Thirteen

"You morons can't keep up with one goddamned kid?"

"We have been tracking her; however, Laura is surprisingly adept at evasion for a child her-"

Victor cut Xavier off.

"Save it, cue ball. Why the fuck is she even here? The damned kid won't say what drove her 2000 miles away from your school. She's too busy stuffing her face."

"There was a minor incident."

Of course there was. He'd figured that much.

"Logan was the only one injured, and there was no real harm done. However, she took it to heart and ran away before we could right the situation."

"When was this?" Victor demanded.

"Two weeks ago."

"And I suppose I have you to thank for leading the brat here?"

"If it gives you any solace, you were not the easiest mutant to find, Victor. It was in Laura's best interest, I assure you."

Victor snorted.

"Despite your short acquaintance, you left quite an impression on her. You saved Laura from that lab and likely saved her life. She trusts you."

Victor grimaced and glanced back toward the house.

"I will send-"

"No. Not here."

Like hell Victor was going to have any X-Men tromping through his territory. It was bad enough that the old man and the kid could find him. The thought of Jimmy and the rest of those goody-two-shoes invading his space raised his hackles.

"Calgary." Victor racked his brain for a precise location. Anywhere he frequented in that city was neither kid friendly, nor open yet, and definitely not an easily find-able public landmark.

The zoo, which fit all those criteria, was a terrible idea for more reasons than one, which left-

"Calgary Tower."

It wasn't the tallest building around, but the thought of his acrophobic little brother up there surrounded by windows and tourists amused him. At a hundred ninety something Victor had to get his kicks where he could.

The kid was passed out on the sofa, and Victor idly wondered how tired the little nitwit would have to be to think sleeping on his couch was a good idea.

Victor nudged her. The girl growled lazily and turned into the cushions.

"Wake up."

"Uh-uh."

"That ain't a place to sleep."

She grumbled again, and ignored him.

"Your pa is fine. That the reason you run off?"

The girl stiffened. Her "no" was muffled by the leather, but Victor heard it well enough.

"Then, why?"

Laura unhappily rolled over and sat up.

"I don't like it there. They're scared of me. And it's loud." The "I told you so" was left unsaid.

Victor nodded but said nothing. If she wanted validation or comfort, she'd come to the wrong place. He didn't know how to do that shit even if he wanted to, and he definitely didn't, so...

"I want to stay here."

What? He'd seen the request coming from a mile away, but it still confounded him.

Victor settled for, "You can't."

"But why not?," Laura countered, "I'm little. I don't take up much room."

That was a line if he'd ever heard one. He didn't know how to argue with that logic, though. So, he didn't even try.

"The X-Men will be in Calgary for you day after tomorrow."

The kid glared up at him.

"'Til then, you're gonna be my assistant."

Laura perked up.

Victor could guarantee she wouldn't want to stay after she figured out what, exactly, that entailed.