Authors note: So I struggled a bit with this one, trying to mix action and feelings and serious conversations with jokes. Hopefully I did lol. Um I did the disclaimer but here it is again. I dont own X men and have no intention of selling it

Chapter 5

Hit me with you Best Shot

One month in and Scott was certain he was missing something. He thought maybe it was the X-men but he wasn't certain. Maybe a few individuals of the bunch but not all of them. and he rarely thought of Jean, other things just seemed to press in his thoughts.

Like Lance.

Watching the other up close was something special. He got exactly one day off a week. usually spent shopping for food and neccesitys and training. They had spent those days together.

Which the training was something Scott enjoyed. It was what started all this after all. Individually the Brotherhood was a rag tag team of underated talent. Together and properly utilized they had the grounds to be near unstoppable.

And Lance was a brilliant captain when he could rally them all together. His skills with manipulating the earth itself had improved.

Which set Scott on a new mission. Improving the Brotherhoods skills individually.

Was he doing this behind the others back while he was a work. Why yes. Yes he was.

The thing with getting them to train was to trick them into thinking it was their idea. Or it would be a no go. And if they did they would annoy Lance until he gave up. Scott was not so easilly deterred.

He only needed to nit pick at their insecuritys slightly.

Another fight with Wanda and Todd had left the large crack in the kitchen wall twice as big and Scott knew the other brunette would be pissed, so he started with Wanda.

"Lance is gonna kill us." Wanda said shaking her head and Scott nodded in agreement.

"Ya know what would be more helpful than stating the obvious Wanda. How about fixing the wall." he snarked and she shot him a murderous glare.

"Do I look like a contractor to you Sum-ners."

"No. But you are a witch so to speak. So un hex it."

She gave him a look of pure distaste, like she'd eaten something particularly nasty.

"Oh yeah ill just go do that. Do I ask you to un laser eyes shit? No. I have hex magic not. . ugh whatever." She all but snarled at him but he wasnt finished.

"You know if you can't do it, thats cool. I mean if I couldn't swim i'd keep my ass out the pool. So if you can't its no big deal." He said setting out his bait and she took it just as he thought.

"I never said I couldn't do it, just that I never have before thats all." she defended an odd but determined look on her face.

He gestured to the wall in prompt.

She stared for a moment before raising a glowing hand to the wall.

And Scott hoped this actually worked and didn't break the house.

And sure enough bright white magic mended the ruin wall back into place. She look in awe and smiled at him. An actual smile. "I told you I could do it." She bragged and he nodded and tousled her hair.

"Yeah well don't quit you day job." he teased and she snorted.

Fred and Todd were a already outside. Fred tossing the younger mutant high into the air.

With the two of them he proposed a game. Fred would throw the Frog mutant into the air and Todd would slime shot rapid fire style at the ground. They were into it. which was a plus. Todd could get six out before landing.

Great practice. And they just figured it would be fun. None the wiser of the training technique.

He looked everywhere for Pietro but the other mutant was no where in sight.

So he and the others spent the afternoon on the couch. He was channel surfing when the door opened, and closed. He expected a burst of wind and a snarky comment. But the other just went to the kitchen.

Sensing trouble he followed the white haired teen immediatly suspicious of the guilty look on his face. Pietro only made this face when he knew he had done wrong and was in major trouble.

" What is it?" he asked seriously and the young teen huffed.

"I got into it with Duncun and his goons. Lance showed up to break it up and sent me on home. Told me he'd deal with it." He said softly.

Scotts heart did back flips in his chest for a moment. Duncun Mathews had once been just another school bully. Now he was just another mutant hater. And a very dangerous one.

"Where?" He growled out slightly but it didn't matter the front door opened and slammed shut seconds later Lance limped slightly through the kitchen door way looking angry and beat to crap. His cheek was darkly bruised along with most of the visible skin on his body. Scott didn't want to think about the parts he couldn't see. He turned to Pietro seething.

"What the hell were you thinking Tro'. Oh that's right you don't think. You run your damn mouth and then I end up cleaning up your mess. This isn't high school anymore. And I won't always be there to save your ass. So I'm telling you this for the last time. To stay the hell away from Matthews and his goons! Understand." He said angrily, or more angry worried. Scott was certain there was more worried.

Pietro nodded and hugged the other just slightly before disappearing in the wind. Scott hearing many of the houses doors shutting at once and figured the others had withdrawn to there rooms.

"You ok?" Scott asked quietly reaching out a hand to touch the others rapidly bruising cheek. But the other jerked away looking angry.

"Do I look ok to you. And please don't act like you care." he said bitterly and Scott could hear the pending tears in his voice that he was no doubt trying and failing to quell.

"Lance. ." he started but was quickly cut off.

"No really. Please go ahead and tell me how everything is going to be ok. Go ahead, when you dont even believe that shit yourself. You are only here to get back at Jean. You are using me to get to her, were not actually dating. So please don't stand there and act like you give a fuck when your just as bad a everyone else." He yelled, tears rushing down his face.

He went to storm past, but Scott anticipating grabbed the other as careful as possible and pulled him to his chest.

He struggled only for a moment before giving in accepting the small comfort and Scott couldn't help thinking that Lance was even pretty when he cried. He didn't voice it though, the other would no doubt take it as an insult at this given moment.

"You really feel that way? Like I don't care about you at all?" Scott pulled back and asked carefully. The other only sighed and pushed out of his arms.

"It dosen't matter," was the soft reply. "I need a shower, and sleep." he continued and this time Scott let him walk past into the living room his heart skipping once again as a growling voiced echoed through the quiet house.

"Lovers Quarel?"

He moved on instinct standing behind Lance who had paused in the door way staring at the older mutant, Sabertooth who was sitting comfortably on the worn sofa.

"Great. What now." Was Lances grumpy reply.

"Awwe poor puppy. What's the matter? Don't like to play with the big dogs anymore?" He goaded cynically.

"No," Lance replied, "I just wasn't expecting company, and I'm not too proud to admit im not in any shape to do whatever your going to ask me, so don't."

"Now you know already that's not how this works pup. You do as your told. Plain and simple just like the rest of us and if not. Well you know things could get a whole lot worse."

The threat was there, from the cat mutants demenor to the way he approached. Scott stepped in front of the other instantly face to face with the older mutant. His red glasses glimmered slightly, a silent threat on its own. And the other growled staring him down evenly.

"Don't fuck with me Sabertooth. I'm not scared of you, so go ahead. Hit me with your best shot." he was out of his mind oh yes he was. But the Very large cat man just threw his head back and barked out a laugh.

"You always were a ballsy little shit. Simple enough solution. You can do it. Be at the point tonight at 10. Don't be late baby Summers I'd hate to have to come find you." He growled and then turned to leave. Scott didn't let out a breath until the other was gone.

"Are you out of your mind? Why the hell did you do that Scott." Lance raged at him fresh tears of frustration streaming down his face.

"Because reguardless of what you think I do care about you. And I would never let anyone hurt you." Scott answered softly, and he went willingly when the other pulled him into a kiss. It wasn't at all like any of the kisses he'd recieved from the other.

There was passion and pain. Reassurance and vulnerability. And a vague softness that was so unlike the boy.

Scott wished he felt nothing.

That he didn't care.

It would be so much easier to walk away and pretend this thing with Lance never happened. But some part of him didn't want to.

They pulled apart after a few moments, just heavy breaths filling the room.

"come on then. I need to check your injuries and you need to explain to me what I just got myself into."

Lance only nodded in response and followed the other up the stairs to their now shared room.

Lots of moaning a groaning later from the both of them and Lance was fixed up and giving him a serious look.

"Ok so what kind of deal are you strung in with Magneto?" Scott ask irritably, so much for the metal bending mutant turning over a new leaf

"Alright. Where to start." Lance bit his lip and took a breath, " After we took down apocolypse Gambit showed up here offering me a position if you could call it that. They weren't ready to give up on the Brotherhood just yet and basically wanted me to take over as captain. Guess they figure Tro' had been in charge. I figured not much would change. Things would continue like I was use to ya' know but boy was a wrong. They must have been watching my poor progress with the others because Sabertooth showed up just before I got hooked up with you. He told me that Magneto didn't tolerate failures of any kind. That I had potential. Blah blah blah. Long story short I had to do a job with him as payment, with a large cash bonus of course to sweeten the deal. Thats how Ive been paying bills, and fixing the house, all the jobs are just a front so no one goes to asking questions."

Lance looked slightly guilty. But Scott being the goody goody he was understood. The other had been tired of struggling. Of feeling like nothing. This way he could work hard and get something out of it to. Without feeling put out or used. Even if it was illegal. It was better than working hard and getting absolutly no where.

"So do you have any idea what they're gonna have me do?"

"Armored car probably. I saw a some plans they put together last time I was there. I wouldn't take your car though. Too recognizable." Lance shrugged.

"Well I can't take your jeep, I'll never make it there." Scott joked back, the other rolled his eyes a smile finally making an appearence on his lips. Scott wanted to kiss those lips. So he did. Again and again the other allowing himself to be pressed down on the matress. Know he didn't have time for what he wanted Scott pulled away after a short time. And Lance groaned at the loss of contact.

"You Scott summers are a tease." Lance said softly eyes hazy and Scott smiled kissing him softly and eyeing the clock on the night stand. 9:00 if he was gonna "borrow" a car he was gonna have to go.

"I have to go."

"I know."

Scott kissed him once more and hopped up to change, a plain black tank top and faded black jeans would do. And for a ride he had an idea. But it could possibly be more dangerous than this job itself. He turned to say goodbye, but the other brunette had passed out cold. The stress of the day and his injurys getting to him it seemed. So Scott slipped out into the night.