Shadow Knight
Alone
Chapter 9: Opaque Hearts
Disclaimer: To this I wish, but am not granted....the show.
Wow.....THIS TOOK AWHILE TO UPDATE!!! ^_^ Hope you readers appreciate this! It took me a lot of energy to get off my lazy bum and get to updating this story. Sorry. -__- I've been into poetry so much lately that all I've been doing is writing poetry in my Truth story thingy. ANYWAYS..I just want to say thank you to all of those who have reviewed and left me encouragement. Thanks...^_^ Alrighty, I will reveal the identity of the man from the last chapter in this story.
*Note: This is from our "Mystery Man's" POV from the last chapter. Don't worry you find out who it is in this chapter!
Enjoy. ^_^
~
Click...
Click...
I grimaced slightly as I heard the continuous clack of my shoes against the black marble floor. It sounded hollow and dead in the dark hall I walked along. Almost as if I were walking the cold halls of a morgue. As I continued to walk along the dimly lit halls, I felt sweat begin to trickle down my face, my temples pounding.
Click.
Raising my eyes warily from the ground where my new Italian style shoes lay, I found myself face to face with a heavy, black, steel door. The door seemed to gleam down at me with hollow eyes. I shivered. Reaching up to my neck, I straightened my tie nervously as my clammy fingers fumbled with the silky material.
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, trying to shake off the nervousness that crawled around in my skin, twisting my insides to mush. My heart pounding against my chest, I reached for the door handle. A slick drop of sweat hung to the edge of my nose. As my fingers molded them selves around the door handle I reached up hurriedly and swiped at the sweat. I didn't want to show my fear. No... Not in front of him of all people.
The door opened silently as I deftly opened it. I stepped inside quickly, trying not to wince as my shoes clacked loudly against the marble floor. I reached up unconsciously and flicked at my nose lightly, trying to overcome my erratic nerves that continued to make me jump like a twitching cat.
"Did you get the information?"
My heart jumped.
"Y-Yes, I did."
The icy voice did not leave me guessing. I knew who it was. I knew perfectly well who it was. My eyes were drawn warily over to the plush leather chair with its large back facing toward me, its curved shoulders glaring down at me with a wicked smile. I saw one pale hand resting on the armrest. Long, curved fingers arched stiffly over the chair. I could tell that he was on his guard. As like every other day.
My eyes began to wonder slightly as I looked about me. I had been in his office before, but I never really took time to appreciate the haunting beauty of the office design. With the wide windows covered by thick, velvet, black curtains, I could knew that his only source of light, besides that of the slender lamp sitting on his desk was the flickering fire that danced wildly, encased in a white ivory frame. Sitting in his chair, he was opposite to the wide desk that curved around him, almost like a dark maw beginning to swallow him in darkness.
His room was simple in some ways by its few adornments, yet it seemed complex and classy in itself, causing an eerie feeling to settle over me, my gut twisting nervously as if a scared mouse.
Suddenly, his hand rose deftly and motioned me to come forward to his desk. I clutched my briefcase closer to me. I felt the perspiration begin to trickle down my hand, causing my handle to slip slightly in my hand. Before I could drop it, I grabbed it tightly and carried it with me.
Even though it was but a few steps, his desk seemed to be miles away, causing each step I took to seem laden with stone. When I finally reached his desk, my feet began to take root. Yet, even as I felt the strong urge to run away, to escape this cold, terrible place that reeked of death, I knew I couldn't leave.
I had business with him.
I laid the briefcase carefully on his desk, trying not to clutter the papers that laid primly on his desk in a neat pile. Without word, I began to nervously flick the numbers of the lock into place, turning them as quickly as I could. I felt my fingers fumble over the brass numbers. I silently cursed inside my head and continued to struggle with the lock.
"Can't you go any faster?"
As the voice swiveled around my ears, I knew that he was becoming annoyed. Turning back to the lock, I numbly flicked the last number in and popped the briefcase open. He was always one who liked things done as quickly as possible.
Popping the briefcase open, I pulled out a folder and laid it on top of my other articles. I quickly swiveled the briefcase around and laid out the information to him.
His hand suddenly fell upon his armrest and clutched it, turning around swiftly. As his face turned toward me, I saw the face I had known for what seemed forever. White hair, the color of frost framed his head. An odd color to see on such a youthful face. No more than in his early 20's, it was an odd sight indeed. A pale face framed two stunning metallic-blue eyes. Topping them were two finely narrow haired eyebrows, similar in color to his hair.
He seemed average to the passerby, a normal youth with average loves and dislikes. Yet, there was something different about him. Oh I could see this without doubt. One thing that made his youthful face seem aged and harsh. His eyes.
The pair of eyes stared at me with silent calculation, staring into me as if he knew I was afraid of him. His eyes were bitter and smiled at no one. They only brought fear and coldness into another's heart. They only showed a dead shell of a man that once used to be.
They showed me bitterness.
Yet, he would not allow his emotions control the better of him. No, he was to sauve for such petty emotions. They were a weakness, he once told me, a weakness that will cause one's downfall.
Looking up at him now, I watched him gaze over the information I had collected with an intense glare. Suddenly his eyes grew gleeful, the curved greedily and began to drink up the information that they read. I felt a shaky smile begin to slightly grow on my face. Maybe I got something good this time...
Then his cold eyes narrowed.
I watched on with worry growing in my heart, spreading through my body like a plague. Something was wrong. I forgot something.
He suddenly slapped shut the folder and threw it into the briefcase with disgust. Slamming the case shut, he threw it at me. I caught it deftly with my reflexes and silently held the case next to my side.
"Sir, did something displease you?" I tried to mumble out casually.
His eyes turned and I felt the horribly cold wrath turn on me. Something definitely displeased him.
"Yes, something _displeased_ me quite much," he icily stated, "You forgot one important detail on your information."
I tried to look on dumbly. I had no idea.... Oh no. I forgot the-
"Yes, you forgot the most important thing! You forgot the damn location of the Faceless Assassin! You idiot! What am I paying you for, Todd?!"
As I heard my name shouted, I winced. I couldn't help it. Not when it came from such a cold heart. When he stopped, it seemed to echo in the room, shattering the silence.
I tried to look up at him without fear. I tried to breath in calmly and shake the jitters that continued to plague me.
"I'm sorry, Pietro," I tried to say as calmly as I could, "I forgot about this. I will update you as soon as possible. Please forgive me of my trespasses and allow me to supply you with the location of the assassin."
After bowing, I tried to look up as discreetly as I could. Pietro seemed to have cooled down after his slight outburst. I had known him for a friend for a long time, but... things had changed. I now worked as a private investigator. I sought out information for those who needed it and got paid. It was a quick and secret exchange. At the moment I was working for Pietro.
Pietro himself had changed more than anyone I knew. Once Rogue disappeared, he seemed dead to all. He refused to fight anymore; he refused to talk to anyone. He wouldn't even pick a fight with an X-geek.
No, he simply became a dead shell.
He caused no more havoc. No, he would only go to school, take in each lesson, come home, and lock himself in his room. There were no conversations with him. Then, as soon as graduation was over, he was gone. He left on the day of graduation without a word. We came home to the Brotherhood house and he had packed up his belongings in a hurry and had run out. Ran out of our lives forever. Me and the other Brotherhood boys still kept in contact.
Heck, Lance was working on a college degree to be a lawyer, and Fred, well amazing as it was then, is now a refined and well-known writer. We never knew he had all these pent up feelings inside of him. He used to only express it in rage. Then, one day, he found a piece of paper and a pencil and began to write. Soon enough, he had a book published and bought by thousands.
Yet, Pietro was a different story. He suddenly called me up one day and asked me to do a favor. A favor I would get paid for. I came over, wanting to know answers, but as soon as I saw him, I knew that he would never reveal the truth to me. I don't even bother now. He's left that friend behind for dead. Now, he only sees me as another associate.
He was changed by Rogue's sudden departure from our lives. It had an affect on all of us. To him, it still does.
Suddenly, I found a glass being thrust in front of my now wide eyes. From this distance I could tell it was an alcohol of some type. I looked up and found Pietro handing the glass to me with a sad smile.
I took the glass deftly from his hands, befuddled in every ounce. What was going on? He was being sincere?
"Don't worry Todd, there's no poison in it. I simply want to have a drink among friends. Take a seat, Todd and let's chat," he said with a soft voice, pointing to a chair next to his desk.
I watched him all the time and sat down into the plush chair. I watched him grab a glass from one of his drawers of his desk and poor himself a glass. As I brought the glass to my lips, I sniffed and sipped lightly. Brandy, I mused lightly.
Pietro turned toward me with the same sad smile on his face. He raised it as if instigating for a cheer. I brought my glass to his.
Click.
I took a small sip from my cup. I watched him over the rim of my glass. He swallowed the whole glass of brandy in one mouthful. I stared at him, stunned. Seeing my surprised expression, he set down his glass and smiled.
"I have strong tolerance," he explained.
I nodded deftly and sipped some more. Something was strange about him today. What was up, I wondered.
"It's been much too long, Todd," Pietro suddenly mumbled while staring into space, "Much, much too long. I'm sorry I've been avoiding you guys. I'm... I'm sorry I ran out and left you guys."
I felt my head snap up at his words. He was...apologizing? I felt my eyebrows knit together in concern. He _really_ had changed. This wasn't an everyday occurence. I simply tried to nod the apology off. It was okay... we knew he was hurt.
He suddenly turned back and faced me. With a slick smile on his face, he asked, "So, any new...acquaintances in your life lately? Hmm?"
I felt a red blush run across my cheeks. His words quickly reminded me of the French belle I had met earlier. "Um...no."
He heard my mumble and laughed.
He... laughed. It sounded like an echo of something from so far off. Something that was long forgotten. I sat there, stunned by the sound. I never heard something so joyful come from him. No... not in so long...
"I can see by your stunning coy that you have indeed met someone but are too embarrassed to admit it. But, " he said while smiling, " tell me anyways."
I suddenly felt a warm feeling over my heart. This was the old Pietro I remembered. This was the friend I had lost so long ago.
"Well, I actually did meet someone today, "I mumbled while twiddling my thumbs, "A beautiful French belle. She had beautiful blonde hair and gorgeous brown eyes. She wasn't hard on the eyes either in her little red dress."
Pietro laughed again. It sounded... nice. I smiled myself. It was nice to hear him like this. It was like another day in the Brotherhood Mansion. It was just like any other day...
"Anyone else in your life?" I heard Pietro ask.
"Well, actually," I thought out loud, remembering the lady I had seen on the plane earlier, "There was this other lady... She was nice looking and all, but there was something that struck me about her. It was like I knew her. She seemed to nearly freak out when she found me staring at her.
Then she turned away from me for the rest of the plane ride. It was really strange," I paused for a moment, biting my lip as I remembered, "I even tried to call her after we got off the plane and ask her if I knew her from somewhere, but.... she ran off. It was like she was paranoid and afraid of me. Don't know why... You know, it might sound strange, but she reminded me of Rogue-"
I suddenly felt a nervous twitch in the air. I raised my hands to my mouth and clapsed them tightly, trying to take back the words I just said. Oh how could I be such a fool?! I looked over to Pietro and tried to see how he was dealing with my careless words.
It looked like he was shocked.
His glass was held in his pale hand, halfway to his mouth. His eyes were wide open as they stared at me, unmoving and penetrating. His eyes seemed to glaze over slightly in a filmy layer. He was completely still.
I was afraid he wasn't breathing.
Then suddenly, he bowed his head, the light ceasing to show me his face as his hair hanged down in his face. He let his hand set the glass lightly onto his desk, the quite tap shattering my composure in one motion. I let a sad frown light my face. I felt a nervous twist in my gut. I had done something terribly wrong...
"Pietro...," I tried to blubber out softly, "I'm so sorr- urk!"
I felt my words be cut off as something latched onto my neck, squeezing tightly and mercilessly. As I reached up to claw at the object, I found myself grabbing a human hand. I tried desperately to pull at the hand, clawing away skin with my nails. Yet, even as my nails pulled away with skin and dried blood under my nails, I found it to no avail. Struggling as much as I could from my position, I slowly raised my head to look at my killer.
I gasped. Metallic-blue eyes bored into me.
I felt my struggling halt to an abrupt stop. What.... what was he doing? I felt my arms drop to my sides, dangling uselessly like two puppets, cut from their strings. Why...? My eyes began to suddenly feel heavy, lead pulling at my eyes. I looked blindly at his eyes once again. I felt my heart crumble in despair as I saw his face. His only responses to my questions were a glare full of merciless hatred, pouring down on me like a thundering rain.
Then a silver tear ran down his cheek.
I felt startled and lost for words as I saw this sudden display of emotion from him. Even as the silent tear made its way down his cheek in a racing path, he didn't blink. He didn't even reach up to brush the tear from his cheek. He didn't acknowledge the fact that he was crying. That he was mourning for something lost to him.
I felt a deep sense of sympathy come over me, even as the air in my lungs ceased to exist. Even as my heart slowed to a dull, slow throb. I felt no hate for this man that used to be my friend. The same friend who was now choking me slowly to death. I only felt sympathy. He had become all he ever hated.
He had become like his father.
Pietro was a strong man... yet... he had lost and was now broken... permanently. He had lost the one thing he truly desired to be in his life. He had lost love... He had lost Rogue.
That moment, I understood what he was going through. I felt it burst behind my eyes as if some startling revelation. Now... I understood. Why he had run away, why he left us... he was running away from himself. But in this race against his enemy... he lost.
I felt darkness closing in around my eyes. I closed my eyes to die... and was dropped roughly onto the floor.
My mouth gaped wide as I my lungs gulped in air greedily, fighting back the urge to suffocate. I reached a hand up to my neck, feeling the bruises that littered it in blotches of black and blue. I looked up at Pietro in surprise. I flinched as I saw his face.
He was frowning deeply at me.
"Get up."
I looked up as I heard his voice chill the air. I slipped quickly to my feet. I looked to him. He only stared at me with a neutral expression and yet, a frown on his face. I looked at him quietly, letting my hand fall to my side. Before I could begin to ask questions, he was in my face. I knew he had used his mutant power. I knew he still had it. That wasn't what surprised me. It was his face.
Grabbing my shirt in a fist, he lifted me off the ground so I was face to face with him. His face snarled at mine, displaying such raw emotion. I hadn't seen it from him for so long. He gnashed his teeth and sneered. "I never want you to _ever_ speak her name again, you hear me? Don't _ever_ talk about that woman again. Do we have things clear, Todd?"
"Yes," I quietly replied, letting my eyes fall to the ground.
He set me down on my feet roughly and pointed toward the door, "Now get out. Find me the information about the Faceless Assassin. And don't come back until you do. That is all."
With that, Pietro whipped around sharply on his heel and walked back to his desk. I watched him sit down into his chair and turn his back to me. I watched on with sadness. I knew what I had done to him would take a long time to heal. Bringing up emotional scars are like that...
Quietly, I slipped out of the room, pulling the heavy door shut behind me slowly. I began my silent walk down the hall once again. Even as my heels clicked loudly on the floor, I only heard the thunderous pound of my heart, awash in the chaotic swirl of my thoughts.
As I left the building, I felt fresh air enter my lungs, bringing me back out of my dark, depressing thoughts. As I climbed into my car, I sat there, door shut, and keys in my hand, halfway toward the ignition. Suddenly, I felt something well up inside me, wanting to burst out in the worst possible way.
I threw down my keys and grabbed my head in my hands, bowing down. Pressing my forehead against the steering wheel, I closed my eyes and... cried. As tears leaked out of my eyes in steady streams, I felt one thought continue to run in my mind like poison.
Pietro... what have I done?
~
Woah.... That took LONG to come up with. I spent a while on it. Well...actually it didn't take me long to type it, just brainstorm. ^_^... Yeah... ANYWAYS, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and I hope you continue to read my story!
Find out who the mystery man was??? TODD!!!! Gotta love him. ^_^. And of course...Pietro is the other one. You'll see all the information about him soon!
NEXT CHAPTER!!!: Find out what happens when Rogue arrives in Bayville and runs into an old acquaintance!!! Find out who this Faceless Assassin is!!! AnD MORE!!! Until next time folks!!!
Ciao!! ^_~ and PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!
Alone
Chapter 9: Opaque Hearts
Disclaimer: To this I wish, but am not granted....the show.
Wow.....THIS TOOK AWHILE TO UPDATE!!! ^_^ Hope you readers appreciate this! It took me a lot of energy to get off my lazy bum and get to updating this story. Sorry. -__- I've been into poetry so much lately that all I've been doing is writing poetry in my Truth story thingy. ANYWAYS..I just want to say thank you to all of those who have reviewed and left me encouragement. Thanks...^_^ Alrighty, I will reveal the identity of the man from the last chapter in this story.
*Note: This is from our "Mystery Man's" POV from the last chapter. Don't worry you find out who it is in this chapter!
Enjoy. ^_^
~
Click...
Click...
I grimaced slightly as I heard the continuous clack of my shoes against the black marble floor. It sounded hollow and dead in the dark hall I walked along. Almost as if I were walking the cold halls of a morgue. As I continued to walk along the dimly lit halls, I felt sweat begin to trickle down my face, my temples pounding.
Click.
Raising my eyes warily from the ground where my new Italian style shoes lay, I found myself face to face with a heavy, black, steel door. The door seemed to gleam down at me with hollow eyes. I shivered. Reaching up to my neck, I straightened my tie nervously as my clammy fingers fumbled with the silky material.
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, trying to shake off the nervousness that crawled around in my skin, twisting my insides to mush. My heart pounding against my chest, I reached for the door handle. A slick drop of sweat hung to the edge of my nose. As my fingers molded them selves around the door handle I reached up hurriedly and swiped at the sweat. I didn't want to show my fear. No... Not in front of him of all people.
The door opened silently as I deftly opened it. I stepped inside quickly, trying not to wince as my shoes clacked loudly against the marble floor. I reached up unconsciously and flicked at my nose lightly, trying to overcome my erratic nerves that continued to make me jump like a twitching cat.
"Did you get the information?"
My heart jumped.
"Y-Yes, I did."
The icy voice did not leave me guessing. I knew who it was. I knew perfectly well who it was. My eyes were drawn warily over to the plush leather chair with its large back facing toward me, its curved shoulders glaring down at me with a wicked smile. I saw one pale hand resting on the armrest. Long, curved fingers arched stiffly over the chair. I could tell that he was on his guard. As like every other day.
My eyes began to wonder slightly as I looked about me. I had been in his office before, but I never really took time to appreciate the haunting beauty of the office design. With the wide windows covered by thick, velvet, black curtains, I could knew that his only source of light, besides that of the slender lamp sitting on his desk was the flickering fire that danced wildly, encased in a white ivory frame. Sitting in his chair, he was opposite to the wide desk that curved around him, almost like a dark maw beginning to swallow him in darkness.
His room was simple in some ways by its few adornments, yet it seemed complex and classy in itself, causing an eerie feeling to settle over me, my gut twisting nervously as if a scared mouse.
Suddenly, his hand rose deftly and motioned me to come forward to his desk. I clutched my briefcase closer to me. I felt the perspiration begin to trickle down my hand, causing my handle to slip slightly in my hand. Before I could drop it, I grabbed it tightly and carried it with me.
Even though it was but a few steps, his desk seemed to be miles away, causing each step I took to seem laden with stone. When I finally reached his desk, my feet began to take root. Yet, even as I felt the strong urge to run away, to escape this cold, terrible place that reeked of death, I knew I couldn't leave.
I had business with him.
I laid the briefcase carefully on his desk, trying not to clutter the papers that laid primly on his desk in a neat pile. Without word, I began to nervously flick the numbers of the lock into place, turning them as quickly as I could. I felt my fingers fumble over the brass numbers. I silently cursed inside my head and continued to struggle with the lock.
"Can't you go any faster?"
As the voice swiveled around my ears, I knew that he was becoming annoyed. Turning back to the lock, I numbly flicked the last number in and popped the briefcase open. He was always one who liked things done as quickly as possible.
Popping the briefcase open, I pulled out a folder and laid it on top of my other articles. I quickly swiveled the briefcase around and laid out the information to him.
His hand suddenly fell upon his armrest and clutched it, turning around swiftly. As his face turned toward me, I saw the face I had known for what seemed forever. White hair, the color of frost framed his head. An odd color to see on such a youthful face. No more than in his early 20's, it was an odd sight indeed. A pale face framed two stunning metallic-blue eyes. Topping them were two finely narrow haired eyebrows, similar in color to his hair.
He seemed average to the passerby, a normal youth with average loves and dislikes. Yet, there was something different about him. Oh I could see this without doubt. One thing that made his youthful face seem aged and harsh. His eyes.
The pair of eyes stared at me with silent calculation, staring into me as if he knew I was afraid of him. His eyes were bitter and smiled at no one. They only brought fear and coldness into another's heart. They only showed a dead shell of a man that once used to be.
They showed me bitterness.
Yet, he would not allow his emotions control the better of him. No, he was to sauve for such petty emotions. They were a weakness, he once told me, a weakness that will cause one's downfall.
Looking up at him now, I watched him gaze over the information I had collected with an intense glare. Suddenly his eyes grew gleeful, the curved greedily and began to drink up the information that they read. I felt a shaky smile begin to slightly grow on my face. Maybe I got something good this time...
Then his cold eyes narrowed.
I watched on with worry growing in my heart, spreading through my body like a plague. Something was wrong. I forgot something.
He suddenly slapped shut the folder and threw it into the briefcase with disgust. Slamming the case shut, he threw it at me. I caught it deftly with my reflexes and silently held the case next to my side.
"Sir, did something displease you?" I tried to mumble out casually.
His eyes turned and I felt the horribly cold wrath turn on me. Something definitely displeased him.
"Yes, something _displeased_ me quite much," he icily stated, "You forgot one important detail on your information."
I tried to look on dumbly. I had no idea.... Oh no. I forgot the-
"Yes, you forgot the most important thing! You forgot the damn location of the Faceless Assassin! You idiot! What am I paying you for, Todd?!"
As I heard my name shouted, I winced. I couldn't help it. Not when it came from such a cold heart. When he stopped, it seemed to echo in the room, shattering the silence.
I tried to look up at him without fear. I tried to breath in calmly and shake the jitters that continued to plague me.
"I'm sorry, Pietro," I tried to say as calmly as I could, "I forgot about this. I will update you as soon as possible. Please forgive me of my trespasses and allow me to supply you with the location of the assassin."
After bowing, I tried to look up as discreetly as I could. Pietro seemed to have cooled down after his slight outburst. I had known him for a friend for a long time, but... things had changed. I now worked as a private investigator. I sought out information for those who needed it and got paid. It was a quick and secret exchange. At the moment I was working for Pietro.
Pietro himself had changed more than anyone I knew. Once Rogue disappeared, he seemed dead to all. He refused to fight anymore; he refused to talk to anyone. He wouldn't even pick a fight with an X-geek.
No, he simply became a dead shell.
He caused no more havoc. No, he would only go to school, take in each lesson, come home, and lock himself in his room. There were no conversations with him. Then, as soon as graduation was over, he was gone. He left on the day of graduation without a word. We came home to the Brotherhood house and he had packed up his belongings in a hurry and had run out. Ran out of our lives forever. Me and the other Brotherhood boys still kept in contact.
Heck, Lance was working on a college degree to be a lawyer, and Fred, well amazing as it was then, is now a refined and well-known writer. We never knew he had all these pent up feelings inside of him. He used to only express it in rage. Then, one day, he found a piece of paper and a pencil and began to write. Soon enough, he had a book published and bought by thousands.
Yet, Pietro was a different story. He suddenly called me up one day and asked me to do a favor. A favor I would get paid for. I came over, wanting to know answers, but as soon as I saw him, I knew that he would never reveal the truth to me. I don't even bother now. He's left that friend behind for dead. Now, he only sees me as another associate.
He was changed by Rogue's sudden departure from our lives. It had an affect on all of us. To him, it still does.
Suddenly, I found a glass being thrust in front of my now wide eyes. From this distance I could tell it was an alcohol of some type. I looked up and found Pietro handing the glass to me with a sad smile.
I took the glass deftly from his hands, befuddled in every ounce. What was going on? He was being sincere?
"Don't worry Todd, there's no poison in it. I simply want to have a drink among friends. Take a seat, Todd and let's chat," he said with a soft voice, pointing to a chair next to his desk.
I watched him all the time and sat down into the plush chair. I watched him grab a glass from one of his drawers of his desk and poor himself a glass. As I brought the glass to my lips, I sniffed and sipped lightly. Brandy, I mused lightly.
Pietro turned toward me with the same sad smile on his face. He raised it as if instigating for a cheer. I brought my glass to his.
Click.
I took a small sip from my cup. I watched him over the rim of my glass. He swallowed the whole glass of brandy in one mouthful. I stared at him, stunned. Seeing my surprised expression, he set down his glass and smiled.
"I have strong tolerance," he explained.
I nodded deftly and sipped some more. Something was strange about him today. What was up, I wondered.
"It's been much too long, Todd," Pietro suddenly mumbled while staring into space, "Much, much too long. I'm sorry I've been avoiding you guys. I'm... I'm sorry I ran out and left you guys."
I felt my head snap up at his words. He was...apologizing? I felt my eyebrows knit together in concern. He _really_ had changed. This wasn't an everyday occurence. I simply tried to nod the apology off. It was okay... we knew he was hurt.
He suddenly turned back and faced me. With a slick smile on his face, he asked, "So, any new...acquaintances in your life lately? Hmm?"
I felt a red blush run across my cheeks. His words quickly reminded me of the French belle I had met earlier. "Um...no."
He heard my mumble and laughed.
He... laughed. It sounded like an echo of something from so far off. Something that was long forgotten. I sat there, stunned by the sound. I never heard something so joyful come from him. No... not in so long...
"I can see by your stunning coy that you have indeed met someone but are too embarrassed to admit it. But, " he said while smiling, " tell me anyways."
I suddenly felt a warm feeling over my heart. This was the old Pietro I remembered. This was the friend I had lost so long ago.
"Well, I actually did meet someone today, "I mumbled while twiddling my thumbs, "A beautiful French belle. She had beautiful blonde hair and gorgeous brown eyes. She wasn't hard on the eyes either in her little red dress."
Pietro laughed again. It sounded... nice. I smiled myself. It was nice to hear him like this. It was like another day in the Brotherhood Mansion. It was just like any other day...
"Anyone else in your life?" I heard Pietro ask.
"Well, actually," I thought out loud, remembering the lady I had seen on the plane earlier, "There was this other lady... She was nice looking and all, but there was something that struck me about her. It was like I knew her. She seemed to nearly freak out when she found me staring at her.
Then she turned away from me for the rest of the plane ride. It was really strange," I paused for a moment, biting my lip as I remembered, "I even tried to call her after we got off the plane and ask her if I knew her from somewhere, but.... she ran off. It was like she was paranoid and afraid of me. Don't know why... You know, it might sound strange, but she reminded me of Rogue-"
I suddenly felt a nervous twitch in the air. I raised my hands to my mouth and clapsed them tightly, trying to take back the words I just said. Oh how could I be such a fool?! I looked over to Pietro and tried to see how he was dealing with my careless words.
It looked like he was shocked.
His glass was held in his pale hand, halfway to his mouth. His eyes were wide open as they stared at me, unmoving and penetrating. His eyes seemed to glaze over slightly in a filmy layer. He was completely still.
I was afraid he wasn't breathing.
Then suddenly, he bowed his head, the light ceasing to show me his face as his hair hanged down in his face. He let his hand set the glass lightly onto his desk, the quite tap shattering my composure in one motion. I let a sad frown light my face. I felt a nervous twist in my gut. I had done something terribly wrong...
"Pietro...," I tried to blubber out softly, "I'm so sorr- urk!"
I felt my words be cut off as something latched onto my neck, squeezing tightly and mercilessly. As I reached up to claw at the object, I found myself grabbing a human hand. I tried desperately to pull at the hand, clawing away skin with my nails. Yet, even as my nails pulled away with skin and dried blood under my nails, I found it to no avail. Struggling as much as I could from my position, I slowly raised my head to look at my killer.
I gasped. Metallic-blue eyes bored into me.
I felt my struggling halt to an abrupt stop. What.... what was he doing? I felt my arms drop to my sides, dangling uselessly like two puppets, cut from their strings. Why...? My eyes began to suddenly feel heavy, lead pulling at my eyes. I looked blindly at his eyes once again. I felt my heart crumble in despair as I saw his face. His only responses to my questions were a glare full of merciless hatred, pouring down on me like a thundering rain.
Then a silver tear ran down his cheek.
I felt startled and lost for words as I saw this sudden display of emotion from him. Even as the silent tear made its way down his cheek in a racing path, he didn't blink. He didn't even reach up to brush the tear from his cheek. He didn't acknowledge the fact that he was crying. That he was mourning for something lost to him.
I felt a deep sense of sympathy come over me, even as the air in my lungs ceased to exist. Even as my heart slowed to a dull, slow throb. I felt no hate for this man that used to be my friend. The same friend who was now choking me slowly to death. I only felt sympathy. He had become all he ever hated.
He had become like his father.
Pietro was a strong man... yet... he had lost and was now broken... permanently. He had lost the one thing he truly desired to be in his life. He had lost love... He had lost Rogue.
That moment, I understood what he was going through. I felt it burst behind my eyes as if some startling revelation. Now... I understood. Why he had run away, why he left us... he was running away from himself. But in this race against his enemy... he lost.
I felt darkness closing in around my eyes. I closed my eyes to die... and was dropped roughly onto the floor.
My mouth gaped wide as I my lungs gulped in air greedily, fighting back the urge to suffocate. I reached a hand up to my neck, feeling the bruises that littered it in blotches of black and blue. I looked up at Pietro in surprise. I flinched as I saw his face.
He was frowning deeply at me.
"Get up."
I looked up as I heard his voice chill the air. I slipped quickly to my feet. I looked to him. He only stared at me with a neutral expression and yet, a frown on his face. I looked at him quietly, letting my hand fall to my side. Before I could begin to ask questions, he was in my face. I knew he had used his mutant power. I knew he still had it. That wasn't what surprised me. It was his face.
Grabbing my shirt in a fist, he lifted me off the ground so I was face to face with him. His face snarled at mine, displaying such raw emotion. I hadn't seen it from him for so long. He gnashed his teeth and sneered. "I never want you to _ever_ speak her name again, you hear me? Don't _ever_ talk about that woman again. Do we have things clear, Todd?"
"Yes," I quietly replied, letting my eyes fall to the ground.
He set me down on my feet roughly and pointed toward the door, "Now get out. Find me the information about the Faceless Assassin. And don't come back until you do. That is all."
With that, Pietro whipped around sharply on his heel and walked back to his desk. I watched him sit down into his chair and turn his back to me. I watched on with sadness. I knew what I had done to him would take a long time to heal. Bringing up emotional scars are like that...
Quietly, I slipped out of the room, pulling the heavy door shut behind me slowly. I began my silent walk down the hall once again. Even as my heels clicked loudly on the floor, I only heard the thunderous pound of my heart, awash in the chaotic swirl of my thoughts.
As I left the building, I felt fresh air enter my lungs, bringing me back out of my dark, depressing thoughts. As I climbed into my car, I sat there, door shut, and keys in my hand, halfway toward the ignition. Suddenly, I felt something well up inside me, wanting to burst out in the worst possible way.
I threw down my keys and grabbed my head in my hands, bowing down. Pressing my forehead against the steering wheel, I closed my eyes and... cried. As tears leaked out of my eyes in steady streams, I felt one thought continue to run in my mind like poison.
Pietro... what have I done?
~
Woah.... That took LONG to come up with. I spent a while on it. Well...actually it didn't take me long to type it, just brainstorm. ^_^... Yeah... ANYWAYS, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and I hope you continue to read my story!
Find out who the mystery man was??? TODD!!!! Gotta love him. ^_^. And of course...Pietro is the other one. You'll see all the information about him soon!
NEXT CHAPTER!!!: Find out what happens when Rogue arrives in Bayville and runs into an old acquaintance!!! Find out who this Faceless Assassin is!!! AnD MORE!!! Until next time folks!!!
Ciao!! ^_~ and PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!