Chapter 7
New York...
"War, relax," Betsy tries to implore her boyfriend this Saturday morning. They were in his New York apartment having come here last night after Betsy's week at school was over and her boyfriend was currently pacing around back and forth in a clearly agitated state.
"Relax?" he snorts. "Relax, she says," he mutters as he runs his hand through his blond hair.
Betsy rolls her eyes. What has him so worked up? His parents are coming. After their fight the other day which got her to go see the Professor, it got Warren to finally realise his need to come clean to his parents on his 'condition'.
In fact since that fight he and Bets have talked over a lot of things he has decided he needs to start doing. For 2 years he's let his life remain on hold...and he can't keep doing that. He wants to live his life...right now with Betsy and to live a life means to stop hiding from everyone as a first step.
So he called his parents and invited them over for a meeting without being too specific as to why. He's got them to come because it's easier to show them in person than to explain it over the phone.
Show them what?
His wings.
And naturally Betsy was going to, like the song goes, stand by her man.
Betsy gets off the chair she is on and walks over to him, stopping his pacing. She gently kisses him on the lips, her hands reaching back and stroking his wonderfully soft wings. There are no word to describe how nice they feel. "Whatever happens, I'm here for you," she promises him, knowing his biggest fear is that his parents will reject him on sight. Betsy gets it in the sense her parents come from the same privileged background and therefore can pretty much picture Warren's parents without having ever met them.
"Couldn't have worn a dress?" Warren asks about Betsy's outfit choices.
Betsy arches the left eyebrow, the one where the dagger mark sits. She was dressed as she always is. Punk rock-esque. "War, luv, don't try and change me," she warns him playfully, knowing this is coming from his panic. She is psychic you know.
Warren cringes. "Sorry...sorry. It doesn't matter what they think of you, I swear. I'm...just..."
"Having a panic attack, I know," Betsy says with a warm, assuring smile.
Warren's shoulders sag a little as he lets out a breath and tries to relax. Betsy moves to rubbing his shoulders. "How's the wing feeling?" she wonders, since it was still healing up from the fight against the possessed Professor.
"Better. According to Dr McCoy I seem to heal faster than a normal person would. I think he took about a pint of my blood to study and find out why," he jokily complains. Though it does mean that he'll be back flying quicker than he feared and that part of his mutation he loves. He loves flying...and he loves taking Betsy flying with him.
Betsy giggles a little. "That sounds like our friendly, hairy doctor," she jokes back. Her head then turns to the door. "30 seconds," she tells him she can can sense his parents coming.
Warren swallows hard. "Can-can you answer the door? I just need a second," he requests of her.
"Of course, luv," Betsy agrees, giving one more quick kiss while he disappears into the bedroom and shuts the door.
Betsy brushes her hair back, psychically hides her dagger mark as the Professor has been teaching her to and opens the door to reveal Warren's parents. Warren Kenneth Worthington Jr and Katheryn Worthington.
Warren's father was a relatively tall, slender man with silvering black hair and a beard. His mother was shorter and blond and seemed in good shape...though Betsy would bet that came from a little bit of nipping and tucking. They were both dressed quite expensively...and didn't look very impressed as their eyes fall on Betsy.
"I seriously hope that's not the uniform cleaners wear these days," Warren's father remarks.
Betsy's eye twitches. Cleaner?!
"And even worst she just lets us stand here. How rude," Warren's mother comments haughtily.
"I'm not the cleaner. I'm Elizabeth Braddock...Warren's girlfriend," Betsy says, trying so very, very hard not to lose her temper.
Warren's parents roll their eyes simultaneously. "Not another one," his mother mutters disparagingly in relation to the fact...well lets face it trash as she sees it that Warren has previously associated with...and from what she sees so far his tastes haven't improved.
Betsy can't believe the gall. They haven't see their son in like 2 years and they just jump to conclusions. She again tries not to blow her lid. "Please, come in," she invites them, repressing the urge to telekinetically slam the door in their arrogant, snobby faces.
The Worthingtons enter the apartment, Betsy closes the door behind them. "Warren will just be a moment. Would you like any refreshments?" she asks, trying to remain polite.
"What I want is to know why my son dragged us across the Atlantic," Warren's father demands to know, clearly unhappy that his schedule has been disrupted.
"Shh," Warren's mother says. She has a slightly different concern. "What we want to know is why he has been avoiding us for the last 2 years."
"That's better left to Warren to explain," Betsy says.
Warren's father scrutinises her carefully. Braddock. Braddock. Now why does he know that name? "You're not of the Braddocks of Braddocks Enterprises are you?" he ask her.
"Yep, my parents," Betsy confesses her deadly sin...as she sees it.
Warren's father eyes widen ever so slightly. Well now, maybe he has misjudged his son on this occasion. A link to the Braddocks would be a very beneficial arrangement for his business. They were rich and influential.
He's also unaware Betsy can hear him practically screaming those thoughts into her head. She so wants to deck him. Instead she clears her throat. "War, luv, your parents are here!" she calls out.
"Coming!" Warren shouts back. "Just one second!"
"Oh for heavens sake!" his father snaps. "Warren! You get out here right this instance. I've had enough of your shirking. You're sending your mother to an early grave with worry and not doing my health any good either!"
"Warren," Katheryn hisses, thinking he's being too forceful.
He waves her off, thinking she's mollycoddling Warren too much.
The door flies open and out steps Warren...
His parents' eyes go wide, their jaws drop.
"Mum, dad...I'm a mutant," he announces to them.
This is when his mother faints.
Luckily his father catches her in time and with Warren and Betsy's help they get her to the couch.
The next several minutes are spent getting her back round and calming her down.
Warren isn't enjoying the looks he's getting...and if Betsy was to tell him the thoughts she's picking up he would be enjoying it even less.
"How long has this been going on?" Warren's father wants to know.
"Basically two years now. It started out as bumps on my back and within a few weeks these wings had grown out," Warren tells the short version of the story, extending his wings slightly as if to illustrate his point.
"This is why you've been avoiding us?" his mother asks him.
Warren doesn't meet her gaze. Betsy takes his hand into hers. "Yeah," he admits. "I-I didn't know how you'd take it."
"I can see why," his father says in a tone Warren knows far too well. It's the one where his father scolds him in disappointment.
Warren's mother is in full-on panic mode. "Maybe...Maybe we could call Dr Stuart," she suggests referring to the family doctor.
Warren frowns. "Why would..."
He never finishes that as Betsy exclaims, "Oh bloody hell that's sick!"
"What?" Warren asks.
"She's thinking of asking Dr Stuart to see about cutting your wings off!" Betsy practically shouts in disgust what she heard Warren's mother thinking.
"What!" Warren roars angrily as he rises to his feet.
"How did...no!" his mother pleads her case.
"Don't lie!" Warren snaps at her.
"Warren don't raise your voice to your mother!" his father shouts at him.
"I will raise my voice! Cut my wings off?!" Warren questions his mother, outraged.
"I never said that!" she insists.
"You didn't need to! Betsy's a telepath. She heard your thoughts!" He turns to her. "Right?" he asks her to confirm.
Betsy nods.
"Cut my wings off!" Warren repeats, now rapidly approaching a tirade. "Why don't you just have me mutilated and have done with it!"
"W-Warren I just want what's best for you. To be normal," his mother pleads.
"He is normal!" Betsy snaps, furious at the accusation.
"Ok, this is a family matter. You should leave," Warren's father says to Betsy.
"She's not going anywhere!" Warren tells his father in no uncertain terms. "She's my girlfriend. If it wasn't for her I wouldn't have called you at all. She was the one who persuaded me I needed to stop hiding."
Betsy cringes because look at the result.
Warren spots her look. "Don't apologise," he tells her. "You were right." He turns back to his parents. "And for your information even if you cut my wings off I would never be 'normal' as you see it. I would still be a mutant."
"As must be one of you," Betsy adds.
"What?" Warren's father asks her, his face dark.
"The x-gene is inherited. One of you must carry it even if it's inactive," Betsy points out.
Warren smiles smugly at that, enjoying watching his parents squirm as that fact sinks in, that inside one of them is the mutant x-gene.
"Warren...you're not thinking about the future," his father tries to change topics.
"No. I am. That's why I called you. I'm done hiding," he states his intent.
Warren's father nearly chokes. "Son...if people see you...you need to realise how they'll see you."
"See him? Or how they might start seeing you?" Betsy asks, her eyes boring into him.
Warren laughs sadly. "Bets is right isn't she. This isn't about how people see me. You're worried how they'll see you when they learn you have what? A freak for a son?"
"B-but what about the business? I want you to take over some day but the board will never allow me to put you in my place with you...like this," his father gestures by waving his hand vaguely in Warren's direction.
Warren knew that his father wanted him to take over like he had with his father...and you know Warren was never against the idea per say but no way in hell is he getting his wings cut off to do it. "If they're that prejudiced I can't do anything about that and if they won't accept me as I am...if you won't accept me as I am then I'll find another direction for my life. A new place. And let me make it clear just in case it didn't sink in the first time. Under no circumstances will I cut my wings off. That's like me asking you to cut your legs or arms off. I've got to stop be ashamed of what I am...and I'm sorry if that makes you ashamed of me being your son but that's the way it is," he states, a tone that broaches no argument, no debate, they can't change his mind.
"B-but what will you do?" his mother asks. "Where would you go?" she wonders about how he can possibly have a life if he comes out.
Warren looks back at Betsy who looks at him with a sad smile. He can hear her thoughts about how sorry she is how this has gone. She really is wonderful.
As for where would he go? Isn't it obvious.
Sanctum Sanctorum...
Or more accurately the front door out of which Wanda storms, her face clearly showing she's just blown her lid and she's urgently needing some air.
It shouldn't have gotten to this.
It was suppose to be a simple lesson from Dr Strange...but ever since China Wanda has felt an urging...a need to go further, faster. She knows Dr Strange said this was her test...but she also feels he isn't helping her like he's suppose to be.
And she doesn't care how churlish or childish that might sound.
Point is they had a small disagreement over how she felt she should be doing more and he felt she wasn't ready and that somehow escalated to the point Wanda almost levelled the building...so here she is cooling off...or trying to.
"I know that look."
Wanda stops. She had walked a couple of blocks...and it was oddly quiet where she was now...apart from a blond woman with blue eyes up ahead, in a simple, long white dress. "I'm sorry?" she queries. "Do we know each other?"
"No...and yes," the strange woman answers.
"Glad you cleared that up," Wanda mutters as she resumes her walk, about to just pass the woman, dismissing her as a crazy.
"So what did Dr Strange do to you?" she asks.
Wanda almost trips over herself as she turns round and looks at the woman, now close up. She was very beautiful, flawless looking skin and now she's closer she can sense...power. Mystical power. "H-how did..."
"Because I was once where you were. Storming out after a lesson from him," the woman says.
"Y-you were his student?"
"Once. Until we fell out."
"Over what?"
"The same thing you did I think. He's holding you back isn't he."
"N-no," Wanda says with not nearly enough conviction.
The woman smiles airily. "He holds everyone back because he's not as benevolent as he appears."
"T-that's not true. He's helped me a lot. Control my emotions, control my power..."
"Control you," the woman finishes. "That's what it is really about. Control...because he's afraid."
"Of what?"
"Of being surpassed. Being replaced as the Sorcerer Supreme. He only teaches his students enough to be useful to him but never enough to ever challenge him. He'll never teach you what you want."
"And what do I want?" Wanda asks the stranger. "Why don't you tell me since you seem to know all the answers."
"To reach your full potential. I can see it, sense it on you. You want to find that place where you can truly be yourself, see your powers reach their full bloom...and when you do...bah, Strange will be yesterday and you'll be Earth's greatest mystical force," the woman claims.
Wanda laughs. "That's crazy. I don't want to replace him. Earth's mystical defender should not be selfish."
The woman nods...impressed looking. "And that's why he's terrified of you. That's why he'll never help you achieve what you are meant to because that is what makes you the perfect candidate to replace him. You may not be selfish but I can assure you he is."
"I'm...done listening to this," Wanda decides. It's just...crazy talk.
"You must do what you feel is right, of course but when you realise I'm correct I'm willing to help you...Wanda."
"H-How do you know my name?" Wanda stammers.
"After China. Your battle with Apocalypse's Horseman was felt well beyond the physical plane Wanda. You announced yourself onto a larger mystical scene," the woman explains to her the consequences of that battle.
"I-I didn't know that."
"Oh dear, did the great Dr forget to mention that to you," the woman mocks.
Wanda frowns. "H-He never said it directly," she says in a half defence...but there is the first needle of doubt now breaking through about her mystical teacher.
"I'll tell you all about it and so much more of what I learned only after I left him. All you have to do is ask me, Wanda," the woman offers.
"I...uh...I need to think," Wanda says, not saying no as she should but not saying yes as part of her wants to. The part of her that is yearning, thirsting for knowledge and power. That part awakened during the battle in China.
"Of course. I can be patient," the woman says in understanding.
"How do I find you?" Wanda wants to know.
"I'll find you when the time is right," the woman promises.
"What's your name?"
"Call me...Luna."
Abergylid, Wales...
Martinique and Regan were beginning to think this was a big mistake.
Their sister was so...sweet.
It was nauseating.
Right now Megan was sitting round a table with her collection of stuffed toys having a tea party.
They had tried to make it work out of...they don't know. Perhaps some reaction to their virtual abandonment at their father's hands. His dereliction of duty in raising his own children...ie them.
Don't get the wrong idea in that they intend any harm to Megan. They may not be the nicest people who have ever lived but they're not heartless monsters who would harm their own sister.
They just think they've tried the bonding thing. It's not working. Time to move on.
Perhaps they'll just erase Megan's memory of ever meeting them to make it easier.
Whoosh.
Just then there is a gust of wind and what the two sisters find is Quicksilver standing between them, dressed in civilian clothes, his arms draped across their shoulders. "Hel-lo ladies! Did you miss me?" he flirts with them instantly, a cheesy grin on his face.
"Oh Christ," Martinique and Regan swear simultaneously.
Megan gasps and puts her hands over her mouth briefly. "Y-you took the Lord's name in vain!" she says in shock, pointing at her sisters.
"That they did. That's bad," the chastisement comes from the green haired figure of Polaris, like her brother, dressed in civilian clothes.
Next to Lorna is the brown haired figure of Puzzler, again dressed to blend in in civilian clothes.
Why are they here?
That special mission for their father.
Megan blinks. "Who are you?"
Lorna walks over and bends down to Megan's height and smiles at the adorable looking pink-haired girl with the wings. "I'm Lorna. That's my brother Pietro and my cousin Valerie," she does the introduction. "We're friends of Martinique and Regan and we've been looking for them for awhile. Who are you?"
"Megan," she answers. "Y-You're friends of my sisters?"
"Sisters?!" Pietro exclaims in surprise, looking intently at the two telepaths.
"None of your business Maximoff," Martinique hisses.
"And get your arms off before we make your brains melt out your ears," Regan threatens.
Polaris' green eyes narrow and the metal in the room vibrates. "Just because I'm not my father doesn't mean you should push your luck, ladies," she threatens. "We're here to talk...so you better listen."
Regan and Martinique share a look.
"B-but what about the tea party?!" Megan practically wails, her lower lip wobbling in upset.
"Oh no problem. Pietro will join you," Lorna suggests with a mischievous smile.
"I'll what?!" he cries.
"You should always be nice to little sisters, Pietro...or do I need to go get Wanda to reinforce that truth?" Lorna threatens...in sweet tones.
In an instant Pietro is sitting at the table, sipping the pretend tea.
Lorna smiles smugly. "See now isn't this nice," she has so much fun at Pietro's expense.
Valerie has her hand over her mouth, her chest heaving in suppressed laughter.
Lorna rises to straighten up. "Ladies? A word?" she requests of Martinique and Regan, pointing at the door.
The two Lady Masterminds follow the green haired girl out the door wondering just what the hell this is about.
"How did you find us?!" they want to know.
"Magnetic imprint my father implanted," Lorna relays what her father does to his followers. He leaves behind a unique magnetic signature that can be traced if you happen to be him...or have similar powers like Lorna does.
"What do you want?!" they demand to know.
Lorna reaches into her jacket pocket and pulls out a small metal sphere...which starts to project a hologram. A hologram of her father. "Father. I found them," Lorna reports. It's a communication device.
"Ah, my dear Lady Masterminds. Nice to see you again," the Master of Magnetism greets them cordially.
The two women blink.
"Magneto?" Martinique queries.
"That really you?" Regan asks, because both thought him dead.
"Yes. It's me," Magneto confirms. "And I sent my daughter to find you because as I recall you made a commitment to myself and the mutant cause."
"You were dead!" the two defend themselves.
"And now I'm back...and I still need you," Magneto is just honest about it.
"Well duh," Regan critiques.
"Two hot, fit, powerful telepaths, who doesn't need us?" Martinique asks, boasting.
Magneto sighs. "Do we need to have this conversation again?" he asks them. "Did I not make my case before over why you should be part of the cause? Has anything really changed so fundamentally that you've changed your minds?"
"Well..." Regan demurs.
"We just found our sister," Martinique points out.
The image of Magneto looks at his daughter.
"So they say," Lorna says with a shrug.
Magneto does know they had another sister, Mastermind's 3rd. The one he had requested was kept out of this. "And it makes no difference. She either joins in on the mission or she doesn't and you leave her. Bottom line is I need you to help Polaris find the others."
"Others?" Regan and Martinique query together. "What others?"
"The other Acolytes," Magneto explains.
That was the special mission Lorna was on. To find and round up the Acolytes who scattered to the winds after Magneto's 'death'. Her father wanted them found and brought back on the team and he couldn't do it. He needed to stay in the Savage Land and keep an eye on Sinister. Lorna knows her father talked to the mutant scientist but doesn't know the details. Whatever exactly was said it ended with her father back in charge and Sinister permitted to stay so that's why he sent her, her brother and her cousin instead.
"Including your father," Magneto makes a point of singling out Martinque's and Regan's father, Mastermind.
The two sisters simultaneously groan. "Do we have to?" they whine like 5-year olds. The last person they want to go find is their father.
"Yes," Magneto states. "I can't contact him in any other way. I can only assume he's still within the Hellfire Club, no doubt using his powers to get himself elevated. He never could resist a taste of power," he comments.
"You don't trust him," Martinique gets.
"Do you?" Magneto asks her back.
"Not for all the Crown Jewels in the Tower," Regan phrases the lack of trust they have in their father.
"Well he's last on the list. I want you to find the others first...and my daughter needs your special talents to help do that," Magneto argues with them.
Martinique and Regan have a telepathic discussion on the merits. They were about to pack this in anyway and depart but don't want it all to just fall back the way it was.
"We want paid this time," Martinique demands.
"What?!" Lorna exclaims.
"Like you said we have special talents that are in high demand and we think they should come at a premium price," Regan explains what decision she and her sister have reached.
"That's outrageous!" Lorna thinks. That makes them little better than mercenaries.
Magneto's face remains impassive. "Very well...but I expect your demands to be reasonable," he agrees with condition.
"Father!" Lorna argues.
"Enough Polaris!" Magneto shuts her down. "It is my decision and I have made it. This is not a discussion. Do as I say."
Ok, confession for Lorna. This side of her father she didn't miss. At least with the X-Men she was allowed to offer her opinion.
The 2 Lady Masterminds look pretty smug with themselves right now. "Yes do what you're told," Martinique mocks Polaris.
Lorna glares and growls at the brunette.
"As will you do what my daughter tells you. She's in charge. You answer to her and she answers only to me," Magneto knocks the stuffing out of them. "I will arrange your payment only after your work is completed."
"Half now. Half when we're done," Martinique haggles.
"A quarter now, the rest on completion," Magneto barters back.
"A third now."
"Done," Magneto agrees. "We'll work out the details when you get back to the new base," he advises them.
"Acceptable," Martinique agrees.
That's where Magneto ends the transmission.
Regan looks at her sister. "We better say our goodbyes then," she proposes to saying their farewells to Megan.
Of course their 'goodbyes' involve wiping Megan's memory of them, of Polaris, Quicksilver and Puzzler and then doing the same to Megan's grandparents.
It's for the better.
If you want to be gracious at all it's for Megan's safety that it's better there is no link between her and this lot.
Working for Magneto means working for someone who is, technically speaking, a wanted terrorist so if Megan literally knows nothing she's much safer.
Academy of Tomorrow Annex, Bayville...
Apart from the confrontation with Superman, Emma must say the 1st week back has been rather tranquil...you know apart from all the anti-mutant protests and that Kent man running against Kelly.
Emma must admit, to herself only, that she may have taken her eye off the ball over the summer and she feels like she is behind in everything. Bayville has changed and is changing rapidly and it seems to her she's playing catch-up.
She doesn't like it.
Just then the doorbell rings...just as Emma is passing it.
Typical.
She flings the door open. "Who is it-Sebastian?!" she cries in shock at seeing the black haired, green-eyed Black King of the Hellfire Club. Emma hadn't seen him in person in months and even their phone calls had dried up several weeks ago.
Sebastian arches an eyebrow. "I don't believe that is how one addresses their King," he rebukes her.
"Don't try and play that card with me, Sebastian," Emma warns him off, just not in the mood for it. "The New York Branch is de facto disbanded right now while you've been absconded off, neglecting your duties," she accuses him.
"Perhaps...but I'm back now," he states clearly.
Emma looks stern. "Why?"
"Why do you think?"
It takes Emma a moment. "Shinobi," she correctly guesses. "Don't talk to me. Talk to my sister. Adrienne was the one who showed up with him," she deflects any of Sebastian's ire off herself.
Sebastian chuckles.
Emma scowls. "What's funny?"
"To see the Great White Queen reduced to servitude to her sister," Sebastian relays what he finds funny.
"I am not in servitude to my sister," Emma hisses, angry as hell at that accusation. "The Lord Imperial says she has to stay around so she stays. That is the only reason," she explains why her sister is still around. Adrienne's reporting on her to the Lord Imperial. Emma knows that but she can't do much about it beyond being very careful that Adrienne only ever sees and reports back what Emma wants her to see.
"We'll talk about that," Sebastian assures her as he practically barges his way in.
"Come in, why don't you," Emma mutters snidely as she slams the door shut.
"We'll talk about a lot of things because you're right Emma, I have neglected things for too long...especially when it comes to my family but I'm going to fix that," Sebastian promises. "In fact I've already started."
Emma doesn't believe she likes the sound of his tone here. This is going to be trouble.
At the Institute...
"For the hundredth time, no!" Clark is arguing with his sister as she chases him through the hallways this Saturday night.
"What do you mean, no?" Claire wants to know, clearly not happy at his answer. "Why can't I go out with you? We're a team. Remember. Superman and Volcana."
"That was before SHIELD started hunting me," Clark argues back as to why he is refusing they can be a team any longer.
"I don't care!"
"I care!" Clark snaps back...before stopping and calming himself. "I care," he repeats, his tone full of emotion.
Claire looks at him carefully, emotions playing out on her own face.
"I won't risk you getting caught in the crossfire," Clark tells her one reason. He has others. Mainly the fact he doesn't trust himself to keep War under control all the time and like he's told a lot of people lately, it is better if they stay away from him as much as possible. "Claire...this was the point. I went to Congress so they would chase me and not mutants. I need to keep their focus on me alone...and that means being alone so they don't have any excuse to go back onto mutants."
"That's stupid!" Claire huffs. "What if they come up with a way to capture you?" she asks the question she thinks no-one else has.
"It's a possibility. I've considered it and I believe it's worth that risk."
"Well, yeah, you're pretty stupid too. That's my belief," Claire tells him, folding her arms across her chest in a strop.
Clark has to smile as how classically like a stroppy teenager she looks right now. "I'm touched you care. I am...but see the positive."
"Which is?"
"More free time to spend with your girlfriend."
Claire's orange eyes light up...literally as she realises how true that is.
Just then the doorbell rings...the door they happen to have stopped in front of.
"Now why does only happen when we're in front of it?" Claire asks, complaining.
"What I want to know is how they got to the door when they're suppose to ring from the gate," Clark points out.
Claire frowns. That's true. That's weird.
Clark opens the door to reveal an elderly man with thinning white hair. Clark has to look twice just to make sure he's not seeing things. He can only make his next comment in exclaimed shock. "Granddad?!"
Author's Note: Poor Warren but at least he has Betsy. Oh, Wanda. Wanda, Wanda...what do I have planned for you, huh? And who is this Luna? A mystery I'm going to keep if I can until the right moment. And Lorna, Pietro and Valerie on the mission I had Magneto mention back in Reality Unravelled. To put the Acolytes back together for...well we'll get around as to why later. Yay, Claire's father's back...and granddad! Oh, the family strife. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; Martha confronts her father.