Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, even though I would love
to… I'd keep Scott in my closet, Kurt in my bed and Pietro in the shower…
Anyhoo, all of them are property of the hairy little gnomes at Marvel.
One quick little note, this is a Prelude and the story line and events are to have taken place before the Hex Factor, and after Shadow Dance. Thank you.
***
Shadows swarmed around her eyes, dark patterns that reached out to her with long tendrils of unconscious oblivion. Distant voices sang to her, calling for her to join them further in the darkness, promising forgotten stories and new sensations.
"Come here, sit with me for a while…"
Memories flooded her mind, drenching her with the thick scent of shame and secrets; she tried to run, to flee from the images of the past that seemed to burn holes in her soul every time she closed her eyes and remembered…. Remembered that she was nothing, and that the only person who cared about her cared too much for her, and in all the wrong ways. Yet she couldn't leave, couldn't save herself…
She could only bring herself further into hell.
Left Behind
A Prelude, part 1
By starched _undergarments
"Don't touch her!"
Charles Xavier awoke from his dream with a start; his eyes flew open wildly and he clutched at his racing heart. Almost immediately there was a soft knock on his door and the voice of Ororo spoke calmly through the heavy oak.
"Charles, are you alright?"
Struggling to steady himself he took a deep breath and then spoke, "Yes Storm. It seems that I've just had a bit of a nightmare. It's nothing serious. Go back to bed."
He listened to her footsteps as they disappeared down the hallway, then eased himself up into a sitting position and closed his eyes.
"It seemed all too real to be just a dream," he thought to himself; concentrating on the images that had flashed through his mind. They were already fading.
"Blue," he mused to his dark room, "She had the bluest eyes…so full of fear and pain. My dear child, are you real? Where are you?"
Only the room's empty silence answered him.
***
Morning came quickly, and as always the breakfast table was full of noise and conversation. Professor Xavier sat at the head of the table watching his students laugh and argue good-naturedly amongst themselves. A smile touched his lips; they were all such good kids at heart. Granted each had their problems, but what youth didn't?
"…and then he was all like, 'don't you think that's totally…'"
"…couldn't understand a word he was saying…"
"…Ah still don't know why she's so…"
Their faces were all so happy, content to be where they were: in a place where they knew they were normal and accepted.
A sudden wave of sadness and the sense of loss overtook Charles' heart. His mind reeled and his soul stung with regret. He took firm hold of the wheelchair's arms and tried to focus, closing his eyes as he felt hot tears slide down his cheek.
"Professor?"
Scott was beside him, touching his shoulder. He could sense the boy's overwhelming sense of concern. He was scared. Charles opened his eyes and looked up into the image of himself in the young boy's glasses.
"Scott…"
"What's wrong? Professor?"
"I…I'm all right Scott." He looked up to see the entire table staring at him in concern; Kurt had a sausage poking out of the corner of his mouth. The Professor laughed and wiped away the tears. "I'm sorry to scare you all. I must have let my mind wander onto less than pleasant things. Forgive me."
Jean looked into his eyes, "No need to apologize sir. Are you alright, though?"
Charles nodded and smiled warmly at his students, "I'm sure, and thank you for all of your concern, but I'm fine, really. Now, Kurt, you may want to put that poor little sausage out of its misery by putting the rest in your mouth."
The kids laughed as Kurt gulped the last half down, teasing him about his cruelty to breakfast foods.
Charles glanced at Logan from across the table. His old friend had one eyebrow raised; his eyes said that he knew something was up, but he remained quiet. That was one thing that Charles valued about Logan, his ability to retreat when the topic was still tender, like an open wound… one still fresh, the blood pumping swiftly across the soft skin.
***
*Flick*
"Ow, quit it."
*Flick*
"Ow, quit it."
Todd Tolansky chuckled as he flicked another piece of eraser at the back of Kitty's neck; it bounced off hard and landed on the floor of the Biology lab.
He was about to reach for another piece when she whirled around, her eyes narrowed. "Listen, frog boy, if you don't like, stop it, I'm going to totally stick that Bunsen-burner where the sun doesn't shine!"
Lance, his lab partner, laughed and assured her that there would be no more eraser bits. When she had turned back around Lance punched him in the shoulder.
"Ow, what was that for?"
"For being a dumb-ass, dumb-ass!"
"What? I'm just foolin' 'round with her!"
"Yeah, well knock it off."
Todd muttered under his breath and pouted, his game having been ruined. To distract his attention from class he watched the leaves blow softly in the breeze outside.
"Ughhhhhhhhhhhh…" he moaned as his head slowly dropped towards the desk.
*Thud.*
***
The room was quiet and still. Xavier sat near a large window, his eyes searching for some sort of an answer in the blue sky.
Storm paused before going over to him. He seemed so troubled, so lost; it wasn't like him at all.
"Charles?" She said softly and touched his shoulder; he turned and looked up to meet her gaze. His eyes were wet and seemed to ache with torment.
"I think we should talk," he said quietly, she nodded and pulled up a chair next to him.
*Logan you can stop eavesdropping and come in…*
Wolverine came in almost sheepishly. He too sat down next to the Professor who smiled at him and took a deep breath, then began.
"Last night I had a dream, although I know now that it was more or less a vision; while I was asleep last night I must have seen into the mind of someone who is in great distress. I could feel her pain, her sorrow…"
Ororo took Charles' hand in hers and felt it tremble. She looked at Logan anxiously as the Professor tried to gather himself.
"As you can see this is having a greater effect on me than I would have thought. It's just that…she's so lost and confused and I believe that if we don't find her soon something horrible will happen to her."
Logan nodded and tried to assess the situation logically. "Did you see what she looked like? A name? Maybe Cerebro can do a scan."
The Professor shook his head, "I didn't hear her name, and the only thing that I can remember about her is that her eyes were blue…like the color of the sky…" He looked out the window, his eyes clouded with thought.
*Please….please stay safe my child…until we can find you…*
***
"Heads up!!"
Rogue looked up in time to see a clump of mashed potatoes go flying over her head. She ducked and tried to continue reading.
*Splat!*
"That's it Daniels, you're dead!"
"Oh, what are you gonna do, Maximoff?"
"Would the two of you knock if off?" Jean scolded; both boys ignored her and continued to hurl insults and challenges at one another.
It was lunchtime and as usual the Brotherhood was sitting nearby, so like always some trouble resulted. Rogue shook her head and slouched down further, trying to become reabsorbed in her book.
That was hard to do however, with Kurt and Evan chucking dinner rolls and peas at Pietro and Lance while Jean scolded them both and tried to get them under control. Even Kitty wasn't helping.
Rogue looked around; usually Scott would put a stop to things, being team leader and all; yet he was nowhere to be seen.
*That's odd…* She thought to herself and looked around the cafeteria, checking to see if he was maybe sitting with Paul, which he wasn't. *Ah wonder where he's at…*
Carefully getting up, so as to not get hit with either table's food torpedoes, Rogue made her way out of the cafeteria and towards Scott's locker.
Sure enough he was there, various sheets and books spread out in front of him, his head stooped low in a studious manor.
"Hey." She said and smiled when he looked up, surprised. He smiled back and moved some of his books and motioned for her to sit.
"Hey, what's up? Not eating with the others or something?"
She shrugged and slid down next to him, "Ah was trying to read but that's hard to do with a food fight going on above yo' head."
He looked towards the cafeteria. "Aw, not again." He started to stand but stopped when Rogue put a hand on his shoulder.
"Now don't go a runnin'. Ah'm sure Jean can handle it. 'Sides, don't you have to finish this?" She gestured at the papers.
"Yeah, I was up late and forgot about this English paper that's due last block. Stupid, huh?"
Rogue shook her head and smiled at him. "Naw, even X-geeks slip up every once in a while."
He laughed, "Well okay then. Are you gonna watch me while I rush to finish this or…?"
"Is it okay if Ah just sit here and read?"
"Sure," he smiled at her again and then proceeded to write furiously. Rogue watched for a moment and then opened her book up and began to read, a soft smile on her dark lips.
***
The room was completely dark, save the cracks of light that seeped through the heavy blinds; she sat with her back to the window, shoulders hunched, head stooped low.
She could hear him downstairs; his heavy footsteps, the sounds of him swearing and breaking anything that got in his way. She curled her legs further up to her chest. He was angry with her; she had done something wrong, something that she would be punished for.
She closed her eyes and cried softly, feeling dread and fear snake its way up into her heart. Yet worst of all she felt defeat; all her hopes and wishes that some prince on a white horse had died long ago.
No one was going to save her.
The door opened roughly and his shadow crept in. It passed over her form and she heard his harsh breathing.
"Come here, sit with me for a while…"
***
end Prelude part 1
One quick little note, this is a Prelude and the story line and events are to have taken place before the Hex Factor, and after Shadow Dance. Thank you.
***
Shadows swarmed around her eyes, dark patterns that reached out to her with long tendrils of unconscious oblivion. Distant voices sang to her, calling for her to join them further in the darkness, promising forgotten stories and new sensations.
"Come here, sit with me for a while…"
Memories flooded her mind, drenching her with the thick scent of shame and secrets; she tried to run, to flee from the images of the past that seemed to burn holes in her soul every time she closed her eyes and remembered…. Remembered that she was nothing, and that the only person who cared about her cared too much for her, and in all the wrong ways. Yet she couldn't leave, couldn't save herself…
She could only bring herself further into hell.
Left Behind
A Prelude, part 1
By starched _undergarments
"Don't touch her!"
Charles Xavier awoke from his dream with a start; his eyes flew open wildly and he clutched at his racing heart. Almost immediately there was a soft knock on his door and the voice of Ororo spoke calmly through the heavy oak.
"Charles, are you alright?"
Struggling to steady himself he took a deep breath and then spoke, "Yes Storm. It seems that I've just had a bit of a nightmare. It's nothing serious. Go back to bed."
He listened to her footsteps as they disappeared down the hallway, then eased himself up into a sitting position and closed his eyes.
"It seemed all too real to be just a dream," he thought to himself; concentrating on the images that had flashed through his mind. They were already fading.
"Blue," he mused to his dark room, "She had the bluest eyes…so full of fear and pain. My dear child, are you real? Where are you?"
Only the room's empty silence answered him.
***
Morning came quickly, and as always the breakfast table was full of noise and conversation. Professor Xavier sat at the head of the table watching his students laugh and argue good-naturedly amongst themselves. A smile touched his lips; they were all such good kids at heart. Granted each had their problems, but what youth didn't?
"…and then he was all like, 'don't you think that's totally…'"
"…couldn't understand a word he was saying…"
"…Ah still don't know why she's so…"
Their faces were all so happy, content to be where they were: in a place where they knew they were normal and accepted.
A sudden wave of sadness and the sense of loss overtook Charles' heart. His mind reeled and his soul stung with regret. He took firm hold of the wheelchair's arms and tried to focus, closing his eyes as he felt hot tears slide down his cheek.
"Professor?"
Scott was beside him, touching his shoulder. He could sense the boy's overwhelming sense of concern. He was scared. Charles opened his eyes and looked up into the image of himself in the young boy's glasses.
"Scott…"
"What's wrong? Professor?"
"I…I'm all right Scott." He looked up to see the entire table staring at him in concern; Kurt had a sausage poking out of the corner of his mouth. The Professor laughed and wiped away the tears. "I'm sorry to scare you all. I must have let my mind wander onto less than pleasant things. Forgive me."
Jean looked into his eyes, "No need to apologize sir. Are you alright, though?"
Charles nodded and smiled warmly at his students, "I'm sure, and thank you for all of your concern, but I'm fine, really. Now, Kurt, you may want to put that poor little sausage out of its misery by putting the rest in your mouth."
The kids laughed as Kurt gulped the last half down, teasing him about his cruelty to breakfast foods.
Charles glanced at Logan from across the table. His old friend had one eyebrow raised; his eyes said that he knew something was up, but he remained quiet. That was one thing that Charles valued about Logan, his ability to retreat when the topic was still tender, like an open wound… one still fresh, the blood pumping swiftly across the soft skin.
***
*Flick*
"Ow, quit it."
*Flick*
"Ow, quit it."
Todd Tolansky chuckled as he flicked another piece of eraser at the back of Kitty's neck; it bounced off hard and landed on the floor of the Biology lab.
He was about to reach for another piece when she whirled around, her eyes narrowed. "Listen, frog boy, if you don't like, stop it, I'm going to totally stick that Bunsen-burner where the sun doesn't shine!"
Lance, his lab partner, laughed and assured her that there would be no more eraser bits. When she had turned back around Lance punched him in the shoulder.
"Ow, what was that for?"
"For being a dumb-ass, dumb-ass!"
"What? I'm just foolin' 'round with her!"
"Yeah, well knock it off."
Todd muttered under his breath and pouted, his game having been ruined. To distract his attention from class he watched the leaves blow softly in the breeze outside.
"Ughhhhhhhhhhhh…" he moaned as his head slowly dropped towards the desk.
*Thud.*
***
The room was quiet and still. Xavier sat near a large window, his eyes searching for some sort of an answer in the blue sky.
Storm paused before going over to him. He seemed so troubled, so lost; it wasn't like him at all.
"Charles?" She said softly and touched his shoulder; he turned and looked up to meet her gaze. His eyes were wet and seemed to ache with torment.
"I think we should talk," he said quietly, she nodded and pulled up a chair next to him.
*Logan you can stop eavesdropping and come in…*
Wolverine came in almost sheepishly. He too sat down next to the Professor who smiled at him and took a deep breath, then began.
"Last night I had a dream, although I know now that it was more or less a vision; while I was asleep last night I must have seen into the mind of someone who is in great distress. I could feel her pain, her sorrow…"
Ororo took Charles' hand in hers and felt it tremble. She looked at Logan anxiously as the Professor tried to gather himself.
"As you can see this is having a greater effect on me than I would have thought. It's just that…she's so lost and confused and I believe that if we don't find her soon something horrible will happen to her."
Logan nodded and tried to assess the situation logically. "Did you see what she looked like? A name? Maybe Cerebro can do a scan."
The Professor shook his head, "I didn't hear her name, and the only thing that I can remember about her is that her eyes were blue…like the color of the sky…" He looked out the window, his eyes clouded with thought.
*Please….please stay safe my child…until we can find you…*
***
"Heads up!!"
Rogue looked up in time to see a clump of mashed potatoes go flying over her head. She ducked and tried to continue reading.
*Splat!*
"That's it Daniels, you're dead!"
"Oh, what are you gonna do, Maximoff?"
"Would the two of you knock if off?" Jean scolded; both boys ignored her and continued to hurl insults and challenges at one another.
It was lunchtime and as usual the Brotherhood was sitting nearby, so like always some trouble resulted. Rogue shook her head and slouched down further, trying to become reabsorbed in her book.
That was hard to do however, with Kurt and Evan chucking dinner rolls and peas at Pietro and Lance while Jean scolded them both and tried to get them under control. Even Kitty wasn't helping.
Rogue looked around; usually Scott would put a stop to things, being team leader and all; yet he was nowhere to be seen.
*That's odd…* She thought to herself and looked around the cafeteria, checking to see if he was maybe sitting with Paul, which he wasn't. *Ah wonder where he's at…*
Carefully getting up, so as to not get hit with either table's food torpedoes, Rogue made her way out of the cafeteria and towards Scott's locker.
Sure enough he was there, various sheets and books spread out in front of him, his head stooped low in a studious manor.
"Hey." She said and smiled when he looked up, surprised. He smiled back and moved some of his books and motioned for her to sit.
"Hey, what's up? Not eating with the others or something?"
She shrugged and slid down next to him, "Ah was trying to read but that's hard to do with a food fight going on above yo' head."
He looked towards the cafeteria. "Aw, not again." He started to stand but stopped when Rogue put a hand on his shoulder.
"Now don't go a runnin'. Ah'm sure Jean can handle it. 'Sides, don't you have to finish this?" She gestured at the papers.
"Yeah, I was up late and forgot about this English paper that's due last block. Stupid, huh?"
Rogue shook her head and smiled at him. "Naw, even X-geeks slip up every once in a while."
He laughed, "Well okay then. Are you gonna watch me while I rush to finish this or…?"
"Is it okay if Ah just sit here and read?"
"Sure," he smiled at her again and then proceeded to write furiously. Rogue watched for a moment and then opened her book up and began to read, a soft smile on her dark lips.
***
The room was completely dark, save the cracks of light that seeped through the heavy blinds; she sat with her back to the window, shoulders hunched, head stooped low.
She could hear him downstairs; his heavy footsteps, the sounds of him swearing and breaking anything that got in his way. She curled her legs further up to her chest. He was angry with her; she had done something wrong, something that she would be punished for.
She closed her eyes and cried softly, feeling dread and fear snake its way up into her heart. Yet worst of all she felt defeat; all her hopes and wishes that some prince on a white horse had died long ago.
No one was going to save her.
The door opened roughly and his shadow crept in. It passed over her form and she heard his harsh breathing.
"Come here, sit with me for a while…"
***
end Prelude part 1
