Title: Lockheed's Brood
Fandom: X-Men
Author: Apache Firecat
Characters: Lockheed/OFC, past Wisdom/Pryde, also mentions past Colossus/Shadowcat
Rating: PG/K+
Summary: In which Lockheed broods, and has his own brood. ;)
Word Count: 1,717
Written For: Fan FlashWorks 465. Amnesty: 440. Mischief, 442. Alibi, 443. Cry, 444. Flame and 100Ships 82. Lavendar
Warnings: Hunting and other behaviors of predators, Also general spoilers
Disclaimer: All characters within belong to their rightful owners, not the author, and are used without permission.







He loved his girl. He loved his mate, of course, but he loved and missed his girl all the same. It was hard being away from her, but when he'd been called to duty, he had at first had no choice. Somehow, love had found him, after all these decades, along the way, and he had hatched his own little brood. He would always love and miss his girl, but his first priority had to lay to his own little broodlings and his own mate who had hatched them. He knew Kitty understood that he was a family dragon now.

Of course, he had always been a family dragon. His family had just changed over the years. He had long ago lost track of how many times he had defended the mansion, the school, and even the lighthouse while his girl and her teams had been away. She had been a bright spot on each of those teams, not unlike the beacon the lighthouse still shone on the really dark and stormy nights while the sea tossed and churned. The seas were tossed and churning again now, he thought, tapping his talons with impatience on the alien ground.

These were his beings. This world was far more akin to his own home planet, which had been destroyed so long ago. So why then did he so often feel completely uncomfortable here? Why did he so frequently and fervently wish to just snatch his mate and their brood away from this place and go home to that blue and green planet filled with bipedals that the other dragons, including his dear mate, all seemed to detest so greatly? His broodlings certainly wouldn't have to be fighting so many foes if they did! He'd often had to clean up messes for the X-Men and protect the home perimeters, but he'd never had to deal with so many foes alone and especially not so very often.

Lockheed supposed, in his own alien language, that he was tired. He was very tired. He dropped off to sleep easily enough at every slumber time, but he never slept for long. He was constantly waking, checking on his mate and their broodlings, going beyond their cave, and flying around the perimeters. He never felt safe here, he realized, and he knew his broodlings were not safe now! What was taking them so long?! His tail whisked as he chattered his frustration, but his mate called to him, telling him again to simply be patient.

These were not just any dragons upon whom they were waiting! These were his broodlings, his own life and blood, and the longer they took, the more he feared they would not return home safely -- not unlike he had feared and fretted over his human girl or, whether, mutant girl. Lockheed chastised himself quietly. Had he really been so long gone from Earth, from her, that he had forgotten how great the importance was? His tail struck the ground again, but his mate came near and bucked her chin against his, hoping to calm him.

She cooed to him, folded her wings, and nestled against him. Her head stroked his tender scales. He embraced her, his head laying protectively atop hers, but he could not calm his nerves. Something was ticking in his brain, not unlike Kitty's clocks or her third sense about when something had been about to happen. His girl had had a good head on her shoulders. He wished she was here now. She'd find a way to stop the war, and to keep safe his family, which would become her family as well if they only allowed her, just as he'd always adopted hers.

He tried to think back to what she would have done in this situation, but he knew his mate was right. He had to be patient; there was no other real recourse. Besides, his broodlings were young still. They could have easily gotten into a bit of mischief on the way back from the hunt, and they did have to learn to hunt for themselves, especially with prey being so scarce. He heard a cry and soared instantly up, roaring. His flame died in a small puff of smoke, however, as he sighted his broodlings, unharmed and playing with their food.

They'd have an alibi, he knew. All kids did; he'd learn that with Kitty as well. He'd learned so much with his girl. The thought passed fleetingly through his mind as to what she may have learned from him. He screeched, telling his broodlings to get into the cave and be done with playing with their food -- kill the poor thing already --, but of course, then his mate was there beside him, chastising him and telling him their broodlings had done well with the amount of prey they'd managed to catch. There was only one of the things still alive, and the one of his lot who actually sought peace as Lockheed did quickly put an end to that one. Still, as his mate pointed out, it did little ill to play with the food once in a while, especially when they were close to home and had done so well. They'd all have plenty to eat tonight, and even have some left for the morrow.

Lockheed considered telling her that they should save more of the food, but this was their broodlings' first hunting expedition. It would not hurt them, he supposed to celebrate some. Kitty had certainly believed in celebrating; she had drowned many of her cares in dance, figure skating, and even just being mischievous herself with her friends. Until he had come along. As bad as the first Peter had been for her, the second one with his foul-smelling cigars and tendency to get drunk -- not unlike her old man, Logan -- had been even worse.

Maybe he could have learned to love him though, Lockheed thought, and he had outlasted him. He had been the one curled in Kitty's arms when he had left and she had cried, calling herself ugly names and chastising herself for being such a fool. It hardly mattered, he supposed, in light of that if he could have learned to love Wisdom or not. After all, life had still pulled them apart in separate directions. Kitty had gone roaming the galaxy, and been stuck in a strange trap for so very long, and then died on him so many times too...

His tail whisked, and he turned his head from where the broodlings were separating the small, still warm bodies of their prey. This wasn't the way he liked to eat, but he supposed he was spoiled. She had spoiled him. Maybe his mate had a reason for not wanting him to go home, but he knew home meant safety and plenty of food and care, especially if and when she was home. He was no pet, of course, unlike what some of the other dragons had said, but she had cared for him well, very well. So well perhaps that he had forgotten his place over their years together.

He still kept tabs on her. He could fly home this moment and be welcomed by her. His broodlings and mate would be as well. She had found her way back to where she was supposed to be. He was supposed to be here, whether he wanted to be or not, whether he liked it or not.

His mate cooed softly, her lovely, lavendar wings fluttering just a bit as she lowered herself beside him, and licked the tears from his purple scales. It didn't matter, Lockheed told himself. He'd made his decision, made his choice, and even if he'd done so while too lost in grieving, that didn't matter now. He had a family for whom to care. He stretched, straining his tired muscles, and flapped his own leathery wings a few times.

His mate knew he missed his old life but usually knew, too, when to leave him be. But she was also as protective of their broodlings as he had been of his girl and she of him. But now he had multiple girls, and multiple boys, and love and duty both abounded. Kitty had always believed in fulfilling her duties; all those she had held closest, even that smoking, drinking, no-good-for-her Wisdom had had a deep sense of duty. Lockheed knew what she would expect of him, and it was the very least his new family deserved. They were all good, his broodlings and his mate. His mate was a good mother and a loyal companion, and she was good to him as well. He could do a lot worse -- he'd seen the kind of tramps his girl had brought home after all.

He cooed to his mate, reassuring her he was alright, butting his horned head gently against her cheek, and smearing his scent on her. He'd made the right choice for him and for them all, even if he still missed his girl. He'd always miss her, but life moved on and so had he. He turned his attentions to his broodlings and chirped to them. They wiggled and practically wagged like the warm puppies back on Earth, their exuberance and eagerness only growing as he praised them. Clearly, his opinion was important to them as they reveled in his praise, but he'd seen how important parents were, again with his girl. Her own parents had hurt her so gravely, but he'd never hurt his broodlings, or his mate who even now rubbed against his side.

Lockheed called and caught the small body that was thrown to him in his beak. He easily broke it apart and shared it with his mate, feeding her as he had not in many moons now. He needed to dote on her more and leave the past in the past. If Kitty really wanted him, she could find him, he knew, but she was choosing to let him lead his own life. He needed to respect her and do the same for her, and besides, he was needed, wanted, and loved right here. He cooed to his mate, entwining his neck with hers; perhaps another batch of eggs wouldn't be so bad after all.



The End