The Truth Hurts
Chapter XXVII: Why?
By: Michelle
Ororo Monroe walked toward the jet ready to take off. She walked proudly in Her Black leather X-suit with a lightning motif on her chest combined with long gloves and thigh-high stiletto boots. Her black cape, which was crossed over the neckline and attached in an asymmetrical way to her shoulder and waist with an X-symbol each, fluttered behind her as she walked. She kept her long flowing silver hair out of her face with a simple black tiara. She looked at the ring in her hand, tightened her grip on it, and placed it in a small pouch on her belt. She stood in front of Xavier ready to show Magneto what happens when you underestimate a Storm.
Remy LeBeau stepped out in his sleeveless leather X-suit with a belt, combat boots, kneepads, and headdress. He topped off his ensemble with a long black trench coat flipping up the collar and grabbed for his cutoff gloves that only fully covered two of his fingers. He attached his collapsible bo staff to his belt and buried various packs of cards along with any thieving tools he may need in the depths of his trench coat's pockets. He then grabbed Rogue's glove, squeezed it, and placed it in one of the pockets. His eyes blazed red as he took his place next to Storm. He stood now ready to risk everything to save Rogue by living up to the name Gambit.
Logan walked out in his X-suit with an angry look on his face. He looked down at the X on his chest as he buckled his belt. He snatched his gloves off the shelf and quickly put them on. He grunted as he extended and retracted his anamantium claws. With his ruthless and cutthroat attitude, he marched over to take his place next to Gambit. He growled under his breath as he stood before Xavier ready to clarify the reasons you shouldn't piss off a Wolverine.
Bobby Drake stepped out in his black leather X-suit tugging slightly at the collar. He felt like Cyclops at the moment as he looked down at the X that was on his chest. He buckled his belt and put on his gloves while he thought about his mission. He knew how serious the situation was and pushed aside his playful attitude as he walked forward to join his place next to Wolverine. His body temperature dropped as he stood before Xavier as an Iceman.
Piotr Rasputian stood proud in his sleeveless X-suit. He bent down and strapped up his boots. He stood back up straight with a serious look on his face. He flexed his muscles watching his body from his shoulder pads to his black wristbands turn into full body armor. As he took his place next to Iceman, he felt what he was: Colossus.
Kitty Pryde pranced out in her black leather body X-suit. She tied her hair up into a ponytail leaving two pieces loosely around her face. A smile lit up her face as she hooked various electronic gadgets to her belt. She grabbed her laptop and hurried to join her friends in front of Xavier. She phased down into the floor and phase back up to stand next to Colossus. Move over Catwoman, here comes Shadowcat.
Jubilation Lee walked out in her full body X-suit with a matching jacket. She placed on her pink tinted glasses and smiled. Her earrings jingled as she made her way over to Xavier. She smiled again as she took her place next to Shadowcat. You never know what surprises are in store when there is a Jubilee.
Xavier looked at his X-men before him: Storm, Gambit, Wolverine, Iceman, Colossus, Shadowcat, and Jubilee. They were more than his students and friends. They were his family. He telepathically said to each of them 'Let's Go' and turned his wheelchair to board the jet. They had two of his children to save.
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Rogue held the bars to the cell tightly as she watched Kurt leave with Magneto, Mystique, Pyro, and Sabretooth. Why Kurt, why? She turned around and looked at her company. She didn't like being stuck in the cell, especially with Graydon. Why him? I'd rather have Pyro looking up and down my body rather than have Graydon give me hateful glances.
Graydon looked at her and sighed. At least I'm not stuck in here with that demon thing they call my brother. It's just too weird for something like him to quote the bible and shit. He continued to stare at her in deep thought. And Of course, my sister had to the one with the worthless power. I'm really going to be stuck in here now.
He watched her fold her arms and walk around a bit. She looked angry and frustrated. Plus, she was really starting to freak him out with her eyes changing from green to blue every so often.
"What?" Rogue demanded with her eyes flashing blue for a second.
Graydon leaned against the wall. "I was just wondering why you didn't join that metal maniac and our mother."
"What do you mean?" Rogue said looking into his dark eyes. "Why would you say that?"
"I don't know." He replied folding his arms. "You just look like someone who would be a 'bad guy' at one point in your life."
"Yeah, well," She thought for a moment. If I would have run into Magneto first without him trying to kill me, I probably have joined him. But, Magneto ruined that with the whole Liberty Island incident. "Let's just say I'm still pissed about the last time they captured me."
"So what did they do to you?"
"Strap me to the bottom of the torch on the Statue of Liberty so they could use me to turn the world leaders meeting on Ellis Island into mutants."
"Ouch." Graydon replied remembering the event. "No wonder why you said NO."
"Yeah." She replied, surprised that her and Graydon were actually holding a conversation with each other. I just wish Kurt would have done the same. A tear rolled done her cheek at the thought of her brother being her enemy.
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Kurt walked around Magneto's lair wondering if he made the right decision.
Behind him was Sabretooth growling and breathing heavy. He didn't particularly care for this man at the moment and had his reasons. Reason 1: He attacked and hurt Ororo, the love of my life. Reason 2: He attacked me personally he thought feeling the claw marks burning on his chest. Reason 3: Wolverine and Gambit both claimed to have bad experiences with him in the past, even though neither of them would admit why.
Pyro was also behind him playing with a ball of fire in his hand. The kid is a Pyromaniac like Ororo described him. He never liked to listen to orders and when the opportunity came for him to be free he took it. He had barely met boy before he decided to join Magneto at Alkali Lake. He prayed for the boy to come to his senses. Now here I am joining Magneto.
Magneto walked proudly as he led the way. The Master of Metal was also a master of deception. He helped them that day at Alkali Lake. In fact, he saved all our lives. Then, he tried to kill everyone else. Everyone else meant Margali, my foster mother, and Jemaine, my foster sister. Even though they didn't want to have anything to do with me at the moment, I still love them and would do anything to protect them. Yet now, he felt like he was betraying them by joining Magneto.
Then, there was her. His flesh and blood. The woman who dropped him to his death over a waterfall. His mother. Mystique. He glanced over at her walking next to him. He could barely look at her long enough before becoming slightly angry. I was her number one son and she treated me like I was number two.[1] Now here she was after 33 years trying to become my mother again. Was she insane? Does she really expect me to coming rushing into her arms full of forgiveness? Yet, here he was joining Magneto to reconnect with the mother he loss. He had so many questions to ask her. I have to talk to her alone. It's the only why for me to truly understand what happened.
Kurt looked down the tunnel knowing he was risking everything to find out the truth.
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Rogue wiped the tear from her eye. Why is Graydon even talking to me anyway? He hates me. She played with the tails of the bandanna she had around her head. She could smell the familiar scent of its owner and couldn't help smiling.
"What are you so happy about?" Graydon rolled his eyes. We are trapped in this God forsaken cell and she is smiling.
Rogue looked at him and replied. "Nothing."
"I'm not stupid." He replied. I was young once. "You're thinking about someone special."
"Maybe." She answered and stopped playing with the bandanna. "What's it to you?"
"Not much." He answered walking towards her. "I just didn't think someone like you was capable of a relationship."
"What's that suppose to mean?" She snapped back. She knew full well what it meant and found herself trying not to punch him in the face.
"Well for starters." He said ready to attack her emotions. "You can't even touch a guy, let alone screw the guy. So, what's the point really? You might as well become a nun and start preaching with giant blue demon thing of a brother we have."
Change of mind, she didn't want to deck him. She wanted to suck everything out of his wicked ass until he was unconscious on the floor. However, she had a feeling Graydon's mind wasn't something she wanted to absorb. Yet, still the thought tempted her as she looked down at her bare hand before replying. "Well what about you? There is a reason you are not married. You're such a negative and hateful little weasel."
"Yes, that is true." He admitted. "But, if I had kids there is a possibility of them becoming mutants. And I can't have that."
"You would give up your own kids if they where mutants." She shook her head. "What kind of sick monster are you."
"I'm not a monster." He replied proudly. "I am a man and that's more than I can say for you or them for that matter."
Rogue stared at him hard. The man has some serious issues, but who could blame him. She hated him, yet cared for him at the same time. He experienced the same things Kurt has. Rejection. Just because you are different, doesn't mean you should be treated differently.
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Kurt looked around the room he was lead into. Like everything else in Magneto's lair, it was plain and full of metal. Walls. Floors. Chairs. Everything. He didn't like it. It meant Magneto was in full control.
Magneto turned and faced him with a wicked smile on his face. "Perhaps I should leave you two to get reacquainted."
Kurt watched him leave the room wondering exactly what he was up too.
What am I complaining for? I wanted too talk to her alone, and this is my chance. He could feel her golden eyes searching to meet his own. But, he couldn't look at her for the moment. It was just so much for him to digest at the moment. Instead, he stared over at a small window.
"Kurt." .
He didn't answer. He didn't know why. He had been waiting for this moment for as long as he could remember. He always said to himself if he ever found her he would rush to her, hug her, talk to her, and never let her go. He just didn't feel that way anymore. He wanted answers.
"Son."
He looked everywhere else but at her. He didn't know how to address her. Do I call her Mutter? He thought to himself. Or do I call her Mystique? He was so confused.
She was his Mutter. The woman who gave him life. The woman who tried to take it from him. She never saw his first steps. She wasn't there when he said his first word. She wasn't the one who taught him to read and write. She never was there to tuck him in bed at night. She wasn't there when he was scared and confused the day his teleportation power first appeared. She wasn't there when the circus fell apart. She was never there when he needed her most. She was never there when he needed his Mutter.
She was also Mystique. His enemy. She was there that night she brushed him off in attempt to seduce Logan. She was always there fighting against him and the X-men. She was there now holding his brother and sister prisoner. She was there now expecting him to accept her as his Mutter. She was there now thinking they could be one big happy family. It was amazing how she suddenly needed him.
He turned to face her for the first time since they walked into the room. He met her gaze and stood with his head held high. I will not let her break me. "WHY?" He demanded, and left it at that.
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Magneto closed the door and turned to face Pyro and Sabretooth. He sighed knowing they were thinking the same thing.
Sabretooth growled. "You don't trust him do you?"
"Hardly." Magneto replied and headed towards another room.
"So he is just agreeing to join you to get closer to Raven." Sabretooth answered.
"Of course." Magneto smiled sinisterly as he stopped in front of the door. "But I expected that." He turned the knob and opened the door revealing, to his eyes only, a short hunchbacked man in a dark brown cloak.
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Mystique watched as the door closed behind Magneto. Then, she turned to face her son only to find him looking the other way. She wondered why he did that. He was such a devout man. He should have forgiven her.
"Kurt." She spoke his name softly for the first time since she led him away from the cell.
He didn't answer her, but she knew why. Like him, she had so many things she wanted to do. So many things she wanted to say. But, it had been 33 years since that day. He was just a defenseless newborn when she dropped him to his death. Now, here he was standing before her, rather away from her, as a grown man.
"Son." She attempted to speak to him again.
Do I have any right to call him that? He is my son after all, but I have been no mother to him. I abandoned him. I tried to kill him. I never got to feel his tiny hands grasp my finger. I never got to see him loose his baby teeth. I never got to celebrate his birthdays or Christmas with him. I never got to hold him in my arms and tell him everything was going to be alright. I was never their when he needed me most.
For the first time since they were left alone in the room, he turned and met his golden eyes with hers. She noticed him stand tall and asked the question she had been dreading for the last 33 years. "WHY?"
She paused and looked into his anxious eyes. He had asked his first question, but she was afraid to give him the answer. He wanted the truth, but she knew how much it would hurt him. The Truth Hurts. His conception consisted of numerous sins.
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Pyro and Sabretooth looked into the room only to see a topless woman dancing around in front of them. Their jaws dropped and they stared with drool running down their chins.
Magneto rolled his eyes knowing they must have been caught up in one of his friend's illusions. He only was half glad he had his helmet on to block the images. "That's enough Mastermind. What did I tell you about attacking feeble little minds?"
"Sorry Magnus." He answered. "It was just too easy to pass up."
"I don't doubt that." Magneto answered and watched Pyro and Sabretooth snap back into reality.
"Hey, where'd the chick go?" Pyro asked looking at a Mastermind.
Sabretooth shook his head and growled. "Yeah, where is she."
"She was an illusion." Magneto answered wanting to laugh. "Created by a friend of mine. Mastermind."
"Where the hell he came from?" Pyro asked still wondering where the woman went.
"While you and Sabretooth were out on your missions." Magneto explained. "I was out on my own."
"So, is he a child of Mystique too?"
"No." Magneto answered. "Mastermind here has the ability to alter ones mind. Since I knew both Nightcrawler and Rogue would be difficult to turn over to our cause, I recruited him for one purpose: to alter their minds to believe they were with us all along."
"What about Graydon?" Sabretooth growled.
Magneto smiled. "I figured you would have more fun messing with his mind than Mastermind would."
"You have no idea." Sabretooth quickly turned and headed towards the cell where his son was held prisoner.
"We're following him right?" Pyro asked. "Cause I wanted to see the show."
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Rogue gave up in trying to talk to Graydon. Every time she said something, he made one of his coldhearted comments that made her want to suck the life out of him. At the moment, she was glad the last persona she absorbed was Bobby's chill out attitude. But, she couldn't help but answer his next question.
"So, what was she like?" Graydon asked with curiosity. He knew what his mother was like to him and he figured out easily how she was to Kurt, but Marie seemed to be immune from his mother's abandonment.
"What was who like?" She didn't know why she bothered to attempt another conversation with him, but she figured what the hell. He was going to pester her whether she talks to him or not.
"Our Mother." He answered. "Was she good to you?" Unlike she was to me.
Rogue thought for a moment. Mystique was not a bad mother. Sure she was strict and controlling and overprotective, but she never felt so loved in her life. She remembered all the times her Momma tucked her in bed at night. All the times she braided her hair. All the times they went on shopping sprees the day after Thanksgiving. The time she showed her how to put on lipstick. These were just some things only a mother and daughter could do together.
Rogue looked over at Graydon. "She was a very good mother."
Graydon wanted to die as he heard her reply. "Must have been nice." He said softly trying not to let her know how much that hurt him to know.
Rogue began thinking more and more about her mother. Mystique loved her like she was her own. Suddenly she began contemplating whether or not she made the right decision.
[1] Quote from the Penguin in Batman Returns