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Disclaimer: It's mine, mine, all mine, Mwha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha . . . . . Ok, I've had my moment.
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Love Finds a Way
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I sat in the passenger seat of Mr. McCoy's new car. He won it in some contest a week or so ago, I don't think I've ever seen him jump that high. Though he had Logan go get it, for obvious reasons. But he still bombs around in it all the time like some deranged teenager in his first new car. As we hit downtown Bayville, he put on an old, worn-in brown hat. The kind you would see in the old movies, like Casablanca or movies like it; the old black and white ones. With the big trench coat he wore to hide the fur, it gave him a mysterious flare that made him really interesting to be around. "Thanks again for the ride." I looked over to him, and smiled. Trying to be nice and thank the guy for his offer, "It really means a lot to me, and Kitty; I'm sure." He returned the smile, revealing the big front canines. "Of course, anytime. If you ever need a ride again, just ask. 'Mon auto ce ton auto.'" I looked at him, exaggerating the confusion on my face, holding out my hands to show I have no clue what he is saying. "My car is your car." He drawled, drooping into a frown, and slumping his shoulders. I looked at him again, this time a devilish smile breaking my confused face. I pretended to leap across the car, and grabbed his shoulder, causing the car to swerve a little bit. "If it's my car too; then share fluffy." I heard him growl softly in the back of his throat, and I noticed my mistake. I called him fluffy. He says it's overly childish to resort to petty name calling, and it bugs the crap out of him. The car came to a stop out side the restaurant where I was supposed to meet Kitty, and I looked at him for the last time, swelling my lips to put on a pouting face and gave him the puppy dog eyes. I flashed a final devilish grin and sarcastically calling out to him as I closed the car door, "Sorry, Mr. McCoy!" He drove off laughing. He has a really hearty laugh, deep and full.
I saw Kitty sitting at a table in the little outdoor diner. It was set on the corner of two main streets here in downtown Bayville, a quaint little diner that you'd expect to be found by a movie producer or something, like all those big stars say in there biographies. 'Yeah I was, like, just sitting there in the café and the producer just walked up and, like, asked if I wanted to be in a movie.' I think that's why Jean started coming here a lot. Scott or no Scott. I walked up to Kitty, smiling as the waiter pulled back my chair for me. I thanked him as he walked off. "Hey, ya waited long?" She looked at me, our eyes locking for a minute, silence piercing the air. "Naw. I, like, just got here." I smiled, I'm glad I didn't keep her waiting. She said last night that she had a big day planned for us. But she left it a secret, saying she wanted to surprise me. Like back in the Brotherhood, Todd tried to surprise me on my birthday and I ended up punching him out. I laughed at the bruise for a week. I never did like surprises, but for her, anything. "So, where ya takin' me?" She shrugged, and let her the look on her face scream, 'I dunno?' She was lying and I could tell, but that's what she wants, I think. To torture me, leading me down the wrong path so I can find the answer on my own. Forcing me to fight to get the knowledge I need. Her voice dropped to a whisper, and she leaned forward, quickly saying what I needed to hear, "Come on." I just nodded as she paid the bill and started to run. I could barely keep up as we dodged traffic, darting in and out of passing cars. I yelled ahead, "Come on, slow down." She stopped quickly after I yelled to her back, seemingly giving me time to catch up. We were just across the street from the movie theatre. I continued to pant as she looked down at me, as I leaned their, bracing myself with my hands on my knees. Just as I arrived she asked me the meanest question ever as I stood there breathing deep to catch my breath. "What took you so long?" And then she darted down a long, dark alley, jumping garbage cans and weaving around the big metal dumpsters lining the alley. She had a place she was going; I could see it as plain as day. I followed, dashing through the alley, dodging things left and right. My foot caught a garbage can that was lying on its side. I fell quickly but instinct took over and I dropped into a roll and recovered from the fall before I even hit the ground. Kurt's tumbling lessons come in handy I guess. I kept running, slowly catching up to my target.
The sound of her shoes against the ground came to an abrupt halt. The silence clashed with my militaristic boots, clomping down the alley. I ducked my body in to gain speed, rushing into a sprint. I pushed all I had into a final sprint to catch up to Kitty, wondering why she wasn't moving anymore. I slowed down and lifted my head, to see where I was going. Just to see darkness, never-ending, aw-inspiring, hate filled darkness. I caught up to her for the second time today, but this time I almost wished I hadn't caught her. After shaking off the crash, I saw what I hit. In front of us stood a tall figure, dressed in a dark, hooded, flowing robe, like that you would see on the Angle of Death. The head rose, cloaked in the hood; all I could see were two, white glowing eyes. My mind froze, flashing back to the dream. The passion I felt, the lust that has clouded my thoughts for the days since the first images entered my dreams. A deep, hollow voice grew from under the hood, filling the alley with its echoed demons. "Yes, I am the one from your dreams. But it will not be I who fulfills your dreams; but another. Your inner demons created me, the Shadow of Hate. Your pain, your lust, your inner hate, all in one mutant package. " I sat here, listening to the 'Shadow of Hate' talk to me, and Kitty, to us. "Who fulfills your dream is up to you. But know this young one. Love can be a key that unlocks all doors, if you let it. Love is not a feeling or an emotion, but an excuse. An excuse to hold another close, without reason or need for just cause and commitment." My heart felt like it wasn't beating, just an empty pit in my chest. I can't remember the last time I took a breath. Footsteps once again filled the alley; shouting and dogs barking came soon after. The figure before us turned to face the noises. The hood that cloaked the figures face fell back. A black furred face looked forth from behind the mask. A clawed hand slid out of the sleeve and balled into a fist. It looked so human, yet so dangerous. Three sword like blades shot out of the fist, one between each knuckle. It reminded me of Logan's hand, how the blades came out. A slow scraping noise accompanied the blades, like metal moving against metal. The deep voice bellowed again as the Shadow leapt onto the side of the building. Climbing the building like a wild cat would climb a tree, digging it's claws into the building and using brute strength to pull it up. "Remember, love is but the key to open all doors."
The group of people finally appeared beside us. I couldn't think straight; my mind was clouded with infinite questions, my thoughts confusing me all the more. Who is this 'Shadow of Hate'? What did he mean by another will be the one to fulfill me dreams? Kitty was the only thing on my mind. She was all I could think about. One of them started talking to Kitty, and jabbering on about how we shouldn't be playing in alleys like this. I didn't here a word he said, just Kitty's voice and her answers to his questions. My mind caved in, the information surrounding it became too much. I blacked out.
"Where am ah . . . Hel. . . He. . llo?" A hand griped mine, and instantly I knew who's it was. "Kitty?" Her soft voice broke the silence that now clouded my mind. "Yeah, I'm here Rogue." I held her hand tight, I wondered again where I was. The professor's voice now came through. "You are home, in the mansion. The group that rescued you from that monster brought you here." I listened to him talk as Kitty sat there, holding my hand, still as tightly as before. It was comforting to know that she can display her feelings publicly like this. I sat up in the medical bed I was lying in. I shook my head, trying to clear the fog, Kitty chuckled, I guess I do look kind of silly sitting here, shaking my head like fool. I stopped shaking my head and looked at her. Bringing the glare of death upon her. She let out a little peep and hopped of the bed, rushing to hide behind Logan; who was standing in the doorway. "How long have ah been lying here?" I looked back and forth between the figures standing before me, still trying to figure out why I passed out. The professor broke my train of thought. "About two days now. It's strange, though you had no external injuries you behaved as if you had been struck by a car. Very peculiar." Peculiar indeed, I was out for two days? No way, no way that was possible. My mind faded, the dark cloak, and the figure wrapped within it stood before me. The alley, the answers I needed were there. They had to be. "Well, whatever the causes, you need your rest Rogue. Kitty, Logan; if you don't mind, give the girl some peace to rest." I looked at Kitty, my eyes begging her to stay, even just for a minute. I had to talk to her, there was too much on my mind to let her leave now. She looked at the professor, probably letting him speak telepathically to her. He nodded softly, barely enough to be noticed, but it showed more on her face than his. I saw her mouth 'Thanks' to him. I should thank him later, but that is later, not now. She looked over to me; the relief that I was awake was all too evident on her face. "What happened?" I asked softly, wondering why I was lying in bed instead of out in some god-forbidden alley in the middle of the city. She smiled, "Somehow I knew you were going to ask that first." Her smile dimmed, in a way. It became a depressed half smile. Something was wrong, so I did the only thing I could think of to comfort her. I brought up my free hand, and caressed her cheek, rubbing it softly to calm her down. She pushed her face into the palm, embracing the simple gesture. I felt her kiss it softly, letting her emotions out. "Those guys that 'helped' us in the alley. They were mutant hunters, but they gave us a ride back to the mansion. I felt sorry for that guy who was talking to us. They talked about how they were, like, chasing that 'freak'. And how they were going to hunt him to the death." She stopped, almost in the middle of her sentence. She knew as well as I did that we had to go back to that alley. No matter what happens. That figure knows something that I needed to know.
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Death Before Love****************
We made an agreement to meet in front of the mansion this time. And had a plan of where we were going to go. Hoping not to have a repeat of what happened last time. We told the professor we were going to watch a movie, which isn't entirely a lie; we are going to watch a movie. But we're going the alley after. So we began our trek, off to the great beyond that is the world that despises us, and fears us. On our way to the movie we met up with Jean at the same corner diner we were at yesterday. Funny, Scott was with her this time, unlike last time we saw her here, maybe he was cramping her style and she just had to come without him. But this time, he tagged along. And she wasn't even talking to him. He was just sitting there, like a puppet on a string. Following his mistresses orders blindly, never acting beyond what she says, or for himself. She sits there like she's the queen of the world. But the truth is that Scott has a better chance of becoming an actor, he's cuter anyways. "Well I never; that is the rudest thing I have ever heard." Jean pipes up, interrupting me. Even though I wasn't talking. I feel the telepathic waves remove themselves from around my head hastily. She was reading my mind, right here, in the middle of a busy public street, where anyone could see her. I glare at her as she breaks into a blind rage, controlled by the anger that's welling up inside. "I have plenty of potential. I can do anything I want!" 'Yeah, which market of entertainment are you thinking of Miss Grey?' I directed my thoughts at her, making sure that she heard me, and she shouldn't stick her lumpy, stuck up nose where it doesn't belong. I saw her face contort, like she had just been kicked in the stomach, with one of her famous soccer kicks. I could see the tears well up in her eyes, Scott looked to her. Probably thinking what now, how can I help you master? She bolted up and ran off, holding her face like she was a monster. I almost felt sorry for what I said, almost. She has said things that still hurt me; things that I still look back on and think, 'Why did she say that?' But then I remember, it's because she's popular and I'm not. No matter what I do she always has to ruin it for me. My first Christmas here, she gave me a box of Kleenex with a note that said, 'Cuz' I know you'll need it.' But she's not getting near Kitty and breaking us apart. And if she tries, I'll kill her. I have taken too much crap from that popular; miss 'I'm to good for the world', stuck up, bitch. I looked back to Scott, who now looks like he doesn't know what the hell is going on. For good reason too, the guide dog just left this blind man to rot. Thinking only of herself; no asking if he can excuse her, or if he can take her home; just, just runs of to wallow in her own thoughts.
I look to Kitty, reading her face like a book. Her face tells me everything I need to know, how to live, love, and anything else that might cross my path. I did something I should never have done, no matter what the conditions. I have never felt this low, and all because I stooped to her level, and childish acts that should never be committed against another. "I'm sorry." She looks at me, letting our eyes meet in an emotional haze. I feel the world around me slip away; melting into a never-ending abyss of lost emotions and needs. I felt her heart reach out to mine, right then and there, aching of sorrow and lost love, letting me know she understands what I did and why. But still telling me I shouldn't have. And I let her know, with my emotions and not my words, as best I can that I know just as well that I shouldn't have. She smiled, showing off that innocent smile that has captivated me since we first met. The world around us flowed back, the natural order restoring itself slowly. I smiled in return, letting her know I was back too. I take a moment to look over to Scott, poor helpless Scott. Even though he is the leader of our team, it doesn't mean he can lead a normal life. Being a mutant is hard, but being a teenage mutant is twice as much fun.
Kitty and I start towards the theatre, which is right across the street from the alley we're going to visit later. I look to the alley as we approach the doors, climbing up the steps to the brand new 'Mega Movie Palace'. My gaze locks on the alley as the shadows distort and circle around themselves, twisting and turning into new shapes and depths. I see a solid figure dash through the alley. "Um, Rogue?" Kitty's voice breaks through the clouds surrounding my mind, shedding light on me so to speak. I grab her wrist and pull her to the sidewalk, ignoring the people I have to bump through. She tugs her wrist, implying to stop, so I stop at the edge of the street, avoiding getting crushed by every oncoming car on the road. I lean into her, to whisper in her ear (don't need to let every one on the street hear what I have to say). "Kitty, something is in that alley, and I think it's what we're looking for." She grins, but it's a lie. I can tell. She doesn't want to go into the alley, she's afraid we might get hurt or worse killed. We don't know what that Shadow of Hate has in store for us, if it's just information, or three sword-like claws to the head. I look down the street, no cars that way. I look to the other side, red light there. I look to Kitty, begging her to come. The only thing that would hold me back now is her, and I want to go. But I value Kitty more than some stupid cat. She nods, giving me silent approval, and I nearly drag her across the street in anticipation. We enter the alley a little more carefully this time, watching out for what we know is there. A garbage can topples over, filling the alley with a shrill crashing noise. The sound echoes back as a new sound fills the air. It sounds like a low hum, almost inaudible at first but it gets louder slowly. Filling the alley with a subtle growl, causing a fine sheen of sweat to form on my back from fear, I feel it begin flowing around the fine hair standing on my back. I hear Kitty scream as another ear-raking crash fills the alley with its painful cry. We look to the dumpster that the sound came from behind, a trashcan lays on its side, half crumpled in. A small kitten jumps out from inside it, a loud scratching noise echoes from inside the can. Kitty laughs to break the tension in the air. "That didn't help." I say slowly, obvious sarcastic implications more notable than I hoped, breathing out each word so she knows exactly what I meant, and because I'm scared out of my mind. She nods in agreement, understanding exactly how I feel. An immense roar knocks me back, and catches me off guard. It was right in my face, its hollow sound passing through my soul. Before I can react the same three claws that defended me before now swing quickly towards my face, ready to tear into me. I scream, not knowing what else to do. Fear consumed me, fear of death, fear of losing Kitty. But most of all, fear of Kitty losing me, having to face the world alone, with no one to turn to when times get rough. I hear a skidding noise as the claws fly towards my face, and then a speedy breeze passes over me. A thin splash of blood strikes my face, the greasy but almost thick texture turning my stomach as I await the pain associated with a wound like this. I hear Kitty scream something, but it's not my name. I open my eyes, only to mimic her scream with my own. Pat, one of the cutest guys in the institute, stands in front of me, three razor sharp claws impaling him, protruding from his back like three small swords, turning the green shirt he has on black with blood. I leap up to his side wondering how bad the wound really is. The highest of the claws is embedded just below his neck, probably severing the windpipe on the inside; the second probably tore a part of his heart right off as it sits in the middle of his rib cage, and the third sit just above the bottom of his ribs. Kitty's wasn't even looking anymore, to sickened by the sight of Pat's dying form to even look. "How's it look doc?" Pat manages to scramble these few words together, the sound of his voice barely audible. He chokes on his breath, coughing up blood as he tries to breathe. The trail of blood slowly moves down his chin, dripping onto his, no our, attackers claws. The Shadow seems to be excited by the fact he just killed someone, an intimidating grin crossing his cat-like features. "How does it feel?" I look at the creature before me, questioning the words it's saying. Not understanding most of them. "To have the blood of your comrades on your hands? You were not meant for love, so I shall not let you have it!" It finishes in a blood curdling scream that would scare even Logan. The Shadow quickly unsheathes his claws from Pat's chest, teaming the claws with an intense battle cry, letting the empty alley amplify the scraping sound his claws cause as they finish sliding out of Pat. He drops to his knees, coughing up more blood as his body recoils from the landing the ground. His body slowly slumps back onto his feet, sitting on them to conserve strength. "R – u – n." Pat gets out one last word before the Shadow kicks him in the chest; I hear the ribs crack as the huge foot connects with his body. Pat's now broken form flies out of the alley into the side of a parked car on the far side of the street, causing the windows to break as Pat collides with the vehicle. The car bounces onto the sidewalk as Pat hits it, leaving his bloody mark streaking down the driver's door. A women's scream catches the Shadow's attention long enough for me to run over to Kitty and try to get her back to reality. People start to swarm the end off the long alley, but they see nothing; just a long, dark alley like all the rest. We sit in a pocket of warped space-time, where the Shadow rules. The people seem like ghosts, standing there, unmoving, unspeaking, just staring; their eyes boring into my soul, eating away at my very life force. The city behind them was destroyed, ruined beyond repair. The theatre Kitty and I were just at is now broken down and reduced to rubble. Obviously this is the Shadow's realm, his and his alone. The soulless bodies standing before us motion towards themselves, as if asking us to join them; I shake my head from side to side, trying to rid myself of their images. I hear the Shadow behind me, laughing in a deep demonic tone. It scared me to the depths of my very being; I know I'll never forget that sound even as he chuckles on as if the he had just heard the world's funniest joke. I shake my head again, trying to keep calm this time so I can help Kitty. The end of the alley begins to change again, distorting the images of the people and the ruined city. The Shadow raises his clawed hand into the air, ready to deal out the final blow. His hand passes through us, and instantly I know why. I look into Kitty's eyes, finding two pools emotions gathering building up in her beautiful ice blue eyes. A tear streaks down her cheeks staining the flushed red skin, "Nobody hurts my friends!" Kitty screams as she lets all of the emotion, all of the pain rush out into a torrent of emotional fury. The tears pour down her face as the alley around us begins to change. Turning back to the world we live in, the alley walls slowly gained back some of their color; colors inverting as the worlds shift and meld, changing back to the muted red that is was before. The portal at the end of the alley starts to lose its watery texture, returning to the opening of the alley. A thin red beam tears through the opening to the alley, traveling through at blinding speeds. The blast hits the Shadow square in the chest, burning away at flesh and fur. The strong scent of singed flesh invades my senses as the Shadow flies to the opposite end of the alley, crashing through boxes and garbage cans. It finally comes to a stop, smashing into a large trash dumpster at the very end of the alley, breaking the wall with its and the dumpsters combined force. A white-gray cloud of smoke floats just a few feet in front of me, resting in mid air where the Shadow just stood. I came that close to death; and my friends saved me, but this time it's not just a dream. Scott stands at the end of the alley, the same unreadable expression gracing his over-mature teen features. He's the leader, but he takes it to seriously for his own good. Even at school he tries to keep in line like he does when we fight the Brotherhood. But Lance is always there to stand against Scott and his obsessive-compulsive need for perfection. 'You shouldn't say things like that about your team leader, Marie.' Jean's telepathy breaks mockingly into my mind, though the barriers I put up in defense. 'I think these things because they help the team fix any flaws', I reply. Making sure that thought is the most prominent in my mind, ensuring she hears it. A grunt flows through the psychic link, and I instantly know she heard me. Scott runs up, Jean and Beast close behind. "Are you two ok?" Scott asks. Of course he asks if we're ok, we just went through a traumatizing event and of course you should make sure if we're ok. "Take a guess, Summers!" I cry, slowly breaking into tears. "You run up here, actin' all macho and tough. But." I pause as the sobbing takes its toll on me. "But Pat just died to save me and Kitty. And of course you ask, 'Are you ok?'" I finish as the sobbing drains my strength and I slump onto Kitty's shoulder, still crying. Kitty looks into my eyes, searching for any sign of hope for the poor boy, not for Scott but Pat too. She silently asks if what just happened was all for the best, if Pat's death was for a just cause. I can't give her a straight answer, but I give her all I can. I reach down to her side, and take her hand in mine, holding it tight. I lift it to my face, and gently kiss her knuckles, caressing them softly with my tear soaked lips. I let the hand slide to my cheek, as I slide my hand down her arm and onto her shoulder. I reach up my remaining arm and wrap both arms around her neck. Pulling her into my body, embracing her like I know we both need. Her arms wrap around my waist and hug me in tight, pulling us together. I love the feeling of her form against mine, pressed up against my body, the heat of both of us mixing between are emotionally torn bodies. It's like bliss, indescribable, unintentional bliss. I kiss her forehead softly, softer than the finest silks, lighter than the air we breathe, but just enough to be noticed. She looked up into my eyes, tears beginning to pour down. But she didn't look sad, or upset, or anything like that. "I, like, finally understand what that Shadow thingy was talking about, you know?" I wondered what she was talking about, trying to comprehend the things the Shadow had said and what she was saying now. Then it hit me, like the weight of a thousand worlds lifting from my shoulders I understood what she meant. "'Love is the key, the key to all doors.'" We say at the same time, perfectly matching each other's tone. I here her voice break the silence in the alley, though tiny it may be, it was like a million hammers breaking the barriers I've put up around my heart and the smashing echoing off of the walls of the thin alley. "And he did say love is but an excuse. So why can't we have an excuse once in a while? To, you know, unlock those doors?" I smile down at her, staring into the two pools of emotion below me. Her eyes seem like they go on forever in front of me, endless feelings gather before me. I lean down and gently kiss her lips. Breaking the last of the barriers around my heart as we stand here, embracing each other, holding each other tight.
A/N: Finally, Rogue finds true love, but how long will it last????? Find out, in the next chapter!