Chapter 5 of 12
"Papercut"
by: RogueBHS
A/N: Remy is fashioned closer to his comic-counterpart than whatever the Evo version may turn out to be like. As with Rogue, I tend to over-do his accent, and use too much French. Sorry! Whenever I use French, I will be sure to include a translation at the end of the chapter. The lyrics to "Papercut" by Linkin Park are from the revised version used on the "Reanimation" CD. The "Reanimated" version of "Papercut" is remixed by Cheap Shot and Jubacca, and also features Rasco and Planet Asia's vocals. This is going to be one LONG chapter, so I hope you have food and drink nearby and what not! LOL. Just kidding. Thank the lord for "Day Of Recovery" airing before I wrote this chapter. Now I can bring the Prof back easier! Hehe.
Bold Italic text= LINKIN PARK (text)= background LP Italic text= Rasco & Planet Asia
"Why does it feel like night today
Something here's not right today
Why am I so uptight today?
Paranoia is all I got left
I don't know what stressed me first
I thought the preasure was fading
But I know just what it feels like
To have a voice in the back of my head"
Remy noticed Rogue's pause as they made their way through the woods outside of the building she and her friends had been held in. Turning, he studied her as he might a complicated alarm system that was puzzling him. He could see clearly that, even in the darkness of night, her green-gray eyes seemed brighter than the first time he had met her. Her skin seemed more resiliant, and her entire figure seemed to be slightly different in a way he couldn't define.
Rogue lifted a hand to her head as if a headache was troubling her. It was a headache alright, but not the kind that could be fixed with asprin. The younger girl they had made her absorb was all but screaming inside of Rogue's head, making it throb with the intensity of a migraine or worse. All she wanted to do was hit her head against something until the girl quieted.
But that plan of action only ended in a busted rock and Remy staring at her in shock. Rogue stared at what had been a fairly good sized bolder, her eyes wide. The former boulder was now in dust, dirt, gravel, and pebble sized pieces for the most part, with a few slightly larger chunks here and there.
Acting as if she hadn't just broken a rock with her forehead, Remy carefully brushed a few chunks out of her hair, causing her to flinch. Before he could question her on the movement, Logan and the others joined them. Hank had an injured Evan in his arms, and Fred seemed rather drowsy, but other than that, they were alright. That fact came as an immense relief to Rogue. Logan looked at the broken rock, then at Rogue and the Cajun. Raising an eyebrow, his eyes wondered who on earth they had made Rogue absorb. The Cajun didn't have the strength to do something like that, and neither did Rogue normally. Passing it off for now, he pointed to what Rogue identified to be the west and mentioned a cave or some-such in that area.
During the brief period Rogue had been with Mystique, she had begun training to be the woman's protege. Rogue had never divulged that information to the others, but she suspected Xavier and Logan knew anyway. The young girl Rogue had been forced to absorb, despite her young age, had been a government agent. Now, Rogue had memories of stealth training that only expanded on the knowledge Mystique had given her. Logan had trained Rogue in hand to hand combat like he did none of the others since her powers brought such pain to her mental state. But now? Rogue had a sinking feeling she wouldn't need that training as badly as before.
Logan finally spoke when Rogue started floating a few feet off of the ground, causing him to have to look up to her. "Alright stripes, what's goin' on here?"
Rogue averted her gaze, letting her bangs hide the guilty tears that threatened. Softly, she mumbled something about being forced to absorb somebody. Logan's low growl testified to the fact he didn't like it in the least, but then he asked another question. "How long ya got th' powers for kid?"
Xavier had worked out an approximate 1-60 ratio for Rogue's powers, but Rogue had no idea how long the contact lasted when she had touched the younger girl. Shrugging, she looked up at him. "Ah dunno. Ah kinda lost conciousness aftah a sort while." Noticing Logan wanted a more in depth answer now, she gave it. "Th' transfah happened fastah than normal...like somethin' was wrong...or different."
Hank handed Evan to Logan, and walked to Rogue. While Logan had spoken, Beast had been studying her, and had noticed the same changes Remy did only a few minutes before. He reached out to grip her forearm in a test of the muscle, but Rogue grabbed his wrist with a higher level of strength than even he posessed. His blue eyes wide, he cleared his throat. "Well, we can add super-strength to your list of temporary powers. Mind letting go of my wrist, Rogue?"
Rogue did so, then decided to add Trask's comment. "Aftah th' transfah was done an' Ah woke up, Trask said Ah was a murderer." Logan, Hank and Remy's eyebrow's shot up. "Th' girl they made me absorb...she wasn't alive. That much Ah know for sure, even if Ah ain't a doctah."
Logan and Hank glanced at each other. Xavier had once voiced that Rogue could quite possibly kill if she held on for long enough, but the time had never dared to be tested on someone else. Now, her ability took on a more serious question. If she did kill with a long enough touch, did she keep the powers permanetly? Only time would tell it seemed.
Rogue settled herself to the ground, borrowing the knowledge of how to control the powers she now had. Glancing towards the compound they had been held in, Rogue's face paled as yet another power "spoke up" warning her of immpending danger. Looking to the others, she floated off the ground an inch or two again. "We need t' get outta heah...now."
Logan sniffed the air, then nodded in agreement. Handing Evan back over to Hank, he pointed towards the west again. "You guys head that way. Stripes and I'll take the rear to make sure nobody catches up."
Logan noted the Cajun's reluctance to leave Rogue, but when she fixed him with a pointed glare, he turned and started jogging off after Hank and Fred. Glancing to Rogue, he noticed she had started floating backwards towards the edge of the woods. He started moving quietly towards the edge as well, sniffing the air to see how close the guards of the compound were. Realizing they were within firing distance, he went into a full fledged run after the others, hoping Rogue would follow. She did, and quietly. He almost didn't know she was there, only a few feet behind him.
Her breathing was almost silent, and the new-found ability of flight made no noise that a tree wouldn't make moving in the wind. Even her heart seemed to have quieted down, knowing the danger that could befall them if they were found. Logan was suddenly very proud of her, for the breathing trick was one he himself had taught her. Looking back, he suddenly realized she was gone. He didn't bother to look around for Rogue, knowing she couldn't have been caught without him knowing it. Her scent was still near, but he couldn't tell where exactly it was coming from.
Above, hidden by the foliage of the trees, Rogue flew quietly. It was amazing the monuverability she had in flight. With ease, she wove a complex pattern in the branches of the trees, staying behind Logan a good 8 feet at least. When the guards got too close to him for her liking, she dipped down, and landed right in front of the guards, causing them to halt.
None of them had expected to come face to face with a girl. And a pretty one at that...in a Goth sort of way of course. The fiery glint to her eyes showed they weren't getting past her to the others without a fight. Their mothers may have told them to never hit a girl, but in this case, they were rather sure that "mommy" wouldn't mind. Without warning, they started firing at her, bullets zooming at her chest and abdomen. In shock, they watched as the bullets simply fell to the ground after hitting her. With purpose, she strode forward, causing a few to step away from her.
Reaching out, she grabbed 2 of the guns, earning her a few more steps back from the guards. As if the guns were nothing but clay, she bent the two then threw them to her right, into the woods. Gulping, the guards turned, bursting into a run back to the compound, deciding the mutants could be allowed to leave while she was guarding them.Rogue turned when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking behind her, she saw it was Logan. He said nothing, just started turning her back to the west, and the others. Silently, she took to the air again, and startled Logan when she picked him up under the arms and started flying ahead. She carried his heavier weight as if it was nothing, attesting to the amount of strength the person she had absorbed gave her. Staying quiet, Logan simply did his best to keep from doing something that would make her drop him to the ground.
"Like a face that I hold inside
Face that awakes when I close my eyes
Face that'll watch everytime I lie
Face that laughs everytime I fall
It watches everything
So no doubt when its time to sink or swim
But the face inside is here in me
Right beneath my skin
Its like a parnoid lookin over my back
Its like a whirlwind inside of my head
Its like I can't stop what I'm feelin within
Its like the face is trapped beneath my skin"
Jean looked up in surprise when she saw a figure land outside the window. The only flying mutant she knew herself was Ororo, although there was the ever mysterious "Angel" Rogue and Scott had met. But she had seen no sign of wings. Curious, she walked to the window, and was shocked to see the auburn and white hair of Rogue. Turning, Jean ran to the main hall, noticing Scott was about to open the door. When he did, his jaw might as well have hit the floor.
"R...Ro...Rogue?" The stutter seemed to amuse the one spoken to, but she nodded anyway. "How did you get here?"
Rogue used her power of flight to float a few feet off of the ground, earning her another look of pure shock from both Jean and Scott. Shrugging it off, she lowered her feet back to the ground. "Look, th' othahs are still back in New York. Evan's banged up pretty bad, but everyone else is alright considerin'." She paused, as if debating whether to include more information or not. She must have decided yes, because she continued. "Ya remembah that guy... th' one with th' explodin' cards that we fought?" At Scott's nod, she spoke again. "He's th' one that got us out. When Ah left, he was still with th othahs, and sorta keepin an eye out for anyone who might o' followed us. Ah need...no. We need somebody t' get th' helicoptah or plane t' where they are."
Scott took a moment to digest this knowledge, then nodded. "I'll go tell Storm."
He left, Jean hot on his heels. Only moments later, the others, both X-men and Brotherhood were running or walking to the front door. Rogue was still standing outside, but she turned and looked back inside at the commotion approaching. Ororo moved her way through the students, and smiled at Rogue. "I'm glad you managed to get out, Rogue. We were trying to devise a way to release you just now, actually."
Rogue shrugged lightly, then gave a hint of a grin. "Obviously I don' need rescued. But th' othahs...Ah cain't get 'em all heah mahself."
That brought a frown to the weather-goddess' face as a thought crossed her mind. "How did you get here in the first place?"
Rogue grinned and walked outside a few feet, and the others followed. Without a warning, she started to float a few feet off of the ground, as she had done for Scott's benefit. The gasps of shock didn't surprise her, and she landed again. At Ororo's questioning look, Rogue sighed. "They made me absorb somebody. Ah don' know how long Ah've got her powahs for, but..." She trailed off. "Ah'll tell ya latah, Storm."
Storm nodded, then looked at the others. "Scott, Jean, Kurt and Kitty...go with Rogue to get the others. Try to be discreet if you can."
The four mentioned ran back inside to change back into their uniforms, while Storm walked towards Rogue. Putting a hand on her shoulder, she guided Rogue away from the others, a brief command to "get inside" being issued over her shoulder to the younger students and Mystique.
Once the order was followed, she looked down at Rogue. "Alright child, what happened?"
Storm listened in mute shock as Rogue relayed more information than she had told Logan or Hank. She told of the fact they first forced her to absorb a normal human, aside from Trask, but the contact was brief and his memories were gone. Rogue then told Ororo about the younger girl...Ms. Marvel. Ororo did nothing but nod, as the other X-men were leaving the house now and heading for the X-jet. Giving Rogue a brief hug of support, she stepped back and let them go.
"Hey yo
Here we go again with the pain I feel
Is it real or in my mind
When I find myself in places
With names but not faces
My memory erases at speeds
100 degrees, my soul willfully
Devil must have planted the seed
Now it feels like my back's against the wall
I'm taking the fall
Whenever I call, nobody's responding at all
But I don't know who I can trust
They screamin my name
I need somebody to help me out of the flame"
Scott was amazed at the airborne agility Rogue posessed while he flew the X-jet through a complex set of moves over the Appalachian Mountains. She barely missed hitting the peak of a taller mountain that Scott had directed the jet around. It was as if she knew exactly where the radars that might find them were, because the equipment of the X-jet picked up no signs of them being scanned.
Rogue did a sudden nose dive once they were past the mountains, taking them down low over hills and valleys, using a weaving pattern yet again. He winced when she hit a tree, and was about to land the plane when he saw her fly back up. Kurt, who had been watching out the window looked up, surprise written all over his face. "Mein Gott! She just knocked over around two dozen trees!"
Scott shared a glance of surprise with Jean, then looked back out the window at the younger girl. Obviously flight wasn't the only new power she had. Within moments, Rogue's voice came over the communicator. "Th' cave's about 30 miles ahead. You aughta be able t' land th' jet right outside with no problem."
Scott nodded to himself as he saw the smaller mountains where he imagined the cave was. "Alright Rogue, just show me where."
Rogue zipped ahead a bit, and did another nose-dive, but this time into a tree-less area near the mountains. Carefully, Scott directed the jet into the area, landing it with a bit of a jolt on the hard ground. When the door opened, Rogue was there, carrying Evan into the plane. Jean jumped up and went to help Rogue get him strapped in in the back of the jet, while the other 3 who had been captured boarded.
Logan grunted as Kitty connected with him in a fierce hug. He gave her what was as close to a hug as he ever gave, then smiled weakly when she moved away. He looked up at Scott and simply nodded a greating to him. Glancing back at Rogue, he spoke. "She tell ya bout her new powers or did ya find out th' hard way?"
"The only two powers we know of that are new are strength and flight. How about you?"
Rogue walked forward, Jean behind her. "How about Ah sum it up? Ah've got super-strength, flight, nigh-invunerability and some sorta extra sense thatp picks up on danger. Now, if'n ya don't mind, Ah really think we aughta get outta heah."
Scott raised an eyebrow, but Logan was already in the pilot's seat, directing everyone to prepare for a fast takeoff. Rogue flew out of the jet, yelling that she would fly herself back. Taking a seat by the window, Scott noticed Rogue take off, heading North instead of South. Curious, he watched her as Logan got the jet off of the ground and started heading in the correct direction. "Logan? Why is Rogue heading north instead of south?"
"She's goin' after th' Cajun. He was doin' a patrol of th' area t' make sure nobody got too close."
Watching the slowly diminishing figure of Rogue, he only hoped that the "Cajun" hadn't laid a trap for them.
"All I'm tryin to do is master me
All I wanna do is outlast the heat
But somethin keeps talking to me conciously
Responsibly, keeps hautin' me
From dusk till dawn
Everyday has something for you
That voice inside of your head
Got to project the paranoia
Cold sweat shinin on your face
Exposing your purpose
And if I ripped off your skin
I'd probably find another person
There's nothing worse than trying to bring yourself
Up back from the dead
So I advise you listen to that voice
In the back of your head"
There was much hugging and laughter when the captives walked out of the X-jet, but the sudden appearence of Rogue with the demon-eyed Cajun put a halt to it immeadiately. Rogue said nothing, just walked towards Storm, obviously having a few things to discuss with the temporary leader of the X-men as a whole. Ororo and Rogue walked inside without a word to anyone else, leaving a few of the teens confused. When the cajun followed a few feet behind, Scott was tempted to follow them, but was stopped when Jean put her hand on his shoulder, shaking her head.
Inside, Ororo led the two students up to the only office in the entire "mansion." Rogue took a seat as Storm did, leaving Remy to close the door behind them. When he took a seat, Ororo finally spoke. "What is it child?" Her blue eyes were on Rogue, but Remy had a sneaking suspicion she was completely aware of every move he made.
Rogue motioned to Remy for him to speak, but he shook his head. Sighing, Rogue decided to speak after all. "When Ah went aftah Remy, he said he had seen some police out lookin' fo' mutants. But not us." Ororo raised an eyebrow, and Rogue continued. "They're lookin' for Juggernaut." Storm's gasp of surprise was immeadiate. "Ah got t' thinkin when we were on our way heah, that if Juggernaut is free, maybe..." Rogue bit her lower lip, then met Ororo's gaze. "Maybe th' professah is in where they kept Juggernaut. Mystique's gotten in there before, an' it kinda makes sense. He'd be passed out...couldn't contact us or anythin."
Ororo nodded, then looked at Remy. "Why is he here?"
"He saved us, Storm. He asked me about th' possibility of him joinin' th' X-men... Ah...Ah said Ah'd vouch fo' him."
Slowly, Storm nodded. "Alright." She fixed Remy with a pointed glare. "One wrong move, and you are gone. Understood?"
Remy spoke, smiling. "Oui."
Storm looked at him questioningly. "Do you have a name?"
Holding his hand out, he grinned. "De name's Gambit, but de femmes c'n call me Remy...Remy LeBeau."
Its like a parnoid lookin over my back
Its like a whirlwind inside of my head
Its like I can't stop what I'm feelin within
Its like the face is trapped beneath my skin"
The sun goes down
I feel the light betray me
The sun goes down
(Its like a paranoid...)
I feel the light betray me
The sun goes down
(I can't stop what I'm hearin' within)
Its like a parnoid lookin over my back
Its like a whirlwind inside of my head
Its like I can't stop what I'm feelin within
Its like the face is trapped beneath my skin"
Storm had to be insane to allow that Cajun guy to be part of the X-men. She just had to be. But then again, Kurt wasn't a psychiatrist or anything. Looking at Scott, Jean, and Kitty, he knew they agreed. But Rogue? Rogue had actually vouched for the guy! That had come as a shock to the others. Only a few days before, that guy had tried to blow her up and now she was saying he deserved a spot as an X-man?
Rogue finally gave them a good reason why the teen called Gambit deserved to be an X-man. "He saved mah life, you guys. That ain't somethin' Ah take lightly. He didn' have t' come an' save any of us...but he did. If he hadn't shown up, Ah don' even wanna know what Trask mighta put meh through." Rogue's green-gray eyes were pleading with them each silently, and the nervous way she kept biting at her lower lip showed she really was concerned at what their final decision might be.
Scott must have seen Rogue's look because he immeadiately gave in and consented to Gambit joining the X-men. His answer had Jean glaring at him, but he ignored it pointedly, offering a weak smile to Rogue who mouthed her thanks.
Ororo's eyes settled on Kitty, who also answered in the positive. Kurt raised an eyebrow at her, but she smiled openly at Rogue. Kitty would rather keep her Goth roommate happy, and it was obvious the Cajun could aid in that. Atleast, that was Kitty's silent opinion.
Jean answered in the negative immediately, her green eyes flashing in triumph at Rogue's wounded look.
Kurt had planned a similar answer, but Rogue's pained visage caused him to rethink his answer. It was obvious she felt they owed Gambit something akin to loyalty for his rescue, and Kurt couldn't bare to hurt her by turning the Cajun away. Looking up at Storm, he too vouched for Gambit. Before he knew what was going on, Rogue had gotten up and was hugging him. Kurt's shock was too great for him to realize he should fear her skin, and he hugged her back momentarily before she pulled back, looking shy all of a sudden.Kurt smiled at her. "Atleast he'll keep the number of guys over the number of girls, ja?"
Rogue gave an honest laugh, shaking her head. She smiled at him, Scott and Kitty one last time before flying out of the room to find her Cajun and give him the good news.