Jenskott: Yeah, I figure he would like it too, but it's still hard to shape shift with metal all over and in your body and buried in rouble. Well we wanted to kill off Viper but if she had just killed her after the arm thing then that would prove she was nothing more then a weapon, this shows that she's has both mercy and makes mistakes.
Mark C: Yep, he did and I wanted the prefect revenge and punishment for that scene. Yeah don't worry what happened with Viper, X23 will talk it over with Logan later on.
ViciousAssassin: Yeah I figure that was perfect punishment for Sinister. Yeah Selene is that and glad you liked the Emma scare there and the X23/Viper fight. Yep Jamie/Rahne is in this chapter.
Aaron: Yep I thought that was poetic justice for him to do that to Sinister too. We both wanted that part with Selene/Slayer/Emma to be really dramatic and keep you on the edge of your seat. For X23 we wanted her to take her first steps to regaining her humanity, hence her showing mercy to Viper.
Cold queen: I guess I can see your point in that, but just let it go it only happens in certain types of scenes anyway.
Silverdash: No there's one more act left.
KSimonT-X: Thanks for the vote of confidence both me and Slickboy want this fic to be one of the best on the Evo board. You know I didn't plan to have Sinister/Selene together like that but I just had this inspiration ya know?
Thanks to: X00001, Simba317, Quillian, Kaliann, The Uncanny R-Man, Silver Warrior
Hellfire and BrimstoneCHAPTER 49: HOME COMING
-Infirmary-
Rahne was helping to set up the infirmary. Xavier had told them what they would most likely need and they got it all set up. "Do ye think the others weren't injured Jamie?" she asked him as she sat down on one of the beds.
Both of them had been waiting nervously for any kind of news and even though the Professor said they were all coming back, the fact that they were getting out all of these supplies didn't give them much confidence in the health of those coming back.
Jamie sat down next to her, "I hope so…I just wish we were given a chance to help out. I feel so useless…Especially with the weakest powers here," he sighed, he never really liked his powers. They were too much of a hassle at times. He had to be so careful and he knew that at times, everyone thought his clones were annoying. He couldn't help it because sometimes he just multiplied by accident and it was hard to get them to merge back with him.
"You should nae think that, Jamie. I mean ye nae aren't weak and neither of your powers," she told him taking his hand in hers. Jamie blushed a bit at the contact, "I mean, at least you were there to fight in that battle with Apocalypse…I wasn't."
"Yeah, well your mom took you away…I'm glad that you came back at least…I…I missed you," he said as he smiled and looked away for a bit.
Rahne looked at his face and smiled. She had to admit that when she came back, there were a few changes but Jamie was one of them. He had grown a bit from that time and now he was just as tall if not a little taller then her. He also had grown up a bit in that time she had been away. Sure he was still just as fun to be around as before, but he was a bit more serious.
Everyone had been after Apocalypse it seemed. And she never noticed how handsome Jamie's face was. He had those boyish good looks that she knew would only improve with time. She felt herself flush a bit remembering how her mind had wondered at his touch from that one as he gave her a backrub.
She wondered why she was feeling like this. She only thought of Jamie as like a little brother…Sure he was barely a year younger then her and he was nearly fifteen like her. But lately she had been looking at him a bit differently. He was so sweet and fun to be with and he had grown so much physically and personally. She couldn't help but wonder if…Was she was starting to crush on Jamie? It was kind of a scary thought really, but lately her mind had been wondering to him from time to time.
Jamie was wondering what Rahne was looking at, "Rahne?"
"Huh? Oh sorry it's just that…I was thinkin' about somethin'," she said, blushing from what she was thinking about.
Jamie always thought she looked so cute and he looked at her for a minute. "Rahne…Why do you always have your hair up like that?" He had seen her when her hair was down and he thought she looked more beautiful like that.
"Ye dinnae like my hair?" she asked him a little put off from that.
"Oh no, it's cute on you," he blushed a bit, "I just think it's prettier when it's…You know…Down." He looked at the floor, too embarrassed to look at her. He didn't know what possessed him to say such things to her, but for some reason they just blurted out in her presence.
"You…Like my hair down?" she asked him, feeling a bit strange. He nodded in response and she thought about it and reached up and undid the pigtails and shook her head to loosen up the hair. "Like this?"
Jamie looked at her and his jaw dropped a bit. Her hair was now longer and really played off her face now. She looked beautiful with her hair down. He loved her red hair and large green eyes.
"Jamie?" she asked, but got no response and started to blush, "Jamie, stopped lookin' at me like that. Yur makin' me blush."
"Wow…You're beautiful," he breathed out just staring at her.
"What?" Rahne said surprised by that.
Jamie's eyes widened in horror at what he just said. 'Oh shit! Oh man of all the stupid lame things to say! Oh God, what if she's offended or thinks I'm weird now?' he got off the bed, "N-nothing, I didn't say anything."
Rahne didn't believe him…She knew what she had heard. Then, as he got off the bed, she took his arm, "Jamie…Jamie look at me!"
He slowly turned around looking at his feet. He was sure she was either going to yell at him or tell him she was thankful, but only thought of him as a friend. His heart sank at those thoughts, for he really did like her he had for so long. He felt her slender fingers touch his cheeks and raise his head to meet her eyes. She saw something in his eyes and it made her wonder.
He always seemed to hang around her the most or tried to make her laugh and feel happy more then the others. And as she thought about all of that and what he had said to her, she now felt a new sense of determination to take it to another level. "Jamie…Do…Do you like me?"
Jamie tried to say no, but looking into her eyes he just couldn't bring himself to do it. "Yeah…I do…I've liked you for a very long time Rahne. I mean…Tou're so pretty and you never treated me like a child or like I get in the way."
She felt her heart warm at his comments. "Well…I like ye too…I think I'm just startin' ta realize it."
Jamie's smile was so big and bright it was just a sight that would warm anyone's heart. "So…If I asked you out on a date…Would you, you know…Go with me?" He thought back to that only other date he had and that had been with Kitty, but that hadn't even been a real one. Although he still liked that memory.
"Aye…I would. Are ye asking?" she teased and he laughed a bit in response, which was nothing short of infectious to her as she started to get up too. All the tension from the day seemed to be working out of their system as she looked at him and felt a compulsion to do something more. "Jamie…Have ye ever been…Kissed?" she asked a little shyly.
Jamie smiled and blushed, "Uh…Not really. Tabitha gave me a peck on the cheek once for helping her out, but that's it."
"Would ye…Like to try it…For real?" she asked him and he nodded his head slowly. The two of them moved in slowly, not sure of what to do. Rahne wanted to know just how big her feelings were for Jamie and from what the girls talked about, many agreed that kissing the boy was a sure fire way to find out if they had anything between them.
Jamie felt his lips touch hers in the first real kiss of his life. He knew he would never forget this day or this kiss as long as he remembered. It was a soft, warm, wonderful sensation and the young couple stayed there for a time before both broke away. Both of the young teens had on smiles looking at the other and knew that they had just taken the first step in something that was sure to change not just how things were between them, but how things would be for the rest of their lives.
Institute Hanger
Upon the arrival of the X-jet, the triumphant team of mutants sauntered out somewhat bruised, but alive and well nonetheless. It had been a truly epic fight…Yet they had managed to overcome the odds and come out on top…With a little help from Slayer that is. One of them almost died, two of them had almost been dissected, but in the end they had triumphed. And after such a long, hard battle it was good to be home.
For the most part, there were only minor to moderate injuries, but there was nothing that they couldn't heal from. Some would probably take a bit longer than others, but everybody was sure to make a full recovery. Because as X-men, enduring such things was just another part of the job and to them, it was all worth it.
"Welcome back my students…" greeted Xavier as he proudly watched the team of mutants he had taught and raised saunter out of the X-jet and the Velocity.
"Oh man…I can't tell you how glad I am to hear that, Professor," said Scott, feeling dead tired along with most of the others as they all set foot back in the only place that ever truly felt like home to them.
"Yeah…I was beginning to think I'd never see this place again," said Jean as she gave the Professor a welcoming hug, which somewhat shocked the wheelchair bound man, but he accepted it nonetheless.
"Well you have nothing to worry about now my children…" said Professor Xavier confidently, promising himself that he would not allow something like this to happen again to his beloved students, "It's over…It's finally over."
"Amen to that!" said Kitty with a jubilant smile as she held Piotr's hand tightly in hers as they made their way up out of the lower levels, feeling a need to be anywhere else but a laboratory after having spent too much time in Sinister's clutches, "Now if you'll excuse us…I think I'm in dire need of a little shut eye."
"You said a mouthful, Kitty…" said Kurt, who hadn't slept much during the whole ordeal, "I haven't slept vell in days…"
"Well that changes tonight…I'll make sure of it," said Wanda as she took her boyfriend's hand, which helped him to manage a smile as he leaned on her for support as they made their way upstairs as well for some much needed rest.
Infirmary
With everybody so tired from it all, those who were able to went upstairs to sleep in their own beds instead of the sterile hospital environment not unlike the one they had just fought through. Vincent wasted no time in carrying Emma up to her room, wanting to make sure she woke up feeling safe and comfortable in her bed. And many others followed suit, eager to sleep this whole ordeal off. However, a few did have to remain in the infirmary to be treated by Hank and Sage.
Jubilee, for one, had badly burned her arm, requiring her to wear a small cast for a week or so in order to heal up. Bobby, even though he wasn't injured, stayed with her the whole time…If for nothing more, than for support.
"How's the arm, feeling Jubes?" he asked her after Hank made the finishing touches.
"A lot better now…But it's still a little stiff," she told him, flexing her arm a bit to work out the stiffness.
"And it may stay that way for a while," said Hank as he gathered up the equipment he had used to apply the cast, "But don't worry my dear. The cast will be off before you know it."
"Yeah, until then, think of it as an accessory!" said Bobby, always one to put a positive spin on things.
That earned him a playful swat from Jubilee as Hank left the young couple to their own devices as he tended to a few others.
"You're incorrigible…" she said with a playful smirk.
"And you're cute, so we're even," he quipped in response as he sat up on the examining table next to her and slid an arm around her waist.
A brief silence fell over them as they both looked at the cast, which seemed to symbolize just how difficult the fight had been for them. Neither of them had partaken in such an intense battle since Apocalypse and this one was every bit as difficult. Add to that, it left a few physical marks as well as an impact mentally. But in participating in this fight, they felt as though they were true X-men…Fighting with the rest of the team against an evil few others could contemplate. And not only had thought fought…They had triumphed. And the feeling it gave them was in a class all it's own.
"So I guess this makes you an X-man as well…" said Bobby, breaking the silence as he hugged her a little closer.
"I guess so…" said Jubilee, her voice growing a bit more distant, "But…Can I ask you something Bobby?"
"Sure…What is it?" asked Bobby, also becoming a bit more serious.
"Were…Were you ever scared during that fight?" she asked him.
This only caused the young man to hug his girlfriend a little closer as he looked back at her with compassion and honest, heartfelt emotion. Few things could get Bobby Drake emotional…But this girl was definitely one of them.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't…" he told her truthfully, "There were times I was scared…Especially when you got hurt."
"Aw…That's sweet of you," she said with a smile.
"I'm serious…" he told her, his demeanor not shifting, "I was afraid that…That I could lose you and I…I don't think I could handle that. I don't think I could ever forgive myself if something happened to you."
"Oh Bobby…" she told him as she cupped his chin her hand and gave him a warm smile, "You won't lose me…Not as long as we're X-men. We fought and we triumphed…And if we can win against odds like that, then there's nothing we can't overcome."
Her words helped bring a smile to Bobby's face as she leaned forward and gave him a deep kiss on the lips, helping them both remember what they had come to see so clearly as a result of this battle…And just how much they meant to one another.
While Bobby was helping Jubilee with her injury, Sam was also helping with Tabitha, who had suffered a mild sprain on her ankle during the fight. Hank had taped it up and put a small cast on it, but Sam was the one who wanted to apply it, which didn't bother Hank too much since he noticed how Sam seemed to be a little protective of her. But protective or not, that didn't make him any less clumsy.
"Ow! Damn, that really hurts!" cursed Tabby as she winced again as Sam was finishing up the cast.
"Well it's bound to hurt if you don't hold still, Tabby," said Sam, struggling a bit with Tabby's ankle. He was lucky to know a thing or two about first aid given his life on a farm back in Kentucky, but Tabitha wasn't making it any easier for him as she squirmed from the sting.
"Ugh…Remind me to avoid killer humanoid robots in the future," she grumbled, feeling like somewhat of a klutz getting hurt.
"Well don't worry, Ah'll be sure to let you know if we come across anymore," said Sam, which got Tabby to laugh a bit as Sam finished up and helped her off the table.
"Mmm…You're a sweety, Sammy," she cooed as she leaned on him to keep the pressure off her bad ankle.
"Well don't Ah have to be if I'm gonna be your boyfriend?" he said with a smile as Tabitha snaked her arms around his neck.
"Not really…But it sure does help," she said with a grin as she planted a kiss on his cheek, causing him to blush bright red in a that made him look all the more cute to Tabitha.
Their actions didn't go unnoticed by Ray and Roberto, both of which just happened to be passing by after Ray had received bandages for a burn mark on his back and Roberto had gotten patched up as a result of a minor shoulder injury. They made kissing faces at the young couple in a teasing gesture, but both Sam and Tabby seemed to ignore it, for they weren't about to let a little thing like that get in the way of their blossoming relationship.
However, in addition to Ray and Roberto, Amara had also seen Sam and Tabby's little show of affection. She wished she hadn't been there to see it, for it was still very hard for her to bear. She was happy that they were happy…But it still left her alone. She didn't know how she was going to move past this, but for now, all she could hope was that it would all blow over for her and this misery she now felt would gradually wane. She just wished she had somebody…ANYBODY…To talk to or share something with. But for now…All she simply needed rest for her heart and mind…But she still hoped that tomorrow would bring forth something better, whatever it may be.
As Beast made a final check, he couldn't help but smile to himself at how some of the students found solstice in each other, particularly the couples. The story he had heard concerning Emma seemed just too fantastic for any scientifically minded person to believe…But he didn't doubt a word they had said, for he knew that as X-men, facing the impossible was all part of the job.
"I take it they're going to be just fine," came a voice, breaking Hank out of his light daze.
"Sage?" he said as he turned to face the young woman that had helped them so much in their search as well as the big battle that it led to, "What are you doing still down here? I thought you had gone up to turn in."
"No rest for the weary, I guess," she shrugged, "Besides, I thought I might as well stick around. You know…Just to make sure everybody was okay."
Her resilience never ceased to surprise him as he shook his head in amazement. Hank had never met a woman like her before…Smart, strong, and resilient in her own unique way. And there were of course those growing feelings he had for her that seemed to only grow as a result of this fateful mission.
"Remarkable, isn't it?" said Sage as her gaze drifted over towards Sam and Tabitha as he helped her out of the infirmary, leaning on him for support.
"What is?" asked Hank curiously.
"How this place has so much advanced medical technology…Yet it seems as though the best medicine for everybody has been love," she said, her tone growing somewhat distant, for it gave her a lot to think about.
"Yes, I most certainly wouldn't argue that," he grinned as he watched Sam help Tabby over towards the elevators, "Even after such a trying ordeal…The simplest forms of comfort seem to be the best."
"I guess so…" said Sage.
A brief silence soon fell over them as the two astute minds stood alone in the halls of the infirmary in a mild daze. So much had happened as a result of all this. The odds were so stacked against them, yet they still managed to overcome the daunting challenges that faced them. Now here they were…Alive and well with the rest of the team with so much to be thankful for.
"So how does it feel, Sage?" asked Hank, finally breaking the silence.
"How does what feel?" she asked curiously.
"How does it feel to fight with the X-men again?" he asked her.
Sage couldn't help but smile at such a question, for it brought forth so many overwhelming emotions for her. This time…She hadn't fought as a mere side hand like before. This time…She fought as a true X-man…And it was truly an amazing feeling.
"It feels…Wonderful," she told him as she reflected on everything she had been through since re-joining the institute, "I feel as though this is where I truly belong now…This is where I can do the most good. For so long now, I searched to find meaning in my life. But I was searching in all the wrong places…Because it was here all along. And it's certainly a welcome feeling."
"Sometimes we have to search in the wrong places to find the right things," he told her with a reassuring smile, glad to know that she was now here to stay.
"Well said, McCoy," she said with a wry grin.
"So what do you plan on doing now that this whole ordeal is over?" he asked her.
"A shower…" she answered without hesitation, "But first…I'm going to ask you out to dinner."
The expression on Hank's face quickly turned to one of great shock, wondering if he had just had an auditory hallucination. Did she really just say what he thought she said? Did she really ask him out on a date? It seemed more impossible than having faced a couple of evil immortals. But nevertheless, he heard it…And as he looked back into her alluring dark eyes, he couldn't help but feel a jump in his heartbeat, for he never thought he'd ever get a chance like this.
"You…You mean like a date?" he asked her.
"Yes Hank…A date…A real date," she told him, making it clear that she was being very serious.
"Are…Are you sure?"
"Is the atomic weight of iron 55.847?" she said back with a grin.
Hank could help but laugh as he smiled back at the beautiful young woman, for that was a clear enough answer for him.
"In that case…It's a date!" he proclaimed as they both walked off hand and hand down the halls of the infirmary with a new sense of optimism that things would take a turn for the better in wake of this whole ordeal.
While Hank and Sage were making one last sweep of the injured, Rogue was still lingering in one of the infirmary room trying to clean her hair up a bit with some of the tools at her disposal. Her skin may have been as tough as tank armor, but her hair was plenty vulnerable and it was left quite messy as a result of the grenade to the face she took. And while she was never usually one to pine over her hair like other girls, that didn't mean she wanted it all messy and such.
"Ah, dang it!" she grunted as she tore a piece of shrapnel out from her still slightly singed hair, "Stupid grenade…"
"Still at it I see…" came a voice that startled her out of her focused state as she turned to face the last person she wanted to see her like this.
"Remy!" she gasped, partially in surprise and partially with a sense of dread since her hair was now such a mess, "What in the hell are ya doin' still down here?"
"Well you're still down here, cherè," he said in his distinct, cocky tone, "Dat's all de reason Remy needs to be down here too."
"Well ya should be resting like everybody else…" she told him, looking away and trying to hide her disfigured hairdo even thought she knew it was downright impossible.
"I know…Couldn't sleep though," he said as he took a step closer towards her.
Rogue somewhat resisted his approach, still not wanting him to see her like this, but even she didn't have the strength to stop him. She continued looking away, not wanting him to see her now messed up face, but that didn't seem to bother Remy as she felt his hand upon her shoulder, which almost made her melt right then and there.
"Hey, you okay, Rogue?" he asked her in a concerned tone.
"Yeah…Ah'm fine," she told him in an unconvincing tone.
"You're a bad liar…" he said in response as he turned her around to face him, "Come on…Tell Remy. Is dis about de hair?"
"No!" she said almost immediately, but Remy just cast her a skeptical glance, forcing her to grudgingly admit the truth, "Well…Not entirely."
"Hey, ya still look like de most belle femme on de face of de planet to me," he told her in a sincere tone.
That did help a bit as she finally allowed herself to once again become lost in his eyes, but there was still so much more that had been troubling her. And even though the mission was over and deemed a success…Many of those issues were still unresolved for her.
"Thanks, but…It ain't just that," she told him, once again looking away.
"Den what is it?" asked Remy, sincerely wanting to know.
"It's just that…" she began, trying to find the right words, "Ah was worried about ya, okay? Ah was worried about you, Ah was worried about mah brother, Ah was worried about everybody…I mean, after what Jean and Ah went through, Ah honestly thought ya going to be tortured or killed or…"
She could have gone on forever, but she soon found herself unable to as Remy instinctively took her in his arms and hugged her tightly. She soon hugged back after a few seconds, burying her face in his shoulder, on the verge of tears after having come so close to losing the man who was quickly become such a major part of her life.
"Ah thought I'd never see ya again…" she said, swallowing the lump in her throat that had formed, "Ah thought we'd never get a chance to…To see where things could go between us…To see if…Ah don't know…If this was it…This was the one."
"Shh…It's okay, cherè," he said in a soothing tone as he tenderly stroked her charred hair, "Remy's here now…And he's okay. And I promise you…I ain't goin' anywhere dis time. I'll be here for you…Always."
"You promise?" she asked him as she looked back up into his red on black eyes with a slight tear trailing down her face.
"I promise…" he told her, "You have Remy's word…I promise I'll be here."
She quickly sunk into his arms as another wave of emotion hit her, causing more tears to flow down her face. Then, in a show of just how worried she had been for him, she captured his lips in a deep, tender kiss. Remy was a bit surprised at first, but he quickly sank into it…Letting this beautiful woman that he had fallen so hard for know that he was a man of his word…And he would keep his promise no matter what.
After a while, Remy coaxed Rogue into giving her hair a rest and led her upstairs to the dormitories where they both would get some much needed rest. He walked her to her room and kissed her hand goodnight, which caused her to blush he did that. In her room, she sighed and went straight to bed, hoping that with everyone back she could finally get a decent nights sleep. She had enough rough nights from the nightmares of her capture, but when they had been taken she hadn't slept well at all. But this time…She finally managed to sleep peacefully for the first time in a long time.
This left only one couple remaining in the infirmary…Betsy and Warren.
The two had been down in the medical bays for a while since Warren had sustained a couple of serious shots to his wings, leaving him in a great deal of discomfort, but thankfully it wasn't too serious. After a brief examination from Hank, he was told that he should be back up and flying again within the week give or more, which was good news for him…Since he had grown quite fond of the daily ritual of flying around in the crisp morning sky sometimes with Betsy in his arms.
Even after Hank and Sage had left, Betsy remained by her lover's side, patching up the wounds on his wings and lending the comfort and assurance that only she could. It had been a hard fight for all of them and they had come face to face with a truly evil force…But they had managed to come out on top and for Betsy and Warren, it gave them an exhilarating feeling that few others could match.
"Okay, luv…Almost done," she told him as she worked a needle and stitch through some of the stubborn cartilage of his wings.
"Take your time," he assured her, "It's definitely not as painful as it was earlier."
"Well it's only minor," she told him as she cut the needle and thread with a small psionic blade and smoothed out the feathers, "Hank said you should be back at full strength in no time. You'll just have to stay out of the air for a while."
"Bummer," he said as he stretched his wings a bit, shaking out some of the lingering sting, "I guess that means we won't be able to take our little morning 'strolls.'"
"Yeah…I know," said Betsy in an equally disappointed tone, "But don't worry…I'm sure will think of something to fill the void."
"Something as thrilling as flying with the woman I love in my arms?" he told her with a smile, "I don't know…That's going to be a tough one."
"Hey…We're X-men now, luv," she told him as she slipped her arms around his neck as he drew her into a tight embrace, "We handle tough things for a living."
"Hmm…I guess you're right," he said as a gleaming smile spread across his face, "We went up against evil and won…And I suppose that really does make us true X-men."
"You know it, luv!" said Betsy with a smile.
And with that, Betsy and Warren met in another deep kiss, capping off a truly amazing triumph for the both of them…For now they could finally call themselves true X-men.
Slayer & Xavier
As happy as everybody seemed upon hearing that the whole ordeal was over, the mutant warrior known as Slayer remained indifferent to it all…For through his all seeing eye, he knew that nothing could be further from the truth. He was still a bit weak from all the magic and energy he had exerted on the mission, but it wouldn't take long for him to recover and make his leave. There was still a powerful darkness out there looming and this latest success had only delayed it.
Add to that, the challenges were getting all the more difficult. Unlike last time, he had to get involved personally with this one. If he hadn't, then it was very likely that Selene would have succeeded in killing Emma and probably many others given her power. The thought alone was something he didn't want to entertain, for it was still just a prelude to the true darkness that they were all about to face. It was still unclear what it was, but as long as Selene was still out there, nobody was safe.
With the rest of the mansion resting and recovering, Slayer found himself once again lost in a daze as stood on the balcony overlooking the pool. Watching the stars, he saw with his all seeing eye just how vast the universe was. His mortal mind could never hope to fully grasp it, but as the holder of such great power, he could experience it in a way no other being could. But as beautiful as the stars were, the darkness that threatened so much was written in their mystery…Giving off an ominous feeling of foreboding that through such majesty, so much untold devastation could be unleashed.
Feeling fit enough, he decided that he had been here for too long and should probably return to the lonely shadows where he belonged. It wasn't a place he particularly enjoyed, but it was a place where many of the complications that confounded his life were irrelevant…Offering a small glimmer of peace to the young warrior who was plagued by so much.
He was just about to cast a transport spell, when suddenly, he saw a presence approach him from behind and abruptly halted his spell.
"Slayer…" said Professor Charles Xavier as he wheeled over to the young man who he and the rest of the institute owed so much, "You're not leaving so soon, are you?"
"Why not?" he said in a low, monotone voice, "I've got enough strength back to manage it. And besides, I think I've overstayed my welcome here."
"But aren't you even going to say goodbye?" asked the Professor, not understanding why this mysterious man would help them so much, yet simply leave so abruptly without so much as a word to the others, "Aren't you going to give everybody whose lives you've saved a chance to say thank you?"
"I don't require any thanks for what I've done," he told him bluntly, "It's not why I do what I do."
"Be that as it may, Slayer…" said the Professor as he wheeled in closer to the mutant warrior, "You still saved my students. You helped us overcome a truly evil foe the likes of which we never could have defeated without your help and assistance."
"I didn't…" he began, but the Professor wouldn't allow him to downplay what he had done for them…Not this time.
"But you did, Slayer…Don't keep denying it," urged the Professor, thinking this man had to be a truly tortured soul for him to think in such a manner, "Now I may not know why it is you do what you do, but that doesn't make what you did for me and my students any less significant. You helped us all…You saved many of my children…One of whom was on the brink of death. That alone says a lot about the kind of man you are at heart…"
Slayer was silent, unable to simply leave in wake of this man's words. For so long now, he had lived in the shadows never seeking any real interaction with anybody, for every single time he grew close to anybody, they ended up suffering or dying. And these people above all others didn't deserve that…Yet already, they had shown him just how strong they could be. They all managed to hold their own against Sinister and come out on top in a way he never could have seen even with his all seeing eye. But strong or not, that didn't make it any less risky for him to be there and he wouldn't allow any more deaths to plague his conscious no matter how strong or trusting they may be.
But still…A part of his mind was curious. And as it had so often before in the past, many times with dire consequences, his curiosity got the better of him.
"Professor Xavier…What is it you want from me?" he asked him in a serious tone, "What are you asking of me?"
"Stay…" said the wheel chair bound man.
"What!" said the mutant warrior, thinking the man was crazy for even considering it.
"I mean it…Stay," said Professor Xavier, looking dead serious, "Stay here with the X-men at my institute."
Slayer was afraid something like this would happen. He knew that getting involved on a personal level with anybody ran the risk of attachment of some kind. And attachment to him always led to suffering and heartache. Even before he got his powers, that had been the sad story of his life and upon picking up his sword, vowed to never allow such suffering to plague his already tormented soul. Yet time and time again, he allowed himself to get involved with people outside the shadows…And time and time again, it led to tragedy. And tragedy is something he most certainly didn't want to bring upon this man and his beloved students.
"I'm sorry Professor…But I just can't do that," he told him in response.
"But why?" asked the Professor, still not understanding this mysterious man's motives.
"Because I don't belong here…" he said flatly.
"What makes you say that?" asked Xavier in response.
"Well aside from having an eye that can see anything," he quipped, "I don't belong anywhere. I'm a warrior of the shadows Professor…That's where I belong…That's the only place I can be. I'm sorry…Believe me, I am. But trust me…It's better this way."
"I don't believe that Slayer…" said the Professor, once again stopping the mutant warrior cold in his tracks before he could depart, "I don't believe that for a second."
"You would if you knew me…" he told him with a solemn tone.
"Maybe so, but I don't…Therefore, it is irrelevant," said Xavier, his many years of wisdom clearly showing to the mutant warrior, "Slayer…It's clear to me that you're a very tortured soul. I don't need to be telepathic to see that."
"You have no idea…" said Slayer, his low monotone voice not waning in the slightest.
"You're right…I don't," he affirmed, speaking only from what he knew, "And I probably can't. But that doesn't mean my institute can't help you."
The mutant warrior knew he shouldn't…Every logical sense and his body was telling him to just disappear like he always did and leave this man and his students alone until the time was right. But still…There was still that urge deep inside him that he couldn't ignore to reach out from the shadows and connect with something more than this life of eternal combat. It was one of his major weaknesses as a mortal being. He had tried time and time again to suppress it…But despite all his skill and power, even he wasn't strong enough to overcome it.
"I'm sorry, Professor…I just don't think it would be right for me to…" he began, but the Professor wasn't finished.
"I'm not asking you to join the team, Slayer…" he told the mutant warrior in a tone a bit less imposing, "I'm just asking you to stay…For one night…Just to think about it. If for anything…For the rest of the students who owe you their lives and their gratitude. You helped us Slayer…You helped us in ways we can never thank you for. In return, let us help you…"
Slayer had always felt he was beyond help, but looking back at this man and seeing through his eye the true, honest sincerity in his words…He couldn't deny the kindness in his intentions. Few people had ever taken a chance with him…And he hadn't taken a chance on many people for that matter. It was all a matter of the choices he had made in life. And now, he was faced with another.
There were so many choices he regretted in his life and now he was stuck making another one that could have dire consequences…Yet on the flip side, it could also give him something more…Something he could never experience otherwise. But he had been alone for so long now…Was he even capable of functioning around others? He had already interacted more with the X-man than anybody else since before he got his powers. Was this a sign of some sorts? Was there something he was seeing, but not fully ascertaining with them? The mutant warrior had no way of knowing the answers to such baffling questions…But if he simply made a choice, then perhaps he could find those answers and possibly many more if he was just willing to take a chance.
"The choice is yours, Slayer…" said the Professor as he turned around and began wheeling back inside, feeling as though he had said what he needed to say, "I'm not going to force you either way. I just want you to consider it…Even if you end up leaving, please just consider it. Stay for the night and think it over if you must…But whether or not you take something from this, just know that I am still eternally grateful for what you've done…And this institute is now forever in your debt."
And with that, Professor Charles Xavier left the mutant warrior to his decision, not knowing if anybody would get a chance to see him again when the sun rose. He sincerely hoped that he would consider staying, but the choice was his and his alone...And whatever he chose, he hoped it would all work out for the best.
For Slayer, he found himself at a crossroad as he had many times before in his life. Few chances like this were ever presented to him and so much of him yearned to reach out for that which he felt was so unobtainable. For the longest time, he had only found solstice in the heat of battle. When he was fighting, nothing else seemed to matter. It was one of the few times he ever found himself at peace. Yet outside combat…A maze of complications cluttered his life to no end and brought untold frustration and sorrow.
In thinking about the decision that presented him, he remembered where the other path led…For he had walked that road many times before. But if he stayed…Then he would be treading into the unknown. Was it truly worth the risk? Could he actually stay in a place like this instead of returning to the shadows?
Slayer wasn't sure what he was going to do, but one thing was already clear to him…He would not be able to make this decision right here and now. For one night…He would stay here at this strange, yet enchanting place…Thinking about whether or not he should really stay. But staying brought it's own level of complications…And possibly untold danger. Nevertheless, he was still willing to consider some of the things Xavier had said…For he could not deny the truth in his words. As for his choice, however, he would definitely have to do some serious thinking…For even he could not see where this would lead him on the dark, complicated road that was his life.
-Jean and Scott's Room-
It was late at night now and Jean had been resting in her bed until she woke up. She felt a coldness there where Scott was supposed to be and reached out, but didn't find him on the bed. She sat up and looked to the balcony and saw him there only in his cotton pants looking out into the night.
She herself was only wearing one of his shirts and kicked the cover away as she slipped out of bed. She walked over to him and placed her hands on his shoulders from behind. "Scott? What's wrong?"
Scott sighed to himself, "It's just…A lot of this has been so crazy Jean. And from what I understand there's still something more dangerous out there. I mean, Shaw is still out there and who knows about Selene…Then…There's Sinister."
"He's gone Scott."
He hugged his head grabbing the railing with his hands. "Maybe…But like Selene, he's immortal and one day he could be back…But there's also one more. I…I always thought that my parents death was just some tragic accident, but they were murdered…All because of me…Just to separate me from them. And…Alex was separated from me too. Oh God Jean, how do I tell Alex any of this?"
She hugged him from behind resting her head on his back and closed her eyes. "I don't know…I wish I could tell you it will be easy, but it won't." She thought what she would do if she had to tell Sara something like that. She was glad that Xavier hadn't called her parents this time, but she wasn't sure she would tell them.
After last time, she felt that she might wait until they were ready. It hadn't been as bad this time and she didn't tell them everything that happened here. But this was important information to Alex.
He was silent for a moment "Should I tell him? I mean..I get the feeling that maybe he would be better off not knowing what had happened. And if he knew that our parents were murdered and why…I'm not sure he should know…"
"Scott, I know you want to protect him because he's your little brother, but he has a right to know the truth."
Scott closed his eyes and sighed. He knew she was right, but it wasn't something he was looking forward to telling him about. "Yeah I will…Jean, I'm going for a walk or something."
"You want company?" She asked him.
He was tempted, but he didn't think so, "No…You sleep and get some rest. I'll be back soon." He turned around and kissed her forehead before walking out of their room. Jean looked at bit concerned with how Scott was dealing with this, but she knew that things would get better…It would only take time.
In another room Vince looked over at the sleeping form lying naked under the covers next to him. Emma's face was next to his only she was in a peaceful sleep. After they all had cleaned up, he and Emma spent the rest of the evening in her room. At first they just held each other, not saying anything. They both knew just how close they had come to losing each other and it terrified the both of them. Then, later on when the lingering fear started to disappear, they decided to show their love for one another.
At this moment, he was simply stroking her face. To him she looked like an angel. He never knew he would come to care for someone as deeply as he did for her, but he was glad that he met her. She helped to fill an empty void in his life. His hand trailed through her long hair and onto her bare back the covers only going up to just below her chest. She was sleeping soundly, but he on the other hand had things on his mind.
He kept thinking back to Sinister all over again. His entire life was destroyed one day by that man and he buried him under all that rubble along with any answers. He never knew his first name or if he had other family out there and now he would never know. He was also sure that Father Michaels wouldn't have approved of his actions and that hurt a lot.
He just couldn't sleep, so he figured since Emma was peacefully sleeping, he would slip out and maybe get something to drink. So he slipped as gently as he could out of bed and put on a pair of cotton pants and shirt from her room. Since they had been sleeping together so much they found it easier to have a few pieces of clothing in each other's room for the morning or something. Although not all those times were about sex, other times they just needed to have the other there just so they could sleep.
But now, he was restless and didn't want to wake her. So after dressing he quietly slipped out of her room and found himself simply walking the halls. He went to the kitchen to find something to drink or eat or something. When he saw the light already on he figured one of the others that were usually up were still having trouble sleeping. But he was surprised to find Scott there.
The X-Men leader saw him and nodded, "Had trouble sleeping too, huh?"
Vince pulled out a chair across from him and sat down, "Yeah, guess for the same reason as you."
The two remained silent there sitting across from each other. "Do you think he'll ever get out of there?" Scott asked him.
Vince sighed thinking about that, "I hope not…I'm thinking of asking Emma to buy the area and turn it into a parking lot."
Scott couldn't help but laughed at that. He didn't know why, but he just did. Soon Vince broke a smile and laughed at well. The two of them just had to it was the only way they could release all the tension they had building up.
The laughter didn't last long as both of them fell into a silence again. "Vince…What did you do to him?"
He didn't answer at first because he was shocked by what he did when he thought about it. He couldn't believe he had done something so barbaric and cruel. But the damn thing was…He could live with it. He told Scott exactly what he did and he was surprised by that. "Damn…But I can't say he didn't deserve it."
"I know if it had been anyone else I couldn't have done that…But…"
"Yeah I know…" Scott thought about it all. But they both knew that eventually he will get out of there it was only a matter of time and time was what Sinister had plenty of, "Do you think I should have killed him?"
"I think I might be a bit biased on that Scott. But…I know that if he was killed, the future would be safe, but let me tell you something…I've killed eight people in my life." Vince looked up at Scott's surprised face. He knew about that cyborg in New York, the one that killed the priest that raised him, but he didn't know there had been others. So Vince told him about those that came after him hunting him like an animal.
"The thing with killing is that a part of you dies each time you do…And you never forget it and it's damn hard to live with."
Scott thought about that, and he could see the pain in the other man's eyes. He knew Vince well enough to know that he suffered from many things and looking into his eyes he saw just one more thing that had to weigh heavily on his soul. Scott looked into himself and wondered if he really could have killed Sinister. But when he thought about his parents in that plane when it burst into flames, and how they must have died in the inferno screaming in pain, and of how he was forced from his brother, and dealing with brain damage so that he either had to live the rest of his life in eternal darkness or seeing nothing but red. When he thought of how horrible his childhood was at the orphanage or all the nightmares he had and the quilt of his parents dying because of what some madman wanted of him…He felt he knew what he would have done.
"I hate to say this…But…I think I could have killed him. I wanted to do it so badly, and the damn thing is…I might have and I could have slept tonight without worrying." He didn't like that thought and he didn't like feeling like that…But that's just how it was.
"Then…Maybe it was for the best. Trust me, you don't want to carry the weight of killing on your soul," Vince said softly to him, "But I do know this…I'm going to keep an eye out for him. And if I die before he shows up, I'll make sure my…" He was going to say children, but he would never have that with Emma. But then again they could always adopt. "I'll be sure that others know of him."
Scott nodded, "Yeah, I think it's best if I tell my children of him so at least there will be those that will know him and keep an eye out for that monster. I don't want him toying with my descendants and if my blood line can hurt and kill him, then they'll be ready to stop him."
Vince smiled and nodded at Scott as the two made a pact that night. That they would try and keep the world safe from one of the most evil men alive and vowed to make sure he never returned to harm the world again.
When Scott returned to his and Jean's room, he slipped into their bed and sighed, looking up at the ceiling. He had a lot to think about and he couldn't get his mind off it. His talk with Vince helped a bit. Who would have known that they had something in common like Sinister? That man destroyed both of their lives and took from them something they would never get back…Their families, their innocence, and the lives they would never have.
When he first met Vince he wasn't sure what to make of him, but he was a nice guy who for some reason was able to hold onto his humanity and humor despite all the things he had been under. But he never knew that he had a darkness in him that he saw there. He should have known that when such darkness touches you, it never leaves you. And he found he himself had a small sense of darkness in him and that scared him.
Mainly because he could…No…He would have killed Sinister given the chance. He always thought he was above such things, but he learned something about himself and he didn't like it. "Scott, are you okay?" he heard Jean's soft voice call to him.
"Yeah, I thought you were asleep?"
"I couldn't sleep…Scott, I can sense something's wrong what is it?" She asked him moving over to him. She felt his despair and his state of mind. "Please tell me."
Scott sighed and told her about what he and Vince talked about and his own feelings on the matter. "What's worse is that Selene is still out there and so is Shaw…And you know they'll never leave us alone."
Jean knew that too and she sensed how Scott's emotions were like a whirlwind inside of him. She knew that he was full of doubts and she knew she had to do something. When they had rescued her and the others from New York, he had been her strength and comfort all those weeks ago. Now it was him that was hurting and she so desperately wanted to comfort him in the same way he had done for her. It was her turn to make him feel safe and comfortable…And to help him forget it all.
She moved on top of him and kissed him deeply. 'Jean what are you doing?' Scott asked her through their mental link.
'Scott you were there for me…Let me be there for you. Let me take away your worries for tonight. Just let this moment belong to us,' she sent back to him and opened up her emotions to him and she felt him open up to her. Ever since they had formed their bond, it brought them to a level of intimacy that many others would never know. They could feel what the other felt and when totally open, it was hard to tell whose feelings and thoughts were whose and they just bended together and became one.
Jean then reached down under Scott's pants and started to feel around and start to arouse him. They continued to kiss and caress each other. Soon, Jean slipped off her panties while Scott slid her shirt off over her head while then she motioned to remove his pants.
Jean could see that he was ready for her and she was just as ready. Scott looked up at her beautiful face as she took him inside of her. He wished so much he could always see her as she really was and not just in red. Those few times in life when he saw her with his own eyes, such when Magneto had 'evolved' him and Alex, from Leach in that ally, and then with Sinister…Those were the moments he tried to burn the colors of her face into his mind. Her hair was close to the red he had seen, but he wanted to see her green eyes.
Those beautiful green eyes that while in Sinister's clutches he had stared long and hard into. They continued their slow love making, Jean rocking slowly with his body, feeling his chest and Scott's hands roamed over her legs, hips, stomach and chest. Soon the rhythm quickened, but they kept the noise down. They didn't want to wake anyone or make too much noise. Scott was completely loose in Jean as everything that had been worrying him was pushed aside and only the woman that he loved meant anything.
Their hands interlocked as they reached their peek and Scott called out her name through the link as he climaxed. She heard Jean groan a bit from her own release and after a few shakes of her body she lowered herself onto him.
After a little repositioning holding each other in their arms they both fell asleep letting any worries come with the next day.
Meanwhile Vince was thinking of going to his room to sleep, but he wanted to check on Emma first. He still felt that fear in his heart from nearly losing her. He slowly opened the door and walked in seeing that she had turned in the night. He smiled down at seeing her face and was about to leave when a familiar voice in his head stopped him. 'Vince please don't go…Stay.'
He turned back to her and saw her eyes open and looking at him. He couldn't say no to her…Truth was he didn't want to be alone tonight either. He slipped back into bed with her and she rested her head on his chest and felt his hand move through her long hair. She just loved that sensation of him doing that.
Vince hadn't noticed how tired he was until that moment and before he knew it, the last thing he remembered was his eye lids falling. The suddenly, he found himself in what looked like a castle. He looked down to see himself in black silk clothing with pieces of armor on him including a breast plate and an arm bands that looked like they came out of the Lord of the Rings. He also had a broadsword on his waist.
"What the hell?" he said to himself.
"I think you look dashing, darling…" He turned to see Emma and his jaw dropped. She was in a flowing white gown with a slime silver crown on her head. The gown was a small V neckline that showed off her impressive cleavage and it had gold trimmings all along the seams. Her hair was done up and she looked every bit as regal as her name so often implied.
She smiled at him and walked over to him her hips swaying as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "My own knight in shining armor…"
"I though women wanted a white knight, not a black one," Vince asked her wrapping his arms around her waist.
"White knights are too nice, but I like the black ones. They really know how to take care of a lady. And I always had a thing for boys with a dark side to them…And I like my dark knight just fine." She leaned up a little closer to him.
"This is a dream right?"
"Yes, but one we share."
Vince smiled down at her looking into her eyes, "Then I'm glad to have my Queen here with me." He kissed her and she equally returned it and deepening it. Together they stayed in the dream world where nothing dark could touch their lives and they could be alone with each other.
NEXT UP CHAPTER 50: A NEW DAY WITH A NEW DAWN