You're Guardian Angel
Chapter 25 Aged Memories
Authors Note: Just a little more back ground on Karthak and Ember. Yes I do know and fully understand that I'm using quotes straight from the movies here, but I really kind of like them so yeah… here it is…
10 MONTHS AGO….
There he was, the man of Karth's nightmare, chained by his father to a chopper, utter fear in his eyes. He stood strong, and proud over him, his fangs extending rapidly with a distinctive "snikt" sound. "Please don't kill me! Number 3, I've done nothing but help you have a better life, as one of my children, one of my creations. I can teach you how to use the adamantium, infuse others with this miracle metal. I can mine it for you, make you stronger than the damned failure Wolverine experiment, we can ultimately give you godly powers." Karth ent down, placing the infused grip around his neck, "Where's tha X-Men going?"
Stryker gasped. "Let me live, save me, and I will take you." SMACK. The young teen's hand collided with the side of his face. "I'm not going to tell you unless you save me." He roamed near him, the adamantium hand again meeting his face, harder this time, causing drops of blood to spray from his mouth, onto the snow, staining it a deep red.
Karthaks eyes blackened as he kicked Strikers ankle. A sickening crack resounded, as more blood dripped to the ground from his mouth. "Ow god…New…New York…Xavier, Institute…don't let me die here Number 3!" But it was too late, Karthak was already leaving him behind, the wall of water was coming, and he needed to reach high ground.
"Who has the answers, Karthak? Those people? The man you call father? Huh? Huh?" Stryker called, as the boy walked away. He bellowed his last words. "One day, someone will finish what I've started, Karthak! One day!"
From atop his vantage point, he stopped, his eyes focusing on the jet, watching a force-field surround it, and lifting the jet out of harms way. His eyes focused on Jean as the force-field became a coronal of fire, the jet left her as the water covered her with enough force to kill her, yet her scent lingered "Not for long." He thought as he walked away; she had momentarily escaped the flood, but it would soon kill her.
A pair of dogtags where wrapped around his fist, Logan's dogtags. He knew where his father was…and he was going to reunite with his family…
PRESANT DAY…
Karthak was lying in his room at the Xavier mansion, staring at the dogtages he had picked up in the snow just two years prior. They were spinning, as they hung from the chain wrapped around his fist. The numbers on it read 458-25-243 Wolverine; his dad's number while he was with Weapon X. He had been at the School for Gifted Youngsters for nearly three months. It was November now, and the coldness of the weather here compared to nothing of the harshness that Canada had to offer…
10 YEARS AGO…
"You don't have anything to eat, do you?" Karthak asked, as his stomach growled loudly. He had only been with this stranger for three days, but he felt as though he could trust him.
Logan reached across him into the glove compartment and handed him a few granola bars, a bag of chips and a juice box.
"Tha's tha firs time I've ever heard you speak."
The young boy shrugged, his mouth full of food. "I'm Karthak." He looked across the seat to look at him when he spotted his dog tag. "Were you in the army? Doesn't, doesn't that mean you were in the army?"
He stops talking and looks around, before he spots the trailer in the back, which they had been sleeping for the past few nights.
The two boys go quiet, as Karth begins to rub his cold hand together. Spotting this, Logan turns on the heater.
"Put yeh hands on the heater, it'll warm yeh." His massive hand reaches for his, and he pulls back.
"I'm not gonna hurt yeh kid."
"Its nothing personal, its just, when people touch my skin, something happens."
"Yeh wont hurt me kid."
They drove in silence for what felt like forever, but when Logan finally did speak, it made the little guy jump.
"So, what kind of name is Karthak?"
"I don't know. What kind of name is Wolverine?"
Logan sighed deeply. "My name is Logan."
"Josh."
"Well, Karthak, it looks like I'm gonna be takin' care of yeh fer a long time. As long as I live, I'll be here fer yeh."
PRESANT DAY…
For the longest time, he couldn't understand why Logan wore the dogtag. But now he knew. Karthak held onto his dog tag's for safe keeping. He now understood why Logan kept them they were the only lasting them from his past that he had to hold onto. To Karthak, Wolverine's dogtags symbolized the promise Logan had once made to him.
Karthak pulled out his own dogtags witch hung around his neck for safe keeping, and examined it for the billionth time. Number 3 Karthak; he was the third person to ever be injected with Wolverine's DNA. Logan's blood flowed through his veins, making them closer than what met the eyes…
Kendra sat in her bed room, on the couch that was so conveniently placed there by Colossus, her feet and legs tucked under her. In her hand, she held a half empty bottle of Vodka. She had been in there, drinking away her pain, the memories of her past so clear in her mind's eye. She was simply clothed in a pair of khaki-colored cargo pants, and a black tank, her fresh tattoo of a clover on her right shoulder exposed. She twirled the half emptied bottle in her hands, the liquid splashing against the glass.
Suddenly, she threw her head back, and downed the rest of the alcohol. When she was finally able to force it down, the chilled liquid burning her throat as it slid to her stomach. Ember immediately scrunched up her face, before letting it roll from her hands, landing on the soft carpet floor. This had been her ritual once every four months since the "accident" that had taken place after her powers manifested.
"Kendra?" Lauren asked, as she opened the door, she noticed the empty bottle on the floor, and the dazed Ember, and it didn't take long to put two and two together. "Are you drunk?"
"Noooo." Kendra lied.
"Shit Kendra! You're eyes are bloodshot! Did you chug that entire that bottle?" Lauren replied as she ran, sliding on her knees. Her face wasn't all that close, but the scent of vodka radiated off of her.
"Maybe I did…chug the last bit…I feel so sooo much better now Lauren… Are you listening to me?" Ember replied as she then grabbed on to her face and held the girl closer to her.
"Yes girly I'm listening…Shit Kendra you're drunk off of your ass!" Lauren replied as she tried to peel Kendra's hands away from her face.
Kendra stood, her legs stumbling all over the place, trying to get to her bed.
Lauren quickly grabbed for the younger girl's waist and pulled the drunken girl towards her, trying to keep her steady, resulting in the two falling to the ground with Kendra on top.
"Are you ok?" Fallen Angel asked after a moment, her hand rising to tuck the girl's hair behind her ears.
"Yeah I'm ok…just sleepy nowww" The Kendra replied before placing her head directly between Lauren's breasts, causing the older women to flinch.
"Kendra…you can't sleep now ok? We have to get you in bed." Lauren replied as she slowly began to get up, causing Ember to sit up.
"But I don't want to get in bed." She complained as she moved to straddle Lauren's hips, before starring directly into her eyes.
"Oh my God…how much exactly did you have to drink?"
"A lottt…" Kendra replied as she watched Lauren's face move closer to hers.
"Kend? How much is 'a lot'?" Lauren asked as Ember watched her with a strange look in her eyes.
"Enough to do what eveerr I think...and want to do" Kendra replied huskily, her eyes watching Fallen's lips closely.
"I don't think this is a goo-" Lauren attempted to say before being forced down to the ground by Ember then silence by her lips.
With Kendra's lips pressed up against hers, Lauren suddenly felt a strange sensation flow within her. The temptation to kiss Ember back was too strong for her to ignore, and soon, Lauren parted her lips and aloud Kendra's tongue to taste her. After a moment the kiss grew passionate, as Lauren's hands entangled themselves in Kendra's hair, while Kendra's hands went to place themselves on either side of Lauren's head. They kissed for what seemed like hours, before reality forced Lauren to tear her lips away from Kendra's.
"Oh shit!" She exclaimed as she suddenly became aware of what she was doing. In the midst of her shock, she pushed the drunken girl in her arms off of her, before jumping to her feet.
"Shit, shit, shit!" Lauren repeated over and over again, with her hands covering her face.
"Why did you push me off?" Kendra asked as she sat on the ground, her hands behind her back, keeping her propped up.
Lauren paced back and forth, still murmuring curses under her breath before chancing a quick glance in Ember's direction. "I'm so sorry Kendra…I shouldn't have done that!"
"Shouldn't have done what?"
"I shouldn't have kissed you…you're drunk and I took advantage of you!" Lauren exclaimed as she tried desperately to control her raging emotions.
Now standing, Kendra slowly made her way towards Lauren, with a smile on her face.
"What if I wanted you to take advantage of me? Drunk or not?" A grin began to form as she attempted to pull Fallen into a hug.
"What do you mean?" She asked with a puzzled look, while trying to keep Ember away from her.
"I love you…a lottt" Ember replied with a grin as she tried to pull Lauren into a hug.
"Kend, you're drunk…"
"I'm drunk enough to be walking funny, talking funny …but I'm sober enough to know what I want. And I want you in my bed…kissing my naked body!" Kendra tried to explain as she closed in on Lauren. Then suddenly, the girl passed out, and Lauren had only seconds to react, as the teen fell to the floor. Figuring she should keep an eye on her, she slept on the couch, after placing her in bed. 'Damn Kend, you could have at least saved me some.' The older girl thought jokingly before drifting to sleep.
When morning came, Lauren was the first to rise. As she entered the kitchen, she soon went to work and began making a strong batch of coffee.
"Hey…" Came a small voice behind Lauren, who quickly turned to see a tired and slightly hung over Kendra.
"Hey…" Fallen Angel greeted with a small smile, her heart suddenly beating at the sight of the delicate looking girl. "Here, have some coffee," She quickly gave her a cup of coffee, which Ember gratefully accepted before taking a seat at the nearest stool.
"Thanks…" The blond replied with a weak smile as she tried to ignore the sickening feeling in her stomach, which went hand in hand with her headache.
She blew gently on the cup of coffee, before chancing a quick drink before the hot liquid could burn her lips.
"Ouch!" Ember exclaimed after the burning liquid traveled down her throat.
"Careful" Lauren replied gently, as she watched the young girl in a daze.
Kendra offered her an annoyed glance, before holding the cup between her cold and shaky hands. Lauren watched the girl closely, as thoughts of what happened the night before refused to leave the disgruntled women alone.
I doubt she remembers anything…at least I hope she doesn't! Lauren thought to herself as her hands fidgeted in her lap, her eyes stealing glances at the stillness around her. It's early, seems like Ember and I are the only ones awake…maybe now will be the best time to ask if she remembers anything-just to make sure… she thought to herself before struggling to ask the question that troubled her since the night before.
"So…"
"Yeah?"
"You were pretty drunk last night…" Lauren began with a statement that soon found Ember closing her eyes and muttering a curse in silent.
"Yeah…" Ember finally replied as she refused to eye Lauren.
"You care to share why?"
"I, well when I was little…" Ember didn't know where to begin. She hadn't told anyone this but Xavier. "I was a normal child until my pyrokinetic abilities began to manifest themselves around my eleventh birthday. The eruption took the lives of my brother, cousin, and parents and destroyed an entire city block. The final tally was 32 casualties, including three firefighters. Not knowing were else to do, I took off for New York. In Brooklyn, I found myself surrounded by mutants, dangerous mutants. They wanted whatever I had. Thankfully Storm and Cyclopes were around. They chased off the asses, taking me to the school, were I learned to control my powers."
Fallen shifting uncomfortably in her seat, as images of the kiss shared between the two, resurfaced in her mind.
"What do you remember from the night before?" She managed to spit out in a low voice, as her eyes watched for any movement outside the door.
She waited calmly for Ember to reply, even though each second of the painful silence, began to drive her crazy.
"Nothing really…I think I drank too much-all I remember is drinking…everything else is pretty shady." She replied before finally facing Fallen with a look of alarm on her features. "Are you going to tell the Professor?"
"I wont tell anyone" Lauren interrupted with a smile.
"You promise?" Ember asked with uncertainty, before watching Lauren take her hand and make a cross like sign over her chest before replying,
"Cross my heart and hope to die…stick a needle in my eye." Fallen Angel finished with a smile before adding in reassurance, "I won't tell anyone…"
Kendra smiled in relief as she looked away for a moment, before returning her gaze to Lauren's, who smiled in response.
"I'll give you something to laugh about!" Kendra threatened playfully before moving in to tickle Lauren.
"Hey! No tickling!" She replied, as she suddenly grabbed hold of the girl's hands and held them together so Ember was defenseless.
"Let go" she whined as she watched Fallen's wicked grin spread across her features.
"No" Lauren replied before suddenly becoming aware of how close they were, and how soft the girl's skin felt against her own.
Her eyes glanced down at Kendra's hands in hers, before glancing up to see her big eyes starring down at her, with a look that instantly wiped the smile off of Lauren's face. Time seemed to stop as Kendra suddenly appeared much closer than Lauren realized, and soon she found her self looking deep into the girl's eyes, their noses almost touching as the world around them seemed to stop just for them. Still holding Ember's hands in her own, Lauren suddenly felt the pull of emotion guide her lips towards Kendra's lips, in a kiss that seemed far to difficult to pass up for any logical reason. But as soon as her lips were almost touching Kendra's, whose eyes were closed, quickly ended when the sudden and frightening sound of a distant door closing brought them back to reality, and they returned to there breakfast.