Disclaimer: "The New Mutants" are copyrighted by Marvel Comics. This is a work of fanfiction and no copyright infringement is intended. No financial gain is realized from this story. Author: Hekatis Title: Dealing with demons (series title) 1: Under the trees 2: Assessment 3:Night 4: Breakfast is not always a good start for the day ***4b: Talk among teamleaders 5: Kindred Souls 6: A normal shopping afternoon (parts so far) Rating: PG Summary: This series is about how Illyana Rasputin deals with being a demon sorceress herself and how the people in her environment react to it. Continuity: after New Mutants #25 (the issue where Cloak's and Dagger's powers finally have been transferred back from Sunspot and Wolfsbane to their original owners) Feedback: This is my first foray into serious NM fanfiction (as opposed to parodies) and I would very much like to know how I can improve my writing. All constructive criticism is welcome. (Write to: Claudia.Schlosser@asamnet.de ) Talk among teamleaders by Hekatis Danielle Moonstar knocked determinedly at the door of Sam Guthrie's room. All morning she had tried to make up her mind whether to bring up the topic or not, and now she was resolved that -- as little or as ridiculous as the 'breakfast incident' might seem -- she needed to discuss the matter with Sam. So she had come to his room after lunch. "Come in," Sam called. Dani opened the door. Sam was surprised to see her. He had hoped it would be Amara, who might have something to ask him about her homework or some other question that he could help her with. He had not expected Dani. They usually evaluated the Danger Room protocols in the early evening, not the early afternoon, and they did not talk much in private. "Hi, Dani. What brings you here?" Dani's facial expression was stern, almost grim. Sam began to feel worried. What might have happened? "Sam, we need to talk." Dani crossed the room to where Sam was sitting at his desk and planted herself in front of him, one arm akimbo. "What do you want to talk about, Dani?" "I think you know. You were really horrible this morning." "Dani, what do you mean? Wait -- is this about Illyana? She was the one acting strange this morning, but people do that when they come down with the flu." "_You_ acted strange, Sam. For a moment I thought you were going to hit her." "You're exaggerating, Dani." Sam did not want to admit how nervous Illyana had made him with her unwavering stare, that had reminded him of a snake hypnotizing its prey. "Am I?" Dani's inquiring stare bore into Sam's eyes. Sam cast his eyes upward. Maybe he should tell Dani about his nagging suspicions concerning Illyana. After all, Dani was a teamleader, too, and might understand why he felt uncomfortable about having Illyana around. "I -- I don't trust her." "She's our teammate." "And for how long will she stay that?" "What are you trying to say?" Dani's tone was much more aggressive now than before. Sam felt the need to defend himself. "You've seen her powers. She commands a whole demonic dimension of her own." "She saved Sunspot and Wolfsbane," Dani interrupted him fiercely. "She saved me." "So you trust her?" Sam dared her. "You were the one defending her when Rahne thought that Illyana was evil because she was a sorceress, and it was you who spoke up for Illyana when Xavier rebuked her for acting on her own when she tried to heal Rahne and Roberto." "I know, Dani." Sam suddenly felt defeated. Downhearted. Confused. It was difficult to rationalize his sudden feeling of animosity toward Magik. "It's just -- no human being should have such powers. That's not what God had intended for mankind. She holds life and death in her hands in Limbo. Seeing her use magic against demons is one thing -- knowing that she has an army of them at her beck and call is another." Sam had tried to be fair toward Illyana, but the fact remained that she frightened him. She engaged in black magic and called upon demons. She might not be entirely evil but how could he trust someone who did what he had been taught was the devil's work? "I judge people by what they do -- not by what they could do," Dani stated coldly. "And I'm afraid of what she could do. You've seen her powers. She could easily kill us or worse if she transported us to Limbo." Sam was slightly irritated now. How could Dani treat Illyana -- and expect him to treat her -- as though she was an ordinary mutant? "She's put herself on the line for us more than once ," Dani defended Illyana, but it sounded forced. As though Dani was trying to convince herself of what she was saying. "Dani, we're alone here. We don't have to set an example for the others. What do you really think?" Sam urged her. Dani slightly shook her head as though she was forcing herself to repress thoughts that she did not want to admit. "I don't understand Illyana's powers -- but that doesn't mean she's evil," Dani stated in a calm and steady voice. "But you can't say that Limbo isn't." "Illyana has never harmed us." "She's the ruler of a magic dimension. I wonder why she bothers with us at all. She doesn't need us," Sam said, more repeating a question that he had asked himself many times without finding a satisfying answer than directing it at Dani. "She's human, Sam," Dani replied. Sam could not interpret her facial expression. Did she sympathize with Illyana? "Why doesn't she renounce that demonic realm then?" Sam continued harshly. Dani thought, but she didn't say it. Sam wouldn't understand. He had never truly experienced what it meant to be different from the people he lived with or had any serious problems fitting in. "Sam, we aren't going to make this better by suspecting that Illyana is going to stab or curse or turn us into demons any minute," Dani finally retorted in a sharp voice. Sam took a deep breath. Dani was right. He needed to be fair toward Illyana. She might be a demon sorceress but she was not a monster. But he still felt worried and he wished Dani could understand that. "I know, Dani. It's just -- knowing what she could do, don't you sometimes feel uncomfortable around her?" "That's not what's important. As long as she fights alongside us, she is our team-mate and we will protect her as she protects us," Dani insisted in her detached leader voice. Sam sighed. He knew Dani was right. He must not let his misgivings show to Illyana. She was their team-mate and they had a responsibility to her. "Are you gonna visit her?" he asked. "What do you mean?" Dani seemed caught off-guard. "She's ill. We should visit a sick team-mate," Sam explained, inspired by his new-found good will. "Well, yes. We can take turns. I'll go today, and you can see her tomorrow, and Amara the day after tomorrow. After that, she'll probably be able to get up again." Dani wondered what she could say to Illyana when she visited her. 'How are you? Is there anything I can do for you?'? No, that was too personal. 'Get better soon. The team needs you.'? No, that sounded exaggerated. 'Take your time recovering. We can manage without you.'? Maybe. But the last part sounded almost as though they were glad about Illyana's illness. 'Take your time recovering. You've worked hard up until now.'? Yes, that sounded good.