Author's note: see ch 1 for disclaimer
Warning: mention of spanking
Scott looked at the clock again. It was eleven at night and he, Chris, Logan, and Nathan were in the security room of the Institute going over his notes with the hologram of the mansion pulled up.
"Lasers?"
"Unpredictable," Scott said after yawning.
"Unless we keep them off until the house is put on lockdown."
"Where would we even get them?" Chris asked, bringing his cup of coffee closer to his mouth.
"Forge."
"Isn't that asking a lot of him? He's only a kid."
"He's homeschooled because of his… past. The whole 'trapped in a universe he made for thirty years' can screw a guy up. He lives for this kind of stuff."
"We can ask, but we need to make backup plans-"
"No we don't," Scott argued with Chris. Chris reached out and popped Scott's butt, not caring that Logan was in the room with them.
"That's enough, Scott Christopher. It's late. You need to go to bed."
"But-"
"Son, I wasn't asking. Go to bed."
"This is-"
"Are you going to make me repeat myself again, young man?" Scott sighed.
"No sir. Goodnight."
"Goodnight." Chris waited for Scott to walk out before he sat on a stool and sighed.
"You should go up too, Grandpa. We won't be able to do anything if the people who are supposed to protect us are exhausted."
"I've had longer nights than this, Nate."
"When your kids are at risk?" Chris rubbed his face.
"Stop making sense." Nathan gave him a small smile.
"Go."
"You're still recovering from Juggernaut. You should go to bed, too."
"I'm-" The hologram table shut off.
"We're all goin' to bed. And I ain't touchin' this shit again until we've all had a good night's sleep and some breakfast." Logan walked towards the door and looked at Chris and Nathan until they got up and started moving with him. The three made their way to the elevator that would go straight up. Nathan got off on the second floor to rest in Scott's room and Chris and Logan continued to the third floor.
"See you in the morning, Logan. And thank you." Logan nodded.
"We're not gonna let that SOB get your kids, Chris."
"Maybe not here, but… I don't like that he's at the school. He approaches my kids once and I'm homeschooling them."
"You know that would target the others. I know they're your boys, but you're an instructor now. You gotta look after the whole bunch."
"I know Logan. I," Chris sighed. "I just can't bear the thought of losing another son. I don't know how I'm supposed to let him off the property without constant supervision."
"I couldn't tell ya. I've never been a dad. I don't even remember my dad. But if you shelter him, he'll run and then you won't be able to do shit." Chris nodded.
"You're right."
"I'm always right. Now go see your boys and see that they're safe for tonight." Chris and Logan separated and Chris went into his family's suite. Hepzibah was sitting on the couch with a tired, pajama clad Scott leaning on her shoulder.
"What do we do, Corsair?"
"We trust the teachers and other adults at the school. We trust the kids to not be stupid. They'll keep an eye on one another."
"I'll talk to Maximoff at school," Scott offered. "His dad should have said something to him by now."
"That's…?"
"Pietro. His dad's Magneto, remember?"
"Ah. How could I have forgotten?" Scott stood up.
"I'm gonna sleep in Gabe's room. I just didn't want you to wonder where I was and think I was disobeying you."
"I appreciate it." Scott nodded and quietly walked into Gabriel's room.
"Lover?"
"Hep, I need Ch'od and Raza here tomorrow." Hepzibah nodded and pulled out her holographic communicator. She pressed a button and Raza quickly appeared.
"Hello Captain, Hepzibah. What seems to be the matter?"
"Raza," Chris said, sitting next to Hepzibah, "the man who caused all these problems with my family has inserted himself in my kids' school. It's becoming more and more important that we upgrade the security, and soon. I need… I need your help." Raza looked away for a moment and then looked at Chris and Hepzibah.
"We will be there in half a day, Corsair."
"Thank you, Raza. I can't begin to tell you how much of a relief it is to have my crew together again." Raza nodded and signed off. Chris knew it was to put as much power into the ship as possible to increase speed.
"Try to sleep, lover. The kitlings will be safe overnight." Chris nodded and allowed Hepzibah to pull him to their room.
When Scott woke up the next morning, he blinked, not recognizing his surroundings. He sat up and saw his youngest brother asleep beside him, and the events from the day before came rushing back. Scott looked at the time and saw that it was close to when they were supposed to be getting up and getting ready for school.
"Gabe," he said, shaking his brother. "Gotta get up. Get dressed. I'll go get Alex and check on Dad." Gabriel sat up and started stretching and Scott walked out of the room to the room next to his across the living area. He knocked twice and opened the door.
"Five more minutes," Alex said sleepily.
"Dude, get up. If you want breakfast, you gotta get up and get dressed now." Alex sat up.
"Where's Dad?" he asked, rubbing his eyes.
"Probably still asleep. I'm going to get dressed and wake him up too." Scott turned on Alex's light and closed the door. He went to his room and carefully got some clothes together before going to the bathroom to change. He relieved himself and got ready for the day, applying another coat of aloe to his slightly better behind. He stepped out and Gabriel went in. Scott went to Chris and Hepzibah's door and knocked.
"Hepzibah is awake."
"Ok. Is Dad?"
"I'm up, Scott. Get ready for school." Scott stepped away and waited for Alex and Gabriel to be ready before the three grabbed their backpacks and hurried to the dining room. Scott saw Madelyne already at the table, looking queasy at the spread.
"Hey," he greeted, kissing her cheek. "What can I move?"
"Eggs." Scott nodded and slid the plate with eggs further down the table.
"You need to eat, babe. What can I make you?"
"I ate some yogurt already. Why are you three just now coming down?"
"Overslept. I, uh, I slept in Gabe's room last night and I forgot to set an alarm. Dad slept in a bit, too, so of course Alex and Gabe were still asleep. I don't think any of us slept well." Madelyne nodded.
"Hopefully there's nothing going around." Scott sighed as he shook his head.
"I'm sure there isn't. It was just a long night for some of us since we were working so late."
"Maybe you should go to bed early tonight."
"I agree," Chris said, walking in the dining room. "Get it while you can."
"Not like anyone will be able to see the bags under my eyes." Chris chuckled and checked the time.
"Ok. I'm going to grab a cup of coffee and then I'll be ready to drive." Chris ruffled Alex and Gabriel's hair before going into the kitchen. Scott squeezed Madelyne's hand and followed him.
"You ok?" he asked as Chris poured the coffee.
"As well as can be expected. Thanks for getting your brothers up."
"No problem. Um…"
"What is it?" Chris asked, setting the carafe down.
"I just wanted to remind you that you have to, uh… sign me back in with Principal Kelly." Chris took a sip of the coffee and nodded.
"Yep. I know how suspension works, kid."
"I feel like I want to hear this story. But another time. We've really got to get going. I need to get signed back in and see if I can talk to Pietro before classes start." Chris nodded and followed Scott out. Scott grabbed his and Madelyne's backpacks and started heading to the garage.
"If you need a lift to school, we're heading out!" Chris announced. The normal carpoolers followed Chris to the van and everyone slid in. The ride to the school was quiet as everyone seemed to feel the tension coming from Scott and Chris. Chris parked in a visitor parking spot at the school and turned the van off.
"What are- oh," Alex said, looking sheepishly at Scott. Chris put his hand on the back of Scott's neck and led him inside to the main office. The secretary nodded to them and buzzed Principal Kelly on his phone to inform him of their arrival. The door quickly opened and Principal Kelly stuck his head out.
"Hello Scott, Major Summers." Chris shook his hand.
"You've looked into me, I see."
"Yes, well, last I'd heard, your son was a ward of Charles Xavier, so when you came on Monday, well… I had to confirm a few things. For the safety of my students, you understand."
"Of course. I suppose I thought when I came in with Xavier to show paperwork, you were made aware of the change."
"I wasn't aware you'd been here before."
"It was when I enrolled Scott's younger brothers, Alexander and Gabriel, and my ward, Madelyne Pryor."
"Hm. I suppose I did miss that. Well anyways, here is the paperwork you need to sign to re-enroll Scott after his suspension. I do hope you've learned to not skip class, Mr. Summers."
"Yes Principal Kelly." Chris finished signing the papers and handed them back to Kelly.
"Is he good to go on to class now?"
"He is. Welcome back, Mr. Summers." Scott nodded, picked up his backpack, and started walking out of the office. Before he left the main office, he stared at the door, heart beating faster than he'd care to admit.
"You ok, son?"
"Dad, I just don't know about this." Chris put a hand on Scott's shoulder and gently squeezed.
"Who are you?" Scott took a breath and nodded. Chris quickly hugged and kissed Scott's temple before leaving the main office. Scott adjusted his backpack and walked into the hallway.
"Maximoff!" he called, seeing Pietro on his way to class.
"What d'you want, Summers?" Pietro demanded as Scott walked over to him.
"We're working with your dad on a common… interest. Has he talked to you yet?"
"What's it to you?"
"Look man, I don't like you. I don't like that I have anything at all in common with your dad. But the fact is, my brothers' lives are at stake, so I don't have much of a choice. Now tell me, has he talked to you?"
"A bit."
"Thank you. Do you have a way to get in touch with him before school starts?"
"Yes."
"Tell him he's at the school."
"Who's at the school?"
"I can't say it out in the open, Maximoff. Just tell your dad our mutual interest is in the school. He'll explain from there." Pietro nodded and was gone. Scott again adjusted his bag and walked to his first class, calculus. Scott turned in his homework and sat, taking a few minutes to shift to a comfortable enough position. The day started and Scott diligently took notes, answered a few questions, turned in his classwork, and began his homework. He had two problems left, of the five assigned, when the bell rang. Scott quickly packed his things up and moved on to his next class, study hall. He sat in his usual seat and pulled his math homework back out to complete.
"Hi Scott!"
"Hi Taryn," he replied, not looking up from his work.
"We missed you in English on Monday."
"Yeah, I, uh, went home early."
"I figured. So, Mr. Morris is handing out our reading assignments today. I thought you might like to partner up with-" Scott sighed as he heard the classroom door close.
"Sorry, Taryn, but I usually partner with Paul in English."
"Then would you like to do something else with me? I know this great coffee place-"
"You do remember I have a girlfriend, right?"
"Oh, that's still a thing?"
"It is."
"Well, when you decide you want something new, I'll be here," she said with a wink. Scott just went back to his homework until the sound of a throat being cleared got his attention.
"I didn't realize this was a math class." Scott looked up and saw a pale man with jet black hair looking at him with a disturbing smile. Scott closed his book and looked at the man who was responsible for ruining his life; past, present, and future.