psinex@yahoo.com Reverse Polarity 4: Crossed Stakes by Phil Hartman DISCLAIMER: Everyone here is Marvel's, except for Steven, who's mine, and Buffy and the "mystery man," who's 20th Century Fox's. Please don't sue. -------------------------------------------------------- Sunnydale Beach, Sunnydale, Calif.: 7/12/2003: 09:00 hrs PDT: -------------------------------------------------------- "FAAATHER ..." "I'm serious, Luna, put some sunblock on," Pietro chided his only child as they set out their beachtowels and watched the surfers head on in. 12-year-old Luna looked at her mother with big eyes, but Crystal just smiled and said, "You get skin cancer, dearest, you'll know who to blame ..." "Agon's heart, Mom, you're morbid," Luna pouted. She put on the sunblock, thanking her ancestors that she had a sterner immune system than most Inhumans. #But then again, I AM a mutant,# she thought, rolling onto her back to get some sun. Luna smiled as she vibrated her hand at superspeed, enjoying the semi-hypnotic afterimages the effect caused. "You could actually SWIM to cool off," Wanda teased her niece as she walked over from the hot dog stand. "Yucch, Aunt Wanj, what's with the dogs ?" Luna asked, accepting a chili dog even as she teased the Witch. "It's not like I have to watch my weight," Wanda countered. She and Piet traded a gentle look, and smiled wistfully; the Vision was still in pieces, and Wonder Man had returned to Hollywood, after Wanda's sons had ceased to exist years before. #Poor Aunt Wanj. I really oughta hook her up somehow,# Luna thought, fanning herself some more. "Cool power," a voice called. Crystal and Luna looked up in mild surprise to see a boy about Luna's age in a wetsuit standing over them with a surfboard, noting his white hair. Pietro and Wanda were utterly stunned into silence. "Uhm ... I didn't mean to bug you," the boy continued, swallowing hard. "I'm a mutant too - magnetics, nothin' too stompin' yet." "Er - no, that's all right," Wanda said, recovering her composure and inviting him to sit beside them. "You're Erik, aren't you ?" "Hey, yeah - how'd you know ?" Erik asked, eyeing them suspiciously. "Your ... parents are old friends of ours - the Summers said they'd be here soon," Pietro added, looking like he'd seen a ghost. "Uncle Piet - ! Aunt Wanda ! Aunt Crys !" a girl's voice called. "LUNA !!!" "Buffy !!" Luna shrieked for joy, waving to her friends from last year's summer camp. She leapt up to hug Rachel and Buffy Summers, while the girls' 11-year-old brothers Nate and Steve waved from the volleyball court. "Yo, 'Rik, Luna - you guys up for a round ?" Nate called. "Whaddya say, Lun - wanna play 'kick the runt' ?" Ray grinned naughtily. "In yer dreams, sis !" Nate whooped. "I'm SO in," Luna winked. The girls ran back to the court, dragging a protesting Erik along as his surfboard dropped to the sand. "He's ... doing well," Pietro told Scott and Jean as they found seats beside the Maximoffs. "Scott ... I don't think I've ever thanked you for all you've done. He's ... so NORMAL." "Just don't let him hear you," Jean grinned with an eyeroll. "Erik enjoys using his powers, even if they are a mite ... big for a boy his age." "Has he had any more ... ?" Wanda asked sotto voce. Sorrow crossed Jean's face, and she said, "God help us, yes. Charles and Emma" - a brief flash of distaste crossed her face at the second name - "think as he grows older, more and more of the RNA damage from his deaging will reverse. Not enough to resurrect Magnus as we knew him, but ..." "He's been a boy for so long, it's hard to even remember the man," Scott said. Pietro and Wanda looked at him with sincere gratitude, and Scott smiled. "He's ... human," Scott shrugged. "When Logan suggested we take him in, I was skeptical. But he's always been protective of our natural-born children, and ... he calls me Dad. ME." "I was beginning to wonder if the angst machine was working in your head, Scott," Pietro chuckled. "Blame your father," Scott retorted, grinning. "I think he magnetically disassembled it when we weren't looking." The adults laughed, bringing curious and bemused stares from the kids. "Grownups - who knows ?" Erik shrugged, spiking the ball at Buffy. She blocked, sending it bouncing directly atop her foster-brother's head and knocking him to the ground. "Holy crud - 'Rik, you OK !?" Buffy called. "I ... think so," Erik grunted, standing and shaking his head. "Just a little ... dizzy." "Game over," Ray insisted. The Summers and Luna helped Erik to the adults, where Jean gave him a once-over and a hug. "MOOOMMM," Erik protested. "I'm just worried about you, that's all," Jean said. "Now, REST. That ball didn't do any permanent damage, but I don't want you going out on your board until you feel better." "Yes, Nurse Ratchet," Erik smirked. #Feel hot,# he thought, getting up and digging in his bag for a pair of trunks. Erik entered the nearest changing room and removed his wetsuit, donning the trunks before heading back out to doze on a towel Jean set aside for him. #Still hot,# he thought, trying to sleep ... ... #shouts ?# #DADAAAAAAAAA !!!!!# #... for the love of God, she's our daughter - Erik, DO something -# #WHAT HAVE YOU DONE !?# "... yo, 'Rik ! Bro, wake UP !" Erik sat bolt upright, blushing as he noticed tinfoil and other metal sticking to him. Nate and Steve stood over him nervously, and Buffy and Ray knelt at his feet with Luna. "I ... had another nightmare," Erik whispered, ashen. Ray took his hand, while Steve offered him a squeeze bottle of water and said, "We 'felt' it - what WAS that ?" "I ... dunno," Erik shrugged. He sighed and said, "Whatever. Probably just that volleyball - Buff, you tryin' to kill me ?" "Very funny," Buffy replied by sticking her tongue out. "You're just on edge about going to the Academy this fall." "Yeah, whadevah," Erik smirked. "Last one in's a rotten genesplice !" He led a mad charge to the waves, while Jean watched with the other adults. "You think he's remembering ?" Scott asked, holding her. "Something," Jean agreed, clinging to Scott. "But what it means, I don't know yet ..." None of them noticed the man with glasses up on the boardwalk watching Buffy through binoculars. "She is the Chosen One ?" he shrugged. "Oh well. Such is fate ..." He rifled through a briefcase and slowly sighed as he double-checked his plane ticket to Boston, with an attached picture of a blonde woman in the bloom of her life. "Emma," he smiled faintly. "It's been too long ..." -------------------------------------------------------- TBC IN: Buffy/New Mutants II: School Daze ... -------------------------------------------------------- end _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? 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