Special thanks to Rogue Star, without her help this would have never gotten posted
It was pitch black outside save for the small light given off by the silver stars in the sky as well as the glowing orange light emitting from the John's lighter. He sighed and ran his hand through the flame and watched as the fire danced and tickled around his hand. "Just me and you..." He said quietly to the flame.
The flame shifted, taking the form of a forest sprite; at least what John subconsciously imagined a forest sprite to look like. The little creature sat in the palm of his hand, crossing her legs as her wings fluttered letting miniature sparkles shed to the ground.
"Hey, what are you doing out this late?" A female voice asked from the shadows but John remained where he was although the sprite evaporated in his hand.
John tried to produce another flame. "Just thinkin Sheila." John answered as his lighter went out. He shook it a few times and tried to relight it, but it was dead.
"About what?" She asked taking a seat next to him. John just chunked the lighter and gave out a sigh that showed that he was not a happy camper.
"Nothing." John answered with a heavy sigh.
Amara reached out her hand in front of him and a small flame began to slowly grow from the palm of her hand. "Need a light?" She asked jokingly.
John smiled and made the flame grow, morphing it into a small puppy dog running around the yard. "Remember you saying you liked dogs." He offered after a few moments as he watched her watch the small fire puppy.
"Yeah I do. I used to have one, Brandy, a beautiful White Cocker Spaniel. But she died when I was 13. My parents had her five years before I was even bourn, so she was about 18." Amara explained, saddened by the memory.
"That's old for a dog." John said as he brought the fire puppy over to them.
"She was a sweet heart." Amara smiled and she surrounded her hand in flames and slowly pet the puppy. "What about you?" She asked, drawing a funny look from John. "You have any pets?"
John laughed for a moment. "No." He dismissed. Amara paused, not accepting it.
"You must have had some kind of pet." She argued, John just smiled.
"Well, the closest thing I've ever had to a pet was this earthworm I almost used as bait the first time I went fishing with me dad. I kept him and named him Senior Winches." John told her truthfully. Amara tried hard not to laugh, but a small giggle escaped her lips.
"That's sweet." She told him brightly, John looked shocked.
"Really?" John asked, amazed.
"Yeah, a pet doesn't have to be a cat or dog, just an animal that brings you just as much joy as you bring it." Amara told him and John felt a huge smile form on his face as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder. She accepted and leaned closer to him.
"Yeah, I guess your right love." John said before he realized what passed his lips and froze for a moment. "Uh um… sorry about that, it just came out." John tried to explain, but was not doing too good of a job.
Amara giggled. "No, its okay." She told him, and John relaxed a bit. "I like you too John." Amara said as she leaned forward and kissed him.
John was stunned at first, but after about the first thirty seconds the initial shock wore off.
The fire-puppy barked and wagged its tail.
~~~
"Remy what's going on? I can't see a thing." Rogue complained. Remy took the binoculars from his eyes and looked at her from the window with a huge grin on his face.
"She kissed him." Remy reported, and Kitty squealed.
"Oh finally. I like, thought those two would never get together. It was almost as bad as you and Rogue." Kitty said not hiding her excitement.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Rogue asked, folding her hands over her chest and giving Kitty a dirty look.
"It means that you like to be sure before you jump into a relationship Chere. Right p'tite?" Remy explained coming up behind Rogue and wrapping his arms around her. Kitty nodded her agreement.
"Right." Kitty said backing away to the couch to sit next to Piotr.
"I am still not sure about this whole thing." Piotr said at last, wrapping an arm around Kitty.
"You never sure about anything Piotr." Remy said escorting Rogue to an empty chair and sitting her on his lap.
"I am still not too sure. What if this backfires?" Piotr asked and they all looked at each other and smiled, appreciating the irony of the statement.
"Nah." They all said at once.
A couple of minutes later John and Amara walked back into the mansion. Kitty and Rogue immediately got up and went to talk to Amara while John sauntered in to talk to the boys.
"So." Remy stared at the dazed Aussie. "How did it go?" Remy asked, giving John a knowing smile. John just remained quiet, with a goofy looking smirk on his lips.
~~~:*:~~~
BAM!
"Damn it!" Tabby cursed, clutching her hand and looking around the kitchen quickly. It wasn't burnt bad, probably two or three days to heal, but Tabby was infinitely more pissed that she was that careless.
She shut the freezer door and took a seat at the table, wrapping her injured hand with a dishtowel. At least no one saw her.
"Are you okay?"
*Great.* Tabby thought. This was not her day, the last thing she needed was to be lectured by one of the adults.
"Fine…" She snapped and turned around, but didn't see who she expected.
Gabe just looked at her. "So I guess 'fine' involves a small explosion and a burnt hand?" He asked, coming in from the hall.
"Geese you sound like an adult." She shrugged. "Prank gone wrong, blame it on the idle days of summer."
"Do you want me to fix you?"
"What?" She asked, a little surprised when he took the seat next to her and reached for her covered hand.
"Your hand." He looked down to where she still kept if clutched to her chest. "I can fix it."
*Stupid Tabby.* She criticized herself. "Oh, yeah sure."
Tabitha watched as he began removing his gloves. "You always wear those gloves?"
"Yes." He answered, laying them on the table and taking her wrapped hand. "I cannot control my powers."
"Big deal." She slightly winced as he began unwrapping the dishcloth. "Don't think anyone would mind if you brushed up against them."
"True." He shrugged as he finished unwrapping. "But too much exposure is dangerous to my health."
A blond eyebrow arched up. "What do you mean?"
"To give life takes life." Tabitha immediately jerked her hand away from him. Gabe watched her expression a moment before lightly chuckling. "Its okay, a burnt hand is nothing life threatening."
"You sure?" She asked, like a small child who was about to get a splinter pulled out of her finger.
"Positive." He promised, and held his hands out to her. "Can I continue?" He asked, and Tabitha nodded.
His hands gently wrapped around hers, at first stinging the sensitive flesh. But soon a soothing heat encompassed it, like it was being held under a gentle stream of flowing warm water.
"Whoa." She gasped, eyes not parting from where they were touching. "That feels weird."
Gabe smiled as he released her now healed hand. Tabitha brought it up and examined it like it wasn't attached to her body. Turning it over up in front of her face and wiggling her fingers.
"Better than a burnt hand I hope?" Gabe asked, slowly pulling the gloves back over his fingers.
"Yeah." Tabitha continued to look at her hand in awe. "A lot better."
Gabe smiled, happy he could help. "So what was the prank?"
"Huh?" She asked, pulling her attention from her hand back to him. "Oh yeah." She remembered, smacking herself across the forehead. "Testing a theory, wanted to see if I could hold off one of these little explosions by putting them in the freezer." For emphasis she created an energy marble and absently tossed it from hand to hand as she spoke.
"Let me guess." Gabe broke in. "Ice cube tray?"
"You are such a buzz kill." Tabitha pouted, absorbing the marble. "How'd you know?"
"I figured it would produce the best effect." Gabe looked over at a glass by the sink. "The ice would melt in the glass; the charge would heat back up and explode."
"How did you get to know me so well?" She asked, leaning forward in her seat.
"I know plenty about you."
She arched up an eyebrow. "You do?"
"Tabitha Smith, mother Judy, Father Ron, separated. Your father is currently serving a 5 year sentence for breaking and entering, burglary, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor." Gabe recited from memory.
"Fine, I believe you. You sound like a court reporter." She leaned back in her chair, slinging an arm over the back and playing with the hem of her shirt. "How'd you know all that?"
"I listen."
Tabitha leaned forward. "Okay, my turn to listen, so spill it."
Gabe leaned back. "I'd rather not."
"Come on, I bet you know all my dirty little secrets." Tabitha edged forward in her seat and clasp her hands together like she was begging. "Cant you just give me a teeny-weeny little detail about yourself?"
"Grew up in a Spanish orphanage." Gabe shrugged. "Kind of bounced around after that, and ended up here."
"That all I get?"
"Yes."
"I don't know why I hang around here." Tabitha huffed and stood up.
"Leaving?" Gabe asked as he watched her grab her coat. It was still technically summer, school didn't start for another week, but the weather had already begun to get chilly in the evenings.
"Yeah, don't feel like sleeping on the couch here tonight. Got a nice comfy bed back at the Brotherhood place."
"So I guess you will be back tomorrow to raid the kitchen." Gabe smiled.
She threw her hands up in disgust. "Cant help it if they never buy food!"
"Well, I guess I will see you at breakfast then."
"Like you are in there with the rest of the kids." She watched him give her a questioning look. "Don't give me that look mister; I know you wait until after everyone's eaten before you do." She shook her finger at him. "Thought I told you to lighten up?"
He smirked. "Thought I told you to show people your other side?"
She put her hands on her hips. "I'm workin on it!"
Gabe got up from his seat. "Tell you what, if I show up for breakfast with everybody else, you've got to say something smart."
"Well, breakfast is a bad idea." Tabitha scratched her head. "I make it a habit not to wake up before noon unless I have to be at school."
"Well then, how about dinner?"
Tabby smiled. "That, my dear Gabe, is a date."
"Date?" He questioned.
"Don't go backing out of it." She called as she exited the kitchens backdoor. "Pick me up at 8 tomorrow night."
Gabe just stood alone in the kitchen after she left. "How did that happen?"
~~~:*:~~~
Kurt, clad only in a pair of boxer shorts with a hole cut in the rear for his tail, toweled his hair dry as he came back into his room.
"Woo hoo, take it off!"
Kurt didn't even hesitate, but bamfed out of both instinct and surprise. Amanda looked around before the door to his closet opened and Kurt poked his head out.
"Vhat?" He questioned, finally spotting his girlfriend sitting in his bed. "Amanda, vhat are you doing here?"
She absently picked peaces of lint from his bedspread. "I just wanted to see you."
"But your parents…"
"Think I'm upstairs asleep." Amanda finished for him.
Kurt ducked back into the closet, and Amanda could hear him rummaging around in the dark. "How did you get here?"
Amanda shrugged. "I walked."
"But eet's five miles to your house." Kurt said as he came back out, clad now in a pair of shorts and a white undershirt.
"Your point?" She asked, standing up from the bed and hugging Kurt. "Besides, now that I'm here, I've got an express ticket back."
"Vell…" He hugged her back. "I am glad you're here."
"I miss you too." She smiled and pecked him on the cheek. "Although I hate to admit it, I'm glad school is starting next week." She rubbed his furred arm, feeling the down-like softness between her fingers. "I miss seeing you everyday."
"I do too." For some strange reason Kurt felt like purring as Amanda petted his arm. "So, what do you want to do?"
"Nothing, just stay right here, maybe watch a little TV."
"Your wish is my command." Kurt smiled, and bamfed them the two or three feet to his bed where he reached for the remote and flicked on his television.
"Guess I never will get tired of that." Amanda smiled as she laid her head on his shoulder.
~~~:*:~~~
"Sometimes Piotr, I wish you would talk a little more." Kitty pouted as she missed another shot. Piotr had been trying to teach her how to play pool since their multiple losses to Kurt and Amanda. "I mean I really don't know that much about you, I mean, other than what happened to your family."
Piotr sighed, taking a picture out from the back pocket of his jeans. "It seems like I am not the only one keeping secrets around here?" He sighed, handing the picture over to Kitty before bending down to take his shot.
"Where did you get that?" Kitty deadpanned, looking at the picture of her and the other girls in their Bayville Siren's attire.
"Rogue." Piotr answered truthfully while tapping the 3, which was one of Kitty's balls, into the corner pocket. "She said it may come in handy one day."
"Remind me to phase her into a dress one day." She narrowed her eyes. "Something pink."
"Care to explain?" He asked, reaching over her shoulder, which wasn't hard, and taking back the picture. "I never imagined you in something so…" Piotr studied the picture again before looking back at Kit. "Black leather?"
"Hey!" She tried to grab it, but Piotr held it just high enough to keep out of her jumping reach. "What do you want for it?" She finally broke down.
"I'll let you have it." He smiled and crossed his arms over his chest. "On one condition."
Her eyes narrowed, playful scowl on her face. "What?"
Piotr smiled looking at the picture one last time before handing it to Kitty. "Ware your hair down once in a while."
Her mood instantly lightened, and she fought to stifle a giggle. "Deal." She said, while ripping up the picture. "So long as no one sees this."
"Well." Piotr coughed. "I did sell the negatives to Gambit."
"Piotr!"
"And John…"
"What does John want with…" Kitty started to ask, but quickly shut her mouth. "Never mind, I had rather not know."
~~~
"What's the matter with you?" Rogue asked, looking over at Remy who leaned on the railing of her balcony.
The wind whipped his hair about. "Remy don't like de night."
"Why not?" She smirked, looking out over the front lawn of the institute. "Kinda hard for a night owl not to."
"Well…" Remy turned, still leaning on the railing and looked at her. "It's de only time of de day I can't be wit my Chere."
Rogue stepped into him. "Who says?" She asked as she put her arms on his shoulders.
"For starters, Logan's six pointy friends." Remy shrugged, placing his hands on her hips as she stood in front of him.
"Aw, he's all talk."
"Yeah." Remy agreed. "Be talking plenty as he slices be to little Cajun bits." He placed a kiss in her hair. "Nite Chere."
"Nite Cajun." She told him, hugging him close before he jumped off the balcony.
She watched him get on his bike and ride out of the institute, waving casually over his shoulder as he passed through the gate.
Rogue rubbed her arms through the cotton of her long-sleeved shirt and went into her room.
~~~
*Now Omen. We are ready.*
~~~
Hank rubbed his eyes and replaced the glasses on his face. The sliding doors to his lab/infirmary opened, causing the blue-mutant to turn to his visitor.
"Gabriel?" McCoy asked, surprised to see the new addition to the institute in his lab. "What are you doing up so late?" Hank took a moment to look at his clock to confirm the early hour. "Or rather early." He corrected.
"Woke up and couldn't go back to sleep." Gabe shrugged as he came into the lab, standing next to the fire-extinguisher on the wall. "Figured I'd get an early start this morning." He stretched his arms over his head and yawned. "How about you?"
"Full moon tonight." Hank leaned back, stretching his arms over his head. "Plays havoc with my natural clock." He leaned forward and resumed his typing. "I just thought I would have another crack at this translation before I went for a jog…" Beast paused his sentence, closing his own eyes to let loose the yawn he felt building after Gabe's. Science still hadn't figured out that little mystery.
Hank fell to the floor.
Gabe dropped the fire-extinguisher he had struck Beast with. "Crude but effective." He walked by the computer, and removed the spear from its cabinet.
~~~
John rubbed his eyes on the way to the bathroom. Sleep matted hair clinging to the left side of his head while the right puffed out like a chia-pet.
His barley opened eyes caught a figure exiting the elevator at the end of the hall.
"Gabe?" John asked, looking through one eye at the other person in the hallway. "What you doing up?" He asked, and then noticed the spear is his hand. "What the hell…" John crumpled to the floor, Rogue removing her bare hand from the back of his neck.
Gabe looked at the unconscious Pyro on the floor, then back up to Rogue. "Are you ready?" He asked.
Rogue nodded, and placed a hand on his shoulder. In a puff of smoke they were gone.
~~~:*:~~~
A piercing alarm assaulted Beast's ears.
"Hank!" Logan only half gently slapped the blue-mutant across the face.
Hank shook his head, raising his hands to shield from any further slaps. "Oh my…"
"Did she absorb him too?" John, eagerly looking over Logan's shoulder, asked.
"No…" Hank grumbled as they helped him to his feet, still rubbing the back of his head where dried blood was caked into his blue hair. "The method used to render me unconscious was much more primitive." He said, looking at the dented fire-extinguisher lying on the floor.
"What the hell's that noise?" Logan growled, not in the mood for his sensitive hearing to be under assault.
John looked over at Hank's computer. "You got mail mate."
"The translation must be completed." Beast got into his chair and struck a few commands into the keyboard. "Oh my God…"
Logan picked up the fire-extinguisher. "What?"
Hank red from the screen. "With the portal opened, the sacrifice will absorb him into our world. She will be the vehicle for En Saba Neur."
"Rogue!"
~ I'm not too happy with that chapter. Mostly felt like a bunch of independent scenes just being tossed together to get to where I wanted to be. But, I couldn't figure out a better way to do it, and I didn't want to keep putting off posting anymore.
Keebler-elmo: That work for the John/Magma?
Cool-chick-rae: The Rogue/Gabe thing does have possibilities, but I've already got something worked out. It should be made apparent by the next chapter.
Ishandahalf: Gold stars for me, you're so kind.
(Unknown Reviewer): John Amara for you. Yes I know its ménage à trios, I typed it that way because, well, I was just lazy at the time. Afterwards I forgot about it and posted it like it was. Sorry all.
Twilight Lament: What's wrong with comic relief? Like I've said before, John got his due here.
Starfire: Your wish is my command.
Rogue Star 1: Listen here Missy! (Is that better?) Yeah, I've already apologized for the ménage a trios, but you figured out what I meant (pervert).
Bunny Angel: I'm not sure, is he?
Please send me some motivating reviews! I'm trying like the devil to get this fic finished and need some motivation!
Later all…
eixid
