Four

The X-Men kept their guards up as they tailed just behind the Acolytes to what would be the base of operations while both teams were in New York.  It had taken some arguing but eventually everyone had agreed that it would be best to stay with Shade and the others instead of splitting up.  Just in case the killer was after any mutant they could find.  There was always safety in numbers. Shade led them to the edge of Queens and to a very old looking warehouse, the tattooed boy didn't wait for anyone to catch up; he punched in his security code and walked inside.  

Rogue had almost expected to find Cypher's team-mates living in a squat but the interior of the warehouse had been thoroughly converted into a modern living space-a large kitchen, living room with more toys than the Mansion had.  Rouge would have bet anything that she knew how the resourceful group had funded such lavish living quarters-like Asli they had sold their skills to the highest bidder.

A quick look proved that everyone else with the possible exception of Asli was also impressed with the surroundings.  Even Remy was running an appreciative eye over the smooth grey and chrome surfaces. The distinct whirring of the cargo elevator echoed in the silence-Rogue carefully noted the concerned look that passed from Bender to Curtis and one to Nadim and Jodhi.  The elevator landed with a click and the doors flew upwards allowing the occupant to rush forward; the short girl inclined her dark head in Asli's direction but focused her attention on Rogue and her fellow newcomers-hostility radiated from every inch of her body, "Who the hell are they?"

"We're here to…" Scott began only to have Asli cut him off.

"Good to see you again too Feral." Rogue saw that the hacker's smile was strained, "I'm sorry about Brick."

The girl snorted, "I didn't know you cared Cypher.  I wasn't talking to you though.  Who are they Shade?"

A sigh escaped the tall punk's lips belying the hardness creeping into his eyes, "They are the ones who are gonna help us find the asshole who killed Brick."

"And they are?" Feral was determined-she reminded Rouge and the X-Men uncomfortably of Wolverine.

Asli rolled her eyes used to these types of displays; she pointed to the X-men in turn, "The guy with the glasses is Scott 'Cyclops' Summers, the little guy is Kurt 'Nightcrawler' Wagner, the valley girl is Kitty 'Shadowcat' Pryde and the very large one is Pitor 'Colossus' Rasputin." Feral nodded and Asli gestured to the Acolytes, "The girl with white bangs is Rogue, the smelly guy in the trench is Remy 'Gambit' Labeau, the one playing with his lighter is St. John 'Pyro' Allderyce and the guy behind me glowering is Lance 'Avalanche' Alvers.  Happy?  Or would name, rank and serial number be more to your liking?"

Everyone in the room held their breath, then slowly the corners of Feral's mouth lifted revealing her neat, white fangs, "You know I had almost forgotten what a bitch you are Cypher."

"Nice to know I was missed."

The smile widened the fangs became more menacing, "You weren't."

Only Scott had the audacity to interrupt the moment by clearing his throat the look on his face said that he expected to know exactly who he was dealing with.  Asli turned on him her eyes narrowed, "You know this is gonna tale longer if we play twenty questions."

The X-Man crossed his arms over his chest and glared right back, "I just want to know who I'm dealing with."

Asli finger jabbed forward, "Shade, Surge, Cobra, Bender and Feral.  If they want you to know their real name they'll tell you." She turned her back on Scott before he could speak again, "Why don't we all settle in-it's been a long night."

Shade nodded, "We can begin hunting first thing in the morning."

"That's not good enough!" Feral grabbed onto Shade's heavily tattooed arm, "If we wait…"

It was the first time Rogue had seen anger in Shade's blue eyes-usually he seemed unaffected by the things going on around him, "If we wait we won't have to face this thing in the dark."

"Since when are you afraid?" Feral snarled living up to her name, "Why is it that once she," A finger flew towards Asli, "Comes back and you start bowing and scraping to her majesty? Brick's killer is out there and I want justice! I want blood! If we wait too long…"

Shade drew his free hand back and slapped Feral across the face-the crack of skin hitting skin silenced everyone.  When he spoke Shade's voice was calm and cold, "Your jealousy has no place here Feral.  I am still in charge. I'll forget this right now because you and Brick were involved-but don't ever question an order again.  We will wait until daylight because the killer expects us to hunt him now.  If we go running off with no preparation it will slit our throats and rip out our implants just like Brick.  I refuse to loose anyone else to stupidity. Is that clear?"

Instead of answering Feral turned on her heels and stalked to the elevator without a backwards glance-gentle whirring announced to the stunned audience that she was returning upstairs.  "You didn't have to hit her." Rogue cringed as Scott's reproachful voice broke the silence.

"When I want your opinion on controlling my team Summers," Shade's voice was still that dangerous calm, "I will ask for it."

Rogue gently rested her arm on her friend's shoulder to stop him from replying-it would not fare well for the X-Men to antagonize any of Asli's allies.  "Rogue, Cypher…Kitty?" Surge's voice was quiet and measured, "Why don't I show you to your room?  I'm afraid everyone will have to double up…we never expected this much company."

"Yeah-no one even drops by to borrow a cup of sugar," Cobra broke in grinning evilly, "I'll let Gambit and Pyro bunk with me…"

Rogue shook her head to clear the cobwebs-it never failed to amaze her how the snake-like boy could ignore the tension around him so patently.  The Goth could hear the smirk on the Cajun's face even though she wasn't looking at him, "Homme, Remy don't think you have any more money to lose."

"Nightcrawler and Cyclops may stay with me," Bender offered.

Even before the words left Shade's mouth Rogue could feel tension begin to knot at the base of her spine-to their credit Asli and Kitty remained blank faced but Rogue could see a faint tightening around Asli's mouth that gave her away if you knew what to look for, "Fine, Avalanche, Colossus are with me."

Rogue idly wondered what would kill them first-the mysterious murderer or hormones?

***************************

Carefully, Pitor unfolded the cot Shade had given him to sleep on making it a point not to look his 'roommate' in the eye.  It wasn't that the younger mutant had done anything-other than break Kitty's heart-Pitor simply felt uncomfortable being in Lance Alvers' glowering presence.  The lazy sound of a flicking a lighter drew the Russian's eyes to the door frame where St. John was grinning idiotically, "I missed you mate."

"I trust you are well," Pitor blushed-it was the first time he had talked to the fire-controller since he had left Magneto and the Acolytes.

The strawberry blonde head bobbed enthusiastically, "Can't complain-especially not since Chrome-Dome replaced you with a pair of lovely Sheilas."

"Remy wouldn't let de girls hear him say that," Over St. John's shoulder Pitor offered a small smile to Remy, "You can't afford their blackmail anymore."

Frantic, St. John scanned the hallway much to the amusement of his friends.  Pitor felt a stab of longing-he missed the easy, teasing of his old team-none of the X-Men were comfortable enough with him to let loose.  "They didn't hear me did they?" Pitor bit the inside of his cheek to stop laughing at the Aussie's obvious fear.

"Non, dey're still unpackin' and braiding each other's hair," Remy sauntered in to the room and sat on Shade's bed nonchalantly.

Pitor lifted an eyebrow, "Somehow I doubt that Rogue or Cypher would do that."

"Homme," Remy shook his head; laugh lines crinkling around his red on black eyes, "You have to let Remy dream."

"Kitty could brow beat them into it," Lance added matter of factly as he stripped off his vest and did his boots, "She always wanted to give Rogue a make-over."

For a second everything else fell away as the four men imagined the havoc the valley girl would wreak on Rogue if given half a chance-it made all of them laugh out loud.  St. John's face reddened, "It would be worth it to see Rogue without the spackle…"

The pyromaniac cringed as an angry Cajun rounded on him, "You got no taste homme…Rogue is a belle femme as is.  Only a blind man would want to change her."

"You sound like a man in love," The Cajun paled and Pitor grinned-it wasn't often one got the drop on Remy Labeau.

"Takes one to know one, huh." Pitor blushed and tried to ignore the bitterness in Lance's voice.

The three older men shared an uncomfortable moment while the teen continued to ready himself for bed-turning his back to head for Shade's on suite bathroom.  Pitor decided to continue to ignore it-well over a year later Lance should have been over Kitty.  The Russian tuned back in to the conversation when he heard St. John whistle, "Mate…some one clawed your back."

"I know," the earth shaker smiled darkly turning to look Pitor in the eye-something dangerous and taunting moved behind the boy's baby browns.

"You gonna give details?" Remy brushed some of his unruly auburn hair away from his face.

Keeping eye contact a smile finally lit Lance's face-it made Pitor uneasy.  "No way-Asli would kill me if I kissed and told."

Shocked silence descended on the room; both St. John and Remy busily tried to pick their jaws off the floor.  Red flashed before Pitor's eyes and he clenched his fists at his sides to keep it down, "What did you say?"

"You heard me."

There was no chance for Lance to move before Pitor was on him, one hand around the younger man's throat; "Niet. I did not."

"He said that Cypher clawed his back," St. John interjected unhelpfully, "I didn't think she was such a…"

The rest sentence was blocked when Remy covered the Aussie's mouth with his hand.  Even the normally oblivious flame thrower got the hint to stay quiet.  Pitor narrowed his eyes and returned his attention to the boy he was trying not to strangle, "Did you touch her?"

"Yes." Defiance darkened Lance's face more than any lack of air, "What do you care? You dumped her for Kitty…Not that the two of you were ever together.  It's none of your business who she sleeps with."

The tendons in Pitor's arm flexed and he seriously considered killing the boy-the way he talked about something Pitor thought of as scared appalled the Russian.  A small part of him was aware that the urge was born of jealousy; his new relationship with Kitty aside, Pitor still held feelings for Asli.  Why the hacker would allow some one who so obviously didn't appreciate her get so close puzzled Pitor.  Asli had always gone out of her way not to allow anyone close-and sex definitely counted as close in his mind. It just didn't make sense.  Worse still, Pitor felt guilty for caring who Asli chose to share her body with.  It wasn't his place. 

A hand on his arm brought Pitor back to reality, "You gonna kill him or let him go mon ami?"  Concern lit Remy's chiselled features.

With a snort of disgust Pitor dropped his hand and turned away from the younger mutant he could not stay in the room and keep his calm, "It is not worth it."

Struggling with his conflicting thoughts Pitor headed towards the elevator-maybe he'd go back once he was sure Alvers was asleep.  Otherwise the odds of him beating the arrogant smirk from the young man's face were high.

***************************

Wrapped in darkness the Shadow smiled to itself.  He had watched the building they lived in eagerly as they gathered to mourn the one he had killed-his prey hadn't disappointed him.  It only took two hours for his next target to walk into his trap.  This time he had to take more care-this one had heightened senses that could detect him if he got too close-he had no plan to take the one called Feral by surprise.  Her anger and grief for her murdered lover where his weapons. 

Staying back he followed her until she led him exactly where he had wanted her-his alley.  His heart sped up-they were making it far too easy for him.  This was supposed to be a challenge, but it was like shooting fish in a barrel.

"I know you're there." Her voice pulled him from the pleasant memory of pulling all of the unnatural metal from the first woman's body-how her rock hard skin had parted under his expert knife.

With a smile on his face the Shadow moved out of the concealing darkness.  All the bravado drained from Feral's face in a rush, her fear sang in his veins.  The fierce, battle hardened mutant stood still trapped in the blackest of her childhood nightmares as the Shadow cheerfully slit her throat.

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Yep, I'm evil.  I know it.  How was it?

Yay! I'm the Gerbil on Krac! Whoohoo! More tension…more angst…more death.  And another hint of Romy for you Ish.

AnimeAddicted, I'm glad you like it…I was really looking forward to making this really dark and depressing.  I'm your lucky charms? Yay! Keep giving me reviews and I'll supply more adventures for you.