Chapter 14

Pietro watched helplessly as her brown eyes filled with tears and she started to take her last breaths. A pair of giant pliers came out of nowhere held by two fuzzy blue hands. It cut the necklace off and left Robin gasping for air.

Pietro let go a sigh of relief. Robin was brown-eyed and cut on the neck but she was alive. Kurt knelt down next to them. His eyes smiled more than his lips possibly could.

Robin gathered just enough energy to toss her arms around both their necks, gathering them into one simultaneous hug. She was so happy she couldn't speak.

"There's going to be a scar but she'll be alright." The Professor told Pietro and Kurt who were pacing eagerly in front of the X-Mansion's infirmary door.

"Can we go in to see her now?" Pietro asked eager to hug her and kiss her deeply.

Kurt nodded smiling, eager to talk to Robin too.

"I think you guys will have to wait." Scott said as he limped into the hallway. He was bandaged around the chest.

"What are you doing out of your bed?" Jean asked stepping into the hallway to find Scott standing there. She ran in front of him.

"I'm going to go see Robin." He smiled smally.

Jean's expression was indifferent but she stepped aside and let him limp into the room.

Robin's eyes were sleepy-looking as she used the oxygen mask. She could hardly move. When Scott stepped into the room, she wanted to give him a long and heartfelt apology but she had to keep the mask on.

"Sorry." She forced out.

He smiled. "That wasn't you so don't worry." He sat at the edge of her bed.

She held on to his hand and smiled behind her mask.

"This is going to be a battle – a big one... Magneto obviously wanted her serving him or dead." The Professor said to Logan, Storm and Beast.

Logan grunted, "If a fight's what he wants, we'll give him one."

"No, Logan. We must approach this situation with vigilance." Storm cautioned. "Magneto is a very powerful mutant."

"What do you suggest, professor?" Beast asked, turning to the bald man who stared pensively out the window.

"I suggest we give the children a fighting chance...Logan, can you please take Robin, Kurt, Pietro, Kitty, Rogue, Scott and Jean somewhere where you and Best can continue their training safely?" Professor asked turning his chair around so he could face him.

"Take Quicksilver?" Logan was obviously against it. "He may give away our position to Magento."

"Not if he knows how much danger Robin is in." Professor said confidently.

They all exchanged glances – all thinking the same thing; would Pietro's love for Robin possibly cause him to betray his father.

"That selfish kid would sell her for a soda if his father offered to pay." Logan concluded.

"Then, it's your responsibility to protect her. Take Pietro with you."

"Thanks for never giving up on me, Kurt." Robin gasped out before kissing him on the cheek.

"Aww...it vas nuting Robin. I knew it vas vew all along." He smiled.

"Can we get a moment now, please?" Pietro asked, leaning against the post of the door.

Kurt held on to Robin's hand and slowly released it as he walked away.

Pietro stepped forward. He sat on the edge of the bed and gently put his hand against her cheek. It sent tiny volts of electricity through her body. She put her hand on his and snuggled into his hand.

The X-jet swooped down and landed in the only clear space. It was almost dark by the time they got to the woods in Russia.

Logan and Beast gave the kids instructions and very soon, the camp was set up. There was a bonfire in the centre of a few logs. All the kids and Beast sat and told stories and laughed and made smores while Scott and Logan went around, seeking to secure their perimeter. They used motion sensors and trip wires – the works to ensure that if anything or anyone was approaching. They'd know long before they got within meters of the camp.

Kurt and Robin had their arms around each other, drinking bottles of water and pretending to be drunk. They sang on the tops of their voices in an off-key manner as they entertained the other mutants.

"And once I was a swaggly pirate with buck-eyes and one tooth!" they sang getting up and dancing like imbeciles.

Jean and Kitty laughed. Rogue raised an eyebrow at the pair then shook her head with a tiny smile playing on her lips.

Pietro sat on the farthest log from the happy bunch and sat with one leg extended and the knee of the other tucked under his chin as he stared off into the dark forest. His eyes were stone-cold and his silver hair blew gently in the wind. Robin glanced over him and thought to herself how sexy he looked. She gave her bottle to Kurt and had him continue their show.

She knelt on the log behind Pietro and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Pietro didn't move. His eyes were still focused intently on the forest.

"What's on your mind?" Robin whispered.

Pietro didn't speak immediately. He held on to her arms and took a deep breath.

"I only came for you." He said quietly.

"Are the guys not warming up to you?" she asked, "Don't worry, about it."

"It's not that." He interjected, "I only came here for you but I know how things will turn out already."

"Ve're heading in now." Kurt said popping out of nowhere.

"We'll be right in, Kurt. Keep Max's sleeping bag warm for him." Robin said smiling at him.

Kurt eyed Pietro with a suspicious glance, gave Robin a salute and poofed away.

"What do you mean by that?" Robin asked bending her neck around so she could see his face.

"Nothing." He said getting up.

Robin sat back on her ankles and looked at him as he headed for the boy's tents on the left side of the X-jet.

"Good night." He said not even looking back at her.

"Night." She replied quietly.

A light wind blew her brown hair into her vision. She pushed it behind her ear and stared off at Pietro's back.