Chapter 9: Coming Clean
-Let's go back,
Back to the beginning
Back to when the Earth,
The Sun, the Stars all aligned
'Cause perfect didn't feel so perfect
Tryin' to fit a square into a circle
Was no life
I defy-
Darkness was all Kitty saw, felt or sensed for a long time. She was almost sorry when she began to stir. She felt a little disorientated, the last thing she remembered was an explosion. It had sounded like one of Remy's cards or something.
She moaned as she became aware of her surroundings. She was laying on something semi soft, but it was old and smelled kind of stale. When she opened her eyes, she had to wait for her vision to clear. She was on a cot of some sort in what looked like a cell, except there were not bars, just a solid metal room, with a very large glass door.
Through the door she could see Remy's unconscious form in the cell across from her. She leapt from the cot, but had to pause and wait for the room to stop spinning. "Remy." She murmured before stumbling towards the door, only to find that she couldn't phase her way out.
She began to pound the glass and was beginning to panic, seeing as her powers weren't working. "The only thing you're going to accomplish by pounding on the glass like that is maybe making your fists bleed." A familiar voice commented from the corner. It was a voice that caused her to freeze and go rigid; that same old chill began to creep up her neck.
"What do you want?" She asked coldly, as she turned to face her ex-boyfriend. "I want nothing to do with you."
"Now that's just too bad, Pretty-Kitty 'cause frankly, I'm all you've got for company and the Gambit ain't looking so good now ain't he?" He jabbed a thumb in the direction of the unconscious boy in question.
"What have you done to him?" All her wariness and nerves fled from her and was replaced with raw fury, as she glanced over in her friend's direction. "If you hurt him, I'll make you deeply regret it."
Fury matched fury, as Lance took a menacing step forward, grasping the lapels of her shirt. "I always knew you two were too close to be family. Tell me Kitty, how long were you sleeping with the bastard behind my back?"
"The only bastard around here is you, Lance." Kitty glared defiantly at him, refusing to let fear take over. She was stronger than that; she wasn't the same girl she was before. She had great friends now, who taught her to be strong.
"Why you little…" His eyes went black with fury and a small tremor rumbled beneath her feet. "I used to rock your world." He roughly pulled her closer. "I guess I'll just have to show you how I did before. We'll be together again, you just have to remember."
"The only thing I remember is all the pain and crap you put into my head. It took me a long time to become the woman I am today and no one is going to take that away, not even you." Kitty snarled. "I'm in love with someone else, Lance, so you need to build a bridge and get over it."
"You did not just say that!" He looked slightly alarmed. "You love me! You just think you love someone else."
"LET HER GO, ALVERS." A new voice roared.
They both turned to see Pyro, John, in the doorway, anger on his face. "Magneto and I both told you to stay away from her."
"She's my girlfriend, Pyro. I have every right to see her." Lance shoved her away, none too gently, as he stepped in John's direction.
"She's not your girlfriend, Alvers. Now get lost, before I tell Mags what you've been up to." Pyro frowned down at his teammate. He was only an inch taller than the boy, but he'd take what he could get.
"This ain't over, Pyro. Not even close." He turned to look back at Kitty, who was pressed against the wall. "Later, my Pretty-Kitty." He blew her a kiss before disappearing down the hall.
John frowned after him, until he was out of sight, then he focused his attention on Kitty. "You all right?"
- Let the rain fall down
And wake my dreams
Let it wash away
My sanity
'Cause I wanna feel the thunder,
I wanna scream
Let the rain fall down
I'm coming clean-
"John?" Okay, so he wasn't Prince Charming come to save me on a white horse, but he's better than Lance. She slowly removed herself from the wall, trying to stay steady on her feet. "What happened?"
"I kidnapped you." He replied, gently taking hold of her elbow and leading her over to the cot. They both sat for a moment. "Magneto's orders. He'll be in to discuss things with you later."
"What did you do to Remy? Will he be all right?" Kitty looked forlornly over out of her cell at Remy's still form.
"He's just knocked out. I got you with chloroform, that's probably why you don't remember too well. He got hit over the head. He didn't go down without a fight." John smiled wryly in the Cajun's direction.
"No." Kitty laughed softly. "If there's one thing that's to be said about Remy, he doesn't give up, he'll go to Hell kicking and screaming the entire way and then some."
John managed a half smile. "I don't doubt it, nearly blew me to smithereens when I first came near you."
"How did you knock him out?" She asked.
"I didn't." John shook his head. "Not that good yet. Sabertooth did."
Kitty's eyes widened. "Sabertooth? He's alive?"
"And kicking, literally." John winced. "He wants to kill the Wolverine real bad."
"John, why are you after me?" She looked down at her hands.
"Your powers, Magneto wants them." John tilted her chin upwards. "He wants you to be a part of the Brotherhood."
"Not gonna happen." Kitty shook her head. "I'm an X-men. Speaking of my powers, why can't I use them?"
"This." His hand went up and touched her neck, or more accurately, a thin plastic band that went around her neck, choker style. "It's collar of some sort, it prevents a mutant from being able to use their powers. Magneto stole it from Stryker's lair."
She frantically began to tug at it, hoping it would come off, but it worked to no avail. "Let me guess, only the one who put it one can take it off?"
"Um." John shrugged. "That would mean I could take it off and I have no clue. So, no."
-I'm shedding
Shedding every color
Tryin' to find a pigment of truth beneath my skin (ohh)
'Cause different doesn't feel so different
And going out is better
Than always staying in
Feel the wind…-
Kitty stood from the cot and crossed the cell, watching Remy's still form. "When will he wake up?" She asked, more to herself than to John.
"Soon, hopefully." John stood. "Mags wants both of you part of the Brotherhood. I wouldn't mind having you around more either."
She turned to look at John. "I'm with Peter." She whispered. "You left. I moved on."
"You're still gaga over that Communist?" John asked incredulously. He didn't shout, unlike Lance. John never yelled when he got mad, he was more of the sneer and screw-you scoff, than shouting out his anger.
"He's not a Communist!" Kitty snapped defensively. "He's sweet and kind and incredibly passionate about his paintings and his country. He's the exact opposite of what I usually go for in a guy. I'm done with bad boys, John. It's time for me to be happy and respected with the good guy."
"I didn't mean to hurt you, Kit. We were both dating at the wrong time, too screwed up from our past to work together. We're older now, more mature." John shook his head in disbelief.
"And you're the bad guy, now. I told you, I'm done with 'em. I'm going for the good guy, the guy who cares about me, more importantly, the guy I care about. Both you and Lance hurt me, Lance more than you did, on many different levels. I want to be your friend John, but with you on this team, it's not possible."
-Let the rain fall down
And wake my dreams
Let it wash away
My sanity
'Cause I wanna feel the thunder,
I wanna scream
Let the rain fall down
I'm coming clean-
The small bit of vulnerability John had let leak through his exterior was masked again, by indifference from her last comment. "Well then, it's your loss. You don't know what you just lost out on. I'll be your friend, Kit, but you're lucky I'm giving you that much."
He stalked out of the cell, slamming the door closed behind him. Kitty sank to the floor, willing Remy to wake up. She wanted out of here, now, but Remy was in no condition to perform such a miracle. She was at the mercy of Magneto and his goons and she didn't like that feeling.
Oh god, this is pathetic. Peter help me! She hugged her knees close to her chest and willed herself to stay calm and focused, if she broke down now, she and Remy were both screwed.
- I'm coming clean (rain fall down)
I'm coming clean (rain fall down)
yeahh...
Let the rain fall
Let the rain fall
I'm coming clean-
"Remy." She called, leaning against the door. "Remy, wake up."
Nothing, he just lay there in oblivion.
"Remy Lebeau, wake up! I need you!" She hissed, wishing she had something to throw at him. "We need to get out here, wake up!"
"What I need is Peter, so he can plow through these damn cells." Kitty shook her head. "God, he's constantly on the brain."
"Dat's cause you love him, mon Shadowcat." Remy groaned, finally awake and clutching his head.
"Remy!" Kitty strained against her cell. "Are you all right?"
"Merde." Remy cursed. "Remy hat de muder of all headaches, Petite."
"I'm sorry." Kitty sympathized. "Remy, the Brotherhood kidnapped us."
"Remy knows. He saw de firebug knock you out." Remy cursed again looking up. "Are you all right, mon Petite?"
"Yeah, I'm physically fine and I'm not even going to ask how you know about Pyro. The thing is, we've got to get out of here." Kitty stated firmly.
"Remy opens to suggestions, non?" He smirked.
"I don't have any, I was hoping you did." She sighed.
"Sorry, Remy jus woke up." He shrugged. "Remy promised he'd protect you, mon Shadowcat and he will. Remy neva break a promise."
"I know, but I'm worried you might break this one." She muttered.
-Let the rain fall down
And wake my dreams
Let it wash away
My sanity
'cause I wanna feel the thunder,
I wanna scream
Let the rain fall down
I'm coming clean
I'm coming clean...
I'm coming clean...
Let the rain fall
Let the rain fall
Let the rain fall
I'm coming clean
Let's go back,
Back to the beginning-