Logan had been right about what was kept underground. Sophie was glad to know that secret underground levels never led to anything good. A group of four guards had brought her down to the lower levels. One had held her tail, two had taken a wing each and the last had led Sophie along by her handcuffed wrists.
After passing a secure doorway, Sophie had been met by the sight of two floors of prison cells. "Someone should let Seaton know the meaning of arrest because I don't think he knows." She had been terrified and yet she had said it all the same. The guards only held her tighter, twisting her wings painfully.
She had been shoved into an empty cell and left without water or bedding. All that was there was a bench with a slim mattress on top. Fearing what things might be lurking in the mattress, Sophie had opted to make herself as comfortable as she could on the floor.
As frightening as her predicament was, it wasn't the issue occuping her thoughts. She couldn't stop thinking about her brief conversation with Seaton. She had broken his window and landed on top of him, yet he had shown no fear. He spoke about using mutants for good but he had no shame in taking them from their homes.
After everything that had happened that day Sophie had been caught up in the excitement of it all. Now she was shaking with fury and all it had taken was for her to admit the immoral nature of what had been done to her. If there had ever been the idea that it might have been a mistake, those thoughts were gone.
Sophie was so caught up in her own thoughts she took a few moments to notice the commotion that was happening beyond her cell. She was just standing up as a friendly face appeared at the cell door. "Didn't take you long to end up down here did it?"
Logan swung his claws through the metal bars and removed the lock entirely. He pulled the door open with a squeak and beckoned for Sophie to come with him. She noticed the young boy at his side and only just remembered his reason for coming here.
"Found your boy then?" Sophie held out her hand and bent a little at the waist to match his height. "I'm Sophie, it's nice to meet you." The boy could only manage a nod and a stretching of the lips she assumed was an attempt at a smile.
"But how did you get here so quickly?" she asked.
"Your distraction upstairs split up their teams. Made it easier to take 'em out."
It was then that Sophie allowed herself to take in what was happening around them. Logan had sliced through every occupied cell and mutants were taking the opportunity to fight back against the guards. The walls lit up with flashes of gunfire and mutant powers. The roof was suffering damage as one mutant brought chunks of it falling down onto his victims.
"Come on, let's get out of here," said Logan.
"But we need to help," said Sophie, although her courage wavered.
"They're just taking out their frustrations at this point and if we stay too long we might get trapped when the roof finally gives way, so move it."
Logan jogged ahead of them, making the effort to stay close and protect them should the need arise. When any guards came close he would have them beaten and unconscious in a second. Two if he had to slice their gun in half first.
He was focused like a soldier yet he moved like an animal, sniffing the way ahead and acting with caution at every corner. Sophie found it remarkable to watch. He led them outside and around the building, running away from where the vans were parked.
"Shouldn't we be going the other way?" Sophie said between breaths. Her and the young boy were forced to run to keep up with him.
"We're getting an upgrade," said Logan, as if this should be answer enough.
...
The smile had returned to Sophie's face by the time Logan pulled the car up outside of her house. He had been checking on her in the rear view mirror throughout the journey. He assumed the car itself must have helped, stolen from the CEO's parking spot. It was a sleek, black vehicle with plenty of space for her to spread her wings and legs in the back seats.
The young boy had sat in the front with Logan. He had been silent for the entire ride but Logan had faith that Xavier would be able to help.
Logan opened the car door and peered in at her. "Still in the same house then?" She shuffled along the seats and stepped out.
"Damn right, it's great here," she grinned.
As if to prove her point a young boy on a bike road by and waved at Sophie. "Hey Soph, nice ride."
"Thanks Tim," she answered. "Shouldn't you be in bed?" He laughed and cycled with renewed effort.
A woman came out from the house opposite Sophie's and called to her. "We were starting to worry, you been out somewhere?"
"Something like that," said Sophie.
The woman opened the back of her car and pulled out a pair of linen bags. "That's nice. Could you tell your Mom I'm bringing her orange dish back tomorrow?"
Sophie lifted a hand a nodded. "Will do."
Logan couldn't quite believe his eyes. There was a purple winged mutant on their street and everyone treated her as a friend. No staring, no fear, just neighbours being friendly.
"Chuck would love this," said Logan, more to himself than to her. But Sophie had heard and looked up with a curious expression. "It seems like people are pretty nice around here."
Sophie shrugged, her eyes creasing as she smiled. She acted cool but it was obvious how happy it made her to be home. "People are used to me by now. It's not always perfect. We've had families move in and move straight back out again once they saw me. Doesn't happen too often though. Most of the time it's nice. I sometimes wonder if it's too nice. Makes me forget how bad it can be out there." Sophie pointed down the street.
The happiness had faded from Sophie's face and she shoved her hands in her pockets. "Do you really think he wanted mutants to help people? I know he was doing it the wrong way but maybe he's right, maybe I'm wasting my potential. Why should a girl with wings even bother to study English?"
Logan grasped Sophie by the shoulders and bent down until their eyes were level. "You study it because it's what you want to do. Don't let a bunch of assholes with guns threaten you into doing anything other than what you want to do." Sophie brightened at his words.
"And trust me I know guys like them. They don't want police they want weapons. You worked for someone like that and I guarantee you'd be hurting more people than you'd be saving."
"So why come after people who never did anything? Do they just not like the idea of mutants living normal lives? Is it inconvenient for them that I'm trying to do something positive? That I don't match their idea of what a mutant should be?"
"They don't matter Sophie. Whatever their philosophy might be on mutants they've got it wrong and you're proving that by being yourself. It's almost midnight and you still have neighbours saying hello. You want to do something good? Then keep doing what you're doing." By the time he let go of her a moved back, she was practically beaming.
Someone made a loud "Yoohoo" sound. It was Sophie's mother, walking out of the house in a dressing gown and slippers. "Sophie, I was getting worried." She pulled her daughter in for a hug. She winked at Logan even as her chin rested on Sophie's head. "But I'm glad to see you've finally met your father."
It happened again, a jolt of dread to her heart. Sophie pulled out of the hug and shook her head. "Too late, I already tried that one."
"Nevermind then." Her mother grabbed Sophie's chin and gave her a look of pure pride. "Would you like to come inside, Logan? It would be lovely to catch up." She winked again and it was then Logan realised just how uncomfortable he was and also how relieved he was that he had a valid excuse to leave.
"Sorry, got another kid who needs taking home. Bye you two." He turned to leave a abruptly stopped when Sophie yelled.
"Wait, I should give you something. Hold on." Sophie ran inside the house and left him alone with the mother for a couple of minutes. He tried to ignore her flirtatious looks.
"The years have been kind to you haven't they?"
"I wouldn't be so sure."
Sophie came running out again waving a ripped piece of card. She handed it to Logan and he saw that it had a phone number written on it.
"I wouldn't do anything for them. But I reckon I could do something for those X-men you mentioned. So have that, just in case." She clasped her hands together and have her wings a small shake.
"Feel free to call me too if you like."
Logan patted Sophie on the head in a sign of appreciation and headed back to the car. Once sat down he watched Sophie and her mother give their final waves of good bye before returning inside. Logan inspected the card with Sophie's number on it. He unzipped a pocket on his jacket and slid it inside before zipping it up again. It was the safest place he could think of.
"Let's get you home kid."
