In this chapter Italics work for both Italian and voices inside the head. I'm sure you'll be able to tell them apart.
All my loving cupcakes to Maid of the Mer and Synch 14, the only people who are currently reviewing my story.
The Seventh Chapter is Called: What is Normal?
Brooklyn O'Connor could never be considered one who valued her privacy. Almost everything she had done since coming to Xavier's mansion was always in public areas, apart from her daily showers, or trips to the lavatory…a room she affectionately called her secret lab, for the sake of romance. But as she was sitting in Professor Xavier's office the morning after her 'interaction' with Logan, she was as closed up as she could be without destroying her energetic personality.
"Brooklyn, I realized that it is difficulty for you, having no memory of your past," Xavier began, looking at her from over his desk.
"You're darn right it's difficult, it makes me feel ever so faint," said Brooky, dramatically putting the back of her hand to her forehead.
"…and you only had to ask to see the files and I would have shown them to you," continued Xavier.
"Thank you, Professor. I was aware that I was allowed access, but I didn't feel like waking you up at 3am to ask. I also didn't feel like fighting Logan…if I wanted to do that I would have sought him out during the day." Professor Xavier sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Brooklyn I really wish you wouldn't stir Logan up."
"Oh come on, the kiss wasn't that great," said Brooky, rolling her eyes. Although he was trying to remain serious, Professor Xavier couldn't contain the smile that was creeping onto his face. When recounting the tale, Logan has said that she had escaped, failing to tell what exactly the artful woman had done to getaway. Brooky smiled and visibly relaxed when she saw the professor smile at her joke.
"If you really want to know more about your past, perhaps I could read your mind and search for something helpful," suggested the Professor. With that those words, the effects on Brooky were immediate. Her face became complete serious (something no one at the school had ever witnessed before) and she gripped the arms of her chair tightly, as if she were about to run away at any moment.
"We already discussed this when I arrived here," said Brooky, her usually musical voice turning cold. "You promised me my privacy. I don't like the thought of someone messing with my head."
"I will never break a promise, Brooklyn. You're thoughts are safe," said Xavier, noting the woman's strange behaviour. Just as quickly as it came, Brooky's storm quickly passed, and her face became jovial again.
"Thanks!" Brooky blew Professor Xavier a kiss and her body suddenly became ghostly and disappeared. When she had left, Xavier leaned back in his wheelchair and massaged his temples with his hands.
"What goes on in your head, Brooklyn O'Connor?"
Rogue sat on one of the mansions many window ledges, her legs dangling loosely over the ground two stories below. She wasn't afraid of falling, she could fly after all. Currently she was struggling at keeping all the voices out of her head.
Rogue found it very difficult to stay true to herself, being weighed down by so many different personalities. That's why she had embarrassed herself, the other night when talking with Brooky. Brooklyn had always acted and said whatever she wanted, not being controlled by all the things people said to her.
What the ghost mutant has said last night had stayed in Rogue's mind. Why did she hang around Xavier's school? She has graduated and there was really no point in sticking around.
"You never fit in anyway," said Pyro, muttering inside her head.
"Even amoung mutants you aren't exactly normal, my dear," agreed Magneto.
"Shut up," Rogue hissed through clenched teeth.
"We're only telling you the truth, child," said Magneto. Rogue was convinced that if he was standing in front of her, the old fart would have patted her on the head.
"I get to choose what to do with my life, now shut up."
Bobby sat at the kitchen table writing a letter to his younger brother. He had really enjoyed the last letter he had received, especially the personalized note from the new mutant at the mansion. He had a feeling that Marina would get along very well this Brooky.
Bobby glanced up at Toad who was also sitting at the large table, typing something into his lap top computer. He wasn't sure how, but Toad managed to get their house an Internet connection, even though the tiny village wasn't able to do so.
Bobby decided that it would be best not to question Toad, after all, the green man was a criminal, who knew what he was capable of. Marina cruised into the room with a basket under her arm, filled with the wet laundry of all three house occupants.
"Tony, I need to go pick up a few things for dinner. Be a love and hang out our laundry," she said, dropped the basket onto the tiled floor. Toad simply grunted, glancing at his girlfriend from the corner of his eye. "Coming with me, Bobby-Grey?"
"No, I think I will stay here and finish writing this," said Bobby, motioning down at his letter. "I'll be down later to mail it. If you see Enzo, tell him I'll find him when I head down." Marina nodded and kissed her son on the head before leaving the house.
She headed down to the village, taking her time to stop and talk to the villagers and practicing her Italian. She had the advantage of being in the country longer than her son, and could speak the language quite well. It also helped that she had received some Italian lessons in her younger years.
"Ciao my dear, how are you today?" Said an elderly woman, who was sitting outside on a lawn chair, waving herself with a fan made out of a folded piece of paper.
"Ciao Mrs. Sorrentino, I am wonderful, and you?"
"Perfectly alright, my dear. Where is your lover this morning….the grumpy one." Marina laughed at the elder woman's description.
"I was not aware I had more than one…but as for my lover hopefully he is doing the laundry like I asked."
"Good for you," said Mrs. Sorrentino, grabbing Marina's hand. " Always show your man who the real boss is, that's what I always say."
"Well I am sure you are right," said Marina, with a large grin on her face. "But now I must continue on my way. Enjoy you're day, Mrs. Sorrentino." Marina waved good buy to the jolly old woman and continued on to by the ingredients she needed for the evening meal.
"I'm home!" Marina bellowed, when she returned from her shopping. On her way to the kitchen she found Toad in the lounge, reading a paper but wasn't sure where Bobby was.
When Marina entered the kitchen her eyes immediately fell to the basket of laundry that still sat on the floor. She slowly closed her eyes and counted to ten before walking back to the living room and leaning in the doorframe.
"Tony," she said, her voice high and sweet.
"Yeah luv?" he asked, not looking up from his paper.
"I don't suppose you can recall what I asked you to do over an hour ago?" Marina said, her fists clenched, but her face remaining calm. Toad had never really done much of what she asked and it was beginning to get to a point where she could no longer handle it. Toad looked over the paper, a puzzled look on his features.
"Nah, can't recall."
"The washing! The washing, Tony!" shouted Marina, flinging her hands in the air. Toad's face donned recognition and he winced as Marina shot him a death glare.
He slunk down in his chair and covered his face with the paper he had been reading. Marina made a noise that almost sounded like a growl and walked forward and ripped the paper from his hand and throwing it across the room.
"This is what I can't stand about you, Tony! You can't commit to anything, not even hanging out the washing!"
"Oh come off it, 'Rina! Of course I can't commit, neither can you, that's why we're together!" snapped Toad, jumping to his feet and glaring at his girlfriend.
"What kind of excuse is that! Your nothing but a….but a dirty fornicator!" Marina shrieked, pointing an accusing finger at her lover.
"Me? Me a dirt….I might remind you, LUV, it was you who came after me, it was you who wanted to have this relationship."
If it was possible for Marina's glare to get more lethal, with that sentence she could have murdered half the population of the world.
"That's it, Tony!" Marina stormed up the stairs and ran into her bedroom and started banging around.
"What the 'ell?" asked Toad, running up the stairs. He tried to get into the room but the door was locked. He began pounding his fists on the door, demanding that it be opened immediately. Hearing the loud noise, Bobby came out of his room and leaned on his bedroom door as he watched the show continued. Toad turned and glared at Bobby who had an amused look on his face.
"What?" snapped Toad.
"Nothing," said Bobby, shrugging his shoulders. "Enzo owes my some money."
"Money?" asked Toad, a puzzled look on his face.
"Yeah, I won the bet," said Bobby, smiling slyly again.
"Bet?" Bobby winked at Toad and opened his mouth to speak, but the master bedroom door flew open and Marina stormed out her arms full of clothing.
She stomped into the second spare bedroom and flung her clothing on the bed before storming back to the master bedroom and grabbing more of her personal items before heading back into the spare room again.
"Marina! What the 'ell are ya doing?" snapped Toad, running in after her.
"What does it look like? I'm moving into the second bedroom." Toad opened his mouth to object, but she slammed the door of her new bedroom in his face. Toad swore loudly and clutched his head, rubbing the spot where the door had hit him. Still swearing he walked into his own bedroom and slammed his own door, wishing that Marina's face was up against it as he did.
Logan had been very wary of Brooky since their little adventure in Xavier's office a few nights earlier. He hated it when people got the better of him, and Brooklyn O'Connor seemed to be specially gifted in that area.
Brooky wasn't lacking in intelligence and she also was careful around Logan, realizing that he could snap at any moment. At dinner in the evening she always made sure she was at the opposite end of the table; just in case. It was at dinner that Rogue decided to announce her decision to the rest of the mutants.
"I've been doing a lot of thinking," she began, slowly playing with her potatoes on her plate.
"That's definitely not good for you," commented Jubilee, a cheeky grin on her face. Kitty who was sitting beside her leaned forward and smacked her friend on the head and gave her a look that told her to shut up.
"As I was saying," said Rogue, shooting a glare at Jubilee. " I was thinking that it might be good for me to get out. Like I was thinking of going to the university in the city instead of hiding out here."
"You are not hiding out," said Scott. "You could always do your work by correspondence."
"But I do feel like I'm hiding, and if it isn't true I still need to get away to learn that on my own." Scott opened his mouth to argue again but Rogue held up her hand to silence him. "Nothing any of you say can stop me. I've already been accepted and I've gotten a job."
The entire table was silent and Rogue shifted uncomfortably in her chair, wishing someone would say something. Rogue had been at the school for a few years and no one could imagine what it would be like without her. She was one of the older kids, one of the x-men!
"That's great!" exclaimed Brooky, making a few of the people at the table jump. " I was thinking of moving out into the city as well, you can stay with me if you want. We could split rent, make the yummiest meals, and have weedles in the night!"
"Weedles in the night?" asked Ronny, a confused look on his face. "What's that?"
"Nothing you'll ever know about," said Brooky, sticking her tongue out at him. "So what do you think, Rogue?"
Rogue looked thoughtful as she absent mindedly stoked one of her white pieces of hair. She looked up and met Brooky's eyes, a smile creeping onto her face.
"I'd like that."
When Rogue was heading to her room that evening she was stopped in the hall by Ronny, who had an angry look on his face. He put a hand on her arm to stop her, but she through his arm off and turned to face him.
"Waddya want, Buzzer." Ronny looked down at his feet and mumbled something while blushing. "Speak up."
"I want to know why you are leaving," he said, his face going slightly pink.
"Like you care," snapped Rogue, turning to leave again. Once again Ronny grabbed her arm to stop her.
"I do care. You're one of the first mutants I ever met! That Pyro kid is gone, Bobby is gone, your leaving, and I've been told that Logan could run off at any minute. I want to know why you want to leave."
Rogue stared into Ronny's brown eyes with her own dark ones. All the voices in her head were trying to talk at once, giving her advice on how to deal with the situation. Usually she was harsh with her x's brother but what he said made her think things over.
"Every mutant had problems, even those who have had their gifts the longest. I just need time to find out where I belong," explained Rogue, when she saw Ronny's somewhat pained expression she sighed and thumped him softly on his shoulder. "Look, I'm just staying in the city. When ever you feel like being beat, you know where to find me." Ronny smiled at her teasing and nodded his head.
Rogue had never been that nice to him and she was still trying to keep her image that way. He nodded his head again before heading back to his own rooms to work on his homework. When he got their Brooky was out side his door, singing a jingly song in an opera voice.
"Hey Buzz, miss me?" she asked, getting on her feet.
"You haven't even left yet," commented Bobby opening his door and moving in, Brooky following closely on his heels. She jumped up and landed on his bed, making the springs squeak painfully.
She did that every time she came into his room, and Ronny was convinced that one day his bed would break when she did that…and he hoped he was there to witness it.
"So sergeant pepper, go any letters from your delightful brother?"
"I only mailed my letter yesterday," said Ronny, pulling out his math homework.
"Well, no harm asking. Can I read the letters?" she asked, hopping up on her knees, causing Ronny to groan. She always asked him that and up till than he had immediately said no. His letters were personal.
Today, however, he couldn't really careless if she read his letters. He found his entire brothers letter and handed them to Brooky who immediately flopped down and began to read them by order of the date. They stayed that way for awhile, Brooky reading Bobby's letters and Ronny working through his homework. Their peace was broken when their was a knock on the door and Orroro came into the room.
"I'm glad to see you are working, Ronny," said Storm, in her soft voice. " Brooklyn, the professor would like to talk to you in his office."
"What about?"
"I'm not able to say. You should just go and find out," Storm smiled softly at the two occupants and excited. Brooky groaned and rolled onto her back, stretching her body out like a cat. Finally she glanced at Ronny who had been watching her,
"Waddya think, Buzz, should I go see him?"
"I think it would be best," said Ronny, turning back to his work. Brooky moaned again but climbed off the bed. Her body went ghost transparent before disappearing altogether.
A few moments later her body appeared again outside the Professor's office door. Brooky never appeared right into his office, she was convinced that Storm and Xavier were having a love affair and she didn't want to ghost in and catch them doing anything. She knocked softly on the door before walking in.
"Good evening, my professor dawg," said Brooky, making the 'west side' with her fingers. She glanced around the room and saw that Orroro was indeed in the room but Logan, Scott, and Doctor McCoy were also present.
"Good evening, Brooklyn. Will you take a seat?" Brooky smiled sweetly at the Professor and sat gracefully into the empty chair in the room. She crossed her legs at the ankles, and folded her hands into the lap of her red sundress.
"Brooklyn, we would like to address a matter that has concerned us," began Professor Xavier, wheeling his chair around the desk so that he was closer to Brooky. "A few weeks back you received a package in the mail, the next evening Logan discovered that you had burnt this package. I'm sure you had your reasons, but we can't help but be suspicious, as behaviour like this isn't normal." Brooky swallowed and glanced around the room at all the serious faces that were looking at her. She lost a bit of her composure as she slid down in her seat.
"What is normal sir? It all depends what someone is used to. For example, if ever night Logan and Scotty got into little green tights like Robin Hood and danced on table tops like a bar maids, people would get used to it so it was normal…a disgusting image, but still normal." Brooky paused her speech as Storm and McCoy tried to hold back their laughter as the men in question glared daggers at her. "So if I feel the sudden urge to burn my personal belongings, you can't really label it as not normal, can you?"
"I apologize, Brooklyn. I-"
"Forgiven," interrupted Brooky, once again taking her elegant pose.
"I realize that for you burning things might be normal, but in my school we must take precautions. We need to know what was in that package," said Xavier, trying to show her how serious the whole matter was. Brooky dramatically widened her eyes and made a face at Professor Xavier.
"Well if you really must know…you nosey parker you…it was my new social insurance number so I can get a job. I burnt it because I didn't want anyone to steal it and pretend to be me and get all my money." Across the room Scott snorted and possibly rolled his eyes, but his red glasses hid it very masterfully. Beside him Logan muttered something that sounded like 'figures'.
"I see, thank you for telling us."
"Oh I had a good time of it. Let us gather together and accuse me of suspicious deeds again soon!" Brooky jumped up on the coffee table and begun to spin around, her body disappearing. Silence filled the room for a few minutes after the woman left the room so dramatically. Finally it was Logan who spoke up.
"I don't know about you guys, but I wont miss her when she leaves."
Thats all for now! If anyone is reading and not reviewing, i would apreaciate if you started reviewing. I feel so much better about myself when i think people like reviewing my work.
Ta.
Leh Sun
