Epilogue
“So we’ve concluded that the Jeep is a little crowded with six people,” Pietro said as they spilled out in front of the Brotherhood House.
“Sorry,” said Fred, automatically.
“Hey, kid, wake up,” Tabby said, poking the boy they had rescued. He had conked out almost as soon as they got out of the tunnels, and Lance had shrugged and carried him to the jeep.
He stirred and sat bolt upright, attempting to flinch away from everyone around him- made more difficult by the fact that he was in the middle of the group.
“Hey, give the guy some space,” said Todd, hopping onto the fence.
“Sorry,” the kid said automatically. “Sorry. Habit.”
“Don’t worry about it,” said Lance. “Believe me, of everyone you’re likely to meet, we get it.”
“You got me out of there,” the boy said. “Thank you. So much. I don’t… I can’t even.” His voice broke.
“Take it easy,” said Lance. “We were there to break shit. Rescuing you was just a nice bonus.”
“What’s your name?” Asked Fred.
“Peter. Peter Quinn. But people used to call me Peeper. I, uh. I can see really well. That’s my power. Like, microscope, telescope, X-ray good.”
“You can see through shit?” Tabby asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Yeah. I mean no! Not like that! I wouldn’t!”
“Yeah,” deadpanned Todd from the fence. “That’d be almost as bad as blowing a guy up in the shower.”
“You have anyone looking for you back in New York? Or anywhere else?” Lance asked.
“I guess we probably should have figured that out before we drove him out of town,” said Tabby, wryly.
“No. No. I’ve got no one.”
Lance looked at the others. “Well, now you do. Pietro, make up the couch for him, will you? We’ll take you over to Xavier’s in the morning, get McCoy to check you out.”
“I uh… I’ve kinda got a thing about doctors,” Peter said.
“No kidding,” said Tabby. “Don’t worry. Hank’s basically a big teddy bear. Come on, kid, let’s get you something to eat.”
Lance meanwhile, was glancing across the street. “I’ll be right in,” he said. “I’ve got to take care of something.”
***
“You did the right thing calling us,” Daisy said, stepping out of the treeline as Lance reached her side of the street. “I mean, not the right thing, which would have been calling us in the first place, but not the least right thing.”
“Does the fact that Fury sent you mean that he’s keeping this off the books?” Lance asked.
“Only your involvement in it. Trust me, we’ll be wrapping up everyone we can prove is involved with this. And those papers you left us will be a big help.”
“I’d hurry if, I were Fury,” Lance said. “I had Pietro run by the X-mansion and give them a copy of everything, too. He said Logan took off almost right away.”
Daisy shook her head. “Just what we need,” she muttered. “Listen. Be careful. It’ll take awhile to round up everyone involved, and in the meantime, you’ve probably made some serious enemies.”
Lance just laughed. “What else is new?”
***
“Will you be approaching them directly?”
“Not just yet. I don’t want to show them the strings they’re dancing on unless it’s absolutely necessary” The woman in white smiled as she toyed with the chess piece. “I take it my audition was satisfactory?”
“Fisk’s operations have suffered a substantial setback.” The man across from her, in an antiquated coat and a truly fearsome set of muttonchops smiled back. “His bid for membership will be declined. And it cost you nothing more than a postage stamp. Yes- I believe you are exactly the type of woman we can do business with. Welcome to the Inner Circle, Ms. Frost. Or, should I say, welcome, to our new White Queen?”