Ace of Hearts
Chapter 9
By Kanshisha Tenshi
~[ 3 ]~
Rogue was sitting across from the professor in his office when he told her Neutra was still missing.
"Missing?"
"Yes. She and Logan went out to search for you yesterday. Logan assumed Neutra had come home, because her scent led that way..."
"Is he sure?"
"I didn't say her scent, Charles. I said I saw her run that way."
"So she nevah came back?" she asked, incredulous. Her eyes still glowed faintly from the absorption, but the black and red colors were fading to be replaced with white and green, respectively.
"No."
"Excuse meh. Ah'm feelin' a bit tired..."
"Yes, of course."
~[ 3 ]~
It was Sunday, still morning. Rogue had, obviously, not gone up to her room. She'd snuck out through the kitchen. She'd taken Logan's motorcycle. She'd been purely livid.
"They musta found her," she mumbled to herself on the ride to the Acolytes' mansion. "They musta taken her. They might be exploitin' her right now..." She parked the motorcycle on the street outside the house and burst unceremoniously through the previously-exploded door, fading colored eyes blazing.
"Bring her t' meh now!" she called. "Ah've still got his powers an' Ah intend t' use 'em if Ah don't get mah way!" There was a long silence, followed by a shadow darkening the stairwell. Before she knew what had happened, Gambit flipped over her and landed behind her gracefully, wrapping an arm around her waist and pinning her arms to her sides.
"Remy still got dem too, chérie, an' he intend t' use 'em if you don' come quietly. Come on upstairs an' see yo' friend." Quietly, he whispered, "Please jus' go 'long wit' it, chére. Remy don' wanna have t' use force on you. By de way, you mad at Gambit?" His crimson eyes bore deep into her now-green ones as she turned her head to look at him.
"Ah will be if they hurt one hair on her head. Ya'll are evil," she continued, "for kidnappin' two teenage girls...an' wantin' t' take ovah th' world, an' wantin' t' put humans in their place..."
"Oui, oui, may we go now, petite?"
"Fine. Take meh t' her. An' so help meh gawd, if ya'll try anythin' funny Ah'll absorb every last part o' ya bein'..."
~[ 3 ]~
Lauren looked up at St. John dreamily. She had to admit to her drugged self, he did look fairly good, especially while he slept in a chair next to her--his, actually--bed with his head tilted back and body limp. She sluggishly lifted her right hand and smoothed his blonde hair back, causing him to start forward in alarm.
"Bloody hell--"
"Shh, it's just me..."
"Oh. Bloody hell--when did ya wake up, mate?" She closed her eyes and smiled, leaning her head against the generous amount of pillows he had provided.
"A few minutes ago. Wow...everything's blurry, spinning..."
"Maybe those bloody drugs weren't the brightest idea."
"Drugs?" She giggled. "That's silly. I don't do drugs." He smiled faintly.
"No fault o' yours, love. I gave 'em to ya."
"I feel dizzy." Despite her words, she was smiling. He scooted his chair closer and leaned forward, brushing her hair back. He bent over and kissed her on the cheek.
"Sleep now, love."
"But I'm not tired--"
"It'll do ya some good. For me?" he added.
"Well," she giggled, "when you put it that way...good night."
~[ 3 ]~
"Make yo'self comfy, chére." Rogue snorted.
"Like hell. Ah just want Lauren. Give her t' meh an' Ah'll leave ya alone."
"Dat not what Gambit want, chére. You can bot'er Gambit all you want. He don' mind."
"Besides," Piotr cut in, "Magneto needs you and Lauren." He hadn't looked up from his painting yet, so he missed her glare but knew she had used it just the same. "It's part of some plan he's working on. My guess includes Lauren to use against you X-Men..." He paused to chuckle at the irony that would cause. "And you to absorb their powers while they can't fight back, then use them against the X-Men and then...the world," he said dramatically, chuckling.
"Mon Dieu," Gambit said, faking shock. "Dat's de most Gambit ever heard you say, mon ami." Piotr stared at him like a cow about to get hit by a train, then hurriedly went back to his painting. Remy sighed. "Anyway, I t'ink P...Colossus was tryin' t' say dat Magneto a real loony. He's a little not right in de head, hahn? His plans t' take over de world..."
"Wonderful to know my loyal employees think so highly of me," Magneto growled from his office/room. Gambit flinched, and mumbled something in French that Rogue couldn't quite hear. "LeBeau, put her in the room with Allerdyce. And be sure to tie her up before you leave her alone with him!"
~[ 3 ]~
Neutra looked at her friend tied up to St. John's former chair, smiling dazedly.
"Never thought I'd see you again."
"Same here."
"So how're we gonna get out of here?"
"Ah have no idea. Tied up, remembah?"
"Oh, yeah." She giggled.
"What've they got ya on?"
"I'm not sure, but I feel funny." She suddenly turned very serious, and stared at her friend.
"Rogue, you can escape. I know you can. But you can't afford to get me out of here, too, because I'll slow you down." She paused. "Then again, maybe you can."
"What're ya talkin' 'bout?"
"Let me finish. You may blame it on the drugs, kid, but I've been thinking about this for a long time." She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "Rogue, I want you to absorb me--"
"No. Absolutely not. Ah won't do it."
"Rogue, listen to me! It'll enable you to touch, and in a way we'll always be roommates." A goofy grin crossed her features, and she giggled.
"Ya're right. Ah am gonna blame it on the drugs. Ya're bein' ridiculous." Magneto stepped through the door, and before he closed it again the girls could see Remy and St. John looking through sadly.
~[ 3 ]~
"I'll be brief, ladies. I have a proposition for you, Rogue." He glanced over at Lauren conspiratorially, then bent closer to Rogue. He lowered his voice, yet sounded commanding. "I will set Lauren go." She glanced up at him questioningly. "But," he continued, "only if you agree to stay here and serve me."
"Ya gotta be kiddin' meh!"
"Do I look like I'm joking?" She scowled at him.
"Ya look like ya got a stick wedged tightly up ya ass, but that's not the point."
"Your friend isn't going anywhere unless I have your word. Otherwise, we'll be keeping her drugged and you aren't capable of carrying her."
"Mah friends'll find meh." The old man chuckled.
"Who, your beloved Logan? Haven't you wondered why you haven't encountered Sabertooth? He's been trailing you, dear, covering your tracks and scent. Wolverine will find neither you nor Neutra. You'll both remain here unless you agree to my plan; then she may return and you will serve me."
"Professor'll track me with Cerebro."
"I'm afraid that won't work, either. When I'm wearing my helmet, he can't read my thoughts. He won't be able to find you with the precautions I've taken."
"Ah hate you."
"If we can direct that hatred toward the real threat--those not blessed with mutation--then we'll both be in business."
"Get the hell outta mah sight," she spat."
"As you wish."
~[ 3 ]~
"Well, Professor?"
"Be patient, Scott. We will find them in time."
"What do you mean by that? You haven't tracked them with Cerebro?"
"According to Cerebro, they cannot be found. Rest assured, Scott, we will find your team members...somehow."
In the shadows, Logan snarled, his claws popping out--unbidden.
~[ 3 ]~
Lauren woke up that night around midnight. She was thirsty. She looked over and noticed Rogue was asleep. Forgetting her thirst, she pulled the girl's chair closer as silently as she could. It took her a while, since the drugs had relaxed her muscles quite a bit. Yet she managed, and the result was Rogue's chair directly beside Neutra's bed.
"'m sorry, kid," she slurred.
She removed Rogue's glove and clamped her hand around her friend's firmly.
~[ 3 ]~
Pyro awoke to the sounds of screaming. He jumped up and saw Rogue's chair had moved closer to the bed, and Lauren was sitting upright holding the girl's hand.
Her ungloved hand.
Bloody hell...no...
"No!" He jumped forward and snatched Lauren's hand.
Her limp hand.
With no pulse. Rogue was slumped in her chair. Gambit burst through the door, took in what happened, and shouted; but St. John Allerdyce didn't hear him.
"No..." he whispered. "Lauren..."
~[ 3 ]~
Author's Notes: Sorry again for the somewhat late update, and especially the relative shortness of the chapter when compared to other chapters. Forgive me if I get their accents and stuff wrong, because I've never been all that great at it. Sad ending? Can't wait to see what happens? Wonder how it's all eventually (lots more chapters? Few more?) going to lead to a happy ending? Any suggestions for what's going to happen? Remember the...other...other characters I made? Review! See if you can figure out some of what's going to happen! And here's a little improvisation poem I made up just now:
One person can make the choice
To let the author hear their voice.
Reviews make the world go round
And authors love to hear the sound
Of happy readers, let us know
Your opinion and bestow
This happiness that comes when we learn
Of the comments that we earned.
So please do me this tiny favor;
Reviews increase the author's labor!
