Shadow Knight
Alone
Chapter 5: Disturbance
Disclaimer: Now, let's see….X-Men Evolution is drawn pretty decently and moi, well….let's just say there isn't a chance I own them….-_-*…….
~
I twitched. Something, somebody, was nearby. I could feel it as if it were a flame caressing my skin in a singing touch. Yet, as my feet flew before me in a silver blur, I already knew who it was and felt my self flinch as bile rose in my throat, burning my esophagus in a vile fluid that seemed to be not only coming from the pit of my stomach, but also the dark recesses of my mind. My heavy coat seemed to do nothing for me as I raced on through the darkness, the numbing fingers of reality stretching across my body again, pulling me deeper into my mind.
It really was a harsh irony, I pondered wryly. The first time I met her, I was thrilled at the chance of solving the great gothic puzzle called Rogue. I took every chance I could to burrow myself under that girl's skin, trying to discover who she was and why she continued to block out everything and everyone from her solitary and lonely life. Now, the one chance he had to interact with her when she wasn't facing him in battle was making his stomach churn with a revolting sensation. He didn't exactly hate her. No, he just….wanted to keep everyone from getting too close to him.
Suddenly, as the thought struck through my mind, I felt something well up from deep within me and soon a shiver ran through my body, and opening my mouth as if to release a great force, I….laughed. As soon as the laugh spewed from my dry lips, I felt my feet stop from beneath me, my body needing a moment to stop as the laughter began causing convulsions, making my thin frame shudder from the power behind it. My body continued to tremble as the laughs rolled thickly in waves throughout my body until it even reached my soul.
Yet, as I fell to my knees, the laughs jerking my body erratically, I knew that these signs amusement weren't for joy. No, they were dry, hard laughs that slid off my tongue like acid. I knew why I felt so cold now. I was beginning to even think like her. I was beginning to reject the world and believe that there was no one out there waiting for me. No one to care or trust. No one to see her for herself.
Sucking in air in huge gulps, I let myself continue to sit on the freezing ground, ignoring the bitter cold that stung my body. Letting one hand rest on my chest to encourage my lungs to breathe again, I let my eyes fall to the ground, thinking for a moment. Reaching inside my pocket, I let my chilled hands close around a small object, hidden carefully from prying fingers of others. Drawing out the object, tenderly placed in my hand, I let my eyes stray down to the small paper. Flashing faintly in the moonlight, I felt a tug at the corners of my mouth as my lips curved slightly upward.
There, illuminated in a soft pale light, stood a group of five people, each covered in a large amount of mud, posing for the picture. On the left edge of the frayed end of the picture stood a lanky figure with sandy brown hair. Crouching slightly in frayed jeans, which accented the boy's unnaturally bent legs, squatted a teenage boy, kneecaps poking out of the slit holes. He was wearing a wide, crooked smile that reached up to his eyes. Although his posture was somewhat odd, his smile made him picture perfect. Or at least he would be if a long green tongue wasn't reaching languidly across the air and latching onto a fly. With one of his hands containing a ball of mud, it looked like he had just been prepared to chuck another mud ball.
The next figure standing beside to the boy didn't seem remotely bothered by the teenager's bizarre antics, only a bit wary of the mud ball clutched firmly in his hand. He smiled grandly as he brushed back his tall, blonde mohawk with a giant hand, while his other hand was positioned on his hip, showing off his bulging figure in joking exaggeration of a perfectly shaped mannequin, with splotches of mud all over him. The blue overalls that covered his figure weren't exactly baggy enough for his wide berth. It didn't seem he cared about his weight though. It was almost as if the boy was flashing his weight around in a sort of proud manner, not caring what criticism he may receive for such a bulky mass. In fact, he looked like he was quite happy just standing there, covered in soggy mud.
A fingerless gloved hand was resting upon the mud-spattered brown head of the next individual as his mouth stretched widely in a laughing grin. The other hand grasped his dirty shirt, which, to his latter dismay, was about to be soaked through with another glob of mud. Yet, as he laughed, one could see that he was genuinely having a good time, the creases of slight dimples piercing his cheeks. His pants were a disaster compared to the rest of him. Although each member was covered in mud from head to toe, he seemed to have gotten the worst of it on his pants. One would wonder what his laughter would be directed from, but once again staring at the picture, would reveal it to you.
The last two members in the picture, I remembered most fondly in that moment. Standing beside a snickering boy, hair flowing in a shock of white on his head, was a girl, a sour expression on her face that could be seen throughout her whole stature. Yet, as one observed the photo more closely, one could see that the girl's eyes were alit in a somewhat sinisterly playful manner. The slim framed boy seemed to be the only one not to be covered in the ever present mud. Yet, within the girl's gloved hand seemed to be a huge ball, oozing with mud, positioned right above the boy's clean head. Which, later wasn't as white as it had been at that moment.
I snorted vaguely as I remembered how many days it took to remove all the caked mud from my hair. Yet, to see her giggling with such joy after the event made it all worth while. He hadn't regretted it at all. That is, after the day she left. When she walked out of his life, he wanted to hate her, feel spite toward her, and spit every bad mouthed comment he could at the girl who had betrayed them, him.
Letting the ghost of a smile fall from my lips, I set my face sternly in a expressionless appearance. I had practiced for hours, trying to perfect the soul of ice I had deep within myself now until I could face anyone with my cold eyes. I had a specific reason on which I made this façade for myself. I did it incase I ever had to meet her again, outside of battle.
Suddenly, I found myself close to the edge of town. I knew that this far from the city had only one place or purpose to be there. Here, far from the city, was a railroad station. Sometimes, if I was up in the middle of the night, I could hear the train pass along, whistling shrilly in the dark. It had always freaked me out. The first time I heard it, I thought it was a women's scream. It took nearly the entire Brotherhood, including Rogue, to convince me that it wasn't a scream, just the train.
As a chill breeze stroked my cheek gently, I was shaken out of my small reverie and reminded about the task at hand. I tried as well as I could to make myself as discrete as possible in the barren stalls of the train station. It was no wonder that the station was so devoid of life, no one was really up this late. I weaved my way quickly through the oaken halls of the station. This really was somewhat old fashioned.
I heard originally they were going to rebuild the station with common day equipment, meaning basically your steel and concrete walls. But, there was a corpse found later in one of the long waiting seats, almost like pews in some winter ago. When they found it, they discovered that they couldn't identify the person. It was if the body had no life or identity. Lance told me that they couldn't find any traces of injury from another leading to a murder, but vowed that the person was murdered, somehow. But Rogue insisted that it wasn't a murder. It was simply a lonely outsider, tired of living and froze to death on that night, waiting for nothing and everything.
When she told me this, I remembered looking at her oddly and demising the whole subject. Yet, as I ran through the silent halls, I found myself looking among the cold wooden benches, looking for a small figure with auburn hair and a familiar white strip of white hair. I still hadn't found any which sent a sense of relief, and worry, through my mind. I could feel her presence getting stronger now. She had to be here somewhere. It's really strange, and sure you may call me crazy, but, it seemed like I could always feel when she was near. It was almost like a sixth sense, pricking in my mind when ever she was approaching me or vice versa.
I don't know how I developed this strange awareness, but now I was thanking God that I could use it now. If I could use this strange connection between me and her, maybe I could find her and stop her from leaving us. From leaving me.
Suddenly, I felt myself bump into a person, sending the individual stumbling. Hardly noticing my mistake, I picked the person up quickly and continued my search. Yet, I felt a hand suddenly grasp the sleeve of my jacket, pulling me back with a jerk. I turned and began to yell, "Hey what do you think you're doing?!"
Yet, as I stared into the individual's face, the intensity of the stare the person returned threw me off slightly. "W-What do ya want?" I found myself asking with slight respect.
I knew I had just stuttered in my question, but I couldn't help it. The stare was way too powerful for me to handle. I discovered myself staring into a pair of hard, alert eyes which were placed in an equally firm face. With two wispy strands of white mustache flaring out slightly like wings, it almost made me wanted to laugh at the man's stern face. His mustache and bushy white eyebrows threw his whole rigid act off. Way off. I held back my snicker behind my lips.
The man seemed to notice my giggle and stared with dry amusement. Dropping my sleeve, he looked me in the eyes once more and patted my shoulder. That made me slightly wary of the man and I took a step back, out of his hand. His eyes twinkled vaguely in laughter. I couldn't help but stare when I saw his mouth open and reveal but a few surviving teeth. It was too distracting for me, but somehow I was able to concentrate on what he was saying.
"Your looking for someone aren't you? Maybe a….girl?"
I nearly jumped back in surprise. How in the world did this old coot know I was looking for Rogue? "Why…why do you ask, old man?" I implored with suspicion.
He merely stared at me as if determining if I was telling the truth through my question. Lifting a white-gloved hand, he patted my shoulder. I wanted to pull away from his grasp, but something seemed to be holding me in place as I stared at his graying eyes once again. They were almost piercing. It was almost like he was looking into my soul. As his eyes were averted from mine, I flinched. That was certainly strange…
He then turned to leave, but before he did, he stopped and with his back to me, spoke in low, mellow tones which sent chills up my spine, "Don't let her leave you. Once she walks out of your life, she'll never accept you to walk back into it. If you truly want her to be with you, don't let her walk out and leave you forever."
With that, the man started to walk away in a silent trot, cane rocking back in forth in a rhythmic motion in his large hands. I was frozen in silence as I watched him go, I took a step forward and was about to ask him how he knew all this (or if he was some kind of mutant), when a loud whistle screamed from the wooden platform behind me. Twirling around, I saw steam blow from the top of the ancient steam engine, black as coal and nearly invisible in the night. I suddenly remembered my old associate and turned to ask him my question when I found large waiting room completely empty with the exception of myself and the dust mites.
Weird…I thought, confused out of my mind. Yet, the shriek of the whistle brought me back from my inquisitive ponderings and forced me to alter my thoughts and focus on the train. I ran with all the speed I could muster and sped toward the chugging train, slowly, yet steadily moving out of the station.
Yet, as soon as my shoe touched the wooden floorboards of the outside platform, I felt my feet slip on the slushy snow and sent me careening, arms flapping to stay afoot. Yet, my attempts to stay balanced failed me, and soon I found myself sucking in the cold snow, biting crisply into my mouth. Pushing myself up, I spat the snow out of my mouth. Then, a familiar whistle tickled my ear, and I looked up in dismay.
There, riding away with the great puzzle I had tried to put together so long, was riding away from me. Riding out of our lives. My life. I felt my heart slowly crack, each fracture sending a shot of pain through my body. I couldn't stand it. The realization that I would never see her again hit me like a sledgehammer. I knew that my body was hunched over, my eyes leaking and revealing the aching in my heart. I didn't care if someone saw me. I just didn't care anymore. As the last trace of the boxcar winked out my sight, I didn't care anymore. I just couldn't take it.
Sure, you may think that I'm a fool. That I should have just gotten up and ran after her, using my mutant gene. But really, I am no fool. I know that I could never match up with that speed. It would be like racing with light. At least, I knew that I wouldn't make it in time. Rising off my scratched knees, I shook slightly, each twinge making me nearly loose my balance. I turned to leave the site, leaving my heart with it, when something caught my eye.
Smuggled among a few haystacks, sat a lone figure, trying to be one with the hay. Yet, the dark coat that covered the figures frame made her stick out like a dark cloud in a bright, sunny day. I knew that it could only be one person. Only one person he knew what do such a thing. Rogue. I felt a hesitant smile grow on my face as I walked up to the boxcar. Standing in front of her, I reached out a hand and pulled the supposed "camouflage" off her form. She sat, snuggled among the hay.
I felt a bigger grin grow on my face as I tapped her shoulder gently. I didn't want to disturb her from her sleep, her face peaceful and as bright as an angel. Yet, I knew that I couldn't leave her like this, and picking her up would probably cause some unnecessary touch of skin to skin, leaving me unconscious on the station. I could feel her stir under my touch. Suddenly, her eyes flashed open and I found a gloved hand gripping tightly on my neck. Astonished by her swiftness, I didn't have time to retaliate before I found the hand on my neck tightening, cutting off my breathing. "rogue!" I rasped.
It seemed that she noticed who I was in the dim moonlight and slowly let her hand drop from my neck. I stood there, rubbing my neck tenderly, wondering when she had gained so much strength. I suppose it was Kurt's power affecting her.
"Vhat are you doing here," she hissed slightly in broken English as a German accent swiveled her tongue. I looked into her bright eyes, noticing that the green emerald that I was so used to was coated in a sickly yellow, the fading affects of the fuzz ball's mutation still apparent. Yet, as a light blue color faded from her skin, I could tell that her time for this power was almost up. She suddenly flashed a pair of sharp fangs at me, revealing that she hadn't used up all the power and could still take me out if I didn't answer her soon.
Sighing, I looked into her eyes and started to reach out for her when I stopped and just stared at her, struck for the words to say. Yet, somehow I found myself able to tell her just why I was here. "Rogue," I spoke gently, "why are you leaving us? Are you leaving because of the X-geeks? You know you always have a home with-"
Her hand suddenly shot out and clasped over my mouth, preventing me from speaking. She had her head bowed, but as she tilted her head, I could see a filmy curtain of tears shadow her eyes. I felt my mouth go dry as I stared at the tears that threatened to pour. I licked my dry lips with a hasty tongue and tried to figure out what to do.
Damn, I wish Lance was here. He was always better at this kind of stuff than I was. Looking back at the girl, I watched as her face hardened slightly and her eyes change back to their startling vivid green.
I think one of the first things that drew me to her was her eyes. They led me to her like a moth to a fly, my will to obey her every command. Yet, now as I found myself staring into those same eyes, I flinched. They were staring at me with a contempt that I never thought possible. At least not from her on me.
"Pietro, ah'll tell you this once, so ya better listen up. I'm not leaving you because the X-Men or the Brotherhood for that matter. I just…." I stared rigidly at her, wanting to hear her every word. I wanted to know exactly what she thought she was doing, walking out away from this life.
"I can't take it anymore, Pietro. It hurts too much. I tried to stop it, but I can't and now…I just have to go. Don't worry, you know me. I wont forget you guys. And I definitely wont get hurt. Good-bye." My mind had been swirling as she continued her speech, drawing my mind into a web of darkness and confusion. I felt like my mind was racing, panicking at what she was saying, searching for some kind of explanation. I nearly dismissed her words, caught up in my own trap. Yet, as she said the final words, I was thrown out of my mind and into reality. Good-bye?…..
Lifting my face to her, I was met by the vision of her sad eyes. I wanted to reach out and touch her, but she did that for me. Before I could grab her in a hug, I felt her gloved hands touch my face and pull my head forward. I knew that this would knock me out, but I couldn't resist. As she pressed her lips on mine, I felt my world spinning faster than I could ever spin.
So this is what a kiss feels like, I thought airily. I reached up to hug her. My arms nearly failed me, but I managed. Yet, as my power and spirit flowed out from my body through her lips, I tried to ignore the pain that was coursing. No, I wouldn't pass this chance up. I wouldn't loose her like this.
Letting my hand slip from her back, I reached as quickly as I could and pulled out my treasured picture, and slipped it into her coat pocket. As she pulled away from me, I could already feel the blackness creeping on the edges of my vision, but I refused to let it take over. I had to see her for this last time. With as much of the power as I could muster I spoke in a soft gentle whisper in her ear, "Don't forget your family, Rogue. Don't forget us."
With that, I fell from her grasp and onto the ground. I knew that I was loosing consciousness, but I smiled anyways. I felt my heart grow light as I stared at her one more time. One more time before the train pulled away, tears flowing from her eyes as she hunched over and sobbed. I thought she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. She would remain in my heart always. I just hope she felt the same. Then, I fell into the comforting arms of darkness.
~
YEAH! *CRACK!* Ow…..that hurt. Geeze, hunched over a computer for so long can certainly hurt your back. Anywho, I hope you like it. I know that I don't do much for my editing and my accents, but hey, I'm trying. Ah well…- _-* Please review though. ^_^ I really love reviews! And hey, if you wanna make someone happy today, write a review! Believe me, you'll make people happy! Or at least me! ^_~ Ciao!
Alone
Chapter 5: Disturbance
Disclaimer: Now, let's see….X-Men Evolution is drawn pretty decently and moi, well….let's just say there isn't a chance I own them….-_-*…….
~
I twitched. Something, somebody, was nearby. I could feel it as if it were a flame caressing my skin in a singing touch. Yet, as my feet flew before me in a silver blur, I already knew who it was and felt my self flinch as bile rose in my throat, burning my esophagus in a vile fluid that seemed to be not only coming from the pit of my stomach, but also the dark recesses of my mind. My heavy coat seemed to do nothing for me as I raced on through the darkness, the numbing fingers of reality stretching across my body again, pulling me deeper into my mind.
It really was a harsh irony, I pondered wryly. The first time I met her, I was thrilled at the chance of solving the great gothic puzzle called Rogue. I took every chance I could to burrow myself under that girl's skin, trying to discover who she was and why she continued to block out everything and everyone from her solitary and lonely life. Now, the one chance he had to interact with her when she wasn't facing him in battle was making his stomach churn with a revolting sensation. He didn't exactly hate her. No, he just….wanted to keep everyone from getting too close to him.
Suddenly, as the thought struck through my mind, I felt something well up from deep within me and soon a shiver ran through my body, and opening my mouth as if to release a great force, I….laughed. As soon as the laugh spewed from my dry lips, I felt my feet stop from beneath me, my body needing a moment to stop as the laughter began causing convulsions, making my thin frame shudder from the power behind it. My body continued to tremble as the laughs rolled thickly in waves throughout my body until it even reached my soul.
Yet, as I fell to my knees, the laughs jerking my body erratically, I knew that these signs amusement weren't for joy. No, they were dry, hard laughs that slid off my tongue like acid. I knew why I felt so cold now. I was beginning to even think like her. I was beginning to reject the world and believe that there was no one out there waiting for me. No one to care or trust. No one to see her for herself.
Sucking in air in huge gulps, I let myself continue to sit on the freezing ground, ignoring the bitter cold that stung my body. Letting one hand rest on my chest to encourage my lungs to breathe again, I let my eyes fall to the ground, thinking for a moment. Reaching inside my pocket, I let my chilled hands close around a small object, hidden carefully from prying fingers of others. Drawing out the object, tenderly placed in my hand, I let my eyes stray down to the small paper. Flashing faintly in the moonlight, I felt a tug at the corners of my mouth as my lips curved slightly upward.
There, illuminated in a soft pale light, stood a group of five people, each covered in a large amount of mud, posing for the picture. On the left edge of the frayed end of the picture stood a lanky figure with sandy brown hair. Crouching slightly in frayed jeans, which accented the boy's unnaturally bent legs, squatted a teenage boy, kneecaps poking out of the slit holes. He was wearing a wide, crooked smile that reached up to his eyes. Although his posture was somewhat odd, his smile made him picture perfect. Or at least he would be if a long green tongue wasn't reaching languidly across the air and latching onto a fly. With one of his hands containing a ball of mud, it looked like he had just been prepared to chuck another mud ball.
The next figure standing beside to the boy didn't seem remotely bothered by the teenager's bizarre antics, only a bit wary of the mud ball clutched firmly in his hand. He smiled grandly as he brushed back his tall, blonde mohawk with a giant hand, while his other hand was positioned on his hip, showing off his bulging figure in joking exaggeration of a perfectly shaped mannequin, with splotches of mud all over him. The blue overalls that covered his figure weren't exactly baggy enough for his wide berth. It didn't seem he cared about his weight though. It was almost as if the boy was flashing his weight around in a sort of proud manner, not caring what criticism he may receive for such a bulky mass. In fact, he looked like he was quite happy just standing there, covered in soggy mud.
A fingerless gloved hand was resting upon the mud-spattered brown head of the next individual as his mouth stretched widely in a laughing grin. The other hand grasped his dirty shirt, which, to his latter dismay, was about to be soaked through with another glob of mud. Yet, as he laughed, one could see that he was genuinely having a good time, the creases of slight dimples piercing his cheeks. His pants were a disaster compared to the rest of him. Although each member was covered in mud from head to toe, he seemed to have gotten the worst of it on his pants. One would wonder what his laughter would be directed from, but once again staring at the picture, would reveal it to you.
The last two members in the picture, I remembered most fondly in that moment. Standing beside a snickering boy, hair flowing in a shock of white on his head, was a girl, a sour expression on her face that could be seen throughout her whole stature. Yet, as one observed the photo more closely, one could see that the girl's eyes were alit in a somewhat sinisterly playful manner. The slim framed boy seemed to be the only one not to be covered in the ever present mud. Yet, within the girl's gloved hand seemed to be a huge ball, oozing with mud, positioned right above the boy's clean head. Which, later wasn't as white as it had been at that moment.
I snorted vaguely as I remembered how many days it took to remove all the caked mud from my hair. Yet, to see her giggling with such joy after the event made it all worth while. He hadn't regretted it at all. That is, after the day she left. When she walked out of his life, he wanted to hate her, feel spite toward her, and spit every bad mouthed comment he could at the girl who had betrayed them, him.
Letting the ghost of a smile fall from my lips, I set my face sternly in a expressionless appearance. I had practiced for hours, trying to perfect the soul of ice I had deep within myself now until I could face anyone with my cold eyes. I had a specific reason on which I made this façade for myself. I did it incase I ever had to meet her again, outside of battle.
Suddenly, I found myself close to the edge of town. I knew that this far from the city had only one place or purpose to be there. Here, far from the city, was a railroad station. Sometimes, if I was up in the middle of the night, I could hear the train pass along, whistling shrilly in the dark. It had always freaked me out. The first time I heard it, I thought it was a women's scream. It took nearly the entire Brotherhood, including Rogue, to convince me that it wasn't a scream, just the train.
As a chill breeze stroked my cheek gently, I was shaken out of my small reverie and reminded about the task at hand. I tried as well as I could to make myself as discrete as possible in the barren stalls of the train station. It was no wonder that the station was so devoid of life, no one was really up this late. I weaved my way quickly through the oaken halls of the station. This really was somewhat old fashioned.
I heard originally they were going to rebuild the station with common day equipment, meaning basically your steel and concrete walls. But, there was a corpse found later in one of the long waiting seats, almost like pews in some winter ago. When they found it, they discovered that they couldn't identify the person. It was if the body had no life or identity. Lance told me that they couldn't find any traces of injury from another leading to a murder, but vowed that the person was murdered, somehow. But Rogue insisted that it wasn't a murder. It was simply a lonely outsider, tired of living and froze to death on that night, waiting for nothing and everything.
When she told me this, I remembered looking at her oddly and demising the whole subject. Yet, as I ran through the silent halls, I found myself looking among the cold wooden benches, looking for a small figure with auburn hair and a familiar white strip of white hair. I still hadn't found any which sent a sense of relief, and worry, through my mind. I could feel her presence getting stronger now. She had to be here somewhere. It's really strange, and sure you may call me crazy, but, it seemed like I could always feel when she was near. It was almost like a sixth sense, pricking in my mind when ever she was approaching me or vice versa.
I don't know how I developed this strange awareness, but now I was thanking God that I could use it now. If I could use this strange connection between me and her, maybe I could find her and stop her from leaving us. From leaving me.
Suddenly, I felt myself bump into a person, sending the individual stumbling. Hardly noticing my mistake, I picked the person up quickly and continued my search. Yet, I felt a hand suddenly grasp the sleeve of my jacket, pulling me back with a jerk. I turned and began to yell, "Hey what do you think you're doing?!"
Yet, as I stared into the individual's face, the intensity of the stare the person returned threw me off slightly. "W-What do ya want?" I found myself asking with slight respect.
I knew I had just stuttered in my question, but I couldn't help it. The stare was way too powerful for me to handle. I discovered myself staring into a pair of hard, alert eyes which were placed in an equally firm face. With two wispy strands of white mustache flaring out slightly like wings, it almost made me wanted to laugh at the man's stern face. His mustache and bushy white eyebrows threw his whole rigid act off. Way off. I held back my snicker behind my lips.
The man seemed to notice my giggle and stared with dry amusement. Dropping my sleeve, he looked me in the eyes once more and patted my shoulder. That made me slightly wary of the man and I took a step back, out of his hand. His eyes twinkled vaguely in laughter. I couldn't help but stare when I saw his mouth open and reveal but a few surviving teeth. It was too distracting for me, but somehow I was able to concentrate on what he was saying.
"Your looking for someone aren't you? Maybe a….girl?"
I nearly jumped back in surprise. How in the world did this old coot know I was looking for Rogue? "Why…why do you ask, old man?" I implored with suspicion.
He merely stared at me as if determining if I was telling the truth through my question. Lifting a white-gloved hand, he patted my shoulder. I wanted to pull away from his grasp, but something seemed to be holding me in place as I stared at his graying eyes once again. They were almost piercing. It was almost like he was looking into my soul. As his eyes were averted from mine, I flinched. That was certainly strange…
He then turned to leave, but before he did, he stopped and with his back to me, spoke in low, mellow tones which sent chills up my spine, "Don't let her leave you. Once she walks out of your life, she'll never accept you to walk back into it. If you truly want her to be with you, don't let her walk out and leave you forever."
With that, the man started to walk away in a silent trot, cane rocking back in forth in a rhythmic motion in his large hands. I was frozen in silence as I watched him go, I took a step forward and was about to ask him how he knew all this (or if he was some kind of mutant), when a loud whistle screamed from the wooden platform behind me. Twirling around, I saw steam blow from the top of the ancient steam engine, black as coal and nearly invisible in the night. I suddenly remembered my old associate and turned to ask him my question when I found large waiting room completely empty with the exception of myself and the dust mites.
Weird…I thought, confused out of my mind. Yet, the shriek of the whistle brought me back from my inquisitive ponderings and forced me to alter my thoughts and focus on the train. I ran with all the speed I could muster and sped toward the chugging train, slowly, yet steadily moving out of the station.
Yet, as soon as my shoe touched the wooden floorboards of the outside platform, I felt my feet slip on the slushy snow and sent me careening, arms flapping to stay afoot. Yet, my attempts to stay balanced failed me, and soon I found myself sucking in the cold snow, biting crisply into my mouth. Pushing myself up, I spat the snow out of my mouth. Then, a familiar whistle tickled my ear, and I looked up in dismay.
There, riding away with the great puzzle I had tried to put together so long, was riding away from me. Riding out of our lives. My life. I felt my heart slowly crack, each fracture sending a shot of pain through my body. I couldn't stand it. The realization that I would never see her again hit me like a sledgehammer. I knew that my body was hunched over, my eyes leaking and revealing the aching in my heart. I didn't care if someone saw me. I just didn't care anymore. As the last trace of the boxcar winked out my sight, I didn't care anymore. I just couldn't take it.
Sure, you may think that I'm a fool. That I should have just gotten up and ran after her, using my mutant gene. But really, I am no fool. I know that I could never match up with that speed. It would be like racing with light. At least, I knew that I wouldn't make it in time. Rising off my scratched knees, I shook slightly, each twinge making me nearly loose my balance. I turned to leave the site, leaving my heart with it, when something caught my eye.
Smuggled among a few haystacks, sat a lone figure, trying to be one with the hay. Yet, the dark coat that covered the figures frame made her stick out like a dark cloud in a bright, sunny day. I knew that it could only be one person. Only one person he knew what do such a thing. Rogue. I felt a hesitant smile grow on my face as I walked up to the boxcar. Standing in front of her, I reached out a hand and pulled the supposed "camouflage" off her form. She sat, snuggled among the hay.
I felt a bigger grin grow on my face as I tapped her shoulder gently. I didn't want to disturb her from her sleep, her face peaceful and as bright as an angel. Yet, I knew that I couldn't leave her like this, and picking her up would probably cause some unnecessary touch of skin to skin, leaving me unconscious on the station. I could feel her stir under my touch. Suddenly, her eyes flashed open and I found a gloved hand gripping tightly on my neck. Astonished by her swiftness, I didn't have time to retaliate before I found the hand on my neck tightening, cutting off my breathing. "rogue!" I rasped.
It seemed that she noticed who I was in the dim moonlight and slowly let her hand drop from my neck. I stood there, rubbing my neck tenderly, wondering when she had gained so much strength. I suppose it was Kurt's power affecting her.
"Vhat are you doing here," she hissed slightly in broken English as a German accent swiveled her tongue. I looked into her bright eyes, noticing that the green emerald that I was so used to was coated in a sickly yellow, the fading affects of the fuzz ball's mutation still apparent. Yet, as a light blue color faded from her skin, I could tell that her time for this power was almost up. She suddenly flashed a pair of sharp fangs at me, revealing that she hadn't used up all the power and could still take me out if I didn't answer her soon.
Sighing, I looked into her eyes and started to reach out for her when I stopped and just stared at her, struck for the words to say. Yet, somehow I found myself able to tell her just why I was here. "Rogue," I spoke gently, "why are you leaving us? Are you leaving because of the X-geeks? You know you always have a home with-"
Her hand suddenly shot out and clasped over my mouth, preventing me from speaking. She had her head bowed, but as she tilted her head, I could see a filmy curtain of tears shadow her eyes. I felt my mouth go dry as I stared at the tears that threatened to pour. I licked my dry lips with a hasty tongue and tried to figure out what to do.
Damn, I wish Lance was here. He was always better at this kind of stuff than I was. Looking back at the girl, I watched as her face hardened slightly and her eyes change back to their startling vivid green.
I think one of the first things that drew me to her was her eyes. They led me to her like a moth to a fly, my will to obey her every command. Yet, now as I found myself staring into those same eyes, I flinched. They were staring at me with a contempt that I never thought possible. At least not from her on me.
"Pietro, ah'll tell you this once, so ya better listen up. I'm not leaving you because the X-Men or the Brotherhood for that matter. I just…." I stared rigidly at her, wanting to hear her every word. I wanted to know exactly what she thought she was doing, walking out away from this life.
"I can't take it anymore, Pietro. It hurts too much. I tried to stop it, but I can't and now…I just have to go. Don't worry, you know me. I wont forget you guys. And I definitely wont get hurt. Good-bye." My mind had been swirling as she continued her speech, drawing my mind into a web of darkness and confusion. I felt like my mind was racing, panicking at what she was saying, searching for some kind of explanation. I nearly dismissed her words, caught up in my own trap. Yet, as she said the final words, I was thrown out of my mind and into reality. Good-bye?…..
Lifting my face to her, I was met by the vision of her sad eyes. I wanted to reach out and touch her, but she did that for me. Before I could grab her in a hug, I felt her gloved hands touch my face and pull my head forward. I knew that this would knock me out, but I couldn't resist. As she pressed her lips on mine, I felt my world spinning faster than I could ever spin.
So this is what a kiss feels like, I thought airily. I reached up to hug her. My arms nearly failed me, but I managed. Yet, as my power and spirit flowed out from my body through her lips, I tried to ignore the pain that was coursing. No, I wouldn't pass this chance up. I wouldn't loose her like this.
Letting my hand slip from her back, I reached as quickly as I could and pulled out my treasured picture, and slipped it into her coat pocket. As she pulled away from me, I could already feel the blackness creeping on the edges of my vision, but I refused to let it take over. I had to see her for this last time. With as much of the power as I could muster I spoke in a soft gentle whisper in her ear, "Don't forget your family, Rogue. Don't forget us."
With that, I fell from her grasp and onto the ground. I knew that I was loosing consciousness, but I smiled anyways. I felt my heart grow light as I stared at her one more time. One more time before the train pulled away, tears flowing from her eyes as she hunched over and sobbed. I thought she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. She would remain in my heart always. I just hope she felt the same. Then, I fell into the comforting arms of darkness.
~
YEAH! *CRACK!* Ow…..that hurt. Geeze, hunched over a computer for so long can certainly hurt your back. Anywho, I hope you like it. I know that I don't do much for my editing and my accents, but hey, I'm trying. Ah well…- _-* Please review though. ^_^ I really love reviews! And hey, if you wanna make someone happy today, write a review! Believe me, you'll make people happy! Or at least me! ^_~ Ciao!