Untouchable Flame 3
I apologize if the previous chapter was confusing. Hopefully this next chapter will be clearer! The X-men wake from their nightmares and get a momentary breather. But now…where has Gambit been? Another confrontation with Rogue-Phoenix refreshes everyone's minds as to what exactly they're up against…
Rating: M – language, heavy violence, some mild adult themes.
Pairings: Rogue/Gambit, Scott/Jean, and Logan/Ororo. And of course, there might be some other minor pairs along the way ;)
Official (complete) Summary: Phoenix is done with Jean, and done with the X-men. Due to Jean's final, desperate attack to save not only the man she loved, but the entirety of humans and mutants alike, the last thing anyone saw of Phoenix was her dying form fading away on the ground between the humans and mutants during the "war for the cure." Scott has recovered, Jean's body is free of Phoenix, and the "war for the cure" has ended. Rogue's been hit by the cure, however after one fateful night, questions begin to arise about the cure itself…and what exactly happened to Phoenix.
Disclaimer: I do not own the X-men franchise in any way. I wish I could be a part of it though! (: That would be spiffy. Oh – this series, along with "Seeing Yet Blind," is meant to take place in the movie-verse, seeing I've read little about the comics. However, what I have added into this series that pertains to the comics (Gambit, for example) I have researched to get at least a basic grip about. Also, Untouchable Flame is set after my other x-men series, "Seeing Yet Blind." It is advised that that-16 chapter series is read before reading this sequel-series.
3 – "Real World" Frights
To each his own, they often say. The four fighters of the X-men team had each been thrown rather forcibly into a haunting world that seemed to magnify their greatest fears. Not only this, but inner demons and desperate pleas ran free in the nightmare-world behind their closed eyes. Logan had been the first to wake from the restless slumber. Consequentially when he woke he extended his claws out of instinct. However, there was no other being in the room with him, and after taking a good look at his surroundings, he found he was still in his own quarters, and he was dressed in the undershirt and pants that he'd worn the night before. His hands and knuckles were clean, and the knife-like claws shimmered proudly.
"'Ro.." he gasped, the intensity of the dream finally hitting him. Logan gripped the covers and thrashed the sheets away as he scrambled to get dressed to an acceptable standard before he staggered out the door. Moments later he appeared at her door and knocked lightly, calling, "Storm…"
However when she did not respond, he nearly crushed the doorknob as he forced it inward. It was no difficulty to him thought; a metal-laced skeleton did have it's advantages. And of course, Ororo was under the covers, sighing lightly as her chest rose and fell rhythmically. The man's expression softened almost instantly and he smiled to her gently. "Thank god," he smirked, feeling extremely foolish that he'd actually thought she'd been in harm.
Although when she sighed deeply and stretched, Logan looked almost frantic to escape, however when he turned his back to her to tip-toe to his escape, she mumbled, "What are you doing here?" It was far from accusatory however it wasn't exactly bright-sun-shiny.
"Just checkin' in on you," he stated. It was the honest truth, however the intensity of his paranoia and the reason behind his "checking on her" he wouldn't reveal willingly.
She propped her self up on her elbows as she smirked, "You? Something's wrong then."
He shook his head, "No…I'm fine."
"Hard night?" she asked quietly, being accidentally reminded of her own dreams.
"You?" he stated back, arching an eyebrow to compliment his smirk.
She sighed uneasily and her eyes shifted away. Her eyelashes swept over her eyes which still held the faintest traces of the line of tears she'd shed during the horrible dream. "Just a dream," she stammered, drawing her knees to her chest.
"You want to let me in on it?" Logan stated, maybe even too quickly.
She looked to him slightly pained, and then she traced one of her eyebrows with her fingertips. "Horrible dream," she simply stated. He drew closer to her and sat on the edge of her bed, trying to meet her eyes that purposely averted his gaze. She drew in a breath but her mouth clamped tightly together again and she shook her head.
He touched her shoulder and whispered gruffly, "I had one too."
She bit her lip and managed, "I was…had..and IV in my arm…the cure…" she paused and a tear fell, "You and Scott came in…you were bleeding…he was blind. You two got my on my feet…then Jean came…then an ass load of guys with guns.." She closed her eyes forcibly, trying to retreat from the recollection of memories.
"Shit…Cyke was blind?" he hissed.
She nodded her head and blinked back the remaining tears fogging her vision.
"I killed you," he stated suddenly, "in mine."
---
Scott stood in the room with his fingers massaging his temples. His jaw was tight, and his opposite hand was curled into an even tighter fist that he would relax only when there was next to complete blood loss in his knuckles. Phoenix watched much like a curious cat as he paced the small space, his footfalls reverberating off of the metal casing jeeringly.
"You wanted to talk to me…?" the woman finally suggested with a voice completely different; it was laced with innocence and curiosity rather than diabolical revenge.
His eyes shifted to her and he scowled. His fist released again, and then he finally struggled to begin with, "What…what are you doing?"
"Sitting," she replied flatly.
"I meant what you are doing back here," he improvised his previous statement, his patience beginning growing thin.
"Well it seems I could validly ask you the same question," she replied calmly, her eyes flickering mischievously.
"Don't even," he snarled, more at the glint in her eye rather than at her statement. She smirked back, feeling and knowing very well she had the potential upper-hand. "Phoenix…you have torn too many apart… God only knows what you're doing to Rogue," he stated rather loudly.
"What…did they send you? Because you're their fearless leader?" she laughed upon closing. He gritted his teeth causing his grinding jaw to tighten even further; this after being reminded vividly of the horrific dreams that played across his sleep the night before.
"I came myself," he replied. "Do you have anything else up your sleeve I should know about?"
She arched an eyebrow. "Go ahead and say it, Summers. It's not like I can't hear your damn thoughts now," she spat. "You're afraid." The voice was lavishing.
He sighed bitterly. "Then why not just read my mind?" he stated as if it was nothing.
"You know…you really are terribly weak for a leader," she stated off-handedly.
He rolled his eyes and stated, "All about me, huh?"
"Don't act like you're got the safety-bubble with me, Summers. Just because I'm out of Jean does not mean shit about my powers lessening or what not. In fact, Rogue's only given me more options," she laughed. "However…being in this body does have a few downsides…" she flicked one of Rogue's white strands of hair between her fingers as she mused, "I can't get near you without 'accidentally' killing you.
"Seems you're still drawing off Jean," he stated quietly with a jump from his eyebrows.
"Am I?" she chuckled and her eyes flashed to the flickering red of his glasses. "Didn't notice..." her voice down-right seductive.
"Oh step off of it," he barked at her. How ever alluring her voice was, he continued to tell himself it was not Jean, and Rogue's feelings for him would never be those of love. Although his thoughts were immediately dashed when her fingers made contact with his shoulder. The touch had been ginger, however it had been surprising enough to make him raise his gaze back to her. Not only did he wear a long sleeved shirt, and traditional to him he rolled the sleeves to three-quarter length, but she too was dressed in covering clothing, including gloves. His mind thought so strongly the thoughts of, You can't. No matter what you think you cannot settle with us.
Why not, Scott? She mused in his head.
"Phoenix…you can't overshadow Jean or Rogue and expect to have it taken lightly. You can't walk around as them and expect that to be where you stay for the rest of your lifespan," he paused and clasped her shoulders between his hands, shaking her only to the slightest extend. Rogue-Phoenix's fingers fell back slowly to his wrists. "They're people that are loved," he whispered, knowing the jest of what Rogue was feeling, and probably how Remy was feeling quite well.
"Why can't I be loved?" she whispered. Her gloved fingers shifted around his wrists ever so slightly.
"Because of what you've done," he barked. The setting immediately changed.
"Get out then," she snarled. Her nails almost seemed to pierce through the leather of the black gloves. He wrenched his hands away from her and raised an eyebrow while giving an expression that was less than impressed.
"Again, why are you doing this?" he continued to delve, despite Phoenix's projecting rage.
Because I can, she shot telepathically. Your kind don't deserve this freedom…this gratitude.. Feeling you are above others because you are mutants? I think not. I tried to bridle you all with Jean, however she was quite strong… A power I quite fancy… But the girl was terribly strong…forced me out. So I just threatened her with her death…that didn't quite faze her…so I then declared that you would die if she didn't comply with me.
"You're beating around the bush," he muttered.
Because this world is unstable without me, she added loudly. I am life itself.
"So I've been told," he snapped. "But if you're life, then why is it that you cause so much death?" However, he turned and stormed out of the room, the thick metal door slamming hollowly into place.
---
Upon entering the den of the mansion, Scott found the other X-men waiting for him: Storm, Logan, Jean, and Gambit as well. He was slightly surprised at the last man; no one had really seen the crafty mutant since Phoenix's initial attack on him. However Jean had tracked him down and found him in the garage on this particularly darkening day.
Scott sighed upon entering and remarked unpleasantly, "Well she's still Phoenix, that's for sure."
"Ahh, well let's throw Mystique into this and we've got what we started with," Logan grunted. Scott shot him a death glare. Logan returned by shooting up the middle of the three claws and waving it at the man for a moment. "I'm as pissed as you are, Cyke," he growled afterward.
"Well did you get anything out of her?" Storm inquired. Scott shook his head.
"Scott, I was thinking that it might be a good idea if I took Remy to her… Perhaps he'd be able to draw something from her? Much like you attempted with me…" Jean explained. She herself wasn't too keen on the idea, but it was worth at least attempting. He bit his lip in response, but nodded his head in agreement despite his lurking fears of what Phoenix would do when exposed to Rogue's boyfriend. Remy sat in one of the various chairs in the room, merely watching and listening, but remained silent through it all. Jean signaled for the two of them to go, and the young man struggled to get in the proper mind set.
As the pair were headed towards the infirmary, Scott caught Jean's shoulder and whispered into her ear, "If anything, anything at all starts turning bad, call me." She pulled away and could see the concern that was clearly spelled on his face. However, she was slightly hurt that he didn't trust her to face Phoenix...it's not like she was going alone. Despite that, she nodded in response and turned away again, her crimson hair flailing behind her back as the two made it around the corner.
---
"Well hello, Remy," Phoenix purred ravishingly. She sat at the edge of the bed, one knee folded perfectly over the other while she looked over the man's figure. "You're feeling better, I suppose," she smirked.
They were alone in the solitary room; Remy and Phoenix overshadowing Rogue. His jaw was set rather awkwardly, and he found it hard to speak to the woman at the current time.
"Cat got your tongue?"
"No," he growled. His eyes flickered a deeper shade of red.
Phoenix sighed, waiting with patience running out. Finally she cut in to his thoughts with, "You know I care nothing for you."
No. That's not true, Rogue whispered within her mind, arguing silently with Phoenix.
"No...I prefer the one with the sunglasses," she mused, carefully watching the man's expression. "However..." she leaned forward. her voice dropping to a low volume, "you share many traits with Mr. Summers, no?"
Remy's fist tightened and he gave an uncaring smirk of acknowledgement.
Her own smirk pried deviously at him, and she continued lustfully, "It's because you're a clone. A worthless, rebellious little clone of Mr. Summers." He drew back, anger building within him. "You were a clone, and just happened to escape your master before you were ready. Fortunate you've survived in the wild so long, Mr. LeBeau," she continued.
You're killing him, Rogue cried.
"Exactly," Phoenix ended sharply, speaking both to the annoying girl in her conscience, and the man standing before her.
Stop it, Rogue begged.
Never, Phoenix shot back, now shut up and go back to your little corner...go cry some more while the grown-ups do their work.
"The red eyes. The hair. The build. Notice any similarities?" Phoenix stated aloud matter-of-factly. She was pulling on his nerves, and would until he broke.
"I've been told I'm worthless, but never a clone.." he started, but then he glanced at her with a coupling smirk, "..tha's a new one." Within the next two seconds he flashed two cards before her, however they came to a skidding halt just before her face as her lips upturned to a conniving grin. The cards hummed lowly and glowed a vibrant red, and Remy just stared in disbelief. She laughed at him. Without even lifting a hand she'd stopped not only the movement, but the potential explosion of the cards, days after she'd absorbed his mutation.
"Thanks to your girlfriend, and a little modification I helped with, I've got your power, you idiot," she chuckled. "And having a touch of telekinesis helps too," she added. Despite her flaunting, the cards merely fell to the floor and erupted into a small flicker of flames that blew out within the next minute. Rogue's eyes now drifted to the side and over Gambit's shoulder, and then they pulsed brown. She was fighting for control when Phoenix was at the height of her strength.
"Roguie?" Remy breathed, unsure of who or what he was facing.
Tears slipped down her face and her mouth parted slightly. She managed to force her line of sight back to Gambit, and then she rasped, "Help me..."
He dropped to his knees in front of her, and whispered, "Cherie..it 's you..." His eyes desperately searched hers.
"I'm scared," she choked, "she's too strong...I-I can't..." The red was rippling over her corneas again.
"They're tryin' to figure a way to get 'er out, Cherie... And I'll stan' beside you however I can..." he murmured.
Her head hung low, and then she snarled, "Good. Because once I'm out, you'll be the first one I go after." When Rogue lifted her head again, her eyes seemed to be on fire. And without even lifting a finger again, Gambit was forced back until he collided rather abruptly with the steel walls. He staggered to his knees, his consciousness failing him as he struggled to keep from blacking out. The door crashed open in the next moment, Jean standing in the wake.
Phoenix-Rogue rose from the table and mused, "Looks who's come to join the party..."
Jean said nothing in response, but after catching the faintest glimpse of Gambit, who was apparently grasping his head in pain. She instantaneously threw her palm outwards, but Phoenix was two steps ahead, and a league's worth of distance ahead on the power-scale. Using merely her mind and no extended limbs, Phoenix managed to send Jean flying through the main room of the infirmary, and the woman crashed against the floor rather heavily, and she continued to slide across the floor until her back collided with the opposite wall. She cried out weakly from the pain, but managed to regain her balance. Now she sported a rather sore side on which she'd slid on, and a long gash on the same-sided arm. Crimson trickled down her skin, sending a shudder through her body as she felt the liquid detach from her skin and fall to the floor.
"It's time you bow to me," Phoenix snarled, her voice strengthening as she thrust a hand towards Jean, causing her knees to give-way beneath her. Again the woman crashed to the floor, a jolt of pain surging up her legs.
"I said, bow," Phoenix spat, forcing her head downwards. However, the red-headed telepath fought her wrath, managing to even out the telekinesis with her own. Finally Phoenix released the hold and flicked her head before murmuring, "Your power isn't worth suffering your attitude." Jean glared at her, realizing that the woman had intended to return to her body at some point.
She swallowed as she called with a tight voice, "Maybe it's time for you to make your leave, then."
"Maybe it's time for you X-men to wake up and see the world as it really is," Phoenix spat in return, her outstretched fingers curling ever so slightly in mid air.
The breath was trapped within Jean's throat as she gagged. The woman threw a hand to her throat, realizing now that Phoenix meant to kill her due to suffocation. Her stomach drew inwards as her chest started into a slight spasm; ever muscle tightened as she failed to draw in breath. And again, Phoenix's fingers curled tighter, Jean choking rather loudly as she did so.
Scott -- she begged telepathically. I…I…
Jean? he replied, concern in his thoughts.
The connection died between the two of them, signaling her loss of consciousness.
Back in the infirmary, Phoenix-Rogue snapped her hand out of the air just as Jean fell to the floor again. She then tossed her neck to either side, popping the tensed bones and muscles. With a final glance around the room and her destruction, she flicked her hair over her shoulders and mused bitterly, "They'll regret caging me yet again." She then made her leave while making sure to step over Jean's unconscious figure in disgust.
A/N: I had read somewhere that Gambit was a clone of Scott...so that's why I put that in there. I'd actually meant to edge it into SYB, but there was just no where to do it. So...if that's not true, then I'm sorry! Don't kill me x) I'm just using my creative freedom..