"Getting anything changes it from being desirable to being taken for granted."
[xxxxx]
Chapter 11: Taken for Granted
Twigs and leaves crackled beneath her boot as Albino crouched down next to Quicksilver and Mystique, surrounded by dry and dusty brush.
Only minutes they had been contacted by Pyro and Scarlet Witch from the city, saying that they could begin preparation. Now, they waited to see the X-Men leaving the institute so that they could safely infiltrate the large manor.
Finally, the group of three, the other Superiors and Brotherhood hidden somewhere else in the woods, watched as a large black jet rose into the starry night.
"Sweet ride. We'll have to get us one sometime." Albino commented as the jet zoomed off towards the city.
"You like it?" She heard Quicksilver whisper into her ear. "I'll get you one for your birthday." His hot breath crawled across her skin, aggravating her already foul mood.
Without looking at him, she shoved his face away from her neck. "Shut up and wait like a good little boy."
As if on cue, the communicator Albino gripped tightly in her palm buzzed to life, signaling that someone was waiting for her to receive the call. It did not make a sound, given that she had turned the volume setting to vibrate. Clicking a button, Albino held the device to her face. "Camouflage?"
"Let's get going," The second-in-command's voice said from the other end. After turning the communicator off, Albino slid the small device into her pocket and motioned for Quicksilver and Mystique to follow her as she walked from the edge of the brush into the Xavier Institute's backyard.
They met Camouflage, along with Magneto and Panther, in the yard. Albino glanced at the eerie-looking mansion, hoping that no one was watching them.
"Are we all ready?" Camouflage asked, her thumbs tucked underneath her belt.
No one answered, but she took that as a yes.
All of them turned toward the house, Magneto and Camouflage leading. Albino and Quicksilver trailed along at the back of the line, with Mystique and Panther a few feet ahead of them.
They reached near the back of the house and everyone stood back as Magneto stretched both of his hands toward the mansion. Camouflage stopped him abruptly though, laying a hand upon his shoulder.
"Perhaps a more subtle approach would be better." She suggested.
Magneto looked at her for a moment, contemplating and then gave a weak smile. "Of course. Do you have any suggestions?"
Camouflage smirked. "I'll only be a moment." She stepped past Magneto and knelt down in front of the back door. After pulling a few tools out of a sack that hung from her belt, she began to fiddle with the door handle.
Albino knew that Camouflage was an excellent lock-pick. And an even better thief. She wasn't sure where her friend had picked up these skills, but all she knew was Camouflage had been a cop before her life with the Superiors- before she was a mutant.
"You sure she won't trigger any alarms?" Quicksilver whispered to Albino.
She scoffed. "You obviously haven't known the Superiors long enough."
The door swung open and Camouflage stood, returning a few tools to her belt. From inside, she was able to open the second of the double doors, and they all entered the mansion.
The plan had already been made clear to everyone. Magneto and Camouflage were the only two that would be going into the sub-levels while the rest of the group played lookout. The others were supposed to roam the halls and make sure that no one woke up. Hopefully, their distraction was good enough that none of the X-Men had decided to stay behind.
Albino watched as the leaders of the Superiors and the Brotherhood disappeared down the hallway, the remaining four of them staying behind.
"Alright," Mystique said once they were gone. "You all know your territories. Albino will be taking the north-eastern wings; Quicksilver will be taking the southeast; Panther, the southwest, and I will be taking the north-western wings." Her expression was unreadable in the shadows. "Make sure that no one inside is able to contact the X-Men. If we do this right, it should be flawless."
They all nodded and after syncing their watches and communicators, they were off to make their rounds. Mystique and Panther went off in one direction, Quicksilver and Albino the other.
"So," Quicksilver said as they strolled down the halls side-by-side. "Alone again, huh?"
Albino rolled her eyes and said nothing- what she usually did when Quicksilver tried to annoy her like this.
It was silent for a moment and Albino coughed. She hated complete silence. "Didn't you just pass the southeast wings?" She asked.
He shrugged. "Maybe. I'm a little bit distracted by a pretty lady at the moment."
Albino scoffed. "Can you shut up?"
"Just one more question and then I will."
"Shoot."
"Do you know karate?"
"Um... no?" She raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Cause babe, your body is kickin'."
She clenched her jaw and stopped walking. "Will you please go fall off the side of a building? Preferably a skyscraper."
Quicksilver smirked. "The only place I'll be falling is in love with you."
"Oh!" Albino exclaimed in annoyance. "Do you ever stop?"
"Baby, I can go all night if you can handle the ride."
She bit her lip, trying to calm and control her anger. Then turned and began to walk away from him.
"Wait up there, Albie." He said, easily catching up with her.
"Don't call me that."
"Alright, Izzy."
She stopped and looked at him angrily. "Do you ever shut up?" She said loudly, then lowered her voice in case she might have stirred any of the X-Geeks from their sleep. "Just leave me alone, okay? Go back to the southeast wing and do your job."
She turned around yet again to continue on, but his voice stopped her.
"Why don't you just go on one date with me? It's one date, babe. What could go wrong?" He said a little too loudly.
"Sh-h!" She hushed him, pressing her index finger to her lips. "I just don't want to go on a date right now or any time soon. I have more important matters to take care of than searching for love."
He moved in a little closer to her. "Babe, you don't have to search for love- we can make it."
She scoffed and pushed him away. "Are you drunk?" She asked rhetorically.
"Only intoxicated by your presence." He said with a wink.
Albino bit her lip and turned away, but Quicksilver caught her by the arm and spun her back around to face him.
"Oh, c'mon... just one date? Just one, then I'll be out of your luscious, silky hair." He asked somewhat sincerely, his blue eyes staring straight into her own.
She could tell that his intentions were pure- for the most part. "Alright." She said reluctantly. He smiled. "But you can't follow me around anymore, and you have to stop bothering me."
Quicksilver continued to smile ecstatically. "Of course, babe. Anything for you." He tried to give her a quick peck on the cheek, but Albino casually shifted her head to the side, avoiding his lips. He stepped back with an amused grin on his face. "See ya later, Izzy."
"Bye, Pietro."
In a swoosh of wind, the speed demon was gone.
Albino turned around and continued on her route, thinking all the time about the hell she had just condemned herself to.
[xxxxx]
Silently, Camouflage walked alongside Magneto. She had always enjoyed silence, but for some reason, down here in the sub-levels of a place she had only dreamt of, the silence between the two of them was eerie. She didn't attempt to interrupt it.
They stopped in front of a door that looked identical to the others she had seen. "This is where they're keeping her." Magneto announced. "I'd step back if I were you, dear."
Camouflage did as he said, and watched as Magneto extended a hand outward, with the subtle motion of his finger, the door was forced to split open.
"You're late." A familiar voice said as they stepped into the room.
Inside, it was cold and not very comfortably. The walls and floor were made entirely of cement and the only furniture in the room was a small cot and a desk. Across the room, sitting at this desk, was where the object of their visit sat.
She was in worse condition that Camouflage had ever seen her. Her dark roots were beginning to show, and she looked unwashed. Dark circles showed underneath her beady eyes and her pale lips were chapped.
A smile spread across her face as she laid eyes on her two visitors. "I expected you sooner." She said in a smooth voice- the only thing about her that seemed to be the same.
"Some things cannot be rushed, my dear." Magneto said. "We should hurry, you know. The X-Men could be back any moment."
"Yes, of course." Control said, rising from her chair. "Lead the way."
Camouflage strode next to Control as Magneto led them through the metal corridors.
How have the Superiors been without me? She heard Control's voice in her head. Her tone was casual, but still held a sense of authority.
Well, Camouflage replied, still telepathically. Albino was a bit of a hassle, but she shut up once Magneto arrived.
Very good. Control said, and after a moment or two of silence, she knew that their telepathic link had been cut.
[xxxxx]
"Where are they?" Albino asked frantically, leaning over the front seat to see out the windshield.
Panther pushed her back to the backseat. "Be patient, dear. They'll be here any moment. Besides, we have plenty of time."
Impatiently, Albino rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
"So, did any of you run into trouble?" Pietro asked, breaking the silence. He said it casually, as if it was just typical dinner conversation.
"There was a boy that put up quite a fight, but a blow to the head did just the trick." Panther answered, her eyes carefully watching for any sport of movement beyond the windshield.
"Hey. Is that them?" Albino asked, leaning forward and pointing toward a bit of movement she had seen near the edge of the brush.
"No, I don't think so. It's just the wind."
There as a sudden knock that jarred everyone in the car and Camouflage appeared outside of the window. "Open up!" She said, her voice muffled. Panther leaned across the front seat to unlock the door, and she climbed into the car.
"Where's everybody else?" Albino asked.
Camouflage turned around to face her. "They told me to go on without them. I don't know what they're doing, though."
"We don't need to wait for them before we leave, do we?" She asked.
"I don't know. Panther?"
The feline mutant bit her lip. "I think we should stay. Just to make sure nothing happens."
Albino scoffed. "I want to go home."
"Isabelle, why are you being so impatient?" Panther asked, watching her younger sister in the reflection of the rear view mirror.
"It's a skill I learned as a child." She said smugly, without a smile. "Now let's get this show on the road. Magneto and Control can take care of themselves."
Panther rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, princess."
Carefully, she pulled the car off of the shoulder of the road and spun it around quickly. In no time they were down the road and far away from the mansion, headed for home.
Now that school has started up again, I won't have as much time to update. I may update once a weekend at the least.
Beta'd by martshi3.
I know my Quicksilver is not so Quicksilver, but he's my Quicksilver :D He'll get more PMS-y (Pietro Maximoff Syndrome) as time goes on. It's not my best chapter, but I'm satisfied with it, and that's what counts, eh?