HOME | DD

Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

By early morning Adam, Shaw, Salena, and Arieannah were all getting into uniform and doing some final planning for their mission that day. Salena was nervous as this would be the first time she’d be in the field since she arrived with Justice a few years back. “Hey Salena it’ll be okay. We got this covered.”, Adam patted her shoulder as he zipped up his uniform. “I know. This is just, it feels like a big mission to send just the four of us.”, she explained. “We don’t question The Demon King’s orders.”, Shaw commented glancing to Salena. He liked the girl well enough, she was dating his cousin Gregory. But to verbalize a doubt in Azazel’s orders was cause for Azazel to take action against the individual responsible. “I know. And I’m not doubting him. It’s just the FOH plans to bomb the UN. It feels big.”, Salena sighed shrugging a little her monarch butterfly wings fluttering every so slightly. “We don’t need a big team because our job is to just to add to the casualty count. We aren’t trying to stop the bombing. The X-Men will be trying to do that.”, Arie explained. Salena nodded. “Alright so we just go in, make more trouble and just fight the X-men who will be trying to stop it.”, Salena agreed. “Good, glad you see it our way. Let’s get in some final training and go over the mission a final time before we head out.”, Shaw concluded leading the small team into the backyard of the Academy to spar a little.
Landon, as usual, was the first to wake out at the Manhattan hour. He quietly crept out bed, not wanting to disturb the peaceful rest of Rachel, getting dressed into some workout gear to go hit the MDR for his morning training. He paused leaning giving Rachel a soft kiss. “I love you so much.”, he whispered before leaving and heading downstairs. He ran his dojo session, sparing against a hologram of Logan. With his training session wrapped up he shut down the MDR walking back into the house to the kitchen grabbing a water before starting to fix some pancakes and bacon. He figured the team would be hungry and as the first one up he might as well make sure they were fed. While he was cooking Inola and Ororo had woken up and crept downstairs in their pajamas. The pair tilted their heads staring at Landon’s bare back as he stood at the stove in his track shorts, his sweaty shirt having been tossed after his session. “Whoa…”, Inola softly whispered glancing to Ororo. “Wonder if bossman looks that good without a shirt.”, she quietly smiled. Ororo covered her mouth to stop a laugh. But Landon still heard them. “Morning girls.”, Landon shook his head flipping a pancake. “Um sorry. Morning Landon.”, Ororo greeted walking closer with Inola. “To answer your question Inola, Merrick’s broader built than me and only has one tattoo over his heart for Faelan.”, Landon smirked looking to the pair. “Good to know. So um you have a lot of ink…”, Inola commented taking a seat at the counter with Ororo. “Indeed I do. I’ve had tattoos since I was thirteen. Started with my crow and raven which represent my parents. My dad’s code name was Crow and my mom has a seeing eye raven. This way I know they are always looking over my shoulder so I don’t screw up.”, he started to explain taking off the pancakes and starting a new batch.
“Nice. And the rest?”, Inola asked intrigued. “The tree of life is just what it is. It’s to represent my life, where I come from and where I’m going.”, he continued. “The back piece is the Meddling Kids’ logo. That was my band in high school. The guitar is Rose’s, the bass is Cora Lee’s and the sticks are mine. It’s there so I know that no matter where I roam, and what trouble I find myself in my best friend Rose and my little sister Cora Lee will always have my back. The zodiac represent my friends ranging from Lily down to Hope Summers.”, he continued turning to the counter setting two plates with pancakes and bacon in front of the girls. “The arabic on my chest means ‘joy’. Which Rachel’s middle name is Farah, which means joy. It’s there to represent her and the joy she brings into my heart.”, he explained pointing to the word. “Whoa deep. You’re the hopeless romantic of the family aren’t ya?”, Inola teased starting to pour syrup on her pancakes handing the syrup to Ororo. “Oh you want hopeless romantic ask him how he proposed.”, Nathan commented walking into the kitchen followed by Stephan. Stephan smiled pausing to give Ororo a kiss on the cheek before taking a seat at the counter. Ororo smiled looking at Stephan. “Good morning.”, she smiled. “Morning boys. I’ll have some more pancakes ready shortly.”, Landon nodded looking to Nathan and Stephan. “Now the dragon is my version of Nazri. Nazri is a white ice dragon that is bonded to Rachel. You’ll see for yourself when he decides to show himself. Then my legs I’ve got my sax and fiery halo for my jazz band Blaze Halo and then the crown for Columbia university. When something happens again I want to celebrate and acknowledge I’ll get my next ink.”, Landon concluded talking about his tattoos. Inola chuckled. “Hmm so at least you have tales to tell and they mean something. So what’s this about your proposal?”, Inola smiled eating.
“That...well I knew I wanted to marry Rachel, just needed the right ring. One day going to the club ended up outside an antique shop and there it was shining at me in the window. The perfect ring. So then I needed the perfect proposal. So I wrote a song for her, kicked everyone out of the house, and set up candles and left a note to tell her to come to the terrace. Out there I sat with just an acoustic guitar. I sang the song for her getting to my knee at the end and offered the ring to the most perfect woman for me I could ever dream of. And she said yes.”, Landon answered setting plates in front of Stephan and Nathan. “That is just soo sweet.”, Ororo smiled. “I’ll agree. So romantic is a Bryant thing? I mean bossman is moving across the ocean for his girl.”, Inola smiled. “I guess it is. Hope he’s having a good weekend thinking about him.”, Landon sighed still cooking. “Good weekend?”, Nathan asked. “Yeah Malcolm and Tristan are in Bayville. They are doing a whole weekend of friend stuff with Merrick and Zoe. Wanting to get in as much time as they can before he has to go. Still weird that Tristan became Merrick’s third best friend, fourth when you count Rose.”, Landon smiled. “Whitlands have an effect we hear.”, Taylor joked walking in rubbing sleep from his eyes with Marco. “We smelled food.”, Marco smiled sitting down. “Yes that they do. Tristan is something else.”, Landon nodded putting out more plates before fixing another setting it on a tray. “Who’s that one for?”, Taylor asked digging in. “I’ll be down again a couple hours, with luck. So just relax. You can use the mdr if you wanted to train. I already rain my morning session.”, Landon said placing the MDR on the counter giving a wink. All six laughed a little watching Landon head upstairs with the tray of food. “Well at least the man has priorities.”, Taylor chuckled. “Yeah he’s aware how dangerous this mission is going to be and would like his possible last moments with Rachel to be memorable.”, Nathan shrugged eating. The team finished eating in silence choosing to lounge in the living room watching tv while they waited for Landon all too nervous to get in the MDR.
Back in Bayville Merrick was the first to stir in Zoe’s apartment. He could hear the sounds from the kitchen below. ‘Alec’s already up making his breads and pastas.’, Merrick thought with a sigh. He’d missed the sounds and smells of staying at Zoe’s in the nineteen months since Faelan was born. He opened one eye and couldn’t stop the small smile on his lips as he saw the all too familiar locks of white hair just below his nose. He laid there silent listening to her breath peacefully and her heart beating softly in her chest. He could feel her breath against him and her hands pressed softly against his bare chest as she was cuddled against him. He remembered all too easily waking up like this, with her in his arms sleeping soundly. Some times when he’d stayed with her those short months he’d wake to the back of her head with her back pressed against his chest and her small round ass in his lap. And otherwise generally back then they would both have been naked even if they’d not fooled around before falling asleep. He was a bit thankful that it wasn’t like that this time, too much temptation with that. “You are gorgeous and still a temptation to me hellraiser.”, he whispered softly kissing the top of her head. Zoe sighed softly in her sleep a tiny smile on her lips. “I love you.”, he added just as softly. ‘Now to get out of this bed before I do something stupid that gets me killed.’ he thought as he carefully brought his right arm from under the pillows and then his left from over her thin frame. He was very careful to not disturb her as he got out of the bed. Zoe didn’t seem to stir just a soft mmm as he left the bed, shifting a little to take his pillow and the warmth of the space he’d left. He looked at her and shook his head. “Whatever lucky bastard gets you better treat you right, or I swear on my mother and Faelan I’ll kill him.”, he whispered leaning to move some of her white hair away from her face before creepy from her bedroom closing the door gently.
It was still dark in the apartment, but he knew his way well enough even if he didn’t have night vision. He went to the bathroom first, after using the facility opened the medicine cabinet with a soft laugh his toothbrush still sitting there from so long ago. He shrugged and brushed his teeth before taking an advil for the forming headache his hangover was giving him before venturing out to the main room of the small apartment not even a thought given to wearing boxers. He paused and looked at the floor seeing the giant mound that was his oldest and closest best friend Malcolm sleeping off their drinking on the floor. One of Malcolm’s legs was uncovered from the blanket he’d been given and his dark brown hair a mess on the pillow. Merrick paused creeping back to the bedroom grabbing his cell from his jeans on the floor before coming back out. He snapped a quick picture of his passed out friend before he leaned down fixing the blanket to cover his friend. As he walked in further he looked to the living room. Tristan was snoring peacefully on the couch laying on his stomach one arm hanging off, his back exposed showing the small scars left behind from his multiple back surgeries and his chestnut hair spiked in a messy fashion from sleep. He shook his head a little and snapped a picture of the sleeping former rodeo star, but then stepped over Malcolm and moved Tristan’s arm back onto the couch and pulled the blanket back up carefully tucking his newest friend in knowing Zoe’s apartment could be cold in winter. Malcolm hadn’t stirred when Merrick made sure his blanket covered him Tristan however did.
He turned his head slightly his shamrock eyes half opening before smiling seeing Merrick in just a pair of boxers. “Mmmm I died and went to heaven?”, Tristan teased in a quiet voice figuring others were still asleep. Merrick rolled his eyes as he shook his head. “Go back to sleep gimpy.”, Merrick said quietly stepping back over Malcolm going into the kitchen starting coffee, knowing his way around the kitchen as Zoe hadn’t changed anything about where she kept items. Tristan smirked rolling before sitting up rubbing his face with his hands watching Merrick go about starting coffee. “Sure do know your way around.”, he teased. “Yeah well she is predictable keeping things in the same place since the day she moved in. And I helped her move in.”, Merrick shrugged getting out a glass and getting some water drinking the full glass. Tristan arched an eyebrow watching. “Water before coffee?”, he asked. “If I don’t drink water she’ll yell at me about how a hangover is a result of dehydration. Trust me I got that lecture enough before Faelan was born and I did a lot more drinking.”, Merrick explained getting another glass and filling it with water. “Speaking of.”, he said holding out the glass. “Unless you want hellraiser ripping into you verbally.”, he added. Tristan smiled nodding as he got out of bed. Just like Merrick he’d gotten down to boxers, he had little care about modesty. He stepped over the sleeping Malcolm taking the water and drinking it. “Where’s the facilities? And does she have headache medicine?”, Tristan asked setting the glass down. “Down the hall second door on the left. Advil in the medicine cabinet.”, Merrick replied pointing down the hall before turning to the fridge starting to get ingredients out and then quietly pulling out pans to cook.
“Oh and he cooks. My how lucky our Rose is.”, Tristan chuckled quietly before creeping down the hall. He peeked in the slightly open first door, Zoe’s bedroom. He smiled seeing her sleeping in her bed snuggling a pillow. ‘How cute, that’s probably his pillow.’ Tristan thought shaking his head before ducking into the bathroom. Merrick started cutting veggies and cracking eggs getting four bowls together to make 4 omelet before throwing some pancetta onto a skillet for the others. He laughed a little finding an old box of morningstar breakfast ‘sausage’ in her freezer and threw the rest of the box into a skillet for himself. Malcolm groaned smelling coffee and food. He squinted in the dim as light was just starting to filter in from the living room window. He looked around holding his head with one hand just as Tristan exited the bathroom. “Morning Sparky.”, Tristan grinned tossing the bottle of advil to Malcolm. Merrick glanced over his shoulder as he started the first omelet that contained some cubed pancetta. “Good morning Mal.”, Merrick commented. “If you say so Merrick.”, Malcolm muttered catching the bottle from Tristan. “Thanks.”, he nodded to Tristan taking a couple advil swallowing them dry. “Isn’t Merrick just the cutest when being all domestic? He tuck you in too?”, Tristan smiled sitting on one of the stools at the counter. Malcolm laughed a little getting up setting the bottle on the island watching Merrick. “I don’t know if I’ll call him cute. I tend to favor women, preferably with purple hair, fantastic rack, those wide Bryant hips and fantastic ass.”, Malcolm teased sitting down. “Oh I can’t blame you there my friend.”, Tristan laughed. Merrick shook his head leaning and turning on the overhead light getting a groan from both his friends. “Can we not talk about my cousin’s rack, hips or ass.?I’ve not thrown up yet this morning and want to keep it that way.”, Merrick requested plating an omelet up with some pancetta setting it in front of Tristan before pouring him a cup of the coffee.
“Uh huh. After all the years I’ve had to listen to you talk about women in your little book and the deplorable things I’ve heard about Rose from you?”, Malcolm smirked. “And where’s mine?”, he added teasing. “I woke up first I get fed first.”, Tristan grinned digging in. Merrick set a glass of water in front of Malcolm before returning his attention to the next omelet. “It’s cooking. Now drink the water so I can honestly tell Zoe we are all hydrated.”, Merrick instructed. Malcolm laughed drinking his water. “Mmhmm. So you sleep good Merrick? Her floor isn’t all that comfortable but I’ve slept on worse.”, Malcolm teased rubbing at his back. “You mean like that rock you didn’t realize was under your sleeping bag that camping trip back when we were kids?”, Merrick teased putting food in front of Malcolm. “And I slept fine. Always do.”, he added starting on Zoe’s omelet. “I guess my question is does it cross a line to share a bed with your best friend and former lover while dating someone else?”, Malcolm asked starting to eat. “I don’t think so. We weren’t naked and nothing happen. Besides how many times did Rose sleep in the same bed as Landon while crushing on him?”, Merrick countered. “Difference she was crushing on him, they’d never done anything.”, Tristan commented. “Doesn’t matter. I don't think it crossed a line because nothing happened. Too drunk and too smart to do something.”, Merrick shook his head. In her bedroom Zoe could smell the food but she could also hear the low voices of the three men in her kitchen. She sighed a little smiling softly as she opened her eyes and realized she was cuddling his pillow. She crawled out of the warmth he’d left in the bed and ventured from her room.
She laughed a little as she walked out seeing all three men in just their boxers. Merrick at the stove wearing nothing but his navy cotton boxers, Tristan sitting at the island eating in his dark red boxers and Malcolm also eating wearing purple boxers. “God damn. Now this is a view to wake up to. Too bad you three all have girlfriends.”, Zoe chuckled grabbing her cell phone from her purse where she’d left it hanging snapping a shot of the trio. “Don’t have enough pictures of me cooking in your kitchen let alone in boxers hellraiser?”, Merrick winked playfully setting her plate down with coffee, water, and the advil. “Sit, drink, eat.”, he instructed. “Never lupo cattivo. And grazie. Everyone sleep well?”, Zoe asked setting her phone aside sitting on the stool as instructed. “Prego. And always sleep well in your bed.”, Merrick smirked leaning over the island kissing her cheek before starting his own omelet which was just loaded with veggies, using a clean pan separate from the one he’d made the others to not cross contaminate with the pancetta. “Oh yeah slept great. That couch is comfy as hell. Only thing missing was the warm curvy body of my north star next to me.”, Tristan answered with a grin. “I slept okay. Floors aren’t comfy but better than some places I’ve slept however still missed my bed with Cora Lee in it.”, Malcolm shrugged before sipping his coffee for the first time. “Jesus that’s strong.”, he commented. Merrick and Zoe laughed a little at Malcolm’s reaction. Tristan took a timid sip of his coffee finally and blinked. “Whoa. That’s certainly caffeinated. Can we get sugar and milk in this?”, he requested. “Whimps.”, Zoe teased sipping her cup like it was nothing. Merrick shrugged and set out the milk and sugar from them.
Malcolm and Tristan quickly adding to their coffee to bring it down. “How do you handle that?”, Malcolm asked taking a test sip determining it was now safe to drink. “I got used to is. It’s the coffee that Alec buys and thus Zoe drinks. So therefore I drank. It’s not bad.”, Merrick shrugged plating up his breakfast taking the empty stool to Zoe’s left starting to eat. “Thank you.”, Zoe smiled leaning her head against his shoulder. “For?”, Merrick asked eating. “Making us breakfast. I miss that.”, Zoe smiled. “I can’t blame you. This is the first time I’ve had breakfast with him and I’ll miss it. What a view to wake up to. Sweet wolfy comes over and tucks me in like I’m his kid, which I wake up and get to see that perfection standing over me in not but those boxers.”, Tristan teased grinning leaning to look down the island. “That’s just how Merrick is. He probably tucked me in too. Back in the day when he’d come in after lights out I’d see him checking on the younger kids tucking them in. If one had woken up he’d stop and make sure they went back to sleep. I remember one night the Hive was out on a mission and I think it was Sophia that woke up with a nightmare. Her parents weren’t there so she beat feet to our dorm wanting her big cousin. I remember Merrick getting up and letting her into our room and tucking her into his bed before shifting to his ocelot form letting her pet him while he purred till she fell back to sleep.”, Malcolm smiled.
“Awe.”, Tristan and Zoe echoed. “That reminds me of a story Gina told me. She’d had a bad dream or something and dad and Geri couldn’t be found. Dad would normally comfort her and sing her back to sleep. So this sweet man comes in and scooped her up in his arms and rocked her sitting on her bed just letting his pur be his song tills he fell asleep. Next thing she remembered was waking up tucked in cozy in her bed.”, Zoe smiled. Merrick rolled his eyes just eating. “Yeah well those were a long time ago. Sophia and Gina are practically grown up now. And don’t just be pointing fingers at me Malcolm. I recall waking up to quiet russian conversations and see Larissa in our room tugging you away. I followed one time and watched as you searched her and Esabelle’s bedroom for monsters using a low level of your powers saying you were scaring the monsters away because they don’t like the light and lightening is a light.”, Merrick countered. “Yeah but that was my little sister. I only did stuff like that for Kevin and Larissa. You papa wolf did that type of thing for every kid in the house not just Sebastian and Emma. And I’ve heard that you even do that stuff for the institute kids when some have crashed at the Haven with Sebastian. Jimmy told his big sister how during a movie marathon they’d fallen asleep and he woke up to you taking the headset off him and pulling a blanket over him to tuck him in. It’s things like that which are why you are a great dad. And why for all these years I’ve defended that you are a good man.”, Malcolm retorted getting up starting to clear away dirty dishes loading the dishwasher.
Merrick was about to say something when his phone started ringing, he instantly knew it to be Rose’s ringtone. He smiled picking up. “Morning little wolf.”, he greeted. “Morning to you too. You guys have a good time last night? Talked to mom last night she said you’d informed her the GTO would be most likely parked overnight at the club to avoid drinking and driving with your baby.”, Rose greeted teasing. “MORNING ROSE!!!”, Malcolm, Tristan and Zoe yelled teasing Merrick. Rose arched an eyebrow hearing all the voices. “Ah so it was a fun night.”, she laughed. Merrick rolled his eyes. “Yeah we had fun. We all ended up crashing at Zoe’s since it’s a shorter walk. Didn’t want to make gimpy walk all the way to the Haven since he didn’t bring his cane. And me and Mal were too drunk to carry him if needed.”, Merrick smiled. “Nice. Boys heading back to their places today?”, Rose asked making conversation. She didn’t want to really put much thought into them crashing at Zoe’s. She knew better than to get jealous over Zoe, even though part of her was. She hoped she’d feel less jealous when Zoe got a boyfriend, if that ever finally happened. “Yeah I think so. Tristan is jonesing for some Jail Bait. He’s been in Bayville the last now five days.”, Merrick teased Tristan. “Damn straight I’m going through withdrawls. How you go months without getting laid I don’t know man. I mean I used to live the skype and phone sex life but god it’s not as good or fun as the real thing.”, Tristan laughed getting up starting to find his clothes getting dressed. “Why’s he been in Bayville for five days?”, Rose asked confused. “Oh he’s started working for Holly. So he comes down every other week, or that’s the plan, crashes at Holly's and helps with the ranch and the riding lessons. My understanding there’s about a dozen twelve year olds wishing for Blaire’s untimely demise to claim him for themselves.”, Merrick explained getting up heading for the bedroom placing her on speaker as he started to get dressed.
“Ah I see. Well glad he’s working and on a ranch again. I’m sure Blaire misses him too. God knows I miss you.”, Rose sighed looking over the pile of papers on her bed which was a combination of homework and information for Excalibur. “I miss you too beautiful more than I know how to describe. But we’ll see each other soon.”, he smiled internally saying ‘than you think’. “I know but April is soo far away. I wish I had the time off to come home for Christmas.”, she frowned. “Hey it’s alright. You were here when Faelan and, probably mostly, I needed you after we lost Nana. I wouldn’t trade having you here when I needed you most just to have you here for opening presents. Though did really like opening my ‘present’ last year. Then again I never get tired of opening that particular gift.”, he smirked walking out having taken her off speaker phone as he buttoned his shirt. Rose laughed shaking her head knowing he was referring to her and how Landon had placed a bow on her forehead last Christmas before she went to his room. Malcolm and Tristan had gotten dressed while Merrick was back in the bedroom and were presently sitting on the couch watching the morning news while Zoe was tucked into her chair watching with them and blanket wrapped around her trying to stay warm. “Today a special U.N meeting is to be held to discuss the global crisis of mutants and how this surge in their number should best be handled.”, the reporter spoke standing outside the U.N building in Manhattan. “Trist turn this up. Landon and alpha team are on a mission there today.”, Malcolm asked nudging Tristan who had the remote.
Merrick raised an eyebrow hearing the words ‘Landon’, ‘alpha team’ and ‘mission’. Rose heard them too. “What about a mission? What’s going on Merrick?”, Rose asked. “Hang on. I don’t know.”, Merrick said moving into the living room nudging Zoe out of the chair. Zoe begrudgingly moved but as soon as he was seated found herself pulled back to his lap his right arm around her while he left held the phone. “We’re watching the morning news. Reporter is talking about a U.N meeting about mutants.”, Merrick explained as Tristan turned up the volume. “Hang on I’ll put you on speaker so you can hear better gimpy just turned up the tv.”, Merrick said switching to speaker setting the phone on the coffee table. Zoe lightly shook her head adjusting the blanket around her getting comfortable again just now on his lap. “Okay so what’s going on Malcolm? What do you mean a mission and Landon’s involved?”, Rose asked. “Um last week Duncan called him. Guilted the poor bastard using the kids on team alpha as leverage to get Landon to agree to take the mission. Guess the FOH and COH on our side of the ocean have the X-men and their student teams spread thin. The FOH plan to bomb the U.N while it’s in session. Duncan had no choice but to send team alpha; Stephan, Marco, Taylor, Ororo, Inola and Nathan.”, Malcolm explained. Merrick’s head turned the instant he heard Inola and Nathan’s names. Those names meant something to him. Nathan being his nephew and Inola was his young volunteer and best worker at the sanctuary.
“That fucking piece of shit. He knows Landon wouldn’t sit by and do nothing when a team of kids, a team of kids he knows so damn well and even as family are sent to try and handle something this big. Oh god if I was there I’d turn Duncan into kebabs. Using those kids just to pull Landon into something he walked away from.”, Rose growled. “Trust me little wolf Duncan’s lucky I’m haven. I don’t like the idea of him sending my nephew and my little squaw on something this big and dangerous.”, Merrick growled too. “Yeah well like it or not these kids did sign up to become X-Men. And the FOH and COH don’t give a shit about age. Hiro and the boys are just as young as Inola and didn’t seem to faze the bastards back in Glasgow.”, Malcolm commented. “Already protesters on both sides have started to form outside.”, the reporter spoke. The camera panned to show police barriers holding back two groups. One side was holding signs demanding equality for all while the other was holding signs saying hateful things about mutants. Merrick furrowed his brow looking at the groups. “Whoa hold it pause.”, Merrick demanded. Tristan quickly paused the live broadcast everyone confused why. “That’s...oh fucking hell.”, Merrick growled. “What is it? Remember I can’t see.”, Rose asked. “Shaw, Adam and Arie are in the crowd of protesters. They are hanging back not holding up signs and they’ve got Gregory’s girlfriend Salena with them.”, Merrick let out a breath. So his cousins were there which means the Academy was getting involved. “Maybe it’s coincidence?”, Zoe and Tristan suggested. “No. That grouping would not be being there today would not be coincidence. Azazel ordered them there. And I doubt it’s to stop the FOH. Azazel isn’t about saving people. He’s about killing them.”, Merrick growled.
Malcolm was pulling his phone out calling Cora Lee. “Hey sparky? How’s the hangover?”, Cora Lee greeted having finally gotten up and was eating some pancakes with the others while her brother and the team where in the MDR running through the training for the mission. “Morning sweetheart. It’s fine. Um Landon right there or one of the alpha kids?”, Malcolm asked. Cora Lee arched a pierced brow. “No. They are in the MDR training. Why?”, Cora Lee asked. This of course getting Lily, Tommy and Rachel to look at her with interest. “Sitting at Zoe’s watching channel 3 news. They are talking about the U.N meeting today and there are protesters on both sides already there. Merrick made up pause the feed. Shaw, Adam, Arie, and Salena from the academy are in the crowd. I figured Landon and the team would want to know that’s who the Academy sent.”, Malcolm explained. “I’ll let them know. Thanks Sparky.”, Cora Lee sighed glancing to the window that looked to the terrace which now had a view of the metal exterior to the MDR. “Thanks babe. And tell them to stay safe.”, Malcolm sighed. “Give me the phone.”, Merrick instructed holding his hand out. Malcolm arched an eyebrow and handed the phone over. “Listen, this is what you tell your brother. Shaw always favors his left and with his powers you never go for a direct attack against him because he’ll turn it against you. Keep all emotions in check with Adam and aim for his jaw it’s like glass and he’s a total wimp when it comes to getting hit in the face. Arie might have her dad’s telepathic and diamond powers but her telepathy isn’t half what her dad or mine can do and her diamond form isn’t up to E’s level either. Salena I can’t give much on she joined after I left, but she’ll be their areal support so someone better keep her grounded.”, Merrick went right into giving what help he could.
Cora Lee blinked as Merrick was giving hints on how to bring down his Frost cousins. “Why are you tell me this?”, Cora Lee asked. “Because Nathan and Inola are on this mission. Nathan is my nephew I want him back unharmed. And Inola’s the best worker I’ve got at the sanctuary, would like her returned in one piece too.”, Merrick explained handing the phone back to Malcolm. “Okay I’ll tell them.”, Cora Lee said still confused at Merrick’s involvement. Zoe just smiled a little of course Merrick was going to make sure his nephew would be given the upperhand in this. “Hey you got me back beautiful. Alright so just give the details to Landon. I’ll be home later. I love you.”, Malcolm smiled at the last sentence. “I will. Love you too.”, Cora Lee smiled hanging up. “Did you really just tell Landon and the team how to take down your Frost cousins?”, Rose asked having heard Merrick. “Yes. I’m haven, that only means I can’t fight. Doesn’t mean I can’t give council on how to fight. I know those kids, well not Salena. And I don’t care if they are my Frost family. Granted I prefer they don’t get hurt too.”, Merrick shrugged. “I don’t think Landon would want to hurt them. And we know Landon will do everything he can to protect team alpha. Nathan is family to him. All those kids are family to him.”, Rose sighed. She knew Landon would go to an extreme to protect people. She’d seen it first hand three times in her life. “Yeah I know he will.”, Merrick nodded though he internalized the ‘I just hope he doesn’t do anything too stupid this time.’. Merrick didn’t want to admit he was worried about Landon too. “Alright well I should go. Have patrol soon. Bye guys. Love you Merrick.”, Rose sighed. “BYE ROSE!”, the others yelled. “Bye little wolf. Love you too.”, Merrick smiled leaning over to grab his phone again ending the call.
“Alright well you boys should get going. I need to shower and get ready for my shift at the restaurant and I’m sure a very cute puppy is missing his daddy.”, Zoe said standing up. “Yes that is true. Need to get my baby and then get these two on trains back to their women.”, Merrick nodded standing up. “Thanks for letting us crash here and eat your food Zoe. It was fun. we should have slumber parties more often. Next time though we bring our girlfriends so more than just you two have someone to cuddle.”, Tristan teased getting up setting the remote on the coffee table the news having switched to another segment. Malcolm elbowed Tristan. “It was fun. Thanks for letting us crash. Later Zoe.”, Malcolm smiled getting his shoes and jacket. Zoe laughed shaking her head moving and giving Tristan and then Malcolm each a hug. Merrick rolled his eyes getting his boots on and jacket. “I’ll talk to you later. Thanks for letting us invade your house.”, Merrick smiled giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Later hellraiser.”, he smiled pulling back from the hug. “Any time. Bye lupo cavitto. Love you.”, Zoe waved as the guys headed out of the apartment. Merrick waved before closing the door. “Love you too.”, he said just before the door closed. “Alright let’s get my car and return your asses to your girlfriends.”, Merrick instructed as they headed down the stairs. Klaus and Alec had the kitchen door open arguing in French about something but Klaus stopped speaking seeing the three men leaving. “Votre ‘nièce’ sait comment passer du temps de qualité avec quelques beaux hommes. (Your ‘niece’ certainly knows how to spend quality time with some handsome men.)”, Klaus commented leaning to watch them depart his eyes following Merrick’s ass as he was last out the door. Alec punched Klaus in the arm. “Ce fut Tristan, Malcolm et Merrick. Tous les trois ont copines qu'ils sont follement en amour avec. Merrick se détourne bientôt si le quatuor ont passé beaucoup de temps ensemble. Ne lisez pas trop loin dans ce pervers. (That was Tristan, Malcolm and Merrick. All three have girlfriends they are madly in love with. Merrick is moving away soon so the quartet have been spending a lot of time together. Don't read too far into it pervert.)”, Alec scolded before getting back to work.
Adam, Shaw, Arie and Salena were busy blending into the crowd of protesters as they were just trying to get a better idea of the building. Slipping inside unnoticed they started to casually walk around pretending like they were on a tour of some kid. Unlike Landon they didn’t have all the tech he and Forge provided team alpha. So they had no schematics of the building to research before hand. So this was their time to get a first hand look around. “Let’s divide up. There are thirty-nine floors and four of us. Salena take the first nine floors. Arie you take the ten thru twenty. Adam takes twenty-one thru thirty. And I’ll take the top nine floors. Snoop around. Get an estimate of how many people are your floors. We are here to maximize casualties. If you come across any opposition, do what you feel necessary.”, Shaw ordered. The other three nodded each taking an elevator to start their surveillance of the building. They did their best to avoid people so they didn’t have to try and answer questions. Arie had set up a telepathic link so they could communicate. Otherwise she was using her telepathy to scan the minds of people on her floors to see if anyone in house was part of the FOH plot. ‘I’ve found at least a dozen internal FOH members that work here’, she thought to her cousins and Salena. ‘Hmm of course. It’ll make it easier for them to pull this off with people on the inside. Keep up your searches.’, Shaw instructed.
While the Academy team continued their preview of the U.N mission site team alpha and Landon were getting out of the MDR not a one wasn’t sweating. “Holy shit. You don’t believe in taking anything easy.”, Marco commented out of breath. “No. You honestly think Duncan guilted me into this mission because I’m soft and do things the easy way?”, Landon asked walking into the kitchen starting to grab waters from the fridge tossing them to the kids. “Well no. We know he picked you because...well next to Mister Howlett… you're the best.”, Taylor answered starting to chug his water. Landon smirked a little sipping his water. “Sensai Logan is the best at what he does that much I know for certain. I trained under him even after my defeat of Wanda. My MDR training program is with a hologram of him too. He’s an intense fighter and instructor. This mission has too many uncontrollable variables. I needed to work you this morning so we’ll be ready for later. Why don’t you kids go hit the showers. Then we can get some lunch before we need to suit up and take care of business.”, Landon nodded. “Sounds good.”, Nathan nodded drinking his water heading up the stairs eager to shower. The whole team followed ready for relaxing showers after hours in the MDR with Landon. “How hard did you work those kids?”, Cora Lee asked coming into the kitchen. “Hopefully hard enough. No worse than I worked you and the rest of the team leaders in our day.”, Landon smiled. “So what can I do ya for sis? Need to take a shower before mission.”, he asked. “The mission is what we need to talk about.”, Cora Lee explained. Landon jumped on the counter picking up the last apple but stopped before taking a bite seeing Nazri, about the size of a german shepherd, staring up at him from the floor before flapping his wings and hovering. “Oh you beast. Fine fine take it.”, Landon sighed tossing the apple which Nazri caught in his mouth landing as he at the apple core and all. “So what’s up Cora Lee?”, Landon asked turning his attention to his little sister.
“Malcolm called while you were in the MDR with the kids.”, she started. “Ah okay. How was his night out with Merrick and the others?”, he asked. “It was fine. They crashed at Zoe’s no one sober enough to drive to the haven. But that’s not the point. This morning they were watching the news at her place and they were talking about the U.N meeting. Protestors for both sides are already there. And Merrick noticed four familiar faces in the crowd. Adam, Shaw and Arie Frost along with Salena whatever her last name is.”, she explained. “Hmm. Okay, well I knew Azazel would send a group. We trained against all possible selections. We’ll be covered.”, Landon nodded. “Well Malcolm wanted you to know. And well Merrick wanted me to tell you..”, she continued trying to remember everything. “Merrick? Hmm okay.”, Landon asked intrigued that his cousin was involved. “Yeah I know I was confused too. Anyways he said that ‘Shaw always favors his left and with his powers you never go for a direct attack against him because he’ll turn it against you. Keep all emotions in check with Adam and aim for his jaw it’s like glass and he’s a total wimp when it comes to getting hit in the face. Arie might have her dad’s telepathic and diamond powers but her telepathy isn’t half what her dad or his can do and her diamond form isn’t up to E’s level, which I guess is what he’s calling Emma since he disowned her, either. Salena he couldn’t give much on she joined after he left, but he knows she’ll be their areal support so someone better keep her grounded.”, Cora Lee delivered the notice. “Noted Cora Lee and I’ll remember it. Now I’m going to shower then eat before the team needs to head out for this mission. See you tonight.”, Landon smiled jumping off the counter heading up the stairs. “I better…”, Cora Lee sighed before going up to her room to finish a term paper.

Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

By early morning Adam, Shaw, Salena, and Arieannah were all getting into uniform and doing some final planning for their mission that day. Salena was nervous as this would be the first time she’d be in the field since she arrived with Justice a few years back. “Hey Salena it’ll be okay. We got this covered.”, Adam patted her shoulder as he zipped up his uniform. “I know. This is just, it feels like a big mission to send just the four of us.”, she explained. “We don’t question The Demon King’s orders.”, Shaw commented glancing to Salena. He liked the girl well enough, she was dating his cousin Gregory. But to verbalize a doubt in Azazel’s orders was cause for Azazel to take action against the individual responsible. “I know. And I’m not doubting him. It’s just the FOH plans to bomb the UN. It feels big.”, Salena sighed shrugging a little her monarch butterfly wings fluttering every so slightly. “We don’t need a big team because our job is to just to add to the casualty count. We aren’t trying to stop the bombing. The X-Men will be trying to do that.”, Arie explained. Salena nodded. “Alright so we just go in, make more trouble and just fight the X-men who will be trying to stop it.”, Salena agreed. “Good, glad you see it our way. Let’s get in some final training and go over the mission a final time before we head out.”, Shaw concluded leading the small team into the backyard of the Academy to spar a little.
Landon, as usual, was the first to wake out at the Manhattan hour. He quietly crept out bed, not wanting to disturb the peaceful rest of Rachel, getting dressed into some workout gear to go hit the MDR for his morning training. He paused leaning giving Rachel a soft kiss. “I love you so much.”, he whispered before leaving and heading downstairs. He ran his dojo session, sparing against a hologram of Logan. With his training session wrapped up he shut down the MDR walking back into the house to the kitchen grabbing a water before starting to fix some pancakes and bacon. He figured the team would be hungry and as the first one up he might as well make sure they were fed. While he was cooking Inola and Ororo had woken up and crept downstairs in their pajamas. The pair tilted their heads staring at Landon’s bare back as he stood at the stove in his track shorts, his sweaty shirt having been tossed after his session. “Whoa…”, Inola softly whispered glancing to Ororo. “Wonder if bossman looks that good without a shirt.”, she quietly smiled. Ororo covered her mouth to stop a laugh. But Landon still heard them. “Morning girls.”, Landon shook his head flipping a pancake. “Um sorry. Morning Landon.”, Ororo greeted walking closer with Inola. “To answer your question Inola, Merrick’s broader built than me and only has one tattoo over his heart for Faelan.”, Landon smirked looking to the pair. “Good to know. So um you have a lot of ink…”, Inola commented taking a seat at the counter with Ororo. “Indeed I do. I’ve had tattoos since I was thirteen. Started with my crow and raven which represent my parents. My dad’s code name was Crow and my mom has a seeing eye raven. This way I know they are always looking over my shoulder so I don’t screw up.”, he started to explain taking off the pancakes and starting a new batch.
“Nice. And the rest?”, Inola asked intrigued. “The tree of life is just what it is. It’s to represent my life, where I come from and where I’m going.”, he continued. “The back piece is the Meddling Kids’ logo. That was my band in high school. The guitar is Rose’s, the bass is Cora Lee’s and the sticks are mine. It’s there so I know that no matter where I roam, and what trouble I find myself in my best friend Rose and my little sister Cora Lee will always have my back. The zodiac represent my friends ranging from Lily down to Hope Summers.”, he continued turning to the counter setting two plates with pancakes and bacon in front of the girls. “The arabic on my chest means ‘joy’. Which Rachel’s middle name is Farah, which means joy. It’s there to represent her and the joy she brings into my heart.”, he explained pointing to the word. “Whoa deep. You’re the hopeless romantic of the family aren’t ya?”, Inola teased starting to pour syrup on her pancakes handing the syrup to Ororo. “Oh you want hopeless romantic ask him how he proposed.”, Nathan commented walking into the kitchen followed by Stephan. Stephan smiled pausing to give Ororo a kiss on the cheek before taking a seat at the counter. Ororo smiled looking at Stephan. “Good morning.”, she smiled. “Morning boys. I’ll have some more pancakes ready shortly.”, Landon nodded looking to Nathan and Stephan. “Now the dragon is my version of Nazri. Nazri is a white ice dragon that is bonded to Rachel. You’ll see for yourself when he decides to show himself. Then my legs I’ve got my sax and fiery halo for my jazz band Blaze Halo and then the crown for Columbia university. When something happens again I want to celebrate and acknowledge I’ll get my next ink.”, Landon concluded talking about his tattoos. Inola chuckled. “Hmm so at least you have tales to tell and they mean something. So what’s this about your proposal?”, Inola smiled eating.
“That...well I knew I wanted to marry Rachel, just needed the right ring. One day going to the club ended up outside an antique shop and there it was shining at me in the window. The perfect ring. So then I needed the perfect proposal. So I wrote a song for her, kicked everyone out of the house, and set up candles and left a note to tell her to come to the terrace. Out there I sat with just an acoustic guitar. I sang the song for her getting to my knee at the end and offered the ring to the most perfect woman for me I could ever dream of. And she said yes.”, Landon answered setting plates in front of Stephan and Nathan. “That is just soo sweet.”, Ororo smiled. “I’ll agree. So romantic is a Bryant thing? I mean bossman is moving across the ocean for his girl.”, Inola smiled. “I guess it is. Hope he’s having a good weekend thinking about him.”, Landon sighed still cooking. “Good weekend?”, Nathan asked. “Yeah Malcolm and Tristan are in Bayville. They are doing a whole weekend of friend stuff with Merrick and Zoe. Wanting to get in as much time as they can before he has to go. Still weird that Tristan became Merrick’s third best friend, fourth when you count Rose.”, Landon smiled. “Whitlands have an effect we hear.”, Taylor joked walking in rubbing sleep from his eyes with Marco. “We smelled food.”, Marco smiled sitting down. “Yes that they do. Tristan is something else.”, Landon nodded putting out more plates before fixing another setting it on a tray. “Who’s that one for?”, Taylor asked digging in. “I’ll be down again a couple hours, with luck. So just relax. You can use the mdr if you wanted to train. I already rain my morning session.”, Landon said placing the MDR on the counter giving a wink. All six laughed a little watching Landon head upstairs with the tray of food. “Well at least the man has priorities.”, Taylor chuckled. “Yeah he’s aware how dangerous this mission is going to be and would like his possible last moments with Rachel to be memorable.”, Nathan shrugged eating. The team finished eating in silence choosing to lounge in the living room watching tv while they waited for Landon all too nervous to get in the MDR.
Back in Bayville Merrick was the first to stir in Zoe’s apartment. He could hear the sounds from the kitchen below. ‘Alec’s already up making his breads and pastas.’, Merrick thought with a sigh. He’d missed the sounds and smells of staying at Zoe’s in the nineteen months since Faelan was born. He opened one eye and couldn’t stop the small smile on his lips as he saw the all too familiar locks of white hair just below his nose. He laid there silent listening to her breath peacefully and her heart beating softly in her chest. He could feel her breath against him and her hands pressed softly against his bare chest as she was cuddled against him. He remembered all too easily waking up like this, with her in his arms sleeping soundly. Some times when he’d stayed with her those short months he’d wake to the back of her head with her back pressed against his chest and her small round ass in his lap. And otherwise generally back then they would both have been naked even if they’d not fooled around before falling asleep. He was a bit thankful that it wasn’t like that this time, too much temptation with that. “You are gorgeous and still a temptation to me hellraiser.”, he whispered softly kissing the top of her head. Zoe sighed softly in her sleep a tiny smile on her lips. “I love you.”, he added just as softly. ‘Now to get out of this bed before I do something stupid that gets me killed.’ he thought as he carefully brought his right arm from under the pillows and then his left from over her thin frame. He was very careful to not disturb her as he got out of the bed. Zoe didn’t seem to stir just a soft mmm as he left the bed, shifting a little to take his pillow and the warmth of the space he’d left. He looked at her and shook his head. “Whatever lucky bastard gets you better treat you right, or I swear on my mother and Faelan I’ll kill him.”, he whispered leaning to move some of her white hair away from her face before creepy from her bedroom closing the door gently.
It was still dark in the apartment, but he knew his way well enough even if he didn’t have night vision. He went to the bathroom first, after using the facility opened the medicine cabinet with a soft laugh his toothbrush still sitting there from so long ago. He shrugged and brushed his teeth before taking an advil for the forming headache his hangover was giving him before venturing out to the main room of the small apartment not even a thought given to wearing boxers. He paused and looked at the floor seeing the giant mound that was his oldest and closest best friend Malcolm sleeping off their drinking on the floor. One of Malcolm’s legs was uncovered from the blanket he’d been given and his dark brown hair a mess on the pillow. Merrick paused creeping back to the bedroom grabbing his cell from his jeans on the floor before coming back out. He snapped a quick picture of his passed out friend before he leaned down fixing the blanket to cover his friend. As he walked in further he looked to the living room. Tristan was snoring peacefully on the couch laying on his stomach one arm hanging off, his back exposed showing the small scars left behind from his multiple back surgeries and his chestnut hair spiked in a messy fashion from sleep. He shook his head a little and snapped a picture of the sleeping former rodeo star, but then stepped over Malcolm and moved Tristan’s arm back onto the couch and pulled the blanket back up carefully tucking his newest friend in knowing Zoe’s apartment could be cold in winter. Malcolm hadn’t stirred when Merrick made sure his blanket covered him Tristan however did.
He turned his head slightly his shamrock eyes half opening before smiling seeing Merrick in just a pair of boxers. “Mmmm I died and went to heaven?”, Tristan teased in a quiet voice figuring others were still asleep. Merrick rolled his eyes as he shook his head. “Go back to sleep gimpy.”, Merrick said quietly stepping back over Malcolm going into the kitchen starting coffee, knowing his way around the kitchen as Zoe hadn’t changed anything about where she kept items. Tristan smirked rolling before sitting up rubbing his face with his hands watching Merrick go about starting coffee. “Sure do know your way around.”, he teased. “Yeah well she is predictable keeping things in the same place since the day she moved in. And I helped her move in.”, Merrick shrugged getting out a glass and getting some water drinking the full glass. Tristan arched an eyebrow watching. “Water before coffee?”, he asked. “If I don’t drink water she’ll yell at me about how a hangover is a result of dehydration. Trust me I got that lecture enough before Faelan was born and I did a lot more drinking.”, Merrick explained getting another glass and filling it with water. “Speaking of.”, he said holding out the glass. “Unless you want hellraiser ripping into you verbally.”, he added. Tristan smiled nodding as he got out of bed. Just like Merrick he’d gotten down to boxers, he had little care about modesty. He stepped over the sleeping Malcolm taking the water and drinking it. “Where’s the facilities? And does she have headache medicine?”, Tristan asked setting the glass down. “Down the hall second door on the left. Advil in the medicine cabinet.”, Merrick replied pointing down the hall before turning to the fridge starting to get ingredients out and then quietly pulling out pans to cook.
“Oh and he cooks. My how lucky our Rose is.”, Tristan chuckled quietly before creeping down the hall. He peeked in the slightly open first door, Zoe’s bedroom. He smiled seeing her sleeping in her bed snuggling a pillow. ‘How cute, that’s probably his pillow.’ Tristan thought shaking his head before ducking into the bathroom. Merrick started cutting veggies and cracking eggs getting four bowls together to make 4 omelet before throwing some pancetta onto a skillet for the others. He laughed a little finding an old box of morningstar breakfast ‘sausage’ in her freezer and threw the rest of the box into a skillet for himself. Malcolm groaned smelling coffee and food. He squinted in the dim as light was just starting to filter in from the living room window. He looked around holding his head with one hand just as Tristan exited the bathroom. “Morning Sparky.”, Tristan grinned tossing the bottle of advil to Malcolm. Merrick glanced over his shoulder as he started the first omelet that contained some cubed pancetta. “Good morning Mal.”, Merrick commented. “If you say so Merrick.”, Malcolm muttered catching the bottle from Tristan. “Thanks.”, he nodded to Tristan taking a couple advil swallowing them dry. “Isn’t Merrick just the cutest when being all domestic? He tuck you in too?”, Tristan smiled sitting on one of the stools at the counter. Malcolm laughed a little getting up setting the bottle on the island watching Merrick. “I don’t know if I’ll call him cute. I tend to favor women, preferably with purple hair, fantastic rack, those wide Bryant hips and fantastic ass.”, Malcolm teased sitting down. “Oh I can’t blame you there my friend.”, Tristan laughed. Merrick shook his head leaning and turning on the overhead light getting a groan from both his friends. “Can we not talk about my cousin’s rack, hips or ass.?I’ve not thrown up yet this morning and want to keep it that way.”, Merrick requested plating an omelet up with some pancetta setting it in front of Tristan before pouring him a cup of the coffee.
“Uh huh. After all the years I’ve had to listen to you talk about women in your little book and the deplorable things I’ve heard about Rose from you?”, Malcolm smirked. “And where’s mine?”, he added teasing. “I woke up first I get fed first.”, Tristan grinned digging in. Merrick set a glass of water in front of Malcolm before returning his attention to the next omelet. “It’s cooking. Now drink the water so I can honestly tell Zoe we are all hydrated.”, Merrick instructed. Malcolm laughed drinking his water. “Mmhmm. So you sleep good Merrick? Her floor isn’t all that comfortable but I’ve slept on worse.”, Malcolm teased rubbing at his back. “You mean like that rock you didn’t realize was under your sleeping bag that camping trip back when we were kids?”, Merrick teased putting food in front of Malcolm. “And I slept fine. Always do.”, he added starting on Zoe’s omelet. “I guess my question is does it cross a line to share a bed with your best friend and former lover while dating someone else?”, Malcolm asked starting to eat. “I don’t think so. We weren’t naked and nothing happen. Besides how many times did Rose sleep in the same bed as Landon while crushing on him?”, Merrick countered. “Difference she was crushing on him, they’d never done anything.”, Tristan commented. “Doesn’t matter. I don't think it crossed a line because nothing happened. Too drunk and too smart to do something.”, Merrick shook his head. In her bedroom Zoe could smell the food but she could also hear the low voices of the three men in her kitchen. She sighed a little smiling softly as she opened her eyes and realized she was cuddling his pillow. She crawled out of the warmth he’d left in the bed and ventured from her room.
She laughed a little as she walked out seeing all three men in just their boxers. Merrick at the stove wearing nothing but his navy cotton boxers, Tristan sitting at the island eating in his dark red boxers and Malcolm also eating wearing purple boxers. “God damn. Now this is a view to wake up to. Too bad you three all have girlfriends.”, Zoe chuckled grabbing her cell phone from her purse where she’d left it hanging snapping a shot of the trio. “Don’t have enough pictures of me cooking in your kitchen let alone in boxers hellraiser?”, Merrick winked playfully setting her plate down with coffee, water, and the advil. “Sit, drink, eat.”, he instructed. “Never lupo cattivo. And grazie. Everyone sleep well?”, Zoe asked setting her phone aside sitting on the stool as instructed. “Prego. And always sleep well in your bed.”, Merrick smirked leaning over the island kissing her cheek before starting his own omelet which was just loaded with veggies, using a clean pan separate from the one he’d made the others to not cross contaminate with the pancetta. “Oh yeah slept great. That couch is comfy as hell. Only thing missing was the warm curvy body of my north star next to me.”, Tristan answered with a grin. “I slept okay. Floors aren’t comfy but better than some places I’ve slept however still missed my bed with Cora Lee in it.”, Malcolm shrugged before sipping his coffee for the first time. “Jesus that’s strong.”, he commented. Merrick and Zoe laughed a little at Malcolm’s reaction. Tristan took a timid sip of his coffee finally and blinked. “Whoa. That’s certainly caffeinated. Can we get sugar and milk in this?”, he requested. “Whimps.”, Zoe teased sipping her cup like it was nothing. Merrick shrugged and set out the milk and sugar from them.
Malcolm and Tristan quickly adding to their coffee to bring it down. “How do you handle that?”, Malcolm asked taking a test sip determining it was now safe to drink. “I got used to is. It’s the coffee that Alec buys and thus Zoe drinks. So therefore I drank. It’s not bad.”, Merrick shrugged plating up his breakfast taking the empty stool to Zoe’s left starting to eat. “Thank you.”, Zoe smiled leaning her head against his shoulder. “For?”, Merrick asked eating. “Making us breakfast. I miss that.”, Zoe smiled. “I can’t blame you. This is the first time I’ve had breakfast with him and I’ll miss it. What a view to wake up to. Sweet wolfy comes over and tucks me in like I’m his kid, which I wake up and get to see that perfection standing over me in not but those boxers.”, Tristan teased grinning leaning to look down the island. “That’s just how Merrick is. He probably tucked me in too. Back in the day when he’d come in after lights out I’d see him checking on the younger kids tucking them in. If one had woken up he’d stop and make sure they went back to sleep. I remember one night the Hive was out on a mission and I think it was Sophia that woke up with a nightmare. Her parents weren’t there so she beat feet to our dorm wanting her big cousin. I remember Merrick getting up and letting her into our room and tucking her into his bed before shifting to his ocelot form letting her pet him while he purred till she fell back to sleep.”, Malcolm smiled.
“Awe.”, Tristan and Zoe echoed. “That reminds me of a story Gina told me. She’d had a bad dream or something and dad and Geri couldn’t be found. Dad would normally comfort her and sing her back to sleep. So this sweet man comes in and scooped her up in his arms and rocked her sitting on her bed just letting his pur be his song tills he fell asleep. Next thing she remembered was waking up tucked in cozy in her bed.”, Zoe smiled. Merrick rolled his eyes just eating. “Yeah well those were a long time ago. Sophia and Gina are practically grown up now. And don’t just be pointing fingers at me Malcolm. I recall waking up to quiet russian conversations and see Larissa in our room tugging you away. I followed one time and watched as you searched her and Esabelle’s bedroom for monsters using a low level of your powers saying you were scaring the monsters away because they don’t like the light and lightening is a light.”, Merrick countered. “Yeah but that was my little sister. I only did stuff like that for Kevin and Larissa. You papa wolf did that type of thing for every kid in the house not just Sebastian and Emma. And I’ve heard that you even do that stuff for the institute kids when some have crashed at the Haven with Sebastian. Jimmy told his big sister how during a movie marathon they’d fallen asleep and he woke up to you taking the headset off him and pulling a blanket over him to tuck him in. It’s things like that which are why you are a great dad. And why for all these years I’ve defended that you are a good man.”, Malcolm retorted getting up starting to clear away dirty dishes loading the dishwasher.
Merrick was about to say something when his phone started ringing, he instantly knew it to be Rose’s ringtone. He smiled picking up. “Morning little wolf.”, he greeted. “Morning to you too. You guys have a good time last night? Talked to mom last night she said you’d informed her the GTO would be most likely parked overnight at the club to avoid drinking and driving with your baby.”, Rose greeted teasing. “MORNING ROSE!!!”, Malcolm, Tristan and Zoe yelled teasing Merrick. Rose arched an eyebrow hearing all the voices. “Ah so it was a fun night.”, she laughed. Merrick rolled his eyes. “Yeah we had fun. We all ended up crashing at Zoe’s since it’s a shorter walk. Didn’t want to make gimpy walk all the way to the Haven since he didn’t bring his cane. And me and Mal were too drunk to carry him if needed.”, Merrick smiled. “Nice. Boys heading back to their places today?”, Rose asked making conversation. She didn’t want to really put much thought into them crashing at Zoe’s. She knew better than to get jealous over Zoe, even though part of her was. She hoped she’d feel less jealous when Zoe got a boyfriend, if that ever finally happened. “Yeah I think so. Tristan is jonesing for some Jail Bait. He’s been in Bayville the last now five days.”, Merrick teased Tristan. “Damn straight I’m going through withdrawls. How you go months without getting laid I don’t know man. I mean I used to live the skype and phone sex life but god it’s not as good or fun as the real thing.”, Tristan laughed getting up starting to find his clothes getting dressed. “Why’s he been in Bayville for five days?”, Rose asked confused. “Oh he’s started working for Holly. So he comes down every other week, or that’s the plan, crashes at Holly's and helps with the ranch and the riding lessons. My understanding there’s about a dozen twelve year olds wishing for Blaire’s untimely demise to claim him for themselves.”, Merrick explained getting up heading for the bedroom placing her on speaker as he started to get dressed.
“Ah I see. Well glad he’s working and on a ranch again. I’m sure Blaire misses him too. God knows I miss you.”, Rose sighed looking over the pile of papers on her bed which was a combination of homework and information for Excalibur. “I miss you too beautiful more than I know how to describe. But we’ll see each other soon.”, he smiled internally saying ‘than you think’. “I know but April is soo far away. I wish I had the time off to come home for Christmas.”, she frowned. “Hey it’s alright. You were here when Faelan and, probably mostly, I needed you after we lost Nana. I wouldn’t trade having you here when I needed you most just to have you here for opening presents. Though did really like opening my ‘present’ last year. Then again I never get tired of opening that particular gift.”, he smirked walking out having taken her off speaker phone as he buttoned his shirt. Rose laughed shaking her head knowing he was referring to her and how Landon had placed a bow on her forehead last Christmas before she went to his room. Malcolm and Tristan had gotten dressed while Merrick was back in the bedroom and were presently sitting on the couch watching the morning news while Zoe was tucked into her chair watching with them and blanket wrapped around her trying to stay warm. “Today a special U.N meeting is to be held to discuss the global crisis of mutants and how this surge in their number should best be handled.”, the reporter spoke standing outside the U.N building in Manhattan. “Trist turn this up. Landon and alpha team are on a mission there today.”, Malcolm asked nudging Tristan who had the remote.
Merrick raised an eyebrow hearing the words ‘Landon’, ‘alpha team’ and ‘mission’. Rose heard them too. “What about a mission? What’s going on Merrick?”, Rose asked. “Hang on. I don’t know.”, Merrick said moving into the living room nudging Zoe out of the chair. Zoe begrudgingly moved but as soon as he was seated found herself pulled back to his lap his right arm around her while he left held the phone. “We’re watching the morning news. Reporter is talking about a U.N meeting about mutants.”, Merrick explained as Tristan turned up the volume. “Hang on I’ll put you on speaker so you can hear better gimpy just turned up the tv.”, Merrick said switching to speaker setting the phone on the coffee table. Zoe lightly shook her head adjusting the blanket around her getting comfortable again just now on his lap. “Okay so what’s going on Malcolm? What do you mean a mission and Landon’s involved?”, Rose asked. “Um last week Duncan called him. Guilted the poor bastard using the kids on team alpha as leverage to get Landon to agree to take the mission. Guess the FOH and COH on our side of the ocean have the X-men and their student teams spread thin. The FOH plan to bomb the U.N while it’s in session. Duncan had no choice but to send team alpha; Stephan, Marco, Taylor, Ororo, Inola and Nathan.”, Malcolm explained. Merrick’s head turned the instant he heard Inola and Nathan’s names. Those names meant something to him. Nathan being his nephew and Inola was his young volunteer and best worker at the sanctuary.
“That fucking piece of shit. He knows Landon wouldn’t sit by and do nothing when a team of kids, a team of kids he knows so damn well and even as family are sent to try and handle something this big. Oh god if I was there I’d turn Duncan into kebabs. Using those kids just to pull Landon into something he walked away from.”, Rose growled. “Trust me little wolf Duncan’s lucky I’m haven. I don’t like the idea of him sending my nephew and my little squaw on something this big and dangerous.”, Merrick growled too. “Yeah well like it or not these kids did sign up to become X-Men. And the FOH and COH don’t give a shit about age. Hiro and the boys are just as young as Inola and didn’t seem to faze the bastards back in Glasgow.”, Malcolm commented. “Already protesters on both sides have started to form outside.”, the reporter spoke. The camera panned to show police barriers holding back two groups. One side was holding signs demanding equality for all while the other was holding signs saying hateful things about mutants. Merrick furrowed his brow looking at the groups. “Whoa hold it pause.”, Merrick demanded. Tristan quickly paused the live broadcast everyone confused why. “That’s...oh fucking hell.”, Merrick growled. “What is it? Remember I can’t see.”, Rose asked. “Shaw, Adam and Arie are in the crowd of protesters. They are hanging back not holding up signs and they’ve got Gregory’s girlfriend Salena with them.”, Merrick let out a breath. So his cousins were there which means the Academy was getting involved. “Maybe it’s coincidence?”, Zoe and Tristan suggested. “No. That grouping would not be being there today would not be coincidence. Azazel ordered them there. And I doubt it’s to stop the FOH. Azazel isn’t about saving people. He’s about killing them.”, Merrick growled.
Malcolm was pulling his phone out calling Cora Lee. “Hey sparky? How’s the hangover?”, Cora Lee greeted having finally gotten up and was eating some pancakes with the others while her brother and the team where in the MDR running through the training for the mission. “Morning sweetheart. It’s fine. Um Landon right there or one of the alpha kids?”, Malcolm asked. Cora Lee arched a pierced brow. “No. They are in the MDR training. Why?”, Cora Lee asked. This of course getting Lily, Tommy and Rachel to look at her with interest. “Sitting at Zoe’s watching channel 3 news. They are talking about the U.N meeting today and there are protesters on both sides already there. Merrick made up pause the feed. Shaw, Adam, Arie, and Salena from the academy are in the crowd. I figured Landon and the team would want to know that’s who the Academy sent.”, Malcolm explained. “I’ll let them know. Thanks Sparky.”, Cora Lee sighed glancing to the window that looked to the terrace which now had a view of the metal exterior to the MDR. “Thanks babe. And tell them to stay safe.”, Malcolm sighed. “Give me the phone.”, Merrick instructed holding his hand out. Malcolm arched an eyebrow and handed the phone over. “Listen, this is what you tell your brother. Shaw always favors his left and with his powers you never go for a direct attack against him because he’ll turn it against you. Keep all emotions in check with Adam and aim for his jaw it’s like glass and he’s a total wimp when it comes to getting hit in the face. Arie might have her dad’s telepathic and diamond powers but her telepathy isn’t half what her dad or mine can do and her diamond form isn’t up to E’s level either. Salena I can’t give much on she joined after I left, but she’ll be their areal support so someone better keep her grounded.”, Merrick went right into giving what help he could.
Cora Lee blinked as Merrick was giving hints on how to bring down his Frost cousins. “Why are you tell me this?”, Cora Lee asked. “Because Nathan and Inola are on this mission. Nathan is my nephew I want him back unharmed. And Inola’s the best worker I’ve got at the sanctuary, would like her returned in one piece too.”, Merrick explained handing the phone back to Malcolm. “Okay I’ll tell them.”, Cora Lee said still confused at Merrick’s involvement. Zoe just smiled a little of course Merrick was going to make sure his nephew would be given the upperhand in this. “Hey you got me back beautiful. Alright so just give the details to Landon. I’ll be home later. I love you.”, Malcolm smiled at the last sentence. “I will. Love you too.”, Cora Lee smiled hanging up. “Did you really just tell Landon and the team how to take down your Frost cousins?”, Rose asked having heard Merrick. “Yes. I’m haven, that only means I can’t fight. Doesn’t mean I can’t give council on how to fight. I know those kids, well not Salena. And I don’t care if they are my Frost family. Granted I prefer they don’t get hurt too.”, Merrick shrugged. “I don’t think Landon would want to hurt them. And we know Landon will do everything he can to protect team alpha. Nathan is family to him. All those kids are family to him.”, Rose sighed. She knew Landon would go to an extreme to protect people. She’d seen it first hand three times in her life. “Yeah I know he will.”, Merrick nodded though he internalized the ‘I just hope he doesn’t do anything too stupid this time.’. Merrick didn’t want to admit he was worried about Landon too. “Alright well I should go. Have patrol soon. Bye guys. Love you Merrick.”, Rose sighed. “BYE ROSE!”, the others yelled. “Bye little wolf. Love you too.”, Merrick smiled leaning over to grab his phone again ending the call.
“Alright well you boys should get going. I need to shower and get ready for my shift at the restaurant and I’m sure a very cute puppy is missing his daddy.”, Zoe said standing up. “Yes that is true. Need to get my baby and then get these two on trains back to their women.”, Merrick nodded standing up. “Thanks for letting us crash here and eat your food Zoe. It was fun. we should have slumber parties more often. Next time though we bring our girlfriends so more than just you two have someone to cuddle.”, Tristan teased getting up setting the remote on the coffee table the news having switched to another segment. Malcolm elbowed Tristan. “It was fun. Thanks for letting us crash. Later Zoe.”, Malcolm smiled getting his shoes and jacket. Zoe laughed shaking her head moving and giving Tristan and then Malcolm each a hug. Merrick rolled his eyes getting his boots on and jacket. “I’ll talk to you later. Thanks for letting us invade your house.”, Merrick smiled giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Later hellraiser.”, he smiled pulling back from the hug. “Any time. Bye lupo cavitto. Love you.”, Zoe waved as the guys headed out of the apartment. Merrick waved before closing the door. “Love you too.”, he said just before the door closed. “Alright let’s get my car and return your asses to your girlfriends.”, Merrick instructed as they headed down the stairs. Klaus and Alec had the kitchen door open arguing in French about something but Klaus stopped speaking seeing the three men leaving. “Votre ‘nièce’ sait comment passer du temps de qualité avec quelques beaux hommes. (Your ‘niece’ certainly knows how to spend quality time with some handsome men.)”, Klaus commented leaning to watch them depart his eyes following Merrick’s ass as he was last out the door. Alec punched Klaus in the arm. “Ce fut Tristan, Malcolm et Merrick. Tous les trois ont copines qu'ils sont follement en amour avec. Merrick se détourne bientôt si le quatuor ont passé beaucoup de temps ensemble. Ne lisez pas trop loin dans ce pervers. (That was Tristan, Malcolm and Merrick. All three have girlfriends they are madly in love with. Merrick is moving away soon so the quartet have been spending a lot of time together. Don't read too far into it pervert.)”, Alec scolded before getting back to work.
Adam, Shaw, Arie and Salena were busy blending into the crowd of protesters as they were just trying to get a better idea of the building. Slipping inside unnoticed they started to casually walk around pretending like they were on a tour of some kid. Unlike Landon they didn’t have all the tech he and Forge provided team alpha. So they had no schematics of the building to research before hand. So this was their time to get a first hand look around. “Let’s divide up. There are thirty-nine floors and four of us. Salena take the first nine floors. Arie you take the ten thru twenty. Adam takes twenty-one thru thirty. And I’ll take the top nine floors. Snoop around. Get an estimate of how many people are your floors. We are here to maximize casualties. If you come across any opposition, do what you feel necessary.”, Shaw ordered. The other three nodded each taking an elevator to start their surveillance of the building. They did their best to avoid people so they didn’t have to try and answer questions. Arie had set up a telepathic link so they could communicate. Otherwise she was using her telepathy to scan the minds of people on her floors to see if anyone in house was part of the FOH plot. ‘I’ve found at least a dozen internal FOH members that work here’, she thought to her cousins and Salena. ‘Hmm of course. It’ll make it easier for them to pull this off with people on the inside. Keep up your searches.’, Shaw instructed.
While the Academy team continued their preview of the U.N mission site team alpha and Landon were getting out of the MDR not a one wasn’t sweating. “Holy shit. You don’t believe in taking anything easy.”, Marco commented out of breath. “No. You honestly think Duncan guilted me into this mission because I’m soft and do things the easy way?”, Landon asked walking into the kitchen starting to grab waters from the fridge tossing them to the kids. “Well no. We know he picked you because...well next to Mister Howlett… you're the best.”, Taylor answered starting to chug his water. Landon smirked a little sipping his water. “Sensai Logan is the best at what he does that much I know for certain. I trained under him even after my defeat of Wanda. My MDR training program is with a hologram of him too. He’s an intense fighter and instructor. This mission has too many uncontrollable variables. I needed to work you this morning so we’ll be ready for later. Why don’t you kids go hit the showers. Then we can get some lunch before we need to suit up and take care of business.”, Landon nodded. “Sounds good.”, Nathan nodded drinking his water heading up the stairs eager to shower. The whole team followed ready for relaxing showers after hours in the MDR with Landon. “How hard did you work those kids?”, Cora Lee asked coming into the kitchen. “Hopefully hard enough. No worse than I worked you and the rest of the team leaders in our day.”, Landon smiled. “So what can I do ya for sis? Need to take a shower before mission.”, he asked. “The mission is what we need to talk about.”, Cora Lee explained. Landon jumped on the counter picking up the last apple but stopped before taking a bite seeing Nazri, about the size of a german shepherd, staring up at him from the floor before flapping his wings and hovering. “Oh you beast. Fine fine take it.”, Landon sighed tossing the apple which Nazri caught in his mouth landing as he at the apple core and all. “So what’s up Cora Lee?”, Landon asked turning his attention to his little sister.
“Malcolm called while you were in the MDR with the kids.”, she started. “Ah okay. How was his night out with Merrick and the others?”, he asked. “It was fine. They crashed at Zoe’s no one sober enough to drive to the haven. But that’s not the point. This morning they were watching the news at her place and they were talking about the U.N meeting. Protestors for both sides are already there. And Merrick noticed four familiar faces in the crowd. Adam, Shaw and Arie Frost along with Salena whatever her last name is.”, she explained. “Hmm. Okay, well I knew Azazel would send a group. We trained against all possible selections. We’ll be covered.”, Landon nodded. “Well Malcolm wanted you to know. And well Merrick wanted me to tell you..”, she continued trying to remember everything. “Merrick? Hmm okay.”, Landon asked intrigued that his cousin was involved. “Yeah I know I was confused too. Anyways he said that ‘Shaw always favors his left and with his powers you never go for a direct attack against him because he’ll turn it against you. Keep all emotions in check with Adam and aim for his jaw it’s like glass and he’s a total wimp when it comes to getting hit in the face. Arie might have her dad’s telepathic and diamond powers but her telepathy isn’t half what her dad or his can do and her diamond form isn’t up to E’s level, which I guess is what he’s calling Emma since he disowned her, either. Salena he couldn’t give much on she joined after he left, but he knows she’ll be their areal support so someone better keep her grounded.”, Cora Lee delivered the notice. “Noted Cora Lee and I’ll remember it. Now I’m going to shower then eat before the team needs to head out for this mission. See you tonight.”, Landon smiled jumping off the counter heading up the stairs. “I better…”, Cora Lee sighed before going up to her room to finish a term paper.