Knights of Xavier's (Part Three)

The X-Men weren't available, but you know who was? Agent fucking Brand, the mean lady from S.W.O.R.D. Not that she directly did anything for me, but seeing as how she owed me for taking part in saving the world, she gave me the means to get into contact with S.H.I.E.L.D.

I had to use someone else's phone to call them though, seeing as how my phone got dunked in the bay. I stood on Kimura's face with both feet for five whole minutes when I realized that. Bitch.

S.H.I.E.L.D. got their asses in gear and found us, quick. We had been out of the Facility's little hidden cove for an hour, riding down the coast in our boats when all kinds of aircraft and much bigger armed boats came to get us.

Thankfully, they didn't point any weapons at us or threaten us. They just instructed us to pull off to shore so we could pass off our prisoner. We did so with great pleasure. The sooner we could put all of this behind us, the better.

"We've got this from here. We'll clean that place up and get you kids home."

That was the thing they said that stuck in my head. Clean up. Yeah, they would have to, because we ripped that place to shreds.

It was nice that we didn't get the blankets and hot cocoa treatment either. Like hell we were victims. We won. The only one who could have been considered a victim today was Laura, but I don't think she would have known what all of the comfort stuff was for if she got it.

While the Hellions were commiserating amongst themselves about how awesome they were, and Laura was off getting clothes to wear from S.H.I.E.L.D., I still felt unfulfilled. With Saberwolf in tow, I marched over to where Kimura was stuck, bound just outside of a transport, waiting to be taken away to supervillain prison.

He walked along with me, trying to talk me down of all things. He was good at reading body language, but he didn't have to be to see how I was feeling, "I do not think it is wise to confront this person alone. You are not in a controlled state of mind."

He was right, but what did that even mean at this point?

"I hear you, Wolf," Kimura fucked up my vacation. None of this was supposed to happen. Mister Logan had Laura go with me to have a good time, not to get terrorized by her old psychopath of a bully, "I just want to talk."

I wondered how well he could detect lies.

Even after everything that had happened, even after handing her ass to her at least twice since this all started, aside from violent, overwhelming anger in the moment, she just treated everything that had happened as a momentary setback.

It was like she was so certain she wouldn't get any lasting consequences out of this. Even when she was in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody, all alone, she was as cool as a cucumber.

We tore their little base to bits and pieces. Left their personnel picking up teeth and body parts off of the floor. And here Kimura was, acting like it was nothing more than a trifle.

It pissed me off, and it took her all of two seconds to recognize it when I came up to her. Why else would I have?

"See something you like?" She taunted, right off the bat. I hadn't even stopped in front of her yet.

I spat at her feet, not on her. Not because I was gentleman, but because she was behind some see-through, hard to break case, like a mint condition action figure, "You're still breathing, so no," I said, "I just wanted to see what a rabid dog looks like. Too bad you won't get put to sleep."

Kimura chuckled softly. Her face was the perfect mask of calm, but there was a wild shine to her eyes, "Yeah, you really should have killed me. Too bad you didn't have the ability or stones to, kid."

I wasn't stupid. I wasn't about to murder this woman surrounded by would-be heroes and S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents. But God, I wanted to. If I could have done it at that moment and gotten away with it, I would have.

Instead, I channeled light energy to one fingertip and pressed it against the glass. There was a hiss and steam as it burned the surface like a cigarette lighter, even while she grinned maniacally. I couldn't hurt her. But that was fine. She was off the street.

It should have been fine.

I took a deep breath in and out of my nose, "The only reason I didn't kill you is because all of my friends were watching," I whispered so none of the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents puttering around could hear me, "If you get out, and I ever see you again, you'd better kill me first. Because if you don't, and I get my hands on you, I'll kill you in a way you haven't even thought of."

She didn't take me seriously. And why would she have. Instead of fear or anger, she just laughed, "Your little friends will never get the drop on me again. I've got your number now. How you work. And I know where to find you all."

For a threat, it wasn't much of one. If she was nuts enough to attack the Xavier Institute, she wouldn't be the first person. Just another to add to the list.

"Did I say anything about them? I said me," I said, raising an eyebrow. She had made the mistake of making eye contact again to be defiant, so I gave her another laser flash to fuck with her sight again. She didn't like that one bit and actually struggle to try and get at me afterwards. That made me feel a little better, "Anyway, enjoy your 6-by-8 cell and your freezing metal toilet, loser."

"You and the clone are both dead. Your freak friends too."

I didn't give her the satisfaction of turning back around. I just held up my hand and gave her a 'yap-yap-yap' gesture. We were done.

What was more important than some yappy woman with a sadistic streak a mile long was the person she targeted.

Laura was smarter than I was when it came to avoiding unpleasant things. She did her best to keep as far away from Kimura as possible, but still stuck around the rest of us close enough for my tastes. At least she wasn't going off on her own anymore, for now. And she had clothes again – also a plus.

She sat on a little rocky ledge overlooking the beach scene and all of the agents moving around. I sat next to her and let myself relax for the first time in over two days, "So, how are you holding up?"

Laura just stared out at the water, but she didn't ignore me, "You should have killed her, Bellamy."

She didn't say it as though I had messed up by not doing it and she was upset. It was more like she was just disappointed that it hadn't happened.

"I know," Her head turned my way in surprise. I gave her a little smile and jerked my head toward the Hellions off nearby, "Don't tell them that though. And don't dwell on it when we can't fix it now. We won. We took these guys down."

I wanted to try and cheer Laura up, but it wasn't to be. The girl was too realistic. Hope wasn't a thing she invested in easily, "No. Kimura is not the Facility. She is just an agent," She said, closing her eyes, "In the grand scheme of things, killing her doesn't matter. It won't destroy everything, but-."

"-It sure would help you sleep better," I finished, paraphrasing where I figured she was going with that. Laura hesitated, but did eventually nod, "I get it. Believe me, I do. I mean, I can't relate, not even a little bit, but...I don't know," I sighed and went silent before something insignificant caught my attention, "…Did you just use a contraction?"

Ever since I had met her, she always used the full pronunciation of words. It had been weird at first, but I'd gotten used to it. In fact, it was weirder to hear her deviate from doing so.

"Yes. Cessily told me people would be more comfortable speaking with me if I did," Laura told me, "I told her I would try."

I gave her a nudge, "You should spend more time with Cessily. She likes you," I had picked up on that much from talking to her in the helicopter. More people getting close to Laura wasn't a bad thing at all.

Laura nodded, sparing a glance in the direction of the silver-skinned girl, "She told me that, back at Julian's home. She asked me why we didn't hang out more."

I could imagine the look on Laura's face when that question came up, "What did you say?"

She gave me a grumpy frown, knowing full well I knew what she'd said, "I did not have an answer. But I said that I would like to be friends," She turned her head as though she were sizing me up, "Are you and I friends?"

That came out of the blue. What kind of a question was that? As if I hadn't just gone ripping and running up and down the west coast for her. I was insulted.

I opened my mouth to make some smartass remark, but stopped short when I realized that I had never referred to her as my friend out loud. Always 'my teammate'. And yet, in Mexico, she had called her friend. Granted, she'd said it to Kimura, but I still heard it.

"Sorry... I just didn't think it needed to be said. I guess I probably should have," For a girl who was still learning how to infer things in a social setting, I had to be clear for a while, "Yeah, we're friends."

She hesitantly held up her hand for the 'too sweet', as if to verify what I was telling her. It was adorable. She did it right, but it seemed like she didn't know if she was allowed to initiate one. Of course she was. It wasn't exclusive to me, Eddie, and Ruth.

All the same, I shook my head no and pushed her hand down. She seemed put out until I slid closer and gently pulled her into a hug, "God, I'm so glad you're alive."

Laura didn't fight it, but she didn't seem to know just what to do either. She just let me hold onto her until I'd had enough. Unfortunately, things could never just happen and be nice.

"Damn, Sol!" Santo called out from where he was hanging out with the rest of the Hellions on the beach, "Don't you have a girlfriend already? Don't let Pixie find out you're hanging all over Laura!"

I didn't let go. I just lifted my head to glare and snap at him, "Shut up! I'm trying to have a moment here!"

He said something back, and I'm sure some of the other Hellions got into it as well, but I didn't pay attention to that. Laura actually returned my hug, much to my surprise. She was awkward trying to get her arms around me, lack of practice I presume, but she did it, "I'm glad I'm still alive too," She whispered to me, resting her head on my shoulder, "Thank you, Bellamy."

That by itself was worth the hell I thought I was going to catch when I got home. After all, I'd have been gone for almost two days. Explain things as well as you want, it doesn't matter. Parents just don't understand superhero crap.