X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall
Chapter Two Hundred Eleven
Author's Word: For those of you wondering how it possibly took a story published on Halloween almost four years to have an actual Halloween chapter, I have one for you. Why did it take more than ten years for there to be an X-Men movie that caters to more than one specific X-Man? While you're mulling that over, please enjoy and review!
Upon the ringing of the bell that gave the weekend its starting clue, the girl made rapid work of sweeping up her things and darting out into the hall ahead of the others. Leaning against the wall, she moved her head so that her long waves became swept entirely to one side. The brown strands suited nicely to her sky blue top and tan skirt. At the males that walked out of the Italian class, she frowned over the fact that neither proved to be the one she sought.
"Look at you, all foxy," Tony smirked.
"Waiting on her man," Mondo remarked in a teasing tone.
With a hand going to her hip, Carmen mandated, "Would you two get out of my face and my way? You make better doors than windows."
Mondo held up apologetic hands. "Fine, we're history."
"Catch you out front!" Tony waved a hand back.
When Frank finished speaking with Collin, Carmen smiled and waited.
As he walked by, he glanced at her, "Have a good weekend, Car," and continued.
Mouth widening significantly, she jogged after him. "Have a good weekend?" Carmen snatched his forearm. "Is that all you have to say to me?"
Frank promptly looked back. "Whoa, hey. What'd I do?"
"It's what you didn't do. You haven't said a word about Halloween all week. I thought maybe, I don't know, you'd want to do something after Scott's game."
"Oh, sorry," Frank realized. "I can't. Me and Sean already made plans."
She regarded him skeptically. "To do what?"
"Watch movies and stuff."
Eyes narrowed, she further probed, "With who?"
Raising an eyebrow, Frank half-joked, "Do I need a lawyer?" At her unamused look, he answered, "With the guys over at Alex and Leon's school. Why are you jumping all over me?"
"Bet you wouldn't mind it if I had," she dropped her tone of into a disparaging shallow voice, "bouncy blonde hair."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Don't act like you don't know," Carmen retorted. "You and Miss Whatever on Parents Night. So, what? Just because I said I don't want anything serious right now, you up and run back to whitey world?"
"Hey, that is not cool," Frank scowled, taken aback. "First, her name is Samantha and second, what do you care if I'm seeing her or anybody else? You said it yourself you don't want to get serious. So if we're not steady, I don't see the problem here."
Carmen got onto the tips of her toes to glare deep into his face. "I'm looking at the problem here." Turning on her heel, she stalked off for the opposite end of the hall.
Coming up, a highly humored expression covered Collin's face. "I was waiting on her to slap you."
Frank eyed him in annoyance. "Did you have nothing better to do than stand there?"
Collin answered with a plain, "Nope." He patted Frank on the back supportively as they walked in the direction of the parking lot together. "I tell you, man. Chicks."
"I just want to know what I did wrong exactly that she's that mad."
Collin scoffed. "You say that like they really need a reason."
IIIIIII
Not missing the way her valuable player seemed so many miles away, Becky took the first break opportunity of practice. She left her pompoms in the grass and walked across to where Scott resided on the bench, using his fists to prop up his face.
Taking the space beside him, she asked, "What's the matter, Scott? Are you worried about the game tomorrow?"
"No," he shook his head, "it's hanging out at WU."
Becky guessed, "Are you nervous about being with the bigger boys? They won't pick on you. Leon, Alex, and Sean won't let them."
"It's not that exactly. It's…" He released a sigh, running both hands through his hair. "I thought this was going to be a lot of fun. Frank's talking about what high school and college guys do and don't do and… I kind of wish I could go trick-or-treating with you and the others."
Becky encouraged, "You still can."
"But I don't want to let Alex down," the boy reasoned. "And me and Frank don't get to do as much together now that we're in different schools."
"I know," she sympathized, touching his arm. "It'll probably still be fun. Don't worry."
"Thanks, Rebecca." Scott sent her a little smile. "Still won't be as good as hanging with you, though."
"Hey, Summers," Dan summoned, "grab a bat and get over here!"
The long legs hopped right up. "Coming, Coach!"
Becky watched him rush over to the plate before getting up to rejoin the cheerleaders.
IIIIIII
Arriving in the doorway belonging to the youngest Frost girl, Alex remained in a position of observance as she seemed to debate internally over the different lipsticks she held in each hand. He felt a violent wretch coming on in his stomach at the puckering motion and sounds she made into the mirror.
"Okay, so help me out here," he finally spoke, "are you borrowing Angel's priss power while she's out of town or what? I need a rational explanation here. I'm willing to accept aliens."
Cordelia looked to him in dry amusement. "Says the resident Martian himself."
"Yeah, but you're the one who's out of this world."
Cordelia could not help her slight blush and growing smile. "Why do you have to be so impossible to hate?"
Alex smiled back and said, "Okay Glim, can you de-girl a little here and meet me in the gym?"
She replied, "Five minutes."
Alex bobbed his head and left to make his way to the lower level. Laying back on one bench, he began slow arms lifts with the barbell. With the mansion at last restored, he had felt like a lost roamer finally making the journey home upon entering the gym again.
Within a few minutes, Cordelia came in wearing yellow and gray sweats. Putting her water bottle and towel down, she took the piece of equipment closest to Alex's and started on leg curls.
Continuously raising the bar up and down, Alex shifted his gaze over to take in her progress.
After a full minute, he declared, "You've been out of gymnastics for too long because you could easily do ten to fifteen more of those in sixty seconds."
Cordelia proved mildly incredulous. "Do you have everyone's training stats memorized?"
"Perma-etched in my brain," he confirmed. "So, are you out of it or is your head on Fabianna?"
"Oh no, no, no." Stopping a moment, she aimed a finger is way. "You are not going to start that Morrie-Mary thing. You know perfectly well that his name is Fabian."
"And you know perfectly well that I don't like this guy."
"You don't like any guy."
Alex reasoned, "That's because the more you date, the more graves I have to map out in my head and now that Angel's with us again, that gets exhausting. If I had to worry about Becky, I'd have a BP attack every hour on the hour and that's not good for me."
"I've already had this out with my sister plus Charles and Erik." Cordelia resisted a moan. "I wish you would all get over classifying him, all of them, as nothing but our fatal foes. I know Sean probably failed to mention this, but Fabian completely stuck up for him when those guys were giving him a hard time in the cafeteria. Of course, it probably slipped his mind while he was going out to play Rebel With Cause that night."
"He can be the golden boy all day, Cor," Alex shrugged, "I still have my eyes on him. He slips up with you even once and he's going to have a whole lot of trouble combing that pretty hair with two broken hands."
"Oh you," Cordelia leaned over to bop her forehead against his bicep, "constantly wonderful."
Alex tossed her ponytail. "Alright, let me see actual effort on this workout."
"Yes, oh exulted instructor." Before resuming her curls, a considering crossed Cordelia's mind and she looked at him again. "So, what are you going to do when Kiki enters the dating world?"
Feeling every muscle tense up, Alex came back with, "Before or after I pluck out her wings?"
II
Fuzzy sock covered feet swaying in the air, Sean stretched out in the neatly made feminine bed while peering through the journal before him. He only looked back when Becky re-entered the room.
"Ooh." Sean propped up on his elbow. "Is that for your party?"
"Yes, Auntie Em just finished pressing it for me." Becky placed the coat hanger on the back of her desk chair. "Papa took me into a little store in the city to help me find something." She held up the pale blue satin dress with sheer white wrap for his viewing. "Nowhere else sold a real Jewish princess costume."
Sean said, "Just don't be wooed by a Jewish prince. If the Old Testament is any indication, they grow up to be pretty rotten kings." Becky giggled at that and the redhead smiled at her. "That reminds me. What did you mean…" He picked up her journal and pointed out the particular section. "By this. Leon and Samson?"
"Oh." Becky went over to sit in his lap for a better view of the book. "I was wondering if maybe all boys should keep their hair long like Leon and Samson. And Knight Victor, too. But Papa and most men keep their hair really short."
Nodding his understanding, Sean wound an arm around her and explained, "The long hair isn't a universal thing. It was a specific direction God gave to Samson as a sort of disciplinary measurement. Kind of like when we do our X-Men training. Uncle Erik or Alex may tell me to do something and you to do something completely different because we're different mutants. I guess you could say God has something of a special relationship with all of us because we're all special to Him. Am I making sense here, curls?"
Becky gave him a cheerful reassuring, "I get it now."
"Good." Sean tugged her near in a soft squeeze. "You want to pray now?"
The little girl nodded and they bowed their heads together.
II
Gently cleansed babies secured inside towels, their parents carried them out from the attached bathroom. Kayla situated her pink bundle on the changing table and attempted to get powder and a diaper on Mira in-between pecking at her toes. Logan laid Todd on the bed and got the damp blue towel from underneath him. He dipped to nuzzle the tiny boy's belly then picked up on something coming from the closet.
"Stay put," he left in Todd's ear, tugging a portion of the comforter down to cover him. Making his way inside the spacious closet, Logan took in his eldest pawing through boxes. "Cat, what do you think you're doing?"
Cody glanced back. "Messin' around with your junk without askin' first."
Logan bobbed his head to that. "At least you admit it. Don't break nothin'," he turned, "like yourself." As he finished dressing Todd in his new diaper and striped pajamas, the man looked up to see Frank enter the suite. "How's it hangin', glowworm?"
"Weird." Frank paused at the bed, sharing an upside down stare with Todd who gazed at him curiously. "You see something interesting?" He got on the mattress to closer observe the baby.
"Yeah, you," Logan answered the question for his son. "What's on your mind, kid?"
Frank gave Todd his pinky finger to tug on. "It's about girls." He looked Kayla's way. "Why is it when you tell a guy you don't want to go steady, you go and get mad the second he goes out with somebody else?"
"Ha!" Logan reacted automatically. "You're askin' the wrong lady, bub."
Kayla gave her husband a faux displeased countenance as she lowered into the rocking chair with Mira. "What he means is, I lack sufficient experience in the dating department."
"And what she means is," Logan counter-clarified, "is that she avoided guys like the plague. Then I came along and she saw me as the plague."
Kayla cuddled cheeks with Mira, who touched her hair with intrigue. "He wore me down eventually. After much bathing."
Frank smiled at their recanting then returned to, "But seriously. Why is Carmen mad about Sam? She said she didn't want to go steady."
Logan stated, "She ain't say she wanted you rented out, either. In her mind, she's got you in reserve until further notice. Dames are funny that way."
"Tell me about it." Cody emerged from the closet. "I'm always gettin' hassled by all the chicks that are after me."
Kayla raised her gaze heavenly and Logan snorted.
Frank squinted his eyes at Cody. "What's that thing on your head?"
Cody rolled his eyes upward at the silk headpiece and shrugged. "I dunno. It looked shiny."
Kayla got a closer look. "Oh, for goodness- Cody, put my brassiere away."
Eyes widening, Cody snatched it off and disappeared into the closet again.
Snickering into the comforter, Frank sobered to ask, "Serious, Wolves, what do I do about Carmen? She's really mad."
"Well, you could try one of my methods." Logan lifted Todd's padded feet to lightly pump them up and down. "But you're about four years short for enlistment. So my advice? Give her some time to cool off and work things out in school on Monday."
"I guess," Frank sighed. "The problem is I still really like her, but I like Sam, too."
"Frank, you're fourteen years old and only just started high school," Kayla pointed out. "You have no need to rush going steady with another girl so soon."
"She's right about that, glowworm." Logan touched a hand to the teen's shoulder. "Now look, don't let any of this eat you up. You just think about having a good time with Scott and your guys tomorrow."
"Okay," Frank smiled a little, "I will. Thanks."
Cody poked his head out of the closet. "Daaaaad?"
Logan returned, "Whaaaaaat?"
Hands behind his back, the young boy walked towards the edge of the bed. "Can I borrow these?" He held them up.
"Whoa," Frank gaped, "nunchucks?"
Cody said, "For my costume."
Logan crossed his arms skeptically. "Cat…"
"Aw, Dad, please?" Cody beseeched. "Erik gave Joey real arrows for his costume. Just for Halloween? I'll be careful and Uncle Vic'll be with us."
Logan dipped his head in thought before raising it again. "I find out you used those things so much as once, I'm goin' upside your head with 'em."
Cody bounced in his socks. "Thanks, Dad! I got to show Joey."
"Whoa, whoa," Kayla called after the retreating boy on her way to place the drifting Mira in her crib. "What about the closet?"
Cody paused to say, "That's okay, Ma. I'm done in there. You can clean up."
Daughter secure, Kayla turned to him with a wordless set expression.
With a big smile for her in place, Cody ran to properly straighten up the inside of the closet.
IIIIIII
Going over the evening's agenda with Marco and Jimmy on either side of him, Estevan ceased speaking when the young girl in red and black dress with feathered crown arrived in the sitting room.
Jimmy grinned, "Bonita nina."
"Nina bonita," Marco corrected.
"Whatever," Jimmy waved off.
Anne performed a twirl, making her skirts fly. "Do you like it, Papi?"
Estevan moved around his desk and approached to take his daughter's gloved hands. "Mi princesa. Perfecto."
"Guess what I am?"
The males gazed about at the new youthful voice.
"My," Estevan smiled coyly, "I wonder who that could be."
"I know," Anne said with a glint in her eyes.
The child in all white with ghoulish mask rematerialized. "Boo!"
"Lord..." Jimmy squatted to his level. "These klansmen are getting smaller and smaller. Like their wienies."
"James," Estevan hissed.
"Huh?" Max and Anne reacted.
"Jimmy being loco," Marco dismissed. "Never mind."
"I'm a ghost," Max informed.
"Ohhh," Jimmy nodded. "I swear that was my next guess."
Max pulled on Estevan's pants leg. "Put your cape on, Tio. So you can come trick-or-treating with us."
Estevan peered down at the boy before bringing him up into his arms. "I would love to join you in frightening the locals, amore, but Tio has important matters to see to. You'll have lots of fun without me."
Max sighed but said, "Okay."
Putting him down, Estevan looked to Anne again. "Isn't your brother ready yet?"
"On Halloween? I'm afraid such a thing would require Christmas level miracles."
Melissa's voice followed by her presented brought all eyes to the wide entryway. She stood in a floor-length gown made up of violet velvet with black trim. Her partially pulled back hairstyle spilled waves of brown down to her waist.
"Missy," Marco looked her up and down, "wow."
"My dear," came from Estevan, "you are simply a vision."
At the stares, she felt the desire to dissipate where she stood but fought against it. "I- Anne was insistent on costumes so…" She resisted an eye roll as Jimmy walked towards her. Her hands went to her hips. "Whatever crude remark you have in mind, remember there are children in the room."
Jimmy remained quiet another second then said, "You're a queen, Miss."
Eyebrows rising momentarily at that, a smile had hardly the time to toy on her features before she moved by him for Anne to squeal over her attire.
IIIIIII
With most of the Westchester University student body elsewhere that weekend, the eight males filed inside the elevator with little trouble. Most of that could be attributed to the quite slim younger four. Alex, Leon, and Jam all wore WU sweatshirts with blue jeans and Sean had on a slightly roomy Harvard shirt he had borrowed from Hank. Jam's brother Devon, medium brown skin and short dark hair, had gone out in a gray WU Griffins t-shirt over a long-sleeved white shirt. Frank had on a blue camouflage sweatshirt with Team USA printed across the front. Collin wore a faded black shirt with Casper on it under a denim jacket. He took notice of the other boy in black shirt, though Scott wore his Jaguars jacket over it.
Collin used two fingers to tap the gold Batman emblem on the front of Scott's shirt. "Cool."
Scott touched the spot, regarding him through his red shades. "Thanks."
Jam noticed the way his own brother paid awfully close attention to the floor. "Don't even think about it."
Devon's eyes shot up innocently. "What?"
"What?" Jam mimicked him.
Alex put forth, "You guys want to share the secret language?"
Jam explained, "He loves hopping up and down in elevators."
Frank smirked. "Me, too."
Devon hid a snicker and shrugged. "I barely do that anymore."
Sean proposed, "Let's avoid getting trapped today."
When the doors split open on the right floor, Jam led the way into his room. "Welcome to Chalet Sexy."
"Chalet ugly," Devon corrected.
"No," Jam bumped him, "that's your bedroom."
Sean gazed around, going towards a window. "It's so cool this is all yours."
Leon commented, "Oh doesn't this bring me back…"
Collin zeroed in on the single bed in the space. "I thought these dorms made you have roommates."
An immediate scoff sounded from Jam at that. "I left the roommates back home where they belong."
"He means we unloaded him." Devon dropped down into the desk chair and frowned at a few of the pictures on display. "Ugh, why did you put up the ones with the braces?"
Jam came up behind to run knuckles over the top of his head. "'Cause you look so cute."
Scott sat on the bed. "Do you really get to do whatever you want here?"
Jam glanced his way. "All day every day, little man."
Devon tacked on, "Until he comes home."
"So our lives basically," Alex said.
"Hey, there's still time before the movies come on," Sean brought up. "Let's take them somewhere else."
Jam suggested, "The library?"
"Yeah," Sean immediately jumped on, producing a chorus of groans.
Leon said, "I'm sensing some anti-nerd sentiment."
"Sorry, Seanie," Alex patted him on the shoulder, "but you've been here plenty of times. Let's try somewhere like the gym."
Devon raised a delighted fist. "Yes!"
"Now we're talking," said Frank.
When they made it outside, Devon hopped up to get on Jam's back.
The older Porter released an exaggerated groan, reaching back to better support his brother's legs. "You're going to quit making a pack mule out of me, boy."
Scott went along and clamped onto Alex, who made him laugh by charging forward with him.
At Frank's added weight, Scott spun slowly with him. "You're getting way too big, man."
"Nah," Frank denied, "You just need to bulk up."
Sharing a look with Leon, Collin said, "I think I'll pass."
Leon responded glibly, "My heart doesn't promise a full recovery."
IIIIIII
Twirling about in her blue and white costume with short white veil pinned to her plastic tiara, the young telepath hurried towards the lab.
"Big Bear," she petitioned. "Look, I—" She paused in place, letting off a gasp at the sight of him.
Dark blue from the neck up including his hair, Hank raised his hands carefully. "Easy, Becca. It's still me."
Smiling now, Becky came closer. "Wow, you look just like Raven."
"Thanks. It wasn't exactly easy to imitate her level of unique beauty. Speaking of which," Hank knelt to get a better look at her, "you are the prettiest princess of all I'd say."
Becky eagerly spun about some more.
II
While the Xaviers received very specific directions about which medications their daughter needed at exact times with meal considerations included from Laci's parents, the children stood together in the living room. Joey's Robin Hood costume consisted of soft emerald green pants and shirt, long-sleeved for the fall weather, black boots, and his arrows inside the back holster with thick plastic bow. Cody wore all black ninja attire with a mask that revealed only his eyes and soft shoes of equal coloring. Kayla had added a spot in the back for him to keep the nunchucks. Laci's burgundy Maid Marion gown came to her ankles and she had on flats that made for easy walking with her hair styled into thick curls.
"You three," Erik commented, entering the room. "Only a fool would dare stir trouble for such a lovely lady with two ferocious lads about."
"Thanks, Uncle Erik," Joey said.
"What about us, Uncle Erik?"
The man looked back to see Trav running his way while Raven carried Kiki forward; all three in regular attire but with skin entirely blue.
"Wonderful," Erik caught Trav and brought him up to hold, "doesn't begin to describe you, little valiant."
"Oh my goodness, Joey," Laci reacted. "Your aunt looks exactly like your blue woman painting. The one Miss Kendall put on display."
Raven smiled, "I love Halloween."
After Laci's parents at last said their goodbyes, the Acolytes arrived next. Anne, Max, and Becky went with the other children to chatter excitedly while Melissa somewhat awkwardly lingered in the foyer with the adults.
"Estevan doesn't care to have the children out of his sight for very long so he wanted me as an extra chaperone," she told them. "I hope you don't mind."
"Hey, something tells me we'll need the reinforcement," Raven said. "You look great by the way."
Melissa countered, "You look better."
Hank's arm went around his wife and he kissed her cheek.
"My dear Lord," Charles' attention went to the one descending the staircase, "Cordy?"
In a glittering gold Egyptian gown and jeweled headpiece that complimented her black hair elegantly, she stepped down to the foyer in dark open-toe shoes.
"Cordy," Emma walked up to take her hands, "you are a dream."
"Aren't I?" Cordelia beamed in such a way it somehow made her attire all the brighter. "But where's Fabian?"
Melissa replied dryly, "Awaiting his fanfare." She opened the door and called out, "Fabi, your lady awaits."
At that, the young man entered in gold and white pharaoh guise, including a lengthy white cape flapping down his back.
From where he sat in a chair with Kayla, Logan remarked, "Lord, mercy. Please."
Erik leaned against a wall with arms folded. "I trust there's no locust swarm out there?"
Fabian replied, "I'm afraid they're out of season, but I believe I saw a few frogs." He then turned a smile on the girl who awaited him. "But I still feel underdressed next to someone so exquisite."
"Don't be silly." Cordelia went to him, kissing him at the corner of his mouth. "I couldn't have a better escort for tonight."
"Speaking of which," Charles approached the two, "what exactly are your evening plans?"
"There's a little costume party at the White Wolf restaurant in town," Fabian explained. "There's going to be a contest, dinner, and even a little sneak peek of an upcoming horror attraction."
Erik brought up, "Curfew is promptly at eleven."
Charles added, "And by that we mean inside this house."
Fabian assured, "We won't be so much as a second tardy." He smiled at Cordelia. "Let me just say goodbye to my sister and we'll be off."
Cordelia's face of sparkling yellow eyeshadow regarded him happily.
At hearing his brother's footsteps, Logan commented, "Vic's gonna be a sore thumb with this costume crowd."
The tall man stepped forward in a suit covered by a long trench coat. He carried a magnifying glass in one hand.
At the looks he received, Victor said, "It's the best I could do on short notice."
Charles' jaw practically dropped. "Sherlock Holmes?"
Emma took his arm. Are you jealous?
The man returned an unashamed, Yes!
IIIIIII
When the time in the weight room evolved all too similarly into an X-Men training session, Scott felt lethargy building up. Not that he minded training, at least when they were home, but it was not what he thought Halloween should be used for. Quietly leaving the weight room, he found the open basketball court. Going to sit in one corner, he removed the backpack he had with him to unload its contents.
"Is that the batmobile?" A wide-eyed Devon asked from the court's doorway.
A somewhat startled Scott glanced up. "Oh yeah. I have the plane at home."
"Nice." Devon walked over and got onto the wooden surface near him. "What else you got?"
"Batman, Robin," Scott took out every action figure he named, "Joker, Two-Face, Penguin—"
"Love that guy."
They both faced over at the next voice and Devon inquired, "Penguin?"
"No, not that freak," Collin dismissed, strolling their way. "Two-Face. I like that coin trick he does before he makes a decision. What's funny is that since he always leaves it up to fate, he's less two-faced than most people I know."
Devon considered it and said, "You're right about that."
Scott held the Two-Face figure out to him. "Want to play?"
"I don't really know how," Collin admitted, dipping down. "I never had any of these guys." He took the action figure nonetheless.
"It's easy," Devon said. "Me and my brother play mine all the time at home."
They soon started up a game that ended up with Batman and Robin needing to stop the three different villains at various points throughout Gotham City.
A few minutes later, Jam's voice sounded with, "There you sneaky snakes are."
"Scott," Alex approached his brother, "don't take off like that."
Collin looked up at him. "We were holding hands the whole time."
Alex gave him an unamused expression. "Watch it."
"Let's play back at the lounge," Sean suggested. "It's almost time for the movies to start."
Frank waited for Scott to gather his things then said, "You guys were actually playing action figures?"
Scott put his bag back on. "Without getting laughed out of the place."
Frank appeared floored for a second. "Why didn't you come get me?"
Scott shrugged, "Didn't want to embarrass you in front of the big guys with my little grammar school games," and walked by him to catch up with the others.
Frank crossed his arms sourly but followed after them.
IIIIIII
On their way through the neighborhood, the group of trick-or-treaters stopped to pick up the Dukes children. Fred and Mike came out in Batman and Superman shirts with black and red capes. With theirs and their father's opposition to tights, they had on jeans instead. Lily gladly wore tights with her short Wonder Woman dress with blue cape to drape over the rest of her.
"You're a ghost," she guessed of Max, "and you're… an alien."
The blue Trav responded, "Yeah, okay."
"Here we go, guys," Fred began distributing wrapped popcorn balls, "our mom made enough for everybody."
Kiki inhaled the scent of honey with glee.
Watching Raven return from collecting candy at one house, Melissa marveled, "You're having as much fun as they are."
"Of course," Raven said. "I'd like to meet the guy who decided that adulthood comes with supreme boredom and stiffness." Realization filled her yellow eyes. "I'll bet it was my brothers."
A smile played on Melissa's lips. "Isn't it funny?" She eyed the children. "For a night, regular kids get to pretend to have super powers. While we feign ordinariness. Well," she got another look at Raven, "not you. I doubt if you know how to be ordinary."
Raven told her solemnly, "That's pretty much who I have to be every other day. But tonight? I'm milking every moment."
Heading for more neighbors, they passed another group in costume and Cody's ears distinctly made out the mumbling of, "Check out Fatman."
Turning on his heel, Cody called after them, "Try saying that to my friend's face next time."
The other boys veered around as well. "Oh yeah?"
"Yeah!" Cody shot back.
With Victor and the ladies taking the smaller children to the next house, Hank came to place his hands on Cody's shoulders. "Or you could try saying it to my face."
"Um, no mister…" The other horde began backing away. "That's okay."
Cody gazed up at the scientist. "I like you better blue."
"That's funny," Hank tugged on his mask, "I'm starting to like having your mouth covered."
"Haha," Cody smirked, dashing to resume collecting with his friends.
IIIIIII
At the full-fang vampire appearing on the television screen, Scott and Devon jumped, pointing out the scene eagerly. Collin sat next to them on the couch, but kept a straighter face. Seated on the arm of the sofa, Frank played with his nazi coin, despite the darkness. He looked to where Jam, Leon, Sean, and Alex sprawled around together, engrossed in the TV. Sliding off the arm, he took his leave of the lounge, walked through the lobby, and stepped out to the front of the boys dormitory.
Receiving a tap on the shoulder, he glanced back and frowned in confusion upon seeing no one there. Facing ahead again, he leapt upward and paled momentary at who now stood before him.
"Aw geez!" Frank peered around urgently. "Could you save the invisibility bit? Somebody could've seen."
"Oh, so you can pull a disappearing act but I can't?" Collin sent back. "What's eating you?"
"Nothing." Frank moved by him, walking down the steps.
"Please," Collin dismissed, going after him. "You invite me out to this bonding thing and now you want to bail out? Look, if you're sore about earlier, I'm not out to steal your little four-eyed friend."
"Don't call him that," Frank snapped then calmed. "And it's not just that."
"Why don't you fill us all in?" Alex opened one of the double doors. "You know, where it's nice and warm."
Collin eyed Frank, who sighed and nodded. The two returned inside and to the lounge, where Sean had the television switched off.
"What's going on, Frank-O?" the redhead asked with concern.
"Stuff," Frank dropped into the nearest empty chair, "new school, things in my head, dealing with these girls…"
"You're always dealing with girls," Scott pointed out. "One of them always likes you, Frank. You have the easiest time with them." At Collin's laugh, he glared over. "What's so funny?"
"What's funny is a little thirteen-year-old stressing about girls," Collin said matter-of-factly.
"Hey," Devon piped up, "I'm only thirteen and I don't remember you calling us little when we were playing around earlier."
"That was fun," Collin shrugged. "I get enough of the serious stuff at home. Thought we came here to goof around."
Scott said, "Tell that to Frank."
"Okay," Jam cut in. "I'm lost. What's this all about?"
Scott explained, "You guys make college out to be all the fun in the world. If you ask me, it's just a bunch of dumb rules about what's cool and what isn't."
"That is college," Leon spoke. "That's elementary school, high school, work world, everyday life. People dictating cool and worth, what's acceptable and unacceptable."
"Hey, I don't dictate anything," Frank claimed.
"I don't get you lately," Scott told him. "You're always saying how you hate being around the preppies at school and that you're never going to be like them. But then you want to turn around and be fake like them."
"Is this all about those action figures?" Frank rolled his eyes. "Look, I only said to leave them at home because I didn't need Alex giving us the baby treatment."
"I don't baby you, Frankenstein," the blonde chimed up. "I look after you. All of you. That's kind of my job."
"I appreciate it," Jam told him wholeheartedly. "You know that. That's my gig at home so it's nice having somebody at school pick it up."
"You have a gig at home," Frank pointed out. "You're not trapped in the middle."
Devon scoffed. "He doesn't know a thing about that."
"Oh, here we go," Jam threw his head back, "this trapped in the middle thing."
"It's not a fun place to be you know," Sean defended.
"But you think being the oldest is all fun and games?" Alex put forth. "Who do you think gets called out by the adults when something goes wrong? Not you guys."
"Say that again," Collin seconded. "I took my eyes off my brother for five seconds not long ago and he almost drowned in the pool. Fabian couldn't wait to tell me it was my fault."
"That prissy jerk," Frank reacted. "Don't listen to him."
"I can't stand that guy," Alex said.
Jam asked, "That's the dude Cordelia's going out with, right?"
Leon said, "Her latest phase, yes."
"But Frankenstein's right," Alex looked directly at Collin, "don't listen to him. No pressure, kid, but if you need somebody to talk to, we're around."
Collin actually smiled a little. "You sound like Doc McCoy."
"That's both good and scary." Alex turned to Frank now. "And you, you're going to get enough of this bottling things up before I just start pounding you."
"I'll tell Dad," Frank said jokingly.
"Not if I tell him first," Alex countered. "And seriously, the next guy to take off without a word gets his butt glued to a chair."
Jam shook his head. "That's our Lex."
Leon noticed the quiet redhead. "Are you okay?"
Sean said, "I'm just wondering… if the pizza's gonna get here before the werewolf picture starts."
Frank threw a cushion at him which erupted into an all-out throw pillow war.
IIIIIII
Leaving the car parked, Fabian promised, "We'll get back to the party in a moment. I just want to look in on my sister."
"You don't even have to explain." Cordelia joined hands with him as they made their way through the trees discreetly. "I love how much she means to you."
"There." Fabian lowered, zeroing in on where Anne, Lily, Kiki, and Becky exclaimed over their oversized lollipops.
Cordelia watched his gaze carry over to the boys. "What is it?"
"Nothing, just thought I felt… we should get back." Helping her rise from their crouched position, Fabian stopped once more to gaze back at Fred.
IIIIIII
"Attention, everyone," Hank spoke out over the young ones filling the recreation room, "the burgers and hotdogs are almost ready, along with several other snacks." Cheering sounded and he had to raise his voice to continue. "Therefore, please pick five pieces of candy from tonight's haul and turn in your bags. You'll get them back before you go home, but we are not sending you back to your parents sick to your stomachs."
A few groans came about but the young ones complied nonetheless.
Emma and Kayla soon brought in the rest of the food and sodas.
Each with a hotdog in hand, Trav brought Max into his quarters. "We're staying with the big boys tonight, but this is my room."
Max gazed about and went right to the wall that depicted the solar system. "I'm gonna ask Tio to get this for my room."
Raven stepped inside. "Who's Tio, Max?"
The visiting boy looked over at the McCoy couple. "That's Estevan. Tio means uncle in Spanish."
Despite Hank's prior knowledge of that he still said with interest, "Is that so?" He took a seat on the side of the bed. "Come here please, Max."
Raven sat and held her arms open for her son. "Trav."
The little blue boy went and climbed up to her lap.
When Max came to stand between his legs, Hank put a hand to his shoulder. "About Tio, are you and your brother… are you happy living with him?"
"Mmhmm," Max nodded. "And Missy and Anne and Marco. Jimmy's real funny."
Hank absorbed that then went on. "And Estevan- Tio- is he ever mean to you? Has he ever hurt you?"
Max thought about it. "He's mean sometimes when I make too much noise. He never hurts me like my mom and dad would when they got mad."
Raven exchanged a look with Hank then said to Trav, "Why don't you guys get back to the party? I'm sure Lily misses you."
The boys continued munching on their hotdogs as they returned to the festivities.
II
Baby attached to his hip, Charles announced, "Look who we have here," as they entered the parlor.
Erik looked up with delight at the child's whisker painted face with little gray ears. "My little mouse."
Charles handed him over before taking his chess chair. "Joey insisted on doing him up."
"Cutest thing." Erik nuzzled noses with Brian. "Here, Uncle Erik has special candies for you." He reached into his pocket, removing a chocolate.
Accepting it, Brian immediately started peeling back the wrapper.
Charles grinned widely. "Would you look at that? He used to bite right through it."
"He's much too advanced for that now." Erik bounced the small one on his thigh. "We'll need to start him on walking soon."
Charles feigned a frown. "Say not a word of this to Emma. I'd prefer not to have hysterical sobbing on my hands."
Brian hummed happily as he finished off the chocolate piece and tugged on his uncle's sweater for another.
IIIIIII
Leon received the chance to drive the X-Van with Sean in the passenger seat. Alex and Scott filled the next row with Collin and Frank behind them.
"You want to come home with us?" Frank offered.
Alex suggested, "You could see Max."
"Sounds good," Collin nodded. "Thanks for, um, for inviting me out, too."
"No problem," said Sean. "Glad you could come."
Alex asked Scott, "Did you have fun?"
"Yeah, actually," the younger Summers smiled.
"So question," Collin put forth. "That Jam guy is one of your main running buddies, right?"
"Best friend," Alex confirmed.
"So," Collin went on, "why doesn't he know what you can do? What we can do?"
The van grew silent except for Leon, who looked at Alex with the rearview mirror. "Good question…"
Alex only directed, "Keep your eyes on the road."
IIIIIII
Fingering their third place medals, Fabian remarked, "I can understand the Liz and Dick impersonators coming in second, but Beauty and the Beast was pretty weak for first."
"Raven and Hank will love it," Cordelia said.
A mischievous glint entered Fabian's eyes. "Who's who in that scenario?" He chuckled, despite Cordelia whacking him in the chest. "Sorry."
"You're so lucky this has been an otherwise flawless evening."
Fabian eyed her closely at that. "Really?"
"Really," she smiled.
Glancing around the X-Men's garage, Fabian said, "I hate to interrupt Anne's good time."
"So don't," Cordelia encouraged. "We have over forty minutes left for curfew bragging rights."
Fabian thought then agreed, "Okay. Oh, I have something for you. I meant to give it to you earlier, " he retrieved it from his glove box, "It goes perfectly with your costume."
Silently gasping at the sight of the familiar gold bracelet, Cordelia held out her wrist for him to place it on. "You kept it."
"Wishful thinking pays off. Once in a while." He switched the station on his radio and slipped both arms around her.
Brushing a thumb against his bare bicep, Cordelia settled comfortably against his front while admiring her adorned wrist.