TITLE: Blood Makes Noise
AUTHOR: Ai Kemi
E-MAIL: logansmagnolia@hotmail.com
DATE: 6/29/01
ARCHIVE: WRFA, FF.net; anyone else, ask and ye shall receive.
CATEGHORY: Drama, Action, tiniest bit of romance
SERIES: No while I'm breathin'!
RATING: PG to R for various degrees of violence and language
SUMMARY: Blood may be thicker than water. But when a crisis strikes, family becomes relative.
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing Marvel related, but Dorian Lane, Katherine Marie, and John Jacob belong to me. *grin* I'm a mommy!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is set approximately seventeen years after the movie.
She jogged up to the large wrought iron gates that protected Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters and bent over as if to catch her breath. It was a ruse, of course. Though she had just run five miles in under an hour, she wasn't even slightly winded. Her deception was strictly for the benefit of the security cameras staring down at her from their perches on the stone columns on either side of the drive. And for whomever else that might be watching. If these people gave her any trouble, then what they didn't know could hurt them.
While bent over, she surreptitiously examined what security measures she might have to bypass should her family's "friends" decide to be less than hospitable. She could detect no other cameras along the perimeter, nor did she hear the faint hum that would indicate an electrified barrier. But who knew what surprises might be waiting for her on the other side of that gate.
She'd knock nicely first. Mama had somehow managed to instill some manners in her daughter.
Straightening, she located an intercom-like box by the column on the left side of the gates. When she approached it, she was startled to hear a pleasant female voice say, "Welcome to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Unfortunately, the school is closed at the present. If you would like to come back at a later time, school hours are 9 A.M. to 5 P.M., Monday through Friday. If you are a returning teacher or student, please be advised that it is past curfew and your tardiness will be duly noted. At the tone, please state your verification code."
There was a melodious little beep and she almost laughed. "Hell of a doorbell you got there. Anyway, could you open up? I need to talk to—"
"I'm sorry," the lovely, artificial voice interrupted. "But your voice print was not recognized." There was a small pause then, "Welcome to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Unfortunately, the school is closed at the present. If you would like to come back at a later time, school hours are 9 A.M. to 5 P.M., Monday through Friday. If you are—"
Okay, so knocking first hadn't worked. Time for Plan B, she thought, grimly. Storm the gates and hope you get a chance to explain things before you get your ass handed to you on a platter. I just hope I've learned enough of Daddy's moves to pull this off.
Throwing a disgusted glare at the useless automated intercom, she toed off her sneakers and drew her dark, hooded sweatshirt off over her head. Her long dark hair tumbled down around her pale shoulders and hid her face as she bent to peel off her black jeans. She was left clad only in her navy blue sports bra and matching underwear. Their dark color would blend well with the nighttime shadows. The rest of her would blend with everything else.
Casting a glance at the ever-vigilant security cameras, she began to change. Briefly, she wondered how it looked to anyone who might be watching.
It was probably a very strange sight, indeed.
Hazel eyes went colorless. Peaches-and-cream skin faded to a death-like pallor. Previously dark hair lightened until a shimmering platinum mane remained.
Where once stood a normal looking, though half-dressed girl now stood a walking specter. And in a melting of textures and colors, the specter vanished.
*