Marvel Universe 616

Danni O'byrne

Tommy's target sprinted as fast as their feet would carry them, the black mass followed as it jumped from wall to ceiling to wall giving the junkie no escape. In a last ditch effort they enabled their mutation hoping it would save them. Like some human insect they leaped and clung to the wall before attempting to scurry away. They barely made it a few steps before Tommy's shadowy presence erupted out of the wall they were on and sent them crashing into the hallway, just outside of the door to the dance hall. Tommy swooped down, his tendrils lifting his target before slamming him into the wall. Restrained by both arms and legs Tommy now took proper form again, standing before the junkie as his dark aura swirled around him. The dark tendrils holding their prey fast.

"Oh shit man oh shit oh God please don't kill me!"

He pleaded hysterically as tears welled up in his eyes. Tommy's fist clenched as a black tendril materilized from his back. It hung in the air like the tail of a scorpion, ready to strike.

"Listen good you little shit, you wanna live you're gunna talk."

"Anything man just please don't kill me!"

Tommy glared but restrained from skewering the junkie on the wall.

"I want a name."

"C-Crowley man, my name is Crowley."

The tendril shot forward and sunk into Crowleys shoulder. The shadow mass pierced flesh and muscle fiber as if it was nothing. The blood oozed from the wound as Crowley cried out in pain.

"Not your name you stupid little shit! Your boss! Who'se settin me up? Who want's me to take the fall?"

Crowley had to force himself to speak through the tears and pain but managed to mutter out a respone.

"W-What boss man? I-I'm just a s-student, I-I don't work for anyone!"

Tommy growled and reached out, grabbing his throat with his hand.

"Don't you fucking lie to me Crowley!"

Castellano warned dangerously. Crowley whimpered but shook his head in innocence.

"I s-swear man! I just h-heard you had the MGT tonight, that's all!"

Tommy's eyes squinted in suspicion as he listened. He tightened his grip just a bit before letting loose with a rough shove, leaving only his tendrils holding him fastened to the wall.

"Who told you I had the MGT tonight?..."

Crawley's eyes widened as a primal fear took him at the thought of the one who spoke to him earlier.

"I-I can't man he'll-"

Tommy caught the hesitation and cut him off as he sent a second tendril into the boy's body, this time in his thigh. Crawley howled with pure agony, blood begining to form around his teeth.

"You got any idea what I can do to you, you fucking junkie trash?! You better realize real quick who you need to be afraid of Crawley!"

Crawley whimpered as tears streamed down his face but managed a slow nod.

"H-His names Jason..."

"You can stop right there. We're not accusing her. That's not even an option. Way I see it the only person I can trust is Kitty. The rest of you are strangers compared to her." Tommy took a second to compose himself. Sorry chief... didn't mean to bite your damn head off... Listen that lead I mentioned is that guy I jawed on the dance floor. I'll start there." With that Tommy left, heading to the mansion. David looked over the lake. Alright, I'll just look through the dorms for anything suspicous and-. As he turned back to the group, a knife was held to his throat. Cat told him that if he ever accused her again, that she would end him. He had a surprised...yet annoyed face. "David...this is where you send a current through the blade and into her. Her pretty little head will pop like a zit, and the body will twitch on the floor. It'll teach her a lesson." "You know, your threats aren't helping anyone here, especially not Tommy. So why don't you calm down and think about how threatening new students is just sinking you in deeper shit." She put the blade away and headed back to the mansionwith the group. David followed so that he'd be let back into the dorms, and then slipped away from them.

He was searching through the hallways for any suspicous activity. After a little bit he spotted some guy in a long coat, looking almost overly suspicous. Alright, let's see what he's up to. The guy would periodically look back over his shoulder, to which David would duck behind cover, mainly corners. Eventually the guy did some kind of secret knock on a door, and was let in. David approached quickly, putting his ear on the door. "Great, you made it! Good thing you didn't get caught, we'd be in loads of trouble. Did you bring...you know...it? At that David opened the door, which wasn't locked. He ran through and grabbed the guy with the coat by the collar and slammed him into the wall. "Where are the drugs? Who's supply-" The guy had sunglasses and a hood overing him, and now the sunglasses fell of. This revealed the guy to be a she...and the contraband was really...well, something for her boyfriend. He put her down immediately. The guy was staring at David. "What the fuck are you doing? Get out!' "I'm...I'm sorry, I didn't mean.." And he dashed out the door. He heard a slam coming from just around the corner. Turning the corner, he saw a kid at the end of the hallway being restrained against the wall by...something. Then Tommy came into view. You're shitting me...he's going to kill that kid. David rushed forward towards them. He noticed the blood on te kid, which didn't look too pretty. "You got any idea what I can do to you, you fucking junkie trash?! You better realize real quick who you need to be afraid of Crawley!" "Tommy, what the fuck are you doing? Look at him, you're going to kill him! You need to let go of him, he's had enough and I don't think he is going anywhere."

Tommy Castellano had murder in mind. This guy may not be the root of his problems but he was a part of it. He was the first stone that started the landslide. A final tendril formed behind Tommy and pressed against Crawley's forehead as the junkie cried in agony and terror. Just before the shadow construct peirced his skull David appeared, running down the hall.

"Tommy, what the fuck are you doing? Look at him, you're going to kill him! You need to let go of him, he's had enough and I don't think he is going anywhere."

Tommy's gaze flicked to him for a moment but quickly turning back. Castellano's entire being screamed at him to kill this prick. Anywhere else he would have been in a oil barrel getting filled in with cement or knifed in an old wareshouse by some of Tommy's men. Tommy's sighed and his dark aura retreated, relasing Crawley and letting him drop to the floor.

"Look's like it's your lucky day Crawley... Might wanna thank David for this."

Crawley looked up with a weak, pained expression but muttered out a weary thanky you to David for his intervention. Soon as he was done Tommy rolled him on to his back by casually shoving him with his foot. Tommy loomed over him with a restrained yet still dangerous expression.

"Whose this Jason guy? He the dealer?"

Crawley shook his head weakly.

"N-no... I-I mean I d-don't think so. I t-think he works for him."

"Works for who?"

Crawley head lulled as the blood loss and pain was making it difficult for him to remain concious.

"I don't know man... I've never met him. I usually just buy off Jason or whoever he tells me is selling."

"Like me?"

Tommy growled standing over him.

Danni O'byrne

Luke scratched the back of his head.

“Can you tell us where this came from?” asked the attractive girl with the hispanic accent.

“Yeah...but I’m not sure I should. Your Tommy threatened to cave in my head earlier, why on earth would I consider helping him?”

Luke sighed and put his hands on his forehead. Laura stepped forward and looked at him harshly.

“Mr Shields we are trying to prove a man innocent of a crime he did not commit. Whatever happened between you two, you cannot wish an innocent be blamed for something he didn’t do.”

Luke looked up to the ceiling and stretched.

“He won’t will he, I mean you got telepaths. And the whole business at the dance was his bloody doing. Reap what you sow, I’m not risking my neck for some for some violent mobster with anger management problems. Especially when he likes to direct that anger at me and my friend. Give me one reason why I should help and I’ll help, because I am yet to think of a compelling reason why. I have no interested in keeping Mr Noir out of trouble. So shoot, why else would I help?”

Laura looked at Cat and Alex a bit worriedly, it was clear Luke was not happy with Tommy and was quite stubborn about helping him.

Luke sat down at his desk and looked at the group.


“So?” Luke motioned for a reason.

Tommy reached down and grabbed two handfulls of Crowley's shirt collar before hefting him off the ground and holding him a hairs breath from his face.

"Where can I find him?"

Tommy asked with a growl.

"I-I'm not sure where his room is man, I s-swear! B-But I can usually find him hanging around the auditorium. That's where he likes to hang out and m-make meetings with b-buyers."

Tommy glared into his eyes, looking for any hint of a lie. Not seeing anything he let him go, allowing him to drop to the ground with a groan of pain.

"I don't wanna see you again Crowley, you hear me? Make like a ghost or I'll turn you into one."

Crowley nodded obediently before Tommy turned to David.

"I'm headed to the auditorium man. Gunna get to the top of this thing. If Jason ain't the guy then he'll know who is. You're welcome to come along, if not I understand. I don't want any of you getting blood on their hands for me."

Tommy gave David a quick nod before beginning his walk to the auditorium.

"So shoot, why else would I help?" Alex felt he had to chime in. "Because.... what if it were you instead?" Having gained a bit of the spot light, Alex explained his case. "You were at the dance, too. What if it were you instead of Tommy? What if, while you were dancing with that girl, you got approached by that drug addict? What if you were the one accused of being a dealer? Well, the X Men would have approached you just the same, and of course ask you to turn out your pockets. Now you'd be completely assured of your own innocence so you'd comply, but hey, lo and behold, you got some narcotics on you. You'd look pretty damn guilty, right?"

Alex took a moment, building up the nerve to get to the point. "And freaking out like Tommy did, though this may just be my perspective, may not be reasonable, but it would be understandable. Especially if your use to normal life, where there are no telepaths that can say 'hey, he's telling the truth'. Correct me if I'm wrong, but unless your a moron you'd want someone to help clear your name, too. Well, that's where Tommy is, and you could be a defining factor. You have the information that could help him, but are you really going to let him take the fall just cause you don't like him? What does that say about you?" Alex knew he was getting dangerously close to a boundary, but he wanted to make his point clear. He knew the next words he'd say would most likely result in receiving a fist to his face. Talking alone was enough for Alex to become a target in his old life, but mutant or not, this was asking for it.

"A-and you know what?" Alex continued, losing a bit of his courage and taking a step back. "I'd haphazard a guess that if that girl you were with was here right now, had all the facts that you were just given, and knew you could help but wouldn't cause some stupid argument in the hallway......" Don't say it..... Just don't. Your going to get punched. Despite his mental warning to himself, Alex continued. "Well, I think she'd be lookin' at you a whole lot differently than she was at the dance....."

Smooth, bone-head.......

"Well, I think she'd be lookin' at you a whole lot differently than she was at the dance....."

Luke sat there and listened to Alex’s outburst, Laura even gave way to let him take the floor. When the last sentence was thrown his way Luke chuckled lightly under his breath, he stood up from his chair and approached Alex, who seemed a little concerned about being punched.

“You...” Luke said as he approached Alex.

Laura stood close by in case of violence. Luke stopped mere inches from Alex.

“I like you.” Luke said, his face breaking into a grin. "Alex right? You should do the talking more. Fine I’ll help you.”

Luke turned back towards his desk and picked up the flasks that had previously contained MGT.

“But I can’t give you an exact room number or anything, my power doesn’t work like that. But I can give you something better.” Luke walked to his wardrobe before putting a long sleeve black shirt on. “The guy that did this had some kind of teleporting power, would explain Mr Noirs sudden framing, but I guess one of you guys have already figured that out. But...argh its hard to describe...” Luke made a pained expression as he held the object in his hands. “He gets his stuff by teleporting it in...they drop it at certain times...one of those times is tonight. But this guy is careful, with the dorms on lockdown he wouldn’t dare attempt the pickup. This could be a chance to meet the suppliers, a bigger prize than a simple dealer wouldn’t you say? Could get Mr Noir of the hook if he hands them over the supplier wrapped up in red ribbon.”

Luke said with a devilish smile. Laura nodded carefully.

“A fine plan, rip out this weed from the root” She commented “But we must be careful, whoever is dealing is he is an unknown and most definitely not a simple student. Now Luke, lock your door.”

“Wha-right now? We’re still inside my room.”

“We’re taking the window.”

Luke sighed and grabbed an extra jumper

“I’m going to regret this.”

"I'm headed to the auditorium man. Gunna get to the top of this thing. If Jason ain't the guy then he'll know who is. You're welcome to come along, if not I understand. I don't want any of you getting blood on their hands for me." "Aw what the hell, someone has to keep you from killing the guy." He started to follow Tommy. "You know, this might be a little more interesting if you let him do his job without being a nosey bitch. That, or you could let me help him, we'll all get answers a lot faster and it'll be like putting trash in an incinerator." No, it isn't our job to kill people. We are here to clear his name, and that's it. After this I'm going to learn how to shut you up for good. With that, David continued following Tommy.

Danni O'byrne

“Well, shit! Hold on!” Cat muttered, holding up a hand. She started down the hall, pausing to glance back at Alex. “Nice job there.” She flashed a smile before disappearing down the hall. She went to her room on the other side of the house, moving as quickly as possible in total silence, slipping behind her door. She didn’t have enough time to change, so she’d have to do this in her heels and dress – Great. Way to ruin a good outfit. She grumbled to herself as she grabbed her katanas from their perch on her bed post, strapping them to her back. Sitting on her dresser was a belt with pouches attached holding a number of small, sharp, throwing weapons. These people they were about to go against…She didn’t know what they had and she didn’t like going into a blind fight unarmed. She slipped back into the shadows, locking her door behind her as she headed back to Luke’s room, meeting Laura’s rolling eyes. “What?” Shrugging, she closed Luke’s door and locked it behind her before heading towards the window. “You – Kid – Person. I don’t know your name. I’m leaving these shoes in your room. I’ll be back for them later so don’t sell them or anything.” She gave a light nod before pushing the window open, taking a look down. “Jeez. I’m going first because I’m wearing a dress. Laura – You go last and keep an eye out, yeah?” The woman gave a nod, grumbling internally about the young woman’s antics as Cat moved over the window sill and began her quick descent to the grass below.

Tommy reached the auditorium with David in tow. Castellano unsure of how he actually felt having Stillman at his back. He'd already proven unwilling to allow Tommy to end someones life and the heir to the Castellano Crime family that he may become a liability if their quarry left them no choice. If this dealer forced their hand would David be able to go to that place, or would he hesitate? They would soon find out as Tommy pressed against the door allowing the pair to enter the darkness of the auditorium. The room was coated in darkness, all but a single beam of light shined out onto the stage. Their stood a scrawny almost gnarled young man with pale skin and long oil like greasy black hair. The teen had raggedy old clothes that seemed to hang off his skeletal frame as if in tatters. He stood in stark contrast to Tommy who was taller, well muscled with well groomed hair and features and expensive fashionable apparel. Slight smirk etched it's way onto the raggedy teens face as he stood there in the light of the stage light.

"Tommy Castellano... I heard you've been busy. I wondered when you would find me."