rush of air, and braced himself for the inevitable. Nothing happened. There was growling, sure, but it wasn't on top of him like he'd expected. Slowly, he drew himself around and found another man had entered his room and engaged his attacker.

His saviour was a large wide set man himself, dark skinned and fierce eyed. He had Sabertooth pinned to the wall with one arm beneath the frothing mutant's chin, and another holding a gun to his head.

Pietro crawled backward toward his door. There was no way in hell he wanted to stick around and watch them fight. He was gonna get the hell out while he still could.

"Thought you weren't alone." The man was saying in a deep voice. "Thought you were gonna get away with it?"

There was stomping now, from the other side of Pietro's door. Apparently the rest of the Brotherhood had decided to intervene after all and were racing each other up the stairs.

Pietro glanced back at the two men, and met the gaze of the black man. He was shocked by the concern his fiery eyes displayed.

"You okay kid?"

He nodded dumbly. What else COULD he say after everything that had happened? He didn't even know what had happened. What the hell was going on?

Sabertooth took advantage of his assailant's distraction and broke free, throwing the man onto the ruins of Pietro's bed. The gun fired once, hitting the far wall, and Sabertooth was out Pietro's window in the next instant, raining glass on the ground far below.

The large man disentangled himself from the bed sheets with a litany of curses and not to Pietro's surprise, leapt out the window in pursuit.

A moment later Pietro's bedroom door swung open and his comrades entered the war zone, confused and shocked by the scene that met them.

"What the hell happened in here?" Lance asked.

Pietro honestly couldn't think of a proper way to respond.