"I'm going to puke."
I pressed my face into the window, feeling the cool glass heat quickly with the touch of my cheek. Next to me, Grace snorted and flicked on her blinker, pulling into another lane of traffic.
At my request, we were taking the significantly longer (and more scenic) route to her house, so I would have plenty of time to get not-nauseaous to meet her mom. Well, again. I don't count that business in the hospital as meeting properly.
"I'm sorry, Loki," Grace said, but her tone wasn't anything resembling apologetic. "I didn't realize meeting two of the most important people in my life would make you so ill."
I hastily began backtracking, layering on apology after apology, but she cut me off with a laugh. Failing that, I leaned over and kissed her cheek, inching steadily closer to her lips. Dangerous? Not more so than any other thing I've done lately. So I was prepared when she pushed me away and I ducked under that, continuing my assualt.
Until, that was, the bridge exploded.
Not, like, exploded exploded, just suddenly there was a lot of fire where there wasn't any before.
Grace slammed on the brakes and we rear-ended the cab in front of us. Pausing once to toss an 'I'm sorry' glance over my shoulder, I opened the door and darted out, hands aloft. People were rushing around me, screaming, and I could see the origin of the fire if I tilted my head back and looked way, way up.
Isn't that just my freaking luck. Get caught on a suspension bridge with a pyromaniac.
Who, apparently, made the fire look like a herd of stampeding horses and sent them running up and down the road over the cars, sending the stupid people of our city running around like chickens with their heads cut off.
"Hey!" I shouted. All I got in response was a lot of cackling laughter. "HEY!"
"It's no use," a tight, female voice muttered from behind me. "Pyro's never been the listening type."
Wanda jogged up next to me and we both stood there for a sec, looking. She obviously knew this guy, which meant he was one of Magneto's crew. And, actually, now that I think about it, I do remember knocking heads with someone wearing an obnoxious amount of orange.
"Well, that's magnificent," I said. "I've got somewhere to be."
"Oh, then let me assist you, it would be my pleasure." Her sarcasm cut sharply, and I turned away, not wanting to make eye contact. I have officially been whipped down by the female sex. I don't know how to feel about that.
She gestured once; blue light caged the tiny figure on the top of the bridge and tugged him off. Pyro fell, flailing, until he managed to right himself and use his flamethrower things to jet himself to a softer landing.
Right in front of us.
He smirked, turned, and set fire to an oil tanker twenty feet away. Laughing hysterically, he jetted away again, and I was too busy trying to blow the damn thing off before it blew up to care, even when Wanda bent down and picked something up. I grunted as I swung my arms back and forth, my blunt winds propelling the truck through the copius amounts of traffic to fall over the edge and hit the water below.
Scott and Jean showed up, and they make me think they've got a 'City in Danger' alarm hooked up in their brains, because honestly? Who gets here that fast when crises arise? X-Men? No. Not really.
And, to top it all off, it started raining. I was soaked almost instantly, and that only served to put me in a foul mood. Leaving the Wonder Duo to deal with Pissy Wanda, I stomped back to Grace's truck only to discover that every other car on the bridge was abandoned and stuck in our way.
"Shit," I said under my breath. "We're going to be late."
"Can you move them?" Grace said quietly. "Or should we walk?"
Oh, wonderful. I've been reduced to a hunk of metal mover for my girlfriend. Such a glamorous life I lead as an ousted mutant.
I did as she asked, pushing the cars aside with giant crunches of sheet metal and shattered glass. Grace followed behind, the front bumper of the truck a mangled mess. It took a good half-hour for us to navigate the rest of the jungle, and I got a plethora of dirty looks as I did so. Hell, I even helped a couple kiddies out of their carseats when their own parents ran and forgot them, and all I got in return was a set of scratches down my face and a split lip. But, of course, one flick of my watch and I was good as new.
I hate kids.
Now I was wet, bleeding, and not in a happy place. So what was the next logical thing to do?
Go meet Grace's mom and her mom's boyfriend. Oh, fun.
After another fifteen minutes of sitting in a car with Grace while we both were awkwardly silent, I was ready to throw up for real. I wasn't ready. I wasn't normal. There was no way in hell this was going to work.
I very hesitantly knocked on the red door in front of me. There were a lot of plants in their yard, I noticed, and they looked nicely upkept. Not much like our yard, where what's not destroyed by power training is overgrown, unless it's the front yard, in which everything is fake.
"Nice of you to finally show up," a new voice called. "Come in."
Grace reached over and opened the door; I stepped in and jumped. It was a six-foot tall wooden Indian thing. Resisting the urge to lash out and take its head off, I clamped one hand around my cast and forced myself to take a really freaking deep breath.
"Everyone jumps at that," the voice said, and revealed itself to be the short, frizzy-haired woman I'd met in the hospital. She was standing in front of an oven, one hand in a rooster mitt, the other resting on the counter. "Nice to meet you under some better circumstances. My name is Kay. Please, sit down."
I did so, nervously patting my damp shirt. It was new, and it even had a collar. And to put the frosting on my cupcake, Miss Ororo had come up behind me, zapped me into submission, and taken a pair of shears to my head. Where I'd once had long, kind of curly hair, I now had a short head with ten thousand cowlicks everywhere. At least it looked blond-ish and not snow-white.
"Nice to meet you too," I stuttered. "Um, what's for dinner?"
"Box pizza," she said cheerfully. "Hope that's not to simple for your big fancy Institue diet, eh?" I stiffened, but Grace put a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Grace told me all about how you live up there. Is it interesting?"
"Um. Yes. I mean, we do a lot of stuff, but it's mostly a bed to sleep in at night. And food to eat. You know, the usual." I smiled, but it was weak, and Ms. Kay seemed to realize it. She may not read the news, but that didn't make her stupid. Rumors would circulate, she might hear the truth. I wouldn't know.
"Pizza's done," she said instead of an accusation. She pulled it out and cut it up deftly, putting two slices onto a plate and setting it in front of me. "Danny! Get your butt out here!"
Ice lodged in my stomach. "Your... brother is here?" I said, and my voice broke a few octaves as I twisted around in my seat to look at Grace.
She wasn't pleased, either. "I thought you said Danny was going to a friend's house," she forced out.
"Oh, he wanted to meet your boyfriend, Gracie," Ms. Kay sing-songed, twirling around and bringing more food-laden plates to the table. I looked at my dinner, all significant appetite completely lost.
Danny came out all right. He met my eyes and scowled, a black look on his face. "Oh," he snapped. "It's you." He looked to Grace, with the kind of expression that meant he was sniffing something nasty and wanted it out of his presence. "I thought you actually got a boyfriend and not a freak."
"Danny, leave Loki alone." Ms. Kay sat down with a flourish. "Eric apologizes, but his bike ride got stopped by a pile-up on the bridge. He might not be back for an hour."
I swallowed, blanching. I wasn't responsible for the original crashes, but I definitely didn't help much with that whole angry-pushing-cars-away thing.
"Ah." I fidgeted.
"So, Loki, what kind of grades you get?" Ms. Kay said, taking a bite and chewing fiercely.
"Decent." I fail lots of things, who am I kidding? "I'm passing. I won't be valedictorian, but I'll be moving up to senior year come fall." Hopefully. If I'm not dead before then.
"You plan on staying with Grace through summer?" Danny asked.
I nodded.
"We'll see." He busied himself with the meal in front of his face, but I didn't miss the malicious glint in his eyes as he said that. It didn't help that I was sitting across from him either. Oh, my luck.
The rest of the time was spent a lot like that. I would be asked a question, I'd give my answer, Grace would throw in something that made me sound like a decent kind of person, and Danny would utter something very foreboding that made me want to kick him.
As time passed, I slowly began to unwind. This was... kind of nice. Even if it was pizza, and Logan was going to be reaming my ass for all the extra calories. Even if Danny was sitting across from me, every movement a stark reminder that he knew what I was and wasn't afraid to use that information to get at me.
Somehow, post dinner, I was wrangled into doing the dishes. This immediately struck me as a Bad Thing, seeing as my watch ain't waterproof by a long stretch, but I really wanted to give Ms. Kay a good impression, so I did as she asked.
I took the plate and wiped it down gently with a soft cloth while Ms. Kay and Grace chatted over at the sink. If I looked up, I could imagine the dark leaves and branches of the bush through the window to be some kind of creature I had to beat off Grace. Ms. Kay would be so proud, and Danny would see I'm not an evil monster, and...
Before I realized what was going on, I was flat on my back with something pressing on my chest. My breath whooshed out of my lungs and I felt my ribs give an ominous creak. Once I'd registered, yeah, not standing up any more, now what? I blinked and made the fuzzy shape focus.
It was Toad.
Aside from punching him in the face when he tried to zap me into a different dimension, we'd never spoken. The Brotherhood kept out of our business, and we kept out of theirs. Why on earth Toad was choosing now to break that invisible line I had no clue, but I was getting squished, so I shoved him off and rolled to the side, scrambling to my knees.
"I need to borrow yer inducer," Toad said, by way of an explanation. "The elf's is on the fritz, ya know?"
And with that, he dived at me, slimy fingers wrapping around my wrist and picking at the latch on my watch. I gritted my teeth and swung my leg around, catching him across the middle and sending him flying back, reducing the table to kindling.
"Sorry!" I shouted behind me, catching Grace's horrified face.
"Just - let - me - borrow - it!" Toad yelled, grabbing my throat and squeezing. "I just need it for - two hours! Maybe three!"
"NO!"
We rolled, we thrashed, and finally I couldn't take it anymore. I pinned his arms down with my knees and held my palm three inches from his nose, letting him see crystal clear the ball of silver winds that was growing there.
"I said no," I hissed. "Now leave!"
"Okay, okay," Toad whimpered. I eased off, still holding my arm out, still training my powers on him. But before I could blink, his tongue flew out and yanked it right off my arm, leaving a bloody scrape as the strap broke. My ears flipped off my head and I froze.
"This might make your relationship hopes a bit out of reach, huh." I blinked back the tears burning and stood slowly, ignoring Danny's vicious smile and pleased grin.
"I can explain," I blurted, holding my hands out to stop the questions. "Honest."
"This is... rather unexpected," Ms. Kay said, letting the dish towel fall from her hands. "Hmm."
My life sucks. My love life sucks. And... yeah.
I was driven home by a superbly awkward Ms. Kay, who smashed Grace into my side in the truck. Since she didn't want me and her alone, of course. Ugh. That was a ten minute drive I could live without... oh, ever again.
Kurt had related his own woes to me as we both trudged in, back at the mansion. If the circumstances had gotten any weirder - or similar - I would have laughed. As it was, we were both head over heels with a girl we probably weren't ever going to see again.
I sighed and rolled over on my rarely-used bed, burying my head in the pillow. Ms. Kay hadn't expressly forbidden me from seeing Grace - she was still deciding, she told me simply - but I didn't hold out much hope.
The only good news was, since I wasn't on the verge of an emotional breakdown like I had been last time Grace had 'broke up' with me, I wasn't going to start balling like a baby. No, bottling your emotions is ten times healthier. Hooray.
Someone knocked on the door and I grunted for them to come in. Kurt poked his head in, blue fuzzy face and everything. Of course, I wasn't much better, being watch-less and all, but it was still strange.
"Want to go somewhere with me?" he said. I shrugged into the bedspread.
He popped out of the hall and into my room - totally unnecessary, by the by, he has two legs that work just damn fine - and grabbed my arm. One swirl-ride later, we were at the road a mile up, heading north. And, of course, we had a guest.
I slashed my hand downward and Toad yelped, hopping away. Before I had the chance to continue my methodical dismemberment, Kurt teleported us on top of a mountain.
I, of course, fell over immediately, practically comatose. Because, as they had neglected to mention, we were on a freaking ski mountain, which happened to be covered in a foot of snow. That only served to make me terrifically pissed, but since I couldn't exactly move, I was forced to watch as Kurt and Toad had another mini-fight.
It culminated in Toad admitting he had both our inducers in his pocket and begging - seriously, no pride much? - for our help. I silently urged Kurt to punch the idiot in the face and take us back home. But the pleading look must have gotten to him - plucked his heartstrings, if you please - and he grumbled his assent.
All because Toad wanted to impress Wanda. I am going to find a nice plot of land, dig a hole, and live there for the rest of my unnatural life. Hoorah.
Well, they both seemed to realize their error when I offered no snarky comment, so they ended up slinging one arm of mine over each of their shoulders and dragging me through the snow, following the snowboard tracks over the hills.
For whatever reason, the song about going through the woods to grandmother's house wound through my head. I giggled drunkenly.
Finally, though, we crested the top of a hill and I couldn't quite make my eyes focus enough to understand what that blurry silver thing was, but everything went swirly anyway and I just gave up.
At least it was warm inside.
As I slowly began to regain the use of my everything, Kurt and Toad put their heads together to figure out what to do.
"Magneto's got Wanda in here somewhere," Toad offered. "I don't know why he wants her, it's not like they're close."
"So we need a plan." Kurt rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Loki can be a distraction, I'll pop her out, and we'll pick everyone up on the way out."
"How about I rescue her?" Toad said, puffing out his chest. "My Poopsie-Smoockums needs a man, not an elf." Kurt clenched his jaw, swallowing the insults, and nodded.
"Fine. Let's just do this, alright?"
Even being offered up as bait, I nodded my assent. It wasn't like Magneto himself was here, anyway. Probably just his lackeys and a minion or ten. I stood shakily and steadied myself with one hand on the wall of boxes we had been crouching next to.
Kurt grabbed hold of Toad and they disappeared with a muted bamf. I wobbled my way out of the box room - just avoiding being spotted by the walking tin can - and slipped into the hall.
I took off at a slow jog. How was I supposed to create a distraction? Why, wreak havoc, of course. Without any other rational thought, I swung my arms around and tried to let loose all the barriers I'd put up on my power.
While it didn't work - not like I'd expected it to - it did create one helluva ringing sound as my sharp winds tore through the metal sheeting lining the halls. I heard shouts behind me, and the faintest whistling.
The area to my immediate right exploded and I was tossed forward, landing on my face. I scrabbled to my feet, sprinting off, not caring that my lungs were tightening and spots were swarming across my vision.
This had better be worth it, damn it.
My hallway ended abruptly, widening into a large central chamber. Kurt and someone I was assuming was Toad under the inducer were tugging fruitlessly at Wanda, who was unconscious and strapped to the chair. I took a step forward and my hands jerked to the left, hitting the wall with a clang.
"I have had enough of your interference," Magneto hissed darkly, glaring at the two boys near his daughter. Without so much as looking at me, he strode forward.
I'm not entirely sure what happened next - there was a flurry of limbs that made me miss a lot - but Kurt suddenly had Wanda in his arms, and he thrust her into Toad's. Toad stepped back, blinking, and Kurt put one hand on his shoulder and popped them out.
Without me. Damn, don't I feel special.
Magneto was turning to me, and a creppy little man peered out from behind him. Magneto gestured once, and the creepy little man started walking creepily towards me, wringing his creepy little hands together. And his eyes were glowing. Can't forget that creepy detail.
So my creativity at this point was bust. Can you blame me?
I jerked and tugged, but my hands were stuck to the wall. I even tried using my leg to make a wind blast and chop a creepy limb off, but it was weak and half-formed.
"You have power," Magneto said quietly. "You have the will. You would make a perfect addition to my team, Tempest. Why not join me?"
"Because I'm not a psycho power-hungry bastard like you!" I snapped.
"Because," Magneto insisted, "you have not had the catalyst to push you over the edge yet. I had mine, but you have not. Perhaps a nudge in the right direction will serve my purposes." He whispered something in Creepy Man's ear and he nodded.
Now I was scared. Honestly scared. Magneto had no qualms about messing with people to meet his ends, and I was just another means to them. A pawn.
You see how the humans hate you. They will never learn acceptance. They are violent, and primitive. Duncan's face, and Danny's, and all my classmates. I resisted, growling. You can't trust them. They will always stab you in the back. Grace, saying she wanted a break. Didn't she know how much I needed her? They're all evil. We are superior.
"No!" I shouted, thrashing, but Kurt 'ported in near the chair and saw the activity by the wall. He popped away, came in next to me, and then we were gone, outside again, and I was too busy with the conflicting impulses in my brain to throw up, like my stomach insisted I should. But Kurt left Toad back somewhere with Wanda and took us both home in fits and starts.
Once we were inside the mansion again, Kurt flopped down next to me and sighed. "I'm sorry, Loki," he said softly. "I didn't see you, so I just wanted to get Toad and Wanda out before finding you. I teleported back inside the storage area and looked around there, but you were gone. I'm so sorry, Loki, Magneto almost did something to you and I - well, I'm sorry."
"No problem," I said wearily. "Just please don't take as long next time?" Kurt laughed and agreed, 'porting off and leaving me alone.
Alone, with my aching head and sore body. Ugh.
It was almost an hour later - nearing ten o'clock - when my phone rang. I snapped up from a daze, blinking, and noticed the noise, along with the watch Kurt must have left when he departed. Picking the device up and putting my watch on at the same time, I said, "'Lo?"
"Loki?"
It was Grace. Feeling wary, I said guardedly, "So, what's the verdict?"
"She says, and I quote, 'I might not trust you, but Grace does, and she's always had a good head on her shoulders. As long as there's no trouble, or babies, I suppose I'm fine, but if there are any more life-changing secrets, get them out now, because I don't want to have to kill you. I'm running out of places to hide the bodies.'"
I sighed, flopping back. "See you tomorrow then?"
"Last day of school before summer break," Grace said warmly. "Excited? We're gonna be seniors!"
"Yeah." If my voice was lackluster, she didn't say anything. As much as I didn't want to be - and with the evidence to the contrary - Magneto's words of suggestion were still swirling in my brain.
I'll be lucky if I don't jump off a cliff before the tension in the world goes spang!. Wishing Grace a good night, I dropped into bed.
What I would give not for his words to have meant something.
A/N: Hah, long time no see, right? This chapter is kind of blah to me, but I was struck with the urge to write, and here's the result. Couple of other notes: I'm going in the order it should have gone in, which means Cruise Control will be episode after next, and DH1 and DH2 will be season finales. Also, I've been toying with the idea of writing a sequel for this story in the movie fandom. Yea or nea or shut up and work on what you've already got? Review please and let me know! Thanks and peace!