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oracle0422 — Excalibur: Chapter 2 Friends or Foes part 1
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#adder #blackking #donovan #excalibur #fanfiction #hellfire #mason #originalcharacters #rose #wolverine #xgen #xgeneration #xmen #laoch
Published: 2015-07-07 22:25:53 +0000 UTC; Views: 949; Favourites: 0; Downloads: 0
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Adder had put in a rather rough week while Mason had been up in Manchester with Ashton and Tiffany. She’d chosen to stay back, figuring Mason was safe up in Manchester with their best mates. So she had figured she’d take the chance to spend some quality time with her boyfriend Oliver Rogers having felt she’d been slighting him recently having to ditch dates to be back up for Mason since the COH was getting more active in the London area. But things hadn’t gone the way she’d planned. And now weeks later she still hadn’t told Mason that she’d broke up with Ollie or what had happened between them. She’d not wanted to be that burden. He’d been best mates with Ollie since primary school and she’d only known him for the last five years how could that compare. Sure she figured he’d side with her on the situation given what Ollie did, but still she just didn’t want to talk to him about it. However that didn’t stop the night's events from replaying over and over in her dreams, well nightmares. In her dreams it was still as vivid as the night it happened. She’d decided that maybe she’d play into Ollie’s little fantasy about school uniforms. So she’d put on a simple quarter sleeve fitted white button up where the top couple buttons were left undone, black vest, dark green and gold pleated plaid micro mini, black knee highs, and a pair of black heels and taken a taxi to his flat which was almost to the other side of London from the flat she shared with Mason.
Even in the dreams she could remember riding the elevator and getting a couple odd looks from some of the other residents of his building since she was sure she was a sight in the outfit, some of her scales visible and her sharp angled bob hair style and darker yet minimal make up some might think she was a call girl or something. But she didn’t care. She was only dressed like this for Ollie. He’d mentioned before having always liked the uniform from the private school he’d attended with Ashton and Mason. She’d double checked and shopped with Tiffany to find the skirt to ensure she got the right tartan while still getting that more provocative length. which with her long legs wasn’t too hard. She remembered unlocking the door to the flat with her spare key wanting to surprise Ollie. But whens he walked in he wasn’t the only one being surprised. She walked into the studio and there clear as day even in the dim candle lit room she could see Ollie, her boyfriend, naked on his bed which other circumstances would be okay. However this time it was far from okay because straddling him just as naked was Genevieve, Mason’s administrative assistance. Adder had never liked the bird thinking she was a slut and suddenly it was clear why. She’d thought Genevieve had an interest in Mason though he seemed to ignore any time Genevieve flirted with him.
“W’AT T’E FOOKIN ‘ELL!!!!!”, Adder demanded yelling very loudly as she slammed the door to the flat and flicked on the overhead light. Genevieve screamed in fright being startled and quickly moved off Oliver grabbing the top blanket from the bed to cover herself with. Oliver quickly sat up covering himself with the sheet looking in Adder’s direction but not directly at her. “I...I thought you’d be in...in Manchester with Mason.”, Ollie stammered out. "No. Ah figured ah ‘ad spent too much time wit' him and not wit' my boyfriend!", she hissed, hands extended and clear liquid dripping slightly from her talons. Genevieve noticed the talons and the liquid and gulped. She had always known that Adder had to be a mutant, the scales and snake eyes were a give away and sometimes she had been sure she’d seen a forked tongue when the head of Mason’s security would speak. She reached for the floor grabbing her black dress carefully getting into it under the cover of the blanket. “Um I'm... Yeah I'm going to just be leaving…”, Genevieve stammered trying to head for the door. “Oh that’d be a first…”, Ollie said rolling his eyes and finally looking at Adder. He gulped a little seeing she was wearing a modified version of his old school uniform, the skirt just being much shorter. And with her long legs the space between the top of the knee highs and the hem of the skirt showed a good amount of her thighs. But he decided to not let her current attire distract him from his own anger. Sure she was made catching him in bed with Genevieve but he was rather certain she was getting her kicks with Mason.
Adder slammed her hand on the door frame, blocking the woman. “Dun' walk from a coiled adder, t’ey tend ta strike anythin' movin.", she threatened. She looked back at him. "Yeah, ah get it. Ah spend too much time 'round my best mate an' boss! It is why Ah've been tryin' ta make sure Ah'm wit you more!", she angrily her voice starting to rise. Genevieve gulped and stepped back cautiously till she bumped into the counter of the kitchen area. “Any time we're together if Mason calls I become invisible. I knew from the start you had a thing for him. But I thought maybe, just maybe you'd stop or something when we started dating. But you move to London and instead of getting your own place, which you could afford, you share a flat with him. And he still takes priority over me. He's got other security staff. It's not just on you to be there for him.", Ollie argued back. "His staff can't go everyw’ere he does. Mason ‘as ot’er t’ings he needs ta do, Ollie. And Ah'm ‘ere ta keep him alive.", dhe glared. "Ah 'aven't t’ought o Mason more t’an a friend since we started datin', Ollie. I was 'appy wit' you! Apparently ya weren't.", she sighed shaking her head not sure if she was going to rage and kill them or just start to cry.
Ollie rolled his eyes. "I don't think his bed should be counted as a place the other security can't go. That should, I would think, be somewhere you wouldn't go. But from my understanding I judged both of you wrong.", he shook his head. She blinked in shock and her jaw dropped. "Ya t'ink Ah've been sleepin' wit’ Mason?!",she yelled. "W’o t’e ‘ell gave ya t’at fool idea? Mason never done more t’an treat me like ah sister, ya know that!", she said outraged. "Right and when I called to speak with him you answered saying he was busy and all I hear in the background is grunts and groans.", Genevieve spoke up. "Because we were gettin' in fights, ya fookin' slut!",she yelled. "If we get jumped w’ile ‘eading' ta a place, or people don't take well ta me being an obvious mutant so ‘igh in society, ya think Ah'm t’e type ta call t’e police fer ‘elp?!", she yelled at Genevieve . "People want him dead, and people want me dead fer existen! We get inta fig’ts.",she looked at Ollie and glared. "I don't know! I didn't think Mason would out could he'd always been the most upstanding of our group growing up. But I know you've had a thing for him. And with that you would leave no matter what we were doing for him. That's going above and beyond your job. You aren't his beck and call girl." Ollie shouted back.
"Ya think Mason is t’e type ta do t’at to a mate? Ya t’ink Ah'd do t’at ta my man? Ya really t’ink Mason and Ah, if we both wanted ta be toget’er, are t’e type ta just rat’er c’eat on someone while seeing each ot’er on t’e sly? T’at Mason is so caug’t up on rank he'd h’de me if Ah was wit' him?", Adder hissed. "Ya think if Ah EVER ‘ad a c’ance wit’ Mason in any way, Ah'd be wit you?!", she demanded yelling. "And right there! That's why I'd believe it! Because if he ever gave you the hint or out right said he wanted you I’d be nothing to you.", Ollie shouted pointing when she said that if she ever had a chance with Mason she’d not be with him. "If Ah could ‘ave Mason, w’y would Ah be tryin' all Ah could ta be wit’ ya and keep both o us ‘appy?" ,she asked. "We both know Mason isn't t’e type ta be on a taken woman. T’at Mason wouldn't s’are a girl. And Mason saved my life!", she yelled. "Mason found me freezin' cold on a roof and Ah was dyin', Ollie. Ah owe him my life. ‘onor might not mean much ta me, but if someone saves mah life like t’at t’en Ah'll die fer t’em. It isn't cause Ah care bout him. it isn't even t’at ke's my mate. He saved my life more times t’an Ah can remember. Ah'm tryin' ta pay back a debt by protectin' his back. So, Ollie. W’at is more realistic? T’at t’e street rat 'as been takin' blows for Mason Templeton in fig’ts, gettin bruises and cuts and scars, keepin' him alive. Or that Mason is inta hurtin' people?",she glared.
"Loyalty is everyt’inh ta me, Ollie. 'Ave I EVER s’own t’at it isn't?", she demanded of him. Her copper snake eyes glaring across the small studio apartment at him. Ollie ran a hand over his face. He felt like a complete ass. "I...I just... I jumped to a conclusion. And I'm... I'm sorry...", he tried to apologize. He wasn’t sure why he’d believe it. Why he’d believe his best mate would ever sleep with his girl. She shook her head. "Ah wasn't fair ta ya, Ollie. But Ah 'aven't touc’ed anyone. Ya were my first fer a lot of things, Ollie. But now, ya ain't gonna be mah last.",she reached into her jacket pocket and threw a box at the Genevieve. "At least buy his favorite brand, ya cunt.", she hissed, turning and leaving. She wanted to kill them. But she couldn't. The box was a pack of condoms she had bought on the way over the brand he enjoyed, as much as a guy could anyway. Adder remembered storming out and it was always at that point she woke up when she dreamed about it. And today was no different. She woke up to the slamming of the door in her dream to sit up and see Mason standing in the doorway of her bedroom leaning looking at her worried.
“You alright pet?”, he asked sipping a cup of tea a second cup in his other hand. “Yea Ah’m fine. Ya standing t’ere long?”, she asked throwing back the covers not really thinking too much about being seen in her shorts and tank top by him. They’d shared a flat for four years now between Oxford and now London. “Not very long. Came in to wake you up. We need to get an early start our man is on the move heading north and we need to keep up. Here’s some coffee.”, he said offering the cup. Adder nodded taking the cup and looking to her window that looked out to the north east and didn’t see the sun rising yet. She took the cup taking a long sip. “T’anks mate.”, she said taking another sip looking at him. He was wearing more casual clothes, which given they planned to go follow after the murdering prick who’d eluded them the night before. She smiled a little as it wasn’t often that he was this casually dressed. Though even his casual was still upscale. He was wearing a white t-shirt but under a blue plaid button up which was under a vneck gray sweater only the collar, cuffs, and just a little of the bottom of the button up was visible paired with slim fit blue jeans with a few distressed spots on the thighs and knee. “Well finish the coffee and get dressed we need to get going.”, Mason said giving her a kiss on the forehead before walking out of her room.
She sighed and leaned a little out of her room watching him walk away. She shook her head closing the door. “Ah s’ould stop lookin at him like t’at. It just gets me in trouble and ‘y Ah’m alone again. But lord his arse looks soo good in t’ose jeans.”, she sighed setting the coffee cup down and getting out her clothes to wear for the day. She grabbed a dark maroon scoop neck short sleeve top, a pair of medium wash bootcut jeans which has some worn areas from her venom, her black leather jacket which had the hood that had the built in mask getting dressed before grabbing her go to pair of boots heading out to the main area of the flat. Mason was sitting in his leather wingback chair putting on his sneakers and looked up at her as she walked out. He smiled, but she figured that was just him greeting her. But from his vantage he smiled because she’d looked good, but he knew better than to voice that opinion. He knew she was on the outs with Ollie but he wasn’t sure exactly if it was just a fight or a full break up. And even then what could he really do? He couldn’t tell her he wanted her, that he might actually be in love with her. No he didn’t want to muddy that line of friendship they had. He reminded himself as he grabbed his hooded jacket from the closet that business and pleasure shouldn’t mix. And he needed her at his side both in public as his bodyguard and on missions like they were about to go on far more than he needed her in his bed. “Ready?”, he asked. Adder nodded finishing the coffee leaving the cup in the sink. “Let’s go mate.”, she said heading out of the flat with him take his car from the parking garage to follow this mutant murdering man.
In Cambridge Rose was being disturbed by a rather heavy feline companion sitting on her chest purring loudly. Rose groaned. “Ah god Octopus. Get off I can’t breath.”, she teased though it was slightly true pushed the heavy orange tabby maine coon off her chest as she sat up. Octopus nudged her hand and she scratched behind his ears and leaned giving him a kiss. Rose chuckled a little at the large orange cat. “You’re a good cat. You’re no Merrick but you at least will keep me company when he’s too far away.”, she sighed scratching his ears. It’d been two months since she’d left Bayville and she missed Merrick and Faelan every day. it didn’t matter that during the day they’d skype, mostly in the evening before Faelan went to bed. The long distance was a strain, but she also had to remind herself they weren’t really together. Sure all month long she’d stayed at the Haven with Merrick, but she’d not told him she loved him and he didn’t tell her how he felt. And she knew he wasn’t great with words, and maybe she should judge by his actions which all pointed to him loving her and wanting to be with her. But she needed to hear the words to have that verbal confirmation. Octopus nudged her again as she’d become lost in her thoughts of Merrick. “Come on then big boy I’ll fill your bowl.”, she said throwing back the covers and venturing downstairs, tripping over Octopus on the stairs tumbling down a couple steps before catching her balance.
“Real graceful princess…”, Donovan teased sitting at the kitchen counter drinking a cup of coffee. “Donovan? What are you doing here this early?”, she asked looking at the clock as she went to put more food in Octopus’ bowl. Octopus seemed to glare at Donovan as he walked past. “Fat bastard..”, Donovan muttered. “Remember ya told me to get ‘ere early. We are supposed to be on surveillance today. One of dose guys we were able to link to da COH ‘as been spotted and we want to follow him and see w’ere he goes and w’o he talks to. We are trying to figure out wat deir next move is.”, Donovan explained. Rose groaned rubbing her eyes remembering now. “Right yeah sorry I forgot.”, she said pouring a cup of coffee. “No worries mate. Just get yer round arse dressed so we can go.”, Donovan smirked. Rose rolled her eyes at him as she drank her coffee. Donovan was still a flirt, but she never took any of it to heart. After all he couldn’t be serious. They were teammates and more importantly she knew her heart was in Bayville with Merrick and Faelan. And sure Donovan had moved to Glasgow but he’d been around enough the last two months thanks to the teleporting watches Landon and Forge had sent them, so he should know how much Merrick and Faelan mean to her with how much she talked about them. "I'll be right back down.", she said heading back upstairs to get dressed.
It was a covert mission so she just put on street clothes. She slipped into a pair of black skinny jeans with ponte jersey insert side panels and 5 pocket detail, a loose-fitting grey side pleat top with a wide neck, pleat detailing across left shoulder and bust, off-centre 'v' neckline at back top, and a pair of ankle boots with a 4 1/2 inch heel, 1 inch platform and with zipper, buckle and lace up detail. She slipped her copper locket over her head and ran a brush through her thick red hair pulling it back into a simple ponytail before heading down the stairs. Donovan arched an eyebrow looking at her. At the moment he was very glad his twin wasn't around to read his thoughts. Because none were very clean at present. But he'd through Rose was gorgeous from the first time his cousin brought her to the pub for open mic night. "What?", she asked grabbing her cowl neck black leather jacket slipping it on. Donovan shook his head. "Not’ing. Let's head out then.", he said grabbing his jacket having dressed casual with jeans and a rugby type red and gold shirt. Rose shrugged and headed out the door with Donovan right behind her. "So where does our intel say he's supposed to be?", she asked. "Well first stop is da coffee s'op he 'as been seen at often.", Donovan said walking alongside her. Rose nodded. "Could use more coffee.", she stated.
“Dat our guy in da corner wid da paper.", he whispered not directly looking at the man as they entered the coffee shop. Rose nodded and ordered her coffee and a danish while Donovan just ordered a coffee and paid for them both. "Can buy my own breakfast you know.", she commented. "Ah kne. Ah just dinna care. Now s'ut it and eat yer danish princess.", he teased sipping his coffee having chosen a table where by looking across the table at her he could see the target. “So ‘ow are classes?”, Donovan asked. “Not too bad half way through my program. So it’s getting tougher of course. Started the clinical part of the program. So we are getting more into what I’ll be dealing with after I graduate. How’s life on the professional rugby team?”, she asked. Why he went to university to get a degree in education just to play rugby professionally she wasn’t sure. “It's going good. Da guys on da Warriors are really nice. Dey t’ought it would be fun to prank me a little during mah rookie year. T’ough given deir pranks were meant to be more about causing p’ysical pain dey soon realized Ah don’t feel pain da same as dey do. ‘aving dis watc’ your friends in America made ’as been really ‘elpful now dat Ah’ve gotten mah own place in Glasgow. Now it doesn’t take me ‘ours to get ‘ere when Ah’m needed. And wid Ashley moving into her apartment dere’s two of us up in Scotland. Pretty weird mah cousin is now engaged to yer nep’ew.”, he commented.“Not really. Ashley and Xavier have been together since high school. It was bound to happen he just waited till he thought the time was right.”, Rose shrugged.
Their target stood up folding his newspaper under his arm and picking up leaving the briefcase he’d brought. “Wonder wat is in da briefcase. Ya ‘ear or smell anyt’ing off bout it?”, Donovan asked quietly.He may have a healing power like hers and his hot knives similar to her claws, but he didn’t have her heightened senses. Rose tilted her head slightly remaining still as she listened drowning out all the noise of other people in the room listening for anything off, but heard nothing and otherwise she slightly sniffed the air but didn’t smell anything off. She shook her head. “Nothing out of the ordinary that I could pick up.”, she said getting up from their table and casually walking over to the briefcase the man left behind. She took a breath and carefully opened it. Inside was just blank pieces of paper. Something about that didn’t feel right. Rose closed the briefcase and picked it up. “We should return this. It might be something he needs.”, Rose said just so no one in the shop thought it was odd. “Yea. T’ink Ah saw him ‘ang a rig’t outta da shop.”, Donovan said getting up and heading for the the door. Rose was right behind him with the briefcase. “So wat’s in it?”, he asked as they started to walk following after the man. “Blank pieces of paper. Which is weird.”, Rose said. Donovan nodded. “Well we can’t just carry it wid us. It’ll look suspicious. Send it back to yer house.”, he suggested taking off his watch and hooking it around the handle of the briefcase. Rose nodded and discreetly stepped into an alley to hit the button the on the watch and the briefcase disappeared to reappear at the cottage. “Done. Let’s follow him.”, she said with a nod. Donovan nodded silently and they started to walk again.
They were cautious to keep some distance between them and their target not wanting to alarm him. Neither they or their target realized someone else was also following him. Up on the roofs staying downwind were Mason and Adder. Mason and Adder had been following this man since London where he’d escaped after being responsible for bombing a small establishment that was known to be owned by a mutant. “So w’o do ya t’ink t’ose two are?”, Adder questioned as they quietly moved across a rooftop keeping their eyes on the target. “Not a clue, and don’t particularly care.”, Mason stated crouching down to peer down from the roof. “Aye but it looks like t’ey following him too.”, she commented. “So it does. I have seen reports that there were some vigilantes here in Cambridge that have been leaving these COH scum tied up for the police. However this one is ours, he’s from the London branch of this organization. He blew up that watch maker’s store killing him, his wife, two children, and three patrons. We get the opportunity we take him down I don’t care if those two try to get involved.”, he said before grabbing her hand and with a gust of wind floated them across the large gap between roofs. Adder nodded and once they landed moved to continue to keep an eye on the target.
“Ya realize ya s’ould be at t’e flat reviewing t’at presentation t’at’s being presented ta yer board Monday morning.”, Adder said leaning against the wall to a set of stairs of the roof’s access. Mason smirked at the reminder of their mundane lives. “Yes I know, pet. But this is more important. And besides you're my head of security not my assistant.”, Mason reminded. “Aye but someone’s gotta remind ya of t’ese t’ings. Yer assistant may make fer eye candy in t’e office but she ain’t got the knack fer making sure ya actually do w’at yer supposed ta.”, she retorted her copper eyes still on their target as he stopped to light a cigarette. Mason laughed a little. “I don’t know what you’re talking about calling Genevieve ‘eye candy’.”, he commented. Adder rolled her eyes. “O t’at so? So ya immune is w’at yer saying? Cause Ah got a ‘ell o time keeping some of mah security staff from looking at her cleavage. Always wearing t’ose little skirts and deep v tops.”, Adder said shaking her head. Mason silently chuckled keeping low as he moved to the next roof to keep eyes on their target who was walking again. “Hadn’t noticed. Dad hired her a couple months before I took over the company. Felt it rather cruel to dismiss her without cause. She keeps my schedule up to date, types eighty word per minute without errors, and knows how to use the company computer programs. Her appearance isn’t a factor to her keeping the job. So stop sounding jealous, pet...it’s weird.”, Mason explained. Adder silently grumbled something about not being jealous, but her eyes were on their target who’d stopped again. “Great he’s noticed t’ose two amateurs following him.”, Adder shook her head.
“Crap…”, Donovan said softly noticing their target stopping and starting to kind of look around. Donovan wasn’t looking to get spotted and without Skye there to act as a telepathic link he couldn’t tell Rose his plan in advance. So she was more than a little surprised when he kissed her pressing her to a wall. Rose pulled back as far as she could. “Donovan I’m going to…”, she started to say but he kissed her again. He pulled back a little. “Target ‘as eyes on us. Rat’er he not t’ink we are following. So ya can kick mah arse once he’s moved on.”, he said keeping his voice low before kissing her again. Alright so there were probably other ways to avoid their target noticing them, but this was the more enjoyable option. Adder and Mason both tried to not laugh at the two trying to cover their tracks by kissing. Rose was livid with Donovan and only put up with this till she saw the target move out of line of sight having rounded a corner. Once the target was out of sight Rose slammed a knee into Donovan’s groin, shoved him away and punched him in the gut. “You ever and I mean EVER do something like that again we’ll find out if your healing can reverse castration.”, she growled wiping her lips with the back of her hand. She wasn’t unfamiliar with being pressed against a wall and kissed, Merrick did that often. But Donovan was no Merrick. That kiss wasn’t done with her permission or any real passion.”Ya t’ink he did t’at fer the sake of not getting caug’t or just ta kiss t’e bird?”, Adder chuckled. Mason shrugged. “I don’t know. I’d guess for the sake of kissing her. She’s not unattractive, however his advance obviously wasn’t well received. And that is why you don’t touch a woman without her consent.”, Mason shook his head moving to keep eyes on their target.
Donovan groaned a little at the pain, healing or not that always hurt initially. He nodded a little. “Fair enoug’ princess. Let’s go before we lose him.”, Donovan said moving to follow their target. Rose growled a little but followed as she didn’t want to lose visual. “And t’at is w’y we are up ‘ere instead o down t’ere. Less risk o getting spotted and ‘aving ta t’ink fast on a way to distract attention from us.”, Adder said. “Indeed. Though I highly doubt first distraction maneuver would be kissing you.”, Mason smiled. Adder nodded. “O course..”, she murmured. She wouldn’t have minded if Mason kissed her, distraction or not. She’d thought about it more than once in the last three years though she’d resigned herself to the idea that she was always going to be the friend and never the girlfriend in his eyes. They continued to follow the target as did Rose and Donovan. Rose and Donovan now keeping a greater distance between them and the target. Donovan considered apologizing but right now they were on mission, he could apologize after. The two teams followed the man to an old abandoned church. Rose and Donovan ducked into an alley as the man was looking around again before walking inside. “See that’s how you avoid being noticed you arse.”, Rose muttered looking around the corner at the building. Donovan rolled his eyes. “Yeah well mah way was more fun. Now do ya pick up da scent or hear anyone else in dat building?”, Donovan asked.
Rose elbowed him hard in the ribs when he called his way more fun. Rose focused on the building sniffing the air and listening. “I pick up three other scents from inside.”, she confirmed. “Alrig’t well let’s get a little closer and see wat ya can hear. Ah’ve got one of dose bugs devices from Muir Island. If dis where dey are meeting can bug da place so we know wat dey up to before dey strike.”, Donovan said reaching into his pocket pulling out a baggie of small round discs. Rose nodded and carefully moved to flank the old church pressing herself against a wall of the church near a window to get a visual and to better hear. “W’at are t’ose two doing?”, Adder asked as they watched. “From the looks of it they are trying find out what our man is doing here. We let them do what they are doing and when we get our guy alone we take him out. If the police are going to turn a blind eye to his crimes because his victims were mutants we won’t.”, Mason stated. Adder nodded, the man had killed seven people and of those seven the family of five had been mutant one of the children even had a physical mutation. For her that hit home, having a physical mutation herself. Donovan moved in after Rose was in position and snuck a peek into the window.Inside the room was their target and two other men. His eyes narrowed as he saw they were all standing around a boy tied to a chair. The boy looked terrified, it was obvious he was a shapeshifter and not very practiced as his fear was in control and he couldn’t stay in one form more than a couple seconds. “We’ve gotta do something…”, Donovan said Reaching to his back pocket pulling out his mask. Rose took a breath she knew they couldn’t just sit there and watch these men torture this poor boy. She nodded and reached into her purse pulling out a mask. It wasn’t her wolverine inspired mask as that was actually attached to her uniform. But this would do. Adder nudged Mason and nodded to the pair as they got out masks. “What do they see that we don’t…”, Mason questioned. “If they are moving in so are we though. We won’t let him get away from us.”, Mason said pulling up the hood of his black jacket which he’d had a mask that covered part of his face sewn into. Adder nodded and did the same with her hood getting her mask over her face. Before she’d started working for Mason as his head of security she wouldn't have cared about someone seeing her face. But now she was in the public eye every time she stepped outside because Mason was a public figure running Templeton Enterprises which had ties to many different companies and charities.
Rose moved around to the back of the building while Donovan stayed at the location they’d started he could see her at the back window and with a nod they both opened the windows and slipped inside. “Let the kid go and no one gets hurt.”, Rose demanded her bone claws popping out. Thier target moved behind the kid holding a knife to his throat. “I don’t think so mutant. You make a move and the boy dies now and then you’re next.”, he threatened as his associates pointed a gun at Donovan and Rose. Donovan smirked looking at the barrel of the gun pointed at him then looked at the boy who looked terrified. “Dinna fash mate. We got ya covered. Dey ain’t gonna get to ‘urt ya. Promise.”, Donovan smiled. “You got a death wish mate?”, the one pointing a gun at Donovan questioned. Donovan snorted. “Maybe. Ah’d love ta see ya try and kill me.”, Donovan egged the man on. Adder and Mason had moved from the roofs and into the building, not making a sound as Adder like a snake barely made a sound as she stepped while Mason hovered over the floor. They took the front set of stairs to come up behind their target. Adder moved behind their target and pressed the point of her talon to the side of his neck some of her venom dripping down causing a burn hole on his shirt collar. “Ah’d recommend ya dropping t’at knife before Ah drop ya dead w’ere ya stand.”, she hissed.
The two others, along with Rose and Donovan were taken by surprise at the entrance of the other two. The two men fired at Rose and Donovan. Rose winced as the bullet went through her left shoulder. “This was one of my favorite jackets..”, she growled looking at the hole in the leather where blood was pooling before the wound healed over. The shot fired at Donovan went into the right side of his chest and given the close range it went straight through. “Dat ain’t gunna get da job done mate.”, Donovan said the wound healing over and his hands flexing at his sides claws extending out that looked more like they were nearly solid flames. “Mah turn.”, Donovan said sending his ‘hot knives’ at the man strategically placed to pin the man by his closed to the wall. The target gulped and looked at his shoulder wincing at the toxin was burning into his skin now. He dropped the knife. The man who shot Rose looked stunned and went to fire again, however a strong gust of wind from Mason’s hand pinned him to the wall leaving the man gasping for breath. “Who...who are you?”, Rose asked. “Doesn’t matter. We are here for this man. He needs to pay for the seven lives he took. You two can free the boy, get him home safe. We can handle these fools.”, Mason stated.
“Now t’at was fancy.”, Adder said. “Guess t’at leaves you t’ree arse’oles wit’ us.”, she smiled. “Let’s wrap this up and quick.”, Mason said giving a nod to Adder. “Alrig’t.”, she said before slamming her talon into the jugular of the man letting her venom do it’s work. She dropped his body to the ground and stepped over him walking over the one pinned by the knives and looked at the knives. “Interesting powers t’ose two got..”, she commented before puncturing the man’s neck with her talon and pulling him off the wall. Mason had already sucked all the air out of the man he had pinned and brought his hand down the lifeless body falling limp to the ground. “Well this was fun. Let’s go ahead and just burn this godforsaken church to the ground so this type of activity can’t happen again.”, Mason said looking around for the gas mane. He turned the valve lessing the gas start to fill the room. Adder took the lighter from their target's pocket and followed Mason out of the old church handing him the lighter. “‘ere mate.”, she said. Mason nodded taking the lighter and flicking it looking at the flame. “May you burn in hell for your crimes.”, he said before tossing the lighter through the window before grabbing Adder. With a solid gust of wind Mason and Adder were off the ground and out of range of the explosion of the old church. “Well t’at’s t’ree less in t’e world.”, Adder said as they landed on the roof. Mason nodded. “I wonder who those other two are. But that’s something to dig into another time. lets get back to my car and back to London. As you pointed out I’ve got a presentation to review.”, Mason teased climbing down from the roof, pulling his mask and hood back down. Adder nodded doing the same following down. The two walked back to where he’d parked the car before heading off to London.
Rose, Donovan and the boy materialized in the ready room of Muir Island. “Where...how…”, The boy asked confused trying to scramble out of Donovan’s arms. “Shh it’s alright. We aren’t going to hurt you I promise.”, Rose said pulling off her mask and smiling at the boy. “I’m Rose Howlett. And I just want to give you a check up to make sure you aren’t hurt.”, she introduced. Donovan set the boy onto the table and took off his mask .”And Ah’m..”, he went to introduce himself but the boy went wide eyed. “You’re Donovan Kearney number six on the Glasgow Warriors you play blindside flanker!”, the boy exclaimed as he stopped changing appearance settling on his true form. Which was a Caucasian boy with a slightly rounded face, short brown hair that was kind of spiked and brown eyes. Donovan laughed a little being recognized. “A fan eh. But yea Ah’m Donovan Kearney. ‘ow bout ya let Miss Rose give ya look over. She’d a med student. So she kne a t’ing or two.”, Donovan suggested. Kyle nodded and looked to Rose. Rose took a breath looking at Kyle he had the same eye color as Faelan. It made her wonder what Faelan will look like at this age. How much of Jenna will he get and how much of Merrick. From what she’d seen of the baby pictures of Merrick while visiting in June he looked just like Merrick beyond the eyes. So he would grow up to be just as handsome. She smiled thinking about Faelan and Merrick before starting to check Kyle over. “Well you seem to be in okay physical shape. Just a few cuts. What’s your name?”, she asked. “Kyle...Kyle Fraser.”, he answered.
“Okay Kyle. Do you have any family we could take you to?”, Rose asked. Kyle shook his head starting to cry again. “Not very close. My parents...they were burned with the house…”, he cried. Rose sighed softly and hugged Kyle rubbing his back gently. “It's okay to cry. It’s okay. We’ll figure this out.”, she cooed softly. “Do you have any distant relatives maybe?”, she asked. Kyle nodded sniffling. “I’ve a great aunt in Inverness. I’ve only met her once.”, he explained. “Well that’s a start. What’s her name?”, she asked. “Jocasta Fraser..”, he answered. “Do you know her number?”, Rose asked. Kyle shook his head. “Alright I’ll look it up and call her. See if she could take you so you stay with family.”, Rose sighed smiling a little. “Kyle, ‘ow bout ya come wid me. We’ve got a playstation and some rader cool games in the lounge. Let’s play a matc’ while Miss Rose makes her calls.”, Donovan offered extending a hand to the boy. Rose let Kyle go who sniffled and nodded taking Donovan’s hand letting him lead him out of the room to a sofa in the lounge tossing him a controller. Rose got out her phone and sighed glancing out of the window of the ready room to Donovan and Kyle on the couch playing Rugby 28. “It is cool that you are in a video game Mister Kearney.”, Kyle said picking the Glasgow Warriors for his team. Donovan chuckled. “Yeah it is. And ya can call me Donovan. Ah just picked da game up. ‘Aven’t played yet. Not really sure how different it is dan planing it for real.”, Donovan said picking Edinburgh. Rose smiled a little watching the two but reminded herself she still owed Donovan a serious ass kicking for him kissing her during the mission.
Rose sighed and picked up her phone and started checking for a listing of a Jocasta Fraser in Inverness. She lucked out finding only one and dialed. “Hello.”, an older female voice with a thick highland accent greeted. “Good afternoon is this Miss Jocasta Fraser?”, Rose greeted. “Aye. And w’o be calling?”, Jocasta questioned. “My name is Rose Howlett. I’m a university student in Cambridge. This morning I came upon your great nephew Kyle Fraser. And well I’m not sure how to tell you this miss.”, Rose sighed trying to think how she could tell this woman that her nephew and niece were gone. “Young Kyle? Aye Ah recall da lad. Wat of him?”, she questioned. “My friend and I found him in the forced company of three men who looked to do him harm. We were able to get him safely away from the men. When we asked about getting him home to his parents he told us...well apparently these men burned down his house with his parents… well inside. He gave me your name as the only relative he knew.”, Rose explained softly. she could hear the stunned silence on the other end of the phone. Rose had never had to tell someone that their kin was dead.
Over in the lounge she could hear Donovan and Kyle. "Ah come on mate. Yer cheating...", Donovan chuckled giving the boy's hair a tussle with one hand while keeping the controller in his other hand. "No I'm not you're just not good at video games as you are real sports.”, Kyle defended. “Miss Jocasta?”, Rose questioned wanting to make sure she’d not given the elderly woman a heart attack. “Aye Ah still ‘ere. So yer telling me dat mah nep’ew Ian and his wife Jeannie been killed and ya ‘ave young Kyle. Wat was da reason dese men did dis?”, she asked. Rose sighed and looked over at Kyle playing games with Donovan. “Because Kyle is a mutant ma’am. They are part of an anti-mutant organization.”, Rose explained. Jocasta sighed. “Aye Ah kne da boy was like me and mah brot’er Brian was. Ian dinna get da ‘curse’ or ‘gift’ depending on w’o ya ask. So guess being his only living kin da responsibility falls ta me. Ah wouldn’t send da boy to an orphanage. So bring him up to Inverness. Ah’ll look after him.”, Jocasta agreed. “I’m sure he’ll be glad to hear that. I’ll let me know and we’ll get him to you. We’ll see you soon Miss Jocasta.”, Rose said hanging up. Donovan glanced over seeing her getting off the phone. "Looks like ya ought to go talk to Rose little man.", Donovan nodded in her direction. The Kyle looked over and nodded. "Um miss Rose? So what's happening?", he asked. Rose looked over and smiled a bit.
“Alright so your Great Aunt Jocasta has agreed to let you come live with her and take care of you. So since Inverness is a bit closer to Glasgow that it is to Cambridge we’ll take you to Donovan’s flat and he can drive you over to Jocasta’s.”, Rose explained. “And ‘ow am Ah gettin to mah flat?”, Donovan questioned. “I’ll teleport the three of us to your flat. Then I’ll teleport back home to investigate what was in that briefcase. You can drive Kyle from your place to his aunt.”, Rose said looking at him like he was an idiot. “Alrig’t but ‘ow do Ah get back to yer place since mah watch is at yer place?”, Donovan asked. “Simple you go to Ashley’s since I’ll call her and say to hold off coming down till you’ve gotten back. Then you teleport with your cousin to the cottage and then the whole team can discuss what happened today. Which just so you don’t think I forgot. Tomorrow you face me in the danger room where I will kick the crap out of you for that stunt you pulled today. And after that it is not to be mentioned or attempted again.”, Rose instructed. Kyle laughed a little with a raised eyebrow wondering what the stunt was. Donovan rolled his eyes. “Wat don’t want da rest of da team knowing we kissed? Tink dey’d tell Merrick?”, Donovan teased. Kyle blinked a little at that and wondered who Merrick was, guessing it was Rose’s boyfriend.
“We didn’t kiss Donovan, your dumb ass kissed me and got kneed in the nuts and punched in the gut for the trouble and are going to get your ass kicked to ensure the lesson is learned to not touch me. And I’d rather Merrick not know you tried something so stupid. Because you don’t know Merrick like I do..”, she started to say. “Thank Christ Ah don’t know him like you do princess.”, Donovan interjected. Rose shook her head. “As I was saying, you don’t know him like I do. He may not like to fly but he might just to kick your arse.”, she concluded. Donovan snorted. “One like ta see him try ta hurt me. Two ya ain’t his girlfriend so he ain’t got much cause dere. Sides he apparently free ta be wid whoever he likes when yer ‘ere, as proven by him ‘aving a barren wid some bird. So w’y ya keep yerself only for a man w’o ain’t doin da same is beyond me…”, Donovan shook his head. “Don’t you dare bring Faelan into this Donovan Marcus Kearney. I don’t ever want to hear you speak in such a rude way about that baby. I don’t expect you to understand any of what has happened between Merrick and I in the last four years. But things are different since Faelan. He’s different.”, Rose defended growling at Donovan for bringing Faelan into this as a negative against Merrick. “He still dinna tell ya he loves ya nor ask ya to be his before ya left.”, Donovan pointed out. “I know he cares about me. Actions speak louder than words with Merrick. He'll tell me when he’d ready.”, she said shaking her head. In her head she was thinking ‘if he’s ever ready’.
Kyle coughed a little. “Um not to break this up. Because it’s really funny listening to Donovan trying to pigeon hole your devotion to this Merrick bloke for his own ambitions. However I’m kind of tired and really hungry. They’ve held be in that basement for two days without anything to eat just water to drink. So the sooner I can get to my Aunt Jocasta maybe the better…”, Kyle interrupted. Rose smiled at Kyle. “Of course. Come on Kyle. I’ll get your and Donovan to his place so you can get to your Aunt.”, she agreed nodding her head. Donovan frowned but nodded. “Aye. Let’s get ya to yer new home.”, he agreed. Rose was glad for the reprieve from the argument. She knew Donovan had some valid points, but she didn’t want to hear them. She had, of all people, fallen in love with Merrick even if she didn’t admit it out loud. After her first experience telling someone how she felt first she was a bit scared to let history repeat itself. She had loved Landon and wouldn’t have thought when she told him how she felt that he wouldn’t feel it back or feel that way for someone else. But he had. She didn't’ want to take the risk for telling Merrick first. No matter how many times he’d assured her during the summer that whatever had happened between him and Zoe before Faelan was born had ended it still was unsettling. The insecure part of her worried that with how close he was with Zoe she could easily get him.
“Let’s go then.”, Rose said taking Kyle’s hand. Donovan went to take her other but got a growl so instead took Kyle’s other than leaving the boy between them. Rose selected the coordinates for Donovan’s flat and pressed the button the three disappeared from Muir Island and reappeared in the studio flat Donovan was living in. It was very minimal for someone who made as much as he did. Rose had never personally been to his flat, it was only programmed into the overall system because he had to travel there. She looked around seeing just a bed with a dresser acting as his nightstand, a small kitchen area, a television across from a sofa, the front door and one other door she assumed to be the bathroom since it was open. There was some framed pictures on the wall mostly of the ever expansive Kearney family. Some of the team hanging out at the pub in Cambridge and then some of the Glasgow Warriors team. “Alright Kyle this is where I take my leave. Donovan will see you to your Aunt Jocasta and she’ll take good care of you. My understanding is she’s like you and us, at least that’s what she said. So you’ll be with kin and someone who will be able to help you understand and control your powers more.”, Rose said letting Kyle’s hand go and giving him a hug. “Take care of yourself Kyle.”, she said smiling at him.
“I’ll try Miss Rose. Thank you for saving me.”, he said hugging her tight. “You be a good lad for your aunt.”, she said Kyle nodded and let her go. Rose hit the button on her watch without a word to Donovan and was gone. “So you like Miss Rose but she’s in love with this Merrick bloke?”, Kyle asked. Donovan chuckled. “Dat bout sums it up lad.”, he nodded. “Come on mah motorbike is downstairs. we can stop on da way to get some food for ya.”, Donovan said grabbing his keys heading for the door. Kyle nodded following after him. “So Miss Rose is American right?”, Kyle asked. Donovan nodded leading the way to his bike. “Aye.”, he said. “And the Merrick bloke who’s got the boy...Faelan... is in America?”, he asked. Donovan nodded. “So what happens when she graduates?”, Kyle asked. Donovan stopped at his bike picking up his helmet and handing the spare to Kyle. “Wat ya mean lad?”, Donovan asked. “Well if she loves this Merrick bloke and has a motherly feeling to the baby, will she go back to America after she graduates?”, Kyle asked putting the helmet on it being a bit big for his head. Donovan frowned a little he hadn’t thought about that. “Ah’m not sure. It hasn’t been discussed. Somet’ing ta t’ink bout. Now let’s get ya to yer auntie.”, Donovan instructed getting on the motorcycle. Kyle jumped on behind him holding tight not wanting to fall off. Donovan sped out of the parking garage of his building to take Kyle to his great aunt.
