Logan grit his teeth and raised a foot as he felt a lash across his rear. This was just great. He always seemed to get caught when he was either wet or damp. Make things worse he was still sore from the paddling Victor gave him.

The man brought the belt down on his rear again another ten times, each time causing Logan to make some type of sound effect, be it a grunt or a groan.

"You ought to be happy this is all I'm doing to you kids," he scoffed, letting the young man stand and pull his trousers up, "I ought to throw you overboard."

"Who's stopping you?" The oldest looked over.

The man raised a brow and pointed to the chair, "Drop your trousers and bend."

Victor smiled some at the man before unfastening his pants and putting his hands on the back of the chair as they slid down his legs.

"Lean forward more," he demanded, doubling the belt.

The older brother did as told and glanced towards Logan.

The first lash fell down hard, harder than Logan's. Vic winced as another one fell. Then another, each getting harder.

The older mutant noticed his brother looking at him and cringing. He smirked and stuck his tongue out at him. Jim snickered and covered his smile.

The man got frustrated at how silent Victor took it and continued to hit hard until he reached 24. Victor's current age.

"Get up," he glared as the boy pulled his pants up," I ought to have you two arrested when we dock. For now I have somewhere I can hold you."

The brothers were walked to a storage room with a window so small the furthest the would get out would be their heads.

"This ought to hold you both nicely," he locked them in.

"Think I made him mad?"

Logan laughed some, "I can't imagine how. Everyone loves you."

"They can't resist my animal magnetism," he leaned against the wall, "four or five hours to America."

"Can't wait," he smiled and leaned against the wall, "What do you think it's like?"

"Must be nice since so many people keep coming here. I hope we get decent jobs."

"I can't wait to get a new bed," he sighed, "or at least some decent sleep."

Victor smiled and rubbed his brother's fluffy head, "Sooner we get a job the sooner we get a decent place."

"Maybe something slightly bigger than our last place," he nodded, looking out the window, "How about some food?"

"Sure, we got time now," Vic opened the basket and pulled out some stew.

x

"I have them right in here, officer," The man lead them to the storage room he locked them in, "Mouthy ones."

The officer nodded and looked to the door as it was unlocked. It opened to reveal an...empty storage closet.

"They...They were right here," he looked around, "I locked them in."

The cop gave the man a dissatisfied look, "Are you sure you locked it?"

"I did!" he looked to the man, outraged at him for accusing him of lying.

"Well as they aren't here now, we have nothing to do," he shrugged and left.

The deckhand watched him go and looked about the room. They had stolen a few items. Great. The captain would not be happy about this. He looked toward the handle of the door and noticed five long marks. They looked like someone stabbed several blades into the door.

x

Victor relieved himself in the bush, "Well, it's still early enough for us to go look for some work," he turned to his little brother, "We'd better move."

The pair walked about for hours, looking for jobs and cheap housing. Logan seemed more interested in getting a job at least. Victor seemed very distracted as he watched the groups of people passing by.

"You ok?" Logan looked to his brother.

"Yeah, I'm looking for potential vacancies." he began looking to the buildings that he clearly hadn't been looking at before.

"Right."

"I'm gonna go to the bank and see what I can get, think you'll be ok by yourself?"

Logan shrugged. Of course, he was an adult. He didn't need his brother holding his hand. A smirk at that thought and he waved Victor off.

The elder disappeared into the crowd of people to go do his business.

x

Clearly Logan wasn't very patient and after waiting 20 minutes for his brother walked about to continue to look for a job.

He asked and asked about and didn't get much of anywhere. Finally he managed to find a man who was well dressed.

"Excuse me, do you have any available work? My brother and I are on our own and I'm really looking for something to help pull my weight," Logan sounded near pitiful as he repeated the speech he'd been giving since he was 12.

The man looked to him, especially his arms, "Well… It's rather late. Why don't you come back in the morning and ask then, son."

"Thanks," he nodded, at least he'd gotten a response from the guy. But asides that he still had no idea where Victor was and it had been over two hours.

x

Logan sighed. He decided to go sit at a park and eat the rest of the stew. It hadn't occurred to him that he forgot to give him the rest of his money as well. But he only had ten dollars on him.

A couple hours flew by and Logan was getting irritated. Where was his brother at!? The bank couldn't have been that much work. Jerk.

"What you doing?" A voice interrupted his thought process.

Logan jumped up, "Where the h3ll have you been!?" he looked to his brother's hand, "Did you really get candy?"

Victor had a handful of peanut brittle and tootsie rolls. He shrugged, "I got enough for both of us."

"What about the bank!?" he demanded.

"Was able to get us $55," he nodded, "And I found a little place for us so we don't have to spend the night under a bridge again."

He sighed, "Fine," he looked about, "Where is it?"

"Come on," he took the other basket and led his brother to their new place so they could talk things over.

x

They were able to get a two room place in a small housing. The brothers were on the top floor of the third story home. It was a decent little living area. Had a stove and running water, the latter being something new to them both.

"This is a pretty great place," the younger of the two nodded, looking around at the apartment, "There's actually room to hang our clothes in here and everything."

"We even got a bed," Victor set the baskets down and looked in the second room, what was apparently the bedroom, "And an indoor pot." he looked to the bathroom, "I like it here already."

"Me too," Logan climbed on the bed and gave a sigh of relief, "I have a job hopeful for tomorrow. Did you find anything?"

"Yeah, I found some day work, I start either early tomorrow or late tomorrow."

"Thank goodness it's not just me working again," he smirked, "So how much is this place anyway?"

"It's about $12 a month."

"What!?"