A.N: Thank you SirSlaps, I certainly intend on doing so.

Chapter 9: Letting Them See

(1 hour later.)

Spider-Man's P.O.V

They had a picture.

A picture!

I had damaged all of the visible cameras –

"Now they know I can melt things with acid."

– but failed to think about different means of observation.

I paced relentlessly in my cave, a growl tearing its way free from my throat. Sure, Beast had said that it was blurry and indistinct. It was likely due to my movement –

"Now they have an idea of my speed."

– but they could still see that I had extra limbs. Grey fur or skin, they couldn't decide, but they also knew about my claws and red eyes. Once anyone pieced all of that together they would have a clear picture, except in this case they actually had a real one.

"They know what I am!"

An ugly snarl reverberated in my cave as I stood and slammed my claws into the rock wall. I hunched over, panting – gasping? – as twinges of pain from exhausted muscles snapped me out of it. My eyes, all six of them, closed and I slowly straightened upright, removing my claws from the stone.

"They know what I am."

They had a picture of me: a monster that had broken into their base, wrecked their stuff and was apparently strong enough to handle one of their tougher simulations. I didn't stick around to hear much of their brainstorming beyond that. Instead of the venture helping me with anything, all that had happened was them ending up with something they could use.

"What if they publish it?"

They had tried a manhunt (monsterhunt) of their own, but the number of people a picture would rouse would be off the scale. There would be no more secret monster – I would be actively hunted.

I blinked, hard. My gaze trailed up from the floor to my clothing and I cut back a noise somewhere between a sigh and a groan. The mutants had also noticed I had some sort of covering, if it could be called that anymore.

My old uniforms were obviously all I had. After months of living rough and making them fit over a body a bit too large to wear them anymore, they were a mess. The colour was nearly completely faded, tears, stains and burn marks littered them and every single one was frayed from constant movement.

"I need to get something else to wear… But that picture…"

I shook my head. From what I did hear of their ideas, they were not close to figuring out what I was supposed to be. Their theories had ranged a few topics in the span of a few minutes.

"Maybe if they believe in some of them, they might not do anything with the picture."

If they kept it to themselves I would have a chance.

"At what? Avoiding them? Not being caught and studied? Experimented on, or –"

I shook my head again, faster this time. These thoughts were ultimately pointless. Whatever they were going to do, I would deal with it when it happened – just like I had with everything else after I turned into a monster.

After preparing a web-bag and scooping my meagre and incriminating belongings into it in case I needed a quick escape, I crawled into my nest. The sun was slowly sinking through the sky, but although my body was still I couldn't stop thinking. Tiredness dragged at my limbs after today's exertion, but I was restless all the same.

An hour or so passed until I sat up. Sleeping or even dozing wouldn't work tonight.

I hissed, trailing into a growl towards the end. I was so angry. Angry that I had messed up and gave them something to hold over me, whether they used it or not. They were going to do something. They couldn't not, but accepting that I would cope with what they decided on did not mean I had to like it. At all.

My claws clacked against the rock as I slung myself out of my nest, back to pacing, on two feet instead of all eights this time. One of my arms trembled as I lashed out at the wall again and I looked down.

It wasn't from exhaustion.

"Not good."

This was working me up more than I thought.

Dropping onto all eights, I went to the river to get a quick drink before returning to my cave and moving the boulder, entering the small lower cavern before closing it back over behind me. I sat with my back against the wall, fighting off the now noticeable influence as it always took the chances I unwittingly gave it, like it had a mind of its own.

Another scary part of my monstrous existence.

Even the struggle failed to fully pull my mind away from how lucky the group didn't know they were: to be able to fit in, have people to support you, act normal…

…

To have a family.

(Next day.)

Jubilee's P.O.V

I yawned, offering another piece of scrap metal up to Rogue so she could straighten it out.

The talk about that creature had gone way too long into the night. It looked like some sort of giant blurry insect in my opinion, but the picture wasn't really useful in helping us figure out what it was exactly. As far as we could see it definitely wasn't human – not that we thought that anyway, but the extra limbs had been a surprise. It also either had some really strange natural colouring, or it was wearing clothes. That had led to the thought that it could be intelligent and was a sentient being like us, but that idea had been shot down by Logan right away. He said that if it was it wouldn't have broke into the mansion and ruined our equipment.

Another idea that was brought up was that it could be a new species. Nobody really believed that one, and if it had come from another planet the Professor should have been warned somehow.

The third idea that took up most of the time was the worst. If Beast and Cyclopes were right about a group of people being the ones who turned off the outside cameras, then what if this group had been experimenting with mutant genetics like that guy months ago, or the others before him? What if they had managed to create something awful and it had either escaped or they had released it here after they had trained it?

The worst part of it was it wasn't such a far-fetched idea.

So much had already happened to us just because we were mutants, but if we were right and had figured it out, what else could it do? It was tough enough to take on the Sentinel program by itself, after sneaking inside, then it escaped from the whole team.

I scowled, putting another piece of metal down. "So what if we're different?" People didn't have to treat us differently and make things to catch us or fight us or –

I needed to get away for a bit. "I'm gonna take a break," I said to Rogue, already turning. She gave me a thumbs up and I walked around the side of the mansion. Instead of going to the front door and inside like the rules said, I kept walking all the way to the trees. I could fire plasma, and I would do it if I needed to just to keep my family from worrying.

My lips twitched up. For all the things we had happen to us, we beat them. Together. We could handle anything. The X-Men were a weird family for sure, but if it meant being different I wouldn't change it for the world – sometimes things just got a bit overwhelming, like now.

I sighed, easier this time and noticed that my feet had taken me to one of my favourite spots – a strange tree, the only one on the grounds I think, near the lower river. It was nice to sit against it and relax while listening to music, but I didn't have my earphones so the water would have to do. The others could handle some repairs without the help of Jubilee for a while. "I just need a few more minutes before going back."

Sitting without lyrics only made me think about what was going on again though. "A giant bug thing is maybe or maybe not running loose in this place and it might be on purpose. We have a bunch of crazy theories and the only one that makes sense is the dangerous one because of who we are." I threw my hands in the air. "Why is it always like this?!"

The mistake didn't hit me until I huffed, slumping over before the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

"Oh." It was probably a bad idea to make more noise, but I had already made a pretty loud one, so… "Who's there?" I called out. I straightened and readied my plasma just in case the bug thing showed up. The feeling was as weird as always, but training with Logan made sure to make me listen to it.

"When you feel like you're being watched, make sure to not show weakness," I remembered.

After a full minute of nothing but river sounds, I felt silly. My hands dropped. "You're getting way too paranoid Jube," I muttered to myself.

"So how come I still feel the same way?"

I glanced around again. As hard as I tried, I couldn't see anything through the trees.

That was when there was a soft whoosh of air from behind me. It could have been a bird or a weird gust of air, but I was leaning against a tree and that had sounded close –

My head jerked up.

It took me a second to really see it. I gasped at the set of three claws gripping the bark and three sets of red eyes staring down at me.

It was…well, something like out of a horror movie almost. The eyes were bright red, but I didn't feel like I had to look at only them, so I wasn't being hypnotised this time. If it really was hypnotising us in the first place – we still didn't know.

"Why has it changed?"

I had no way to find out, but at least I finally got the chance to look at it. Even with the leaves in the way this was so much more than I had before. More than we had before. "The team." My hands tensed, ready to fire plasma if it pounced, but it was just…watching.

It was wearing clothes: plain red mixed with some kind of colour between green and brown, like camouflage. We were right about the limbs too – I spotted two more sets of claws beside the first and there was another one poking under the opposite side of the branch. It was big as well, but the rest of its body was too far back into the tree branches for me to see. I barely stopped a shudder. "I hope it's not absolutely huge." The grey that we saw from the picture turned out to be fur and there was something white… My eyes narrowed. Was that some sort of tusk by its mouth?

Even when it narrowed its eyes at me and my heart started hammering, I stayed still. Predators reacted to movement, the Professor said. If it decided to attack it would be a different story, but I was part of the X-Men. Not only had I trained with my abilities, I had also been in plenty of situations that gave me experience in fights. I could hold my own against a giant, six-legged…bug-thing if it came down to it…

Maybe I shouldn't have sneaked off by myself.

A light growl made me snap my eyes back to its face right before it moved. Slowly, it raised itself up a bit and backed off into the branches. The leaves of another tree over to my right shook hard enough that something must have landed, and I watched carefully as it headed away from me.

As soon as everything was still again, I stood up and ran back to the mansion on autopilot.

(Fifteen minutes earlier.)

Spider-Man's P.O.V

After keeping track of her when she reached the bottom of the cliff – alone – I decided not to worry and settled down on the criss-crossing branches. The sun was shining through the clouds; although it wasn't the warmest, these were still good conditions for basking and I was still tired from everything that had occurred recently.

I firmly did not expect her to sit directly under me at the Uaman tree.

By the time she approached the area and remained resolutely on a path to my chosen spot, I couldn't move without gaining her attention. Thankfully all she did was slump against the trunk, clearly thinking about something unpleasant if her expression before she sat down meant anything.

"Probably me."

I couldn't blame her. I wouldn't like finding out that a monster was living in a supposedly safe place. Home should always be a safe place.

"Way to make yourself feel guilty Spidey."

Briefly, the idea of leaving the estate cropped up again. I pushed it away with the rapidly staling argument that this place had everything I really needed – including a rare painkiller.

Then again, I wouldn't have needed that if I hadn't mutated. It was sheer luck that I found it anyway. If there was a place closer to the city I would stay there; maybe somewhere underground…but I also needed access to food and water. Food I could scavenge from just about anywhere, but fresh water in the city would be an issue. The hour-point-something travel to and fro also wasn't the worst, but –

I was going in circles again. "That never helps, but sooner or later – preferably sooner – I'll have to make a choice."

Stay and risk this mutant group hunting me, or move to the city and risk it with the masses there?

"Why is it always like this?!"

I jerked, fur flattening, honestly almost forgetting the girl was there at all. She had been perfectly quiet besides her breathing and heartbeat which was smart with a "creature" on the grounds, but she had just blown that spectacularly.

"Oh… Who's there?"

"Aaaaand she realised it too."

I did not move a muscle until she stopped scanning the area. Then she went and called herself paranoid.

I closed my mouth as quickly as it had opened before a sound could escape. "Paranoid?" She had looked upset at something, but I didn't think it was that bad. She had been thinking about this so much she had begun imagining the worst case scenarios all due to one indistinct picture of me.

Of course it was this bad.

"If it's stressing them out this much…that's another point in the 'leave' pile." A big one at that. I sighed, committing myself to it before more arguments could circle back. Then my spider-sense prickled and I looked down at the exact moment she looked up. "Oh no."

I nearly panicked, digging my claws deeper into the bark to stop myself from leaping up and scaring her more. She didn't move, staring right back. "Maybe…" I thought quickly, a haphazard plan throwing itself together against the judgement of my spider-sense and general unease.

I was in the tree, looking down at her through the leaves which meant she would be doing the same. Movement would undoubtably scare her and she could attack me, and I really did not want to find out what her abilities were that way. Maybe, just maybe, if she actually saw me while I didn't do anything it would help. It could guarantee that they would hold off on doing something with the picture, which would hopefully give me enough time to find somewhere in the city.

Could. Hopefully.

Six red eyes staring at her likely wouldn't help, but… "I'm not a threat," I tried to convey as she studied me. A bout of self-consciousness came over me and I almost faltered. This was the closest human (mutant) interaction I had had since I woke up. All of a sudden I was glad to have acquired a new set of clothing.

Sneaking into Aunt May's house when she was out had been…challenging. My room was untouched, so grabbing some leftover fabric made for a humanoid body was easy. Going into her room and using the sewing machine to stitch them together while weaving some of my structural webbing through the new clothes had been harder.

There hadn't been any blue, but the greenish colour was good and my web would protect against fraying and tearing if I grew any more. I had enough time to make two suits before leaving, unwilling to risk being there longer than absolutely necessary.

… It had been nice to see Uncle Ben's portrait.

I was brought back to the present by her movement. She tensed, arms raising and narrowing her eyes. Mine narrowed in response. Was she really going to attack me for doing nothing?

My spider-sense buzzed lowly, and I growled lightly, deciding that was enough. "I'm not staying to find out what you can do." Raising myself up slowly so as to not give her a ready excuse – not that she needed another one – I backed further into the tree before leaping to the one behind us. Another jump and I landed heavily enough to ensure she knew I was leaving the area, heading away and leaving her alone.

Seeing Aunt May and MJ before patrol today sounded great.

(10 minutes later.)

Beast's P.O.V

I was the first to see Jubilee enter the mansion after we figured out she had left Rogue and entered the forest by herself. She wore an oddly blank expression despite being out of breath.

"Jubilee, what is the matter? Why did you leave when you were alone?" I enquired gently, approaching her and garnering the rest of the X-Men's attention at my back.

She became somewhat frantic and clutched at my arm. "Is that excitement in her eyes?" What on Earth –?

"Beast! Guys!" she cried, noticing the others, "I saw it! It didn't hypnotise me this time – I don't know why, but now we actually know what it looks like! When you all see it for yourselves, that is," she muttered towards the end.

I turned to face the others as well. Jean seemed as if she would like to take a look, so to speak, for herself immediately, but Logan cut through the situation with a growl.

"Why did ya go out alone Jubilee?"

Our eyes all widened or narrowed at once. When Logan was already yelling he was easily managed, but quiet usually meant he would enter a protective rage soon enough.

Jubilee, clearly realising the severity of her action, looked between us all. "I…"

"Enough," I said firmly. "We need to have a meeting with Professor Xavier. Explanations can occur when we are all present."

Gambit flipped a card between his fingers, Ororo crossed her arms, Jean and Scot grew closer together and Marie watched on. Logan huffed lightly in assent. I led the way.

(20 minutes later.)

After receiving the memory to visualise as my own, however temporary, I sat back in my chair. "This is the first true look we have had of this creature, but why such a sudden change in behaviour?" It was bewildering.

For a creature capable of such stealth, it was unlikely that it would remain in such close proximity to someone aware of its presence and fail to do anything. "Especially when its other capabilities are brought into regard." My brows creased as I thought it over. "Truly bewildering."

"Maybe it was part of its training – to observe?"

"Or the orders could have changed seeing as we know about it now, but how could they know we have a picture? The timing for this is off."

"I don't care about how or why – that thing could have hurt Jubilee! I'm tellin' you we have to go after it!"

I wearily massaged my eyes. Predictably, a debate had brewed immediately after we witnessed the encounter, and Logan was the most outspoken towards taking action. It was understandable and, again, predictable, but the others were also agreeing with him, the exceptions being myself, Charles, and Jubilee.

A glance at Charles revealed his head bowed and hands folded together. His eyes were as closed as his expression, a state normal for when he was thinking deeply. Anyone would need to admit that he had his work cut out for him as the room descended into near pandemonium.

As for Jubilee…some quietness could be expected after a shock such as this one. She ordinarily bounced back well from any situation, hence overall this was nothing too worrisome.

That would not stop me from making hot chocolate later.

I frowned as I redirected my thoughts inwards to where my instincts stirred for peace of mind. I…was conflicted on the matter. Heavily enough that I briefly debated whether or not I should partake in the meeting and whatever course we chose to deal with the creature. It had been only the selfishly driven need to know the outcome that I had entered the room at all. That, and that I was a part of this team from beginning till end.

Suddenly, silence reigned. I looked up and joined everyone in turning to Charles. The time had clearly come for a decision.

"Professor?" urged Rogue. "What're we gonna do?"

I shifted in my seat imperceptibly. "A viable plan is always a necessity." One from the Professor would unify us all towards the same goal unless something changed drastically, like a threat level being compromised. At the thought of increased danger my inner animal rumbled, and I leaned forward as Charles raised his head, finally speaking.

"I believe the best option for everyone would be for us to capture it."

"Alright," Gambit drew out, "let's go get ready for a beasty hunt. Uh, no offense Henry."

"None taken," I replied.

"What can I do to help?" Jubilee spoke up.

We all shared a simultaneous look. "Listen Sugar," Rogue started, "you've seen this thing quite a bit and now you've gone and gotten the closest to it too. We –"

"Exactly!" she exclaimed. "I'm the one who's seen it the most – the only reason we even know about this thing is because of me. Now I finally got a good look at it. You can't cut me out of this now! We're a team!"

"Jubilee."

The quiet voice of Professor Xavier cut short her argument.

"It is true that the X-Men work best together, and in light of how this situation has affected us all, no one shall be deliberately excused from the proceedings. Yet," he calmly interrupted her thanks, "we will be discussing your punishment for leaving the mansion on your own. That rule was in place for your safety and you completely disregarded it. Until then you are to stay inside and resume your studies."

Jubilee settled and nodded, accepting the circumstances despite clearly wanting to argue against them. "Sorry," she said quietly as Logan clapped a hand on her shoulder.

"A humbling experience," I acknowledged as I stood with the others and exited the room. After brainstorming over an overdue meal, we would return here and discuss strategies for moving forward. "Now it is a matter of not overthinking this." I already had some ideas from guessing that this would have been a possibility. "I wonder if the others have done so as well."

Yet still, a quiet part of me had hoped that it did not have to come to this at all.

A.N: I'm probably going to aim for monthly updates, life permitting. If chapters crop up earlier than expected it will be as much a surprise to myself as it is to you that I found the time.