DISCLAIMER: DON'T OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS.

"Roberto!"

A long silence echoed down the hallway.

"Roberto de Costa!"

Silence still.

Mr. de Costa sighed, removing his black-framed spectacles from his nose before pressing a scarlet button besides him, on his mahogany desk. A male servant immediately came running.

"Yes, sir?"

"Bring my son, Estevao. I don't care how you do it, just bring him."

"Right away, sir," the dark man replied, in the Portuguese tongue, departing the room swiftly.

Eduardo de Costa sighed, shaking his head with disapproval. Managing his son, he thought, was about the most difficult task in the world. Far more difficult than even managing his company. He and Roberto had never been really close, but the boy had never been this bad until recently. There were times, Eduardo recalled with a grimace, when Roberto had been so difficult that Eduardo was almost tempted to send him away from their luxurious house. So far, Eduardo had not yet done so. But, he realized, there was no other choice for him this time.

Footsteps sounded, and then the door opened. Standing there was Estevao, Eduardo's servant, with someone else this time. A tall, handsome, well-tanned youth of about seventeen, with a cold and grim look on his face, dark hair and dark eyes. At a nod from Eduardo, Estevao turned and left quietly, shutting the door behind him.

"You called?" The youth's voice held no trace of warmth whatsoever.

"Yes, Roberto. I assume you want to know the truth about a decision I've made?"

"Just get on with it, won't you?"

Unperturbed by the boy's rudeness, Eduardo cleared his throat, and finally opened his mouth to speak, in the Portuguese language which had been their main language for years.

"You're going away to the USA."

A shocked silence reigned for several moments.

"I'm not," Roberto finally replied, flatly.

"You are, Roberto," sighed Eduardo. "You've left me no choice. Believe me, Roberto, I've tried to be a good father to you. I've done everything I can to mould you into a fine young man, hopefully as successful as me someday. But all you've done is repay me with rudeness and ungratefulness. Such behaviour will not be tolerated. My mind is made. You'll fly off to the USA in three months' time."

"Oh, I see," Roberto answered, coldly. "So, I've been too much of a burden to you, haven't I, that I now have to be packed off like some…baggage to a foreign country?"

"Roberto…"

"It always has to come down to something of this sort, one way or another, isn't it?" Roberto's voice was rising angrily, his face growing paler with rage. "Somehow, I can never be good enough for you! All you care about is your stupid business, so much that I just don't have a place in your life anymore! Is that it?"

"Roberto, that's enough!" snapped his father, rising from his seat angrily.

"But…."

"No more buts!" snapped Eduardo. "I've already registered you in Bayville High School. You'll stay with your Aunt Barbara and Uncle Fausto there. You needn't worry, you'll be given the best care over there, since you think me a not good enough father."

"Very well then!" Roberto shouted. "Go ahead! Send me there this instant, if you like! What do I care?"

"Roberto!" Eduardo's voice was almost loud enough to bring down the roof on them. "Shut your mouth! I've heard enough of your rudeness! Go!"

"Just fine with me!" hissed Roberto, turning around quickly to leave, so that his father could not see the sudden tears rushing to his eyes.

OK! R & R, please!!! It's my 1st X-Men fanfic, so be kind to me!!! I'm REALLY busy with work, so I may take some time to update.