Iceman

Large clouds of dirt were flung into the air as a 1986 Ford Escort pulled into the dirt parking lot of Harry's Hideaway. The jeep pulled itself easily into the spot near the entrance, obviously standing out amongst the vast flock of motorcycles in the lot.

The door swung open, allowing a young man to step out. Blue eyes scanned the area for a moment, and he ran his hand through his chestnut brown hair. The figure then shut the door and proceeded towards the bar and grill.

His name is Bobby Drake. And in the last two weeks, he's turned his life around. But that's another story for another time.

As he made his way through the entrance, two regulars there at the establishment stumbled their way out, one of which took note of Bobby's entrance and stopped. They turned to each other in unison as Bobby glanced down to his wrist watch.

Bobby raised his brows to him. "It's only 7:30, and you're already leaving, Jack?"

"Yup. The wife said she was gonna leave me if I missed one more dinner," the half drunk-man replied, chuckling. "And knowing her, she's probably already packin'!"

Bobby shook his head, smirking lightly as he came around the counter, knowing somewhere inside that it was probably true. Fumbling his hands behind his back, he tied a brown apron around his waist as he turned to face the owner of the pub.

"Hey Harry, how much has Jack there had to drink?"

"Only a few," the elder man spoke. "Why?"

"He just stumbled out."

"Ah, don't worry 'bout Jack. I've seen him drive home on St. Patrick's Day just fine."

Bobby shrugged, unconvinced.

"Well, get to work. A lotta people here tonight!"

With a nod, Bobby walked over to the end of the counter, searching for anyone that hadn't ordered anything recently. He found a young woman, looking to be about his age, walk in and up to the counter. He cleared his throat and made his way to her.

"Anything I can get you tonight, miss?"

The woman set her purse up on the counter, going through it before she looked up to face him.

"Just give me a beer right now," she stated. "I'm waiting for a friend."

"Sure thing."

An hour or so passed, when Bobby took a glance to the woman who entered earlier that evening. She was slumped over slightly, her cheek supported by her fist, which was supported by her elbow.

Bringing a fry up from the basket, she slowly nibbled on it and took a glance around the bar area. She was obviously depressed. Bobby handed the man on the other side of the counter his drink and made his way down to the woman.

"Hey..." He greeted, leaning up against the counter.

"Hi..." She replied, softly.

"I guess your friend never showed up, huh?"

She shook her head, taking a sip of her beer. The two stayed silently in their spots for a moment, until Bobby broke the silence.

"My name's Bobby."

A soft smile formed on the woman's face. "You have a little boy's name..."

"Funny. I'd poke fun at your name, but I don't know it."

"Well then, my name's Tonya."

Bobby extended his hand to meet a sloppy handshake with Tonya's. She cleared her throat, taking another french fry in her mouth.

"Let's see... Tonya, Tonya.." Bobby began, an intrigued expression forming on his face. ".... Swedish school girl?"

He shrugged, then smiled as she began to chuckle.

"That the best you got?" Tonya grinned.

"Short notice." Bobby assured.

The dark shade of her green eyes locked onto the blue of his for a moment, before he broke the gaze.

"Listen, if you're not doin' anything later..."

Bobby's proposal was broken as a loud crash was heard. Immediately, everyone's heads turned towards the entrance, where they saw three figures standing in the doorway and a man in a pile of wood, which was a former table.

The three figures were recognizable only by Bobby as members of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. The Toad, Pyro, and Marrow.

Flinging himself into the air, The Toad landed at the edge of the counter, crashing through countless beers and food orders. He slid across the counter on his belly, until he reached the fountain at the far end of the counter, where he threw his mouth under the tap and proceeded to drink heavily.

"Don't worry about us mates, we're just here for a night of Fosters and eh.. maybe some games of pool."

An outburst of whispering and conversations among the customers started. Marrow took a look around the room, until she recognized her former team mate, Bobby, and began to stride his way.

"Well, well. If it isn't the egg-suckin', no-good, lyin' out his ass, upworlder trash that I usedta call decent. Who's yer friend? She's kinda pretty." Marrow said as she came upon the two, looking Tanya straight in the eye with a grin.

Bobby leapt over the bar and landed beside Tanya, ultimately drawing Marrow's attention from Tanya to himself.

"A customer." Bobby said coldly.

"Nice." Marrow replied, reaching back and gripping a knob protruding from her right shoulder blade. The loud, wet sound of bones popping and snapping emanated in the silent room, all of the patrons staring with wide and fearful eyes. She smirked as she lowered a bone dagger to Tonya's face.

Tonya gasped sharply, leaping back to evade her touch... only to meet her back with the counter.

"I wonder how she'd look with her guts hangin' all over the place, and maybe half her face torn to shreds...get some skin hangin' off on this side..." Marrow grinned as she traced the bone shard along the left side of Tonya's tanned skin. Tonya pulled from her, eyes wide and on the dagger.

Bobby shoved Marrow away from Tonya, unwilling to use his powers in fear that word would get out that an employee of Harry's Hideaway was a mutant.

Marrow immediately pulled the bone dagger towards Tonya's neck, ready to slit it in an instant. She looked dead into Bobby's eyes, only for him to return the exact gaze. The silence was so thick you could cut it with a knife, and it seemed to have lasted days, but could only have lasted a moment.

Suddenly, the silence was broken by an outburst of genius.

"Look! Elephant!"

Or insanity.

Marrow arched a brow, and was looking off to the side to see what in the world Bobby could be speaking of when she was crashed into by a shoulder check in the gut that knocked her off her feet and dug her into the ground.

Tonya kicked the bone dagger away from Marrow's hands quickly as Bobby darted for the exit.

The Toad lifted his head up from the fountain as Marrow quickly moved to her feet, now aware of the situation.

As he made his way towards the door, and Pyro's position, he jerked a chair from it's spot near a table and immediately chucked it into Pyro.

Pyro doubled back from the chair, immediately pushing it off to the side... only to be met with a fist in the jaw from Bobby as he made his way outside. The flaming Australian slammed into the doorway, slumping down slightly.

As Bobby made his way out into the dirt parking lot, he tossed his small apron aside. Preparing to give the X-Men a signal that there was trouble, his body rippled as though it were made of water as it shifted into its chiseled ice form. Still running during the transformation, a violent tremor flung him hard to the ground.

He winced as he rolled onto his side, looking upwards to face none other then Avalanche and the Blob, who were eventually greeted by Pyro and Toad.

Oh, man. This is so not good... Iceman thought to himself.

NEXT ISSUE: The Brotherhood versus Iceman!!