Cooper

It really was. Though, now that he had the thoughts in his head he couldn’t help but wonder how the more dangerous mutants reacted. Lorna. “A nice.” He repeated, musing that info for  moment. “That’s… wow. Congratulations?” Was that the right thing to say? He grimaced at those words. “You’ll have to get in line.” He hadn’t felt such gratifying anger in a long time.

“It’s..a lot.” It kinda just reminded him mostly that it had been almost ten years since he’d really seen his older sister or any of his family for that matter, but he was happy too because it was nice to know there was still good things in the world. “My guess is...pretty long line; everyone is either angry as hell or a complete mess.” or both. Both was a thing too. 

“Is it though?” She was quick to cut in, a grimace touching her face. She was still bad tempered, she was still reckless, and she as still unable to put her own health above anybody else’s. It was something she used to be proud of, but not anymore. Not when she had to be there for Bree. She couldn’t afford to put herself on the back burner when she had to protect and raise her daughter.

She let out a deep sigh before putting on her ‘mom’ voice. “Why did you think you killed my daughter? Moreover, where the hell have you been Coop? I’ve been worried sick about you dope head–you haven’t been doing dope have you? I’ll kill you if you’re doing dope.” She expressed, worry in her tone. Despite her anger and confusion she approached him with concern evident in her tone. “Are you okay?”

“To me...it is.”  Hell when you were away from the people you cared about any trait, good or bad was missed because they weren’t around to remind you of them. He’d even missed the whole mom vibe she pulled whenever she was concerned or annoyed...or even worse pissed off. 

Though the smile that had been on his face soon dropped as soon as all the questions came that he knew he needed to answer. “No dope I promise...-” Coop let out a cracked sigh before he looked directly at her. “I had to go, it wasn’t safe for anyone...you know about SS.” He knew she did because of what she’d been saying during the nightmare. “I was studying law and I met this really great guy...they took him away. Killed him.” God he was trying to hold back the emotions but they were overwhelming. “I was so angry, so hurt...I couldn’t control..-” he shook his head and just decided to show her, by allowing a flame to form in his hand. “I burnt down an entire school because of them...I hurt people and I wasn’t gonna let myself do that again.”

“I’m sorry,” Her voice sounded like hot glass, glass beginning to break. To shatter. “Let me get this straight. I thought my baby was dead and you’re telling me to GET OVER IT?” Her voice shattered in rage. “Yeah, okay, here’s the thing. Politely, FUCK OFF.” She roared, ready to attack if they spoke one more word. the lady was quick to retreat, and she found another pair of eyes on her moments later. “I’m sorry about that.” She exclaimed sincerely. “Not that I said it but you had to witness it. Sorry.”

He’d been relieved when he’d woken to discover that when he’d found himself believing he’d killed the niece he only just found out about and when he hadn’t...when it wasn’t real. God he couldn’t have been happier and the one thing he’d wanted to do was find his sister, have that proper reunion...one that wouldn’t be filled with all the negativity or maybe she’d slap him; he kinda deserved that too. 

“Hey, don’t know what you’re apologizing for...-” he shook his head, a sad smile plastered on his lips. “You haven’t changed a bit...and that’s kinda nice.” It was a comfort, god knows he had in way too many ways. Sometimes he forgot who he was before the fire incident, he didn’t recognise the person looking back at him in the mirror but he had things under control now. That was what counted.

“That was…” He struggled to find the right word. “NASTY.” That wasn’t it, but still. It was one of the many bad words to describe the experience they had all endured. He thought of the sight of his father, of the feeling evoked of him from that sight. He let out a sigh. 

“Understatement of the year dude...-” he could only imagine how bad everyone else’s nightmares were considering he’d had to relive what had been the worst moment of his life: one that had made him turn from just about any of society and hide himself away. So in some small way, he was beyond relieved that it hadn’t been real...not that he was sure how okay he was.  “But I didn’t burn the place down while we were all under so that’s kinda a big step for me...-and I also found out I have a niece...but if you happen to find out who did it let me know because I wanna kick their ass.”

“What…” Sentinel Services, it had to be that. He ratted her bay out to and– “HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO ME?” Her voice roared with anger and fury. “How… to my BABY?!! To your niece—HOW COULD YOU?!” Tears streamed down her cheeks, unable to control them. “You’re my brother–how could you? How could you? HOW COULD YOU!?”

She coughed once again, unable to keep up her breathing. “How could you tell them? How could you tell them? You always— WHY Coop WHY?!” Sobs left her. “You don’t understand–I can’t go on without her. She’s my baby. My little girl. My heart. I can’t go on without her, I need her in my life–-I CAN’T DO THIS WITHOUT HER COOPER.”

“No...-The fire...it was me.” He was confused, could she not see it all, could she not hear the screams of people as they suffered...there wasn’t even any SS people here because hell he would’ve handed himself over right now if there had been. “Because I thought I could control it...I thought I was okay and I’m not....I’M NOT OKAY.” Cooper shook his head, he wanted to scream from the agony it brought him to see his sister like this to know that he’d done possibly the worst thing in his mind. In this moment he wished he’d never been a mutant that his life could’ve been easier because all this...pain...he didn’t want it anymore. 

“We-we’ll get her back...there’s got to be a mutant that can do that right?...-and then i’ll leave.” He nodded a few times..yep that’s what he’d do, he’d stay away like he should’ve continued doing. “And you’ll be okay again and all this will go away.”

Was it bravery or stupidity that kept him standing so close to the man? He could be a mutant or an alien, or a human even but Andy still stood there unable to move from his spot. His adoptive mother would scold him if he saw someone in need and didn’t try his damnest to help. Andy blamed her if anyone could be to blamed for this feeling in his chest. “I became a police officer because I wanted to help people. No one promised it would be easy.” It didn’t matter if Andy had originally wanted to be a chef or live somewhere else in some other time than this. None of it mattered when he turned the switch on and he became Officer Fisher. “I’m gonna help you.” And the way he said it sounded like he didn’t have a damn choice in the matter.

“Because I’m not human and I’m not a mutant.” Which left only a few options as to what the man could possibly be. “And only one other person knows that besides you. Give a little trust to get a little trust right?” Andy wasn’t sure if it would be worth it after all was said and done but he knew it was worth it in this moment to reveal the truth. “I was wrong though. It isn’t real to me but it’s real to you.” What did that have to do with anything? “I have an idea…” Andy either had some really great ideas sometimes or they wouldn’t help at all but HE HAD TO TRY. “Point to the fire.” Point to the fire so I can stand in it and show you I’m fine.

 Andy began to hum the opening of a song his mother taught him. Somewhere over the rainbow. “Ooh, ooh. Somewhere over the rainbow way up high and the dreams that you dream of once in a lullaby. Somewhere over the rainbow Bluebirds fly and the dreams that you dream of. Dreams really do come true…” he kept singing, somehow keeping the tune no matter how concerned he was. It was his mother’s fault. She’d sing to him when he was afraid.

“You know confusing sentences like that-especially right now-are the worst...-” But in all fairness few would’ve admitted something like that, so while he still may be a little wary he’d at the very least attempt to give the guy some trust. “But thanks...i’ll try, not gonna make any promises though.” 

He wanted to almost laugh, it seemed completely insane and kinda like the guy had a death wish but without another word he pointed to where some of the fire was though it was the singing that got a chuckle out of him: he’d not meant to but it reminded him of his younger siblings...how he’d sing that to them when they were really little because it was the only thing that would get them to sleep. 

It was a nice memory...and fuck he didn’t have a lot of those anymore. 

“Don’t tell me you’re a mind reader too; I might actually freak out...that song I used to sing it to my siblings when they were really little...-kinda one of the few decent memories I have.” 

The screaming wasn’t just something he could overlook but the way the guy had frozen, Andy made him priority. Someone like him might get hurt just standing there like that. Andy couldn’t risk it if he could change that somehow. “You bein’ a smart ass?” he asked unable to help himself. Andy honestly couldn’t tell at the moment with all that was going on.

“I’m talking about everyone’s losing their minds. I think you guys were drugged.” Andy admitted a little too bluntly. It seemed to figuratively knock him on his ass. “Or something. You’re hallucinating. There’s no fire, dude. There’s no fire.” What was he gonna have to do, show him?

“I wish...-I mean I can see fire...I can see people all dead because of me...so you know it’s getting really hard to stay calm so i’d stand back a little.” It was clear through his voice about the distress he was in and while his abilities were controlled at the best of times...real or not, the illusion had him in a place where things really could end in flames. 

He gave the guy a serious look, “And I should believe you because?...” Coop questioned almost desperately because what else could he do...even if there was the slightest chance the guy was right, this all seemed way too real. “I mean I don’t know you and right now everyone else looks pretty dead.” 

Everyone was losing it. Everyone but Andy it seemed and the occasional person here and there. He had bigger things to worry about at the moment. “Are you alright, buddy?” he asked the other with concern. “Are you seeing something too?” He seemed so oddly calm compared to the others but if it were nightmares they were seeing… Andy knew it wasn’t all that pleasant.

“On what?...a scale of one to ten.” He wasn’t sure this guy was being serious right now, couldn’t he see the flames or the way the building was being engulfed...the screams? Surely he could. It was happening so obviously. 

“What the hell are you talking about?” Confusion as well as the slight panic they stayed constant within him was still ever present, he was scared to let too much emotion out fearing he’d make all of this worse. “You should get out of hear, the flames are gonna make the building fall any minuet...-you got a death wish?!”

Confusion swept his expression, not that many could see given his covered eyes. Everyone was freaking out though, that seemed clear. Scott himself felt a bit off. He approached the taller man, he seemed not crazy enough if not a little shook. “You okay?” He started with. 

The voice made him raise a brow, unaware or unsure how the male had managed to survive the fire so far but just like his fear wanted he felt some pang of concern that it’d take him if he didn’t act soon. Saving one person was better than none right. 

WHAT. Her heart skipped at the sound of her brother’s voice. Her head slowly began to turn, eyes setting on him. He was so tall. Had he always been so tall? HE WAS THERE. Her brother was there— WHAT. She straggled for breaths, trying to remain calm in the face of her own fear. 

“No– what no.” She was shaking. She felt so cold. “It’s me. I’m the fault. I fucked it up. I— ME–’ She felt like she couldn’t BREATH. Then, finally, her eyes met his. “coop…” A sob escaped her lips. “COOP.” She spoke again unable to form coherent words to follow.

Reunions were supposed to be happy occasions right? And this...was anything but. He was a...-FUCK just an abomination and maybe he should’ve just let SS kill him right there on the spot. He HATED this, being unable to even look his own sister in the eyes because he’d done possibly the worst thing a person could do...it didn’t matter if it was unintentional. He’d done it. 

“THEY’RE ALL DEAD BECAUSE OF ME....-” he chocked out, still avoiding her gaze from the fear of falling apart completely. “Because i’m a mon...-monster...a FREAK.” He spat out, finally looking her in the eye. “I’m so sorry...she’s dead because of me.” 

A scream ripped from her lungs. Where was Bree? Where was her baby and whose blood was this? Her blood? Not Bree’s, no it couldn’t be. She felt like she couldn’t breath. “Where is she?” She demanded, feeling tears well in her eyes. Then she heard it, the sound of them coming. Sentinel Services was comin for her baby–where was her baby?

He’d know her voice anywhere. GOD HAD IT REALLY BEEN TEN YEARS...FUCK. And now she was here, this wasn’t right and asking for her....-no....no he hadn’t done that. He hadn’t killed his own sisters kid because of what now felt like a reckless choice to come to some STUPID party. 

He wanted to scream...to break right there and all he could do was stare at her shaking. “Abs....I’m...-fuck it’s all my fault.” Tears welling up in his eyes as he dare not move from his current spot. “I shouldn’t have come here. I shouldn’t have come back.” 

“NO...” his words were shaky, the one thing that haunted him was now happening again because he’d come to this stupid Halloween party on some whim that he finally (and for the most part) had his shit together: that he could control his powers enough not to have any reason to worry and yet here he stood surrounded by a crumbling building and people screaming in agony. 

Cooper Lancaster. 29. Mutant. Pyrokinesis. Brother. Uncle. From 2033.