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Skye was up early in the morning for her assignment. The X-men were still covering for Excalibur, however because of the article he was writing the journalist Jonathan Fuller had started to come into the Church's sights. And Rose had told her to keep an eye on him, if he wrote this piece right he could help to educate the public on the truth of the type of people the church really was. So she’d agreed to have breakfast with him to discuss the church a little more than she’d originally done in their meeting at her office. She’d chosen to make it a breakfast/brunch meeting to prevent the impression this was a date. After all she had Mason. Jonathan had eagerly agreed to the meeting though since it was by phone Skye wasn’t sure if his eagerness was because she was willing to give more information about the church or that it was with her. She let him select the place which he’d unknowingly picked one of her favorite places for brunch the Breakfast Club. She felt a little bad that she hadn’t just told Mason her ‘work’ was having to keep an eye on Jonathan Fuller and that she was going to brunch with him to talk more about the church while still keeping an eye on him. She was sure he’d understand but then she did find Jonathan attractive and she wasn’t sure how Mason would feel in that regard. But he also spent most of his days around Adder who she knew he was attracted to.
She took a taxi and headed to the restaurant to meet Jonathan. Which as she got out of her taxi he was standing outside the building leaning against it looking rather handsome wearing a white slip fit button up, a navy herringbone pea coat left unbuttoned, dark blue jeans, medium tan leather shoes, with his navy and tan canvas messenger back over his shoulder looking at his watch. Skye pushed aside the thoughts of him being attractive. “Ello.”, she greeted walking over pulling her purse back over her shoulder. She’d chosen to be mostly casual in her choice of clothing She’s picked out a light steel blue-gray top that was sheer with cascading opal colored flower aplicaes down the chest and a solid steel blue-grey tank underneath paired with a pair of her skinny jeans and a pair of flats. She’d not really bothered with make up either again trying to not send the wrong impression. Jonathan looked up from his watch hearing the thick Scottish accent and smiled seeing Skye walking up. He chose to not say what first came to his mind of ‘wow’ but Skye heard it anyways. “Morning love.”, Jonathan greeted with a smile. Skye rolled her eyes. “Don’t call me that Mister Fuller. I agreed to meet with you for your article. So why don’t you try to keep it professional? If you think you can manage that.”, Skye said opening the door and heading inside.
Jonathan blinked pushing off the wall to quickly follow her in. “How many?”, the hostess asked. “Two.”, Jonathan said quickly. “This way.”, she said grabbing two menus leading them to a table. Skye took the seat that Jonathan was about to take, because it kept her back to the wall and allowed her to see the whole restaurant. “Um alright. Generally I like to not have my back to the room but ladies choice.”, he smiled taking the other chair. “Tanks. Ah canna stand da idea o someone coming up be’ind me.”, she explained. Her blue eyes were looking around the room behind him doing a mental scan of everyone in the restaurant thankful it didn’t seem to have anyone who’d intended to harm him. With that initial threat assessment complet she picked up her menu looking. “Hi I’m Chris I’ll be your waiter. Do you know what you want to start out with?”, the waiter asked. “I’m going to get the fully monty and coffee.”, Jonathan ordered handing the waiter his menu. “Caramel lattee and da ‘uevos al benny wid side of potatoes”, Skye said handing over her menu. “I’ll get those orders in and your drinks right out.”, Chris smiled and walked away.
“Sooo not that I’m going to complain you agreed to meet with me again, but why the change of mind or heart?”, Jonathan asked. Skye rolled her eyes. “Ya randomly s’owed at mah office asking me questions dat Ah was not really prepared ta answer. Ah was busy ‘aving a deadline ta meet. And since ya’ve left up ta three messages a day wid mah receptionist asking fer a follow up interview cause yer ‘gut’ says Ah kne more dan Ah told you. Ah agreed because fer all Ah kne ya’d find mah private mobile number and start calling me at all ‘ours wanting dis interview.”, Skye explained simply. She certainly wasn’t going to tell him her real reason. That’s she’s actually a masked vigilante and she’s trying to protect him from the Church who would stop at nothing to prevent him from putting his article to press. Jonathan smirked. “I’m persistent what can I say. I wouldn’t have called your private number, though I do have it.”, he commented. “Pardon me?”, Skye questioned. “I’m a journalist I investigated and pulled favors and got the number. I wouldn’t have called it at least till you gave it to me yourself.”, he explained. “Aye, well ya can continue not calling it. Now ya ‘ad more questions bout da church, aye?”, she said wanting to get this on subject.
Jonathan smiled and nodded reaching into his bag taking out a pen and pad of paper. “Alright professional then. So Miss Kearney I had the feeling from our last talk that you did know more about the church that you’d disclosed. Would you like to share what you know and perhaps how you know it?”, Jonathan asked. Skye sighed about to answer but paused as the waiter returned with their drinks. “Your food should be up in just a moment.”, he said before walking away. “Ya understand dat dis article and even talking bout dis puts ya in danger?”, Skye questioned. “I’m a journalist it’s my job to get the truth out there, no matter the cost. Doesn’t it also put you in danger too?”, he asked. “I can handle danger. And I’m already in this there’s no way to back out.”, Skye commented. “Right because of your relationship with Mason Templeton?”, Jonathan asked sipping his coffee. “Aye…”, Skye nodded. She was in this long before she met Mason but let Jonathan think her relationship was why she was in it. “Wouldn’t just not seeing him get you out of danger?”, he asked. “It not dat easy. Fer one Ah love him. Fer anot’er da sex just too good ta walk away from.”, Skye smiled sipping her drink. “I see… okay. Um well on to business. What can you tell me that you hadn’t before?”, he asked a little uncomfortable. Skye saw the disappointment on his face and could hear it in his mind, he hadn’t liked hearing her say the sex was great and worse yet that she was in love with Mason.
“Now as fer wat Ah kne bout da church. Dey kidnappers, torturers, and murders of mutants.”, Skye said. “Dey target mutant families, be dem ‘aving just one mutant in deir ‘ouse or more. Dey will murder da human members of da family dat dare ta love and treat deir mutant relative, such as deir own barren, like dey no different dan any ot’er human. Den dey kidnap da mutant and take dem ta various locations, da sick pricks get a kick outta using abandoned churches, and torture da mutant ta death. Sometimes dey just leave da body ta rot not caring or day try ta make a statement by displaying deir victim ta da public. Like deir way of saying ‘dis wat ya get fer being mutant’. And if ya a mutant dat owns a business dey go after ya, dey protest ya, dey try ta get ya boycotted. Dey brow beat yer neighbors and patrons inta being too scared ta come round.”, Skye said trying to maintain her anger at that. All she could think about was the people she’d had saved from crosses and that little boy Rose and Donovan saved last year. Jonathan blinked most of what she was talking about didn’t make news, he hadn’t really heard much about this church till the charity event when they tried to attack royals. “Why have I not heard any of this before? How do you know about this stuff?”, he asked.
“Ya don’t kne bout it because dey keep it outta da papers and off da news. Dey got members in all walks o life. And Ah kne because w’en Ah was in university dey tried ta nail some mutant students ta crosses on da lawn of their ‘ouses. Mah twin brot’er and Ah stopped dem kicking deir arses good preventing deses two mutants from dismemberment and most likely death. As ya can see Mason ain’t da only reason Ah part of dis. Ah canna sit idle w’en Ah kne someone needs ‘elp. It ain’t ‘ow Ah was raised.” , she explained taking another drink of her latte. “Wow...so even before Mason you were fighting these people. You just got a lot more interesting Miss Kearney.”, he smiled. “So you say they have people everywhere and that’s how they are covering it up. Do you have proof?”, Jonathan asked. “Ya got a better theory on w’y dis stuff doesn’t make ‘eadlines? Ya only doing a story bout it cause dey attacked dat charity even dat ‘ad verra important people.”, Skye countered stopping the conversation as their meals arrived. Jonathan waited till the waiter walked away. “Alright so I’ll give you that I can’t think of a better reason this would be getting covered up. But I can’t write a theory. I need facts.”, Jonathan pointed out starting to eat. Skye sighed. “Police reports were filled but dey got buried and became cold cases. Ya journalist Ah sure ya can get yer facts.”, she commented starting to eat. A group of patrons walked in looking around and they caught Skye’s eye, mostly because she heard their thoughts. These men were looking for Jonathan.
“Crap…”, Skye muttered. “What’s wrong?’, Jonathan asked about to turn but Skye grabbed his arm so he couldn’t. “Just keep looking at me. Dinna fash bout anyt’in else. Can ya do dat? Keep yer eyes on me?”, she asked. “Yeah I can certainly keep my eyes on you.”, he nodded though not sure what was going on just that Skye must have seen something that had her worried. “Good. Just eat and w’en Ah say run ya do it.”, she instructed eating keeping her focus fully on the group of men who were being seated at least to where they wouldn’t get a good view on Jonathan’s face. “So at what point do you tell me you aren’t really just some bird from Glasgow that became a photo editor but are really an international spy?”, he teased. “Ah ain’t a spy.”, she said shaking her head with a small smile. No she wasn’t a spy, she was a fighter she was Excalibur. Which to her meant she was even better than some spy. “Anything else you can tell me about the…”, he started to talk but Skye held a finger up telling him silently to stop. She didn’t want to draw the attention of the church goers that had walked in by even mentioning it. “No, and certainly not here. Pick a different topic of conversation till the meal is over.”, Skye suggested. “Um...alright. That mean I can ask personal questions about you?”, he asked with a small smile. Skye sighed. “Fine but for any question you ask I get to ask one.”, she countered. “Sounds fair. So let’s start with basics. Your full name?”, he asked.
“Skye Margaret Kearney. Yers?”, she asked. “Margaret...a tad old lady of a name.”, he commented. “Jonathan Andrew Fuller. So you grew up in Glasgow, big family?”, he asked between bites. “Margaret is mah grandmum’s name tank ya. And Aye Ah was born and raised in Glasgow. Mah immediate family wasn’t wat ya call ‘big’ but mah clan is verra large. But growing up was mah dah,mum, mahself, and mah twin brot’er. Yerself?”, she answered. “Only child. Grew up in Hastings.”, he answered. “Guess dat explains da more Sussex accent ya got. “, she commented. Jonathan nodded. “Yeah. But for a bird from Glasgow your accent is more Highland than Glaswegian. How’d that work?”, he inquired. “Mah Dah was born and raised in Rothesay wid his seven siblings, so he got da highland accent. And mah mum is originally from Fort William. So Ah grew up wid highland accents in mah ‘ouse and visiting mah clan and Glaswegian round town.”, she explained. Jonathan blinked. “Seven siblings? Lord your grandparents were busy.”, he laughed. Skye shrugged. “Kearneys are kne fer bout four tings, two kind of go ‘and and ‘and t’ough.”, she smiled. “And da eight are really only four pregnancies dem all being sets o twins.”, she added. “Still wow. And what, pray tell, are Kearneys known for?”, he asked curious now. “Being fig’ters fer one.”, Skye stated.
Jonathan nodded. “Okay I can see that based on what I’ve known of your adventures. And the others?”, he asked. “We tend ta ‘ave twins. At least fer da descendents o mah great granddah Alan. Dere only six dat were born widout a twin out of da total of near fifty of great granddah’s line.”, she continued. “Wow that’s just one branch. Okay what are the other two?”, he asked. “Well dat obviously we good breeders, given are numbers, and verra good in bed.”, she chuckled with a shrug. Jonathan nodded. “I see. Well guess those go hand in hand.You have so many in the clan because the sex is that good it’s worth the nine months of pregnancy and pain of childbirth. Guess that makes Mason one of the luckiest men in the country.”, he commented. “I don’t know if I’d say that. I’m not exactly the woman of his original dreams or anything.”, Skye shrugged. “Because you aren’t a blonde? Please, redheads are far better in bed. At least that’s been my experience. I’ve, however, never been with a Kearney. Are there many redheads in your family?”, he questioned eating more. “Aye. Dere are a number of us. Most times da twins are a boy and a girl and one ‘as black or dark brown hair and da ot’er red. Mah twin Donovan has da dark brown o our set. Mah dah got da dark brown o his set and mah Aunt Alendria is da redhead. But dere are sets dat don’t get a redhead and some dat don’t get a brunette. Yesterday mah cousin Ashley from da states got married. She a blonde and her twin brot’er da red head. Mah younger yank cousins Evan and Hiro are da only living set of male twins, Evan got da black hair and Hiro got blonde. Den mah cousins Hadyn and Nichola, she da one dat works at yer paper, are both brunettes.”, she went into a tad more detail.
“Only living set?”, he asked. “Um...aye. Mah Uncle Evan died w’en he was a lad. His twin Iver survived and named one o his boys after him.”, Skye said not wanting to explain how Evan had died. It would give too much away if she said that her Uncle died when his ‘boarding’ school in america was attacked and set on fire. “Ah. I’m sorry to hear that. Now you said your twin is a Donovan Kearney? That the same one from the warriors rugby team?”, he asked. Skye chuckled and nodded. “Aye dat him. Ya a London fan like mah Mason is and ‘ate mah twin fer kicking arse every time?”, she asked. “Actually I’m not a London fan. I’m a warriors fan. So I think your brother is amazing. Best rugby player I’ve seen in my life. He’s the energizer bunny of the sport. takes a beating but just keeps on going.”, he smiled. “Aye dat he does.”, she smiled finishing her meal. The only reason her twin was able to take the abuse of rugby matches and keep going was his healing factor. “So before we ask for the check. Can I ask one more slightly more personal question?”, he asked finishing his plate. “Ah suppose. Wat yer question”, she asked. “How did you end up with Mason?”, he asked.
“Dat a question implying a blue collar lass from Glasgow dat works at GQ isn’t good enuff fer a young successful CEO and ‘umanitarian silver spoon lad like Mason?”, she asked. “No I just am left wondering how he managed to snag someone as amazing as you.”, Jonathan explained shaking his head. “Uh huh. Well we met in a pub, he was smas’ed. Ah got him back ta his flat safe fer his bodyguard ta look after. Next day he sent two dozen blue roses ta apologize fer his poor first impression and asked fer a second c’ance ta make a better one by taking me ta dinner. And he made a good second impression especially wid da kiss good nig’t. From dere we just started ‘anging out casually till it go serious. And it just kept getting better. He is an amazing man.”, Skye smiled thinking about it. “Well that I guess answers my follow up question of how happy you are in your relationship.”, Jonathan sighed motioning the waiter over for the check. “Ah suppose it does. Ah verra ‘appy wid Mason. Dere very little bout ta not be ‘appy bout. W’y would dat matter ta ya Mister Fuller?”, she asked. Jonathan handed over his business credit card planning to charge the brunch to his job since this was a work meeting. “No reason I suppose.”, he shrugged. “Looking fer da c’ink in da armour?”, she chuckled. Jonathan smiled a little. “Am I that obvious?”, he asked. “Aye. Ya dinna try too ‘ard ta ‘ide yer interest at least p’ysically in me.”, Skye explained. “Well what can I say I’m a sucker for a beautiful red head. And find it a shame that I come across one that’s as breathtaking as you and she’s spoken for.”, he shrugged signing the check putting his notepad and pen away standing up.
Skye grabbed her purse standing up. “Well tank ya fer yer compliment. Is dere a back way out of dis place?”, she asked. Jonathan raised an eyebrow. “Um no, at least not that’s available to patrons. Why?”, he asked confused. “Shite...fine. We can take da front but Just stay ta mah left, aye.”, She instructed linking her left arm with his right to ensure he did stay to her left. She wanted to keep herself between him and the table of COH. “Er okay…”, Jonathan still didn’t understand what was going on as they started to walk away. He did notice a table watching them but didn’t think much of it, she was a beautiful woman of course a table of men would look at her. As they headed out the door the men all started to move, not having ordered yet anyways to follow them. Skye groaned hearing their thoughts, the men planning to follow them and try and force them down a dead end and use some forceful persuasion to get Jonathan to not put his article to print. “Just act natural and follow mah lead.”, Skye whispered walking along the city street. Jonathan was very confused now and went to glance behind them but Skye tightened her grip on his arm causing him to look at her instead. “We are being followed. So don’t look be’ind us.”, she spoke softly. Followed? Okay not he really was thinking this woman was far from what she appeared. “Why would we be followed?”, he whispered back. “Because yer writing an article dat will bring ta lig’t da misdeeds of deir organization. Dey want ya silenced.”, she whispered back.
Jonathan knew that his article would be controversial and maybe after Skye told him all that the church had done it shouldn’t surprise him they’d go to extreme lengths to get him to not write it, but he was none the less. Skye chose to play into their hands taking the turn she knew they wanted. “Why are we going this way? It’s a dead end…”, Jonathan whispered. “Ah kne.”, she said. “But then they have us cornered. And I am not much of a fighter.”, he explained. “Ah kne. But dey also can’t flank us or surround us. And dinna fash Mister Fuller, Ah am. Ah’ll keep ya safe.”, Skye assured as they walked. “Mister Jonathan Fuller…might we have a word with you?”, one of the men spoke up as they knew they now had Jonathan and his bird cornered. Skye stopped walking and turned around to face the men taking a step forward to be in front of Jonathan. “Ah sorry ta disappoint gents but Mister Fuller doesn’t ‘ave anyting ta discuss wid da likes o ya.”, Skye said firmly folding her arms across her chest. “So he hides behind a bird?”, one laughed. “Oh I’m soo scared of da pretty bird.”, another laughed the group all laughing now. “Feisty bird you have there Fuller. I say we take care of Fuller then we see to his bird.”, one spoke taking a step forward touching Skye’s arm with a smile. “Bet she’d like that.”, he added. Skye narrowed her eyes and with her other arm swung landing a solid left on the man’s jaw bring him down to the ground with a broken jaw him spitting out a couple teeth as she hadn’t held back as much as she could have.
“Do not touc’ me.”, she said glaring at the man on the ground who was holding his face in pain. “Any more o ya tink it a good idea ta mess wid me? Cause Ah will take da lot of ya and send ya ta da emergency like dis fool.”, Skye said balling both fists ready to fight. The other five men blinked looking at their ring leader on the ground and back to the woman that put him there. “Well? Come on den lads. Afraid ta try and ‘it a lass? Or just afraid dat da lass gonna kick yer arses.”, Skye taunted. Jonathan blinked and looked to the man on the ground and the bloody teeth on the ground. “let’s get her!”, one shouted and two rushed her and she dodged one tripping him to the ground while slamming her fist into the other’s stomach. “Next?”, Skye asked looking at them reaching and moving Jonathan away from the men she’d just dropped to the ground. “Ah can do dis all day if ya like.”, she smiled. “Well aren’t you smug..”, one said pulling a knife from his pocket. “And aren’t ya dumb.”, Skye smiled as he came at her, sky knowing his move before he made it because he was thinking on how to approach. So her hands grabbed his wrists and squeezed, not with full strength but a decent amount as he dropped the knife. She switched to holding just one arm and yanked it turning him and pulling it up hard behind him dislocating it from his shoulder before she kicked him with her shoe to the ground with the others. She looked to the final two men. “So yer c’oice. Get yer arse kicked by a bird or get yer mates outta ‘ere.”, She gave them a choice.
The two looked at each other before moving to help up their friends. “You won’t always be around to protect him.”, one warned. “Wanna bet? Mister Fuller under mah protection so ya keep dat in mind next time ya tink yer gonna get da drop on him ta silence him. No get out o ‘ere before Ah c’ange mah mind bout letting ya leave walking.”, she warned them as they left and she looked to Jonathan. “Ya alrig’t Mister Fuller?”, she asked. “I...um.. Yeah. Completely emasculated but unharmed physically. Seriously who are you Miss Kearney? And don’t tell me just a scottish bird that works at GQ. Because there is no way you did what you just did without some serious training.”, Jonathan questioned. “Sorry ta disappoint ya but dat all Ah am.”, she shook her head. “You continue to lie to me Miss Kearney. No one just knows how to fight like that, I don’t care if you said your family is know as good fights. And what was that about being under your protection? Can you for a moment be honest with me about this? What is going on? Who are you really?”, he questioned. “Ah’m Skye Margaret Kearney of Glasgow. A graduate of Cambridge University. A resident of London and da photo editor at GQ magazine. Dat is me being ‘onest wid ya. Ah a good fig’ter, Ah learned ‘ow ta fig’t early in mah life. And Ah said dat ta ward dem off.”, she insisted. “I’m sure those are all facts but there’s something you are leaving out and that worries me Miss Kearney.”, he sighed.
“I should go, I’ve got some digging to do with my police friends and an article to write. Thank you for the interview and for the save today.”, he nodded starting to walk away. Skye groaned frustrated and punched a brick wall in her frustration it going all the way through to show the road on the other side. Jonathan stopped hearing the bricks crumble and turned and blinked. “Miss Kearney?”, he questioned startled. Skye sighed shaking her head. He was a journalist how much should she really trust him? But she could read his mind, he was scared but there was nothing in there that would hint he’d betray her. “Fine….ya want ‘onest?”, she asked turning dusting her hand off of the crumbled brick. “Ah involved in all dis, Ah canna walk away from any o it because Ah a mutant. And Ah will do wat it takes ta protect mah fellow mutants from scum like dem. And ta protect people like yerself and mah Mason dat would try ta do da rig’t t’ing.”, she explained. “So...you know about the police reports and the kidnappings and murders because… you’re one of those masked vigilante's that have been popping up on youtube videos…”, he blinked in shock as the pieces were coming together. “Aye. Dat canna go into yer article. Noting bout me, mah powers or wat Ah do. Ah canna risk dat exposure and putting da people Ah love in danger.”, Skye explained. “I won’t Miss Kearney. You have my word. But this now makes more sense. How you are such a good fighter, how you somehow knew these guys were coming after me. How did you know?”, he asked.
“Mah team ‘ad intell dat dey were gunning fer ya. As fer knewing dem in particular, Ah’m a telepath so Ah looked into deir minds.”, she explained. Jonathan turned a little red realizing this meant she might have seen into his. “Have...have you looked into mine?”, he asked. “Not directly. Sometimes a person tinking verra loud and Ah’ll ‘ear it.”, she shook her head. “Oh lord. Um so have I thought anything very loud?”, he inquired now nervous that she’d heard his thoughts about her. Skye sighed and nodded. “Aye yer a loud tinker Mister Fuller. Dinna fash. Ah ain’t offended by da fact during our first meeting ya were tinking bout shagging on mah desk. Or dat ya keep tinking bout wat Ah mig’t look like naked. It not a t’ougt Ah ain’t ‘eard before by random blokes.”, she shrugged. Jonathan covered his faced. “Oh lord. I am so sorry. I...god I feel rather bad now. It’s not proper to think like that especially about a woman who’s taken.”, he sighed. “Again dinna fash. Fer wat Ah told dem bout ya being under mah protection. Dat Ah did mean. Me and mah team intend ta keep tabs on ya, make sure yer safe.”, she changed the topic. “Right..um is that why you are with Mason? And falling for him just a bonus?”, he asked. “No. ah wid mah boyfriend because Ah fell fer him. He doesn’t need mah protection. He’s got bodyguards fer dat.”, she shook her head. “Fair enough. Does he know about...well about what you can do?”, he asked. “Aye, he knows.”, she nodded.
“Ah well guess that’s good. So what happens now?”, he asked. “Now you keep working on your article and my team keeps an eye on you. And I’d suggest no longer putting things on an electronic calendar or at work. That’s how they found you today. You put down our meeting and your newspapers receptionist told them.”, she explained. “Seriously? Well that sucks, but good to know. So does this mean I’ll see more of you?”, he asked. “Most times ya will not even kne Ah dere. So Ah suggest we part ways at dis point Mister Fuller. Go do wat ya planned wid investigating wat Ah told ya.”, Skye suggested. Jonathan nodded. “Yeah guess that’s probably easier. Watch from a distance with your mask or one of your team does. Since well you have Mason. And I’m sure he wouldn’t care for you spending a lot of time around some other bloke. Like a personal bodyguard, going everywhere with me maybe even staying at my flat.”, he shrugged. Skye knew where he was going with that sentence. He was thinking about Mason’s blonde bodyguard Adder. He was trying to see if it bothered her that Mason was always around Adder. “Mason isn’t da jealous type. But none da less Ah do got a life dat Ah need ta live so it canna revolve round keeping ya safe.”, she commented. “Do you have paper and a pen?”, she asked. “Of course. Why?”, he asked taking out his notepad and pen offering them to her. Skye wrote down a number.
“Dat number only ta be used in absolute emergencies. Ya call it and someone will be rig’t dere ta ‘elp.”, she said handing him back the paper and pen. “So this is your number?”, he asked. Skye shook her head. “No. Dat a line fer mah team. We give it only ta people dat we ‘elped so if dey see someting or need ‘lep dey can call it and let us kne so we can respond.”, Skye explained. Jonathan nodded a little putting the things back into his bag. “Guess I’ll see you or not. Thanks again. Good day Miss Kearney.”, Jonathan smiled. “Good day Mister Fuller.”, she smiled back. Jonathan walked out of the small alley not sure how to feel about what just happened and all that he’d learned that day. He knew he wouldn’t at least tell anyone about Skye’s secret. She’d trusted him with that knowledge and he figured it was off the record anyways. The fact she was willing to trust him was at least a small sign of hope. He may never get her, because well how does one compete with a guy like Mason Templeton but maybe he could be her friend. He pushed the thoughts aside and decided it better to focus on his article and grabbed a taxi to head for a local police precinct to talk to one of his friends from university see if maybe he could pull some favors to learn about these ‘cold’ cases. He knew one thing for sure he wasn’t going to give up writing this article, if the church was desperate enough to try and do him physical harm to keep him silent that meant they really did have a lot to hide.
Back in Glasgow many of the American guests who had stayed at a local hotel were heading off on their own mini adventures to explore and see the sights that the United Kingdom had to offer. Colby, Alison, and Carter Delaney along with Nikki Howlett had left very early to see loch ness leaving Blaire and Tristan behind who were too tired to leave their room. Colby of course still called to tell Blaire they’d arrived at the loch and sent her pictures. But because he was getting no answer from Blaire he called Landon who he knew was still at least in Glasgow to check on her. To get Colby off his back Landon had agreed to go back to the hotel to check on Blaire. Plus him and some of the others had already said they’d take some of the younger kids with them out to lunch and to see the sights in Glasgow and let the parents have some free time. He left Rachel and the others down in the lobby with the younger kids saying he was going to go see if Blaire and Tristan wanted to come out for lunch with them. He knocked on the door. “You three alive in there?”, Landon asked smiling. He knew that Hadyn had come to the hotel to meet them and doubted the Kearney had left yet. The trio grumbled hearing the knocking. Tristan opened one eye. “Yes. Still alive. I think.”, Tristan called. Landon chuckled. “Well Colby is freaking because Blaire hasn’t answered his phone and wanted to make sure she was okay. Apparently volunteering to take the younger kids this afternoon means I’m babysister of twenty year olds too.”, Landon explained. “That mean you are babysitting Rachel?”, Blaire teased opening her eyes. “Oh yeah babysit her real good. I’m checking if you two wanted to go to lunch and if your door prize has made his walk of ‘shame’ yet.”, Landon asked leaning on their door. Hadyn groaned opening his eyes and lifting his head. “Ain’t a walk o s’ame if ya got no s’ame.”, Hadyn called. Blaire and Tristan laughed.
Landon shook his head. “So I take it you’ll just be ordering room service. Gotch ya. Don’t have too much fun. You still need to stand long enough to get to the airport tomorrow.”, Landon laughed and walked away back to the lobby. “So?”, Rachel asked with a smile knowing exactly what Landon did about Blaire and Tristan’s door prize. “Just as expected. They will not be coming out. At best they'll order room service. Let’s go guys.”, Landon smiled winking at Rachel. Rachel laughed shaking her head. Only Blaire and Tristan would come across the ocean for a wedding and end up sleeping with one of the other wedding guests. “Their loss. We are old enough to drink here so I’m getting a pint at whatever restaurant we go to.”, Cora Lee said firmly. Malcolm chuckled a little putting his arm around her and kissing the top of her purple hair. “You’re adorable.”, he commented. “And we’re hungry.”, Hiro spoke up double checking that his black wings were hidden under his jacket. His ‘we’ was referring to himself, Evan, Darren, and Junior who were all declared too young to be left on their own. “Oh don’t worry we’ll only let you starve a little.”, Tommy teased with a grin. “But seriously I’m hungry too, active metabolism.”, Tommy grinned patting his stomach. Lily rolled her eyes taking his hand. “Come on let’s go explore and find a restaurant before we go into shops.”, Lily smiled as the group headed out the door. Junior grumbled a little as he tried to keep up Landon stopping and scooping Junior up and setting him on his shoulders. “There ya go Junior. I may not be as tall as Malcolm but you still get a decent view.”, he smiled. “Thanks Landon.”, Junior smiled resting his arms on the top of Landon’s hair and looking down at him. Rachel smiled finding it cute how Landon was with her little cousin.
As the six adults walked with the four children all their heads were a bit on a swivel taking in their surroundings. There was older and historic buildings everywhere, people walking around the streets, shops and smells from different restaurants. Landon stopped at a corner location. “Hey how about this place?”, he yelled to the group who had continued to walk as he looked at a menu posted at the front window. “They seem fairly priced and even have a kids menu. What do you think little prince?”, Landon asked looking up to Junior who was leaning on his head looking at the menu too. “Sounds good to me.”, Junior nodded. “Well if his highness has spoken.”, Hiro chuckled turned around. Junior stuck his tongue out at Hiro. “Can I get down now Landon?”, he asked. “Sure Junior, we wouldn’t fit through the door otherwise.”, Landon agreed reaching up and grabbing Junior firmly by his sides lifting him up and over his head to set the little prince on the sidewalk in front of him. “As long as it’s food I’m good.”, Tommy commented walking inside. The hostess blinked a little seeing the large group walk inside. She didn’t seem to be bothered by Tommy’s white hair or Cora Lee’s purple after all people dyed thier hair odd colors anyways. “So ‘ow many?”, she asked. “Ten, six adults four kids.”, Landon answered walking in with Rachel. “Rig’t dis way.”, she said grabbing enough menus leading the group to a long bar height wood table that had exactly ten backed stools. “Yer waitress will be ri’gt wid ya.”, she smiled setting down the menus and leaving them.
Landon pulled out a chair for Rachel who hoped into the seat starting to look at her menu. “Hmm alright to fit, Evan and Hiro you to sit on an end and across from each other. Junior you can sit here between Rachel and Cora Lee.”, he said picking Junior up and setting him in the tall stool. For being eight Junior was still on the short side, most figured unless he got a decent growth spurt when he got older he was going to be about the height of his grandfather and cousin. Evan took a seat so he’d be next to Landon, Malcolm taking the other end seat to sit across from Cora Lee. Hiro smiled taking his end seat next to Lily, Darren snagged the seat between Malcolm and Tommy. “Ello Ah’m Hannah and Ah’ll be yer server ta day. Can Ah get ya started wid drinks and some nibblers?”, she smiled looking at the table. “London pale ale.”, Malcolm said still looking at the menu. “Make that two of those.”, Cora Lee smiled. “Hornsby for me. And the garlic rub bread and the bakes load for the table”, Landon added. “I’ll take a hornsby too.”, Lily stated. “Make it three.”, Tommy added. “I’ll just take a lemonade.”, Rachel said. “Can we get shakes?”, Hiro asked looking to Landon. Landon thought for a moment but nodded. “Sure but you start bouncing off walls I’m not catching you.”, Landon smiled. “Awesome. Chocolate milkshake for me.”, Hiro concluded. “I’ll take a vanilla.”, Evan smiled speaking quietly. “Strawberry please.”, Darren stated. “I’ll take a lemonade, please.”, Junior rounded out the drink order. “Ah’ll get dat rig’t our fer ya.”, she smiled walking away.
“Lemonade?”, Cora Lee asked looking at Rachel. “What? I’m not a big drinker anyways. And it’s only lunch time.”, Rachel defended. “Leave Rach alone.”, Landon scolded putting his arm around Rachel giving her a kiss on the cheek. “You going to pick on Junior for order a lemonade when the other boys ordered shakes?”, he asked. “Ah Rachel knows I love her.”, Cora Lee teased giving Rachel a side hug. “I’ll pick on him for it.”, Hiro chimed in. Junior furrowed his brow at Hiro. “alright let’s chill and just figure out what you want to order for lunch.”, Landon said. “Who’s buying or we splitting the tab?”, Tommy asked. “I’m buying, though technically their parents gave me some cash for their meals but I figured let them use that at the shops.”, Landon answered. The boys all smiled a little knowing they each had some money to spend now. Deciding what to eat was a bit complicated since a lot sounded god. Everyone made sure to order something to different and agreed they’d be willing to let others try off their plate. They all had a good meal enjoying the food and the atmosphere the restaurant offered. With the meal finished and paid they ventured back out going into the city center to look at the various shops. Buying little things to take home to remember the trip.
While they were shopping Mason and Adder had donned their masks taking their locations to watch the store that they knew was going to be protested against. All because the owner had hired a mutant with a physical mutation. The protesters had already started to show with their signs harassing customers that dared to go into the little shop. It hadn’t at least turned violent. But Mason and Adder didn’t trust that the COH could do anything without violence. Junior noticed the crowd from his lofty perch on Mason’s shoulders. “What’s going on up there?”, Junior as pointing to the large crowd. “Let’s find out.”, Hiro said racing ahead. “HIRO!”, Landon shouted before rushing after the preteen. Hiro ran into someone holding a sign that had the word mutant in a red circle with a line through it. “Watc’ were ya walking boy!”, the man shouted turning and glaring down at Hiro. “Oh sorry dude.”, Hiro said taking a step back but stepped into someone who’d walked up behind him. “Oy watc’ yerself boy.”, the man glared down at Hiro. “Pardon me. But you are the one that ran into me.”, Hiro pointed out stepped to move around the guy but the running into the men loosened one of his fathers that was hidden under his long coat and it floated to the ground at his feet. Both men looked at the feather and then at him. “MUTANT!”, the first man shouted reaching to grab Hiro.
“Hey no touching. I NEED AN ADULT!”, Hiro shouted “I DIDN’T REALIZE IN SCOTLAND TRYING TO SEXUAL ASSAULT YOUNG BOYS WAS OKAY!”, Hiro said pulling away drawing the attention of the crowd. But as he pulled away the man held his jacket which he had to slip out of to escape him. And there his black wings were for anyone to see. “He’s a mutant! GET HIM!”, a different protester shouted. “Well fuck…”, Hiro said back up and taking off in a run and literally running into Landon. “Behind me, now.”, Landon said sternly. Hiro didn’t question and just quickly ducked behind Landon. It wasn’t much of a hiding place with his wings and that Landon wasn’t say as big as Malcolm but still he felt safer with the institute’s legendary Prime between him and the mob. “Get outta da way.”, a man glared demanding of Landon. The man was later than Landon and broader in the shoulders and was purposely trying to make himself look bigger. The others were still trying to cross traffic to get to them so it was just Landon standing between this mob at Hiro. Mason furrowed his brow from his location faintly recognizing the faces but not certain. He looked to Adder at the other rooftop and gave her a nod indicating they should move it before whoever these people were got hurt. “Make me. Because I’d love to see you try.”, Landon said not backing down. “Oh da yank tinks he tough.”, he chuckled. “You going to keep talking or you going to do something?”, Landon countered. “Just get outta da way before ya get ‘urt yank.”, the man sneered. “Seriously you keep talking. I’m not moving unless you make me, and trust me you aren’t going to be able to make me. Now back off or do something more than try to talk me to sleep.”, Landon taughtened.
Hiro smiled a little behind Landon, he’d never seen Landon in action so this should be fun. The man snarled a little and took a swing at Landon. Landon blocked his grabbing the man’s wrist, just as Logan and Aurelia had trained him. “Your stance it all wrong.”, Landon commented simply still holding the man’s wrist. “And because of that you have left yourself open to me doing this.”, he smiled a little twisting the man’s arm and forcing him to turn to face the crowd, his arm pulled back behind him. “Now I said to back off, and I suggest you do it before you get hurt.”, Landon said before releasing his grip letting the man stumble forward into the mob. “Dere just on of ya against all o us. Ah like our odds.”, a man said stepping forward and moving to take a swing at Landon. The others had managed to catch up and it was Tommy who speeded in and grabbed the man’s fist before it could connect with Landon. “Sorry guy but that’s not happening. I can’t less you mess his face.”, Tommy grinned giving the man a spin. “I think you might want to recount how many there are of us.”, Cora Lee said stepping up next to her brother glaring. “Because no one gets to mess with my brother and not deal with me.”, she added. “If one of them is a mutant I bet more of them are.”, someone shouted in the crowd. Mason and Adder were working their way down from their locations to get behind the mob. Junior had been set down and moved to try and get Hiro over to him and the other boys but someone grabbed him picking him up. “Oy look Ah found a runt!”, the man laughed picking Junior up.
“RUNT!?”, Junior hated that word as much as his grandfather did. He head butted the man in the nose getting him to drop him. Junior scrambled away trying to get to his feet while th man holding his broken nose went to try and grab him again. “Ya little fooking shit.”, he cursed. Malcolm stepped in and knocked the man to the ground with a punch. Malcolm looked to Junior and offered his hand to help him up. “Tommy, Malcolm get the boys out of here now.”, Landon stated as the mob was getting angrier. “But…”, Tommy went to protest. A man in the crowd laughed. “He rat’er ‘ave birds fig’t dan blockes.”, he laughed. “Do it now you two can move the fastest. Junior needs to be kept safe. Now go.”, Landon said glaring. Tommy and Malcolm sighed but nodded. Malcolm picked up Junior and grabbed Hiro from behind Landon. Tommy took Darren and Evan by the hands and they started to make their way out of sight and for the hotel. they couldn’t really argue. Junior was royalty and they were all in charge of keeping him safe. Landon waited but was smiling. “Now you made a crack about me sending the guys away and keep my girls? You’re going to regret underestimating these girls.”, he smiled. And so the fight broke out. Mason and Adder were fighting from the back while of the mob while Landon, Lily, Cora Lee and Rachel fought from the front. Mason and Adder however didn’t hold back on using their powers. A number of individuals floating up into the air on a strong breeze and landing in a dumpster at the alley.
Tommy and Malcolm quickly got the boys to the hotel, not happy to have left the others but knew they could all fight and fight well as a team without them. “Boys you stay down here, Carter...Nikki watch them. We need to find their parents. Especially Hudson.”, Tommy instructed pointing to Carter Delaney and Nikki Howlett who had just gotten off the elevator. Carter looked confused as he and Nikki walked over to the boys. Junior looked rather upset and Malcolm handed him to Nikki. “Don’t worry boys.”, Malcolm assured as him and Tommy went for the elevator to find their parents. “What’s going on guy?”, Carter asked noticing Hiro’s wings were out. “We ran into anti-mutant protesters. One trying to grab me, got my coat instead. Freaked hard about me being a mutant cased me down but I found Landon. He tells me to get behind him. Which seriously I didn’t bother arguing with the legend. So i did. They tell him to move to get to me and he told them to make him. Guy tried to punch him he stopped it pulled the guy’s arm and turned him around holding the arm behind the guy and then let go allowing him to stumble forward. I wish we were still there to watch the legends in action. But After one grabbed Junior and Junior headbutted him to get away Landon told the guys to bring us back to keep us safe.”, Hiro explained.
It was close to dinner time by now, which as he looked at the time on his phone he thought about it would be well past seven before he got home, generally the drive was under three hours but as he absently rubbed his butt in in the elevator he realized letting Tristan ride him one more time was probably not in the best interest of driving home. He’d kind of hoped to get out of the hotel unnoticed. He knew that most of the out of country wedding guests were all staying there but figured most would be out seeing sights like Blaire's parents had left to do early that morning. As he headed for the door he wasn’t paying much attention to who was hanging around in the lobby. Standing over on the side of lobby stood Blaire’s brother Carter who was talking to Darren, Evan, and Hiro while his girlfriend Nikki held her younger cousin Junior in her arms. The younger boys all seemed a bit out of sorts and scared. “It’s going to be alright guys. Come on, we all know Landon can handle some COH punks starting shit. Him and the others are legends.”, Carter tried to assure his younger cousin and the twins. Evan nodded. “We know. We just don’t know who those other two mutants in masks are because they aren’t Rose’s people.”, Evan explained. “It’ll be alright. Just take breaths. Tommy and Malcolm are getting your parents. Till then you’ll hang down here with me and Nikki.”, Carter said patting Evan’s shoulder lightly.
Nikki sighed looking around hoping to see her uncle or any of the adults come out of the elevator hearing it ding but instead she blinked seeing a Kearney getting off the elevator. Or at least she was certain it was Kearney based on the plaid being the same they had all been wearing at the wedding and she’d been told that a plaid is to a clan as a fingerprint is to a person. “Carter where more Kearneys than those that came from the states staying at the hotel?”, she asked. Carter turned his head and recognized the Kearney she was talking about. “No there weren’t supposed to be. Guys which Kearney is that?”, he asked turning to Darren and the twins. The three boys looked and it was Darren that answered. “That’s our cousin Hadyn Kearney, son of Dougal and Isobel, grandson of our great Uncle Finn.”, Darren confirmed. “Hmm wonder what he’s doing here.”, Evan pondered tilting his head. “Let’s ask.”, Hiro shrugged cupping his hands around his mouth to call out to Hadyn. “Oy coz Hadyn! What you doing?”, Hiro called. Hadyn was almost to the doors of the lobby when he stopped dead hearing a child’s voice yelling ‘coz Hadyn’. Hadyn sighed taking a breath and looking over his shoulder, he vaguely recognized some of the children. They were clansmen he couldn’t just ignore them. So he turned around and walked over.
“Aye? Good morning. Wat can Ah ‘elp ya wee ones wid?”, he asked looking at the group. Carter blinked a little when Hadyn spoke, he recognized the deep Scottish voice as the one that yelled this morning from his sister’s hotel room. That’s why he looked familiar, this was the Kearney that had been talking to Tristan and Blaire at the reception and danced a couple times with Blaire. Carter sighed shaking his head a little realizing what this meant his sister and Tristan had been up to and why they skipped going to the lock with the family. Carter wasn’t the only one to piece that together Nikki trying to not giggle as she held her younger cousin. “It’s like four in the afternoon so not morning anymore.”, Evan stated. “Verra well, good afternoon. Now wat mig’t Ah do fer ya...um afraid Ah canna recall yer names. Met a great many people last nig’t canna remember deir names.”, he smiled. “I can think of two names he’s very familiar with and won’t be forgetting.”, Carter whispered to Nikki who had to cover her mouth to not laugh. “Darren Delaney the Second, son of Sadria Kearney Alston Delaney and Azriel Delaney brother of the bride.”, Darren said pointing to himself. “Evan Kearney the Second and my twin Hiro Kearney sons of Iver and Kisa Kearney.”, Evan answered pointing to himself and Hiro. “Aye dat it. And you t’ree?”, he asked looking to Carter, Nikki and Junior. “I’m Nikki Howlett and this is my younger cousin Logan Howlett Junior we are the groom’s cousins.”, Nikki said. “And I’m Carter Delaney, probably more notable to you as Blaire’s younger brother.”, Carter answered with a smirk.
Hadyn nodded looking at Carter there was some similarities in the fact like the nose and the smirk. He could see the resemblance to the raven haired beauty he’d had the pleasure of spending the night with. “Aye. Now wat can Ah do fer ya lads and lassie?”, he asked. “We were just wondering what you were doing.”, Hiro explained. “Ah was leaving if ya couldn’t tell.”, Hadyn said being as vague as he could without lying to the kids. “Right we get that but I thought you were one of the Kearneys that lived further north. Did you just rent a room to avoid driving? And if you did why are you not going to the checkout counter to check out?”, Darren asked being logical. Hadyn smiled trying to figure how he explained this. He wasn’t ashamed of what happened last night between Tristan, Blaire and himself. But he doubted that Blaire wanted her family especially her little brother knowing about their night. “Dat a good question coz. Ah do live in da north in Aberdeen. Ah dinna rent a room w’ich is w’y Ah not c’ecking out.”, he said still being vague. Hiro furrowed his brother confused. Junior lifted his head for his cousin’s shoulder getting her to set him back down and looked up at Hadyn with his Hamilton honey brown eyes and sniffed at him. “You smell like Blaire and Tristan…”, the youngest of the group stated. Carter and Nikki just started laughing.
Hadyn raised an eyebrow looking down at Junior and then to Carter and Nikki who had started laughing. “Um Ah sorry wee one Ah…”, Hadyn tried to think how to explain this away. Carter took a breath stopping himself from laughing. “He smells like that because he was around my sister and Tristan.”, Carter explained before putting his hands over Junior’s ears not wanting the youngest to hear this. Hadyn blinked a little taken back by Carter’s word. “You weren’t exactly discrete Kearney. When my dad knocked on their door this morning you didn’t think when you answered.”, Carter explained. “I trust that since you are leaving this late in the day you had a good time with my sister and her boyfriend.”, Carter said his face turning serious for a moment. “Umm….”, Hadyn wasn’t sure what to say. “I don’t care dude. My sister has always done what she wants when she wants. But she always thinks it through. It’s why I never worry about her.”, Carter stated. “Whoa whoa. Hold on. Hadyn which side do you play for?”, Hiro asked getting nosey. Darren and Evan both turning a shade of red as they realized what Carter was implying happened with their cousin Hadyn and Carter’s sister. “Er. Ah dinna take sides.”, Hadyn explained not sure this was a conversation to have. “OH MY GOD!? So you got to...with Tristan? Daaaammmmnnnn.”, Hiro smiled looking up at Hadyn with utter admiration in his blue eyes. “What was it like? Cause wow he’s hot.”, Hiro questioned. Darren and Evan hiding their faces turning bright red the more Hiro talked.
Hadyn shook his head laughing a little. “Aren’t ya a wee young ta be talking bout ting like dat?”, Hadyn questioned. Hiro shrugged. “Hiro has what most would call an abundance of hormones for even a fifteen year and he’s only eleven.”, Nikki giggled. “I kind of wouldn’t mind knowing that answer though…”, Nikki added quietly. Carter and Hadyn both arched an eyebrow looking at Nikki. “Seriously? He’s eventually, when he mans up and asks her, going to be my brother-in-law.”, Carter questioned shaking his head. Nikki smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I know that. Tristan is just very good looking, your sister had good tastes. Wanting the answer isn’t like saying I’d want to find out for myself. I’m more than satisfied with my Delaney in bed.”, she smiled. Hadyn shook his head. “Oh wait which is better in bed a Whitland or a Delaney? Because Carter’s sister is fine.”, Hiro added a follow up question, ducking as Carter swatted at him. “Dat Ah canna say w’o is better. Ah a gentleman and we dinna go about kissing and telling. But Ah agree wid ya wee coz Tristan is verra ‘ot and Blaire is fine as ‘ell. Now Ah will assume and trust dat any knowledge ya ‘ave o dis will not be leaving yer lips. Aye? Do Ah got yer word? And remember Kearneys keep deir word.”, Hadyn said looking to the boys. “I’m not saying a word, I think Evan and I would rather forget we know.”, Darren said Evan nodding. “You have my word. Just wow, I envy you coz.”, Hiro smiled. Hadyn chuckled shaking his head and ruffled Hiro’s blonde locks. “Ya stay outta trouble, aye? Ah need ta make da long drive back ‘ome. Good ta meet and see ya all. Good day lads. Good day lassie.”, he smiled giving a nod to the group leaving the hotel. “Seriously that man is officially my hero!”, Hiro exclaimed. Darren and Evan shook their heads while Carter and Nikki laughed, Junior pulling Carter’s hands from his ears wondering what he missed.
Finally the elevator dinged and out walked Hudson, Sadria, and Kisa with Tommy and Malcolm. “Boys are you alright?”, Kisa asked going over and looking at each of the four carefully. “The boys told us what was going on. Junior are you okay?”, Hudson asked kneeling at his son. Junior nodded. “Yes. I’m okay father. Malcolm protected me.”, he said. “He protected himself your majesty I just finished the job.”, Malcolm smiled. Hudson sighed and ruffled Junior’s hair. “I need you to stay here for a little bit. Okay. Sadria has called the local authorities. They will come and ask you boys some questions. I expect all of you to be honest with these officers.”, Hudson explained standing back up. “Where are you going father?”, Junior asked. “Tommy and Malcolm are going to lead me to where the altercation is happening along with, lord help me, the royal guards who I’ve buzzed to meet us out front. I will not have allow any of them to get in trouble with the local authorities for being you bodyguards this afternoon.”, Hudson explained before heading for the door with Tommy and Malcolm right behind him. Junior frowned a little watching him go. “He’ll be back soon lad. Yer dah just doing wat he can ta ensure da ot’ers dinna get in trouble fer da fig’t. Cause if Ah kne Landon and t’ose girls it became a fig’t.”, Sadria smiled.
The fight was basically over by the time Hudson and his motorcade arrived along with local authorities. All the protestors were injured on the ground, Mason and Adder had fled at the sound of sirens. And knowing better than to run Landon stood waiting with Lily, Cora Lee and Rachel. They were a bit disheveled from the fight but none seemed injured badly. Just a busted lip and some bloody knuckles. “Wat da blood ‘ell ‘appened ‘ere?”, an officer asked. One of the protesters moved to speak but the door to a black sedan opened and Hudson stepped out. “Presenting his majesty King Hudson James Howlett of Madripoor.”, a guard announced. “I can tell you what happened.”, Hudson spoke. The officer blinked at the announcement of royalty and turned. “One of these individuals dared to try and abduct my son and his bodyguards behaved accordingly.”, Hudson stated. The officer looked at the protestors. “Dat wat ‘appened? Someone try ta snatc’ up a kid?”, he asked. He was a member of the church like the protesters but the presence of a royal tied his hands. “No!”, one shouted. “Well that’s a lie. You’re the one that snatched his highness Prince Logan James Howlett Junior off the ground and referred to the young prince, I beg your pardon your majesty, as a runt.”, Malcolm spoke up knowing the man’s face even with the two black eyes and broken nose.
“And ya four were just defending da Prince?”, the officer asked looking to the others. “Yes sir. We were charged with the protection of his highness Prince Logan and the accompaniment of three friends. This man..”, Landon answered pointing to the man who’d originally gone after Hiro. “Attempted to snatch one of his highness’s companions merely on the grounds that the boy is a mutant. In Madripoor, and if memory serves the United Kingdom and generally any free country in the world there are no laws that prohibit a mutant from walking on a city street. In most of these countries there are laws that prevent discrimination and assault against them just for being what they are. I performed my duty and defended the boy. These individuals did not like that and chose to fight us.”, Landon explained keeping his shoulders back keep a more militant sense of him. “Aye in the United Kingdom dere are no laws dat prevent a mutant from walking a city street. And dere are laws against assault. We will need ta confirm wid da boys in question. If o course ya dinna mind yer majesty.”, he said looking to Hudson. “By all means. When two of his guards returned to the hotel we are staying in and told me of the situation I had the police notified. I believe someone was on their way to speak with them. Now if you do not mind I would like to return to my son with his entire bodyguard staff. I do intend to press charges for the attack against my only heir.”, Hudson stated, his guards opening the doors to the second car. “You're free to go. Let’s start rounding these ones up and get them medical attention.”, he sighed calling in more officers to begin arresting the protesters who’d turned violent. Landon waited letting the girls get in first and shot a smug Bryant smile to the man who originally started going after Hiro before getting into the car. Some days it was good to have someone of royal blood on your side.

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Skye was up early in the morning for her assignment. The X-men were still covering for Excalibur, however because of the article he was writing the journalist Jonathan Fuller had started to come into the Church's sights. And Rose had told her to keep an eye on him, if he wrote this piece right he could help to educate the public on the truth of the type of people the church really was. So she’d agreed to have breakfast with him to discuss the church a little more than she’d originally done in their meeting at her office. She’d chosen to make it a breakfast/brunch meeting to prevent the impression this was a date. After all she had Mason. Jonathan had eagerly agreed to the meeting though since it was by phone Skye wasn’t sure if his eagerness was because she was willing to give more information about the church or that it was with her. She let him select the place which he’d unknowingly picked one of her favorite places for brunch the Breakfast Club. She felt a little bad that she hadn’t just told Mason her ‘work’ was having to keep an eye on Jonathan Fuller and that she was going to brunch with him to talk more about the church while still keeping an eye on him. She was sure he’d understand but then she did find Jonathan attractive and she wasn’t sure how Mason would feel in that regard. But he also spent most of his days around Adder who she knew he was attracted to.
She took a taxi and headed to the restaurant to meet Jonathan. Which as she got out of her taxi he was standing outside the building leaning against it looking rather handsome wearing a white slip fit button up, a navy herringbone pea coat left unbuttoned, dark blue jeans, medium tan leather shoes, with his navy and tan canvas messenger back over his shoulder looking at his watch. Skye pushed aside the thoughts of him being attractive. “Ello.”, she greeted walking over pulling her purse back over her shoulder. She’d chosen to be mostly casual in her choice of clothing She’s picked out a light steel blue-gray top that was sheer with cascading opal colored flower aplicaes down the chest and a solid steel blue-grey tank underneath paired with a pair of her skinny jeans and a pair of flats. She’d not really bothered with make up either again trying to not send the wrong impression. Jonathan looked up from his watch hearing the thick Scottish accent and smiled seeing Skye walking up. He chose to not say what first came to his mind of ‘wow’ but Skye heard it anyways. “Morning love.”, Jonathan greeted with a smile. Skye rolled her eyes. “Don’t call me that Mister Fuller. I agreed to meet with you for your article. So why don’t you try to keep it professional? If you think you can manage that.”, Skye said opening the door and heading inside.
Jonathan blinked pushing off the wall to quickly follow her in. “How many?”, the hostess asked. “Two.”, Jonathan said quickly. “This way.”, she said grabbing two menus leading them to a table. Skye took the seat that Jonathan was about to take, because it kept her back to the wall and allowed her to see the whole restaurant. “Um alright. Generally I like to not have my back to the room but ladies choice.”, he smiled taking the other chair. “Tanks. Ah canna stand da idea o someone coming up be’ind me.”, she explained. Her blue eyes were looking around the room behind him doing a mental scan of everyone in the restaurant thankful it didn’t seem to have anyone who’d intended to harm him. With that initial threat assessment complet she picked up her menu looking. “Hi I’m Chris I’ll be your waiter. Do you know what you want to start out with?”, the waiter asked. “I’m going to get the fully monty and coffee.”, Jonathan ordered handing the waiter his menu. “Caramel lattee and da ‘uevos al benny wid side of potatoes”, Skye said handing over her menu. “I’ll get those orders in and your drinks right out.”, Chris smiled and walked away.
“Sooo not that I’m going to complain you agreed to meet with me again, but why the change of mind or heart?”, Jonathan asked. Skye rolled her eyes. “Ya randomly s’owed at mah office asking me questions dat Ah was not really prepared ta answer. Ah was busy ‘aving a deadline ta meet. And since ya’ve left up ta three messages a day wid mah receptionist asking fer a follow up interview cause yer ‘gut’ says Ah kne more dan Ah told you. Ah agreed because fer all Ah kne ya’d find mah private mobile number and start calling me at all ‘ours wanting dis interview.”, Skye explained simply. She certainly wasn’t going to tell him her real reason. That’s she’s actually a masked vigilante and she’s trying to protect him from the Church who would stop at nothing to prevent him from putting his article to press. Jonathan smirked. “I’m persistent what can I say. I wouldn’t have called your private number, though I do have it.”, he commented. “Pardon me?”, Skye questioned. “I’m a journalist I investigated and pulled favors and got the number. I wouldn’t have called it at least till you gave it to me yourself.”, he explained. “Aye, well ya can continue not calling it. Now ya ‘ad more questions bout da church, aye?”, she said wanting to get this on subject.
Jonathan smiled and nodded reaching into his bag taking out a pen and pad of paper. “Alright professional then. So Miss Kearney I had the feeling from our last talk that you did know more about the church that you’d disclosed. Would you like to share what you know and perhaps how you know it?”, Jonathan asked. Skye sighed about to answer but paused as the waiter returned with their drinks. “Your food should be up in just a moment.”, he said before walking away. “Ya understand dat dis article and even talking bout dis puts ya in danger?”, Skye questioned. “I’m a journalist it’s my job to get the truth out there, no matter the cost. Doesn’t it also put you in danger too?”, he asked. “I can handle danger. And I’m already in this there’s no way to back out.”, Skye commented. “Right because of your relationship with Mason Templeton?”, Jonathan asked sipping his coffee. “Aye…”, Skye nodded. She was in this long before she met Mason but let Jonathan think her relationship was why she was in it. “Wouldn’t just not seeing him get you out of danger?”, he asked. “It not dat easy. Fer one Ah love him. Fer anot’er da sex just too good ta walk away from.”, Skye smiled sipping her drink. “I see… okay. Um well on to business. What can you tell me that you hadn’t before?”, he asked a little uncomfortable. Skye saw the disappointment on his face and could hear it in his mind, he hadn’t liked hearing her say the sex was great and worse yet that she was in love with Mason.
“Now as fer wat Ah kne bout da church. Dey kidnappers, torturers, and murders of mutants.”, Skye said. “Dey target mutant families, be dem ‘aving just one mutant in deir ‘ouse or more. Dey will murder da human members of da family dat dare ta love and treat deir mutant relative, such as deir own barren, like dey no different dan any ot’er human. Den dey kidnap da mutant and take dem ta various locations, da sick pricks get a kick outta using abandoned churches, and torture da mutant ta death. Sometimes dey just leave da body ta rot not caring or day try ta make a statement by displaying deir victim ta da public. Like deir way of saying ‘dis wat ya get fer being mutant’. And if ya a mutant dat owns a business dey go after ya, dey protest ya, dey try ta get ya boycotted. Dey brow beat yer neighbors and patrons inta being too scared ta come round.”, Skye said trying to maintain her anger at that. All she could think about was the people she’d had saved from crosses and that little boy Rose and Donovan saved last year. Jonathan blinked most of what she was talking about didn’t make news, he hadn’t really heard much about this church till the charity event when they tried to attack royals. “Why have I not heard any of this before? How do you know about this stuff?”, he asked.
“Ya don’t kne bout it because dey keep it outta da papers and off da news. Dey got members in all walks o life. And Ah kne because w’en Ah was in university dey tried ta nail some mutant students ta crosses on da lawn of their ‘ouses. Mah twin brot’er and Ah stopped dem kicking deir arses good preventing deses two mutants from dismemberment and most likely death. As ya can see Mason ain’t da only reason Ah part of dis. Ah canna sit idle w’en Ah kne someone needs ‘elp. It ain’t ‘ow Ah was raised.” , she explained taking another drink of her latte. “Wow...so even before Mason you were fighting these people. You just got a lot more interesting Miss Kearney.”, he smiled. “So you say they have people everywhere and that’s how they are covering it up. Do you have proof?”, Jonathan asked. “Ya got a better theory on w’y dis stuff doesn’t make ‘eadlines? Ya only doing a story bout it cause dey attacked dat charity even dat ‘ad verra important people.”, Skye countered stopping the conversation as their meals arrived. Jonathan waited till the waiter walked away. “Alright so I’ll give you that I can’t think of a better reason this would be getting covered up. But I can’t write a theory. I need facts.”, Jonathan pointed out starting to eat. Skye sighed. “Police reports were filled but dey got buried and became cold cases. Ya journalist Ah sure ya can get yer facts.”, she commented starting to eat. A group of patrons walked in looking around and they caught Skye’s eye, mostly because she heard their thoughts. These men were looking for Jonathan.
“Crap…”, Skye muttered. “What’s wrong?’, Jonathan asked about to turn but Skye grabbed his arm so he couldn’t. “Just keep looking at me. Dinna fash bout anyt’in else. Can ya do dat? Keep yer eyes on me?”, she asked. “Yeah I can certainly keep my eyes on you.”, he nodded though not sure what was going on just that Skye must have seen something that had her worried. “Good. Just eat and w’en Ah say run ya do it.”, she instructed eating keeping her focus fully on the group of men who were being seated at least to where they wouldn’t get a good view on Jonathan’s face. “So at what point do you tell me you aren’t really just some bird from Glasgow that became a photo editor but are really an international spy?”, he teased. “Ah ain’t a spy.”, she said shaking her head with a small smile. No she wasn’t a spy, she was a fighter she was Excalibur. Which to her meant she was even better than some spy. “Anything else you can tell me about the…”, he started to talk but Skye held a finger up telling him silently to stop. She didn’t want to draw the attention of the church goers that had walked in by even mentioning it. “No, and certainly not here. Pick a different topic of conversation till the meal is over.”, Skye suggested. “Um...alright. That mean I can ask personal questions about you?”, he asked with a small smile. Skye sighed. “Fine but for any question you ask I get to ask one.”, she countered. “Sounds fair. So let’s start with basics. Your full name?”, he asked.
“Skye Margaret Kearney. Yers?”, she asked. “Margaret...a tad old lady of a name.”, he commented. “Jonathan Andrew Fuller. So you grew up in Glasgow, big family?”, he asked between bites. “Margaret is mah grandmum’s name tank ya. And Aye Ah was born and raised in Glasgow. Mah immediate family wasn’t wat ya call ‘big’ but mah clan is verra large. But growing up was mah dah,mum, mahself, and mah twin brot’er. Yerself?”, she answered. “Only child. Grew up in Hastings.”, he answered. “Guess dat explains da more Sussex accent ya got. “, she commented. Jonathan nodded. “Yeah. But for a bird from Glasgow your accent is more Highland than Glaswegian. How’d that work?”, he inquired. “Mah Dah was born and raised in Rothesay wid his seven siblings, so he got da highland accent. And mah mum is originally from Fort William. So Ah grew up wid highland accents in mah ‘ouse and visiting mah clan and Glaswegian round town.”, she explained. Jonathan blinked. “Seven siblings? Lord your grandparents were busy.”, he laughed. Skye shrugged. “Kearneys are kne fer bout four tings, two kind of go ‘and and ‘and t’ough.”, she smiled. “And da eight are really only four pregnancies dem all being sets o twins.”, she added. “Still wow. And what, pray tell, are Kearneys known for?”, he asked curious now. “Being fig’ters fer one.”, Skye stated.
Jonathan nodded. “Okay I can see that based on what I’ve known of your adventures. And the others?”, he asked. “We tend ta ‘ave twins. At least fer da descendents o mah great granddah Alan. Dere only six dat were born widout a twin out of da total of near fifty of great granddah’s line.”, she continued. “Wow that’s just one branch. Okay what are the other two?”, he asked. “Well dat obviously we good breeders, given are numbers, and verra good in bed.”, she chuckled with a shrug. Jonathan nodded. “I see. Well guess those go hand in hand.You have so many in the clan because the sex is that good it’s worth the nine months of pregnancy and pain of childbirth. Guess that makes Mason one of the luckiest men in the country.”, he commented. “I don’t know if I’d say that. I’m not exactly the woman of his original dreams or anything.”, Skye shrugged. “Because you aren’t a blonde? Please, redheads are far better in bed. At least that’s been my experience. I’ve, however, never been with a Kearney. Are there many redheads in your family?”, he questioned eating more. “Aye. Dere are a number of us. Most times da twins are a boy and a girl and one ‘as black or dark brown hair and da ot’er red. Mah twin Donovan has da dark brown o our set. Mah dah got da dark brown o his set and mah Aunt Alendria is da redhead. But dere are sets dat don’t get a redhead and some dat don’t get a brunette. Yesterday mah cousin Ashley from da states got married. She a blonde and her twin brot’er da red head. Mah younger yank cousins Evan and Hiro are da only living set of male twins, Evan got da black hair and Hiro got blonde. Den mah cousins Hadyn and Nichola, she da one dat works at yer paper, are both brunettes.”, she went into a tad more detail.
“Only living set?”, he asked. “Um...aye. Mah Uncle Evan died w’en he was a lad. His twin Iver survived and named one o his boys after him.”, Skye said not wanting to explain how Evan had died. It would give too much away if she said that her Uncle died when his ‘boarding’ school in america was attacked and set on fire. “Ah. I’m sorry to hear that. Now you said your twin is a Donovan Kearney? That the same one from the warriors rugby team?”, he asked. Skye chuckled and nodded. “Aye dat him. Ya a London fan like mah Mason is and ‘ate mah twin fer kicking arse every time?”, she asked. “Actually I’m not a London fan. I’m a warriors fan. So I think your brother is amazing. Best rugby player I’ve seen in my life. He’s the energizer bunny of the sport. takes a beating but just keeps on going.”, he smiled. “Aye dat he does.”, she smiled finishing her meal. The only reason her twin was able to take the abuse of rugby matches and keep going was his healing factor. “So before we ask for the check. Can I ask one more slightly more personal question?”, he asked finishing his plate. “Ah suppose. Wat yer question”, she asked. “How did you end up with Mason?”, he asked.
“Dat a question implying a blue collar lass from Glasgow dat works at GQ isn’t good enuff fer a young successful CEO and ‘umanitarian silver spoon lad like Mason?”, she asked. “No I just am left wondering how he managed to snag someone as amazing as you.”, Jonathan explained shaking his head. “Uh huh. Well we met in a pub, he was smas’ed. Ah got him back ta his flat safe fer his bodyguard ta look after. Next day he sent two dozen blue roses ta apologize fer his poor first impression and asked fer a second c’ance ta make a better one by taking me ta dinner. And he made a good second impression especially wid da kiss good nig’t. From dere we just started ‘anging out casually till it go serious. And it just kept getting better. He is an amazing man.”, Skye smiled thinking about it. “Well that I guess answers my follow up question of how happy you are in your relationship.”, Jonathan sighed motioning the waiter over for the check. “Ah suppose it does. Ah verra ‘appy wid Mason. Dere very little bout ta not be ‘appy bout. W’y would dat matter ta ya Mister Fuller?”, she asked. Jonathan handed over his business credit card planning to charge the brunch to his job since this was a work meeting. “No reason I suppose.”, he shrugged. “Looking fer da c’ink in da armour?”, she chuckled. Jonathan smiled a little. “Am I that obvious?”, he asked. “Aye. Ya dinna try too ‘ard ta ‘ide yer interest at least p’ysically in me.”, Skye explained. “Well what can I say I’m a sucker for a beautiful red head. And find it a shame that I come across one that’s as breathtaking as you and she’s spoken for.”, he shrugged signing the check putting his notepad and pen away standing up.
Skye grabbed her purse standing up. “Well tank ya fer yer compliment. Is dere a back way out of dis place?”, she asked. Jonathan raised an eyebrow. “Um no, at least not that’s available to patrons. Why?”, he asked confused. “Shite...fine. We can take da front but Just stay ta mah left, aye.”, She instructed linking her left arm with his right to ensure he did stay to her left. She wanted to keep herself between him and the table of COH. “Er okay…”, Jonathan still didn’t understand what was going on as they started to walk away. He did notice a table watching them but didn’t think much of it, she was a beautiful woman of course a table of men would look at her. As they headed out the door the men all started to move, not having ordered yet anyways to follow them. Skye groaned hearing their thoughts, the men planning to follow them and try and force them down a dead end and use some forceful persuasion to get Jonathan to not put his article to print. “Just act natural and follow mah lead.”, Skye whispered walking along the city street. Jonathan was very confused now and went to glance behind them but Skye tightened her grip on his arm causing him to look at her instead. “We are being followed. So don’t look be’ind us.”, she spoke softly. Followed? Okay not he really was thinking this woman was far from what she appeared. “Why would we be followed?”, he whispered back. “Because yer writing an article dat will bring ta lig’t da misdeeds of deir organization. Dey want ya silenced.”, she whispered back.
Jonathan knew that his article would be controversial and maybe after Skye told him all that the church had done it shouldn’t surprise him they’d go to extreme lengths to get him to not write it, but he was none the less. Skye chose to play into their hands taking the turn she knew they wanted. “Why are we going this way? It’s a dead end…”, Jonathan whispered. “Ah kne.”, she said. “But then they have us cornered. And I am not much of a fighter.”, he explained. “Ah kne. But dey also can’t flank us or surround us. And dinna fash Mister Fuller, Ah am. Ah’ll keep ya safe.”, Skye assured as they walked. “Mister Jonathan Fuller…might we have a word with you?”, one of the men spoke up as they knew they now had Jonathan and his bird cornered. Skye stopped walking and turned around to face the men taking a step forward to be in front of Jonathan. “Ah sorry ta disappoint gents but Mister Fuller doesn’t ‘ave anyting ta discuss wid da likes o ya.”, Skye said firmly folding her arms across her chest. “So he hides behind a bird?”, one laughed. “Oh I’m soo scared of da pretty bird.”, another laughed the group all laughing now. “Feisty bird you have there Fuller. I say we take care of Fuller then we see to his bird.”, one spoke taking a step forward touching Skye’s arm with a smile. “Bet she’d like that.”, he added. Skye narrowed her eyes and with her other arm swung landing a solid left on the man’s jaw bring him down to the ground with a broken jaw him spitting out a couple teeth as she hadn’t held back as much as she could have.
“Do not touc’ me.”, she said glaring at the man on the ground who was holding his face in pain. “Any more o ya tink it a good idea ta mess wid me? Cause Ah will take da lot of ya and send ya ta da emergency like dis fool.”, Skye said balling both fists ready to fight. The other five men blinked looking at their ring leader on the ground and back to the woman that put him there. “Well? Come on den lads. Afraid ta try and ‘it a lass? Or just afraid dat da lass gonna kick yer arses.”, Skye taunted. Jonathan blinked and looked to the man on the ground and the bloody teeth on the ground. “let’s get her!”, one shouted and two rushed her and she dodged one tripping him to the ground while slamming her fist into the other’s stomach. “Next?”, Skye asked looking at them reaching and moving Jonathan away from the men she’d just dropped to the ground. “Ah can do dis all day if ya like.”, she smiled. “Well aren’t you smug..”, one said pulling a knife from his pocket. “And aren’t ya dumb.”, Skye smiled as he came at her, sky knowing his move before he made it because he was thinking on how to approach. So her hands grabbed his wrists and squeezed, not with full strength but a decent amount as he dropped the knife. She switched to holding just one arm and yanked it turning him and pulling it up hard behind him dislocating it from his shoulder before she kicked him with her shoe to the ground with the others. She looked to the final two men. “So yer c’oice. Get yer arse kicked by a bird or get yer mates outta ‘ere.”, She gave them a choice.
The two looked at each other before moving to help up their friends. “You won’t always be around to protect him.”, one warned. “Wanna bet? Mister Fuller under mah protection so ya keep dat in mind next time ya tink yer gonna get da drop on him ta silence him. No get out o ‘ere before Ah c’ange mah mind bout letting ya leave walking.”, she warned them as they left and she looked to Jonathan. “Ya alrig’t Mister Fuller?”, she asked. “I...um.. Yeah. Completely emasculated but unharmed physically. Seriously who are you Miss Kearney? And don’t tell me just a scottish bird that works at GQ. Because there is no way you did what you just did without some serious training.”, Jonathan questioned. “Sorry ta disappoint ya but dat all Ah am.”, she shook her head. “You continue to lie to me Miss Kearney. No one just knows how to fight like that, I don’t care if you said your family is know as good fights. And what was that about being under your protection? Can you for a moment be honest with me about this? What is going on? Who are you really?”, he questioned. “Ah’m Skye Margaret Kearney of Glasgow. A graduate of Cambridge University. A resident of London and da photo editor at GQ magazine. Dat is me being ‘onest wid ya. Ah a good fig’ter, Ah learned ‘ow ta fig’t early in mah life. And Ah said dat ta ward dem off.”, she insisted. “I’m sure those are all facts but there’s something you are leaving out and that worries me Miss Kearney.”, he sighed.
“I should go, I’ve got some digging to do with my police friends and an article to write. Thank you for the interview and for the save today.”, he nodded starting to walk away. Skye groaned frustrated and punched a brick wall in her frustration it going all the way through to show the road on the other side. Jonathan stopped hearing the bricks crumble and turned and blinked. “Miss Kearney?”, he questioned startled. Skye sighed shaking her head. He was a journalist how much should she really trust him? But she could read his mind, he was scared but there was nothing in there that would hint he’d betray her. “Fine….ya want ‘onest?”, she asked turning dusting her hand off of the crumbled brick. “Ah involved in all dis, Ah canna walk away from any o it because Ah a mutant. And Ah will do wat it takes ta protect mah fellow mutants from scum like dem. And ta protect people like yerself and mah Mason dat would try ta do da rig’t t’ing.”, she explained. “So...you know about the police reports and the kidnappings and murders because… you’re one of those masked vigilante's that have been popping up on youtube videos…”, he blinked in shock as the pieces were coming together. “Aye. Dat canna go into yer article. Noting bout me, mah powers or wat Ah do. Ah canna risk dat exposure and putting da people Ah love in danger.”, Skye explained. “I won’t Miss Kearney. You have my word. But this now makes more sense. How you are such a good fighter, how you somehow knew these guys were coming after me. How did you know?”, he asked.
“Mah team ‘ad intell dat dey were gunning fer ya. As fer knewing dem in particular, Ah’m a telepath so Ah looked into deir minds.”, she explained. Jonathan turned a little red realizing this meant she might have seen into his. “Have...have you looked into mine?”, he asked. “Not directly. Sometimes a person tinking verra loud and Ah’ll ‘ear it.”, she shook her head. “Oh lord. Um so have I thought anything very loud?”, he inquired now nervous that she’d heard his thoughts about her. Skye sighed and nodded. “Aye yer a loud tinker Mister Fuller. Dinna fash. Ah ain’t offended by da fact during our first meeting ya were tinking bout shagging on mah desk. Or dat ya keep tinking bout wat Ah mig’t look like naked. It not a t’ougt Ah ain’t ‘eard before by random blokes.”, she shrugged. Jonathan covered his faced. “Oh lord. I am so sorry. I...god I feel rather bad now. It’s not proper to think like that especially about a woman who’s taken.”, he sighed. “Again dinna fash. Fer wat Ah told dem bout ya being under mah protection. Dat Ah did mean. Me and mah team intend ta keep tabs on ya, make sure yer safe.”, she changed the topic. “Right..um is that why you are with Mason? And falling for him just a bonus?”, he asked. “No. ah wid mah boyfriend because Ah fell fer him. He doesn’t need mah protection. He’s got bodyguards fer dat.”, she shook her head. “Fair enough. Does he know about...well about what you can do?”, he asked. “Aye, he knows.”, she nodded.
“Ah well guess that’s good. So what happens now?”, he asked. “Now you keep working on your article and my team keeps an eye on you. And I’d suggest no longer putting things on an electronic calendar or at work. That’s how they found you today. You put down our meeting and your newspapers receptionist told them.”, she explained. “Seriously? Well that sucks, but good to know. So does this mean I’ll see more of you?”, he asked. “Most times ya will not even kne Ah dere. So Ah suggest we part ways at dis point Mister Fuller. Go do wat ya planned wid investigating wat Ah told ya.”, Skye suggested. Jonathan nodded. “Yeah guess that’s probably easier. Watch from a distance with your mask or one of your team does. Since well you have Mason. And I’m sure he wouldn’t care for you spending a lot of time around some other bloke. Like a personal bodyguard, going everywhere with me maybe even staying at my flat.”, he shrugged. Skye knew where he was going with that sentence. He was thinking about Mason’s blonde bodyguard Adder. He was trying to see if it bothered her that Mason was always around Adder. “Mason isn’t da jealous type. But none da less Ah do got a life dat Ah need ta live so it canna revolve round keeping ya safe.”, she commented. “Do you have paper and a pen?”, she asked. “Of course. Why?”, he asked taking out his notepad and pen offering them to her. Skye wrote down a number.
“Dat number only ta be used in absolute emergencies. Ya call it and someone will be rig’t dere ta ‘elp.”, she said handing him back the paper and pen. “So this is your number?”, he asked. Skye shook her head. “No. Dat a line fer mah team. We give it only ta people dat we ‘elped so if dey see someting or need ‘lep dey can call it and let us kne so we can respond.”, Skye explained. Jonathan nodded a little putting the things back into his bag. “Guess I’ll see you or not. Thanks again. Good day Miss Kearney.”, Jonathan smiled. “Good day Mister Fuller.”, she smiled back. Jonathan walked out of the small alley not sure how to feel about what just happened and all that he’d learned that day. He knew he wouldn’t at least tell anyone about Skye’s secret. She’d trusted him with that knowledge and he figured it was off the record anyways. The fact she was willing to trust him was at least a small sign of hope. He may never get her, because well how does one compete with a guy like Mason Templeton but maybe he could be her friend. He pushed the thoughts aside and decided it better to focus on his article and grabbed a taxi to head for a local police precinct to talk to one of his friends from university see if maybe he could pull some favors to learn about these ‘cold’ cases. He knew one thing for sure he wasn’t going to give up writing this article, if the church was desperate enough to try and do him physical harm to keep him silent that meant they really did have a lot to hide.
Back in Glasgow many of the American guests who had stayed at a local hotel were heading off on their own mini adventures to explore and see the sights that the United Kingdom had to offer. Colby, Alison, and Carter Delaney along with Nikki Howlett had left very early to see loch ness leaving Blaire and Tristan behind who were too tired to leave their room. Colby of course still called to tell Blaire they’d arrived at the loch and sent her pictures. But because he was getting no answer from Blaire he called Landon who he knew was still at least in Glasgow to check on her. To get Colby off his back Landon had agreed to go back to the hotel to check on Blaire. Plus him and some of the others had already said they’d take some of the younger kids with them out to lunch and to see the sights in Glasgow and let the parents have some free time. He left Rachel and the others down in the lobby with the younger kids saying he was going to go see if Blaire and Tristan wanted to come out for lunch with them. He knocked on the door. “You three alive in there?”, Landon asked smiling. He knew that Hadyn had come to the hotel to meet them and doubted the Kearney had left yet. The trio grumbled hearing the knocking. Tristan opened one eye. “Yes. Still alive. I think.”, Tristan called. Landon chuckled. “Well Colby is freaking because Blaire hasn’t answered his phone and wanted to make sure she was okay. Apparently volunteering to take the younger kids this afternoon means I’m babysister of twenty year olds too.”, Landon explained. “That mean you are babysitting Rachel?”, Blaire teased opening her eyes. “Oh yeah babysit her real good. I’m checking if you two wanted to go to lunch and if your door prize has made his walk of ‘shame’ yet.”, Landon asked leaning on their door. Hadyn groaned opening his eyes and lifting his head. “Ain’t a walk o s’ame if ya got no s’ame.”, Hadyn called. Blaire and Tristan laughed.
Landon shook his head. “So I take it you’ll just be ordering room service. Gotch ya. Don’t have too much fun. You still need to stand long enough to get to the airport tomorrow.”, Landon laughed and walked away back to the lobby. “So?”, Rachel asked with a smile knowing exactly what Landon did about Blaire and Tristan’s door prize. “Just as expected. They will not be coming out. At best they'll order room service. Let’s go guys.”, Landon smiled winking at Rachel. Rachel laughed shaking her head. Only Blaire and Tristan would come across the ocean for a wedding and end up sleeping with one of the other wedding guests. “Their loss. We are old enough to drink here so I’m getting a pint at whatever restaurant we go to.”, Cora Lee said firmly. Malcolm chuckled a little putting his arm around her and kissing the top of her purple hair. “You’re adorable.”, he commented. “And we’re hungry.”, Hiro spoke up double checking that his black wings were hidden under his jacket. His ‘we’ was referring to himself, Evan, Darren, and Junior who were all declared too young to be left on their own. “Oh don’t worry we’ll only let you starve a little.”, Tommy teased with a grin. “But seriously I’m hungry too, active metabolism.”, Tommy grinned patting his stomach. Lily rolled her eyes taking his hand. “Come on let’s go explore and find a restaurant before we go into shops.”, Lily smiled as the group headed out the door. Junior grumbled a little as he tried to keep up Landon stopping and scooping Junior up and setting him on his shoulders. “There ya go Junior. I may not be as tall as Malcolm but you still get a decent view.”, he smiled. “Thanks Landon.”, Junior smiled resting his arms on the top of Landon’s hair and looking down at him. Rachel smiled finding it cute how Landon was with her little cousin.
As the six adults walked with the four children all their heads were a bit on a swivel taking in their surroundings. There was older and historic buildings everywhere, people walking around the streets, shops and smells from different restaurants. Landon stopped at a corner location. “Hey how about this place?”, he yelled to the group who had continued to walk as he looked at a menu posted at the front window. “They seem fairly priced and even have a kids menu. What do you think little prince?”, Landon asked looking up to Junior who was leaning on his head looking at the menu too. “Sounds good to me.”, Junior nodded. “Well if his highness has spoken.”, Hiro chuckled turned around. Junior stuck his tongue out at Hiro. “Can I get down now Landon?”, he asked. “Sure Junior, we wouldn’t fit through the door otherwise.”, Landon agreed reaching up and grabbing Junior firmly by his sides lifting him up and over his head to set the little prince on the sidewalk in front of him. “As long as it’s food I’m good.”, Tommy commented walking inside. The hostess blinked a little seeing the large group walk inside. She didn’t seem to be bothered by Tommy’s white hair or Cora Lee’s purple after all people dyed thier hair odd colors anyways. “So ‘ow many?”, she asked. “Ten, six adults four kids.”, Landon answered walking in with Rachel. “Rig’t dis way.”, she said grabbing enough menus leading the group to a long bar height wood table that had exactly ten backed stools. “Yer waitress will be ri’gt wid ya.”, she smiled setting down the menus and leaving them.
Landon pulled out a chair for Rachel who hoped into the seat starting to look at her menu. “Hmm alright to fit, Evan and Hiro you to sit on an end and across from each other. Junior you can sit here between Rachel and Cora Lee.”, he said picking Junior up and setting him in the tall stool. For being eight Junior was still on the short side, most figured unless he got a decent growth spurt when he got older he was going to be about the height of his grandfather and cousin. Evan took a seat so he’d be next to Landon, Malcolm taking the other end seat to sit across from Cora Lee. Hiro smiled taking his end seat next to Lily, Darren snagged the seat between Malcolm and Tommy. “Ello Ah’m Hannah and Ah’ll be yer server ta day. Can Ah get ya started wid drinks and some nibblers?”, she smiled looking at the table. “London pale ale.”, Malcolm said still looking at the menu. “Make that two of those.”, Cora Lee smiled. “Hornsby for me. And the garlic rub bread and the bakes load for the table”, Landon added. “I’ll take a hornsby too.”, Lily stated. “Make it three.”, Tommy added. “I’ll just take a lemonade.”, Rachel said. “Can we get shakes?”, Hiro asked looking to Landon. Landon thought for a moment but nodded. “Sure but you start bouncing off walls I’m not catching you.”, Landon smiled. “Awesome. Chocolate milkshake for me.”, Hiro concluded. “I’ll take a vanilla.”, Evan smiled speaking quietly. “Strawberry please.”, Darren stated. “I’ll take a lemonade, please.”, Junior rounded out the drink order. “Ah’ll get dat rig’t our fer ya.”, she smiled walking away.
“Lemonade?”, Cora Lee asked looking at Rachel. “What? I’m not a big drinker anyways. And it’s only lunch time.”, Rachel defended. “Leave Rach alone.”, Landon scolded putting his arm around Rachel giving her a kiss on the cheek. “You going to pick on Junior for order a lemonade when the other boys ordered shakes?”, he asked. “Ah Rachel knows I love her.”, Cora Lee teased giving Rachel a side hug. “I’ll pick on him for it.”, Hiro chimed in. Junior furrowed his brow at Hiro. “alright let’s chill and just figure out what you want to order for lunch.”, Landon said. “Who’s buying or we splitting the tab?”, Tommy asked. “I’m buying, though technically their parents gave me some cash for their meals but I figured let them use that at the shops.”, Landon answered. The boys all smiled a little knowing they each had some money to spend now. Deciding what to eat was a bit complicated since a lot sounded god. Everyone made sure to order something to different and agreed they’d be willing to let others try off their plate. They all had a good meal enjoying the food and the atmosphere the restaurant offered. With the meal finished and paid they ventured back out going into the city center to look at the various shops. Buying little things to take home to remember the trip.
While they were shopping Mason and Adder had donned their masks taking their locations to watch the store that they knew was going to be protested against. All because the owner had hired a mutant with a physical mutation. The protesters had already started to show with their signs harassing customers that dared to go into the little shop. It hadn’t at least turned violent. But Mason and Adder didn’t trust that the COH could do anything without violence. Junior noticed the crowd from his lofty perch on Mason’s shoulders. “What’s going on up there?”, Junior as pointing to the large crowd. “Let’s find out.”, Hiro said racing ahead. “HIRO!”, Landon shouted before rushing after the preteen. Hiro ran into someone holding a sign that had the word mutant in a red circle with a line through it. “Watc’ were ya walking boy!”, the man shouted turning and glaring down at Hiro. “Oh sorry dude.”, Hiro said taking a step back but stepped into someone who’d walked up behind him. “Oy watc’ yerself boy.”, the man glared down at Hiro. “Pardon me. But you are the one that ran into me.”, Hiro pointed out stepped to move around the guy but the running into the men loosened one of his fathers that was hidden under his long coat and it floated to the ground at his feet. Both men looked at the feather and then at him. “MUTANT!”, the first man shouted reaching to grab Hiro.
“Hey no touching. I NEED AN ADULT!”, Hiro shouted “I DIDN’T REALIZE IN SCOTLAND TRYING TO SEXUAL ASSAULT YOUNG BOYS WAS OKAY!”, Hiro said pulling away drawing the attention of the crowd. But as he pulled away the man held his jacket which he had to slip out of to escape him. And there his black wings were for anyone to see. “He’s a mutant! GET HIM!”, a different protester shouted. “Well fuck…”, Hiro said back up and taking off in a run and literally running into Landon. “Behind me, now.”, Landon said sternly. Hiro didn’t question and just quickly ducked behind Landon. It wasn’t much of a hiding place with his wings and that Landon wasn’t say as big as Malcolm but still he felt safer with the institute’s legendary Prime between him and the mob. “Get outta da way.”, a man glared demanding of Landon. The man was later than Landon and broader in the shoulders and was purposely trying to make himself look bigger. The others were still trying to cross traffic to get to them so it was just Landon standing between this mob at Hiro. Mason furrowed his brow from his location faintly recognizing the faces but not certain. He looked to Adder at the other rooftop and gave her a nod indicating they should move it before whoever these people were got hurt. “Make me. Because I’d love to see you try.”, Landon said not backing down. “Oh da yank tinks he tough.”, he chuckled. “You going to keep talking or you going to do something?”, Landon countered. “Just get outta da way before ya get ‘urt yank.”, the man sneered. “Seriously you keep talking. I’m not moving unless you make me, and trust me you aren’t going to be able to make me. Now back off or do something more than try to talk me to sleep.”, Landon taughtened.
Hiro smiled a little behind Landon, he’d never seen Landon in action so this should be fun. The man snarled a little and took a swing at Landon. Landon blocked his grabbing the man’s wrist, just as Logan and Aurelia had trained him. “Your stance it all wrong.”, Landon commented simply still holding the man’s wrist. “And because of that you have left yourself open to me doing this.”, he smiled a little twisting the man’s arm and forcing him to turn to face the crowd, his arm pulled back behind him. “Now I said to back off, and I suggest you do it before you get hurt.”, Landon said before releasing his grip letting the man stumble forward into the mob. “Dere just on of ya against all o us. Ah like our odds.”, a man said stepping forward and moving to take a swing at Landon. The others had managed to catch up and it was Tommy who speeded in and grabbed the man’s fist before it could connect with Landon. “Sorry guy but that’s not happening. I can’t less you mess his face.”, Tommy grinned giving the man a spin. “I think you might want to recount how many there are of us.”, Cora Lee said stepping up next to her brother glaring. “Because no one gets to mess with my brother and not deal with me.”, she added. “If one of them is a mutant I bet more of them are.”, someone shouted in the crowd. Mason and Adder were working their way down from their locations to get behind the mob. Junior had been set down and moved to try and get Hiro over to him and the other boys but someone grabbed him picking him up. “Oy look Ah found a runt!”, the man laughed picking Junior up.
“RUNT!?”, Junior hated that word as much as his grandfather did. He head butted the man in the nose getting him to drop him. Junior scrambled away trying to get to his feet while th man holding his broken nose went to try and grab him again. “Ya little fooking shit.”, he cursed. Malcolm stepped in and knocked the man to the ground with a punch. Malcolm looked to Junior and offered his hand to help him up. “Tommy, Malcolm get the boys out of here now.”, Landon stated as the mob was getting angrier. “But…”, Tommy went to protest. A man in the crowd laughed. “He rat’er ‘ave birds fig’t dan blockes.”, he laughed. “Do it now you two can move the fastest. Junior needs to be kept safe. Now go.”, Landon said glaring. Tommy and Malcolm sighed but nodded. Malcolm picked up Junior and grabbed Hiro from behind Landon. Tommy took Darren and Evan by the hands and they started to make their way out of sight and for the hotel. they couldn’t really argue. Junior was royalty and they were all in charge of keeping him safe. Landon waited but was smiling. “Now you made a crack about me sending the guys away and keep my girls? You’re going to regret underestimating these girls.”, he smiled. And so the fight broke out. Mason and Adder were fighting from the back while of the mob while Landon, Lily, Cora Lee and Rachel fought from the front. Mason and Adder however didn’t hold back on using their powers. A number of individuals floating up into the air on a strong breeze and landing in a dumpster at the alley.
Tommy and Malcolm quickly got the boys to the hotel, not happy to have left the others but knew they could all fight and fight well as a team without them. “Boys you stay down here, Carter...Nikki watch them. We need to find their parents. Especially Hudson.”, Tommy instructed pointing to Carter Delaney and Nikki Howlett who had just gotten off the elevator. Carter looked confused as he and Nikki walked over to the boys. Junior looked rather upset and Malcolm handed him to Nikki. “Don’t worry boys.”, Malcolm assured as him and Tommy went for the elevator to find their parents. “What’s going on guy?”, Carter asked noticing Hiro’s wings were out. “We ran into anti-mutant protesters. One trying to grab me, got my coat instead. Freaked hard about me being a mutant cased me down but I found Landon. He tells me to get behind him. Which seriously I didn’t bother arguing with the legend. So i did. They tell him to move to get to me and he told them to make him. Guy tried to punch him he stopped it pulled the guy’s arm and turned him around holding the arm behind the guy and then let go allowing him to stumble forward. I wish we were still there to watch the legends in action. But After one grabbed Junior and Junior headbutted him to get away Landon told the guys to bring us back to keep us safe.”, Hiro explained.
It was close to dinner time by now, which as he looked at the time on his phone he thought about it would be well past seven before he got home, generally the drive was under three hours but as he absently rubbed his butt in in the elevator he realized letting Tristan ride him one more time was probably not in the best interest of driving home. He’d kind of hoped to get out of the hotel unnoticed. He knew that most of the out of country wedding guests were all staying there but figured most would be out seeing sights like Blaire's parents had left to do early that morning. As he headed for the door he wasn’t paying much attention to who was hanging around in the lobby. Standing over on the side of lobby stood Blaire’s brother Carter who was talking to Darren, Evan, and Hiro while his girlfriend Nikki held her younger cousin Junior in her arms. The younger boys all seemed a bit out of sorts and scared. “It’s going to be alright guys. Come on, we all know Landon can handle some COH punks starting shit. Him and the others are legends.”, Carter tried to assure his younger cousin and the twins. Evan nodded. “We know. We just don’t know who those other two mutants in masks are because they aren’t Rose’s people.”, Evan explained. “It’ll be alright. Just take breaths. Tommy and Malcolm are getting your parents. Till then you’ll hang down here with me and Nikki.”, Carter said patting Evan’s shoulder lightly.
Nikki sighed looking around hoping to see her uncle or any of the adults come out of the elevator hearing it ding but instead she blinked seeing a Kearney getting off the elevator. Or at least she was certain it was Kearney based on the plaid being the same they had all been wearing at the wedding and she’d been told that a plaid is to a clan as a fingerprint is to a person. “Carter where more Kearneys than those that came from the states staying at the hotel?”, she asked. Carter turned his head and recognized the Kearney she was talking about. “No there weren’t supposed to be. Guys which Kearney is that?”, he asked turning to Darren and the twins. The three boys looked and it was Darren that answered. “That’s our cousin Hadyn Kearney, son of Dougal and Isobel, grandson of our great Uncle Finn.”, Darren confirmed. “Hmm wonder what he’s doing here.”, Evan pondered tilting his head. “Let’s ask.”, Hiro shrugged cupping his hands around his mouth to call out to Hadyn. “Oy coz Hadyn! What you doing?”, Hiro called. Hadyn was almost to the doors of the lobby when he stopped dead hearing a child’s voice yelling ‘coz Hadyn’. Hadyn sighed taking a breath and looking over his shoulder, he vaguely recognized some of the children. They were clansmen he couldn’t just ignore them. So he turned around and walked over.
“Aye? Good morning. Wat can Ah ‘elp ya wee ones wid?”, he asked looking at the group. Carter blinked a little when Hadyn spoke, he recognized the deep Scottish voice as the one that yelled this morning from his sister’s hotel room. That’s why he looked familiar, this was the Kearney that had been talking to Tristan and Blaire at the reception and danced a couple times with Blaire. Carter sighed shaking his head a little realizing what this meant his sister and Tristan had been up to and why they skipped going to the lock with the family. Carter wasn’t the only one to piece that together Nikki trying to not giggle as she held her younger cousin. “It’s like four in the afternoon so not morning anymore.”, Evan stated. “Verra well, good afternoon. Now wat mig’t Ah do fer ya...um afraid Ah canna recall yer names. Met a great many people last nig’t canna remember deir names.”, he smiled. “I can think of two names he’s very familiar with and won’t be forgetting.”, Carter whispered to Nikki who had to cover her mouth to not laugh. “Darren Delaney the Second, son of Sadria Kearney Alston Delaney and Azriel Delaney brother of the bride.”, Darren said pointing to himself. “Evan Kearney the Second and my twin Hiro Kearney sons of Iver and Kisa Kearney.”, Evan answered pointing to himself and Hiro. “Aye dat it. And you t’ree?”, he asked looking to Carter, Nikki and Junior. “I’m Nikki Howlett and this is my younger cousin Logan Howlett Junior we are the groom’s cousins.”, Nikki said. “And I’m Carter Delaney, probably more notable to you as Blaire’s younger brother.”, Carter answered with a smirk.
Hadyn nodded looking at Carter there was some similarities in the fact like the nose and the smirk. He could see the resemblance to the raven haired beauty he’d had the pleasure of spending the night with. “Aye. Now wat can Ah do fer ya lads and lassie?”, he asked. “We were just wondering what you were doing.”, Hiro explained. “Ah was leaving if ya couldn’t tell.”, Hadyn said being as vague as he could without lying to the kids. “Right we get that but I thought you were one of the Kearneys that lived further north. Did you just rent a room to avoid driving? And if you did why are you not going to the checkout counter to check out?”, Darren asked being logical. Hadyn smiled trying to figure how he explained this. He wasn’t ashamed of what happened last night between Tristan, Blaire and himself. But he doubted that Blaire wanted her family especially her little brother knowing about their night. “Dat a good question coz. Ah do live in da north in Aberdeen. Ah dinna rent a room w’ich is w’y Ah not c’ecking out.”, he said still being vague. Hiro furrowed his brother confused. Junior lifted his head for his cousin’s shoulder getting her to set him back down and looked up at Hadyn with his Hamilton honey brown eyes and sniffed at him. “You smell like Blaire and Tristan…”, the youngest of the group stated. Carter and Nikki just started laughing.
Hadyn raised an eyebrow looking down at Junior and then to Carter and Nikki who had started laughing. “Um Ah sorry wee one Ah…”, Hadyn tried to think how to explain this away. Carter took a breath stopping himself from laughing. “He smells like that because he was around my sister and Tristan.”, Carter explained before putting his hands over Junior’s ears not wanting the youngest to hear this. Hadyn blinked a little taken back by Carter’s word. “You weren’t exactly discrete Kearney. When my dad knocked on their door this morning you didn’t think when you answered.”, Carter explained. “I trust that since you are leaving this late in the day you had a good time with my sister and her boyfriend.”, Carter said his face turning serious for a moment. “Umm….”, Hadyn wasn’t sure what to say. “I don’t care dude. My sister has always done what she wants when she wants. But she always thinks it through. It’s why I never worry about her.”, Carter stated. “Whoa whoa. Hold on. Hadyn which side do you play for?”, Hiro asked getting nosey. Darren and Evan both turning a shade of red as they realized what Carter was implying happened with their cousin Hadyn and Carter’s sister. “Er. Ah dinna take sides.”, Hadyn explained not sure this was a conversation to have. “OH MY GOD!? So you got to...with Tristan? Daaaammmmnnnn.”, Hiro smiled looking up at Hadyn with utter admiration in his blue eyes. “What was it like? Cause wow he’s hot.”, Hiro questioned. Darren and Evan hiding their faces turning bright red the more Hiro talked.
Hadyn shook his head laughing a little. “Aren’t ya a wee young ta be talking bout ting like dat?”, Hadyn questioned. Hiro shrugged. “Hiro has what most would call an abundance of hormones for even a fifteen year and he’s only eleven.”, Nikki giggled. “I kind of wouldn’t mind knowing that answer though…”, Nikki added quietly. Carter and Hadyn both arched an eyebrow looking at Nikki. “Seriously? He’s eventually, when he mans up and asks her, going to be my brother-in-law.”, Carter questioned shaking his head. Nikki smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I know that. Tristan is just very good looking, your sister had good tastes. Wanting the answer isn’t like saying I’d want to find out for myself. I’m more than satisfied with my Delaney in bed.”, she smiled. Hadyn shook his head. “Oh wait which is better in bed a Whitland or a Delaney? Because Carter’s sister is fine.”, Hiro added a follow up question, ducking as Carter swatted at him. “Dat Ah canna say w’o is better. Ah a gentleman and we dinna go about kissing and telling. But Ah agree wid ya wee coz Tristan is verra ‘ot and Blaire is fine as ‘ell. Now Ah will assume and trust dat any knowledge ya ‘ave o dis will not be leaving yer lips. Aye? Do Ah got yer word? And remember Kearneys keep deir word.”, Hadyn said looking to the boys. “I’m not saying a word, I think Evan and I would rather forget we know.”, Darren said Evan nodding. “You have my word. Just wow, I envy you coz.”, Hiro smiled. Hadyn chuckled shaking his head and ruffled Hiro’s blonde locks. “Ya stay outta trouble, aye? Ah need ta make da long drive back ‘ome. Good ta meet and see ya all. Good day lads. Good day lassie.”, he smiled giving a nod to the group leaving the hotel. “Seriously that man is officially my hero!”, Hiro exclaimed. Darren and Evan shook their heads while Carter and Nikki laughed, Junior pulling Carter’s hands from his ears wondering what he missed.
Finally the elevator dinged and out walked Hudson, Sadria, and Kisa with Tommy and Malcolm. “Boys are you alright?”, Kisa asked going over and looking at each of the four carefully. “The boys told us what was going on. Junior are you okay?”, Hudson asked kneeling at his son. Junior nodded. “Yes. I’m okay father. Malcolm protected me.”, he said. “He protected himself your majesty I just finished the job.”, Malcolm smiled. Hudson sighed and ruffled Junior’s hair. “I need you to stay here for a little bit. Okay. Sadria has called the local authorities. They will come and ask you boys some questions. I expect all of you to be honest with these officers.”, Hudson explained standing back up. “Where are you going father?”, Junior asked. “Tommy and Malcolm are going to lead me to where the altercation is happening along with, lord help me, the royal guards who I’ve buzzed to meet us out front. I will not have allow any of them to get in trouble with the local authorities for being you bodyguards this afternoon.”, Hudson explained before heading for the door with Tommy and Malcolm right behind him. Junior frowned a little watching him go. “He’ll be back soon lad. Yer dah just doing wat he can ta ensure da ot’ers dinna get in trouble fer da fig’t. Cause if Ah kne Landon and t’ose girls it became a fig’t.”, Sadria smiled.
The fight was basically over by the time Hudson and his motorcade arrived along with local authorities. All the protestors were injured on the ground, Mason and Adder had fled at the sound of sirens. And knowing better than to run Landon stood waiting with Lily, Cora Lee and Rachel. They were a bit disheveled from the fight but none seemed injured badly. Just a busted lip and some bloody knuckles. “Wat da blood ‘ell ‘appened ‘ere?”, an officer asked. One of the protesters moved to speak but the door to a black sedan opened and Hudson stepped out. “Presenting his majesty King Hudson James Howlett of Madripoor.”, a guard announced. “I can tell you what happened.”, Hudson spoke. The officer blinked at the announcement of royalty and turned. “One of these individuals dared to try and abduct my son and his bodyguards behaved accordingly.”, Hudson stated. The officer looked at the protestors. “Dat wat ‘appened? Someone try ta snatc’ up a kid?”, he asked. He was a member of the church like the protesters but the presence of a royal tied his hands. “No!”, one shouted. “Well that’s a lie. You’re the one that snatched his highness Prince Logan James Howlett Junior off the ground and referred to the young prince, I beg your pardon your majesty, as a runt.”, Malcolm spoke up knowing the man’s face even with the two black eyes and broken nose.
“And ya four were just defending da Prince?”, the officer asked looking to the others. “Yes sir. We were charged with the protection of his highness Prince Logan and the accompaniment of three friends. This man..”, Landon answered pointing to the man who’d originally gone after Hiro. “Attempted to snatch one of his highness’s companions merely on the grounds that the boy is a mutant. In Madripoor, and if memory serves the United Kingdom and generally any free country in the world there are no laws that prohibit a mutant from walking on a city street. In most of these countries there are laws that prevent discrimination and assault against them just for being what they are. I performed my duty and defended the boy. These individuals did not like that and chose to fight us.”, Landon explained keeping his shoulders back keep a more militant sense of him. “Aye in the United Kingdom dere are no laws dat prevent a mutant from walking a city street. And dere are laws against assault. We will need ta confirm wid da boys in question. If o course ya dinna mind yer majesty.”, he said looking to Hudson. “By all means. When two of his guards returned to the hotel we are staying in and told me of the situation I had the police notified. I believe someone was on their way to speak with them. Now if you do not mind I would like to return to my son with his entire bodyguard staff. I do intend to press charges for the attack against my only heir.”, Hudson stated, his guards opening the doors to the second car. “You're free to go. Let’s start rounding these ones up and get them medical attention.”, he sighed calling in more officers to begin arresting the protesters who’d turned violent. Landon waited letting the girls get in first and shot a smug Bryant smile to the man who originally started going after Hiro before getting into the car. Some days it was good to have someone of royal blood on your side.