Reunion
Sally and Caliban guide them through the long dark Morlock tunnels in silence as Romana tries to take in her surroundings. -I never knew such a place existed! If only I had known, all those years I had been running, maybe I could have found a home here. From what I can tell, though-she glances over at Kurt, whose brow is furrowed and lost in brooding thoughts- it may have been just as well I wasn't here. I wish he would talk to me-
Romana's thoughts are interrupted as Sally stops at a bricked over tunnel wall and knocks five times. "We're here." A ripple forms in the middle of the brick and gradually expands to form an archway.
"Where is here?" Romana asks in wonder as they walk through the entrance and it closes behind them to form the brick wall again. Sally turns around with a smile and lifts her arms up to the 'sky'.
"The Alley!"
Romana looks around from their platform at the huge smooth tunnel that seems to go for miles. Various people come and go through the many entrances to the tunnel, some carrying building supplies, some with food. Torches at regular intervals light the long path as they climb down a ladder to the main floor of the Alley. At some of the entrances Romana notices carvings along the edges, as well as beautiful bas-relief's of suns and moons. "This work is amazing," Romana says as she runs her fingers along the radiating waves of the stone sun. "How do you get such detail?"
Sally giggles as she turns to see the object of Romana's praise. "I wish I could take the credit for those, but alas," Sally concentrates for a moment and a blue-tinged field forms around her body, "My powers aren't so artistic in nature." She drops the field and continues, "Shaper is the creative one. He's been helping us truly make the tunnels feel like a home again, instead of an old subway. He can mold stone like clay with a thought."
"Incredible!" Romana mutters to herself as she looks around at their home. Children with mutations that might get them stoned above means nothing below as they run through the tunnels and laugh. A particular small green boy with large red eyes catches Caliban's eye and waves to him.
"Come play, Caliban! We need another for our Frisbee game!"
Caliban looks up to Sally with pleading eyes and she smiles. "Go on, Caliban. I think I can take it from here. Just be careful with the kids." Caliban grins wide, his dangerous looking fangs a sharp contrast to the child's mind inside.
"I'm coming, Artie! Wait up!" he yells as he runs off in a lope on all fours.
They continue walking down the tunnel past others coming and going, till they get to a large rounded alcove shaped out of the wall. A tiered stone bench lines the back of the alcove, with a fire pit being built in the middle by people with large stones. A wiry old woman in dark jeans and a vest with black spiked hair is obviously directing the people in the alcove, her curt commands and quick gestures keeping everything organized.
"Callisto!" Sally shouts to the woman. "I've brought guests!" The woman stops abruptly and turns around, looking like she's going to yell, her grim face tightened in a snarl only magnified by the patch over her left eye. When she notices Kurt standing behind Sally, however, her brow rises in surprise and her face relaxes noticeably.
"I thought you were dead," she says matter-of-factly.
"After zat flood, I could say der same for you und everyone else I see here, Callisto. I am glad to be wrong," Kurt finally speaks. "I see zat you are all hard at work here. Have you finally given up your path of hatred to finally try und make a home?"
Callisto sighs and gazes around the Alley. "The Gene Nation is a thing of the past, Nightcrawler. My hatred of the surface-dwellers has done nothing but destroy us and send my kin to places unimaginable. When I escaped the Hill, I decided that this was my last chance to do things right. We are going to make a home for ourselves away from the hate, to live our lives in peace."
"It does my heart good to hear it, Callisto." Kurt says as he walks up behind her and places a hand on her shoulder. "Too many people have suffered because of hate." As Kurt and Callisto talk, Sally excuses herself and Romana walks into the alcove. As she gets closer she sees that all along the walls of the alcove are carved reliefs of different figures, almost like cave paintings, except much more detailed. -This must be more of Shaper's work-She runs her fingers down the back of a lizard much larger then the other figures when she comes to a scene that makes her stop. A large battle scene is depicted, with many dead surrounding a group in the middle. The main figure holds a large gun and is backed by a man with a harpoon, a woman with long hair, and an animalistic creature almost like a lion standing on two legs. -Could this be the massacre they mentioned?- Romana searches through the figures, coming across a woman shattering someone against a wall, another woman surrounded by cracks in the ground, and a swirling tornado with the head of a man. She gasps as she follows the trail of the objects shooting out of the tornado into the carved figure of a man with a spiked tail and pointed ears. -Kurt! Goddess, no wonder he didn't want to talk about it!-Romana caresses the stone carving of Kurt with her fingers, hoping somehow that she might take his pain away.
"Romana." Kurt says from behind her.
Romana jumps and wipes the tears from her eyes before she turns around. "I- I'm sorry, Kurt. I got wrapped up in looking at these carvings." She tries not to look into his eyes, but he gently places one hand on her shoulder and the other beneath her chin.
"Romana," he says as he nudges her chin to make her look him in the eyes. "All zis," he gestures to the wall with a nod of his head, "ist der past. Leave it vere it belongs, und don't vaste your tears on me." Kurt gently cups the side of her face with his hand and wipes the stray tear from her cheek with his finger. Kurt holds his breath as Romana leans into his palm, the light of the torches turning her hair to bright flame.
"Nothing about you is ever wasted, Kurt." She opens her eyes to look at him with shining emerald pools, and he exhales in a whisper, his heart swelling with emotions he hasn't allowed himself to feel in a long time.
"Romana."
"As much as I would hate to interrupt you two lovebirds," Callisto says dryly, "a chamber has been set up for you two to rest. Later you and I need to talk, Nightcrawler, for your arrival has great importance to us." Kurt and Romana step away from each other like someone who has gotten too close to a searing flame. Romana quickly turns to hide the blush and look of disappointment in her face while Kurt straightens his robes.
"What do you mean, Callisto?" he asks after clearing his throat. "How could I be important to the Morlocks?"
"One of the fallen of the Mutant Massacre comes back to us in the robes of a priest? That itself holds great meaning, Nightcrawler. But the fact that you visited us on the eve of our most sacred ritual can only mean one thing: You must preside over the Ceremony of Light."
---
"Sie hast einen Vogel! Das ist unglaublich!" Kurt mutters as he paces back and forth in front of Romana in their room. After explaining to them both that the ritual was to take place at daybreak, Callisto escorted them to their quarters and was kind enough to leave them alone for a while. Romana sits herself on the edge of the small bed and follows Kurt with her eyes.
"So what IS the Ceremony of Light that it's got your fur in such a tangle?" Romana asks jokingly, trying to catch Kurt off guard.
Kurt stops his ranting with a "Vas?" and looks at Romana with a half-grin as he runs his fingers through his hair. "Ach, here I am ranting and raving, and you don't even know vat it's about! I am sorry, Romana." Kurt crosses his legs and sits down in a smooth motion on the floor, straightening his priest robes around him. He rests his elbows on his knees as he leans forward to talk. "From vat I have read from der records, a few years ago it vas thought zat all der Morlocks disappeared in a flood in der tunnels. It turned out zat a man named Mikhail who had incredible powers transported zem to a pocket dimension he called 'The Hill.' Zis vas a terrible place of forced trials und battles for der Morlocks, who eventually fought their way to der top to become part of Gene Nation, a group of mutant terrorists who vould come back into zis dimension und fight humanity. A strong woman named Storm came und performed der Ceremony of Light, vere you use der sunlight re-directed through many mirrors to enlighten der alley's beauty. Somehow zis opened up a portal to der Hill, vere she fought Mikhail und made him bring der Morlocks back, or so ve vere led to believe. Und now.now Callisto wants to conduct der ceremony again to open ze gate to zat hell zey used to call home, because she believes some of zem never made it back!"
"This is all so amazing, Kurt," Romana says, her eyes wide as she stands up and spreads her hands out. "I have been around a long time, and I haven't heard such epic adventures in ages! How did you get involved in all this?"
Kurt sighs as he hangs his head between his shoulders. "I met a man who had faith in a dream.a dream zat humanity could overcome it's fears und prejudices to create a vorld of peace." Kurt's voice trails off in a whisper," A fleeting dream."
"You mean Xavier, don't you?" Romana says as she sits cross-legged in front of Kurt. "Don't shut me out, Kurt. You have helped me so much.let me help you now." She pleads as she places her hand over his on his knee.
"Helped you?" Kurt asks in a growl as he lifts his head to stare at Romana. "How have I helped you, Romana? You came to me for aid, und vat did I do?" he asks, tapping his chest harshly with his hand. "I didn't believe you, und you had to go shoot yourself before I could! I joined Xavier's school because of der power of his faith, Romana. He made me believe zat humans und mutants could live together. Ven zat dream failed und I had to watch my friends die, I turned to my faith in God. I thought der church would allow me to cross der boundaries of hate und help people, but soon I was relegated to midnight vatches und candle tending like Quasimodo! Vat good is a person vithout faith, Romana? All I can do is vatch people I care about die." Kurt pleads, tears forming in his eyes.
"Kurt." Romana says sadly as she intertwines her fingers with his, "You have been through so much.and you have spread yourself so thin! Your faith has been tested over and over till you feel like there's nothing left to believe in." Kurt chokes back a sob and clenches her hands briefly. "You have to know that it's enough to have faith, Kurt. Believe in yourself and what you can do for humanity, but don't set yourself up for failure by taking on the whole world! Change one at a time! You already started tonight by saving my life, Kurt." Romana squeezes his hands and tries to look him in the eye. "Selene would have killed us both if it weren't for you. You talk about having faith.well I have faith, too." Romana leans forward and places her cheek to his and whispers into his ear, "I have faith in you, Kurt." Kurt gasps and leans back slightly. Romana shivers as the feel of his fur rubs softly against her cheek, his lips brushing close to hers.
"Romana.I." Kurt whispers, his breath like a butterfly kiss. Romana leans forward and for the briefest moment she feels the sweet pressure of his lips. when the knocking at the door causes Kurt to spring back and stand up. Romana sighs deeply as Kurt opens the door to converse with one of the Morlocks. -I know you're in there under all that guilt, Kurt.you can't hide from me forever, and I have all the time in the world.-
Kurt turns from the Morlock at the door to Romana. "It's time."
Sally and Caliban guide them through the long dark Morlock tunnels in silence as Romana tries to take in her surroundings. -I never knew such a place existed! If only I had known, all those years I had been running, maybe I could have found a home here. From what I can tell, though-she glances over at Kurt, whose brow is furrowed and lost in brooding thoughts- it may have been just as well I wasn't here. I wish he would talk to me-
Romana's thoughts are interrupted as Sally stops at a bricked over tunnel wall and knocks five times. "We're here." A ripple forms in the middle of the brick and gradually expands to form an archway.
"Where is here?" Romana asks in wonder as they walk through the entrance and it closes behind them to form the brick wall again. Sally turns around with a smile and lifts her arms up to the 'sky'.
"The Alley!"
Romana looks around from their platform at the huge smooth tunnel that seems to go for miles. Various people come and go through the many entrances to the tunnel, some carrying building supplies, some with food. Torches at regular intervals light the long path as they climb down a ladder to the main floor of the Alley. At some of the entrances Romana notices carvings along the edges, as well as beautiful bas-relief's of suns and moons. "This work is amazing," Romana says as she runs her fingers along the radiating waves of the stone sun. "How do you get such detail?"
Sally giggles as she turns to see the object of Romana's praise. "I wish I could take the credit for those, but alas," Sally concentrates for a moment and a blue-tinged field forms around her body, "My powers aren't so artistic in nature." She drops the field and continues, "Shaper is the creative one. He's been helping us truly make the tunnels feel like a home again, instead of an old subway. He can mold stone like clay with a thought."
"Incredible!" Romana mutters to herself as she looks around at their home. Children with mutations that might get them stoned above means nothing below as they run through the tunnels and laugh. A particular small green boy with large red eyes catches Caliban's eye and waves to him.
"Come play, Caliban! We need another for our Frisbee game!"
Caliban looks up to Sally with pleading eyes and she smiles. "Go on, Caliban. I think I can take it from here. Just be careful with the kids." Caliban grins wide, his dangerous looking fangs a sharp contrast to the child's mind inside.
"I'm coming, Artie! Wait up!" he yells as he runs off in a lope on all fours.
They continue walking down the tunnel past others coming and going, till they get to a large rounded alcove shaped out of the wall. A tiered stone bench lines the back of the alcove, with a fire pit being built in the middle by people with large stones. A wiry old woman in dark jeans and a vest with black spiked hair is obviously directing the people in the alcove, her curt commands and quick gestures keeping everything organized.
"Callisto!" Sally shouts to the woman. "I've brought guests!" The woman stops abruptly and turns around, looking like she's going to yell, her grim face tightened in a snarl only magnified by the patch over her left eye. When she notices Kurt standing behind Sally, however, her brow rises in surprise and her face relaxes noticeably.
"I thought you were dead," she says matter-of-factly.
"After zat flood, I could say der same for you und everyone else I see here, Callisto. I am glad to be wrong," Kurt finally speaks. "I see zat you are all hard at work here. Have you finally given up your path of hatred to finally try und make a home?"
Callisto sighs and gazes around the Alley. "The Gene Nation is a thing of the past, Nightcrawler. My hatred of the surface-dwellers has done nothing but destroy us and send my kin to places unimaginable. When I escaped the Hill, I decided that this was my last chance to do things right. We are going to make a home for ourselves away from the hate, to live our lives in peace."
"It does my heart good to hear it, Callisto." Kurt says as he walks up behind her and places a hand on her shoulder. "Too many people have suffered because of hate." As Kurt and Callisto talk, Sally excuses herself and Romana walks into the alcove. As she gets closer she sees that all along the walls of the alcove are carved reliefs of different figures, almost like cave paintings, except much more detailed. -This must be more of Shaper's work-She runs her fingers down the back of a lizard much larger then the other figures when she comes to a scene that makes her stop. A large battle scene is depicted, with many dead surrounding a group in the middle. The main figure holds a large gun and is backed by a man with a harpoon, a woman with long hair, and an animalistic creature almost like a lion standing on two legs. -Could this be the massacre they mentioned?- Romana searches through the figures, coming across a woman shattering someone against a wall, another woman surrounded by cracks in the ground, and a swirling tornado with the head of a man. She gasps as she follows the trail of the objects shooting out of the tornado into the carved figure of a man with a spiked tail and pointed ears. -Kurt! Goddess, no wonder he didn't want to talk about it!-Romana caresses the stone carving of Kurt with her fingers, hoping somehow that she might take his pain away.
"Romana." Kurt says from behind her.
Romana jumps and wipes the tears from her eyes before she turns around. "I- I'm sorry, Kurt. I got wrapped up in looking at these carvings." She tries not to look into his eyes, but he gently places one hand on her shoulder and the other beneath her chin.
"Romana," he says as he nudges her chin to make her look him in the eyes. "All zis," he gestures to the wall with a nod of his head, "ist der past. Leave it vere it belongs, und don't vaste your tears on me." Kurt gently cups the side of her face with his hand and wipes the stray tear from her cheek with his finger. Kurt holds his breath as Romana leans into his palm, the light of the torches turning her hair to bright flame.
"Nothing about you is ever wasted, Kurt." She opens her eyes to look at him with shining emerald pools, and he exhales in a whisper, his heart swelling with emotions he hasn't allowed himself to feel in a long time.
"Romana."
"As much as I would hate to interrupt you two lovebirds," Callisto says dryly, "a chamber has been set up for you two to rest. Later you and I need to talk, Nightcrawler, for your arrival has great importance to us." Kurt and Romana step away from each other like someone who has gotten too close to a searing flame. Romana quickly turns to hide the blush and look of disappointment in her face while Kurt straightens his robes.
"What do you mean, Callisto?" he asks after clearing his throat. "How could I be important to the Morlocks?"
"One of the fallen of the Mutant Massacre comes back to us in the robes of a priest? That itself holds great meaning, Nightcrawler. But the fact that you visited us on the eve of our most sacred ritual can only mean one thing: You must preside over the Ceremony of Light."
---
"Sie hast einen Vogel! Das ist unglaublich!" Kurt mutters as he paces back and forth in front of Romana in their room. After explaining to them both that the ritual was to take place at daybreak, Callisto escorted them to their quarters and was kind enough to leave them alone for a while. Romana sits herself on the edge of the small bed and follows Kurt with her eyes.
"So what IS the Ceremony of Light that it's got your fur in such a tangle?" Romana asks jokingly, trying to catch Kurt off guard.
Kurt stops his ranting with a "Vas?" and looks at Romana with a half-grin as he runs his fingers through his hair. "Ach, here I am ranting and raving, and you don't even know vat it's about! I am sorry, Romana." Kurt crosses his legs and sits down in a smooth motion on the floor, straightening his priest robes around him. He rests his elbows on his knees as he leans forward to talk. "From vat I have read from der records, a few years ago it vas thought zat all der Morlocks disappeared in a flood in der tunnels. It turned out zat a man named Mikhail who had incredible powers transported zem to a pocket dimension he called 'The Hill.' Zis vas a terrible place of forced trials und battles for der Morlocks, who eventually fought their way to der top to become part of Gene Nation, a group of mutant terrorists who vould come back into zis dimension und fight humanity. A strong woman named Storm came und performed der Ceremony of Light, vere you use der sunlight re-directed through many mirrors to enlighten der alley's beauty. Somehow zis opened up a portal to der Hill, vere she fought Mikhail und made him bring der Morlocks back, or so ve vere led to believe. Und now.now Callisto wants to conduct der ceremony again to open ze gate to zat hell zey used to call home, because she believes some of zem never made it back!"
"This is all so amazing, Kurt," Romana says, her eyes wide as she stands up and spreads her hands out. "I have been around a long time, and I haven't heard such epic adventures in ages! How did you get involved in all this?"
Kurt sighs as he hangs his head between his shoulders. "I met a man who had faith in a dream.a dream zat humanity could overcome it's fears und prejudices to create a vorld of peace." Kurt's voice trails off in a whisper," A fleeting dream."
"You mean Xavier, don't you?" Romana says as she sits cross-legged in front of Kurt. "Don't shut me out, Kurt. You have helped me so much.let me help you now." She pleads as she places her hand over his on his knee.
"Helped you?" Kurt asks in a growl as he lifts his head to stare at Romana. "How have I helped you, Romana? You came to me for aid, und vat did I do?" he asks, tapping his chest harshly with his hand. "I didn't believe you, und you had to go shoot yourself before I could! I joined Xavier's school because of der power of his faith, Romana. He made me believe zat humans und mutants could live together. Ven zat dream failed und I had to watch my friends die, I turned to my faith in God. I thought der church would allow me to cross der boundaries of hate und help people, but soon I was relegated to midnight vatches und candle tending like Quasimodo! Vat good is a person vithout faith, Romana? All I can do is vatch people I care about die." Kurt pleads, tears forming in his eyes.
"Kurt." Romana says sadly as she intertwines her fingers with his, "You have been through so much.and you have spread yourself so thin! Your faith has been tested over and over till you feel like there's nothing left to believe in." Kurt chokes back a sob and clenches her hands briefly. "You have to know that it's enough to have faith, Kurt. Believe in yourself and what you can do for humanity, but don't set yourself up for failure by taking on the whole world! Change one at a time! You already started tonight by saving my life, Kurt." Romana squeezes his hands and tries to look him in the eye. "Selene would have killed us both if it weren't for you. You talk about having faith.well I have faith, too." Romana leans forward and places her cheek to his and whispers into his ear, "I have faith in you, Kurt." Kurt gasps and leans back slightly. Romana shivers as the feel of his fur rubs softly against her cheek, his lips brushing close to hers.
"Romana.I." Kurt whispers, his breath like a butterfly kiss. Romana leans forward and for the briefest moment she feels the sweet pressure of his lips. when the knocking at the door causes Kurt to spring back and stand up. Romana sighs deeply as Kurt opens the door to converse with one of the Morlocks. -I know you're in there under all that guilt, Kurt.you can't hide from me forever, and I have all the time in the world.-
Kurt turns from the Morlock at the door to Romana. "It's time."
