Mutant Crush
The X-Mansion
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
The mansion was silent as a haunted house, only the wind outside filling the stillness with gentle wafts against the windows. Inside the manor, Storm stood in the botanical garden sniffing out a rat.
“I know you’re here,” she stated, her eyes casting about the room. “Come out and face me.”
A sound from above had her gaze darting upwards to the ventilation system. Something was scurrying about inside the vent shaft.
Someone, anyway.
Narrowing her eyes, she stood unmoving as she waited for the intruder to reveal themself, keeping to the shadows as the vent grate shook minutely.
“Impressive. You bypassed our automative defensive system by using the air vents,” Storm noted, her blue eyes icing over to stark white as she raised her arms. “But you will not get past me.”
Sending a forceful wind towards the ventilation grid, she called upon the thunder to aid her, listening for the tell-tale sign of where their intruder was hiding. It seemed this would require a more - excessive - force.
“Digging your heels in? Very well. I believe it is time to remind you why they call me Storm!” she avowed, thunder rolling in from above the mansion as her voice echoed through the house with gusto. Hurricane force winds blew violently around the manor as Storm focused her power to direct her flood waters straight into the vent from the roof.
No where to run now.
The vents flooded with rainwater, sending anything and anyone tumbling down the shaft down to the Danger Room below where Storm was now waiting, having just stepped out of the elevator. Her opponent stood up from the floor, soaked to the bone from her flood, and glared up at the viewing port.
“My, my. You look a little flushed,” Storm smiled smugly, her voice echoing through the communication speakers above. “Had enough yet?”
“My turn!” Wolverine growled, appearing from the Danger Room entrance fully dressed in his X-Men gear, eyes narrowed dangerously at their enemy.
Leaping with his claws extended, Wolverine slashed at the intruder with the intent to maim, roaring with every dodge. His opponent leapt to the side and got in a hard kidney punch, bringing him down just long enough for them to land a swift kick to the back of his head, knocking him to the ground.
“Perhaps you would like assistance, Wolverine?” Storm asked rhetorically, activating the Danger Room’s defense weapons. The wall to the right opened and out popped a large target-based laser, the green light taking aim at their enemy.
“I don’t need any help!” Wolverine grouched, rushing after the intruder to continue their hand-to-hand combat. He would take this guy down alone, thank you very much.
“And I believe you do. Mind the lasers, my friend.”
The Danger Room was suddenly filled with firing blasts, effectively trapping both Logan and the intruder in a game of space dodgeball! The two narrowly avoided each blast while continuing to trade blows. Logan took two more to the face and one deadly kick to the liver, dropping him low enough for his enemy to pick him up and bodily throw him over their shoulder to the floor! The wind was knocked out of him and he sucked in a painful gasp, glaring up at his opponent who was now disabling the laser closest to them by jerking out the wiring mechanism.
“Dirty trick,” he snarled, rolling just in time to avoid getting caught in another optic beam. “We ain’t done!”
“Yes, you are, Wolverine,” Charles’ voice came from the intercom system above. “This demo is over. Join us up top, both of you.”
“Man…it was just gettin’ good,” Logan grumbled, standing up to brush himself off while looking over at their ‘intruder’. “Nice moves, Stripes.”
“Says you! Ah feel like a drowned rat!” Rogue complained, removing her mask and standing akimbo glaring up at Storm above them. “Did ya’ have t’ summon half the Mighty Mississippi!?”
“You’ll dry,” Logan snickered as he lead the way towards the elevator.
Up in the viewing deck above, everyone had gathered to watch the drama unfold, Kurt even bringing a bowl of popcorn. The two youngest teens were flabbergasted by the performance, mostly Kitty.
“That was, like, totally insane,” she whispered, eyeing both Rogue and Logan as they stepped out of the elevator to join them.
“What can Ah say, Kit-Kat? When Ah give a demo, Ah give it mah all,” Rogue grinned, snatching a handful of popcorn from Kurt’s bowl.
“Demo as in ‘demolish’, you mean?” Scott teased her, crossing his arms while coming up to stand next to her. “You look like a drowned rat.”
“Ah know where you sleep, Summers,” she poked his chest.
“Okay, yeah, we get that you’re, like, a total badass, but what was the point of this?” Kitty asked skeptically. “Or did you just feel like trashing the place?”
“The point, Young Katherine, was to teach you about locating weak points in any sophisticated security system. Our defenses are unmatched, and yet Rogue still managed to infiltrate the grounds without tripping any alarm. Do you see the point of the demonstration now?” Storm asked.
“Uhh…sort of?”
“Storm’s right, half-pint,” Logan agreed. “And I’d say ours still needs some work.”
“It was awesome!” Kurt cheered, giving Rogue a bright grin while offering the popcorn bowl with his tail. “I give it two thumbs up!”
“Thanks, sugah,” Rogue smirked, popping another mouthful of buttery goodness. “Bu’ Lo’ ‘s righ’.”
“What would you suggest then?” Charles asked, rolling his chair over to Storm and Logan as they looked over the footage.
“The vents looked a little too easy to breach. We need to fix that,” Logan pointed out, motioning to the monitor recording where it showed Rogue easily hoping over the laser sensors. “How ‘bout we electrify ‘em?”
“Inhumane,” Rogue countered.
“Poison gas sprayers?”
“Too lethal.”
“Knockout gas, then!”
“Wolverine,” Storm reproached.
“You people suck the fun out of everything…” he muttered.
“Alright, children,” Charles smirked, folding his hands. “Logan’s recommendations aside, I do believe we should consider updating the mansion’s security. If nothing else, I am convinced the ventilation system is in need of repair.”
“Ah wonder why…” Rogue murmured, eyeing Storm.
“Yer’ still a little bitter,” Logan smirked.
“Ah’m still a little bitter.”
“Ugh! Am I the only one here that isn’t freaked out by all this!?” Kitty suddenly exclaimed, glancing at everyone for some back-up. “…it’s just me. Awesome…”
“Kitty, I know this may seem intimidating, but I assure you that these training exercises are perfectly normal to improve ourselves and our sanctuary here,” Charles said to try and ease the young girl’s anxiety.
“Sorry, Kitty, we’re so used to this kinda stuff that we don’t really see it as weird anymore,” Jean shrugged apologetically. “It took us time to get used to it too.”
“You say that like we aren’t talking about hero stuff and training missions and freaky mutant powers!” Kitty cried.
“Don’t worry, Kitty—” Kurt claimed, disappearing with a poof and reappearing beside her. “—we’ll be right beside you! Popcorn?”
Kitty jumped in fright at the blue mutant's sudden appearance next to her, leaping from the consol while Kurt grimaced sadly.
“Oops. Sorry, heh—” he apologized, trying not to take her jump-scare as a personal affront. “Next time I’ll honk before I ‘port, ja?”
“Whatever. Look, I—guys, it’s late. If it’s okay, Professor, I’m gonna, like, drop out,” Kitty whispered as she hugged herself, vanishing through the floor.
“She’s gettin’ better at that,” Logan nodded. “But I don’t think the half-pint is ready for this yet, Chuck.”
“Agreed,” Charles sighed. “I do think this may be too much for her right now.”
Rogue walked over to where Kurt was standing, the poor boy looking completely downtrodden. His tail was even drooping due to his mood shift.
“She’s so not into the fuzzy man,” he sighed. “Not that I blame her.”
“Give the girl some time, babes. She’s only been here a couple weeks,” Rogue offered gently, knocking her shoulder against Kurts. “This is all new territory for her. A month ago, she didn’t even know what a mutant was, an’ now she’s livin’ with ‘em. Not everybody’s cut out for the hero gig, sugah.”
Kurt smiled and brushed his furry head against hers, “Danke, Rogue.”
“Gern geschehen.”
“Well, now that our session is concluded, why don’t we follow Kitty’s lead and head off to bed,” Charles said. “It is getting rather late.”
Scott, Jean and Kurt headed off to the elevator without fuss, saying goodnight to everyone before heading upstairs. The others finished powering down the Danger Room and checking the security systems.
“Alright, out with it. What didn’t ya’ wanna say in front of the others?” Rogue asked, knowing Charles had something on his mind.
“Cerebro located a new mutant earlier and I’ve been attempting to get a solid read on him ever since,” the Professor explained, though his eyes conveyed something else.
“Another kid?”
“A young man, yes. However, his psyche does concern me.”
“You’re worried,” she stated.
“Quite. The boy’s name is Fred Dukes and he resides in Texas. Tomorrow, I would like you, Logan and Jean to fly down and observe the young man but do not engage him. Give me your honest feedback, no matter the outcome.”
Rogue and Logan shared a look, shrugging at one another but agreeing none-the-less.
What could go wrong?
Lubbock, Texas
If there was one thing Rogue was not fond of, it was crowds…
“Let’s hear a big cheer for the lady of monster trucks, folks! Shirley Ray!” echoed from the stadium loud-speaker, followed by a cacophony of screaming cheers from the stands. The only thing louder than the spectators was the obnoxiously loud trucks making laps around the dirt track.
"Drunk rednecks, jacked up four wheel drives an' shady entertainment...'bout sums up this part a' the south for ya'," Rogue sighed, laying her head in her hand. This rowdy kind of entertainment was not her idea of a good time.
"Don't worry, Stripes. We'll be outta' here before you know it," Logan assured her quietly.
Logan knew better than anyone that even though Rogue was from the south, she would never be the first to defend it or return to it unless absolutely necessary. The thick accent and a staple of southern recipes to make anyone’s mouth water was basically all she took from her time down in Mississippi.
"I don't understand what's so great about watching stuff like this," Jean murmured, her eyes darting around them towards the unruly crowd.
"Welcome t' Texas, Red," Rogue drawled.
“And now, ladies and gents, for the main attraction of the evenin’! Let's hear it for the world's strongest teenager; Fred 'The Blob' Dukes!” the announcer roared over the speakers, hyping up the rowdy crowd even more.
Down on the arena ground, two monster trucks pulled up back-to-back and slowly rolled forward to a safe distance, a handful of men running out to lock chains on the ball of each truck. From the arena’s side, a large, cloaked figure strolled out and the crowd went bonkers.
“That him?” Logan asked, eyeing the boy with mild distaste. “Kinda…fubsy, ain’t he.”
Rogue watched as the kid pumped up the crowd with his arms, like a wrestler hyping up his fans. He was massive, far bigger than she expected from Charles’ brief explanation he’d given them before they left. His face and neck looked to have no discernable gap!
And who the Hell styles their hair in a mohawk anymore?
Dukes acted as though he owned the whole show, whooping loudly and waving to every corner like a gladiator entering the colosseum. The second he stepped between the massive trucks and removed his cloak with flourish, they all caught sight of his outfit of choice.
“…well,” Jean tilted her head. “That’s now seared into my brain forever.”
Dukes was dressed in nothing but a skin-tight leotard and cowboy boots, which – interesting choice? – did nothing to ameliorate his appearance. He grabbed each chain from both trucks and wrapped the metal around his wrists, hunkering down into a stance of sorts.
“Bad technique,” Logan noted, crossing his arms.
“Give ‘em the benefit a’ the doubt,” Rogue said.
“Boy’s gonna break his arms. $20 bucks says he snaps both wrists.”
“Ah say one and double it.”
“Are you two seriously betting on whether or not he’ll hurt himself?” Jean asked.
“Yep,” they answered together.
“Just checking. I’m in for $40 and I say he faceplants.”
“Oh, that’s a good one. Ah shoulda’ said that,” Rogue clicked her tongue.
“All right, Freddy boy! Let’s show ‘em what you got!” the announcer crowed, once more getting the crowd worked up into a frenzy.
A horn sounded and the two monster trucks fired up, blowing black exhaust from the oversized pipes as they revved their engines. In a squall of tires, they launched forward in both directions, pulling each chain taunt in Dukes’ grip.
“DUKES! DUKES! DUKES! DUKES!” The crowd chanted, clapping and yelling at the teen’s display of strength. They went absolutely wild when both trucks stood up on their back wheels in a wheely, still spinning their tires in a play to overpower Dukes’ strength.
“Can’t say Ah’m not a little impressed,” Rogue admitted, watching the way Fred’s muscles contracted and grew. The boy must have some type of mutation that involves physical strength, otherwise he’d have been torn in half by now. The human body could only handle so much before muscle and tendons gave way.
As if to prove her theory, Fred jerked both chains into his body and somehow managed to lift the two trucks off the ground with the momentum, sending them flying backwards to crash into each other. The spectate sent people into an uproar, furthering Dukes’ ego even more.
"I smell a rat," Logan suddenly growled under his breath. "Stay alert. Mystique's sneakin' around here somewhere."
"No surprise there," Rogue sneered.
"You think she wants Fred?" Jean asked, keeping a sharp eye out for the shape-shifter.
"No doubt about it. Strength like that in a single mutant would be like catnip t’ her."
In the arena, Fred was still taking in the acclaim and applause, clearly enjoying the grand attention. He went to take a bow but seemingly misjudged himself, swaying dangerously before falling to the ground right on his face.
“It counts!” Jean quickly declared. “Pay up!”
“Yeah, yeah,” Rogue rolled her eyes while Logan groaned next to her. “Y’ got lucky this time, Red.”
The three watched as Fred sneered and turned his venomous gaze up at the crowd, everyone having burst into uproarious laughter at his misfortune, pointing and jeering at the teen as he lay in the dirt. He raged and slammed his fists against the ground like a toddler throwing a tantrum. It only served to make the crowd wilder.
"Boy's got a temper," Rogue murmured, sharing an uneasy look with Jean. Now she seemingly understood what Xavier had been concerned about. Fred appeared to have become notable for his feats of power, but all that fame had probably gone to his head if he reacted so poorly to mockery.
“Come on,” Logan gestured for them to get up and leave. “I’d say we’re done here.”
“What about Mystique?” Jean asked.
“I can’t smell ‘er anymore. Let’s hope she’s smart enough to leave the kid alone,” he rumbled, still eyeing the crowd skeptically. “Dukes looks to be too unpredictable for us. With strength like that, I doubt even Mystique could control him if he lost his temper on her.”
“You really think it’s a good idea to leave him here? Without even speaking to him?”
“Xavier wasn’t fully convinced Fred was a good candidate to begin with, Red,” Rogue jumped in, slipping her arm through Jean’s. “Now Ah see why. If he slips onto our radar again, we’ll give it a shot, but for now let’s blow this place an’ go home.”
As they headed for the exit, none of them witnessed the narrowed eyes spying on them from the shadows.
Bayville
Three days after returning from Texas, Rogue walked into Bayville High with Jean and Kitty, yawning and stretching her arms over her head.
“Did you even sleep last night?” Jean asked, grinning.
“You try runnin’ four training simulations in a row an’ tell meh how you feel in the mornin’,” Rogue grumbled.
“The Professor scheduled a training run for me and Kurt today after school,” Kitty mumbled. “I’m not sure I even wanna be an X-Man if it’s that crazy.”
“Don’t worry, Kitty,” Jean assured her with a giggle. “Rogue and Logan train together on a whole different level than we do. She’s just grumpy because she didn’t get her coffee this morning.”
“Ah would have if you n’ Scott hadn’t dragged meh out the door,” Rogue muttered, rubbing her eyes.
“We were running late,” Jean shrugged. “And we’re pushing it now. Kitty, you better hustle before the bell goes off.”
“I’ll see you guys at lunch,” Kitty said while waving at them, rushing off towards the Freshman lockers before the first bell rang.
“Come on, let’s go to the vending machine and get you a cup of—” Jean began, but she and Rogue both jumped when they heard a violent metallic screeching sound from the end of the hallway, both jumping at the noise before turning to see what the Hell happened.
What they saw was definitely not what they expected.
"Isn't that--?" Jean gaped.
"Yeah," Rogue sighed.
"And isn't that--"
"Yeah."
"We should probably--"
"Yeah."
Outside the main office, Fred Dukes stood over Jean’s boyfriend, Duncan, with a set of lockers in his massive hands, clearly having ripped them right off the wall, glaring and yelling incoherently down at the star Quarterback.
What in the good God had happened?
Better yet, when the Hell had Fred enrolled at Bayville!?
Duncan was obviously scared, holding up his arm to defend himself against the ragging mutant. Under different circumstances, Rogue may have laughed at the sheer horror in Duncan’s eyes, but against a mutant like Dukes, there was a chance he wouldn’t survive the encounter.
"Umm, excuse me?" Jean spoke loudly, rushing over to them with Rogue right on her heels.
Fred stopped as if someone had stunned him, the fire dying in his eyes as he slowly turned to look at them. The anger faded when his eyes locked with Jean’s.
The redhead tried to diffuse the situation with one of her award-winning smiles, “You must be new here? I'm Jean and this is Rogue. Welcome to Bayville High."
Rogue snuck a glance at Duncan and nodded her head towards the hallway while Fred was distracted, giving the boy a chance to scurry away. He took it without a second glance behind him, rushing off down the hall to no doubt whine to his buddies.
Boy didn’t even wait to see if his girl would be okay…Ah guess chivalry really is dead.
"Oh, u-uh...yeah, I am," Fred stammered, setting the lockers back down in a dented heap. "New, I mean. To school--I mean this school, n-not like school-school 'cause I...yeah, I'm new here.”
“I figured,” Jean smiled pleasantly, continuing to play aloof as she offered her hand to greet him. “What do your friends call you?”
“Never had any,” Dukes shrugged, but took her offered hand with a small tilt of his lips. “My name’s Fred. Fred Dukes."
“Well, Fred, I’m sorry about Duncan. I know he can be a jerk sometimes.”
‘And yet ya’ still date the prick’ Rogue thought blandly, crossing her arms. “Understatement.”
“I was just tryin’ to ask him where I was supposed to go,” Fred said. He put on the puppy-dog act while moving closer to Jean, his stance not going unnoticed by Rogue.
"So, did you need help figuring this out?" Jean offered kindly, reaching down to pick up Fred's schedule from the floor. "I know our school can be kind of a maze for new students."
"S-sure! I mean, umm--please," Fred stammered.
"Okay, let’s see," Jean looked over the paper and took note of the classes Fred had been assigned. "Looks like your first class is right over there, third door on the left. Okay?"
"Thanks!"
"The first day is always the roughest.”
“Speakin’ of,” Rogue interrupted, locking her arm around Jean’s. “We gotta go, Red.”
Jean smiled back at Fred as they began walking away, “We'll see you around!"
"You sure will," Fred murmured dreamily under his breath, but Rogue still heard it loud and clear, cursing to herself. She knew Fred's innocent boy act might have fooled Jean on some level but she wasn't buyin' it. She'd already seen first-hand the temper the teen had and his act wasn’t foolin' her.
'Oh Lord, that's just what we need...' she thought as Jean pulled her to class.
In English, Rogue startled awake when something poked her, lifting her head to see Scott in front of her with a pencil in hand.
Dear God, she needed some caffeine…
Scott nodded his head towards their teacher, Mr. Henrik, who was making his way up and down the rows with stacks of paper.
“Alright, class, for our next drama exercise, you’ll each be doing a scene with a partner. Please choose wisely as this assignment will count for 25% of your final grade,” Mr. Henrik explained, thumbing through the papers he was holding. “Now, everyone move to find your partner and sit together in pairs so we can hand out the scenes.”
Rogue groaned and rubbed her eyes, “A theater scene?”
“Hey, it could be worse,” Scott shrugged. “Let’s just hope he doesn’t make us recite Shakespeare or something. You okay? You look exhausted.”
“You dragged me outta’ the house before Ah could have any coffee,” she sighed, leaning against her palm. “An’ don’t dis on Shakespeare. He gave us eloquent plays with dick jokes and caddy characters.”
“Hey, you guys hear about the new kid?” Paul whispered, leaning over from the next row. “Dude is like, totally, wacko. He nearly beat up Duncan this morning.”
“What?” Scott gaped.
“Guy’s name is Duke or something. Duncan was talking about it earlier with the team, said the dude went completely nuts and ripped the lockers right off the wall!”
Rogue rolled her eyes, because of course Duncan would spread the news like wildfire to the gossip train. She let Scott and Paul chatter back and forth for a minute while she closed her eyes and wondered if she could skip the rest of the day and go home to nap. The flight home from Texas coupled with the extra training sims Logan had wanted to run had killed her. She just wanted to curl up under her blankets and sleep for a week straight.
“Didn’t you guys go see someone like that in Texas?” Scott murmured to her, turning in his seat to lay his head down on his arms atop Rogue’s desk. Their arms were squished together and made a good barrier for a private conversation.
“Fred Dukes. The one an’ only,” she muttered. “Boy’s got a temper the size a’ Texas.”
“Like ripping lockers off of walls kinda temper?” he joked.
“Ah’m worried Mystique’s got her claws in ‘im. Why else would he show up here?”
“Did you guys talk to him?”
“No. Believe meh, Scott, he’s dangerous. Ah think he might have some form of IED. If nothin’ else, he’s not all there social wise,” she whispered, tapping her temple.
“Mental regression?” he asked.
“Ah’m not so sure he progressed to begin with…”
“You think his development was stunted?”
“Boy ain’t livin’ up to the standards of an academic start, let’s just put it that way, sugah.”
“Have we all found partners?” Mr. Henrik asked suddenly, eyeing the class. “We’ll start with Paul and Taryn. You will be playing Jim and Laura from The Glass Menagerie.”
“Cool,” Paul smirked.
“Steven and Lily, you will be playing Wesley and Buttercup from The Princess Bride.”
“Awesome!” Lily squealed, high fiving her partner.
“Aw man, that one would have been sweet,” Scott muttered.
“You just wanna play Wesley as a pirate,” Rogue snickered.
“Who doesn’t!”
“Alan and Blake, you two will be playing Tullus and Marcius from Coriolanus,” Mr. Henrik continued. “Judy and Daniel, you will be playing Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice.”
“Oh, Mr. Darcy,” Judy said in a fake posh, accent, making the class giggle.
“Settle down, settle,” Mr. Henrik rebuked, making his way over to the last row. “And lastly, we have Roy and Jack, you will be acting as Benvolio and Mercutio, Romeo and Juliet. And that leaves Scott and Rogue, which means you two will be doing Shakespeare’s Henry V, as Henry and Katherine.”
Scott sighed, glaring petulantly back at Rogue’s teasing smirk. “Inconceivable…”
"I hate Shakespeare!" Scott groaned against the lunch table.
"Quit ya' whinin', Boy Scout," Rogue smirked, taking a sip of her soda. "It ain't like we gotta recite the whole play."
“What’s wrong with you?” Kitty asked Scott as she and Jean arrived at their table with trays, sitting down across from them.
“He’s just testy ‘cause he didn’t get to play a swashbucklin’ pirate,” Rogue snickered.
“You’re just jealous because I would have got to play a pirate and you would have been a princess,” Scott said.
“Touche.”
"Like, is that the humongous guy you guys went to see in Texas?" Kitty gaped, nodding her head at Fred who had entered the cafeteria.
“Yeah, that’s Fred,” Jean pointed out. “Fred Dukes. Newest mutant at Bayville High.”
"Steer clear, Kitty," Rogue warned. "We don't know nothin' about the boy yet."
"Except that he can toss monster trucks around like tonka toys," Jean giggled.
"He can do that?" Kitty gasped, shivering uncomfortably. "Like, totally freaky!"
"Don't let 'im hear you say that," Rogue murmured, taking a bite of her food.
"More of that bad attitude you were talking about?" Scott asked seriously.
"Bad enough to make Logan look like a cuddly teddy bear," she said, eyeing Fred at the kitchen line-up as he demanded more food from the lunch lady.
Inconsiderate brat, is more like it…
“That boy has no manners,” she muttered under her breath.
“So what scene are you doing for Mr. Henrik’s class?” Kurt asked, sliding closer to Scott.
“Shakespeare,” Scott said, showing the elf his paper assignment. “Henry V. Thrilling…”
“A romantic scene? That’s a weird combination for you two, ja?” Kurt chuckled, winking at Rogue.
“Ah’m expectin’ to be swept off mah feet, blue boy,” Rogue stated with faux seriousness. "Ya' betta' be ready ta' out-Romeo Romeo, baby."
Kurt and Scott burst into laughter, not noticing the hulking figure walking behind them. From beside their table, none of them saw Fred pause to glare down at the two boys giggling to each other. His tray was over-filled to the brim with every food option for that day and that did not escape Kitty’s notice.
“Man, he really loves to eat, huh?” the valley girl whispered, casting Fred’s food tray a brief look of disgust. “He doesn’t even have a plate!”
“Maybe his mutation affects his eating habits?” Kurt offered with a shrug.
“His power is superhuman strength and energy absorption of a sorts,” Rogue broke in. “Ain’t no reason for that boy to be that big other than an unchecked compulsion for gluttony. Dukes did that to himself, not his mutation.”
Suddenly, the sound of table legs snapping and loud thump echoed through the room, followed by a tray of food flying across the lunchroom, only for said tray to slam right into Duncan Mathews’ face.
"Oh boy..." Jean sighed, realizing instantly what had happened.
From the broken table, Fred sat on the floor completely covered in leftovers, locking eyes with Duncan as the football quarterback glared at him. The other players seated at the table all stood up to act as back-up while Duncan stormed forward.
“Bad move, Blob boy,” he growled, wiping vanilla pudding from his cheek.
"Well," Rogue sighed, pushing her tray away. "So much for lunch."
“I think this is about to get seriously messy,” Scott said.
“Yeah, like that hasn’t already happened,” Kitty snickered, watching the unfolding drama.
From the floor, Fred was already starting to have a meltdown as he struggled to get up off the ground, slipping and sliding on the spilt food beneath his feet. Students surrounding them began to laugh, even going so far as to point like grade-schoolers.
“Don’t laugh at me!” Fred roared, snatching up handfuls of food to chuck at Duncan and his goons. “Stop laughing!”
And of course, the second food starts flying, some idiot decided to yell ‘Food fight!’ and everybody and their dog feels the need to get in on the action!
“Oh, for the love a—” Rogue snapped, catching a hamburger to the face. From behind her, she could hear students rushing out of the room to escape the chaos. People were slipping and crashing into each other in the pandemonium. The whole lunchroom looked like a food bomb had gone off!
“Ew! Like—gross!” Kitty squeaked, wiping off the gravy she’d just been splashed with. “I’m out!”
Rogue and Jean watched the brunette phase through the floor, no doubt to run to the bathroom to try and clean gravy out of her bangs.
“Ya’ wanna stop this nonsense before the vending machines are implicated?” Rogue deadpanned, looking at Jean.
“Yeah, we should probably stop this,” Jean agreed.
The two headed over to where Fred and Duncan were duking it out, throwing everything and anything they could get their hands on at each other. Food was no longer the only weapons being used in their private war.
“Fred—Fred, please calm down!” Jean implored, holding up her hands to try and gain the giant’s attention. Said giant had grabbed a table and was swinging it around like a gorilla! “Fred stop!”
“Mein Gott!” Kurt gaped, bampfing in next to Rogue as the last of the students vacated the room. “Such anger!”
“Ya’ tellin’ meh,” she grumbled, following Jean as she rushed forward. “Red, watch the floor!”
Too late…
Jean’s foot landed on a large glob of something green spread on the floor, sending her sprawling backwards to slide right into Fred’s line of fire. The redhead was still trying to call out to him to stop but the beastly boy was too far gone it seemed.
“Fred stop!” Jean pleaded, holding her arms up to shield herself.
Rogue launched herself forward and stood over Jean’s prone form, slamming her palms against the upturned table right as it came down on them, food scraps plastering themselves all over her. She groaned at the sheer weight of Fred’s strength, her arms aching at the strain, but she managed to keep him from hitting either of them with it.
“Dammit, Dukes, knock it off!” she shouted, knowing the boy was too far gone to even realize who he was fighting anymore. Her pleas were answered when the table was suddenly broken into a hundred pieces by a blast from Scott’s beams from behind.
“Put it down, Fred,” Jean stressed while Rogue lowered her arms. They could hear Scott rushing over to them with Kurt, coming to stand by their side.
Fred’s eyes opened and he blinked dumbly, looking around in surprise before his gaze landed on Jean huddled on the floor at his feet.
“Wha--Jean?” he questioned.
“You heard her, big guy,” Scott commanded. “Drop it and back off. Or if you’re still itching for a fight, why don’t you try me?”
Fred’s eyes narrowed at the other boy dangerously and everyone tensed, believing he would lash out again, before Jean darted up and got between them.
“Back off, Scott. I can handle this,” she eased them both. “Everything’s fine. Right, Fred?”
The giant mutant sniffled and wiped his face, “They shouldn’t have laughed at me!”
“No. They shouldn’t,” Rogue said, leveling a glare at the taller boy. “No one should ever laugh at anotha’ like that, but that ain’t an excuse to trash school property.”
As though just realizing the severity of what he’d done, Fred glanced around them and took in the chaotic state of the lunchroom, but rather than take responsibility, he merely shrugged and crossed his arms, “They started it.”
‘Lord give meh strength…’ Rogue thought, closing her eyes.
“Don’t you guys have to get to class or something?” Jean spoke up, once again trying to keep bloodshed from occurring while subtly looking towards the doors. She clearly wanted to handle this situation herself without anyone else interfering. "Rogue, do you wanna head home to get cleaned up, maybe?"
Knowing Jean was giving her an out, Rogue quickly weighed her options. To be perfectly honest, she didn't feel comfortable leaving Jean alone with Fred, not after the tantrum he'd just thrown, but she didn't have any spare clothes to change into and she was not spending the next three hours with mashed potatoes all over her.
"Call if ya' need meh," she said quietly, turning to follow Scott and Kurt towards the door. "Ah'm takin' off for the day, Red. Do you need a ride home?”
“I'll get a ride with Scott," Jean stressed, eyeing the doorway where the red eyed mutant stood waiting.
Rogue gave a subtle nod before heading towards the door, leaving Jean to deal with Dukes however she saw fit. If Jean was confident she could handle the big guy, Rogue would leave her to it. She wasn’t thrilled about leaving her team to deal with the messy fallout though.
"You guys weren't kidding about the bad attitude," Scott said, following Rogue towards their lockers. “That was one heck of a power trip.”
“Yeah, and Ah’m bettin’ our trouble ain’t over yet. Ah don’t like the way Dukes is eyein’ Jean. Keep an eye on her, Scott," she stressed, grabbing her bag from her locker before shutting and locking it.
“You gonna be okay?” he asked.
“…just keep an eye on our girl.”
Back in the lunchroom, Jean was sitting on one of the few clean chairs left, trying to coax Fred into talking to her. It was clear the large mutant had issues, but she knew sometimes a friendly ear could do wonders.
“Do you know what set you off?” she asked.
Fred sneered, looking off to the side while crossing his arms. “They laughed. They always laugh! When they do it’s like I just, I kinda explode inside, you know?”
“I understand, Fred,” she said carefully. “But we all have to learn how to control our emotions. Giving into your anger won’t ever solve anything.”
“Makes me feel better,” he muttered.
“For a time, maybe,” she agreed. “But it doesn’t solve anything. Does that make sense?”
“No,” he shrugged.
Jean faltered for a moment, biting her cheek while trying to come up with a way to get through to the other mutant. She knew that Fred obviously hadn’t had the best upbringing, and his social skills were lackluster at best, but she also knew that everyone needed a friend and Fred clearly hadn’t ever had one.
If there was one thing Jean Gray was good at, it was kindness.
“Listen, Fred,” she urged. “You can always get training?”
“Yeah right,” he scoffed. “Where?”
“I learned to control my gifts at the Institute where I live,” she explained with a grin. “You could do the same if you put your mind to it.”
“Gifts?” he pondered, his eyes widened when he understood her meaning. “You mean you have powers too? What are they!”
“Well, umm—we usually don’t perform them in public,” she abated his eagerness gently.
“Then how do I know you’re not just lying to me?” he demanded, narrowing his eyes at her.
Oh boy…
Looking around at the empty room, Jean briefly wondered why she’d asked the others to leave her alone.
“Maybe it – couldn’t – hurt,” she conceded, offering him a small smile while she looked around for something to move. There was no one else around and if it helped instill some trust between them, then so be it. “Watch this.”
Focusing her power on one of the fallen chairs, Jean slowly levitated the vibrating chair before sending it flying at the opposite wall. The resounding crash of it breaking against the concrete wall was not what she’d intended, though.
‘Oops’ she groaned internally. She still needed to work on speed.
“Whoa!” Fred cheered with excitement. “You could really pound people with a power like that!”
“No, no!” she backtracked, waving her hands. This was so not going how she planned! “That’s what we learn not to do. That’s what the Institute is all about, Fred, control. I’d love to take you there sometime so you can see what it’s all about.”
“Control? I got plenty of control,” he bragged, jerking his thumb at his chest. “You should have seen my show! I can do things nobody else can with power like mine.”
‘Believe me, I saw plenty…’ Jean thought. “Well, I’d still like to bring you to the Institute if you’re up for it someday. I’m sure Professor Xavier would like to meet you.”
“I’ll think about it,” he said uninterestedly.
Better than nothing, I suppose.
Waving, Jean slowly headed for the door where she could see Scott waiting for her. “Okay, I’ll see you later then! We should both get to class.”
“Right,” he nodded, silently watching both Jean and Scott walk out with Scott walking arm to arm next to the redhead. The would-be couple had no idea the insane schemes running through the large mutant’s head, and all of them revolved around the pretty redhead.
Back at the X-Mansion…
Logan had just finished his afternoon work out when Rogue stormed in the front door, cursing under her breath and covered in an assortment of mushed food – was that ambrosia salad? – tossing her soiled jacket to the floor.
"What happened to you?” he grinned, unable to resist chuckling at her fury.
"Dukes happened," she grumbled, passing him to hustle up the stairs towards her bedroom.
The second her words registered, Logan turned on his heel and trailed after her. "He was at the school? He's a student there now?"
"As of today, yeah. M'ah guess? Mystique hooked anotha' one in her net. Why else would he be here?"
"Makes sense," Logan agreed. "But that don't explain why you look like ya' went ten rounds with a Thanksgiving dinner."
"What on Earth is all this fuss I’m hearing?” Charles asked from behind them, having just come from the elevator to see what had happened. “My goodness, darling, what in the world happened?”
“Fred Dukes happened. Apparently the kid now goes to Bayville High,” Logan shrugged, crossing his arms.
“He’s here? In Bayville?” Charles questioned, seeing Rogue nod. “This does complicate things, doesn’t it. Mystique must have recruited him. Though I doubt she understands the magnitude of her endeavor.”
“She thinks she can control ‘im,” Logan surmised.
“Bout like tryin’ ta’ put a leash on a Great White shark…” Rogue muttered. “In a matter of less than five hours, he managed to rip a set a’ lockers off the wall, threaten another student with bodily harm, start a riot in the lunchroom that ended in pudding warfare, and he nearly squashed Jean with a table…an’ the day ain’t even over yet.”
She went into detail about the drama that unfolded in both the hallway with Duncan that morning and during lunch period. From trying to use lockers as a weapon to wielding a table like it was a mace, she explained how Fred’s reactions were extreme for any altercation.
Charles listened intently and folded his hand, humming, “I agree with your theory that Mr. Dukes may be suffering from an undiagnosed form of IED, but that does not excuse such behavior. It’s a wonder no one was hurt. I’ll talk with Jean after school and get her opinion as well.”
“You do you. Now Ah got a date with mah shower luffa,” she droaned, turning on her heel and walking towards her room.
“Better suit up afterwards, Stripes,” Logan smirked. “Yer helpin’ me with the Elf and Half-Pint today."
Bayville High School
As soon as the final bell rang for the day, all the students of Bayville High made a mad dash for the exit.
“Dude, I can’t believe Mr. Henrik wants us to do play scenes. It’s freakin’ English, not Theater!” Paul complained next to Scott at their lockers. “And we’ve got less than a week to memorize it and then act it out in front of people? It blows, man.”
“At least you guys got a good scene,” Scott said. “Better than Shakespeare, dude.”
“Scott, come on! Kitty’s waiting and I already saw Jean leave!” Kurt ushered as he ran passed them, bag thrown over his shoulder. “I do not want to make Logan wait.”
Knowing exactly what had the blue mutant so worked up, Scott quickly grabbed his things and followed suit. Outside the school, he looked around the parking lot for Jean or any sign of her vibrant, red hair, but there was no sign of her?
“You sure you saw her leave already? She was supposed to ride home with us,” Scott said, meeting Kurt and Kitty at the car.
“I did! I swear!” Kurt exclaimed. “She probably got a ride with Taryn?”
“Like, we gotta go, Scott,” Kitty urged him. “If we’re late for practice then Mr. Logan’s gonna make us, like, run 10 miles or something!”
“Yeah, dude! Let’s go!”
Scott worried his bottom lip and looked around the parking lot again, trying to catch sight of any sign of Jean or Taryn. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for Jean to ride with her friend, but today he’d figured she’d have waited for them. Taryn’s car was gone also.
“Alright, alright,” he gave in. “We’re gone.”
From behind the school, no one saw the collapsed scaffolding nor the overturned dumpster covered in building materials. The cause of said destruction? One oversized mutant boy who couldn’t take the word ‘no’ for an answer from the unconscious redhead cradled in his arms.
Thankfully, Fred Dukes would get a nasty surprise of his own when his “new friend” awoke and forced him to see that she was not as helpless as he believed her to be.
X-Mansion
“That’s it, half-pint, keep the ball away from the elf,” Logan coached from the sidelines of the training field. He was going easy on the youngins, letting them play more so than train. This exercise was an easy one that let the kids practice hand and eye coordination as well as evasive maneuvers. The only goal was to keep the football away from the other players opposing you.
“Watch where you’re runnin’, Kit-Kat!” Rogue yelled.
“Concentrate, kid, or you’ll---” Logan cut off, watching Kitty faceplant straight into a tree. “Yeah…that.”
Kurt lunged for the fallen ball and teleported to an upper branch, grinning down at his fallen teammate. “It’s mine now!”
“Watch where you’re portin’, elf,” Logan stressed, just in time for the branch to snap and Kurt to tumble towards the forest floor.
“Ahh!” Kurt cried, flailing his arms wildly.
“Teleport, ya’ dingbat!” Rogue exclaimed.
Kitty, unfortunately, took Kurt’s plight and jumped up right in time to snatch the ball from him and grab his tail, jerking him upwards enough to mildly break his fall. The result ended with Kitty laughing hysterically at Kurt’s yelp of pain!
“Don’t pull his tail, Kitty!”
Logan blew out a breath while rubbing his eyes, “Not exactly what I had in mind. What would you even call that?”
“Innovation?” Charles chuckled as Rogue went to try and pry the two young teens apart. “Or would you prefer adaptation? It is what they’re here to learn.”
“I call it playin’ around.”
“Professor! Logan!” Scott called out, walking over to them from the mansion. “Have either of you seen Jean anywhere? She didn’t ride home with us and I can’t find her anywhere inside.”
“I haven’t heard from her, no,” Charles replied. “Hold on a moment.”
They each watched Charles close his eyes to reach out telepathically, silently looking for the redhead. It wasn’t like her to simply disappear without some word of where she would be. With all the excitement they’d had that day, it was better to be safe than sorry.
Charles’ eyes suddenly snapped open and he grunted in pain, images flashing through his mind portraying a dark room lit by only candles, a dirty floor, pain – regret – fear coursing through him and the image of Fred across the room making him incredibly uneasy. It all painted a grisly picture and he immediately knew what must have happened to his student.
“Oh, dear Lord.”
Meanwhile...
“This is gonna be the best night you ever had!” Fred proclaimed, stuffing a cloth napkin down Jean’s shirt collar. “Dinner, dancing, it’ll be amazing!”
While the Blob was ruminating their imaginary romance, Jean was busy regretting her life choices. For starters, she hadn’t expected to be bombarded in the parking lot at school by the large mutant, much less be accosted like she was the one in the wrong. Even after she’d tried to explain to Fred that she had other responsibilities to see to after school, he’d taken it as a personal rejection. It was only after he’d grabbed her wrist and refused to let her leave that she knew she’d underestimated his irrationality.
Waking up in a dark room surrounded by candles and tied to a chair with metal piping?
Not how she planned on spending her evening...
“Fred,” she tried once more. “This is all wrong. You can’t force someone to like you.”
“Why not?” he argued. “I’m stronger than everyone else so I can make anybody do anything I want.”
“Being kind usually works best,” she sighed under her breath. “Look, Fred, physical strength does not equate to emotional maturity. You can’t force people to be friends with you. That isn’t friendship, that’s coercion. It’s wrong.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about!” he denied, turning away from her like a petulant child.
“Why? Because I don’t agree with you? Or because you know this is wrong and refuse to acknowledge it?” she challenged.
“You got it easy! You’re pretty and normal looking and I’m not, I’m the Blob! No one ever wanted to be my friend! They’d all laugh at me and call me names! Or call me a monster just ‘cause I’m stronger than all them. Well, it ain’t my fault! I never meant to hurt any of ‘em, I was just a kid!” he raged, glaring down at her. “Nobody understands!”
A picture began to form and Jean was bombarded by unwanted memories of Fred’s childhood. A large, overweight child who was too big and ridiculed for it. A boy who lost his parents early on and was raised by his grandparents, both too old to try and raise more babies, giving little Freddie cake and sweets because that was easier than dealing with him. Early school years where Fred hurt other kids unintentionally, but he’d grab them too hard or pull on their arms too harshly, resulting in multiple expulsions and suspensions. Rage turmoiled into hate and that same hate festered into pride, resulting in a young man who only knew how to get what he wanted through sheer force.
It was incredibly sad when she thought about it…
It was clear that Fred grew up in an ignorant society, probably viewing his unnatural strength as a pariah and excluding him socially in the most important developmental years of his childhood. His grandparents most likely didn’t want him but were bound by some familial pride, a common occurrence in the south. It would have been shameful for them to give him up, even though his life most likely would have turned out much differently if they had. She’s seen the memory of Fred as a child roughly shove his grandmother when he was denied a candy bar he wanted, catching the fear in her eyes right before she was knocked backwards in the tiny grocery store they’d been at. That may have been the turning point for young Fred, seeing others fear him and in return being given what he wanted.
“Fred,” she whispered. “I know you were treated unfairly because of your mutation, and that’s never okay…but when we don’t practice controlling our gifts, when we give in to them - when we refuse to take responsibility for our actions – then we have no one to blame but ourselves. We have the option to make choices just like everyone else, Fred, and you choose to do this.”
Her words, though true, only served to anger the large mutant even more and Jean knew that there was no talking Dukes down. He would not listen to reason because he couldn’t understand it, and as sad as that was, she knew physical force was the most likely way to get through to him.
Now if she could just find a way to get out of the bonds holding her hostage…
‘Red! Logan and Ah are here, just hold on! The others are comin’!’ Rogue’s voice suddenly echoed through Jean’s head, catching her friend’s projected thought.
‘Rogue, he’s too far gone. I don’t think talking is going to work on this guy’ Jean projected, watching Fred pace across from her. ‘He’s close to blowing up again. He won’t listen to me.’
‘Then let’s give ‘em a tussle. Incoming!’
Just then, the steel doors were pried open by none other than Wolverine, claws extended and ready to tear Blob apart if need be. Behind him, Rogue stood at the ready, glaring daggers at Dukes who was still trying to understand what he was even seeing.
“Wha—but how?” Fred stuttered, clenching his fists as Logan advanced on him. “You can’t be here!”
“Tough shit, Bub,” Logan growled dangerously. “I don’t take kindly to my friends bein’ held against their will! Now I’m about to give you a real fight.”
Logan pounced on their opponent while Rogue rushed passed the two brawlers to help Jean. She slid to a stop behind the redhead and offered her a small grin.
“Not mah first choice for a romantic date,” she said cheekily, working to see how the Hell Blob tied the metal pipes. “Candles are a nice touch but metal bondage ain’t mah forte.”
“Me either,” Jean groaned. “Can you get them off?”
Rogue gripped the metal and focused, briefly thinking how nice it would be to have a certain someone’s power right about now. Ripping the twisted pipe with her own strength, she managed to get it loose enough to slide off Jean from over her head, careful to avoid hurting the redhead even more.
“Ya’ gonna have some bruises for sure, Red,” she murmured, gently rubbing Jean’s upper arms.
“Yeah, well—” Jean was cut off by Logan’s vicious roar and Fred’s violent yell, the sound of metal crashing against the wall bursting through their conversation.
Rogue whipped around to see the large propane tank now blocking the entrance and Logan fighting to escape Fred’s hold. The mountain of a mutant was barely able to hold onto the wriggling feral, his eyes clearly showing an equal amount of anger and fear while fighting the older mutant. She knew exactly what it felt like to battle the Wolverine, and she had no ill feelings about the damage Logan had already caused to the big boy.
“You won’t take her!” Fred screamed, still trying to hold onto Logan’s flailing arms to avoid those sharp blades. “Jean’s my friend!”
“My friend, I do not think that word means what you think it means,” Rogue deadpanned in her best Inigo Montoya impersonation.
“Think again, Fred!” Jean called out, standing behind Rogue while glaring over at Dukes. “We are not friends. Friends don’t treat each other like this. They help each other! They’re my friends and you’re hurting them!”
With that, she used her telekinesis to throw a filing cabinet at him to try and make him release Logan. Her attack enraged him, making him scream obnoxiously loud as he smacked the cabinet away with Logan.
“Do I look like a baseball bat!?” Logan snarled, swiping his claws just close enough to Fred’s face to make him rear back far enough for Logan to swing his legs up and kick the massive boy under the jaw. The resounding blow knocked Fred backwards and he was forced to release his grip.
Logan flipped backwards and landed on his feet, shaking out the pain radiating up his arms from the harsh hold. He knew he’d be sore later…
Fred, meanwhile, was stomping his feet and glaring hatefully at Jean, “Nobody respects me! You’re just like everyone else! You pretended to be my friend--!”
“Oh, put a damn sock in it!” Rogue interrupted his tantrum, storming forward with fire in her eyes. “Ah am sick of listenin’ to you bitch and complain and scream like a toddler who didn’t get the toy he wanted! You think you’re the only one who’s ever been bullied? Cry meh a goddamn river and get the fuck over it!”
Fred actually took a few steps back as Rogue advanced on him, removing both her gloves while she did so.
“You’re damn well old enough to know the difference between right and wrong, and just because ya’ had a rough childhood, it sure as Hell doesn’t give you the right to do whatever the fuck ya’ want. You are nothin’ but an overgrown, whinin’ crybaby who resorts to violence when ya’ don’t get what ya’ want. Ah don’t see a young man standin’ in front a’ meh, Ah see a whiney little shit that’s never learned to take NO for a goddamn answer!” she berated furiously. “Ya’ wanna act like a villain? Then ya’ gonna be treated like one, Blob, an’ it’s time you got a taste a’ your own medicine!”
“And what are you gonna do, skunk-head?” he sneered, trying to keep up his façade. “I’m stronger than everybody, including you!”
Rogue growled and lept up quicker than Dukes could react, wrapping her legs around his large neck while slamming her hands against his face, “Mah power is your power!”
Any gusto the giant had left instantly vanished when he felt his body betray him, fear coursing through his veins as he was unable to even breathe, unable to move - unable to even scream – and the last thing he felt before everything went dark was a painful blow to his stomach.
“You’ve done enough damage for one day,” Rogue said lowly, just before delivering a final kick to Blob’s midsection to fully take him down. She huffed while watching his body collapse motionless to the floor, knowing the boy would be in for one Hell of a migraine later on.
“Blob you son of a---! Oh—okay then,” Scott and the others came rushing in, but one look at the scene and they all realized they were a tad late to the party. “I guess you guys have everything handled?”
“Like, what happened in here?” Kitty asked skeptically, taking note of the candles and weird atmosphere. “Did that weirdo seriously kidnap you for a date or something?”
"Boy can't even tell platonic manners from romantic love," Rogue muttered in annoyance, exhaustion creeping into her tone. "Probably been alone so long that jumpin' the first girl t' show any positive emotion towards 'im seemed like a good idea t' 'im. Don’t make any of it okay, though."
“Let’s get you home, Stripes,” Logan said as he came up beside her, hauling her limp arm across his shoulders to help her stand. “You’re two steps from collapsing.”
“You try absorbin’ a ton a’ lard an’ see how you feel,” she groaned, letting the feral take most of her weight. “Where’s Jean? She okay?”
“Boy Scout’s got ‘er. She’s just fine,” he assured.
“I’m right here, Rogue,” Jean said from behind them, smiling next to Scott. “You saved the day, as usual.”
“Alright, yay, go team,” Rogue cheered quietly. “…can we go home now?”
Scott smirked and nodded, “As you wish.”
“Cheeseball.”
“I don’t believe it!” Mystique growled, pacing the length of her office furiously. “That bumbling fool, I never should have brought him here. He could ruin everything I’ve worked for.”
After Blob’s senseless abduction to try and shanghai Ms. Gray into friendship - or whatever the Hell he’d been attempting - Mystique had been forced to pick up the pieces and smooth the whole thing over. The idiot boy had been arrested and spent the night in jail, seemingly smart enough to know better than to try and break out. She’s spoken to the arresting officers and even the Judge himself, pleading insanity on Blob’s behalf to get him released. Thankfully, Jean had refused to press charges, and her own account had only served to prove Blob’s mental disposition.
They were lucky…this time.
It seemed that Xavier’s unending sensitivity towards strays had also worked in their favor because the Professor had used his own influence to aid in Blob’s release.
The sentimental old fool.
“Stupidity like that could cost us everything,” she snapped under her breath, wondering for the millionth time that night what to do with the oversized teen.
“For once, we agree completely, Mystique,” a dark voice echoed from behind her.
Dread immediately clouded the blue mutant’s eyes and she turned on her heel, gazing up at the mutant she feared above all others with trepidation. The windows to her office burst open and the metal items scattered across her desk took flight, spiraling around her like a mini tornado, backing her against the bookshelf.
“T-the boy was careless, Sir, but I—” she attempted to say, only to be stunned silent when her letter opener was suddenly leveled at her throat.
“As you said, stupidity can cost us everything. I’m beginning to wonder if I, too, have made a foolish decision by leaving you in charge of recruiting young mutants for our cause,” he rumbled with disdain. “The boy is a loose cannon. Leash him, Mystique, or his next blunder will be on your head.”
Shivering at the feeling of cool metal pressed against her jugular, Mystique nodded in accord. She knew better than to ever question his word. There was a distinct reason the powerful mutant was revered by many and commanded his followers without question, and it was not only because of his abilities.
The man was pure, power incarnate.
“Our ultimate goal is on the cusp of completion, and I will not tolerate the misconduct of wretches under your watch,” he growled, letting all the metal in the room drop lifelessly to the floor. “No foul-ups.”
Swallowing, she bowed her head and tried to hide the tremble in her voice, acting as the loyal acolyte he expected her to be. To do otherwise would mean expulsion and she could not afford to lose his favor.
She would not fail again.
“Y-yes, as you wish…Magneto.”