Silver Claws and Cat Tails
Abby Ebon
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Disclaimer; I do not own Harry Potter. I do not own X-Men.
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Mutant-Kitties-Are-Not-Amused
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Harry had learned very indeed that magic did not solve all the problems he might be faced with. In fact, more often then not – magic made things worse. Harry personally thought that magic was the result of an element of chaos gone astray. So it was that instead of arriving "presentable" – with clothes smooth as a pressed sheet and fur smoothed into something less ruffled, he went as was.
He admitted it was part rebellion, part because of Remy not having left his side since their rude awakening and he wasn't entirely sure direct magic (even his "wishes") would have the desired effect upon Remy forgetting the fact that he hadn't woken up "unruffled" – which was just plain too odd for anyone to believe.
He felt faintly like the guy who walked off the street into a fancy diner when, upon approaching the top of the stairs that led to the kitchen, he found the others gathered about the table in similar disarray, though they were likely, at least, familiar with the one who stood above them with a smug Mystique by his side.
This, Harry knew with no second-guesses whatsoever, is Magneto. He knew from Wanda and Pietro, who were trying to hide their surprised looks from finding him coming out of the basement - better then Lance, who looked carefully blank - or Pyro, who was still glaring at Remy who had already sat down beside Rogue and Pietro, but was otherwise ignoring him.
Rogue was carefully not looking at him, or merely concentrating on watching Mystique. Fred and Mortimer were coming up behind him, so he couldn't see their expressions, but he doubted they cared much about him appearing from the basement rather then having disappeared.
Magneto let them find their seats, though his expression was clearly somewhat displeased. Harry didn't particularly care if he didn't like stragglers, someone always had to be last – and Mystique likely came to get them last on purpose. Harry took the moments to settle into his seat beside Pietro and Wanda to study Magneto out of the corner of his eye.
His hair was silvery white, though still thick, he was clean shaven – though his dress was a little odd. He wore armor, not noticeable to someone who wasn't looking for it – but it was there under his button down black shirt. His pants were formal, no cresses, and no folds that weren't meant to be seen.
It looked like he came dressed to impress – and Harry had to admit, he was impressed. Once they were seated, and settled into place, there was silence – he didn't need to clear his throat, or glare them into silence. It was if it was expected of them, and they did not disappoint.
"Firstly, I welcome our newest family member - Chesire Cat," his lips quirked, not as if he found it a degrading name, but as if it was something he would remember, Harry wasn't sure he wanted his name remembered, "or, rather, as he will be better known as Trickster." This time there was nothing to read off his expression as he looked them over, measuring - weighing.
"I know your lives have been difficult – and you are young, born into these times of conflict that were started long before your birth. I want you to know you can always speak to Mystique, or I, of a conflict of interest, however that does not mean I wish to know every grudge and personal vendetta you have against one another. If you find there is something you can not work out among each other, speak of it – but be prepared to have their side heard as well." It wasn't a mistake that Magneto's eyes flicked to Lance and Pyro, then to Remy.
Harry looked aside, wondering why it was Magneto knew of this conflict, yet had not done anything to resolve it if he spoke the truth. Perhaps they themselves had not come forward to tell of the whole issue. Harry found it hard to dismiss – this was, after all, his "family" now, according to Magneto's own words.
"Now, Brotherhood, I bring to your attention the reason I have come to visit you so unexpectedly." Magneto glanced to Mystique then, a clear indication for her to continue. Obviously, she knew as much about the situation as Magneto did.
"As you know, our government has been capturing "troublesome" mutants – these unlucky individuals are being held in a base just outside our borders, on foreign soil there is no media to cover stories that might – or might not – involve these…holding… faculties." Mystique spat that word out, sneering at the thought of such places. Harry thought it was very likely she had experience with such a place and the sort of people it might contain.
"So we have little choice but to act on their behalf – a team of two will distract the enemy, while two others will go in and get as many of our people out as we can." Mystique frowned then, pressing her lips as she looked over the gathered Brotherhood.
"Two of you will have to accompany myself, and Sabertooth, on this mission if it is to succeed." Mystique finished, some of the Brotherhood stirred, but no one spoke – glancing to Magneto to see if he had anything to add.
"You may discuss this among yourselves, their will be a training period to see how well the group works together – ultimately, the decision will be up to Sabertooth and Mystique, as I trust their judgments will be for the greater good." Magneto finished softly, as if daring anyone to contradict his words. No one did.
"When you finish eating breakfast, please present yourselves outside with the proper attire." Mystique added before turning to leave through the door. Magneto had not moved, but she didn't seem to be waiting for him.
"Chesire, I would like Mystique to speak with you personally after you have finished training with the others. She will collect you afterwards." It took Harry a moment he was being addressed. Magneto looked almost curious to hear his reaction, and though Harry had his suspicions, he was not about to show them to this man, so he nodded acknowledgement and – along side the rest – watched the two leave.
Breakfast was a remarkably withdrawn affaire, after Pyro and Wanda had finished cooking and there were two near misses of the house exploding - or combusting. Harry only managed to understand the difference in meaning that with exploding, there would be pieces, and with combusting they might survive, if Pyro directed it elsewhere on time. It wasn't very comforting, but he felt it was the fact that Sabertooth would be working with them that had everyone so silent.
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Harry thought later that his assessment of Sabertooth being the one that stirred uneasy silence was incorrect. It was the "proper attire" Mystique had oh-so-casually mentioned on her way out that they were to wear. While discussing names with Wanda, Pietro, and Rogue – there had not been any mention of "proper attire", in fact he remembered a distinct lack of it.
Lance looked like he wore something that combined a football uniform with an ice sport, shoulder protection – joints (elbows, wrist, and knee) as well as gloves and boots and the facemask, he could have passed for some sort of defense position – though, given his expression, he wasn't picky. At the joints it was a dark green, though the rest of the form fitting full body bit of "proper attire" was black. Somehow, Lance made it look at least decent. Not that Harry looked much at his ass, that wasn't it at all.
Pyro looked slightly happier, but then – that could have been the flamethrower strapped to his back. His padded protection looked minimal, but then Harry knew that really shouldn't be such a surprise – he had seen Pyro fight. Pyro could manipulate flame, not create it – that made him more use out at the sidelines of the melee then in the middle of it. The rest of his clothing was as skin tight and entirely covering as Lance's – in fact that seemed to be theme. Harry thought the camouflage material was likely flame resistant - it'd be stupid if it wasn't – especially with the gloves. He also had a face shield, and Harry had to wonder how it was that those seemed to have become standard.
Wanda still wore her crimson trench coat – her black fingerless gloves still firmly in place, though she wore a burgundy vest that showed her belly, and tight black pants that, when she shifted footing, he saw glimmer of carmine that reminded him eerily of dry blood. Her arms were crossed, and it didn't look like anyone would ask questions – if they were smart. Harry intended to stay on her good side, and it seemed most everyone agreed.
Pietro, truthfully, wore even more blue and silver then he had upon meeting Harry. The color seemed to suit him; the main body of the suit was silver though the edges were blue strikes, like lightning bolts. His was full body as well, all the way up to the neck cut in a 'V' and the white gloves and boots – of all of them he seemed the most pleased with his outfit.
Fred wore metal bands around his wrist and a grey vest over a white shirt that tucked into black combat pants and brown leather boots. Out of all of them, Harry didn't think he'd have to worry about overheating, then again – he didn't have much protection from whatever came at him. Then again, Harry had never seen his power at work, so maybe there was a reason for the lack of "protection".
Mortimer, crouched beside him on all fours, wore a white armor around his chest, though he like the others wore a full body covering suit with white gloves, green, Harry took quick notice, appeared when the black cloth stretched. It had to have been adapted to suit his ability, which depended on his agility. His black boots, too, seemed to have been made especially for him. Noticing his gaze, dark eyes glared up at him through fizzy curls until Harry looked to Rogue and Remy.
Rogue's shoulder guards slanted upward noticeably, a dark green which matched her upper body armor covering her chest, from there down it was black – which variation only at her knees which, while black, seemed to have a metallic glint to them. Rough work gloves covered her hands, as if the main concern was that they tare. Annoyed, she flicked white-on-auburn hair away from her face, glancing only once to Remy before nodding to Harry.
Remy's rugged brown trench coat covered most of his suit, leaving glimpses of a whole lot of black mixed with some red, the only difference seemed to be his white combat boots that reached his knees. There was something about his outfit that no one else had though, some sort of cloth came over his ears, opening only to let his face – and over a strap of black clothe – his brown hair free. The only benefit seemed to be that it brought his black and red eyes into intimidating reality.
This might have been the embarrassment holding them back from telling him about "proper attire". Harry vaguely remembered when going from wearing baggy clothes to robes had been awkward, but it had helped that the people he saw for most of the year wore the same thing he did.
It became then, natural, and he hadn't later thought twice about it, even though wearing baggy clothing beneath had become habit. Some clothing had been so baggy that the shirt dipped beneath the robe lining and people had thought he didn't ware shirts beneath – only baggy pants. He hadn't known until later that he had started that particular fashion – or lack there of.
This was clearly something a select few did. No one, in fact, was quite looking each other in the eye, and certainly not at their "proper attire", Harry though, was fascinated. He also wasn't going to be wearing anything like it – he was claiming "fur discomfort" to any contact with close fitting clothing. He could see how it would be useful, armor-like, something you could move in without bits of it getting caught in wiring or some such – that didn't mean he was going to wear something like it.
Mystique cleared her throat, bringing Harry's attention to her own get up, in the dark of the basement his attention had been on her eyes and the odd color of her skin – upstairs, it had been on Magneto. She wore a dark blue (darker then her skin at least) body suit beneath a heavy white tunic (perhaps leather) that fell to her ankles. White boots and gloves completed the assemble – with the added bonus off four very realistic looking sculls that looped around her white tunic. It was distracting (in the sense that those skulls reminded him of Voldemort) and it took him a moment that she was indicating they get into the black van at the side of the road beside the drive way. They did so, obedient as ducklings lining up in a row after her.
He had a moment to realize how humorous this might look to a passerby before he got into the van, his last thought being just where it was Magneto and Mystique planned to train them at.
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Notes
(Long-winded rant ahead…aka some things you might be wondering about…)
Firstly, why am I making a story where Harry is so magical, yet not using magic? What I have tried to convoy is the fact that mutants are startlingly immune to magic, what "magic" may be for mutant is not necessary magic to a magical being. I don't see Scarlet Witch ever going to Hogwarts and learning to look at the future through tea leaves…though that would be amusing.
Tell me; if you were – like Harry - dropped in a hostile situation at first encounter of two fractions, would you watch the interaction of at least one side? Or would you show your full hand of cards and aces before even knowing anything? Harry's been through a war, and I know this much about war – you don't get a chance to be stupid if you want to survive.
I don't like to use magic with everything; I admit having Harry pouting over milk when Remy comes in is a bit over the top, I was trying for funny. Also, something a few of you likely haven't thought of - there was no milk in the kitchen. If Harry had summoned some up there would have been evidence – physical residue in a glass, type evidence – and they would have seen it too, when your sleepy, you don't think about things like dishes.
This likely would have led to Remy confronting him about it, being the only one who would keep milk in a mini-fridge downstairs – so summoning something up – even something small, can and will have consequences. I like those types of chain reactions. From the start, they wanted to quicken Harry's magic using an outside source; they got Harry as a mutant – they wanted to kill him, they lost him and a domino effect of panic continues even now.
Trust me, there will be magic, but most mutants have only one power, and they often connect if there is more then one. Mixing cat-looking people with magic isn't an evolutionarily connection. It'd be like Sabertooth and Scarlet Witch being one and the same. That's a bit too much, even for a mutant to swallow.
Why is Remy coming off as "hostile", yet seemed to get friendly toward Harry in the next chapter?
Let me lay out something, Remy is hostile because – imagine, if you would, knowing what everyone around you felt – highs, lows, depression, and so on and so forth. Only, you see, people usually have a mix of emotions, its never so clean cut unless you run toward the extreme. Then, on top of that, throw in knowing some thoughts, not always clear on who it is doing the thinking, or what the message is, but you get some sort of feedback if you want to or not.
Like – for example, if the people around you – the ones you live and work with day in and day out, like you as you are, we all have imaginations and can pretend ignorance – image that being blown to bits. Then, as if a cosmic joke, do remember that your emotions can charge things, and move them. You're likely to be feeling the part of a ticking time bomb. That's likely a fraction of what "my" Remy is going through. I do love to torture the cute ones.
So, while he does like Harry – he favors Pyro more, seeing that Pyro is sort of attached in a big brother role to Harry, he's using him to get to Pyro. Sort of. That changes after a certain "bad thing" happens. I have my reasons, but there is a lot going on beneath the surface then merely Harry dropping out of no where and hanging out with the Brotherhood.
Also, this is moving slowly (yes, I can admit that it not even being two days in story verse so far with seven chapters, is snail pace slow) because I want to hook up Harry, Lance, Pyro, Pietro, and Remy. With Logan. It is possible to do so, and I will prove it.
Secondary note (aka, the one I meant to add from the beginning on the chapter before I got sidetracked with the long rants see above); read "Harry Potter and the World that Waits", by dellacouer, it's a really awesome Harry Potter/X-Men story. Feel free to suggest other Harry/X-Men stories, as I really think there ought to be a list somewhere….