Title – Mechanical Animals
Author – Zombie Pants
Disclaimer – If I owned it, you'd know.
Summary – AU. X-23 has escaped from Trask and joined the X-men. But what will happen when an old enemy from her past comes back for revenge…What if that enemy was named Rogue? AU, Romy or Rietro.
Chapter 1, Part 1 – The Speed of Pain
Jessica Howlett sat down gracefully on the sloping rooftop of the Xavier Institute for the Gifted. Her long brown hair gracefully blew around her cherubic face in the wind; her sharp blue eyes closing in delight. She had never been happier in her life. After everything she had gone through as a child, this was her heaven, this was her home now, these people were her family—and she couldn't have wished for more. When she had first arrived at the institute—she hadn't come there looking for any of those things; in fact, she was hell bent on revenge. Wolverine, The man who she's been cloned after, was her target, and she would have done anything to kill him. She even took down the mighty X-men to get to him, risking her life in the process.
But the difference back then was that she didn't care if she lived or died. Now that she was free, she couldn't comprehend why she had ever wished to die when there was so much beauty in the world…so much she had left to discover…
Today was a different story. It had been three months since that horrible night, and she had plenty of support to finally allow her wounds of the past to close. She was a new woman, with a new name, and a new life. No longer was she the clone X-23; no longer was she an animal meant to be tested and experimented on. She had a real name now, and was treated with respect and love from her new friends.
Hell…she even considered Logan a father figure now…the man she'd been plotting to murder!
Xavier had used his telepathy to heal her mental scars and open up a door to living a real life among his students—who all welcomed her with open arms. He'd even given her a new name to keep as her own so she would no longer be considered an objected instead of a person. She had gone with an open heart into the world, and with her past no longer holding her down, was learning more and more about living virtuously every passing day.
Laughing gently, she watched from her perch as Jamie ran from Scott—who was covered in soap suds and soaking wet; no doubt Jamie's handy work. Ray, Bobby, Jubilee, and Amara were hiding behind the giant oak, playing poker while keeping an eye out for any of the adults who would stop their game. Kurt was trying to woo Kitty by porting around gathering flowers and showering them down on her as she tried to leave with Jean to the mall, who was giggling the whole way while yelling at him to stop.
She was especially good friends with Jean. Since they were the same age, 18, and both girls, it was easier for them to connect. When Jean had asked if she wanted to share a room with the red-headed telepath, she had almost cried with happiness. Ever since then they had been almost inseparable…except when it came to shopping…She was still nervous when it came to large crowds of normal people, so she left the Jean to shop with Kitty.
Flopping backwards onto the shingles, she listened to the sounds of trees, the water as it spouted gracefully from the fountain to the pool below, and the students as they ran around the yard shouting happily…wait…where were the noises of the students?! There should have been talking and laughter, but her ears could only pick up silence…
When she sat up she immediately saw what had caused the abrupt lack of noise. Through the gates and down the walkway came Magneto, flanked by his Acolytes—Gambit and Pyro on his right, Colossus on his left. She rolled her eyes in frustration.
Only a week after she had arrived, Magneto had come along to try and make an agreement with Xavier. Some new mutant had arisen—he said is personal telepath had picked up on the new mutant—that was so dangerous that not even his acolytes could defeat it. So he wanted to temporarily call a truce between the X-men and his group; just in case they ever had to fight the new mutant.
Now-a-days it was a regular occurrence to see the man in red and his goonies at the institute, but she knew the x-kids would never get used to it. There were still high emotions between the acolytes and x-men, and some grudges that would never be resolved. She still hoped the tension would lessen given more time…because there was no way anyone would ever accept her going out with an acolyte…especially Remy…
Quickly she sniffed the air for traces of Logan's scent, lest he see her flirt with anyone, and jumped off the building when she couldn't smell him near. She landed directly in front of Gambit and flashed him a happy smile when he recognized her.
"Mus' be Remy's birthday, if de toute beauté femmes are fallin' out of de sky at him…non?" The devil eyed Cajun smirked sexily at her with a wink.
"Hmm…If you keep talking like that, then maybe it will be your birthday." She purred at him, winking in return. Flirting with Remy was one of her favorite pastimes, but only if Logan wasn't around to find out. He'd kill the Cajun boy if he ever knew.
"Ahem…" Magneto cleared his throat, directing his notorious glare in their direction. "We have no time for such childish things. If you two insist upon acting in such a manner, do so on your own time. Right now we are on MY time, so get a move on!" With that said, he floated into the institute, not even bothering to look back to see if he had been listened to.
"Remy talk to you later belle." He whispered in her ear. With a quick kiss to her cheek, he turned heel and followed after his boss into the building.
Suddenly, a foreboding feeling flooded her petit body, causing a small tremor to run down her spine. Jumping back onto the roof, she silently waited for Remy to return outside while keeping an eye out for anything odd. She knew her senses were telling her something bad was coming…but all she could do was wait…and pray it wasn't who she thought it was…
Chapter 1, Part 2 – The Minute of Decay
There wasn't a cloud in sight that night.
The fireflies buzzed contently around the cool grass, shining their soft lights as if mirroring the starry sky above.
It was the perfect night…for a barbeque…
The tables had been set, the burgers had been grilled, and the students had eaten to their fill. They were in such high spirits; they even let the acolytes join them in their merriment, ignoring for the time being that they were still enemies—even if they were on a truce. Pure harmony floated from the bodies of the students into the atmosphere, creating the perfect moment…to be destroyed.
All the professors, including Magneto, had offered to clean up the mess while the students scattered around the lawn to stargaze and relax. Jessica almost instantaneously grabbled onto Remy's hand and dragged him off to a secluded spot beneath the willow tree. After they had both lay down, she snuggled into his side and twined her fingers with his.
"You migh' wanna be careful fille. A man like Remy coul' get use't dis." He sighed contently as he began to stroke her hair. In all reality, he didn't know how much he really liked her, but he did know that she felt damn good in his arms and that she was a wonderful person.
"Hmm." She hummed contently. "I think I'm already used to it."
Remy swiftly stood up, knocking Jess off of his chest and onto the ground. Before she could even protest he had started striding across the lawn towards the front gates. Jessica followed after him; now alert that something was amiss. Using her ultra night-vision sight, she saw the thing she had been dreading for three months. Shit! She screamed at herself. How could she have let her guard down for so long? She'd been stupid enough to let the other in past her keen senses.
Not ten seconds had gone by before the whole x-men team had assimilated in a u-shape around the gate, all dressed in their fighting gear. The acolytes were just as ready for the fight, each had their eyes trained on the dark figure crouched on the wall next to the gate. But this was not their fight, and she knew it. This was something she had to handle, it was her past coming back to haunt her.
Turning her head, Jessica locked eyes with Xavier and sent him a message. While healing her mind, he had stumbled across the memory that she had been trying to hide. She had assumed that he would kick her out of the institute and brand her a killer to anyone who would listen; instead he explained to her that she could repent for her mistake and make up for her murdering past by saving people in her present.
"X-men," Charles addressed them loudly, "Stand down." His order earned him many queer stares and grunts of disbelief, but nonetheless they all complied and backed up.
Jessica marched forward so that the x-men and acolytes were behind her and turned to address the intruder…
"It's nice to see you again, X-34." She heard a few gasps, but ignored them as she awaited an answer.
X-34 stood up strait, making the most intimidating figure with the forest backdrop behind her. Ragged, blood-soaked hair fell around the persons face, cascading down to their knees—the only distinguishing feature was two white strips of hair in the front. A ragged and torn body suit covered the panting figure along with a pair of dirty gloves and army boots that went mid-calf. But Jessica refused to back down and cower away like some simpering idiot; she would stand and fight.
"Have you come all this way with nothing to say to me?" She half-taunted at the other girl, trying her best to get a reaction so she could gauge 34's mental state.
Disturbingly slow, the standing figure slowly raised their head to reveal a pair of insane, bloodthirsty emerald eyes.
Chapped and bleeding lips slowing emitted five heart stopping words…
"Your death is mine 23."
End Chapter
De toute beauté femmes=beautiful women
Non=like saying a rhetorical 'no?'
Belle=Beautiful
Fille=Girl
X-23=Logan's clone
X-34=Rogue herself Get it? Just making sure.