Dismal Angel 2010 - Episode 15
Chapter 1: A Scar Someone Bears
Rogue had been watching Remy from where he'd been sitting on a bench at the back of the blackbird. He looked a million miles away as he had done the minute he'd come out of the GMCF. He was donning a blanket and that was all, he smelled like burning hair and he looked hurt but wouldn't allow himself to be treated right now.
She couldn't find the words to say to him even though she'd waited so long for the moment she could be with him again and just tell him she loved him. The words didn't seem to want to come out.
Remy had barely looked at her either, and she was beginning to wonder if she'd done something wrong or if he was slightly mad at her for being there in the first place.
She wished she could find it in herself to rush to his arms and hold onto him, climb into his lap and never let go, but she just couldn't. Something was holding her back and she wasn't sure what it was exactly. Maybe it was that Bobby seemed a little sore with her still, or maybe it was just what Kitty had said to her back in Genosha, that maybe Carol Danvers was really controlling her emotions for Remy. It left her uneasy.
What now? She thought dully as she stared intently at Remy LeBeau, wondering what was going on in that mind of his. Will he stay with the X-Men, or will he take off again? The thought of it made her want to cry but she held them back and pretended to be more interested in a smudge of dirt on the knee of her orange coveralls until her eyes were no longer glazed over.
Kitty had been abnormally quiet also during the whole trip. Everyone had, really. Their ordeal had left them with a lot of things to think about. In the period of a few days they'd encountered what a thousand mutants had encountered over weeks, months, even years. And they came to ask themselves how could they have never known about this. Magneto just disappeared into nowhere, never heard from again and they thought he would give up? They felt incredibly stupid, and almost as if this whole ordeal may have been prevented if they'd looked for Magneto a long time ago.
Rogue could hold back no more, she unbuckled her seatbelt, and got up slowly. Pain still caused her body to feel taut and ache with every slight movement that this was a struggle.
She gave a glance to the front of the jet, Professor Xavier and Jean were piloting. They'd used the communications to arrange transportation for the other mutants on Genosha as much as they could. It was up to them to make their exits now. The professor had also gotten in touch with Muir Island to advise Monet was safe and sound and of her bravery.
Rogue could barely believe Monet's bravery. She'd pulled through, and had seemed to have learned a few things. Monet had barely said anything throughout the journey, where as usually she would have had more than a few things to say. Rogue hoped this would mean a quieter and more congenial Monet in future.
The Blackbird was probably halfway home to Bayville by now, Rogue had not known, she'd been given some painkillers from the first aid box that had made her extremely drowsy and she'd nodded off for a short while. The sleep had not helped much and when she'd awakened the pain only seemed worse, but at least she could move a little easier than she'd been able to.
Rogue headed down towards the back of the jet. Remy was the only one who sat there, as if he couldn't bear to be with the others right now. "Are…are you okay?" Rogue asked softly, she sat down on the bench beside him, and looked to him. He looked bad. Tired, paler than usual, eyes dark underneath, in bad need of a shave, clumps of his hair singed so that it was uneven in length, and he was wearing nothing but ugly brown blanket. It wasn't his finest moment.
Remy turned and looked at her, "are you?" he asked, almost pointedly, his eyes met hers, a meaningful look that did not completely penetrate her emotions at that moment.
"Why were you naked?" Rogue asked softly, remembering the moment she'd see him standing there in the doorway of the GMCF. If he had not been naked, she might have thought he was another clone. She'd noticed the scar, and the tiny spade tattoo upon his hip. Her heart had soared that very moment, knowing he was live.
"And like you haven't been fantasizing about that all day?" he asked, a smirk came, but a very empty smirk it was.
"Only thing I was fantasizing about…was finding you safe…" Rogue said softly and she reached out to touch his blanketed arm.
Remy flinched away, "ow…"
"Oh…sorry…forgot…you're pretty beaten up…" she chewed her lip, "you should let Hank look at those burns…"
"I'll be fine. I've had burns before…" he assured, he looked to the floor, pulling the blanket closer around him.
"Okay…" Rogue said, and fell silent not sure what to say. It almost felt for a moment as if he were a stranger there. She felt like a stranger herself. Being in the prison had changed things a lot. Suddenly, she wasn't so sure her life would be the same as it had been before. "Remy…" she said softly.
"Hmm?" he asked casually, as if nothing was bothering him although she knew him well enough not to believe that act.
"Why didn't you tell us…what was going on…you…you could have came to us…how could you have not…"
"Because you all thought I was a murderer," he pointed out. "If…I'd gone to you, I think this might have all gotten worse a lot sooner anyway," he sighed.
Rogue nodded, although she didn't fully understand what he meant, there seemed to be something he was leaving out, but she didn't want to press it, he'd been as quiet enough as it was.
"Did the clones do that to you?" he asked, gesturing to her bruised face and black eye.
"Yeah," Rogue touched her face gingerly, "hurts like hell…" she added with a slight pout.
"They…could be pretty brutal…I got on the wrong side of their beatings many times. Most of the time I won…after all, they got my memories…I know how they would fight…but occasionally…I'd end up losing, and it'd always hurt like hell…"
Rogue nodded.
Remy gestured towards Logan who was asleep in a seat nearer the front, his arm could be seen tangling over the armrest, "…why…don't you ask Logan…to, you know, let you use his powers so you can heal it away? It'd be much nicer than goin' through all this pain…" his voice sounded dry.
Rogue drew her breath, "I could do that I suppose…and I know he wouldn't mind at all…after all, he recovers more quickly from my powers than anyone, it'd be no skin off his back at all," she added, "but…I think I'd rather sit the pain out…" she explained softly.
Remy looked confuse, "why, Rogue?" he asked, his voice tired and weak. "Why put yourself through that when it's completely unnecessary.
"Because…" Rogue sighed, "it's like a scar someone bears to remind themselves of why they did something…" she said pointedly.
Remy swallowed and looked away. "Yeah..." he touched the scar on his chest with a strange emotional look over his face. "I think I understand."
Rogue gave him a good look over, "Remy…you…are really you, aren't you?" she asked, just to be sure.
"Is that a trick question, Rogue?" he asked.
Rogue smirked a little, "Just checking."
"Looks like Rogue and Remy are maybe trying to work things out…" Kitty said, glancing around her seat to look at the two at the back of the jet.
Piotr Rasputin sat beside her, he looked thoroughly exhausted, he turned and glanced over the top of his seat, "I see," he said softly.
"Must have been hell for her, you know," Kitty said, "all those years of…loving him…and regretting never being able to tell him she loved him…and then thinking he was dead and believing she'd never…tell him again…or hear him say it…"
Piotr looked at Kitty, seemingly mystified, "I am sure it must have been hard…but they are together for the time being, if not emotionally at least within close proximity. There is always a chance."
Kitty nodded, "yeah," her cheeks flushed a little. She felt like a little girl. She'd been aching to say she cared for Piotr ever since they'd left Genosha, and the words did not want to come out. Every time she started to get around to it, she'd change the subject. She'd tried mild hints – like with her topic about Rogue and Remy, but nothing seemed to penetrate that thick skull of his. He seemed totally clueless about her feelings.
Kitty decided to try something else. "God I can't wait to get home," she gave an exhausted groan, "to get into a hot…steamy…bubble bath…maybe with some wine…snuggle into my big old bed…" she glanced to him, to see if this suggestive comment might stir anything in him, but no…nothing.
"I must leave when we return to Bayville," Piotr sighed.
"Why?" Kitty squeaked, a little too quickly and frantically, then smiled, "I mean…you need a little R&R don't you? Just like the rest of us, you should stay until your batteries are fully recharged. I think when we get back we should have a big celebration…to uhm…celebrate…Remy's defeat over Magneto…"
Piotr seemed to consider this. "I do have other obligations though…often people need my help…what if someone needs me right at this moment…"
"C'mon, you're hurt and tired like the rest of us, you need to unwind first. You're no good to anyone like this," Kitty pointed out, "and besides, Illyana would absolutely die if you didn't stay at least a little longer…" Kitty added, "she's probably worried sick about you right now" she explained, "the professor sent a message to Muir Island to advise them Monet was okay and what happened, Illyana is probably frantic with worry about you."
Piotr thought about this, then nodded, "alright, I shall stay an extra few days until – as you put it – I have recharged my batteries."
Kitty's large sapphire eyes twinkled, and she widely grinned, "great."