Chapter 26
Bayville...
In a bar in Bayville Lance Alvers downs a long cool drink. The first question someone might ask is that isn't he under-age?
The answer is yes, he is, but Pietro knows a guy who does great fake IDs and that is enough for Lance to get past any scrutiny.
Lance had decided this was his way to stay out of sight. The issue was...well he has a lot of issues doesn't he.
They're leaving and Lance can't believe he is thinking this but he isn't sure he wants to. What is he leaving for? What is any of it for? What is the point of his life?
His life seems to be in a sort of limbo at the moment. After they were expelled from school they were essentially grounded by Magneto and therefore Lance has been doing next to nothing these last few weeks.
Maybe in that case it is better they leave. Magneto did mention something about some kind of task for them to do but if he chooses to leave then...that's it. For Kitty and him. That would be the end.
Who is he kidding. There was never really anything there to start with. Kitty was very pretty and with her powers useful to him but that was it in all honesty.
Lance takes another long drink. He has 3 options by his reckoning. Stay with the Brotherhood, go to Xavier's or just head off on his own.
Xavier's is just...no. Humans and mutants living together in peace...what a joke. What world do those geeks live in. There are stories all the time on the news of mutants being attacked or persecuted or something. Besides the only reason he ever considered going to that place before was Kitty and he already ruled that out.
Lance takes another sip of his drink. That leaves 2 options. If he was to strike out where would he go?
He has no family to speak of...or not one he has any interest in seeing.
Months ago Mystique had given them a choice to commit or leave and he committed. Perhaps it was time, for once in his life, that Lance actually lived up to one of his commitments. At least Magneto has a vision...a plan and not some foolish pipe dream.
"You come here often?"
Lance frowns. Was that a pick-up line? He turns his head to the right and next to him, as he sits at the bar, has appeared this rather attractive, busty brunette who is smirking in amusement. She bursts into a chortle. "Sorry," she says through her laughter. "I just had to see the look on your face," she explains why she asked that question. She continues to laugh as she orders a beer and then plants herself down in the seat next to Lance who looks at her in bemusement. No-one has ever tried one of those lines on him. It's usually the other way round.
While he may not be Pietro, who Lance swears goes through girls like Fred goes through chicken wings, he has his own record of hitting on girls he meets but the point is no girl has ever tried hitting on him as odd as that may sound.
"So do you?" the woman asks.
"Do I what?" Lance asks back.
"Come here often."
"Not really."
The woman looks around at the few other patrons of this establishment. "Is this a gay bar?"
Lance spits out his drink. "What!" he exclaims because that sorta implies that he is...
"There's no women," she points out about the other people here. "I swear the last time I went into one they were a lot more fun than this. Gay men know how to have a good time...except for sharing a bedroom setting with me if you know what I mean," she says with a rather salacious smile.
"Uh...err...no. I'm not...I mean this is not..." Lance stumbles over his words completely thrown off. He swears this woman was worse than Tabby for doing this to him.
The woman smirks wider at him and then seems to give him the once over. She takes a sip from her bottle of beer. "So you feel like helping me have a good time?" she asks him flirtatiously.
Lance blinks. "Uh...sure," he squeaks out still completely put out.
The woman holds her hand out. "Name's Lois. Lois Lane."
Lance takes the hand. "Lance Alvers."
Lois smiles at him. When she left to find a bar she had done it because there was no way in hell she was spending time with Smallville after she remembered what she shared with him. God she actually cried on his shoulder. She's never living that down. Anyway she thought best to avoid him and drink her memories of that away. Only she never expected to bump into someone ruggedly handsome as this. If she is not mistaken there are some Greek features in his face. Maybe before she and Chlo leave in the morning she can have some fun.
New York...
There was no-one around so Clark could come to a stop directly outside Peter's house. He places him down while Peter takes a moment to let his stomach catch up. He doesn't think he'll ever get use to how fast Clark moves.
"Sorry," Clark says. "This wasn't exactly the weekend I envisioned," he explains why he is apologising. This weekend was partially suppose to be about cheering Peter up.
Peter won't hold that against him. "It happens...especially in this line of work. You going to be ok?" he asks before clarifying, "You know with your friend Lana."
"I haven't given up," Clark says and he has no intention of doing so until he has found and saved Lana. "The Professor is going to keep trying to contact that friend of his who knows about magic. Maybe he can give us something to go on...a lead of some kind. In the meantime I have to continue to look for the stones. Chloe pointed out that sooner or later Isobel would return for the one I have and she's probably right about that. So looking for the stones in essence is looking for Lana in a roundabout way."
"Makes senses," Peter agrees. "And it wasn't a bad weekend. I've had worse. Believe me."
"Is this because you got a date out of Kitty?" Clark asks because yes, he heard that. Sometimes his superhearing is a blessing. Sometimes it's a curse.
Peter nervously scratches the back of his head. "Kind of...yeah. I mean she's...nice."
"Well someone had to think that sometime I suppose," Clark says reluctantly sounding. "But I'll stick with she's like totally pure evil," he says in that joke impression of her he does.
Peter chuckles a little. He doesn't really get why Clark and Kitty banter away at each other like they do but whatever works. Peter then eyes Clark up. "So you and Rogue huh?" he asks with the suggestive overtone to say what he is hinting at.
Clark folds his arms across his chest and stands to his full intimidating height. "Not the first girl in black leather I've made a dishonest woman out of?" he quotes what Peter said to Kitty on the tape.
"Good comeback," Peter congratulates Clark on mentioning something Peter doesn't want to think on too much.
"Thanks."
Peter looks anywhere but at Clark. "So this is awkward," he jests.
"I've gotta know. This girl in black leather wouldn't happen to be a certain cat burglar we both know would it?" Clark asks and he asks because he can remember her flirting the pants off with Peter as well as trying it on him and she's the only girl he knows that wears something like that often.
"Evil symbiote," Peter justifies what happened and by the way doesn't try and deny Clark's guess is right...because Clark is right.
"Ah," Clark says in sudden understanding and notes Peter didn't say he was wrong about who it was. "Look Pete, as I said, I know what you went through so if you ever need to talk I'm here," he seriously makes the offer to listen.
"Thanks...but really not today," Peter turns him down, not ready to talk about that.
"Ok," Clark accepts, "but whenever you're ready just call me."
"Thanks," Peter says again, truly touched that Clark is willing to be there.
"So can I ask this; where is she? I haven't seen or read about her at all lately."
"Me neither. Once I was back to my 'good boy routine'," Peter air-quotes what she said, "she lost interest and left town. Haven't seen her since," Peter says with a shrug trying to hide what really stung him. Apparently the real him wasn't interesting enough for her and she only liked the amoral version of him. He doesn't know what that says about Felicia and perhaps he doesn't want to know. He tries not to think too much about the whole thing to be honest although that can be difficult because she was his first, she's indescribably gorgeous(women like that don't exactly beat a path to his door), and despite the fact it was the influence of the symbiote that pushed him into it he can only call the experience amazing.
Clark can see from Peter's sour expression that he really needs to leave this topic. "Well I'll be going. I'll keep in touch this time," he promises not to repeat that mistake.
"My life is complete!" Peter jokes.
"Funny," Clark says sarcastically.
"I try."
"Uh huh. Well see ya," Clark says as he turns to leave only to stop and turn back to face Peter. "Oh one more thing. Kitty may be like the annoying little sister I never wanted," he says using the joky description he has for her. "But that still makes her my pseudo-sister therefore you hurt her and I break you in half," Clark vows with an out of place smile and overly the top cheerful tone of voice. He then pats Peter on the shoulder. "Night Pete!"
Clark then vanishes with his accompanying gust of wind leaving Peter standing there alone. "And people say my sense of humour is lame," he remarks with a roll of his eyes and shake of his head.
At the Institute...
Rogue is heading off to her room to change for bed when she bumps into Jean travelling the same way.
"So have they ambushed ya yet?" Rogue asks.
"Who?" Jean asks, puzzled by what Rogue is meaning.
"Everyone ta ask us about...ya know...having sex," Rogue clarifies.
"No."
"No. Meh neither."
"They're planning something."
"No doubt but you're tha telepath," Rogue reminds Jean so she should be able to tell what they are up to.
"Rogue. I don't eavesdrop on people's thoughts like that!" Jean cries out.
Rogue rolls her eyes. Jean is far too goody goody some days. She covers her eyes for a moment. "Ah can't believe everything we did," she says still in shock about it all.
"I know," Jean says horribly embarrassed by her actions. "But at least I didn't announce to everyone I was about to go off and do it."
Rogue shoots Jean a withering glare for that one.
"Sorry," Jean says contritely but she is completely flustered by all this. "It is just..." she face palms herself. "I never wanted them to find out like this."
"Ah know...but still don't regret it."
"Neither do I," Jean says, agreeing with Rogue. All the teasing in the world is worth being with Scott and Jean assumes Rogue feels the same about Clark.
"Ya know we nevah actually made it to a room after we left," Rogue idly mentions.
"Huh? Then where did you...?"
"Tha linen closet."
"The linen closet! I was in there earlier!" Jean cries horrified at the images her brain is producing.
Rogue shrugs.
"You did it in the closet?" Jean asks unable to believe that. She and Scott haven't done anything like that.
"Yep," Rogue says with a satisfied look.
"Twice!" Jean cries as she picks up a loose thought from Rogue's head.
"Shh! Keep your dang voice down!" Rogue tells Jean off. She is willing to share a little with Jean but she doesn't want the whole mansion knowing.
Jean lowers her voice. "Sorry...but twice?"
"What can ah say? Clark just finds meh irresistible," Rogue says sassily and despite how it happened Rogue's can't stop how heat flushes her body at the memory of it. Dang it was good.
Oh Jean so doesn't need these images in her head.
The two girls pass by Tabby's room when suddenly Kitty's head appears through the door. "There you two are!"
Kitty then grabs the two by the hand and yanks them inside through the door where Jean and Rogue find themselves facing what appears to be an inquisition of all the other girls in the mansion except Wanda who, when Tabby was trying to rope her into this, had given Tabby the glare of death she only normally reserves for her father in response.
"Some telepath ya are," Rogue criticises Jean for not sensing this ambush. She then turns her critical eye on someone else. "Some sister ya are," she accuses Domino. Rogue can't believe Domino is involved as well...on second thoughts maybe she can.
Dom smirks and shrugs. "What can I say? You really think I'd miss out on this? Besides I kept my word. I never told them a thing. You did that on your own and hey I should get some credit. Do you know how hard it is for me to stay silent on any subject?"
"Ah was under the influence!" Rogue protests. She would never have said a word otherwise that would have tipped these guys off. She has to restrain the impulse to go crazy on them all for doing this to her.
"Chloe?" Jean queries at the fact Clark's blond haired friend is here.
Chloe shrugs with a timid, almost apologetic, grin. "When they told me what they were up to my reporter's curiosity got the best of me. What can I say? I was weak," she explains.
Tabby pats Chloe on the back. "It's alright. It's perfectly natural," she reassures her fellow blond.
"What is this about?" Jean asks, sounding stern, trying to convey that authority role she has as 2nd in command of the X-Men.
"What do you think?"
That rhetorical question comes from the phone on loudspeaker.
"Jubilee?" Jean queries at that familiar sounding voice. "Is that you?"
"Of course it's me!" Jubilee confirms it is her. "You think I'd miss out on gossip this juicy just because I'm on the other side of the country. I just knew something was up. My gossip-sense has been tingling all day and then Tabby called me up and explained what was going on," she explains.
"Tabby huh?" Jean inquires whole giving the blond a hard look. "Did Tabby also mention she has been volunteering herself to be Sam's girlfriend?"
"She's what!" Jubilee exclaims. "Tabby you never told me that!" she scolds her friend.
Tabby has enough good grace enough to look self-conscious about it. "Uh...it was on my list," she lamely comes up with, trying to imply she was going to tell Jubilee later.
"We'll get to that," Kitty says, desperate to get the topic back on Jean and Rogue and their exploits. She had been going crazy with curiosity and only waited so long until the girls could arrange this little ambush.
Rogue places her hands on her hips and glares at Kitty. "Will we also get ta tha part where ya asked Spider-Man out?" she deliberately says loud enough for Jubilee to hear. Kitty had told her about that as if Kitty was capable of not telling her that. She was literally jumping up and down with excitement and babbling at a hundred miles an hour as she gushed all about how cute Peter and hot and funny and etc etc. Rogue tuned Kitty out right about there and simply nodded politely.
"Eeeeeeeee!" Jubilee squeals loudly in excitement making everyone wince.
"Gods," Amara complains as her head rings
"That is awesome sauce!" Jubilee proclaims. "By the way Kitty I hate you now," she adds not meaning it.
"Why?" Kitty asks.
"Because I wanted to date him!" Jubilee declares.
"You're in San Francisco Jubes," Kitty reminds her much missed shopping buddy.
"And I thought you were crushing on Bobby?" Amara queries and she doesn't notice how the mention of Bobby's names makes Chloe squirm a little.
"Well I was...sort of but this isn't about me," Jubilee says, desperately trying to get the topic off herself.
"Convenient that," Rogue mutters to Jean who nods in agreement.
"Can we get back on topic?" Tabby asks.
"Which one?" Rogue asks her back.
"You two obviously!" Kitty says. "Now I know it was in the woods after the dam rescue so the obvious question is why. Why then and there?"
"You all want to know this?" Jean asks incredulously.
"Hell yeah Red and don't spare us the details!" Tabby insists upon.
"Ah'm amazed ya didn't phone Rahne while ya were at it," Rogue mutters.
"It's like 2 in the morning or something on Muir Island," Kitty points out the time difference about why Rahne wasn't on the phone as well.
"We sent her an email," Tabby fills in, beaming with pride at herself.
"Can we kill them?" Rogue asks Jean.
"Oh stop procrastinating Rogue!" Kitty says, getting annoyed at her friend avoiding answering the question.
"Ah don't know what ya want from meh Kitty," Rogue insists.
"Why?" Kitty asks earnestly.
Rogue is never good at this. Explaining her feelings. Since she can see she isn't escaping this she tries her best. "Ah had just been held against my will for days and learned ah was some sicko's science project but tha thing ah wanted tha most was ta beh with Clark. After we were rescued and considering everything we were going through, not knowing what tha future held, whether we would live or die, ah just didn't see tha point in not having one moment especially when ah had been thinking about it anyway."
"Pft! Who doesn't think about that with Clark. I do at least once a day!" Tabby announces.
Rogue's brown eyebrows draw closer as her eyes narrow and turns her glare at Tabby. She finds she doesn't like the idea of Tabby fantasising about what only she gets to experience.
Chloe doesn't say it but she's had the odd naughty fantasy about Clark over the years.
"When was it?" Amara asks. "I remember you vanishing after dinner at some point."
Rogue nods. "Yeah it was after that. Ya remember Clark's scar?"
"Yeah."
"It was causing him pain and ah saw him disappear inta tha woods because he didn't want anyone ta know. Sometahmes even Clark does that foolish macho thing of not admitting he needs help. Anyway ah followed him and he told meh how Jor-El was taking his powers and ah told him about what ah learned abut how ah was created."
Kitty sympathises about that. She knows it must have been difficult for Rogue to cope with to know that that Stryker guy created her even if Rogue didn't talk about it much which Kitty totally gets.
Rogue takes a moment. This is very personal but if she says it once hopefully this will be the end of it. "In response Clark said it didn't matter ta him how ah was created because he loved meh."
"Oh," Kitty and Jubilee coo dreamily at how romantic that is.
"After that ah just...ah just needed ta beh with him."
"Oh!" Kitty and Jubilee coo louder.
"What about you Red?" Tabby asks Jean.
"It's not so different to what Rogue said. The reasons about not knowing whether we would live or die and seizing the moment."
"Yeah but you're like never impulsive," Kitty argues.
"I am so!"
Tabby snorts. "Please," she pours scorn on Jean's assertion. "You and Scooter plan your dates 2 weeks in advance."
"There's nothing wrong with that!" Jean argues. "We lead busy lives," she gives the reason they do that.
"So you just randomly picked that time to be impulsive? That right?" Chloe asks, her journalistic instinct kicking in making her ask the question.
"Well...yeah," Jean says, giving the only explanation she can.
Amara shakes her head. "I saw you leave as well. I just thought you were going for a walk," she says now realising what it was Scott and Jean were leaving to go do.
"That was kinda the idea," Jean points out.
"I can't believe I like missed it!" Kitty cries, berating herself for her failure to spot how anything was off.
"You didn't really," Domino says, deciding to step into this inquisition.
"Huh?"
"Remember the morning after you commented about how Rogue was glowing and 'chipper'?"
It dawns on Kitty's face what that meant.
"You just didn't realise what it meant," Domino explains.
Kitty then cocks her head to the side and looks at Rogue. "You've been chipper and glowing virtually every morning since Clark got back. How often do you two do it?"
Rogue looks at Kitty crossly at how dirty she just made it sound. "Ok ah am drawing tha line here. There is no way ah am telling ya what, when or how often Clark and ah do anything. It's none of your dang business!" Rogue throws her hands up into the air. "Gawd ya make meh sound lahke a sex addict or something."
"Ok I'm like sorry Rogue," Kitty says contritely seeing she might have gone too far.
Tabby turns her gaze to Jean.
"If Rogue isn't saying what makes you think I will," Jean says, looking as cross as Rogue.
Tabby grins. "Lois caught you and Scott sneaking out a room this morning."
Jean turns red. "Uh...under the influence of a magic spell Tabby. We all were remember."
"Yep. That's one time definitely though right."
"I refuse to answer that."
"Ok I've got to know one thing," Jubilee says. "Rogue, Logan's your father...and I still can't believe that one by the way!" she says still in shock from when she got told about it.
"Ya and meh both," Rogue mumbles to herself.
"Anyway how is Clark not cut into pieces yet? There's no way you can have avoided that nose of his," Jubilee thinks.
"We didn't," Rogue confesses.
"He sniffed us out that very morning," Jean adds with a grimace at the memory.
Kitty's face lights up as she remembers something. "You two, Scott and Clark were called to the jet."
Rogue and Jean both grimace now.
"Logan told tha adults and we were called in for a 'talk'," Rogue explains.
Tabby bursts into a fit of laughter and everyone joins in.
"It's not funny!" Jean complains.
"Well it was when ya and Scott got told off for not being properly prepared," Rogue can't help herself but say.
"Rogue!" Jean protests at her friend mentioning that.
"What do you mean?" Chloe asks.
"Scott forgot protection," Rogue gives it away with a smirk.
Tabby laughs even harder than before.
"I'm on the pill!" Jean points out. "And we both had to attend a sex education class!" she reminds Rogue.
Rogue grimaces once more at that memory.
Tabby is rolling about with laughter now. Her stomach will ache tomorrow but it is so worth it.
"Tabitha!" Rogue and Jean shout together in protest. It wasn't that funny.
Tabby finally gets herself back under control. "So the adults just let you do this?" she asks, looking at Domino.
Dom shrugs. This whole thing had been very amusing though. "They're of legal age. As long as they use protection and are careful to remember they live in a house with under-age minors and are responsible about it we'll treat them like adults and leave them alone."
"That still doesn't explain how Logan hasn't killed Clark yet," Jubilee interjects.
"Well Hairy may have been a little grumpy about it but he agreed to what I just said...and besides he wouldn't cross Martha. That woman is scary when angry. Trust me."
"I miss Mrs Kent," Jubilee says a little sadly. Sure she loved her parents but both Kents were so great in her opinion. She missed everyone at the mansion and had not been happy about going home. Her parents had heard her opinion on it forcefully several times but they refused to change their minds and let her go back.
"Well I say good on ya you two!" Tabby congratulates Rogue and Jean, honestly happy for both of them. Tabby had noticed how this had seemed to explain what had taken the edge off of Rogue's temper as of late and well with any luck Jean and Scott will learn to relax now they're knocking booties. "That just leaves one question," Tabby raises.
"Which is?" Jean asks with a feeling of trepidation.
"How big are they and do they know how to use it?"
Jean cannot believe even Tabby would be that blunt.
Tabby looks at Rogue directly. "Ok I've just got to know," she says, her curiosity killing her. "He's an alien. What's different? Is there anything extra?"
Rogue looks to Jean. "Ok so killing is out but how about mind wipes?" she wonders as in could they just erase everything.
"I don't think that is morally acceptable Rogue," Jean replies.
"Morals are stupid!" Rogue huffs.
Jean is so tempted just to erase their minds. Rogue's right. Stupid morals!
Clark slips out of superspeed just as he nears the mansion front door and spots Scott standing there looking out at the night sky.
"You were awhile," Scott comments about how long Clark took.
"I jogged back," Clark explains. Ok not jogged exactly but he took it easy. "And I was checking out something," he adds.
"What?"
"You know that cave a few miles down the coast? The one that can only be reached at low tide?"
Scott nods. They used it occasionally for training purposes in practising rescues. "What about it?"
"I was thinking about hiding the stone there. That would mean it's not at the mansion but it isn't too far away in case I need to get it and it's not easy for anyone to get there."
At the moment the stone was in the Professor's safe but it could not stay there very long and this was what drove Clark to think about where it needed to go and the cave was a sudden inspiration he had.
Scott muses on that idea. The cave was big and went into the cliff face quite far. If the stone was in the deepest part of the cave it would take a caving pro to get to it. "We could put in some security measures and alarms," he suggests for added protection.
"Low key so SHIELD doesn't notice," Clark proposes.
Scott can't argue with that. They were always on the lookout for anything that may resemble them being spied on.
"So any particular reason you're hiding out here?" Clark asks.
Scott takes offence. "I was not hiding," he insists.
"Uh huh," Clark says in a fashion that shows he isn't buying that. "Scott, for someone with my hearing you can't really lie to them. I can hear your heart accelerate."
Scott sighs. Long day. "Clark do you know what will happen if we go in there?"
"The same thing Jean and Rogue are enduring I would guess."
"Huh?"
Clark points up and along at one of the bedroom windows. "They're being interrogated," his superhearing had picked up.
"Oh god," Scott groans because that is just going to put Jean in a foul mood. It's never a good idea to put a telepath and telekinetic in a bad mood. It's always a bad idea to get Rogue even slightly irritated.
"Tell me about it," Clark says just as gravely.
"That's exactly my point though Clark. We go in there and...ugh I hate to think about it," Scott says closing his eyes and shaking his head trying not to imagine the horror.
Clark shoves his hands in his pocket. "Believe me Scott this is not what I wanted either but we're stuck unless I fly real fast against the rotation of the Earth, spinning it backwards and reversing time to before all this happened."
Scott looks at Clark like he's lost it. "Ok I'm pretty certain that's impossible."
"Yeah I know. Even if you were to survive all the devastating earthquakes that would cause all you would do is make the sun move from west to east instead of east to west. Still might be fun to try one day."
"As soon as you figure out how to actually fly," Scott reminds Clark of his inability to do so, teasing his friend a little.
"I'm working on it," Clark says although he has to honestly admit he doesn't seem to be making huge progress beyond getting himself to glide a little.
"We still haven't come up with a solution to our problem," Scott points out depressingly.
"There really isn't one Scott. We both knew sooner or later they would find out."
"I was going for later. Like a lot later. When Jean and I are at college later."
"Well we can always kill them. I can vaporise the bodies. No traces," Clark proposes.
"Good idea."
Scott and Clark share a chuckle.
"It's a nice wish anyhow," Scott offers.
"Yeah. It is."
"And I never had a chance to say it earlier but we'll find and save Lana, Clark. You have my word."
"Thank you Scott," Clark says a bit sorrowful and still feeling guilty over it.
"Good plan by the way that you same up with back there," Scott congratulates Clark. He can see some real leadership potential in Clark.
"Thanks. Our original wasn't going so well."
"First lesson you will learn Clark if you ever lead a team is that no battle plan ever survives the first contact with the enemy. You always have to be prepared to alter and adapt your strategy on site."
"I have no wish to lead anyone Scott. I'm just here to help."
That is Clark's major issue. It is not just a reluctance to lead, heck Scott has his doubts some days, it is almost any lack of belief Clark has in himself to fill the role that holds him back. Scott does not know yet how to get Clark to just have more belief in himself but he'll concoct something eventually. "So about that stone? How much can it heal exactly?" Scott wonders, asking a question that had been plaguing him all night.
"Your brain injury?" Clark assumes Scott is referring to the damage that prevents Scott controlling his powers.
Scott nods.
"I would like to Scott but I don't really know how the stone works. What I did in the cave was superficial mostly. To repair your brain I'm guessing would be more complex since in a sense it must have already healed in a way to adapt to the damage. I'm not certain the stone would even recognise it any more as an injury and even if it did you're asking me to mess around with something I have no expertise in. The stone requires conscious control and lets face facts even the greatest brain expert in the world doesn't fully understand how the human brain works let alone a mutant one and I have even less understanding. I'm sorry Scott but that's a risk I won't take. I could easily make things worse for you instead of better," he has to regrettably turn Scott down. "Perhaps one day in the future," he tries to give Scott some hope.
"Yeah perhaps," Scott says sadly.
"I am sorry Scott. Truly if I thought I could do it safely I would."
"I believe you. I had to ask," he says with a sad smile. He should have known not to get his hopes up.
Clark feels guilty now but it's too big a risk when he wouldn't know what he is doing assuming he could get the stone to work at all on Scott.
Scott takes a breath. "Lets just get this over with with the others," he decides as he turns to head back inside and confront what he knows is coming.
Clark follows Scott in and they shut the door behind them. They walk two steps when there is a knock at the door. Both boys freeze.
"There was no-one there 5 seconds ago," Scott says.
"Nope," Clark concurs.
Clark and Scott turn. The only way someone could be at the door is if they teleported in just as they shut it.
"What can you see?" Scott asks Clark.
Clark narrows his eyes and activates his x-ray vision. "A fuzzy blob," he reports with a frown.
Scott pinches his nose. Like they need this today. Still it could possibly be a mutant seeking refuge although that would a huge coincidence and a unique power to hide from Clark. That being at least a possibility they have to answer the door. "Be ready," he advises Clark who nods in response.
Scott walks to the door and opens it. There he finds a tall, lean man, in his early forties, with short black hair streaked with grey on the sides, and a trim black beard around his face, with sharp green eyes. He is wearing black pants over which is a long, mostly black coat with red patterns on the upper half. The man is wearing a pleasant smile. "Greetings," he says. "I am here to see Professor Xavier."
"May I ask who is calling?" Scott requests.
"Strange. Dr Stephen Strange."
Author's Note: I got myself into way too many loose ends to tie up but I'll deal with them one by one. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; The Doctor is in...and just when the Professor thinks he can get some much needed sleep another surprise guest shows up.