CHAPTER 5:
MEET THE NEW MUTANTS
Lyla woke later than usual, tired and sore from last night's unwarranted attack.
Typically, she preferred to get up around 4 to 5 a.m., work out, shower, eat, and meet her warden for the day in the foyer simply because she didn't want to be bothered. There are some people she'd like to avoid, like Kurt, who has many questions for her, Scott, who wants to throw her out, and Rogue. Her reasoning with Rogue doesn't need explaining.
As the sun shined bright in the kitchen, Lyla sighed. Everyone in their mother smothered the room. She threw her headphones on and climbed under the sink to fix a piping issue Ororo wanted patched. Logan was too busy to do it, Forge wasn't always trustworthy, and Dr. McCoy was out of town for the week. Therefore, Ororo asked Lyla for help.
As the loud New Mutants made their way to the kitchen, she tried to ignore them when someone tapped her boot.
"I heard Rogue whooped your ass last night."
Bobby "Iceman" Drake is the most experienced member of the New Mutants. As a teen, he went on plenty of the A-Team's missions. He then used that knowledge to bring up his classmen, making him think he was some hot shot. Annoying is what he is.
"And here I thought you were some badass."
Lyla ignored him by turning up the music already blasting in her headphones.
He kicked the bottoms of her boots to get a reaction, "Hey! I'm talking to you."
She took the same foot and kicked him in the shin. Losing his balance, she felt the vibrations of him hitting the ground.
Sighing, she slid from under the sink to confront him.
The room grew silent, watching the interaction. Rogue and Wanda sat at the main table, ready for Lyla to lose control. Logan rested his cigar in the ashtray on the island and turned to look toward Bobby, prepared to jump in if she got too out of control.
"Play stupid games and win stupid prizes," Rogue muttered, returning to talking with Wanda.
Bobby sprang to his feet, ignoring the pitter-patter of blood dripping from his nose to the freshly cleaned floor. She cleaned it all night after Wanda removed tree bark from her face.
Ice encompassed his hands, ready to attack her, when Rogue warned him, "Bobby. Ah promise yah, this will not end well for yah. Back down."
Lyla stared him down when he glanced over his shoulder. The rest of the New Mutants stayed huddled in the corner away from her. Tabby, one of the members, had met Lyla a few times since she worked for the Brotherhood. She understood that Lyla was not the one to push around.
"How tough can she be?" Bobby argued, "You beat her."
Logan scoffed.
Rogue rolled her eyes at his ignorance, "It's because she didn't fight back but go on ahead and get yahself hurt."
Bobby turned back toward Lyla, wanting to hit her.
She stood still, waiting for the blow. It gives her a reason to fight back, to let loose. Does he deserve the anger she has built up in her belly? Of course not, but if he hits her, she's sure he will end up in the infirmary. And that's not because she's cocky and knows she can take him in a fight. No, it's because her anger wouldn't let her stop even if she tried.
"Come on Icy hot, Ly' ain' worth the world of hurt yer gonna put yerself in," Sam mentioned, trying to calm him down.
Taking a deep breath, Bobby backed down without spitting on her brand-new boots, "I'll see you around, Creed. I'd watch my back if I were you."
Lyla rolled her eyes and climbed back under the sink, not before catching Logan smirking.
"I don't know," Ororo hesitated. That could be dangerous since we don't know how mentally stable Lyla is."
Logan pushed off the balcony rail, watching his wife walk around their shared room. The white dress swayed against her delicate and soft skin with the instructions of the wind. Her hair up in a ponytail to show off her upper solid back.
"Come on 'Ro." Logan started, "We can't keep giving the kid bullshit housework."
Ororo turned to stare at him, "I love Lyla with all my heart. More than anyone in this house."
True.
"But I am not blind to how vicious she can be." Her shoulders slumped. She would tear those kids apart."
Logan's smile widened. "Exactly." He stepped into the room, confronting her. We've talked about humbling them kids; putting her on the team will do just that."
Ororo looked him over, hesitant.
"Fine. But if Lyla makes one wrong step, she will not set foot anywhere alone for the rest of her time here. Do we understand each other?"
He kissed her forehead quickly, grabbed a uniform, and dashed out of the room. Logan met Lyla in the foyer as she walked up the stairs to her room. "Take this and meet me outside in five minutes."
"Please tell me that ain' what Ah think—"
"Yer a'right with fixin' up the mansion for the rest of yer stay or?"
She snatched the uniform from him, "Five minutes. Got it."
He watched her march up the stairs and then proceeded outside. The spring sun peppered his face with a gentle hello. Jean sat on the steps, a stopwatch around her neck and a clipboard resting on her lap. To his immediate left were the three amigos, Rogue, Wanda, and X, whispering about some outrageous mission.
"They need a few extra bodies for a mission tonight," Jean said.
"The kids are tryin' out?"
"Mhm." Jean hummed, except Tabby. She already made the team since she'd worked with Rogue and Wanda before. They need an extra two."
Logan took a deep breath. His hands slid through his out-of-control black hair. This can end wonderfully or go wrong. Let's hope for the best, right reader?
Once the team was assembled outside, Jean hummed, "Listen up. Rogue needs two of you for a mission today. May the best New Mutant win."
They lined up, ready for her to blow the whistle, when Lyla finally appeared. She hopped on one foot, trying to throw on her boot. The group looked at her in disbelief, uncertain of what the hell was going on.
Oh yeah, he made the right choice.
"She's tryin' out."
Jean raised a brow, "You sure?"
"Positive."
Lyla lined up behind the triad: Dani Moonstar, Sam Guthrie, and Bobby Drake. They were all excellent in their powerset and smart on their feet. They don't know their potential quite yet, which is probably why they haven't advanced to the A-Team yet. In the back, the youngest of the house stood beside her, shakily breathing.
Jamie shakily looked up at her, "You as nervous as I am? She's watching." He glanced over his shoulder to glance at Rogue and Wanda. Lyla followed his gaze, smirking. Rogue to the others can be intimidating. She has a strong will and doesn't take shit from any of her teammates. Stupid mistakes aren't accepted under her leadership. And Lyla respects it. There's a reason she was part of the Inner Circle for so long, no matter how much she annoys her.
"Ah've gone up against far worse than my sister."
"You don't want her approval."
More than she'd like to care to admit.
Lyla shrugged it off, "Eh, focus on what yah can control kid and stick with, and Ah think she'd be impressed."
Jamie shook his shaggy hair, "I-I don't think so." He glanced at the Titans before them, "They're all stronger and better."
"Yah have on thang they don't," She bent down to look at him, "Yah have power in numbers." She patted him on the back when Jean blew the whistle. It was off to the races. As expected, Sam propelled himself forward, skyrocketing faster than the others. Bobby used an ice slide to gain an advantage, and Amara took to the skies with her flame abilities. It's the X-Men. No matter how easily they sped through the course, obstacles were awaiting them, why Lyla took off in a soft jog keeping up with Dani and Jamie.
Before she left him, she winked and said, "Power in numbers," and then used his powers to multiply herself to gain an advantage in the woods.
Time passed, and Lyla had too much fun dodging and evading the obstacles thrown at her; she ignored her wristwatch. Jamie, hot on her heels, didn't see a razor wheel spinning viciously toward his head. She shoved a shoulder into him, pushing him out of the way. It barely nicked her on the head. Some blood blinded her, but nothing too serious.
Bobby used his powers to encase two of the razors in ice. One dropped to the ground due to its weight. The other, however, whirled toward the back of Amara's head. Neither Lyla nor Jamie were fast enough to stop it.
Dani, hidden in the trees, was two steps ahead. She drew an arrow and let it release into the air. It pierced the ice block and shattered it into pieces. Thank goodness.
Moving to her feet, she went to help Jamie off the floor to see he wasn't there. Instead, Jamie Prime stood at the finish line before Jean and Logan—with a broad smile.
She laughed out loud at his intelligence.
Lyla walked across the finish line last to make sure Amara was safe.
Amara rubbed the back of her neck, feeling what could have been a terrible accident, "Thank you, Lyla. I appreciate you asking about my well-being."
She narrowed her eyes to Bobby and went to talk with Dani.
It's okay; Lyla has a few words to share with the arrogant prick.
"It looks like I was right. You aren't as badass as you claim," Bobby smugly snorted.
Jamie stepped from around Jean to stand by Lyla, "I don't know, Bobby," he shrugged, "She helped me beat you; I'd say she's badass."
Bobby shoved Jamie.
Jean moved to intervene, but Logan held her back—probably because he wanted me to step up. It's no problem; as stated earlier, she has a bone to pick with the prick.
"Lyla. Jamie." Rogue stepped outside, "Yah, comin' to the brief, or do y'all want me to choose someone else?"
Bobby's mouth hung open in disbelief. Lyla couldn't help the smug smile that grew.
"You can't be serious?!" Bobby turned to Jean, "She came in last place."
Lyal snorted, "Have a complaint? Take it up with yah congressman." She nodded toward the door, "Come on, kid, we don't wanna be late."
Jamie pushed up Bobby's jaw in passing, closing his mouth for him.
Lyla was in her head, shocked that Rogue picked her for this mission. Or was Wanda in her ear, coaching her, telling her to start being nice? Or was it some sick joke?
Logan walked them to the war room, where Lyla wasn't allowed anywhere except her bedroom, unchaperoned. She faced the single door on the entire floor when they stepped out of the elevator. Stepping inside, Rogue's harsh green eyes met them. Her speech slowed.
Scanning the room, Lyla noticed a massive black table at the center of it, with chairs with names stitched on the back. Assigned seating is cute. She snorted to herself.
Storm sat closest to the door, and Logan slid into the chair beside her. Tabby in the front popped her gum, patting the chair between her and X-23. She, Lyla, opted to stand, but Rogue said, "Are yah done gawkin'? We have a mission to get to. And it ain't an easy one."
Her eyes fell on Jamie. The mission Rogue briefed isn't going to be kind or gentle for him—one way to throw someone into the heat of battle. Wanda said she'd have Lyla on her side when separating the group. "And Jamie."
Wanda blinked, "What?"
"And Jamie. He's the youngest and least experienced of the group, so leaving him alone isn't smart. He needs to be with people who will talk to him and give him task direction."
Wanda glanced at Jamie and then to Rogue, "We ready to go then."
"Suit up and meet me at the Black Bird." Her eyes landed on Lyla one last time, and then she went to talk to Logan and Storm.
Lyla threw an arm around Jamie, saying, "Stick with me, kid, and yah going to be golden."
She only wished that were true. The mission, based on the brief, seemed difficult, but she wasn't expecting it to turn into a complete shit show.