Comforting and Craziness

Low Light sighed as he sat up. Another nightmare. This one was worse than usual. He knew the sensation all too well. His night terrors had come back with a vengeance. He got out of bed and turned on the light. The clock blinked1:32 AM. With a sigh of resignation he prepared to walk out of his room, intending to go to the kitchen.

He opened the door to find Cover Girl standing there ready to knock. "You heard it didn't you?" Low Light grumbled.

"Kind of hard not to," She admitted. "I was corralling Barney. He tried another breakout so I put him back to bed then I heard…" She stopped. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really, but its better than falling asleep," Low Light admitted. He motioned her into his bedroom and closed the door. "We really gotta soundproof these walls or something."

"What was it about this time?" Cover Girl asked gently. "Your father?"

Low Light shook his head. "My…change."

Cover Girl knew he was referring to his dormant X-gene being forcibly activated by cruel Cobra experimentation. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean…"

"I know…" Low Light said in a tired voice. "It was just a really bad one this time. Like the early days when…When after it happened. I thought I put it behind me but…"

"I remember now…" Cover Girl said. "They wouldn't let anyone see you after you were rescued. Then you left for a few weeks."

"Yeah to recover," Low Light said. "Worse I was…changing in the middle of the night. I'd have a nightmare, wake up and find myself turned completely to stone or metal…One time I burned the bed down because I somehow turned into fire."

"God, Cooper, how did you get through it?"

"To be honest I haven't a clue," Low Light admitted. "I was soon able to train myself to suppress it using meditation. And Lifeline and Bree helped a lot. They were there to keep me sane through it all. But even then they couldn't completely stop the nightmares."

"I had no idea things were that bad for you," Cover Girl said.

"It got so bad…" Low Light hesitated. "There were times I had to take some drastic measures."

"Drugs?" Cover Girl asked.

"Worse…" Low Light was embarrassed. "I had to…Go to Lifeline and Bree. I literally had to sleep in their bed and have them hold me like some little kid. It wasn't sexual. It was…safe."

"Now you sound like an adult version of Michael Jackson," Cover Girl blinked. Low Light gave her a look. "Sorry. Just popped out of my mouth."

"You think I like admitting it?" Low Light snapped. "It's humiliating."

"Low Light you were brutally tortured and experimented upon," Cover Girl said. "That would shake anybody to say the least. I could understand why you needed to be…held like that."

"It's stupid I know," Low Light groaned. "It only happened a couple of times but…God it felt so good and safe. It was like being with my parents who actually loved me, not the ones who turned me into a basket case. I guess I was just wanting the love my parents never gave me and all that crap."

"I see you've been talking to Psyche-Out again," Cover Girl gave him an amused look. "How about this? If you want…I could stay with you here. Tonight."

"You mean here?" Low Light blinked. "In the same bed?"

"Well yeah…" Cover Girl said.

"Are you nuts?" Low Light looked at her. "You know how these kids will react when they find out we spent the night together! And I mean when not if."

"Well they've been trying to set us up together anyway," Cover Girl waved. "At least maybe they'll forget about us and focus on another couple."

"Fat chance," Low Light muttered as he climbed into bed with her. "But at this point I'm willing to try anything."

"Come on," Cover Girl placed her head on his chest. "Is that better?"

"I take it that's a rhetorical question?" Low Light smirked. He turned serious. "Look um…Just so you know…I don't intend to…take advantage of your or anything like that."

"Funny I was going to say the same to you," Cover Girl smirked.

"God I feel like a freaking wuss…" Low Light winced.

"You're not a wuss, Cooper," Cover Girl told him. "Next to Snake Eyes you're the toughest man I know."

"Gee that makes me feel a lot better," Low Light groaned.

"The man had his face blown off and he's a freaking ninja," Cover Girl told him. "Kind of hard to top that!"

"You're right," Low Light sighed. "I think that's the exhaustion catching up with me."

"Just go to sleep," Cover Girl told him.

"I'll try…" Low Light closed his eyes. "Second huh? That's pretty good."

"That's damn good if the guy in first is…"

"Yeah…I get it. I get it. Thanks."

"Don't mention it. You'd do the same for me. Not one word Cooper. Not one smart remark."

"Are you kidding? Then I'd really end up like Snake Eyes."

"Only it wouldn't be your face that would be torn off."

"Yikes."

"Yeah, yikes…So don't mess with me."

"Well this really calms me down…" Low Light said. "If I didn't have nightmares before…"

"Cooper, just shut up and go to sleep."

"Okay, fine. I just hope the kids don't find out about this…"

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"Well it's about time you sly dog," Pietro grinned. The breakfast table was unusually full of Misfits and their handlers the following morning.

"Okay so who won the betting pool?" Althea asked.

"They didn't have sex so it doesn't count," Lina said.

"Darn it," Fred snapped his fingers. "She's right. And I was so close too!"

"Yes but I still have a few weeks to go…" Roadblock observed. "You never know."

"No! They should hold off!" Lance said. "At least until August…"

"I hate you all right now…" Cover Girl was hiding her face in her hands with her elbows on the table.

"It's like living with the freaking CIA…" Low Light groaned. "No, these kids are better than they are!"

"But you didn't do anything bad," Fred told them. "Back in the Brotherhood we did it…a lot. Sleep together I mean."

"What the hell does that supposed to mean?" Low Light snapped. "On second thought I think I really don't want to know the answer."

"Why the hell didn't you have sex with her?" Shipwreck asked.

"I was a little tired okay?" Low Light snapped.

"Geeze Low Light I know you're a tough guy but don't you think you're taking this virgin stuff just a little too…" Shipwreck began to say. Then he realized what he just said. "Whoops…"

"YOU'RE A WHAT?" All the Misfit guys shouted.

"AHA!" Pietro stood up. "SEE! SEE! YOU ALL CAN'T RAG ME ABOUT BEING A VIRGIN NOW! NOT WHEN HE'S THE WORLD'S OLDEST VIRGIN!"

"He is not!" Shipwreck said. "I'm sure there's a few priests and nuns out there…"

"SHIPWRECK I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!" Low Light screamed as he started to chase him around the room.

"Okay people place your bets," Lance called out and the Misfits started to make them. Low Light chased Shipwreck out of the room.

Mystique waddled into the room and looked at the insanity. "Is it always this much fun around here?" She asked sarcastically.

"Nah, sometimes it gets kinda weird," Arcade told her.

"I find it quite amusing," Larry said casually as he wheeled in.

"All right who's this one?" Mystique blinked.

"Oh that's right you two haven't met," Pietro said. "This is Foresight. Partial telepath and precog. Foresight, meet Mommy Mystique."

"Foresight? I've heard that name before…" Mystique blinked. "Wait a minute…What's your real name?"

"Could you hold her down please?" Larry asked Roadblock.

"Yeah it don't take a precog to see what she's gonna do…" Roadblock got up and prepared to restrain her.

"What? Who is he?" Mystique snapped.

"Larry Trask," Todd said. Everyone looked at him. "What? She was gonna find out anyway?"

"TRASK?" Mystique was held back by Roadblock. "YOU MEAN HE'S…"

"The Son of the Sentinel Maker yeah," Roadblock sighed. "It's a long story…"

"He's been staying mostly in the Joe medical ward for his rehab," Lance said. "His old man did a number on him."

"I still can't believe that you have one of your enemies' sons stay here!" Mystique shouted.

"We let you stay here," Todd glared at her. "And you've done worse."

"Oh yeah…" Mystique said. "I forgot. Must be either the pregnancy or living here. It's only been two days and I'm already losing my mind."

"Well you lost pretty much everything else a long time ago," Pietro quipped. "Like your figure."

"Your morality…" Althea added.

"Any sense of decency…" Roadblock said.

"See even that I can see," Angelica said.

"People like you should live in a tree," Daria said.

"And get chased by an angry bee…" Quinn said.

"I wish something would cause her to flee," Brittany said.

"Or something would skin your knee…" Spyder said. "Okay I'm not good at rhyming!"

"Well you just need to work on your timing," Roadblock said.

"At least you're not miming," Xi said.

"ENOUGH WITH THE RHYMING!" Mystique screamed. "Now you've got me doing it!"

"Well, you don't have to have a fit," Fred said.

"Yeah you could just quit," Arcade said.

"AAAHHHHHGGGGHHH!" Mystique got up and left the room. She was still screaming as she went to her room.

"I think she's getting used to us," Todd said.

"Well besides torturing Mystique and Shipwreck getting the life throttled out of him," Cover Girl casually looked out the window to see Low Light pummeling Shipwreck on the lawn. "I think we should really do something nice today."

"Like what?" Todd asked.

"Well I had some words with General Hawk and he said we could give the X-Men a break today from the media circus," Roadblock said.

"NOT THE BATS AGAIN! WHO PUT THE BATS IN MY CLOSET?" Mystique screamed.

"And maybe Mystique too…" Roadblock winced.

"Yeah we don't wanna wear her out too fast," Althea said.

"I want this torture to really last," Todd said.

"Well the time for talking is past," Roadblock agreed. Then winced. "Maybe we should cool it with the rhyme for a time. I mean…"

"We know what you mean Roadblock…" Cover Girl told him. "Come on let's give Xavier a call."

"This is gonna be a ball!" Xi said. Everyone looked at him. "What?"

"Guys…" Lance blinked. "I think we have a problem."

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"I'm glad we did this," Jean sighed as she took in a deep breath. The mutants were all relaxing on a tropical island near the Bahamas. Thanks to the Mass Device most of the X-Men and Misfits were able to escape the eyes of the press. It was a private resort on a private island. The Joes and mutants had full run of the place. Cover Girl, Ororo, Jean and Mrs. Pryde were relaxing on beach chairs. "I think this is just what we all needed. Even if it is only for a few days."

"Getting the students away from the press is a good idea," Ororo said.

"Even better," Cover Girl said. "I just got word that they found another skeleton in Glory's closet and the reporters covering her story took off to cover that."

"Really?" Jean asked. "What did they find?"

"Her housekeeper," Cover Girl said. "And she was also an illegal alien."

"I guess that does take some of the heat off," Mrs. Pryde sighed. "But that still doesn't absolve all the problems we brought to your door."

"Oh don't worry about it," Cover Girl sighed. "Sooner or later the scandal will blow over. The station has decided not to fire Jesse D and for some reason his hardcore fans love him even more. Kind of like what happened with Ashton Kutcher when he hooked up with Demi More. Besides, I also heard that Whattely Austin and her husband Bubba Blue just got into a smackdown with Lo-J and whomever she's married to this week. By the time we get back, you guys will be old news."

"Where do you get your inside information?" Jean asked.

"Being a former model I have my sources," Cover Girl grinned.

"Well I think it's going to take longer than that for people to forget about Jesse and me," Mrs. Pryde sighed. "Poor Kitty being in the middle of all this…"

"Kitty is a much stronger individual than she appears to be," Ororo told her.

"HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU KURT NOT TO SPLASH ME?" Kitty roared. "PREPARE TO DIE!"

"And she knows how to manage stress…" Cover Girl mocked.

"Seems like everyone is here relaxing," Mrs. Pryde overlooked the beach. Everyone was in beach clothes, even Xavier. They were surfing, swimming, making sandcastles or engaging in other activities.

"Well we definitely weren't bringing Mystique," Cover Girl said. "So we left her behind with Shipwreck, The Blind Master, Roadblock, the babies, a Barney tape and several bongos."

"I almost feel sorry for her," Ororo chuckled. "Almost."

"Even Larry's relaxing," Cover Girl pointed to Larry resting on a beach chair. His wheelchair was nearby. "We thought it would do him some good to get out of the med. bay for a while."

Larry was resting, wearing shorts and an open blue shirt along with his helmet that prevented his newly formed telepathic powers from going out of control. He seemed to enjoy doing nothing when suddenly a brightly colored beach ball bounced onto his stomach. "Oof!"

"Whoops!" Kitty said as she and Lance ran up in their bathing suits to him. "Sorry about that."

"No problem, it didn't hurt that much," Larry pointed to his helmet. "Got this on to protect my head."

"Wait I thought you needed a machine to…" Kitty began.

"It's in the helmet," Larry told her.

"Trinity helped the medics cook that gizmo up," Lance explained. "So now he can move around."

"In a manner of speaking," Larry said. "It's going to take a while before my legs are able to move properly again."

"But why…?" Kitty then remembered. "Oh…I forgot."

"Well most people say the Misfits are brain damaged," Larry grinned. "I just happen to be proof of that."

"And I thought I had it rough when Magneto shot me up with those experimental drugs," Lance shook his head.

"Lance, I prefer this to visions of an insane coyote that sounds like Pietro," Larry told him.

"Sometimes I would too…" Lance groaned. "You want me to get you anything?"

"That's okay I…" Larry stopped and gasped. He started to shake for a moment then stopped.

"Larry? Larry what's wrong?" Kitty shook his shoulder.

"We're going to be attacked!" Larry shouted.

"Who? Where?" Lance looked around. The sky was clear. "I don't see anything!"

"I had a premonition…" Larry told him. "Get the others ready! Fire in the sky! They're coming!"

"Who's coming? There's nothing…" Lance's eyes widened when he saw several black and red dots come into view. "Out there…?"

A loud screech could be heard. "What the…?" Scott looked up. He barely dodged a fireball attack.

Several dozen large demon like creatures with huge wings, fire heads and flaming tails attacked. "Everybody! Regroup!" Scott ordered as the teams struggled to hold together. Jesse D used his force field to protect the Prydes, Donald, Doug, Larry and the other weaker mutants against the attack. Althea and Ororo used their water abilities well against the creatures while the other mutants fought back.

"What are these things?" Bobby shouted as he used his ice powers to freeze one demon, only to have it break through.

"I've seen these before…" Amara shouted. "They're demons!"

"These aren't the same demons from Limbo," Peter armored up and knocked a few back.

"No, I recognize these from pictures back home…" Amara said. To her horror the fire she created had no effect on the monsters. "They're…AIIEEE!" Suddenly two of the monsters grabbed her from behind and lifted her into the air.

"They got Amara!" Tabitha shouted. "Let her go Ugly!" She tossed her time bombs at them but missed.

Suddenly the monsters stopped attacking and lifted off into the air. "They're getting away!" Hank shouted. "As if they got what they came for!"

"Amara!" Jean shouted trying to use her telekinesis to hold the demons back. "Use your powers!"

Amara had fired up and was struggling. "I am! But it's not working!"

"Of course! These things are like fire too!" Kitty shouted.

The demons screamed and managed to break free of Jean's grip. Before anyone could stop them, they flew off into the sky rapidly. "AMARA!" Roberto took to the sky using his powers.

"Hang on Girl! We're coming!" Sam shouted using his power to take to the air. Both boys flew after them.

"NO!" Hank shouted. "Stay back!"

The boys flew after the creatures. "There go the varmints!" Sam shouted. "Whoa!" He dodged a fireball.

"They're fast!" Roberto shouted. "But we're faster!" He used his powers to shoot at the creatures but when his rays hit, it didn't affect them. "It's not working!"

"Maybe I can knock her loose!" Sam tried to catch up. However one of the demons turned around and attacked him head on, knocking Sam out of the sky and straight into the ocean.

"SAM!" Roberto shouted. Before he knew it, he was also knocked down and into the ocean. Soon both boys were left floundering in the water.

"Smooth move," Sam gasped as he struggled to stay afloat.

"Yeah, well your plan didn't work either," Roberto snapped. "I don't know about you but I'm spent." Then some clouds covered the sun. "Aw man…"

"Don't we ever get a break?" Sam grumbled. "What is that noise?"

A loud buzzing of a motor could be heard. To the boys surprise was a large rescue raft with a huge motor on the back. And three rescuers inside. "Need a lift?" Trinity chirped. They brought the boys back to the island.

"They got away…" Sam grumbled as they returned to the others.

"My rays totally didn't do anything to 'em," Roberto looked at his hands.

"Well they are fire demons," Tabitha said.

"And your power does come from the sun," Rahne said. "I mean, sun, fire…Heat wouldn't affect them."

"Why were they after Amara?" Jean asked.

"I don't know," Althea said. "But we're gonna find out! Vacation's over guys! Let's head back to the our base and prepare to track them down!"

"We need to get the portable Cerebro as well," Xavier said. "I have a feeling it may come in handy."

"The portable Cerebro?" Pietro asked.

"The one that's usually in the blackbird," Jean. "Remember? I used it to help me fight the Professor when he was being mind controlled by Apocalypse?"

"Good idea," Cover Girl said. "Something tells me we're gonna need it!"

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Amara struggled against the chains that held her against the cave wall. The creatures had brought her to a deserted island and chained her up. "Uggh! When I get out of here…" She converted to her Magma form, but it didn't do anything.

"Don't bother," A voice sneered from the darkness. "Those chains were forged especially to contain Fire Demons. Your powers are useless against them."

"Who are you? What do you want with me?" Amara shouted.

"Revenge mostly. Hello little princess," The Black Queen materialized in front of her wearing a black leather outfit. "I've been waiting a long time to meet you."

Next: What does Selene want with Amara? And who will save her? You won't believe it!