Saints and Sinners – By Darlin   

AN – I noticed a month ago that there's a section for Ultimate Marvel comics but since I put this story up before I realized that I've left my story in the comic section.  So for all who may be thinking this story's based on Uncanny or New X-Men, etc, it's not.  My blunder.  Also, my computer's down so I'm doing all this at work which is why the updates are slower.  I'm hoping to get it up and running soon.  Thanks much for all your reviews.  Thanks for reading!

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Chapter Fourteen –Angels and Demons

Missions were a normal part of the X-Men's life so Ororo thought nothing of it when Logan didn't return that night or the next night.  She hadn't needed a babysitter anyway she told herself.  He'd been too much underfoot ordering her around and generally in the way.  She frowned at that though because she knew it wasn't exactly true.  He'd been sweet and considerate and a good friend.  She'd come to admire him and even care for him.  The problem was that she really missed him.  She missed him more than she thought was possible. 

Maybe it was because she'd gotten used to his presence but she also knew she'd liked waking up to him the other morning.  She'd never spent the night with Hank, had no inclination to.  But it was more than just waking up to someone who made her smile first thing in the morning.  She had become attached to him.  And maybe that wasn't the right way to describe it.  She hated to think what it really was because that couldn't be an option, just wasn't possible and if it was, well it put her in a very awkward spot

It was too soon for her to be transferring her affections from Hank to Logan.  It didn't make sense either.  Sure she'd been hurt over Hank's rejection of her after him thinking she was being brainwashed to like him with his odd bestial look but she'd gotten over that when they'd gotten back together.  Well, she couldn't say she'd gotten over it completely.  At first it had been nice to be back with the man she thought she loved and certainly cared for but nothing had changed with him.  He was still too busy for her, too involved in his research and he still had a consuming addiction to the Internet. 

It had been the Internet that had caused her the greatest grief.  To know that he had sought out another woman in cyber space while she was living under the same roof with him had been insulting to her but the way he kept in touch with all the X-Men groups dedicated to them and almost worshiping them was completely baffling to her.  She'd expected him to change, to be more loving, more concerned about her, to put some effort into their relationship but that had never happened.  He only seemed to have time for his growing fans.  And so her feelings had turned bitter and all the humiliation she'd suffered from Hank's rejection returned to haunt her.  It hadn't been Logan who'd caused her to break up with Hank.  It was all Hank's doing or lack of doing.

Now all she could manage to feel for Hank was scorn and some small amount of regret.  She considered their time together wasted time and she was determined to move on with her life but was Logan the answer?  Especially when she'd told him and Jean that she didn't and wouldn't have anything to do with him.  Maybe that was moot now after all everyone had seen them together and it had to be obvious by then that she was dependent upon him if nothing else.  And wasn't his behavior more obviously caring and devoted with her than it had been with Jean?

Still, being with Logan and she wasn't saying she was going to be with him because he probably didn't want to be with her, but if they were together wouldn't that make her everything she'd said she wasn't?  That was a hard one to get around.  She was falling for Logan and she didn't know how to stop herself.  But this Logan wasn't the wild predator looming in the halls sizing everyone up for coffins.  This Logan was kind, considerate, and tender with her.  Had he been that way with Jean, she wondered?  Thinking about them made her feel antsy.  Best not to think about them she decided but in the back of her mind she knew needed to have a talk with both Jean and Logan.

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The Professor's office was quite intimidating to new students whether that was his intent or not.  A man who could control what people did and thought didn't really need to use such tactics as sitting in a taller, larger chair placed behind a huge elaborate desk to intimidate anyone.  Most people were simply intimidated when they became aware that he was a telepath of the highest degree.   

Rogue was no exception.  She wasn't one to let much intimidate her but after arriving and seeing what looked like an angel flying above the X-Men's headquarters she'd been shaken to the core, feeling uneasy ever since.  It hadn't helped matters when the Professor seemed to always be watching her with such a strange expression on his kindly face that she felt as if she'd done something wrong.  He was looking at her now with that same strange look and it was making her nervous.  He neither spoke nor seemed as if he intended to speak.  He simply sat at his desk, arms resting on the smooth leather desk pad watching her.

"Did ah do somethin' wrong, sir?" she finally asked, her voice wavering.

"Why would you think that, Rogue?"

"Ah don't rightly know, Professor.  Ah mean ah ain't done nothin'.  Ah just got here."

"And yet you feel guilty."

"No ah sure don't!  Why would ah?"

"Perhaps it's because you're having such a hard time dealing with the angel and demon's in our midst."

Rogue blushed.  She had mentioned to the girls that she thought it odd that they were amongst an angel and a demon but she hadn't expected them to tattle.

"You seem quite taken by this . . . analogy."

Eyes downcast she could only pray her face would resume its usual color but she knew it was hopeless.  She'd turned ten shades of red and she felt as guilty as the Professor apparently felt she was.

"Ah didn't mean anything by it, Professor!  Honest ah didn't.  It's just that Warren, he's an angel an' Kurt, well, he's the very likeness of the devil straight outta the Bible!"

The Professor clasped his hands in front of him as he considered Rogue.  He could easily change the way she saw things but he felt there was no point in doing so for if she were this simple when it came to her own team mates what else might disturb her?  He didn't feel it was worth the time or effort to rehabilitate her rather quaint and odd ideas.  He preferred students with open minds and eager spirits ready to do his bidding.  She clearly was not and he knew beyond a doubt that she was not X-Men material.  

"Rogue, I believe that your intentions are well meant but you must see that the way you view both Warren and Kurt would be . . . detrimental to the team."

"Sir?"

"Let me put it another simpler way," the Professor said softly.  "If you foresee having any problems with any of my students you should think twice about remaining here."

Rogue stared blankly at the Professor.  Charles pushed away from his desk and made his way to the front door, which he opened then sat waiting for her to take her leave.  Rogue eventually noticed the impatient sound of his fingers drumming a beat on the armrest of his chair and she stood up and hurried out still red as a beet.

These incidents were never pleasant for Charles.  He enjoyed the younger children and valued their trust and skills but he was also not inclined to play babysitter.  Sometimes one had to take a loss for the better of the team, after all Rogue's skills were fairly useless in most situations.  One couldn't simply wait for the enemy to say, 'Touch me, drain my powers!'  It simply wasn't realistic.

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As Rogue fled to shed a tear or two in privacy and the Professor contemplated his next move elsewhere Ororo was on a mission to find Jean so they could talk.  When she did finally locate her off again on again friend she found her in the kitchen digging in the freezer.  Ororo watched her for a minute before Jean looked up gasping as if she'd been caught doing something she shouldn't have been doing, namely looking for Ororo's ice cream.

"Hi," Jean said and shut the freezer door.

"Looking for something?" Ororo asked.

"No."

"That is such a lie, Jean!  How can you even deny it when I caught you red handed?"

"I was hot," Jean mumbled.

Ororo laughed.  She almost felt like digging in the fridge too in hopes of finding the last pint of Graeters Double Chocolate Chip ice cream but sadly she'd forgotten to put in an order what with being on missions and the little danger room incident.  Besides that had been one of the things that Hank had taken care of for her.  Since he always ordered several cases of Twinkies online ordering her ice cream from Ohio wasn't a problem.  That might be the only thing that she really missed about not being with him, she thought humorously.

"No ice cream is a terrible fate," Ororo muttered more to herself than to Jean.

"Amen to that," Jean laughed then she started to speak just as Ororo started to speak and they both laughed.

"Just tell me you're not in bitch mode today so we can go to the mall and get some ice cream."

"I don't know.  I'd like to go but I'm waiting for Logan to get back," Ororo said somewhat hesitantly.

Jean smirked but declined to comment.

"I know it seems kinda crazy but . . ." Ororo paused, biting her lip before she continued, "Do you have any idea when he's getting back?"

Jean shook her head.  She didn't really care when Logan was returning and actually preferred that he never return in all honesty, but she again kept her comments to herself. 

"Okay go ahead and say what you want to say," Ororo demanded.

"What? Me?" Jean asked innocently.

"You think he's using me to get to you that he could never be interested in me yada, yada, yada!"

"If you know how I already feel then why ask?"

"Because I know you and you're going to tell me anyway."

"Humph!  Well, if it'll make you feel any better Scott thinks Logan's really in love with you," Jean offered.

"He does?" Ororo asked, astounded.

Jean wasn't pleased to see how happy Ororo was about her little tidbit of news.  She really cared for Ororo despite their many arguments and she didn't want to see Ororo hurt.

"Yes and he doesn't think he's still in love with me or that he ever was which should make you happy."

"And what do you think?"  Ororo asked, ignoring Jean's last comment.

Jean shrugged.  "I don't know anymore.  Nothing feels right around here but I'm the only one who's noticed."

"What do you mean by 'feels right'?"

Again Jean shrugged her shoulders.  "I can't explain it.  I wish I could."

"Maybe you should tell the Prof."

"No!"  Jean said, the one syllable with force then smiled almost apologetically.  "I don't want to bother him when it's probably nothing."

"Okay, if you say so but if it's your powers that are . . ."

"It's not about my powers.  He's monitoring that.  My powers are fine."

"If you say so."

They were silent for a while as Jean perched upon a counter.

"So, well, I guess I can admit I think I know why you liked Logan," Ororo said as she sat down.

"You can?"  Jean was intrigued.

"He's really nice once you get past his past – did that sound right?"

Jean smiled but waited for Ororo to finish.

"He really took care of me like we'd been friends forever."

"That he did," Jean agreed.

"And when he looks at me it's as if I'm the only woman in the room or the whole wide world for that matter."

Jean frowned.  She'd never gotten that impression from him.  She'd been used to seeing his look of lust more than anything or maybe that odd look of annoyance that would immediately disappear once he saw she was watching him.

"And he gives the best massages.  He makes you feel like a princess kinda," Ororo finished, neglecting to mention that the one kiss she'd experienced from him had been the best she'd ever experienced.

"Massages?  He gave you a massage?"

Ororo couldn't help but grin.  "Two, no three.  Feet twice, back once.  How weird is that?  But it was nice and sweet.  I guess that's what he is – he's sweet, well when he wants to be."

"That sounds totally out of character for him, Ro.  Maybe something's wrong with him," Jean suggested.

"Like what?  Don't tell me you agree with Hank and think the Professor's making me like – I mean, making Logan act nice to me?"

"I didn't say that."

"Even if that was true and it couldn't be no way possible, I thought the Professor couldn't get into Logan's head."

"Maybe but he could still have him do things – never mind, that sounds so lame.  The Professor wouldn't do anything like that.  I don't even know why I mentioned it."

"You sound just like Hank.  I don't think that makes sense though, I mean wouldn't it be better for us as a team if we didn't go all Dawson's Creek on each other?  And wouldn't it have been easy for the Professor to make Hank stop thinking all those stupid thoughts about brainwashing?"

"I think Hank was just having a hard time dealing with his looks and all and took it out on the Professor," Jean said.

"Whatever.  It doesn't matter now."

"So I guess you're not going to listen to me about him then?  About Logan."

Ororo shook her head.

"So are you and Logan going together now?"

Ororo laughed.  "No, we're not."

"What's so funny?"

"I just can't see Logan asking me to go with him, like be his girlfriend.  He's really too old for that stuff don't you think?"

"Whatever.  Do you want to go to the mall or not?  We could ask Rogue and Kitty."

"I can't and Kitty and Peter probably already left.  They were going to see a movie.  You can ask Rogue if you want but have you listened to her lately?"

"You mean all that talk about angels from heaven and devils from hell?  Yeah.  I don't understand why she's so freaked."

"She really creeped me out.  I don't get it either.  Kurt's not a devil or a demon but a human same as her and so's Warren.  I don't get why she doesn't understand that."

"I know!  I agree.  I wish she'd just shut up about it because I think it's starting to get on Kurt's nerves."

"She needs to take a course on Mutants 101."

Jean giggled then slid off the counter and took a seat beside Ororo.

 "But that Warren, he's a hunk isn't he?" she whispered.

"I can't deny that," Ororo said with a smile.

"I think he likes you too."

"You think so?"

"I'm sure he does.  Haven't you noticed how he's always watching you and how Hank's all jealous?"

"Hank's not jealous.  He pretty much told me he thinks I'm useless."

"He might be talking that way but that's just damage control, trying to pretend you didn't hurt his ego."

"I wish he'd forget about his ego and me and Logan too."

"You and Logan," Jean frowned and shook her head.  "I wish you'd listen to me and leave him alone.  I have a bad feeling about the two of you."

"Why?"

"Do you really want me to go into it again?"

"Oh, right, he's madly in love with you, ready to give you massages and chauffeur you around like the true princess you are.  Forgot that."

At the sound of a feminine snicker the girls looked up to see Rogue standing in the doorway.

"Sorry, y'all.  I didn't mean to eavesdrop.  Ah was hungry an' . . ."

"No problem," Ororo said.  "We weren't talking about anything important."

"You can say that again," Jean muttered and then said much louder, "We were wondering if you'd want to go to the mall with us, Rogue?"

"Sure, when?"

"Now good with you?" Jean asked with a look at Ororo.

"I told you I'm going to wait around."

"Suit yourself, Princess Ororo," Jean said.

"Should ah leave?" Rogue asked, self-consciously.

"Nope," Ororo laughed.  "Jean and I always act this way.  Better get used to it."

"Er, all right."

"Mind if I ask a question?" Jean asked Rogue who shook her head.

"Is Kurt mad at you?"

"No.  Ah mean, ah apologized.  Ah don't really think he's a devil it's just he looks like something outta a nightmare an' then there's Warren all dreamy an' beautiful with wings an' he looks like he's outta a dream ya never wanna wake up from.  Ah don't get why y'all don't see that."

"Maybe because someone could say the same thing about me or Hank!" Ororo said in a sharp tone that surprised both Jean and Rogue. 

"Huh?  Ah don't get yer drift," Rogue said.

"Ororo's just being silly," Jean commented.

"I am not. Did you hear what she said?  Kurt's a mutant same as me, same as Logan, same as Hank.  How many racists think I'm some kind of living, breathing nightmare that ought to be on the back of the bus?  And how many other nuts out there would look at Hank an' think he was some kinda freaking zombie out of their nightmares? 

"You see blonde, blue eyed, gorgeous Warren with wings and he's an angel from heaven but what if he was blue what then?  Would he be a demon like Kurt in your eyes?"

"Ah didn't mean it like that, Storm.  Ah really didn't!"

"Whatever!  I'm outta here."

Rogue stared, mouth hanging open as Ororo got up and shoved past her.

"Ah really didn't mean it like that," Rogue mumbled.  "It's not the same thing."

"She's in bitch mode today which when you get to know her is her usual mode.  I wouldn't let her get to you though even if she does have a small point."

Rogue ran a hand through her skunk stripped hair and looked around the room uncomfortably.

"You mind me askin' you somethin'?" she asked Jean.

"Shoot."

"Did y'all tell the Professor what ah said about Warren an' Kurt?"

"No.  Why would we?"

"It's just that he called me ta his office an' told me if ah had any problems with any of y'all ah should think about leavin'.  Ah don't know how he'd know what ah'd said unless one of y'all told 'im.  Ah reckon if it wasn't you it had to be Storm."

Jean was surprised.  That sounded more like something Scott might say when he was evaluating someone not something the Professor would say and yet it did make sense.  Regardless, Jean was sure neither Ororo nor Kitty had blabbed to the Professor.  That was an unspoken rule between everyone on the team.  No one ratted anyone out.  What was said between them, even in anger like her and Ororo arguing about Logan, was strictly kept between themselves only.

"I hardly think Ororo would've told him what you've been talking about ever since you got here, Rogue and neither did I.  And I doubt Kitty told him but, well I guess I can understand what he means.  Kurt's no more'n a demon than I am even on my worse day," Jean laughed.  "And Warren's just a teenager just like us.  A mutated teenager but that's all.  Mutations just take different forms.  Yours makes you look like a skunk, so what?  We don't think you're related to Cruella Deville."

Rogue looked taken aback by the reference to her resemblance to a children's villainess.  "Ah know that but ah couldn't – oh, forget it!  Maybe ah don't belong here!" Rogue snapped, clearly annoyed and she raced out of the kitchen, her hunger forgotten.

"Wait, Rogue," Jean started to get up to stop her but she thought better of it and sat back down dropping her forearms onto the table.

She slowly laid her head down onto her arms, groaning as she did so.  Her head hurt horrifically.  She was getting really tired of hormonal girls.  She needed some chocolate.

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The inaugural session of the new and improved danger room was scheduled later that afternoon and all but Jean showed up for it including Logan whom no one had known was back, much to Ororo's chagrin. He sauntered in without looking at anyone and crouched down in a corner of the cold empty room while latecomers, Kitty and Peter filed in.

"You're late," Scott said to the two.

"Sorry, we went to a movie and just returned," Peter said.

"I hope you're not too full to participate," Scott said.

"No I am not, are you, Kitty?"

"I think Scott's being sarcastic," Kitty muttered.

Peter gave Scott a look then turned to Ororo and said, "We bought the popcorn for tonight."

"Brought it," Kitty corrected.

"Did we not buy it also?" Peter teased when he recognized his error.

"Ah guess you had a nice time," Rogue said as she sidled up to Kitty.

"Nice is an understatement," Kitty said with a wink.

"Can I get everyone's attention?" Scott asked.

"You got it," Bobby said giving Scott a crisp salute.

"At ease, Bob.  Now Forge and the Professor are going to run us through a basic program, nothing serious or life threatening.  Once everyone shows they can manage that then they're going to turn it up."

"You mean like a video game – easy level first?"

"Yes, Bob.   Everyone ready?"

Logan looked around when everyone either nodded or gave their assent.  He wasn't prepared to see the angry, hurt look on Ororo's face.  It bothered him to see her looking at him like that and he didn't like feeling that way.  Who was she to act like he'd done something to her?  He'd been the one sent on a mission only a killer could accomplish.  If anything he ought to be passing out accusing looks, namely at ol' cue ball for having sent him on the mission in the first place. 

"You okay?" Scott asked Ororo as he came up beside her.

"Sure.  Ready when you are."

"We pretty much made this room lightning proof so you're going to have to be on your toes now."

"No problem, skipper."

Scott chuckled then immediately let loose a high-powered force beam as several huge robots were set loose on them.  It was an easy thing to dismantle robots, even robots that fired lasers, and everyone worked together quite efficiently that is except for Rogue.  There wasn't much that Rogue could do against robots so she had stayed as far away from them as possible. 

When it was over and the robotic parts were being swept up by an efficient vacuum system that Forge had designed Rogue couldn't help but glance up at the observation booth.  She felt ill when her eyes met the Professor's.  She'd seen the look of disgust on his face even though it changed immediately to one of kindness and concern when their eyes met.  It shook her pretty badly.

The next level was only a little harder.  It consisted of trap doors and the tentacles that Ororo and Logan had demolished so effectively before along with sharp razor like cutters that swooped ready to cut anything in sight.  Only Hank and Forge knew that these cutters would stop and retract once they were within several inches of any source of heat. 

"Get behind me!" Logan yelled to Rogue as he slashed one of the cutters.

Rogue looked around desperately.  Kurt was closer to her than Logan and so she leapt toward Kurt pulling a glove off as she did so.

"No!  What're you doin', kid?" Logan yelled.

"Ach!  No!" Kurt cried as he crumpled to the floor, his powers drained.

Too panicked to think straight, Rogue tried to pick up Kurt's body but when she found he was too heavy she wrapped her arms around him and in a flash of smoke and brimstone she and Kurt disappeared.

"Where'd they go?" Scott shouted.

"Don't know," Logan responded then went back to dismantling the weapons.

Oddly enough Hank and Ororo were almost back to back.  Hank had used his considerable athletic skills to leap over and around the room attempting to dismantle his own creations, which was proving to be a little more difficult than he'd thought or so it seemed.  Ororo found the mechanisms were quite invulnerable to lightning and she presumed the system was also now temperature regulated though she didn't have the time to attempt to freeze down the system.  With a huge bound Hank was gone and Ororo took to the air, her instincts telling her to keep close to him.

They both saw Logan riding one of the razor claws as another sliced its way towards him.  Hank was closest but he turned his head and looked around for something else to do then conveniently dropped down into an opening just a foot away from him.  Ororo called out but Logan didn't hear her and then his own cry was heard – a blood curdling cry that stunned everyone.

They all watched in horror as his back was sliced in half by the sharp instrument. Had it not been for his adamantium bones he would be dead.  Forge immediately shut the system down not sure how to explain another malfunction.

"What was that about?" Scott shouted as he made his way over to Logan.  "Hank!  Get up here!"

Hanging on the edge of the abyss Hank easily flipped back up at Scott's command.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"What's wrong?  I . . ." Scott stopped.  He saw one very angry Storm headed straight towards them.

"You S.O.B.!" Ororo shouted from above.

"Ororo, stand down!  Everyone out now!" Scott ordered.

It was one of the hardest things Ororo had ever had to do but she calmed herself as best she could, her lightning petering out as she touched down beside Logan.  Peter was helping him to his feet.  Blood was flowing down Logan's back.  His face was pale and grim but he was already healing.

"Let's go on, what's the big deal?" Logan asked.

"I said, everyone out, everyone accept Hank.  And see if you can locate Kurt and Rogue."

"I'm not leaving," Ororo said.

"Ororo, please be kind enough to listen to Scott," the Professor said through a microphone.

Ororo looked up at him then stalked out muttering under her breath.  Logan started to lumber out but Scott grabbed his arm to prevent him from leaving.

"This stops here and now," Scott said.

"What're you talking about?" Hank asked.

"I'm talking about your petty feud.  Why didn't you help Logan?  I saw you turn your back and jump in a hole!  What kind of team work is that?"

"Whoa, slow down, Scott.  I didn't see the need to help him because the danger room's not actually programmed to harm anyone, not at that level."

"He's right," Forge said as he came up besides them.  "They're supposed to shut down or at worse seek out another target."

"So what happened then?" Scott asked.

Some type of malfunction," Forge suggested.

"Then fix it," Scott ordered then headed towards the observation booth.  "Professor, can you locate Rogue and Kurt?"

"I haven't been able to contact her," the Professor said, his face unreadable.

Scott swore softly.  This wasn't how it was supposed to be.  He'd just accused his friend of trying to sabotage Logan and he'd lost two team mates.  With a sigh he turned around and left.

Logan and Hank barely glanced at each other.  Logan had a pretty good idea what had happened but he wasn't concerned.  He figured Hank wasn't really trying to dismantle the claws but was trying to reprogram them.  Maybe he was right maybe not, it didn't matter one way or the other.  In fact it only made him want to laugh.  By now Hank should have a good idea that Logan couldn't be killed or at least not by the likes of Henry McCoy.  That would be the day. 


Hank tried to look somber but his eyes were twinkling. "Yes, indeed fun, fun, fun," he whispered knowing full well Logan could hear him.