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Logan met the fully-dressed Kitty, Storm, Jubilee, and Rogue in the basement hallway at four am. They were still wearing their civs; they were going as normals, and if things went well theyd stay that way. Kitty and Rogue still looked half-asleep, but Storm stood straight and alert, her slacks and blouse straight and unwrinkled. She looked ready for business, and smelled the same; she always smelled faintly like ozone when she was prepping for a mission.
Logan walked up, holding his broad-brimmed hat and his coat, and looking fully awake. He hadnt been able to go back to sleep. He glared down at Jubilee.
Whatre you doin here?
The girl folded her arms. She was still wearing that damned yellow raincoat, and earrings large enough to lasso a bull. I want to come too.
I didnt say you were comin, so you aint. Go back to bed, kid. He pulled his hat on, fingering the brim as he adjusted it.
Kid. All too young, like those soldiers. Should be at home wooin some crazy punk boyanywhere but in the battlefront.
No. He wasnt going to think about that. His dream was already fadingcompletely crazy as it was. Probably walked in on a World War I movie the kids were watching once, or something. And as for Bloodscream . . . well, he was popping up in a bunch of his dreams lately. Nothin special.
Probably just going crazy.
Why Kitty and Rogue, then? Jubilee protested.
Logan fought the urge to roll his eyes. Storm can provide cover, Kitty can phase outta there if theres trouble, and Rogue can fly the bird. I aint plannin on fightin.
Storm had agreed that this was going to be low-profile. Most of the students didnt even know they were going.
Besides, he could stand being around this team, and he trusted them. Hedve brought Nightcrawler along too, but blending into crowds wasnt one of his strong points, especially when the crowd was a milling mass of mutant-hating bigots.
Jubilees expression at that was dubious, at best. Logan ignored her, pulling on his jacket as he faced the rest of the team. We all ready?
They boarded the Blackbird. Rogue took her place at the controls with Storm taking co-pilot. Logan gave her a sideways glance as he buckled up.
You got it, kid?
Rogue was awake enough to shoot him a glare as she started take-off procedures. Ah fly better than you, so buckle in and shuddup.
In your dreams, darlin.
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Finding parking in D.C. is never the easiest thing, but when it came to finding a landing spot for an improved jet, there was no chance, even with its stealth technology. Rogue was to stay in the bird and keep out of sight.
Just get us close to an alleyway, Logan said, looking out the window to the streets and buildings that were just now beginning to be lightened with the beginnings of dawn. Well get on down the rest of the way, and walk. Stay on the radio in case we need you to come on down.
Rogue nodded, bringing the ship to hover next to a rooftop as the door lowered.
Take Kitty, Logan told Storm. The kid was just learning that she could walk on air in her phased state if she concentrated hard enough, but Logan wanted speed, and didnt want to worry about the kid getting distracted and falling.
Ill be back in a moment, Storm said. She picked up Kitty and flew out, and Logan eyed the twenty-foot drop before stepping out and falling. He landed on his feet in a crouch, his teeth vibrating with the impact, and then stood, ignoring the burning of the healing bruises from the landing. He moved to the edge of the building, then dropped the three-stories to the alley below. Storm and Kitty landed beside him as he adjusted his hat, as it had almost been blown off during the fall.
I was going to come back for you, Storm said.
No need, Logan replied, shrugging her off. He pulled out a cigar. Lets move. Weve got three blocks over and four up ta get to Hanks. He adjusted the small radio on his collar. You still with us, darlin?
You betcha, you crazy loon, Rogue replied. Up in the clouds, now. With the stealth mode on the only way theyre gonna find me is by runnin inta me.
Well, make sure that doesnt happen.
Cmon, sugah. Dont tell me ya dont trust me.
Dont get me started, Logan muttered, then fell silent as they came out of the alleyway onto the street.
They headed down the block, but already Logan could hear it. Theyd come early in hopes that the crowds might be asleep, but by the sound of things that hadnt been enough.
Prejudice and bigotry never sleeps.
Kitty stopped stand-still, staring at the packed street before them. Bigoted signs blasted the crowds sentiments at them, and despite the early hour the noise was almost deafening. Logans jaw clenched, and his eyes narrowed.
Oh my gosh, Kitty breathed. Logan passed by her, putting a hand on her back and helping her keep moving.
Keep walkin, Logan whispered. Shed seen it on TV, but pictures were never the same as reality. The whole city reeked of hatred. It made his claws itch.
Friggin Nazis.
He could still remember itall colorless and grey as hell. Grey faces, grey eyes, grey skin and mud and desperation. He could still smell the death, the blood, the hatred. Cold grey barbed-wire fences and a grey smoke too sweettoo awful. The stench made him sick, made him rage.
But that hadnt been in his dream.
He gritted his teeth, shaking his head. He took a long draw on his cigar, consciously unclenching his hands as he felt Storms gaze on him.
Damn, he finally really was going crazyif he hadnt been crazy all along.
The animal wanted out, and it was more difficult than usual to push it back, seeing as there was little more he wanted to do than to beat the **** out of these clowns. A few years ago he probably would have.
Damn Xavier.
But the professor had been right. Beating these bastard five times to hell and back again would do a whole lot more harm than good, even if it would have left him feeling a hell of a lot better.
He pushed down the rage, breathing shallow and focusing on the scent of the gutter-slime instead of the hatred reeking around them. It smelled a whole lot better, after all.
They moved through the press of the crowd, ignoring the leaders who were already standing on their platforms, shouting out sentiments that made the crowds mill about, all but snarling like wild beasts on a hunt.
They are all around us! a megaphone screamed. Do you want these freaks teaching our kids?! ARE WE GOING TO LET A GENERATION OF MAGNETOS WALK BACK IN HERE AND TAKE CONTROL WITHOUT A FIGHT?
NO!
Logan kept a hand on Kittys back, and noted that Storm was keeping close.
FREAKS SHOULD GO BACK TO WHERE THEY CAME FROM!
LOCK EM UP!
He was growling under his breath as they walked, but no one had recognized them yet.
You hear what they call him? The Beast. Cause hes nothin more than an animal, yknow . . . .
They say hes supposed to leave this morning. Theyre just letting him walk away scot-free, if you believe it
Filthy mutie
The madness slowed them downtoo much. They came to a road blocked off and packed, and Logan took off his hat, scowling at the wall of people before them. Great, he grumbled. Now what?
Somehow Beast leaving that morning had leaked out. Knowing politics, government, and human nature in general, Logan bet it was a leak from the inside.
Suddenly there was a stir near the front, and a small, pale man climbed onto the stand.
Cant you hear what youre saying? he shouted. These people cant help what they are. Magneto was one manwould you condemn a whole people because of the act of one man!?
The shouting rose to deafening volumes, and a dozen men rushed the platform, their intent clear. Logan clenched his hands, ready to push forward, when there was a gust of wind and a blur of blue, and suddenly the brave speaker was twenty feet back from the masses, being set down by a tall, lithe stick of a man. His hair was so pale it was practically white, and he wore an odd blue suit that made the X-Uniforms look like Milans best.
Break it up, people! There is no need for violence!
FREAKIN MUTIE! GET OUT OF OUR CITY! A bottle flew at the young man, but he duckedor Logan thought hed ducked, but a second later he had appeared two feet to the side.
A mutant. What was this clown playing at? Suicide? Or slaughter? Logan didnt really careeither way it was something that was slowing them down.
Yes, we are mutants! another voice said, practically appearing as she pushed from the crowd to stand beside the young man. Maybe shed been invisible, cause Logan couldnt see how the scarlet red uniform and cape she wore could have passed through unnoticed. We are members of the Avengers, assembled by the President of the United States. You will stand down!
The people looked a lot less eager to fight two mutants, especially with government backing. The noise lowered, and the mob hesitated.
Kitty, Logan, and Storm had pulled back against the wall. The Avengers? Logan shouted over the noise.
Yes, Americas super-hero team, Storm replied. Do you not ever watch the news, Logan?
Logan didnt grace that with a response, partly because he was distracted as a dark blur streaked across the sky, then swooped down. It was another womanblonde, wearing what looked like a black swimsuit with a lightning bolt across her torso, and a red sash around her waist. A small mask around her eyes was either a disguise or a joke, cause it didnt do a thing to hide her features.
Damn, another hottie mutant. She didnt land, but hovered over the two mutants, talking briefly and too softly to be heard before she took off again, darting into the sky. The crowd watched her go, scattering after her. They murmured still, but the bloodwrath had passed.
Damn, Logan said, looking after where the blonde had flown off. So you know bout these clowns?
The fast one is Quicksilver, Storm said. Pietro Maximoff is his true name. She nodded to where he had stood, but the blue-clad mutant had already sped off, leaving the scarlet-caped woman to escort off the bold, but foolish, speaker. She is his sisterWanda Maximoff, called the Scarlet Witch. Reality-warper, class four.
And blondie?
Ms. Marvel. Flies, near-invulnerable. The president probably called them in to keep things from getting out of control.
Nice, Logan said. Why did America support one super-hero team while it attacked another? A better question, why were these people working for the government in the first place? Whose side were they on? He started moving forward again. She sure calmed them down fast.
She is not a mutant, Storm admitted. I do not know the full story, but her powers are not natural.
Sounded like a long story. So bein born different now rates under bein made different. Cute, Logan summed up. And they wondered why he stayed away from people for years on end.
They walked more quickly. The crowd had settled, though the streets were still crowded, they seemed to sense an air about Logan, or perhaps recognized his expression as a man who wouldnt take any nonsense, because the crowd moved around him, though he didnt seem to really notice.
A soft roaring sound caught Logans ear and he looked up as another person flew by overhead. At least, he thought it was a person. Looked like a new-age red-and-yellow spacesuit.
Another Avenger?
Iron Manreal name Tony Stark, Kitty said, showing off her own knowledge of the team. Again, not a mutanthe invented that suit himself. The whole team is real popular, Logan. Practically rock-star status since they were organized last year. Jubilee has a huuuuuuuuge crush on Stark.
Hed heard of Stark. Some inventor companyXavierd used some of his gadgets on the mansions security.
That explained why the crowd seemed even calmer than before, if anything. Non-mutant superheroes were acceptable, apparentlyeven revered, by the way some of the rioters stared after him.
Well, hell. How many of these clowns were there? What they avengin?
I am sorry?
The Avengers, Logan repeated. What are they avenging? Dead kid soldiers? Spilled blood splashed with mud? Someone insult their mommas, or somethin?
Storm stared at him. I . . . do not know, she admitted.
Well, hell, Logan murmured. Maybe Ill ask if I can join.
They walked in silence, surrounded by the murmurings of the crowds, but things were breaking up. The Avengers being there was doing some good, though thousands of people still packed the streets, and even as Iron Man flew from the street the leaders stood up tall again and shouted against mutants.
Sometimes free speech really sucked.
And then, he heard something else.
Logan froze in his steps, cocking his head. "Did you hear that?" he asked Storm.
"Hear what?" Storm asks.
Logan picked up his pace again, pushing through the crowd. "Trouble."
tbc . . .