Disclaimer: I don't own no character, no singer, no song used in this fic.
A/N:
This chapter is dedicated to Amanda. She's the shooting star that graced our lives, giving light to everything in her path. She had the face of an angel, the touch of Midas, the laugh of a child. She only stayed for a little while, but the impressions she left would last forever. I love you.
RockStarChapter 14: The Warrior Is A Child
Lately I've been winning battles left and right
But even winners can get wounded in the fight
People say that I'm amazing
Strong beyond my years
But they don't see inside of me
I'm hiding all the tears
Jean Grey tucked an errant strand of red hair behind her ear as she took a deep breath before ascending the stairs to the X-Jet.
She couldn't help but feel scared. They were going to Apocalypse and one of her teammates was going to lead them to him.
Her eyes unconsciously sought out the girl with the two-toned hair. The two of them have never been close, and yet, in her hours when she was at the lowest, the teenage Goth was the one who pulled through for her.
She had never had the chance to thank her… and after this, she may never have the chance to…
Green eyes sparkled with determination. Even without reading her thoughts, Jean knew that the younger girl was determined to see this through the very end, refusing to be enslaved by any other being anymore.
Shaking her head, she cleared her minds of such thoughts.
They would make it through this.
They have to. She has to.
And they don't
know that I go running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
'Cause deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child
Scott Summers finished loading the last of their supplies into the X-Jet.
This is it. The fight of their lives.
They would go against the first mutant, the most powerful enemy yet.
He hoped his team was ready.
Well, she certainly was.
He couldn't help but feel proud for his Southern teammate. She had come a long way from the lost and lonely belle they first saw.
Now, she was ready to tackle the greatest obstacle to come her way. Not only that, but she was determined to win.
He knew that the odds were against them. She knows that.
And yet, her defiant green eyes held something else, hope.
He read in a book somewhere that courage is continuing to fight even if you know everything was lost.
Scott Summers was afraid.
But through her, from her, and with her, he would draw strength.
Unafraid
because His armor is the best
But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest
People say that I'm amazing
Never face retreat
But they don't see the enemies
That lay me at His feet
Professor Xavier never felt any joy about sending his students to any sort of mission.
It was like sending your own children to war.
But what choice does he have?
He trained his students the best they could, and he knew that they were prepared for this.
But how could a father not worry about his children?
How could a father not worry most about the child he thought most vulnerable, the one with a rebellious streak, the confused one, the one who had been used and lied to? How could he not worry about his rogue child most of all?
But looking at her today, he would have never guessed that this was the same child they picked up from the snowy mountains months ago. That child was confused, frightened, at the end of her ropes. The young woman standing before her now knows what she wants. She's determined to do everything in her power to make amends with the sins that she was not at fault. She was willing to stake everything she has now just to get some peace, with herself, her friends, and the world.
But now, instead of sending his children to battle, he would lead them to it.
And they don't
know that I go running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
'Cause deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child
Logan doesn't like it. He doesn't like it one bit.
Something was off, he could feel it in the air.
He sniffed, as if that would lead him to a clue to that something that was bothering him.
He noticed the way Red, Slim, and Chuck were looking at Stripes.
He growled as everything fell into place.
Stripes was preparing herself for a suicide mission.
She was taking them to Apocalypse, but no doubt to face the immortal's minions so that would free her for the first mutant.
She was dealt a bad hand. Her mutation, her powers, her family, her mother, and now Apocalypse who used her gift/curse.
After everything she went through, she doesn't deserve this. She deserves something better.
He vowed to keep his Stripes safe. Not just now. But forever.
And they don't
know that I go running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and look up for a smile
'Cause deep inside this armor
Some people look at Kitty Pryde and see a valley girl with nothing but air between her skull.
For a while, it was easier to act that way her rather than go against the stereotypes. She wanted so badly to fit in, to belong.
But meeting her had shown Kitty the other side.
She who does not care about what other people think about her, so long as she can live with herself.
She who was not afraid to go against the flow, if that meant the freedom to express herself.
She who would rather be alone as herself, than surrounded with people pretending to be something she's not.
A lot of people think she was lonely because she is often alone and snapping at other people.
Perhaps she was lonely.
Perhaps not.
All that Kitty knows is that behind all that make-up, behind all that attitude, there is not a person more real than her roommate, not even Jean.
And Kitty was thankful that she had met her. She taught the young freshman not to be afraid of being who she is, not to be enslaved with the dictates of society that she would lose herself.
She taught Kitty how to be real.
And in exchange, Kitty offered her unconditional friendship.
So maybe she won't be alone again.
But now, Kitty stands in fear that she might loose her new-found friend.
If that happened, it would be Kitty who would be lonely.
Not all the friends in the world who would be able to replace this one.
Kitty promised herself that no matter what happened in this battle, she would not lose a friend.
Deep inside this armor
Kurt would not lose her, not when the two of them had just mended their relationship with each other.
He had once told her that the two of them were in this together, and he meant that, now more than ever.
He knew his sister intends to take Apocalypse on her own, he can feel it in his bones. He knew her better than she thinks. She can read the determination in her face, the intensity in her eyes.
And no matter what had happened between the two of them, notwithstanding the wedge that their mother had placed between them, she was still his sister.
She would not face Apocalypse alone. He would not let her.
And when that dreaded battle finally comes, he's got her back.
Deep inside
this armor
Remy LeBeau leaned casually on the hangar door.
He rarely felt fear in his entire life. Growing up in the streets taught you to accept the few scraps that come your way.
He knew hunger. He knew degradation. He knew violence. He knew death.
He knew how to accept things as they were.
He learned that people in your life never last for long.
But for once in his life, he had found something wonderful, something precious, something he was not willing to let go.
She came to him as if to make up for the terrible things he went through.
It was unfair. She was his. And for the first time in a long time, he found somewhere where he belonged—with her.
But now, there was a threat that she's going to be taken away from him.
And he wouldn't have that.
He would fight until the very last of his breath to keep that from happening.
For once in his pathetic life, he had something to fight for.
And fight for her, that's what he intends to do. Or die trying.
The warrior is a child
Rogue had a sneaking suspicion that she was being watched.
Slowly, she looked up and around. She swallowed nervously. "Uh, guys," she started. "Could you not look at me like that? You're making me kinda nervous, and I'm terrified enough as it is."
~tbc
P.S.
The song is The Warrior is a Child by Paris Twila.
sigh I know, I know. This chapter is short and kinda sucky, but I was depressed and I needed an outlet. One of my church mates passed away after a long battle with a disease. These last days, we visited her often to cheer her up, but it always ends up with her giving us joy. I kinda debated on whether or not I would post this, but in the end, I decided that I want to do something for her. I know that she's somehow up there, reading over my shoulders.
Amanda, I hope you're enjoying your time flying with the angels.