Flickering Souls
Chapter Nine: Gypsy In The Castle
"Kurt." The Professor smiled as he wheeled up from behind Kurt. "It's good to see you out of your room."
The back patio was quiet and empty aside from the two of them.
Kurt smiled a grim smile. "It's Rogue. I just had to see it to believe it." He smiled and turned back to watch Logan's martial arts training class on the back lawn below. "It almost makes me forget …" He seemed very far away all of the sudden.
Xavier returned his grim smile. "Kurt. This guilt of yours isn't healthy."
"A sin is a sin Professor."
"Indeed." Xavier agreed, rather than being drawn in to a moral debate. "But penance and forgiveness exist Kurt."
Kurt shot him a sideways glance. He didn't really feel bad for what he had done. He didn't really think about it at all. He spent most of his time relaxing in his bed and lounging with his remote control.
"Seek." Xavier told him. "And you shall find."
Kurt turned his attention back to the lawn below.
"All right!" Logan called out loud. "Everybody line up! Rogue! You're up!"
Rogue ran to the front of the line.
"Positions people!" Logan called. "Everyone – stand ready! Anyone who takes down the Rogue gets excused from tomorrow's session!"
Bobby grinned and elbowed Jamie. He seemed to think he had a shot at that exemption.
"Rogue! You're to use your powers only on my command!" Logan reminded her.
"Bring 'em on." She told him, adopting a boxing stance and bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"Go get 'em sis." Kurt whispered to himself.
One by one, as Logan barked out their names, the new mutants and the X-men attacked in hand to hand combat.
And one by one Rogue fought them off using grappling holds and restraint techniques to subdue them.
"Now!" Logan barked as Rogue twisted Berzerker's wrist around and forced him to one knee. And she did it. She zapped him and took his strength.
"Subdued and nullified." Logan said, crossing his arms as he smiled. You'd make one hell of an infiltration operative. He thought.
Bobby rushed her in turn and without hesitation she caught his attacking hand and twisted his body against his momentum to flip him. He landed flat on his back with a 'whump'.
"Now!" Logan barked after she had let go of Bobby.
Without missing a beat, Rogue's arm shot down, barely making contact with the fingertips and Bobby spasmed from shock and he passed out.
Jubilee rushed her, intent on planting a foot to Roue's mid-section.
"Ice her!" Logan barked.
And before Jubilee could take another step the air around her had dropped to sub arctic and her skin had begun to ice.
"FORGET THAT!" Jubilee announced, pulling out of the dense cloud of cold that had enveloped her.
Everyone had to laugh. Logan included.
"Okay." He said at last. "Showers! Now people!"
Kurt watched as the crowd dispersed.
"Rogue." Logan called her. "Over here."
She approached slowly and only after helping Bobby to his feet.
"Show me." Logan told her, holding out his arm.
She took hold of him around the wrist.
"Now." He told her. And she hit him with her power.
Kurt watched his knees buckle from across the distance.
Vay to go. He thought. Anyvone who can take down Logan …
Kurt didn't bother to finish the thought.
"Gonna give it a try next time?" Scott was standing off to Kurt's left, just behind him. He was still sweating from the workout.
Kurt turned lazily around. "I vas thinking about it." He said seriously. "I've almost caught up on my schoolwork."
Scott nodded. "That was a lot of work." Scott sounded impressed.
"The time passes quick in a comfortable chair with a well stocked fridge." Kurt replied whimsically. And most of the answers are in the back of the book …
Scott seemed withdrawn and sullen. "Have you remembered anything else about while you were gone?" He asked.
"I know that Jean was in my mind almost constantly when ever Mezmero vasnt." Kurt looked back down at the yard. Logan had Rogue attacking him now while he countered and blocked.
Kurt smiled at Scott. "It makes this place seem downright private by comparison." He turned his attention back to the yard below. "And I wouldn't have missed this for anything." He smiled as Rogue zapped Logan and he buckled again.
"She'll be up all night with all that juice." Scott said softly, referring to all the energy she had just absorbed.
"So vat?" Kurt grinned. "We've got cable."
Scott smiled ear to ear. At least something good came out of that mess. He thought. Kurt's home, anyway …
Kurt smiled back. "You know," He began "You and I should hit the town one night." He said absently before quickly adding "You know, " He indicated to the lawn below "Vhen our schedules allow it."
Scott nodded appreciatively. "I'd like that." He said quietly. "I'd like that a lot."
Kurt smiled knowingly. I know. He thought. And I imagine no one else would ask you …
"Rogue told me about how hard you looked for Jean." Kurt said softly. "You deserved better than what you got."
Scott shifted his weight, uncomfortably, from foot to foot. "Yeah, ah …"
Kurt caught his eyes. "That goes without saying." Kurt told him. "I only said it because a lot of the things that go without saying need to be heard at least once."
Scott stood up strait and tall. "I'm glad you're home Kurt. I missed you. And it just wasn't the same around here without you."
Kurt smiled again, more genuine this time, as though he had been touched by Scott's words and the timing of his delivery.
"Of course," Scott continued, turning toward the mansion and strolling away. "That really … goes without saying."
Kurt looked around. No one was watching.
He teleported to the roof of the guesthouse where he was sure that no one could see him. He lifted one of the loose shingles and pulled out a half-crumpled pack of cigarettes.
He drew one out of the pack with his lips and lit it. Then he laid back and relaxed.
It was good to be home.
"So why's my father showing up in sapter cheventeen?" Wanda asked, slurring her words.
The Author refilled both their glasses.
"You'll just have to wait and see." He told her. "But I bet you'll like it. You even get mentioned."
"Really?" She looked absently toward the screen and blinked several times. "How come?"
The Author made a disbelieving huff. "Please!" He exclaimed.
She turned to stare at him drunkenly. "No, really, why?" She said in a serious tone. "What's it to any of you in your world where I go or what I do?"
The Author stared groggily back at her. "Serious, you don't see it?" He asked, trying to match her serious attitude.
"No. I don't see it. If I did I wouldn't ask." She told him, shaking her had while trying to focus on her drink.
"You like … are rebellious youth. And like … because Maggie's your dad … It's like … totally justified. I mean, who better to rebel against?" He asked before continuing. "And because of the way he treated you … it's completely understandable too, you know?"
"Hunh." She crossed her arms on the desk and leveled a gaze at him.
"You're strong, capable and …" He smiled a sly smile. "Righteous." He finished.
"Wait a minute." She sat back and looked at him in disbelief. "Righteous? I'm what your world considers righteous?" She laughed out loud. "What a screwed up place."
The Author chortled in agreement. "Tell me about it."
And he raised his glass to meet hers before they drained them and lay lazily back to watch the next chapter unfold.