One Universe: Season III IC Thread

[Keyser Soze]

"Harvey Dent is a dead man."

Carmine Falcone rolled his eyes at Boss Maroni's threat. The two of them were eating dinner in Falcone's dining room. Maroni felt distinctly uncomfortable being here, most likely due to the armed guards watching him eat. It seemed like Falcone couldn't be alone with anyone. He was a paranoid man - Maroni had been checked for bugs several time before he'd got to Falcone, same as he did every time he visited his luxurious mansion here in Gotham Heights. But obviously that mindset worked well for him. That's why he was the King of Gotham.

"Sal, you really are taking this too far. The time for silencing Dent has passed. He's gotten too big now. You kill him, and it's going to backfire on all of us. That stunt you pulled on the day he was elected has come back to bite us all in the ass. The police are clamping down on my operations, I'm having to be extra careful. The whole thing's just a big mess..."

"A mess you got me into, Carmine. Remember? You were the one who asked me to take care of him in the first place."

For a moment, suspicion flashed on Falcone's face, a moment of thinking this conversation was being recorded. But clearly he concluded that all that bug-tracking technology was worth the money he'd paid for it, and therefore he could speak freely.

"I wanted Dent in our pocket, I didn't want him dead! That's on you. I wash my hands of this, remember? I'm just giving you some advice. Forget about this. Leave Dent be, it'll be better for all of us."

"He said he was going to kill me, Falcone!" shouted Maroni, standing up, "He said he was going to put a bullet through my head! You think I'm going to just smile and take that?"

Falcone observed him with mild disgust.

"Yes. You are. If you know what's good for you."

"If I know what's good for me...heh..."

Maroni smirked.

"Thanks for the dinner, Carmine. You got a nice house. I'd like to live in a place like this myself someday."

Maroni and Falcone stared at each other for a few moments, neither one blinking. Maroni was first to look away, turning and storming out of the dining room.

Once outside the Falcone Penthouse, and in his car, Maroni took out his cellphone and made a call.

"About that problem I told you about? Yeah. I wanna call in one of those ah...specialists..."

 

[Ol'Canucklehead]

'Great.'Thought Scott, attempting to hide the utter disdain in his face upon bumping into lover boy.

"Yeah, yeah I got 'em pretty much perfected." Scott lied, to tell the truth, he hadn't practiced them at all. He'd been so hung up about Jean it had totally slipped his mind. "You been thinking about me? Why do I get the feeling I'm suddenly in mortal peril?"

"Heheh...don't worry kid, you'll be alright. Lets just say.....I'm tellin you to keep that eye of yours open. Never know who is waitin for you around the corner."

Kid proly thinks I mean in a fightin kinda sense, in which I do aswell, but more so he can learn that suprises come from every direction.....but I guess I could go ahead and test his judo out anyway. I turn slightly and wip around with a strike that fall directly to the side of his head without hitting him, I then turn and place him in a headlock.

".....You were lieing. That strike was at a snails pace and I still managed to wrap you up like a boa."

I say releasing my grip on him. I stand him up and dust him off.

"Whats goin on Summers? Why would you lie about your training.....theres somethin on yer mind, aint there?"

I don't know why it is I'm in such a councelin mood today, maybe Chuck is startin to run off on me, or maybe because this is the first day that I haven't had any problems myself I'm tryin to help the ones that do. The kid stays silent and even through the visor I can tell hes lookin at the floor.

"Summers.....I'm up here. Where is yer mind right now anyway bub?"






OOC: Logan is the one who gave Scott the Codename Cyclops, just so the "Keep your eye open" refrence is understood and reacted to apropriatley.

 

[Ol'Canucklehead]

double post

 

[Ol'Canucklehead]

triple post

 

[Gallagher]

"Heheh...don't worry kid, you'll be alright. Lets just say.....I'm tellin you to keep that eye of yours open. Never know who is waitin for you around the corner."

Kid proly thinks I mean in a fightin kinda sense, in which I do aswell, but more so he can learn that suprises come from every direction.....but I guess I could go ahead and test his judo out anyway. I turn slightly and wip around with a strike that fall directly to the side of his head without hitting him, I then turn and place him in a headlock.

".....You were lieing. That strike was at a snails pace and I still managed to wrap you up like a boa."

I say releasing my grip on him. I stand him up and dust him off.

"Whats goin on Summers? Why would you lie about your training.....theres somethin on yer mind, aint there?"

I don't know why it is I'm in such a councelin mood today, maybe Chuck is startin to run off on me, or maybe because this is the first day that I haven't had any problems myself I'm tryin to help the ones that do. The kid stays silent and even through the visor I can tell hes lookin at the floor.

"Summers.....I'm up here. Where is yer mind right now anyway bub?"






OOC: Logan is the one who gave Scott the Codename Cyclops, just so the "Keep your eye open" refrence is understood and reacted to apropriatley.

Scott felt the anger well up inside him. Even though Wolverine had gone easy on him, it still felt like a train had hit him. 'You wanna get physical with me tough guy?' He mused, thoughts of ripping off his visor and blowing a hole in the arrogant son of a *****es' chest. 'Christ listen to me.' Scott thought almost shocked at his own desires.

"I'm just... It's complicated Logan, you wouldn't understand. Ok? So just... leave me alone. I'll be in the danger room if anyone gives a damn." Scott muttered walking past the beer swilling Canadian.

 

[Ol'Canucklehead]

Scott felt the anger well up inside him. Even though Wolverine had gone easy on him, it still felt like a train had hit him. 'You wanna get physical with me tough guy?' He mused, thoughts of ripping off his visor and blowing a hole in the arrogant son of a *****es' chest. 'Christ listen to me.' Scott thought almost shocked at his own desires.

"I'm just... It's complicated Logan, you wouldn't understand. Ok? So just... leave me alone. I'll be in the danger room if anyone gives a damn." Scott muttered walking past the beer swilling Canadian.

Damn. I never seen that side of the kid before. In most cases people would tell ya, be nice to the kid, try to find out whats wrong, but most people....aint us. He's got lessons to learn, and if he don't than he can wind up dead. I walk after the kid and grab him by the shoulder, turning him around an pinning him to the wall with my arm.

"That aint good enough kid! The day you choose to run from all your problems is the day you choose to let them control you....trust me, I know."

I look at him and see the anger in his face, that esence of pissed off teenager. I see his hand twitching, almost trying to raise upward.

"What?....You thinkin about raisin that hand to your visor and blowin me through the wall? Is that it? You think thats gona save you every time? Your powers? Well they aint. Look at where we are standin right now, look at the position your in, the footwork, how off balance you are. What happens when someone like me gets you pinned? You gona rely on yer powers? What if you can't, hell lets say that someone took your powers away.....the government, another mutant, some other superpowered wack job....what then?"

I take a breath and look him sternly in the eye.

"What do you think I'm taining you for bub? Why do you think its so important you learn this stuff?.....Its because in this world there are people who will do anything they can to beat you, and you can't always rely on the obvious to save you. You have to be more than that, better, stronger, faster. You think I am who I am cuz I got a healin factor and some claws?....Hell no, its because I train every day, makin myself better, faster, and stronger.....I won't lie, a healin factor helps that, but its my will that makes me press on."

I let the kid go again, take a step back and say,

"Now if your goin to the danger room, it had better be to practice, not to sulk and cry about whatever is bugin ya. Those little things will work themselves out in time, but if you don't learn all you can today....you could very well die tomorrow."

I turn and start walking away, and as I do I say the words, "Think about it."

 

[Gallagher]

Damn. I never seen that side of the kid before. In most cases people would tell ya, be nice to the kid, try to find out whats wrong, but most people....aint us. He's got lessons to learn, and if he don't than he can wind up dead. I walk after the kid and grab him by the shoulder, turning him around an pinning him to the wall with my arm.

"That aint good enough kid! The day you choose to run from all your problems is the day you choose to let them control you....trust me, I know."

I look at him and see the anger in his face, that esence of pissed off teenager. I see his hand twitching, almost trying to raise upward.

"What?....You thinkin about raisin that hand to your visor and blowin me through the wall? Is that it? You think thats gona save you every time? Your powers? Well they aint. Look at where we are standin right now, look at the position your in, the footwork, how off balance you are. What happens when someone like me gets you pinned? You gona rely on yer powers? What if you can't, hell lets say that someone took your powers away.....the government, another mutant, some other superpowered wack job....what then?"

I take a breath and look him sternly in the eye.

"What do you think I'm taining you for bub? Why do you think its so important you learn this stuff?.....Its because in this world there are people who will do anything they can to beat you, and you can't always rely on the obvious to save you. You have to be more than that, better, stronger, faster. You think I am who I am cuz I got a healin factor and some claws?....Hell no, its because I train every day, makin myself better, faster, and stronger.....I won't lie, a healin factor helps that, but its my will that makes me press on."

I let the kid go again, take a step back and say,

"Now if your goin to the danger room, it had better be to practice, not to sulk and cry about whatever is bugin ya. Those little things will work themselves out in time, but if you don't learn all you can today....you could very well die tomorrow."

I turn and start walking away, and as I do I say the words, "Think about it."

Scott almost calls out to him, searching his head for something sarcastic or smart or witty to say. Nothing comes to mind. Nothing comes to mind because he knows, deep down, that Logan is right. Just being a mutant puts him in mortal jeopardy, puts Jean in jeopardy, Bobby too. He didn't know what he'd do if he wasn't able to save them because he got sloppy.

He watches as Wolverine turns the corner and is gone from sight. Exhaling deeply, the teenage mutant leaned against the wall, his head knocking against the wood. "Get it through your thick skull Summers!" He growled at himself, banging his head against the wall with every syllable. Satisfied that he'd hurt his head enough he headed off to the danger room.

 

[Sieben]

RHINO
​

“I GIVE YOU ONE SIMPLE TASK AND YOU FAIL! YOU’RE USELESS!”

Rhino stood there in the office of the small warehouse with his head bowed as the balding little fat man spat his words out with enough spit to polish a Hulk Buster. He didn’t even bother moving as the little man prodded his finger into his massive grey chest.

“Look I’ll give it another go boss! It wasn’t my fault the cops were swarming all over the place… and then there were the rocket launchers… and the sedative darts. And THEN he turned up. I had to bail ‘or else I’d have ended up back in the slammer! I ain’t goin’ back in the slammer again”.

The fat man scowled and shook his head. “You think I’ll trust you on this job again?! No… you’re a bum, a waste of space idiot clown. It’s a shame your brain isn’t as big as your biceps you lumbering oaf! No! I ain’t using you again, I’ll get a real professional rather than waste any more time on you”.

Rhino watched his jowls flabbering around on the mans face as he spoke partly to himself and partly to the half-ton goliath stood in front of him.

Ricardo Vasquez was yet another small-time crook with big ambitions wrapped up in a cheap suit. The fake Cuban sat smouldering on the desk behind him as he raged at the big man. Rhino let him go on, disappointed at his own failure. The job was supposed to be simple… go into the bank, smash the vault, steal the jewels and get paid. If he was lucky he could have busted up a few cars and caused a bit of damage. But somehow, someway the cops were already there ready to catch him. And that arrow shooting chump Hawkeye was there too, all smart mouthed jokes and playboy smile.

Rhino had tried to get past them, racking up a nice damages cost for the City Officials to deal with. But their numbers were too great and he’d had to retreat, barely making it away from those damn tranquilizer darts Hawkeye had tried to stab him with. He’d glanced at Vasquez once more and noticed that man had stopped talking. The man was breathing heavily, his cheeks ruddy and his brow moist. Rhino idly scratched the back of his head. “Well, err, if you don’t want me to give it another shot, I’ll just take my money and leave ya to it”.

Vasquez spat a mouthful of cheap red wine out in a fine spray. He glanced up at the grey monster eyes wide in disbelief. “You’re ****ing kidding me right?!” He didn’t wait for an answer, instead turning and lightly slapping himself in the forehead with his palm. “He’s not kidding! I don’t believe this crap!” He turned back to the Rhino and laid his hands on his hips. “You think I’m going to lay a dime on your worthless ass? You failed you inbred ******! You didn’t even do the damn job and you want paying?! You be grateful I don’t sling your ass in a trash bag and sling you in the river! You wanna disrespe-“

His words were cut off as a huge had closed around his skull and lifted him clear off the ground. Rhino raised the squirming fat man so he was face to face and glared into the frightened eyes. “You think I’m useless? I risked my life for you. I did your dirty work whilst you sat here piling your face with Oreos and pretended to be something. I’m the Rhino and nobody…. NOBODY messes with the Rhino! D’ya understand?” Rhino snarled. The little man struggled to move and Rhino turned his head as Vasquez bladder let loose and drenched the pinstripe pants he was wearing. Rhino brought him close once more. “The next time you badmouth me, I’ll break you in half and crush you under my foot, you got that?” Ricardo merely whimpered under the grasp of the thick, muscular grey fingers.

Rhino simply grunted and without a hint of effort he sent the crime boss flying off to the left and into a pile of boxes. Without another word he turned on his hell and stormed out of the office, not even bothering to open the door he angrily smashed his way through it and disappeared into the night.

 

[Keyser Soze]

"I think I've got just the guy for you, boss. Calls himself Rhino. Big fella. He's at Ricardo Vasquez's joint right now."

Maroni listened intently on the phone.

"Vasquez! That fat bastard. Heh, driver, take us to the East End."

The East End was one of the poorest areas of Gotham City, rife with petty drug dealers and small-time crooks, like Vasquez. As Maroni's car approached Vasquez's office, he spotted a huge man in a rhino suit storm out, and head off down the grimy sidewalk. Maroni had his car drive up to the sidewalk, the car slowing down to keep pace with Rhino's lumbering walk. Maroni rolled the window down.

"I'm going to use my world-class detective skills, take a shot in the dark, and say you're Rhino, right?"

 

[Sieben]

"No. I'm the ****ing tooth fairy" Rhino growled, still angry at the way Vasquez had spoken to him.

He kept walking, his march cracking the paving stones underfoot and his fists clenching in and out. "What'd you want? Make it to the point 'cuz I'm busy" his eyes remained focused straight ahead, his teeth grinding and his mood darkening even more at the intrusion.

 

[Keyser Soze]

"I want to give you a lot of money."

Rhino turned round at that.

"Oh, that got your attention, huh? Look, I wanna do some business with you, and give you the chance to make some easy money. You wanna find out more, meet me in the parking lot behind the Stacked Deck nightclub. Hope to see you there."

With a nod to his driver, Maroni drove off, leaving Rhino behind.

"Take us to the Stacked Deck..."

 

[Sieben]

Rhino grunted as the rear lights of the car faded into the darkness. The Stacked Deck was only a few blocks away and he noticed the man was none other than Salvatore Maroni, one of the biggest players in Gotham. He'd not been in the city for too long before hearing the name and it was a name that everyone feared.

Maroni did big business and big business meant big money and big money meant that Rhino was suddenly very interested. With a snort, all thoughts of that fat little bastard Vasquez vanished and he set off at a run towards the Stacked Deck.
Three blocks of trashed cars, broken street furniture and demolished news stands lead to Rhino standing on a corner bathed in the glow of the nightclubs gaudy neons. Ignoring the few people milling around outside, he took the side alley and followed it down to the car park. There, leaning against his hood was the famed man, and despite his hulking size and superpower, Rhino couldn't help but feel a little humbled by the presence of the crime lord.

He stepped forward and ran the back of a huge grey fist under his nose. "So uhh... you said something about big money?"

 

[Keyser Soze]

"Big money? Yeah, I did, didn't I? Well, first things first..."

Maroni reached into his pocket, and pulled out a large wad of rolled up money.

"Here's $5000. For your time. You get this up-front, whether you take the job or not. This ain't small-potatoes stuff like you had goin' with that goon Vasquez. This is business."

Maroni held out the money.

"Go on, take it."

 

[Sieben]

Rhino glanced at the wad of cash being offered up to him. This alone was more than Vasquez was going to pay him upon job completion. He licked his lips, uncertain whether or not to take it. On the one hand, it could be a genuine offer and a sweetener. But on the other, Maroni was a ruthless crime boss and if Rhino took the cash, it could be seen as disrespectful. But for his lack of intelligence and wit, Rhino still had business smarts and he knew that simply being in with Maroni was worth as much dough as Maroni could shovel into his pockets. But he needed cash now, and if Maroni or any of his goons tried anything, then he knew he'd at least go down fighting.

With a grunt he siezed the money. The entire wad disappeared within his huge grey fist as he eyed the man. "So what'cha need doing.... Boss?" he said, a half-smile creeping across his chiselled features.

 

[Keyser Soze]

"What do I need doing? Harvey Dent."

Maroni noted the surprise on Rhino's face.

"Yeah, the Harvey Dent. White Knight of Gotham, blah blah blah. He's been a big-time pain in my ass. I want him dead. I want it to be public, and I want it to be nasty. I want them to have to send down guys to scrape him off the sidewalk. You do this for me, and I'll add another $10000 to the 5 you got there."

 

[Green Lantern]

The school bell rings out to signal the end of the day. I rush out of my Economics class and make a line for my locker. Kitty's there waiting for me.

"So, Miss Pryde. Mind if I escort you to stately Wayne Manor while you tell me about your first day at Gotham High?"

Kitty smiled and started talking.

Five Minutes Later:

"...and then I got into a Jaguar with the best boy at school. Oh god. I don't shut up, do I?"

 

[Eddie Brock]

When I'm out, swinging around the town, I feel damn near invincible. With this new suit, who could possibly stop me? I can do what I want when I want - and there's something so satisfyingly liberating in that. The old Peter Parker was held back by inhibitions, by society's 'rules.'

Not anymore. The only rules that matter now are mine. And I'll do whatever is in the public's best interest - as long as it's in my best interest as well.

"WOOHOO!"

With every web-line I release, I feel that much better about myself. I can feel the slight movements of the suit as it caresses my battle-hardened body. At first, I was creeped out by the sensation. Now? It's become a normal part of my routine. This suit and I are a great duo, and it's all I need.

Suddenly, a shrill noise pierces my eardrums. The suit fails to launch another web-line, and I plummet to the ground. When I land, I feel the suit beginning to slowly part from my body. I focus with all of the energy I can spare to keep it attached.

Not now, buddy.

That noise! What is that?!

I turn to see an oddly-dressed person holding a flute.

"Spider-Man, I presume? It's time to pay the Piper."
​

 

[Sieben]

"What do I need doing? Harvey Dent."

Maroni noted the surprise on Rhino's face.

"Yeah, the Harvey Dent. White Knight of Gotham, blah blah blah. He's been a big-time pain in my ass. I want him dead. I want it to be public, and I want it to be nasty. I want them to have to send down guys to scrape him off the sidewalk. You do this for me, and I'll add another $10000 to the 5 you got there."

Rhino blinked and tried his best to mask the surprise on his face. Maroni was a bad guy, he knew that much. But Harvey Dent? This was bigger than he could have imagined... Killing Harvey Dent would propel him into the stratosphere of super-villains. But Rhino wasn't an assasin... he didn't even consider himself evil. The jobs he did, the banks, the beatdowns, the destruction he caused, were what he considered acceptible. A bit of mayhem was good for the system.

But to kill a man?

Rhino scrunched the five grand in his fist and scolwed. He needed money, not just for himself but for the family. He needed big cash and he needed it quick. This job was much more serious and much darker than he'd ever done before. It wouldn't be hard of course, Dent was a weedy little politician that he could crush with his pinky finger.

But murder?

He couldn't do it. He knew right enough that if he did, every hero and freak in the country would be after him. The money was good, but it wasn't worth it. No, much better to stick with the small time chumps like Vasquez and the other small time players. Much safer that way.

He glanced down at the cool expression of Salvatore Maroni and cleared his throat. "Look Mistah Maroni Sir, it's an honor that you want my services... but uh... I... well I don't think I'm the man for the job. I'm a bank robber, a thug. I ain't done no killin' Mr Maroni an'... an' I don't know if I can".

 

[Karem-Knight]

New York City, Hells Kitchen:

Tony, a New York City cab driver drove his latest customer uptown to Hell's Kitchen, the area was dangerous and home to some of the most infamous figures of organize crime. A typical New Yorker, Tony was edgy and always frustrated as his customer in the back seat remained and constantly giggling to himself, Tony let it slide not letting it get to him.

They stopped at the Kitchen, Tony pulled over on the street.

"Okay, that'll be $50!!"

"Oh! I'm not paying!"

"What!?"

"You heard me!HA!"

The Joker, taking off his hat showing himself to the driver, the Joker injected him with an electric buzzer, laughing his head off until the driver was completely burned to a crisp, he smiled and got out the car.

"Wow, it's hot in here! HAHAHAHAHA!"

Getting out of the car, he looked around this new city, knife and joker card in his hand, he smiled looking upon all the opportunities available for his brand of chaos. Placing a little message for his new toy, next to the dead body Joker looked upon the kitchen.

"This looks like my type of place........"

 

[Keyser Soze]

Rhino blinked and tried his best to mask the surprise on his face. Maroni was a bad guy, he knew that much. But Harvey Dent? This was bigger than he could have imagined... Killing Harvey Dent would propel him into the stratosphere of super-villains. But Rhino wasn't an assasin... he didn't even consider himself evil. The jobs he did, the banks, the beatdowns, the destruction he caused, were what he considered acceptible. A bit of mayhem was good for the system.

But to kill a man?

Rhino scrunched the five grand in his fist and scolwed. He needed money, not just for himself but for the family. He needed big cash and he needed it quick. This job was much more serious and much darker than he'd ever done before. It wouldn't be hard of course, Dent was a weedy little politician that he could crush with his pinky finger.

But murder?

He couldn't do it. He knew right enough that if he did, every hero and freak in the country would be after him. The money was good, but it wasn't worth it. No, much better to stick with the small time chumps like Vasquez and the other small time players. Much safer that way.

He glanced down at the cool expression of Salvatore Maroni and cleared his throat. "Look Mistah Maroni Sir, it's an honor that you want my services... but uh... I... well I don't think I'm the man for the job. I'm a bank robber, a thug. I ain't done no killin' Mr Maroni an'... an' I don't know if I can".

"Sure you can, kid. Everybody's got murder in 'em. The question is...do you want to get rich doin' it?"

Maroni shrugged.

"Eh, if you ain't got the stomach for it, that's fine. You keep that 5G I gave you. Maybe I can get in touch of you if I'm wantin' some ah.... small-time stuff needin' doin', huh? It's no problem. I'm sure I can find someone else willin' to kill Harvey Dent for $20,000."

He started to open his car door, as if getting ready to leave. He looked over his shoulder at Rhino, noting his reaction.

"Oh, yeah, it's $20,000 now. You sure you ain't the man for the job?"

 

[Sieben]

"T-twenty grand? not includin' this?" he stammered, clumsily holding up the wad of notes.

A man can do a lot of things with twenty five thousand dollars and Rhino knew it. A part still screamed his reluctance, but the big roll of cash in his fist suddenly seemed small and insignificant. Money, power and notoriety were the three things he craved the most and this was his big chance. Salvatore Maroni was his meal ticket and his way into the big time. Besides, it was only once, and no one would care a few months after he bumped the chump off.

He sighed and looked into the cold, calm eyes of his new employer.

"Three questions Boss. When? Where? and How?"

 

[Keyser Soze]

"T-twenty grand? not includin' this?" he stammered, clumsily holding up the wad of notes.

A man can do a lot of things with twenty five thousand dollars and Rhino knew it. A part still screamed his reluctance, but the big roll of cash in his fist suddenly seemed small and insignificant. Money, power and notoriety were the three things he craved the most and this was his big chance. Salvatore Maroni was his meal ticket and his way into the big time. Besides, it was only once, and no one would care a few months after he bumped the chump off.

He sighed and looked into the cold, calm eyes of his new employer.

"Three questions Boss. When? Where? and How?"

Maroni smiled. Everybody's got a price.

"Tomorrow, 8am. I've had my guys study his routine. He spends most nights at the hospital. His wife's still in a coma, he sleeps by her bedside. But in the morning he has to go to work. So he leaves the hospital 8am, on the dot. Drives from the hospital to the courthouse. The parking lot's the best place to strike."

Maroni got into his car, closing the door and speaking to Rhino through the open window.

"How? I hired you for a reason. I don't want this to look like a professional hit. Do what you do best. Go on a rampage, break some stuff. Make it look like Dent was just some ah... poor sap, in the wrong place at the wrong time. You get me?"

With a nod to his driver, Maroni rolled up his window, and the car drove off, leaving Rhino behind to consider his task.

 

[Gallagher]

Scott walked slowly into the center of the round, gray room. He relaxed his shoulders, working down his arms and ending at this fingertips, shaking the rust off.

The uneasy feeling in his stomach arrived, almost as if on cue, his own private alarm system. He was in danger.

"No ****." Scott said to himself. "That's why they call it the Danger Room."

He clenched his jaw and balled his hands into fists. "Activate."He said loudly, the room came to life, beams and moving obstacles protruding from the walls. The young mutant immediately went into action, rolling under and on coming beam. He stumbled slightly regaining his balance in time to notice another obstacle rushing in low. Jumping over the beam he pivoted his body in mid air and landed on his back avoid yet another of the metallic obstacles.

Staring straight up at the ceiling Scott noticed something dislodge itself from above. The block plummeted toward the grounded Summers. Scott thought quickly his hand reaching for his visor, he had to work fast, he didn't need to apply his full power, if he could hit with a gentle shove at this angle it would be enough to knock it off course. A crimson beam of energy erupted from his visor slamming into the block of metal and nudging it off to the left. Scott exhaled deeply, rising to his feet with a roll.

"Alright, enough. Deactivate." Scott stammered, wiping the sweat from his brow.

He heard a muffled clapping coming from the doorway and saw Rogue beaming at him.

"You enjoy the show?" Puffed Scott. Rogue grinned and walked into the Danger Room.

"Yahuh, pretty impressive Scott. Ta say your not a permanent member on the team ya sure train like one."

Scott blushed. "Yeah, well you caught me on one of those rare occasions I actually get something done." Rubbing the back of his head he gazed at the floor, avoiding direct eye contact. "So... did you want something in particular?"

Rogue looked a bit uneasy. "Um, no, not really, just saw you practicin' n thought ah'd watch." She stammered, both teens not wanting to make too much eye contact. "Well... I ah, gotta get back to class. So I'll see you around." She gave a feeble wave and turned to walk away. Scott sighed, closed his eyes.

"Youwannagooutsometimemaybe?" He said, in one short breath. Rogue stopped and turned back to face him, smiling.

"Um, yeah. What were you thinkin?"

"I dunno... Movies?" Scott suggested feebly.

"Yeah... how about tonight?"

"Sure. I'll stop by your room at about... Eight? That ok?"

Rogue smiled, the situation had gotten a lot less awkward with each passing moment.

"Yeah that's fine. I'll see you then."

Scott smiled and waved.

"See you."

Once Rogue had disappeared into the mansion Scott exhaled deeply and fell to the floor.

"Christ, if there was a Dating 101 class here I'd never graduate."

​

 

[wiegeabo]

"God that feels so good."

"Sir?" Alfred asks.

I scratch the skin on my arm for the first time in weeks. "Finally getting that dammed cast off." I sigh with relief as I feel air on the skin of my arm once again.

"I see sir." Alfred focuses on his driving again, taking me back home from the hospital.

I compare both arms. "I lost more muscle mass than I expected." I start stretching my newly healed arm. The muscles complain, but I ignore it. "It'll take me at least a week to get it back in shape. Probably twice that to regain my balance while I get used to using it again."

Alfred tries to hide a sigh. "I take it you don't plan on taking any time off from your 'nocturnal' duties to enjoy having a whole body once again."

"I've taken enough time off."

"If you say so sir. Although I had hoped you might have enjoyed the time you did take away from being Batman."

"I might have, if that...bastard wasn't still out there." The thought of the Joker brings a darkness over my thoughts.

"Perhaps you could spend time with Miss Natchios. Her presence seems to...improve your attitude."

The thought of Elektra does bring a smile back to my face. "I can show her the city during the day. But I need to get back out on patrol. Dick can only do so much by himself. Batman needs to be out there to put the fear back into the criminal minds. They need to know I could always be watching."

"I thought you had plans for that."

"I do. But I still need to get out there. Get the pulse of the cit again." I open my briefcase and pull out the handgrip I had put in there. I start squeezing it. My healed hand and forearms scream with resentment.

"I believe the doctors advised you to take it easy for the next week." I keep working my weakened muscles, ignoring Alfred's obvious concern. "Why am I surprised?" he says.

I smile through the pain.

 

[Byrd Man]

THE PRESENT DAY​

"Is he here yet?" I ask anxiously.​

Johnny shrugs. "Beats me, Kara. But you know the Boy Scout - he's not one to be late."​

I bite my bottom lip in anticipation. Right before I burst with anxiousness, Reed enters the room. I instantly recognize the blue figure behind him. As my eyes glance across the symbol on his chest, I'm filled with a sudden sense of family and pride.​

"Clark! Long time, no see!" I announce as I run up and wrap my arms around him.​

Kara wraps her arms around me and I smile.

"Kara. Sorry I'm so late. I had to stop a trainwreck in France, and help with an earthquake in Indonesia. It's good to see you again, I trust you're doing well?"

We break out hug and I just flash a goofy grin. You never know who alone you really are until you have someone to bond with. Kara and I, along with Ursa and Non, are the last of our kind. Up until two years ago, I thought the "Last Son of Kyrpton" was truly who I was. I now see that while there are only a few, I'm not Krypton's last son. Something I can truly be grateful for.

"I just hope Reed hasn't had to repair anything you've broken. You're still learning with your powers, after all."