Disclaimer: I don't own any X-men Evolution characters. This takes place
the day after The Day of Reckoning. Mystique is leading the Brotherhood,
and has entered school as a new student, since the secret that she was
Risty had been exposed, Xavier has been rescued from the tank, SHEILD
knocked the TV station off the air before anybody recognized the mutants.
And now with no further ado, the story.
Lance was talking to Kitty in the halls. "Listen, um, can we do something tonight."
"Sure, why not?! Besides the fact that you're working for a man who would gladly kill off the majority off the Earth's population, just to ensure the survival of a select few!"
"Listen do you know what would happen if I tried to leave?"
"Tabitha left. Rogue left."
"They went to the X-men. You know that would never work out for me. You remember what happened last time I tried. Besides the X-men there's nowhere Magneto wouldn't find me.
And I'm scared of what he would do to me. You remember the mysterious killing a while back? The kid joined the Brotherhood. Next morning he tried to leave. Magneto found him."
"That poor kid! Alright, I can picture what you're going through. Can you pick me up around seven?"
"Sure. If you'll convince Tabitha to give me my jeep back."
"I'll see what I can do." She giggled, then suddenly turned serious. "What about Mystique?"
"I'll tell her something. Don't worry, I'll be there."
"O.K. bye!"
She ran off to class. Lance walked off in the opposite direction whistling a tune. He was unaware of a pair of eyes following him. For a brief second those eyes flashed yellow. Then they returned to their normal blue state.
* * *
Lance got home a few minutes before any of the other Brotherhood and walked into the house. He was surprised to see Mystique standing in the middle of the living room in her natural state.
"Mystique shouldn't you be someone else? I mean what if a salesman comes or some-"
He was cut off by the sudden, sharp, blow of Mystique's fist. He staggered back, blood trickling down his face, just as Fred walked in.
"I'm glad you're here Fred." Said Mystique, "This will be a lesson in trying to keep things from me. If you would kindly hold Lance steady."
Fred wasn't the fastest thinker on the team, but he quickly realized what was happening. He defensively stepped in front of Lance.
"Time to pick a side Blob." She said and stepped forward. Fred braced himself.
"Do it Fred." Said Lance from behind him. "It's not worth it."
"But,"
"Just do it!"
He stood there for a full minute before Mystique said, "Never mind. Just go!"
"Not if,"
"Fred," said Lance, his voice surprisingly calm and serene. "I'll be all right. I'm not going to drag you down with me."
Slowly, Fred turned and exited the room, heading towards the door. He went out of the house, and just kept walking.
A short while later, screams echoed throughout the deserted neighborhood.
* * *
Wanda and the others were headed towards the door, when Fred walked up. He joined them, and Wanda noticed that he was surprisingly quiet.
"What's wrong Freddy?"
"I just," but they had reached the door. Lance was lying on the floor, barely conscious. His shirt was in rags, and what was left was soaked with blood. Mystique stood over him, with a whip in her hands.
She kicked Lance brutally in the side and left. Wanda ran to Lance's side. "Toad, get the first aid kit. Blob, help me get him up on the couch. Blob?"
But Blob was just standing there, with a look akin to shock on his face. "I could have stopped it. I could have stopped it. I could have stopped it."
"Blob, what are you talking about?"
"It's my fault. I could have stopped Mystique, but I just, I just." He couldn't bring himself to say it.
He picked Lance up, and set him gently down on the couch. "I'm sorry buddy. I'm sorry."
Toad came back in with the first aid kit.
He quickly bandaged the most serious wounds. "That should do for now. I'm gonna need some more medical supplies though. Wanda stay with him, every ten minutes check his temperature. If it's over one hundred and three, he's got a fever. Wipe his forehead with a damp cloth, and keep him warm. If I'm not back in half an hour, change his bandages, and put some more peroxide on the cuts."
He hopped out leaving the rest of the Brotherhood behind to watch over Lance.
* * *
The next morning, Mystique went out on what she described, as an important assignment.
Toad had come back in late the night before, and had found Wanda and Blob, red eyed and tired, still watching over Lance. He had sent them to bed, and stayed up all night himself, working on Lance's wounds.
Lance himself had blissfully slept though it all.
Wanda and Fred came down to find Toad, still awake sitting by Lance, carefully changing his bandages.
"So how bad is it?" asked Fred.
"He amazingly didn't lose as much blood as he seemed to. But he's gonna be in a lot of pain for the first few hours after he wakes up. So I got some painkillers. Also, his arm may be broken."
Lance who had been awake for the whole conversation struggled to get up. Exhausted by his efforts, he let Toad push him back down.
"I can't go to school like this. The X-men,"
"You're not going to school. Not until your arm's fixed. We'll take turns skipping."
"Alright, but Fred, Todd, Wanda, promise me something. Just don't tell Kitty."
"O.K. Lance. Agreed. You two need to get to school yo. I'll take first watch." Said Toad
They left.
* * *
At school Kitty wasn't happy. She managed to corner Wanda. "Where's Lance?"
"He's at home."
"What?! He hasn't skipped in a month."
"He's going through something hard."
"Like what?"
"I promised not to tell you."
"Like promises make any difference to you, you scum."
"Look if you want to find out, go to the Boarding house during lunch. Boom-Boom will give you a lift. But if Mystique's there stay phased and get out as fast"
"Alright, it'll be worth it, to find out what's going on."
* * *
Mean while back at the Brotherhood house, lunchtime had rolled around. "Yo, Lance, I'm making you some chicken noodle soup. It's supposed to help you get better or something, although I think for that's for colds, but it's the only thing I could microwave."
"Todd,"
"Yes,"
"Is the soup still in the can?"
"Yes."
"Did you turn the microwave on for over twenty minutes?"
"Yes,"
A loud boom echoed through the house.
"Did you know that whenever there's a slight chance at explosion, in this house, it actually explodes?"
"Yes,"
"Well, I guess it's the thought that counts, not the lack of thought."
"Um, I'm gonna take that as a compliment."
"Good idea."
"Yo, I gotta change your bandages."
"Alright. Hey, where'd you learn all this stuff anyways?"
"I signed up for paramedic's class, partly to get out of a month's detention, and partly because Mystique was still around at that point, and I thought it might turn out to be useful."
"Well, you were right."
"Man, why do you hang out with her anyways? You know Mystique's gonna keep doing this to you, and I personally blame her for this as much as Mystique. I'm not sure but I think the other's feel the same."
"I don't know, I know she's just gonna get me in trouble with Mystique, but whenever I see her all that goes right out the window." At that moment Kitty phased through the door. Lance quickly covered himself up with a blanket and pretended to be watching Wheel of Fortune.
"You know Lance," said Kitty, "you have some nerve standing me up like that."
"You know Kitty," mimicked Todd, "You're a real piece of work."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that Lance is going through living hell because of you, and he hasn't stopped loving you a bit. And he can't make it to one lousy date, and you automatically treat him like evil incarnate."
"What do you mean he's going through living hell?"
"Todd," said Lance warningly, "Drop it."
"I'm not gonna drop it yo."
"Drop what?" asked Kitty.
"It's nothing."
"If it's nothing why don't you tell her?"
"Yes, Lance, tell me."
"There's nothing to tell."
"Really? I'm sure I could think of a few things if I hadn't made a promise. Well, I never promised not to show her." He used his tongue too rip the blanket off of Lance. He didn't have a shirt on, and the marks of the beating were still evident.
Kitty gasped as she saw the gashes. "What happened?"
"Mystique found out I was still seeing you. She wasn't happy about it."
"I'm so sorry. I'm sure Hank has something,"
"No!" Kitty winced at the force of his protest. "I'm sorry it's just, I can't let anybody know."
"If you don't let anybody know how are they supposed to help you?"
"I don't need anymore help then the guys are giving me."
She noticed the cast on his arm. "Mystique?"
"Mystique."
"You guys have got to get out from under her thumb."
"Easier said then done. I for one can't even stand on my own."
"And we ain't leaving you yo!"
"So I guess we're stuck until I can walk again."
"The X-men,"
"No. Every one has a personal grudge against one of the X-men except Wanda, and she has her own agenda."
At that moment the door flew open and Mystique walked in.
"You Tolensky! I told you to let him fend for himself! You want to be next?" Then she saw Kitty. "And if it isn't Lance's little Kitten."
Lance's eyes blazed with fury. "Todd, Kitty, get out of here."
"Yo, you sure you're gonna be all right?"
"I can take care of myself."
"If you say so." He hopped out the window.
"Kitty,"
"I'm not leaving."
"I didn't want to have to do this, but,"
He focused his power, and the ground buckled throwing Kitty at the wall. She phased, and passed through it. said Mystique, "You're strong enough to use your powers again."
"So,"
"You have no idea!" He snarled, and clenched his fist. The ground began to shake so violently that, pieces of the ceiling were lodged loose and fell heavily to the ground.
"Stop you fool, you'll kill us both!"
"That's the idea! Maybe I can't get out from under your thumb, but I can get the others out!" He focused even harder, until the entire house collapsed upon itself. When the smoke cleared, there was nothing but rubble.
"Lance!" cried Kitty running to the wreckage.
Toad looked sadly at what used to be his home. "He made his choice."
Are Lance and Mystique dead? How will Kitty react? Will the Brotherhood blame Kitty and the X-men for this? If so how will they retaliate? Find the answers to these questions and more in the next chapter.
Lance was talking to Kitty in the halls. "Listen, um, can we do something tonight."
"Sure, why not?! Besides the fact that you're working for a man who would gladly kill off the majority off the Earth's population, just to ensure the survival of a select few!"
"Listen do you know what would happen if I tried to leave?"
"Tabitha left. Rogue left."
"They went to the X-men. You know that would never work out for me. You remember what happened last time I tried. Besides the X-men there's nowhere Magneto wouldn't find me.
And I'm scared of what he would do to me. You remember the mysterious killing a while back? The kid joined the Brotherhood. Next morning he tried to leave. Magneto found him."
"That poor kid! Alright, I can picture what you're going through. Can you pick me up around seven?"
"Sure. If you'll convince Tabitha to give me my jeep back."
"I'll see what I can do." She giggled, then suddenly turned serious. "What about Mystique?"
"I'll tell her something. Don't worry, I'll be there."
"O.K. bye!"
She ran off to class. Lance walked off in the opposite direction whistling a tune. He was unaware of a pair of eyes following him. For a brief second those eyes flashed yellow. Then they returned to their normal blue state.
* * *
Lance got home a few minutes before any of the other Brotherhood and walked into the house. He was surprised to see Mystique standing in the middle of the living room in her natural state.
"Mystique shouldn't you be someone else? I mean what if a salesman comes or some-"
He was cut off by the sudden, sharp, blow of Mystique's fist. He staggered back, blood trickling down his face, just as Fred walked in.
"I'm glad you're here Fred." Said Mystique, "This will be a lesson in trying to keep things from me. If you would kindly hold Lance steady."
Fred wasn't the fastest thinker on the team, but he quickly realized what was happening. He defensively stepped in front of Lance.
"Time to pick a side Blob." She said and stepped forward. Fred braced himself.
"Do it Fred." Said Lance from behind him. "It's not worth it."
"But,"
"Just do it!"
He stood there for a full minute before Mystique said, "Never mind. Just go!"
"Not if,"
"Fred," said Lance, his voice surprisingly calm and serene. "I'll be all right. I'm not going to drag you down with me."
Slowly, Fred turned and exited the room, heading towards the door. He went out of the house, and just kept walking.
A short while later, screams echoed throughout the deserted neighborhood.
* * *
Wanda and the others were headed towards the door, when Fred walked up. He joined them, and Wanda noticed that he was surprisingly quiet.
"What's wrong Freddy?"
"I just," but they had reached the door. Lance was lying on the floor, barely conscious. His shirt was in rags, and what was left was soaked with blood. Mystique stood over him, with a whip in her hands.
She kicked Lance brutally in the side and left. Wanda ran to Lance's side. "Toad, get the first aid kit. Blob, help me get him up on the couch. Blob?"
But Blob was just standing there, with a look akin to shock on his face. "I could have stopped it. I could have stopped it. I could have stopped it."
"Blob, what are you talking about?"
"It's my fault. I could have stopped Mystique, but I just, I just." He couldn't bring himself to say it.
He picked Lance up, and set him gently down on the couch. "I'm sorry buddy. I'm sorry."
Toad came back in with the first aid kit.
He quickly bandaged the most serious wounds. "That should do for now. I'm gonna need some more medical supplies though. Wanda stay with him, every ten minutes check his temperature. If it's over one hundred and three, he's got a fever. Wipe his forehead with a damp cloth, and keep him warm. If I'm not back in half an hour, change his bandages, and put some more peroxide on the cuts."
He hopped out leaving the rest of the Brotherhood behind to watch over Lance.
* * *
The next morning, Mystique went out on what she described, as an important assignment.
Toad had come back in late the night before, and had found Wanda and Blob, red eyed and tired, still watching over Lance. He had sent them to bed, and stayed up all night himself, working on Lance's wounds.
Lance himself had blissfully slept though it all.
Wanda and Fred came down to find Toad, still awake sitting by Lance, carefully changing his bandages.
"So how bad is it?" asked Fred.
"He amazingly didn't lose as much blood as he seemed to. But he's gonna be in a lot of pain for the first few hours after he wakes up. So I got some painkillers. Also, his arm may be broken."
Lance who had been awake for the whole conversation struggled to get up. Exhausted by his efforts, he let Toad push him back down.
"I can't go to school like this. The X-men,"
"You're not going to school. Not until your arm's fixed. We'll take turns skipping."
"Alright, but Fred, Todd, Wanda, promise me something. Just don't tell Kitty."
"O.K. Lance. Agreed. You two need to get to school yo. I'll take first watch." Said Toad
They left.
* * *
At school Kitty wasn't happy. She managed to corner Wanda. "Where's Lance?"
"He's at home."
"What?! He hasn't skipped in a month."
"He's going through something hard."
"Like what?"
"I promised not to tell you."
"Like promises make any difference to you, you scum."
"Look if you want to find out, go to the Boarding house during lunch. Boom-Boom will give you a lift. But if Mystique's there stay phased and get out as fast"
"Alright, it'll be worth it, to find out what's going on."
* * *
Mean while back at the Brotherhood house, lunchtime had rolled around. "Yo, Lance, I'm making you some chicken noodle soup. It's supposed to help you get better or something, although I think for that's for colds, but it's the only thing I could microwave."
"Todd,"
"Yes,"
"Is the soup still in the can?"
"Yes."
"Did you turn the microwave on for over twenty minutes?"
"Yes,"
A loud boom echoed through the house.
"Did you know that whenever there's a slight chance at explosion, in this house, it actually explodes?"
"Yes,"
"Well, I guess it's the thought that counts, not the lack of thought."
"Um, I'm gonna take that as a compliment."
"Good idea."
"Yo, I gotta change your bandages."
"Alright. Hey, where'd you learn all this stuff anyways?"
"I signed up for paramedic's class, partly to get out of a month's detention, and partly because Mystique was still around at that point, and I thought it might turn out to be useful."
"Well, you were right."
"Man, why do you hang out with her anyways? You know Mystique's gonna keep doing this to you, and I personally blame her for this as much as Mystique. I'm not sure but I think the other's feel the same."
"I don't know, I know she's just gonna get me in trouble with Mystique, but whenever I see her all that goes right out the window." At that moment Kitty phased through the door. Lance quickly covered himself up with a blanket and pretended to be watching Wheel of Fortune.
"You know Lance," said Kitty, "you have some nerve standing me up like that."
"You know Kitty," mimicked Todd, "You're a real piece of work."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that Lance is going through living hell because of you, and he hasn't stopped loving you a bit. And he can't make it to one lousy date, and you automatically treat him like evil incarnate."
"What do you mean he's going through living hell?"
"Todd," said Lance warningly, "Drop it."
"I'm not gonna drop it yo."
"Drop what?" asked Kitty.
"It's nothing."
"If it's nothing why don't you tell her?"
"Yes, Lance, tell me."
"There's nothing to tell."
"Really? I'm sure I could think of a few things if I hadn't made a promise. Well, I never promised not to show her." He used his tongue too rip the blanket off of Lance. He didn't have a shirt on, and the marks of the beating were still evident.
Kitty gasped as she saw the gashes. "What happened?"
"Mystique found out I was still seeing you. She wasn't happy about it."
"I'm so sorry. I'm sure Hank has something,"
"No!" Kitty winced at the force of his protest. "I'm sorry it's just, I can't let anybody know."
"If you don't let anybody know how are they supposed to help you?"
"I don't need anymore help then the guys are giving me."
She noticed the cast on his arm. "Mystique?"
"Mystique."
"You guys have got to get out from under her thumb."
"Easier said then done. I for one can't even stand on my own."
"And we ain't leaving you yo!"
"So I guess we're stuck until I can walk again."
"The X-men,"
"No. Every one has a personal grudge against one of the X-men except Wanda, and she has her own agenda."
At that moment the door flew open and Mystique walked in.
"You Tolensky! I told you to let him fend for himself! You want to be next?" Then she saw Kitty. "And if it isn't Lance's little Kitten."
Lance's eyes blazed with fury. "Todd, Kitty, get out of here."
"Yo, you sure you're gonna be all right?"
"I can take care of myself."
"If you say so." He hopped out the window.
"Kitty,"
"I'm not leaving."
"I didn't want to have to do this, but,"
He focused his power, and the ground buckled throwing Kitty at the wall. She phased, and passed through it. said Mystique, "You're strong enough to use your powers again."
"So,"
"You have no idea!" He snarled, and clenched his fist. The ground began to shake so violently that, pieces of the ceiling were lodged loose and fell heavily to the ground.
"Stop you fool, you'll kill us both!"
"That's the idea! Maybe I can't get out from under your thumb, but I can get the others out!" He focused even harder, until the entire house collapsed upon itself. When the smoke cleared, there was nothing but rubble.
"Lance!" cried Kitty running to the wreckage.
Toad looked sadly at what used to be his home. "He made his choice."
Are Lance and Mystique dead? How will Kitty react? Will the Brotherhood blame Kitty and the X-men for this? If so how will they retaliate? Find the answers to these questions and more in the next chapter.