( Volume: 4 Arc: "the new Hellions" 4 Issue: 3/4 )

Chapter 152 : Relief

"So, today you find out your codenames. And all the organizational crap." Julian said, holding the clipboard and thinking that it was a bit of a crutch. He could see why Cyclops was always
holding it, while addressing the students. He could squeeze it when he was angry, he could pretend to read it when he was embarrassed—or when he didn't want to look a group of
people back in the eye.

Behind him, Logan folded his arms. Surprisingly he had not complained about Julian's requesting he be present for all future Hellions activities, whether they involved powers or not. The
introductory session had convinced the older man that these children were possibly more volatile than the Shrimps.

As of now, Clare and Sylvia were standing at the opposite ends of the lineup, their arms folded and their faces cold. The air was practically full of static.

Julian suspected this had something to do with his brother, who had refused to dress up in the tight Xavier academy uniform, and had instead opted for the largest, droopiest sweater
he could find. The sleeves were a full three inches too long for him, but he had insisted on wearing it, the hood yanked up over his head for protection, his pant legs dragging on the
floor around his sneakers.

"Seriously, dude, I think you're overdoing it," Julian had mumbled to him, on the way to the school. "It's not like anything's going to happen."

"Uh huh," James said in a muffled voice, rolling his eyes distrustfully in shadow of his hood.

Now Julian and Logan were facing the students, feeling nervous themselves. The amount of hatred generating between the two girls would be enough for James to cause a
school-wide riot, should his control slip.

And Julian knew he wasn't feeling all that confident.

"Aight. So…we're going alphabetically here. Ruth? You're still going as Blindfold."

Ruth made no indication of having heard him. In fact, she turned her head away, as if she was looking at the bookshelf. He was used to this reaction; however, it didn't make him
feel any less creeped out.

"Actually, a whole bunch of people get to keep their names. Flare, No-see-um, Gaia…no changes. I guess they're pretty descriptive already." Although she should be named EasyBake,
he thought of Candace, running his finger down the page.

"Oh, here. Amelia?"

The girl nodded.

"You're Amo…amee…a—"

"Amoeba," Logan said, looking amused. "Thought you passed Biology, Keller."

Julian bit back his annoyance. "Amoeba. Thanks, Logan."

The girl looked uncertain. "That's a weird name," she said.

"It's descriptive," Logan grunted. "That's what yer powers are, ain't they? You bust apart into a shapeless critter and eat stuff by surrounding it."

"I guess," Amelia said.

Julian looked at his brother next, and felt a desire to laugh. It would be mean, but Cyclops seemed to have quite the sense of humor.

"Yeah, what?" James asked.

"Your name's Riot," he said.

Silence.

"You're joking?" James asked.

"No, man, that's what he named you. I had nothing to do with it." Julian couldn't keep himself from grinning.

"Fuck this," James said angrily.

"KELLER!" Logan barked as the boy walked away, making Julian jump as well. "Git your ass back in her or so help me god, I will teach you a lesson you won't forget anytime soon!"

"Later," James called, waving him off. The door snapped shut behind him.

Silence.

"Er, Sylvia?" Julian said. "You'll be Psyche. And…if this Mullinix guy bothered to show up, he'd be called Adamant…but I don't think he even exists, at this point."

…

"Jim…c'mon. It's just a dumb name."

Silence.

"I had bad luck with names, too. I took the name 'Hellion'…right before Frost went and named the whole unit that. I think that's a little more embarrassing, really…"

Silence.

"Jim, can you open the door?"

Silence.

"Please?"

"Enough," Laura said, marching into the hallway with the magazine she'd been reading. "I'm sick to death of hearing you beg. EMO! YOU HAVE TO THE COUNT OF THREE TO
OPEN THE DOOR!" She pounded on the door, forcing the wood to bend in with each contact.

"Laura—" Julian put his hand on her shoulder. "Let's give him a little privacy."

"You sitting by his door, whining, is not privacy," Laura said. "You're letting your younger brother control you."

"I am not," Julian said, annoyed. He flushed slightly.

"You so are. You guys are being ridiculous and I'm going to fix it for once and for all." She paused. "Besides…I have a score to settle with him. EMO, THREE IS UP!"

Laura held up a fist, popped her claws, and watched the door expectantly.

A few moments later it opened, and James glared out with one eye. "Go away! I don't wanna—HURRK!"

Laura seized him by his collar and pulled him out so they were face to face. "You little crap, you sleep in my house, watch my TV, and then you finish the last effing ding-dong!"

Her grip tightened with the last word. "I've been thinking. This squad will get you out of my hair, for a good deal of time. I got all excited at the prospect…and then your brother here tells me you quit."

"…" James glared at her. "You have no idea wh—"

"Shut the hell up, Emo. You're going back on that squad, understand?"

"I—"

"Do you understand?"

"They named me—"

"I don't give a shit what they named you. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"

Laura roared the last part, and Julian found himself edging away.

"…fine!" James said, trying to sound defiant, but failing. Laura let him go, gave Julian a triumphant look—as if daring him to comment on her methods—then shuffled back towards the living
room sofa, rubbing her lower back with one hand and holding the magazine up for inspection with the other.

The boys exchanged looks.

"She pregnant or something?" James asked.

Julian froze. "We were going to wait to—"

"It's pretty obvious," James said dismissively. "You guys suck at keeping secrets." He slipped back into his room and shut the door in Julian's face; a definite, final sound.

Julian paused to absorb the irony of this statement, then turned away.

…

"My, has it been two months already?" Dr. McCoy asked, eyeing the two younger members of the X-team and adjusting his glasses.

"You make it sound like time passed quickly," Laura said scathingly.

Momentary silence.

"My apologies," Dr. McCoy said dryly, holding the door open. "Come in, come in..."

…

"I can't believe I'm doing this again," Julian said, peering at the Ultrasound screen.

"YOU can't believe it—what about me?" Laura grunted, tensing as Dr. McCoy ran the cold wand over her stomach. "I'm the one who's doing all the work here!"

"It's work your body is doing….not you personally," Julian pointed out. "It's not like I gave you a box of parts to assemble."

"I'd prefer that," Laura said. "Then I'd have a choice to not do it!"

"Children, please," Dr. McCoy sighed, wondering why he had to hear the bickering for a second time, too. He paused, his eye catching a spot on the screen ahead. Julian looked up to the same area.

"Is that it there?"

He was referring to a curl on the bottom, about the size of a peanut.

"I believe so," Dr. McCoy said, his eyes running over the expanse of Laura's womb. Searching for more—something the boy beside him was also doing.

"Just one!" Julian exclaimed, waving his hands around in excitement. "FUCK YEAH!"

His hand knocked Dr. McCoy's glasses off one ear, and the doctor gave him an annoyed look. "Please control yourself, Mr. Keller," he said.

"Sorry," Julian said, not really noticing.

Laura was still dealing with her joy. After a moment she squealed.

"Party in my womb and everyone's invited!"