"What are you in trouble for...? WHAT ARE YOU IN TROUBLE FOR?!" Logan's voice took on a darker tone along with his expression turning fierce. His eyes narrowed and he looked ready to strangle the next one to say a word.
Rogue intervented. "Logan, sugah, maybe we should let them come inside. They've been gone for a few hours...rest might be good for 'em,"she said, leaving no room for argument from any of the parties involved. She stepped around Logan with ease then pushed him and the door aside. "Come in."
Tara had a feeling Logan was not pleased with them. His expression said it all especially when combined with the cold, dark mansion air; the only light came from the candle Rogue held. It was solid black with streams of wax sliding down its length.
"Rogue.." His voice took on a warning tone but she met it head on.
"Don't start. Julius, take Angel, Tara, and Kellie to the front room.Corey's waiting...I'm sure he'll be overjoyed to know that y'all are alright."
Snorts of laughter from the three girls. Angel recovered the quickest, casting a smile at the former X-woman before linking one of her arms with Julius; she smirked. "Lead the way, sweetheart."
Julius raised an eyebrow before pulling his arm away and walking off. Kellie followed, muttering something to Angel. Tara held back, stopping just inside the doorway to listen.
"What's wrong with you, Rogue? They left without leaving a message to anyone or even telling anyone what was going on. Angel's the problem...it was her friend, her idea, and her plan that screwed up and has one kid lost God knows where!"
"Russ isn't lost. He stayed behind to take care of the others...why do you have such a problem accepting that for once they were in the right, in the wrong way? Yeah, they ran off. Yeah, they were stupid and almost got themselves killed but, Logan, they worked as a team!" Rogue's voice was as angry as his but there was a note of pride.
Tara grimaced at the note of challenge in their voices. It reminded her too much of people from her childhood. People had always yelled, argued, or hated each other the length of time she was around; that was the reason for her distancing herself from them.
"A team doesn't work when there's no trust. I don't even know why Kellie and Russ went to help.."
Rogue's voice broke into his, stronger. "I think Angel's planning to tell us the entire story if you would stop fighting about whether they were right or wrong. They're waiting, Logan."
Silence.
She used the silence to escape through the rooms and into the living room with the others. She placed a finger against her lips at the questioning looks from her aquantiances and friend. Kellie looked ready to question but Logan's footsteps silenced her words before they were spoken.
"Sit,"he commanded upon entry, motioning to several scattered bits of furniture. Julius sat on one of the couches, leaning back and propping his feet on the table. Angel flopped down beside him and stared up at the ceiling. Tara settled onto the end of a table while Kellie sat in one of the chairs. "Wanna explain a few things, Angel?"
"I don't think I have a choice. The guy we went to save was a member of my uncles'...group. He's also one of the ones who helped train me against my powers. His name's Jax. I've known him since I was thirteen; he was sixteen and helped a lot. Please don't be mad but he needed me. I couldn't abandon him,"she said without rising from the couch. Her eyes never left the ceiling. "Uncle Vel's group has always taken care of me. I was repaying a favor."
Julius laughed. "Some favor. Did the guy even thank you or anything?"he asked, making a point to move so he blocked her view of the ceiling. He stared down at her. She moved away and got up, pacing.
"It's not their way, Kanteon. He wouldn't thank us and he wouldn't accept the fact that a group of seventeen and nineteen year olds saved his life...just shut up." She bit her lip, pausing and staring ahead out a window. "I have another confession. When Jax tells Vel about...this, he'll take me out. He's overprotective and seems to think I'm too young to make any diffrence other than cause him problems with the senator."
Tara recognized the note of bitterness in her voice. It was her friend's curse to bear-the acceptance of a real family could never be faked by an aunt and uncle. Another thing in their relationship that was usually avoided.
Like you have a perfect home life, Tara?an inner voice mocked, drawing her eyes to the floor and her Trainers. Not in the least. My parents didn't want me and neither have any of my foster parents.
Logan nodded, briefly then settled his gaze on Tara. "What's your excuse?"
"I was helping a friend. She needed it and so did Jax..."
"Kellie?"
She shrugged, raising one hand to brush some wet pink hair from her eyes. She slid it behind her ear then simply shook her head. "I don't have an excuse,"she stated, quietly. "I did what was right. I'm sorry you can't deal with it."
"Can't deal with it?"
Rogue stiffled laughter by coughing into her hand. "Upstairs all of you. In the morning things will be diffrent...I'm sure Russ'll be back and Logan will have calmed down."
"Night, Rogue. Good-night, Logan."
JANUARY 19, 2005
"Would you like some more tea?" Julius indicated the teapot he held in one hand. A bright pink apron was worn over his clothes. He looked-in truth-quite ridiculous. Boots, a trenchcoat, and a frilly pink apron were not a good match.
Angel raised an eyebrow, looking up from the book spread on the table before her. Her forehead knit together in several lines. "Did something happen to him last night?"she questioned, voicing the question to Kellie who looked rather smug.
She shrugged. "How would I know? Yes, Julius..."
He poured some tea into the mug then placed it back on the counter.
I think this is why Hank's not allowed to have human test subjects. Angel returned to her book and flipped several pages, reading quicker than was healthy. She barely listened to the exchanges between her teammates but Hank and Gambit's arrival cut it off.
"Y'did what, mon ami?"
"It was a simply experiment. Obviously it worked. Logan said to do it..." Hank shrugged like it was natural then got his food out of the fridgerator. He began to eat without another word.
"Take if off, mon ami."
"Can't. Not unless Logan tells me so..."
"HANK!"
"Working on it..."
5:21 P.M.
"You altered my MIND?!" Julius' angry voice split the air, drawing four oblivious stares. His expression darkened to anger while he tightened his crossed arms. "To be a nice guy and serve tea?"
Hank nodded. "It was an experiment. I asked Logan for a volunteer and he gave me your name....it was a minor infragment with my having to come to you while you were asleep. Otherwise, it wouldn't have worked so well."
"I can't believe you bastards. You preach trust and honesty then pull this?"he demanded, turning on his heel and stomping out. His footsteps echoed back but he made no point to soften them. "Damn, hypocritical bastards...trust each other. Be a team. Yeah, right. Hypocrites."
"Do you always have to seeing the worst in everything?"Russ' voice came from right at his side.
Julius hadn't heard him approach but hated being snuck up on. He turned, pinning the other boy with a glare. "What the hell would you know about how I see things?"
Russ laughed. "It's not hard. The world's your playground and you get to play God...sorry, Julius, but the world doesn't run that way. There are those better, stronger than you. Being a team's about working togher; you fail in that department."
"Like you're a master of teamwork?"he asked, forcing his voice to sound more mocking. "Nice trademark you left on Angel's arm and what about abandoning Tara and Kellie."
"At least I was there for any length of time and you don't care about any of them."
"Damn right I don't. None of them have done anything for me nor will they ever,"he stated without looking away from Russ. "I've always taken care of myself and I always will."
"Then you're a bigger fool then I thought." Russ turned to walk away.
No one calls me a fool. No one.
"I guess it's easier to be judge and jury when your family's so perfect, huh, Sabbath?"he demanded, glowering. Several nearby trees bent forward to the ground then snapped. The gates rattled as wind tore at them.
He turned back. "My family isn't perfect. My father let these people take me away without a second glance...I can barely remember my mother. She disappeared when I was still young. Don't talk to me about perfect. You're not that hard to judge, Julius Augustus Kanteon."
Julius tightened his hand into a fist. "You have quite a mouth on you, Sabbath. Let's see how you actually hold up in battle...I'll even let you draw first blood. No powers."
Russ smirked. "Don't need them. About time someone did,"he said before slamming his fist as hard as he could into Julius' jaw. Something similar to a pop came followed shortly by a hiss of slight pain. It wasn't much but enough.
The son of a bitch hit me. The words had barely registered within his mind before he returned the favor, driving his fist into Russ' stomache, hard. Their fight continued for a long time, kicking and punching each other without the use of their powers. Blood and sweat ran down both their bodies and joined the dust on the ground. Julius slammed his fist as hard as he could into Russ' jaw, listening with satisfaction to the sound of something snapping.
"That's enough, both of you!" Logan appeared from nowhere and worked to seperate them. He shoved the two apart. Almost instantly Russ sobered and wiped blood from his lip. He glared at Julius but kept his mouth shut, holding in his anger. Julius didn't go so quietly. He fought against Logan, hitting him only once before he found himself slammed against a wall.
"That's enough. Was that little macho shoving match worth it?"
"Damn worth it,"he answered, swiping at the blood running down his face and onto his neck. He pushed Logan away. "Get off. He's not worth it. Let me go..."
Logan released him. "Go to the medlab, both of you. One more fight and I swear I'll make Hank use his device to convince you that you're seven-year-olds. Tara will braid your hair and Angel will buy you both barbies, understood...?"
Silence.
"Go."
Russ walkd away first, making his way inside with only two backward glances. After a few moments Julius followed, making a point to keep distance between them.
"This isn't over."
"Good. Someone needs to take you down a few pegs..."
Their eyes met and held in silent challenge before they entered the medlab.
Short chapter but...it's a chapter. It's not much to the plot except characters behavior together. Things will calm down some but there's several events about to happen that are strange. One includes a 'relationship' if you could call it that. Things shall calm down and expect another...wait don't expect another chapter just wait. Thanks.
Rogue intervented. "Logan, sugah, maybe we should let them come inside. They've been gone for a few hours...rest might be good for 'em,"she said, leaving no room for argument from any of the parties involved. She stepped around Logan with ease then pushed him and the door aside. "Come in."
Tara had a feeling Logan was not pleased with them. His expression said it all especially when combined with the cold, dark mansion air; the only light came from the candle Rogue held. It was solid black with streams of wax sliding down its length.
"Rogue.." His voice took on a warning tone but she met it head on.
"Don't start. Julius, take Angel, Tara, and Kellie to the front room.Corey's waiting...I'm sure he'll be overjoyed to know that y'all are alright."
Snorts of laughter from the three girls. Angel recovered the quickest, casting a smile at the former X-woman before linking one of her arms with Julius; she smirked. "Lead the way, sweetheart."
Julius raised an eyebrow before pulling his arm away and walking off. Kellie followed, muttering something to Angel. Tara held back, stopping just inside the doorway to listen.
"What's wrong with you, Rogue? They left without leaving a message to anyone or even telling anyone what was going on. Angel's the problem...it was her friend, her idea, and her plan that screwed up and has one kid lost God knows where!"
"Russ isn't lost. He stayed behind to take care of the others...why do you have such a problem accepting that for once they were in the right, in the wrong way? Yeah, they ran off. Yeah, they were stupid and almost got themselves killed but, Logan, they worked as a team!" Rogue's voice was as angry as his but there was a note of pride.
Tara grimaced at the note of challenge in their voices. It reminded her too much of people from her childhood. People had always yelled, argued, or hated each other the length of time she was around; that was the reason for her distancing herself from them.
"A team doesn't work when there's no trust. I don't even know why Kellie and Russ went to help.."
Rogue's voice broke into his, stronger. "I think Angel's planning to tell us the entire story if you would stop fighting about whether they were right or wrong. They're waiting, Logan."
Silence.
She used the silence to escape through the rooms and into the living room with the others. She placed a finger against her lips at the questioning looks from her aquantiances and friend. Kellie looked ready to question but Logan's footsteps silenced her words before they were spoken.
"Sit,"he commanded upon entry, motioning to several scattered bits of furniture. Julius sat on one of the couches, leaning back and propping his feet on the table. Angel flopped down beside him and stared up at the ceiling. Tara settled onto the end of a table while Kellie sat in one of the chairs. "Wanna explain a few things, Angel?"
"I don't think I have a choice. The guy we went to save was a member of my uncles'...group. He's also one of the ones who helped train me against my powers. His name's Jax. I've known him since I was thirteen; he was sixteen and helped a lot. Please don't be mad but he needed me. I couldn't abandon him,"she said without rising from the couch. Her eyes never left the ceiling. "Uncle Vel's group has always taken care of me. I was repaying a favor."
Julius laughed. "Some favor. Did the guy even thank you or anything?"he asked, making a point to move so he blocked her view of the ceiling. He stared down at her. She moved away and got up, pacing.
"It's not their way, Kanteon. He wouldn't thank us and he wouldn't accept the fact that a group of seventeen and nineteen year olds saved his life...just shut up." She bit her lip, pausing and staring ahead out a window. "I have another confession. When Jax tells Vel about...this, he'll take me out. He's overprotective and seems to think I'm too young to make any diffrence other than cause him problems with the senator."
Tara recognized the note of bitterness in her voice. It was her friend's curse to bear-the acceptance of a real family could never be faked by an aunt and uncle. Another thing in their relationship that was usually avoided.
Like you have a perfect home life, Tara?an inner voice mocked, drawing her eyes to the floor and her Trainers. Not in the least. My parents didn't want me and neither have any of my foster parents.
Logan nodded, briefly then settled his gaze on Tara. "What's your excuse?"
"I was helping a friend. She needed it and so did Jax..."
"Kellie?"
She shrugged, raising one hand to brush some wet pink hair from her eyes. She slid it behind her ear then simply shook her head. "I don't have an excuse,"she stated, quietly. "I did what was right. I'm sorry you can't deal with it."
"Can't deal with it?"
Rogue stiffled laughter by coughing into her hand. "Upstairs all of you. In the morning things will be diffrent...I'm sure Russ'll be back and Logan will have calmed down."
"Night, Rogue. Good-night, Logan."
JANUARY 19, 2005
"Would you like some more tea?" Julius indicated the teapot he held in one hand. A bright pink apron was worn over his clothes. He looked-in truth-quite ridiculous. Boots, a trenchcoat, and a frilly pink apron were not a good match.
Angel raised an eyebrow, looking up from the book spread on the table before her. Her forehead knit together in several lines. "Did something happen to him last night?"she questioned, voicing the question to Kellie who looked rather smug.
She shrugged. "How would I know? Yes, Julius..."
He poured some tea into the mug then placed it back on the counter.
I think this is why Hank's not allowed to have human test subjects. Angel returned to her book and flipped several pages, reading quicker than was healthy. She barely listened to the exchanges between her teammates but Hank and Gambit's arrival cut it off.
"Y'did what, mon ami?"
"It was a simply experiment. Obviously it worked. Logan said to do it..." Hank shrugged like it was natural then got his food out of the fridgerator. He began to eat without another word.
"Take if off, mon ami."
"Can't. Not unless Logan tells me so..."
"HANK!"
"Working on it..."
5:21 P.M.
"You altered my MIND?!" Julius' angry voice split the air, drawing four oblivious stares. His expression darkened to anger while he tightened his crossed arms. "To be a nice guy and serve tea?"
Hank nodded. "It was an experiment. I asked Logan for a volunteer and he gave me your name....it was a minor infragment with my having to come to you while you were asleep. Otherwise, it wouldn't have worked so well."
"I can't believe you bastards. You preach trust and honesty then pull this?"he demanded, turning on his heel and stomping out. His footsteps echoed back but he made no point to soften them. "Damn, hypocritical bastards...trust each other. Be a team. Yeah, right. Hypocrites."
"Do you always have to seeing the worst in everything?"Russ' voice came from right at his side.
Julius hadn't heard him approach but hated being snuck up on. He turned, pinning the other boy with a glare. "What the hell would you know about how I see things?"
Russ laughed. "It's not hard. The world's your playground and you get to play God...sorry, Julius, but the world doesn't run that way. There are those better, stronger than you. Being a team's about working togher; you fail in that department."
"Like you're a master of teamwork?"he asked, forcing his voice to sound more mocking. "Nice trademark you left on Angel's arm and what about abandoning Tara and Kellie."
"At least I was there for any length of time and you don't care about any of them."
"Damn right I don't. None of them have done anything for me nor will they ever,"he stated without looking away from Russ. "I've always taken care of myself and I always will."
"Then you're a bigger fool then I thought." Russ turned to walk away.
No one calls me a fool. No one.
"I guess it's easier to be judge and jury when your family's so perfect, huh, Sabbath?"he demanded, glowering. Several nearby trees bent forward to the ground then snapped. The gates rattled as wind tore at them.
He turned back. "My family isn't perfect. My father let these people take me away without a second glance...I can barely remember my mother. She disappeared when I was still young. Don't talk to me about perfect. You're not that hard to judge, Julius Augustus Kanteon."
Julius tightened his hand into a fist. "You have quite a mouth on you, Sabbath. Let's see how you actually hold up in battle...I'll even let you draw first blood. No powers."
Russ smirked. "Don't need them. About time someone did,"he said before slamming his fist as hard as he could into Julius' jaw. Something similar to a pop came followed shortly by a hiss of slight pain. It wasn't much but enough.
The son of a bitch hit me. The words had barely registered within his mind before he returned the favor, driving his fist into Russ' stomache, hard. Their fight continued for a long time, kicking and punching each other without the use of their powers. Blood and sweat ran down both their bodies and joined the dust on the ground. Julius slammed his fist as hard as he could into Russ' jaw, listening with satisfaction to the sound of something snapping.
"That's enough, both of you!" Logan appeared from nowhere and worked to seperate them. He shoved the two apart. Almost instantly Russ sobered and wiped blood from his lip. He glared at Julius but kept his mouth shut, holding in his anger. Julius didn't go so quietly. He fought against Logan, hitting him only once before he found himself slammed against a wall.
"That's enough. Was that little macho shoving match worth it?"
"Damn worth it,"he answered, swiping at the blood running down his face and onto his neck. He pushed Logan away. "Get off. He's not worth it. Let me go..."
Logan released him. "Go to the medlab, both of you. One more fight and I swear I'll make Hank use his device to convince you that you're seven-year-olds. Tara will braid your hair and Angel will buy you both barbies, understood...?"
Silence.
"Go."
Russ walkd away first, making his way inside with only two backward glances. After a few moments Julius followed, making a point to keep distance between them.
"This isn't over."
"Good. Someone needs to take you down a few pegs..."
Their eyes met and held in silent challenge before they entered the medlab.
Short chapter but...it's a chapter. It's not much to the plot except characters behavior together. Things will calm down some but there's several events about to happen that are strange. One includes a 'relationship' if you could call it that. Things shall calm down and expect another...wait don't expect another chapter just wait. Thanks.