From robbiepoo2341:
1. First of all, AoX, you seem to have a very limited idea of what rape is. You seem to think rape only occurs when one person literally climbs on top of another and forces them to have sex. But the truth is that coercion is rape. If the person you want to have sex with doesn't give you a yes of their own free will, that's rape. If you have to drug them to get them to go along with it, it's rape. If you have to torture or physically harm them to get a yes, it's rape. If you have to threaten harm (including non-physical harm, such as a cop threatening to arrest someone who says no or a boss threatening someone's career if they say no) in order to get a yes, it's rape. In this particular case, James was drugged, tortured, and threatened until he gave up and gave in. That's not consent. That's coercion. Which is rape. For a real life example, I have a friend who recently escaped a deeply abusive marriage. She agreed to sex because she was terrified of being hurt. This does not mean she's not a victim.
2. Second of all, you also seem to think that all rape hurts. It doesn't. Especially rape in which the rapist uses coercion instead of physical force. An orgasm doesn't negate the fact that the victim didn't want the sexual contact in the first place. Read up on Robert Hadden, the doctor who sexually assaulted his female patients and specifically tried to pleasure them in the process to make them feel worse about their experience because they liked it. Just because someone's body reacts to sexual contact does not negate the question of their consent. James only went along with things because he was tortured and drugged into submission. Again, coercion is rape.
3. Third of all, your assertion that all men like it when women get aggressive is problematic to say the least. I read it out loud to my husband and he was disgusted. Some people, men and women alike, enjoy aggression. Others like slow and gentle. It's not a gendered thing. And the idea that men want aggression is actually rooted in deep sexism that says men are all aggressive by nature.
4. Fourth of all, would you please for the love of everything that is good and right in the world STOP trying to gatekeep James's sexuality. We have made it clear since the moment James showed interest in Billy that he swings both ways. Bisexual people exist and that does not negate their attraction to one gender or the other. I'm a bisexual woman married to a bisexual man. This doesn't mean I'm any less attracted to women or he's any less attracted to men. We just clicked as a couple and happen to fit heterosexual norms.
5. Finally, comments like yours are exactly the reason CC and I have allowed the narrative to focus on James so much, because male victims get told that it was their fault, that it wasn't really rape, that only women are the "real" victims. ((or they get told that they're just saying it after the fact, or they're not a real man if …, or that they're LUCKY that whoever it was wanted them SO BADLY. - CC)) Can you imagine how hurtful that is? And James has internalized all that. Now, we've given Kate a lot of narrative attention as well, because what happened to her was also terrible. It was horrific and traumatizing. But she is believed. She is getting support. She knows what happened to her and can name it. She's getting therapy. And we're going to show her recovery process as well. But trying to say that Kate is the only "real" victim here shows a shocking lack of empathy. This is also personal to ME, because I've seen the way male victims are treated differently to female victims. My aunt and uncle (my mom's brother and sister) both went through abusive relationships. Both were cheated on, hit, threatened, etc. Both divorced now. But my uncle was never believed. Ever. It devastated him that even with evidence, even knowing that his ex-wife would literally call the police on him and claim he was abusive if he fought back, even knowing he'd been traumatized in jail because of her, no one ever considered him a victim. People like you are the reason my uncle struggled for YEARS.
Also? James isn't getting "favoritism" because Nate got in worse trouble than he did. Nate is in trouble because he's still in his right mind. He isn't experiencing PTSD or trauma responses, and he wasn't brainwashed, as we've made clear that all three of Hydra's victims were. Nate has FAR more culpability than James does.
In short, I don't know why you have an axe to grind against James, but *sprays you with a spray bottle* stop negating his experiences.
From CC - PracticallyAnAvenger, you continue to get the gold star award for shouty reviews. You got it. You have the whole everything here down pat, and I have been calling you 'our Avenger' to robbie. (HUGS) X-MenOverAvengers, I'm so glad you're here reviewing, but you really are doing a fine job of channeling all the lies Viper and Katarina told James to get into his head and convince him of exactly this. And I'm not surprised of that response since men simply aren't believed. So thank you for at least bringing this up so we can dialogue. Robbiepoo handled the breakdown beautifully, so I won't beat a dead horse there, though a fine point I want to put out there … in every universe that I have James … every single one … he's not straight. He's pansexual. He values the person over the package always. Though bi is definitely a more common way to view him in THIS universe. He absolutely is attracted to both men and women. Finally, as a point that we've kind of skipped in the notes so far, there's one more angle as to why this is a consent issue. Katarina's mutant ability allows her to cloud someone's mind and force them to do what she wants. It's borderline psychic, so she has trouble with James, but with all the drugs added, you can bet that was a factor, too. And yes, she tried hard to use every tool she had to take what she wanted.
For our readers who may have experienced someone taking advantage of them- male or female, regardless of what you've maybe convinced yourself of, and regardless of the social stigma attached to it, know that WE know that men can be victims of sexual assault almost as readily as women. I know men who have been forced and most of the time it took them YEARS to come to terms with that and screwed with their heads every step of their recovery. Physiology, desire, consent, etc etc … it's multifaceted but still comes down to the basics. No means no. End of story. Stop means stop. Anything that happens beyond that point - or sooner if the person in question has been drugged in any way - is assault. Plain and simple.
If you want resources, please take a moment to google RAINN or 1in6 for more information on how COMMON this is. For comparison, the CDC estimates for women the statistic is 1 in 5, though admittedly the CDC reports 1 in 38 for men, but that just goes to show how underreported it is. 1 in 6 is the number from men who didn't report it. CDC only shows reported incidents. ((So the number is higher for women too, btw. -Robbie)) Don't try this 'it's not real' crap with me.
Chapter 100: Don't Want To Remember
Billy knew from America that whatever had been happening with Kate, and whatever Rachel had talked to Vojteck about, it had required two weeks in another dimension. America hadn't wanted Rachel to stress herself into the firebird, and sure, she'd maybe overestimated how long Rachel wanted to be gone, but considering how stressed the Summerses made themselves on a daily basis…America was probably right in taking her away for longer than what Rachel thought was necessary.
But that meant Rachel had been refreshed and raring to dive in with Billy when she got back. And now, she was all pissed off to the point of flames and gone with America again, and Billy wasn't sure how long they'd be gone, even if it only seemed like they'd been gone a couple hours.
Billy knew that what he'd experienced wasn't nearly as invasive as what the other two went through, but he was still fuming over what Rachel had uncovered. He had remembered, vaguely, that he'd known James was hurting and had known more than Kate did, but now, remembering that Viper and Katarina had shown him James, had told him that Viper loved having a young Wolverine to test out all her newest poisons, that they had promised to make everything even worse than they already planned - it sucked. It really did.
He'd known at the time - and knew now - that they were going to do whatever they wanted regardless of what he said or did. He knew that. But that didn't mean he hadn't been terrified, that he hadn't cried, or that he hadn't been willing to give them more information than he would have before Viper and Katarina had started their torture and mind games.
And then he'd seen Katarina and James. He hadn't remembered it when they were rescued, because, like Kate, everything was hidden in layers of traumas, but as it turned out, he knew exactly what James was trying so hard not to talk about.
And when Billy had been that off his game, when he had been positively beside himself screaming for James and Katarina to stop even though he knew they couldn't hear him, that was when Viper had stepped in. That was when his memories had cut off, because the drug cocktails were so intense, he'd blocked them all out. And in between all of that, every time he could get a breath, every time he had enough sense to be aware of what they were telling him, Viper made sure he heard Lorna's name. Saw her face.
He'd been programmed to kill his aunt as soon as Katarina was set to make her debut at the top of Hydra. He was supposed to be her puppet. And he was furious.
He'd been pacing ever since Rachel had torn open his memories. He knew James was sleeping with the help of medication, so on one hand, he didn't want to disturb him, but on the other hand, he wanted to tell him that he knew everything. That he once again remembered that Viper had shown him what happened as it was happening. That he knew exactly what Katarina had done to James and how James clearly didn't want anything to do with her. That it wasn't his fault no matter what they'd told him, or what he'd convinced himself of.
He wanted to leave Genosha. Badly. How was he supposed to even look at his aunt Lorna the same way? What was he supposed to say to her? Sure, Rachel had removed the command from his mind, but Viper and Katarina had spent so long making sure he associated her with negative emotions… he didn't want to know if they'd ruined his relationship with his aunt. He'd rather not find out. He'd rather just… not ruin things.
So, of course, after he'd worn a path into the sand on the private beach near the palace, Lorna was the one to find him - and he nearly startled out of his skin when he turned around in his pacing and saw her.
"You've been avoiding me," Lorna told him. "I'm starting to take it very personally."
"Aunt Lorna!" Billy blurted out and then turned bright red, not at all trusting himself and already backing away. "It's - it's nothing it's just - it's nothing."
"At least you haven't learned how to lie any better on the mainland," Lorna teased.
"Yeah." Billy shuffled a few steps back. "A-a-a-anyway, I should really go check on James…"
"He's asleep," Lorna said. "You don't need to check. We all know it. And if you run away from me again, I'll have to do something you'll find too familiar." She raised an eyebrow and leaned toward him. "Something like start floating around with a bunch of shining spheres …"
"Okay, okay," Billy said, holding up both hands. "You don't have to channel Grandfather. Point made."
"So, why have you been avoiding me? I know it's not romantic interludes when your sweetheart is doing his best to avoid even healing."
"He's depressed," Billy defended. "After what he went through, I don't blame him for trying to not be awake and forget it all."
"Is that why you're out here pacing?"
"Because Rachel broke open my memories? Yeah," Billy admitted, dropping down to sit on one of the rocks on the shore.
"So … how bad is it?" Lorna asked before she picked a nearby rock to sit with him, though not right next to him at first. Not when he'd made it clear he wanted space.
Billy cleared his throat. "I… I saw what happened to the other two. More than I thought I saw, actually," he said after a long period of silence.
Lorna slipped over a rock closer. "And …"
Billy scooted away from her. "And… I … don't think you want to be too close to me."
"Did you forget deodorant?" Lorna teased.
"No, but I was supposed to kill you, so…" Billy looked away so he didn't have to see her reaction.
"Oh," she said, nodding to herself, but not looking terribly surprised. "How were you going to do it?"
"With a wish," Billy said.
Lorna laughed. "Then that was a badly thought out plan," she said and stood up to make her way over to him directly.
"Not really," Billy said, wrapping his arms around himself at his elbows.
"No? Do you want me dead?" Lorna asked. "Like really want me dead?"
"No, but I wanted them to stop hurting James."
"Then you'd stop them, not kill me. Isn't that how it works?"
"That's… you're kind of missing the point here, Aunt Lorna."
"It would have gone sideways," she said with a wave. "You can't wish for something you don't want to happen by going around it."
"I don't know. From what I remember, I was pretty desperate to do what they wanted me to do," Billy admitted, glaring at the ground.
"Oh no," Lorna said in a falsely scandalized tone. "Father was right about something."
"What, me being a killer?" Billy said, finally looking up at her. "Because I did, in fact, kill two people with a collar on. That's how badly I wanted them dead.
"Everyone in our family but Tommy has killed people that deserved it," Lorna said.
"Okay, so what do you think Grandfather was right about?"
"That you lead with your heart," she said. "You'll have ulcers by the time you're twenty trying to protect the people you love." She shook her head with a shrug. "You'll be in good company with Scott's kids."
"I always thought that was a compliment when he said it, actually," Billy defended.
"It was."
"I don't get it, then. I mean, you should be more upset about this?" Billy scrunched up his nose.
Lorna waved one hand. "Both of my siblings have tried to kill me at one point or another. It's fleeting."
Billy let out a sigh and tried to give his aunt a warm smile. "Well, I'm not okay with having agreed to kill you."
"Then hug me before I call for a guard to pull you into interrogation."
Billy was surprised into a sharp laugh. "Are you- are you threatening me?"
"Yes. Attempted assassin."
Billy shook his head, unable to keep from laughing again - and did, finally, lean over to give Lorna a hug. "I love you, you know that?"
"I love you too," Lorna told him as she wrapped him up in a bear hug and kept him there. "You're short on hugs, sweetheart."
Billy snuggled in like he used to do when he was younger. "Yeah, well, blame Viper. My usual source doesn't want to be touched, and I don't really blame him, either."
"Should I let go or double down?" Lorna asked before she kissed his forehead.
"I'm okay right here," he promised, giving her a tighter squeeze as he snuggled in. "Thanks."
"Any time you need it, sweetheart," Lorna said. "And if you know Chris and Suzie would be happy to give you a flying tackle."
"You know what? I may take them up on that," Billy said. "There was a total lack of surfer dudes in Hydra," he teased.
"There's a reason for that," Lorna said wisely. "Maybe … you know … I'll bet you can recruit the kids to help with your sweetheart… I doubt Viper wrecked his touch with kids."
Billy touched the side of his nose. "Not a bad idea. And since I know Kate's siblings will mob him when we go back there, too…"
"Or just walk down the street with him," Lorna said sarcastically. "I have rarely seen someone draw kids in like that."
"You should see him on missions in person. I know the cameras love to get those moments, but… it's something else live," Billy said, unable to hide the fondness in his tone.
"I saw it when his parents did the exact same thing."
"It's amazing."
Lorna looked as if she was thinking hard for a moment. "I wonder if there are any unrelated kids wandering the entire island of Genosha that might get overly excited about spotting a real live X-Man in person …"
Billy laughed. "Hint taken. We'll go for a walk."
"Just get him to clean up first. He's scruffy. And he really does have his father's hair. It's unfortunate."
"I like it."
Lorna broke into a grin. "You would." She shook her head as they started back toward the palace. "You never pick the ones that wear a cape … wonder why that is …"
"If you're going to start playing shrink, I'll get Dr. Kaplan and get a real diagnosis," he teased.
"You don't need to do that. I was just curious about your reasons, I know why I don't like capes on my guys …"
"Too dangerous for surfing?"
"Disrupts the view," she laughed.
Billy burst into a surprised laugh. "Right on."
"It's not even that early," Billy said as he pulled James along with him to the breakfast area of the palace. He'd taken Lorna's advice to heart and decided that his guy needed to see the island like he hadn't seen it before. Up close, hand in hand with Billy. The first time he'd brought James to Genosha, he'd made sure to keep him entirely to himself. This time, he really wanted to outline what was amazing about the city and jungles beyond.
But that meant getting up in the morning and making sure James had cleaned up like Lorna had suggested.
But James was less than pleased with his own looks the longer he had to wear his eyepatch. Deep down he knew that he could ditch it faster if he ate more, but that would build up his muscle mass too, and that idea was wildly uncomfortable after the emphasis Katarina had put on his physique. Yes, she was dead, but he couldn't forget the things she said or where they had led.
Almost on cue, James flinched and shrugged his shoulder as Billy rested his hand there for an instant. For Billy, all of this was difficult because he and James had been so generous with light, casual touches since the beginning. So James sloughing off even minor affection felt like a rejection, even if Billy knew better and could see it wasn't a conscious decision.
But … he hoped James' reactions would improve as he woke up and could hear from young Genoshans how big of a hero he was to them. And because so much was riding on this excursion, Billy was nervous.
When they got to the kitchen, Wanda and Vision were enjoying a quiet chat with Scott and Annie over coffee and sweet tea, respectively. James didn't even pretend to be awake as he let Billy direct him into a chair at the table. When coffee was set down in front of him, James curled one hand around the mug and pulled it closer to hold in both hands under the table while he rested his forehead on the edge of the table.
"Are you awake yet?" Rachel asked when she, America, Kate and Nate came in as well.
"No," James rumbled.
"Are you at least trying to be?" She prompted with a hopeful expression, waiting to hear his usual response.
"No."
"We'll it was worth a shot," Nate said, though he and Rachel shared a silent conversation between them comparing their concerns about their brother.
Rachel hadn't filled Nate in entirely, and she wasn't about to, but Kate was watching James a little closer now that they were in the same room. Naturally, she saw how worn James looked, and how utterly uninterested in his own appearance he was. She hadn't realized until just then that he had been sure to keep up on things like shaving and keeping his hair under control, but now? Not so much. Yes, Billy had managed to get him to do a little, but it wasn't up to James' usual level of grooming.
She also quickly noticed how James shied away from any physical contact, and that when someone came too close, he shifted out of their way seamlessly, while somehow at the same time not really being fully aware of what was being said around him.
Billy had to ask three times if James wanted more coffee only to be answered with a very confused looking boyfriend, who then almost belatedly agreed. Kate couldn't remember him being this spacey before. Ever.
But Kate… Kate knew that look. Not on James, but on herself. And she had to put her hand over her mouth as she put the pieces together, trying to hide her reaction. All at once, all she could think about was what James hadn't been wearing when they found him in Viper's lab.
Kate? Nate prompted her, though she'd been legitimately so caught up in reliving that moment that the single word startled her, and she had to wave Nate off, pushing him back at the shoulder with one hand as she covered her eyes with the other. She knew the others were watching her, too, so she was blushing deeply, frustrated with herself and horrified by what she'd just learned.
"Give me a second," Kate said, though her breathing was a little faster than normal until she got it back under control. "I'm okay. Had a moment; it's fine."
Nate watched her but didn't make a move until she had pulled her hand away from her eyes, swallowed, and tried to get back to her coffee. Then, he had to ask, You alright?
Yeah. I just… realized something is all.
Anything you want to share?
Not sure, Kate admitted. How… what do you know about what went down with James? I know you've seen bits of what I remember when I'm dreaming, but…
I think ... I know enough, Nate said.
Yeah, I don't think you do, because… She paused, wondering whether she should tell Nate. She knew she didn't like everyone knowing what had happened to her, and James had the advantage of no one giving him a futzing pregnancy test or anything like that.
On the other hand, he was a guy, and that meant people wouldn't even ask about that kind of thing, stupid as it was. So…
Kate let her shoulders drop. I just realized that James and I are reacting the same way. Which means I'm not the only rape victim here, she added after a mental push to use the actual word, something Rebecca Kaplan had suggested after Kate had spent a virtual session trying to dance around it for an hour.
Nate could feel his shoulders dropping as he started to shake his head. He doesn't - that's not … I can tell you right now that's not what he thinks happened.
Uh-huh. What's his version?
This time, it was Nate's turn to pause, not wanting to violate James's privacy, even if he'd caught glimpses by helping to boost Rachel. He didn't know for sure because James hadn't told him anything. But the impression he got from his brother was mostly clear. Just that he didn't fight her.
Yeah, well, I didn't do a good job of that either. Kinda just… turned off after it kept happening, Kate pointed out.
Kate-
What's the alternative here, that he was, what? Cheating on Billy with the girl torturing him?
Actually-
Yeah, no, that's a stupid take. You don't think I was cheating on you, do you?
Obviously not-
Okay, case closed.
That's not what I think, Katie, Nate had to say in defense of himself. That was important after all. That's what he thinks. From his perspective, he went along with her.
Still a stupid take, slightly more justified from him since he's traumatized and I'll bet you every nickel I can find in Dad's couch that they told him over and over that Billy would see it that way too.
Absolutely, Nate agreed.
Like how I still sometimes think you only want me around to pretend to escape the drama, Kate added, biting her lip.
If that was true, who'd keep me humble?
James.
Ouch.
Love you, babe, Kate sang to him and lightly kicked his foot with hers.
Nate shook his head at Kate then crossed the span to try and say hello to James. He'd just opened his mouth to say hello, but his hand made contact with James' shoulder before he spoke … as was the usual between the two of them … when James cut across Nate before he could even start.
"I'm not playing chess again, so go away," James said, his eyes half closed, though he made sure to say it loud enough he wasn't misheard.
Several things happened all at once … Billy burst out laughing alongside Rachel while Scott smirked and shook his head to himself. Wanda was snickering, and smiling broadly, but the rest of those in attendance had no idea what the joke was.
"It's alright, James, you don't have to play if you don't want to," Wanda said with laughter dancing in her voice. "But if you do-"
"No thank you," James said, which left Wanda laughing to herself even more.
"What's the joke?" Annie asked Scott quietly, and Scott leaned over to kiss her cheek first and foremost.
"When we came here for spring break, Billy's grandfather kept pushing James to play chess with him," Scott explained. "James never wanted to play, and when he was pushed, he liked to play with his food, so to speak."
"And my father couldn't give up on trying to win," Wanda added. "Even after James found amazing ways to beat him with pawns."
"Alright, well … if you're done reminiscing, I think I'm going to take my boyfriend and go out," Billy said as he offered James his hand under the table without touching him first.
James still had his head down, but saw the gesture, and because it was so subtle and so low pressure, he didn't hesitate to sit up and take Billy's hand. "Where are we going?" James asked, looking so confused that Kate was scrambling to finish her coffee fast so she could join them, too.
"I wanted to show you around," Billy suggested. "You only saw my favorite private places the last couple times you were here. I thought we could look at everything."
James frowned, but didn't argue it as Billy continued. "We have a few good coffee shops around here, too. You know … since coffee grows in this area of the world?"
James turned to look at Billy as if he was just considering this angle of things … which he was. But before he could say anything in response, Kate dove in. "Oh, good. No offense, but I could use some people watching with my coffee," she said. "We'll go, too."
"We will?" Nate asked, giving Kate a look that clearly asked if she was sure.
Kate raised her eyebrows, and Nate took the cue to reach out telepathically. I am all for keeping track of them and watching for threats, if that's what this is."
Hopefully, it's just getting coffee with your brother and my best friend, Kate replied. But getting to play bodyguard might be good practice, too.
Okay, Nate said, then grinned. I kinda want to get a read on the island as a whole. Mixed reports from those who should be in the know.
Yes. Keep the protective look. It's a good one for you.
As the four of them slowly headed out, James had his head ducked and he was staring at the ground as they went.
As expected, most people they came across gave them a wide berth because of Billy, though nearly everyone they passed was staring at the little group. Nate followed Billy's prompt and offered Kate his hand, too … just a quiet option to let him protect her a little bit. Like it or not, she was recognizably the human from the X-Men on Genosha, and while Wanda was vastly different from her father, it still remained to be seen how everyone else felt.
Billy took his time, though he was relatively quiet for their walk through the streets between the palace and the shopping district. When they got to the cafe Billy had talked about, James stared blankly at the menu for a moment, then gestured for Billy to order for both of them. He didn't even think before he let Kate lead him over to a table to sit down, giving the two of them a moment alone while their significant others handled the details.
It was the first time they'd been alone, and the first time James had been anywhere public at all, let alone in public with the eye patch. Like it or not, he was self conscious about that, too.
Though Kate was also trying to find her usual high spirits in a crowd, she couldn't help but shrink in on herself a little bit, wondering if anyone could tell that something was different with her. She knew it wasn't common knowledge, but she didn't feel entirely like herself yet. So she looked around them to find something to focus on … something to talk about that wasn't all the misery that they'd been dealing with. She knew what he'd been through, but … she really didn't want to talk about anything even remotely close to it … and she didn't know what she could talk to him about. Until she did a small double take at a gathering knot of people just outside of the bistro's fenced in area that they were sitting in.
She took a moment to see what it was they were doing, expecting it to be Billy they were watching, but … once she saw where they were looking, it was obvious that they weren't watching the prince. And that … that was something she could talk to James about, just because it was so stinking sweet.
"You have ducklings," Kate told James in a low whisper, the pure amusement radiating from every word.
"What are you talking about?" James asked, frowning as he looked toward her.
Kate nodded toward the window discreetly. "Five kids and counting. I think the oldest is eight. They're totally in awe of you."
James followed her sight line to see the kids in question, then turned back to her. "Maybe it's you."
Kate shrugged easily. "While I will never discount my ability to win friends and influence hearts or whatever, no. One of them was definitely saying 'Wolverine'. Easy to lip read."
James propped his chin up with one hand as he watched her. "Is it now? Does Hawkeye look like a squawking bird?"
"Every time. Worse depending on the accent," Kate said without missing a beat.
"Can you demonstrate?" he said quietly, almost a tease, but not quite his normal timbre.
Kate smirked and shook her head. "Might scare the kiddies. And I think you have a fan club."
"They're probably trying to figure out why we're here," James said, neatly brushing by her hypothesis.
"Wondering if you'll stick around long enough to give them tips," Kate sang under her breath. Then, she let out a long, soft, "awww" and added, "Did you see the girl with the tail? She's maybe six and she's totally using it as a security blanket. I love her."
James stole a glance toward the kids again, spotted the little girl Kate pointed out and didn't bother to hide the smirk. "Mia used to do that, too."
"I remember. She and her mom lived in the tower when I was new too." Kate smiled and leaned back in her seat. "It's weird, sometimes, you know - you see kids that little and you're like 'oh crap, I'm supposed to be on good behavior cause I'm a public figure now'."
"Is that what we're supposed to do?" James asked. "My coach wasn't as savvy as yours. He just stuck me in a suit and said, 'Don't panic'."
Kate snorted. "Yeah, well, my mom sat me down when we got our suits with X's on them and made sure I knew my unique position. First human. No powers. Going to be all sorts of assumptions."
"It's a Hawkeye trademark," James said.
"Still different when it's the X-Men, though, you have to admit."
"Yeah," he said. "But I don't think anyone else could pull it off."
"Love you too," Kate said with a soft smile.
"It's the truth, bratty sis." James looked past her to watch the small crowd grinning at Billy and trying to catch his attention as he and Nate made their orders. "You're better at it than I am, too. Which … is a low bar, but still."
"I had a lifetime to get good, and I was already a people person," Kate pointed out. "I… don't remember much about my birth family, but I do remember lots of parties. I think I came to the Avengers kind of… primed."
"I can believe it," he agreed, then pushed his chair back so he could cross his arms on the table to rest his chin, though he fell just short of laying his head down.
Kate watched him for a second and then made up her mind on something kind of sensitive. "So… can I … ask a favor of you?" she asked slowly.
"Always."
Kate nodded to herself. "Can I … sometimes, after I've been sitting and talking with Doc Hale or Doc Kaplan, I just… I don't want to talk to Nate and… my parents are beyond livid, but you actually know already, so I don't have to… can I just… talk to you? Sometimes?" she asked at last.
James was nodding before he actually answered. "Yeah, of course. You don't have to talk if you don't want to, either."
"I do my best thinking as it's coming out of my mouth," Kate said with a half-grimaced smile.
"I know, but … I also think sometimes silence is better," James said. "Even when you don't want to be alone."
"Yeah, true," Kate said. "I feel like I come up with better ways to say what I'm thinking, like, thirty minutes after I talk to the docs, you know?"
"I try to come up with what I'd say to the doc thirty minutes before seeing him," James said with a bare smile.
"I'm trying this novel approach of saying what's in my head to the head shrink," Kate teased.
James leaned toward her and lowered his voice. "They're civilians, Katie."
She shifted how she was seated so the kids watching them wouldn't see her response. "This is not the first rape case either of them has handled."
"I'm sure," James said, then frowned, not realizing she meant him, too. "I … didn't mean to kill that guy, but I'm not sorry I did. You should have had a shot at him yourself if you wanted it. I swear I wasn't going in there to do anything … but I couldn't stop myself when I saw him."
For some reason, Kate could feel hot tears in her eyes as she nodded. "Thanks," she said, not quite sure why she was emotional - or what emotion she was having, for that matter. She wiped her eyes with her thumb, trying to be subtle and failing. "I, uh, kinda killed a guard already anyway and I'm not sure I like that feeling, but he also deserved it, so I'm also not sorry."
"Oh, good," James decided, trying to lighten her mood a little. "Take a penny, leave a penny."
Kate let out a cough that was almost a laugh. "I have the best big brother," she said.
"Love you too, Katie."
Kate smiled and rearranged herself as Nate and Billy finally skirted around the crowd to join them - and then had to laugh when the tiny kiddie crowd (which had gained three members by then with more gravitating their way) went absolutely mad with excitement. "Oh, the fan club is losing their tiny minds," she giggled.
"More interesting people showed up," James told her quietly.
"Lies. I'm still here," Kate shot back. Even if she still didn't feel confident in herself, even if the words sounded hollow, they were such a habit that she couldn't stop.
"And you are the star," James agreed.
Billy followed their gaze to see the kids pressed up against the railing and laughed, then waved the kids in. Once the kids eagerly rushed in through the gate, Billy magically made the table longer so they had space to crowd them without actually crowding them - since three of the four heroes weren't all that good with being touched at the moment.
"Are you really Wolberneen?" asked the girl with the tail, her eyes wide as she got as close as she dared to James.
"He is. He absolutely is," Kate said fervently before James could refute. "He's the best, right?"
The little girl nodded, clutching her tail tighter. "I sawed him on TV before we moved here."
"Do you like it here?" James asked her quietly, since she looked way too keyed up at the moment and he didn't know how to handle excited kids. Most of the ones he'd dealt with, he'd had to convince to go to him.
She nodded. "Nobody grabs my tail here ecks-cept for my brother when he's bein' mean," she whispered.
"Do you pinch him when he does that?" James whispered back. "Because I would."
The little girl giggled. "No, but I do yank his ears. They're really pointy and fuzzy, but his tail is too short to pull on."
James started to nod slowly. "So he wishes he had a longer tail. Sounds like a brother thing."
"That's what my dad says. All the time. He also says if Mom were here, she'd say our tails were the prettiest things in the whole wide world, so he makes us say so to each other," the little girl said, getting steadily braver and closer to James.
"It is a very pretty tail," James agreed, since she seemed to be worried about it.
"You really think so? Even if it's all sticky-uppy and moves too much?" she whispered.
James nodded at that. "Don't fight the tail. Let it move."
"I'm still learnin'," the girl said, showing him her tail in her hand.
"You'll get it," he said.
"And then I can be an X-Man just like you, right, Mr. Wolberneen?" she asked in an awed whisper.
"You can call me James," he told her, shaking his head at the odd formality added to his codename.
The little girl looked like she might float off into the sun. "Okay!" she giggled delightedly. "Thank you lots, Mr - I mean James!" She looked perfectly pleased with herself, even bouncing on her feet.
As she bounced off, James turned toward Billy without missing a beat. "You did this."
Billy had been distracted talking to one of the other kids, but when he heard James, he turned toward him, grinned, and held up both hands. "I swear I didn't," he said. "Tommy and I always get a few kids following us, but that? That is all on her." He raised both eyebrows. "By the way? It's super cute when you get all mushy with kids," he added low enough the kids couldn't hear him.
"I'm not getting mushy. I'm just talking to them," James argued quietly, even as he shifted how he was sitting to let the next kids get close. "You're getting mushy."
"You turn into an even bigger sweetheart than you already are, and it's so hot."
James scoffed at that, and shook his head as a tiny little girl decided to pass by the kindergarten aged boy next to her and just… climb up on his lap to say hello, attaching herself to him with a snuggling hug.
"So cute," Billy mouthed at him before one of the older kids caught his attention and he was distracted again. Billy might not have realized it, but he was different around kids - and not in the way most leaders were where they were trying to look good. He got absorbed in every word the kids were saying and seemed to forget he was a prince or an X-Man or anything other than someone holding a very important conversation with a tiny person.
While Billy and James were talking to their tiniest admirers, there was a little girl with a purple streak in her hair bouncing on the balls of her feet as she stood near Kate, gripping a homemade bow that she'd obviously painted purple … to match her streak. But she wasn't going to interrupt anything. And she waited patiently until Kate turned her way, then broke into a nervous smile, clutching her bow tighter.
"Ohmigosh," Kate grinned delightedly and waved the girl over. "That bow is beautiful. I love it so much. Did you do it yourself?" When the girl nodded shyly, Kate grinned wider. "Do you know how to use it? Because I totally have some tips for bows that beautiful and purple."
"Oh look," James said quietly as he leaned toward Billy and caught Nate's attention. "You match now … I didn't think that color was healthy, little brother."
Billy grinned when he turned to see Nate turning steadily more purple as he watched Kate gush over the little girl with the bow. "Someone just realized he's seeing his future," Billy teased, reaching out to James to intertwine their fingers, since James seemed to be reacting more like himself.
"Pretty sure he knew that when they were like … five."
"I know the feeling. Though, to be fair, I only met you in passing when we were too young for me to remember, so… for us, it was love at almost first sight?" Billy teased.
"Wait. We met when we were little?" James turned his way at that. "I'm going to need that story."
Billy shrugged. "We'd have to ask my mom. All I know is Mom said you and everyone else who escaped Graydon Creed came and stayed here for a little while, and Mom brought us to try to cheer up the other kids, since everyone was so shell shocked. That's the whole story I've heard."
James hummed to himself at that, though he didn't let himself wonder about it too much when he knew that shell shocked was a real mild way of describing it. "Now my number of trips here is all jacked up."
"Whoops." Billy laughed. "Ah well."
"You know," James said as they settled in a little better between eager kids trying to say hello, shifting spots, or moving out entirely as their parents collected them - all of them smiling at the teenagers approvingly as they did so. "I'm kind of surprised you didn't go full on marshmallow and order cocoa or cookies or something for all the kids. Seeing as you have an active following of minis."
"You know, I should do that from now on," Billy decided. "They'll never leave. You'll have eight of them on your lap at all times. Minimum."
James smirked crookedly, and Billy couldn't stop the grin at the peek of the James he knew. "In the states, we'd call that buying votes, and it's totally illegal," James teased.
"I am a terrifying despot who needs no votes. Fear me," Billy teased right back.
"I can't."
"Well, I tried," Billy said, shrugged, smiled crookedly, then leaned forward - carefully - to steal a kiss that instantly drew attention from half the cafe or better.
"There goes the stealthy streak," Nate muttered, though he was loud enough the other two boys heard it as they sat back - a little closer than before.
"I have never, in my life, had anyone try to stop me from kissing my own boyfriend on Genosha," Billy said primly. "And I will do it again," he added - and stole another kiss for good measure.
James was chuckling quietly to himself at that, delighting Billy for the oddly light moment. "This is just how it is here," James told Nate. "He gets more full of it for some reason. I don't understand."
"Must be something in the air," Nate mused, glad to see his brother smiling a little.
"He gets puffed up when he gets to do the prince strut," Kate put in, finally distracted from her enthusiastic fan. She grinned when she saw the way Billy and James were in each other's space, knowing it was a big deal - and then lost her smile entirely when she saw a guy with a camera snapping pictures of them. "Ah, guys? Press at eight o'clock. Someone's using Genosha's visitor policy for profit."
"Oh crap," Billy said, turning toward James - since he was the one with the more pressing PR issue. Billy had been publicly out on Genosha for forever, but James? "I'm sorry - I didn't - I'm not used to them being here."
James thought about it for a moment, then shook his head and shrugged as he doubled down and entwined their fingers again. "What should I do? Kill him? Not like it isn't overdue anyhow."
Billy grimaced. "We've just been so careful…"
"It's fine," James promised - and meant it.
"You're both adults now," Kate pointed out, trying to keep Billy from having a panic attack. "You're both eighteen. That was part of the problem before, and it's not now."
James paused at that though, because he'd been so out of it he'd entirely lost track of time between that lost with Viper and that lost in recovery … and then more lost going back to screw with Hydra and more recovery. "Oh, damn it all."
"If it's going to be a problem for you, I can-"
"No, no, it's not that. I just … I don't know what day it is," James admitted. "Or what week for that matter. I guess I wasn't quite … equating passage of time with anything. Damn."
"Oh." Billy blinked, then nodded. "Right, well, it's Thursday. My birthday was Monday, but I didn't really feel like celebrating then, especially since that was the day Kate threw up in my room…"
"Well I could probably do a little bit better than that," James said. "Throw up in Tommy's room anyhow…"
Billy laughed. "He ran back to Westchester to hang out with Mia for the day."
"It'd be a nasty surprise when he got back then," James pointed out.
"Next year."
"Now I gotta find a way to make it up to you," James said.
"I promise you don't have to," Billy said quickly. "I wasn't up to a party, and I didn't want to make a big deal… and I haven't really been in the mood to celebrate since Madripoor, really."
"Wow, you're new," Nate said. "It's too late now. You hit the challenge button. Life will be easier for you if you give him direction, though."
"Like, oh, I don't know…tell him you like a fancy car," Kate said airily.
Billy shook his head at Kate. "I don't really want anything like that, though," he said.
"Right. Royalty," Kate nodded. "Snob."
Billy laughed. "No, I just meant I'd rather do things for my birthday."
"America will absolutely take you both to a paradise planet or something," Kate said. "That's where she and Rachel have been disappearing to between sessions. We went once when we were dating." She grinned. "It was amazing."
"Do something," James said slowly, because of course, that was never trouble.
"I want in," Nate said instantly.
"M'kay," James agreed - another sure sign of nothing at all wrong.
"Oh, Billy," Kate said, grinning. "This is gonna be fun."
"Maybe," James said, though whatever spark of trouble he'd had working for him seemed to be losing the glow the more he thought about things. Or over thought about things.
"Don't lose that train of thought," Nate said. "You always come up with fun stuff." Nate turned toward Billy. "When I told Dad I wanted to do something fun, James came up with ziplining and we spent all day for my birthday zipping through trees forty feet in the air. He always comes up with fun things."
"Adrenaline junkie," Kate teased, though she'd been along for many of the little adventures like that growing up.
"Like you're not?" Nate challenged, though it looked like the moment was lost on James as he seemed to slip back into his fog once Kate and Nate were halfway okay and James was trying to figure out what they could do that wouldn't put them in Viper's crosshairs.
Billy's smile slipped as he watched the change in James happen right in front of him until James was once again looking somber as he stared at his coffee, entirely in his own little world. All the way up until another kid - this one closer to ten - came over to them and tapped James on the arm. James turned toward her and she looked like she wasn't entirely sure of herself suddenly … but she pushed through.
"Hello. You're Wolverine. Hi. I love you guys. Oh! I'm Greta," she said, gaining her voice the more she spoke. "Um …you look like you need a hug, so I wanted to give you one. Can I hug you?" she asked, looking hopeful. "I give really really really good hugs."
James looked past her to where her best friends were huddled together, giggling and staring, and for a second, he wasn't sure what to say or how to move forward. Until he heard one of her friends being catty, hoping he wouldn't hug her.
Nate and Billy both were just looking for an excuse on James' behalf when James turned his body toward her and nodded, giving her the opening to hesitantly step in and hug him. And surprising everyone, James wrapped the girl up warmly and held on until she started to let go first. When she stepped back a little she looked surprised, grinning broadly.
"Thanks. You're right. I did need that," James told her, though she couldn't stop smiling at him as she stared among the group of young X-Men. And James was enjoying the shocked expressions on her friend's faces.
"You're really a good hugger," she said, blushing.
"You too," James replied with a crooked smirk, already planning on looking for her the next time he and Billy were wandering the streets of Genosha. "Nice to meet you, Greta."
She was smiling hard enough to break her face, but had no idea what to say, but James wasn't about to rush her. Her mother called out to her twice before the spell was broken and she bounded off, giggling all the way.
"So hot," Billy repeated just loud enough for James to hear though Kate read his lips just as easily as Nate heard his projected thoughts on the situation.
"You're nuts," James told him with a little wave.
"Maybe, but at least I can talk to my therapist."
James gave him a dry look at the blatant attempt to goad him into talking. "I tried that once, didn't like it."
"I thought you'd been talking to Craig for the last year … and the rabbi before that," Nate said, frowning at his brother, who shifted in his seat. "Once?"
"Pretty sure you need to talk to them worse than I do," James said to Nate.
"Okay, we're not going to play that game," Kate said before it could go too far south. "Everyone can talk when they're ready to talk."
"I know, I just had to take the tease," Billy defended, then offered James his hand as they finally got up to leave. He was half concerned that James might not go along with it, but there was no hesitation … and a lot of eyes on them in the cafe.
Nate took the opportunity to peek … and had to keep from grinning when he heard the tenor of approval around them. Most of Genosha was enjoying the newly found freedoms, and they had always liked Billy. The positive press on the X-Men and James' good press with Stark Industries on top of that had cemented his status with most of those around them as purely positive. And those that had been on the fence had been swayed by how he'd handled the kids in the cafe. So it was no surprise that most of them were happy to see the prince enjoying the chance to explore his freedom as well.
And while Nate knew that didn't mean the whole island was on board, he also knew that even this little bit of positivity would carry. Word would spread. And the little bit of concern anyone had over James' appearance seemed to be leaning in the direction of thinking that James had gotten roughed up keeping Billy safe. Imaginations were wild on what could have hurt him like that - or who it was that was drawing down Wanda's wrath for screwing with her crown prince.
As for as lost as Nate would have happily been soaking up the good vibes toward his brother, even more prevalent than that was how excited the people were to celebrate Billy and Tommy's coming of age party … the next day.
"Oh, hey, Billy," Nate said as they got moving. "When were you going to tell us about the big public party for you and your brother that's supposed to happen tomorrow?"
James stopped and turned toward Billy looking entirely off guard, and Billy stammered. "I … thought it wasn't going forward?" Nate crossed his arms and James raised an eyebrow at the attempt at a lie. "I don't know. I'm not really thrilled about it. I'm not looking forward to being on a big stage even for a minute knowing that there might be some hidden trigger or phrase word…"
"Hey," James said, drawing his attention back. "... we've got your back. I'll be right there."
"Me too," Kate said, nodding. "Or … as close as we're allowed."
"I'm sure Mom will have a plan," Billy said, though he was blushing lightly at how James had switched so thoroughly to protective at a word.
"Gotta make headlines, don't you?" Natasha said to James and Billy before dropping a newspaper in front of them the morning after Billy and Tommy's big birthday gala on Genosha.
"He is the crown prince," James said dryly, his hair sticking up in points as he leaned on his crossed arms. "That's bound to happen."
"I meant you," Natasha said. "All the tabloids are going nuts. They're going to swamp you."
"I'll bite a few of them. They'll go away," James said in a yawn, which had Billy smirking into his coffee.
"If only it were that easy," Natasha said, shaking her head.
"I didn't even do anything," James said. "I just showed up. Like so many other people."
"Yes, but you were seen the day before overly involved in public," Natasha pointed out, dropping another newspaper on top of the first that showed not only a photo of the twins from their birthday celebration, but of James and Billy kissing at the cafe. "You know better."
James frowned at Natasha, openly ignoring the paper. "Tetushka pauk," James said in the same thick dialect that Natasha used - the one that always got her to lose her angry edge with him. "It was just a kiss. With a guy I've been seeing for over a year. It's not like they caught me in the middle of a hook up with a stranger."
"Yes, but the timing-"
"Good morning," Wanda sang out as she came into the room, beaming with a bright smile and clearly in high spirits. "How are all my boys this morning?" she asked as she pushed Natasha aside and slipped between Billy and James to kiss both of them on the cheek. James tensed up, but didn't pull away from her, even when she put an arm around both of them to give them a little squeeze.
"Hi, Mom," Billy said, smiling as he shifted the papers so she could see them. "Natasha is giving us a security briefing. Or something."
"Something is more like it," James said, though Wanda went ahead and picked up the papers to look over the headlines, the photos, the articles and the bigger spread of photos inside. She didn't say anything for a long moment as she read all of it, then took the stack of them to pull up a seat next to Billy to continue reading, though she never quite lost her smile.
"This is going to be a problem," Natasha said, her tone once again businesslike.
"You two," Wanda started to say, and Natasha tipped her chin up waiting for Wanda to back her up. "You look so handsome together." She looked up with a smile as she pushed a photo toward Billy. "This one caught both of your good sides."
"Neither of us has a bad side," Billy said, smiling brightly again when he had his mom backing him up and building them both up.
"This is true, but look at the way you two are looking at each other," Wanda said. "As if you weren't on stage in front of the whole world."
James frowned at both of them, then looked over to see the picture in question. "We're not even looking at each other."
"Let me have this," Wanda said in a scandalized tone. "You both look amazing. I'm so glad we had a suit in your size."
"You had it tailored and waiting," James said, wrinkling his nose at Wanda as she smiled wider.
"Yes, well, we wouldn't have had to have it tailored if you hadn't lost so much weight," she countered. "Jan sent it months ago in case you needed it while you were here."
James' shoulders dropped and he blew out a breath. He hadn't known that. But he wasn't about to apologize for his appearance. Not when it wasn't anyone else's problem.
But Billy had his back. "Mom. Come on," he said quietly. "I think he looked good."
"Of course," Wanda said, then kissed his cheek and reached over to gently ruffle James' hair as he watched her. "You both did. I just worry about the big change, that's all."
"You should worry about the massive security issue," Natasha said, in total disbelief that Wanda wasn't chewing them out.
"Oh, please," Wanda said, rolling her eyes. "They have you and Tony and Scott and pretty much everyone still in the business after them all the time about that kind of thing."
"The fact that so many people feel the need to remind them should show how important this is," Natasha said.
"Or it shows how much they need someone to just back them up for being them," Wanda argued. "But if it's so harsh out there, maybe they need to just stay here."
"That is not the play to use right now," Natasha said as James and Billy both decided to lean toward Wanda simply to irritate Natasha.
"I think it might be," Wanda argued, smiling brighter while both of them were playing along. Or at least playing along as much as James could.
"James needs to finish his degrees," Natasha argued.
"Maybe not," James said. "I've been skipping class for weeks now. Probably won't let me finish."
"Then you resubmit at a different school," she said hotly.
"No one would take me after this," he argued. "I'm probably just out."
But that was enough to get Wanda to stop her teasing that had been directed at Natasha. "If that's the case, then they're much less intelligent than anyone could give them credit for," Wanda said, barely restraining herself from running a hand through his hair - and instead, she diverted and shifted her attention to Billy. "I suppose she's right. You'll have to go back and finish up. But … if they really are that stupid, James, you know you have a place here."
"I don't think you really need an overrated cabana boy," James said without missing a beat.
"And I'm sure you'd find more to do than that," Wanda shot back.
"I'm okay with that, though," Billy said, obviously for the tease, but James let out a hollow laugh and took his hand. "You don't need a doctorate to lounge the beach."
"No, but I'd probably drive myself nuts like that," James said.
"So we'll figure something out," Billy said. "You and me." He grinned quietly and lightly squeezed James's hand. "This is my turf. I'll decree you a degree or something. You've already more than earned it anyway," he added, still teasing. "I can float if floating makes it more official."
"Oh, always," Wanda teased.
"See?" Billy tipped his head toward his mom. "We've got you covered."
"Love you too," James said then let his shoulders drop before he took the initiative to steal a very chaste, careful kiss. "Keep your decrees. If I don't earn it, I don't want it - and you're too biased to judge that fairly. Floating or no."
"So bossy," Billy teased, though he was too distracted and pleased by James' push of affection to argue too hard with him.
"If you insist on doing things the hard way when you've already proven yourself a few dozen times over, then I guess it's probably high time you headed back to the States," Wanda said, smiling and sounding perfectly put out.
"You know Tony will fight you for him," Natasha said quietly to Wanda as the boys left to get ready to go.
"Tony's not stupid enough to fight me," Wanda said with a smile, then put her arm around Natasha's shoulders. "But I'm going to do what I can to help you get that boy to open up. As pleased as I am to see them being open in public, you're right - he needs to be careful. Even when he's recovering. For both of their sakes."