Feral Bonds Chapter 17
Trunksblue: Thanks. Just tried to make Logan as realistic as possible. As for Mark, I tried to think of how a person would logically react to the circumstances he was in. I briefly considered the archetype of the abused child, but the story would have sucked written that way. I know, that's how I started it. Think of the Mark you read as Mark ver2.0
Burning Light: Ouch. I remember getting mine pulled. Piece of friendly advice, don't use a straw, dry socket hurts like hell.
Inuyasha0001: Thanks
Raz Gaiale: I'm glad you like the story overall. I tried to present Xavier as a human being, not as an unfeeling ubermensch that spouts platitudes on que. X23 does need more done with her in canon. Hopefully, NYX will use her as a main character. For the Amara and Valerie thing, in combat, people hurt, and people die. Combat isn't a game of nerf dodge ball. I added that to offset the 'fighting is always cool and heroic.' It can be, but there is always a price to pay, and more often than not, the innocent pay that price.
AN: Oh yea, sorry for the rather..abrupt end to the last chapter. I had a strange compulsion to post it as it was. By the way, does anyone know how to get italics to show up?
Professor Xavier's office
Logan and X23 walked into the dimly lit office. They both sat down and after a single glance at each other, stared forward in silence. A few moments passed before Xavier, Kitty, and Mark all filed into the room. Kitty and Mark took their seats while Xavier rolled behind the desk.
X23 glanced over at Mark for an instant before narrowing her eyes. She turned back to Xavier and glared at him.
Xavier took a long look at the four people in his office. They all had their problems with living, and maybe if he put them together, they all might find a balance. Finally, he folded his hands under his chin and spoke. "I suppose tedious preliminaries are not a concern. X23, this is Mark." He gestured to Mark, who was just looking out the window. Kitty smacked him on the arm and he looked at her, rubbing his arm and a questioning look in his eyes.
Kitty rolled her eyes. "Look at her." Mark turned and looked at X23 for a second before turning back to Kitty. She sighed. "Like, introduce yourself, or something. I know who you are already."
Mark turned back to X23 and held his hand out. She looked at it for a moment before scowling and turning to Logan. "He's an idiot, what the hell do you need me for? It's dangerous being here."
Xavier spoke. "You would be surprised. He may seem like a child, but there are instances in which he becomes deadly. Which is precisely the reason we need your help. Kitty is the only person that can control him at present."
X23 looked at Kitty for a second before snorting. "Control him? If she can do it, you need Barney, not me."
Kitty's face flushed. She reached out and lowered Mark's hand, which he was still holding out to X23. "He's not stupid." She glanced at him, he had gone back to staring out the window. "Ok, well maybe right now he is." Logan growled and she just shrugged her shoulders before continuing. "He totally defended the mansion from the soldiers." X23's head snapped back to Logan. "What soldiers?"
Logan grabbed a folder and handed it to her. "We were attacked yesterday night by what we think is the group that made him."
X23 flipped through the folder quickly, only stopping to pull random photos out to look at them closer. "He did this?" She held up a photo of the room leading out to the roof and the three corpses in it. "Looks more like you Wolverine."
Logan growled almost inaudibly. "That's sloppy work kid." She shot him a glare, which he ignored. "Yea, he did it."
X23 turned and looked at Mark again, this time she seemed to be giving him an honest appraisal. Finally, she spoke. "Bullshit. He's a creampuff." She then tossed the folder back to the table and shot Logan a murderous glare. "Now tell me why the hell you brought me back here."
Logan sat still for a moment before leaning forward and replying. "Listen, I was there, he did it. And you're here cause we can't afford to have him here in the mansion anymore. The people that want him back seem to be organized. We lost one kid and almost lost another to their raid. You evaded Hydra and SHIELD, you have the skills we need to get him out safely and maybe you can teach him to evade them and act normal." Hearing a quiet snort from Kitty, he growled and amended. "Well, more normal anyway. You have the training, he doesn't."
X23 sat back in her chair and was quiet. Everyone waited for her to respond, and when she didn't, Xavier spoke up. "We do need your assistance, it is my opinion, as well as the others, that you are the only person suitable to do this. And to put it none too bluntly, we need him out of the mansion."
X23 glanced back at Mark, then stared at Logan for a moment. "What resources do I get?"
Xavier smiled and answered for him. "Whatever you require. Unlike what some people believe, I am not just tossing him out on the street." Logan just ground his teeth. "I already have a warehouse here in Bayville rented that you can use. Also, I took the liberty of setting up an account for expenses." He leaned forward and slid a leather pouch across the desk to her. "That contains cash for you to use in the interim as well as directions and keys to the warehouse."
Logan spoke. "It's a sweet deal. Better than where you were."
She scowled at him for a moment before reaching up and grabbing the pouch. Popping the seal, she quickly verified the contents. "I'll need identification and records. I'm fourteen years old. It's going to look rather suspicious. How do I have this money, why do I live with a guy, why do we live without supervision, and why am I not going to school?"
Logan held up a hand and raised a finger as he ticked off her questions. "First, you inherited the money. Second, a few more days, and Chuck thinks that he will be normal enough to go to school, so that means you will be also." She scowled at that. "And for the last two, you aren't just living with a guy, you're livin with em both." He gestured behind to Kitty and Mark.
Kitty's face dropped open in shock. Interrupting, she opened her mouth and sputtered out "What? Like why am I going? That's what she is here for isn't it?"
Logan looked at Xavier. "You didn't tell her Chuck?"
Xavier shook his head. "I was preoccupied with other matters at the time."
Logan scowled and looked back at X23. "And as for why you are there without supervision, Chuck set up a back history. Your father is away on business trips most of the time so he brought your cousin.." He gestured at Mark. "...who is an adult, to keep an eye on you. He failed his freshman year, so he got held back."
X23 just rolled her eyes. "That's the best you can come up with?"
Logan just smirked. "Well, it's either that, or you two are from California." Everyone but Xavier just looked blankly at him. His smirk grew into a full-fledged grin as Xavier handed him a small cloth bag and he tossed it to her. She opened it and two rings came tumbling into her hand. She looked at them closely before staring back at him, still not understanding. Logan fought to contain his laughter. "Let me put it this way kids. In California, you can get hitched at fourteen, with your parents hash marks."
Kitty made a strangled sound and blurted out. "WHAT? That's just.just..eww!" Mark turned and glanced at her for a second before looking at whatever had caused her outburst. He focused on the rings in her hand for a moment before looking back at Kitty.
X23 dropped the rings back in the bag and tossed it back to Kitty. "You deal with it."
Kitty's face turned blood red and she looked in danger of either blowing a gasket, or passing out. After a few seconds, she croaked out. "Hell no Professor." She grabbed Mark's arm and hauled him to his feet and dragged him near X23. "Like meet your cousin." And then she dropped Mark's arm like it was hot.
Mark just looked down at X23 with a blank expression for a few seconds. He finally sniffed the air a few times then turned and walked off towards the window and just looked out it.
X23's eyes tracked him the entire time and she had a thoughtful look on her face. Glancing back at Kitty and Logan, she spoke. "Fine." She stood and stuffed the leather pouch under her belt. "I'll need ID's for both of us by the end of today." She glanced at Xavier. "Use Jennifer for my first name and Price as the last name. And make me sixteen, I'll need to drive." She turned and glared at Kitty. "Come on." She thrust a finger at Mark. "And bring him." She then turned and strode out of the room.
Kitty just gaped. Finally, she turned to Logan and the Professor. "Um.maybe this is like a bad idea." Her face hardened. "And why the hell do I have to like move in with them? Kinda defeats the whole purpose doesn't it?"
Xavier leaned back in his chair. "Not exactly Kitty. It's purely temporary I assure you. From the development I've seen so far, it should be only a matter of days before Mark can function independently." He raised his hands to his chin. "Unfortunately, until that happens, we need you to stay close to him so he can absorb more of your knowledge." He tapped his fingers on his chin once before finishing. "And to make sure they don't kill each other."
Kitty was quiet for a moment before her shoulders slumped. "Do I have to like go to school while I'm there? Keeping him out of trouble is totally a full-time job!"
Xavier smiled. "Unfortunately, yes Kitty. This has kept you out of school long enough. Education is important."
Kitty just grimaced. "Fine Professor. But if I don't get my homework done, it's not my fault." She turned and grabbed Mark's arm. "Come on, let's like go already." Both of them stood and left the room.
Logan watched them walk out before turning back to Xavier. "Well Chuck. This seemed a lot better of a plan before we actually told them about it. How do we know that the soldiers aren't going to track them to that warehouse?"
Xavier nodded. "I understand your concerns Logan. And I share them with you. However, the warehouse has access to a bomb shelter and I'm sure that between X23 and Mark, they could escape into the sewers if anything went seriously wrong. Kitty I'm not worried about to be quite honest. She has matured in the last few days and her danger room sessions are going extremely well. She can also just phase through the floor if needed."
Logan just sat staring at him for a moment. "True, but who do we have watching em?"
Xavier smiled. "I wondered how long until you brought that up. As a matter of fact, the entire warehouse is covered with surveillance equipment. The alarms will ring here in the mansion, and it is within Kurt's teleporting radius." They are as safe as they can be. Or as safe as we can make it for them. Besides, Kitty will only be there a few days."
Logan ground his teeth. "And the other two Xavier? Ain't ya just a little bit worried about them?"
Xavier closed his eyes. "Of course Logan, but their track records show clearly that they both will never fit in here. Not only by their very personalities, but by the fact that they both have well-organized, well- funded, and very obsessed groups attempting to retrieve them. They can't be here. I have to think of the other students first."
Logan growled. "Yea, easier that way isn't it?" He stood up and started walking to the door. He spoke over his shoulder. "And X23 is fine, we are the only people that know she's alive."
Xavier opened his eyes and sat his hands down on the desk. "Actually Logan. I took the liberty of informing Mr. Fury about her existence while you were inbound with her."
Logan whirled around. "Goddamnit Xavier! Do you have 'any' idea what she had to go through to disappear? And you just stood up and fucked her over."
Xavier blinked. He thought Logan would welcome the news. After all, she was going to need employment eventually. He opened his mouth to respond when Logan interrupted. "She told me SHIELD wants her as well. She's out of the soldier business. She's trying to just be normal, that's why she hid." He kicked the door open. "Think about this shit before you jump off a cliff Xavier." With that, he strode out and slammed the door shut.
Xavier slumped into his chair. -Tomorrow, he'll see I'm right.--
Trunksblue: Thanks. Just tried to make Logan as realistic as possible. As for Mark, I tried to think of how a person would logically react to the circumstances he was in. I briefly considered the archetype of the abused child, but the story would have sucked written that way. I know, that's how I started it. Think of the Mark you read as Mark ver2.0
Burning Light: Ouch. I remember getting mine pulled. Piece of friendly advice, don't use a straw, dry socket hurts like hell.
Inuyasha0001: Thanks
Raz Gaiale: I'm glad you like the story overall. I tried to present Xavier as a human being, not as an unfeeling ubermensch that spouts platitudes on que. X23 does need more done with her in canon. Hopefully, NYX will use her as a main character. For the Amara and Valerie thing, in combat, people hurt, and people die. Combat isn't a game of nerf dodge ball. I added that to offset the 'fighting is always cool and heroic.' It can be, but there is always a price to pay, and more often than not, the innocent pay that price.
AN: Oh yea, sorry for the rather..abrupt end to the last chapter. I had a strange compulsion to post it as it was. By the way, does anyone know how to get italics to show up?
Professor Xavier's office
Logan and X23 walked into the dimly lit office. They both sat down and after a single glance at each other, stared forward in silence. A few moments passed before Xavier, Kitty, and Mark all filed into the room. Kitty and Mark took their seats while Xavier rolled behind the desk.
X23 glanced over at Mark for an instant before narrowing her eyes. She turned back to Xavier and glared at him.
Xavier took a long look at the four people in his office. They all had their problems with living, and maybe if he put them together, they all might find a balance. Finally, he folded his hands under his chin and spoke. "I suppose tedious preliminaries are not a concern. X23, this is Mark." He gestured to Mark, who was just looking out the window. Kitty smacked him on the arm and he looked at her, rubbing his arm and a questioning look in his eyes.
Kitty rolled her eyes. "Look at her." Mark turned and looked at X23 for a second before turning back to Kitty. She sighed. "Like, introduce yourself, or something. I know who you are already."
Mark turned back to X23 and held his hand out. She looked at it for a moment before scowling and turning to Logan. "He's an idiot, what the hell do you need me for? It's dangerous being here."
Xavier spoke. "You would be surprised. He may seem like a child, but there are instances in which he becomes deadly. Which is precisely the reason we need your help. Kitty is the only person that can control him at present."
X23 looked at Kitty for a second before snorting. "Control him? If she can do it, you need Barney, not me."
Kitty's face flushed. She reached out and lowered Mark's hand, which he was still holding out to X23. "He's not stupid." She glanced at him, he had gone back to staring out the window. "Ok, well maybe right now he is." Logan growled and she just shrugged her shoulders before continuing. "He totally defended the mansion from the soldiers." X23's head snapped back to Logan. "What soldiers?"
Logan grabbed a folder and handed it to her. "We were attacked yesterday night by what we think is the group that made him."
X23 flipped through the folder quickly, only stopping to pull random photos out to look at them closer. "He did this?" She held up a photo of the room leading out to the roof and the three corpses in it. "Looks more like you Wolverine."
Logan growled almost inaudibly. "That's sloppy work kid." She shot him a glare, which he ignored. "Yea, he did it."
X23 turned and looked at Mark again, this time she seemed to be giving him an honest appraisal. Finally, she spoke. "Bullshit. He's a creampuff." She then tossed the folder back to the table and shot Logan a murderous glare. "Now tell me why the hell you brought me back here."
Logan sat still for a moment before leaning forward and replying. "Listen, I was there, he did it. And you're here cause we can't afford to have him here in the mansion anymore. The people that want him back seem to be organized. We lost one kid and almost lost another to their raid. You evaded Hydra and SHIELD, you have the skills we need to get him out safely and maybe you can teach him to evade them and act normal." Hearing a quiet snort from Kitty, he growled and amended. "Well, more normal anyway. You have the training, he doesn't."
X23 sat back in her chair and was quiet. Everyone waited for her to respond, and when she didn't, Xavier spoke up. "We do need your assistance, it is my opinion, as well as the others, that you are the only person suitable to do this. And to put it none too bluntly, we need him out of the mansion."
X23 glanced back at Mark, then stared at Logan for a moment. "What resources do I get?"
Xavier smiled and answered for him. "Whatever you require. Unlike what some people believe, I am not just tossing him out on the street." Logan just ground his teeth. "I already have a warehouse here in Bayville rented that you can use. Also, I took the liberty of setting up an account for expenses." He leaned forward and slid a leather pouch across the desk to her. "That contains cash for you to use in the interim as well as directions and keys to the warehouse."
Logan spoke. "It's a sweet deal. Better than where you were."
She scowled at him for a moment before reaching up and grabbing the pouch. Popping the seal, she quickly verified the contents. "I'll need identification and records. I'm fourteen years old. It's going to look rather suspicious. How do I have this money, why do I live with a guy, why do we live without supervision, and why am I not going to school?"
Logan held up a hand and raised a finger as he ticked off her questions. "First, you inherited the money. Second, a few more days, and Chuck thinks that he will be normal enough to go to school, so that means you will be also." She scowled at that. "And for the last two, you aren't just living with a guy, you're livin with em both." He gestured behind to Kitty and Mark.
Kitty's face dropped open in shock. Interrupting, she opened her mouth and sputtered out "What? Like why am I going? That's what she is here for isn't it?"
Logan looked at Xavier. "You didn't tell her Chuck?"
Xavier shook his head. "I was preoccupied with other matters at the time."
Logan scowled and looked back at X23. "And as for why you are there without supervision, Chuck set up a back history. Your father is away on business trips most of the time so he brought your cousin.." He gestured at Mark. "...who is an adult, to keep an eye on you. He failed his freshman year, so he got held back."
X23 just rolled her eyes. "That's the best you can come up with?"
Logan just smirked. "Well, it's either that, or you two are from California." Everyone but Xavier just looked blankly at him. His smirk grew into a full-fledged grin as Xavier handed him a small cloth bag and he tossed it to her. She opened it and two rings came tumbling into her hand. She looked at them closely before staring back at him, still not understanding. Logan fought to contain his laughter. "Let me put it this way kids. In California, you can get hitched at fourteen, with your parents hash marks."
Kitty made a strangled sound and blurted out. "WHAT? That's just.just..eww!" Mark turned and glanced at her for a second before looking at whatever had caused her outburst. He focused on the rings in her hand for a moment before looking back at Kitty.
X23 dropped the rings back in the bag and tossed it back to Kitty. "You deal with it."
Kitty's face turned blood red and she looked in danger of either blowing a gasket, or passing out. After a few seconds, she croaked out. "Hell no Professor." She grabbed Mark's arm and hauled him to his feet and dragged him near X23. "Like meet your cousin." And then she dropped Mark's arm like it was hot.
Mark just looked down at X23 with a blank expression for a few seconds. He finally sniffed the air a few times then turned and walked off towards the window and just looked out it.
X23's eyes tracked him the entire time and she had a thoughtful look on her face. Glancing back at Kitty and Logan, she spoke. "Fine." She stood and stuffed the leather pouch under her belt. "I'll need ID's for both of us by the end of today." She glanced at Xavier. "Use Jennifer for my first name and Price as the last name. And make me sixteen, I'll need to drive." She turned and glared at Kitty. "Come on." She thrust a finger at Mark. "And bring him." She then turned and strode out of the room.
Kitty just gaped. Finally, she turned to Logan and the Professor. "Um.maybe this is like a bad idea." Her face hardened. "And why the hell do I have to like move in with them? Kinda defeats the whole purpose doesn't it?"
Xavier leaned back in his chair. "Not exactly Kitty. It's purely temporary I assure you. From the development I've seen so far, it should be only a matter of days before Mark can function independently." He raised his hands to his chin. "Unfortunately, until that happens, we need you to stay close to him so he can absorb more of your knowledge." He tapped his fingers on his chin once before finishing. "And to make sure they don't kill each other."
Kitty was quiet for a moment before her shoulders slumped. "Do I have to like go to school while I'm there? Keeping him out of trouble is totally a full-time job!"
Xavier smiled. "Unfortunately, yes Kitty. This has kept you out of school long enough. Education is important."
Kitty just grimaced. "Fine Professor. But if I don't get my homework done, it's not my fault." She turned and grabbed Mark's arm. "Come on, let's like go already." Both of them stood and left the room.
Logan watched them walk out before turning back to Xavier. "Well Chuck. This seemed a lot better of a plan before we actually told them about it. How do we know that the soldiers aren't going to track them to that warehouse?"
Xavier nodded. "I understand your concerns Logan. And I share them with you. However, the warehouse has access to a bomb shelter and I'm sure that between X23 and Mark, they could escape into the sewers if anything went seriously wrong. Kitty I'm not worried about to be quite honest. She has matured in the last few days and her danger room sessions are going extremely well. She can also just phase through the floor if needed."
Logan just sat staring at him for a moment. "True, but who do we have watching em?"
Xavier smiled. "I wondered how long until you brought that up. As a matter of fact, the entire warehouse is covered with surveillance equipment. The alarms will ring here in the mansion, and it is within Kurt's teleporting radius." They are as safe as they can be. Or as safe as we can make it for them. Besides, Kitty will only be there a few days."
Logan ground his teeth. "And the other two Xavier? Ain't ya just a little bit worried about them?"
Xavier closed his eyes. "Of course Logan, but their track records show clearly that they both will never fit in here. Not only by their very personalities, but by the fact that they both have well-organized, well- funded, and very obsessed groups attempting to retrieve them. They can't be here. I have to think of the other students first."
Logan growled. "Yea, easier that way isn't it?" He stood up and started walking to the door. He spoke over his shoulder. "And X23 is fine, we are the only people that know she's alive."
Xavier opened his eyes and sat his hands down on the desk. "Actually Logan. I took the liberty of informing Mr. Fury about her existence while you were inbound with her."
Logan whirled around. "Goddamnit Xavier! Do you have 'any' idea what she had to go through to disappear? And you just stood up and fucked her over."
Xavier blinked. He thought Logan would welcome the news. After all, she was going to need employment eventually. He opened his mouth to respond when Logan interrupted. "She told me SHIELD wants her as well. She's out of the soldier business. She's trying to just be normal, that's why she hid." He kicked the door open. "Think about this shit before you jump off a cliff Xavier." With that, he strode out and slammed the door shut.
Xavier slumped into his chair. -Tomorrow, he'll see I'm right.--