The Truth Hurts
Chapter XVII: After the Debate
By: Michelle
Graydon paced outside of the room. Inconclusive. Damn mutant-loving bastards. I will not be taken out this easily. I will get that act passed, even if I have to become president.
"Senator Creed."
"Excuse me, Senator."
He looked up to see a mob of reporters and cameramen surround him. God I hate the press. Where the hell are my bodyguards?
"Senator Creed." A reporter stuck a microphone in front of his face. "How do you feel about the council's decision?"
"I think they don't realize how foolish they are for putting off their decision." Graydon replied.
"Senator. Are you implying that the council is dragging out the issue?"
"No." Graydon looked directly into the camera. "I'm implying they are lazy. The mutant problem is not something that should be brushed off. It should be taken care of to protect our society. Now if you'll excuse me."
He pushed pass them only to be followed.
"Senator Creed, do you consider yourself a racist?"
He turned and thought about the question. "No." He replied, then stood proudly. "I'm an envisionist." He stared into the camera. "And I envision a future without this mutant problem."
"Senator Creed."
"Senator Creed."
Click
Kurt laid down the remote on the armrest and sighed. He didn't want to listen to that cold hearted man anymore. He gently nudged Ororo to signal that he wanted to get up.
Ororo, still with Evan on her lap, moved enough for Kurt to sit up. She watched as he ran his fingers through his hair. "Are you alright?"
"Ja." He replied and clenched his rosary. "I just need to be alone for a little vhile."
"OK." She nodded. He wants to be alone to pray. I don't believe that for a second. She stared deeply into his golden eyes hiding under his image inducer. I'm here for you Kurt.
"I vill not be too long." He faked a smile. He was disturbed by the debate. I really need her, but then again I want to be alone. He leaned forward to kiss her forgetting Evan was still on her lap.
"Eeewww.' Evan made a face. "Ya'll are going to kiss."
Ororo blushed as Evan jumped off her lap, while Kurt laughed lightly. Bad timing Neffe[1]. He kissed her on the cheek and squeezed her hand.
Ororo watched as he left. Then, she turned to her nephew still making faces. I swear Evan. She sighed.
Remy, Rogue, Kitty, Jubilee, and Piotr listened to her sigh. Besides Kitty, They were all thinking the same thing. Follow him stupid. He needs you.
"Come here you." Ororo grabbed her nephew again. "What am I going to do with you?"
"I don't know." Evan shrugged and asked curiously. "Do you love Mr. Wagner?"
"Yes, I do." She whispered, hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. I want one of these. Evan squirmed away from her to sit next to his friends Jamie and Rahne. She smiled and tucked her hair behind her ears. She looked at Remy, Rogue, Kitty, Jubilee, and Piotr staring at her. "Can you five keep an eye on all the kids for a while?"
"Sure, Stormy." Remy answered watching her get up to find Kurt. It be about damn time.
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Xavier watched Senator Kelly as the crowd cleared the room. She stood still staring at the door her son rushed out of.
"Graydon, I've told you once before." Raven fussed, snatching a box of personal belongings out of her nosey six year old son's hands. "No digging." She sighed getting aggravated with him as the box fell on the ground dumping all of its contents. "Go find your father."
"Sorry, Mutter." Graydon hung his head and ran out of the room.
She got down on her knees and began picking up all of the items. There were numerous pictures of her, Victor, Logan, and other members of the Weapons X program in there. She straightened them up and laid them in the box next to a Ziploc with a lock of Graydon's blonde hair.
She looked down at a white folded handkerchief on the floor. Her heart skipped a beat as she picked it up. She sucked in a deep breath as she unfolded it to find the cobalt curl. Victor didn't seem to understand fully why she still keep it after what she did, but something inside of her told her she would reunite with him one day. One day he will understand why she did what she did, she thought as she placed it in an empty Ziploc.
"RAVEN." She heard Victor growl. "COME GET HIM OUT OF HERE. I'M TRYING TO SLEEP."
She stormed into the next room seeing him disturbing his father's sleep and grabbed her son by the arm. "I swear son. I ought to send you to boarding school."
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Jubilee and Kitty got off the couch and stretched. "Rogue you want to play some air hockey."
"No." Rogue said softly still curled up with Remy's arm around her.
"Ok." Kitty replied. Oooo. Someone is comfortable.
Piotr followed them with his drawing pad in hand even though he debated leaving Remy alone with Rogue. Oh forget them. I'd rather keep an eye on Kitty.
"Ya sure ya alright, Chere?" Remy faced Rogue with a worried look on his face.
She nodded. "I'm fine."
Yeah right. "Remy don't think so." He replied gazing in her eyes.
"Really, I'm fine." She turned away from his glance. "It's been a busy day so far. I just want to go up to my room and relax for a bit." I just need some time to myself.
Remy nodded, understanding she wanted to be alone. Why won't you let me help you? Remy'll take care of you, Chere.
"Monsieur LeBeau." Jamie jumped on his lap followed by Evan and Rahne. "Play It with us again."
Remy, trapped by the rambunctious eight year olds, grabbed her gloved hand as she stood up. "If ya want to talk, Chere, Remy here."
"Maybe later." She said as he squeezed her hand. "I'll see you at about 4:30 so we can go get the flowers for Kurt."
"D'accord.[2]" He kissed the back of her gloved hand and followed her with his eyes as she left.
The three giggled at him.
"Whatcha laughing at petites?"
"You like Miss Rogue like my Aunt Ro likes Mr. Wagner." Evan said observing the obvious.
Rahne smiled flashing her wolf fangs. "You think Miss Rogue is pretty."
"Do you want to kiss her?" Jamie asked along with his multiples.
"Oui." Remy blushed. Ya can't git nothing pass dese trois infants. "And now dat ya know Remy secret, he gonna have to tickle ya ta death."
The three shrieked and giggled as he grabbed all of them playfully and began tickling them.
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Kurt lay on his bed and stared up at his ceiling as he prayed.
It was just a debate. I've seen many of them. He sighed.
That Senator Creed. There was something about him. As much as I hate to believe this, I feel connected to him in some way. He let out a deep breath. This is crazy. Why do I feel like this? I have no connection to that man whatsoever.
He grabbed his hair as if he were going to pull it out.
"Kurt, are you alright?"
Kurt let go of his grasp on his hair and looked over at the door where Ororo stood. He couldn't lie to her. "Nein."
Ororo walked over to the bed and sat on the edge grabbing his hand. "Was it the debate?"
Kurt closed his eyes and sucked in a deep breath. He exhaled and opened his eyes. "Ja."
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Rogue plopped down in her bed and lay down. I can't believe that slime ball Graydon is my brother. No. Foster brother. I pity the poor soul that is blood related to him.
I feel like the whole world is about to crash on my shoulders. She rolled over and closed her eyes. Why do I feel this way? Why do I feel like something bad is about to happen? Rogue sat up in her bed and looked into the mirror on the wall. Her hair had dried now and was quite curly.
She played with her curly hair. You know what the most disturbing thought of all is? She paused with a lock of hair wrapped around her finger. It was like he was targeting me in his argument.
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"Ororo, it was like he was purposely targeting his argument with me in mind." Kurt explained still laying on his back.
Ororo squeezed his hand. "Kurt, the president cleared your name…"
"Nein Ororo." He cut her off and sat up. "This had nothing to do with six months ago."
"Then, what do you think it is." She turned away confused.
"I don't know how to describe it." He sighed. "It's like I hurt him in the past and now he wants revenge."
Ororo turned back to look into his eyes. "Do you know how crazy that sounds?"
"Ja." He nodded in agreement. It was a crazy thought, but it fit.
"Kurt, you don't even know the man." She reminded him.
"I know." Kurt hung his head. "But there is some connection there I cannot explain." It's similar to the bond I have with Rogue. "Almost like he's…"
"Kurt." Ororo took his face in her hands and looked deeply in his eyes. "There is no possible way you have any connection with that man." She lied. She felt something was strange between the two, but refused to admit it.
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Senator Kelly began walking towards the entrance of the room. She just had to get out of there. She had a mission to accomplish.
"Hi there." Raven stooped down and smiled at the little girl before her. "I'm Ms. Raven and this is my friend Ms. Irene." She said motioning to the older lady standing next to her.
"Hi." The little girl replied shyly.
I always wanted a daughter, Raven thought to herself as she looked over the little girl. She was about four years old and had short brown hair. She's a tuff girl or tomboy, Raven noted as she looked at superman t-shirt and her overalls with holes in them.
Raven stood up and smiled to her father. "We'll take good care of her while you are gone, John."
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"You are here one hour and already you are a little rogue." Raven said cleaning a cut on the girl's arm. "What were you doing?"
"I was playing Superman." The little girl explained.
"You were." Raven replied. "Why do you like Superman so much?"
"'Cause he can fly and he's super duper strong." The girl answered. "I want to be just like him one day and fly and save peoples."
Raven smiled slightly. That wasn't the answer I was looking for.
Senator Kelly turned her head and glared at Xavier before she exited the room. You know it's rude to enter someone's mind without their permission.
Don't do anything rash Mystique. Xavier paused in his seat and let her leave.
"What are we waiting for Chuck?" Logan folded his arms. We want to get the fuck out of here. We're starving.
"Patience Logan." Xavier replied turning his wheelchair to face Logan and Bobby. "We're just waiting to eat with an old friend."
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"Ya petites need ta be calming down." Remy said finding himself worn out by five Jamie's, a spiky Evan, and wolf like Rahne. Damn, this is why Remy don't be having kids right now. "Git on da couch."
Jamie's duplicates merged back into him and he climb on the couch. Evan concentrated hard and the spikes slowly went back under his skin, then he climbed on the couch. Rahne hopped on the couch and transformed herself from wolf to girl.
Remy smiled seeing that they actually listened to him. "Merci beaucoup."
"What's that mean?" Jamie asked confused.
"It means Thank you very much." Remy sat on the floor facing the three sitting on the couch.
"But Mr. Wagner said Danke schon means Thank you." Evan said trying to correct him.
"Dat's true." He replied. "But dat's what it Thank you means in German. Remy be speaking French."
Rahne scratched her head. "How do you speak French, Monsieur LeBeau?"
"Remy'll teach you."
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Kurt sighed. This is not a good start to this day. His thoughts drifted. It will end well though. After all, I am going to ask her to marry me tonight. I hope she says yes.
"What are you thinking about?" Ororo asked seeing him in deep thought.
"Huh." Kurt broke his thoughts to answer her. "Umm." He grabbed her hands and squeezed them in his own, and then he gazed into her eyes. "You."
She kissed him softly on the lips and smiled. "Really."
"Ja." He kissed her this time parting her soft lips to deepen the kiss. He released her hands and wrapped his around her waist.
She, in turn, wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her.
Kurt broke the kiss to whisper in her ear. "Ich liebe dich.[3]" I want to marry you.
She want to melt in his arms as she heard those words roll of his tongue. She had heard him say them to her before. She knew their meaning was quite powerful. She kissed him again to signal she felt the same way.
He squeezed her waist and slid his hands lower.
Ororo pulled back slightly, gently breaking the kiss. "I know you do. I…"
Before she could say anything else, she felt his mouth crush against hers in a breath taking passion. Oh Goddess Kurt.
Ich liebe dich. I love you. I don't want this to end. He didn't want to let go of her, but he knew he had to. There is always tonight. Kurt broke the kiss.
Why the hell did you stop? Ororo gazed into his eyes. Oh, the kids.
"We better get downstairs." Kurt stood up with her. "Before the kids start climbing the walls."
She laughed as he wrapped an arm around her. "Them or you."
"Both."
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"Professor."
Xavier turned in his wheelchair to see his former student coming towards them.
"Hank." Xavier shook his hand. "It's been a while." Along while.
Since the Morlock Massacre. Hank nodded. That was about two years ago.
Logan studied Dr. Hank McCoy. He was a fairly tall man, with brown hair, glasses and large hands and feet. (Note: In this fanfics, Hank is not "Beast" yet.) "Ahem."
"Oh, Hank." Xavier said, knowing Logan was getting impatient. "This is one of our newest teachers and fellow X-men, Logan."
"Wolverine, It's a Pleasure to finally meet you." Hank shook his hand. "Professor has told me a lot about you in his letters."
Logan raised an eyebrow. Is that a good thing or bad thing?
Good thing Logan. Xavier turned to Bobby standing next to Logan. "And this is Bobby Drake. He is a senior at the institute as well as an X-man."
Hank shook his cold hand. "Iceman, right?"
"Yes sir." Bobby smiled and stood proudly.
"Pleasure to meet you." Hank smiled. "I don't know about you, but I'm starving. I say we get something to eat. "
"Read my mind." Logan answered as his stomach growled.
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Kurt and Ororo walked down the stairs to find the students well behaved. Of course, most of the students were mature enough to understand the rules of the mansion. But then again, there was the youngest group that never seems to listen.
Ororo smiled as she saw the three hyper eight year olds on their best behavior for Remy who was teaching them numbers in French. "Now Remy, you better not be teaching them any dirty or curse words." Its bad enough Logan taught them how to say Fuck in Japanese. Though how Logan knows Japanese so well is a mystery in itself.
"Remy not." He replied as they walked over to him.
"Evan, look at your shirt." She said as she observed all the holes in it. "Your mother is going to be here in a couple of hours."
"Oops." Her nephew replied as she picked him up in her arms. "I'm sorry Aunt Ro."
"Where's Rogue?" Kurt asked looking around.
"Chere went to her room to lie down." Remy answered.
"Is she alright?" He asked getting that protective older brother feeling.
Remy shrugged and frowned. "Chere wanted some time alone." I should have followed her.
Kurt turned to go find her when he was stopped by Ororo. "I'll go find her."
"But…"
"She may need a woman to woman talk."
Kurt stood still. "Maybe it is better zhat you go."
She nodded and left with Evan to change his shirt and talk to Rogue.
Kurt turned to Remy who sat innocent on the couch with Jamie and Rahne.
"Remy been good." He said before Kurt could ask him anything.
"Ja, you better have been." Kurt said and popped down on the couch with them.
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Graydon finally got back to his office to find on of his officers waiting eagerly for his return. "What are you doing in here?"
"Waiting for you to get back." He answered.
"Yeah, well get out." Graydon fumed. "I'm not in the mood to discuss anything."
"We all saw the debate." His officer said. "You didn't lose."
"I didn't win either." Graydon snapped. "But that comes close enough for failure to me."
"Is the meeting still on for tonight?"
"Yes, at 9:30 in our usual meeting place." Graydon sat in his chair and leaned back. "Now get out of here before someone links me to you."
"Yes, sir." His F.O.H. officer replied and left the room as quietly as he could.
Graydon looked at his papers and pictures spread out on his desk. Damn mutants. He picked them up and hummed them at the wall
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Pyro put on his suit. "Why the hell are we leaving now? I thought we were going after them tonight."
"We are." Sabretooth growled not liking the fact that he was being questioned.
"Then where are we going?"
"To the institute."
"But you just said we were going tonight." Pyro griped.
"We are." Sabretooth snapped.
"Then what the hell are we doing?"
"Just shut up and get dressed." Sabretooth growled at him. Damn kids and their questions. Glad Raven was the one who did all that parent shit. And she wondered why we got rid of Graydon. "We are going to spy on our targets."
"Fine." Making me put this heavy shit on. Pyro hooked up the fuel back pack on. You fucking Chewbacca wanna be. I like this better when I didn't have to listen to anyone but Mystique and Magneto.
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"Go on." Ororo shooed her nephew down the hall so she could talk to Rogue privately.
Rogue sat Indian style on her bed looking into the mirror as she brushed her hair. She paused as she heard a knock.
"Rogue, can I come in?"
"Yeah." She replied and put down her brush. She swung her feet over the bed and waited for Ororo to sit beside her.
"Are you alright Rogue?" Ororo asked sitting next to her. "Is there something you want to talk about?"
Rogue kicked her legs back and forth. I don't think you'll understand.
"Is it boy trouble?" Ororo asked. "Has Remy been hitting on you too hard?"
"No, it's not that." Rogue replied. Although Remy's constant flirting was a bit annoying, it was actually quite flattering. Plus, I don't mind having someone to worship the ground I walk on.
"Does it have something to do with the debate?" Ororo dreaded that question. It was bad enough Kurt was having problems.
"A little." Rogue admitted. "It was disturbing to watch."
"I know." Ororo replied. "I had a hard time with it too, but you can't let it get to you. There is always going to be that one person that stands against us. I guess you just have to have faith."
"You've been hanging around Kurt too much."
Ororo smiled. "I guess I have."
Rogue looked over to Ororo. "He loves you, you know." She tucked her hair behind her ears. It must be nice.
"I know." Ororo nodded. "Well we better get back downstairs before Kurt begins to worry."
"Ok, Ms. Munroe." Rogue replied. "I'll be down in a little while."
"Call me Ororo." She sensed something else was bothering her, but she just wasn't ready to talk about it yet. She stood up and placed a hand on her shoulder. "If you ever need to talk to someone, woman to woman, I'll be here. Alright."
"Alright." Rogue nodded and watched as she left.
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Mystique walked down the hallway to Graydon's office with a folder in her hands. I need a better disguise than Senator Kelly. Graydon already knew it was her.
There was no one else in there. They were all still intervening, at lunch, or gone for the day. She turned her head to see a young woman working an internship to get experience in politics. Perfect.
The young woman twisted her long red hair up with a pencil as she did her work. She smiled when she saw Senator Kelly approach her. "Good afternoon, Senator…"
"Kelly. Senator Kelly." Mystique answered in his voice.
"Nice to meet you Senator Kelly." She answered. "I'm Vanessa Roth. Can I help you with anything?"
"Yes, I believe you can." Mystique grabbed the young woman fast, cracking her neck. She looked down as she dropped to the floor. This was too easy. She thought as she shifted her appearance and headed to Graydon's office with the folder.
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Remy and Kurt looked up at Ororo as she came down the stairs.
"She's fine." She said. "She just wants sometime to herself. She's tired from today."
Remy read Ororo's emotions. He knew she was hiding her worried feelings for Rogue from them. She just didn't want them to worry so much. He'll find out later. He knew Rogue did need some time to herself. The day ain't over yet.
[1] Nephew (in German)
[2] OK (in French)
[3] I love you (German)