* * *
Kitty an' Ah stood outside the Professor's office for the longest time. Ah guess we were waitin' for me ta get up enough courage ta go inside. Despite the fact that he'd told us he never went into anyone's mind uninvited, a part o' me always wondered. Like, a man so powerful, with a mind like that, how could he help it sometimes? Ah imagined all the minds o' the world, all the thoughts, makin' up a big ocean. An' the Professor was like a fish swimmin' in that ocean. How could he just ignore all that water around him? Ah guessed he could feel us standin' there, me with my damn palms sweatin', tryin' ta think o' the best way ta say that Ah'd messed up bad an' that mebbe Remy was on his way ta mess up even worse.
Ah looked at Kitty. She was twistin' her hands into the material of her shirt. There was a faraway look in her eye. Ah thought 'bout the time Lance had come ta live with us. That had been fun. Sometimes it seemed like the seriousness o' what we were tryin' ta do was buryin' us alive. Like we'd all be dragged down under the Professor's mission. Lance hadn't understood that. But even still, Ah didn't see how it'd all gone sour so quickly.
Ah swallowed hard against the lump in my throat. What was gonna happen ta us? Ah was sixteen years old, a junior, were they even gonna let me go ta college? No one mentioned it for Scott or Jean an' they were even older than Ah was. Would they even let me look? An' what then? Mebbe they'd want me ta come back after, keep fightin' an' find others ta do the same thing Ah'd done. Ah could see the long line o' my future stretchin' out in front o' me. Ah could see how everythin' might be arranged if Ah never spoke up ta say what Ah wanted, if Ah ever figured that out.
Ah reached up an' touched the bump on my neck. Now that Ah was more used ta it, it didn't seem so monstrous. Mebbe if Ah could only leave it in Ah'd never have ta decide about the future. But even as Ah cursed myself for the coward's way out, my other hand was flat against the smooth wood o' the Professor's door.
"Better get this over with," Ah told Kitty.
She took my hand an' squeezed. "Okay." She looked anxious. "I be he, like, already knows we're here anyway."
The office was warm an' dim. The Professor'd partially drawn the shades against the late afternoon light that usually streamed in through all the windows. It took my eyes a moment ta adjust ta the dark.
"Professor?" Ah asked nervously. My hand was slippery against Kitty's. Ah clutched her fingers, but she didn't complain. "You here?"
It occurred ta me that Ah was scared. Not only o' confessin' what'd happened, but of him. Ah'd never really dealt with the Professor one-on- one before. Scott or Jean were always around. Ah suddenly knew what Dorothy musta felt like when she was standin' there in front o' the great an' powerful Oz; like she was small an' dirty an' worthless. Ah kinda wished there was another man behind the curtain runnin' the show just ta take the edge offa my fear. Ah wished the man was as small as me.
"Yes, Rogue, what is it?" He wheeled out into the center o' the room so Ah could see him better. "What's wrong?"
An' so Ah began the whole story again for the second time that day. Ah spoke carefully, not wantin' it ta seem like Ah was lookin' ta excuse what Ah'd done. Made sure ta tell him how Remy wanted ta go for help an' Ah'd begged him ta wait. Tried not ta sound as damned desperate as Ah felt.
When Ah was done, the Professor wheeled back ta his desk. He pressed a button. "Hank, could you please come up here?"
"Sure thing, Charles," Mr. McCoy replied.
"Bring your bag."
"Roger."
"He'll be here in a moment," the Professor said. He steepled his fingers an' looked at us steadily. Beside me, Kitty squirmed. Ah realized Ah was still holdin' her hand an' Ah let go, scrubbin' my sweaty palms on my pants.
"Sorry," Ah whispered.
"'s okay," she whispered back.
"I'm not about to lie to you, Rogue," the Professor said. "This is serious business and I won't insult your intelligence and pretend it isn't."
"Yes, sir," Ah said, my heart sinkin'.
"While you should not have been tampering with things you don't understand, you certainly should have come to me the instant there was a problem."
"Yes, Ah know...but what about Remy?"
The Professor looked half-angry for a second, but then he controlled it. "Mr. LeBeau has a choice about whether he wants to stay or go, but he can't have it both ways as he seems to be doing. As long as he understands that he may stay. I'm not in the habit of turning anyone out."
"Bullshit!" Kitty exclaimed Ah whirled ta look at her, my mouth hangin' open. She looked pretty damn shocked herself. One hand flew ta her mouth.
"Kitty, if you'll please wait outside..."
She had a reckless look in her eye that Ah'd never seen before. "What about Tabby?" she demanded. "What about Lance?"
"Tabitha and Mr. Alvers both decided that they preferred not to stay. Surely you wouldn't have me keep them here against their wills."
"Oh, sure, they wanted to go." Kitty threw up her hands. "Whatever you say. Whatever you, like, need to believe."
Ah realized that Kitty'd never really talked 'bout Lance leavin'. It musta cut her deeper than any o' us imagined.
"You just let them go. You let everyone treat them like crap. Scott and everyone else." She said Scott's name like it was poison in her mouth. "And y'know why?" She took a step forward and then nervously stepped back. "Because they're different." She looked down at her pale pink shirt in disgust. "They never tried to fit in. They weren't safe. And 'cause they wouldn't, like, get with your damn program...pfft. Now you wanna do the same thing to Remy. I'm surprised you still let Rogue hang around!"
Kitty whirled. Ah expected her ta be cryin', but she wasn't. Her face was deadly serious. She hugged me fiercely, whisperin' "I'm sorry" into my ear. Ah wanted ta tell her that it was okay--more than okay--but Ah was still too amazed ta speak. "Don't let 'im do it, okay?"
She phased through th' door, leavin' me alone with the Professor an' neither of us knew what ta say. Lucky thing that Mr. McCoy knocked on the door an' came in or Ah'm sure one o' us woulda eventually said somethin' inappropriate an' awkward.
Mr. McCoy looked back an' forth at our stricken faces. "I'm missing something, right?"
The Professor nodded at me. "Rogue." Ah showed Mr. McCoy my neck. "It's some sort of device that negates her powers," he explained. "It's been absorbed into her skin." He sounded tired an' a little sad.
Mr. McCoy touched my neck. The pads o' his fingers were cool. "Now that is a problem," he said mildly. "How'd a smart girl like you get into a situation like this, huh?"
"Long story," Ah whispered.
"Why don't you come down to the lab with me? You can tell me all about it while I see what I can do, okay?" He put one strong arm around my shoulders an' Ah sagged against him gratefully.
"Okay," Ah agreed, hopin' Ah didn't really have ta go through th' whole thing again. We reached the door an' Ah spun around. "Remy?" Ah asked the Professor. "What about him?"
The Professor rubbed his temples wearily. "I'll send Logan after him. Don't worry." He tried ta smile but gave up in the middle of it.
* * *
"I feel like my te...te...eth are about to fall out!" Kurt managed t' yell over de roar of de engine and de wind in our ears.
"Well, I feel like my fingers are about t' fall off, so dat makes us 'bout even, neh?" Don't know if he heard me. Made no sign, only held on tighter when I opened up de throttle.
We were climbing again. De terrain was getting more mountainous as we moved north. Pulled into de narrow breakdown lane t' squeeze past a truck carrying lumber and a station wagon wit' young kids in de back. Dey stared at us in openmouthed wonder, dere faces pressed against de glass.
Kurt made a high-pitched noise and squeezed my stomach.
"Not so tight!" I yelled back t' him. Den I caught a glimpse o' what de kids were staring at. "Zute (dammit)! Kurt! De inducer!"
"Scheisse (shit)." He switched it on.
"Much better." We kept riding.
Luck was wit' us and we managed t' make de town in time. Was a postage stamp of a place, no more dan a fleck on de map, and de diner was a real greasy spoon, crowded. Settled in happily. I felt at home right away.
Kurt sank down in de booth opposite me, looked like he was trying t' make himself small as possible.
"Sit up. You're calling attention t' yourself."
Kurt sat up. De waitress came by and we both ordered coffee. At de last minute, Kurt asked for a slice of lemon meringue pie. I looked at him.
"Vhat?" he asked defensively. "Vhen I'm upset I eat. Zis place looks like it has good pie."
Hid a smile behind my hand. Our coffee and Kurt's pie came and we ate silently. "Heartbreak Hotel" was playing on de radio. Listened t' de noise of de waitress and de short-order cook shouting 'bout people's orders wit'out bothering t' make de words make sense.
Barely looked up when John slid into de booth alongside me.
"Who's the kid?" he asked.
"Hey!" Kurt protested.
"New squeeze?" John inquired.
I shrugged. "Cold. Man got t' do somet'ing t' keep warm." A beat. "Dis is Kurt. Pushy, but okay."
"As long as I'm the only man you'll ever love."
"You de only man I'll ever love."
Kurt was looking back and forth at both of us like he was trying t' decide just how serious we were being. Saw John swallow a chuckle.
"What about th' girl, mate?"
Dat sobered me a bit. "All a front, mon ami. Smokescreen."
"Guess you want t' see the doc anyway, am I right?" John looked at Kurt whose mouth was hanging open. Den John couldn't keep de joke t' himself anymore. He burst out laughing. He laughed so hard he had t' clutch his sides. Kurt -- still not knowing what was going on, but knowing enough t' realized he was being laughed at -- scowled. "Don't be like that, then." John slapped Kurt lightly on de shoulder. "Remy an' I were just havin' a bit o' fun is all."
"Some fun." Kurt lowered his head and frowned into de remains of his pie. "I thought we vere here for a reason."
John looked at me and I shrugged. "He's testy. But cute," he said. Kurt looked up, alarmed. John laughed. "Get me a coffee, willya?"
"Vhere are you going?"
"Little boys' room. Find some little boys. I'll be back, don't worry." He mussed Kurt's hair on his way t' de back.
When he was out of earshot, Kurt turned t' me. "Is he really..."
"Non." I laughed. "John likes t' stir t'ings up and he found out dat dis is an easy way. Y' should see de look on your face."
"Oh...okay." Kurt chuckled nervously. "And you? You're not..."
"Mais (well), never met de right boy, so I'd say no. And now dere's Rogue. Don't want t' t'ink 'bout anyone else."
Was just about dat time dat John sauntered back from de bathroom. "Coffee?" he asked.
"Waitress didn't come by," I said.
He sighed dramatically. "Life's just full of tragic disappointments, innit? Speaking of which," he scribbled a place and a time on a paper napkin, "Dr. Moreau sure as hell remembers you, although I'm not sure it's fondly. What happened between you two in Genosha?"
"De usual." I waved de question away.
"Usual for you or usual for someone civilized?"
"Dealer's choice," I replied, standing. Kurt stood too. "Thank y' for dis," I told John. "I know y' don't have t' and I hate t' ask."
"Ya'd hate ta ask anyone, Remy. That's just how ya are. So bloody independent all the time."
"Sorry," I said, not meaning it at all.
John grinned. "Sure ya are. Everybody's always sorry, ain't they now?" He looked sad all of a sudden.
"Look, John, like I said before, if y' want I could talk wit' de Professor..."
"Don't think I don't appreciate the offer. After all, you're a damn sight better conversationalist than Piotr. Maybe someday, eh?" He brushed an imaginary fleck of dust from de front of his jacket. "Better get a move on before they realize I'm gone. Catch your act around, mate. Good ta meetcha, Kurt."
"Right. Same," Kurt replied.
John let in a rush of cold air when he left de diner. When de wind hit my face I realized how much I missed him.
"I don't think I understand anything you guys just said," Kurt told me. Couldn't tell if he was complaining or observing.
"Now y' know what I feel like when I'm around de x-men," I said, surprising myself.
* * *
Freeverse: So you see that Mr. McCoy is also involved, but the Professor is the authority figure. He's like the dad and eventually he was going to know anyhow, right? Dr. Moreau is a character from my first story (and also an x-comics character to give credit where it's due). He helped to develop technology on Genosha that turned mutants into slaves for the government.
girl4chat86: Whew! Almost no one takes the word of a brownie dropout these days. ;-) I actually like Kitty and Kurt. Plus, bringing in other people helps keep the angst levels from going off the charts.
ishandahalf: Um...see Kitty's rant in this part about the Institute folks and new people. I have NO idea where that came from. I mean, I guess I do know. It's just that the episode where Lance joins up just strikes me as wrong in so many ways. Like, Scott's such a dick and then in the end it's okay because he finally realizes that Lance is okay? A graceful apology at the last second is really not cool in my books. The more I thought about it, the more I felt like it was all played out so Scott could seem all cool and tolerant and Lance is the stubborn one who won't stay even when asked. Never mind all the stuff that happened before. Yeah. I've got some...anger...about that and I guess I figured that Kitty would too. On a lighter note: I like the new mutants and I wish I could put them into the story more prominently. As of now they'll have to settle for little side scenes. I do like the idea of Amara and Jubilee as friends though.
Flyby Stardancer: Cute guys were SO rare at my high school. I'd always tell people that and no one would believe me because there were 3,000 people at my school and I'd be all: "Dude, look at my yearbook, okay?" I think over time I just learned to rethink my definition of "cute." It makes me, like, absurdly happy that you and Niteflite know each other IRL. Don't ask me why...
Neurotic Temptress: I like John a whole bunch. Sometimes I find him hard to figure out and a lot of what he does and says is surprising to me. That's why he's so darn fun to write. I was pretty proud of Rogue's panicked reaction too. I didn't want it to be over the top or anything, but I was kinda wondering when the poor girl would snap, even just a little.
Sujakata: I always thought that part of the point of Remy was that he IS slightly too good to be true. People like him, but they don't always trust him, because there's something so polished about the way he behaves. That's why I like it when he's a little messed up and off base. I once had a boyfriend who would say stuff like that all the time and it was...tiring. I'm not much of a romantic and he always kind of put me on edge. Eh.
Christy S: Sorry about the schoolwork. It is a sad fact of life. Some of it is more enjoyable than most, but on the whole it has the rare distinction of both sucking and blowing. I don't quite know what to make of the brother/sister thing Kurt and Rogue have. Hmmm...I should probably decide what I think before I write a scene with them together, huh?
Randirogue: Dear lord. I thought you fell off the face of the earth. Psych! Nah, I just figured you got caught up in all those things you do IRL. And lo and behold I was right! I'm impressed you're even still reading the fanfic. But I'm also glad that you're enjoying it.
Bunny Angel: Believe it or not, the last chapter was a good page longer than what I usually write (it's usually about 6 pages, single spaced, times new roman 12 pt., that one was 7). Anyhow, I hope this one doesn't feel short to you too. And I feel certain that Remy is heading for something he's not quite prepared for. Duh duh duuun!
Lace123: Woo. Professor bashing by Kitty?! Apologies to anyone who likes the Professor. Eep. I don't really hate him, I sometimes just question his methods. Kurt's a sweet kid, generally. He's one of those characters that've really grown on me.
Jean1: Ah, more bonding, more musing, more talking. More John! I think you're right about him and Lapin having a lot in common. I wanted to show more of Lapin and Remy's friendship in the last story, but I never quite got the chance. I like the idea of Remy and Rogue having friends though. As independent as they are, everyone needs at least one friend.
evolutionary spider: So many people dancing. It's a new sensation! Like the Macarena...only not at all. As much as I enjoyed the scene in the show where Kitty lost her toothbrush inside Mr. McCoy, the nerdly part of me was all: "Um...shouldn't he be DEAD right now? There's a toothbrush in his trachea." I wouldn't rule out Kitty's assistance with the collar, but there are many important veins and arteries in that particular area and I'm pretty sure Kitty's not taking anatomy. We'll all just have to wait and see what happens!
Lucky439: So lovely to hear from you again, and with such a fantastic compliment! Thanks!
starlightz6: I think Remy just has a hard time breaking with tradition. I mean, when he was growing up, the Guild was all about traditions. You have one way of doing things and it's the RIGHT way because it's what you and your forefathers have always done. And that translates to his actions sometimes, which may come off as stubborn (because it is), but he doesn't intend it viciously. I think (I hope?) Rogue understands that at least a little.
Kitty an' Ah stood outside the Professor's office for the longest time. Ah guess we were waitin' for me ta get up enough courage ta go inside. Despite the fact that he'd told us he never went into anyone's mind uninvited, a part o' me always wondered. Like, a man so powerful, with a mind like that, how could he help it sometimes? Ah imagined all the minds o' the world, all the thoughts, makin' up a big ocean. An' the Professor was like a fish swimmin' in that ocean. How could he just ignore all that water around him? Ah guessed he could feel us standin' there, me with my damn palms sweatin', tryin' ta think o' the best way ta say that Ah'd messed up bad an' that mebbe Remy was on his way ta mess up even worse.
Ah looked at Kitty. She was twistin' her hands into the material of her shirt. There was a faraway look in her eye. Ah thought 'bout the time Lance had come ta live with us. That had been fun. Sometimes it seemed like the seriousness o' what we were tryin' ta do was buryin' us alive. Like we'd all be dragged down under the Professor's mission. Lance hadn't understood that. But even still, Ah didn't see how it'd all gone sour so quickly.
Ah swallowed hard against the lump in my throat. What was gonna happen ta us? Ah was sixteen years old, a junior, were they even gonna let me go ta college? No one mentioned it for Scott or Jean an' they were even older than Ah was. Would they even let me look? An' what then? Mebbe they'd want me ta come back after, keep fightin' an' find others ta do the same thing Ah'd done. Ah could see the long line o' my future stretchin' out in front o' me. Ah could see how everythin' might be arranged if Ah never spoke up ta say what Ah wanted, if Ah ever figured that out.
Ah reached up an' touched the bump on my neck. Now that Ah was more used ta it, it didn't seem so monstrous. Mebbe if Ah could only leave it in Ah'd never have ta decide about the future. But even as Ah cursed myself for the coward's way out, my other hand was flat against the smooth wood o' the Professor's door.
"Better get this over with," Ah told Kitty.
She took my hand an' squeezed. "Okay." She looked anxious. "I be he, like, already knows we're here anyway."
The office was warm an' dim. The Professor'd partially drawn the shades against the late afternoon light that usually streamed in through all the windows. It took my eyes a moment ta adjust ta the dark.
"Professor?" Ah asked nervously. My hand was slippery against Kitty's. Ah clutched her fingers, but she didn't complain. "You here?"
It occurred ta me that Ah was scared. Not only o' confessin' what'd happened, but of him. Ah'd never really dealt with the Professor one-on- one before. Scott or Jean were always around. Ah suddenly knew what Dorothy musta felt like when she was standin' there in front o' the great an' powerful Oz; like she was small an' dirty an' worthless. Ah kinda wished there was another man behind the curtain runnin' the show just ta take the edge offa my fear. Ah wished the man was as small as me.
"Yes, Rogue, what is it?" He wheeled out into the center o' the room so Ah could see him better. "What's wrong?"
An' so Ah began the whole story again for the second time that day. Ah spoke carefully, not wantin' it ta seem like Ah was lookin' ta excuse what Ah'd done. Made sure ta tell him how Remy wanted ta go for help an' Ah'd begged him ta wait. Tried not ta sound as damned desperate as Ah felt.
When Ah was done, the Professor wheeled back ta his desk. He pressed a button. "Hank, could you please come up here?"
"Sure thing, Charles," Mr. McCoy replied.
"Bring your bag."
"Roger."
"He'll be here in a moment," the Professor said. He steepled his fingers an' looked at us steadily. Beside me, Kitty squirmed. Ah realized Ah was still holdin' her hand an' Ah let go, scrubbin' my sweaty palms on my pants.
"Sorry," Ah whispered.
"'s okay," she whispered back.
"I'm not about to lie to you, Rogue," the Professor said. "This is serious business and I won't insult your intelligence and pretend it isn't."
"Yes, sir," Ah said, my heart sinkin'.
"While you should not have been tampering with things you don't understand, you certainly should have come to me the instant there was a problem."
"Yes, Ah know...but what about Remy?"
The Professor looked half-angry for a second, but then he controlled it. "Mr. LeBeau has a choice about whether he wants to stay or go, but he can't have it both ways as he seems to be doing. As long as he understands that he may stay. I'm not in the habit of turning anyone out."
"Bullshit!" Kitty exclaimed Ah whirled ta look at her, my mouth hangin' open. She looked pretty damn shocked herself. One hand flew ta her mouth.
"Kitty, if you'll please wait outside..."
She had a reckless look in her eye that Ah'd never seen before. "What about Tabby?" she demanded. "What about Lance?"
"Tabitha and Mr. Alvers both decided that they preferred not to stay. Surely you wouldn't have me keep them here against their wills."
"Oh, sure, they wanted to go." Kitty threw up her hands. "Whatever you say. Whatever you, like, need to believe."
Ah realized that Kitty'd never really talked 'bout Lance leavin'. It musta cut her deeper than any o' us imagined.
"You just let them go. You let everyone treat them like crap. Scott and everyone else." She said Scott's name like it was poison in her mouth. "And y'know why?" She took a step forward and then nervously stepped back. "Because they're different." She looked down at her pale pink shirt in disgust. "They never tried to fit in. They weren't safe. And 'cause they wouldn't, like, get with your damn program...pfft. Now you wanna do the same thing to Remy. I'm surprised you still let Rogue hang around!"
Kitty whirled. Ah expected her ta be cryin', but she wasn't. Her face was deadly serious. She hugged me fiercely, whisperin' "I'm sorry" into my ear. Ah wanted ta tell her that it was okay--more than okay--but Ah was still too amazed ta speak. "Don't let 'im do it, okay?"
She phased through th' door, leavin' me alone with the Professor an' neither of us knew what ta say. Lucky thing that Mr. McCoy knocked on the door an' came in or Ah'm sure one o' us woulda eventually said somethin' inappropriate an' awkward.
Mr. McCoy looked back an' forth at our stricken faces. "I'm missing something, right?"
The Professor nodded at me. "Rogue." Ah showed Mr. McCoy my neck. "It's some sort of device that negates her powers," he explained. "It's been absorbed into her skin." He sounded tired an' a little sad.
Mr. McCoy touched my neck. The pads o' his fingers were cool. "Now that is a problem," he said mildly. "How'd a smart girl like you get into a situation like this, huh?"
"Long story," Ah whispered.
"Why don't you come down to the lab with me? You can tell me all about it while I see what I can do, okay?" He put one strong arm around my shoulders an' Ah sagged against him gratefully.
"Okay," Ah agreed, hopin' Ah didn't really have ta go through th' whole thing again. We reached the door an' Ah spun around. "Remy?" Ah asked the Professor. "What about him?"
The Professor rubbed his temples wearily. "I'll send Logan after him. Don't worry." He tried ta smile but gave up in the middle of it.
* * *
"I feel like my te...te...eth are about to fall out!" Kurt managed t' yell over de roar of de engine and de wind in our ears.
"Well, I feel like my fingers are about t' fall off, so dat makes us 'bout even, neh?" Don't know if he heard me. Made no sign, only held on tighter when I opened up de throttle.
We were climbing again. De terrain was getting more mountainous as we moved north. Pulled into de narrow breakdown lane t' squeeze past a truck carrying lumber and a station wagon wit' young kids in de back. Dey stared at us in openmouthed wonder, dere faces pressed against de glass.
Kurt made a high-pitched noise and squeezed my stomach.
"Not so tight!" I yelled back t' him. Den I caught a glimpse o' what de kids were staring at. "Zute (dammit)! Kurt! De inducer!"
"Scheisse (shit)." He switched it on.
"Much better." We kept riding.
Luck was wit' us and we managed t' make de town in time. Was a postage stamp of a place, no more dan a fleck on de map, and de diner was a real greasy spoon, crowded. Settled in happily. I felt at home right away.
Kurt sank down in de booth opposite me, looked like he was trying t' make himself small as possible.
"Sit up. You're calling attention t' yourself."
Kurt sat up. De waitress came by and we both ordered coffee. At de last minute, Kurt asked for a slice of lemon meringue pie. I looked at him.
"Vhat?" he asked defensively. "Vhen I'm upset I eat. Zis place looks like it has good pie."
Hid a smile behind my hand. Our coffee and Kurt's pie came and we ate silently. "Heartbreak Hotel" was playing on de radio. Listened t' de noise of de waitress and de short-order cook shouting 'bout people's orders wit'out bothering t' make de words make sense.
Barely looked up when John slid into de booth alongside me.
"Who's the kid?" he asked.
"Hey!" Kurt protested.
"New squeeze?" John inquired.
I shrugged. "Cold. Man got t' do somet'ing t' keep warm." A beat. "Dis is Kurt. Pushy, but okay."
"As long as I'm the only man you'll ever love."
"You de only man I'll ever love."
Kurt was looking back and forth at both of us like he was trying t' decide just how serious we were being. Saw John swallow a chuckle.
"What about th' girl, mate?"
Dat sobered me a bit. "All a front, mon ami. Smokescreen."
"Guess you want t' see the doc anyway, am I right?" John looked at Kurt whose mouth was hanging open. Den John couldn't keep de joke t' himself anymore. He burst out laughing. He laughed so hard he had t' clutch his sides. Kurt -- still not knowing what was going on, but knowing enough t' realized he was being laughed at -- scowled. "Don't be like that, then." John slapped Kurt lightly on de shoulder. "Remy an' I were just havin' a bit o' fun is all."
"Some fun." Kurt lowered his head and frowned into de remains of his pie. "I thought we vere here for a reason."
John looked at me and I shrugged. "He's testy. But cute," he said. Kurt looked up, alarmed. John laughed. "Get me a coffee, willya?"
"Vhere are you going?"
"Little boys' room. Find some little boys. I'll be back, don't worry." He mussed Kurt's hair on his way t' de back.
When he was out of earshot, Kurt turned t' me. "Is he really..."
"Non." I laughed. "John likes t' stir t'ings up and he found out dat dis is an easy way. Y' should see de look on your face."
"Oh...okay." Kurt chuckled nervously. "And you? You're not..."
"Mais (well), never met de right boy, so I'd say no. And now dere's Rogue. Don't want t' t'ink 'bout anyone else."
Was just about dat time dat John sauntered back from de bathroom. "Coffee?" he asked.
"Waitress didn't come by," I said.
He sighed dramatically. "Life's just full of tragic disappointments, innit? Speaking of which," he scribbled a place and a time on a paper napkin, "Dr. Moreau sure as hell remembers you, although I'm not sure it's fondly. What happened between you two in Genosha?"
"De usual." I waved de question away.
"Usual for you or usual for someone civilized?"
"Dealer's choice," I replied, standing. Kurt stood too. "Thank y' for dis," I told John. "I know y' don't have t' and I hate t' ask."
"Ya'd hate ta ask anyone, Remy. That's just how ya are. So bloody independent all the time."
"Sorry," I said, not meaning it at all.
John grinned. "Sure ya are. Everybody's always sorry, ain't they now?" He looked sad all of a sudden.
"Look, John, like I said before, if y' want I could talk wit' de Professor..."
"Don't think I don't appreciate the offer. After all, you're a damn sight better conversationalist than Piotr. Maybe someday, eh?" He brushed an imaginary fleck of dust from de front of his jacket. "Better get a move on before they realize I'm gone. Catch your act around, mate. Good ta meetcha, Kurt."
"Right. Same," Kurt replied.
John let in a rush of cold air when he left de diner. When de wind hit my face I realized how much I missed him.
"I don't think I understand anything you guys just said," Kurt told me. Couldn't tell if he was complaining or observing.
"Now y' know what I feel like when I'm around de x-men," I said, surprising myself.
* * *
Freeverse: So you see that Mr. McCoy is also involved, but the Professor is the authority figure. He's like the dad and eventually he was going to know anyhow, right? Dr. Moreau is a character from my first story (and also an x-comics character to give credit where it's due). He helped to develop technology on Genosha that turned mutants into slaves for the government.
girl4chat86: Whew! Almost no one takes the word of a brownie dropout these days. ;-) I actually like Kitty and Kurt. Plus, bringing in other people helps keep the angst levels from going off the charts.
ishandahalf: Um...see Kitty's rant in this part about the Institute folks and new people. I have NO idea where that came from. I mean, I guess I do know. It's just that the episode where Lance joins up just strikes me as wrong in so many ways. Like, Scott's such a dick and then in the end it's okay because he finally realizes that Lance is okay? A graceful apology at the last second is really not cool in my books. The more I thought about it, the more I felt like it was all played out so Scott could seem all cool and tolerant and Lance is the stubborn one who won't stay even when asked. Never mind all the stuff that happened before. Yeah. I've got some...anger...about that and I guess I figured that Kitty would too. On a lighter note: I like the new mutants and I wish I could put them into the story more prominently. As of now they'll have to settle for little side scenes. I do like the idea of Amara and Jubilee as friends though.
Flyby Stardancer: Cute guys were SO rare at my high school. I'd always tell people that and no one would believe me because there were 3,000 people at my school and I'd be all: "Dude, look at my yearbook, okay?" I think over time I just learned to rethink my definition of "cute." It makes me, like, absurdly happy that you and Niteflite know each other IRL. Don't ask me why...
Neurotic Temptress: I like John a whole bunch. Sometimes I find him hard to figure out and a lot of what he does and says is surprising to me. That's why he's so darn fun to write. I was pretty proud of Rogue's panicked reaction too. I didn't want it to be over the top or anything, but I was kinda wondering when the poor girl would snap, even just a little.
Sujakata: I always thought that part of the point of Remy was that he IS slightly too good to be true. People like him, but they don't always trust him, because there's something so polished about the way he behaves. That's why I like it when he's a little messed up and off base. I once had a boyfriend who would say stuff like that all the time and it was...tiring. I'm not much of a romantic and he always kind of put me on edge. Eh.
Christy S: Sorry about the schoolwork. It is a sad fact of life. Some of it is more enjoyable than most, but on the whole it has the rare distinction of both sucking and blowing. I don't quite know what to make of the brother/sister thing Kurt and Rogue have. Hmmm...I should probably decide what I think before I write a scene with them together, huh?
Randirogue: Dear lord. I thought you fell off the face of the earth. Psych! Nah, I just figured you got caught up in all those things you do IRL. And lo and behold I was right! I'm impressed you're even still reading the fanfic. But I'm also glad that you're enjoying it.
Bunny Angel: Believe it or not, the last chapter was a good page longer than what I usually write (it's usually about 6 pages, single spaced, times new roman 12 pt., that one was 7). Anyhow, I hope this one doesn't feel short to you too. And I feel certain that Remy is heading for something he's not quite prepared for. Duh duh duuun!
Lace123: Woo. Professor bashing by Kitty?! Apologies to anyone who likes the Professor. Eep. I don't really hate him, I sometimes just question his methods. Kurt's a sweet kid, generally. He's one of those characters that've really grown on me.
Jean1: Ah, more bonding, more musing, more talking. More John! I think you're right about him and Lapin having a lot in common. I wanted to show more of Lapin and Remy's friendship in the last story, but I never quite got the chance. I like the idea of Remy and Rogue having friends though. As independent as they are, everyone needs at least one friend.
evolutionary spider: So many people dancing. It's a new sensation! Like the Macarena...only not at all. As much as I enjoyed the scene in the show where Kitty lost her toothbrush inside Mr. McCoy, the nerdly part of me was all: "Um...shouldn't he be DEAD right now? There's a toothbrush in his trachea." I wouldn't rule out Kitty's assistance with the collar, but there are many important veins and arteries in that particular area and I'm pretty sure Kitty's not taking anatomy. We'll all just have to wait and see what happens!
Lucky439: So lovely to hear from you again, and with such a fantastic compliment! Thanks!
starlightz6: I think Remy just has a hard time breaking with tradition. I mean, when he was growing up, the Guild was all about traditions. You have one way of doing things and it's the RIGHT way because it's what you and your forefathers have always done. And that translates to his actions sometimes, which may come off as stubborn (because it is), but he doesn't intend it viciously. I think (I hope?) Rogue understands that at least a little.