Time and Time Again.Author: Citanul
Feedback: Be kind, rewind?
Spoilers: Just about all of them. Go watch the show.
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: W/T, B/F
Disclaimer: You all know I don’t own the rights to characters you’ve seen on TV.
Summary: A story of reincarnation and interdimensional travel made possible through the power of love. What misfortunes will our two favorite love birds be able to prevent with the aid of experience from countless past lives.
Author’s Note: Hello again. Okay so I might have glossed over it in previous marvels chapters but there is a noticeable age difference between Faith and the rest of the cast so far. Let's just say she may only be six months old but she can pass for nineteen. Jennifer/Buffy is a practicing lawyer. That means she went to law school and passed the New York State Bar exam. So she's in her late twenties at the earliest.
I mention this because they'll meet another "age challenged" couple and the frustrations of one of those characters will come out loud and clear. Just to be perfectly straight forward some stuff in this next chapter won't be my personal opinions but an approximation of my opinion of that characters most plausible opinions. The age of consent for New York is seventeen.
Lastly there are new faces added here. This is the last time I add so many faces for this storyline. Many will only show up sporadically. After this there is only one main recurring character left to add to Marvels. They're coming soon. Appendix and links at the bottom.
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Primer: Marvels
Willow = Wanda Maximoff = Scarlet Witch
Tara = Carol Danvers = Ms. Marvel
Buffy = Jennifer Walters = She-Hulk
Faith = Faith = X-23
Xander = Pietro Maximoff = Quicksilver
Anya = Jessica Drew = Spider-Woman
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Marvels: DistanceFaith awoke to find Jennifer wrapped around her body in the most delightful way the brunette had ever experienced. The petite blonde was lying atop Faith with her head practically buried in the brunette’s ample chest. One toned leg nestled between two pale yet muscular thighs. Faith couldn’t help but wrap her arms around Jennifer. It broke her heart that today was the day she would be leaving.
Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters awaited her. Hidden on the far side of Westchester County. She still had to figure out a way to see her girl more often after the move. Faith doubted either team would let her use one of their fancy jets for booty calls.
Faith felt the form wrapped around her begin to shift slightly. The head dozing peacefully upon her breasts stirred. The leg between her thighs pressed into her in a way that took her breath away. A light snore turned into a satisfied little grunt that warmed the brunette’s heart.
She still couldn’t believe how great her life was compared to this time last week. Faith had friends, a life she could choose to do nearly anything with, and the love of a beautiful woman who asked for nothing more than what Faith had already freely given her. As beautiful hazel eyes slowly opened and began to sleepily trail their way up Faith’s chest to her face the brunette smiled widely at the woman holding her.
“Morning Babe.” Faith said.
“Please tell me today isn’t Monday.” Jennifer begged sleepily.
“Today isn’t Monday.” Faith intoned.
“I can’t believe you’re leaving me.” Jennifer whispered as tears began to form in the corners of her eyes.
“Hey Babe!” Faith said forcefully as she stared into hazel pools. “I ain’t never gonna leave you! I promise, okay? I didn’t come this far to lose you or walk out on ya.” She paused and looked up to the ceiling for a moment before returning her gaze to her love’s eyes. “But all our friends are saying this school thing is gonna be a good fit for me. If I could go to a regular school, maybe even take night classes or some shit, I would. I’d do anything to stay by your side.”
“Faith.” Jennifer whispered as she took in the brunette’s words and felt all the love and devotion behind each syllable. “I love you.” She swore just before she leaned up and captured Faith’s lips in a searing kiss that boldly affirmed love and defiantly staked out her claim.
Faith for her part couldn’t help but melt into the passionate embrace of lips and the sensual dual of tongues. She was leaving in a few hours and this time tomorrow she would be waking up alone. Luckily for her the love of her short life was very enthusiastically showing her why she should do everything in her power to stay in touch.
Jennifer smirked for an instant before deciding to take things further. Without hesitation she ground her thigh into Faith and found Faith’s thigh reciprocating on her center. She could already feel the slickness of her arousal building as their hips began to buck in a steady rhythm that drove both women wild.
Before she left Faith received the best possible incentive for coming back to the city as often as possible.
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In a nearby room just down the hall, Carol woke to find a petite form sleeping peacefully atop her more pronounced curves. Wanda was using Carol’s breasts as pillows much the same way she had throughout their long relationship. The spritely redhead began to stir and once again green eyes met blue. Both smiled as they each poured all the love welling up in their hearts into the connection that ran so deeply in their very souls. Before Wanda could make a more amorous move on her blonde love Carol let a slight frown slip across her face.
“Baby?” Wanda asked, growing concerned. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing Sweetie.” Carol assured quickly. “Nothing is wrong with us. It’s just.” She paused before finishing with the statement that would perfectly crystallize the problem for her love. “Today’s Monday.”
“Oh.” The redhead whispered as realization of what that meant for their friends hit home.
“Exactly.” Carol agreed.
“Well we’ll just have to be extra supportive today before they leave and then even more thoughtful to Jen when she gets back.” Wanda said with the most adorable resolve face Carol had seen yet.
“Goddess, how do you manage to get me so turned on while talking about helping our friends through an emotional breakdown?” Carol asked.
“Magic.” Wanda said as she slithered up Carol’s body and placed a firm kiss on the blonde’s mouth. Without hesitation Carol flipped them so that Wanda was flat on her back and pressed firmly into the mattress as Carol ground a muscular thigh into slick red curls.
“Ooh Baby, yes.” Wanda moaned in delight.
Carol continued to work her slender love up to a point where her body would literally burst with pleasure. As they both made love the sun slowly rose over the city of New York. Though today would hold different kinds of obstacles for them and their friends they knew they would persevere. After all, they were part of the mightiest team of heroes on the planet.
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Over the course of the last few days several teammates had left the tower to return to their own adventures and lives. Thor had returned to Switzerland so he could be closer to his girlfriend as she conducted groundbreaking research at CERN. T’Challa went back to Wakanda to tend to matters of state, but promised to visit his wife often at the school. White Hank and Janet went on a little vacation together. Janet said seeing all the couples forming helped reignite their spark. Rhodey had to report in for a classified briefing, and Natasha, Clint and Bobbi had to do pretty much the same thing only with the expectation of slightly more dead hydra agents at the end of their meeting.
That left Carol, Wanda, Steve, Tony, Pepper, Bruce, Pietro, Jessica and Sam in the garage level of the building giving Faith, Jennifer, Logan, Blue Hank and Ororo a heartfelt sendoff.
“Before you go Faith we have something for you.” Tony said as he pulled out a small package and handed it to the brunette.
“Sweet.” Faith said as she opened the box to reveal an Avengers ID card and a small cylinder with a translucent button at the top. “This mean I’m in the club now?” She asked with a slightly confused expression.
“Almost.” Steve said. “That’s a temporary card. You’ll get a permanent one when you graduate but until then this will give you access to any of our facilities.”
“The device is a more heavy duty signal beacon.” Tony added. “In case you’re ever in trouble just press it and any of us nearby will come running. Worst case scenario, it will call in one of my spare suits piloted by Jarvis.”
“Wow, for real?” Faith asked, slightly stunned that they had gone to so much trouble for her.
“If you turn out half as good as some of our other recent recruits you’ll more than earn it.” Sam said with a slight wink and a nod towards Wanda and Pietro.
Faith took the gifts and smiled at the people who had literally pulled her out of hell. “Thanks for everything you guys. I don’t know how or if I’ll ever be able to repay what ya’ll did for me.” She then turned to the two women who changed her enough that she could actually enjoy that newfound lease on life and smiled even wider. “Especially you two. Red, Blondie thank you so much. There aren’t even words for how far you both went to give me my life.”
Before the young brunette even knew what was going on Wanda and Carol both enveloped her in a warm hug. They failed to hold back the tears that had been building the entire time.
“Don’t ever worry about owing us anything Faith.” Wanda whispered in her ear. “We’re family.”
“So don’t be a stranger Sweetie.” Carol whispered in the other.
“I won’t.” Faith promised quietly.
“As much as I hate to break up this heartwarming moment, we have quite some distance to drive.” Hank said with a calm tone.
“Don’t worry guys.” Faith said as she pulled away from her friends. “I’m just heading up the road a bit, and we know lots of peeps who can get around without worrying about rush hour traffic.”
“Okay fine.” Pietro said as he rolled his eyes dramatically. “I’ll ferry you gals back and forth whenever I’m free.” The white haired man let out a grin as all the ladies around laughed lightly at his far from reluctant promise.
Before the goodbyes could be dragged out any further Faith, Jennifer and the three X-Men climbed into the van and began the drive to the school that lay just over fifty miles to the northeast. The Avengers waved with smiles and more than a few tears at the fact the young woman they had all grown fond of was leaving so soon.
“Well that was fairly agonizing.” Tony said with a sigh. Before anyone could respond Pepper slapped him on the arm. “Oww, no I mean I’m gonna miss her too.”
With a few light grins they all began to head back upstairs to their headquarters and lives. The last to leave the garage were Carol and Wanda. The couple shared a long look as they held each other.
“She’ll be back before we even know it.” Wanda whispered.
“Goddess I hope so.” Carol said.
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Just over an hour later the van pulled up to a long brick wall with an intricately designed iron gate. A beep was heard as the gate mechanism opened and Logan drove the van onto the school grounds. Faith and Jennifer marveled at the heavily wooded property that opened up to reveal large fields with a truly massive, older looking gothic mansion awaiting them at the end of the drive.
“Nice digs.” Faith said after a long whistle. “This place come with the spice channel or does that get charged to the room?”
“Faith!” Jennifer cried in shock as Logan let out a deep laugh.
“Relax Babe, I’m just teasin’.” Faith said soothingly as she caressed the blonde’s cheek. “You know you’re all the woman I could ever handle.”
“Are we certain Ms. Maximoff and Ms. Danvers didn’t give her too much of your sense of humor when they cast that spell Logan?” Ororo asked in her restrained yet elegant tone.
“Nah, the kid just takes after her old man.” Logan said with a chuckle. “Right Kiddo?”
“Sure thing Pops.” Faith replied as she put an arm around Jennifer and held her girl close.
They continued up the driveway until they pulled up to the front doors. Logan killed the engine and turned to the two girls in the middle seat. With a grin he addressed the passengers.
“Well this is it. You wanna give Hank a yell?” Logan asked.
Faith smiled wickedly before turning her head to look at the sleeping mound of blue shag in the back seat. “Yo Shakespeare! We’re here.” She shouted.
With a start the sleeping man in the back of the van leapt up, tried to grasp at the vehicle’s ceiling, and promptly fell back to the seat he had stretched out on.
“I’m up, I’m up.” Hank said with a frantic tone before her recalled his whereabouts. “That’s not funny Logan.” He huffed.
“You’re right. I should have made her rattle a leash.” Logan replied while laughing.
“No leashes!” Faith said in a serious tone that caught everyone off guard for a moment. “Sorry, don’t know where that came from.”
“Let’s head inside and meet the people you’re gonna be living with Honey.” Jennifer said with a worried smile.
“Yes, that is a good idea.” Ororo agreed.
The group piled out of the van and began to unload the few bags Faith had brought to the school. Logan and Hank decided to carry the girl’s bags for her and that left Faith free to walk into the school’s main entrance hand in hand with her girl.
Ororo walked along calmly at Faith’s other side and began telling the young brunette all about how kind the Professor was, and how much he looked out for each and every one of his students. As they entered the grand hall Faith was beginning to grow suspicious of just how involved this guy was gonna try to be in her case. She honestly didn’t want anymore people up in her business than the handful of women who were already among her closest friends.
“Greetings my friends!” Came a loud voice with a thick Russian accent. “What is this I am hearing about us having new student?” Asked a tall man with short black hair and a body composed almost entirely of rippling muscles. He stood at the base of a large staircase and smiled at the group.
“Ah Piotr, so good to see you.” Ororo said with a smile. “Please tell the others we have a new student and a guest to show around the school grounds. I expect the Professor is already waiting for us.”
“Da, da, he is in study. I go gather our friends.” Piotr said with a smile as her bowed then walked up the stairs.
“There’s a red menace joke in here somewhere but I’m not sure where.” Faith said causing Jennifer to let out a small laugh before quickly covering her mouth. “Seriously though, what’s the exchange rate like? How many skinny white kids from the midwest equaled one of him?”
“Piotr came to us after saving his sister from a runaway tractor and being nearly run out of town when his transformation terrified his neighbors.” Hank answered quietly. “He really is nice once you get to know him.”
“I don’t know.” Faith said slowly as a wicked smile crept across her face. “I think I prefer my walking mountains to have a more green tone.”
“Honey!” Jennifer said in a hushed tone before the smile on Faith’s face was met with a matching one on hers.
“He’s probably one of the easier ones to handle round here.” Logan added.
“Fair ‘nuff.” Faith relented.
The group made their way towards a large study just off the main hall. Ororo knocked once and a voice responded almost immediately.
“Yes, do come in everyone.” The man inside said as Ororo opened the door and the five heroes entered. The room before them was large enough for over a dozen people to meet and converse in comfort. Bookshelves covered the side walls and the wall around the door. A large desk sat at the far side of the room where massive bay windows allowed light to flood the space for most of the day. A large mechanical arm on a rail near the ceiling moved over the shelves as it extracted a single book and deposited it on the main desk.
Behind that desk sat a man with no hair whatsoever. He looked up and smiled warmly at the group. “Ah, it’s so good to have you all back. Please sit wherever you like.” Professor Xavier said as he rolled his wheelchair out from behind the desk and went to meet them halfway across the room.
“We missed you as well Professor.” Ororo said as she bent down to hug her mentor. “T’Challa sends his regards.”
“How nice of him.” The Professor replied. “So, I believe there is a harrowing tale of your adventures with the Avengers and a young woman I should be introduced to.” He said as he turned from Ororo and looked directly at Faith with another smile.
“Oh have we got a story for you Chuck.” Logan smirked.
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As Piotr went around the mansion informing others that several of their core teammates had returned with guests he was ambushed by a petite brunette who leapt from the ceiling and into his arms. She managed to kiss him once before he pulled away and a terrified look came over his face.
“Kitty!” He pleaded. “I can’t be with the making of the smoochies.” He said with noticeable panic seeping through his heavy accent.
“Come on Peter.” Kitty Pride said with an exasperated sigh. “We’ve waited so long already. Why can’t I have a little fun while no one is looking?”
“I am getting very stern lecture from our friends about New York age of consent and corruption of minor.” Piotr replied. “I am, how you say, being very bad man.”
“Pete Baby, you’re the best man I’ve ever met.” Kitty said with a smile. “I don’t need to wait the year till I’m old enough in this state to know that you’re the one I’m spending my life with. You’re it for me.”
“I am.” He paused for a long moment to consider his next words carefully as he held the girl whose arms were wrapped tightly round his neck and ankles locked firmly behind his lower back. “Very happy, in my heart, to hear these words.”
Kitty smiled and lunged in to kiss him. The move caught the big Russian off guard as the tiny girl stuck her tongue down his throat. For a moment he wanted nothing more than to carry the brunette back to his or her room and go along with whatever she wanted.
But he couldn’t. Kurt had been talking to him about the special hell reserved for weak willed men in his position. Bobby continued to taunt him about “the slammer.” Rogue and Gambit would just continue to laugh whenever they saw Kitty and he together. Even Kitty’s tiny purple dragon friend Lockheed kept giving the big Russian dirty looks.
No there was nothing Piotr could do for now. With a heavy heart the big man put his hands around the petite girl’s waist and pulled her off of his chest. He held her up to his eye level and looked directly into her pouting lips as he tried one last time to beg her for patience.
“I am sorry my ljubímyj.” He said before putting her on the floor and turning to walk down the hall.
Kitty seethed. It just wasn’t fair. They could be killed by bigoted peasants wielding pitchforks and torches any day and yet all of their “friends” had convinced the man she loved that the one thing she wanted more than anything else was a crime. What was so special about waiting that year anyway? As far as she was concerned it was an arbitrary number picked at random by a bunch of old men in the state capital. Men who couldn’t even be trusted around interns barely a third their age.
“Careful ma chère.” A lean man in a long brown duster coat said as he came to stand beside her seemingly from out of nowhere. “Ol’ Gambit, he be thinking you may want to look before you go leaping off any bridges you come to cross.”
“Damn it Remy!” Kitty just about shouted. “I’m not in the mood for you and your folksy Cajun third person gibberish! Why can’t you people just trust that I know what I want and stay out of my business?” She demanded before she turned and stormed off.
“What Gambit say?” The man with red eyes and wavy brown hair asked himself in his thick Cajun accent.
“You just have a way with the ladies don’tcha Cajun?” Came a sultry voice with a southern accent from one of the nearby doorways. Remy turned and saw the woman he himself had no luck with since joining the team.
“Rogue, ma chère!” Remy called to the brunette with a thick shock of white hair wearing a skin tight suit. “What you say you come along with Ol’ Gambit for a nice stroll? Maybe we stay out late and watch de stars? Maybe we watch each other a little, no?”
“Nice try Cajun.” Rogue said with a sad forlorn look. “But you know I’m a hands off kinda girl.”
“Can’t blame a t’ief for trying.” Remy said with a wide and deceptively charming smile.
“Come on Sugar.” Rogue told the man she didn’t want to keep rejecting but knew she didn’t have a choice. “Logan and the others brought in some new student the professor wants everyone to meet.”
“But of course ma chère.” Remy replied with a flourish as he bowed to the southern girl. “Lead the way.”
With a sad smile Rogue put a gloved hand on his arm and led the scoundrel she couldn’t get enough of towards the main living room of the mansion. She had no idea how much of her past would come back to haunt her in the next few hours.
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“Fascinating.” Charles Xavier said as Logan, Ororo and Hank finished the story of how Magneto’s daughter and Rogue’s victim had led them straight to the brunette girl before him. “And you are certain they used actual magic and not some advanced technology or a hard to classify power stemming from a personal mutation?”
“Magic is real Professor.” Ororo said in an exasperated voice. She didn’t know how many times she would have to say this for it to sink in.
“Yes, you keep telling me that.” Xavier admitted reluctantly.
“Wait.” Jennifer said, causing all the heads in the room to turn in her direction. “Do you mean one of the most powerful mind readers on the planet, a man who knows for a fact humans are capable of unbelievable thing, is skeptical about magic? Haven’t you met Dr. Strange a whole bunch of times?”
“Yes, well, be that as it may I’m always open to both new possibilities and reasonable explanations for the inexplicable.” The Professor replied. As he looked at the petite blonde a curious expression crossed his face. “Ms. Walters may I ask why you have decided to follow Faith all the way to this school?”
“Figured now was as good a time as any to let my girlfriend scope out the place where I’m gonna be spending all this time away from her.” Faith replied with a casual tone as she put a very possessive arm around Jennifer.
“Girlfriend?” The Professor asked with a shocked gasp. “After only a few days?”
“Didn’t even take me an hour after they brought me back to New York to get her to fall for me.” Faith bragged while casually stroking Jennifer’s arm as the blonde blushed under the mind reader’s incredulous scrutiny.
“And you’re okay with this Logan?” He asked still shocked.
“You think I had a say in this Chuck?” Logan asked with a smirk. “Besides, Jennifer is smart, strong and more loyal than just about anyone in our circles. If Faith had even asked for my advice I’d have told her to pick Jen over every student we got in this school.”
“Yo Professor.” Faith called. “It ain’t like I’m asking for conjugal visits in the classrooms or nothing. I just want my girl to be able to visit when I can’t make it back to the city to see her.”
Professor Xavier sent a quick telepathic question to both Hank and Ororo. To his surprise both of his most trusted and levelheaded students sent back nothing but a glowing endorsement of the somewhat unconventional relationship. The Professor soon realized that as odd as it seemed to let this grown woman date a seemingly young student the matter was already settled. A small, happy thought struck him. Maybe having the famous She-Hulk hanging around the school would turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
“Alright then.” Charles relented. “Faith, welcome to our school. Ms. Walters, though I don’t normally allow adults to roam the grounds and date our students, the fact you are a well known name in the costumed community and already have the approval of the girl’s father and select faculty members leads me to extend an open invitation to you whenever you wish to visit.”
“Thank you Professor.” Jennifer said. “I thought about this on the drive up here and if you have any legal issues or any of the students needs help with the emancipated minor process I would be happy to offer my legal services pro bono.”
A smile spread across the Professor’s face. “Now that you mention it there are a number of issues I have been meaning to have a practicing attorney look into.”
As the group continued to chat about the school and Faith’s academic prospects Jennifer felt a sense of tremendous relief. She was going to be able to see her girl. Maybe not as often as she would want, but more often than just every time Faith could sneak back to the city on long weekends.
The life she had to look forward to until Faith graduated was starting to brighten up again.
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While Faith and Jennifer were wrapping up their meeting with the school’s headmaster Wanda and Carol were enjoying their day together in the main living room at the top of Stark Tower. Wanda was busy on her laptop finishing a program that she knew would come in handy all too soon. Carol was catching up on some reading while absentmindedly stroking the locks of long crimson hair she adored.
As Carol was starting to think about interrupting Wanda’s typing to see if she wanted to eat a loud noise came for just outside the room. A motorcycle with retractable jet thrusters was coming in for a landing on the large balcony just outside the living room.
The girls watched through the large glass wall as the flying jet bike set down and the tall man riding it swung one leg over the back of the machine. He was dressed in black and stood facing away from them as he removed his helmet. The sun shone on his hairless ebony head. As he turned to face the building the infamous eye patch was revealed. Nick Fury had come a calling.
Carol and Wanda gulped as the spymaster general himself slowly strode towards them. He stepped through the open glass doorway and turned to smile at them.
“Hello ladies.” Fury said with just enough false kindness to be almost convincing. “Ms. Danvers, it’s good to see you back in the field again. Ms. Maximoff, it’s very surprising seeing you on this side of that field.”
“Well you know what they say.” Wanda replied with a halfhearted smile. “Love makes you do the wacky.”
“Don’t know if I’ve heard that one before.” Fury commented. “So would now be a good time to meet the team’s new tech expert Cap was so happy about? I’d really like to get that enemy intel before it gets any colder.”
“Oh!” Wanda said as her eyes widened. “Sure, yeah, no problem.” She quickly walked out of the room and left the spy with her love.
“So who did she or her brother fall in love with that made the rest of the team overlook their criminal records?” Fury asked.
“That’s my girlfriend you’re talking about General.” Carol said in a cold tone, causing the man’s eye to widen suddenly. “We all have a past. She and Pietro are part of the team now because they want better futures. I don’t expect you to understand but you will leave them alone.”
Nick Fury took a moment to consider his response before replying. He really didn’t want to get in a fight with someone strong enough to toss tanks and quinjets into space.
“So long as they behave themselves that’ll be fine.” He said finally. “At least their old gang will be easier to handle now that two of their heavy hitters are gone.” They settled into an uneasy silence for a few moments until the redhead returned.
“Here you go General.” Wanda said with a smile as she handed him a portable drive. “I checked and there weren’t any viruses or nazi ghosts hiding in the ones and zeros. Just about all the hydra data is intact but I deleted and scrubbed the data on Weapon X.”
“I don’t understand.” Fury remarked with a confused look. “Does this mean you’re the team’s new tech expert?”
“Uh huh.” Wanda answered with a slight smile.
“Our files on you say you don’t know the first thing about computers, let alone how to program or parse this much data.” Fury stated in shock.
“Oh that was the old me.” Wanda said dismissively. “New me is a whizz.”
“If ever a whizz there was.” Carol added with a giggle.
“Why the Weapon X data?” Fury asked as he felt the conversation slipping away.
“Because those are my friends.” Wanda answered with her most intimidating resolve face. “They are good people just trying to get past the horrors inflicted on them and no one is going to use them or their DNA to make a super soldier army to destroy the world. I don’t care how good your intentions are for that data. You are not going to resurrect the Weapon X project.”
“Our enemies aren’t going to be so kind as to forget about that project.” Fury retorted.
“With the data on that drive you can cripple Hydra.” Wanda said calmly. “Before we went in we sent out a signal on their frequencies to mask the attack and loss of their leaders at the base. They should be sitting ducks right now. As for any other enemies that may try to clone my friends, I’m working on a solution right now.”
“Alright then.” Fury said after giving the redhead a measured look. “I can see how you bullied Cap, Stark, and the alien into letting you on the team. Romanoff, Barton and Morse are a surprise though, but I bet Danvers helped “convince” them. If this doesn’t pan out I’ll be in touch.” He said, waving the drive around before he turned and strode back to his hover cycle.
Wanda and Carol watched the spy take off into the sky before they relaxed into each other’s embrace. Neither of them wanted to pick a fight with the entirety of whatever new incarnation of S.H.I.E.L.D. Fury was running now but they couldn’t give him the data on mass producing clones of Faith. They cared about her far too much for that and even though they had a rough start with Logan they didn’t want him to suffer anymore either.
“You think he’ll come after us or Faith Baby?” Wanda asked after resting her head on Carol’s shoulder.
“Goddess I hope not.” The blonde replied. “I all but threatened him about leaving you alone. No matter what happens we’ll be together Sweetie.”
“I love you baby.” Wanda whispered as they stood in the large room, holding onto each other with a mix of desperate need and calm reassurance.
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Piotr was nearly finished rounding up the few students who boarded at the school year round. The last student he had to tell was most likely in his room. As the big Russian knocked on the door he heard a commotion inside.
What sounded, unmistakably, like several dozen pairs of feet moving around suddenly quieted down. A moment later the door opened to reveal a slightly disheveled, lanky teen with dark brown hair.
“Hey Pete! What up?” The teen greeted Piotr who looked over the boy’s shoulder at a mirror image of the same boy sitting at a computer playing a game Piotr had tried out but found thoroughly confusing.
“Greetings Jamie. Everyone is on way to meeting of new student.” Piotr said cheerily. “I am hearing good things about them.”
“A new kid in town.” Jamie Madrox said with a grin. “This should be fun.” Before stepping out into the hall to join Piotr Jamie turned back to the copy of him still at the far side of the room. “Hey doofus! Pause it and get back in here. We got new faces to meet and figure out how to mess with.”
“Can’t you handle this? I’m so close to this next loot drop I can feel it.” The other Jamie moaned while deliberately not looking at his counterpart.
“Not a chance.” The Jamie by the door replied. “You know what happened the last time I let one of you dupes run around too long. Besides you’ve been at that grind fest for twelve hours now. You’re gonna start crapping out on it any minute.”
“Fine.” The other Jamie said with an exasperated sigh. He got up and trudged over to “Proper” Jamie. As soon as they touched there was a popping sound and the dupe dissolved into the teen that was seemingly the main one.
“Come, my friend.” Piotr said after Jamie shook his shoulders slightly at having reabsorbed his copy. “We have new friend to meet and stories to hear.”
“Sure thing big guy.” Jamie said as he stepped into the hall and closed his door. Today just might turn out interesting after all.
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“So what do you think of Clarice?” A slightly muscular blond boy asked his friend as they walked through the school’s outer grounds.
“She’s great but I don’t think she even sees any of the guys here as more than friends.” The thinner boy with light brown hair replied. “Sooraya?” He asked in return.
“Pretty eyes, but I doubt she has even looked at either of us since she came here. I don’t think she likes guys perving on her.” The blond said with a forlorn sigh. “And we know Kitty is a lost cause.”
“Well at least none of them are looking at Jamie.” The brunette remarked.
“Thank god for small blessings, right Bobby?” The blond asked.
“You said it Alex.” Bobby Drake replied. “Maybe some new girls will transfer in when the school year starts.”
Suddenly they heard a blinking sound as a large portal rimed with pink light opened up directly behind them. A tall girl with delicate features and bright pink skin stepped out and looked directly at the two boys. She threw her long dark pink hair over one shoulder revealing pointed ears and a scattering of magenta facial markings. Her pupiless green eyes conveyed more joy than either one of the boys thought possible.
“Guys!” She called out cheerfully. “You’ll never believe it. Logan, Ororo and Hank came back and they brought a new student with them. Sooraya and I were talking with Alisa when Piotr came up and asked me to help gather everyone.”
“Clarice when are you girls going to stop with this whole imaginary roommate thing you got going on?” Bobby asked with a smirk.
“If you would stop being such jerks about it then maybe Alisa would show herself to you dimwits.” Clarice shot back. “Now are you coming with me or walking back the long way?”
“We’re definitely coming with you.” Bobby answered. “Right Alex?”
“Right.” Alex Summers answered. “So you guys think this new student is gonna turn out interesting or what?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Clarice said as she raised her hands and enveloped all of them in a spatial displacement composed of pink light. With another blinking sound the light faded and the wooded walking path was left vacant.
******************************
“Well, I’d say now is as good a time as any to meet the rest of the team.” Xavier said with a hopeful smile.
“Sure thing Proff.” Faith replied with a grin as the Professor cringed at the overt familiarity of the nickname.
“I believe enough time has passed for Piotr to inform everyone.” Ororo said. “Shall we?”
At a leisurely pace the group exited the Professor’s office and made their way back to the large common room just off the grand hall they had passed on the way to the office. As Faith, Jennifer and the X-Men followed the Professor in his mechanized chair they all turned the corner into the large room.
“Everyone I’d like you to meet our newest student and teammate.” The Professor called out in a cheery voice. “Say hello to Faith.”
Faith and Jennifer were shocked by the diverse appearance of the group. In the room was the large Russian they had met as well as a small blue man with solid yellow eyes and a distinctly demonic looking tail perched on the far wall beside the big man. A petite young woman in her teens with light brown hair was standing at Piotr’s side in a definitively territorial manner. A tiny purple dragon was curled up in a fruit bowl on a small table beside the trio.
Just a short distance from them was a tall pink girl with solid green eyes. She was chatting with another girl covered in a long flowing black abaya with a matching niqāb covering all of her face and head except for her brown eyes and the bridge of her nose. Both girls seemed to turn to an unseen third person they had been conversing with before quickly looking up to see the new arrivals.
Along another wall a wiry man with red eyes, wavy brunette hair and a long brown duster coat was practically hanging off a woman in a skin tight green and yellow suit with a leather bomber jacket and a wide white streak running through her long brown hair. Jennifer’s eyes widened before narrowing slightly as she recognized the woman immediately. Both were talking to a tall Native American man with slightly graying dark hair and a mechanical leg and hand on his right side.
In the middle of the room a boy with light brown hair and a boy with blonde hair were in the middle of a hushed debate with a trio of identical lanky boys with dark brunette hair.
As the Professor called out to his students and faculty everyone grew silent for a moment. The silence was broken by Faith who stepped forward with a smile.
“Sup y’all.” She said with an amused grin.
“Awesome.” Bobby said with a dopey smile. “What are your powers like? And can we give you a codename?”
“Chill dude, I already got one.” Faith replied. “X-23.”
“That’s a new one.” Jamie said as the two copies of him merged back into the original.
“May we ask how you came upon that name?” The girl covered completely in black fabric asked tentatively.
“Sure girl.” Faith replied happily. “I’m the twenty third time Hydra tried to clone my Pops.”
“Who’s your dad and why would they want clones of him running around.” Kitty asked as she stepped away from the wall Piotr and Kurt rested on.
With a smirk Faith brought up both fists to show the room the backs of her hands. They all grew silent as she slowly extended both claws from either fist. “I think you guys know him. I’ve been told he’s the best there is at what he does.”
“Gott im Himmel!” Kurt called out in surprise.
“Easy there kid.” Logan said with a smile. “I think they get the picture.”
“You’re Logan’s daughter?” At least half a dozen voices cried out in shock at once. Jamie started to laugh as he nudged Alex’s arm. Alex just stood there staring in open mouthed shock. Several of the adults in the room looked back and forth between Faith and Logan as the girl retracted her claws.
“Yeah something about apples and trees.” Faith replied causally.
“Logan how did you get her out of a hydra base?” The man with the robotic leg and hand asked with wonder in his voice.
“Did they not hear that you’re the best there is at what you do?” Faith asked Logan with a smirk.
“We had the help of the entire Avengers team Forge.” Ororo answered him calmly. “With their newest members and the woman who just returned to active duty they found Faith’s exact location and we all took part in capturing their leader and turning the base into a smoldering crater.”
“They stomped in, magicked out most of my Hydra assassin brainwashing, and brought me back to their tower.” Faith said as if it was all too easy. “I even got an honorary member decoder ring before the drive up here.”
“Really?” Bobby asked, trying to reign in the urge to ask if he could see it.
“Nope, no ring.” Faith smirked. “But everything else happened.”
“Who’re the new Avengers that made all this happen?” Rogue asked in mild surprise.
“Oh you guys know them too.” Faith said. “Some of you more intimately than others. Pops? You, Hank or Ororo want to fill them in?”
“I’d be delighted.” Hank replied as he stepped up. “Apparently Ms. Marvel returned from her extended medical leave while the three of us were in Wakanda aiding T’Challa.” At the mention of the woman’s name Rogue gasped and put a hand over her mouth. “While she was just stepping in the building Magneto attacked the city with some strange device. She got there before the other Avengers and as soon as she and Scarlet Witch met they both changed.”
“Scarlet Witch did something to Ms. Marvel?” Clarice asked in confusion.
“Oh yeah, she did something to her alright.” Faith smirked. “And then she kept doing it for the better part of a week. Then Blondie probably took over and did a whole bunch of things right back.”
“I don’t get it.” Rogue said.
“Scarlet Witch and Ms. Marvel are soulmates.” Ororo stated simply. “They are apparently bonded by powerful magics that brought back memories of their many past lives the moment they met each other. Both also appear to have gained a significant amount of magical power and skills they didn’t possess before.”
“Yeah, Red and Blondie got the whole big forever love thing goin’ on.” Faith chuckled. “Made the whole “me getting my life back from Snake Bitch” thing so much easier.”
“Snake Bitch?” Kitty asked in surprise.
“Madame Hydra, also known as Viper, was the head of Hydra and directly in control of the base we rescued Faith from.” Ororo answered.
“I damn near sliced her arm off after Hawkeye stuck one of his frag grenades to her sword.” Logan said with a happy smile.
“Thanks for that Pops.” Faith added. “A part of me had been wanting to do that for months.”
“No problem Kid.” Logan assured his daughter.
“So they cloned Logan as a young woman for some unfathomable reason and then Magneto’s daughter helped the Avengers steal her.” Forge assessed the story. “And now you three have brought her here to be trained in how to interact with the normal parts of the world that her programming wouldn’t handle well?”
“Red and Blondie took out all the programming that wasn’t useful, like reading and shit.” Faith said. “They kept saying I should go here at least until I get a G.E.D.”
“Quicksilver was there too.” Hank added.
“Both of Magneto’s children have joined the Avengers.” Ororo said, drawing more shocked looks. “It would seem that Spider-Woman has already claimed Pietro as hers.”
“Mon ami, are we sure ere’ t’ing they be sayin’ is on de up and up?” Remy asked.
“This isn’t a trap Magneto is using to destroy the Avengers is it?” Clarice asked in a slightly panicked tone.
“Hey whoa! Ease up on the paranoia train!” Faith demanded. “Those are my friends you’re talking about. They pulled me out of a hell y’all can’t even imagine. I wasn’t even a person before they worked their mojo. No matter the beef y’all got with magnet boy, I owe Red, Blondie and even Q-tip my life.”
“Sugar, you don’t know them like we do.” Rogue said.
“And it’s gonna take a lot more than the word of the chick that put Blondie in a coma for six months to turn me against them.” Faith said coldly, causing Rogue to step back and lament her past once again. Jennifer couldn’t help but smile as her girl stood up for their friends.
“From what we observed Wanda and Pietro have completely switched sides and dedicated themselves to working for the Avengers.” Ororo added. “Though it may be impossible to determine their long term goals right now, they have behaved in ways that have benefited virtually all of the Avengers.”
“I for one am inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.” The Professor said, calmly drawing the issue to a close. “They are being watched by Captain America, Thor, Iron Man and at least a half dozen senior S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. Any dark intent they might be hiding will be revealed in time. It is my sincere hope they have come to see the folly of their father’s ambitions. It wouldn’t be the first time a gifted person has seen the light.”
As he said this several of the X-Men grew introspective. They had each been tempted to use their powers for less than noble purposes in the past. Some had even been henchmen to villains just as bad as Magneto.
“So wait.” Bobby said after a moment passed. “Faith, if you’re a clone of Logan does that mean this other woman isn’t your mom?”
“What?” Jennifer cried in shock. “I am not her mother! Oh god it’s my hair isn’t it. I have mom hair.”
“Relax Babe.” Faith said as she pulled the petite blonde into her arms. “You’re hair is beautiful.” The brunette said as she drew the woman she loved into a sensual kiss.
Around the room just about everyone who hadn’t seen the displays of affection on the car ride upstate had matching looks of bewilderment and surprise on their faces. To say they were shocked was an understatement.
“Okay so to recap the new girl is gay, taken and Logan’s daughter.” Bobby said as he counted off Faith’s main qualities on his fingers. “Guys I think we hit the trifecta.” He smirked.
Jamie burst out with more laughter. “No, Alex, man.” He wheezed between guffaws. “You totally have a shot. Go ask if she’s into long walks on the beach.”
“Shut up Jamie.” Alex groaned out as he hung his head and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Jamie only continued to laugh and nudge Alex incessantly.
“Is this a more common practice in the states than I thought?” The girl in the abaya asked her pink friend.
“No Sooraya, it isn’t all that common for same sex couples to have such an age gap.” Clarice replied quietly. “Even less common for the dad of the younger one to be so blasé about it.”
“Okay seriously?” Kitty cried out in outrage as the kiss wore on. “None of you have a problem with them doing that but you each took turns butting into my personal life? What the hell?”
“Well you see, there were very persuasive arguments before over some very tasty pancakes.” Hank said weakly.
“Seriously Sugar, do we need to get you some books on parenting or something?” Rogue asked Logan with a smirk.
“Right!” Jamie cried out. “Like the best seller ‘How to Raise my Gender Flipped Teenaged Clone.’ We should check if Amazon has an e-reader copy.” He said with a laugh.
“Faith and I already had the talk.” Logan said, causing everyone one to look at him incredulously. “So long as she doesn’t get knocked up till after graduation it’s all fine.”
“Oh my god, that is so unfair.” Kitty remarked to herself.
Sensing the crowd was growing restless Faith pulled out of the kiss, eliciting a soft moan from Jennifer. She then turned to look at the new classmates and teachers she’d have to get along with for the foreseeable future and decided to give them the simplest justification.
“Guy’s this is my girlfriend Jennifer.” Faith began. “It may look like there’s this big age difference but I ain’t giving her up.”
“How much of an age difference are we talking about?” Kurt asked in a placid tone with his light German accent.
“Faith claims to be only six months old.” Hank said drawing even more shocked gasps from the room.
“Six months?” Clarice cried out. “How? Why? How?”
“We been over that.” Faith said as she calmly put an arm around Jennifer’s waist. “I’m a clone of Logan grown in a machine in a secret evil terrorist lab. I was aged to the point where my bones were more or less full size so that they could do the whole metal skeleton thing. Because of all that I don’t know if my max age is two years or two thousand. I ain’t gonna put off being with my girl while I wait to find out.”
“Two thousand?” Sooraya asked in confusion as several of the people present who had known Logan the longest realized what the implication meant.
“Pops, how old are you?” Faith asked her father. “One eighty? Two hundred and change? Something like that?”
“Pretty much.” Logan admitted. “I remember growing up in Canada, the gold rush and fighting alongside Cap in world war two. A lot of the in between is a blur though.”
“See, I might live forever and a day.” Faith said. “Or I got about six months left. Could be anything in between. I’m spending as much of that time as I can with my girl here until she can’t stand me no more.”
“Wait.” Kitty said with a confused expression. “If she’s only six months how is she carrying on this conversation? And how much of that Hydra programming is still hiding in there?”
“Red and Blondie did a big magic spell that set me straight.” Faith answered before pausing with a smile. “So to speak.”
Jamie laughed even louder at that. As almost everyone else turned to look at him questioningly. He reined in his mirth to light giggling and answered their incredulous looks.
“Get it?” He asked as he barely held back his laughter. “Set her straight. Cause she’s a lesbian.”
“Did he slip out and leave one of his more personality deprived doubles in his place?” Ororo asked as most of the adults in the room shook their heads at the terrible pun.
“Nah, I t’ink de boy just has a screw loose.” Remy said.
“Sorry.” Jamie said as he got himself under control. “This is just too good. I haven’t seen a show this funny in months.”
“So this spell.” Clarice said trying to pull the conversation back to reality. “What did it do exactly to fix you?”
“They replaced most of the Hydra programming with shadows of versions of me they met in their past lives.” Faith answered. “At least I think that’s it. The longer explanation was way over my head. I think it gave me all this instinct and general knowledge that other versions of me in other dimensions have learned but not specific memories from lives lived. I ain’t the sharpest knife in the back but at least I can manage better than “Fire bad, tree pretty!” She then turned to Logan and asked his opinion.
“Me do words good father?” Faith asked with a grunt.
“Well, daughter.” Logan grunted back. “Me do words well.”
“Logan, as the girl’s English and Science teacher I have to insist you stop encouraging the grunting cavewoman jokes.” Hank said with an exasperated sigh.
“Oh god.” Bobby said in awe. “Hank never gets that worked up. What did she do?”
“They were grunting back and forth at each other the entire ride up here until Hank finally went to sleep in the back seat.” Ororo said. “At least that’s what they did while Faith wasn’t kissing Jennifer.”
At the mildly humored tone in the African Queen’s voice Jennifer blushed, and Faith pulled her in closer. Several people around the room let out light laughter at that and the students began to walk up to Faith to introduce themselves personally.
Sooraya approached cautiously and Faith took her hand with a smile and greeted the fully covered girl.
“Khosh Amadid!” Faith said with cheer as she drew curious looks from several of those around her.
“Salam.” Sooraya replied happily.
“What was that?” Bobby asked. “Arabic?”
“No it wasn’t Arabic.” Ororo said with a slight frown at the boy.
“You speak Farsi?” Sooraya asked Faith.
“Apparently.” Faith answered. “Just kinda slipped out.”
“Say something else!” Clarice asked, excitedly.
Faith replied with a string of words almost no one there understood. When she finished they all turned to Sooraya who looked confused for a moment before elaborating.
“This is very odd.” The young Afghani teen said. “She is definitely speaking Farsi but for anything longer than a simple greeting she puts on a severe Boston accent that changes the dialect in a strange way. I did not know that was even possible.”
“Okay, more with the how.” Jennifer asked, growing slightly worried.
“Hydra programming?” Faith asked.
“Are you going to use that excuse every time you do something no one else understands?” Jennifer asked with a frown.
“Probably Babe.” Faith replied before letting a smirk cross her face. “It seems to be working so far.” The brunette then leaned in and lightly kissed her girl.
Across the room Kitty looked to her blue friend perched on the wall. With a frown she looked back and forth between the new couple and the devoutly religious man.
“You’ve been awfully quiet for a while now Kurt.” Kitty whispered. “You okay with them doing that in front of everyone?”
“Dear Kitty.” Kurt replied quietly with his usual German accent as his barbed tail swished back and forth. “True Love in all its forms iz a gift from almighty God himself. It iz to be cherished and nurtured. Praise it as one should praise all his miracles.”
“Wow.” Kitty said in surprise. “I didn’t expect that answer.”
“Did you think me one of those imbeciles waving a “God Hates this or that” sign at funeral processions?” Kurt asked with an amused grin. “Anyone who believes God has hate in his heart for any of his children iz ignorant of their entire faith. Whether that faith is mine, or yours, or Sooraya’s or any of the other fractured ideologies out there. Anyone to say otherwise has not read the tale of Ruth and Naomi, or the story of David and Jonathan.”
“That’s really beautiful.” Kitty remarked with a slight smile.
“Is bringing tear to my eye, friend Kurt.” Piotr added.
Kitty let out a smile as her friends greeted the two women. Her feelings were a mixture of jealousy and optimism. If her friends could accept the two women’s relationship then maybe they would finally accept her feelings for Piotr. For the first time in a long while Kitty had hope.
******************************
As Wanda was putting the finishing touches on her special program several of her teammates came into the living room of the Avengers penthouse. They all looked exhausted.
“Hey guys.” The redheaded witch called out before growing anxious. “Is everything okay?”
Natasha looked up to see the worried look on her new friend’s face. She suddenly felt very awkward about the things Fury had asked her, Clint and Bobbi to do now that he was at the helm of S.H.I.E.L.D. once more.
Of particular concern was the fact he had stuck them in debriefing chambers to report everything they knew about their new teammates to video cameras while he jetted off somewhere.
An hour later he returned and ordered them to keep tabs on everyone in the team who seemed to be siding with Carol and Wanda. He even said he was keeping them out of the next phase of the Hydra hunt so they could focus on lying to their friends. With a sigh Natasha made a decision she knew would bite her in the ass at some point down the road.
“Fury is scared shitless about you and Carol’s sudden change and he is sidelining us so we can spy on you guys for him.” Natasha said with a dull tone.
“Natasha!” Bobbi practically screamed. “What the hell? You just compromised everything.”
“I don’t care Bobbi.” The Russian countered. “I quit the agency when Hydra gutted it from the inside so I could focus on this team. I’m not about to let Fury pull his Monday morning quarterback crap on the people who could be the best additions we’ve made in a long while.”
“Oh Goddess.” Wanda whispered as she began to panic. “Guys I am so sorry. I never wanted to cause any of you problems or, or ruin your careers. What am I gonna do? I can’t put this team against S.H.I.E.L.D. I can’t fight a war that big this soon.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong Wanda!” Clint said as he strode up to her table. The man set his bow and quiver before the witch. “Cap said you were looking for weapon and armor solutions for futures on other worlds. Will these help?”
Wanda looked up at the man then back down at the weapons. “Yes.” She replied after a moment. “This is perfect Clint. I know she’ll love them as soon as I calibrate the draw weight for Slayer strength.”
The three spies in the room all looked at each other with worried expressions. Something had just slipped out that they needed to know about. With trepidation Natasha looked directly at the other redhead in the room examining the bow.
“Wanda, what is a slayer?” The spy asked.
“Oh Goddess.” Wanda whispered. “I don’t know if I should have kept that a secret or not.”
“Sweetie what’s going on out here?” Carol asked as she came out of the hall leading to the bedroom holding her book. “I can feel your emotions jumping all over the place.” She stopped as she looked up and saw the three spies hovering over her girl. “What happened? What did you do to her?”
“Fury told us to keep tabs on you both, so Clint gave her his bow and she let slip something about a slayer.” Natasha said calmly. “It sounded important.”
“Oh.” Carol remarked. “Thank the Goddess it isn’t anything too important.”
“Baby, how could it be less important?” Wanda asked in a pained voice.
“Sweetie there are no Slayer’s on this world.” Carol said in a soothing voice. “The closest thing they have is that guy. What was he again? The half breed? No the Daywalker! That’s it!”
“Okay well obviously he doesn’t count.” Wanda replied.
“No he doesn’t.” Carol said. “They have no frame of reference for the Slayer. So why don’t we just tell them and get it over with.”
“Guys what’s going on?” Steve said as he, Pietro, Sam and Jessica walked into the room.
“Fury wanted us to keep tabs on the girls and maybe Pietro.” Clint said. “I decided to follow your advice and give Wanda my weapons to study and she said someone known as the Slayer would love them.”
“Go ahead and blow the whole op to everyone why don’t you?” Bobbi muttered.
“I think we’re about to learn more than Fury ever bargained for.” Natasha said before turning to Carol. “So who or what is the slayer and what do they slay.”
“Slayer.” Clint remarked. “It sounded like it had a capital “S” when they said it.”
“It does.” Carol replied. “Okay everyone gather around. This is going to take a while.”
The Avengers present took seats on couches around the room as Carol came to sit beside Wanda and put her arms around the woman still clutching the bow. With a heavy pause the redhead took a deep breath. She began her tale.
“You have no idea how lucky this world is.” Wanda said slowly. “Imagine a world where the number of humans with powers like Logan or Ororo could be counted on one hand. Then imagine what it would be like if the physics there didn’t allow for heroes like Steve, Thor or even Tony to have the power they do. Now imagine that world is plagued with vampires and demons, but the monsters that feed on humanity keep to the shadows so well no one believes in them until they have a set of horrible fangs buried in their neck.”
“Sweetie.” Carol admonished soothingly.
“Sorry.” Wanda replied before getting to the point. “Once upon a time there was a young girl named Sineya.”
******************************
“So this is the danger room huh?” Faith remarked as they toured the underground sections of the facility. “What do ya think Babe? We could get a sweet workout in here.”
“Why would your lawyer girlfriend need to work out in here?” Alex asked.
Before any of the adults could answer Faith spun around and looked directly at the boy. She walked up to him with a smirk.
“Fifty bucks says my girlfriend can beat the big guy at arm wrestling.” Faith challenged.
“What?” Several students asked before laughing.
“No way.” Alex said. “Might as well hand your money over right now. No one is stronger than Colossus.”
“I am being made the wager of, yes?” Piotr asked with a frown.
“You totally are Baby.” Kitty answered.
“Faith is this really necessary?” Ororo asked plaintively.
“Deffinitely.” The brunette replied. “Hank can you magic us up a real sturdy table for them to go at it.”
“Oh, I’d be delighted.” The blue scientist replied as he started for the control room.
“I don’t know Faith.” Jennifer said. “I don’t want to embarrass the poor guy.”
“Sweet Cheeks, ain’t no way you’re gonna even budge the big guy’s arm.” Kitty said derisively.
“Okay it’s on now Kid.” Jennifer said with a cold glare.
“Logan, should we stop this?” Charles asked his friend.
“No way Chuck.” Logan said with a sinister chuckle. “The kids could do with a lesson in judging others by their looks and I want to see who wins.”
“Agreed.” The Professor said with a sigh.
Hank quickly moved to the overhanging control room and began pressing buttons. Within no time there was a large table with benches standing between Jennifer and Piotr. Both opponents stepped up to the benches and faced each other.
“Ol’ Gambit t’ink someone not know what they in for.” Remy said.
“You have no idea.” Ororo said as she slowly shook her head before resting it in her open palm.
“Go ahead and show her what she’s in for.” Bobby called to the big Russian.
“Is this wise?” Sooraya asked.
“No.” Clarice said.
“Just wait for it.” Jamie said with a grin. He had a hunch he recognized the blonde from somewhere but it was less than a rumor. This might turn out to be a fun show.
Colossus flexed his muscles and began to grow in size as every inch of his skin transformed into living metal. He looked down at the petite blonde and smiled meekly.
“Is no shame in turning back now.” He said quietly.
“Funny big guy.” Jennifer said as she pulled open the trench coat she had been wearing all day to reveal tight form fitting clothes that looked more like exercise wear than actual clothing. Her form began to shift and grow as she changed. Almost all of the X-Men stood by in open mouthed shock as her skin and hair turned green. She looked across the table to the big man she had grown to an even height with.
“I was about to say the same to you.” She-Hulk replied.
Colossus gulped as he recognized his opponent. Almost everyone else stood silent.
“Oh my god!” Jamie cackled with delight. “She’s dating the friggin She-Hulk!” He wheezed out as he laughed.
Both combatants took their seats and each others hands. With a whistle noise from the computer files Hank signaled the start. Neither arm moved a fraction of an inch as both of them flexed and strained their muscles. After a minute of almost perfectly even fighting Faith decided to mix things up.
“Hey Babe.” Faith said as she leaned in close to her love’s ear.
“Kinda busy here Honey.” She-Hulk replied through gritted teeth.
With a grin Faith whispered the dirtiest thing she could imagine in Jennifer’s ear. Emerald muscles bulged and strengthened. A fire ignited in the green giantess’s eyes and stomach.
Colossus only had time to wonder what the balloon Faith mentioned would be used for before he found the back of his hand slammed into the surface of the table. For a long moment the metal giant sat there looking down at his hand. Then a smile crept across his face.
“Da, da! Is good to be having worthy foe to spar.” He cheered. “We go to junk yard and crush dead cars into tiny balls yes?”
“Sure thing Piotr.” She-Hulk said. “Sounds like fun.”
With light laughter all around the high tech training room the X-Men joined in the happy atmosphere. As the mirth tapered off Jennifer turned to her smiling love.
“You are so going to pay for that Missy.” She-Hulk promised as she scooped up the brunette with her massive green arms.
“Five by five Babe.” Faith replied with a kiss.
******************************
“Oh god that’s horrible.” Bobbi said as the description of every Slayer’s fate drew to a close.
“But they’re just kids.” Sam said pleadingly.
“Most of them aren’t even fifteen when first called.” Carol added. “Far too many don’t last a week or two.”
“You survived helping one of these Slayers fight the good fight Sis?” Pietro asked in a stunned voice.
“Barely.” Wanda said. “You guys have no idea how many times I’ve watched good friends die horribly.”
Natasha was silent throughout the entire story. As Wanda grew quiet the Russian made a decision. She stood up and left the room without another word.
“Where’s she going?” Jessica asked.
“I have no idea.” Steve said. “What about my shield? Could that help?” He asked.
“Vibranium is just as rare as the various flavors of unobtainium that power Stark’s suits.” Wanda sighed in reply.
Before the silence that fell over the group could grow any more ominous Natasha stormed back into the room with several garments in her arms.
“Here, I don’t know what will help.” She said. “I have a few different types of body armor I wear. This one is a little on the bulky side but it still offers great flexibility. This one is a new version of Kevlar that is incredibly thin and flexible but has great stopping power. Please tell me something here will help.”
Wanda slowly took the different skin tight black suits in her hands. She rubbed the different fabrics and armors between her fingers for a long time before a smile spread across her face.
“Natasha you may have just given me the key to perfecting the armor designs we’ve been working on for centuries.” The redheaded witch said.
“Will it save lives?” Natasha asked.
“Millions.” Wanda answered with a grin.
Smiles spread around the room as the seemingly minor gifts paved the way for brighter futures in worlds only two members of the team would see. What had started out with a harrowing tale of one young girl after another being brutally murdered for all of human history soon became a hopeful gathering of friends. Friends who specialized in saving the world, even when it wasn’t exactly the world they knew.
******************************
Appendix:
Ljubímyj = Beloved : Russian
Khosh Amadid = Welcome/Greetings : Farsi
Pro Bono = In exchange for boners : Latin
One of these might not be accurate.
X-Men:
School staff / adults of varying ages:
Professor Charles Xavier:
The ProfessorLogan:
WolverineOroro Munroe:
StormHank McCoy:
BeastPiotr:
Colossus= Pete/Peter – The youngest of the “adults” at age 20.
Remy LeBeau:
GambitRogueKurt Wagner:
Nightcrawler, no not Jake Gyllenhaal
ForgeLockheed : Kitty’s tiny purple alien dragon pet/familiar/sidekick.
Students: All in their mid to late teens.
Kitty Pryde:
Shadowcat, but I don’t even think anyone ever calls her that. – Just turned 16.
Bobby Drake:
IcemanSooraya Qadir:
DustAlisa Tager:
CipherClarice Ferguson:
BlinkAlex Summers:
HavokJamie Madrox:
Multiple ManVarious others once school year starts, but they won’t have names or speaking rolls for the most part.