*Chapter Five: The Becoming*
It won't give up
It wants me dead
Goddamn this noise inside my head
~Nine Inch Nails
*****
"Lance!"
"Not again . . ."
"Oh favoritest-est-est cousin of mine! I need to borrow your jeep."
"Why?"
Denise entered the living room, crossing her arms and smirking. "I'm gonna go out, get wasted and have wild orgies. Now, since I've told you, can I borrow -"
"NO!"
Michael walked by with Neona, talking heatedly about something in the background, along with Wanda's outraged cries and Toad's frightened and pained shrieks. Pietro and Blob were in the kitchen playing poker.
Lance was standing over Denise, ready to argue all night to keep her from going out, again.
"God, why not?"
"Orgies?" He yelled, waving his arms in emphasis.
She sighed, that smirk still playing around her lips, though. "Yes, Lance. I take it you know what that means. I'm just going to go out and drive around for a bit."
"Yeah, mall-trolling and boy-hunting!" Tabitha exclaimed, dancing her way down the stairs, headphones blaring. She hooked an arm with Denise, who grinned and gave Lance a pointed look.
"Come on, Lance. You know if that jeep was mine, I'd let you borrow it."
"No you wouldn't," Lance laughed, but resignedly handed her the keys anyway, thinking it better for the house to be as less occupied as humanly - mutantly, he thought dryly - possible.
"Superman sucks," Neona called behind her back as she breezed into the room passing a now departing Tabitha and Denise, "He's a fag wearing goddamn spandex and a fucking cape!"
"Dude, his only weakness is kryptonite, though and that's *how* rare?" Mike asked, following her.
Lance dodged out of the room, desperately not wanting another confrontation with the taller male mutant like they'd had the first they he'd arrived.
Ghost stood at about six foot, weighing 175 lbs. Needless to say, he was a little intimidating and even though Lance would never admit it, he knew full well that his mutation was no match against Michael's.
Neona plopped down on the couch, crossing her arms and legs, glaring at Mike. "Precisely. He's too damn powerful; it's unrealistic. And Lois Whore or whatever her name is one hell of a moron since she's madly in love with the guy and she can't even see the comparison between him and Clark. And oh my mother-flippin' god I can't believe I'm even *having* this conversation!" She made a face, and put her face in her hands.
Mike smirked, sitting next to her and slouched down.
"You got a light?"
"What?"
Neona was now holding a cigarette and had a deadpan look splashed on her face. "Light. You know, flame? A match, lighter? Mine are upstairs."
"You're rather lazy, huh?"
"I try."
They stared off for a few minutes, before Neona growled and smacked him on the back of the head, getting up.
"Hey!"
"Lazy sonuvabitch!" She retorted, storming up the stairs.
Todd soon after hopped in, jumping onto the wall pouting, flicking his tongue out to get a few bugs occasionally.
"Girl troubles?"
"I just don't understand, yo. She's crazy for me, I mean, who could resist?" Todd said, sticking out his chest narcissistically before losing his balance and falling onto the couch. "But . . ."
"She acts like she can't stand you?" Mike finished, both eyebrows raised.
"Yeah," Toad finished lamely.
Silence.
"Women," they said simultaneously.
***
"What about him?"
"No way, he's going out with Red anyway."
"Red?"
"One of your new-found arch-nemeses!"
"Oh . . . hey!" Denise drawled, eyeing the newest brave male to come into the mall, being semi-dragged by a petite brown-haired girl with a high pony tail.
"Hmm? What?" Tabitha said, taking her attention from the bomb she'd just thrown into the nearest vendor.
"That guy, with the blue hair!"
"Blue!" Tabitha said, linking an arm with Denise and dragging her over to Kurt.
"Huh?" Kurt looked up, eyes widening and his smile coming out just a little more than forced, "Oh, Guten Tag, Tabitha," he replied in his lilting German accent.
"Hey, Blue, haven't seen you around in a while!" Tabitha exclaimed, putting her hands on her hips. "This is Denise, a new friend of mine."
"Ja, I figured as much. Hallo, Denise," he nodded.
"Hi . . . Blue," she offered meekly, though smiling as wide as can be the entire time.
"Kurt's a mutant, too. He's an X-Man, though."
"Tabitha!"
"Oh, it's okay, I'm a mutie too!" Denise said cheerfully. "I'm staying with the Brotherhood."
Kurt frowned, thinking why a girl with her personality would be at the boarding house, and not at the mansion. "Why?" his accent forced it out like 'vie'.
"Lance is my cousin."
Trying to contain his eyes in their pockets, he realized the resemblance. "Ja, I could tell! Well, maybe I'll see you around, Denise," he said, hearing Kitty calling for him, "You too, Tabitha."
With that, he jogged away.
"So . . . what's his power?"
"Teleportation and awesome blue fur."
Denise didn't skip a beat at the information. "Age?"
"Fifteen."
"Status?"
"Girlfriend."
"Damn."
"Yeah, tell me about it. C'mon, though, let's check out the music - there's always bound to be a totally hot guy there!"
***
"Fuck."
"You lost. Again," Wanda said, a smirk playing around her lips.
"Well, we all don't have cool powers like you do, Maximoff Witch."
Wanda glared, but continued to count her earnings.
"M.W. Hmph. M.B sounds better, I say."
"Well, that's what you say, and I say M.W."
"If you think you're going to get an argument out of me, think again."
"Poop."
"Don't call me feces!"
"Feces? Woah!" Tabitha laughed, Neona glared and Denise pouted. Wanda still continued to count, trying to block all of them out, only looking up when Neona sat next to her.
Silence for a few minutes, before:
"HA! I told you I'd get 50 before eleven!"
There was a pause, all looking at Wanda.
"Hon . . ." Denise started, before shaking her head, "Never mind."
"You're heart-breaking," Neona said matter-of-factly, looking right at Wanda.
***
Michael lay on his bed, staring up at the wall.
So . . . life with the brotherhood wasn't all that bad. A little nosy, rowdy, and obnoxious at times; but it was okay.
The only problems?
Lance and Pietro. Both were arrogant bastards, yet neither would admit, learn or be willing to change that.
The girls were okay, he could stand all the girls (thank god for small favors).
That, and his dog, Jack who was a three-year-old German Shepherd. Unfortunately, Jack had to be tied up outside, which was one of the reasons Mike had attacked Lance and Pietro, even though none in the house were allergic.
Neona's cat Bill had actually made good friends with Jack, it had seemed; though, Bill seemed to be an arrogant bastard himself, so . . .
But still, all was well.
This was his family now, and he might as well get used to it.
Psh.
***
Denise, on the other hand, was trying to contain her giggles while she fought for sleep.
Maybe it had been wrong to dump the oatmeal on Neona? Just . . . maybe a little?
No, it was all worth it. Every blow they had each received (minus Wanda, who just hexed her) was completely worth it.
Besides, if she hadn't, how would she have learned all those new colorful words she'd only heard when she was way too little to understand, much less remember for when she grew up.
But for now, she was just content in bursting into maddening giggles, until she thought maybe some milk might help get her to sleep.
***
"Hey."
"Hey."
There was a ruffle as she adjusted, not quite comfortable in the chair. Sighing heavily, she leaned forward on the heels of her palms.
"Trouble?"
"School's killing my wings."
"The school . . . is . . . killings your wings," Lance repeated, disbelief piercingly loud.
"I have to wear the trench. Very uncomfortable."
He gave a noncommittal hum in response.
"Aren't you lively?"
"I've got things on my mind!" he snapped.
Readjusting to sit crossed-leg, she quirked an eyebrow, exhaling a donut of smoke. "Like what, shake-down?"
He glowered at the nickname. "Things."
"You're such an ass."
"Since when the hell did you become so concerned, Neona?"
"Just making mental notes."
"Why?"
"To be able to piss you off later."
"Seems like you've already succeeded," he muttered, reaching over the edge of the couch (seeing as bat-girl had taken his chair) and picked up his guitar.
He began to play.
"You're gonna wake everybody up."
No response.
"It's finally quiet, Lance. Cut it out!"
His fingers stumbled none.
She got up, and kicked the guitar out of his hands. "I said to stop it!"
Lance growled with his brow wrinkling; the earth began to shake.
Smirking, she just propelled herself with her wings into the air.
The shaking stopped, after one of the pictures fell and created a huge 'boom', Lance sat back down and Neona swooped to sit next to him, crossing her arms.
"What were you thinking about?"
"Kitty."
"Bill?"
"No, a girl on the X-Men. Her name is Kitty."
"Kinky."
"Oh, Jesus Christ . . ."
"It's true, especially once you think about it," she aid, looking at him. "What's so great about her anyway?"
Lance fidgeted, he'd never told anyone why before except Todd that is, but Todd was reliable with secrets, and Lance had known him the longest, also.
"C'mon. What is it? She's got big boobs or something?"
Lance jerked, reflexively glancing at her own before looking away quickly. "She's a freshman."
She blinked
[silently gagged]
saying, "Isn't that illegal?"
"Yeah, like I'd know or care."
"True. But really, what's so great -."
"She's everything I'm not."
She laughed, shaking her head as he just tried to go angrier that his face was red. "Where's the fun in that? That basically says you're polar opposites! Do you have anything in common besides being a mutant?"
He glared, clenching his fist.
"Besides, she's a frosh. Therefore, uptight and nervous all the time."
"Hmph."
She smirked, an idea popping into her head.
Slinking closer to him, he glanced at her nervously. She suddenly pounced him, sitting on his lap, taking his hands and putting them on her hips.
"Would Kitty do that?" she purred, further mocking.
Lance, the poor boy, just stared in disbelief.
Leaning in closer, a tongue against one of her large incisors, she said, "I bet all hell she's never done, or ever will do, this."
With that, she captured his lips, almost painfully passionate.
There would definitely be bruising on his part, anyway.
A while later, after tongues had massaged and explored all area they could, she drew back, eyes closed and chest heaving, him the same.
Once she opened her eyes, she smirked at his _expression. She trailed a finger down his chest slowly, his eyes sprung open.
Her hand kept going lower . . . lower . . . then:
A flick on the nose, and a push on the shoulder.
"Pervert," she hissed, clambering off him and heading upstairs to bed.
"Hey, Neona."
"'Lo, Denise."
And that was how Denise found her cousin as she came down for milk, a completely drunkenly shocked look plastered onto his face.
*****
:::walks away muttering:::
-Holly
REVIEW REPLIES:
TigerStorm: I posted! ^-^ When are YOU going to update, hmmm?
EmeraldKnight1: Aww, I'm glad you like my writing so much! Yeah, I'm a sucker for detail like that *_* And I apologize profusely if I killed Michael's character. I tried, I did.
cheeky-bear007: Dude, nothing you say in a review is stupid. Ever. Thank you for submitting her!
Im4everaqt: DUUUDE! Update! Well, you are a sweetheart. Get over it. ^_~
Sycommansonboy: *blushes* you called me babe . . . *blushes deeper*
Dee Saylors: I'd love to review more if *somebody* would update! . I hope I didn't butcher Denise in this chapter . . . I really hate that mall scene. -_-
It won't give up
It wants me dead
Goddamn this noise inside my head
~Nine Inch Nails
*****
"Lance!"
"Not again . . ."
"Oh favoritest-est-est cousin of mine! I need to borrow your jeep."
"Why?"
Denise entered the living room, crossing her arms and smirking. "I'm gonna go out, get wasted and have wild orgies. Now, since I've told you, can I borrow -"
"NO!"
Michael walked by with Neona, talking heatedly about something in the background, along with Wanda's outraged cries and Toad's frightened and pained shrieks. Pietro and Blob were in the kitchen playing poker.
Lance was standing over Denise, ready to argue all night to keep her from going out, again.
"God, why not?"
"Orgies?" He yelled, waving his arms in emphasis.
She sighed, that smirk still playing around her lips, though. "Yes, Lance. I take it you know what that means. I'm just going to go out and drive around for a bit."
"Yeah, mall-trolling and boy-hunting!" Tabitha exclaimed, dancing her way down the stairs, headphones blaring. She hooked an arm with Denise, who grinned and gave Lance a pointed look.
"Come on, Lance. You know if that jeep was mine, I'd let you borrow it."
"No you wouldn't," Lance laughed, but resignedly handed her the keys anyway, thinking it better for the house to be as less occupied as humanly - mutantly, he thought dryly - possible.
"Superman sucks," Neona called behind her back as she breezed into the room passing a now departing Tabitha and Denise, "He's a fag wearing goddamn spandex and a fucking cape!"
"Dude, his only weakness is kryptonite, though and that's *how* rare?" Mike asked, following her.
Lance dodged out of the room, desperately not wanting another confrontation with the taller male mutant like they'd had the first they he'd arrived.
Ghost stood at about six foot, weighing 175 lbs. Needless to say, he was a little intimidating and even though Lance would never admit it, he knew full well that his mutation was no match against Michael's.
Neona plopped down on the couch, crossing her arms and legs, glaring at Mike. "Precisely. He's too damn powerful; it's unrealistic. And Lois Whore or whatever her name is one hell of a moron since she's madly in love with the guy and she can't even see the comparison between him and Clark. And oh my mother-flippin' god I can't believe I'm even *having* this conversation!" She made a face, and put her face in her hands.
Mike smirked, sitting next to her and slouched down.
"You got a light?"
"What?"
Neona was now holding a cigarette and had a deadpan look splashed on her face. "Light. You know, flame? A match, lighter? Mine are upstairs."
"You're rather lazy, huh?"
"I try."
They stared off for a few minutes, before Neona growled and smacked him on the back of the head, getting up.
"Hey!"
"Lazy sonuvabitch!" She retorted, storming up the stairs.
Todd soon after hopped in, jumping onto the wall pouting, flicking his tongue out to get a few bugs occasionally.
"Girl troubles?"
"I just don't understand, yo. She's crazy for me, I mean, who could resist?" Todd said, sticking out his chest narcissistically before losing his balance and falling onto the couch. "But . . ."
"She acts like she can't stand you?" Mike finished, both eyebrows raised.
"Yeah," Toad finished lamely.
Silence.
"Women," they said simultaneously.
***
"What about him?"
"No way, he's going out with Red anyway."
"Red?"
"One of your new-found arch-nemeses!"
"Oh . . . hey!" Denise drawled, eyeing the newest brave male to come into the mall, being semi-dragged by a petite brown-haired girl with a high pony tail.
"Hmm? What?" Tabitha said, taking her attention from the bomb she'd just thrown into the nearest vendor.
"That guy, with the blue hair!"
"Blue!" Tabitha said, linking an arm with Denise and dragging her over to Kurt.
"Huh?" Kurt looked up, eyes widening and his smile coming out just a little more than forced, "Oh, Guten Tag, Tabitha," he replied in his lilting German accent.
"Hey, Blue, haven't seen you around in a while!" Tabitha exclaimed, putting her hands on her hips. "This is Denise, a new friend of mine."
"Ja, I figured as much. Hallo, Denise," he nodded.
"Hi . . . Blue," she offered meekly, though smiling as wide as can be the entire time.
"Kurt's a mutant, too. He's an X-Man, though."
"Tabitha!"
"Oh, it's okay, I'm a mutie too!" Denise said cheerfully. "I'm staying with the Brotherhood."
Kurt frowned, thinking why a girl with her personality would be at the boarding house, and not at the mansion. "Why?" his accent forced it out like 'vie'.
"Lance is my cousin."
Trying to contain his eyes in their pockets, he realized the resemblance. "Ja, I could tell! Well, maybe I'll see you around, Denise," he said, hearing Kitty calling for him, "You too, Tabitha."
With that, he jogged away.
"So . . . what's his power?"
"Teleportation and awesome blue fur."
Denise didn't skip a beat at the information. "Age?"
"Fifteen."
"Status?"
"Girlfriend."
"Damn."
"Yeah, tell me about it. C'mon, though, let's check out the music - there's always bound to be a totally hot guy there!"
***
"Fuck."
"You lost. Again," Wanda said, a smirk playing around her lips.
"Well, we all don't have cool powers like you do, Maximoff Witch."
Wanda glared, but continued to count her earnings.
"M.W. Hmph. M.B sounds better, I say."
"Well, that's what you say, and I say M.W."
"If you think you're going to get an argument out of me, think again."
"Poop."
"Don't call me feces!"
"Feces? Woah!" Tabitha laughed, Neona glared and Denise pouted. Wanda still continued to count, trying to block all of them out, only looking up when Neona sat next to her.
Silence for a few minutes, before:
"HA! I told you I'd get 50 before eleven!"
There was a pause, all looking at Wanda.
"Hon . . ." Denise started, before shaking her head, "Never mind."
"You're heart-breaking," Neona said matter-of-factly, looking right at Wanda.
***
Michael lay on his bed, staring up at the wall.
So . . . life with the brotherhood wasn't all that bad. A little nosy, rowdy, and obnoxious at times; but it was okay.
The only problems?
Lance and Pietro. Both were arrogant bastards, yet neither would admit, learn or be willing to change that.
The girls were okay, he could stand all the girls (thank god for small favors).
That, and his dog, Jack who was a three-year-old German Shepherd. Unfortunately, Jack had to be tied up outside, which was one of the reasons Mike had attacked Lance and Pietro, even though none in the house were allergic.
Neona's cat Bill had actually made good friends with Jack, it had seemed; though, Bill seemed to be an arrogant bastard himself, so . . .
But still, all was well.
This was his family now, and he might as well get used to it.
Psh.
***
Denise, on the other hand, was trying to contain her giggles while she fought for sleep.
Maybe it had been wrong to dump the oatmeal on Neona? Just . . . maybe a little?
No, it was all worth it. Every blow they had each received (minus Wanda, who just hexed her) was completely worth it.
Besides, if she hadn't, how would she have learned all those new colorful words she'd only heard when she was way too little to understand, much less remember for when she grew up.
But for now, she was just content in bursting into maddening giggles, until she thought maybe some milk might help get her to sleep.
***
"Hey."
"Hey."
There was a ruffle as she adjusted, not quite comfortable in the chair. Sighing heavily, she leaned forward on the heels of her palms.
"Trouble?"
"School's killing my wings."
"The school . . . is . . . killings your wings," Lance repeated, disbelief piercingly loud.
"I have to wear the trench. Very uncomfortable."
He gave a noncommittal hum in response.
"Aren't you lively?"
"I've got things on my mind!" he snapped.
Readjusting to sit crossed-leg, she quirked an eyebrow, exhaling a donut of smoke. "Like what, shake-down?"
He glowered at the nickname. "Things."
"You're such an ass."
"Since when the hell did you become so concerned, Neona?"
"Just making mental notes."
"Why?"
"To be able to piss you off later."
"Seems like you've already succeeded," he muttered, reaching over the edge of the couch (seeing as bat-girl had taken his chair) and picked up his guitar.
He began to play.
"You're gonna wake everybody up."
No response.
"It's finally quiet, Lance. Cut it out!"
His fingers stumbled none.
She got up, and kicked the guitar out of his hands. "I said to stop it!"
Lance growled with his brow wrinkling; the earth began to shake.
Smirking, she just propelled herself with her wings into the air.
The shaking stopped, after one of the pictures fell and created a huge 'boom', Lance sat back down and Neona swooped to sit next to him, crossing her arms.
"What were you thinking about?"
"Kitty."
"Bill?"
"No, a girl on the X-Men. Her name is Kitty."
"Kinky."
"Oh, Jesus Christ . . ."
"It's true, especially once you think about it," she aid, looking at him. "What's so great about her anyway?"
Lance fidgeted, he'd never told anyone why before except Todd that is, but Todd was reliable with secrets, and Lance had known him the longest, also.
"C'mon. What is it? She's got big boobs or something?"
Lance jerked, reflexively glancing at her own before looking away quickly. "She's a freshman."
She blinked
[silently gagged]
saying, "Isn't that illegal?"
"Yeah, like I'd know or care."
"True. But really, what's so great -."
"She's everything I'm not."
She laughed, shaking her head as he just tried to go angrier that his face was red. "Where's the fun in that? That basically says you're polar opposites! Do you have anything in common besides being a mutant?"
He glared, clenching his fist.
"Besides, she's a frosh. Therefore, uptight and nervous all the time."
"Hmph."
She smirked, an idea popping into her head.
Slinking closer to him, he glanced at her nervously. She suddenly pounced him, sitting on his lap, taking his hands and putting them on her hips.
"Would Kitty do that?" she purred, further mocking.
Lance, the poor boy, just stared in disbelief.
Leaning in closer, a tongue against one of her large incisors, she said, "I bet all hell she's never done, or ever will do, this."
With that, she captured his lips, almost painfully passionate.
There would definitely be bruising on his part, anyway.
A while later, after tongues had massaged and explored all area they could, she drew back, eyes closed and chest heaving, him the same.
Once she opened her eyes, she smirked at his _expression. She trailed a finger down his chest slowly, his eyes sprung open.
Her hand kept going lower . . . lower . . . then:
A flick on the nose, and a push on the shoulder.
"Pervert," she hissed, clambering off him and heading upstairs to bed.
"Hey, Neona."
"'Lo, Denise."
And that was how Denise found her cousin as she came down for milk, a completely drunkenly shocked look plastered onto his face.
*****
:::walks away muttering:::
-Holly
REVIEW REPLIES:
TigerStorm: I posted! ^-^ When are YOU going to update, hmmm?
EmeraldKnight1: Aww, I'm glad you like my writing so much! Yeah, I'm a sucker for detail like that *_* And I apologize profusely if I killed Michael's character. I tried, I did.
cheeky-bear007: Dude, nothing you say in a review is stupid. Ever. Thank you for submitting her!
Im4everaqt: DUUUDE! Update! Well, you are a sweetheart. Get over it. ^_~
Sycommansonboy: *blushes* you called me babe . . . *blushes deeper*
Dee Saylors: I'd love to review more if *somebody* would update! . I hope I didn't butcher Denise in this chapter . . . I really hate that mall scene. -_-