We Didn't Start the Fire!
(It Was HIM!)
"This place is such a bloody 'ole," Pyro whined, shaking his head. "I can't believe the boss is forcing me t' live with these ruddy gits." He looked up at the boarding house looming above him. On the outside it didn't look so bad, it almost looked majestic. On the inside he knew it was falling apart. Almost everything was broken or rotten. What wasn't was well on its way to being one or the other. Despite the fact that Pietro was supposed to 'whip the Brotherhood into shape' in the name of his father he didn't appear to care all that much. "Couldn't whip cream," Pyro scowled. "Even if you gave it to 'im in a bloody can."
His uniform was concealed by a long black raincoat, and flame-thrower equipment was carefully disguised as a large hiking backpack. He had gotten very funny looks on the walk over. Pyro had been sorely tempted to get on a bus, but the terrorism/mutant panic would have only gotten him arrested. Not only was he a mutant, but long coats and large backpacks made you a suspect no matter what ethnicity you were. "Plus," he grumbled to himself, "the buggers woulda 'eard an accent an' gone bonkers." He finally got up to the door and started pounding on it. "'Ey, you in there! Open up!"
The door opened suddenly. Pyro nearly pounded in Pietro's face accidentally, but the young speed demon moved well out of the way. "St. John?" Pietro said incredulously. "Whatthehellareyoudoinghere?"
"Nice t' see you too, mate," the Australian said, throwing his coat and 'backpack' at Pietro. "Your Da' sent me. 'E's trying t' get all 'is loverly little protégés in one place." Glad to be wearing only his flamboyant uniform again, Pyro extended his hands and shot out a small jet of flame at Pietro. Pietro yelped, skirted to one side, and watched as the flames engulfed the fake backpack and the coat.
"Are you CRAZY?" Pietro exploded. "Don't shoot that thing off in the house! You'll set the whole place on fire!"
"Bah, it'd probably be an improvement." Pyro waved it off. "Got any tucker? I'm so hungry, if I don't eat, I' gonna cark it."
Pietro raised an eyebrow. "You're going to what?"
"Ruddy Americans," Pyro rolled his eyes. "D'ya 'ave any food?"
"Yeah," Pietro said. "If Blob hasn't eaten it all."
"Dude, what the heck's going on?" Lance said irritable from the top of the stairs. "I'm trying to sleep!" He looked down, saw Pyro, and flipped out. "What's that lunatic doing here? I just got out of the hospital! I do NOT want to be going back in any time soon!"
Pyro muttered, "Drongo," under his breath. "If I wanted to mess you up Lancey-boy, I woulda done it all ready. So - piss off."
"Your manners lead me to believe you were born in a barn."
Pyro turned, a grin cracking across his face. "G'day Wanda," He bowed over slightly. Pietro and Lance looked at him in disgust. Wanda, on the other hand, looked like she didn't know whether to ignore it or burst out laughing. "Your Da' sent me with some news."
"News? Fathersentnews? Whydidn'tyoutellmethisbefore?" Pietro burst out.
"If you're gonna yabber mate, do it in EnglishDon't make that 'igh pitched squeal you call talking," Pyro said with a scowl.
"Why don't you talk in English!?" Pietro demanded. He counted off on his fingers. "Cark it, drongo, yabber, Idon'tunderstandawordyou'resaying!"
"That's because ya skull's too bloody thick an' ya uncultured mate," Pyro scowled back. "I'm starvin'. Get me some food an' I'll tell you what your Da' wants you t' know, deal?"
Pietro was about to agree when Wanda snapped "No deal. News first, then you get fed."
"Now, luv, see here. I'm exhausted. I've been trekkin' around this 'ole bloody town all day. If I don't get something t' eat I may just pass out-"
"And if you don't tell us right now," Wanda's hands began to glow blue, "you'll wish you had passed out."
"Ace! Right, then, ya Da' wanted you t' know that you've all been officially re-enrolled in Bayville high. Starting this Monday you lot are all full time students again, sans Pietro and you Wanda," He nodded towards the twins, who were both regarding him with dark expressions. "Since you all ready graduated Pietro, you don't need to go back, and since you were never enrolled in the first place Wanda, your Da's gonna be 'ome schooling you."
"I thought we were permanently suspended," Lance said. "Kelley totally threw us out."
"Yeah, but there's a new bloke runnin' the show called 'Essex'. The big boss worked it all out with him all ready," Pyro said with a grin. "So you lot better get ready."
Without waiting for any responses Pyro proceeded to the kitchen. Blob had been making a large meatball and pastrami sub for himself. While his back was turned to get some mustard, Pyro stole half of the sandwich, toasted the bun with his power, and sat down to eat it.
"Hey! What's going on?" Blob said, turning around. "What's he doing here?" He declared, pointing at Pyro with a mustard covered knife.
"I'm your new house mate, mate," Pyro said between bites. "Thanks for the cut lunch. I was starving."
"Yo, what's everyone looking at?" Toad said, hopping into the kitchen. "Hello cuddle muffin," he said to Wanda, leaning up against her. "How are you today?"
Wanda shoved him away. "I was fine. Then you and the pyromaniac showed up."
Toad blinked, then focused on Pyro. Pyro grinned wildly. "G'day."
Toad shrieked like a girl and hopped backwards, smashing into a chair that Blob had previously moved out of his way. The chair and Toad went tumbling back towards Lance, who still wasn't able to move quickly. Wanda threw blue light at Toad and the chair. Both went flying away from Lance, out into the living room and smashed into the couch.
"Yo, I'm okay," Toad said, getting up and attempting to walk.
"Too bad," Wanda muttered. Pyro was laughing hysterically.
"That bloke's more jumpy than a boomer!" Pyro said. "Look at 'im go!" He threw back his hear and roared. "I think I'm gonna enjoy it 'ere."
"You're staying?" Wanda said in disgust. "Don't you have your own place? With the rest of the Acolytes?"
"I am the Acolytes, Sheila." Pyro said. "Since Gambit and Colossus left, it was me an' the ruddy hair ball. Then ya Da' sent 'im off somewhere, and decided 'e'd rather 'ave me with the rest of you."
Toad had finally wandered back into the kitchen, rubbing his head. "That couch is way too hard, yo." He frowned at Wanda. "Next time I hope to fly into your arms, snuggle poo."
Wanda opened her mouth to say something saucy, but Pyro shot a ball of flame at Toad before she could. Toad jumped to avoid it. The ball spun around after him. Toad jumped onto the counter. "Yo! This isn't funny man!"
"I think it's a riot!" Pyro cackled. The ball of fire shot past Toad's head and singed his hair. "C'mon ugly, you should be able t' dodge this for a while!"
"Cut it out St. John!" Pietro snapped. "Do you WANT to set something on fire?"
"Yeah," Pyro said. "'Im!" He gestured at Toad. The fire ball exploded in front of Toad as Pyro said that and Toad found himself with a scorched face.
"That is not cool, yo!" Toad exclaimed.
"Shove it frog-face."
"All right, that's it, yo!" Toad rolled up his sleeves. "Put 'em up!"
Pyro ignored him. "So, Sheila," he said to Wanda, "want to show me my room? I 'ope it's by yours."
Wanda looked at him in disgust. "No and no. Blob, show him."
"He ate half of my sub!" Blob whined. Wanda looked at him furiously. Blob put his hand up in defense. "Hey, no problem though. I made too much anyway."
Wanda left the kitchen, and several second later her door could be heard slamming, then falling off its hinges. There was loud cursing, and Pietro zoomed up to fix the door, then zoomed back down. "Blob, justtakehimupstairs."
"Right," Blob said. Lance and Pietro moved out of his way as he squeezed through the doorway to the kitchen. "Follow me."
Lance and Pietro watched as Blob led Pyro upstairs. They both looked at each other.
"If we don't get killed at school he's going to kill us while we sleep," Lance said.
"Tell me about it," Pietro agreed.
-
Rogue's funeral was eerily silent. Beast and Logan were her pallbearers. Logan hadn't said anything to anyone since she had passed away. He had canceled all his danger room sessions, and didn't come out of his room unless he was hungry. There was constant howls of anguish and crashing from within the room.
All the students were subdued. Especially the younger ones. It had finally hit home to them that being a hero meant they were placing their life on the line. Sometimes they wouldn't live to see retirement from the hero business. Illyana seemed to be dealing with Rogue's death the best. She had made vague references to her time in Limbo as the reason why, but said nothing more substantial.
To everyone's surprise Mystique and Destiny showed up just as the ceremony was about to start. Apparently Irene had foreseen Rogue's passing, but hadn't been able to tell anyone what to do to prevent it in time. Mystique's face had shown more expression when she was a statue. She walked over to Kurt and put an arm around him. Kurt looked up at her, and then they both returned their focus to Xavier who was reading the eulogy.
Kitty looked around, trying to see how Gambit was holding up. She glanced towards his roommate, Peter, but didn't see him. He wasn't with Scott and Jean, or Warren. Kitty suddenly became worried. She left the funeral. She was feeling sick anyway. Xavier had asked her if she wanted a new roommate. Kitty had refused. She had touched Rogue's things only once, to get the card Remy had given Rogue. Rogue had been wearing Remy's necklace when she had passed away, so there was no need to get it. Other than that Kitty had left her roommate's side alone.
Kitty phased through a wall to enter the house, then used her abilities to walk up the air towards Peter and Remy's room. Halfway up she glanced out the windows. It nearly made her cry to see everyone out there in black, but she had cried herself dry all ready. In a few days she might be able to cry again.
Kitty didn't want to barge in on Remy, so she phased outside of his door and knocked softly on it. It swung open, but there was no verbal acknowledgment of her presence.
"Gambit? I, like, wanted to see how you're doing."
The room was dark, the curtains drawn so that the light from the setting sun could hardly cast any light into the room. Still, Kitty could make out Gambit's form. He was sitting in the middle of the floor, legs crossed, head bowed. He didn't respond to her.
"I- I know how rough this must be," Kitty said, her worry growing. "I mean you two really did really-" she stopped short as her eyes caught sight of something silver in Remy's right hand. After a chilling moment she realized what it was. A razor blade. Her eyes went wide with horror. "Gambit, please, put that down. Please. Losing Rogue- it's killing all of us. Please don't make us mourn you too."
Kitty could have sworn she saw the razor move. She panicked, rushed over, and went to get the razor from Remy. She grabbed his right arm, then dropped it, reality sinking in. Her hand was covered in a dark, sticky substance, as was Remy's lap. At once Kitty knew it was blood. She was far too late. Remy felt cold to the touch. He was dead.
Kitty screamed, and lunged towards the door. She wanted to race downstairs and tell the others what had happened, but her path was blocked by a tall, dark figure. Kitty stared, astonished, as she realized the figure had a skull for a face. It held up a scythe and swung at her.
Kitty woke up in a cold sweat, halfway phased through the bed. The panic she had felt in her dream immediately transferred over to her waking self. Without taking a second to compose herself she phased down through the bed and floor. She headed straight for Peter and Remy's room.
Popping her head inside, she was partially relieved to see Peter sleeping in his bed and the curtains wide open, moonlight illuminating almost everything. Her heart began to pound, however, as she realized Remy wasn't in his bed. Resolving not to panic, she immediately continued her trip downwards to the infirmary.
Everyone had been visiting with Rogue, who had taken the news of her impending death surprisingly well. Or, at least, it had surprised most of the mansion inhabitants. Rogue had, in a rare moment of sharing, admitted to Kitty that she thought her powers would be the death of her one way or another. Kitty had been severely shaken by this idea, but it appeared now that her roommate may have been right.
Rogue's most constant visitors were Kitty, Kurt, and, of course, Remy. The latter had blatantly refused to leave Rogue's side for any reason. Kitty was hoping that he still hadn't. In order to prolong the amount of time he had to find a solution, Beast had put Rogue on drugs that suppressed her immune system, and therefore slowed her decay. Sadly, they also made Rogue sleep for most of the day and when she was awake she was very weak and had to put an excruciating amount of effort into talking.
Kitty approached Rogue's cot silently, phasing only her head through the wall to take a peek. Rogue was tossing and turning, but very much so still alive, Kitty noted with a sigh of relief. Stroking her forehead and murmuring "Je t'aime Rogue. Ne me laissez pas. N'allez pas," over and over again was Remy. He looked like he hadn't gotten sleep for days. Kitty watched him for a minute, heart aching, and then slipped back up to her room for a night of unrest.
-
"I am going to kill him."
"Wanda. . ."
"Him and Toad."
"Listen, sis. . ."
"Don't tell me that I'm overreacting! I am not overreacting!" Wanda snapped at her brother as a light bulb turned blue and exploded. "They're both immature pompous asses and they both think they're god's gift to women- specifically me!"
Pietro moved as far away from any glass as he could. "Wanda I agree. YouknowIdo! They both need to leave you alone-"
"So tell THEM that!" Wanda yelled, poking her brother in the chest. "Aren't you supposed to be leading this team?"
"-but it's not that simple," Pietro finished. "IknowIknowIknow you want them to stop. I do! But St. John thinks he's better than me and Toad hasn't got enough brain cells to function normally, let alone understand the fact that you don't want him around."
"The I'll 'tell' them myself!" Wanda boomed, her power shattering a window.
"You'lldestroythehouse!" Pietro said in a panic. "Please Wanda, just wait until Father comes by again to sort them out. He'll come by soon, you know that. Pleasepleasepleasewait?"
Wanda looked at him and growled. "You're a total loser, you know that? Lance deserves to lead this team more than you do. You have no backbone."
"Nobackbone!?" Pietro exclaimed. "Hey, I'mtryingtokeepthisteamtogether!"
"Yeah, great job," his sister scowled. "If there wasn't anywhere else for us to go, I think there wouldn't be a brotherhood. Lance, Blob, Toad- I bet they'd all leave. Especially since the pyromaniac moved in."
"He hasn't even been here more than a day yet!" Pietro said.
"He's not going to last the week," Wanda growled, "unless he keeps his hands and filthy thoughts to himself." She stormed up the stairs without waiting for a response from her brother.
"Damn," Pietro muttered. Even with Wanda under the delusion of a happy childhood she still had quite a temper. Though he didn't like to admit it, even to himself, Pietro was still scared shitless by her. He knew that one day Mastermind's fake memories would shatter, and Pietro would have to be faster than ever to escape his sister's wrath.
"She's a feisty Sheila ain't she?" Pyro said, sneaking up behind Pietro and nudging him in the ribs.
"St. John, what the hell are you doing?" Pietro demanded, his frustration ripping loose. "Do you not understand the fact that my sister loathes you? Do you not understand that harassing her is probably the worst thing for your health?"
"I like t' live dangerously mate," Pyro smirked. "She's pretty damn good looking. Considering 'ow the rest o' the family looks. I wouldn't mind getting a piece of her. I wonder if her powers would go off while someone fuc-"
Without warning Pietro punched Pyro in the gut. "Don'tyoudaretalkaboutherthatway!" He fumed. "So help me god I will tear your head off if I even get an inkling that you've said that sort of thing again. Whatever our history may be, Wanda and I are twins. I will look out for her."
Winded, Pyro looked up. Pietro was a bit disturbed by the wry smile on his face. "Well, you've certainly grown a backbone quickly. Tell me, were you looking out for 'er when your Da' dropped 'er into the 'ome?"
Pietro went to swing at him again, but Pyro wrapped a sheet of flame around him. Pietro pulled back his fist just centimeters away from Pyro's face. "Jesus! Turn that off!" Pietro blurted. "You're going to torch the place!"
Pyro withdrew his flames. "Listen 'ere Quicksilver," He said grimly, his eyes flashing. "I say what I want to say. None of your yabber is gonna scare me out o' it. I ain't afraid o' you, or ya Da', or ya loverly sister. I can make quick work outta anyone. It's called 'flash frying'." He stood up, still smiling eerily. "So, mate, I don't bloody care that ya Da' put you in charge. The rule is simple; you don't piss me off and we'll be great friends."
"You're reallyfuckedup St. John," Pietro said in disgust.
Pyro laughed. "My one great claim to fame." He pinched Pietro's cheek. "Don't worry mate," his eyes sparkled maliciously, "I"ll take good care of ya sister."
Pietro barely held his temper in check, knowing Pyro would just flare up again if he tried to lash out. He was baiting Pietro, trying to gauge how he would react. "Step out of line with her once and flash fried or not I will pound you into the dirt."
Pyro laughed loudly. "Good luck with that mate. Good luck."
Pietro walked away, totally revolted. Pyro smirked at his back. "Bloody drongo," he shook his head. "Thinks 'e can tell me what t' do." Pyro strolled up the stairs, having heard Wanda's door slam shut just before. He sidled towards her room, but stopped and growled when he noticed Toad outside Wanda's door.
"Cuddle kins?" Toad whined, trying the doorknob. "Are you okay love muffin?"
"Go away!" Wanda's voice snapped through the door. "I'm trying to read."
"But sugar dumplin' I just want to make sure you're all right." He managed to jiggle the lock open, and he hopped in. "That Pyro, if he's botherin' you I'll put him in his place, yo."
"And you'll wind up ash," Wanda said. "Besides, I don't need anyone to defend me. I can take care of myself Toad. I also have my father to back me up." Wanda set her book down. "I just want everyone to leave me alone until he comes back. Besides, don't you have to get ready for school? Isn't it time for your semiannual shower?" She had one hand on her hips, and the other was on the door, ready to throw it shut.
"I didn't mean you couldn't beat him up yourself, yo. I mean that you shouldn't have to." Toad puffed himself up. "I will always defend my sweetie pie."
Wanda's hand covered her face. "Toad, no. Go away."
"But snookums-" Toad deflated a little.
"Go away," she repeated, dropping her hand back down to the doorknob, eyes flashing.
"You 'erd the Sheila, now get!" Pyro said loudly, shooting a small ball of flames at Toad. "She don't need you stinkin' up the place."
"Yo, Wanda's my girl!" Toad yelled, puffing up again. "Go, like, make s'mores or something."
Wanda groaned at the lame insult. Pyro was about to say something snappy in reply, but Wanda slammed and locked the door on both of them.
"Look at what you did, yo! You got her mad!" Toad said furiously. "You ain't nothing but trouble, yo."
"An' you ain't nothing but a smelly little runt," Pyro snapped back. "You're not very bright either. Can't you tell she thinks you're a worthless slob?"
"She does not!"
"Yeah, right. Notice 'ow 'er nose always wrinkles up in disgust hen you come near? In fact, everyone's nose does that but that's not the point. . ."
"Hey, man, there was no problem between Wanda and I until you showed up, yo!" Toad said angrily.
"Maybe that means she like me better than you," Pyro retorted, hoping to get a rise out of Toad. It worked wonderfully. Toad sputtered for several minutes.
"Wanda would never fall for a jerk like you!" Toad finally exploded. "Yo, you're even worse to her than the other men in her life were!"
Wanda, listening by her door, was puzzled by Toads comment, but she shoved it to the back of her mind. It was rather flattering to hear Toad defending her. Even though he was a slimy, ugly creature, somewhere under all that grime he had a good heart.
Pyro just snickered at Toad. "Why don't you 'op along there froggy? Wanda clearly want to be left alone."
"Yeah, well, that means you too, yo!" Toad said. Pyro flicked a jet of flames at him and Toad shrieked and darted off. Pyro smirked and proceeded to his room. He cold have gone after Toad, but he didn't. He had other plans in mind he wanted to sort out.
-
The students of the Xavier Institute were very subdued that Monday. They had reason to be. Rogue's condition was steadily worsening, and despite the fact that Beast had finally figured out how the collar mechanism worked, he had not successfully devised a way of removing it safely. If anything he had given them more reasons why it couldn't be removed safely. As it turned out the collar had two power wires that twined around each other. They were so tightly wound that you couldn't damage one without destroying the other. One wire supplied the power to run the power suppressing component of the collar. The other wire supplied power to a function that kept a switch open. This open switch was the trigger for the explosives. Cutting off the power in any way would force the switch to close, causing the bomb mechanism to go off. The remotes that Julien and Belle had destroyed enabled the safe shutdown of the power suppressing function without triggering the bomb. They could also turn the bomb mechanism off without setting it off. Without the remotes though it was impossible to tell if the bomb mechanism was on or off, or to turn off the collar.
Kitty felt very alone. The younger students had shuffled off quickly and quietly, and none of the older Xavier Institute kids were around to talk with. Kurt had immediately been confronted by Amanda when he had walked into school. She was furious that he hadn't responded to any of her calls all week. The look on his face, however, spoke volumes for him. They began talking quietly in a corner, and Amanda wound up comforting her blue boyfriend. Peter was showing Illyana around, because Xavier was hoping she could join the normal community quickly. He'd been giving her cram lessons on every subject. Jean, Scott, Warren and Remy were all out of school and the only other person around her age was Rogue.
Kitty adjusted her backpack silently. No one that had been friends with her pre-exposure was friends with her now. Even Arcade regarded her differently. Some of her teachers didn't seem to mind, but others would find any excuse to make her life a living hell. Just another year and a half. Then this bullshit will be over, Kitty told herself.
A hand dropped on her shoulder heavily. "Hey pretty Kitty," murmured a familiar voice. "Going my way?"
Kitty whirled around with a gasp. "L- Lance?! I thought you and the brotherhood were banned from Bayville?!"
"Magneto got us back in," Lance said with a shrug. "Hey, are you all right? You don't look so good."
Kitty threw her arms around him and began to let loose all the emotions she had bottled up about Rogue. As her tears began to seep into Lance's shirt he could only stare and pat her on the head, totally dumbfounded. He murmured soothing things to her, a tad embarrassed by the fact that he was stuck in the middle of the hallway. "What's going on Kitty?" He asked in his most calming tone. "You can tell me."
"It- it's Rogue," Kitty sobbed. "Lance, Rogue's dying and there's nothing we can do about it." She explained all about Rogue and Remy's ordeal in New Orleans and the aftermath of the trip. "We can't figure out how to save her."
"Dying?" Lance said, stunned. He had always thought Rogue was okay when it came to the X-Men. He'd even admired her decision to leave the brotherhood. He would have been way too scared of Mystique to do that. She had never treated him with overt hostility- except when she had secretly threatened his life when he started dating Kitty again. "If yah evah so much as blink th' wrong way in mah roommate's direction ah'll beat yah from here t'next Sund'y an' that'll jus' be th' start, y'hear?" She had said. Lance had agreed, and never told Kitty, because Rogue had given him a look that added an unspoken threat about talking about the experience. "Kitty, I'm so. . . So sorry. I wish I could, you know, do something. . ."
"You're doing enough," Kitty mumbled into his shirt. "This is all you could do."
Lance held onto her well past the first bell.
-
"Dying?"
"Yo, what did you say?"
Lance nodded at Blob and Toad. "This power suppressing collar is killing her."
"Dude," Toad said, "her powers just suck. She has 'em, she can't touch nobody. She don't have 'em, she croaks. What could be worse than that?"
Lance ignored him. "The thing is, the way she explained the collar, I think Magneto might be able to fix it. Assuming the trigger switch is made out of some sort of metal he could use his power to keep it open. That way the collar could come off and Rogue would be fine."
"How are we supposed to find Magneto to ask him to do it? Would he save her even? She's not on our side anymore," Blob pointed out.
"I know, I know, but I think Magneto would overlook that and see the bigger picture-" Lance waved his arms. "A mutant is dying, and it's because of a collar that's used to suppress mutant powers. I think he'd want to destroy it as soon as he could."
"Dude, that still leaves the 'how you gonna find him, yo' part," Toad pointed out.
Lance frowned. "I had hoped you guys might know where he's been recently. I know Pietro and Wanda have no idea and I don't want to ask the pyromaniac."
"I am not tracking down Sabertooth to ask him," Toad interjected.
Lance stared at Toad. "You won't have to. Pyro, Sabertooth, the only reason they might know where he's hiding is because they were Acolytes. We've got an Acolyte who would track down Apocalypse if he had to in order to save Rogue."
"Colossus?" Blob said.
"No! Gambit."
"Uh, hate to burst your bubble but Gambit don't like us none," Toad said. "And he's still in the X-Mansion, and we're not exactly welcome guests there."
"I can give a note to Kitty. She can give it to him. He'll at least read it if it's coming from her," Lance pointed out.
"But it's from you," Blob said.
"He won't know that now will he?" Lance retorted.
Toad raised a hand. "Yo, can you explain to me why we're helping one of them?"
Lance paused, looked at Toad and Blob and said seriously, "She would do it for us. Any of them would. You know that they would." Lance folded his arms. "Kurt didn't care what side I was on when he tried to teleport me out of my car. There was also a distinct possibility that he would have been road kill if he had gotten to the car in time to grab me. That didn't matter. He just tried his best to get to me."
"Yeah, and look at where you ended up. The hospital," Toad snorted.
"If we don't help Rogue could wind up six feet under!" Lance shouted. "What part of that don't you understand? She's a mutant, just like us. Heck, she was on our goddamn side. If any of us had bothered to try to connect with her she might still be. However we're always too busy looking after our own individual asses to even think about anyone else." He glared at Toad. "If you don't want to be a part of it, fine. I can do this myself." He stormed away.
Toad stared at him, one eyebrow raised. He tilted his head towards Blob. "Yo dude, all that time he spent with Kitty and the X-Men finally made him go crazy! Think we should tell Pietro?"
Blob paused, frowned, then said, "I think Lance is right. I think that this time we can't sit this out."
"What?" Toad hopped up and down in front of Blob. "Are you nuts? What're we supposed to do, search the whole town for signs of the metal head? Did you forget that Rogue laid you out flat when you first got here- when she was still on our side?"
Blob grabbed Toad by the head. "I thought we agreed that you wouldn't mention that if I wouldn't mention how she kicked your ass in about two seconds when we were going to prove ourselves to Magneto."
Toad made a gurgle of a reply through Blob's fingers.
"That's better," Blob said, letting Toad down again.
"Whatever," Toad grumbled, still sore about that particular defeat. "What do we owe her anyway?"
"We might not owe her anything now, but when she was our teammate we didn't exactly make her feel welcome. Besides, the X-Men saved all our asses from getting fried by Apocalypse when we were going to sit back and relax. You know who took him down in the end, right?"
"Yeah," Toad said, "the same person who brought him to life!"
"No, Mystique brought him to life. Rogue was her puppet. Rogue risked everything facing him again."
"Yo, since when were you a philosopher?" Toad grumbled, folding his arms. Blob shrugged in reply.
"I was just thinking."
"Don't do that no more, okay? You're scaring me."
Blob shrugged. "Sorry. Didn't mean to." Toad looked at Blob like he had never seen him before, then shook it off.
"Let's go. If we miss class I bet Magneto'll boil the iron in our blood or something. . ." He began hopping down the hallway, and Blob waddled off after him.
-
It was around lunchtime when Jean and Scott were called to Xavier's office. The professor looked even graver than he had the past few days, which was a considerable accomplishment. Xavier signaled for both of them to sit.
"Jean, Scott," Xavier started, folding his fingers. "Thank you for coming on such short notice. I know I've taken you both away from your lunch preparations."
Scott nodded slightly, thinking of the hot meatball sub he had to abandon. Logan had probably eaten it by not.
"It's all right professor. We all know that things could change in a minute concerning-" Jean paused, looking for the right words, "Rogue's condition."
"Which is exactly why I've called you here. I have some bad news."
"Bad news?" Scott said, his voice higher than usual. "I honestly don't think we can't take any more of that."
"I know, and I am sorry. This, however, must be said." Xavier closed his eyes for a long moment. "You both know how we had planned that in the event of Rogue's continued deterioration I would attempt to preserve her mind within mine under some sort of catatonic state?"
Jean nodded. "It was the only way we could possibly hope to keep her alive."
"It failed."
Jean and Scott were dumbstruck. "You mean-?" Scott began, but was unable to finish.
Xavier folded his hand so tightly that his knuckles appeared white. "Repeated attempts to isolate Rogue's brain waves, Rogue's personality," he shook his head. "They all failed. Despite the fact that her power is- for lack of a better term- off, she is still retaining all of the absorbed personalities. Her mind is too difficult to get a lock on, let alone remove or preserve."
"But Cerebro-" Jean began.
Xavier shook his head. "We've tried that. We had it on a full augmentation of my powers and. . . Nothing."
Scott stood up. "But, what if Jean helped you? Jean could lend her powers to yours-"
"No," the professor said sharply and quickly, surprising both of them. Xavier motioned for Scott to sit again and rubbed his temple. "What I mean is, if I couldn't get a lock at all it would be impossible for Jean and I to get Rogue's mind out intact. IT would fragment her personality and that might be an even greater problem."
Jean's hand wound around Scott's. "What can we do Professor? There must be some reason why you called us here, besides to tell us this."
"Yes, there is." Xavier looked at them. "As the oldest students, I know that most of the responsibility has tended to fall to you. In the next few days you will become counselors to the others, and if all goes badly, the other students will be looking up to you as an example. I have been planning for some time to give out field leader assignments, and split the X-Men into two primary teams. It was planned that together you and Scott would be co-leaders of the Gold team, with Storm as your Senior advisor. However, I had planned that Rogue would co-lead the second team, the Blue team, with Kurt. Logan would have been their advisor. Now, however, these plans have to change. I want your opinion on who you think should lead the second team."
"Why not let Jean lead the second team?" Scott said. "We don't need to have co-leaders, or Kitty could be mine. . ."
"I have things paired this way for a reason Scott," Xavier said sternly.
"I don't see why you're acting this way!" Scott exploded. "First you won't even consider letting Jean help with Rogue, and now you won't let her be team leader? You said yourself we've both been here the longest!"
"Scott, " Xavier said in a soft, almost threatening tone, "I have my reasons, you must understand this."
Scott was about to reply curtly when Jean put a hand on his shoulder. "Scott, it obviously has to do with the visions the professor had when we fought Apocalypse."
Scott stopped, the wind gone from his sails. He was still fuming. "Well, I don't think any of the others would be up to being a team leader. None of them are qualified enough. If they do act somewhat leader-ly they're either too young or they haven't been here nearly long enough. Jean's the only feasible possibility."
Jean leaned forward. "I agree with Scott somewhat, though I'd like to ask, Why Rogue as leader? Kurt might have been just as good, he might still be."
"Kurt, though responsible most of the time, does have his moments where he lets his 'theatrical' sense get out of control. I was hoping to balance that with Rogue's somewhat. . . cantankerous sense of reality." Xavier closed his eyes. "Honestly, I was hoping to help Rogue begin to believe in herself. You both surely realize that she's never felt quite so sure of herself since her power surge. She has also admitted to me, privately, that she thinks the rest of the students no longer trust her because of it."
Scott looked startled. "What? Why would she think that? She saved us all from Apocalypse!"
"By using someone else's powers. Someone who might have done it himself if he was older," Xavier said. "That's how she saw it anyway. She thinks of herself as the most deplorable type of thief."
"I can't believe. . . . Even after all this time. . ."
"The point is Scott, admitting this was the first step. I had to show her that she was trusted. I also thought that with her unique insight into everyone's powers she would make a most apt team leader. Now, unfortunately," he placed his hands flat on the desk, forcing himself not to clench them out of frustration, "that is not the case."
"We might still have a chance, Professor," Jean said. "Rogue's tough. She could hang on long enough for us to figure something- anything- out."
"I hope you're right Jean." Xavier said, looking out the window. He didn't appear to notice the sunny day outside or the birds chirping in the tree right outside it. He seemed to be staring at his reflection. "I hope you're right."
Jean and Scott got up to leave then, and he did not stop them. Scott was in a bad mood. "I can't believe- I just can't believe- that he could act like that- like you were some sort of nobody. Or that Rogue could still think that we don't trust her!"
"Scott," Jean said soothingly.
"I would trust Rogue with my life! That's more than I can say for Drake and his joyriding buddies. . ."
"Scott!" Jean said, this time more irately. "You are acting like a child. Think about what you're saying."
"I'm sorry Jean," he soughed, adjusting his glasses, "but I just can't take this anymore. Rogue is our friend and she dying and she thinks that we don't trust her and it's all too much for me. I didn't get any sleep last night. . ." Jean wrapped her arms around him. "And the professor is acting so unfair to you. . ."
"The Professor is losing one of his students Scott. Just like we're losing a friend. It's just as hard on him- if not harder. Can't you see what's going through his mind? If he hadn't messed up with his son, he wouldn't have been away. Rogue wouldn't have been kidnaped, wouldn't have the collar, and wouldn't be dying." She kissed him softly on the cheek. "We're all under the same stress here. That's why the Professor want's us to be examples to the other students. If we start to crack, they'll begin to follow suit."
"You're right," Scott sighed. "I just wish there was something we could do." He held her closer, kissing her forehead.
"I don't think there's anything we can do. We just have to hope for a miracle."
"Great, like that'll ever happen."
Jean looked up at Scott with a small smile on her face. "Stranger things have."
-
"Lance, what is this?" Kitty asked. She was about to break the tape seal on Lance's note to Gambit when he caught her hand.
"Kitty, look, it's a personal note for Gambit. I'd tell you more but. . . It might hurt you later," Lance said quietly. "It's nothing bad, okay? I just. . . You have to trust me on this. Please."
They were sitting in his new Jeep, which looked exactly like the old one, despite the fact that it was less beat up. Kitty had been initially surprised to find out that Lance spent a small fortune on insurance, but then she considered who he lived with. Blob could easily take out a small Jeep.
Kitty bit her bottom lip gently and nodded. She slipped the note into one of her notebooks. Lance leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. "Listen, I know this is a hard time for you. You can call me anytime, and I'll get over to the Mansion in five minutes or less, okay?"
Kitty nodded again, and hugged him. "Thank you Lance."
Lance said gently "Are you sure you don't want a ride home?"
Kitty shook her head. "No. I'm trying out for the school play. Rogue and I were going to go together, for fun. . . but. . ."
Lance hugged her once more. "You'll be great. I just hope you have a decent director wen it comes to prejudices."
"So do I." Kitty kissed him quickly on the cheek and phased through the Jeep door. Lance watched her until she had entered the building again. A few minutes late Toad and Blob caught up to him.
"So, yo man, we going to look for the bucket head or what?" Toad said, hopping into the passenger's seat.
"Huh?" Said Lance, baffled.
Blob climbed into the car, easily taking up most of the back. "Well, If Gambit doesn't know where Magneto is, we have to find him, don't we?"
Lance looked at his two teammates. The three of them had been together for a while before Pietro had shown up and they had a bit of a bond. "You guys sure about this? I mean, she's one of the X-Men. . ."
Toad bopped him on the back of the head. "Yo, Lance, just drive the car, okay? Before we change our minds."
Lance grinned widely. "Then let's rock and roll!"
Blob grabbed onto his shoulder. "Let's not man. Last time you did that you nearly killed yourself."
Lance had to laugh. "Yeah, I suppose that's true. Then, lets just roll."
Better," Toad and Blob echoed together.
-
Pietro knocked on Wanda's door. "Hey, sis, it's me. Can I talk to you?"
Wanda opened the door a crack, looked him over, then allowed him to enter. "You were talking slower than normal. I thought Pyro had learned how to imitate your voice."
"You really don't like him do you?"
"Besides the fact that he's a totally sexist pig, an asshole, and has the most repulsive personality ever I like him just fine," she grumbled. She whisked away back into the recesses of her room. She kept it dark, and she had long ago painted the walls black. Before she had been brainwashed Wanda had said she didn't like bright, white rooms. They reminded her too much of the Asylum. It was one of the things that carried over after her brainwashing, despite the fact that she was no longer aware of the true reason behind it. "Honestly, Pietro, I can't reason why Father would lump him here with us. He could have collected a new group of Acolytes if he wanted. Or maybe he has and he doesn't want Pyro in it. . . But I' still confused."
Pietro shrugged. "Yeah, soamI. Look, I just wanted to let you know that I havetomakea run to the store. LivingwithBlobain'tnopicnic. I went shopping justlastweek and he's all ready gone through all the food." Pietro grumbled. "It's gotta be costing Father a fortune."
Wanda frowned. "Don't be gone too long. I do not want to be alone in a house with him."
Pietro put a hand on her shoulder. "I'll do my best to be back in a few blinks." He started to break away then added, "Wanda, you know that whenever I have the power I will do right by you, right?"
Wanda looked at him funnily. "What kind of a question is that?"
"An honest one."
"Then here's the honest answer," she replied, giving him a sisterly hug. "Yes. Now go, hurry. I want dinner."
Pietro was stunned for a few seconds. That was the first time Wanda had hugged him in. . . Forever. He flashed back to the days when they were kids, playing tag, then shook his head and reoriented on the present. "Wanda, you're the best. I'llseeyouinaminute!"
He left the house as an untraceable blur. The only thing Wanda could track him by was the streak of white that was his hair. "Poor Pietro," she murmured. "The market is going to be packed. Getting through the lines will take forever."
"That'll give us more time to talk, eh Sheila?"
Wanda whirled around. Pyro was standing in her doorway. Suddenly she was praying the stores were having a bad day in sales and that Pietro would be back soon. "What do you want?" She said curtly, shoving past him to get out of her room. No sense in being cornered by the pyromaniac.
"What d'you think I want?" Pyro said smoothly. Wanda turned and glared at him. Pyro held up his hands, " 'Ey, I didn't mean anything by it, luv. I was just trying to prove the point that you've made some bloody quick assumptions about me."
"You haven't given me so much as a shred of a reason why I should make any other sort of judgment on you," she snapped, with considerable venom. She heard a light bulb shatter inside her room and grumbled. She'd been doing that a lot lately. "You've proceeded to be nothing less than a pervert towards me and an complete and utter asshole towards everyone else in this house! You care nothing about other people's safety, running around with that flame-thrower on, nor about anyone's property. You been nothing but brash, rude, and boorish since you stepped inside this house. I don't know if this is how you act when my father's around, but I - won't- stand- it- anymore!" The banister began to twist and come to life.
"You, know, you're takin' this way too seriously luv-"
"Stop. Calling. Me. That." The banister reared up like a snake and struck at him. He dodged in time, but just barely.
"Temper, temper," Pyro muttered. "It comes down to this- you're a pretty good-looking Sheila, and I thought you might appreciate 'ookin' up with someone better than the Toad."
"Excuse me? Did you just say 'hook up'?" Wanda fairly roared. "Please tell me that it did not cross your fucking mind that I am sleeping with Toad!"
"No, but you look like you could use a little something. . . And from someone better than Toad-"
Pyro never saw the slap coming, he was so focused on the banister. He was taken totally by surprised and nearly fell. He grabbed at the banister for support, and only realized his mistake when the banister began wrapping around his arm.
"Stay. Away. From. Me." Wanda said sharply. "Or I swear to god I'll castrate you." She stormed down the stairs.
"You're not getting away from me that easy, luv," Pyro said and he started to follow her.
-
Pietro had expended all of three seconds shopping. Now he was tapping his foot at breakneck speed as he waited forever on line. As it turned out the customer right in front of him had brought up a can of soup with a missing bar code. Now the cashier was on the phone with the soup guy, who couldn't get the can because he was helping another customer. Pietro snapped. He whizzed back into the soup department, grabbed a can and brought it up with him.
"Here," he said to the cashier. "Ihaveacan. Just scan it."
"Sorry sir," the cashier, who's name tag identified her as 'Mandy' said. "But this is chicken noodle. The code I need is for split-pea soup."
Pietro stared at Mandy for a half a minute. 'You'rekiddingmeright? You have to have split pea soup?"
"It's for inventory reasons," Mandy tried to explain.
Pietro threw up his arms. When Mandy turned to page the soup guy again, Pietro ran back into canned goods. He removed half of the soup wall before finding the split peas soup, put everything back on the wall, then returned to the register in a flash.
"Here," Pietro said, throwing the can at Mandy. "Split-pea."
Mandy looked at it, frowned, then scanned it. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," Pietro said, then turned to get his cart. He found that it had been moved, and the person who had been standing behind him was now next in line. "Excuse me," Pietro said. "This is my spot."
"No it isn't," The large customer said. "You got out of line." He began to unload his stuff onto the counter.
"Excuse me," Pietro said more forcefully. "If it wasn't for me you'd still be behind Mr. Split Pea Soup!"
"You could have waited like the rest of us, insteada runnin' off like that," the large man retorted. "Mutie," he added with a growl.
Pietro's eyes flashed. "So, that's how we're going to play the game, is it?" Before the large customer had even finished unloading his cart, Pietro began scanning his items at lightning speed. The large man, the other customers and Mandy were too astonished to panic. Pietro then proceeded to finish ringing his sale up, paid and made change, then put all of the large customer's items back, before bagging his stuff and whizzing out the door with two carts full. Laughing, Pietro cut off two cars and a motorcycle on his way home.
-
Wanda had hardly made her way downstairs when Pyro caught her wrist. "C'mon Wanda, luv, let's jus' 'ave a go at it. You never know, you mightbloody well like it."
Wanda spun around, glass shattering all around her in surges of blue light. "GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF ME!" She roared. "I WILL break your arm if you don't!"
"There no need to be so 'ostile! I'm just offerin' you an opportunity to indulge in one of life's more. . . satisfying aspects." To Wanda's total astonishment, Pyro wrapped his arms around her, grabbed her rear, and caught her eyes. "You're a fine Sheila. I wouldn't dream o' steerin' you wrong."
Wanda was caught so off guard that her powers fizzled out. Before she could react with her quickly rebounding rage, Pyro had pinned her against the wall and mashed his lips up against hers. He had one of his flame nozzles pointed at her head as an obvious threat, but Wanda didn't even have to worry about it. Pyro was knocked backwards, and kneed in the groin before he knew what was going on.
"I- WARNED- you- St. John," Pietro said. The groceries were strewn about him and his hair looked wilder than usual. "Stay AWAY from my sister. DOYOUUNDERSTANDTHAT?"
"We was just 'aving a friendly conversation-" Pyro said, in a slightly higher pitch than normal.
"Idon'tcareifshewastheonekissingyou whichIhighlydoubt! Keepyourslimypawsoffofher!" Pietro boomed fiercely. Even if Pyro couldn't understand what he was saying, the tone was there. "So, fuckoff!"
"Real righteous family you've got Wanda," Pyro said sarcastically. "Always lookin' out for your best interests."
"ShuttheFUCKupSt.John!"
Wanda looked at Pietro, "What that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," Pietro said, waving it off. "He's just being a cranky bastard. GofuckoffSt.John," he snapped.
"Pietro, what is he-"
"Wanda, he'stryingto confuse you," Pietro said. "He's been trying to get into your pants from the moment he walked into the door. He figures that if he pushes the right buttons, makes you doubt little things here and there, you'll begin to trust him and see things through his screwed up eyes."
"Oh, aye, that 'xactly what I'm doing, eh, mate?" Pyro said irritably. "Sure, sure."
Wanda looked back and forth between the two boys, slightly befuddled. Her rage has all but subsided, and she was beginning to get a headache. Without another word she went back upstairs. A loud slam indicated that she had entered her room. Before Pyro could turn his nozzles towards Pietro the speedster had slammed him into the wall.
"AreyououtofyourFUCKINGmind?" Pietro demanded in a dangerous tone. "You reveal to her the truth and I can give you a one-hundred-per-cent-guarantee she'll kill both of us."
"The only one I see in deep shit if she remembers is you an' your da'-"
"You were the one who tricked her into following you. You were the messenger that led her to Dad and Mastermind. You think that you're going to get off so easy?" Pietro demanded. Pyro had the look about him of someone who just had the wind taken out of his sails. "The only ones that might be still left alive are the three musketeers- Blob, Toad and Avalanche. Mostly because Toad and Avalanche will be hiding behind Blob." Pietro shoved Pyro to the ground. "So keep you fat mouth shut St. John, or you'll be the one roasted."
Pietro set about picking up the groceries and putting them away at a fairly normal speed. Pyro picked himself up off of the floor, brushed himself off and muttered, "Three musketeers indeed. . . Where are those blokes?"
-
Logan was watching Angel lazily fly in circles and figure eights behind the mansion. He had been trying to meditate, trying so god awfully hard to take his mind off of Rogue. She was probably the closest thing to a daughter he would ever have. If he had been faster, if he had refused to go with Ororo that night, if he had gutted those Rippers before they had smashed the remote, or held them at claw-point until they told him where they could get the thing removed, maybe things would have been different. Or maybe not. He vaguely remembered being told once while he was in Japan that everything happens for a reason. Even if you were to go back in time, somehow everything would wind up the same. Rogue would still be lying there, sickly pale and wasting away, and he would be watching Warren, who was trying to shake the awful realization that he could do nothing to help the girl who had all but saved him from Magneto.
Everyone in the mansion was feeling the impending doom. Beast hadn't slept in days, and had commandeered the coffee maker, much to Logan's chagrin. Ororo had three plants die on her because she couldn't find the willpower to go up to the attic and garden. Kurt couldn't handle the idea of his 'little sister' dying, and had been spending excessive amounts of time out with Amanda. Peter had been silent all afternoon, along with most of the younger students. Except of course, Bobby Drake, who dealt with the stress by making more and more frequent jokes of a rapidly degrading quality. Logan was sure that Gambit had developed a symbiotic relationship with the chair he had by Rogue's bedside. Jean and Scott were putting on brave faces, by the Professor's request Logan was sure, but you didn't need to be a psychic to know that they were hurting. Kitty, though, she was the worst one. She was a walking cloud of sadness that infected everyone around her. Logan could see her coming through the gate now. Warren had dropped down to talk to her for a minute, and then Kitty proceeded towards the house, as Warren took off again, only to perch on the roof.
Kitty had been dancing on the verge of tears right from the beginning of tryouts. The director and performing arts teacher, Ms. Fitzgerald, had looked all around for Rogue, and asked Kitty where she was. Apparently Ms. Fitzgerald had planned the play with a character in mind for Rogue. Kitty could only shake her head and say Rogue was very sick. There was only one thing on her mind now, getting Lance's letter to Remy. Kitty had plenty of time to think about it while she wasn't paying attention to what was going on around her in tryouts, and she realized that Lance could know something that may help Rogue. When she was about three steps into the foyer the chaos started.
Warren, outside, noticed Amara waving her arms up and down just outside the gate. Warren, confused, flew over. "What's up Amara?"
"I forgot the new pass-code," she said, with a blush. "You know, they rewired this thing and all. . ."
"Yeah, those Rippers sure did a number on it," Warren agreed, punching in the code. "Did you see the look on Beast's face when he saw what they had done?"
"I can only imagine," Amara began, but then she stopped, looking a bit disturbed.
Warren looked confused. "What's wron-" he never finished. He could see Amara, Tabitha and Roberto talking and laughing a way off. Warren looked at Amara, shocked as her face turned blue for a second, then morphed into a bird.
"MYSTIQUE! MYSTIQUE!" Warren shouted. "MYSTIQUE'S ON THE MANSION GROUNDS!"
Logan snapped out of his daze instantly, and charged towards the bird, roaring. Warren immediately became airborne, but Mystique, in a total change of tradition, had shifted into a peregrine falcon- the fastest bird in the skies. Kitty had just turned, realizing that she had left the door wide open in her absentminded daze when Mystique tore past her. Mystique had landed and turned into a wolf before Wolverine and Warren could get anywhere near, but their shouts had drawn students and staff alike. Kurt and the Professor appeared in a cloud of smoke. Mystique saw this and shifted again, looking more fearsome in her normal form than she had as a wolf.
"You crippled little bastard!" Mystique shrieked, grabbing the arms of Xavier's chair. "I bet it didn't even cross your mind to call me! If your son or daughter were under my care I would tell you if one of them were gravely ill! If it was Kurt, I wonder if call me or if you would simply send me a funeral invitation! You behavior is so outrageous it disgusts even me."
"Back off lady," Logan snarled. "Otherwise I'll slice you crown to sole."
Mystique whipped around, transforming into a bear, roaring fiercely, then shifted back to herself. "If you so much as attempt to touch me I'll be sending Sabertooth your skeleton as a birthday present."
"Wanna bet?" Logan growled, popping both sets of claws.
"Logan, stop!" Xavier shouted with a mental command that forced Wolverine to sheath his claws.
"Chuck, she's got no right bustin' in here-"
"I have plenty of right to be here! My daughter is dying-"
Wolverine bellowed, "The daughter you abused at every turn? The one who you only paid attention to when you could use her to your own end? That daughter?"
Mystique's eyes glowed. "I warn you that my patience is already worn thin. Continue to pursue this matter further and you'll regret it."
"Logan, Mother, please, calm down!" Kurt said, highly distressed. "Dhis is going novhere!"
"Indeed, I must implore you both to calm yourselves so we can talk this out-" Xavier began.
"You can talk all you want, I'm going to see my daughter-"
"Try it and I'll tear you a new one."
"I'd like to see you attempt that fur ball."
"You're about two seconds away from just that."
"STOP IT! ALL OF YOU!" Kitty shrieked, unable to take it any longer. "You're acting like children, and this is not the time!"
For whatever reason, this seemed to shut everyone up. Before Wolverine and Mystique could go at it again Kurt interjected. "Mother, I don't dhink Rogue vould vant to see you."
"Indeed, Raven, I would have notified you if I thought Rogue would want you to be here. Under the circumstances, I thought it would cause Rogue unwanted stress-" Xavier began, but Mystique cut him off.
"I don't care what you think Charles. As far as I believe you don't do it nearly as much as you claim you do," Mystiques snapped. She shoved something into his face. "This indicates to me that in circumstances such as these I can and will be by Rogue or Kurt's side as the case may be."
Xavier looked at the object she was holding. "Is that a Christmas card?" He asked slowly, as if the words were alien to him.
"She did send it," Kurt murmured of Rogue.
"Yes, Charles, it is," Mystique said with the tone of a teacher scolding a student. "And if you notice it happens to be signed by both of my children."
"What?!" Exclaimed Logan.
"What?" Kurt said, his head whipping around.
Mystique showed Logan the card with an air of defiance. "It seems you don't know as much about my daughter as you thought you did."
"Rogue signed the card?" Kurt said weakly. "I didn't even dhink she vas going to send it."
"I want to see her," Mystique said to Xavier, her voice softening for a second.
Xavier paused, then nodded. "Very well. You must be monitored, so I will go with you."
"Professor, I have something I promised I'd give Remy," Kitty said.
"Very well, you may come along," Xavier nodded.
"Gambit? What does he have to do with this?"
Kurt, unwisely, said "He's dating Rogue."
"What? That backwater, bootlicking, thief is dating my daughter?"
"Mother, he's not that awful-"
"I'll be the judge of that," Mystique grumbled.
"He can't be any worse for her than you are," Logan grumbled. Ororo nudged him to shut him up. Mystique ignored both of them. Xavier, Kitty, Mystique and Kurt went down to the infirmary. Logan's grumbles followed them for quite some time.
Once they had made their way to the infirmary, Xavier insisted on entering first. "Gambit and Beast are both very uptight about the situation. If they see you before me, Raven, I think they would react harshly."
Mystique snorted something about Gambit, but acknowledged Xavier's advice with a nod. Gambit looked up from his post beside Rogue's bed and stood immediately when he saw the flash of blue skin. He was going to draw out as card, but Xavier waved his hand.
"It's all right Remy. Mystique isn't here to cause trouble."
Gambit looked like he wanted to comment, but Rogue shifted in bed and he looked over to her. Rogue forced herself into a sitting position, looking confused. "Wha- what are you doin' hea?" She said to Mystique, weakly.
Mystique transformed into her Raven Darkholm form, and sat on the edge of Rogue bed. "I wanted to-" she stopped. "I've never meant to hurt you. I've only done. . What I've thought was best Rogue and. . ." Mystique closed her eyes. "People make mistakes. Some people make more than others. I hope you can understand."
Rogue looked at Mystique, but she didn't seem to quite comprehend what was going on. Her eyes seemed to be looking past Mystique, but for an instant she focused and said, "You hurt me." Mystique placed a hand on Rogue's face. Rogue could vaguely recall being tucked in at night and begin touched the same way, years and years ago. She closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks. "Why?" She whispered.
Mystique could only shake her head.
Kitty pulled Remy to the side as this exchange was going on. "Lance wanted me to give this to you. I don't know what it is, or what it says, but he made it sound awfully important."
Remy took the letter from Kitty and opened it up. His eyes darted along the paper and he seemed to stand straighter all of a sudden.
"What? What does it say?" Kitty asked, vying to see.
"He thinks-" Remy began, but a startled cry from Kurt made Gambit and Kitty turn around, the note forgotten.
Rogue was going into some sort of seizure. Mystique was holding her head, trying to keep Rogue from hurting herself. Beast tore in from the other room, panicked. "Oh no, oh no," he said. "I was worried about this. She's really beginning to break down now. When the seizures stop she'll most likely go into a coma and then. . ."
"How much time do we have?" Remy asked.
"A few hours. That's all her body can withstand any more."
Rogue clamed down for an instant. Remy swooped over to her and bent down next to her. "Rogue, cherie, I have to leave. Please, hold on until I get back," he whispered, then kissed her. Rogue reached up weakly to touch him, but couldn't reach far enough. Remy bent further to take her hand. "Be brave cherie." He murmured. Then Rogue let him go, and he bolted out of the room.
"Vhere is he going?" Kurt said, astonished that Remy could move so fast.
Kitty shook her head. "I don't know." She looked around, trying to find the letter Lance had written, but apparently Remy had taken it with him. "I don't know," she repeated, more depressed. "I hope he knows what he's doing.
-
"What were you talking about?"
Pyro turned to see Wanda in his doorway, looking intimidating and attractive all at once. Resisting the temptation to lick his lips, he said, "What d'ya mean, luv?"
"About my family looking out for my best interests," Wanda snapped.
Pyro waved it off. "You 'eard your brother's opinion of it. I was rather 'opin' you'd be interested in what I said 'bout the more satisfyin' aspects of life."
"You would," Wanda snorted. "You haven't answered my question though."
Pyro shrugged haphazardly. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you anyway, Sheila. I'm not bloody trustworthy, now am I?"
Blue light coalesced around Wanda's hands. "Don't play games with me Pyro. I play rough."
"Wouldn't dream of it luv, but remember," he flashed one of his flame nozzles, "it's dangerous to play with fire. Though I'd love to play 'rough' with you sometime."
Wanda leaned over towards him. "Maybe you'll get a chance to, if you tell me what I want to know."
"Is that so?" Pyro said, a glint in his eye. "Somehow I don't believe you."
Wanda snarled, "Don't pull this kind of shit on me Pyro! Just tell me what you meant!"
Pyro got up and grabbed her by the wrists. "Why don't you ask ya da'? I'm sure 'e'd love t' tall you exactly what I meant." He shoved her backwards. "Take your bloody sob story somewhere else Sheila. I offered my. . . Unique services. You turned me down."
Wanda flared up, her powers making Pyro's door rattle imposingly. "You have five seconds to tell me what I want to know."
Pyro held up his hands, flames shooting out of the nozzles on his gloves. "Try me luv. I could use a good scrap." He made the flames turn into a small bird and shoot toward Wanda. Wanda moved her head, then roared in rage. Pyro's lamp exploded, and millions of tiny fragments came flying after him. Pyro bolted behind the door, where the fragments embedded themselves, then darted down the stairs, taking them in fours.
Wanda raced after him, the banister coming to life and reaching after him as she thundered down the stairs. Pietro appeared in front of her, trying to calm her down, but a banister wrapped tightly around his ankles. He fell over, and lay on the ground.
"Wanda! Wanda let me go!" He shouted.
Wanda didn't pay him any heed. "I'm going to tear that pyromaniac's head off!" She shrieked. "I've had enough of his shit!"
Pietro began banging on the banister at warp speed. He slowly began to crack through it, but Wanda and Pyro were all ready going at it in the living room. Pietro screamed as a lion made out of fire came bounding in from the other room, with Wanda backing away from it.
"What now, luv?" Pyro chuckled. The lion's feet were causing the floor to begin to burn up- but it was nothing he couldn't handle.
Wanda, infuriated at being forced to back down shouted, "THIS!"
The curtains ripped themselves from the windows and whipped around Pyro, knocking him off balance. This broke his concentration and the mound of fire that had been a lion simple burst into a large fire. Pietro squealed on the floor, and Wanda's eyes went wide with horror as the fire began eating up the dry tinder that was the boarding house. Wanda whipped around and focused all her energy into shattering he banister wound around her brother's legs.
"We've got to get out of here!" Wanda shouted.
"Cool your jets!" Pyro said loudly. "I can handle it!"
"We have to get out of here! This place is going to go up like kindling!" Wanda reiterated, this time more forcefully.
If Pyro was going to argue again, he didn't because Wanda's surge of emotion made the back of his pack explode, effectively extending the fire into the living room. Pietro yanked the pack off of Pyro, threw it into the kitchen without thinking, and then darted upstairs.
"What the bloody hell is he doing?" Pyro said.
"Pietro's saving as much of his own shit as he can," Wanda snarled. "Outside! NOW!"
Pyro didn't argue. After they had both left Pietro joined them, coughing. "Way too much smoke all ready. I saved our uniforms and a couple of personal things for everyone but there wasn't enough time. This place must be dry as a bone!"
Wanda glanced at her brother, surprised. She hadn't expected that sort of reaction from him. Why she hadn't she couldn't put her finger on.
"Shit, man!" Pyro said emphatically. "There goes the whole bloomin' 'ouse!"
The boarding house was a sight to see. Wanda, Pietro and Pyro watched, stunned, as something in Mystique's old room exploded furiously, taking out most of one side of the house.
"Does father have insurance to cover that?" Wanda asked.
"They might call this arson Wanda," Pietro said. "We'd get nothing."
The three teens stared at the old house as it burned down.
-
Remy had never ridden so fast on a bike in all his life. His motorcycle was roaring as he tore down the street. Magneto might be at the old Acolyte's base, and he had to find him. He had to save Rogue. He was going well over the speed limit, but the way to the base wasn't on the beaten track. He wouldn't run into any cars.
That's why the headlights barreling towards him caused him to jerk off of the road. He flew off his bike, which spiraled through the air, aiming to land on him one he had landed. Remy never his the ground, however, and neither did his bike. The jeep that had come towards him skidded to a halt, and the three ragtag occupants seemed frazzled, but unharmed as well.
Remy felt himself lowered to the ground gently, and his bike was set on the side of the road. Remy stood up, staggered then watched as one of the occupants of the jeep leaped out of his seat in the back, and landed right in front of him.
"Yo! Lookit this! It's Gambit!" Toad said, straightening up. "Kitty actually gave him your note."
"Why wouldn't she?" Lance called out from the car, irritably. "Hey, are you all right?" He shouted over to Gambit.
"Oui," Gambit murmured. "Merci beaucoup Lance, but what de hell are you doin' here?"
"Looking for me, my young friend."
Remy had never felt more relieved in his life to see Magneto drop out of the sky. Oddly Magneto wasn't dressed in his full helmet and cape getup, but was in a crisp white shirt and slacks. "Monsuier Lensherr, please, I need your help-"
"I know all about Rogue," Magneto said, gesturing at Lance and the others. "They informed me. I was on my way to the Institute, but I was going to stop by the boarding house first."
"Please, dere's no time. Rogue's only got a hour, maybe less," Remy said desperately.
Magneto held up a hand. "Calm yourself LeBeau. The boarding house can wait." He turned his head slightly and motioned at Lance. "You three head back to the boarding house. I'll meet you there."
Lance nodded, Toad hopped in the back seat and Blob said, "Aye, aye sir!" Remy saw the tiniest of smiles tweak at the sides of Magneto's lips, but it was gone quickly.
"We're not going to be nearly fast enough with that," Magneto said eyeing the motorcycle. As the boys in the jeep sped off, Magneto raised his arms once again, and a buried metal sphere tore out of the ground. It opened and Remy's motorcycle flew inside. "Get in."
Though metal sphere was not his favorite way to travel, Remy scrambled in without hesitation. The sphere sealed up and within minutes he was exiting the cramped space, and letting Magneto in through the from gates of the mansion.
"Ohhhhhh no!" Logan said as he saw the two of them approach the house. "There is no way in HELL I'm letting him and Mystique inta the house at the same time!"
"Logan, get de fuck outta de way or I'll blow your face off," Remy said, drawing a card. "He's here to get dat collar offa Rogue!"
Logan paused, then let out a grumpy snarl and charged back inside, "I cannot believe the sort of day I'm havin'!" He mashed a com-link on the wall. "Chuck, your flaming college buddy is here!"
"What? Erik-?" Came back the startled reply.
"Yeah! The Cajun ran out and brought bucket head back with him!" Logan snapped. "Gumbo sez that Magneto can get the collar offa Rogue, so we're comin' down."
Xavier had no time to reply, as Logan, Magneto and Remy go into the elevator and made their way to the infirmary. Beast met Magneto almost as he was stepping out.
"Are you sure you can do something? There' a mechanism that will make it explode if we tamper with it-" Beast began, but Magneto merely smirked.
"Dr. McCoy, none of the mechanisms will work if they're all fused together."
Mystique was holding Rogue in her arms, cradling the girl. Rogue had slipped into a coma not minutes before. "You'd better do this right Magnus," Mystique said sharply. "Or I swear to god-"
"Raven, shut up," Magneto cut her off calmly. "I need to concentrate."
He placed his hands on the cool metal surface of the collar. Kitty and Kurt, who were still there, were clinging to each other. Remy had his hands wrapped around his Bo staff so tightly that they had turned white. Beast, Logan and Xavier said nothing. They all felt the pulse of power that came from Magneto. Then there was a small, soft bang, that made Kitty scream and the others begin to panic, until they saw the melted mass of metal and the small, smoke filled force field that Magneto had created around the explosives.
Rogue took in a shuddering breath, and almost instantly she looked better. She opened her eyes, and looked totally baffled by the group of people around her. "W- what the hell?" She said in a clear, forceful tone.
"Rogue! You're better!" Kitty yelped in delight, throwing her arms around Rogue's neck and hugging her tightly. "Oh my god did you have me, like, scared out of my wits!"
Rogue patted Kitty on the back awkwardly, observing the relieved faces of Kurt and Remy, but her attention was elsewhere. She was staring at Mystique, unable to say anything. Mystique closed her eyes and backed away.
"I think it's time for me to go Charles," Mystique murmured. "Too much stress will not be beneficial to Rogue."
"I agree Raven, though I'm not so sure you'd be a source of that stress," Xavier said honestly.
Mystique shook her head. "Whether I am or I'm not, it's time for me to leave."
"Very well then. Dr. McCoy will escort you out."
Beast nodded, and gestured for Mystique to follow him. Rogue's view of Mystique was blocked by Kurt one instant, and Mystique was no where to be seen afterwards.
"Kitty, Kurt, it's best that Rogue get some rest, so I suggest you leave-" Xavier said.
"But Professor!" They chorused.
"-so why don't you go spread the good news?" He concluded.
Kitty and Kurt's faces lit up. Kurt was gone in an instant, and Kitty walked right out through the door. The Professor gave Logan a look.
"You feelin' all right kid?" Logan asked.
"Exhausted, but okay," Rogue sad. "Ah can't remember a whole lot towards the end. It's a big blur."
"Don't worry too much about it stripes," Logan said comfortingly. "We'll leave you be for a while, but Hank's gonna be down here prodding you as soon as he's done taking out the trash- ow!" Logan rubbed his head. "Jeeze Chuck, I thought you gave mental flicks not mental punches."
Magneto smiled and straightened himself up. "Charles, I've been meaning to have a chat with you about something." He paused, clearly giving Xavier a mental message. One of Xavier's eyebrows sprung up. "I had hoped you and I could discuss it?"
"Of course Erik. Let's go to my study. Come along Logan," Xavier said, wheeling out. "Let the two of them have some time together."
Logan snorted at Magneto's back, and took one last glance at Rogue, making sure that she looked all right. Once he was assured that she was all in one piece, he followed Xavier and Magneto upstairs.
Once they were alone Remy wrapped Rogue in a big bear hug, murmuring things in French. After a few minutes, though, Remy had fallen asleep in Rogue's arms. He slept for five hours that way. It was the first decent rest he had gotten in several weeks.
-
Blob, Toad and Lance returned to the boarding house only to see the last of the fires being put out by the Bayville fire department. They stared at the ashen pile in shock. Toad bounced out of the car, and hopped up to where the sign used to be. "Yo, this in not cool!" He spun around and shook his fist. "It's all that crazy Pyro's fault you know! Man! That guy just keeps on screwing up everything!"
"'Ey, don't blame it all on me frog," Pyro said as he, Pietro and Wanda approached. "Not my fault."
"Oh, and I suppose it's all on me-" Wanda began furiously.
"You were the one who attacked me Sheila," Pyro shrugged.
Wanda slapped him as hard as she could, sending Pyro staggering. "If you had for one minute acted like a decent human being this," she gestured at the house, "wouldn't have happened!"
Toad straightened up. "Don't you dare blame it on my poor sweetie pie, Pyro. " He stood between Wanda and Pyro- the least safest place for a hundred miles.
Blob picked up Toad and set him aside, then wedged himself between the two. 'Calm down. We don't need either of you burning the whole county down."
"I can't burn anything without me pack!" Pyro said, shaking his head. "Where am I supposed to get another one of those?"
"Where are we supposed to get another house?" Lance said unhappily.
"Hey, be glad I got someofourshit out of there," Pietro said. 'I've got it hidden, so maybe they won't rule this arson and my Father can claim the insurance. . ."
"Father?" Wanda said.
"Yeah, Wanda, we mentioned this, remember?" Pietro said, turning around. Then he said, "Oh," as he realized that Magneto was standing there, besides the jeep, looking mildly amused. "Father, I'm sorry. This is my fault. Wanda and Pyro were fighting and I wasn't able to stop them-"
Magneto didn't look too awfully upset. "Don't worry Pietro. This is going to make things a little easier. I was worried that you weren't going to want to leave the boarding house, but now that there isn't any boarding house, that isn't a problem."
"Why would you want us to leave the boarding house in the first place Father?" Wanda asked.
"Yeah, it's not like there are any other houses on sale in town that are big or isolated enough for a buncha mutants to live in," Lance interjected.
"Or with a big enough kitchen," Blob added.
"Yeah," Toad agreed.
"There is one house," Magneto said.
"Really? We're getting better digs?" Pyro said. "Sweet!"
Magneto folded his arms. "Pietro, Blob, Lance, gather up the stuff Pietro managed to salvaged and load it into the jeep. Since there's nothing better to do we'll move in right away. The boys mumbled their agreement.
"But father," Wanda said, making the boys pause, "where are we moving to?"
A smile twisted along Magneto's face. "To my new workplace. The Xavier Institute."
Author's note: This episode amuses me. For some reason I love writing the brotherhood. They're just so. . . Amusing.
This episode turned out to be at least four pages longer than I thought it would, but I just let it go. It was going so well, I just let it fly. The next episode is not nearly going to be as serious as some of its predecessors. In fact, I doubt it will be as serious as any of them. I plan on shedding some light on what's up with Jubilee, and arranging for a new student to come to the mansion. He/she has been mentioned very briefly, not directly, but even if you figure out who it is, you might be surprised at what I do with him/her. I might hold over until season 6 to actually bring the new student over, and they might be just again mentioned in passing, instead of seriously considered in EP. 9.
As of this Episode you've read over 150 pages of XME: S5. That's a small novels worth. The only thing that might be sadder than you reading it is the fact that I've taken time to write over 150 pages of XME: S5. Yes, begin a fanatic is fun.
I'd like to give a shout out to the people who have been reading this from episode one. I'd like to give a bigger shout out to the people who've been reviewing this from episode one, or have reviewed every episode since they've found XME: S5. You guys are my motivation to keep on writing, besides the fact that I adore X-Men, I'm always a sucker for compliments, and criticism too.
If you guys have ever heard of the TV show Gargoyles the Disney cartoon, please take some time out to read my other, MUCH SHORTER fan fic "A Future Lost." Gargoyles: Season one is coming out on DVD December seventh and I, like many diehard Gargoyles fans, will be buying it on that day, trying to make Disney do something more with the show. If you've never heard of it, but you like X-Men and fantasy books and Sci-fi, and all that sort of things, pick it up anyway. I promise that you'll love it. More importantly, I promise that you'll notice that one of the characters- Demona- is Mystique's like, long lost interdimenrsional twin sister. Plus they have mutates living in the New York sewers (thought that might be season 2, I can't remember). It's like a strange parallel universe to X-Men without being like X-Men at all. I'm very tempted o do a crossover fanfic for my own amusement.
Now that I've shamelessly plugged Gargoyles I'd like to once again thank everyone for reading. You've got at least 4 more episodes of Season 5 (probably more), and Season 6- let's just say it's gonna be wild.