Alright, my lovelies! Another chapter of Blood Ties and, as always, I value your reviews and encouragement. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten any closer to owning X-men…god-damn, but that Stan Lee has a tight grip! Enjoy!
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Bianca tugged on the sleeves of her X-men uniform and grimaced, wondering if the get-up was really necessary. It was efficient and functional but so…cliché. Really, a Vampire in skin-tight, black leather? She felt like a cheap Hollywood stereotype. Even so, she'd strapped her unruly hair into a tight bun, with curls escaping to frame her face, and let it go.
The jet was an impressive piece of machinery, but the privacy was limited. The flight was smooth sailing, so being buckled-in wasn't necessary and she'd gone to a secluded alcove at the back of the cabin to center herself. The weight of the mission had settled on her, but she couldn't detach like she normally did. Usually, she lost her sense of self during a mission; she abandoned feelings that connected her to her remaining shreds of humanity in order to become a ruthless, but necessary, evil. But that wasn't an option now. Marie was here and so was Logan; love was at the center of this mission. She could only hope it would strengthen her resolve, rather than distract her focus.
"Bianca?" came a timid voice.
The Vampire snapped out of her contemplations and saw Marie looming over her. Bianca scooted over on the hard, metal bench and patted the seat.
"I know now might not be the best time," Rogue started, taking the offered seat. "But I need to know. I need to know what you know, because ever since you came to the mansion I've been feelin' like…there's a part of me missin' and you're the only one who can give it back to me. No more 'I'm sorrys', no more dodges. Who are you? Who are you to me?"
"By now you know what I am, yes?"
Rogue nodded jerkily. "You're a…a Vampire."
"If you can accept that, then I suppose you are ready to know. You're the child of my children, the last of my line." At Rogues disbelieving, uncomprehending expression, Bianca blew out a heavy sigh and jumped into her story. "It was back in 1342. I was 19 and I lived in a little village outside Palermo. I was at ease in my life as a wife and mother, but Anatolie gave me another life. One where I wasn't an extension of my husband, but a being with unimaginable abilities and advantages…the most precious of which was time. But I didn't sever the ties between mortal life and Second Life. I continued to raise my children. As they matured and had children of their own, I did all I could to keep them safe. My oldest was Giovanni, but his legacy ended two hundred years ago. The progeny of my youngest, Nino, lasted barely a century after my Turning. But my daughter's line continues…in you. And, as fate would have it, her name was Maria."
"I don't believe in fate." Rogue muttered absentmindedly, still trying to process everything…the legacy she came from, Bianca's nature, and their connection.
Bianca laughed, emotion making her voice thick. "Oh, it is so real, Marie. Fate's hand has been on your back since the beginning, guiding you where you were meant to go. Think about it, amore. What are the chances, the astronomical odds, that the only two people I love in this world would find each other? That the man I once considered a son would look after the girl I love as a daughter and become each other's family when neither had one? That," Bianca stopped, her throat tightening. She choked out her words in a rush of self-hatred. "That he would protect you when I didn't."
"Logan always protects me." Rogue frowned. "I just wish he didn't feel so obligated, like I'm a little girl who can't take care of myself."
"It's not obligation, but love and protectiveness." Bianca corrected gently. "And you'd better get used to it, my love, because you have at least three people willing to die for you on this mission."
At Rogue's confused look, Bianca explained. "You already know Logan would do anything to protect you and now you know the same is true for me. But the Cajun…his sacrifice might be greater than ours, because he only has one lifetime to live and he'd be willing to give it for you."
"Remy?" Rogue sputtered.
In a rare show of playfulness, Bianca bumped her shoulder against Rogue's and smiled teasingly. "Surely, you've noticed. Why do you deny him when I've heard your heart beat as strongly for him as his beats for you?"
"Because nothin' can ever happen, okay?" Rogue hissed, anger seeping into every word. "Do you really think I can last with anyone, let alone a passionate, physical guy like Remy, when I can't even touch him? No! We'd both be stuck: me, with a man I love, but who is bound to leave me. And him with an untouchable freak he feels weighed down by."
"But you do love him." Bianca wasn't asking.
"First him and now you." Rogue murmured tiredly. "Just leave it alone. This is the way things are and they can't change."
"You have absolutely no control?"
"None." Rogue sighed. "I can't control the voices in my head, I can't control my skin and I can't touch…ever."
"In case you've forgotten already, that's not entirely true." Bianca smiled softly. She stood up and unzipped her leather jumpsuit, from collar to hip. She stripped off the top half of the uniform and tied the arms around her waist, leaving her in a black camisole. She pulled Rogue up with her, unzipping her suit as well and leaving the girl in a red tank-top "I can't imagine what it has been like for you, beloved, being denied even the simplest physical contact. It's the most ancient bonding of human beings, to touch each other in friendship, comfort or love. A mother cradling her child, a friend hugging another, and lovers holding hands: all of it creates a connection that cannot be formed any other way."
Rogue face was a mask of pain and she started to cry quietly. Bianca wrapped her cool, olive-toned arms around Marie and felt droplets of water fall onto her bare shoulder. Even as she wept, Rogue couldn't help running her fingers along Bianca's smooth skin. There was nothing even remotely sexual about it, but it was deeply intimate, like a young child burying its face in the crook of their mother's neck; Rogue could feel the bond Bianca spoke of growing inside her skin and soul, connecting her to the woman holding her tenderly. Eventually, her tears subsided in favor of fascination at their skin-on-skin contact. Rogue varied her touch, from barely skimming her fingertips over Bianca's skin to laying her palms flat and dragging them up her arms. She marveled in the different sensations and the long-forgotten feeling of another. Bianca touched Rogue as well, letting the younger woman know she wasn't alone in this moment. She swiped the pad of her thumb over Rogue's wet cheeks and traced the contours of her face. Rogue watched her own fingers while Bianca watched her.
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Connor and Logan looked up from pictures of the compound only to find that Remy wasn't in his seat anymore. Whipping around, they saw him near the back of the jet, frozen in place and staring at something out of sight. The two intimidating men marched toward the Cajun, intent on reminding him what an important assignment this was, when they finally caught sight of what held Remy's rapt attention. Bianca and Rogue were in a gentle embrace, caressing each other softly.
"Jaysus, Mary'n Joseph." Connor choked in Irish rhythm, crossing himself and standing frozen next to the other two men.
"Damn." Logan breathed, transfixed
"Yeah." Remy agreed vaguely, his unblinking eyes the size of golf-balls.
"Bugger off, guys." Bianca said dismissively, never breaking contact with Rogue, who seemed unaware of their audience. Predictably, the men didn't move a muscle. Bianca wanted to let Rogue continue her exploration, having been starved of contact for so long, but such a profound moment for her should not be fantasy-fodder for three over-sexed men. Slowly, Bianca removed herself from Rogue's hold and stood protectively in front of her. Rogue seemed to accept the change with trance-like calm and continued to trace patterns on Bianca's upper back while the Vampire gave the men her most deadly glare.
"Piss off now, or you'll be pissing into a catheter by the time I'm done with you." she growled. Logan, realizing what this moment must mean to both of them, left without a word. Remy smirked and had the gall to wink, but after Bianca snapped her teeth in his direction, scattered back to the main cabin. Connor just put his hands up and walked away with a satisfied smile on his face.
Bianca turned back toward Rogue and held her hands lightly, kissing each before re-zipping both of their uniforms. They sat back down and Rogue put her head on Bianca's shoulder.
"Thank you." she whispered. "I never thought I'd be able to touch like that again."
"Hasn't the professor worked with you on this?" Bianca demanded, indignation in her tone.
"A little, when I first came to the mansion. He said my lack of control is probably psychological; that the switch to control my mutation has been buried under so much fear, self-doubt and anxiety that I can't get at it. It kills me, knowing I did this to myself." Rogue muttered.
"Do not be so hard on y- Ahhh!" Bianca groaned in pain, clutching her stomach. Rogue sat up and gasped as she caught sight of Bianca. Her skin was phasing between snow-white and light olive, her eyes were flashing between chocolate brown and light blue, and her fangs couldn't seem to decide whether to grow or recede. Bianca squeezed her eyes shut and forced her labored breathing to calm and deepen. The clawing, crippling pain faded and she opened her eyes a crack, only to see Rogue's horrified, worried face.
"Don't worry, my love. I'm fine." Bianca slurred, still struggling for control. "It's been a few days since I…had proper nutrition; there are more important things to worry about at the moment. I'm alright now."
"Are you sure?" Rogue asked. "Do you want me to get Connor?"
Bianca smiled lightly, the pain totally gone. "No, I have excellent control over the Thirst. It's nothing to worry about. Now, what were we talking about?"
"My control." Rogue reminded her uncomfortably.
"Ah, yes." Bianca nodded. "You know, Vampires go through a very similar process when we ingest blood. I can teach you how to purge the voices and memories. I can even help you find the switch."
"What?" Rogue asked, desperation creeping into her tone.
"I doubt I would have thought of it before, but the other night, I was forced to use…an alternative method of interrogation. You see, when a Vampire bites, we are connected to the other person's mind. It's an evolutionary response; it helps us understand our prey better and, therefore, be better predators. But it is not always used in this manner. For example, when a new Vampire is Made, their Sire will continue to bite them over time, to exchange experiences and feelings and strengthen the Sire-Spawn relationship. I could do something similar with you. We could explore your mind together and find the control you seek."
"Yes." Rogue breathed, frantically tugging down the collar of her uniform and pushing her hair to the side. "Do it! Please!"
"We cannot do this now, Marie." Bianca said regretfully, pulling her collar back up. "The process itself may take several hours and the recovery could take even longer. Besides, we are about to go on a dangerous mission: now is not the time to be experimenting with your gift. And…I'm not sure I could control myself right now, with the Thirst as strong as it is. After the mission, after I've fed, we will do this. Okay?"
"Okay." Rogue agreed reluctantly, before smiling slightly. "You know the first thing I'm gonna do when I can touch?"
"What's that?"
"Kiss Remy like he's never been kissed before and drag him to the nearest bedroom." Rogue smirked.
Bianca laughed and nodded. "I can't say I like the boy just yet, but if you want him and you love him, I'll give him a chance."
"You know," Rogue started slyly. "You're not the only one who can sense romance a-brewin'. What's up with you and Logan?"
"Nothing." Bianca said firmly.
"That's not what it looked like when you first met him." Rogue snorted. "If memory serves, you gave one of his claws a blow-job."
Vampires can't blush, but Bianca squirmed uncomfortably in her seat. "I didn't know who he was! He's my best friend's son, for God sakes! He was practically my son!"
"Yeah, back in the day." Rogue stressed. "You said somethin' about the Civil War, right? Well that was a long time ago and Logan's not a kid anymore."
"Children never really grow up in a parent's eyes." Bianca argued.
"He's not your child and never was! You may have loved him like one, but I can tell you right now, Logan's not gonna stick around if you treat him like a green sixteen year-old." Rogue exclaimed. "I know him better than anyone on this planet; I've absorbed him twice! He's killed people, he's had horribly painful military experiments run on him, he's screwed countless women and he's had to forge an identity from scratch the last fifteen years! There's nothing childish about him! Don't you get it? There is no James, only Logan!"
"James is all I have left of Elizabeth!" Bianca exploded. She swallowed tightly and bowed her head. "If I give that up…then there's really nothing left of her."
Rogue placed a comforting hand on Bianca's back. "You can either give up Elizabeth, someone who's already gone, or give up Logan, who's right here. You can't have both."
Bianca nodded tiredly and gave Rogue a small, baffled smile. "When did you get to be so wise?"
"Since my friend's happiness depended on me gettin' the message into your thick skull." Rogue teased. "You guys could have somethin' really special…special and eternal, to boot. Nothin' is worth givin' that up for, let alone the long-dead past."
"Maybe you're right." Bianca sighed. "I've held onto her for so long, but if she hasn't resurfaced by now, she probably did face the sunrise. I don't want my love for her to cost me Logan and she wouldn't want that either."
"Sooo…are you gonna drag him to a bedroom, too?" Rogue nudged her.
"I can't let myself go there right now." she said, shaking her head. "A cop-out? Yes. But it's the best I can do for the moment. In order to do what must be done on this mission, I need to…compartmentalize my life. This business with Logan and what I feel for him is confusing enough as it is, but I cannot dwell on that and still function in this danger. Do you understand that?"
Rogue looked skeptical and started to respond, but cut off as Ororo approached them. "We're about to land and there's been a change of plans. Shayla was able to hack one of NASA's satellites and get better resolution, making extensive recon unnecessary at this point. She found what looks like an administration, central headquarters type building in the complex. We're thinking that's where you and Jack should extract a Hunter from. The men in that building are likely to have more information than some random guard."
"Sounds good." Bianca said seriously, getting up. "I'll review the data with Jack. Familiarize yourselves with the compound while we're gone."
The team all strapped in as Scott landed the jet with a rocking jolt and a loud thud. He looked back at the rest of them and said his traditional, 'sorry', after landing. They lined up at the ramp and Bianca ended up behind Logan. On impulse, she reached for his hand. He turned to her with a questioning look, but gave a small smirk and nodded, squeezing her hand. They were in this together and this was just the beginning. They let go as the team started to exit in single file. Glancing around, they were surrounded on all sides by humid, dark marshland. Bianca's lip curled in distaste as she watched insects swarm around the stagnant water, reptiles slither through the tall grasses and into the scum-filled swamps and heard the cringe-worthy squelching and sucking sounds of their shoes in the soggy ground.
Remy spread his arms wide and took a deep whiff, smiling hugely. "Welcome to Louisiana! Now let's hunt us some Hunters, eh?"
"Jack and I will be back in a few hours." Bianca said, grabbing Jack by the arm and dragging him through the bog. "Come on, Jack. You can brief me on the way."
"My pleasure." he smirked. As they trudged through the swamp, Jack placed his hand on the small of Bianca's back and turned back to look at the group. Jack transformed and grinned wickedly at Logan, exposing his fangs in challenge as his unnaturally blue eyes glowed in the twilight. Logan's face darkened as the two disappeared into the woods.
"Oooh!" Rogue and Remy cooed together like a studio audience, laughing. Rogue sang, "Logan's got competition!"
"Bianca might wait for ya to make a move, but Remy can tell ya now, homme, Jack ain't goin' to."
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