25 Unicorn Street- Sunday evening

[throughaphase]

There had been some new people the last couple weeks, a couple loops to be thrown for, and naturally Kitty figured that one thing to do about it was to invite the grumpy alternate universe version of her mentor/big brother type figure to dinner to meet her family.

When you came from the world she did and had spent this much time in Fandom, this was completely reasonable and not uncomfortable at all. Sorry, Logan.

The place was ready, the pizza was ordered, and now Kitty was waiting to see if he'd actually show up.


[For those two!]

Comments

[throughaphase]

She loved you, Clint.

"I think we're set, as long as he shows," she answered. She was sort of worried about that. "And know this one is really prickly."

Had he even amassed a small cadre of teen girls to help in a non-creepy way?

[theworst_verine]

Logan would deny to his dying fucking day that he collected teenage girls like that. Other than Laura. And maybe Rogue. Neither of which should even count!

But he hadn't shaved more than usual because he was a prickly lil' cactus still. It was more than enough that he managed to socialize three whole days in a row with people who weren't all up in his business constantly. He stared at the door for way too long, definitely not psyching himself up to knock on it before getting angry with himself and knocking.

[throughaphase]

Justice for Jubilation Lee.

Kitty didn't rush to the door or anything, she opened it at a perfectly normal pace to let him in. "Welcome to our humble abode."

[so_hawkward]

"Hey, you found us," Clint said, like the island was big enough for people to get lost. "Come on in."

[theworst_verine]

Someone surly had gotten lost once. On the tiniest island around.

"Hey," Logan said, eyeing Clint for a moment before settling on a nod. Doin' great at the socializing with people who actually vaguely knew a version of him. Aw yeah. "Thanks."

Nailed it.

[throughaphase]

Hopefully he didn't mind the cheerful "Other Logan!" from where Lexi was standing.

"There was a long, child-friendly discussion about alternate universes," Kitty said, which was supposed to be reassuring.

[so_hawkward]

Clint took a step back, partly to give Logan room to come in and partly to given him some space because crowding the new guy seemed like a bad idea. "She's gonna have really weird stories for the future. The dogs are tucked away, though they'd be happy to say hello if you want."

[theworst_verine]

Wise choice there, Clint! He was a jumpy guy. Or maybe he'd gotten just way too used to the durability of Wade there.

"Let's stick to this now," Logan said, eyeing Lexi like she might jump up and kill him. Or something. It was strange. "It's a nice family you've got."

What with being alive and all that jazz.

[throughaphase]

Lexi was very well-behaved, if eyeing him back a little, since he didn't seem to appreciate how cute she was.

"We try," Kitty said. "That's Lexi, she doesn't bite."

[so_hawkward]

"And even if she did, she's had all her shots," Clint said with an awkward laugh. "Can I get you a drink? Water, soda, beer, coffee."

He'd tried to cover all the possible bases!

[theworst_verine]

"A beer?" Logan said, just eyeing Lexi right on back. That was right, he was getting into a staring contest with a child. Because what else did he have to do!

[throughaphase]

Lexi cocked an eyebrow at him. She could do this all day. She wouldn't- she was five- but she could if she wanted to.

Kitty headed into the kitchen for the beer and called, "Feel free to actually sit down, too."

[so_hawkward]

Clint led the way into the living room and took a seat, giving Logan an awkward smile as Lexi came up to sit on his lap. "So, uh, how's it going getting settled in?"

[theworst_verine]

How dare you stop this epic staring match, Clint. God. Lexi almost had him for a moment there too!

"Uh, yeah," Logan said, clearing his throat as he went to take a seat that did not exactly say 'I'm comfy here.' "Other than the dating thing yesterday."

That he hadn't signed up for! Kitty!

[throughaphase]

Don't look at her! Look at the guy whose name starts with a T and ends with an ino.

"How did they go?" Kitty asked. "Everyone seems to have lived."

[so_hawkward]

"And it didn't sound like everyone had to drink themselves silly afterwards, so I assume it wasn't all bad. There's some pretty great people here."

Look at him, being all encouraging!

[theworst_verine]

"Well, between the kids and the goblin guy, I don't think I'll be looking for love here," Logan said dryly. It was the most relaxed he'd been since he stepped inside too.

Raiden wasn't bad. Offered him free pizza!

[throughaphase]

"Most people just use it as a way to find people they might want to talk to later," Kitty said, returning with the beer and handing it to him.

She had a little bet with herself on how that worked out!

[so_hawkward]

"Yeah, and Caritas is a great place for that in general, though I might be biased," Clint said with a grin to Kitty. "No one here is going to give you crap for anything."

[theworst_verine]

Yeah, but his tragic backstory, Clint. His tragic backstory! He was the worst Wolverine!

Because the writers clearly forgot about Ultimates Wolverine, but whatever.

"You guys been here a while?" Long enough to have a kid at least.

[throughaphase]

"A really, really scary amount of time," Kitty admitted. "I was in college when I got here."

Look at her, not being anywhere close to 19 anymore.

[so_hawkward]

Clint took a moment to do the math and made a face. "Oof, yeah, it's been a while. And it was supposed to be temporary, but..."

He shrugged and gave Lexi a little hug. "Mission failed successfully."

[theworst_verine]

"That's... nice," Logan settled on. "Not sure I'm the type to stay somewhere that long."

He was kind of working on that, though.

[throughaphase]

"Sometimes it just happens," Kitty said. "I think you just have to find the right place that you like enough."

And then next thing you know your kid's in school.

[so_hawkward]

"Yeah, and we still work and travel when the time comes, this is just a nice base that's hard to find," Clint pointed out.

[theworst_verine]

"You're one of those... Avengers, right?" The team that rejected Wade. That one?

[throughaphase]

"There's a few here," Kitty said.

[so_hawkward]

"Yeah, there's me, Steve, Wanda--Thor and Tony too, but they're not the same as the ones I know. It's a... complex map."

It was a hot mess, but that seemed meaner.

[theworst_verine]

Look, he was talking to two X-Men. A hot mess was kind of par for the course.

"It seems like it," Logan agreed, huffing a little laugh. "Know a guy who wanted to be one."

[throughaphase]

"Who's that?" Kitty wondered.

[theworst_verine]

"Wade Wilson. Deadpool?" Oh yeah, that guy.

And did he almost sound fond when he said that?

[throughaphase]

"Mixed feelings on that guy," Kitty admitted. She did not like hers! "Though I think at least back home everybody gets to be an Avenger at some point."

[so_hawkward]

"That's because we're the best and everyone wants to be like us," Clint said proudly. "I don't know if I want to think about having Tony and Wade on the team at the same time though, that might create a black hole of sarcasm."

[theworst_verine]

"I think he's moved on from that." Through the magic of saving the timeline and all that. "So, you're all safe from it."

[throughaphase]

Kitty clearly had thoughts on the 'Avengers are the best' thing, but it also was not the first time she'd heard it.

"Sucks for him, though," she said. "You hang out with Deadpool?"

[so_hawkward]

"I've run into him a few times in New York. He's surprisingly good about the whole--" He waved vaguely to his hearing aids. "--thing. But not someone I want to work with for long periods of time. Present company is much better."

[theworst_verine]

"Lived with him for a little bit," Logan said carefully, trying to ascertain what Clint meant there. "It wasn't the worst. Discussions on cocaine aside."

Damn you, Feige.

[throughaphase]

"Oh, that would explain a lot," Kitty said immediately.

Lexi didn't know what cocaine was yet, right?

[so_hawkward]

Not if Clint had anything to say about it!

"Well, you'll have some peace and quiet now. Mostly," he said. "I assume you've gotten the warnings about how weird things can be?"

[theworst_verine]

"Like magic and shit?" Lexi was right there, Logan!

[throughaphase]

"Maybe PG it up some," Kitty suggested. "Some people do magic, probably, but more like you might turn into a kid or a girl."

[so_hawkward]

Clint put his hand over Lexi's mouth to keep the inevitable swear from coming out of her. "Or an animal, if karma catches up to you."

"Daddy turns into a hawk," Lexi added, a little muffled.

[theworst_verine]

He earned his R rating, how dare you two.

"Seriously?"

[throughaphase]

"If you turn into an actual wolverine, just don't be surprised," Kitty advised.