Darkness met my eyes. I groaned and rolled over. My right arm was under something. I glanced at it to recognize Lillian, who was awake and looking right back at me. I smiled at her, before pulling her. She rest her her on my chest.
"Sleep well?" I asked. She grinned.
"Nah," she said sarcastically, her smile broadening.
"Why haven't you been sleeping well?" I asked the mood turning serious.
"What?"she seemed shocked.
"Lil, you have shadows under your eyes," I explained to her. "I didn't even have to look in your head."
She looked at me sadly and suddenly I think I knew.
"Nightmares," I stated simply. "You've been having nightmares about Sabretooth."
It wasn't a secret between us; a long time ago Sabretooth took to killing Lillian's family. Why, nobody knew. All we did know was that her family was mostly human with her being the only mutant. Sabretooth let her escape, probably having scented her hidden mutation, which made sense with Sabretooth working with Magneto. So with that alliance formed t would make sense for the ct mutant to just kill of a human family. I could imagine Magnet thinking it would drive young mutants to him allowing him to build his army.
At my words Lillian snuggled deeper into my chest, proving me correct. I sighed then wrapped her in a tight embrace. We sat there for a moment.
"How long?" I asked.
"I dunno," she replied glumly. "A week or two."
I nodded. She needed sleep.
"Okay," I said rolling to my side so she would get off. "Get more sleep."
I kissed her forehead, put my shoes back on, then left Lily in peace. I sighed as I headed back to my room to collect the Paper of Problems as I decided to call it. Once I had it I went to James's room. Inside James was plugging cords into his Xbox and TV. Nikki was lying on his bed, in a bout of thoughtful silence.
"Eeeeyyyyoooooo," I called as I crossed the threshold.
"Hey," James looked up at me.
"James gave me the old 360," Nikki gushed with excitement, sitting up.
"Alright people," I said ignoring her. I pulled out my list. "Paper of Problems."
I sat on the bed beside Nikki, who instinctively looked at the list.
"Logan's fit, family, scars and ferality?" she read of with a questioning tone of voice. "What?"
"What is this?" James asked.
"A list of problems we need to talk about," I supplied.
"Oh, okay. Your dad's fit make sense now," Girlie said. "The rest not so much."
"What was the rest again?" James asked, now standing in front of us.
"Family, scars and ferality," Nikki answered.
"Ignoring those for now," I barreled on. "Dad has been... well, problematic. I'm nervous about him wandering off, say to the Avengers and he loses it. Yeah it won't be pretty. Unless you admire crimson art."
The others got what I was saying.
"Shit, are you saying...?"James asked me with wide eyes.
"Yeah if he loses it without a telepath to contain him or -"
"The Hulk," Nikki said matter of factually.
"What?"James and I asked simultaneously.
"Couldn't Banner, like, hold him, so he can't scratch anything given the fact that Bruce can't be hurt?"
"Okay, well not much we can do about that. Moving on." I said.
"Family," James recalled, which cause Wolfie and I to mimic heart attacks.
"He never remembers," Nikki joked.
"Shut up," James said half serious.
"Listens, guys," I almost piteously. That broke the staring contest they had locked themselves into. "This is serious."
"Well there goes my hopes of you planning for us to go visiting," Shizno sighed.
"What's wrong?" Nik asked with concern.
"Hang on," I stood up and went to retrieve the address. I could psychically sense the two's concern. I really shouldn't have sound so sad. Acting was a forte of mine, especially the things that went on in my life.
Once I had that burning paper in my pocket, I went back to my friends.
I handed it to Nikki right off the bat.
"Where did you get this?" she asked. "Who do you know lives in Canada?"
"Logan," James replied. He was getting on Fallout: New Vegas.
"He has a house in Canada?"
"Yeah, I've seen it and that addresses don't match," I let that sink in.
"Okay, where did you get and why do you have it"? Nik asked.
"Remember that last session of survival training?"
"Yeah."
"Do you know why Dad was worried?"
"Somebody was out there."
"Sabretooth," James supplied.
"Yeah, well he and Dad are brothers," I told them. They were shocked to silence. All button activity from James stopped. "When I was out, I came late because somebody was out there delivering the address. I'm not sure it was Sabretooth, but I think it was. He gave the paper to me and said 'come find some family'."
I looked at my friends' expressions.
"Guys," I said quietly and weakly. "This is important to me. Been so since I found out about Dad, but given your loyalty streaks I need to ask you something. I know Logan won't want me seeing Sabretooth and because of that I might need you to either keep Dad from tracking if I go or helping me make the trip."
They stared at me. I looked down.
"Harley..." Nikki tried. "How do you know about... Sabretooth?"
"Telepathy," I mumbled.
"Ooookkaaay," James started uneasily. "Look we've all be though hell together, so if you need me, count me in."
I nodded.
"Nikki?" I asked.
"You think that I'm not gonna help you?" she snorted. "I'll help you."
I smiled as I grabbed the list to move on to the next order of business.
"Alright," I warned. "Don't freak out about what I'm about to show you."
James and Nikki nodded. We were still in James's discussing my problems. Currently we were on the subject of 'Scars'. I exhaled heavily before lifting up my shirt to reveal the scars on my side.
"What the hell?" James asked. I turned red.
"Logan," I answered his imcomplete question.
"He did this to you?" Nikki gushed. "Harley, it looks like he tried to cut you in half!"
"I know," I said softly. "It wasn't his fault,though. His memories were coming back to him and... and I was just stupid enough to check on him."
A collective sigh came from the two.
"Harley.." Wolf tried.
"No, Nikki. It's okay. I learned alright, but I wanted to show you these because, well, you were catatonic and James, well, I wiped the memory from your mind."
"I was there?" he asked.
"No, but you heard me scream."
I looked down at the ground.
"Don't be mad," I whispered, but their heightened sensed picked it up with ease. "I didn't want you to worry or try something stupid on Dad."
James stared at me for a time.
"It's okay," He said before turning back to the Xbox. "I probably would've killed myself trying to fight him, anyway."
I sighed with relief. James had meant every word.
"Moving on," I mumbled.
"Wait that's it?" Nik asked incredulously. "You guys are fine with just that?"
"Yeah."
"Yes." we answered in tandem.
"Whatever," she rolled her eyes. "Ferality."
"Right," I nodded.
"That isn't a word."
"How do you know?"
"Spellcheck," James answered eyes not breaking from the dull colors of New Vegas. I snorted.
"Okay, so we've all noticed Dad's feral behavior sometimes right?" I asked. "You know wandering off for weeks, growling and the animalistic like."
"That's not a word either," Girlie cried.
"Well, fucking deal with it," I snapped, not meaning anything. "You get my message."
"Fuck,"James said. "Damn deathclaws."
I snorted. Watching him play any game was amusing.
"Okay, let's assume that you aren't making up words," Nikki rolled her eyes. "What's your point?"
"As part of the feral mutation," I explained. "Ferals have, well, feral behavior."
"Like Wolverine," Shizno supplied, now doing what I called the gamer jump, where he jumps up and down from the excitement of the game. "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck."
"Yeah. Anyway, some of them can contain that behavior," I continued. "Dad contains it for sometime, before he needs to let it out. Others have this mix where some things are both feral and human."
"Like you?" Nikki asked.
"Well, not really," I huffed. "I haven't changed. I've always been the same crazy, homicidal maniac, even before my mutation emerged.
"But I digress. There are a few, who live completely wild. My problems is that I don't display any feral behaviors. I might, think ferally-"
"More squiggly red lines," Nik muttered.
"Shut up. But only when I'm having thoughts about ferals. Damn it. You keep getting me off track. Moral of the story is where do you and James stand as ferals?"
They paused, well James tried but getting his ass handed to him by a digital manifestation of death, he was a little caught up.
"Fuck you," he cried as his character pulled out something explosive to send one of the deathclaws flying; he still had a second one to deal with. Nikki and I watched this episode unfold, wondering how long he would last before placing the remote down and rage quitting.
"So, you think, that because of your DNA, we might have... ferality?" Nikki sighed. "Crap. Now I'm giving in to it."
"Without a doubt. It only seems practical. The problem that I'm worried about is if it's suppressed, what happens when it's finally unleashed?"
"Destruction,"James finally killed the deathclaws. "Murder and generally chaos."
"Yeah. It's a problem that we can't address until, if, it happens," Nikki sighed and flopped back down on the bed, I remained standing and James scratched the back of his neck.
"But, isn't James the feral one?" Nikki asked. "The feral mutation by definition gives healing factors, heightened senses, increased agility and claws. At least that's what you told us. I don't have claws, so am I a feral?"
"You forgot behaviors," I stated, crossing my arms. "And I'm not sure. We could ask Hank."
A silence developed.
"Look, it's not a problem until it happens," James assured. "So let's not worry about it."
"That, my friend," Nikki grinned. "Is the most sensible thing you've said this entire conversation."
"But I said it first," I protested.
Shhh. Let it be. She retorted mentally. I sighed before walking out, with a growling stomach.
I went to the kitchen afterwards to grab a snack. It was 12 and 12 meant lunch. I opened the kitchen door, expecting a cacophony of noise from students, but instead it was silent. I walked in. I pricked my ears and tuned into the rest of the house. I realized where all the other students were. They were outside eating.
With a jump, I realized that I wasn't alone. I peered over an open cabinet door to see a blue form crouching, rummaging though the cabinet looking for something.
"Furry?" I addressed Hank McCoy. He came out of the compartment with a box of Twinkies.
"Harley," he greeted as he pulled one of the sponge cakes out. "Have how you been, child?"
"Fine," I answered. "May I have one of those?"
"Certainly," He gave me a Twinkie. I watched him stand up before asking him my question.
"Lillian hasn't been sleeping well," Hank supplied cutting me off. "I thought you would like to know given your relationship."
"I'm aware, thank you. I have a question,"I stated with a smile.
"Go ahead. Anything for a teammate and former student, who finished early," I blushed slightly at Beast. I had taken online classes, so finishing early was not a big achievement to me.
"Ferals," I started to unwrap my Twinkie. "What defines them? What makes a feral?"
"Hmm, that's an unusual question, especially from you," Hank commented. "I suppose the primary traits of a feral is having most, if not all, of the feral abilities.
"Claws, healing factor, heightened senses and agility. Not to mention instincts and behaviors. Traits that your father shows. You show most of them, although I have never seen you display them. Nevertheless, you do not only have most feral characteristics, but are also the son of a feral. So with you showing the sign and having a blood connection, you are a feral."
"Okay," I had been eating my sponge cake while he was talking. "What about Nikki and James are they 'feral' even if the don't have the instincts and behavior, and in Nikki's case claws?"
The wised teacher had to think for a moment.
"Yes, I would classify them as ferals," he informed.
" , why don't some feral exhibit feral behavior and instincts?" I asked.
"Well, son, they suppress them," Hank explained. "Most have a hard time doing so, but other can do it subconsciously
"Some will actually develop wolf parts, like ears and tails. This show most when they're in a feral period. May I asked why you are asking my these questions?"
"Oh, no reason. Just curious," I wasn't entirely lying as I threw my wrapper away. "Thanks, Furball. But what do you mean I show them, but don't display them?"
His eye twitched at the nickname Dad had given him. "I was referring to the growling and abilities, not so much the behaviors."
"Hmm, thanks," I left the room and headed outside where I would be taking a long walk though the woods.
I didn't come back until just before dinner. I ran up though the halls when I realized everyone was heading to the dining hall. By the time I had got there most of the seat were taken. I spotted James heading towards my old chair,which was still empty.
Quickly I ran and just after he pulled it out, pushed him away.
"Mine," I cried as I sat down. He glared at me. I craned my neck and rested it the back of the chair so I could see his angry face. I grinned at him. He unsheathed his claws and held them close to his face threateningly.
"Do it," I challenged. He moved so his claws would go though my face. But I grabbed his fist so that my fingers were between his claws. I twisted his wrist and he hollered. I giggled and let him go. James retracted his claws and I looked at the person across from me, who happened to be Nikki. She snorted at the whole affair. Out of nowhere James smacked the back of my head. I only grinned.
He went and sat next to Nikki. I noticed that everybody was staring at our clique. I shrugged to say 'That's what true friendship is. Deal with it.'
I glanced at James and Nikki, who was smiling at me.
"Well, putting that aside," Storm said. "Let's eat."
I grabbed the pot in front of me, which was full of soup, and began ladling it's contents into my bowl. I loved warm soup even if it was in the middle of summer, like now. I watched other help themselves to the soup, as well as the other dishes on the table. I glanced a couple of seats down the table to see Lillian stuffing her face with Sheppard's pie. I laughed inwardly at the sight of Kitty, sitting next to Lil, panic when she realized that she had just spilled her cream soda all over her outfit.
Several people rushed to her with napkins. I missed this. Even though nobody here shared blood, they all acted like a giant family. The noise of people asking Kitty if she needed more napkins, or if she wanted them to get her more soda.
It was something I saw rarely, since I left home, but here it was, amplified with so many people. I loved it.
"I would like to welcome back an old student," The professor's voice echoed down the table. "Harley, please stand."
I threw my arm in the air, and slowly stood up giving people the impression I was being dragged up by an unseen force.
"Eeeyyyo," I greeted Freddie Mercury style.
"Eeeeyyyyoo," James echoed. I scoffed, before sitting back down.
"With Harley and his father back, survival training, art, and, as been suggested to me, knife throwing classes will continue and begin in two weeks," Charles explained. There was a collective groan from the other kids, as they heard 'survival training', but they perked up when the heard the other two. I grinned.
"Yay, survival," I said to myself happily. "Where I stick you in the woods and make you kill things and eat leaves."
Several people shot nasty looks at me; they are ignored. Survival training was bad enough with Mr. Logan seemed to be the general thoughts of the kids around me. How are we gonna survive with his insane son?
I shot Nikki a look. She seemed to hear the same thing. So when eye contact was made, we started to giggle. James looked up from his dinner to see what was so funny. Unable find what, I transferred the thoughts of the people to him and with that we all started to giggle and chuckle. A glance from Scott shut us up temporarily, but after a couple moments of strained silence we stared up again louder. This happened several times, each bout of quiet resulting in an louder and longer stream of giggles and laughed.
A couple of people started to join in, but none of them laughed as hard as us. After a particularly long silence, I laughed so hard that my chair fell back. Now we were laughing of different reasons. Even I was laughing from my position on the ground. I paused, wheezing, trying to catch my breath, before shooting off into another fit of laughter.
I heard a loud thump and, from my position, saw that Nikki had also fallen back in her chair. I laughed harder with the rest of the kids, as Nikki sat up clutching her head, giggling weakly.
The laughter went on for a couple more minutes before everybody calmed down. I climbed back in my seat, with a chuckle.
The rest of supper went on without much disturbances. Once we were all finished everybody headed to the living room, where they were going to watch a movie. However, Nikki went to her room and James went to his to get on his laptop. I went to see the Professor; there was something on my mind.
Once at his office door, I knocked.
"Come in," he called. I opened the door and walked in. Hank and Storm were also in the room. They must have been having an awkward quiet moment because I didn't hear them. I should've scented them, though. Or I was so lost in thought about what I was going to ask.
"What can we help you with, Harley?" Storm asked.
"Dad," I said staring at Charles.
"Harley, I'm sure Logan -" Hank tried to assure me.
"I'm going to Avenger HQ," I explained. "You can't stop me, so don't even try. There's something I need to address with him. I leave in the morning."
Xavier sighed. "Harley, despite your concerns, I believe Logan will be fine."
I gripped my left upper arm with my right hand. "I don't. If you knew what James and I had to do just to keep him from hurting himself you wouldn't want him out of your sight."
Furball and Chuck stared at me before, Xavier dismissed Hank.
"Harley what exactly does he do, when these 'fits' happen?" The professor rolled over to me. I dropped my hands and raked them though my hair. It was that moment my vision shifted and I had to take my glasses of and hang them on my shirt with one arm going over and behind my shirt.
"He loses it," I explained. "He don't know where he's at or who anybody, or what anything, is. He slashes at everything and sometimes stabs himself. A couple times he'll drop to his knee and howl, scratching his face. It's horrible. I've had to drop him psychically and James would tie him up because he would start thrashing
"If it happens while he's gone, nobody can stop. I came here for two reason; one I didn't realize this problem and two I wanted to make sure James and Nikki were settled here."
I sighed under the professor's stare.
"Look," I waved him off with my eyes closed. I opened them. "Just make sure James and Nikki are comfortable. Tell them where I'm going and not to worry."
It was Charles turn to sigh. "You have your father's stubbornness, but if you're leaving tomorrow. Tell your friends yourself. I have no doubt they will have questions."
"Yes, Professor," I said before leaving the room.
"Damn," I muttered when the world turned blurry though my glasses. I took them off. Guess my healing factor kicked in.
I went to my friends, who where now in their separate rooms and explained to them what I was doing. Neither of them questioned me, something I was thankful. Then on a compulsion, I went to tell Lillian. She was pissed.
"Seriously, you just got back and you want to leave again?" she cried incredulously. I hadn't told her why I was leaving.
"I'm sorry, but it's important," I explained.
"What is it then?" she crossed her arms, waiting. I sighed, but reluctantly I told her about Dad's fits.
She stood in silence.
"I don't want to leave you now," I looked down at my feet. "Especially when your not sleeping well."
I heard her sigh followed by the sound of bed springs.
"Okay." she finally sighed as she flopped back on the bed. "You want to prevent people from getting hurt. Okay. I know I can't stop you. But don't get yourself hurt."
I looked up at her. "I won't."
That was probably a lie; I would most likely do something even I considered stupid. Like walk into Avenger's HQ.
We sat in awkward silence.
"Would you like me to sleep with you tonight?" I asked her. I needed to know now so I could shower and get a shirt to sleep in. I hated sleeping with shirts on but if somebody, anybody, was going to be around, I would.
'Sure," was her simple answer. She had already showered so I just needed to do so and then I would sleep with her than head off in the morning.
(X)
After I showered, I packed a bag containing several outfits, my glasses and my wallet. I tossed my motorcycle keys on top. I left it in my room to be picked up tomorrow. I left my room to go tell James and Nikki, who were playing Halo, good night.
In all honesty, I had only been gone for a little more than two months, but it still felt like ages. Don't know why, it just did. I wasn't one to ponder things like time.
When I got to Lil's room, she was already lying in bed, so all I had to do was sidle up beside her, wrap my arm around her and sleep. I did all that. But I forgot dreaming.
I sat in my window still, seething. I had finally read the DNA results and I was pissed.
I had been locked in my room for almost a week and people had been bombarding my barricaded door since day one. It started with Ororo.
She came into my room after dinner; I hadn't shown up for any meals and I missed my session with the professor. I was sitting at my desk, listening to some Queen, when I heard her open my door.
"Hey, Harley," she greeted hesitantly. "Is everything okay?"
"No," was my flat response. Under normal circumstance, I would sounded happy to hide what I was feeling.
"What's wrong?" she asked as she started to come over to me.
"You're in here," I replied in the same voice as before. "I want to be left alone."
Storm froze several feet from me.
"Harley," she began. "What's -"
"Get out," I commanded angrily as I whipped my headphones off and turned to glare at her. "Now."
The look on my face did it. She gave me one last nervous glance before leaving. I sighed as I put my headphones on. I was mentally attuned to Storm's psyche in case she went to the professor. Which she did
"Professor," she called as she knocked on his office door.
"Come in," he admitted. Ororo walked into his office. "How may I help you?"
"There's something wrong with Harley," she informed him. "He wasn't come out of his room all day and as far as I know hasn't eaten."
"He missed our session," Charles sighed. "But I was unaware he hasn't come out at all."
"Do you think I should bring him a plate?"
"Have Lillian do it. They're close enough that Harley might not mind her company."
I stopped paying attention. After a couple more songs I heard footsteps in the hall; I could've picked up this noise earlier, but with my headphones on, I didn't. Several moments later, I heard a knock and Lillian's scent wafted from under the door, which opened a crack when I didn't move to answer it.
"Hey," she said quietly, as she walked in slowly.
I grunted in response. I noticed the smell of baked chicken accompanied with mashed potatoes. I had been managing on Pringles, Cheezits and beef jerky for my meals, so I wasn't particularly hungry.
"I brought food," Lil tried cheerfully. "Haven't seen you all day."
"Not hungry," I mumbled without looking at her pretending the music video to 'We are the Champions' was interesting.
"Harley," she set the plate beside my computer. "What's wrong? Storm's worried about you."
"I just want to be alone for awhile, okay?" I almost snapped. I sighed. "Just leave me alone."
Lillian stared at me for a bit with a worried look before turning to leave.
"Take the plate," I called. She took, but not before giving me another worried look.
Day Two:
There was a knock on my door and it was Logan.
"Kid?" he called though my door.
"No! Go away!" I cried as I jumped up from my bed and began to try to push it in front of the door, which he opened anyways.
"Harley?" Logan stood just across my threshold, with the bed separating us. "You missed our fight-"
"You're looking from one," I yelled, popping my claws. "Get out! I don't want to talk to you!'
He looked uneasy.
"Harley, what's -" he started to ask.
"Get out!" I shrieked, retracting my claws to pull a knife out of my pocket which was promptly thrown. It whizzed by his ear and embedded itself in the wall behind Logan.
"The fuck is wrong with you?" he asked with slight anger.
"Go away," I jumped onto the bed, jumped again, planted my feet on his chest and pushed him into the hall. I landed back on the bed, but still in reach of the door, which I slammed shut so I didn't have to see the older man on the ground getting up. I locked the door, then proceeded to push the bed in front of the door. I collapsed, ending up in a kneeling position with my forehead resting on the mattress.
I was keenly aware of Logan still standing at my door, with confusion, concern and anger emitting from him to my nose and similar thoughts on his mind.
I was torn between telling him sorry and telling him to get away from my door. Instead, I sighed, fighting tears and got up to continue my game of Candy Crush.
Day Three:
Lillian had figured out that I was living on snack food and had Kitty phase in a couple cans, bags and boxes of the stuff. Which was fine. My supply had been dwindling and I had just started to ration my things. Even with the stream of junk food, I continued to ration and stash my snacks.
It was almost 6 when Lil and Kitty phased though my wall, bearing a share size container of Snickers and a twelve pack of root beer; a much appreciated gesture, seeing as how I had been drinking tap water out of a cup in my bathroom.
"Hey," Lillian greeted me with what I thought was too much enthusiasm. "We brought you some food."
I glanced up from my book, which I was reading on my bed, which was still pressed against the door.
"Put it on my desk," I mumbled. I still didn't want to talk to anybody, but that mindset was began to fold back on itself the more I thought that maybe talking to somebody would do me some good.
After Lillian and Kitty put the food and drinks on my desk Lillian sat beside me;Kitty remained standing.
"Hey," Lillian rested her head on my shoulder. "Wanna tell me what's wrong?"
I sighed as I threw my book down beside me. "Not particularly."
"Why not?"Kit asked. I sighed again, this time angrily.
"Because I know what's going to happen if I do," I added, "And I don't want it to appen because people will be upset."
"People are upset, anyway," Lillian explained. "You attacked Logan-"
"And he was, like, super mad," Kitty inserted.
"Storm's worried sick that you haven't come out to eat-"
"Hopefully us bring food will help."
"And Wolfbane caught a fresh scent of you in the woods, meaning you've been sneaking out -"
"So, like everybody thinks that something is wrong, like-"
"You might be a traitor," Lillian finished.
I snorted. "I feel betrayed."
The two girls cocked their heads.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Kitty asked.
"You wanted know why I'm so pissed off?" I stood up and went to my desk and pulled out of my drawer the test results. "Here."
I shoved it into Kitty's hand, then before she could unfold it, grabbed Lillian's wrist, made them hold hands then shoved them though the wall. I sighed as I listened to them head to the professor, where, coincidentally a meeting was being held between Charles, Hank, Storm and Logan.
The girls shared a glance.
"Logan you might wanna take a hike-" Kitty started to suggest.
"Like to the Danger Room," Lillian finished. "On maximum difficulty."
He stared at them a bit before heading out. The group waited for Lillian, who was tracking Logan to the lower levels of the mansion, where he wouldn't be able to hear them.
"Here," Lillian passed the paper to Xavier, who read it with surprise.
"Where did you get this?" he asked.
"Harley," Kitty answered.
"What is it?" Hank and Storm asked simultaneously.
"A DNA test," Charles supplied. "Between Harley and Logan."
"And?" Storm pressed.
"It's positive," he whispered. There was silence.
"What?" Hank asked incredulously. "How could he have operated the machine?"
"He most likely copied your memories of how to," Chuck explained. "It is well within his capabilities to do so,but I did not think he would go that far."
"Hold on," Lily butt in. "You mean to tell me that Harley stole Mr. McCoy's memories on how to work a machine that test DNA, then did the test himself, printed the result, interpreted them himself found out and is sulking because his dad is the Wolverine? The fuck is wrong with him? I'm gonna beat him for making me worried that something was actually wrong! "
I was impressed she got that out on one breath without speeding up or slowing down from her normal pace of speech.
The adults in the room shared a glance.
"Lillian, try to understand," Ororo tried to soothe. "It has to be a crushing thing for him to discover that his parentage isn't what he thought."
"While that may be true," the Professor said. "Harley is a very logical person. Have you noticed things don't bother him for long? He has probably been sitting in his room trying to figure how to approach this situation."
"But why is it taking him so long?" Kitty asked quietly. "Why won't he come out and talk to anyone about it?"
"He has come out," Ororo informed. "He's been out in the woods and possibly the Danger Room."
Speaking of rooms, the door to Xavier's office opened and in came –
"Mother fucker," I hissed as a door opened. Even without my hyper sense, I still woke up to every little sound.
"Sorry," Lillian apologized as she closed her bedroom door. I glanced at the clock on her dresser.
"It's fine," I added, "need to go any ways."
I sprung out of bed and walked over to her. She turned her cheek for a kiss. I gave her one, before muttering good bye, then heading out to the hall. My bag was in my room, so I had to go get, but in order to to so I had to pass Nikki's room. It wouldn't be that bad, if she wasn't outside in the hall, possibly waiting for me.
"Hey, blondie," I called cheerfully.
"I wanted to talk to you about," she gulped. "college."
I sighed; I had been expecting this. I knew both James and Nikki wanted to go, but things got in the ways. Namely them becoming mutants.
"I know and I'm sorry, but if somebody figured out about you,well.." I trailed off, "Can this wait?"
I wanted to leave and Girlie knew this, but...
"No!" she exploded, "You know this was important to me and yet, nobody can give me solution. So tell me what do you expect me to do?"
"Nikki..." I couldn't speak. "I'm sorry, but I have to go and you know this. Please talk to the professor. Maybe he can think of something."
I stared at her, expecting a retort, plus I wasn't going to be rude and walk of in the middle of a conversation.
"Okay," she sighed. "I don't like talking to him, but okay."
She seemed to deflated. Compulsively, I hugged her
"I know, but it's to get what you want," I added as I let go. "and what I want is for you to go back to bed, so I can leave and watch Logan like the small child he is."
She snorted, "Okay. Bye."
"Bye," I smiled as she went to her room. The smiled faded a bit, but not much. I didn't expect it to. Nikki and James always left me smiling.
I quickly got my bag and headed down to the garage. I threw my bag into the saddle bag on my motorcycle, then pulled out. It was still dark out, but I didn't turn my headlight on; driving in the dark is fun. I've vaguely remembered the way to New York City. Or I could just use my teleporter.
Nah. Besides, the badass in the movies always pops up at the secret headquarters on a motorcycle, Oliver supplied.
Yeah, thanks for the supplemental support, I snapped back at myself. With only him to talk to it was going to be a long ride. Good thing I liked those.
I had finally arrived at Avengers' HQ. My first thought was 'This is gonna be a bitch.' Immediately followed by 'Scratch that. Charge!'.
(X)
I stood invisible in the middle of a conference. I had a head from using my telepathy to mess with the cameras and not to mention Iron Man's suit. It was a good thing telepathic waves could offset electric currents. So there was I, sitting in the midst of a bunch of supers, not to mention Logan, who would quite possibly throw me in jail, if they caught me, but hell to the slammer.
Any mental connection I had with the Avengers dropped suddenly.
"Sorry to interrupt, but-" I got no further than that for Iron Man, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Captain America, Thor pointed their various weapons at me. I guess it was a good thing they did; I had no clue what to say next. I glanced at Dad, who had also stood up and was looking pissed. I grinned evilly at him.
"Who are you and how did you get in here?" Cap't asked me.
"He's..." Logan sighed. "My son."
Heads turned in his direction.
"Son?" Cap't looked at me. I saluted him, grinning.
"I didn't know you had a son," Widow asked him.
"It's... hard to explain," Dad muttered while looking at me venomously.
"The hair and eye color match," said Banner. I smiled.
"What is your name?" Natasha asked me.
"Got several, what's yours?" I asked already knowing the answer.
She answered as Dad came up and grabbed my shoulder.
"Why are you here?" he growled quietly. I watched the others behind him mutter and whisper among themselves, most likely about me.
"You," I responded simply.
"Why?"
I stiffened. I hadn't expected me to ask me that here and now.
"Later."
"No, now," he demanded in a fierce whisper. I made a show of looking over his shoulder.
"Seems you're makin' a scene," I whispered back, gleefully. I had to throw him off somehow. It was a good thing crazy lived not only in my brain, but my voice.
He turned to look at the assembled Avengers. Logan sighed. You know where my room is, he thought. Get your stuff and stay in my room til I come get you.
I willingly complied. I had no clue where Dad's room was until I copied his memory of it. Telepathy would have been useful in school. Well, not to me; academics were easy. My papers were practically passed around the room. I had two friends in my class; one would cheat off of me then the other would cheat of off him. Chain reaction.
I reach Logan's room. I briefly wondered why he had a room here, but I didn't put my thought into it. I opened the door and marveled in how simply my father was.
Concrete walls, beige carpet flooring, no closest. He had a cot and a drawer. I was impressed; only Logan, hobos, and nomads could have so little stuff in one place of living. I snickered to myself as Oliver sprouted jokes. I realized I had to get my stuff out of my saddle bag; my Harley was parked in the garage next to Logan's, but I didn't feel like walking down there yet. I had been driving for a couple hours and dreaming while I slept left me groggy with to much brain activity.
I was weird.
Yawning, I stretched out on the floor, using my arms as a pillow, tried to block out the noises around me and fell asleep.
(X)
A door opened, pissing me off by waking me up.
"Could've slept on the bed ya know," Logan grumbled as he sat on aforementioned furniture.
"No," I groaned, sitting up, joints creaking and cracking as I stretched.
Silence. Soon followed by:
"Why are ya here and how did ya get Chuck to let you leave?"
"One, if I wanted to come who was going to stop me? Two I have good reasons and three why the hell would you even ask that last part?"
He gave me the hairy eyeball, a look that would make others squirm, but not me. I could resist for a while. I still decided to give him an answer, though.
"When your memories come back you have these fits. Like horrible, feral temper tantrums.
" I can't tell you how many times James and I have chained you up and telepathically had to drop you. It's not something that anybody wants do, but something that needs to be done.
"You hurt me, but I heal, so... I guess it wasn't a big d-"
"WHAT?!" Logan roared. "I-i-I what to you?"
He looked shaken and angry... and confused with a little grief mixed in as he got off the bed and crouched in front of me. I realized I shouldn't have told him about his first fit, but I couldn't help it. He needed to know what was at stake here. If somebody who didn't have a healing factor got turned to mincemeat by Dad, because I or some other telepath wasn't there to watch him, I would submit myself to on hell on earth scenario.
"You cut me. Bad," I sighed now looking at the ground, not able to see the pained expression on his face. "If I was anyone else, I would have died."
"Where?" was the only word he whispered. I lifted my shirt up to show the three scars. Logan touched them lightly with sadness on his face, but it hardened instantly.
"Right," he said finally, pulling away and standing up. "You can stay. But stay out of the way. No meddling."
Putting my shirt down, I nodded. No need to say anything else; this event was one with some 'raw' emotions in it that made both of us want it to end. Dad wasn't one for heart to heart talks and neither was I, but this came close. Ii made me feel vulnerable and I hated that.
(*Sissy stuff. Blah. But I felt it needed to be there.*)
After three days at Avengers' HQ, here what I learned all in one sentence: a box had mysteriously appeared on Earth with evidence of being from space, but it was made of some seemingly unbreakable substance, so Dad was called in to try and cut it open, however even Stark's advanced equipment couldn't see into it, which meant it could very well be a bomb that would explode, or implode, upon being opened. Now I had an idea, but to go through with it would be to risk the wrath of the Wolverine. In other words, I was going to do it, and then 'run away' temporarily til Dad calmed down.
Not to mention I still had to weasel the location of the box out of Nick Fury. Shouldn't be hard. He had taken something of an interest in me. I took that as a valuable opportunity; it meant I could get the location from him, but something was stopping me from doing so. Having morals and a conscience sucked.
On the other hand I was having lunch with Eye-patch so if I got brave enough I could get the location from him.
I walked in the a room that was off the beaten track. Inside was a table with a single bulb overhead and at the table were Fury and Coulson.
"It's about time," Nick grumbled. "I would like you to meet Agent Coulson from SHIELD."
I knew who he was the minute I sensed him in here, due to my telepathy. Hey, I might have said I have morals, but there ain't a lot of them.
"Salutations," I greeted seriously. He stood up and shook my hand.
"Hello," he nodded. "Spicy Italian?"
Coulson raised a Subway bag to me.
Yes, please, I said in Spanish. I took it from him and sat down.
"You speak Spanish?" Fury asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Just enough to get past the Mexicans in Florida," I smiled.
"You live in Florida?" Coulson asked, sitting down.
"Used to," I stated, "Now I live with Logan, I suppose, which is wherever he is." (*My spellchecker has died I noticed as I read these last couple of lines. Fixed it*)
"How is he about you being here?" Fury asked. I had to keep cool if what Oliver was telling me is true.
"Livid within reason as I'm not suppose to be here so my last statement is not entirely true," I explained right before taking a bite out of my sub. "Mmm, banana peppers."
"Do you know why Agent Coulson is here?" Fury asked. I paused for a moment to chew.
"'Cause you two want to see if I would do good in SHEILD," I said confidently.
"Now, are you sure about that?" Coulson asked with a curious look on his face.
"Telepathy," I replied simply. "Ya know you really should know about the people you want, especially for a Government agency."
I bite into my sub as Nick and Coulson did the same, but they were smiling also. There was something between the two men and I had a sneaking suspension about it. They were giving off the aura similar to the one James, Nikki, and I had when there was something being shared among us.
"SHIELD does have a file on you," Coulson explained, putting his sandwich down. "So I do know a considerable amount on you. Not to mention Logan supplied some info to Fury. So tell me how good are you exactly in a fight?"
I could only assume Dad had been bragging about my skills, which I had learned from him; so, really, he was bragging about himself. But I also had my own fighting style.
"One why are you curious? Two, what did Logan tell you, because he stretches the truth? Third, would you like an demostration?" I asked nonchalantly. Keep cool, you barstid, Oliver warned me. Oliver was like a computer radar system, who scanned while I did something else. Once he was done he gave me the report and I did what I decided would be the best path to take.
And at the moment I might end up working for the Gov't and my conscience and conservative upbringing would kill me. How the hell did Dad do it? I guess he argues the Avengers aren't Gov't workers. (* Wow! This took a political turn.*) That's what I would do.
"If I were to send you on a mission, I would want to make sure you could make back," Coulson began as he put his wrapper in the bag; I followed suit with Fury. "He said you're logical, smart, fierce, and brutal-"
"Meaning you're both like and not like Wolverine in a battle," Fury interupted.
"Using your telepathy to predict moves and using your throwing knives to distract, harm, or both. And final, do you have anyone in mind?" Coulson asked.
"Can I borrow Captain?" I asked Fury. " I promise i'll try not to break him."
Fury narrowed his eyes at me. I stared back. Moments passed. He was trying to decid if I was crazy, while at the same time thinking about how much damage could be done. Finally he blinked and said yes.
Fury went to get Cap't while Coulson(* Who's first name I can't recalled.*) walked me to one of the three sparring rooms in the building. We had to wait a bit so I took in the rather simple scenery.
Round and white walled and floor. That was it. It reminded me of the Oval office but made a concrete with white pads on the floor. Why white is beyond me, but I guess somebody wanted to stick to one color. I was glaring daggers at the door waiting for Nick and Mincemeat- I mean Cap't. When Coulson, who really needed a nickname, started some small talk.
"So what was up with your first costume?" he asked, catching me off guard.
"Borderlands 2," I replied grinning. "And James and Nikki were my band of merry midgets."
The reference went way over C's head. Are you sure C will work? Oliver asked. Shut up and deal with it until I think of a better one, I retorted.
Silent pause.
"How powerful is your telepathy?"
"Strong."
Pause.
"What is you accuracy rate with your throwing knives?"
"one out of three in combat. Worse than that in leisure. Adrenaline increases my aim."
Silencio!
"Does you train with Logan often? What is your favorite weapon? Skills?"
"Not anymore. Any shotgun or something that results in an explosion, besides my knife. And i'm pretty good with computers."
Thank God Fury chose that moment to walk in with Steve. Any more questioning from Philip(*Thank you, Google,*) and I might have said some smartass answer to his next question.
"Steve, you've meet Harley," Nick nodded towards me. "And Harley you know about Steve."
I nodded.
"So I'm suppose to fight him?" the great Captain America asked, scratching the back of his head.
"Yep," Coulson replied as he and Fury headed out the door to go stand behind an observational window.
"I'm not about to fight a kid," Stars and Stripes argued. "Especially not the Wolverine's kid."
"Umm, you don't get that choice," I stated happily.
Right before sling a regular knife at him. The action happened so quickly; hand to pocket, hand to knife in pocket, knife held behind my back to hand outstretched with a blade flying towards S&S. He barely had time to block it. The knife was aimed at his head, well more like his ear, but I digress, so when he lowered his shield from his face he saw me rushing at him, claws out.
I made to slash at him with one hand, which he blocked with his shield, but my other hand went for his other side. Somehow he blocked that, too. Next he thrust his shield at me causing me to stumble back. I smiled and ran backwards. I knew what he would do and I was right. Cap't threw his shield at me and instead of trying to dodge it, I grabbed the side. This move stunned Rogers who began to run at me to bring to fight to hand to hand combat.
I slung the shield at him and followed behind it. He grabbed the flying disc as I slid under him grabbing his legs to pull him down. I didn't get caught underneath him, fortunately, I was able to quickly spin around as his foot kicked in to my thigh, and tackle the trying to rise S&S, keeping th flat end of my claws against his neck.
"Decapitation," I said simply, getting off of him. Steve stared at me as he got up, I smiled and offered my hand.
"You're good," he commented as he accepted my hand.
"Danke," I replied in German with a tip of the head. Then I caught a whiff of a bruise. Yeah I can smell bruises, along with broken or sprained parts, lying, thinking. Pheromones are real specific. "Are you hurt?"
Coulson and Fury walked in with applause.
"No." He gave himself a field physical. "I'm good."
"Okay, well, if there was something you were doing before we're done here," I was convinced that he wasn't really giving the fight his all, but I wasn't fixing to pressure him.
"That was good, but Captain was going easy on you," Fury inserted.
"I know. Where's you medical room?" I asked.
Puzzled, no doubt they led me to the med lab, where Banner ruled supreme, discussing the fight. There wasn't much to talk about.(*I'm not good at fight scenes.*)
Banner was testing something or other when we arrived.
"Hello, can I help-" he started before I cut him off.
"Out, now," I growled.
"But-"
"I said OUT!" I unsheathed my claws and glared at him.
Paled faced he calmly walked out, but I could smell and sense his fear and concern along with Coulson and Fury's confusion. I immediately went to a cabinet and grabbed a large gauze roll and a roll of tape. In the freezer, in a corner I pulled out an ice pack.
"Mind telling us what the hell that was about?" Fury asked angrily. I sat on the examination table.
"Sure," I smiled, "Don't make me repeat myself. Second there;s something that you need to know that nobody else will find out about. Ka-pish?"
"I better be good," Fury crossed his arms. "You just scared Banner."
Coulson had been standing with his hands behind his back, obviously making observations.
"Good," I stood up and pulled of my pants to reveal a large bruise on my thigh from where Steve had kicked me. It showed now signs of healing.
"Aren't you supposed to heal?" Coulson asked. Yeah I was, but...
"My healing factor is...faulty," I sighed, pressing the ice to the bruise and using the gauze to secure it. I taped the wrapped gauze so I would slip off and pulled my pants on. Luckily they were baggy so people wouldn't notice.
"Who knows?" Philip asked.
"Is it on your file?" I asked slightly sarcastically.
"No," he replied. I had a feeling I was testing his patience.
"No one except you two," I sighed. "And that's how things are going to stay. Eye-patch, I need to talk to you in private."
He nodded as Coulson left. I watched him leave, but didn't say anything until I was sure he was far enough.
"The alien cube," I prompted. His eyebrows went up briefly before coming down.
"what about it?"
"I have a plan," I smiled, "It's crazy, but it might work."
"Tell me," Fury demanded after a moment. I grinned as I told him.
To date the time of me writing this it is 10/10/18. Sorry it takes me so long to write and post.
I was lying on the floor in Logan's room. Dad was in the bed next to me and was out cold. I had to drop him, but that was because if something went wrong he would freak. After I had told Fury me plan both of us agreed it would be risky and if I got hurt which was a possibility, we would be dealing with the Wolverine. Not Logan, but the animal rage of his feral side. Not to mention James and Nikki would be pissed and come for me in the afterlife for stupidity. Somehow that thought was scarier than the first.
Quietly I pushed the blanket off of me and went for the door. I was already fully dressed and was carrying my teleporter and glasses. My vision had gone out shortly after talking to Fury.
It was dark in the halls, but I knew where had I to be and how to get there. I shut the door behind, thanking God that it was well oiled and didn't make any noise even to me. I touched the wall to my right, using it was a guide and slowly made my way to a room on the top floor.
I found a single door that had one of my knives in it. I pulled the knife out, stuck it in my pocket and proceeded to find the door knob.
This door squeaked when I opened it but that was fine. It wouldn't disturb Dad now.
"But time you showed up," Fury said from his chair in the corner, "You ready?"
I nodded as I took in my surroundings. Concrete walls with pipes of various sizes showing, A wooden table in the middle, below an overhead light. And five men. Captain America, Thor, Fury, and Tony Stark. Banner was in another corner, nervous because of our last encounter.
"So tell how does this work again?" Tony asked.
"It simple," I said, "Telepathic waves can mess with electronics.
"When honed and focused, one can sense when wires and other energy conduits are. So if I concentrate, I should be able to sense things. After mapping the cube out, I can psychically transmit the images, I guess we'll call it that to you and you can play you part after that.
"And yes Thor and Captain are here for a reason and that is disposal if this ends up bad."
"Like?" Stark raised an eyebrow.
"Dunno," I shrugged, "But that;s irrelevant. May I have that chair?"
Fury gave me his chair and I positioned myself in front of the cube. It was a purple almost blue with rounded edeges. It was small like a cigar box, but square. This would be easier if had telekinesis but...
I sighed as I gently began to send mental waves out. This would take a while.
(X)
Logan forced out of sleep by a bad dream, sniffed the air. The already stale scent of his son, left him concerned. With any luck, he had just gone to the bathroom or a midnight snack.
Still, it's Harley,Logan sighed as he got up. If the kid was in the bathroom he would turn back, if he was in the kitchen, well, he might just have a bite too. But there was always the possibility that the kid was doing something inadvisable. Logan followed his son's scent trail. It didn't lead to the bathroom, but the kitchen was still an option. He walked to an elevator. He sniffed the buttons.
Up.
The scent was about an hour stale, but it was there. Logan growled.
He pushed the button and as soon as the elevator came down, sniffed the buttons inside.
Top floor. What is he doin'? Logan thought to himself. The kid had done some weird and stupid stuff, but Logan thought that he had at least the common sense not to fuck around at Avengers' HQ.
When the elevator dinged Logan stepped out. He could hear panicked voices from a room down the hall. Harley was one of them. He hurried towards the source and bust in just in time to see Harley shoot through a hole in the ceiling.
(X)
I had been sending Stark "images" for an hour. We had already established it was a bomb. He had been keeping track of everything, by putting in to a model on a laptop. I sighed as I sat back. My head hurt like hell, but I was still subconsciously sending waves out.
"Well?" Fury asked Stark.
The playboy didn't immediately answer. He was busy mumbling to himself.
"Ah, sorry," he blinked, "What?"
"What is it?" Fury asked. I groaned. Something had changed inside the box it it kept happening.
"Tony," I moaned sending him the changes. He paused, before making changes, but whatever was going on inside the box was happening to fast.
"It's a timer," he breathed.
"For?" Banner asked. I had to shut my mind down; my head hurt too much, if I kept this up... my brain was acting like i wouldn't take thirty ibuprofen and take us both out.
"Well there was a telepathy receiver," Stark began.
"A what!?" I asked a little too loudly for myself.
"I think whoever, or whatever sent this meant for a telepath to check it," Stark explained, "And then have it blow."
"Shit," I hissed. I fished my teleporter out of my pocket, "Capt."
He threw me his shield to me and I caught it deftly. I strapped it to my arm. I cradled the now glowing cube.
"Thor, roof," I yelled. Fury, Stark, and Banner were all shouting, but the adrenaline had fixed my head for now. I watched Thor threw his hammer at the roof, knocking a hole in it. As his hammer returned to him, I leaped on to the table, then off in Thor's direction. He nailed the shield dead on. And I went flying. My last view of the room was of Logan charging in. Friction with the air molecules caused my clothes and flesh to burn. My glasses had fallen off in the room during the panic.
I was soaring into space. I took one last breath in the thinning atmosphere, before setting my sights on a far off place among the stars. I mashed the teleporter and after a flash that I could barely see let go of the cube. I imagine it was shining bright now, but I couldn't register it. No air was killing my brain, but my healing factor was trying otherwise. I pushed my teleporter one last time, before I passed out.
I fell to Earth, unconscious.
I woke up surrounded by white walls, metal gray, and bright lights. I groaned. I had a migraine and I was sore. I went to put my right arm over my eyes, but the sensation of a IV needle in made me stop and switch arms. I moaned and looked around; but the light of painful and the sound of the machine, which I just realized I was hooked up to, hurt.
Sleep was my best option to escape, and with the painkillers, or what ever ti was that was dripping into me, I could possibly take some sleeping pills.
The journey was long and... oh, fuck the drama. I stood up without losing consciousness, and painfully and slowly made my way to the cabinet with the pills. I had to drag the dripper, but that was fine. When I reached the cabinet, I immediately found the sleeping pills. How could I not when I had my name on it, along with a note.
Harley, take 6.
Huh, I thought, Hank knows me well.
I took the six pills and swallowed them dry. I shuffled back to the metal cot I was on and soon passed out.
Logan had walked in on the meeting and overheard what had happened. He was livid. He had stormed out and went for a long motorcycle ride. For several days. Finally he came back. By then I had openly come out of my room and had almost returned to my normal routine.
I was in the kitchen deep frying pizza rolls, when Logan walked in. He froze at the doorway staring at me. I ignored him, an act that required a lot of will power on my part. I can't say I was surprised when my new-found father walked out. I sighed and fished out my now crunchy lunch and proceeded with life.
Logan stayed for several days and the tension between us was thick. We both seemed to be waiting on the other. Logan, the man who lost his past and was toughened from amnesiac birth. And I, the kid who went through hell and back only to say that Satan needed to turn his thermostat down. I was strengthened in my own ways. I wasn't weepy, save occasion when the pressure was poured on, and unable to care about things if I didn't want to. Ah, well.
On a different note, nobody was surprised when Logan disappeared again. What did startle people is when a distress signal came in from the loner.
I had easily heard it and eavesdropped on the conversation concerning it.
"Where is he?" Storm asked Charles.
"I'm uncertain," Prof. confessed with a sigh. "I can't seem to track him."
"Did you turn up the sensitivity settings?" Hank asked. Scott would have asked that question, but he wasn't there, being out on a mission.
"Yes," Charles sighed. "I feel I could find if I was a little stronger, but my telepathy isn't what it used to be."
"What do we know about Logan's situation?" Hank questioned.
"He was kidnapped by Daken," Storm sup piled heavily. Daken, my half-brother, hell bent on killing Logan.
I processed the whole thing careful. The adults were in Xavier's office. I could use Cerebro. I could find Logan. You could get killed, Oliver said giddily. You could get grounded for stupidity.
Somehow that didn't faze me. I marched, blank faced to the elevator and to Cerebro. The professor would know I was using the machine, but I didn't care a fierce fire had awoken inside of me and it was driving me to save Logan. I crouched down in front of the door to Cerebro. It slid open with the greeting of "Salutations, Harley."
I walked inside the spherical room. I stood in front of the console, adjusted some settings, then put on the helmet. I heard footsteps in the hall. It was the senior X-men.
"Harley, wait!" Storm cried as the door shut in front of her. I didn't need distractions. Around me red lights flicked into existence. I focused on Logan and when I couldn't find him, turned up the settings. I scanned again.
New York City.
Settings up.
I gasped as I found him. If I didn't get there quick, things would be worse than they were already. I took the helmet off and shut down Cerebro. The doors opened to the unreadable faces of Hank, Storm, and Prof.
"Why were you in there?" Storm asked. I could smell worry on all of them, along with anger at me just using Cerebro. In my eyes, my best option was not to answer. Instead I went to my room to get in my uniform, then the garage, the three of them following me the whole time, pressuring me with questions I ignored. Finally Xavier asked the one question I knew he was going to ask: "You found him?"
"Yes," I sighed.
"Where is he?" Hank followed.
I didn't answer; I went for Logan's Jeep. He had to get a new truck after this. I popped out a claw and jammed it in the lock. I hopped in and shut the door, which was a miracle,all things considered. I guess I had only fucked the locking mechanism. Hank had positioned himself in front of the car.
"You're not leaving," he growled as I hot wired the Jeep.
Try 'n' stop me, I responded telepathically, hitting the garage down opened overhead. My response was immediately followed by me flooring the gas pedal leaving Hank the options of being hit or moving.
He moved.
Thank God.
I hauled ass to NYC forming a plan in my mind that scream pyromanic.(*I'm disappointed if you had to look that word up.*)
(X)
I was going to just park the car outside the abandoned warehouse, but then said "buck it". (*AH reference.*)
(X)
Logan walked into the medbay to see Harley was asleep on a cot. He twitched in his sleep, but there was no other movement than that. Logan would've been worried about his son being comatose, but an open pill cabinet gave evidence of otherwise. Harley would be fine.
Logan sighed as he sat down on a chair in the corner. He hadn't been in here for a while like this. Not since...
(X)
(Logan's POV)
I groaned, consciousness grasped by a string. Of course, the bastard would do this to me. I was tied to a column in the center of what smelled like a warehouse.
A punch connected to my jaw and I groaned again.
"Having fun?" a cold voice rang out. Daken.
The muscular man approached me.
"You've got a little blood there," Daken leered. "Let me help."
I was punched again.
"Get the gun," Daken commanded to somebody out of my limited vision. I had been beaten and drugged, as well as told what was going to happen. The gun was loaded with two bullets made of adamantium and carbondium. One material to pierce my skeleton, another to prevent healing. Then the barrels of gas that were placed around would blow.
It was at that moment a truck came in.
My Jeep, was a brief thought.
"Beep, beep. Pills here," cried a familiar voice. Then Psycho, Harley, shot through the windshield with a rope in one hand and knives in the other. He launched his knives taking out the guards around us.
"No!" Daken cried behind me, as he rushed forward to kill the boy. I tried to struggle but was too weak.
Not that it mattered ,Short-knives chose that moment to pull the rope. A can of gas came through the windshield. Harley begun to whip it around like a lasso, spilling gas on the walls and floor. When Daken got close enough, Harley used the can as a whip. Daken slashed through it and the slashed at Harley, who dodge it by jumping on to the hood of the Jeep.
"Oo, you suck at this." Harley laughed.
Harley's foot shot into Daken's chest knocking him backwards. Psycho flipped off the hood and landed on Daken's shoulders, taking him down. Harley jumped off and ran for me. As he did so he pulled a lighter out and held it to a puddle on the floor. The gas that littered the floor and walls exploded with flames, but Short-knives didn't noticed; however Daken screamed in pain.
"Burn!" Harley cut one of the ropes that bound me, but Daken tackled him into the flames and began repeatedly stabbed him in the back. Harley screeched in pain with every stab, but the wailing stopped soon. I could smell the kid's burning flesh.
"No!" I yelled. "You bastard!" It hit me then.
The kid was mine. I needed to take care of him and make sure my enemies don't get to him like today. I vowed to myself that if we got out of this mess, I would pick up the fathering role for Harley.
"Let's finish this,"Daken stood up. He pulled a pistol out of his pocket. He approached me and I struggled, fury flowing through me pushed out everything else; I was longer tired. But the ropes held. The smoke of the warehouse burning was beginning to get to me, but also Daken too.
Quietly, Harley stood up, face blank, but something was wrong. His eyes were blue like mine.
Flicking his wrist, the black bracelet on his arm briefly lit up and a buzz-ax appeared in his hand. He had Forge make that for him based off a video game.
Without a noise he pulled the starter and the blade at the end began to spin with a roar. The smoke and heat had no effect on him. His family burned their garbage when he lived with them and smoke stopped bothering him, but that wasn't the only thing giving his this immunity.
Daken turned to look at him and a buzz-ax caught him in the face; he dropped the gun. The kid had thrown it and it bounced off his target, only to teleport to his hand.
The two stared at each other for a time, before the charged each other claws out. Harley for all his training with me and in the Danger Room blocked and dealt strikes to Daken, who was losing himself to rage. Harley was different. He changed and it seemed he was watching and planning where to hit his half-brother.
Their fight had pushed them over to the Jeep, by a gas barrel untouched by fire. Harley kicked the barrel down and pushed it towards Daken, who jumped it. But the barrel rolled into flames.
"Look ou-" I tried to call to Harley was the barrel exploded. He blocked his face with his arms. Daken was caught in the explosion and hurled in to a wall, which crumbled. The fire was taking its toll. The ceiling was falling in places and my Jeep wouldn't last long, but the ropes the bound me were beginning to be weakened by the heat.
Harley sniffed the air trying to find Daken, but the smoke covered everything. I knew he couldn't smell anything, but his telepathy could find, and did find, Daken.
Psycho turned and looked under my truck. Then started to come to me. I could only assume Daken was under there. Harley saw no need to get him with the fire racing towards it. He slashed through the remaining ropes. I looked at his eyes to see they were still blue.
"Harley," I whispered my voice hoarse. He didn't look at me, just continued to cut ropes without hurting me. Not that it would matter. When he finished we started to walked out in awkward silence.
He seemed distant.
BOOM!
The Jeep blew, knocking us down, but we failed to noticed the gas barrel in front of us.
The Jeep dislodged some ceiling, which hit the barrel knocking it into fire.
Harley was flung backwards and I was knocked down. Behind me I could hear the other barrels going off and each one brought down the building until there was nothing left and we were trapped beneath.
I heard the sounds of sirens and the engines of the Blackbird above and struggled to get up. Around people were going through the wreckage. I realized I had fallen unconscious briefly. The jet had landed and some of the X-men were helping, while Hank was talking to the chief of police.
"Wh-where's Harley?" I managed loud enough for people to notice.
"Oh my God, Logan!" Storm cried as she ran to me. "Where's Harley? Are you okay? Where's Daken?"
I pushed past her sniffing the wreckage.
There!
Harley was limping away holding his side.
"Harley!' I called after him, running. He didn't hear me or ignored me, I didn't know, but he collapsed. I rushed over to him and flipped him over. He had a piece of metal where his hand was. I pulled it out and the wound healed,but Psycho didn't open his eyes. I could hear him breathing and his heart beating. Hank came over.
"Get him on the jet," he commanded. "X-men, I'm taking Psycho and Wolverine to base. They require medical attention."
I didn't; the kid did. And I had just promised that I would take care of him. I should've done something, but I didn't. If he died...
I picked him up and blindly followed Beast to the Blackbird, where he had a cot in the back just in case. I laid Harley on it and sat beside him.
"Kid," I moaned quietly to myself. Keep it together Logan, I refused to cry; not here not now. I watched his face. It was calm, not that much different than when he took a test or some other assignment in my class or when we walked through the woods, on our way back to the mansion. I shouldn't have left when out, but I needed to think and when I came back I should've made up with him in the kitchen, if not sooner.
I sat beside him the whole ride home and beside him in the med bay.
(X)
(Harley's POV)
I woke up with my headache a little dulled. I sniffed the air and glanced at Logan.
"Mansion?" I asked. He nodded.
I smiled. Lillian burst from the door and run to me, wrapping me in an embrace. James and Nikki were hot on her heels and followed suit.
"Hey, easy," I whined with mirth in voice. "Head still hurts." at least the pain was going down. I saw Logan standing at the edge of the room.
"Oh, get over here," I gestured to him. Grinning, he obeyed and wrapped not just me, but everyone else in a hug too. I realized something then.
My hunt for family, while not futile, could wait. I had everything I needed right here. At least for now.
Close. End. Finished. At least for now. There are too many chapters in this story so I'm going to post a sequel. Leave me some reviews or prompt or ideas you would like in this story.
*Oliver*: Still one hell of an ending for this
^Harley^: Shut up, Oliver.
*Oliver*:What? I li-li-Oh who a I kidding? I hated it! We need death and chaos, not fluff.
^Harley^: Oliver, I think we need a nap.
*Oliver*:Naps are always good.