Scene Ten
Cyclops still had the hood of Vixen's jeep up when she entered the hanger. The vehicles they were intending to use to get the team to their destination were sat in the shadow of the Blackbird – the jet aircraft used to transport the team over greater distances. Vixen's jeep was more practical than Scott's sports cars, given that they did not know if Magneto and his crew had Beast, or what condition he was in. Beside the jeep were Wolverine's and Vixen's motorbikes – both black, Logan's displaying a silver X on either side that looked as if it had been scratched by claws, Ilehana's displaying a silver, snarling wolf's head with a black X through a red circle for the pupil's of the eyes, a detail so tiny it would be missed if you weren't looking for it. Vixen scowled at Cyclops messing with the engine of her jeep, it was something she preferred to do herself.
Sensing her gaze on the back of his neck, Cyclops decided that everything was in order and climbed behind the wheel of the jeep with an embarrassed grin. Storm had been relegated to the back seat of the jeep; Jean was in the passenger seat. Logan was smiling at Cyclops' reaction to Vixen's angry glare, lounging easily against his bike. He gave her a less than subtle wink as she looked over her team, satisfied that they were ready.
Vixen mounted her bike gracefully, like Logan she was helmetless, flicked the key in the ignition and revved the engine a little as she settled herself. Ilehana pulled the bike onto a large rectangle set into the floor. Wolverine drew his bike up beside hers, Cyclops drawing the jeep up to the rear. The floor moved upward as the ceiling drew apart, the three vehicles ending up in the large garage in front of the mansion's many cars. The team pulled out onto the driveway, the motorcycles pulling ahead of the jeep even in that distance, and were on the road in a matter of moments.
Mac pulled out after the X-Men, his curiosity having got the better of him. He wanted to see exactly what this team of mutants was capable of, despite what he might think of their ideals and methods. His concern for the fiery blonde who had been company for him over the last few hours was lessening as he saw the team she was with. Mac stayed a good distance behind them, tracking Vixen by her cell on the app Adam had installed on his own cell. He didn't want her to think he was following her...
Vixen, with her predatory hearing, was well aware of the Avalanche trailing her team. A brushing of the driver's thoughts was all it took to realise that it was Detective Taylor. She felt a surge of both annoyance and affection, it was sickeningly sweet of him to think that she needed protecting, and yet it was another thing altogether to have to protect him from their enemies. A questioning glance from Wolverine as they rode side by side was enough to make her aware that he had heard the engine too, though the feral mutant was probably unaware of who it was.
He's a friend. She sighed through her thoughts to Wolverine. Let him see what it is we do today.
A friend? Logan questioned as mildly as he could.
Yes, Logan, a friend. Have I ever betrayed you before?
Never. The word was admitted grudgingly, Wolverine's jealousy of any male who so much as looked at Vixen was notorious amongst the X-Men. It amused Vixen highly, but did not stop a similar flare up of emotion when someone tried to chat up her man.
Witness if you must. The thought was sent to Mac, gently enough that she would shock him as little as possible given that he was driving. But stay well clear, I cannot watch out for you the whole time.
I can take care of myself. Mac sent the thought back to her, or at least he tried, as he pulled out the cross around his neck and kissed it with a reverence that so many people misunderstood. The dot on his cell's screen that was Ilehana pulled further away from his location as she sped up. If she had received his thought, she gave no response.