Disclaimer: Marvel owns all X-Men related things, though I own this fic and the general concept for it.
Rating: Rated M for language and mature subject matter.
For ROMY AMV fans: If anyone is interested, go to YouTube and search for Rogue Gambit videos. Anything by "karebare89" was made by myself. I have made numerous videos for ROMY, a few anime, and even some of my editing projects from school are up there. Hope you guys check 'em out.
BTW! About my other fic, Meet You In The Red Room. It is NOT on Hiatus. I am currently writing the next chapter for the story. But I'm fairly caught up with this story, plus school and portfolios. And I feel like I have a good vibe with this fic at the moment, so I don't want to loose it while writing another fic. I promise another chapter will be posted soon.
Special note (Wanda W.): Thank you so much for the support, girl! Even though it sounds weird, I'm glad that chapter was able to make some people emotional. That was my aim. XD But seriously, thanks, and I hope to see more updates of your fics! They are rockin' the free world!
Okay! Now about this chapter, there is VERY little Gambit or Rogue in here, simply because we obviously need to get the reactions of the rest of the team about Rogue's departure and the current state of affairs. I always kind of wanted it to be like since Rogue left, people have begun to notice certain things about their lives that they never did before, taking on the Rogue way of life. So it's like we see how the departure has made them look at themselves and their relationships more, and how it will drive them to "Carpe Diem"! (Seize the Day).
I'm sure most of you will get it as it goes along, but just in case, it's also mainly to line up the characters more closely to the comics.
Enjoy the chapter!!
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"Vhat do you mean Rogue's gone?!" cried a very upset German.
Logan refused to look up at the small crowd teens that stood next to him as he silently drank his coffee. It was late morning, nearly noon when the group finally came down for breakfast. But it was understandable after. It was still a Sunday. He was at least generous enough to cancel training for the next few days. But that did little for those who were now stunned at the disappearance of their teammate and friend. It seemed to be a blow for most of them, Kurt obviously taking it the hardest.
Logan was never one to sugarcoat the situation, and after Rogue said her goodbye in the Southern sugary tone, he knew she wasn't the angry teen he helped raise anymore. She was her own woman now, someone that needed to find out who they were, more then anyone. And whether he or any of them wanted her to stay, she had to decide what she thought was best, even if that meant they might never see her again, "I mean what I said. She left early this mornin', took most of her things with her."
Kurt continued his interrogation, seemingly desperate for an answer, " But… but vhy?! Vhere vould she go? Did she zhay vhen she vould come back?"
A silent headshake was his only response.
Kitty, for once, stood silent, rigid. She hadn't even noticed when she woke up. Everything seemed normal, like nothing changed. How could she have not noticed? What kind of a friend was she? A few tears silently rolled down her cheeks before she ran out of the room. Piotr followed soon after, but not in sadness, in concern. The group slowly heard Kitty's sobs fading into the background.
It seemed like no one in that room could be happy with the situation. Most feeling like they had lost the chance to get to know the real Rogue, the one that was just starting to come out of her shell. The one that had saved most of their asses on numerous occasions out of sheer kindness. They finally understood what it was like to realize how much you need someone after they're gone. Sure, they all seemed to understand that it was a personal situation she needed to work out, that maybe she would come back. But that still didn't alleviate the regret they felt.
Teleporting himself into hell, was all Kurt felt like doing at that moment. He had lost the closest thing he had to family in this place. The closest thing that didn't remind him of Mystique or his abandonment. He had lost that guidance Rogue was so good at portraying, even if she never knew it.
Logan decided that enough was enough. He spoke sternly, but understandingly, "Lissen, I know most of you don' like it. But it ain't up to us what her decision is. Rogue has been through some worse shit then we can even imagine, and if any of us were in her shoes, we'd prob'ly do the same thing." He looked around to the young faces before him, eager for something positive to come from the much older man. All he could offer was he own experience and disappointment. But he wouldn't let that exhaust who they were.
"We just have to let her do what she needs to do, and hope that she can walk away from this okay. Until then, we're still the X-Men; if not fight for the cause, at least fight so that we can prevent things like this from ever happenin' again. Fight so men like Sinister never hurt another person, especially the ones we care for."
The words helped to lift the spirits of the team, gave them some incentive to not mourn for Rogue, but to hope for her. To hope for every mutant that is oppressed by humans or each other. But as they all began to filter slowly out of the room, Kurt was the only one left with Logan. The two stared at each other for a period of time before Kurt asked him one last thing.
"Vhere vould she go?" it was thoughtful and stern; a man on a mission.
Logan shook his head and refused, "Drop it, kid. If I know her, she's goin' somewhere none of us would ever be able to find her." He stood from his stool, finished the cup of coffee in his hand and left the room to relieve some tension in a long and hard simulation.
Kurt was left with his thoughts, unable to put it together coherently. He had told her that she could always come to him. That they would have listened. Instead… she left. It made him feel abandoned once again. All he felt he could do now was pray. Pray for her safe return home, wherever she felt that was.
xxx
It was quiet at the Institute over the next few weeks, the students were getting back into normal routines; school, Danger Room, choirs, homework. But for most, it seemed rather dull.
Kitty was still depressed for the few days after Rogue left. She couldn't help but feel that maybe she helped drive Rogue into leaving. It nagged at her when she would try to fall asleep every night and would end up looking over at the empty, well made bed across from her own.
It was around this same time that Piotr began to spend a lot more time around the brunette, mainly to comfort her. As such, the two would go to the med bay regularly to check up on Gambit. Kitty felt like she owed it to Rogue to watch over the patient for any signs of consciousness, so that maybe it would bring her back. Piotr would go to visit a comrade, friend, his condition never changing.
Over the days, Kitty began to lighten up a little more with each choir she did, each movie she watched. Mostly because of the massive muscle that she was spending much of her time with. She couldn't quite place it but there was definitely something she liked about the Russian. He was shy, but he always seemed to make her laugh. In a very different way then Lance would. Lance would blow up something in science class, or make a rude comment that got her to giggle. He was very immature in that way, and it was fun in the high school rebel kind of way. But the more time she was spending with Piotr, it got her thinking that maybe there was something better then the bad-boy image; something much more substantial that the metal-man could offer. And something she could offer that wouldn't be responded with a grunt, intellect and romance. The shy and soft-spoken were beginning to make an impression on her.
As the two were on their way down to the med bay, it became somewhat silent in the elevator. Kitty had been thinking it over the last few days and decided she would ask him. But she was unbelievably nervous. What if he was just being nice to comfort her? Or he wasn't interested in her? Maybe he wasn't into dating her type, out-spoken, bubbly personality and all.
She was quickly snapped out of her thoughts by Piotr clearing his throat, "Um… Katya…"
Oh, she was beginning to like that name.
"Yes?" she replied, smiling as her cheeks flared red, turning her head slightly away from him.
He cleared his throat again, scratching at his head to find the words, "I-ah… I vas wondering if you… maybe after dis, ve could… I mean, if you have no other plans.. which you must, because you are so lovely to be around… and…"
Piotr was such a mumbling mess. Kitty couldn't help but giggle at how cute it was. She tried to cover it as he looked down at her from his staggering height and blushed.
Well, since he was halfway there, she could help him out, "Are you asking if we could go out… on a date?"
Piotr's skin deepened in it's reddish tone as he nodded, fearing his voice would not cooperate.
Kitty giggled again and answered with her most genuine smile, "I'd love to." She could almost see his bones snapping as her turned his head at her reply, his smile growing the widest she'd seen it yet. No wonder she was swooning for him, that smile nearly made her heart stop. As the elevator reached the level, the pair stood staring at each other before walking out to the halls. Piotr silently touched his hand to hers and she responded as they grasped each other before entering the room.
By that time a week later, Kitty broke off her relationship with Lance, feeling better then she had in ages and leaving a crumbling and earth-shattering mess for the Brotherhood.
xxx
Scott and Jean were both still recovering from their injuries, but they were up and around like the rest of the students. The two, much like Piotr and Kitty, began spending time together doing choirs and going to their university classes together, especially after being captured so easily by Sinister's men.
After the whole ordeal, about two weeks later, Jean had told Scott and the Professor that she felt regret for what had happened in the sewers. Mister Sinister seemed determined to keep a hold of both herself and Scott. After they were knocked out, Jean didn't remember anything until she woke up in the med bay. She just couldn't understand why she didn't sense anyone near by. If she had just been more aware, if she couldn't prevented Sinister taking them, she felt that what had happened to Storm, Ms. Marvel, Gambit, Rogue, even Scott, all of it could've been avoided.
Maybe she could've sensed Rogue in the tunnels, to help prevent Malice's control over her. She didn't have the mental blocks the rest of them did. That was why she was susceptible to Malice's attack.
No matter what the Professor and Scott tried to tell her, every way Jean looked at the situation, especially after Rogue's disappearance, she couldn't disconnect her lack of power at preventing what happened.
Both men knew that even if Rogue had come to them, or any of the other students or faculty, nothing they said would have changed her mind to leave. But Jean didn't believe that. She thought that maybe she could have offered her some advice, help, anything that the young woman would have needed from a friend. And she had done nothing to stop her. Jean began to withdraw into herself and started to separate herself from the other students, even from Scott. He felt like we was looking at the old Rogue.
A few days later, Scott attempted to corner Jean when she got back from her class that afternoon. He found her walking up the master stairs to the East wing and called out to her.
"Jean! Wait up!"
She paused momentarily to look back down the stairs, but turned back not facing him, "What is it, Scott?" she asked plainly.
As he approached her side, Scott tried to catch her eye, but she wouldn't look at him, "Jean. Talk to me, tell me what's wrong."
She only pushed past him as she climbed the rest of the stairs, Scott following right on her tail, "There isn't anything to tell. I just have a lot of homework to do," she lied.
As always, Scott wasn't falling for it, "Come on, Jean. How long are you going to torture yourself over this? What happened wasn't your fault."
Jean, frustrated and tired, dug into her pocket for the key to her room while she mumbled under her breath, just loud enough for Scott to hear, "Well I certainly didn't help."
Having enough of the attitude, Scott ran I front of her door and took her by the shoulders, forcing her to look at him. It was then he saw how sad she was. Her jade eyes said it all, even if he could only see in red, "Jean, if you really felt like you regretted what happened, wouldn't you do everything in your power to stop it from happening again?"
Jean ripped his hands off her shoulders and retorted starkly, "Why the hell do you think I'm doing this? Huh? Better to just disconnect myself completely from everyone rather then try and fail."
Scott could only shout back at her, it surprised even him, "Then you may as well live the rest of your life alone in regret! If this is what you keep doing, you're gonna regret a lot more then just what happened. You're gonna regret losing me."
It seemed to knock his point across. He didn't want to say it, but he had no choice. Scott was being honest; if Jean continued to separate herself from everyone in the house, including him, he would cut himself off from her as well; only because she was becoming someone different. Someone he didn't love like he loved his Jean. The woman he loved was open and kind, friends with everyone in the mansion in her own way. And he felt like that woman was slowly fading away from him and everyone that cared for her.
Jean stood shocked, planted to the ground. She didn't realize it until now, but it suddenly made everything she had been doing the last week feel unimportant. If it meant losing Scott… she didn't care anymore. She shook her head, tears welding up in her eyes as she looked away from him again. Scott could only take it. He wrapped his arms around her and she rested against his chest, crying out the tears she had been holding for days. Scott rolled his hands up and down her back as hers wrapped tightly around his waist, gripping his shirt. He gently kissed the top of her head and rested his cheek against her forehead before speaking in a hushed tone, "I love you, Jean. I just don't want to lose you."
He felt her nod her head against his chest. They weren't going anywhere.
xxx
School became a lifeless phase for Kurt. Everyday he would go into those damn classrooms and he would half-expect to see Rogue sitting in one of the seats. And everyday, he felt disappointment when it didn't happen. His dates with Amanda had slow started to run thin as she noticed his depressive state. She knew about what happened, sure. Kurt had told her a few days after when she noticed Rogue wasn't in any if the classes. But that didn't mean Kurt was any less relieved to tell someone how he felt about it.
He would still get the urges to just take one of the cars in the garage and go find her. Kurt had spent numerous nights up until the earlier hours searching various locations on the Institutes database. Locations of interest for Rogue, the house with Irene maybe, Louisiana for the parade, or some place she secretly had been wanted to go for years.
As much Kurt hated to admit it, he didn't know his sister as well as he wanted to think he did. He didn't know she loved jazz music all this time, or that she could cook if she really wanted to. He didn't know what she wanted to do with her life, if she wanted to continue being an X-Man or if she wanted to continue her education. Well, now that she had technically dropped out of high school, didn't seem like that was an option for her.
It just made him angry with himself.
About two and a half weeks after Rogue left, Amanda caught up with Kurt after classes. She tried to remain positive, but he mostly gave short, monotone replies. She could only frown at his lack of interest. He had his reasons, but it unnerved her at how obsessed with it he was. It was like he had no trust that Rogue would come back.
It was then an idea came to Amanda, causing her to stop and pull at Kurt's arm. He was confused at first as she smiled at him forlornly, "Kurt, can I bring you somewhere?"
Kurt gave no objection to the statement, and Amanda's smile grew as she led him through the Bayville streets. They took the transit to the corner of the city that Amanda lived in, passing by the white picket fences of suburbia and the shiny exteriors of public parks and schools. Little shops lined down one of the streets, most filled with décor, clothing, children's toys, and plenty of bistros and cafes.
Amanda was waiting anxiously in her seat as she looked over to Kurt, staring out the window at the various stores, taking almost no interest in what he saw. He flinched when Amanda tapped him, pointing for them to get off at the next stop. Kurt only hung loosely off the handle grip as they waited patiently for the bus to come to a stop, unknowing where they were stopping.
The doors opened for the pair as Amanda stepped out a few feet and paused for Kurt, before turning back to the massive building before them. Kurt looked up at the broad structure from his hunched stance and he suddenly felt sinful for standing in such a way.
The bells could be heard ringing at the top of the hour as birds fluttered over the steeple. The stain glass imagery illuminated the dark, bleak world Kurt had become accustomed to over the last few weeks. It set itself apart from every other building on the street, however, it seemed to fit almost perfectly with them. Kurt turned back to Amanda, slack-jawed, to see her smiling back at him, taking him by the arm and gently pulling him into the building.
"This is where I come when I don't know what to do," was all she said to him.
The wooden doors of the church creaked open as the two figures stepped inside. Apprehensive at first, Kurt took wary steps into the corridor, taking in the ornate design around him. Statues of saints lining the side of the pews, beside each were candles lit for those who had prayed for their help. The glass was only enough light up the room, but just enough to make it glow. At the very top of the aisle, the image of the Son of God rested on his Cross, over looking the few others in the room, praying to him for their own guidance.
Kurt bit at his lip, unsure of the situation, "Amanda, I don't zhink I should be in hear," He whispered to her as to not disturb the people in the pews.
"Come on, Kurt. Everyone is accepted here. Even fuzzy mutants," She replied happily, taking his arm and brushing the fur that was invisible to the eye, but not to the touch.
His weariness, however, did not yet fade, "Zat is mein problem. I don't exzactly have ze most holy appearance."
Amanda looked back at the man before her, putting her hand to his face and turning him to look at her, "You weren't allowed to go to church, were you?"
It was a sad statement, but Kurt knew it to be true, "Mein parents only did vhat vas best for me. If I had gone any ozer time wit'out an inducer, ze vould have never been accepted back into ze village."
"Do you believe in Him?" was all she asked, patiently waited as he seemed to weigh the question in his mind.
Kurt had many reasons to be full of spite for the Lord. His mutancy, why he cannot show his face without being called a demon child and the cause for so much pain. His abandonment, the fact that his mother left him to drown and that his only sister left him alone again. His isolation, being kept from God and other good people growing up because of what he was. They were all reasons to hate.
But what was good? What could he believe in?
His mutation brought him to the Institute, where he found who he really was, a small part of a much larger family; a family that accepted him for all of who he was, fur and all. It also brought him to Bayville, to his long-lost mother, to his unknowing sister, and to the woman by his side. Peasants who only knew kindness gave him shelter. Mutants who could only give acceptance when he asked of it. Love from those he would have never expected it from in his young life. He knew there was only one way that could have all come about for him, and it was the one who created mutants.
Kurt turned and looked up at the strong image of Christ, "Yes… I do believe."
Amanda nodded, sliding into the pew a few rows back from the front. Kurt bowed his head, slid in next to her and lowered the kneeling bar. The two of them lowered their heads as they clasped their hands together and prayed, but not before allowing a few single tears to be shed for those they prayed for. Amanda, for the protection of the young man beside her. And Kurt, for the safe return of his family, and for those around him.
xxx
Three weeks.
Three long agonizing weeks it had been since then and the overall mood had certainly improved. Students were only a few weeks away from exams and summer was already edging its way in. Everything just seemed to be looking up for the occupants of the Institute.
Kitty and Piotr were on their way back down to the med bay for their regular visits to the occupant of A-10. The two would mostly chat as they went in and out of the halls. But once inside the room, they would almost always remain in silence. Occasionally, Hank would come in the room while they were there, but otherwise, nothing really changed.
A worried face was always on the girl's precious face when in that room. Piotr would attempt to wean it away as best he could, but all he could offer was a rub of her shoulder in comfort. She always accepted it.
They both stood from their chairs and left for the door. Kitty froze mid-step, hearing a faint, raspy and wheezy sound emanate from the center of the room. She looked back into the room, finding nothing astray. The sound seemed to fade.
"You all right, Katya?"
Kitty looked back at the massive man behind her and smiled politely, "Yeah. I'm fine. Thought I heard something," she grabbed for the doorknob again.
*Cough, cough*
Kitty was so startled by the sudden noise, she nearly phased through the door. Loud, harsh coughs began to emit from the bed as the body that lay in it jerked from the spasms, awaking miraculously.
"Oh my God!" Kitty cried out, almost not believing what both she and Piotr were seeing. Piotr stared at the bed, a blank look of shock on his face, as the form gasped for a few breaths but slowly resumed his normal breathing patterns. He could see his head moving back and forth, guessing that he was confused.
Piotr quickly helped the poor frightened girl up from the floor as they both cautiously moved to the bed, finding a pained expression on the young man's face.
"Remy? Are you awake?" Kitty asked precariously, not sure if what she was seeing was real.
Almost instantly, Remy reached up and pulled the tube that was stuffed in his mouth out, finding it much is easier to breathe without it.
"Comrade? What are you doing?" Piotr asked as his teammate began pulling out the IV's and sensors attached to him, "Katya, go get the doctor!" He stated quickly, the brunette dashing through the door to find Hank. Piotr turned his attention back to Remy and asked again, "Are you alright?"
Remy only sat up and rubbed the sides of his head groggily and asked with a dry, husky voice, "Wh-where is she?"
Piotr stood confused at the question, "Who?"
"Where's… Rogue?"
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Wow! That was a hurdle to write!
I mean, I've gotten to so used to writing certain characters that it's hard to write for others because you're so used to a certain mannerisms.
But basically, I have an explanation for the 3 stories told:
How Kitty and Colossus get together and away from Lance.
How Jean's mentality slowly begins to wear down on herself and how Scott is almost always reassuring her.
How Kurt is introduced to the church, I thought I would use Amanda as the means to get there.
MUAHAHA! I really had to end the chapter there however.
Now if some of you could understand why I dated it three weeks, BRAVO to you! If not, then I shall explain.
In X-Men #41, there is the famous scene of Rogue and Gambit sharing a kiss right before they thinks they are about to die. As a result, Gambit gets knocked into a coma and Rogue struggles to deal with his memories.
Uncanny X-Men #323 Almost three weeks later, while Rogue is out on the road, Gambit awakes up from his coma, finding Betsy and Angel, asking where Rogue is and saying that she is in danger because of what she now knows.
Now, I'm not gonna follow the comics event for event right now. But as I said when I started writing this fic, I wanted this fic to be a tie in from X-Men: Evolution to the X-Men cartoon/comics.
But I just wanted to you guys to know that I had certain reasons for certain events so that it could carry the plot from both series.
So yeah! That'll be it until the next installment, which I hope will be soon.
Read, review, respond, recommend, but don't flame, please!
Until Next Time…
