ViciousAssassin: Yep that's where I got that OC figured there, and you're right one of those three will end Selene but I'm not saying who. Really? Well I'm glad that we get you so excited about this fic we're really trying to make a major epic here. Yep more issues to come. I'm happy you liked those scenes and Mystique is just there for her kids nothing more.
Mark C: True but she needed to know just how bad it was, I think all those involved besides Selene are dead who did that to Rogue. Yeah X23 will stay, yeah Emma's family sucks and I got most of that from the comics too. August belongs to Uncanny R-Man and thanks I did research for those types of weapons.
Aaron: Yep she may not be their friend but she does care about her kids in her own way. Yeah if they're going to be a family they need a nice first step and this was the way to go. Ah thanks for clearing that up with that 'about time' line. For the Frost family can you believe I've never seen the comics with them in it? I just read a nice bio and filled it in myself. I seem to have a talent for that. Turns out we can still respond to reviews.
TheUnknown325: Mystique only saw Rogue's not Kurt she doesn't know about him yet. No we deal with them all, or try to at least. There's too much going on, besides Vince would take a co-leader but he wouldn't want to be a leader unless he had to be and we don't got the space to fit that in this one. No, no 10 minute 'Goku power up'.
KaliAnn: Yep it really is a lousy family and good riddance I say. Let's just say that when Selene/August meet the fireworks will fly and one might just die.
KSimonT-X: Yeah we didn't plan on her but someone mentioned her and we just got a nice idea for a little story arch. No not all families just a few, and all that was taken from the comics mainly how Emma's family was. That was August at the end see author's note.
GothikStrawberry: Yep her family is that alright, now you see why she never contacted them. Yep look for more August later on, and glad you liked the other parts. Look for Mystique talking to Rogue then Kurt.
Silver Warrior: I'll take your word on all that Logan stuff from the comics I wouldn't know. That was kind of my point with Emma's family (that was mostly taken from the comics). More August later on.
Jaguar: We knew about the Spear of Destiny for some time now, before that movie.
Thanks to: Simba317, X00001, Pussykat 8, The Uncanny R-Man
AN: We don't own the OC August, that's from The Uncanny R-Man and we got his permission to use her for this fic.
Hellfire and Brimstone
CHAPTER 54: FAMILY ISSUES PART2Rogue/Mystique
With things returning to some sense of normalcy back at the mansion, Rogue once again found herself doing her early morning flights as she had before the whole Sinister ordeal. It was a welcome feeling to her…The cool air in her face, soaring high above over the beautiful landscape. It was nothing short of therapeutic for her…Which was definitely something she needed given what she had been through with the Hellfire Club and how it had affected her so much.
Thanks to help from Vincent and Warren, Rogue had become quite good at flight and she had come to savor the wonderful rush she got from it when she was flying through the air as free as a bird. It made her feel as though nothing could touch her…Not her memories, not the Hellfire Club…Nothing. It was also a great way to clear her head, which she found herself in great need of lately with her blossoming relationship with Remy.
The double date she had with Kurt and Wanda had shown her just how far they had become and she was honestly beginning to think about Remy very seriously in terms of being 'the one.' He made her feel so special…So secured…So happy. He had been willing to die for her and when he was later captured by Sinister, it had been a major wake-up call for her. It was like a splash of cold water to the face saying, 'Don't waste time…Seize the moment.' And to Rogue, she had every intention of doing just that with this man…Because he really did mean a lot to her.
As her thoughts remained on Remy, a steady smile grew across Rogue's face as she began flying back towards the mansion. But along the way, she had flown through an unexpected flock of birds that had startled her a bit, but she quickly got through them and didn't pose much of a problem…However, one of them did seem to follow her a bit along with a few others. She had to shoo them away a bit, hoping that all this flying wouldn't make her a magnet for crazed flocks of birds…But eventually, she got them away for the most part.
However…Unknown to Rogue, there was a reason why a few of those birds followed her. One of them, although she had no way of knowing, was her estranged mother…Mystique. She had just come off of a real devastating shock after having met with Xavier and learned that her daughter, whom she had used, lied to, and abandoned on more than one occasion, had been abducted, mind wiped, and brutally raped at the hands of the Hellfire Club. Such actions from those power hungry monsters didn't surprise her…But the fact that it had been HER daughter that had endured it just brought things to a whole new level of hurt.
And now that she had found her after a rather extensive search, she had a few more questions that needed answering…Namely how on earth she learned to fly. It had been five months since she had seen her kids and it was already clear she had missed so much. She hadn't been there for them when she should have been…She hadn't been there to protect them as any mother should. It was yet another harsh burden on her already weary soul…But she was determined to confront Rogue about what had happened…She owed her that much.
Mystique kept her distance as Rogue descended back to the ground, landing upon the balcony overlooking the pool on the back. As soon as she landed, she stretched her limbs and soaked up the warm, morning sun…Feeling truly happy to see things at a new day.
"Mmm…" she moaned as she stretched her arms and fixed her muffled hair, "What a way to begin a day."
She smiled to herself as she took a moment to watch the beautiful morning sun, running through her head what she was going to do for the day. There were always danger room sessions and regular chores, but she was thinking that maybe she and Remy could go out to lunch together or something. She had to admit, the man had some very nice tastes when it came to food and was pretty much the only one in the institute who appreciated true southern cooking. And besides…As nice as the double date had been with Wanda and Kurt, that still didn't leave for much 'alone time' and she definitely wanted to make that up.
Rogue was about to head in to see what the others were up to, when suddenly…A black raven landed on a perch less than fifteen feet from her. At first she thought it was nothing…Then suddenly, she got a haunting chill down her spine…A chill that told her that something was seriously wrong here.
Instinctively, she turned around, taking a defensive stance and ready to use her super strength to tear into whatever this was…But as soon as she saw the source of her anxiety, her body immediately froze…For it was the one presence she hoped she'd never see again…It was the woman who had lied, cheated, and betrayed her on levels that went beyond even that of the Hellfire Club in some ways…It was the woman who she was sorry to say was her foster mother…Mystique.
"No…" she gasped in a mixture of anger and distaste, "It can't be…"
"Rogue…" said Mystique as she took her human shape and approached her.
"Stay back!" she spat in a rage, "Ah'm warnin' you Mystique!"
"Rogue wait…" said the shape shifter as she stopped in mid stride and held her hands up in defense, "Please…I'm not here to fight you."
"Bullshit!" she yelled, not believing her for an instant, "Ah don't care why you're here! Ah just want ya to leave! Haven't ya made us all miserable enough! Me in particular!"
Her harsh words spoke volumes of how much Hellfire had affected her, for she looked ready to tear into her like a pack of wild wolves. And in Mystique's eyes, she had every right to do so and there was really nothing stopping her…But she came here to see her and she was going to do so whether she accepted it or not.
"Rogue, I'm serious…" she said as she took a step back, not knowing what other surprises Rogue had in store for her, "I just…I had to see you."
"Oh yeah! Why should Ah believe you?" she shot in response, "Why should Ah believe ANYTHING you tell meh!"
"Because it's the truth!" yelled the shape shifter in response, "Believe what you will, but it is the truth…I came here to see you."
"Ya haven't even said so much as a word to meh or Kurt for over a year!" she shouted in response not knowing about the times she had seen Kurt since Kurt knew that she would get angry at it or how she sometimes had just watched over them from a distance, "Why in the hell would ya wanna drop us a line now? Does Magneto have another plan ya want to use meh for?"
"No…Magneto has nothing to do with this," said Mystique explicitly, "I came here on my own…I know I should have come sooner, but life with bucket head hasn't gotten any better I'm afraid. I only came after I found out from Irene that you and the others had encountered the Hellfire Club…"
Upon hearing those dreaded words, Rogue's demeanor shifted a bit. A part of her still didn't want to believe her, but in seeing the look on her face and hearing the way she said those words made her think twice about her intentions…For she knew as well as the others that the Hellfire Club was not something to lie about.
"You see…" she continued, "I know about the Hellfire Club…I've known about them since before you and Kurt even came into my life. In my old line of work, it was kind of hard not to know them…But they were always a group I stayed away from. You may think I'm wicked…But those monsters are on a level I'll never stoop to! I know the atrocities they've committed…I know the suffering they've inflicted…And the second I heard that my kids had been involved with them, I dropped what I was doing and came right here."
Rogue cast her 'mother' a skeptical look, for she had never found many reasons to believe any of the words that came from this woman…But from the way she spoke about the Hellfire Club, she clearly had an understanding of it. And if she was wise enough to stay away from them…Then that was proof enough she knew how dangerous they were.
"Humph! Why the sudden concern, Mystique?" she said with a sarcastic tone, "Ya never gave a damn about us before, so why would the Hellfire Club be any different?"
"Rogue…Believe it or not, I've always been concerned about you and Kurt," she told her, trying to sound sincere this time after so many years of deceit.
"Yeah, Ah find that hard to believe…" scoffed Rogue.
"It's the TRUTH!" yelled Mystique in response, no longer able to take this animosity from her own daughter, "Hate me all you want, but it's the god damn TRUTH! I know I used you…I know I lied to you…But it was all for a reason! I left Kurt with the Wagners so he wouldn't have to endure the complicated mess that was my life! If I hadn't, then Magneto would have used him or worse…He would have been killed! I lied to him to protect him in the same way I lied to you because I had already lost my son to Xavier…I didn't want to lose my daughter as well."
Rogue, taken aback by Mystique's sudden outburst, was beginning to feel very conflicted inside. She had never seen her like this before…Hell, she had never really talked to her outside the heat of conflict before. And she didn't want to believe this…But her heart just kept telling her otherwise as she continued to take in her words.
"Everything I've done…Every lie, every trick, every failure…It was all for a reason…A reason I now know was never justified," continued Mystique, her voice now becoming very strained, "I lied to you so I wouldn't lose you to Xavier. But when that didn't work out, I disguised myself as Risty so that I could at least grow close to you in some way…And I guess…I got more than I bargained for with that. That was probably one of the few times I was ever really happy…"
In a ways, Rogue understood that because as Risty, they had been such great friends and as much as she hated to admit it…She did really enjoy being around her. She was one of the few others outside the mansion that she could connect with…And that made it all the more difficult when she found out it was Mystique all along. But when she actually had a chance to think about it…The meaning became a bit more complicated to her since it showed that even without knowing it, she and Mystique had been close at one point.
"Then there was what happened with Apocalypse…" she went on, her tone not getting any better, "I thought that Destiny and I could work to prevent his release…I thought that by using your power, I could protect you, Kurt…Everybody. But I guess I was being used in the end…I was the fool that allowed you and your brother to suffer so much. I know you all thought I was dead after you destroyed my statue…And I guess it would have been fitting for me to die in such a manner. But I guess…Fate had something else in store for the both of us."
Suddenly, Rogue was hit with a strange sense of remorse as she remembered what she did to that statue of her…Which they believed by all accounts to be her. The vivid memory of her shoving her over the edge and watching her shatter into a million pieces still hung strong over her mind…But every time she looked back on it, all she remembered was the pain she felt because of what Mystique had done to her. She never thought there could be a reason…She never even thought there could be good reasons. Yet still, now that she was standing before her…The true impact of it all began to sink in.
"But…When that statue of you…Broke," she began, starting to struggle as well with her words, "Ah just…All Ah could think about was the pain ya put meh and Kurt through. Ah mean…Ah didn't even know if…"
"It's okay Rogue…" assured Mystique, feeling she owed her that much, "I understand. And if it makes you and Kurt feel any better…I don't have any memories of what happened between being frozen and being free. Instead, I just have nightmares…Nightmares that remind me of the monster I am because of what I did to my kids. And every time I think about it…Every time I think about how I lied and used the both of you…It…It hurts. I know it's hard for you to accept that but it really fucking hurts! I…I only wanted what I thought was best for you. But I see that now I truly didn't know. I was just so angry at this god damned world for how it treated me and so angry at how I can't live my own life and can only live by stealing the lives of others that…I thought I could make it better for my children…I thought that by going with Magneto…I could…"
However, Mystique couldn't finish…It was just too hard. The more she thought about it, the more she hated herself and the world for putting her through so much shit. And through it all…She actually felt tears in her eyes…Tears that felt as though they had been building up for so many years and were only now finally beginning to come out.
Upon seeing this, Rogue didn't know what to think anymore. She could no longer see this as deceit…For the image of this woman who she had always assumed to be cold and heartless actually crying was just…It was beyond anything she could ever have anticipated. It was right then and there she actually began to look like a concerned mother for once…It was right then and there when…She actually began to believe her.
Rogue wasn't sure what to believe. This woman had lied and used her too many times, caused her pain but seeing her now…she wasn't sure if she was lying or being truthful. But there was a way, she still had copies of all the personalities she took in her mind all locked up. It took effort to keep them like that and she didn't like using them because she was afraid she might lose herself in her own mind again.
But she needed to know, so she looked. Deep inside she found the place where Mystique's memories were buried and she wanted to know the truth, she only had everything up to when her mutation was running out of control and she took her memories from then but it was enough. She saw bits and pieces it was hard and was giving her a headache but she found it. She saw Kurt's fall and the thoughts and feelings about her leaving him how she didn't want to but had to. And about her, and the truth behind it all.
It made so much more sense now. There truly was more to this woman's actions than just sheer evil and hatred. She had lied to herself in much the same way she had lied to her…Simply wanting what was best for her. It was not something Rogue never could have contemplated…But the more she thought about it, the harder it was to deny.
"Mystique…" she said as she took a step forward, watching as the shape shifter turned away so she couldn't see her tears, "Ah…Ah didn't know that…"
"There's no way you could have, Rogue…" said Mystique, gathering her voice somewhat after finally getting that off her chest, "I made a vow after that day in Egypt to never hurt you or Kurt again…And if that meant never seeing the both of you again…Then so be it." Although she hadn't been able to stay away, at least from Kurt but she wanted to go to her daughter as well. But she knew Rogue would never accept her. So she just watched from a distance never truly in her life just and outside observer.
"I finally realized that you were safer with Xavier than you'd ever be with me. But…after hearing that you had been involved with the Hellfire Club…I came straight here and yelled at Xavier for not protecting you. I was so angry that he would allow my kids to be used by such monsters…And then there's what he showed me about what happened to you…How they beat, tortured, and raped you. And this time…I wasn't there. It was the one time I should have been there to help you…But I wasn't…"
A cold feeling came over Rogue as the mention of what happened to her at the hands of the Hellfire Club. The vivid memories of her rape once again came rushing back to her, causing a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach that nearly caused her to vomit right then and there. But she swallowed the bile in her throat, setting aside her bitterness towards this woman and no longer wanting the lies to torture them any longer.
"There was no way anyone could have been there…" said Rogue in response, which actually caused Mystique to turn back and face her daughter once more, "They took meh…They used meh. It was like a nightmare…It hurt so much. Ah cried and Ah cried…Begging them to stop…But they wouldn't. They just kept raping meh…Hitting meh…Torturing meh. And then there was this evil, cold hearted bitch that actually took pleasure in mah pain and what they were doin' to meh! And even though Ah survived…It still hurts…It still hurts so bad every time Ah think about it, that Ah…"
But after that, Rogue couldn't continue…It was just too hard. She could bend steel with her bare hands and take being hit by a big rig…But she couldn't take this. She broke down…In front of the woman who she had hated so much…She couldn't take it anymore…She completely broke down. And for the first time…Her mother was there for her…She was right there to catch her.
It was a strange feeling as she took her in her arms and gave her the first real hug she ever had as a mother…But when she heard her cries and felt her sobs…All the anger, bitterness, and self-loathing that had tortured her for so long seemed to melt away right then and there. Her heart skipped a beat as she listened to her cry, for she was overcome with so much emotion that she could no longer hold it back…So she let it all out.
While Rogue felt her tears consume her, she was also amazed to see that Mystique was crying as well…This angry, bitter woman that had lied to her so much…Was actually crying. And as she felt her arms around her…It actually felt nice, warm, and secure…As if it truly was the embrace of a mother and not an enemy. It was truly a powerful moment for the both of them…A moment that was long overdue it seemed, but it was finally here…At long last, the lies could be forgotten or at least start to…And the truth could finally be accepted.
"I'm so sorry…I'm so sorry, Rogue…" said Mystique over and over again, unable to keep her tears from flowing.
"It's okay…" she finally said as her tears began to subside, feeling strange to have her hold her but also nice. And somehow familiar, in her childhood she once remembered this woman that came to her home and hugged her and played with her. Later on in life she thought she had just made her up but this felt so familiar.
Had that had been her? She wanted to look but it was tiring to go through all those other memories but being held just felt familiar from some long lost memory in her mind.
"No…It's not okay," said Mystique as they finally broke the embrace, "I've made so many mistakes that have hurt you and Kurt so much that I don't deserve any forgiveness from anybody. I'm a terrible mother…I hurt my kids…I hurt myself…I hurt everybody!"
"No ya don't…" said Rogue, "You're not hurting meh now…You're doin' what any mother would do right now…" For once she was and it was strange, but yet she felt this yearning inside of her. She wanted a mother to hold her and tell her things will be alright. And despite it all deep down she wanted her mother to do just that, despite it all she needed to he held like a little girl afraid of the dark to feel that unconditional love a parent has for a child.
"It's too late for that now, Rogue…" said Mystique as she once again found herself turning away, not feeling fit to face her daughter, "I've failed you…I failed Kurt…I failed myself. I lied to you, used you, and stood by while you suffered! What kind of mother does that to her children!"
"Mama, please…" said Rogue, who could tell she was getting hysterical again. She felt so strange calling that and it was kind of foreign sounding out of her but felt strange too.
"I'm sorry…But I can't do this…I can't stand it," she said as she began to walk away, "I don't deserve to call you my daughter. All I ever do is make mistakes…All I ever do is hurt people!"
She then prepared to shift back into a raven and leave, but Rogue wasn't willing to let this happen…Not this time. Like it or not, she was still her mother…She accepted that now. She couldn't change what was done to her in the past, but she sure as hell wasn't about to let it all end right here.
"So you're just gonna leave us again!" spat Rogue in response, "Is that it, mama! Are ya just so damn mad at yourself that yer just gonna run away from it all!"
"It's for the best, Rogue…I know it is," she told her in a voice wrought with sorrow, "I swore never to hurt my children again after Apocalypse…And I'm going to keep with that promise. Just…Tell Kurt what I told you…Tell him that I'm sorry and that no matter what happens now or in the future…You're still my children, and I'll always love you."
"No…Mystique…Mama…Please," begged Rogue, grabbing her shoulder, not wanting her to just run away from them again, "Ah need ya…Kurt needs ya. We've both been through hell from everythin' that's happened! Hellfire used me…They tortured Kurt…If every we need a mother in our lives, now would be the…"
However, before Rogue could finish, Mystique stopped her once again…For something in her words once again made her blood chill with sorrow.
"Wait a minute!" she said, now turning back to face her once again, "What do you mean…They tortured Kurt too!"
"Ah…" began Rogue, thinking that if she knew about her, then she should have known about Kurt, "Ah thought you'd have known. That…That same woman that used and had meh raped…Raped him as well."
"No…" gasped Mystique as she slammed her fists upon the concrete rail, feeling yet another wave of remorse consume her, "Not my son…Not my son…"
"He hasn't been the same since…" continued Rogue, "That woman just…She was so evil and hurt him so much that he…"
"NO!" screamed Mystique in response as she began to run away, "No more! I can't take it anymore!"
"Mama, wait!" said Rogue as she began to run after her.
"No…I have to see him…I have to see my son," she said, the tears still filling her eyes.
Then…Before Rogue could do anything else, Mystique shifted back into a raven and flew away. She was tempted to go after her…But something told her that maybe that wasn't the best course of action at the moment. Right now…She just had some serious thinking to do.
Slayer/X23
X23, or Laura Logan as she was now called, had spent the rest of the night simply trying what had just happened to her. Her life had just taken such a profound change that it was hard for her tortured being to truly process it. It had been a strange feeling…Embracing the man who was now legally her father. And it was even stranger calling him that when it brought forth so many alien emotions to her. Yet whenever she thought back to the moments when he held her in his arms…When he enraptured her in his powerful embrace…She felt such amazing warmth and comfort that it was as if nothing could harm her…Not her past, not her memories…Nothing.
She was still new to such feelings. And now on top of that, she had a new life to build here at the institute. As a former living weapon who had undergone some of the worst treatment anybody could have imagined, it was a definitely going to be a hell of a transition. But as long as Logan was here…At least she would have a family. Add to that, the woman she knew as Ororo Munroe had been very nice to her and even took comfort in her gentle aura which was just so different than what she was used to in the past. But it was still so strange for her…Everything was still so new and she was only just beginning to learn how to cope.
After getting little, if any, sleep…Laura found herself seeking the solstice of the outdoors. Having lived out in the middle of nature for so long, she had come to find a strange sense of comfort in the freedom of the outdoors. In addition, she was still getting used to the crowds…Many of which were still a bit weary of her since she had already beaten them once before during that first time she infiltrated the institute. And while Logan had told her to just give it some time, she still sought solstice in the outdoors.
She had been simply looking out over the lake from the gazebo, listening to the gentle winds and the rustling of the trees. It helped ease her mind somewhat after everything she had been through…But the memories still hung so strongly for her.
She wasn't sure how long she had been there when suddenly, she was brought out of her daze by the feeling of a new presence behind her. It wasn't a familiar one, so her mind naturally resorted to her defensive stance…But as she turned to see who it was, the new stranger didn't seem to be all that threatened or shocked by her actions…Almost as if he had seen it coming.
"I see you like this little spot here as well…" said Jack with a slight smirk as he watched the young girl stand as if ready to fight.
Upon seeing his non-threatening demeanor, Laura managed to ease up a bit…Still frustrated that she was unable to get away from the incessant feeling of still being a weapon. However, Jack didn't seem to mind this…For he could see with his all seeing eye that she had good reason for being that way.
"Who are you?" she asked the stranger, "What do you want?"
"What, you think you're the only one who finds comfort in the silence and serenity of nature?" said Jack casually as he leaned back against the wooden rails of the gazebo.
Laura didn't respond to that as she simply rolled her eyes and turned her attention back towards the lake. However, the mutant warrior wouldn't stop there. For as long as he was sharing this sense of peace with somebody, he felt he might as well make it less awkward. And besides…From what he could see, this girl could use a friend.
"So I take it you didn't sleep much either…" said Jack, once again drawing the Laura's attention.
"How did you know that?" she asked curiously.
"Easy…I can see it," said the mutant warrior, tapping he tattoo over his eye, "I'm Slayer by the way…Or Jack when I'm not in armor. Whichever you prefer."
"I'm…" she began, but she hesitated a bit, for even though she had a name now…It was still strange going by it, "I'm Laura…Or X23 as I've always been called."
"Laura huh?" said Jack, who could see how conflicted she still was about that, but chose to keep it to himself, "Nice pick. Sounds very fitting."
"It's just a name…" she said in a low monotone voice.
"But a name can mean a lot to a person…" argued Jack, "Even when the world as you know it is so confusing and complicated…Sometimes it can be comforting to hold onto something as concrete and strong as your name."
Laura didn't really understand his logic behind it…But it seemed to hold some virtue, so she chose not to argue the matter since she had a feeling that this guy knew what he was talking about. He seemed to have a clear grasp on certain things…While at the same time struggling with just as much as she was.
"What do you want?" she asked him, cutting right to the chase, "Why are you talking to me?"
"Why not?" he shrugged, "You're new here…I'm new here. Might as well at least try and get to know a few people. I know my people skills aren't exactly stellar…But then again, that's something we both seem to have in common."
"If you say so…" she said, keeping her gaze upon the lake.
Jack Robinson just let out a sigh, for he really wasn't good at this. Demons and mystics he could handle…Making friends, however, he could not. He was seriously trying with this place, but it was just so damn strange for him. He wasn't familiar with any other life except the one he had dedicated himself to as a warrior and while that helped him in his never-ending fight, it sure didn't help his social skills.
"So…How do you like it here so far?" he asked, trying to keep an awkward silence from forming, "You and Logan seemed to hit it off pretty well."
Turning back to the mutant warrior, Laura sighed at the mention of that which had been plaguing her since she woke up in the infirmary. It was still plenty difficult for her and she didn't want to talk about it…But unfortunately, just thinking about it wasn't doing her any good so she might as well at least try what this man was clearly doing.
"It's…Different," she said simply, "It's nothing like Hydra or Sinister…But it's still so strange."
"Yeah…Don't I know it," said Jack in agreement, "I don't think I've ever been in a place like this before. I've pretty much been living in the shadows for a long time and I guess after a while, you get used to it, so I know where you're coming from."
"I highly doubt that…" she said bitterly in response.
"You'd be surprised, Laura…" replied Jack, his tone growing more serious, "You're not the only one here with problems you know…"
"What do you mean?" asked the former living weapon, all of the sudden growing curious as to what this man could be implying.
Slayer hesitated a bit in answering that…For he definitely didn't want to go into detail. That much he wasn't quite ready for. As much as he wanted to make his stay here work…There were just some things he didn't want to have to deal with…His past being one of them. And while he could tell that this young girl might be able to relate at least in some ways…There were so many others that she just couldn't begin to understand.
"I'd…Rather not talk about it…No more than you probably want to talk about your past," he finally said.
Looking back at the mutant warrior, Laura's acute sense could tell that such matters struck a chord with him and it wasn't necessarily a good one. In a ways, it was a somewhat comforting to know that there was someone else here with problems, but at the same time she felt a little foolish for bringing it up.
"I'm sorry…I shouldn't have…"
"It's okay…" assured Slayer, managing somewhat of a smile, "Really, it's not a big deal. I'm just…Struggling."
"Yeah…I understand that," said Laura, now getting what he meant when he said they had a few things in common, "But still…You never answered my question. Why are you talking to me?"
Slayer just shrugged once again, honestly not having a clue what the hell he was doing. But be that as it may…He was already beginning to feel somewhat lighter in at least trying to connect with somebody…Finally not feeling hindered by actually reaching out to someone. It was a nice change on his part…But a change he was still getting used to.
"Well…Sometimes you don't need a reason to talk to someone," he told her, "Not everything in this world has logic behind it. Sometimes it's just natural to want to reach out and do something even if logic states it's not confounded. You and I are both struggling with some of the same issues…So I guess I just thought that maybe we both needed someone to talk to. That is…If you want."
Laura thought about this for a moment. It didn't make much sense…Then again, there was so much about being human she didn't understand and it was clear that she had a lot to learn. And the more she thought about it, the more she realized that she couldn't do it on her own. She needed help from somebody…Whether it be from Logan or maybe even from this man, whoever he was. It was still so strange for her…But now that she thought about it, it actually felt good not to be alone for once. And maybe…She could learn a few things from this man. After all…It wasn't like either of them couldn't use it.
"No…Stay," she told him as her mood finally seemed to shift, which was definitely a good sign for the both of them, "But…What do you want to talk about?"
Jack just smiled, glad that he seemed to be doing something right as he continued to savor the calm morning air, only this time…He didn't have to share it alone.
"Oh…I'm sure we'll think of something."
-Gym-
In the gym of the Xavier Institute two women were sparring, one was Emma Frost. She was in white sweat pants and a tank top T-shirt with her hair in a ponytail. Betsy was with her all in black her hair just the same and both women had on padded gloves and ones for the feet.
Emma had been in a mood ever since her so called family visited. Betsy had offered to take her up on a little sparing to not only sharpen her skills but to work off steam. Betsy was beginning to think it wasn't such a bright move on her part at the moment.
Betsy was glad that Emma wasn't trying to hurt her because the waves of mental stress and anger was flowing off her, that and her blows were pretty strong too. "Okay Emma lighten up with the blows will you? I don't want to have bruises all over me after this."
Emma took a step back breathing hard, both of them had been at it for nearly and hour and worked up a nice sweat. She took a moment to calm herself, "You right I'm sorry but when I think of what they did and just tried to pull…"
"Trust me luv I can feel it, I think every telepath within many miles of here are feeling what you're projecting." The British telepath wiped a forearm over her brow to get the sweat off it. Emma had improved her skills and guest that she might be getting more private training with Vincent. Although she was improved in a no powers fight Betsy knew she could take Emma out if she had to.
"I know, I shouldn't be so angry with this hell I've lived with them for years but just seeing them again and what they pulled…"
Betsy nodded, "Yeah Warren told me and let me tell you that if I had been there I would have kicked their pompous arses. No one talks like that to Warren or anyone else that's a friend of mine."
Emma sighed and loosened her shoulder up, "I know trust me. I've seen how they handle people who they think is beneath them even those of their own 'social standing'. I never liked that part of my old life, I just wanted to be a normal kid."
Betsy also knew many upper class families like that, she didn't like them either, "Trust me luv I know what you mean. I'm just glad my family wasn't like that, they knew where they came from and never forgot that. I'm just glad my family is like that too, they never would have accepted me as a mutant or how I'm in this new body."
Emma sighed, she really did envy Betsy having a family that cared for her. "The only one in my family that did seem to care was my brother."
"Yeah my own twin Brian was always there for me, what about your own?" Betsy asked her, Emma never talked about her family and she wondered why her brother wasn't there.
"Christian was very nice, soft spoken and kind. I looked up to him and he was very kind to me…but…he died." Emma said softly sitting down on an bench taking off her gloves.
Betsy sat down near her, "I'm sorry."
"It was a long time ago," She said hiding her emotions with that mask of hers, that impassive one that showed no emotion.
"Why do you do that?" Betsy asked her friend and saw the confusion there, "You hide yourself from others or at least your emotions. You put up this wall, why?"
Emma stared at the ground for a moment before answering. "I hate being weak…when I was weak I let my father run my life, I was sent to that asylum without a fight and…I was raped cause they thought I was weak and couldn't fight back…I don't want to be weak again so I don't show it. I figure that way people around me will think I'm stronger then I am…but I'm not. I only let Vincent know just how vulnerable I am because he does the same. He's the only one I open up to all the way."
"Do you want to talk about him? Christan?"
Emma shifted a little, she never talked about him, it was painful but she wanted to. She wanted someone to know that there had been at least one member of her family that wasn't like the rest so she did. She talked about how her brother was always nice with a smile on his face. How he had confided in her that he was gay and when their father found out was cold and cruel to him.
How Christian's lover was forced out of is life by their father and then Christian tried to commit suicide. Emma had found him and saved him but he was never the same. When Emma was taken away he had turned to drugs to help take the pain of his life away. Later on while in the Hellfire Club when she was on good terms with them she checked up on him with their resources and found out that he had overdosed and died.
She had been in so much pain after that, the one person she cared for in life had died. She never worked up the nerve to even see his grave it just hurt too much for her. Betsy placed a hand on her friend's shoulder and Emma took it. She also took a moment to get over her grief and then started to talk about the better times.
How Christian always made her laugh and enjoy life. Betsy smiled and laughed at a few of the more pleasant moments those two had together and she shared her own stories of her twin brother Brian. The two talked for over an hour just about the more pleasant times and sharing stories about their youth.
For Emma it was good to tell someone about the good times, in a way it would seen like a part of her brother or at least his memory would live on a bit more. And it was the least she could do to honour the memory of her brother as well.
-Grounds, Forest-
Kurt was walking through the woods with Wanda hand in hand. It was calming for him to walk through the forests next to the mansion because it was nice and quiet and kind of reminded him of home a little. His parents lived near woods and he had played in them all the time. Right now hand in hand with Wanda things were great. He felt relaxed and Wanda helped him to forget all the nasty things in life.
He had to endure much in his life, his looks and how people reacted to them. He remembered how the villagers in this town once caught him thinking him a demon and tried to burn him at the stake. That was the first time he used his powers to his knowledge and many more. But all this with the Hellfire Club had been his greatest test to his spirit. He was certain that he wouldn't have done so well without the others and especially Wanda. He didn't tell his parents, they worried as it was about him and this was something he wanted to keep from them. He didn't even tell Amanda all the details in his e-mails to her.
He only told them that a few bad things had happened, new enemies but that he also found a new relationship. He remembered the surprised way Amanda took it, she was happy that he found someone but in all honestly she never saw that coming. Truth was neither did he until it hit him in the face on day. When he first met Wanda she was just so angry and later on she became less so. He still remembered that day she helped him with that statue that he thought was Mystique. Maybe that was the first moment that they had built on being friends. But when she came to the mansion to live after the Brotherhood disbanded she was so withdrawn but he helped her out of that.
Now she had learned to have fun somewhat and also to get along with the others. She really had came out of her shell in the months and now she was getting along with Rogue pretty well it seemed. He guest those two could relate to each other more then the others, they had so much of the same things happen to them really.
He was glad even though he and Remy were slowly getting alone he still hoped Gambit wouldn't try to push Rogue too far but he knew that was just his over protectiveness talking. Gambit wasn't as bad as he thought sure he had a less then clean past but so did a few, even Wanda herself.
"Hey Kurt I'm going in, you want to join me?" Wanda asked him. She liked being out with just him like this but she was hot and wanted to get something to drink.
"I zhink I'll stay a bit, I'll catch up vith you later Vanda." He told her and she nodded her head giging him a peck on the cheek and left for the mansion hoping that he was alright. Sometime she really worried about him and how he wanted to be alone a few times but she knew that sometimes you just needed some time alone to think things over.
In the trees however Mystique in her raven form was once again shocked by how much events had changed since the last time she saw her children. Rogue could fly and touch for one, that last one hadn't hit her until she had been actually holding Rogue and how her son was in what looked like in a relationship with Magneto's wayward daughter. Pietro was with his father of course helping him recruit more mutants since Gambit and Colossus had left he needed more.
Last she heard of the Brotherhood Lance was in Detroit trying to get this band he was in off the ground. She didn't think he could do it and Magneto ordered that she watched him and the others so when they were at their darkest to offer them a place with him again.
Fred was back in that monster truck show again, apparently he liked being center stage. Toad however had just disappeared and she never found a trace of him. All her efforts to try and find out what had happened had turned up empty. But last time she had talked to Kurt he had been dating that human girl so what happened? She and Kurt had tried to talk now and then it wasn't much but she wanted to be with her son even for a short periods of time.
Looking at him as he sat down on a log his tail just limp and him in deep thought, the way his body language was she could see the pain he was in and it broke her heart. All she ever wanted was what was best for her children and to be safe from the world. She hadn't been there like always and now they had paid for it.
Kurt was just trying not to think on things, he still got nightmares now and then but that was normal Xavier had told him. He talked to the others in their little group and they still got them too. He sighed thinking on how much things had changed. In the past few months he had lost his first love, gained a new one, lost his sister, and just all the rest. He knew that things would never be the same for them all.
All those things before Apocalypse seemed like child's play now. Apocalypse had given them all their first tastes of what true evil was and the power it held. It had nearly been the end of the world with him. Now they were dealing with a group more dangerous then Magneto had ever been. They already were a power to be reckoned with. Yes they had beaten them at every turn but not without a price.
"So when did you start dating the Maximoff girl?" Came a familiar voice and he turned around to see Mystique his biological mother. He was surprised to see her she had been away for a very long time and he was thinking that she wasn't coming back this time. But there was something different about her, she looked like she had been crying and there wasn't that strength that she always seemed to show. Now she just looked tired or hurt even.
"Mozher?" She just looked to different, she slowly walked over to him and sat down and there was this look in her eyes he had never seen before. It looked like sadness, despair, hurt, and…so much more.
She gently took his cheeks in her hands and looked into his eyes. They used to shine with innocence and laughter but that was dulled down now. She could see the pain in them and she felt like a knife in her heart seeing it. "My precious baby boy…what did they do to you…" She whispered out her eyes starting to fill up with tears.
Kurt's eyes widened. She knew, she had to know. "How…"
"I…I talked to Rogue…I learned what happened from Xavier…I went to her and…" She felt lump in her throat at the images of what her daughter had endured and thinking of what Kurt had been like. It was more then any mother should go through even one as bad as her. She may not be the best mother, in fact she knew she was a pretty rotten one, but she did love her kids.
"I'm so sorry Kurt, if…if I had been here, if I was a better mother then…" She couldn't look in his eyes anymore, those eyes that were so much like her own, she turned her head and closed them not wanting to see her son like this. Kurt didn't know what to feel especially seeing her cry, true he had been angry with her but he forgave and tried to restart a relationship with her.
Now he just hugged her tightly. For her comfort…and for his. He her hug him back, it wasn't like this mother back home but she did feel nice this felt nice and hearing her cry he just started up too. From her own pain and his own. It just felt nice to be held like this, it was almost like he was home. "It's not your fault, you didn't do it."
"I should have been there for you and for Rogue," She whispered to him.
"You're here now," Despite their past Kurt wanted her in his life, they were family and he had been brought up to believe in family.
But she pulled away again. She didn't deserve to be here, she abandoned them and never looked out for them, yes she pushed them away from the darkness of her life to protect them from having to go down the same dark paths that she had but if she had found the strength to leave that all behind for them then she would have been here for them. Even if she hadn't prevented their capture she could have at least been there for them when they needed it the most.
She stood up and smoothed out her black skirt. "Mozher you don't have to go."
"I…I don't want to…but I can't stand knowing that I've failed you both so much."
"Then don't," They both turned to see Rogue walking toward them. She had been all over the place and had asked Wanda when she ran into her where Kurt was. She didn't tell her the reason only that she needed to see him. So here she was and just as she thought their mother was here.
"Please, stop runnin' from us. Damn it ah know we haven't been on the best of terms but after all we've been through if we evah needed ya to beh a mothah to us now is the tahme." She said to her sharply.
She wanted to be a mother to them she really did but it was hard. "I'm a failure as a mother I know that much."
"Zhen now is your chance to change zhat," Kurt pleaded with her. He got up to her and just hugged her, ever since he had found out that this blue skinned shape shifter was his mother he wanted them to have some kind of family bond. He would always think of his adopted parents as his parents but he also wanted to have something with the woman that brought him into this world. Even after everything.
Rogue walked toward them and hugged her and her brother, she had never had a true family and as messed up as hers was it was all she had. She had been hurting for so long she needed something anything to help battle the pain in her heart.
She didn't know what to do at the moment but then she just hugged her children. They were like that for a bit and for one brief moment it was like they were a true family. "I wish I could stay longer," Mystique said softly.
"Magneto," Rogue started knowing her reasons, "Why can't ya just quit him? The others did."
Raven sighed resting her head on Rogue's, "It's complicated. I would and spend the time with the two of you but I don't want him involved in your lives not after all of this. And where else would I go?" She saw Kurt about to speak but she shook her head, "Kurt I'm not sure I could live here not after with so much bad blood between me and the others."
"Vell…Vill you at least come to visit us?" Her son asked her and looking into his eyes she knew she couldn't. Damn those monsters, if she could she would hunt them all down and make their suffering greater then anything their sick and twisted minds could come up with.
"I'll try…I'll have to finish a few things and then I'll visit you both. I don't want to arouse his suspicions and it may take some time…But I will stay in contact with you both…if that's what you two want."
Kurt immediately said yes but Rogue took a moment to think about it, her trust issues with Mystique were something they all knew that would only heal with time and effort. But she was just so tired of hating, she had so much more to hate then just her and for better reasons. Seeing someone like Selene really showed you the true depths of evil and compared to her, Mystique wasn't as evil she thought, in fact she wasn't sure she could call her evil.
Sure her mother made some pretty big mistakes but then again so had she. She had been the enemy of the X-Men as had Wanda and both were taken in and given a second chance. She had also tried to kill this woman in a stone statue and had thought for a time she had blood on her hands. So maybe it was time to move on, to at least try to build something. "Yeah, ah would like that too."
She smiled at her children and then looked to Kurt, "And you better fill me in on all the details as to why you're dating the Scarlet Witch, not that I mind." She smiled at him and he grinned sheepishly back at her.
"It's…a long story…you're not going to tell her fazher are you?" Kurt was worried what he would do to him if he found out what he was doing with his daughter or HAD done and would do later. Well Kurt shuddered at the thought of what he would do to him.
She just smiled a little at him, "Don't worry, as far as I'm concerned who my son dates is none of his business."
Kurt let out a sigh of relief at that, having Pietro and Magneto down on his neck wasn't something he needed to deal with at the moment. They said their final goodbyes and she turned once more into the raven and flew off to only she knew where.
"So…does zhis mean zhat you're giving her a chance?" Kurt asked his sister.
Rogue stared up into the sky thinking, "Ah guess so…but only this once, if she betrays us one more time then that's it. Ah can't live with another one from her." Kurt nodded his head it was harsh but given their past it was a miracle that she was willing to try and he took it. So hand in hand the foster siblings walked back to the mansion. Although they were only foster siblings at that moment they felt more like family then they had in a long time.
NEXT UP CHAPTER 55: FAMILY ISSUES PART 3