The upstairs had been a little busy by the next morning. Although the couples had been trying to cram in some private time when they could (Devon swearing that he would kill Roger the first chance he got for the noise last night), they still ate breakfast together in the dining room in relative peace. Although in silence for the most part, since the guard was there for the morning shift before more came in, Devon was able to sneak a seat between Rogue and Hank and reach for a piece of bacon. Although there had been some scrambled eggs in a bowl, Devon was too used to not eating and could hardly care less if he starved for the day. Saving as much food for the others was more important.
Rogue was appreciative that Devon came to sit with her. She beamed as his hard gaze fell on her, pulling some white hair to the side to show him her appreciate looks. Devon's heart was beating faster with the attention, but on the outside, he scowled. Rogue was used to him bring so harsh, he reasoned. He had been distant and rough, telling her about the hard world they lived in, but he was feeling that Bobby was right. He was still a child, with a child's thoughts and intentions, and had pondered upon nothing more than revenge.
It was too sweet, Devon knew. He nibbled on his piece of bacon, excusing himself from the table quickly before running back into the attic. He wanted to change into something lighter than the usual black uniforms that they were given, something less bleak and depressing. He found nothing that fit the bill though, seeing that the guards had taken away some of their other clothes without their knowing again. Sighing, he decided it was better to be downstairs with his parents, thinking it saner to stay with his siblings and not run the risk of molesting Rogue in front of everyone, but stopped himself. Voices were heard behind him, in the other room, and that made him creep closer to the door. Peeping around the corner, Devon saw Kitty and Peter Rasputin.
Honestly, Devon thought that he was alone in his endeavors and didn't mean to intrude. Seeing the two former lovers finally meet alone was something different though. Deciding that perhaps it was the best idea to wait and listen instead of running out to reveal himself, Devon crouched down behind the doorway and ensured no shadows were cast. Best that he made them think nobody was there, he told himself. Best that those two never know that he was now witnessing the next stage in the untold drama.
Devon knew that he came in on the wrong end of the conversation, trying to think back to anything that would indicate they came to this point and finding nothing. With Kitty's hands on her hips and Colossus himself crossing his arms in stubbornness, Devon could not tell if they were just lovers in the middle of a fight or strangers that butted heads randomly on the streets. It seemed like one almost interchanged with the other.
"You can say you love me all you want, Peter," Kitty said defensively, "but that love will never be returned. It's over now, been over. I don't where you have been."
"Trying to defend our borders," Peter replied, his towering figure intimidating the smaller Kitty. "Your little child's play isn't making anything better, I have to say."
"What play?" Kitty froze, her arms falling limply to her side.
"It seems like Bobby isn't the only person who thinks Rogue will be swayed by pretty words. You should think better about that. After all that Rogue went through, do you think apologies and being nice would undo years of harm? Honestly, you lied to me about everything, Kitty, and worse, you took another girl's boyfriend from under her nose and watched her get ruined. We mutually parted, yes, but splitting to another man immediately afterward is an entirely different story."
"I did not!"
"You did…and Bobby allowed you to. Your actions brought him to where he is now, as well as yours. While I am happy for you and would do anything to make your marriage to Bobby happen, I will always tell you how much I still care for you. Anything you do for Rogue is on her, although I am sure she will never be comforted by you again. You can't hold it against her that she took solace someplace else though, where it was offered to her."
"Devon is just a child, Peter. Can't you see that?"
Peter regarded Kitty for a moment. "Yes, he is a child. He's younger than all of us and put up with more than we had. If you watched your parents' murder, how would you feel?"
"Mine rejected me. They might as well be dead to me."
"And mine had to send me away to keep me safe. Russia isn't a safe country, Kitty. Neither is here. Playing with someone is about the same as those humans torturing us like this."
"You can't chalk me up to them. Not now, not ever."
"Then, don't –"
"Don't what, Peter?" Bobby entered the room, perhaps wondering where Kitty was and hearing the argument.
"What do you know, comrade?" Peter asked Bobby, trying to leave. "Mind your business. Whatever Kitty wants to tell you, she'll tell you in her own time."
"Whatever you have to say to Kitty, you can say to me too," Bobby replied, making that the final decision. He wasn't going to budge, Devon noticed, and that wasn't making the situation much better.
"Fine." Peter uncrossed his arms, trying to appear as calm as possible, since it now involved a team instead of individuals. "You really want to know what we're arguing about?"
"Yeah, I would." Bobby's blue eyes almost seemed like ice, he was that cold in his manner.
"I'll say this once and never again," Peter declared, unwilling to bend. "I don't know why Kitty can't comprehend this, comrade, but I'll try it by you. The first thing is, I love her and always will. I'll do anything to make her happy, including seeing her with another man and backing away. You can have her, for all I care. The second thing involves Rogue."
"She made her own bed," Bobby began.
"That shouldn't matter," Peter retorted, his Russian accent more punctuated when he was angry. "None of it should. She went to great lengths to make you happy, to touch you and not feel like she was different from everyone else. That plan backfired. And I watched you, Bobby, watched you very carefully. It was a slow torture for Rogue, but you kept pushing her away and going for Kitty, who was with me at the time. Yes, we broke up the relationship at the same time, but I saw the interaction even before you two were a couple. From the Danger Room to now, you've been nothing but a thorn in the side. Maybe it was better we stayed away in Canada and ran when we could. We were most certainly happy not to feel the pain, even though you're all a great asset when we came down to helping us in the same cause. But this isn't about me, comrade. This is all about us and the bigger picture in general.
"We are all the same, comrade. We're all humans, if it came down to it. We made of the same genes, blood and sweat. What our daily lives come down to is what we do to make that a little easier in the time given to us, especially when it comes how we treat each other. You want to say that Jubilee and her gossiping helped to take Rogue down? Fine. You want to say that her taking that cure and becoming human momentarily was her fault? Fine. But the way you treated her along the way, especially when she came back excited to touch you was nothing more than despicable. You were no better than the rioters who burned mutants for enjoyment or the camp guards who made you and I bury dead children, killed because of a silly mistake on our parts.
"We all make mistakes, Bobby. We always do. That's what makes me so human. But don't take that time given to you before death to make false promises and never take the time to think out your amends. You and Kitty can talk to Rogue all you want. What words you use will make the ending you want. Do you want her to think you're just doing this to seem like a good guy? Or do you want her thinking that you still care for you and are sorry?"
"Devon –" Kitty tried interjecting.
"Has nothing to do with it," Peter confirmed. "Leave him alone, Kitty. Devon has his own demons, just like the rest of us do, and he doesn't need the added drama from you to make his life more miserable than it already is. He has plenty of responsibilities and luckily has parents who love him enough to support what he has to do."
"I wouldn't exactly call Logan a parent," Bobby observed quietly, for once sounding chastised by what Peter said.
"I wouldn't either," Kitty volunteered.
"Nobody would," Peter conceded. "Logan's doing the best he can, I hear. Things weren't smooth for him either, from what I've heard. I wouldn't rely on rumors though and would go to the source, if I were you. Some of the things said are as nasty as those about Rogue."
"Oh, about Danielle Ellis?" Bobby asked.
"Mitchell," Peter corrected.
"She changed her name?" Kitty was confused.
"Maiden name, I heard," Peter confirmed. "That does not matter though. They are a happy family, from what I've seen, and aren't the people think them are. They are strong and dedicated. They support everyone in everything they do. They don't take shit either."
"What kind of love story is that?" Bobby inquired jokingly. "It sounds kinda lame."
"We don't know that." Kitty took Bobby's hand into hers, her manner just as frosty as Bobby's. "Peter, thank you for saying what you did. I'm sure we'll consider everything you've said."
I doubt it, bitch. Devon did not like Kitty's obnoxious tone and did not think she would do what she said she would.
Devon watched as Kitty and Bobby left. He heard Peter sigh, as if a heavy load was off of his already large shoulders, and noticed that he was now slipping down against the wall, sitting up. Peter then reached over for his sketch pad, something allowed to him still, and drew something. Devon did not watch enough to see what his hand made and only knew when it ended some minutes later. Although Devon knew that he spent enough time watching Peter, he still could not peel his eyes away after the drawing was finished. Finally, he saw Peter rip the paper off of the pad and walk over to his room.
Immediately, Devon backed away, hiding behind the old dresser in the room. He did not see what Peter did in the room, but he knew that he came in and left just as quickly. When Devon heard the footsteps move away and then recede, he got up and tried seeing what was so different about the room. He glanced around generally for a few minutes, still searching for what Peter did by the time Rogue came around. While she normally had been a worrisome person lately, she was most certainly a sight for sore eyes, Devon decided. Abandoning his mission, he went over to her and took her into his arms, kissing her on the lips.
Rogue returned the sentiment. It was great, Devon decided, and he went further, even going as far as snapping the bra apart from the back to feel her breasts. Rogue bent back to feel Devon's hands on her, but soon was backing away as soon as they both heard a guard outside their door clear his throat. Rogue put the hooks back on her bra and stared at first the guard and then Devon sheepishly. She then tried walking out of the room, but stepped on something that crinkled. She picked it up, seeing that it was a paper with a drawing on it. She then oohed and ahhed over it, begging Devon to come see it.
"What do I need to see a stupid drawing for?" Devon demanded, annoyed that perhaps Rogue found what Peter had left.
"Just come here." Exasperated, Rogue showed the guard first, just in case he had any ideas and was getting curious, and waited until Devon saw it too. Even he had to admit that it was pretty amazing, with the detail and skill in there, and would thank Peter for it later.
It was just a picture of the two of them as a couple. While it was not provocative in any way, Devon saw that Peter put so much work into such a simple drawing of the two of them, simply living in the moment and being in love.
