Behind the Veil

They never finished their conversation and things were left undone. Lola had to focus on the task given to her however so she had little time to think about things. Thinking was not something she could do while fighting against an advanced telepath. She made sure she thought of nothing while they approached the secluded area. As a team they were stealth and careful about their approach. Lola saw the little boy first. He was curled up sleeping on a couch and Lola knelt down beside him gently touching the side of his face. There was something strange about the moment like she wanted to take him in her arms to protect him from the evils of the world.

It was incredibly quiet and she wondered where the hell Franz was. Suddenly she became aware of his presence and she turned to look at him. Quickly she stood back up and stared down Franz. He smirked at her and the sheer silence made her realize that something was terribly wrong. Lola remained calm and didn’t attack right away. Franz reached out and touched the side of her face getting no reaction from Lola.

“I’m taking him with me, Franz,” Lola states moving away from him to pick up little Hugo in her arms.

“Only seems suiting you do,” Franz says looking at the sleeping boy in her arms. “You know I never really cared for children, until you had to go to that clinic. Then I thought to myself what a waste of power to not have more children with such gifts with someone as special as you.”

“I don’t know if you are aware but I don’t care what you say.”

It seemed the conversation caused Franz to lose his concentration and the visual illusion he created for the other team members dissolved. They hurried into the room and gave Franz threatening looks. Lola handed Hugo over to Storm and instructed her that all was well. As soon as the boy was safely in Storm’s arms Lola was quick to approach Franz. She shoved him up against the nearby wall and with her hands around his neck the vines slid towards him, her other hand pulled back and she punched him in the face. Instead of trying to fight her, Franz smiled blood caked on his teeth.

“You really think you can move on from everything?” Franz taunts. “You’re mine Lola.”

“Can’t own anything if you’re dead,” Lola spoke in a low eerie voice. When the vine sprouted out into spikes they inserted into his neck so swiftly he had no time to react. His eyes went wide and the skin in the area began to blacken as if he had beginning stages of gangrene. He felt his trachea closing and the feeling of the life leaving his body. Lola held his body in place her eyes watching as he suffered the way he made her suffer. In the last moments before his death the vine released a cure for the symptoms of pain he was feeling. The feeling subsided and she let him drop to the ground gasping for air.

“Don’t think for once that you own me Franz. You will leave me alone or I won‘t be so nice next time I see you.”

Franz said nothing and the X-Men left the scene with the child. A part of her had heard low words spoken by Franz but she decided to push it behind her. It felt good to be in control and to get the little boy somewhere safe. In the jet the reunion between Gregor and Hugo was something that made her smile. Professor Xavier was slightly proud that Lola did not kill Franz but was still concerned with what she did. Her eyes focused on the reunion and she locked eyes with Gregor who gave her a smile.

“Professor I think I’m going to visit my friend in the city for the weekend.”

“I understand,” he nods as patted her arm gently. She needed to talk to her friend Emi, maybe get some perspective on things in her life. Lola was quick to gather a few things from her room before heading out. On her way out however Gregor stopped her in the driveway when she was getting into a car.

“Dolores, I was thinking perhaps we can get together sometime to discuss a few things.”

“It’s Lola, and I could probably do that some other time but I‘m not sure what there is to discuss,” she replies with a simple nod. He gave a nod yet remained rather serious.

“Thank you for getting Hugo back to me.”

“No problem, I have to get going but if you have any problems feel free to tell me, I’ll do my best to help.”

“I appreciate this Lola, you have been a great help and I hope that things will get better for you here on out,” Gregor spoke in a sincere manner.

“Thank you, Gregor, it is nice to know you are much kinder than your sibling,” Lola state with a smile.

“I shall see you around.”

“Goodbye.”

She got into the vehicle and waved at him before driving off towards the city. After a long drive through traffic and just about every other detour that could have occurred, Lola made it to Emi’s apartment. Emi greeted Lola with open arms and drinks at the ready. It had been too long since their meeting with Lola teaching and Emi working an internship. The whole visit was a welcomed thing where both women had much to talk about. Margaritas were made and tacos were to be had over the long chat they were going to have.

“So where’s Thunder Down Under?” Lola inquires looking around for Thor.

“He’s visiting his family in Asgard for the time being. Supposed to be back any day now.”

“Things going well I’m guessing.”

“I’m bringing him to California to meet my family,” Emi states.

“Wow, this is serious, a big family meeting and everything,” she says leaning back into her chair with the glass of alcohol in her hands.

“It is, so what about you, how are things with you and Tony?”

“Not good.”

“What do you mean not good? What happened?” Emi demands.

“I don’t know Em, I’m really bad at these things. Then Logan went and kissed me to only fuck my head up more.”

“Lola! You and Logan kissed? You can’t do that shit, you said it wasn’t there for you two.”

“It isn’t, I yelled at him and pushed him away only to admit that I love Tony,” Lola rambles as her voice got quieter near the end of the response.

“Wait what was that? Did you just say you love Tony?” she smiles.

“Please don’t start with that Emilia, I don‘t function this way.”

“So you haven’t told him?”

“Don’t be stupid, why would I do that? ” Lola retorts.

“I don’t maybe because you love him?” Emi counters as there was a knock on the door. She got up to answer it while continuing the conversation. As she opened the door she continued talking. “I think you should tell him.”

“Hello my lady love.”

“Thor, you’re back,” Emi smiles brightly as she kissed him on the lips.

“That I am, and I see Lola has come to visit. It is good to see you in one piece my friend,” Thor smiles at Lola.

“Likewise Thor,” Lola replies taking a sip of her margarita.

“And what business do you have denying my love’s always good advice?” he questions.

“You don’t know what she’s telling me to do so how would you know your love is giving good advice?”

“What are you asking of Lola?”

“Lola has come to the realization that she loves Tony and I think she would tell him,” Emi states. Thor turned to Lola with a very serious look on his face.

“He must know! The man of iron deserves to hear the words of love come from thy mouth.”

“I can’t even with you two, honestly this is-- I don’t even know what this is,” Lola responds shaking her head at them.

“I will call upon him,” he states in an official manner.

“You will do no such thing, can we just not get too wrapped up in this? It’s silly.”

“How else will he know your love towards him? To profess your love is freeing and beautiful do not shy away from love, it is futile. I have once tried to shy away but I gave in and now I make merry everyday that I am granted permission to look upon Emi‘s beautiful face.”

“If I go tell him will you stop talking?” Lola mutters starting to get physically ill from words and the idea of telling Tony she loved him. It was like she was stuck in a ridiculous period film and Thor was the wise old man in love who wouldn’t shut the fuck up.

“If my silence is exchange for the profession of love I am willing to make that sacrifice,” Thor nods as he pat her arm nearly causing her to drop her glass. “I suggest you make your leave so that you are able to reach him swiftly.”

“Right of course, I’m heading out Em, have fun and don’t break the bed.”

“Are you really going to tell him?” Emi questions looking at her friend.

“We’ll see how it goes,” she shrugs before heading out of the apartment.

From there it was onwards to Stark Tower, walking as slow as possible to the place Lola did not want to do what she was about to do. It freaked her out completely and as she walked she attempted to put it out of her mind. When she reached the place Lola made her way through the front doors with the façade of a calm and collected face. However it was when she had made it up to his level that she felt a strange sensation of something terrible to come. Thinking about it she shouldn’t have been able to gone up without clearance or Tony giving the go. There was light music playing when the doors opened and the air in the place just seemed off. Lola’s eyes peeled and she saw Tony standing dangerously close to the edge of the building.

“So nice of you to come see the show Lola,” Franz spoke appearing at her side. She had no time to react to Franz and only focused on Tony. Rushing out to the area Lola watched in horror as he took the step off the edge. In that moment she felt like her heart stopped.