Author's note: see ch 1 for disclaimer
Warning: language, spanking
Also... sorry. I had to *shrugs*
"How are you feeling?" Chris asked Scott.
"Was ok until you reminded me. Dad… she's told Jean that there was something different about this. Jean agreed that it sounded like Maddie isn't expecting to be here much longer after she has them and that… that terrifies me." Chris put his sub down and sighed.
"We do what we can, son. We fight. We protect. And whatever happens… happens."
"That's reassuring."
"Scott, I can't tell you everything will be fine. I'd be a worse father to fill you with empty promises. I'm sorry you don't like what I'm saying, but at least it's true."
"Well… maybe right now I want the empty promises. I want you to tell me everything will be ok, that she'll be safe."
"Do you really? Or do you want me to keep telling you the truth so we can plan and act?" Scott put his food down and looked away.
"Scott?" Gabriel suddenly said.
"Yeah?"
"The guy we're looking for- is that him?" Scott looked out the window and watched someone in a blue and red suit swinging from building to building.
"Uh… no, but I think we should still talk to him. Dad, stay here. Gabe, let's go." Chris didn't have a chance to object as Scott and Gabriel bolted from the sub place. Scott pulled Gabriel into an alleyway where they quickly switched to their uniforms.
"In the air?"
"Yeah. Can you carry me?" Gabriel nodded and lifted Scott into the air with him.
"Jean and Storm have had me carrying sacks of potatoes to prep for this."
"Oh. Ouch, Vulcan." Gabriel grinned and they started chasing after the person in blue and red. Finally, he stopped and landed on a roof. Gabriel and Scott landed right near him.
"How did you do that?" Scott raised an eye, hearing how young the masked person was.
"Do… what?" He asked.
"Fly. Do you have something in your suit that gets you in the air? How do you control it?" Scott watched the person's hands and blasted away the white concoction he sent towards them.
"Vulcan, mute him!" Vulcan nodded and concentrated, but the masked man kept throwing his arms in front of him.
"I can't, Cyclops! It's not… it's not working!" Scott missed a blob and it hit Vulcan, sticking him to the roof. Scott saw red, literally and figuratively, and rushed him.
"I'm ok!" Gabriel called. Scott looked behind him and saw his brother in the air, glowing.
"Woah… I've never seen anyone get out of my webs like that before!" Scott knocked him down while he was distracted.
"Who are you?!"
"Are you kidding? I'm Spider-Man! This is my hero-turf! Who are you?!" Scott let him go and sighed.
"Cyclops and Vulcan of the X-Men. We're here searching for-"
"Sorry, guy. Not interested. I'm happy being a friendly neighborhood spider-"
"The fuck are you talking about? We're not interested in you. We just thought you might know where that angel guy is from the news."
"Oh," Spider-Man said, rubbing his head. "White wings?"
"Yeah. You seen him?"
"He's at the bridge." Scott and Gabriel turned and looked. "You won't get there in time." Scott kneeled to steady his vision.
"Shit."
"What?" Vulcan asked.
"Magneto's there."
"Who's Magneto? Anything I can do to help?" Scott patted his uniform.
"You got your communicator?" he asked Gabriel.
"No, I forgot it." Scott looked at Spider-Man. "Who are you?"
"I'm Spid-"
"No- Can you blend in with people down there, or does the mask hide something worse?"
"I can blend." Scott nodded and pulled out a notepad from his pocket.
"Gabe, got a pen?" Gabriel nodded and pulled one out. Scott quickly wrote a note, telling Chris they were fine and where their clothes were. "Can you take this note to… someone?"
"Where is he? Or she?"
"Some sandwich shop that way," Scott said, pointing. "The guy has longish brown hair and he's wearing jeans and a black leather coat showing his status as a USAF vet."
"Why should I help you?"
"Because you offered. If you don't get this note to him… Look, it's basically life or death, ok?" Gabriel snorted.
"Is he like you?"
"Ish. Look- that bridge is about to come down-"
"Cyclops! He's on the move!"
"Please!" Spider-Man took the note and watched Vulcan pick Cyclops up and fly towards the bridge. He swung towards where Cyclops had pointed and saw the man he described waiting outside of a sandwich shop. Spider-Man ducked down and threw on a pair of clothes over his suit and took off his mask before walking over to him and tapping his shoulder.
"Can I help you?"
"Yeah, I've got a note for you?" Chris frowned as he took the note. The frown morphed to a glare as he read the note and he looked up to the boy.
"Take me to them," he demanded.
"Look, that's not my-"
"Those two idiots are my sons. Take me to them." Spider-Man nodded and, after Chris grabbed their clothes, led him on foot where he last saw them.
"They took off towards the bridge. The one with the visor said it was a Magneto." Chris narrowed his eyes and pulled out his communicator.
"Cyclops, Vulcan. Answer me."
"They said they didn't have communicators, hence the note." Chris looked up hearing yelling and saw his sons falling into a church.
"Damn it!" he yelled, running after them. Spider-Man hesitated, but took off his clothes and put his mask back on before following after him. Chris walked in and saw Scott and Gabriel working with each other to try to free the winged man from a metal chandelier. Chris quickly dashed to his sons and pulled out his gun from his holster and aimed it towards Magneto, shooting it. Magneto screamed at the taser-like feeling. Scott blasted him out of the church through a stained glass window.
"Vulcan, help get him out." Gabriel nodded to Scott and walked over, easily freeing the angel from the chandelier. Scott looked behind him and saw Chris reholstering his alien-tech gun, breathing quickly, as well as Spider-Man looking at them in awe.
"Look," the winged man said. "I appreciate the help, but I'm not interested in join-"
"Did we say 'hey come join us'?" Scott asked, dusting himself off.
"No, but that's what you're here for, right?"
"Maybe we just wanted to kick Magneto's ass and you just so happened to be here. But while we're on that topic, here," Scott handed him a business card. "In case you decide you're tired of doing this on your own. And we have a request… stop being noticed, ok? Not all of us are ready for the world to see us."
"Kind of hard to not be noticed with these," he said, motioning to his wings.
"Oh, because red beams coming from eyes are any easier? Just… at least come by occasionally. We'd love to help out. Give you a safe place to stretch your wings."
"Thanks, kid."
"Cyclops. And this is my brother, Vulcan. What should we call you?"
"Angel." Scott blinked.
"Seriously?"
"What would you call me? Who the hell are you two?"
"Spider-Man."
"Corsair."
"Hey, Spider-Man. You were supposed to give him the note, not bring him to us." Chris grabbed Scott's uniform and shook him.
"You shouldn't have taken off like that, boy-"
"Hey, back off," Angel said, getting between the two. Chris raised and dropped his arms in aggravation.
"Get rid of one, another one pops up. Look, Angel, these are my kids and they took off like damn morons to chase this kid to find you. So excuse me for being a tiny bit miffed. Boys, get dressed and let's get home. You two will get to explain to Wolverine why you forgot your communicators."
"We weren't expecting to go out-"
"Then why did you have your uniforms?"
"Dad-"
"Don't, Cyclops. Get dressed. You too, Vulcan." The brothers groaned and stepped away to get dressed.
"They're really your kids?" Angel asked.
"They are. Have another one back home, too."
"So this place…"
"Xavier's," Chris supplied.
"Yeah. Is it anything like what Magneto was offering?"
"No. Quite honestly, they're mostly teens. My son Cyclops is their leader. You saw how well he and his brother worked together? They've only known each other for three months- long story. They train. They protect. They're a family. You look like someone who could use a family." Angel nodded.
"Maybe… Maybe I'll stop by. No promises." Chris nodded and looked at Spider-Man.
"And you. Do your parents know where you are, kid?"
"Um… no?"
"Get home. You're too young to be swinging around alone in New York like that. You can only be what, fifteen?"
"I'm a super-powered-"
"So are my kids, but they're about to get their asses kicked for taking off like they did. One of them is seventeen."
"Geez, Dad. Why do you have to tell our business like that?" Scott asked, coming out in his street clothes and shades.
"Scott does have a point," Gabriel said, struggling to stand and get a shoe on. Chris crossed his arms and frowned at his sons.
"You two are in enough trouble. Now let's go before Magneto comes back." Chris reached in his pocket and pulled out another card to hand to Spider-Man. "You feel free to stop by as well. With your parent or guardian." Spider-Man nodded and Chris grabbed Scott and Gabriel's ears, pulling them out of the church with him.
"Dad, let go!" Scott said, trying to push Chris' hand away. Chris stopped walking and made his children look at him.
"You two better give me one good reason why I shouldn't tan your hides here and now."
"It's almost Christmas." Chris gave Gabriel a look and Gabriel looked at the ground.
"We were doing what we were supposed to do."
"What you were supposed to do was eat your lunch. Try again." Scott rubbed his arm.
"You… you said you'd never do that in public." Chris took a breath and slowly let it out.
"You're both looking at a pretty harsh spanking the minute we get home."
"Yes sir," Scott and Gabriel said together.
"Let's go." Chris put his hand on the backs of Scott and Gabriel's necks and pushed them forward. It was a solid hour of walking before they made it back to the parking garage.
"I'm hungry," Gabriel whispered to Scott. Chris glared at him as he unlocked the car. Gabriel and Scott both climbed into the back seat. Chris pulled out and paid the parking fee before getting them on the road. The car was silent on the forty-five minute trip. When Chris finally pulled into the garage, they all sighed.
"Go up to the suite."
"What if-" Scott started.
"We'll figure something out if Joanna and Andrew are there, but for now, you'll both go into mine and Hepzibah's room."
"Yes sir," Gabriel said as he started climbing out of the car.
"Scott?"
"Can I check on Maddie first, please?"
"I think it'll be harder on you if you do. Let's just get this over with."
"Dad,"
"Son, do you want me to start it here?"
"No sir."
"Then get your ass upstairs."
"Yes sir." Scott got out of the car and hurried up to the suite, thankful that the X-Men were now gone other than his family and Rogue. He let himself into the suite and saw Alex sitting on the couch with his foster parents, looking uncomfortable. The minute he saw Scott, he stood up.
"Hey. Everything ok?"
"Uh…" Gabriel walked out of the bathroom and looked at them.
"Where's-"
"Boys. Where are you supposed to be?" Scott and Gabriel blushed as they rushed into Chris' room.
"Dad?" Chris saw the annoyed look on Andrew's face.
"Yeah, kid?"
"What's going on?" Chris sighed.
"I just need to… talk to your brothers."
"Oh… hey, did I show you guys Ororo's garden? She has hibiscuses. Almost feels like home when I see them." Alex gave Chris a look and led the Masters' out of the suite. Chris went into his room and crossed his arms.
"What have you two done wrong?" The two stood at attention.
"Ran off without thinking or consulting you."
"Forgot our communicators."
"What do you deserve?"
"Discipline, sir."
"Gabriel?"
"Discipline, Dad."
"Scott, stand in the corner. Gabriel, drop 'em and bend over the bed." They did as they were told and Chris grabbed the hairbrush from the dresser behind him.
"Ah! Ow! Dad! I'm sorry! OW! Stop, Dad, please!" Scott did his best to block out the cries from Gabriel, but it didn't work. He breathed a sigh of relief when he stopped hearing the sounds of the brush striking his brother. It was quickly replaced with dread as Chris told the two to switch.
"I'm sorry," Scott said as he unbuttoned and unzipped his pants, pushing them down without having to be told. He bent over the bed and hid his face in his arms.
"Gabriel, turn around. Your nose should be in the corner." Scott felt his entire body heat up, mortified that his little brother was going to hear him being punished.
"Dad- ah! Ow ow ow! Daddy I'm sorry! Ow! Stop!" Scott took fistfuls of the comforter as Chris continued to pepper his behind with the hairbrush. Finally it stopped. Scott cried into his arms as Chris replaced his underwear.
"What do the two of you have to say for yourselves?"
"We're sorry!" Scott cried.
"Stand up." Scott stood and wiped his face. Chris quickly pulled him into a hug. "Gabe. Come here." Gabriel left the corner and joined the hug.
"We're sorry, Dad."
"I know you are, but boys, you can't just run off from me like that- especially not in New York City! What if we'd been followed? What if Spider-Man was working for Sinister? And without your communicators, how would I have ever known? You two are damn lucky it turned out how it did."
"It's our job-" Scott tried, pulling out of the hug.
"You were asked to find Angel, not ordered. Would you like for me to tell Charles how you put your lives at risk just to see Angel?"
"No sir," Scott said, looking away.
"No sir." Gabriel snuggled into Chris' chest and Chris wrapped both of his arms around him.
"Ok then. Next part of your punishment," the two brothers groaned, "will be lines. You are both to write 'I will not leave the house without my communicator' one hundred times. At the table."
"Do we have to?" Scott asked as they walked out of Chris' room.
"Of course not, Scott. You have a choice- both of you do. Sit and write lines or go cut a switch. Which would you prefer?" Scott scowled as he grabbed paper and pens and sat at the table, taking in a sharp breath at the contact. Gabriel sat beside him, wincing, and took a piece of paper from Scott's pile as well as an offered pen. Chris nodded and went to answer the knocking at the door.
A/N: Power came back on before dinner on Wednesday and I have been loving the AC!
Hope this chapter was ok! I had someone comment forever ago on a different story if I'd considered writing Spider-Man/Iron Man and I had already written this part. I've been chomping at the bits to get it posted. Sadly, I'm not as well versed in the Spider-Man world enough to add in small details like I can with X-Men. I know his movies and the old show with Iceman. And I don't think I could get the tone of Tony down well enough to do him justice... Not that I've tried really hard. But I've been studying/researching/obsessing over Cyclops since I was 10 years old, so I'd like to think I know him pretty well!
Thanks for reading!
And I was able to get over that minor hump for the 8th story, so I've been slowly working on it again. But once that's done... the long ones are done. I'm willing to do oneshots, but I have a 2 1/2 year old and by December, I'll have a newborn, so I won't have as much time to write- and I doubt my brain would work well enough for new ideas. So if any of you have ideas/suggestions/requests, review or PM me!
-Newbee