Fic: Coming to Terms (Mag7: ATF, X-Men Movie Crossover Fic, PG-13)

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Title: Coming to Terms
Series: Voltage
Author: Sparrow
Fandom: Magnificent Seven: ATF and X-Men Movie
Characters: JD Dunne and Vin Tanner
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I do not own Magnificent Seven or X-Men in any way, shape or form. Any original characters, I do own.
Spoilers: Basic understanding of the Magnificent Seven ATF universe created by MOG and X-Men Movie ‘Verse.
Author’s Note: Major thanks to strangevisitor7 for the wonderful beta! Please read the first five stories for any of this to make sense.
Summary: Sequel to Lightning Strikes Twice. JD and Vin have a place to rest and discuss life.




The first couple of nights, Vin and JD barely got any sleep as the young mutant transported them to various places across America.

They finally settled down in a bed and breakfast motel in Fressenden, North Dakota.

Standing in the lobby, JD waited as as Vin charmed the girl at the front desk into giving them a room at half price. As he waited he pulled the hood of his sweatshirt low over his head covering his white hair, adjusted his sunglasses to hide his eyes and then jammed his hands in the front pockets of his black jeans. His activities radiated a ‘don’t touch me’ vibe that caused others walking through the lobby to give him a wide berth. .

While Vin went to go get pizza at a place across the street, JD sat on the bed and turned on the TV – he didn’t even need to use the remote.

Soon enough Vin was back with pizza, soup, sandwiches and water.

“Wasn’t sure what you should be eatin’,” Vin explained. “Thought it might be best if you stuck with soup for now.”

JD nodded. “Yeah, prison food wasn’t exactly rich,” He rasped out as he took the container of soup and slowly started to eat it.

Vin winced at the rough sound of JD's voice. Settling himself on the opposite bed, he watched JD carefully for any signs that he wasn't on his way to full recovery.

“What?” JD’s voice grated out, feeling Vin’s eyes on him.

“Just haven’t seen you in so long.”

JD grunted and returned to finishing his soup. The warmth of the soup felt wonderful on his sore throat.

"That hit the spot," JD whispered as he placed the empty container on the night stand. "Thanks."

"Welcome."

JD swung his feet off of the bed to sit facing Vin across the aisle between the beds, a serious look on his face. “Why aren’t you with the others?”.

Sighing, Vin ran a hand through his hair. “Split up about six months ago. Tried busting Ezra out again, but the plan went sour and we had to scatter for a bit. We’re supposed to meet up again in about a month.”

Nodding, JD wrinkled his brow in concentration. “Gimmie a few days, I’ll have Ezra out.”

“JD?” Vin asked worried.

“I was made to do terrible things, Vin,” JD whispered. “Might as well use what I was taught to help free Ezra.”

Vin seemed to come to a decision and leaned across a little closer. “I can’t even begin to imagine what you were put through, JD. But, when I was a sniper with the Army Rangers, I had to come to terms with a lot of the stuff I was asked to do.”

“Like killing a man?” JD asked quietly.

“Yeah, like how to kill a man from several hundred feet away,” Vin said, suddenly getting a better picture of what JD was made to do. “I had his life in my hands. Knew he was gonna die but only I knew when. It gets to a man after awhile… having that kind of power”

JD leaned forward wrapping his arms around his middle. “The Government sponsored psychics got into my brain and implanted trigger words. I watched from inside my head as simple words made me do whatever they needed done: espionage, assassinations, senseless destruction. I was never told why and I had to obey. I had no choice,” JD started to shiver as the memories of his ordeal washed over him. “And then there were the experiments.”

Vin felt so helpless for the broken man in front of him. “Why didn’t you bust out?”

"They had this collar that castrated my powers; prevented me from accessing them except on their command. And if I wasn't wearing the collar then I was sent to my cage," JD spat out, his disgust for the conditions he'd been kept in evident, "Dampeners in the walls prevented me from using my powers. If I used my powers without permission, if I tried to escape or disobeyed in anyway, I was shocked. The pain…” JD trailed off. He raised his eyes to meet Vin's for the first time since he started his recitation. "Let's just say I learned pretty quickly to just do as they said.

Vin didn’t even have to ask why JD’s voice was so raspy. He knew what kind of screaming a man could do to make his voice that permanently damaged the vocal chords.

It was blacked out in his army files, but he could still remember the mission. He remembered the screaming until he couldn't breath and then screaming some more. Rescue had seemed like an impossibility, but he was alive and here today because someone hadn't given up on him. He was glad he could be that person for JD.

Tentatively he raised his hand and gently placed it on JD’s shoulder. He could almost hear the soft hum of electricity as his hair reacted to the energy that leaked unconsciously from his friend. Vin gave JD's shoulder one quick squeeze of comfort

Sighing as he felt his hair’s new frizz, Vin knew it was worth it, if anything to offer any kind of kindness and comfort to his traumatized friend.

“Sorry,” JD apologized.

“It’s okay JD, not yer fault,” Vin stated. “Knew I’d get fuzzy hair or a slight shock if I touched you.” There was a time when JD would’ve lightly teased Vin when the slightly longish hair went frizzy from humidity and static electricity.

But this was now and that was then.

“Why did you?”

“Cause yer hurtin’, JD and yer my friend,” Vin said plainly.

“Been a long time since I heard that word,” JD whispered.

“Which word?”

“Friend.”

“Yeah.Well, when we reunite with the others prepare to have all of us there for ya,” Vin said. “We failed you when you were grabbed, but we’re not gonna fail you now.”

“You didn’t fail me, Vin. I could’ve done something to escape before they sedated me, but I was too afraid.”

“Fine then, it’s not anyone’s fault.” Vin didn’t feel very convinced. Although privately, he still knew he failed JD, but he wouldn’t trouble the young man with his own insecurities right now.

They were still resting and on the run.

But hopefully in one month’s time, they would all be reunited.

THE END.