Mission End

[miniclaws]

[The team parted at the entrance. Wolverine gave his reports to Cyclops alone. It suited X23 fine. She sniffed the air for Julian's sent and began to trace it to it's origin. He would call her Laura and she would feel less like a monster. The clothes with the bloodstains would go to the wash and she would start anew again.

She opened Julian's bedroom and walked in] I am back.

Comments

[hellionated]

[He'd been reading. Nothing too heavy, just a baseball mag. He hadn't been expecting anyone, so when the door opens he jumps. He's almost prepped for an attack, but then he sees her, and...

it all drains away. He stands at a loss. She's the last person he'd expected to see. But there's a smile creeping onto his face.]

Hey.

...Laura. You good?

[miniclaws]

[she nods and comes to perch on his desk chair] Wolverine intends to leave me here for awhile.

[hellionated]

[Thank God. Something in his shoulders relaxes]

Good. Really good. I mean, I know, the missions are important to you. Hell I wish I were out there with you, but...

I'm glad you're back.

[miniclaws]

He thinks I need a break from the killing [she is not sure what she thinks of this herself]

[hellionated]

[Hesitates, watching her face. He moves closer, sitting on the edge of his desk beside her.]

He's right, Laura. You've been killing for long enough. You shouldn't have to keep doing it.

[That's putting it mildly. There's a flare of anger inside him every time he thinks about what they're making her do.]

[miniclaws]

I...[she pauses and looks at him] I got asked how many people I had killed and I could not remember

[hellionated]

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<i<[Yeah, there goes that flare again.]</i>

It's what you've done, Laura. It's not who you are. You know that, right?

[miniclaws]

[she tilts her head a little to the side and looks him straight in the eye] I...know I don't want it to be who I am

[hellionated]

[He leans a little closer, meeting her eyes. His hand reaches out and grips the arm of the seat she's sitting on]

It isn't, Laura. That's not you. You're my friend. Nothing they make you do will ever change that.

[miniclaws]

Friend [again, it is a good word associated with Laura] yes. You are mine. No one is allowed to hurt you

[hellionated]

[His smile comes back]

Yeah, I know. You've saved my ass more than once.

That's a mutual thing, you know. I hate it, you being out there without me. I know you can handle yourself, Laura, but...I should be with you. [I should be kicking the hell out of anyone who hurts you.]

[miniclaws]

You would be hurt. I would worry

[hellionated]

That's what I've been doing here.

[miniclaws]

But you shouldn't worry

[hellionated]

Yeah. Stupid, right? In my head I know there's not a fight you can't win. And if there ever was, Josh'd make sure you still came back.

...doesn't matter. Still hate that you're there at all.

[miniclaws]

I am a strong fighter. Tactically it's best I'm out there

Josh yelled at Wolverine at how much killing the team is doing.

[hellionated]

I wasn't thinking tactics. I was thinking about what's best for you.

...and honestly, I don't love that Josh is there either. He could go black again. Don't know what the hell Summers is thinking of to do this to either one of you. [Mainly thinking aloud with that]

[miniclaws]

He is thinking as a leader. He needs a team of assassins and a healer to keep us alive.

[hellionated]

A leader gives a damn about his followers. You should be here with us and not on a team of assassins. And so should Josh. Laura, what if he goes black again?

[miniclaws]

He [Laura pauses] he is close to it. I do not know what to say to him

[hellionated]

[Shit.]

What do you want to say?

[miniclaws]

I want to tell him to stop

[hellionated]

Me too. So why don't you?

[miniclaws]

Because Wolverine does not keeps pushing. Josh gives in

[hellionated]

Then he's wrong. [Stubbornly] Not all orders should be given in to.