IvyZoe: Nope one more act and there will be Romy in this but they won't get intimate until later she still has to get over what was done to her fully, you don't want her freaking out like Kurt did with Wanda right?
ViciousAssassin: I'll just say this, everything that can open and close and everything comes at a price. Well Mystique might show up later and Magneto and Pietro will show up in a spin-off of this fic. Yeah X23 will have the life that was taken from her in this.
Uncanny R-Man: Well, there might be a little Magneto/Mystique in a spin off of this after all is said or done or they may show up. No Wanda isn't pregnant, trust me on that one. Glad you liked the Kitty/Piotr scene I really tried with that one, you can expect more Logan/X23 goodness. Well Blackheart may show up later.
Mark C: Yep, everything is calming down and yeah that moment was great for them but Kurt wants to take it slow. I think that's why I like Kitty with Piotr they just really work together more. Yep and you'll see more of what Slayer's life will be like too. X23 will stay she's got nowhere else to go. Oh and the X-Men will get a new ally in their fight with Selene too later on.
Silver Warrior: Yep, that's Slayer's name and you'll see more of the man later. I think Selene is pretty much all of those things you said and as for how long, well we're not sure but this is the home stretch.
KaliAnn: Glad you liked it, and you know me I like to make a point now and then. Selene let's just say will try to bring about her own version of the apocalypse (not the mutant) to Earth with her at the head of it all.
Coldqueen: You'd be Selene? Not sure if I should be afraid or have you committed lol. But we both would most likely be either our OCs or another character.
GothikStrawberry: Hope you feel better soon, glad you loved this so much. Slickboy thought that it should be Vince to convince him to stay and I agreed with it. Yep Selene is up to no good and we are thinking of having Mystique drop in sometime soon.
Thanks to: Simba317, X00001, KSimonT-X, Jaguar
Hellfire and Brimstone CHAPTER 51: ACT III
-Rogue's Room-
Rogue was trying to get her hair to look somewhat normal again. She sighed as she looked at her reflection. She had to cut her hair a bit and to slick it back. It looked a lot like how she had it once a few years back during that Sirens thing. It wasn't the way it used to be, but it was better then nothing since one side was kind of shorter then the other side.
It was the best she could do, but at least now she looked better and it would grow back eventually.
She sighed and figured she might as well go and get some breakfast. It was early still and she bet mostly everyone would be still asleep anyway. She herself still had a few aches from all the battling. Thankfully she didn't have much in the way of bruises. It was times like this she really loved her new abilities, although to be honest she wished she could have had a not so brutal and painful way to get it. She sat there a moment looking in the mirror in front of her at her face…Focusing mainly on her eyes. She remembered a bit of a light in them, but that wasn't there anymore. Now, hey were slightly harder now and even she could see the lingering pain in them.
It wasn't as bad as when she got out of that coma she had put herself in. When she looked in the mirror those days, all she saw was pain and suffering and those nights filled with the nightmares. She looked away and hugged herself. She was still dealing with what Selene had put her through. Yes she was stronger now and she didn't flinch at everyone's touch, but she was still hurting inside. She wondered if the pain, humiliation, and the feeling of being so used and dirtied would ever go away.
She could still remember it and she doubted she could ever truly forget. And whenever she thought back to her first sexual experience, that would be the one she would always think of. She got sick to her stomach even thinking about that and the things they did to her and the disgusting things they forced her to do. Her head was swimming and she ran to the private bathroom in her room and threw up in her toilet. She did that now and then, but it wasn't as bad as it used to be. She only did it once this time and at first she kept throwing up until she had been dry heaving, but that didn't stop her from scrubbing herself nearly raw at times.
She dried her mouth off, feeling a bit better as the nausea passed. 'God how to the others handle this?' she thought. She didn't see Jean or Emma do this, and she hoped to God that Kurt didn't either. But she sat on her bed and did a little breathing exercise that Xavier had been teaching her to calm down and to take control of her mind.
After five minutes, she felt ready to go out. She usually did this in the mornings anyways to also help keep her mental barriers up and strong. Thankfully, after all the drama, her mental barriers managed to keep all the voices from just shouting all the time in her head. She didn't have to put as much effort to keep them quiet, which was definitely a welcome feeling since it was one less thing to worry about.
She walked out of her room in sweat pants and a black T-shirt. It felt so good to finally feel comfortable to wear something like this. She also caught herself running her hand alone the wallpaper again. It was a new habit she found out she had started. Since she wasn't wearing her gloves any more, she was touching every surface she could even when she wasn't aware of it. After so many years with gloves on, it was so nice to just feel everything around her.
She caught Kurt walking out of his room and she couldn't help but smile, for she missed him and he saw her and smiled too. "Hey sis, I dig zhe new look."
"Gee thanks," she said a bit dryly but she still smiled. "Kurt…Ah…Ah'm glad you're okay and that you're back."
Kurt's face got a warm expression on it, "Thanks Rogue, I missed you too." He came in close and hugged her. She was so used to avoiding people that the simple act of hugging felt nearly foreign to her, but in a moment she hugged him back and felt his fur against her cheek.
This was another good side to new abilities. She could finally touch others and do things like hug her brother for the first time in years. She took a moment to just enjoy this, but then pulled back, "So you getting up?"
"Ja, in a moment I vas just-" He was cut off from Wanda's voice as she came to the door.
"Kurt what are you…Oh, Rogue…Uh…" Wanda wasn't sure what to say to Kurt's sister.
Rogue just raised an eyebrow at Kurt with a certain look, "It's not vhat it looks like!"
She just smiled a little, "Ah know, you two just take care then Ah'll meet ya two downstairs later."
And with that, she walked off leaving the two of them alone. She trusted Kurt not to lie to her and besides, she knew just as well as anyone that if Kurt wasn't ready, he wouldn't sleep with Wanda…At least she thought so. Besides, a few couples have been sharing a bed lately without sex anyway.
She walked into the kitchen and saw that only Ororo and Vincent were here. Usually it was Ororo that was up early with the kitchen work, but when Vince moved in, he began helping and he wasn't that bad at cooking either. She also felt a kinship with him as with Betsy, Emma and even Jean after their ordeal. In fact, she and Jean were a lot closer now after that. Vince, even though a stranger like the others, had helped her with her flying and her strength. It was tough, but he was a good teacher.
"Morning Rogue," Ororo said with that heart warming smile of hers. It was so good to have things back to normal again.
"Hey guys," she said and got herself something to drink.
"Nice new look you have there," Storm said at her hair style.
She just rolled her eyes at that, "Well I got to do somethin' with it."
"Hey, I think it looks good," Vince interjected. Then he saw Rogue give him one of those 'you're just saying that' kind of looks. "I'm serious, but hey, I'm covered in scars so if anyone should be insecure about their appearance, I should be."
Rogue winced and felt a bit selfish at that. She saw the scar on his face that would always be there and she knew about all other ones. She had seen them on his body while they had shared a cell and when he got new ones. Although with the ones Selene had given him, Hank was trying to help with the removable of a few. Her 'scars' she could at least hide from the world, but he had to live his entire life looking at them and everyone in the world seeing them. She didn't envy that, like looking in the mirror all the time and see them, even when it was just his face.
"So…Pancakes or waffles?" Vince asked her.
That shook her out of her dark thoughts and thought about it, "Uh…Ah'll have the pancakes."
"Sounds good to me too," said an accented voice and it was a voice that made Rogue either angry or weak in the knees, sometimes both. She looked to see Remy walking in looking just as cocky as ever even in the early morning. She sometimes wondered just how much was confidence and how much was just an act. He sat down next to her and just gave her that certain smile of his. "So what's on de agenda today chere?"
"Why do ya want ta know?"
"Remy was just wonderin' if Rogue would like some company dis day is all?"
"And just what is that supposed ta mean?" she asked him trying to keep the rough girl act up.
"God, he's asking you out," Vince said putting a plate with her meal out in front of her, "Honestly, I have to admit that this little game you two play is a bit fun to watch, but it gets boring to see this all the time. Why don't you just change the tune of this little 'dance' of yours?"
She scowled at him a little, "Who asked ya anyways?" Although she knew he might have a point.
Remy, however, thought it was time to change tactics a bit a be a little more direct. "No one, but he's got a point. Remy would like to take you out today…If you don't got anything planned dat is."
"Uh…Well…Ah…Ah guess so." Rogue hated it when she sounded like this. It was like how Kitty got around boys she liked. She really hated how he could just turn her into that with the way he was at times.
Vince just smirked at the scene and Remy grinned at him.
"Well that was different. Are you sure that was a good idea getting into that?" Ororo whispered to him.
He just shrugged, "Well, I was sick of the same old song and dance with those two. Plus, you got to admit, it's a bit refreshing when they're just a bit more direct." Ororo smiled and nodded going back to her work. She looked over at her shoulder as Rogue and Remy continued on their little cat and mouse game of theirs. She was glad that she and Logan at least had come to terms with their own relationship, but it was cute to see them like that now and then.
-Outside the Mansion, later that day-
A black limo pulled up to the mansion containing a man in a long dark trench coat with an eye patch. Nick Fury, leader of the counter intelligence organization called SHIELD, came out and looked at the mansion. He had to admit that he had some respect for Xavier and what he was trying to accomplish here even if he had his doubts about whether or not his dream could work. But then again, he had seen the worst in what humanity is capable of doing so maybe he was a bit jaded in that regard.
He had a folder in his arm and walked up to the gate and pressed the buzzer. "Hello?"
He didn't know the voice, but sounded like one of the students or something. "I'm here to see the Professor. Tell him it's Nick Fury," He waited for an answer for a minute then the gate opened up. Well, he took that was an invitation for him and he got back into the limo as it drove up to the front door. He could have arrived in a chopper, but he felt after what he had heard they all deserved to sleep in and arriving in that way would be noisy as hell.
Besides, he didn't want an audience. He got out and walked up to the main door and when he looked through the glass, he saw that it was Sage coming to meet him. He smiled at seeing her. She was a grey skirt and a simple black blouse. It was strange since for most of the time, he had known her she wore the SHIELD uniform or standard office clothing. Her hair was also down instead of up as well, plus she didn't seem as 'cold' as she usually did and she looked more like she had learned to relax a bit.
Sage gave him a small nod and polite smile, "Fury, I take it this is a business call and you're not just dropping by for being in the neighbourhood."
"Yeah, you pretty much got it in one. I take it you're here to take me to see Xavier then."
She nodded, "I am…Please, right this way."
They walked along the halls and Fury had to admit it was quieter then he usually figured this place to be, but then again he guessed that they really were enjoying the morning. "Well, how's life treating you here?"
Sage's smile grew a bit wider, "I like it here…I really do. The children are very nice and for some, it hasn't been easy. But I try to help out whenever I can and if you're thinking of asking…No I'm not even considering going back. I it here and I feel like I can actually have a life here and I feel at home here for the first time in a long time."
Fury simply nodded his head. Sage was one of his best agents and it was a shame to lose her. But he couldn't begrudge her for wanting another life. So he just chose to accept it and let her have her life. Besides, he was planning to do that same a few years back, but that wouldn't happen anymore.
Once more, her face flashed in his mind…The face of the woman he had loved and would have given everything up for. He should never have sent to her to try to infiltrate the Hellfire Club, but she had volunteered and she one hell of a stubborn woman…Which was one of the reasons he had loved her so much. But he pushed that thought aside, for the only thing he had left in life was his job now…That and the satisfaction of helping to cripple the Hellfire Club in the US. But he still wanted to bring in Shaw and make him pay.
They arrived at Xavier's office where he was already sitting behind his desk looking professional and like a kind headmaster as he usually did. Hank was there too as well as Ororo, but he didn't see Logan. So he figured he was with the girl.
"Well I see that you got your people back, Professor. Sorry for not being able he help. We tried, but they don't exactly make things easy," Fury told them all and noticed how when Sage was sitting down close to Hank, she had his hand on his. He mentally smiled at least at that, happy for that.
"Yes, well thank you for trying, but I am curious as to why you're here?" Xavier asked him. He could have just read his mind, but he never liked to enter a mind unless invited and Fury had very well trained mental barriers, but in his line of work that wasn't surprising.
"Well then, I take it Logan is with the kid then." He saw the slight looks of surprise on them and he just had to grin. "Oh come on, you know I have people who alert me to things like that when you use that fancy jet of yours. But when that and that helicopter rose up, I took an interest."
He placed a few images from the fold on Xavier's desk. They were satellite photos of them leaving Sinister's base before it's destruction and they were close ups of X23 in them. Xavier leaned back in his chair, "So you are here to try and take her then?"
Fury could feel the tense nature of the room at the moment. He had thought of this long and hard before and there were several things to think about. First off, controlling the girl would be next to impossible and Logan would be more pissed off then anything and that's the LAST thing he needed in his life. But there were other reasons too, and they had all been pretty much through a hell of a time and he didn't want to make their lives anymore troubling.
And on a personal note, he kind of owed them one for taking out the New York branch of Hellfire and this was the way to repay them, even if they didn't know it. "Well personally, I don't want the kid…Too much trouble like Logan. So here's the deal. You people keep a leash on her and keep her from going off and trashing the place. I managed to convince a few of the higher ups and it's just better to place her somewhere where she can't do any harm to the public and there only people I think of who can pull that off is you guys."
He placed a folder on the desk for Xavier, "You got in here the paper work to give the girl an identity and to either be her guardian or adopt her. Personally, I don't care which, but let's just be clear. She's you're problem, but if she become my problem then I'll have to step in. We clear on that?" Fury wanted to make sure that there were conditions to this and that they weren't up for negotiation.
Xavier contemplated this and he had to admit that going up against SHIELD wasn't something he wanted his students to do, especially not after all of this. They had enough on their plate with Shaw still out there, and although this did come with conditions, but they were conditions he could live with. "Very well…That seems reasonable."
Fury nodded, "Alright…Other then I'm glad that this is all settled. And in return, you mind telling me what the hell happened last night?"
"You might want to sit down Nick, this will take a little time to explain," Sage told him with a little sigh.
Infirmary – Logan & X23
Despite everybody's lingering exhaustion from the fateful mission against Sinister, Logan remained by X23's side through the night and into the morning, simply lending her the comfort he knew she so sorely needed in this very dark time for her. Like it or not, he was closely connected to this girl…For they shared the same blood and the same tormented past.
He had already let her cry herself to sleep in his arms, yet even after she succumbed to her exhaustion, he stayed beside her so she wouldn't be alone. He nodded off a bit here and there, but for the most part he stayed awake and simply found himself looking at the young, teenage girl as she slept peacefully for the first time in quite a while. It amazed him at times to see just how much she resembled him and how much he saw himself in her whenever he looked into her eyes. Yet that only made him feel all the more responsible for her from this point on, despite the obvious challenges that would present.
Logan once again found himself somewhat sleepy and on the verge of nodding off once again, when suddenly, he was brought out of his state by a familiar scent and a gentle voice.
"Still down here I see," said Ororo as she smiled somewhat at the scene of Logan protectively hovering over the young girl.
"Yeah," he grunted a bit as he tried to shake some of his exhaustion off, "How long has it been?"
"It's past sunrise," she answered, which Logan was somewhat shocked to hear, for he hadn't kept track of time at all since X23 got out of surgery.
Logan simply let out a tired sigh as he rubbed his sore head from all the turmoil that he had faced in wake of this mess. First it was the students being captured, then it was facing Deathstrike again, now he had this on his plate…And it was all starting to take a toll on him.
"You should rest Logan," said Ororo as she placed both hands on his shoulders and leaned in close to him, "You need it…Don't even try to deny it."
"I know…I know," he conceded as his gaze shifted back towards X23, "But I can't leave her…I don't want her to be alone."
"She'll be fine, Logan," assured Ororo, tightening her grip upon his shoulders, "Besides…You won't be of much good to her restless and tired."
As much as Logan wanted to stay, he couldn't deny the truth in her words. He wasn't sure why, but X23 just had such a strong hold on him. There was so much about her that he understood that nobody else did. They were so much alike…Their lives so strongly intertwined. And for that, he wanted to protect her and Ororo could tell it meant a lot to him.
"Please Logan…" she urged, looking back in his eyes with that yearning look he found so hard to resist, "You need rest…And if it'll make you feel better, I'll watch over her and make certain that she isn't alone."
Logan thought about that for a moment. As much as he wanted to stay beside X23, he couldn't deny that he was on the brink of collapse. And if anybody else could help X23 in certain ways he couldn't…It was Ororo. She had the protective, mothering instincts that all the kids looked up to…And given that this was a very confused young teenage girl who had spent the better part of her life as a lab rat, she was probably the only one he would have trusted. But still…There were other things that just wouldn't stop hounding his mind.
"I don't know…" he said, still filled with uncertainty, "Now that she's here…What if somebody comes looking for her? What if those Hydra assholes are still out there and what if SHIELD still wants her?"
"That's not a problem anymore Logan…" assured Ororo, "Fury dropped by earlier and said he was calling off the search for X23. He also left some papers that would help you legally adopt her as your own…That is, if that's what you both want of course."
The word 'adoption' brought out a few conflicting feelings in the former living weapon as he looked back over at X23 as she continued sleeping. There was no denying that she was his child in many ways…Even if it wasn't by usual means. She shared his blood, his powers, his tortured past…Was that not enough to make him her father? Was that not enough to make her his daughter?
Such thoughts only made Logan all the more in need of rest as he finally decided to concede to Ororo's request.
"I guess that's somethin' I should do some serious thinkin' on," he said as he turned back to face the woman that had become such an important part of his life, "And I guess I could sure use the rest to at least sleep on it."
"Good…I'm glad," said Ororo as she planted a kiss upon his cheek, an act which actually made him blush somewhat, "I promise…I'll keep an eye on her. And if she needs you…You'll be the first to know."
"I trust ya on that," he said as he finally began to make his way to the exit, almost sauntering because of his innate exhaustion. But before he left, he turned back towards the former weather goddess one last time, "Oh and Ro…Thanks."
"Hey…What are girlfriends for?" she walked up to him and kissed him passionately on the lips. He loved the taste of her lips and her scents. He wrapped his arms around her waist and if he wasn't so tired or that there wasn't anyone here he would be to tempted to just take her here and now. But this was neither the time nor the place.
They eventually pulled out of the kiss and he smiled at her, "Darlin' your amazin' ya know that?"
She smiled at him, "So are you."
And with that, she watched him leave then.
Then, once he was gone, Ororo turned sat on the same chair that Logan had been sitting in for the better part of the past twelve hours. Looking down at the unmoving young girl, Ororo couldn't help but feel sorry for her. This was a child…A teenage girl…Someone who by all accounts should have been spared the horrors of living such a life as she had. She had suffered so much…Yet she had managed to stay so strong and fight through it.
The more she looked at her, the more she reminded her of Logan. They shared many of he same problems and dealt with many of the same issues. She could see why he was so attached to her and the more she thought back to those papers Fury had given them…The more she thought about her and Logan becoming family. It was somewhat of a strange thought…Logan having a family. But she never doubted for a second that he could be the man he had to be for any child…Including X23.
As a child, Ororo and her sister had her parents taken away from her…And X23 had never even had parents to begin with. She could only image the kind of pain that haunted her…Feeling so alone and lost in a world that seemed only bent on making her suffer. As she thought about it, Ororo found herself gently placing her hand atop hers…As if to give this child the hope she so desperately needed. And if she was going to fill he void that had been left in her soul from her past…She knew that she would have to help her along with Logan to give her that which she had been so wrongfully denied.
After an hour X23 began to stir and opened her eyes. At first she thought that she was back in Sinister's lab or Hydra's so she bolted up in bed.
"Easy child you're safe." She looked to see the dark skinned woman from last night. "It's alright, your safe here and you have nothing to worry about."
She blinked a few times and looked around. She could still smell Logan's scent, but she couldn't find him. Ororo saw her look and guessed what she was looking for, "I had Logan get some sleep. He was up a long time watching over you."
She wasn't sure how to take that, or why he had been, 'Why? Why does he keep doing these things?' she asked herself.
"I'm Ororo by the way. And…Well, I hope you like it here." The former living weapon simply nodded her head, for she seemed like a fairly kind person and that was a rare thing in her life. "Are you hungry?" Ororo asked and at first she wasn't going to say anything, but then her stomach had other ideas and voiced its own opinion.
Ororo smirked at that and for some reasons, X23 felt a bit embarrassed…Although she didn't know why. Ororo had told her that she would get her something to eat so the mutant clone just laid back on the bed looking up at the ceiling counting the tiles. She had counted them twice before Ororo came in with a tray of food that smelled better then anything she had ever had before. She poked it at first not sure what it was, but when she tried it, it was a marvellous.
In all her life she had either to hunt game or military rations of Hydra or those bland meals of Sinister, but this was something new and very enjoyable.
Ororo saw the young girl wolf down her meal like she hadn't eaten in days. "I'm glad you seemed to enjoy it."
"Yeah…Thanks." X23 wiped her mouth, feeling full. Then, she looked at Ororo for a moment, "Are you a friend of Logan's?"
She smiled at her, "Why yes. We're very close and he's a good friend of mine."
X23 narrowed her eyes a bit as if studying her, "Then how come I smelled him on you when I woke up?"
Ororo blushed a bit from that comment and tried to regain herself, "Well like I said…We are very close, and I think that's a topic for another day." She laughed, but X23 didn't get it. "Well, according to Hank, you should be completely healed by now, so shall we take a look?"
X23 turned so Ororo could get at the bandages on her neck. "My, you have lovely hair," Ororo admitted as she brushed it aside. She just shrugged it was only hair to her. Ororo gently removed the wrappings and found the skin completely healed over and not a trace was left.
"There, it seems as though you're all healed up. Well, how about you get cleaned up?"
X23 looked at her hands and sniffed her arm. She did smell kind of back from all the sweat and blood and stuff. She just hadn't noticed it until now. Ororo led her to a shower she could use in the infirmary and said she would find some new clothing for her to wear. Ororo figured that Rahne was just her size and was sure that she wouldn't have a problem lending her a few items.
While she went to get them, X23 pulled off the medical gown and stepped into the shower. The hot water was a warm welcome to her and she had to admit, Ororo seemed very nice person. Kind of a gentle woman which given what she had read about her in those files said that she could be quite dangerous if angered.
But so far she had a very…Calming effect on her tortured soul. X23 was still waiting for the other shoe to drop so far. But after her shower, she wrapped herself up in a towel and Ororo had some clothing laid out for her. "Well, how do you feel?"
"Better," she simply said and asked what was bothering her. She asked about SHIELD, but when Ororo told her about Fury and what he said, she was completely surprised. SHIELD was the last thing in her life that would have taken her freedom from her. Hydra was in shambles, Viper dead, and now SHIELD was going to leave her alone. For the first time, she had no enemies left to fight. It was a strange moment in her life.
'But…Now what am I supposed to do?' X23 had never thought that she would be totally free and it was now that she realized those threats had given her life purpose, so now what was left for her? Well Logan said she could stay here, so until she found something to do with her life she guessed she would stay here until she thought of something.
Then while looking at the clothing she held up a strange white garment. "What's this?"
Ororo pulled back the privacy screen she had set up for her to change and grinned. "That, my dear, is a bra."
X23 looked at it confused, "What's a bra for?"
"Oh Goddess…" Ororo shook her head nearly laughing. "Let me show you dear." She also guessed that wouldn't be the last thing she would have to explain to her either.
Slayer
With his fateful decision now behind him, the mutant warrior known as Slayer was now left to reflect on the dramatic new path he had just taken. He had made the choice to stay at the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters and there was no telling where it would lead him. For the first time since he picked up his sword and began fighting the forces of darkness, he was not going to remain confined to the shadows. Despite all the risks that went along with such a choice and all the change it was sure to bring both good and bad, he had made his decision and he was going to stick with it whether it proved detriment or not. And with this thought in mind, the young warrior found himself pondering what the future had in store for him now that he was here.
He was no longer in his usual samurai armor and was now wearing normal street clothes that almost made him look completely normal. He found himself enjoying the relative peace and serenity of the view. He had watched the beautiful sunrise over the lake from atop the gazebo where he had once encountered Vincent, and had stayed just taking in the moment. Even with all the evil, darkness, and complications out there in the world…There was still so much peace in a simple sunrise. It embodied the very essence of hope…The possibility for a new day and a new beginning…And given this profound turning point he now faced in his life, such attributes had an even greater significance for him. The darkness was still out there…He could see it so clearly looming over the future as like an ominous storm cloud. But in the face of such a magnificent sight…Such things were pushed aside for the moment, which helped bring the tortured young soul a small sense of comfort in his otherwise tumultuous life.
'So what happens now?' he thought to himself as he remained fixated upon the glowing sunrise, 'Where does it all go from here? Is it possible for me to actually fit in at a place like this? Is it even right for me to stay here and possibly add to the already complicated lives these people live?'
Such thoughts hung strong over his mind as he continued to embrace the gentle aura of the morning sunrise. Then suddenly, a familiar presence came up behind him and interrupted his silent musings.
"Slayer?" said a voice that caused him to turn from the bright sunrise.
"Ms. Frost?" said the mutant warrior as he turned to face the young blonde who he had helped save from the brink of death.
"Just call me Emma, darling," she said with a slight smile, finding his formality to be a bit humorous.
"Oh…Sorry," said Slayer, not used to such situations that didn't involve renegade demons, "So how are you feeling this morning?"
"I'm feel pretty good…" she said as she walked up next to him and leaned against the wooden railing of the gazebo, "In fact, I feel great…I feel better than I have in years."
"Guess that means the potion I gave you is doing it's job," he said with a slight grin, "I'm just glad to see that you're okay. After all, you did come pretty close to dying."
"Yeah…I know," said Emma, her tone becoming a bit lower as she remembered that truly frightening moment when she thought that all was lost, "And that's kind of why I came out here to see you."
"What do you mean?" asked the mutant warrior curiously as his gaze shifted back to the sunrise.
Emma just looked at the young man with a bewildered look on her face.
"Slayer…You saved my life," she told him, sounding as though it were obvious, "I was so close to death that I could literally reach out and touch it. But you saved me…I was going to die and you saved me."
Slayer, not used to being thanked in any sort of way for his deeds, didn't really know how to react. He never really did what he did for gratitude and hence never really had to deal with it from someone who he had directly helped. But the memory of what he did that fateful moment truly stuck out in the mind of Emma Frost…And it was something she knew she'd never forget.
"I just did what I had to do," said the mutant warrior simply, speaking only from the truth, "And besides…It's Vincent who did the most. Without him, my actions would have been futile."
"But without you, I still wouldn't have made it…" said Emma, thinking he was being too modest even for a warrior, "Slayer…Jack…I would have died without you. I would have died right there in Vincent's arms. And…I don't think I'll ever be able to thank you enough for what you did."
"I simply did my duty," said Slayer as he turned back to face her, "No thanks are necessary, Emma."
"No…You may say that…But they are," said Emma, a slight strain now beginning to form in her voice, "I don't know if you can see it…But my life hasn't been a very happy one. I've been used, abandoned, betrayed, and tortured…I've suffered through pain, loss, and bitterness…And for the longest time, nobody ever gave a damn about whether or not I lived or died. Then…I finally found happiness and love with Vincent and my friends here at the institute. I finally found some genuine peace and stability in my life…And I came so close to losing it. I came so close to losing everything I had found after so much pain…But you saved me…You gave it back to me. You gave me a chance to see it through…To be happy…And to live the life I once thought I could never have."
A slight tear formed in Emma's eye as she reflected on what she had been through and what she had come so close to losing. Slayer couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed at this woman's gratitude for something he always did without question or hesitation…Something that he was now finally getting a chance to see the true impact of. And as Emma looked back into the conflicted eyes of the young man who saved her, she couldn't help but smile.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is…Thank you," she said as she suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a small peck on the cheek, "Whether you accept it or not…Thank you for saving my life Slayer. I'll never forget it…"
And with one last grateful look, Emma made her way back towards the institute, leaving a truly baffled and bewildered young man behind. He had definitely not expected that…And he definitely had not been prepared for that. He had an eye that could see things no mortal could even begin to comprehend…Yet even he hadn't been able to see that coming.
'Wow…' he thought to himself with a smile as he simply took a moment to process what had just happened, 'Maybe there could be something to this place after all…'
As dark as his life had been, it was moments and feelings like that which made it all worth while in his mind. Having come from having so little in his life, the mutant warrior had come to appreciate the little things that made his cause worth fighting for. And to experience something like this only helped make all the lingering uncertainties and anxieties that so often plagued him seem trivial.
Looking back towards the sunrise, Jack Robinson felt that this truly was a day of new beginnings and new hopes…And he looked forward to seeing where it all led him as he found himself on a truly unfamiliar road with no clue as to what would happen next. But for a guy who faced the darkest of evil for a living, that didn't seem like such a big deal as he looked forward to seeing where this fascinating place would lead him.
Then suddenly, out of the corner of his all seeing eye, he saw someone else leaning up against a tree overlooking the lake and watching the sunrise as well…Someone he hadn't taken the time to notice before because he was too caught up in his thoughts. Turning towards the wooded area off to the side of the institute, he noticed that it was Amara, the young girl who had been with the rescue team during the battle against Sinister. Like him, she was simply watching the sunrise, lost in her thoughts…And from what he could see, she too was in quite a stupor.
There was clearly so many things that this institute had to offer. And there were just so many things he had yet to experience. And as he looked upon the distraught younger girl, he suddenly felt the inclination try another experience that he had yet to partake in. And while he wasn't sure if it was the best thing for him to do at this point…He just kept remembering the one thing that seemed to override any and all uncertainty one way or another…
"Oh, what the hell…"
Without any real plan or idea of what he was going to do or how he was going to go about this, the mutant warrior made his way over towards Amara, who was simply hugging her knees and taking in the sight of the beautiful sunrise in an effort to forget her shattered heart. Seeing Sam and Tabitha together was just too much for her…And the mission had proved that their feelings were genuine. Now she was left here all alone and without anybody to confide in…And that's something that Slayer hoped to change.
"Hey…Glad to see I'm not the only one here who enjoys watching the sunrise," said Slayer as he walked up to the tree she was sitting against, quickly capturing her attention.
"You?" she said, surprised that this mysterious man of all people was out here talking to her, "What are you doing out here?"
"Probably the same thing you're doing…" said Slayer as he took a seat next to the Nova Roma princess, "Just sitting around…Sulking…Thinking…And driving myself crazy in the process."
Amara gazed at the mutant warrior with a curious look, feeling somewhat surprised that he seemed to summarize how she felt with a few simple words. Yet judging from the sound of his voice, it was clear that he was very serious about what he said. She knew such a tone all too well and it only served to heighten her intrigued. But still…This was a problem that she didn't think anybody could understand.
"Am I really that obvious?" she said in a low tone, her gaze not veering away from the rising sun.
"Doesn't take an all seeing eye to notice it…" he told her as he turned towards her and saw the look of conflict on her face that he knew all too well, "Want to talk about it?"
"Why would someone like you even want to hear about it?" she said somewhat bitterly as she closed her eyes in an effort to keep the tears from forming.
"Well, why not?" he reasoned, causing her to open her eyes and shift her distant gaze away from the sun and towards the young man who had helped save them all, "You're not the only one with problems, Ms. Aquilla…And as long as I'm going to be hanging around here, I might as well make myself useful."
As sceptical as Amara was that anybody could possibly understand, she found no reason to doubt what he had just said. She may not have known the first thing about this guy, but it was clear that there was a genuine level of sincerity to him…One that seemed to entail far more than even she could imagine. And as hard as her broken heart was to handle…Maybe it would be nice to actually talk about it with somebody for a change.
"Well…" she began, taking a deep breath as she prepared to tell him the whole story, "It goes like this…"
NEXT UP CHAPTER 52: HAVING A GOOD OLD TIME