Shao (Little Dragon): Part Eight.
DISCLAIMER: Marvel owns all the characters. No money is involved (story of my life). Thanks to a slew of people (especially ChiKokoro, Ken Barnes, Amy Hunt) who helped me with their suggestions so some of the ideas weren't mine also.
SUMMARY: Summer comes to New York and tempers fly. The mansion's population grows. Meet the new crew and who may be more important than even they thought there were.
FEEDBACK: Please send feedback of any kind (praise, flaming, constructive criticism, etc.) to
NOTES: Any bordered by triple characters means telepathic speech. Each telepath has a different signature. Phrases bordered by parenthesis mean the person is speaking in Japanese. Phrases italicized are thoughts. Any questions see feedback for my email address and I'll answer as best as I can. Archive at will
A/N2: Thank you for all of you who have kept with me and this story through its very slow updates. You are the life's blood of a writer. To my muse Amy: a special thank you for your constant encouragement. I almost lost hope but you pulled me through.
One of the worst heat waves Westchester has ever had announced summer's arrival. By mid day the air swirled like devil's breath, stifling hot and thick enough to swim through. No one ventured outside of the mansion's walls without good reason or your own personal cooling system.
Bobby hurried to the boathouse to collect Jubilee. Normally his ice slide took hours to melt away. Under the onslaught of the heat wave, it deteriorated almost as soon as he made it. Team Beta would be back from their rescue mission any minute and Jubilee usually liked to welcome their new guests.
Ever since Hank put Jubilee on restricted activity, a month ago, they were hard put to keep her still. He was in utter awe at how she found a loophole in every rule. When the rescue missions started, Scott was the one to suggest a Jubilee welcome wagon. What harm could it do? Plenty, according to Wolverine. The following argument nearly came to physical blows until Jubilee walked in on them. She could be very convincing when mad.
Why is life so cruel Bobby thought. Of course the weather was playing devil's advocate, but nearly all the males in the mansion were being blindsided by scantily clad females. Jubilee was no exception. At first he though she was naked but realized that her clothes blended with her tattoo. Her shorts probably broke a physics law or two. They rode low on her hips and were cut crotch high yet remained in place while she paced angrily in front of Logan. Her clingy tube top covered her, barely.
"You can kiss my tattooed ass! We're not going over this Wolvy. End of discussion." Ouch, someone was getting his ass chewed and Bobby was grateful he wasn't on the receiving end of that. He touched down on the dock and tried to get his passenger's attention. Logan moved to stand in her way blocking her from view.
"The hell we aren't! There is no flamin' way I'm letting you meet those kids looking like that." Logan's voice growled, deepened by mounting anger. He set his stance firmly in place and didn't budge when Jubilee tried to shove him out of her way.
"AND EXACTLY WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSE TO MEAN!" she screamed in his face.
Answer carefully keemosabe Bobby silently urged Logan not to make a total ass of himself. Then again, some of their side of the species is too stubborn for their own good.
"Don't want my woman parading around like she works at Auger Inn and I ain't talkin' about behind the bar.
His woman Bobby's face broke into a shit-eating grin. YES! I just won an Uncle Ben from Kurt He refrained from doing the happy dance and watched on.
"First of all I belong to no one but me. Second, you didn't even give me a chance to put on the shirt you let me borrow last week. You really think I'm that dumb to not cover up the one thing that still startles many of the X-men, let alone complete strangers that happen to be kids?"
Slowly, the enormity of his mistake dawned on Logan. She stalked back into the boathouse to gather the aforementioned shirt. It is certifiable. I'm an ass Logan removed both feet from his mouth and tried to apologize. He got as far as 'Jubes' before her hand came up and cut him off.
"Thirdly, my couch is now off limits; sleep wherever the hell you want but stay away from me. Let's go Ice," she barked angrily pulling on the shirt.
Bobby snapped to attention and wisely didn't crack the thousand different jokes he'd thought of. The look he was getting from Wolverine made him wonder how far he was going to get before being skewered.
A sonic boom ripped through the atmosphere in the distance, startling Bobby out of his chain of thought. He settled Jubilee's arms around his waist and hurried out of harm's reach.
The Blackbird burst from its cloud cover, overshot the mansion and descended parallel to the cliff side. Scott initiated final approach and keyed the hangar doors open. He shut his eyes tight against the burning that had nothing to do with his powers and allowed the automatic pilot to take over.
Gasps chorused from the passenger compartment upon touchdown. Six wide- eyed teenagers ranging from 14-18 shifted in their seats. Storm released them from the flying restraints and they pulled together in a tight huddle. The two boys tried to comfort the four girls between them. As scared as they were, Storm couldn't help but admire their bravado.
Inside the hangar, Matt and Myrial waited with blankets and bedclothes for the new arrivals. Originally Hank or Jean performed this duty along with Jubilee, but when the twins heard that they were teenagers, the volunteered to do it. They knew from experience that adults were intimidating no matter how much they want to help you. Take into account Hank's appearance and you'll have trouble; mutants instinctively use their powers when frightened.
"Where's Miss Jubes?" Myrial asked looking around for her favorite Japanese tutor. She didn't know how to ask directions but Jubilee taught her sixty-two ways and counting on how to insult everything from a guy's heritage to his sexual orientation.
Matt merely shrugged and returned his focus back to the Blackbird.
Air rushed out in a loud whoosh as the hatch opened. A blonde boy stuck his head out and Myrial waved at him. He promptly went back inside and reemerged with another boy as dark as he was fair. They turned as one to say something to the next person coming down the ramp; it was Rogue. The rest of the occupants filed out with Scott and Storm taking up the rear.
Man-o-man do they look like shit, Matt thought and nudged his sister forward. The ever stoic Scott Summers showed signs of mission overload and made his was stiffly for the backside lift. It led straight to Xavier's office and true to his nature duty was to be discharged before falling apart.
"Hey there," they greeted and approached the wary newcomers with warm smiles.
"Mina, Alliah, Jace and Jenna," Rogue called to the girls and they jumped. Her expression softened. "Jubilee...oh sorry, Myrial will take you to the girl's dorm." After assuring them that no harm would befall them, Rogue shooed Myrial and her charges out the door.
It felt so good to be home. Rogue couldn't believe how fast the last month went by and she longed to crawl into bed and die for a few hours. Although there hadn't been any major battles of good verses evil, one rescue mission right after the other began to take its toll.
Matt stepped forward about to introduce himself when Jubilee appeared at the door. Practically spitting with contained fury, she exchanged a few words with Rogue arms flailing about. From the corner of his eye, Matt caught one of the new boys, the blonde, staring at the Jubilee.
"Well shut mah mouth! Ah'll kill him mahself," Rogue's face set into determined lines.
Uh oh. Matt knew that look and didn't want her leaving two bravely scared teenagers un-introduced and forgotten. "Miss Rogue," he hissed and nodded in the direction of the boys. Both women shook themselves and settled their clothing like birds settling feathers.
Then all hell broke loose. The dark haired boy screamed inarticulately. His frightened too-wide eyes lost focus as white light began to radiate from his body.
"Yin!" Rogue yelled. The blonde boy started out of his momentary trance. "You've absorbed too much negativity. Grab hold of your brother and help Yang restore his balance."
At her insistence, he ran to his brother's side and clasped arms. Once the circle was complete Yin began to chant. Although speaking seemed extremely difficult Yang echoed him. Dark energy erupted around Yin. Both energies pulsed; then unexpectedly changed color to that of the opposite brother and sunk back into their skins.
That was close. Rogue explained that Yin must have absorbed the negative energy from Jubilee's anger. "Sorry," Jubilee smiled apologetically at Yin. The boy melted into a puddle. Yang rolled his eyes at his brother's reaction but Rogue noticed his sidelong glance at Jubilee when he thought no one was looking.
She sent Matt with Jubilee to settle the boys in. Check on Julian, hunt down husband later she surmised and headed for the nursery. It was a simple logic really. Find Remy and make him beat some sense into Logan. Of all the pigheaded...Rogue stopped mindful that she was still in Yin's range of absorption.
'Find that Polecat Logan and see if ya'll can get him to talk'; Rogue's first words to him after she'd gotten back from their latest rescue mission should have been his first clue something was amiss. Jubilee slamming the door in Remy's face after he asked if he could speak to Logan cinched it; trouble in paradise.
That had been a week ago and Remy had run out of places to look. At first he tried the more obvious string of favorite hangouts, Auger Inn and Hardcase Harry's specifically but neither establishment had seen him in months. Logan's jeep and Harley remained nestled in the garage so Canada and Mandripoor were out, unless he walked.
His stomach rumbled audibly drawing stares from the students he passed in the hallways. Food was the farthest thing from his mind but in the end his body led him to the kitchen.
With in minutes Remy had the table covered with ingredients. His hands worked at a furious pace in deft precision. This well honed, albeit under used talent allowed him to combine vegetables and spices into a tantalizing concoction while he mulled over the Jubilee/Logan dilemma.
Thoroughly engrossed in his thoughts Remy absently turned off the stove and sauntered into their large walk-in refrigerator for last ingredient. He frowned at the empty pan that usually held a generous supply of tender steaks reserved for the senior members of the household. Someone forgot to refill it.
For a moment he stared at the tiny window in the door that led to the freezer debating if his impromptu lunch was worth freezing his ass off. The numbers that glared brightly above the door read –10 degrees. Of course his stomach repeated its urgency to be fed and propelled him through the door regardless of his aversion to cold.
Most of the shelves were full, loaded down for Julian's impending third birthday. One shelf threatened to collapse under the weight of several gallons of ice cream. Boxes of frozen hamburgers were stacked to the roof at the end of the shelf. The steaks had been moved to a safer wall shelf mounted high in the back right corner.
A bottle narrowly missed the top of Gambit's head and smashed against the wall below the steak shelf. Rancid liquid splashed everywhere and smelled suspiciously like whiskey. That would explain why the liquid didn't freeze upon contact with cold metal.
His reaction was as automatic as breathing. Gambit spun around; cards materialized in his hand charged and ready. The other hand extended his bow staff and he crouched down ready for the next assault. However, he got the shock of his life and powered down, he wouldn't need any weapons.
Wolverine slumped against the stack of hamburger boxes surrounded by empty bottles and broken Styrofoam trays. He mumbled something about getting out of his room and threw another bottle at Remy.
"Mon ami. How long dis been your room?" Gambit laid Logan's right arm across his shoulder and hoisted him to his unsteady feet. He reeked of booze, blood and body odor. Remy gagged slightly and dragged Logan towards the freezer door.
"A weesh 'go," the inebriated man slurred and took another pull of the bottle he held possessively in his left hand. One foot slipped on some ice and Logan forewent the bottle to clutch Remy's chest plate for purchase.
Sacre merde! Remy swore silently, almost losing his balance as well, and used his foot to lever open the door. An entire week in –10 degrees; it made sense. Logan's healing factor had its limits. While it did work to keep him alive during his prolonged exposure to below zero temperatures, it couldn't compensate for the alcohol. Logan was finally able to get shit- faced, three sheets to the wind, drunk.
Once again back in the kitchen, Remy leaned Logan against the cabinets and tried to come up with a plan. The fastest way restore Logan's body to normal would be the shower room, but discretion was needed. He couldn't drag Logan through the halls of the mansion in his state. Too many young impressionable minds were about. Shifting Logan to his other arm, Remy hit a button on the wall intercom.
"War Room, identify." The thick German accent was music to his ears.
"Dis be Gambit. De Wolverine be drunk. Needs help bad." Silence.
!BAMF! Kurt Wagner teleported in because he didn't think he heard Gambit right. He did a double take when he got a good look at his longtime friend and teammate. "O mein Gott!"
"Exactement!" Gambit didn't need to speak Kurt's language to get the meaning of that statement.
Kurt moved to Logan's other side and told Gambit to hold on. A 'bamf' later they were standing in the middle of the men's locker room shower. Apparently Kurt came to the same conclusion.
At the risk of becoming shish kabobs both men wrestled Logan, clothes and all, into the tub adjacent to the communal showers. They debated for a while then decided hot, hot water would be best. Warm his body up to normal temperature and his healing factor should take care of the rest.
Logan flinched away from the water filling up around him. The shocking contrast in temperature felt like he was being dipped in molten metal. Believing he was under attack, Logan bellowed his fury and struggled against the arms restraining him. Remy and Kurt held fast getting thoroughly soaked but knew it was for his own good. While they waited for the water to work magic, Remy gave Kurt the rundown on what he thought led up to his state; lover's spat.
A flat pebble skated across the smooth surface of the lake and sunk into the deep side when it lost momentum. Two more pebbles followed their brother each striking the water more frequently. The last pebble skipped twenty times but Jubilee couldn't take heart in her achievement; she missed him.
Yes he'd pissed her off but she hadn't really thought he'd actually stay away. However, there was no way, not a chance in Westchester – read hell due to the heat wave – she was going to be the first one to apologize, especially since she couldn't remember how the argument got started.
Sighing heavily, Jubilee turned into the wind and took a deep breath. She rose onto her tiptoes and stretched the remaining stiffness of a good night's sleep. Hank proclaimed her healthy the day after their blow up and removed all restrictions with an added note not to overdo it. Every morning of the past week, she ran through her kata exercises. It felt so good to be able to move without any pain.
First set was always Jubilee's least favorite with its sinuous extensions and long periods of holding a position. Complain as she might, it did serve to make her more limber for sets two and three. She tried, in vain, to keep her mind clear but began to replay the argument with Logan.
Renewed anger turned her fluid movement into curt jerks and powerful punches. Set four normally took a half hour to complete but as her ire rose, so did her speed increase. Ignoring both, Hank's orders not to overdo and the increasing ache in her muscles, Jubilee pushed onto set five. Sweat dripped into her eyes, thoroughly soaked her clothes and flew off her body like a duck shedding water.
Her heat aura appeared in multicolored brilliance in the air around her hands. It continued to grow until it completely surrounded her. Mindlessly she forged on and the aura expanded to cover most of the lake. If she didn't stop soon, the magnitude of the explosion would make the one in the Danger room last month look like a firecracker.
Jenna looked up at the clock for the umpteenth time and sighed. That thing hated her, she was sure of it. Ten more minutes of powers ethics class was simply pure torture for the fourteen year old girl. Most of her classes drove her to insanity except Applied Botany with Professor Storm. In fact any class that was outdoors made her favorite list. Only for good not for evil – all right already we get the picture, she scoffed silently and let her mind drift.
Mere hours after her arrival at this place, after the initial shock of being rescued, Jenna nearly clawed through the front door with her bare hands to get outside; she was hungry but not in the traditional way. She supposed her mutant ability could be described a vampiric. Ever since her twelfth birthday, her body no longer was able to digest regular food. In fact it became poisonous and she almost died.
She'd run away after hearing her father blame her mother for begetting such a defective child. By sheer chance she came upon a hidden temple. Driven by extreme hunger she entered the foreboding courtyard. A bald statue smiled as it kept vigil in the center of a small pond. Coins shimmered beneath the surface of the water as it reflected the firelight of the surrounding torches. The manicured bare dirt floor felt cool under her feet. Pretty she thought and fainted dead away.
When she came to she was full and refreshed. The monk welcomed her as an elemental – a being that takes sustenance from the combined energies of water, air, earth, fire and metal. Ever since then she was sensitive when one element became severely overbalanced.
An invisible bolt of lightning set her spine ablaze and jolted Jenna out of her set. Professor Jean helped her off the ground. As one they faced the window and Jenna pointed toward the growing light in the distance. Professor Jean frowned thoughtfully her eyes unfocused in the classic expression of thought casting. Whatever was going wrong, the Calvary was being called in.
Rogue leaned against the doorway that led into the mansion's recreation room watching the prone figures on the couch. Julian, her overly active, won't stop for nothing son was sound asleep curled in Mina's lap. Her hand circled his back soothingly as she watched cartoons on their 72-inch flat screen plasma television. Amazed, Rogue crept into the room and eased into the Lazy boy opposite the couch. At first she was puzzled about Julian's sudden lack of energy. Then her eyes fell on Mina's vibrating throat and chest. Their eyes met and Mina winked.
Rogue stifled a giggle and winked back with an added look of appreciation. Mina could produce infrasonic sounds well below the range of human hearing and most mutant hearing. Only Wolverine could pick up anything and it was usually the upper range of her repertoire.
Inuyasha was about to start and Rogue wanted out of there before she was sucked into the program. She bid Mina thanks and told the girl to lay Julian down in his bed if she tired of him. On her way out she felt the brush of Jean's mental touch and opened her mind. The telepath didn't bother with words and allowed Rogue to see through her what was happening.
"Lordy!" Rogue blurted out and hauled Mina to her feet with Julian deadweight in her arms. She flew them to the nursery to deposit Julian. No sooner than Mina arms were free of their encumbrance, they were off and out of the mansion in a beeline toward the boathouse. If Rogue was right, Mina was about to have her first field test of her powers.