Dismal Angel 2010 - Episode 19

Chapter 3:  Peachy Keen

          Jean Grey stepped into Professor Xavier's office later that morning with two cups of coffee in her hands, "here you go, Professor," she said softly.

          The professor gladly accepted the cup.  He'd never been a large fan of coffee, but right now, the caffeine would give him just the boost he needed to stay awake.   "Thank you, Jean," he murmured, and he took a sip of the bitter black liquid.

          Jean took a seat by the unlit fireplace, sipping her own coffee, "it was some night," she sighed, her eyes were dark underneath, her face a little paler, cheeks slightly marred with fatigue blotches.  She was still in her uniform, she had not even found the time to change.

          The Professor moved over in his electric wheelchair, the cup still in his hand, "I have been pouring over research all morning to try and grasp what happened to Rogue, and yet – for the life of me – I can't find a single explanation."

          Jean turned and looked at the Professor, he looked as tired as she felt.  It almost seemed as if he'd aged overnight, "what are we going to do with this…Woman…we ran into?" she asked, "Remy called her Psylocke."

          "For now, she's in one of the cells in the subbasement.  When she wakes up, we can question her further…" the Professor sipped his coffee again, "Jean…you said you wanted to talk to me last night, but we never did have the chance to discuss what you wanted to…"

          Jean nodded, "Yes," she said, "it was about our mission last night…actually it does involve Remy as well…but…I might have thought I were just imagining things – if Piotr had not seen what I thought I seen also," she looked down into her black coffee, trying to visualise the events from the night before once again.

          "What did you see?" The Professor asked.

          "A…shadow…" Jean said, "it seemed to be a tall man – not as tall as Piotr in his armoured state, but…well…It's hard to say exactly, I only saw it for a split second – as did Piotr…because he cried out."

          The professor nodded, listening closely.

          "Professor, I think Remy saw him too…" Jean said nervously, "he threw a charged object at the area that…thing…was standing in…that's what caused the explosion, Professor."

          Professor Xavier sipped his coffee, deep in thought, "was there anything distinguishing about him?"

          "Red eyes," Jean replied, "they were bright…the way Remy's eyes glow when he's angry…" she added thoughtfully.

          The Professor sat thinking deeply, "did Remy mention this to you?"

          "No…not to anyone…he was strangely silent on the jet home…" Jean replied, she glanced over to him, "he did not tell us anything about this Psylocke woman either," she said, "the only time he mentioned her was to say she was deadly…while we were running from her."

          The Professor sighed, "I have been secretly concerned about this for some time, Jean, but I think Gambit may be hiding more secrets than anyone knew about – I don't even think Rogue knows what those secrets might be."

          "Professor, for the past month I've been…suspicious of him.  I've tried not to be…" Jean said, "Remy is…a good guy, and he gets along with the team well, except from Bobby.  But…I have this horrible feeling that…Remy didn't tell us EVERYTHING about the events in Genosha…"

          The Professor nodded, "Yes.  I still have trouble placing this name…Nathan Xiessel."

          "So you think someone else might have been involved in this too?" Jean asked.

          "Yes…and the way Remy acts when being questioned on it seems to indicate that he knows who…"

          "The question is…" Jean looked towards the empty fireplace, "Why is he protecting this guy?"

          Remy hadn't slept all night, but when the early morning came he'd spent minutes dozing off in the chair beside Rogue's bed, still holding onto her hand as if it would keep her there.  Although Jean had tried to assure him she was not near to death, he could not help but fear that she might be.  With no brain activity and no way of penetrating this mental barrier, who knew what might happen to her.

          Everytime he closed his eyes just for a moment to rest, he saw those red eyes in the darkness, those eyes that had been haunting him since the return to Bayville.  He'd been there, in the chemical plant, but Remy could not understand why he'd made it known.

          Maybe this IS all in my imagination, he thought miserably, he kissed Rogue's gloved hand, "please pull through, ma chere, you're the only thing keepin' me sane," he whispered.  His heart was heavy like a rock as he spoke to her, hoping somehow in her unconscious state she'd hear him.  "Without you…I got no reason for livin'."

          "How's she doin'?"

          Remy turned and saw Kitty step in.  Kitty looked rough, as if she hadn't slept much during the night.  Her hair was considerably neater than earlier that morning, but she'd dressed in baggy jeans, a black tanktop and an oversized Xavier's Institute Hoodie as if she hadn't cared how she looked.  She wasn't even wearing makeup.

Remy sighed and turned back to Rogue, "same as before…no change…"

          Kitty moved over and placed her hands on his shoulders, she stood behind him.

          "You're being so calm…" Remy murmured, "I just…I thought you'd be more upset."

          "Inside, believe me, I'm a mess," Kitty replied softly, "But I'm sick of snivelling and crying like a baby, it isn't going to help anything," she said, "if I start crying over this, I'll never stop."

          Remy nodded, he looked over his shoulder at her, "you look tired…what's wrong?"

          "Nothing, really," Kitty said softly, she moved away from Remy to examine a chart Hank had been keeping of Rogue's condition.

          "Why…were you down here at five am…if you didn't know what had happened…" Remy looked at her, "I don't see any cuts or anything…"

          Kitty sighed, "look, you got enough worries, Remy," she said, "stop trying to take on my load too, okay?"

          Remy, still holding onto Rogue's hand, raised an eyebrow, "your load?  What's wrong…did something happen?"

          "No, nothing happened," Kitty put the chart down and walked over to the medicine cabinet and unlocked it with a key from her pocket she began searching through the contents.  "By the way, there's a Gold Team meeting tonight," she said, "at eight.  HAVE to be there…" she pulled a box out of the cabinet and slipped it into the large front left pocket of her hoodie.  Remy noted her movements, but made no attempt to question her.  Noting that she was a girl and the box seemed to be of a distinctive size, he gathered it might have been a girl related item, and didn't want to embarrass her by bringing it up.

          "What's it about?" he asked wearily.

          "The incident at the Chemical plant," Kitty said, "I guess there's some things that need to be touched upon.  I wouldn't worry too much, Remy.  The only guy that blames you for the incident is Bobby…and he's just…"

          "An Asschunk."

          "What IS an asschunk?" Kitty asked.

          "All that's gonna be left of him once I charge him up and let go if he keeps bugging the way that he is," Remy responded.

          Kitty made a face, "charming.  But we don't blow up our team mates," she said.

          "Pity," Remy uttered coldly.

          "What IS this problem you guys have with each other?" Kitty asked.

          "I don't KNOW, okay?" Remy shrugged, "he keeps…finding reasons…for people to hate me, especially Rogue.  She doesn't buy it but…I don't know, maybe he's just pissed because he I'm untrustworthy."

          "You seem trustworthy enough to me," Kitty headed for the door, "Try and get some sleep, Remy, you look beat.  See you at tonight's meeting."

          "Yeah, see you."

          Kitty was surprised to run into Kurt in the foyer.  She'd thought he'd be with his class teaching German, but apparently, he'd let class out early, and had decided to go check on Rogue – still concerned for her as they were in some way related, whether it only be an adoptive relation or not.

          Kurt just looked at her, his stare was cold, "hi," he said, trying to sound friendly.

          "Oh, hey," Kitty said, she tried to sound bright and breezy but failed, and Kurt seemed to hear it in her tone.

          "Something wrong?"

          "No…nothing," Kitty responded, she forced a smile, "class out early?"

          Kurt shrugged, "they weren't paying much attention.  Every time I start something they want to ask questions about the X-Men…" he looked away from her, "so I let them go."

          Kitty wished she could amend this awkwardness that arose whenever she and Kurt were in the same room together.  They had begun to be civil with each other again, but behind it, she could still see the hurt in his eyes, and could hear the strain of emotion in his voice.  She was wondering how much longer their friendship would suffer, and hoped that it would not last forever.  Kurt was truly one of her closest friends and she'd ached for his company again.  She missed his jokes, his antics, missed his laugh.  She missed their long talks that would go on for hours.

          I never forfeited our friendship for my love for Piotr, Kitty thought sadly, so why does it feel like I did?

          "Kurt…" Kitty said suddenly, "lets hang out some time, okay?" she asked.

          Kurt paused as to think about this, but then shook his head, "sorry, I can't."

          Kitty was taken aback, she wasn't sure what he meant, "huh?"

          "I just can't," Kurt said, his silvery yellow eyes glanced away from her, his tail twitched somewhat nervously.

          "But…"

          "Look…" Kurt said, "you and Piotr are…a thing now.  I've learned to deal with it.  But I can't be around you anymore…it hurts too much.  Every day I see you and I'm reminded of how I just can't BE with you…and you…you're the love of my life, Kitty…"

          "But—" Kitty tried.

          "I hate making ultimatums, Kitty, it makes me feel like the enemy, and I definitely don't want to be.  And I don't want to be hated either, but I can't just be your friend while I feel this way.  You need to make a choice…him or me…"

          Kitty was at a loss, how could she chose between Piotr and Kurt?

          "Ahem."

          Kitty and Kurt both turned to the stairs, Piotr had come down them and was standing at the bottom step looking mildly concerned. 

          "Is everything alright?" Piotr wasked.

          "Peachy Keen," Kurt said glumly, he turned and headed off towards the kitchen without so much as another word.

          Kitty sighed to herself and hugged herself insecurely. 

          "What was all that about?" Piotr enquired, he took the last step and walked over.

          "Still apparently a few nerves still a little raw," Kitty looked to the open doorway where Kurt had left through, "this sucks, I so don't want to be the bad guy here, but no matter what I do I am…" she sighed, "when I'm with you, he's sad…but he's my best friend…and you…you're my boyfriend, and I can't just ditch you to make my friend happy…how can it be one or the other?"

          Piotr looked at her, "you are not the bad guy," he said, "I have no qualms with you wanting to remain friends with him, even if he and you were once romantically involved," he said. 

          "Yeah, unfortunately, he doesn't see it that way, I think he sees it as either one or the other."

          "He just needs time to adjust…I can certainly understand why he still loves you," Piotr smiled and kissed her forehead.

          Kitty sighed, "truthfully…I just don't."