X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall
Chapter One Hundred Eighty Eight
Author's Word: Happy New Year, fam! It's great to be and have you guys back for Rise or Fall 2015. I wish and pray for you all to be healthy (in all areas) and prosperous throughout this year. Let's really make it a good one, fam. Please enjoy and review!
Maneuvering through the thick evening crowd in such a way that his movements could easily pass for organized choreography, the waiter honed in on the intended customers. The red and white dressed man placed the loaded jumbo pie on the center of the circular table. The rich, spicy aromas floated into the nostrils of the seated six.
As they went at the pizza, Sean commented, "Who needs kitchen gas with these kinds of perks?"
"Still," said Kayla, "it'll be good for you kids to have a home-cooked meal again."
"Or what, Kayla?" Sean downed a particularly cheesy glob before going on. "Pizza will stunt our growth? Pretty sure I'm immune."
"Hey," Logan waved a finger the redhead's way, "stunted growth is a major medical condition."
"Yeah." Maya bumped shoulders with Sean, who used the physical contact to caress their heads together.
Eyes set on the smallest of all at the table, Victor rapped knuckles on the wood to make him look up. "Hands where we can see 'em, Mite."
As soon as Cody grudgingly raised the instructed appendages, a pained visage formed on Kayla. "Is it bothering you that badly?"
Logan reminded, "I told you to lay off that scratchin'."
Cody waved his hands with an annoyed moan in his throat. "But they keep pokin' me."
"Pokin?" Logan used a finger to summon his son. "C'mere." Cody stood from his seat and walked around to him, presenting his hands. As if inspecting for a hollow entrance on the other side, Logan tapped at his knuckles lightly then pressed his own fingers to them. "Oh yeah. They're real heavy now; gettin' closer and closer."
Cody made a fist out of one. "I'll be glad when they're out already." He grinned impishly. "Then I can dice straight through the turf. Just like you, Dad."
"Don't be so sure." Logan yanked him down into his lap, giving a noogie to his stomach that produced a resonating giggle within the establishment. "Those suckers'll be on trainin' wheels for a while. Besides that," Logan moved him to sit up, "don't rush 'em out. They'll be here in due time."
"Okay, okay." Hopping up, Cody returned to his own seat.
For the rest of the meal, he had to practically bite the inside of his jaw to keep applying fingernails to knuckles again.
IIIIIII
A pool of yellow radiance brightening the white paper, the ever meticulous pencil wielder moved on to begin the next paragraph.
"Can you really write by that thing?"
Glancing away, Sean paused to stare fondly at the girl in sea foam green pajamas covered mostly by a periwinkle robe. "Found it with the emergency supplies." Sean lifted the lantern by its round top. "If old Tom could write the constitution this way, I figured it was worth a shot. Heck, Hank used to work by bitty candles in the lab whenever Charles got after him about losing so much sleep. Now Kiki keeps him from popping out of bed."
Maya came to stand close to him. "Do you miss the others a lot?"
Facing ahead, Sean leaned his chin against his pad. "Yeah. Even with Charles and Erik keeping in touch with us so much, everything still feels weird. No Frank and Scott goofing off in the tree house, no Alex pushing me around in the weight room, no Hank to have comparative literary discussions with, no Mommy Emma to love me, no Uncle Erik to whack me on the head." He let out a sorrowful sniff and hung his head.
Smiling at the display, Maya then asked, "Would you hate me if I told you something?"
Putting his writing tools to the side, Sean stood to his full height. "Who is he and how better looking is he than me? Scale of one to ten."
"Okay, three things. One, you're crazy. Two, no one even knows how to be better looking than you. Three," Maya stepped forward, twirling slowly under the portion of the moon peering out through the clouds, "I miss them, too, but I have to admit that this has been a real experience. The six of us together." She turned back to him. "I forgot what it's like to belong to a cozy little family."
Sean closed the space between them and gave her his arms. "I think I know what you mean. And I fully admit to being crazy. For you."
Maya anticipating his incoming kiss, but released a squeal when he hoisted her up to his level to deliver it.
IIIIIII
After bending to spit out his thoroughly swished mouthwash, Frank had to act swiftly to keep a purple glass bottle covered in flowers from falling off the counter.
"Geez Becky, you and this girly stuff." Frank placed his toothbrush back in the holder. "It's all over the place."
Becky neatly tucked her face towel away on the rung as she reasoned simply, "I thought men liked their women to be clean and pretty."
"Women, sure," Frank shrugged a shoulder and smirked a little, "but little sisters aren't women."
Becky sneered at him good-naturedly as she departed the hygiene space.
"I don't mind Rebecca's stuff." Scott finished cleaning his glasses and slipped the frames back on his face. "She always leaves it smelling so good in here."
"You would like that." Though Frank himself had to admit that the feminine fragrances went over far better than their boyish body odors.
IIIIIII
With sharpness to his breath as well as the base of his fingers, the boy jolted upright in bed.
"Mama!" Cody beseeched with a distressed strain to his voice. "Daddy!"
The Howletts shot up in bed with the far more mobile Logan detaching from the covers almost instantly.
"Cody," reacted an alarmed Kayla, though she had to rise with caution.
Maya hurried over to switch the panic room's lights on.
From the bed next to Cody's, Sean reached out for him. "Code Man?"
"Son." Logan ran to him.
"Dad, what's going on?" The sharp sensation prevented Cody from so much as attempting to wiggle a finger.
Taking one of the small hands, Logan's blue irises grew at the intense swelling at his son's knuckles.
"Logan, what's happening?" Kayla demanded, coming over.
"They want out, but they're havin' a time of it." Logan started rubbing one backhand in a vigorous but easing motion. "We got to back 'em down."
Kayla walked around to sit on Cody's opposite side and took to massaging his other hand.
Maya came over slowly, easing down beside Sean. She cringed inwardly and Sean squinted at Cody's every pained groan. The teenagers remained quiet, never facing away.
"Is there anything we can do?" Maya wanted to know, desperate to comfort the little boy in some way.
"Go get the aspirins," Kayla directed.
"No!" Logan shot down before Sean could even rise to carry out the command.
Kayla eyed him disbelievingly. "Logan!"
"If he doesn't get used to this pain, he'll never be able to take it," Logan explained as calmly as he could, majority attention on their son.
Breathing through his nostrils as it somewhat subsided, Cody faced upward at his mother. "I'm okay, Mama. Really. It's better now. It just caught me by surprise. I didn't mean to wake you up."
"Don't you worry about that." Kayla brushed his hair away from his forehead and kissed the spot. "Relax now. I'll tell you a story."
Cody nestled against her with one arm going over her large stomach.
Logan ruffled the boy's hair. "I'll grab you a glass of water."
When the man stood to go, Maya scuttled after him.
"Wolverine," she spoke once they got into the hall, making him pause to look back at her heavily vexed countenance, "why is it hurting him so badly? That doesn't happen to you."
Logan extended the claws in his right hand. "I've had more field time with these things. As for why it's hurtin', imagine a wisdom tooth comin' in. Right through your hands."
Maya appeared internally ill at the mere mental image.
IIIIIII
On his return to Eye Spy, the security man stopped in the doorway at the tall teenager standing over the monitors with hands tucked into his pocket.
"Fillin' in for me, kid?"
Sean turned to him. "I was waiting on you."
"Just checkin' in on the Mite," Victor stepped inside his work space, "heard he had a rough night." He positioned his head so that his focus remained entirely on the youth before him. "What do you need, copper top?"
"I was wondering if you had time to take me on for a few one on one training sessions," Sean put forth. "Specifically hand to hand and firearms."
An eyebrow on Victor raised ever so slightly. "What brought this on?"
"Too much has happened to the X-Men. I want to be ready if another threat comes our way."
Victor remained unconvinced. "And you're sure that's all there is to it?"
Sean's placid countenance instantly dissolved. "If you don't want to work with me, you don't have to. I just don't want to bug Wolverine because he's busy with his family. I can wait for Erik to come home. It's not like I need you."
Before the teen could even begin to storm, Victor extended his arm horizontally to prevent his heated steps. "Mind if I get a word in here?" Sean's response consisted of glancing up with arms folded. Victor gazed back at him evenly. "If you want me to take you on, I'm all for it. Just remember, guys that go lookin' for trouble usually wind up findin' some."
Sean nodded understandingly. "Thanks, Vic."
"And one more thing," Victor continued blocking his passage, giving the boy a particular look now, "what would Erik do if you ran off at the mouth with him? Ya know, like you just did with me."
A large degree of discomfort billowed up inside the redhead. "It would involve either vinegar or a belt. Maybe both." Sean flashed blue eyes the older male's way. "I'm sorry, Vic."
Victor finally lowered his arm. "We start at noon today. Meet me on the range."
"Yes, sir," Sean replied resolutely.
IIIIIII
Dressed in a casual day outfit of black slacks and a pale blue dress shirt, Charles sat on the edge of the bed to get his shoes on. Loafers in place, his gaze fluttered over to the one applying cosmetics at the vanity. With a wide smile, Charles walked up and hugged her closely from behind.
"Charles," Emma batted at him half-heartedly as he smooched her cheek, "my rouge."
"Tastes quite decadent." After another kiss, Charles lingered holding her as he asked, "Ready to go?" He realized her melancholy countenance in the mirror. Darling?
Moving on the bench so that she now faced him, Emma ensured their eye contact before speaking. "Why did you marry?"
An incredulous breath echoed off at the man. "What? You already know the reason. Because I love you."
She tugged at his shirt collar. "Why do you love me?"
"You mean besides your beauty, charm, and wit?" Charles inched in, bringing their faces together. "You and I are two halves initially on taken on entirely different paths, leading us here to this life together. I couldn't imagine sharing my life with anyone else. You're a kind, warm, sensible wife- at least until this moment when you began asking me such insane questions." He fully faced her again. "What brought this on, Emma?"
She played in his hair. "I can't stop thinking about my parents. Wondering how something that started off so wonderful and full of hope ended in this sorrow."
Charles grasped her hands, kissing the backs of them. "It's terrible what led your mother to this and the sorrow that's left with your father, whether he admits to it or not. But baby," Charles got up to join her on the bench, his arm winding around her, "we will never be your parents. We will never be my mother and stepfather."
Emma embraced him strongly. "I love you, sugar."
Charles left his lips lingering at her hairline.
The sounds of wheels against carpet proceeded the arrival of Joey and Brian in the room, the latter being rolled inside by the former.
"We're ready to go," Joey announced.
"Oh sweetheart," Emma stood, positively oozing over her baby's blue and white outfit. "Did you dress him in this?"
"He wet the one you put on him, Mum," Joey explained then tugged on his own shoulder. "Now we're both dressed like Dad."
"Ah yes, we Xavier men three." With a hearty chuckle in his chest, Charles got up to peer in at Brian who yawned at him. "Bored already? Has your brother been telling you wretched museum stories?"
"Nope," Joey shook his head, "I can't wait to get there. It's going to be great."
Charles smiled at him. "I've never seen you so excited to visit the art museum."
Emma informed, "Daddy mentioned something about a nice children's exhibit they have."
"Yeah," Joey said with a small sparkle about his eyes. "Me and Cordy will be there while you grownups look at all the boring smart people art."
"I don't know, dear," Emma started pushing out Brian's stroller. "I'm sure your brother will want to stay close to you, so I'll be forced into the fun exhibit with you."
"Well wait," Charles nearly sulked, going after them, "I want to see it as well."
Joey smiled and latched hands with his father.
IIIIIII
"Cannonball!" Frank's aerial somersault landed him in the water with an intense splash.
"Surf's up!" Alex bellowed at the top of his lungs as he took a sideways leap.
Taking several seconds to think of one, Leon let off a wry, "Far out, hip cats," and jumped in with arms out and palms together.
"Whoooooo!" Frank flopped in with fists pumped high.
Becky squatted at the stream, extending his glasses to him. "Here you go."
Scott swam to her to put the shades back on. "Thanks, Rebecca." He then reacted to the rush of water from behind. "Hey!"
"On your tail, squirt," Alex taunted.
"I'll show you a squirt." Scott unleashed two arms worth of watery retaliation at him.
"Whoa!" Frank waved around. "Who's got my leg?"
Peering down, Leon discovered, "Apparently, we're in shark territory."
Brown haired head rising out of the water, Erik seemed as if undisturbed by his seconds without oxygen. "Fortunately for you all, I've already eaten."
Frank shark bit his shoulder then made a face. "Ugh, old man tastes lousy."
"Come here, young man." Erik grabbed onto him, pulling him close.
When Leon held onto his back, Erik had no problem spinning about with the both of them attached.
Ready to combat Scott again, Alex found himself suddenly blocked by an oddly pink and purples barricade. "Hey!" He responded to the giggling from shore. "Bad little sis!"
Becky danced from foot to foot, waving at him like a little nymph.
Scott laughed hard, his gaze and contentment floating the girl's way.
IIIIIII
Tiny wet nose twitching, the rabbit roosting on top a crate acted as sole audience member to the struggling but determined guitarist.
Growling at another shooting throb within his hands, it took Joey's strength and sensibility to keep from smashing the instrument in his hand.
Kayla entered the panic room with a sympathetic countenance in place as she approached her son. "Trying to serenade Bounty?" She offered the animal a gentle stroke and touched the boy's hair with her other hand.
"And failin'," Cody grumbled. "This is the pits, Ma. My hands are bein' too stupid for me to do anything fun."
"I know it feels that way, but we have to try to be patient when new mutations appear. Even if it is terribly trying of our patience." Kayla took the guitar from his grasp. "The others are heading to the range. Why don't you go watch?"
"'Kay, Ma." Cody slid out of his chair and started out.
Kayla gathered Bounty to place the ball of soft fur safely back into his hatch.
II
Smile ever building on her face as she watched her boyfriend don his eye and ear protection, Maya asked, "So who are you aiming for?"
Adjusting his goggles, Sean turned to face the Styrofoam targets. "Demons. Mostly the kind that walk around in pretty faces."
Logan reacted to the abrupt pounding on the range door. "Who is it?"
The familiar voice piped up, "Give ya ten guesses and you still won't get it right."
Victor opened the door for him. "Incomin' Mighty Mite."
Cody strolled up to his father. "Why would Ma be in here? She's havin' a baby you know. Think you'd remember that since you put it in there."
Maya used her hair to shield her facial reaction while Sean sniggered into his shoulder. Victor regarded his nephew with a small smirk.
"And you'd think I'd have learned by now after puttin' you in there." Logan gave Cody a lighthearted shove to the chest and the boy made a show of stumbling into a chair. "Park it. You're watch-and-see until further notice. How're they feelin' now, anyway?"
Cody flashed his hands briefly before folding them behind his head. "I'm cool, Dad. Almost ready to start slicin'."
Logan messed his hair with a fond, "My boy," then returned his attention to the teenage X-Men.
"Grip firm; this ain't the place for sweaty palms," Victor directed. "Finger off that trigger unless you ready and willin' to take out what or whoever's in front of ya."
Ah, so common sense… Verbally Sean responded, "Yes, sir." He took hold of the grip in a vice lock and raised it so that the barrel pointed directly with the inanimate target.
Logan started the pair off with, "Give me three rounds. Heart attack."
They began firing at the center of the targets.
Watching with one knee upraised and the other dangling about an inch off the floor, Cody squinted as he experienced the sharp slithering motions taking place from his wrists down. He attempted to rub at them, but both appendages proved too sore and stiff to perform the function. Attempting to suck in his breath, Cody quivered in place for nearly a full minute before finally fleeing the room rapidly.
Automatically reacting to his son moving so much as a muscle during gun training, Logan looked to see his abrupt departure. "Cat!" He took off after the child. Finding him at the end of the hall on the floor, Logan dropped to the boy's side. "Cody…"
Clutching his wrist, Cody hitched his air as he attempted to speak. "D-Dad, it- ahhh!"
At the bellow that seemed to burst through the entire mansion, Kayla arrived ahead of the others.
"Cody!"
Raising his own hand, Logan commanded, "Stay back!"
Victor stood forward to keep Maya and Sean at bay as well.
Cody groaned in a near howl as the three bones protruded through his knuckles. He hardly had time to take the sight and sensation in as the exact same thing took place with his left hand.
Kayla felt a lump in her throat at her child's agony. "Baby…"
"Ma, Dad, I…" Cody's shoulders shook, guiltless brown eyes shining his father's way. "Why's it hurt so bad? Why?"
Logan's arms wounded around him in an instant. "It's okay, son. It's gonna be okay."
Lowering to one knee, Victor took one of the small hands for closer observation and experienced an inward swell. "Perfect. Completely perfect."
IIIIIII
Palms together and raised high towards the florescent lights, the adult set practically doubled the child's in length as well as thickness.
"How come they're not as long as yours?" Cody wondered.
"Same reason you ain't as long as me." Back pressed against the wall, Logan held Cody with both males' arms stretched out on one cot. He hovered his nose above the boy's hair, taking in his scent. "Got to give it time, Cat-Cat." He lowered his hand in order to bring both arms around his child. "Should've told me you were hurtin'."
Cody touched fingers to the hard forearms. "I ain't want you to think I was some pansy who couldn't take it."
Logan blew a dismissive breath. "If you're a pansy, I'm a whole field of the suckers. When my claws started comin' in I had tears flowin' like Niagara."
Cody rolled his head back, regarding him incredulously. "You did?... Nah, you're putting me on."
Returning to them, Kayla stilled in the doorway for a moment.
"I'm serious," Logan reaffirmed, "you'd have thought I was a newborn the way I was blubberin'."
"Wow. Did Uncle Vic make fun of you?"
"No, your uncle was," a darker shade of blue overtook Logan's eyes for a moment, "he wasn't there yet." He quickly moved on with, "Point is, these things hurt like nobody's business," he showed Cody his own claws again, "it'd take solid stone not to feel it. Pain's gonna come into your life. Don't consider yourself less of a man because of it. I sure don't think that about you." Logan dipped so that his chin rested on Cody's shoulder. "Not by a long shot."
Cody grinned from ear to ear. "Thanks, Dad."
Stepping inside, Kayla headed for the bed that contained her family. "Look what I have." She showed the bowl of Neapolitan ice cream.
"Thanks, Mama!" Cody gladly accepted the dish from her.
Logan looked to his wife with a puzzled expression. "Don't tell me they got the kitchen up and running."
Kayla scoffed, "I wish," sitting down near them. "I had Victor make a run. Probably the first time I wanted him to get ice cream that wasn't for me while I was expecting."
Logan chuckled and patted her stomach tenderly.
"Uh," finding some trouble, Cody placed his bowl on the mattress for a moment and brought his hands up, "Dad? How do you stick 'em go back in?"
Logan withdrew his own and said, "Got to concentrate. I know that's rough for you, but if I could do it I know you can."
Fingers somewhat shaking, Cody stilled. It took a bit, but his claws eventually wormed back inside.
Kayla placed her fingers on the wounds left behind on his knuckles. "This I don't like."
"He'll heal up," Logan promised, kissing her head. "We always do."
Kayla nodded once then watched her son enjoy his ice cream. "When you're finished, I want you to get some rest, alright?"
"Yes, Mama," Cody got out between big spoonfuls.
Almost immediately after he finished, the boy found he had no trouble drifting off. He lay snug between his parents. They stayed that way with him for twenty minutes before making their way out into the hallway.
Kayla held onto her husband's arm. "I know I shouldn't worry, but it's not easy watching him go through this. I suppose I'm something of a spoiled mother." She formed a weak smile. "I'm not used to him being sick."
"He's gonna alright, Fox," Logan assured. "The first time's always the roughest."
She then put forth, "How did you manage through your mutation before Victor found you?"
"Wasn't easy," Logan recalled, knowing he put it lightly. "You know I was too scared to tell my folks. Thought they'd send me away to a hospital." He made a fist with his free hand. "But Cody's got me. He'll never have to feel alone in this."
Kayla released a small sigh. "I only wish I could relate to him just as easily."
Logan stopped to turn around facing her. "Now you know that boy would be lost to the world without his mama. Same as I'd be without my Fox." He frowned in fear at her going from a smile to a gasp. "What? What's wrong?"
"A kick." Pleasant features returning, Kayla indicated her stomach. "I think someone has an opinion of their own."
"Oh great," Logan gave off a mock eye roll as he touched the spot himself, "Kid's givin' me lip already."
IIIIIII
Finding her way to the next chapter in the Nathanial Hawthorne novel, Emma regarded her husband's return to their quarters out of the corner of her eye.
Blinking for a moment at the lovely woman highlighted by a single lamp, Charles asked apologetically, "Did I wake you?"
"No, just feeling a bit restless." Emma continued scanning her current page. "Were you checking on the boys?"
"As well as informing one Charles Joseph Xavier that if I hear the slightest bleep from that television, he'll be fidgeting come breakfast." Charles eased back into his spot on the bed. Before he could lay back, the cry of the telephone sounded. He answered it shortly to avoid disturbing any potential sleepers. "Hello?" A smile mixed with worry immediately came to his face. "Princess? Darling, are you alright?"
Emma all but dropped her book. "What is it, Charles?"
"I'm alright, Uncle Charles," Becky told him, reclining in the oversized- at least for her- chair in the den. "I'm sorry. I know it's late. I just feel like we haven't had any time to talk."
"Fret not, my dear girl," Charles said in a truly princely manner. "How are things in Connecticut?"
"It is so beautiful here," Becky raved. "We have so many places to run around and play. We went swimming in the stream. We're always the only ones out there."
"That sounds smashing." Charles grew a little more serious. "And how are you, Princess?"
Becky quieted for a few seconds. "Is Auntie there?"
"Oh yes, she's right here." Charles handed Emma the receiver.
The blonde spoke into the mouth piece with, "Rebecca?"
"Hi, Auntie Em," the girl returned. "I really miss you. There are some cute little stores in town I wish we could shop together in."
Emma promised, "There will be plenty of that as soon as you're within my spoiling distance again. Because I know I miss you as well, sweetheart."
"Is Uncle Charles still there?"
Charles leaned in to share the mouth piece with his other half. "That I am."
"I've been thinking a lot about where we were," Becky started, "when we were asleep. It felt like we were there for days and days but only a little time passed here. After it happened, I remembered it all, but now it's like it's slipping away."
Charles explained, "The telepathic world is a very rich, very vivid place, but the entire thing is still but a dream. Like most dreams, it eventually fades away. But never completely."
"That's good because I don't want to lose it forever," said Becky. "Even though I never want to go again. Not without the two of you."
"Our world will always be there," Emma stated. "Inside of us. Now, I believe it's time for you to get back to bed."
"Yes, agreed," Charles seconded. "And Princess, be sure to tell the boys- and your father- I said hello."
"I will. Good night, Auntie. Good night, Uncle." Becky lowered the receiver after their wishes for her sweet dreams.
Alex poked inside the room then. "Knew I heard a shrimptoids loose." He walked her direction. "Knew I heard a shrimptoids loose." He walked her direction. "Why are you up?"
"Talking to my Triad," she answered importantly. "Why are you up?"
"Working out, being twenty and the big brother," Alex applied a knock to a thick portion of her curls, "which means making sure little kids don't get themselves in trouble. Now come on," he hoisted her out of the chair and turned to leave out with her, "before Daddy nails us both."
Head resting against his neck, Becky's thin arms dangled down his back.
IIIIIII
With a level of surreptitiousness perfected long before his military days, the mutant made it in and out of the showers rapidly and back inside the shared panic room. He'd changed into athletic pants and an athletic shirt. Having also made a stop-off at the small refrigerator kept inside Eye Spy, he deposited some lettuce slices and parsley inside Bounty's crates.
"Eat up, Bugs." Logan dropped a couple ice cubes off inside his water dish as well.
Creeping over to one particular bed in the dark room, Logan removed the small one from it and carried him out without a word.
"Uhhh…" Cody soon stirred. "What's goin' on?"
A simple hush from his father sent him into silence.
Once they reached the lower level bathroom, Logan said, "Sorry about the wake-up call, Cat," he put him down in front of the door, "but I didn't want to bug the others." He aimed his thumb towards the bathroom. "Go empty out."
With a moan, Cody entered the space. He used the toilet then washed his hands and brushed his teeth at the sink and remembered just in time to flush before leaving back out.
"What's happenin', Dad?" He rubbed at his eyes with his fists.
"You're comin' with me." Not saying another word, Logan next brought them out into the fresh air of the backyard. "I wanted us to get out here before the hard-hats show up. Sit down."
Cody imitated the cross-legged position the man went into and they faced each other. "Is this about my claws?"
"Yep," Logan nodded. He took his son's hands in his. "Head down." Cody promptly dipped his chin and closed his eyes instinctively. "I don't want you hurtin' like you did yesterday. You or anybody else in your way. Your emotions will make these claws go haywire, whether you want 'em to or not. If you don't keep your head together, you'll lose control over them. The thing is, though, a few sharp pokers ain't the ones in charge. You are. Think you can remember that?"
Cody nodded slightly, staying in place. "Mmhmm."
"Good. Now," eyes glued to the child's hands, Logan next instructed, "Let 'em out."
Hands rattling somewhat, Cody felt them protrude only for them to stop and weigh in heavily. "Dad…"
"Easy now," Logan coached calmly, "it's okay. You can do this, Cat. Just keep your head."
Eyelids shutting tighter, the bones grazed his skin until exiting through the knuckles. "Now what, Daddy?"
"Back in."
A smile came to Cody's face when they re-entered. "Hey, I did it faster than yesterday."
"That's right," said Logan. "We're gonna keep at this, however long it takes. When that pain gets to you, I want you to come to me first thing. We'll work it out together, you and me. Got me?"
"Gotcha, Daddy," Cody confirmed.
"Good." Logan bowed his head along with him now.
Though he silently wished he could take on any and all residual agony for the boy, Logan still experienced traces of it. He sensed his every harsh breath, quiver, and moan. Despite his own growing mutation once leaving him scared and uncertain on the floor, the same fate would never befall his son.