New Teams, Old Problems

Chapter 2: Mob Mentality

The ferals had returned to the mansion ahead of the crowd, having left a solid fifteen minutes before the Wagner clan did. Elin was sleepy, and they were glad to be back to home base where they could at least relax a bit and stretch out. However, when they got into the house, Peter Parker was quick to wave them over to the living room to see in living color as JJ ranted on screen.

"You guys are in trouble — you especially," Peter said, pointing a finger toward K. "He's not going to stop until he's dragged your name through the mud."

K looked to Logan and then to Peter as she bounced Elin on her hip. "Well then, I guess it's good he doesn't know what my name is, isn't it?" She said the last part toward Elin with a smile as the little one grinned a gummy-mouthed, toothless smile and half cooed to her mother as she put her hand on K's cheek.

"This isn't a joke, K. He's going to make your life miserable," Peter warned.

"Petey," K said, taking a quick step toward him to pop up on her toes and kiss his cheek. "It'll be fine." She patted his cheek a couple times, and with that, the little group of ferals headed upstairs, leaving Peter alone with JJ ranting on about the dangers of these mutants — and the ferals in particular.

But Pete wasn't alone long. A very loud group of kids came all but crashing into the kitchen a few minutes later, all chatting excitedly among themselves. This particular group had gotten much closer since the start of the school year when the junior X-Men had started up again and they'd become a team. A few old faces like Rico and Hisako were priding themselves on showing some of the other kids the ropes — Tyler was on the team, of course, as well as the scaly half-mermaid Sophia, the blonde telepath Tammy, and the dark-skinned animal whisperer Brye.

And they were all riding the high of their new positions.

"Aww, who left the news on?" Rico asked with a frown. "That's just depressing lately."

His girlfriend, Ziggy — who wasn't part of the team because she'd rather invent and follow Forge around than fight — giggled at him and rolled her eyes. "Oh, I wonder."

"Um. that would be me," Peter said in a voice of disbelief. "You guys really should stay up on the news if you're going to be on this X-Men junior ... light team."

"We do pay attention — give us some credit," Brye said, waving her hand. She tossed Hisako a bag of chips as they raided the pantry for snacks. "But listening to it 24/7 is depressing, you have to admit."

"That is why you don't listen to it 24/7?" Peter said. "Or you could end up with a sense of humor like Bobby ... totally off-base and badly-timed."

"Great. Then you won't mind if we watch the baseball game?" Rico asked.

"Just as soon as JJ's done. Can't let him go running rampant and not know what he's saying."

"I thought you didn't like JJ," Sophia said quietly. Her girlfriend, Brye, handed her a water bottle, which she downed quickly before she shot Brye a little smile that made her scales sparkle a slight pink.

Peter tipped his head to one side as he watched Jameson turn a brilliant red. "I don't? But ... it's almost impossible to fight back when you don't know what's going on, and some of our members aren't paying attention at all when they really, really should." Peter frowned deeper in spite of himself as he thought about how flippant both Howletts had been moments ago.

"They have tiny, squeaky elves and little bitty babies to distract them," Brye said almost under her breath with a smirk, though she hadn't turned away from Sylvia, her dark eyes dancing with laughter as she kept pushing the snack bowl that little bit further away from her at the last second.