A good friend can tell you what is the matter with you in a minute. He may not seem such a good friend after telling.
Arthur Brisbane,
***
"What happened to her?" Jean asked Kurt, while watching as Kitty finally fell asleep on the Med-lab bed.
Kurt only shrugged in answer, "That's probably something only she could answer. Angel said she had a breakdown."
"Why?" Jean asked shocked, shifting her weight on her crutches.
"They were being chased by FOH soldiers, Kitty broke down as soon as she saw them." Kurt relayed the story told to him. Jean listened intently, her brow furrowing as she comprehended what he said. A small notion popped into her head.
"These FOH soldiers, do they have uniforms?"
Kurt nodded. "Blue with a diagonal black stripe on the chest, why?"
"I had a feeling. That's the same uniform that the guards wore, in that containment facility." Jean explained, thinking back to a few days ago.
"Oh," Kurt looked down at the floor, not knowing what to say. Jean took his silence as a sign to continue.
"Most of the time, they were fine. If you behaved, sometimes the nicer ones would give you extra food. There was one Asian female guard, who I don't think believed in what they were doing to us. For the 4 weeks she was there, she'd talk to us, tell us jokes and stuff. Trying to keep our spirits up. She got taken away though, after one day they saw her slip a note to one of the other prisoners.
"Not all of the guards were like that. Most were sadistic bastards, who'd do anything for a bit of fun. There was one boy, about 13, who had the most beautiful multi-coloured hair; a side affect of his mutation … But the guards didn't like it. One day they summoned him to the middle of the exercise yard, and shaved it all of with a butchers knife. They didn't do it well, not that that was what they intended to do, and he had heaps of cuts and scars on his head for weeks. Some of them got infected, it was really sickening. The guards just laughed and made fun of him, when he asked for medical assistance."
Jean turned to look at Kitty, who was now sleeping peacefully on the hospital cot. "There were about three Guards, who were…" She struggled to find words, "Stressed. And not in the overworked sense. They took it out on a few girls. Kitty included."
Kurt looked shocked, his mouth drawn in a stiff angry line. "You mean they, they…" He could finish the sentence resorting to waving his three fingered hand at Kitty angrily. Jean shook her head.
"No I think they just beat her up. Every time they brought her back, she was terrified. She wouldn't let any guy near her, not even Hank and Evan. It took a few weeks, for them to regain her trust."
"Did they ever... To you?" He asked awkwardly, his voice trailing off to nothing.
She shook her head, "No,"
He placed his hand on Jean's shoulder. "Tell me when she wakes up." Jean nodded, but didn't respond verbally. She then went and sat down next to Kitty's bed, and began waiting for her friend to wake up.
When he realised that she wasn't going to say anything else, he took his hand away, and muttered something about a Danger Room session that he had to be at. She let him go.
As soon as Kurt was out of the bedroom, he teleported into the Danger Room, where the rest of the group was assembling. Logan was leading the group in some stretches.
"How's Half-Pint going?" Logan asked on behalf of the group, while Nightcrawler joined the group in stretching.
"She's asleep. Jean's watching her," He mumbled as he bent to touch his toes.
"Good," Logan said in a tone that told everybody, that that was all that was needed to be said on the topic.
Nightcrawler ignored Logan's tone of voice though and continued on while beginning to stretch his thighs, "I talked to Jean about it though, and I know why Kitty broke down."
Everyone in the room turned sharply to look at him, he continued "It was the FOH who kept them captured for all that time."
"That doesn't explain a damn thing elf," Lance said glaring at him. Nightcrawler flinched under his gaze.
"What he means is: elaborate," Toad said from behind Gambit who was flexing and stretching his arms.
Kurt stopped stretching. "Well it was like a prison camp, in all meanings of the word."
"What do you mean?" Angel began, then in clicked, "Oh."
"I'll kill 'em." Logan growled, his claws involuntarily popping out. Lance looked quite angry; the ground even shook for a few seconds, before Rogue put a soft hand on his shoulder, and the rumbling ceased.
Rogue spoke up softly, "I know we're all mad or upset about what happened to Kitty, but there is nothing we can do about it now. Just concentrate on the Danger Room session and there'll be a time when we can get as much revenge as we feel the need to give, but now is not the time."
"Stripes is right," Logan agreed, popping his claws back in with a *SNIKT*. "Revenge is the best dish served cold."
"Ok," Rogue nodded, and shouted out to the computer, "Group session 47 Gamma,"
***
She knew she was awake, but her eyes were closed. She didn't want to open them. If she opened them, she'd have to face their pitying glances and their silent questions. No she was happy keeping her eyes closed and willing herself to go back to sleep.
"I know you're awake Kitty" Jean's familiar voice broke through her thoughts.
Kitty sighed and gently opened her eyes, and pulled herself into sitting position. She was in her bedroom again; Jean was sitting in the dull-grey armchair that was positioned on the other side of the room. She looked tired. Her hair wasn't in its usual perfect ponytail, it was out falling onto her shoulders, and it looked like someone needed to give it a good brush.
"I know I look like shit Kitty," She said smiling wearily, "I haven't had much sleep."
"I didn't say you could read my mind," Kitty said grumpily, crossing her arms defensively.
"I didn't. You were projecting again; quite loudly in fact. I'll have to help you with that." Jean said kindly.
Kitty didn't answer, but her stomach growled rather loudly. A small smile graced Jean's tired features.
"John's bringing you some food now."
"What time is it?" There was no clock in the room, so Kitty had no way of knowing.
Jean glanced at her watch, "9 am."
"And I've been asleep for…" Kitty drifted off indicating to Jean to fill her in on the information.
"17 hours"
Kitty involuntarily sucked in a harsh breath. "That long? You did put me to sleep right?"
Jean nodded silently. "Yeah, but you were under a lot of emotional stress, you would've slept for a long time anyway. My way just made sure you didn't dream."
"What did you tell them?"
Kitty noticed that Jean was avoiding eye contact, "I told them what happened. Well I told Kurt. I'm assuming he told the rest."
Kitty didn't say anything, and turned to look at the blank wall beside her. In the opposite direction of Jean.
"I'm sorry Kitty, but what else could I tell them?" Jean pleaded.
"You could've told them nothing," Kitty snapped.
"No one is going to treat you any different"
"How do you—" She didn't finish her sentence as John opened the door whist balancing a tray of food on one arm.
"Good to see you up mate," He said cheerfully as he placed the tray down on her bedside table, and took a seat on the side of Kitty's bed. He nodded to Jean, who smiled back at him.
"Hi John," Kitty said softly, avoiding eye contact.
He smiled at her, pulled out his Zippo lighter, and gestured to the tray, "Bloody hell, it's gonna take a while getting used to having a spook in the house, She scared me half to death when she told me to bring you food."
Kitty cracked a small smile, and John continued, flicking the lighter, creating a flame. "I was talking to Remy and all of a sudden I hear her in my head. When I answered her I think Remy thought I was a bit mad, talking to myself." He stopped and tilted his head as though thinking hard. "Come to think of it, he already thinks I'm bonkers so it's not a big problem."
John watched the flame for a bit, and wiggled his fingers at it. It began to form a little flaming dog. It pounced and played on John's hand, John apparently immune to the fire's heat. He hear he moving around as she began to sit up, and squished the fire in his hand and helped her to sit up properly then picked up the tray off the bed side table, and placed it on her lap.
"How is everyone else?" Kitty asked, picking up a piece of buttered toast and taking a large bite out of the corner. She saw out of the corner of her eye that Jean stood up and grabbed her crutches; she then hobbled out of the room, muttering a soft goodbye to Kitty and John.
John noticed but continued on with the conversation flicking the lighter again, and creating another fire-creature. "Good, we all missed your bright and cheery presence."
Kitty didn't answer but continued eating her toast and watching the little creature in John's hand, which vaguely resembled a rabbit.
"Are you annoyed at Jean for telling us what happened in the Camp?"
"That's one word to call it."
He watched her take a sip of her orange juice, (the little creature dying instantly as his attention was drawn away from it) then asked "Why are you annoyed at her for it? Were you ashamed of it?"
Again, she didn't answer.
He continued, "There really isn't anything to be annoyed at her for. She did as any good friend would have done."
"That's beside the point."
"How so?"
She dropped the remaining toast back onto the plate and glared at him, "Stop trying to be my therapist."
"I'm not trying, but you need someone to talk to about it."
"Well why did you come?" She asked, not in an accusing tone, but it still held a fair bit of resentment in it.
"I came because I was concerned for a friend. Just like Jean was concerned for you." John said calmly. "Jean stayed with you the whole time you were asleep, making sure you didn't dream about anything that happened in there. Did she tell you that?"
For the third time that morning, Kitty didn't answer.
"She stayed awake over 24hours, and she didn't let anyone take her place."
A sudden sense of guilt rushed over Kitty when she recalled what she had said to Jean before. She looked back at the wall, finding a rather interesting smudge. She heard the lighter click again.
"I'm not mad at *her*. Not really anyway." She finally said.
"What are you mad at then," John asked quietly, then after a little thought, "or who?"
"Well, the people at the Camp. They were such obnoxious bastards, always with an insult, or abuse. And for letting them get to me."
John sighed, "It's not your fault Kitty."
"I know that, but every time I think of it, I feel incredibly dirty."
"All victims of abuse feel like that. All you need to remember is that it wasn't your fault."
"I know that," Kitty huffed. "Now you really sound like a Psychiatrist."
John laughed. Kitty frowned, "That wasn't meant as a compliment"
"Oh I know that, it's just bloody funny."
"Why?"
"My old man was a psychiatrist, and I hated how he always knew what I was thinking. I think it's bloody ironic how you think I sound like one." John laughed again, clicking the lighter. He manipulated the flame to look like an old man with spectacles. "And when I grew up, I made myself a promise I wouldn't be like my dad. Look what happened, far out, I screwed up didn't I"
Kitty giggled. "Your family sounds funny."
John went with the subject change, "Oh they were. Dad was a shrink and my mum was a chalkie. Great combination."
"A chalkie?" Kitty said bewildered.
"A chalkie is a teacher."
"Oh," Kitty smiled, "Did you have any brothers or sisters?"
John sighed, "Yeah, I had a sister, Emily. She was 10 when I left."
"When you joined the Acolytes?" Kitty returned to her toast, it was only barely warm now.
John nodded, "Yeah, Mags came and visited me about 3 months after my powers manifested. Said he'd heard about me from a-" he waved his hands and the little fireball he was holding split in two and formed two little hands that did the bunny ears motion,"'contact'. Though he probably saw me in the news."
"You were on the news? I don't remember seeing you."
"No, you probably wouldn't've. Mags watched all these international channels. It helped him keep tabs on world affairs. There were some really bad bushfires really close to my school one day. They evacuated it, but I was in the toilet at the time, and I didn't hear the bell.
"The next thing I know, I'm surrounded by flames and all I could think of was how cool the were I wasn't even scared. Mum always did call me a pyromaniac. I don't know why, but I held up my hand and some of the fire moved with it. It was really cool. I began to play with it, then I realised that I was still at school, and the school art block was burning down. Not a big loss, but all the same, I thought to myself, if I can do this to a small bit of fire, maybe I can push it back. So I did. I put the fire out, and the firemen were absolutely shocked that I was still alive. I was all over the bloody media for a few days; front page on the newspaper: BOY SURVIVES BUSHFIRE WITHOUT INJURY."
"But you didn't know you were a mutant?"
"Didn't even know what a mutant was back then. Australia is a big country, but there are surprisingly few mutants. Maybe it's all the fresh air we have. But I still keep in contact with some of my close friends there, and they've told me that the Mutant issue is hardly even an issue over there."
"That sounds great, why don't we all move over there then. It'd save a whole lot of trouble wouldn't it? Plus I'd get to see the Kangaroos!" Kitty smiled eagerly, "And Koala Bears and Wombats."
John's face put on one of disgust. "Koala's aren't bears."
"Well what are they?" Kitty teased.
"Marsupials."
"Whatever,"
"Yeah, Australia is beautiful, adorable animals and all," Johns face went deadly serious, "But there are those bloody dangerous Drop Bears. My best mate was mauled by one when he was 7. It left him with a scar that ran all the way down the side of his face."
Kitty paled, "Drop Bears? I've never heard of them before."
"No, well you wouldn't have, we don't like to talk about them much. They're just too horrible for words."
"What do they do?"
John shuddered, "The look exactly like Koalas except the drop from trees onto the heads of innocent bystanders and try to eat their brains out through their ears. The only way to protect yourself against them is to rub balsamic vinegar onto your pressure points."
"They sound horrible!" Kitty said shocked, looking at John who still had the serious look on his face. However she noticed that the corner of his mouth twitched ever so slightly, as if he was holding back a smile.
She narrowed her eyes, "Wait a minute, there are no such things as Drop Bears are there?"
John couldn't hold it back any longer, and broke into maniacal laughter; he slapped his knee several times and almost fell off his chair.
"The look…. on… your face!... Priceless!" He managed to say in between laughs, before falling back into his giggling.
Kitty glared back at him, "That was so not funny. You were like leading me on."
He managed to calm down a bit "I know!! And you believed me, that's what makes it funny. Even bloody Toad didn't believe me when I told him that story." He laughed a bit more.
"Gee, that makes me feel so much better,"
John smiled and patted her leg, "Don't worry, I wont tell anyone."
Kitty scowled a bit more, and poked her tongue out at John, who was still red in the face from laughing. He laughed a bit more at her childish act, and poked his tongue straight back at her. Things were getting better already.
***
Disclaimer: They don't belong to me, though I saw an Xmen evolution comic in the bookstore today, I didn't have enough money to buy it… doesn't that tell you something about my financial position.
Yeah, I know the ending to the last chapter was so very unexpected… ooh isn't I evil? Yeah, Scott is going to have a part in the rest of the fic, and I'm going to treat him like all the other characters because he's Just as good as the other characters. And I wont have any of those "Scott-Haters" on my back, because even though Scott is fun to write as anally retarded, he isn't really, and is quite a complex character… and I can't believe I'm ranting about Scott… but seriously, he is cool to write as evil. You have NO idea!! :D:D
Yeah, and onto the shoutouts.
MarvelsX-Girl – I'm honoured that you put me on your favourite's list… And yes… surprises ARE fun, especially to write.
ZenZen – Yes, evil Senator… but he'll get his comeuppance… oh yes he will…
Spadde – Yep… it's twisted, and just the way I like it too…
Rogue151 – Yeah, I just randomly picked a name out of my arse when I was thinking of what to call her, I only just realised that it was very similar to Danvers. But no, Carol is not going to have any part in this fic. Too much other stuff to include to write all the Rogue angst that has to come with that
Yumiko – Romy fluff… I can't do fluff… tried… it looked funny… like a dog barking at a dead fish on the side of the road… Nah, joking, as I've said before, this fic isn't about the Relationships. It's about the plot; one that I'm proud of. The most you're going to get of Romyness, is watching through the eyes of the main character (Kitty)
GhettoPixieStixLover – Yeah, poor Kitty.
And that's it for the shoutouts. Now hop down and review like nice little readers…:D:D