Trapped in A Bottle

Chapter 8

Enjoy

Disclaimer: No character or place in this story is mine, simply the plot.

X-_X-_X

The breakfast table was very quiet the next morning, and much less crowded than usual. However the volume of students didn't have anything to do with the volume of noise. It was the depressive air that over road the table, that quenched the noise that sought to squeak out. There had been some attempts at usual breakfast conversation, but those attempts had failed readily.

Only the older students and the instructors were present that morning. The younger students had either avoided a full group breakfast on their own, or had no doubt been urged to eat earlier by one of the instructors. Piotr was leaving after breakfast, driving to the coast and catching a cargo freighter that was captained by an old friend of his. He would be gone for an indefinite amount of time.

Kitty sighed, chocking back a sob.

She and Piotr had hooked hands underneath the table but even that small comfort couldn't make her disparaging depression lift. Her pancakes sat in front of her, untouched. Even the sun coming in from the window across from her didn't help to lift her heart; it only served to annoy her.

Rogue looked up from her own half eaten plate and caught Remy's eye offering him an uneasy look. Both of their friends had attracted to the other almost immediately, and they were both very delicate, kind people, even though Piotr could punch through a steel wall. This separation might do something irreversible to Kitty.

"They don' look like the only two tense up, no?" Gambit whispered into her ear, his arm slung around the back of her chair. His voice kicked up a few strands of her hair and tickled her ear.

It was true though, she looked down the table at the instructors. They all had vaguely disconcerted looks on their faces. Even Wolverine, usually not put off in such manners, had a roughed up look to his visage, more so than the usual. However neither Scott nor Jean had overly concerned looks on their faces either, just uncomfortable ones. Kurt was mowing down, though hadn't chosen to utter a word.

The Professor must have sensed Remy's thoughts, or perhaps the general emotional consensus of the table was enough, but he was spurred into speaking just a few minutes later. "Now," he began "I know that we may all be feeling a little effected because of recent change."

The table looked back at him. Or at least everyone except Remy did, he was observing the others, and nuzzling half heartedly into Rogue's shoulder.

"Piotr," he said, the attention shifted some "I know that this journey will be difficult for you, but please, remember that you now have the full weight of the X-Men's resources at your disposal."

"Yes Professor," said Piotr, his Russian voice softening what were probably harder emotions behind the words. "Thank you."

"It is no problem of course," the Professor responded "And we must all realize (his voice gained volume and his eyes went specifically to Kitty) that Piotr may very well be back with us sooner than we think."

Kitty nodded, attempting to smile up at the Professor. Wolverine spoke though "Don't worry half pint, I'm gonna' keep you so busy in DR that you won't have time to miss that acolyte."

Rogue smiled at Wolverine's unexpected show of tenderness and Kitty giggled a bit and smiled back at Wolverine as well.

"Also," the Professor continued. His face looked harder, and his eyes let on that he was about to speak about something that he didn't want to. "I have some news that some of you may react strongly to."

Kurt put his fork back down, looking at the Professor. Storm folded her hands in her lap, closing her eyes and putting her head down some. It was evident that whatever the instructors were feeling strongly about that morning was about to be revealed to before them.

"This morning, in a special congressional summit, something quite tragic was put into motion."

Rogue very carefully set her fork down. She felt that emotion that nobody liked. In hurricane Katrina this was the feeling of the adults, who'd tried to weather the storm and then realized the truth a split second before they failed. The calm before the storm was something that no mutant enjoyed experiencing.

Wolverine shook his head in disgust and the Professor continued. "This morning a Bill concerning Mutants was passed by congress, and awaits a final stamp of approval by the President."

Kitty paled even further, Gambit leaned forward on the table a great scowl on his face. "What type of legislation, Professeur?"

"If this bill is not vetoed then all mutants will have to be identified," the Professor held up a hand "Just registration, there will be no medieval branding."

"Also," he continued "Mutant rights will be in question. Mutants will be subject to subjective rights. We could be held in police custody indefinitely, we can no longer be subject to trial by jury, and the military, federal, and local authorities will be armed with anit-mutant weapons."

"How did this get so far?" said Kurt jumping up. Kitty cast a look at the window as if she half expected mutant bounty hunters to burst through the glass at any moment.

"By the manipulative powers of several anti-mutant senators," said the Professor. "Now this bill was passed by only a slight majority, and mainly through back door deals. It will go public tomorrow, only by luck did a friend contact me with this news so as for us to be prepared."

"What's gonna' happen to us?" asked Rogue.

"The President still has to finalize or veto the bill," said Storm soothingly. "And he has given no indication of which way things will go. We are hoping with the correct amount of diplomacy we can cast this bill off and get the Mutant Rights legislation pushed back into consideration."

"So are we going to Washington?" asked Rogue, she looked between Hank and the Professor "We can demonstrate right? March or somethin' to fight this!"

"Ororo and I are departing for Washington," said the Professor "We thought it best that Logan and Henry remain here in the event that you students need…a more experienced hand."

"Y' think people gonna' be showin' up and fightin' us here, no?" asked Gambit.

Wolverine tightened "It's a possibility bub, you can't ever have too much faith in a world leader, and so we have to be prepared."

Rogue's peripherals had her looking at Kitty the next moment. There were silent tears running down the girls face. Colossus had her in his arms. "Don't go," she heard Kitty whisper against him. Colossus' face saddened.

"I will be back as soon as is possible, Professor," said Colossus standing. "I think it is best that I leave as soon as possible."

"Yes," the Professor nodded. His eyes swept the table; he seemed relieved that Kitty was the only one that was having much difficulty with this. "I want you older students to help the younger ones understand this. It is an attack on our kind though not one that the children will understand, they'll feel threatened."

"Of course, Professor," said Kurt, his accent thick. Colossus was exiting the room, Kitty behind him. Rogue watched them and then returned her attention back to the Professor.

"What happens if something happened while ya'll are gone?" asked Rogue "What happens when we have to fight to protect ourselves?

The Professor's face drained of much of his emotion and his eyes hardened like they rarely did. His voice became very level and everyone locked eyes with. "Understand," he said, his eyes locking with the students "This institution was set up to be a safe haven for you students, and anyone that sought solace, shelter, and understanding. Leave the rest to the instructors," he nodded to Beast and Wolverine.

"Charles and I will be leaving after breakfast," said Ororo, her calm visage was rumpled.

Rogue stood, and Remy spoke "I t'ink breakfast is over now," he said "Don't t'ink no one wanna' eat after dat news. We' do our piece, y' do yours."

"C'mon, Kurt," said Rogue "Let's go find Kit."

"Make sure," said the Professor as Kurt stood to exit the room "When the news breaks tomorrow—keep the students calm, and reassured."

Rogue nodded "Like Remy said," she said "We'll do our piece."

X-_X-_X

Remy contemplated the carpet underneath his feet and he strode (rather strutted) down the girl's wing main hall. It was plush and crimson color, and it was also a material that invoked all sorts of memories in Remy. This kind of carpeting ran for thousands of square feet in many of the richer New Orleans mansions, so suffice to say he'd had his feet on it before, legally or otherwise.

Thoughts of New Orleans invariably led him to thoughts of thievery, memories good and bad, and thoughts of what all that had left with him. He did miss New Orleans, but he wasn't quite sure New Orleans missed him much. This trouble with the mutant bill just brought up more memories of New Orleans.

He had been the only mutant thief in a city that craved power. Soon the chaos of the New Orleans underground would be the chaos of the entire Mutant world. He'd make sure to keep Rogue safe, with all his energy.

Rogue was with Kitty, the two were in an a pile of limbs on Kitty's bed, Kitty sobbing, and Rogue trying to understand what she was going through. It was best to leave girls to themselves, Kitty didn't need him sitting and shuffling cards in the corner. He too would miss Colossus, but then again Colossus wasn't the apparent love of his life.

Rogue had always surprised him. A shy girl stuck in a feisty personality? It had been a shot of lightning to his puzzle solving heart. Of course, the southern belle had stuck in his head, and he found himself entranced. The most intoxicating part was that he still learned just a bit more about Rogue everyday. One day, when things were peaceful and calm, he'd like to take Rogue down to see New Orleans, show her his life, the part he loved.

And then, those thoughts led him back to thoughts of the things about New Orleans that he had hated. Then his eyes dropped back to the plush scarlet carpet. Yes, his life was a life of intricacy. Then he rounded the corner by the stair case and heard somewhat hushed voices.

He backed up against the wall immediately, years of ingraining certain reactions into his mind still paid off. To the untrained ear the hushed voices might only be senseless voice highs and lows, however this trained thief could hear each word clear as day.

"Will you two be safe?" it was Dr. McCoy's voice. It was strained with worry, and a deep, deep caring. The man was truly was of the gentlest creatures on this planet, his appearance twisted that in an ironic way.

"I'm certain we will be fine," said Ororo "The bill has not passed quite yet."

"I am sure we will be fine as well," came the Professor's voice.

Remy heard Hank make a noise in retort, it seemed dissatisfied. "What do you think will happen Charles?"

"I'm not certain," replied the Professor slowly "Hopefully we can convince at least a few to vote the other way should it come up again, of course that depends on the President vetoing the bill."

"It'll probably be announced early tomorrow, right Chuck?" came Logan's low growl of a voice. Remy nodded to himself, that's what they said earlier; when they told them they'd have to be prepared for the chaos that ensued afterwards.

"Yes, in all likely hood."

"And you think you two will be safe down there in all this?" Logan snorted.

"I understand your worry, Logan. However hopefully dignity and decorum will stand yet still," replied the Professor.

There was a silence, and Remy peeked around the corner and down just in time to see Ororo open the door. The Professor moved as if to move through the door, but then paused and stopped.

"Should we fail," he said "This may be the start of a war mankind has not seen before."

No one replied to him and Remy frowned. He moved back around the corner and heard the door click shut.

"Don't worry, furball," Wolverine's gruff voice echoed up the stair and into the hall. Remy heard Wolverine slap a hand onto Hank's back "I've done war before. It's nothing to get your panties in a bunch about."

Remy moved silently away, and left the scene by way of an adjoining hall. So the adults were having some doubts and worries? Not quite putting up the united front they had earlier that day. It might very well be up to the students to take this bull by the horns.

X-_X-_X

Rogue's concentration wasn't the greatest that afternoon. She had left Kitty in a half way better position; however the girl was still desperately saddened. It didn't help that there was an overwhelming feeling of doom hanging over the mansion, and many of them were dreading the next day when hell was sure to break loose.

Sometimes when she practiced subduing, or rather controlling her powers, she was able to feel something envelope her. After a few days of practice she realized that the feeling was the feeling of touch. Or rather, it was when all her tension melted, and her trust in her own powers rose.

The first time it had happened, the machine attached to her ankle had beeped, causing her to lose her concentration, and Wolverine's unconscious body to fall to the floor. The Professor had been thrilled though.

Rogue sighed. Thinking about working harder was doing nothing for actually working harder.

"Kick it, stripes," Wolverine said. Rogue cracked her eyes open. Normally Wolverine didn't break into her concentration, waiting for her to reach out for his flesh. She didn't think she'd ever be able to thank him enough for working with her.

"Why?" asked Rogue, had Wolverine really noticed her attention slipping that much? "Ah'm fine."

Wolverine stood. "You're getting exhausted, besides it won't be much good considering we won't be practicing for awhile."

"What?" exclaimed Rogue, her drawl deepening.

"Kid, we're just not gonna' be able to."

"Why?"

"None of us can afford to be down on our stamina in the next few days, in case something happens," Wolverine replied, he rubbed his hand across his stubble. "When Chuck gets things settled down again practice will start up again."

Rogue just nodded, of course he made sense.

"Come on," Wolverine said, making a motion towards the door "That means no DR."

"Why you must be heart broken," snorted Rogue, getting up and walking towards the door.

Wolverine snorted back at her.

She stretched a little and made to leave the room.

"Hey stripes," Logan called, and she ducked her head back in the door. "You are very close to being able to touch, so don't sweat it, alright?"

Rogue smiled and then let a grin fly "Merci."

Logan let himself smile as she left the room. "That damn cajun's rubbing off on her," he grumbled to himself.

X-_X-_X

"So no more practice den?" confirmed Remy. He and Rogue lay on her bed; Kitty had been summoned by the younger girls for fashion advice, though it was apparent they just wanted to keep her occupied, and if they could, happy.

Rogue nodded. She had told him what had transpired that afternoon. "He said Ah was close though, that this machine really is doing its job."

"Dat's good," Remy said softly. He turned his head towards her and studied her furrowed brow. "You got the power in you, chere, dis machine just gonna' help for awhile."

"Ah now," said Rogue uneasily.

Remy didn't really have anything else to say to her just then. He really thought that it'd be best to leave her with her thoughts, and let her sort them out in her way. Rogue was a complex gal, and he loved every bit of it, right down to her furrowed brow.

"Ya' know," she said, breaking their silence "With all this mutant mumbo jumbo going about now, it almost seems like it ain't worth learnin' to control my powers."

"'Course it worth it, Chere," Remy hurriedly reassured her, rising to lean on his elbow. "Y' want to learn to control y' powers, fo' you."

"That's true, Remy," she said. Then she smiled. "It'll be so nice to be able to touch again."

Remy hummed in response.

"Ya' don't know," she said leaning up on her side "How people can take somethin' as simple as a touch for granted."

"What Remy wouldn't do to be able to touch y' face with his bare hand," Gambit said, running the back of his gloved hand down her face.

"Ya' wanna' know the real reason Kitty didn't apply to go to college and all that?" Rogue asked suddenly, her voice dipped lower than even Remy's tenderness the moment before.

"Pourquoi?"

"It wasn't to stay and help form the X-Men into a stronger unit;" Rogue replied "She was scared of what would happen with her alone at college, in world full anti-mutant supporters."

"Surely dere be some friendly to mutant types in that higher education scene, no?" asked Gambit back.

"Kitty was too scared."

Remy hummed this time, but it wasn't the content noise from before, it was an uneasy rumble. "She should have gone if she wanted to; dere is a world outside of the X-Men."

"She knows," whispered Rogue "We all know. Scott and Jean, they're gonna' get married someday and make disgustingly red haired babies, and everyone else is gonna' have a life too. But not if this mutant bill goes through."

"What's y' life gonna' be, cherie?" asked Remy, he traced her face again.

"Ah don't know," she replied. "Ah'm leavin' soon as it's possible though."

"Where y' gonna' go?"

"Ah don't know that either," she smirked "Maybe some place cold, maybe some place warm, maybe even some place where it rains all day."

"Y' should see N'Awlins, it de most beautiful place on Earth," Gambit said, his voice took on a slight tilt of nervousness.

"Ah've been there," Rogue laughed "Or don't ya' remember, swamp rat?"

Remy chuckled too. "Well y' should see it when you haven't been kidnapped."

"Maybe," she replied.

"Remy goin' back someday, just fo' a little while," Gambit said.

"Ah thought ya' father tried to use ya' powers while ya' were there?" Rogue asked.

"Oui," Remy replied "But there mo' than my pere there."

Remy licked his lips "Maybe y' wanna' see it wit Remy some day?"

Rogue grinned, trying not to let Remy see "That might be possible, Cajun, it just might be."

Remy smiled, and tried not to whoop out loud.

"For now," Rogue said sitting up and groaning "It's about time for dinner."

"Ah yes," Remy said, rising with grace. "Can't make all the kiddies nervous by not showing up, now can we?"

"Or something like that," Rogue laughed swatting at him.

Remy smirked.

X-_X-_X

I'm really not good at this scheduled update thing am I? Hope you enjoyed.