I don't own Jubilee, Sabretooth, the X-Men, or Generation X. I'm borrowing them for my own nefarious devices. Marvel owns them and tortures them (and their readers) more than I ever could.
I don't own Asher or any characters within the Anita Blake universe. I humbly bow down before the almighty Laurell K Hamilton, for she is a goddess.
I don't own Methos or any characters within the Highlander universe, I believe Rysher does. Rysher scares me, so I wouldn't dare infringe upon their copyrights.
The idea behind the links is a concept adapted from L.J. Smith's Dark Visions Trilogy. L.J. Smith is a goddess among writers for young adult fiction. I bow down before her.
Kora is an original character, so I do own her. Please don't use her unless you ask and recieve permission. (By me, people. Don't get smart.) Not that any of you would want to borrow her. Sheesh.
Timelines: (And pay attention, this gets weird.)
Jubilee and Creed - After Ev's death and Gambit's return from Antarctica, before Moira and Cyclops die. I have aged Jubilee because I'm annoyed at her being thirteen for six years. (That's worse than my mom being 39, again. For the seventh time.)
Asher - After a modified Blue Moon. Assume Anita's still dating both of her boys but is still pouting because Asher got into Anita's mind when she fed him. (Asher's timeline is the most confusing to those who've read the series.)
Methos - After The Four Horsemen and Revelations, before the movie.
Title of Series: The Web - Borne Of The Fall
Rated R for Language and Adult Situations
Part Four
"It Can Swallow Her Whole Star Intact"
JUBILEE
Staring at the gate to the mansion, I find myself wondering what the fuck I was thinking when I agreed to this.
I'm sitting shotgun in the four door Lexus Asher had rented. Creed's sitting behind the wheel as it was the only way we could get him to agree to the less conspicuous car. Adam, from his seat behind me, puts his hands on my shoulders and rubs the tension away. Only slightly less than twenty-four hours and I've become used to this, the constant physical contact. These people don't consider me stupid or beneath their notice; I have experience and they treat me with respect because of it. I'm afraid that once I step onto those grounds, I'll be cut off from this haven.
*You know you won't be, Jubilation. We'll still be here, you just won't be able to see our charming faces.* Asher's self-deprecation at his own 'charming face' is painful to see.
*You're a beautiful man, Ash. The scars don't change that.*
Adam adds his own opinion, his mental voice sounding like a cross between a school lecturer and a philosophy contemplator. *She's right. In some cultures, scars are considered to be beautiful. They signify a brave character and a strong will to live. To have survived the pain that you did would make you a warrior among hunters and to have survived as mentally balanced would make you a king among nobles.*
*I like them.* Kora's holding Asher's hand in the backseat. *They feel different.*
Asher's laugh sounds surprised but genuine. Good. I don't want to leave him when he's all broody. He's too nice a guy for that.
I sigh as I pick up my backpack and open the car door. Victor reaches over and just lays his hand over mine. I hold still for a moment, enjoying the warmth. When I finally do step out of the car, Adam and Victor's hands fall from me only reluctantly.
Kora steps out of the car from Creed's side and Asher moves from the middle seat to the one she just vacated. Kora places her fingertip on the window; Asher places his hand up to Kora's. She looks as sad as I've ever seen her, more-so even than when she was crying. Then she drops her hand and walks around the car to my side.
I turn to the gate and wrap my fingers around one cold metal bar. I hear the car start up behind us. *You watch your ass in there, Jae. Call if you need to.* With that, the car turns around and moves down the road.
The cool of the autumn night settles over me. Kora's staring at the trees with their bare branches and the ground covered with dead and dry leaves. I inhale deeply to calm myself. The air is heavy with moisture and the scent of rot and ozone. A storm is on the way.
I shoulder my backpack and push the gate open. Kora reaches over and slips her hand into mine. I give it a quick squeeze and smile at her reassuringly. We walk in a comfortable silence up to the mansion with me only pausing to get the keys out of my pocket.
The front door actually opens before I have a chance to put the keys in the lock. It's Storm and she looks pissy. "Jubilation, would you care to explain where you have been? You know you are not allowed to leave the grounds." Ororo's eyes fall on Kora. "I see you have a friend. Hello."
"I just went out for awhile, sheesh. I'm eighteen years old, 'Ro. I don't need a baby-sitter." I roll my eyes at Storm's dramatics. "Can we come in now? 'S been a long night."
"Of course." She steps out of the doorway and gestures inside like a stewardess. "You should know that Logan has been very worried about you. When Jean called him to ask if you were there, he flew in as soon as he could and your friends from the Academy are here as well. Emma insisted." It's only because I know her so well that I can hear the scorn directed at my teacher.
"Joy. Storm, Kora. Kora, this is apparently the mother I never had, Ororo Munroe. She does things with the weather." I don't really feel like talking to any of them tonight, but I suppose I should say something. "Is Jean around?" At Storm's nod I tell her, "Good. Get her and Logan, Frosty, and Cassidy together in the War Room. Tell 'em I'll talk to them in twenty minutes."
I grab Kora's hand and pull her upstairs, leaving Storm behind. I bet she's pissed both at the fact that I didn't ask her to join us and at the way I just launched Kora into the middle of the X-Men. There are protocols to go through, after all. They don't like perfect strangers to know about the code-names and War Room and stuff.
*Heh. This is gonna be fun.*
Kora echoes my amusement with her windchime-laughter.
KORA
The house is very big, almost like the one I used to live in. I hope they don't have a basement.
The black lady with the white hair didn't seem to like Jubilee very much. Maybe it was because she ran away.
"Here's my room." Jubilee opens a door on the left side of the hall. The room beyond is messy with books and clothes all over the floor. Something that looks like dead skin is draped over the mess. "Oh, yuck! It was my room. Guess they gave it to the hayseed when Gen-X came in. Just wonderful." Jubilee is simmering with anger, I feel it radiating from her.
*Hey guys? Guess what! They gave my room to Paige after I was gone for one day. How lovely is that?*
There's a moment of silence as the shock makes it's way over to us. From Asher, there is a, *They did what?*
From Adam, *Are they bloody stupid?*
And from Victor, *No, they're fuckin' idiots. Don't know why Jae stayed there as long as she did. I gutted myself out at the first chance I got.*
*And get this, Storm called Logan and Frost over. All of Gen-X is here.*
*Shit. The runt'll smell me on ya.*
*Yup. Actually, that might help my story out so I'm not too worried about that. It's Frost that's got me worried. Jean won't try and probe me without permission but Frost will and she's gonna go apeshit when she can't read me or Kora.*
"Hey, Jubes! I heard Storm telling Logan that you were back. Whoa, what happened to your room?"
*Crap. Gimme a minute.* "Bobby! Come here, ya big lug." Jubilee and the new man, Bobby, hug. She doesn't feel angry at him.
*Someone named Bobby came in to see Jubilee. Who is he?*
Victor talks to me while Jubilee rants about her room being taken over by dustbunnies. *Robert Drake, Iceman. He's the joke of the X-Men and can manipulate ice.*
*Actually, the joke's on the X-Men. Drake's got some awesome control over his ice. If he wanted to kill, he could freeze all the water in your body or send ice shards via your bloodstream into your brain. The X-Men treat Bobby like they treat me.*
"Well, you can stay in my room if you want. I think I can keep my hands to myself, although it will be a struggle with two such beautiful women." Bobby winks at me and offers his hand. "Bobby Drake, at your service."
I take the hand and shake it, then turn to blink at Jubilee. *He can't hear me.*
*Oh! Duh.* "Bobster, this is Kora. She kinda can't talk." Jubilee grins at us.
"What a shame. Well, it's nice to meet you. Remember, Jubes! If you want my room, it's just down the hall by the bathroom. The mansion's gotten so full everyone's had to move around. We're packing two or three to a room now. I'm probably the only one who still has their own room. Even Hank's shacking up with the Professor when he's not glued to his lab. Gotta go! You know how Scott gets when I'm late. Bye!"
Bobby disappears, leaving Jubilee looking bemused. "I wonder if Scott realizes that Bob's high as a kite on twinkies and coffee?" She glances around her room a moment before shouldering her bag again. "Come on. I'm not rooming with Paige again, she's a pig."
Bobby's room is much neater. There's toys lined against one wall and books against the other. The bed is unmade and the clothes are hanging out of the hamper, but there's nothing on the floor to trip on.
*Kore n' I are stayin' in Drake's room. With any luck, Monet and Paige'll be shoved into the same room together. I'm pretty sure they'd drive each other nuts.*
*If Bobby tries anything, I want to know. He won't survive the night.*
*Asher!* Jubilee sounds scandalized. We grin at each other.
His reply sounds very prim and proper, much different from the savage words from before. *I was born during a time when gentlemen were taught to treat ladies with respect and dignity and I won't tolerate anything else from him.*
*Heh, Ash's got the right idea. If Drake gets fresh, he gets gutted.*
Jubilee's laughing so hard she drops her bag to hold her sides. I'm silently laughing with her.
*Personally, I think if Jubilee wants to play with him, she's perfectly capable of doing so- OW! Stop that! Ow! Dammit, those don't come off! Guys! Please! We're in a public place!*
By now, I'm on my knees and trying to keep from following Jubilee's example. She's actually on the floor and rolling around. "Man, I think I'm gonna pee my pants."
I find myself giggling into the link. *You guys had better stop. Jubilee says she's about to pee her pants.*
The surprised roar of laughter echoes through the link, putting us all at ease.
JUBILEE
The moment I step into the War Room, Logan's got me in a hug so tight I start seein' stars. "Jubilee! Where have yo- You smell like Sabretooth."
I stumble as I'm abruptly released. Wolverine's got his 'I'm so dangerous I'm gonna kick an ass that isn't even in the room' look. *"That would be one of the reasons why I was late gettin' home last night. See, there was the concert an' Tori Amos was playin' in town, so I just had to go there but then I ran in to Sabretooth. He was kinda talkin' at Kora here, something about a beer or something. He was all big an' 'Grrr!' and she was all silent cuz she, like, can't talk and I just couldn't leave that alone, ya know! So I hella got in there and that's when I found out that Kora's a mutant like us 'cuz she did this thing where she got into my head and now we can talk and, well, that's what happened."*
*I was 'all big an' 'Grrr!''?*
*That was the biggest piece of convoluted shite I've ever heard.*
*The woman in the seat next to me is wondering why I'm laughing so hard at the death scene in 'Legends of the Fall', Jubilation. I do hope you're proud of yourself.*
"Wait, wait. Kora's mute? But you can talk to her? Is she a telepath?" Jean Grey looks like she's trying desperately to untangle the quickly spoken story with all of it's, ehem, technical jargon.
*"Hmm. I don't think so. Kora, can ya read what Logan's thinkin'?"*
*He's wondering what Jean looks like naked.*
*Shut up, Creed! I was askin' Kora!*
*He's wondering what Jean looks like naked.*
I sigh into the link. *Vic, you've corrupted her.*
*Heh, I do try.* Well isn't he the smug one?
*"Nope, sorry Jean. She says she hasn't had anything like this ever happen."*
Frost stands up and looks Kora over like she's some street urchin who tumbled into her path. "I can't read her mind, her shields are too strong." She turns to me and narrows her cold blue eyes. "I can't read anything from Jubilee either."
"Ach, Emma! Ye ken ye shouldn't be invadin' the lasses privacy like that!"
*He talks funny.*
*Who, Irish? That's 'cuz of he's Irish and they all talk funny.*
Adam sends in his wry remark. *Jubilee, I'm sure you'd make a wonderful diplomat.*
*Hey, it's true. Them Irish barely talk English. Like, pisha, dude!*
Asher's laughter rolls through my mind like a physical caress. *Is this where you say, 'Later for you, dude?' I'm fairly certain that's what Buffy said in 'Buffy, the Vampire Slayer'.*
*Whoa, Asher watches Buffy? Now I'm scared.* Again he laughs, the sound like melted carmel pouring over places I'm not kinky enough to be tryin'. Yet.
Frost sends Cassidy a look so scathing he visably shivers and looks over his shoulder for his mommy... or Moira. Same diff. "I could hardly invade their privacy when they have shields so strong I'd need a mental thermal nuclear device to bring them down."
"But that's no' the point, woman. Ye shouldn't have tried it to begin with!"
"Yer okay, right? Yer not bleeding? Nothing's broken?"
I find myself smiling at Wolverine, pleased to have the attention. *"Yeah, Wolvie. No problems. Although, I could use some food."*
*Think they'll give you a beer? This bloody airline is alcohol free! Have you ever heard such a ridiculous thing!?*
Kora flashes me a quick grin. *Poor Adam.*
"Well, I think we can arrange that. The Cajun's been cookin' again." Logan grins and wraps his arm around me. We're the same height now so the contact feels odd. The guys were all taller than me, their embraces would completely engulf me and leave me feeling safe from the world.
*"Hey, that sounds great. You wanna eat, Kore?"*
Kora, bless her heart, notices how tense I am and moves up to take my hand, forcing Logan to back away slightly. Logan is fine with tossing an arm around his little sidekick but a girl he barely knows is a whole other matter. *Not really hungry right now.*
*Eat, girl. You need to get some meat on yer bones.*
Kora looks like she's about to disagree with Creed but Asher asks, *Please? I would very much like to taste something again.*
Faced with a request like that, Kora could only cave. I know I would have. *Okay, but not too much.*
*"She says she'll eat a little bit. Then we gotta turn in."*
Frost's eyes are narrowed at Kora and I. "When Generation X came in, Jean and Scott had the rooms divvied up. Paige is staying with you girls in your room."
I turn to Frost and pull a piece of gum out of my pocket. *"Actually, Frosty, I'm stayin' in Drake's room with Kora. I told ya at the Academy, I'm not roomin' with Paige ever again. I'm stickin' to it."* I turn to address Jean. *"But it is nice to know that I can be gone from the mansion for one night and have my room completely taken over by an utter slob. Thanks, Jean. Remind me to give my thanks to Scott too, 'cuz I'm not cleaning up her mess and after over a year of living with her, I know she won't, so I guess one of you will get to clean it up."*
I let the anger in me shine through my eyes for only a brief moment before turning on my heel and pulling Kora to the kitchen. Wolverine follows at my heels.
I hear Frost call out to me as the War Room door closes behind me, "We'll be talking about this later, Jubilation."
*I still think you should let me gut her.*
*Thanks, Vic. I'll keep the option open.*
KORA
*Are you sure this is okay to eat?* I poke my fork at the mass on my plate. I'm relieved when it doesn't poke back.
*Oh yeah! Gumbo likes to go nutso with the spices but they normally have someone else in here to make sure he doesn't get out of hand.* Jubilee takes a bite out of her own brown mass and hums with pleasure. *Nummy.*
I eye her dubiously but obediently take a bite. It's a little spicy, and the texture isn't slimey. *Not bad.*
*Mon dieu. Not bad she says. That's the best stuffing I've ever had. Try the turkey.*
Jubilee snorts on her cranberries. *Dude, gettin' pushy. Be nice or she won't eat the pumpkin pie.* We both giggle when we 'hear' Asher's mental groan.
"So tell me about the concert, Jubilee. Did you like it?"
*Huh? He never wants to know about the concerts I go to. Says the teeny-boppers drive him nuts.* Jubilee raises an eyebrow in Logan's direction. *"You know Tori, she always kicks ass. You know, she writes her own music and lyrics and plays the piano. She does an awesome song called 'Me and a Man' which is about when she was raped."*
Logan shifts uncomfortably under both Jubilee's gaze and her matter-of-fact talk about a woman's rape. "Ya mean, she's okay with talkin' 'bout that stuff?"
*"Oh, she says it's cathartic. You know, exorcizin' yer demons. Some people get drunk, some people beat on other people, some people write, some people sing."* Jubilee's mouth curls at one corner in a half-smile.
*Are ya tryin' ta piss the runt off? Next you'll be talkin' about feminine products.* Jubilee and I exchange an amused glance at Victor's mental shudder.
*Would you really mind?* Jubilee winks at me when she questions Victor.
*Hm, no. Go on ahead. Make the runt squirm.*
I laugh my silent laughter, earning a look from Logan. "What's her problem?"
Jubilee looks at me and grins wide. *"Who, Kora? Just an in-joke. It's a girl thing."* I almost double over from the laughter. I haven't laughed this much since I was a very young girl, before the basement.
Jubilee notices how Logan's focused more on me and swipes his beer. *Heads up, Adam.* She takes a huge gulp before Logan manages to pull it back.
"Kid, whaddya think yer doin'? You know that Hank an' Jeanie'll be mad if they catch ya drinkin'."
Jubilee is paying no attention to Logan. She and I are too busy laughing at Adam's projected sigh of appreciation. Logan frowns at Jubilee before he turns to me. I can almost hear the 'What the hell do you think you're doing to my little girl?' I can only laugh harder, sending Jubilee off once again.
JUBILEE
It's only when Kora and I are upstairs and walking down the hall that I find out Kitty's here. She and Paige are apparently sharing my room together and have left my door open to let all their giggling escape down the hall. Shit.
"Oh, hey Jubilee. How are you? Who's your friend?"
*Oh, it's so cute when Paige tries to pretend she's not a hayseed, country mouse. Really.* "I'm fine and this is Kora. I'll just be getting some clothes, so excuse me."
*You don't like Paige? Who's the other girl?*
*Kitty Pryde, the apple of Logan's eye. And I like Paige. Kinda. She's been a bit of a bitch lately.*
*Lately?* Adam's voice lilts with sarcasm. *I'd say she's been a bit more than a bitch 'lately'.*
*Yeah, well. Not everyone considers it bad form to date your friend's, parent's, murder's grandson. Can't blame her for that.*
*She's dating who?* Asher sounds shocked. Heh, nice to know the old, dead guy can be shocked. (As opposed to the really old guy, Adam, who whines at the drop of a hat.)
*You found out who murdered your parents?* And that's Creed sounding interested in something.
*Actually, the actual murderers I found a long time ago. A bit more recently I found the guy who ordered the deaths.*
*Are they dead?* Creed again. I wonder what's up with all the questions.
*Nope. Wolverine was with me with the murderers so I melted their guns and kicked 'em in the nuts. Hunter Brawn was the one who ordered the hit, but Gen-X was there when I confronted him.*
Creed's voice is savage as he asks, *Do you want 'em dead?*
Ah, that was it. *...Let's just say, I'm keeping my options open at this point.*
*Would you really kill them?* Adam's voice is calm and tinged with a hint of his bone-deep weariness.
*He doesn't deserve to live, Adam.*
*The seldom do, ma cherie. They seldom do.* Even Asher sounds tired.
*I don't see what the problem is.*
There's a pause in the silent conversation which I use to gather tomorrow's outfit. Paige and Kitty are watching me strangely. Eh, it's probably because I've been so quiet. Screw 'em. I don't talk to 'em anyway.
*Kora, are you saying you don't see anything wrong with killing people?* Creed's laughing in the background while Asher tries very hard to not sound judgemental.
*No. Should I? I mean, I need to eat, right? You need to eat, Adam wants to stay alive, Victor makes his living doing it. What's the problem? It's like asking if it's wrong to kill the cattle people eat for steaks. There is no right and wrong. Some people survive and some don't. That's the way the cookie crumbles.* Kora gives the equivelant to a mental shrug and follows me out the door.
I wave at Paige and Kitty before shutting the door behind me. They were still giving me those weird, 'Are you feeling all right?' looks. Whatever.
Victor's actually howling his laughter into the link while Adam and Asher are stunned into silence. Unfortunately, in some ways, I kinda agree with Kora. To me, some people just don't deserve to live with Bastian, Brawn, and Apocalypse at front and center. It's probably only been Wolverine's influence that I haven't killed already, because I wanted to make him proud of me like he's proud of Kitty. I'm really starting to not care at this point.
*Okay, next conversation. How are you guys doing?*
*I'm flying, ma cherie. There's quite a bit of ground far, far beneath me.*
I rolls my eyes as I pop open Bobby's door. *Yer a funny guy, Ash. Not.*
Adam also decides to be a funny guy. *Then I suppose I shouldn't tell you that there's a really big bathtub far, far beneath me?*
*You both are so not funny.* Kora spoils my words by giggling. I sigh and toss my clothes on the bed. *What about you, Vic? You high as a kite too?*
*Nah. I have to stick around for you guys, remember? My accountant can deal with my transactions from here.*
Waitaminute. *...Creed, did you just say you have an accountant?*
I can just picture his grin at that. *Yeah. I need someone to handle all my earnings.*
Well shit on me. Whaddya know?