Ishandahalf – I see that you have accepted the fact that I am evil. I am most pleased at that recognition of reality. I'm going to by pass the rest of your rant since the majority of your questions and statements will be answered. And yes there is more Romy. I read your story by the way. Quite kick ass.
Winter Fire – Almost cried? Yikes. I don't know what to say. Lesson of the chapter, don't piss off the Phantom. It isn't conducive to one's health.
Crazed Maniac 02 – Yeah, I gathered that you weren't against the trio. Just a little comment on my behalf.
Thanks to spiffythefaery for beta reading.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You will curse the day you did not do
All that the Phantom asked of you!"
-The Phantom
"So why are we here? A Danger Room session isn't scheduled to start for another twenty minutes."
"Don't ask me. All I know is that Logan told me to make sure that everyone shows up early."
"Everyone? As in the entire mansion or everyone as in you, me, Scott, and Jean?"
"I don't know Lance. How many times to I have to tell you that?"
"Sorry Kitty. I'm just trying to get some information, that's all."
"Well I've told you everything I know. So stop jumping all over me about it," Kitty snapped at her boyfriend in reply.
Lance sighed. "I'm sorry. It's just that we're all a bit edgy with Rogue's disappearance and reappearance. And with John, Bobby, and Kurt leaving everything just feels weird."
"Good riddance I say. We'll finally be able to get a moment alone for once," Kitty said as she slipped her hand into Lance's.
"I'm not complaining about that."
The two strolled down the corridor, heading towards the Danger Room. Punching the call button for the elevator they waited, Lance shifting his weight, a sign of his nervousness. Kitty picked up on this immediately.
"What's bugging you?"
"Nothing," Lance quickly replied as the elevator doors slid open with a chime. Kitty frowned as they walked into the elevator.
"Something's bothering you. I know that. Why don't you just tell me what it is?"
Lance hesitated for a moment before unleashing a deep sigh. "Well…It's just Rogue. I didn't get a chance to see her at all yesterday and no one is talking about her or where she went. I'm just bothered by not knowing how she's doing." Kitty grinned and wrapped her arms around Lance.
"That's awful sweet of you. She's fine, just a bit out of it." Lance shot a sloppy grin at Kitty as the elevator opened and they exited.
"Glad to hear it," Lance replied as they walked into the locker room. Scott and Jean were already present, dressed in their uniforms and wearing grim looks. Lance and Kitty began to dress for the Danger Room session. Lance noted the odd quiet in the room. The trio's absence was the cause of the peace. Publicly he might groan about the noise but privately Lance was disturbed by not hearing any racket from the three missing boys. In addition to the room being quiet it was also empty. Tugging on his uniform Lance turned to look at Scott.
"Where is everyone else?"
"There is no one else."
"What do you mean no one else?"
"This is for senior students only and Kurt, John, and Bobby aren't here anymore."
"Yeah but what about Rogue?" Kitty asked as she walked through the lockers.
"She'll be coming later," Jean commented, her green eyes flickering over to the door of the locker room.
"Later?"
"Yeah. We need to talk about some events that have been going on in the mansion lately and some of it concerns Rogue," Scott replied, his voice adopting a neutral tone. Lance narrowed his eyes slightly.
"What about Rogue?"
"We're concerned about her, ahem, relationship with Remy," Jean replied, her eyes still flickering over to the door.
"What about her relationship with Remy?" Kitty asked a dangerous edge to her voice. The brunette didn't like the tone of Jean's statement.
"We're concerned that Rogue might use her relationship with Remy to influence his judgment," Jean said as Scott nodded his head in agreement.
"Why?"
"Because I received a note yesterday that suggested some…changes in the makeup of the team. A rather threatening note that Remy supported," Jean stated. Lance and Kitty exchanged glances. They had heard some of the ruckus in the professor's office the other day but had no idea what it was about.
"What kind of changes?"
"Leadership changes. The note asked for me to step aside and for Rogue to take my spot."
Kitty and Lance tried to contain their laughter. "So what?"
"What do you mean, 'so what'?"
"The phrase is self-explanatory Jean. What's the big deal about Rogue becoming a team leader?"
"The fact that I wouldn't be!" Jean screeched, her voice bouncing off the locker room walls.
"That's a problem because?" Lance wryly commented with a raised eyebrow. Shock overrode Jean's features. Looking from Lance to Kitty, the red head saw that neither one particularly cared about this issue.
"I mean, no offense Jean, but maybe Rogue would do a good job as a team leader. She may be new but she's got a good head on her shoulders," Kitty said with a slight grin, watching Jean's shock grow with each word that passed through her lips. Lance grinned in agreement.
"Yeah. Besides she's able to control Bobby, Kurt, and John which takes something special. Maybe she would be able to get the team to work together. Scott would still run overall command and tactics and stuff but Rogue would make sure that everything goes smoothly," Lance added.
"Are you saying that I'm a bad leader?" Jean hissed acidly.
Lance threw his hands up in defense. "No. I'm just saying that Rogue may not be one. The only way to find out would be to give her a chance." Kitty nodded her head vehemently.
"Yeah. Besides, Remy isn't, like, in charge of team decisions anyway. Only Logan and the Professor decide stuff like that."
"But Remy could influence them!" Jean tried. Lance and Kitty frowned doubtfully.
"I don't think Remy could convince either of them to do something they didn't want to."
"That still doesn't mean that Rogue won't try to get favors from Remy! She'll try to get something from him."
"What makes you say that? Because she wants to go out with the guy? Ever think that she might actually have feelings for him?" Kitty snapped at Jean, obviously fed up with Jean's rant. Jean was about to reply but she swallowed her retort as Scott placed his hand on her shoulder.
"I don't think Rogue wants to deliberately use Remy. I think that Remy might do stuff for her on his own," Scott said calmly.
"That's a possibility," Lance conceded, "but Rogue wouldn't ask Remy for any favors."
"And that's no reason to just start accusing Rogue, Jean!" Kitty hissed harshly. Jean simply gave a burning glare as her response. Scott shook his head.
"The point wasn't Rogue. The point was that someone was trying to change the team. That someone was trying to exert influence over the Professor. And whoever was doing it favored Rogue for some reason. I'm just saying that we need to be careful when dealing with Rogue. She might not be actively trying to take Jean's place but someone wants her to…" Scott trailed off as the door to the locker room hissed open.
"That ain't gonna happen Shades," Logan remarked as he stalked into the room. His cold gaze fell upon the assembled students. "However, that doesn't mean we shouldn't mind what is being said," Logan continued, his tone daring the students to challenge his statement. There was only compliance.
"What do we do about Rogue then?" Scott asked. Logan shrugged.
"Right now we do nothing. She remains a member of the team and Jean stays on as field commander. Charles and I aren't gonna let anyone change our minds. The job is yours until you blow it Red," Logan remarked as he glanced in Jean's direction. The girl's icy demeanor instantly melted away. She began to speak up but was cut off by Logan.
"But while we're on the subject of Rogue I've got some things to tell you. First off, nobody asks her what happened two nights ago. It's been hell just getting her to speak about that night and Charles doesn't want you to send her back under her rock with some dumb questions. Second, nobody is to question her relationship with Remy again," Logan growled as he shot a pointed look in Jean's direction. Jean quickly found something on the floor worth studying.
"Third, treat Rogue as you normally would. And attempt to not answer her questions about the ruckus that you've all been making. Are we clear?" Seeing positive answers from the students Logan grinned satisfactorily.
"Then get into the Danger Room."
***
"Are you sure about dis?"
"Ah'm sure. Just cause Ah've been out of it for a few days doesn't mean that Ah can't train."
"Dat not what Remy means and you know it," Remy returned with a slight frown. Rogue rolled her eyes slightly at his response. Ever since she had told him that she was going to train with the team that evening Remy had been asking her every few minutes if she was certain that she wanted to put up with the others in the mansion. Although she had been back at the mansion for two days, Rogue had yet to see anyone but the teachers and Kitty.
"Ah don't care what they'll say. Ah want to see my friends. Ah'm sure that they've been worried about me."
Remy continued to frown. "Remy don't t'ink that Jean cared much."
Rogue shrugged at the comment. "Maybe, maybe not. Either way Ah don't really care what Ms. Perfect thinks."
"Dat be a good decision Chere."
"Besides Jean, Ah'm sure that everyone else was concerned. Ah'll bet that Kurt and Bobby had to be stopped from coming to see me several times," Rogue commented. Remy stopped on a dime and it was several moments before Rogue realized that she was walking alone.
"Remy?" Rogue asked with concern. Remy avoided her gaze for a few moments, trying to figure out how to tell her that some of her friends would not be present.
"Chere Remy needs to tell you some dings before you go down dere."
"Oh?" Remy shuffled his feet, uncomfortable with having to be the bearer of bad news.
"Oui. It's about Kurt, Bobby, and John. While you were, uh, out dey played a nasty prank on Jean dat involved blackmail and a destruction of a chandelier. De Professor sent dem on an 'extended field trip' with Hank. Dey gonna be gone for a while. Dey left before you came back."
"They're gone?"
Remy nodded. "Dey'll be back in a couple of weeks. But dey ain't here now."
"Okay," Rogue said, although it was clear to Remy that she was disappointed by the news. She was close with trio, perhaps closer with them then with anyone else in the mansion besides Kitty.
"So that means that it'll just be Scott, Jean, Lance, and Kitty at the session?"
"Oui."
"Alright. Let's get going Remy, Ah don't want to keep them waiting." Rogue turned and continued to walk towards the Danger Room as Remy trailed in her wake.
***
Professor Xavier wheeled himself into the control center of the Danger Room. He was not surprised to find that the room was not unoccupied upon his arrival. Logan was already at the controls, setting up for the evening session.
"Good evening," Xavier greeted warmly. Logan snorted in reply, his attention focused on the buttons and levers in front of him.
"Did you have the opportunity to talk with the students?" Xavier asked as he made his way over to Logan's side. He paused in his activities so that he could turn to face the wheelchair bound Professor.
"Yeah. I told them everything you wanted me to. As it turns out, Scott and Jean were already expressing their concerns about Remy and Rogue."
"I'm not surprised by their reaction. We both know that Jean would never relinquish her position without a fight."
"Yeah but she was going too far in my opinion. Insinuating that Rogue started that relationship because she wanted things from Remy is crossing the line," Logan replied with a harsh tone. Xavier nodded in agreement.
"Jean did say far too much. I trust that you corrected her judgment?" Logan nodded. "Good. Then we will hope that she has learned her lesson and will believe that Rogue's interests in Remy are purely on a romantic level."
"Just 'cause I told her off doesn't mean that Jean isn't going to let up. She thinks that Rogue's gunning for her job now and she is going to do everything in her power to make sure that Rogue doesn't get it."
"Everything? What do you believe that includes Logan?"
"Not sure. She'll single Rogue out more that's for sure. Probably give her tougher tasks and go out of her way to see that Rogue fails."
"Do you honestly believe that Jean would actually go that far to keep her position?"
"I do. Jean doesn't want to lose her job. She'll do anything to keep it."
"Then we must keep an eye on her during this session. I expect that this will most likely be the situation where Jean attempts to assert herself."
"I'll be watching Charles."
"Watching who?" Ororo asked as she and Raven entered the control room.
"Jean. We think that she might try to give Rogue some difficulties during the session today," Logan replied as the students began to enter the Danger Room.
"Then perhaps it would be best to have one or two of the teachers present in the Danger Room today," Ororo suggested.
"Why? Jean knows that we can see everything from up here better than we could from down there," Raven replied.
"I know that. But perhaps the presence of one of the teachers, say Remy, would prevent Jean from actually acting."
"I don't think Remy's presence is going to do anything except spur Jean on," Raven returned as Logan and Xavier exchanged a glance at Ororo's suggestion.
"Then perhaps another teacher? Myself or Logan perhaps?" Ororo tried again.
"No. We will do nothing for the time being. We'll hope that Jean will not stoop to acting as we believe. And if she does attempt anything then we'll intervene," Xavier said, his tone giving no room for arguments. Ororo nodded weakly, understanding the orders but not agreeing with them. Logan and Raven gave no reply, their attention focused on Rogue's arrival in the Danger Room. Her arrival was quickly followed by Remy entering the control room.
Xavier shot a quick glance at Remy, trying to determine if he heard any of the previous conversation. From what he could sense, Remy was completely oblivious to the discussion.
"Are you ready to get the session started Logan?"
"Give me a minute."
"Good morning everyone," Remy said with a grin. Raven rolled her eyes.
"It's nighttime Remy."
"Oui, but Remy don't care."
Raven muttered something to herself, something that Xavier was unable to hear. Remy grinned at Raven's response and turned to face the Professor. "Bon jour Professor. Remy hopes that you're doing well." Xavier cracked a slight smile.
"My condition is the same as it was last time we spoke Remy."
"Just checking."
"You seem awfully chipper. May I ask what brought on the good mood?" Ororo inquired.
"Oui. De sweet girl down dere," Remy gestured to the Danger Room. Logan paused in his programming of the Danger Room and turned to face Remy.
"Cajun, I ain't the type to object to your personal relationships but you'd better not screw around with her. I won't stand for it," Logan growled.
Remy nodded as Raven smirked. "Logan seems to protect his favorite pupils with a vengeance Remy. You'd better listen to his warning," she remarked. Remy nodded with a slight grin. As Logan went back to programming an uncomfortable silence fell over the control room. Xavier watched Remy shift on his feet, before he broke the silence.
"Where is Creed?"
"Victor is working on Cerebro at the moment. I'm sure he'll show up before the session is over today."
"I'm ready to go Charles," Logan said as he finished programming the Danger Room. Xavier nodded.
"Go."
***
Rogue walked into the Danger Room, noticing that she was the last one to arrive. Inwardly, she wondered if they had been discussing her before she had arrived. Outwardly, Rogue shot a slight smile in Kitty and Lance's direction. Jean regarded Rogue with narrow eyes while Scott turned away from her to look up at the control room. The silence between the students didn't last long as the intercom came to life with a squeal.
"Listen up," Logan's voice filtered through the intercom. "Today you're breaking up into two teams. Lance and Scott are team one and the girls are team two. You're going to be separated in a maze. The objective of the mission is for team two to find the flag. Team one's goal is to stop team two by either finding them or successfully protecting the flag. There will be other obstacles in the maze to deal with."
As Logan spoke the air in the Danger Room began to warp as the holographic simulator kicked in. Walls rose from the air and Rogue suddenly found herself surrounded by a twelve-foot tall hedge maze. Beside her were Jean and Kitty, both looking up at the maze.
"We need to get the flag and not get caught. Our best way of doing that is to find the flag first. Kitty that's your job. Be careful," Jean ordered.
"On it," Kitty replied as she charged, and phased through, the hedge in front of her. Jean turned her sight to Rogue, who met the older girl's gaze.
"We need to stick together. We move quickly and quietly. We'll communicate through telepathy. Got it?" Jean asked with a slight edge to her voice. Rogue frowned at the tone but ignored it.
"Let's go."
"Make sure you keep up," Jean replied as she took off down the maze. Rogue was undaunted by the challenge and took off after the red head. They hustled down the corridor of the maze before running into one of the obstacles, one of the fierce rapid fire drones. Jean motioned for Rogue to stop as her voice entered the other girl's head.
/I'll take care of it. /
/Okay. / The drone remained stationary for a moment before Jean acted. The robot shivered before shooting straight up into the air, shattering into the dome above. Metal parts rained down on the two girls. Jean shot a smug grin at Rogue, who ignored it. Just as they began to move forward again Kitty melted out of the hedge. Jean immediately patched the brunette into the mental network that she and Rogue were in.
/Guys I've found the flag! /
/Where? / Jean thought.
/About thirty feet that way, / Kitty thought in response as she pointed with her finger.
/Okay, I'll levitate us there. /
/You nuts? Scott'll shoot us down. We'll be sitting ducks, / Rogue mentally snapped. Kitty grinned at Rogue's response while Jean frowned.
/You got any better ideas? / Despite the fact that Rogue was not a telepath she could hear the bitterness in Jean's "voice."
/As a matter of fact, Ah do. /
/You going to share it with us? /
/You levitate yourself while Kitty and Ah shot through the maze. /
/And that's better than my idea, how? /
/We don't put all our eggs in one basket. /
/It might work Jean. Let's give it a shot, / Kitty chipped in. Jean whirled around to deliver a harsh glare at the younger girl. After seeing that Kitty wouldn't back down Jean relented.
/Alright. We'll do it your way Rogue. /
/Good. /
Before the three girls implemented Rogue's plan there was an irritating squeal, the sound that the intercom made when it was activated. Rogue found this occurrence puzzling, only rarely did any of the instructors attempt to contact the students during a session. However, it wasn't unheard of. Logan could just be changing the mission objectives, something he did on occasion.
Logan's voice was not the one that spilled from the intercom.
"Did I not instruct that Cerebro was to be kept empty?" a deep, dark voice came. A voice that Rogue recognized. The voice of the Phantom. Fear swept over her as she felt her muscles freeze up. The other two girls dismissed the voice, thinking that it was just a trick to distract them.
"I said Cerebro was to always be kept empty!" the Phantom bellowed, his voice reverberating throughout the Danger Room.
"It's him. Ah know it, it's him!" Rogue shrieked her voice carrying. Her cry was followed by a scarlet beam cutting through the hedge beside her, tearing a hole to reveal Scott and Lance charging at the girls. Jean whirled around to face Rogue, her face livid.
"You idiot! Do you realize what you've done? You've cost us the mission!"
"Leave her alone Jean," Kitty said in an attempt to protect her friend. Jean would not listen to reason.
"Stay out of this Kitty!" she snapped. Seeing the argument unfolding between the two girls Scott and Lance brought their attack to a halt, stopping beside Kitty.
"Do you hear me?" Jean barked at Rogue. For her part, Rogue was paying little attention to what Jean was saying. Her mind was on the voice that had just spilled over the intercom.
"Stop
ignoring me! You're worthless! You don't obey orders, you do what you want, you
start relationships with instructors to pursue your own goals, you can't
control your powers, you are worthless!" Jean cried at
the top of her lungs. Static burst over the intercom once more. The static was
followed by the Phantom's voice.
"Who are you to judge her
worth? A spoiled brat that doesn't realize what little talent she doesn't have
and insists on wasting what little of it she does?" the Phantom replied coldly.
Jean didn't turn away from Rogue.
"This is another one of your tricks isn't it? You've got Remy doing that don't you, you little toad!"
"Toad? Perhaps it is you who are the toad," the Phantom bemusedly replied. Jean paused to cast a quick glance at the Danger Room control center, now visible after the holograms had faded away. Turning her gaze back to Rogue, Jean began to speak up, only to find that her voice was gone. Instead of words coming from her mouth came a loud…
"CROAK!" Jean looked shocked at the sound she had just made. The Phantom gave a slight chuckle. She tried to speak again only to hear…
"CROAK!" Jean's hands flew to her throat. The Phantom chuckled once more, seemingly enjoying Jean's inability to speak. She turned her eyes to Scott and opened her mouth to ask what was wrong. All she said was…
"CROAK!" The third time being the final straw Jean rushed from the Danger Room, tears streaming down her face. Scott rushed out after her, leaving Rogue, Kitty, and Lance as the only occupants of the Danger Room. The Phantom's voice boomed over the intercom, laughter filling everyone's ears. He was enjoying his handiwork.
"What just happened?" Kitty said her voice no more than a whisper.
"I have no idea," Lance replied quietly. Rogue remained silent, fear having frozen her body solid.
"Who is speaking over the intercom?"
"I don't know Kitty but it seems Rogue does," Lance replied as the Phantom's laughter died down.
"How?"
"You're asking questions that I can't answer Kitty. Unless Rogue decides to tell us I doubt we'll know those answers." Kitty was about to answer another question but her voice was cut off by the Phantom speaking once more.
"You ignored my requests. So be it! You wished disaster upon your heads and now it has come!" the Phantom declared. There was a loud squeal as one of the panels residing along the top of the Danger Room's dome began to extend and pull out of the wall. Kitty and Lance expected to see one of the many weapons hidden within the walls of the room become visible. Rogue didn't know what to expect, she only knew that she wasn't sure if she wanted to see whatever was about to be revealed.
Instead of a weapon emerging from the wall nothing appeared at first. Then without any warning an object shot out of the opened space. The object flew through the air along with a long chord that was attached to the innards of the now vacated space. As the object fell through the air Rogue noticed that what it looked like. It was a body, a very large body. As it was about to hit the ground, the chord snapped and pulled the body back into the air, causing it to bob up and down for a few moments. When it finally settled, its only movement was to sway back and forth, Rogue and the others stepped towards it, to see what it was.
It was Victor Creed. Rather, it was formally Victor Creed, seeing as how the feral mutant was now undeniably no more. The chord had been fastened around his neck, strangling him. His eyes were bulging from his head, his tongue sticking out of his mouth. His mouth was frozen in the midst of a scream. Blood matted his long blonde hair and caked his face. His lifeless eyes stared out at the students, seeing nothing. Upon seeing Creed's lifeless face Kitty unleashed a bloodcurdling scream.
As soon as she saw the frozen face of the dead Creed, fear overtook Rogue once more. This time it did not freeze her up. Instead it gave her energy to do the one thing she could think of. She ran.
***
Remy had watched as confusion ran through the other teachers as the Danger Room began to take on a life of its own. Remy had watched Logan curse in anger as the disembodied voice cackled over the intercom. Remy had watched as Jean began to croak wildly, unable to control her voice. And Remy had watched in horror as Creed's dead body was flung from the dome of the Danger Room.
As soon as the body came out of the panel the teachers recognized it immediately. Rather Logan recognized it.
"Jesus. It's Creed!"
"What?"
"It's Creed! He's dead!"
"Oh my God!" Ororo had screeched in horror as she watched the lifeless body of Creed cut through the air.
"This is the result of your decision Charles!" Raven hissed at Xavier, who was unable to tear his gaze away from the deceased janitor.
"It must have been an accident!" Xavier replied, terror worming its way onto his normally calm face.
"This is no accident! This is the anger of the ghost!" Raven yelled in return.
"Are you certain that he is dead?" Ororo cried out as chaos overtook the control room.
"He's gone!"
"This is the folly…"
"How could this have…"
"…defying the ghost!"
"…happened?"
"We can't not be sure that…"
"He's got be to…"
"What shall…"
"…this is anything but an accident!"
"…we do!"
"…cut down now!"
"And I suppose that voice…"
"Get to the…"
"No way of telling…"
"…students!"
"Raven that this is anything but…"
"…was an accident too!"
"…an accident!"
Chaos reign supreme in the control room as all the teachers attempted to speak at once, their voices cutting each other off. Remy remained silent through the entire ordeal, his burning gaze on the situation unfolding below. His crimson eyes smoldered at the sight of the very dead Creed and grew concerned at the sight of the terrified Rogue. The moment the girl bolted out of the room Remy turned on his heel, quickly exiting the control room. The rest of the teachers followed, attempting to cut Creed down in the smallest hope that he was still alive.
***
Remy mentally commanded the elevator to speed up as he tapped his foot in impatience. After what seemed like an eternity the elevator opened and Remy rushed out. His red eyes quickly scanned the visible part of the lower level of the mansion, straining to find Rogue. He couldn't see any trace of her.
However just because he was unable to see her didn't mean that he was unable to hear her. There was a rather loud squeak, the sound that the front doors made when being open. Scurrying to the entranceway of the mansion Remy discovered that the front door had indeed been thrown open. Rushing out the door Remy saw Rogue standing outside the mansion, her gaze fixed upon the small forest lying at the edge of the grounds. Steeling himself for her reactions Remy stepped outside into the harsh wind, the cold cutting to the bone. Wrapping himself up in his trenchcoat Remy made his way over to Rogue.
"Chere, we need to go back inside," Remy said gently once he had reached her. Rogue whirled around, surprised by Remy's arrival, her eyes wide with fear.
"Don't take me back there," she replied, her voice quivering slightly.
"We should go back in."
"Ah can't go back there."
"Why not?"
"He's there," Rogue cryptically replied. "His eyes will find me there Remy."
"Who?"
"The Phantom."
"Dere is no Phantom Chere," Remy scoffed.
"Then who's voice was that? Who killed Creed?"
"Dat was an accident."
"Just like when the Danger Room attacks students when it shouldn't. Just like those accidents." Remy paused at Rogue's response.
"Well…"
"He's a monster Remy. He'll find me there."
"Chere, listen to Remy. Dere is no Phantom." Rogue shook her head sadly.
"Remy, Ah've seen him. Ah've seen his world of darkness and death."
"What?"
"The man who took me, he was the Phantom. Ah've seen him, his burning eyes, his face that was…" Rogue trailed off, unable to describe the horrors that she had seen.
"Chere dat never happened. It was just a dream."
"It was no dream! Ah'm telling you that Ah saw him, Ah've been in his world!"
"Alright. But he can't do nothing to you."
"How can you be sure?"
"Remy here now. Remy protect you from him."
"You promise?"
"Remy promises. Remy won't ever let him harm you."
"But…"
"No more worries Chere. Everything is gonna be alright now. Remy make sure of that."
"Remy, Ah don't know what to say."
"Sometimes silence is the best answer Chere."
"You'll always be there for me, won't you?"
"Always."
"That's a long time Remy."
"As long as it's for you, Remy don't mind."
"You telling me the truth?"
"Remy never lie to you." The wind began to pick up and Rogue shivered involuntarily.
"Come here Chere," Remy said as he opened his trenchcoat, silently offering Rogue a shelter from the cold. She slid over to Remy's side as he wrapped them both up in his large coat. Rogue looked up at Remy, only inches separating their faces.
"Remy, Ah've got to tell you something."
"What?"
Rogue chewed on her lip as she hesitated for a moment, trying to figure out how to word her statement. "Ah hell. Ah guess Ah'll just have to spit it out. Remy," Rogue said as she turned to look up at his face. "Ah think, no Ah know, that Ah love you."
"Well in dat case, Remy t'inks he'd better let you know that Remy loves you." Remy wrapped Rogue up in a hug and planted a kiss on her head.
"Remy promise me something."
"Anything."
"Promise me that you'll always love me."
"Remy promises."
"Good. Cause Ah'll always love you." Remy smiled at Rogue.
"Remy glad to hear dat. But we need to get you back inside, it's cold out here," Remy said as he planted another kiss on Rogue's head. Rogue didn't notice the cold anymore and blissfully walked back towards the house with Remy.
***
While Remy and Rogue expressed their feelings for each other they were unaware that they were being watching. Standing on the top of the mansion, his cloak whipping violently in the wind, was the Phantom. His burning gaze was focused upon the two lovers standing beneath him.
He couldn't hear what was being said but he had a fairly good idea. When he witnessed Remy plant a kiss on Rogue he knew what exactly was going on. Saddened by the sight before him the Phantom began to talk to Rogue, although his voice couldn't be heard by the girl.
"How could you? I gave you everything you've ever wanted. I gave you a chance to do what you only could dream of," the Phantom remarked sadly as he continued to watch the scene below him unfold.
"You are so close to being able to touch. So close to being the greatest mutant alive. I gave you all of that. I gave you that chance. And now how do you repay me? You've denied me and betrayed me.
"He was bound to love you as soon as he saw you, saw your skill, your power. There is no doubt of that. He loves you because of how I helped you. He loves you because of what I've done. And in return you reward him with your love and give me nothing. How could you do that? Why Rogue?" the Phantom said as he felt his heartbreaking. Hidden by his helmet a tear ran down his cheek, the water following over territory it had never known. Closing his eyes quickly the Phantom attempted to squash any more tears before they could fall. He knew that nothing could heal his broken hear, that nothing could stop the tears from coming, nothing besides Rogue. Opening his eyes once more, the Phantom saw Remy kiss Rogue once more.
Rage boiled up inside of him. A rage like none he had never felt before, an anger that was more powerful than anything he had ever experienced.
"This is not over yet. That much I promise you. I will not give her up without a fight! You both will curse the day you did not do all that the Phantom asked of you!" the Phantom cried at the top of his lungs. His words were lost in the howling wind. Stretching out with his power the Phantom reached for the largest object he could find and as soon as he had as solid grasp on it, he pulled.
The ground began to violently tremble and shake as the Phantom pulled at the object. The grounds of the Institute began to split as the object forced its way through the ground. Slowly rising from the bowels of the mansion, a gigantic silver orb made its way above the ground, the silver orb that housed Cerebro.
Lifting the massive machine with his power the Phantom let Cerebro hang several inches above the ground for a few moments, letting everyone witness this display of his power. This would show them all that they would regret not taking him seriously, not obeying his wishes. Raising his hands to steady Cerebro the Phantom closed his right hand slowly, forming a fist. As he did so Cerebro began to condense, being crushed by his power. The metal screeched as it was manipulated and forced into a smaller size. Closing his hand completely, the Phantom crushed Cerebro into a metal ball about the size of a basketball. Releasing his grip on the destroyed machine the Phantom watched as it fell back through the hole in the ground. Turning his gaze, he took pleasure in seeing shock on the faces of the two lovers, a shock at the depths of his power.
Laughing mirthfully the Phantom turned on his heel and melted back into the shadows, his laughter echoing. He was not finished with those in the mansion and when he was he would make sure that Rogue would be his. They would learn to fear the wrath of the Phantom. And she would learn to love him.
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