Trapped In a Bottle
Chapter 7
Enjoy.
X-_X-_X
"Alright!" shouted Rogue. She glared across to the other side of her shared bedroom, directly into the lackadaisical gaze of her room mate. "What is wrong with you, Kit?"
The girl in question was sitting very quietly on her bed, her knees pulled up and her arms wrapped fiercely around them. She had been staring very determinedly at random spots across the room, shifting her expression between anger and melancholy depression. Rogue had spoken to her twice, and received no answer. She had finally had it though.
"Ya' have been very obviously not right," Rogue glared down at the girl, striding over to her. She gave a half infuriated snarl when Kitty only looked up at her and then shifted her gaze elsewhere, closing her eyes.
Rogue took a deep breath and visibly calmed herself. She sighed outward "Come on Kitty, what's going on?"
Kitty gave an exasperated grunt, half a sob and half a snarl, and buried her face down into her knees. Rogue waited as patiently as she could. Kitty rolled her head back and forth and then finally looked up at Rogue, her face even more miserable than before.
"I'm, like, depressed Rogue!" she said. She let her legs stretch out and then flung her body down on her bed, hugging her pillow.
"What's wrong Kitty?" asked Rogue resolutely "School work? Disease? Death?"
"No," groaned Kitty, she turned over on her back. The sunlight was coming through the window in such a way that it only added to her frustration. She raised a hand to shadow her eyes. "It's Piotr."
"What about Piotr?" asked Rogue, she pushed Kitty's knees to the sit and sat down beside the brunette. She couldn't remember Gambit mentioning anything happening. "Wait," she said "Ya'll didn't break up did ya'?"
"Humph," grumbled Kitty. "I don't think so, but he certainly seems to, like, think so."
"Why?" asked Rogue incredulously, the few times she had seen the two together the Russian had appeared absolutely smitten with the valley girl. He looked at her as if he expected rainbows to suddenly sprout from her ears.
"Rogue," Kitty responded, dropping her voice low as if to not be over heard. (Rogue rolled her eyes a little) "I haven't heard from him all week, and I, like, can't get a hold of him. Not even that psychotic Aussie seems to be around."
"You've met John?" asked Rogue a little distractedly.
"Only a couple times," mumbled Kitty "Why hasn't he called me or anything Rogue?"
"Ah don't know," answered Rogue honestly. She hesitated a moment and then leaned forward to put a reassuring arm on Kitty. "Look, Kit. Ya' are a wonderful gal, and there must be some reason that Piotr aint called or nothing."
Kitty only made a passably accepting noise, and closed her eyes again, dropping the hand that was guarding against the sunlight. Rogue put a hand to her neck, thinking. Remy hadn't mentioned anything to her about hearing about trouble with his old teammates, and she knew that he still kept in contact with them, Piotr more so than John, and as far as she was aware the two were still living in the same compound.
"Well Piotr's told you about his sister right?" asked Rogue, she didn't like the bubbly girl acting like this; she wanted to find a solution, and make her roommate less miserable.
"Yeah," said Kitty. The girl opened her eyes to look up at Rogue. She looked calmer at least, it seemed like a lot of her frustration was not talking about her problem, or sharing it with anyone.
"Maybe he's left to look for his sister then?" asked Rogue.
"If that's what he's done he's still, like, not told me," said Kitty "You'd think he'd at least let me know he was…leaving."
Rogue looked alarmingly at Kitty. The last word had come out in a half sob. "Look, Kitty, Ah'm sure there's a legitimate reason for this, O.K? Piotr's not the kind of person to just fall out of contact, I'll ask Remy, O.K. Kit?"
"Yeah," Kitty said sitting up "Thanks Rogue, I'm sorry for, like, being a downer."
"Kit," the southern belle said, taking the girl by the shoulders "If Ah've learned anything lately it's that a person just can't keep all those negative things in their own head, O.K? Its right to let it out, and then people like me can help ya'."
"Thanks, Rogue," Kitty said. She turned a smile out and stood. Kitty still looked definitely put out, however she was noticeably less so than earlier. "I guess I should, like, go help Amara like I promised her."
"Alrighty," said Rogue, stressing a light air to the girl. "Ah'll talk to Remy and see what I can and then Ah guess Ah'll see you later."
Kitty just smiled, she turned and left to phase out of the room. A bounce was forcing its way back into her step.
Rogue let her lighter expression fade as she watched her room mate's foot fade out of the door. Something was definitely not right, she concluded. If even the Australian seemed to have disappeared then she doubted that this was any small thing with the broken up acolytes. Remy would know more.
X-_X-_X
"Hey Remy?" asked Rogue, somewhat hushed and out of the corner of her mouth. They were in a too quiet rec room with some of the other students. The other students and Logan, that is.
"Oui, chere?" asked the Cajun. He had a magazine opened yet unattended on his lap. They had both been previously trying to deduce the source of the Wolverine's foul mood.
"Ya' heard anything from Piotr lately?" she asked. The evening was wearing thin, and dinner was due to start soon, which, for Rogue, meant facing Kitty's melancholy mood once more.
Remy furrowed his brow, and turned to look at her, a small sliver of mild surprise on his perfectly etched visage. "Actually…non."
"Neither has Kit," said Rogue in return, she had a shadowy feeling starting to creep its way up her spine. "She's worried; she thinks he's just not contacting her."
Remy's lips pursed themselves into a very fine line. "Remy haven't heard from Johnny either," he said, the magazine slipped off his lap without him sparing it a glance. Wolverine grunted and eye balled the two of them.
"Neither has Kit," Rogue repeated, sitting forward. Her accent thickened "Ya' don't think something happened do ya'?"
"Gambit don't know," he replied. He opened and closed a fist a few times "Gambit assumed that they just got caught up in being them, in being busy or somethin.'"
"Hm," Rogue said.
"Gambit think it time to look into his teammates," continued Gambit, he turned to Rogue. "Gambit gonna' have to go back to Magneto's compound."
Rogue nodded. She didn't like the idea of it because Magneto's compound was a place that not only associated itself with Magneto and his acolytes but also with other associates of Magneto. Anything could happen while Gambit was there; she'd heard the stories before.
She was saved further comment on it however by the sudden spitting growl of Wolverine's. Both of the mutants, along with every other in the room, jumped and looked towards the Canadian man, Rogue sending a dirty look of her own along. The Canadian, however, was looking at the door, rather than the other mutants in the room.
"No!" he shouted at the door. Poor Bobby was frozen (almost quite literally) within the doorway, his face framed in terror.
"You are not allowed anywhere near Jubilee," the man continued. "After the havoc you two wreaked earlier."
Bobby looked properly ashamed however, his feet seemed to have lost the capacity to function. "Out," Wolverine growled "Now."
Well, seems that they now knew what Wolverine's problem was. Rogue rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the Cajun beside her. Jubilee was making herself scarce on the other side of the room.
"Ah hope nothing happened to Piotr," said Rogue, her brow indented, thinking of her room mate's feelings.
"Remy hope nothing happened to neither of them," he murmured back. He rose, dragging Rogue up by the arm as well. They both exited the room. Rogue bit her lip for a moment before they exited the room. She had really lost the context of what Piotr and John were to Gambit, this news probably bothered him more then he let on, they were his teammates at one point after all, he had fought, lived, and shed blood with them.
Once they got into the hall (Wolverine's eyes following them the whole way) Gambit turned, a more serious look on his face, and gripped Rogue's shoulders. "Remy go after dark, and see what's happening, no?"
"Sure," said Rogue slowly. She certainly couldn't suggest that she go along, she definitely didn't have the stealth necessary, and her punishment for leaving the grounds would be rather more severe than Gambit's.
"Gambit didn't realize anything mal was going on no?" Gambit continued "He figured the kitten was still hearing from Colossus."
Rogue nodded. It was probably a severe feeling of guilt that was hitting Gambit right then. Not having realized that something possibly dangerous was going on with his out of touch ex-teammates. Rogue quickly swirled away a small feeling of guilt. If Gambit hadn't moved into the mansion to be closer to her, then he would have realized his team mate's plight already.
"Should we tell the Professor?" asked Rogue.
"After Remy gets back," replied the Cajun, he moved them towards the stairs "If the telepath don't know before then."
"Alright," muttered Rogue. It was not the general X-Man action to not include the Professor within a problem. They'd all had somewhat dangerous consequences when the Professor or one of the other more seasoned X-Men was left out of the loop.
Gambit moved to ascend the staircase, seemingly having faith that Rogue would be following right behind him, which normally, she would be. "Swamp rat," said Rogue, from the bottom of the stairs "Dinner's gonna' start soon, if ya' aren't down here it'd be a little suspicious."
Gambit wavered. It was obvious that if he hadn't wished for some discretion from the other X-Men he would already be out the door and the high road to Magneto's old compound. He did believe in the talents of his old teammates however, he knew they could take care of themselves, and he knew that that meant he was allowed his discretion.
"Oui," replied Gambit, jogging back down the stairs "Dinner first."
X-_X-_X
Dinner that night was a typical affair. There was noise, good food, and as many small scuffles as there was people. Only the presences of Gambit, Rogue, and Kitty differed from their usual selves on any other night. Rogue was concerned for both her friend and boyfriend, Gambit preoccupied with a sense of duty, and Kitty pining for something she'd only had a taste of, and most definitely wanted more of.
If they thought this had gone unnoticed by the adults they were mistaken. The Professor, above peeking into their minds, could only fathom of the source of the shared ill emotions. Logan was frustrated with the change in attitude, and Storm felt pity for all three. The majority of the other students were the only ones that seems oblivious, Kurt had exchanged a couple looks with Scott, but that's where it had ended.
Mutant life is life that contains surprises, ones large and ones small. Naturally surprise was not going to avoid them when it had chance to do otherwise.
The security alarms sounded: There was an intruder on the premises.
Their motley dinner action was taken in unabridged by new action. The younger students immediately struggled out of the way of both the older students and the adults, and with practiced ease. The older students, those already members of the X-Men team, stood with the exhilarated fear, bordered with adrenaline, that only a youthful mind could operate with. The adults stood quicker, their minds more ingrained with years of fear and immediate action.
The Professor alone remained unchanged, looking down the table with heady observation. "Wait," he said, holding up a hand "It is an intruder, but one that certainly does not want to harm us."
"Chuck?" Wolverine growled out, his claws unsheathed "We don't have time for riddles, those alarms have a purpose."
"Please," the Professor motioned for everyone to sit "Gambit?" the Professor said "Would you mind getting the door?"
Just as Gambit was nodding resolutely the doorbell did actually ring. Many of the younger students did sit fully at that, the Professors statement and the thought that a harmful intruder certainly wouldn't press the doorbell, calmed them.
Gambit sidestepped his chair, cast a glance at Rogue and then at the Professor, and departed the dining table for the hall. His years of thieving experience had him on edge, and a small distrusting voice in the back of his head said that as the newcomer he was being sacrificed to whatever was beyond the front door. He heard someone follow him with quick steps, and a shout of "Rogue!" followed from the room he had just left.
He raised an eyebrow at her as she kept up with his quick stride to the door, and she didn't answer the brow raise, she did stop and wait for him to open the door, though. She took a defensive stance behind him.
"The Professor said this not an enemy, no?" he said to her, his voice just above a whisper.
"Yeah, yeah," said Rogue back "Open the door, swamp rat."
He did. They both stared, Rogue breaking out of her stance in shock. They heard students begin to gather into the hall behind them, unable to reign in their curiosity.
And then a shout came from behind them as well "Piotr!"
X-_X-_X
Piotr fought back an instinct to turn and run that had been ingrained in his mind for the better part of two decades. Being on the doorstep to the one Bayville mansion that had been a malevolent zone for his health previously, made his current situation all the more nerve wracking for him.
He set down the small burlap sack that he had, and looked wearily into the mansion, his eyes stopping and revolving for a tender moment on Kitty. "Comrade," he said his voice low and his eyes spearing imploringly into Gambit's own "Things have happened these last few days that you are unaware of."
"Piotr," said Gambit, he still seemed stunned to see his old teammate standing on the door.
"Where've you been?" Kitty suddenly squawked, rushing forward to join the other's at the door. The rest of the X-Men shifted, tittered, and looked to the Professor to see what they should do. The Professor's focus, however, was entirely on the four people in the doorway.
Piotr embraced Kitty, closing his eyes in a feeling of serenity for just a moment before reopening them. Apparently Kitty had already told him that the rest of the X-Men knew she was seeing him, as he wasn't looking worriedly through the doorway at them. "Perhaps," He said to Gambit, Rogue, and Kitty "We can step outside for a moment, much has happened."
"Gambit thought he was gonna' have to come rescue y', mon ami," he said, looking the Russian over.
"I am sorry," he responded "I know I must have worried you…both (he looked at Kitty) because of no communication, however it was unavoidable. I will explain…outside."
Privacy seemed to be the point that he was getting across and Gambit and Rogue exchanged a look, Kitty already tugging Piotr's arm to get them away from the doorway like he wanted.
"Just a minute," Wolverine's gruff voice sounded from the group. Piotr looked up and caught the Professor's eyes before his attention shifted to the owner of the voice. It was undoubted that the Professor was picking up whatever was being broadcasted. "I think you better tell us why you're here, bub, before you go running off with ours."
Rogue nearly smiled, nearly. It was tempting to give Gambit a teasing stare at Wolverine's words. Gambit was considered one of 'ours' now, and by Wolverine no less. Gambit however, began to refute the need for Piotr to explain anything.
"No," said the Professor, raising a hand and giving Logan a calming smile "I think it is best if we have a chat with Mr. Rasputin, even if it is just to insure his own well being."
Logan looked triumphant. Piotr himself was looking as if he were struggling with what to say, his facial expression the embodiment of stuck between a rock and a hard place. Kitty looked up at him and leaned in to whisper "If you don't want to, you, like, don't have to."
"No," he responded, letting out a breath "I may need help, and I was thinking about having a conversation with the Professor anyway."
Kitty nodded and grabbed his free hand and he bent to pick up his small sack, taking a step into the doorway. Rogue and Gambit stepped back to let them pass, Gambit grinning. Rogue closed the door. Gambit sauntered alongside Piotr, slapping an arm around his shoulder.
"Remy glad to see he don't have to go rescue y' Russian behind," he said quietly.
Piotr smiled softly, however there was still some hesitation behind it. "Thank you, my friend."
Rogue couldn't quite bring herself to be as happy as the other three; she frowned at the collection of X-Men still in the hall. They were whispering, and eyeing the Russian man with suspicion. Had she ever been that bad? She supposed her had. She glared at them and followed the others; The Professor was leading them to his office.
Gambit turned and caught Rogue's eyes, grinning and letting Piotr bypass him. He caught up Rogue's arm and led the both of them jauntily to the Professor's office. Rogue couldn't help but smile back, she was glad she'd gotten the chance to change, for things like this.
X-_X-_X
"Alright," said the Professor. He wheeled over towards his desk but stopped before actually being behind it, he looked at them, everyone forming a haphazard circle. Storm had gathered the X-Men back into the dining room, Cyclops looking imperiously out on the scene, and Wolverine and Beast had accompanied the Professor and the four teenagers into his office.
Piotr immediately began speaking. "I am sorry for intruding; I only wished to speak to my comrade, and to Kitty, about certain things that had happened the past few days."
"I think I will be able to lend you some aid, if you will only explain what has happened," responded the Professor, Wolverine crossed his arms.
"Please," said Piotr "It is not anything that requires so much attention."
"Piotr," said Kitty "Just tell us what happened. I was so, like, worried about you!"
"I am sorry," said Piotr softly. He looked up at the others "You see, Magneto's compound was set afire."
"Quoi?" demanded Gambit, Rogue stiffened. Wolverine and Hank exchanged a look, however the Professor remained calm. "Is the Magneto back?"
Colossus shook his head at Gambit. "There is no need to be worried," he said "It was actually much less dramatic."
"Sunshine," said Rogue "Ah think ya' better just get on with it."
"How can I say this?" Piotr mumbled to himself. "Well, John burned the compound down, only I did not know it was John at the time, my first thought, too, was that in some strange occurrence Magneto had reappeared."
Gambit looked stunned "Why the hell would Johnny burn the compound down?"
Piotr rubbed a hand to his temple. Wolverine didn't look pleased on the other side of the room; however the Professor just shook his head at him. It appeared as if he was content to let the teenagers talk more amongst themselves, it no longer appeared as if anything threatening had occurred.
"Well," Piotr said "The Scarlet Witch came to the compound, certain that her father was actually there. To make this long tale shorter, she and John began to fight, and then found that they both enjoyed a good dose of utter chaos."
"Wanda burned the compound down with John?" demanded Rogue.
"Unfortunately," admitted Piotr.
"You've got to be kidding me!" said Kitty; she looked around at the others. "In what world does something like that seriously happen?"
Piotr eyed his girlfriend wearily but didn't say anything until she let out a laugh. It was unclear at first as to whether she was angry or not, he was relieved to find out that it was 'not.'
"So why were y' outta' contact?" Gambit asked. He looked at if he were caught between incredulous and bemused.
"I was the only one out of the loop," Piotr looked frustrated saying that "I went into hiding, and it was only after a day and a half of tracking down John that I realized it was he that was responsible."
Gambit shook his head. "Sometimes," said Rogue "Life is just too much."
"But you're O.K?" asked Kitty.
"Yes," Piotr said softly, squeezing the girls hand "Kitten."
"Well I am glad to see that you are O.K." said The Professor, Wolverine snorted. "However, where is your friend John?"
Gambit raised a brow at Piotr.
"He has moved into the brotherhood house," said Piotr "With the Scarlet Witch."
Both Gambit and Rogue let out a laugh. "You're fooling me!" said Rogue.
"I'm afraid not," said Piotr. "With there no longer being a Magneto, or a compound, he was free to follow his hearts content."
Rogue laughed again, the Scarlet Witch was a person that always surprised her. Who new that she would be the one person that could deal with a person like St. John Allerdyce?
"Wait," said Kitty "Piotr, where are you living then."
"Well," said Piotr slowly. He looked around the room a moment, his eyes flickering to each of the adults. "I'm living in a hotel for now however I have been thinking, and it has been wavering, that…I might talk to the Professor."
Kitty couldn't believer her ears. She was certain that he was saying what she thought he was saying. She had been jealous when Gambit had moved into the mansion, she could admit it. If what Piotr was saying was what she was thinking…
Gambit himself looks a little gob smacked. He certainly hadn't expected this turn of events. He raised an eyebrow at Wolverine; who glared at him in turn. It was certainly a turn of events.
"I would be delighted to speak privately with you," said the Professor.
"Why Charles," said Beast softly in an aside "I daresay you knew that this was going to happen all along.
Professor Xavier rose a brow in turn "I daresay it was," he responded with a smile.
"Alright, children," said Dr. McCoy "Let's leave the room so that they might be able to have their conversation shall we?"
Everyone filed out like they were told. Rogue grinning at Kitty, who looked shocked, and not quite sure whether she could believe what was happening.
"Thank God for people with a bit o' insanity, right Kit?" she teased the girl. Kitty laughed with her, a sporadic laugh, she laughed a couple more time. It seemed as if she was finally realizing that something great was happening to her.
"I'm so happy, Rogue," she whispered.
"Ah'm glad," Rogue responded. She smiled.
X-_X-_X
The teenagers were still in the hall when Piotr finally emerged from the Professors office. Gambit had tried to use his trained thieving skills to eavesdrop on what was happening in the room but it was to no avail. Well, it did greatly amuse Rogue.
"Piotr?" asked Kitty, jumping up with excitement.
The Professor smiled and said "I'll be in my office if anyone needs anything," before closing the door and allowing Piotr to respond to the girl fidgeting at his side.
"Kitty," he said, he clasp her head in his hands "I am going to begin living here in the mansion, with you and the rest of the X-men, but-."
Kitty jumped in the air and circled her arms around him before he could finish his sentence. "This is good news, mon ami," said Gambit.
"Nice move, Piotr," said Rogue, her southern drawl hinting at what she wanted it to.
"But," said Piotr, he looked at the group and maneuvered Kitty off of him. "I need to go do something first."
"What?" asked Kitty softly, looking crestfallen.
"Kitty," said Piotr, his Russian voice a guttural murmur "Magneto had abducted my sister, and I believe I know where he may have been hiding her. I need to find her, and make sure my family is safe. After that I promise, I am returning here, and I am going to join the X-Men and help the future of all those that will one day awaken their mutant genes."
Kitty's tears leaked over the edge of her eyes. Gambit and Rogue looked at each other, Rogue looked concerned and Gambit had an unhappy look on his face.
"I understand," said Kitty softly. "You promise to come back?"
"Of course," Piotr said "Of course."
"Fine," Kitty took a deep breath and then let out an awkward giggle. "Well," she said tugging his arm towards the stairs "You can't go on a rescue mission without getting a good night's sleep."
Piotr smiled, and hugged the girl to him as they ascended the stairs.
"Ah feel bad for Kit," said Rogue, she knotted her fingers through Gambit's.
"Don't be, chere," Gambit replied, he smirked at her. "Colossus made a promise, no? He'll be back, and the kitty cat'll be happy then."
"Ah hope you're right," said Rogue, leaning into his side.
"Of course Gambit right, chere," said Gambit, laughing smugly. "Besides," he glanced up to the disappearing outlines of their friends "Gambit sees a new future for the X-Men."
X-_X-_X
Sorry this took much longer than I originally thought it was going to. A few exams came up that I didn't realize were going to, and then I thought my computer was dead and gone.
I hope you enjoyed.
AnimeSiren