Disclaimer: I do not own the X-men or any rights to any other marvel characters. I do not profit from the solicitation of said heroes or villains and sadly I most likely never will. However I wont let that deter me, I will continue to write as long as you continue to read so here you go with the next exciting installment.
Another Month had Passed and School was ready to start again much to the dismay of Jubilee who was in her final year along with many other students. More and more of the students from the open house had Begun to show up and get settled in over the past few weeks and David had yet to learn all of their names. A few more showed up everyday and the Institute was quickly becoming crowded. As it was Many of the teachers had taken up second classes and begun helping many of the students with their powers before School had even begun. David had his hands full with another task at the moment.
"Mom, What's left in Ohio? The girls are going to end up coming to School here sooner or later, or did you forget that we have a whole family of mutants." David said into his cell phone.
"I don't know David. I really don't want to just pack up and move. I would have to sell the house and find a place there. Not to mention find another job." Cordelia said from the other end of the line.
"I already talked to Chuck, You can take over Jeans class for the telepaths and empaths. She already has a full plate as it is. I'm sure he can find you a room as well, He is putting in another Wing for the teachers." David argued not seeing why she should remain in Ohio. "As much as I love the country and being raised there New York is great. At least here at the mansion."
"Can I take some time to think about it?" Cordelia more stated than asked.
"Sure, I'll see you by the end of the week." David said trying not to give her a choice.
"Your not going to let me make up my own mind are you?" Asked David's mother.
"Your mind is already made up. I know it and you know it. Your just trying to delay the actual moving process. Maybe you should stop being lazy mom." David stated boldly.
"You little shit, I am going to kick your ass when I get there." Cordelia then joked.
"So you are coming then?" David asked seeking confirmation.
"Yes David I will uproot my family and Move to New York on a whim all for you." Carol said sarcastically.
"Quit making yourself out to be a martyr. You will be making out pretty well in this situation and it will be better for Rachel and Becca." Stated David.
"I know let me make some travel arrangements and I will see you soon." Cordelia said finally giving in.
"Already done." Replied David.
"David you didn't. That man has done more than enough."
"It's not just him I have been training to fly the blackbird. Scott will be accompanying me." David said not an ounce of nervousness in his voice.
"The Jet they brought you there on? Why are you learning to fly it?" Cordelia then asked curiously.
"It's a sub-sonic Stealth jet. Who wouldn't want to fly it?" David asked surprised that she was surprised at him.
"Me for starters. I don't know if I feel comfortable flying with you especially when you are just learning." Cordelia admitted to her son.
"Relax mom I have logged 13 hours in a simulator and only crashed 3 times. Besides I have a great co-pilot he flies us on all of our missions." David said trying to calm her down.
"You have crashed 3 times?" She then asked.
"I Repeat, simulation." David said enunciating the word simulation.
"Yes and now you are planning to fly the real thing." Cordelia retorted.
"I could fly without the jet and put you on my back." David joked.
"No thanks I saw how well that worked last time." His mother Joked back.
"I have actually gotten a lot better. I have been working with a new kid named Warren he has an awesome set of wings. But that would take too many trips. We will be there Friday morning in the jet." David told her leaving no room for argument.
"Guess I don't have much of a choice, we will see you then."
"Alright bye mom." Said David.
"Bye David." Cordelia repeated before hanging up the phone.
"Hey babe, good news?" Jubilee asked groggily just waking up.
"Oh hey sweetie sorry, as loud as you were snoring I didn't think anything would wake you." David joked as he turned to see the girl laying in his bed.
"I don't snore." Jubilee said throwing a pillow at David across the room.
"Yea you do I would be surprised if you don't wake Pete up next door." David stated with a smirk on his face as he caught the pillow.
"Whatever, come back to bed its cold without you." Jubilee said faking a shiver.
"Jubes its like 90 degrees in here, I think that new fire starting kid might have caught the mansion on fire." David said before complying and joining Jubilee back on the bed.
"You mean John? He cant start fires just manipulate fire. You should know this, he is going to be one of your students." Jubilee stated as she lay her head on David's shoulder. "Anyway what's going on with your family?"
"I'm going to pick them up Friday." David said before kissing the top of Jubilee's head.
"Did your mom say anything about Becca?" Jubilee asked curiously.
"No, either she is helping Becca hide it, she doesn't know herself, or I was wrong to begin with. I think she suspects it. I just gotta get Becca to open up." David said as though he already knew for sure.
"How are you planning on doing that?" Jubilee asked full of questions this morning.
"I don't know that is going to be tricky."
"You could just wait for her to come out with it on her own." Jubilee told David as she began drawing circles on his stomach with her finger.
"She wont. She will hide it for as long as possible." David said smiling at the feel of Jubilee's hand on him.
"Do you think she is going to fully transform?" Jubilee asked wondering how David felt about it.
"I don't know, to be honest I hope not. Personally I love being a mutant but I can still pass as human if need be. I don't think I would enjoy it as much if It was something That was obvious like Hank." David admitted feeling like an asshole.
"Well either way your a great brother and I know you will be there to help her through it." Jubilee said tilting her head up to kiss David. "Do you think the professor knows about these slumber parties?"
"I think there is very little that Chuck doesn't know. I don't think he is very happy about it. But he knows we are both too stubborn and we are going to do it anyway. I'm sure he has more or less accepted it. As long as we hide it from the other students it will be fine." David said seriously before adding. "If they knew I was offering you extra credit behind closed doors, All of the girls would then want extra credit."
"Not like I have been accepting the extra credit. That doesn't bother you does it?" Jubilee asked nervously refusing to look at David's face.
"Id be lying if I said it doesn't get a little rough occasionally but that just a minor annoyance. It's fine Jubilee stop worrying." David said comfortingly while taking her hand and squeezing it gently.
The next week continued painstakingly slow as David eagerly awaited his first chance to fly the real jet instead of that Damn simulated one. Friday rolled around and David awoke eager to begin the day. He nearly jumped out of bed waking a peaceful Jubilee.
"Hmm, David your a jerk I was having a great dream." Jubilee said through closed eyes.
"Sorry but now your awake and have the real thing." Joked David who started to lean in for a kiss but thought better than to kiss Jubilee before she brushed her teeth in the morning.
"Your awfully chipper. What's got you so riled up this morning." Said Jubilee as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
"Did you forget? I get to fly the Jet today!" David excitedly replied.
"Oh I guess I didn't realize that its Friday. It will be nice to see your family again."
"Yea there is that too. Would you like to come?" David asked the vision of beauty leaning on her elbows in his bed.
"In the Jet with you flying for the first time ever. I think ill pass. There is no chance of talking you out of it is there?" Jubilee asked although she already knew the answer.
"None whatsoever." Replied David as he grabbed a towel and headed into the bathroom. "Would you like to join me in here?" David then asked hopefully.
"As much as I would like to. That would lead to much more than a shower and I am still not ready for that." Jubilee said solemnly hoping that David didn't end up getting fed up with her waiting.
"Your right, Bad idea. Wouldn't want to miss my flight anyway." David said as he Shut the bathroom door.
David showered much quicker than usual and emerged from the shower. He dressed quietly to not awaken Jubilee who had fallen back asleep. He then kissed Jubilee on the forehead.
"See you when I get back sweetie." David said softly before standing straight and heading for the door.
"I love you, be careful." David heard as he shut the door quietly behind himself.
"David how are you?" Scott asked as David nearly ran into him on the stairs.
"Oh Scott, I'm excellent. Are you ready to go?" David asked happy to see his co-pilot already awake.
Scott merely laughed at David's eagerness. "Perhaps we should get breakfast first. We are not going to be serving an in flight meal. And then we have a pre flight checklist to run through before we go."
"Your such a buzz kill. Alright." David agreed walking with Scott down to the cafeteria.
"David glad to see you are awake and alert for your big day." Charles said as David walked into the cafeteria accompanied by Scott.
"Hey Chuck. Yea I was ready to go but then shithead here had other plans." David said gesturing to Scott who just smirked at the comment having know David long enough to know that he was Joking.
"Relax, David there will be many more opportunities for you to fly. I wouldn't want you being overly ready to affect your performance." Charles said calmly.
"Yea yea I get it. Being too eager causes premature ejaculation. Act like you have been there before and that whole thing." David said causing Scott to spit out the hot coffee he had just taken a drink of.
"David!" Charles replied sternly. "What have I asked you about not speaking in such a way especially now that more students have joined us?"
"Sorry Chuck. But its not like any of the lazy bastards are awake right now." David replied.
"David language!" Charles repeated.
"I cant say bastards? Jeez putting me on a real short leash aren't you." David more stated than asked.
"Sorry David but I would expect my faculty to act in the most professional of manners."
"Alright master." David Joked earning a slight smile from Charles.
After breakfast was finished David said goodbye to Charles before he and Scott headed to the Hangar. They reached the hangar and David's anticipation grew as they approached the black jet. David and Scott entered the jet and David sat slightly nervously in the pilot seat.
"Now before we go we must run a preflight check. Get started I will let you know if you missed anything." Scott said calmly.
David made sure the ignition switch was in the off position before turning on the master power switch. He then checked his fuel gauges and listened closely for the sounds of all of the equipment to power on. Everything seemed to be in working order so he then checked his landing gear lockdown levers and other controls.
"What did you forget?" Scott asked as David began to exit the seat to walk towards the compartment that housed the engine.
"Did I forgot something?" David asked while running through a mental checklist in his head. "Oh shit I forgot to check the flaps." David said walking back to the pilot seat to make sure the flaps were operating properly.
He then returned to the engine compartment and began to check for oil leaks, ignition wires, fuel lines and other hoses to ensure they were all properly seated and clamped down. David began walking toward the exit to do a check on the outside of the jet.
"Not necessary David, this jet is Hank's pride and Joy he runs a visual inspection every day." Scott informed David.
"Alright are we ready to go then?" David asked anxiously.
"All set. Fire her up." Scott said confidence full in his voice.
David turned on the ignition and pressed the button to open the hangar in the basketball court. He rotated the thrusters to face down for the vertical take off. He gradually increased the thrust and the jet began to lift off of the ground. Once he reached a comfortable height he began to rotate the thrusters and he felt the jet lurch forward.
"Sorry about that Scott." David said slightly embarrassed.
"Its alright David the more practice you get the smoother take offs will be. You are doing amazing for your first time." Scott commended.
"Thanks Scott I appreciate it." David said as the Jet smoothed out and David began to slightly pull back on the steering wheel causing the jet to climb higher.
"Now remember to check your flight path and don't veer off course." Scott reminded David who began to feel relaxed in the pilot seat.
"I thought this would be more fun." David said as he more or less just sat there.
"Were you expecting a dog fight at 20'000 feet?" Scott Joked.
"No but this is a highly advance sub-sonic jet. Can I do some barrel rolls or something?" David asked already knowing the answer.
"Maybe once you get a little more experience under your belt for now just get comfortable and enjoy the ride."
The flight continued rather smoothly until David had hit some turbulence. He heard Scotts heartbeat rise to dangerous levels.
"Are you alright Scott? Isnt this normal?" David asked fear beginning to make its way into his voice.
"Yea its just turbulence David I am fine." Scott lied trying to maintain his previous confidence.
"Relax Scott everything will be fine." David said before closing his eyes and focusing hard on the jet. The turbulence soon stopped and the bumpiness smoothed out.
"David are you controlling the jet?" Asked a very impressed Scott.
"Not now Scott, Concentrating." Was all David said as he struggled to hold his concentration.
"David the sky has cleared everything is over. Release the hold." Scott said hastily as he noticed blood beginning to trickle from David's nose. "David that was incredible!" Scott said once David's eyes opened and he drew in a deep breath.
"You wanna tell me about it?" David asked thinking back to Scott nearly having a panic attack.
"Its a long story." Scott remarked Having been around David and Logan enough to know that they could tell when something was up.
"It's not like I could go anywhere if I wanted to, spill it." David told his fellow X-man.
"My parents were killed in a plane crash." Scott admitted sadly.
"Scott, I'm sorry. How do you do it then? Your normally the one that flies the Jet. I don't think I could ever come near another plane as long as I lived." David said sadly even though he had no idea what it must really be like for Scott.
"I didn't for the longest time. I couldn't without panicking." Scott admitted to his fellow pilot. "After joining the X-men I decided I should face up to my fears instead of hide from them. Every once in a while especially with less skilled pilots, no offense I still get a little scared." Scott finished the fear from before having left him.
"No offense taken Scott."
"Thank you David." Scott then remarked.
"For what?" A stupefied David asked unsure of why Scott was thanking him.
"For putting an end to the turbulence back there. You could have just let me ride out the fear. What you did was not necessary but I really appreciate it." Scott said trough ruby tinted glasses and a smile.
"No need to thank me Scott just doing what I can for a friend. That's what Chuck preaches right? Using our powers to help those in need. You wouldn't be much of a co-pilot if you had a panic attack." David said smiling back at the man.
"Charles definitely made a good choice in offering you a spot with the X-men." Commented Scott.
The rest of the flight was spent in casual conversation until the jet neared entered Ohio. David began checking the computers and maps to ensure that he did not over or undershoot his landing. He gradually began to push in the steering wheel and the jet began to descend. He began to slow the jet down and tilt the thrusters so that he could attempt a vertical landing. Once the thrusters were in positions he gradually reduced power as he lowered the landing gear.
The Jet slowly lowered more and more until they landed a little rougher than David had intended but landed never-the-less.
"Not bad David but can I ask you something?" Scott asked.
"Sure what's up Scott." Replied David as exited the rear hatch.
"I know its been a while and I have only seen it from the front, but isn't that your house?" Inquired Scott.
"Yea the back of it." Answered David smiling as he knew what was coming next.
"Our original LZ was in a field a quarter mile that way." Scott said pointing over his left shoulder with his thumb.
"I didn't feel like walking that far." David simply replied as he headed toward the back door of the place he once called home.
David opened the door and made his way inside to something he didn't expect. He quickly put his hand up and stopped the blast before directing it into the ground outside. "Relax mom it's only me and Scott."
"Oh David you Scared me half to death. I am not used to you walking in at all hours anymore." Kathleen said relieved both that he wasn't a danger and that she hadn't hurt him.
"I See you have still been keeping up with your powers. You are a lot more accurate since you shook the rust off. Anyone else would have had one hell of a headache after an attack like that." David said giving his mother praise.
"It's good to see you David." Cordelia said wrapping her arms around her much larger son.
"Its good to see you too mom." David replied and returned the gesture. "Where are the girls?" David then asked.
"Packing the last of their things. They shouldn't be much longer. Can I get either of you a cup of coffee?" Cordelia offered waving her hand and gesturing them to follow her.
"None for me, Enhanced senses cant stand the taste." Said David politely refusing the offer.
"I would love some." Scott said excitedly.
They made their way into the kitchen and took their place at the table. Cordelia began pouring Scott a cup of coffee and one for herself.
"Why is that still out? Everything else seems to be packed up." David asked pointing toward the coffee maker.
"You know I cant live without my coffee David." Cordelia responded in an obvious sort of tone.
"Well I guess you didn't need to pack it anyway. As many new students we are getting at School Scott has been drinking a lot more and Charles ended up having a big coffee house brewer put in." David informed her still trying to sell her on the mansion although she had already agreed. Rachel began making her way down the stairs and David got up from his seat to meet her at the bottom. The moment she saw him she jumped the last 5 steps right into his arms.
"Dave, I missed you!" An overly excited Rachel screamed hurting David's sensitive ears. "Guess what? Becca is a..." Rachel began to answer her own question.
"Rachel, Let that be a surprise." Cordelia interjected.
"I know mom." David then informed her.
"What? How?" Cordelia asked a confused expression playing across her features.
"When you came to visit for my birthday I noticed. I thought she would come out with it on her own." David answered back. "What's the extent of the damage?" He then asked.
"Not sure. She loves the tail but she's not too happy with the fur. And we have had to keep her away from public. Cant have another MRD Incident like we had with you." Explained Cordelia.
"Is it permanent?" David asked.
"Not sure she has her days. Some days she looks herself, well mostly anyway. Some days she looks different. It seems to come and go." Cordelia explained just as Rebecca began making her way down the stairs and David could see what his mother had been talking about.
Rachel descended the stairs nervously covered in a layer of short hair. Catlike ears and a tail that David was barely able to see from behind her. She looked down to David nervously before continuing a slow walk the rest of the way down. She made it to the bottom where David quickly wrapped her in a hug.
"Hey Becca I missed you." David said as casually as any other day.
"You mean, your not freaked out?" Rebecca asked clearly receiving a better welcome than she expected.
"Of course not. You Have seen Dr. McCoy. Just be glad you didn't get an abnormal color, and besides your still my sister. Your just a more Dangerous little sister now." David said pulling her ear Jokingly.
"Thanks David." Rebecca replied through a huge smile that revealed a set of pearly white fangs.
"How are you feeling about this Becca?" David asked curious as to how she was taking it.
"I hate it." Rebecca replied slightly sad.
"Your lying." David remarked quickly.
"Why would I lie?" Rebecca asked slightly angry now.
"I don't know why. But your heart rate picked up slightly when you said that. My ears don't lie to me." David responded hoping the truth would come out.
"I hate the way it makes me look. I love the powers that come with it. It took a while but my hearing and smell got stronger. I can see in the dark and I can do this." Rebecca said before doing a full backflip and landing softly back onto her feet.
"Whoa Becca that was cool." David replied amazed at the increased athleticism.
"But I'm all hairy now." Rebecca then said and hung her head slightly.
"Believe it or not becca there are people worse off than you. We have a new kid at the School who is covered in Scales like a snake." David said trying to comfort her. "And I think with practice you may be able to turn the appearance on and off at will. From what mom tells me your not always covered in hair."
"No not always, sometimes I am normal except my ears are slightly pointed." Rebecca then replied a little more happily.
"Your always normal Rebecca. Don't let anyone ever tell you different." David said in his protective big brother tone earning a smile from his sister.
Conversation continued for a few more minutes and then the moving began. David and Scott had made several trips carrying the heavier bags and personal belongings that were going back to New York. Some things were Packed up and being shipped to the institute and the house was on the market as a furnished home. On the last trip David's old neighbor had ventured into their yard after noticing the jet carrying his shotgun.
"Stop right there mutant." The man said pointing his gun at David.
"George relax it's me." David said hoping his neighbor wouldn't shoot given they had lived next door to each other for 7 years.
"I know, you been away along time at that freak school." George said not lowering his gun for a second.
"Take it easy George. You clearly don't like mutants, I get that. But you really do not want to do this." David pleaded hoping to avoid any trouble. "We are leaving, my family is out of your hair. We don't want any problems."
Just then Cordelia and Rebecca had walked out of the back door followed by Scott carrying the last of their bags. George turned the gun in their direction. Startled by Rebecca's appearance he pulled the trigger. A loud scream was heard as the buckshot spread from the shotgun stopped mere inches from Rebecca's chest.
David pulled his hand back pulling the small metal balls slowly towards himself before turning his Gaze towards George and shooting the balls directly at him.
"David, no!" Cordelia and Scott screamed together seeing the Anger in David's eyes at the attempt on the life of his sister.
The balls suddenly dropped to the ground and David advanced on his long time neighbor. George cocked the shotgun and pulled the trigger again although this time the gun blew up in his hand taking three of his fingers in the small explosion. David grabbed the man by the front of his shirt and threw the man who was screaming in pain to the ground. He then placed his boot on George's throat and began to press down with his foot.
"David stop, your going to kill him its not worth it!" Cordelia shouted but was held back by Scott.
"That's the point mom. He didn't hesitate to try to kill Becca, or me for that matter." David said back in a calm menacing voice.
"David, listen to your mother. We are leaving you will never see this man again. This is what you as an X-man fight against. We are looking for equality if you kill him now you are no better than he is." Scott said in a calming Voice as he approached David but stopped as the man began choking even harder.
"Exactly Scott equality, those are your words. It wont make me better than him it will make us equal." David said looking down at the man trying to fight off David's boot with one good hand and a bloody stump. David then removed his foot and let the man breathe. David pulled the man to his feet and drug him towards Rebecca. "You see this mutant? She is a 12 year old girl, not a freak, a girl. Not even a teenager she has a long happy life ahead of her. You tried to take that. Don't you ever forget today. The day your life was saved by a mutant freak." David then said as he threw the man back on the ground by Scott's feet. "Thank the man that saved you. Show some respect where its owed. These are the people you judge. The ones you shoot at. So thank these freaks then grab what is left of your fingers and get to a hospital."
George scrambled to get to his feet and turned to run when he earned a deadly glare from David. "Uh thank you sir." He then said before running to grab his bloody fingers and made his way back to his own house.
"We should go, God knows how many anti mutant groups he called before he came." David said as he bean ushering his family onto the jet.
Everyone quickly boarded the jet, chose seats and began to buckle the restraints. David began to help Rachel into her seat when she screamed.
"Get away from me!" Rachel said as she began to kick her legs at David.
"Rachel what's wrong?" David asked confused.
"Your the villain!" Rachel said causing David to immediately freeze in place.
"Alright is everybody in, lets go." Scott said as he boarded last and missed the exchange that had just taken place.
"You should fly Scott." Was all David said as he pushed past him and headed to the back of the jet.
"David is everything..." Scott began to say before David cut him off.
"Lets just go Scott before anyone else shows up." David said as he sat on the floor of the jet and crossed his arms over his knees.
David placed his head onto his arms and looked at the floor of the Jet as Scott took the pilot seat. They were soon in the air and headed back for the mansion. When curiosity got the better of Scott.
"What, is wrong with David, rarely do I ever see him get upset, when he does it is usually something really bad." Scott asked Cordelia who took the co-pilot seat.
"The first time David told us he was a mutant Rachel called him a superhero and has looked up to him ever since. His show back there must have really shook her. He tried to help her into her seat and she tried to fight him off before calling him a villain. From anyone else it probably wouldn't have bothered him but from her it must have really hurt him. Or maybe after all of that he actually feels like a villain." Cordelia explained while glancing back at David who hadn't moved since the jet took off.
Scott engaged the auto-pilot before getting up from his seat and walking to the back of the jet. "Your not a bad guy, you know that right?"
"I nearly killed a man Scott. I would have killed a man if it wasn't for you and my mom. If it wasn't for you Rachel would have witnessed a murder. What about that makes me a good guy?" David asked looking up at Scott through bloodshot eyes.
"How about the fact that you didn't go through with it. Had it been Logan the man would not be breathing right now, and although he is not a good guy he is certainly not a villain. You showed restraint. You showed composure, and honestly I don't think you would have killed him. Even though in a way he probably deserved it." Scott said calmly.
"He deserved it? Did I just hear you say that?" David asked shocked that the boy scout as Logan often called him had said something like that.
"Any person that tries to kill two young kids mutant or not an argument could be made that they deserve it." Scott replied. "Your not a villain David, you fight to defend people mutant or non. I know we haven't exactly had that big battle that you have been waiting for. But what about that purifier lab we took down last week. They were using mutant DNA to experiment on humans. You put a stop to that, you freed those humans. The look of pride on your face as you did it lets me know that you are a hero David. Rachel is just a little shaken up. Even for someone like me who is used to such things it was a little graphic, you can imagine what that must have been like for an 8 year old girl." Scott said placing a hand on David's shoulder.
"Like a horror movie." David remarked sadly.
"Probably close to it. But don't worry the nightmares don't last forever." Scott then smiled before adding. "Now get up I need my pilot back."