No Day But Today
By Zabe Rogue
**Song-It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday-Boyz II Men**
IT'S SO HARD TO SAY GOODBYE
It was a hot, humid Sunday afternoon at the Xavier Institute in San Francisco. Usually, hot weather doesn't faze Kristy Jo Kyle, the Untouchable X-Man known as St. Joan, because she's from Texas. But this day feels like a freaking sauna! Maybe I shoulda' went to the beach with Kurt an' Ororo, Kristy thought. It was Summer Break at the Xavier Institute and most of the students and staff have taken the vacation to their advantage. Kristy Jo could've used this time to escape to the Alps, Greenland, or any cold place in the world. But somehow, having the Institute all to herself was relaxing. That is, if Logan hadn't decided to stay here as well, instead of going to Canada. The weatherman mentions today's temperature on the news:105 degrees! Kristy sighed. "And to think, I left one hot climate t' live in another." She mumbled.
"LOGAN! Where them brews at?" The feral Canadian came to the rec room and brought in two ice cold Budweiser's and two cold cut sandwiches. "Relax, Texas Pete," he grumbled. "The game doesn't start for another 10 minutes." He turned to the ESPN channel and watched the last few minutes of an international soccer game.
"Why do Americans watch this gay crap?" Logan sneered.
"Cause it's intense," Kristy Jo answered. Then she smiled and added, "An' the fellas look mighty nice in their shorts."
"You are true redneck, Kristy Jo Kyle."
"An' proud of it, James Howlett. Now where my beer?"
"How old are you?"
"Old enough to kick ya behind. Ya know I'm over 21."
Logan grinned and gave Kristy Jo her beer. Smiling, Kristy opened her beer and took a swig. "Lemme show ya a real game," Logan said. "Canadian style." The Texan copycat and the Canadian animal got comfortable and ready for their "Best Buds Day In." Hockey. Beer. Salty Foods. Nobody here at the mansion, the perfect day! What could possibly go wrong?
INCOMING CALL! INCOMING CALL!
St. Joan and Wolverine looked at each other in exasperation. Who could be calling at this hour?
"ANSWER, REC ROOM PHONE!" Kristy Jo commanded. The hockey game was suddenly in abrupt interruption as Sandra McIntyre, the villainess known as Quintessence, who just happens to be Kristy Jo's aunt, appeared on the television screen. For a time Quintessence was a superhero along with her sister, Joan Dawson, Kristy Jo Kyle's mother. Somewhere along the way the once close sisters had a falling out involving Kristy's father, Victor Windfox. In other words, Sandra became evil, killed Joan and Victor, and became Kristy Jo's sworn enemy. But being that Quintessence is family prevents St. Joan from killing her.
"Hello, Kristy Jo." Sandra's voice came in quite relaxed. Kristy looked at her in the most surprised, cold expression she had.
"Why are ya callin' me, Auntie Sandy?" She said crossly.
"Yeah! We were about to watch a really good hockey game," Logan added, equally pissed.
Sandra rolled her eyes. "Look, I don't care for no hockey game. An' I ain't really got the time."
"Then what do want?!" Kristy Jo shouted.
"If you would let me talk, Kristina JoAnne, I'll tell ya!" Sandra shouted back. She took a deep breath and said mostly to herself: "I'm on vacation, I'm on vacation." Then to Logan and Kristy Jo, she said: "Look, Erik an' I are having a nice relaxin' day in Jamaica. An' I plan to spend every freakin' minute of it in peace! Now, I called 'cause I wanted to talk to Nightcrawler."
"Kurt's not here," Kristy Jo replied. "He and Ororo took JT, Tamarra, Lena and some of their friends to Santa Monica."
"What about Rogue?"
"Rogue went to a spa in Denver with Emma, Chauncey, Betsy, Deidre, Tabitha, and Jubilee." Logan said. "Some kinda Girls Getaway. Why?"
Sandra ignored the question. "No one is here?"
"No!" Kristy said agitated. "No one but me and Logan. What is this about, anyway?"
"It's about Mystique." Sandra said finally. "Erik got a call from Nick Fury. She's dead." Logan and Kristy Jo looked blankly at the television then at each other. Then they just burst out laughing.
"Yeah, right." Logan snickered. "And I'm the Grim Reaper. You know the woman lived as long as I have, Sandra."
"She probably faked her death for the hundredth time and posin' as the cocktail gal so she can screw wit' Magneto." Kristy Jo added.
"It ain't a JOKE!" Sandra shouted. "I'm tellin' the truth. Fury says he's gonna call you Logan to confirm it." Logan scoffed but then his cell phone rang. When the Caller ID said "RESTRICTED," Logan grunted. He knew who it was.
"What do'ya want, Fury?" He growled. Kristy Jo watched as her friend's expression went from irritated, to surprised.
"What? Yeah, I know she told us but we thought… Well it's MYSTIQUE! Who you expect?!" Logan sighed. "Fine, I'll tell Kurt and Rogue. What was the cause? Oh it's classified an' that bull. Well, I just asked because I feel that her two children, who're my close friends mind you, should have a right to know! C'mon, Fury! They have kids of their-" Logan stopped mid-sentence. "Oh. That's it? Well that's….not gross at all. Okay, thanks. Screw you, too." Logan ended the call and looked at Kristy Jo. "Your aunt's right."
Kristy Jo looked at her aunt at the television screen who gave her an "I-told-you-so" look. "Now, are ya'll gonna talk to Rogue and Nightcrawler when they come back or should I interrupt my vacation an' tell em' myself?"
"NO!" Kristy and Logan said at the same time.
"We'll tell 'em, Aunt Sandy," Kristy added.
"Now can we please get back to the game?!" Logan said. "We already missed 20 minutes of it!"
"Fine." Sandra said. "I gotta go anyway. Erik is taking me to this nice restaurant by the beachfront an' then-"
"Please, stop!" Logan pleaded. "We do not want to hear about what sick, perverted stuff Magneto does to you."
Sandra laughed. "I was gonna say, he was takin' me dancing afterwards." She laughed harder when she saw Logan blush.
"I gotta go. It's clear to see ya'll need some central air or something. Kristy, say hi to Angie, Jason, and Midge for me. Bye."
With that, the transmission was cut off and the hockey game resumed. "Oh, man!" Logan grunted. "The Maple Leafs are down by 2! C'mon Toronto!"
Kristy Jo, who was trying to contemplate all of this, finally snapped back to attention and turned the TV off.
"What in the world, Kristy?!" Logan said angrily.
"Did'ya not hear what my auntie said?!" Kristy Jo screamed.
"Yeah, I was there," Logan replied as he slowly tried to grab the remote control from Kristy Jo's grasp. "Fury called me on my cell phone, remember? Now can we watch the game?" Kristy Jo pulled the remote away from Logan's reach.
"This is serious, Logan! Mystique is really dead and Kurt and Marie don't even know yet. I mean have they even heard from her?!"
"The last time Elf heard from Raven was about three years ago. They kinda had a falling out. Raven only hears from Kurt through either Rogue, or the kids."
Kristy sighed. "This is terrible."
Logan looked up. "Why? She wasn't your mama."
"I know what it's like to lose one, ya big gorilla! Nightcrawler and Rogue are gonna have a hard time getting over this. An' with Peter an' Mercedes in Russia, we have to be their support system."
"Oh." Logan muttered. "I never thought of that."
"And think about the kids. Think about Talia, JT, Lena, Rebecca, and Oliver. The kids just lost their grandma. You know how close Raven was with them kids."
"Okay, okay Texas Pete," Logan said, raising his hand up. "Calm down. Look, Rogue is coming back tomorrow and Kurt and Ororo are coming back Friday. We'll tell them, all right?" Kristy Jo looked at Logan and nodded. "A'right." She mumbled. Logan put his arm around her. "Okay," he said. Glad we got that out of the way. Now can we watch the game?"
* * *
"HEADS UP!" a loud voice warned from across the mansion field. Johannes Timothy Wagner notices the flying football coming towards him and immediately teleported out of the way, missing him completely and hitting his cousin, Alena Danielle Parkridge, smack dab in the face.
"Oh, my nose!" She exclaimed as she fell. JT teleported beside her, his glowing green eyes wide with concern.
"Lena!" He said. "Are you all right?" Lena could only look at her elf-like cousin in irritation. He was sweet, but always said the right stuff at the wrong time.
"Does it look like I'm alright?" She said angrily. "I just got a freaking football thrown in my face!"
"JT! Why didn't you catch the ball?" Dmitry Marx asked, coming over to them. Dmitry was an athletic built teenager of seventeen. Jet Black hair, sky blue eyes, and a slight British accent (although he's half-Canadian, half-German), he was a catch for all the ladies. Dmitry's charms however, didn't match his looks.
"What happened to Lena?" He asked.
Lena just looked at him furiously. "I swear to God, Marx," she screamed. "If you weren't Natalie's boyfriend, I'LL PIMP-SLAP YOU BACK TO CANADA!" She threw the football at Dmitry and stormed into the mansion. Dmitry looked at JT, confused. "What did I do?" He asked. Just then, a puff a purple smoke emerged between the two teenage boys and Kurt Wagner aka Nightcrawler appeared.
"What happened with Leisel, mien Sohn?" He inquired.
"Dmitry hit her with a football." JT said casually. Dmitry just gave Nightcrawler the I-didn't-know-look. Kurt laughed.
"Well, let's get this rest of this in the house, boys." He said.
With that, the three men took the beach gear and headed inside the Institute where they were greeted by Logan, Kristy Jo, Jubilee, and Candace Searcy-Guthrie aka Mirage.
"Hey Kurt!" Jubilee greeted first, rushing towards the blue elf for a hug. "How's Santa Monica?"
"A lot more relaxing as I hoped, Jubilee." Kurt answered.
"JT said you got some souvenirs to give us," Candace said, opening out her hand. "Now where are they?"
Kurt eyed his son suspiciously. "Well did he now?" JT just shrugged. "Ororo has them," Kurt continued, smiling. "And I bought a beautiful seashell necklace I believe Rachel would love." Candace smiled and gave Kurt a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks, you Fuzzy Elf!" She said. She and Jubilee rushed upstairs to Kurt and Ororo's room.
"I assume the spa trip was better than expected?" Kurt asked.
"Oh yeah." Kristy Jo replied. "The gals really enjoyed themselves."
"And how about you two?"
"You know, Elf. Same ol' same ol.'" Logan replied. Kurt looked at his two friends. Something's not right about them. Usually they'll tease me or rant on me about leaving them alone in the mansion. He thought. They are definitely hiding something.
"Is everything all right?" Kurt began.
"Yeah, everything's fine." Logan said quickly. At the same time, Kristy Jo said: "Never better, Wags. Why'd you ask?"
"Because you're both acting very strange, mien furends." Kurt replied. "Especially you, Logan." Wolverine and St. Joan looked at each other, then at Nightcrawler. Then their gaze turned to the two young teenage boys behind Kurt who were on the couch playing catch with the football.
"Dmitry, JT," Kristy Jo said, rather solemnly. "Go to your rooms an' unpack your stuff."
"Wait, we can't hear this conversation?" Dmitry asked. "C'mon! After everything we been through, we've kinda earned it."
"Yeah and if it involves my father, it obviously involves me too!" JT added. Logan stared at JT for a long time. It amazed him how much he is like his father. Well, both of his parents actually. When it came to looks, JT mirrored mostly his mother, Ororo Wagner aka Storm. His velvet fur skin was a turquoise blue compared to that of Nightcrawler's which was indigo. JT had normal feet and hands, and natural white highlights in his blue hair. However, he did gain some of his father's traits: JT has amazing agility, pointed ears, a prehensile tail, and night vision which allows his eyes to glow green (Nightcrawler's glowing eyes are yellow). Besides the powers to control weather, and teleportation, JT has the power to fly and control the effects of Lunar Spectrum (hard to explain; meaning he has control over shadows and stuff), earning him the name Nightshadow. Logan looked at JT Wagner and saw the conviction in his eyes. Laughing to himself, he walked right up to JT and put his hand on his shoulder.
"I know," He said softly. "But this doesn't involve just you and your father. It involves your Aunt Rogue as well."
"Aunt Rogue?" JT said, worried. "Is she all right?"
"Why don't you go check on her?" Logan suggested. "She's in her room." JT nodded and motioned Dmitry to join him, who followed him without complaint. Now Kurt was really worried.
"What is this about Logan?" He asked as soon as the boys left. "Something bad happened, Elf." Logan said simply.
"Did something happen to Rogue? Is she hurt?"
"It ain't Rogue, Kurt." Kristy Jo said. "Rogue's fine. It's about Mystique."
Kurt's expression changed. "Mystique? What about her?"
"She dead, Elf." Logan announced. The room fell silent for a couple of minutes. But the minutes felt like hours. Finally, Kurt gained his composure and managed to sit down on the couch.
"This….this has to be a j-joke." He muttered softly.
"I wish it was, honey." Kristy Jo said softly. She sat down next to Kurt, her hand in his. "My aunt called us last week an' told us. Then Nick Fury called Logan to confirm the news."
"How did she die?" Kurt said finally looking up.
"Fury wouldn't say," Logan replied. "Said it was some "A-1 Sauce, R & R mess." Kristy Jo looked at Logan, confused. "It was Classified."
"Well, it serves her right she's dead." Kurt said coldly. Kristy Jo and Logan looked at their distraught blue friend in shock. They knew he and Mystique had a falling out. They had hoped the revelation of Mystique's death would move him to at least show some compassion for his foster sister's sake. But all there was in his eyes were just a bitter hatred that none of them have seen before.
"Kurt, you don't mean that." Kristy Jo said.
"Ja, I do!" He replied angrily. "That woman cause enough heartache and pain for both me and Marie. I'm glad she's gone!"
"Elf, this isn't you." Logan reasoned. "What happened to 'Forgive trespassers and jaywalkers,' and 'you don't know me don't judge me'?" Kurt and Kristy Jo just looked at him. "Okay, so I don't read the Bible much. But you know what I'm talking about, Kurt." Kurt looked from Logan to Kristy Jo and sighed.
"All right," He said finally. "I guess I better check on Rogue. How is she?"
"She takin' it pretty tough; ain't doing to good." Kristy Jo said.
"She's in her room." Logan added. Kurt nodded and made his way to his sister's room, taking a moment to sink this all in. Mystique is dead? Kurt thought. My mother…my and Rogue's mother dead? It can't be. Kurt thought about the last time he and Raven talked. It was three years ago. He could barely remember what was said. All he remembered the last words that were spoken: I HATE YOU! I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN! Well, he got his wish. Approaching Rogue's room, Kurt knocked on the door softly before entering.
"Anna?" He ventured. "Are you in here?" He came in the room and saw his son, JT; next to Rogue with is arm around her. Dmitry was there too, sitting on the computer chair, silent. JT looked at his father when he entered the room, his green eyes shaded red and light blue face streaked wet. Kurt could tell he was crying and he wanted so much to cry with him.
"Johannes, Dmitry," he said softly. "Go to your rooms and let me talk to your Aunt Rogue." JT nodded and gave Rogue a quick hug before leaving. Dmitry followed suit. "I'm sorry, Nightcrawler." He said softly.
"Danke, Dmitry." Nightcrawler replied. JT looked at his dad for a long time. Although he was only sixteen, he was tall for his age and was able to look at Nightcrawler at eye level. JT sank his head to his father's chest, sobbing profusely. "Tell me it's not true, Daddy." He said between sobs. "Tell me it's not true!" Kurt put his arms around his son, calmly soothing him. He knew how close JT was to his grandmother. And it was breaking his heart.
"I'm sorry son," He said. "It's true. Your grandmother's not coming back this time." He broke the embrace and looked into JT's eyes. "I need you to be strong for your sister and cousins for me. Can you do that?" JT nodded slowly. "Good," Kurt smiled sadly and kissed JT on the forehead. "Now let me talk to your aunt." JT and Dmitry left, leaving Rogue and Nightcrawler alone. After a few moments, Kurt slowly walked by his sister's side and sat with her on the bed.
"Rogue?" He asked softly. "Are you all right?" Rogue said nothing but kept her face to the skies. Kurt was wondering if she was thinking about the right words to say. Finally, Anna Marie LeBeau tore her gaze away from the heavens and toward her blue elf-like foster brother. Kurt could see the pain in her green eyes. Her face streaked with tears. The joy that Kurt always sees in that Southern Belle wasn't there anymore.
"Mama's really gone, isn't she?" She asked weakly. Kurt nodded trying to hold back his tears. As much as he hated his mother at this point, what he hated even more was seeing his sister cry. Rogue rested her head against Kurt's shoulder, her gloved hands intertwining with his odd three-fingered ones.
"Ah can't believe it, Kurt." Rogue cried. "She just talked t' me three weeks ago." She lifted her head up to face Kurt. "How did she die?"
Kurt shrugged.
"Ya don't know?!"
"Logan said that information is classified."
"But we're her children, Kurt! We're her family, we're all she had! Why can't they tell us?!" Rogue buried her head to her knees, her shoulders shaking. Kurt lifted her up by the shoulders and held her, careful not to touch the bare flesh, rocking her gently.
"Shhh, calm down Liebchen. It is all right." He whispered softly to her. Rogue rested her head back on Kurt's shoulders as she felt his tail soothingly rub her back, making her relaxed.
"It just don't make sense," She said, sleepily. "Ah just wish she faked her death like the last 100 times."
Kurt chuckled softly at that expression. "But unfortunately, it's not one of those times." He told her. Rogue stayed silent. Kurt always had something to say about these things. Mostly funny, sometimes philosophical. But this time, he didn't have anything to say. Rogue understood because Kurt was mad at Raven for three years. But this couldn't just leave him speechless! Rogue felt tears coming down her eyes again and she broke down into uncontrollable sobs. Kurt continued to hold her, rocking her gently, and softly cooing her until Rogue finally fell asleep. Kurt stayed with her all the night, making sure she doesn't have any nightmares or crying fits. He looked at a picture by Rogue's bedside of the two of them. Mystique took that picture. They were in Coney Island. Before Kurt married Ororo and Rogue married Remy. Before the kids, before the move to San Francisco. They were so young and carefree back then. Kurt blinked hard to fight his tears. Life was so much simpler then. Then he heard some faint music coming from Dmitry's bedroom. After a brief check on Rogue, he searched the boy's room. Dmitry was fast asleep but his CD Player was playing a song that Kurt hardly recognized. The lyrics however, were so deep that Kurt couldn't help but cry.
How do I say goodbye to what we had? T
he good times that made us laugh
Outweigh the bad.
I thought we'd get to see forever
But forevers gone away
Its so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.**