Fred and Scott: X-Men Membership

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After a chance meeting in the garage, Fred finally manages to ask Scott something he's been thinking about...





Fred pulled the last of the old fuses out, and tossed it into a nearby trashcan. The fuses weren't exceptionally old, but they had been giving Fred problems and he finally just ordered a new set from a website that specialized in Chevy restorations. Fred grabbed the new fuses from where he'd set them down near the radio and, after looking to make sure he wouldn't be bothering anyone, flicked on his old mix tape full of early nineties alternative rock.

Fred nodded his head a little along with some Gin Blossoms song he could never remember the name of, and held the new fuses up to the light. It was more as an act of prayer to the automotive demigods than an actual examination of their quality...

Scott balanced the packages in his hand as he nudged open the door to the garage, careful not to spill any of the packages. That was until the door to the garage swung open to unleash a wall of sound which knocked him onto his back foot for a moment.

"Hello," he called, "Anyone in here? If that's you John..."

Fred saw the boxes on legs before he heard the drowned out question. He hurried to turn down the music before he steadied the boxes with his free hands, gripping them as if they weighed nothing, "Sorry bout that, uh...oh! Mr. Summers. Erm, ah, yeah, sorry sir..." said Fred, as he finally saw enough around the boxes to identify who was carrying them...

"Fred?" Scott asked as someone lifted the packages out of his hand. "Thanks" he said as he caught his breath. "What are you doing down here?" he asked; looking around the garage his eyes lit on the Chevy. "and more importantly, is that your car?"

Fred set the boxes down as carefully as he could, given he was totally unaware of their contents. When Scott indicated the partially recognizable remnants of an old 50's Bel Air, Fred beamed like a new father, "Like it? Can yah believe the guy only wanted, like, nine hundred for it? Ah figure now that Ah got my truck spit polished and runnin great, Ah could use a new project, yah know...?"

Scott smiled, "I know exactly what you mean. Are you planning on restoring it? or upgrading it?" He asked nodding his thanks to Fred for taking care of the packages. "Nine hundred is a steal for something like this" Scott walked closer to the closer to the car and held out his hand before he turned to look at Fred. "May I?" he inquired.

Fred popped the hood so that Scott could inspect to his heart's content, "It won't be an upgrade so much as a, uh...well, diagonal restoration Ah guess." The engine was a nightmare of corroded, juryrigged, or just plain missing parts. There were a few small, clean areas where Fred had already been working, "She started as a V8 5-speed, but...uh, hasn't had the best life. Belts are frayed, tranny's shot, an' it took me since last night just to kinda get the electric system runnin..."

"Ouch, it sounds like you've got you work cut out for you" Scott commented as he reaching in to examine the engine. "Should be a fun one to get into" he smiled, "a nice long project".

He stood and walked over to the boxes Fred had deposited on the floor. "How long have you been working on it?" he asked.

"Since, uh...well, just a couple days. Really Ah'm just tryin tah get a feel for how much Ah'm gonna need tah order tah get her up 'n runnin again." Fred moved towards the pile of boxes, "Need a hand with those? What are they, anyhow?"

Scott glanced over at his boxes, "Those? Just parts for my bike" he replied dismissively. "Should be able to eke out a few more miles per hour". He smiled at Fred, "Nothing quite as interesting as your rebuild".

"Yah need a hand with any of it?" Fred glanced across the boxes, attempting to guess their contents from the packaging. He didn't have much luck, "Ah don't know much about bikes, but, uh, I did wanna talk ta yah somethin iffen Ah ran into yah, so it's kinda good Ah did..."

"Just fitting a new exhaust and security system" Scott confided, "I don't want just anyone waltzing off with my bike after all."

He stood up and turned to look at Fred, "So what's up?" he inquired curiously.

Fred shrugged a little, lighting a cigarette before wiping his hands on a nearby rag, " 's nuthin major, sir. Or, uh, Ah guess it it. Ah mean..." Fred bit the inside of his lip, then looked back to the older man, hoping to get all the words out as quickly as possible, "Ah hear you're tha man ta talk to about about...The X-Men."

Scott raised an eyebrow, "The man? Yeah, I guess that's me." he replied. He smiled gently at Fred, "Don't be nervous Fred, how can I help?" he inquired.

"Ah just wanted to see about...iffen there's ahn openin, or ya'll don't mind...." Fred dragged on his cigarette, "Iffen I could, yah know...join...?"

Scott stroked his chin, "Well there is Sharon, and Jullian" he glanced at Fred and couldn't stop a grin from slipping onto his face. "Fred, you don't need to be so nervous. I'd be glad to have you on the team." He paused and looked at Fred fora few seconds before continuing, "Do you know about the trainee system structure?" he asked.

Fred nodded with a renewed vigor before remembering to restrain his excitement, "Know a little bout it, sir. Talked with Vette and Kyle about it a little before Ah decided tah bother you about it. Yah spend roundabouts a year as a trainee, goin on a few missions and doin a lot of trainin' an such, before yah become a full fledged member...?" Fred had hoped he'd remembered correctly...

"Not necessarily a year" Scott corrected, "You have to do some training and run a few missions but it all depends on how experienced you are and how confident you feel." He smiled, "I don't see how it'll be any trouble for you. Just make sure to schedule some training sessions with a senior X-man or two." The trademark evil glint appeared in his eye, "I can think of a few ways to make a danger room program for you".

Fred wasn't one to pick up on subtext, and just nodded, "Ah'd heard about the Danger Place, uh, thing. Ah ain't really worried. Not tah sound proud or anythin, but I don't remember tha last thing that actually hurt me..."

Scot grinned wickedly, "It's not about hurting you Fred, it's about immobilizing you. Presenting a goal which you need to stretch yourself to achieve." He laughed happily, "If we put our heads together I'm sure the unholy trinity can come up with something for you."

Fred blanched a little at Scott's tone, and wondered for a moment if joining the X-Men was seriously the best idea he could come up with, "So, uh...does this mean Ah'm in, sir...?

"I'll need to talk to the Professor" Scott replied, "but I don't see why he'd object." Scott held out his hand, "Welcome to the team Fred."