10

One Fight to Another

"What the hell was that all about?" Yelled Bobby, returning to his slouching position on the sofa.

"I'm sorry, I know here, and that wasn't her, she was being controlled or something."

"Yeah whatever!"

"Its not that difficult to believe, it's happened before, remember Stryker and Alkali lake?" Commented Storm, putting her hand on Mark's shoulder. "You did the right thing."

Mark looked at Ororo in a way that said thank you and then began to put up with the others scorn once more. Storm took Mark by the hand and led him away from the others, taking him to the lift to the sub-basement. She silently pressed the button and the elevator began to descend.

"I was not thinking of doing this for a while, but you showed you were capable of making decisions and doing the right thing." She finally said, breaking the quiet of the confined space.

"Do what?"

"How do you feel about becoming one of the X-Men? We had a suit to fit you a while ago, but I wasn't going to show you until you were ready."

"Really, a hero?"

"A Defender."

Upstairs the conversation about Mark's decision still raged. Bobby refused to admit that the girl may have been controlled and Tabitha was disappointed that she didn't get to blow her up.

"Leave him alone!" called someone from the back of the crowd. Everyone turned to see Kurt stood in the corner, looking annoyed at the fact that they would blame Mark. "He did the right thing! I can't believe you are all sat here squabbling when he was trying to save lives!"

Bobby snorted and looked away, resulting in Kurt walking over to him and punching him in the face.

"How can you let yourselves do this!" he said, addressing everyone. "Am I the only one who cares?"

"You make a pretty god job of showing it! Your not the only one Kurt, stop making yourself out to be so hard done by!" Yelled Alex from the other side of the room.

"I'm not the one who shot at this friend of his!"

"I had no idea she was his friend, if I did I wouldn't have done it would I?" Alex argued.

"Your just one mistake after the other aren't you!"

"Coming from you that's rich man, I know all about what you did, how can you do that to someone!"

"You have no idea what your talking about!"

"I know plenty!"

"SHUT IT!"

Alex was shocked at the ferocity in Kurt's voice. Even if he didn't do anything and it all was a mix up between him and Mark, how could he sit back and let him go with him if he got this angry about it.

"What's your problem man?" Alex asked.

"You're the problem!"

"Me?"

"I've seen you around him! Talk about diving straight in there, there's only one other thing that does that, and that's a vulture!"

"What he does and who he chooses to spend time with is his business isn't it!"

"Do you expect me to sit by and let him be mis-treated by the likes of you!" Threatened Kurt.

"Do you expect me to sit by and let you control his life?" Argued Alex.

The two teenage boys leaped into battle with one another, using their mutant powers against each other. Kurt began to run at Alex, who defended himself by a blast of energy, which in turn was dodged as Kurt bamfed out of the way and let the blast tear a hole through the wall at the end of the room. Kurt ended up on the other side of Alex and he started to kick him closer and closer toward the edge. Eventually Alex was pushed through the hole and into the foyer.

The fight continued and caused severe damage in the lobby, due to the fact that Alex was blasting away and Kurt was dodging it all, which let the blasts carry on into walls, paintings, pillars, ceilings and windows. Finally Alex managed to land a blast right in the centre of Kurt's chest which winded him and sent him flying out through a once unbroken window.

Kurt leaped up and grabbed Alex by the throat. He leant over him and began to punch him repeatedly, causing the boys nose to bleed, and lip to split.

"STOP!!!" called Mark as he sprinted over to the pair. The look of horror on his face was indescribable; he was unable to even comprehend what Kurt hade done to Alex. The trail of damage was appalling, as was Mark's view of Kurt. He pushed the German away and helped Alex up, putting an arm under his shoulder.

Kurt paused, looking at his hands for a moment, before he ran after Mark, up the steps to the wrecked foyer, trying to apologise.

"Mark, I'm so sorry, I didn't…"

Kurt was cut short by Mark's fist in his face. He fell to the floor, landing on the entrance stairs. Mark looked down at him for a moment, tears in his eyes.

"Its not me you need to apologise to, not anymore."

Mark turned and left, taking Alex to his room so he could rest.