Chapter 9
Betsy stepped out of the garage and into the dark hallway, back tensing at the presence she felt waiting for her. "Hello, Ororo."
The white haired mutant stepped silently out of the shadows. "Hello, Elizabeth."
The two regal woman silently regarded each other for several minutes. Finally, Ororo broke the stillness with the question, "How is he?"
Several answers raced through Betsy's head ranging from cruelly sarcastic to gently comforting. She said none of them. Instead, she silently considered what answer would benefit Remy the most. This woman was his first and closest friend among the X-men. Her rejection of him was one of the most painful blows he had received, perhaps even more painful than Rogue's abandonment. It would be so easy to rail at the woman for turning her back on the man she had called brother and it would be just as easy to reassure her that he was fine and let her retreat. However, neither of those would help Remy or Ororo and the African mutant was suffering too, of that there was not doubt. The constant storms were ample proof of it.
Ororo remained silent and unmoving, not impatiently demanding an answer or giving up on receiving one. It seemed that she understood how difficult the question was for Betsy to answer, perhaps because, whatever the answer, it would be difficult for her to hear. However, she remained, determined to accept whatever information Betsy gave her. It was because of this that Betsy made her choice. "He is coping."
The other woman nodded, understanding what was left unsaid in that simple statement. Remy was not well, but not yet in danger of being lost forever. More time passed in awkward silence. "I can not..."
Again, much was left unsaid and, again, it was understood. Ororo worried for the Cajun, still loved him but there was too much pain, confusion, anger in her to be there for him, despite the fact he needed her. Betsy was not close to the regal woman but she answered reassuringly, promising, "I can and I will."
"Thank you." On that soft note, the moment was over and Ororo silently turned and left.
Betsy waited several minutes to allow Ororo to retreat to her room in privacy before she resumed walking through the darkened mansion toward her room. Reaching the stairs, she met Logan on his way down for an evening beer. They nodded in greeting and would have simply continued on their individual ways when he stopped as he came even. Grabbing her arm firmly, he forced her to pause while he breathed deeply, eyes silently curious.
Betsy raised an elegant eyebrow, silently challenging him to voice his questions. For a moment it looked like he was about to but he breathed in deeply once again and his eyes narrowed before glancing at the top of the stairs. Betsy's gaze followed his but her psionics had already told her who it was. Warren was a harsh presence to her mind as he stood on the next landing, staring down at the two of them, face set and angry.
"Wanna join me for a beer?"
Betsy smiled in appreciation at the offer, but shook her head, gently declining.
Logan glanced up at Warren once again. "Ya sure ya know what you're doin'?"
"To a point."
The feral mutant nodded and continued down the stairs. Betsy smiled fondly at her old friend. It was one of his better qualities. If you asked for his opinion he would give it but he was the first to admit he had no right to dictate another's life. He was one of the least judgmental people she had ever known. Perhaps it was because he was used to being judged too harshly and incorrectly. Whatever the reason, Betsy truly appreciated his discretion, even though she knew he would want an explanation later.
Continuing up the stairs, Betsy gave Warren a soft kiss in greeting that he did not return.
"Where have you been all day? I though we were supposed to discuss what happened last night but you just disappeared after practice when I came looking for you."
Betsy's eyes narrowed at his tone. "We were supposed to discuss it when we were both calm and rested. Neither of us was calm after that scene in the Danger Room. In fact, I highly doubt either of us is calm now."
"I would be calm if you had not developed the habit of disappearing without reason."
"Habit? I have gone out twice, that is hardly a 'habit'. In addition, there was a reason for my disappearance today: I was helping a friend who is going through a very rough time."
"What about me?" Warren's voice was rising and part of Betsy's mind wondered how long it would be until they had an audience. That would be just what they needed.
"What about you?"
"I'm going through my own rough time and you just decide to disappear! Thank you so much for caring." Betsy's anger burned at the sarcasm in his statement.
"That is entirely unjustified. I have been here for you since this all began but you have made it abundantly clear that you do not need my help."
"How can you say that? Of course I need you to be here for me."
"Really?" Betsy raised an eyebrow in sarcasm to match her tone. "Be realistic, Warren, you have been spending all your waking hours with Jean, Bobby, and Rogue. It is them you are receiving comfort from and I think I have been very understanding about it. I have not complained when you have disappeared for hours on end with them nor have I said anything when you have canceled dates with me because one of you needs comfort from the others. Personally, I was glad that you were receiving help. However, I do not intend to sit around doing nothing until you call. I have a life and other concerns than just you."
Betsy could hear the audience slowly assembling but was too outraged to really care and Warren did not seem to even notice the gathering people.
"So, I'm nothing to you is that it?" Warren was now yelling.
"I never said that."
"But, it's what you meant, isn't it?" Jean's voice cut through the hallway as she walked over and put an arm around the winged man. "He's going through a tough time right now and you should be more understanding and supportive. Warren has a right to be angry. After all, the man responsible for him losing his wings is living on the grounds and he has to deal with that daily."
Betsy suppressed the urge to scream. Instead, she smiled sweetly as she replied, "Exactly when did Hodge move onto the grounds or have Harpoon and Blockbuster moved into the basement?"
Warren looked at her in confusion. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Well, Harpoon and Blockbuster were the ones who damaged your wings and Hodge is the one who ordered them amputated. Therefore, those are the men responsible for the loss. So, logically, Jean must be referring to one of them." Her statement earned her two sets of deadly glares. She smiled back blandly. "As for your suffering, I know a lot more about it than you know and you would have found this out if you had ever bothered to come to me for comfort."
"What is that supposed to mean," Jean demanded angrily.
"I am not having this discussion with you." She returned her focus to Warren. "This is what I was talking about Warren. This should have been a private thing between us but you have not only allowed but practically invited others into it. You should have tried to find comfort in me, confided in me, let me confide in you."
"Maybe if you were more trustworthy, he would have." Jean's spiteful words cut in once again.
Betsy refused to look at the interloper. "Warren?"
Warren leaned more fully into Jean's comforting arm while Rogue stepped over to the pair and wrapped her arm around him as well. "Don't worry, sugar, she just don't understand what that swamp rat's doin' to ya. She's too much of an ice queen."
Betsy still focused on her boyfriend. "Warren?" It was a demand and question. The winged man said nothing as the two women comforted him. Betsy's eyes narrowed to cover the pain lying in them. "Very well." Turning, she strode to her room, back straight and head high, refusing to meet anyone's gaze.
However, once inside her room, safe from other's sight, she curled up on her bed and let herself cry.
**************************************
Author's note: The funny thing is, I was planning on Angel forbidding her to talk to Remy anymore, but the characters apparently had their own ideas and this is what happened.
Betsy stepped out of the garage and into the dark hallway, back tensing at the presence she felt waiting for her. "Hello, Ororo."
The white haired mutant stepped silently out of the shadows. "Hello, Elizabeth."
The two regal woman silently regarded each other for several minutes. Finally, Ororo broke the stillness with the question, "How is he?"
Several answers raced through Betsy's head ranging from cruelly sarcastic to gently comforting. She said none of them. Instead, she silently considered what answer would benefit Remy the most. This woman was his first and closest friend among the X-men. Her rejection of him was one of the most painful blows he had received, perhaps even more painful than Rogue's abandonment. It would be so easy to rail at the woman for turning her back on the man she had called brother and it would be just as easy to reassure her that he was fine and let her retreat. However, neither of those would help Remy or Ororo and the African mutant was suffering too, of that there was not doubt. The constant storms were ample proof of it.
Ororo remained silent and unmoving, not impatiently demanding an answer or giving up on receiving one. It seemed that she understood how difficult the question was for Betsy to answer, perhaps because, whatever the answer, it would be difficult for her to hear. However, she remained, determined to accept whatever information Betsy gave her. It was because of this that Betsy made her choice. "He is coping."
The other woman nodded, understanding what was left unsaid in that simple statement. Remy was not well, but not yet in danger of being lost forever. More time passed in awkward silence. "I can not..."
Again, much was left unsaid and, again, it was understood. Ororo worried for the Cajun, still loved him but there was too much pain, confusion, anger in her to be there for him, despite the fact he needed her. Betsy was not close to the regal woman but she answered reassuringly, promising, "I can and I will."
"Thank you." On that soft note, the moment was over and Ororo silently turned and left.
Betsy waited several minutes to allow Ororo to retreat to her room in privacy before she resumed walking through the darkened mansion toward her room. Reaching the stairs, she met Logan on his way down for an evening beer. They nodded in greeting and would have simply continued on their individual ways when he stopped as he came even. Grabbing her arm firmly, he forced her to pause while he breathed deeply, eyes silently curious.
Betsy raised an elegant eyebrow, silently challenging him to voice his questions. For a moment it looked like he was about to but he breathed in deeply once again and his eyes narrowed before glancing at the top of the stairs. Betsy's gaze followed his but her psionics had already told her who it was. Warren was a harsh presence to her mind as he stood on the next landing, staring down at the two of them, face set and angry.
"Wanna join me for a beer?"
Betsy smiled in appreciation at the offer, but shook her head, gently declining.
Logan glanced up at Warren once again. "Ya sure ya know what you're doin'?"
"To a point."
The feral mutant nodded and continued down the stairs. Betsy smiled fondly at her old friend. It was one of his better qualities. If you asked for his opinion he would give it but he was the first to admit he had no right to dictate another's life. He was one of the least judgmental people she had ever known. Perhaps it was because he was used to being judged too harshly and incorrectly. Whatever the reason, Betsy truly appreciated his discretion, even though she knew he would want an explanation later.
Continuing up the stairs, Betsy gave Warren a soft kiss in greeting that he did not return.
"Where have you been all day? I though we were supposed to discuss what happened last night but you just disappeared after practice when I came looking for you."
Betsy's eyes narrowed at his tone. "We were supposed to discuss it when we were both calm and rested. Neither of us was calm after that scene in the Danger Room. In fact, I highly doubt either of us is calm now."
"I would be calm if you had not developed the habit of disappearing without reason."
"Habit? I have gone out twice, that is hardly a 'habit'. In addition, there was a reason for my disappearance today: I was helping a friend who is going through a very rough time."
"What about me?" Warren's voice was rising and part of Betsy's mind wondered how long it would be until they had an audience. That would be just what they needed.
"What about you?"
"I'm going through my own rough time and you just decide to disappear! Thank you so much for caring." Betsy's anger burned at the sarcasm in his statement.
"That is entirely unjustified. I have been here for you since this all began but you have made it abundantly clear that you do not need my help."
"How can you say that? Of course I need you to be here for me."
"Really?" Betsy raised an eyebrow in sarcasm to match her tone. "Be realistic, Warren, you have been spending all your waking hours with Jean, Bobby, and Rogue. It is them you are receiving comfort from and I think I have been very understanding about it. I have not complained when you have disappeared for hours on end with them nor have I said anything when you have canceled dates with me because one of you needs comfort from the others. Personally, I was glad that you were receiving help. However, I do not intend to sit around doing nothing until you call. I have a life and other concerns than just you."
Betsy could hear the audience slowly assembling but was too outraged to really care and Warren did not seem to even notice the gathering people.
"So, I'm nothing to you is that it?" Warren was now yelling.
"I never said that."
"But, it's what you meant, isn't it?" Jean's voice cut through the hallway as she walked over and put an arm around the winged man. "He's going through a tough time right now and you should be more understanding and supportive. Warren has a right to be angry. After all, the man responsible for him losing his wings is living on the grounds and he has to deal with that daily."
Betsy suppressed the urge to scream. Instead, she smiled sweetly as she replied, "Exactly when did Hodge move onto the grounds or have Harpoon and Blockbuster moved into the basement?"
Warren looked at her in confusion. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Well, Harpoon and Blockbuster were the ones who damaged your wings and Hodge is the one who ordered them amputated. Therefore, those are the men responsible for the loss. So, logically, Jean must be referring to one of them." Her statement earned her two sets of deadly glares. She smiled back blandly. "As for your suffering, I know a lot more about it than you know and you would have found this out if you had ever bothered to come to me for comfort."
"What is that supposed to mean," Jean demanded angrily.
"I am not having this discussion with you." She returned her focus to Warren. "This is what I was talking about Warren. This should have been a private thing between us but you have not only allowed but practically invited others into it. You should have tried to find comfort in me, confided in me, let me confide in you."
"Maybe if you were more trustworthy, he would have." Jean's spiteful words cut in once again.
Betsy refused to look at the interloper. "Warren?"
Warren leaned more fully into Jean's comforting arm while Rogue stepped over to the pair and wrapped her arm around him as well. "Don't worry, sugar, she just don't understand what that swamp rat's doin' to ya. She's too much of an ice queen."
Betsy still focused on her boyfriend. "Warren?" It was a demand and question. The winged man said nothing as the two women comforted him. Betsy's eyes narrowed to cover the pain lying in them. "Very well." Turning, she strode to her room, back straight and head high, refusing to meet anyone's gaze.
However, once inside her room, safe from other's sight, she curled up on her bed and let herself cry.
**************************************
Author's note: The funny thing is, I was planning on Angel forbidding her to talk to Remy anymore, but the characters apparently had their own ideas and this is what happened.