AUTHOR'S NOTE I've recently realized that this story is going to have like 4 more chapters and then it will be finished. Hmm. I've never written a story of medium length like that, lol. Anyway, here you go!
DISCLAIMER Don't own anyone…*sigh* Come on, who wouldn't want to own James Marsden in leather??
Jenaneter Yeah, I've decided that I have no idea whether they were married or not so I just picked one. Scott and Kurt will definitely be in it more!
Crysdan Potter Black Thanks! Yeah, this was one of the saddest movies I've seen as well. I'm trying to write the characters very emotionally…I figure this would be an emotional time.
"Bobby, stop!" Rogue said when she finally caught up to her boyfriend. Placing a gloved hand on his shoulder, she got him to turn around. "What happened?"
Bobby faced her, his emotions running all over the place. His irises flashed ice blue and sprays of frost fell gently to the floor as he clenched and unclenched his fists. His ability to manipulate and create ice was still partially related to his emotions and both were quickly approaching out of control.
"It was awful," he finally said softly. He looked to Rogue. "Everything was burned. There were no people killed…but he destroyed everything!"
Rogue's eyes filled with tears. "Why?"
"I don't know. Magneto must have been there, too. Everything metal in sight was mangled and twisted and…" Bobby stopped and ran his hand through his hair, leaving icicles clinging to the brown strands. He turned from his girlfriend. "I have to go change. This black leather, not all that comfortable."
She didn't stop him as he left. She had only known Pyro for a short while. Bobby had been close to him since arriving at Xavier's school. Bobby was suffering a lot more than she was.
A soft "bamph" noise behind her echoed through the hall. "He vas a brave fighter today," the blue-skinned teleporter named Kurt commented.
Rogue only nodded. "This won't get any easier for him," she asked quietly. "Will it?"
Kurt looked at the fragile girl sadly. "No. It von't."
Rogue nodded again. "I have to go," she mumbled before running off down the hall.
Kurt just sadly watched her go. She had been through far too much in the past year. The emergence of her mutant ability to absorb a person's life force and energy through skin-to-skin contact made her teenage years even more hellish than normal. Her growing relationship with Bobby despite their physical limitations battled her obvious infatuation with Logan.
The newest mutant in Xavier's team, Kurt had had only a little time to get to know Logan, Storm, Scott, Bobby, and Rogue. But as the Incredible Nightcrawler in the Munich circus, always shunned because of his obvious mutant appearance, he'd become an adept observer of others. And the X-Men's loyalty to each other was one of the most touching bonds he'd ever seen.
With a whispered prayer of strength, Kurt teleported from the empty hallway down to the uniform lockers. Bobby was right; black leather was uncomfortable. Especially with a tail.
***
Storm wandered back outside in an attempt to recover the golden afternoon. But the distressing news brought by Scott, Kurt, and Bobby made that impossible. She couldn't stop the gray clouds rolling across the sky anymore than she could stop the tears welling up in her eyes.
The loss of Pyro to Magneto's brotherhood was a devastating blow to everyone at Xavier's school. But it was nothing compared to the pain Storm felt over the loss of Jean. The telepathic, calm fellow professor had been the white-haired woman's only close friend. Pyro and Jean were lost on the same day. Thinking of one invariably led to the other.
"Very interesting veather."
Storm jumped, startled. "Kurt. I didn't hear you come over."
Kurt smiled, revealing mean-looking fangs that the gentle mutant would never use. "Does that really surprise you?"
Storm half-smiled. "I guess not."
The blue mutant crouched in a chair, his tail swishing in the now windy afternoon. Storm reclaimed the chair she had earlier. Kurt looked up at the turbulent sky. "How are you doing?"
"Fine."
Kurt raised an eyebrow and nodded toward the sky. "Really."
A blush crept over Storm's dark skin. "Just a little upset. Hearing about Pyro's crimes…well, it reminds me of losing Jean, too." A few drops of rain fell as Storm wiped stray tears from her eyes.
"Ororo," Kurt said softly, running a blue finger gently across her cheek. "Do not cry. Jean is in a much better place than ve are."
She simply nodded. The rain stopped and a bit of sunlight broke through the clouds as she regained some control over her emotions. "Thank you."
Kurt smiled. "You are very velcome." With a soft noise and a puff of blue smoke, he disappeared.
Storm knew he was right, but it didn't make things any less painful. She was also especially worried about Scott, Bobby, and Logan. They were suffering most of all.
