Author's note: Refer to previous chapters about lack of ownership
Warning: spanking in chapter
"I don't want to have to talk to either of you about arguing again for the rest of the night. You're brothers. Act like it."
"Yes sir," they said together.
"Scott, go check on the brownies." Scott nodded and went back inside. To his relief, his team was finally out of the kitchen. Scott checked the timer, saw there was less than a minute left on the brownies, so he went ahead and pulled them out.
"Scott?" Scott looked up and saw Jean standing at the doorway.
"Come to twist my words and tell everyone again?"
"I didn't mean to upset you. I was angry. I thought you-"
"You thought I was abandoning the first place I felt safe since the accident. You know, Jean, even if I'd decided to leave, that was still my business to tell!" Scott turned off the oven and went back outside. "Dad!" Chris looked up and frowned.
"Yes?" Scott walked over, fuming.
"I'm not mad at you. I need to calm down before I say or do something I'll regret." Chris looked towards the kitchen door and saw Jean looking at them.
"Alex, can you ask someone to show you where the Starjammers are? I need to talk to Hepzibah."
"The skunk lady? Why?" Corsair turned and looked at his youngest.
"Because she's my girlfriend. And unless you want to feel a hairbrush on your bare ass, you'll be a bit more respectful when describing my woman." Alex gulped and nodded.
"Y-yes sir." Alex bolted inside the Institute, leaving Chris and Scott alone.
"What'd Jean do now?"
"She tried to apologize. She said she did it because she was angry. I just… maybe she isn't the person I thought she was, you know? Great to have on my team, but not someone I'd want to confide in if her first instinct is to go tell everyone." Chris thought on Scott's words for a few minutes as he flipped the burgers and removed the cooked hotdogs to replace them with uncooked hotdogs.
"I think you hit the nail on the head, kid. It's hard to see past the infatuation, but everyone has flaws. Jean, as wonderful a person as she might be, seems to need a little more time to grow up to get to your level. Who knows, maybe in a few years, things will be different? But for now, just enjoy bachelorhood." Chris pulled burgers off the grill and replaced them with raw patties.
"Thanks. Do you think we can go get clothes for the trip tomorrow and then just go? It's not like we need to buy tickets. I'll ask the professor to let us borrow one of the jets. He'll be fine with it."
"I need to discuss it with Hepzibah. And I still need to talk to the Starjammers about retiring."
"Do you want me to talk to the professor about an image inducer for her?"
"I can do it, Scott." Scott nodded. "Are you a bit calmer now?"
"Yeah. Sorry. I know I'm angry with her and I'm not ready to accept her apology, but I don't want to ruin our friendship completely."
"It's fine. I'm glad you came to me, and I'm glad you explained why you looked ready to murder someone."
"No I didn't."
"I've seen that face often enough- usually aimed towards me. I know it well. You looked ready to kill her." Scott sighed and rubbed his eyes under his glasses.
"I should apologize to her."
"Will you mean it?"
"Maybe."
"Then don't apologize to her until you mean it. Ah! My darling," Corsair suddenly said as Hepzibah came onto the patio..
"Your kitling said you wanted Hepzibah?"
"I did. It was just as much of a chance of allowing me to have a private conversation with Scott as it was true. Scott was wondering if we could get warmer clothes tomorrow in preparation for our trip to our home state. I wanted to run it by- is there something I can help you with, Scott?"
"Oh, um, no, I'll go do… other things."
"Scott-boy, you are fine to stay."
"No, really. I've taken up a lot of his time today. I'm ok." Scott turned and went back in the house. He saw Alex sitting with an almost dazed look.
"Scott?"
"Yeah?"
"Is he really… Are they really together?"
"Yep." Alex looked at him.
"How do they do it?" Scott made a face.
"Dude, that is not something I want to think about." Scott heard the whirring of Charles' chair and he looked towards the door.
"Ah. Just who I was looking for. Hello, Scott. Alex. How are you two handling the events of today?"
"It's easier to accept that our dad's alive than it is to understand his taste in women. Post-Mom." Alex shuddered, and then quickly looked behind him to make sure Corsair hadn't heard him. Thankfully, he and Hepzibah were still outside, but by the looks of it, it wouldn't be much longer. Chris was turning knobs on the grill.
"I can see that. But I was more curious about how you were handling your father's return and sudden insertion back into your lives?"
"It's weird, but," Alex looked at Scott.
"It's like he was never gone."
"Exactly."
"It's nice. Since he's been here, even last night, I've felt… calmer. I didn't realize how tense I've been until I actually relaxed. I think… I think having him here will be good for the team. He's strict and has a no-nonsense policy when it's time to be serious, but he knows how to clown around with the best of them."
"Yeah, it's like his two personalities split between us. Scott doesn't know how to have fun, and I don't like being serious." Scott rolled his eyes and playfully shoved Alex.
"What did I just walk into? Scott Christopher Summers-" Scott stood up and held his hands out in front of him.
"No, no, no. It was playful. I barely touched him, Dad, I swear."
"It's true," Alex said, attempting to be helpful. "I'd said something and he was messing with me, but it wasn't arguing or fighting. Scout's honor." Corsair sat the cooked burgers and hotdogs on the counter.
"You were a Scout for a month."
"Still counts." Corsair sighed and looked at Charles.
"Were they fighting?"
"They were teasing each other. I believe it was normal, brotherly behavior." Corsair nodded and turned to address his sons.
"I know I said to act like brothers, but I'd like to amend that by saying you shouldn't be putting your hands on each other. Scott, you're almost an adult. Alex, you know better, especially if your powers are centered around your hands. I don't want to see it again, joking or not." Alex and Scott looked at each other and smirked. They both put their index fingers near the other's temple.
"I'm not touching you! I'm not touching you!" they chanted together. Chris sighed dramatically and left the kitchen, muttering about how Katherine had been right about teenagers.
"He's gone, kitlings." Alex turned to Hepzibah, who was looking amused.
"What does that mean?"
"It means kids," Scott said, rolling his eyes.
"How do you know?"
"Context clues."
"That is correct, Scott-boy."
"Why do you say our names like that?"
"Why do you not?" Hepzibah asked back. Scott looked at Alex and then back to Hepzibah.
"You got me there. Ok, Alex, help me get the food to the dining room."
"Yes, O, wise brother of mine." Alex picked up the food and put it down immediately.
"What are- Ok, um, let's go outside. Professor, can you let my dad know? Thanks." Scott grabbed Alex by his upper arm and quickly dragged him outside.
"It hurts," Alex said through clenched teeth.
"I know it does. We'll get you some aspirin in a minute. You can't keep it bottled in, ok? Let it out."
"I'll hurt someone!"
"No you won't! Trust me. I did this several times a day until everything settled. And the more you're in the sun, the worse it is. Alex! Trust me!" Alex yelled as his powers became too much for him to handle. The blasts shot out and Scott didn't have time to move before they came at him.
"SCOTT!" Chris yelled, running to him.
"I'm ok!" Scott stood up and brushed himself off. "I didn't feel a thing." Corsair turned to Alex, fuming,
"ALEXANDER PHILIP-" Scott put a hand on Chris' shoulder.
"Dad, it was an accident. He was losing control and I was trying to show him where to shoot. I didn't move fast enough. And besides, it didn't even hurt. I'm fine. I didn't feel anything."
"You're sure?"
"Yeah. I had to come out here all the time when I first got here, too. The pressure would just build and build, and this was the only place safe enough to release it. Once I started training and using them regularly, it wasn't as bad anymore. Alex just needs-"
"Don't tell me what I need Scott! I'm not an X-Man and I'll never be an X-Man! You can't-"
"Alex!"
"I'm not saying this as an X-Man! I'm saying this as your brother who went through THE SAME THING!"
"Scott-!"
"It isn't the same because my brain works and I can control it!"
"BOYS!" Scott lunged at Alex and the two began to physically fight. Alex knocked Scott's glasses off, but Scott, despite all his training, didn't get his eyes closed in time. He felt the blasts leaving before squeezing them tight, and then he felt himself being pulled up by his ear.
"Ow! Ah, Dad, let me go!" Chris let him go and shoved his glasses into his hands. Scott put them on and saw Alex sitting up. He felt both satisfied and sickened at the bloodied lip Alex was sporting.
"Alex, did you feel Scott's powers?" Alex shook his head. "Good." Chris grabbed Alex by his ear and pulled him up.
"Ow! Dad stop!" Chris let him go and pushed him to stand beside Scott.
"What have you two done wrong today?" Alex and Scott both stood at attention with their hands behind their backs.
"I fought with Alex."
"I fought with Scott."
"Did you two even hear me calling for you to stop?"
"No sir," they both replied. Chris sighed and put his hands on his hips.
"What do you deserve?"
"D-discipline, sir," Scott said, for the second time that day.
"Dad,"
"Alexander." Alex hung his head.
"Discipline, sir." Chris looked at each of them.
"As much as you two know I hated punishing you in front of each other, I think this time it's warranted."
"Dad!"
"Alexander, I will not speak to you about talking out of turn again. If it happens again, I will add another spanking to what you've already earned."
"I'm sorry," Alex said in a quiet voice. Chris rubbed his eyes.
"I want both of you to go to Scott's room and present yourselves." Scott's stomach dropped.
"Yes sir."
"But-" Scott gently shoved Alex's shoulder with his shoulder. "Yes sir." The two trudged inside and ignored the other teens in the house as they made their way up to Scott's room. Scott closed the door behind him and groaned.
"We're in so much trouble."
"We? You attacked me!"
"Yeah, and I'm going to get it worse, I'm sure. But you started it, and you knocked my glasses off."
*Your dad is on his way up.* Scott heard Jean send him.
"Just get over the bed. If he sees we didn't listen, it'll be worse." Scott unbuttoned his pants and pushed them and his boxers to his knees again before bending over his bed.
"I'm not-"
"Dude, do you want to piss him off more?" Alex groaned and quickly copied Scott.
"This sucks." Scott felt his insides begin to twist as he heard his door opening.
"Alright boys. Let's get this over with so we can go eat." Scott whimpered as he heard the sound of the brush striking Alex's butt.
"Ah! Ow! Dad! OW!" Scott covered his ears to stop hearing Alex's cries, but it was impossible. Once the sound of the striking was over, Scott felt movement beside him and realized that Alex had gotten up, and then before he knew it, the back of the brush was resting on his backside. Scott grabbed his comforter in his fists and took a breath.
Chris saw him do this and gave him a minute to prepare, but then he pulled the brush back and smacked it into Scott's butt. Scott grunted. It was more than obvious that Chris had been holding back earlier. After a dozen swats, Scott felt tears leaking from his eyes. Chris saw Scott's shoulders shaking in quiet sobs and moved his arm so that the brush would connect with the skin right under Scott's butt. He smacked the paddle down, alternating sides, ten more times before tossing it onto the bed. He put his hand on the back of Scott's head.
"What do you have to say for yourself, Scott Christopher?"
"'M sorry! I won't f-fight a-again!"
"If we have to have this discussion again, you two will be experiencing my belt."
"But Mom said-"
"Scott was seven when I made that threat. It's been ten years. You two are most certainly old enough for it now."
"If you even have one," Scott mumbled, pulling his underwear and pants back up. Chris narrowed his eyes at his oldest.
"You're right Scott, I don't have one at this moment. But by this time tomorrow, I will. And if we have to have this conversation again before I've had the chance to acquire my own, I'll just send one of you to ask Private Howlett for one of his. In fact, maybe I'll have Scott do it tonight just in case."
"Dad, no! Please! We won't fight anymore, I swear!"
"I don't want a promise to just not fight, Scott. I want you to both swear you will get along. You have to understand that Alex doesn't take orders well- he never has. And Alex, you have to remember that Scott is trained to help kids your age get through this. Not only that, but he has the same powers and he knows how to handle them. He's trying to get you through it with less pain than he had to experience. You should be grateful your brother cares enough about you to do so instead of spitting in his face."
"Sorry," Alex mumbled to Chris.
"It's not me you should be apologizing to, Alexander."
"Sorry, Scott." Scott wiped at his face and crossed his arms, refusing to look at Alex.
"Scott, don't you have something you'd like to say to your brother?"
"No sir."
"Scott-"
"You said not to apologize unless it's meant, and I won't mean it. I've been trying the last three months to work with him, even scheduling time to go to Hawaii to help him get over this hump. Every time, a surf competition comes up and he has me cancel my flight. Obviously, he wants nothing to do with me. But now he's on my turf. It's part of my job to help him whether he likes it or not, and he just throws not being able to control my powers in my face, especially since they're that way because I chose to save his life by being willing to sacrifice mine. So no, I'm not apologizing for beating him up. I'm just sorry I didn't do it sooner."
"Alex, go get some dinner."
"But-"
"Alex."
"Yes sir." Alex gave a look to Scott and then left the room.
"Explain to me what you meant by that, Scott." Scott sighed and leaned against one of his walls.
"Mom strapped him to his 'chute while I was getting mine on. We jumped. His 'chute caught fire right after I got it up, so I unlatched him and he held on to me. My 'chute caught on fire and we started going down fast. My powers… I guess I tapped into everything I had to save him, and that was the first time my eyes had the blasts coming out. It slowed us down a little, but we were over a bunch of rocks." Scott sniffed and wiped his face.
"All I could think about was he was too little to die, so I turned myself and took the brunt of the rocks. The doctors at the hospital told me my occipital lobe was damaged beyond repair. My broken bones had healed by the time I woke up, and they honestly weren't expecting me to be able to see at all. I was told I was going to be legally blind before I became an adult. Now we know my eyesight is 20/20, but I can't just will my powers to come and go like everyone else can. So to hear him tell me about my damaged brain, and how I can't understand what he's going through… I'm not looking for his thanks. I'm his big brother, and my job was to keep him safe. But I'd like something showing he understood what I was willing to do to keep him safe- to still keep him safe." Scott used his shirt to wipe the tears from his face.
"Ok. I can understand the motivation behind the punching a little bit better. Does Alex know what you did for him?"
"He said he remembered the accident," Scott shrugged. "He said he'd gone to get help, and when he came back, I was gone. How can he remember that, but not anything else?"
"Repressed memories? I don't know. We can talk to him. But I need you to understand, deserving or not, you can't just beat up your brother because he upsets you. I'll have a talk with him about watching what he says to you, but you are responsible for your actions. I'm serious about taking a belt to you if you fight again."
"Yes sir."
"Ok. Are you ready to go have some dinner?"
"I'm not hungry."
"Then you'll just have to watch everyone eat while you wait to clean up, won't you?" Scott groaned.
"Can I just stay up here?"
"Scott Christopher Summers, are you arguing with me?"
"No sir!"
"Then get your ass downstairs before I decide I'm not finished spanking it."
"Yes sir." Scott wiped his face again and left his room. Chris watched him leave and once he was gone, Chris took the hairbrush and slid it into his pocket before following after. Chris got to the dining room and saw his sons standing outside the doors, talking.
"-I said what did. I don't blame you for hitting me. I'd've hit me."
"It's fine. I shouldn't have punched you. I should've just let Dad do it. So, I'm sorry, too."
"Touching," he said out loud. "But still not exactly obeying me. Go eat, both of you can clean up, and then go to bed. Scott, you're up at 4:30. I expect you by the front door by 4:45."
"Yes sir," Scott said. The two went into the dining room and Chris followed close behind them. He saw them head to the side of the table with the X-Men and Chris took the open seat next to Hepzibah.
"Being a father looks good on you, Captain," Ch'od said as he finished his eighth hamburger.
"About that. I think it's time we talked,"
"No, need, Captain. As stated ninety-seven times just this month that you would prefer your offspring, we have concluded that it would be more beneficial for you to remain here, as your offspring are clearly alive."
"Raza… You kept count?"
"It is the only thing you have said more than cursing the Emperor."
"Hep… You know how I feel about you. I would do anything for you. But now I have a chance to be with my boys."
"Hepzibah understands, my love," she said, refusing to meet his eye.
"No, Hepzibah. I, I'd like for you to stay with me. But I don't want to force you to choose between me and the Starjammers." Hepzibah smiled and hugged Corsair.
"We've already removed your things, Hepzibah," Ch'od told her. "And if we need you, either of you, we'll call."
"Ch'od, my last act as captain is to declare you my replacement. Raza, you will become his second officer. I would request that during your travels, you check in occasionally. My boys are my boys, but you are still my family."
"To Corsair!" Ch'od said, raising his cup.
"To Corsair!" Raza and Hepzibah echoed, raising their glasses. Corsair smiled and raised his own cup. He briefly looked around and saw the X-Men staring at the Starjammers. Charles and Logan had their glasses lifted, as did Scott and Alex.
He was home.