(Three)
Rogue set down the last of their camping gear outside of Leroy's house and heaved a sigh of relief. It had taken her three trips but she had flown it all here. Simone had gone ahead with Leroy to the house and was there, already starting to set it all up as she brought it, being helpful as always. Rogue was not a big fan of camping but even she had to admit that their expensive gear was homey and comfortable. This was more like "camping lite" – the tents went up quickly and with little fuss and the sleeping bags were nicely thick and soft. They had plenty of extra blankets and survival gear. It was a bit damp here on the island, but all things considered, the weather was pretty fair for this sort of thing. The tents even came with little heaters in case they were needed.
"You people certainly know how to travel," Leroy teased merrily, coming out from his humble little house, a wooden tea tray in his hands. Even he was impressed with what they had brought. It could support them for weeks, never mind just the couple of days that was expected.
Rogue smiled at Leroy's playful comment. She was happy for the break in her labors, it wasn't like they had to rush this along or anything and Simone had done a lot of the set up work already. The Gold Team had brought along plenty of food supplies of their own, and she was happy to break out some cheddar cheese and crackers to go along with the tea.
Leroy took a bite of the cheddar, something new to him. "This is absolutely wonderful. You simply must visit more often. Perhaps we can trade. There is more here than just Honey."
"Did Frost know that?"
Leroy simply smiled. "Not from me. He wasn't nearly as polite as you folks have been and I wasn't about to give him any more excuses to rob from me more than he already had. After you've settled in a bit, I'll take you by the pond. There's treasure in the water, if you know where to look for it."
"Thanks. If ya don't mind mah askin, how did ya came to live here?"
The little goat man laughed softly. "That is quite a tale and not a simple answer."
"We got time," she teased playfully.
"All right," he replied, taking another bite of cracker and cheese. He began rather playfully, winking at her as he said, "It might not seem like it, judging by my humble appearance, but I was born into a royal family."
Rogue laughed. He was dressed roughly to be sure, and dirty from the flower fields, but he carried himself with an air of elegance, of a person of high quality. "Ya look just fine ta me, Sugah."
"You are very kind to say so. Well, I grew up in Talamar, one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. All around us were trees and large green fields and vineyards as far as the eye could see. My home was one of the largest palaces in the land and my life there was grand. I never wanted for anything – I had the best food, the finest clothes, all I could ever desire.
"Well, that wasn't exactly true. I have always had a healthy appetite and appreciation for fine food so I spent quite a bit of time in our kitchens as I grew up. When I was a young man I fell in love with the daughter of one of our best cooks. Silvania was a lovely girl, quick to laugh and was always happy. How could I not fall for her?"
Simone chuckled softly at that, his silver eyes bright. He might be gruff at times but he was still a Courtesan in his programming. He was amused by Leroy's talk of love. It reminded him of his Mistress and how much he adored her.
Leroy continued his story. "Unfortunately I was already promised in marriage to the daughter of a rival king, a marriage that would have brought our country lasting peace. That girl was a frightful hag like her father, always complaining and never happy. I simply couldn't bring myself to do it. I ran away with my love and we married in secret. I had this foolish idea that if I ran away far enough they would never find us. I knew so little of the world then, I had no idea of the vast resources at my father's disposal. They caught up with us embarrasingly quickly and forced us to come home.
"My father – the poor fool that he was - had hoped that this was only a simple fling and was horrified when he learned that I had actually married the girl. I wonder if the man had ever felt a thing in his whole life. He came down on me with such a vengeance I was shocked and horrified, ashamed to even be related to the man. As punishment for my momentary lapse of judgement, they widowed me, the only thing that would allow me to fulfill my earlier obligation to the rival king."
"How horrible!" Rogue said, appalled at the idea. "You should be able to marry whomever ya love."
"So I still too believe. But that was not the way they did things in my country and with being royalty comes obligations. Instead they killed my love, my Silvania, my very heart. Instead of gleefully obeying my father after, as he had so foolishly hoped, I became incorrigible. I bedded any woman that caught my eye, something considered unseemly in our culture. I got drunk in the pubs and started many fights that well, I didn't finish. I've never been much of a fighter as you can see. Eventually I went too far and ended up banished here rather than in a prison."
"Was it hard leavin' yer home?" Rogue wanted to know.
"It was at first, since it was all I had known, but as you can see I've really made the most of it. I am at peace here now and well, whenever I got too lonely there was the Traveler here to keep me company. Though he never was quite so eager to step through the door until he met you," Leroy finished with a playful wink.
Rogue blushed, understanding that as a compliment. She knew more than most just how much Simone had grown these past months. "Have you seen others like him?"
"No, he was my first, but I had heard of such things. I am not the first of my people to be exiled to one of these places and there were always stories to be told. They said we would know each other for who we were on sight and it was true. I don't know how I knew he was a doorkeeper but I just did. Anything can happen in a pocket world."
"Simone said you're like that guy who got melted when he he was forced to leave. Why would that kill you?"
Leroy nodded. "Well, when our people are banished to a pocket world, we are shackled with a tracer bracelet. It fades over time, releasing a toxin into our blood. Once it had been fully absorbed, we can never leave the pocket worlds, or well, you saw what happened. It is true banishment then. I had hoped they might come for me before it was too late, but they never did."
"Was it for the same for that other guy who melted?"
"I can only assume so. Although he must have had the ability to travel from pocket to pocket since he hadn't been banished here originally. I don't know if I can do this as well, I have never had this desire."
"Do you know why Gus was banished?"
"When I was first sneaking into the towns, trying to see what Frost was about, I overheard that Gus was a murderer from another good family. They could not bear to destroy him any more than my family could me. Unlike him I am a man of love, of peace. Gus wished only to kill and in Frost he found a friend. Frost put him to work and there was plenty of it."
"Did you ever actually see him kill anyone?" Rogue dared to ask. It was touchy question, not everyone spoke willingly of violence they had seen.
Leroy nodded, his face falling a bit. "Sadly, yes. So I gave him a wide berth."
"You must miss home," Rogue commiserated, changing to an easier subject. She liked where she was living now and had no desire to be left stranded as Leroy had been. "How lonely you must have been."
Leroy just shrugged. "At first I was, but I don't mind being here now. Living alone has taught me patience, self reliance, and a true appreciation for what I have in this world. I don't know now that I would want to return to my home world even if I could."
"Do you know where the pocket worlds came from?"
"Legend has it they were created by the one who made all of the worlds, but that has never been proven of course. The history of Talamar goes back thousands of years and we have long known of these places. Our people were quick to make use of them once they were discovered, most of them are rich in resources and make handy prisons of a sort as well."
"Funny how that goes," Logan said from behind them all, startling the group. He had crept up on them animal quiet, a well trained soldier in every sense. "The first thing any civilized society does is make the best lockup they can."
"Logan!" Rogue complained, rising to playfully punch his arm. "You can't be sneakin' up on us like that!"
"Maybe yer the one that should be more careful," he teased gruffly. "I taught ya better than that. I don't quite trust Fury no matter what he says and neither should you."
"We'll be fine," she reassured and offered him some crackers which he took. Now that Logan was there Rogue recounted the tale that Leroy had just told, something Logan found interesting as they had known next to nothing about their new friend. It wasn't long before they were interrupted again, this time by those much less stealthy than Wolverine had been.
Rogue looked up when she heard voices and watched as Cyclops and his small party of Gold Team members came out of the woods with a couple of new faces. They had found four young boys, all of them vastly different in appearance. One was a dog faced lad, another was covered in dark black Dalmatian spots. Another had a malformed, lumpy shaped head, the last was simply very small. He was probably a dwarf, but these days even normal birth defects were being lumped in with the mutants. Humans distrusted anyone or anything different from themselves. All of the boys were filthy and half starved from hiding out in the woods but they would be well taken care of now.
"Wow you guys did great," Rogue praised. They were hoping to find these kids but there were no guarantees that any of them would be found still alive.
"Gambit found someone as well," Scott replied, smiling slightly when he saw the man himself come from the opposite set of trees with his Siskans. Remy limped along, a young girl following him swallowed up in his long black jacket. Scott was glad that Remy had been so thoughtful, his own finds were all young boys and he could see she was wearing nothing else.
"Well, this day wuzn't no waste," Kimble commented himself, looking over the whole group of kids. This was better than he had been told to expect.
"Luck don't ever last," Logan commented to that, looking to the trees. "We should probably get these kids back so they can get washed and fed."
Simone stood and conjured his magical door, but Cyclops raised a hand asking them all to wait. "One more thing before our teammates go," he said, looking at Leroy. "I was wondering if they might bring back some Honey samples with them."
"What for?" Wolverine asked before Leroy could, his eyes suspicious. That stuff was so deadly, it was no good just having it lying about. He did recall seeing Warren whispering something in Scott's ear just this morning. That must have been what it was about.
Scott just shrugged, not wanting to be paranoid. "Warren asked for them. He said Henry would want to look at them when he gets well enough. It might help in his recovery and he needs all the help he can get. I won't deny him that. We wouldn't need a lot, just a couple of vials if you have them."
"I do," Leroy said and went to fetch them. He returned quickly and handed them to Logan.
"That's it," Logan said, pocketing what Leroy had given him. "Time to go."
Simone nodded and without having to be asked, reopened his door. The kids were a bit uneasy about the door at first but when they saw the others go through unharmed followed them easily enough.
(break)
Julien was having his own busy morning. He had been warned in advance that Asher was going to be there to watch over him when he woke and indeed the centaur was there with breakfast ready, as good a cook as Kimble was. Asher saw to it that the boy was fed and washed and then off they went.
The minimum security level where Julien's new housing would be located was higher up in the Complex, the folks there denied access to the lower, more secret levels. Julien wouldn't be able to return there without an escort. Asher took him to see a friendly mutant named Timothy, the one in charge of the housing and the care of the kids here. Julien was first outfitted with a tracking anklet so he could be monitored at all times, something not required for the other kids. Julien was less than happy about this but was in no place to argue. This was still better than a four by eight holding cell.
All the kids here were given single, private rooms and Julien was no exception. He was given extra clothes from the donation pile and a security badge with his picture on it. Julien had special paperwork that had been faxed down ahead of time that concerned more than just the anklet, it had more rules that applied only to him. He was not to leave that level without an escort, regardless of the time of day and never at night unless specially called for by a very limited list of folks. His list of escorts was even shorter – Asher, Kimble, Aiden, Logan, or Gambit himself.
He wouldn't be bored, this level had its own gym, activity rooms, a movie theater, and a library. There were opportunities for work release and classes to further his education.
Asher helped him get settled in. Again he offered the boy a Bible for his room for his own study, but Julien continued to refuse. He did ask if they could pray at the sanctuary again and so Asher agreed to take him back to the Solarium. Julien would not be able to go to this level on his own, but Asher made it clear that he would be happy to take him any time he wanted.
Asher chose to walk Julien down through the various Solarium levels themselves rather than the hallways, any excuse to stay in the fresh air as much as possible. The Solarium was the best place in the whole Complex for Julien. It was so spacious and open, and the weather here always perfect, sunny and bright without being overly hot. Even the doors separating one level for another were glass and could be seen through, maintaining the illusion of being one big open space, even though a badge was needed to open them and pass from floor to floor.
As nice as it was though, their passing through here did end up being problematic. They hadn't gone far from the minimum security level when there was a loud cry from behind them. "I knew it! I just knew they'd be keeping that rat fuck here!"
Asher paused and turned around, instinctively moving Julien protectively behind him. Just as Remy had feared, Julien had just been spotted by some of the kids they had rescued from Twilight. By Malcolm in particular.
Like Julien, these kids too had been given housing but in the less secure section. They hadn't been trouble enough to warrant being so closely watched, at least, not yet. They were free to move about and like most folks with little to do, found their way here to the grass and sunshine.
Malcolm was a force to be reckoned with no matter where he had lived and just as he had at Twilight had asserted his authority early here in the refugee wards. He had gathered a group of like minded kids to his side and was now leading them Asher's way.
Alongside them were a couple of notable additions – Grace was there, fully dressed now but still in possession of Logan's rumpled leather jacket. Kiden was beside her, thin but looking much better after fresh clothes, a bath, and some real food. She was still in frail condition and Lucas was there beside her, his arm around her protectively. He was glaring at Julien, threatening violence with his eyes. It wasn't clear if the threesome were on Malcolm's side or just interested in what he had to say to Julien now.
Asher was very aware of many things at once – Julien's shine rippling with colors at the sight of his first crush, Malcolm's fierce hatred, and the ugly black of the crowd gathering towards potential violence. Still he remained calm and maintained his position protectively in front of his charge without fear.
"There ain't no need fer trouble here," Asher began, hoping a steady tone would keep this from escalating.
"Oh there is a need," Malcolm insisted, pointing one of his large, green fingers at Julien. "That little asshole you got there needs to die. Right now!"
"Fer what crime?"
"Collaborating with the enemy!"
Asher was quick to reply in Julien's defense, "Julien got his own reasons fer what he done, there's things ya don't knows. Private things."
Malcolm took a step closer, his fists up. "Maybe you'd better make them un-private or I'll be takin' care of this business myself!"
Asher stayed as he was, unfazed by the boy's outburst. He did glance once at Kiden to see if she might stick up for Julien, but she only leaned back into Lucas, her shine sparkly with fear. She wasn't on anybody's side he could see, not just yet, but she was listening very closely.
Asher continued his attempt to diffuse the situation. "Ain'tcha never made a mistake? One ya wished ya could takes back but there just ain't no way? A mistake like that kin makes ya do things a bit diff'rent down the road, changes how ya think and feel bout everything and everyone. Might make ya look a whole lot worse than ya actually are."
"The only mistake he ever made was being born!"
Asher just smiled in his way, his eyes dropping ever so slightly so he would seem less threatening. He began releasing small waves of soothing calm, just in case, though he was as yet still unconcerned for his safety or that of Julien's. This boy was no real threat to him, no matter how angry he was. "I seen real evil in this world, men like that guy Frost and what he done to you all. Julien ain't like him, he's just been pulled under some. He just needs a chance ta git his head straight and pull his'self out is all. If you wuz in the same boat, you'd want that chance, too. Is yer heart so filled with hates that you'd takes that chance away?"
Julien stood behind Asher, feeling his heart sink with every word Asher said. While most of what the centaur said was true, he was embarrassed that the Siskan was defending him with such heartfelt words. He didn't think he deserved it, not after all the bad he had done. There weren't excuses enough to cover it. He also didn't understand how Asher could know so much about him when he hadn't been included at the debriefs as well. Did word about him travel that fast around here?
Malcolm's already green face began turning shades of red at what Asher had said. "He led our girls to the men to be raped and tossed away like garbage! He watched while Frost's men gave us the SupraMax and half of us died! He let them dig our graves without so much as a squeak in protest! He didn't care about what was happening to us!"
Asher nodded in agreement. "Yup, he done them things and hasn't ever tried ta deny it. He knows he's gotta work through all that and do his penance. Gives him some time and maybe he kin proves himself to yous. You'll see his heart ain't all bad."
Malcolm just spat on the ground, seeing he wasn't going to get anywhere, not with Asher. "All I see is you protectin' some piece of trash because he belongs to one of you. That's right, we all know his dad is some big shot on your team. If that wasn't true, you'd have turned him over already. I see how it is and he better see how it is, too. I catch him alone and that boy is toast, you can count on that!"
Asher smiled at him but his eyes had hardened a bit. "You keep on carryin' that anger with ya and it'll just eatcha up inside, one day at a time. Yer time would be better spent on thinkin' about fergivness and just what a glorious thing it is. Think about how good you'd feel inside knowin' that if ya screwed up it wouldn't ever be held against ya yer whole life – and don't tries ta tell me that you ain't never made one mistake cuz then you'd be a rare man indeed. This place where ya lives now is all about second chances. Just as a hand's been reached out to yous, sos you should be reachin' out ta others as well."
"Not to him. Never to him," Malcolm promised and stepped back. He knew better than to touch an X-man as Asher seemed to be. He would not bite the hand that was currently feeding him, but on his own, Julien was fair game and he had just made that plain. He glared at Julien, "We'll be havin' a party when SHIELD fries your boss for his crimes and we'll be there when you burn too, even if we have to do it ourselves."
With that Malcolm turned and walked away, taking the others with him. Kiden lingered at the back of the pack, looking back at Julien with confusion on her face. Lucas whispered to her and she turned away, going the way Malcolm had gone.
Julien stood as he was, defiant in his anger, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He was a sinner but he had been saved. He had accepted the Word and so could stand confident that he was in the right, but at the same time, he mourned their loss. They were unsaved and Kiden was among them. She was as good as million miles away from him now. Add to that the idea that Frost himself might be executed. It was one thing to think it might happen, quite another to hear someone else speak of it as if it was certainty.
"The Lord fergits no one," Asher reassured him once they were alone, steering Julien back towards they path they had been heading on. "Not thems, not you either. His love is so great it cain't ever be measured. So don't you fret about thems or yer girl, it'll all works out if ya gots the patience fer it."
"She's not my girl," Julien replied, his voice low and sad. With Lucas back what little chance he'd had with Kiden was gone, even if he had done his very best to protect her from the ravages of Frost's men. In her near catatonic state, he wondered now if she had even been aware of him at all.
"She might not be yer girl no more, but if ya prays real hard on it, she could still be yer friend," Asher offered, trying to give the boy some hope. "Let's go to m' sanctuary and prays there. You'll see. It'll all be puts to rights. We just need a little time."
Julien wasn't sure if Asher was right but offered no resistance as they were headed to where he wanted to go anyhow. He could use a little quiet right about now and the sanctuary was the perfect place for that. For now time was all he had.
(break)
Remy and Kimble flew Logan and the rescued kids home back to Arizona in good time. They landed on the Complex's tarmac and without ceremony the passengers disembarked. Tilda and the other rescued kids left with Wolverine who would find them housing just as they had the others. Remy and his team stayed behind, settling the ship down for the day.
Once the new kids were dropped off, Logan headed for the Security office and his own desk. He knew he had to find Karen eventually and work things out with her, it wasn't good to let an argument hang around too long, but he needed to decompress a bit first. A bit of paperwork was always good for that.
Logan walked into his office, dumped his jacket into the chair, and thumbed through the mail and a small stack of papers on his desk. They were mostly change notices in Complex policy and could wait, but one paper brought him to full attention. It was a prisoner transfer request that had been approved. Thing was, it wasn't a transfer that he himself had requested - Kyle had been moved to a less secure wing, something perplexing considering the boy's status as lethally dangerous hadn't changed, at least not the last time he had checked. The request had come from Warren Worthington, a complete and utter surprise. The permission granted for the transfer had come from the highest authority possible – Xavier himself. Logan growled low and deep in his throat. Someone had pulled a fast one and Kyle had been moved while he had been busy that morning.
Logan bristled with anger. Had Karen done this? It wasn't the first time she had gone over his head and it probably wouldn't be the last. What he couldn't fathom was why Xavier had gone along with it. Well, he wasn't going to wait to find out.
Wolverine went to Charles first, figuring he would bypass Warren and go right to the top of the food chain. He went directly to Charles' office and barged in, not caring that the man was in the middle of a meeting. Logan, in his fury, got right to the point. He flung the transfer notice on the Professor's desk, snarling, "What the hell is this?"
"I'm in a meeting," Charles protested, not looking at it.
Logan glared at the Professor's guest, some guy in a business suit he didn't recognize. "Get out!" he demanded, flashing his teeth.
The man paled and fled, shutting the door behind him.
"That was a specialist I called in to assist in Henry's case," Charles continued to protest, his eyes hard. He wasn't angry, not just yet, but he was pretty close. As pissed off as Logan clearly was, the Professor was not afraid. He might not look like much, being trapped in a wheelchair such as he was, but he was much too powerful to be bullied, even by this dangerous feral man.
Logan's tone was gruff as he complained, "I don't care if that was the fuckin' Virgin Mary, I wanna know what yer doin' messin' around with my jail."
Charles finally took the paper Logan had flung at him and glanced at it, his brow crinkling in confusion. "I don't see why this should upset you, Kyle performed acceptably on your mission. Moving him to the less secure wing rewards him for this and may give him more access to therapeutic programs. Besides, it also gets him away from Skye. The request came from Warren and I saw no reason not to grant it."
"Did you know that Kyle ate someone while we were out there?"
Charles blinked in real surprise, giving Logan his answer. "That was not included in your report."
"What report? There hasn't been time for a full debrief yet. We've been too busy."
Charles opened a drawer and took out a thick folder. He opened it and fanned through a stack of debrief forms. It was standard procedure that after a mission like they had just performed that anyone who had been activated for duty was to fill out their account of the events. It was not unusual for some of those forms to be turned in late - Logan and Remy were almost always delinquent if not outright negligent in getting these things done on time, but there were a good many forms here at the moment. Charles sifted and found what he was looking for. He held it out for Wolverine to take. "Ah, yes. Warren filed this in your place, he questioned Kyle himself."
"And you trust this?" Logan questioned, taking the form and scanning it quickly. It was mostly accurate but had a few notable exceptions, including Kyle's first failed attempt to feed on one of Frost's men and then also his second more successful gorging. It painted a much prettier picture of what went on that what Logan would have. Logan couldn't be sure if the omission was on Kyle's end or Warren's, Kyle would have every reason to lie while Warren seemingly had nothing to gain by the move. Or did he? Logan couldn't help but be suspicious by something that could not be so easily explained.
Charles was offering excuses. "Warren is one of oldest students and one of my highest ranking officers. He runs this facility flawlessly. Why wouldn't I trust it?"
"Somethin' about him's been buggin' me. Did you know he's been all chummy like with Skye?"
Charles' brow crinkled again in exasperation. "He is interested in all the detainees. It is not our plan to incarcerate inmates there forever. That is SHIELD's responsibility, not ours."
Logan held the paper up. "This is a lie. Just ask Aiden, he was there with me."
"Aiden is not required to file. He's only just been promoted to level one and less than a week at that."
"Ask him anyhow. He's a friggin' machine with a photographic memory. He won't lie, not about this. He has too much to lose."
"What makes you say that?"
"He wants on a team. He's not going to jeopardize any chance he has of getting on one."
"Hmm..." Charles hummed thoughtfully, but did not elaborate on what had just blazed through his mind. "I'll do as you suggest and have Aiden file his statement and Kimble as well. In the meantime, there will be no more interruptions of my meetings, if you please. That man was important for Henry."
"Fair enough, but I want Kyle back in my jail, right friggin' now."
Charles just shook his head. He might have granted Logan's request but he hadn't liked the man's tone. This just spoke of vendetta and paranoia. "Let Kyle have his chance for now. He can stay until I've reviewed all the debrief forms. That is, unless he misbehaves."
Logan nodded, but he wasn't defeated. He would be making two visits next – one to Kyle to see just what Warren had asked him or not and then to Warren himself. Something here stunk and he was going to get to the bottom of it. He made his excuses and left.
He entered the medium security section, not surprised to see Cody curled up on the room's large watch desk. The move benefitted the feline, he would have more area to walk around since these cells all had bars and he could move freely in and out. The bars were what concerned Logan, Kyle would able to snatch and grab any one passing by if he had the mind to, it wasn't as secure as the clear plastic barriers in his previous cell.
Logan found Kyle in the first cell. The boy was already making himself at home, he was setting his books in order on a nearby shelf. This cell was a significant upgrade from his previous one – it was bigger and more homelike, it had its own separate bathroom off to one side with its own shower. Cody's litter box and bowls were already in place.
"See you got all settled in real nice," Logan said as a greeting. He scanned his badge and opened the door, wanting an unobstructed view of the boy.
Kyle stopped shuffling his books and looked back at him, his eyes squinting. He did this with Logan a lot, he could never quite gauge what was on Logan's mind. Was he going to get yanked out of here after only having been here less than a day? He'd already had an idea that Logan had been unaware of the move.
"S'okay," Kyle replied, not wanting to sound ungrateful. A cell was still a cell no matter how comfy it was.
"Heard Warren came and asked you some questions about the other day."
Kyle nodded. It was the first time he and Warren and met and like Logan he had an idea that something fishy was going on. Kyle had been used many times by many different people in his long life, it would no doubt happen again and again. In this case, though, it was to his benefit not to question the move, this cell was much nicer than his previous one, and he wasn't in a rush to go back. Skye had made it clear that they were through so it was just as well they were not so near. It didn't mean he didn't feel the ache of the loss no matter how much of a jerk Skye was.
"You left out a few things," Logan challenged, hoping Kyle would admit to it.
"Mrr! He ask... Kyle answer," the feral boy protested, growing agitated. He was working hard to articulate properly as he asserted, "Nothing left out!"
"The report Warren filed didn't say anything about you eating anyone."
Kyle blinked, not sure if this was some kind of trap. "I told him... what I did. Mrr! He make...face... at me. He knows what... a freak I am." He turned away, slamming the books into place a bit more forcefully than he had before, his shoulders tight with shame.
"Let me get this straight. You told him what you did, he heard you, and yet he still moved you here anyway? I wonder why that might be."
Kyle growled a bit in anger, deep in his throat, trying to hide it. He disguised it no better than his jealousy when he added, "He's Skye's... friend now."
"All right," Logan said to that. He could sense no deception in the lad, his own suspicious were being confirmed though he was still unclear as to the exact reason. Warren was visiting Skye and didn't want to be overheard, it seemed. He could guess why but as much as he disliked Warren, he couldn't imagine the guy being that stupid. "You listen to me now, kid. Just so you know, I didn't ask for this move but it's done. I won't fight it fer now so long as you behave, understand? You keep those claws to yourself. You hurt someone – anyone – and yer done. Don't blow this."
Kyle nodded, dropping his eyes in submission. He knew his place in this world, the same as it ever had been. His spot was at the bottom of the totem pole and would never be any higher. Not even a change of rooms could alter that poor sad fact.
Logan left him to it, heading next to Warren's office. He wasn't looking forward to this, he and Worthington had never gotten along. Logan knew that some of it stemmed from the fact that he had long had an obvious crush on Jean, Scott's wife. Warren and Scott were close and Warren had been very protective of Scott's interests. Warren had always thought of Logan as a dog and a freak, a wild man with no control or manners.
That was okay, Logan thought Warren was a spoiled, rich man snot who had never really had to work a single hard day in his life. Logan could sympathize to a degree over the loss of Warren's wings, but the kid had crashed instead of just dealing with it. Of course Logan had grown so used to being able to heal, it was difficult for him to relate to those who couldn't handle their share of pain.
So, with all the bad blood between them, this probably wasn't going to go down nicely.
Wolverine arrived there only to be intercepted by Janie, Warren's secretary. "Do you have an appointment?" she asked him sweetly, though it was obvious she disliked him. Her eyes were squinty and he could smell her fear of him.
He was too pissed off to care though he was generally kinder to women, even those who didn't care for him. His voice was stiff and hard as he said, "I'm a Gold Team member, I don't need one, Janie. Besides, he didn't ask for an appointment when he went and messed with my jail. You tell him I'm here, darlin', and he better see me now or I'll claw his friggin' door down. Ma'am," he added at the end with saccharine politeness, showing her his teeth.
She paled and picked up the phone announcing him. Logan didn't have to wait long. Warren came to the door of his office and waved him in. He was smiling, but his eyes were edgy. He wasn't happy to see Logan there and was more than a little aloof.
Logan strolled in, looking over the man's plush office with a disdainful eye. Such comforts had never meant a thing to him, not in his rough and tumble life. The room was larger than the Professor's and filled with expensive furniture. It wasn't homey the same way that Charles' was. That was okay, he wasn't planning on staying long. Logan got right to the point and asked, "You came to my jail and messed around while I was gone, you coward. What are ya up to, Warren? I know you couldn't give two shits about Kyle."
Warren froze a moment, unused to the man's roughness and blunt way of speaking. He wasn't like his usual list of clients who were mainly accountants and lawyers. Well, if Wolverine was going to be so direct, so would he. "You're right, I don't. This is about you taking your authority too far. You had no right putting those blocks on Skye's cell like that. Running a jail isn't like being in the field, Logan. You don't get to decide who lives and dies around here."
"Do you have any idea how paranoid that sounds?"
Warren just smiled. "I'm not the only one who thinks that way. Have you spoken to your wife lately?"
Logan bristled, clenching his hands. That was a low blow, from both of them actually. He and Karen would be having words about this today, oh yes.
Warren kept right on going. "You abuse your power, Logan, you always have. I get it that you're Charles' big mean watchdog, but that doesn't give you the right to shit all over the yard. We have rules in place to ensure the rights of everyone, not just those you happen to like a little."
"Why you little punk -" Logan started but Warren wasn't done.
"No, you listen. You're being reined in, at least as far as Skye and the jail is concerned. Our goal is rehabilitation, not indefinite incarceration. All you want to do is dump people in there that you don't particularly like and just take them out to play with whenever you need them like they are your personal little toys. And then, sometimes you just happen to lose them!"
"Now wait just a minute! What happened to Creed wasn't my fault!" Wolverine tried to protest but Warren's mouth was moving much too quickly.
"It doesn't matter why it happened, but it did happen on your watch and that makes you responsible. And that, my friend, isn't going to fly. Your time as puppet master is over. We will rehabilitate and therefore properly use whatever assets we have in place in our jails or if they cannot be rehabilitated they get sent to SHIELD for proper permanent incarceration. If you can't go along with a program that allows for these things, you can and will be replaced!"
When Logan heard that he went suddenly red with anger, enough that he popped claws on both his hands though he hadn't lunged forward for a strike, not just yet. It was a mistake. The ensuing silence was sudden and heavy, both men staring each other down, unwavering. Whatever ground Logan had hoped to gain was now lost by his lack of control and he knew it. Oil and water, not even two minutes in this man's office and he had already blown whatever authority he had hoped to assert here.
Warren, the winner of this particular button pushing match, was the first to speak. His voice trembled ever so softly, though his face showed no fear, as he said, "If you're not going to use those then I think it's time you left."
Logan sheathed his claws, but his killer's eyes never left Warren's face as he gave his reply. "I know yer up to something, Wings. You might be foolin' all of them, but yer not foolin' me. Not for one fuckin' minute. I will find out what it is, and let me tell ya, bub, when I get ta finishin' what you started, it ain't gonna be a pretty sight." He then took out the vials of Honey Scott had given him and he set them on the desk. If he hadn't thought these were being handed over for the good of the big blue doctor, he would have gleefully shoved them right up Warren's ass, just to wipe that smirk off the man's face.
He nodded just once and left, slamming the door behind him.