Sorry again for the delay on getting this out. I've been... occupied. ;)

Being single is nice, but being with someone is a great experience, I'd highly reccomend it! These will be coming out a little slower now, but I guarantee feedback speeds me along. To know someone is interested is a wonderful wonderful thing. Thank you all for the emails, each of them really made my day!

DISCLAIMER: Raien and Chimera are mine. I can do pretty much whatever with them. Sadly, the rest of the team isn't. I'm only borrowing them from MARVEL to do horrible horrible things to them! Thank god i'm not in charge of X4 ;)

17.

Wakimoto smiled. The drugs were beginning to take effect. He was the first, the oldest U-Man. He had single handedly brought down hundreds of mutants, saving the crème de la crème of their talents for himself. He was becoming powerful, and soon no one would be able to stop him. He didn't care much for the ideas of FoH, but they seemed to be the only ones who's ambitions aligned enough with his for them to consider aiding him. After all, one of their goals were the same. They both wanted mutants dead. The only real difference is how they arrived at that end. He'd overseen the slaughter of hundreds, and enjoyed it immensely. These people were no better than sheep. They were weak, and they didn't use the incredible gifts they'd been given. He smiled menacingly. If they were unwilling to use them properly, he would take them. He wanted his victims to die knowing this, and knowing that because of them, it would become easier and easier for him to do what he did.
Now he lay on a surgery table, with the only surgeon he trusted to perform these grafts. A man he paid well, but also someone he had a choke hold on. He held the man's child, and only Wakimoto knew where she was. The tactic had proven most useful in giving him loyal subordinates. Except when mistakes happened, as the fools at Sanctuary 03 found out. He now knew better than to let such a powerful mutant loose without a leash. As his vision blurred, he looked to the right.
On the table next to him, a woman was just waking, to find herself where she was. She screamed and struggled, but several men held her down. A deep chuckle came from Wakimoto's chest. They'd isolated this mutant's ability of flight to her shimmering blue skin. He watched intently as his surgeon moved to her, scalpel in hand. The man should have looked as though he wanted to vomit, but after the things he'd already done for Wakimoto, this was pale in comparison. The screams stopped as Wakimoto watched the mutant staring in stark terror at the blade. Whimpers and pleading next, Wakimoto knew the way this story played out. His eyelids became heavy, just as the knife began to scrape the skin from her flesh. Her screams filled the room. She'd been given nothing for her pain. Just as Wakimoto had ordered. He liked the sound. It was the sound of power.

The television was on in the main recreation room of the mansion. Raien and Chimera had curled up on the large couch together, a large thick blanket between them. Raien soaked up the warmth of Chimera's body. He'd thought, when they'd first gotten together that Chimera had been running a fever, but it turned out it was just part of the mutation. His body temperature was naturally high, making his company that much more enjoyable. He'd been a fool to ever think about leaving. They really hadn't spoken since the night before on the bench. They'd been just as they were now. Silent. Though neither really wanted to speak. Both were somewhere between being asleep and awake, simply watching whatever was on, though not really caring what. Raien was so grateful to have this second chance. He'd been shocked that Chimera would have come after him, but what scared him was the fact that the whole conversation was not pleading for him to come back, it was to be sure that leaving was what Raien wanted. He didn't know what Chimera would have done had he chosen to stay away from the mansion, and his lover. He didn't want to think about it. Instead he breathed in a deep chest full of Chimera's soft scent and put a knee over Chimera's so he could snuggle in closer. Whatever happens, Chimera, you're stuck with me now. Raien thought. A thumb traced the outline of his jaw and Raien melted happily into unconsciousness.

Scott had just finished an evening run and wanted to relax for a while. He'd hoped that the main rec-room television wasn't in use, but as he rounded the corner, he found the room occupied. He about flinched in disgust when he saw who was there. Chimera reached a large paw-like hand to Raien's head, gently stroking the top of his ear with a furry thumb. Raien had fallen asleep. Chimera softly kissed Raien's forehead and smiled, as if living in heaven, something he hadn't thought those people did. Scott was frozen. As he looked at the expression on Chimera's cat- like face, he realized something. What he saw wasn't an abomination of nature. He saw love, pure and simple. The way Raien hugged Chimera tighter in his sleep was exactly what Jean did. He suddenly felt very humbled, as if he was seeing the ocean for the first time, having never thought of it as anything more than a big puddle.
Was he blind to this before now? Had he not noticed the way they looked at each other? He'd tried to play off the holding hands thing as some kind of 'statement', but now he doubted that too. He knew something had happened a few days ago, driving Raien from the mansion, and Scott hadn't given it much thought. He'd never even really given Raien a chance. He had a very valuable talent; he'd proved that much on the last mission. That too stuck out in Scott's mind. As he looked back, he remembered something else. Just after everyone had gotten aboard the Blackbird, Hank had tried to get Chimera to let go of Raien so he could treat a wound. Chimera had barred teeth and snarled like an animal. Scott now recognized that as a protective thing, and not just an irrational moment of frustration.
He stood in the hallway as pieces came together. How Bobby and Hank had always looked at each other, how neither had said anything or done anything until recently, and how they both seemed to be so happy lately. Those two had been the most depressed out of all the X-Men. Bobby because he lived a charade to hide his homosexuality. And Hank, who because of his appearance, couldn't even go shopping. He really felt for Hank. Scott had thought the poor man would never find anyone who would see him for the wonderful person he was, that they would always see the beastly exterior. Hank was always the first one to jump to another's aid, or to comfort someone who was having a rough time, and Scott had to admit, he was glad to see Hank finally on the receiving end of that. How had this not made sense before? Scott still didn't want to see them making out or having sex, but was it so different than the way he and Jean made love? He was torn now between the way he'd been brought up, the Church's stance on homosexuality and what he was seeing with his own eyes. He needed somewhere quiet to think. Maybe he could figure it all out. And maybe he could start thinking of a way to apologize to both couples, who he'd offended several times because he'd refused to open his eyes. He sighed as he turned down the hallway. Maybe he could apologize after he figured it out.

A flash of burning agony and horror filled her vision making her cling to the strong arms that held her. She didn't know what had set this one off. A smell, a touch, a taste, a sound could have done it. Since what had happened while in the hands of FoH, this had been her whole existence. The moment finally ended, and she could once again relax. Tears kept falling from her eyes, even though she knew she shouldn't possibly have any left. Wolverine was there, his arms tightly around her, calming, soothing, protecting. Whispering only that things would get better and rocking her softly. He didn't try to offer any words of advice, or try to help her cope. He was simply there for her, as he had been all day, and the day before that. He hadn't even gone back to his room that night. She wondered why he would do this for her. She wondered why she'd never seen this side of him before. But she was grateful for every second, every hour he spent here.
Jean had wanted her to deal with what had happened. She'd tried to draw Jubilee from within herself so that some kind of healing could occur. Jubilee turned slowly, and the strong arms helped her so she could lay her head on Wolverine's chest. He didn't smell like other men. There was just something different. And the way he spoke now, she could feel some of the pain he lived through daily. She'd not noticed that subtle tone in his voice until she'd recognized it in her own. It was like the edge of a sob, but only barely. The sound of past pain, like a scar that wouldn't fade. One of the few Wolverine's body allowed him to have.
Jubilee just lay there, hoping Logan wouldn't have to leave. She found herself now thinking of him as Logan, and not the unreachable, unattainable, mysterious Wolverine. She could feel sleep creeping its way closer, and for a moment, she feared it. She looked up, deep into brown eyes.
"you don't have to stay" Jubilee said slowly. And that was how it came out too. No capitals. Minimal punctuation. The hollow sound of someone who had lost her soul. But the look in Logan's eyes wasn't the look of a watchful parent, nor a look of strained pity. As Jubilee put her head back against his chest and let his heartbeat soothe her towards sleep, she got the faintest notion that maybe Wolverine needed to hold someone as badly as Jubilee needed to be held. Sleep finally caught up to her, and she drifted off to dreams, for once unclouded with the bitter taste of semen or the horrible words that had stayed with her far longer than anything ever should have.

Half asleep, Hank brushed a hand over Bobby's back. They were finally alone again. Not that Hank had any problems with spending time with the rest of the team, but Bobby was different now. He held his total attention. He was finding work difficult to concentrate on. He would keep getting a whiff of Bobby's scent, which now hung heavily on his coat. He liked the feeling though. He knew he was the only one, save Wolverine who would be able to detect it, but he still felt as though he was somehow marked, as if he carried a sign with him saying "I am loved. By the Iceman."
His eyes slowly opened as his fingertips chilled. Bobby was asleep sprawled on top of him, seemingly his favorite position. Something that Hank would eventually have to alter, because he never really slept right unless he was on his side. A moment later, his thoughts became sharp again, as he was jerked fully from sleep. He could feel a small section of slick ice, on the small of Bobby's back. He softly laid his hand on it, so he could melt it without waking Bobby. He tried to think of something else, tried to think how lucky he was to be in bed with this man. His friend, and now his companion. He tried not to think about his hand becoming numb, and how the ice wasn't melting.
"Bobby..." Hank whispered, gently waking the sleeper atop him, kissing his forehead. A sleepy smile on his face, Bobby looked at him.
"Mmm?" He replied. A typical Bobby response. Barely a word of its own right.
"Are you alright?" Hank asked, concern thick in his low voice. He dragged a claw over the patch of hard ice so that Bobby knew what he was talking about. Bobby squinted at a point in space Hank couldn't see, and he felt the frost soften and revert back to normal skin.
"Musta been having a dream." Bobby whispered, laying his head back on Hank's broad, soft chest. Satisfied, Hank nodded, kissed Bobby and closed his eyes again.
Bobby's eyes didn't close though. He heard and felt Hank's breathing turn to the slow relaxed rhythm of sleep, but Bobby couldn't find it again. What he'd told Hank wasn't entirely true. He had been dreaming, and about changing to Iceman, but he never changed in his sleep. And the small patch of ice Hank was talking about seemed stubborn in leaving. Bobby was reminded of nightmares he'd had ever since his power manifested itself. It was the reason he'd held back his powers all these years. He would feel it going rapidly out of control and he would stop, trying to convince himself that he was out of ice. But the truth was he was afraid. Afraid that one day he wouldn't be able to turn back from his Iceman form. That he would be left as a glittering crystalline shape for the rest of his life, trapped. Bobby shivered. Instinctively, Hanks arms tightened around him, and Bobby was grateful for the warmth of his body. But sleep was a long time coming. And when his dreams finally did catch him, all he could see was himself standing in the middle of a frozen wasteland, a lonely statue, seeing everything around him, hearing everything, but stuck. Unmoving. Silent. Alone.

Emma sat in her room feeling alone. And she was, here at least. She used to not care. Everything she did was for the advancement of her own plans, her own goals, her own ambitions. She used to be the White Queen. She used to be someone important. But now she walked around the hallways only to go to and from the kitchen when she got hungry enough to actually need food. She'd felt that Raien had come back into the mansion, which on some level made her feel better. She really liked Chimera. And normally she didn't like anyone. He was so open, so caring, and so naïve. The old Emma would have used that to her advantage in some way. After she'd let everything out, she'd felt for a few moments that she could become the White Queen once more, that she could regain some of what she'd lost when her daughter was taken from her. Not the cruelness and heartlessness she used to enjoy, but the confidence and backbone she now so sorely lacked.
As her mind drifted from person to person, it finally fell on Raien. She was surprised to be able to see into his mind. When she'd last tried, it had been like a slippery bar of soap that couldn't be held onto. But now it was wide open. And she could see damage. Where a normal person's mind was a tapestry of emotions, memories, and feelings, Raien's was torn. Some of the threads leading to the wrong places. When she looked in farther, she felt as though she could help him. She could tell he was asleep, so her intrusion wouldn't be discovered. As she began re-spinning the fragile threads of Raien's consciousness, she became aware of how vast the task was. There were literally millions of threads. It was like trying to untangle a great mass of rope.
A slight shimmer in her outermost thoughts let her know that Xavier was watching. She ignored him and started. She found herself quickly tiring. She then sensed something as Xavier moved farther into her mind. Approval. And an offer of assistance. Emma continued to act as though he wasn't there, and eventually the man went away, leaving her alone again, wading through the tangled mass of Raien's mind.
Emma sensed something suddenly, and as Raien awoke, his mind slicked over once more, expelling Emma from it, somewhat painfully to her. As she lay down in her bed, she thought of this as her penance. That maybe if she could help one she'd wronged, maybe something of her own dignity could return to her. And Raien would never have to know she helped him.

Raien woke with a start, feeling disoriented. He felt something that didn't seem quite right, but the thought faded rapidly as Chimera's arm tightened around his waist. He didn't even remember coming from the Rec Room back to their quarters. Chimera must have carried him. Raien smiled, and as a meaty thumb stroked his cheek he knew that Chimera was awake now too. He opened his eyes, to an almost un-natural darkness. He missed the illumination his eyes normally gave off. Raien realized that he hadn't really said much to Chimera since coming back with him early that morning. He'd become so fatigued on the walk home, that Chimera had tried to stop and let him rest, but when whatever device he was using to look normal began to flicker, he simply picked Raien up in some kind of front side gorilla carry. Raien loved the feeling. How easily Chimera could lift him. Raien kicked himself silently for even thinking that there could be anything better. He slowly rolled over so he could look into Chimera's eyes.
"I'm sorry." Raien whispered. He was about to say something else, when Chimera's lips met his slowly and gently. Barely touching at first, then soft pressure. Raien melted into the embrace. Sometimes he felt like Chimera could talk to him without words, as he was doing right now. In the kiss, somehow Raien knew he was forgiven. He was in awe of his lover. After what Raien had done... To be forgiven so easily, so readily was beyond him. Raien pulled back, his hands on the sides of Chimera's broad catlike face. He was about to open his mouth when Chimera spoke first.
"Because I love you." He whispered, totally taking Raien's breath away. He looked into those blue eyes, seeing in them hope, and endlessly overflowing love. Raien knew at that moment that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with this man. Not just live day to day. Hunted by one hate group or another. Discriminated against by humans for being mutants, and by mutants for being gay. Raien wanted to be free to settle down, and eerie feeling to his usual independent spirit. As he looked into those eyes. He was taken in, and spoke.
"I don't ever want to be with anyone else but you, Chimera. No one. Ever." Raien said in a shaky voice. He thought he was about to start crying, which would have made him feel really stupid, and more than a little queeny. Chimera was silent for a moment.
Raien was his world. Like the sun defined day, Raien defined him. Chimera couldn't explain when it had happened, or why it had happened so rapidly, but he knew that despite anything that would change, he didn't want to be with anyone but him. He wanted there to be another step to their relationship. He was frustrated at what others could have and what they couldn't. Jean and Scott were married, and Chimera was envious. He scolded himself constantly for it, but he couldn't shake the feeling that they had something he couldn't. Especially in this world, with hate groups in power, there was no way, ever, that he could marry this man. They could be with each other forever, but though it was only a promise and a few bands of metal, Chimera wanted it. Marriage was something that his mother had always told him even he could have. That the church couldn't stop even a mutant from it. But she hadn't known about this. He felt a twinge of pain at her memory, and a spike of hatred of the men who'd killed her. He desperately wanted to be able to tell her everything. He wanted her to be able to meet the man he loved. Chimera pulled Raien closer and laid his large head on his lover's chest. Absently he stroked his thumb on his left ring finger, knowing it would always be naked. That marriage was only for the straight, the normal. And it was painfully obvious to anyone that he was neither.
Raien lay in silence, wondering what was going through Chimera's mind. He noticed him thumbing his ring finger, obviously lost in thought. Raien wanted to do something, but he didn't know what. Chimera had been there for him since he was abducted from the sewers. He'd saved his life, and given him a reason to do something but hide all the time. Even though he'd lost his powers, Chimera made him feel more than just a man. As if in his eyes, Raien still defied gravity. Chimera had barely left his side since he'd come back. Or rather, been carried back. It was almost like Chimera was trying to physically hold him close, that if Raien was out of sight for more than a few minutes, he might try to leave again. It couldn't have been farther from the truth. Despite all that had happened over the past few days, or maybe because of it, Raien looked at his lover with a sense of wonder.
He needed to think, and though he didn't want to leave the comfortable feelings of where he was right now, he knew he couldn't keep a clear head with Chimera so close. He kissed the man's furry forehead and slowly rolled Chimera from him.
"I need to get something to drink. I'll be back in a few minutes. Do you want anything?" Raien said slowly. Chimera looked at him for a moment in confusion, but he could sense that Raien needed to be alone for a short time, and respected that. "Give me a few minutes, I'll be back. Don't move a muscle." He finished, smiling.
Raien walked into the hallways, and eventually found the kitchen. He noticed that he felt remarkably stronger than he had that afternoon. He didn't know if he was healing, or if it was just being back with Chimera, but the difference was tangible. He poured himself a large glass of milk from the carton in the fridge and took a long gulp before setting the glass down on the counter. He heard footsteps, and a moment later, Jean walked in, rubbing tired eyes. She looked at him for a moment and smiled warmly, retrieving her own glass of milk. Se sat across from him, and was content to sit with him in silence.
Raien looked at her, and he could sense how happy she was. Not just the mood that she had at the moment, but the general air around her. She was content. Raien felt that too, but there was something he was missing that she had. He tried to figure it out, and felt very stupid when his gaze found her left ring finger. He stared at the ring there for a long time. Sure it was a beautiful ring, and had probably cost a fortune. But Raien slowly realized what it represented. He looked back to Jean, who had caught him staring, and was just looking at him, waiting for him to speak first.
"How is it? Being married, I mean?" Raien asked slowly, seeing her eyes begin to glitter. A slow smile spread onto her crimson lips.