The squad car pulled up to the scene of the crime in progress. Ashton and his boss, the mentor figure. The guy watching him during his probationary period, to make sure he was not too much of a %^+^ up. Got out. They got out of the squad car and looked around.

”Freaking ice, man.” Ashton muttered. ”S’cold.”

Wasn’t even real ice. Not quite yet. Weather reports had called for a warm day in October. No snow storms and no ice. Yet, here they were with ice on the ground, and... what were those?

He pointed and said “what are those?”

The graying middle aged cop man screwed up his eyes, wriggled his broom brush mustache, and told him.

Ashton’s mind could not entirely grasp the concept.

”Ice slides?!” He spat.

“Ice slides.” Joe The Cop confirmed.

First, they had reports of looting. Of people dancing in the streets in New York City. And then? Ice slides.

Joe went on. “It’s kind of his thing.”

Ashton goggled at him. ”His thing? His kink? His—“

“Thing,” Joe confirmed. “He is a cool customer and he makes. Ice. Slides. We think the guy causing the disturbances is one of his rogues gallery. Some Hunter dancer guy.”

Ashton wished he had been some Hunter gatherer type instead. Dancing, was lame. And maybe if he’d been some sort of caveman hippie fruit hat type they’d have had less of a headache hearing about him.

In the distance, something crashed. Sounded like glass breaking. A bunch of birds flew off into the sly from a place about 100-200 feet away. Ashton glanced at his partner, who nodded. He drew his sidearm, holding it close to his body and low, exercising all the trigger discipline and caution of a saint. Together, they went off to meet this ice man and see what troubles he had gotten himself into. The reports had said there might have been a third party, in addition to the dancer guy and his dance party of hostages. Someone whose power was... interesting.

God, he loved and hated his new place with MRC.

The glass didn’t do much to hold him. It hurt, not as much as the brick wall he just crashed into. The storefront clerk shouted something. He didn’t understand the language at first but his ice armor didn’t stop the smell of fresh bread. He was in deli. The only thing that saved him from being a spatter on the brick was his armor. Letting out a small grunt and hearing some brick clatter behind him he waved to the deli guy and slowly climbed back out the window instead of using the door. ”Someone will take care of that, don’t go out the front.” he offered before hoping back to the streets.

The icemancer didn’t know what hit him all he knew was that Private Dancer was not capable of something like that. Explains why he didn’t feel himself be controlled. Dancer still wasn’t aware that his ice powers did make it harder for Sam to be controlled. That was a ace he was keeping up his sleeve. Who was that guy that was with him? He never had met the new guy before. Barely even saw him even before he was in Sam’s face.

Looking over the street covered in ice slides Sam looked back to where he was standing before. The crowd of people moved unnaturally as they tried to fight the power of Private Dancer. He held a gun in front of one of the hostages. “Sammy boy! Gonna have to try harder than that if you want to save them! Still haven’t forgiven you for last time. I don’t remember how you got me locked up but they say you were with a girl. Maybe I’ll go find her next.” The gun went off after it was in the air away from the hostage. “How about a name?”

Like hell he was going to sell Cora out. ”You know how this works you let them go and take me and then we can talk demands.” he called out not having any time for any more of his ****.

“I do have to thank her though! Without the mystery woman our game of cat and mouse would have ended. I’m almost positive I had you. Oh and meet my bunk mate!” There was the sound something flapping in the wind. An image of the man appeared before him, it wasn’t a clear image but it phased out as a gust of wind rocked against his armor Sam’s footing was lost again this time he crashed into a indenting it. “Not too hard now! He’s my favorite dance partner. The man can move.”

A little blood exited his mouth as he coughed. ”****ing kill ‘em.” he grunted as he tried to catch his breath.

What a mess, what a mess. Broken store window, glass and debris everywhere. And he Liked that deli.

And the people... so many hostages.

Ashton exchanged a look with his partner. This was going to be a tough one. That thought about both living and hating MRC? It skewed closer to hate just that moment.

“I’ll keep crowds clear and coordinate with backup and emergency services, as they arrive.” His partner said.

‘Of course you will...’ Ashton thought.

Joe did not have a mutant power. Ashton did. Or at least, it was on his records that he did. People believed that he did. The fact that he still had not gotten a grip on his power went entirely unremarked. Things just sort of... happened. When they happened. Mostly, he just fought hard to be smarter and better than any problems he faced. Wits didn’t stop the non-MRC cops from glancing at him warily when they thought he was not looking. Or maybe it wasn’t wariness? Anger? Fear.

Cops can be kind of dicks. He knew. He was one. At least for the moment.

He was close enough to see the ice man and the jerk with the gun and the colorful hair. Not close enough yet to hear everything they said, though. Wasn’t like Hunter was whispering sweet nothings into Cold Steel’s ear or anything. But Ashton couldn’t hear every word of the exchange, even as he crept closer to the situation.

An older Ashton who had his stuff together might have swapped places with the guy or his gun, smashed him in the face (or gotten his partner to cuff him), and assumed control of the situation. But Ashton himself did not know this, and he had to go about things in his own particular fashion.

The less broken fashion.

He heard the gunshot and gritted his teeth. Nobody shot yet, but... made a mental count of the ammunition most likely left.

A gust of wind seemed to knock ice man on to his knees and Ashton caught a glimpse something not quite there, but man-shaped. His partner.

Yeah. That was definitely interesting. Would make his gun that much more useless.

Ashton stepped out from around the corner of a building, about 20 feet from the group. He held his gun, trained on the guy with the gun and shouted at him to ‘drop his weapon and freeze! MRC!’

Then, a gust of wind came at him and pushed him back against the red brick wall. Yeah. He had kind of seen that coming. Hopefully, Frigidaire man would capitalize on his distraction.

Yup, something was out of place. Sam leaned forward and peeled himself from the car and turned his body a little trying to troubleshoot anything broken or out of place. It was his side, the lower back. The ice thickened around the effected area and he cracked his neck. Trying to get a feel for the situation. Any time he tried to get close to Private Dancer and the hostages he was met with an attack by an unknown assailant. Was it the wind?

He needed some sort of distraction.

“Drop his weapon and freeze! MRC!”

That will do! There was a figure that appeared in the wind before throwing the officer to a wall. The wind didn’t get a chance to move after that because after it threw, well the wind it was met with a large blast of ice. If it was wind it needed to be bottled, if it was a mutant it needed to be chilled. Either way where he blasted there was a human shaped figure out of ice. The statue of ice shook slightly then calmed for now.

One down.

“Sammy! No need to be so cold, he’s just a friend. You however,” Private Dancer called from the safety of his hostages “Are the star of my show!” Sam sighed, he hated being the star of any show. Especially when that show was directed by Private Dancer. “Now, what will you do?” Private Dancer mused as he took a step away from the nearest hostage and spun before starting into a tango with the next nearest hostage. The hostage started to sob as she was puppeted into the dance number.

Ice guy got wind guy. For the moment. And Ashton got his bearings while the two men flapped jaws.

It seemed they knew each other. Seemed the hostage taker and him had history... which he seemed to recall from the briefings, too. But you never could tell. Sometimes a rumor is just a rumor.

The man stepped away from a hostage, and Ashton shifted closer, while still pressing himself against the wall. Slowly, cautiously. In order to look like he was still disoriented. He watched the Hunter guy carefully, ready to draw on him the moment he could. Gun happy, him? Maybe. But since his mutation, whatever it was, still had not shown itself, one could not be too careful.

Ugh. Dancing with another hostage. Had to feel slimy, being forced into doing something like that.

Ashton couldn’t fire on the man until the hostage was gone. The statue was still wobbling. He had not forgotten about that, either. But still, frozen in place for the moment.

He got within firing distance and stepped away from the wall. ”Lets try this again.., NYPD, freeze. Step away from the hostage.”

He held his sidearm low and pointed to the ground, in good trigger discipline form. What he really needed was a big distraction. Or else a bit of luck.

“Risk freezing the hostage or take me down? Why not both? A man of your ability should be able to take us down with ease. You could probably freeze the entire block solid if you chose to help her. Why now?” the hostage moved awkwardly and was spun as Private Dancer talked. Sam’s anger started to boil. Dancer was right. It wouldn’t take much for him to do that. Sam also knew that was something he couldn’t do. The hostages would get injured and in turn more paperwork for Sam.

Sam hated paperwork.

>>> ”Lets try this again.., NYPD, freeze. Step away from the hostage.”

He hated paperwork but hated rookies getting in the way more. Liked the enthusiasm from the guy but he should have also been briefed not to be spotted or get into range of Private Dancer he collected hostages like it was going out of style. “Sam? Is this one of your new dance troop members?” he spun next and twirled then held the hostage close as she held him for a dip.

Unfortunately for Sam there was one surefire way to get Private Dancer’s attention and keep it for some time. He wanted two things. To dance, and have someone die be Sam’s fault for some reason he still didn’t know where the obsession came from but now was no the time.

Last time he ran into dancer he had Cora, he was tempted to make a call and glanced down at the spot where their ‘thread’ usually would become visible. He didn’t want to put her in danger and from what he could tell P.D. didn’t remember her at all. “Where’s the girl that cut in last time Sammy?” the voice echoed.

”Don’t worry about her. I’m here now.” he regretted his thoughts as his body moved willingly. He held a low bow. This was what he wanted right? “Sam!?!? You want to dance with me again!?!?” the voice was clearly too exited. ”….. sure!” he said reluctantly as invisible strings seemed to reach out and pull his limbs one way then tugged on him to move forward. The woman was suddenly free and dropped to the ground not able to stand again.

Bastard was dancing with the hostage. Pain.

Didn’t like it. Didn’t like the guy talking about him, either. And he also... did not like the sudden tickle in his sinuses. What was that about?

He really ought to scratch his nose. A little scratch would relieve the stress. But it would also put him at risk, by making him drop his guard.

He paused, and really thought about it. But then, he saw an opening. The dancer guy, he was getting ready to, what, dance? With ice person? He’d heard enough chatter to know the name Cold steel. And cold steel was getting in position, sacrificing himself. The hostage was free. And—

He raised his gun and aimed. But clearly, Hunter was ready for that and had not ever dropped his guard, even through all of that.

”Hold that thought!” Private Dancer smiled at Sammy boy, and held up a finger. Cold Steel stalled. Private Dancer turned, and brought his gun to bear at Ashton.

Oh crap oh crap oh crap. Could he roll to the side? Get out of the way?! Or— the thing hit him like a Mac truck. One second, he was standing there, ready to fire or run, eyes locked on the bad guy’s gun, the next, he was doubled over. Coughing. And. Sneezing.

Private Dancer arched an eyebrow. Well, if the cop was just going to bend over and give up then killing him would be easy. He narrowed his focus as he aimed.

Ashton’s hand closed around something. His eyes snapped up. Focused on the gun. Another sneeze, and— oh god it hurt. His head— piercing pain. Pounding throb.

”Huh?” private dancer blinked. He’d had a gun a moment before but now his gun... ”A rock?”

A piece of concrete. Fist sized. In his hand. Where the gun had been. But how?

Ashton grimaced, and closer his hand right around what was in it. Why had he picked up— where had he gotten? The realization hit him as he looked at what was in his hand.

”A gun...?” He muttered.

First he’d had one gun. Now, two? Who had— how had? He slid the safety on for the stranger gun, and put it in his holster. Stood back up and wiped at his nose.

Had the gun and the rock traded places? That was stupid. But here they were.

”Hey Hunter,” Ashton said. He held up his gun again. ”Drop the rock and freeze. You have one second to comply.”

The hostage was crawling away. Hunter dropped the rock. And then— he raised his hand towards him, and Ashton felt something grip his arms. Try and aim him. And—

He sneezed again. And traded places with the rock. Again, entirely by accident.

Ashton appeared inches from private dancer, completely confused. PD was confused too. The thread he’d tried controlling the cop with broke, as the guy stumbled forwards, right into him. And

”Whoa whoa whoa!” They both tumbled into each other and fell.

The icemancer relaxed a little when he felt the control of the strings vanish once Private Dancer’s attention shifted towards the officer. Sam couldn’t make it in time. He was too far away and the bullet would have been to fast. Once he was release from the control he started to move though. Making his way towards the Private Dancer and his gun.

Sam blinked and then the gun was gone. A rock? Did he imagine it? Sam felt the sudden need to pinch himself but didn’t he didn’t have time now. Dancer dropped the rock and Sam started to sprint towards him. ”Hey!” Sam tried to get his attention before anyone else was controlled.

Unfortunately for Sam he wasn’t fast enough or successful at his attempt to distract. Fortunately for Sam however the cop appeared practically on top of him and the both tumbled. ”Knock him out!” Sam yelled as he started to push himself to run faster. If Dancer was out this whole hostage situation was over with.

“Whoa! Someone’s aggressive!” called Dancer as he tumbled upon.

And now as they tumbled, dancer was rolling with the situation. And hitting on him. And hitting on him.

Ow, and ow.

Ashton wound up on top.

“So you’re a top!” Private Dancer practically sang. “I knew it! With that power of totes you just love control.”

Ashton grunted, and blocked a punch aimed at his jaw. He kneed Dancer in the leg. Through the pain, Dancer laughed. Seemed little inconveniences like that just fluffed away from his mind like a bit of dandelion on a windy day.

”Top. This.” He thrust one arm up at PD’s face. The man shifted and tried to bite him. So Ashton let him. Just so he could get a good grip.

Private Dancer stopped. “Hmmmmm.”

”Whats wrong dancer. Car hit your tongue? If you move, maybe I’ll just make it trade places with that stop sign over there. Then maybe you’d f*^%%ing stop.”

He was bluffing. Mostly. He had no idea if he could even do that. Or even would do that. The power was still new. But private dancer didn’t know that.

”Now give up. While Cold Steel helps me take you in. Howww you doing over there X-man?” he called from the ground. Never looking away from PD. He gripped the guys arm with another land and let his full weight pin the man just for added leverage.

”Knock him out!” Sam yelled again when he asked how he was doing. Not a lot of people knew how Dancer’s abilities worked not even Sam but it was enough to cause him to worry. While he was pinned he couldn’t move and with the cops arm lodged in his mouth he couldn’t speak. Bot of which was fine with Sam but the icemancer wanted him knocked out. It was the sure fire way to make sure he didn’t have any other tricks up multi-fabric sleeves.

When Sam approached he saw something in Private Dancer’s eyes that lit a fire under Sam. The icemancer ran over and punched him in the face. Hard. Enough to knock him out. When he was popped he released his bite on the officer and dropped. Everyone around them started to move. Sam however focused on Private Dancer shooting beams of ice at all of his limbs making sure he was pinned.

”You got to be one of the luckiest cops I ever worked with.” he said finally taking a breath. Exhaling all the pent up stress from running into someone that call you an arch-enemy. ”Guys a ****ing lunatic. Seem him kill people for less.” he said as he slowly walked over to the woman who was originally Private Dancer’s dancing partner before they showed.

”He won’t hurt you again…” Sam said forming ice around her feet to help with the pain and blood loss. ”I know it’s cold. Save you some pain for now.” he stood and started offering ice to everyone else that was involved in the hostage situation.

”Got a name?” he asked the officer before walking over and offering some ice to the officer.

The jaw clamped down when the x man punched the man he was holding... which kind of sucked. But the jaw slackened enough for him to wiggle his way out of the man’s mouth once he went limp. Ashton flexed his hand, and examined it for any bite marks. He’d have to wash it. No real bad marks, maybe a few teeth indentations, but mostly, just drool.

He stepped several feet back, and eyes the ice mutant. Efficient. Freezing him like that. He sniffled primly at the man’s words.

Ashton said mouthing to the comments about luck and murder, opting to stalk over to retrieve his sidearm instead. Once he checked it, put the safety on, and slid it into its holster, he returned his focus to the other man.

Good instincts, calming the hostage.

The man iced a bunch of other folks, then walked back to him. He was just finishing up a radio call to let someone know the situation, and that they’d need a car to bring him in. Backup to make sure he stayed out and in their control.

He looked up at him. ”Name’s Ashton Drake.” He said. ”And I wouldn’t turn down a cold pack. I think my hand is starting to swell.” He held it up, and showed cold steel the back of where a few scrapes from teeth were visible. ”Bastard got me right before someone punched him out. Though maybe I should have knocked him unconscious first. Before he’d gotten the chance.”

He took the ice the mutant had offered, and pressed it to his hand. Then, he bowed his head and sighed.

”Look.” He said quietly. ”’Ive been thinking about this for a while, but I haven’t committed to it yet. Can you keep a secret?”

He waited for a reply, then went on.

”You’re right. I really was lucky. See, I’m a mutant and I got made young again a while back and— don’t look at me like in crazy. I just— I haven’t got a handle on whatever my power is. And all that stuff there was by mistake, rather than— Achoo!! —“ He sneezed.

A few feet away, a rock on the ground traded places with the ice pressed against the back of his hand. The SAME rock, in fact. Ashton sighed, and watched to see if Cold Steel would connect the dots. He wasn’t too proud to admit he needed help. Just, quietly. Hopefully before more backup came to collect private dancer.

”You should have Officer Drake.” his seriousness still in his voice when discussing anything with Private Dancer. The icemancer was still on the fence about killing him. Dancer usually found his way out of his cell at some point. It would definitely save a lot more people from getting injured like this. Either a bite or bloodied feet and a lot of recovery time in the hospital. Sam had to remind himself he was trying to be a hero. X-Men weren’t supposed to kill people. Right now, he was an X-man.

Sam’s seriousness started to fade when he stopped looking at Private Dancer no longer contemplating killing him or turning him in. At least not now. He was distracted by the officer. ”Been known to keep my fair share. What’s up?” he had too many. The icemancer turned his attention from the people back to Ashton, glad everyone was safe for now.

”Ah...” someone else who had the clock reversed. Sam might have leapt forward but he understood the confusion even if he always knew he was a mutant. Sam listened as the officer explained then sneezed. A rock appeared in his hand and the ice vanished. Sam looked around and found his ice and smirked. Walking over and picking it up then walking back to Ashton.

”Can see that would be a problem. Especially in high stress situations.” he could have lost his firearm during the fight and things would have gone sideways fast. ”I can help with that.” Sam offered. ”Though you should probably take some time till you get a handle on it. Might be more of a hindrance in situations like this.” Sam said honestly.

”Have you ever been to the Mansion?” he didn’t use the full name. Sam was a mutant and was known to reside there. Everyone knew it was his home. ”Swing by sometime, I’m sure we could help you get some control on it. At least enough where it wouldn’t interfere with your job. It’s an important one.” he nodded his head.

Ashton said nothing when Cold Steel agreed with him about the knockout thing. Mainly because the man seemed serious like a homicide. But also because the tone brooked no humor or arguments.

He moved on. Spoke his piece. Saw how the other man would react.

Well. He didn’t act like he was crazy so there was that.

He tossed the rock over his shoulder, making sure it wasn’t gonna hit anyone before he did.

Yeah. Steel saw the issue. In critical combat situations, having no control over a crucial asset would make you a liability. Whoops, there went a little of his military school jargon slipping out.

He bobbed his head in agreement.

He wasn’t going to take time off to get a handle on himself. He would train where they could not see him, however. And he would be careful. Maybe avoid active fire fights. Focus on other types of crimes. Like, what, jaywalkers or something? Idea felt weak.

Man asked if he had ever been to the mansion.

”Xavier’s sister school? Not inside. Dropped a blonde woman off. She could read minds. Sort of derailed my afternoon. But she was cute and she needed help, so... what’re you going to do?” He raised his hands in a shrug that said ‘it is what it is. No arguing with it.’

”I would appreciate the help. I’ll have to check it out.”

He snagged the ice from the mutant man’s hand and placed it back on his hand.

”Got a few of those.” Sam nodded his head, blondes and mind readers. Not a lot of secrets were kept at the mansion with either of them around. Sam wouldn’t have it any other way though.

”What can you do?” he responded to the shrug with a smirk.

”Just ask for Sam, someone will point you to my office.” he said nodding his head, ”And you should probably look into a rabies shot for that one.” he said as the officer placed the ice over his hand. Sam was half joking.

”I’ll keep it quite but you should probably let your partner know. About the ability, not the rabies. Though might want to tell him about that as well.” he said looking down at Private Dancer. His fist clenched and he was tempted to punch Private Dancer again but was more afraid of what the officer would do. So he took a step back instead looking around to see if anyone else needed any ice.

>>”What can you do?” Sam asked,

Ashton chuckled. Such was life, cute woman asks for help. Nine times out of ten, you help them, if you can. Sort of an unwritten rule. A dude rule. Guy code. Like Morse code, but messier. With more dots and dits. And sometimes you had to read between the lines or make junk up. Honestly, he wasn’t sure what he was even thinking about, but— such is guy code.

They kept talking. Sam talked about the mansion, said:

>> ”Just ask for Sam, someone will point you to my office.”

Ashton nodded. Paused.

”Rabies? Are you kidding?”

That was a joke right? Sam? Sam? Right?

>> ”I’ll keep it quite but you should probably let your partner know. About the ability, not the rabies. Though might want to tell him about that as well.”

”I will.” He said? And hoped Sam was still kidding about the rabies. ”Thanks.”

The drifted apart, each party focusing on what they could to help. Police took private dancer into custody. Ashton moved on.
~~End thread~~