In front of the television, the tension was so high you could almost smell the burnt plastic from the controllers.
John was on the verge of collapse, his eyes bloodshot as he smashed the buttons on the controller in desperation.
"Press X! No, square! Block, he's about to combo you!" Bobby shouted from the side, waving his hands like he was playing himself.
"Use teleportation, John! Hurry, or he's going to launch the special attack!" Kurt insisted from the other side, leaning in so much he almost blocked the screen.
"WILL YOU SHUT THE HELL UP?!" John roared, sweat pouring down his forehead as his character, Android 17, took a brutal barrage of hits. "YOU'RE MAKING ME NERVOUS, DAMN IT!"
Rath, sitting beside him, barely moved his fingers on the controller. A smug smile was etched across his tiger-like face as he enjoyed every second of the beating he was delivering with Super Saiyan 2 Teen Gohan.
"LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, JOHN ALLERDYCE!" Rath declared with a tone of superiority. "YOUR TECHNIQUE IS AS POOR AS YOUR PATIENCE! MY GAMEPLAY SKILL IS FAR SUPERIOR! YOU ARE FIGHTING AGAINST DESTINY, AND DESTINY HAS ORANGE FUR!"
"Shut up, stupid cat!" John snapped, gritting his teeth as he desperately tried to dodge a knee strike.
To Rath's right, Cessily and Kitty were completely absorbed in the match, cheering on every hit the alien landed.
"That's it! Don't let him breathe!" Kitty exclaimed, hopping in place with excitement.
"Finish him!" Cessily encouraged, her mercury eyes shining with the reflection of the TV.
Meanwhile, Illyana stood just behind John, arms crossed, wearing a mocking expression.
"Well, John…" Illyana murmured in her flat voice. "Didn't you say five minutes ago that you'd crush him and send him back to his planet? Looks like the only one being sent anywhere is you."
John growled in frustration as his health bar blinked red and Gohan began charging a special attack.
The TV exploded in a blue flash as the Ultimate Kamehameha slammed straight into Android 17's chest.
The screen filled with the words "K.O." and Rath let out a victory roar that made the soda cups tremble.
John completely lost it. He hurled the controller onto the carpet and jumped to his feet.
"WILL YOU SHUT THE DAMN MOUTHS ONCE AND FOR ALL?!" he shouted at Kurt and Bobby, pointing at them with a trembling finger. "I couldn't even hear my own thoughts with you two yelling in my ear! It's impossible to play like this!"
Bobby shrugged with a wide grin, completely unfazed.
"Don't blame us, John. You're just bad at the game," he said bluntly.
"Exactly," Kurt added, scratching the back of his neck. "At least I managed to take down his Kid Buu before he beat me."
"And I beat his Tien Shinhan," Bobby recalled, puffing out his chest. "You didn't beat a single one."
John looked like he was about to start smoking from the ears as he paced back and forth in front of the TV.
"OF COURSE I DIDN'T!" he shouted, exasperated. "I had two idiots telling me what buttons to press every second! 'Press X, press circle!' It was like playing in an emergency room with two lunatics screaming!"
Behind him, the girls couldn't hold it in anymore.
Jubilee was practically rolling around on Rath's back laughing, while Kitty and Cessily covered their mouths to keep from bursting out in front of him.
"Poor John," Kitty teased dramatically. "Defeated by a kitty and by his own lack of focus."
"You should practice more instead of yelling so much," Illyana added from the back, enjoying John's humiliation as she grabbed the last slice of pizza.
Jubilee finally slid off Rath's back, landing lightly on the floor.
She shook out her yellow jacket and cracked her knuckles.
"Alright, everyone move aside!" she declared with a defiant grin. "Now it's my turn. I'm going to show you how this is really done and restore the honor of the X-Men that these three dragged through the mud."
There was a second of silence and then the room exploded.
John, Bobby, and Kurt doubled over with laughter.
Bobby clutched his stomach as loud laughter spilled out of him, and Kurt had to wipe away a tear from laughing so hard.
Even Rath let out a deep laugh.
"LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, JUBILATION LEE!" Rath roared between laughs, pointing at the screen where his victory still glowed. "WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU, A HUMAN WHO ONLY THROWS COLORED LIGHTS, CAN DEFEAT THE CHAMPION OF APPOPLEXIA?! THESE THREE WARRIORS COULD BARELY TOUCH A SINGLE ONE OF MY CHARACTERS!"
Jubilee didn't flinch.
She sat cross-legged beside Rath and picked up the controller John had thrown. She pulled out a piece of gum, popped it into her mouth, and started chewing calmly, blowing a small bubble that popped with a soft "pop."
"You shouldn't underestimate a pretty young lady like me, Mr. Whiskers," she said, winking at him as she navigated the character select menu with a speed that surprised more than one of them. "Or you'll end up with your stripes flipped inside out."
Rath settled into place, snorting disdainfully as he prepared his own controller.
"RATH DOES NOT KNOW THE MEANING OF MERCY ON THE VIRTUAL BATTLEFIELD!" the alien warned, flexing his muscles. "DO NOT EXPECT RATH TO GO EASY ON YOU JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE SMALL AND LOUD!"
Jubilee's grin widened as she kept her eyes on the screen, selecting her team.
"Works for me," she replied playfully. "I like it rough anyway."
The comment left the boys in an awkward silence for a microsecond, but the sound of the stage loading cut through the tension, snapping everyone's attention back to the screen.
===============
The room was chaos, filled with screams and jumping.
Kitty and Cessily were cheering like they'd won the lottery, high-fiving a Jubilee who wouldn't stop bragging at the screen.
In the center of the TV, Jubilee's team shone beneath the word "VICTORY," while Rath's team lay defeated on the virtual ground.
Kurt, Bobby, and John stared at the screen with their eyes wide open, trying to process what had just happened.
"LISTEN TO ME CAREFULLY, JUBILATION LEE!" Rath roared, slamming his fist into the floor in pure frustration. "THIS IS NOT FAIR! THIS IS DIGITAL CHEATING! YOU PICKED SUPER SAIYAN 4 GOGETA, MR. SATAN, ARALE, AND YAJIROBE! THAT'S NOT A TEAM, THAT'S AN INSULT TO STRATEGY!"
Jubilee turned toward him with a grin from ear to ear, returning Kitty's high five.
"Aww, poor kitty… all I hear is a sore loser," she teased, blowing another bubble with her gum. "As far as I know, the game has no rule that says I can't use them. It's called strategy, Mr. Whiskers!"
"THEY'RE BROKEN!" Rath protested, pointing at the television with a claw trembling in indignation. "EVERYONE KNOWS YOU DON'T USE GOGETA IF YOU HAVE EVEN A MINIMUM SENSE OF HONOR! AND THAT LITTLE GIRL ARALE DOESN'T RESPECT THE LAWS OF PHYSICS! SHE'S A DISGRACE TO THE ART OF COMBAT!"
Behind Jubilee, Kitty and Cessily crossed their arms, looking at him with mock superiority.
"Come on, Legion, you have to accept defeat," Kitty said wisely. "A great Appoplexian warrior would admit he was surpassed by superior technique, right? Isn't that what a hero would do?"
Bobby, John, and Kurt nodded in unison with exaggerated seriousness.
"It's true," Bobby said, placing a hand over his chest. "True character is forged in defeat."
"One must know how to fall with dignity," Kurt added, trying not to laugh at Rath's furious expression.
Illyana, still leaning against the wall drinking her soda, raised an eyebrow and let out a dry chuckle.
"How strange…" she murmured. "I distinctly remember you guys screaming just like him ten minutes ago when you lost."
Bobby didn't even flinch and replied calmly.
"That's the past, Illyana. We've learned from the experience and grown as people. We are now more evolved beings."
Rath dropped the controller onto the carpet. He was so exasperated that his tiger ears wouldn't stop twitching back and forth.
"LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, JUBILATION LEE!" he roared, standing up to his full imposing height. "RATH WILL NOT ACCEPT A DEFEAT TAINTED BY THE DISHONOR OF BROKEN CHARACTERS AND A ROBOT GIRL WHO THROWS ROCKS! THIS WILL NOT END HERE!"
Rath stomped toward the door, but before leaving, he turned and pointed at the group with a threatening claw.
"RATH IS GOING TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT TO FEED HIS RAGE! AND WHEN HE RETURNS, RATH WILL KICK YOUR BUTT SO HARD THAT EVEN GOGETA WILL FEEL THE IMPACT!"
Jubilee, already resetting the character select screen, gave him a smug smile and a casual wave.
"You wish, Mr. Whiskers. Go get your snacks. I'll be right here waiting to give you round two," she replied playfully.
Kitty and Cessily immediately took advantage of the "champion" vacating the throne and sat down on the carpet, flanking Jubilee.
"Hey, Jubi," Kitty said, leaning in curiously. "While he's gone, can you teach me how to play? I want to learn that combo you did with Arale."
"Me too!" Cessily added, eyeing the controller with interest. "I've never played this, but it looks fun if you know which buttons to press."
Rath reached the door and placed his massive furry hand on the knob, giving them one last sideways glance.
"PRACTICE ALL YOU WANT!" he snorted. "BECAUSE NOTHING WILL SAVE YOU FROM RATH'S REVENGE! RATH CRAVES FRENCH FRIES, AND NOTHING WILL STAND BETWEEN RATH AND HIS SODIUM SUPPLY!"
With that, he exited into the hallway, slamming the door shut behind him, leaving the young mutants laughing amid sparks of color as the quick videogame lesson began.
=========================
The alien walked through the hallways, his heavy footsteps echoing against the wooden floor.
Through the large windows, despite the fact that night was falling, he could see students in the courtyard, some using their powers and others simply hanging out under the moon.
For a brief moment, Rath stopped and watched calmly, seeing how the young people laughed and enjoyed themselves outdoors.
Unfortunately, the calm didn't last long.
Suddenly, his body began to vibrate.
He collapsed to the floor, letting out a roar through clenched teeth.
He felt his bones crack as they widened and his muscles swelled nearly to the point of bursting.
The armor began to move on its own, as if it were alive, vanishing in sections to allow his body to grow even more.
His claws lengthened, and from the tops of his hands, two black blades emerged, sharp and gleaming.
The transformation was almost complete.
When he stood up, Rath was now over eight feet tall. Orange-and-black fur covered his entire body, and his eyes, now an intense green and no longer behind the visor, scanned the hallway with a feral gaze.
"LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, RATH'S BODY!" he exclaimed in a much deeper, rougher voice. "RATH FEELS BETTER THAN EVER! THIS ENERGY IS SOMETHING RATH CANNOT EXPLAIN, BUT FULLY INTENDS TO ENJOY!"
In his ear, Sid's voice interrupted his monologue.
"It seems the transformation is almost complete, sir… Please control yourself. You are in a school. Do not seek trouble."
Rath grinned, baring his fangs as he flexed his arms. He felt like he was about to burst from all that energy.
"I DON'T WANT TO CONTROL MYSELF, SID! RATH WANTS A REAL FIGHT! THIS BODY NEEDS TO BRAWL!"
Suddenly, his ears twitched.
He picked up a sound coming from the forest behind the mansion. Something was moving out there. He stepped closer to an open window and stared into the darkness of the trees with a grin stretching from ear to ear.
"And it looks like the universe agrees with me," he murmured.
Sid tried to intervene, attempting to convince him to stay put, but Rath was already sick of listening.
He shoved a finger into his ear, yanked the little device out, and tossed it to the floor.
He braced himself on the window frame, tensed his legs, and with a massive leap, hurled himself straight into the thick of the forest.
"WHERE THERE IS A BATTLE, THERE MUST ALWAYS BE AN APPOPLEXIAN TO FINISH IT!" he roared as he crashed through the branches.
=======================
Logan took a step back, claws out and breathing heavily. His clothes were a mess of torn fabric and blood, but the wounds on his chest were already bubbling, sealing themselves rapidly as his healing factor did its work.
He stood still for a second, flaring his nostrils to catch the scent on the wind, and just in time he dove to the ground.
Sabretooth flew over him, bursting out of the trees like a wild animal.
When he landed, Victor tried to turn and continue the attack, but Logan was faster and slashed him across the chest from top to bottom. Creed staggered back, growling, but instead of complaining, he dragged his bloodied claws across his tongue and smiled.
"Aren't you supposed to be watching Magneto's back instead of coming here to cause trouble, Victor?" Logan growled, never taking his eyes off him.
Creed began to circle, moving calmly as he studied his prey.
Logan mirrored him, keeping his distance.
"I do whatever I want, Logan," Sabretooth spat with a hoarse laugh. "Unlike you, who's now the lapdog of a bald guy in a wheelchair. What's it feel like to be on a leash?"
"Don't get it twisted. I'm here because I want to be," Logan replied, lowering his center of gravity as his boots sank into the mud.
Sabretooth let out a dry, contemptuous laugh.
"Cut the crap! Teaching brats? Looking after others? Don't sell me that," he snarled, stepping a little closer. "You and I are the same, Logan. We're predators. What we do is hunt, kill, and eat. That's what we are deep down, no matter how hard you try to hide it under that ridiculous uniform."
Logan shook his head, keeping his gaze locked on his enemy's eyes.
"I got tired of being that a long time ago. The Professor showed me there's another path, and that's the one I chose. If you don't like it, you can turn around and get lost the way you came."
"I'd rather rip your heart out," Creed declared.
Sabretooth lunged with a roar.
Logan didn't back down.
They collided in the center with brutal violence.
Victor slashed straight at Logan's face, but Logan deflected the blow with the claws of his left hand, using the opening to drive his claws into Creed's side. Ignoring the pain, Victor grabbed his arm and hurled him into the trunk of a pine tree.
The tree creaked under the impact, but Logan rebounded before falling, landing on his feet and charging again.
They became a whirlwind of claws and teeth; deep gashes appeared and vanished on both bodies almost instantly.
Logan was more precise, aiming for vital points, while Victor fought with unleashed brute force, using his height and agility to try and overpower Logan.
At one point in the fight, they locked up, arm against arm, straining as they snarled inches from each other's faces.
Blood splattered the undergrowth, and the air smelled of metal and scorched flesh from the friction.
"ACCEPT WHAT YOU ARE, LOGAN!" Creed roared, trying to bite his neck.
Then something fell from the sky like a meteor.
The impact was so fast and so sudden that neither of them could react in time. They were slammed into the mud before they could separate.
From the cloud of dirt emerged a massive, furry hand that grabbed Sabretooth by the head.
With effortless strength, it yanked him off the ground and drove a devastating punch straight into his stomach. The blow sounded like two trains colliding.
Victor was sent flying backward, soaring several meters before crashing into a thick pine tree. The tree split in half with a sharp crack, but it slowed Creed's body enough for him to drop to the ground, coughing up blood.
Logan, barely recovering from the impact, looked up.
Standing before him was a gigantic humanoid tiger, far larger and broader than he remembered Legion ever being.
The beast clasped its hands over its head, interlocking them like a massive hammer, and brought them down hard toward Logan's position.
"Damn it," Logan muttered, twisting away in a split second.
The hammering fists smashed into the ground where Logan's head had been moments earlier, carving a small crater in the earth and sending roots and stones flying.
Logan regained his footing and leapt back to put some distance between them, panting, claws ready, trying to understand what the hell was going on.
Rath straightened up slowly, rolling his shoulders as his muscles tensed beneath the orange fur.
His green eyes burned brightly in the darkness of the forest, and the black blades on his hands vibrated, eager for more.
"LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, YOU PAIR OF ANIMALS FIGHTING IN RATH'S GARDEN!" the Appoplexian roared. "RATH HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR A REAL FIGHT, AND HE'S NOT ABOUT TO LET TWO STRAY DOGS FINISH THEIR BUSINESS WITHOUT RATH PUTTING THE FINAL PERIOD ON IT!"
Logan snorted, recognizing the voice instantly.
"Legion?" Logan growled, not lowering his claws. "You look… different… louder."
"RATH DOESN'T CARE ABOUT YOUR COMMENTS ON THE VOLUME OF HIS VOICE, JAMES HOWLETT!" Rath snapped, turning toward Sabretooth, who was already crouching to leap again. "AND YOU, THE ONE IN THE FUR COAT THAT SMELLS LIKE GARBAGE! GET READY, BECAUSE RATH IS GOING TO USE YOUR SPINE AS A BACK SCRATCHER!"
Victor let out a savage laugh, thrilled by the new challenge.
"I don't know what you are, kitty, but you've got guts," Sabretooth said as he lunged forward again. "LET'S SEE IF YOU SCREAM THE SAME WHEN I RIP YOUR SKIN OFF!"
===============
Back in the room, the atmosphere was still lively.
Jubilee had handed the controllers to Kitty and Cessily, who were now focused on trying special attacks and laughing every time something exploded on the screen.
The boys, now more relaxed, were busy offering advice from the floor, sometimes helpful, sometimes not, while Illyana remained leaning against the wall, sliding her finger across her phone screen with a bored expression.
At that moment, the door opened and Piotr's head peeked through the doorway.
He paused for a second, processing the scene of a room full of teenagers and console cables.
"Lapochka?" Colossus said, using the affectionate Russian nickname meaning "little bunny" as he looked at his sister in confusion. "What are you doing here?"
Illyana lifted her gaze from her phone, and a small smile appeared on her face when she saw him.
"We came to visit Legion to see how he was doing," she replied, slipping the phone back into her pocket.
The rest of the group noticed Piotr's presence and greeted him right away.
Kitty also raised her hand with a smile, which made Colossus straighten up a little and return the greeting with noticeably more enthusiasm.
Piotr stepped fully into the room and looked around.
"And where is Legion?" he asked, frowning when he didn't see their guest.
"He went out to get something to eat," Bobby replied casually. "He said he wanted some fries."
Colossus shook his head immediately.
"I just came from the kitchen and didn't see anyone there. Not in the hallways on this floor either."
The kids exchanged glances, and Kitty stood up, starting to worry.
"How long ago did he leave?" Kitty asked, looking at Illyana.
The Russian girl checked her phone and grimaced.
"About… half an hour ago."
Piotr ran a hand over his head, rubbing his temple in frustration as his expression hardened.
"Chyort!" Colossus exclaimed, letting out the curse in Russian. "He shouldn't be alone. We barely know anything about him or how that transformation affects him. It's a risk for him to be wandering around the mansion without anyone watching him."
"Piotr, calm down. I don't think he went far," Kitty said, trying to sound convincing. "He looked… fine when he was with us. Maybe he got lost looking for the dining hall. It's only been half an hour."
Bobby and John exchanged a silent look, sharing a doubt they hadn't had while they were playing. Even though Rath had seemed friendly during the match, the truth was they weren't sure how stable he really was.
As they talked, the door opened again and Scott walked into the room.
He stopped short when he saw half the group of teens clustered among pizza boxes, crossing his arms with a stern expression.
"What's going on here?" Scott asked, raising an eyebrow. "Weren't you all supposed to be grounded by the Professor? What are you doing in here?"
Kitty quickly stepped forward, putting on her most innocent face.
"We asked the Professor for permission, Mr. Summers," she said. "We wanted to thank Legion for helping us, and he let us come by for a while to see how he was doing."
Scott nodded slowly, though his expression remained doubtful as he scanned the room. His eyes stopped on Colossus.
"Piotr, where is he?" Scott asked directly. "I need to talk to him about some medical tests Hank wants to run tomorrow."
Colossus started to stammer, glancing at the others, unsure what excuse to come up with.
"He's… well, you see, Scott…" Piotr began, scratching the back of his neck.
"He's in the bathroom!" Jubilee blurted out suddenly, moving quickly toward the closed bathroom door in the room. "Apparently Appoplexians take their time in there. They like to be relaxed and not bothered while they're… you know, doing their business."
She put a finger to her lips, making an exaggerated shushing gesture.
"So it's better to leave him alone, or he'll start roaring at the toilet," she added with a nervous smile.
Scott stared at the bathroom door for a few seconds, processing the mental image, then nodded with an awkward grimace.
"All right… I guess," Scott replied, turning to leave. "I wanted to talk to him for a moment, so I'll come back later when he's done. Don't stay here too late."
As soon as Scott closed the door and his footsteps faded down the hallway, everyone let out the breath they'd been holding.
Piotr sagged slightly on his heels, rubbing his face with obvious nervousness.
"Kitty, what am I going to do?" he asked quietly, almost in a whisper. "Scott specifically asked me to keep an eye on him. If they find out he slipped away and I have no idea where he is, he's going to be very disappointed in me. I failed the mission he gave me."
Kitty placed a hand on his shoulder and looked him straight in the eyes, trying to calm him down.
"Relax, Piotr. We're not going to let that happen," she assured him firmly. "We'll find him before Scott comes back. We'll split into small groups: some will search the mansion, others the surrounding grounds. We'll bring him back here, put him in the room, and it'll be like nothing ever happened."
Then she turned to the rest of the group, who were still watching the scene.
"Are we all in?" she asked.
Bobby, John, Kurt, and the girls nodded immediately.
It wasn't just about helping Colossus. After spending the afternoon with that giant tiger, none of them wanted him getting into serious trouble with the teachers.
"Good," Kitty said. "Jubilee, stay near here in case Scott pokes his head in again. The rest of you, move fast but keep it quiet. If anyone spots a giant orange blur, don't try to fight it, just let us know."
And so, with a "plan" in mind, they split up into groups to try and find the giant tiger.
================
Hello, how are you all?
I hope you're well. It seems the transformation is almost complete, giving Rath's instincts even more control. He's also found two individuals to satisfy his thirst for combat. Meanwhile, the kids will try to find him so Colossus doesn't get into trouble with the teachers.
That's all for now. I also wanted to let you know that there might not be an update for a week or two.
I have to take apart my computer because they're building right in my room, and well... without the computer, I won't be able to write.
I'll see what I can do. I'll try to find another place to plug it in, or maybe I can get my brother to lend me his computer for a while so I can write this.
But I'll let you know so you're aware. With all that said, see you in the next chapter, guys! Kisses :)