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The gaijin was hurting Mother.

Yelling. Threatening her with his claws. Marie- not Marie, it wasn’t her- curled in on herself, her little hands covering her ears. Trying to drown out the sound of that foreign bastard. Trying not to hear what was going on. Blood was wafting on the air, hurt and worry and arousal thick like perfume- Mama pleading with the gai-jin, begging him to stop. Begging him to leave her alone. He didn’t listen though; he struck her, his big fist terrifying and obscene against her cheek. Telling her that she was nothing, laughing as she tried to get away from him. Following, kicking at her on the ground. Mama let out a sob, eyes widening, turning glassy with tears and then- Daken heard it. That awful, hideous sound- snikt. The same sound his own claws made to this day. For a split second nothing happened, Mama just stared at him and then- Blood was spilling out of her like it would never stop. There was death everywhere, redness everywhere- On his hands, on the floor, on the ceiling and Daken wailed- screamed- howled like an animal. Like another Wolverine. His fault, he couldn’t save her- It was all his fault- But it couldn’t be, couldn’t be- he wouldn’t let it be that-

“Ah know what you think the Wolverine did,” Marie said then.

Not looking at Tony. Or the team. Or even Osborne- though she now knew that that bastard would need to be watched like the snake he was.

Not looking at Logan. Or her girls. Or even Pepper- though she knew it was rude not to answer the woman who’d just kicked so much butt on behalf of her Wolverine.

No, Rogue’s eyes were fastened on Daken Akihiro where he lay at her feet. His teeth drawn back in a snarl though Mystique was subduing him nicely- And taking a worrying amount of pleasure in the task. The feral hissed, turning away from her, and she shook her head, trying to clear it. She could feel his memories hammering at her, feel the ache of everything he thought he’d experienced screaming through her mind. When she’d detected the flood of hormones he’d let loose in the clearing- thank you feral super-senses- it had somehow acted as a recall trigger for his memories, caused her to access all his rage and humiliation and self-justification and doubt. Caused her even to access the fact that he knew Logan was his father, and while on some level she wasn’t surprised- she’d suspected, in some way, ever since she caught his scent- on another she was horrified. Horrified that Logan should be asked to take responsibility for everything, for the feral monster beneath her and everything he had become. Rogue had no doubt that that was what Daken wanted: He blamed Logan, it was why he’d been so eager to take Osborne’s proposal despite the Senator’s obvious anti-mutant leanings. If it could be staged that Wolverine went mad and killed his family- and the world and his mother recognised herself, Kit and Jubes as his family- then people would see the older man for what he really was. People would finally believe that he was the bastard who’d taken Daken’s mother away. And of course if he was then that scared little boy Daken had been might not feel so alone anymore. Might not have to live with the things he’d done. Might even convince his mother’s ghost to stop haunting him-

And Marie knew there wasn’t a man, woman or child on the planet that Daken wouldn’t tear asunder if it meant he could have that.

So she forced herself to breath deeply, centring herself. Walking around to nudge the feral with the toe of her boot, crouching down when he looked up to spit at her and meeting his hazel eyes- The establishment of dominance being an important issue right now- and letting him take her scent. For a split second he held her gaze, probably trying to psyche her out and when he realised it wouldn’t work he thrashed, earning another mocking punch from the Porn Smurf- Marie really wished there’d been someone else to help her subdue him but everyone else had had the ragies- and muttering vindictively in Japanese. It didn’t scare her; one little boy with Daddy Issues was hardly gonna terrify Logan’s Mean-Streak, after all. But she needed him to go on the record about what Osborne had paid him to do- her mutation-gained testimony would probably not be legally admissible- and she needed him to do it yesterday. So little as she might want to Marie knew she would have to play nice until she spilled something… No matter how much it set her teeth on edge.

After that, far as she was concerned the crows could have him. He’d hurt her, he’d hurt her man and he’d hurt her family: The sonofabitch could burn.

“Ah know you think he murdered her,” she repeated then. Drawing his attention back to her. “Ah know you think he killed…Itsu? That was her name, wasn’t it?”

“You don’t know jack shit, you worthless fucking slut!” Daken snapped.

Marie heard Logan give an angry hiss of breath, felt more than saw him take a step forward but Kitty stopped him: The kitten knew better than to let him walk into a situation like this half cocked.

“Woulda thought you were above name-calling, Daken,” Rogue said conversationally instead. “Ah mean, ain’t that what was done t’you? Name callin’? Daken means mongrel in Japanese-”

“Red-neck bitch don’t know what she’s talking about,” he hissed.

“Red-neck bitch knows precisely what she’s talking about,” Marie retorted- in Japanese- “Just like Ah know what’s going on inside that wicked, sick little mind o’ yours. Just like Ah know the things you tell yourself at night, to make yourself believe what you do is okay.” She tapped her temple, eyes narrowing. “Ah got you in here, little man. Ah got you crooning inside mah head, whining about how it’s not your fault and Logan got what was coming to him. About how you never had a chance until Osborne came your way.” She hunkered closer, her bare skin tantalisingly, frighteningly close and she smelt his panic spike, however much he tried to hide it. He really didn’t like the idea of being in her skin. “But that’s all bullshit,” she hissed. “All of it. You took that mutant-hating bastard’s money and you turned on your own kind-”

“They were never my kind!” Daken snarled. “There are no others like me, except for the Wolverine.” To her right Marie heard Tony Stark whisper to one of the reporters to turn her mike on and was relieved to detect the whirr of movement as it burst into life. It was quickly followed by several others, enough to insure that even Osborne couldn’t pay off every source. “You’re too fucking right I took Osborne’s money,” the feral was snarling. “You’re too fucking right I screwed that bastard Logan over when I had the chance!” To her left Marie saw Pepper and Jubes smile in relief that he’d admitted something, but she wasn’t foolish enough to think this was over yet. Because man, Daken was pissed. “Where the fuck was “my kind,” when my mother was murdered?” he was snarling, “Where the fuck were my kind when I was being kicked from foster home to foster home because nobody wanted a haafu gai-jin dog?” And he began struggling, for the first time making the Blue Bitch look nervous- since she knew she was no more popular with him than Marie. “I can tell you where my father was,” he hissed, “He was busy fucking his three foreign whores and calling it family- Family, as if he even fucking knows the meaning of the word-”

And suddenly, without the slightest warning, Daken popped the claws on his right hand and wrist. Forcing the shard of bone through his own shoulder- and into Mystique. Causing her to hiss in pain and fall back, using her wound for leverage as he swung himself to his feet- and making for Kitty and Jubes.

It was a family reunion of the worse kind.

Instantly Marie jumped back, tumbling out of the way of a nasty swinging slash and getting distance. Stumbling to her feet, stance ready for fighting. Jubes, Kit, Gambit and Pete- kin all, in one way or another- preparing themselves to fight even while Logan swung the still-nearby Pixie out of the way and joined the fray. His claws out and ready, the fact that he still wasn’t fully healed no bother to him though it sure as Hell bothered Marie. For a second the little girl looked pissed but then Rogue saw Storm nod to her, heard Hank mutter that she needed to start transporting this crowd now. The stench of rage and anger had suddenly flooded the clearing again, heady and musky and sweet. Daken was clearly trying to amp up the crowd again only this time he didn’t seem to care whether he made them turn on each other- or him. It was the problem, Marie belatedly remembered, with using his mutation to summon emotions: While he could trigger the hormone surge which controlled rage or lust he couldn’t control who the victim felt it towards- Anymore than he could magically make it go away once it had served its purpose. The human body just didn’t work that way. Right now the entire clearing was angry at him: Rogue couldn’t be sure whether he was suicidal or just plain wanted to kill people but clearly his own safety was no longer important to him, he was determined to go down with the ship- And determined to take everyone with him.

Which, she thought, ain’t gonna happen on mah fucking watch.

So Marie started breathing deeply, trying to remind herself that whatever she felt right now was just a manipulation: She’d a bad temper on her, she knew that, but she didn’t need to let it take control. Anymore than the rest of the team did. To her right she could see Pixie trying to organise the crowd into groups, the little one obviously releasing her own brand of hallucinogens to keep them calm. Neither Daken, Logan nor Marie (at the moment) could be affected by Pixie’s mutation but that was less than could be said for the rest of the crowd- who were suddenly grinning, laughing at whatever shiny, happy scenario the junior X-Man had conjured. Trying to hug- a couple of the girls even tried braiding one another’s hair- while the men tackled one another and rough-housed like kids. Storm and Hank shushed them like stern parents, the little girl ordering everyone to hold hands, telling them that she was going to bring them a surprise-

And then Meghan muttered something, her eyes turning black, slashed wings fluttering, before the entire group-senior X-Men included- disappeared. The car which had been holding Senator Osborne and the remains of the Stark jet vanishing too, with an unnatural sounding pop! For a split second Marie let herself be impressed- once that kid learned how to handle her emotions she’d be quite the X-Man- and then instantly she was back in the game. Facing off against Daken, her, Kitty, Jubes Gambit and Pete at Logan’s back. The LeBeaus tried their hands first, Jubes’ paffs blinding Akihiro while Remy tried to charge one of his playing cards but Daken easily handled that: He went straight or Jubilee, slashing at her with both claws, digging his claws into her side and drawing blood. She let out a low, harsh scream, a string of choice cuss words and a barrage of paffs but instantly Gambit was by her side, his opponent forgotten. Nothing more important to him than his belle petite. Inwardly Marie growled: It was why Remy and Jubes never fought on the same team when they were X-Men, they couldn’t be relied upon to concentrate when one or the other was hurt. Remy scooped Jubes up- “Take her, Gumbo, she’s bleeding,” Logan hissed- and making off in the direction of the Mansion. Already calling for backup, demanding the team’s healer Joshua be teleported in right away. Daken used the distraction to slash at Logan, swinging low and clipping the tendons in his knees, knocking his legs from under him. Another vicious, clawed blow digging straight into his throat and severing the tendons there. Wolverine fell and instantly Marie went to him, placing herself in front of Junior and keeping him away from his father until he could heal. Trying not to notice the way he was bleeding, trying not to remind herself that his healing factor was still screwed- Oh no, shuggs, no- Ah just found ya- Ah don’t wanna lose you again-

Daken grinned. “Nice move, red-neck-” he growled.

Marie glowered. “Go fuck yourself, asshole-” she growled right back.

And then suddenly Colossus swung his heavy, metallic fist forward, his speed greater than would be expected from a man his size or weight. Kit’s grip on his shoulder keeping the rest of him phased even as his knuckles made their way towards Daken’s teeth. The punch hit Akihiro’s jaw, his foot going instantly to the feral’s balls in an unmercifully hard kick: It might not have been gentlemanly but it got the job done. Just as picking him up by his ball-sac and tossing him a couple of feet did. Daken hissed in pain, stumbling backwards and then suddenly he was back on his feet, taking both sets of claws, driving them upwards towards the vulnerable veins on Pyotr’s neck, his roar of rage uncannily like Logan’s own- For a split second Marie thought nothing would happen- the younger feral’s claws weren’t adamantium after all- But then in a move far quicker than she’d yet seen from him Daken reached out and yanked Logan towards him. Grabbing him by the wrist and swinging the adamantium claws right through Pete into Kit. It was a smart move: the molecular denseness of the metal was one of the few things that would disrupt Kit’s phasing ability and instantly both she and Pete became solid, Pete’s metal no match for Logan’s own, the giant Russian suddenly realising he had a bellyful of adamantium in his gut. He stumbled though he didn’t go down, pulling back and launching himself at Daken again, trying to beat him through sheer superior strength and bulk. Knowing he had to keep the bastard away from Kitty or God only knew what he’d do. Daken slashed at him- his claws, though they looked like bone, actually managed to cut the metal- and while Pete was reeling Logan suddenly forced himself forward though his legs were unsteady, cannon-balling into the younger feral with all that he had. Digging his claw into his sides, twisting and gouging just like he had on the plane. Marie darted after him, her gloves off- she might not wanna be dosed with that bastard again but if that was what it took then she’d do it- and just as she reached the two ferals she saw Daken dig his fingers into Logan’s neck, the scent of rage and fear and sheer adrenaline spiking as he did so. The hissing, cloying perfume of it drowning everything else out. For a second the world seemed to stand still, the stupidity of what he’d done shocking Marie into silence-

Because he’d given Logan every hormone and pheromone he had.

He’d essentially over-dosed the feral, and now there was no way to stop its effects- the hormonal surge would have to run its course-

“Get Kit out of here,” Marie hissed to Pete then.

Because Logan let out a howl, an ancient, angry, feral, vicious sound unlike any she’d ever heard him make before. The sound seeming to be dragged from his toenails, or maybe his entrails, the anguish and sheer animal rage in it unlike anything she’d ever seen in him before. Daken had to know that this was suicide, had to know that the Wolverine would turn on him- It was why he usually used lust as a distraction, it had less of a body-count attached- but the stupid bastard didn’t seem to care any. Or maybe he just hated his father that much. Because he was laughing as Logan turned to look at her with eyes that were not those of the man she knew or loved. He was laughing as the Wolverine gave one lethal jerk of his wrist and chopped all three of Daken’s claws off at the root, laughing as he howled in victory and took his prize, holding the claws aloft. The younger man was breathing hard, the effort of what he’d done taking the last of his strength- “Family,” he was whispering, “It’s all about family,”- and then, more loudly- “She hurt you, father,” he said, “Don’t you remember that? She hurt you and broke your heart- Surely that’s worth a little payback, isn’t it? Surely it’s right to show the bitch what you can do?” And his laughter grew louder as anger and fear- confusion- bled through Logan’s scent, turning it sickening. Making it cloying with fear and rage and lust. This wasn’t him, Marie knew this wasn’t him: it wasn’t Logan staring at her, eyes glassy and lit with something she’d never seen before, something that was older than spoken word or human custom. Something that wanted to be free. But still- he wanted to hurt her now, she could feel it. The animal wanted to pay her back for every ounce of humanity she had brought out in the man. Every time she’d made him feel weak, every time she’d made him feel loved. If there was one thing Marie understood it was the desire for vengeance, the will to hurt someone who’d badly hurt you: What else had the last two years been about? What else had disappearing and moving in with Callum been? She’d wanted to punish him for breaking her heart and now the animal in Logan, the thing that didn’t care how justified she’d been, wanted to do the same to her. Wanted to punish and frighten and kill- Because after all, she’d broken his heart in return. Daken grinned at her, raising his head, winking- And then making a half-hearted attempt to slash at Logan, knowing doubtless what it would bring. Without even glancing backwards Logan slashed his neck hear clean from his shoulders, the blood spattering everywhere. That mocking, wicked laughter finally dying in the younger man’s throat. Marie had seen a lot of death in her time, some slow, some fast but this was so calculated. So nonchalant. It was almost as if the Wolverine thought it were swatting a fly. Logan ghosted towards her, bloodied claws out, teeth showing and out of his mind on someone else’s hormones-

And Marie didn’t move.

Held still. Made sure to turn her skin’s mutation off.

Because whatever Daken had dosed her man with, she…knew he wouldn’t hurt her.

She couldn’t have explained why she knew this; it made no earthly sense- But she still knew it was true.

After all, they were family through and through.

So she took a step towards him. “Logan,” she whispered softly, “Logan, Ah know you’re in there-”

The Wolverine snarled- didn’t like his human name, apparently- and padded ever closer to his prey. Bringing his claws up against her throat, staining her with Daken’s blood- But not cutting her and not moving away. Just staring at her, the feel of it devouring. The sense that the rest of the world had ceased to exist one she couldn’t push away. Marie knew that her heartbeat was hammering, knew he must be able to smell her terror- But she didn’t falter. She just reached gently up and ran three small, bare fingers down the edge of his left claw. Let her hand rest on his knuckles, there where the claws came out- “It hurts, right? It hurts when they come out?”-

It was the right thing to do.

Because the Wolverine hissed, jerking at her touch as if he could actually feel through the metal- But not pulling away. Marie took her opportunity, stepping closer to him. Running her other hand up to touch his cheek, the bristle of his mutton chops harsh against her skin. Stroking, coaxing him gently. Whispering soft things she didn’t remember saying, the hand that was at his knuckles threading through his fingers and joining palm to palm. For a second he snarled defiantly and then- His big warm hand raked against her back, pulling her to him. The weight of his hand heavy and possessive against her ass, the hands shed twined together hanging at his side. She cocked her head, offering her throat- she knew he liked that, he’d never have admitted it but he did do- and as she did so she felt his warm, soft mouth land on her skin. Felt his kiss there. Felt his breath and his tongue warming her even as his arms wrapped around her waist and she wrapped hers around his neck. For a second it seemed like time had completely stopped and then- “Marie,” he said, very softly, like he was afraid the word would bite him, “Marie, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry darlin’…I never meant to hurt you…Jesus, I’m so sorry…”

And then he was holding her so tightly she thought she’d never breath again. Rocking her in the only arms that had ever been strong enough to hold her, telling her he was sorry and that he loved her over and over again. Pleading with her not to hate him, that it really hadn’t been him. As if she didn’t know that. Marie wrapped her arms around him just as tightly, holding him in place like she thought he’d disappear. Trying to show him that she was okay, that he hadn’t hurt her. That she’d never, ever believed he would turn on her like that, no matter what Daken did. At some point Pixie returned with Kit and Jubes (Joshua had had a lotta repeat business today) but Marie couldn’t say she noticed. She was too busy relearning the emotional topography of this- of her and Logan- to even notice when Callum came back to collect his med kit and humphed in annoyance at what he saw. Later on there would be questions, arguments, explanations- She was pretty sure she’d throw some stuff and she was pretty sure he’d employ the kinda language he felt bad using in front of Storm. But here and now everything was good. Solid. Here and now they were them again-

And it felt fucking great.

Gambit reached into his jacket and pulled out a fifty. Then another. Handed it to his wife as he watched them, muttering vindictively under his breath in French. A beat of silence passed and then Pyotr did the same- minus the en Francais swearing. Bobby, Storm, Hank, Lorna, Joshua, Loa, Cannon-ball, even Pixie grinning and joining in. Handing over a bunch of money that pretty much meant the beers were on Jubilee. In fact, thanks to the pool the only person who didn’t owe Jubes money was actually Kitty-

But then you should never bet against Marie and Logan, Kitty knew that-

It was a fringe benefit of knowing your family through and through.