Chapter 35: This is the Nicest Hideout We've Ever Had

While the victors and Tahiti kids were in a holding pattern — all of them unsure about where they were headed or what they were going to do next — Fury was on the warpath, following the Hydra invasion back to their source, intent on blowing Viper out of the sky.

But while he was out trying to chase her down, Coulson was left to play dad to the kids.

Coulson was scrambling to count kids and make sure they had everyone, panicking for just a moment when no one knew where America and GoGo were before the two girls hobbled their way into Medical with only two good legs between them, though they were both grinning widely as they were regaling their tales of battle.

Everyone in Tahiti had been accounted for, but several of the others — including victors and stylists — were still missing. Coulson had people looking, but not everyone had made it to the checkpoints, and it was still unclear whether that meant they had been killed or simply waylaid.

There were reports coming in from around the district not only from the Hydra swarm that had leveled their camp but also from the fights that the lumberjacks had put up — and as a result, several areas in the district had been bombed out and needed medical help. Apparently, Hydra hadn't been sure where exactly to hit and had gone for several of the most likely targets.

Coulson was on the radio for hours with May and Hill coordinating the relief efforts, ordering new equipment for the doctors and labs — though he wasn't sure where to send it yet. He was generally sticking close to the medical setup so he could make sure all the incoming kids were going to make it, too. A few more than Logan had come in with more serious injuries, including Sam — who had been shot out of the sky in his flight suit — and Noh — who had been shot in the stomach and told Jubilee while the morphine was kicking in that she now had a scar to tease him about.

Both Natasha and Clint had come in badly burned, as they'd been running the evacuation and making sure everyone got out of the burning buildings.

But it wasn't all bad news. The Hudsons had made it out safe and sound, and when Kate had reunited Josh with Mac and Heather, it was the picture of a perfect reunion as all the kids went to snuggling him — thankful that the littlest of the Hudson kids had managed to make it safe and sound.

By the time everyone that had been in the camp was accounted for and being treated, the smoke was starting to clear, though the question on everyone's minds was obvious. They didn't know where to go except back to Fury's secret base. But after Creed had violated that place, no one wanted to go back, particularly not when Creed was still loose.

Their aircraft were obliterated — that which hadn't gotten airborne — and Hill had no plans to send more until they were secured with a plan on where the Tahiti kids and victors were going to go.

As he thought it over, Coulson kept one eye on Logan. Now that the surgery was over, he was simply waiting for the young man to start to stir, and as soon as he did, he pulled a curtain around him and had a very quiet, very private conversation with Logan and Mac — keeping everyone else back

Kurt and Skye were watching the curtain for quite a while, unable to hear what was going on — outside of the fact that Logan's low rumble seemed to be answering Coulson's murmured questions. Neither of them were exactly pleased when the curtain opened up to reveal a very pale Logan sitting up and starting to stiffly button up a shirt over tightly-wrapped bandages around his middle.

"You shouldn't be going anywhere," Kurt blurted out. "You need to stay in bed."

"I won't be long," Logan promised. "An' I'm takin' backup." He tipped his head toward Coulson and Mac. "See you in an hour or so. Probably not wandering out into the woods to die."

"Logan—"

But Logan waved Kurt off and leaned heavily on Mac as they headed out, without further explanation. There were a few other voices of protest, but Logan was concentrating too hard on getting out of the medical wing to worry much about what they were saying. He had a job to do.

It took a long time to get to where they were going, and a few times Coulson had to look at Mac to make sure Logan wasn't delirious in his directions.

Even Mac seemed a little worried, hissing out curses to Logan's instructions like, "Why are we going through the woods? Why not down the street, are you nuts?"

Answered always by Logan's soft rumble. "I know we have wounded. We gotta go the back way. No, damnit. The back way."

But it wasn't long before they'd reached their destination, and to Coulson's surprise, there was very little discussed before he and Mac simply turned around and left Logan behind to get the rest of the group.

Once they knew where they were going — and the proper way to get there — it was a fairly quick walk for the two men without having to go slow to accommodate Logan's injury. But when they returned — missing one small victor — they were bombarded with questions. It wasn't just questions from Skye and the rest of the awesomes; the rest of the victors were concerned, as well as a few of the others that had seen them leave with Logan.

"We don't have time to answer all your questions right now; everything will become clear once we get into our new location," Coulson called out over the top of them. "But for now, we need to get moving. The weather is changing, and the last thing I want is for anyone to be caught out when the blizzard hits."

The snow had been falling more and more heavily as the day had worn on, and by the time they all mobilized, the path that Logan had led them down was all but obscured with fresh snow. It was snowing enough — and dark enough — that it wasn't until they were nearly to the big house on the hill that any of them even could see the lights in the windows through the snow.

When they got inside the massive building, they were greeted by an older woman who looked to be all business. "I'm , I'm the head of affairs here. I've been told to be sure you are all looked after. You've all been through a terrible ordeal," she said, worrying her hands as she looked them over. "I've got a spot for your medical people — anything else you need, just ask. We've been told to provide whatever we can, and we're happy to have you."

"You're sure we're not… intruding or something?" Gwen asked, goggling as she looked around the place.

"Not at all," the woman replied with a little frown.

"Well, okay… I guess… thanks?" Miles offered, with an expression similar to Gwen's. "That's really nice of you to let us take over your place."

"Please, follow Mr. Kenneth," the woman said. "He'll show you to the rooms. I'm Mrs. Hopkins, by the way. I handle all of the house's affairs. If you need anything at all, let me or one of the others know. You'll find us easy to spot."

Both of the staff members looked to be just a bit older than Coulson, and Mr. Kenneth was quick to take them through the big house and up the stairs. "All the rooms are open but the one at the end of the hall down the left. Breakfast is at seven. Sleep well." He gestured to the hallway that went both directions. It was ornately decorated, with intricately carved trim, and held doors on both sides of the hall.

"What's … what's at the end of the hall?" Peter asked, too curious to keep it to himself.

"That's the master's suite," Kenneth replied with a pleasant smile before he stepped back to let the kids pick their rooms.

"Well alright then," Peter said, shaking his head a bit to himself, though now that it was clear this was where they'd be staying for a while, it became a bit of a race to claim rooms among those that were still up and walking — and a race to claim rooms for their friends in medical. Kate was sure to point out that the Hawks needed rooms on the same hall, and then Peter made sure Miles got situated nearby as well, claiming spider privilege…

There wasn't much that they'd been able to salvage from the fires, but there were a few important things — Kurt's Bible, Pepper's tablet, Aunt May's picture album… the things that the kids had grabbed and held dear. But other than that, they were mostly starting over, so the well-decorated rooms seemed almost entirely foreign.

Kate and Kurt had managed to snag a room with a four-poster queen and a lovely view of the lawn — though the view was hard to take in when the snow was coming down the way it was. They were just across the hall from Peter and Gwen, and they weren't actually too far from the master suite, as it happened — though they hadn't done that on purpose. It was more that Kamala had picked a room on one end of the house, and in the interest of keeping as far away as possible from the wrath of Kamala's family, Miles took a room on the other side of the house, and Peter went with him… and then Kate and Kurt followed.

"This is pretty much the best place yet," Kate said with a little grin.

"Pretty much?" Kurt asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, you have to admit, it's a slight step down from a totally separate cabin," she teased. "Our neighbors are much closer this time around."

Kurt laughed and shook his head at her. "It's a well-built house," he pointed out. "I don't think we have to worry."

"You say that now, but I've heard Clint snore, and I'm pretty sure we'll be able to hear him from the other end of the house," she laughed.

"And yet you were the one to insist he take the room next door," Kurt laughed.

"Well, yeah. Gotta keep the Hawks together." She shrugged. "And I kept the room next door open for Skye and Logan. You know. Keep the whole team together."

"Where is Skye anyway?" Kurt asked with a soft smile. "She disappeared after we arrived…"

"Probably went to find her space heater," Kate laughed. "And smack him for trying to turn himself into a sword rack."

Kurt shook his head at that as he wrapped his arms around Kate from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder, both of them watching the snow out the large window. "It was … well. It worked," he said, though he couldn't stop the smile as he added, "And it was an excellent swordfight."

"Imp," she accused him, laughing. "That's all you care about is swashbuckling."

"It keeps life interesting," Kurt defended, smiling ever wider at her accusation. "And I thought you liked the swashbuckling."

"I do," she said, laughing to herself. "But with you it's like… a lifestyle."

"You'd best get used to it, then, liebchen," he teased. "You did agree to marry me, after all."

Skye was pretty well tired out by the time she'd exhausted all of the options for trying to find her space heater.

"You really ought to just go to bed," May said. "You can explore tomorrow."

"Well, I would, if I knew where someone put my space heater," Skye grumbled with her arms crossed over her chest. "He's not in medical… or in any of the rooms…."

May let out a breath. "He's in his room."

Skye spun to face her. "No, seriously. I've checked them all."

"Obviously, you haven't."

"Well, if there are secret passages — and there probably are — that's just playing dirty, and I can't be expected to find him in this maze of a house."

May let out a heavy sigh. "Upstairs, down the hall, to the left," she said, shaking her head.

"No," Skye said slowly, "that's the room Kate and Kurt picked out for us, but he's not there."

"No," May said just as slowly. "All the way down the hall."

At that, Skye stopped and slowly turned May's way. "Wait… what?"

"I thought you knew," May replied. "Don't you know where you are?"

"I wasn't paying attention when I was, you know, in the middle of a blizzard trying to help move all the tech with Fitzsimmons?"

"This is the Howlett estate," May explained. "For as closely as you watched those Games, I'm surprised you didn't recognize it from the family interview. Go. Find your man. Warm up."

Skye stared at May as it took a moment for it to properly sink in before she let out a sort of disbelieving laugh and rushed off up the stairs to go find the master suite, slipping inside with an expression that not even she could fully place as she found Logan there, stretched out in bed.

"This place," she said, "is massive."

"Just now figurin' that out?" he asked tiredly. "Not very observant, director."

"It's massive, and I spent, like, the whole afternoon searching all of it, and here you are in the master bedroom in a huge bed I could have been sharing with you this whole time!"

"Not too late for that. I thought someone'd point you the right way," he said. "Seeing as I'm … still drugged. Barely heard anyone comin' in."

"Well, nobody told me," Skye said. "And we're gonna have to tell Kate and Kurt, because they're saving us a room next to theirs. I mean, it's not that far, but still."

"They'll figure it out," he muttered before he waved her over. "Now hush."

She shook her head but climbed in next to him all the same, curling into his side. He seemed to relax a little with her there, and he let out a long, deep breath. "When you're not so drugged, you and I are gonna have to have a talk about how to sheath a sword properly," she added in a grumbly undertone. "Don't think you're off the hook for that either."

"I was going for intimidation factor. Pretty sure I might have intimidated Kurt a little, though."

"You got a sword in…. you know what? Just… don't do stupid stuff like that anymore, okay?"

"Not like I planned it out," he grumbled back before he kissed the top of her head. "And it worked anyhow."

"It did," she had to admit. "But still."

It was quiet for a moment before he had to tease. "It just means that I gotta stay in bed."

She had to pause and laugh at that. "Okay. So there is a silver lining," she said, nuzzling into him a little more. "I'll give you that, at least."

Remy had come along with the group more or less to make sure that Ororo and the sweet little Kamala he'd carried out were going to be alright — but he had not at all been prepared for the new digs these SHIELD fighters were moving into.

He threw out his arms with a light laugh. "Now, how come all de SHIELD hideouts ain't dis nice?" he teased Ororo, who just chuckled at him and shook her head.

But… when it was clear that the powers that be were too distracted to arrest him or put another one of those devices on his foot, Remy switched from admiring the house to simply slipping through it to pocket a few shiny trinkets and head out. He'd make tracks while he still could and put his first — and only — arrest behind him as soon as humanly possible.

He was almost out the door when a familiar voice asked, very quietly and gently, "Are you planning to freeze to death in a blizzard? You really want to leave that badly?"

He spun in place to see that Betsy was there, watching him with her arms crossed, and he broke into a little smile despite himself on seeing her. "Remy don' stay where he ain't wanted, cher," he told her. "And he don' stay where people gon' put a blinkin' and beepin' lil' ting on his foot so he cain't go nowhere."

"It might help to talk to someone before you decide you're not wanted," Betsy replied. "And I'm sure you can't go anywhere until Agent May has a word with you anyhow." She smiled lightly. "I know she wants to talk to you."

"Dat's exactly why it time to leave," Remy said.

"Are you scared, Mr. LeBeau?"

"Jus' got a healthy respect for strong women, me," he teased with a grin so wide it turned into a chuckle.

"Stay a little longer," she said, smiling in spite of herself.

"Ain't gon' go far, cher," he promised. "Just ain't gon' get arrested neither."

"So you don't want to play," she said, nodding. "Well. I don't stick around if I have to chase."

"Now, dat ain't fair, cher," he said, starting to laugh. "You best warn a person 'fore you pull sometin' like dat. Go from stabbin' to flirtin' in de blink of your pretty long eyelashes."

"I could say the same to you," she countered. "No warning."

"Wouldn'ta left witout sayin' goodbye to Stormy," he promised. "Jus' scoutin' de path." He paused and looked her over. "So, you here to drag ol' Remy to Miss Melinda May?"

"No," she replied, shaking her head lightly. "But if you were to take off, it would only make her angry. And she might tip off our host, who … is a bit stabbier than I am." She gave him a significant look and crossed her arms.

"Now, see," Remy said, shaking his head lightly, "what ol' Remy gotta do to get outta de … it ain't even a jail, cher. What you call it when you locked in wit all dis pretty?" he teased.

"I don't know, but you seem to want out all the same," she replied before she turned to leave.

"Betts," he called out to her, and when she paused, he took in a breath and let it all out at once. "Didn' mean to leave it like we did," he said.

"Hard to believe when you only have your mind on running out into the snow," she countered. "Unless you're just scared of me."

"Now, cher," he said, leaning against the wall. "Remy ain't scared of your gorgeous self."

She arched one eyebrow and gave him a look. "Then prove it and stick around for a while. Because from where I'm standing, you're ready to run off with your tail between your legs. Again."

Remy shook his head as his tone turned suddenly softer and gentler. "Ain't running from you, cher. Jus' don' wanna be in a cage is all."

She gestured around them and gave him a little smile as she crossed the space to rest her hand on his shoulder. "Look around. No bars. No armed guards. Barely any SHIELD agents around, and no one has put another very ugly anklet on you. You're not caged," she pointed out.

He grinned at her, his head tipped to the side. "You gon' stab me again if I stay?" he teased.

"That depends entirely on if you make me question your intentions," she replied. "And if you actually try to get to know these people. I think they'll surprise you."

Remy laughed and picked her hand up off his shoulder to kiss the ends of her fingers. "Cher, if you don' know my intentions by now…."

"You have some catching up to do," she told him. "Because I really don't anymore."

He let out a sigh. "Whatchu wan' Remy to say, cher? Ain't done nuttin' since I left but what I always done. Find a lock and get tru it."

"Right," she said, nodding her head. "Disappear and expect the same warm welcome … maybe I'll have to lock something up for you to work toward."

"Could be fun," he said with a crooked, teasing grin.

"Oh, and you might want to empty your pockets.… I wasn't kidding. Our host will come after you if you try too much. Storm said you wouldn't steal from our friends."

"Dat's true," Remy said with a slight shrug. "Didn't say I wouldn't steal from de others."

"Well, this is Logan's house. So. You've been warned."

"Ah." He chuckled a bit and then held up both hands. "So, you gon' search me, cher?" he asked.

She looked him up and down and tipped her head to the side as she pretended to think it over. "Not on the first date."

He laughed outright at that before he slipped both hands in his pockets and produced a few sparkly trinkets. "Well, you caught me out, cher," he laughed.

"You're really not that sneaky about it," she pointed out.

"Wasn't plannin' on bein' around for de review," he countered.

"How else would you ever improve though unless you got feedback?" she teased.

"Well, dat mebbe true," he admitted. He set the trinkets down on a table stand and straightened the collar of his coat. "You gon' take me in now? Seems you an' Stormy de only ones who can."

"Do you want me to?" she asked. "Because I think Agent May is securing things … since she asked me to show you to your room." She smiled broadly. "You're next door to my brother — for now."

"Someone got to talk to de person in charge o' de seatin' arrangements," he said.

"Be nice and maybe that will change," she replied.

"You ever know me to be anytin' but?" he asked with a grin.

She took his offered arm and shook her head. "We'll leave the definitions open for now."

He covered her hand with his and smiled as he let her lead the way down the residential hall. When they got down to his room, she gave his arm a little squeeze. "See you in the morning?"

"It look like it," he said with a nod.

She turned and started to walk away, though she did steal a peek over her shoulder at him— and when he closed the door behind himself, he quickly realized that he wasn't alone.

"Oh, dat's a dirty trick," he said when he saw May waiting for him there.

May kept the smirk under control as she gave him a once over. "Tell me your side of what happened earlier today."

"Which part o' dis whole mess you gettin' at, Miss Melinda?" he asked as he took an easy seat without taking his gaze off of her. "Whole lotta tings happened."

"I'm most interested in what happened during the invasion," she admitted.

"Ah," he said with a little nod. "You mad 'bout de leash. Well, Remy slip it no problem…"

"Not at all," she replied. "I was happier to hear how you'd taken care of Kamala." May shrugged. "The anklet didn't really do anything anyhow. Fury likes to be dramatic."

"So it jus' beep an' tingle for nuttin."

May nodded and finally smirked slightly at him. "Got you to behave for five minutes."

"Well, death threat do dat to a man," Remy pointed out easily.

"You seem well enough behaved right now," she pointed out.

"You sound so surprised, Miss Melinda," he said.

"After the little favor you did for Hydra and Essex, I didn't think you could care about the kids here. I'm glad to see that I was wrong on that count."

"Now, lissen," Remy said, leveling a finger her way with a small glare. "Let's get one ting straight. Dat weren't no favor, an' you an' I know it."

"Seeing as you've refused to tell anyone about what happened, I've had to draw my own conclusions. So outside of a big fat 'nuh-uh' from you, I think I'll stick with what I have testimony and evidence for."

"So what you need my story for if you gon' just check de tape?" he asked, waving his hand. "You done seen it wit' your own eyes, Miss Melinda. Now, you gon' put a fancy lock on dis here door or what? Seein' as you got it in your pretty head ol' Remy workin' for Hydra anyhow."

"I didn't say that I believed that now," she replied. "We've had enough trouble with kids getting their heads turned inside out, blackmail, you name it. I just want to know which category you fall into."

"Jus' real unlucky," Remy said with a tired sigh.

"Maybe another time then," she replied. She straightened up and gave him a more businesslike expression. "Ground rules: don't do anything to get yourself stabbed. Be nice to the staff, and no. stealing."

"Believe it or not, Miss Melinda, I already done sorted dat out wit' Stormy."

"Then the only other thing I have to say is thank you. For doing what you did in that firefight."

Remy looked honestly surprised as he blinked at her. "Well, you welcome," he said haltingly. "Jus'... didn' wanna see someone so sweet an' petit get hurt 's all."

"You might want to reconsider your stance on SHIELD then," she said. "It's not the same SHEILD that you were dealing with before."

"You payin' de kids now," he said.

"Part of it, yes," she agreed. "But it's not as militaristic as it was either."

"Why you want Remy anyhow?" he asked honestly. "You cruisin' for a tief and a traitor for a reason?"

"Like you have the corner market on that stigma," she said dryly. "You have skills that we might be able to find a use for — legally. And those little kids can always use one more person watching out for them. They're hot-headed. And eager to fight."

Remy grinned at that. "Dey good kids," he said. "Don' none of 'em deserve anytin' dat happen in dis war — or before it."

"So help us end it," she replied. "Might even score yourself some points with your little purple-haired model."

"You tellin' Remy how to score points wit' a pretty girl, Miss Melinda?"

She smirked a little wider. "If I see someone in need of help …"

"Den you let me know, and I help 'em."

"That too," she replied without missing a beat.

"See you 'round, Miss Melinda," he said as he kicked off his boots and made himself comfortable.