Author's Note: Eh?
Disclaimer: How many out there think I own or make money off of the X-Men? ::idiot raises his hand and is swiftly shot:: Anyone else? ::silence::
Interesting fact: The second generation of X-Men was actually thrown together to save the original X-Men from a live island.
The Damned, Episode 1
Chapter 6: Introducing…
"Erik have ya seen Irene?" Marie asked.
Erik, who was sitting in front of the television with a Pepsi can in one hand, looked at the girl with an unreadable expression.
Marie looked about her nervously, "What?"
"Sit down," he ordered. She obeyed. Erik rolled his eyes, "Well don't look at me in terror, I'm not a monster." Marie nodded, still looking terrified. "Marie we need to talk." The little girl nodded. "I know Irene and Raven have been being gently on you since you came to live with them but I have to be honest, you need to work through some of your problems."
"Problems?" she asked meekly.
Erik rose an eyebrow, "you don't notice them?" She shook her head. "You look terrified of any adult that talks to you." He paused, "Well except for Raven and Irene, most of the time."
"Erik what are you doing?"
He turned to see Irene standing behind him, arms crossed angrily over her chest. "I was just-"
"Let me worry about my own child."
"No need to get defensive you crazy bat." With that he got up and left the room.
Marie looked confusedly at Irene.
Irene sighed, "Marie I was hoping to avoid this until Raven got home but I guess we can do this now." Irene sat in the spot Erik had just vacated. "I know you've been going to therapy because the state says you have to but I would love it if you would talk to me and Raven."
The girl looked away from Irene, looking out the window towards the backyard.
Irene followed her gaze, "Come on Marie, lets go out into the backyard."
Marie got up and followed Irene out the backdoor and into their expansive backyard.
"Wow, we have this huge yard and we never use it," Irene commented. The two silently walked down the steps of the wraparound porch, past the grassy field and arrived at the stream that intersected their property. "Marie," Irene said, sitting on the grassy bank, "do you ever feel alone?" Marie nodded. "Why?"
The girl sat so still for the longest time. Finally she answered, "Ah don't know, sometahms Ah just feel lahk that."
"I used to feel the same way. I mean I had all the family I could ever want back in Austria but then I moved here to the United States and I didn't have anyone." Irene looked absently into the stream. "My parents died while I was moving out here and they left me this house with all its property and plenty of money and still I felt alone. I had thought that if I moved into the house I would feel less alone. After all, how could anyone feel alone with a lot of possessions?" Marie wondered where the conversation was going. "Then I met Raven, so full of life and passion and she introduced me to a new life. She gave me something to live for, mutant rights and eventually I fell in love with her." Irene noticed Marie bristle uncomfortably. "My point is, everyone needs to find something that makes them happy. So far I've seen you happy when you play with your friends by the river but I know that sometimes that is not enough." Irene looked Marie directly in the eyes. "Is there anything at all that makes you feel happy? Alive?" Marie muttered something Irene could not hear. "What was that?"
"The moon."
Irene nodded, "and why is that?"
Marie spoke a little louder, "where Ah lived with my parents Ah didn't have a room with windows. It was dark all the time. Ah can see the moon from my bedroom and it mahks me feel good." Irene thought the girl was going to stop but she continued. "And the river. Ah feel connected to other people. Ah lived away from everyone for so long it feels right to live by the river."
What wise words for a little girl. Raven thought. "Well you're right, you are connected to everyone through the river. This stream right here is connected to the Mississippi."
"Is it really?" Marie asked with bright eyes.
Irene smiled and nodded. "Can I ask you something else?" Marie nodded. "Why do you were clothes to cover yourself from head to toe?" Irene knew why but she needed the girl to admit it to herself.
A flash of worry came across Marie's eyes, "Ah…."
"It's okay," Irene gently coaxed.
"Ah don't lahk ta look at mah body."
"Oh sweetie, its okay to not be perfect."
"But ah'm scarred…all over." Marie looked as though she might cry so Irene held her close.
"Marie I want you to know that no matter what, Raven and I love you."
* * *
As Raven got into her car she couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. She couldn't shake it but the feeling had started long before she had stolen the disk for Essex. As she entered her garage she told herself not to worry, that it was all part of her plan, that it was necessary.
She grudgingly hauled herself out of her car and into the house. Except for the T.V on in the living room, everything was dead silent. Curiously she went to the livingroom, only to find Erik passed out on the sofa. Rolling her eyes, she shut off the television.
"Hey I was watching that."
Raven turned around in surprise, "Don't do that, you scared me!"
Erik sat up, grinning devilishly. "Let me make it up to you." Swiftly he had her in his arms, lips close to hers.
"Erik," Raven said softly, "We can't do this, I'm taken."
Erik frowned and let her go. "What kind of tricks are you pulling? Are you the queen of head trips or what?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"First you tease me while you're dating Irene, then drop little hints, and then at the bar…"
"What bar?" Raven asked.
"Oh, don't play that, I wasn't that drunk."
"Erik I honest to God don't know what you are talking about."
"I'm sure you don't," Erik growled.
"I think you've finally lost it."
"Whatever," he left Raven standing in the living room.
* * *
Raven sat at the dining table, noting the uncomfortable level of tension. Erik was avoiding her gaze, as was Irene and Irene sure as hell was not about to talk to Erik.
"Alright, this is crazy," Raven said, "Why are you two angry at each other this time?" Neither said anything. "Well?"
Irene started, "He was talking to Marie."
"Its not a crime," Erik told her.
"No but it isn't your place to talk to her about her personal problems. As her parents its our job," Irene motioned towards herself and Raven.
"You can't possibly believe that Marie would open up to her parents," Erik scoffed.
"Hey that might be the way it is with your kids but Marie loves us and she is not going to end up in a correctional facility like your son."
Erik slammed his fist down on the table, "Don't you ever talk about my son like that! Pietro has special circumstances."
"If by special you mean insane, then I guess you're right!"
Raven watched, shaking her head, "You two need to stop acting like children."
"We need to stop acting like children!" Erik yelled, "This coming from the Queen of rash decisions."
"When have I ever-"
"Joining Essex!" Erik yelled.
"Adopting a child without consulting anyone!" Irene added.
"How about choosing to run certain 'errands' without telling anyone who could back you up?!"
"Well at least the two of you are agreeing on something!" Raven yelled back before storming out of the room in an angry huff.
Erik started to go after her but Irene stopped him. "I'll go."
* * *
"Raven you are being unreasonable!"
"I'm being unreasonable?" Raven paced on the back porch. "Every time I do something to further our cause, the two of you act like I've committed the worst sin."
"I think what Erik was trying to say is that you need to start consulting your business partners before making deals."
Raven placed her hands on the wooden railing.
"Raven we both know you are stubborn and that is good, in ways. But you have to know when to come to us."
Raven looked at Irene and knew she was talking about their personal relationship as well. "Irene I never mean to make you feel left out. I'm just so used to being alone in all my decisions it never even occurred to me that I might be neglecting you."
"And Marie."
"And Marie," she agreed. She sighed, "So where do we go from here?"
"Well I think we should get started on our liberation ideas."
* * *
Marie finished her math work faster than everyone in her class. She sat, bored, in her seat, watching the rest of her class struggle with their work. She looked down at her gloved hands, thinking about her conversation with Irene. True, she could just take off the gloves and let everyone see her scars. She could wear shorts, let everyone see the deep, healed, gashes running along her thighs. She could even wear a tank top and allow her classmates to see the disgusting scars lining her back, shoulders, and arms.
Why didn't she just let herself be free? She looked around and remembered. Her classmates would make fun of her. They'd treat her like a freak, they'd taunt and torment.
"Okay class," the teacher said, "Time to check your work. Pass your paper to the person beside you."
RING!
"Alright class you are dismissed but we'll check the work tomorrow!"
Mica ran over to Marie, "Come on we're gonna be late!"
Marie followed Mica out to the parking lot where Mica's mother was waiting to pick them up.
Jumping into the car, Mica gave her mom the okay to drive.
"So how was school today?" Miss Goodes asked.
"Okay," Mica replied unconvincingly.
Miss Goodes said nothing, just looked at her daughter and Marie in the rear view mirror. The two squirmed. "Alright."
The children talked silently between themselves until they pulled up in front of Marie's house.
"Wow Marie, who's throwing the party?"
Confused, the girl looked at her house. Cars were lined up on both sides of the street as well as in her driveway. "Ah have no idea." Marie hopped out of the car.
"Bye Marie," Called Mica, "Call me if you can play!"
Marie waved before walking up her driveway to the front door. She knocked on the door, tentatively. The door opened and Raven greeted her with a kiss and a hug.
"I'm glad you're home honey, you get to meet some of Mommy's friends from work."
As Marie stepped further into the room she took in the sight of several other people, some were different colors, some had extra limbs, some looked normal.
"Marie, these are," Raven spit out so many names Marie only had time to catch a few. "Astra, Burner, Shocker, Slither….."
They must be mutants, Marie decided.
"Of course, those are just codenames," the one named Mastermind assured her.
Marie nodded, pretending to understand.
"Now you have some guests in the backyard," Raven told her, "go greet them."
Obediently, Marie left the house. On the back porch she found three children around her own age. They looked at her in surprise.
"Hi," she said shakily, "Ahm Marie."
"I'm Dominic Szilard Petros," a brunette told her. "And these are Pietro and Wanda," he pointed at two children sitting on the porch swing.
The door opened behind them. "Oh good," Erik's voice boomed, "you've met my children and Lance."
His children? Marie nodded.
"Well I'll let you get back to playing then."
"So what's your power?" the girl named Wanda asked.
"Ah don't have one."
"You don't have any powers," Wanda scoffed. "What kind of mutant are you?"
"Ah'm not."
"And they let you stay here!"
"Hey back off," Dominic told Wanda, "She didn't do anything to you."
Wanda rolled her eyes, "Well my powers are magic."
Marie didn't question her, instead she asked Pietro a question, "What are your powers?"
"I don't know," he told her. At her confused look he explained, "Well my dad says that most mutants don't get their power until they are teenagers." He looked at his sister, "Wanda is just lucky."
"So then does that mean ya don't know what your powers are either?" Marie asked Lance. He nodded. "Then how do ya'll know you're really mutants?"
"Didn't Raven tell you?" Dominic began, "Irene's power to see the future means she can tell if you are going to be a mutant or not."
"Oh."
"But don't worry," Dominic told her, "I like you even though you aren't a mutant." He tried to pat her on the back but she edged away from him nervously. "What?" he asked confused.
"N-nothing," she stammered.
"I don't have cooties you know," Dominic said crossly.
"Yeah he does," Wanda warned in a high-pitched voice, "He's King of Cooties."
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"AM NOT!"
"ARE TOO!"
Pietro noticed Marie put her hands over her ears. "Stop arguing," he told the two, "its bothering me."
"Oh poor little Pietro can't be bothered," Wanda mocked.
He stuck out his tongue.
* * *
As Marie listened to Roseanne Barr deliver a punch line she surveyed the people around her. It was evening and by this time all of Raven's business partners had left the house. Unfortunately the children had stayed. Marie had expected Pietro and Wanda to stay, their father was living in the house afterall, but she was surprised, and dismayed, that Dominic was spending the night.
It wasn't that she didn't like the brunette but he and Wanda could not stop arguing for more than two seconds. Marie had tried to keep herself from making any faces when Irene told her that the three would be with them for a week but apparently she failed because Irene chastised her and told her to be nice.
So now Marie was doomed to sitting quietly in the corner of one of their couches, listening to a combination of good sitcom and terrible bickering.
"Na aw!" Wanda cried, "Roseanne is not the most rad actress."
"Yeah she is!" Pietro insisted.
"What do you think?" Wanda asked Dominic.
"I like Roseanne."
"Boys are so stupid," Wanda declared.
"We are not!"
"Are Too!"
"ARE NOT!
"ARE TOO!"
* * *
"Marie! School time!" Raven's voice sang cheerily.
Groggily, Marie awoke from a dream. Silently she thanked her mother for waking her up. Her dream wasn't a nightmare but it wasn't the most pleasant. The man, Mastermind had been playing dolls throughout the whole dream and in the end she found that the dolls were herself and her family, Erik included.
"Marie you need to take a bath and shower!" Raven reminded before scurrying out of the room, no doubt to start breakfast.
After performing her morning routine, Marie came downstairs to find everyone at the table. Unfortunately Wanda and Dominic were seated next to each other. Marie took the only available seat, in between Dominic and Pietro.
"Hiya Marie!" Pietro said, loudly.
She smiled tightly.
"So do you haveta go to school today?" Dominic asked. She nodded. "That bites, I hate school."
Wanda, angry that Dominic had stopped paying attention to her, spoke up, "We are getting home-schooled today."
Dominic's eyes went wide, "No!"
"Don't worry it isn't that bad," Wanda told him, "Pietro and I were home-schooled for two years at the hospital."
Marie noticed Erik tense.
Dominic didn't notice, "What hospital?"
"Wanda how did you like the trip down here?" Erik quickly interrupted.
His daughter's face brightened, "Airplanes are soo cool!"
"Yeah," Pietro agreed, "We got peanuts!"
Raven looked at her watch, "Marie we have to get you to school."
* * *
"So what do you think of those kids?" Raven asked.
Marie, sitting in the passenger's seat, answered, "they're loud."
Raven laughed, "That they are but they're good kids."
The girl thought for a few seconds, "Mama what did they mean by the hospital?"
"Well honey, Erik's kids had certain…problems they needed fixed."
"What kind of problems?" Marie was now thoroughly interested.
Raven sighed, "Alright, don't ever repeat this, it is impolite to, but Erik's kids have mental disorders. It means they aren't completely okay in the head. They have to go to a hospital to get it fixed but they get to visit their dad sometimes."
"What about their mom?"
Raven smiled sadly at Marie but didn't say anything.
"So how come Dominic's here?"
"He's one of Erik's friend's children and Erik thought it would be good for him to come down here."
"Oh."
"Why? Do you not like him?"
"Him an' Wanda annoy me."
Her mother smiled, "Sometimes people argue because they really like each other honey."
"Does that mean Irene and Erik really like each other?" Marie asked innocently.
Raven almost choked, "Maybe."
* * *
"So what do you want to do?" Wanda asked Dominic and Pietro.
"I dunno," Pietro said.
Wanda huffed and turned her gaze to one of the livingroom windows. A lite drizzle had begun. "We can't play outside, its raining."
"We can't play hide and seek," Pietro added, "we could get lost in this house."
"We can play with my powers!" Wanda offered excitedly.
"No!" both boys exclaimed.
The girl pouted and turned her attention back to the window. "Do you guys think Marie is weird?"
"No," Dominic answered.
"But she wont let anyone near her and she always wears the same old thing, long pants and turtlenecks."
"Maybe she's cold," Pietro suggested.
"Maybe."
"Hey Pietro," Wanda began.
"Hmm?"
"What do you think they'll do to us when we get back to the hospital?"
"Probly keep making us do that shock stuff."
"What shock stuff?" Dominic asked.
Pietro looked at him as though he must be stupid, "Shock therapy, it makes you good again."
"Are you bad?"
"We used to be," Wanda answered, "but the shocking is making us good."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
All right, short chapter. I kind of needed filler before the next chapter so that the next one would make some kind of sense.
Major author's notes:
#1- Dominic is also known as Lance Alvers (for those of you who love the Evo series)
#2-those people in Raven's livingroom, as crazy as their names sounded, were actually the original Brotherhood. Raven was not an original member.
#3-I was hoping to get into more of the Raven seducing Erik thing (last chap and part of this) but it just didn't fit in the chapter.
#4-Erik's children were hospitalized in both the comic and Evo series. Although in each one it was a different child that was hospitalized.
#5-Rosanne, for those who don't know, is an actual sitcom.
Hey for information on any of Marvel's series you all can go to Uncannyxmen.net. They have the best character glossary as well as summaries of hundreds of comics, included hundreds of X-Men comics. It doesn't stop there, they have charts of family trees (The Summers/Gray chart is the most confusing) and rosters of old and new villain teams.
ENOUGH FREE ADVERTISING………..NOW FOR THE SHOUT OUTS!
Rogue151: I'm thoroughly glad that Raven pissed you off! It means I wrote her the way I meant to! As for Irene, yeah I felt bad for her too. Sinister did not create the Legacy Virus, I'm actually not sure if it was created or was some natural occurring virus…I missed that story arc L. Chocolate eh? That sounds good to me, maybe I'll go see if I have any brownies….
T.: Same here. Wait, I mean I can't wait to write more. Thanks for being a fan!
Tammy: Marie and Irene never really become really close in the comics but I haven't decided if that should change in my story or not. And issue #32-I didn't really like the Gambit/Storm thing going on. I guess those Marvel people had to find something else to complicate Remy and Rogue's relationship since they can't rely on the powers thing anymore. Thank you for the email address by the way…I sent them my thoughts.
Ishandahalf: he he, lollipops.
Elrohir: ::whew:: I'm glad the plot isn't boring anyone. What is up with the comics never giving Irene enough screen time anyway? Well she is dead in the comics now, but that's beside the point.
Panther Nesmith: Always good to hear from you. Unfortunately the sinister and Raven thing might have to be put on the backburner for awhile, I'm not sure if I want that part of the plot to take away from the focus of the story. Sorry no hugs for Irene in this chapter…L
Coolio, to all those who didn't review this time around…it's okay I will forgive you this one time. However, to make it up to me you know what you have to do…just click on the little "go" button.