Notes: Oh yeah. Anytime things get too heavy? Throw Tony and K at the problem. That'll fix it right up.

Chapter 11: Home Again, Home Again

With most of the students taken care of at Tony's hideout, after a quick discussion with the X-Men, Charles had decided that the best course of action — and the most direct — would be to simply confront Erik. Not in a fight, not unless he turned it into one — but by going to Erik and getting answers, one way or another.

And when they arrived, it looked like they were expected, with Magneto's Brotherhood there to greet them and Erik seated on his throne with a too-pleased sort of look when he took in the group of them.

"Charles, it's unlike you to stray so far from that school of yours," Erik said.

"Erik, please," Charles said. "We're only looking for Noh-Varr. I'd rather not play any games when the boy so clearly has been traumatized."

"I've seen the same footage," Erik said. "But I'm afraid you won't find him here. He is confused; you're right. But that's exactly why I didn't want him here. I have better things to do than try to reason with an emotional teenager."

"But he was here," Charles said.

"Yes, he came looking for guidance after you lost another one of your charges," Erik said, one eyebrow raised. "For a school meant as a safe haven, that does seem to happen a lot, doesn't it."

"As I understand it from some of those students, you came to him," Charles said, losing some of his friendly tone. "Following them, Erik? Why?"

"I wasn't following them," Erik said, shaking his head. "I was investigating that group. And I was right to do so, clearly. Just look at what happened."

"Yet, knowing they were my students, you didn't let us know where they were to make it easier for us to get them to safety."

"Charles, I can't be held responsible for your little flock. By the time I arrived, they were already prisoners. I aided their escape, and by the time I had finished with their captors, your team was there. I assure you; it was no fault of mine you didn't get there faster. As I understand it, Monet called to you before I knew they were in danger."

"Where is he, Erik?" Charles said in a much firmer tone.

"Your little alien isn't here, Charles. I'm not lying to you. Go look for him elsewhere; I have other things to do."

Charles folded his hands in front of himself and leaned forward. "Like what, old friend?"

"If you must know," Erik said, leaning forward himself, "those destroyed facilities have led me to discover other hidden-away projects. My work continues, as always, until the war is won."

"Okay, I'm getting tired of this," Jean muttered before she reached out a hand and telekinetically lifted up Erik's helmet. And with Erik's attention on the argument with Charles, he wasn't fast enough to catch it before Charles let himself into Erik's mind … though that itself was also quite the argument that none of the others could see.

Of course, that triggered a response from the Brotherhood, who were quick to rush the X-Men and accuse them of all kinds of dirty dealing, but after having to evacuate their home and deal with Erik being pompous, none of them were in the mood to hold back, and the Brotherhood very quickly learned their mistake.

Kurt had just knocked Pyro out when Charles came back out of Erik's mind, shaking his head to himself and looking somehow both angry and sad at the same time. "Where are we going, Charles?" Kurt asked, looking like he was ready for another fight.

"An island," Charles said, still frowning at Erik, who was unconscious, "off the coast of Africa."

"And Magneto?" Scott asked, his expression making it clear that he didn't trust Erik not to wake up and cause more trouble.

"He'll have a nice, long nap," Charles said as he finally turned to leave. "Then, when he wakes up, he'll forget that he was waging a war."

Bobby let out a low whistle and shook his head. "Great. Now if only that worked on the whole world at once."

"We'll deal with it," Scott said. "We always do. Not like the world didn't already think we were terrorists with everything Bastion was putting out."

"One big, long PR disaster," Bobby said, shaking his head again as they headed for the blackbird.

Charles was quiet for most of the flight out, obviously bothered by the fact that it had taken such lengths to get Erik to back away from this fight. He didn't like what that suggested for future conflict with his old friend.

Of course, none of the X-Men wanted to interrupt Charles' thoughts either, knowing the history there and how much Charles must have hated it, so the blackbird was quiet at large until Scott let them know they were setting down and the X-Men saw the little island for themselves.

There was barely enough room to set the jet down somewhere solid, and that alone was proof to the X-Men that Erik had chosen the place for its isolation more than anything else. But when they spotted the metal-covered teenager just lying on the beach, it was enough to get all of them mad at Erik all over again.

Especially when Kurt teleported over to check on Noh and could tell that their young friend had been clearly emotional, with a telltale red in his eyes and an expression that could only be described as grief.

"It's alright, Noh," Kurt said softly as he crouched down beside the young man, frowning when he realized that Noh had flinched back from him. "We're going to get you out of this."

"Perhaps for the moment," Noh said tiredly, without picking his gaze up to Kurt's. "And then I don't know where I will go."

"What are you talking about, mein Freund?" Kurt said, shaking his head as, failing to find a way to get the metal off of Noh, he simply teleported the young man back to the jet so that at least he wasn't lying in the sand and sun anymore.

"I know I broke the rules I promised to—"

"Oh, lächerlich," Kurt said, waving a hand. "Talk to Charles if it makes you feel better, but we're not going to simply abandon you to wander the planet or fall back into Magneto's clutches."

Noh finally looked up at that to give Kurt a dry look, but when he looked past him and saw that Charles was there as well, he let out a long breath and closed his eyes again. Perhaps it would have been better if I stayed on Hala. I don't know that I'm suited for life here, he projected plainly to the professor.

Charles shook his head softly. I'm so sorry for what happened to you, Noh. It's always hard to process a loss, especially a senseless one.

I tried to help, Noh explained. I just want you all to be safe. I don't want to lose another family, Charles. It was hard enough the first time.

I know. K showed her conversation with you to Jean. Charles dipped his head, but Noh still wouldn't look at anyone. You're still young — especially by this world's standards. You're still learning. No one here blames you for being upset. And even if we did, I believe you've suffered enough without heaping punishment on your shoulders.

I didn't mean to kill the man who killed Monet, Noh said, quiet even in his mental voice. I didn't know the dampener was destroyed. And I didn't know about the innocents in the facilities I destroyed. He shook his head. I knew you wouldn't approve, but I had always intended to honor your philosophy as much as I could and only destroy the worst evils. To keep you safe.

Noh, you were doing what you thought was best, but it's simply by virtue of the way this world works that we cannot take the law into our own hands. You made a mistake in a time of great emotional upheaval. All of us have done the same at one point or another..

Yes, but I'm supposed to be better than that. I'm Kree. I don't have this sort of… reaction. It's not … Noh paused, looking for the word. Allowed.

It is here, Charles replied. There is nothing wrong with feeling and acting on your emotions. Most of the time.

And when I do it, I seem to call down more trouble for my family, Noh pointed out. Thus, I shouldn't.

Charles couldn't help but smile at him. Stick around and see what kind of trouble the ferals bring on themselves. It seems you fit right in.

Noh shook his head as much as he was able to. I feel… 'cheated' isn't the word, but … I feel as though this is not the right reaction you should have. Somehow. Not when I've been—

Betrayed, lied to … what little trust you had with him was broken…. And before that, I'm very sure it was a matter of shock, sorrow, and grief … if not only for Monet but I'm sure for the crew you lost when you came here as well.

Noh paused. I wasn't expecting to lose anyone here — or to be reminded of my people when it happened.

No one ever expects to lose loved ones, Noh, Charles said.

I know, Noh said. It seems so ridiculous, but I had thought… a new world, surrounded by powerful allies...

Even our most powerful allies can fall, Charles said. Don't mistake their power for invincibility.

I cannot, Noh said simply. My own people were not invincible, and each of them was genetically bred for optimal outcomes.

I will do all I can to help you through this, you know, Charles promised. And you have a lot of people here that support you.

It would be better for you to spend your attention on Jubilee, Noh said. The others, too, but she… that man killed Monet to spite her. As he said it, his mental tone shifted from a numb-sounding one to one with more anger in it, pretty much painting the picture for Charles on just how easy it would have been for Erik to see that and run with it.

By that time, the rest of the X-Men were on the jet, and Scott frowned and redirected away from the cockpit to where Noh was to look over the tight metal almost-bodysuit. "Alright, don't move. I should be able to get that off for you," Scott said, one hand on Noh's shoulder and the other at his visor to start up a small, focused beam.

Noh was almost holding his breath until there was a little opening, and then, that was all the leverage he needed to break out himself and give himself room to breathe. "Thank you," he breathed out Scott's way as he rolled his shoulders a few times.

"Jubilee will be very happy to see you," Jean told Noh as she came up to join them.

"Is she alright?" Noh asked, finally meeting someone's gaze as he looked to Jean.

"She's with Logan," Jean told him. "So she's safe and probably still curled up with him."

"I'm glad," Noh said. "I saw how he was with her when you found us. I'm glad she has that."

"They've been like that since they met," Charles told him. "She saved his life, and they've always been somewhat protective of each other ever since."

"Yes, she's told me that she considers him family." Noh smirked. "Well, everyone in Westchester falls under that description — but it's different with him. There isn't a word in your language for the… levels of family belonging when it's not clearly delineated with blood relations."

"No, it's really just a level of closeness," Charles agreed.

Noh nodded. "There's a word… it's the closeness of a hive mind. It's a lot like the feeling of the X-Men," he explained. "And it's why I feel so strongly to protect you. It's… a belonging. A whole that I'm part of. I don't know that I'm doing it justice."

"I'm sure you'll find that when you reunite with them … well … you'll see," Charles said with a little smile on his face.

"Charles, you misunderstand," Noh said. "You are part of that belonging too."

"Well, I for one am positively relieved that you're now safe."

"And I can only apologize again for causing so much trouble," Noh said.

"Lets get you back home. There's food for you on the way, if you're hungry. I can't imagine Erik thought of that much."

"I did tell him I needed to refuel, but then we had a … disagreement," Noh said mildly.

"That happens a lot," Charles chuckled. "We had a disagreement as well. But I don't believe he'll be bothering anyone for a while."

"Oh?" Noh leaned forward, obviously interested.

"It was a simple misunderstanding … I asked him to be civil, and he misunderstood that I wasn't leaving him another option."

Bobby snickered at that. "Yep. That's what happened."

Noh simply smirked and leaned back against the jet. "I'm sure it was very entertaining. But right now… I would simply like to eat and then sleep, if I'm honest."

"Then let's get you home," Scott said with a quiet smirk.

While the senior squad was out, Logan and K had gotten everyone to Tony's bunker hideout — though that in itself had been a massive undertaking, since they didn't want the MRD and the other people who were trying to retaliate to come after them.

But considering it was one of Tony's hideouts… it was pretty nice, and the students loved the accommodations.

Well, most of them, anyway. Jubilee was still tucked into Logan, not at all interested in the surroundings. She'd just been feeling like a person again, and then her idiot boyfriend got himself in trouble too, and she just did not want to lose anyone else.

Noh had stopped in the kitchen looking out through toward the living room where Jubilee was curled into Logan. But he didn't hear it when K stepped into the kitchen with him. "You're back," she said quietly, and as soon as he turned her way, she started toward him and then wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight. "We've missed you, sparklepants."

Noh was surprised into a smile at that. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to make things hard for anyone here."

"We were just worried about you," K told him.

"And I'm sorry for that too."

When she'd stopped hugging him, she stepped back with her hands at his arms. "Are you okay?"

Noh smiled sadly. "Of course not," he said. "I know better than to lie to you, K. I thought this was established."

"And I still want to hear it from you."

"Well, physically, I should be alright once I've eaten and slept," Noh said. "The rest is a mystery to me. I have no timeline for that recovery."

"Well, Tony's keeping us well stocked," K told him. "So … if you were smart, you'd get a bite before you go see Jubes."

"I don't know; it seems more romantic to go to her with no thought for anything else," Noh said, only the slightest hint of a tease in his tone.

"More romantic, yes, but she's not going to let go of you any time soon, and you might just starve to death."

Noh smirked but raised an eyebrow when he got that expression back under control. "Really? I would have thought that with how attached she's been to Logan and how idiotic my mistakes have been…"

K shook her head and shoved him back a few steps. "She loves you," K said gently — but with an urgent tone. "Do you think she's going to just stop because you made a mistake?"

"Some mistakes are grave enough—"

"No," K said. "But that mistake? Thinking you can't come back?" she shook her head and then hit him — a lot harder than it looked like she was able for as much as she'd drawn back.

"Well, what was I supposed to think when everyone who leaves your philosophy is elsewhere?" Noh defended, rubbing his arm.

"Um … that they're idiots?" K said. "We don't agree with the Avengers on everything, but look around you — we can still get along just fine."

"Yes, I had wondered why we came here and not to the school…"

"Because I asked Tony for help," K said. "And like a good person, he didn't hesitate to pull out one of his own safe houses."

"She flat turned me down when I offered one with a private room so she could check for iron underwear," Tony called over his shoulder..

"I can check it for your iron undies without needing a private room," she called back to him.

"More fun if you're thorough!"

"More fun if you're not shy." K stopped and tipped her head to the side. "And ... it would be a lot more fun if I wasn't already spoken for, you lunatic."

"I don't think I'm ever going to understand the two of you," Noh said as he followed K to the kitchen and started looking for something to eat — and some sweets to bring Jubilee.

"We like to pick," K said. "That's all."

"Yes, well, I hear the two of you and wonder just what it is that has Jean so convinced you and Logan would be so defensive of Jubilee…"

"Jubes … doesn't really appreciate all the picking Tony and I do, either," K said. "But Jubes is sweet. She's a great person … it's just … we don't want to see her get caught up with someone who would only play with her."

"Well, like I told you before, I'm quite serious about my feelings. I only got in trouble because I meant to protect her. Even if the rest of the fallout was terrible, I would hope that is some good from all this."

"I'm not giving you the third degree, Noh. I know why you did what you did, and I know how you were manipulated."

Noh let his shoulders drop at that. "I wish there was a middle ground to walk," he said. "I tried to do that and ended up stranded on an island."

"What … is that some kind of a euphemism?" K asked. "Are you getting poetic on me? Or … more … poetic?"

Noh shook his head. "No, that's where I was — after I disagreed with Magneto. I did try to present a reasonable solution. He did not take to my suggestion."

"If only someone had warned you," Tony said dryly from where he was leaning against the counter with a cup of coffee.

Noh rolled his eyes at Tony. "Haven't you got some poor woman to womanize?"

"That's not exactly how it works," Tony said with a little laugh. "And I was planning to have coffee with K … so …."

"Mm." Noh pursed his lips and simply filled his stomach, at a much faster pace, without the distraction of conversation.

He swept up a little bag of chocolates when he was done and then excused himself to go find Jubilee — who was, as expected, curled up with Logan. He paused for a moment seeing the two of them together, feeling even worse than before realizing he hadn't been there for her since Monet's death — and then let out a breath and came over with the treats in hand.

"Sweets for the sweet, as you always say," he told her with a soft smile.

It took Jubilee a moment, but she finally turned her head slightly to look at him. "I'm not hungry," she said quietly.

"Then you must not be feeling at all like yourself," Noh said gently.

Before Jubilee said anything in return, Logan leaned close to her and whispered something in her ear in Mandarin — clearly meant just for her. But … after a little moment or two, she straightened up and turned to give Logan a little hug and a kiss on the cheek before she answered him in the same language … and after a little glare Noh's way that could not be misinterpreted, Logan kissed Jubilee's temple and got up to leave them alone.

"I'll be listening," Logan warned as he made his way toward the kitchen.

"Then… I suppose sweet nothings are not allowed," Noh told Jubilee with an attempt at a smile.

"That's not what he's listening for," Jubilee said, pulling her legs around to sit cross-legged where she was.

Noh nodded and came to sit down with her. "I'm sorry I left," he said softly. "I thought … I thought I could stop this world from taking you from this life as senselessly as it took Monet."

"She didn't have a chance to defend herself," Jubilee said. "Or she would have destroyed that idiot."

"All of us were shocked," Noh said, still speaking softly and almost carefully. "I'm sorry he did that to you. I mean to stop him, not kill him."

"It really doesn't matter," Jubilee said. "If he'd have been alive when Logan got there, that creep would still be dead now."

"Still, I… it matters to me what you think of me," Noh said. "I thought it wouldn't. I was ready for you to hate me if I could just keep you safe. But since that has completely exploded in my face… Well. I can't insure your safety from everything, but I can stay with you and try to stave off everything else."

"That's all any of us can do, duh," she said, rolling her eyes.

"Where I'm from, there's no war. I was hoping to do that for you," Noh admitted.

"But there's no choice either," Jubilee said. "Right?"

"Well, not the way you have it here," Noh admitted.

"Well … I'm really not the uniform wearing type," she said as she tossed her hair.

Noh smiled softly at that. "No, but you do look lovely in yellow — your own little flair."

"I wouldn't be able to do that in your reality," she said, then looked up at him quickly. "I wouldn't be able to date you either."

"Well, no…" Noh let out a breath. "But things were not … I liked my home, Jubilee. I was hoping to take the good parts of it and give them to this world. If you were Kree and lived in my world, I wouldn't be so scared of losing you to the whims of madmen."

"But I'm not," she said with a little frown. "And you really are different than the Kree here."

"Yes, I'm aware," Noh said in a sigh. "I don't seem to be very good at existing in this reality."

"Yeah, well … join the club," she said, shifting so she could hug her knees.

Noh shook his head and move over to cup her cheek in his hand. "You must still be emotionally distraught," he said. "You've forgotten that you are everything I love about this world. Joy and fun and music and light all in one beautiful little Terran."

"And still …" She stopped, frowned at herself, and then shook her head. "Nevermind."

"No, speak your mind," Noh said. "I've learned from you that it's best to be open."

She frowned a little deeper at that and shook her head. "No."

Noh let out a sigh and leaned in to kiss her cheek. "Jubilee, I am truly sorry. I was emotionally overwhelmed. I saw Monet and thought of my crew, and the thought of that much loss again made me completely illogical. I'm sorry I wasn't there, but I can't change it now. Now, I'm here, and my way forward is lit with your smile, if I can find it again."

"Do you always sound like an English test when you get in trouble?"

"I… don't mean to?" Noh said. He paused and met her gaze. "Is it helping?"

"I don't know. It doesn't sound as fake as what most of the guys I know would say …"

"Jubilee, I don't lie. I make mistakes and I misinterpret your culture and I stumble over everything, but I don't lie."

She was quiet for a long while. "Okay," she said finally.

"Then … I'd like to sit with you for a while. I'm afraid I'm physically exhausted, so I may fall asleep, but I'd like to fall asleep with you and see you when I wake up."

Jubilee looked up at him and then carefully made her way a little closer. "Alright. I'm still tired."

Noh smiled and pulled her into a gentle hug. "I don't know if I can be an X-Man after all this," he admitted. "But I'd like to stay with you. I know I have a lot to do to apologize, but, well, that's the truth, Jubilee."

"Can we not talk for a while, please?" Jubilee said, though she sounded weary.

Noh let out a breath and kissed her forehead. "Alright," he said, curling up with her — and falling asleep after about ten minutes.