Welcome to Gaia! ::

(Ok. Dodge the attack and I'll bust through the door in the next post.)

"No you don't!! No one understands me! Least of all you!" she yelled at him. How could he understand? It was his fault. Everything was his fault, and she was going to make him pay. His back was to the door, so he couldn't retreat any further. She let fly a kick aimed at his chest. Maybe this one would hit too.

*****

"Oh. Right. I'd forgotten that was the last of it. Guess it's time to go shopping," said Rogue with a small laugh. The new guy still hadn't answered her question, but she just shrugged it off. She'd find out soon enough who was in trouble, but why did it sound like the fight was still going on at full force? Where were Logan and Professor X? They usually stopped this sort of thing before it went too far.

When her attack missed, it hit the door behind him. The force of the blow was so strong that the door burst open. the momentum carried her through the now open doors, to the front yard. She landed with a thud and turned to face him once again.

He continued trying to get through to her, but he was only making her point. "EXACTLY!!! Which makes it all YOUR FAULT!!!! Everything I am is because of you!!!!" she spat. She leapt at him once more, this time with her toe claw pointed straight at his heart.

Edging closer to her, out of the confined space of the Entrance Hall and into the front yard, following her verbal explosion, Wolverine saw her attack from a mile away. With a growl of annoyance more then anything else, Logan quickly flipped out of the way, leaving nothing but an empty space for her to attack.

"I'm a victim just like you," he said as he stood up some yards away. At this point he highly doubted she would listen to what he had to say, but...if there was always the off change she would.

"I may be the closest thing ya have to family."

Despite his outwardly gruff demeanor, it torn Logan's heart to see X-23...his clone break down like she just did. The will to fight that had been implanted in her as second only to breathing, was finally being overridden by the emotions of a angry and most importantly, lonely 15 year old girl.

"Just let it out kid," said Logan, retracting his claws, proving that he had no intentions of harming her, especially in this state. "Just let it out."

Just then, as if they were waiting for this moment in their little battle, a flock of armed helicopters, all bearing the S.H.I.E.L.D logo appeared on the horizon. They were coming in their direction, and Logan knew it was to take X-23 away, but never in a million years would he let them ruin her life again.

"Go," said Logan, unsheathing his claws again and turning toward the oncoming visitors. "I'll cover for ya."

Logan didn't ridicule her, or hit her, or anything. He did something no one had ever done; he comforted her. He told her to let it out, which was the last thing she'd ever expected. She listened this time. She let it all come rushing out, and as a result she grabbed ahold of him in a hug. It wasn't her first, no, that belonged to her cousin Megan, but still, it wasn't something she did often. She hugged him and sobbed into his chest.

But then she caught the sound of helicopters, and just as quick as it had started, her crying stopped. She broke the embrace and stepped away. Logan had heard them too, and told her to go. She ran a few steps, but then turned back. She didn't want to leave him to the wolves, but she wasn't about to be taken back either. With one last glance at Logan, she turned and sprinted into the night.

Lizz looked at Lance and then around at the busy kitchen. "Goodness it got crowded in here." She said mildly. "Hey Jillian, how long till that Pizza get's here?" She called out the question. She was getting hungry. "If anyone needs me I'll be out in the back on one of the chairs by the pool." She said sauntering out the back. A second later her shirt and pants were off revealing that she had come prepaired to lounge in a bathing suit. A modest one peice...emerald green almost matching her skin color. With a grunt and a sigh she sprawled herself bonelessly onto a chair.

Sara was still in snoozeland waiting for someone to remove the neuro disk from her forehead.

((Don't quote me of this but I think the Neuro-Disks pop off automatically once X-23 leaves the area. Or at the very least, return to consciousness.))

Despite all he had seen in his lifetime, Logan was completely surprised when X-23 hugged him around the middle. She was finally letting her killer instincts go by the wayside and letting her true emotions out. Hugging her back for an instant, Logan realized it was a big step for her, for anyone, but he was glad she was able to do it.

"Go," he said for a second time, and this time she had calmed down enough to listen. She let go of him, reluctantly, it seems, before darting out of sight, leaving Wolverine to deal with S.H.E.I.L.D and wonder if he would ever see her again.

====

"Thanks for the meal," said Victoria, waving politely and smiling like a kid in a candy store as the Australian made his exit. While he was here, she was distracted enough by the damn good Pasta Cabonara he whipped up to care that he was affiliated with those Brotherhood assholes.

"Dammit! Why couldn't we keep him? scoffed Victoria, shaking her head at the retreating Australian. "We need more guys around here that can cook."

====

"Yeah," said Lance, scowling a bit and nodding in agreement in Lizz. Even with the recent expansions made to the Brotherhood home as a whole, the kitchen had gotten very full. All in the last two minutes, it seemed. Seeing that Lizz took her exit, Lance debated about doing the same. For him, the pool was a no, leaving lounging in his room or living area as the only other options. Both seemed equally idiot-free, but he highly doubted he would be able to sneak past Val without her causing a fuss.

I'll probably need a grappling hook Conner thought, still planning his revenge but his resolve wilted slightly at the long and large bill he was making in his mind. It was going to take a good week of preperation before he was ready. Ooh...and a big block of ice! He kept going all through Aarin's spiel.

"A man is always accountable for his actions Aarin, no matter what he's feeling." He answered. "You can talk with him if you want but no matter what, we will be having a quiet chat at some point." He added darkly. He brightened up. "I'll see you to the door mate, I'm pretty sure I speak for everyone in the kitchen when I say you're welcome back anytime Aarin." He said, changing the subject. "And I'm pretty sure Xavier would like me to extend an invitation to you to stay here, join the team or just join the household." He figured Aarin wouldn't want to join the X-men but Conner figured it was worth a try.