I woke up and stretched, tossed some clothes on, and went to the kitchen. I had received a letter in the mail, and I opened it, curious.
I screamed.
People came running.
"What is this!" I shrieked, hysterical.
Bobby took one look at it and died laughing.
I kicked him.
That started a small fight, but I backed out and looked again at the letter. "Who tried to sign me up for a shrink?!" I yelled.
Nobody owned up. Good for them. I was pretty ticked. There was no return address, no signature. And then...
I flipped it over, looking for clues. I found one. "They're the ones that need therapy!" I shouted.
"Luna! What's going on?" Scott asked.
I handed him the letter with postcard with my "appointment" on it. "I ain't goin'." I crossed my arms. I swear, I get more and more like a teenager every day in this nuthouse.
Magneto and Nightshade had signed me up for therapy sessions! I tapped my foot, expecting him to disagree or something.
"Luna." he sighed. "You have to. It's kinda the law. Come on, I guess I'll drive you."
"No need, Mr. Summers." came a voice I knew only to well.
Magneto strode into the room. "Come, Luna. Your appointment awaits."
"I'm not a dog, and I ain't goin'." I said defiantly.
"Yes, you are."
"No, I'm not."
"Yes. You. Are." I could tell that he was getting impatient.
"No. I'm. Not. Besides, since when are you concerned with my mental health anyways? And why are you even here?"
"You're family..." he started to say.
"I ain't your family." I said.
"Like it or not, you are legally mine. Now get in the car."
"NO!" I shouted.
"GO!" He roared, losing his cool demeanor and flinging me into the backseat magnetically.
He got in the driver's seat. I smashed the window and jumped out. "I'm not going!" I screamed. "And I sure ain't goin' with that lunatic in the back!"
Sabretooth stepped out and I unsheathed my claws, a snarl on my face.
"Come on, kitty-cat. You heard what your daddy said." he sneered.
I hissed and took off back into the house like, well like my life depended on it. Fight or flight, definitely flight.
I heard Sabretooth almost take off after me, then he spotted Wolverine. "Wolverine! It's been too long!" Then they were fighting and I could get away.
I felt rather than saw Sam running beside me. "Where are you gonna go?" he panted.
"Don't know yet." I said.
Right into Magneto apparently. I crashed into him and the expression on his face was horrible. He jerked me into the air and shoved me back into the car, snapping at Sabretooth to get in. We drove off.
I crossed my arms and pouted.
We pulled into the clinic and I stabbed my image reducer on. I walked into the office I was assigned to and flopped down on the couch. I wasn't gonna say a thing...
And I didn't. The doctor tried to get me to speak, but I stared ahead with a blank expression. Finally he said that time was up and handed me a bottle. I had already been assigned prescription drugs. Goody. I rolled my eyes at him, told him I would not be back, and leaped through the open window. He yelled for me to get back here, but I just ran, switching off my image inducer.
I had gotten a pretty good distance away before they found me and picked me up. The good thing, however, was that they dumped me back off at the mansion. I jumped out the car and ran to Wolvie. I stood in front of him. I glared at the people in the car and they drove off. "Guess this means you have 'parental consent'." I said with a smirk.
We went back into the house and I bounced lightly on the couch.
"How was the shrink?" Bobby laughed.
I rolled my eyes. "Idiot gave me meds." I said, tossing them to Hank. "Happy pills. Apparently I'm depressed." My voice was just oozing sarcasm.
Jubilee rolled her eyes. "You're an X-Man. Being slightly crazy is a requirement."
I smiled and got up, headed for my room. It was still locked.
"You people are so childish!" I said, returning to the living room. "What time is the lawyer supposed ta come back, anyways?"
"Right about now." Warren said, looking at his watch.
Of course, he walked in the door at that moment. "Sorry I"m late, I had some pressing business to attend to."
I shrugged. "C'est la vie."
He looked at me, one eyebrow raised. I looked down and saw that I had turned off the watch. I smiled nervously and flicked it back on, sitting on a chair. I waited.
He still looked at me. "What?" I said, confused.
"I think your watch died or something." Jubilee said. I looked down and saw that she was right. I rolled my eyes skywards and mumbled something. Luckily, I had a charged spare in my room, which I was only too happy to point out. Scott let me in and I grabbed it, putting the dead one on the charger. We went back to the conference room and I sat and curled up in the chair.
The grown-ups talked about boring legal stuff, going over the details. I zoned out, leaning back in my chair with a bored look on my face.
I was rudely snapped out of my daze by someone snapping their fingers in my face. I jerked my head up. "What? What'd I miss?"
Sam snorted. "Everything. Jared asked you a question."
"Sorry." I said, running my fingers through my fur. "What was the question?" My other hand grasped at my dogtag.
"I said, do you think you handle being in the courtroom with your parents and siblings present? We don't need chaos."
O.K., that was just rude. I considered growling at him, then decided that that wouldn't be the best idea. "I can handle it." I said, my face stone.
Jared then looked nervous for a second. "There is something else you should know... I have received information that the fellow you spoke of yesterday, Creed or Sabretooth I believe you called him, will also be present. Is that going to be an issue?"
I gripped the sides of my chair so hard my fingers hurt. I closed my eyes for a second, then shook my head. "No sir, it won't be a problem. Not unless he starts somethin'." I said, my fire returning. I looked him straight in the eye.
"Well, let's just hope he doesn't then." Warren said, standing up and shaking Jared's hand. "I really do appreciate this, Jared."
Jared smiled. "Not at all. She's a cute kid, actually. A little fiery, sure, but sweet. She'll find a good home, I'm sure."
My heart broke a little when I heard this, but I didn't show it. I shook hands with Jared and he left.
She'll find a good home...
I walked out of the room, switching off the watch. I didn't like to be shielded too much, it didn't feel natural. I walked to my door and slid down it onto the floor. I drew my knees to my body and hugged them, looking at the wall in font of me.
She'll find a good home...
"But will it be my home?" I whispered. "Will I feel safe there? Will they care that I'm a trained killing machine, an animal? Or will they finally see a scared, lost little girl who just needs somebody to love?" I brushed the tears away and laid my head in my hands. I wept silently that I would have to leave my home, the one place I felt safe, loved, protected. I was unaware of Sam coming up the stairs.
I felt an arm slide around my shoulders. I lifted my head, wiping away the tears. "Hey Golden." I smiled.
His thumb caught a missed tear. "Hey, it's alright. You're not goin' anywhere, ya hear? These people here, they know what you're goin' through. They'll protect ya. You're too young ta have ta go through this alone. Please, just accept their help. They care about you. You're like the little girl that none of them had. They love ya ta death, you know that."
I nodded. "Sometimes, I have ta be more than a little girl. Sometimes I have ta grow up." I said.
"I know, and that's not fair. To any of us. We all have ta grow up faster than normal because we're mutants, but it's alright. We're all family here. I can see how at home you are around them. Around all of us. Your face lights up whenever you laugh, and these people can make you laugh. Sure, you can be a little ornery, but then again that's another trait we like about you. You stick up for your friends and those you love. You don't normally let your animal side control you, but when it does, I'll admit you're a little scary. But you get it under control and you're sorry about the things you've done." He switched from crazy boy who loves me to older brother. I nodded and leaned up against his shoulder, closing my eyes.
"Come on, you've had a hard day." He picked me up, boy he's strong! Or maybe I'm just that light..., and carried me to his room, laying me on the bed and closing the door softly. I slept for a little while, still terrified of the future regardless of his kind words.
I woke up, still a little drowsy. I looked around at the clock. "Asleep for thirty minutes? What a nap..." I muttered, getting out of the bed. I heard footsteps coming towards the door and I opened it, stepping into the hallway.
Scott stood there. I gave him a small smile and he smiled back. "Hey." I said, walking towards him.
"Hey." he said. "Luna, Jean seems a little... worried about you. Are you alright?" He looked at me closely.
"Course I'm alright." I said, looking him in the, uh, sunglasses.... Weird, but O.K....
"If you say so... You know that you can always talk to us if something is bothering you, don't you?"
I nodded. "Yeah.... I guess.... I guess I'm just a little worried about what'll happen, you know, after court, that's all." I said. I really didn't want to talk about this, but he had asked and I'm not heartless, no matter what Hayden and the others seem to think... Gah! Now I'm mad again. Calm down.... I took a deep breath.
He nodded. "Don't worry. Everything will work out." He tipped his head to the side, eyes slightly unfocused. "Jean needs help with something. I'll see you around, Luna." He disappeared.
I walked down the stairs, still going over the possibilities of what could happen in my mind. There were actually a fair amount, considering.
Option 1.) They could actually get custody over me and I'd be helpless to stop them.
Option 2.) They could lose, but I'd be shipped off to another orphanage.
Option 3.) I could run away before they turned me over to the hounds (Magneto and his little groupies), but then I could be arrested or something....
Option 4.) Somebody here at the mansion could adopt me and I would stay here. But nobody here liked me that much, so I wasn't going to dwell on that option, not at all. I cause too much trouble...
I'm not going to cry, I'm not! A leader must be fearless and devoid of emotion! Isn't that what Scott always told me? Something like that... I had to be a stinkin' robot, practically. I won't cry, I won't cry...
I can't. I won't. I had to be strong.
I think I convinced myself, because the tears didn't come. I headed down the stairs and out the door, wandering around the grounds. Then I ran into, guess who, Hayden. The little creep had this smile on his face and, quick as a think, he pinned my arms above my head with one hand and shoved me to the ground with the other. He held me down by my throat. "I never did tell you what my power is, did I girly? How rude of me. I have super strength and the ability to short circuit another mutant's powers, if only for a short time. All I have to do is touch them like this." He grabbed my throat tighter and I started to gag. My eyes bugged out and I had trouble breathing. He didn't loosen his grip. Option five: I could die first...
I felt the life slowly drain out of me as I started to slowly suffocate. He released my neck, keeping me pinned by my wrists, and I sucked in a breath. He laughed at me and I started to squirm, trying to break his grasp. He touched my face, trailing his hand down the scars. He traced a long one and looked at me with something akin to pity in his eyes, but it soon died.
"Let me up!" I snarled. He laughed softly.
"Not yet, girl, not yet. Just wait a moment, it's almost over, Night... Almost... " He again touched my face and I wanted to rip his hand off.
I felt something drain from my body, but thought nothing of it. He let me go and I whirled around to face him. I tried to spring my claws but...
… nothing happened. The little creep had stolen it. No... Not stolen, it was just gone... My fur and fangs were still there, however, since technically they weren't a "power". I whirled around to face him, but he had gone. I screamed in frustration, then stormed back into the mansion. "Hayden! Get out here ya coward!" I screamed. "Get out here so I can kill you!" Yeah, that would make him come out in a hurry. I couldn't hear much, considering he'd taken my enhanced senses too.
Sam came running around the corner and I shoved past him. The little rat had taken what was mine and he was gonna pay for it!
I stormed into the kitchen. No one there. I stalked into the living room. The most obvious place, sure, but only the guys were there, watching some sports game. I waited for the commercials, glowering at the couch. Logan was nowhere to be found.... Probably decided to go out for a smoke or something...
"Yes, Luna?" Bobby sighed. "Keep that up and you'll burn the couch down."
I ignored him and set to looking under the couch, and all around the room for the coward.
"Whatcha doin' dere, chere?" Remy asked.
I shot him a glare. "Lookin' fer my victim, the coward." I growled. I suddenly saw him hurrying down the hall and I leaped to my feet. "Hayden! Get back here ya spineless little bug!" I took off after him, the entire living room group after me. I shoved people out of my way, finally able to somewhat corner him. "Give them back." I snarled.
My face twitched into a scowl when he just rolled his eyes and calmly walked away. I didn't stop him, don't ask me why. "I didn't take them." he said. "I told you, they'll come back."
"When?" I growled the word at him.
He shrugged. "Could be a day, could be two weeks. I'm not sure." He walked away, pushing through the crowd.
It took all my control not to chase back after him. Instead, I pushed through the crowd and made my way back to the living room, where the men were back to watching the Super Bowl or something. I flopped down in a chair and glared at the T.V., not saying a word.
The commercials came on and Bobby finally turned to me. "O.K., what's wrong now?"I gave him a withering look and held up my hand.
"Yeah, so? What about it?" He was so compassionate. Ugh.
"Notice anything missing?" I said.
"You mean besides your daggers of death?" Bobby said.
"Exactly. They're gone. Along with both forms of my healing factor. The little worm shorted 'em out." I went back to glaring at the T.V.
"Ya know, you don't seem nearly as upset with this as I thought you'd be." Bobby said, the creep.
I gave him a look. "Did you not just see me chase him down the hall?"
"You didn't try to rip his head off or anything." Warren pointed out.
"Yeah, because I'd get in trouble and put on probation and yadda yadda..." I started to say more, but then Hayden picked that moment to walk in. I shot him a glare and he quickly sat down in the safety of the guys.
"Who's winnin'?" he asked, eyes on the T.V.
They started to rattle off some boring sportsy talk and I tuned them out, glaring daggers at Hayden the entire time. If looks could kill, he'd be a roasted turkey right now.
The game finally ended and everyone started to shuffle out. I glared one last time at Hayden and stalked out of the room, swishing my tail in the air.
I dragged a chair from the kitchen into the Entrance Hall and sat down in front of the door. I was gonna be right there when Wolvie came back...
I didn't have to wait too long. He came back about four hours later and nearly fell on top of me. He probably thought I'd move out of the way or something. I stayed in the chair and looked up at him with a murderous look in my eye.
"What happened?" he asked once he'd stood back up.
"That little creepo Hayden shorted out my powers." I growled, holding up my hand.
"All of them? Fer how long?" He suddenly seemed on edge.
"Yeah, all of them. He said from a day to two weeks, it varies." I said in disgust.
"Two weeks?! That's too long! It could be too late by then!" Logan looked almost frantic, but he kept his cool around me.
"What? Too late for what?" I was confused, big surprise.
He didn't answer, he just slung me over his shoulder and started running to the MedLab with me. "Aw, come on Wolvie! I'm fine, I don't need ta go back here!" I tried pleading with him, but he just started yelling for Hank. The blue, furry doctor came running at the summons.
"What can I do for you, Logan?" he asked, eying me across Logan's shoulder.
"Hank, that Hayden kid shorted out her healin' factor. You know what that means..."
"Oh my stars...." Hank put a hand to his mouth. "How long are they going to be gone?"
"The kid told her a day to two weeks."
Hank took me and set me down on the bed. "Everything is going to be alright, my dear." he reassured me.
"What's goin' on? You act like I'm dyin' or something..." I said, my eyes wide at the possibility.
"Don't say that! Ya ain't gonna die! Luna, if yer healin' factor is shut down, then the adamantium in ya starts ta poison yer body. If it was down fer two weeks, that could do some serious, if not fatal, damage." Logan said.
I closed my eyes in horror. "F-fatal?" I whispered. "How do we stop it?"
"We don't." The words hung in the air. "There's nothing we can do to stop it. The only thing we can do is hope that you regain your healing capabilities before it's too late." Hank said.
I nodded silently, then abruptly got up and stalked swiftly down the hall.
"Where ya goin'?" Logan called to me.
"I don't know yet." I called back gruffly.
I knew exactly where I was going. To confront Hayden. I found him easily enough. He was in the Rec Room, watching T.V. There was another sports game on and the guys were again lounging on the sofa, watching. I didn't care. I actually stood between them and the T.V. and yanked Hayden up by his arm. There were several protests, but I just glared at them with molten fire in my eyes. They shut up pretty quick.
"Listen you little wimp. Because of yer little stunt, I could die from adamantium poisoning, got it? Now, if there is any way at all to get my powers back, you'd better start talking. Now." I held him down to the ground with both hands on his shoulders. I leaned on my hands, pressing his shoulders down somewhat painfully. "Talk." I was shaking with fury and my breathing was somewhat ragged.
He truly looked scared. His eyes widened and he shook his head. "N-no. There's no way to get them back, they just come back on their own, I swear! The longest it should take is two weeks!"
I leaned in closer. "It might be too late by then!" I said, still pinning him to the ground. The room was silent. Someone put a hand on my shoulder and I glared furiously upwards, not budging from Hayden.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Hayden asked.
I just stared at him "Do? You've already done enough, thanks." I pressed down harder on his shoulders.
"Luna, you really could die from the poisoning?" Sam looked worried. I was just mad.
"Yes. And if I do I swear I'll come back ta haunt you." I said, glaring at Hayden.
"Isn't there anything we can do to help?" Luke asked.
I shook my head. "No." I stood up abruptly and left without a backwards glance.
I needed someone to throw around, so I stomped over to where Sam was leaning against the wall. He had left before I had. He regarded me with interested eyes. I marched straight over to him and grabbed his arm, politely (growling) informing him that we were going to practice. I led the way to the weight room.
I flung him to the far side of the wall before he could lift a finger. I charged at him and used a Judo flip to fling him over my shoulder and back into the ground. I allowed him to stand up, then rammed my shoulder into him, sending him flying backwards. He landed on the ground. He got up and charged at me, grabbing my arm and attempting to send me to the other side of the room. I grabbed hold of his arm as he let me go and my momentum pulled him forward. We landed in a heap, but I recovered quickly, springing to my feet and again flipping him over. I tossed him to the ground, then when he tried to get up again (panting by this time, I've beaten the snot outta him) I threw him to the other side of the room. He crashed into the wall and slid to the floor with a groan.
I was still mad, but I calmed down enough to ask Sam if he was alright. He said he was fine, and that he was up for more abuse if I still had the anger to give it. I laughed bitterly and said that I had plenty of anger, then yanked him to his feet and dragged him to the mats again.
Round Two of Sam's beating (hate to think of it like that, but it was), Logan walked in. I threw Sam to the wall at the other side of the room for the second time.
"A little mad there, darlin'?"
"I'm not mad! Who says I'm mad?" I said, walking to the other side of the room. I helped Sam to his feet and he asked me (a little warily, but still) if I was still mad. I forced myself to shake my head, then fell to my knees as sudden fatigue washed over me. I struggled to my feet, leaning heavily on Sam. He looked over at Logan worriedly.
"What's happening?" he asked.
Logan looked closely at me, then shook his head slightly. "Darlin', ya can't keep this constant battery up like this so long as yer healin' factor's out. You've gotta rest and actually eat somethin'."
I nodded and Sam ran to grab me something to eat, putting me gently on the floor. I laid down, closing my eyes and catching my breath. "What's goin' ta happen ta me?" I asked. "My life's just fallin' apart. I... I hate this!" I said, pounding the ground with my fists.
Logan didn't say anything, just knelt down beside me. I coughed violently then, shaking my small body hard. I coughed long and hard, dizzy when I finally stopped. I curled up with my head in my knees. I looked up only when Sam brought my food. I ate it hungrily, then sat up slowly. My life was falling apart, and I could do nothing about it. I hated feeling helpless. I hated it!
"Luna, are you gonna be O.K.?" Sam asked, kneeling beside me.
"Course." I grunted. He didn't look convinced, so I asked them both if they would be so kind as to help me up.
I staggered to my room, still slightly dizzy. I curled up on the bed, fighting the poison the ravaged my body without much effect on my part. I grabbed my tiger and clutched it tightly to my chest as I drifted off into an uneasy sleep...