A/N: And we're back, so sit back and enjoy the ride.
Read it. Enjoy it. Review it.
Inhale, exhale. Just breathe. It's strange, but Katie had to remind herself to keep breathing. Keep running and keep breathing were the only words running through her mind as she sped toward the large mansion. It was stupid really. She had no idea who or what was in this building, but she figured it was probably better than the SHIELD agents on her ass. The moment her hand touch the door knob, she stopped.
"This is crazy." she whispered to herself as she mentally examined what she was doing. This was breaking and entering and she may have done some pretty messed up stuff in the past, but she usually kept her criminal activity online. She heard the sound of distant voices coming from somewhere and she couldn't think anymore. She twisted the knob and was shocked to find that the door actually unlocked. She slowly pushed open the door, slipping in as quietly as possible. It was dark, but there was light filtering in through windows. Her hand pushed the door closed, before she turned and stepped further inside. She swallowed hard as she tried her best to make as little noise as possible. "Ok, I'll just wait here for a little while." she muttered to herself before searching for somewhere to hideout. She walked aimlessly through the large house trying to figure out where exactly she was. There weren't any pictures on the wall, but the place was clean. There was creaking from above her and Katie lifted her head. "Definitely need to hide now." she sped walk until she ended up in a small kitchen.
It was something about the sight of a kitchen that made Katie realize that she hadn't eaten in hours. The sound of her stomach growling seemed to reiterate the fact. She walked over to the refrigerator and smiled brightly. "Sweet." she muttered as she searched the fully stocked fridge for something editable. There was a covered dish that looked slightly appealing. She reached in and grabbed a small amount of whatever it was and brought it to her mouth. It wasn't terrible and at the moment that was good enough for Katie, so she grabbed it and closed the fridge behind her. With the dish in her lap, Katie slid down to the floor, behind the kitchen island and ate to her heart's content. She'd gotten so distracted that she nearly missed the sound of footsteps entering the kitchen. She froze, even pocketing the food she'd just placed in her mouth in her cheek. She heard the sound of the refrigerator opening and she had hope that whoever it was would just leave, but then something happened. Her head tilted slightly when she heard what sounded like someone sniffing the air.
"Who's there?" she hears a gruff voice as and her eyes snap open and she swallows the food that she was holding in her mouth. "I know you're there, so you might as well show yourself." She didn't move. Her mind remembers the route she took to get to the kitchen. She was fully prepared to take that route back to the door. "Hey, it's fine. You can go, I won't tell the professor." Katie quirked an eyebrow and then she heard the man move and she quickly dropped the baking dish and jumped to her feet. The room was still dark, but there was some light filtering in, showing her that the man in front of her was large, broad shoulders."You're not a student."
"No, I'm not." she said watching him closely just as she figured he was probably doing as well. She let her eyes flick over to the door behind him. It would be close, but she thinks if she's quick enough she can get past him. "Look, I have a good reason-
"There's a good reason to break into a school?" the man asked and Katie's brow furrowed in confusion.
"This is a school?" she asked, but soon realized that wasn't the point at the moment. "Never mind, that doesn't matter-"
"It kind of does." he said and Katie heard the undeniable sound of a knife being unsheathe. She stood a little straighter as her fists clenched at her side.
"Right, so I see this is going to be one of those nights." she muttered stretching slightly.
"Actually that won't be necessary." a voice said and they both lifted their heads at the voice.
"Professor?" the man spoke. "What's going on?"
"Who are you-" Katie stopped talking when the lights came on. She was stunned into speechlessness as she looked upon the man's hands. "Is that real-well it can't be real." she met his eyes. "If that was real it would hurt like a bitch." her eyes were drawn back to his hands. "It sure does look real." She should probably stop staring, but she doesn't. She heard that sniffing sound and looked up to see that it was him.
"You smell really bad." he said and Katie dropped her head to sniff her shirt to find that he was right, but that didn't give him the right to actually say it out loud.
"Well your hair cut is weird!" Katie bit back. He didn't laugh, but he did shake his head as the knives retract back into his skin leaving no marks of their presence. She tilts her head as she begins to once again stare. "Why is that so cool?" his feet once again move and Katie quickly comes back to the present.
"You're coming with me." he orders and Katie takes a futile step back, her back only hitting the wall behind her.
"You're the last person I'm going anywhere with knuckle knives." she replied knowing it wasn't the cleverest reply, but cheeky none the less. She lifted her eyes looking around him to the door. She now had way too many questions about the man standing in front of her, making that escape plan of hers that much challenging.
"It's is alright Katie." that voice said again. She didn't recognize it and that's when the implications of what was happening began to ring in her head.
"Oh god." she mutters closing her eyes and bringing her hands to her head. "Is this happening? It would choose the most inconvenient time to happen."
"What's happening?"
"Me, going nuts. Hearing voices I don't recognize." Katie said glaring up to the man. "I just didn't think it would happen this soon...I'm still so young and-"
"Hey, I have no doubt that you're looney, but right now I have orders to take you with me." he says and Katie lifts her eyes to meet his. Her hands drop back down to her side and her fist clench instinctively.
"That may be so, but I think you should know that I will not be going willingly." she says. "All I want is to get the hell out of here."
"And I would like to help you." a new voice says and they both turn to the man who seemed to appear out of no where. Katie looks down to the man in the wheel chair before trying to figure out when he got here.
"Where the hell did you come from?" she asked turning suspicious eyes to the man who simply smiled at her. "Actually, it doesn't matter." she turned for the door, only for the tall guy to move to block her.
"Logan." wheel chair guy said. Logan tore his glare from her to the professor, before moving out of the way. Katie didn't know what was going on, but she wasn't going to stick around to find out. Soon her feet were moving, running actually, that was until wheelchair guy appeared in front of her causing her to come to a sliding halt.
"Where did-" she stopped because she heard heavy foot steps from behind her and she looked over her shoulder to see Logan headed in her direction. She turns back to the professor who simply looks up to her. "What are you?" suddenly the pieces start to fall into place and she doesn't need him to answer. "You're mutants."
"Yes we are. My name is Charles Xavier and this is my school." the professor says before looking over to the man behind her. "And this is Logan." Katie looks over her shoulder to see Logan holding just as much suspicion looking at her as she did looking back at him. Katie's eyes widen as the lights around her begin flicking on, illuminating the mansion.
"I'm sorry for breaking into your house or school or whatever, but this is getting a little too bizarre and I would really like to leave now."
"They're still out there." Xavier said and Katie's eyes narrowed on him. "And they don't seem to be leaving anytime soon." she knew he was right. SHIELD would comb through those woods until they found something, anything that would lead them to her.
"How do you know that?" she asked both suspicious and curious.
"You came here for sanctuary, let me give it to you." he said and Katie was conflicted. She'd been taught by her father and by SHIELD to hold on to her suspicions, to doubt, but in this moment as she looked into the man's eyes, she just couldn't. She soon heard more foot steps and she turned to the stair care as three new faces appeared.
"Professor, what-" it was the man who wore sunglasses who spoke. "Who is this?"
"Everything is alright." the professor replied before turning back to Katie. "This is Jean, Ororo and Scott. Jean will show you to a room where you can stay until it is safe for you to leave" Katie turned back to him and looked to him for a moment.
"Why are you doing this?" Katie asked. She had so many questions at the moment, but that one was the one she just needed to be answered.
"It's what we do." Xavier replies with a slight smile. Katie doesn't know what that means and he doesn't seem like he's going to explain it even more. She was still suspicious of this help without warrant. Katie looked at him for a moment longer before turning to the red head, Jean he called her, standing behind her. Katie looked back over to him and gave him a nod before following behind the woman. Once she was gone, Logan, Ororo and Scott surround the professor, each staring down to him for answers.
"What's going on? Is she a mutant?" Logan asked and the professor simply shook his head.
"No." the professor says bringing a hand to his chin as he looked over to the stairs. "But she is gifted. And very lost."
Katie stared into the flickering flames of the fireplace in front of her before looking over to see Scott holding out a mug to her.
"Oh thank you Mr. Summers." Katie said graciously taking the mug. "And I must say your weird glasses make you look very menacing."
"You can stop with the sweet talk Katie, I already added extra marshmallows." Scott replied and Katie smiled as she looked down to her steaming cup of hot chocolate.
"You really know the way to a woman's heart, Scott." she sighed before taking a sip. She turned seeing that all the eyes in the room were on her.
"I guess now is as good a time as any to ask what everyone is wondering." Ororo said and Katie looked to her. "Why are you looking for Magneto?" Katie's eyebrows knitted in confustion at the name.
"Magneto?" she asked looking to their faces. "What is that?"
"Erik is Magneto." Xavier replied and Katie met his gaze. "He is a mutant who can control magnetic field, all metal." the professor shook his head. "He is very dangerous."
"Which is why we won't be helping you find him." Logan said and Katie looked over her shoulder to see him standing behind her with a look of certainty on his face. "Hell that's why you and him won't be in the same room, ever."
"I think only one of us has metal running through their body." Katie muttered turning her glare away from the man. She looked back down to her mug and simply shook her head.
"Katie why are you looking for him?" Jean asked and Katie lifted her head.
"My-" suddenly the word mother got caught in her throat. She wasn't fully prepared to all out believe that she was alive, but she was aware that there was something going on that concerned her mother. "My mother. I'm not sure how, or when. But some time before I was born she knew a man named Erik Lehnsherr who she said was like a brother to her." she shook her head as she remembered her mother's words. She didn't know what to believe now that she knows she heard her mother speaking of this monster she was now being described.
"I'm not sure who your mother was talking about, but we've seen him first hand." Logan says and Katie sighs looking back over to him. "He's not filled with sunshine and dandelions."
"He wasn't always." the professor said and they looked over to see his eyes glazed over to the fireplace. "Once upon a time Erik was not a monster. The hatred he held in his heart turned him in to it." he turned back to look over to Katie. "I'm not sure he is who you should be looking for." Katie nodded before bringing the mug up to her lips. "You look tired, when is the last time you slept?" Katie looked up giving him a tired smile when she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She sat her mug down on the coffee table before snaking her phone from her pocket and looked down to the familiar number.
"Who's Bart?" Logan asked and Katie looked up to see him hunched over the back of the couch looking down to her phone.
"My very, very angry husband." she said and she noticed he looked slightly surprised. She turned back to the others who held the same expression. "Yes, I got married and no I didn't tell him I was coming here, so I have to take this." she stood to her feet and walked out of the room before bringing the phone to her ear. "Did you watch the video?"
"Where are you?" he asked angrily.
"I am fine. I am safe, you don't need to come and find me. All of this is in the video." she replied as she rubbed her tired eyes.
"There's no need to come and find you!" he snapped and Katie pulled the phone away from her ear at his yelling. "You are my wife-"
"And you are my husband and I spent the entire day wondering where you were!" she snapped, the anger she'd been feeling earlier seeming to creep back under her skin.
"Is that what this is about? Is this pay back or something, because I have to tell you that it won't work, I won't learn some lesson from this. I will however get even more angry which will fuel my desire to lock you in a room and just throw away the key." Clint snapped and Katie simply rolled her eyes.
"Know that I am safe, and that I am fine. You will take that and I will see you tomorrow." she turned to see Logan standing there watching her. "I have to go now."
"Kat do not hang up this phone. Do not-" he ordered angrily.
"Goodnight Bart, I will talk to you tomorrow." Katie replied quickly before hanging up the phone. "Eavesdropping is not a very attractive quality in a man." he walked over closing the distance between them. Once he was in front of her he just stood there looking at her. "Stop doing that and speak damn you." she slapped his arm and he didn't give any hint that her blow actually hurt him, he simply smiled before shaking his head and turning and walking back into the den.
Clint growled angry, wanting nothing more then to toss his phone into a wall. He spun around to Tony who sat on his couch, legs crossed with a glass of scotch still in his hand.
"Why aren't you up doing something?" Clint asked angrily. "We don't know where she is and when there are people out there trying to hurt her, not knowing where she is, is just not an option."
"Well my hands are sort of tied. She's kicked me out of the drivers seat with my AI which I'm still coming to terms with, but we have one thing."
"What?"
"JARVIS, is Katie alright?" Tony asked lifting his head slightly as he always did when speaking to the AI.
"Katie's vitals are all fine. She and her baby seem to be perfectly healthy." The AI informed and Tony looked back over to Clint.
"There, she's fine. When she's not fine, I figure we'll know, so how about at the moment you chill out Katniss." Tony replied bringing his glass to his lips. Clint let out a frustrated growl before turning and stalking out of the penthouse. Tony shrugged before downing the rest of the contents of the glass before standing to his feet and walking over to pour another before something hit him like a strike of lightening.
"JARVIS, how did Katie get to wherever she is now?" Tony asked.
"I'm sorry sir, I can not-"
"Alright, alright, how about I rephrase the question. Is one of my cars gone?" Tony asked and it was as if the AI hesitated for a moment. "JARVIS?"
"Yes, the Telsa Roadster is gone." JARVIS replied and Tony's lips quirked up a bit at the information.
"Give me the Telsa's location." Tony ordered and suddenly a holograph screen appeared with a map, and a blinking red dot. "Alright Kitten, your clocks ticking and then I'm bringing you home."
Katie followed behind the red head woman, taking in her surroundings. She made a note to remember where she was going.
"What is this place?" Katie asked and the woman glanced over her shoulder.
"This is a school for gifted children." Jean replied with a tired smile. "Where they can come when they feel there's no where else they can go."
"Why is he helping me?" Katie asked suddenly hoping to get a more helpful answers from the woman.
"There is usually reasoning behind the professor's decisions." the woman replied with a slight smile. "But I have to admit, I'm not sure of this one." They stopped outside of a door and Jean reached forward and pushed it open. It wasn't entirely tiny. It was furnished with a bed and a desk and a couple of pictures on the wall. "There's a bathroom over there and I could bring you some clothes. I believe you know where the kitchen is if you get hungry."
"I'm not entirely sure what the hell is going on," Katie replied walking into the room and sliding off her jacket. She gave the place a once over before turning back to the woman. "And I don't completely understand it, but thank you.
"You 're welcome." the woman said before reaching forward and pulling the door closed. Katie stood in the room letting out a sigh as she plops down on the bed.
"What the hell have I gotten myself into?" she muttered before falling back on the bed.
Katie walked back into the den, noting that all conversation stopped the moment she walked back into the room.
"That's not suspicious at all." she muttered as she walked back inside to take her seat. "There something you want to say, just say it."
"Should we be worried?" Scott asked and Katie looked over to him, not sure what he means. "The people you were running from-still running from, should we be worried?" It suddenly makes sense and Katie just shakes her head.
"No," she sighs. "No, I'm running from somebody else. Somebody I doubt would come here to look for me." she looked over to Logan as he opened his mouth, but she held up a hands. "And now I'm seconds away from passing out and could really use some sleep." she turned back to the others. "Is there room in the Inn?"
It felt like a moment plucked right from her past, Katie thought as she followed behind Jean down the long hall.
"We saw you on television." Jean said looking over to Katie who now walked at her side. "We never pictured you for one to take arms with heroes."
"Well neither did I, but I went with the wind." Katie replied with a tired smile. "It's strange isn't it? How all of this is happening, mutants and aliens, all this is happening and the world is just living blissfully ignorant to it all."
"Maybe that's how it needs to be." Jean replied and Katie nodded. "So your husband..."
"He deserved it, trust me." Katie replied with a shake of her head as they reached the door to her room. "He's doing this annoying thing where he's keeping things from me to protect me."
"Wow, that does sounds annoying. A loving husband, trying to protect his wife?" Jean asked with a shake of her head. "Who does he think he is?" Katie turned a playful glare to the woman before turning and pushing open the door.
"Would you believe me if I told you that I never expected to be in this room again." Katie said as she looked around the room that seemed so unchanged since the last time she was here.
"Why not?" Jean asked and Katie looked over to her. "It wasn't so bad the last time you were here."
"No, it wasn't but I was so afraid to be here."
"Of us?"
"Of me." Katie said with a shake of her head. "Of what me being here could do. Crazy right?" she looked over to Jean who gave her a sympathetic smile. "Don't mind me, I'm all-"she waved a hand.
"Pregnant?" Jean said and Katie looked over to her with wide eyes. "Logan-"
"Is a dead man. Damn him and his freaky nose. Could he smell the baby?" Katie replied before running her hand over her face. "Plus I wanted to be the one to tell you guys." she looked back over to Jean who was smiling even more. "And I was going to wait until I left so I wouldn't have to deal with that-" she pointed over to the woman. "All the smiling and the wanting to hug and rub my belly."
"Don't worry we won't smother you with love." Jean said lightly chuckling before turning. "Not yet anyways." Katie shook her head before slipping off her jacket. "I'll be back with some clothes for you."
"Thanks, Jean!" Katie called after the woman. Her response was the woman's light laughter and Katie simply shook her head before taking a seat on the edge of the bed. She slipped her hand over her belly and smiled. "One day baby, mommy is going to have a hell of a story for you."
Katie had stepped out of the shower, now with a towel wrapped around her as she walked out to find a stack of neatly folded clothes on the bed. She looked around, but there was no one around. "I need to get the hell out of here, quick, fast and in a hurry." she muttered as she picked up the shirt. She shook her head before deciding to put them on. Once dressed she slipped on her jacket and slipped out of the room into an empty hall. There was only one objective and that was to get the hell out of the creepy mansion. Her foot had only touched one step when a creek sounded. "Shit." she whispered hoping no one had heard it. Once she felt safe, she continued down the stairs. Katie once again found herself walking down yet another long hallway, but she had no plans to stop. That was until she heard the sound of voices. She froze hoping that she wouldn't be found.
"I think we all agree that at the moment we do not have time to take in the homeless." she heard a man say. It wasn't the professor and it wasn't Logan, so she was going to guess that it was the Scott guy. "We still have an Erik Lehnsherr problem."
"Of which I am fully aware, but I will not let our problems with Erik cloud our moral responsibilities." that was the professor speaking. He had a distinguishable voice, that Katie now realized she could recognize without even seeing him. "I believe that young woman is here for a reason-"
"What reason exactly professor?" a woman's slightly accented voice spoke. Katie figured it must be Ororo. "I understand why you're doing this, but this woman is not one of us, so how can we help her?"
"I'm not sure yet." the professor replied and Katie could almost here the disappointment in his his voice. It confused her to no ends. People didn't do things for no reason. At least that's what she thought. She shook her head before pushing herself from the wall. This place-these people were too confusing and she really just wanted to leave. When she spotted the front door, Katie's feet seemed to move a little bit faster. She'd only stepped outside of the door before she was met with a familiar face.
"So you're just going to leave without saying goodbye?" Logan asked, a cigar between his teeth.
"I'm just doing everyone a favor." Katie said walking down the stairs. "No one wants me here, I don't want me here, so I thought I would just take the common denominator out of that equation."
"You know if I've learned anything from running it's that you can only move so fast." spoke Logan before inhaling the sweet tobacco from the cigar. "And you can only get so far." Katie stopped walking and turned back to him. It was strange. She stood there, his words seeming to play over and over in her head. For some strange reason she got the feeling that it was something her father would say to her in this moment. "You're tired, hungry, angry, sad and all of that is not something you want on you when you're running. Give it the night."
"I would but this place just seems borderline cultie to me." Katie replied folding her arms over her chest. "The come we will save you thing is beyond suspicious."
"Trust me, I know." Logan said before dropping the last bit of his cigar to the ground and killing the flame with the bottom of his boot. "It's also very annoying, but you don't find a lot of people who will help you without wanting something in return. When you do, maybe you shouldn't question it."
"That's like telling me, you don't find a lot of decoded processors when combing through enemy mainframes, when you do, you shouldn't question it." Katie said with a shake of her head. "I do question it. I question this and the whole not getting answers thing is getting slightly annoying." she looked over to Logan whose face held undeniable confusion. "Where did I lose you?"
"Decoded processors?" he replied and despite herself Katie laughed. "You don't smell so bad now."
"Your hair cut is still weird." Katie said walking back over to him. "Fine, I will stay, but if anyone offers me kool-aid, then I'm out of here." they both walked up the stairs back to the mansion.
Katie growled in frustration as she snapped open her eyes. She couldn't sleep and after every attempt to try, it just wouldn't happen. Tossing the covers off of her, Katie stood to her feet before slipping on a pair of socks and going out into the halls. It was ridiculously early, the sun barely up and she figured no one else would be either. She stumbled into the kitchen and headed straight for the refrigerator.
"Some things never change." a voice spoke from behind her and she turned to see Logan sitting at the small kitchen table, a few bottles of beer in front of him.
"In more ways then one." Katie replied before turning back to the fridge. She hit the jackpot when she spotted a tub of chocolate ice cream. She quickly grabbed it and then a spoon and joined the man at the table. "What's with all the booze?"
"What's with all the ice cream?" he asked and Katie shook her head.
"You obviously know since you've been blabbing." Katie said bringing a spoon into her mouth. "You could've at least come to me first."
"You would've denied it." he replied staring at her as she stuck the spoon into the ice cream and brought another scoop to her mouth. "So why didn't you tell this Bart guy you were coming here?"
"Pay back." she muffled as she worked the ice cream around her mouth. She met Logan's questioning gaze and sighed before dropping her spoon to the table. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Fine." Logan replied before grabbing one of the bottles and bringing it to his lips.
"So how has things been going around here?" Katie asked as she began eating her ice cream again. "Anything exciting happen?" Logan simply shrugged.
"I don't want to talk about it." he replied and Katie reached over and slapped his arm. They had settled into a comfortable silence, when Katie suddenly stopped. "What?"
"I'm vibrating." she replied before reaching into the pockets of her pajamas and pulled out her cell phone. She looked down to the ID and sighed.
"Looks like you're going to have to talk about it sooner rather than later." Logan said before standing to his feet. He gathered his empty bottles before tossing them in the trash and leaving her.
Katie let the phone ring for a while longer before working up the courage to finally answer it. She took one more deep breath before bringing the phone to her ear.
"Hi." she said simply
"Hey." Clint replied.
And then they she sat there in silence on the phone for a couple of more minutes. They both felt a slight twinge of comfort from the simple fact of knowing the other was on the phone.
"I'm sorry-" Clint said and Katie dropped her head on the table. "You were right, I wasn't going being completely honest with you and I thought the fact that I was doing it to protect you was reason enough to keep it from you." He let out a deep sigh and Katie could hear the exhaustion in his voice. He probably hadn't been to sleep either. "But it's not. We are a team. You and me and that means we are honest. It means if we trust no one else, we trust each other. I broke that trust and for that I am sorry." she didn't say anything and he was afraid that she'd hung up. "Kat?" he heard a sniffle and he let out a frustrated sigh. "Geez, please don't cry Kat, I just can't-I can't live with myself if I'm the reason you cry."
Katie lifted her head and wanted to tell him that it was definitely too late for that, but in the spirit of moving forward she decided to just keep it to herself.
"Kat?"
"I'm sorry I left without talking to you. I was angry and I did want to get back at you, but that wasn't fair of me." Katie said drying her eyes with the sleeves of her shirt. They once again fell into silence, just listening to each other's breathing. "Bart, where were you?" he took a deep breath and Katie knew he'd been dreading that question.
"Nat needed my help. Kane was in CIA custody and Coulson wanted him before he attempted and would likely succeed at escaping."
"So you and Natasha-"
"And Mason unfortunately."
"The three of you went on some op to take Kane from the CIA." Katie stated.
"Yeah. He had answers we needed to find out who was after you and why. I needed to know Kat. I needed to know who was trying to hurt my family and I was going to hurt them first." Clint said and then waited for her to say something. The silence was slowly killing him and the not being able to see her face was partly to blame. At least if they were having this conversation face to face, he'd be able to read her expression, know what she was feeling. "Kat, say something."
"I'm sorry, I guess it's starting to sink in that Anna and Danny Smith really are disappearing from existence." Katie said with a shaky voice.
"Kat-"
"I'm not angry Bart. Not at you for what you did. I understand why you did and I love you for it. I just-" she let out another shaky breath and Clint wanted nothing more in that moment then to be able to see her or touch her. Anything to just make her feel better. "I wanted to hold on to it for a little while longer. But it's impossible. You are Agent Clint Barton and I am the girl with the screwed up parents with a target on her back. We can't run from who were are, right?"
"You're more than that Kat, you have to know that. You have to know that one day we will have our lives back." Clint said and Katie just closed her eyes. It was then did she hear the strange sounds coming from Clint's end of the phone.
"What is that?" she asked opening her eyes. She listened a little while longer and that's when she recognized it. "Are you-"
"Yeah." Clint said looking up to the hologram screen of their baby, the sound of it's heartbeat playing around him. "I couldn't sleep and I thought I would watch this again."
"Again?"
"Let's just say, I've watched this more times then I'm proud to admit out loud." Clint replied and Katie could almost see the smile on his face. "It's just it's-that's our baby Kat. Our baby. Ours." there was so much pride in his voice in that moment and Katie couldn't help the tug at her own lips. "How can you love something you haven't even seen yet?"
"I have no idea." Katie said her hand sliding across the slight bulge of her belly. "It's strange isn't it. This life isn't even here yet and it's already so important. The most important thing-" she shook her head and let out a sigh. "I really miss you."
"Kat, tell me where you are." Clint said, his voice filled with a slight desperation.
"I was serious before, I can't tell you because-" she looked around the small kitchen when she suddenly heard the sound of children. "It's really complicated. I will be back by the afternoon."
"I don't like this. I don't like not knowing where you are."
"I know and I'm sorry, but I need to see where this lead takes me."
"It's about your mother?"
"Yes and a man I think may know why she's being hunted. I just need a little while longer to try and find him."
"Nothing dangerous. You do nothing that even reeks of danger."Clint ordered. "Promise me."
"I promise that I will not try to do anything dangerous." Katie said standing to her feet and going over to place the now empty ice cream container in the trash.
"Why don't I feel reassured by that?" Clint asked and Katie smiled. "Kat-"
"Bart, I will keep this trip danger free if it is at all in my ability." Katie said as kids began filing past her. "I have to go now. I love you, bye." she hung up the phone and smiled as she walked back into the halls that were beginning to fill with children on the way to probably get their breakfast. She stood there for a moment, smiling. She wasn't sure why she was smiling or why the sight of these children made her smile, but she just couldn't stop.
"They look cute now," a accented voice says from beside her and Katie turns to see Ororo standing there watching the children as well. "But try living here twenty four seven and you'll be wanting to run for the hills." Katie laughed at the woman before turning back to the children.
"Yes, but you're here because you love it."
"I do." she said with a sigh. "I should go and make sure Jean and Scott aren't pulling their hair out trying to get everyone settled." Ororo was walking off when Katie called out to her.
"Wait, is the professor in his office?" Katie asked and the woman turned back to her and nodded.
"I think so, I could check if-"
"That's alright, I'll just look for him until I find him." Katie replied before turning and heading up the stairs.
Once Katie was showered and dressed, she stepped back into the halls to find them quieter than before. There were a couple of students milling about the halls, but not many. She figured the others must be in class. She walked, standing up straight, her bag held tightly in her hand as she headed down the hall. There was only one place she was going to get answers and she knew if anyone knew where she was going then they would stop her.
Clint was dressed and ready to go as he sat on the couch in the living room of their apartment. The only problem was, he had no idea where or when he would be leaving, all he knew was that he needed to be ready. He held his phone in his hand with a tight grip. Each passing minute was tortured and the only salvation he saw was when he could see her. There was a knock at the door and Clint jumped to his feet and was to the door in a flash. He quickly pulled open the door and visibly deflated the moment he saw who was on the other side.
"What do you want Stark?" Clint asked before turning and plopping back on his couch. "I'm not really in the mood."
"Oh, but I thought you'd be excited to go pick up your wife." Tony stated with a shrug. "If you don't, that's cool, I'll just-"
"Cut the crap!" Clint said standing back to his feet. "Do you know where she is?"
"Well yeah, I'm me. Not many nuts I can't crack and my Kitten seemed to have missed one detail about her little escape."
"So where is she?" Clint asked impatiently. He really wasn't interested in Tony's ever growing ego.
"Still in New York and about an hour or so away." Tony replied.
"Where exactly?"
"No idea, I can't find anything on the map." Tony said before clapping loudly. "What are you waiting for Robin Hood, shall we?" Clint shook his head before following after Tony into the hall. They stepped onto the elevator and fell into an uncomfortable silence.
"You could just tell me where she is and I'll go get her." said Clint as he glanced over to the man. "You don't have to come. I'm sure you've probably got wedding stuff to deal with."
"Not really. Pepper's not really letting me touch anything that has to do with the wedding, so I'm pretty much free." Tony replied looking up to the doors. "So stop trying to get rid of me, when I'm the one who did you a favor."
"What favor?"
"I found her. Me and I didn't have to tell you." Tony stated and Clint sent the man a glare. He didn't want to admit it, but he was right. "You're here, going along with me to find your wife because this is me giving you a chance."
"A chance at what?"
"To prove that you actually deserve her." Tony stated, making sure to look the man right in the eyes. They stood there like that until the doors slid open. Tony turned away and walked off onto the garage floor. "So any preference at which car we should take?" he looked back to Clint before shaking his head. "Never mind, doesn't matter. My cars, I choose." Tony turned and marveled at the sight of his enormous garage that was filled with only the best automobiles. A smile came to his lips as he walked down the aisle of cars.
Katie didn't know how late it was until she woke up and found the halls oddly empty. She padded down the halls with her tube socked feet searching for some kind of life. It wasn't until she was downstairs did she spot a young boy running. He ran right past her and didn't stop as he turned a corner.
"I guess this really is a school." Katie muttered as she continued down the halls. She would peek inside of rooms where she would spot even more classes. They all seemed to be subjects she hated when she was in school. All but one. She stopped and peeked inside of a classroom where she spotted the familiar face of Scott surrounded by students who sat in front of computers. Scott was currently seated at one of his students desk trying something on their computer.
"I'm not sure what's happening here." Scott muttered as another message box popped up. He looked over to the student. "Maybe you could sit with another student for the rest of the class until we can get this fixed." The student simply nodded before going off to sit with a friend. Scott was standing to his feet when he spotted Katie in the doorway. "Hello?"
"Hi, I don't mean to interrupt, but I saw you were having issues with your computer and I-uh, I'm kind of good with computers." she said with a slight shrug. He looked slightly hesitant to invite her in and she couldn't blame him. He met her last night and they barely even spoke to each other. Letting her in with the students was probably the last thing he wanted to do. "Or not. Actually I'll just go." Katie turned just as Scott lifted his head slightly. He sighed before turning back to her.
"Wait!" he called and Katie turned back to him. "I'm not one to turn away help." he said before holding out a hand to the computer. "And I can't figure out what's wrong." Katie smiled before walking in, not missing how all the eyes of the students went to her. She gave a slight smile and a wave before she took the seat in front of the computer. "Alright class, back to your lesson!" the students eyes went back to the screen as Scott looked down to Katie whose hands seemed to begin tying immediately.
"I guess you do know something about computers." he muttered watching her fingers type effortlessly. Suddenly the screen was free of all message boxes and was once again normal.
"You should probably tell your students that clicking on some of the ads on Facebook can carry viruses." Katie said lifting her head to Scott. "Or I don't know tell them not to be on Facebook during class may help too." she stood to her feet and looked out to the students and waved again before heading for the door. Scott gave a slight smile before turning to his students.
"Looks like we're going to have to crack down on our internet blocking, huh?" he asked gaining a few groans from his students.
Katie smiled to herself as she walked down the halls. Even with her crazy life, some things would never change and that was her love for computers. She looked up when she saw Jean. The woman was reading something and didn't notice Katie. Katie was about to call out to her, but stopped when she saw the woman press a small panel one the wall and soon a key pad appeared. Jean typed in a code and just seconds later the wall opened, revealing an elevator. Jean stepped inside and Katie quickly moved out of view, but she peeked around just as the doors came sliding closed. She stood there for a moment, before feeling someone touch her shoulder causing her to nearly jump out of her skin. She turned and saw the confused look of Logan.
"You need to wear a bell." Katie said placing a hand over her racing heart.
"What are you doing?" he asked and Katie looked around. "Let me guess, you're lost?"
"How did you guess?" Katie asked with a slight smile. She had no idea what lie she was going to say and she was glad he helped her fill in the blanks.
"You have that lost look about you." he said with a shrug. "The professor sent me to find you. He wants to see you in his office."
"I was sort of thinking I would get out of here." Katie replied looking over her shoulder to the wall that held a hidden elevator. "I'm not sure staying in one place is the best idea right now."
"Yeah, well at the moment I'm just the messenger, so come on." he ordered before walking down the hall. Katie cast one final glance to the wall before turning and following behind the man.
Katie stood in front of the wall wondering if she was doing something stupid...again. She shook her head because she already knew the answer to that question. Turning her head slightly down either side of the hallway, she made sure the coast was clear. It was and a part of her wished that it wasn't. It was strange, she almost wished someone would be here to stop her because it would seem that in situations like this, she had a hard time stopping herself. It's been years but the moment she saw Jean open this elevator was one of those rare memories that just stuck. She placed her hand in the exact spot,she'd seen Jean and suddenly the panel appeared. A keypad appeared and Katie reached into her bag and pulled out her phone. She pressed a single button before letting the phone scan over the keypad. Soon possible combinations began appearing, until the most likely was found. Katie entered the code and took a slight step back as the wall moved, and the elevator appeared. She took a step, but stopped before she was actually inside.
"They will not forgive you for this." she whispered to herself. She looked up to the open elevator. It was like the path to her answers were right there, but she hesitated. She didn't know where that path lead and because of that she couldn't know what dangers lie ahead. Once upon a time the risks were fine with her, but now, now it was the baby on board that she worried about. She reached up and entered a code, closing the elevator. She stared at the wall for a while before she turned and froze.
"Professor?" Katie said looking down to the man who was staring back at her. "You knew I was going to do?"
"I knew what you intended to do, whether you actually went through with it or not, I think only you knew." he replied with a smile. "I'm proud of you."
"Well don't because what I just did was stupid." she said with a shake of her head. "I'm leaving." she was about to turn to go back to her room to gather her things before stopping and turning back to him. "Just tell me where he is."
"I can not-"
"I know. He's the big bad wolf and I should stay as far away as possible, I get that, I really do, but this isn't the first wolf I've gone up against." Katie walked over to stand in front of the man. "When my mother talked about him, she had this look. Like-" she sighed. "That look you get when you talk about someone you care about." she looked down to the professor. "It was the same look you had when you spoke of him."
"Erik is a different man now then he once was. Different from the man I once know and most like different from the man your mother cared about." said Xavier before turning and rolling away.
"What if he's not all that different?" Katie asked following behind him. "I've come to learn that the bad guys who were once good guys don't completely go bad. They can't. Humanity doesn't die. Morality doesn't die. It gets buried, so deep that they forget that it's there."
"You think you can remind Erik of his humanity?" Xavier asked stopping his chair and looking over to the woman.
"No, but I think my mother may be able to." Katie replied.
"How do you plan on doing that when he's tried to kill us on more than one occasion?" the professor questioned and Katie turned away in thought. He watched her closely before she let out an unattractive snort.
"Ok, so this may be a long shot, but have you ever heard of parlay?" Katie asked and the professor's brow furrowed in confusion. "It's like a temporary protection. I saw it in this movie, but that doesn't matter. Contact Erik, tell him that you want to meet with him, tell him that it will be totally and completely violence free."
"I can not promise that." Xavier sighed.
"Yes you can, cause I will be there," Katie replied. "And nobody fights around the pregnant lady." she turned to leave when the professor called after her.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"I seriously have to pee!" she called, her feet suddenly moving even quicker.
Once the others were informed of Katie's plan, it was pretty clear their opinions on the matter and they had no problem of making it known.
"This is a bad idea professor." Scott said planting his hands on the professor's desk as he looked the man in the eye. "There is no negotiating with Erik, if we walk in there he will not hesitate."
"I don't believe so." the professor replied. "She is right. When we were younger, Erik carried around a photo in his pocket, everywhere he went he had that photo. He never would show me who or what it was and when I would ask him about it, he'd say it was nothing. One day he dropped it, it must've slipped from his pocket but it was there on the floor and I picked it up and it was her." a slight smile came to the professor's face. "And then one day a woman stumbles into our school and she's the spitting image of that woman."
"I'm not letting her go in there." Logan declared and they turned to him. "I've seen what Erik is capable of and I'm not banking on him growing a heart the moment he sees her."
"Professor, do you honestly think this could work?" Ororo asked and they all turned to Xavier who let out a loud sigh.
"The truth?" he asked and they all silently nodded. "I don't know. I know that the Erik I once knew is definitely not the man who stands today, but I also know that if there is just a sliver of humanity left in him, she would be the one to find it."
"Do you think he would even agree to meeting?" Jean asked.
"He already has." the professor replied and they all looked to him with wide eyes. "I've already spoken to him and at the mention of the woman from the picture, he agreed."
"I don't like this." Logan said with a shake of his head. "It's dangerous."
"That may be so, but I'm afraid us refusing to do this will stop her. She is very determined to find the truth about her mother."
"So you're saying if we don't help her, she'll just find another way to find Erik." Scott replied and the professor nodded.
"At least if we do this, we go and we stick to the background, we can protect her if things go south." Ororo added. She looked over to Logan who still looked unsure.
Katie walked down the stairs of the mansion, dodging running kids. She smiled slightly as she watched them playing. She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and snagged it quickly bringing it to her ear.
"Hello husband." she greeted happily.
"Ah, sorry kitten, you do not have the pleasure of calling me that." Tony replied and Katie's brow furrowed.
"Oh, sorry Tony, I thought you were Bart. What's up?" she asked as she continued down the stairs.
"So I have a question and I would like for you to answer honestly." Tony replied. Katie stopped and listened. "Who do you know at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters?" Katie began scanning the building.
"How-" she stopped and it suddenly hit her. "The damn car. I forgot to block you from tracing that damn car."
"Well can you blame me? You stole a very valuable car." Tony countered and Katie groaned in annoyance. "Now be a sweetheart and tell whose ever in charge to open the gate."Katie's eyes widen as she rushes for the door and stops to see the car across the large yard behind the gate.
"You're here?"
"Yeh."
"And me telling you not to find me, just went in one ear and out the other."
"Pretty much."
"Bart-"
"Is here, and he's dying to get out of the car, so if you wouldn't mind?"
Katie ended the call and dropped the phone to her side. She closed her eyes and let out a deep breath.
"What's wrong?" she heard Logan asked. She turned to see him and the rest of the team headed her way.
"I need someone to open the gate." Katie said simply and she noticed the questioning looks wash over the face. "My husband is here and-" she shook her head. "Tony Stark." Jean nodded before lifting her head slightly and focusing her power on opening the gate.
"Wait, Tony Stark is here?" Scott asked with a slight smile. "The Tony Stark. Iron Man Tony Stark?"
"You may want to fan boy it down." Jean muttered nudging Scott's arm before turning back to Katie. "Why are they here?"
"Probably to drag me back home." Katie muttered with a shake of her head.
"Good," Logan said and Katie turned her gaze to him. "Maybe one of them can talk some sense into you."
"I have enough sense, actually."
"Not enough if you think you can walk up to Erik and make him a real boy." Logan countered. "He's dangerous, he's a murderer, and you're not going to see him."
"You do not tell me what to do-"
"But as the father of the life you're carrying, I believe I get a say." a voice says and she turns to see Tony and Clint standing there, both looking utterly confused. "Kat, I think we need to talk."
Clint and Katie ended up back upstairs in her room, away from all the others. Katie thought that if she could talk to Clint alone, that maybe she could make him understand.
"Bart-"
"No!" he answered instantly and Katie shot him a glare.
"You don't even know what's going on."
"I think I caught the important parts. You, someone whose dangerous and a murderer, in the same room. It's so not happening Kat."
"You haven't even heard my side to the story!"
"Fine, then go ahead, but I'm pretty sure I'm not bending on this one."
"I watched another video on the flash Fury gave me. This one was an interview of my mother conducted by SHIELD. It was one of those final observation things new employees have to take before they're assigned. Well I was watching this video and my mother mentioned this friend from when she worked on some base in Germany. His name was Erik Lehnsherr and he's the same man who the professor once knew. The professor has set up this meeting with Erik, and I'm going to just ask him some questions."
"That's it?"
"That's it."
"And when does the fact that he's dangerous and a murderer come in?" Clint asked and Katie huffed in annoyance. "You don't see how dangerous this could be."
"I do see how possibly dangerous this could be, but I also saw something else. The way my mother talked about him. She really cared about him and I have to believe that feeling was mutual. I don't think he will hurt me, not if he care for her."
"You're banking a lot on instincts and feelings." Clint replied with a shake of his head. "When it comes to you and it comes to our kid, I need facts, which you don't have."
"I didn't have facts when I told you SHIELD was full of shit, but look how that turned out!"
"You and I both know that you were lucky!" Clint snapped and Katie turned away from him. "Kat-" he took a step toward her and to his dismay she backed away. "Your instincts, nine out of ten are usually correct. But there's still that one percent." Katie brought her eyes back to him. "And usually one percent is a small number, but when I think about the possibilities. The thought that you or our baby could get hurt, then that one percent isn't as minimal as it once was. See this from my side-"
"I do." Katie interrupted with a sharp nod. "I understand what you're saying completely."
"But-"
"No buts, you're right. This is dangerous and could end badly." she said with a shake of her head before grabbing her jacket and slipping it on.
"Kat-" Clint said knowing she was obviously upset. "We will figure out another way to get answers, I promise."
"You mean like breaking into government agencies and kidnapping hit men?" Katie asked turning a glare to him. "I know my definition of what's dangerous and what's not could be a little skewed at times, but that seems like right up there, don't you think?"
"That was different and you know it. I'm not the one-"
"Carrying a life inside of them, I know!" she snapped. "I get why I have to be careful. I get why I have be to avoid the risks, because it's not just me I have to worry about." Katie shook her head before grabbing her bag and tossing it over her shoulder. "My father taught me how not to be weak and now it's forced upon me." she muttered before storming out the door.
"Kat, wait!" Clint called chasing after her. She's made it halfway down the hall before Clint had grabbed her arm and turned her to face him. "You're not weak."
"Whatever, let's just get back to the tower." Katie replied before turning and heading down the stairs.
"No, it'll be no problem at all." she heard Tony say to Scott. "I have a couple of ideas now, right off the top of me head."
"That's never a good sign." Katie said and they all looked over to her. "What are you doing now?"
"Did you know that all these guys are mutants?" Tony asked with a wide smile. He turned back to Scott. "I mean I've seen the news and all that, but never met one and I have to say it's kind of awesome."
"Well the feelings mutual Mr. Stark." Scott replied with a wide smile of his own.
"Call me Tony." the scientist replied before reaching into his jacket and pulling out a business card. "Take my card. I have a feeling that we could do some very good work together." Scott took the card graciously. "And I definitely will start some mock ups on some new specs for you."
"That would be kind of awesome!" Scott replied, his bright smile never wavering making Jean roll her eyes. Tony gave the man a nod before turning back to Katie and Clint who both looked obviously upset. Tony sent a glare to Clint before walking over to Katie.
"Do I get filled in on what's happening, now?" he asked and Katie met his eyes.
"Nothing's happening, we're going back to the tower." she replied simply and Tony narrowed his eyes before glancing back to Clint.
"Good." Logan spoke and Katie sent the man a very pointed look. "Give all the dirty looks you want to kid, but your plan was stupid." Katie walked over to the man and punched him in the shoulder and he gave no indication that it hurt one bit. "Feel better?"
"A little." she replied before bringing her arms around him in a hug. "Your over protectiveness is annoying."
"You're welcome." he replied and Katie couldn't help the smile that pulled at her lips. "Now I think I'm going to go introduce myself to your husband." before he could move past her, Katie grabbed his arm.
"Be nice." she ordered and he simply smirked before walking over to Clint. Katie went to say goodbye to the others, giving them each a hug. It wasn't until she pulled from the hug with Jean, did she realize someone was missing. "Where's the professor?"
"I think he's still in his office." Ororo replied.
"I'm going to go say goodbye and then we can go." Katie called over to Clint who nodded before turning back to Logan who towered over him slightly. Katie turned to Jean. "Make sure Logan behaves please." the woman nodded before watching Katie walk down the hall.
Katie stood staring out a large window that over look the front of the mansion. She smiled as she watched the many children and teenagers running and playing. She heard the motor of the professor's wheelchair before he spoke.
"This is nice." she spoke not turning to him. "You're giving them something they wouldn't have gotten anywhere else." she turned away slightly. "I think I'm kind of jealous."
"Why?" Xavier asked.
"Because I didn't get the chance they did." she replied turning to him. "They get the opportunity to be somewhere and feel like they belong. They don't have to live with the burden of being surrounded by people and still feeling alone."
"Do you feel alone?"
"Oh, I am alone Professor." Katie countered turning back to look out the window. "It's my curse. I was born to have everyone I care about leave me."
"I can't see anything that would make me believe that you would deserve such a curse." the professor replied and Katie chuckled to herself.
"You do not know me professor." she sighed staring out to a basketball game where one of the players disappeared and then reappeared shooting the basket.
"That is true, but I believe those who are alone, choose to be alone" he said and Katie turned her gaze to him. "The world is filled with billions of people giving you numerous opportunities to not be alone." Katie turned back to look out the window. "You don't have to be alone."
"Are you offering me sanctuary, professor?" Katie asked glancing back to him to see a smile on his face. "I don't think you should bend your definition of gifted just to take in a stray."
"There is only one definition of gifted and that is having exceptional talent or natural ability." the professor spoke proudly. "You may not be a mutant, but you are gifted."
"And I am dangerous." Katie replied seriously. "I have people looking for me, who will not stop until they find me and I will not put you and this school in the middle of that."
"Katie-"
"Professor-" Katie interrupted turning to the man and crouching down on one knee in front of him, bringing them eye to eye. "For as long as I remember, I didn't believe that there were people with good hearts. Everyone did something for some kind of personal benefit. And then I met you and your team and I realized that there is something here. Something on this planet that isn't totally corrupted, so I want to say thank you for that."
"You do not have to run."
"Yes I do professor." Katie replied with a slight smile before standing up and leaning forward to press a kiss to his cheek. "But at least now I know that there is a place I can run back to."
Katie walked into the professor's office to find him staring off at nothing in particular. At first she wondered if she should disturb him, but then he turned to her and smiled.
"I'm going to assume you know that I'm not going." she said and he nodded. "I get why I have to do this, but I just-" she shakes her head. "I can't explain it, but I know it would've worked. I know Erik would help me."
"I believe you." the professor replied before pushing his wheel chair from behind his desk and over to her. "I'm sorry you won't get the chance to see it through."
"That's what I hate the most. Not at least giving it a shot. Because then if I tried it and failed, at least I would know why, but not even attempting is-" she shook her head. "My father is probably rolling in his grave right now."
"I don't believe your father would be disappointed in you." Xavier replied and Katie smiled before giving him a nod. "You would make him proud." Katie bit back tears that she felt wanting to fall before walking over and bringing her arms around the professor. "You are not alone."
"No, I'm not." she whispered before pulling back. "Took me a while to figure that out."
"But you did and that's all that matters." he replied. Katie grabbed his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze before turning and heading for the door. She stopped right before she was about to leave before turning back to the man. She had only opened her mouth before he spoke first. "Yes, we do accept enrollment applications from non mutants." Katie smiled with a shake of her head before turning and walking out of the office. The professor watched as she closed the door behind her and the moment she did, the smile fell from his lips. He let out a deep sigh before turning and looking toward the window. "I hope this is not a mistake."
After saying their final goodbyes, Katie, Clint, and Tony packed into their cars to leave. Clint decided to drive with Katie, glad he wouldn't have to endure another hour trapped inside of a car with Tony. They were driving down a winding road, following behind Tony when Clint glanced over to Katie who stared out the window.
"Talk to me." he said and Katie glanced over to him and gave him a sad smile. "You're upset."
"Yeah, I am, but you were right. We'll find another way." Katie said reaching over and placing her hand on Clint's knee. She knew he probably needed reassurance that she really was alright.
"Look when we get back, we can-" The loud screeching sound of the breaks being pressed echoed through the car. Katie let out a scream as they're bodies jerked with the forceful stop of the car. "Kat!" Clint unclasped his seat belt and turned to his wife, placing his hands on her arms. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?" he looked her over for any indication that she either of those questions was a yes, before bringing his eyes to hers. She was silent as her eyes looked to something in front of him. His gaze followed her and his eyes widen at the man in the red a gray outfit, with the cape that blew in the wind who stood staring at them. Clint's eyes travel to the weird helmet that's on the man's head. Without thinking Clint tries to push the gas pedal, but the car doesn't move. He hears a car door and turns to see Tony stepping out of his car. "Shit." he turns back to Katie. "Kat, stay here." Katie doesn't say anything as she continues to stare at the man whose eyes seem to be locked on hers as well. Clint gives her hand a squeeze before jumping out of the car.
"Any idea who this clown is?" Tony asked as he and Clint stood staring to the man who hadn't moved since they were stopped.
"No idea, but I'm not interested in finding out." Clint replied.
"No worries, I have a suit on it's way here." Tony replied before hearing a slight growl from behind them. They both turn to see a large, hairy man with sharp teeth, standing beside a woman whose skin is completely blue. "I'm going to take a wild guess and say these guys are mutants too."
"What was your first clue?" Clint said eying the large beast man closely. "I need to get Kat out of here."
"I'm all for us all getting out of here." Tony said leaning in slightly to try and get a better look at the woman's blue skin. "Do you think that's paint?" Clint grabbed Tony's shoulder, figuring the man's curiosity would just land them into even more trouble. Both turn at the sound of a car door closing and they look to see Katie stepping out of the car.
"Kat!" Clint called about to go over to her when the large beast man growls.
"I get the feeling that meeting none of us wanted to happen is just about to happen." Tony says as they turn and watch Katie walk over to the man.
The moment Magneto's eyes meet hers, he seems taken aback. It was uncanny he thought as he watched her walk over to him.
"You must be Erik." Katie says making sure to keep a good distance from him. He doesn't say anything right away as he looks her over. "I'm-"
"You're the daughter of Angelika Bergkeller." Erik said his voice slightly softer than usual. "You are the spitting image of her." Katie cleared her throat, now becoming more nervous than she anticipated. The man in front of her held a lot of power and that didn't hit her until this very moment. "Charles said you wished to meet me."
"Yes."
"I thought he would inform you that I am not one who you should want to meet. I'm not one who openly converses with people like you."
"People like me?" Katie asked before it hit her. "Non-mutants." he nodded slightly. "Well I just have one question for you and you can continue your life of human hating." Katie replied not missing the slight smile the crept on the man's face. "My mother, who I was made to believe died giving birth to me apparently held a secret. One that is causing a lot of bad people to come after me to get to." she shook her head. "They seem to believe she's alive and that I'm the key to finding her." she brought her eyes to the man. "Do you know what about my mother would put her at the top of the must have list for bad guys?"
"You don't know, do you?" he asked and Katie nearly rolled her eyes at the question. "You have no idea who your mother was." Katie quirked an eye brow at the cryptic statement. The man chuckled to himself with a shake of his head. "You foolish girl. You should pray your mother is dead." his voice grew deep and serious, causing Katie to take a step back. "Because if she isn't then she could be holding the key to turning the entire world on it's axis."
"What are you talking about?" Katie asked impatiently.
"Your mother found a way to do what no other could. Even I who tried and failed, couldn't replicate it." Erik said with a sigh. He met Katie's questioning gaze and leaned forward ever so slightly. "Your mother found a way to make you and I one in the same."
"What does that mean?" Katie asked but before he could reply, a strike of lightening sounded above them.
"I'm sorry, but I believe our meeting is being cut short by the pains in my ass." Erik replied with an obvious look of annoyance. He took a step back. "I guess I should thank you."
"Why?"
"You've just given me a new purpose." and with that the man raised his hands and flew up to the sky. Katie watched as he suddenly flew away.
"Kat!" Clint called and she turned to see him and Tony running over. She looked past them in time to see a van pull up and the large beast and the blue woman step inside and drive away. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." she replied as he brings his arms around. There was another strike of lightening and they all look up to see Ororo descending upon them.
"She's not from Asgard is she?" Tony whispers as the woman lands in front of him. He shakes his head, figuring the question probably wasn't important at the moment. "Never mind."
"Kat, what did he say?" Clint asked and they all turned to her.
"He said-" Katie shook her head trying to decipher the man's cryptic words. "She found a way to make him and me one in the same." she looks up to Storm. "He said she did something that he tried and failed to do." Ororo's eyes widen as she turns away, only one thing coming to her mind. "Ororo, what is it?"
"Magneto attempted to create a device that could turn humans into mutants, but it didn't take. Within just hours the human would die." the woman said and they all just stood there silently, the implications of her words falling into place.
"No." Katie said with a shake of her head, not able to believe what she was hearing.
"I'm sorry, are you saying that you think Katie's mother some how successfully found a way to replicate the mutant x gene, in non-mutants?" Tony asked and Ororo turned to him and simply nodded. "Well shit."
Back on Asgard, in the deepest darkest cell underneath the castle.
There is a single drop of water falling from somewhere. Each drop echos through the small cell as heavy footsteps march down the hall and steps in front of the cell. Inside the cell is a woman, the infamous Seer captured by Thor and force into imprisonment, sits cross legged on the concrete floor her eyes closed not even bothering to open them for her visitor.
"I know who you are" the woman's gravely voice sings, followed by a throaty laugh. "You can hide, but I can see you." she opens her eyes to the face of the Allfather who looks none too amused. "Daddy's not happy with you." he points a sector toward the woman who suddenly feels her throat crushing, and the air struggling to make its way out of her lungs. "You...are not...safe" she manages through shallow breaths.
"Tell me what you saw." his voice almost growls and though her face is now turning blue from lack of oxygen, a smile tugs at her lips.
"Your heart will be your downfall." she states, the manic smile never parting from her features. "Her heart will stop beating and there is nothing you can do about it." with a jerk of his scepter, the woman's neck snaps and she falls limply to the floor.
"Wanna bet?"
A/N: Yes I did just drop two cliffhangers in one story. BAM! Now Katie knows why her mother is being hunted, now she has to figure out why they think she's alive. Well then there was our little bonus scene from Asgard and we see something quite interesting. Our Seer knew our imposter's true identity, too bad she died before she could tell anyone. But at least she went out messing with his head space.
PS. Ok you guys we're down to the wire, 7 more reviews and the shameless begging stops. I promise.
See ya next time
~DWH~