30. Friendly Competitors

Over the course of a few weeks, Miguel found himself falling into the same routine he was in during his first stay at the mansion. Logan once again dunked him in an ice water filled bath tub when he didn't get up in time for morning training. He was then given a new uniform with short sleeves, which hugged his biceps. While the top felt like the clothing from Under Armor, his pants were form fitting with cargo pockets on the thighs. He kept his belts and loaded the pouches with various gas bombs and flash bang grenades as well as keeping the white athletic tape on his wrists and hands. Normally, he would stay away from Eric as much as he could, but today was another unfortunate day he found himself working alongside him in a very familiar setting against equally familiar enemies.

"I'm pinned down, repeat, I am pinned down!" Ducking behind a crumbling brick wall, Pixie took cover from several robotic representations of the Executioner soldiers. Clay and concrete showered around her as the drone's never ceased firing on her position. "I'm close to the lead drone but I can't get to it! I need cover!"

"On my way," Capra told her as he and Miguel took refuge behind a large fallen tree trunk that once stood on the side of the walkway. "Where's Boom Boom?"

"She's by the junkyard. One of the drones took her out as she watched my back."

Across the recreated city scape of Bayville, Miguel, now in his new short sleeved uniform, and Capra, kept an eye out for any sign of their squad mate. The city streets were crawling with soldier drones who used tactics matching those they represented. Smoke surrounded the two mutants as fires burned among the destroyed cars and trucks. Fire hydrants sprayed water high into the air and electrical power lines sparked as they rested on the streets.

"We need to get over there," Capra said as he unsheathed his tonfas.

"In case you haven't noticed," Miguel said as he looked over his shoulder to check the enemy's position in front of the log. "We need a distraction to get over there ourselves."

"I have a plan. Just be ready to run on my mark."

With a nod, Miguel formed his claws and readied himself to follow the mutant known as Capra. Counting down from three, Capra picked his moment to make his move when he shoved Miguel out into the open. The drones instantly targeted and fired upon him as Capra made his way to where Pixie was. He quickly made his way back behind the tree as dirt and concrete kicked up from being struck by the robot's projectiles.

"Son of a b#$ch!" Miguel yelled as he saw Capra's back race across the city scape. "He wants to play it that way," he reformed his claws, "let's play."

"Miss me?" Capra asked with a smile as he arrived and took position beside Pixie.

"I don't know, let's get this mission taken care of and we'll see." She didn't return his smile or grin as she concentrated of the dashes of light around her.

"Can't wait to find out."

"I told you, I'm not that kind of girl."

"We shall see." Looking at what lay before them; he saw a small opening in the droid's defense as they continued unleashing their gunfire meant to leave the trainees paralyzed. "We need a distraction. You got any flash or smoke bombs left?"

"No, I only handle communications. Chupa…Miguel usually carries the smoke bombs and flash bangs."

Eyeing her for a moment, Capra never minded what she said and turned back to see if the opening was still there when the two heard several explosions and a roar. A moment later, Miguel landed next to the male mutant and dissipated his surprisingly still blue claws.

"What'd Ah miss?" he asked with his back to the wall.

"Chu…Miguel," Pixie said from the other side of her boyfriend. "Capra has a plan on how we can get to the lead drone but we need a flash bang grenade."

"Ah'm out, but Ah have another idea. You two trust meh?"

"Depends," Capra told him. He tried to take another look but Miguel held him back as a round of paralyzing shots flew past.

"Just do it," Pixie said as she formed her soul dagger. "Ready to move out on your signal."

Taking one last glance at the assembled drones, Miguel spotted the opening to their leader and waited for the perfect opportunity to act.

"Ready?" He still had his hand on Capra's torso as illusions of said mutant appeared around the area. "NOW!"

Grabbing hold of the strap supporting Capra's Tonfa sheaths, Miguel hurled him out from behind the wall as Pixie flew over the top. Miguel leapt over a low opening in the structure as Capra was hit on all sides by the drone's gunfire.

In perfect synchronicity, Miguel and Pixie struck down each drone standing before them, leaving a trail of robot parts in their wake. Sweeping in low, the winged woman sliced through the legs of the attacking robots as blue claws ripped through the ones targeting her. The two made their way over the short distance to get to the lead bot and were soon face to face with it. Pixie dodged a blast from its rifle and literally disarmed it as she sliced its hands off. Miguel came leaping through the air behind her and sliced the drone from top to bottom with his claws. Upon its destruction, the entire exercise came to an end and the city faded from around them.

"Now that is how you finish a mission," Pixie said with a smile directed to Miguel as she landed and recalled her wings.

"Can't argue with that," he replied as he dissipated his claws and ran a hand through his hair.

The two stared at each other for a moment with grins on their faces as the feelings of old times came back to them when Logan yelled over the intercom. "Hot head, what the f#$k was that? You sacrificed your own G#$%mn teammate! Just wait till I get down there, I'm going to show you what happens to traitors!"

"What did you do?" Pixie asked Miguel with wide eyes.

"Wait, wait!" Capra yelled as he ran up to the two. He had just regained enough of his composure back and had finally gotten up. "I can explain. Logan, Megan, it was all my fault. I used Miguel as bait first as a sort of…joke. He only retaliated because of our…friendly rivalry." He gave Logan a smile as he slapped his arm across Miguel's shoulders.

"Friendly rivalry," Logan muttered flatly. "Get this clear, in the Danger Room, there are no friendly rivalries. All grudges and rivalries are to remain outside. I see you do this again, I will give you an up close and personal look at a real set of claws. Understood?"

"Of course, my friend. We shall leave it all in the mansion."

Logan didn't say a thing for a moment, leaving the three, and a quietly retreating Boom Boom, hoping the Canadian wasn't too mad after that.

"Get the hell out of my training room! Gumbo, Tin Man, Skunk Head, Half Pint, you go in five!"

Turning to the two men, Pixie was at a temporary loss for words. "I…I can't believe what I'm hearing. Eric, you pushed Miguel into the line of fire?"

"Well, like I said, it was just a joke, a…rib, as you Americans say."

"Megan," Miguel tried to say but was cut off.

"And you're not any better," Megan yelled. "You know what this is. This is life and death for us out there. You were in a similar situation with us…" as she continued talking, Miguel remembered Eric's arm around his shoulders and shrugged it off. "…so if this so-called friendly rivalry has something to with me, and I know it does with the way you both have been acting, you need to stop it right now."

"Megan-"

"I don't want to hear it, Miguel. Stop it. Please."

As she left to head to the locker room, Miguel and Eric watched her go as they caught their breaths. Letting out a long held in sigh, Miguel looked over at the Italian before taking off the athletic tape on his hands.

"Just so we're clear," Eric said as he strode up beside Miguel. "I got you out of trouble for a reason, so you can be here to listen to this. I know you never liked me, especially when you saw Megan throw herself at me."

"Excuse me?" Miguel growled as he turned to face him. "What did you just say?"

"It's true," Eric said matter of factly. "Face it, Miguel, you threw her away and I picked her out of the trash. She was certain you had left her for the Brazilian woman when you were on the other side of the world and if you had not have showed up when you did, we would have, as you say, consummated our relationship."

He flashed a devious grin at the clearly angered Miguel. "My thanks for abandoning her like you did. She made her decision and chose the better man. Besides, what could you possibly give her that I can't?"

Rage engulfed the Mexican mutant as his fists clinched tightly and his claws formed. They were as black as midnight and he ached to bury them deep in Eric's engulphed evious grin at the slightly shorted mutant.

w herself at me."aking off the athletic tape on his hand".p it right

"Uh-uh, you wouldn't want to do anything to give you a migraine, would you? She told me everything about you, Chupa. So stay away from my girl, or things will get a hell of a lot worse for you. Not that she'll believe you if you tell her what I have said."

Pushing past him, Eric made sure to run into his shoulder challengingly and headed to the male locker room, leaving Miguel alone to calm himself down and think about what to do next besides the obvious. Closing his eyes, he steadied his breathing and clinched his teeth. Had it not have been the thought of hurting Megan by severely maiming Eric, he would have done so with gusto.

Later in the day, the mutants were called to the foyer for a message Ororo had to give them. Everyone in the mansion waited for what the white haired woman had to say and had taken spots on the stairs, first floor, or on the upper level overseeing the entire front of the building.

Miguel, Noi, and Justine stood on the right side of the upper floor. Since the Danger Room exercise, he had been struggling in calming himself down, but the sight of Eric with his arm around Megan made his temper rise slowly. It was like he was laying claim to a piece of meat now.

"Miggle, don't," Noi whispered. "You're hating too much."

Seeing where Miguel's attention was tuned to, Justine leaned into his ear, "Miguel, calm down. Noi's worried about you."

His gaze never left Eric as his words filled his head with Megan being completely oblivious to what his true intentions may be.

"Attention," Ororo said as she entered the foyer. "This won't take long. As some of you know, Professor Charles Xavier has been out of the country for some time now visiting his son. We have received word he will not be coming back for another few weeks and for Logan and I to remain in charge of the mansion. On another note he has issued the following concerns to be addressed. All students under the age of eighteen will need to return home for the time being as he tends to his son where upon his return, all will be welcome back. Added to this is another message I have received from our newlyweds, Scott and Jean. They too will not be returning for another few weeks as Scott's brother is giving them an extended honeymoon in his home state of Hawaii."

All the students began muttering among themselves, mostly the ones who were to leave the mansion and were only quieted down when Logan cleared his throat. "I need all departing students to be ready to go within the week. Transportation will be provided by Xavier as well as your return. Any questions should be directed to me or Ororo. Now, those who need to meet with me in the Danger Room, let's go, the others may want to go ahead, call your parents, and get packed."

With the students departing, Noi tugged on Miguel's arm, finally breaking his gaze away from Eric as he looked down at her. "Calm down. Remember how the river water felt on you and the coolness of its touch. Stop hating."

Rolling his eyes, he looked back up and saw Megan heading to her room alone while Eric ventured off to his with his phone pressed against his ear. His gut feeling told him to go back to his room, but he chose to ignore it as he followed his ex and came to a stop at her open doorway.

"Megan?" he said with a gentle knock on her door. "Can Ah talk to you?"

"Depends," she answered. "Is this part of your friendly rivalry?"

"About that, Ah, uh, I wanted to tell you what really happened back there."

Looking behind her ex, Megan could see Noi, Justine, Tabitha, and Kitty in the hall. "Close the door. And stay out, Kitty!"

"Oh come on!" the intangible girl whined as Miguel shut the door.

"Go ahead," Megan moved to the other side of her room and crossed her arms. "Let's hear it."

"Fine." He looked down for a moment, trying to think of how to word his thoughts. "You remember when Ah left, and called or text you every day? And then Ah stopped-"

"And when you did, I and everyone else thought you lost your phone or were in a dead spot. After a week, we thought you were in trouble, and after a month I started to tell myself you're not dead because of your powers. But after five months and no sign of you from Cerebro, what was I supposed to think?"

"Well, Ah…Megan, when Ah came back, and you saw Justine, did you think Ah left you for her? Like Ah threw you away?"

She shifted and rubbed her arm where her scar from the Sentinel attack was. "At first…maybe. That is until she hit on Amara and said her girlfriend allowed her one freebie."

"In all honesty, Ah did not expect that answer…" Pinching the bridge of his nose, Miguel again carefully picked the words he was going to say. "You know Ah never and would never lie to you, right?"

"Miguel, what are you getting at? Just spit it out."

Relenting, his shoulders sagged and he nodded. "Megan, when you left the Danger Room, Eric told meh something. He…he told meh you were throwing yourself at him-"

"Miguel."

"And you were wanting to do whatever he said-"

"Miguel."

"And he said you would never believe meh because of how Ah treated him when Ah-"

"Miguel!" The volume of her voice instantly brought him to a stop as well as making those outside her door jump.

"Megan-"

"No, you know what, Miguel? This has gone too far. I told you I never wanted for this to happen between us. I can't just shove Eric to the side because you showed up again. Lord, I…I'm not even sure what I want anymore, but you're making it clear of what I should do by saying this to me. I can take you two doing these stupid meaningless contests but when it comes to telling lies about each other, that's it. I can't handle that."

"Ah'm not lying to you!" he said as he stepped closer to her. "Look, he accused meh of treating you like trash when Ah was trying to protect you and the others here. Ah wouldn't lie to you!"

"Well that sure as hell sounds like what you're doing right now!"

"Megan, get your head out of your ass and-"

Lightning flew through his being as Megan's hand connected with the side of his face, leaving a red mark on his cheek. He could still hear the crack made from their skin colliding at such a high rate of speed. He never saw it coming. In fact, Megan hadn't completely registered she had hit him at all until she felt the sting in her hand. Her first reaction was to be afraid of him, given his temper, but her fear quickly vanished when he looked at her with hurt and betrayal on his face.

Realizing what she had done, she put both hands to her mouth for a moment before reaching out to him. Her eyes were wide with disbelief that she had slapped him. "Miguel…I…"

Without a word being said, he backed up a few steps then turned to open the door. On the other side was the group from earlier but he didn't pay them any mind as he headed downstairs and out the front door.