Wild Card: Part One
The traditional Xavier Institute Holiday party was in full swing. The students and teachers were all exchanging gifts. Jean and Scott were quietly talking in a corner after having given out all of their gifts quickly. Unlike the year before Kurt had left the mistletoe where Beast had put it up. He was joking and laughing with Bobby, Amanda (whose parents allowed her to come reluctantly) and a few of the other younger students. Beast was giving Peter football tips in one corner, while Ororo looked nervously out the window in another. Kitty was talking to Lance on the phone; apparently they were releasing him from the hospital soon and Kitty was arranging to see him during her holiday time off from the Institute. Warren was arranging to see his parents some time over vacation, debating with them without end over his cell phone. Logan and the professor sat together smiling at each other knowingly. Logan was one of the few people who hadn't given out gifts yet, but everyone assumed he didn't have any. After a few more minutes he got up and disappeared. Remy was debating with Sam over whether straight Southern cooking was as good as Cajun cooking, but he kept glancing over towards another southern mutant that was sitting in the room.
Xavier had given each of his students a book in the genera they liked the most, and in one of the larger chairs Rogue was curled up, reading hers. It was Garth Nix's Lirael, his sequel to the book Sabriel. Ironically, Rogue had picked up the taste for Nix's works from Wanda when she had absorbed the Scarlet Witch's powers for Apocalypse. Rogue had long since decided that if anything, Wanda had a good taste in books. She had hardly looked up for the past ten minutes, she was so engrossed.
Wolverine returned not long after he left, toting a sack. He flopped it in the middle of the living room and cleared his throat. This made even Rogue look up.
"As a special sort of present," he grunted, "I've gotten you each something I think you'll appreciate." He handed out the boxes to the students one by one, warning each of them not to open it until everyone had theirs. Everyone obeyed, seeing as disobeying would land them a danger room session in the wee hours in the morning and they didn't want that.
Finally as he handed the last package to Scott he nodded and everyone tore into the presents.
There were several simultaneous gasps of surprise. Jean was the first one to speak. "Logan! New uniforms! You shouldn't have!"
"They're more personalized," Logan grunted, "and more functional than the others. Hank's been workin' on some 'unstable molecule cloth thingy'. The uniforms will repair rips on their own, and they're ten times tougher than the other stuff." He grinned. "Which means I can make your trainin' sessions that much harder without worryin' about the laundry."
There was a collective groan from his audience, replaced quickly by little squeals of delight from the various students. The younger students had uniforms that were very much the same as the old ones, but with small 'Xs' over their heart that doubled as a communicator. Illyana was presented with her very first uniform, and she inspected it carefully, unsure of what to make of it. The older students looked over their uniforms, which were very much so altered from their current ones, being made of black cloth instead of navy, and featuring a more stylized look to them. Rogue noticed how Jean and Kitty's new uniform consisted of a belly shirt and pants, while her uniform had a much longer shirt. She mentally rolled her eyes. Having that much skin exposed could only be a bad idea on her anyway. . .
As she took out the main part of the uniform she noticed that there was a green jacket with a hood folded up neatly underneath it. on top of it lay a scrawled not that read I didn't want you to feel left out kid, so I picked this up to give your outfit more flair. There's a new pair of gloves in here too- your old ones were looking kinda worn out.
Rogue smiled gently as she lifted the coat out. It was actually pretty odd looking, a bit heavier than the uniform. As she looked it over she noticed that there was something in one of the pockets. It was a small box, wrapped in shiny red paper, and topped off with a delicate gold ribbon. Rogue looked around quickly and noticed that none of the other girls were opening small boxes. Confused, she slipped the ribbon off, tore the paper and opened the box.
Inside was a small silver chain with two miniature playing cards dangling from it. Rogue looked at the cards and noted that there were words scrawled across the back. One read "Un rat de marais" in elaborate script. Rogue had learned that phrase was French for 'A swamp rat', and in matching script on the other card it read "Et sa reine des coeurs"- 'and his Queen of Hearts'.
When she flipped over she noticed that the Swamp Rat card was the 'joker' and the other card was a mini queen of hearts. If there was any doubt in her mind who the necklace was from this realization clenched it.
She looked up and scanned the room again, looking for Remy, but a voice by her shoulder made her jump and saved her the trouble.
"You like it cherie?" Remy murmured into her ear. "I even did de right t'ing an' paid for it, instead of nickin' it. Was temptin' too, but Remy know how much you don' like him doin' dat."
Rogue's fingers twisted around the chain nervously. "It- it's beautiful," she whispered. "Th- thank you." she fumbled with something and then held it out to him. "It- it ain't much. . . but Ah kinda picked up on one or two things ya needed last time Ah was in yah head."
He took the simple black box from her and slipped it open with a deft movement. He grinned slightly when he opened it. It was a black leather wallet with a simple silver 'R' stitched into one corner. "I guess you picked up dat I didn' have one of my own-"
"Since you 'nicked' everyone else's instead," Rogue finished for him. "Yeah," she said. "Ah- Ah hope you like it."
"It's perfect cherie." Her twirled a strand of her white hair between his fingers and leaned towards her.
Rogue jerked away. "Remy- don't," she said quietly, her voice aching.
"Rogue it's okay-" he began, but Kurt suddenly appeared before them.
"Hey! Dhere you are!" he said merrily to the two of them. "Here," he passed them both presents, "I've been trying to get a chance to give these to you all night!"
Rogue smiled at him brightly and thanked him, opening the flat package. It was the Evanescence CD that she had been planning on buying for some time but with all that had been happening she had never gotten around to. "Kurt, you didn't have to-" she protested. Kurt waved it off.
"It vas my pleasure," he said. Remy opened his present. It too was a CD.
"Damn!" he said with a low whistle. "A double CD of Duke Ellington's music!" He looked up at Kurt. "T'anks mon ami. I haven't heard any decent Jazz since I come up from N'awlins."
"I'm glad you like it," Kurt said in genuine relief. "I really vas at a loss as to vhat to buy you. I vasn't sure what you'd like."
"It's perfect," Remy assured him with a smile and a pat on the back. Kurt beamed at him. When he had teleported away Remy looked back down at Rogue. He smiled at her and kissed the top of her hair. "We talk later cherie."
"Right," she mumbled as he walked away.
Ororo approached her, a frown forming on her face. "Are you quite all right Rogue?"
"Ah'm fine Ororo. Ah'm jus' thinkin' 'bout how quiet it's gonna be here tomorrow, aftah everyone goes home. Ah mean last time Scott was hangin' around. Now he's goin' with Alex t' visit his adoptive family in Hawaii," Rogue sighed.
"Cheer up," Ororo said, squeezing her shoulder. "I believe Tabitha plans on staying here too."
Across the room Kitty paused in her conversation. "Hang on Lance, I have another call. Hello? Hey Rahne!" She looked up and called out, "Rahne says 'Happy Holidays'!"
Kitty held out the phone and everyone chorused "HAPPY HOLIDAYS RAHNE!" so loud that the house shook a little. Kitty giggled, put the phone back to her ear and said, "How are you? That's good. Yeah, she's here, hang on a minute." Kitty pushed through the crowd to find Tabitha and hand her the phone. "Just don't hang up when you're finished. Lance is on the other line."
"Hey wolf girl!" Tabitha said merrily into the phone. "What's up?" Her smile broadened and her eyes widened. "Reaaaaaally?! Awesome! Let me ask!" She put one hand over the mouthpiece and shouted, "Hey professor! Rahne says that her mom's inviting me to Scotland for the holidays, since she knows I'm not going home. Can I go?"
The professor nodded. "Of course." He paused. "Tell Moira I send my regards."
"All right!!" She pumped an arm in the air. She relayed the professor's message, said a few more words, then told Rahne she'd call her back after seeing Kitty's impatient face.
"So, that leaves me," Rogue sighed heavily.
Ororo sighed with her and pat her on the back. "What about your biological-"
"Ah don't know who they are," Rogue cut her off. "Closest thing Ah got to a family is all y'all. . . and Irene."
"I'm glad you see us as a family," Ororo said.
"Yah th' only one Ah got. At least now yah are. Irene helped Mystique play with mah head. . . Ah can't forgive her f'r that," Rogue muttered. Ororo glanced out the window again. Rogue picked up on the action and said, "Y'all are worried 'bout Evan ain't ya?"
"He's just too young- and in so many ways, too immature- to be out on his own. Especially in a world that hates him," She shook her head. "Vi is going to be so disappointed if he didn't get my message."
"Message?"
"They want him to come home for the holidays." Ororo ran a hand through her hair. "It was the hardest thing I had to do, tell them that he was living underground with the Morlocks."
"Ah bet they aren't having much of a holiday," Rogue mumbled.
"What?" Ororo looked at her, confused.
"Well when ya think 'bout it, they have to rummage around to get food. . .and we've all heard from Ms. Leech what happened when Evan tried to go shopping. . . So they're probably having a miserable Christmas. Th' Morlocks, that is. Ah doubt anyone's sending them presents."
Ororo's eyes lit up. "Rogue, that's a wonderful idea!"
Now Rogue looked confused. "What? Huh? What did Ah say?"
"No wonder why Evan hasn't responded! He cares about the Morlocks! He wouldn't want to go home to be with his family and open gifts and have dinner when he knows the others aren't!"
Rogue gave her an oblivious look.
Ororo patted her on the back. "We'll bring Christmas to them! Hank will help me, and I'll get Logan to stick around for it too. I bet the Morlocks will be surprised!"
Rogue blinked slowly as Ororo walked away. She wasn't quite sure how she had gotten the older mutant to go off on that tangent, but she was pretty sure that Ororo was happier now than when she had begun to talk to Rogue. She shrugged and went back to her reading.
"Aren't the new uniforms great Scott?" Jen said, excitedly picking at hers. "They look much better than the old outfits." She added in a low tone, "I always thought that Kurt's outfit made him look like some sort of circus performer."
"Behold, zee Incredible Nightcrawler, star of zee circus!" Scott said in a horrible German accent that was more French than anything else. Jean laughed a little.
"So, everyone here has to bundle up when they go home, but you, mister," she tweaked his nose, "get to pack shorts and a swimsuit. Life is not fair," she rolled her eyes.
He put on a very serious face. "I promise I won't have any fun whatsoever."
Jean looked at him very seriously as well and said, "I should expect not." Then they both cracked up.
"You'll say 'hello' to your Mom and dad for me right? And give them my gifts?" Scott asked her.
"Of course, but it's easy to see you're trying to butter them up," she teased him.
"Hey, I've got Magneto and the brotherhood, Mystique, whatever is left of the Acolytes, my college education, and a bunch of mutant haters to worry about. I don't need my girlfriend's parents wishing me ill," Scott retorted.
Jean laughed and kissed him on the cheek. Scott wrapped his arms around her and they chatted occasionally, perfectly content to stay like that for the entire night.
"You guys are impossible!" Warren burst out, throwing his wings and the one arm that wasn't connected to the hand holding the cell phone into the air. One of his wings clipped Jamie, who stumbled to the ground, turning into several more Jamies on his way down and a few more when he actually landed. This multiplied the sweater he had been holding. All the Jamies looked at it, shrugged, and put it on. Then they reformed into one. "Can't you skip that meeting? I mean I want to see you, not Jeffrey! Why in God's name would I want to spend Christmas eve with the butler?!" He fell into an angry silence and then snapped, "FINE! See if I care! It's not like I haven't spent almost every Christmas alone anyway!" He started to hang up but there were protests from the other end. "I'm sick and tired of your excuses!" He slapped the phone shut.
"Are you all right comrade?" Peter asked.
"I'm fine," Warren grumbled. "My parents always pull this kind of crap on me. I hope I've given them enough of a guilt trip to get a visit."
Peter gave him an odd look. "Whatever you say, comrade." Peter would have struck up a conversation to get Warren's mind off of it, but Illyana pulled him aside and began discussing their flight plans to get back home.
"Hey Rogue!" Kitty said, approaching the Goth with a smile on her face. She gave her roommate a hug and showed off her uniform. "Check it out- my arm bands have little computers in them!"
Rogue looked up from her book again and smiled. "Well, better you than me. Ah'd probably do something wrong an' blow up mah arms." She snickered. "In th' middle o' th' danger room are we gonna have to tell ya to stop e-mailin' people?"
Kitty laughed. "Maybe. Depends on if Wolverine is teaching or not."
Rogue laughed as well then sighed. "It's gonna be awfully quiet 'round here tomorrow night."
"Oh, wow, yeah," Kitty said. "Everyone's going home to be with family, aren't they?"
'Or," Rogue muttered, "bein' invited elsewhere." She glanced over towards Tabitha. Kitty looked sheepish for a second. Rogue blinked at her then said quickly, "Ah didn't mean it t' sound like Ah was angry at you guys. It don' bothah me that much. Ah'd just be an intruder in someone else's home anyway. An' Ah'd prob'ly ruin th' whole thing by accidentally absorbin' Grandma or Grandpa or somethang."
"Rogue. . ." Kitty said, rolling her eyes.
"You know it's true," Rogue grumbled. She twisted the chain of the necklace Remy had given her around one finger.
"Hey- who's that from?" Kitty asked, nudging Rogue. Rogue mumbled something incoherently, but Kitty understood anyway. "He's such a sweetheart Rogue. He's really good for you. . . If he doesn't spoil you, that is."
Rogue snorted. "Ah need t' have a long talk with that boy," she mumbled. "He keeps on tryin' t' do things we both know are bad f'r his health."
"Like lure you under the mistletoe?"
"Not yet, but close enough," Rogue muttered.
"Rogue, like, how can you blame him? He's totally head over heels for you!"
Rogue turned slightly pink around the edges. "Yeah, well he's gonna be in th' infirmary if he don' stop- because of mah powahs or mah fists."
Kitty rolled her eyes.
The party lingered on until just around midnight. It might have gone on longer if everyone wasn't planning on traveling the next day. Everyone gave each other last minute thanks and hugs, and there were many "Happy holidays" said. Finally everyone walked to their respective rooms toting gifts, and in some cases (like Kurt) covered in ribbons and wrapping paper. Beast took out the trash while Storm and Wolverine did the dishes and Xavier did a last check up on the mansion security. After that was finished, they too went to bed.
Rogue sat up with a small book light, reading for awhile longer. Kitty was fast asleep by the time the book finally slipped from her roommates fingers. Rogue heard the light clatter and what sounded like the batteries falling out and mentally groaned, but she didn't have the effort left in her to reach down and pick it up.
She was unsure how long it had been when she heard the door open a crack. She was sleeping on her side so she opened one eye and saw alight creeping across the floor. Expecting it to be Kitty, returning from a late night snack run Rogue ignored it and closed her eyes again. She nearly jumped ten feet into the air when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Rogue?"
It was him.
Rogue sat up immediately and shot a glance over towards Kitty's bed, which was empty. Then she looked back up at Remy and whispered, "What are you doin' hea so late?"
He sat down on the edge of the bed and smiled at her. Rogue raised an eyebrow at the look he was giving her, and shifted backwards slightly. She opened her mouth to speak but Remy grabbed hold of one of her bare wrists and pulled her close, kissing her deeply. Rogue made a muffled squeak of surprise and tried to pull away, but her efforts were more or less wasted. She finally twisted away from him after several seconds and gasped, "Are you insane?!"
"Oui," he murmured smiling. Her ran a finger down the side of her cheek.
Then the realization of what had just happened hit Rogue. They were touching, but he didn't appear worse for wear, and she didn't feel any buzzing in her mind, or any new memories. "Ah don'- what in th'- how?!" She asked of him. Remy just smiled at her again and pulled her closer for another kiss. She found her arms winding around his neck, her hands tangling in his cinnamon hair. His hands moved upon her body, but when they reached the hem of her shirt Rogue pulled away.
"Remy- We can't- what about Kitty?"
"Don't worry Rogue. It's taken care of," he whispered into her ear. "Trust me."
Nervously and reluctantly Rogue nodded. Remy gently tugged the pajama top over her head and began kissing her neck and her collarbone. Rogue moaned as he slowly pushed her down on the bed and managed to slip his shirt off so that they lay together, skin to skin. The sensation made Rogue's whole body feel like it was on fire. She reached up between them and fumbled with his belt. After a few minutes she finally pulled it off with trembling fingers.
He was kissing her more and more fiercely, working his way down from her neck to her breasts and she groaned as he did so. She wasn't sure how it happened but suddenly they were both free of their clothing. His lips found hers again, and she gasped as he tried to push into her-
"Rogue? Hey, are you okay?"
Rogue's eyes snapped open violently to see Kitty standing over her, looking concerned. Rogue was suddenly very glad the lights were still off because she could feel her cheeks burning. "Uh, yeah, Ah'm fine. Why?" she asked quickly.
"You were moaning in your sleep," Kitty replied, brows furrowed. "I thought you were having another nightmare.
Not quite, Rogue thought to herself. "Ah don' remember," Rogue shrugged sullenly.
Seeing the expression on Rogue's face, Kitty bit her lip gently. "Are you sure you're, like, okay?"
"Ah'm fine." Rogue rolled over and buried her face in the pillow. "I'm jus' sleepy." She curled up, pulling the covers up over her chin.
"All right. . . I'm heading down to the kitchen. Do you want me to bring a drink up for you?" Kitty asked.
"No. . . Thanks anyway. Ah'll probably be asleep before you get back."
Kitty bent over and picked up Rogue's light and book. She put them on rogue's night table. "All right. I'll talk to you in the morning then." She phased through the floor and down towards the kitchen.
Rogue breathed into her pillow and shed a few silent tears before she drifted back to sleep.
*
Breakfast the next morning was a rushed affair, as most people were catching early flights or trains or busses home. Scott had apparently gotten up early and gone out to get a large sack of bagels, butter, and creme cheese for everyone. There was juice as well and some fruit, everyone pretty much grabbed a piece and left.
"Come on Logan," Ororo said merrily. She was dressed elegantly, as usual, and she had her pocketbook slung over one shoulder. "We've got a busy day ahead of us!"
Logan shook his head. "How'd I get roped into this? Couldn't Hank or Chuck go with you?"
"You're the only one who was free," Ororo informed him. "Hank is going to fly Tabitha to Scotland, and the professor was debating about going along-"
The phone rang urgently and Beast picked it up, "Xavier Institute, Mr. McCoy speaking." His smile broadened. "Doctor McTaggert! I'm glad you called. We were going to head out your way around- what? Yes, he's here." Beast put a hand over the bottom of the receiver and said in a puzzled tone "Professor? Dr. McTaggert says she needs to talk to you."
The Professor wheeled over and took the phone. "Hello Moira. It's good to hear from you." His facial expression changed drastically. "What? You do-? He did-? Moira, you must be very, very careful. When I last saw him he was in no condition to be interacting with others. . . Yes, yes, of course I'll come. He's my son after all. Are you sure your psychic inhibitors are working? Make sure you keep them on full power. Thank you Moira. And thank Sean for me as well. I'll see you before one." The professor hung up the phone. "I'm going to have to go to Scotland after all. Apparently David- or Lucas- stumbled upon Muir Isle. He was trying to release one of their more volatile patients. Another mutual acquaintance of ours- a mutant by the name of Sean Cassidy- happened to be there on a visit and he used his powers to knock the boy out." He looked at Hank and nodded at him. "I might be able to right the wrong that I did to the boy. I have to come with you."
Logan rolled his eyes. "So much for dumpin' this on Chuck," he grumbled to himself. "All right 'Ro, let's get this over with."
They said good-bye to everyone and headed out, Logan looking like he was heading into a battle he was sure he could not win. Rogue felt like snickering. It was hard to imagine the Wolverine having fun while picking out gifts for a bunch of kids. Especially ones he couldn't just get uniforms for.
Slowly people began leaving as their rides to the airport and such started coming. Rogue gave everyone big hugs, but frowned as she noticed that Remy didn't seem to be about. Had he snuck out when she wasn't looking? She sighed.
"Hey, why so glum Rogue?" Kitty said as she hugged her roomie. "You're going to have loads of fun! I mean you're, like, going to have the room to yourself- practically the whole mansion to yourself when you think about it." Behind her, her ride was waiting patiently.
"Whoopee," Rogue rolled her eyes. "Yeah, it's goin' t' be so entertainin' with me and th' adults."
A light smile played across Kitty's features for a second, but then she sighed, frowning. "Yeah. Well, next time maybe you can come celebrate Hanukah with me, all right?"
"Yeah, whatevah," Rogue said, giving Kitty a suspicious look. "Run along now. Yah driver looks antsy."
Kitty hefted her duffle bag over her shoulder and walked over to the waiting van. She threw her bag in the back with a few others and got in the passenger side. She waved to Rogue as she van pulled away and Rogue waved back until the car pulled out of sight.
"H- hey Rogue?" Rogue turned to see a fairly nervous Kurt holding an envelope between two of his fingers. He thrust it towards her. "I- I vanted to know- if you could mail this for me."
"Why?" Rogue asked, taking the letter away from him. It wasn't sealed, so she began to open it, but Kurt suddenly snatched it back.
"It's- uh- vell, a Christmas card."
"A. . . Christmas card?" Rogue said raising an eyebrow.
"For. . .mother."
Rogue went immediately to defensive mode. "Kurt are you insane? That dream addled yah brain! Mystique is not someone deservin' of a Christmas card. Plus why the hell would Ah know where t' send a card f'r Mystique anyway?"
"I vas hoping you could send it to Ms. Adler. . . And she might be able to forward it to mother," Kurt explained quietly.
"I- Irene?" Rogue stammered. "Ah. . . Ah've cut ties with her. . ."
"Please, Rogue?" Kurt begged her.
Rogue closed her eyes. "All right. Fine." She took the card from him again, this time more gently. "Still, Ah don' understand why on god's green earth you would try to reach out to that woman. . ."
"Who on god's green earth needs someone to reach out to her more dhan mother?"
Rogue sighed and shook her head. "Whatever. Ah'll deliver the letter Kurt- Ah promise," she added as she saw his skeptical look.
"All right," Kurt said, giving Rogue a hug. "You have a happy holiday, all right?"
"All right," Rogue echoed, patting Kurt on the back. "Now hurry along, othahwise th' van t' th' airport will leave without you."
Kurt nodded at her, cast a meaningful glance at the Christmas card, and then rushed over to the van. Along with Kurt, Amara, Bobby, and Sam were packed in the van as it drove away
The number of students continued dwindling until only she and Tabitha were left. At that point the professor wheeled over towards her. "Rogue, I'm going to have to ask you a favor. While we're out you're going to have to be in charge of the house."
Rogue nodded. "That's cool. Ah figgered as much, since Ah'm th' only one who's around."
"For the moment, yes," the professor added. "Hopefully our stay in Scotland won't be too long. Even if it is, Logan and Ororo will be back before dinner." Rogue nodded at the professor and wished him good luck. After they had also left Rogue made her way to her room, her footsteps echoing in the empty house.
Rogue sat at her desk and looked at the crisp, white envelope. She slowly began writing out Irene's address but instead of putting Irene's name on the front she wrote 'Please forward to Raven Darkholm', then she paused. Rogue slowly opened a draw and pulled out some of her leftover Christmas cards. Quickly she scrawled a message to Irene on one of them, placed in inside another envelope, and wrote out Irene's address neatly. She paused again, got up, and began to walk to her door. Then she stopped, turned around and went back to her desk. She gently extracted Kurt's card from it's envelope and looked at it. It was simply decorated with a lion and a lamb sleeping in a manger and a snow filled background. Inside, in Kurt's scrawl, was written Merry Christmas Mother, Love Kurt. On an impulse Rogue grabbed a pen and added and Rogue.
"Ah'm so gonna regret this," she mumbled to herself as she headed towards the mailbox.
*
"Charles," Moira McTaggert's said with evident relief as the professor descended from the Blackbird. "I'm glad ye could come. Yer son is this way," she said gesturing towards a large building. "We been having a bit o' trouble keeping him in line. He's pushing the inhibitors to their max."
Beast sighed deeply. "You had to have a son with a bit of your own power, didn't you Professor?"
Charles twined his fingers together. "Last time we met the Lucas personality tricked me into banishing the others. I intend to fix that this time. Then I'll begin to train the boy in his powers in order to prevent this from happ-"
"Rahne!"
"Tabitha!"
The two younger mutants ran to each other and embraced. The adults couldn't help but smile at their obvious joy.
"Ye made it! I'm so glad!" Rahne bubbled. "It's great to see ye!"
"Great to see you too Wolfy!" Tabitha exclaimed, ruffling Rahne's hair. She hefted a large, flamboyantly colored duffle bag over one shoulder. "So, where are the good looking Irish guys?"
Rahne laughed. "How aboot we get ye a room first, aye?"
"If you insist," Tabitha said, winking. "Then you can show me the Irish meat you've got hidden around here."
"Aye. I'll introduce you to Sean daughter as well," Rahne said, leading the way.
"Well, at least that get the lasses oot o' our way," said a hearty Irish voice with a bit of laughter in it. "Guid to see you again Charley."
Professor Xavier smiled at the light haired man. "Hank, this is Sean Cassidy, known as Banshee. Sean, Henry McCoy, the Beast."
Sean and Hank shared a friendly handshake. "I've heard much aboot your research from Moira. Sounds impressive, even if I don't understand as much as the guid doctor does."
Beast chuckled. "Well, it's good to know I have friends."
Xavier sighed. "I would be delighted if we could sit around and chat, but I think it is pressing that I see David."
"I agree with ye, there's plenty o' time to catch up later," Moira said. She came up behind Charles and began wheeling his chair over toward the special holding facility.
"I wish we could be meeting again under less distressing circumstances Moira," Xavier said, keeping his eyes fixed on the building ahead of him.
"Aye Charles, boot fate seems to have other ideas for us," Moira replied in a deadpan tone.
They entered the building and walked down a corridor with names written above the few doors. Charles noted the names with interest. One door simply had "Proteus" written in bold red letters. Charles felt Moira's mind twinge sadly as they passed that particular door, but he said nothing. Finally they came upon another door with a single name upon it. "'Legion'?" Xavier asked.
"The lad was calling himself that. He would nae answer to 'David' and we didn't think it would help matter if we called him Lucas," Moira nodded sagely. "We thought it best to try and break through this multiple personality thing by making him seem to still be one person."
"A wise insight."
Moira waited for a few minutes for Sean and Beast to catch up, then pressed a security coed into the door and had her hand scanned. The door slid open sluggishly. Inside there was a clear room within the large room in which Legion was secured. He was wearing an outfit much like that of a mental patient, except he also had a special silver headpiece on. The outer room was littered with machines, dials, lights and all sorts of regulation equipment.
"Oh, lovely, a visit from me father," Lucas spat. "Are ye here to take me home, so we can be a big, happy family?"
"Not in this state David."
"My name is Lucas," he retorted stubbornly.
Xavier huffed. "You may insist on that all you like, but I am going to call you David."
"And ye can kiss my ass," Lucas snapped. "Why don't ye take this bloody tiara off o' me an we can solve this like mutants?"
"I think not," Charles replied.
Lucas laughed out loud. "Well ye aren't quite as stupid as I took ye for. Or perhaps ye learned yer lesson last time, aye?"
The professor's expression turned dark. Lucas smirked.
"Go home old man," he said bluntly. "Ye aren't welcome here." He tilted his head to make his point and walked to the farthest corner of the clear inner room.
"David, please listen to reason."
Lucas ignored him.
Moira put a hand on the professors shoulder. "I dinnae think this is the time Charles. The lad's not ready to cooperate."
For the first time in all the years he had know the professor Beast saw the man's usually calm countenance break.
"You don't understand Moira! This is my fault. I banished the good part of David into oblivion-" He began breathlessly.
"Ye had a long flight Charles" Sean interrupted. "Yuid be better off having a guid night's sleep and trying this again tomorrow."
"Rogue's home alone-" Charles said to Beast in a feeble attempt to get someone on his side.
"Rogue's a good girl, and a smart one too. She can take care of herself. Logan and Ororo will be home soon enough anyway," Beast said. "I'll call her and tell her we're going to stay a few days. Besides, rushing this might do more damage to the boy."
Charles' face darkened and he bent over slightly. "You're right. Moira- is the old guest room-"
"Still set up with some o' yuir things. Seaside view. The same as ye left it last time ye visited," Moira smiled at him.
The professor sighed. "I'm just very tired. So many things have been happening lately. . . I'm worried. Very worried. About what will happen to mutants. My students. . . My son. . . My friends. . ."
"You need some rest Charles. Think of this as a well deserved vacation," Beast said, patting him on the back. He wheeled the chair out of the room. Sean followed closely. Moira made sure everything was locked up and took one last look at her patient. Lucas was sitting, his head bowed. Moira sighed and closed the door. What Moira couldn't see was the grin on Lucas' face.
*
"What about this?" Ororo asked, holding up a rag doll.
Logan, who had his eyes closed under his hat, opened one slightly and grunted at it. "The porcupine won't like it."
Ororo threw up her arms and bopped him over the head with the doll, knocking off his hat. "Logan, you're not paying attention at all! We're not buying presents for just Evan. We're buying presents for all the Morlocks."
Logan grumbled and bent over to pick up his hat. "The sewer water will ruin anything they get."
"They have dry spots," Ororo retorted. She scowled at him as her straightened back up.
"'Ro, darlin' you're going about this all wrong." Logan plopped his hat back onto his head. "Those kids don' need toys so much as they do good food, some blankets, and a decent place to sleep." Wrinkling his nose, he added as an afterthought, "and a shower. . ."
"All right then," Ororo placed the doll in her cart, and poked a finger into his chest. "Then you can get them the essentials. I'll get them other things that you think are frivolous."
"I didn't say that 'Ro. . ."
"You meant it."
Logan shrugged. "The kids don't need that stuff."
"But they need something fun to do," Ororo pointed out. "You of all people should know that."
Logan grunted. "Fine. I'll go get them what I think they're gonna need. You get them the fun stuff."
Ororo looked at her watch. "How about we meet at the burger place around the corner for lunch around noontime?"
"Sounds good to me darlin'," he nodded. He gave her a funny look. "You never struck me as a burger kind of gal."
"You never struck me as a person who would believe in meditation."
"Touché," Logan smirked. They parted quietly, and began collecting things that they thought the Morlocks would need.
*
Tabitha looked around her room and smiled. "Not bad. Not bad at all. Mystique's was better," she winked at Rahne, "but this'll do nicely." She plopped her bag down on her beg, opened it, took out her clothes and threw them all into a drawer. "There! I'm all finished unpacking. Why don't you show me around this hunk of rock?"
"Aye, all right," Rahne agreed. "We can't go everywhere, though. A lot of the places are restricted access. Especially the building the professor was going in."
Tabitha raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Is that so?"
"Aye. That's where the really dangerous mutants are locked up."
"Like Xavier's son," Tabitha nodded. "Hey, is he as hott as he sounds? Because when Jean was describing him- damn!"
"Well the dangerous part of him is," Rahne admitted with a blush and a sheepish look. "But we're nae allowed anywhere near the building for damn guid reasons."
"Oh, right," Tabitha rolled her eyes. "How dangerous could it be if he's locked up?"
"He's a psychic. He can do dangerous things without being close to you," Rahne warned her.
"Yeah, but not if they have one of those psychic inducers on him." Tabitha's eyes glittered "Come on, let's just go sneak one little look at him."
"Nae," Rahne shook her head again. "Mum made me swear nae t' go near him."
Tabitha sighed. "All right, fine." She settled down on the bed. She didn't make me swear though. . . Tabitha thought, and she began planning what she was going to do later that night. This should be a hell of a lot of fun. . .
*
It had been little over an hour since Beast had called the mansion to explain that he and the professor would be delayed. Rogue was cleaning her room, or her half at least, since she hadn't done so in a while. Somewhere between the training sessions, the homework, saving the world, and other day to day business cleaning the room had somehow been forgotten.
Since there was no one else at home, Rogue was wearing her green spaghetti strap shirt with some black sweat pants made out of a light fabric. She had a rag in one hand and a spray bottle in the other, and was wiping off the windows when she saw someone standing in the doorway reflected in a clean panel. She yelped, whirled around and brandished the squirt bottle like a gun. When she focused on the figure her face went red.
"Jumpy, aren't we cherie?" Remy said, smirking. "I was only admiring the view." He added in an undertone, "You're always so bundled up. . ."
"Ya scared me half t' death!" Rogue shouted, throwing the rag at him. "What th' fuck are you doing hea?! Didn't you go home like th' rest o' them?!"
"Home? Dis is home as far as I'm concerned. Jean-Luc can call himself my father 'till he's blue in de face and I won't give a damn. De guild is not my home anymore," Remy shook his head. "I wasn't around dis mornin' because Gambit hate dose long, sappy good-byes when you know you gonna see each other again."
Rogue snorted at him. "Some pal you are," she grumbled. "Won't even say good-bye to your friends?"
"I left Kurt and Peter and de others notes," he shrugged. "You were sticking around, so I didn't leave you one."
Rogue grunted incoherently. Remy held out the rag to her and she snatched it back. "Why didn't ya tell me that ya were stickin' 'round?"
Remy looked amused. "I was goin' to tell you later at de party but you avoided me de whole rest o' de night. However, I did ask Kitty to tell you I was gonna be here. . ."
Rogue remembered the way Kitty had acted that morning and snorted, "Oh it must have just slipped her mind." She turned back to the window. Remy came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She jumped. "Are you nuts? I'm practically a walkin' deathtrap!" Rogue tried to twist out of his grasp.
"Easy cherie," Remy murmured. "You may be a bit uncovered but I'm all wrapped up for you." Gloved fingers ran down her neck and picked up the chain of the necklace he had given her the night before. "I'm glad you like it Rogue."
"How could Ah not?" Rogue asked, easing up a bit. "It's wonderful."
"You're wonderful," he whispered in her ear. "How could I get you anything less?" Rogue tensed up as she felt him shift closer.
"Remy, please, let me go."
"Rogue, please, let me in," Remy countered.
Rogue jumped again, recalling her dream from the night before. "W- wh- what?"
Remy turned her around so that she could look up at him. He held her by the shoulders. "You're always so scared and nervous around everyone. You always try to push people away, because you don't want to hurt dem. What I t'ink you don' realize is- sometimes you hurt people more by pushin' so hard."
Rogue shivered, unable to look away from his burning eyes. "Ah- Ah told you before we started goin' out; Ah'm nevah gonna be able to t' touch-"
"Damnit Rogue, dat's not what dis is about!" Remy said, looking disappointed. He pulled her closer to him, using a bit of force since she was struggling. "Physical is only a part of de big picture!" He grabbed her face. "I want to get in here. I want you to be able to trust me. I want you to tell me things, I want you to be able to feel at ease when you're around me!"
Rogue pulled away from him sharply and reflexively slapped him across the face. He let go of her, a hollow look in his eyes. She shivered, and took a halting step back. "Ah- Ah- Remy- you just- Ah- NO!" She grabbed her head and squeezed her eyes shut. Tears leaked out. "Just- just no. . ." She whispered. "Ah- Ah can't. If Ah. . . If Ah'm not on my guard. . . You. . .you weren't hea. . .when Ah. . .attacked everyone. . ."
Remy's eyes clouded with confusion. He opened his mouth to speak, but Rogue shook her head, and gave him such a look that his heart leapt into his throat.
"This was a mistake," she said.
"No Rogue, don' say dat-" he said hoarsely. He reached for her but she danced just out of reach.
"Remy- just get th' hell out of mah life!" She suddenly shouted, shoving him out of the way and storming out of her room, shoulders shaking with suppressed tears.
"Rogue!" Remy shouted, but she was gone. "Goddamn boy, you always puttin' yo' foot in yo' mouth, non?" He scolded himself.
*
The mansion gates were secured by a special thumb print lock, the only really safe kind for the mansion residents (especially with the enemies they had), short of having a DNA testing system. Normally it was a sleek, refined machine. Now, the face plate was removed and some of the wires had been cut.
"Got it," a dark figure hissed. He placed two wires together and the gate swung open. Another figure patted the first on the back.
"Good job. Marius! Hey, Julien! We're in!"
Julien smirked. "All right," he turned around and looked at the small group of Rippers with him. "You t'ree- go 'round de left. You, de right. We'll take care o' de front."
The small band split up quickly. With the skill of young men who had been trained since birth to move like shadows, they slipped around the mansion. It was around dusk, and rapidly getting darker.
"Great t'ing- you findin' out dat de house was empty 'cept for her," Julien muttered to his contact. "Dat bitch is gonna pay." He rooted around in a bag he was wearing on his side. He pulled out a fairly thin, silver collar-like trinket. "Once we get dis on her, it's all over."
Rogue made her way down the stairs in a rapid succession. Remy hadn't begun to follow her. She wasn't sure how she felt about that, but she decided no to think about that. Indeed, she was so focused on getting outside and getting a head-clearing breath of fresh air that she forgot what little clothing she had on. For a winter evening, she was inadequately dressed. Rogue realized it after she was halfway to the gate.
"Shi-" she began. She was cut off by a gloved hand clamping down over her mouth.
"Julien! Julien! We got her!" one of the Rippers shouted. All of the other Rippers rushed over in a mob.
"Hold her!" Julien ordered. One of the Rippers fell to Rogue's powers before Julien clamped the silver band around her neck. Rogue shuddered, and twisted out of her captor's hold, only to be seized by others.
"Get the hell away from me!" Rogue shouted. She twisted so that one of her bare arms touched Julien's bare skin.
Julien smirked. Rogue's eyes widened. "Nice try," he said. "We were prepared."
Rogue twisted around and screamed "REMY!" as loudly as she could.
One of the other Rippers cracked a heavy object over her head and she went limp. Julien grabbed his contact. "I t'ought she was alone?! Is LeBeau in dat house or not?"
"I dunno Julien! He wasn't dere earlier-!" gasped the contact.
Julien threw him back, and he slammed into the ground. "Get de girl to de car! Go!" Julien pulled his contact up and pushed him in the direction of the car. "You-" he pointed to one of the other Rippers. "Make sure you fix de keypad on de gate. We don't want anyone else t' know we're here." He nodded and then the rest of the Rippers hauled Rogue as quickly as they could over to a waiting van. Julien looked up and saw movement in the house. "Well, well," he said, recognizing the run. "It is you ain't it LeBeau?" He smirked. "I was ready for you." He pulled a card out of his side bag. It was the joker, Gambit's signature card. Julien ripped the card in half and threw it down on the spot where Rogue had been captured. "See you in n'awlins, LeBeau."
*
"REMY!"
The scream plunged into his heart like a cold blade and Remy took off down the hall at breakneck speeds. He heard the screeching of tires as he got to the top of the steps. He shouted "Rogue!" and bolted out the door, only to see an empty lawn. He looked around in a panic, and then spotted something fluttering across the lawn in the wind. He practically pounced on it. As Remy held up the two ripped pieces of card his eyes flashed with fire.
"Julien," he snarled.
Remy immediately did some quick calculating. He didn't know how Julien had gotten there, presumably by plane, but how secured, Remy couldn't be sure. To get to New Orleans fast enough he would have to fly. Still, Xavier and Beast had taken the Blackbird. . . That left the heli-jet. Remy went inside quickly closing the door behind him, in case Julien had left someone to try to come after him. He'd been trained to hear a door opening form far away. Remy scurried to the elevator that took him to the hangar and practically broke down the doors when the elevator stopped. He charged out ran to the heli-jet, and jumped in.
"Buttons and dials, buttons and dials," he muttered, looking at the control panel. "Crap, where's de damn users guide?!"
He'd flown one or two simulations with Kurt, and finally found the ignition. After a rather awkward takeoff, Remy then programmed the coordinates of the Thieves Guild into the computer and set the heli-jet on autopilot.
"I'm comin' Rogue."
*
A few hours later it was pouring and Ororo opened the door to the mansion. Logan was behind her, carrying several large bags.
"Hello!" Ororo called. "We're back!"
Silence greeted her. Since it was raining she and Logan decided to unload the car, then look around. Ororo made her way to Xavier's office, then down to the hangar. Logan looked on the fridge, and checked the answering machine.
"No notes, no messages," he grunted.
Ororo frowned. "The blackbird and the heli-jet are gone."
Logan raised an eyebrow. "The heli-jet too?"
Ororo nodded. "Maybe- something happened. It's possible that Xavier needed Rogue and Gambit's support in dealing with his son."
Logan sniffed the air. "Mmm. . . I don't know. The were both in here, 'bout an hour ago. Rogue- she smells mad, nervous. . . Gumbo smells scared. Terrified."
Ororo bit her lip. "We should look for them then. See if they're on the grounds."
Logan nodded, then grumbled, "Problem is, with all this rain their scents have been washed away for a while."
"Well we'll just have to look the old fashioned way."
"I hate bein' old fashioned," Logan mumbled. With a sigh and a roll of her crystal blue eyes Ororo eased the weather as best the could. Then they both went out into the storm to look for the two wayward southerners.
*
Tabitha waited until she was sure everyone else was asleep, then she slipped out of bed. She was all ready fully clothed and ready to go. Deciding she didn't want to disturb Rahne, Xavier or Beat, who were all sleeping in the same hallway, Tabitha slid open her window and climbed out. Since it was a first story room, there would be no trouble getting back in later.
"Now I have a date with a Scottish psychic-"
"What in th' blazes?!"
Tabitha whirled around to see Rahne staring at her.
"Aw crap," Tabitha groaned. "What are you doing out here?"
Rahne pointed up, where the moon was shining- bright and full. "It always makes me a tad uneasy," she said. "Yuir trying t' sneak a peek at Legion aren't ye?" she accused.
Tabitha shook her head. "What? Me? Never! I swear, it's just the full moon. Brings out the animal in me," she said with a sparkle in her eyes. Rahne didn't look convinced. "Oh come on! You only live once, right? One little peek isn't going to hurt us!"
Rahne hesitated.
*
Over in Legion's cell the metal 'tiara' that had been keeping the psychic in check now lay on the ground. His straight jacket, which had held his hands in place, was now strewn across the floor. He grinned wildly. "All right," he said slowly. He let out an exaggerated sigh. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to have one peek. So long as you don't tell anyone, 'specially me mum."
*
"All right," Rahne said slowly. She sighed quietly. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to have one peek. So long as you don't tell anyone, 'specially me mum." She started down the footpath to the high security building. "Follow me!"
"Yeah! Way to go Wolfy!" Tabitha cheered. She followed with a bounce in her step. "So you know how to get in and everything?"
"I know how tae get past the main security and get intae the holding cell part o' the room. Basically, I dinnae know how tae open the door to let the subjects out," she rolled her eyes. "Mum says it'd be 'a security risk."
"Well, we don't need to get into the cell anyway," Tabitha shrugged. "We're only taking a quick look and then heading back to the room, all right?"
"Aye," Rahne nodded.
The two girls snuck into the building without a problem- after all, everyone else was asleep. Rahne opened the door, after hesitantly punching in the code onto the keypad. They entered the area where Legion was begin held and Tabitha peered in. Legion was there, looking up at them with a smirk.
"He is good looking," Tabitha said, a sparkle in her eyes. "Too bad he's a 'bad guy'." She turned to Rahne, ready to crack a joke, but stopped when she saw how stiff Rahne looked. "Hey Wolfy? You all right?" When Rahne didn't respond Tabitha waved her hand in front of the other girl's eyes. "Yoo-hoo! Earth to Wolfy! This is not the time to go all store-window-mannequin on me."
"Open the door," Rahne said in a flat tone, echoed by Legion's voice. Tabitha took a step back.
"Whoa now-!" Tabitha exclaimed. "What the heck is going on?"
"Open the door-" Legion insisted. "You have the ability to. If you don't-" Rahne, looking almost comatose, let out a pained whimper, "- I make is so that the girl has to be fed through a tube for the rest of her life."
Tabitha paused for a moment, looked at Legion and grinned. "Hey, it's not like I'm the one who has a problem with you." She rubbed her hands together and blew on them, creating three small glowing orbs. These she wedged in between the door and the door frame. "Watch your head," she advised, stepping back. She tugged back Rahne. Legion scoffed and took a step back.
The crack between door and frame abruptly widened, smoke poured out, and there was a muffled 'boom'. Alarms began going off. Rahne fell to the floor in a heap and Legion grinned at Tabitha.
"Thanks for the assist," he smirked. He began to walk past her but she grabbed his arm. He immediately looked up and glared at her. "Do you want me to fry your mind?"
"I'm going with you," Tabitha said, her eyes flashing with fire. "I busted you out after all. You owe me."
"Why do you want to come with me?" He asked, incredulous and suspicious all at once.
"Let's just say I'm always up for some action," Tabitha ran a finger under his chin. "Now come on you crazy Scot- they're going to be here any second!" She took off down a corridor.
"The exit is the other way!" Legion snapped irritably.
Tabitha turned on one heel. "Exactly! Don't you think they'll check that way? There's got to be a window or something we can bust open this way." She put her hands on her hips and frowned at him. "You want to get out of her or what pretty-boy?"
I'm not sure what her game is- but I can always beat her at it later, Legion thought. He started running after her.
*
The alarms also sounded in the house where Moira, Sean, Xavier and Beast were staying. The few resident of the house were in a state of panic. Most of them were only partially dressed. Sean bolted down the hallway in deep green boxers and ran straight into Moira in her nightgown.
"It's him," they said simultaneously.
"I checked the network- the psychic dampeners aren't functioning. He must have gotten free o' 'em somehow," Moira said breathlessly.
"I looked a' the cameras, there was explosion by his cell," Sean began.
"Explosion?!" Xavier said with great concern as Beast wheeled him over.
Beast and Xavier looked at each other in horror. "Tabitha!"
"An' Rahne!" Moira said. "Tabitha would nae 'ave known where he was being held." She grabbed a hat and jacket. "We've got ta 'urry Charles- the girls could still be in grave danger."
Sean and Beast ran ahead as Moira helped Charles get ut of the building. They entered the building cautiously. "Oh my stars and garters!" Beast exclaimed, kneeling when he saw Rahne. He picked up her small, limp form.
Banshee had entered the cell and saw the empty jacket and the discarded tiara. He picked up the former and hurled it into the nearest wall where it shattered. Beast, on the other hand looked at the door. He touched the framed with one hand, cradling Rahne with the other. "These are the sort of burn marks Tabitha's power leaves. She must have broken open the door."
"Why in the seven hells would the girl do tha'?" Sean asked half in anger, half in frustration. "Didn't she know how dangerous 'e was?"
Rahne groaned, and Beast looked at her, worried. "That may be why Tabitha helped him," he said thoughtfully. "By the looks of it, he might have been free of the dampeners before the girls got here. I highly doubt that either of the girls would let him out for their own purposes."
Moira and Charles rushed in to see the situation. Charles hung his head in shame and hid his face away. "I should have seen this coming. Now Tabitha and the rest of Scotland could be in danger, and it's my fault."
"Ye blame yerself fer too much Charles. If ye had been 'ere, what could ye 'ave done? The boy dinnae want ta listens ta ye or anybody else," Moira tried comforting him. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder, but he shrugged it away.
"The fact of the matter is that I've failed the boy too many times," Charles sighed. "Now I have to redeem myself." He turned to look at Hank. "Beast, prepare the Blackbird. We have to try and follow him."
Beast nodded and gently passed off Rahne to Banshee. Rahne's eyes fluttered open and she mumbled, "Tabitha- don't let him out," and then they shut again.
Banshee frowned. "Are ye sure tha' Tabitha would nae have let him out on her own?"
Charles shot Banshee a frigid glare. "Tabitha, despite a troubled past, is an exceptional student in her own right. I have no doubt that either she, Rahne, or both girls were in immediate danger for her to have acted in such a way."
Banshee opened his mouth to say more, but Moira put a hand on his arm and he sullenly fell quiet. "We'll come with ye Charles. You'll need all the help you can get, aye?"
The professor nodded absentmindedly, watching Beast leave. He didn't have to read Sean's mind to know that he still had doubts about Tabitha's motives. Still, Charles tried to convince himself, Tabitha had never done anything that would cause more harm than a practical joke. . .
. . .What if that had changed?
Neither the professor, nor Moira and Sean spoke as their eyes collectively watched Beast disappear around a corner.
*
"Every damn time I come home t' N'awlins it's jus' gotta be 'cause someone's been kidnapped, is dat it?" Gambit murmured as he stepped out of the heli-jet. He had set in down in land that was clearly the territory of the Thieves' Guild and not the Rippers, and he made a mark on the ground using rocks that signaled the other thieves in the area that this was a friendly craft. "De professor would be jus' t'rilled t' find out I lost de jet," he murmured. "De other t'ieves- dey better keep deir paws offa it."
With that final grumble he began the long tromp through the Louisiana swampland.
*
Rogue's head throbbed with pain. She opened her eyes, but found she saw more when she had them shut. The room was pitch black, her vision was blurry, and she couldn't hear anyone around. She was gagged, bound to a chair, and that. . . Collar-thing they had put on her was still there. The room was dank, and chilly, and she shivered. She was still in a tight tank top. Suddenly there was a outpouring of light from somewhere behind her. She tried to twist around to see but couldn't. She didn't really need too, however. Julien Bordeaux, heir apparent to the head of the Rippers family, strode in front of her. His face was a cross between smug and furious.
"Well, looks like we finally meet again," he said with pure malice. "So nice t' know joo wanted to visit."
Rogue tried to say something that sounded an awful lot like 'Bite me!' through the gag, but couldn't.
"Do you know why you're here?"
Rogue gave him an exasperated stare.
Julien responded by grabbing her shoulders and hissing, "My father was in de house, unconscious because joo an' your damn mutie powers, when your freak family brought part of it down."
Good for them! Rogue thought. Her eyes must have showed her defiance, because Julien raised a hand as if to strike her, then paused. Regaining his composure he spoke again.
"He went into a coma 'cause o' you an' LeBeau. I fully intend t' pay joo back fo' it a t'ousandfould," He snapped.
Remy doesn't know what happened to me. No one does, Rouge thought fearfully. No one's going to be coming to rescue me.
Julien saw the expression on Rogue's face and smirked. "LeBeau knows you'rer here. I left him a present. He'll be around any minute. He's quite de predictable person when it comes t' people he cares about."
Rogue felt a great surge of fear and guilt well up in her. If Remy didn't come, then she was most certainly going to be on the receiving end of Julien's wrath. If he did come then he would be walking straight into a trap set for him. Julien's grin widened as her eyes betrayed her feelings.
"Joo won't be able t' help dat boy none. By de time he sees joo, he'll be in too deep to dig himself out." Someone else entered the room at that point. Rogue couldn't see who because he was behind her, but the look of Julien's face made her heart leap into her throat.
"He's here," the unseen fellow said, voicing what Rogue all ready knew.
"No one interferes wit' his gettin' hea- at least not really," Julien ordered. "A token resistance, no more. Once he comes fo' de girl we'll have him in our net." He looked down at Rogue and stroked her cheek, just to make her furious, which he succeeded in doing. "We'll see who's de better o' de two o' us dis time."
He left her in the dark room. Rogue struggled against her bonds, but only succeeded in flipping the chair backwards and landing with a crash on the floor. She blacked out for a few seconds, and when she awoke she thought for a minute that the chair might have splintered upon impact- then she realized it was metal.
F'r ya sake Remy, ah hope ya didn't follow me. Or if ya did Ah hope you brought the Calvary. . .
*
"I don't understand why you chose to help me," Legion said, eying Tabitha. "I don't trust you."
Tabitha shrugged. "I like to shake things up a little," she explained casually. She walked over to the edge of the cliff they were standing on and looked down. "Woooo! Long drop!" She made a fist sized firecracker and threw it over the edge. Much to her disappointment it popped only halfway down, nowhere near the rocks at the bottom. She grunted, the turned around and walked up to Legion. She traced the line of his jaw with her finger. "You need to chill out kiddo. Even if I was going to try and do something you'd fry my brain pronto, right?"
"Undoubtedly," Legion said in a warning tone.
Tabitha smiled and tweaked his nose, at which Legion looked scandalized. "So cool your jets! I'd have to be some sort of idiot to try and get you mad. So, what's the plane now?"
Legion frowned, then took the spot Tabitha had vacated off of the cliff. "The plan?" He turned to look at her. "First we get a boat and get off of this godforsaken island and away from that man who'd like to call himself my father. After that we'll see." He eyes her suspiciously, but her expression was unreadable to him. She simply looked excited.
"So, let's get a boat!" Tabitha said vehemently. "I've always wanted to see Scotland!"
Legion found himself actually being dragged along which was, to say the least, a new experience for him.
*
A few hours after he and Ororo had begun searching the grounds, Logan paced around the rec. room with the TV on an outrageously loud setting. Ororo peeked her head around the corner and saw him there walking back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. She sighed, and it caught his attention. He stopped.
"There's been nuthin' on the news 'Ro. No note, no phone call. I'm gonna kill Chuck for not leaving us a number!" He vented.
"It's going to be all right Logan," Ororo assured him. "I'm sure the professor would have contacted us using the Cerebro unit in the Blackbird if anything was wrong.
"But what if he couldn't 'Ro?"
"Why are you so worried Logan?"
Logan frowned deeply. I couldn't smell nuthin' outside, right? Inside I picked up on the Cajun's scent- and he was terrified." He gestured at the window. "We checked all over the grounds, and all we got f'r it was muddy shoes and wet clothes! An' I'm pretty damn sure I can smell Rogue goin' out, but not comin' back in," he folded his arms. "I don't think Chuck or Beast has been in this house since they left this morning! Something bad musta happened and I can't tell what."
Ororo looked at him, concerned. If what he was saying was correct, then indeed something was very wrong. "If it makes you feel any better we could travel to Scotland and find Muir isle-"
"I'm not so sure it's gonna be Chuck who needs our help the most," Logan murmured. "But if we find him, he may be able to find some answers."
Ororo nodded with a frown. "All right. Then let's go find him."
They went down to the hangar, and revved up the mini-jet's engines. Logan took the controls. Ororo used her powers to clear the skies. As the mini-jet took off, Logan grumbled, "I hope Gumbo and Rogue are with him, otherwise we're heading away from the people who need us most."
Ororo silently agreed with him.
To Be Continued. . .
Author's note: I really didn't want to post this until I had some of part 2 typed up, but I know it's been an awfully long time since I updated. You'll have to forgive me, I had a death in my muse family. I have to find a replacement muse. I hope you enjoy!