Rise or Fall

by Heiress Mellie

First Class: Charles and Erik have accepted their roles as guardians and headmasters over the young mutants but there is still work to be done for the greater than typical family. This is a familial and discipline, including spanking, centered fiction.

247. Chapter 247 Won't You Please Stand By Me

X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall

Chapter Two Hundred Forty-Seven

Author's Word: Thanks for all the great feedback, guys. It's been a magnificent relief from classroom confines. I hope everyone had a spectacular Father's Day as well. Please enjoy and review!

After they secured their newly acquired weapons, brought back as what Victor called souvenirs, inside the cabinet in the loft, Logan made tracks for Eye Spy. With the details of current events around the house still fresh in Victor's head, Logan knew his older brother would want to join Erik on rounds. It never escaped his notice how amicable the general atmosphere appeared when the two hunter types did anything together. For a duo that never seemed too fond of adult crowds, they displayed next to no difficulty around each other. With what Logan knew about both their histories, it really came as no astronomical surprise.

When the tall blonde finally joined him in the security room, Logan could not deny the euphoria at seeing the extra chair rightfully filled by his brother again. Not that the old geezer needed to be made aware of that sentiment. Logan reclined with his second beer of the night, listening to Victor go over the entertaining details of how they silenced the different entities involved in Adrienne's far from favorable fan mail. It intrigued yet somehow did not astound Logan to hear about Adrienne's right-at-home vibe with guns. He also appreciated the fact that the ritzy redhead could actually fire off something even more lethal than her mouth.

Sensing one of the fledglings that shared their unusual DNA, Logan shushed his brother and addressed his entering zombie of a son. "You get lost on your way to squirt a piss?"

The slightly incoherent utterance of, "Uncle Vic," breathed from the child's lips as he pawed at the man in question.

"Butt in bed, Cat. You can nag your uncle all day long at school tomorrow."

"He's fine, Runt." Victor hefted Cody up to hold in his lap and support against his shoulder. "I got him." He used the rhythm of his purring to act as a lullaby for the already dozing child.

"Oh boy," Logan reacted a few minutes later when familiar wailing preceded his wife and youngest boy arriving next. "Another one that fell out of bed."

Without a word, Kayla arranged the blanketed Todd in her husband's arms then looked on as his crying promptly ceased. "I knew it." She aimed an accusatory finger. "Stop stealing my boys away."

"Hey," Logan gently rocked their baby, "I try to be mean and nasty to 'em. Just a bystander here."

"I better get back to Mira before she wakes up thinking she's Earth's last survivor." Kayla ran fingers through both of her sons' soft hair as she took her leave.

At Cody's moaning, Victor kissed his head and nuzzled his cheek to settle him again.

"Uh uh," Logan reacted, seeing thumb making a path for mouth.

Victor quickly redirected Cody's thumb before the boy's father could deliver a hefty slap to the unsuspecting hand.

IIIIIII

Shower rejuvenated and dressed for the day in dark pants, button-down shirt, and gold vest, his buoyant stride through the second floor came to a pause at the struggling he overheard from one bedroom. Jimmy took the liberty of stepping inside, where the little girl in long powder blue pleated skirt and lavender turtleneck attempted to reason with the defiant boy still in Jungle Book pajamas and clutching the bedpost. Situated at the foot of the bed, Jack looked on at the antics with a mix of curiosity and confusion over the odd human behavior.

"Max!" Anne grunted, attempting to yank him by the legs. "Come on! Fabi says if you don't hurry up, you're going to school in your PJs." She sighed with untold frustration as she attempted to access his mind. His continuous grunting and internal struggling prevented her concentration. "Max, stop it! I'm going to tell Missy when she gets back- after she made all that breakfast for us. And just wait until Papi comes home tonight."

"Oh he won't have to wait." Leaning against the doorway to take in the display, Jimmy returned to his complete height. "See, I'm home now." Approaching purposefully, he lightly tapped her shoulder. "Go ahead and eat, baby."

Anne gave Max a clear "what'd I tell you?" look as she walked out of the room.

Before he said anything more, Jimmy took notice of the dog. "Hey, Jack," he whistled and pointed outward, "go get Anne. Go find her."

After another second, Jack sprinted up to carry out the command.

Jimmy turned back to the bed in time to witness Max fade away. "Oh no, don't even try it." Moving rapidly, he kicked the door closed to eliminate any escape plans. "Come on, boy. You already got me in a bad mood. Now, you got two seconds to show yourself before I show you this belt. What's it going to be, little man?"

In something of a breath, Max reformed on the mattress, brown eyes heavy with sheen. "Jim…" He raised his short arms in a beseeching gesture.

"Don't play cute," Jimmy dismissed instantly, making a direct path for him. "Bring your tail here."

When the older male plucked him up, Max moaned urgently and made attempts to block the buckle at his waist. "Noooooo…"

"Calm down." Jimmy situated the squirming figure over his lap, leaving a strong hand on his back. "I'm not breaking my new gator off on you. Now be still before I pull your pants down." Though in all honesty, he wanted to lower the risk of accidentally whacking the child's side or hip. Raising his right hand, Jimmy took several seconds to adjust the temperature to the lowest possible setting. He only sought to get the boy collected, not mistakenly fuse his pajamas to his bottom or scorch him.

The abnormal heated swat he received cause Max's eyes to bulge and he jumped in place. "Ouch!"

Jimmy dished out an identical one. "Three more. You move one more time and it's ten."

"No," Max protested, growing motionless.

Though he knew his mutation made it hurt almost to the extent of a regular length spanking, Jimmy did not draw it out. With every strike he did give him, vivid memories flashed before him. His own childhood recollections on the back burner, he certainly remembered instances with other kids where he had been made an unwitting witness. Most of them screaming for dear life, unable to get away from the thick belts, tree limbs, extension cords, broken pieces of furniture, and whatever else their parents and caretakers flung at them mercilessly.

Jimmy thought about his numerous grade school friends who came to class with fresh welts on their legs, backs, and arms. Then, the teacher would go into the lesson of the day and somehow manage to sneak in a few words about the evils inflicted by long-dead slave owners. Jimmy shook his head with a dry, bitter smirk and hastened to wrap things up with the small one over his knees.

In keeping with his word, he only gave Max a last three but kept him in place a moment. "You ready to mind or you want another one?"

Max immediately reacted, "Nooo, Jim… I'm sorry."

Jimmy repositioned him to stand and reached out to clear away the quiet tears. "Don't cry. Come on." He lifted him in a hug and started walking in an oval with him. "I know you miss your brother and I know you're mad- I'm mad, too, baby- but you can't be acting a fool around here. I don't care what Marco and Fabian let you do- I'm not having it, Missy's not having it, and you know Estevan's not having it. You hear me?" He felt the little boy's nod. "You ready to get dressed for school?"

After another nod, Max moved his head to look at him. "Do I still get to eat?"

The serious tone used by the child troubled him, but Jimmy attempted not to let it show. "Yeah, skinny boy, you have to eat. Hurry up and get your clothes on."

"… Will you help me, Jimmy?"

"You know you're old enough to get dressed by yourself." Still, Jimmy played valet for him, strictly to get him moving that much faster of course.

IIIIIII

Applying a sizable amount of starch from the bottle, Emma started over the garment with the lukewarm iron. From a chair in the laundry room, Adrienne held Brian while shaking his mini maraca for him. She could only wonder why the rattling beads brought such a fascinated twinkle to his eye.

Giving him the small instrument to operate himself, the redhead looked up at her younger sister. "Do you've any idea what a sight you are? Emma Frost- the classic domestic."

"Emma Xavier," the blonde folded over one sleeve, "is a full-time wife and mother. And according to my resident airman, the drycleaners do far too "lousy" a job at keeping his collars sufficiently stiff. Fortunately," she took up the iron again, "I happen to be a wiz with whites."

"I will say that Scott is certainly a well-mannered young man," Adrienne commented then grew dry. "Was hoping the same could be said for the Tolbert boy, but it appears Samantha bet on the wrong horse. I've been there."

Shooting her a glower that outmatched the heat of the iron, Emma said matter-of-factly, "Were you not holding my son right now, I would give you a good slap right back there. How dare you sneer at Frank after our own brother and sister dealt with substance abuse?"

"And his need for more very nearly got all of them killed, including Samantha."

"That was taken out of his hands and escalated faster than he could even comprehend the situation," Emma reasoned. "How many times did Chris almost get himself killed in one stunt or another? Frank is a perfectly dependable, intelligent boy who got in over his head. Don't you categorize him as some delinquent."

Seeing the red ready to consume the blue in her sister's eyes, Adrienne conceded, "I wasn't trying to write him off entirely. You should know I feel a constant need to be on the lookout where males, young and old, are involved. Far too easy to spin a sensible girl's head in a moment's time."

Softening as well, Emma hung up Scott's current shirt to begin ironing the next one. "I definitely understand your concern for Sam… such things come with the motherhood package."

A now thoughtful Adrienne adjusted Brian in her arms. "She does call me that. I don't think I've ever corrected her for it."

"Why would you need to?" Emma countered simply.

Adrienne started to speak again until her jaw experienced sudden impact from an incoming maraca. "Ah!"

"Brian Henry," Emma gasped, going to collect him. "What on Earth did you just do?"

The teeny boy gazed back at her with guiltless swelled eyes.

Taking the instrument away from him, Adrienne deduced, "Carrying out your handiwork no doubt."

IIIIIII

With the seemingly endless numbers, signs, as well as their operations laid out before her, Samantha decided it mattered not. They all added up to negative in her opinion. Twenty minutes into the quiz, she still wrestled with the fourth problem as she heard the chair in the back screech out against the tile floor. She watched Frank make his way for the front of the room and to their teacher's desk where she assumed like her, a certain problem had him stumped.

"Mr. Harrison?" the boy addressed.

The elderly man with head of all-white hair removed eyes from his own work. "Is anything wrong, Franklin?"

"No, sir." Frank presented him with the paper. "I'm done."

Pupils enlarging, Mr. Harrison fiddled with his glasses. "Already?" At Frank's nod, he briefly scanned the paper. "Oh Franklin, nothing but answers again? Didn't you need any scratch paper?"

"No, sir. I kind of do better when I work them out in my head."

"So I see." After another run-through of the paper, Mr. Harrison wrote and circled the mark at the top. "One hundred percent even after wrestling with illness the other day. Only do me a favor and try to work out the solution. It will be necessary for when I call on you for demonstrations to the class."

"You got it, Mr. Harrison." Frank accepted the paper back from him. "Thank you." He waved and mouthed "bye" to Samantha on his way out of the classroom.

The last makeup student in the class, Samantha focused on her own quiz again. Three and a half problems down and only twenty-six and a half remaining- which also accounted for the only arithmetic she could comprehend in that instance.

IIIIIII

Entering the infirmary but choosing to linger in the doorway, the wizard of metal took the time to observe the mutated youth attempting a few fighting stances. Despite some grunts and heavy intakes of air, he seemed to maintain a handle over it until he attempted to fling his leg forward suddenly. The poorly executed kick landed him on the floor, but Erik arrived at his side in the same moment.

"One step at a time," the man coached, helping the boy to rise while keeping a grip on his arms. "Steady now."

"Why does that keep happening?" the now strained Collin wanted to know. "Doc McCoy said I was ready to try for some action."

Giving him a knowing look, Erik corrected, "He said you could try light exercises to work your way up. Since he needed to get back to the high school, he also asked me to see to you today. First thing? No more attempts at climbing the mountain before you're able to step over the stone."

"Where do you adults get these things?" Collin flapped back against his cot. "I don't get it. I thought I was doing better."

"Meaning you are no longer in critical condition." Erik moved to stand over his laid out form. "Many of these symptoms you are experiencing are due to withdrawal. Your body has forgotten how to survive without turning to a quick fix."

"Look, I know what a stupid piece of trash you all think I am, alright?" He rolled over to his side, glaring at the wall. "And I know you're right so we can just stop talking about it."

With a smack to his defenseless bottom, Erik immediately got the boy's eyes up again. "You will look at me when I'm speaking to you, young man. I already know you understand the physical harm done, but it runs deeper than that." Erik squatted to peer into his eyes with gentleness. "Since the day you were born, you've had little to no control over your own life. Born to selfish fools undeserving of you, the abuse you and your brother suffered, being separated from each other. You had no say in any of that, did you?"

With a heavy countenance, Collin answered softly, "Zip."

"Many of us have viewed our mutations as yet another affliction. But don't you see?" While Collin reacted to the metallic parts beginning to float around the room, Erik kept his visual entirely on the teen. "These unique gifts- God given abilities- are how we take control. You thought the drugs gave you relief, but they really took control away from you. But Collin," he tapped his knee to get his entire attention again, "I'm here to tell you that you will regain it. You will come back from this stronger, wiser, better."

Trying to take the many words in, Collin stared at his lap before bringing brown eyes up again. "You really don't think I'm a lost cause?"

Erik chuckled dryly yet earnestly at that. "My boy, if there is a lost cause in this room, you're looking at it- not the other way around." Collin appeared taken aback by that. "Now come on, easy." Taking both his wrists, Erik coached, "Try to stand." With a breath, Collin uplifted to his feet and the metal wielder nodded with approval. "We'll see how well you're able to walk about. One step at a time, you will get there."

"Kay," Collin replied faintly but determinedly.

Keeping hands attached to the man's arms, Collin started forward across the floor.

IIIIIII

An instant smile coming to her face, the girl in pink and purple uniform hurriedly approached the boy in red, white, and blue. "Frank."

Melting from the inside out, he immediately accepted her embrace. "Hey, Becky."

"How was today?" she wanted to know.

"Pretty good. I have a stack of homework to makeup still, but I—"

"Excuse me." Finished adjusting his visor, Cyclops regarded them with fists on his hips. "Can we go, please? The Triad is waiting on Rebecca and Havok has drills to go over with us. You know, whenever you're ready." He headed down the stairs with that.

Looking up and even despite the half-mask he wore, Becky could still see the crestfallen expression spelled out on Lighthouse's face.

II

Shooting through the air almost in imitation of an arrow, the leonine mutant made a landing on a branch. In her uniform of coral colored jumpsuit with white boots, belt with X buckle, and turtleneck underneath, she next executed a drop. Her ponytail of golden blonde swaying, she made it to her feet once more.

"Thing you got to remember about us cats," reacting to the masculine voice, Samantha scanned the area for it, "is half our defense is puttin' a guy's nerves on edge. Save your strength, only attack when necessary, and," Samantha spun around at the tall body that came down behind her, "leave 'em drippin' in sweat."

The girl nodded hard. "Right, of course."

Sabretooth gripped her shoulders. "You stayed out of range of those guys once you kids were on the run, right?"

"Yes," Samantha answered promptly. "I stayed on the buildings- kept moving because he had a gun. I was fine until I- I fell." She folded arms together squeamishly. "I'm sorry."

"Hey," Victor cupped her cheek, getting her eyes up, "you did everything right, baby. You called the team in and rushed in because you had no other choice. Those boys wouldn't have made it out if not for you."

"Naturally." Turning, Samantha smiled at Adrienne's arrival and Angel flapping down to join them on ground level. "Keep a man fixated on our assets long enough for us to drive a stiletto into his."

Angel shared a mutual snide snicker with her.

Sabretooth's gaze settled on the curvaceous redhead. "Somethin' along those lines…"

Angel brought up, "We're still heading out tonight, right? Just us?"

"Of course," Adrienne confirmed, eyes going to the blonde girl. "We have a celebration long overdue. How was school today, darling?"

Samantha responded with, "Busy."

Sabretooth commented, "Better than the usual "meh" we get around here."

"Come on, Gorge." Angel took Samantha's arm to lead her away. "We need to meet Mystique for hand-to-hand."

Adrienne neared Sabretooth, accepting his arm around her. "And you? Happy to be back amongst your little playground tots?"

"That gig's for kicks," he informed her. "Workin' with you? That's where the thrill is. You sure about the airport tomorrow? If you can get your head around settlin' here, you could be a big help in trainin' these girls."

"My sister and your other female instructors fulfill that role with… adequacy enough." Adrienne glided manicured fingers down his chest. "You don't want all three Sisters Frost under the same roof for a significant stretch of time. Trust me. Now," she tugged at his wrist, "what's say we have another look at the lovely new arsenal you brought back, hm?" The moment she turned away, she found herself whipped back and lips captured by him. "My- last day on Earth already?"

"At my age?" Sabretooth began walking with her. "That's any given second."

II

Situated with Vapor right before the entrance into the woods behind the house, Havok glowered at the stopwatch in his possession. At last, the five youths returned to him.

"Three minutes down from yesterday, Cyclops?" the blonde instructor berated. "This explanation better be good. Thought we'd have to send a search party in after you."

Cyclops stood at attention as he reported, "There's some significant lagging in certain team members today."

"He means Lightswitch here," Silver Cat indicated him with his thumb, "is set to off and slowin' us down big time."

At the look Banshee shot him, the young boy clamped up but his cheeky countenance remained in place.

Havok walked straight for Lighthouse who struggled to maintain vigilance with him, despite his eyes being hidden. "You want to tell me what's going on here? I thought you were cleared to resume training."

"I am," Lighthouse insisted. "Just having an off day."

"Yeah," zero mercy reflected in Havok's eyes, "about seven or eight weeks' worth apparently."

Banshee stepped forward. "Havok, just give him time to—"

"No one needs your screeching right now, Banshee," Havok informed him. "So shut your mouth." Instead, the teenager's jaw dropped while Silver Cat and Eel exchanged astonished expressions. Havok next addressed, "Vapor, you mind taking this session across the yard? Go on and start, I'll be there soon."

With a single nod, Vapor directed the others with three raised fingers. "We're on the move, guys."

Even through the younger boy's visor, Lighthouse did not miss Cyclops' glare as the groups of young males took off.

Havok returned attention to Lighthouse. "You're supposed to be on additional training, but you're acting like you've forgotten the most basic baby steps here."

"I'm sorry, okay?" Lighthouse retorted. "I get it. All I ever do is mess up—" His lips froze in place when he found his back forced against a tree trunk.

Seizing the boy by a fistful of his uniform, Havok kept him in place. "Oh, shut. Up! 'House! I am sick of your "woe is me, middle child" bull. You're not a little boy anymore so quit milking for pity. I want you in bed by eight-thirty tonight. Because you're up at five in the morning for another session."

Without the firm support enforced on him currently, Lighthouse would have dried up in place. "Are you serious? Havok, I have homework still."

"Then get to it." Havok released him. "Go to your room." With shoulders as low as they could go, Lighthouse made a melancholy path towards the mansion before Havok's voice stilled him again. "And 'House, if I don't start seeing some real effort put in here, you're going to be feeling some real swats. Not on your hand."

"…. Yes, sir." Closing his eyes to prevent any potential moisture, he continued on inside.

IIIIIII

With a knock, the voice rang out, "Prison rations."

Staring into his slowly filling notebook, Frank returned, "Not hungry."

Leon peeked inside the bedroom. "So, you want me to go back downstairs and inform Raven you're starving yourself?"

Frank sighed deeply. "No." With the older teen placing the tray at the foot of his bed, he went over to pick at the contents. He could not help smiling at the slice of pie allowed him.

Seeing which direction his eyes went, Leon held a spoon out to him. "Dessert before dinner. I won't tell." Frank smiled at him gratefully and took the utensil to dig into the dessert. "So, how are you doing? I mean really."

Frank slowed his chewing a little. "More down than ever. Now there's no escape. All these looks everybody's giving me…"

"I wish I could say I relate to that fallout," Leon said, "but after everything I did, swiping those prescriptions- all in all, I should have gotten so much worse. But I guess it's because none of you really knew me then, what to expect." He faced the boy closer. "Know what someone told me recently?" Frank shook his head. "Disappointment's not all bad. To let someone down, they had to have had you propped up pretty high in the first place."

Frank stayed silent, letting that sink in. "Guess that's true when you think about it. Hope it's true about Alex…"

"Hey, no matter how mad we make him," Leon moved to squat before the dejected one, "we're still his little brothers, for better or worse with that one." He touched Frank's knee and squeezed the spot. "And you're still mine… which is why I'm keeping an eagle eye on you until you're fifty."

"Jerk." Frank sent a faux punch his way.

Leon grabbed the fist and used it to yank him down into his hold. "Takes one to know one." He noogied Frank's stomach area over his shirt.

IIIIIII

At the appearance of the other Acolyte in the medical space, Erik helped Collin up from the floor mat and back onto his cot. Running fingers through the child's hair, Erik bobbed his head at the other young man on his way out.

The two regarded each other in silence until the older one spoke. "Surprised to see me?"

Collin shrugged. "Figured you were handling your own business."

"You wish." Jimmy strolled his way, taking a seat on the bed. "To be honest, I wanted to wait until you healed up a little bit."

Collin raised an eyebrow. "What? Couldn't handle seeing me laid out and pathetic?"

"Nah, I just didn't want you looking all helpless and softening me up. I almost went out and bought a specific belt just for you."

"Like I don't have it coming," Collin failed to protest. "Maybe you can have Estevan add it to the torture lair he's building for me. He told me I have to come to him when I'm strong enough to take it."

Jimmy responded to this new information with, "Good. I see you and your brother and tick for tack with that."

Collin immediately frowned. "What's wrong with Max?"

Jimmy held up two easing hands. "He's alright- just decided to lose a portion of his mind this morning. I handled it. And relax, just spanked him. I don't beat on little kids."

Collin gave off a nod then wanted to know, "Is he okay?"

"Just misses you," Jimmy told him. "Estevan won't be back until tonight, so me and Miss are about the only ones he'll listen to."

"Marco lives in his brain," Collin commented. "And who'd listen to Fabian, anyway?"

They shared a snigger and Jimmy determined, "I better get back before something else breaks off." He reached forward, gliding his hand through the messy red hair. "Glad you're okay, kid." He then warned, "But you got one more time to do anything this retarded."

"Right." Collin eased into the touch a little. "Thanks, Jim."

"Be good." On his way out, Jimmy tacked on, "Ish."

With a small smirk, Collin laid back comfortably.

IIIIIII

On his twentieth uplift, the fit blonde opened his eyes to see the irate head of copper looming above him.

With an exhale, Alex returned the weight to its stand. "Those horror stories are getting to you. You're looking a little creepy, Seanie."

"I'm looking at the creep," Sean countered matter-of-factly, coming around to him. "What is your problem?"

"High BP." Toweling off, Alex stood and drank from his water bottle.

"That's your excuse for being a dick to Frank?"

Alex gave him a look. "You want to mind your business here?"

"Frank is my business," Sean informed him. "In case you conveniently forgot, when I was barely older than he is, you," he jabbed a finger at the blonde, "took me on beer runs. Not to mention egging me on to talk back in class, trying to show me how to hotwire, drag racing— or has this instructor gig gone to your head so much that you've forgotten all that?"

"I remember every detail," Alex countered. "I was nothing but a royal idiot with a chip on his shoulder. I'm not letting Frank be anything like I was."

"You didn't come down like this with Leon. What, you make exceptions for your buddy?"

"Sean, my day starts off good every time I wake up and find out Lee hasn't slit his wrists or something. Yeah, he did it all the wrong way, but the depression, anxiety- he thought he couldn't survive a day of school without those pills."

Sean quieted, but eventually came back with, "So as usual, mine and Frank's lives don't qualify as sad enough around here."

"It goes deeper than that, Sean," Alex stated. "Frank has always been too strong and able to think for himself. Drugs? No, he doesn't get a pass for "feeling down". I expect better from him and that's exactly how I'm going to treat him. If I come off as a dick for it," he started out of the gym, still facing the younger X-Man, "oh well."

Still frustrated, Sean accused, "Do you just wake up possessed by Erik?"

"Yep," Alex put on a grin, backing out, "and thanks."

Eyes going to a collection of dumbbells, moral willpower prevented Sean from hurling one quite vengefully.

IIIIIII

Peering brown eyes into the already open office space, the child petitioned, "Charles?"

"Frank," pleasant expression in place, the Professor gestured for him to come near, "come on in. How are you doing?"

"Okay, I guess. I only have a minute." Frank arrived at his side. "How long do you want my assignment to be?"

"For Friday? Actually, I want a written copy, but I'm going to leave it up to you to determine the length necessary for the presentation." Charles tugged affectionately at the lad's belt loops. "I'm sure you'll do a fine job as always. How is the rest of your homework coming?"

"It's done," Frank told him, not sounding altogether happy about that fact. "Not like I had anything else to do with Alex locking me up and Scott acting like I'm the plague or something."

Charles' expression turned concerned as well as disapproving. "Are you and Scott fighting?"

"No. He won't even talk to me. Just at me."

"Oh dear. There really is a plague about it would seem. I spoke to Erik a moment ago. He mentioned that Collin hasn't seen you since everything happened."

Frank rolled his eyes. "It can stay that way."

This surprised Charles. "You're angry with Collin? Because you accepted his offering?"

"Well, no, not exactly. It's just," Frank sighed in annoyance, "it's not fair. I got three spankings, grounded, all this extra work to do on top of harder training sessions. All he gets is special attention."

After listening, Charles nodded. "Yes, I can see how unfair that seems and upset you feel because of it. But let me ask, what happens when you misbehave?" He brought Frank to sit in his lap. "Don't we punish you?"

"Well… yeah," Frank admitted. "It just feels like so much."

"Because your actions led to so much," Charles explained to him gently. "Raven, Logan, and Erik were all in their rights to discipline you as they saw fit. And because I feel you've been punished so, I only grounded you a week to think about everything and catch up on your studies. Does this really sound so wretched?"

"No," Frank answered, despite himself.

"As for this special attention Collin is receiving, I've felt the insecurities in his mind that partly led to the drugs. Frank, through all of this, did you ever worry that Erik and I would turn you away right out into the streets?"

Frank shook his head hard. "No way. Maybe spank me in the middle of the street…"

Charles chuckled to himself at that. "Perhaps. However, Collin was extremely worried that Estevan would be finished with him and separate him from Max permanently. Now, whatever feelings we may have towards the Acolytes, Erik and I do not see that happening. So we've maybe given Collin some additional attention because it's long overdue to him." Charles wound a loving arm around him. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," Frank nodded. "I know Coll hasn't had it easy."

"Which is why he values your friendship so," Charles emphasized. "You see, dear boy, to turn away from him now would leave him feeling the same way Scott has you now."

Frank decided, "You're right, Charles. I'll talk to him."

The man kissed his temple. "Good lad. Also, for your early day tomorrow, I asked Raven to secure an extra piece of pie and some whipped cream for you. To start your morning off with an additional burst of energy of course."

Frank immediately hugged him. "Thanks, Charles. You're out of sight."

"Remember that if I'm ever forced to spank your bum in the middle of the street."

"Oh no." Frank blocked his bottom as he stood. "I don't want you hurting your hands over me."

"So considerate," Charles commented affectionately after the departing youth.

On his return to the second floor, Frank spotted the younger boy who seemed to move with greater haste towards his room. "Scott, wait a minute." Frank walked up to him. "Come on, man, let's talk about it."

Casting a gaze on him, Scott wanted to know, "Oh, got some more nifty high school tips for me? Are all the cool kids collecting druggy best friends?"

"Scott, stop," Frank near pleaded. "I know it was stupid. It's the dumbest thing I ever did."

"You bet it was," Scott wholeheartedly agreed. "You're always making a big deal of how hip you are because you're from the city and blah, blah, blah. You've seen crackheads, you helped a family with a mom who was one, and you still got sucked into this? How could you be so stupid, Frank?"

"I don't- I don't know. Scott, I'm sorry."

"Oh you're definitely sorry," Scott scoffed.

"Hey, hey," dressed in slacks and dress shirt from his evening out, Victor made it to the second level, having heard the argument from the first, "let's cool off here, champs. You," he pointed at and made a path for Scott, "with me. Let's go."

With an annoyed huff of his shoulders, Scott followed him into the man's seldom used bedroom. "What did I do?"

Victor looked to him after shutting the door. "You didn't do anything, Shades. But you're on edge and we need to have a word."

"We don't need to have anything," Scott stated matter-of-factly. "Just because you finally got bored of making time with your girlfriend and decided to crawl back here, doesn't mean I have to answer to you."

After recovering from the unexpected words flung at him, Victor took him by the arm and swatted him twice. "Sounds to me like somebody needs a time out." He aimed a finger at an empty corner. "Plant it, Shades."

Head down, Scott walked to the clear space. Even with only two blows, he wanted to rub his bottom, but kept arms firmly at his sides.

Sitting on the side of his bed, Victor left the child there for five minutes. "Come here, kid."

Eyes still downward, Scott walked to him. "I'm sorry for sassing…"

Taking his chin, Victor lifted the young face. "It's not what you said I'm interested in. I want to know why you said it." He clutched Scott's wrist next. "Did you think I wasn't coming back?"

"No, not really… just… you were gone so long and you weren't at school with us or anything…felt like I was on my own a couple times."

"So, it's my fault," Victor claimed without a trace of sarcasm. "Because you're right, Shades." He held the boy on his lap. "I should've tried to get back here sooner. You're never on your own, Scott," he nuzzled at his cheek, "you know that, don't you?"

"Mmhmm." Scott leaned in near his ear. "I'm really sorry, Coach."

Rubbing the child's back, Victor purred as well. "I know and that's enough of that. Let's talk about you and Frank. Pretty sore at him, huh?"

"I just… I never saw him doing anything like that. The Eye Scream Team- we don't do dumb junk like drugs."

"That's a relief to the old man's heart." Victor patted Scott's thigh gingerly. "You and Frank ain't ever been just best friends. You're a lot like brothers, aren't ya?" Scott nodded. "Here's the thing about brothers, they do things, sometimes out of character things, that make you want to give up and walk away. But you can't. Because that's when they need ya most."

Scott looked at him directly. "I guess Wolverine's loused up a lot, huh?"

Victor's countenance remained unmoved. "If it weren't for him sticking by me, I wouldn't be here talkin' to you now. I've done a lot I'm not proud of."

"You, Coach?"

"Yep, me Coach," Victor confirmed. "I faced some dark times in my life, but Logan stayed right there. I know you're packed with a lot of morals, kid and I'm proud of you for it, but don't get so caught up in good that it makes you turn your back on the people who matter most to you. Here's something else to keep in mind. Would Frank turn on you for something like this?"

Scott did not have to consider it. "Not a chance. He's offered to take the fall for me, too."

"There are times when you have to leave behind the people you love," Victor told him. "But not without giving 'em a fighting chance."

"I hear you, Coach," Scott replied. "Loud and clear. And I'm still sorry for snapping."

"Yeah, but 'fraid we'll have to do something about that." Victor formed a small smile. "What's say you and me throw the ball around? Tomorrow, right after school."

"Alright!"

"Whoa!" Victor chuckled and toppled back onto the bed at the thin boy pouncing him.

IIIIIII

Done with reviewing his young patient's vitals for the night, Hank looked over at Frank making his way in.

Placing a finger on each of them, the doctor reminded, "No roughhousing, you two."

"No thumb wars," Collin surmised. "Got it, Doc."

Hank gave him a faux-cross look and patted Frank's shoulder as he left them in the infirmary.

Frank took a sit spot that allowed him to face the reclining one. "I think you look grosser now than you did before."

"Haha," Collin reacted glibly. "You were right about to give a guy a complex. I've seen Sam, but I thought you were avoiding me for a sec there."

"Yeah, you wish," Frank dismissed. "Besides, who's going to "check over" your makeup work for you?"

Collin smirked before his face went straight again. "Listen, man, thanks for everything. I mean everything. You should've just taken Sam and run for it. You're the ones that would've been missed."

"Yeah, because I hang around you for my good health," Frank said with an eye roll. "You seriously thought I would leave you there with those sick pieces of crap? Forget it."

Collin shook his head thoughtfully. "I swear you X-Men are on Jesus' bowling team or something."

"Hardly. The Big Man's revoked my wings until further notice." Frank's expression grew grim. "Listen, man, you have to promise me that's the end of this. No more drugs, period."

"No more drugs," Collin confirmed. "And once Estevan lays into me, it'll really be the "end" of this."

"Aw, poor baby," Frank smirked.

Collin balled a piece of paper from the notepad he had with him to fling at him. "Shove it."

"Hey," they both looked up to see Scott coming at them with an armload, "want to play?"

Surprised at the sight of him, Frank still brought up, "You know I have to be in bed in like ten minutes, right?"

"Alex will live," Scott said plainly. "I'll talk to him."

Collin sat up at the multiple toys Scott deposited onto his bed. "Wow, look at these guys." He picked up the Green Lantern. "You must have a hot truck worth of these things."

"Frank's mom gets him the best Supermen." Scott turned to him. "Run and grab yours."

Frank poked at the Joker. "I don't think Superman's allowed back in the Justice League."

"What?" Collin raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't it be easier to impeach Johnson than kick the Boy Scout out of the Justice League?"

"Yeah," Scott seconded. "What could Superman have possibly done to deserve that?"

"He got caught," Frank explained. "Messing around with some special kryptonite that made him feel good. But it made him act bad, go nuts, and almost get everybody killed."

Scott claimed, "Hey, it happens to the best superheroes. He's not leaving the League," he raised the action figure in black and gray, "not if Batman has anything to say about it."

Frank folded his arms. "Thought Batman was done with Superman."

"Well, he sort of was, but you know how moody Bats can get," Scott reasoned. "But he had a talk with Wonder Woman. She's real persuasive."

Thoughts of the curvy heroine made Collin let off a whistle. "No kidding."

"Now," speaking for Batman, Scott waved the action figure about, "go tell Superman to get off his great blue backside. We have crime to foil."

Picking up the Flash, Frank answered, "We're on it," and dashed up and out of the medical wing.

Scott turned to Collin. "You can be Two-Face if you want."

The redhead studied Green Lantern's emblem for a moment. "Think I could try out one of these guys instead?"

Scott started to smile but instead brought up Batman to respond, "I think that can be arranged."