Homeplot: The Avengers
Maybe it's because I've been influenced by the MTV generation or maybe it's because I'm just a little messed up in the head, but I have to say, I missed that. Yeah, violence is bad and all of those other hallmarks of a PTA meeting, but there's something satisfying about it.
Yeah, I'm messed up in the head but at least I'm consistent.
Jamie was pacing. It was a familiar sight to those of X-Factor Investigations, although he supposed it might be something new to Rogue and Brodie. He made short and quick about turns every five steps or so and it took Guido kindly pointing out that they didn't have the money at the moment for him to wear a hole in the floor because they were still paying off the plumber for the water damage a few months ago before he stopped.
"Right," said Jamie. "Water damage."
Courtesy of Layla, of course. I wonder if there's anything that isn't courtesy of Layla these days.
Rictor snorted before he kicked his feet up on Jamie's desk. "You in there, Madrox? 'Cause I'm startin' to have my doubts."
Jamie shot him a Look and Rictor in turn raised his hands defensively. "I'm just sayin'."
"He's right, Madrox," said Monet. Which was something extraordinary indeed if Monet was agreeing with Rictor. "You haven't said anything since the capekillers interrupted lunch."
Jamie looked around the room; they were all crowded in his office waiting for him to do that leader thing that he was so well-known for. Except for the part where I'm not, really.
"Well, obviously, the capekillers were just a warm-up," he said. "I think they expected this to be an easy bag. Their mistake." He offered them a reassuring smile. "But, like I said. It's a warm-up. Bigger guns are coming."
"Jamie," said Rahne in a warning voice.
"That means we have to be prepared. We're short on allies at this point, so we'll have to get creative."
"Jamie," said Rahne again, this time more concerned.
"We might want to poke around Mutant Town, see who hasn't been slipped whatever bullshit Pietro's trying to sell. Rahne, maybe you and Guido could do that?"
"Jamie, we'll nae have time!" she said.
At last, he paid attention. "Uh, why not?" he said, his face in an adorably clueless expression.
"Look out the window ye great idiot!"
Jamie turned and looked out the window. "Oh." He turned back to face the group. "That could be a problem."
The Avengers were outside and they didn't look happy. Of course, with Iron Man it was hard to tell. He was a one expression type of guy.
"Attention X-Factor Investigations," boomed the aforementioned Iron Man. "You are surrounded. We know you're harbouring an unregistered superhuman. If you cooperate, force won't be necessary."
Siryn let out a most unladylike sound of disgust. "Force won't be necessary," she repeated skeptically.
Jamie stuck his head out the window and looked down. "And if we don't?" he yelled.
The Avengers were obscured for a moment while a bright light engulfed the building and the office shook dangerously. Dust from the ceiling came down in a fine mist and a few people started to cough, Monet saying something about the advantages of cleanliness and how, if they had the money, they might want to invest in a maid.
"Aw, hell, Jamie. What'd you that for?" asked Guido between sneezes.
"I'm not the one who just shot at our office!" said Jamie, eyes widening in anger.
"He meant why'd you provoke them," clarified Rictor.
"Yeah, that's what I meant."
Jamie looked at the two of them before he rolled his eyes. "You get stuck on an island and suddenly no one agrees with you."
There was silence for a moment as everyone took in the severity of the situation. Jokes aside, they were royally screwed.
"We cannae beat them. Nae without help."
Jamie was about to nod in agreement but that's when Rogue caught his eye. Why didn't I think of this before? He strode over to her and held out his hand. His bare hand.
"We have all the help we could ever need," he said looking down at his hand and then back up at Rogue. "How'd you like to be an army of one?"
Yeah, I'm messed up in the head but at least I'm consistent.
Jamie was pacing. It was a familiar sight to those of X-Factor Investigations, although he supposed it might be something new to Rogue and Brodie. He made short and quick about turns every five steps or so and it took Guido kindly pointing out that they didn't have the money at the moment for him to wear a hole in the floor because they were still paying off the plumber for the water damage a few months ago before he stopped.
"Right," said Jamie. "Water damage."
Courtesy of Layla, of course. I wonder if there's anything that isn't courtesy of Layla these days.
Rictor snorted before he kicked his feet up on Jamie's desk. "You in there, Madrox? 'Cause I'm startin' to have my doubts."
Jamie shot him a Look and Rictor in turn raised his hands defensively. "I'm just sayin'."
"He's right, Madrox," said Monet. Which was something extraordinary indeed if Monet was agreeing with Rictor. "You haven't said anything since the capekillers interrupted lunch."
Jamie looked around the room; they were all crowded in his office waiting for him to do that leader thing that he was so well-known for. Except for the part where I'm not, really.
"Well, obviously, the capekillers were just a warm-up," he said. "I think they expected this to be an easy bag. Their mistake." He offered them a reassuring smile. "But, like I said. It's a warm-up. Bigger guns are coming."
"Jamie," said Rahne in a warning voice.
"That means we have to be prepared. We're short on allies at this point, so we'll have to get creative."
"Jamie," said Rahne again, this time more concerned.
"We might want to poke around Mutant Town, see who hasn't been slipped whatever bullshit Pietro's trying to sell. Rahne, maybe you and Guido could do that?"
"Jamie, we'll nae have time!" she said.
At last, he paid attention. "Uh, why not?" he said, his face in an adorably clueless expression.
"Look out the window ye great idiot!"
Jamie turned and looked out the window. "Oh." He turned back to face the group. "That could be a problem."
The Avengers were outside and they didn't look happy. Of course, with Iron Man it was hard to tell. He was a one expression type of guy.
"Attention X-Factor Investigations," boomed the aforementioned Iron Man. "You are surrounded. We know you're harbouring an unregistered superhuman. If you cooperate, force won't be necessary."
Siryn let out a most unladylike sound of disgust. "Force won't be necessary," she repeated skeptically.
Jamie stuck his head out the window and looked down. "And if we don't?" he yelled.
The Avengers were obscured for a moment while a bright light engulfed the building and the office shook dangerously. Dust from the ceiling came down in a fine mist and a few people started to cough, Monet saying something about the advantages of cleanliness and how, if they had the money, they might want to invest in a maid.
"Aw, hell, Jamie. What'd you that for?" asked Guido between sneezes.
"I'm not the one who just shot at our office!" said Jamie, eyes widening in anger.
"He meant why'd you provoke them," clarified Rictor.
"Yeah, that's what I meant."
Jamie looked at the two of them before he rolled his eyes. "You get stuck on an island and suddenly no one agrees with you."
There was silence for a moment as everyone took in the severity of the situation. Jokes aside, they were royally screwed.
"We cannae beat them. Nae without help."
Jamie was about to nod in agreement but that's when Rogue caught his eye. Why didn't I think of this before? He strode over to her and held out his hand. His bare hand.
"We have all the help we could ever need," he said looking down at his hand and then back up at Rogue. "How'd you like to be an army of one?"