Disclaimer: X-Men Evolution is not mine.
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Rogue slipped noiselessly into her room, having successfully avoided the other inhabitants of the mansion upon returning from her outing with Remy. The last thing she needed right now was their righteous bullshit. Grabbing her pillow, she flopped backwards onto her bed. Pietro. Remy. God, if she thought her life was messed up before... It used to be simply terrible; now, it was complicatedly terrible.
Figures. Now that she found love, fate just had to find a way to screw things up. She just had to walk in on Pietro and Taryn. She just had to be there, at the wrong place, at the wrong time. She just had to feel guilty. She snorted. Fate never liked her much anyway, and the feeling was entirely mutual. She squeezed her pillow, her once 'token of love' to Pietro. Well, that was quite alright. Screw fate. She was going to make things okay. She and Pietro would be friends again. She just had to figure out how.
*****
Storm's heels clicked determinedly on the concrete floor as she made her way to Mr. McCoy's lab. As she passed the danger room, she could not help the images of practices with her nephew there that flashed through her mind. She had heard nothing from Evan since he had left with the Morlocks, and while her sister was stricken with intense worry, Ororo was dealing with that, plus the guilty feeling that she could have done something more. Something that would have helped him, so that he would not have had to leave. She should have been there for him.
It was because of his mutation developing; it changed his outward appearance so drastically that he felt he needed to withdraw into the sewers, the SEWERS, to come to terms with things. How could she not have seen it coming? But yet, what could she have done?
She paused outside of the lab, her eyes idly wandering over to the medbay and down the hall where she came from. A few days after Evan's departure, she had asked Hank to see if he could find a way to help him. Subdue his powers, reverse them, make it like it was before, when he had control and showed no outward effects. Maybe then he would come back home, to her, to his family. It was desperate, and admittedly, perhaps not the right way to go about things, to go about helping him. He should accept the changes that his mutant abilities brought forth, not fight them. But the fact remained that she was desperate. She had to do something, anything. Just, anything to make her feel like she was not giving up on her nephew, like she was not deserting him, abandoning him. She could not leave him alone and she wanted him home.
It had been too long since he had left. Way too long. Months, even. And she missed him dearly during the entirety of that time, regretted taking his presence for granted, even when she was on a mission, even throughout the Apocalypse ordeal; it was a constant grief. There was a distinct emptiness in the world around her now. She wanted, she needed him back.
Swallowing, she entered the lab. Time had led her here that afternoon, as Beast summoned her. She wondered if he had been successful, though even if he had, there was still the question of getting the solution to Evan, and furthermore, if it really was a solution. Coming out of her thoughts, she easily found Mr. McCoy fiddling with a microscope on a nearby table.
"You summoned for me, Hank?"
He lifted his head, flashing her a friendly smile. "Ahh, yes, Ororo. So I did." He beckoned her to come over. "I'd like for you to take a look in this microscope."
"What exactly is it that I am looking at?"
"Now now, patience is a virtue. These are non-mutant cells. You could say, that they are normal." Leaning over, he switched the slides. "Here is a new slide. Now what do you see?"
"You are asking the wrong person. I do not see any difference between this and the last."
Hank chuckled. "Do not sell yourself short, Ororo. That is precisely what you are meant to see."
Storm lifted her eyes from the microscope and peered at him. "I do not understand."
"Well, the second slide is a sample of mutant cells that have come in direct contact with a liquid compound that I have created using the samples of the Gems of Cytorrak that Professor Xavier had retrieved from the remains of the so-called Asteroid M. I manipulated the distinctly radioactive material so that instead of evolving, it, in a manner of speaking, 'devolved' its target." Hank took the microscope and glanced down through the eyepiece briefly. "As you can see, it reduced mutant cells into those of a normal, non-mutant."
"You... found a cure for mutations?"
"Well, no. After a few hours, a day at most, the compound is passed through the system and the cells return to their normal state. However," He raised a finger to punctuate his point. "There is an alternative in administering the compound, rather than an invasive injection or perhaps an oral intake. As the gems are radioactive in nature, they emit waves, a characteristic passed on to the solid form of the compound. Due to the dilution that occured during the creation process, these waves are very short, affecting basically only the individual touching it." He turned, producing a silver chain from a container that sat on the table. "Put into a form such as this, a mutant's powers could be subdued for as long as it is worn."
Ororo took the chain from Hank's hand, fingering each link. The feel of it sent a tingle through her hand that spread up her arm and dissipated as it spread throughout her body. Suddenly, the presence she knew to be her mutant powers was gone, leaving a void that left her feeling terribly empty and alone. Vulnerable. If Evan used this, would he experience the same horrible feelings? Swallowing, she raised her eyes again. "Would this help my nephew?" Her voice was soft, tight as if her throat was constricted.
Hank sighed, pressing his lips together. "Alas, while it subdues powers, it does nothing for the outward effects of our mutations." He took the chain back into his hand, raising his eyebrows to illustrate his example. His blue fur remained entirely the same, as did his monstrous figure. "Evan would most likely not be able to create the spikes he used as projectiles, but the spikes that riddle his skin would remain."
"I see." There was a moment of awkward silence; Hank showing his sympathy through his eyes, patient for further discussion, as Ororo stared down at her fingers.. Storm felt somewhat disappointed, but at the same time she felt relieved. It was the wrong way to go about it, she was certain now. She could vividly remember the terrible feelings, emotions, that went along with losing her powers, and she could not bring herself to think that forcing that upon Evan would be in any way beneficial to him. Besides, he had to come to terms with his mutation, not subdue it. She felt a pang of sadness within her breast; she really was helpless. She had to let him go his own way, and nothing she did now could ever bring him back before he was good and ready. Closing her eyes, she willed away the tears. Please, let him return soon. Opening her eyes, she gave Hank a weak smile. "It's.. just as well, Hank."
He understood. Though her words were simple, he could hear in her nuance that she realized, as he had hoped, that subduing, that fighting against the mutation was futile as well as wrong. "Very well, Ororo." He quirked a smile. "And before you apologize for taking up my time, think nothing of it. It was quite interesting to work with such a unique material."
Storm smiled, more genuine this time. "Actually, I was thinking that we might ask the professor if he knew somebody who could possibly have a use for such a development."
*****
Rogue fidgeted, peering down hallways as if looking for an escape route, although nobody was escorting her down to the professor's office. She had been telepathically summoned by Xavier, startled out of her deep thoughts concerning Pietro and Remy. She must have been projecting so loudly, and now, she was in trouble. She could only imagine what lecture the professor had in store for her. She hesitated outside of the door to his office, though she might as well just have walked in when Xavier called out for her to come in, startling her just as it always did. Taking a deep breath, she prepared her argument for her case and strode confidently, yet at the same time anxiously, into the room.
Professor Xavier was not alone. Ororo and Mr. McCoy were standing solemnly by his desk, although Hank had a peculiar twinkle in his eye as he regarded her. All of her preparation dissolved into confusion. What was going on?
"Ya summoned meh, professor?"
"Yes, Rogue. I'm sure you are curious as to why, and I can tell you now that it is not anything concerning your love life." Rogue blushed. "For the moment." She lifted her eyes to his suddenly, but he just gave her a friendly smile. "In any case, I summoned you here to talk about your powers."
"Mah powers? What do ya mean? I haven' had any power surges o' nothin'." She frowned. "Is there somethin' wrong?" She glanced at Hank. "Were ya doin' some experiment with mah blood? Did ya find somethin'? Ah'm gonna be too dangerous to keep around, that it?" she blurted, eyebrows furrowed in concern.
Professor Xavier shook his head, wheeling himself forward in a calming gesture towards the girl. "Calm down, Rogue. There is no need to jump to conclusions. It is nothing like that. And besides, you will always be welcome here. We have no intention of ever turning you away." He placed a hand comfortingly on her arm. "We are your family. Relax, Rogue. What I called you here for is nothing terrible."
"Indeed," stated Ororo. "In fact, I believe you may be quite pleasantly surprised."
"Ah don' get it..."
Hank chuckled, taking a step forward and carrying a small box in his hands. "Well, Rogue, a while ago, I began doing research on subduing mutant powers by request." He glanced up at Storm momentarily before returning his attention to Rogue. "The goal was to remove the physical effects of mutations. It was actually a very fascinating project, though I failed to achieve the goal. It was not a complete loss, however. Using samples of the Gems of Cytorrak that Magneto had used on Asteroid M, I created a compound that subdued mutations. It did nothing to change the external characteristics of a mutant, but, for example, Storm, under the influence of the compound, would be unable to evoke her control over the weather. In liquid form, the results are temporary. However, because of the gems natural radioactive characteristics, its solid form would emit distinct radioactive waves that could cancel out mutant powers for as long as it is kept in very close proximity." He paused, glancing at her. "Do you follow?"
"Ah think so..."
Hank smiled, opening the box he held and pulling out the silver chain. "Then can you guess what this is?"
"That... that's made from th' compound thingy, ain' it?"
"Correct!" He beamed at her proudly.
"If Ah wear that... Ah can touch, cain't Ah?"
"Yes, Rogue," answered Xavier, "and it is our intention to give this new development to you. With a certain agreement, mind." He pressed his fingertips together and looked at her contemplatively. "You must understand that this is not a solution for your powers, much like how Scott's glasses are not a solution for his. You still have to work for control of your powers, and you cannot grow dependent on this chain."
Hank stepped forward. "Another thing. At best, this chain is very crude, very experimental. As a result, I will need to monitor its use. Everyday preferably, for at least the first few weeks you wear it."
"And also," continued Xavier, "I expect you to go without the chain, for at least six hours everyday, when you work on control without the device. You must understand, Rogue, that I fear that you might grow too dependent on Hank's creation, and I cannot express that enough. You must remember that your mutation makes you who you are. You cannot lose that."
"Ah understand, professor."
Xavier nodded to Hank to present the chain to her. "I have complete faith in your strength, Rogue. And I trust you to not abuse or misuse this gift, as it does not release you from your responsibilities. You are still, above all else, one of the X-Men, and you are above fooling around with such an important accessory."
Rogue stared at the delicate links of the chain. They glowed silver, but if she looked closely, she could make out the tell-tale crimson of the Gems of Cytorrak that were used in its creation. It was too good to be true. Her hear was beating so loudly that she could have sworn that if she said anything out loud, it would have been drowned out by each thump. Despite the professor's words, she could not help but think of it as her cure, her salvation from her curse. She would be able to touch! No more fear, no more loneliness; she would not have to avoid anybody for their own good. Tears began to dampen the corners of her eyes, as Remy popped into her mind; she would be able to touch HIM! Forget the scarf. She would be able to taste him, to feel the itchy stubble on his chin with her fingertips, let him hold her without the warning sirens going off about how close he was. She choked on a sob that rose in her throat; it had to be too good to be true.
With a trembling hand, she reached forward and took the chain from Hank. It was surprisingly light, though the moment she brushed her fingers against it, she could feel a tingle that slowly dispersed throughout her whole body. It was not an entirely unwelcome feeling, but it came hand in hand with a sudden emptiness. She knew her powers were gone, as she could feel an almost tangible void deep inside of her.
"Again, Rogue, this is very experimental. I hope to eventually create something that will let you switch its effects off and on, so that you do not have to remove it in order to have your powers once more." He gave her a toothy grin as he took the chain from her to attach it around her neck carefully, his large hands rather dextrous despite their size. "I apologize that it is not more decorative, but I trust you will be able to manage fixing that on your own. At the very least, its practical properties balance the lack of finesse, wouldn't you say?"
Rogue fumbled with her gloves, fighting them off, a hesitant smile on her lips. Raising her eyes to Beast, she lifted her hand, pausing only milliseconds from his face. He smiled, ducking his head slightly so that her fingertips brushed against his cheek. She flinched away out of habit, but when the usual effects did not occur, she lifted her hand once more, this time pressing softly against his face. Tears fell freely from her shimmering green eyes this time and she flung her arms around Hank in a fierce hug.
"Thank ya... Thank ya so much! Ya don' understand how much this means ta meh!" She ran excitedly around the office, giving Storm and Xavier each a hug in turn, delaying momentarily by the professor's side to give him a peck on the cheek as well. "Thank ya, professor. For everythin'. Takin' meh in, providin' meh a home. Carin' 'bout meh even though Ah'm dangerous. Ya never gave up tryin' ta help meh. Thank ya so much." She took in a shuddering breath, threatening to break down into happy sobs. "Ah love ya, Ah love all of ya!" With that, she took off, away from the office, eager to show the others what had happened.
The three adults could only stare for a moment at the spot where Rogue had stood only moments before. Xavier smiled. "I must admit that I had my doubts in giving her the chain, but I see now that it was definitely worth it to see her so ecstatic."
"I have never seen her so lively," remarked Ororo.
"Indeed." Hank scratched his chin pensively. "Maybe our Rogue will be able to allow herself to feel more a part of the family now."
Xavier hummed in soft agreement, otherwise silent. One of her last mental projects was of an image of a pair of demon eyes and the name 'Remy.' He trusted Rogue to make the right decisions, yes, but he could not help but fear her involvement with the Acolyte. While the chain was a blessing in some ways, for her and for them all, he could not help but think of the possibility of it backfiring. It was a doubt that almost brought him to want to reclaim the chain. Yet, it made her so happy, made her smile one of her rarely genuine smiles, and he could only hope that nothing went wrong.
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It's settled. I can't characterize the adults for the life of me. Hardly one of my favorite chapters at all.
If any of you question the crimson (red) tint of the chain, it's referring to the fact that the gems of cytorrak are red. I think the development of the chain is believeable. Don't you think? I mean, yes, it's very convenient, but at least it wasn't created just for Rogue. Initially, it was meant for Evan. You gotta give me points for that... please..?
This chapter just feels so awkward. *sighs* I need to work desperately on my prose. Again, I reassure myself with the fact that I am going to go back and revise and clean this story up once I finish it. That seems so far away from now. And again, this was not supposed to be longer than 10 chapters. Though admittedly, I had no idea how the plot was going to blow up like this. Funny. I'm the author. You'd think I'd have _some_ control over my own literary piece. It's as if the piece is writing me. Er, itself. It didn't quite work there. Was trying to express how the roles in the relationship between me and my writing were reversed in a witty way, but as I had to explain it, obviously I failed.
It's been too long. I have to greet all of you like a friend I haven't seen in years. When it's only been a few days. But you have to understand the context. I used to be able to chug these babies out in a day or two. As opposed to like a week. I miss the good old days. And I feel old again.
I made a drawing. A sort of cover type dealie for this fic. It's unfinished, really rough, un-inked and dirty. But I'll tell ya when I got the finished, inked, and cleaned up version. Man, it's smudgy. You can see it here :
The next chapter I'm dreading, almost. And same with the one after that, though not as much. And then after that, I'm going to make some Romy fans terribly angry. TERRIBLY angry. Though certain others could be pleased... But again, I assure you, it'll turn out fine in the end, even though I don't know how I'm going to get that ending I want. I'll figure it out. Or the story will figure it out itself. Which could be better. Who knows better how it should go than the story itself? That sentence confused me terribly...
twenty chapters and almost 200 reviews... maybe I'll hit that when I post this... :)
thanks for the support!
Rielyn