Title: Escapement
Series: Being
Name: acaciajules@attbi.com
Rating: PG-15 for now
Disclaimer: Obviously, I don't own any of the characters, no
matter how much I WISH I did. They belong to the wonderful MARVEL and FOX
Classification: (Major angst, romance, friendship)
Summary: Rogue runs from the mansion. When Logan finally comes
back, nearly a year after he left, he finds that she's gone, and now he might
be the only chance of ever finding her.
Status: Unfinished
Escapement
By Jules
Part 1 of Being
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Marie had been patient and extremely understanding.
No one could ever say differently.
She'd stuck around the mansion for over six months, waiting for him to come back, like he had promised he would. Everyone had tried to be real nice to her, but she knew they were still frightened off her.
It was in the way they always would flinch when she touched them with her gloves on, and the way they stayed away from her, not really wanting to be close.
The only exceptions had been Logan and Carol, and they were gone.
So in the dead of night, while everyone else was in the depths of slumber, Marie a.k.a. Rogue packed her bag, slipped on the dark green cloak she'd arrived and a pair of gloves then left the mansion. She cautiously snuck down the stairs, careful not to step on the stairs that squeaked, using the weak mental blocks the professor taught all the students, incase of battles against another telepath, to prevent Xavier or Jean from reading her mind, and knowing her plans.
On her way through the garage, she couldn't help but notice Scott's new motorcycle, which he'd only finished upgrading days prior, standing there, with another one of those special turbo buttons. The keys had been left right in the ignition. The temptation was too much, the Logan in her mind just couldn't resist.
She secured her bag to the back of the bike, and then silently rolled the motorcycle out of the garage, she flew it over the locked fence (a power she'd 'picked up' a few months back). Then she used more of Logan's knowledge, and made the machine come to life.
She took one last look behind her, at the cast iron gates which had begun to feel like a prison then a sanctuary to her, then she road off into the night, destination unknown, to anyone, even herself . . . .
~*~
** Three months later **
Logan pulled up to the mansion that he'd left nearly a year ago, leaving behind a promise to a 'kid', who unknowingly owned his heart as well (and his dog tags).
He turned off the motorcycle, and then strode up to the front doors of The Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. Before he could even reach out for the doorknob, Dr. Jean Gray flung open the door, the same coy smile on her face that habitually greeted him when she saw Logan.
"Welcome home Logan. The Professor would like to have a discussion with you immediately, if you wouldn't mind." Jean greeted.
"Right." Logan wasn't even surprised, "See ya Red."
** The office of Professor Charles Xavier **
A few moments later Logan ambled through the doors of Xavier's office, not even bothering to knock. He closed the door behind him, and sat down heavily in a chair, a cigar clamped firmly between his teeth.
"Logan, it's wonderful to see you again. Did you find what you were looking for?"
Logan was aware that the learned telepath was merely humoring him, and that Xavier already knew the answer, but Logan still answered, "No, it had been completely destroyed. I tried to follow a few leads, but none of them panned out."
"I see. I'm sorry Logan, I know how much uncovering your past means to you."
Logan just waved it off, then got down to the business he'd been wanting to see to since he'd started home, "So, how's the Kid? Is she doing alright in school?"
"Ah, well, Logan. That is why I wished to see you the moment that you returned. I'm afraid that Rogue has, run away . . ."
Logan didn't even notice that his claws shot right out in his fury.
"WHAT?!" He roared, "I left her here, in your protection. She was supposed to feel safe here! There shouldn't have been any reason for her to run again."
"Logan, if you will please be seated, I will explain." The professor calmly responded.
Logan was seething, but he knew the only way he might find Marie was if he listened to what the poof had to say, so he let the man speak, for now.
"In the time you were away, some very surprising events happen, as well as some normal. You see, we added a new member to our teaching staff and team, her name was Carol Danvers."
Logan's eyebrow quirked up at the 'was' but he remained silent.
"About six months ago, Sabertooth attacked a van with a group of students on a field trip to the Metropolitan Museum. The driver of the bus was killed instantly. It was Ms. Danvers's art class. In the group was Rogue. Carol fought him off, but he escaped, unfortunately, he'd somehow managed to strike a fatal blow to her. She forced Rogue to take her powers, and drain her completely. Rogue was introverted before and the students were apprehensive of her, even prior to the incident. I'm sorry to say, that subsequent to then, the students began flinching if she brushed them with her gloved hand. The rest of the faculty and I tried to help her. We allowed her to take your room when she requested it, due to the fact that although she was young in age, her mind was that of a much more mature person as she carries with her the knowledge of all that have experienced her draining."
"Why haven't you tried to find her?"
"We have, repeatedly. But somehow, she's managed to block Cerebro's attempts to locate her."
"What kinds of fucking powers did she get?" Logan growled.
"Well, her strength is that of more then ten men, and she has the ability to fly faster than anything of this world. This new mental ability has surprised me. It might actually be a form of her own power. I'm not sure. It also may be a form of Carol's powers, because she had the Kree alien DNA in her, which transferred over to Rogue."
"How long ago did she leave?" Logan asked, standing up.
"Three months ago, during the middle of the night. She stole Scott's new bike, which he'd just completed a few days before. You're influence no doubt." The Professor reported smirking.
"Why the fuck didn't you contact me and tell me before now?" Logan demanded.
"You some how managed to block my calls. You've placed a barrier around yourself Logan, and it was impossible to penetrate."
Xavier knew exactly what was going on in Logan's head, but didn't say anything. He understood exactly why Logan was going after her, and it wasn't just because he felt the need to protect her.
Before Logan left, Xavier called out, "Keep me updated on the status of your search. We all are very anxious to find out how she is. And inform her, that there is always a place for her here, as there is for you."
Logan nodded, then strode out the door.
Scott was looking over his bike, checking for damage, when Logan pushed him out of the way, not even acknowledging Scott's presence. He just started the bike, then rode off back through the gates he'd entered just 30 minutes before.
Scott did not even have a chance to utter anything insulting.
Instead, as he watched the man be carried off on his bike into the distance he said quietly, "Good luck Wolfy, I hope you find her soon and bring her home."
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Please, I want replies, I know it sounds pathetic, but I live for feedback, good or bad! I need to know what you think so I know where to go with this.
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