Punishment

"Man those X-Geeks are never gonna get over this!" Pietro laughed as he waved Jean's bra around. "Yahooo!"

"Hey boss Lady!" John shouted. "We're back! Guess…What the heck is that?" He pointed to something lying behind Mystique on the floor. That something to their horror was Lance. He lay there, his bare back exposed and covered with whip lashes and blood. "Lance!" Pietro gasped.

"This is the price for disobedience," Mystique told them coldly, holding a whip in her hands. "If you think you can keep anything from me you are mistaken. Clean him up and get him out of my sight!" She walked away.

Pietro rushed to Lance's side while the others glared at Mystique. "Lance!" He called out. "Come on guys help me get him to his room!"

"God look at him," John gasped as Fred picked him up. "She really did a number on him!"

"Let's get him to his room!" Pietro said. He rushed upstairs and grabbed several bandages and cleaning supplies. Fred carried Lance to his room and lowered him on the bed face down. Gently Pietro began tending to his wounds.

Lance groaned as he started to wake up. "Lance?" Pietro asked.

"P-Pietro?" Lance asked weakly.

"It's okay buddy," Pietro dabbed his cuts with medicine. It's over. Freddy get some more bandages and another towel." Fred obeyed. "It's gonna be okay," Pietro told Lance, pushing his bangs from his forehead. "We'll fix you up in no time."

"I guess now that Toad's gone I'm the new whipping boy," Lance muttered, involuntarily flinching when Pietro cleaned his back.

"Why did she do this?" John asked. "What did you do?"

"It was because of Kitty wasn't it?" Wanda snarled. "I knew that airhead was going to get you in trouble!"

"She ain't worth this Lance," Fred came in. "No one is."

"Guys why don't you get him some water and stuff?" Pietro told them. "Give us some air okay?"

"Yeah Lance," Fred nodded after he handed Pietro the supplies. "We'll do that. Come on guys." The others left.

"Okay Lance," Pietro said softly. "We're alone now. It's going to be okay. I'm so sorry…."

"There's nothing you could have done," Lance told him. "It's my own fault I got caught. Don't worry. I've had beatings this bad before. I can handle it. I took it. It hurt like hell and I screamed a bit, but she didn't make me beg. You gotta believe me Pietro. She couldn't make me beg."

"Yeah buddy," Pietro nodded. "I believe you. Now hold still."

Lance breathed sharply as Pietro continued ministering to his wounds. "Just take it easy Lance," Pietro told him. "Did she hit you anywhere else?"

"No," Lance shook his head. "I…I don't think so."

"Well at least she didn't spank you with that taser of hers," Pietro sighed. "Lance what were you thinking?"

"What do you think? But I can't let her take Kitty from me," Lance's voice was very quiet. "She's all I have."

"That's not true! You have us!"

"Kitty's special to me. She's warm and kind and forgiving. I've never met anyone like her before."

"Well I have so take my advice! Listen to Mystique!"

"I ain't gonna let her break me like she broke Toad," Lance told him. "I just gotta be more careful from now on. Be a little more inconspicuous when I talk to Kitty, you know?"

"Lance stop it!" Pietro's voice shook. "Haven't you learned anything? Don't be so stubborn! She's not worth it!"

"She is to me," Lance said softly before he passed out.

Pietro closed his eyes and placed his forehead on top of Lance's. "Don't worry," He whispered softly. "I won't let her break you either. I promise."