Disclaimer: Don't own X-Men. I forgot to add last time that I don't own Artemis Fowl, either. On with the fic:
John watched the black car speed off, carrying with it his girlfriend. He whipped out his lighter and opened it, not caring who saw him use his powers. He formed a large bird that chased after the car and flew in front of it. The driver slammed on the brakes upon seeing the fiery formation. Suddenly, the engine revved and shot through the fire, surprising the pyrokinetic. John's eyes widened and pooled all his energy in stopping the car. His efforts were wasted, though, as the fire was suddenly doused by water that leapt from the passenger seat of the car. The young teen fell to his knees on the ground. He had failed to save her, the one who he cared for so much. Ali was gone, kidnapped. What was he going to do? He hadn't gotten the license plate number, he hadn't done anything except stupidly waste his efforts and energy. He clenched his fists angrily. He should have been smarter. Should have tried harder. How could he fail? He suddenly slammed his fist into the concrete, a single tear sliding down his cheek. More tears welled up in his blue eyes, and he quickly closed them. He wouldn't let himself cry anymore. He couldn't.
Kurt suddenly appeared beside him. "Dude, do you realize what you just did?" he demanded, staring at John with bewilderment in his holographic blue eyes.
John didn't answer, but then again, he didn't have to, for the blue mutant quickly supplied it.
"You used your powers in public!"
Anger welled up in John's heart. How could Kurt worry about something like that at a time like this? Ali was gone, kidnapped. How come Kurt only worried about his public display of powers when there were more important things to worry about?
Kitty suddenly ran out from the bookstore, closely followed by Rogue. "The professor's on his way," she announced breathlessly.
John nodded, but he still didn't move from his position on the ground. Anger, confusion, pain, and anguish filled his mind and heart at the thought of Ali being taken away from him. He couldn't bear to think of what might happen to her. He didn't even know her parents, but from hearing what they did that very first night, he disliked them. No, that was an understatement. He loathed them.
The professor arrived moments later and cleared everyone's memory of John using his powers. The four students then climbed into the black car, all shaking with grief. Logan drove the Coupe home, but he almost didn't make it. The anger that flooded his veins threatened to cloud his wisdom. He had almost turned around and drove the way Ali had disappeared but remembered just in time that it would be useless. She was gone, and the only way that they would be able to get her back was with the professor's help.
Rogue's face was a mask of fury. You could tell just by taking a small glance into her eyes that she would make Ali's captors pay. No one dared to take her best friend away and got away unscathed. Rogue would make sure of that, even if it killed her.
Kurt, meanwhile, was lost in a torrent of emotions. Why would Ali's parents go so low as to kidnap her? Weren't they supposed to only want the best for her? And if that was so, then why couldn't they just understand that her staying at the Institute was for the better?
Kitty looked like she was on the edge of tears. Ali had been her friend. Though they had never really gotten to know each other, she had still considered the British mutant a close friend. Now, knowing that she might never see Ali again, she was overwhelmed with questions, such as what was her favorite color? She didn't know any of the personal things that close friends did, and now regretted deeply not taking the time to talk to her friend, to confide and ask questions. She now understood how quickly someone could be torn away, and vowed never to make the same mistake of keeping a friend at a distance again.
John remained silent and kept his eyes on his hands. The hands that had failed to save Ali. He clenched his fists, anger surging through him again. He was so stupid! Why did he act so childishly, thinking that he could stop the car? He should have known better.
"John, I know what you're thinking," the professor said softly, watching the teenager in the rearview mirror.
John's anger rose even more, if possible. "Why are you reading my mind?" he demanded, fury edging his voice. He blinked back tears of remorse and continued to glare at the professor.
"I am not reading your mind, John," the professor replied calmly. "Your thoughts were very loud, and I picked them up accidentally. John, please don't beat yourself up over what happened. It wasn't your fault."
"Yes it was!" John screamed, his eyes shut tightly and his fists clenched so hard that his knuckles were turning white. "I should have gotten the license plate number, tried to stop the car, anything! Anything better than what I did!" he yelled, his voice thick with tears.
Just then, the professor's voice spoke in his mind, soft and soothing. There was no commanding in his voice, just sorrow and understanding. 'John, it's alright to cry,' he said.
John did exactly that. He held his head in his hands and bawled, letting the tears finally fall. He cried for himself, for his mistakes that day, all his life, for the deep love he felt for Ali, for his family, for his friends, and for the new life he now had. All of that seemed lost now that Ali was gone. She had bound him to everything in his life, or seemed to do that.
And he cried for Ali, for all the pain in her past, the pain of being hunted by her village, the pain of seeing her parents again, and for being kidnapped by the ones who were supposed to care for her. He let the tears fall for everyone in his life, crying for their pain and losses.
None of the other X-Men in the car commented. They themselves were battling with the tears that were threatening to fall. Finally, a well seemed to burst inside them all, and they cried.
Upon reaching the Institute, everyone's eyes were dry. They understood now that they had a job to do, and they would do it, no matter what. John led the way into the mansion, his eyes cold and deadly. He was determined to find Ali and save her, no matter what.
Rogue followed John, her green eyes ablaze with fury and determination. No one would hurt Ali. They wouldn't kill her, not on her life.
Kitty's tears were still welling up, but she refused to let them fall. She couldn't. She had to be strong to help the team save their friend, and she refused to break down.
Kurt was strong and determined, his eyes cold for once. Someone had attempted to kidnap his friends, and they would pay. His friends had become a family to him, and he refused to let them be torn apart slowly and killed. The kidnappers would pay.
Logan and the rest of the team were waiting for them in the lower level. While the professor logged into Cerebro and searched for Ali, the team waited outside in a tense silence. No one spoke, unsure of what to say. The minutes seemed to drag by slowly as they waited for any word from the professor. Logan leaned against the wall and seemed to be calming himself by taking long, deep breaths.
Storm was composed as always, but her eyes were different. They were fierce, showing the true African goddess that she was and revealing the power that she had inside. She wasn't afraid to use it anymore. She would use all her power and energy to save anyone in her life. Now was no exception.
Scott was leaned against the wall, Jean beside him. Both seemed to be comforting one another as they waited anxiously for the professor to return.
Kurt sat on the floor and waited, staring at the metal beneath his feet. His image-inducer was off. When anyone looked at him, they felt anger radiating off him and revealing the blue devil that he was deep inside.
Kitty was leaned against the wall, her eyes closed. One could hear her softly murmuring, "This is all a bad dream. When I wake up, it will all be over." But whenever she opened her eyes, her wishes were unfulfilled as she found herself in the same hallway.
Rogue was sitting on the floor, her head in her hands. She had finally gotten close to someone, and now they were gone. She wanted to scream. Her life always seemed to go bad after improving slightly. Now that Ali was gone, she didn't know who she was going to confide in. She didn't know what to do, period.
John was sitting on the floor also, his carrot-top head resting on his muscular chest. He closed his eyes, replaying his attempted rescue over and over in his mind, remembering each and every moment with vivid detail. He took a sharp breath when he saw the car vanish down the road again. He would save her, even if it cost him his life.
The professor finally emerged from Cerebro five minutes later, though it seemed like hours had passed. His face was grim, as were his eyes. Everyone knew without his talking that the news was anything but good.
"I can't find, her," he announced quietly. "Her mother is shielding her position. I can't find any of them."
John stood up, tears falling from his eyes. "This can't be true," he said quietly. No one spoke. They only stared at him. "This isn't true!" he yelled, whirling around and slamming his fist into the metal wall. The wall didn't receive so much as a dent from the impact, but he didn't care. He didn't care about the throbbing pain in his hand, he didn't care what people were thinking about him. He didn't fucking care. The only thing that mattered anymore was Ali, and her being back with him, where it was safe. He didn't trust her with anyone else anymore, not after what happened.
Logan sighed. "Listen, kid, I know you're hurting, but just keep in mind that the rest of us are, too. We all feel the same about her, and we all feel just as crushed as you," he said, trying to be comforting.
John's eyes blazed. "You don't feel the same way about her as I do!" he screamed, tears falling down his face. "You don't know how much I care about her, otherwise you would just let me go and find her!"
"John, you wouldn't know where to go," Jean pointed softly.
John knew she was right, but he didn't dare acknowledge the fact. He didn't say anything, just turned around and stalked off. Rogue narrowed her eyes and ran after him, determined to knock some sense into his thick skull.
"John!" she yelled when they were outside. "Wait up!"
John whirled around. The tears that had fallen down his face left salty trails and his eyes were bloodshot. He cried all those tears for Ali, Rogue thought sadly. He really does care that much for her.
"What?" John demanded, his voice thick with unshed tears.
Rogue took a deep breath. There would be no use in getting John mad. "John, Ah need to talk to ya," she said slowly.
"What if I don't want to talk to you?" he shot back angrily. "What if I want you to leave me the hell alone?"
"Then ya're not gonna get what you want!" Rogue snapped. "Ya need to hear what Ah'm saying."
John frowned, tears continually falling from his eyes.
Rogue took another breath, trying to calm herself. Oh, just talk to him, for Ali's sake, she thought. She raised her gaze and made eye contact with John. The emotion visible in his eyes was so shocking that Rogue almost didn't know what to say. She swallowed the lump in her throat and spoke.
"Listen, John," she began. "Ah'll admit, Ah don't know how much ya're hurting. Ah'm Ali's best friend, and it's killing me. Ah can only imagine how much ya care for her and wish that there was something you could do. But John, if ya're gonna save her, then ya need to think about what ya're gonna do. Ya need to think things through to save her effectively."
John nodded, bowing his head. "I know," he replied quietly. "But I just want her back so badly. I can't get past the fact that she's gone, and I failed to save her. I…I wish that…that she wasn't gone…" he said, his shoulders shaking with another wave of tears.
Rogue looked at John sympathetically, and then decided to do the one thing that could endanger them both:
She hugged him.
John didn't push her away. He accepted what she did, hugging her back. He needed to be comforted. John looked up minutes later, a new strength and fire in his eyes. "I will save Ali, even if it kills me," he said.
Rogue smiled and nodded, agreeing with what he said.
Meanwhile, in a dark room in another building, a girl sat tied to a chair as someone attempted to erase her memory.
A man appeared in the corner, his green eyes watching the girl closely. "Are you almost done?" he asked a woman who was pacing around in a circle around the girl.
The woman nodded. "Soon, she won't remember who she is," she replied.
The girl moaned, her eyes closed. The last word that fell from her lips before she became unconscious was "John…"
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wow, this chapter was sad to write. I dunno if it'll be sad for you, I just hope it is…that would be good for me as a writer. So ya…
Reviews:
Coco Cow: sorry about the cliffie. Just had to, otherwise it would have been A LOT longer. And I wanted to start another chapter. Thanks. Keep writing on yours, I wanna read another chapter!!!
Karakin: sorry, you're gonna have to wait until next chapter. Yeah, Rogue and Remy will DEFINITELY have to get together soon…*evil grin* heehee, what to do…
Ivan's Kitsune: getting a rich boyfriend would help. Hmm, I'll have to work on that. Anyway, great ideas, but there wouldn't be much to write about. I dunno where I got this idea, I think it was in the series, similar to Wanda's situation…I dunno. I'm sorry, but I hope you like this, too!
Well, the next few days is gonna be busy. Correction: week. At least until Sunday. I'll be lucky if I can get computer time, and if I do, I'm probably typing my book. Sorry.
Oh, and if anyone knows what color John's eyes are, it would be very helpful to tell me. thanks.
R&R!!
~Jojo~