Two
Charles Xavier exhaled and looked at the expectant faces surrounding him-Hank, Ororo, Scott, Jean, Kitty, Kurt, and Pitor-he could feel their curiosity hammering at his mind like a sledgehammer. They all knew something was wrong, but Charles wondered just how much he could tell them without endangering Rogue or Cypher. Deciding that the best lie would be mostly truth he cleared his throat, "I know you all are curious as to why I called you here tonight."
"You mean about why Rogue and Cypher aren't back from New York yet? Or where Logan has disappeared to this time-Professor?" Scott's words were clipped-a sure sign that he was feeling left out of the action.
Charles offered a thin smile to his first student-Scott was probably going to have the hardest time understanding why he had allowed Rogue to leave. "I sent Logan on a special humanitarian mission-he will be returning in a few nights if all is well. As for Cypher and Rogue…" Charles sighed softly ready for the outbursts that would come-he and Cypher had agreed that it would be best if only he and Wolverine knew the truth, "I'm afraid that they have left the X-Men."
"WHAT?" the teenagers in the room chorused.
Xavier was pleased to see that Pitor was the first to collect himself, "Where have they gone?"
"It seems Cypher intended to return to Magneto the whole time she was here." Charles brought his shields up to full strength as the wave of emotions circulating the room hit him-anger, sadness, confusion; "Rogue has joined her."
It wouldn't have taken a mind reader to gauge the reactions of the assembled young people; Scott looked like he had been sucker punched, Jean wore a small puzzled frown, Kitty's eyes were round and shiny, while Kurt and Pitor wore the same betrayal stained expression. A shocked silence enveloped the room; without a word Pitor got to his feet and left-shaking her head Kitty jumped to follow the large Russian.
"Are you just going to let her go?" Kurt's voice was small and joyless-the day he had found out that Rogue was his adopted sister had been the happiest of his young life. Now he just looked sick, "Mien Gott…You cannot let Rogue go…"
"Of course not," Scott cut in briskly, "This is all Cypher's doing-she's kidnapped Rogue for Magneto. We'll rescue her and…"
Jean set a gentle hand on her boyfriend's arm-self righteous fury was beginning to roll off of him like electricity. Professor Xavier gave the red head a soft smile in return for her show of restraint, "No Scott. We will not. Rogue made it very clear that it was her choice to leave. I cannot compel her to stay if that is not her wish."
"Are you sure Charles?" Storm moved to comfort Kurt; who seemed ready to burst into tears.
Xavier nodded sadly; he did not have to feign the tiredness he felt-it was genuine, "Yes, I've looked into Rogue's mind-it is her decision. I do not agree with it but I will respect it."
Scott shook his head trying to understand everything that had just happened-someone they had welcomed to their team had used them, deceived everyone and turned Rogue-his friend and team-mate against her family. Every fibre of his being wanted to track Cypher down and make her pay.
It was the same feeling Scott had had when he left Mystique behind in Area 51-except this time he wanted to hurt the hacker until she begged forgiveness. Jean's presence beside him reigned in the darker fantasies Scott would have indulged if left to his own devices-her steadiness reminded him of his position as a leader. The example he needed to set.
A sob issued from Kurt-the German mutant held his shaggy blue head in his hands; Ororo was by his side murmuring soft words. Scott reluctantly swallowed his rage-he was needed now-but he would not forget the grief on Kurt's face, the pain in Kitty's eyes or the naked betrayal on Pitor's face. He was a good leader and the X-Men required his stability right now more than anything. But one day soon he would make Cypher pay for the havoc she had caused-with interest.
****************
"Pitor?" Kitty hurried along the hallway trying to match his long legged stride, "Are you okay?"
He didn't answer, just continued walking to the room he had shared with Scott since his arrival at the Institute. Kitty watched as he picked up his sketchbook, he pushed past her carrying the black bound book in his hands. Taking his lead Kitty said nothing as she followed the Colossus-he marched straight outside ignoring the winter chill and opened the large metal trash can filled with leaves Ororo had been using as mulch.
Kitty flinched as he began ripping pages out of the book-every single one of them carried a study of Cypher's face; straight on, profile, half turn-they were the evidence of torch he had carried for the girl. Once he had purged the book of each and every drawing her pointed, pensive visage graced, Pitor reached into his pocket and dug for the matches he had carelessly picked up much earlier in the day.
The Russian tried in vain to keep his hands from shaking as he prepared to strike a match; Kitty laid a diminutive hand over his and looked up at him. Tears shimmered in Pitor's dark blue eyes and Kitty knew that she had some of her own ready to drop, "Are you sure Petey?" she croaked out-talking made her throat feel full of sand paper.
"She let me believe that she too was Magneto's victim…" his accent grew heavier as he spat the words out with emotion, "Katya-he kidnapped my sister to keep me at his side…I will not love a woman who would willingly follow such a monster. Who could lie to me with every word from her mouth. I was a fool to chase after Cypher…"
Kitty felt the tears drop from her eyes hurried along by this glimpse of the invulnerable man's soft side, but she couldn't help but agree with him. Pitor deserved much better than Cypher. Taking her hand away from his Kitty watched him light the match and drop it into the canister. Flames licked a particularly beautiful portrait of Cypher hungrily, devouring it whole then moving on to the others indiscriminately. Lit by the amber glow of flame Kitty held Pitor as he cried for the sister he had lost and the woman who had never cared.
****************
"I wonder what the Professor told everyone," Rogue wondered aloud as she watched Asli and Remy playing black jack on the older girl's bed-it seemed like an unspoken decree that the Cajun would spend all his considerable waking hours in their room. Whether the Goth liked it or not.
Despite his annoying presence Rogue had to admit having him around kept some of the gloom away. Asli was brooding about Pitor when she wasn't thinking of new ways to stab Magneto in the back making the hacker lukewarm company at best. Besides Remy had very gallantly removed all the bugs Magneto had set up to monitor the girls. Maybe Asli had a reason for trusting him.
In answer to her words Remy offered a Gallic shrug and continued to deal cards out to Asli, "Do de words matter Chère? Ain't none of your friends gonna like hearin' dat you've left. Dey all gonna be plenty upset…" he narrowed his demon eyes as he stared at Asli, "Some more den others hein?"
"Drop it." Asli's voice was tight-Rogue knew from absorbing Asli's memories that the hacker cared for Colossus more than she was comfortable admitting-apparently Remy had also caught a glimpse of it. It was just a matter of knowing what to look for really.
"Pourquoi Petite?" He blithely ignored the warning glance Rogue shot him; he seemed to hold his life cheap, "You've probably broke de Tin Man's heart…And here Remy was lookin' forward to takin' de Chère to de wedding. Mebbe she could catch de bouquet…"
Dropping her cards Asli rose from the bed and walked out of the room without a backwards glance, her back rigid and fists clenched. Rogue watched the girl leave before rounding on Remy-Asli hadn't liked hurting Pitor and there was no call to rub the girl's nose into it, "Why the hell did ya do that for Swamp Rat? You like kickin' folks while they're down? Or are you just naturally an ass?"
"You know Chère," he turned towards Rogue and offered her his most dazzling and insincere smile; when that didn't mollify the angry Southern Belle he switched back to his normal cocky self, "Dat accent of yours get real thick when you're mad. But to answer de question-it was Asli's choice to leave Pitor out of de plan. We both know dat. It don mean Remy is gonna let her forget it."
Rogue pushed her white bangs away from her face and met his strange eyes without blinking, "Why not?"
"Because Chère, Remy be a romantic at heart."
A short laugh escaped Rogue's mouth and she shot the Cajun a disbelieving glare. For his part Remy was disappointed that she didn't buy into the image of Remy Labeau as Cupid. "C'est vrai Chère. You don't have to agree but Remy thinks l'amour is a very serious thing. Folk gotta grab on to it while dey can and that girl is just plain stubborn."
With that parting speech Remy lifted himself and left Rogue to the thoughts swirling in her head. Even thought the Goth hated to admit it, when it came to Asli and her refusal to love Pitor-the Cajun was absolutely right.
~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~**~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~**~~**~*~**~*~**
Translations (about time eh?)
Mien Gott = My God
Chère = Dear (shall I say duh…I know everyone uses it)
Hein = eh. (Yep, you can tell I'm Canadian...I can say it in BOTH official languages.)
Pourquoi = Why
C'est vrai = It's true
l'amour = love
***Notes, alright…now please I need to know if anyone thinks I've gone a little overboard with things-especially Scott's reaction to the defection-what about Kurt? I've assumed for this that he and Rogue know that they are related. Is it too OOC? How did you like the Kitty/Pitor scene? Or the little bit or Romy-ness I threw you at the end? Hmmmmmmm????
Thanks to Ish for continuing to praise me.