Dismal Angel 2010 - Episode 22
Chapter 1: Are You Crazy?
The creak was very distinguishable against the silence of Remy LeBeau's bedroom, the floors never creaked unless someone was walking across them. Despite the mansion building wasn't even as old as Remy was, it creaked and sounded like an old building at night even without the help of careful footsteps.
But tonight, it was not the mansion settling that caused the sound that stirred Remy from his sleep – the restless sleep he'd been having every night for the past two weeks since Betsy Braddock had joined the X-Men – and since Carol Danvers had somehow gained control of Rogue's body.
Remy remained still, listening, his hearing was extremely acute when he focused hard enough. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled in anticipation and at the same time anxiety. Perhaps it had been wrong to sleep with his back to the door this particular night – it gave his assailant too much access to stick a knife in it. Previously, he'd always chosen to sleep facing the window, because he'd always feared someone might come through it and he wanted to be prepared if that should occur.
No sense in regretting anything now though, he couldn't change his position now without letting the other person know he was awake. He kept his eyes closed and concentrated on keeping his breathing even as if he'd never awoken at all, to not let the intruder know he was awake at all.
Another creak, very unsteady and almost careless. Whoever was trying to hurt him must have been incredibly clumsy or unskilled. Not to matter, whoever it was expected him to be so deeply asleep that the attempt on his life would be easier than taking candy from a child.
Remy slept with his hand underneath his pillow these days, convenient, he thought, as it would give the intruder no suspect at all that there was a sheathed dagger hidden beneath – for that was exactly what there was. Remy slipped his hand carefully around the hilt of the dagger, he felt it pulling out of the sheath and that strange feeling of steel grinding against the wooden sheath provided him with some slight comfort.
The bed buckled as if someone was climbing onto the bed, and he braced himself for the assault, feeling it was soon upon him, his breath caught in his throat and he remained perfectly still, prepared for what was to come.
He felt warm fingers against his bare shoulder, and that was when he struck, he sat up instantly, and let out a cry of anger to surprise his would-be assailant.
Kitty Pryde let out a blood curdling shriek as Remy LeBeau pulled the dagger from the pillow, the blade caught the light of the moonlight outside and flashed, and it was reflexes that barely saved her life. The blade ran through her, and she'd phased in time so that it simply passed through her and struck the blankets, disappearing down deep into the mattress.
Remy looked at her, his own eyes wide in a panic. He was petrified, seeing her large eyes widen in terror, glistening in the moonlight that was seeping in front the window. He was afraid to look down to where he'd thrust the dagger, afraid if he did he might see her blood staining the blade and his hand.
Kitty couldn't breathe, she was afraid to her, arm was right through her and for one terrible moment, she thought – just as he had – that the blade had run her through and that she would die within minutes. Terrified, she looked down, to see Remy's arm through her, she looked back up at him. He had not moved an inch, his face was close to hers, his eyes were burning with a feverish brightness, she could see a sweat shimmering on his face. Carefully, still holding her breath, she pulled away so that she freed his arm, she looked down at her stomach and touched the cotton fabric of her nightgown, "oh my god…" she whispered, and finally, she could breathe again.
Remy had not moved yet, he was staring into space, shock completely overwhelming him. He couldn't comprehend what had just happened.
"Are you fucking crazy?" Kitty demanded at once, she freed his hand gingerly from the dagger, took a hold of the hilt and yanked it free of the mattress, she was shaking with anger, fear and relief all at the same time. She dropped the dagger to the bedside cabinet, the clatter made her shake further more.
Remy finally broke free of his shock and looked at her, "I…"
"I'm PREGNANT, you could have killed me AND the baby."
"I…" Remy put his hands to his face, "Oh my god…"
Kitty was breathing heavy, she couldn't believe how close she'd come to being butchered by her own team mate. She switched the bedside lamp on and light flooded the beige room
"I thought…God…" he shook his head, he was breathing abnormally fast.
Kitty sat down, still shaking, "oh my god…" she whispered, "that…was close…"
"Petit…I was…I just…" he tried to explain nervously.
"It's okay…" Kitty put her hand on his arm to offer some comfort, "you scared the crap out of me…" she got up, "and now I need to pee…"
Remy tried to pull himself together while Kitty wandered off to use his bathroom, since there was no door between the bathroom and his bedroom, he had to tolerate the sound of his friend and fellow team-mate using his toilet. He picked up the dagger and looked at it, examining it to make sure there was no blood, there was not a drop. Relieved, he grabbed the sheath from beneath the pillow and slipped it back in silently, and instead of replacing it back under the pillow again, he slipped it into the drawer in the cabinet beside his bed.
Kitty returned, she approached the bed and sat down slowly, she moved her brown hair out of her face, considering she'd just gotten out of bed her hair was surprisingly neater than it usually was. Her hair, which had been short and feathered in January, was quickly growing out, and most of the time these days she pinned it back in matching barrettes.
"You okay?" Kitty asked a moment later after sitting in awkward silence.
"Are you?" he asked. He felt uncomfortable lying there under the covers. He would have stood up, except he was undeniably naked beneath the covers and he thought he should spare Kitty seeing him in such a way. Piotr already had enough suspicions about Remy and Kitty that Remy felt if someone should perhaps walk in and see him standing naked beside a woman he was already rumoured to be sleeping with, then it would not bide well for him – nor Kitty.
"I'm fine…" she assured, she looked around the room absently, chewing upon her bottom lip.
"And the baby?" he asked, he put his hand to her stomach as if to make sure, trickles of sweat slipped down his temples from the nerves of what he might have done moments earlier. Thank goodness Kitty Pryde had excellent reflexes, and thank goodness it had just happened to be her and not someone else – save perhaps Bobby, or Betsy.
"It's fine," Kitty said, she looked at him, there was something strangely fatherly about the way he acted right then, with his hand against her stomach, it was almost as if it had been his child he were worried about. She wondered if perhaps Piotr might have reacted the same way.
"I'm sorry…" he pulled his hand back awkwardly, "I'm just up tight…" he trailed off, "I can't settle…in this place with Carol and Betsy…and Asschunk Drake, they look at me like they want to kill me…the first two I can understand, but I don't know what's up with Drake…"
"He's just being an ass…he's been funny for a few months," Kitty shrugged, "started around mid February," she shrugged.
"Why…are you in my room...at 3am?" he asked, he glanced to the clock on the cabinet. He ran his fingers through his hair, his limbs were tired, and aching.
"I couldn't sleep," Kitty sighed, "I have a doctors appointment at nine," she sighed, "I keep thinking about it."
"This is your first doctors appointment since finding out?" Remy asked.
Kitty gave a shy nod, "yeah. I figured I can't keep putting it off, so I booked some time off, Jean is going to cover my maths class…" she explained, "anyway…I was wondering…uhm…would you come with me – to the doctors, I mean? I really hate going to that doctor, and…well…"
"You sure you want ME to come?" Remy asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah…" Kitty said quietly. "So will you?"
Remy paused, "Kitty…what do you think Piotr's reaction will be when he finds out about this?"
"I don't know…" Kitty looked away, "things are still…pretty weird between us, I mean we went out on a date two nights ago, but it was…sort of awkward…I don't know…it doesn't FEEL right anymore…"
Remy looked at her, trying to find a trace of love for Piotr in her eyes, but he wasn't sure he saw any. Perhaps this had been nothing more than an infatuation, but he hoped for her sake that it was more than this.
"Remy…I hardly ask you for anything, please…"
"Alright…" Remy sighed, "I'll be there…just…don't come sneaking into my room at night anymore, Piotr's been giving me nasty looks all week. Now get to bed before someone HEARS you in here."
"Okay…" Kitty nodded slowly. "Okay…thanks…" Kitty stood up slowly.
Remy watched her leave, she left the room, phasing through the door, her head low, shoulders hunched, one might think she was marching to her death instead of going to bed.
Sighing to himself, he turned off the light and leaned back against the pillows, ill at ease. Lately, no matter what he did, he seemed to dig himself into holes he couldn't get out of and his friendship with Kitty was definitely a hole. The more time he spent with her, the more suspicious Piotr was going to become.
You're wrecking her relationship with Piotr, Remy thought at himself sadly. Maybe you should just get out of this place before you ruin it for her…
But I can't, he thought firmly at himself, I promised Rogue I wouldn't go again.
