((Begin A/N))
Kai: Alrighty then here's the next Chap
Gambit: Kai also has an announcement
Kai: Yep. You will notice Lae randomly shots out names of the Greek Gods
Warren: She was originally going to be using Celtic Gods since Lae is Irish but
Kai: I didnt think you would get it. And since everyone knows the Greek Gods. I used them
Gambit: So let da story Begin!
Kai: Enjoy! ^^
((End A/N))
Nerves were buzzing when the sun broke the horizon, casting its colorful light across the walls of the Xavier institute. One figure tossed and turned within their bed, haunted by a voice screaming something was wrong. Whimpers passed her rosy lips, loud enough to alert passersby that something was awry.
A female in the next room over heard the commotion in the hallway and left to see what was going on. People were whispering as they passed Lae's room casting glances at the hard wood door. Rogue carefully made her way through the other students to push the door open.
Lae's figure could be seen beneath the blankets, shivering from her nightmares. Rogue closed the door behind her after telling everyone to leave and made her way next to Lae's bed. She was at a loss, Rogue's never seen her friend this way and it caused concern to rake her soul. Kneeling beside her bed she could make out the silent tears that blended with the sweat that beaded on her flesh. Rogue reached out and brushed her knuckles across her friends forehead.
"Laelia please wake up."
Lae whimpered and twisted away from her friend. Her breath leaving her chest in labored pants which mingled with the whimpers.
"Please Lae. Wake up."
"You ok Cher?"
Soft brown met burning red when she turned to find Remy leaning against the doorway.
"Something's wrong with Lae, Rem."
Gambit frowned and pushed off the door, making his way over. "Don't work y'self up Rogue. You'll make y'self sick." He kneeled next to the female keeping a safe distance between their skin. Gambit placed his hand on Lae's forehead just to feel her flesh burning.
He released a curse in French and moved his hand to Lae's shoulder.
"Do you know what's wrong?"
He glanced at Rogue before turning his gaze back to Lae's face which contorted in pain. "Yeah I know. She gets like this sometimes. The best way to put it is she gets trapped in the past."
"What caused it?"
"Unwanted feelins." He sighed at Rogue's confusion.
"Lets get her out of there and then I'll tell ya. K?"
Rogue nodded, watching as Remy stood up and grabbed both of Lae's shoulders in his large hands. He calmed his heart and whispered an apology to the sleeping female. A flare of red energy flashed across his arms and he released it into Lae. She jolted up with a cry, her amber eyes wide and searching the room, unseeing.
"Easy Lae. Its me and Rogue. Breathe."
She slowly turned and regained focus on the male towering over her. "Rem?"
"It's me Cher."
"Oh God." She whimpered as she buried her face into Remy's chest. He nuzzled her hair and whispered calming words to the shaking girl. After a few minutes she relaxed, all thoughts and fears vanishing. Rem helped her to stand, pushing her towards the bathroom and promised they would wait for her in the hallway. Lae nodded and Ren escorted Rogue from the room. He leaned back against the door releasing a sigh and glanced at the female by his side.
"Did you have to shock her?"
"Only way I found dat works Cher."
Rogue frown but let it go. "Can you tell me what happened now?"
Remy closed his eyes, listening to the pitter patter of Lae's shower and nodded. He picked at his thoughts trying to find a good enough place to start. He just hoped Lae wouldn't kill him for saying all of this later.
"It was four years ago. Lae. When me and Logan found her. She was being hunted. These men were after her, I'm not too sure why, but she left her family after they threatened them."
He paused when a freshly woken student walked past. "She was on the run for a few months when Xavier sent us. Said a mutant was in trouble. And he was right. Lae got chased right before our eyes by these two guys. She didn't want to fight them and cause of that got injured badly." Rem ran his hands through his hair and tugged a few times.
"She gets trapped in those times when she gets these feelings." He groaned.
"Rem?"
He glanced at Rogue and looked away refusing to let her see what his eyes held. "These feelings. They're hard to describe. She feels like the entire world she loves is about to be ripped apart. And most of the time she's right."
"How'd you find out about this?"
"Lae got like this 'fore I was sent out. She came after me and made me promise to not be reckless. Well let's just say I ended up in the infirmary for a few weeks. If it wasn't for her warning I probably would of died."
"Oh God." Rogue clasped her hand over her mouth. "So Lae thinks something is going to happen."
He nodded and slouched against the door. "She told me so last night when I stopped her. I promised everything would be fine."
A glance at Rogue told him that the girl was on the verge of tears. "No crying Cher. Lae's a tough cookie. She wont break that easily."
"It's not that." She let a small laugh escape. "It's just. I never fully knew how much we meant to Lae. The fact that she's scared to lose us. That's why she was like that right? She just doesn't want to lose us?"
Remy smiled, silently wishing he could draw the girl into a hug. "Yeah. She really does love us, doesn't she?"
They shared a small laugh unaware that Lae's back was leaning against the door. Her head tilted back with a smile on her lips, this was her family and she would do anything to keep them happy.
Moments later a fist pounded on the door from the inside. "Remy get your fat ass off my door and let me out!"
Remy snickered and leaned harder against the door. "Ah! Cher I can't do that till you tell me you love me."
His whole body shook, nearly knocking him over when something slammed against the door. "Did you just run into your door?"
"No! That was my boot! Now move or I'm kicking it down on top of you!"
Remy paled and Rogue giggled. "I'm gonna go change. Have fun Rem."
"No don't leave me! She'll kill me!"
Rogue waved and disappeared from sight. Another kick let Rem know he needed to move or Lae would live up to her threat.
"Alright Cher! I'm moving!"
"Bout Damn time!"
He jumped across the hall as the door slammed open revealing Lae in all her dangerous glory. She straightened out her belts before looking up at Remy with an eyebrow raised. "Where's Rogue?"
"She left to change, leaving me to die."
Lae scoffed. "Don't be so dramatic." She shut her door and leaned against it, waiting for Rogue. Her eyes connected with Remy's and voiced the question on her mind. "How bad was I this time?"
"Not that bad. They're gettin better."
She sighed, turning her eyes away from Remy. "Thanks for bailing me out of there."
"No problem. What was it this time?"
"It wasn't the past. Kinda." She raked her nails across her scalp. "Same guys chasing us but Rogue was there."
She glanced at said girls door, "She got shot and we couldn't save her in time."
"That ain't gonna happen Cher."
"I know but it just sucks. It's like we were really there. I felt, smelled and tasted everything. It was just way to realistic."
"Just keep rememberin it's a dream. Those guys are gone now. That can't get ya no more."
She smiled, "Yeah I'll keep that in mind."
"Good. We don't like it to well when you're depressed. It ain't ya." He announced in a mock scolding tone which made Lae laughed. "Much better."
Rogue finally left her room while attempting to tie her hair up with a light blue ribbon. All skin covered excepted for her face, the gloves making it next to impossible to tie the ribbon. Lae snickered causing Rogue to glare in her direction.
"Isn't that the ribbon I gave ya?"
Rogue smiled, "Yeah. I can't get it to sit right."
Lae walked over and batted her hands away taking the ribbon from her fingers. "Turn around sweetheart."
She did as told and unleashed a soft sigh when she felt Lae's fingers sift through her hair.
Lae gently turned her around and pulled the white free. "There all done love."
"Thanks." Rogue smiled earning a small peck on the cheek.
"Go Gay for each other Already! Ow! What the Hell Remy?!" Warren rubbed his golden head where Gambit's fist collided.
"Lay off it already." His eyes rolled and sent a smile to the girls. "Breakfast anyone?"
They nodded their consent, Lae's nightmare slipping from her mind as Rogue wrapped their hands together. Gambit joined them by looping Lae's free arm through his. Feathers rustling as Warren followed behind them muttering about violent friends.
Loud voices filled their ears as they entered the Cafeteria, the students were wandering around getting food and trying to find their friends. Lae caught a glimpse of blue and untangled herself from her friends, nodding at the blue blob at their question. Rogue hid a smile as Lae took off, dancing around people to reach the German blue man.
"Oi! Blue man!"
Kurt turned in time to see a blur of red before he crashed to the ground with a manly squeak. Multiple tones of laughter entered his ears and he glanced down at the giggling girl on his chest.
"Oh Aphrodite and Apollo! You should have seen your face!" Her outburst caused her to fall back into breathe stealing laughter.
"Lae. Don't pick on me." He whined, nudging the female to hopefully get her off him. It didn't work, Lae couldn't stop laughing and every time she looked back at his face the cycle started again. Kurt smirked as an idea struck, he leaned forward and poked Lae in the side, earning a squeak.
Her head snapped back and leveled Kurt with a weary smile. "Kurt don't." Another two pokes were her answer, she squealed and tried to wiggle away but Kurt wrapped his tail around her waist. His fingers violently attacked her sides, ignoring her pleas for mercy as laughter had her gasping for breath.
"Are you going to get up now Lae?"
"Yes. Yes! Please stop!"
Kurt chuckled, removing his hands from her sides and letting his tail go slack. She stayed there letting her racing heart slow and her breath even out. "You're evil Blue Man."
A cough from behind them had Lae freezing in place and slowly glance over her shoulder. "Oh Poseidon no."
"No God is gonna save ya kit." Logan reached down and yanked Lae off of Kurt.
"Oh come on Logan. We were just playing." She pouted and attempted to wiggle away from the angry male.
"Playing? Is this anyway to act when we have an important guest?"
"Tch. You got to be kidding me. You care as much as I do. So don't give me that."
"Even if I don't care kit. It don't mean you can act this way."
"Why not? What's the Scary Bald Guy gonna do?"
"I could shoot you."
Lae glanced at Director Fury and gave him a glare that would put hell to shame. "Just try it asshole."
His hand twitched towards his holstered weapon which didn't go unnoticed by the restrained female. She hissed in his direction and tugged against Logan's hold, she was going to rip his pompous head from his spine.
"Director Fury how nice of you to join us this morning." Thank the Gods, Xavier has arrived, note sarcasm, she really wanted to kill that arrogant man. Daring him with her eyes to grab that gun and aim it at her so she couldn't be at fault for his death.
Xavier shook his head at Lae's choice of thoughts, at least this time she was cursing in Celtic.
"Logan would you mind releasing Ms. McCollins?"
Wolverine scoffed and let up his grip at the same time Lae yanked forward, sending her sprawling to the ground on all fours.
She whipped around, hissing at Logan with her amber eyes narrowed into slits. "Not cool Alpha. Ya did that on purpose."
He shrugged and smirked around his cigar. "At least you're not committing murder."
Unfazed by the glare, he turned away, heading back the direction he appeared. Lae followed him with her gaze as she stood up from the ground, clenching her hands in an attempt to restrain herself. Fury was speaking to Xavier but she ignored it by grabbing Kurt and heading to the rest of her friends. Xavier shook his head and let out a quiet sigh, he knew Lae suspected what they had planed. He could only hope she would agree or Fury would have a vengeful Siren hell-bent on taking his head.
"Director are you positive Lae is the correct choice?"
"I see no other alternative. She will be able to hold her own against the Avengers and Widow might be... happy to have a female counterpart."
Xavier sighed, "I will speak with her about this. But I must warn you I can not force her to go."
Fury watched the Professor leave before glancing at Lae laughing with her friends. The female would go, he knew this, curiosity was in her nature and a lot of it was directed towards him. He smirked when he noticed that Lae kept glancing in his direction and took his leave following after Xavier.
Lae's narrowed eyes trailed Fury's retreating form, taking in his confident stride. Damn man basically strutting through the room acting as if he own the damn place, like a peacock. She snorted at her own thought gaining the attention of her companions.
"That freakin man acts like a peacock."
Remy followed her gaze and chuckled, "I can see th' resemblance."
Rogue shook her head but couldn't hide her own giggles. "You two are horrible."
"Aww. Ya know ya love us." Lae winked earning another fit of laughter for her efforts.
Breakfast ended after tossing around jokes at the expense of the now dubbed peacock and multiple cups of liquid caffeine. Everyone split up with promises of meeting up later and headed their separate ways. That left the two women wandering the halls together, arms entwined.
"Remy told me you think something's going to happen."
"Yeah I figured as much." She gave Rogue's hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"I guess I can tell ya. I know your curious about my past." Lae sighed and pulled Rogue under a nearby tree. They settled down side by side with Lae's head ending up in Rogues lap. She smiled and ran her fingers through the fiery tresses as they stared out at the calming waters of the lake. Xavier added it shortly after finding out Lae used to find refuge near water. A smile spread across her face at the memory, she could never thank the Professor enough for everything he's done for her.
"I was eleven when I found out what I was, what I could do. I tried to hide it for as long as could. I didn't want to lose my family. But I soon found out that I couldn't hide it forever." She sighed as she drew her legs up to curl against her chest.
"As you noticed every time I get... upset," she chuckled. "My eyes shift color and my nails elongated. I was in school and a young boy he was sixteen if I remember correctly, he was... physically assaulting me."
Rogue gasped and her hands shot up to cover her mouth, "Oh God."
Lae glances up with a small smile, pulling Rogue's hands away from her face. "No it's not what ya think sweetheart. He had me pinned to the ground and was beating me, nothing sexual. I swear."
Rogue nodded and resumed stroking Lae's hair causing said girl to let out a soft purr.
"I shifted in front of everyone it was the first time my feral side took over. I wanted to take his head off. He wasn't a good kid. He attack one of my friends before he went after me. He deserved more than what I gave him."
Lae paused watching the wind create ripples in the lake. "The teachers were screaming they didn't know what to do. They eventually pulled me off him when I left a few deep gashes on his face. I escaped before they could drag me off somewhere but the damage was done. The only thing I was glad for was that my parents didn't care. I was still their daughter and they loved me. But my older sister refused to speak with me. She kept calling me a monster and telling me I wasn't her sister anymore. My friends at school were the same, they would even run at the sight of me."
Lae chuckled though it held no humor. "My sister was the start of it all. She was the reason I had to leave home." Lae raked her claws across her scalp and tugged on her hair. "My own sister! My flesh and blood! She sent those men after me! I had to run and hide because of her, the one person I trusted more than anyone else."
Lae sobbed and buried her face into Rogue's pant leg. "She meant the world to me and she betrayed me because of what I am."
Rogue wrapped her arms around her friend offering her the comfort that she needed.
"Jesse. She saw a report on the news about how dangerous mutants can be. We watched it together. It filled her mind with thoughts of how evil mutants are. How much we deserve to be exiled and killed. I didn't know she wrote down the number. Those men kept coming after me, then they started threatening everyone I ever cared about. That's why I left."
Lae sat up, connecting her teary gaze with Rogue's. She smiled gently and brushed the other girl's tears away. "After that I avoid people, never let anyone near me afraid they would come back. I still fear they will come back. I'm haunted by these nightmares cause I fear losing all of you more than facing my own death. I don't want to lose this." She motioned between the two of then with one hand. "I have never felt more loved and accepted than I do with all of you. I've pushed people away for so long. I lost my family and created a new one." She dropped her head to Rogue's shoulder. "I can't lose you guys. I wouldn't be able to live with it."
"You'll never lose us Lae. I promise. Things would never be the same without you. And I promise you even if we do get separated. We will always find each other, all of us."
Lae nodded and released a sigh. "I never thought it would feel this good to say all of that."
Rogue chuckled softly, Lae joining in with silent tears of relief running down her cheeks.
Warren nudged Remy in the side. "Think they're ok?"
Remy glanced at his feathered friend before returning his gaze out the window. Lips curved up into a smile as he watched the girls giggle and hug it out.
Remy's eyes slid closed. "They'll be alright. Everythin' will be alright."
Warren grinned in Remy's direction and spun back to the window. Movement caught his eye and he followed it, humming in thought. He paused once he recognised the male approaching the girls.
"Hold up. What's he doing?"
Remy's eyes shot back open and he glanced back at Warren who pointed out the window.
"Is dat Scott?"
White feathers twitched as Warren nodded, which had Remy raise an eyebrow. Scott normally tried to avoid their group, calling them trouble makers and a waste of breath. They scrutinized the way he spoke with them, keeping an eye on Lae as she nodded and slowly stood up. As she reached down to help Rogue she paused, turning towards Scott to most likely tell him off. It seemed that whatever he wanted Lae for, Rogue wasn't allowed.
She scoffed and helped the other girl up, locking their fingers together before continuing her argument with Scott. Eventually he relented and motioned both girls forward with a sigh. Remy and Warren watched them disappear from sight and rounded on each other.
"What the hell was that about?"
"I have no idea." Remy's lips twisted into a frown.
"Should we follow?"
"Ain't no point feathers, Mister blind eye wont let us."
"Don't call me that." His wings bristled in agitation. "But. You think they'll be ok?"
"Should be. But if they ain't, we'll go after Scott."
They shared a smirk and went back to they're respected works.
"What do you think this is about Lae?"
"I have no idea. I know it's not about my dream episode considering I didn't hurt anyone this time." Lae cast a glance at Scott's back, making sure he couldn't hear them. "But since they sent Mister 'stick up his ass' it has to be important."
"Why don't you like Scott?"
"He's such an ass to Logan. I think it's because he has pent-up sexual frustration towards him." She giggled and gave a mock thrust in his direction, earning a slap up side the head from Rogue. "Hey!"
"Shhhhh. You need to learn not to voice those thought."
"Hell no! They make life fun!"
Scott glanced over his shoulder, shaking his head at Lae's antics. This girl needed to act more her age, he scoffed, like she even knew her own age. A burning glare sent in his direction was his payment for the scoff. Rogue pulled Lae back as her foot shot out to connect with Scott's backside.
"Screw you Blind Eye! I know what your thinking! I should shove my foot so far up your-"
Rogues hand clamped over Lae's mouth before she could finish that thought. Ignoring the hand Lae continued her tirade, even though everything came out muffled. Scott rolled his eyes, he should put this insolent child in her place but Storm would kill him for it. He sighed, hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn.
Lae glanced up at Rogue with narrowed eyes, hoping she would get the message. She would lick the girl's hand to get it off her face but it would have no effect, the girl was wearing gloves. So Lae got stuck walking the rest of the way with a cool leather glove attached to her face. Scott relaxed at the silence, enjoying it for the time being because he knew the second Lae entered Xavier's office, all hell would break loose.
Curiosity lit up Lae's amber eyes when she caught sight of the familiar man and chair. What could Xavier want, he normally let Lae get away with almost everything as long as she didn't destroy his precious school... Wait did she? Lae couldn't remember.
"Ah Lae I'm glad you could join us, and you as well Rogue."
Rogue smiled and bow slightly in greeting. "Afternoon Professor."
Scott coughed. "I apologize Professor. I was unable to separate the two."
Xavier smiled. "That's quite alright Scott, Rogue can join us."
Lae nipped at Rogue's hand with one of her fangs being careful so she didn't draw blood. The brunette squeak and pulled her hand away, allowing Lae the chance to breathe. She shifted her jaw working out the stiffness that had settled in. When everything was back in order, she smiled at the Professor and gave a slight bow.
"Hey Professor. Nice to see you. Can you tell me why I'm here?"
Scott rolled his eyes, a habit of his when having to deal with the feral girl. Xavier chuckled at Lae's outburst, always straight to the point with this one.
"Before you ask Siren. You did not destroy part of the school, again."
Lae sighed and leaned back against Rogue. "Thank the Gods." She tapped her chin in thought before jolting forward with a frown. "But then why send Scott? You only send him when I did something."
"This my dear is not something you have done but something that you will be doing." Xavier wheeled around and rolled back into his office.
"I don't like the sound of that." Lae grabbed Rogue's hand and followed behind the Professor. A man leaning next to the window had her eyes narrowing into a glare. "You have got to be kidding me."
"Welcome Agent Siren." Fury stepped away from the window and Lae did not like the look on his face as the light chanced away the shadows. "I have an offer for you."