Dismal Angel 2010 - Episode 8

Chapter 6:  Least Expected

          Kitty stepped through the threshold leading into the Laboratory in the subbasement of the mansion, Hank McCoy was leaning over a book at one of the counters, making notes, his expression of dire concentration. 

          As he heard Kitty's bare feet pat gently on the cold tile floor, he raised his eyes, gazing at her through his hexagonal glasses, "Kitty…what can I do for you?" he asked brightly, although Kitty could trace a certain amount of exhaustion and frustration lacing his tone.

          "I wanted to ask a question…you…well, you're a doctor, you studied psychiatry and psychology, and, I don't know, maybe you'd have some advice…" Kitty said, she sat on a high stool near one of the counters.

          "Advice on…?" Hank asked, giving up on his notes for now and wandering over, curious.

          "I had this weird dream, Hank.  And It's not like I haven't had weird dreams before, but this one…I don't know, it's different," Kitty said, "I dreamt about Remy's journal…and there was a bullet wound in it, I saw the bullet in the journal…I don't know what that's trying to tell me."

          Hank seemed incredibly interested, "the bullet that Remy was shot with no doubt," he fathomed, "perhaps your dream is trying to tell you something."

          "Did you ever keep the bullet?" Kitty asked, although she was unsure why she'd asked such a thing, she hadn't even thought about it until it passed her lips.

          "As a matter of fact…" Hank got up and wandered over to a cupboard, he opened it and began to search inside, he pulled out a small plastic ziplock bag containing a bullet, "I did," he finished saying.

          Kitty got up and wandered over, "wow, its so tiny…and it left such a gaping wound too."

          "You know, I've never examined it closely before, I've been preoccupied with my research," he said embarrassedly, "I had Jean clean it and bag it for me," he explained, "lets look at it," he suggested, he approached a microscope upon the countertop.  He picked up a pair of tweezers, removed the bullet from the bag and placed it under the microscope, he leaned forward to gaze down, turning the dial to let it come into focus, "oh my," he said, "fascinating."

          "What is it…?" Kitty asked, a little curious herself now.

          "Have a look," Hank moved back and gestured towards the microscope enthusiastically.

          Kitty wandered over, she gazed down into the microscope, the bullet magnified so incredibly she could see every tiny little scratch upon its surface, and then, something else caught her eye, "what's this…?" She asked, "it looks like a…piece of computer chip or something," she admitted, noting a very tiny high tech section of the front of the bullet that to the naked eye would have never been noticed. 

          "Yes…it does…" Hank nodded as Kitty turned to look at him.

          "Why would the police have bullets like THAT?" Kitty asked, "I mean, come on, the Illinois Police are well funded, but they're not THAT well funded…"

          "I doubt this bullet was ever shot by a police officer, Kitty," Hank admitted, he removed the bullet from the microscope with the tweezers and gazed at it closely, adjusting his glasses, "I cannot believe how incredibly intricate this is, to the naked eye it barely looks like a few scratches – this is very advanced," Hank said, "so much detail…"

          Kitty chewed her lip, waiting for Hank to continue, but he didn't, "So…what does it mean?"

          "At the moment, I'm completely unsure of what this means…" he said, "I will need to investigate further…" Hank's eyes had a twinkle that only ever appeared when something interesting was in his agenda.

          "Did you ever find out what happened to your research?" Kitty asked.

          Hank looked at Kitty, "funny enough…no…but I have my suspicions," he admitted, "but no proof – at least, not yet."

          "Suspicions?"

          "It's not polite to say who I think did it, Kitty, but I have a very good idea," Hank said, "Excuse me, I'm going to be busy finding out what this bullet does…"

          Kitty nodded, "Okay, I'll leave you to it."

          Bobby Drake parked his car at the front of the mansion later that night, "Here we are," he said, "Home."

          "Thank you for the lift," Piotr Rasputin said as he exited the car, the car seemed to buckle as his weight left it, and then rattle ever so slightly as Illyana climbed out.  The brother and sister headed towards the mansion.

          "I had fun tonight, Bobby.  It helped a lot, hanging out with you guys," Rogue admitted, she smiled a little, and reached over to open her door, Bobby put his hand on her arm.

          "Wait," He said softly, looking at her intensely.

          Rogue turned and looked back at him confusedly, "Something wrong?"

          "No…" Bobby sighed, "Well…yes…everything…" he ran his fingers through his hair in a frustrated fashion, his eyes darted back and fourth from her to the dash, he seemed torn in what to say.

"You've been acting really weird all night, Bobby," Rogue admitted, "you've been…quiet…aloof…what's going on?  It's just…it's just not like you…"

Bobby looked at her, "it's…been a rough night…forget it," he sighed, and reached for his own car door.

"No…wait," Rogue pleaded, "what's going on?  Is something wrong?  Are you upset?  Did I do something to piss you off?  I need to know…"

Bobby groaned, "fine…come walk with me," he suggested climbing out into the chilly driveway.  He walked down towards the Gardens.

Rogue climbed out and began to follow quickly, "wait up," she said, almost tripping in her stiletto heels, "okay, so…what's goin' on?" she asked softly.

Bobby put his hands deep into his pockets, shoulders shrugged up to his neck.  Rogue watched him, finding it strange he was acting as if he might be cold – considering his powers worked on the basis of cold and the temperature of it never seemed to bother him in the slightest.

Finally, Bobby began to speak after a moment or so of walking, "This whole night…I was hoping to talk to you about something…something that's been on my mind for a really…really long time," he sighed, "but…then Piotr and Illyana showed up and…I don't know, it was hard to get you alone to talk to you."

"Get me alone?" Rogue raised an eyebrow and laughed, "y'know, that sounds kind of suggestive," she hugged herself against the slight breeze.

Bobby stopped, "I have something to tell you…" he sighed, taking his hands out of his pockets, "And…it's just…it's just…its so hard to say," he looked away for a moment, "and…when I say it you're either going to laugh…or…you're going to freak in which case maybe its better I don't tell you anyway…"

Rogue stood in front of him, "I won't laugh…or freak…" she stated.  Now she found herself wondering what it was that he could have to say.  He knew her well enough to know she'd either laugh or be shocked, and this had to mean the news couldn't be very good.

Bobby looked her deep in the eyes, "promise me…"

"I promise."

"Cross your heart?" he asked.

Rogue smirked, "cross my heart, hope to die," she nodded, drawing an invisible cross against her chest.

Bobby kept her stare all the time, looking at her so intently, his eyes burning into hers, Rogue suddenly felt a very strange tingle up her back and she began to realise what he was going to say before he'd ever said it.

"I'm in love with you," Bobby blurted, "Been…in love with you ever since you and Gambit first got together years ago…been in love all that time…and dyin' to say until now."

Rogue found herself taking a step back, "w-w-what…?"

"You heard…" Bobby frowned a little, his suspicions of her reaction seemed proven.

Rogue swallowed, "but you…you can't be, I mean come ON, we've known each other forever, I'd have KNOWN by now if you were…" she stammered.

Bobby sighed, "see…I knew you'd freak…"

"I'm not freaking…" Rogue drew in a deep breath, she sat on the nearest patch of grass and clutched her head, how could she get out of this, how could she tell him she wasn't interested without hurting his feelings?  How could this all be happening?  They were just close friends but an hour ago and now?  Now she was the love of Bobby's life and she'd never known it until now.

Bobby folded his arms, "I mean…why did you think I'd never had a successful relationship with anyone?  Didn't it dawn on you at some point why I spent so much time with you?  Why I liked taking you out places – and paying for dinner.  Why I was always there when you needed me and even when you didn't…" Bobby trailed off.

Rogue stood up, almost tripping again in her heels, "no…it didn't!  I just can't believe you'd tell me this – you know what I'm going through, Bobby!"

"You have no idea how hard this is for me, Rogue…"

"How hard it is for YOU?!" Rogue demanded, "think about that, Bobby, think about how hard things have been for me this last month – with Remy losin' his memories, findin' out how Jared really died!  Feelin' guilt for havin' labelled Remy a murder!" Rogue felt tears sting her eyes, "and now you've gone and put this on me as well!" she demanded, "why couldn't you have told me this a few years ago?!  I would have at least known HOW to handle this then!"

"As long as you were pining for HIM how could I ever try to tell you how I felt?!" Bobby asked.

Rogue shook her head, "I can't deal with this, Bobby, I can't…" she sighed, "you're a very good friend…and I love you AS a friend…but I can't…I can't love you like that," she sighed, "I'm sorry…"

Bobby looked at her longingly, "can't you even give me a chance…god knows, you gave Gambit enough chances, why not me?!"

          "Bobby…take my advice…and forget about it," Rogue looked at him, she wouldn't' allow herself the tears she needed to cry, "every guy who ever feels for me ends up hurt, in trouble…even dead…" she referred to Jared, "I don't want you to ever have any of that pain…" she frowned, "everything I touch…turns to shit…" she whispered, "just leave me alone," she uttered coldly, and headed towards the mansion, leaving Bobby standing alone in the cold dark night.

          She entered the mansion through the front door, taking her jacket off as she headed towards the staircase, it was then that she noticed Remy LeBeau standing upon the banister at the top of the stairs overlooking the foyer, she strained her eyes to look closely, noticing a noose around his neck.

          "Remy…what are you doing?!" she demanded, panic overwhelming her, freezing her to the spot.

          Remy LeBeau did not answer Rogue at all.  He looked at her with tragic, desperate soulful eyes, eyes of pain, hurt, he looked as if he'd been crying.

"Remy…come down…" Rogue pleaded of him, she could feel every part of her body trembling with fear, her heart felt as if it were about to explode out of her chest in terror.

Instead of doing, with an almost graceful fashion, he leapt from the rail he'd been standing upon, the thick rope around his neck followed him until its length was pulled as far as it could go.

          "NO!" Rogue screamed, finally able to move, she leapt to the air, taking to flight, hoping to reach him in time.

          A horrible, terrifying snapping sound occurred before Rogue could get to him, and upon the rope, the body of Remy LeBeau swung, the only sound in the foyer was the creaking of the rope against the rail.

(DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN.  Yes, I know I'm going to get fucking FLAMED for not having updated sooner.  I've been busy and blocked, what can I say?  Blame the bastard who invented Malware – not me!  Anyway, I always say it…..

THE END…or is it?)