Gifts and Curses
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "I guess sometimes the past just catches up with you, whether you want it to or not"
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Chapter 22 – Regret
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The weather outside of the Institute could only be described as 'hazardous'. The clouds in the sky were black, as thunder rumbled loudly, rain pelting to the ground. Forge winced, looking out of the sky window in Ororo's attic.
"…..Umm…'Ro, maybe you should calm down a bit", he offered.
"I am calm", growled Storm, lighting flashing across the sky. (1)
She turned to give her husband a dangerous glare.
"I'm still waiting for an explanation, Forge", she said, then added with a rumble of thunder, "or should I call you 'Maker'?"
Forge sighed, turning his gaze away.
"Don't be like that, Ororo", he said quietly, "I had my reasons for keeping my past from all of you"
Storm narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms.
"I am waiting"
Forge looked at her, before rubbing the back of his neck…yeah, no way out of this one.
"I had spent my entire life being taught about shamanism", he began, "how it was part of the family...what it meant to others, giving them hope...and faith. My grandfather trained me every day, constantly reminding me that I had a destiny"
Forge frowned.
"They kept tossing around words like 'destiny' and 'fate'", he said, "the word 'choice' was never mentioned. That's because I didn't have one" (2)
He shrugged.
"Anyway, I went the way most people do when something is forced upon them for a long time...I tried to escape it".
"You ran away?", blinked Storm.
"Yeah", sighed Forge, "when I was twelve, I just wanted...my own life"
He gave a dry chuckle.
"I didn't get very far", he said, "I got a mile out of the reservation before my dad pulled up in the car. He eventually convinced me to go back home, he told me I didn't have to carry on with it if I didn't want to"
Forge's mouth twitched into a small smile.
"I loved dad to bits", he said, "he always believed in me no matter what. He loved the fact I enjoyed building things, in fact, whenever his birthday came up, he always told me he preferred me to make him something, y'know, instead of buying it. He said a gift that was hand made by the giver, showed they put a lot of time and effort into it...a sign that they really cared. So I always did make him something. when I was nine, I made him a clock-radio, when I was eleven, I made him a solar powered lawnmower, heck, when I was five I made him a papier mache pig".
He chuckled, before sighing.
"On the way back into the reservation...there was another car coming along on the wrong side of the road, a bunch of drunk teenagers. Dad...he swerved to try and miss them, but they were going too fast. Their car clipped ours, rolling it over...theirs ran off the road and hit a tree", Forge closed his eyes with a sigh, "I was so scared.. and when I saw Dad wasn't moving...", he let out a shuddery breath, "he shouldn't have gone then. It wasn't his time. I...I got angry"
Forge hug his head.
"I used my powers to drag the soul out of Dad's body, 'cause I needed a fresh soul to cast the Spirit Spell. The spell opened up a portal, which let out a horde of demons, which tore those kids to shreds", Forge winced at the memory, "….and so making it so their spirits could never rest….it wasn't until later I realised it applied to my father, too. Afterwards…I realised what I'd done. There's a border in magic between dark and light, I crossed that line that day"
He frowned.
"I'm not proud of what I've done. I've always been ashamed of it, I know I did wrong…very wrong", he sighed, "I had a major crisis of faith, so I turned my back on shamanism for good. It wasn't long before the emergency services arrived, and we all know what happened there..."
He rubbed his bionic arm self-consciously.
"Ironic they call them the jaws of life, isn't it? They certainly messed up my life.", he said, "While I was...recovering in hospital, I just...went into myself. I didn't want to be anywhere or near anyone. I wouldn't talk for three months, I refused to do any physiotherapy...all I could think about was 'why him? why not me?'...I was wracked with guilt over what I'd done. I had condemned three souls to limbo and allowed a pack of demons on Earth for nothing but anger. I blamed myself for what had happened, if I hadn't run off in the first place. Eventually, I was sent home"
Forge sighed.
"Even if I had healed physically, mentally, I was a wreak", he said, "I'd lost the one person in my life who'd let me be…me. Just me. I'd also lost my arm and hand. Even then, I liked to invent. I suppose you could say the accident triggered my mutation, but I didn't want to listen to it, I was too busy wallowing in self pity. When I was about fourteen, I'd just had enough, wanted to end it all"
"…Forge", Storm blinked.
"Tried and failed, obviously", he said with a shrug, "I finally came out of my shell, after about a dozen psychologists talked to me for months on end, and eventually threatened if I didn't get myself together they'd send me to the sanatorium. Mom decided to move to Bayville then, and let me do what I wanted to do in life, needless to say, after all that me and my grandfather haven't been on the best of terms" (3)
He looked over at her.
"So now you know", he said, "why I keep my past a secret. Why I didn't tell anyone what I am...or what I did"
Storm blinked over at him, hugging her arms around herself.
"….I'd have thought you could tell me", she said quietly, then sighed, "…you're not quite the person I thought you were, are you?"
"I'm fully aware that there's no excuse for what I did", said Forge, then sighed, "…I thought you would see past that"
Storm frowned, standing, walking out of the room.
"I…I have to think about this"
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Meanwhile, in the common room, Amanda was still in full scale rant mode with her mother.
"How could you not tell me about this?", she snapped.
"Amanda", said Margali gently, "I didn't expect them to come…much less replace me with you"
"Well, you would have thought that if there was a slightest possibility of me taking on the 'family business', you would have let me know", sneered Amanda.
"I know you're upset…", started Margali.
"Upset?", snapped Amanda, "upset? Upset doesn't even cover it!"
"It won't be that bad", said Margali, "honest"
"Yes it will!", she replied, "I have to leave everything I know behind. I have to lose the man I love"
She narrowed her eyes at her mother.
"But I bet that has you dancing with joy, doesn't it?", she asked icily, "you always did want me to get rid of Kurt"
"Amanda, that's not fair", said Margali, "you can't turn this into that old argument again"
"Why not?", asked Amanda, then walked over to where Kurt had been standing in the background, trying not to get between mother and daughter, "well, if I only have one day left, I'm spending it with Kurt"
"Fine", said Margali, turning on her heels and heading for the door, "say your goodbyes while you can"
Amanda turned her head away, burying her face in Kurt chest as her mother left.
"It's not fair", she said, her voice breaking, "I didn't ask for this"
"I know", said Kurt gently, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her close, "I know"
"I don't want to leave", said Amanda, tilting her head to look at him, tears beginning to drip down her cheeks, "I don't want to lose you"
Kurt sighed, kissing her gently.
"I don't vant to lose you, either", he said, his tail drooping, "I love you, Amanda"
"I love you too, Kurt", she said, nuzzling the fur on his cheek, "lets get out of here, 'kay? I know I can't run form this but…I just want to be away for what time we have"
"Vish granted", said Kurt with a sad smile.
With a bamf, the pair vanished out of the room in a cloud of smoke and brimstone.
"This is certainly a sad day for all", sighed Hank, then blinked, stepping out of the way as Shortpack raced across the floor, Lockheed in hot pursuit.
"Bad dragon!", yelped Shortpack, "Sit. Stay. No eating me!"
"Rah rah rah!", said Lockheed, wagging his tail as he gave chase.
The little dragon didn't get very far, however, before being blocked off by Ebony, who gave a hiss. Lockheed gave the cat a glare before walking off with a snort, lying to sulk in a corner. Ebony glared at the dragon a little more, before lying down in front of Shortpack, keeping his paws on either side of the diminutive mutant.
"….That was….odd", blinked Hank.
Shortpack smirked, patting a purring Ebony's head.
"Cats love me" (4)
"So I see", said Hank, arching a brow, "how very…bizarre"
"Hey, this is better than being eaten by Lockheed", said Shortpack, giving a shrug.
"Lockheed never swallows!", piped up Kitty picking up her dragon, "he only chews"
"Oh, that makes me feel so much better", said Shortpack dryly, then blinked as Sam walked into the room, a sandwich of a large variety of various meats crammed into it, "got a big enough sandwich there, Kid?"
Sam replied with a growl, stalking off to a chair in the room to eat it.
"Someone's got pre-full moon issues", said Kitty rolling her eyes.
"Leave him alone", chided Rahne, walking in, "he cannae help it…bloody Himhari has a lot tae answer for, I'll tell ye that much"
"Oh yes", sighed Hank, "as if today wasn't bad enough, we have tomorrow too, oh joy"
Logan, who had been watching everyone quietly with a beer glanced out of the window at the stormy weather outside.
"Assumin' we all survive to tomorrow, Hank", he muttered.
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Storm frowned as she paced the cliffs, just away from the Institute, ignoring the rain she was causing from her emotions. She knew Forge was secretive about his past, it would have been expected without someone who went by his codename all the time…but this? She hadn't expected this at all. She didn't feel so much angry as…hurt. She had married the man, and had his child…and she'd never really stopped to think about why he was keeping his past secret. Now she knew, it made her feel….
"You never know what someone is capable of, do you?", spoke a voice from behind her, "even someone you think you know better than anyone else"
Storm spun around, narrowing her eyes as Mystique stalked over.
"What do you want?", she asked, thunder rumbling slightly, "did you come to stir up trouble?"
"Me?", asked Mystique innocently, "no, never. I was just wondering when Forge's funeral is"
Storm clenched her fists.
"My relationship with my husband is none of your business", she growled, "I know you and he dated when you were teenagers, but that was then, not now"
"Oh, he told you about me and him, huh?", grinned the shape shifter, "I suppose he told you that I already knew about his shaman roots?"
"…What?", blinked Storm.
"Oh, he didn't!", Mystique said, "oh, he told me when we were teenagers. All about who and what he really was, what he'd done"
Mystique gave a low chuckle.
"And yet, he didn't tell you, his wife", she smirked, "What does that tell you, Windrider?".
"What is that supposed to mean?", asked Storm, the wind around the two women picking up.
"Oh, don't threaten me with your silly little breezes", said Mystique, "you're far to temperamental"
"I have a right to be", said Storm, then narrowed her eyes, "why do you keep trying to stir up trouble between me and Forge?"
"Why?", growled Mystique, ducking slightly against the wind, "I'll tell you why. You don't deserve him, Storm, you never have"
"And I suppose you do?", sneered Storm.
"At least I treated him better than dirt", replied the shapeshifter, pulling a branch off a tree, wielding it like a club, "he's always under your thumb, isn't he? He always bears the brunt of your temper, and yet he stays with you. Like an abused puppy that doesn't know any better"
"That isn't true", snapped Storm, a bolt of lighting striking the branch, smattering it.
"Isn't it? Did you ever think why he kept it from you?", asked Mystique, landing a kick, knocking Storm back, "because he knew you'd react like this. You spoiled, selfish cow"
Storm's eyes glowed as she sent a gust of wind in Mystique's direction, pinning her up against the tree. The shapeshifter struggled, then narrowed her eyes, smirking at her.
"He loves you more than life itself, Windrider", she said, "but do you feel the same?"
"Of course I do", growled Storm, "I always have"
"Liar", sneered Mystique, "It tears me up inside, to see how much he loves you. He adores everything about you, Munroe. He loves you completely, utterly and blindly. And I don't think you can see that"
She cocked her head to the side, ignoring the pain in her chest as the wind pushed her closer against the tree, increasing the pressure.
"What are you going to do now, Storm?", she asked, "now you know the truth? A re you going to leave him? All because of something he did when he was twelve?. I mean, you were picking pockets on the streets of Cairo at that age, weren't you?"
"My past is vastly different from his", said Storm.
"Not really", said Mystique, "would you go back to thievery? No. Because you don't want to. Well, he doesn't want to go back to his past, he's made enough of an effort in distancing himself from it as much as he can"
She glared up at the weather manipulator.
"Hasn't he been through enough in his life to lose the woman he loves?", she asked, "yes, I know he loves you. Not me. You. And if you walk out on him, Ororo, you'll destroy him"
Storm frowned, looking at Mystique mistrustful.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I know what it's like to be in love, and be loved by Forge", said Mystique, "and I know what is feels like to lose him. If I were in your place, Storm, I'd make sure I never experienced the latter. You don't know how good you've got it, and I'm not going to stand by and watch you break his heart"
Storm watched her for a few moments, before releasing the wind, dropping Mystique to the ground.
"Leave this place. Now", she said simply.
Mystique stood, wincing slightly as she favoured her side.
"Fine, I'll go", she said, "but think about what I said, Windrider. I lost him, you won him….don't let that go to waste"
With that, she transformed into a raven, and with a caw, fluttered into the sky and away, leaving Storm alone.
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Just outside of the town of Bayville, Lucas landed on the ground from where he'd been keeping a trail on his father. Within moments, he was joined by Bobby as his ice-slide came to a stop.
"Are you sure he's here?", he asked doubtfully, "I doubt Xavier would be in a place like this"
"He's here", said Lucas, narrowing his eyes, "now shut up, or I'll take off the psi block I put on ye"
Bobby rolled his eyes, following Lucas as the taller man picked his way through the undergrowth, heading towards an old warehouse. He floated through a hole in the window, lifting Bobby up and through as he did so, before moving to hide behind a pile of old machinery. Sure enough, Xavier was sitting in his wheelchair, talking to a young man Bobby recognised immediately.
"Gambit!", he hissed under his breath, "I thought the Morlocks had dealt with him after the Massacre"
"Obviously nae", said Lucas quietly, narrowing his eyes, keeping them on his father, "now shut up"
"You know, I had to go t'rough hell an' high water to get this", said Remy, pulling the small cube-shaped item from his trench coat, 'Oscorp isn't exactly easy to break into , you know"
"I know", said Xavier, "that's why I asked you to get it, if you couldn't break in, I doubt anyone could have"
"Flattery will get you nowhere", said Remy, then smirked, "cash, on de other hand, dat will"
Xavier sighed, handing over an envelope, Remy inspected the cash inside, then nodded, satisfied, handing the cube of to Xavier.
"What is it, anyhow?"
"I'm not entirely sure myself", frowned Xavier, "but from what I've heard of it…I think it would be safer under lock and key"
"If you say so", shrugged Remy, then arched a brow, looking around, "you really like de cloak and dagger stuff, don't you? A smart man would have brought reinforcements"
"I don't need them", said Xavier, tapping his head, "besides, my X-Men don't get involved in these operations"
"Lord forbid de X-Men find out dere precious leader is in de company of t'ieves, huh?", smirked Remy
"I offered you a place at the mansion, Gambit, and you turned it down", said Xavier simply, "I believe your exact words were 'The spy gig sounds a lot more fun'".
"And it is", said Remy, "who wants to sit in a stupid uniform when you can do de t'ings you love de most? I don't know why Shortpack an' Sage gave it up Besides, it picks up de ladies"
Xavier rolled his eyes.
"No doubt, Gambit", he said dryly, "now, if you excuse me, I have to get this back to safety. I'll contact you with another mission when I need your services"
"Goodbye, Charlie", smirked Remy, heading for the door.
"I hate it when he does that", muttered Xavier, "they always make the Charlie's Angels comment first" (5)
Lucas narrowed his eyes, watching his father wheel out, heading for his Bentley.
"Curious", he smirked, "Da's been hiding things"
"Xavier always hides things", shrugged Bobby, "it's what he does best"
"I know that better than anyone", muttered Lucas darkly, watching the Bentley drive off.
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Forge sighed from where he sat on a bench in the Gardens on the Institute. He'd been there since Storm had stalked off, despite the fact it had been pelting down with rain. He glanced up at the sky. The clouds were slightly less dark, and all the lightning had stopped. Every now and again, there would be a rumble of thunder, and it was still raining, though nowhere near as heavy as before. There was one thing good about being married to a woman who controlled the weather, you could always tell the switches in mood easily.
"Hey"
He turned his head as Storm sighed, walking up from behind him, sitting down on the bench next to him.
"Hey", he said quietly, "so…you're talking to me again?"
"I'm still mad at you", sulked Storm.
"Can't you just hit me with a lightning bolt and get the anger out like usual?", tried Forge, bracing himself.
"No", said Storm, making a motion of dealing out invisible playing cards, "I'm going to distribute my anger at you throughout the following month" (6)
"Oh", Forge blinked, "…okay then"
Storm sighed, scooting over closer to him.
"…Do I bully you?".
Forge blinked. Uh oh.
"Err….no", he said nervously, "not at all…heh heh"
Storm blinked, sitting up.
"I do!", she said, "are you afraid of me?"
"If I said 'yes', would you hit me?", tried Forge, then ducked.
Storm blinked at him, then sighed.
"I'm sorry", she said, "I didn't mean to come off like that…I'll try to be better in the future"
Forge tilted his head, more than a little confused, but looked up as the rain abruptly stopped, and the clouds cleared away.
"It's okay", he said, giving her a small smile, "it's one of your…personality quirks"
"Heh", said Storm, resting her head on his shoulder, "you haven't got any other huge secrets, have you?"
Forge chuckled, shaking his head.
"No, that was about it", he said.
"Good", she smiled, kissing his cheek, "…well….at least I don't have to wonder anymore"
"Thanks for understanding 'Ro", he said quietly, "I.."
"I know", said Storm with a small smile, snuggling up, "you'd be lost without me"
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(1) – Changed form a scene in Ultimate X-Men. I've wanted to use it since I saw it.
(2) - A quote from 'Dead like me' when I heard it, I thought, BOY, does that fit so much into Forge's past or WHAT?...Okay, I'm an obsessed fan girl, sue me.
(3) - This is obviously modified from Comic Forge's past, as seen as Evo Forge didn't go to Vietnam, where the big chunk of what makes Forge a character happened. Damn Evo for that. Anyway, I am aware that Forge mentioned 'parents', as in plural, in Middleverse, but as his grandfather is his foster-father, I decided he could be in that bit. Yes, I gave Forge an incredibly harsh past, but his comic past is just as harsh…maybe a little harsher, no wonder he's such a miserable sod. I think I've seen comic Forge smile about 20 times, tops, and I have A LOT of comics Forge appears in – he's been going since August 1984.
(4) – He tamed one once (with a pencil) which later resulted in a physic Freudian Slip.
(5) – Mystique made the Charlie's Angels comment when she was first offered the spy gig. It amuses me.
(6) – This is an altered Marge Simpson quote that seemed so…Storm.
And another chapter is done. I warned you it would be depressing. Do review. Until next time…