Chapter 7 – Progression
Stephen disappeared into the forest that surrounded the mansion, according to Logan, who had claimed to severely maim the man. The days and weeks after the incident were long and mundane. Sean had started to require Mackenzie's presence nearly 12 hours a day. The X-men had started their school once again and usually stayed clear of the small cottage.
A crisp October morning, Mackenzie sat on the couch drinking her coffee and fingering through a thick file. Her hair was pinned back, she pushed her glasses up on her nose, and she relaxed in her dark robe.
/ Mornin', Lass. / Sean said coming into the living room. Mack smiled and moved the file onto the coffee table.
/ Morning / Mack replied. She took a deep breath. She hadn't spoken a word in almost a month.
/ Ye hear 'bout the party t'morrow// Sean asked. He picked up the television remote and turned on the news.
/ Aye / Mack said. Since being around Sean, an Irishman, some slang had transferred. The two watched a short news clip on a car chase. / Are you going//
Sean shrugged. His new way of signifying an answer.
/ You'd have to dress up. / Mack said. / I'm going. /
Sean turned his head to give her a sudden look. His eyebrow rose slightly before he turned his head back to the television. Mack watched him scratch his beard that he had started growing again. It kind of went with his shoulder length hair that he had also neglected to cut. Mack watched the television when the anchor reported sightings of mutants in New York City.
"…Three unidentified mutants destroyed an entire city block" The news anchor said. The footage was devastating. Smoke and small fires were still rampant among the rubble. The mutants had escaped and the authorities were out on a manhunt.
Sean sipped Mack's coffee, a frequent occurrence in the cottage, and scowled at the footage before him.
/ Recognize them// Mack asked.
/ Aye, lass. / Sean replied. / Back in X-Corps. You should have a file on them somewhere. /
/ I haven't come across it yet / Mack replied. Sean glanced at the files she had in her hands.
/ It's a group of street punks who recently popped up / Sean replied. / Phyre Phlies. They think the 'ph' instead of the 'f' is a cool thing. /
/ I'm only to the 'L' files / Mack replied. Sean looked over at Mack with an expression Mack had grown used to seeing. She pointed to a stack of boxes. / Two over, third box down. /
Sean took another sip of coffee before getting up to pull out the box. Mack set her stack of folders onto the coffee table. She was tired of reading about a morlock named Litterbug who had traits similar to a cockroach. Mack watched as Sean flipped through the file box until he pulled out a folder.
He sat down while opening the folder.
/ Phyre Phlies…headed by an ex-member of the Folding Circle named Silk Fever / Sean read. / Now goes by the name Lady Blaze. /
/ Let me guess / Mack interrupted. / She hires mutants to help her attack political groups. /
/ Aye / Sean said. / How'd ye know//
/ Just a wild guess / Mack said changing the channel. / How about a change of pace for today//
/ Like// Sean asked while still looking through the folder in his hands.
/ Costume shopping / Mack replied. The folder shut and Mack cringed before looking over. / I don't have a costume for tomorrow and I was hoping that you were going to go so that we could get out of this house. We've been here forever it seems. /
Sean's face broke with a small smirk. Mack, relieved, gave him a wide smile back. Sean looked at the clock that sat near the television.
/ We'll jus' work 'til noon today / Sean replied.
Noon slowly crept up on Mack. She had managed to almost finish the rest of box 32 before the clock chimed 12. Mack saved her work and turned off her computer. This would be her first real break in weeks.
She bound up the stairs to her room and quickly pulled on a pair of her black jeans, her boots, a blue t-shirt, a grey sweater coat, and a black wool blazer. She moved around the house until she found Sean, who was in his study doing computer work, still in his pajamas.
/ Its noon// Mack sang with a smile.
/ You go / Sean said. Mack moved over to his desk and leaned against it with her arms crossed.
/ You said that we would only work until noon today / Mack said. Sean looked up at her. / You need a break too, Irishman. C'mon, let's go. /
/ Why don' you go with Jubes or Paige// Sean said. Mack rolled her eyes.
/ I haven't spoken to anyone at the Mansion for like…..a month or something / Mack said. / Except for Logan. I see him every once in a while. /
/ Ye can't jus' let me be// Sean asked. Mack narrowed her eyes and jutted her lip out in a pout. / Aye. Fine. Fine. Ay'll go with ye. Goddam harpy. /
Sean stood up and moved out of the study with Mack at his heels. She watched him trudge upstairs. It didn't take him long to change into jeans and a button down shirt.
/ So where are we off ta then// Sean asked pulling on his Celtics jacket. Mack pulled on her black beanie.
/ The Kilmer Center// Mack said with a smile. She had once been kidnapped by Jubilee and Paige, long story short, the three had spent the whole day there and came back with a lot less money. Sean rolled his eyes.
/ Ay shoulda guessed / Sean replied.
The Kilmer Center was packed with people. Nearly every store had some sort of Halloween sale or Halloween costume that they were selling. Mack pushed and prodded her way through the crowd until she stood before a whole row of adult costumes.
Sean found his way beside her and gracefully ignored the other people in the store.
/ Is this going t'take long, lass// Sean asked. Mack shrugged.
/ I don't know. Can you reach that one up there// Mack asked pointing to an Egyptian costume. Sean easily pulled down the costume.
/ It's a fine bit / Sean said. Mack smiled and looked up at the other costumes. She turned when she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Can I help you folks with something?" A young blonde asked. Mack cleared her throat.
"No" Mack replied hoarsely. "Thanks, though."
"Okay" The blonde said. The blonde looked distastefully at the costume Mack held. "Dressing rooms are in the back if you want to try that on."
Mack smiled as the blonde disappeared into the crowd. Mack looked down at the costume in her hands. It seemed…too conservative. Mack handed it to Sean.
/ I don't think this will do / Mack said. Sean put it back onto its hook. / Have you decided if you're going yet//
/ Aye / Sean said. / I'll be there. / The two made their way down the isle. / I'll meet up with ye later. Ay suppose I'll be needin' a costume. /
Mack nodded and made her way further into the crowd.
Time passed fairly quickly in the costume shop. Something about the screaming kids, the last minute shoppers, and trying on costumes just made the minutes speed by. Mack was happy with her selection. It was a fairly simple costume, but it had spunk.
She made her way out of the shop with her costume in tow. She was hoping to find Sean waiting or walking towards the shop, but sighed when she realized that he was nowhere in sight.
/ Sean// Mack called telepathically.
/ Behind ye / Sean replied. Mack smiled and found him stepping out of the costume store. / What kind o'costume did ye get//
/ Surprise / Mack said with a smile. She looked at his bag and saw a brown plastic club sticking out. / Caveman//
Sean looked down at his bag and smiled. A mother left the store behind them with two screaming kids.
/ Let's get outta this heavin' mob / Sean said pulling Mack out of the mall.
Sean and Mack returned to the X Mansion. Sean had not stopped talking about work and how their little outing was going to set them back. Mack stepped out of Sean's jeep, not only to escape Sean's grumpy new attitude, but to find Remy walking towards them.
"Hey Petite" Remy called.
"Hey Remy" Mack said hoarsely.
"You don't sound good, chere" Remy said. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
"I haven't done a lot of speaking lately" Mack replied. Remy gestured to her bag.
"Wha's dis?" Remy asked. "You comin' to our little party t'morrow?"
"We both are" Mack said. Remy looked over at Sean who was leaning on the hood of his jeep giving Remy a stern look.
"You don' look happy, Irish" Remy said. Remy stepped forward and wrapped his arm around Mack's waist. "What'd you do to him, petite?"
"Pulled him away from his work" Mack said with a smirk. She allowed Remy to guide her towards her cottage. "I think he needed a break."
/ Ay didnae need a break ye harlot / Sean said to Mack. She smiled and turned to smile at him.
/ You needed one you Irish grump / Mack said to him.
"You shoulda been dere, petite" Remy said. He was telling her about a training session between him and Wolverine. He recounted the whole story in the matter of time it took for him to walk her to the cottage door. Sean pushed past them and quickly disappeared into the cottage. "So you've been spendin' all your time here wit Sean. People are talkin'."
"About me and Sean?" Mack asked walking into the cottage. She gave a small chuckle in disbelief. Remy followed her in.
"Yeah" Remy replied. He watched as she took off her blazer. "An attractive girl like you stuck in dis house wit him? Dey call you two Beauty and da Beast, petite."
"He's not a beast" Mack said matter-of-factly. "Want some coffee?"
"Sure" Remy said following her into the kitchen. Mack got the coffee going and sat at the kitchen table with Remy. "So what have you two been doing?"
"Just computer stuff" Mack replied. "Why?"
"People been talkin', dat's all" Remy said.
"Well you can tell them that it's none of their business" Mack replied. Remy took the hint and changed the subject.
"So what're you gonna dress up as tomorrow?" Remy asked. Mack smiled.
"It's a secret" Mack said. "Not even Sean knows."
"A head turner, eh?" Remy said. "I'll keep my eyes open."
"What're you going to be?" Mack asked. Remy got up and filled two cups with the strong brew that was being made.
"Perhaps dats a secret" Remy said.
"Fine" Mack said. "I just grabbed a cowboy outfit."
"Cowboy outfit?" Remy repeated with a raised eyebrow. "What's so special 'bout dat?"
"You'll just have to wait and see, Cajun" Mack said. She took a cup from him and started to drink her coffee.
"You can't keep secrets from Remy" Remy said leaning towards Mack with a salacious grin. Mack leaned in a little bit.
"Yes" Mack whispered. "I can."
The sound of a mug hitting the counter with a dull thud made Remy move back from the dark haired girl.
"An' what did you get?" Remy asked. Sean poured himself some coffee and just glared at Remy. "Dat's fine, mon ami." Remy looked at Sean, then at Mack. "You go an' keep her all for yourself."
Sean looked liked he had gotten slapped. Remy smiled and finished his coffee as quickly as he could.
"He's not--!" Mack said crossing her arms.
"Sure, petite" Remy interrupted. He pulled out a cigarette. "You keep tellin' yourself dat." He walked towards the door. "Later."
Once Remy had shut the door, Mack turned towards Sean.
/ What the hell// Mack yelled. / What did you do//
Sean shrugged. He watched with blushing cheeks as the short girl approached him with an angry demeanor.
/ Why don't we ever have company// Mack asked furiously.
/ We have work -- / Sean said in a growling thought.
/ NO! I am doing your work// Mack screamed in interruption. / What do you do all day, Sean//
Mack shrieked as Sean grabbed her by her shirt and pulled her up to look into his now angry face. Mack's toes were barely on the ground. Mack furrowed her brow and simply held onto his fist, glaring right back at him.
Green eyes looked into grey eyes.
With a small gesture, Sean surprised himself and the girl before him by bringing his lips down to graze hers. Mack's angry expression deepened. Sean found his cheek burning from the slap he received.
Mack felt her feet connect to the ground and quickly stepped back.
"Consider that my resignation" Mack growled before storming out of the house.