To say that the atmosphere in the mansion the next day was sensitive and edgy would be somewhat of a grave understatement.
Most of the occupants went out of their way to keep themselves to themselves, each of the four students reluctant to be the first to talk to their mentor about his encounter with Storm. In fact the only ones brave enough to even venture out of their bedrooms and downstairs were Rogue and Logan who now dwelled in the kitchen, aimlessly making their way through breakfast.
Logan stared intently at his chocolate and jam covered slice of toast, pondering on the idea of whether he should actually eat it or not whilst questioning Rogue without making eye contact to her as he did so.
"So how does the whole lesbian prostitute thing work in the first place? I just don't get it, how? Do they approach women or something, have some sort of built in radar to detect other desperate lesbians?"
Despite herself Rogue smiled as she put down her coffee, shaking her head as she did, allowing the white fringe to hide some of her jade green eyes.
"Poor, poor naïve Logan. Okay, you want an example of how it 'works' then?"
Reluctantly through curiosity more than anything else Logan nodded, telling her to go on.
"Right well, say you work with computers—"
"I don't know how to work a computer."
Rogue sighed patiently. "Okay how about saving the world?"
"Not the best job out there."
"Right, we'll go with saving the world then. Now like you just said, you don't necessarily like saving the world do you? But it's your job and you do it because it gets you free rent here. So basically just because it's your job doesn't mean you like the work it involves, it just gets you through life. Does that make it any clearer to you?"
He continued to stare at the toast then with a shake of his head he rammed the slice into his mouth, chewed a little and swallowed.
"Nope, haven't got a clue what you just said. Anyway I'm off to take that stupid ass of a dog for a walk, wanna come with?"
Rogue laughed picking her coffee up again. "How about I give you the time on your own to try and dissect and make sense of what I just said huh?"
He shrugged. "Fair enough, see ya round. And good luck with Charlie if you run into him."
She watched him gulp a glass of orange quickly then grab the red rope leash that hung on the kitchen door and begin to call on Mac as he left her to dine on her own.
It wasn't her favourite position, being alone. She preferred company of any number, as long as she knew and trusted the people. She would never have been such a highly sociable person if it hadn't been for Remy. She loved his forward attitude to life and people, his boastful nature and carefree manner. She wanted to be like that, confident, loud, and comfortable with herself. But she never could. She could only try by copying his actions and swallowing her pride.
So far she had almost completely failed in changing her output of personality, almost but not quite.
With women she was fine, easily connected to, comfortable and always there to lend an ear or offer her side of a story.
But with men it was so much more different. Only the men that lived in the mansion could she feel comfortable with, never a stranger especially if she were on her own with him. Just thinking of the situation gave her hives and she cringed about ever having to be in the position Storm and Phoenix had been place in for so long now.
She more than cringed when she thought of what made her this way.
Rogue began to squirm in her chair uncomfortably, the thought and worried that crossed her mind sinking her heart and twisting her stomach in tight knots. It drained the colour from her cheeks and made her eyes dart about warily. She clutched the sides of the chair in slight and growing panic and as her mind began to involuntarily flash back to two years ago she stood up knocking the metal chair onto the lineal floor.
Guiltily she picked it back up again onto its four legs but didn't sit back down, too disturbed now to stay on her own. With her heart racing and her throat dry she moved out of the lonely kitchen and towards the medical room, ready now to try her own luck with Storm. She willingly left her tears and fear behind.
"Fuck off!"
"No you fuck off!"
"Bitch."
Storm crossed her arms and turned her eyes from Phoenix who nested at the bottom of her bed with her own arms crossed. Despite herself the bold red head couldn't help but smile and in the end set Storm off in a fit of unwanted laughter. The psychic answered back defensively.
"I'm so not the bitch here. What's wrong with staying, at least for a little while anyway?"
Storm dared to raise her eyes and with sincerity placed across her face she started into Phoenix's emerald orbs. Her look was also slightly edgy, nervous almost amongst the seriousness.
"You know I'm not one for strangers. What's wrong with the way we were?" She paused as Phoenix gave her a knowing look. "Okay, don't answer that one. But why do we have to stay here?"
Phoenix lowered her head almost as if she had had this argument a thousand times and a thousand times the same questions and answers were always given. She didn't speak for a while, only stared back at Storm and they engaged in meaningful looks and silent conversation.
Both wanted more in life but both in different ways. They were opposite sides of a very different coin but at the same time complete and happy only when they were together. It was this that made them want to murder each other sometimes.
Again Phoenix smiled. She had a gambit to play.
"Okay what about Yukio, you had no problems taking up her offer when she gave us a place to stay back in Japan."
Storm could have screamed. "Yukio! You're bringing my ex into this! Why Phoenix? Do you want me to hurt you? Do you?"
Phoenix continues to smile but the smile was dampened somewhat in spirit.
"No I don't want you to hurt me, I want you to level with me here. It's not a bad offer Rogue gave me—"
"Now you really want me to kill you. I don't even know who this Rogue is! I don't know what offer she made, I've seen no one but my dad here…"
She broke off and choked. Guilt ridden Phoenix climbed up the bed and laid at Storm's side wrapping her arm around her middle and resting her head on her shoulder. Her voice calmed and grew gentle with her eyes.
"He's not your dad but is he? That Charles man is a good man with good ideals. So is Rogue and when you meet her I'm sure you'll see that for yourself. But I've also heard what Rogue has to tell about the Patrol and there's no way we'd last five minutes if they caught us. If this were the Patrol then we would know about it and you wouldn't be lying here surrounded by the best medical equipment there is. All I'm asking is that you give them a chance, please. Pwease Stormy, oh pwease, oh—"
Storm swatted her on the shoulder and Phoenix lifted her head taking that as a yes.
"Thank you! Oh thank you, thank you, thank-you!"
Storm began battering her around the head when Phoenix took her in a hug but smiled with her. They lay side-by-side now and Storm put her head down on Phoenix chest heaving a sigh.
"What did I just agree to?"
Storm's answer came through the door not soon after she asked the question.
Timidly Rogue stepped into the room and smiled weakly at the couple. She wasn't sure if she were up to this or even why she had come but she had to try. She had heard the brunt of the conversation and now it was time to back Phoenix with the evidence.
"She's right you know. Charles is a good man and if given the choice I'm pretty sure you'd pick him over Sinister. We aint here to keep you prisoner but we do want to offer you something you might never get a chance at again. Stay here, get better, try the cuisine then maybe you can reconsider? But like ah said, the mansion aint your prison, just a second chance if you like."
Storm watched her with a wary eye but listened with genuine interest. She turned back to Phoenix after the small speech.
"Would you stay anyway, even if I didn't want to?"
Sombrely Phoenix shook her head. "Course I wouldn't, but it be a hell of a time throwing this away. Please."
Again the gallant red head adopted a most begging face and Storm buried it in a pillow to save herself the emotional blackmail and torment.
"Guess, I mean if you guys aint anti-gay or anything then there's no real problem here…"
Rogue managed to suppress the short burst of laughter that would have erupted if she hadn't collected herself. It was also time to break off her visit; she only wanted to keep it short and sweet.
"You're gonna love Logan, really you are. Thanks for the second chance but, see ya round."
The Southern girl turned and only after she faced away from the couple did she allow the sweep of relief to spread across her face and the small, overjoyed smile to cross her mouth. This was one she had won and one they had lost.
(Deep in the Rockies, Canada)
Plans and payback, pestilence and power. He would win, why did she think she would? She was inexperienced and naïve, qualities you could forgive in a young woman, but it was what had made her weak and vulnerable in his eyes. What sins had been brought upon her were alone her own fault and none others.
The navy cuts of cape that spread across is back and dusted the floor rippled menacingly as he walked the long and dreary corridors of his self created underworld of medical marvels and vast prisons. People screamed out from the rusted red iron bars of the numerous cells. Their hands extended as if touching him would free them. He with distaste to them all walked by ignoring every desperate and heart wrenching plea of the damned here.
One corridor merged into another all so badly deprived of light that the prisoners of the underground were blind without knowing it.
There were few doors along these hallways but he knew the way to them all and twisted several of these soiled corridors before reaching a door he threw open with much eagerness.
In the small and elaborated War Room stood four emotionless and stiff standing adults, three men and a woman. They stood around a table, two at one side and two at another. They were perfectly ordered and regally standing with power engraved in ever muscle of their experienced fighting bodies. They were immaculate and tidy, hostile and emotionless.
None moved as he entered until he gestured his hand and allowed them to sit. He remained standing.
For a while nothing was said. None four dared to say a word or make a noise, it was his privilege alone to start off the discussion. He did so with a voice dripping of sarcasm and spite.
"So, would any of you care to raise a hand and tell me what marks this day as so significant from the others? Sage my dear, with a memory like yours you must know."
Without her eyes moving from in front of her she reported in a formal and straight tone of voice.
"Sir, 'twas the day the Cajun escaped with the Southern."
He nodded his head smiling and showing off two rows of needle sharp teeth.
"Good girl. Sharp as ever. And Cyclopes, care to elaborate why she is not with us now?"
With a much deeper and darker voice than the female the shaded eye field leaded spoke.
"Sir, I left my post to investigate a distraction the Cajun had left for me."
Again the red-eyed man smiled.
"Very good, very honest of you. Lastly, how are we going to redeem ourselves? Havok, your turn."
With a voice much similar to the other males but with an edge of anger and sharpness in it the blond man spoke.
"The Weather Witch and Fiery ones are ours sir."
Sinister stepped back from the table facing away from his small but competent army.
"Yes, as simple as that Havok. A very simple task, just like guarding the Southern girl was and getting the information from her that we needed. Both tasks that were failed miserably as you no doubt recall."
A breeze whipped through the room chilling the backs of the Patrol members but not so much as getting them to shiver. They knew the penalty if they did not keep to the highest standards of their boss.
With a mockery of a smile across his black lips he continued.
"Or at least it would be simple if the X-Men hadn't been allowed at them first. So now that the crimple has them what will that make the task?"
None answered because they cowered to the simple question. It was a wise thing to do.
"Yes that's right. Still it won't stop me from sending you out and getting them anyway, I will have what is going to be in the end truly mines. The Witch will fight and the Fiery one will go along the same lines as her Southern counterpart. Easy? Yes, now go."
Without a glance dared in his direction or a voice raised to ask a question the four went, but one was stopped. As three filed out Sinister took the fourth by the neck and in turn his cadet growled, the only one bold enough to do so and get away with it. Sinister addressed the audacious canine mutant with a tired and repetitive sounding tone.
"No out of control fury this time round Sabre', I would like a clean kidnap for once. And if need be at least rake the claws across the X-Men and not the ones we need. Understood?"
His reply, although not what he was looking for, was a continuation of the low warning growl but it was satisfactory enough for Sinister to take as a yes.
"Good, good, now have fun, bring back my girls and you can do whatever it takes to get them to obey after you've brought them to me, fair deal?"
This time the growl turned into a snarling smile.
"Course boss, whatever you say."
The pale white man nodded and releases the neck in his grasp. The dark bruising lines along the Patrol member's dirty skin not soon after healed and Sabertooth was gone into the long and winding corridors to fly out with the rest of his team.
In the red eyes of their superior victory was as inevitable as the Southern girl's death in his hands.
((Chapter Six up whenever I write it))