Disclaimer: Several new characters are mine, including the plot. X-Men belongs to Marvel and Fox.
Omala: Yes, that would be quite a situation, especially if Logan returns!
Blix: Me too, when I was reading it through, I thought, Christ, it sounds like he really is dead! I had to keep reminding myself he was indeed alive so I added another line in just to remind everyone else too!
kjl24: Hehe, yes, a certain misunderstanding that is going to play a part in the second story. I hope you're enjoying this :)
Chapter 39The footsteps along the corridor were slow and carefully done. The repetitive strike of black boots struck the wooden flooring rhythmically. The pronounced walk came with the additional sound of the swishing of material, a long brown trench coat being the cause. Gambit turned his head slowly, his eerie eyes drifting upon the closed door to Aurora's room. His hands smoothen the collar of his coat placidly before he calmly stepped towards the door, his knuckle rising and rapping quietly on the grained wood. Within he could hear a tentative pause in the woman's tears before she throatily called out, "Y-yes..?"
"It be Gambit," replied the Cajun quietly through the wood, resting his left temple against the door as he waited patiently.
There was no reply from within, and so Gambit quietly turning the doorknob to ease himself gently into the room. His head peered around the door to watch the woman across from him. She was sat in the window seat still, her legs curled up beside her, looking sadly out of the leaded windows, her back to the entry. Only as he shut the door behind him did Aurora finally turn her head to watch him. But still did she not speak. Her pale eyes stared across at him distantly; lingering tears resting upon her cheekbones.
Gambit frowned gently at her state, her features pale, and eyes tired. He stepped closer to her ushering his words comfortingly, "Oh, mon cher.." he said in a gentle tone, moving towards her quietly. He lowered himself on the bench in which she curled up upon. Whilst his torso faced the rest of the room he kept his eyes upon her. Aurora's eyes had followed him across the room, still watching him as he sat beside her. She still had yet to speak. But Gambit had gestured his arms to her, and for some reason she felt compelled to lean into them, the first sound finally uttering from her throat as she made an unsteady sob into his embrace.
Gambit slowly placed his arms around her form, one of his hands gently resting on the back of her head to holding her comfortingly. His chin pressed upon the crown of her head, holding her tightly, "Are you alright, chere. 'Ow can Remy 'elp ya?" he whispered quietly.
"There's nothing you can do," sniffed Aurora quietly as her face remained buried into Gambit's chest, "You can't bring him back," Gambit tilted his head gently, their eyes meeting.
"Surely ol' Remy can bring a smile back to your face one day?"
"One day," admitted Aurora, "But not now, not for a long time."
"I shall try to relieve you of your sadness Aurora. Remy will try," he promised as he placed a gentle kiss upon her forehead, his arms tightening around her.
Aurora's hands clasped around the man's middle, holding clumps of his shirt in her cold palms, "I just.." she began, but a few sobs drowned out her next words. Gambit shushed her with a gentle sound, rocking the crying woman slowly.
"No need to speak mon petite.. "
"Please stay here with me Remy.."
"I will chere, I will.." he promised, resting his face beside her bowed head, eyes drifting to look out of the window.
Scott raised his head slowly as he felt a hand brush at his back gently, and he turned from the fireplace in the recreational room to see Siren stood to the side of him cautiously. Upon realising who it was he made a small smile to her, taking her lowering hand in his own, "Are you alright, Adrienne?" he asked her quietly, voice only just clear above the crackling of the flames.
"I am," she replied softly, "I am managing.." Her hand gently squeezed his own, "But what about yourself?"
Scott bowed his head slowly, eyes shutting momentarily behind his glasses, "It's still a shock to the system.. but I'll be alright. We all will be. We can keep going, we have to. For the sake of the world's mutants."
"It's what Logan would have wanted," agreed Siren softly as she glanced down to the flames, "He did believe in your work, no matter how he acted or spoke."
"I know," Scott murmured, watching her face and her averted eyes. "But it's so hard after everything. Logan and I were never best of friends," he made a faint smile at his words, "but by no means did I hate him." Scott sighed quietly, dropping Siren's hand and turning back to the fireplace, "He will be missed here. He made a large impact on many."
Siren then frowned, cautiously raising her eyes to Scott, "Does Rogue know yet?"
A worried expression came upon Scott's face, "I haven't seen her around.."
"But Scott, Rogue would want to know as –"
"Rogue would want to know what?" then came another voice. Rogue was peering her head around the opened door. She had a mischievous smile on her face; "Tell me," she then looked to Scott, "By the way have you seen Logan anywhere? I've been looking all over for him."
Scott's face had gone very still and very pale, and he turned from Rogue, eyes staring fixatedly down at the fire. How many more tears was he going to have to cause. But Siren comfortingly squeezed his arm before she turned to the younger woman, walking slowly over to her, "Rogue.." she murmured apprehensively. Rogue raised her eyebrows, walking a little closer to Siren.
"What?" Rogue said unsurely, tilting her head curiously, "What's wrong?" She turned her head to watch the back of Scott, his body shape darkened into a mysterious silhouette by the large flames of the fireplace. Her eyes nervously shifted back to Siren's who gazed down upon the girl regretfully.
A small sigh sounded from Siren before she carefully placed her gloved hands on the covered shoulders of Rogue. She come feel her hands involuntarily shaking, no doubt Rogue could too.
The young mutants face was darkening with worry every moment, "Tell me.." murmured Rogue, wanting Siren to get to the point, this was making her nervous.
Siren finally nodded slowly to Rogue's words, speaking, "Logan.." she said softly, "He didn't come back."
A wary look overcame Rogue's face, "Oh.. that's why I couldn't find him.. Where's he gone?" she said quietly, trying to force a small laugh into her words, but the expression on Siren's face made any happiness in Rogue be quickly quashed, "Siren..?"
"He won't ever be coming back, Rogue.." said Siren softly, keeping her trembling hands on Rogue. Rogue's expression had immediately creased with a perplexed frown before it relaxed and paleness crept into her cheeks. "He was killed.." continued Siren in an unsteady voice.
Ever so slowly, Rogue felt her insides crumbles into a shaky hole in the pit of her stomach. Unsteadily did the nausea grow before she felt all the happiness that sat in her soul be drained in a heavy spiral of sickness and shock, "W-what?" she said in a poor voice, though she didn't need the answer, the sadness on Siren's face and the silence of Scott seemed to prove it, "What happened?" she then asked, eyes staring at Siren widely.
But Scott answered, still unable to turn and face Rogue, "We had to evacuate the building.. I had no choice but to leave him behind.. The building exploded on Roxanne and him.." Scott's eyes closed, though he still remained facing the fire, "I couldn't save either of them."
"An explosion?" muttered Rogue, a small snort to her tone, "He'll be still alive," she then said defiantly, "He can heal!"
"He already weakened before he even entered the base Rogue.. I'm sorry, hun," whispered Siren, trying her best to comfort the young woman, who's face was blank with shock, eyes still wide. The reality was hitting her.
"You left him behind?" then said Rogue in a slow voice, suddenly realising just what Scott had said.
Scott's reply was barely a whisper, but Rogue heard his confirmation like it had been screamed at her. Immediately she felt her insides heat up with an undeniable anger. Her fists uncurled to reveal fingers in a vicious claw-like bend and she stormed around Siren towards Scott, "You – " but Siren was sharply alert and she quickly grappled Rogue by the waist, cutting the girl off her rant and quickly dragging the angry mutant from Scott.
"Rogue, don't."
Scott turned slowly at the commotion, surveying Rogue with heavy eyes. He emitted a sigh, turning from her again, leaning against the fireplace in utter despair, insides broken at the weight of guilt and unspoken blames.
"But he - ! You - ! Argh!" growled Rogue, thrusting her fists over at him, continuously trying to writhe out of Siren's surprisingly strong grip, "Logan's dead! You should have gone back for him!" The tears began to pour from her eyes, streaming down her pallid cheeks, splashing down her shirt. Her sobs had turned violent, her chest heaving for breath, "You should have saved him.." she said breathlessly with no more than whimper, finally relaxing in Siren's arms and slumping to her knees on the floor to helplessly gasp and sob into her gloved hands.
Meanwhile, Scott just stared down in the curling flames of the fire, elbows propping him upon on a nearby table, which he leant over, arms shielding his face as he remained in silence. The guilt still ripping him up inside..
Pleae review folks!
www(dot)freewebs(dot)com/tpftp