Recent Posts

Boom, bang. Kaboom!

The explosions rocked the small China town city block. A neon sign fell. Fire crackled. People ran.

Right now, they were in damage control mode. Police, working with other first responders. Getting people to safety shelters, set up specifically for the event of yet another big New York moment. An X-men level threat. Just another day in New York.

He wasn’t sure who had set off the bomb. There was no obvious bad men laughing atop a building, fingers clenched towards the sky. There would be an investigation later. Detectives of fire department investigators. That would be a different department than his own. He wasn’t a detective, not yet. But he could help.

He ran towards a pile of debris, and helped shift it alongside a fire fighter. In his mind, he wasn’t differentiating between FDNY and NYPD. They were all on the same team. Together, they hauled a massive piece of metal free and tossed it to one side. A mother clutching a small child close to her chest was revealed. She was understandably upset. Ashton turned aside and let the fire fighter help them towards an ambulance. There were other things to focus on.

A woman gestured towards another building. She caught his attention, as well as that of another person nearby. He looked to the man, then towards the building. It was unsteady, but it wasn’t on fire. Yet.

”Well. Want to help me get their husband out before it all falls down?” He said.

A ticking time bomb. Really? Ashton clenched his teeth at the cliche phrase. And just let the man ramble.

Kemp really had a lot of fear of mutants in him, didn’t he? And he’d done his homework. He knew that Rowan had the potential to do things.

‘See, the thing about potential,’ Ashton thought. ‘It doesn’t get realized on its own.’

Rowan could do great things. Rowan could do terrible things. He could do great, terrible things. But how he was pushed would affect what direction he went.

Ashton drove while the man spoke. Not saying a word

Kemp surprised him a little by saying he thought something similar to what Ashton himself felt. Like Rowan was being pushed. Used. Ashton had to admit evidence seemed stacked against the kiddo. He begrudgingly gave Kemp that. But of tit for tat, that.

But Kemp said next surprised Ashton even more.

”You know if I were a vainglorious dramatic bastard I would have slammed on the brakes and said something shocking about that. But now... I am not surprised. We were with Rowan. We saw him not doing... that. Unless you’re going to tell me our entire conversation lasted less than fifteen minutes and we have no way of knowing where Rowan was before he came to us.”

How would he have traveled that far? How would he still have been so composed? This was shifty and made little sense.

“So.” He stopped. At a light. “Olive branch time. I was not very helpful in there. I did not have your back. From your perspective, maybe it even seemed like a betrayal. Fair assessment?”

He waited for a response, then went on. “I acted like a rookie. Which I am. It was crap. I apologize. If you keep me with you on this, I’ll follow your lead better. I probably should have asked better questions to know what I was getting into on the way... then I wouldn’t have let myself get so surprised...”

”So what is your next step here?” He asked.

He had gotten heated and he felt like an ass but he had admitted it. He hadn’t tried to hide behind excuses. Much. He could sideline his ego. Maybe not grandstand as much. Would Kemp keep him on?

Just to make sure kemp knew, Ashton emphasized. “I want whoever is doing this caught. Maybe I can learn something from you. But if you think I’m not right for this—“

He didn’t finish the statement. He was an adult.

Things went from shit to shittier. Oh boy.


Sundance did Sundance stuff. He noticed the dog, noticed the eyes. Getting darker and darker.

Rowan got mad. Sundance nabbed him by the collar. Hugged him. Interspersing herself between the boy and them. Trying to calm him. Because if he cut loose, Ashton figured it would be bad.

He had no idea he had lost one person in his life due to a wolf mutant. It wasn’t a part of his memories. If it had, he might have been a lot more wary.

When Sundance turned her focus back to them, she was oddly serene. That’s when you know someone is FURIOUS. When they’re too mad to raise their voice.

The dog moved, as if on command. Ashton got a feelin the dog might’ve been connected to Sundance’s thing. Her mutation.

When chimps sense danger, they bare their teeth. When wolves are danger, they Bare. Their. Teeth.

She told them that was enough. Very. Professionally. He agreed with her. It was. It had become an interrogation. He did not like that fact. It was an abuse of good will. Absolutely it was. He had not signed on for this. At least, he had not thought he was.

She brought up mutant registration. He agreed. That had been all sorts of messed up. Why had they done it this way? It was an invasion. Dear God.

He felt a bit sick.

Her suggestion was fair. Completely fair. And if this happened in any way like that next time, there would be legal counsel and warrants. Ashton simply had not thought they would neglect something as simple as that. Had not thought kemp would go in if he figured the situation warranted it.

He never looked away from Sundance’s face as she spoke. His own face was a mask of quiet compliance. He was willing to let this go and figure the next step out with everyone with the appropriate concerns met. He had been the one to suggest legal counsel first, after all. Was Kemp willing? Well, no.

He reacted very strongly, Kemp. Turning to him. Also, he had said the word mutie at some point, hadn’t he? Which was like calling someone a terrible racial slur. Enough to get anyone’s hackles to rise, mutant or not. He thought.

Yet another calm tone of ass kicking. An accusation of sabotage. Kemp said it was not an illegal interrogation. Ashton kind of thought it was. Kemp said he had accused Rowan of nothing. So far. Yet he had dropped hints and gauged reactions without legal counsel present. Reactions they really should not be able to use.

He himself had polluted some of the results by adding details. He had been trying to even the playing field. Like Sundance had said, they’d come into their homes and blindsided them with all of this. Like Rowan had said, it felt like a setup.

Ashton met Kemp’s eyes the entire time they spoke. So Kemp could see the gears turning in Ashton’s mind if he watched. The calmness before the storm. Contained fury.

No, he hadn’t been aware of UK stuff. He had only vaguely been aware who Rowan even was. From police chatter. That was it.

Kemp had 3 conclusions he could jump to. None seemed good. Ha.

He waited for Kemp to finish. Then he spoke. Calmly. Quietly. He could do it too.

”Agent Kemp,” Ashton said. ”I am not here to cause problems for you. Or to make you cause problems for other people. Though if you say the M word again I am not sure you won’t be causing problems for yourself all on your own.” He met the man’s eyes pointedly, then looked to Rowan and Sundance ahead of him.

”Honestly? I don’t know much about this kid or his history other than overheard chatter around the station. I did not expect you to start digging like this without having first gotten the appropriate things in order. Like warrants or counsel. I expect an FBI agent to have their house in order. As for your accusation that I have a secret that would make me interested in clearing the name of a mutant kid. Ha.”

He shook his head.

”I would protect any kid I thought was having their rights infringed upon. Mutant, or not. Whether you think it is that way, or not. And secret? Really? If you check my history it’ll flat out state that I’m a mutant. I just happen to have recently been transformed from a nice 40-something detective into a 21-year old rookie. Transferred to a new position. And I have been taking classes with Cold Steel here in order to try and get my mutation issues sorted out so I’m in full control.”

His mind flashed the the numerous sessions. The crazy danger room. Falling. Getting back up again. Dealing with ice and machines and all manner of death trap. Practicing control. It was like a 80s movie montage up in his head.

He sighed. ”I just want Rowan to be treated like anyone should be treated in here. Sundance is right. This seems like an invasion, and Rowan is right too. Something seems utterly wrong with the whole scenario. We should leave, and give them the opportunity to get his guardians or legal counsel involved. This needs to be above board. I didn’t sign on to do anything shifty. I am sorry, Rowan. Miss Sundance. We can leave if that is what you want.”

And if Kemp didn’t wanna he could effing walk home.

He kept his cool the entire time, he thought. And he wasn’t always the one with the best record for tact.

He reached into his pocket, and withdrew his wallet. Extracted a business card from his lawyer, and pressed it gently on the desk.

”This man got me reinstated after I was deaged. He’s good people. Take it or leave it. That is entirely up to you.”

>> "I would prefer if Rowan got to answer for himself, and we don't put words in his mouth," kemp said sharply.

”Okay.” Ashton said. A tinge of the Irish accent he god from his da’ slipped into his words. Generally that only happened if he were annoyed, drunk, or... let it. He wasn’t drunk and it hadn’t been intentional. Seemed he was a little perturbed.

What, did kemp want to catch a killer or something? And he thought Rowan was because he saw someone familiar? Someone he could have seen anywhere? The FBI agent was being silly. He had just been interfering in a— oh right. Durr.

He stepped back and let Kemp do his thing. Just watched Rowan for his reaction. The reaction was more awkward sighs and fretting. He said he saw her ‘last Saturday’, in the location ashton had suggested.

Kid liked figure skaters. Go figure. Sounded like a fairly simple interaction. Ashton was willing to let it slide. after all, Rowan had only seemed to recognize one of our several people. That is, if Kemp hadn’t brought up Dna.

How in the hell did they even have this kids dna on record? That’s usually something you have to acquire through the appropriate court orders. This smelled like fish to him.

He watched kemp as he looked at his phone, frowning. But he didn’t answer it. Again.

What was going on?

Kemp tried to go on, but last time pays for all. Finally he had to answer the urgent call.

While his back was turned, Ashton talked to Rowan in a hushed voice. ”Tell him you need a guardian or a lawyer. It is illegal for him to spring something on you like that. And where would they even get your DNA.” He muttered the last part. Then added ”Ive got the name of a good one. If you need it. Mellitus.” Handsome jerk. Name like a stripper. Who names their kid Aurum?

Yes, he was aware Kemp would want to kick his ass. Yes, this was kind of interfering. He did not care. Something smelled and he wasn’t going to let the kid get treated this way. Smelled to him like a setup.

Way he’d thought it was, kemp came to investigate students in general. Now he had dna of a specific student? And they had not given the kid the chance to have legal protection before any of this? That changed things from asking him some innocent questions into it being nearly a full blown interrogation. That rubbed Ashton the wrong way. He would tell Kemp that, if he ever thought to ask.

The sandwich was halfway to his face. The sandwich was halfway to his face and inching towards his mouth. It was an Italian sub, on a hoagie, with all the best fixings. He had brought it from his favorite sandwich shop for the specific purpose of eating it after his training session. He was about to do so, when— a tiny pinkish young woman asked him about kissing.

Ashton stopped. He lowered the sandwich.

He shrugged. ”The sooner the better, I always say. Especially if she’s a 10.”

He turned away from the small child and bit messily into his Italian sub.

She agreed, went on the PA and called him up. Which left Ashton doing... not a lot. So he waited, awkwardly. Didn’t try and make small talk. He had a feeling right now, small talk was furthest from everyone’s minds. Which sucked. He vastly preferred positive situations. This whole thing of suspecting a kid? Yuck!

He hoped Kemp would scratch his itch, find nothing further to interest him, and that they could then move on and find the killer. Whoever they were. It was probably some gorilla mutant or something. A real King Kong type. Yup.

Kid came in. Young kid. Seemed nice. Didn’t seem like a serial killer at all. Little messy, big clothes. Ashton glanced at Kemp. It kind of showed in his face. Like, ‘what, this kid? A murderer? You kidding?’ The kiddo even wanted to pet the dog! Which put him and Ashton in the same boat!!

It was a good dog, dammit.


They’re all good dogs.

When the kid saw them, his whole demeanor changed. Bundle of nerves, this one. Asking about a jack? Who the hell was jack?

Ashton didn’t know Jack.

Hopefully, kemp would be peaceable and calming. Do something to help Rowan relax. And maybe he had? But Ashton didn’t know. And he sure didn’t want to escalate anything. So he stayed seated while Kemp rose. Though he did nod at the kid, and try for an awkward smile.

It sounded to him like jack was a student at the mansion. One who had crossed a line, and might’ve gotten threatened with a knuckle sandwich. But, then, Ashton didn’t want to cut in and say something like that (which would totally undermine Kemp’s question). Even if for a moment, he considered doing so in a good cop / bad cop sort of situation.

He didn’t say anything. Not to Rowan. Quietly, he said to Sundance. ”I’m sorry about this... I’ll try and help this go smoothly as it can, so we can get out of your hair and he can go back to class. I really don’t think...”

He said it all as quietly as he could. So that hopefully Kemp didn’t hear. But whatever. So what if he did?

The woman really didn’t seem to like what Kemp was alluding to. And Ashton could get that, could understand it. It was very distasteful.

Very, very.

She agreed with him, that getting them out of the way was a good idea. Off the beaten path, where any student could overhear everything.

As he walked, he glanced around. He was fairly familiar with the halls now, and so he wasn’t looking around to take in and memorize directions. Perhaps, a bit of familiarity would come through unconsciously in his body language. It seemed more like he might have been expecting to see someone at any moment. Someone who he was familiar with? His face was neutral, though. Hands in his pockets. Classic body language for being closed off.

He went into the small office, and took a chair. The one furthest from the door. First in, last out. Kemp could have the closer door chair.

He crossed one leg over the other, and rested his clasped hands on his knee. Listened to the woman’s response, and... Miss Sundance got a little personal.

Totally fair, he thought. Kemp seemed low on chill, to use a more modern bit of slang.

Ashton felt for her, felt a little chastened. Kind of was annoyed with Kemp for the awkwardness. He was still a rookie officer, still wasn’t fully used to asking the awkward questions. Though he knew those were things that came with the job.

He sat back and watched Kemp for his reaction. Guy had an angry woman on his case. Step carefully, and good luck.

Kemp tried a pretty good attempt out of the gate, tackling her worries that they were targeting students. Talked of how the killer had an area where he operated. One that included the school. He was trying to be reasonable.

Ashton clasped his knee a little tighter.

He visibly winced when kemp mentioned one student by name. Had he... had he heard the name around the station? Maybe.

Hesitantly, he cut in. ”Wasn’t that... wasn’t that the wolf kid? I think I heard something, maybe. But Kemp. Are you sure about this? I think there were extenuating circumstances involved with all of that drama. And this? It’s a pretty big jump. Not to undercut you or anything, but— I mean, we could speak to him. He’s really young though... and I’m not sure a kid that young could be a serial killer.”

He looked to Sundance, frowning. ”I hate to call a kid in to talk about stuff like this. But it would be irresponsible to leave it alone without at least looking into it. What do you think? Five minutes? Kemp, do we have any times and dates we could check to figure out if there’s an alibi? Though for all we know, this could be several people...”

Maybe he was not the best person for this investigation. He was more a hands on guy, and this? Felt a little hands off.