New Teams, Old Problems

Chapter 4: Reality Check

As soon as K stepped through the doors of the mansion after her interview with JJ, she was all but attacked by a cackling Spiderman.

"I got the whole thing on tape!" he told her as he spun her around in a hug. "And I'm going to play it on loop on rainy days. Brilliant!"

"That was why I went after all," K said, watching him bounce in place after the hug. "To make sure you had something cheerful on your sad Spidey days."

"Well, your plan worked perfectly," Kate said as she too darted in for a hug, looking just as pleased as Spidey — though somehow not nearly as bouncy.

"Which part of it? Throwing him off to start, giving him something to sniff around at, or the part where I tried to get him off of Noh's ass?"

"All of it!" Peter declared with a wide grin.

"Though I bet your sparkly moon man appreciates your efforts to let him safely walk the streets," Kate added with a small smirk. "His undercover efforts include sunglasses and a trenchcoat. Poor thing."

"Honestly, that part was bugging me more than anything. I don't give a damn what they say about me ... but that kid ..." She shook her head and let out a sigh.

"Don't think Johnny-boy was quite expecting the mama bear reaction," Peter said with a very loud and obvious snicker. "That was my favorite part, by the way. The John-ing."

"Oh, if I end up having to go back, that is the only thing I shall ever call him," K promised. "I don't think he cares for his given name, but I'd like to remind him he's not a frat boy anymore."

"Even if he acts like it sometimes," Kate said, rolling her eyes. She adjusted little Krissy in her arms as Kurt switched off his inducer and came around behind her, wrapping his arms around both of the girls in his life. Krissy seemed to be happy as a clam with all the people and excitement around.

"Either he'll remember that he's not a teenager or you'll make him feel like he's a kid," Logan said as he stepped into the room with Elin snuggled into his shoulder. "Either way, he didn't like it." He gave K a tiny frown before leaning in for a more welcomed kiss. "So much for trying to go under the radar with Weapon X."

"You certainly gave Jameson plenty to hook his interest. I doubt he'll let that story go now," Kurt said, though he was glancing at Logan with a slightly raised eyebrow.

"If he's as nosy as he seems, it'll irritate the crap out of him," K said. "And I already heard from Kitty that Weapon X has been gearing up to make a move anyhow. She's got the intel from her program set up to alert her when there's increased activity from them — and they've been chattering since that stupid Ronan thing. Apparently. Might just throw a monkey wrench at them if they have to play a little defense too." She let out a little sigh and kissed Logan again. "They aren't very happy that another weapon they lost is now in the public eye."

"That doesn't surprise me," Noh said. He had slipped into the room a little after Logan and had a warm, almost grateful smile on his face directed K's way. "After all, that broadcast went to nearly every corner of this planet. If they didn't want you to become a public figure, their plans were greatly upset." He slipped over to K and wrapped her in a quick and one-armed hug as he spoke.

"That's two highly expensive weapons wrecked for them," Logan said with a little smirk.

K looked up at Noh and gave him a bear hug — if nothing else because he looked like he wanted it. "Just because I said that stuff doesn't mean it's going to work. People as a unit are stupid, senseless animals that don't think for themselves."

"And mob mentality is difficult to fight, though easy to harness," Noh agreed, pulling her a bit tighter for a second before he finally released her. "Still ... thank you."