Chapter 12: "Namesakes"

As was quickly becoming the norm at SI, James was hammering away at a new project — with Tony alongside him adding his two cents or asking what the heck he was doing from time to time. But what was new today was the fact that the representative from the Air Force, Rhodey, was in his lab — pacing and irritated in general at the Marine that was making waves on national news. And Tony was enjoying it. far. too. much.

"Since when does the military care about what the Avengers do?" Rhodey was saying as he paced from one end of the workbench to the other — all while Tony was going along with every word, nodding his head and encouraging his friend to get more fired up as it went on.

"Is this the one that was trying to say that the Avengers needed more oversight?" Tony asked, which only got Rhodey more fired up when his answer was a resounding 'No'.

James let out a sigh and turned his head toward Tony, who was twirling a screwdriver in one hand and smirking crookedly as Rhodey kept going. "Do you have to do this here?" he asked almost tiredly.

"Um … where else would I do this?" Tony asked in return, frowning, though when Rhodey finally quit pacing, he pulled up a stool to sit on James' other side — his arms crossed in front of him as he almost leaned over his shoulder.

"What's this?" he asked, looking from the little device that was expanded out in front of James in a few hundred pieces to James himself. "This isn't for that idiot in the Marines, is it? Because you know you should be showing preference to the Air Force."

"I did my first military project for the Navy," James pointed out, but that got a scoff from Rhodey and a giggle from Tony.

"That … you can't go by that. You gotta move up in style," Rhodey said. "Come on." He bumped James' shoulder. "You've gotten better since then. Don't waste it."

James stopped and set the tools in his hands down to turn toward Rhodey, who looked like he was ready to start causing trouble. "I'm … not … this is for the team," James said.

"Ooh, which one?" Rhodey asked, honestly more interested. "That Marine always was jealous of my suit. You gonna make him more jealous with this …" He looked over the components for a moment and frowned. "Comm? Really? Come on. You can do better than communications."

"It'll be entirely impervious to HEMP's and EMP's," Tony said with a proud look on his face, and Rhodey took just a moment to look properly impressed before both he and Tony slid over a little closer and put an arm around James' back each, getting the young man to scrunch up both shoulders.

"You should be showing favoritism," Rhodes said, barely restraining the smirk. "You were named after me; you knew that, right?" He looked at Tony with a frown. "He did know that, didn't he?"

"I'm not sure that's the story his mother gave him," Tony replied low and quiet before he held one finger up in front of his lips ."Shhh."

James just covered his face with one hand, already well-accustomed to the back-and-forth that usually went along with these two spending more than three seconds together. "You want to tell me what kind of secret soldiers the Marines have on deck?" Rhodey asked.

"I … was under the impression that you already knew," James replied, turning his way a little more.

"I know," he said, nodding along. "I just want to see if you'd tell me."

James smirked at that. "Nothing special outside of what you know."

"But you're making comms and things to work around them if need be," Rhodey pointed out.

"Seemed like an eventuality. Even if it's nowhere near ready," James replied.

Rhodey nodded thoughtfully. "You know, if you were doing this for the Air Force," he said with a crooked smirk, "you wouldn't need the extra mile."

"Uh … huh," James said, though he returned the smirk. "Because the Air Force isn't stupid enough to come and invade the school or try to take down the team?"

Rhodes smirked. "Nah, we leave that to the amped-up Marines who think they have something to prove. We already know how good we are."

James shook his head at that. "Is there something special you wanted, or are you just screwing with the little bit of time I've got for this project?"

"No, no, you carry on," Rhodey said, waving a hand his way. "I was just coming down to drink with Tony and complain about the guy with the complex yacking on my TV." He smirked and leaned closer to James. "That general has been jealous of my suit since the day I got it. Serious complex, that man."

"Too bad for him I got a few ideas for it," James said. "And he doesn't like my haircut. Or lack thereof. Or … my face. Or … pretty much everything else."

"Only thing he likes is a mirror," Rhodey told James in a conspiratory tone, then chuckled to himself.

James shook his head. "I'll have a new self-defense system for you in a few weeks. If you want something to show off with."

"Oh good; I knew I came down here for a reason," Rhodey said, grinning and going so far as to ruffle James' hair.

Peter Quill had been debating swinging closer to Earth for a quick visit. Jayce and Celeste missed everyone, and, if he was honest with himself, he was far enough out from how badly things had gone with Apocalypse that he was feeling homesick. He'd actually been earthbound for a while, with his family, with Kitty. He missed it.

Ultimately, he decided he wouldn't go to Earth until there was a reason. But that homesick feeling in the pit of his stomach had him pulling up a few readouts on Earth anyway, just as a way to check in without checking in, so to speak.

He didn't even get to more than a cursory glance, though, before he dropped his drink and got to his feet.

"Holy crap," he whispered, going to the computer to rerun the numbers. They couldn't possibly be right, could they?

When the same result came back, he dropped everything and went to the comm. "Celeste, Jayce, we're going home. And we might need to bring an armada while we're at it."

Scott was deep in thought when he headed for the War Room, where he'd more or less been spending the last several days not only dealing with trying to find a way to keep more programs from trying to take advantage of Chance and the others but also with this general trying to abolish superhero teams.

He was physically still exhausted and worn from the run he'd done with Logan, even if he absolutely had needed to be there to destroy the people who thought it was okay to come after his son — and he was especially not feeling that kind toward them after seeing them shoot Chance when he was maybe five at the most mentally.

And to have the team's very existence being questioned on the national stage on top of his already growing anger… he wasn't in the mood to sit still, even if he needed to do something a little less active than destroying a building full of soldiers.

But when he got to the War Room, he was surprised to find that it was already occupied by a very determined-looking Chloe, who was pouring over all of the intel that Scott had gathered on the Indonesian group.

Scott raised his eyebrows when he saw her and made his way over to Chloe to look around her shoulder. "How long have you been here?" he asked when he saw the little notes that she was making to herself.

"Since this morning," Chloe said. She gestured toward her notes. "They were hoping for one of the younger members of the team, like Chance or Elin or James. They know they don't have the juice to deal with Logan or K, since the Canadians screwed up on such a huge global stage with that. And they weren't sure about James, but he's young enough they were willing to give it a shot."

Scott couldn't help but smirk at that. "Well, they got one thing right. They definitely couldn't have handled Logan or K."

Chloe nodded, diving right back into it, though Scott couldn't help but frown as he watched her.

"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked.

"I'm fine," she said in a tone that was so familiar that, if he hadn't been concerned, he might have laughed.

"Chloe-"

"What do you want me to say, Dad?" she asked, turning his way with a perfectly open look. "I just… I just need to know that my big brother is safe, and I need to get these guys."

"If it helps, I definitely got them," Scott said.

Chloe rolled her eyes, though she couldn't help but smirk as well. "That really doesn't help," she said.

Scott let out a breath and nodded, simply getting into his own intelligence — on the subject of the military angle and the push for the hero teams to throw in the towel. It looked like Chloe had the other problem covered, and as much as he wanted to get in there with her, she was also his junior team leader as well as his daughter. She needed to be able to handle this on her own.

It was just happy coincidence that, while Chloe and Scott were comparing notes, Logan decided to give Scott a call to fill him in. "Figured you'd want to know Chance is starting to pick up a little steam," Logan told him. "Seems to be 'round … eleven. Ish. He told me he was nine yesterday."

"That's good to hear," Scott said, setting aside the intel for the moment as he focused on the update. "And that's a good jump, too."

"It'll come," Logan said, but then, he paused at the tone Scott was using. "So, what gives?"

Scott let out a breath. "I've just been doing some intel work on my end. That general James has been working with is still causing problems on the national stage, calling for the teams to step aside, all that."

"Is he?" Logan asked, though it was clear from the sounds coming through the phone that Logan was moving. "Doesn't look like it to me. Not really."

"What, doesn't look like he's making a big stink? Because he is."

"No, he's not," Logan said, perfectly calmly. "He's makin' an ass out of himself. Don't worry about him."

Scott let out a breath of frustration. "Logan, of course I'm looking at this seriously," he said. "This is an angle we haven't seen them use before to try and get us out of their way, and it's legitimate enough that we need to be able to defend ourselves…"

"Scotty, this isn't the fight," Logan said. "Tell me: since when has the military ever gotten involved with the things we do? They defend the country. We save civilians."

Scott paused as he thought it over. "Different jurisdictions, is what you're saying."

"What I'm saying is that the last thing that they've ever done is humanitarian efforts. Sure, if it's a massive disaster, but not to the individuals we cater to. The guy's blowin' smoke."

Scott nodded slowly as he thought about it. "It's still a blow publicly. I may send Krissy to Alyssa; she's always a hit…"

"So hit 'im back next time you get the chance," Logan said. "You get out there like you always do and keep it cool, he'll look every bit the moron he is. And he'll lose funding if he keeps pushing for it. That's not his job. Hell. I wouldn't be surprised if he got demoted if he's being too much of a pain."

"Can I throw a party if that happens?" Chloe put in with a small smirk. "Because he's giving me a headache just existing."

"You got more important things to concern yourself with," Logan said. "Don't let him sidetrack you."

"Chloe's beating the war drum on the Indonesian idiots pretty hard; she has that angle well-handled," Scott said, not only because he was proud of her but because Chloe needed to hear it.

"Great," Logan said. "Then go ahead and accept one of those offers to respond. I know they gotta be askin'."

"Only all the time," Scott said with a sigh as he leaned back before he tried to redirect the conversation for his own sanity's sake. "So. Eleven. Wouldn't be surprised if tomorrow he's asking when he can try out for the team at this rate, if he gets another jump like that."

"I'll let you know," Logan said. "I know you wanna get him back."

"I'm not the only one," Scott said. "I know Elin's just waiting for him to be able to recognize her, and Annie's probably made a dozen loaves of different kinds of bread at this point."

"Tell 'em to relax," Logan said. "We're movin' along fine."

Scott nodded. "Thanks again for taking care of him. I know it's not exactly a normal thing to ask."

"Not the first time either," Logan said. "Don't sweat it. Just have fun with the boys while you can."

"Yeah, it's even more fun with Maria around on the weekend so Liliana isn't outnumbered," Scott said with a smirk. "They run the show. Kurt helps them."

"So business as usual. Always good to hear we're not needed," Logan chuckled before he let Chance say goodbye for him and then hung up the phone.

Scott leaned back in his chair and rested one hand over his face as he considered everything — not just from the conversation but from the intel — before he nodded once, sharply. "Alright," he said, looking Chloe's way. "Are you set here?"

Chloe nodded. "Kaleb promised he'd make sure I ate food."

Scott almost couldn't stop the smirk at that before he nodded again. "I'll hold him to that," he promised.

It wasn't too terribly long before Chance finally woke up one morning with a start and remembered most of what had happened — at least up until he was captured. And as soon as they had that much figured out, the three of them packed up and headed back, though Chance couldn't quite listen to K and Logan's promises that Chloe was fine. Not until he could see her for himself, all things considered.

But when they got through the door, it wasn't Chloe that they saw first once they were into the dining room but Elin as she stepped around the kitchen counter with a cup of coffee in her hand. It was pretty obvious she and Annie had been chatting — and the room was filled with the smell of cinnamon when Elin stopped and carefully set her mug down. "Are you back?" she asked quietly.

Even for as worried as he was about Chloe, Chance couldn't help but smile at her reassuringly before he simply swept her up into a long, solid kiss, paused to breathe out a little, "yeah, missed you too," and then kissed her all over again.

"Get a room," K said, snatching Elin's coffee and then settling in with Logan to see what was going on, since Annie had the news going — and Scott was sitting across from the reporter on the television. "Ooh, what happened to finally tweak him?"

"Some idiot general thinks he can replace the X-Men with his toy soldiers," Annie said, waving a hand irritably. "Scott disagrees."

"Huh," Logan said, sitting back. "Imagine that."

Annie shook her head at him and hit him with the back of her hand on the chest. "He's been doing wonderfully," she said, tipping her head toward the screen, where Scott was arguing his case.

"Not surprised," Logan replied.

Annie just nodded at that, turning her attention to Chance to inform him that he was required to hug her as well, so that Logan had the chance to really listen to the arguments Scott was making.

And he realized quickly that it was more or less what they'd talked about over the phone.

"The X-Men have never been a national or even international defense organization," Scott was saying. "Our focus has been on keeping mutants safe, giving them a haven — wherever they are. First and foremost, we're a safe haven, a school. You can't compare that to a military operation." He had his hands folded in front of him. "Don't get me wrong. I grew up in a military family. I'm glad to see that mutants have the chance to serve their country and make a difference. And I'm glad to see that the general is taking an interest in the rights of mutants and the violations that have gone unchecked for so long. But there's no reason to call for the rest of us to stop working just because he's arrived to the party at last."

"Knew he'd be fine," Logan said, stealing the coffee from K.

Annie simply smiled Logan's way, though Chance broke into the conversation with his arm around Elin's waist. "So, where's Chloe?" he asked, directing the question to Elin but clearly willing to get an answer from anyone there.

"War Room," Elin told him. "She's been plotting — working on a revenge angle pretty well."

Chance nodded. "That's my little sister," he said, though he pulled on her hand a bit as he headed down that direction. "I'm going to check on her… and then snuggle the heck out of the twins. I haven't seen them in weeks, apparently."

"Yeah, I'm sure they've forgotten all about you," Elin said airly.

"Only ask about you every day," Annie muttered under her breath so that the ferals were sure to catch it.

"He knows I'm joking," Elin told her just as quietly.

Annie made it a point to kiss Elin's forehead before the two of them headed off toward the War Room — where, as promised, Chloe was working away like mad, papers scattered everywhere and her hair scrunched in places where she'd been running her hands in it. But when she looked up as the door opened and saw that Chance was there, she dropped everything to run right to him and positively wrap him up in the best hug she could possibly manage.

Chance wrapped her up tightly too and kissed the top of her head, then picked up her head in his hands so he could look her over. "You okay, Chlo?"

She nodded seriously. "I'm mad, and I'm going to get them back, but I'm fine," she promised.

He shook his head and pulled her into an even tighter hug, her head under his chin as he kept her close. "I'm so sorry, Chloe."

"I'm not … no," Chloe said, shaking her head, resting her cheek against his chest as she hugged him tight. She didn't bury her face like she would usually do, but if Chance had been around, he'd have known that she didn't do that for Kaleb, either. It was the only slight sign she was showing other than burying herself in work that she was still freaked out by what had happened.

"You're both fine, we're working toward dealing with these idiots in a permanent fashion, so how about we just get to work so we can celebrate later?" Elin said, sitting on the table in the War Room. "You know. Priorities."

Chance chuckled at that, and Chloe made a face at her. "What, hugging my big brother isn't a priority?"

"Oh sure," Elin said. "I was talking more about the little snuggly love fest you guys were building up to. Kinda wrecks the mood when a girl wants to stab someone."

"So I should snuggle the twins out of your sight so you can get properly worked into the scary murder rage," Chance said with a smirk.

"Yes, that sounds fine to me," Elin replied straight-faced. "Seeing as while you were snuggling up in the cottage, we were building up an attack plan …" She gave them both a little smirk. "Don't wreck my momentum."

Chloe grinned over at Elin. "No offense, Chance, but Elin is probably my new favorite plotting partner."

"Hey, I've been saying for years that she's the scariest girl I know," Chance pointed out. "Do you see me looking surprised? At all?"

Chloe chuckled and waved him off. "Okay, well, you need to go see your babies and get your baby face on. You know where to find us, right?"

Chance laughed and stole a kiss from Elin. "I feel like I've just been dismissed."

"No," Elin said. "Just … go do what you need to, then come back and get ready to watch me go kill some idiots. James gave us the upgraded uniforms last week. I think while Mom said you were learning how to roast a marshmallow."

"They refused to take pictures," Chloe said, shaking her head. "I really wanted one of you with marshmallow smutz all over your face, but they said they were saving your dignity." She rolled her eyes.

"I can just do that live for you," Elin offered. "Smutz him up."

"Favorite sister-in-law," Chloe sang out.

"I can probably stick the chocolate up his nose too," Elin said, smiling her way.

"Or," Chance said, holding up both hands, "I could just go get my sugar from my kids."

"If that's the only way you want your sugar now, spoilsport …"

Chance laughed at that and then rushed over to pull her into a spinning kiss. "Don't be ridiculous. I know the best way to spend my time."

"We'll see. There will be a test later." She stole a kiss herself, then pushed him back a few steps. "Go."

Chance was still shaking his head and smiling as he slipped out — though the smile stretched into a grin and a laugh when he got to the living room, where the twins were playing with Maria, with Sadie and Howard watching out for the little group. And as soon as the twins saw Chance, they broke into squeals of delight and absolutely abandoned what they were doing to rush over for snuggles.

He grinned and scooped them up, one twin in each arm as he went to the floor with them. "Hey, Matty. Liliana. You guys miss me?" he teased, already getting peppered with baby kisses and doing his best to return them in kind.

"Uh-huh!" Liliana said, snuggling right into his chest.

"Miss Daddy," Matthew said, almost petting the side of Chance's face with how much they were snuggling him.

"Missed you too," Chance said, pulling the kids tight to his chest and not even blinking when he heard the shutter of a camera go off and knew that Sadie was definitely sending her sister pictures of the full-on snuggle fest going on.

Just so you know, this is not going to stop, Sadie wrote in her message — not that anyone was going to even try when the little ones were so happy to have their dad back.