Prey or Predator

Scott took a deep gulp of water, feeling the cool liquid soothe his throat as he wiped the sweat from his brow. His muscles burned from the sparring session, his entire body aching in protest after another round with Logan. Their fights had only grown more brutal with each session, but despite the exhaustion, Scott welcomed the challenge.

Yet even as he recovered, he noticed something off about Logan.

The subtle tension in his shoulders. The way he stood just a little too rigid, his breathing more controlled than usual. Scott knew the signs. Cyclops' instincts told him what his eyes couldn't—Logan was on edge.

Setting his bottle down, Scott turned toward him. "What is it?" He asked, keeping his voice level. Logan glanced at him before exhaling sharply through his nose, as if debating whether to even bother answering. Scott's gaze narrowed. "It's not about Winston, is it?"

The fact that there was a trained assassin somewhere out there gunning for him wasn't something Scott took lightly, but Logan wasn't the type to get worked up over a killer-for-hire. It would take something far worse to put Logan on edge.

After a long moment, Logan grunted. "Victor's in town."

Scott sighed, dragging a hand through his damp hair.

That was the last thing he needed.

A low chuckle rumbled from Logan's chest. "Yeah, that's about the reaction I expected."

Scott frowned, rubbing his temple. "With Winston after my head, Victor sniffing around only makes things worse."

"You think I don't know that?" Logan smirked, crossing his arms. "I'd say your luck's about as bad as mine, kid."

Scott shot him a dry look. "Not really in the mood for jokes, Logan."

"Too bad, 'cause this is the hand we've been dealt." Logan shrugged before his expression darkened. "Listen, for now, Victor's after me. He wants to see you grow before he makes his move, so you're safe—for now."

That for now didn't sit well with Scott.

Victor Creed never did anything without a purpose. If he was here, it wasn't just to stir up trouble. And if Sabretooth was here, that meant the Marauders might not be far behind.

Scott folded his arms, his mind already running through possibilities and countermeasures. If the Marauders were in town, the team was at risk. Their movements would have to be watched more carefully than ever.

"I don't like it," Scott admitted, his jaw tightening. "Victor showing up means the Marauders might be making their move soon."

"Then make a plan." Logan's voice was firm, unwavering. "You made your choice, kid. No backing out now."

Scott met his gaze, knowing Logan was right. If he wanted to lead this team, he had to be ready for what was coming. Exhaling, he straightened. "I'll have one by tomorrow."

Logan gave him a nod, satisfied. "Good. 'Cause I'll have my hands full dealing with Victor."

Scott nodded back. His mind was already a battlefield of tactics and contingencies—because if Victor Creed was here, then war was coming.

-X-

Lying on his bed, Scott stared up at the ceiling, his mind a battlefield of tangled thoughts and half-formed plans. Sleep was an impossibility with all that going on in his head. He had forced himself to close his eyes multiple times, only to feel his pulse spike as the weight of everything unfolding in Bayville dragged him back into sharp awareness.

There were too many threats.

His school had been infiltrated by a spy.

Natasha Romanoff—Black Widow—was sitting in his classroom, watching him. She was there under Fury's orders, no doubt gathering intelligence on the X-Men, their abilities, and their leadership. Yet as concerning as that was, Fury wasn't the immediate problem.

Scott knew enough about the man to understand that S.H.I.E.L.D. wasn't about to move against him without first observing, analysing and calculating. Fury wasn't an assassin—he was a strategist. If Fury considered Scott a threat, he wouldn't act rashly. He would study him, pick apart his weaknesses, and only move when he was certain of his target.

That gave Scott some breathing room.

But Winston Frost was a different matter entirely.

Scott didn't know when the mercenary Winston had hired would arrive—or worse, if they were already here. His gut told him that a professional would take their time, watch their target, wait for the perfect moment to strike. Yet there was no guarantee of that. He was already on edge, waiting for an attack that could come from anywhere, at any time.

He had prepared for that.

But he had not prepared for Victor Creed.

Sabretooth's arrival had thrown everything into chaos. With Logan preoccupied, the entire X-Men team was exposed and if Sabretooth was here, then the Marauders couldn't be far behind. If they weren't already here as well.

Scott exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple.

He didn't need this.

Not now.

One enemy was bad enough. Two was overwhelming. Three? That was a disaster waiting to happen.

He needed a plan. Fast.

Charles' telepathic presence in the mansion would keep them safe from ambushes—for now. Any unknown mind would be detected the moment it approached, which gave them a layer of security on home ground.

But outside the mansion? That was a different story.

Bayville High was the biggest danger zone, but Scott doubted the Marauders would make a move there. The school was too public, too many eyes, and if Sinister wanted Scott captured rather than killed, he wouldn't risk an open conflict in broad daylight.

That meant his best option was to use the school as a shield.

So long as they were at Bayville High, Scott wouldn't just have the X-Men around him—he'd also have Black Widow. The thought made him uneasy. He still didn't know if she would intervene in a fight. S.H.I.E.L.D. had no reason to get involved in mutant conflicts—yet. But she was a spy, and that meant she would be aware of any threats in the area before anyone else.

If Scott kept an eye on her, he'd know if an attack was imminent.

It wasn't much, but it was something.

Still, the current situation left far too much to chance. The X-Men needed to be made aware of what was happening. The Marauders and the mercenary—those were two threats they couldn't afford to be blind to.

It wasn't ideal. The more people that knew, the greater the risk of panic. More than anything, Scott hated the idea of telling them without having a plan in place. But they couldn't move alone anymore. That was a luxury they didn't have.

Scott shut his eyes, taking a slow breath.

The next move was his.

He would have to make it soon.

Because if he didn't, then the Marauders or the mercenary would.

-X-

Bobby stretched his arms above his head, letting out a loud yawn as he made his way down the corridor. His muscles ached from another brutal training session, and all he wanted was to collapse onto the nearest couch and let himself sink into the cushions for the rest of the evening.

Before he could even finish that thought, an arm suddenly wrapped around his shoulders from behind, pulling him into a firm side-hug. "Hey, Frostbite," Warren smirked, his wing brushing against Bobby's back as he walked beside him. "You got any idea why Scott called us in?"

Bobby groaned, rolling his shoulders. "No clue. But knowing Scott? It's probably something serious."

Warren hummed, nodding. "Maybe we finally got a mission. Last time I was called into the briefing room, it was to go break you out of prison, so maybe this time we're actually taking the fight to someone."

Bobby snorted, shaking his head. "Yeah, well, let's hope it's not as stressful as that one. No offense, man, but being locked up wasn't exactly a fun experience."

"Noted," Warren chuckled.

Bobby then frowned, a thought crossing his mind. "What if this is about the mutant Scott and Charles went to meet a few days ago? Maybe they found out she's in trouble or something?"

Warren considered the possibility for a moment before shrugging. "Could be. Guess we'll find out soon." Reaching the door to the briefing room, the two exchanged glances before pushing it open. Inside, they found Jean and Hank already seated, the atmosphere casual but filled with curiosity.

Jean raised a brow as they entered. "Any idea why we're here?"

Bobby and Warren made their way over to the chairs, plopping down before answering. "We were just guessing," Bobby said. "Either we finally have an actual mission, or it's about the mutant Scott and Charles went to see."

Hank nodded, adjusting his glasses. "That would make sense. If she's in danger, then I suppose it would warrant an urgent meeting."

Before anyone could continue the conversation, the door swung open again and Scott entered. His movements were sharp and deliberate, wasting no time as he strode toward the front of the room. There was no hesitation in his posture, no idle chatter, just an immediate shift in tone as he faced them.

Everyone went silent, instinctively sitting up straighter.

Scott didn't waste time with pleasantries as he got straight to the point. "Sabretooth has been spotted in Bayville." Scott continued, his voice even and controlled. "Logan confirmed it himself. Sabretooth is a dangerous mutant, extremely skilled, and even more dangerous than Logan. He has enhanced senses, superhuman strength, reflexes, and a healing factor that makes him nearly impossible to take down permanently."

The weight of that statement settled over the group like a cold blanket.

Scott didn't stop there. "There's more," he said. "Sabretooth isn't the only threat. There's a chance that the Marauders are in Bayville as well." Hank swallowed hard, already looking uneasy. Jean and Bobby were quiet, absorbing the information.

Warren, however, leaned forward, eyes narrowing.

Scott turned his attention to Warren.

"You remember the guy who beat you back in New York?"

Warren's eyes darkened. "That pale gangster?"

Scott nodded his head. "Tombstone is his name. He's here too—and he's been enhanced. He's able to absorb kinetic energy, increasing his strength, durability and stamina exponentially."

Warren's hands clenched into fists, a flicker of restrained anger flashing across his face. He said nothing, but it was clear he hadn't forgotten that humiliating fight.

Scott turned his gaze to the rest of them. "Alongside them we have three more individuals, Blockbluster possesses strength and durability surpassing even Tombstone. Then there's Prism who has has increased durability and a body able to reflect energy. Finally we have Rhino, another powerhouse with strength and durability surpassing even Blockbuster and Tombstone. On top of that he possesses incredible speed and agility despite his immense size. They plus, Sabretooth and Tombstone make up a group known as the Marauders."

While Hank and Warren frowned at the list of opponents and their powers, Bobby and Jean stared at Scott in shock, slowly realizing what his words meant.

"You fought all of them," Bobby said, voice filled with disbelief.

"And you won?" Jean added, eyes wide.

Scott didn't respond immediately but after a pause, he simply nodded. The room fell into stunned silence, even Hank and Warren. For all of them, the realization hit hard—Scott had faced all of these enemies alone and survived.

Scott broke the silence, moving forward with the briefing. "As of now, only Sabretooth has been seen, so we don't know for certain if the Marauders are here yet. But if they are, we need to be prepared. The mansion is safe, and so is Bayville High—for now. But it's everywhere between the mansion and the school that's dangerous."

Jean, Hank, Warren, and Bobby exchanged looks.

"So we just avoid moving alone," Jean said, the conclusion obvious.

Scott nodded keeping his facial expressions calm and collected, but internally,he was pleased. He didn't even have to tell them himself, they were taking to his lessons and thinking properly about how to overcome a crisis.

"Logan will handle Sabretooth," Scott continued. "But if the Marauders are here, I won't be able to help either."

That got their attention.

"Why?" Warren asked, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Scott paused for a brief moment before answering. "In the meeting with the mutant Charles and I went to see, her father—a very powerful man—has hired a mercenary to take me out. Charles saw a glimpse of it inside his mind."

Silence.

The team looked between one another, trying to make sense of that revelation.

Jean was the first to speak. "Why?"

Scott didn't answer.

Instead, he shifted the conversation back. "I intend to take out the mercenary before the Marauders make their move—if they are here. But in the meantime, you need to be careful. From now on, outside of school, you move together. If anyone needs to stay behind after school for any reason, you contact someone and make sure you're not alone."

Bobby quickly raised a hand before Scott could continue. "Uh, we should probably make a group chat for this."

Hank nodded. "Good idea."

The meeting wrapped up soon after, but the tension remained.

They all understood what was happening.

They were being hunted.

But Scott was already planning how to hunt back.