Lily: Thanks!
justandalwaysMo: Inspiration filled time . . . yep, I do have some. The only problem is that I need to find even more time to write it all down, and *that*'s hard to find these days ^_^
Cassie3000: I miss Nathan too!!! And I feel guilty because I'm making something really bad happen to him!!! But I'm trying to make him show up soon. And you're from Quebec city? Do you live there? And thanks for your advice ^_^
Jean Grey/Phoenix: Why, of course I am ^_^ This story is going to be pretty long. I hope you like it!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 6: New Recruits, an invitation and criminals in meeting
Magneto was sitting behind a desk, in what was probably another of his hideouts. Mystique sat in a chair in front of him, looking at her nails absentmindedly, Pyro was flicking his lighter on her left, and Hooligan, the boy who could control the X-Gene in one's body, was sitting in the back, near the wall, doing nothing in particular. All were waiting for their two new recruits to join them. Both of them were still in their rooms, resting. The first, a medium sized woman in her mid-thirties with shoulder-length chestnut coloured hair and icy blue eyes, wearing discrete glasses and a matching beige ensemble, had arrived from Europe at the airport the previous day. All the members of the Brotherhood only knew that her name was Laurana and that she was somehow related to Magneto. Nothing else had been revealed to them about her, but they were expecting to know more soon, since she was joining the Brotherhood.
Their second recruit had arrived in the wee hours of the morning, had entered thanks to Magneto's order, had barely given a glare at the other members and had climbed up the stairs to his room to rest because of his long trip. They had recognized him as the boy they had visited not too long ago. Magneto hadn't even announced them his arrival, yet he seemed very pleased to have him with him.
They didn't wait long before the door opened and both recruits marched in, without even looking at each other. Both looked like they thought themselves superior than all the other members of the Brotherhood, and after a while, it got annoying.
It was the first time they all clearly got to see the boy who had arrived in the morning: he was rather tall and thin, didn't look very strong, but looked incredibly sure of himself. He had blond hair, falling across his forehead in a bedridden fashion. He had a couple of earrings, but no other jewellery. He was wearing brown pants, a white shirt and a vest that matched his pants. His hands in his pockets, he just looked at Magneto, ignoring the others for now.
Laurana did the same at first, before sitting down next to Mystique and taking a look at the two other boys that had taken the opportunity to get closer. The last boy, on the other hand, just stood there, waiting for Magneto to speak.
"Good evening, brothers," he said slowly, eyeing them all one after the other. "I'd like you all to meet two new members of the brotherhood. For first, my daughter, Laurana, recently returned from Europe. She, like me, controls magnetic fields and any form of metal. Her power hasn't attained my level of control and power, but she is still very good."
Laurana smiled weakly at all of them, and all noticed the similarities she held from their leader: the same pride and self-esteem. Mystique saluted her coldly with a small nod, and she did the same.
"And last, but not least, this is Sin, capable of controlling people's inhalation, and so able to make people choke by the simple thought of it," he said calmly, designating the last boy who hadn't moved at all.
He nodded towards no one in particular, vaguely glimpsing at his new allies.
"Now, it's time to arrange our attack," Magneto said proudly, rising from his seat.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Here you go professor," Scott said, handing him a couple of envelops from the mail before walking to his place.
He sat down and started eating, barely interested in knowing what the letters were about. He heard the professor tear it open and pull out a sheet of paper, on which was an imprinted text in loopy writing. The professor frowned.
"What is it, professor?" Storm asked, seeing him pocket the letter.
"Nothing," he said vaguely. "An invitation."
"To what?" Bobby asked.
"A bal."
"A bal?" Rogue repeated, visibly interested.
"Oh, not just any bal, my dear," the professor said, seeing that she wanted to be informed. "This bal is . . . somewhat special. It's for people like us."
All waited eagerly for him to continue, having never heard about such a thing before.
"It's a reunion for mutants of 'high class'," he said finally. "Mutants with political power are invited, and there they get to meet more mutants. You see, more and more of us are getting scared about the humans' revolts, and they don't know who to turn to when they need help. This bal is like a reunion where they get to meet more of their kind . . . it's actually a social event divided in two or three parties."
"Can we go?" Bobby asked slowly.
"I wasn't intending to," the professor said, sipping his coffee.
"Why?" Ororo asked.
"Because I'm not in very good terms with some of the people who will be coming," he said. "We don't have the same respect for the human race, and definitely not the same ideas about the whole mutant problem."
"But if you don't go, they'll know it's because of them, won't they?" Rogue said slowly, trying to invent a reason for him to go, and be accompanied by the X-Men. "That wouldn't be very good for your reputation, and plus, we'll go with you to stand up for you. And we could meet more mutants to join the school, maybe."
The professor smiled.
"Yes, I know, Rogue," he said. "But you don't know yet how it is in these sort of parties. They always end in very terrible fights because of youngsters and even adults showing off their powers between their 'gangs'. But I'll think of it," he said, drinking his coffee again. "The party is in three weeks so I have time to give it some thought," he added, closing the subject.
~~~~~~~~~~
Darkness had swept over New York again as a cold summer night swathed anyone out of light, out of their homes, rendering them both enemies and allies not to be trusted in any way. It was a night when all stayed at home, knowing that something was going to happen.
Perched on top of a medium height building, inside the glasshouse previously encountered, men and women, all being different in their own way, stood or sat in silence around a large black table, waiting for who knows what to happen. None of them seemed impatient or bored, they just seemed to be waiting for something, probably someone to speak.
Leaning near the exit, on the only wall not made of glass, there was a thin, Italian-looking man, probably in his late forties, yet looking in very good health for his age. His skin was tanned and visibly taken care of. His pitch-black hair, which held no trace of growing age was slicked backwards, and his cheeks were lightly sunken in. His thin moustache and hawk-like piercing eyes were black, just like his clothes, consisting of a black shirt, a knee-length leather vest, black pants and shinny Gucci shoes. Around his wrist could be seen a gold Rolex, and on his little finger, a gold ring on which was engraved a crest, probably belonging to his family.
Midway to the table, there was Amber, looking ever so gothic. Her black hair was tied into half a ponytail thanks to a hairclip, and she was wearing the same type of makeup that she wore most of the time. Her clothes, black as always, were loose and floated on her very nicely. Her vest was on one of the chairs around the table.
On the table's right side, there was the woman going by the name of Coral, having black sunglasses on the top of her head and wearing a blue, knee length dress with matching shoes and a black vest. Next to her was L?ka, wearing a matching blood red three quarter sleeved top and leather pants, high-heeled red shoes and vest. Next to her, holding her hand was her husband, a man in his mid thirties with grey eyes and brown hair, who obviously hadn't shaved in a few days. He seemed strong, confident and trusting. He was wearing dark-blue jeans, a sleeveless black top and had a stylish gold sun for tattoo on his elbow.
Alexander was sitting in front of him, leaning in his chair and looking at nothing in particular out the window. Like his last visit, everything he was wearing was black, and so that counted pants, shirt, army boots and trench coat. He ruffled his hair and glanced at the boy sitting at his right, in front of L?ka. It was the agile boy from London with blue dyed hair. His clothes were all baggy, probably because he wanted clothes he could move well in. He had brown pants, a dark blue long-sleeved shirt, a vest and big mountain shoes. His feet were leaning on the side of the table and he was playing distractedly with a piece of string, twisting it between his fingers without touching it with his available hand.
On Alexander's other side was the teenager from the south of France, who must have been somewhat important since he was sitting the closest to the end of the table. He wasn't facing the others, the back of his chair turned towards them as he simply looked outside, probably thinking about something. He was good looking with his dark back hair, not really combed properly. A few earrings in extra, he maybe had a tattoo, but the odds were that he didn't. His clothes, like many of the others in the room, were also black, starting by his boots, passing by his shirt and baggy pants, and finishing with his cloak.
The last person was at the other end of the room, sitting in a large armchair facing the window. It was Foe again. She was the only one of the group that looked bored, but not of the situation of just being there, more about being generally bored about everything. Sitting cross-legged, her hand vaguely holding her cheek while her other hand, falling limply on the side of the furniture, was holding a bottle of scotch that already had been half gulped down, even though she still looked very sober.
The silence stayed in the room for another five minutes, occasionally broken by the sound of the scotch moving around the bottle before being drunk. Besides that, nothing was heard until the door opened violently and the redhead teenage girl nicknamed Bliss appeared in the entrance, holding a file of papers in her hands. The Italian man, startled by this sudden entrance, turned around violently, his hand sliding to his side, to his holster, but recognizing the newcomer, he let go of his gun. The girl rolled her eyes and walked to the table, on which she placed the papers.
Her dark red hair was tied into an elegant chignon, keeping two bangs on either side of her face and she was wearing bellbottomed jeans and a blue tank top. She smiled and walked back out seeing that she wasn't needed. The door closed behind her and it is only then that Alexander grabbed the file and dragged it up to him. Amber walked to her seat, as did the Italian man. Now only one chair was left unattended, and it was the one next to L?ka's husband.
Alexander opened the folder and took out the first sheet of paper.
"It's already all over the news," he said, breaking the silence. "But they have no suspects, which is somewhat good. We don't need to lie low this time. What we need to worry about know is that our next target might get the message and flee . . . And the news on the street is that Spite is back in town."
Foe shuddered, but didn't say anything.
"Does Magneto have something to do with this?" Amber asked. "Is Spite joining him?"
"No," Alexander answered. "The Brotherhood would never take in someone like him. They're not that desperate. And Spite is not the type to join other mutants, since he hates them. He's more the type to work for the government, against all of us."
"Why can't we just get rid of him?" Coral asked, seeing it as the best solution.
"Oh, we tried," William, the boy from London said. "But he's very strong, and our powers are useless with him, you know that."
"Is someone keeping an eye on our target?" Foe asked, changing the subject. "And on Xavier's people?"
"I am," L?ka's husband said. "The next on the list is staying on government propriety and we can't have a clean shot yet. We need to wait until he gets out into the city."
"And for Xavier's people, Prowler?" Foe continued, turning her chair a little to see everyone sitting at the table.
"I think he only has a small clue that it's our work," L?ka's husband, Prowler, said. "Lets just hope it stays like that until it's over."
"And for the party, who's going?" Alexander asked. "We can't *not* go."
"I'll go," the boy from Monaco said, turning his chair. "Gambit and Will agreed to come with me, but I'm still looking for more to come. I think Bliss is up for it too."
"Alex, can you go with them?" Foe asked.
Alexander made a face.
"You're sure? I thought you were going," he said. "What if Xavier goes? I don't want to see him, I might get the urge to kill him on the spot. I don't have your self-control."
Foe smiled weakly at her friend's fuming face.
"I need someone to keep an eye on the kids," she said, and Alex nodded in submission. "Antonio, you can check on the kids back home," she continued, more giving an order than asking a question to the Italian man who rose from his seat and walked towards the door after having saluted everyone.
He closed the door and soon enough, the girl who had brought in the papers came back in and sat in his chair, sighing and eyeing each of the other mutants.
"Now," Foe said, eyeing everyone as she turned her chair completely. "I won't be able to go with you on the next job, because I need to work again. I'm giving this one to you," she said, designating the young mutants sitting around the table. "Bliss, Hyper and Sly, this one is for you. Don't mess it up, I'm counting on all three of you."
The girl with red hair rose from her seat, followed by William, and then the empty chair on Prowler's right side moved and someone evidently rose, most probably being Sly, a mutant capable of invisibility. All three walked out the room, and it was then the last teen in the room, the one from Monaco, turned to Foe with some sort of mischievous look on his face. She smiled at him.
"Watch them," she said to him, making him smirk as he rose at his turn, slowly walking to the door.
Soon enough, the others left together, L?ka and Prowler going their way, Amber and Coral most probably leaving on a girl's night out. The last one there was Alexander, and he didn't look too happy. Foe didn't say anything to him, turning around towards the window, her bottle in one hand.
He rose from his seat and walked towards her seat, crouching at her level. She still didn't turn towards him or say anything. Finally, he took her chin in his hand and turned her head towards him.
"Why are you doing this to yourself?" he asked, deep concern visible on his face.
She looked down, her eyes starting to water, and yet she smiled.
"Why do you lock yourself in that lab nearly twenty-four seven? You don't even spend time with your son anymore," he said agitatedly. "You keep sending him on those night chases, or making him watch out for the other young ones like you just did tonight."
"Alex, I'm so sure I'm going to be able to keep Lily alive," she said, trying to stop a few tears from escaping her eyes and gliding down her cheeks. "I don't want to loose her. I know I'm not taking enough time to stay with my boy, but I'm so close to bringing her back that I can't concentrate on anything else."
"Foe . . ." Alex said, brushing a stray tear from her face. " . . . I'm sorry to tell you this but . . . you just don't realize . . . you've been saying you've been close for more than a decade . . . I think you're just wasting your life in trying to save Lily."
Foe frowned, staring angrily at him, pushing him away as she got up.
"Go, Alex," she said sadly, trying to contain her anger as she walked to the windows. "I want to be left alone."
Alexander sighed, got up and walked to the door, left ajar. He found Prowler waiting on the other side. He had evidently heard the conversation, and there was a sad look on his face.
"I didn't know . . ." he started, brutally interrupted by Alex.
"Don't talk," he simply said, walking towards the stairs, followed by Prowler.
They walked in silence through the hall, walking up to the street and just about they were going to go their separate ways, Prowler turned around.
"See ya in a few days, pal," muttered Alexander without looking at him.
"Shock, wait . . . who's Lily?" he asked, unsure that he would be answered.
Alexander turned around, looking at him sternly, yet sadly.
"Foe's daughter," he said sorrowfully before turning around and starting to walk away.
Somehow, Prowler knew he was best to keep this information to himself.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Well, Laurana's not very important . . .
Sin is just the materialisation of my pnigophobia (fear of choking) that was given to me thanks to severe asthma when I was young. I'm also I bit claustrophobic, but that was because I was stuck on my stomach in a 2 by 6 feet ice cave two years ago, wasn't able to get out and was starting to miss air... but that's another episode of my fascinating life. ^_^
I know it might be annoying not knowing too much about the new characters, but you'll understand soon. I'm going to put up a chart with info about them one day.
Hum . . . my birthday is coming up in a couple of days ^_^ . . . can you guess how old I'm turning?
justandalwaysMo: Inspiration filled time . . . yep, I do have some. The only problem is that I need to find even more time to write it all down, and *that*'s hard to find these days ^_^
Cassie3000: I miss Nathan too!!! And I feel guilty because I'm making something really bad happen to him!!! But I'm trying to make him show up soon. And you're from Quebec city? Do you live there? And thanks for your advice ^_^
Jean Grey/Phoenix: Why, of course I am ^_^ This story is going to be pretty long. I hope you like it!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 6: New Recruits, an invitation and criminals in meeting
Magneto was sitting behind a desk, in what was probably another of his hideouts. Mystique sat in a chair in front of him, looking at her nails absentmindedly, Pyro was flicking his lighter on her left, and Hooligan, the boy who could control the X-Gene in one's body, was sitting in the back, near the wall, doing nothing in particular. All were waiting for their two new recruits to join them. Both of them were still in their rooms, resting. The first, a medium sized woman in her mid-thirties with shoulder-length chestnut coloured hair and icy blue eyes, wearing discrete glasses and a matching beige ensemble, had arrived from Europe at the airport the previous day. All the members of the Brotherhood only knew that her name was Laurana and that she was somehow related to Magneto. Nothing else had been revealed to them about her, but they were expecting to know more soon, since she was joining the Brotherhood.
Their second recruit had arrived in the wee hours of the morning, had entered thanks to Magneto's order, had barely given a glare at the other members and had climbed up the stairs to his room to rest because of his long trip. They had recognized him as the boy they had visited not too long ago. Magneto hadn't even announced them his arrival, yet he seemed very pleased to have him with him.
They didn't wait long before the door opened and both recruits marched in, without even looking at each other. Both looked like they thought themselves superior than all the other members of the Brotherhood, and after a while, it got annoying.
It was the first time they all clearly got to see the boy who had arrived in the morning: he was rather tall and thin, didn't look very strong, but looked incredibly sure of himself. He had blond hair, falling across his forehead in a bedridden fashion. He had a couple of earrings, but no other jewellery. He was wearing brown pants, a white shirt and a vest that matched his pants. His hands in his pockets, he just looked at Magneto, ignoring the others for now.
Laurana did the same at first, before sitting down next to Mystique and taking a look at the two other boys that had taken the opportunity to get closer. The last boy, on the other hand, just stood there, waiting for Magneto to speak.
"Good evening, brothers," he said slowly, eyeing them all one after the other. "I'd like you all to meet two new members of the brotherhood. For first, my daughter, Laurana, recently returned from Europe. She, like me, controls magnetic fields and any form of metal. Her power hasn't attained my level of control and power, but she is still very good."
Laurana smiled weakly at all of them, and all noticed the similarities she held from their leader: the same pride and self-esteem. Mystique saluted her coldly with a small nod, and she did the same.
"And last, but not least, this is Sin, capable of controlling people's inhalation, and so able to make people choke by the simple thought of it," he said calmly, designating the last boy who hadn't moved at all.
He nodded towards no one in particular, vaguely glimpsing at his new allies.
"Now, it's time to arrange our attack," Magneto said proudly, rising from his seat.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Here you go professor," Scott said, handing him a couple of envelops from the mail before walking to his place.
He sat down and started eating, barely interested in knowing what the letters were about. He heard the professor tear it open and pull out a sheet of paper, on which was an imprinted text in loopy writing. The professor frowned.
"What is it, professor?" Storm asked, seeing him pocket the letter.
"Nothing," he said vaguely. "An invitation."
"To what?" Bobby asked.
"A bal."
"A bal?" Rogue repeated, visibly interested.
"Oh, not just any bal, my dear," the professor said, seeing that she wanted to be informed. "This bal is . . . somewhat special. It's for people like us."
All waited eagerly for him to continue, having never heard about such a thing before.
"It's a reunion for mutants of 'high class'," he said finally. "Mutants with political power are invited, and there they get to meet more mutants. You see, more and more of us are getting scared about the humans' revolts, and they don't know who to turn to when they need help. This bal is like a reunion where they get to meet more of their kind . . . it's actually a social event divided in two or three parties."
"Can we go?" Bobby asked slowly.
"I wasn't intending to," the professor said, sipping his coffee.
"Why?" Ororo asked.
"Because I'm not in very good terms with some of the people who will be coming," he said. "We don't have the same respect for the human race, and definitely not the same ideas about the whole mutant problem."
"But if you don't go, they'll know it's because of them, won't they?" Rogue said slowly, trying to invent a reason for him to go, and be accompanied by the X-Men. "That wouldn't be very good for your reputation, and plus, we'll go with you to stand up for you. And we could meet more mutants to join the school, maybe."
The professor smiled.
"Yes, I know, Rogue," he said. "But you don't know yet how it is in these sort of parties. They always end in very terrible fights because of youngsters and even adults showing off their powers between their 'gangs'. But I'll think of it," he said, drinking his coffee again. "The party is in three weeks so I have time to give it some thought," he added, closing the subject.
~~~~~~~~~~
Darkness had swept over New York again as a cold summer night swathed anyone out of light, out of their homes, rendering them both enemies and allies not to be trusted in any way. It was a night when all stayed at home, knowing that something was going to happen.
Perched on top of a medium height building, inside the glasshouse previously encountered, men and women, all being different in their own way, stood or sat in silence around a large black table, waiting for who knows what to happen. None of them seemed impatient or bored, they just seemed to be waiting for something, probably someone to speak.
Leaning near the exit, on the only wall not made of glass, there was a thin, Italian-looking man, probably in his late forties, yet looking in very good health for his age. His skin was tanned and visibly taken care of. His pitch-black hair, which held no trace of growing age was slicked backwards, and his cheeks were lightly sunken in. His thin moustache and hawk-like piercing eyes were black, just like his clothes, consisting of a black shirt, a knee-length leather vest, black pants and shinny Gucci shoes. Around his wrist could be seen a gold Rolex, and on his little finger, a gold ring on which was engraved a crest, probably belonging to his family.
Midway to the table, there was Amber, looking ever so gothic. Her black hair was tied into half a ponytail thanks to a hairclip, and she was wearing the same type of makeup that she wore most of the time. Her clothes, black as always, were loose and floated on her very nicely. Her vest was on one of the chairs around the table.
On the table's right side, there was the woman going by the name of Coral, having black sunglasses on the top of her head and wearing a blue, knee length dress with matching shoes and a black vest. Next to her was L?ka, wearing a matching blood red three quarter sleeved top and leather pants, high-heeled red shoes and vest. Next to her, holding her hand was her husband, a man in his mid thirties with grey eyes and brown hair, who obviously hadn't shaved in a few days. He seemed strong, confident and trusting. He was wearing dark-blue jeans, a sleeveless black top and had a stylish gold sun for tattoo on his elbow.
Alexander was sitting in front of him, leaning in his chair and looking at nothing in particular out the window. Like his last visit, everything he was wearing was black, and so that counted pants, shirt, army boots and trench coat. He ruffled his hair and glanced at the boy sitting at his right, in front of L?ka. It was the agile boy from London with blue dyed hair. His clothes were all baggy, probably because he wanted clothes he could move well in. He had brown pants, a dark blue long-sleeved shirt, a vest and big mountain shoes. His feet were leaning on the side of the table and he was playing distractedly with a piece of string, twisting it between his fingers without touching it with his available hand.
On Alexander's other side was the teenager from the south of France, who must have been somewhat important since he was sitting the closest to the end of the table. He wasn't facing the others, the back of his chair turned towards them as he simply looked outside, probably thinking about something. He was good looking with his dark back hair, not really combed properly. A few earrings in extra, he maybe had a tattoo, but the odds were that he didn't. His clothes, like many of the others in the room, were also black, starting by his boots, passing by his shirt and baggy pants, and finishing with his cloak.
The last person was at the other end of the room, sitting in a large armchair facing the window. It was Foe again. She was the only one of the group that looked bored, but not of the situation of just being there, more about being generally bored about everything. Sitting cross-legged, her hand vaguely holding her cheek while her other hand, falling limply on the side of the furniture, was holding a bottle of scotch that already had been half gulped down, even though she still looked very sober.
The silence stayed in the room for another five minutes, occasionally broken by the sound of the scotch moving around the bottle before being drunk. Besides that, nothing was heard until the door opened violently and the redhead teenage girl nicknamed Bliss appeared in the entrance, holding a file of papers in her hands. The Italian man, startled by this sudden entrance, turned around violently, his hand sliding to his side, to his holster, but recognizing the newcomer, he let go of his gun. The girl rolled her eyes and walked to the table, on which she placed the papers.
Her dark red hair was tied into an elegant chignon, keeping two bangs on either side of her face and she was wearing bellbottomed jeans and a blue tank top. She smiled and walked back out seeing that she wasn't needed. The door closed behind her and it is only then that Alexander grabbed the file and dragged it up to him. Amber walked to her seat, as did the Italian man. Now only one chair was left unattended, and it was the one next to L?ka's husband.
Alexander opened the folder and took out the first sheet of paper.
"It's already all over the news," he said, breaking the silence. "But they have no suspects, which is somewhat good. We don't need to lie low this time. What we need to worry about know is that our next target might get the message and flee . . . And the news on the street is that Spite is back in town."
Foe shuddered, but didn't say anything.
"Does Magneto have something to do with this?" Amber asked. "Is Spite joining him?"
"No," Alexander answered. "The Brotherhood would never take in someone like him. They're not that desperate. And Spite is not the type to join other mutants, since he hates them. He's more the type to work for the government, against all of us."
"Why can't we just get rid of him?" Coral asked, seeing it as the best solution.
"Oh, we tried," William, the boy from London said. "But he's very strong, and our powers are useless with him, you know that."
"Is someone keeping an eye on our target?" Foe asked, changing the subject. "And on Xavier's people?"
"I am," L?ka's husband said. "The next on the list is staying on government propriety and we can't have a clean shot yet. We need to wait until he gets out into the city."
"And for Xavier's people, Prowler?" Foe continued, turning her chair a little to see everyone sitting at the table.
"I think he only has a small clue that it's our work," L?ka's husband, Prowler, said. "Lets just hope it stays like that until it's over."
"And for the party, who's going?" Alexander asked. "We can't *not* go."
"I'll go," the boy from Monaco said, turning his chair. "Gambit and Will agreed to come with me, but I'm still looking for more to come. I think Bliss is up for it too."
"Alex, can you go with them?" Foe asked.
Alexander made a face.
"You're sure? I thought you were going," he said. "What if Xavier goes? I don't want to see him, I might get the urge to kill him on the spot. I don't have your self-control."
Foe smiled weakly at her friend's fuming face.
"I need someone to keep an eye on the kids," she said, and Alex nodded in submission. "Antonio, you can check on the kids back home," she continued, more giving an order than asking a question to the Italian man who rose from his seat and walked towards the door after having saluted everyone.
He closed the door and soon enough, the girl who had brought in the papers came back in and sat in his chair, sighing and eyeing each of the other mutants.
"Now," Foe said, eyeing everyone as she turned her chair completely. "I won't be able to go with you on the next job, because I need to work again. I'm giving this one to you," she said, designating the young mutants sitting around the table. "Bliss, Hyper and Sly, this one is for you. Don't mess it up, I'm counting on all three of you."
The girl with red hair rose from her seat, followed by William, and then the empty chair on Prowler's right side moved and someone evidently rose, most probably being Sly, a mutant capable of invisibility. All three walked out the room, and it was then the last teen in the room, the one from Monaco, turned to Foe with some sort of mischievous look on his face. She smiled at him.
"Watch them," she said to him, making him smirk as he rose at his turn, slowly walking to the door.
Soon enough, the others left together, L?ka and Prowler going their way, Amber and Coral most probably leaving on a girl's night out. The last one there was Alexander, and he didn't look too happy. Foe didn't say anything to him, turning around towards the window, her bottle in one hand.
He rose from his seat and walked towards her seat, crouching at her level. She still didn't turn towards him or say anything. Finally, he took her chin in his hand and turned her head towards him.
"Why are you doing this to yourself?" he asked, deep concern visible on his face.
She looked down, her eyes starting to water, and yet she smiled.
"Why do you lock yourself in that lab nearly twenty-four seven? You don't even spend time with your son anymore," he said agitatedly. "You keep sending him on those night chases, or making him watch out for the other young ones like you just did tonight."
"Alex, I'm so sure I'm going to be able to keep Lily alive," she said, trying to stop a few tears from escaping her eyes and gliding down her cheeks. "I don't want to loose her. I know I'm not taking enough time to stay with my boy, but I'm so close to bringing her back that I can't concentrate on anything else."
"Foe . . ." Alex said, brushing a stray tear from her face. " . . . I'm sorry to tell you this but . . . you just don't realize . . . you've been saying you've been close for more than a decade . . . I think you're just wasting your life in trying to save Lily."
Foe frowned, staring angrily at him, pushing him away as she got up.
"Go, Alex," she said sadly, trying to contain her anger as she walked to the windows. "I want to be left alone."
Alexander sighed, got up and walked to the door, left ajar. He found Prowler waiting on the other side. He had evidently heard the conversation, and there was a sad look on his face.
"I didn't know . . ." he started, brutally interrupted by Alex.
"Don't talk," he simply said, walking towards the stairs, followed by Prowler.
They walked in silence through the hall, walking up to the street and just about they were going to go their separate ways, Prowler turned around.
"See ya in a few days, pal," muttered Alexander without looking at him.
"Shock, wait . . . who's Lily?" he asked, unsure that he would be answered.
Alexander turned around, looking at him sternly, yet sadly.
"Foe's daughter," he said sorrowfully before turning around and starting to walk away.
Somehow, Prowler knew he was best to keep this information to himself.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Well, Laurana's not very important . . .
Sin is just the materialisation of my pnigophobia (fear of choking) that was given to me thanks to severe asthma when I was young. I'm also I bit claustrophobic, but that was because I was stuck on my stomach in a 2 by 6 feet ice cave two years ago, wasn't able to get out and was starting to miss air... but that's another episode of my fascinating life. ^_^
I know it might be annoying not knowing too much about the new characters, but you'll understand soon. I'm going to put up a chart with info about them one day.
Hum . . . my birthday is coming up in a couple of days ^_^ . . . can you guess how old I'm turning?