Title: The House of the Rising Sun, Chapter 19
Author: Goddess Evie
Date: 01/24/07
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.
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 Creed's "What If" from their CD Human Clay. But, sadly, I own nothing but the plot so don't sue me cause I need all my money for my bills!
Summary: Dealing with the US Government and fellow college students. Warning: Slight Jean/Scott HR! I feel all gross after writing it and it's not even that much! shivers And that's all I'm gonna say so just go read the chapter
Author's notes: I apologize that this took so long to get out. I'm kind of running into a little writer's block. I was hoping to jam pack some major things into this as well as some Remy/Rogue HR, but except for Scott, it just didn't happen. I'm very happy about Kitty's speech. But I wish I could have touched more on where Remy and Rogue stand right now. Hopefully I'll be able to get back to it soon!
Review Responses: Since has now supplied a service to do this, I'll be using that now. And though I haven't responded to Chapter 18's reviews, yet, I'll be doing that ASAP. Hopefully before any reviews for chapter 19 come rolling in. So, see ya'll on the review board.
Chapter 19: We are one. We are strong. The more you hold us back, the more we press on.
Little by little, the anti-mutant snowball was growing. It started with simple news reports, and concerned parents keeping certain mutants from attending Bayville High and escalated to mobs and news crews frequenting the front gates of the Xavier Mansion wanting to voice their own opinions and prejudices, or hope to catch one of the mutants inside the fancy but very sturdy gate to interview and get his or her opinion and possible prejudice on the situation. A mere three days after the existence of mutants had been revealed by Erik Lensherr, and only two days after the mutants had been kept from attending school, Congress and the Senate was called to a meeting to decide how to deal with the news.
And Ororo Munroe was in the middle of it all. Xavier had appointed her to be the spokeswoman for mutants, or at least those at the Mansion, the moment they had caught wind of the Congress' and Senate's meetings. That had been only two days ago, and already Ororo was more exhausted and frustrated then she had ever been in her entire life. Before she had actually begun, she had thought the traveling would be the worst of it, even with the mansion's technologically advanced modes of transportation. But in all actuality, the traveling was the most enjoyable part. Even after only one day, she found the quiet, peaceful trip back and forth from Washington D.C. was much more desirable to the easily enraged, often chaotic Congressmen and Senators.
Not a single one of them liked to listen to logic or sense. And far from the first time Ororo wondered why she had been chosen to handle these meetings. It seemed every last one of them already had their minds made up concerning the mutants. And it looked like more were against the mutants, than for.
The students were keeping up on what was happening through the myriad of news channels that were keeping a 24 hour coverage on the proceedings. When they weren't actually showing live coverage, or rerunning the most dramatic parts countless times, the anchors were all discussing the event, reading their opinions and analysis from their pre-typed scripts.
Usually when the anchors were droning on like that, the students were having their own discussions. The older of the students kept the debates and discussion to a friendly level when the younger students got out of control. And they helped to keep everything in perspective and stop anyone from developing tunnel vision. And Logan stepped in often enough to pull a group away for a Danger Room session. He figured if they were home, they could use the time to practice, and they didn't need to spend all their time in front of the TV.
Xavier held regular meetings, as well. He too wanted to keep an eye on how opinions were being formed among his students. And to give what little information he himself could that the news channels were withholding. He also kept them updated on when or if they would be likely to return to school. With Ororo doing her best to handle the situation at the nation's capital, Xavier was doing his best to handle the situation right there in Bayville where they were the most directly affected. He was having as slow a time of it as Ororo.
The crowd around the TV began to diminish as old arguments were brought up over and over again and the congressmen and senators began to repeat themselves and their statements a little too much. It seemed Ororo wasn't getting through to them, and no matter what she said, they were going to cling to arguments that had been shot down time and time again.
But Ororo was not to be underestimated, by either the politicians or the students at the Xavier Academy. A mere five days after the meetings in the Senate and Congress had begun to grow stale, Ororo invited a couple of students to accompany her. She chose them secretly, not letting them know they would be joining her until an hour before she needed to leave for the next meeting. Robert Drake and Katherine Pryde had just enough time to get dressed appropriately to appear before the government officials before they left.
When they returned from Washington, they let everyone know that was exactly what Ororo had had in mind. She had wanted their statements to be sincere, from the heart. Not a coached speech someone had given them to make. By letting them know at the last moment that they would be joining her, none of the other students, or even Ororo and the adults themselves, had had time to give suggestions and offer their own opinions. So, what Kitty and Bobby had said had been truly from them.
Once again, the whole of the student body had been planted around one of the big screen TVs in the largest rec room the Mansion held. Bobby went first, obviously nervous and in awe of his current whereabouts. He kind of stuttered through what he wanted to say, his usual cocky confidence missing. But his words rang with his sincerity, and even in his anxiety and youthfulness, he managed to say a few things that were deeper than even his own housemates thought him capable of.
Kitty, speaking second after a few remarks from Ororo, handled herself much better, despite being obviously as nervous as Bobby. Perhaps it was a combination of all the training she had been put through to handle high risk situations, as well as being in high risk situations, though vastly different from the one she now found herself in, and having to act in them. Whatever it was, her voice was steady and strong, her eyes sparkled with determination and passion, and she dared to meet the gaze of every man and woman seated around her.
"My name is Katherine Pryde. I'm fifteen. I'm an only child of my parents and a mutant. When my powers first manifested, I was scared. I didn't know what was happening. My parents sure didn't have the answers. I didn't know what to do. I happen to have the ability to…well, to put it simply, to move through solid objects."
She paused to demonstrate, phasing her hand straight through the microphone a few times.
"Like any mutant, when my powers first came into being, I had little control over them. I would fall asleep in my bed at night and wake up in the morning in my basement, with no idea how I got there. At first my parents and I attributed it to sleep walking." She paused for effect, catching as many gazes as she could, her confidence increasing with every word she spoke. "But one morning I woke up to see my pillow and a blanket hanging from the ceiling, actually in the ceiling. They were sticking up through the living room carpet upstairs, as well. Sleep walking didn't explain that."
Hands began to go up, people wanting to ask questions. But Kitty was determined to have her say, and back at the X-Mansion her peers and friends were all silently cheering her on.
"It wasn't until Professor Charles Xavier arrived at my home with his explanation of the mutant gene that things began to finally make sense. It was hard to believe, at first. Like someone telling me I had magic powers or something. But the evidence was hard to ignore and finally my parents and I came to the decision that it would be best to send me off with Xavier to attend his school for mutants.
"It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I learned to control my power, so that I wasn't accidentally phasing through things anymore. I could turn off my power, or turn it on, as I needed it. It no longer became a random act, but something under my control. But Xavier gave me more than that. He instilled in me, as he tries to do with every student who attends his school, the responsibility that comes with having such a power. And the knowledge that it must be used for benefit, not for greedy gain. Our mutant powers need to be used to build, not to destroy. To heal, not to harm. It is something I firmly believe in. Something I live by.
"I didn't ask to be a mutant. None of us did. I know mutants who would willingly give up their powers if they had the choice. But we don't. So we're trying to make the best of it. And at least those of us who attend Professor Xavier's school are trying to use our powers for good…as clichéd as that sounds."
Hands were up everywhere, and a quick camera shot of Ororo showed that she desperately wanted to step in and take over again. But Kitty stayed at the podium, and pointed to one of the politicians before her.
"The powers you mutants have are both great and terrible. For instance, you could walk into a bank and take all the money without a second thought, and what would stop you?"
A murmur went through the room at that moment. A murmur that was a mighty roar from the amount of people who occupied the room. But Kitty merely leaned in closer to the microphone, and spoke loudly and clearly as she gave her answer, which quickly quieted the room.
"My morals. Not only those taught to me by Professor Xavier. Even before finding out I had these powers, my parents were raising me to be a good, upstanding citizen. Had my powers not manifested, you could have given me a gun, and I could make the same choice to rob the bank. Or I could use that gun according to the rules and regulations that come with owning a gun, and never hurt a single soul."
"And that's a very important point, Miss Pryde," a middle-aged male politician spoke up. "Guns have rules and regulations that govern how we use them. But you mutants have none. You are walking around freely with nothing to keep you from using your powers however you want."
The room erupted into chaos again, but this time Kitty was unable to regain her control. Whatever she was saying into the microphone was unheard and finally Ororo pulled her away and directed her to where Bobby was waiting.
Both of the teens were welcomed home as heroes for what they had done. And both tried to play off the admiration they were getting from their teammates. It wasn't until Kitty had a moment alone with the core X-Men team that a little more of the truth came out.
"I was like so scared," she told them. " I totally had no idea what I was going to say when I got up there. My mind was on overload trying to think of anything."
"You did really well," Jean told her. "You gave them some things to think about that they hadn't heard before. And you restated some things they had heard before in a different light to make them rethink it."
"You had zhem completely hypnotized," Kurt added proudly.
"You had US hypnotized," Evan added to that.
" I just hope what I said got through to some of them," Kitty sighed.
"I think ya did," Rogue told her. "Like Jean said, you gave them some powahful things ta think about."
The next day brought more good news. Xavier called the students together to let them know that they would be allowed to return to school. He also cautioned them that they needed to be on their best behavior because now they would be in the public eye and closely scrutinized for any perceived mistakes they might make. Most of all, they were absolutely NOT to use their powers. They needed to gain the trust of the non-mutant community, and they wouldn't do that with blatant and possibly dangerous shows of their mutant abilities.
The students of the Xavier Institute went to bed that night feeling the best they had all week.
Scott kept an eye on the proceedings at the capitol late at night when all the other students were in bed or at least too busy studying to be watching TV. With the big screen in the common area turned down low, Scott watched as Ororo debated and argued and spoke with the Congressmen and Senator's gathered before her. Mostly he found it disheartening, the way the government officials didn't seem to be hearing a word she was saying. But he watched and rooted for her, even though the clips he saw were reruns of what had already been said that day.
But the day he watched Bobby and Kitty in front of all those important men and women, Scott managed to catch it live and was grateful for the opportunity. He was just coming in from his last class, quietly heading to his own dorm room, when he heard a comment about some real live mutants joining the discussions for the day. His interest was piqued and he couldn't help stepping up to the back of the crowd to find out what was going on the same way he had watched Magneto's broadcast.
As he watched Bobby nervously address the large crowd in front of him, Scott wished he could be there to give him and hug and tell him he had done a fantastic job. But Kitty had really stolen the show. And she couldn't have given her little speech better if Xavier had written it for her. Scott stood smiling proudly at the way both handled themselves.
This time Scott ignored the reaction he received when the students around him realized he was there. They seemed to be a little more mixed, after Kitty's and Bobby's words, some still obviously wary, but others seeming to look at him in a different light. Still, what had just happened had been phenomenal, and Scott wasn't going to let anything ruin his mood.
Although some of the students looked like they wanted to ask him a few questions, nobody opened their mouths and Scott headed back to his dorm room still grinning. He would have to remember to tell Kitty and Bobby what a great job they had both done when he next got the opportunity to talk to them. Scott didn't allow anything to shake his smile for the rest of the night as he worked on homework, went to the cafeteria for some food and finally went to bed. It was the best night's sleep he had received since Magneto's broadcast.
It was too good to last.
The next morning things seemed to be going as well. He went to his first class, didn't feel so much like he was being constantly stared at and analyzed, and actually maybe managed to enjoy the lecture the teacher gave. Afterwards, with some time before his next class, he decided to find a little niche to whole up in and review the notes he had just taken. He opted for the library, since it was on the way to his next class, and left the building to head there.
The sidewalks were filled with students who were also heading for their next classes or who didn't have a class again immediately and just needed to find something to do to kill time. Maybe they were getting used to his presence, if not accepting it yet, and none of the people were jumping to get out of his way or making the extra effort to avoid him. It was looking like it was going to be a pretty good day.
"Hey, mutant, you don't belong here!"
Scott spun around to find who had yelled the insult, but in the crowd it was impossible to tell. Everyone within hearing distance had stopped, and all of them were now looking at him, watching him. The relaxed feeling he had been enjoying the whole day was gone to be replaced with a sense of, well, not exactly doom, but that uneasy feeling he got sometimes on missions with the team when he just knew something bad was about to happen. He called it his leader sense. Something wet hit his shoulder and Scott looked to see a soda bottle lying on the ground on its side, spilling out what was left of its contents. Again his eyes searched the crowd through ruby lenses, but he couldn't find the perpetrator.
"That's right! Go away! No one wants you here!"
The second voice was not the same as the first one. Something new hit Scott's backpack, and he whirled around desperately hoping to catch the person who had thrown it. He didn't even care what the object was this time. What really mattered was finding who had purposely thrown it at him. But it was impossible.
More insults were being yelled at him, the crowd finding courage in the two that had already been shouted. Out of the corner of his eye Scott saw another projectile heading his way. Reflex took over for a moment and he spun to face the object flying through the air, his hand coming to his sunglasses to blast the thing out of the sky. He stopped himself at the last minute, though he wasn't sure why, and instead raised both arms to shield his head and face.
They seemed to sense what had just happened, even if they didn't know exactly what it was, and now objects of all shapes and sizes were being hurled at him along with the barrage of insults. As much as he hated to admit it, retreat was the best option at this point. Keeping his head shielded with his arms, Scott broke into a run, heading in the direction of his dorm.
A few people tried to stop him from leaving, but he pushed his way through and kept running when he left the edge of the crowd and found open space. Some projectiles were lobbed at him even after he had broken free of the crowd, but they landed harmlessly around him. He could hear the angry cries even after he turned a corner and couldn't see the mob anymore.
Scott didn't stop running until he was safely back in his dorm room. Leaning against his door, panting heavily, his backpack at his feet, Scott looked around his little sanctuary, and for the first time since this whole thing had started, wondered if he would be able to hide here for much longer.
"I can't stay here anymore," he decided aloud.
And once the decision had been made he began to pack up his belongings. He changed his shirt and then stuffed all his clothes into the duffel bags they had come packed in. His belongings he stuffed haphazardly into the boxes and bags he had saved from when he had moved in. He ignored non-necessities and stuck to those things that were really valuable and that he couldn't leave without.
Halfway through his packing process, there was a loud banging at his door. Scott froze, wishing he was psychic like Jean or the Professor so he could know if the person on the other side was friend or foe. The banging continued, but was accompanied this time by Brad's worried voice. Breathing a sigh of relief, Scott let his friend in, locking the door again behind him.
"Scott, I heard what happened man. I can't believe it. That's just not right!"
Brad ended his tirade abruptly, looking around at the mess Scott's room had become in his hasty packing.
"You're leaving," Brad stated, sounding a little dazed.
"Yeah," Scott replied. "It's probably not safe for me to stay here. Not after what happened."
"Come on, aren't you even going to fight back?" Brad asked desperately.
"These people have already decided I'm unwanted and possibly dangerous. Fighting back would only prove that to them more so. No, it's better if I just leave," Scott reasoned.
Brad was silent at that, and Scott began placing some of his things into a box, a little more slowly and carefully now. He heard Brad sigh.
"Then I'm coming with you," Brad informed.
Scott looked at Brad again, his eyes wide although Brad wouldn't be able to tell behind the ruby glasses. "Why? Brad, nobody knows that you're a mutant. And right now, they're not likely to find out."
"But they could," Brad replied. "And when they'll probably do the same thing to me that they did to you!"
"But what about school? Classes? What will you tell your parents? Brad, this really isn't a good idea. Think this through!"
Brad shook his head. "You have a haven to go to, Scott. This Xavier Institute. I don't. My parents don't know that I'm a mutant and I don't know how they're going to react when they do find out. What if they reject me? Then what do I do? Where do I go? No, it's better if I just go with you, now."
"You don't have to come with me, now, for Xavier to accept you. You could stay here and keep living a normal life. Then one day if your mutant status does become public knowledge, Xavier will be more than glad to let you come to Institute. He won't turn you away," Scott assured.
But Brad was hearing none of it. "I'm coming now. There's no point in just waiting for them to find out what I am. I'm going with you."
Scott knew Brad was determined, and having exhausted all his arguments, he merely shrugged his shoulders at his friend. "Alright, if you're dead set on it. Be ready to go in an hour."
Brad nodded and left. Scott ran a hand through his hair and looked at the packing he still had to do. With a glance at the door for Brad, he returned to the job at hand.
An hour later he and Brad were putting the last of their boxes into Scott's red sports car. Brad and Nathan had coveted the car since the first time he had shown it to them. Both had begged to drive it, but all Scott would consent to was to drive them to the movies or a local restaurant. Scott wished this could be one of those times when Brad was admiring and begging to drive the beautiful car instead of the somber moment it was.
"Well, let's go," Scott said, opening the driver's side door and getting in.
Brad got in beside him and Scott turned on the ignition. Just as he was about to shift into drive and pull away, a hand landed on his shoulder and he looked up to see Nathan staring down at him. They looked at each other in silence for several minutes. Finally, Nathan patted Scott's shoulder.
"Hey, good luck, man," he said before stepping back from the car.
Feeling like this was the last time he'd see Nathan, Scott nodded at him and gave him a little salute before he pulled away.
It was evening and almost completely dark by the time Scott pulled up to the mansion gates. Xavier had already sensed him coming and had let him know that during the daylight hours the gates were usually crowded with reporters and news teams, but that with nightfall they had retreated and it was safe for him to come through.
The gate opened automatically for him and Scott heaved a sigh of relief at the familiar sight of the mansion lit up before him in the evening twilight. He glanced at Brad and smiled to see the awe apparent on his friend's face.
"This is where you live?" he asked breathlessly.
"Yeah, the picture didn't really do it justice with all the little hooligans in front blocking the view," Scott joked, glad for the lighter mood.
Now Brad was smiling, too. Scott navigated the circular driveway with long practiced ease, coming to a stop in front of the large double doors that were the entrance to the mansion just as they were opening to reveal Ororo, Hank, and Xavier himself. The entire student body of the mansion seemed to have turned out to welcome Scott home, as well.
Scott's smile grew as he climbed out of his car and headed around it to greet his family. Ororo and Hank reached him first, and then kids patting him on the back and hugging him and raucously welcoming him home surrounded him. He returned the hugs and well wishes as best he could amid the chaos, before gently detaching himself from the group and jogging up the stairs to where Xavier was waiting.
They greeted each other with a firm handshake that was as good as a hug. "I am glad to have you home again, Scott. Although, I wish it were under better circumstances," the Professors voice and smile were both warm.
"Yeah, well, I've only been gone a few weeks and already I'm a college dropout," he joked.
"Do not worry about your education. We will make sure you get it," Xavier assured. "Now, introduce us to your friend."
Scott turned to where Brad was standing against the passenger door, surrounded by the overly excited junior X-Men and looking very unsure of himself. He gave Scott a "help me" look and laughing Scott waved him over. Ororo and Hank wrangled the kids back so that Brad could make his way through and up the stairs to join Scott and Xavier. Scott introduced Brad as Xavier shook hands with the young man.
"We welcome you to the Xavier Institute and ask you to please make yourself at home. You and Scott should both go unpack. Hank will help you find a room, Brad. Then you and I can meet later to talk about your abilities," Xavier invited.
Brad politely thanked Xavier and then both young men turned back to begin unpacking the car. With the help of the kids standing around, their boxes were carried to their room in no time. Scott shooed the kids away finally so he could unpack in peace, turning down any offers to help. In the ensuing silence he took a moment to look around his room, glad to be back home. And this was really home. It would always be home. Smiling bigger than he had since he had left for college, Scott began to unpack and try to reorganize the mess he had made of his possessions with his rushed packing job.
He was interrupted again not far into his unpacking. Kurt bamfed into his room, bringing with him the acrid smell of brimstone, and Kitty phased through the door seconds after, both attacking him in a hug. The door flew open after that to admit Evan who joined Kitty and Kurt. Logan stuck his head in for a moment to growl a greeting and then was gone again before Scott could even acknowledge him.
"You know, we would have been here earlier if it wasn't for Logan," Kitty complained. Xavier let us all know you had arrived, but we were in the middle of a Danger Room session."
"He vouldn't let us leave before it vas over!" Kurt added his own complaint.
At that moment Jean and Rogue appeared in his doorway, standing next to each other and both looking like angels. Kurt, Evan and Kitty stepped away, grinning like fools and Jean gracefully moved forward, wrapping her arms around Scott and leaning against him. He hugged her back tightly, pressing his cheek against her red hair.
"I missed you," she whispered.
"I missed you, too," he assured.
Jean pulled back to look him in the eyes, or at least to look in his face. Her smile alone seemed to lift all his doubts and insecurities. With Jean at his side again, he felt like he could face anything. She gave his arms a squeeze and then stepped to the side to once again reveal Rogue standing in the doorway. She wasn't alone, but Scott didn't recognize the guy standing next to her and at the moment didn't pay him much attention.
Scott held out his arms to her, and she only hesitated a moment before moving into the hug. Shorter than Jean, her head rested against one of his shoulders and he held her as tightly as he had held Jean.
"I'm so glad you're back. We were all so worried about you. I wish I could have been there on that day," he told her.
"Wasn't nothin' spectacular, Ah assure you," she said in her sarcastic way as she stepped back again, adding, "Welcome home."
Scott looked at his friends all gathered in his room. No, they were his family. Speechless for the moment, he stood watching them as they all chattered happily about things that had happened at the mansion. Except for Rogue who retreated a bit to lean against the wall by the door. Scott didn't worry, though. That was just how Rogue was. And at least she was sticking around instead of immediately exiting.
"Scott, we haven't introduced you to the newest member of the X-Men," Jean suddenly spoke up, taking Scott by the arm and pivoting him to face the door where the mysterious guy was still standing and talking to Rogue.
Scott didn't like him just by looking at him. His scruffy unkempt appearance, devil may care expression and the way he was looking at Rogue all summed up to Scott not sure if he trusted this new comer.
"This is Remy LeBeau. Codename: Gambit," Kitty introduced.
"Remy," Scott held out his hand.
"Monsieur," Remy replied, taking it only long enough to give it a good squeeze.
"Remy, this is Scott Summers. The leader of the X-Men," Jean introduced Scott in turn.
"I run a tight ship around here," Scott added, a little bit of warning in his tone.
"Den I'll have fun loosening t'ings up 'round here," Remy replied with a smirk. "Now, if y'all excuse moi."
He exited with a bow and a flourish and wink in Rogue's direction. She merely rolled her eyes in reply. Scott raised his eyebrows at the show.
"He's really pretty good," Jean spoke up to defend right away. "Even if he is a little different than what the X-Men are used to."
"We'll see," was all Scott would allow. "Hey, I'm gonna go check on Brad. You guys want to come along and meet him?"
The gang was all for it and they moved down the hall together to where Brad had been situated. Scott knocked on the open door as he stepped into the room, his teammates crowding around behind him.
"Hey, I brought some more people for you to meet," he greeted cheerily.
Brad looked up from where he was unpacking his own boxes and bags, his smile still a little unwary. The six of them piled into the smallish room and Scott introduced them in turn, each of them greeting Brad politely, even Rogue who managed a smile for Scott's friend.
"Scott's told me a lot about you guys," Brad replied, relaxing as the X-Men laughed and talked and joked like regular teens.
They stayed for a few more minutes before Scott herded them all out so Brad could finish unpacking. Brad winked at Scott just as Jean was walking through the doorway and Scott rolled his eyes in reply. Scott promised to come back for Brad later so they could get some food. As he headed to his room to get back to his own unpacking, Scott could hear Kitty gushing about how hot Brad was, "And he's a COLLEGE student!" and laughed to himself.
It was good to be home.