Warning, for characters' death (I 'm not saying who) and some rough action.
Time always seems to fly by
Years all gone in a second
A lifetime lived in a day
Tic Toc,
The clock is ticking away...
And when you'll feel tired,
Feel the age, aches and pains all inside
Oh, Death will be there, at your side.
Tic. Toc.
And take your life away, he will,
Take it and hide it with lock.
You might cry out,
Call for friends and shout.
Tic Toc
That is how your clock will stop.
Thoughts and memories all gone astray.
Oh, your life is already far far away,
Time, you see, always seems to fly away,
Years all gone in a second,
A lifetime lived in a day,
Tic Toc,
That is how the clock ticks away...
(it's a song, nursery rime style, try imagining some kind of merry tune with it)
oooooooo
"Can Ah help ya?" Rogue's voice rang out over the roof towards the dark figure of Death. However, her voice had a harsh tune to it, and was replaced, with the help of the same image inducer on her wrist that hid her real features, by a voice devoid of any accent. "Can I help you?" is what the Death heard.
Rogue's breath hit the air with mist, her eyes still intent on the other mutant, slowly but surely she turned towards him, squaring her shoulders.
"Yes, in fact you may," he said, his head cocked to one side, watching the young woman that stood in front of him. His eyes searched her face and sandy coloured hair for recognition. "I don't think I know you..." he whispered more to himself than to Rogue. "But that can be remedied quickly." A sly smile spread out as he said this.
"Sorry to say," Rogue said, her words dripping with sarcasm. "But I think I'll pass."
It may not seem so, but Rogue's heart was racing. It was the first time she had heard Death speak to her directly, last time had been in riddle, a dark nursery rime. It still chilled her to the bone thinking about it. She felt the cold sweat forming on her forehead. Clenching her hands in fists, she tried to stop them from trembling.
Rogue knew it deep down this was Death, although he seemed to be cloakless, and his face unnaturally young. He wore an overcoat instead, and his eyes were un-doubtfully alive and staring at her like two black pools.
His smile hadn't dropped. "You seem timid," he declared, seeming casual, however, his dark eyes glinted maliciously. "You're an X-man, a young mutant... now, I'm curious to know what kind of powers you have." Saying this, he grabbed something from inside his overcoat, producing a shining white rod, which he held out in his hand. With an audible click, it extended into a bo-staff.
Rogue was still frozen in the same place. She wanted to run and hide, but now, she had a chance to affront him, whoever Death was, for whomever he worked for, Sinister or anyone esle. A little confidence finally warming her heart, she placed her hands on her hips.
"I don't really think this is, like, a very good idea, Rogue. Just one word, and I phase you right through the roof." By Kitty's psyche's voice, she was more than uneasy with the whole situation. "Plus, really, he should know that with a pale complexion, you just DON'T wear black..." she said with her usual mannerisms. She wasn't realising in what danger Rogue was presently in.
"Remy ain't a coward, but maybe chere should take Kitty's advice and slip through... while we're still alive, dat is."
Rogue sniffed the air, Death smelt like danger, an unhealthy mix of insanity and expensive eau-de-cologne. It was with Logan's help and heightened senses that she'd felt Death's presence on the roof tops. Finding an excuse to leave Amara out of harm's way, Rogue had headed here so she could deal with whatever threat the hidden mutant could pose. It's when the unnatural shill hit her that she guessed who it was. Never would she forget it.
Death's smile faded, turning into a mad grin, his lower lip drooping as his skin suddenly became lax around his chin and eyes, the latest turning to a sickly white.
Rogue lifted her chin in defiance, her green eyes sparkling dangerously. Unknown to Death, Rogue had acquired a new psyche, under the form of Logan.
"Ya always had to go through more than the average. But if ya can control the powers ya absorb, I want ya to have mine. Know I can't always be there to protect ya, Rogue..." Logan paused as if it was taking a lot out of him to say these words. "Stripes," he added, his fingers brushing a white strand of hair away from the front of her face.
Rogue looked up at him, it was un-doubtfully concern she was seeing in his eyes. And that moment, she felt loved in a way that Mystique had never really offered, that Irene had never really been able to fulfil completely. He trusted her blindly, but always worried like a true parent.
"I know ya prefer to not tell me some stuff, to the old grumpy man that I am. I trust ya, right? Then trust me."
He brought her close, wrapping his large arms around her small form, giving what was unmistakably a strong-armed hug. Rogue didn't know how to react to this. And gently, he kissed her bare forehead, it was only a small contact, but it was enough.
"Stripes, make the bloke regret he ever crossed yer path," Wolverine psyche declared. "See what we can do."
"Maybe I can show you first handed, then," Rogue told him.
ooooooo
Gambit recovered quickly from the blast of the psychic blade which had stabbed him through the skull. Gripping Psylocke's arm, he thrust her over his shoulder, slamming her body down on the street's floor. Taking a step back, he looked down at was unbelievably the mutant Psylocke, then up to the same and yet different form, that was quickly approaching ahead, ready to charge him with her pink blades sizzling. There were clones, it was the only explanation.
Meanwhile, the Psylocke on the ground was quickly regaining her senses, her eyes deadly intent on Gambit who once more had his red bo staff in hand.
Remy delivered a blow to Pyslocke's stomach before sending his staff in the direction of the second Psylocke, swiping as she raised her head. She went sprawling once more, her face bloodied by the strike. Gambit swung his staff back at the other clone, driving his attention back towards her. It hissed as it sliced through the air.
Her face scrunched up in rage, she leapt away from Gambit's attack, his bo staff hitting the floor instead with a loud CRACK. But out of nowhere, cards started flying out of his hand again, speeding away like red comets, a trail of energy behind as they flew.
Flexing her legs, she leapt up in the air, somersaulting over the charged cards, letting them fly behind her before she fell back to the street. She landed crouched, her arms spread out before her to brace her fall. Purple locks hiding her expression, she lunged for Gambit, a tormented cry escaping her wide open lips.
Gambit fenced off her attack, parrying her arms and hands, which were still holding the psychic blades. He thrust them away from his face. side-stepping her next move, he ducked as she swung her blades at him once more, still trying to impel them in his skull.
Remy's own ears rung from the stab he'd received from Psylocke earlier. The fight, however, was turning frantic. He had to find Rogue someway, warn her. If what Death said was true, he would stop at nothing to get her.
Gambit sprung onto a crate, then jumped onto the top of a large rubbish bin. After have sent the charged cards he could spare down on the street, raining it with explosions, he gripped the drainpipe that rose up to the roofs and higher-up balconies. Heaving himself up, he skilfully climbed it, his gloved hands gripping the metal while his feet pushed against the brick wall, using the crevasses there to his advantage, steadying his hold.
Remy spared a glance down.
Psylocke was at his pursuit, down bellow she tried to wrench the pipe out of the wall, sending dangerous tremors along it. She soon abandoned, and climbed up at her turn. Her eyes didn't make Remy at ease. They were large, an insane flicker in her pupils that had never been like Psylocke as he used to know her.
Further away in the street, the other Psylocke was still on the ground. He'd delivered a violent blow to her head with his staff, and she was presently holding her face in her hands, blood spilling to the street, gurgling in her own liquids, whimpering in pain. And the other clone, still smoking, completely still.......
The drainpipe shuddered and jerked under his grip with the other Psylocke's clone's weight added upon it, from meters down bellow.
Taking hold of the ledge of the roof, he swung over it and onto the top of the building. No sooner he'd stepped over, he was tackled to the floor brutally, his back slammed down hard against the gravel. Sharp blades were held to his neck, but not those that he'd expected. A gruff looking face peered down on him instead of Psylockes' tortured features.
"Gumbo, ya're in trouble bub," Wolverine growled down on him in his orange and brown suit. Logan expressly didn't mention from who the trouble was from; him or Psylocke.
"Get ya paws off Remy, homme," Remy gritted, pushing the blades away with more force than he had really left. He was starting to feel weak, but wouldn't confess to the older man that he was actually glad to see him. "Remy's not in flirting right now."
"Remy? What, like happened to you?" Kitty's worried voice drifted over. Shadowcat approached, looking up at him with her large blue eyes, as if she expected to see Remy suddenly fall unconscious on the spot. Her cheeks were rosy pink from the cold.
"Nothing, p'tite Rogue's in danger. Dere's a powerful mutant afte' chere." The words came out in a rush, but his gaze was suddenly adverted to where he'd climbed over onto the roof. Before Wolverine or Shadowcat could stop him, he rushed over to the spot and looked down over he railing.
Remy stifled a gasp. Gone were Psylocke and her wounded clone. The street was empty of their presence, only evidence that a fight had taken place were the burnt trash, scorched marks from Gambit's own powers and a puddle of scarlet blood. Except, except the crumpled form of the clone he had actually charged, still smocking on the ground.
He felt nausea hitting his senses in larges waves, the surroundings suddenly swimming around him.
Logan followed him to the edge, glancing down on the street. He was quick to put two and two together. He suddenly had him in his grip, grasping both sides of his trenchcoat, shaking Gambit as if he was weightless. "Ya're in BIG trouble, gumbo." The thief smelt death, like the street bellow. Carbonised flesh and death. Gambit had delivered a killing blow with his powers, and Wolverine was well aware of it. "What's happened to Stripes? What mutant?" he yelled, holding him up several inches off the ground.
"Logan! Stop!" Kitty came to Gambit's defence, her hands on Logan's arms. "He's hurt!"
"Me fine, now if yeh all could listen." It was only at that moment that Remy realised that he had a gash in his chest, bleeding profoundly.
When had that happened? He couldn't seem to remember being hit. When he'd fought Psylocke, nothing had counted to him, except bringing her down while everything else had been blocked out. His civil wear he'd gone out with that morning and his trenchcoat were starting to get soaked up in his own blood. But now that he saw the wound, it was starting to feel real. Pain started to course through his chest as he came to realisation that he'd actually been injured.
"Dis isn't de time for tea!" Gambit shouted back, using one of Pyro's favourite lines, trying to push the burning sensation away. But any strength left was quickly slipping away. "Chere needs t' be saved. Where did she go?"
Logan let him go without pretence. "I'll see to that- you're gotta get outta of here." Saying this, he fiddled with the microphone that hung from his ear and down to his mouth. "Rogue, Rogue! Do ya hear me? Is everything alright? Do ya copy that?" His face became suddenly stricken. "Magma, is Rogue with ya?"
Kitty was biting her nails worriedly, having completely forgotten about Gambit all together. "Is she there? Is she all right?"
Remy looked at the stout man with anticipation, holding his breath. If Rogue didn't reply Logan, if she'd already been taken, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself. If she'd been taken again, back to Sinister and his experiments...
"Damn, Volcano girl says that they parted ways some time ago," he told them. "I'll get her, ya two get to X-Jet." Kitty was about to protest- "NOW!" Logan shouted.
"This way, Gambit," Kitty instructed Remy, but he refused to cooperate, he wasn't going to let Logan go on his own to save his chere. Wolverine didn't know what kind of mutants he would be handling with. He had to be there.
"Remy's going with ya-"
"No ya don't, bub," Wolverine growled. "Ya're leaving- for good. Ya going to be locked up for what ya did."
Remy tried to straighten up, what was Logan talking about? His thoughts had turned to a jumbled mess while the pain in his chest was actually becoming unbearable. A groan escape his lips. Logan couldn't be fooled, and Gambit was not ready to back down.
He decided that he wouldn't waste any more minutes on this roof.
Before Remy could respond, a right hook came flying towards his head, striking him right between the eyes.
Gambit slumped to the roof's top, unconscious. "That should stop him from following," Logan stated. "Shadowcat, call for Nightcrawler. If he tries to escape, knock him out again."
"You punched him!" Kitty yelled, crouching down next to Gambit. "He's gonna die!"
"No he won't," Logan said confidently. "If I'd wanted to kill him, it's not my fist I'd use: I would have gutted him properly." He added under his breath, looking down on Remy's now still form. He was living all right. Next time he'd wake up, it'd be in a cell for what he did. Proof again, Magneto's lackeys were no angels.
Logan soon came into contact with Professor X, who'd stayed at the Mansion, using Cerebro's technology and his own strengthened telepathy to direct their moves. "Heard that, Chuck? Give me Rogue's position," Logan said through the microphone.
oooooooo
Rogue barely avoided getting knocked to ground with Death's staff, as it whizzed over her head just inches away. Her hands balled into fists, she planted some of her own hard punches to Death's unprotected side after have phased right through his staff that passed into her stomach harmlessly.
Rogue didn't show it, but she was terrified. She thought she was imagining things, but she seemed to be hearing the slow ring of large bells, echoing continuously through her head. In fact it was her heart, banging against her chest as if there was no tomorrow. She gasped for oxygen as she escape Death's next move, his staff grazing her shoulder.
It was somehow getting harder to breathe, and she wasn't the only one to realise this.
"You should have fallen like a fly a long time ago," Death hissed through his teeth as he launched his next attack, shoving his staff towards Rogue's small figure once again. "Withering in pain on the ground like a worm, you should be. Dying in a second."
Raw flesh was now hanging from his face, his eyes now deep gashes in his skulls, pupils missing. Two holes devoid of any gaze replaced them. Rogue nearly cheered as she thought she saw an infinite sign of fatigue. Wolverine's healing power seemed to be a match to Death's own detoriating abilities. However, she wasn't faring well either.
Suddenly she phased right though the gravel covered floor of the roof. Death looked about, dumfounded, his head whipping side to side, waiting for her to reappear. Before he had time to register, Rogue resurfacing up from beneath and tripped him.
Her victory was short lived. Death managed to steady himself with his staff and struck her in the head with his boot. Rogue's head jerked back painfully, sending her stumbling away. She slowly picked herself up, Death not seeming to make another offensive move towards her. He was actually looking at her curiously, with those dark holes for eyes.
She felt pain swore through her side, her breath coming short. Rogue stilled for moment, Death still didn't move, both trying to regain their strength. He held himself up with the help of his staff, leaning against it generously. His mouth opened and closed, showing a row of rotting teeth, still not taking his gaze away from her.
Rogue blinked. He was tiring, and she was still standing, healing quickly from Death's powers.
"Interesting," Death gasped. "Very. But this, is, only- the beginning."
"That's all you got for me, sugar? You talk the talk, but can't seem to walk the..."
With a rush of wind, he suddenly revived, his features turning young in a second, eyes reappearing. He came as a whirlwind, and Rogue watched, unable to stop him, her psyches silent with shock. It happened all in a second, his form had become a dark blur.
Something pale glinted at the end of his staff, something sharp. It rushed towards her, but it was too late.
Rogue's hand leapt to her throat. Trying to gasp for some air while Death pulled back, watching his work. A curved blade had appeared at the end of his staff, transforming it into a scythe, blood now tainting its edge. A victorious smile spread across his face.
If Rogue could have screamed, she would have, however, she wasn't able to voice the immense pain she felt, for her vocal cords were cut, her throat sliced from Death's assault. Blood flooded her hands, still at her neck enable to stop it flow, pouring down her uniform. This couldn't be possible. It wasn't the end. She still had things to do, her ironing to do back at the Mansion. Tell Kitty to stop wearing that awful turquoise shirt, steal a donut from Kurt.
She'd hit the ground without really realising that she'd fallen. Her blood polled beneath her, seeping through the gravel.
Her eyes took in a last sight: Death stooped over her, his lips moving slowly, his words crisp cold. "Here is the chopper..." He stood back up, and raised his scythe once more over Rogue's fallen form and neck.
Rogue trembled from head to foot, having only eyes for the blood-stained blade that glinted in the morning's faint light. Her vision darted to darkness, before it suddenly came back with a wave relief. She wanted to rip his face to shreds, trash him over the roof. However, she withered there, unable to take action. Her arms felt like lead, while the pressure she felt in her head was making her see stars.
"Don't look angry, you can't escape me so easily."
She coughed, blood woosing from her mouth, chocking on it. Her heart pounded in her chest, faster and faster, while her stomach knotted painfully. Her ear drums rung throughout her head, pressure mounting to new heights. She shook, feeling the cold stab at her body, shivering uncontrollably.
"Hold on, Stripes- Rogue! Please don't die!- Chere... You can't leave Remy." Wolverine, Kitty and Gambit had become a mass of incomprehensible words and mumbling in the background of her mind.
Rogue gritted her teeth. "Get lost," she croaked out, biting down all the pain she felt at that moment. I was nothing more than a hoarse whisper to Death's years.
A mix of surprise crossed his face, amazed that she had actually managed to talk, before it scrunched up in something unreadable. To her horror, his face suddenly softened and a clear but chilling laugh came from his open mouth ringing in the silent air. "You never abandon, do you, Rogue?" His voice sent tremors down her body. "Don't you see, you're alone, always so alone." He let his staff down to his side and crouched back down to her side, ripping the image inducer from her wrist, letting her arm fall back down limply to her side.
The sandy coloured hair turned to brown and pure white locks, her green eyes seemed to be unable to stay on his face any longer, shifting around tiredly.
"Seems you've also absorbed Weapon X to have such good healing abilities." His hand hovered over her torn throat, Rogue tried to recoil in vain. He pressed his ice-cold fingers to her neck, pain shooting away at his fingertips. "Want that to continue bleeding," he explained with a grimace, noticing that he had stained his white fingers with her blood.
"No absorption, sorry Rogue," he said wiggling his fingers to he face.
Her mind was whirling, what was happening, however, she wasn't able to make out anymore, her thoughts became less and less clear, and they soon jumbled up to a mass of confusion. Her head and vision seemed to spin and spin around, all sense of directions vanishing. Rogue was unable to register anything he said by now, fighting to simply stay conscious. The darkness seemed to be calling to her, asking to join it and finally rest; she slowly found it tempting. She didn't realised that Death had just touched her skin without protection. Wolverine had fast healing, but it didn't seem to be quick enough this time.
"No, I have higher orders, from Sinister. You're going back where you belong, Rogue. Beside, I can kill you, then revive your body, but it's a rather traumatizing experience to say the least." He smiled broadly, having considered this option already. But Sinister's recommendations were having her toiled back 'unscratched'. It was bad enough he'd sliced her throat, even if that would heal. He pinched her cheek fondly. "Now, you wouldn't have liked that-..."
However, he had his words cut by a menacing growl from behind him. "She ain't alone no more, bub."
Rogue tried to cling to consciousness, but the more she tried, the more she seemed to slip into darkness. Sounds rippled around her without being able to distinguish anything; The last think she felt was a cold touch on the end of her nose, however, it sent an unexpected soughing feeling of piece over her mind. And then, there was no more.
oooooooo
Well, does Rogue survive? You'll find out in the... next Episode!
Logan let Rogue absorb him. And it seems he's arrived to save the day! But, well, getting your throat slit is pretty bad.
But, oh no! Our favourite Cajun as been knocked out. Wolverine seems to be the only one aware that Remy actually killed (kitty was rather oblivious), even if he doesn't know who was the victim yet (a Psylocke clone). Now, will he tell? Rogue and Remy both seem to be in a big mess. I'll try putting lighter tones in the next chappies, thoug.
Anyway, found it rather good. What do u think? Made some real effort on the action scenes which I usually don't manage to do... Was it okay? Suggestions are welcomed.
I've actually been thinking about the sequel to come after all this, when Rogue will have solved her problems (some). I just promise, it won't be like any other fic you've read (if I ever manage to finish this fic first). I've actually already written the prologue.
Reviews! How I love you guys! Thanks again.
Discord, Goddess of Death: a personal hell? Hehe, your comment made me laugh! How thoughtful. Sure, he'll appreciate.
Ms.RogueLebeau: Update, update! How was the action? I really need to know. However, there seems more angst than fluff... I'll soon get back to Romy, promise.
AngstWolf: yeah, talking about updates, don't u think it's time for you to make the great jump and do the same? (Pretty please)
Star-of-Chaos: Amara needs a punch, but our poor Remy gets in instead. Under my sweet heart and girlish features, there's a ruthless sadistic maniac hiding there. /sighs in content./
Ishandahalf : Nah, I think I owe Rogue and Remy a happy life by now after all the hardship I put them through.
Pristinediamond: wouah! Well, u'l discover exactly which choice I took next chapter. But, yeah, getting free of authorities, now that she's a 'known' criminal! Suppose she would need to flee the country if she survives all this ordeal. And for the moment, Death stays a mystery (he's actually an OC of my own making), but he seems to know about Logan (Weapon X). enjoyed your suppositions, got me thinking loads there. ï
IvyZoe: can't hide you anything, can I? Mary is staying, mh... invisible for the moment, for safety measures. But don't you think it would be more interesting if mh... (can't spoil the rest for others) SHE survives? How would she react to knowing that in fact her existence is actually... not technically hers? (do I make any sense to you?)
Thanks also to archer's-angel (i'll see what I can do for that fluff), Sweety8587 (I understand you completely about the Rogue/Remy thing. It's together or nothing), Plague-darkholme (I think u'll be pleased about the outcome of next chapter) and RoguesTale (thanks a lot for the advice, i'll stay PG-13 then).
Now, get to that review button and make a girl happy. Muchas gracias!