Saints and Sinners – By Darlin

AN –  Thanks for reading and thanks for all who reviewed.  Caliente, organized religion can be somewhat cultist depending upon the religion, but I believe that believing in God and the Savior is life saving. Forge a member of the brotherhood?  Makes you think.  Dark Topaz, here's your update and now that my computer's back up I'll try to get the next chapter out quicker.  Digital Tempest, such kind words, hope to see a new chapter from you soon!  Isis Aurora Tomoe, thank you!  Lerie, thank you!  Projecteve1, thanks very much for the compliment.

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Chapter Fifteen – Misunderstandings

Warren didn't know what to think after witnessing the bloody scene in the danger room. It had taken all his control not to throw up when he'd seen Logan sliced in two. Now he understood what Scott had meant when he'd said Logan was indestructible. He hadn't believed it but there in the danger room, where Logan should've been lying dead in a pool of his own blood, was the proof.

Seeing them all go through their paces like circus performers in a training session and realizing that any of them could have been killed at any time during that session shocked him. He couldn't understand why any of them would do that. It just didn't make any sense. What were they practicing for anyway? Real life mechanical threats like that or mutants like that? And if there were mutants out there like that then the X-Men had to be crazy to want to go up against people like that! Of course by now he was pretty sure that's just what these people were, completely beyond help crazy. He was beginning to have second doubts about being there. What if that had been him?

Ororo was pacing outside the danger room waiting for Logan. She wasn't in a good mood, she didn't want to be bothered, and she certainly wasn't going to put up with being stared at while she was in this foul a mood.

"What?" she demanded of Warren who was the guilty culprit.

"Why? Why do you do this? Why do you risk your lives like that? I don't understand."

"Huh?"

"That guy almost died in there. What for? What's the point? Why would anyone do that?"

She studied Warren seriously for a bit before she spoke, "I-I don't know but I guess I can say it's because it's all we really have. I mean no one wants us and if we can help other mutants – I don't know, I guess it's worth it . . . don't you think?"

"No! I don't. That's crazy. You guys are risking your lives for what? Why not just live low key and use your talents to get ahead in life? I can see sticking together for that but dying for nothing? It doesn't make any sense."

"It's more than that though. The Professor's helped us control our powers and helped us to understand them. Jean would be a wreck without the Professor's help and Logan; well he'd just be worse off. Being a mutant's hard. You should know that."

"I do but I don't know if this is the answer for me."

"Everyone has to make there own decision."

"So where did the Rogue girl and Kurt go? Do you know?"

"No, but maybe you should help the others look for them."

"Guess I could but I don't really know the place that well."

Ororo closed her eyes tight and balled her clammy hands into fists. She wanted to scream. Logan wasn't coming out any time soon and Rogue and Kurt did have to be found. She couldn't just forget about them while wasting her time waiting for Logan even though it had been her first inclination.

With a sigh she said, "We can search together."

Warren wasn't going to say no. He'd been looking forward to spending some time alone with her ever since he'd seen her earlier so he just fell into step beside her. Maybe all the X-Men were crazy as it got but the girls were babes and especially this one.

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Rogue didn't know where she was but wherever she was she wasn't happy. Kurt was still out of it and she was terrified. Why she'd chosen to sap Kurt of his powers and teleport out of the danger room she had no idea. She knew it was stupid and cowardly but she'd been too scared to think straight. The Professor's cold eyes watching her running for her life in that stupid danger room had made her not think right. She blamed him; he was the reason she'd left! She'd never run before in her life!

Now she just wished Kurt would wake up. She wished her skin would turn back to her normal color and she wished the mirrors all around her that reflected her demonic face could be shattered in a million pieces. Even though the four mirrors were old, covered in cobwebs, and very dusty she felt more helpless there in the poorly lit room with her ghastly reflections all around her than she'd felt in the danger room with instruments of death shooting everywhere. Covering her face with both blue hands she curled up into a ball on the dusty, dirty floor moaning softly.

When Kurt woke up he heard a quiet gurgling sound that he couldn't quite place. His head felt like he'd been hit by a Mack truck and he couldn't sit up the first time he tried. The second time he felt like he was going to be sick. He wished that irritating noise would stop because it was being to get on his nerves. But when he started to feel a little better and his eyes had adjusted to the dimness he realized the noise was coming from someone there in the room with him.

"Who's there?"

"Kurt? Kurt! Oh, yer all right! Thank God! Ah am so sorry for what ah did."

"Rogue?"

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine just give me a few minutes. You really know how to wipe a guy out!"

"Ah'm so sorry, it's a nasty after affect. Ah guess that's the closest ah can get to take out the enemy. Pretty lame, huh?"

"Am I your enemy then? Is that why you did this?"

"No! Oh no, Kurt y'all misunderstood me! Ah don't think yer evil! Ah couldn't ever think that about you! Everythin' happened so sudden an' everythin' is so strange trying to be a fighting unit like a little army for Xavier. Ah don't know what to think. Ah just wish ah could go home!" Rogue sobbed desperately.

Kurt stood up and went over to her. He put an arm around her and she fell into him as if he were the only friend she had in the world.

"It's all right, Rogue. We'll work everything out I know we will."

"You might be able to but ah can't. The Professor wants me to leave."

"Did he tell you this?"

"Yes."

"Did he say why?"

"Because ah think yer a devil – ah mean ah thought you looked like one," she quickly corrected herself when Kurt flinched. "Ah don't think yer one, honest, Kurt. Ah really don't. You're the only friend ah have here. Ah hardly know any of the others."

"I know my appearance is frightening to many, Rogue and I know some say I look like something from hell but I want you to know that I do not believe in all that nonsense. I'm just as human as you and we believe in the same loving God."

"Y-you do?"

"Of course. We may be different, you with your white streak of hair and I with my dark skin and strange eyes but we're still humans even brother and sister. We're blessed."

"Blessed? How can you call being a mutant a blessing? Ah can't even touch anyone without takin' their powers. How's that a blessing?"

"We are to always give thanks, are we not?"

Rogue nodded.

"If we were not both mutants I would not have met you nor would you have been able to survive as long as you have under such circumstances."

"Ah reckon ah wouldn't have had to try to survive if ah weren't a mutant."

"Possibly but one can never say. I like to look on the bright side of things. Here we are – and just where is that by the way?"

They both looked around the room. Old dusty furniture and trunks with several mirrors stacked or leaning against the walls surrounded them. Rogue giggled.

"Herr Professor's attic I see."

"It was on the tour."

"Of course. Well, here we are in the attic of the fabled X-Men, both outlaws and heroes. We too may become one of them. Perhaps not if other roads present themselves to us but it's a good time to enjoy, to learn what we can and help if possible. And best of all, Rogue we are free. Free! Do you not agree?"

She smiled and let Kurt wipe her tears. "Ah don't know how you always stay so happy."

"I am not happy right now," Kurt said just before he sneezed three times. "It is too dusty for us to remain hiding here perhaps I can take us to a more enjoyable location. Perhaps find a handkerchief for you even. What do you say?"

"Away from here?"

"If that would make you feel better."

"Ah just need some time to think."

"Very well then away we go."

"Don't you think we should tell someone though, before we go?"

Kurt was thoughtful for a second then he smiled looking vampishly handsome, wiggled his tail a bit, and taking Rogue into his arms they disappeared in a plume of smoke.

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Searching for Rogue and Kurt was a big waste of time as no one found anything. Scott had ordered Ororo and Warren to take to the air and search while he took Jean with him in the SUV to drive around the area in hopes of finding them before any crazy locals did.

None of them were really sure just what Kurt's teleporting range was but Scott insisted that they do their best. The Professor was supposed to be doing periodical scans of the surrounding area and Scott had Hank and Forge using all their combined technical skills. He had Bobby checking the tunnels underneath the house and sent Kitty and Peter to search the house yet again.

Ororo resented being told what to do. She and Warren had been on their way up to the attic when the Professor had sent a telepathic message to all of them to regroup. She'd expected to see Logan when they all met up but he hadn't been anywhere in sight. That had only made her angrier than she'd been earlier. It was as if he were avoiding her and she was pissed.

If he thought she was going to cry and act like he was God's gift to women he had another thing coming. She'd show him. Warren liked her; Hank had liked her so that meant she didn't need to sit around waiting for Logan to get his act together. If he didn't want to see her then she didn't want to see him. In fact she'd just have a ball hanging out with bird man, er, Warren. That would definitely show him! He was of no consequence any more. She wouldn't even deign to think about him. If anyone asked her about Logan she'd just say, 'Logan who?'. Yeah. Screw him, she thought and glided closer to Warren.

This was almost fun, Warren thought. Ororo was a little more unpredictable and a little more volatile than any of the girls he'd known but he liked being with her and he really enjoyed flying with her. He'd never known anyone else could fly and to share it with her was cool and fun. He wondered if she was really interested in the Wolverine guy. He couldn't see it. The guy seemed too uncouth for a woman as feminine as Ororo. And he was too wild too. But that was kinda how he saw Ororo – wild. Ororo was defiantly a lot like her code name – storming one minute and then quiet and nice the next. Unpredictable and a little scary. It took some getting used to but now that she was so quiet and all smiles he thought he could definitely give her some of his time.

"So we've been up for awhile, think we should head back?" Warren asked after they'd circled around a twenty-mile perimeter.

"I guess. I don't see why she'd have teleported out here anyway."

"She looked pretty scared."

"Yeah. Let's hope she didn't teleport into the ground or something. She's not like Kitty. She wouldn't be able to breathe. She and Kurt would be dead."

"That's pretty fatalistic don't you think?"

"Kurt can only teleport to places he's seen before. Well, Kitty showed Rogue how her powers work and she took her underground through the basement, and the tunnels – everything. I'm just being realistic. They could be dead and how would we even know?"

Warren didn't say anything. Her statement was chilling. It was harsh but true. It made him pause – yet another reason not to want to stick around.
In the meantime Ororo had started thinking about Logan again. Being with Warren was nice and it was obvious that he did like her and who wouldn't be flattered to have a hunk like him like her? But being with Warren only made her miss Logan more. That wasn't fair but she couldn't get around it.

The two touched down on the side of the house then walked around the house just in case they'd missed something from above. Finding nothing they made their way to the front of the house. Just under the Professor's window they could hear a rough gravelly voice. It was Logan. Ororo quickly pulled Warren back bringing a finger to her lips. Warren looked at her curiously but didn't speak.


"I still think maybe we coulda gotten that Forge kid to rig something that woulda kept him an' everyone else safe," Logan was saying.

"Logan, I appreciate your concern, however it was necessary for you to put that child – to put that young man out of his misery. He could not live with the knowledge that he'd killed his entire hometown could he?"

There was a moment of silence and then Ororo heard a grunt that sounded like a reluctant no.

"You did the right thing. It isn't something that you'll be required to do in the future I'm sure. This was a rare occurrence. I'm sorry it's affected you so deeply. The Wolverine I know would realize it was our duty, our responsibility, to rid the world of any type of threat and this young man was indeed a threat that loomed not only over his decimated town but the entire world in due time."

Again silence. Ororo shot a quick glance at Warren who was so busy listening he was paying no attention to her. Her breath caught in her chest as if she were going to hyperventilate. The Professor had sent Logan on a mission to kill Forge? When? In the danger room after they'd all left? That didn't make any sense at all and yet she'd heard it with her own ears. She could barely believe it. Apparently Forge had killed his entire hometown and then come back for the danger room session as if nothing had happened and Logan had had to take him out afterwards! As Ororo was trying to comprehend this she realized they had stopped talking and suddenly she felt an overwhelming fear grip her heart.

Afraid of being caught eavesdropping she motioned for Warren to follow her and she tiptoed around the corner as fast and as quietly as she could manage all the while forcing her thoughts to go as blank as possible just as Charles had taught her. Concentrating on the weather around her not only worked in this instance it also served to clear her head.

Rain and snow, ice and wind, blizzards and hail. She forced herself to think of air currents and cause and effects. What had Hank told her about making small thunderclouds? And then she remembered that Warren wouldn't have any idea to clear his mind and she spun around and grabbed Warren by the arm fear clearly written on her face.

"What are you thinking about right now?" she hissed urgently and then she threw herself into his arms and kissed him.

"Whoa, what was that all about?" he asked when she pulled away from him after a long minute.

"He can read our minds," she whispered. "Just whatever you do please, please don't think about what you just heard okay? Anything else, me, kissing, flying – anything!"

"Why? You said you're always going on missions saving the world and stuff. What's the big deal?"

Ororo's eyes grew even wider as she saw how unconcerned Warren was.

"But I would like to talk about that kiss," Warren said as he moved closer to her with a smile on his face.

"I'm such a flirt," she smiled nervously. "Ask Petey. I-I just kind of rank you guys in the kissing department. Pete's an eight, could be a nine if he tried. Scott's a nine – yeah, definitely a nine. You're right up there too. Good. Great even. Right. Great. Great kisser but we gotta go!"

It was a shot in the dark. It made no sense. It was all she could come up with and still keep from letting her panic overtake her. Warren didn't quite know what to make of her so she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him again but this time for only a second.

"I think I'm in love with Logan," she whispered. "I'm not trying to play games with you. I'm sorry."

Warren stared as she rose into the sky. He thought about joining her again but he wasn't sure if he wanted to. Either she was one mixed up babe or she was on crack. He didn't do crazy and he didn't want a druggie.

Ororo was astounded at Warren's reaction and troubled by her own. It was one thing to go on a mission but all together different when it came to killing kids – especially one who was almost part of the team! It just didn't make any sense and yet as she thought about Logan avoiding her she knew it made perfect sense. The only thing that didn't make sense was what was the Professor playing at and why?

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"I think your girl's crazy," Warren said when he came into the house and saw Logan headed towards him.

Logan's miserable face turned anxious. "What's wrong with her? What did you do to her?"

Warren stopped. He realized he'd made a bad move. Concerned about Ororo, Logan made no pretense and grabbed the younger man by the throat nearly lifting him off his feet.

"What's wrong with Ororo?" he barked.

"N-nothing, man! She kissed me!" Warren managed to squeak out.

Logan threw Warren aside with a look of disgust. He didn't believe him. Ororo wouldn't . . . He shook his head and hurried out the door. He knew she'd done it before, kissed Peter. He'd heard her when she'd told Peter why she'd kissed him. She'd been trying to find out if he liked girls, Kitty in particular, but why would she kiss Warren? It was clear he liked girls, especially Ororo. But he couldn't deny it. Ororo's scent was all over Warren.

Angrily he threw open the door and sniffing the air furiously he dashed off. Ororo was caught off guard when Logan came up behind her. She was sitting on the roof trying to stay calm and keep her mind off what she'd heard. He caught her by the arm and pulled her to him.

"Logan!" she cried and wound her arms around his neck. "Oh, Logan I know, I know! I know everything!"

"You know what?" Logan asked though his throat was constricted as his desire for her warred with his anger.

"The Professor," she whispered as she inched away from Logan just a little so she could see his face.

She saw shock and anger on his face at first glance but it quickly turned cold and unreadable as she continued to stare at him.

"You kissed Warren?" Logan asked.

"It's not anything like you're thinking. I was scared . . ."

He pushed her away from him and she stumbled back a bit. Startled at how close she was to the edge of the roof Logan grabbed her and pulled her back to him again. He closed his eyes as he tried to make sense of the conflicting feelings that threatened to crush him. He wasn't used to feeling so much. His time with Jean had been an overload of emotions, mostly lust and annoyance, but he had no desire to repeat that with Ororo – that had been one of the reasons he liked Ororo so much.

Now he didn't know what to make of her. She'd been exactly what she'd seem to be. No pretense, no artificial airs, no games just Ororo, sassy, honest, and fun. She'd seemed to understand him, even care for him. Certainly she accepted him as he was but now the bird man's scent was all over her. What was that about? He was lost in these thoughts when he heard her sniffing. Was she actually crying? The flippant defiant Ororo Munroe could cry? That was a revelation!

Finally he heard her clear her throat, felt her using his sleeve as a tissue wiping away her tears and he didn't want to let her go. He just wanted to keep her safe. He didn't care about Warren. He didn't know why she'd done what she'd done but he trusted her.

"You okay?" he whispered.

"No," she said as she looked up at him, her eyes red and puffy. "I kissed Warren because we heard you talking to the Professor – I know what he had you do! And I was scared, I thought maybe I shouldn't have heard what I did and he'd be mad and I didn't want him to read my thoughts so I kissed Warren so he wouldn't think too because I didn't want to get caught outside his window. I wasn't spying but I couldn't help from listening when I heard your voice. You'd been gone so long and I – well I missed you."

Logan's body went limp. His arms fell away from her and he took a step back. She knew. That's why she'd turned to Warren. She knew and she didn't want anything to do with him now. How could she want him now after he'd just killed a kid in cold blood? What woman in her right mind would? He almost laughed. He'd proven that he was exactly what Ororo had thought he was all along – a homicidal killer who'd just as easily skin his victim alive as eat 'em.

"It's okay," Ororo said, reaching out to him.

Logan didn't move away when her hand touch him. He let her put her arms around. He looked into her eyes and saw something he had never expected and yet had wanted so desperately. There was acceptance and understanding in her sea blue eyes. He let her fall against his chest and his arms wound around her.

"I didn't know how you'd feel about it," he said quietly.

"I can't believe he had you do it," Ororo said.

"He couldn't find any other way."

Ororo looked up at him with tears in her eyes. Logan kissed her hard and long, his hands pressing her against him as closely as possible. He needed her, needed to taste her, needed to hold her, needed to be held, and he needed to forget.

They were both panting when they fell apart. Logan's eyes were hooded with desire and Ororo's breast heaved up and down as she tried to tame her own desire.

"I want to . . ." Logan closed his eyes but didn't finish his thought.

He wanted to make love to her there on the roof. He wanted to take her away. It didn't matter where they went just as long as they got as far away from the X-Men as possible. He breathed in her scent and tried to control himself. He knew she was still too scared to be feeling what he was feeling. He didn't blame her. She hadn't just murdered someone, taken a poor kid's life. He was just glad she understood. He watched her swallow and wipe at her mouth smiling almost shyly and he knew in that moment that he loved her more deeply than he'd thought.

"Are you okay now?" she asked him with the same shy smile.

"Yeah. Thanks."

"Do . . . you . . . want to talk about it?"

No. He didn't. "Maybe later."

She smiled brighter looking more like her usual confident self. "I'm glad you're back."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"So you don't hate me then?"

"No! I just don't how the Professor could do that."

"Me either."

The front door shut and Ororo's attention was drawn below. They both watched Forge get into a pick up then drive off. Ororo turned and looked at Logan questioningly.

"I-I thought you . . ." Ororo couldn't bring herself to go on. She wasn't sure what she'd heard and now wondered if she'd heard it at all.

"Do you want to tell me why've you been avoiding me? Did I do something?"

"Didn't think you'd understand."

"I don't. I'm totally confused. I thought it was Forge but . . . Just tell me what happened," she demanded as she turned his face to look at her, a hand on either side of his face.

The tortured look on his face terrified her. What was going on?

"Please tell me what happened," she whispered.

He shook his head. He looked as if someone had killed his best friend or worse, he looked as if he'd killed his best friend. Ororo wrapped her arms around him and though his arms hung limply at his sides she held onto him as tightly as she could.

"Whatever it is it can't be as bad as I thought."

"You don't know," he said, his voice full of despair.

He leaned into her brining his arms up to push her away. She didn't resist looking at him with growing anger.

"You don't trust me now, is that it?"

"Ro, I just need to be by myself for awhile."

"Why can't you tell me what happened? You don't think I would understand? Maybe I can help."

He shook his head forlornly.

"I want to help just make me understand."

"I can't. Not now."

Ororo glared at him then took to the skies. Who did he think he was playing games with her? Here she was trying to help him and he was brushing her off like he didn't want anything to do with her! She was beyond mad. She was rattled and bothered and confused. She needed answers and she knew where to get them.

Logan was in a quandary. He'd thought she'd known everything but then she said she didn't. She reeked of Warren while she'd been hugging on him and now she was taking off like a petulant child. He'd wanted nothing more than to hold her and just rest in her acceptance but she'd rejected him just like he'd known she would. He didn't know what to think except maybe it was that time of the month. Whatever it was he didn't have time to deal with it.