Is A Little Peace And Quiet Too Much To Ask?

Hellfire Club

Miraculously Hank suffered no more visitors welcome or otherwise that night and actually managed to get a solid eight hours of sleep without any further interruptions. This was down to Selene instructing that nobody was to disturb him or she would not be best pleased. Not even Victor Creed would be reckless enough to disobey that order. Hank's sleep was filled with pleasant dreams where Selene and Cassandra Nova were permanently banished to another dimension, he was back with the X-Men and his only women troubles were whether to marry Cecilia Reyes, Trish Tilby or even Martinique Jason. Dimly Hank wondered if Mastermind was sending him these dreams, still they were pleasant ones.

"Hello Hank, I trust my Black King slept well, look I've brought you breakfast in bed," called Selene.

Champagne was not quite how Hank usually started the morning but since Selene had entered his life he was finding he needed all the alcohol he could get. He fell on the rest of the breakfast, bacon and eggs, toast and marmalade and cornflakes eagerly devouring them. He then thanked Selene and politely asked her if she could leave while he had a shower in his en suite bathroom. She agreed willingly enough though he half suspected she would be watching him on the crystal ball. Still for the next ten minutes or so he paid her no mind but enjoyed his refreshing shower. Then it was just a case of shoving on a clean shirt and some jeans, formal costume was more for evenings and then he felt more like a mutant and ready to face up to the days stresses.

"Stars and garters whatever is the matter Selene and why are you looking so pained?" asked Hank wearily as he found her waiting for him.

"My poor dear Black King, I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave you on your own in charge of the Hellfire Club for today. I'm going to try and track down Cassandra Nova since I can still sense her out there and I think she'll come looking for revenge. Oh Hank I'm so sorry to abandon you like this," she was distraught almost on the verge of tears.

"Don't worry my dear, it won't be quite the same without you but I'm sure I'll cope," said Hank quickly just about managing to keep the eagerness out of his voice.

"My brave beautiful Black King," purred Selene kissing him deeply and fortunately remembering not to drain his energy.

Hank managed to keep the grin of his face until she had teleported away. Then he set off to find Bobby and tell him the good news that they were going to have some peace and quiet. With him being in charge and no super-powered and morally lacking women lusting after him he might even get the chance to enjoy life a little.

The mansion

"Hello Logan is Hank in? I've just come to say that I've managed to get my old job back and well I just thought I'd drop by and say hello and mend some bridges. Look I've bought flowers, a king size bag of Twinkies, that novel he told me about that he hadn't got round to buying and some other stuff,"

Trish Tilby was gasping for breath, having poured her words out before the glaring feral could slam the door in her face. He wasn't glaring now but looking slightly stunned and then when he finally did speak he seemed to be hesitating.

"Well yer welcome ta come I suppose but I mean Hank is in and then he isn't in. It all depends on which Hank ya wanted ta see," mumbled Logan. Somewhat baffled by this cryptic statement Trish walked by him into the kitchen setting her bag of peace offering on the table. Logan seemed almost nervous as he closed the door behind her and she wondered just what was going on. Then Hank came through the door and she suddenly realized what Logan had meant.

Dark Beast had finally got up and come down for some breakfast and was surprised to find he was being ogled by a female reporter. Trish Tilby was giving him the once over, she knew of course that this wasn't the Hank she had known and loved but there was a certain resemblance. The fur was gray, the eyes yellow, there were those little spines on the shoulders and he looked altogether shaggier and more feral than her Hank. Still he was the nearest thing to the old Hank she was ever likely to see and he was just as handsome in his own way. Plus there was the cologne he was wearing, it made her want to just go over and start stroking his fur so she obeyed the impulse.

"McCoy this is Trish Tilby, who ya heard about last night. Trish this is Dark Beast, a well former enemy who's now a guest. By the way I think yer making him nervous stroking his fur like that."

"Yes just as soft as Hank's, so how about we get to know each other better as I'm sure we'll be just perfect together. How about we say go for dinner, I know this nice little Italian restaurant. By the way I really love your aftershave," said Trish seductively.

"Forgive me but didn't you break off your relationship with my counterpart over the phone, I believe because you thought it could prove damaging to your career and you basically compared the relationship to bestiality. Well I'm afraid that I only date within my own species human so sorry but you'll have to look else where. Besides my heart already belongs to another," McCoy's voice was harsh.

His 'brother' (well they may have been the same person but they certainly weren't alike) may have been one of his bitterest enemies but he couldn't help but feel sorry for him being dumped like that. He saw the look on Trish's face and felt satisfied that now she knew what it felt like.

"Ya have ta forgive McCoy darlin, I'm afraid he's not as much of a gentlemen as yer Hank," said Logan giving McCoy a surreptitious wink.

"Look I don't know how many times I have to apologize for that and I mean if I could take it back I would. Anyway perhaps when that creepy witch has been sorted out we'll get back together. Anyway keep the gifts for him. Look I'll just go since I can tell I'm not the most popular person around here right now."

Logan could tell she was sincere and he didn't exactly forgive her, not yet anyway but he felt less angry with her. At least she was trying to make up for it so he might as well do her a favor in helping her to salvage her career with an exclusive human interest story.

"Ya know darlin; we had the Crocodile Hunter arriving yesterday. First he tangled with Emma, got away from her and ambushed us both in Jean's bedroom mistaking me fer a werewolf and McCoy fer a Sasquatch. Fortunately we managed ta subdue him and lock him up in the boathouse. I'm sure ya could make quite a story out of that,"

"Thank you Logan, you really are the best there is," exclaimed Trish kissing Logan on the cheek.

Elsewhere in the mansion

"There you are Blackheart I've been looking everywhere for you. What the hell are you doing huddled up in a corner like that and why are you trembling so much?" asked Selene.

"I'm afraid Blackheart has had a complete nervous breakdown as has Scott Summers. Now please could you leave since dressed like that you are liable to traumatize them further. Certainly neither of them are in any condition for visitors at the moment," said Xorn coming over and shooing Selene away.

"I've come seeking vital information so maybe you can help me. Tell me what do you know of the woman known as Cassandra Nova?"

"May I ask the reason why you need this Selene?" Xorn had heard all about the Black Queen and in particular that she was one of the X-Men's deadliest enemies. The thought of an alliance between her and Cassandra Nova really didn't bear thinking about. Despite the fact that Selene's latest interactions with the X-Men were relatively benign he would still feel much happier when she was gone.

"I wish to know how to defeat her. You know they say that the enemy of my enemy is my ally, well she's definitely an enemy to both of us wouldn't you agree?"

"Well if that's the case I shall be happy to tell you everything I know," said Xorn.

If the X-Men were fortunate perhaps the two nigh omnipotent beings would be so engrossed in fighting each other that they would cease to be a threat to anyone else for years to come. Not that the X-Men were ever that fortunate of course but you could always hope.

Hellfire Club

Hank was waiting arms folded as Creed snarled, growled and smashed a chair into so many splinters. Finally the feral was relatively calm and aired his grievances all of which were directed towards Fitzroy. It seemed that unsurprisingly Creed wanted to rip the man's throat out, mainly because of Fitzroy's seeming obsession that the male members of the Inner Circle were gay.

"I would advise you to restrain yourself Sabretooth, certainly don't kill the man irritating though he may be. Much better to say scare the living daylights out of him, leaping out of him claws extended and snarling should be enough to do it. Then with any luck he'll go the way of the unfortunate Roberto De Costa and have a complete nervous breakdown thus ceasing to be a nuisance."

"Yeah I think yer right Beast, ya know ya might be a wimp but at least yer a brainy wimp."

"Thank you I think," muttered Hank as a satisfied Creed made his way out of the room. Well at least he'd managed to stop both of them from being out for Fitzroy's blood. The man really must have a death wish though, the way he kept antagonizing a feral and a werewolf. Hank made a note to recommend a good psychiatrist for Fitzroy since the young man had a lot of issues that he needed to work out.

"Hello Hank I just wondered if there was anything I could do for you since you seem a little tense at the moment. Now I did what you suggested and sent Yuriko and Fitzroy off on an inspection of the Los Angeles Hellfire Club so they won't be back until this evening. Jack's taken you up on the offer to take a trip to Central Park and unwind so what else do you suggest?" asked Mastermind popping her head round the door.

"Make it known to Creed that Logan's keen for another of their little scraps and tell him that….. he's up in Canada. That ought to take care of that little problem and then stars and garters, we might finally get some peace and quiet around here," sighed Hank shutting his yellow eyes and almost purring with anticipation.

Back at the mansion

"Ya know bub, I think yer going ta like this pub, and ya see if we're really lucky yer might get ta take part in a brawl or something. If we don't see any action at the Auger Inn then there are plenty of other dives we can visit. Ya get ta drink a load of beer and we might find a good woman fer ya," said Logan putting his arm around McCoy's shoulder.

"Would you let me come too?" asked Beak sporting a fresh bruise just above his beak.

"I'm afraid dear boy that you are far too young and innocent to take part in what we're intending to do. By the way you ought to go and see Xorn and get that bruise looked at. It looks really painful," said Dark Beast hoping that this show of concern would get rid of his annoying avian admirer.

"Well actually Xorn was the one who gave it too me after I found out he got visited by Selene and I asked him if he thought she was hot," explained Beak somewhat sheepishly.

"Kid when are ya going ta learn that sometimes ya ought to keep that beak of yours shut," sighed Logan in exasperation.

McCoy meanwhile was lost deep in thought. His present visit to the X-men was certainly different from his previous clandestine one, he actually seemed to be welcome here and they had even offered to have him join the team if he wished. He had to admit that apart from a few minor annoyances he was actually enjoying himself here and Emma in particularly seemed to like him being there. Perhaps he would join the X-men at least for a short while. If Beast was now the Black King of the Hellfire Club then why shouldn't the Dark Beast become an X-Man? It wouldn't be as though he was the first member with a decidedly murky past.

"Hey fuzzy are ya going ta quit yer daydreaming and come one, we've got beer waiting ya know."

"Of course Logan," said McCoy with a grin.

Cassandra Nova's Lair

"Well I would be out there trying to win Hank's heart but now I unfortunately seem to have hit an insurmountable obstacle. I mean taking over the Shiar Empire and wiping out Genosha were nothing compared to this. Even I may not be able to beat this challenge," sighed Cassandra.

The energy being had spent the last twelve hours tackling this problem but for all her incredible power and vast intellect she had to admit that she was no closer now to finding a solution now than when she had first set out. It might have seemed trivial to the casual observer but in reality it was one of the greatest challenges she would ever face. Which dress would she wear, the red one or the black one.

"Oh I give up," she groaned and started to bang her head against the wall.

It seemed for the moment that Hank was safe.

Mansion

"I just want you to know Jean that well I'm sorry about Scott and well I'm not going to be pursuing him any more. I've found someone new," said Emma.

"That's OK, I'll probably forgive him eventually since at least the excuse of marital problems means I can pursue Logan without feeling quite so guilty about it," replied Jean.

With that the two women smiled happy to have sorted out their differences. Besides Jean was looking forward to the look on Scott's face when he finally found out about just what her retribution was going to be. There was one good thing you could say about the Dark Beast, he certainly had a good imagination when it came to thinking up cruel and unusual punishments.

Hellfire Club

"Ya know Hank, this is just great," sighed Bobby curling up on the sofa.

"Indeed it certainly seems a lot quieter with just the three of us," laughed Martinique.

"Stars and garters, I'd quite forgotten what peace and quiet was actually like," rumbled Hank contentedly helping himself to another Twinkie.

They were having a nice quiet watch of a good action movie and they had been enjoying a quiet peaceful afternoon. Unfortunately all three of them had made the fatal mistake on commenting how nice it was to finally have some peace. Due to a certain universal law this meant that something very nasty indeed was about to happen!