Intrigue at the Arcade

[apache_banshee]

Sean and Rose had decided to go out and have some fun. Rose had insisted it had been too long since she had "schooled him" in pool, so they were driving to a local arcade that had several pool tables available.

"I still say I won that last game we had."

Comments

[ngm_xsyndicate]

"What in!?" Mayhem couldn't even get her question out as Rose tore into her with multiple slashes. Individual paralyses could be shrugged off, but the various, multiple slashes and the pain that came with them was wearing even her out. Mayhem tried grabbing Rose, but any grip she got broke from the fierce assault. Finally the pain was too much, causing mayhem's eyes to roll back as she fell forward with a thud.

[wild_child]

Rose looked around, seemingly more like an enraged animal than a young woman. There was some intelligence left to her eyes, but right now, it was all subsumed by white hot rage.

[apache_banshee]

While part of him wanted to just pass out, he knew that countenance Rose was sporting. He stumbled a bit toward her, trying to shake off the lights in his eyes.

"Rose..it's over. They're all down..we're okay."

Bennett still sat frozen on the ground, a combination of confusion and fright when he saw Rose's face.

[wild_child]

Some of Sean's words broke through, and with heavy breathing, Rose brought herself back from the brink of rage, the red filling her vision slowly receding.

"Thanks, Irish," she said. "I needed that."

[apache_banshee]

"You're welcome..going to sit down now." Sean promptly fell back on his rear.

"So..you're mutants too?" The voice came from Bennett, who warily stood up.

[wild_child]

"Better than that," Rose said. "We're X-Men."

[apache_banshee]

"Technically just her. I'm working on it," Sean said with a tired smile.

Bennett seemed to sigh before grabbing what looked like his face, but turned out to be a realistic mask. Underneath he had purple, scaled skin. "It gets so hot in there." He took a few breaths. "Not that I don't appreciate what you've done, but..you've only delayed tings for me."

[wild_child]

Rose showed only the mildest surprise at the reveal. "That's pretty flipping realistic," she said, speaking of the mask.

"We... we got people who can help," she said.

[apache_banshee]

Sean for his part gave a surprised start. That thing was damn realistic!

"Well one thing you can say for the Syndicate is you get quality goods," he said with a bitter chuckle. He shook his head. "I appreciate that, but..I've been marked. There's no way for me to get away for long. I..I do have a request though."

[wild_child]

Rose nodded somberly. "Name it."

[apache_banshee]

"My wife..Molly. She and our..our baby. They had nothing to do with my mistakes. She doesn't have..this," he said holding up his mask. "We could only afford one. I was the means of income." He shook his head in disgust at himself before continuing. "She has no means to disguise herself. Even these days..I doubt she'd be safe openly. We have family..among the Morlocks. I..I don't want her to be alone."

"Wait..we can protect you," Sean protested. "You don't-"

"With respect..you're not equipped to protect me from them. One way or another they'll find me."

[wild_child]

"We'll make sure she's safe," Rose assured him. "But we can do the same for you. We've got powerful friends."

[apache_banshee]

"She's not kidding. We can get you out of harm's way," Sean assured.

"They always..always, find those who cross them. I don't..maybe if I stay and accept my..punishment, I can still get enough money to pay back Echidna and Molly and I can raise our child in the Sun." He has a wistful smile on his face, then sighs. "That's not very realistic though."

[wild_child]

Rose unconsciously clenched her fists, nearly squeezing so tight as to draw blood from her palms with her nails. She hated being unable to act, hated being faced with problems that she couldn't punch or stab.

"You can't... you can't just give up..."

[apache_banshee]

Sean didn't say anything, seeing that Rose looked like the was about to explode.

"I'm not, but-"

[wild_child]

"We're the X-Men," Rose said. "We've beaten gods, aliens, terrorists, and psychos. We'll beat this bunch of sad sacks too. That's a promise."

"Ya think you're keeping your family safe by doin' this. And in the short term, while they waste time loookin' for you, maybe you are. But that kid of yours deserves a daddy. And your wife deserves her husband. And there's all the other families out there, bein' taken advantage of th' same way. We can take them on, take them down. That's a promise. But you let them kill you... you ain't gonna be around to see any of that."

[apache_banshee]

Bennett sat there quiet for a time, looking at his mask then back to Rose.

"..You're right." He lets out a deep breath. "Okay, but you don't know the extent of what you're facing. I don't know much, but when my family's safe I'll tell you what I can."

Sean smiled, giving Rose a thumbs up.

"Now that that's settled, I could really use some medical attention. My hand's busted and pretty sure parts of my jaw are cracked."

[wild_child]

Rose almost laughed at Sean. "Long as the rest of your face is fine, Irish, that's all I'm worried about."

"But let's get you patched up."