Dane squinted through the field glasses. The mansion might as well have been a fortress. All of his earlier reconnaissance had indicated that the security on the grounds and in the building was close to impenetrable. Nothing had changed, at least as far as he could tell. In fact, the feral-looking man in black was roaming over the grounds with increased intensity. Dane had watched as a large black jet had flown back to the school, disappearing over a cliff. He assumed the girl had been on it, as activity around the school was decidedly less frantic than it had been the morning after the botched abduction.
Something on the roof moved. He focused in on it, and was chagrined to spot the man with the duster who had interfered at the club. "Gambit," he muttered. There was a score he'd like to settle. Clearly, his employer had not been surprised at the man's appearance, and Dane wondered why. He had given every indication that the girl was a loner – no friends, an easy target. She would have been, too, had this Gambit fellow not shown up. He watched as the lanky mutant stood and stretched, apparently oblivious to the steep pitch of the roof, then gracefully swung down and back through an open window.
Dane knew he wouldn't be able to breach the mansion's security, at least not without things getting considerably messier than he liked. Going in after the girl was not an option. His odds of snatching her on the grounds were slim as well. He frowned. That meant drawing her out, he knew. He tucked the field glasses back in her pocket and left, the beginning of a plan taking shape in his head.
A/N:
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, we're back, baby! The FNV has ended. Unfortunately, I was unable to spend much time on the story, for reasons that can be better understood over at my livejournal (see above). But here you go -- another twofer. And I managed to outline the next fifteen chapters or so. Not for the squeamish. Expect a rating change by Christmas.
Now for the reviews -- and I think I'm forgetting people, but I'm too tired right now to go back and double-check. Please don't be offended -- I'm working my tail off on the next chapter.
Ning-Ning -- Welcome to the party!
Letanica -- Why, thanks! Seriously, I would have rather been here writing than in FL. Of course, I would have rather had a root canal without Novocain, too, so maybe that's not saying much. But I think you get the point. I, too, spend a lot of night-time hours searching for good x-men stories. And as for conflict…there's all sorts of conflict coming. It's like a smorgasbord of conflict. If only my fingers were faster…
Kuroyuri -- Someday, I'd like to write a book, so thanks for the encouragement. And what can I say. I'm a geek. Love the researching. Love online type research, love dusty-stacks type research, love "calling-the-county-extension-service" type research. If anybody out there knows good sites for x-men background info, feel free to email me the link.
AngieX -- Two reviews! Thank you thank you!