"Stop! Thief! Come back here!" Remy cursed as he tore out of the store he
had bought his cigarettes at, clutching some bandages and some antiseptic
in his hands. The store clerk shouted at him as the thief ran, it was sheer
dumb luck that he had been caught. Knowing it wouldn't be good if he lead
the police to Milana he ran off in the other direction, when he got out of
the town he ran back behind the buildings.
"Dam 'umans," Remy muttered as he ran.
*****
Xavier was surprised, Milana was still in the woods by the mansion; he could communicate with her if he tried. Thinking to himself the telepath decided that this might not be a bad idea, he could find out what was going on with the teenager and why she had done what she did, and why she had come back. Xavier took off his helmet and concentrated.
~ Milan a~ he said. ~ Milana, please talk to me. ~
*****
~ Milana ~. There he was, Milana knew it was the professor, and it scared her. She didn't know what he wanted, but she was completely sure it was not to welcome her back to the School. He called her name again and she took a deep breath, it was obvious he would just keep looking for her until she was found.
~ ... yeah? ~ she projected, closing her eyes. She heard a mental sigh of relief.
~ I'm glad you stayed close enough to talk ,~ Xavier answered. ~ We need to discus much ~.
~ What's going on professor? What was wrong with father, is he alright? ~ Milana asked immediately. Xavier paused, now he was confused. If she didn't know why Logan had attacked her, or what was wrong with Kurt... there was definitely something going on beyond what everyone thought.
~ Kurt... he went to a bar. ~ Xavier said.
~ He WHAT? ~ Milana thought-shouted. ~ What's the matter with him? What is wrong with all of you? I came back and got attacked by Logan, who was shouting that I betrayed all of you! ~
~ We are all under that impression, Milana, ~ Xavier said. ~ Besides me, I honestly have no idea what to think now. ~
~ You have? ~ Milana asked weakly. ~ I didn't do anything though! ~
~ The entire mansion is currently in the state of mind that you set up the X Men at the White House, you led your father and the others into a trap for money. ~ Xavier said.
~ I never did! I swear, I went into my room the night the X Men left and Mystique was there! ~ Milana said desperately.
~ She was? ~ Xavier replied, trying to think.
~ Yeah, and then she grabbed me, and next thing I know I wake up in New York city in some thief's room! And when I came back here, you guys were going to kill me! ~
~ Milana, please, calm down, ~ Xavier said, sensing the teenager was close to hysterics.
~ I didn't do anything, I swear! ~ Milana repeated, trembling. She needed Xavier to believe her, he had to. If he did, maybe the others, especially her father, would also believe her, and then she could get answers.
~ Milana, we've been under this impression for almost two weeks, the idea had set in with most of us, I think even Kurt. ~ Xavier said as gently as possible, picking up on Milana's hopes. Milana was speechless.
"Ah, petite, Remy nev'r run so fas' in me life," the tired Cajun tried to joke, walking into the clearing and putting the stolen goods down. Milana opened her eyes and looked at him. Inside Cerebro Xavier saw a brief image of a tall, muscular young man with brown hair and red on black eyes, smiling at Milana and putting some bandages down.
~ Who is that? ~ Xavier asked.
~ The thief, Remy, I... I'm going. Bye professor. ~ Milana said, tears in her eyes.
~ Milana, wait! ~ Xavier called, but the purple teen had somehow managed to set up a weak shield, and Xavier didn't have the heart to break through it.
"Petite? You alrigh'?" Remy said.
"I'm ok Rem," she said softly. The Cajun sat down next to her and pulled off his trench coat as Milana sat up, looking at her arm closely. He reached over and grabbed the antiseptic, dousing some bandages.
"Dis mite 'urt some," he warned. Milana looked at the forest floor.
"That's ok," she said. Remy nodded and wiped the blood from around her wound, then carefully cleaned the cut itself, and for a moment it did sting, but Milana didn't move or give any sign of pain. Remy finished and then got more bandages, carefully wrapping the clean gash and then tying it off.
"You ok, chere?" he asked. Milana nodded.
"Thanks Remy," she said. "I've got to get out of here though."
"I though' you live 'ere," Remy said. "An' you' papa, why all dis fightin? Dat small man wan' your blood." Milana looked away.
"That was Logan, I'm no longer welcome here," she said.
"You got that right kid," said a voice from behind her. She and Remy looked up to see Logan, all six claws unsheathed, glaring at Milana.
"Logan!" Milana cried, her eyes widening in fear.
"You're dead, kid," the Canadian spat. "You're dead for what you did."
"You t'ch Lan you die," Remy said, standing up and grabbing his Bo staff.
"Remy, don't," Milana begged. "He's got a healing mutation, no one can beat him."
"Remy don' let no petite man t'rete non of 'is frens like dis, chere," Remy answered, not taking his eyes off Logan.
"Back off, bub," Logan growled. "Lissen to her, she knew me well enough."
"And you knew me to!" Milana replied, struggling to her feet.
"I thought I did," Logan answered. "The elf did to."
"I didn't do anything!" Milana said, stepping in front of Remy.
"Chere," Remy said.
"Hold up Gambit," Milana said angrily. The Cajun put his hand on her shoulder but didn't say anything.
"Why do ya think Kurt went to that bar?" Logan demanded. "You sold us out, you meant for us to die, you meant for your father to die."
"I never did!" Milana cried. "I love him, he's my father damnit!"
"Was," Logan sneered. "And you were alive, but soon enough that'll be the past too." He leapt forward, claws flashing.
"No!" Remy shouted, shoving Milana out of the way Logan landed on him instead, and three long red scrapes appeared across his chest.
"Remy!" Milana shouted, tackling Logan and then springing to her feet. Remy groaned.
"Ah, petite, dat man got de sharpes' claws Remy ever see," he said. Milana looked at the deep cuts and thanked God they weren't too deep. Logan watched her as she grabbed more bandages and hastily tried to stop the bleeding. The Canadian growled and grabbed Milana's shirt collar, hauling her off.
"Chere!" Remy shouted, rolling over and pulling himself to his feet. Logan pinned Milana to a tree and put his claws up to her throat.
"Logan... I... I didn't do it..." Milana gasped, raising her head away from the sharp points.
"Yer lying through your teeth," Logan snarled. "You care more about that dirty thief than your father." Suddenly Remy grabbed Logan and pulled him off, and the gruff man hit the ground and sprang to his feet, but Remy had already charged a card and thrown it at him. Milana did the only thing she could think of.
~ PROFESSOR! ~
Xavier started and realized it was Milana.
~ What? What's... oh no. ~ He said as images flooded into his head of Logan and Remy. The explosion, then Logan staggering to his feet, only to be struck by Remy's Bo staff again and again.
~ Scott, Ororo, Jean, get down to the forest NOW. ~ Xavier said, sending a loud message to his students.
~ What's going on Professor? ~ Jean asked.
~ Just get down there and stop the fight! ~ Xavier answered.
~ On our way- fight? ~ Scott asked.
~ Just hurry, ~ Xavier said.
In the clearing Remy backed away another step, another card in his hand.
"Remy!" Milana cried. "Logan! Stop it, please!" Logan snarled and dodged the kinetically-charged card, leaping clear of the explosion and then lunging at Remy, who hit him in the head as hard as he could with his Bo staff, but not hard enough. A powerful kick sent the Cajun sprawling, landing on his back.
"Stop! Logan, no!" Milana shouted again, jumping up and kicking Logan in the stomach. Suddenly the sky went dark and a powerful wind kicked up, and thunder ripped across the black sky.
"Ro," Milana breathed, looking around. Then she saw Ororo, standing some twenty feet away, her eyes pure white. Scott and Jean ran up and Scott grabbed Logan, pulling him away from Remy and Milana, though he didn't turn his back to them, and his hand was clearly ready to open his visors. Milana bent down next to Remy, but the Cajun struggled to his feet, growling at Logan.
"Remy tol' you t' leave 'Lan alone, Remy kill you," he said, trying to attack Logan again. Milana grabbed Remy with her good hand.
"Stop!" she said. Remy glared at her.
"Dat man wan' t' kill you, petite," he growled.
"Please, Remy, stop!" Milana begged. Remy looked at her, then glared at the four X Men but lowered his Bo staff.
"Remy no' kill'em now," he said. "Bu' he 'tacks again, Remy not stoppin' for you chere."
"What is going on here?" Scott demanded.
"I'll kill her," Logan snarled. "And that creep, I'll kill both of them."
"Logan, stop!" Jean commanded, pushing Logan away. He glared at her.
"We were leaving and he attacked us," Milana said, scowling at the four herself. "We didn't do anything to provoke him, Remy was fighting back in self defense."
"Didn't do anything?" Logan shouted. "What about the elf?"
"Cut it out, Logan," Scott snapped. The bad weather disappeared as Ororo came forward.
"Why did you come back?" she asked. Milana looked away.
"I wanted to be home, Remy was helping me out," she said.
"You thought you could call this home after what happened?" Scott said angrily. Milana glared at him.
"I don't know what happened, but I didn't do anything." She said hotly.
"And I suppose there are two Milana's running around now?" Logan said. "Two of you, and both disappeared at the same time?"
"You nearly killed your father," Jean said. "He was out for a week and a half, he took the worst hit from the bomb out of all of us. He took it because he was chasing after you ran off with the money Mystique and Magneto gave you for bringing us there." Milana stared at her, the confusion so evident on her face even Logan noticed it.
"I was never at the White House," she said. "I was attacked in my room by Mystique and then woke up in Remy's apartment, he said he found me in the streets of New York."
"De chere speaks righ'," Remy said. "I foun her, she had nut'in but de clothes she has on,"
"Some story," Logan sneered.
~ That's enough arguing, all of you, ~ Xavier said in all their heads. ~ Jean, you need to check Remy's cuts, And no one is to harm either of them until we figure out what's been going on for the last couple of weeks. ~
"Is Remy de only one 'earring tings?" Remy wondered, looking around. Milana leaned over.
"It's the professor, the telepath" she whispered. Remy shuddered slightly.
~ You want a thief and a betrayer in the *school*? ~ Scott responded disbelievingly.
~ I no longer am sure whether we were right about Milana or not, ~ Xavier replied to them. ~ And Remy is a good man, and he needs some medical help, as does Milana. Jean, please. .
~ I'll trust you professor, though I don't agree with this either. ~ She said. Then she looked at Remy and Milana. "Come on," she said, turning and walking away.
"I don't believe this," Logan growled. He walked behind Jean, and Ororo and followed, Milana pulled Remy along with her as he grabbed his trench coat and pulled it on.
"Remy don' need t' go dere," he said nervously, eyeing the mansion as they left the forest.
"Cut it out, you got yourself cut good and now you need to check it out," Milana said. Remy grumbled.
"I ken look ou' for myself," he said. Milana arched an eyebrow and then said the only thing she could thing of.
"Well, then come with me, cause I can't up there," she said. Remy looked at her for a second and then grinned.
"Fine den," he said. "Remy can' let a petite like yerself face dese people 'lone." Milana just smiled at him sadly.
"Thanks," she said.
"Dam 'umans," Remy muttered as he ran.
*****
Xavier was surprised, Milana was still in the woods by the mansion; he could communicate with her if he tried. Thinking to himself the telepath decided that this might not be a bad idea, he could find out what was going on with the teenager and why she had done what she did, and why she had come back. Xavier took off his helmet and concentrated.
~ Milan a~ he said. ~ Milana, please talk to me. ~
*****
~ Milana ~. There he was, Milana knew it was the professor, and it scared her. She didn't know what he wanted, but she was completely sure it was not to welcome her back to the School. He called her name again and she took a deep breath, it was obvious he would just keep looking for her until she was found.
~ ... yeah? ~ she projected, closing her eyes. She heard a mental sigh of relief.
~ I'm glad you stayed close enough to talk ,~ Xavier answered. ~ We need to discus much ~.
~ What's going on professor? What was wrong with father, is he alright? ~ Milana asked immediately. Xavier paused, now he was confused. If she didn't know why Logan had attacked her, or what was wrong with Kurt... there was definitely something going on beyond what everyone thought.
~ Kurt... he went to a bar. ~ Xavier said.
~ He WHAT? ~ Milana thought-shouted. ~ What's the matter with him? What is wrong with all of you? I came back and got attacked by Logan, who was shouting that I betrayed all of you! ~
~ We are all under that impression, Milana, ~ Xavier said. ~ Besides me, I honestly have no idea what to think now. ~
~ You have? ~ Milana asked weakly. ~ I didn't do anything though! ~
~ The entire mansion is currently in the state of mind that you set up the X Men at the White House, you led your father and the others into a trap for money. ~ Xavier said.
~ I never did! I swear, I went into my room the night the X Men left and Mystique was there! ~ Milana said desperately.
~ She was? ~ Xavier replied, trying to think.
~ Yeah, and then she grabbed me, and next thing I know I wake up in New York city in some thief's room! And when I came back here, you guys were going to kill me! ~
~ Milana, please, calm down, ~ Xavier said, sensing the teenager was close to hysterics.
~ I didn't do anything, I swear! ~ Milana repeated, trembling. She needed Xavier to believe her, he had to. If he did, maybe the others, especially her father, would also believe her, and then she could get answers.
~ Milana, we've been under this impression for almost two weeks, the idea had set in with most of us, I think even Kurt. ~ Xavier said as gently as possible, picking up on Milana's hopes. Milana was speechless.
"Ah, petite, Remy nev'r run so fas' in me life," the tired Cajun tried to joke, walking into the clearing and putting the stolen goods down. Milana opened her eyes and looked at him. Inside Cerebro Xavier saw a brief image of a tall, muscular young man with brown hair and red on black eyes, smiling at Milana and putting some bandages down.
~ Who is that? ~ Xavier asked.
~ The thief, Remy, I... I'm going. Bye professor. ~ Milana said, tears in her eyes.
~ Milana, wait! ~ Xavier called, but the purple teen had somehow managed to set up a weak shield, and Xavier didn't have the heart to break through it.
"Petite? You alrigh'?" Remy said.
"I'm ok Rem," she said softly. The Cajun sat down next to her and pulled off his trench coat as Milana sat up, looking at her arm closely. He reached over and grabbed the antiseptic, dousing some bandages.
"Dis mite 'urt some," he warned. Milana looked at the forest floor.
"That's ok," she said. Remy nodded and wiped the blood from around her wound, then carefully cleaned the cut itself, and for a moment it did sting, but Milana didn't move or give any sign of pain. Remy finished and then got more bandages, carefully wrapping the clean gash and then tying it off.
"You ok, chere?" he asked. Milana nodded.
"Thanks Remy," she said. "I've got to get out of here though."
"I though' you live 'ere," Remy said. "An' you' papa, why all dis fightin? Dat small man wan' your blood." Milana looked away.
"That was Logan, I'm no longer welcome here," she said.
"You got that right kid," said a voice from behind her. She and Remy looked up to see Logan, all six claws unsheathed, glaring at Milana.
"Logan!" Milana cried, her eyes widening in fear.
"You're dead, kid," the Canadian spat. "You're dead for what you did."
"You t'ch Lan you die," Remy said, standing up and grabbing his Bo staff.
"Remy, don't," Milana begged. "He's got a healing mutation, no one can beat him."
"Remy don' let no petite man t'rete non of 'is frens like dis, chere," Remy answered, not taking his eyes off Logan.
"Back off, bub," Logan growled. "Lissen to her, she knew me well enough."
"And you knew me to!" Milana replied, struggling to her feet.
"I thought I did," Logan answered. "The elf did to."
"I didn't do anything!" Milana said, stepping in front of Remy.
"Chere," Remy said.
"Hold up Gambit," Milana said angrily. The Cajun put his hand on her shoulder but didn't say anything.
"Why do ya think Kurt went to that bar?" Logan demanded. "You sold us out, you meant for us to die, you meant for your father to die."
"I never did!" Milana cried. "I love him, he's my father damnit!"
"Was," Logan sneered. "And you were alive, but soon enough that'll be the past too." He leapt forward, claws flashing.
"No!" Remy shouted, shoving Milana out of the way Logan landed on him instead, and three long red scrapes appeared across his chest.
"Remy!" Milana shouted, tackling Logan and then springing to her feet. Remy groaned.
"Ah, petite, dat man got de sharpes' claws Remy ever see," he said. Milana looked at the deep cuts and thanked God they weren't too deep. Logan watched her as she grabbed more bandages and hastily tried to stop the bleeding. The Canadian growled and grabbed Milana's shirt collar, hauling her off.
"Chere!" Remy shouted, rolling over and pulling himself to his feet. Logan pinned Milana to a tree and put his claws up to her throat.
"Logan... I... I didn't do it..." Milana gasped, raising her head away from the sharp points.
"Yer lying through your teeth," Logan snarled. "You care more about that dirty thief than your father." Suddenly Remy grabbed Logan and pulled him off, and the gruff man hit the ground and sprang to his feet, but Remy had already charged a card and thrown it at him. Milana did the only thing she could think of.
~ PROFESSOR! ~
Xavier started and realized it was Milana.
~ What? What's... oh no. ~ He said as images flooded into his head of Logan and Remy. The explosion, then Logan staggering to his feet, only to be struck by Remy's Bo staff again and again.
~ Scott, Ororo, Jean, get down to the forest NOW. ~ Xavier said, sending a loud message to his students.
~ What's going on Professor? ~ Jean asked.
~ Just get down there and stop the fight! ~ Xavier answered.
~ On our way- fight? ~ Scott asked.
~ Just hurry, ~ Xavier said.
In the clearing Remy backed away another step, another card in his hand.
"Remy!" Milana cried. "Logan! Stop it, please!" Logan snarled and dodged the kinetically-charged card, leaping clear of the explosion and then lunging at Remy, who hit him in the head as hard as he could with his Bo staff, but not hard enough. A powerful kick sent the Cajun sprawling, landing on his back.
"Stop! Logan, no!" Milana shouted again, jumping up and kicking Logan in the stomach. Suddenly the sky went dark and a powerful wind kicked up, and thunder ripped across the black sky.
"Ro," Milana breathed, looking around. Then she saw Ororo, standing some twenty feet away, her eyes pure white. Scott and Jean ran up and Scott grabbed Logan, pulling him away from Remy and Milana, though he didn't turn his back to them, and his hand was clearly ready to open his visors. Milana bent down next to Remy, but the Cajun struggled to his feet, growling at Logan.
"Remy tol' you t' leave 'Lan alone, Remy kill you," he said, trying to attack Logan again. Milana grabbed Remy with her good hand.
"Stop!" she said. Remy glared at her.
"Dat man wan' t' kill you, petite," he growled.
"Please, Remy, stop!" Milana begged. Remy looked at her, then glared at the four X Men but lowered his Bo staff.
"Remy no' kill'em now," he said. "Bu' he 'tacks again, Remy not stoppin' for you chere."
"What is going on here?" Scott demanded.
"I'll kill her," Logan snarled. "And that creep, I'll kill both of them."
"Logan, stop!" Jean commanded, pushing Logan away. He glared at her.
"We were leaving and he attacked us," Milana said, scowling at the four herself. "We didn't do anything to provoke him, Remy was fighting back in self defense."
"Didn't do anything?" Logan shouted. "What about the elf?"
"Cut it out, Logan," Scott snapped. The bad weather disappeared as Ororo came forward.
"Why did you come back?" she asked. Milana looked away.
"I wanted to be home, Remy was helping me out," she said.
"You thought you could call this home after what happened?" Scott said angrily. Milana glared at him.
"I don't know what happened, but I didn't do anything." She said hotly.
"And I suppose there are two Milana's running around now?" Logan said. "Two of you, and both disappeared at the same time?"
"You nearly killed your father," Jean said. "He was out for a week and a half, he took the worst hit from the bomb out of all of us. He took it because he was chasing after you ran off with the money Mystique and Magneto gave you for bringing us there." Milana stared at her, the confusion so evident on her face even Logan noticed it.
"I was never at the White House," she said. "I was attacked in my room by Mystique and then woke up in Remy's apartment, he said he found me in the streets of New York."
"De chere speaks righ'," Remy said. "I foun her, she had nut'in but de clothes she has on,"
"Some story," Logan sneered.
~ That's enough arguing, all of you, ~ Xavier said in all their heads. ~ Jean, you need to check Remy's cuts, And no one is to harm either of them until we figure out what's been going on for the last couple of weeks. ~
"Is Remy de only one 'earring tings?" Remy wondered, looking around. Milana leaned over.
"It's the professor, the telepath" she whispered. Remy shuddered slightly.
~ You want a thief and a betrayer in the *school*? ~ Scott responded disbelievingly.
~ I no longer am sure whether we were right about Milana or not, ~ Xavier replied to them. ~ And Remy is a good man, and he needs some medical help, as does Milana. Jean, please. .
~ I'll trust you professor, though I don't agree with this either. ~ She said. Then she looked at Remy and Milana. "Come on," she said, turning and walking away.
"I don't believe this," Logan growled. He walked behind Jean, and Ororo and followed, Milana pulled Remy along with her as he grabbed his trench coat and pulled it on.
"Remy don' need t' go dere," he said nervously, eyeing the mansion as they left the forest.
"Cut it out, you got yourself cut good and now you need to check it out," Milana said. Remy grumbled.
"I ken look ou' for myself," he said. Milana arched an eyebrow and then said the only thing she could thing of.
"Well, then come with me, cause I can't up there," she said. Remy looked at her for a second and then grinned.
"Fine den," he said. "Remy can' let a petite like yerself face dese people 'lone." Milana just smiled at him sadly.
"Thanks," she said.