Gifts and Curses
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "Sometimes your shallowness is so thorough, it's almost like depth"
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Chapter 23 – Blue moon of Kentucky.
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By the time the next evening came around, the common room of the mansion had once again been 'graced' by the presence of Roma and Saturnyne. Amanda had dutifully returned with Kurt, both looking highly depressed. Not that anyone could blame them.
"Do not worry, Amanda", said Roma, putting a comforting hand on the young woman's shoulder, "Dr Strange is a great mystic, and he will treat you with kindness"
"Even if he's a bit on the pompous side", muttered Saturnyne, then looked around with a wicked grin, "did the weather-chick kill Forge? Oh, please say she did"
"No, she didn't", growled Logan, "they made up and went home. Thanks fer stirring that one up, by the way"
"You're welcome", grinned Saturnyne.
"….Have I missed something?", blinked Bobby as he entered, "who are the chicks with the 80's hairstyles?"
"I am Roma, Mistress of the Multiverse", said Roma then chuckled, "and you're Robert Drake, known as Iceman"
Bobby smirked.
"Bravo to you", he said, "you know any other nifty keen fact you want to share?"
"Your sarcasm is not appreciated", said Roma, then smiled, ""No version I have yet come across of yourself has got along with that earth's version of Havok. It seems some sort of celestial rule" (1)
"Hey, it's not my fault he's a big-headed bum", shrugged Bobby.
"HEY!", said Scott.
"Oh, you know he's right", said Jamie moodily from his chair.
"No", said Scott, "…..it's only partly true"
"I hate to break up the fun", said Saturnyne, "actually, no, I love to break up the fun…but it's time for Amanda to go"
Roma looked over at her second in command and sighed, nodding.
"Saturnyne is right", she said, looking over at Amanda, "Dr. Strange will be waiting for us"
Amanda clung to Kurt with a small sob, squeezing her eyes shut, as if in a last desperate attempt to make it all go away. Kurt held her close, letting out a sad sigh. Amanda was the first non-mutant, bar his adoptive parents, who treated him as if he wasn't a monster. She'd stood by him through everything, when mutants were exposed, when her parents forbid her to see him…she ignored everything she'd been told because she trusted in her heart.. and his. He could still hardly believe he was going to lose her, it was like having his heart ripped out, stamped on repeatedly, then boiled in hot tar to be tossed in the trash.
"I'll miss you, Kurt", she whispered, broken.
"I'll miss you too, Amanda", he whispered, giving her a soft kiss before she stepped away, her head hung low.
Roma sighed, putting a hand on her shoulder before the three vanished out of the room.\
"You okay, Elf?", asked Logan, arching a brow.
"I….I don't know", said Kurt sadly, "I just vant to be left alone for a bit, okay?"
With a bamf, he vanished.
"Well, this is a fun day", said Kevin dryly.
Yeah, maybe soon, someone'll die to make it even more cheerful, said Jono sarcastically.
"You kids are lucky the Danger Rooms 'occupied", growled Logan, "or you'd be doin' the work out of yer lives"
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"I couldn't believe that movie, some things should just not be made into sequels"
Over in New York, Tabby and Shan were coming to the end of another date. While Shan had been talking a lot, however, Tabby had been unnaturally quiet, and seemed lost in space for the most part. Shan paused in her own 'critique' of the movie they'd just seen, to look at her worriedly.
"…Tabby…what is it?", she asked, "you've not been yourself all day"
Tabby blinked up at her sadly.
"Shan….I….we….", she looked at the ground, "….we have to break up"
Shan frowned, taken aback.
"But…", she shook her head, "why? I thought things were going well"
"They were", said Tabby, "and I really care about you, Shan, it's just,…"
She looked up at her sadly.
"I have some personal problems, and I don't want to drag you into it"
"Drag me in", said Shan, "I don't care what they are. I'll stick by you, Tabs"
"No", said Tabby, closing her eyes, "you can't get involved in this Shan…I don't want it pulling you down to. I'm sorry, I really am. I really, really care about you, but…"
She sighed.
"I can't drag someone else into this"
Shan frowned, taking her hand.
"Come on, lets go to your room and get a coffee on the way", she said, "if you insist on breaking up with me, I want to know why first"
"But…", protested Tabby as she was dragged along, before sighing, "fine…but please..don't try to change my mind….This is hard enough as it is"
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Down in the Danger Room of the mansion, Sam had, of his own request, been strapped down with thick ice, courtesy of Bobby, to one of the gurneys brought in from the Infirmary. He wasn't exactly sure what was going to happen to him, and he certainly didn't want to hurt anyone. It wasn't in Sam Guthrie to be violent, but in the wrong mindset….
"How you feeling, Buddy?", asked Bobby from where he, Logan and Rahne waited above in the control room, ready if anything went wrong.
"A'hm not feeling that well if that's what you're askin'", replied the Southerner, "ever had that feelin' when your body is tryin' ta change into a shape it's not supposed to?"
"…..No, not really", said Bobby with a chuckle.
"Remember what the Doc told ya, Sam", said Logan, "the more you fight it, the more it's gonna hurt you"
"Yeah 'ah figured that one ou…", Sam gave a cry of pain, straining against the ice-straps.
The three in the control room watched as Sam's body began to change shape. His ears became more pointed, his teeth turning into sharp fanged point as his face elongated, becoming more canine. His hands and feet formed into clawed paws, as he was covered with a sandy-coloured fur.
"…Kid…you okay?", asked Logan.
Sam growled, snapping away the straps as if they were nothing.
"……That's not good", blinked Bobby as Sam landed on the floor, rather awkwardly due to his now different leg-shape.
"He isnae doing anything though", said Rahne, then sighed, getting in the lift, "I'm gunnae check on him"
"Are you nuts?", said Bobby, "he'll kill you"
"That", smirked Rahne, "I doubt very much. Besides, I'm a werewolf too, I can look after myself"
Ignoring any further protest from Logan or Bobby, Rahne descended in the lift which led into the Danger Room proper, going into her transitional form as she went. As she entered the room, Sam looked up, his tail wagging slightly.
Ye okay, Sweetie?, she asked in wolf-speak., coming out as barks and growls to human ears
Err……A'h…think so, replied Sam, this is a bit…weird
Rahne smiled and nodded, looking up at the Control Room.
"Can ye put up a forest hologram or something?", she called up, "it might help a wee bit"
"Done", said Logan, flicking a switch, the metallic Danger Room taking on the appearance of a forest.
Well…a'h feel a little more settled now, admitted Sam, still kinda havin' a sensory overload here, though
Well, wolf noses are stronger than human ones, teased Rahne, walking over to give him a hug, don't worry, I'm here
Sam hugged her back with a sigh, then blinked.
Heh, a'h can see what you mean about that 'Life Mate Scent' thing, he said, breathing her in, wow
Rahne blushed under her fur.
See, I told ye, she teased, then smiled, lets see if ye can go all wolf, 'kay?
…'Ah don't know…, said Sam, unsure.
Hey, I'll be with ye all the time, said Rahne, promise. Just let the wolf aspect flood over…the change should come natural, if it's anything like me
Sam sighed, closing his eyes, after a few moments, he changed shape again, becoming a larger-than-normal sandy coloured wolf. Rahne grinned, transforming herself.
See? That WAS nae so hard, was it?
I guess not, said Sam, looking at all four paws, ...weird
Ye'll get used to it, chuckled Rahne, then gave him a gentle shove with her shoulder, dashing off into the fake forest, can't catch me
Bet a'h can!, laughed Sam, giving chase.
"Well, at least that's sorted", said Logan, watching the wolves running around the Danger Room.
"How long do you think it'll take before they give in to that whole wild-urges thing?", chuckled Bobby.
"I give them three months, tops", said Logan with a smirk.
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Back in New York, Ray was enjoying having the dorm room to himself. Heck, he was almost glad of Sam's paranoia about changing, it gave him some peace and quiet. Of course, it was soon interrupted as Tabby walked in.
"…Did you actually get a key?", he blinked, then paused, she'd been crying, "Tab….what's' wrong?"
"Can..can I stick around here for a bit?", she asked, "Rahne's with Sam, Warlocks on a date and Roberto…well, he's useless"
"Uh…yeah..sure", Ray blinked, "what happened Tabby?"
"I broke up with Shan", said Tabby, plopping down on his bed.
Ray arched a brow.
"I thought things were going great between you guys", he said, "why would you do that?"
"Because I'm pregnant", said Tabby quietly, looking down at her folded hands.
"Oh that's..", Ray did a double take, "what?...howwhennow?"
"John", she said, "but I already tracked him down…he doesn't want anything to do with it. He said it was 'my problem'".
Ray's eyes turned blue, electricity crackling in his hands.
"Where is he?", he growled, "I'll show him just how conductive water is"
"Ray…just leave it", sighed Tabby, sitting heavily on the bed, "nothing'll change his mind, and you'll only get yourself in trouble for beating him up"
Ray frowned, before powering down.
"Fine", he said, "but this isn't like you, Tabby. You're a fighter".
"I'm too tired to fight anymore", said Tabby, "I'll just have to raise this baby on my own…there's no way I'm aborting it, no child should be unwanted.. I learned that much from my father"
Tabby sighed, holding her head in her hands.
"I don't know what I can do, Ray", she said, "I mean, I've only just started college, I can't do it with a newborn baby…I…I'll have to quit"
She sighed, closing her eyes.
"It isn't even that", she said, "I'll be completely alone. Sure, I've got the people at the Institute, but I don't want to leech off them for the rest of my life. This kid'll have a broken family, just like I did"
"Hey, shhh", said Ray, rubbing her back, "it won't be like that, I promise"
Tabby gave a small sob, it was disconcerting to see the normally strong woman so…beaten. Ray blinked in surprise, before sighing, pulling her into a hug, letting her cry it out. After a while, Tabby pulled away with a sniffle.
"Thanks Ray, I needed that… Is it okay if I have a lie down here for a bit?", she asked, taking in a shuddery breath to calm herself down, "I…I just don't want to be alone right now"
"Sure, don't worry about it", smiled Ray.
"Thanks", said Tabby, lying back onto the bed and pulling the covers over herself, starting to drift off to sleep, the sleepless nights getting to her finally, "I..owe….you..one"
"Don't mention it", he said with a sigh, sitting back in his chair, running a hand through the tufts of hair on his head.
About ten minutes later, Roberto walked I, with a smirk.
"Hey, I need to borrow…", he trailed off, noticing the form of Tabby on the bed, "What's
"She broke up with Shan", said Ray.
Roberto frowned.
"Why?", he asked, "I thought they were getting on like a house on fire"
Ray glanced up at him, then looked at Tabby, sighing.
"Dunno", he lied, "she'd have her reasons"
"Huh", said Roberto, then grinned, "hey, at least it gives you a chance, huh? I mean, it's like she's been handed over on a silver platter"
Ray narrowed his eyes.
"Drop it, Roberto", he growled, "she doesn't need the hassle"
"You mean you're not going to say anything?", asked Roberto.
"No", said Ray simply, "I don't want her getting any more upset than she already is. She doesn't need to know"
"Man", Roberto shook his head, "you got it bad"
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"This would have been so much easier with Bobby and Shan"
Nick rolled his eyes as Ace moaned. He and Freedom Force had traveled over to find X23 in the sewers with the Brotherhood.
"I'm tellin' ya, she ain't here", said Todd, "we've looked all over"
"She's here", frowned Nick.
"How can you tell?", asked Wanda, arching a brow, "you got super-senses?"
Nick sighed, pointing to a double line of claw marks on the wall.
"No", he said, "I'm just good at my job".
"You're not welcome here"
The group looked around to see X23 stalking out of the shows, the sound of her claws unsheathing echoing in the tunnels.
"You're coming with us, X23", said Nick, "you've given us the slip for the last time"
"No", said X23 with a growl, "I'm staying here!"
"Yeah", said Evan walking out, narrowing his eyes, followed by a small group of Morlocks, "she's staying with us"
"There aren't many of us left anymore", said Callisto, wielding her bo staff, "but she's one of us, and we protect our own"
Nick arched a brow as the small group of Morlocks stood around X23.
"….So, it's like that, huh?"
X23 growled at him.
"I am tired of being treated as a weapon!", she snapped, "you and Hydra are as bad as each other!"
"Hey now", started Nick, "Hydra are the bad guys here…"
"And you're not?", asked X23, "SH.I.E.L.D has hunted me down like some kind of animal. You let L…Logan have his own place, why can't you let me have mine?"
"Because", said Nick simply, "you were created to be a dangerous weapon, and the bosses above me don't want you loose"
"Then tell them you couldn't find me", said X23, "I don't kill. I haven't killed. And I don't plan to kill. Ever"
"And you expect me to just lie to them and tell them you disappeared?", asked Nick, "I'll lose my job!"
"And if you take me in, I'll lose my life", said X23, sheathing her claws, "seems I have a lot more at stake here, Mr. Fury"
Nick looked at her, before groaning, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Freedom Force, move out"
"What?", asked Rictor, "you have to be kidding, right?"
"I said: Move. Out", said Nick, "we're going to keep quiet about this. Got it?"
"…Thank you", said X23 quietly.
"I must be out of my mind", muttered Nick, shaking his head, leading his team away.
Callisto smiled, walking over, putting a hand on X23's shoulders.
"Welcome home, kido", she smiled
X23 blinked at her, before giving the smallest of smiles.
"…Yeah…home"
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() – Yeah, anyone else notice that whatever the reality, Bobby and Alex just don't get along? It's fun.