Uncanny New X-Men

Chapter 32: It Isn't Easy Being Blue

By

The Uncanny R-Man

Disclaimer- All familiar characters belong to Marvel Comics.

The Xavier Institute for Higher Learning-

Talia Josephine Wagner, the daughter of Nightcrawler from an alternate reality, walked through the lower levels of the Xavier Institute carrying a tray of food. She was on her way to the infirmary with some refreshments for the patients within.

Ever since the woman had returned to the Xavier Institute, she had been at a loss for anything to do. (1) James Proudstar, her boyfriend, had joined cable's X-Force team, but TJ had yet to be assigned a place in a team. Instead of sitting around the place doing nothing, she decided to help out in the infirmary.

'Grub's up!' TJ grinned as she walked into the infirmary.

'Shhh!' Moira MacTaggart hushed the young woman. 'Can ye no' see that the patients are sleeping?'

'Sorry, Doctor MacTaggart.' TJ winced as she put down her tray. 'I thought that the patients might have wanted something to eat.'

'We're right here, you know.' Sharon Smith piped up from her infirmary bed. (2) The lavender-haired young woman's face lit up when she noticed the silver tray sitting atop the counter. 'Please tell me that's a tuna sandwich and strawberry milkshake.'

'Made it all myself.' TJ smiled as she passed Sharon her food. 'Well, I opened the bottle of milkshake and poured it into a glass, but you get my point.'

'Huh?' Sharon blinked, her mouth smothered with tuna and milkshake. 'What? Is there something on my face?'

'Do you children always talk so much?' Magneto grumbled from a nearby bed. (3)

'Erik, get back in yuir bed.' Moira ordered her patient. 'Yuir in no fit state to be up and about.'

'I feel fine, Doctor MacTaggart.' The Master of Magnetism waved the doctor's concerns away. 'I feel absolutely fine…'

As if in response to his comments, Erik's legs buckled underneath him. TJ leapt in to help him up.

'It's okay. I've got you, grandpa…' TJ grimaced in embarrassment once she noticed what she had just said.

'Grandpa?' Magneto blinked in confusion as he allowed himself to be helped back into bed. 'I must have been unconscious for longer than I thought.'

TJ sighed heavily as she pulled up a chair. 'I suppose an explanation is in order…'

A little while later-

'So you are the daughter of Wanda Maximoff and Kurt Wagner from an alternate dimension.' Erik recounted. 'Hmm. Stranger things have happened, I suppose. At least Wanda marrying an X-Man isn't as unusual as marrying the robot.' (4)

'You're not freaked out?' TJ asked cautiously.

'Far from it, my dear.' Erik smiled as he patted TJ's hand. 'It's nice to have a grandchild that actually wishes to spend time with me.'

'What about Luna?' TJ enquired. 'Doesn't she want to hang out with her grandfather? I know I would. I never knew my grandfather in my home dimension.'

'I don't know if she would ever wish to see me.' Erik admitted sadly. 'Her father would never allow me to see her. It's understandable, I suppose. I have caused nothing but trouble for my family. It would be best if I just kept away.'

'I won't hear any of it.' TJ shook her head sternly. 'What do you say I take you to go see Luna? That's if it's okay with you, Doctor MacTaggart.'

'Just try to bring him back in one piece, will ye?' Moira sighed. 'Dinnae get into any trouble.' TJ just smiled sweetly at that.

'Perish the thought.'

The skies above California, a little later-

One of the X-Men Blackbird jets tore across the skies above California towards Malibu, where the West Coast Avengers had their headquarters, and where Luna Maximoff would be found with her parents, the Avengers Quicksilver and Crystal.

'Don't you think this is a bit much?' Erik asked as he looked around at all the stuffed toys, balloons, and other bits-and-bobs he had bought for his estranged granddaughter. 'I haven't seen Luna in so long. I don't even know what she'll like.'

'I'm sure she'll love everything.' TJ reassured her grandfather. 'She'd be happy enough to just see you.'

'It's not Luna I'm worried about.' Erik said. 'Pietro will not be happy to see me.'

'Everything will be fine.' TJ scoffed. 'You worry too much, grandpa.'

TJ brought the Blackbird jet in for a landing outside Avengers Complex. A crowd of Avengers had already gathered to witness their arrival.

'I have a bad feeling about this.' Erik sighed as he disembarked from the jet. Unfortunately, USAgent was the first to greet them.

'What the hell do you think you're doing here?' The former Captain America yelled. 'We've had enough trouble without a wanted criminal just waltzing in here unannounced!'

'I am here to see my granddaughter.' Erik told the man calmly. 'I am asking you nicely, please let me pass.'

'You're not going anywhere except back on that jet, buddy.' USAgent retorted. 'Or do I have to get avenging on your ass?'

'Walker, no…' Tigra grimaced. 'The man just wants to see his granddaughter. He doesn't want a fight.'

'Keep out of this, Greer!' USAgent snapped back. 'He should have thought about that before he stepped on Avengers' soil! Avengers Assemble!'

USAgent threw his shield at Magneto, only for the Master of Magnetism to grab it in his hand. Unfortunately, this tiny use of his powers weakened him considerably. The weakened Magneto fell to his knees.

'Grandpa, no!' Luna yelled as she dashed out of the main building.

'Luna, stay away form him!' Quicksilver cut in as he dashed in front of his daughter, keeping her away from Magneto.

'I didn't come here to cause any trouble, Pietro.' Erik reassured his estranged son. 'I only came here to see Luna.'

'You can be such a jerk, dad!' Luna glowered at her father. 'You told me how weak he was after all that Mr Sinister guy did to him. Does he really look like somebody that came here to cause trouble.'

'I still don't trust him.' Quicksilver frowned.

'So we're just going to let him waltz in here?' USAgent asked. 'doesn't anybody listen to anything I say?'

'Let it go, Walker.' Tigra calmed her teammate. 'The man just wants to see his granddaughter.'

Luna pushed past her father and helped her grandfather up to his feet.

'I'm so sorry about dad.' Luna apologised. 'I never knew he could be such a jerk.'

'It's fine, Luna.' Erik smiled down at his young granddaughter. 'He always has been stubborn. I suppose he gets that from me.'

Quicksilver turned to regard TJ, who had been standing away from the action.

'And just who might you be?' The speedster enquired.

'I'm Talia Josephine Wagner, Uncle Pietro.' TJ smiled as she hugged Quicksilver. 'I'm your niece!' Quicksilver blinked in confusion at the news.

'Uncle? Niece?' The silver-haired speedster pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. 'I supposed you'd better come in as well then.'

TBC…

Next: Lunch With Magneto

Magneto is finally allowed to sit down and spend time with his granddaughter. It's not as if anything else could go wrong… could it?

Author's Notes-

(1)- TJ joined the X-Men in the previous chapter.

(2)- Sharon Smith, aka Catseye, was injured by her teammate Penance in Chapter 44 of 'The Uncanny Sirens'.

(3)- The X-Men picked up the weakened Magneto in Chapter 34 of 'Uncanny Classic X-Men'.

(4)- Magneto is, of course, referring to Wanda's former marriage to the synthezoid Vision.