Chapter 7: "Lion Fight"
K and Spiral stepped into what was essentially a gladiator arena, and as Spiral stepped back to leave K to her fight, a nasally voice resounded over speakers no one could see. "For this final showdown, the rules are different! As our viewers know, these contestants can heal! Ten minutes on the clock is far too short a time for anything substantial! No, no." Mojo's voice was dripping with glee. "For this fight, we'll put fifteen minutes on the clock before help is offered. And if it is refused once, it is refused. No second chances in this battle royale!"
As Mojo talked, K quickly ran her hands through her hair and worked it into a tight braid, hoping to keep it out of her face if she could. The terms were not surprising, all things considered, and she very pointedly did not look up at where she knew the rest of the group was watching.
Across the way, she could see where they had Logan — a modified version of the same cage Kurt was in, electrified, of course, to discourage any adamantium-laced breakouts. And inside, Logan looked furious already, pacing what little path he could manage.
The two of them really didn't need Mojo's crappy rule adjustment to figure out what the trouble was, after all. The scent in the arena was already there … it was just a matter of where he was hiding.
K closed her eyes and just listened, waiting for any noise that would betray where the monster was. The silence stretched on for a few long, tense minutes until K finally picked up her head and turned — though the others couldn't see where he was hidden yet. "There's the little bitch," K said, waiting for him to step out finally. "You walk like a damn elephant."
After that, it was just a few seconds before Creed launched out of one of the darkened arches that surrounded the arena, growling and clearly enraged already. K waited, quartered away from him in a ready stance until the last possible second, then dodged his strike, doing all she could to simply work around him.
It was a terribly uneven match. The slight edges K had were far outnumbered by the impact that Victor had with his advantages, including the fact that she hadn't really trained against him in a long time. She had him in speed and agility, but obviously, he was far stronger, and the hits she landed didn't stick as well as she wanted them to.
But Mojo was right. Ten minutes was next to nothing — and just before that ten minute mark, Victor finally landed his first solid hit, shredding her from shoulder to hip across her back. From there, it was much nastier and a steadily downhill slope. It was clear where their friends were watching that he was playing with her too. Like a giant, spoiled cat.
The hits she got in, though nasty, simply didn't have the strength behind them to really do damage. And those that did major damage weren't in vital enough areas to slow him down as much as K needed them to.
She got a roar from him that shook the barrier between them and the X-Men watching the fight when she stuck her claws into both of his forearms and pulled back hard, leaving him without his claws for a few minutes, though as she was catching her breath, he caught up to her and bit her shoulder until his teeth met.
And in the box above the arena, almost everyone watching was holding their breath, wincing at the way the fight had turned. Scott had his gaze on the clock the whole time, watching the seconds tick down, and Jubilee already had sparks flying from the tips of her fingers, totally wide-eyed and nervous but ready to go if she had to.
"Kurt, can you…?" Scott asked when there was about a minute left, but Kurt shook his head.
"Don't you think I would have by now if I could?"
Scott frowned harder at the answer, still watching the clock as it ticked down and the roars and snarls below them got louder. "Ask for help," he muttered under his breath.
But as the group was watching, between the deafening snarls were nothing but whispered threats. Creed knew everything. Right down to who the kids were closest to and which crayon was their favorite. He knew. Too much. And it had K as focused as she could be on ending the damn fight. As the last minute ticked down on the arena floor, the two of them rushed at each other again. K feinted for a left hook before she dropped down and sunk her claws in him to the knuckles — one below the belt and the other angled up into his chest as she tried to slide past him.
It … very nearly did the trick. But as Creed went down, he made sure to grab a hold of her braid and drag her with him, crushing her to his chest with one arm pinning both of hers to her side. For a moment, it wasn't clear if either of them was moving or breathing by how they were in a heap on the ground.
It was clear that even the judges weren't sure what the situation was. It didn't look like there was any movement on either side, but Scott was positively frozen as he watched Victor finally get to his feet, still holding K tightly enough that she couldn't do more than wriggle in his grasp, kicking and trying to get to him.
Spiral moved down to make the offer for help as Victor whispered over K's shoulder exactly what was going to happen if she did. He had his free hand wrapped around her neck as he spoke, and he knew she was too injured to fight properly. He was explicitly clear: the second someone came through that portal, he'd snap K's neck and gut her backup. End of story. He went on to promise that he'd head back to Westchester for the first time in … oh. A few months. And he's start picking off little kids too. And he said the whole thing, being damn sure that he wasn't looking at K but at Logan, who was positively shaking in rage.
"You can ask for help," Spiral said, stopping a safe distance from the fight as she raised an eyebrow at the situation K found herself in. "Will you accept it?"
There were only a few seconds that passed before K simply relaxed and very clearly replied "No."
Spiral looked surprised for only a moment before she stepped back toward her portal. "I won't offer again," she said.
"I know," K replied, completely calmly, and Spiral frowned but stepped through the portal as the claxon rang out for the fight to continue.
Victor started to chuckle and muttered something that was a little too quiet for the microphones to pick up, his gaze locked on Logan as he tipped his head slightly and landed an incredibly gentle kiss on K's cheek as she closed her eyes tightly.
There was a tremendous snarl that echoed the arena as the lights dimmed for an instant — and a shower of sparks erupted at the far end of the arena. Guards began to shout, and there were barked orders over the speakers as Logan broke loose from his cell and was positively barrelling at Victor, entirely over the edge.
With a quick flick of his claws, Victor sliced into K's throat and dropped her for more lively games, but that didn't exactly get the response he'd hoped for either.
It was painfully clear to the X-Men in the booth that these two had simply gone far too long without a real fight. It was more vicious than they could recall, and both of them weren't holding anything back. But it was Scott that realized a few minutes in that Logan was teetering back toward 'in control'. Not there yet … but he was clearly trying. And if he could just get it back, get control before he drained himself too early, he had a shot. Otherwise ... well. It was a real concern.
Scott was pacing, honestly concerned, and he hadn't realized he'd sat down next to Annie until she unconsciously reached out to put a hand on his arm. For just a second, he looked back at her to see the pure terror she had in her eyes as she watched the fight below them — and he remembered then that she had never seen Sabretooth in action.
"Yeah," he said quietly. "It's usually this bad."
She stared at him for a moment before, to his surprise, she put her head down on his shoulder and held onto his arm a little tighter, her earlier anger forgotten for the moment when their friends' lives were on the line below them.
The fight was even. Victor was, as always, truly enjoying himself, using his strength to his advantage while Logan simply let loose. The smaller man was taking heavy shots, and the damage was stacking up, but he didn't seem to even be registering it as he gave it right back to the blonde monster.
With a lucky shot, Creed managed to throw Logan, and the crack as he hit the wall was enough to make chunks of rock fall around him as he hit the ground. Logan was still half out of his mind, and the situation wasn't made any easier when he looked over to where K was lying in a puddle of blood, though even in that state, he could see she was breathing. Creed bellowed out a roar that got both Logan and K to turn their heads, and when Logan saw her move, he tipped his head slightly to watch her before Creed could get too close. She blinked up at him for a moment and covered the wound that was just starting to stitch together right.
And when Logan got back to his feet — just like that, he was back in control and beyond pissed off. As Victor charged his way, Logan calmly took a few steps away from K, not blinking as he waited for Creed to get there.
As he finally took his stance, a moment before Creed struck out, the whole mood of the fight shifted. Suddenly, Creed couldn't land a hit to save his life. And Logan was simply taking hard shots as the blonde passed him by, using Creed's moves and his habits against him, shredding him bit by bit.
The calmer Logan seemed, the more enraged Victor got, finally getting sloppier in his attacks, and completely dropping any chance to defend himself.
The two ferals were clearly exchanging words … though whatever Logan was saying was short, to the point, and quiet as Victor shouted out the same old threats — peppered now with direct threats on Logan's kids that the others finally could hear. And that got a low sort of growl from Kurt as the others looked on in horror.
No one knew it was the final attack until they watched Creed take a few steps past Logan and simply … fell. Blood was dripping off of Logan's claws as he turned toward his wife and very calmly walked her way. She was more or less healed up as he picked her up and turned toward the spot that Spiral had been appearing and reappearing.
"We're done," Logan barked out.
It took a moment, but Spiral's blue portal finally opened up, and she looked guarded when she stepped through. "Yes, you are," she agreed, looking him over.
"So, get us back home before I lose my charitable attitude," Logan growled her way, eyes still flashing in fury. "And if you or anyone else here comes botherin' any of us again, I will kill you."
She frowned at him deeper and then nodded once. "The show is over," she said, gesturing to the portal. "I'll take everyone back to where I found them."
"Nothin' doin'," Logan argued. "All of 'em come with me. Don't need you accidentally puttin' em in danger. I will come back on my own to deal with you if that happens."
Spiral just gestured at her portal. "Back home, then. Or would you rather I dropped you off in a hospital somewhere?"
"Take us back to Westchester or I'll drop you in a morgue."
"Alright then," she said, stepping through the portal with them — back to their room in Westchester exactly, where they'd left.
"You have two minutes before I come hunting," Logan warned her.
In the glass room where the rest of the captured X-Men (and one former demon king) were, Spiral hadn't arrived yet, but something else did light up the room — this time, a white, five-pointed star that a frazzled America Chavez stepped through.
She looked around the room at the wounded Wagners, snuggled Summerses, and Jubilee curled up with her moon man — and let out a sigh. "There you are. Now where's Logan and K and the freaky-arm lady? Because I have to tell you: this was not an easy place to find."
The entire gathered group looked surprised to see her. "How did you find us?" Kate asked.
"Are you doubting me, Princess?"
"No, I just want to know how so I can do it next time this stupid comes up," Kate said, and America broke into a grin as she rushed forward a few steps to pull Kate up from the ground and into a crushing hug.
When the hug ended, though, America pulled back, saw how puffy Kate's eyes were and frowned. "What's going on here, chica?" she asked, looking around the room more carefully this time before she spotted the unconscious ex-demon and let out one word in a breath. "Ah."
America was headed toward him with her sleeves rolled up before Annie called out, "Wait."
"Oh, come on. What is it this time?" America said, turning with her whole body Annie's way with an eyeroll that rolled from her head to her toes. "X-Men don't kill? Because I'm not an X-Man."
"It's a long story," Kate said, catching up to her friend. "But if he dies, Kurt dies."
"Well that's crap."
"Yeah, I know," Kate agreed.
America rolled her eyes for a long while and then shrugged. "Fine. I won't kill him. But this is so stupid, Kate."
"Don't I know it," Kate agreed.
America shook out her head and her hair. "So, time to go?"
The blue portal opened up, and before she'd even stepped through, Spiral was speaking to them. "We're running out of time; you need to go now."
But Spiral hadn't been expecting the curly-headed former Young Avenger to be there, and as soon as she spotted Spiral, America was right in her face, knocking her out with one hard punch.
America let out a whistle and shook out her hand as Spiral crumpled. "What is she made of?" she complained, shaking out her fingers.
"A whole lot of stupid," Jubilee said.
America smirked her way and then raised both hands, her eyes glowing as she drew up a white star. "Back to our own dimension then? This one's a drag."
"Yes please," Kate agreed as Annie moved to help her get Kurt on his feet, while Scott hefted Azazel over his shoulder.
"We're taking the loser?" America asked with one eyebrow raised.
"We need him," Kurt said in a tired tone. "For the moment."
"Your family is stupid," America said, shaking her head before she kicked through the star to open the portal to the other side — and the entire group of them filed through into the hallway of the residential hall where the teachers and their families lived.
"You three need to go to Hank," Scott said as soon as they were set, motioning to Kate, Kurt, and Noh.
"Him too," Kate pointed out, gesturing the Azazel.
"I'm taking him somewhere more secure first before I send Hank in," Scott told her seriously.
But rather than teleporting anyone to Hank, Kurt was looking around. "Where are Logan and K?"
"I can go back for them," America offered, though almost as soon as she'd said it, her phone buzzed, and she picked it up to shake her head. "No, no. Forget that. Those lunatics are just fine. They beat us here, apparently."
"What makes you say that?" Kurt asked.
America held up her phone. "K just texted me to tell me she's home." Her phone buzzed again. "And with the kids. Snuggle pile."
Annie shook her head. "I'm going to the kitchen," she told them. "You get yourselves seen to — you know where to find me."
"Home for thirty seconds and she's cooking already," America said, shaking her head.
"With two healers and Noh to feed? Not to mention the rest of us? You bet I am," Annie said over her shoulder, already headed to the kitchen.
"Okay, someone is going to need to tell me what the heck happened," America said as Annie disappeared. "All I know is that I got a picture of one nasty lookin' chica, and I started looking." She looked over at Kurt as they headed toward the medical bay. "Your friend is crap with details."
"Yes, well, I doubt they had much time for more," Kurt said with a wan smile.
"You remember when that creep was playing dress up with me and K?" Kate told America. "He came back and decided to rope the Summers and Sparkles families into the fun."
"Yeah, but you're still dressed normally," America pointed out.
"It was different this time," Kate said with a distinct frown. She glanced over her shoulder down the hall — where Scott had disappeared with Azazel to get him secure before he could wake up and cause trouble. "Last time, me and K screwed up this guy's plans by rescuing ourselves, so I guess he decided to get us back by giving us someone to rescue." She gestured at Kurt with a glare. "So… he took our husbands."
America glared. "So, when do we go get him?"
"He's likely not in that dimension anymore," Kurt said, his tone annoyed and tired at the same time.
"I can find him," America promised. She shook her hair out. "And that still doesn't explain why your evil father-in-law is here. Or Annie being… I don't think I've seen Annie like that before."
"Annie's had a hard few days," Kate said. "We didn't start fighting for our guys until today — it was two days watching them hurt until then."
America stopped and turned toward her friend with wide eyes before she let out a breath that carried several horrible promises in two languages with it. "No, seriously. When are we going after him?"
"Well, you asked why Annie was mad," Kate pointed out.
"Not to mention the fact that the final fight was with Sabretooth," Kurt said with a deep frown as they arrived at Hank's lab, and the fuzzy blue doctor greeted them with a smile.
"Ah! Our fearless leader said you'd be down; I simply assumed a more expeditious arrival from a group of battered warriors," Hank said as he glanced over the top of his half-moon glasses. "Are you so injured that it impeded your progress?"
"We were catching America up on what happened," Kate explained with a wave as she and Jubilee helped Kurt to a seat. "Did Scott explain to you the double-patient scenario with Kurt and his dad?"
"He did, though I'm sure that you'll excuse me if I simply ignore the father in favor of the son."
"As long as he doesn't die from the neglect," Kate said with an attempt at a smirk.
Hank gave her a little smile with a glance, though he kept his focus on Kurt as he had him lay back and began to press on his belly. "Nothing feels out of place or like any kind of serious internal bleeding issue," he said after a thorough exam. "I can run a test or two, of course, but I'm quite intrigued by what results Azazel will have."
"I'm sure they'll be similar," Kurt said with a little frown. "My father is nothing if not thorough."
Hank nodded and gestured for Kate to sit down as he pulled Kurt upright. "Priorities, of course."
"Of course," she agreed with a small smile as she sat down by him and showed him her arm. "I lost a swordfight," she explained.
"Bah," Hank said with a little frown. "I'm sure we can patch this with a little glue. No stitches necessary. Once it's cleaned, of course. Heaven only knows where that sword was."
"No kidding," she said, pulling a face.
He paused, the supplies in his hand as he tipped his head to the side. "I meant Mojo's farce of a dimension."
"I meant the ex-demon who was using it."
"I'm sure your ex-priest husband can splash a little holy water on it and banish any spiritual impurities."
Kate smirked at him and reached over to lightly punch him in the shoulder. "You're still my favorite doctor. You know that right?"
"Of course," Hank replied with a little smile before he produced a Twinkie and handed it to her. "What choice do you have but to love me?"
"Excuse me, Dr. Blue and Fuzzy," Jubilee sang out. "I too am suffering needlessly over here."
"Let me guess: your blood sugar is dangerously low in the 'normal' levels?" Hank replied.
"Well, we were two days without food," Kurt said with a little smirk Jubilee's way as he tried to help her get her sweets.
"Though our resident boss lady is working on fixing that problem," Kate said.
"Oh?" Hank asked, before he tossed both Jubilee and Noh their own cream-filled confections and didn't bother checking before he tossed one at America for good measure too.
"Yeah, she's upstairs trying to cook for everybody," Kate said, then paused. "She… could probably use a good Dr. Fuzzy hug, to be honest."
"She was paired to fight Emma Frost," Kurt explained to Hank in an undertone.
"And that's how all the fights worked out? Paired up against rivals?"
Kurt nodded. "You've already seen who Kate fought. Warbird was there for Noh… Sabretooth was there as well," he added with a frown.
"And with the threats he was uttering, I would like to look at our security. Again," Noh muttered darkly.
"What threats was he muttering?" Kurt asked. "I heard what he shouted …"
"He was shouting about the children in the mansion; beyond that…" Noh shook his head. "The specifics were worrisome, and in the state I was in, even I didn't catch all of it."
"Then we'll need to talk to K or Logan," Scott said as he made his reappearance.
"We have to talk to them anyway, since they're snuggling all our kids," Kate pointed out.
"We'll bring the water," Kurt promised Scott with a smirk.
"I'm sure Annie has plenty," Scott said with a dry smirk in return.