Chapter 41

Lingering hate

Kratos grabs his stunned foe by the neck and squeezed hard choking him, "You're so pathetic, you've only won fights against weaklings"

"That's not true I—I" Dean struggled to speak.

Kratos bashed his face until Dean's vision became red with his own blood, "Shut up! You're nothing but a clown who wants to be a true warrior!"

"I am a wa—"Dean was interrupted by a fist to his gut that shattered his spine, "AAAAHHH!"

Kratos drew one of his blades like he was about to skewer him.

Dean looked right at the adamantine blade and fear spread throughout his whole body, "No, no, please no!" he begged.

"No one will even remember you" Right as Kratos plunged his blade into Dean's gut he awakened from his dream, "NO!" He immediately grabbed his stomach as if he was in pain.

Dean looked again and he was fine, he looked all over his body and there wasn't a scratch on him.

Logan ran in his room to check up on him, being the only one who heard the noise. He found Dean laying in his bed, sweating looking pale and petrified.

"Kid you ok?" Logan asked.

"I…" Dean looked at his shaking hands, why were they shaking? "I'm ok, just a bad dream"

Logan nodded, "If you say so"

Once Logan left Dean noticed the sweat on his body, 'Why am I sweating?' then he noticed how pale his skin was, 'What's wrong with me?'

Later at Bayville High

Rogue walked into the cafeteria. After she filled a tray full of food she looked around to see where her friends were.

Rogue spotted her housemates all at one table short one son of Zeus. All the way in the corner of the room Dean was sitting by himself.

Rogue went over to her housemates, "Hey, why is Dean sitting alone?"

"Bolt boy isn't feeling very cheerful" Evan said.

"Yeah he's still pissed about the other day" Kitty said.

Rogue looked at Jean, "You didn't try to talk to him?"

"No I did, he just politely told me to leave so I'm not talking to him" Jean said not sounding happy with her boyfriend.

Rogue looked at Dean. He did still look pissed, but being alone was not going to help him. She walked over and sat next to him.

"Warning you now, I'm not really in a friendly mood" Dean said with a mean expression.

"That's good cause neither am I" Rogue said with a similar expression.

They stared each other down, trying to make the other break.

"You kiss your girlfriend with that ugly mug?" Rogue asked.

Dean finally broke by smirking, "Bet you wish you could"

Rogue chuckled, "No, you wish you could sugah" she said sassily.

Dean was about to say something when he realized he didn't feel mad anymore, "How did you do that?"

"Do what?" Rogue asked.

"Make me feel better. Whenever I've been mad in the past there was nothing anyone could do that could cheer me up, hell not even my dad could. And you just walk over, make a joke, and do it like it's a piece of cake" Dean said.

Rogue shrugged, "Maybe it's because you like me" she said playfully.

"Get over yourself" Dean joked as he got up.

"Hey where you going?" Rogue followed him.

"Outside for some fresh air" Dean said as he walked out of the cafeteria.

Jean saw him walk out with Rogue looking cheerful, 'How did she do that?'

The two of them went outside.

"Thanks by the way, probably would've been in a nasty mood all day" Dean said.

"I think you're forgetting that we all got our asses kicked" Rogue reminded him.

"I know, it was a loss for all of us. But the fact that he's my brother makes it that much worse for me. I'm gonna have to start working harder" Dean said.

"We all do, I'm sure Logan is gonna help us come up with a plan to handle him" Rogue said.

"Is that what they teach you in your school?" they heard.

They both turned around and saw Kratos standing there with a cocky grin.

"They teach you how to gang up on your opponents like cowards instead of fighting them one on one?" Kratos asked.

Dean glared at his brother, "What are you doing here?"

"I was training all morning, so I figured I'd take a small break" Kratos said.

'ALL MORNING?' Dean thought. He doesn't even go to school so he probably trains all day.

"Well good for you now get lost" Rogue barked at him.

Kratos looked at her, unimpressed, "I'll go where I please wench" he went to give her a shove.

Dean caught his wrist, "Keep your hands to yourself" he warned him.

Kratos shook off his grip looking amused, "And what if I don't?"

"Try" Dean got in his face, "And find out"

Kratos grinned as he looked his brother in the eyes.

Dean locked eyes with him daring him to make a move.

Rogue went in front of Dean to block his path, "Don't do it Dean it's not worth it"

"I don't care if it is I'm not gonna let him stand there with that smile on his face" Dean was about to move past her.

Kratos drew his blades.

"What do you think is gonna happen differently this time?!" Rogue shouted.

Dean stopped and looked at her.

"You don't even have any weapons with you, do you really think you can take him on right now?!" Rogue tried her best to reach him.

Dean wasn't sure how to handle this. He didn't want to fight his brother...but on the other hand he didn't want to look like a coward.

Kratos pointed his weapon at Dean, "How bout it?"

Dean turned around and walked away with Rogue, "No"

Kratos laughed, "I guess there's nothing between your legs to call you a man"

Dean froze in place.

"Uh-oh" Rogue said fearing the worst.

Dean clenched his fists and lightning sparked around them, "Rogue, go inside" he said in a serious tone.

"I'm not gonna—"

"Now!" Dean shouted.

Rogue hurried back inside to tell the others.

Dean turned his head and looked at Kratos with hate. He wants Dean to attack, that's why he's going through all this trouble to get him riled up. But Dean won't allow himself to make the same mistake twice.

"I'll be seeing you real soon" instead of walking back into the school Dean went to the parking lot and drove off on his bike.

Kratos spat on the floor, "Coward" he left without saying another word.

At the Institute

Dean stomped in the empty mansion, still mad from his encounter with his brother.

Charles, who had seen him drive in, made his way downstairs to investigate, "Why aren't you at school Dean?"

"I need to train" Dean walked past him.

Charles rolled in front of him, "Excuse me?"

"You can't expect me to sit in a classroom while my brother is free to train all day" Dean said.

"I expect you to train when you're done with your studies" Charles said sternly.

"I don't feel comfortable knowing he's that much stronger than me" Dean pleaded his case.

Charles shook his head, "Dean your pride does not excuse you—"

"It's not just my pride!" Dean shouted and lightning began to crackle around my body.

"Calm down" Charles said trying to prevent him from doing anything irrational.

"I'm sorry" Dean said sincerely as his lightning faded, "Yes I don't like the fact that Kratos is a better fighter than me, more than that I hate him for it. But today when me and Rogue encountered him he threatened to hurt her. I know he said that just to get to me but what if he did? What could I do to save her or anyone else that Kratos wanted to hurt?"

Charles listened to his words and remained silent.

"Logan could probably beat him, but what happens if he's not there? Or you? Can I guarantee anyone's safety? No. That is why I can't stay calm, that is why I need to blow off some steam, and that is why I can't be at school right now or else someone might see this" Dean's eyes sparked with lightning.

Charles sighed, "Go" he pointed to the elevator behind him.

"Thank you" Dean quickly walked past him.

At the Boarding house

Kratos returned to the house.

As he walked back in he saw Magneto waiting for him.

"You've arrived" Kratos said.

"I haven't forgotten about you my pupil, let us continue your training" Magneto said.

They went to the back yard where they would have more room.

Kratos put down his adamantine blades, against Magneto they would be useless.

Magneto willed two cars to float into the backyard to use as weapons, "Are you ready?"

Kratos responded by leaping towards the master of Magnetism.

Magneto willed the hood to come off one of the cars and threw it at Kratos, "What have you been up to in my absence?"

"I've tested my skills against your group of mutants" Kratos punched through the hood and ripped it in half, "They're worthless"

Magneto willed the two halves to spin rapidly like a buzz saw and threw them at Kratos, "Which is why I won't waste my time on them"

Kratos ducked under one and jumped over the other, "I'm surprised you'd say that about your own son"

As Kratos charged Magneto willed the two halves to follow him, "He above all shouldn't need my help, he needs to learn on his own as I did"

Kratos stopped abruptly and jumped over the halves letting them fly under him and towards Magneto, "You're testing him?"

Magneto made the two halves completely stop when they were inches from his body, "If he expects to inherit what I plan to build he needs to prove himself"

"As I plan to do for my father" Kratos ran at Magneto.

Magneto willed one of the cars to fly at him, "If only Pietro had the same fire you have within you" he sounded disappointed in his son.

Kratos caught the car and threw it back, "I've also tested my skills against those X-men you spoke of"

Magneto stopped the car, "How did this come about?" he willed both cars to fly towards him from different sides to squash him.

Kratos jumped over the cars as they collided and landed on top of them, "The telepath and his bodyguard left the premises, so I took advantage of the opportunity!" he jumped at him.

Magneto put up a magnetic barrier around him to block Kratos' punch, "And?" he willed one of the two halves of the car hood to knock into him.

Kratos skidded a couple of feet then stopped, "They were slightly more challenging, but still no match for me" he grabbed one of the cars, lifted it up, and went to smash it over magneto's head.

Magneto flew backwards avoiding the car, "What of the boy that was giving Mystique so much trouble?"

"I beat him, and discovered that he is my half-brother" Kratos swung around the car then threw it at Magneto.

Magneto once again willed the car to stop and moved it out of the way, "He is also a son of Zeus?"

Kratos had shared his lineage with his new leader and properly informed him of the world of half-bloods. The information was shocking at first but in time Magneto came to realize it was the truth.

Kratos had shown him a cyclops. Not Scott, more like the one-eyed goliaths. It turns out Magneto's helmet prevents the mist from cloaking his eyes, so it was easier for him to believe.

Kratos nodded, "Yes, but he is no threat to me"

Magneto smiled deviously, 'Now that I control the most valuable piece, what will you do Charles?'

At the Institute

Dean was moving around the Danger Room in 5x Earth's gravity. Nobody was watching him, something he'd grown accustomed to.

He'd been running around for a while. He'd reached the point where he could successfully run around for a certain amount of time. Every time he used it to his absolute limit he improved, slightly.

As he ran around he listened to music. Pain, by Three Days Grace.

{You're sick of feeling numb
You're not the only one
I'll take you by the hand
And I'll show you a world that you can understand}

Every step he took its toll. But even though it was painful he pushed on.

{This life is filled with hurt
When happiness doesn't work
Trust me and take my hand
When the lights go out you will understand}

Dean breathed heavily, 'C'mon, don't stop'

{Anger and agony
Are better than misery
Trust me, I've got a plan
When the lights go off, you'll understand}

Dean lost his balance for a moment and fell forward. He tried to get on his feet but he could feel his body slowly becoming heavier, 'It's…too much'

{I know, I know that you're wounded
You know, you know that I'm here to save you
You know, you know I'm always here for you
I know, I know that you'll thank me later}
'No, I can do this!' Dean willed his body to stand up with all his might. Inch by inch he rose, slowly reaching his goal.

{Pain, without love
Pain, I can't get enough
Pain, I like it rough
'Cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all
Rather feel pain than nothing at all
Rather feel pain!}

Only to fail as his thigh and calve muscles teared from the amount of resistance. He dropped face first as he was unable to stand, "End simulation"

The gravity returned to normal and he felt his body weight return to normal.

"That's much better" Dean crawled over to his bronze sword and used it as a cane to help himself up and out of the danger room.

It was a miracle Dean even got himself in his room, yet alone dressed into sleeping clothes. I know what you're thinking, it's still early. Well if your body felt like a Titan squeezed the life out of you I bet you would wanna sleep all day.

Dean was lying on his bed exhausted from his workout, 'Finally some rest, I don't think I've ever felt this sore before'

Dean was about to doze off when out of nowhere he heard a knock on his door.

"Yeah" Dean said.

"It's me" he heard Rogue's voice.

Dean sighed, "Come in"

Rogue walked in and noticed that Dean was ready to pass out, "What happened to you?"

"I needed to blow off some steam so I came home to train in the gravity simulation" Dean planted his face inside his pillow.

"You must be tired then" Rogue assumed.

"You can say that" Dean said inside his pillow.

Rogue took a seat on Dean's bed and poked him in the ribcage.

Dean flinched, "Don't do that it stings"

Rogue's face grew a deviant smile and did it again.

"Stop, now" Dean said menacingly.

"Oh this is payback for tickling me!" Rogue sat on top of him and started poking him repeatedly at his sides.

"No! No, no, no stop!" Dean squirmed as he wiggled his body like a fish out of water.

"Tell me who the queen is" Rogue said not letting him go that easily.

"I'll never give in" Dean said defiantly.

"That's too bad" Rogue poked him even faster.

"This isn't fair my body hurts" Dean said trying to shake her off.

"Oh so big strong Warrior can't handle a little girl?" Rogue teased him.

If it's one thing a girl shouldn't do is hurt a boy's pride, "Ok, Rogue, you brought this upon yourself" Dean managed to turn around to face her and grabbed her hands.

Rogue struggled to free herself.

"What was that Ms. Damsel in distress?" Dean said with a smirk.

He was pushing her buttons, "I ain't no damsel sugah" They rolled off the bed and onto the floor where Rogue pinned him down in an arm bar, "Maybe you are" she said seductively.

Dean wrestled with her until he was on top of her with her arms pinned to the floor.

Dean stared intently into Rogue's deep emerald eyes and she into his electric blue eyes.

'I wish I could kiss you right now' Dean thought hating how he couldn't.

Rogue felt tempted to touch this boy. She didn't know why but she had the urge to kiss him, to forget her power and to taste his lips on hers for but a moment even if it meant hurting him.

Dean got off her and gave her a hand, "I guess I win"

Rogue took his hand and he pulled her up, "Looks like it" she said trying to avoid further eye contact to prevent her from doing something stupid.

"Well I'm gonna pass out for now" Dean said awkwardly.

"Ok I'll see you later" Rogue left.

"Finally some peace and quiet" it wasn't very long before Dean fell asleep.

At the Hideout

Later on Dean decided to visit his half-blood friends, it had been a while since he saw them.

Dean walked into the warehouse and knocked on the newly fixed metal door.

The gap in the door slides open revealing someone's eyes, "What's the password?"

"Don't make me brake the door again kid" Dean said.

"Oh it's you" he opens the door, "Come right in" he said with a little fear in his voice.

"Thanks" Dean proceeded downstairs and into the main hall.

"Hey! Look whose back" Billy shouted sitting on a lazy chair where Gorgeous George's throne used to be.

"Nice to see you too Billy" Dean said.

Billy zipped over to him, "Hey can you do me a favor?" he whispered.

"What is it?" Dean asks skeptically.

"A lot of the guys think that I lost the fight between us, so can you just clear it up for me that I won?" Billy asked.

Dean gave him a blank stare.

"What?" Billy asked.

Dean pinched the bridge of his nose, "Nothing"

Tim walked in, "Is he being stupid again?"

"Yup" Dean agreed.

"Hey!" Billy was offended.

"And didn't I say that you weren't going to have a chair in here?" Tim asked.

"But it matches my title as the King of Thieves" Billy complained.

"You're the king of Dorks now get off" Tim kicked him off and dragged the lazy chair out of the room, "So to what do we owe this visit?"

"I figured it's been a while so I stopped by" Dean said.

Tim read his body language and saw something was off, "Everything cool in the outside world?"

Dean shook his head, "Not exactly"

Billy zipped over to Dean and put his arm over his shoulder, "Does my buddy need to talk about something?"

"Cause if you do we have a special place for that" Tim said with a smile.

Dean couldn't figure out why he was smiling, "Sure?"

5 minutes later

They sat around the table.

Dean coughed a couple of times, "Whoa, I think it just hit me"

Billy snickered.

"I never thought I'd be doing something like this, but then again I never thought I'd be the son of a god either" Tim admitted.

"I thought you guys were gonna get rid of it all" Dean assumed.

"Fuck that shit!" Billy said as he snickered.

"He does that sometimes. Hey we should make this a thing, like every time we have stuff to talk about we come here in the circle" Tim said.

"That sounds cool" Dean admitted.

"Can I bring a girl down here cause I might get bored" Billy said as he opened a bag of potato chips.

"We're gonna need some rules, and no Billy. The stuff we talk about here is private, so no one we don't trust" Tim said.

"That's rule number one" Dean said.

"If it's private then we can talk about anything, right?" Billy asked as he put some chips in his mouth.

"Boom, rule number two" Tim said.

"Rule number three, you bring food you share" Dean said looking at Billy.

Billy looked at the two of them with a sad face, "But it's my only bag"

"It's the rules" Tim shrugged.

Billy frowned, "Fine"

Tim grinned as he took some potato chips, "So what was bothering you?"

Dean put some potato chips in his mouth, "I found out I have a brother"

"That's cool man" Tim said with a smile.

"He kicked my ass" Dean said with an irritated expression.

"That's not cool at all" Billy said.

"He beat me and my friends at the same time, how am I supposed to compete with that?" Dean asked.

"Steroids?" Billy queried.

"Look some people are just born more talented than others. Take you for example, you're more powerful than me but that doesn't mean I can't become better than you one day" Tim said optimistically.

"But he's so far ahead it's infuriating" Dean said completely ignoring his comment.

"Think about how good you are now compared to how you were six months ago, how much did you improve?" Tim asked.

"A lot actually" Dean admitted.

"Then you just need time and a lot of practice" Tim said.

"Which we will be here to help you with" Billy pointed out, "By the way did I tell you I beat Tim in a rematch?"

Tim rolled his eyes, "Here we go"

Dean looked at Tim amusingly, "No way"

Tim nodded, "He did"

"Well then props for you speedy" Dean high fived Billy.

Billy laughed and then became serious, "You're next" he warned him.

"Oh I'm shakin in my booties" Dean said playfully.

Author's note: Ah man siblings can be so mean sometimes, our protagonist is gonna have to work pretty hard to catch up