CHAPTER 434 GETTING THE BAND BACK TOGETHER
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fucking do it,” I said, staring Emma in the eyes. Struggling not to look at her cleavage. We were in their sister location a few miles away. The sewer mostly brought us to it. The majority of people were split up between safe houses, but I wanted everyone ready to go as soon as possible.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m telling you, he left,” Emma said. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“You are telling me, that Mao, who built an entire fucking ind, also had the secret to inteary travel, and no one, I don’t know, thought to chase after him? No one else had this secret? Why the hell haven’t we all left this if space travel is so easy?”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Budget cuts?” Kitty offered. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“He’s fucking lying,” I said to everyone in the room. All around us were the main fighters left over after the fight with the Sentinels. “The greatest trick the devil ever yed was proving to the world he didn’t exist.”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mao really left though,” someone said. “We all saw it on the news.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“The self-proimed messiah of mutants left the?” I asked. “Then show me where he went.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Weston, they did get teleported away by aliens and came back on a spaceship,” Kitty said. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t fucking care if they bought a junker from some space Jawas. He didn’t fucking leave. Use this dor store Cerebro and look for him, Emma. Look for all of them. I’m going to personally drag every single one of them back here.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Why?” Emma asked. Fear in her voice, but a lot of excitement.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Cus we are going to kill everyst one of these fuckers,” I said. “I don’t care what it takes. I’m getting Anne back. Each of the mutants they took and enved, we are getting them all and escaping this hell hole. That’s why I need Mao. Wherever he holed up, he will take you all. He is the key.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“And if he isn’t here?” Kitty asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Then I’ll n from there,” I said. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Uh, who put this guy in charge?” Someone asked. He was one of the fighters close to Hancock. The dark haired beauty eyed me from the edge of the room, silent as I took charge.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I fucking did. You want the job, talk to my manager,” I pointed at Tabi who meowed. “Now, Emma, get it done. Find them all.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fine, but I want something out of this,” she said. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Whatever you want,” I promised and she smiled wide. Winking at me she put on the Cerebro helmet and it thrummed with power. Energy pouring out of it she sat quietly.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh,” she said in surprise after a minute. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Is he there?” I asked. She didn’t answer, but her pause told me all I needed to know.
<span style="font-weight:400">—
<span style="font-weight:400">I walked up to the snow covered hut. Having gone my maximum speed I made the trip in three hours. Far faster than I had ever traveled before, I was determined to finish this as soon as possible. I wasn’t surprised that they lived here. It was the sort of ce I would expect for the brother and sister.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Who goes there?” A booming voice asked from the hut.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“An old friend,” I said, stopping in the six inch deep snow. It took them time but they slowly walked out of the hut, peering out at me. I dropped my hood to reveal my face.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Weston?” The blonde asked in surprise. She looked the same as thest time I had seen her. Long blonde hair, smooth skin, but there were more scars on her than before.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hey, Illyana, Piotr,” I said with a wave.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I thought you died,” Illyana saidughing as she ran up to me. I hugged her and returned with the same enthusiasm. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Not yet,” I said, frowning as she pulled away. I studied Piotr. He was bigger than thest time I saw him. Musclesyered on muscles he had a huge beard that suited him. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“No,” he said, reading my mind.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s bad out there. We are nning an attack,” I said. “One to end all attacks.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“We did that once,” Piotr said. “It did not end well for our side.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well this time you have me,” I said. “I don’t care what it takes. We need to get our people out of the camps.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“We are not even your people,” Piotr spat. “You are yours hurt-” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Piotr!” Illyana spat. “Weston is different, you know that. I know thest fight was bad, but sitting here, waiting to be caught or die? This is no life.” She eyed me, giving me a smile. “If my brother is too chicken, then I will help you.” Piotr opened his mouth, but then closed it. With his sister in danger, I doubted he would stay behind. “What do you need?” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“You still have ess to Limbo?” I asked. “I think we could use some demons if the drama died on their end.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah yes,” Illyana said. “They had asked about you thest time I went. I believe they would be willing to help.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Good, I need everyone I can get,” I said. “Let’s go inside, I’ll walk you through the n.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">—
<span style="font-weight:400">It took another three hours to get to London. The ce was as rainy as I remembered, but at least there was no snow. Finding the specific house took time. Far bigger than I expected it was like a mansion. Just outside the massive city I wondered what kind of old money they had. Surprised that an ancient ninja organization resided there, I dropped in and was immediately attacked by three men.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Cut the shit,” I said, but they were relentless with the attacks as I knocked them out one by one. I got inside the home and ninja stars were thrown at me. I used Nen and they bounced off but then to my surprise a nen coated kunai was thrown. Catching this one I identified the person that threw it and tossed it back. It stabbed through them and I made my way to the line of them. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">It took time but a line of knocked out ninja followed in my path as I got to the boss room. The higher ups were waiting for me as I got there.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Honey, I’m home!” I yelled as I opened the doors. Revealing myself to the three leaders, Elektra, Psylocke, and Matilda Murdock stared at me with open mouths as they slowly dropped their guards.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“We thought you were dead!” Maddy said. Running past the other two she smiled wide as she jumped up and I caught her. As hot as ever the buxom redheadughed as I held her easily.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You thought I could die?” I asked, surprised as I stared into non-milky pupils. “New eyes?” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“They’re robotic,” she said. “I can turn them off when I really want to.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Nice,” I said, smiling up at her. “What do you think? Am I as handsome as you imagined?”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“No,” she said. “I thought a few years would add age to you. You feel as young as thest time I saw you.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah,” I said. “About that…I need your help.” I decided telling her the truth wasn’t in my best interest since I had a schedule to keep. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“What do you need?” Elektra asked boredly. Maddy and I turned to face her. Psylocke standing next to her, both felt far stronger than thest time I saw them. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I need my secret ninja organization,” I said, dropping Maddy to the ground. She held my hand as I walked to the other two, proving why I chose her to stay close to so long ago. I had been hesitant around her, but I guessed she was serious about me.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s yours now?” Elektra asked, acting surprised. She radiated power. Whatever god she absorbed had only gotten stronger in my absence, I smiled widely. Ready to prove who was the teacher and who the student.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“It is if I wish it to be,” I said. All the confidence in the world, it was the only thing she respected. “Shall we fight or fuck to see who is stronger?” I asked. “Have you learned anything new, Elektra? Because I have.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">She stared at me for a moment. “Leave us,” she said to Psylocke. The dark haired beauty hesitated, staring at me for a moment. Then bowing she turned around as another dozen ninjas disappeared out of the room. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“What do you need?” Elektra asked as she removed the sash wrapping of her clothes. Maddy pped happily as she too began to disrobe. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Your best ninjas in America. Tomorrow morning. We strike at dawn,” I said as I removed my hoodie. I was starting to think they didn’t want to fight as the three of us collided. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fine,” Elektra said. “But this time you are putting a baby in me. My goddess wants a strong one.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sure,” I lied. Despite myck of judgment with Anne, I wasn’t about to leave anyone with a kid. A part of me still had faith that the future me was alive somewhere out in the very wide universe.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Me first,” Maddy said. I pulled her to me. Her skin tan, tits perfect and perky, I didn’t hesitate to enter her from the front. Squealing in glee she acted like she missed me for some reason as I sent Sparks into her body stronger than ever.
<span style="font-weight:400">—
<span style="font-weight:400">I trudged up the mountain. Hardly anyone nearby for miles, I basically had to make my own path. As I stepped on an ice shelf and it began to slide I lifted off. “Why the fuck am I walking when I can fly?” Cursing myself, I had thought the ce was closer, but it was literally on the edge of a cliff. Basically a trailer about to tip over, the two wheel camper was out of ce in the Alps.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Cyclops! I havee to answer your riddles!” I yelled to the redneck home. I didn’t hear anything from inside. “Oh mighty Cyclops. What riddles do you ask of me to pass this…pass?” With thest I heard ss bottles clink together as someone woke up. “Oh mighty one eye monster. Please do not terrorize the lowly vigers! They are done sending you more virgins in your lust for someone more pure than yourself!” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">I heard someone cough from inside. Then the distinct sound of a lighter being lit sounded. After a moment someone kicked the door out, revealing the boyscout with a drink in one hand and cigarette in his mouth.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fuck. You’re alive?” Scott Summers asked. Wearing his red sunsses he was as strong looking as ever, and honestly way cooler in my book. He had a long brown beard and long hair that made him look like drunk Jesus. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Dude, whatever arc you went through, did you good,” I said.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Good?” He asked. “This looks good to you?” He asked with augh. Puffing the cigarette he sat right there on the stairs of the camper. Shaking his head he groaned. After a moment he looked up at me. “That really you?” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Tis I,” I said. “Your favorite student is back to ask his sensei for help.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I was never your fucking sensei,” Scott said. “You sleep with all your sensei’s girlfriends?” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“What? I didn’t sleep-” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Jean told me-or Phoenix or whoever the fuck she was,” Scott said. “Some kind of mindfuck shit.” He scoffed, shaking his head. “Not like it matters anymore. She left like everyone else.” Taking a swig of his whiskey I frowned. This was going to be harder than I thought. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“You’re right,” I said. “I pushed beyond cheating, and I feel bad about it. I…thought she was more like me than you.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“She was,” Scott said. “She left too. Off into the universe. She didn’t find you when she became the Phoenix?” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t think so,” I said truthfully. “Look Scott, X is dead. A lot of people are dead. I am with thest of the mutants in America. I have a n to break a lot out of the internment camps-” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“And what? You need me to bitch at like every other time?” Scott asked. “Sorry I don’t have a girlfriend for you to take this time, Weston.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fuck you,” I spat without meaning to. I held back my anger but he smiled, taking another puff of his cig. “Dude, Jean wasn’t who either of us expected. Xavier mindfucked her way before we did anything. Making her personality change as he hid her powers was dumb. You didn’t fall for Jean. You fell for a figment of X’s imagination.”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well it doesn’t matter now,” Scott said. “I gave up this shit a long time ago.” He took another swig. His Haki was telling me that what I was saying wasn’t swaying him. It was time for a different tactic.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“They have Anne,” I said. “I’m not asking for me. I’m asking for your other students. The people that look up to you. I don’t agree with your methods for me, but dude, deep down, you’re a hero. You’re someone people can look up to, not me. I tried getting all the mutants left alive under me and it was one fight after another. I’m not you, I could never be you, and I don’t know what to do.”
<span style="font-weight:400">That was mostly true. They didn’t know or care about me, mainly because I looked so young. Scott was the All Might in this world. He had the confidence, experience, and mindset to be that. Even if I had to take the hillbilly version of that, I would.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">He stared at me for a while. His Haki going back and forth, causing me to nervously sweat. A lot of people from Anne’s group wanted him with us, and I doubted they would join without him. Eventually Scott shrugged. “Pay me,” Scott said. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“What?” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Pay me,” Scott said. “I’ve been out of the game for a while. I want money for more booze since it refuses to grow on trees. So pay me.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">I stood ck jawed for a moment andughed. A hearty one, just the kind I needed. “Did you just make a joke?” I asked. “Fine, how much?” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“$50,000 for one day of work,” he said. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“$50?! That’s-”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“The going rate,” Scott said. “Cash, right here, before I-” I threw the money at him. He caught it in surprise. Frowning, he started counting it. “Fuck.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I expect Captain America Scott. Not lives in a van Scott.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Is Captain America alive?” He asked. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fuck, they still haven’t found him?” I asked. “Gonna-shit, I don’t have time to look. I’ll fix that when I get back. Let’s go. I’m assuming you can’t mask your presence so I’ll have to carry you to America.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Right now?” He asked, annoyed. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I have a day with you. We attack in less than 12 hours,” I said. “Come on, pack your Jack Daniels lunchboc, let’s go.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">—
<span style="font-weight:400">I dropped Scott as wended outside the building. It was bigger than I expected. About five stories tall, it was arge factory just outside of Paris. Outside the building was arge sign that read WTR.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“What’s this?” Scott asked. He was still a little drunk from the short flight.
<span style="font-weight:400">“My business,” I said. “Looks like she moved headquarters to France. Can’t say I me her with how America fucked up.”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“You own a business?” He asked as he followed me inside. “Fucking knew I should have asked for more.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">Iughed and a receptionist smiled widely at us. “How can I help you?” The receptionist asked in perfect english. I had expected French, but then remembered my trantion skill. Everything from a humanoid became English for me.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, I am looking for Gwen Stacy,” I said. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Do you have an appointment?” She asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I do not, but she will see me. I am Weston Walker…I own thepany. Or at least half of it anyway.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“You…” She slowly looked down then back up. After a moment she dialed a number and whispered into it. Her eyes wide she stood and said, “Yes of course. Please go to the back room there. That is Miss Stacy’sb. You will need this keycard. Shall I escort you?” She passed me a small keycard. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I think I can find my way,” I said. “You staying or still drunk?” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Bathroom?” He asked. The woman looked confused at him. She heard only him in English, it wasn’t tranted to hernguage for her. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Bathroom,” I tranted. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh yes, that way,” she said pointing. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“What the-don’t care,” Scott said and ran the way she pointed. I shook my head and headed to where Gwen’sb was. She wasn’t hard to find. Her Spiritual energy distinct, she was busy studying something under a microscope.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fucking nerd,” I said loudly as I walked over to her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hmm?” She asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I said you’re still a fucking nerd,” I said. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh and you are-” She stopped as she stared at me. Slowly her eyes widened. “Weston?!” Gwen Stacy jumped up and actually ran to me. Older, her blonde hair was longer. Wearing a whiteb coat she resembled the Spiderverse Gwen more than the Amazing Spiderman one. Skinny as a bone she was light in my arms as I caught her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Jeez, miss me that much?” I asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hell no,” she said, pulling back, but there were legitimate tears in your eyes. “I just heard you were probably dead. It’s been six years. Where were you? And you haven’t aged a day? How did you-”
<span style="font-weight:400">“One question at a time,” I said. “I’m actually from the past. I’ll be slingshotting back to the present six years ago in a day or so. Either way I need your help.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I…don’t know what to say to that,” she said, frowning at me. “Are you serious?” She asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I am,” I said. “My mutant friends are being persecuted in America, I need as many of our Gantz suits as you can part with.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Shit,” she said with a frown. “Right now? I have like three orders I need to fill.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Right now now. You’re not selling them to America right?” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“With what they’re doing to mutants, hell no, but they probably buy them through intermediaries. The rich and famous anyway.” She sighed and turned around. Pulling up a tablet she said, “I can part with 20,000.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Holy shit,” I said. “I only need like 1,000.”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh,” she said. “Yeah, that’s no problem. You had me worried.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Good. Also apany by the name of Natchios has been trying to get a contract through to you guys. I need you to approve them,” I said. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“That shadypany? I try not to sell to that type,” she said with a frown. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I understand. Limit them to like 100 or so,” I said. “How’s thepany doing?” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Awesome,” she said. “We went publicst year and I have to say we are pretty well off. I bought some other armorpanies and…” She stopped turning to stare at me. “Wait, are you attacking the Sentinels?” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Uh yeah, isn’t that obvious?” I asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Shit, Peter,” she said. “He joined up with them a few years ago. He’s in some weird offshoot of the Avengers or whatever.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Peter joined them?” I asked, sickened. “Why?” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“This weird ck parasite attached to him. It made him really erratic and bloodthirsty. Things were turning bad in America so I fired him and moved shop here,” she said. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh shit, Venom?” I asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“How’d you know?” She asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Lucky guess. Listen, I’ll try to help Peter. Get me those suits. I have one more stop to take. I attack in the morning.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I can maybe get it overnight-”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t bother, I have a subspace, I can take them with me,” I said. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“A…what?” She asked. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“A…subspace,” I said. I opened a Rift, into my pocket dimension.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh my god, Weston, let me study this real quick,” she said. “Just let me get some…”
<span style="font-weight:400">—
<span style="font-weight:400">I walked up to yet another cabin in the woods. Unlike the others, this one was more rustic. Made from actual logs, mud caked onto the sidewalls, branches for a roof, it was about as barebones as you could get. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Turn your ass around,” the deep voice boomed from the cabin. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I need you,” I said. “In a sexual way. I’ve fought it for too long, Logan. Please. You’re mutton chops, your small but stocky stature. I couldn’t get it out of my mind after all these years.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">There was a long pause. Eventually he barked, “I fucking hate you.”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Come on, Logan. You gave me cancer, remember? You owe me,” I said.
<span style="font-weight:400">I heard him stand up in a huff and stomp toward the door. “I didn’t fucking give you cancer,” he said. He looked exactly the same. Which wasn’t a disappointment, but I had hoped for a big beard too. Instead he had his regr mutton chops, red nnel shirt, blue jeans, and cigar in his mouth. “You did that! Jumping into a fucking burning weird glowing building.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh right,” I said, smiling at him. “Who remembers that sort of stuff? Come on, Logan, I need your help.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m not going, kid,” he said. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Come on. I’m getting the band back together,” I said. “I got most everyone…what’s left anyway. Which is surprisingly a lot for how much everyone was saying they were all dead.”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Kid, I can’t go out there,” Wolverine said. “I tried to help, but I fucked it all up. I deserve this.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“You deserve to live a sweet life in the middle of nowhere living like a mountain man? All while people are struggling to survive out there. Not just any people either, but your people?!” I asked. I was so sick of the back and forth with these people, and at least I didn’t have to put on the kid’s gloves for him. “Logan, I don’t know what you did, but they have Anne. They have a lot more than that too. They’re fucking nting bombs in people. Killing puppies. Clubbing seals. Come on! I thought you of all would be up for-” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I was a fucking Nazi!” He growled. I held back my next words. Caught off guard more than a little by the statement. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well heil fucking my balls,” I said. “I don’t-No, that’s a lie. You were a Nazi? Like killing Jews kind?” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">He let out a tired sigh. Crossing his arms he munched on his cigar. “The worst kind.” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“There’s worse than killing Jews?” I asked. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Not that…well maybe,” he growled. “We went through some shit while you were apparently on vacation. I got my memories back, and turns out I blocked it out for a reason. I was a fucking Nazi. Fighting for the enemy back in WWII.”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Shit,” I said. “I’m sorry, I can’t really see you… in the uniform.” I squinted my eyes at him. “Did they make a custom nnel SS uniform for you?”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">He opened his mouth, closed it, then scoffed. "Goddamn, I hate you,” he said. “Ha!” Heughed as I did the same. Both of us picturing a nnel Nazi uniform. “Fuck! Why is that funny?” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t know,” I said, barely holding back myughter. “Can you imagine? Like a red one, full on Nazi SS shit, shaking Hitler’s hand?” The both of us onlyughed harder. The woods around us filled withughter, it was a long time until we recovered. When we did, Wolverine wiped some tears from his eyes.
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fuck, I haven’tughed like that in a long time,” Wolverine said. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ve been hearing that a lottely,” I said. “Logan, I don’t know your sins, or past, but we have an opportunity to save a lot of people. And to get them all to a safe ce. Not Deliverance safe like this ce, but about as safe as ites.”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Kid, I really want to. I do, I just…I killed a lot of people,” he said. “A lot. Watched a lot of shit in my time. I shouldn’t even be alive let alone-” <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Stop, I don’t give a shit,” I said. “I want a killer right now. I’m not Xavier. These people hurt those I care about. Their fucking heads will roll. If you lost your ws I understand. But I don’t have time for your sob story. We attack in three hours, and it takes me an hour to get back carrying your heavy ass. So you’re going to fucking give me the Wolverine. A rage filled five foot nothing of pure murderous fury. All that shit you went through doesn’t fucking matter. So if I have to kick your ass to remind you why you never won our fights, then I will.” I took off my hoodie. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Never won our-You lost every time,” he said. <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s not how I remember it,” I said. “Each time we fought I was winning. Bing stronger than you. I already won on height. If I need to remind you why I won in strength, so be it.” I didn’t know exactly what I was doing, but men fought to get over shit. He stared at me, getting angry. I pulled my Soulsword out and he released his ws. We stared at one another for a moment and ran at the other at the same time.