A thank you
Her pale green/brown eyes watched the older boy as he made his way down the corridor, she was always a little surprised about how fast he could move when aided by his support. Fate could play cruel games with people’s lives; here was a boy hardly older than her who’d never again run or even walk properly upon his on two legs.
He looked like an odd figure, his bad leg held out slightly in front of him as he moved. She wondered where he was headed for, probably some class or other judging by the rucksack he had over his shoulders. Even from this distance she could see how thin he was, the clothes he wore seemed baggy, hanging off him, she wondered if he was eating properly. They’d never bumped into one another in the kitchens so she had no idea, her instincts as a nurse were to be concerned about his health. She wasn’t really aware of the fact she was also thinking as a friend. She wasn’t sure she could even class herself as a friend, he seemed to be making plenty of them, there was that boy Ben who’d come to the med bay with him when he was having his physiotherapy and he seemed to get on really well with his team from what he’d told her. She’d talked to him a little while he was in the med bay, feeling even more shy than usual in the presence of his friend and the fact she was wearing pyjamas. She’d been let out of the med bay the other night, after having been kept in longer having to have her tooth filled and healing Max. She wasn’t quite sure how to act around Michael now they weren’t in the confines of the med bay, she didn’t want to make him feel uncomfortable because the last time she’d seen him he’d been near to tears during his physiotherapy. At the same time she didn’t want to make him feel like she was hanging around him, he’d been nice to her, she’d never has a friend that was a man before and she wasn’t sure how you went about talking to one. Being with Max had been easy enough, he’d speak a lot and she’d just reply when necessary.
Even though he was moving quite fast on his crutches she easily caught up with him. Her eyes dropping over his trousers and dark blue jumper, couldn’t the school have found him some clothes that fitted him better? She suddenly wondered if it was painful for him to somehow force his damaged legs into his clothes in a morning. She knew how inconvenient it could be to have an arm out of action and a leg must be just as bad.
‘Ummm Michael?’ Her voice was timid, her body instinctively moving a little away from his as she turned around. He didn’t seem angry at her disturbing him, giving her the courage to hold her arm out towards him rather shyly. In her hand was a cream coloured envelop with Michael’s name written on the front in Paige’s painfully neat handwriting. Inside was a card with a fat stripy tabby cat with a large smile upon it’s face and the words thank you written in a vivid yellow. Upon the inside of the card Paige had written “To Michael, thank you for saving my life.” It seemed awfully corny but it was the best her imagination had managed to come up with at the time. Under that she’d simply put her name, she’d been undecided as to what to put but “from” seemed too impersonal but “love” was a good deal too familiar. Along with the writing were two slips of thin card which were in fact cinema tickets, she knew how ill healing her had made him and she didn’t think she could let someone be that unselfish without rewarding them in some manner. From what Michael had said that had been done to him she was sure he hadn’t managed to go out and do anything fun in a while and everyone she knew likes going to the cinema to see some kind of film or the other. She’d also put in a twenty dollar bill into the card knowing that Michael didn’t have any money to get to the cinema in Salem. Ever practical she’d written the name of a taxi firm underneath her name.
‘Errr this is for you.’ She blushed furiously as he stretched out a crutch and a hand to take it off her. She had thought about just pushing it under his door but that seemed a little ungrateful. There was a pause where Paige’s eyes dropped down to the floor. ‘Ummm I think my library book is overdue, i..if you’ve finished with it could you maybe bring it to tomorrows English lesson with you?’ While she was speaking somewhere within the bowls of the school a bell ran signalling that the students were required to come to their classes. ‘Uh ummm I have to go. Bye’ She looked relieved at having a reason to escape any questions he might throw at her. A group of noisy boys rounded the corner she’d just come around, Paige flashed them a rather worried look before she scurried away down the hall in case they decided to start picking on her.
“Umm Michael,” He recognised the quiet voice that spoke his name and turned around quickly, unconsciously demonstrating the returning expertise with which he handled his crutches. Surprise and pleasure were plain to read on his face as he smiled at the girl who stood before him. Paige! Up and around and looking well, if a little overcome by her own temerity at accosting him in public.
Not that they really were in public he supposed looking around. The corridor was for a brief moment empty, the multitude of students that normally thronged the passageways either already in class or well on their way to their next subject. It had taken Michael some time to come to terms with the sheer size of the Institute. So many young people, all with their individual powers, gathered under one roof made for a lively if, he suspected, sometimes explosive mixture. It was vibrant and exciting and sometimes he had to admit a little daunting but he had been settling in pretty well, making friends and finding a routine that managed to deal with his own particular problems in the best way possible.
He had been out of med lab for over a week now, ever since he had been declared clear of the pneumonia he had contracted in order to help Paige recover from her own illness. The room he had been assigned was comfortable, containing all he needed to get by and he was grateful for it as he was for the clothes and study material that had been provided for him. Still it was hard not to have anything that he felt truly belonged to him.
Everything he had owned, all the carefully selected objects and paraphernalia that mirrored his personality had been lost along with his old life and he had no money with which to try to replace them. He tried to tell himself that it didn’t matter, that he should be thankful to be safe in a place where he was welcomed and where his powers could be of some good but sometimes looking around at the neutral walls and the empty shelves he just felt lost, cast adrift in a world of strangers even if they were friendly ones.
The days weren’t so bad, filled as they were with lessons and training. He had chosen his classes well and even although there were some problems given the difference between the British and the American curriculum, he was reassured to find that if he was behind in some subjects such as History, where the old familiar Kings were suddenly replaced by a plethora of presidents, he was ahead in others. Reaching a satisfactory level overall would be challenging but it was a challenge he was looking forward to meeting.
Getting to the classes on the other hand presented problems he could well have done without. The major drawback of his room was that it was on the second floor of the Institute and negotiating the stairs on crutches was a tricky and painstaking business. Michael had incorporated that particular inconvenience into his routine, just as he had all the others. It was just a question of leaving himself enough time.
Waking up wasn’t difficult. More often than not he had already been awakened by the pain as the morphine wore off, leaving him staring desperately at the clock as he tried to hold out till morning before reaching for the next dose. Then finally there was the all to welcome injection and the wait until the drug entered his system making movement something that could be contemplated and even eventually achieved.
Once up and about his careful schedule continued. Showering at least was relatively easy. The Institute had thought to provide disabled facilities that gave him the necessary room to manoeuvre and the rails he needed for stability. The fact that the new team accomadation also provided him with a greater measure of privacy also helped, the scars that marred his body were not exactly something he wished to share with his fellow students. After that it was just a matter of dressing, never easy or particularly pleasant, packing the schoolbooks into the rucksack that he slung on his back, leaving his hands free for the crutches and then finally the slow careful descent to breakfast and classes.
Once on the level things became easier. The wound in his side was now completely healed, the movement of the crutches no longer pulling at the tender muscles as he made his way along the corridors. Only the occasional twinge when drawing a deep breath sometimes caught him by surprise, a legacy of the pneumonia taking its toll on his already damaged lung. It would probably pass with time an in the meantime it was just one of those side effects of the recent use of his power that he preferred not to dwell upon. Like the dreams. They were definitely something he tried not to think about, wanting neither Dr McCoy nor Paige herself to realise just how bad an experience it had been for him.
Even back in captivity he had never had fever dreams like that; full of demons and a calculated cruelty that dwarfed anything he had suffered at the hands of Dr Brady or his brother. He supposed that it was just the recent events in Harmony that had filled his head with such horror but even so the thought that such nightmares might return terrified him.
Would he even have offered to use his healing powers if he had thought that such gleeful torture waited for him on the other side of delirium? There had been moments, normally late at night, the pain in his leg keeping him from sleep when he had asked himself just that question. Then he would go down to med lab and talk to Paige and he would know with absolute certainty that it had all been worth it and that if he had to do it again to keep her alive than he would do so without hesitation. *Something as important as Paige’s life can’t be had without a price* he told himself *if it’s a high one then so be it.*
Now looking at her standing before him, an expression of determination on her otherwise shy face, he felt absurdly glad that he had been able to help, that despite everything he had found the courage to take this power that had up until now caused him nothing but grief and put it to such good use. ‘Errr this is for you.’ she said her cheeks already turning crimson as she held out an envelope. Michael looked a little questioningly at her as he manipulated the crutches in order to take it from her but she had already averted her gaze, looking awkwardly at the floor as she continued.
‘Ummm I think my library book is overdue, i..if you’ve finished with it could you maybe bring it to tomorrows English lesson with you?’
It was such a typically Paige thing to say that he had to smile, feeling a surge of affection for the quiet girl. The book had been returned on time, Michael had made sure of that, thought with everything that had been going on he had forgotten to let her know.* I should have realised she would be worried* he thought wryly *We are too much alike in that respect* Taking it back hadn’t been a hardship. Discovering the library had been a joy and a revelation.
So many books. All that knowledge and beauty just waiting to be savoured. And shared. He didn’t want to just read them he wanted to talk about them, to discuss them with other people. People like Paige who loved them as much as he did. A book club. The idea had come to him the previous evening when he had lain spent and exhausted after another gruelling session of physiotherapy and he had felt motivated enough to force his acing body of off the bed and over to the desk in order to make out some posters for it.
He had them now in his back pack, having been on his way to the library to put them up when Paige had intercepted him. Sure he knew that some people might think it was a geek thing but he didn’t care. Poetry and literature were part of who he was and if that posed a problem then it was just too bad.
He was just about to tell Paige about the club when the bell rang, the signal for students to start filling the corridors once more ‘Uh ummm I have to go. Bye’ Paige said hurriedly and was off before he had a chance to even thank her for the unexpected letter. He watched her round the corner barely avoiding colliding with an unruly crowd of youths who had spilled out f one of the classes, the unopened envelope still clutched awkwardly in his hand as they made their noisy way towards him.
Re: A thank you
Alex shoved his friend in the shoulder, at the same time using his other hand to tuck his elbow length silver hair behind his one of his ears. As usual his overly long hair was tied back in a ponytail and… as usual strands of it kept falling loose about his face. He was as proud of his hair as he was of the opaque white eyes that stared eerily out at the world. Alex Rosea had been gifted with the power to be able see perfectly in the dark but at the expense of the colour pigments in his eyes and the ability to see colour. Since he was fourteen he’d lived in a world of, black, white and varying shades of grey.
The friend he’d punched chuckled slightly, rubbing his arm. He had no visible signs of his mutation unlike Alex. His short spiky brown hair had blonde tips that he’d had dyed in, his clothes looked expensive and there was a flashy looking silver watch strapped onto his wrist. Mike’s dark blue eyes narrowed slightly as gaze fell upon the boy who was supporting himself on crutches, one of his legs stiffly extended in front of him. He’d seen the crippled boy before, he’d turned up in lessons a few days ago, that had been long enough for Mike to realise that as he’d expected the guy was one of those teachers pet, bookish, I know all the answers type. Mike wasn’t a particularly smart person and he hated the type who spent most of their lessons with their hands in the air. Look at him standing their, with his gimpy leg and his clothes which looked several sizes to large for him. Couldn’t the guy even afford to get some clothes that fitted and didn’t look like they’d come from a yard sale? A closer look at the boy in front of him made him raise an eyebrow, was the guy holding his trousers up with a length of rope? Gee if that wasn’t pathetic then what in the world was?
The last member of the three was Cody, his mother and father had left him on the doorsteps of the school when he was just fifteen. It wasn’t surprising that they had considering his skin had turned a myriad of shades of red. For the past four years he’d lived with the knowledge that his family had rejected him. But he had the added problem that he accidentally kept setting things alight in the family home. Since coming to the institute he’d learnt to control his powers and shape them towards his own use, he’d been a promising student until he’d met Alex and Mike, then things had started to go down hill with his behaviour. Now he tended to slack at school, spending most of the time slouching at the back of the class, leaving the teachers wondering what had happened to the quiet shy boy who’d arrived at the school.
Alex’s eyes fell upon the small figure that was standing further up the hallway, his eyes picking out the white of the envelope against the darker hues of the corridor, which was clasped in Michael’s hand. The white pupils stared at Paige who was trying to slink past him up the corridor.
His hand shot out his fingers digging into her bad shoulder detaining her and turning her around to face him, she winced slightly as he increased the pressure. His face dropped level with hers trying to catch her gaze, even though her eyes were determindly fixed on the floor. Alex's back was turned towards Michael, his voice low so no one but him, his friends and Paige would hear what he was saying. Her head nodded, his hand roughly letting go of her, there was a relieved expression on her face as she hurried off up the corridor.
Alex straightened up, his eyes looking at Paige as she dissapeared around the corner in the corridor. As he looked back around again, his eyes fell on Michael. His expression altering to that of a beast of prey who's just stumbled on some small injured animal. ‘Hey guy’s.. take a look at what Paige just gave this crippled boy.’ His voice was loud and jeering, making sure that Michael could hear him. He swaggered up to Michael, white eyes staring straight into Michael’s blue ones.‘Getting love letters from Paige. she’s a safe bet mate, jumped straight into bed with Max.’ There was a round of laughter from Cody and Mike, Alex leaned casually against the wall showing no indication of wanting to leave anytime soon. He snorted in amusement his eyes looking in the direction the small girl had taken.
Re: A thank you
Now that Paige was out of sight Michael turned his attention back to the envelope she had given him wondering what on earth it could contain. Still this wasn’t the ideal place to open it, far from it. Already it was awkward enough just having it in his hand without trying to manoeuvre his crutches into a position where he could balance long enough to see what was inside.
It was frustrating how his disability complicated even the smallest task and he sighed as he contemplated the tricky possibility of negotiating the rucksack from his back in order to put the letter into it. Though it would have been the simplest solution there was no question of him simply stuffing it into the pocket of his jeans. Paige had obviously gone to a great deal of trouble writing it for him and he was not going to crumple it just for the sake of convenience.
So he stood there in the corridor with it in his hand as the three youths approached, not really paying them much heed until the words reached him as they were obviously intended to, shocking him with their unexpected cruelty. ‘Hey guy’s. take a look at what Paige just gave this crippled boy.’
Swiftly he glanced up at them, anger rising in him at the use of the hated term. What he saw in the pale eyes that met his own caught his complete attention. It was something he recognised though he had hoped not to encounter it here at the institute. The look of the bully. The look he had seen so many times in his brother’s face over the years.
Here it was, as plain and complete as he had ever seen it, promising trouble from these three boys he barely knew, recognising them only as recent classmates, certainly not people he had ever had a run in with. But then that was the whole essence of the bully. They didn’t need a valid reason to pick on someone, they did it for a whim, seeking out those they perceived to be different, weaker in some way and ruthlessly setting out to make their lives a misery. Now their attention had fallen on him, obviously seeing him as easy prey and, one way or another, the four of them were on a collision course that could lead to nothing but problems.
Michael felt the amusement and contempt that radiated from them as they ran their eyes over his thin form, obviously taking in his ill fitting clothes and stiffened leg. Straightening up as best he could he returned their gaze calmly even if deep down inside he could not help feeling a little sick as dismay and disappointment crashed in on him. It was stupid to have thought that any school, even one as special as the Institute would have been free of people like this but somehow that was exactly what Michael had believed or at least had wanted to believe.
*Don’t they realise what’s going on around here?* he asked himself. *There are demons and mutant haters and untold dangers just waiting to be fought and they waste their time with pettiness like this.*
Suddenly he felt much older than the three youths who surrounded him, as if all the bitter experiences he had gone through had given him a maturity they so sadly lacked. *What they think about me doesn’t matter* he thought as he had so many times in the past when faced with similar circumstances. * My team mates and my friends don’t look at me the way these guys do and they’re the ones that count. These three wouldn’t have survived half of the things I’ve come through and they dare to stand there judging me like that. They know nothing about me at all. If they think they’ve found an easy target then they are sadly mistaken.*
Now he felt as calm as his eyes looked, although he knew full well that the situation could turn nasty at any second . These were just stupid kids looking for someone to make them feel superior and he was damned if he was going to give them that satisfaction. He had decided to just ignore them altogether and continue on his way when the pale youth spoke again, his voice dripping with contented malice. ‘Getting love letters from Paige. she’s a safe bet mate, jumped straight into bed with Max.’
Michael was surprised by his own reaction as his calm determination was swept aside by a wave of anger. They could say what they liked about him but spreading hurtful lies like that about Paige was a different matter. It was plain to see she wasn’t like that. She was shy and reserved, hardly daring to start up a conversation never mind anything else. Certainly not the kind of girl who would jump into bed with anyone. “I must have misheard you, mate’ he said with bitter emphasis on the last word, his voice clear and distinct despite his accent.
It was a tone his brother would have recognised, cold and measured, much more dangerous than any sudden outburst " He looked the white haired mutant straight in the eyes as he continued, no trace of fear in his regard although he was well aware of the risk he was running. “But I do know this. Paige is a lady. That much should be clear enough for anyone to see. And just for the record she’s also a friend of mine.I don’t know who this Max is or what if anything went on between him and Paige. To be honest I don’t care. That’s between them. Or at least it should be So” he concluded icily “I’d be obliged if you spoke a little more politely about her in the future.”
Re: A thank you
Alex noted the look in the other boy’s eyes as he teased the younger man about his crutches. It was easy to see that there was something wrong with the man’s leg, the way he held it stiffly out in front of him as he walked. He realised that he’d hit a raw nerve in Michael, the white eyes narrowed as a domineering smile crossed his face, a flick of his hand sending yet another stray strand of hair back to it’s place behind his ears. He was aware of his friends who were hanging back a little especially Cody who was secretly wishing Alex would stop bullying people. Under the front he put across Cody was a decent guy, he never really got involved with intimidating people, he wasn’t sure he liked the look in Michael’s eyes, his own gaze dropping down to look at the back of a red hand.
“I must have misheard you, mate’ Mike was a little surprised to hear the foreign accent, but then again that could be why he wasn’t dressed very well, they weren’t as wealthy in the motherland were they? That’s what his mother had told him, looking at the UK on a map he’d agreed with her, how could a country that small possibly hold as much wealth as the whole of the United States. “I don’t know who this Max is or what if anything went on between him and Paige. To be honest I don’t care. That’s between them. Or at least it should be” Alex snorted slightly, this boy obviously had no idea how the school worked… try and keep a secret and everyone would know within a week. The way Paige stared adoringly at Max and Max’s reputation with women meant that most people were clever enough to put two and two together, it didn’t help Paige however that Max seemed content to boast about women he’d been with.
A sneer pulled at the corner of his thin lips, pulling flesh away to show teeth stained a faint yellow - a legacy of the cigarettes he smoked. Was he supposed to care about the feelings of someone as inconsequential as Paige? As far as he was concerned she was only someone he used to get what he wanted, she was easily manipulated and intimidated.
‘Why don’t I read that for you since you’ve got your hands full.’ The older boys hand quickly snatched the card from Michael, carelessly tearing the envelope open and bending one corner of the carefully chosen card in the process. On the front of the card was a tabby cat, a Cheshire grin spread across it’s face. Above the cat’s head were printed the letters thank you in all the colours of the rainbow. Looking disgusted with Paige’s choice of card he pulled it open, his eyes skimming over the neatly written words inside. ‘To Michael … thank you for saving my life.’ His tone was twisted into a comical imitation of Paige’s quiet voice. His eyes landed on the two tickets, his smile widening as his fingers plucked the slips of card from the envelope, making sure Michael caught a glimpse of what they were.
‘She’s obviously trying to ask you out on a date … and since you don’t seem to like her .. then you won’t mind if I keep these.’ The tickets disappeared inside his top pocket. His white eyes looked down over the card again. ‘God what a geek, no wonder Max dumped her’ As he spoke he glanced back up, his eyes meeting Michael’s as he let the carefully written out card slip from his fingers to land on the floor.
Re: A thank you
The white haired young man snatched the letter from his hand, a sardonic grin playing about his mouth as he savoured his triumph. Michael wasn’t really surprised, although part of him had hoped that things wouldn’t go this far. Still, the envelope had been the obvious target, short of actually hitting him, something which he wasn’t sure the youths were ready to do as of yet.
Not that he thought he was safe from physical abuse, he just thought that it might take another form. A crutch was so easily knocked away and after all, if he fell, who was to say that he hadn’t just slipped? It would be his word against theirs, but then it always was in the long run .That was why bullies were so effective. Most of their victims were too scared to speak out against them and those that did were branded as cowards and tell tales, caught up in some sort of weird and wonderful honour code that said reporting incidents such as this to teachers was the worst of all betrayals.
*So what are we supposed to do, let them away with it because we’re too weak to physically stand up to them? I don’t think so*. Michael said to himself. Still one of them, the boy whose skin was marbled with various shades of red, was starting to look decidedly uncomfortable as if this course of events was one that he had neither anticipated nor particularly enjoyed. *You should have picked your friends more carefully* Michael thought. *These two are liable to lead you on where your not ready to follow.*In the meantime the older boy’s voice continued to mock Michael with its words, driving him further and further into the cold decisiveness that had taken hold if him. Surreptitiously he switched his point of balance, placing all his weight on his left leg and thus liberating his right hand if he should need it..
‘Why don’t I read it for you… since it’s obvious you can’t.” Outwardly there was no reaction on Michael’s part, he had gone beyond that. Temper had been left behind and intellect had kicked in, making him overall a much more dangerous opponent. ‘To Michael, thank you for saving my life.’ The young mutant affected a high pitched voice, so far from Paige’s muted tones that it was more of a parody than an imitation. It didn’t matter, all that really did matter to Michael were the words., what she had actually written, not what this intruder tried to turn them into
. What had gone on between Paige and him since his arrival at the institute was so much more profound, more intrinsically real than anything these clowns could hope to understand that it suddenly put things into perspective. When the youth went on to say‘God what a geek, no wonder Max dumped her.’ all Michael could think was *and they call me a cripple! Well maybe they should take a long hard look at themselves if they think saying thank you for something, like that is so strange* From their reaction he doubted that any of the group had either had their lives saved or saved the live of someone else. Something like that created bonds that weren’t so easily broken and a sense of self worth that wasn’t so easily destroyed.
Still it hurt when the pale youth let Paige’s carefully prepared card slip to the floor, obviously knowing how hard it would be for Michael to retrieve it, an unwelcome reminder of his physical limitations and how blatantly apparent they were to all those around him. He forced himself not to look at it, not wanting to give the boys the satisfaction of seeing how upsetting their actions were to him.
And through it all the words still echoed in his head. Although he had said that what had gone on between this Max person and Paige was none of his business still it was not completely true. If Paige, shy and reserved as she was, had in fact been involved him, then Michael could only imagine how hard it would have been for her if her affections had been rejected. It was something so personnel and so painful that it offended Michael to hear it bandied forth in the corridors as if it was just a piece of common gossip.
Suddenly the grinning faces of his tormentors became even more unacceptable, which also seemed to be the opinion of the third member of the trio who kept his eyes firmly fixed upon the ground as if ashamed of what was going on.
‘She’s obviously trying to ask you out on a date and since you say you don’t fancy her then you won’t be needing these.’
For the briefest moment Michael caught a glimpse of what appeared to be cinema tickets and a bank note before everything disappeared into the bully’s pocket. For an instant his feelings were confused, a strange mixture of appreciation for the carefully thought out gesture mixed with his intrinsic inability to accept payment for a service which was so readily and freely offered. Then he thought of Paige and what this course of action must have cost her and there was only warmth and a wave of indignation directed against the one who had somehow cheapened the moment by his unwarranted intervention.
You've never had your life saved by someonehave you Otherwise you might not find it quite so stupid to say thanks. Dear lord” he said contemptuously “its like being back in primary school” Michael took a step closer to Alex, still maintaining his equilibrium on his left crutch.. “Is that where you started out, scaring people into giving you their lunch money. Well I’ve got news for you. You’re not five anymore, and I’m not impressed”. He leant his crutch against his leg and held out his hand “So I suggest you give me those back before things go any further.”
Re: A thank you“You’ve never had your life saved by someone, have you?” There was a feigned bored expression on the Alex’s face, what did that have anything to do with him. He’d never had his life saved before, but then he’d never been stupid enough to get himself into a situation where he needed to be saved. He stared across at the younger man with contempt in his eyes. It was so easy to get what he wanted from other people, money, assignments, favours, all you had to do was find their weaknesses and play upon them. And Michael’s weakness was obviously his body, there was something wrong with his leg that was stiffly held out in front of him. It didn’t seem that Michael was about to be intimidated by words but then actions spoke louder than words didn’t they?
“Otherwise you might not find it not quite so stupid to say thanks.” Here it was a blatant insult and Alex couldn’t not rise to the bait, especially with his friends here watching him, it was important he didn’t loose face with them. A glare flashed onto his proud face, how dare this little nobody go walking around like he owned the place.
“its like being back in primary school” Alex sneered at the younger boy … what was? getting picked on? Being a complete looser. “Is that where you started out, scaring people into giving you their lunch money. Well I’ve got news for you. You’re not five anymore, and I’m not impressed” No? … well he would be? He’d take back every word he’d uttered, he might be cocky now but Alex was going to take him down a couple of notches. “So I suggest you give me those back before things go any further.” Alex drew himself up straight and looked down at the young man an icy glint in his eyes.
“And I’m supposed to be afraid of a pathetic little cripple am I? What are you gonna do? Hit me with your crutches.” Behind him Mike sniggered. The uttered words were loaded with venom, meant to belittle the boy, Alex’s short temper suddenly snapping, if this boy thought he could insult him then he was going to show Michael just how wrong he was. No one spoke back to Alex and didn’t repay in some way. Moving swiftly he closed his hands hard around Michael’s shoulders, deciding to have a little sport with him before they left him in a defeated heap. Using his strength he smashed the astral projection mutant back against the wall, the boy’s shoulders taking the brunt of the impact.
“Didn’t your mother ever teach you manners … but then why would she want to keep a runt like you? Is that why you’re here? were you a blemish on the life of your perfect family. Is that why the whore didn’t want you? didn’t love you?” He’d heard the manner in which Michael had come to the school, and an awful lot of the students had family problems so it was likely that Michael might have them too. If not it would be enough to hear things said like that about his family.
Digging his fingers harder into Michael’s thin shoulders he effortlessly pulled him away from the wall shoving him hard towards Mike. The brown haired mutant caught Michael even as the younger boy was trying to steady himself on his feet, attempting to hold himself up with his crutches. Mike grinned at the boy, his muscular form supporting Michael’s thin body for a moment before he shoved him towards Cody. The red fire mutant didn’t look too happy about the whole thing, his arms steadying the boy, he looked across into Michael’s eyes, there was anger in them and pain, his lips drawn tightly together, it was obvious that putting weight onto his bad leg was hurting him. Cody looked away down at the ground, he was sick of them hurting other people, it hadn’t been too bad a first, teasing people hadn’t been bad but things had been taking a turn for the worse recently.
Alex seemed to sense Cody’s weakness, glaring at the other boy, crossing and yanking Michael free from Cody’s arms. He took great delight in pulling Michael’s crutches away from him watching with glee as Michael tottered without his support Mike sidling up and giving Michael one last push. The astral projection mutant couldn’t keep his balance without the support of his crutches, his body heavily slumping to the ground, a gasp of pain escaping the young man. The sound seemed to rouse Alex further, Michael was at last showing some signs of weakness, but he hadn’t finished with him yet. Tossing the crutches over towards Cody he instructed the younger boy to discard them out of the window. Cody hesitated for a second until he saw Alex glaring at him, not looking at Michael he followed his friend’s directions and pulling the window open dropped them outside into the shrubbery.
Looking down at the black and white figure lying on the floor Alex sneered slightly, Michael was weaker than he’d imagined, his face looked a pale white and there was pain in his eyes and still something of defiance in them. A sudden lance of anger shot through him, why couldn’t this boy just give in? His foot shot out suddenly, catching Michael in the side. There was an exclamation from Cody but Mike just laughed, it gave one such a feeling of superiority to see someone so humbled.
“Alex.” The silver haired mutant ignored Cody, instead choosing to sardonically leer down at Michael who he thought to be close to tears. “Alex, leave him, he’s had enough” Cody was looking anxiously down the hallway, someone could turn the corner at any moment and this situation wasn’t one he wanted to have to explain to Jean or any of the other teachers.
Alex bent down, picking up the discarded card, meeting Michael’s eyes as he ripped the stiff card into small pieces, holding them in his hand to let Michael look at them before he let them flutter down over the form of the young man, landing in his hair, on his body and the floor next to him.
“Here you are freak … see I picked up the card for you. Just so you know, I rule this school, what I say goes and you’d be sensible to listen to that or I just might make things difficult for you and you’re little girlfriend.” With a laugh he straightened up and turned off, walking down the corridor, he turned for a moment to throw one last insult at Michael “Oh and say thanks to Paige for the gift won’t you…that is unless you want to come and get them back?”
Re: A thank you
OOC Just in case anyone wondered, theres no god modding going on in this thread; We discuss everything on MSN before posting So ...yes i did agree to have all this happen to my poor little charrie. (Its all Lozas fault) But he is gettting more paranoid by the minute
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The look on Alex’s face told Michael all he needed to know .This situation wasn’t going to be resolved with words It was going to turn very nasty, very fast.“And I’m supposed to be afraid of a pathetic little cripple am I? the bully said as if his insults could have any effect now “What are you gonna do? Hit me with your crutches.”
*Aye that’s exactly what Im going to do* Michael thought ignoring the laughter that surrounded him. *There’s not that much difference between a crutch and a sword when you get right down to it. Lets see if these fencing lessons have done me any good*.
His hand was already moving back towards the carefully positioned crutch but not fast enough his reactions fatally slower than those of his astral counterpart.,when Alex caught hold of him. The sudden movement knocked the intended weapon from Michael’s hand, sending it spinning to join the Paige’s card on the ground.The strong fingers dug cruelly into his shoulders before Alex propelled him violently into the wall, his body hitting it bruising force, the pain already starting to spread down his back from the impact.
“Didn’t your mother ever teach you manners Michael struggled to regain his breath as the insults poured in upon him … but then why would she want to keep a runt like you? It was like hearing George all over again The same words Runt. Geek. Cripple. All the contemptuous terms he had had to live with for so many years. Is that why you’re here? Were you a blemish on the life of your perfect family.
Perfect family! *My brothers a drug dealer who sold me out to the highest bidder.The other ones not much better covering for him in Scotland. Does that sound like perfection to you* The bitter words floated round in his mind somehow linked to the hated feeling of helplessness that overcame him. “ Is that why the whore didn’t want you? didn’t love you?” Confusion then set in . What were they talking about.? This made no sense. Were they referring to his mother? The image they projected was so far from the truth that it failed to touch him, except to awaken a sense of loss that he had tried so hard to put aside.. Sure she didn’t understand him and her style of love was haphazard to say the least, but it was love all the same and despite everything he missed it sorely.
Sorrow swept unbidden over him, turning swiftly to anger as he was thrown from one youth to the next, his intrinsic pride striving to keep him upright as they jostled his aching body. agony flaring through him each time his damaged leg touched the floor. As he was thrust into Codys arms his defiant eyes met those of the fire mutants, reading in them growing distaste, but also a sense of helplessness that matched his own. Then the eyes flickered down to the ground and Michael knew that despite the other boys self loathing he could expect no help from him.
It seemed that Codys moment of weaknesss had not gone unnoticed, apparently urging Alex on to still greater cruelty in order to keep control of his little ‘gang’. Savouring the moment he snatched the remaining crutch from Michael’s hand, obviously expecting him to fall but content none the less to watch his obvious suffering as he tried to keep his balance, stubbornly pitting his body’s dwindling resources against his aggressors spite.
Relentlessly the third boy reached forward, his effortless push sending Michael tumbling to the ground, unable to hold back his cry of pain as his injured leg hit the floor hard, and his consciousness faltered. Fighting back the darkness that threatened to overwhelm him Michael saw Alex standing over him, his face alight with sadistic pleasure. Michael watched, unable to move as his precious crutches were thrown away, the humiliation almost too much to bear.
*I should have given in* he thought despairingly.*It would have been so much easier; they would have had their pathetic little victory and what would it have cost me? A couple of cinema tickets and some money?*
But it wasn’t true. It would have cost much more than that. Not just pride but the knowledge that he had let these bullies go about their abhorrent business unhindered, ready to pounce on their next helpless victim, without remorse or pity. No someone had to make a stand and if it had been ill advised then that didn’t make it any the less right.
Still that didn’t help much as he saw Alex draw back his foot his intent obvious in every movement. Michael tried to protect himself from what was coming but to no avail The kick caught him squarely in the stomach, pain exploding through him as he felt it catch the recently healed wound in his side. I wont cry he told himself I wont give them that satisfaction.
“Alex,Alex, leave him, he’s had enough” The words came to him through the veil of suffering that had dropped over his senses but Michael knew they would have no effect. Alex had gone far beyond reason, he was out for blood and he smelled it in the air. *I can’t beat him* Michael thought. Why did I ever think that I could?
Alex leaned closer now his face scant inches from Michaels, a look of triumph glinting in his eyes.He held something in his hands Something Michael recognised despite the agony that engulfed him. A smiling tabby cat grinned back at him, a gift thoughtfully offered from a shy girl who wanted only to say thank you.
“Here you are freak …”Alex said looking into Michaels eyes." See I picked up the card for you. Just so you know, I rule this school, what I say goes and you’d be sensible to listen to that or I just might make things difficult for you and you’re little girlfriend.”
There are some things that transcend pain things, that are worth fighting for no matter what the cost. *You don’t run this school” Michael said clenching his fists “ You don’t even know what it stands for.” His voice was thick with suffering , the words pushed out with breath that had been almost stolen for him as his injured lung protested against the harsh treatment.” And as for Paige” he continued raising his head , the anger clear in his eyes” If you so much as look at her then so help me god I will take you down”
Re: A thank you“You don’t run this school” What was with this guy? He was either dead stupid or insane. Most of the pathetic types they saw around the school would cower down at once but this boy seemed determined, even though he was lying on the floor in apparent pain was refusing to accept Alex’s obvious supremacy. He reminded Alex of some type of small animal who’s been mauled by predators yet still tries to bully the hunters away. He decided three was only one way to deal with Michael … he was like a bug, he needed to be squished under your heel. Unless they showed him now who was boss he’d run around and tell all the other little wimps at the school and they all start thinking they could get away with that kind of thing.
“ You don’t even know what it stands for.” Mike rolled his eyes, he was getting bored, there was much more interesting things to around the place, hitting people got boring fast. The brown haired mutant was happier with discrete bullying performed in a dark corner before they vanished off with whatever they wanted. He didn’t want to hang around in this corridor where anyone could walk around the corner any second. Deep inside he knew Alex was taking things a bit far, pushing the guy over would have been enough but kicking him too?...
“And as for Paige” Alex turned back … as for her what? Why was it so important for this little freak to stick up for her? Paige was only a girl, she wasn’t even that pretty, there was something sweet about her but that was as far as it went, she wasn’t special in any way so why was he fighting so hard to defend her honour. Paige herself didn’t defend herself in response to their teasing’s about Max, sometimes she’d get upset but more often she’d just keep her eyes trained on the ground and ignore them. ”If you so much as look at her then so help me god I will take you down” It took him a moment to realise that Michael was speaking seriously, there was no trace of humour or a weak threat in his voice. Alex looked down at the younger boy as he lay in an untidy heap on the floor, pale face raised to look up at him.
“Oh? And what will you do?” A little of the brassiness within his voice had faded but it quickly returned as he formulated a plan inside his head, a sly grin crossing over his face. “Alright then freakoid I promise not to hurt Paige.” There was a nasty glint in his eye as he prowled closer towards the prostrate boy. “But I doubt you’ll be in much of a state to go with her to the movies later since you had an unfortunate fall and hurt you leg further.” There was a quick movement as he lifted his leg, watching the recognition in Michael’s eyes as he realised what Alex was intending to do. Alex watched with a sadistic as the boy attempted to move out of the way, he didn’t have much of a chance and was rewarded by the sickening pain of Alex’s boot hitting his lower leg. He didn’t have to put much pressure behind it at all to bring a scream of pain from the younger boy. “But don’t worry I’ll take her instead and then later I can find out if everything Max said about her was true.” He didn’t feel anything for Paige, he wasn’t even attracted to her … after all who could be? But if he had to do it to ridicule and belittle Michael then he would. Watching tears fill Michael’s eyes he made a sound of contempt in the back of his throat and turned away from the boy.
Re: A thank you
Michael saw a fleeting moment of doubt cross Alex’s face, one small and dearly paid for victory, probably the only one he would get in this ill fated encounter. “Oh? And what will you do?” he asked looking down at Michael The voice too was less confident reflecting the older boys puzzlement at this seemingly doomed resistance.*Ill send Hood after you, that’s what I’ll do* Michael thought, no longer feeling any compunction about using his powers against Alex.
All gloves had come off when Alex had threatened Paige. The white haired youth had already proved that he was more than just a common bully The kick Michael had received had shown just how far he was willing to go, revealing a depth of cruelty that Michael was determined would never be unleashed against his friend.
However for the moment it seemed that he was its target as the pale eyes gazing at him lit up with renewed malice. Alright then freakoid I promise not to hurt Paige.” he said closing in with dreadful speed. Somehow despite their seeming reassurance the words chilled Michael to the core, warning bells going of in his head, screaming at him to get out of there but there was no where to go.
The three youths were surrounding him, the wall at his back Releasing Hood would not save him from what he feared was coming though even in his worst imaginings he hadn’t thought a fellow student would be capable of what Alex now intended to do. “But I doubt you’ll be in much of a state to go with her to the movies later since you had an unfortunate fall and hurt you leg further.”
Shock and dawning fear registered in Michael’s eyes as he realised what Alex was planning, striving vainly to avoid the coming attack, all thought or concern for dignity driven from him by the overwhelming need to keep his damaged leg away from his tormentor. He couldn’t believe that the other two youths would let him go through with it. He had seen something bordering on revulsion on Cody’s face even before Alex had kicked him. Surely he would see that things had gone too far, he had to otherwise….
But it was already too late as the heavy boot ground sickeningly into his leg, tearing a scream from Michael’s throat and sending him plummeting into an abyss of suffering. Darkness was closing in around him, blissful oblivion that would free him from the torture and he was reaching out to embrace it when Alex’s parting words reached him . “But don’t worry I’ll take her instead and then later I can find out if everything Max said about her was true.”
With the last ounce of his strength Michael forced himself to stay conscious, tears already spilling from his pain filled eyes as he concentrated desperately on freeing his astral self from his body before he no longer had the possibility to do so. *I’ve got to stop him, and I’ve got to stop him now* he thought fighting through the agony. * I can’t let him hurt her like he’s hurt me.*
Suddenly there was release, his discarded body slumping motionless to the floor like a broken toy. The elation that always accompanied his transformation to Hood was quickly drowned in his anger as he slowly materialised behind his assailants Michael’s cold eyes shining from Hood’s handsome features. Now things would be different. Now he was different and Alex was about to find out that he always kept his promises.
Ben could not help but feel that life was getting away from him ever since Training Island had had to be called off so brutally. He was still incapable of understanding how the brotherhood had been able to cause such havoc during a time when students were supposed to have been in a safe area. Not only had they seriously injured some of the students but they had also made of with Connor, this frustrated Ben more than anything for they had only just rescued the feral mutant three days previously.
Then had come the successive bouts of bad news… he smiled, bad was the understatement of the century. First of all it turned out that Michael’s recovery trip to med lab had been rather more serious that he had been led to believe. His friend had ended up spending over four days locked away in the med bay, no visitors allowed.
So Ben had kept a back seat in those events trusting doctor McCoy to make sure Michael was alright. But his first visit to Michael had been the trigger that had led him to worse news. He had known that Sean had been a bit off on Friday evening but had thought no more of it. Besides he had not seen much of his friend that night and then they had all been taken away on team missions. But he had to admit that he had been slightly annoyed at his friend’s forlorn mood because he felt it had somewhat spoilt Taylor’s joy when it came to Wired. But that fateful night when he had gone with Talia to get Daredevil he had begun to understand the root of his friend’s mood.
He had caught a glimpse of Scott Summers in one of the privet rooms and the next day had gone to find out exactly what was going on.
Scott Summers was dying…
Ever since his rather intense first day at the institute he had been made an honorary Summers. He was part of the terrible trio: him, Sean and Taylor and he had even been extended an invitation for Christmas. Which he had had to decline but it hadn’t stopped them getting him a present.
He was busy playing with the aforementioned present; it was a particularly symbolic gift of a pair of “Summer’s” specks. His were the typical ruby quartz that had been modified from they’re usual purpose to fit his needs. They had a special type of coating that allowed them to adapt to light intensity gradually so as to help with his allergies. The other handy thing about them was that they were totally indestructible.
As he looked down at the glasses in his hand he could feel his hold on his emotions slipping… he wasn’t sure if he was sad or angry and frightened. His first urge was to throw the specks away, it was a way of denying the fact that this could be happening. But as he looked at them some more he strengthened his resolve and put them on. This was not something to run from he was glad he had got to know the Summers family and he wasn’t about to let them down now.
As he turned the corner into one of the corridors; he was headed for the labs as quantum physics always helped calm him mind; when he caught sight of group of his least favourite people. The only reason he noticed them from such a distance was that they were making a big fuss about something but he couldn’t quite see what.
He didn’t actually know these boys all he knew was that they hung around with Jess who was right on top of his “people I dislike” list. She had made a very bad first impression and although he had not talked to her again what he saw of her failed to impress.
As he made his way further down the corridor he finally saw the reason the boys were gathered…
And the world seemed to stop…
As his gaze followed the bullies foot as it came to rest on top of Michaels bad leg some dam inside of him seemed to burst. All of the angst that had been building since the start of the week seemed to transform into anger. He could feel himself shaking… he had never known anger like this before, it was all powerful and frightening all at once. The sane part of his brain was screaming at him not to do anything stupid there must be a sensible way out of all this…
But he was way to far gone, he didn’t care anymore… the world was unfair and maybe this time he was going to be able to do something about it. “Hey you!”
Hopefully his shout would distract them long enough for him to get to them.
And as the world started moving again, Ben was already striding towards the three boys. He did not feel the need to run it was not required for what he intended to do…
“Hey you!” Cody stared down the hall, recognising the boy who he had often seen hanging around with the two Summer boys. His eyes widened slightly as he looked at the taller boy who was hurrying down the corridor towards them, his face livid. Cody was sure that he’d seen Ben talking with Michael before now, he glanced anxiously over at Alex, this was all rapidly going downhill, somehow things had spiralled out of control from simply teasing Michael to him passing out on the floor. The fire mutant took a step backwards, not realising that Michael had transferred himself into his astral form.
Alex pulled his foot quickly away from Michael, his eyes flicking upwards towards Ben, his expression relaxed slightly at the sight of the other boy. He’d been worried that the voice had been that of a teacher. He put his booted foot down on the floor again, looking at Michael who appeared to have blacked out, Alex sneered slightly at the younger boy as he caught sight of glistening tear tracks on Michael’s face.
Re: A thank you
It seemed to Ben as though the last twenty metres of corridor seperating him from Michael were nerverending. How could it be taking him so long to cover that kind of distance ! But it was not to be helped, he knew that it was his mind playing tricks on him and that he would reach the bullies faster than he had expected.
Had he been in any other kind of mood it would have seemed strange to him that he wasn’t in the least frightened of them. But right now he didn’t care and even though his brain was attempting to send warning signals to him it just wasn’t managing to cut through the raw emotion that had taken over his body.
Ben had never been in any kind of fist fight before, mainly because he had never been in any kind of fight before coming to the institute. And after that there had been Harmony market but that during that intervention he had relied on his powers to protect himself and his team mates. But not this time... things were going to fast... he was a quick thinker but not that quick. And besides he needed some kind of focus in order to use his power and in the state he was in now there was very little hope of him managing to form anything out of darklight.
As he rapidely closed the distance between him and the bullies he had to restrain himself from pushing into a run. Some small part of him still had a kind of rational grasp of the situation and he knew that it would simply not do for him to run at these people. Besides running would just ruin the coolness effect of it all. Some interior part of him cringed at that thought ; he was not normally like this... fighting didn’t hold any enjoyment... why was he so prepared to do this ?
Once he was closer he shot a glance at Michaels body and a desperate question formed in his mind. Is he out cold or is Hood out there somewhere ? For the first time Ben was somewhat unnerved by Michael’s astro-projection power, the fact that he didn’t know if and where Hood was made life a little more complicated... but then at this point in time there was nothing Ben cared about more than making sure his fist connected with someones face. So if Michael was out there somewhere he wished him luck. Strangely at this point it did not occur to him that he might be the one in need of luck...
There was no smile on Ben’s face as he strode up to the bully that was closest to him, it wasn’t the one that had been standing on Michael’s leg but right now that didn’t matter, and no surge of joy ran through him as his fist connected with Mike’s jaw. There was just anger... this was vengence for what life had decided to do to him. He did not enjoy hurting others but at the moment all he could think of was that they deserved it...
His stride had not even faltered as he hit the other boy, he had let his momentum give strength to the blow. What he did not realise at that point was how painful his hand was. His body was running on adrenaline and when this was all over there would be time for him to count his wounds. Right now all there was was anger...
Re: A thank you
OOC Checked with Jenn before I moved Alex!
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“Hey you!” the words reached Michael’s ears as his Hood form slowly passed from invisibility to a ghost like figure, on its path to full realisation. Ben! He recognised the voice even before he saw his friend striding decisively towards the three youths that were turning away his now inert body. Part of Michael felt relief wash over him *Here comes the cavalry* he thought seeing his own anger reflected in Bens eyes as he approached.
But another part felt shame. As Alex lowered removed his foot from where it had been pressing down on Michael’s injured leg the boot print clearly visible on his dark jeans, the look of contempt on his face was clear to see.*He’s the one that should be ashamed* Michael tried to tell himself, but logic was a poor match for emotions and the thought of Ben seeing him humiliated and hurt like that was hard to bear. He saw the older boy glance down at his unconscious body, concern now mingling with his almost palpable rage as he neared the attackers. Knowing Ben he was sure that he was calculating possibilities, wondering if Hood was free or if Michael had simply passed out.
Half hidden as it was behind Cody and Alex his phantom form wasn’t immediately visible from where Ben was standing and in any case the whole materialisation process seemed to be taking longer than usual . *I was too close to passing out when I started it* Michael realised. *It’s a miracle I’m able to do it at all, but then motivation does count for a lot and after what he threatened to do Paige I am pretty damned motivated.*
And so was Ben from the looks of things Michael looked on in surprise as the young mutant flung himself at Mike his fist landing squarely on his chin. This wasn’t like Ben. Sure the circumstances were enough to outrage anyone but this just wasn’t his style. Michael had worked with him in the danger room a couple of times and he wasn’t really one to use his fists ‘Well he’s surely using them now’ Michael thought
*Come on Hood. Get your act together He’s waded in to save me the least I can do is give him a hand* Closing his eyes, draining the precious life force out of his body, he made the transition to solidity just as Alex cursed and stepped forward obviously intending to strike Ben from behind.
Hood’s arm shot out restraining him, spinning him around to face him, their eyes now on a level as he said “I don’t think so. Not this time. You see the odds have just got a little more even.."
Re: A thank you
Unaware of the astral projection slowly forming behind him the three school bullies watched as Ben stormed towards them up the corridor. Alex wasn’t too worried, Ben was a sap, he’d have been more worried if it’d have been Sean or Taylor who’d come upon the scene, he didn’t fancy a run in with an electricity mutant. Cody glanced down at Michael, feeling nervous as he wondered just what trouble Alex had got them into this time, the young mutant they’d beaten up didn’t look too good. There was a twinge of guilt that ran through him at the sight of the glossy tears on Michael’s cheeks; Alex must have really hurt him to make him scream like that. Alex should have stopped at pushing the guy around, it had been bad enough throwing his crutches away, Cody was sure he couldn’t stand without them, he was doubtful that the guy could even get up. Even now he’d blanked out his bad leg seemed stiff and unyielding, the mark of the night seeing mutant’s boot was on his trouser leg.
There was a slight smile twisting Mike’s face, his eyes looking at Ben as he approached, he firmly believed that the other boy was going to stop. Ben was a peaceful guy and Mike had never seen him get angry or attack anyone.. if he knew what was passing through the darklight mutant’s head he might have been more wary and alert to the possibility that Ben might hit him. As it was the sound and shock of Ben’s fist connecting with the side of his jaw look a moment to register, then there was a flush of pain to his jaw his face registering first surprise and then anger. His fist lashing out in self defence.
Alex gave a curse seeing Ben attack Mike. Not matter really though, there were three of them and only one of Ben… those were odds he liked. His fist pulled backwards, fully content to strike Ben from behind. Someone suddenly caught hold of his arm, someone strong who span him around. His opaque eyes looking over the guy who’d grabbed hold of him, leather covering what looked like solid muscle.
“I don’t think so. Not this time. You see the odds have just got a little more even..” Who on earth was this guy? There was something familiar about him, he almost looked a little like Michael but at the same time he looked nothing like him. Their eyes met for a moment, vivid colours staring into the whites of Alex’s eyes.
‘And what the hell are you supposed to be?’ Alex jerked backwards to free himself for Hood’s grip. There was a ripping tearing noise, Hood had decided not to let go that easily. Alex looked down, fury quickly springing into his face as he looked at the torn shoulder of his top. His fist balled next to his side and quickly smashed out towards Hood. How dare who ever this was ruin one of his best tops. A purple vain stood out in his neck, blood pumping furiously through his body.
Re: A thank you
What had started out as a not so good idea turned out to be a total disaster. Looking back on it, Ben should have realised that Mike would react to being punched. But because he had effectively turned his brain off, the punch that landed squarely in his ribs came as rather a surprise. However it was the rather disturbing cracking sound that accompanied the blow that triggered Ben’s survival instinct.
He took a couple of steps back out of his opponents reach, but he was not running it was what he would call a “strategical retreat”. The pain in his side was minimal for the moment but side meant that he held himself slightly bent to one side so as to minimalise the amount of strain he put on his ribs.
From his new slightly safer view point he noted with satisfaction that he had been right on thinking that Hood was around somewhere. And well he could not deny that he was grateful for the assistance. For at this point he needed all the help he could get.
However it looked like the fight was far from over as he looked at Mike who having recovered from his initial shock seemed to have decided to finish breaking his ribs.
That was when a most unfortunate thing happened to the advancing mutant. It seemed as though someone had carelessly turned out all the lights. Had it been any other time in his life Ben would have been proud of his idea to put a darklight bubble around all three of the bully’s heads. But as it stood all he could think about was that he better seize the advantage he had just given himself. Because he knew that if his concentration failed so did his power.
So it a desperate bet to make the most of his advantage, he through himself at the momentarily startled mutant.
Re: A thank you
Micheal could see that Alex hadn’t made the connection between him and Hood. *After all why should he* Michael thought a little bitterly.
It was true there was a vast difference between the strength and grace that marked Hood’s movements and Michaels own hindered progress but there was more of him in his astral counterpart than he gave himself credit for. The features were the same, though Hood showed how Michael would look in a few years given time, rest and the care he so desperately needed. The body was likewise not some over exaggerated parody of a superhero but merely Michael’s own, toned and trained and free as it never would be in real life of the effects of the accident and subsequent mistreatment.
Now his blue eyes were on a level with Alex’s, the tanned hand that gripped the white haired mutant’s shoulder, strong and capable.”And what the hell are you supposed to be?” the bully asked as he took in Hood’s strange outfit.*I’m the guy that’s going to make sure you don’t hurt anyone else today* Michael thought* I’m the guy that’s going to be standing between you and Paige!*
Suddenly Alex pulled abruptly away from Hood obviously thinking to break his grip; *Oh no you don’t* Michael said to himself as he held on, determined that Alex wouldn’t get free so easily. Unexpectedly he felt the fabric of the other boys shirt give under the pressure with an accompanying ripping noise that sounded strangely satisfying to Michael’s ears. Certainly he hadn’t set out intentionally to ruin the top but a part of him remembered the look pleasure on Alex’s face as he had torn up Paige’s thank you card and that part looked upon this accident as divine retribution.
Alex however apparently looked upon it as a reason to get even madder as he struck out, his fist speeding towards Hood’s face with particular malice. However, when it should have landed Hood had already moved, dodging the blow with consummate ease. “See” he said “Its not quite so easy to hit someone who’s not already on crutches, is it. Let’s see how well you do against someone who’s got two good legs.”
Alex launched another punch, his frustration mounting as his target eluded him once again.*He’s too slow* Michael realised *or rather Hood’s too fast and when he gets angry he uses his fists not his brain. Which makes him a lot less dangerous than I am.*
Still Michael was aware that he was no longer alone in this fight. Cody seemed to be undecided as to what he should do but Mike and Ben were already in the fray. To one side he sensed Ben’s presence, noting how the older boy was backing of a little a wary but determined expression on his face. Michael grinned as he saw it. There was no doubt that Ben's brain was working overtime and he was sure that whatever solution his friend came up with it would be well worth the wait.
Suddenly a ball of darklight appeared round the heads of all three of their adversaries, effectively blinding them. *Great idea* Michael thought then as he saw Ben hurl himself at a surprised Mike *although maybe that was less smart* He knew Ben wasn’t really a hand to hand fighter but it seemed his team mate wasn’t going to let that hold him back. Assuming Alex was momentarily neutralised Michael turned his attention wholly to his friends predicament .
It proved to be a mistake. Unaware of the other mutant’s ability to see in the dark he was caught completely off guard as Alex’s fist caught him hard in the right eye sending him stumbling backwards almost fatally making contact with his own prone body. For a moment he felt dizzy, the sensation coming not so much from the pain of the blow, Hood didn’t really feel pain, at least not in the same way a regular human did, as from the effort his body was making to contain this new hurt without passing out completely.
Although it looked as if Michael was deeply unconscious, close to death even, somewhere there was a strand of awareness still operating, the small spark that allowed Hood to stay in existence. Now it flickered as the large bruise appeared on Michael’s cheek, the eye already closing, and Hood flickered with it, momentarily losing substance as the life flow that sustained him wavered. Then the instant was gone and Hood was solid again, his face unmarked and resolute as he turned back towards Alex once more.
Re: A thank you
Stumbling to regain his balance the knuckles on Alex’s hands turned white, who was this new man? Why was he getting involved in this? All of a sudden there were two people involved in this who weren’t as easily picked on as Michael. A foggy kind of fury seemed to settle over him, most of the time Alex was a cold, calculating but he had a temper that was liable to snap and when it did he felt almost as if he wasn’t controlling his body anymore.
His fist shot out again, his ears listening for the satisfying sound of his hand connecting with this new man’s face. He felt a new wave of anger sweep over him as he realised that this man was quicker than he was.
“See” What now? What was this guy up to? Turning up here and then not even trying to hit him, taunting with words was only going to get this man so far. “Its not quite so easy to hit someone who’s not already on crutches, is it. Let’s see how well you do against someone who’s got two good legs.” Alex narrowed his eyes and looked at Hood … two legs and not a scrap of sense.
There was a triumphant look on Mikes face as he felt his fist drive home against Ben’s ribs, there was a sudden flare of pain in his hand as bone connected with bone, separated only by flesh and clothing. He didn’t care about a little pain, he’d hit enough people to dismiss it, it wasn’t like he couldn’t ask Paige to heal it if he’d done himself any damage. It was common knowledge that she was a healing mutant and he was sure if he went to ask her for help she wouldn’t ask what he’d been doing to hurt his hand.
Cody could see Ben backing off a little, acting as though he was hurt, Cody wasn’t surprised that Ben might be hurt, Mike had muscles that the darklight mutant was lacking in. There was a moment and then all of a sudden the hall was plunged into darkness, for a moment he felt a flood of panic run through him, it was daylight outside … how could this happen. The next second he’d rallied his wits and set fire to his head, dispelling the darkness and seeing that around the heads of his friends were circles of darkness, obviously put up to confuse and distract them.
Alex registered the dark only for a second before his night vision kicked in, lighting up the corridor for him to see. All he knew was that this new man had turned away from him towards Ben and Alex didn’t miss his chance to strike, his fist smashing into Hood’s eye a triumphant look glistening in his own eyes as he watched Hood stumbled backwards, caught off guard. Alex looked down his eyes surveying the tattered sleeve of the shirt he was wearing, his leen fingers lifting to examine the fabric before he looked back at Hood in disgust. He missed the way Hood flickered which was fortunate for him because if Alex realised that Hood was a projection of Michael he’d be likely to turn upon the small crumbled figure of Michael who was lying on the floor against the wall.
Cat: How can I tell him the secret yearnings of my hear
Re: A thank you
As Ben launched himself at Mike he did not see Alex land a direct hit to Hood. He was concentrating too hard on what he was doing. He knew that it would not be easy to keep his darklight bubbles up while wrestling with the other student but he was going to have to do it. It was an advantage he just couldn’t loose.
But obviously luck was not on his side today and from the direction of the third boy, who had so far not gotten involved in the fight came a blaze of fire. It was not intended to hurt anyone just to break up the darklight bubble which it did very effectively indeed. Ben’s concentration faltered and he knew he was about to lose his only advantage so he clamped his eyes firmly shut and redirected all of his thoughts to the darklight around Mike.
This caused him to drop the bubble around Alex which in the end made no difference.
The shock of having his darklight dispelled had caused him to lose his balance as he travelled towards Mike. And when he hit the other mutant it was not the controlled tackle he had been aiming for but more of an aimed stumble.
It did however thanks to his opponent’s blindness have the desired effect. Both of them hit the ground hard. It was not an organised fall and in the end Ben did not have a plan for what to do next. So he bent all of his concentration into keeping as much darklight around his enemy as possible. Which at this point was not very much, he figured that Mike could probably see movement through it which was not a good thing.
He took a gasping breath trying hard to ignore the growing pain in his ribs, this fight better be over soon or else he was done for. It was strange how his brain chose this moment of all others to finally make him see sense. He was less than amused… and far to involved in this conflict to be able to back out now.
So he did the only thing he could thing of and threw himself on top of the other mutant in a desperate attempt to keep him pined to the floor. It was a very risky gamble as Mike had the advantage of weight but he had to try something…
Re: A thank you*I don’t think he noticed the fade * Michael hoped silently.* If he did and he puts two and two together then I’m finished* Deliberately he moved between Alex and his own helpless body careful to avoid any contact with it but unwilling to give the bully a chance to hurt him any further. *One more hit and I’m sure to lose consciousness* he realised *I don’t even know how I’ve held on this long.*
Suddenly an unexpected burst of light exploded from the direction of the third member of Alex’s gang. Startled, Hood’s eyes were drawn to where Cody stood, his head engulfed in flames. Michael was already running towards the other boy, half pulling off his leather jerkin thinking to use it to stifle the flames, forgetting his own danger in the face of such a seemingly horrific occurrence, when he realised what had really happened. *This is his power* he thought *he did this himself .Damn! How could I have been so stupid? Ill never get the hang of this mutant thing.*
Turning swiftly, Hood narrowly escaped Alex’s next attack. Obviously Cody’s friend had been less affected by his display of pyrotechnics that Michael had. Or Ben for that matter Michael surmised as the darklight that had surrounded Alex’s head had now vanished. He wished his friend well, not having the time to look and see how he was managing but worried by the sounds of continuing conflict that reached his ears.
Another blow whistled past his head, only Hood’s reflexes keeping him from serious damage *I have to stop this* he told himself *and I have to stop it now. The only question is how* Speed was his only real asset given the amount of punishment he had already taken before Hood had come into play. There was no question of simply slugging it out as he might have tried to do if circumstances had been different. Now he knew he couldn’t afford any more distractions or mistakes, his concentration focused on trying to see where Alex’s next attack would come from, seeking not just to avoid but to anticipate it in the hope of turning it to his own advantage.
*There* he thought*Just before he throws a punch his eyes flicker towards the target* It was a small thing but he was desperate enough to seize it. *Forget the hands* he told himself *Forget about dodging. Just watch his eyes and then…..*
As Alex’s right arm shot out Hood grabbed it, smoothly stepping to one side as he twisted it up the bully’s back. Now he followed through, pushing the boy firmly against the corridor wall, not the bruising contact that Alex had inflicted on him but a steady pressure which coupled with the uncomfortable position of his arm dissuaded further struggles.
“Enough” Hood said “It’s over now.” His voice was steady and deadly serious, pitched loud enough for the others to hear if they were of a mind to listen. “You can call of your goons and give me back what’s mine or so help me I’ll march you into the nearest teacher’s office and to hell with the consequences.”
Re: A thank you“Enough” Alex strained against the others body, he could feel the younger boy resisting him with a strength Alex didn’t posses … Alex lacked the muscle that Mike had built up with long hours sweating in the gym. But then Alex more than compensated for his lack of brawn with wits that Mike sadly lacked. “You can call of your goons and give me back what’s mine or so help me I’ll march you into the nearest teacher’s office and to hell with the consequences.” There was a silent moment where Cody let the flames that were flickering around his head die down again, not realising that he’d been holding his breath. His deep orange eyes looking from Mike and Ben who were wrestling on the floor to Hood who had Alex pinned against the wall.
The night seeing mutant was clever enough to know when he was beat .. though things might have turned out differently if Cody wasn’t such a blithering idiot as to just stand there. Alex’s muscles relaxed slightly as he stopped pressing his body backwards into Hood’s.
‘Fine, you can have you stupid tickets back.’ There was a surly tone to his voice as he answered the astral projection. Let this guy win this battle, but if Alex caught sight of him around the school again then he might not fare so well … this was far from over.
‘Mike! Let Ben go.’ The heavily built mutant had used his superior strength to change their position, rolling around on the floor so that Ben was now pinned beneath the larger man, probably hurting him rather badly since he was pressing down on Ben’s ribs. His fingers curled into a fist, using the other hand to pin Ben against the floor by his left shoulder. Mike’s hand shot downwards his fist smashing into the glasses Ben was wearing, pain flared up Mike’s arm. He looked slightly puzzles as to why the glasses hadn’t broken, they did look however like they’d damaged Ben’s face a little. Hearing Alex call him he looked up at the ring leader and then back down at Ben again. He didn’t want to let the little runt go yet, Mike felt the need to teach him a lesson, no one tried to jump him in the corridors. Spitting contemptuously into Ben’s face he heaved himself off the younger boy.
Cat: How can I tell him the secret yearnings of my hear
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