Overtime

twenty ✧ || fate

"We hadn't heard from you guys in a while." Fury claimed, drawing closer and helping ease the teenagers off of Rogue's limbs. "We were starting to get worried."

Rogue sighed as the teens detached themselves, their hair scraggly messes given the speed he was running. Finally, now able to stretch his arms, he groaned. "Yeah, we kinda had our hands full."

Ace knelt to the ground, gently allowing the girl on his back to climb off. As he did so, two teachers came surging forwards, carting the girl away to tend to her distressed limb.

"Have you guys heard anything from Chaos or Snow?" Rogue posed, swaying his arms back and forth at his sides, hoping to loosen up the tense muscles.

Fury shook his head, his brows furrowed in concern. "Nothing. Not since we got our first bunch of teachers out here." His gaze turned to his twin, Ace, standing to the side, stressfully roaming his hands through his hair. His gaze furrowed at the male, pitying his clear distress. "Did you guys learn anything valuable?"

"About the guy who did it?" Ace questioned, his hand slapping down to his thigh. "All we got was that he had brown hair."

Blackwind crossed his arms, his gaze averted to the ground. "Do you think Chaos and Snow have better intel?"

"They've been in there so long they better." Rogue groaned, scratching at the back of his neck in anxiety.

As if by fate, the front doors of the building burst open and out fumbled Chaos. Behind her trailed a handful of students, amidst them Miss. Bird, as terrified and bedraggled as they had ever seen. Marching behind was Snow, throwing the doors closed behind them with Angela clinging to his side.

The student body watched in silent horror as person by individual person was removed from the inside of the building. Seeing as the doors were locked, the shooter trapped within, the congregated mass of all who were inside gathered in the front lawns, pouring into the street. Teachers were desperately trying to take head counts of their classes, students were calling their parents as blubbering messes, friends were clinging to one another in pained, horrified silence. Through it all, their group of six continued to emerge again and again, only adding to the swarm.

"Oh thank God," Rogue breathed, jetting forward to the huddle. Behind him he could hear the clambering of other urgent footsteps, no doubt their partners coming to ensure their teammates were alright.

"Are you guys okay?" Fury called, skidding to a halt at their side with the others.

Chaos, after waving the small group in the direction of police officers counting heads, turned to the rest of her team; her gaze solemn and lost. "Yeah, we're fine." With the flick of her wrist, her blade detracted, stuffing the remainder of the metal rod into her belt.

Tearing his gaze from her weapon, a shock to those who hadn't yet seen it, Fury continued. "Any new info?"

Snow, finally having Angela pried off of his arm thanks to Miss. Bird, jumped in. "Nothing you guys probably don't already know." He sighed.

"Male? Brown hair?"

The two nodded in response to Blackwind's questioning. "And confused." Chaos added, arms crossing defensively. "Apparently, he's new at this."

Just before they were ready to hash out a new plan, ready to force themselves back into battle, the sound of bounding footsteps approached behind them. The circle opened, Blackwind and Rogue stepping to the side, allowing The Professor's anxious persona to sweep into their huddle.

"Good, you're all here." He gasped, visibly out of breath.

Chaos and Snow cast each other a side-eye. The stare quickly shifted across the circle. How was it possible what someone who was in charge of their brutal daily training was so horribly out of shape?