Magneto's eyes tightened in anger as he watched the news.
"...and here in Pulaski Tenessesee, a mutant girl and her family have been murdered...it is believed to have been the work of a few members of the Ku Klux Klan who have performed this crime, but police in the area do not seem inclined to find out which members of the white supremicist group have done it. For those of you who do not know the history of the area, Pulaski is the town where the KKK were formed and it continues to have strong links to the orginization..."
A flash of footage - one small body hanging from a tree, twisting in the wind. There was a suggestion of scales to her face as the camera zoomed in, and the hand that was visible was clearly webbed. A burning cross. Klan members chanting, did mutie die. The only good mutie is a dead mutie. The house, where one must presume the child lived. One slim hand lying limply from behind the edge of the verandah railing, hanging down the steps.
And all the while the reported continued to babble inanities.
"This...will not go unpunished!"
Magneto rose to his feet and stalked out of his room to gather his team members.
Soon enough they were hovering over the town and Magneto watched Toad set up a video camera and tv transmitter.
"You are sure this will go everywhere?"
"Yeah, boss. Everyone's gonner get it on their sets. I'm making it as strong as I can and bouncing it off some satellites. They should get the broadcast even down in Australia."
"*Good*."
Magneto waited for the camera to blink on.
Across the world, the helmeted visage of Magneto filled tv screens, and did not go away even if they changed the channels. His eyes burned with anger underneath the crosspiece of his helmet and soon enough, he spoke.
"Humans of the world...you have chosen to disregard my warnings of what I would do if pressed to it to defend the new people of the world. My people. The mutants. You are no longer barely even a blip on the evolutionary scale, and you would do well to accept it and move off stage as soon as you could. Dying with dignity. But you have chosen *not to*, and I will not stand by and watch my people die.
"This...town has chosen to murder a girl for the crime of being a mutant, of being one of the homo superior...for this, the town will die. Magma."
He turned to the girl and brought her forward into the screen before Toad panned down to the town below them. A peaceful scene.
"It will die, in fire and flames. Heed my warnings, humans. Any death, of any mutant by the hands of a human being...will be *avenged*. Your world is now hostage to your good behaviour."
He squeezed her shoulder and the small Indian girl concentrated.
And the scene below erupted into lava and flame. The entire town disappeared beneath glowing lava, spouting high into the sky and flowing outwards inexporably. Thin screams could be heard.
"One does not usually bargain with animals...but consider this your *last* warning not to turn on your new masters, flatscan scum. I am Magneto, Lord of Magnetism, Homo Superior and leader of the Brotherhood of Mutants."
He signalled for Toad to turn it off and the greenskinned mutant did. The others seemed awestruck by the destruction the small child had caused.
"Good work, my dear," Magneto told Magma, and she smiled.
"Return us to base, Mortimer."
"Yessir," Toad said in awe.
Sabretooth growled softly, gazing down. He inhaled, scenting the air. He could smell burning meat, metal and wood from up here. Pain, fear and horror...it smelt delicious. A terrible smile broke across his features, exposing brilliantly pointed fangs as the jet was turned for home.
Tate
Whilst around the negociating table, a messager entered the room, and handed a piece of paper to one of the US Government representatives. He read it, then looked up at everyone, and coughed slightly.
"Sorry to interupt," he said. "But this has just come to my attention."
As there was no TV in the room, he read out what was on the note. When he was done, another representative glared at the alien team.
"These are the kind of people you want us to give equal rights too?" He bellowed. "Your little pets just destroy a whole town!"
"I think what we've been trying to tell iyou is that they're not pets - they're people, just like you," argued the team leader.
Yelling went on for a while. Tate slipped down lower and lower into her seat - a disparaging feeling coming apon her, the knowing that this was it. All those months of hard work had all been for nothing.
"What the -" gasped of the humans suddenly, staring at Tate.
"Tate!" exclaimed her team leader.
Tate looked up. It was only then she realised that she had let go of her control and had reverted back into a teenage girl - not the adult that the humans had been used to seeing. Tate looked up at them with saddened eyes.
"And now you know who I really am," she said softly. "A girl. A alien girl who's been trying to help her mutant friends."
She stood slowly.
"I'm sorry," she said to her team. "I lost control... I guess... I guess knowing that they think we're monsters wasn't enough to do it after all. All these months of trying to find peace. Trying to find a way for our people to live beside each other have been for nought. At least I know they're safe in Genovia and England."
"And on the space station," she added to herself, knowing they had opted not to tell the government about that.
"I'll take my leave now."
And Tate left the room, with the intention of finding out all the details.
Storm, Bobby, Faith, Angel Investigations
Storm stared wide eyed at the screen, then rushed off to see Professor Xavier.
~*~*~*~
Bobby eeped and skidded through the halls, half falling into the medlabs, panting for breath.
"Hank! Hank! Did you see?"
~*~*~*~
Angel clicked off his TV, then pressed a button on his phone.
"Wes, Gunn, Fred, Cordy. My office. Now."
Faith nodded at Angel.
"Gotta love property damage."
Angel just looked at Faith.
"Ok, I know, that wasn't funny. But honestly, what can you do about it?"
Xavier, Hank, Jocelyn, Wesley & Mordred
"Eric, what have you done?" Xavier breathed, watching the tv screen.
He had felt the town die, hundreds of minds blinked out in a terrified scream of pain before...nothingness.
"Good god, Eric, what have you *done*?"
~*~*~*~
Hank looked up from studying a slide under the microscope, blinking slightly.
"See what, Bobby?"
Jocelyn paused in her work, pushing her glasses back up her nose.
"What's the matter? What's happened?"
~*~*~*~
Wesley walked into the office, looking worried.
"That was..."
He just shook his head.
"How could they think that doing such a thing was justified? Now, they are merely going to be hated and feared more then before...especially now that the humans know how strong a mutant can be. That little girl...and she just waved her hand and *hundreds* died, Angel."
~*~*~*~
"Bloody hell," Mordred said softly.
"Gwen love, look at what Magneto's just gone and done."
Bobby, AI, Gwen
"Magneto!"
Bobby flicked the TV on, where the news was reporting the incident.
"Watch."
~*~*~*~
Angel nodded.
"Gunn, I need you to talk to the cat, see what can be done."
He sighed.
"Wes, is there anything that can be done, in your eyes?"
~*~*~*~
Gwen's eyebrows knitted together.
"Oh. Shit."
Hank, Jocelyn, Wesley, Mordred, Faolan, Mouse & Soliel
"Oh my stars and garters," Hank said softly.
The pipette Jocelyn was holding dropped with a clatter as she moved to stand behind Hank, one hand going to his shoulder.
"Why did he...oh my god, that poor little girl," Jocelyn said, sounding close to tears as the footage of what had prompted the act of rage started to show again.
"Oh god..."
Hank put his hand up to hers, covering her small fingers with his immense paw and squeezing gently.
~*~*~*~
Wesley cleaned his glasses, shaking his head.
"There are no spellcasters powerful enough, beyond perhaps a true god, who could uncover that town, bring the inhabitents back to life and then wipe all memory of the incident from everyone who saw the newscast. That is the only thing I could see happening to change the outpouring of hatred that humanity will soon outpour."
~*~*~*~
Mordred reached out and pulled Gwen into his lap.
"It's just...insane."
Again, the lava just fountained out of the ground, covering the ground.
"That is insane. Magneto is crazy."
Faolan appeared and went to Mordred almost instantly.
"They're screaming. In my head. All the people."
~*~*~*~
In New Orleans, Mouse clung to Soliel, shaking slightly.
"They'll think my babies are mutants, oh god, they're gonna come for my babies..."
"Shh, shh, ma p'tite. Soliel no let anyt'ing like dat happen, she promise y', ma petite souris, ma chere, m'amoure..."
The slender arms of the Creole girl closed around the alien, lips kissing her forehead as she rocked the other slowly.
"Shhhh, p'tite. Would Mama let anyt'ing happen t' y'r bebes? Ah don't t'ink so."
Bobby, Angel, Gunn, Faith, Gwen
Bobby flicked the TV off as the report ended.
"People will come after us again, won't they Hank?" Bobby asked quietly.
~*~*~*~
Angel nodded and rubbed his eyes as Gunn came back in.
"Technically, we're not linked with the mutants," Gunn said.
"According to the cat. We have a history with them, but anything we do and they do, is separate. We don't have any way to remedy this."
"So, we just sit back and accept that a whole mass of people just died?" Faith asked, folding her arms.
"Wes, I want you and Faith to go to the mansion, see their course of action, and see if we can help in any way. And Faith, we're gonna need to get the kids out of the way. If mutants get targeted, then the obvious place to attack will be the school. Who knows how many people know it's a mutant institution," Angel said.
"We have safe houses in LA, and any of the young kids, and the parents, can stay in this building. We'll have security on red alert. Take a teleporter, go now."
He pushed a button on his phone.
"Harmony, can you have Alex come down?"
"Sure Boss."
Moments later, the teleporter arrived.
~*~*~*~
Gwen looked at Fao and smiled slightly.
"Fao, can you go look after the twins, make sure they don't come down and see this? We will tell them, but I don't want them to watch this."
She hopped off Mordred's lap and bit her fingernails.
"You know now, we're gonna have to be so much more careful. Some of the people around here know we're mutants."
Hank, Jocelyn, Wesley, Faolan, Mordred & Kurt
"I am afraid so, yes," Hank said quietly.
"Dammit, that isn't fair!" Jocelyn said, before pressing her hand to her mouth.
"None of you here have anything to do with this...your points of view are entirely different!"
"Jocelyn...it might not be wise for you to continue working here."
"Screw that, Hank."
He looked vaguely shocked at her language. Jocelyn fixed her glasses more firmly on her nose.
"They won't scare me away. I work here. An' I don't quit."
~*~*~*~
Wesley nodded.
"Of course, Angel. I am sure Xavier will agree for the most part."
He stepped up to the teleporter, and he and Faith disappeared from the office.
~*~*~*~
"'K."
Faolan hopped off Mordred's lap and went to look after the twins.
"I don't want to havta move," Mordred said, frowning.
"Frigging...gah. We'll just need to be more careful, and tell the kids to be as well.
~*~*~*~
Kurt watched the tv screen, then closed his eyes and started to pray.
"Unser Vater im Himmel, dein Name werde geheiligt, dein Reich komme, dein Wille geschehe wie im Himmel, so auf der Erde..."
Bobby, Faith and Gwen
Bobby nodded slowly.
"It won't stop, will it? It was stupid of me to think that we could ever co-exist. I don't want to be attacked again, Hank," the younger mutant said, getting more and more upset.
"I lost my family the last time, because they couldn't handle it. I don't want people coming in here again and taking us. We lost John. Almost lost the Professor. And for what reason? I get that Magneto wanted to punish them, I get that, because after Stryker attacked us, I wanted to punish them all too! But God, why can't we just live in peace? Hank, I don't want to die because of what I am."
~*~*~*~
Faith looked at Wesley.
"You find Xavier, I'll go find Logan."
~*~*~*~
Gwen nodded.
"We'll be ok."
She paused.
"We should see how Xavier and Co are doing."
Orlando and Kitty
Many of the younger children huddled around each other in front of the tv in the rec room, wondoering what their fate would be.
"It's going to be okay," Joelle said, as she, Matt and Kitty tried to reassure the children. Kitty was unbelievably glad that her best friend was visiting her dad in Ireland for the next two weeks.
~*~*~
Orlando watched the coverage from the tv in his and Tom's room, his arm around Tom, hnis girlfriend in his lap.
"Oh, God," he said. "They're going to think we were in on it," he said, "They're going to attack the school, and my sisters are there!"
Tom kissed his boyfriend's cheek, trying to reassure him. "They'll be okay. You told me once that that place has amazing security defenses. They'll be fine.
Hank, Wesley, Xavier & Mordred
"Bobby, everything will be fine," Hank said reassuringly.
"We'll be safe here, and we can open our doors to anyone else out there who may need shelter."
But there's probably too many who would need it...
~*~*~*~
"Right," Wesley said faintly and headed for Xavier's office.
"Please come in, Mr Wyndham-Pryce," Xavier said, looking up as Welsye entered.
"We have many things to discuss and not that long to do it in."
~*~*~*~
"You think?" Mordred said dubiously.
"I'd rather stay away from them. Keep the kids away. The government knows the place is mutant; they could be reprisal wanting."
Bobby, Faith and Gwen
Bobby hugged Hank again, burying his head in the older mutant's shoulder.
"I don't want to be attacked anymore. I just don't."
~*~*~*~
Faith found Logan and put her arm around his neck.
"When it rains it pours, right?"
~*~*~*~
Gwen kissed Mordred's nose.
"I meant call them. They must know they'll be attacked."
Hank, Logan & Mordred
"Bobby..."
Long rumbling sigh as Hank hugged the younger boy back, trying to calm him down.
"It will be alright, Bobby. The professor may need to go and talk to the president again."
~*~*~*~
"Faith."
Logan pulled her to him and buried his face in the side of her neck, breathing in her scent.
"Yeah. Kinda the norm for this place though."
~*~*~*~
"Oh, they'll know alright. There ain't much chance of anything else happening," Mordred said pessimissitcally.
"The government knows what the school is."
Bobby, Faith and Gwen
Bobby nodded and wiped his eyes, pulling away from Hank.
"Sucks to be us, doesn't it?"
~*~*~*~
Faith ran her hand gently through Logan's hair.
"Guess we better get ready to fight then."
~*~*~*~
Gwen stroked the back of Mordred's neck softly.
"Did you want to talk to Xavier?"
Hank, Jocelyn and Logan
"Not always," Hank said gently.
"Where else would I find such stalwart companions, a man such as Charles Xavier, and aye, even a man with such a peculair sense of honour as Logan? And of course, who else would I have to go on twinkie runs with if I was not here, and in the perfect blue?"
"Oh brave new world, that has such people in it," Jocelyn quoted with an odd smile.
"O, brave new world..." Hank agreed, glancing back at her.
Jocelyn smiled at him, eyes mysterious behind her arched glasses.
"Everything will work out to the best, Bobby. You'll see. As the professor continues to maintain, there is always hope."
~*~*~*~
"Again, that's th' norm."
Logan nuzzled at her neck, tasting the salt on her skin.
"God, I missed ya, darlin'."
~*~*~*~
"Not really," Mordred said with a frown.
"But I should. Dammit."
Bobby, Faith and Gwen
"Guess so," Bobby said, nodding.
"Still not fun all the time."
~*~*~*~
Faith kissed Logan softly.
"I missed you too."
~*~*~*~
"We'll be ok," Gwen said.
"Hopefully they will too."
Jocelyn, Hank, Logan & Mordred
"Life is rain as well as sunshine, Ice Boy," Jocelyn said, moving away from Bobby and Hank to go back to her work.
"Indeed," Hank murmured, turning his head slightly to watch her move.
~*~*~*~
Logan rested his chin on her shoulder, running his hands down her back.
"So, Mags had a little temper tantrum. Batboy tryin' ta fix it?"
~*~*~*
Mordred pulled her into his lap and kissed her gently.
"Aye, lovely."
Bobby, Faith and Gwen
Bobby watched Hank watch Jocelyn and grinned, in spite of himself.
"So, you guys probably have research stuff to do. So I'll let you get on with that," he said, backing out to the door.
~*~*~*~
Faith let her hand massage Logan's neck.
"He's looking into what can be done. I think Wes is with Xavier."
~*~*~*~
Gwen kissed him back.
"Should we check on the kids?"
Hank, Logan & Mordred
"Do you feel a little better now, Bobby?" Hank asked, head turning quickly from the admittedly beguiling sight of Jocelyn to look at his best friend with concern.
~*~*~*~
"So...we have time? I missed you," Logan said, puncuating his soft growl with a bite to her neck.
"A lot."
~*~*~*~
"Yeah...yeah."
Mordred teleported them both to the kids bedroom, landing them on the small bed.
Bobby, Faith and Gwen
Bobby shrugged.
"Not really. But that's not really new. I'm gonna go get drunk and try to forget about it. Take care guys."
~*~*~*~
Faith grinned and licked at Logan's neck.
"Yeah, I missed you too."
~*~*~*~
Gwen lifted Eavan up gently.
"You know, we're getting increasingly lazy in our old age," she commented to Mordred.
Hank , Mordred and Logan
Hank started to get up from where he was seated, pushing his glasses back onto his face more.
"Bobby...seeking solace through toxins that facilitate chemical reactions in your own body will not really help."
~*~*~*~
"Bed?" Logan suggested.
~*~*~*~
"Maybe, but it's useful," Mordred said, cuddling Bryant.
Bobby, Faith and Gwen
"Probably not, but it'll numb the fear, I think," Bobby said, grinning.
"Come on, like you're not gonna chow down on Twinkies for comfort."
~*~*~*~
Faith grinned.
"Bed."
And so the two tumbled into bed, breaking bones, furniture and everything else in between in the midst of their reunion sex.
~*~*~*~
"Yeah, guess so," Gwen replied, brushing Eavan's hair away.
"Where's Fao?"
Hank, Jocelyn & Mordred
Hank polished his glasses.
"Perhaps."
Jocelyn giggled. He gave her a long suffering look.
"I recieve no respect around here at all."
~*~*~*~
Mordred put down Bryant, then rolled onto his stomach and looked under the bed. Two mismatched eyes gleamed back at him before they disappeared again.
"Hiding under the bed."
Bobby and Gwen
Bobby chuckled and rubbed Hank's back.
"I do respect you, oh great healer of many."
~*~*~*~
Gwen tickled Eavan.
"Hey Fao, if you come out, I'll go get you some Krispy Kreme donuts."
Hank, Jocelyn & Faolan
Hank sighed, and polished his glasses. Jocelyn giggled impudently.
"Yes, quite."
~*~*~*~
A wolfish nose poked out from under the corner of sheet hanging down off the bed.
"Doughnuts? Really?"
Bobby and Gwen
Bobby grinned.
"Sexy Beast Hank."
~*~*~*~
Gwen nodded.
"Really. And Maccas."
Hank, Jocelyn & Faolan
Hank blushed.
Jocelyn looked at Bobby.
"You made him blush so hard you can tell from under the fur. That takes some doing. I think we need to mark this occasion."
~*~*~*~
The nose edged out a little further.
"Really?"
Bobby and Gwen
Bobby grinned.
"It calls for some Twinkies, I believe."
~*~*~*~
Gwen nodded again.
"And... ice cream."
Jocelyn, Hank & Faolan
"I concur," Jocelyn said.
"Hank, where do you keep the spare Twinkies?"
"I don't believe I'll tell you. You'll eat them all, and I need them to help me think," Hank said.
~*~*~*~
Faolan's head emerged fully from under the cover.
"Now?"
Bobby and Gwen
"But Hanky pooooo, I know where they arrrreeee," Bobby said, grinning like a maniac.
~*~*~*~
Gwen touched his head gently.
"If you want."
Hank, Jocelyn, Faolan & Mordred
"No you don't," Hank said firmly.
"Ah, but I dooooooo," Jocelyn singsonged.
She grinned at the look of betrayal Hank gave her.
~*~*~*~
Faolan crept out from under the bed completely and laid his head on Gwen's knee. Sighed.
Mordred stroked the shapeshifter's ears.
"Why did he do it?"
Bobby and Gwen
Bobby grinned and nudged Hank.
"CoughKISSHERcough," Bobby coughed, none too discreetly.
~*~*~*~
Gwen ran her hand over Faolan's coat.
"Sometimes people can only be pushed so far."
Hank, Jocelyn & Faolan
They both blushed.
"I do not think that would be entirely appropriate, Bobby..." Hank said.
~*~*~*~
"Oh."
Faolan leant more heavily against her legs.
"I wouldn't."
Bobby and Gwen
"Go on. I dare ya."
Bobby grinned.
~*~*~*~
Gwen reached down and rubbed his ears.
"I know. But some aren't as tolerant as you."
Hank, Jocelyn & Faolan
"Robert..." Hank said warningly.
"He's just pulling your fur, Hank. Kids are like that."
Jocelyn turned away, biting her lip. She'd seen the women who lived here. How on earth could she possibly compare to them?
~*~*~*~
Faolan sighed, shivering slightly with pleasure.
"They all died, Mum. If he could hear them, he wouldn't have killed them. Viccy's happy though; she liked it. Her daddy's pleased as well. He's angry at them all, all the time. All the humans."
Bobby and Gwen
"Henry..." Bobby said, in a tone that matched Hank's.
He hugged Hank around the waist and buried his head into his fur.
"Kiss her," he said again, this time managing to suck in a mouthful of fur, which made him cough and sputter.
To be dramatic, Bobby pulled away from Hank and fell, in slow motion mind you, onto a bed, screeching "HAIRBALL!"
~*~*~*~
Gwen lifted Fao onto her lap.
"It'll be ok Fao. It will."
Hank, Jocelyn & Faolan
Hank raised his eyes heavenward, before brushing ineffectually at the damp spot on his fur. Jocelyn was gasping for breath, laughing hard and hanging onto a lab bench.
"No respect at all."
~*~*~*~
Faolan shifted form to the much more compact cat form, curling up on her lap.
"I hope so."
Bobby and Gwen
"Ah, Hanky," Bobby said.
He got up and leant over and kissed Hank's cheek.
"I love you. I'll catch you two crazy cats later."
~*~*~*~
Gwen stroked Fao's ears.
"Come on, let's go go watch some TV."
Hank, Jocelyn & Faolan
"How can anyone not love me?" Hank said.
"Indeed," Jocelyn murmured.
"I will see you at a date in the future, Bobby?" Hank asked, pretending not to have heard Jocelyn, as she obviously couldn't have meant it.
"You can help me make him go out into natural sunlight," Jocelyn said perkily.
~*~*~*~
"Can we watch Lord of the Rings? I want to go back to Middle Earth," Faolan said plaintively.
Bobby and Gwen
"Yeah, come up for dinner. They're gonna have a really nice roast, and I don't want to bring it down here again."
Bobby winked at Joss and waved.
"See ya babes."
~*~*~*~
Gwen nodded.
"Go put it on then."
Hank, Jocelyn, Faolan & Mordred
Hank waved a hand absently, already returning to his work. Jocelyn blushed slightly.
"Bye, Bobby."
~*~*~*~
"K."
Faolan scampered off to do that.
"You're very good at being a mum," Mordred observed to Gwen privately.
Bobby and Gwen
Bobby lingered outside the door for a moment, then started singing his version of 'Love Is In The Air', loudly and badly.
"Oooooh, love is in the hair, da na na na na na, love is in Hank's hair!"
~*~*~*~
Gwen grinned and kissed Eavan's nose.
"I try. Feel like getting pizza?"
Hank, Jocelyn & Mordred
Hank sighed.
Jocelyn giggled.
"He's cute."
"Infuriating," Hank corrected her.
"Reminds me of my brothers. They're all pains as well."
~*~*~*~
"Pizza would be good," Mordred said.
Bobby
Bobby went and played computer games for a few hours, then when it was time for dinner, he headed downstairs.
"I AM HERE!" he announced, barging into the medlabs.
"Joss, lovely to see you as always, and ahh, the true love of my life, Hanko!"
Jocelyn & Hank
Jocelyn tossed the irrpressiable prankster a smile.
Hank waved a hand in welcome, concentrating on focusing the microscope he was looking through.
"Bobby, hello."
Bobby
"I don't wanna hurt no morrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeee, stay in my arrrrrrrrrrms if you daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaare, or muuuuusssssssstttt I imagine you there? Don't walk away from me, no don't you dare walk away from me!" Bobby sang, grabbing Jocelyn's hand and spinning her into his chest, before waltzing with her.
"Come on Hanky, join the dance!"
Jocelyn & Hank
"Bobby!" Jocelyn protested, before laughing.
The older woman grinned at him and shook her head slightly.
"You need to be institutionalised."
"I do not think you would find many disagreements there," Hank said, getting up from his seat.
"Unhand the lady, ruffian!"
Bobby
Bobby spun Joss out into Hank.
"Come on, guys, dance, I'll provide the music."
He grinned.
"I pray you'll be our eyes, and watch us where we go, and help us to be wise, in times we don't knowwwww!"
Jocelyn & Hank
Jocelyn smacked solidly into Hank's chest and she squeaked slightly, looking up at him with wide eyes behind her extragvent glasses. Hank smiled.
"May I have this dance, milady?"
"I would be honoured, kind sir."
She raised her hand to his shoulder as he put one hand on the small of her back. It was cute. It was sappy. And neither one of them cared.
Bobby
Deciding that his work was done, Bobby silently retreated from the medlabs, grinning to himself.
Ah, old love.