Ch. 13 Who are They
Part of Remy LeBeau's mind screamed in panic, but he ignored that part as the calculating thief took over. He felt John kneel down next to him with a soft hiss when he too saw the bruises, small cuts, and that her chest did not move at all. Remy gave a brief look to his friend and teammate before he leaned over and clamped two gloved fingers over Rogue's nose. He never stopped to think that she might only be unconscious, that her mutant ability might drain him dry for the attempt. No, he had no time to ponder it, Rogue needed his help.
John watched with a growing trepidation as Remy bent over and covered Rogue's mouth with his own. Her cheeks swelled with the air he forced in, and so did her chest. Nothing, no tug of her powers, not even a slight tingle. He knew then that her condition was bad. Mutant powers like Rogue's also worked when the mutant who had them was unconscious, because the power was not under any sort of conscious control. Panic renewed its attack against the sturdy barriers in his mind, but Remy refused it, Rogue needed him calm.
Three times Remy repeated mouth to mouth before John took over with chest compressions. Unlike Xavier, Magneto had no full time medic, so all of his team had learned the basics. Even John, who complained about anything that resembled school, had seen the wisdom in that decision. Now both men hoped the two weeks of training would pay off when it counted most. Again Remy leaned over to deliver the three long breaths, and again John pumped his hands over Rogue's heart.
She looked so pale and vulnerable against the cold concrete and when the third set still brought nothing, Remy felt his heart clench. 'C'mon, cher. Wake up… don' let'em do dis to y'.' He wanted her to open her eyes and fuss at him and John for being this close. He wanted her to open her eyes and give them one of her wry grins. He just wanted her to open her eyes.
He leaned in again as the chaotic thumping of his own heart drowned out all other sound. Her lips felt cold and he fervently hoped it was just from the chill in the air. Once… twice… a third time he leaned over. His black eyes closed that third time when a slight shiver ran through is lips like a small electric charge. The world stopped again, and even thought Remy knew he should pull back he waited just a moment longer. A soft rush of air left her lips to brush against his. He leaned back, blinking several times as a wave of weakness passed through him.
Rogue's green eyes glazed and dazed met his as she drew in a long shuddering breath. That gaze looked up to find twin red voids looking upon her with worry. Eyes locked and the world refused to move just yet. Those soft green pools brightened as a ring of red encircled them and began to encroach upon the clear jade color in slow increments. Remy watched, fascinated, as her eyes became his. He moved his hand from her nose to her cheek with feelings far to jumbled to sort out. In that moment two pairs of red and black eyes met. They both felt something arc between them, but the world chose to lurch into motion again, and the moment was gone. The something lost like a dream that slips away upon awakening.
Rogue finally noticed John, whose hands were paused just over her heart. His mouth hung wide open as he had witnessed the change in her eyes. Rogue gave a drunken grin and looked back to Remy.
"Dats a lil extreme don'tcha t'ink, mon beau?" She asked Remy just before her eyes rolled back up into her head, but this time, she kept breathing. LeBeau cracked a grin, though mostly in relief. But no time for that now, Remy tossed the Hum-V's keys to John and pulled the keys to Rogue's Jeep out of her pocket.
"John, find Kitty n' tell 'er what happened. Have 'er call dat school o' ders n' let'em know dat Ah'm bringin' Rogue in," Allerdyce's eyes widened as he wondered if Remy had just lost his mind. But the look on his friend's face clearly said that there would be no talking him out of what the Aussie considered to be an insane plan.
"Roight, mate." He sprung to his feet and took off towards the bleachers.
Remy scooped up Rogue with all the gentleness he had lacked when dealing with her attackers. She murmured softly and snuggled into his arms as he strode over to the open Jeep and placed her in the passenger seat. Her eyes opened again with her soft growl of protest. One of her hands clenched his shirt and refused to let go. His gloved hand stroked her forehead and she settled into the seat with a ghost of a smile. Her demon eyes closing again. He got her fastened securely into the seat before hoping into the driver's side. For the first time he got a good look at the interior. 'Gonna have t' remind 'er t' clean dis poor car out.' He thought distractedly while pulling out the parking lot and onto the main road.
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Kitty looked around the stands with a bit of worry. Rogue should have been back by now. 'Like, she could just, like have found Remy n' John'. But the thought did not relieve her concern. A small frown formed as she looked towards the parking lot only to see John running full tilt towards the bleachers. Her worry faded, only to return as he came into better view, and the grim look on his fact apparent. Kitty bolted from the seats and headed straight in his direction.
"What's wrong? Where's Rogue?" She called when she got close enough. John didn't stop until he was right in front her.
"Rogue was attacked…Wait!" He put up his hands before she bolted off. "I think she's fine, unconscious, but fine. But ya gotta call home, Shelia, n' let 'em know what happened n' that Gambit is bringing her to Institute." Comical was the only way to describe how fast and how high Kitty Pryde's brows shot up at the thought of Gambit… an Acolyte… showing up on the front doorstep with an unconscious Rogue.
"Oh no! Mr. Logan will kill him!!" She exclaimed and dove into her purse for her cell phone. "I, like, gotta call home!…. " Allerdyce arched a brow. 'Isn't that what I just said?'
"John, do you have a car?" He nodded. Kitty just about jerked him off his feet as she punched "#1", the Institute on speed dial. Kitty dragged him towards the parking lot while babbling quickly into the phone to what John assumed was one of the teachers. He just tried to keep up, opening the door for her and promptly jumping into the driver's seat.
Kitty heaved a sigh of relief as she hung up the phone and buckled the seat belt.
"Everything alroight?"
"Like, yeah, " Kitty looked out of the windshield pensively. "I got a hold of Hank n' he'll let the rest know. " John patted her hand as he back the Hum-V out of Remy's, err, creative parking job.
'Ah cahn't believe that I'm drivin' an X-man, errr woman,… err girl… whatever, BACK to their home territ'ry afta' Gambit who took another X- uhhhh person, home.' John's left hand worked the cover on the Zippo..click…click..click… 'THIS IS NUTS!' But one look at the worry in Kitty's eyes pushed his concerns for his and Gambit's hides to the background.
"Tell me what happened," Her voice was so soft and lacked the usual joy that permeated everything about Kitty Pryde. John sighed long and hard.
"Don' know really. Rems n' me were on our way when he went all psycho fer what I thought was na' reason," Kitty arched a brow as she looked over at John whose gaze remained steady on the road, even if wore a look of confusion. "Next thing I know, we're jumpin' outta the cah n' runnin' like devil was afta us through the parkin' lot." John frowned as his retelling paused and he remembered the look on Gambit's face. " But, devil wasn't afta us, shelia. I was runnin' next to him," John smirked. "I looked over n' saw Rogue surrounded. One of 'em conked 'er over the head before we could stop 'em."
Kitty watched John's hands tighten over the steering wheel as his eyes narrowed. Anger burned in him and she saw it with perfect clarity. A small shiver ran up her spine as she wondered if this was the reason Magneto chose who he did as his Acolytes. The Brotherhood, though technically they were Magneto's team as well even if run by Mystique, were pretty much angst-y teens with no real care about human/mutant relationships outside their own limited scope. They were at best disorganized and just a step or two above petty thugs when you got right to the truth.
But the Acolytes seemed to be the polished version of the Brotherhood. They were not just kids in a bad situation with bad attitudes. They were well trained, alone and as a team. Whether or not any of them liked each other, and Kitty could not see anyone liking Sabertooth, did not seem to matter when it came to the job. Could they really be with Magneto because they wanted to be?
The darkened landscape blurred by as Kitty looked out the open window in silent contemplation. Her arms wrapped tightly around herself as she worried about Rogue and her new, well… friends. 'Seems like everytime something good happens, here comes something worse.' She jumped a bit when John's hand touched her arm a second time and gave a reassuring squeeze with his usual lopsided grin.
"Wait, like, what did you mean when you said 'he went all psycho'?" She asked with a frown. Something about that choice of phrase had left Kitty curious to his exact meaning.
"Not sure rahlly. We were talkin' n' he jerked hahrd on the wheel. Kinda like something had just hit 'im. Next thing I know, 'is tryin' to set a land speed reca'd in this freakin' tank!" His tone told Kitty that the whole incident had him as confused as her.
"Weird," She half muttered and he nodded in agreement.
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Hank saw Rogue's Jeep round the entrance to the Institute's road and punched the sequence to open the gate. Hank, Logan, and Charles stood in the doorway. Each of the adults looked calm on the outside, inside they each struggled with the injury of one of their students, and the implications of what sounded like another anti-mutant attack. Kitty had made it quite clear to Hank that even though she did not know exactly what had happened to Rogue, Gambit was only there to help her and in no way to blame. That fact alone was all that allowed Hank and Charles to keep Logan calm as they waited.
Even though the vehicle came up the last bit of the driveway far faster than it probably should, Logan had to give the kid credit as he brought it to a perfect stop in front of the Institute doors. Before he or Hank could descend the stairs, Gambit had lifted Rogue so very gently from the Jeep and was halfway up the marble steps. His first thought was to take the unconscious girl from the Acolytes arms as his instincts bristled with the mere sight. Part of Logan was not sure that the man was not somehow involved in this after all.
But he saw the look on Gambit's face, a look solely for Rogue, and torn between worry, the need for vengeance, and a very real possessiveness. No sense in fighting the kid and getting Rogue dropped in the meanwhile. Before Hank McCoy or anyone could ask 'what happened' Remy started talking, but his eyes never left her face.
"We found 'er in de parkin' lot at de school, surrounded. B'fore we could get t' her one o' dem laches hit 'er ova de head. We got rid o' dem, but she wadn't breathin' " Logan's growl vaguely registered in Remy's ears as Hank and Charles led him deeper into the mansion towards the place where he knew a concealed elevator to be. "We did CPR 'til she came too, she been goin' in n' ou' since den. She talk a few times, mos'ly babble. But she got some o' Gambit's powa's in de' meantime."
Logan finally noticed something that his worry for Rogue had blinded him to before, her hands. Every few seconds a very faint pinkish outline formed only to vanish a moment later. Logan had not gotten the hands on demonstration of Remy's powers the way the rest of the X-men had. He had been too busy fighting the Sentinel below, and by the time Magneto had lifted all of them and the massive robot out of the underground structure, the Acolytes had left. But Rogue had told him of her encounter with the kid who could make things blow up. Now Logan had an idea of just how he did it.
Nor did Charles miss the implication of the last as he too noticed the glow around his young student's hands that appeared and disappeared rapidly. They would need to keep Gambit around until his powers faded or Rogue regained consciousness. He had tried a cursory scan, but Gambit's mind was a complex maze of walls and locked doors. Nor was Charles going to try and pry after two things became obvious to him. The young man was not lying about how he found Rogue, and his concern for her seemed quite genuine.
During the elevator ride down to the med lab, Remy answered every question Hank, also known as Beast, asked about Rogue's condition. The Acolyte surprised Hank with his knowledge of basic treatment. By the time they reached the med lab, Hank was fairly convinced that Rogue was very lucky it had been Remy who helped her. Remy laid Rogue on a bed, still holding one of her gloved hands to pull the charge she unintentionally called. Hank probed the swelling just on the side of her head when something very hard had impacted. At the very least Gambit and this unknown accomplice had prevented severe injury to Rogue with the speed of their aid, at the most they had saved her life.
"She'll be fine," Hank declared as Kitty Pryde came sliding around the corner of the door with Pyro in reluctant tow. The flame manipulator tensed visibly when the Beast, who he remembered from the fight, Logan, who he knew by Sabertooth's rants, and Xavier, who he knew by reputation alone came into view. To the surprise of everyone in the room Kitty Pryde threw her arms around Pyro's neck with McCoy's proclamation.
For his part John panicked and held his arms outward and fully extended to make sure the other three men in the room not only knew that he had nothing to do with this spurious hug and was in no way trying to the hurt the girl. In the next instant, Kitty released her hold him then threw her arms around Gambit's neck for another hug. He was aware of Kitty and John's presence, but as long as he focused on Rogue, he did not have to admit that he was deep in enemy territory, and willingly at that.
Logan arched a brow as Beast chuckled quietly at Miss Pryde's antics. Charles' expression remained unreadable though, even to Logan and Beast. Though he watched the way Gambit held Rogue's hands. The boy did not just touch her hands, but held them softly, yet securely in his own. Kitty showed no hesitance when she pulled a chair up next to Gambit's at Rogue's bedside. Yes, it was all very interesting to Xavier.
"She just needs some rest. The swelling is not internal, which bodes very well indeed." A gruff nod from Logan as he took a seat on the other side of Rogue's bed. Whether or not the Acolyte's seemed concerned about Rogue, he was not about to leave her and Kitty alone with them. Gambit had to stay until his power wore off or Rogue woke up lest she blow up half of med lab and herself with it. "Once Gambit's powers wear off we could move her too her room, but I would rather wait for that until she awakens."
"Gambit…" Xavier began in his usual calm tone.
"Non, s'ok Gambit stay til one o' de o'der 'appens den he be outta yo' hair." Xavier quirked a brow. Pyro just sunk his shoulders in defeat and took up a seat at Remy's right. He really did not want to stay here any longer.
"Y' c'n go mom ami. Gambit find 'is way home." He looked at Pyro for the first time since John had entered the room.
"Pffttt mate, I ain't leavin' ya here alone." A soft disgruntled growl from Logan drew both their attention for a moment. They smirked in unison at the older the man. Kitty just bit her lip and hoped everyone would stay calm. After all it could be another couple of hours before Remy's powers wore off of Rogue.
Silence fell over the group as Chuck and Hank retreated to Hank's office just down the hall, well within ear's reach. Logan crossed his arms as he studied Rogue's face and her gloved hand held in the gentle grip of the one called Gambit. When he started asking question about the attack, both of the Acolytes answered him with what they knew, except Gambit's episode in the car before hand.
"Who were they?" Logan asked and his hands clenched his lap. Beneath his skin he felt the adamantium blades between the bones in his hands that were reinforced with the same metal. He wanted to let them slide free, but first he needed to know who the targets of his anger would be.
"Dunno, mate, least not their names. Seems lioke they were kids from th' high school. Couple of 'em had on them lette'men's jackets." Pyro kept his eyes on Wolverine though he saw Gambit's eyes narrow in the periphery of his vision.
"One o' dem had bo'dered Rogue at lunch a while back," Kitty's eyes went wide.
"You mean that creep, Vans??" Her smaller hands clenched in tight fists as Gambit nodded.
"Don' know who dem othah ones were," His eyes remained on her hands held within his own. 'But Gambit be plannin' on findin' out'. He added in his mind. He extended his empathy to Rogue to detect any change at all within her, good or bad. Though he only received the jumble of fractured emotions that he had come to associate with someone dreaming.
"Roight, anyway, Rems n' me pulled inta tha pa'kin' lot n' saw someone surrounded. Didn't know who 'til we got in closah. But one a' them got in a shot ta tha Shelia's head," The lies came smoothly for John and even Kitty saw the wisdom in his omission. No one knew how Gambit had known Rogue was in trouble, or if it had just been a lucky guess. She knew Wolverine would assume it was because Gambit and John had arranged the attack.
"Don' worry, homme. Dey ain't gonna be walkin' straight fo' awhile," Logan looked up once with a bit of confusion. How had the kid known what he was thinking? "Gambit it'd be wantin' th' same if 'e was y'." All the older man did was nod. Everyone then fell silent with only the soft beep and whine of the machines in the room to break the silence.
Upstairs Xavier told the students what had happened when they got home. Though he kept them from going downstairs. Most likely they would understand why the two Acolytes were there, but then again they might not as many of them blamed Magneto and his men for the problems they faced now. He did, however, tell Jean, Scott and Kurt once he ushered them into the privacy of his office. His expression betrayed nothing as anger, despair, and sadness alternately washed over them with the telling of the tale.
They were allowed to see Rogue, though only one at a time. Kurt was the last to enter and he stayed with the rest. John tensed a bit with the addition of another X-man to the group, but there was little he could do about it. 'Shouldn' be too much longah.' He glanced at the clock again, torn between worry for Rogue and worry for himself and Gambit.
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Rogue floated in a sea of black, but it was not uncomfortable. Quite the contrary in fact, she felt safe even if confused. Whispers passed her in the darkness, words that made no sense.
"Non, s'ok, Gambit stay…" Each word shrouded in worry and ironic amusement that she somehow knew was not her own. Sometimes a faint reddish glow seeped into the darkness but a delicate, peaceful wave came on its heels to sweep the glow away and allow her to sink back into the comfortable darkness.
"Who were they?" Those words harbored a near irrational anger and pain. She flinched from them and the darkness seemed to swirl about her in a soft embrace. The hold felt familiar and she felt herself relax in the cradle it formed.
"…That creep, Vans?" That voice was almost recognizable and she stirred in the quiet solace. It spoke in tones of righteous indignation and fury. Rogue felt a strange amusement slip through the darkness, and finally her mind began to stir.
"Get some rest, Cher. Remy be seein' y' soon." Rogue wanted to cuddle up next to the speaker of those words even if her mind could not quite remember why at the moment. Comforting, pleasurable, peaceful, the voice was all that and more. It slipped away though, all of those emotions and words to leave only the darkness behind. Still, she felt no fear and decided the voice was right, she needed a little more rest.
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"Get some rest, Cher. Remy be seein' y' soon." No one else heard the words he spoke to Rogue. His head next to hers, his lips shrouded in the soft silk of her hair as he spoke in a subdued whisper. As he rose up his hands left hers with reluctance he was not willing to admit. His eyes remained upon her face for a moment longer, wanting a sign that she was really all right. Rogue rolled over onto her side with a sleep induced smile and a gentle sigh. He had his answer.
Logan eyed him with a suspicious gleam. He did not in any way shape or form like the Cajun being that close to Rogue. He knew he was being overly protective and that was the only reason he kept his mouth shut. Still he could not conceal his joy as he led the two Acolytes out the back way. No need in getting the other student's worked up over their unknown visitors. Kitty and Kurt walked out with them as well, but no one said much at all.
A frown lined Kitty Pryde's face as she took another furtive glance at Gambit. 'Like, I've never heard him be this quiet.' He was always the one with a quick smile and witty repartee, but even the news that Rogue would be just fine had not erased the grim line set on his lips. When the two climbed into the Hum-V, Kitty offered Remy a soft smile that he returned. To Pyro, that smile broadened and for a moment the flame jockey wanted to hang around a little longer as he gave Kitty a wave in return.
Logan remained outside until the black vehicle exited the gates and was no longer in sight. His keen ears filtered through the nighttime noises to pick out the sound of the Hummer and listened to it fade off in distance. A soft breeze tickled his hair and finally Logan decided to go back inside. As he turned, he saw Kitty leaning against the doorway with a contemplative look on her face. Her fingers toyed with a lock of hair as she watched the gate, and then finally looked at him as he ascended the stairs.
"Do you, like, think they'll be like Tabitha?" Tabitha had at first been with the Brotherhood until the incident with the first Sentinel robot. Her allegiances switched when the Brotherhood pretty much decided to pull out of the game all together. Logan's unease returned with the question.
"Don' know half-pint. You got to remember, they know what they're doin' n' why. The Brotherhood never really did." He watched a frown form as she nodded, and her shoulders slumped ever so slightly. 'Logan, please come to my office when you get a moment.' Charles Xavier's page precluded anything else he might have said. "Go get some rest." A large hand reached out and ruffled Kitty's hair, earning him a look of ire, before he headed off to talk to his friend.
As Logan walked off with his usual steady gate, Kitty heaved a long a sigh and cast one last look out to the gate. No, they were not the Brotherhood; she had already known that to be true. But she could hope right? 'For Rogue's sake anyway.' One foot pushed off the doorframe. A soft creak vibrated through the main entrance as she slid the large oak door closed and made her way towards the girls' wing.
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"What's up, Chuck?" Logan asked as he closed the office door. Xavier sat in his wheelchair, looking out the window.
"I wanted to know your thoughts on our… guests." As always, the man's voice revealed nothing of his feelings. A soft whir broke the sudden silence with the chair turning so that Charles could face Logan who took a seat in one of the large dark red leather chairs.
"They're Magneto's goons. Doesn't really matter what I think beyond that." Xavier sighed.
"True, but they do seem to be forming bonds with some of our students."
"And you're not sure if you should put a stop to it or not?" The Professor nodded.
"Precisely, Logan," His hands clasped together under his chin as he looked at his long time friend. " I know where both Kitty's and Rogue's allegiances lie, that is not my concern. Kitty is young and already facing more strife her life than any non-mutant her age. While Pyro would not harm her, I do not think he is the most stable of individuals either. And Rogue," The Professor sighed. "Rogue has closed herself off from nearly everyone since her mutation awoke three years ago. Since then she has built a small but stable network of friends and has thus far refused to let anyone else in…"
"Except Gambit," Logan finished for him.
"Yes… I saw into the boy's mind, though I did not get very far. His mind is complex, a maze really likely for the purpose of keeping telepaths from finding anything. I sensed though that he did care about Rogue, but…" Charles sighed. "I do not foresee he or Pyro leaving Magneto." Logan frowned as he crossed his arms in front of him and leaned against Charles' desk.
"There's somethin' yer not tellin' me, Chuck."
"No, not really. I sensed something else as well, my friend, but I am… unsure as to what it was. I cannot even begin to guess at it in fact. But I felt something else in Gambit's mind, something that I feel will become quite crucial to all of this." Logan arched a brow, but it was obvious that Xavier had told him all that he knew.
"So do we tell 'em to stop?"
"Could we?" Charles issued a wry grin, "Though far more grown up than normal teenagers, we are still talking about teenagers here." He paused those ageless eyes looked out the window once more. "And part of me does not want to stop it." Logan grunted. "In all of this, the rivalry between the two groups and the hard feelings, they've made a connection. Isn't that what we are trying for here?"
"Look, Chuck. I know what yer sayin' but those boys. Hell let's be honest, they ain't boys no matter what their age is. Anyway, those guys know what they're doin' n' if push came to shove you think they'd spare Kitty and Rogue?" Oddly enough the question was not rhetorical. Xavier closed his eyes for a moment, deep in thought.
"Yes, Logan, I think they would."
"All right, then we start there. I mean from the looks of things tonight we got bigger problems anyway."
"Yes, whether or not we leave our kids in the public school system. Another issue that I am… quite torn on. While we have enough teachers with enough expertise here at the Institute to provide an adequate education, should we sequester them off from the rest of the world?"
"Fair or not, they're in danger, n' we can't protect 'em if they ain't here."
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AngieX – Well you see I got to the she's not breathing part n' quit writin'. Heh… just kiddin'. Here is your update!
Just Call Me Angels – X-Evo is a great piece of animation. I really hope they continue it. Scott and Jean are okay, but I've never thought their relationship had a whole lot of dynamic except where Logan was concerned. But Remy and Rogue, never ending sage there be it the cartoons, movies, or the good ole comic books! I've always wondered how you would *train* a power like Rogue's. So I'm kinda trying to create my own explanation here part of curiosity and part because it's going to be fairly central to the story. Anyway… glad you are liking the story so far!
Wolfgirl12 – Ya know I'm gettin' that evil thing a lot from this chapter. LOL
Yumiko – Ya checked out "Thief of Spirits" yet?
Blink182dbzluver – yes… my first ever cliffhanger, at least on this site! I think I may have gone overboard.
Jukebox – Huh another vote for me being evil. Ya'll tryin' to tell me something here?
Ice Queen – One vote for cruel. I think I like evil better.. Heh… here is your update!
Flame31 – Already done it!
Gothic Cajun – Hehe… thanks for the votes of confidence! And yes I am well aware of my evilness now… LOL HAH! My two cats will protect me!
Khay – Hey we all flub up a name every now and then. No worries. Glad you like it and here you go!
Kitrazzle Fayn - ~tosses ya a brown paper bag~ Easy there gal!
Aro – Okay where's my cookie!?
Roguie – 89 – Here you go!
Katrina5 – One step at a time for them… hehe! Yeah, I don't know if the relationship will actually work with Pyro and Kitty, but it will be an interesting experiment!
Ishandahalf – Give him time ~grin~ there will be more Remy development later on n' how he views the world. And CBS is in full swing, hopefully more very very soon if my typin' fingers can keep up with the ole noggin.
Original I1 – Here ya go!