And here's another chapter. 8 and 9 were originally one, but it got too long so I separated them. I hope you guys like it. I think I need some wine when reading this chapter. It seems a tad cheesy to me. :S Darnit.. not all the depressing music in the world is making me sad... I knew I should have made this a happy, fluffy Disney flick. J Review please. 8D the end is near.. the end is near...
Disclaimer: Hannibal doesn't belong to me.
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(Four days after. Afternoon)
"You know, I think I'm becoming desensitized to this stuff." Rogue said out loud during a scene in Hannibal.
"I hear you. I think we completely rented out the horror section at the store." Hank yawned and stared, a little bored, at the screen of screaming people.
"I'm hungry. Wanna go get something to eat?"
Hank nodded and did a flip over the back of the couch.
As Hank and Marie entered the kitchen, Jean looked up from the coffee maker. Hank coughed politely while the atmosphere suddenly became very tense.
"Did you enjoy the movie?" Jean asked, looking at Marie, who now decided her toes were very interesting.
"Yes. But we've gotten to the point where horror doesn't really do anything for us anyway." Hank answered, knowing the question wasn't really for him.
"Well, I better go finish off my speech." Jean walked between Hank and Marie. She slowed a little in hopes to catch Marie's eye, but continued on when the young woman continued to look down at her feet.
Hank was fully aware of Jean's feelings to Marie and wished that Marie would finally stop suppressing hers and reciprocate.
"Why does it bother you so much that you love her?" Hank said bluntly.
Marie looked at him, her eyes defensive.
"I'm not gay."
"But you love her. You love Jean. I see it in the way you stand. Your breathing quickens and you tense up a bit. I'm surprised the other students haven't caught on to it yet, but it's probably because Jean tries to stay away from you around the others."
Marie rolled her eyes.
"How would you know? You're not telepathic."
"But I sure can read people, Marie."
Marie turned away and shrugged.
"I'm just nervous. Absorbing someone for that long has its affect on you."
"You two were kissing! And a lot more might I add from what the drain marks showed." Some of Hank's frustration showed through now. This was silly. Here Rogue was, a mutant marginalized by society, homophobic?
Marie stalked around the kitchen.
"I was caught up in the moment! I would have kissed you if you where there!"
"No you wouldn't have. You don't love me. You love Jean."
"Hank, I'm not gay!"
Hank threw up his hands.
"Does it bother you that much? The idea of loving someone who isn't the opposite gender? Jean is the most wonderful person in the world and you won her heart."
"Hank, I don't like women! I'm not attracted to them and I never will be. I've looked through all those guy magazines, and I'm not into that! I don't like Alison, I don't like Jubilee, I don't like any of them!" Marie stormed around the kitchen and finally sat down at the table.
"Alright. Fine. You're not into women, but you are into one woman." Marie glared up at Hank and opened her mouth to speak, but Hank spoke first. "Love is a powerful thing Marie. And I think the most powerful form of love is when it has the ability to transcend barriers. Don't you realize what you have with Jean is at that level?" Hank sighed and sat down at the table with Marie.
"I'm not gay." Marie said one final time.
Hank folded his large hands and took a deep breath.
"Answer one thing for me then, and do it truthfully. Marie, do you love Jean?"
"N..." Began Marie, but Hank glared at her. "Yes." She said quietly. "Yes, I love her very much and I want to be with her again. But I'm not, like, homo or bi. This isn't normal." Marie looked down the table and traced a stain that was on it. "Marie, first, there is nothing wrong with being gay. And second, you need to know something about society. Society classifies the crap out of everything in the effort control everything. Heterosexual, bisexual, homosexual... they are all classifications. If you don't fall in one of them, then you are considered strange. You are in love with Jean, but you aren't off lusting after women."
Marie stared at him.
"So what the hell am I?"
Hank shrugged.
"Just sexual. You and Jean just love. Regardless of gender. Your love is held back by no barrier. It just is."
When Marie just gave him a crooked look, Hank continued.
"Bottom line. Jean loves you. You love her. There are worse things in this world alright? Take it. I guarantee you that the bond you have with Jean now will never be replicated in the future." Hank paused. "I actually envy you two because what you both have. Can you even comprehend how rare it is that two people hold nothing from each other like you two did? But you're letting it go to waste the more you ignore it." Hank's voice softened a bit as he continued talking. "Rogue, if you're that scared of the utter happiness that has dropped into your lap because it doesn't fall into the societal norm that you are comfortable with, then cut her loose. Break her heart, break yours and make it a fast and clean break." Hank stood up and left the kitchen. He had left the young mutant enough things to think about, and it was up to her now.
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Marie sat in her darkened room alone that night. It wasn't late at all, only nine or so, but after her talk with Hank all Marie wanted to do was sit in her empty room. Marie's room had been empty since Jean had left three weeks ago, but this night Rogue felt more alone than she did when she couldn't control her power. Rogue looked over to the empty bed and sniffled a little. What Hank had said to her made everything make sense, and now she was starting to feel the harrowing solitude that Jean must be feeling. Marie didn't care that she could touch people now. She would give it all back to return to the state of happiness she and Jean were at before the accident. As a tear rolled down Marie's cheek, she stood up from her bed and crawled into the other bed. The cleaning crew that managed the house had cleaned it, but if Marie inhaled deep enough she could still smell Jean's scent. Marie clutched the pillow close to her as she began to cry. Her heart ached at the emptiness that was consuming her soul. She was so use to having Jean linked to her mind, and now there was nothing. Rogue missed the times when she and Jean trained, or when they just talked about things late at night. Marie missed everything about Jean and tried to muffle her lamentation with the pillow, but she was soon sobbing uncontrollably.
Outside a lightning storm began to roar. The thunder served to muffle Marie's cries, but the lightning only highlighted how lonely her room was. The recent heat wave sweeping the area had finally broken in the form of a summer storm and only when the storm finally began to abate, did Marie's cries lessen. The young woman lay on her side, spent, and with her face still buried in the pillow that now smelled like her tears. Her chest heaved unevenly as her cries dwindled to gulping gasps and then hiccups as Marie finally fell into an exhausted sleep.
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Marie woke. It was 12:30 in the morning now. The storm clouds had passed and a bright full moon shone through her window. Marie sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. The pillow was still wet, but Marie felt better. She stood, left her room and silently walked towards the wing that was mostly empty, save Jean and Scott's room. She felt as if she were sleep walking and more than once did she pinch her face to try to wake up. Marie soon found herself standing outside Jean's door. She rested her hand on the doorknob. Yes, this is right. I've been terrible to her after she did so much for me. Marie went to turn the doorknob but snatched her hand back as her hand began to shake. Images of Jean's unconscious body laced with dark veins flashed before her eyes. She tested her pulse and found it too fast and too strong. Marie relived the memories when she absorbed Jean and Marie started to back away.
"No, I'm not afraid. That won't ever again." She said softly to herself. Marie placed her hand on the doorknob again and turned.
Scott and Jean's room faced the same way hers did, and so the full moon's light poured in through the window.
Marie made out Jean's silhouette underneath the bed sheet. The blanket was pushed to the foot of the bed. Even after the storm, it was actually a rather hot night and even the breeze that blew in through the window did little to cool. Marie quietly closed the door behind her, but flinched and silently cursed as the latch noisily clicked shut. Marie heard Jean move, and for a second Marie stood frozen in the doorway hidden by shadow. After a minute of standing, Marie moved closer and slipped onto the bed. Jean was awake, her green eyes bright in the moonlight. Silently, Jean reached out and twirled her fingers through the white lock of hair Marie had. Jean's fingers trembled a little, as if she were afraid this was just a dream.
Can't sleep? Jean whispered into Marie's mind, smiling as she was given full access again.
"I'm sorry. I was confused..." Marie said softly. Being here now, so close to Jean, vanquished all of Marie's fears.
And now?
"I'm okay now. I know what I feel."
Jean leaned forward and placed a light kiss onto Marie's forehead.
Talk with your mind. You've let me link with you, and I've made the link stronger. You can talk to me with your mind.
Okay...
What do you feel then Marie?
Marie looked deeply into the red head's eyes and leaned forward. She kissed Jean on her lips and moved closer to the other woman's body. The telepath tasted the salty trails left by Marie's tears, and through the telepathic rapport that was now between them, Jean lived the memory in which Marie lay curled on the bed weeping her regret. The older woman pulled Rogue closer to her, and for the rest of the night the two women just lay silent against each other. No words were exchanged verbally or mentally.
Jean laid awake most of the night with Rogue's head resting on her shoulder; their arms and legs were entwined together beneath the sheet. She had listened to Hank and Rogue's conversation earlier and had hoped that Rogue would find her way. Now, she simply listened to Marie's even breathing. Near dawn, Jean slept and her dreams mingled together with Marie's.
You like? Good! Go review! And then go write a J/R fic of your own! 8D Wow, i didn't know this chapter would be this long....