The Truth Hurts
Chapter XXX: Breaking In
By: Michelle
Graydon winced as he walked forward. His father held his arm behind his back and guided him down the hallways. He hated the sound of the man breathing against his neck.
"You're awfully quiet for once, Son." Sabretooth growled. "Afraid."
Graydon remained silence and kept walking.
Eleven year old Graydon stood proud before his father for the first time in his life. He stood like his mother, afraid of nothing including him. He was tired of being pushed around by his father. He wasn't a little boy anymore.
"Get away from me." He said with his voice shaking. I hate you.
His father grabbed him by the arm causing him to bruise instantly. "What did you say to me?"
He shook with a tear rolling down his face. "I…"
"What's your problem, son?" His father demanded. "You have something you want to say to me."
"No." He sobbed. "Just leave me alone."
"Oh, I'll leave you alone alright." His father growled lowly before he pulled off his belt.
"No." He screamed and cried as he felt the belt pop his arms, legs, and back. "No stop…Mutter…Mutter…" He cried for her, but she never came. "Make him stop hurting me."
After what seemed like a lifetime of beatings, he finally heard his father walk away. "I hate you." He said under his breath as he painfully curled himself into a ball in the corner of his bedroom.
"I hate you." Graydon said finally breaking the silence.
Sabretooth growled as he threw his son onto the floor in front of his mother. "The feeling is mutual."
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Gambit lit up their way using the King of Hearts. "Which way mon ami?" He said to Wolverine sniffing in the air.
"Straight ahead." He answered and then talked into his headset. "How much further Half-pint?"
"Like a half a mile." Kitty answered.
Gambit sighed. Mon Dieu, won't this ever end. He was nervous as he continued forward. He didn't know any other way to explain his nervousness except to say he was afraid. He was never afraid of anything. Well, almost anything. But now, he could feel butterflies in his stomach.
Is Rogue alright? He thought as he heard a twig snap from beneath his boot. Mon Dieu, I hope so. I don't know why, but I care about her so much.
It has been many years since I felt this way about anyone. Rogue is not like any other women I've met. OK, slept with. I don't even remember feeling this way about Bella Donna.
Rogue is Marie Anna D'Ancanto, the stubborn Mississippi girl with a sense of style and a smart mouth. She never puts on an act about who she really is: the average seventeen year old girl (who happens to be a mutant) trying to live each day to her fullest.
Besides, Stormy, she is the first person in the mansion I ever trusted. I relate to her so well. We both know what it is like to be afraid to touch anyone. We both know what it is like to be rejected by our family. We both know what it is like to live on the streets. We both know what it is like to be afraid to trust anyone. We both know what it is like to be alone.
I might be crazy, but I know what I am feeling. Beyond all the flirtin' and the teasin', I care about her a lot. She may not be able to touch anyone, but she has certainly touched my heart. I think I'm in love.
"Mon Dieu." Gambit's eyes widened as he looked before him to see Magneto's lair.
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Kurt, Rogue, and Mystique broke slowly apart as Graydon landed on the floor before them.
Rogue tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. What is he doing here? Then, she looked at his blood stained shirt. Even he doesn't deserve that.
Kurt stared blankly at his beaten brother. He may be a mutant hating bastard, but he doesn't deserve to be treated in such ways. He glanced quickly at Sabretooth knowing he was the one who did that to him.
Mystique stared at the one child who would never forgive her. "Hello Graydon." She said without any emotion.
"What no hug for me, Mutter?" Graydon said as he slowly stood up. He contemplated about making a run for it. However, He took a good look around to see that he was clearly outnumbered. Damn mutants always stick together.
"I found this on him." Sabretooth growled and handed the yellow armband to Magneto.
Graydon's eyes widened as he grabbed his arm. Oh Shit. He suddenly felt weak in the knees and his body overwhelm with perspiration.
Magneto glanced at the letters on the armband. F.O.H. He looked at Graydon's pale face. "You look nervous Senator Creed."
Graydon felt the tug of his bracelets and heard a chair drag across the room. Damn. He fell back into the chair and tried to struggle free. I hate being at the mercy of the enemy.
Magneto walked over to Mystique. "Take a load of this." He said as he handed her the armband.
Mystique's eyes narrowed with hatred as she read the letters. F.O.H.
Kurt and Rogue glanced at each other. What's going on?
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Despite her composed display, Storm found it hard to stay strong. It was a constant battle with in herself to fight off her tears. She knew she had to keep her emotions under control even though she felt like striking something with a lightening bolt.
Kurt, please let you be alright. She sighed softly as she fought the tears building in her eyes. I love him with all my heart.
I have never felt this way with anyone before, even with Forge. Kurt is the first man, that I have had a relationship with, who has been there for me. He was the one who reached out to me when I needed a shoulder to cry on after Jean's death. His spiritual words comforted me when I was feeling weak. Without him, I am not complete. He is my soul mate.
I love his smile, especially that goofy grin he gets when he blushes. I love the way he gives me a quick kiss in front of the students to make them giggle. I love the way his heart raises in his chest when I snuggle close to him. I love the way his tail snakes around nervously when he is trying to surprise me with something. I love the way he loves me.
Storm stared at Magneto's lair with aw and shock.
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"F.O.H." Mystique said as she stepped towards Graydon. "I didn't realize you hated mutants so much that you would actually join the Friends of Humanity." I should have thrown you off a waterfall.
Smack.
Graydon felt the blow of his mother's back hand and turned slowly to look at her. "Bitch."
Smack
Lord, I can't allow this to happen. Kurt stepped forward to stop her from taking another swing at Graydon, but found himself face to face with Sabretooth. Or maybe I can.
"Don't even think about it." He growled as he looked at his stepson. He could see the distrust in Kurt's eyes.
"That's enough, my dear." Magneto said as he grabbed her hand. "He may even be more useful to us now."
"How so?" Mystique answered as she freed her arm from Magneto's grasp.
Magneto turned slowly and looked at Graydon sitting nervously in the chair. "He knows who their leader is."
I'm not saying a damn thing. Graydon leaned back in his chair. I'm not saying a damn thing.
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"You should like be coming upon it soon."
"Alright." Wolverine answered into his headset.
He sniffled in the air. He could smell fear and confusion. Kurt and Rogue. He sliced branches out of his way with his claws.
He smiled with all the memories of Rogue that filled his head. I can remember the time she hid my cigars to try to stop me from smoking. I remember the time she and her friends tried to show me how to do the Macarena. How they conned me into that one is still a mystery.
He violently slashed the branch in front of him. Rogue is like a daughter to me. If anything happens to her, I swear I don't know if I will be able to control myself. She is one of the reasons I stick around.
He walked forward seeing Magneto's lair between the branches. He could almost taste the glory of tearing Sabretooth to a million pieces.
Then, there is Kurt. My beer buddy. Elf may be a spiritual person, but cannot pass up a good beer. I remember that time we had that drinking contest before the semester started. Thanks to my healing factor, the alcohol didn't have much affect on me. But Elf got so fucking drunk I had turn the shower on him to wake him up. Ro' was so pissed that she electrocuted me with one of her lightening bolts.
Damn, if Mystique does anything to hurt him, she is going to have another set of claw marks on her chest.
"Holy Shit." Wolverine's claws retracted as he looked at the full view of Magneto's lair. "Half-pint, Chuck…Damn."
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"You are a member of one of the most powerful anti-mutant groups in the world." Magneto took each step slowly as he approached Graydon. "The Friends of Humanity have been a torn in my side since the mutant controversy infected the planet."
Graydon sat proud in the chair.
"They lead all the major mutant protest groups."
Damn right we do. He smiled.
"They hunt down mutants." Magneto stared into his eyes. "And kill them."
They all deserve to die. His smiled was enough to sicken all of them. Every last one of them.
"They even sponsored William Stryker and his attack on the president." Magneto took a quick glance at Kurt to see him hang his head. Then, he turned back to Graydon. "We have allowed your kind to torment us for too long. I want to know who your leader is. And I want to know NOW."
Graydon glared at him hard. I'm not going to tell him a damn thing. "FUCK YOU."
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Iceman followed his teammates through the woods. He personally wouldn't have minded to fight Gambit then and there, but he knew Storm and Wolverine would stop him.
His thoughts drifted to Rogue wondering if she was thinking about him. I'm sure thinking about her. Her image never leaves my mind. I can barely concentrate. She is all I think about. 24 hours a day. 7 days a week. 365 days a year.
Even though I can't touch Rogue, I feel so close to her. She's my best friend. My girlfriend. I can talk to her about anything. She has always been there for me, even when I was upset about my parents.
I care a lot about her. I think I love her. I love the way she laughs when I play jokes on Logan or Kurt. I love the way she squeezes my hand when we are taking a walk by the lake. I love the way she looks after a workout session in the danger room. I love the way her cheeks turn red when tucks her hair behind her ears. I love the way her emerald eyes glitter when I give her a quick kiss. I love her.
Iceman slammed in the back of Wolverine wondering why everyone stopped. "Holy cow." He said as he looked at the massive building before them.
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"Who is the leader of the Friends of Humanity?"
"What makes you think I would tell you?" Graydon answered.
"I am not here to play games Senator." Magneto replied. "I want an answer or you are as good as dead."
"I'm not going to give you an answer." Graydon said to him. "And if you are wise, Old Man, you would not threaten me."
"Believe me Senator." Magneto stared his prisoner eye to eye. "I'm not threatening you. It's a promise."
Graydon felt the bracelet around his neck tighten. His face turned red and he grinded down on his teeth.
Magneto clenched his fists as the bracelet got tighter. He wanted to kill him right then and there, but that would not get him any closer to finding out the answers he wanted. Graydon is as stubborn as Mystique and Sabretooth are.
"That's enough Magnus." Mystique said as she walked over to Graydon. "He isn't going to give you the answers you want." She looked down at her son's red face. "Are you Son?"
Graydon gasped for air as the pressure on his neck was released. "Mutant Bastard." He managed to say in between gasps.
Magneto stared at him debating to tighten the bracelet again. "What do you propose Mystique?"
"Does it involve me beating the shit out of him again?" Sabretooth growled and cracked his knuckles. "We had fun last time, didn't we Son?"
"No, Victor." Mystique rolled his eyes. This is what I get for working with a bunch a skull bashing men. "I was thinking more an open minded approach." She smiled down at Graydon who turned away in disgust.
"I'm sure Mastermind would have fun with this." Magneto replied.
"I wasn't talking about him." Mystique answered. "I was talking about Rogue."
Me. Rogue, who like Kurt had remained quiet the entire time, looked at Mystique then at Kurt. What should I do?
I do not like this. Kurt looked over at Rogue's silent pleas for help. I don't like how this is going, but Lord apparently is not on my side for the moment. He looked around at the enemy.
"Don't be shy Rogue." Mystique called to her. "Come here."
Rogue felt all eyes turn towards her. What does she want me to do? She stepped forward slowly. She played with the ends of the bandanna she was wearing.
Mystique grabbed her gloved hand and pulled her in front of Graydon. Suddenly she realized what her mother wanted her to do.
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"I didn't realize how big this place was going to be." Storm said as she looked at the building. This is going to be like finding a needle in a haystack.
Wolverine looked around for an entrance. "I liked the model better."
"Kitty, we need ya ta be findin' us a way in." Gambit said into the headset.
"I'm on it." Kitty replied. "Ok, you like have to go about fifty feet to your left."
"We're going Half-Pint." Wolverine replied as he kept walking. "And we ain't seeing it."
"I see it." Colossus replied and cleared his way to a door. "And it's sealed pretty good too. Check out this lock."
"Wolverine can you cut through it." Storm asked.
He smiled. Snikt. "Like a hot knife through butter." He raised his claws ready to slice.
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"Touch him Rogue." Her mother said to her. "Absorb the information out of him."
"I…I don't know if I can do that." Rogue began to panic. "I will end up hurting him."
"No you won't. You just have to concentrate." Mystique comforted her. "You just need to touch him long enough to tell us the name of the leader of the Friends of Humanity."
Rogue stared at Graydon directly in the eye. He's a sniveling little weasel. I don't want him in my head. Her head began to pound again.
"Don't you trust me Rogue?" Mystique said innocently. "I'm your mother. Do you actually think I would do anything to harm you?"
Would she? Rogue debated in her head. I'm so confused. She could feel her pulse in her head as her eyes flashed blue as she reached out for him.
Graydon looked at her for a brief second. Something is not right with her. I don't like this. Oh shit. He leaned back as her bare hand closed in on him.
Kurt felt helpless from where he stood. No, Rogue don't. Why are they making her do this? He felt the collar still on his neck. They are testing our loyalties.
The Friends of Humanity have to be stopped. I can't allow them to hurt anymore of my brother mutants. Rogue could feel the pull of his life force as she placed her hand on his cheek.
"Leader. Leader. Leader."
"What we have accomplished tonight is a warning. To all mutants of what the future holds for them. Tomorrow belongs to humanity. A Humanity cleansed of this fowl mutant disease."[1]
"YEAH!!!!!"
Rogue pulled back quickly. Every single mutant should be wiped off the face of the planet. She could feel all of Graydon's hatred flowing through her. I will not stop until all of them are destroyed. She stepped back and stared at him in disbelief. What's wrong? The Truth Hurts.
What the hell did she do to me? Graydon felt his head spinning. Then, he stared into her changing eyes. She knows.
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Wolverine sliced through the lock and cracked the door an inch and a half. "Do your magic, Gumbo."
Gambit squeezed his arm in and grabbed the keypad, carefully taking off the cover. He pulled the wires closer to him and pulled a wire cutter out of his pocket.
"I hope you know what you are doing." Iceman said to him.
Gambit shot him a glare before he continued on his work. He cut the plastic coating off two of the wires and reached for another item in his pocket. "Storm, hold this for me while I hook these up."
"Sure." Storm took item and observed it. It reminded her of one of the kids' gameboys.
Gambit placed copper clips on the exposed wire. The clips had a wire connect to the end of each and plugged into the handheld. "Alright give me."
He punched on the pad of his handheld. Cameras. Check. Motion Sensors. Check. Laser Beams. Check. Trip Alarm. Check. He smiled at his handy work as each began to shut down. Gambit be one good thief, he. "OK, we are in."
Wolverine slowly opened the door ready for anything. He's good. Once a thief, always a thief. As long as he doesn't hot wire my jeep again, I'm cool.
"Work quickly while you can." Xavier reminded them. "Once Magneto senses your presence, it won't be long before he sends Pyro, Sabretooth, Mystique or Mastermind to apprehend you."
"Then, let's get moving."
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Rogue stepped back away from Graydon. How could he? She turned her head away fighting the tears. She couldn't even look at him. That's right freak. Turn away. Why would I want to look at you anyway?
"Who is the leader, Rogue?" Mystique demanded not caring about her daughter's feelings at the moment.
She felt all eyes fall on her again. I can't believe he hates us that much. Why wouldn't I you freak. She was sick to her stomach. You mutants destroyed my life.
Kurt pushed past Sabretooth to approach her. As he stood before her, he didn't know if he should just stand there or hug her. She seems so fragile. What did she see? "Rogue."
Rogue looked at Graydon with her eyes watering up. Why? Oh, the explanation. How poetic. She bit down on her lip and hung her head. "He is…Graydon is leader of the Friends of Humanity." The Truth Hurts, doesn't it.
"That's right, Freaks…I am." Graydon spat proudly. "And DAMN proud of it."
[1] Quote by Graydon Creed X-men Season 2 'til Death do us part. Part 2'