And, ha ha, I've managed to successfully confuse most people. If weren't just a little confused, then, um...your mind must work in weird ways, 'cause even I lost track off what was going on. I'm kidding, of course, I never actually knew what happening in the first place. But now there's all this pressure to write a story worth reading, since, well, people are reading. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
The Freedom Caper
Chapter One: Fly Away
"I think that, to some degree, we're all fractured souls. Cut in half. And we wander through life, looking for the rest of ourselves."
Gambit and Rogue walked down the long bare hallway -one of many hidden in the depths of Xavier's mansion. They were hand in gloved-hand. Just a few feet ahead, a silent Scott led them. The path ended abruptly; Scott quickly ran his hands along one edge, and a computer screen appeared from nowhere.
"Identification required," Rang the loud authoritative, automated voice.
"Cyclops. Code 91734."
"Access granted." The wall groaned and slid back on invisible wheels, leaving them at the entrance of a huge study.
The ceiling was high, books were many, tables of mahogany were adorned with lace, and long maroon rugs wrapped around the entire floor. A bookshelf obstructed half of their view, but Scott and Rogue knew what existed past it.
A set of couches, two love seats, and a fire place. That was where everyone else would be waiting. Xavier, Magneto, Ororo, Logan, Beast and the rest of the team.
Before they went on, Scott paused. He clasped Rogue's shoulder, features bent in some kind of sorrowful responsibility, like a general readying his soldiers for a suicide mission. "No matter what happens, we're with you." He extended a hand to Gambit. "Both of you."
The young Cajun man accepted the gesture. "T'ank you." He turned to his partner. "And t'ank y' fo' every'ting, Chere. No matter what happens, it been a journey, non?"
"Yeah, it sure has."
"No regrets?"
"None. Ah wouldn't take back a minute of it."
"Not even de part when I stop t' aid a damsel in distress an' nearly got dis hand torn off?"
Rogue grinned. "Well..."
*****************
2 Months Before...
There were several remarkable things about the hill at night. Tall, soft grass that swayed elegantly with the breeze. The way the moon sort of peeked its head over the convex shape, spilling light onto random patches of ground. The startling, thrilling shock whenever planes zoomed closely before landing at the local airport. But Rogue didn't choose that hill for any of those reasons. She liked it, made it her sanctuary, because of its isolation.
It was located to the left of some freeway, and beside the curvaceous, deep Bayville River. No one ever went out there; that meant dodging speeding cards, struggling to scale its steeper, bigger brothers, and risking certain death at the bottom of the river if you tripped. Rogue, however, didn't mind the trek.
Not if it meant finding the kind of quietness she sought. The kind that was lacking concerned voices, vicious sneers, and inescapable pity. She would sit, her legs folded beneath her, or some times stretched out, and pick flowers, tear off their petals, watch them drift away. Sometimes, secure in her solitude, she would peel away the layers of clothing and lay on her back in only a pair of boxer shorts and a tank top.
It was on that hill where she had decided that the Brother Hood wasn't her place. Where she had closed her eyes and pretended she had a real family, complete with a cookie-baking, apron-wearing mother. Where she had prayed to God, thanking him for sending her a brother in Kurt.
And it was there she chose to stand and bid Bayville and her latest home adieu.
She wasn't like some spoiled child, running away because she'd been denied a privilege. Quite the contrary: she'd been given everything a teenage girl could want. People who cared about her, money whenever it was needed, and enough freedom to grow into the person she wanted to be.
Yet something was absent from her life, a thirst that refused to be quenched. A loneliness that ached. Rogue had to go; she had to figure out what was missing.
The team would probably be angry or hurt for a while, but hopefully they'd come to understand. Maybe they'd take her back once she was whole and happy, perhaps not. Either way, she was leaving.
She gave the city limits one last long look, slung the duffle bag over her shoulder, and started climbing towards the road.
The roll of thunder echoed from a distance, as if heralding the arrival of a storm. Rogue didn't seem to notice.
***********
Gambit normally didn't stop for hitchhikers while on his bike. Especially not when he was about to run away from one of the most powerful mutants around. But this one time, with the storm clouds moving in rapidly now, and the figure looking so feminine and helpless, he decided to make an exception.
He drove his bike right behind her. She was seated beside the road, wrapped up in her own arms.
"'allo, Chere, can I help y' out?" He asked, jumping down. She didn't answer, so he got closer. "Chere? Y' okay?"
She snapped her head
up, fast enough for the emerald green eyes to take him by surprise. Fast
enough for the cap on her head to blow away, down the hill, leaving her
hair whipping wildly with the wind, cheeks red. As their eyes met, it was
like a scene from a Hallmark movie special. All that was missing were a
few heartfelt confessions, hugs, some hot chocolate, and the picture could
fade to black, replaced on the screen with a giant gold heart. Eager to
play her part, Mother Nature sent a
light mist to add to
the effect.
And then their mouths started moving.
"You?" She spat, teeth chattering from the cold, seemingly angered with his presence. "What are ya doin' heah?"
"What am I doin' here? Y' de one sittin' by de river in de middle o' de night, with a...bag? What y' doin', Belle? Runnin' away?" She cast a guilty look to her duffel bag, licked her frozen, slightly blue lips, and frowned.
"Ah'm waitin' fo' someone, Gumbo."
He didn't believe her. "I may not be de brightest star in de sky, but wasn' dat yo' thumb in de air, beggin' fo' a ride?"
"Get the hell away from
me. All ways gotta be causin' trouble. Don't know why ya had ta pull
ova'... Ah swear, if ya try anthin' Ah'll-"
The drizzle turned to
a sprinkle.
"Woah!" Gambit raised his hands in surrender. "Easy dere. I saw a femme in need, I t'ought I'd help. Dat a crime?"
"No, but Ah'm sure ya on ya way ta commit one."
"Dat hurts."
"Leave me alone."
He clutched his heart in mock pain, then gracefully slipped back to a more cocky, arrogant expression. "Look, y' out here in de middle of nowhere, and it looks like it gon' drown us all in a bit. I stopped t' ask y' if y' wan' t' get out of de rain."
"Sure. Ah believe ya." She said, sarcastically. "Ya don't have any alterior motives, that it?"
"Mais," He said, eyeing her sopping wet, now form-fitting outfit, appreciatively. "Mebbe, but it gon' take longer dan a bike ride t' figure how t' get past yo' powers."
She rolled her eyes. "Ah was thinkin' more 'bout the evil, takin' ova' the world kinda motives. Ya know, the kind that fill Mag's mind?"
"jus' 'cause I be workin' fo' de power-hungry, human-hatin' mutant, dat mean I can' be a gentleman an' give a femme a hand?"
"Usually, yeah."
Gambit grinned. "Dis ain't a mission fo' him. I can do as I please when I'm on my own time."
"Sure. Ya betta' head on home, Swamp Rat, 'fore Magneto finds out you were pleasure-cruisin' in the middle of the night." She tried to avert her glance so he'd leave her alone. She didn't need a crazy Cajun holding up her voyage of self discovery, whether he wanted to fight or carry her back to the mansion.
But persistence and women went well together for the auburn haired young man. Truthfully, he had been taught to respect the female species, and never leave them in a bad spot. Not if it could be helped. "C'mon Chere, I drive y' home. T'ink of de nice, warm bed an' pillow case."
She didn't answer. Gambit remembered her current state and opted for a different suggestion. "O' mebbe I'll give y' a ride outta dis place. Been here too long m'self." She didn't have to know about his growing sense of confinement with Magneto. All the rules he imposed, deadlines, regulations. They were enough to drive a man insane. The no-stealing-unless-instructed-to bit.
Rogue snorted. "Raght. I'm s'possed ta believe ya gonna go AWOL, jus' ta give me a lift. 'sides, Ah'm goin' back home."
"Den at least let me give y' my coat." He pulled off his trench coat and moved to slip it around her shoulders. Instead, she reached for him, catching his arm and jerking it hard. The Cajun crashed against the ground, wetting half the places the falling rain missed. That, plus an amazing ache ran through his arm.
"Merde." He said,
glaring at her. "Could've just said no."
****
Rogue had hoped her mild attack would be enough to anger him, and send him on his merry way. Whatever pack of lies he was selling, she wasn't going to buy it. Chivilrous attitude or not. She knew the lackey, and he wasn't the nice guy type.
That why his laughter was so unexpected. She looked at him. "Now why are ya so damn happy?"
"I like a femme wit' spirit. But dat wasn' too sweet o' you. I t'ink y' owe me now."
"I think ya outta ya mind."
"Prob'ly. But 'least I'm brave enought t' admit I'm gettin' out of Bayville."
"Right. Maggy's jus' gonna let ya walk away."
"Nope. But he won' notice 'til mornin' an' by den I'll be long gone."
"He'll find ya."
"Non."
"Says ya now. Wait'll ya bein' dragged home by that pretty lil' hair."
"Y' really t'ink my hair is pretty?"
"Shut up." Rogue was mad at herself. Somehow she'd actually started having a conversation with the Cajun, and forgot he was her enemy. But no more. She stood up, brushing at her dirty clothes in a vain effort to clean them. "Ah'm goin' home."
He wasn't sure why he spoke, as he too rose and jumped back on his bike, but the words were said before he could really process them. "I'm goin' away, Belle. Come with me."
What really disturbed Rogue was that she heard sincerity in his voice. Go with him? She didn't even know him! What she did know was all bad. He was a thief. A villain. A Lex Luthor to her Superman. The sprinkle turned to rain and began to pour. It came down like buckets, drenching them both while they waited in silence.
Rogue looked at the bike slowly, then back at Gambit. She took a deep breath.
He was a bad guy.
She shouldn't even be talking to him.
He helped tear down the dreams she built up for the professor.
And he might be her only
ticket out of Bayville.
She exhaled. "This don't mean Ah trust ya o' anythin'."
He shrugged, nonchalantly. "Not really askin' y' t' trust me. Don' really care if y' come at all. But de ride gets awfully cold, alone. Could use a lil' warmth."
She ran a hand through her snow-crested hair and adjusted the falling duffel bag on her shoulder. Gambit was dangerous; his whole act could've just been another trap, luring her right into Magneto's waiting hands. And even if he was being honest, was she really ready to jump on a bike with him and drive away into the unknown?
Yet it was that last thought that sold her on the whole idea. She'd been offered peace and stability, security and trust. Wild adventure, on the other hand, was never available. It was a risk -a gamble, either way.
She accepted his hand and let him pull her up to his bike. As her arms slid, somewhat uncomfortably, around his waist, he pulled the baggage from her grasp and tossed it to the side of the road. It sunk into the watery mud. "What do ya think ya doin'!" She demanded. "That's all muh stuff!"
"We'll get y' new t'ings on de road."
"But..." The remainder
of her words were lost, as the motorcycle roared back to life and zoomed
down the high way, away from the rain, and south of Bayville.
I wish that
I could fly
Into the
sky
So very
high
Just like
a dragonfly
I'd fly
above the trees
Over the
seas
In all degrees
To anywhere
I please
Oh I want
to get away
I want
to fly away
Yeah yeah
yeah
Oh I want
to get away
I want
to fly away
Yeah yeah
yeah
Let's go
and see the stars
The milky
way or even Mars
Where it
could just be ours
Let's fade
into the sun
Let your
spirit fly
Where we
are one
Just for
a little fun
Oh oh oh
yeah!
I want
to get away
I want
to fly away
Yeah yeah
yeah
I want
to get away
I want
to fly away
Yeah yeah
yeah
I got to
get away
Feel I
got to get away
Oh oh oh
yeah
I want
to get away
I want
to fly away
Yeah with
you yeah yeah
Oh Yeah!
I want
to get away
I want
to fly away
Yeah with
you yeah yeah
I got to
get away
I want
to get away
Yeah
I want
to get away
I want
to fly away
Yeah with
you yeah yeah
I got to
get away!
************
1. I had some stuff written here, but in the wake of the tragedy, it sounded a little too much like whiny babble. I replace it with my prayers and wishes for the people who died. And to all my readers also, May God bless you.
2. I didn't really proof-read this like I should have, so sorry if there were mistakes. And about the accents...I feel like I've gone apostrophe happy every time Remy speaks.
3. Er, Fly Away is sung
by Lenny Kravitz. I do not own either it, or him.
4.Ahem, and now the ending credits...
Anonymous1, Anonymous2, Dragonfire, Ginger, Dark Void, Goldylokz, thank you all for the review, I really hope you liked this chapter too, and want to review again....hint, hint.
animegirl1984: 1984...good year wasn't it? I hear the people born that year are all really cool ;) Thanks for the review!
Panther Nesmith: Thanks for reminding me that I'm supposed to credit the singer or writer or whoever. Ha ha ha...funny how I forget things. The song was If I Never Knew You from the Pocahontas soundtrack. Its a great song, almost makes up for their distortion of American history. And thanks even more for telling me what ya thought.
Lady Aurra: Thank you! Ah, a fellow rambler. I feel like we have a special connection here...
Ishandahalf: Aaaaahh. Don't tell me to add mush. Beause I will. I have problems writing things besides mush. In fact, that's what holding up Strangers. I have the marshmallow-iness planned fine, the plot still needs help... :) Thanks for the review!
Erica, Kanshisha Tenshi, Amphitrite, thank you for tell me what you thought! Hoped ya liked this chapter too. :) Have a good night, and a pleasant tomorrow.
Lady MR, Carla, girl4chat86, Disturbed Rogue: just think how boring life would be if we knew all the answers. There would be no challenges, no surprises, and gosh darn it, no reason to smile and nod and pretend you understand!! Ahaha...ha. But seriously, I hope its starting to make a little sense now...Please review again!! For this chapter I mean, if its not starting to make a little sense, then I should er, revise a little. :)
Vagabond: Interesting that you should say that, 'cuz I started off thinking of Antartica and it evolved into this. I also wondered a little why they were with the X-Men, but I know now. I can't tell you though, 'or else I'd have to kill you....Thanks for the review!
?: I'll accept blame for confusing you with my prologue, but if you forgot your name, well, I won't be blamed for that!!!!!! J/K. Thanks for the review.
Oh, and special thanks to the one that emailed me at my email account. Look for a response soon. Sorry its not there yet!!!
If I skipped anyone, you have my permission to beat me repeatedly about the head.
And thats it! You know
the deal, you review, I write, everyone's happy.
Questions? Comments?
Coconuts? I'm at Eileenblzr@yahoo.com