Disclaimer: I own nothing, nada, zip. Blaze owns me.
Scene 06Blaze went directly to the Professor's office, albeit a little slowly as she trailed one hand along the wall. She wasn't sure way she felt apprehensive, something in the tone of the Professor's mind-voice perhaps? It left her feeling like a naughty schoolgirl summoned to the head teacher's office. Stop it, she cursed herself, you've been there and done that. The Professor is nothing like the teachers were back at school in England, even if he is hurting after losing Vixen. Reaching the Professor's office door she knocked smartly once and then entered. It wasn't like he didn't know who it was. Outside the window the overcast and rainy day grew black as the sun skulked back where it had come from, having never really made an impression on the day. The rain fell like the night, undeniable and drenching.
"Thank you for coming," the Professor began as Blaze shut the door behind her. "I'm glad to see you have found time to attend to some of your responsibilities."
"What's that supposed to mean Professor?" Blaze asked, stinging from what felt like an insult even if she didn't quite know what he meant.
"Storm tells me that you declined a Danger Room session today," Xavier put his fingertips together and pinned Blaze with a frigid stare.
"Yes, so?" she replied, folding her arms across her chest defensively.
"You have been chosen as a Guardian of Destiny, Blaze. You have a sacred obligation to push yourself beyond your limits in preparation for what may come next. Skipping Danger Room sessions is hardly doing that."
"I don't believe I'm hearing this," scowled Blaze. "Scott and Jean are Guardians too Professor. If you're so bothered then why did you let them enrol at college?"
"They are in pursuit of intellectual advancement!" Xavier exclaimed, "Though having dropped out of school at fifteen perhaps that's not something you can comprehend."
"I was expelled, I didn't drop out!" Blaze snapped, feeling that verbal punch from the Professor land below the belt. "Besides, I only skipped one Danger Room session. Logan has been gone even longer than you. Are you going to chew him out about sacred duties when he gets back?"
"My daughter's sacrifice robbed Logan of the woman he loves," Xavier said emotively. "What have you lost Blaze?"
The redhead balked, cut to the core. Ilehana had brought her to the X-Men, come after her when no one else would and given her more faith in the rest of mankind than anyone else. That was without even thinking about the Guardians scenario. That Xavier could even suggest that Blaze didn't mourn her old flatmate was a vile taste in Blaze's mouth.
"Apart from my respect for you?" Blaze replied finally, backing up to the door to open it behind her, "Nothing." She paused, meeting Xavier's eyes briefly then looking away, "Just my sister…" With that she fled the office before her angry tears could betray her.
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Blaze's rapid walk became a run as she passed through the mansion to the front door. Without a coat she ran out into the rain, the chill precipitation lashing her bare skin. With her long red curls streaming out behind her, Blaze ran to the gazebo on the cliff top where once Rogue had pushed a statuesque Mystique to the rocks far below. Gasping for anything to make her feel more alive, Blaze grabbed hold of the carved stone balustrade and thrust her upper body out into the prevailing wind from the sea. Far below the waves crashed headily against the rocks, creating white foam that splattered through the air. The final tinge of sunset made the horizon blood red in the distance, but other than that the darkness was closing in absolutely.
An inconsistent melody was the ringtone on Blaze's mobile phone, a real-tone from one of her favourite indie bands. Blaze put her back to one of the gritty grey stone pillars and levered the device out of her close-fitting jeans pocket. Glancing transiently at the caller display, she flipped it open with a manicured thumb to accept the video call, saying "Hey," as the image flickered to life. "Bonsior Cherie," answered the familar voice. Gambit's cheery greeting sounded forced, and he didn't look his usual self, but Blaze was too dejected to really notice. So it was Gambit who was the first to ask, "What's up?"
"Rain clouds," remarked Blaze off the cuff, before deciding that she needed to talk to someone who wouldn't judge her. "I've just had a row with the Professor over nothing at all. I know he's only lashing out because of Vixen dying. He's angry and sad and confused. I just wish he hadn't picked me to lash out at, my skin just isn't thick enough." Blaze looked away from the phone and out across the sea, her big Bambi eyes dilating to take in the last light of the day. "This place used to feel right, like home should feel. Now it's just another cheap motel with lousy room service and no mini-bar."
"Don't you go quittin' on me," cautioned Remy sincerely. "I mean it Chere, I don't wanna come back an' find you gone."
"I'm promising nothing," Blaze replied with a weak smile, looking back at the image of Gambit on her phone. After a short pause she asked, "I take it that you haven't found Wolverine yet?"
It was Gambit's turn to look genuinely peeved. A frown crossed his handsome face as he looked up and beyond the camera. Then he turned his phone around in his hand so that Blaze could see where he was. The straight pillars of tree trunks rose up all around, grey in the darkness. The only light came from a small campfire and from a lantern Remy had left on inside his small domed tent. His bike stood forlornly by the tent, splattered in mud. When Gambit finally turned the phone back to himself, city-girl Blaze was slack-jawed in horror.
"You'd have t'ought Logan at least have the decency to go missin' somewhere there's a bar," moaned the Cajun. "Non, he out here somewhere in the middle of a stinkin' wood. Wolverine losin' it, eh Cherie?"
"Where are you? I can come help," Blaze started.
"Non, I'm glad I didn't bring you Petite. There ain't even a cheap motel out here, unless you countin' Chateau de Remy," he flicked his thumb in the direction of the tent with a grimace. "Don't you worry that pretty head o' your, I'll find Wolverine somehow. Jus' let Stormy know I checked in okay? GPS says I'm at grid ref 3701x mark 821. You remember that?"
"Of course, I'll let her know," Blaze agreed. "Take care of yourself out there though, okay Remy? I don't want you coming back in pieces."
"I grew up in a swamp remember Cherie," Gambit drawled confidently. "Whatever dis place got to throw at me, it ain't not'ing compared to snakes an' gators. Even Logan get a run for his money in Cajun country."
"Alright," Blaze wasn't convinced, but she couldn't put her finger on why. "Bonsior mon Ami, et bonne nuit."
"Et tu," Gambit blew her a kiss, then hung up. Blaze closed her clamshell phone and brought it to rest on her chest, cradled in her palm above her heart. He eyes drifted back out to sea, but her thoughts were very much in the wilderness. Meanwhile, out in the wilderness Gambit put away his own phone and strode across to his luggage to rustle up some food. He didn't notice the dark shadow passing between the tree trunks behind him. A black shadow, stooped like a beast, trailing long and deadly claws.