Disclaimer: Marvel characters are not mine. All others are. So there.
Notes: This is my first time foray into fangirl fiction. Be kind, be cruel, be whatever you need to be, but gimme some feedback. I have a special place in my heart for nitpickers, so pick away! This is the beginning of what seems to be sizing upasan epic in my head. Lots of Xmen, in one place, at the same time, is solely for my sick need to explore their relationships. I also have a soft spot for Marvel characters that the fans hated. I truly believe there are no bad characters, just bad writers. And I very well may be one of them! You've been warned.
Thanks: To my beta - SpaniardX - for being my first victim. Look... no ellipsis'!
The halls of the Xavier Institute were quiet. The nightly security routine was just coming online. The extensive security measures were to ensure that the school, and it's mutant occupants, remained safe and secure from an increasingly intolerant, and predictably, hostile world. Wolverine scanned the security console making sure the cameras were all operational, alert status for tonight's security team encoded, as well as motion sensors, security gates, anti terror detainment units ...There was more hardware than ever before.
Gimme a good pack of guard dogs any day.
He longed for simpler times, times when his nose and his own two feet were all the security measures they needed. Logan finished the security system initiation, zipped up the remainder of his uniform and headed upstairs to begin his patrol. Logan followed his usual route. Case the first floor, all the common rooms; kitchen, dining room, media room, library, game room, den. Up the east stairs to the senior student dormitories. A few kids up playing video games, a few studying for upcoming midterms, girls giggling in the dark about the cute new kid from Nebraska. Up to the third floor, all quiet, suspiciously so. Strong pungent scent wafting down the hall, nag champa incense, alot of it and the undertones of...
Damn that Gutherie.
Logan stopped outside the last door on the left. He didn't even have to put his ear to the wood to hear someone hacking up a lung followed shortly thereafter by an all too familiar scent lacing the hazy incense stench. A heavy shoulder on the door and he was in the room. He was met by two huge pairs of deer-in-the-headlights eyes.
"Logan...I...I.."
"Dammit, Jay, This is the third time this month. Hand it over. All of it. Now. And you. I'm disappointed, Ethan" Logan turned a hard stare at Jay's blond haired accomplice, the new kid from Nebraska.
"Ya only been here two weeks and ya already found trouble over here." He motioned to Jay with a jerk of his head, who clambered across his bed, digging through his nightstand. He tossed a bag in Logan's direction and clambered to hand over his bowl with a weak smile.
"I'm sorry, Logan. It's just midterms and I'm doing shitty in math and..." his red brown wings nervously rustled as his eyes scanned the floor.
"Can it, Jay. This is yer third strike, kiddo. Ya know what that means."
"Logan, please... don't tell Sam, please don't do that to me." Jay was clutching his arm, begging for mercy. Sam wouldn't be kind enough to kill him. No. He'd humiliate him in front of his friends, drag him to Cyclops for the I'm so disappointed speech', then to Beast for the 'Do you know how harmful marijuana is' speech and then, most horrifying of all, he'd tell mom. And then Paige. "Just kill me... please... just kill me now."
Logan tried hard to suppress a smile and a laugh, but both just sputtered out anyway. "Jay, I swear." His voice trailed off as he shoved the kid's stash into his back pocket. Adding to the growing collection he'd confiscated. Hayseed's always got the best weed. "Both 'a ya are gonna be doin' detention time, with me, all next week. If I hear so much as a peep outta either of ya about it, yer both gonna wish I did kill ya."
"Thank you, Logan." Both boys groveled in unison as Logan left with a slam of the door.
Well, everything as usual in the dorms. Take the south stairwell back downstairs. Cut across the commons to the west wing. Chuck's study, Scott's office, Emma's office, classrooms, lavatories. The new mansion just didn't have the same feel the old ones did. Built under Emma and Scott's careful instruction the halls of this, yet again, resurrected house felt sterile and empty despite being currently occupied by over thirty senior students and three full teams of X-men. Thank God the younger students had separate dormitories. Babysitting the seniors was already bad enough. Why did Emma insist on so many students if she only found a handful of them useful anyway?
Putting them in harms way, bringing them to this house.
Up the west stairs to the team wings. The women's floor was quiet except for Kitty, up at her computer, typing away as usual. Probably grading papers. She grew up so fast, and was so far away for what seemed like a lifetime. She was the most normal of anyone in this institution. That's what it felt like around here. An institution. Sterile, empty, heartless. The heart of this house died over a year ago. Except for a few people in it, this house could crumble to the ground again and he wouldn't miss it.
Up to the second floor, men's department. Gambit just in, surprisingly early for him, with the scent of expensive bourbon and cheap flowery perfume lingering outside his door. Kid always gets lucky. His luck and his curse. The kid was as miserable here as him lately, but neither seem able to stay away. Misery loves company. The hiss of the shower filters into the hallway as Remy attempts to wash away the stench of yet another pointlessly debauched evening.
Up to the third floor. The Professor's suite. Warren and Paige's suite. Scott and Emma's suite.
Emma. That would never cease to grate on his nerves. Of all the women to get Scott's nuts in bunch. He chose Emma over. No. He would not allow himself to even think her name. He swallows the thought hard before it has a chance to come clawing its way to the surface again. Before her beautiful face burns into his every waking thought again. Too many empty rooms up here.
Suites are for guests and couples. They were short on both these days. Too many ghosts in these halls. Too many memories. Back downstairs to the control room.
It's a beautiful night, at least what he can see of it through the monitors. It's been quiet for weeks. The monitor's pale blue glow blinks erratically as each camera makes its sweep and switches to the next remote in line. Logan throws his big, booted feet up on the console as the chair creaks in protest under his weighty adamantium frame. Maybe it's time to move on. Being a posterboy for friendly, helpful mutants everywhere just isn't sitting well in his gut. The only astonishing thing he's done is to stay here for far too long.
His gaze is far off, casing a new bar in Madripoor, or maybe, finally, settling down in that nice tract of land in the Yukon he bought all those years ago.
Perimeter breach, sector alpha. The air went red with lights flashing, alarms blaring. Logan nearly fell off his chair as he jumped to his feet to assess the situation.
He scanned the monitors wildly, muttering "Sector alpha. Sector alpha. Why can't this bleedin' thing just say front gate!" He finally switched to the appropriate bank of cameras. "Identify three targets in sector alpha" he ordered as the camera zoomed in on the intruders.
Unknown mutant targets. Main gate security disabled at source. Crap. He was getting lazy. He should have caught site of them as they approached the gate.
A good bunch of guard dogs woulda...
"Wolverine, what's the situation?" Cyclops broke through over the com. He was already moving as the security gates began closing off the student dorms. The alarms in the appropriate team rooms were blaring as Wolverine's voice broke through the cacophony.
"We got three uninvited guests through the front gate". Wolverine headed for the elevator, joined quickly by a startled Beast, who had recently taken up permanent residence in his lab. "And I thought it was gonna be a borin' night." Logan quipped as he smirked at the disheveled Dr. McCoy. Blue fur was jutting in every direction, his pants barely clinging to his hips as he leap through the door.
Good to see Big Blue is getting some decent sleep for a change.
"Why is it our many detractors cannot wait until a reasonable hour to come calling, uninvited no less?" Hank bemoaned as he finished buckling his pants.
They charged through the hallways to be joined by Cyclops, Iceman, Colossus, Rogue, Kitty, Nightcrawler, and one dripping wet Gambit still trying to force a wet foot into his Nikes.
"This is a bit of overkill don't ya think? There's only three of 'em." Logan paused, almost insulted. Kitty could handle this by herself. Jubes could probably take care of this by herself.
"We're not taking chances on school grounds. Rogue take point." Scott was more disturbed than usual by this intrusion. Logan could smell the adrenaline rush rolling off him. "Two teams, Kitty, Kurt, Remy, Pete east. Rest of us west. Move fast! Go!" the X-men spilled out the front door and sprinted for the front gate.
"Cyke, I see 'em. They're takin' their good ol time. Looks like they're alone. They're waltzin' right up the front drive." Rogue reported over the com.
"We'll intercept. Recon Greymalkan and make sure they're alone." Cyclops directed.
The two teams closed ranks with practiced efficiency. Just inside the treeline they watched as the three intruders walked, somewhat skittishly, up the drive. Wolverine stayed a few paces ahead. He froze in place as the cool evening breeze wafted their scent his way.
"They're scared. Real scared," Wolverine barely whispered back to his team leader. A loud bamf, a cloud of sulfurous smoke, and the lead intruder was on the ground, Nightcrawler neatly sitting in the middle of his chest. The two remaining intruders stumbled backwards in shock as Wolverine and Gambit appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, on either side of them. They were quickly joined by the rest of their teammates.
"You haf got some explaining to do, mein freund." Kurt's tail twitched excitedly, daring his captive to make a move.
"Ya, bub. Spill it. Before I slice it out of ya." Wolverine growled low as he held up his gloved hand and slowly extended his claws up in front of the second intruders face. These kid's are practically pissing their pants. He wanted the chance to play with them before Scott ruined his fun.
Gambit chuckled and shook his head. He slid his bo staff under the third intruders chin forcing his head back. "You got Gambit outta da shower fo' dis? Go head, gut 'em Wolverine so we all can get back ta' bed." Wolverine and Gambit passed a mischievous look between them then to Nightcrawler.
"And I just had this uniform cleaned... pity." Nightcrawler tugged at his collar as he flashed his pearly white fangs for emphasis.
"Alright, that's enough." Cyclops intervened, but instead of anger, or the characteristic authoritative tone he usually took, he seemed somewhat amused. "What, exactly, are you three doing? Trying to commit suicide by X-men?"
Wolverine sputtered out a chuckle, quickly trying to cover it with a cough. Wolverine was still trying to figure out how to react to Cyclops' new attitude adjustment. He had been uptight for so long that the occasional wise cracks were taking him by surprise. Often. And he was loathe to admit he might actually like this new Cyke.
"But, you're X-men. Please, you have to help us," the captive under Nightcrawler pleaded. They were boys, no more than sixteen or seventeen, and wore some cyberpunk chic clothes that looked like they'd seen better days. They were dirty and, by the smell, hadn't showered in days. The dark haired boy under Kurt had some faded red markings on his face and his tongue piercing clicked against his teeth as he spoke. "Domina sent us. She said you would help."
Gambit rolled his eyes wide. "T'ought dey looked familiar. Des chile' be Neo." Gambit took a closer look at Kurt's captive, noting the faded red paint on his face. "Dis one War Clan. Only good at runnin' dey mout's an bein' annoyin'."
"Alot like you then, huh, sugah?" Rogue gently touched down just behind the Cajun. The smirk on her face, and the glare in her eye, clearly expressing a desire to provoke the Cajun into yet another war of words. "The lane's clear, boss."
"Thanks, Rogue." Cyclops summoned his annoyed voice. He sincerely wanted to avoid, yet another petty, squabble. Especially in front of a potential enemy. It looked so unprofessional.
"Yeah, t'anks Rogue." Gambit barely bit back his sarcasm, dearly wishing to just let loose and shut her up once and for all.
"Domina sent ya'? What, as bait? That stuck up bitch can't even do her own dirty work any more?" Wolverine was practically spitting in the terrified kid's face.
"No! We... we might be all that's left. You have to help us. Please." The kids were exhausted and terrified. Cyclops glanced in Wolverine's direction. Wolverine gave him a knowing nod. The kids were telling the truth or, at least what they believed it to be.
The Neo War Clan was known for many things. Overconfidence. Brutality. Close minded determination. Arrogance. But fear wasn't usually in their vocabulary. They weren't known for much of anything since their enforced defection to Genosha. But that was a long time ago. No one had heard anything from them since then.
"Beast, if you could prepare a room for our guests, I think they will be spending the night. Colossus, Iceman if you would accompany them." Cyclops looked around at his team. They genuinely looked disappointed that there was not going to be a fight. "The rest of you in the war room in ten. It will be quick."
Nightcrawler offered a hand to his captive to help him off the ground. The young man gave him a look of thinly veiled disgust, rolled to his side and pushed himself up.
"No, thank you." The response came out sounding like a vulgarity.
"Mama sure didn't teach these boy's any manners." Rogue was actually shocked at such blatant disrespect.
"Non, but she sure teach dem how to be bigots." Gambit retorted. The team all glanced back at the young men. It was bad enough that most of the world still feared and distrusted mutants. Mutants hating other mutants was still a pill too bitter to swallow.
"Dey real good at it, too." Gambit put a hand on the back of his captive and gave him a small shove towards Colossus.
The boy looked back at him with a scowl. "Not all mutants are created equal you know. "His words were intended to cut deep.
"Guess not, if de high 'n mighty Neo are crawlin' to us lowly X-men for help." Gambit strode past the captives without a glance.
"So, who gets the repair bill for the front gate, huh, boys?" Iceman draped his arms over two of the boys shoulders. As usual, he interjected a joke to lighten the mood even though their captives were the only ones taking this small encounter seriously. The boys looked between each other nervously. "Lighten up guys, we won't make you pay for it," he paused dramatically, glancing between the boys with an arched eyebrow, "with money." The joke sounded more menacing than intended, but Bobby was enjoying watching them squirm uncomfortably.
"You made your point, Iceman." Colossus gave his teammate a small nudge that sent him stumbling a few steps ahead.
"Oh, I'm just getting started big guy. Just getting started."
Emma, did you hear all of that? Cyclops had left his psychic link with Emma open for the encounter, giving her all the details first hand. Can you tell if these kids are dangerous?
I don't believe they are but still, no chances. Have Hank collar them before locking them down. We'll talk to them in the morning. Emma Frost was rattled by this little intrusion more than she cared to admit. Scott picked it up from her just as the alarms went off, but she locked the feeling down tight before he even left their bed.
Terrified kids coming to the X-men for help was nothing new or unusual. The Neo were no longer any kind of threat. Why am I so agitated? She resigned herself to coaxing that answer out of their guests. In the morning. She snuggled back into her pillow. Scott would be back soon enough to reassure her.
Wolverine rifled around in his back pocket, past the bag, past the bowl and pulled out a cigar. At least he could savor it on the walk back to the War Room. He lit it, looked to the sky, and inhaled deeply, savoring the taste, the burn at the back of his throat. He exhaled a plume of smoke skyward. A slow, creeping feeling worked its way into the hackles at the back of his neck.
Something's brewing. A single corner of his lip curled into a crooked smirk. Finally, something to do.
Scott sat patiently at the conference table, fingers steepled and deep in thought as he waited for the team to arrive. He could hear their guests loudly complaining from down the hall about 'being collared like dogs'. A deep growl from Beast quickly convinced them that it was in their best interest. The rest of the team filtered into the room. As usual, Logan was pulling up the rear.
"I just wanted to say thanks, and well done. Response time was perfect. It was smooth and, nearly flawless." He looked up at them. They could all see the 'but...' coming. Cyclops just shook his head. " I'm not going to nitpick. Gambit, you've had one on one experience with these clowns so I'd like you to observe when Emma and I question them in the morning. That should be around 10:30, between our classes. Everyone else, thanks." He looked up at them with his best 'class dismissed' face. They took the hint.
"Rogue, Gambit, can I have a word with you?" Rogue stood near the door, arms crossed, hip cocked to the side, obviously impatient. Gambit resigned himself to a chair with his back to her.
"Listen you two, I know things are tense between you but you have got to tone it down." Scott tried to summon his best understanding tone of voice but Rogue cut in.
"Butt out, Scott. It ain't none o' your business. And I don't take kindly to being talked to like a child." She glared at the back of the chair Gambit occupied, a deep scowl on her face.
"Den stop actin' like one, chere." Gambit chimed in flatly, a small smirk on his face, knowing exactly what he had just provoked.
"You goddamn piece of swamp trash!" She was looking to get into a fight and Remy had just obliged her. "I swear to God, you need to be knocked down off that high horse you bein' ridin' on and I'm gonna be..! "
"That's enough!" Scott roared over her tirade. "This is exactly what I'm talking about. I want this stupid shit to end, here and now!" He pounded his fist on the table, face starting to flush red with his growing anger. "You won't fight in front of the students, you won't fight in front of your teammates and I'm reassigning you to separate teams! I don't care what happened between you this time. I could care less! The team is at the top of it's game and I won't have your grade school bullshit pull it down. Am I clear?" He glared between the two of them.
"Clear as crystal, Cyke." Gambit folded his arms to his chest, more relieved than anything else. He needed a way to shut her down. So many times he just wanted to walk away, but his battered ego demanded that he retain some dignity. That tiny, nearly dead, piece of him wanted to have the last word this one time. Scott had just given him and his ego an easy way out. Rogue just glared at the ceiling, around the room, anywhere except at her irate team leader.
Remy's little trip to Madripoor, two months ago, had been the absolute last straw. It was bad enough he was staying at the Princess Bar but, four girls? The thought bitterly churned in her stomach, even now.
Cyclops rephrased his question, voice tight and direct. "Rogue, am I clear?"
"Whatever you want. Are we done?" Rogue replied, not bothering to mask her annoyance. Cyclops nodded an affirmative. She wheeled around and stormed down the hall.