Chapter 7: Torment
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created and owned by Marvel Characters, Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Xavier Institute
Early Morning
The sun rose slowly over the horizon, embracing in it's warm rays the dark brown boathouse beside the lake, the morning light reflecting off the glass, shimmering and dancing.
Logan awoke slowly, stretching lazily, his chest brushing against the back of the angel laying next to him. Instantly he felt the surge of heat through his body. Ororo. His wife. His only.
They had spent all of yesterday celebrating their one year anniversary. It had been a fantastic day full of surprises and romance for each other. He had woken her with breakfast in bed and she had surprised him with a card. Later, he had led her along a white rose petal trail, laid out by Jubilee, to a gazebo set up by Peter and Kurt by the lake, where everyone had been waiting for them, and much to Ororo's delight, Scott included.
Logan had pulled her out onto the lawn and in front of everyone he knelt in front of her. "I've done some bad things in my life, darlin', traveled some dark roads. But now I have you as my light, and I want ta do this right, babe. Not some hurried Vegas ceremony, but right. With our friends and family present. So, Ororo N'Dare Munroe will you marry me? Again?" He opened the black box in his hand, holding a platinum and diamond inlaid band up for her.
Ororo had blinked back tears. "Yes," she whispered. "Always, yes!"
Logan surged to his feet, swinging her around in his arms.
The ceremony was charming, with Ororo and Logan in the center of the gazebo, a hired Justice presiding. Cheers and applause broke out as Logan dipped her over his arm, kissing her soundly before the words "You may kiss your bride" had even left the Justice's mouth.
"I love ya, 'Ro." he'd said into her lips.
"And I love you, Logan." she'd replied.
Ororo had a surprise of her own for Logan and while they were strolling the courtyard a large delivery truck had arrived. She had grabbed his hand and tugged him towards it. The back of the large truck had opened up and the most beautiful bike Logan had ever seen was rolled down the ramp. "'Ro?"
"I know how much you missed the bike you left in California, so I contacted Forge and had him make you a one of a kind. Happy Anniversary."
Logan was speechless. The machine was sleek and powerful, black and chrome with traces of electric blue. They had departed immediately for a ride and hadn't returned until much later. Ororo had been flushed from both the ride and his stop at their secluded spot where he had proceeded to ravish her under the warm afternoon sun.
Looking at her now Logan couldn't believe how blessed he was to have her in his life, to have her tied to him for always. His.
Without thought his hands and mouth roamed her body, touching and tasting. He was very familiar with every inch of her skin, knew every hollow, knew every ticklish spot, and every place that made her moan. He moved lower, trailing his mouth across her stomach, and lower still. She still smelled of the bubble bath she had taken after their last bought of lovemaking and he grinned. Ororo liked to be clean. He pushed the sheets past her hip, wanting to taste her, wanting her to awaken with his head buried between her magnificent thighs, in the throughs of erotic pleasure that only he could bring her.
She was hot and sweet like flowing nectar, so soft and warm he wanted to crawl inside her. Logan knew the moment Ororo awoke, knew the second she realized what he was doing to her. "Logan!" she cried out his name in a voice still groggy with sleep and breathless with passion; he was absolutely certain it was the most exciting sound he'd ever heard.
Logan gave her one last swirl of his tongue before blanketing her body with his, and sliding into her in one smooth velvety stroke. She gasped, clasping to him like a living vine, riding the firestorm raging between them. She nuzzled his chest, helplessly whimpering as he drove into her again and again. "God, angel," he groaned. "I need ya so much." His voice held a plea in it that was darkly enticing and unbearably romantic. His gaze smoldered down at her, dark and dangerous. There was stark possessiveness in his feral eyes, and hunger and desire and love. "I don't think I'll ever get enough of ya," he warned, lifting her hips against him as he reared back. They both tensed and fragmented, coming together in a raging whirlwind of emotion and need. Ororo screamed his name and Logan felt himself smile in male satisfaction. Mine.
Later
Ororo sat, nestled on the couch, her favorite fluffy robe tied securely about her waist, her bunny slippers tapping against the cushions as she sat reading the newspaper, her body deliciously tender from Logan's endless possession. All night he had been both tender and wild, gentle and untamed. His eyes never lost their hungry glow, always reflecting raw lust and need when he looked at her. It had certainly been an anniversary to remember. Ororo gave a soft laugh. Goddess, she was becoming aroused just thinking about him.
"'Ro. I'm about two seconds away from draggin' yer sweet ass back upstairs and keeping ya occupied fer the rest of the day," Logan warned from the kitchen where he was cooking breakfast.
Ororo laughed throatily and she heard Logan slam the pan onto the stove. With a threatening growl he swung himself over the bar separating the two rooms, rushing into the living room. Ororo laughed, tossing the throw pillows from the couch at him and let out a high pitched squeal as he leapt at her. She evaded, rolling off the couch and swinging another pillow, she felt a satisfying 'whump' as it connected with his head.
"Ye'll pay fer that," he said with snarl. Ororo screamed as he jumped across the back of the couch, tipping it over and charging her. She took off down the hall, laughing so hard she couldn't see. She felt his strong arms wrap around her waist and he hauled her back into the house just seconds after she had pushed her way out the back screen door. He gently pinned her to the ground, holding her wrists locked together in one hand as he straddled her chest. "Beg fer mercy," he commanded.
"Never!" she defied.
"Witch!" He proceeded to tickle her unmercifully, making her wiggle and scream.
"Logan! Ahhh! Stop!" Tears leaked from her eyes, her breath coming in pants between gales of laughter. "Stop!"
"Stormy!" Gambit burst through the front door, three glowing cards in hand, a look of dark retribution in his face.
"Remy!" Ororo tilted her head back from her position on the floor, blowing strands of silken snow from her face.
"Doorbell broken, Gumbo?" Wolverine asked dryly, releasing Ororo's wrists and helping her to her feet. She swatted his arm playfully, and he pinched her rear.
"I t'ought dat Stormy was…never mind." The cards fizzled and he gave them a sheepish grin. "Smells good in 'ere." He took a deep breath, removing his coat and sitting at the table. "What's for breakfast, homme?"
"Southern fried Cajun." -SNIKT-
"Omelets." Ororo interjected. She leaned into Logan, kissing him on his cheek. "I'm going to shower and get dressed. You boys behave."
Once Ororo was out of the room and Logan heard the shower running, he turned to Gambit. "Where's Ali?"
"Here." Alison stepped through the front door. In her arms was a large bouquet of white flowers, lilies and roses and orchids. All of which Ali had saved from the gazebo decorations and put together for Ororo. "Where's Storm?"
"She's in the shower," Logan said.
Alison nodded, laying the flowers on the table beside their empty plates. "I need a vase." Logan opened the cupboard under the sink, pulling out one of 'Ro's crystal prism vases, hading the thick container to Alison. She arranged the flowers, adding water when they were just right. "Perfect," she said with a satisfied smile.
"Wolvie!" Jubilee strolled into the boathouse unannounced, carrying a small walkman. "What's for breakfast?"
"Looks like eggs, pancakes and bacon Jubes." Ali said, making her way into the kitchen and bumping Logan aside with her hips so that she could reach the coffee maker.
For a moment Gambit was arrested by Ali in the morning light, the sun causing hints of red to burn in her dark hair, her ocean eyes dancing with mischief, her rosy mouth quirked at the sides. She was dressed in her usual off the shoulder tank and dark pants attire, her hair wild and spiky around her head, but he'd never seen anyone so beautifully feminine before.
"Gambit?" She caught him staring.
He shook himself. "Jus' t'inkin', petite."
"That explains the drool," Jubilee said pulling out one of the kitchen chairs and taking a seat. "What happened to the couch?"
Ali gave the tipped over piece of furniture a look. "Looks like Storm and Wolverine had one of their wrestling matches again."
Jubilee gave Ali an incredulous look. She turned to Wolverine. "You're so weird," she said.
Logan hefted the couch upright again. "This comin' from the kid with permanent marker stains on her arms from where she doodles on herself?"
"Well, you won't take me to get a tattoo," she complained.
Ali glanced at Jubes over her shoulder. "I'll take ya."
Wolverine grumbled at her. "Like hell ya will, Alison."
"So grumpy in the morning." Ali winked at him pouring herself a cup of coffee. "I think I'll take this outside. Holler when breakfast is ready."
"Since when am I feedin' the whole damn institute?"
"Your not, just a few friends." Ali smiled as she pushed her way out the front door.
Gambit watched her leave, an ache in his heart.
Wolverine watched silently, strolling back into the kitchen and pouring himself a cup of the fresh coffee. There was something bothering Gumbo, he could smell the tension on him, almost taste it.
"Knock. Knock." Betsy Braddock opened the door. "Good morning, gentlemen."
"Bets." Wolverine greeted by way of grunt.
"Is Storm around?"
"Getting dressed. Why?" He watched Betsy through hooded eyes.
"I was hoping to get some sparring in this morning." She let her dark robe fall open, revealing the form fitting ninja suit underneath.
Jubilee snorted. "I think I just lost my appetite."
Wolverine gave her a reproachful look. Jubilee shrugged pulling her headphones onto her head and ignoring them.
"Not today." Wolverine said. "Storm's got plans."
"Oh?"
"Maybe the Cajun here can give ya a workout." Wolverine indicated a surprisingly silent Gambit.
"Well?" Betsy asked, tilting her head and flashing Gambit a sultry smile. "You want to come work me out?"
Wolverine raised a brow, not missing the way she worded the question. He was all for powerful women with healthy sex drives, but Bets exuded it like her own personal perfume. She was sexy and deadly and smart and seductive, all of which made her a great lay and a lethal adversary.
"Non." Gambit snapped. He shouldered past the dark haired beauty without so much as an excuse me and went onto the porch with Ali, wrapping his arms around her from behind and whispering something decidedly naughty in her ear.
Betsy watched him go, her eyes narrowing a bit.
Wolverine smirked. "Not used to being turned down, Bets?"
She ignored his comment. "Tell Storm I stopped by," she said coldly and was gone, the door banging shut behind her.
"She's a piece of work," Jubilee muttered.
Wolverine sat across from her. "Why don't ya like Bets? She's alright."
"I dunno. She just reminds me of the cat who got the cream, or with the cream, or wants the cream…I don't know some kind of cat and cream analogy." Jubilee said with a shrug. "She's too…"
"Blatantly sexual?" Ororo descended the staircase, taking Wolverine's breath from his throat. She smiled at his expression. She was wearing a simple white dress with spaghetti straps, the material drooping in the front to reveal a modest view of her ample cleavage, the hem floating around her ankles. It complimented her dark skin perfectly, moving on her like it was made specifically for her. She wore the bracelet he had given her and his old cowboy hat. "Betsy's not bad, Jubilee. She's just uninhibited. It's one of the things I like most about her."
"Yeah, right. Uninhibited. Is that a nice way to say loose?"
"Jubilee." Wolverine rumbled. He stood from the table, prowling towards Storm with an appreciative gleam in his eye.
"I take it you like my new dress?" she asked when he continued to stare.
"Darlin', you do like ta drive a man crazy," he said reaching her and pulling her into his arms.
"Are those for me?" She asked over his shoulder as he hugged her, noticing the display of beautiful flowers on the table.
"Yes." He nuzzled her neck, pulling her hips into his.
Ororo gasped softly. "You're gonna slice up my new dress, aren't you?" she whispered in his ear.
"Yes." He kissed her. "But not now. We got company." The way he said it implied he was less than thrilled, but the twinkle in his eye told her that he was content.
"Hey Storm," Ali called from outside.
Ororo pushed open the door, stepping into the warm sunshine on the porch. The person greeting her as she stepped out caused an excited gasp to come from her. "Scott!" She stepped forward kissing him on his cheek. "What are you doing here?"
"Hey." He was leaning heavily on crutches, Jean right beside him, her face alight with both delight and concern. "I wanted to surprise you."
"I am so happy you're here," she said sincerely.
Logan stepped onto the porch behind 'Ro. "Scott. Jean."
"Would you care to join us for breakfast?" Ororo asked.
"Wolverine?" Scott questioned.
"There's plenty." he confirmed.
"Then yeah. I could go for some real food."
At the table conversation was easy and light. Jean commented on what a lovely ceremony they'd had the other day.
"I still like the Vegas ceremony better," Ali said reaching for the salt.
"Ha. Do you even remember the Vegas ceremony?" Ororo teased.
"Bits and pieces," Ali defended laughingly.
"That was such a nice surprise," Ororo said, caressing the new ring on her finger. The original gold band was now around her neck on a chain.
Ali nodded. "Who knew your hubby was such a romantic."
Ororo laughed. She knew. She twined her fingers around his under the table.
"This is really good," Jean said, chewing her eggs.
"Wolvie's a great cook," Jubilee said with some authority. More often than not she ate her supper with Ororo and Logan and he was often the cook. Storm had told her it relaxed him, and he enjoyed doing it. "You should try his 'grows hair on yer balls' southern steak and potatoes."
Scott raised one eyebrow over his ruby sunglasses. "Really?"
"Mmhm." Jubilee smiled. "It must work. Look at how hairy the man is." She grinned at Logan. He leveled her a gray eyed stare. She shoved a forkful of pancake into her mouth.
Scott grimaced, leaning to the right. Jean was immediately there, holding his hand. "Are you alright?"
"Fine." He sat a bit stiffer in the chair a scowl on his still bruised face.
"Jean, quit babying the man," Logan said. "Scooter's soft enough as it is."
Ororo gave Logan a look beneath veiled lashes. He squeezed her fingers reassuringly under the table.
Wolverine gave Cyclops a brief once over. The boy was beaten and bruised, in definite need of recuperation, but alive and recovering. Scott was a proud man and wouldn't like being catered to.
"Pass me the syrup, Fearless," Ororo said. There was a wealth of affection in the nickname, a bond had forged between her and Scott during the their capture, and it would not be easily broken. As the small jar of maple syrup, hand tapped from Logan during a trip to Vermont passed between them an incessant beeping pierced the air.
X-Men!
"That's us!" Ororo stood, kissing Logan on the mouth. "Thanks for breakfast. Gambit and Jean, let's go."
Logan stood as if to follow before remembering he and Ali were suspended from active duty. He growled watching as the three of them rushed out the front door.
"This blows." Ali grumbled shoving her plate away.
Austria
"Damn!" Ororo rolled across the ground, narrowly evading several whistling bullets aimed at her from snipers along the walls of a semi collapsed building. "Beast!" she called.
Hank swung from a lamp post, his agility and speed amazing given the sheer size of him. He pulled Storm to her feet, hefting her over his shoulder and flipping out of the way of a grenade explosion.
"I do not believe the natives are thrilled with our munificent assistance."
"It would appear not," she confirmed.
She and her teams had arrived minutes ago in hopes to diffuse a brewing altercation between a group of mutants and an angry crowd of volatile mutant-haters. Negotiation was not an option, as the crowd opened fire on sight of the Blackbird and not only did they now have to deal with the mad-on mutant haters, but the mutants they had been attempting to save had apparently been looking forward to the fight and were a bit pissed at the X-Men for crashing their party.
"Beast, get as many innocent civilians as you can clear."
"Your wish is my command," he kissed her hand.
"Why Henry McCoy if I wasn't a married woman!" she smiled at him as he loped away. "Jean, can you locate Kurt?" Storm asked into her comm.
"Wherever he is he's out because I can't reach him via mind link."
"Iceman. Status."
"Uhm, we're still getting shot at! Colossus can't hold 'em off much longer. Crimeney! That was almost my face. I like my face! They almost shot me in the face!"
"We aren't leaving without my Crawler, guys, so find him!" Chips of brick fell into her eyes as the wall behind her was pinged with bullets.
"Padnat!" She was hit by Gambit, rolling her across the dirt. "You need t' be more careful, chere." He scolded yanking her to her feet and running away from the bullets spraying the street.
"Incoming!" Jean hollered over the comm.
Ororo and Gambit looked up to see a small car hurtling through the air directly at them. Storm gave an angry wave of her arm, flinging the car away with a blast of hurricane force winds. They avoided several more attacks, the minutes ticking by like hours.
"Storm."
"Peter?"
"We found Kurt."
"Thank the Goddess--Ugh!" She was hit in the chest by a high powered bullet.
"Stormy! Merde." Gambit drug her in between two buildings. "Storm!" He was frantically trying to see her wound.
"R-Remy. Be quiet." Ororo panted sitting up. "The stuff that these uniforms are made from makes Kevlar look like Jello. I'm fine, just winded." She crouched low, scouring the street for signs of her team. "Marvel Girl. Location?"
"Hovering about half a mile away from you."
Storm pressed her hand to her bruised chest. "Do a fly by." she said. "Low and fast and loud."
Gambit whipped out another deck of cards, tossing the cardboard onto the ground. Ororo gave him a look and he grumblingly picked it up and shoved it in his trench coat pocket. "In da middle of a damn war zone an' you wanna worry 'bout litter."
"Storm!" Too late the warning came and Ororo felt the walls surrounding her collapsing. No! She shoved Gambit away from her as the rubble closed around her, blocking out the sky and surrounding her in tight darkness.
"STORM!" Gambit bellowed, terror stricken as piles of stone fell upon his sister, dust clouding the air. Without delay he began sifting through the rubble, pulling stones away and tossing them over his shoulder. "Stormy! Answer me, padnat!"
"Gambit what happened?" Jean came over the comm-link.
"A fuckin' building' jus' fell on Stormy's 'ead! I need Colossus!" He clawed at the huge pile in front of him. "Please, God, not Stormy," he prayed aloud.
"Die Mutie!" A man rushed Gambit, gun in hand.
Gambit whirled, eyes blazing, throwing a glowing handful of debris in his attackers face. The man fell back screaming as the charged rocks exploded, embedding small fragments into his skin and eyes. "I'm blind!" the man screamed.
"Gambit!" Jean again a sharp reprimand in her voice.
"'E's lucky I don' kill 'im," he snapped. "Where's da tin man?"
"Behind you." Colossus stepped forward, heaving some of the larger debris out of the way. "Storm is under here?"
"Oui."
Both men were silent, pulling at the remains of the collapsed building, knowing the odds of finding her unharmed were slim. Gambit didn't care, so long as he found her alive. A picture of him pulling a lifeless Storm from the debris flashed in his mind and he nearly stopped breathing. No. That wasn't going to happen. Thunder rumbled overhead. Good. That meant she was alive. Scared, but alive.
Xavier Institute
Danger Room
Wolverine roared, metal claws slicing through his opponents, spilling virtual blood all over the Danger Room floor. He paused, lifting his head and sniffing the air. Something didn't feel right. He rotated his shoulders, a growl forming in his throat. Suddenly everything felt wrong, like the world had shifted and he couldn't find his bearings. "End Program," he growled. The lights flickered on and the room changed from the Canadian wilderness back into the stark gray and silver circle meant to train and improve the X-Men.
Even as the room returned to normal Wolverine's feeling of unease increased until he broke out into a cold sweat. He pulled off his torn top, making his way towards the exit. He needed a shower and a beer. Maybe then he'd feel better, but somehow he doubted it.
Loft
Alison unlocked her's and Gambit's bedroom door, stretching her arms over her head. She was beat, Rem had kept her up all night, pleasantly so, but she was still tired. She kicked off her unlaced commando boots and pulled off her green fatigues, crawling along the large bed in her tank and black thongs. She yawned, blinking heavy eyes. She pulled Gambit's pillow to her, breathing in his spicy, male scent. She loved him. Loved him more than she cared to admit. His name brought a smile to her face, his essence sang in her heart. She fell asleep humming a Cajun lullaby that Gambit had taught her.
Austria
Flames shot up around the two men digging through the debris left by the collapsed buildings, desperate to reach their leader. Another bottle full of kerosene and stuffed with a flaming rag arced overhead. Colossus swatted it away, fire dancing along his arms for a brief instant.
"Stormy! If you can 'ear me, we could use some rain, chere." Gambit hollered. The echo of thunder overhead was the only response, and as much as he wanted to believe it was Storm, Gambit was beginning to think that the storm brewing overhead may be nature's concoction and not his padnat's.
"I'm on my way!" Iceman skated through the area, blanketing them and the flames with ice and slush. The slide behind him was demolished by a grenade explosion.
"Bobby, get down!" Kitty cried over the link.
"Hey, relax, Kitty! I got this all und--" Bobby went soaring through the air as another grenade exploded.
BAMF
Kurt caught Iceman around the waist taking the brunt of a hard impact to the unforgiving ground. "Got him."
"That save was dead brilliant, Nightcrawler!" Kitty exclaimed.
"Danke, Shadowcat." Kurt glanced over his shoulder at the approaching crowd. They were carrying sticks and torches, a sight unfortunately all too familiar for Kurt. He curled his lip, revealing stark white fangs against deep midnight blue fur to the approaching mob, hoping for once his demon appearance would be terrifying enough to buy the others some time.
"Gotchya." Kitty's hands closed over his and Bobby's shoulders, "Hold your breath," she warned phazing them through the ground.
Gambit was becoming despondent. They'd been digging for what felt like forever and no sign of Storm. "C'mon, Stormy! I know you, chere. Der no way a pile of rocks gonna take you out, non?"
Underneath the tons of rubble, trapped in a small hole Storm stirred. She spit out a mouthful of dirt, struggling to focus. Her head throbbed. She blinked her eyes trying to sit up, only to realize she couldn't. She could barely move at all. She was trapped. Her breathing became instantly erratic, her eyes glowing white in the dark. Nononononononononononononononononono….
Lightening flashed, singeing the ground only inches from where Colossus and Gambit were crouched. "She's alive," Gambit heaved a sigh of relief. His relief was short lived as the winds picked up speed, hurtling rocks and debris through the air. He winced as a few boards struck him in the side.
"Gambit, what's going on?"
"It's Stormy."
Darkness. No air. Can't move. Trapped. Trapped. Mama? Mama where are you?
Within moments everyone and everything was soaked in a torrential downpour, the rain coming in fat and fast, the drops hitting with such force they left welts on skin. Colossus tried to shelter Gambit with his larger frame, but as the winds increased he found it difficult to even maintain his footing.
"Get back!" Gambit felt Storm's panic, felt her fear, felt her desperation to be free at all costs. He sensed her drawing power into herself and he knew he didn't want to be close by when she released it.
Dark. Lost. Alone. Dark. Dead. Everyone she loved was dead. Mama? Did I do this? Did I kill you and Daddy? Yes. Oh, no. Alone. Trapped. Darkness. Can't breathe.
White-hot streaks of lightening chased each other across the sky, slamming into the ground, the thunder shaking the earth itself. "Jean, get the Blackbird outta da sky!"
So dark. Can't breathe, need to breathe. Crushing me. Crushing Mama. Oh Goddess, Mama. I'm sorry. So sorry. don't leave me! Nonononono! Come back! Please.
The roar of the wind was deafening, the remains of the fallen building trembling and rising from the ground, swirling and flinging through the air. Gambit and Colossus ran for cover. In the center of the tons of whirling brick and board Storm was curled on the ground, eyes closed, her motionlessness in the midst of such chaos unnerving.
"Storm!" Gambit hollered but his voice was snatched by the raging winds. He attempted to move towards her only to be blown off his feet, his hands grasping for purchase. He caught a lead pipe sticking out of the ground. "We've gotta stop 'er, Jean. She'll never forgive 'erself if she 'urts someone."
There was static on the line, then Jean's voice. "I can't reach her. She's a mass of emotions, Gambit."
"Merde." Gambit pulled himself forward, reaching for Colossus's outstretched armored hand. A brick caught him in the shoulder, sending him rolling across the dirt. He hit a parked car, the back of his head cracking against the door.
"Look out!" Kitty screamed from the building that she had phazed through for shelter. A small truck was tumbling along the street heading straight at Gambit.
Pounding foot beats could be heard seconds before Colossus threw himself in front of the hurtling truck, the steel and frame bending around his massive body.
"T'anks, homme." Gambit rolled to his feet. "STORMY!" He leapt over a bicycle flinging across the street. Several tons of rubble shook, lifting into the air and whirling in a tight ring as if they weighed no more than scattered leaves.
"Nightcrawler, can you get to her?" Jean asked wishing Scott were with them. They could use his leadership right now. Hell, she'd settle for a few more members of their team. Betsy and Warren had stayed behind and Wolverine and Alison were benched. Thinking of Wolverine gave Jean an idea.
"I… can try." Kurt sounded uncertain and for good reason. The swirling debris made it damn near impossible to 'port close enough to Storm to get her out.
"No, never mind." Jean said. "Give me a minute."
An explosion as pieces of building slammed into a propane tank. "We may not 'ave a minute, chere," Gambit hollered. The winds roared like a monster, the sound terrifying and black funnels began to spin overhead.
"Holy shit."
Gambit looked at Colossus. "Couldn've said it better myself."
"Get back to the plane." Jean ordered.
"I ain't leavin' Stormy."
"Colossus." Jean said quietly, giving a mental nudge.
Gambit felt cool steel under his chin, then all went black.
Kurt, can you manage both Kitty and Iceman?"
"It'll take a couple of jumps, but Ja." BAMF BAMF BAMF BAMF
On board the Blackbird the X-Men watched the ground shake and ice shards rain from the sky. "What do we do now?" Kitty whispered.
"We wait for a miracle," Jean replied. She flipped on the video recorder and crossed her fingers.
Darkness. Loneliness. Fear. I'm so sorry. Wait for me, Mama. I'm coming too.
Xavier Institute
Wolverine.
Logan's head jerked up, splashing water. He growled. In the shower, Chuck.
I am aware. I need you in the War Room.
Logan tensed. Storm?
War Room.
Three minutes later Wolverine walked into the War Room, his hair dripping down his back, a dark look on his face. "What's goin' on?"
Xavier brought up the visual Jean was recording from the Blackbird.
"Christ." Wolverine felt his stomach drop. Clouds rolled and boiled on screen, lightening flashing so bright the screen went white several times. "Where is she?"
"In the center of that," Xavier pointed to the wall of debris swirling on screen.
"What happened?" Wolverine snarled.
"A building collapsed, Storm became trapped."
Jesus. Wolverine clenched his jaw. "When do I leave?"
"You'll never get to her before she burns herself out, and that's exactly what she's doing. She's trying to burn herself out."
Wolverine growled. "She wouldn't."
"She's not herself right now, she's still mentally trapped under a ton of guilt." Xavier said.
"I ain't just sit here and watch her kill herself," Wolverine slammed his fist into the table.
"Nor do I expect you to." Charles opened the sliding table top, pulling out a headset. "It's set to their frequency. There's no guarantee, but there's a good chance Storm still has her comm on. Talk to her."
Wolverine snatched the headset from the table. "Storm, can you hear me?"
Nothing.
"Storm, answer me."
No response.
"Okay, darlin'. I know yer trapped in a dark place right now, but I need ya ta listen ta me. What happened ta yer parents wasn't yer fault. It was an accident. A tragic accident."
Silence.
"Storm?" Wolverine held the link to his ear. "Come back."
Austria
"Storm? Come back."
"…"
Thunder boomed overhead, the funnels touching down.
"Listen ta me. I need ya ta come back, darlin'. I need ya ta keep me sane."
"…" Ororo closed her eyes tighter.
"'Ro."
White eyes opened. Logan?
"If ya die, Storm, I'll follow. Ya can't leave me, I won't let ya. I love ya too damn much ta let ya go."
No. Logan couldn't die. No.
"Damn it, Storm! Answer me! I swear ta God if you don't answer me--"
"Logan. Shut up." Ororo felt the storm raging around her. Calming it down was going to take just as much energy as keeping it going. "I need to think." She floated into the air, going higher into the atmosphere, pulling the storm with her.
Xavier Institute
"Logan. Shut up."
Wolverine smiled. That was his girl. He watched on the screen as she rose from the swirling mass of rubble, taking off for the upper atmosphere, where the air was too thin to maintain the squall. Smart. He felt a flare of pride in his chest.
"Hurry up and get home." He yanked the headset off and breathed a sigh of relief. He gave Xavier a hard look. "I'm back on active."
Xavier nodded, knowing when not to argue.
Austria
Ororo felt the last of the storm dissipate, her body numb with exhaustion. The winds holding her aloft were dying down and she was freefalling to the ground.
BAMF
"Hey, Crawler."
"Hello, Storm."
BAMF
Xavier Institute
Loft
Ali rolled, yawning. She had slept longer than she'd planned, but she felt refreshed. She scratched the back of her head, stifling another yawn. She moved to get up but stopped when she noticed a silver disc atop the pillow beside her. Confused she picked it up. It was unmarked, without so much as a fingerprint on the surface. Ali tugged on her pants, making her way to the small desk in the corner that housed her laptop. She inserted the disc and waited. It was an Institute disc because immediately it loaded and began to play.
Ali leaned forward, her eyes glued to the monitor. Gambit was onscreen, twirling his adamantium bo staff, looking every inch the Yummy he was. Ali smiled. God, he was so damn fine. He was flipping along the walls, and Ali realized this was a Danger Room tape. Huh. She stretched her arms, still watching her Yummy flip through the air, charged cards taking down his opponents. He was good.
Suddenly he stopped, cocking his head to one side, apparently talking to someone. He shrugged and one side of his mouth curved in a sensual smile. Ali's gut tightened. A lithe figure came into camera range and Ali recognized Betsy immediately. Gambit nodded to something she said and swung his staff. Ali realized she had no volume and quickly turned it up.
The two X-Men circled each other warily, Betsy launching the first attack, her foot arcing towards Gambit's head as she spun in he air. He easily deflected her, tossing her into the wall. Betsy laughed, a sleek and silky sound.
Unconsciously Ali's hands closed into tight fists. Sparring, they're just sparring, she told herself. Storm and Remy did it all the time. No biggie. Still Ali found herself leaning forward, watching as they continued to fight for several minutes. It was grueling and borderline hostile. Betsy connected a solid kick and leg sweep knocking Gambit onto his back. Betsy straddled him her psi-blade raised. Gambit grinned his devil may care grin and Betsy's blade faded out. She leaned forward…
Ali bit her lip.
Gambit wrapped one gloved hand in Betsy's hair, returning her kiss with great ardor. Ali felt a bead of blood form on her lower lip where her teeth were gouging but she didn't care. Turn it off, her brain cried, but she couldn't. It was like watching a car wreck, horrible and terrible, yet drawing attention, unable to look away. The two X-Men rolled, Betsy tearing Gambits shirt over his head. Ali heard Gambit's low moan as Betsy tongued his nipples and she hurriedly hit the mute on her laptop. She could feel tears coursing along her cheeks and that really pissed her off. She'd only cried twice since she was eight years old. Once when she found out about Shinobi's attack on Storm, and right now. Within minutes both of the onscreen lovers were naked, Gambit making love to Betsy, and from the look of it, really enjoying himself. Ali flung herself from the chair, retching into the small trash can beside the desk. Not her Yummy...
She wiped the back of her hand across her mouth, a wave of anguish like nothing she'd ever felt before causing her to double over in pain. Oh, God. Etienne. How could you? She reached up blindly, knocking the laptop onto the floor. She needed to get away from here, from this room. She stumbled to the door, her heart shattering into a million pieces as the volume was once again returned in the crash to the floor and she heard Gambit's grunts and deep groan as he found release with another woman.
Blackbird
"You sure you're feelin' alright, chere?" Gambit brushed a lock of snow hair from Storm's face.
"I'm fine." She took a drink from the cup of water he offered her. "Just a bit shaken." She gave him a concerned look. "You have been acting strange lately, bro. Care to talk about it? We've a while before we reach home."
Gambit looked away from her piercing blues. "Non. Gambit be fine."
"Remy?' Ororo touched his arm.
""I said I was fine." He jerked his arm away. Immediately he was sorry. "Stormy, I didn'--"
"Hush." she hugged him. "We're family, Remy. Family is forever." She laughed. "You, me, Wolverine and Alison, and now I think we can add Jubilee to the roster."
Gambit looked past her out into the darkening night sky. "Ali." he whispered.
Xavier Institute
Ali hugged herself, rocking back and forth atop the highest roof of the Institute, trying her damndest not to cry. Fucker. She clenched her eyes shut, her chin trembling.
"Hiya, kid."
Ali buried her head in her arms. "Go away, Wolverine."
Logan flicked a match, lighting his cigar. He puffed twice making his way along the ridge of the roof with animal like agility. He crouched beside Ali, silent, watching the kids below. The air was cool and the night air smelled fresh, and of Alison's tears.
"Wanna talk about it?" He asked after a long silence.
"No."
Wolverine sighed. "Want me to gut him?"
Ali snorted. "Yes."
"What'd he do?'
Ali's voice shook from the hollow space between her crossed arms. "Not a what, Wolves, a who."
Wolverine was once again silent. Damn. He was no good at comforting. Hell, he was the one usually inflicting the pain. He placed one hand on Ali's shoulder. "You wanna come stay at the boathouse?"
Ali lifted her head. "I don't want to crowd you and Storm. Y'know three's a--"
"I'll be expectin' ya fer dinner," he said in his gruff no nonsense tone. He got to his feet and walked back across the roof, leaving Ali to her grief. He knew she needed to have some space, but he wanted her to know she wasn't alone.
Ali watched him go with burning eyes. Beneath that tough exterior beat the heart of a loyal friend. She turned back to the deepening night and let her head fall back.
She wanted to scream, to rant, to rage, but she sat silent. The pain was too intense, it was unbearable. She wiped her eyes angrily. She was Alison Blaire, kick-ass rocker, lead singer of Dazzler, a bitch with a powerhouse of attitude. She cried for no man. Fuck him. Ha. No, that was Betsy's thing now.
"Ugggnnh." Ali bit back a cry of sorrow. Her chest tightened painfully and her breathing was shallow. "Damn." she muttered. She took a deep breath and got to her feet. She took a misstep and a scream caught in her throat as she fell into the air.
"Careful." Warren's arms caught her beneath her arms and knees. He swooped from the heaven's like the angel he was named for, his white wings spread against the purple velvet of the sky.
Once they were safely landed he released her slowly and took a step back. "Ali? Have you been crying?" He wiped his thumb across her cheek.
Alison swatted his hand away. "Thanks for the save, Winger, but mind your own damn business."
Warren took a step back, his light eyes reflecting a momentary pain.
Ali cocked her head. "You knew, didn't you?' she asked quietly.
Warren took a step back. "I don't know what-"
"You knew."
"Yes."
"How long?"
"A few weeks."
Ali recoiled thinking of Gambit's sudden attentive behavior, the sense that something wasn't right. "How'd you find out?"
"Alison, I don't thi-"
She grabbed his shirt by the collar. "How?"
"I walked in on them in the pool house."
Ali clutched her stomach. So the Danger Room hadn't been the only time. That fact hit her the hardest. A momentary lapse in sanity, a brief one time fling, maybe she could have worked past that, but a repeated betrayal. She felt her eyes burning.
"Alison," Warren reached for her as she swayed.
"Did you do it?" she whispered, her voice raw. "Did you leave the disc?"
Warren blinked, genuine confusion in his eyes. "What?"
"Nothing." Ali shook his hand off. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Warren looked away. "Would you have believed me? I like you, Ali. I didn't want to risk you hating me."
"I want to be alone, War." He legs felt like jello.
"I understand."
Ali turned, her knees buckling.
"Ali." Warren scooped her into his arms, flapping his wings and soaring into the air. "Where to?"
"To Storm's house."
Loft
"Ali!" Gambit ran up the stairs, eager to see his petite bella. She was everything to him, he loved her beyond reason. He needed her to know that. The bedroom door was ajar when he reached the top of the stairs and he pushed it open with a smile. "Ali?" The room was quiet and dark, except for a faint blue-white glow on the floor beside the desk, he could hear faint sounds coming from the laptop, grunts and groans. His mouth quirked. Was Ali watching dirty movies?
Gambit walked over to the facedown laptop, turning it in his hands as he picked it up. "No." It fell from numb fingers. "ALI!" he raced from the room.