Disclaimer: I'll give you one guess to what I'm going to say. Yup that's right, pink pants are cool. Oh, and I don't own x-men
A/N: thanks for the wonderful review and thanks Alison Sky for enlightening me on *rn*. And thanks everyone for the encouragement, now on with the madness.
"Well?" The brown haired man arched his eyebrow as he questioned the two teens. The two shifted their weight uncomfortably unwilling to break the silence. "I asked you two a question. Why am I paying you?"
"To get close to Pietro and Wanda Maximoff and gather information." They replied in unison.
"And yet an entire day passes; filled with multi-colored flaming principals, mutant pride rallies, and a drastic change in courses for one of the subjects" the man counted each one of f on his fingers.
"Hey we're sorry." The young man blurted out quickly falling into silent at the look of the older man. With a slightly bemused expression the man motioned for the boy to continue. "Look, they just came in and things went a little bit crazy. We couldn't help it!"
"Besides, they were on there guard." The girl added. "They only talked to fellow mutants, well except when Pietro was flirting" she added quietly.
"Yeah" the boy continued with her thread "but do you really think she could get close to Pietro by flirting, it doesn't work that way. Just give us more time, we need to move slow otherwise we'll blow it."
"Trust us, we can do this." The girl added sincerely. The man looked at the two and weighed his options.
"Very well" his cultured voice finally spoke "just remember what I am paying you for." The two nodded in understanding and then they parted ways.
*The next day*
"Did you see that look Logan was giving us?" Amara whispered into Bobby's ear. He nodded. "I think he knows."
"I think they all know; did you see how much the prof was smiling yesterday." Bobby glanced cautiously over to were the others were, he didn't want Scott to know.
"So he approves?" Ray asked from the corner of his mouth as he pretended to hunt for his history book.
"Who knows, but he hasn't told us to stop yet…" Bobby allowed his voice to trail off with the implications while the others nodded their understanding. They all broke off to go to their separate classes, mindful to watch their mouths around the non-committed 'mutant pride' following but also to keep their thoughts clear around Jean, just in case.
The new mutants did feel guilty about keeping this secret, but they weren't sure if certain mutant's participation in the already famous lunch rally was generally heartfelt or a spur of the moment thing and they couldn't risk old prejudices halting this momentous movement. Besides, it's not like the older mutants really paid much attention to the younger kids anyways, come to think of it, no one paid much attention to them.
"Hey." Wanda looked up to see a familiar boy standing over her. He was wrapped in bandages and had his arm in a sling. "Anyone sitting here?" He asked her. Wanda froze in her reply as his body odor wafted to her nose, he was extremely unhygienic. She glanced over to examine his wrist, or what she could see beneath his bandages, nope, no image inducer, this was not Todd.
Taking her silence as approval he began to seat himself and she earnestly wished Todd was there (the one and only time she swore to herself) just so he could butt in. But he had a different class and Wanda wasn't sure if she could toss this kid out the window in front of the teacher.
"Hey Wanda!" an unfamiliar voice called from behind her "Thanks for saving my seat." With this a totally unknown boy placed his books down on the desk next to her effectively shoving the other boy aside.
"You're welcome." She added thankful for the fact that unhygienic boy was departing the premises. When he was well out of ear shot Wanda continued "now who the hell are you?"
"Don't you remember me?" he asked with a hurt voice.
"No."
"Good, cause we never met before today." He extended his hand in greeting but Wanda just glared at him. "Sorry" he apologized "just figured you could use some help. I really don't like that kid and figured you felt the same."
"Oh, any particular reason for this dislike?" Wanda asked coolly, true she didn't like the kid, he annoyed her, but she wasn't about to stand around and let this kid bust on him just because he might be considered a 'freak'.
"It's just that Ron really freaked one of my friends out. He would follow her around school and leave notes in her locker, even after she told him to stop. He even called her house a couple times. I like to keep my eye on him."
"Thanks, but I can take care of myself." Wanda said with an evil glint.
"Yeah, you're one of those mutants. That's how I knew your name."
"And you still want to associate with me?" she arched her eyebrow in suspicion.
"Why not? I mean, it's not like you're going to kill me or something." He said with a reassuring smile "or stalk me." He added motioning to where Ron was now sitting. Wanda couldn't help but smile.
"But I am some genetic freak."
"No you're not, you're the future." He replied his eyes shining with wonderment.
"You're insane." She quipped trying not smile.
"No, I'm Justin. And the most common adjective is 'weird'." He held out his hand one more time and this time Wanda took it, he wasn't so bad.
"It's the most wonderful time of the day, when the meat is a-coming and food is on its waayyy, it's the most wonderful time of the day" Fred was singing in fine form as the brotherhood headed for lunch.
"Hey Wanda!" The group turned to see a blonde man approaching them.
"Yo what do you want?" Todd jumped in front of the boy defensively.
"Chill Toad it's just Justin, he's in my English class." Wanda interposed herself between Justin and the boys.
"Justin huh." Pietro glared suspiciously at him.
"Pietro, back off." Wanda ordered.
"Ok, see you guys later." Pietro strolled off leaving the rest of the brotherhood rolling their eyes. The others followed him into the cafeteria, Todd glaring menacingly at their new friend.
"Hey Lance." The group looked up to see Kitty walking towards their table.
"Hey Kitty." Lance replied with a smile "What brings you to the wrong side of the lunch room?" He joked.
"Well" she said in a conspiratorial whisper "I'm actually supposed to give this to Pietro" she produced a small folder "It's from Ray. But I'm supposed to be asking you about chemistry."
"Well Silicon is my favorite element." Lance said loudly smiling up at Kitty.
"Yeah mine too, catch ya later." She waved as she headed off trying hard not to laugh.
"What's that?" Freddy asked staring over Pietro's shoulder.
"Some ideas for the Mutant Pride Rally."
"Wasn't that yesterday?" Freddy was now thoroughly confused.
"Nooooo, that was the pep rally this one" Pietro waved the folder underneath Fred's nose "is the kick-off rally." Pietro rolled his eyes and gave Fred an 'everybody knows that' look.
"Sorry." Fred looked down at his feet ashamed. A loud crash sounded and everyone turned to see a very upset Wanda sprawled out on the floor her lunch splattered everywhere.
"What the hell is your problem!?!" Wanda screeched as she turned to face a table full of boys, one who was quickly pulling his foot back from where it had tripped her.
"We can't help it if your mutant power doesn't include walking." One of them said with a sneer.
"You are dead." Wanda said icily as she looked the boy straight in the eye, he gulped nervously. Just then part of her pasta casserole fell from her head and onto the table; this caused the entire cafeteria to burst out laughing.
"Hey man that's my sister." Pietro shoved his finger into the boy's chest.
"What you gonna do about it skinny boy?" He stood towering over Pietro by a good foot and outweighing him by a hundred pounds. Pietro just glared at him defiantly.
"Yo you mess with one of the hood you mess with all of the hood." Todd hopped up to stand protectively by Wanda while Lance and Fred approached the group menacingly.
"Back down." The brotherhood turned to see Scott and some of the other X-men approaching them.
"What did you just say Summers?" Lance sneered.
"Back down. I'm not going let you guys trash these punks." Scott was now in Lance's face.
"Is there a problem here?" The students all turned to see a very irate Principal Kelly walk in.
"No, no problem here." Wanda shot the table of boys one more death glare and then turned and left. The other students soon went back to what they were doing before. Kelly gave the mutants one last disapproving look and then headed to leave.
"Nice wig Principal Kelly." Freddy innocently called after him. Kelly continued on his way cursing mutants and teens in general under his breath.
"What?" Scott asked defensively as the X-men gathered around him.
"What where you doing back there man?" Ray crossed his arms and glared at Scott.
"I was stopping Alvers and them from wailing down on some kids." Scott ran his hand thru his hair and let out a groan "don't tell me you guys think I should have let them stomp those punks." The group nodded, even Jean.
"We would do the same if they had messed with one of us." Kitty explained.
"Yeah they were just protecting one of their own." Rouge added.
"Hey I understand guys but they were going to use there powers and no matter how much those creeps deserved it I just can't let the Brotherhood have free reign, they could seriously hurt somebody." Scott looked around to see if anybody was supporting him, the prospects looked bleak.
"What's going on?" Kurt asked quietly as he joined the group.
"Don't worry about it Kurt, it doesn't concern you." Rouge whispered as she waved him off. Kurt looked around for any support but no one was paying attention to him, with a forlorn look he left the group all alone.
"What if they didn't use their powers?" Jean asked.
"Well, uh, I guess I really wouldn't have a problem then." Scott said "but do you really think they're going to hold back?"
"No, guess not." The X-men mumbled.
"We can't let others mutants use their powers on regular people that would turn everyone against us." Scott finished.
"We know, it just sucks." Ray said voicing everyone's, including Scott's, feelings.
Wanda stormed down the halls daring anyone to get in her way. She was still in a bad mood because of lunch and the day had not ended soon enough.
"Hey nice hair cut, is that casserole surprise?" Some smart aleck teased. Wanda turned and glared at the offender his skin turned a deathly shade of white and he ran off.
"Don't worry about it Wanda." Pietro stood behind his sister, eyes following the terrified boy "we'll fix it soon enough." The twins shared mischievous glances and went to meet the rest of the Brotherhood.
"Man did you see those mutant losers?" One of the boys from lunch said with a swagger.
"Bout time someone put those muties in their place." Another one said high-fiving the one who tripped Wanda.
"But what do we do if they come after us?"
"No problem we beat—" the boy's voice trailed off as he realized that none of his friends had posed the question. All five boys in the group turned their heads to see Pietro leaning against the tree. He gave them a little wave.
"What the hell do you want?" the first boy shouted.
"An apology." The group turned again to see Wanda leaning on a tree on the other side of them mimicking Pietro's pose.
"Like hell." The tripper said his voice wavering as the others surrounded them.
"Well ain't that a shame." Lance said cracking his knuckles. The frightened group exchanged quick glances as they backed away from the angry mutants.
"Ok ok, we're sorry." The tripper said.
"Not enough." Pietro wagged his finger in a no-no motion. "You have to be on your knees." At this point a large portion of the student body had gathered, including the X-men.
"Well this is the moment of truth." Scott said under his breath as he and the others watched for the first sign of power usage.
"No way man." One of the boys shot back confidently not wanting to lose face in front of the school.
"Suit yourself." Pietro said with an evil grin as he prepared to launch in the punks.
"You know Pietro" Lance said as he placed a restraining hand on Pietro's shoulder "I've been thinking" Pietro shot Lance a 'what-the-hell-are-you-doing' look "sure we could use our powers, but wouldn't it be a much sweeter victory if we kicked their asses without powers. It seems like such an insult to ourselves to use our gifts for creatures as pathetic as these." Lance motioned to the pack of boys who were becoming exceedingly nervous.
"You know something, I think you're right." Pietro said "come on gang, let's have some fun." The brotherhood flashed the group of boys an evil smile and then they attacked, without powers.
"I don't believe it." Scott said with a smile as he watched the hood tear into the boys.
"I wonder why Lance wanted to do it this way." Jean said from his side. The two looked down to see a very guilty looking Kitty.
"What?" she asked defensivly and then ducked behind Bobby.
"Kitty." They said in mock anger while they shook their heads. Everyone else just smiled and went back to watching the fight.
"We're sorry, we're sorry." The group of boys were now on their knees begging Wanda's forgivness.
"Good enough, now get out of here." She snarled. They jumped up and ran off with the school laughing at them.
"Good job team." Pietro complimented the triumphant brotherhood.
"Yo, I propose that we celebrate." Todd piped up waving a wad of cash in the air.
"Rock on." Lance agreed enthusiastically.
"Hey Todd where did you get the money?" Fred asked as they all piled into Lance's jeep.
"One of those kids's wallet." Todd answered motioning to where the group of boys had run off to.
"Sweet." The brotherhood responded as they went to celebrate.
A/N: Another day another chapter. Sorry for taking so long with this one but I was sick all last week and couldn't concentrate. Hope you all enjoyed it J