Dismal Angel 2010 - Episode 12
Chapter 1: Field Trip
"Miss Pryde, please remind me again WHY we have to go on this field trip…" Monet St Croix uttered disdainfully as she put her suitcase down on the floor in the foyer. Her long hair fell over her shoulders as she bent downwards to do so, and she swept it back as she came back up with an elegant grace that Kitty so greatly envied.
Kitty Pryde was checking off a list of the students who were to go to the Mutant Research Centre on Muir Island in Scotland, as an educational field trip. The foyer was full of noise and life, and suitcases and rucksacks littered the floor. The students were talking amongst themselves, some excited at the prospects of going to a country they'd never been to before, some were just glad to be getting out of the mansion and out of class for the next week.
Kitty looked at the girl in front of her, a vision with coffee skin and glittering brown eyes, full pouting lips and perfect cheekbones. Kitty resented that a sixteen year old could be so beautiful, and wished she could look half as good – and thought sadly that if she could maybe Piotr Rasputin might have given her even a slight acknowledgement that he noticed her presence.
"Because you need to further your education in mutant genetics," Kitty responded dully, bringing herself out of her thoughts. Kitty scribbled Monet's name off on a sheet of paper on her clipboard, "is this all you're taking?" she gestured to the suitcase beside Monet.
"Yes," Monet sighed dejectedly, she pressed her hand to her forehead for a minute frowning as if in pain.
"You alright?"
"Just a headache, why won't these children EVER be quiet?" Monet demanded angrily with an expression of disapproval.
"Because they're kids," Kitty replied simply, "Just because you never let yourself have a childhood doesn't mean they can't have theirs."
Monet groaned and folded her arms in a stubborn but subtle manner, and stood primly with her head high, "which instructors will be accompanying us on this field trip?" she queried.
Kitty smiled wryly, and noted Monet's luggage on the paper as well, "Jean and Scott will be flying you guys over there, but, they'll be leaving shortly after touchdown," she explained, "your instructors in Scotland will be Mr Sean Cassidy and Doctor Moira MacTaggart," she added, referring to two of the Professor's associates on the Island, one a mutant and the other a human."
Monet turned her nose up at the idea, she sat on her suitcase, "I can't believe I'm being subjected to this," she despaired, "as if I need to learn mutant genetics from a Human."
Kitty raised an eyebrow, instantly noticing Monet's sharp observation, "Uhm…I never mentioned that Dr MacTaggart is human," she stated quite matter-of-factly.
"You didn't need to," Monet stated, "I found her name on one of the databases in the war room," she crossed one leg over the other prudishly, and placed her hands upon her knee.
"You know you're supposed to keep out of there," Kitty frowned.
"It doesn't hurt to be informed, Miss Pryde," Monet replied rather importantly, "one day, you never know…my knowledge might just save your lives."
The woman known as Rogue had been lying curled up on her bed staring at a photo of Remy LeBeau for the longest time without having taken her eyes away. She studied every part of his face, the familiar smirk, the intense burning eyes, that silken hair, that deep south tan. She was with him in the picture, and his arm was around her, holding her so close that she'd been able to smell the faint smell of wine from his breath. Even seven years later, she could still remember his scent exactly, the strength of his arm around her waist, and the feel of his bare hand against the burgundy fabric of her dress.
That night she'd asked him if he'd wanted to marry her, and he'd said yes, and everything had been so wonderful until he'd found out something she'd felt he never should have. If he hadn't, she wondered if they would be where they were today, separated, and her with no idea if he really was alive.
Since the two days before when she and Kitty had been hacking into the Global Criminal Database, a question had been burning in her mind. Had the real Remy LeBeau ever really existed at all, or was he just another clone, given a name and sent out to spy on the X-Men.
Rogue wondered if she'd ever loved Remy at all or if it had been a clone she'd been fooled into falling in love with, and despite the fact the idea seemed ridiculous, she couldn't help but believe that somehow a part of it might be true. In her heart however, something told her that there was a real Remy, because there were instances that just could never have taken place with a clone.
"Where are you, Remy?" She asked in a sad voice, with her free hand she touched the face of the photograph with her bare fingers, she closed her eyes and wished for a moment that she could trace the contours of Remy's perfect features through the photo. But all she felt was a flat and cold glossy surface beneath her fingertips.
Weeks had gone by, days with no real leads on Remy's whereabouts. Life had gone on – with the responsibilities of teaching the students and maintaining the Danger Room sessions, everyone had been busy. Rogue had a bigger responsibility now. Since finding out about the Mutant Research Facility and the registration of mutants, Danger Room sessions were longer, harder, and Rogue had to put in twice as many hours as she could, not only working with the students, but also training with the X-Men.
The X-Men had been forfeiting valuable sleep time to try and find out more information regarding the situation, but no one had been able to find any leads, and it was becoming more and more difficult to stay positive. No one seemed half as concerned about Remy as they were with the Mutant Research Facility and registration of mutants. The students were under strict chaperone when leaving the estate, the Professor terrified that them drawing the slightest bit of attention to themselves may cause to an unjust arrest and registration. Rogue understood this concern, but felt slightly angry that their main concern was not just Remy LeBeau any longer.
Rogue tossed the photograph into a nearby pile of similar photos on her bedside cabinet and she pressed her hands to her eyes trying to force out the beginnings of another headache, "where the hell are you, Remy…?"
Kitty had been avoiding Kurt Wagner for the last two weeks. Luckily she'd been busy enough to come up with excuses not to see him or be in the same room as him. She'd skipped lunches and dinners as much as she could, eating alone and out of the fridge when she got the chance.
Working with the students during classes and practicing in the Danger Room with Hank, Logan, Ororo and Piotr had occupied a lot of her time. Training sessions had been tripled since the discovery of the GMCF – the X-Men had decided it might be wise to remain prepared for anything, there was no telling what might happen in the future weeks to come.
Kitty was glad of all the extra responsibilities and work to do in the Mansion as of late. It took her mind off of her personal life, and gave her the satisfaction of keeping busy. She'd feel guilt constantly over not being able to locate Remy through all of her tracing efforts. She'd force this to the back of her mind as often as she could, and vent her frustrations at it out in the Danger room, which she felt was being resourceful, however knew it was only a short term solution.
Eventually though, Kurt had caught up with her on this particular late morning, much to Kitty's disappointment. Despite all the serious situations, training and information gathering that the mansion was drowning with right now, there were mundane every day things that Kitty couldn't avoid, and Laundry was one of them.
Towels were still used, clothes were still worn, beds were still slept in, and things needed to be washed. Kitty hated that she was on duty this particular day, because if she hadn't, he'd have never found her in the laundry room, and she wouldn't have felt so trapped.
Kitty turned as she saw him enter the small room, he looked at her, expression quite unreadable, and she felt her cheeks flush. "Hi," she said nervously, she yanked a freshly washed bedsheet out of the washing machine and tossed it into the dryer.
"I've been looking all over for you," Kurt said, "We need to talk."
"Kurt, I have nothing to say to you right now," Kitty groaned, she pulled a handful of pillowcases out of the washing machine.
"Then I'll talk, and you listen, is that fair?" Kurt asked, he stepped all the way in and shut the door behind himself.
"Fine," Kitty pushed the handful into the dryer, she kept repeating the cycle, keeping busy to try and avoid what he had to say.
"It seems like lately, you've been…avoiding me," Kurt said, sounding a little dejected about this, he moved a little closer, "and I know why…because I kissed you. I know it probably wasn't the best thing to do given the situation…"
"You're right, it wasn't," Kitty finally said, "I could have done without you doing that, Kurt. I have SO much to worry about right now. Rogue…Remy…my parents having died…all this tracing and hacking, danger room sessions, I don't need to be worrying about old romances."
Kurt stopped her from what she was doing by putting a hand on her arm and turning her slightly towards her, "don't you even want to know why I did it?"
"Because you want to get back together again," Kitty stated, "But it's not gonna happen, because the last time we agreed to break up, we agreed it WAS the last time. Our friendship can't go through another break up. How long CAN we stay good friends if we keep going through this all our lives?" Kitty asked.
"I…uhm…"
Kitty sighed, "Kurt, seriously, I love you, but…I can't love you like that anymore…and we both have to move on. Nothing you say can change my mind about that…" she added, looking away from him, because the hurt building in his eyes was too painful to see.
"Right…" Kurt sighed and headed for the door, he opened the door, left and closed it quietly behind himself without another word.
Kitty shook her head at herself, and silently swore at herself for making him feel that way.