Chapter Two

Gar rolled over on the hard bed and tried to block out the sound of Kurt's tail thumping on the floor. He growled slightly and sat up; he heard a squeak in the darkness. He flicked his eyes around the room and finally decided it came from Holly's bed, she must've seen him move. "It's just me Holly, go back to sleep."

"I'm too scared to sleep. I miss my dad."

Gar dropped to the floor, silent as a cat and walked over to her side. "Do you want me to sit beside you until you fall asleep?"

The girl nodded; her bottom lip quivering as she tried to hold back tears. Gar retrieved his blanket and wrapped it around himself as he settled on the wooden floor. Luckily it wasn't very cold. He leaned his head against the pole of the bunk bed and listened to the night sounds. His ears twitched as he heard guards walking around the camp and barracks. With a sigh he looked up at Holly who was now sleeping with her knees pulled into her chest. A soft smile covered his face and he pulled her blanket further around her shoulders before climbing back into his bed.

Rogue jumped awake as someone's hand covered her bare shoulder. She looked up at the tall man with red and black eyes in alarm. Her mouth dropped slightly, "You're… you're awake? But you touched me!"

Remy gave her a confused look, "What you talking about?"

"I can't touch anyone or I'll take away their memories and powers."

The man smiled sadly and held up his gloved hands, "Sorry cheri; and Remy isn't sure that your powers can even work with that collar around your neck. You gotta get up before the guard come busting through the doors."

Rogue sat up with a slight groan and looked around. Everyone was either dressed or in the process of getting their clothes gathered up. With a heavy sigh the girl grabbed a long-sleeved shirt from her bag and pulled it over her head, she slipped her gloves on and laced up her combat boots. After a moment of searching she found a hair-tie and pulled back her brown and white hair. "So what do we do all day?" she asked as they trooped outside and stood in a slightly crooked line outside the barracks.

"Nothing much. There's a pathetic attempt at a gym and that's where we all spend most of our time." Gar replied; he turned his head in the direction of the office, "Where are they?"

"Don't know mon ami." Remy replied around a splinter of wood that served as a toothpick. He eyed Gar quietly, "You leave the barracks at night?"

"No way dude. I'm stupid but I'm not going to let a whole bunch of new kids starve because of me." As he spoke the changeling's ears twitched and his head swiveled around to locate the source of the sound. "The Big Man's coming."

"Vas?" Kurt exclaimed in alarm, "It's just new people, why would he come out and see us?"

"Who's the Big Man?" Todd asked quietly, wincing as if he was afraid of a reprimand.

Remy had no time to explain. Seconds later the man himself appeared. He was dressed in army fatigues and carried a long horse whip. Remy, Gar and Kurt instantly snapped to attention, their eyes staring straight ahead. The others copied them praying that nothing would happen.

The man looked at them with disgust. He had cold blue eyes and grey hair. After a moment he stopped in front of Remy, "Two of them are missing. Where is the girl?"

"In the barracks sir. She be unconscious." Remy replied without making eye contact.

"And why would that be?"

"…Some of the guards were kicking her. She's broken a rib, Remy requests for some supplies to treat her."

"Granted, Logan will get you the things you need. Where is the mutant who tried to escape?"

"Still in the barracks, he's been out all night."

The man nodded and turned on his heel and marched away without another word. Gar let out a breath of relief and followed the other prisoners to the mess hall.

Todd lay on his back watching the fly buzz around towards his face. With a flick he let his long tongue slurp up the insect. He jumped in surprise as someone made a noise. He looked over the side of his bed to see the blonde girl who called herself Holly making a face.

"Did you really just eat that fly?"

"Do you always ask questions you don't want to know the answers to?"

The girl stuck her tongue out and folded her arms over her chest. She was staring at the pale-faced mutant who was still unconscious on the far bed. "I thought he was going to make it."

Todd snorted, "What difference would it have made? Everyone knows about these places but no one cares about what happens to us."

"You'd be surprised kid."

Both mutants yelped in surprise. The large, burly man who'd brought in the nameless mutant stood over by Rahne's bedside, his arms full of bandages and antiseptic. "Either of you know where Remy is? He's supposed to help 'em with this."

"Remy is showing the others around Herr Logan." Kurt replied coming into the room. "May I offer my assistance?"

"You know what you're doing Elf?"

"I have bandaged Gar up enough times haven't I?"

Logan snorted and handed him the supplies then left without another word. Kurt sighed and started to sort through the items. His tail quivered nervously as he tried to ignore the stares of Todd and Holly. Finally he turned and looked at them "Vas?"

They both looked away guiltily. Holly raised her gaze first, flushing slightly, "I'm sorry Mr. Kurt I've just never… I've never seen anyone like you."

Kurt smiled, showing off white fangs, "Thank you for being honest Holly. But please believe me when I say that you have nothing to fear from me. I am harmless. Would you please come and help me bandage Rahne?"

"I… don't know how."

"I will teach you. Come."

Todd leaned back against the headboard and stared out the tiny window. He could see Remy and Logan outside, talking with each other. Gar was keeping the newcomers busy while still being close enough to listen in on the conversation. He sighed and curled into a ball on the bed, watching Kurt and Holly. His eyes lit upon the blue teen's bare back and the large stripes that crisscrossed the skin. "Kurt?"

"Ja Todd?"

"What happened to your back dawg?"

The young man paused for a moment, "I was asking about Gar when he was locked in the cell and one of the guards decided to teach me a lesson."

Holly paled, "They… they whipped you?"

"Ja, life here is cruel Holly. These men were hired because they hate mutants and they want to keep us in here away from everyone else. That is the way it is."

"But… aren't these places supposed to be humane? They've passed all sorts of laws to keep mutants from getting hurt by the people who run the camps."

Kurt stared at her for a moment, "Let me ask you something Holly, you learned about the German concentration camps ja?"

"Ya but what-."

"In a sense this place is the same. Because we're in America they can't kill or torture us as badly but a lot goes on behind these fences that no one will ever see. Almost everyone wants to see mutants wiped out, do you think they're going to try and get us the treatment we deserve? The laws are just to keep the public happy."

Todd snorted loudly, "You got that right. I just about got killed by a couple of idiots at my old school and my step-dad threw me out of the house when I started hopping around like a frog. The only reason I got caught was because I tried to get into a shelter for something to eat."

"But… why don't you fight back? There must be a way to get rid of the control collars."

"And then what would we do?" Remy asked as he entered into the room, "We would just be caught again and brought back. There is no where for our kind to go. We prisoners no matter where we go. Of course for Remy it wouldn't be hard to just disappear into the streets but for someone like Kurt or Gar it would be impossible. No offense mon ami."

"None taken, where are the others?"

"Outside with Gar. Logan wants to see you."

Gar paced the length of the fence staring into the distance. He dimly registered the sounds of the new mutants behind him as they shared their stories but he was lost in his own thoughts. He stopped and threaded his hands through the chain-link fence, wind blew over his face and he closed his eyes shutting away the horror of his life for a brief moment.

"Get off the fence mutie!"

Gar sprang away, barely dodging the short quirk that had been aimed at his exposed arm. The guard sneered at him and raised the whip again. Gar didn't move as he was struck five times on each arm. He stared at the guard shoving away the hatred that built with every blow; he didn't dare let his rage show for fear of angering the man even more.

Finally the man stopped and moved away towards his companions who slapped him on the back and laughed.

"Gar…?"

The changeling looked over at the group. Wanda was crying into her knees; her hands balled up into fists. The others looked at him with awe and pity. Gar knelt by Wanda and touched her shoulder gently. She turned and looked up at him her face streaked with dirt and tears. "Why didn't you stop him?"

Gar couldn't answer, she wouldn't understand. If he got thrown in the cell again that would leave only Remy and Kurt to protect them. Instead he put his arm around the girl and rocked her back and forth as she cried. Pietro jittered nearby, unnerved by the scene but he calmed down and stroked his twin's hair, murmuring calming words to her.

Raven stood over the little gathering, her purple eyes narrowed. The control collar had totally shut her off from her telekinetic power but she could still use her telepathy to the extent that she could read thoughts but not alter them or respond. Her empathy too had fought from the drugged stupor the collar put on her powers and let her see the blazing emotions of her fellow prisoners and captors.

One of the guards hadn't moved on with the rest of them, he was watching them, trying to be discreet. Raven probed at his thoughts but could get nothing. She leaned back on her heels and sent her empathy as gently as she could. She started as she felt waves of pity and anger melded together. The guard was boiling mad over the treatment of the mutants.

"Raven!"

The sorceress looked over at Rogue, "What?"

"Why are ya staring at nothing?"

The girl looked to where the guard had been but he was moving away, he cast a glance over his shoulder and their eyes locked for a moment. The guard gave her a small salute then disappeared into a tower.

Rogue nudged the other mutant gently. "Are ya okay?"

"I'm fine." Raven turned around and surveyed the scene. Wanda and Pietro were walking together towards the barracks, their heads bent as they talked. Kurt was crouched next to Gar, who was sitting on the ground, his arms almost white against the rest of his olive green skin. The changeling's teeth were slightly bared but he didn't look angry just annoyed. He murmured something to Kurt and the blue mutant nodded before rising just as the bell began to ring.

"We had better get in line for dinner."

most of the comments made by Remy and Kurt are unimportant as far as translation. If you need help just message me and i'll try to put translations in next time. It just takes time and i wanted to upload this quickly! Spread the world! Crossover are hard but i have good plans for this one :D Read and review