Part 5

Generation X stared across the nursery at the new ‘kids.’ Monsters was probably a better word for them, though.

“Do we have to play with them?” Jubilee asked fearfully, hiding behind Ev.

“I’d rather attack them,” Nicole replied in disgust. “Did you see what they did to Bishop?”

Paige nodded. “The green one scares me!” She squeezed Jono’s hand for comfort.

“Hulk no like puny babies,” the green one muttered, picking an odd substance from his toes.

“Nobody’s crazy about you either, big guy,” the next replied, adjusting his web shooters. “We’re lucky they let us stay here at all, after what you did to Bishop.”

“He deserved it,” another said defensively. “He tried to take my helmet!”

“Quiet, you living refrigerator magnet!” a fourth ordered. “So commands the High Lord!”

“You mean the Short Lord?” a fifth joked. “You’re barely four feet tall!”

The sixth stared at them all in disgust.

Betsy, Bishop, and Gambit stared at the table before them.

“I really don’t think ice cream will work on the new ones,” Betsy said.

“I brought my gun, just in case,” Bishop commented, checking the safety. “Open the door, LeBeau.”

Gambit walked over to the kitchen door and slowly opened it.

Generation X were the first ones in. They quickly took their places at the table. Venom and Carnage were next, followed by Spider Man, who seemed to be keeping an eye on both of them. Next was Hulk, followed by Magneto. Apocalypse was the last to arrive. He refused to sit with the others, so he had to stand.

For the first few minutes, everything was fine. That is, until Hulk suspected that Jubilee had more ice cream than he did. Without a word, she slid her bowl across the table to him. However, then Paige had more than him. Soon, every member of Generation X had given up their bowls, (which were still full) except Jono and the St. Croix sisters.

Hulk’s beady eyes traveled to Claudette’s bowl. “Hulk has less than you,” he said angrily.

Claudette didn’t seem to hear him.

Hulk reached across the table and grabbed her bowl.

Claudette blinked in surprise as the jade creature swallowed her ice cream. A solitary tear appeared in her right eye.

Without warning, Ev dove across the table and tackled Hulk to the floor. To everyone’s surprise, the Hulk wailed in pain as Ev rained punches all over his face and chest. It took Betsy, Gambit, and Bishop to the pull the boy off.

During the chaos, the Gen X kids all managed to get their respective bowls back. Since Hulk had eaten Claudette’s ice cream already, Ev was more than happy to give her his bowl. No one seemed to notice that Hulk’s bowl was empty, or that Apocalypse now had twice as much ice cream in his.