Disclaimer: I do not own nor do I make profit off of the Avenger. All rights belong to the MCU and The Walt Disney Company!
amhowe- Thank you so much for the kind words, it really made me happy to see your review and I couldn't stop smiling. I really appreciate you for taking the time out of you life to give me a review. That's not much I can do other than give you this chapter. I wasn't going to put it up until Sunday, but for your kindness I decided to release it a few days early!
It's a Cult
"How are you going to pass the test if you can't even do the homework?"
"How am I going to get you cool behind the scenes superhero information if were not friends?" The line on the other end was silent,
"That's mean." Ned finally mumbles. I roll my eyes and look back down to my paper,
"Please Ned, I really need this." He sighs,
"Alright, the Second Continental Congress" I smile and pencil the answer in and look up to my phone,
"Alright, question 7 what document ended the American Revolutionary War? The declaration of Independence right?" Again Ned sighs and I tuck a loose strand of hair back into my hoody. I find it easier to concentrate with my hair in a bun and a hood pulled up over my ears.
"Can't you just use google?"
"No" I groan, "Aunt May shut off the wifi, because and I quote "I should know this stuff."" I do my best imitation of May,
"You should." I grab the phone from my desk where I had it on speaker,
"Who's side are you on!"
"Yours of course, but the test is on Friday and you can't even do the homework, just read the chapter in the text book." I grumble and pick at a loose thread on my hoody
"I lost my back pack."
"You're bad at that." He's not wrong this is the third time I've had to drop my bag on the streets in favor of Spiderman activities, although this time is more frustrating. I swear I hid it behind a dumpster after I changed I even went back for my phone halfway through my patrol, but when I went back to get it an hour later is was gone.
"I know, my wallet and keys were in there, I'm lucky aunt May left the door unlocked."
"She working again?"
"I wont see her till tomorrow." It's one of my rare nights off and both Mr. Stark and Aunt May are busy. Mr. Stark had something in Hong Kong, with Mr. Rogers and Dr. Banner and aunt May as always is working, and with my patrol done early I have nothing to do...well homework, yay that needs to get done tonight.
"Wanna come over for dinner it's chicken and dumplings night," I smile when a shiver runs up my spin. I swallow and keep my head down at my desk, "Penny?"
"Rain check Ned, I have to go to the bathroom, I'll call you later." I hang up the phone and stand up heading for the bathroom. With aunt May out of the house I have my suit hanging up in the shower. I had rinsed of some of the extra dirt and had it drying. I shut the door and quickly change, throwing my hoody and sweatpants on the floor. I creep over to the window and draw the curtains back before sliding it open and checking to make sure no one is watching. Lucky for me, this high up no one ever is. I crawl out using the pads of my fingers to stick to the brick and crawl to the edge of the building. I peak around the corner and sure enough someone is standing on the fire escape, the one that looks directly into my room. This person's had a perfect view of my back while I was sitting at my desk, they're going to regret that. I pear closer, the person at my window is short, short but buff and when I really squint, in the dark he looks like's he's wearing a jump suit with a helmet or something...who is this,
"Hello Penny" Karen rings in my ear, the figure turns in my direction, I quickly retreat pressing my back into the brick,
"Theirs no way he heard that right Karen!?"
"Any person of normal hearing capabilities can not hear me."
"Normal?" I turn placing my hands and knees on the building and slowing peer out again, the person is staring straight at me now. Great.
"Hey Bub, I gotta talk to you." I roll over onto my back,
"Shit, Karen." A shock reverberates up my spin, "Ouch, Karen what the hell?" Another shock,
"Potty mouth protocol in place." I could slam the back of my head into the building, Mr. Stark can swear all he wants but I have a potty mouth protocol? Was that what he was doing with my suit last week?
"Hey Spiderman!" Forget it, I'll be mad about it later. I jump out from around the corner shooting a web under the fire escape and one at the stranger hitting him square in the chest. It's clear he's not expecting it. I pull hard, pulling him off my fire escape and down into the web hammock. He flips and falls on his back with an angry grunt. I jump on to the fire escape and look down at him. He looks around at the sticky web fighting to sit up,
"How'd you find me?"
"What the hell is this stuff?" I put my elbows on the handrail and rest my chin on my hand and wave,
"No I asked first?" The man looks up at me, "We have two hours before the webbing will disintegrate, so lets have a chat. My names Spiderman, my favorite colors are red and blue of course, I like long walks on the beach and of course privacy which you have violated by coming to my humble abode so I'll ask again, how did you find me?" The man grunts and struggles harder, "You're just going to tire yourself out ya know."
"AHHHHHHH" The mad grunts and suddenly knives spring from his knuckles and he starts slicing into the webbing...bu..but that's impossible, nothing is suppose to be able to pierce my webs, let alone knives from some mans knuckles.
"What the hell are you?" My suit shocks me again, "Karen stop it!" The man slices away the last of my web and grabs onto the fire escape and pulls himself up,
"I wanted to talk to you nicely, but I'm not feeling so nice now." His voice is gruff, as if he's spent a lifetime smoking, by the look of his five o'clock shadow and permanent frown he looks like he could be the type,
"You came to my home, what makes you think I would talk to you nicely?" He grunts,
"You've given me no choice," He reaches for his mask, by the sounds of it, it seems he has an ear pace ready to call for help. I send another wed his way affixing his hand to the side of his head.
"Gaaaaa," He sounds like an angry animal, "I'm goanna need backup!"
"You're going to need a lot more than that." Suddenly I have pull away from the handrail, "Why's that suddenly cold?" I look down, "Is this ice? It's like 65 degrees."
"Get the kid Iceman?" The angry man shouts, trying to pull his hand away from his ear,
"Iceman? Sounds like a name you give to someone who's specialty is breaking kneecaps." Suddenly the whole metal plate form under my feet freezes and with it, my shoes, "what the ….hhhhhhhhalibut."
"Hey you're kinda right," A different voice calls, this one sounds much younger and without prying my shoes off the frozen fire escape I pear over the edge and see...an ice sculpture? "Don't cross the X-Men otherwise the Iceman will break your kneecaps." The ice sculpture laughs and I realize it's a boy, he seems my age but then again I can't really tell when he's made of pure ice?!
"Bobby!" The gruff man yells,
"Sorry." He holds his hand out as a beam of pure ice shoots out from underneath his feet leading all the way to the railing. I lean back and watch as he almost magically surfs his way up to my floor. Who are these people? Up close he's almost see through...what's going on?
"What are you?" He smiles,
"I'm Bobby, I'm an X-Man, and the professor really wants to talk to you." Oh my god, it's a cult. I nod my head,
"Okay, I'm hearing you and-" I shoot a web straight into his face, blocking both his eyes and ears,
"Hey" Taking a breath I use ever ounce of strength I have and break the ice around my feet, "Is you're body making this stuff?" Bobby..or Iceman starts ripping at the webbing, he's made of pure ice so he'll be able to freeze it and break it apart. So with the small amount of time I have I look over the railing at gruff man and salute,
"Catch me if you can cult leader!" I turn shooting a web to the apartment building next store and swing, I need to lead these people away. Quickly I shoot another web this one to the convenience store across the street, then another on to the Stark Industries billboard,
"Spiderman?" Someone asks inside my brain...thats not Karen,
"What?" I lose my momentum. I throw a web out, but it's too late and I crash straight into the Dunkin Donuts dumpster, I groan, taking in my surroundings for just a second. Mmmmmmm stale donuts and coffee. I sit up and roll out of the trash and onto the street, "That hurt." I mumble to myself,
"I'm sorry," I turn quickly. A women with red hair and dressed in a yellow and black leather jumpsuit stands in front of me...Yup cult. "I didn't mean for that to happen but we really have to talk, My name is Jean Grey and I've come here to help you." I hold out my hand,
"Look man, I'm sure your "Professor"" I hold up my fingers to use quotation marks, "Is really cool and going to take you fun places like the moon, but I don't wanna talk to him, I already have a god, his name is Thor and I have no money. In fact if I had money I'd buy a tracer for my backpack, but I don't so, I think it would be best if you left now." The women, tilts her head,
"I think you're confused."
"Nope, perfectly sane, thank you. I don't want to go anywhere with you and your friends." I look up ready to shoot a web, when the voice comes back,
"I'm just like you." I throw my hands over my ears,
"Stop that!" I turn back to the women and shout, "What are you?"
"I'm a mutant," This time she uses her mouth, "Just like you." I lift my brows up, of course she can't see that,
"Like me...what..What's a Mutant?" She smiles,
"It's what you are?" I am so confused,
"Listen to her Spiderman." Another person walks up right next to red head, he's in the same yellow and back uniform but he's got a whole fancy headpiece complete with red glowing googles.
"How many of you are there?" This one steps forward,
"We wanna talk Spiderman, help you out, bring you to our school so the professor can have a talk with you." Oh my god their going to kidnap and brainwash me.
"Okay, okay...that sounds cool...Is he nice?"
"Yes, he's very kind." I nod,
"Alright I'll go with you." Goggles smiles and holds out his hand,
"If you come with us I'll take you to our jet." This cults got a Jet? I step closer holding my own hand out,
"SIKE" I shoot webbing over this guy's weird red googles and then right over reds mouth and run. I run faster and faster gaining enough speed to shoot out a web and swing. My goal is to get farther into the city. Avengers tower is shut down for the night, but if I can get in I can hunker down in there until Mr. Stark gets home tomorrow morning and then ask him for help before aunt May gets off at her shift at the hospital. Yup, I can swing all the way there, I've done it before,
"Hey can we talk?" I almost miss my next web, when a man with literal wings starts flying right next to me. I recover quickly, I'm not falling into another dumpster tonight.
"Ummm no?" I have no idea why it comes out like a question, but I look for a quick escape,
"My names Warren, codename Angle, I promise all we really want to do is talk to you." I find my out. The car parts factory. I could lose this bird-man in there.
"I don't want to talk to you," I grip my web and swing myself to the left aiming for the window and fling myself feet first. I land on shaky feet, being chased all night by a cult is really starting to scare me. I turn looking out the window. Bird-man hoovers in the air for a second before flying back in the direction we've just come from. Good maybe now they'll get the hint.
"Karen can you reach My. Stark"
"Mr. Stark currently has the do not disturb protocol in place, unless you are injured or in danger I can not reach him." If Karen was a person, I'd punch her. The amount of times she's contacted Mr. Stark when I've asked her not to and now she refuses,
"What the hell do you call those people dangerously chasing me, KAREN!" The shock hits my body hard, "KAREN!" I push my back to the wall and slide down, hitting the floor hard. I gulp in air quickly forcing my anger to leech out of my body. For a few minutes we sit in silence,
"Your heart rate has digressed to a resting pace." Karen speaks. Fancy way to say I've calmed down,
"Karen is their anyone I can call?" I'm desperate, and when I hear voices outside of the empty factory I peak out just enough to look onto the street and there they are. Googles, Red, Gruff, Kneecaps, and Bird-man. I turn kneeling under the window again, "Karen!" I whisper out harshly,
"Mr. Stark has programed all the Avengers contacts into my coding, who do you wish to call?"
"Do you know who's closer?" I peek out again, this time they're gone. There's a loud crash and I can feel the floor shake under my feet. They're inside,
"Based on cellphone data, the closest to your current location are Sergeant Barnes and Wilson." I can hear voices on the floor below ours,
"Are you saying their together?"
"Both men are at Buffalo Wild Wings."
"What?" I hiss to no one, since when are those two hanging out,
"Would you like me to call one."
"SPIDERMAN!" I turn to gruff, who stands at the end of the hall, "I want to TALK TO YOU!" I jump to my feet and start running the other way,
"CALL MR. WILSON!" I shout at Karen, turning down one of the abandon halls, I find a door and fling it open. It a stairwell,
"Dialing Sergeant Samuel Wilson." I start running down, listening to the ringing, if he doesn't pick up I'll find a way out of here and run to that Buffalo Wild Wings, I swear it.
"Hello?" Mr. Wilson picks up,
"Oh Thank Thor."
"I hate when you say that."
"I need help!" I stop, there are footsteps sounds right underneath and above me, they're trapping me. I look around, theirs a door another flight down, I just have to beat them to it,
"It's Penny... What do you mean you need help?"
"There's this cult chasing me!" I take the steps two at a time, "They're dressed in these weird yellow and black uniforms and they keep telling me they want to talk and take me to the professor." I reach the door, just as goggles appears. I fling it open and run, "Also I'm really happy that you and Mr. Barnes are working out your problems, I think it's important to form bonds and friendships." A beam of ice shoots out right next to me as I run.
"How'd did you-You know what I don't want to know, where are you? She says a cults chasing her...a cult...it's like a group of people that follow someone blindly, they'll do whatever it takes to please that person...No, not exactly like the Wizard of Oz...yay kind of like Hitler, you know I forget you're from the 40's." I'd make a joke if I wasn't being chased,
"Hey me again!" Iceman waves. I running hard while he just glides next to me "I really like you're webs, but we really need to talk to you, so if you could like, stop running that'd be great, you're making Wolverine cranky."
"Karen, send location." I turn back to Iceman, "You seem really cool kneecaps, when you get out of your cult call me." I shoot a web down the hall flinging myself forward just enough to outpace Iceman. I find a door and break through it before turning around and locking it...that won't keep them out. I turn looking inside the room, this must have been a managers office. On the other side opposite the door is a large window, overseeing the main floor of the factory down below,
"How many are there?" Mr. Wilson asks on the other line,
"Five, and they all have codenames." There's a pounding on the door, "No ones home?" A red beam breaks through the door shattering the glass, sending small bits everywhere, on the other side is goggles, "Did that come from your eyes!?" Who are these people?
"We're on our way Penny, Karens sending your coordinates so where ever you go we can still find you, just keep running...wait, did you pay...I didn't pay...we can never go back there."
"Listen, please stop running. All we want to do it talk." I turn to where the glass use to be, now giant hole "please don't." I jump. It's a good fall and I hit the floor hard, rolling to keep the impact off my knees. Wow I'm tired. I jump back to my feet and look around finding the broken in door. I run,
"I'm running!" I tell Mr. Wilson on the other end, I'm almost at the door, "I'm heading down-" BAM.
...
I open my eyes and groan, there's an awful pounding in my head that seems to keep pace with the beating off my heart. Uggg I need and aspirin. I reach up pushing my palm into the side of my head and sit up,
"Does it hurt?" I spin quickly towards the voice sending a dizzy wave through my head. A boy sits in front of me, with brown hair and blue eyes, he looks like he's around my age.
"Huh?" He points to the side of his head,
"Your head, does it hurt?" I nod, I recognize his voice,
"Kneecaps?" He smiles and sits up straighter,
"That's me."
"His name's Bobby, codenamed Iceman" Another voice joins.
"Scotttttttt" Kneecaps turned Bobby whines. I turn realizing that the whole gang is here...the whole crazy cult gang, yay. I take a better look at the surrounds realizing we're in a plane of some sort, it reminds me a of the Quin jet, but less Stark Fancy. I've been laying down in the very back on what looks like one wide sets of seats and the other's are all sitting in chairs. There seems to be three rows of two chairs including the pilot and co-pilot, and at the reins is Gruff, although he's got his mask pulled down..huh mutton chops, never thought I would see someone sporting that style in my lifetime. I reach for my own mask, it's still there,
"I'm sorry about this, we really had no intention of handling things this way." Red head turns around, her voice is apologetic and her face is soft, but that doesn't mean her intentions are okay and I gesture to the plan around us,
"You mean kidnapping?" Her lips tune down in a frown and she looks to the pilots spot, before turning back,
"Well yes." Bobby leans all the way out of his seat,
"Are you okay Wolverine hit you really hard." I look to the pilots seat, because the only person in this whole stupid plane that could be Wolverine is Gruff,
"You hit me?"
"I told you we needed to talk, you ran, I knocked you out and dragged you onto this plane." He explains,
"Thats the worst story ever."
"Next time you'll listen to me won't you." I close my eyes, trying to process all of this. When I open them, all eyes except for the front seats are on me. Bobby, Red, and Bird-man watch me carefully. I hold out my hand,
"Okay let me get this straight, you come to my home, the place where I'm suppose to feel safe and tell me you want to talk to me. I tell you no and leave, but you chase me, hit me to unconsciousness and drag me onto your jet and are probably taking me to the this professor guy, even though I said no and it was very clear that no consent was given. Is that correct?" No one speaks, Finally Bobby turns to the others,
"Oh my god guys we deserve to go to jail."
"Bobby!" Red shouts,
"Well we do Jean, listen to that!" He points at me before completely turning to face me, "I am so sorry Spider-Man, please do not judge me on the actions of these people, I'm only a Junior X-Man and therefor I have to listen to these criminals,"
"Bobby are you sealing us out?" Googles turns his seat around, Bobby shrugs,
"He works with the Avengers, I've seen the news!" He looks at me excitement in his eyes, "You work with the Avengers right?" Mr. Wilson and Mr. Barnes. I smile and rest my head back, their tracing me, they'll find me, these people have no idea what their getting themselves into,
"The Avengers?" I nod, "Pretty cool people can't wait to tell them you've kidnapped me. Karen baby monitor protocol is in place right?"
"Yes." I smile. Bobby frowns
"What?"
"Theirs a computer in my suit, it's constantly recording, I can view it at anytime I'd like, so can the guy who designed the suit. Karen send all recordings to Mr. Stark." Bobby's mouth drops, what he doesn't know is that Mr. Stark has his own protocols in place as not to be disturbed unless I'm injured or in danger and apparently this isn't danger, but once he turns his protocols off I have no doubt he'll take a look just because I've peeked his curiosity,
"Mr...Tony Freaking Stark? Iron Man!"
"Iron Man." I confirm
"Iron Man ain't looking at you're recordings." Gruff grumbles, he's kept his back to towards me this whole time,
"Sure is." I lie,
"I have no doubt in my mind that if you were as important to Iron Man as you make it sound he would be hacking our frequency's right now and or flying up next to us. So one he doesn't care, or two he's too busy to look." I hate this man, I've decided it right here, right now.
"He's in Hong Kong, with Steve Rogers and Bruce Banner." I grumble crossing my arms,
"You know Captain America and the Hulk?" Bobby gasps, this guy is easy to impress, "What about Hawkeye? He's my favorite." I sit up,
"Mr. Barton's you're favorite..really?" Ive never had a conversation with anyone who's picked Mr. Barton as their favorite Avenger...I can't wait to tell him!
"Ya, I mean think about it, he's got no powers, yet he can hold his own with Earths mightiest heroes, with just a bow and arrow, thats amazing!" I shrug,
"You're right."
"Falcon is my favorite" Bird-man adds,
"No one cares Warren."
"Bobby!" Red yells again. I have a feeling she does that often. Bobby shrugs,
"Listen," I stand, "I'll talk to this professor guy, okay" This captures all of their attentions, "However once the conversation is over, I get to leave. I'll play you're game that you've given me no choice in but to play, and once I get to the end, you let me go, no questions no hesitations, sound fair." Goggles nods,
"Thats all we wanted in the first place Spider-Man"
"Yes, but you didn't give me a choice Goggles, you literally made me come with you."
"Goggles?" I nod,
"And also how did you find out where I live?" All without taking his eyes off the sky, Wolverine reaches underneath him, pulls something out from under his seat and throws it in my direction, it lands at my feet
"My backpack?" I quickly gather it in my arms and unzip it looking inside,
"Every things still inside." Wolverine grumbles, My textbook, my sweat shirt, my binder, my wallet, my keys, everything is all here.
"How did you get this!?"
"I took it when you came back for it, tracked your scent back to your place." I grab my wallet and open it. I've always kept my school ID in a hidden pocket in the back, simply because I hated the picture. It's from Freshman year, when I had a face full of acne, a glare from my glasses and an extra 40 pounds. I reach inside finding it still there. I can only hope these people haven't looked, but judging by the way Bobby called me he, I think I'm safe. I breath of a sigh of relief,
"Wait a minute?" I look in the big pocket, "I'm missing 10 dollars!" I look up meeting everyones eyes, including the back of Wolverines head and goggles...well goggles. I stop when I land on Bobby. He sighs and reaches into a hidden pocket on the side of his thighs,
"I'm sorry." He hands me my money back. I pull it out of his hands and stuff it back in,
"I expected more from you Kneecaps." He hangs his head down,
"I know." Bird-man turns around in his seat,
"And you called us criminals."
…
It turns out the ride back to their weird cult house isn't long, we're flying for about 10ish minutes when we land,
"Were still in New York?" Wolverine flips a couple switches before standing up,
"Where do you think we were going, Alaska?" Everyone stands up, and for a second I contemplate just staying in my seat, but we did make one another promises.
"By your hair do, yeah. Why else grow facial hair like that unless it's to keep warm in cold climates." I state getting to my feet, Wolverine growls...actually growls, but Bobby laughs so I consider this a win.
"Get off the jet!" Wolverine demands. I sigh and and follow the others out, I stop when I see where we've landed. A large mansion is the first thing I see, theirs no way you could miss it, the second thing I notice is grass. Being in Queens the only grass I see is central park and small patches that grow here and there and between the sidewalk.
"What are you looking at?" Bobby comes to stand next to me, I turn towards him, he's taller than me.
"The grass." Bobby raises his eyebrows,
"What about it?"
"It's everywhere, where are we?"
"Xavier Institute, nice isn't it?" It is. The house is beautiful, in fact it almost looks like a castle, all brick with giant columns surrounding the front door. It's dark, but large street lights surround the patch of grass we've landed on...these people have money.
"Yay" I breathe out, Bobby smiles wider,
"Get down here now!" Wolverine shouts, Bobby and I are still standing at the top of the hanger, I turn to Bobby,
"Does he always yell?" Bobby heads down the ramp, I follow closely behind. He nods and sighs,
"Yay, he's in a perpetual bad mood, probably because he can't remember anything?" I halt for a second before continuing to the ground. What does he mean he can't remember anything? When we hit the ground, Wolverine raises the ramp and points to the front doors of the mansion,
"Follow closely and don't think about running bub." I salute and Wolverine grumbles tuning he starts stalking towards the door. I turn the others are waiting for me to follow, so I do. It's crazy but I let these people lead me into their mansion. The outside is just as beautiful as the outside, grand staircase, chandelier, crown molding, wallpaper, mahogany paneling, I can't help but look around as we walk into the house. I don't get to look long, because Wolverine moves fast and before I know it were heading deeper and deeper into the house.
"Is that Spider-Man?" Someone whispers, I turn just now noticing we've passed a large alcove that's lite by what seems like a television, I catch a glimpse, inside are two kids that look about 10 or 11 watching some black and white program,
"Jean." Wolverine growls. I turn watching her break away from the group and sweep the two kids back into the alcove. I tun back around as Wolverine stops and punches a keypad on the wall. Doors open in what appears to be an elevator, Wolverine steps inside and motions for me to follow,
"It's just us on the way down, the others will take the next one." I turn to the others,
"You want me to get into an elevator with animal man and head down to what must be a weird and dingy basement" Bobby shrugs,
"It's not dingy."
"Get in!" Wolverine demands,
"We need to work on your bedside manner sir." He growls again, "what's up with the growling?"
"Get in!" He shouts again time and against my better judgement I find my feet jumping to the elevator. I watch the doors close and wait until were moving down to turn to Wolverine,
"Sooooo why do they call you Wolverine?" With out a seconds beat, three razor sharp blade pop from both hands, I jump back to, hitting the wall and losing my balance, It hit the ground with a thud and the blades retract back into his hands,
"Thats why." I swallow and place my hand on my beating heart,
"Oh, very nice...knives" I breath out, waiting for him to add something when he doesn't I fill the silence, "I'm sticky." This time he looks down at me,
"I hate sticky." I nod,
"Thats fair." The doors open and Wolverine steps out,
"Lets go." I swallow and slowly get to me feet to follow and find that Bobby was right. This basement is not dingy, in fact it almost reminds me of Avengers tower, silver and chrome decorate the walls, ceiling and floor. The halls are lite by long lights that lead down to what seems to be our final destination. At the end of the hallway is a large circular door decorated with an large X that looks as if it was carved out of the metal. When were close enough, the doors open, I stop. Inside the room looks like a giant circle with one long runway leading to a small platform. I peak over the edge of the runway, but I don't see anything, it's almost like it's never ending but thats impossible.
"Kid?" I step away from the edge and look up, Wolverine's halfway to the small platform, I gestures for me to follow him. I take a deep breath and catch up,
"Spider-Man." Another voice greets and I realize theirs another person in the room with us. The voice sounds like it comes from an older man, it's also oddly kind, this must be the professor. Wolverine stops and I realize the man who was speaking is an older bald man in a wheelchair. He's back is towards us but when he turns I can't stop staring at the wheels. Metal X's,
"Stop staring at his wheelchair," Wolverine grumbles in a low voice,
"I can't," I whisper back,
"It's alright Logan," I turn to Wolverine,
"You're names Logan?" His lips pull down into a frown,
"Something wrong with that?" I turn away,
"No, no nothing." I steal another look, when he growls I look away,
"I appreciate you coming to talk with me?" I sigh,
"I really didn't have a choice." Theirs a lot of resentment in my voice, "Your people don't take no for an answer." Again Wolverine growls, this time I growl back,
"Yes I'm very sorry my dear, I do wish they hadn't taken the steps they took, but it was all with great intentions as you can see we've revealed a lot to you tonight." So he knows,
"Dear?" Logan questions, I turn to him and then the professor. I like to think it was a mistake but he smiles softly...wait how did he know?!
"You're among friends I promise." I look between both men,
"How did you-"
"Chuck here reads minds." Reads..minds. Again he smiles and I can't help but think that he looks like a grandpa that whats to take me to a yankees game and feed me hard peppermints from his pockets. He chuckles, crap he heard me think that,
"Let me ask you a question before you worry, do you know what a mutant is?" I look at Logan, thats what red called me, a mutant, I look back towards to the professor,
"No."
"A mutant is a human being that possesses a genetic trait called the X-gene. It causes the mutant to develop superhuman powers that manifest at puberty. I'm a mutant, Logan is a mutant and so are all the people you met tonight. In fact I built this school to harbor those who also share the X-gene." when I think of the word mutant I think of the teenage mutant ninja turtles, planet of the apes, even zombie movies but superheroes, it never crossed my mind,
"This is a school?" The professor nods,
"It is indeed."
"Mutants?" I take a breath, "There isn't a way that people born with a genetic mutation would go unnoticed, yet I and I'm pretty sure most of the population have heard of you."
"Ahh" he nods, "We've kept ourselves hidden throughout the years in fear of prejudice, it isn't in peoples nature to trust what they do not know." He's not wrong,
"History would repeat itself."
"Exactly." Fear in the world has done some ghastly things, hangin women for "being witches," burning people for being protestants, hate crimes of people of color, if it gets out in the world that certain people are now born with a mutation in their DNA giving them superpowers...they say history repeats its self, they're not wrong. I reach up and pull my mask off, looking at this man with full face. I reach up and pull the pins from my hair letting it fall around my shoulders and down my back,
"I understand." The professor lips turn up,
"I know you do."
"But thats not why you brought me here is it?" he shakes his head,
"I've had my own thoughts that you too were a mutant striking out on you're own, but after landing here I know that you are not." I bite my lip,
"How can you tell?" He turns his chair around grabbing something and bringing it to full view. It's a helmet of some sort, large tubes hang out the back. "Thats a nice...hat."
"This my dear child is Cerebro, it allows me to locate mutants. I've had a hard time finding you, but knew of your existence, when you entered the grounds, I used this. I was able to see Logan and my students but you, you are not a mutant." I almost laugh, I do however look up to Logan who's staring hard at me,
"I told you, but did you believe me" I hold my arms out wide gesturing to the room were in, "NOOOOOOOOO, ya didn't." Logan only hardens his eyes,
"Wouldn't be the first time I was wrong tonight, I thought you were a prepubescent boy." I drop my arms,
"Prepubescent?"
"Hey sorry were late, Bobby wanted to stop at the kitchen first and then the elevator wouldn't open, I have a feeling you had something to do with that Professor. Hows Spider-Maaaaaaaa..." Goggles leads the group in front, but stops when I turn around, "Spider-Man?"
"Goggles" I nod. Bobby pushes Goggles out of the way,
"Woah, Spiderman's a chick?"
"Wo-man." I sound out for him, he tilts his head to the side,
"Spider-Man" He sounds out for me, I lean back and cross my arms,
"You'd never expect Spiderman was a female would you?" He looks to my chest, why do all of them look to my chest, "Up here." I use my hands to divert his eye back to my face, "would you?"
"I never would." I smile but it's full of malaise,
"Exactly, helps hide my identity,"
"Which isssss?" I point my finger at him and laugh,
"We're not there yet Kneecaps." Oh my god, I sound like Mr. Stark, I drop my hand, "You can call my Penny, but only when the mask is off, otherwise it's Spider-Man," Goggles steps forward,
"Thats how code names work, Bobby!" He pushes him out of the way, and I remember on the ship, he called him, by his name I think. Goggles holds out his hand,
"I'm Scott, codename Cyclopes." I bite my cheek to keep from laughing and look at his hand for a second before taking it and giving it a firm shake, "I'm sure the professor told you about mutants, I have optic blasts in my eyes, thats I why I wear these." I raise an eyebrow,
"All the time?" He smiles,
"Yes but not these exact ones, my others look like sunglasses so I can go out and not be the center of attention at all times,"
"What kind of technology are they." I clench my hands keeping me from just reaching up and grabbing the goggles myself,
"No technology, ruby quartz."
"Fascinating."
"Spiderman's a geek?" Bobby questions, I turn towards him,
"Nerd, actually."
"This is Jean, she choose the code name Phoenix, but for the most part we just call her Jean. She's a telepath." Great another one, Jean smiles, she really is pretty,
"Hi," I smile and wave, still weary, these people did kidnap me, Scott points to Bird-man,
"And that's-"
"Warren." He strides forward, practically pushing Scott to the side, his hand held out, "Codename Angel." I take his hand, but theirs something familiar about him. His costume doesn't hide his face, allowing me to see every feature, blonde hair, blue eyes, chiseled jar,
"I know you," I pull my hand back,
"You might, my full name is Warren Worthington the third." Scott rolls his eyes and I laugh,
"You're the heir to Worthington Industries." I've seen him before, Mr. Stark hosted a Gala inviting all of the most predominate families in New York, even those he's in competition with. Although Mr. Stark is always in first place. He asked me to attend and although I kept mostly to myself that night I did take note of everyone there. That's where I met Harry for the first time, that Monday he transferred to midtown. Of course the Worthington's were there, how could I forget, they're all absolutely gorgeous, blonde hair, blue eyes, sharp features. The only interaction that night was when he spilled a glass of champagne on me, I remember my exact words,
"Should you be drinking?"
"I'm always drinking."
"Everyone knows Warren," Bobby adds, but I keep my eyes on Warren, theirs no recolonization in his eyes so I continue,
"We met before." This captures his attention and he looks me up and down, but I'm sure in my Spider-Man uniform he won't be able to put the pieces together,
"I think I would have remembered you?" yup, he has the same attitude,
"You spilled champagne on me, even though you're not 21." His eyebrows lift, "Stark Galla, six months ago." this time his eyes seem to recognize me, "Ya, that was me."
"Stark Galla?" Bobby jumps forward between us, "Warren you went to a party hosted by Tony Stark, why didn't you tell me and you-" he spins to face me, "-You are better friends with Iron Man than I originally though aren't you! Do you think he needs another young hero in his life?" I step back, he's too close,
"Did you guys forget I told you I work directly with Iron Man..." I trail off, remembering a very important detail. I wouldn't be surprised if my pupils dilate as I turn to the side and press my finger into my earpiece, "Karen how far are the others?"
"What others?" Scott steps forward, I open my mouth, when a bright red light starts blinking, a loud and terrible alarm keeping in time with the light. It quiets down after a second but the lights keep going. I turn to the professor,
"That's probably for me." Logan steps forward,
"What do you mean, that's probably for you?" He asks, his breath hits my face, again I step back, what is with this people and personal space?
"Did you really think I would let you chase me and not call anyone for backup, please it was five against one!" Bobby jumps up,
"Oh my God is it Iron Man?" I shake my head, "Hawkeye?" Ya and have him leave his farm?Ya right. I shake my head again, "Captain America?" He asks hopeful, I take a breath,
"No," I sigh, "much worst."