A/N1: Sorry for the delay, had finals and holidays and…well, I'll try not to let it happen again, 'k? Also, just cleaning up some things in this chapter and setting a couple other things up. Not hyper exciting, but see note at end. As always, tell me what you want to see, what you like, what you don't, and anything else you feel like saying! Review please!
Remy couldn't concentrate. Although he was usually most attentive in Ms. Braddock's class (if not for the material, than because she was so nice to look at), he couldn't stop playing with the band around his throat. Luckily, the other kids didn't know what it was, but he didn't like the looks he was getting.
Another thing. The loss of his powers was enough to drive him insane. His kinetic power was one thing – he barely used it outside of training anyway – but his lack of telepathy had him climbing the walls. Being at the school, there was always a hum of voices hovering just outside his shields. It was comforting knowing that it was there, knowing that there were people around. Without it, he felt deaf, blind and dumb – with an itch he couldn't quite reach.
"Remy, please stay after class," Ms. Braddock said disapprovingly. Remy slumped in his seat. Would the day never end?
Marie watched Remy fidget through social science. She hadn't thanked him yet for getting her out of trouble the other day. She was having trouble getting up the nerve because he seemed to disappear whenever she tried to get close. Of course, that really shouldn't bother her. That means he's just like everyone else. Still, he didn't have to protect her like that. She decided to hang around after class and talk to him then.
"Remy, is there something bothering you? You seem distracted." Ms. Braddock said, concerned. For the first time since he arrived, Remy didn't watch her brush her hair back and watch her cross her legs. He couldn't appreciate the sparkle in her eyes or her full lips.
"No, ma'am. Jus' tired." So Xavier obviously didn't tell his staff everything.
"Are you sure?" Ma'am? Betsy thought. Then she saw a figure pacing in front of the door. Ah, girl trouble! "Well, please try to pay attention in class. You may go."
Remy pulled himself out of the chair and walked dejectedly from the room. Just a few more hours and then Scott would get this damn thing off his neck! He was so focused on his thoughts that he nearly slammed into Marie.
"Jesus! Watch where y' goin'!" He growled, stomping off.
"Hey! I wanna talk to you!" Marie yelled, angered by his reaction. "Hold on a minute!"
"What!" He turned to face her with a scowl.
"I just wanted to say thanks for getting me out of trouble the other day. I know you didn't have to, so thanks." He just stared at her. "Well, it would have been a lot nicer, but you yelled at me, so then I got mad and forgot all the nice things I was going to say!"
"Like what?" Remy started to walk again towards the lunch room. His voice was a hair less hostile, and he didn't look at her while they walked, but Marie figured it was a start.
"Like that it was nice of you to take me along and that I kinda had fun. In the end, anyway."
They were silent for a few more seconds. "And?"
"And that not a lot of people would do that. For me, anyway."
"And?"
Marie frowned. She was done, dammit. "You're pretty cute when you sleep."
Remy grinned. "You snore."
She screeched. "I do not!" She hit him in the arm. Remy started to laugh, which made her hit him again. He began to run down the hall. Marie followed, trying not to smile, but finding it impossible. The faces he was making at her were silly. They ended up out of breath by the time they reached the cafeteria.
Just as they were reaching for trays, a jolt shook the entire building. Being from mutant high, they just ignored it. Weird things were common place. An earthquake in New York? Boring!
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"What are you still doing here?" Hank asked brusquely, pushing Jean aside as he moved towards Scott with a needle as long as his palm. Jean turned a shade whiter at the size of the thing.
"I, uh, tried to calm him down," she said, absently touching her head. She was glad Scott seemed to fade out again. Nobody should have to live through that shot. It was practically inhuman.
He did a double take at Scott, who was now resting peacefully, a small smile on his face. "Oh. Thank you." With a gentleness that was surprising given Hank's stature, he carefully inserted the needle and checked the monitor readings. "You wouldn't mind waiting around until Professor Xavier gets back, would you? I'll excuse you from classes."
Jean smiled. "Of course not, Doctor."
Scott felt like he'd been hit by a truck. A bandage was across his eyes. He knew from past experience that he better not open his eyes. He groaned. It had been a while since his powers had become stronger. He could just imagine how excited his father would be when he heard. It was just enough to make you sick.
"How're y' feelin'?" Remy asked. He had his legs kicked up on the end of the bed and he was leafing through a magazine. They had been through this enough times that Remy only showed minimal concern. Marie opened her mouth, scandalized.
"Jeez, Remy! Your brother could have been seriously hurt. Would it kill you to show a little bit of sympathy?" Remy glared at her.
"I wouldn' have let y' in if I woulda known what a pain y' were gonna be!" She frowned at him, but didn't say anything.
He's worried. It's just not his style to show he cares, Jean assured her sister. They had gotten word that Xavier was on his way back, so they wouldn't be in the sick room for very much longer. She felt herself getting nervous. She wondered just how much Scott would remember once the drugs wore off. She could do nothing but hope that it wouldn't be enough.
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"So do you want them both now?" Victor asked, watching his boss monitor the power spike.
"No, just Remy. I think it will be to our advantage to take them one at a time from now on. They've been getting too…close for my liking." Dr. Essex didn't look away from the monitor. It was too bad the experiment was all set up already for Remy. Scott's new powers would have been so much more interesting. Still, there was time enough for that. "Did you ever find out where he went when he disappeared?"
Victor growled. The little brat was certainly going to pay for that when he got home. "Down south. Florida, Louisiana, Georgia. He hoped around a bit. Musta figured it out before hand because he caught three different planes. I don't think he did anything more than piss me off."
Nathanial had his doubts, but as it wasn't really important, he let it go. "Did you pick up the generator?" he asked, knowing full well that he hadn't.
"No. I'll go now." Victor felt those piercing eyes on him as he left the room quickly.
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They had been shooed from the room by a very irritated Dr. McCoy. Who would have thought that having a pizza party in the sick room was such a big deal? Remy was whistling as he threw open the door. He felt better seeing Scott for himself. He just began to undress, his shirt in a heap by the closet, when he noticed a lump in his bed.
"Hello?" He went slowly and pulled the blanket down. Kitty was shaking under the covers, tears streaming down her face. "What's wrong, petite?"
He picked up the little girl and held her in his lap. She immediately turned towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck. And she didn't stop crying.
"Kitty, what's wrong?" He felt for a temperature and looked for cuts or bruises. Nothing. "Tell me what's wrong!"
She wouldn't even look at him. He tried to use his telepathy, but immediately slammed into a mental wall. Sighing, he stood up, wrapped Kitty in a throw, and headed to the girls' dorm. Damn, he hated asking for help. He could feel her heart racing. Well, hell.
Kitty knew that Remy would help her. He knew everything. When she came to his room, there was nobody there. Kitty was panicked. She knew he wasn't in the common room, the rec room, or the cafeteria – she checked! She didn't know what else to do. She was able to be brave for almost a whole hour because she just knew Remy would fix it. She began to cry. Sticking her thumb in her mouth (something she gave up a year ago), she climbed into Remy's bed and curled up into a ball.
"You're not supposed to be here. It's after curfew," Marie whispered, looking around the hall.
"Is y'r sister here?" Remy said quickly. Kitty stopped crying and was whimpering in her throat. She was scaring the hell out of him.
"Yeah, hold on." Marie was a little put out that he didn't want to talk to her. Still, she opened the door wider to let them in and called out to her sister.
"She was crying in my room. She won't tell me why," Remy said, sitting on the nearest bed. He unwound Kitty from around his neck. "It's okay, Kitty. Jeannie's real nice and she jus' wants t' see what a pretty girl y' are."
He looked expectantly towards Jean.
"What?"
"Find out why she's crying! What d' y' t'ink?" He cursed in French.
"But I'm not supposed to invade other people's minds," Jean said.
"She's four! Jus' tell me why she's crying!" Jean shot him a withering look before turning her attention to Kitty.
"Hi sweetie. Remy wants me to look inside your head and tell him how to help you, okay? It's going to tickle a little, but I need you to relax and let me into your head." Kitty gave her a blank look. Jean sighed. "Remy's right. You are a very pretty little girl."
Jean was surprised how straight-forward Kitty's mind was. It was a long time since she'd seen someone who didn't have secrets and plots twisted up in their mind. She found what she was looking for and tsked in sympathy.
"Oh, poor baby. No wonder you're scared!" She gave the little girl a hug and kissed the top of her head. Turning to Remy, she said, "Her powers kicked in today."
He eyed Jean skeptically. "Is that possible? She's four."
"Well, apparently it is possible because it happened," Jean said, irritated at being questioned.
Kitty looked up at Remy. "I fell through the wall today," she announced. "It was very scary, but I didn't cry. I went to look for you." She sat up so her bony knees dug into his thighs. "I couldn't find you, though. Then I cried – a little." She looked disgruntled, as if it was somehow his fault.
Remy shook his head. Kitty was little still. When do women learn that thing that makes you feel as big as a worm?
"I'm sorry. I was wit' Scott. He's in the sick room." Kitty was slightly mollified and flopped back down. She peered at Jean.
"You're pretty, too," she said finally. "Not as pretty as me, but still pretty. Right, Remy?"
"Uh, sure. I better get you back to your room. Tomorrow, tell your hall monitor what happened, okay?" Remy suddenly couldn't get out of there fast enough. He still caught the daggers Marie shot at his neck. He heard Jean laugh as he dragged Kitty down the hall. Women!
"Remy, I can go by myself. You're not supposed to be here at night," Kitty said, scolding in her voice. Remy groaned and barely resisted the urge to bang his head against the wall.
A/N2: Next time: Scott's back, Remy's gone, and the mansion gets some unexpected guests. Promise, promise some good action in 2 or 3 chapters! (and I'll try to update faster).