Chapter 50

  Arc 5 - Ch 3: Monabsp;

  Date: Sunday, May 29, 2011.

  Location: Larvotto Beach, Principality of Monaco

  Larvotto Beach ostcard-perfect se led between the sparklierranean waters and a line of stately hotels. The sun's golden rays bathed the soft, warm sands that stretched invitingly along the shoreline, where the clear, turquoise waves gently pped. Amidst this vibrant se, Tyson, Jubilee, and Illyana emerged from a shimmering portal, stepping onto the warm sands. The instantaneous transition from the institute to the beach left Jubilee's eyes sparkling with delight, her signature bubbly attitude amplified by the atmosphere. Even the usually reserved Illyana couldn't suppress a small, tented sigh as she absorbed the idyllic surroundings. They believed Tysoed the perfect beach for a day trip and sed the area for an ideal pce to settle.

  The group chose a spot not far from the water's edge, where the soothing sounds of the waves gently breaking on the shore provided a calming backdrop. Unfolding their towels, they cimed their small slice of paradise. The sun's warmth enveloped them, tempered by a pleasant breeze that offered a wele respite from the heat.

  Uo tain her excitement, Jubilee excimed, "This is incredible!" turning to Tyson with wide-eyed wonder, she asked, "How did we eve here? I thought Illyana's portals had limited range, and that was all sparkly and gold, not shimmering and silver."

  Tyson ughed then shrugged, casually replying, "Magic."

  Illyana seemed to rex as she gazed out over the glistening water. "This is nice," she admitted.

  The trio took a moment to immerse themselves in the warm glow of the sun and the feeling of sand uheir toes.

  Jubilee leaped to her feet. "e o's hit the water!" she urged, already bounding towards the inviting waves, her enthusiasm iious. Tyson rose to follow her lead.

  Illyana stayed in the sand, watg them with an amused expression. "I'll join you shortly. Try not to drown each other," she called out pyfully teasing.

  Jubilee and Tyson plunged into the sea. They swam and frolicked like carefree teenagers, her ughter mingling with the crash of the waves.

  Jubilee, radiant in her yellow swimsuit, fshed Tyson a mischievous grin. "Bet you 't catch me, Tyson!" she decred.

  Tyso her challeh a boyish smirk. "You're on!" he excimed.

  Jubilee believed that ier, Tyson's immerength aerity would be tered by his dense adamantium skeleton weighing him down. However, she quickly realized her miscalcution. Even while sciously moderating his superhuman abilities to maintain a fun and fair atmosphere, Tyson dispyed astounding physical prowess. Jubilee gracefully darted through the water with skilled strokes, but Tyson effortlessly closed the distaween them.

  Instead of simply catg her, Tyson veered ahead, positioning himself directly in her path. Jubilee came to an abrupt halt, finding herself mere inches from Tyson, their faces close enough to feel the warmth of each other's breath.

  Amidst the charged moment, Illyana's voice cut through the tension. "Showing off a bit much, aren't we, Tyson?" she called from the shore teasingly, her tone light yet ced with amusement.

  After an invigorating swim, Jubilee, Tyson, and Illyana found themselves lounging on the warm, golden sands.

  Illyana reached for the suns. She turo Tyson, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Tyson, would you be a dear and apply this to our backs?" she asked, her voice dripping with pyful sweetness.

  Tyson raised his hands in a gesture nation, "Really? Think you could ha?"

  Illya out a dramatic sigh, "Your loss then," she decred, turning to Jubilee with a spiratorial wink. "I suppose we'll just have to help each other."

  Jubilee snatched up the suns bottle. She squirted a generous dollop onto her palm. The creamy lotion was cool against her skin. She positioned herself behind Illyana, who had already swept her hair aside, revealing the smooth expanse of her back. Jubilee's hands, coated iion, began their gentle ministrations. Her fingers moved in soothing, circur motions, gliding over Illyana's skin. The suns glistened uhe sun's rays, creating ag sheen as Jubilee's hands worked their magic, spreading the lotion evenly across Illyana's back. Illyana closed her eyes as she surreo the gentle ministrations. Jubilee's touch was both tender and attentive. Once she had pleted her task, it was Illyana's turn to reciprocate. She took the suns bottle from Jubilee, and she turned around, granting Illyana access to her own back. Illyana began applying the suns in long, smooth strokes, her touch equally gentle and thh.

  Illyana, now lying face-down oowel, spoke up, her voice ced with a pyful, flirtatious tone. "You know, Jubilee's hands felt absolutely divine," she remarked. Jubilee's face gained a faint blush, but before she could formute a response, Illyana tinued, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Tyson, you should treat us both to a massage. Since your touch is off-limits, why not use your illusions instead?" She delivered the suggestion with a casual air.

  Jubilee, caught up in Illyana's pyful mood, chimed ihusiastically. "Ooh, that sounds nice! With your illusions, you could probably do us both at the same time." She barely finished speaking when she realized the unintended implication. Her hands flew to her mouth, eyes wide with embarrassment. "You know what I mean!" she excimed, her voice a mix of ughter and mortification.

  Tyson raised an eyebrow. Illyana, not missing a beat, added, "Don't tease her, Tyson. You've been mean enough to her today. First trying to peek at her, then pig on her ier, and now this. Just indulge us, and do it in an ayle to make amends." Her tone was light and teasing, yet there was an underlying hint of authority in her words.

  Jubilee's enthusiasm was iious, filling the air with a pyful energy. "Yeah!" she excimed. She bounced up and down, as she jumped, her yellow swimsuit g to her form in a fttering manner, atuating her figure and highlighting the gentle curves of her toned legs and hips.

  Tysoured for the girls to settle down oowels. "I didn't do any of those things… But alright, one ayle massage ing right up," he decred, his voice revealing his good-natured acceptance of the request.

  As Jubilee watched, Tyson's appearance began to transform before her eyes.

  Three lines appeared on each side of his face, resembling a blend of cat scratches and whiskers. His normally mismatched blue-green eyes now matched in a striking blue hue. His hair ged, taking on a spikier appearand a molden color.

  Raising his hands, Tysoended his pointer and middle fingers, crossing them in a t-position. "Shadow e Jutsu," he decred with a theatrical fir.

  Puffs of smoke appeared, and suddenly two duplicates of Tyson stood beside him, each mirr his transformed appearance.

  Jubilee couldn't help but giggle at the sight, her eyes wide with delight. As one of the Tyson es approached her, she felt a tig sensation at her nose and reached up to touch it, only to find a small trickle of blood. Embarrassed, she mumbled, "Oiroke Gyaku Harem no Jutsu." Her hands spped against her mouth as if to prevent the words from esg.

  "I didn't actually say that! You're using your illusion to mess with me! My nose isn't bleeding!" she excimed, her voice a mix of monoyand ughter. She quickly wiped away the imaginary blood, trying to hide her flushed cheeks.

  All three Tysons ughed together, the sound eg around them pyfully. The lead Tyson illusion asked, "Are you going to y down for a massage, or what?"

  Jubilee poi him, trying to appear stern but uo hide the sparkle in her eyes. "No more funny business," she decred, though the ers of her mouth betrayed her amusement.

  She y down oowel, still chug, her eyes following the trio of Tysons as they prepared to start the illusionary massage. Illyana, who had been watg the whole exge, shook her head in amusement. Tyson, or rather, his three illusionary es, got to work. Jubilee let out a rexed sigh, closing her eyes and allowing herself to sink into the sensatioe the pyful and absurd nature of the sario, the illusionary massage was surprisingly effective. The tension in her muscles seemed to melt away uhe skillful, ent touch of Tyson's es.

  Illyana observed Tyson masterfully wielding his powers to create a blissful experience for herself and Jubilee. Her thoughts wao Tyson's journey. His life had been a series of trials. Pursued by Mago and ter captured by Stryker, Tyson had endured more than his fair share of adversity. Illyana knew he deserved a break, a ce to live without stant danger and flict. Yet, the past year had not been as simple for him as she'd imagined. Despite her hopes for normalcy, Tyson's days had still been punctuated by extraordinary events.

  Jubilee sehe shift in Illyana's demeanor. "You okay, Illyana?" she asked, her voice ced with gentle .

  Turnitention to Tyson, Illyana asked, "Hey, could you grab us some water and snacks from one of the vendors?"

  Tyson, his es dissipating into wisps of smoke, nodded in aowledgment. "Sure thing," he replied, already rising to his feet.

  Illyana's gaze followed him as he made his way toward the cluster of beach vendors lining the boardwalk. Once he was out of earshot, she turo Jubilee, her expression turning more pensive. "Why didn't you ask Tyson out on any dates or anything during the past year?"

  Jubilee's eyes widened slightly, her cheeks flushing with a hint of sheepishness. "I mean, I tried to drop hints here and there," she admitted, her voice trailing off. "But there just never seemed to be a good opportunity, you know? And with school, training, and all the supervilin stuff he was dealing with, I didn't want to add ara pressure."

  Illyana arched an eyebrow, her gaze fixed on Jubilee. "So, what, you were just going to wait around forever?"

  Jubilee's expression turned defensive, her brow furrowing slightly. "Hey, it's not like he was exactly capitalizing on any of my hints, either," she retorted, her toinged with frustration. "I wao say something whe up for the premiere of his show, but Jean was there, the Felicia, and his hot teacher Natalie showed up too! Besides, we were away from each other for most of the year. It's ly easy to go on dates when you're at different schools and I'm not living iy."

  "It's less than an hour by train." Jubilee shot her a gre. Illyana held up her hands in a pg gesture. "I'm just saying."

  "But why are y to push this, anyway?" Jubilee's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "I don't get it. He's your boyfriend?"

  Illyana's expression grew somber, her gaze shifting towards the distant horizon. "He hasn't been my boyfriend for months," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Jubilee's eyes widened, at her btant admission. She knew of course that Tyson and Illyana hadn't been dating, but Jubilee assumed they would be getting back together.

  Before she could formute a response, Illyana tinued, "Look, Jubilee, I care about Tyson deeply, but our retionship has been... plicated, to say the least. We've been through a lot together, and there's a bond there that won't ever truly go away. But I wasn't always the best girlfriend." Jubilee remained silent, her expression a mix of fusion and as she listeo Illyana. "I'm n to force you towards him or anything," Illyana crified. "I just want him to be happy, and if that means finding happiness with someone else, then so be it. He deserves that much, after everything he's been through."

  Jubilee's brow furrowed in fusion as she asked, "What do you mean you weren't the best girlfriend? You saved Tyson from Mago, didn't you? That's pretty amazing."

  Illya out a heavy sigh, her eyes downcast. "Yes, but I've also nearly killed him. Twice, in fact. Ohat first day in Limbo, and again ter with my soulsword when we fought Azazel." She paused, shaking her head ruefully. "And even before we started dating, I used him as fodder to hunt demons in Limbo. I was selfish and reckless with his life." Steeling herself, Illyana tinued, "There won't be much time before Tyson leaves New York. Maybe for years. If I hadn't interfered at the institute, you two would have gotten together." She looked early into Jubilee's eyes. "Tyson loves me, but I'm not sure it's for the right reasons. There's a piee inside him, a sliver of my dark soul that I passed to him."

  Jubilee's eyes widened. "That 't be," she blurted out in denial. "Tyso hold onto other people's powers or personalities unless he kills them."

  Illyana shook her head adamantly. "No. I don't care what he says, he's wrong. There is a piee inside him, I feel it. I've always felt it." Her voice grew more intense. "Remember, you took that train ahe institute and were attacked by Mago. How did the Professor know you were gone? Because I told him. Everyone else fot, even Tyson. But how did I know you all were go's because I sehat shard of Limbo, that fragment of my soul that still resides within him. It never faded."

  The revetio Jubilee momentarily speechless as she processed everything Illyana had disclosed. Before she could formute a respoysourned, oblivious to the weighty versation that had just takeweewo girls. He carried bottles of water and sandwiches for the trio, a cheerful smile lighting up his face.

  Keenly aware of Tyson's enhanced hearing, Illyana quickly shifted topi hopes that he had not overheard too much of their private discussion. She turned her gaze towards the glittering o in an exaggerated gesture, hoping Jubilee would follow her lead. "Days like this remihere's more to life than powers and problems," she said wistfully. "We still have moments of normalcy, even with everything else going on."

  Jubilee went along with the ge in subject, also ued in Tyson catg on to the true nature of their versation. She stretched her arms overhead with a tented smile, the warm sun washing over her skin. "Sun, sand, friends...and no supervilins in sight. I could definitely get used to this."

  Tyson chuckled nervously at Jubilee's words. It was the sound of someone hiding a guilty secret. Illyana's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Oh no, I know that ugh. You're not telling us something. What's going on?"

  Before Tyson could respond, the tranquil atmosphere was gradually disrupted by the growing rumble of engines in the distahe noise increased in volume and distin, drawing the trio's attention.

  "What's happening out there?" Jubilee asked as she searched for the source of the otion. "It sounds like Forza."

  Tyson's eyes sparkled with excitement, even as his answer held a hint of hesitance like he was relutly revealing a secret. "Well, there is a Formu One race being held here today," he expined, uo keep the enthusiasm from his voice. "Monaco is pretty famous for hosting it."

  "Formu One? Here?" Jubilee's i was ignited, her eyes wide with wonder.

  "Yeah, the Monaco Grand Prix," Tyson tinued. "One of the most prestigious car races in the world. Monaay be small, but once a year, its streets transform into a rag circuit. The cars navigate through narrow roads, right by the harbor. It's incredible."

  As the revving engines filled the air, Jubilee's face lit up with excitement. "That's pretty cool," she excimed, her attention drawn towards the otion. " we check it out?"

  Tyson chuckled, but there was a hint of nervousness in his ugh. Illyana noticed it immediately, sensing there was more to this race thahe eye.

  The Principality of Monaco was ne, with the harbor and beach just a short walk from the streets that now served as the Formu One racetrack, the roar of the eransformed the tiny try. As the cars whipped around the tight ers, engines screaming, Illyana decided her friends needed a better view of the iic race. With a subtle gesture, she opened one of her portals, the glowing ring crag with eldritergy. In an instant, the trio stepped out onto a baly overlooking the course, just as the race leaders came screaming around o Square.

  "Wow, this is amazing!" Jubilee shouted, eyes wide as she took in the spectacle below. The cars streaked. Each driver exhibited extraordinary skill and precision with every turn.

  The crowd packed along the barricades cheered wildly. Jubilee's grin was electric, refleg the energy aement of the event unfolding before them.

  As the Monaco Grand Prix unfolded, an ued and dramatic se pyed out orack below. The crowd's cheers suddenly turo gasps of shock as a man stepped onto the track with a determined and dangerous look in his eyes. Illyana leaned forward, "What's he doing?" she murmured.

  The man, seemingly unfazed by the speeding cars, strode fidently onto the track. "He's going to get hit!" Jubilee cried out, fear g her words.

  But the man showed no for the oning cars. Instead, he deployed a straeology; a harhat unfolded around his body, creating glowirically charged whips in each hand. It was a terrifying sight, the whips crackled with deadly energy, and the clothing around the man's chest disied amid the stiltiricity.

  A massive crash erupted as the man swung his whips, sshing one of the cars which broke apart uhe assault. The crowd erupted in panic, screams mixing with the sound of the crash.

  Orack, Tony Stark, driving one of the rag cars, seemed to realize the daoo te. The man shed out with his whips, aiming for Tony's car.

  Illyana prepared to use her powers. "I'll get us down there," she said. But Tyson held out his hand, stalling her intervention. From their vantage poihe chaotic se, Jubilee, Illyana, and Tyson watched ily as Tony Stark emerged from the wreckage of his car. Shaken but mostly unharmed, his eyes focused on the man, whom Tyson knew was Ivan Vanko. Vanko stood menagly with his electric whips crag in the air.

  A bck luxury car barreled dowrack. Happy Hogan, Tony's bodyguard, maneuvered the car, smming it into Vanko and pinning him against the barrier of the track. He backed the car up and rammed Vanko several more times. But Vanko began attag the car with his electric whips. Sparks flew as the whips sliced through the metal, dangerously close to Happy and Pepper Potts who was also in the car.

  Pepper reached out of the car and threw a metallic suitcase toward Tony. It skidded across the ground, ing to a stop at his feet.

  Jubilee's eyes widened, "A suitcase? What?" she questioned.

  Tony grabbed the suitcase, and in a matter of seds, it transformed. It unfolded and attached itself around Tony, morphing into the iian suit. The transformation was a teological marvel, the suit ing around him, piece by pietil he stood fully cd as Iron Man. With the suit now on, Tony turned his attention to Vanko. He kicked the car, sliding Pepper and Happy away from danger. Vanko shed out with his electric whips, defleg Iron Man's attacks.

  Jubilee, Illyana, and Tyson watched in awe as Iron Man and Vanko engaged in a fierce battle. Vanko swung his whips, ing Iron Man and flipping him through the air onto the hood of the car.

  "Iron Man suit in a suitcase! I 't believe this is happening!" Jubilee shouted.

  The battle raged on, with Iron Man using every tool at his disposal. Vanko ed his whips around Stark again, but instead to escape, Tony stepped closer. Seizing the moment, he lunged forward, ing the whips around him as he closed in. Grappling with Vanko and using the suit's strength to overpower him, he unleashed a barrage of punches on Vanko's unarmed body.

  The vilin was left bloody and battered as Stark ripped the arc reactor from his chest.

  Jubilee could barely tain her excitement, "Did you see that? It was unbelievable, like something straight out of an aovie!" She threw her arms wide, miming punches and sshes. "Iron Man versus... Steel Whip… The Whip Master... Cool Whip!" She grasped for the right name.

  Tyson supplied the onelessly. "Whipsh."

  Jubilee poi him, a grin splitting her face. "Yes! Whipsh! That's perfect!" She ughed, adrenaline and joy bubbling out of her. "Iron Man versus Whipsh!"

  Tyson just shook his head. Jubilee was too caught up ihrill of the moment to notice, gaze fixed on Iron Man where he stood surrounded by authorities and spectators, arc reactor clutched triumphantly ial gauhe armored hero raised his other hand in a reassuriure, signaling that the danger had passed. The crowd roared their approval, but Jubilee's cheers rose above them all.

  Beside her, Illyana turo Tyson, suspi written pinly on her face. "You knew something was going to happen, didn't you?" she accused, her gaze searg his face for any hint of firmation.

  Tyson shuffled his feet, looking slightly unfortable under Illyana's scrutiny. "Well, I had a hunch," he admitted relutly.

  Jubilee's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean you sensed all this was going to happen? Like you did before the institute was invaded?" she asked, disbelief c her voice.

  "I, uhh... Yeah. I had a feeling this week was going to be big," Tyson answered mely, looking apologetically at both of them. He tched onto the expnation that Jubilee had vely offered. It was better than anything he came up with on the fly.

  Illyana crossed her arms. "This week? I'm not here for a week, I only have the day," she said, evident ione.

  "We should probably head back," Tyson said finally. With o look at the beautiful vista behind them, he waved his arm, opening a portal back to the institute.

  Jubilee stepped bato her room, still buzzing with excitement from the day's events. "Did you see how Tony Stark hahose whips? That suitcase suit is seriously cool," she gushed, her voice thick with awe.

  In trast, Illyana wasn't so easily impressed. She turo Tyson, her eyes narrowing slightly. "This was supposed to be a rexing day, Tyson. Instead, you took us straight into a showdowween Iron Man and some vilin," she chided.

  Tyson rubbed the back of his neck, looking a bit sheepish. "I know, I know."

  Jubilee, ever the peacemaker, jumped in to ease the tension. "Hey, e on, Illyana. It was actually pretty awesome to see it all go down," she said, trying to lighten the mood with her usual cheerful demeanor. "For o wasn't one of us fighting the bad guy. It was cool to just be a spectator."

  But Illyana was firm. "That's not the point, Jubilee. Tyson, you o make this up to us," she stated, looking expetly at Tyson.

  Caught off guard, Tyson asked, "Um, okay. How?"

  Illyana pondered for a moment, then her eyes lit up with an idea. "How about you take us out again?"

  Tyson shrugged. "Sure."

  Illyana watched Tyson closely to gauge his rea as she suggested, "You take Jubilee out soon. I'll be expeg my night out when you join me."

  Jubilee's words tumbled out in a rush, her eyes bright with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "It wouldn't be a date, date. Just us hanging out," she crified hastily, her voice slightly higher pitched than usual. Her hands moved animatedly as she spoke. "Maybe we go to a club after graduation. I'll pn it. It'll be fun." As she spoke, a blush crept up her cheeks, a rosy tint that betrayed her effort to downpy the outing as something casual. The idea of spending time with Tyson, alone on a date, filled her with a giddy kind of happiness.

  Illyana couldn't help but agree encingly. There was a warm, knowing look in her eyes. "That sounds like a great idea, Jubes," she said supportively. Her words were meant to reassure, to make Jubilee feel more at ease with her proposal. Illyana was more than happy to give her friend the nudge she needed.

  Tyson caught the nervous energy radiating from Jubilee and saw through her attempts to bel the outing as just a friendly gathering. Yet, he chose not to call her out on it, finding her enthusiasm and the flutter of nerves endearing.

  "That sounds like a pn," Tyson agreed, his tone light and teasing. "Even though I live o a club, I haven't been to one. Might be fun to see what the fuss is all about."

  Jubilee's eyes sparkled at his response, her heart skipping a beat. She quickly posed herself, though, not wanting to appear too eager. "Yeah, just something chill. Nothing fancy," she said, trying to sound nont. Inside, however, she was already w what she would wear, what she should do with her hair, and how the night would unfold.

  Illyana nodded, satisfied with the pn. "Alright, it's settled then. A night out to celebrate yraduation. And Tyson, you're paying," she decred.

  Tyson ughed, accepting the friendly 'punishment'. "Deal. It's the least I do after today's surprise adventure," he said, his tone light and friendly.

  Jubilee cpped her hands iement. "This is going to be epic! Just wait, I'll find the perfect pce for us to celebrate," she said, her mind already rag with ideas.

  Tyson asked, "Hey, Jubes. Before we leave, I need a favor…" He began whispering spiratorially.

  — Rogue Rept —

  Jubilee strolled through the halls of the Xavier Institute, a mischievous gleam in her eye as she searched for her target. She found Logan lounging in the on room, idly flipping through a motorcycle magazine.

  "Hey Logan, you've gotta e see this awesome new game I got!" Jubilee excimed.

  Logan gnced up and muttered something unintelligible about teenagers. "This ain't another one of them Old West games, is it? I told you, I don't remember the 1800s. I don't know if it was actually like that."

  Jubilee rolled her eyes. "Quit being such a grump and just e check it out. It'll be fun, I promise!" Her enthusiasm was iious, wearing down Logan's gruff exterior. He sighed and tossed the magazine aside.

  "Alright, I'm ing. But this better not be a waste of time." He pushed himself up and grudgingly followed the beaming girl. As they passed the gym, Jubilee called out, "Hey Colossus, you should e too! It's gonna be epic!"

  Pinced up from his weight bench, quirking an eyebrow. "Very well, I suppose a short break would be agreeable." He set down the barbell with a resounding g and fell in step beside them.

  Jubilee practically skipped back to her room, the two men trailing behind. "Prepare to be amazed!" She threw open her door with a flourish aured fan to enter.

  He tilted his head as he caught a familiar st. But no sooner had he crossed the threshold than the floor suddenly vanished beh his feet. Logan barely had time to let out a startled curse before he found himself plummeting through a swirling portal, the Xavier Institute disappearing above him.

  Disoriented, Logan nded hard on a craggy obsidian surface. He rolled to his feet, instantly alert, and took in his new surroundings. A crimson sky roiled with unnaturally dark clouds, split by jagged forks of purple lightning. Geysers of green fme erupted from fissures in the onyx ground, casting an eerie glow. The wind carried the distant shrieks of demons.

  Limbo.

  Logaended his cws with a sharp snikt, adamantium gleaming. His eyes darted around the hellish ndscape, seeking threats, but only one figure stood nearby.

  The hulking silhouette stepped out from behind a crag, revealing a leering fanged smile and feline eyes glowing with malice.

  Sabretooth.

  "Happy birthday runt," the beast rumbled. "Time for your yearly ass-kig."

  Uanding dawned and a slow grin spread across Logan's face. Jubilee had set him up. He chuckled darkly and slid into a battle crouch, cws at the ready. "Bring it on, kid!"

  They traded blows in a whirlwind of violence, blood spraying the shattered obsidian. Their wounds healed as quickly as they were opened.

  During a break in the bat, they separated, staring each other down.

  Suddenly, Sabretooth shimmered and vanished.

  Tyson was revealed in his pce. "I was his time old man, giving you a heads up. year won't be so easy!" He surged forward to rehe battle.

  Logan's bark of ughter cut through Limbo's screaming winds as he met the charge head-on, his grin mirr the younger mutant's. "You got stones, kid, I'll give you that! But you still got a lot to learn!"

  They cshed again in a tornado of adamantium. Each man pushed the other's healing factors. Logan snarled, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of battle. He lunged forward, cws slig through the air, but Tyson had spent the year training under Colleewisted away from the deadly bdes, his talons raking across Logan's chest, shredding flesh and drawing a grunt of pain from the older mutant.

  "Not bad, kid," Logan growled, "But yonna have to do better than that!" He unched himself at Tyson, a whirlwind of adamantium and fury.

  Tyso him head-on, his fanged smile a mirror of Logan's savage joy. He parried the flurry of strikes with preternatural speed, his talons defleg the adamantium cws in a dazzling dispy of skill. Sparks flew as the iructible metals ground against each other, the screech of their collision rising above the wails of the demons. They danced bad forth across the bsted hellscape, her giving quarter nor asking for it. Logan's experiend ing were matched by Tyson's ferocity and fighting styles, the two mutants pushing each other to new heights.

  Suddenly, Logaed left and then lunged right, his cws seeking to impale Tyson. But the younger mutant had anticipated the move. He sidestepped the deadly bdes and seized Logan's wrist, his bare skin making tact with the other man's flesh.

  Logan's eyes widened in shock as he felt his strength being drained away, his healing factor faltering. Tyson's power sapped his vitality and brought him to his khe adamantium cws retracted as Logan slumped forward.

  Tyson released his grip. After a moment, he reached down and grasped Logan's hand, pulling the older mutant to his feet. "You almost had me there, old man," Tyson said, his voice tinged with respect. "But I've learned a few tricks since we fought in that bar."

  Logan chuckled wearily, shaking his head. "Aye, you have at that, bub. I re I'm gonna have to up my game for year." He cpped Tyson on the shoulder.

  A slow cp echoed through the infernal realm, drawing their attention. Illyana stepped out from behind a t spire of obsidian. "Boys will be boys," she drawled, her sapphire eyes glinting with mischief. "Always have to prove who's the alpha, don't you?"

  Colossus emerged from the shadows behind her, his metalli glinting in the eerie light. Tyson's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Piotr? What are you doing here?"

  "What, you thought you were the only one I wao see? It's been nearly a year since I've id eyes on my dear brother." Illyana walked over to Logan and enveloped him in a hug, "Thank you again, Logan, for your help with Azazel. I couldn't have do without you."

  Logaurhe embrace, a rare softness in his eyes. "Anytime, darlin'. You know I've always got your back." They separated, auro Tyson, a sly grin tugging at his lips. "So, kid, how have you beeing along?"

  Tyson's face split into a wide grin. "Pretty good. Stopped some supervilins, and started a business. You know… How are things going with Ororo these days?"

  Logan's look of surprise was quickly masked. "Just fine, bub. Just fine indeed."

  "I k!" Tyson crowed, pumping his fist in the air. He strode over to Illyana and took her hand, his fingers iwining with hers briefly. With his other hand, he sshed through the air, opening a shimmering portal back to Jubilee's room. "Hey Jubes!" he called out, his voice eg through the rift. "Logan and ot together! I told you!"

  Jubilee's peeked into the portal, her expression a mix of annoyand amusement. "Doesn't ge the fact that you're living vicariously through Logan, you big dork!" she retorted, stig her to at him.

  Tyson scoffed and rolled his eyes, waving his hand dismissively. The portal colpsed in on itself, cutting off Jubilee's ughter. He turned back to the others, shaking his head. "Women. They just don't uand the sacred bonds of male friendship."

  Illyana raised an eyebrow, her lips twitg with suppressed mirth. "Oh really? And what would you know about the sacred bonds of male friendship? You just proved your idea of male bonding involved beating each other senseless."

  Tyson clutched his heart in mock affront. "You wound me, Lyana! I'll have you know that there's a rich tradition of meling their differehrough the time-honored method of pummeling each other into submission. It's a erstone of civilizatioched into the stone of Guy Code."

  Piotr chuckled, the deep rumble of his ughter eg through the hellish ndscape. "He's n, sister." He cpped Tyson on the back, the heavy metal hand f him to stumble forward a small step to bance. "You fought well today, my friend. You have grown much since I st saw you."

  Tyson grinned up at the metal giant, rubbing his shoulder ruefully. Tyson having to look up at someone was novel. "Thanks, big guy. You're not so bad yourself. We'll have to go a few rounds sometime, see if I put a dent in that shiny hide of yours."

  Logan watched the bypy, shaking his head. "Alright, runts, as much fun as this little reunion has been, what say we head back? I've got a birthday to celebrate, and I'm pretty sure Chuck's got a bottle of scotch with my name on it back at the mansion."

  Illyana nodded, her eyes fshing with the silver of her power. "Agreed. As delightful as Limbo is this time of year, I think we've all had our fill for one day." She waved her hand, and a shimmering portal sprang ience, a view of the Xavier Institute's lush grounds. "After you, birthday boy."

  Logached a mock bow, a grin pying on his rugged features. "Don't mind if I do, darlin'." He strode through the portal, followed closely by Piotr.

  As the group emerged from the portal, Tyson turo Logan, "Hey, old man, I almost fot. For your birthday, you're wele t Ororo to my show if she's ied and you're looking for a date night. VIP seating, on the house, of course."

  Logan responded, "That's generous of you, kid. I might just take you up on that offer. 'Ro's been asking for a night out oown."

  Tyson's expression sobered slightly as he addressed the gathered mutants. "Listen, there's something you all should know. Yesterday, I was called into a Senate hearing as my Mirage identity, and I ended up admitting that I'm a mutant." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It was bound to happen sooner or ter. We're going to be making our way into the spotlight, whether we like it or not. You should probably give Professor Xavier a heads up if he isn't already aware."

  Illyana frowned, her sapphire eyes troubled. "The humans are always looking for an excuse to fear and hate us."

  Piotr pced a f hand on his sister's shoulder, "We have faced adversity before, Illyana. We will weather this storm as we have all the others, together."

  Tyson gathered his thoughts. "In my show, I tell Spider-Man's story. But I'd like to start including some mutant stories as well. Give people a glimpse into our world, help them see us as individuals, not just powers." He looked around at the group, "If any of you are ied in sharing your stories, I'd be hoo tell them. lit the profits from the ticket sales, of course."

  Illyana asked, "Why not tell your own story, Tyson? I'm sure it's far more iing than any of ours."

  Tyson chuckled, shaking his head. "I've sidered it, but I'd have to leave out so much. As far as the world knows, I'm just an illusionist. 't go giving away all my secrets now, I?" His expression turned serious once more. "But if any of you want your story told, I'd hide any vulnerabilities, and focus on the person behind the powers. I want to ge the narrative, make people see the human side of us."

  Logan grunted in approval. "You know my story better than I do, kid. Feel free to use it if you think it'll help the cause. Just leave out the bits about the birthday beatdowns, eh?"

  Tyson grinned, sketg a mock salute. "You got it, old man. Your sordid past is safe with me."

  A flicker of disfort crossed Illyana's features. "I'm sorry, Tyson. I'm not ready for my story to be told. Not yet." She ed her arms around herself as if warding off a chill despite the warm breeze.

  Tyson's expression softened, and he reached out to take her hand, "Hey, it's okay. Your story isn't nearly writtehere's still so much more to e, so much more for you." He pulled her close, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Whenever you're ready, I'll be here to help you tell it. But until then, you just keep writing it."

  Piotr cleared his throat, "As toug as this moment is, perhaps we should ti inside? I believe Jubilee is rallying the troops to create an impromptu birthday celebration, and it would be a shame to keep the others waiting."

  Logan chuckled, g the metal giant on the back. "Aye, Petey's right. Let's head in ahis party started."

  Tysoated, uainty flickering across his features. "Suys, I'm not ready to head bato the institute yet," he said apologetically.

  Logan cpped him on the back. "I get it kid, I'll see you soon. Try to stay out of trouble."

  Tyson ughed, ruefully. "You know how that goes."

  Logan grunted in wry aowledgment. Illyana ented dryly, "He's a trouble mag."

  Tyson shot the bloant a sheepish look before turning back to Logan. "Happy birthday man," he said sincerely. Logan nodded.

  Illyana shared a quick hug goodbye with her brother Colossus. The other mutants turned and walked back toward the institute. Tyson raised his hand and with a flick of his wrist, used the sling ring to open a glowing portal back to his suite.

  "Lyana?" she asked, unprompted.

  "It took me months, but I finally figured out a niame for you," Tyson said as they stepped through the portal.

  Illyana looked pleased. "You thought about me that much? I like it." The portal closed behind them, leaving the two aloogether in Tyson's living room.

  AN: I finally finished writing Arc 6, just the outro left. So... Tyson’s power poll oreon will close on Friday. Vote in that if you haven’t yet, it's still pretty close, with only two votes separating the top two choices (as of this m). Costs nothing to vote.

  This chapter has an apanying gallery if you want to check it out while you’re there. Shameless plug: it's only a buck for the lowest tier to unlock the galleries, 5 bucks gets you one chapter ahead of public release and NSFW galleries, and 10 gets you that and two chapters ahead of public release.

  If you’re reading on WebNovel or Scribble Hub, you’re now caught up on public releases, neters will be weekly instead of daily. If you made it this far, I’d really appreciate it if you took a mio drop a review. Thanks!

  Behind the Ses

  - There were several callbacks to Arc 1 in this chapter

  …Logan saying he didn’t remember the 1800s was a call back to Arc 1 when Tyson watched Jubilee pying Red Dead Redemption

  … Illyana reminded Jubilee that she was the one whyson was missing from the Institute

  … Illyana’s retrospective on how she and Tyson’s retionship started

  - Tyson speaks more about ambushing Logan on his birthday ter in this Arc, but it has been nearly a year siyson arrived. Remember Sabertooth attacked Logan on his birthday annually; The dates don’t line up exactly, but for the purposes of this story Logan’s birthday is te May or Early June. Acc to my notes, he was born in 1832. In X-Men ins: Wolverine we see a clip of Logan and Victhting in the Civil War, so he had to be an adult by the 1860s.

  June 2, 2010: Tyson Arrived

  May 29, 2011: This chapter