Author's Note: In half the time. Getting better at the whole 'updating' thing, aren't I?
This is set in first person (or rather, first people), throughout the days and weeks after the defeat of Apocalypse at the hands of our favorite mutants. I'm going to try to keep this completely in character, which means couples and relationships are what has been shown.
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To What Awaits Us
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29 September, 2005
Piotr Rasputin
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What a nice, sunny day it is today.
"No, I'm driving!"
It would be peaceful, I guess.
"Kitty, are we actually supposed ta' trust ya' with our lahves?"
But it's not. How can people that are such good friends fight like this?
"Can ve please just go now? I'll die of hunger if ve don't..."
Well done, Kurt, just add fuel to this already blazing inferno.
I stood with my hands in my pockets, watching the three friends bicker for a few minutes. We were next to the X-Van, about to go into Bayville, and Kitty and Rogue were currently fighting over who got to drive. Kurt, of course, was neutral in the matter, which I've come to expect from my four days here. He just wanted the food.
"Rogue! Just because you're older doesn't mean you're a better driver!"
"So… Hungry…"
"I mean, you're only like a year older, anyway!"
"O Father who art in heaven…"
"Would ya' both just shut the hell up and get in the car?!"
That's it, they finally broke her. It was a scary sight, but it had already happened three times since I arrived. Nothing out of the usual here, I suppose. Kitty brought her hands up to her face to try and stifle her laughter. Kurt grinned, flashing his demonic smile at his sister.
"Rogue, you're like, going soft." Kitty giggled. "Usually it only takes half as long as this to make you flip your lid." I was unfamiliar with the term, but I think that's something bad. Rogue, however, simply rolled her eyes and chuckled at their antics.
"Glad Ah could amuse you," she drawled. "Now get in." Still laughing, Kurt and Kitty entered the van without complaint. Rogue looked at me across the top of the vehicle, a weak smile on her pale face.
"Because Ah'm obviously the only one outta' us with a bit of class, Ah'll apologize for our pathetic display of friendship." Inside the car, the two younger mutants burst out into a fresh bout of hysterics.
"Rogue? Class?!" Kurt wheezed, holding his sides. Kitty banged her fist against the dashboard a few times, she was laughing so hard. With a very sour face, Rogue slid into the drivers' seat.
"Ah have your lahves in mah' hands. You do not wanna' piss me off."
Needless to say, it was quiet immediately.
I bent down and sat down stiffly next to the furry demon. As soon as Rogue geared the car into life, Kurt slapped me on the shoulder and leaned in close. "American vomen are volatile, ja?" I coughed to cover the chuckle that slipped out.
"I heard that." The girls said in unison. Kitty turned to face us with a look as scary as the one the other had mastered, and I instantly felt something such as guilt wash over me. "And besides, Kurt," she continued, "What would you know about women?" Kurt folded his arms and pouted, muttering things that I couldn't possibly understand. She winked at me before turning back, and I felt the blood roaring around my ears, my neck.
I could only smile, somewhat giddily, to myself as I looked out the window, watching the trees of the Institute whiz by; trying to push the effects she had over me out of my thoughts, to put my mind on something else.
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It was only fifteen minutes later, and we came to a stop on a busy street in the middle of town. We piled out of the car and I looked up at the expensive building in front of us.
"Is this vhere ve are to eat?" I asked quietly. Argh, I hate that sound to my voice when I speak English. It makes me sound so incredibly stupid.
"Call it a ritual." Kurt shrugged. "We know the owner, we're special guests. He's a good guy." He grinned. "In fact, you know the owner." I stared back at the young mutant dumbly.
"I…Do?" He nodded enthusiastically.
"It's Warren. Isn't that cool?" Certainly weren't expecting that, were you Piotr? The man owns a multi-million dollar company, but a place like this as well? He must be even more prosperous than I originally thought.
"Lance!" Kitty's voice broke through my thoughts. I turned to watch her, waving in a most enthusiastic way, to a figure across the street. The figure grinned and ran to us, dodging the dangerous traffic. They met and embraced at the side of the road. It's sweet, that people so different could find love together…
Although I have to admit, and it's painful to think of this, I am a little jealous. Theres something in the way that girl goes about life, the way she makes you so at ease, so completely comfortable about everything…
I should stop now, before I get myself into a mood again.
Avalanche nodded to us, slipping his arm over her back and turning away. Kitty turned to look at us over her shoulder and smiled, lighting up her face in that breathtakingly beautiful way she has.
"Bye guys, I'll see you later." she said softly, waving distractedly, already retreating. I sighed, and Kurt and Rogue both looked to me. The blue mutant, who was now ruddy with skin much the same as mine, cocked his head, watching me thoughtfully. A warm smile spread across his face and he grabbed onto my arm, and Rogue's as well, and proceeded to drag us inside. We came to stop by a table near the back, away from the prying, judgmental human eyes. I sat down stoically, careful not to sit on the flimsy chair the wrong way lest it collapse on me.
"It's weird to think that a few months ago, we would have been ready to fight you." Kurt mused, two pale pink fingers at his mouth. "And now we're sitting here about to have lunch." Rogue rolled her eyes, but smiled despite herself. "I can't believe Magneto thought to force someone like you into working with him," he continued. Ah yes, Professor Xavier said he would have to tell the others of what had happened. "… And I think it would be better for all of us if we never ran into him, and his groupies again. Even if they say they've changed, they're bad news," Now he turned to his sister who had a faraway look on her face, all of a sudden. "Right, Rogue?" She didn't answer, just stared away out the window at the passers by, her jaw locked firmly in place. Kurt sighed and dropped his eyes. Well, that went completely over my head. I never did understand brother-sister fights, since my Illyana is so much younger than I am…
And so I sit in this horrible silence, the tension so thick you could cut it, so to speak. Oh boy, it was turning out to be a great day.
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Lunch wasn't really an enjoyable affair, just as I had predicted. Kurt was quiet, which I've come to learn isn't a good thing, and Rogue was brooding the entire time. I sat in uneasiness the whole hour we were there.
But, the meal was very good, so at least it wasn't a complete failure. Kurt apologized to me after, his sweet nature returning when we arrived back at the Institute just after two p.m. Rogue had stomped off without a word. I'm still not sure what made her so angry, but I know it would be best to steer clear of her for a while…
I leaned back and dipped my hand into the splashing pool of water behind me. Ah, this fountain is so beautiful, and the water is so wonderfully cool on my skin. The water bubbling is really the only sound, where everone else is, I'm not aware.
Hmm, to be alone like this, this solitary situation makes me start to think again. I don't really like it, but I don't want to impose on the other residents here. They must still be incredibly uncomfortable around me, no matter how much they deny it.
Even I'm uncomfortable around me.
Damnit. I really must learn how to stop that self-doubt. Must learn to be confident, or else I'll never find myself belonging. Pathetic, but that's what I need.
I wish I wasn't so very weak-minded. Wasn't that what Gambit called me once? Gambit. What does it matter what he thought of me, what does it matter what any of them thought of me? They were villains, the others. Gambit, Pyro, Sabertooth…They chose to fight with Magneto. I'm nothing like them, and I'll never be like them. It's my choice now, and I'll never let anybody walk over me the way they all did. I'll never be treated like that again. I refuse it.
My fists balled and my skin tightened, transforming itself into metal over my hands.
Yes, that'll never happen again.
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Well, I really enjoyed writing this one. Obviously the start was a nice little bit of light-heartedness. Got to have some of that, don't I?
I'm a little undecided as to who I vouch for when it comes to Kitty/Lance or Kitty/Piotr, so of course I had to put a little hint of the latter pairing in here. I just loved those two in the comics.
Heh, isn't Piotr so very poetic in this? I've always seen him as that, so forgive me if you think it's out of place… But there isn't a whole lot of real characterization for old Petey. I really took it out of Dark Horizon II and Impact, a generally nice person with a very repressed angry-as-hell side. It's why I love him.
On a note to the last part; I've never understood why everyone portrays the three younger Acolytes as friends. Maybe St.John and Remy I could see, but Piotr, who was obviously duped into working for Magneto? Never in a million years. I'm sure that the other two joined him for purely selfish reasons, maybe even because they believed in what Magneto thought… So it stands to reason that Piotr would avoid any contact with them, doesn't it? I don't think comraderie was ever a part of the Acolytes…
And speaking of the Acolytes, I hope you have realized by now why Rogue got angry all of a sudden. I think it's pretty obvious, yeah?
And one more thing, people. I'll say Piotr's about nineteen, okay? Okay.
To the Reviewers:
todd fan: You are quick at this o.O. I hope this chapter satisfies.
Snitter in Rivendell: Wouldn't it be all too easy to have Rahne return on her own chapter? I totally just let that out of the bag, but I'm sure everyone guessed… I really should have looked it up, about animals, but school doesn't allow me much time anymore, I'll be sure to remember that if I ever write Wolfsbane again. Heh, someone likes character-based stories, I see. I'm not worthy of that at all… But of course, thank you.
nessie6: Yes, finally. Hey, at least this time it was a lot faster. You forgot about the New Recruits? Even Jamie? Jamie?! He'll be moping around for weeks now.
Risty: I guess interesting is one way to put it. If I remember rightly, I got a headache after putting that Wolfsbane part together…
Caliente: Oh yes, who doesn't love that dastardly Tom? Excuse me while I gag at my own use of the word dastardly. Thought I'd kick off the student spin with a lesser known character, you wouldn't believe how tempted I was to make it Kurt. It was quite hard to work out her history for the Evo-verse, but I'm glad it worked. Thanks!
Rogue14: Thanks. Is this fast enough? It hope so, I worked double time to get this out faster! Hopefully the next one will be within the week as well…
fluffy's numba 1 gal: What kind of trouble? Heh, well, it's not Wolverine is it? Don't worry, he'll be here eventually.
Ohh, I love it how almost every review told me to hurry up. Thanks again, guys. Good to see you're still with me after only two chapters in a month…