This is a continuation of the previous chapter.
The table was rather quiet as they ate their food, faces either hung low or they stared directly at their dubious guest. Mr. Sinister paid no mind and resumed as usual before he picked up a conversation starter.
"Must I say Scott, the fact that you've managed to gather almost all of your family here is very impressive." he says. All the Summers in one location. It was a dream come true for the geneticist, and he wasn't even backing on Nate coming back. Sensing this, Scott explained as little as he could.
"I didn't find Nate, he found us."
Mr. Sinister looked curiously at the young man to his left. Nate paused his eating with a slight sigh. "Yeah," he seconded, "I made a link with Nathan from the Astral Plane."
"He squeezed out of my eye." Nathan added and Nate nodded. "It was kinda gross and I'm glad no one had to see that."
"I would." Rachel said. She hasn't spoken much at all that night but she really wanted to make that point known. Given the presence or Nathaniel Essex or not, sibling rivalry still persisted.
Both Nates squint their eyes at their sister. "You would want to see that wouldn't you?" Nathan accused. "How would you like it if I forced something out of your eye?"
Rachel was about to give her reply when their mother interrupted with a swift mental swat to each of them. Nate, who didn't really do much, gave Jean a look of hurt and confusion. "Um, ow?"
Mr. Sinister filled the brief silence with a light chuckle. "You are all absolutely delightful and even better than I hoped you'd be." He then glanced at Scott who had been staring at him all night. "You know…" he muses, "If looks could kill…"
Scott's already present frown deepened.
"Oh wait." Sinister laughed to himself and braced against the table to prevent himself from laughing too hard. "In your case, they do."
Scott narrowed his eyes, split hairs away from taking Sinister up on the offer. He was sure that Xavier and the Five would bring him back anyway. Essex brought that side out of Scott, and even as he tried to bury his darkness beneath him, Scott couldn't shake it with this guy.
As if he knew what he was thinking, Mr. Sinister softly shook his head. "Now now, if you do that, Xavier would toss you and Alexy into where they keep Sabertooth."
Scott gripped his glass tightly in response, and Alex shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"What does he mean, dad?" Rachel queried, asking not only for herself but for her siblings. "Where is Sabertooth? Didn't you go retrieve him from the Fantastic Four?"
They all knew that Victor Creed was a criminal and broken the law several times, but he also broken Krakoan law. Though, there were no such prisons on the island anyone was aware of. In actuality, the mangy mutant was buried alive deep underground.
And if Scott were to try to kill Mr. Sinister, a member of the Quiet Council no less, he'd surely face the same fate. Alex in turn, who had been given a chance because of Scott (as Alex had also broken Krakoan law) would probably follow in suit.
Scott simply stayed silent and didn't answer that question. Rachel could've very well read his mind so he did his best to block the memory from her. Mr. Sinister gasped in an exaggerated fashion. "My, where are my manners? The table is no place to talk politics."
Inadvertently or on purpose, Sinister saved Scott from the conversation.
"Right…" Scott narrowed his eyes from behind his visor.
"Any who," Mr. Sinister deterred back to his original point. "What I meant to say it is very heartwarming to see you all in one place. Scott and Jean back together again— I knew that White Queen was no good for him, the all the kids, Alex, Gabriel. I've always liked you best."
He gets no reply as everyone shifts their gazes around and continue eating, save for Nate who looked at Mr. Sinister directly whenever he spoke. He brought him here and he was intent on keeping the peace.
Mr. Sinister broke the silence by continuing talking, as he did much more of these days; prattling endlessly about anything that came to mind. Perhaps it came with old age, or general solitude even. Sinister was used to being surrounded by clones of himself by now.
"Must I say Jean, this dinner is delectable." he said, flicking the steak knife between his fingers.
Without a smile, Jean simply nodded in acknowledgement. "Thank you."
With a slight frown, Sinister rolled his eyes. "Great great, good talk. I get the feeling that I'm not wanted here."
"No, really?" Alex asked sarcastically. He dilated his eyes in mock shock. "You are an absolute charm to have around, please do stay for dessert."
"Don't give him any ideas, Alex." Scott warns and Me. Sinister put his hands up in self defense. "Alright," said Mr. Sinister. "I'll go right after dinner, but I must ask…" he looked at Jean once more. "What are you having for dessert, can I get it to go?"
"How about a knuckle sandwich?" Alex got up from his seat and practically stood on the table to deliver a swift punch square in Mr. Sinister's jaw.
"Really Alex? You did not just say that right now." came Rachel's witty remark. She rolled her eyes, concealed by her red bangs.
"Everybody just shut up a moment!" Alex shouted, even though everyone was mostly silent. He charged up an attack from his hands to blast Mr. Sinister. He was very much done with this situation regardless of what Nate wants or what Jean allows. Mr. Sinister had him on a leash and he was tired of it. His mood swing was getting the best of him and he was swinging hard and fast. But ever the more powerful, Nate sent Havok careening into the floor, causing Alex to miss fire.
Luckily, Alex's shot didn't hit anybody else as Gabriel deterred the energy and sent it to hit a flower pot instead. Not like anyone would miss it.
Rubbing at his back, Alex stood up once more and squared his stance. "What the hell, Nate?"
"You are not to hurt him." Nate states, aiming a warning hand at his uncle. "Hurting him would be breaking the law. Hurting him would make me break you." Nate slowly began clenching his hand into a fist and Alex started crumpling onto himself. Nate was breaking his spine ever so slightly before he unclenched and released his hold on him. Alex's spine remained unscathed, leaving the hotheaded mutant to heave for air on the floor.
This time Jean stepped in before Scott did. "Nate you need to stop. Now." she said, forcing Nate to sit with her telekinesis. She pushed the seat far back against the glass behind him. Jean was no match for Nate's power but she could hold him there long enough. "You're in timeout."
Scott went over to Mr. Sinister and grabbed him by the throat, holding him up in the air. If the geneticist wanted to, he could break free but he allowed it. "You did something to him, didn't you?" Scott accused him for the second time that night.
"Maybe I did… maybe I didn't." Mr. Sinister smirked, despite being deprived of air ever so slightly. "Have you ever considered that Nathaniel is… different again? The world changed when you fell asleep." Those last words were the words of Charles Xavier and Mr. Sinister was using them to spit back into Scott's face.
Out of disgust, Scott let go of Sinister and let him drop to the floor.
"Well, it's been real." Mr. Sinister stood up and dusted himself off. "Thanks for dinner Jeannie, see you later Summers clan." With that, he smiled and headed through the Krakoan gate in the main room.
After a stretched out moment of deafening silence, Nathan cued his question. "If Mr. Sinister can come over, can I invite Stryfe?"
And with several glares, he got a unanimous "no."