In one fluid and devastating movement Kurt had seized Lance by the collar, slamming his back onto the professor's desk. All the guys recalled exactly what had happened between him and Kitty and stood from their seats, faces filled with anger as they blocked the other Brotherhood members from tackling Kurt.
Lance swung at Kurt's face, but Kurt's free hand caught his wrist and twisted it, his powerful blue tail slipping around Lance's neck.
The Professor sighed, knowing that none of this was unexpected.
"Now Kurt-" the Professor was cut off by a snarl from Kurt, though it wasn't directed at the Professor. Logan watched with foreboding interest, curious as to what set the normally jovial and pleasant elf off. Eve in the company of the enemy he was usually polite.
"I'll ask you once Alvers, and if you lie to me, then only the Devil will be able to set eyes on you again after I'm finished," Kurt snarled vehemently.
The Brotherhood guys cast nervous glances at one another. Kurt Wagner, or if you really want to be biologically correct, Kurt Darkholme, never made a promise he couldn't keep. Pietro stepped forward, ready to tell everyone to relax but wisely stopped as Gambit's bo staff came to rest on his shoulder.
"Did you hurt Kitty yesterday?" The question was asked in a low hiss, and Logan jumped to his feet.
Lance struggled for a moment more as the sound of Logan's claws unsheathing broke the heavy and pregnant silence.
"Logan," the Professor's warning was very much ignored as Lance confirmed Kurt's question with a bitter, "So what."
Logan growled, reaching out to push Kurt off of Lance so that he could get to him himself. Kurt, however,had different plans.
"My fight," He snarled as his eyes darkened. A moment later and Logan was trying to catch smoke with his fingers, growling obscenities.
"Where'd they go!" Logan snapped.
"They didn't go far," Scott said nodding towards the window to where the two teens faced each other out on the grass.
"What the hell are we standing here for, let's move it!" Pietro said as he dashed away, the others following in hot pursuit.
By some unspoken concession, neither Lance or Kurt used their powers, though there was plenty of cheap shots and swearing. Lance had just landed a hard punch on Kurt's stomach who retaliated with sweeping Lance's feet from under him.
"Why is it any of your business? Shouldn't you hate all women after what your mom did to you?" Lance spat, Kurt's fist making contact with his jaw. Lance may have been bigger and taller, but Kurt was agile, fast and precise. Being the star trapeze artist and acrobat of a circus makes ones timing impeccable.
The crowd of guys clustered around them, Roberto holding Todd back so he wouldn't jump in and cause on all out scuffle between the two teams, which really was the last thing they needed. Blob's feet were secured to the ground by a mound of ice courtesy of Bobby.
"Call the blue boy off!" Pietro demanded at Scott as Lance stumbled backwards after a well placed kick at his chest.
"Girls!" Mr. McCoy's voice sounded from behind the group. They turned to see the six mutant girls, being chased by six duplicate Jamies and a tired looking Mr. McCoy.
"Get off of me ya clone!" Rouge shouted at the Jamie who had just latched itself onto her. The girls all sported bed head and askew robes, as well as confused expressions.
Kitty gasped as she saw the two boys who were fighting. She broke out into a limping run and grumbling, phased herself into the ground. The group of girls came to stand beside the guys, watching Kurt and Lance prepare for another onslaught as Kitty phased herself out of the ground, coming in between the two who had both just thrown punches. Kurt's fist stopped an inch from Kitty's face as Lance's phased through Kitty's ribs.
Kurt lowered his fist and wiped the blood from his lip. A hard punch from Lance had caused his sharp canines to pierce the skin.
Kitty glanced down and noticed Lance's fist still through her. With a noise of disgust Kitty extracted himself from him, the crowd of X-Men unconsciously moving forward to crowd around her.
"Don't you think you've down enough damage there Lance?" she demanded. The girls had been awoken by the tell tale sounds of a fight and practically had to ambush Hank and Jamie so they could leave Kitty and Rouge's room.
"Kitty, I want to apologize for that," Lance began, bringing his hand up to rest on Kitty's shoulder but stopped when he caught the expressions on her friends faces and heard the warning snarl of Wolverine.
"Lance don't," Kitty began. She narrowed her eyes and scrutinized him for a moment. Her fierce look slowly melted into disappointment. She regarded his guilt ridden brown eyes, his bleeding nose and his messy hair. She knew he'd lashed out at her because he was drunk and hurt. There was no excuse, but that didn't mean Kitty couldn't forgive him.
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Scott watched the exchange closely. Working with the Brotherhood was not going to be pleasant or even easy, but what other option did they have. They had to keep the girls safe. Scott reflexively pulled Jean close to him, admiring the way her robe fell open at her chest, revealing the emerald green teddy. And that's when realization hit Scott dead in the face.
"What in the hell are you doing outside!" He demanded, his eyes sweeping around looking for threats as he did a head count of all the girls.
"Well we heard what sounded like a fight and came running. Why is everyone acting all weird? And why are the Brotherhood here?" Rouge said as Remy tried to cover her with his trench coat. "Hands off Swamp Rat!"
"All of you!" Logan growled at the girls. "Inside, now."
"Mr. Logan, what's wrong?" Kitty demanded, a frown on her face as the boys started rounding up the girls, shooing them and nudging them to the door.
"Scott!" Jean yelped as he threw her over his shoulder.
"Good idea," Bobby said as tackled Jubilee around the waist and hoisted her up.
"What the hell! I can walk!" Jubilee protested, a small firework coming off her fingertip and hitting Bobby in the ass.
With a small curse Bobby toppled over, taking Jubilee with him, which in turn tripped Sam who was frog marching Amara into the mansion.
Lance gently took Kitty by the shoulder, hesitant about touching her, and directed her towards to the door.
"Stop, what is going on?" Kitty demanded once more as she phased herself out of his grip.
"Pun'kin, just get in the house," Logan said as Rouge stomped off, both Ray and Remy poking and pulling her toward the mansion.
Kitty firmly shook her head ad Lance groaned. His eyes met Kurt's, who gave a slight nod before grabbing Kitty's hand and teleporting them to her room.
"Kurt!" Kitty scolded when they arrived in her very messy room, pillows and empty glasses and bowls evidence of the sleepover that had been hosted there. The other girls could be heard downstairs and in their rooms, all grumbling about being manhandled and thrown about.
"Katzchen, bitte," Kurt began but was cut off when Kitty's fingers grazed at his lips, his blood marring her skin.
"Are you alright?" she asked after a moment, grabbing a tissue and dabbing at the injury.
"Fine, just a cut," Kurt said, tilting Kitty's chin so she would look him in the eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked slowly.
"Well, you obviously found out anyway," Kitty said, trying to be angry at him, but failing miserably.
"I'm sorry you felt the need to beat him up," Kitty said with a small laugh.
Kurt sighed, the adrenaline and anger he;d felt during the fight draining away.
"I feel the need to do a lot more then that," He began. When he'd first found out about what Lance had done, he was pure rage. But now after learning about what was out there, this Animusereptur, his objectives were different, and simply making sure that Kitty, Rouge and the other girls made it through this was his central concern. Lance and the Brotherhood would definitely come in handy.
"Kurt, you're always honest with me. What's going on? Why is the Brotherhood here?" Kitty asked slowly.
"Liebling, I can't tell you," Kurt sighed.
Kitty made a frustrated growl and sat on her bed, her knee throbbing in pain.
"Ugh I thought we were all a team! What are you guys hiding?" Kitty demanded as Rouge came into the room, Remy hot on her tail.
"I'd like to know the same thing!" Rouge snapped as she took off the trench coat and threw it at Remy who deftly caught it.
"Now Chere, calm down," Remy began but was silenced by the slamming of Rouge and Kitty's bathroom door.
Scott appeared at the bedroom door. He opened his mouth to speak but grunted and placed a hand to his forehead.
"No mental probing Jean!" He yelled over his shoulder.
"Damn you Scott!" was the polite reply.
"Jean may be a telepath, but I have some very effective ways of persuasion," Kitty purred as she stood and placed both hands on Kurt's chest, tracing small circles with her nails. She stood on tiptoes and blew gently in his ear, satisfied when she heard his low purr. "Should we test them out?"
Kurt's tail wrapped itself around Kitty's bare leg as Scott's voice interrupted them.
"No! No seduction! Kurt be strong man!" Scott yelled before turning to the hallway to see a bra and panty clad Jubilee sauntering her way towards Bobby. "Damn it! Jubilee put your robe back on! And Bobby stop drooling!" Scott grabbed a blanket from Rouge's bed and chased after Jubilee.
Kurt took Kitty's shoulders and stepped back from her, his tail reluctantly unwinding.
"Katzchen-" Kurt began. Kitty narrowed her eyes before gently taking Kurt's tail and using the tip to trail down her neck and then trace her lips, her tongue darting out to lick it slowly. Kurt groaned and sagged against her, his hands sliding down to grip her waist almost roughly, his hips quivering slightly.
"Chaton!" Remy gasped as Kitty let out an eep and jumped away from Kurt, who staggered and sat on her bed.
"Using your sexuality and good looks like that! I'd never thought of you using sex as a bargaining chip!" Remy chuckled as Kitty flushed.
"Psh," Kitty answered with a flap of her hand. "Whoever said anything about sex Lebaeu?"
Kurt let out a small whimper as the words left Kitty's mouth, his tail thrashing tersely.
Remy quirked an eyebrow and gave a small chuckle. "I had you tagged as a tease. This is just confirmation," Remy joked with a nod towards Kurt.
The bathroom door opened to reveal a sweatpants and tank top wearing Rouge who took a threatening step towards Remy.
"And you Chere? What interrogation method will you be using? I'd very much like to be the subject, if Chaton and you take the same approach," Remy grinned as Rouge drew closer.
"Jean has her telepathy, Kitty's got her body," Kitty let out another embarrassed eep as Kurt let out another whimper. "But all I have to do is touch you, and all your secrets are mine."
Rouge lunged towards Remy, her bare arms and hands seeking skin.
Remy dodged and rushed to the door. "I may want you to touch me Chere, but I meant under different circumstances!"
Rouge swiped at him again, grazing his chest.
"That's my cue to leave," Remy rushed from the room. Rouge sighed and went to her vanity, taking a brush to her hair.
"I'll get him yet."
"Kurt," Kitty cooed, sitting down next to him. Her hand rested on his knee gently.
"And there's my cue," Kurt said and with a bamf he was gone.
Kitty let out a frustrated noise and began trying to tidy up the room.
"Something's going on," Rouge growled, as the other girls came into the room, claiming to be collecting their pillows.
"Yea there is. I don't even need telepathy to feel the suspicion and sneakiness they're giving off," Jean said as Jubilee flopped herself onto Rouge's bed.
"Well, we'll figure out what's up, one way or another," Amara said confidently.
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"Now, are you two finished?" The professor asked Lance and Kurt as the guys assembled into his office once more.
"Ja, if we're going to work together, then we had to clear the air," Kurt said tersely as Lance nodded in an ashamed manner.
"In that case," Ray stood up and punched Lance in the stomach, who grunted but refrained himself from throttling Ray and getting into another fight.
Seeing the Professor's raised eyebrow, Ray shrugged his shoulders.
"We needed to clear the air."
The guys all exchanged glances before jumping to their feet, making their way to Lance.
"All of you, sit," the Professor demanded. "We have work to do, let bygones be bygones. And Logan, really. You should fight someone your own age." The Professor scolded Logan who had also jumped up to tackle Lance.
"In that case Chuck, I'd be causing hell in a retirement home."
Grumbling, the guys took their seats again, casting hostile glances towards Pietro, Lance and the other members of the Brotherhood.
"All right," Logan said as he placed a duffel bag on Xavier's desk. He pulled out twelve ear pieces and wrist watches, plus a gray base.
"Everyone takes a set of these," Logan began, motioning to an earpiece and wrist watch. "Everyday eight of you will track your designated girl, how you divide it is up to you. The remaining four of you will be on surveillance or on backup."
The guys nodded and each took an earpiece and wrist watch.
"Great, now I have two watches. This doesn't look silly or anything," Kurt grumbled as he tried to put on his watch, his fingers fumbling on the clasp.
"So how do these things work?" Roberto asked, playing with the small buttons on the screen of the watch.
"There are twelve channels on the frequency of the communicators, and one central one. This base will be kept with Mr. McCoy who will be researching Animusereputer, the bastard. You can contact one another directly, or as a whole group. Every hour on the hour you will report your location, her location and condition and any suspicious activity you see. The sound off will begin with X number one, who will be Scott and continue chronologically from there," Logan said firmly and clearly as the guys all nodded.
"I know this isn't how you expected to be spending your summer vacation, and I apologize for that, but this is dire," the Professor began.
"Prof, don't worry about it. It's our girls, we have to do it," Bobby said.
"And also, the girl you are tracking, and ultimately protecting, is relying on you. You do the best you can to keep her out of harms way, you don't make any rash decisions, you call for help when you need it and you do not leave her on her own," Logan snarled.
"Of course," Scott replied. "So today's the first day we're doing this. How are we going to divide it up?"
"Obviously Jean's all yours, she'd sense any of us right away. Dating a telepath, I assume you have the strongest mental shields," Bobby began.
"I'll scout the area today, Todd you watch Wanda, and if anything happens to her, I'll rip your tongue out," Pietro hissed.
"Okay, so Jean and Wanda are taken care of," Sam said. "And Tabby?"
"She's feeling sick today and I doubt she'll be leaving the house, so I'll watch her," Lance offered.
"Right, sounds good," Scott nodded. "Fred, you can be permanent back up, stealth isn't exactly your thing."
Fred seemed pleased enough with this and nodded.
"That just leaves the rest of the girls here at the institute," Ray said
"Jubilee and Amara were planning on going out on the boat today, I'm sure Sam and I can convince them to take us with them," Bobby said.
"Good, they're covered. Now Rhane, Rouge and Kitty are left," Scott said.
"Gumbo, this guys hometown was the slums of New York. I want you to take a field trip, go there and find out as much about him as possible," Logan said.
"Nightcrawler, take Kitty. She was planning on going to a lot of places today, you'd be the only one to keep up with her ," Scott said
"I'll follow Rhane," Ray offered.
"And I'll take Rouge. I hope she doesn't catch me, she'll kick my ass," Roberto sighed.
"Now we've got that covered, go before the girls scatter," Logan said, grabbing the base and heading out the door.
The guys all nodded and began to leave, wishing one another good luck.
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Lance wasn't surprised at all when Logan stopped him on his way to his jeep. He'd been expecting the stout and impossibly strong man to pound him ever since Lance sent Kitty tumbling from that tree.
"You hurt her bub. No one does that to Half Pint without a word or two from me," Logan snarled, and a powerful punch sent Lance careening into a nearby bush.
Lance however, was very surprised when a small hand took his, pulling him out of the bush.
"Can't say you didn't have that coming Alvers," Kitty said roughly.
"Yea no kidding. Kitty, look, I know that nothing I say can ever take back-"
Kitty cut Lance off, shaking her head.
"Enough with the apologies, I forgive you. I was shocked that you would do that, but I can't let our relationship end this way," Kitty began.
"Does our relationship have to end?" Upon Kitty's raised eyebrow Lance tried again.
"I meant our friendship. I know the dating part of our relationship is pretty much shot to hell, but I've come to terms to that now."
Kitty nodded slowly. "No, we're still friends. We've gone through too much not to be friends Lance."
Lance sighed, shrugging his shoulders. "Yea, us dating never really worked. Besides, I'm pretty sure your parents hate me."
"Well, you did try and kill them Lance," Kitty laughed a little. Lance gave her a slight lopsided grin.
"I knew, that day I first met you, that it would never work out Kitty. I wanted it too, and I did try. Hell I even joined the spandex clan, but I can't change. I know you gave me a chance Kitty, a chance I didn't deserve, and I never meant to hurt you, but- damn it Kitten you've rubbed off on me, I'm rambling," Lance sighed. He was never one for words but Kitty had always been able to understand what he meant, no matter how much he stumbled and talked in circles.
Kitty smiled gently. "You don't have to explain Lance. I'm glad you're still in my life."
With that, Kitty turned around and walked back into the mansion.
She was a hero, she was the Pryde of the X-Men. Lance knew he didn't have a place in her life, never did and never would, but he hoped that, even for a little while, he did have a place in her heart. She sure had found one in his.
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"Why do you two want to come?" Amara demanded of Bobby and Sam, who were both smiling innocently at her. Jubilee came up to them, a basket in her arms and an equally suspicious look on her face.
"Yea, shouldn't you be planning your next prank Vanilla Ice?" Jubilee asked.
"Cause, the last time you two went out on the bay alone, you got stuck and we had to rescue you, so we're just cutting out the middle man,' Bobby said brightly as he took the basket from Jubilee.
"Fine, but you're rowing," Amara snapped as she led the way down to the dock.
An hour later and they were in the middle of the bay, laughing and complaining about how hot it was.
"Stop your whining," Amara laughed at Bobby, basking in the heat and the sun.
"I'm ice for god sakes! Not Magma like you," Bobby grumbled as he created a pair of ice sunglasses.
"In Nova Roma, weather was always like this, sunny and perfect."
"Well, in Kentucky, it was always a lot drier, not nearly as muggy," Sam put in as they all began reminiscing about their homes.
"What was it like going home Jubilee?" Amara asked the chinese girl, referring to when her parents pulled her out of the school after it had blown up.
"Weird," jubilee began. "At home I'm not nearly as outspoken as I am here, so i had to keep myself in check constantly. My parents grew up in China, where kids are meant to be seen not spoken, so I clash with them occasionally. I missed it here, though I have to admit that the party scene in California is a lot wilder," Jubilee began, leaning over the side to dip her hand in the water, watching as it slid through her fingers.
"It's great to have you back Juby," Bobby said, smiling.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here to help with Apocalypse. We were all meant to be a team, but I wasn't here for you," Jubilee began softly.
"It's alright, it wasn't your fault. That was horrible though, having to watch Jean and the Professor fight like that," Amara sighed, shaking her head at the memory.
"I know, i thought Storm had killed Ray," Bobby added as a shudder passed through him. Ray had been unbelievable that day, he'd distracted Storm as best he could, and ended up being electrocuted for it.
"And what about you farm boy? No thrilling tales?" Jubilee joked at Sam.
"Nah, not really. I was with Rouge and after she absorbed leech, I had to get her into the Sphinx so she could shut down Apocalypse. I know what you mean Jubilee, having to take the sidelines while your friends are fighting is never an easy thing," Sam sighed.
"We all made it through though, and we're all back together," Bobby said, sliding an arm around Jubilee.
"I wonder what's in store for us. It's been so peaceful lately, it can't last," Amara mused, tossing a piece of bread to the fish.
Bobby and Sam exchanged worried glances.
"Mara, whatever we do encounter, it'll be done as a team," Sam said reassuringly.
"But how long are we going to be a team? We'll grow up, grow apart. Leave, and start our own lives. What we have now, that houseful of mix matched mutants can't last," Jubilee sighed, gazing at the mansion.
"It can for now, until we do have to leave when we're ready. But we're not ready yet, none of us are. Look at Scott and Jean, they're still not ready," Bobby said softly.
The four sat silently, thinking back on the last year since they'd met.
"I never thought life could be like this," Sam began. "Growing up on a farm, it's a pretty simple life. What a difference."
Amara nodded. "I thought my life would just be being a princess, and leading my people, then all this happened."
Jubilee grinned. "It is pretty amazing though. I mean really amazing."
"I wonder what will happen to us," Bobby began.
"Simple, we live, we fight, if we're lucky we love and then we die," Jubilee laughed a little. "It's the same thing that happens to everybody, mutant or not. We're really not that different.'
Sam laughed a little. "Since when did you become a philosopher?"
As a reply Jubilee splashed Sam, who returned the gesture with much zeal, soaking Bobby in the process.
"Guys," Amara warned, clinging onto the side of the small rowboat. "The boat, don't you dare capsize the-"
The boat went topsy turvy as Jubilee and Bobby both lunged to avoid the water Sam was directing at them and with a splash they all ended up in the bay, laughing and still splashing each other.
"Oh for the love of God," Amara yelped right before Jubilee dunked her.