A/N - I know you were waiting for that one for OH so long ... it's so. much. fun. And it's so HARD not to put up multiple chapters a DAY at this point because it's moving so well and it's going to just be so AWFUL. And I love it when it's awful. Oh. So. Much.

Chapter 36: Let's Make A Deal

Charles didn't waste any time in putting the word out to his team - though when most of them gathered up - even with the kids following them, the Avengers in attendance did as well. "What's going on?" Steve asked as he and Tony joined the group.

Natasha and Clint were already there, having been joking with Logan when he got the message from Charles. "They're going to rescue Cyclops," Natasha said. "And one of us should go along to help."

"Woa-wait. Cyclops … didn't he just go to pick up another kid?" Tony asked. "That's what he said on the way out when he snagged the Cookie Monster from the lab. Or was that just an excuse to pull Hank off the project?"

"Hank hasn't returned yet, though he should be here soon," Charles said. "But yes, they were going to pick up a child in need."

Tony narrowed his eyes at that. "Then why'd they take two jets?"

Jean and Charles shared a look, but Jean answered for him. "Scott … was going to get K out of there. Whether she wanted to go or not."

That was enough, though to have Tony looking slightly alarmed. "And now he needs a rescue. Sounds like his kidnapping went off without a hitch." He started pacing before he pointed a finger toward Charles and Jean. "This is why we were trying to get a device together! I could have gotten her out of there without a fight."

"Tony, you don't know if that's the case or not," Jan said gently. "She told you to stop working on it, didn't she? What's to say she wouldn't turn you down too?"

Tony gave her a look that clearly said what he thought of that, but he didn't respond to her. "I want in. I'm going with."

"I don't think that's a great idea," Steve said. "All the intel she had - everything that we got through the loopholes she sent us … Magneto wants to take you out of the game. She worked hard to try and protect you. You need to let us take care of it."

"So what? You think you're gonna go for Scott and leave her there?" Tony asked - and right then, it was clear how much he hadn't been sleeping and how hard he'd been working with Rhodey and Hank to find a way to make his device work. Which was that much harder when they didn't have the sample they needed to calibrate the machine.

"Of course not," Jean said gently. "Scott was captured trying to make sure she was safe. We're not going to undo that. He wouldn't leave without her at this point." She gave him a pointed look. For Katie's sake. Though I wouldn't let her stay for your sake if this is how it's affecting you.

Tony glanced up at her, though he still didn't look happy in the least as Steve stepped in. "Professor, I know it's not my place, but I want to be a part of this mission, if I can," Steve said. "I know he's your team leader, but I feel somewhat responsible for him - whether he knows it or not. I don't want to be on guard when anything goes south on these kids." He turned toward Jean. "No offense."

"None taken," she replied with a smile.

"Of course, you're welcome to go," Charles replied. "No metal, of course. We'll meet Hank in the hangar."

"Wait - we?" Tony said, leaning toward him. "Who's we?"

"Jean, Captain Rogers, and myself," Charles said.

"Now wait a damn minute," Logan broke in. "If you're goin' up to have a throw down with Magneto I want in."

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" Tony said, gesturing at Logan. "You've got a metal skeleton! What're you gonna do against a guy whose entire tag line is about how he can literally shove your head up your-"

"Stark!" Steve barked out, cutting Tony off.

"If the shred-o-matic goes, I'm goin' too," Tony asserted.

"Logan isn't going," Charles replied. "And neither are you, I'm afraid."

When both of them started to argue, Jean closed her eyes, reached one hand out toward them and sent the suggestion to "sleep" directly to both of them, and to Steve's amusement, both Logan and Tony simply crumpled to the carpet, completely out.

"Oh. Now that's a fun party trick!" Jan giggled before she waved them off. "Don't worry about them! Go on! Shoo!" She was nearly pushing Steve out. "I'm serious. I'll keep them comfortable. The kids will help!"

"Right. Kids," Clint said, smirking. "Nat. I kinda want to put them together."

"No," Natasha said with a dry look.

"Just for some pictures!"

"No."

Clint let his shoulders drop as he headed off with her. "Fine. Next time I'm getting polaroids though."

When Magneto and his group got to Avalon, the two prisoners were tossed into a cell together, though once the doors were locked, the bars around Scott were suddenly opened to free him. They hadn't moved for K, though, so after Scott shook some feeling back into his limbs, he made his way over to where K was and silently started up a fine beam to cut her out.

"Thanks, I guess," she said once he'd finished up. "Not like we're going anywhere though."

"You never know," Scott said with almost a smirk. "I told you - my team's coming."

She gave him a dry look. "You're not cute."

"Good; you're not my type," Scott said without missing a beat as he looked around the room.

"Don't flatter yourself, it wasn't anywhere close to an offer." She made her way across the cell to curl up in the corner and hug her legs.

"You alright?" Scott had to ask.

"Oh sure. Just waiting for the next wave. Thanks for asking. You?"

"Just wondering if the walls are blast-proof and if any of them lead to the vacuum of space," Scott said.

"If history is any indicator, two are outer walls," K said.

"Great." Scott frowned at the walls and then shook his head. "Floors and ceiling?" he asked after a long moment.

"Do you have a burning desire to get sucked into space?"

"I'm just exploring options," he said.

"Can you fly in space without a craft? Because … the short story is that there are no options."

"I can fly anything you put in front of me, and we just came here in one, so no, I don't believe that either," Scott said.

She let out a weary sigh. "Can I ask you something and get a straight answer?"

"Sure."

"What were you thinking?"

Scott paused and turned to face her. "You're going to have to be more specific."

"Why didn't you run when you had the chance? You didn't need to get caught. That was just … pointless."

Scott let out a breath and sat down with his back against the opposite wall. "Because I don't believe anyone should be forced to follow anyone else."

"In case you didn't catch it … I haven't exactly been a very good follower."

"Yeah, I noticed," Scott said with almost a smirk. "But I also heard you when you said he was going to kill you anyway."

"Yeah, that's not going to change. It's okay."

"It's wrong, and I'm not going to stand by for it," Scott said simply. "That's all there is to it."

"No. you'll be all wrapped up in metal instead," she said, shaking her head. "Front row seats instead of hearing about it later. Nice."

Scott shrugged lightly. "Sometimes you lose, but I'd have lost everything if I didn't try."

"Now you are talking crap, Summers."

Scott shook his head and then leaned his head back against the wall. "I'm not sorry."

She was quiet for a long moment, not really wanting to argue with him before the inevitable happened with a muted bamf as the room half-filled with red and black smoke. "I honestly expected you earlier," K said without looking up at him.

"The timing had to be right, of course," Vrykolakas said with a growing grin. "In case you were wondering, the window to choose is now closed … now is the time to deal, my dear." He stopped and turned toward Scott. "Unless of course, you'd prefer to discuss terms when the boy is otherwise occupied."

"Let me take a wild guess - you don't want to go by the terms I set forward to start with, right?" K said, which of course was only answered by a wider smile.

"What are you talking about?" Scott asked with a frown, looking between the two of them.

"It's none of your concern," Vrykolakas replied. "If you want to make a deal of your own, that would have to come after I've sealed this arrangement. Wait your turn."

"What do you want?" K asked in a sigh.

"My discussed price for saving your life. Simple enough."

But K slowly shook her head. "Original terms. I'll get out on my own."

He shook his head at that. "Knowing full well that I would protect you until I was paid. No."

"Then get us both out," K said.

"If you want to barter for the boy, that would be a separate arrangement."

K glanced over at Scott, chewing her lip and clearly considering it - which only had Vrykolakas' tail swaying.

"Whatever is going on here," Scott said, shaking his head, "you don't have to - the X-Men will get us out of it."

"Ah, yes, Mr. Summers, I've heard only good things. Most interesting was the fact of your innocence … while trying to carry the blame for our mutual lovely friend. I have a special place of affection for scapegoats, you know. Particularly those that have tried to be the sacrifice themselves rather than being thrown into it by others. But then … we haven't been properly introduced," Vrykolakas said before he tipped his head Scott's way. "Sir Vrykolakas."

"That's not your name," K said in a stern tone, shaking her head slowly. "If I'm going to make a deal with you, I'm not going to let you lie to him - and I'm not going to let you answer to that ridiculous moniker, Azazel."

The demon turned her way, looking honestly delighted that she'd managed it on her own. "Always so clever," he said with a broad grin. "Another of your more tempting attributes."

"Wait. That's not - tell me that's a Brotherhood moniker," Scott breathed out, starting to see what, exactly, the story was.

"It's not," K said. "He's the real deal. A fallen angel - as much as he hates to hear it."

"I prefer when it's noted that I made my own path. Demon king seems far more fitting," Azazel said as he made his way over to K, still wearing a perfectly pleased grin. "Of course, our arrangement will be more binding with our real names, my lovely Lilja."

K did not look surprised at all and dipped her chin to her chest in acknowledgement.

"You do not have to make a deal - not for me or - the X-Men are on their way; I already told you that," Scott said, his eyebrows somehow getting higher with every word.

"Bargaining chips don't get opinions, Mr. Summers," Azazel told him shortly.

"Right, but you say that now, after I've pointed out that your deal is pointless when my team is coming," Scott shot back.

"What do you want for his safety?" K said, completely ignoring Scott's protests. "Out of curiosity."

"Just a bit of your blood," Azazel replied. "To do with as I wish."

"If you want that, you'll need to adhere to the original agreement where Magneto comes in for the first deal."

"Ah, yes, I should have expected you'd want a way to preserve the lives of those on this ridiculous little prison."

"K, I'm telling you - it doesn't matter," Scott broke in, more heated this time.

Azazel waved a hand Scott's way, silencing him entirely. "The boy is optimistic to a fault. And his opinion has no bearing on our dealings." He tipped K's chin up with one finger so she was looking him squarely in the eyes. "Really, my dear. We have a bit of time, I suppose. I know you're just as set as I to make the best deal possible, but I don't believe you've thought this through properly."

"I don't know how to go forward if the original deal isn't in effect," K admitted as Scott tried to say something - anything while the two of them continued to talk. But even screaming at her - not a sound came out, and with a little glare Scott's way, Azazel put his arm around K's shoulders and turned her so her back was to Scott.

"I think you'll see it my way soon enough," Azazel said. "Take a moment to think it over. Our negotiations have been the best I've seen in longer than I care to admit, I almost hate to see them come to a close. Almost." He let his hand slide down her spine to rest at the hollow of her back. "I'll return when he's elsewhere to discuss the fine points."

K looked between the two of them and nodded her head once before Azazel disappeared, again leaving the two of them alone. "I don't know if your team will get here quick enough," K told Scott. "And you're not the only one I'm concerned about."

"You don't know Jean," he said quietly, testing his voice and almost looking surprised when he was able to speak again. "She'll get here."

"Doesn't mean that you and your team won't be in more danger by my being around you." K gave him a little smile. "And I know there's still plenty to answer for. I don't have anything to work with and the only thing waiting is a cell. I've spent too much time captive for one group or another. I can't keep living like that."

Scott shook his head at that. "Give us a little credit, K. We don't come after people for the crime of having the wrong rescuers."

"You're not the only ones I have to deal with."

"Yeah, we've got experience with that too," Scott said. "Or did you forget we're technically still 'terrorists' according to the government?"

"Not a great argument, Scott," K said. "And I'm just … tired." Her whole body seemed to slump with the admission and her weariness was plainly apparent.

"And I'm tired of letting you get caught in the crossfire. That's part of why I want to bring you back," Scott pointed out. "Half or better of those kids would love to see you again, and even though you are considered a part of Magneto's …. Nonsense." He shook his head. "Even with that, I'm not going to keep you away from those kids."

"They're better off where they are with who they've got now." K had made her way over to the wall opposite the door and slid down to once again hug her knees.

"I was fine with that until one of them called you 'Mom'," Scott said.

"She'll forget soon enough. It was a high-trauma moment."

"I never did," Scott said sharply.

"She's a lot younger than you were," she said. "And she's got good people around her."

"Doesn't make it any less real," Scott said. "It's worse the second time - losing parents and then thinking you have them again and then going back to being alone. But what do I know?"

She looked up at him with a perfectly open expression. "I know, Scott. But … put yourself in my shoes, too. Just for two seconds. There is no ending here where I'm not a prisoner. So I might as well do as much good as I can and try to ensure that the people on this Titanic disaster make it out alive."

"Your shoes include demon deals, K," Scott pointed out dryly.

"Haven't hammered one out yet," she said. "He's been trying since the day I met him." She scoffed. "I knew him all of two minutes and he was trying to ... " She bit her lip and shook her head. "He's wanted a deal for a long time."

"Then you know how to make the best of the situation," Scott pointed out. "I'm telling you - the X-Men are on the way, and Katie will probably never leave you alone for two seconds once you're there."

"He followed me here to try and make a deal. He has no interest in Magneto or his cause. At all." She had shifted to almost staring at a spot in the corner. "Azazel is Kurt's dad. I'm sure you guessed - they really do look alike- but … you should know that."

Scott paused, then nodded. "Doesn't change a thing with Kurt. He's still attached to Wolverine and I doubt that's stopping anytime soon."

"No, I just … I thought you should know. I didn't know who he was when I brought Kurt to you. And I think sooner or later Azazel will be looking for him."

"Then we'll stop him," Scott said. "Simple as that."

"How exactly do you think you'll stop a teleporting, shapeshifting, telepathic, healing demon with God only knows what other powers he's got up his sleeve?"

"Well, we already have half of those powers on our side, and the other half we have better people," Scott said.

"That's not all he does. There's magic too," she pointed out. "I don't know what the blood is for, but I know Wanda said to be careful." She winced. "That's bad, I'm sure."

"Then it's a good thing I don't need you to deal for me. And the rest we'll figure it out," Scott said. "It'll help if you can tell us as much as you can when we get back, and we'll work up a game plan."

"Scott … it's not going to work like that."

"Of course it is. I tried to explain what the X-Men are about before but you didn't listen then - not surprised now that you can't swallow it."

"Just hard to believe," she said. "I'm sure you've heard that before."

"All the time," Scott said. He paused and smirked. "Kind of makes it worth it, though. Knowing it's right anyway."

She frowned for a moment and watched him. "Yeah … sounds like you grew up on Captain America stories."

Scott's lips twitched for a second and he shook his head. "Along with everyone my age."

She shook her head. "No … everyone your age wasn't reading those. That's a little before your time. Not that I'm surprised that you'd go to something more sturdy than what the other kids were into."

Scott smirked again. "Grew up military. My mom loved those stories," he said with a shrug.

"Ah, that makes much more sense," she said, nodding.

"What about you?" Scott asked, gesturing with one hand.

"Oh, I was grown when he came up as a 'thing'."

Scott raised both eyebrows her way. "So you were there for the newsreels as they happened?"

"Yeah, most of them," she said with a nod. "They played them all the time - that was how a lot of people got their news was to go to the movies."

"But you didn't believe in all that?" Scott asked, his head tipped to the side.

"Oh, everyone believed in it - or at least supported it. But a lot of it was propaganda to raise support and money for the war."

"You know we've got the real deal, right?" Scott said. "Not propaganda."

"Yeah, I know," she said with a nod. "That intel pointing to where they were may have disappeared once or twice."

"Thanks for that," Scott said. He leaned his head back again. "They are coming, you know."

"Relentless," she accused.

"Only when I'm right."

"Then for your sake, I hope they are coming," K said. "Emma is one thing. But if Azazel decides to start poking ... " she shook her head. "I didn't even know he was in my head to start with."

"I thought you had natural defenses."

"I do," she said. "Apparently it doesn't apply to demons. Particularly ones with the rep for having been God's most clever angel before he was cast out. He's known what I've been up to for a long time. Not just the kids. The redirect of information. Even when I hadn't said a word to anyone."

Scott let out a long breath and finally let some of his worry show. "Yeah, well… they'll be here," he said.

"He won't tell Magneto anything," K said. "Erik irritates him - says he's a fool pretending to have real power…"

"That's only a mild relief, you know," he said.

"Take what you can get," she suggested. The two of them were quiet for a long while, though when the door finally opened, it was both Azazel and Emma. And both of them were looking a lot more self satisfied than K wanted to see.

Especially when, as soon as the door opened, Scott positively lit up and got to his feet. "What took you so long?" he asked, grinning wider as he crossed the span to positively wrap Emma in a kiss that was far gentler than anything K knew Emma would usually go for.

K couldn't stop the growl as she got up fast, too. "I'm going to skin you, you evil, worthless little tramp," K snarled out.

Emma simply smirked K's way. You won't be alive long enough to try, she projected K's way, rearranging herself with Scott, who was frustratingly grinning K's way with an 'I told you so' sort of look.

K looked openly shocked for a moment as she looked between Emma and Azazel and frowned as Emma led Scott off and the door closed. "I was going to deal with you anyhow," she said, frustrated and on the verge of hyperventilating. "That was completely unnecessary."

"I disagree," he replied smoothly. "Now. The terms while we have privacy."

K let out a breath, trying to get herself back under control. "I need for Erik to be unable to manipulate my metal," she said in a purely businesslike tone that he hadn't really heard since their first attempt at real negotiations. "That will remain true regardless of anything else. That's a standard that has to be there, or like it or not, I can't. Do. Anything. Getting out and to safety will be a relative thing otherwise."

He tipped his chin up for a moment, but it was clear that she was absolutely right, and Azazel took a moment longer before he let out a breath and nodded once.

"However," she said. "I know that there will be no way for you to prove that to me, so - you have to get me to safety." She tipped her head toward the door. "Particularly with the X-Men dead set on 'rescuing' me. If you don't get me out, we'll have a problem of burden of proof."

His lip curled slightly, and his jaw set as 'fine' slipped past, though by the way his tail was switching, he was unhappy with not getting more ground on the main matter at hand. "And for your boys," he said. "I'll require a vial of blood - freely given."

"Same conditions for Billy, Tommy, and Scott. You'll be paid after they are on safe ground, whole and unharmed," K said, nodding already, but that had him smiling.

"Of course."

K watched him for a long moment, sure that she was missing something by the way he was smiling, but with the stress and the way her head was feeling, she just couldn't think through it. There was a long moment where she simply held his gaze as he looked more and more self satisfied and then with a sigh, she let her shoulders drop as she nodded in agreement. "Then you have a deal."

He smiled at her and held his hand out. She hesitated for just an instant, but as soon as she took his hand to shake it, she felt a brief spark of some kind of magic, only long enough to strengthen the handshake for an instant before it was over.

"I will see you again shortly my pet," he said, smiling wider before he simply disappeared in the familiar cloud of red leaving K frowning at the mark on her wrist that looked as if it was burned into her skin. And it wasn't going away either.

Scott had been surprised at how… amorous Jean was once they were out of the cell on Avalon. Not that he was complaining - at all - but… "Jean, we still have work to do," he said, though he wasn't going to fight her on how neatly she was pressed into him.

"We have time," Jean argued, her arms hooked around his neck. "Besides, the professor went to talk to Magneto."

"Now that's a conversation I'd like to hear," Scott said, shaking his head.

Jean nodded her agreement. "I'm sure they'll be in there for a while."

"We should be backing him up," Scott pointed out. "I don't think Magneto is just going to hand K over to us, and she can't stay here. He'll kill her."

Jean frowned for a moment as she traced his shoulders. "I don't know, Scott…"

"Jean." Scott ducked his head to meet her gaze. "You know we can't leave things the way they are. What about Katie?"

Jean bit her lip as she met his gaze. "I know," she said at last. "But can't we just take a minute - you were kidnapped to space, you know. I was worried."

"I knew you were coming for me," Scott said with a little smirk. He looked over her shoulder to where, in his perception, Logan had stayed behind to watch K and make sure she didn't try anything until they could get back to Westchester.

Jean shook her head at him and tapped him in the center of the chest to get his attention. "We're just waiting for the chess game to work its way out. In the meantime…."

Scott couldn't help but smile as he ducked his head to kiss her. "You were really that worried?"

"I really was," Jean said, then slipped closer to pull him into a much longer kiss that she didn't seem ready to break anytime soon.

And really, Scott wasn't complaining - not when they had been so slammed lately that it was hard to get a few moments of privacy. He was surprised, yes, but he wasn't going to say no, either -

-at least, not until Jean's hand drifted down to his belt and he stopped. She pushed to continue the kiss, seemingly unbothered by Scott's surprise, but he pulled back slightly, one hand on her shoulder and the other wrapped around her wrist to stop her from going any lower. She still looked like Jean, but…

"What's wrong?" Jean asked with a silky smile.

Scott narrowed his eyes. "It's not going to work, Emma."

Jean frowned, her lower lip pushed slightly out, but even as she tried to maintain the illusion, that shattered a moment later. One moment, she was still Jean, and the next, Scott was glaring down at Emma Frost, who looked frustrated when she realized that the illusion was gone.

"Oh, don't get so uptight," Emma said with a huff. "You were enjoying yourself."

Scott shook his head. "It's not going to work. And it looks to me like your partner isn't helping you anymore, so-" He shrugged her hand off his shoulder, pushed her hand away and brushed past her, headed down the way they'd come and fully intending to bust K out - ignoring Emma entirely except for the red tinge he was still wearing on his cheeks for how mad he was.

"Fine," Emma snapped his way. "Then you can say goodbye to your friend. All I have to do is open the hatch, and not even her healing will save her from the vacuum of space." To emphasize the threat, she had one hand on the hatch itself.

Scott froze and turned her way with his eyes narrowed behind his visor. "What do you want?"

"I should think that was obvious," Emma said, giving him an open once over.

Scott crossed his arms. "I already said no."

Emma frowned at him before she let out a little huff and waved her hand. "I don't take no for an answer, Scott, darling. But maybe you just need a little time to think it over. Come to your senses…"

Scott shook his head. "No. I already have the love of my life; I don't need to think over anything that would leave me with less than that."

"Oh, how would you know when she's the only one you've played with?"

"Because I haven't wanted to look elsewhere," he said simply.

"Ridiculous notion," she said, waving him off. "I think some time back in the cell would do you some good. Then you can watch your little traitor friend when Magneto deals with her."

"The X-Men will get here before that."

"Darling, I doubt they even know you're gone," Emma replied.

Scott didn't say anything, since he wasn't about to give away that Charles Xavier had already let him know they were coming. Instead, he turned on his heel and stalked toward the cell - though with Emma's threat to eject K into space, jailbreak was temporarily pushed to the side.

When he stepped in, K was folded in on herself sitting in the corner, and that only reminded him that he knew Vrykolakas had stopped helping Emma…

"You made the deal, didn't you," Scott said, not bothering to keep the anger out of his tone - especially since he was still upset at what Emma had tried to pull.

"It wasn't just for your benefit," K said.

"I'm not self-absorbed enough to think that," Scott said.

"Good," she said. "And how far did the White Tramp get before he quit boosting her?"

Scott glared for a moment, a muscle working in his jaw. "Not as far as she wanted," he bit out.

"Even better," K said then rested her chin on her crossed arms.

"You made a deal with a demon," Scott said heatedly.

"Relax," K said before she let out a sigh. "Not like he wanted my soul or anything."

"What did he want, then?" Scott asked.

K paused and somehow shrunk in on herself further. "It doesn't matter. Don't worry about it."

Scott shook his head. "Of course I'm worried about it. What does a demon get out of a deal with you? Information - or are you simply shifting your alliance?"

She shook her head almost impatiently. "No. He doesn't need intel, if he did he could get it easier than I could, and I'm not backing him." She looked up at him for a moment. "I wasn't lying when I said I just wanted to go home."

"Then what…" Scott let out a breath and shook his head, sitting down across from her. "I told you - the X-Men are coming. That wasn't necessary."

"It is if anything happens to Magneto," K said. "I was trying to avoid letting Avalon fall apart with everyone living here."

"X-Men don't kill, K."

"Who said it was going to be the X-Men that did it?" K asked. "Even his own kids want him dead."

Scott shook his head at that. "His whole organization is built on force. It's going to topple sooner or later," he muttered.

"Yes. And there are kids here," K said.

Scott let out a slow breath. "Alright," he said at last. "So what is your plan, exactly?"

"See if Azazel can pull off what he thinks he can," she said. "If the deal was just for me, and didn't pay any heed to Magneto breathing, I'm sure he'd have me on his island by now. But … all we can do is wait and see what he can do. Take it from there." She shrugged. "If your team gets here first - and gets us out before he can, then he's defaulted on the deal. I'm not a total idiot. He's the back up plan. Not the main plan."

"All the more reason to bank on my team."

"Either way … back up plan in place," K muttered.

Scott nodded but didn't say anything further. If he was honest, he was too frustrated to form the words. He didn't like a demon getting involved, and he didn't like the desperation he was seeing on Magneto's side of things.

The X-Men couldn't get here soon enough.