Cipher's Elegy

By Cypher

Chapter Seven: Brotherhood Battle

Douglas tried not to yawn as the English teacher lectured on about some poem the class had read last night. He had found the poem dull, and in his mind, childish. Still, he read it to pass the test. Having taken that test, though, he was now bored. Logan had given back his book finally, but if he pulled it out he knew the teacher would notice him not paying attention. So he doodled Egyptian hieroglyphs on a sheet of binder paper, barely listening to the world around him.

Something hit the back of his head, and he frowned, glancing over his shoulder. Most of the other students looked as bored as he was, but one, the kid named Pietro, was grinning, and trying to look innocent. What the hell is he up to. Not seeing any evidence, however, Douglas went back to his doodles, realizing for the first time that he had begun intermixing Egyptian hieroglyphs with Grecian symbols. Amazing what happens when you let your mind wander-ow! He rubbed the back of his head and noticed a piece of eraser had fallen on his desk. He's throwing eraser bits? He felt another hit his head. Just ignore him. He's trying to get a rise out of you.

Pietro smirked and ripped apart another eraser, placing the smaller pieces on the palm of one hand and flicked them at Douglas' head with the other. Come on, new guy. Just get annoyed enough to fight us at lunch. It's time the Brotherhood welcomed you to the area.

Douglas gripped his poetry book, twisting it slightly. Don't let him get to you...don't let him get to you... He grit his teeth as Pietro launched yet another round at him. That's it! Silently he twisted in his seat and hurled the book at the white-haired teen.

Pietro, focusing on the erasers, didn't notice the book until he felt its impact on his face, its force causing him to fall out of his seat. "Shit!"

Despite the fact that Douglas was silent, the teacher did notice the altercation. "Mr. Ramsey! Maximoff!"

"I got tired of being used as target practice." Douglas crossed his arms. "It was self defense."

"No way!" Pietro got to his feet, leaving the book on the ground, but unconsciously gripping some eraser pieces in his hand. "That was unprovoked!" He rubbed his nose.

"Who has the eraser droppings around his desk?"

Pietro was about to respond with a snide comment, but the teacher spoke up first. "Alright, both of you go to the principal. You can settle it there."

Douglas opened his mouth to protest, but the angry glare from the instructor caused him to change his mind. Grumbling in Latin, he gathered his things and headed for the door, pausing only a moment to pick up his textbook.

Pietro followed Douglas out and made sure the door was closed before dashing in front of the blond mutant. "Think you're smart, huh?"

"Leave me alone." Douglas tried to step around him.

Pietro moved to block his way once more. "Don't think you can get away with this."

Douglas growled. "Get away with what? You instigated this fight."

"Yeah, but who do you think the principal will believe? You, a new student, or me-"

"A social deviant who's flunking and has a criminal record."

Pietro's jaw dropped a moment, then it was his turn to growl. "Why you-"

"I don't know what you've got against me, Speedy Gonzalaz, but get over it." Douglas pushed past Pietro again.

Pietro, not willing to let him get in the last word, stepped in his path. "You-"

Douglas didn't pause in his walking. He simply glared and kept his pace steady.

Not wanting to collide, Pietro stepped back. He had to take three more as Douglas' pace increased. What's he doing? He finally stepped to the side, allowing Douglas to pass and head directly towards the Principal's door. Weirdo. But how dare he...he... Pietro rubbed his nose. He's going to get it. Real soon.

~*()*~

"You, like, threw a book at him?"

"I got sick and tired of him throwing stuff at my head." Douglas set his literature book in his locker and pulled out his lunch. "Principal Kelly was very understanding, and just gave me a warning. Ironically, Pietro's reputation saved me."

Kitty shook her head, hugging her binder to her chest. "You'd better be careful. The Brotherhood'll come after you."

"Because I defended myself?"

"Because you pissed off Pietro." She headed for the quad, Douglas at her side. "So, did you, like, say anything else to him?"

"I called him Speedy Gonzalaz."

Kitty giggled. "That must've surprised him."

"Not as much as I'd hoped, but I'm not going to let him intimidate me. I went through part of my life relenting to bullies like him. I'm not going to do it again." Douglas looked around and spotted Scott on the opposite side of the room. "There they are."

"Cool." Kitty headed for the lunch line. "I'll see you in a few, alright?"

"Alright." Douglas wove his way through the crowd and sat down opposite the team leader.

Scott eyed the paper bag Douglas was looking through. "Why don't you buy lunch here like the rest of us?"

"I did that at private school. Compared to that, the food here should be fed to the dogs. Besides, I want to save my money."

"The school pays for it."

Douglas shrugged. "Then I just don't like the food they serve."

Evan sat down near Scott, followed by Kurt, who frowned when he saw Douglas there. The facial expression went unnoticed by the other mutants.

Scott sighed and looked at the food on his tray. After a minute, he pushed it towards Kurt. "Thanks for ruining it for me."

Kurt offered the milk carton to Evan, and dug into the two meals in front of him.

Kitty arrived a few minutes later with her own tray of food and took a seat next to Douglas, kissing him on the cheek briefly.

Douglas smiled and pulled out a few items from his bag. He noticed one of the Brotherhood members, the one named Lance, glare at him before stepping outside. Maybe I'd better stick close to Kitty or Kurt for the next few days. Douglas' eyes flitted to his roommate, and his smile shrunk slightly. Five weeks had passed since he had arrived, and for the past four weeks, it seemed that Kurt had become colder and less friendly each day. Douglas had tried to keep the friendship up. He tried setting him up on a date with a New Mutant (in retrospect, Amara probably wasn't the best choice), tried talking in German about Germany, about his life, he even tried inviting Kurt to get some food and hang out. Nothing seemed to work. He's still there, he's still polite, but it's...it's like he hates me.

At one point, Douglas pondered asking Xavier to change rooms. Jamie had grown rather fond of him, and he didn't have a roommate. Douglas found out a little later that the Professor kept Jamie alone because he was younger than the other mutants. That idea squashed, Douglas then investigated the other New Mutants' room situations, even Bobby Drake's, though that risked being the first to suffer from his pranks. Sadly, all of them either had a roommate, or a legitimate reason for being alone. Who knew Sam sleep walked. Well, sleep flew. Apparently the Southern mutant had a tendency to suddenly launch around the room while he was dreaming. Certainly explains all the dents and scuff marks on the ceiling and walls.

Still, Douglas wanted his relationship with Kurt to survive, and the way it was going, he wasn't sure it would. How do you stay roommates with a person you can't even be friends with? Douglas was not, however, a quitter. I'll figure something out. Maybe he needs more alone time. Yeah, that could be it. Privacy is a big thing with him.

"What? Have I got a piece of food on my face or something?"

Douglas blinked a couple times, and realized he had spent the last few minutes staring at Scott. Blushing slightly, he mumbled an apology and went back to his lunch.

Scott and the other mutants exchanged confused glances.

Kitty simply shrugged. "He was probably just thinking. He stares when he does, and doesn't even know it."

"Still...did he have to stare at me?" Scott ran a hand through his hair self-consciously, making sure it wasn't out of place.

Evan rolled his eyes and finished off another carton of milk. "I've said it before and I'll say it again, you've got a weird roommate."

Kurt finished off one of his school hamburgers. "Ja, I know."

~*()*~

"So, the Saddie Hawkins is next week, and I was just wondering if you'd, like, want to go with...with...Douglas, are you okay?" Kitty rested a hand on Douglas' arm, steadying him.

Douglas took a few minutes to steady his breathing. "I'm...I'm sorry. I'd...I'd love to...it's just..."

Kitty nodded and patted the arm she was holding While Douglas' shyness had dissipated quite a bit, Kitty kept in mind that she was the first girl that Douglas had ever gone out with, and he was still easily flustered. "Great. So, like, we'll catch a ride with Scott."

"Sounds fine...fine. Yeah..." Douglas sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Sorry. I'll have my mind back in order in a second."

"It's alright." She smiled and held his hand. They had decided to walk home, as it was a nice autumn day, and Kitty saw it as an opportunity to ask him to the dance. I wonder what I should wear. It's semiformal, so nothing too fancy...

"Hey, Pretty Kitty."

Kitty groaned, but tensed when she noticed Lance was in his Brotherhood uniform. Uh oh.

Douglas stepped closer, and somewhat in front of her, protectively. What is going on today? Two annoying teenagers in one day? Is there a full moon or equinox I don't know about?

"What do you want, Lance."

"Your boyfriend," Lance sneered at that word, "picked on the wrong guy today."

"Excuse me? Pietro, like, picked on him first."

"He still attacked a Brotherhood member." Lance stepped forward. "Now he's got to face us."

"Forget it, Lance. Come on, Douglas. Let's get outta here." Kitty tugged Douglas' arm and pulled him towards the Institute.

"Not this time, Kitty." Lance put his hands out and rolled his eyes back.

Douglas fell to a knee as the ground became unstable. Rather than focus on Lance, he looked around for Kitty. He found her also on the ground, but getting over the initial shock, as rising waves of dirt phased right through her. Guess she's fine. He turned to face Lance again, only to find himself suddenly moving very quickly away from the earthquake-causing mutant. "Huh?"

"Told ya we'd get ya."

Douglas felt an arm around his waist, and realized that Pietro was brining him away from Kitty and the Institute. Well shit. This just ruins my day. He narrowed his eyes, trying to figure out what to do. After a few seconds, he lashed out his leg and hooked it around one of Pietro's.

"Waah!" Pietro fell face first onto the ground.

Douglas rolled away and spit out the dirt that had gotten in his mouth. That was less than graceful. He stood up and looked around, trying to get his bearings. Which way to the Institute?

"You're gonna pay for that, blonde."

Douglas turned to face the new voice, and ended up looking over the very large stomach of the Blob. Uh oh. Knowing he wouldn't be able to take on the larger mutant, he turned and bolted, guessing which way the Institute was. Not good. Not good. NOW I see why the Professor wanted me to be able to contact him.

~*()*~

Kitty stood up and looked around, trying to find where Douglas was, or at least Lance. Unfortunately, neither teen was in view, but she did spot Douglas' book bag. "Oh no..." ~Professor! The Brotherhood has Douglas!~

~Calm down, Kitty. Do you know which way they went?~

~No. Professor, he can't stand up against them! We have to find him!~

~He's stronger than he seems, Kitty. I'm sending Kurt. He'll help you begin to track him. Bobby is also nearby, so he'll join you. Don't worry. We'll find him.~

Kitty picked up Douglas' bag and shouldered it with her own. I just hope we find him before he's been hurt too much.

"Kitty!"

Kitty turned and hurried towards Kurt. He had changed into his X-Men uniform, and his yellow eyes were looking her over. She knew he was checking to make sure she was okay. She spotted Bobby running up behind the blue mutant, icing himself over as he approached. "Thanks for coming so quickly."

"What happened?" Bobby looked around, rubbing his hands together. He was itching to put his training to good use.

"Avalanche. I think Quicksilver took them away from here, but where, I'm not sure." Kitty handed Douglas' bag to Bobby.

Bobby begrudgingly took it, not really wanting to be a bellhop. "So what do we do?"

Kurt examined the ground, sniffing slightly. While his senses weren't as sharp as Logan's, they could pick up things normal humans couldn't. Including scent. He glanced at Kitty, knowing that she was hoping he could find the right way to go. If I mislead her, she'll be upset at me, and probably wouldn't leave Douglas' side. On the other hand, though, if I lead her right to him, she'll be grateful, but stay with him. His shoulders slumped. Wunderbar. No matter what I end up without her. And, deep down, while he didn't like Douglas, he didn't want anything too serious to happen to him.

Bobby stepped forward. "Any luck?"

Kurt nodded, his tail curling a moment. "This way." Kurt ran towards the edge of a park, the edge that began as a forest.

Bobby and Kitty ran after him. We're coming, Douglas. Just hold on.

~*()*~

"You're not going anywhere."

Douglas yelped as something slimy and strong wrapped around his ankle and pulled him to the ground. Grunting, he tested the strength of whatever held him, and decided the weight wasn't that great. He planted his hands on the ground and swung his leg around, dragging whoever was anchoring the restraint with it. He managed to catch a glimpse of what had caught him. A tongue? He felt a vibration travel up the appendage, and it went lax. Guess he hit a tree. The tongue retreated from his leg and he flipped up, getting into a defensive stance. I'm SO glad for those yoga lessons. Wolverine's training, too. I'd be in such pain now, otherwise. He spotted the owner of the tongue groaning and rubbing his head. Toad, I think.

"Yo, you didn't have to do it that hard."

Douglas rolled his eyes and looked around, trying to find any of the other Brotherhood members. Not seeing any, he decided to be bold and stalked up to the smaller mutant.

Toad backed up, not liking the determined look in Douglas' blue eyes. "I'm outta here." He turned to jump away.

Douglas tackled him and wrapped an arm around Toad's neck, cutting off his air momentarily. Easy, easy. Logan showed you these, but never how to keep it non-lethal. Just...don't apply too much pressure. "Where's the Institute."

"Huh?" Toad's eyes searched the woods, hoping one of his friends would show up. Maybe he really is Wolverine's protégé. He struggled in Douglas' grip.

Douglas tightened his hold, causing Toad to wheeze. "Which way to get to the Institute? Just point and I'll let you go."

Toad hesitated a moment, then pointed to the left of where he was standing. "Now let me go, yo?"

Douglas sighed through his nose and shoved Toad away, running where Toad pointed. However, the ground started rumbling before he got far. "Crap."

"Time to rock your world." Avalanche pulled his arm up, throwing the ground beneath Douglas upward, and the blond mutant back to where he was when Toad had caught him.

"Get a better catch phrase, moron." Douglas pushed himself up, but got shoved back to the ground by a meaty hand. Damn. Blob caught up.

"Let's see how much you like getting picked on." Blob lifted a foot.

Douglas rolled out of the way and got to his feet again, swinging his arms to keep his balance as Avalanche kept the ground shaking. This isn't going well.

Quicksilver came into his vision and landed a fist in his stomach. "Not so tough now, are ya."

Douglas coughed and held his stomach, but smirked slightly. "I'm not the one with dirt on his face."

Quicksilver turned a bit red, and responded by running around Douglas, forming a small vortex.

Douglas, shielding his face, flew into the air. Think, think, THINK! You can figure a way out of this! You can!...can't you?

"Hah hah, he doesn't look so good." Toad smirked. This sight was worth nearly choking.

Look so good...green...of course! Douglas shifted his weight, trying to turn upside-down in the vortex. Just a little longer. Have to upset the stomach.

"Think you can hit him with a stick?" Avalanche tossed a stick to the Blob.

"I'll try." The Blob took aim.

Hurry...hurry...okay, let's hope he's enough of a teen to react normally. Feeling bile rise in his throat, Douglas began retching, trying to aim for where Quicksilver was running.

"Gross. He's gonna puke."

Quicksilver immediately stopped running and put his hands on his hips as Douglas fell towards the ground. "Not on me he's not."

Okay, change of plans. Douglas swallowed the acidic substance in his throat and managed to snag a branch. Don't want to die from a fall. Grunting, he pulled himself up on the branch and clung to the trunk. Not much better, but at least I'm out of the winds.

"He was just faking, Toad. Geeze, you're so stupid at times." Avalanche's eyes rolled back as he shook the ground beneath the tree.

I'm dead. Douglas debated the wisdom in using the Blob as a landing cushion, when he felt a hand wrap around his waist. Glancing to the side, he caught a bit of blue fur. Kurt. A moment later he felt himself on solid ground. "Thanks."

"Douglas!" Kitty rushed forward and hugged him.

Kurt slunk back. I knew it.

Douglas patted Kitty's back, then smiled at Kurt. "Thanks, man. I wasn't going to be able to hang out much longer."

"No problem." Kurt's tail lashed at a shrub.

"Uh, guys. I think we should get out of here." Bobby iced the ground and turned towards the others. "The Brotherhood's coming."

"Right. Everyone touch Nightcrawler." Kitty, her hand around Douglas' waist, rested her hand on Kurt's shoulder. Bobby placed his hand on Kurt's shoulder, and a second later the four of them were outside the gates of the Institute.

"Well," Bobby clapped his hands together as he deiced his body, "we showed them."

Douglas rested his head against Kitty's shoulder. "No, we didn't, but thanks for saying so."

~*()*~

"For a scrape with the Brotherhood, you got off pretty well." Hank McCoy set down the chart he was holding and smiled at Douglas. "Congratulations. A few bruises and a minor concussion."

"If it were anyone else they would've had even less." Douglas pulled his shirt back on, wincing slightly as the fabric rubbed against the sore spot on his head.

"Not really. Kurt was once ambushed by the Brotherhood and he ended up with similar wounds. Just because your powers are internalized doesn't mean you didn't handle the situation to the best of your ability."

Douglas remembered the look on Toad's face when he had him in that death grip. "I guess..."

Hank patted his shoulder. "You did well. I'm going to recommend Logan skip your training session today, but tomorrow you'll probably be fine."

"Thanks." Douglas slipped off the table. "What time is it, anyway?"

"Only five. Why do you ask?"

"I wasn't sure how long the attack took. I kinda lost sense of time when it began." Running a hand through the front of his hair, he headed for the exit of the infirmary. "See you around, Mr. McCoy."

"Indeed."

Douglas crossed his arms and headed for the elevator. He could hear the Danger Room running, and the telltale sounds of mutants using their powers. X-Team must be practicing. He pushed the call button for the elevator and waited, considering what had happened. Did I fight back to the best of my ability? I ran most of the time. Hell, that was my sole goal, to get away. Does that make me a coward?

"Douglas, are you going in?"

"GAH!" Douglas jumped back, nearly hitting his head against the wall. "You scared me, Professor!"

"I apologize." Xavier rolled his wheelchair into the elevator. "The lift had been open for a few minutes and you hadn't noticed. I wanted to make sure you were okay."

Douglas patted his chest, taking deep breaths to calm down. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking." He stepped inside the cylinder-shaped device and pushed the ground floor button.

Xavier steepled his hands and looked at him. "Douglas,"

"I don't want to talk about it, Professor."

"I wasn't going to say that."

Douglas glanced at him, sticking his hands in his pockets. "Sorry."

"It's alright. I was going to say you did well, today. Kitty explained what happened. You were ambushed. You don't have to blame yourself."

"I'm not. I'm just...thinking."

Xavier continued observing him. "I don't need my powers to see that whatever you're thinking is bothering you."

Douglas wrinkled his nose. "I still don't want to talk about it." He stepped out as the elevator came to the surface level. He paused, and looked over his shoulder. "But...thanks for asking."

Xavier bowed his head, keeping his eyes on the teenager until the doors closed and the lift continued its ascent.

Douglas headed for the main stairs, waving at Jamie and his dozen or so clones playing tag. Bobby was off in the corner, and Douglas managed to hear enough to know he was telling the others how he helped in the fight. Probably leaving out he was carrying my bag. Climbing the stairs, he smiled at Ororo watering a plant, and made a direct beeline for his room.

Once inside, he knew he wasn't alone. He got the tingling feeling in the base of his spine that he often felt when Kurt was staring at him. Turning around, he found not Kurt, but Logan standing on the opposite side of the room. He was leaning against the wall, arms and legs crossed, and his eyes were staring directly at him. Hunching his shoulders slightly, Douglas didn't make eye contact and made his way to his bed, sitting on it and folding his hands together.

Logan watched the kid for a few minutes. He didn't know what had happened after Douglas was taken from Kitty's sight, but from the body language and from how distracted he seemed to Charles while they shared an elevator, he had an idea. "You got in a fight."

"Yeah." Douglas fiddled with his fingers.

"You ran, didn't you."

Douglas flinched. It wasn't a question, but a statement. "Yeah."

Logan pursed his lips. In all honesty, he wasn't surprised. True, the kid had worked hard in training, and was starting to hold his own against some of the other mutants. However, for all the sparring sessions where he passed Logan's test, he was never really enthusiastic about it. Once he had overheard Douglas talking with the New Mutants at dinner, and admitted he was a pacifist at heart, and would rather turn from a battle and get a bad reputation than face the attackers. Add to that the Blob and mutants with abilities superior to his own...

"I'm sorry I disappointed you."

Logan sighed. He had the advantage of age and an aura of intimidation. If he was in Douglas' place, a shy and barely apt fighter, he supposed he might run as well. Walking over, he patted the blond's shoulder. "I'm not disappointed, kid. You did the right thing."

Douglas looked up at him. "I ran. Isn't that...cowardice?"

"Not when you're outgunned and outnumbered. You made the right choice, and I'm not disappointed. You did the best someone in your situation could."

Douglas bit his lip, staring at the floor. After a moment, he looked up again and gave Logan a small smile. "Thanks, Logan."

Logan grunted. "Don't mention it." With that he opened the door and left. Should talk to Chuck about his self-esteem. It tends to crash easily.

Douglas watched the door for a few minutes, then rolled onto his bed and stared at his ceiling. Guess I should count this as a win...and move on. And knowing that no one considered his actions wrong or pathetic, Douglas felt okay with doing that.

~*()*~

~*()*~

~*()*~

Author's Prattle: This one came out in a flurry. Two days, actually. Amazing what you'll do to avoid studying for finals. Not much to say this chapter. I do want to apologize for any misspellings of Peitro's name or the dance's name. Also, words between two ~ indicates telepathy.

Disclaimers. I don't own Evo, it's characters or settings. I also don't own Cipher. They both belong to Marvel. I don't own Speedy Gonzalaz either. That's a Warner Brothers character.
Reviews are always welcome. Until next time!