cable-nate-summers-blog - Tumblr blog

[cable-nate-summers-blog]

NS: I’ve known him for years.

cable-nate-summers‌:

NS: I appreciate that. Feel free to get in touch when you’re back.

NS: Logan knows me, by the way. I just-I would like to see you.

JG: How are you familiar with Logan??

[cable-nate-summers-blog]

Cable immediately straightened, his muscles twitching a little as he eyed Erik. He had met Hope and she didn’t tell him about it? He supposed it must have been somewhat uneventful as both she and Erik seemed to be unharmed.

“Did she threaten your life like I do?” He asked instead—he wouldn’t be at all surprised if the answer was ‘yes’.

Hope was more than capable of holding her own and would only get better with Cable’s guidance, but she would always be his little girl. Something to protect and try to shield against the horrors of the world even as they fought against them. Hope was all Cable cared to have in his life—if a lover came along sometime then so be it, but Hope was all he was ever going to need.

Cable glanced up and began to walk with Erik if only to hear him over the protests the warehouse was emitting.

“This place is going to need a lot of work if Scott wants this even remotely useable.”

cable-nate-summers‌:

Cable gestured to the shipping containers. “Pointless busy work.” He shrugged, “I need a place to help my daughter hone her skills so I figured I would clean up in here a little. Not much else for me out there.”

He kept his distance from Erik, clearly still wary but warming up in the slightest, at least to his presence. He wasn’t sure if that was misplaced or not, but Scott had faith. While he didn’t believe in everything his father said and did, he was much more likely to go along with it than if it was anyone else.

“Just bare bones. It’s going to take a lot of work. But with reinforcements… maybe psionic shielding… it could work.”

“I met your daughter,” he commented a moment after Nate brought her up. It was a little surprising that he’d so readily admit to Hope being there when Erik knew he didn’t trust him. Maybe he realized that it was a waste of time to try to keep it secret for long.

He began walking as he spoke. Beams tore free from the top of the warehouse and followed him, stretching, elongating in the air as they moved. The entire building started to creak and groan. As easily as he could have torn it apart, he kept it together.

“This is little more than a stop-gap measure.” He knew that Scott hadn’t told him everything, and Erik couldn’t be sure if time had altered the course he’d wanted to put mutants on before, but it seemed unlikely that he would want to move backwards. Charles’ methods had never worked. Neither had Erik’s. They needed something else, and they’d been on the verge of it before the ban had brought everything to a screeching halt.

[cable-nate-summers-blog]

Cable glanced at the young man briefly, but what should have been hope in his eyes was instead concern. That lasted only momentarily until Cable’s invisible walls came back up again and his body resumed its usual, tense state.

“It could kill you, kid.” He said finally. “It’s nothing short of a miracle that it hasn’t killed me yet. I can’t let you put yourself in harms way for my sake.”

If the kid got hurt—or worse—Cable would feel terrible. He couldn’t let him risk his own life for an old guy who would probably just die in some kind of battle. The thought was there though, and he appreciated it.

“I don’t know what it would do to you. Or what you could do to it. It could kill me, you, or both of us.” He warned.

cable-nate-summers‌:

Cable shrugged a little at the question. “Not that I know of. I try my damnest to keep it at bay but it used to just be my left arm… you can see how it is advancing. Its in my bones now—makes fighting easier. Things don’t break anymore, but it makes me one heavy fucker.”

He looked at the other for a moment before reluctantly holding out his metal arm for the other to touch. People had been more than curious before, but no one had been able to truly feel the virus like he had and honestly, Cable was concerned for the young mutant. The virus for him could sometimes be overwhelming—the pain drove him to drink, kept him up at night and exhausted him during the day. He had no idea what it would do to someone else and frankly, he didn’t want to find out.

“If they come for me—these people who are imprisoning and killing mutants—I’m going to have no choice but to fight back. If they put me in a place that dampens my powers, the virus wins. I’ve been saving mutants my entire goddamn life. I’m not about to get locked up and hurt them if I lose control.”

Cable glanced down to his arm, contemplating his next words carefully. He let the world think he was just an angry old drunk—they didn’t need to know the story behind it all.

“I… I’m scared.” He muttered finally.

“You won’t be fighting back alone,” was all he said. After his time with X-Force, he had sworn off using the negative side of his abilities. The inky black spot that moved around his body still served as a constant reminder that he’d hurt people, killed people, and while he never wanted to return to that…he couldn’t watch mutants die for being born again, either. 

Josh let him keep talking, but went silent as he reached out and laid one hand on his arm and another on the part of his chest the virus had started to invade. It hit him like a ton of bricks immediately. He had to fight not to pull away. It was relentless like nothing he’d ever felt before. Cable’s abilities were holding it back like a dam that was ready to overflow. 

He wasn’t sure how much time passed before he pulled away. It felt like awhile. His body felt like it was buzzing. “I think…” he started, trying to measure his words so that he didn’t oversell himself or give a check he couldn’t cash, “I can help you.” 

[cable-nate-summers-blog]

NS: I appreciate that. Feel free to get in touch when you’re back.

NS: Logan knows me, by the way. I just-I would like to see you.

cable-nate-summers‌:

Cable: it gets weirder from here. Maybe you’ll consider meeting me for a coffee?

Jean: I’m afraid I’m not in town for the week but uhm— I’m intrigued to meet with you when I return..

[cable-nate-summers-blog]

Cable gestured to the shipping containers. “Pointless busy work.” He shrugged, “I need a place to help my daughter hone her skills so I figured I would clean up in here a little. Not much else for me out there.”

He kept his distance from Erik, clearly still wary but warming up in the slightest, at least to his presence. He wasn’t sure if that was misplaced or not, but Scott had faith. While he didn’t believe in everything his father said and did, he was much more likely to go along with it than if it was anyone else.

“Just bare bones. It’s going to take a lot of work. But with reinforcements... maybe psionic shielding... it could work.”

cable-nate-summers‌:

Cable had been moving around some of the shipping containers that were lying around and stacking them in the corner so everyone could get a better lay of the land. He wasn’t sure how all of this was going to work, but Scott had a plan and together they’d find a way.

For the young mutants that were risking being hunted, they had to.

Cable sighed and wiped the perspiration from his brow when he heard an unfortunately familiar voice, his eyes narrowing and body tensing instinctively. 

“If I didn’t know Scott better, I would say he’s trying to make us work together.” He said with a sigh, turning to see Erik.

“Coming to get a lay of the land? It isn’t much.” He gestured, “But Scott mentioned he was asking your assistance in the structural issues.”

He wasn’t about to pick a fight. For now they were on the same side, working for the betterment of mutant kind. What would happen after this remained to be seen, but he was willing to play nice for the time being.

“I wager that’s precisely what he’s doing.” Scott liked to test his limits. Erik would have preferred to work alone, and while Cable may not say the same…he doubted that he was the ideal company.

Erik clasped his hands behind his back and walked slowly toward one of the inner walls of the building. The place was designed to keep goods out of the elements and not much else. He could have folded the entire thing in on itself without much effort at all.

“And you’re here doing what?” Scott had asked him for a favor. That was as far as Erik’s involvement would go with the makeshift school. There were other things that needed his attention.

[cable-nate-summers-blog]

Cable watched the shipping container again, eyes moving once between Hope and the object before it finally began to stir. It creaked and groaned as it was lifted, and a small smile came to Cable’s face.

“That’s it, Hope. Focus. Picture it lifting off the ground and then move it back down to meet the dock again. Nice and easy.”

It felt good to teach her again. He’d missed all of her questions; missed entertaining her by floating toys up in the air to make her laugh. He was so lucky to have her back that he didn’t care about anything else going on in the city right now. And he hadn’t had a drink in days, which was saying something.

“Focus on it coming back down slowly. Don’t let it drop.”

cable-nate-summers

“You can’t do it or you are scared of doing it? That’s two very different things.” He pointed out.

He made a strict promise to himself that we would never read another human or mutants mind unless he or someone he cared about was in danger; he just knew his daughter well enough and the way she resisted he knew he had probably asked too much.

Cable believed in Hope though like no one else did; he knew what she was capable of and needed to get her on the right track as soon as possible. Before anything bad happened.

“You’ve got me to back you up. This part of the docks are clear… no one is working out here. Just try for me. I believe in you. And don’t fake it this time.”

Hope pressed her lips together. Again, Nathan was right. She was scared, terrified even. What if she couldn’t do it? What if she wasn’t as strong as everyone had thought? What if Cable was wrong? Then there begged the question what if she could?

She had been running her whole life, but no one not even her or Nathan had yet figured out the extend of her powers. She inhaled and exhaled deeply. Nate was there if anything were to happen. What did it matter anyway? It was just the two of them.

“Okay.” Hope said quietly. She turned back and actually began focusing on the shipment container. And nothing. It was just fluke. She took a deep breath again and then closed her eyes.

She began picturing Nathan, her mother, Gwen, Ravager, every kind person she had met from the future and the present. Unknown to her, the shipping container began to lift off the ground, little by little and seemingly began to float in the air.

[cable-nate-summers-blog]

“You can’t do it or you are scared of doing it? That’s two very different things.” He pointed out.

He made a strict promise to himself that we would never read another human or mutants mind unless he or someone he cared about was in danger; he just knew his daughter well enough and the way she resisted he knew he had probably asked too much.

Cable believed in Hope though like no one else did; he knew what she was capable of and needed to get her on the right track as soon as possible. Before anything bad happened.

“You’ve got me to back you up. This part of the docks are clear... no one is working out here. Just try for me. I believe in you. And don’t fake it this time.”

cable-nate-summers

He accepted his daughters apology with a nod; she knew him so well that she would understand that was about as good as it got.

“I remember, yeah.” He said with a sigh, “That’s why we’re here now, got it? I want to make sure the shithole of a future we came from doesn’t happen.”

He watched her as she picked up the wood, keeping his stance lax for now to see what she would do. They hadn’t sparred in some time, but Hope was no longer a little girl. No longer someone fragile—if she properly tapped into and mimicked his abilities she would be incredibly powerful, and Cable was on a mission to force that out. To force her to control the level of power someone like him had.

He grabbed the wood quickly with his metal hand and splintered it in his grip, easily pulling it out of her hand and tossing it behind him.

“Try again. You’re not going to hurt me. Focus, Hope. Focus on your abilities. What you feel.”

He turned his back on her then and pointed to an empty shipping container some several hundred yards away.

“Pick that up.”

Watching the wood leave her hands, she internally sank back. She had forgotten just how well of match her father had been. Despite being fifty years old, he was strong as hell. She was certain he would live until he was at least 150 years old. 

Her emerald green eyes widened as he showed her what to pick up. “I understand what you want me to do Nate and I get that you want to make sure I’m well trained,” She pointed to the container. “But that shipping container is not where we should start. You know like when you first workout you don’t go for the 100lbs plate, you start at say 20 lbs then work your way up.” 

It wasn’t exactly that she didn’t trust that she could pick up the container, it was more of what would happened when she did. If her powers took control of themselves as they often did, she could seriously injure or even kill someone. That was a risk that she was unwilling to take despite the seemingly empty port. 

She starred at the shipping container for a few seconds. At least to give the facade of trying to lift it. “I can’t do it Nathan.” She responded after half a minute. “It’s too hard.” 

[cable-nate-summers-blog]

He accepted his daughters apology with a nod; she knew him so well that she would understand that was about as good as it got.

“I remember, yeah.” He said with a sigh, “That’s why we’re here now, got it? I want to make sure the shithole of a future we came from doesn’t happen.”

He watched her as she picked up the wood, keeping his stance lax for now to see what she would do. They hadn’t sparred in some time, but Hope was no longer a little girl. No longer someone fragile—if she properly tapped into and mimicked his abilities she would be incredibly powerful, and Cable was on a mission to force that out. To force her to control the level of power someone like him had.

He grabbed the wood quickly with his metal hand and splintered it in his grip, easily pulling it out of her hand and tossing it behind him.

“Try again. You’re not going to hurt me. Focus, Hope. Focus on your abilities. What you feel.”

He turned his back on her then and pointed to an empty shipping container some several hundred yards away.

“Pick that up.”

cable-nate-summers

Cable was standing several feet away and had used a psionic blast to shove Hope to the ground, leaving her startled but unarmed. He knew the training was more important now than ever, especially in a city full of mutants that were trying to hide the best that they could.

He didn’t know what metahumans did to her, if anything, but right now he didn’t want to find out. Any encounter in the middle of the street could send her into an uncontrollable spiral and that would raise eyebrows. If she wasn’t careful—if they both weren’t careful—she could end up in prison, or worse.

Cable had promised her that he wouldn’t seek vengeance ever again, but he didn’t know what he would do if she was captured—people would get hurt. People would probably die.

“You’re not paying attention.” He grumbled, offering his hand and pulling Hope to her feet. “You and I have a stronger connection than anyone else and you didn’t feel it? You need to be aware, Hope. Getting caught off guard is dangerous.”

“I did feel you.” Hope retaliated, taking her father’s hand and pulling herself up. “I was just in awe. You know we don’t really see this anymore in the future.” She said softly, remembering the murky waters of the shore. Everything was seemed much darker there, here it was better much more full of hope. Maybe it was because the world as a whole were still waging the decisions in their head about basically war than those who were more than human. “The water is so clear here. I don’t know it’s just different than our Star City, you know.” 

Letting out a sigh, Hope knew better and a slight frown crossed her face. She had been trained since she was a little girl to punch first, ask questions later. She was tutored in guns and weapons, how to repair one from basically starch and how to shoot each one. She watched as her mother performed CPR, and was told to practice her gymnastics skills over and over again. She had been taught to observe her surroundings and to pay attention. But she never thought it would be in such a new environment. 

“I’m sorry.” She said looking directly into her father’s face. He had not aged much, if at all. Then she remembered for him it had only been two months, not thirteen years. “Ready?” She asked, picking her an old piece of wood up to act as a sword. 

She set herself back to fighting stance. Then quickly, she took the wood piece of wood and tapped her father’s shoulder. “Remember always keep your guard up.” She mocked him.

[cable-nate-summers-blog]

@summersofhope

X-Men #206: Messiah Complex

[cable-nate-summers-blog]

Cable was standing several feet away and had used a psionic blast to shove Hope to the ground, leaving her startled but unharmed. He knew the training was more important now than ever, especially in a city full of mutants that were trying to hide the best that they could.

He didn’t know what metahumans did to her, if anything, but right now he didn’t want to find out. Any encounter in the middle of the street could send her into an uncontrollable spiral and that would raise eyebrows. If she wasn’t careful—if they both weren’t careful—she could end up in prison, or worse.

Cable had promised her that he wouldn’t seek vengeance ever again, but he didn’t know what he would do if she was captured—people would get hurt. People would probably die.

“You’re not paying attention.” He grumbled, offering his hand and pulling Hope to her feet. “You and I have a stronger connection than anyone else and you didn’t feel it? You need to be aware, Hope. Getting caught off guard is dangerous.”

@cable-nate-summers

After the long run, and running into a few people along the way, the red haired woman was finally back home. Home, what a strange thought that this would be her home. She had never had thoughts of leaving the future when she was younger. She had always excepted home to be Nathan and her adoptive mother together. Maybe one day they’d stop running and they’d get a house they would call home But the thought never occurred to her that the present, where she had been born, would eventually been her home.

A hand brushed her messy, sweaty hair in an attempt to put it back. Her green eyes gazed around the room looking for any signs of Nathan and finding none. “Hmm, that’s weird.” She muttered to herself. Her father seemed not to be the type that would really leave the apartment, unless it was to the bar where she met him. 

Her finally fell on a half opened back door. That was weird, but she decided to go check it out. Outside was beautiful, she could feel the cool breeze running off the water, chilling her arms. The water looked as if it went on for miles and miles. 

Suddenly, she found herself on the floor. “Hey no fair!” Hope revolted. “I wasn’t ready!”

[cable-nate-summers-blog]

Cable shrugged a little at the question. “Not that I know of. I try my damnest to keep it at bay but it used to just be my left arm... you can see how it is advancing. Its in my bones now—makes fighting easier. Things don’t break anymore, but it makes me one heavy fucker.”

He looked at the other for a moment before reluctantly holding out his metal arm for the other to touch. People had been more than curious before, but no one had been able to truly feel the virus like he had and honestly, Cable was concerned for the young mutant. The virus for him could sometimes be overwhelming—the pain drove him to drink, kept him up at night and exhausted him during the day. He had no idea what it would do to someone else and frankly, he didn’t want to find out.

“If they come for me—these people who are imprisoning and killing mutants—I’m going to have no choice but to fight back. If they put me in a place that dampens my powers, the virus wins. I’ve been saving mutants my entire goddamn life. I’m not about to get locked up and hurt them if I lose control.”

Cable glanced down to his arm, contemplating his next words carefully. He let the world think he was just an angry old drunk—they didn’t need to know the story behind it all.

“I... I’m scared.” He muttered finally.

cable-nate-summers‌:

Cable nodded at the offer of a shirt; that would do until he could get home and showered up. He wasn’t sure he could muster any more of his abilities to perform the astral projections he needed to shield the metal portions of him from prying eyes. He would have to take the long way home, he supposed.

He took the offered shirt and pulled it in with only slight effort; the man wasn’t wrong. It was a continuous battle that Cable fought, and he was in constant pain. Some days were much worse than others.

“The virus was originally created in an attempt to stop an incredibly powerful mutant. He easily absorbed it, adapted it, understood it. Then he infected me as an infant because I was supposed to be the one to kill him.”

Cable sighed—it all sounded like insane nonsense when he said it out loud, though he supposed he was used to that by now.

“I’m from the future. I came back to save my daughter from a homicidal mutant but I used the last of what I had to get here. And time travel—it’s hard on my body. Makes the virus hard to control.”

Cable touched the metal of his arm absently; it wasn’t cool like most would expect. Instead it mimicked the warmth of skin—blood still flowed through synthetic veins. He still felt touch, and pain.

“It’s like cancer.” He said finally, “Except when I die, I become the virus’s vessel, and I’ll infect others.”

Josh had no idea what anyone could say that would actually shock him anymore. Probably nothing. He’d seen so much and been through so much that even a robot virus felt like one of those this might as well happen today kind of things. 

That didn’t make it less terrible, obviously. He had felt it through him and even that was an awful thing. He couldn’t imagine what it felt like to deal with it, unceasing, and know what it would mean to give up or not be able to keep fighting.

Josh furrowed his brow, thinking. “There’s nothing else to do about it? Just…you? Your abilities?” He paused for a few seconds. “Can I touch your arm?” 

[cable-nate-summers-blog]

Cable: it gets weirder from here. Maybe you’ll consider meeting me for a coffee?

cable-nate-summers‌:

Cable: Yeah… about that. I’m from the future and I’m his kid. No this isn’t a prank.

Jean: Excuse me??

[cable-nate-summers-blog]

NS: oh for fuck sakes... fine.

cable-nate-summers

NS: No you’re right. Alaska is hell.

NS: Meet me down at the pier in a half hour

HS: Only if I can bring my pretzels and peanut butter

[cable-nate-summers-blog]

NS: No you’re right. Alaska is hell.

NS: Meet me down at the pier in a half hour.

cable-nate-summers

NS: you screech like some kind of demon from hell

NS: but I love you so I deal with it. Sort of.

HS: Funny story actually thats where I’m from HS: Okay maybe it wasn’t as funny as I thought. When should we start training?

[cable-nate-summers-blog]

NS: you screech like some kind of demon from hell

NS: but I love you so I deal with it. Sort of.

cable-nate-summers

NS: you do not have three stomachs

NS: but I know better than to let you go hungry. The noise you make is the worst.

NS: Don’t wear yourself out though. We are training today.

HS: Fine I have seven. And I know you love my hangry noise

HS: I won’t, trust me this city isn’t even that big compared to back home.

[cable-nate-summers-blog]

NS: you do not have three stomachs

NS: but I know better than to let you go hungry. The noise you make is the worst.

NS: Don’t wear yourself out though. We are training today.

cable-nate-summers

NS: Not to play the overprotective dad card because I said I wouldn’t… but I am. You alright?

[ several minutes later ]

NS: I woke up to an empty apartment and that’s unusual so I figured I would check in. Just making sure I don’t have to shake down billionaires for my kid.

HS: Yes Nathan I’m alright, I’m alive and hungover.

HS: Just went out for a run to train this morning.

HS: Did you know they have a super grocery store here? It has everything. It’s called Walmart? Should I buy chicken nuggets and peanut butter?

[cable-nate-summers-blog]

NS: You’re running hungover? Jesus Christ. You really are a Summers.

NS: Yeah we seem to be going through groceries 8 times faster since you moved in.

cable-nate-summers

NS: Not to play the overprotective dad card because I said I wouldn’t… but I am. You alright?

[ several minutes later ]

NS: I woke up to an empty apartment and that’s unusual so I figured I would check in. Just making sure I don’t have to shake down billionaires for my kid.

HS: Yes Nathan I’m alright, I’m alive and hungover.

HS: Just went out for a run to train this morning.

HS: Did you know they have a super grocery store here? It has everything. It’s called Walmart? Should I buy chicken nuggets and peanut butter?