Hard Times, X-Men

XIV

Hunter had mustered up the strength to possibly survive the ceremony. Trask infuriated and bored Hunter so she wasn't looking forward to seeing him yet again. It was a massive event hence the overflowing amount of security and bag checks wherever you would go.

They had agreed that Charles would go in his wheelchair with no treatment so he could use his powers, which made Hunter go bright red and avoided any eye contact at the word, treatment.

Hank wheeled Charles through the security box followed by Hunter then Logan. As Charles went through security, the alarm sounded and Charles threw his hands up.

"Can I see your invitation's please?" The security man asked.

"Yes you may" Charles smiled as he held up his two fingers to him temple, controlling the security man's mind. "These three are with me"

"Go ahead"

Before Hunter could step forward, another security man held up a metal detector stick in front of her which she found rather confusing. Frowning at the man, she would of done what she wanted to if Logan didn't walk over to her and practically drag her away.

"Yeah we ain't blowing up any heads today bubs" He muttered as he pressed his hand against her back and pushed Hunter forward.

"you should of let me" Hunter huffed.

Hunter's knee high boots crunched against the grass as she awkwardly shuffled in her lavender coloured body con dress, not to mention the shorts she had on underneath, as she pushed her expensive sunglasses up her nose. Hank pushed Charles up front by the veterans in wheelchairs as they all tried their best to not look suspicious.

"Fourth infantry... took a bouncing Betty" A man in his uniform told Charles. "what happened to you?"

Making up an excuse, Charles nodded slightly. "Friendly fire"

"The worse kind"

"....yeah"

Crouching down slightly with a wince, Hunter held onto her upper thigh as she looked at Charles.

"you could of let me brush your hair properly" The brunette mused.

"I appreciate that but my looks isn't the main priority right now" Charles smiled slightly as he took no notice to the brunette who held her thigh next to him as he lifted up two of his fingers and pressed them to his temple.

With a bit of help from Hank, Hunter stood up as she received a look from Logan. Tugging her lips together in a straight line, she shrugged as she turned her attention back to Charles who tried to find Raven.

"I haven't found her yet, she has to be here"

"The president of the united states!" A voice rung through the microphone as the president followed by several attendees, walked onto stage.

After a standing ovation, everyone sat down again as they waited for the presidents speech. Sitting down, Hunter immediately crossed her legs and folded her arms. Hunter was dressed up but in no way she was sitting like a dressed up woman.

"my fellow American's.... today we face the biggest threat in our history, mutants" The presidents voice echoed. "we have prepared for this threat. In the immortal words of Robert Oppenheimer, "behold, the world will never be the same again" "

Behind him, the flag dropped to reveal a line of sentinels as the nation anthem began to play. People stood up and applauded the sentinels whilst Logan, Hank and Hunter looked at the sentinels bitterly.

On stage Trask looked around smugly. Looking around, Hunter noticed a man in the suit limp, much like Raven. He stood near the stage as he reached into his jacket pocket and suddenly stopped as soon as Charles said Raven's name.