Title: The House of the Rising Sun, Chapter 15
Author: Goddess Evie
Date: 11/17/04
Genre: Romance (Remy/Rogue, Scott/Jean, Lance/Kitty), Action, Drama, Angst, AU, heck, it's got it all…just not all in one chapter.
Rating: G, and I really don't think this'll get above PG. SOME LANGUAGE USE IN THIS CHAPTER (but only towards the end).
Disclaimer: I do NOT own X-Men of any incarnation. I am but a poor, fanatical, poor, college graduate who much enjoys a show so that she writes extensive (and hopefully intriguing, enjoyable, and highly popular) fanfiction to feed her insatiable hunger for anything X-Men and is poor, if I haven't mentioned that already. Also, the song lyric I used as the title doesn't belong to me either. I'm quoting Smile Empty Soul's "Finding Myself" from "The Punisher" soundtrack. An awesome soundtrack for an awesome movie. Check both out, if you haven't yet. The Punisher is a Marvel creation, just like the X-Men. But, sadly, I own nothing but the plot so don't sue me cause I need all my money for my mission!
Summary: We finally find out what the heck is going on after Xavier calls everyone together. Let me tell you, it ain't pretty. At least, not at first. And then we catch up with Scott.
Author's notes: Okay, while I was thinking about writing the first part, I wasn't sure how I was going to have it all play out. But once I started actually writing, it just all came together, and I am very happy for that. But once I got the first part done, I wasn't sure where I wanted to go with it. But I knew I wanted a little bit more, because the chapter wasn't quite long enough for my tastes. And so we get Scott and Jean's telephone conversation. The funny thing here is, for as long as I've been an avid hater of both Scott and Jean, I've actually started to like Scott (still not Jean) the more I've written his character. Or at least I've started to like Evo Scott. I'm not sure I like comic book or Movie Scott any better, still. But anyways, I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Review Responses: I forgot to do these last chapter, so I'm going to cover chapter 13 AND 14 reviews.
Ishandahalf-Sorry my chapters are not coming so quickly. But since your last story ended I have been in such a deep depression. SIGH Just kidding, heheh. This chapter just took me a while to get down, as you can read in the author's notes. But anyways, yes I'm really having fun with this whole Carol, Rogue, Xavier triangle. Just you wait. Oh yes, just you wait. And I'm so glad you enjoyed ALL of the Rogue/Remy mushie I included. Although, I'd rather have any color stars BUT pink. I despise that color. Still, if they are coming from you, I'll accept them GRATEFULLY! I seem to have surprised quite a few people with that Duncan bit, as well. Including myself. And I'm doing it again with Scott. But I guess those are the joys of being a writer. Discovering a character in a new light you previously disliked. Mwahah!
EileenBlazer-No, Remy didn't do anything wrong. You know that. And I know that. And even Rogue knows that. But Remy doesn't, poor guy. But you don't you like how I made it up to him? It was just so perfect. Too bad it had to be interrupted, huh? But my story would be so BORING if everything came out nicely and perfectly, heheh. I'm glad somebody noticed how I likened Rogue to Shakespeare. I personally found that analogy a stroke of genius, but that was just me. Heheh. I wanted to see if someone else thought so well. And what do you know…somebody did! Now, just have patience. Everything shall be revealed in time.
Tsugath- I'm glad you are enjoying my writing of Remy! beams with pride I'm glad you are liking all of my characterizations. Even characters you hate can be fun to write if you find the right angle. For the writer AND the readers. Keep reading to see how things pan out!
Me-Since you took the time tell me how awesome I am, I am also going to take the time to tell you how awesome you are. Because you reviewed! As anyone here at can tell you, a writer thrives on reviews. So, thank you! I understand and even like Duncan a little bit more for writing him the way I did. But don't think I'm straying TOO far from his Evo characterization. evil grin I'm just trying to round out his character a bit. Seems to have worked out pretty well, huh?
EmeraldKatsEye-Another person who liked how I wrote Duncan. YEAH! Hee. I like Emma too much to stick her with Scott, myself. I don't understand how someone like her could WANT to have ANY kind of relationship with Scott, psychic or other. But hey, who knows what's going on in that mind of Emma Frost's? Not I, said the cat. Anyways, since I finally updated, read on!
Chapter 15: And I thought that I found myself today. And I thought that I had control. All the change in my life just fell away. For a moment I didn't need you.
The others were already gathered when Remy and Rogue arrived, bringing up the tail end of the group out in the front yard in front of the main gates. Jean, Kitty, Kurt, Evan, and even Bobby who was now fighting with the regular team on a trial basis stood behind Ororo, Logan and Hank, with Xavier sitting calmly and unperturbed at the head. On the other side of the gate the Brotherhood stood, leering at their enemies. The big surprise was to see both Magneto and Mystique accompanying their lackeys.
"What's goin' on?" Rogue whispered to Kitty, keeping her eyes on the thugs in case any of them tried anything. She couldn't help being wary around them.
"Like, a lot of big talk. Magneto's making his demands, and the Professor is refusing them," Kitty replied earnestly, trying to keep an ear to the negotiations going on.
Every mutant stood on the ready. The X-Men knew that the wrought iron gate wouldn't hold back the Brotherhood should they decide to enter. And the Brotherhood knew how fiercely the X-Men would protect their home and their family.
Rogue listened to what Magneto and Xavier were saying the best she could, but she was too far back to really hear. She caught a few words here and there. Xavier sat too far up away from the group for his and Magneto's conversation to be audible. She wished she could hear what they were saying. Magneto never did anything without a purpose. He and Mystique both always had ulterior motives for their actions, even if they weren't always apparent.
With an ear piercing screech of metal, the gates bent away to gain unhindered access to the Mansion grounds, though not one moved a foot. Mystique, who stood only inches from the gate staring down each and every X-Man, went untouched by the twisted metal. A display of how in control of his powers Magneto was. The blue skinned woman hadn't even flinched.
Magneto's voice boomed across the yard, now, so that every mutant could hear his threat. "This is my last warning, Charles. I came in hopes of making peace with you and your students. But if you refuse to see things in the greater light, then you leave me no choice."
"Oh, I'm SO scared," Evan muttered. He was too busy sizing up Pietro to catch Logan's warning glare to stay silent.
Xavier's reply was not so clear. Rogue still could not hear him, but she could see by the way he sadly shook his head at Magneto that they would be forced to fight.
"I been waitin' fo' m'chance to rumble wit' dese guys again," Remy growled almost eagerly, shuffling the cards from his back pocket as Magneto gave the order for his Brotherhood to advance.
Hank bounded forward, as the X-Men's first defensive move, to grab Xavier and move him away to a safe distance. Just in time as his wheel chair lifted up into the air and smashed into the brick wall. Immediately, Logan and Ororo began to call out orders to parlay the attack, working in perfect sync with each other. It had been predetermined, with Scott gone, that Jean would take a shot at being the official leader of the group. But with Magneto in play where usually he would be absent, the two adults took command. From a safe distance, with Hank to keep him guard, Xavier was also doing what he could.
But Rogue didn't hear the commands. All she could think about was the summer she had spent in terror, and how she now suffered because of it. Without another thought in her head, she launched herself directly at Magneto as fast as her flight would take her, knowing the man had to be the cause behind all her recently accrued pain. Even Carol was in perfect harmony with her thoughts, cheering her on instead of casting waves of hate and insult at her.
With her new powers, Rogue felt more able. Never before would she have so recklessly taken on Magneto. But the man had experience to back him up, and a more complete control over his mutation. She was so focused on Magneto that the sound of metal wrenching as the iron gates were pulled from their hinges didn't register in Rogue's mind. It wasn't until they wrapped themselves around her body, effectively stopping her advance that she realized what was happening.
But Rogue had more than just flight. Her invincibility made the iron around her body feel more like a tight squeeze than a strangling hold. And with her enhanced strength, it seemed to her like all she had to do was flex a little and force her arms from her sides, and her iron bands fell from around her.
Rogue looked around again, spotting Magneto further away. He'd taken her small distraction as an opportunity to gain distance once again. The red hate filling her vision propelled her forward again, a fist aimed at the man's head. Perhaps she could knock it off. Magneto threw pieces of the iron gate, and the whole second half in her path, hoping to slow her down. But Rogue was becoming more sure of her newly gained powers, and she simply plowed through them as if they were made of thread instead of metal.
She caught up to him quickly, and smiled to herself when it looked like she would finally hit her target. But an invisible something stopped her from attaining her goal, from tasting revenge. She knew immediately that Magneto had thrown up a magnetic shield. She fumed at him for a moment, glaring hot death at him, but he merely watched her, no emotion evident on his visage.
It was when she tried to float away, to take a look at the big picture and reevaluate the stituation, that she realized he had locked her in. She growled and began to throw herself recklessly against the magnetic shields enclosing her. She wouldn't be a prisoner again. Never again.
When she exhausted herself against the unyielding invisible walls that kept her from going away, she turned a heated stare on Magneto, who calmly watched her. What little face she could see through his mask showed on emotion. Just his steely gaze meeting her own full of hatred. She glared at him for a moment.
"Ah won't be yo' prisoner again," she yelled at him. "An' Ah won't fo'give yah fah what yah did t'me! What ya put me through!"
Magneto gave a slight shake of his head, the gesture filled with contempt. "I didn't tell Mystique to make you a part of the Brotherhood again. She made that decision on her own. I merely told her we needed to bring another mutant into the Brotherhood and train them all to be more capable. How she interpreted my orders were her business, not mine."
"Liar!" Rogue yelled at him. "It's because of you Ah had to spend my summer in hell."
"No," Mageneto's voice cut through her tirade, effectively cutting her off. "You blame the wrong person, girl. And you have taken on more than you can handle. You need to take this matter up with your mother. I will let this error pass, this time, child. But if you take such liberties to attack me again, I will be forced to act accordingly."
Rogue began to yell at him again, blaming him still, refusing to acknowledge Mystique as her mother and cursing Magneto for calling her so. Anything that came into her head, she yelled at him. But Magneto was no longer listening, and was moving Rogue away from him, courtesy of the Magnetic bubble that surrounded her. The magnetic field did not dissipate until Rogue was inches off the ground and in the middle of all the action. She knew she was free when she suddenly hit the ground.
She looked instantly to Magneto, but he had disappeared. She searched fervently, her eyes roaming the sky, looking for the Master of Magnetism. She didn't have time to find him, however, with the battle raging around her. Someone called for her to look out, and Rogue jumped out of the way just in time for Blob to just miss stepping on her.
It wasn't until that point that she finally took notice of the fight her fellow X-Men were engaged in. Although the X-Men outnumbered the Brotherhood, their counterparts were holding their own. Avalanche was blocking all of Jean's attacks by throwing up a wall of earth every time she tried to TK anything at him. Toad was standing at his back, spitting his globules at Jean to throw her off guard. Quicksilver was zipping around, almost strategically, keeping Spyke, Gambit and Iceman all on their toes. Once or twice the speed demon almost tricked one of them into icing or spiking or exploding a team mate, but they all managed to move or block the attack at the last minute.
Blob was holding his own against Nightcrawler and ShadowKat. The two found themselves too busy evading his attacks, as he ripped up whatever was handy and threw it at them, to go on the offensive. Wolverine was engaged in a neck to neck fight with Mystique. Both were equally matched, unable to get an advantage over the other. Rogue finally spotted Magneto, but he was dueling with Storm's lightening.
That's when Rogue realized how well the Brotherhood were working against the X-Men. As a team, effectively countering the attacks of their opponents. She realized that much of the goal of their travels over the summer had been to train the Brotherhood to work together, to be a more effective team. Rogue could see now how much their training was paying off.
She also realized that she needed to help them. A swelling of pride came over her for a moment as she realized just how helpful she could be with her new powers. But she had no time to gloat to herself. Her teammates, her family, was in trouble. Thinking quickly as she scanned the scene one more time, she took off, aiming herself at the Blob. She rammed into his side as he picked up half a tree and looked around for either ShadowKat or Nightcrawler, whichever he could find first to throw it at. Rogue's attack caught him off guard, putting him off balance with the huge weight in his hands. The tree trunk hit the ground and the dual force of Rogue and Blob left a furrow in their wake ten feet long and at least two feet deep.
Rogue pulled herself from Blob's mass. She knew she had to act quickly. As effective as the attack had been, there was no way it was enough to have knocked him out. Sure enough a massive arm swung in her direction. Rogue moved quickly, getting out of its way. It flailed past her harmlessly, and she grabbed it, using her flight to lift herself and her opponent up into the air.
"Hey, what are you doing?" the Blob yelled at her as he watched the ground quickly move away from him.
"Logan always said yah could make anythin' intah a weapon," Rogue grunted her reply, the Blob's weight a burden even for her.
As she answered, she began to spin around, building up the momentum she would need. She only hoped she didn't overshoot and miss her target. She could hear her passenger yelling at her as she spun faster and faster. The centrifugal force enough to keep him from lashing out at her.
When she thought she had gained enough drive, hoped she had it, she let him go and watched him fly off in Avalanche and Toad's direction. She still wasn't sure if he would hit them or not. In fact, really she hoped he didn't. She wasn't sure if they'd survive being sat upon by the veritable giant. But she did hope her tactic worked.
Fred landed mere inches from his two teammates. The force of his impact set the ground rumbling around him, knocking the two off their feet and distracting them from their attack. ShadowKat moved in and phased the Blob two thirds of the way into the ground. Kurt landed on top of Toad in a puff of smoke and then disappeared with him in the same way. Working together, Jean, Nightcrawler and ShadowKat now seemed to have those three under control. But there were still other battles going on that needed help in turning the tides.
Focusing now on Quicksilver, she saw that he was still besting his three opponents with ease. It looked as if Spyke, Gambit and Iceman were haphazardly throwing around ice, charged cards or bone spikes with how quickly the speedy lad was zipping around them. Rogue winced as Spyke took one of Iceman's blasts in the arm. But it didn't seem to effect him much as he shattered the ice, freeing himself, by shooting bone spikes out of the limb.
Quicksilver had to be slowed down, but Rogue wasn't sure she could help. She was having a hard time keeping track of the boy herself, and she was pretty sure he was still moving faster than she could, even with the super speed her flight afforded her.
But someone else was jumping in to help the three boys. Quicksilver lost his speed when he lost his contact with the ground. With a glance, Rogue spotted Jean who was using her telekinetic powers to lift the young man off the ground. Now the other three had a better chance at him.
Rogue, help ShadowKat with Avalanche and the Blob, she heard the red head's voice in her head. You'll be more help there, than with this one.
Rogue acknowledged the command by immediately speeding off to where Blob had landed. Nightcrawler and Toad were still missing, but Avalanche was trying to help free the Blob by loosening the ground around the massive boy with small quakes. Slowly they were freeing him, but ShadowKat kept impeding their progress by phasing the Blob deeper into the earth.
Avalanche saw Rogue at the last minute. He threw up an earthen wall in her path in an attempt to slow her down. She plowed right through, grabbing Avalanche as she flew over him, separating him from the ground he controlled with his powers.
"Let me go, Rogue," Lance demanded, squirming in her grip.
"You really want me t'do that, sugah?" Rogue asked, gesturing to the distance they had traveled from the ground. "Cause if ya honestly do, Ah'll-"
"No!" Lance suddenly changed his mind when he realized how high they were. "But I do want you to put me back on the ground."
"Well, ya know what they say. Ya don't always get what ya want," Rogue replied, hanging onto Avalanche by the shoulders.
As she passed over one of the higher trees some distance from the Institute, she deposited her load into the upper branches. Flying away, she waved at him and winked, then turned and left him to clamber back down to the ground. As high up as he was, carefully picking his way back down through the branches was the only way he could get back to the ground without risking himself harm.
When Rogue got back to the battle, she saw that the Brotherhood was being driven back. The X-Men had the upper hand finally, and worked together to repel their enemies. Even Logan had found his advantage over Mystique, the woman haphazardly attacking shadows, while Logan used guerilla tactics to attack her. Rogue had a feeling Xavier had something to do with that.
Finally the call came from Magneto to regroup and retreat. It was as if the X-Men answered that call as well, merely watching as the Brotherhood fell back to their leader, instead of pursuing. Nightcrawler reappeared next to Iceman, Spyke and Gambit, without Toad. Jean set Quicksilver down, showing the effects of ice, explosives and bone spikes, near to his father. Mystique disengaged herself from her fight with Wolverine, who didn't pursue, surprisingly enough. The Blob managed to finally pull himself from the earth, and he rambled back to stand with what was left of his teammates.
No final words were spoken. Magneto merely swept his gaze over the X-Men, settling it lastly on Xavier. The men seemed to have a silent battle of wills before Magneto retreated with his Brotherhood. None of the X-Men relaxed or moved their stares from the Brotherhood's withdraw until the group of evil mutants had been out of sight for some time.
It was Xavier, carried by Beast, who finally broke the silence. "Good work my students."
The sound of his voice was like a switch being flicked. Everyone pulled their gazes from the horizon to look at him, each body relaxing, some faster than others. Some took in the damage that had been done to their home. The earth that had been ripped up, the mangled gates, the holes in the brick wall, the foliage that had been destroyed. Others looked at their teammates, making sure everyone was accounted for and that no one had sustained any serious wounds.
"Go get cleaned up," Xavier's next words were gentle and compassionate. "The remainder of the night is yours to rest and relax. Your Danger Room sessions for tonight and tomorrow are cancelled."
"However, they start up again promptly, morning after next," Logan added gruffly, catching every eye to make sure they knew he was serious.
Slowly, the students began to move back towards the mansion. Bobby was utterly exhausted, not used to such an intense use of his powers in a relatively short amount of time. Evan and Kurt came up behind him and put his arms around their shoulders, giving him support. He gave them a warm smile in gratitude. Hank carried Xavier towards the front doors, Ororo falling in with them, the three already talking about what had just occurred. Analyzing the fight, proposing reasons for the attack. They would be in Xavier's study for quite a while discussing the battle, everyone knew. Jean and Kitty walked together, stretching and rubbing fatigued bodies. They laughed and giggled as they shared some joke. Anything to help lighten the situation.
With a long sigh, Rogue turned to make her own way to the Mansion. She longed for a long, hot bath and soft bed. Logan's rough voice stopped her in her tracks. Remy, who had been approaching her to walk with her, also stopped and looked at Logan. Then he walked on, leaving the two alone.
"You pulled a risky stunt, back there," Logan began his lecture even before Rogue could turn to face him. "You put yer teammates in danger by ignorin' orders and takin' off on yer own."
"You don't understand!" Rogue shot back.
"Wrong!" Logan cut her off. "I don't care. We work as a team, Rogue. When you're fightin' with yer fellow X-Men, personal woes don't matter. By tryin' to avenge yer own demons, you put everyone else in trouble. You better be up and ready for a Danger Room Session with the new recruits bright and early tomorrow morning. Five AM."
"But Xavier said-"
"I know what he said. Everyone else earned that break. You only earned yerself extra trainin'. You and I will be in there after school tomorrow, too."
Rogue could tell she wouldn't change Logan's mind, only anger him more. Of course, no one else would have tried to argue like she had. They would have meekly took his lecture and then nodded at him when he set their punishment. Still, she knew a losing battle when she saw it, and she was losing this one. Taking his prolonged silence as a sign that they were done, she turned around and stomped back to the Mansion.
"Remember, Rogue. Five AM."
The phone rang in Scott's dorm room, startling him from Chapter 1 of his Biology book. He was doing an initial reading before he'd go back and take notes on the chapter. Setting the book aside he grabbed the receiver, wondering who would be calling him. Brad and Nathan, maybe? Though he had already turned down an offer to play video games with them in order to study. They'd scoffed at how hard he was working when classes hadn't even started yet, but hadn't pressed him to join them.
Scott sat up in surprise when Jean's voice answered his salutation. He could tell by her voice that she was tired. More tired than she should have been when it was only seven o' clock. But she still sounded cheerful, despite her fatigue. And even a bit relieved. Still, Scott couldn't help feeling concerned.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?" he asked almost immediately.
Jean chuckled on the other end of the line. "Hey, I'm supposed to be the psychic one here."
If she was making jokes, it meant that anything that might have happened hadn't been all that serious. At the same time, the little joke had been an affirmation to his suspicions.
"What happened?" he asked again.
"A little spat with the Brotherhood," Jean answered. She gave him the whole story when he pressed for details.
"I don't like it. Magneto almost never fights with the Brotherhood. Same with Mystique. They usually keep their distance and let their lackeys do the dirty work," Scott immediately began to analyze the attack.
Jean agreed with him, but brushed that concern off. "What I'm really worried about was Rogue's reaction."
Scott frowned. He still hadn't been told exactly what had happened to Rogue during her disappearance. He knew only that she had been with Mystique and the Brotherhood. He hadn't even had a chance to talk with her, though Jean and Xavier had both assured him repeatedly that she was doing okay.
"She just went crazy," Jean continued. "The way she attacked Magneto directly."
Scott's eyes went wide behind his sunglasses. "She what?!"
"She had only one thing on her mind, Scott. Revenge. Whatever happened to her this summer, it left a scar. She was projecting it so strongly, I almost couldn't focus on the fight with the Brotherhood."
Scott sensed Jean was as worried for the Goth girl as much as he was, despite the fact that Rogue refused to get along with the red head. He knew Jean was genuinely concerned for her teammate. They both worried over her together, trying to break past her shell and get close to her. If only she could see how much they really cared about her and wanted to help her.
"She snapped out of it eventually and helped the rest of us. But for a while there, I thought we had lost her," Jean finished quietly.
"Is everyone alright?" Scott asked. He didn't know what else to say. He hadn't been there. Couldn't gauge Rogue's reaction or try to figure out what it meant or give Jean any of the answers she wanted for Rogue.
"Yes, we're all okay," Jean supplied.
She gave a quick run down of everyone. The newest members of the team, Bobby and Remy, she reported as handling the situation well. Bobby hadn't goofed off, and Remy especially seemed to handle himself with experience. The others were still working well together, and integrating the new members into the group. Scott smiled with pride.
"And you're sure you're okay?" Scott asked her again, softly.
He could sense her smile on the other end. "I'm fine. I promise."
"And you know Xavier will help Rogue?"
"Of course. There's no one more qualified."
"Thanks for calling. For keeping me up to date."
"I know how much you worry about everyone. Xavier and the other teachers are still discussing it. But I thought you'd want to know."
Scott laughed lightly. "You know me so well."
"You'd be mad if you didn't find out about the attack until a few days later. I know that as well," Jean replied, laughing with him.
"Take care of them, Jean. You guys are the only family I've known for so long," he couldn't keep the sentimental tone out of his voice.
"Our fearless leader isn't going to cry, now, is he?" Jean chided lightly, trying to lighten the mood.
"You're the fearless leader, now, not me," Scott reminded.
"No pressure or anything, right?" Jean remarked sarcastically.
"It's in the job description."
"How did you do it, Scott?"
"Because I had to. Because I didn't want to lose any of you."
They sat in silence for a while. Both letting the moment linger. The invisible bonds between them strengthened in that moment, as they shared the burden that came along with caring for people so deeply.
"I've got to go, Scott. I'm tired and I need to get some homework done before I get some sleep," Jean's voice called him back from his thoughts.
"Take care, Jean."
"I will. Bye."
He replaced the receiver, having now forgotten the science book in front of him. A part of him wished to be back with his teammates, wanting to make sure everyone was okay. But he reminded himself that he couldn't. And that he could trust Jean to take care of them. He also wondered why Magneto had made such an attack. It seemed so unlike him. Never had he assaulted the Mansion directly. He preferred, instead, to draw the X-Men out.
But the foremost thought on Scott's mind was Rogue. He had been so relieved when he'd gotten the call that she'd returned to the mansion only days before. But it was obvious now that it didn't mean she was okay. Jean had reported that she had adjusted back to Mansion life easily. But he saw the little signs to show she wasn't the same Rogue that had been taken from them.
Scott stopped himself before he went any farther. He'd dwelled on Rogue enough. If he let his mind wander down that path again, he'd only end up thinking about her the entire night, keeping him from doing anything productive or getting very much sleep. He had to let Xavier help her. He couldn't do anything for her from college. He had to worry about the here and now.
Propping the Science book up in his hands, he forced himself to concentrate on the words. It was only a matter of days before classes started up. He had to be ready. That was what he needed to focus on now.
"You're here for a reason," he reminded himself firmly. "Don't forget that."