Thank you all for your comments on the alternative narration of Essex and Remy – I like to experiment with forms and knowing that I pulled it off is very gratifying! Rogue presents so many opportunities given the psyches in her head.
Lapin, er Bayou Bunny, was a big hit! Oh, he's so much fun to play with, gonna miss him in New Orleans…
Lots of you also appreciated the comparison between Jott and Romy made by Rogue – the 'something' they have. Jott do have drama, they just have very different personalities and far less personal baggage. But Rogue's still at the point she's resigning herself to what kind of relationship she can have with Remy - and that will be dealt with. The comment is a bit sad and I'm going to explore that contrast more in the sequel – which yes, I will be writing.
Favorite new nickname – from Chica De Los Ojos Café: "Southern Spices and Spitfires that are Rogue and Remy." I think I'd say vice-versa – Remy's the spice and Rogue's the spitfire!
The thought to ponder – from thriller:
"In the end, after all this...will Rogue be able to touch? and will she have Remy to touch?"
Thanks to all my lovely reviewers!! I love you and you helped me so much with this fic!
Randirogue, Elindrah (visceral! i love that word!), X-Storm (thanks!), Hubristic Chick, Crazy Mishka, cocopucks, Ele Goddess of Elements, Bellasaurs (it is cute), Coldqueen (oh yeah! And ew!!), Ishandahalf (I think I'm getting better with action sequences, so yay!), lovestoread, Doesn't Matter (jazz hands?), kk hdtwfmtsdnehfwpawtnbwam, allyg1990, pickingwildflowers2, ashez2ashes, deadsnowwhite, tfobmv18, thriller, cream tea anyone, greykupo, vintage demigoddess, Chica De Los Ojos Café (yeah, visceral writing! And I love if you read & review at the same time. –smile- to the rest.)
Warning: this chapter is not completely linear.
And finally at last:
-
21) All roads
-
-
"Who are we dealing with?"
"Call 'em the Marauders. Six of 'em. They're to infiltrate the tunnels, then exterminate the Morlocks." Rogue kept talking as if the sound of her voice could drown out the meaning of it. "Riptide, male," she closed her eyes. "Whirling dervish throwing out some kind of nasty sharp things. Harpoon, male, name's from his weapon – but it turns into something, some kind of energy." Her forehead wrinkled as she tried to retrieve information, pulling up pictures and scattered thoughts. "Arclight, female, something about – shockwaves? Vertigo, female, blonde."
"Lemme guess, causes vertigo?" Despite everything, Lapin managed a grin.
"Scalphunter, male, lots'a weapons." She frowned, feeling a flicker from Remy's psyche. Some kind of – connection? There was no time. She pushed it aside. "The weapons design'd ta go right through defenses, even mutant. One hit an' dat's it."
Shadowcat shuddered. "Scalphunter? He doesn't like, actually go for scalps does he?"
"That's five," Cyclops said with a frown, as always only focused on the mission. Nightcrawler patted the brunette on the arm reassuringly.
Rogue shrugged helplessly. "I cin see one, but don't t'ink he's a fighta." The statement caused an exchange of looks.
Cyclops gave a short nod, eyes flicking over the ensemble. "This wasn't what we expected," he told them needlessly. Shadowcat hugged herself. "But we've dealt with situations like this. Once we get into the tunnels, we split into teams. Announce yourselves as X-Men as soon as you see, hear or sense anyone around you. The Marauders will attack regardless, but the Morlocks should stand down. Keep in mind an exit at all times – we are trying to assist escapes as well as defend. Same teams as last time, but Wolverine you're solo." Wolverine grunted. Rogue had seen them talk quietly earlier and she had no doubt he had his own private mission. She bit her lip. Remy wouldn't be involved, not as soon as he realized, she knew that…
Lapin's bo-staff spiraled out as his face set.
"Y' ain't leavin' m' here."
Cyclops had anticipated this response. "This is mutant combat Lapin and-"
"In de close quarters, I be more a help. Got de staff an' m' fists. An' I intend t' find my kin." Their eyes locked in a long look.
Watching them, Wolverine stated, "I ain't takin' him."
"He can come with me," Jean said. "This way I'll have a partner and we can cover each other."
They shared their own long look and Rogue knew an argument was raging in the silent realm. But Cyclops' frown just deepened and it was clear who won.
"Fine, but just remember what happened with Sinister." Rogue managed a weak smile. So now he was Sinister. "Mutants have advantages-"
Lapin snorted. "I tangled wit' 'ssaisans before." Rogue felt Cyclops' gaze rest on her, despite his obscuring visor, but she didn't say anything.
"Fine," Cyclops grit out. "We meet here by three. If you need to talk, get above ground. Communication gets screwed up down there. However, emergency contact can be made with Jean. Rogue, you think you can handle a link?" She knew he was asking about Essex's powers. Tendrils of power were still there; she nodded blankly.
"Let's go."
And they descended into the darkness.
-
"Where are they?" Harpoon said impatiently, adjusting his grip on his harpoon.
"Maybe it be dere naptime." Harpoon shot Gambit a scowl, while Arclight just rolled her eyes as the group came to a stop.
"They are underground, they could be on a different schedule," Scrambler said hesitantly, unconsciously wringing his hands as the group focused on him. "But we do have the resting chambers scouted."
"Wouldn't be so imprecise if I'd had a hand in recon," Gambit said, leaning against a slippery wall with all the nonchalance of being in a lounge.
"Yes, but you were occupied elsewhere, weren't you?" Riptide's voice was chilly. Arms crossed against his chest, his collection of stars winked in and out of the dim light.
Vertigo's lips turned into a frown, her full lips almost pouting. "Yeah, weren't y' too busy screwin' 'round with the, what are they called," freshly manicured nails ticked against her mouth, "X-twerps?"
Gambit raised an eyebrow, refusing to let the jibe slide under his skin. "Meanwhile, you were screwin' round-" Vertigo's eyes flashed and Scalphunter raised a hand.
"Enough. We'll split up. Riptide, you're with Arclight. Head towards the living quarters. Vertigo, you're with Harpoon. Head off the main exit." Harpoon leered, but Vertigo just tossed her hair, 'whatever.'
"What about me?" Scrambler rubbed his hands nervously.
"Stay here. If we need you for someone's powers, we'll call for you."
"By myself?" His voice squeaked. There were snickers.
"Just lie low."
The group split. Gambit followed Scalphunter. He'd known the man would pick him and he caressed the card in his hand.
-
The roll of his stomach was the first sign the pair he and Shadowcat had stumbled upon weren't Morlocks.
"X-twerps, oh this is going to be fun!" a bright voice practically chirped. He just glimpsed a glow off blond hair from the light of the holed pothole above them when Shadowcat grabbed him. Tugging him back, he felt the always unnerving sensation of becoming indescribably light and unreal. But the lessening of his headache made him realize the benefit. A sudden bright streak erupted from the shadows and nearly sliced him in half – would have if he'd been totally present. He winced as it sliced into the wall beyond him. And there was that benefit too. There was a grumbling to his far left and he took another step back, unnervingly realizing his feet was sliding through the floor to do so.
"Thanks Shadowcat," he murmured. "But I need to disarm them. On three, you go into the wall." He felt her nod, a ghost of a sensation that rippled through their mutually incorporeal bodies. The flicker of blonde reappeared, stepping into a crack of light to peer into the gloom hiding the X-Men. "One, two – three" he sunk to his knees, refusing to let his dizziness deter him from unleashing a wide optical arc.
The woman gave an inarticulate cry, her body thudding into the ground, and the feeling of disorientation disappeared so abruptly that Cyclops' head whirled and he had to grip the wall next to him.
Shadowcat reappeared in the shrand light, leaning down to check on Vertigo – and Cyclops cursed out loud.
"Shadow-" but his warning came too late. Another flash of silver rippled through the dark, a gleeful chuckle and Shadowcat arched in a scream. "SHADOWCAT!" He leapt to his feet, meeting the next aimed harpoon with a fiery blast of his optics. It was going to take more to disarm him and recklessly, his finger spun the dial of his visor. His next blast obliterated the harpoon and the slam of the man's body was audible even over the rush of blood in Cyclops' ears. He could smell burning, but Harpoon wasn't his concern.
Shadowcat was shuttering, her body spasming over the inert form of Vertigo. "Shadowcat? Kitty?" His eyes immediately lifted to the manhole, trying to map out if they'd come up in an alley or street. The ceiling rumbled lightly – a street. He cursed again.
Jean?
-
He smelled the blood long before he reached the body. There was no light in this patch of the tunnels, but Wolverine's senses easily accommodated.
He crouched down, careful not to touch the remains. A dagger to the gut, dead from the piercing, not bleeding out. The man's face was calm, eyes closed, hands half-curled.
Red?
Yes Wolverine?
Found one of 'em. He's dead.
Do you know which one?
He took stock of the wide range of weapons, knives, clubs, hatchets and some metal contraptions – one bloodied, that layered some kind of body armor.
Scalper, pretty sure.
One down – he didn't think she meant for him to hear the thought as it was low like a mutter. There was a pause. Cyclops says to meet up with Rogue and Nightcrawler – he just neutralized Vertigo and Harpoon. Shadowcat is hurt so he's going to bring her to the Morlocks' medlab. Rogue and Kurt will need help if they find the other two.
Will do.
His eyes flicked to the blood-splattered wall beyond him.
He knew who that blood belonged to.
-
Jean rubbed her forehead before easing her stiff hands off it. It was times like this she felt like a glorified com link. Still, at least she'd been able to orient her fiancée to the medlab. She turned to inform her partner of the newest development.
"Wolverine just found- Lapin?"
Her head swiveled and confirmed Lapin was nowhere to be seen. "Dammit." Scott was soo going to tell her 'I told you so.'
Lapin felt a little bad for abandoning the fellow redhead, but he'd told them what his top priority was: Remy. He carefully peered around the corner of the next tunnel, keeping a close eye on the little screen fitted neatly beneath a sliding panel, strategically located at grip level of the bo-staff.
The staff wasn't actually his; adamantium wasn't that easy to come by. Jean-Luc had gifted the multi-faceted staffs to his two sons upon their passing the Tilling and formal Guild acceptance. Among other conveniences, the staffs had trackers specifically constructed to work together – however, they were only intended for short range. Jean-Luc didn't want the tracers to ever be able to be used against the Thieves. But for that reason only had Henri lent his to Lapin.
Now if he could just figure out which tunnel would actually bring him closer to Remy instead of sending him on a trail ending in the opposite direction… Did the X-Men always go into missions with such little prep?
Preoccupied, he nearly ended up tripping over hunched figure. "'ello?" he said breathily, trying to squint into the darkness. The form shuddered. "Er, not gonna 'urt you." He hesitated to call himself an X-Man. Spending the last twelve hours with them, he'd come to a greater appreciation of them. "Look, y'd be betta off hittin' de streets 'til de Marauders an' Morlocks finish dukin' it out. T'ink dere's an exit street-side, alley way back de way I come." Quite overlooking the fact any Morlocks would know all the exits, he felt pleased with himself as the boy immediately followed the direction.
And Scrambler scuttled out of the sewers.
-
For such a tiny slip of a thing, Shadowcat was actually pretty heavy. Of course, he came to this conclusion after staggering down the fifth tunnel with her slumped in his arms. She spasmed every few moments, the times in between increasing as time went on. Cyclops tried to see that as a positive sign. "Gotta lay off the muffins Kitty," he muttered, pausing against one of the walls.
He immediately tensed as the echo of approaching footsteps. Gritting his teeth, he gently lowered Shadowcat to rest against the wall. His hand went to his visor as the end of the tunnel became luminescent, a dim glow of some kind of light source approaching. Hopefully not more Marauders with lighting.
Turning the corner, he was blinded. "This is the X-Men," he announced, his voice clear. He was about to continue but-
"Scott?" It took a minute for Cyclops to place the voice. His hand dropped from his visor and he squinted.
"Evan?"
The bony form became clear as his eyes adjusted. Spyke broke into a grin, before it fell. "Cyclops, what are you guys doing here? And now?"
There was another body behind Spyke – and the glint of red eyes was enough for Cyclops. Gambit was pinned against the wall before Spyke could even finish his second question. The thief didn't resist though, spreading his hands out non-threateningly. His finger tensed on his visor.
Spyke was at his side. "Dude, isn't he an X-Man?" He reached and tugged at Gambit's coat, revealing the metal X the former Acolyte had affixed to his shoulder upon his switch. It glinted in the lantern's glow, stark against the deep red and black bodysuit that comprised the rest of the uniform.
Cyclops held firm, but eased his finger off the trigger. "He's helping us manage this Marauder break-in."
Taking a deep breath, he eased his grip. "Yes, he is…" he said in a flat tone.
"Bad time f' y' ta pop in f' a visit," Gambit drawled, still putting up no resistance.
"You went AWOL." There was one thing that Scott could simply not stand about Gambit, the single thing that drove him absolutely up the wall – his infuriating, utterly galling lack of seriousness. The fact Gambit could just sidle in with Kitty in unknown condition –
Spyke laughed. "Guess you haven't been an X-Man long," he leaned in confidingly. "They really don't like that."
"Had business-"
"Yeah I know-"
The verbal dueling was cut short by a cluck of the tongue from behind them. "What's dis? T' minutes an' less an' yah at each otta throats? Guess de X-Men a'really ton famille!" This time Gambit actually did start, Cyclops blinking unseen. Spyke raised an eyebrow. The tunnels hadn't had this many visitors in ages.
"What de hell-?"
Lapin grinned, twirling the staff. "Found yah."
Cyclops focused on the more issue, his gaze immediately going to behind the Cajun. "Where's Jean?" he demanded.
Lapin gave an exaggerated look around him. "Musta misplaced de fille," he quickly advanced on his cousin, automatically looking him over. The grin disappeared and he cursed in Cajun. "Qu'est-ce qui?"
He went to grab Gambit's hands, but stopped himself in time – though he couldn't drag his eyes from the drip-drip of blood from his palms.
Remy's eyes darkened.
-
He easily got the drop on him; it would be the only chance he would have at getting a clean punch.
The Marauder dropped like a lead weight, but tucked his roll – springing back with the ease of a jungle cat. The two men went down, tangling like the trained fighters they were. Gambit was slick as an alley cat, flexible and long-winded, but Scalphunter had more pure brawn. Gambit slid from his grip, wincing at the slices that the other man's arsenal had inflicted. He reached for his cards – but Scalphunter swung at him. It was too dark to see what was in his hand.
A two-pronged spear, shaped like an oversized meat fork, crucified Gambit to the wall. He writhed, but gritting his teeth he tried to release his coiled energy. It shot back through, like he'd stuck his hands into an enormous electric socket. Scalphunter, just like always, had made the perfect weapon to short out his victim's powers. The thought made his stomach turn.
"Had that saved for you," Scalphunter coughed, rubbing his ribs. "Y' pack a nastier punch after all these years."
Gambit leaned his head back. "Can' say likewise."
Scalphunter tisked tiredly, "Always knew you weren't 'ssaisan material, Remyboy. Told Essex that, but you know him – that just makes it better for him."
Gambit nodded, "Yeah," and lashed out with his toe, catching the Marauder right in the gut. "I told 'im y' talk'd too much."
Gritting his teeth, he swung his feet up to shove the skewer further back, wrenching his hands from the wall. The contraption fell to the floor with a clatter, Gambit landing heavily on his heels beside it. He readied for Scalphunter's attack, but all that greeted him was a liquidy chuckle.
"Right as always." He stared as Scalphunter stumbled to his knees. Sensitive red eyes, with great night vision, stared in horror at the dagger his toe must have caught, shoved upward into his chest.
"John-" the name came out of the depths of a teenaged boy with few friends outside the 'family.' Remy allowed his knees to collapse beneath him, sinking as if in reverence.
"Plannin' on letting me live weren't you?" He couldn't raise his eyes, just stare at the blood as it dripped. Greycrow chuckled again. "Too much heart for this line Remy, that's the trouble." There was no sneering in his voice and Remy couldn't speak. "Essex could patch me up." That snapped him out of the daze. Greycrow reached out to loosely grasp Remy's coat. Remy couldn't move. "-don't let him."
And Remy closed his eyes as he slipped the dagger in.
-
"Don' ask."
-
Rogue missed the early fights – one-on-one with a clear attacker, one you knew and could jeer, with recognizable settings and only needing to tie up or tire out or knock unconscious to end the battle of the day.
She gripped the slimy bricks behind her, trying desperately to not let the ricocheting soundwaves make her hurl. Tantalizing glimpses of purple faded in and out of the dark.
They'd heard the screams and run right into a mish-mash of mutants. With Arclight flinging around her soundwaves, it was hard to tell friend from foe, though they had managed to yell "X-Men."
She'd seen a puff of smoke – Nightcrawler managing to bypass the pair of Marauders and take two of the Morlocks somewhere, she assumed – but as soon as it had reappeared, he'd screamed, making the very sludge around her feet vibrate. A blur of purple and white had given her the reason – shuriken, that's what dey are – and she desperately dodged to avoid the spiraling stars.
She tasted blood as her teeth bit into her lip, echoing the point lodging into her lower leg. So much for that super-tough fabric. Bricks shattered debris, liberally dusting her.
She kept low, not daring to call out to her foster brother. Backup would soo be appreciated right about now.
But she wasn't an X-Woman for nothing and let the psyches within in her unfurl – she was losing Essex slowly, but she could feel Remy boiling in her blood. Her hands began to tingle.
She went for the female first, sending a burst of pure psychic force at her – how yah like feelin' the floor wants to meet all yah internal organs – before tumbling and throwing the piece of brick she'd collected towards where she sensed the other, a strange sickly magenta glow lighting up the darkness before colliding with one very surprised Riptide mid-spin.
The tunnel shook as the explosion resonated and Rogue was thrown to the ground. She barely had time to do anything more than cough before –
"Learning more tricks aren't you?" a slick voice hissed at her back. "We'll have to follow up on that."
The pinprick was tiny, all things considered. But the effect was instantaneous as the world around her suddenly flew into color, taste, touch like acid had just dripped straight into her brain stem.
She screamed.
-
Terrorhurtspainvomitinsideoutmeltinghurtsburnschokespinningpainhurtsterrorfearfearpanicdesperatedesperatemakeitstopvomitburning-
Remy nearly fell over, his empathetic senses reeling under the onslaught and reflexively he started to shut them down – but he knew that pain.
He cursed, not aware if it was English or French or even out loud. "What de hell-"
He fought the urge to vomit and reeled in his senses, trying to distinguish the direction. He lurched that way mindless, before Cyclops caught his arm.
"Where do you think you're going?"
He awoke.
"Rogue's in trouble."
"What?" Cyclops inadvertently let go – and Gambit didn't bother explaining. "How do you-" He raced in the direction he'd felt her. "Gambit!"
Cyclops ground his jaw, but took stock of the situation. "Spyke, take Shadowcat to the medlab – and Lapin, stay with them!" He didn't wait to see them agree, but took off after Gambit.
The tunnels were a maze even at the best of times and Gambit had to pause every few intersections, closing his eyes and trying to see if he could sense her again. He'd never tracked anyone this way – not from this distance. Cyclops would barely catch up, barking out the same questions, before he took off again.
At one such crossing, Jean appeared. "Rogue's in trouble. This-" Gambit, ignoring the confirmation, raced by her. "-way," Jean finished, looking confused. Her gaze met Cyclops, who just shook his head.
"I haven't the faintest idea," he muttered as she took her place beside him.
Three tunnels later, Gambit hit the jackpot. He could feel her – more muted, but still in a frenzy of pain. He let his eyes close, taking a deep breath to compose himself, and having to reign in the impulse to charge straight in.
"Whoever's dere, jus' leave de femme alone-"
Three Chinese stars, ominously blood-specked, thudded into the tunnel wall in front of Gambit. "And Gambit comes riding on a white horse to save a damsel in distress, how surprising," Riptide's voice echoed. Gambit palmed a pack, only to be stopped by Cyclops' grip.
"If you charge them high enough, some debris might hit Rogue. Nightcrawler's supposed to be with her too." Cyclops' face was pale, but calm, even as the missing X-Men obviously troubled him.
"He's unconscious," Jean murmured, "nearby."
There was a grunt from the other side of tunnel entrance. Heads snapped to see Wolverine appear from the darkness. "Let me handle this."
He walked straight into the occupied tunnel. Cyclops bit his lip to keep his protest in, but Jean pushed forward. There was a metallic clank, shuriken meeting adamantium-coated bone, beside other thuds and Jean raised her hand, careful to deflect stars to the ground rather than risk ricochet.
Gambit and Cyclops peered around the corner in time to see Wolverine reach right into the colorful whirl and grab whatever was there – in this case, the front of Riptide's outfit. Drawing him closer, he sneered before slamming the startled man straight into the wall behind him. Riptide crumbled into a heap.
Gambit didn't wait longer, rushing immediately to Rogue's prone body, not watching as Wolverine stoically plucked the shuriken out of his body like bothersome thorns.
"Be careful," Cyclops said, hovering. Rogue was face-down and Gambit gently turned her over, ignoring the pain in his hands, to arrange her in his lap. Her right leg was bloody, a star still lodged in it, the fabric ripped on both sides. There were a few other nicks and a dusting of rock fragments, but nothing else so serious. Rogue was moaning though and Gambit could feel her emotions still free-wheeling. What did they do-?
His world tunneled down to the girl in his lap, as he gently cupped her face with his uncovered fingers. Cyclops' protest went unheard.
"Du calme ma chérie, du calme," Remy breathed. "Remy be here." He felt the static of her skin cling to his fingers, her power reaching, leeching – then subsiding. The mutation nibbled at his energy, suckled like a child with her thumb. The sheer cool relief could've driven him to his knees if he hadn't already been on them. "Dieu…"
Her eyes fluttered even as the turmoil in her mind began to settle. "Remy?"
Impulsively, he dropped a kiss on her forehead, blinking his eyes. "Oui, chère."
A very, very weak smile twitched her lips. "Found you."
He lowered his head. "That y' did chère."
"That y' did."