Somebody please review this, somebody…ANYBODY! Flame me anything, if you think it's boring or unoriginal, tell me! I'll change; add really descriptive erotic scenes, if you want me to. Please baby, don't leave me this way! By the way, the next chapter takes place in Smallville. It'll be like two stories running parallel until they intersect near the end.
Once Pietro had the keys he and Todd disappeared. Even though Lance faced women in battle he never thought he could just bitch slap one until now. She was begging for it never mind asking.
"Listen, Lance, The deal was you give me what I need, I give you what you want. But unfortunately, judging by the way you follow Mystique around like a puppy or sit at home on your knees waiting for a word from the almighty Magneto, it seems you don't know what you want. Well let me tell you. You want leadership of the brotherhood. Pietro is formidable yes, but he's a soldier not a leader. You're sick of being manipulated and you know that unless you start living on your money you'll always be vulnerable. You want Kitty. You want her feel safe around you and the only way that's going to happen is if you get out from under Magnetos thumb." Jean took a few steps back waiting for his response.
He didn't know what she was selling but everything she said was right on the money. She was already reading his mind he figured. There was no point in lying.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"There's a youth program at Luthor Corp, it's partially funded by the government. If you're under 18, and you qualify a position, they'll train you, pay you, help you get your GED, and even help you get into college or university. They're hiring more security for the night shift at their office in Bayville." She told him.
He tried to suppress the hope that surged through him. "How do you know this?" He asked her.
"Let's just say you're not the only one who's allowed to feel trapped. Interviews are this afternoon, are you in or out?" She asked coldly.
He wanted to say in but Mystique would not go for this. If only there were some way to placate her, then he could make this work.
"You're not worried about Mystique are you? After all this time you must have a way to get around her, right?" She asked.
"I don't, you do. You have something she wants back more than anything. Kitty told me you guys aren't exactly best friends. Maybe you could…"
"Watch it buddy! I'm not going to betray one of my teammates because you don't have balls to tell that harpy to back off." She told him.
"I'm sorry okay, that was out of line." He told her, but he resolved within himself that the only way to land this job and become independent was to get Rogue back with the brotherhood so Mystique would focus on her and Wanda instead of him.
"Does the world finally get to see what you'd look like with a decent haircut or what?" Jean teased him.
"Let's do this." He said as they walked toward the salon.
Jean was happy. The war between her and Rogue hadn't even started and already she had a secret weapon.
Chapter 6
Lance stared at a complete stranger in the men's room mirror. Well, maybe not a complete stranger. Doubt infected him and he felt like ripping his ill gotten Armani suit to shreds. He never faced anything like this before. He never had a supervisor who couldn't kick the crap out him. Except his teachers, they were glad he got decent grades because that meant they didn't have to risk a confrontation. Could he handle some huffy troglodyte getting in his face and not having the freedom to deck the bastard? He'd have too. He couldn't take being trapped between Magneto, Mystique, or Xavier any more.
He walked out the men's room and looked for Jean. She was walking some guy on to the elevator. She was giggling, flirting, playing with his tie, and then she pushed the button and sent him to the mall's basement.
She saw Lance and rushed toward him. "Hey, that was James. I met him at the internet café. He was putting some last minutes touches on his resume and I stopped him before he could start filling out his Luthor Corp application. I thought I could get one at the Youth Center but they ran out. You're lucky. James has a very impressive resume." Jean said as she handed him the doctored resume.
He looked it over. James had worked at Block Buster Video, telemarketing, a health and rehabilitation center, Tree planting, and spent last summer building houses in Jamaica with a Christian Charity. Lance was worried. He didn't know anything about any of these things. His mind was blank, how was he supposed to answer the interviewer's questions?
"Lance, please I could get Freddy this job. I got you a resume and the necessary paper work. I'll monitor the interview from the main floor, everything will be fine." She told him.
But his nerves weren't letting up. With each stop the subway train passed carrying him closer and closer to ultimate destination he felt like screaming.
Jean usually would reach out to someone in need of encouragement but she couldn't summon the will to care about Lance Alvers. She tried to push herself. He's a person not just means to an end, right?
He jumped in his seat when he heard his stop was next. Jean just shook her head. He could have sworn he heard her whisper, "Pathetic."
This was easier when he let himself believe she was actually on his side. But as they approached the sky scraper he felt his fear drain off. He looked at the building, black mirrored glass, and polished marble. Then he looked inside at the people and actually saw a place for himself.
A large sign told him where to go and took his place in line with the other applicants. Punks like these usually steered clear of him but they smiled at him and made small talk. It wasn't all that excruciating. He decided play nice incase he ended up working with any of these losers. They were exchanging names and details when they told him about her.
"You just missed her. She got called in about 20 minutes ago but man, she's hot." Markus told him.
"She kinda looks like Ashley Judd. She's seems nice enough but I think she's a welfare case." David added.
"You ever seen so many cheap suits in one place, half the people here are welfare cases. Their all here for the youth program." Markus said smugly.
"Hey shut up! I'm telling you, this guy has not stopped. You're gonna get our asses kicked!" David whispered.
"Oh, I don't think so." Markus said feigning bravado. He'd been trying to rile and intimidate most of the competition since he got there.
"Hey, Markus, he's right, give the attitude a break." Lance said.
Then she came out of the office. They were right, she was beautiful. Tall, thin, she had these incredible dark eyes and long brown hair tied up neatly. She shook hands with the interviewer and the next applicant was called in. She moved down the corridor toward the exit already smiling at Markus and David.
"How was it?" David asked
"It was Okay, but I am so glad that's over. Mr. Wills seems pretty nice as far as managers go." She said.
"Too bad he never told you about the lipstick all over your teeth." Marcus told her.
"You really want to get hurt don't you?" She said. She kept stealing glances at Lance waiting for him to say something or for one of them to introduce him.
Lance smiled and Dave did the honors.
"Oh right, Mercy Graves meet Lance Alvers. With a little luck we'll all be working together."
"Hi." He said simply.
"Hi." She answered. "We'll, I gotta get out of here. Good luck and it was really great meeting you guys."
Markus didn't bother asking for the digits. David was probably right. They just said good bye and let her go.
"Bye Lance." She said smiling.
"Bye Mercy." He answered.
Markus finished his interview and was waiting for his brother to come pick him up and David was being interviewed. Lance was careful not to show fear in front of Markus but his anxiety was coming back. Markus's brother Michael showed up a few minutes later.
"Hey, how'd it go?" He said quietly.
"Cheesecake. Oh yeah, Lance Alvers, this is my brother Michael Haller."
Markus said. They shook their Hello's.
"That girl you told me about still here? Michael asked.
"No bro, she left." Markus told him.
"You should have seen in the lobby, there was this red head, green eyes, very pretty girl." Michael said.
"OOOH, is she still there?" Markus asked.
"No, she left about five minutes ago. Michael said.
Lance paled. His heart began to palpitate and hallway closed in on him. He leaned against the wall breathing deeply.
Mike was giving Markus a detailed description of Jean when David came out of the office. Mike offered Dave a ride home and Lance could barely respond when they said good bye.
"Lance Alvers, your next young man." Mr. Wills said as he ushered Lance into the office.
He took his seat opposite the interviewer and fought off the sense of dread settling in his bones.