Broken Memories and Forgotten Family
Disclaimer I do not own x-men or any of the movies/plots/dialog/comics just my own twists on them.
'Animal speak'
"Human speak"
"Other languages"
/memories/
'Telepathic speech'
A/N: Hmmmm I don't really wanna give anything away for this chapter so you're just gonna have to read it~ Though I am altering the timeline of the movie just a bit soo just go with it yeah?
Chapter 3: Comfort, new friends, and Nightmares
Cora rushed down the hall not bothering to watch where she was going, How could he just randomly blurt something like that out, She knew she was probably being over emotional, but come on she'd had a rough day she was a little entitled… she felt the guilt for hitting him eat at her though, and she hated that all she wanted to do was run back to him and crawl in to his lap begging for forgiveness like a whimpering puppy.
She clenched her teeth and yelped in surprise when she collided with something, she looked up to see pretty mocha skin, snow white hair and worried gray eyes, Someone then… "Are you alright?" Cora felt her bottom lip quiver and bit down on it hard to try to fight off the fresh wave of tears… it didn't work. She just burst into a fresh wave of hiccupping sobs, startling the white haired Woman. The woman dropped to her knees and gathered Cora into a comforting hug, "shh, it'll be alright, I'm sure it's not all that bad… My names Ororo by the way,"
Cora nodded a bit and gave a softer hiccupping sob trying to calm down, "C-cora…"
Storm nodded and gently pulled Cora to her feet, "Well Cora I think I know something that will make you feel better…" Cora just nodded again and let herself be led.
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They entered a massive kitchen and Storm sat Cora down on a stool at the island in the middle of the room. Then went about preparing Cora a mug of hot chocolate and a mug of tea for herself. She set the mug of chocolate in front of the petite ravenette and then a plate of sugar cookies. Cora gave her a watery smile and took her mug. She drank some before breaking apart a cookie and holding a piece up to her neck, confusing Storm until she saw the delicate white Reptilian head. How had she missed that before? The white cobra blinked open scarlet eyes and carefully took the offered piece of cookie before dropping her head with a contented hiss that made Cora smile.
"Thank you, Ororo. I'm sorry I ran into you… I was just having a bit of a melt down; it really was silly and I over reacted…" Storm nodded accepting the answer.
"Will your…" Storm paused seeming to be looking for the right word, "-Family be staying?" Cora bit her lip and looked unsure but Ororo smiled as the professor telepathically informed her that she would need to set up some rooms for their guests… preferably ones close to Logan's. She turned to Cora, "Never mind, I've just been told that you will be staying so I assume your leader and Charles have come to some sort of agreement."
Cora gave her a smile, "that's good."
Ororo nodded and stood, "Would you like to be shown your room?"
A bright smile pulled across Cora's face and she shoved the rest of the cookie in her mouth with a nod.
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Cora flopped into her new bed with a smile, she was still feeling guilty about Jimmy but she would apologize tomorrow. Apollo hopped onto the foot of her bed, Pan and Rasta on the empty pillow next to her, "Night guys," she yawned as she drifted into a light doze, the closest thing she got to actual sleep anymore.
It was much darker outside of her window when she woke up to a familiar rage filled roar, she jerked upright, she knew that roar! "Jimmy!" the little feral jumped out of bed and ran across the hall to the already open door.
James was sitting up in bed a look of complete horror on his face as he retracted his claws from a teen aged girl chest, He looked up and saw her his eyes begging for help as his mouth moved soundlessly trying to form words, she rushed over and screamed for Victor and Remy.
Cora shushed him gently as he grabbed at her wrist. Remy and Victor appeared in the doorway along with a herd of kids, "Remy go get help, Victor get those children back in their rooms!" they nodded and departed. The girl was gasping in pain and she reached out, lightly touching James face. Her wounds stopped bleeding. But Jimmy looked like he was about to go into shock… that's when it hit her, this girl was absorbing his ability to heal. That wound would kill her, or them both. She reached out and grabbed the girls other arm and gasped when she felt her healing get funneled into what felt like a hungry black-hole. Then she passed out.
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Cora blinked her eyes open and winced in pain at the throbbing headache; she tried to move but froze when she realized she was being held in place, then remembered what had happened, James was still holding her arm. He woke next, releasing her arm to press his hands to his face as he moaned in pain. He looked over at her and gave her a guilty look; she smiled weakly and took his hand threading their fingers together in a comforting gesture. His eyes softened from the grimace and he sat up to look over her head at the professor, "Marie, is she alright?"
The professor nodded, "She will be fine."
Logan tried to nod and groaned in pain as he slumped back into a horizontal position, nausea rolling through him. Cora whined in half sympathy half pain and nuzzled his throat lightly; he turned and pressed a kiss to her hair returning the comfort. "What did she do to us?"
The professor fought the urge to smile at the display of affection, "Whenever Rouge touches someone she takes their energy, their life force. In the case of mutants she absorbs their gifts for a short while. In both of your cases, your abilities to heal. Along with some minor feral side effects."
Wolverine grunted, "I feel like she almost killed me…" Cora hissed lightly in disapproval and pinched his side making him growl back, "Stop that."
She stuck her tongue out at him but settled back against his side. "If she'd held on any longer and Cora hadn't donated some of her own ability when she did, she probably would have."
Cora snickered and cuddled slightly closer to James, "We finally find something that can kill you and it's a Sixteen year old girl…"
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Wolverine stormed into the lab with Ororo and Cora in tow, "Where is she?!" He snarled at the professor.
The paralyzed man's face blanked for a moment and Scott sneered at the feral mutant, "Where is who?" Cora stepped up to her pack-mates side and growled along with him.
Luckily the Prof. interrupted before things could escalate further… "Rouge, she's gone." The professor led them to another area in the underground section of the mansion and moved in front of an ocular scanner, the computer welcomed him and he wheeled into the room, "Welcome to Cerebro."
James followed Xavier into the room, Cora just behind him. "This certainly is a big, round room…"
Cora snickered, "I bet the acoustics are fantastic…" James gave the petite feral girl a half amused half annoyed look over his shoulder and she grinned at him innocently.
"Brainwaves from mutants are different from average human beings; this device amplifies my power allowing me to locate mutants across great distances. That is how I intend to find Rouge."
Wolverine raised an eyebrow, "Why don't you just use it to find Magneto?"
The professor sighed, "I've been trying, but he seems to have found some way to shield himself from it."
Wolverine narrowed his eyes slightly, "how would he know how to do that?"
The crippled man looked slightly in Logan's direction, a sad tone invading his voice, "Because he helped me build it." The professor sighed and lifted the helmet to his head, "Now if you'll excuse me." Cora nudged James arm as he hesitated and they both left the spherical room.
A few minutes later the professor exited the room and faced the two anxious ferals and three concerned teachers, "She's at the train station."
Logan's face turned serious, "Where's that?"
"A few miles west of here." The professor answered while Wolverine tuned and headed down the corridor, Cora wordlessly on his heels, "Logan, you can't leave the mansion. It is just the opportunity Magneto needs."
Logan growled at the crippled man and Cora caught his hand and squeezed comfortingly, "I'm the reason she took off!" He squeezed Cora's hand tightly, the pressure not fazing the tiny mutant in the least.
The Professor narrowed his eyebrows just slightly showing his displeasure, "We had a deal."
Storm Intruded before things got out of hand looking between the feral man and the Professor, "She's all right. She's just upset."
The Professor nodded ignoring Logan's irritated expression, "Storm, Cyclops, find her see if you can talk to her." The pair nodded and left to go get ready to leave.
Logan growled and stormed back to the main part of the mansion Cora trailing behind him like a loyal puppy. "We're going after her right?"
Wolverine glanced down at her as they approached the garage, "We?"
Cora grabbed his arm and planted her feet, forcing him to stop and look at her again. "Last time you ran off to save someone without me you got shot in the head and forgot all about me. If this cub is important to you then she's important to me. I'm coming. Deal with it."
Logan blanked as the image of them both being shot on the island flashed in his mind and he winced before he sighed in slight annoyance at the girls determined expression, "If I left you, you'd just follow me wouldn't you."
Cora smiled, "to the ends of the world and back." Logan felt a sudden rush of affection for the petite woman at her sure statement and he nodded pulling her along behind him at a quicker pace and stopping beside a cool looking bike. Cora smirked at her pack mate, "How much you wanna bet this is Señor snarky pants' ride…" Logan just smirked back.
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Rouge smile weakly to herself as she watched the mother and son in the seats across the aisle from her, then looked away sadly directing her gaze out of her window. As the pair of feral mutants boarded the train Cora pointed at the top of the teenagers green hood and smacked James gently on the arm to get his attention. He looked to where she gestured and they headed in her direction, "hey kid." Rouge looked up at them with wide startled brown eyes, as Wolverine settled into the seat next to her and Cora across from her with a gentle, calming smile. "I'm sorry about last night."
The girl gave Logan a confused and upset look, but eventually nodded, "Me too…" then she glanced at Cora who just smiled and nodded indicating that there were no hard feelings from her either, causing Rouge to smile weakly in return.
Logan raised an eyebrow and leaned back comfortably in his seat, "You running again?"
Rouge meekly shifted her eyes towards him, "I heard the professor was mad at me."
Cora narrowed her eyes slightly, "Who told you that sweetie?"
The younger girl shifted her eyes between the two adults, "A boy at school." She paused and stared at Logan for a long moment narrowing her eyes slightly, "You think I should go back."
James shook his head and gave her a serious look, "No, I think you should follow your instincts."
Rouge looked at Cora, who nodded encouragingly, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath" the first boy I ever kissed ended up in a coma for three weeks. I can still feel him inside my head, she blinked and her eyes focused on the man beside her before flicking to the petite woman across from her, "It's the same with you. Both of you." Tears welled in her eyes but they did not fall.
Wolverine blinked and seemed unsure of what to say for a long moment, so Cora stepped in, "I spent the first eleven years of my life locked in an attic being harassed by priests and a hateful father, then the four after that in an asylum, If I had never been found by James and Victor, I'd probably be a monster. The type of mutant the humans are so afraid of now. They saved me, became my family. I will follow them where ever they lead. James has decided that you are important to him kiddo. He'll look after you. Which means you have a whole family with you now, where ever you decide to go, whatever you decide to do. We will always have your back."
Rouge stared at the petite woman with wide shocked eyes. Then turned to look at Logan only to see a similar expression on his face, surprise and affection battling for dominance in his eyes. Cora smiled at them both and Logan looked back at the teenager beside him, affection for both of the females winning out as he pulled the surprised teenager into a one armed hug, Marie's face was surprised for a long moment before tears once again welled in her eyes and spilled over her cheeks, not in sadness but in relief and happiness, She had a family, one that wouldn't stare at her in horror because of her powers one that she could trust, one that would have her back and take care of her, She smiled widely and her fingers clenched into Logan's shirt. Logan looked down at her, "There's not many people that'll understand what you're going through, but I think this guy Xavier might be one of them." Rouge glanced up at the man, "He seems to genuinely want to help you and that's a rare thing… For people like us…" The teen nodded slowly and looked between the pair slowly with a teary smile as she wiped her eyes with her sleeve covered hand. So what d'you say, Give these X-geeks one more shot?" The train jerked as it began to move and Marie sat back in her seat an unsure look on her face, "Come on," Rouge made eye contact and Logan smiled gruffly at her, "I'll take care of you." Rogue smiled in return and nodded.
Cora snorted softly drawing their attention, "You're such a softy, Jimmy."
Rouge smiled and giggled behind her hand as Logan growled annoyed at her playful mocking. "Shut it runt." Then he glanced at Marie, "You too pup." Both girls just laughed more.
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The trio all jerked in surprise when the train jumped to a stop nearly jostling them from their seats James got up from his seat and looked around, Rouge tried to do the same but Cora grabbed her hand and pulled her back into her seat, shaking her head at the teen. When the train car began to warp and bend Cora moved to Logan's evacuated seat and made sure she was in front of the frightened teen. Logan turned to the rear of the car as it was pulled a part by an invisible force followed by a man in a cape and helmet floating down into the destroyed car. Logan positioned himself closer to his female pack mates and unsheathed his claws with a growl. Startling the other passengers and seeming to amuse the caped man.
"You must be Wolverine." Cora watched in dismay as James growled and took a step forward and the other man simply raised his hand halting the older Feral in his tracks. The old man smirked ever so slightly, "that remarkable metal doesn't run through your entire body does it?"
He flicked his fingers outward and wolverine's arms flung out to the sides against his will. Cora and Marie stared with wide eyes as he was lifted into the air, his claws shifting around in an unnatural way as the metal was manipulated. "Stop! Stop it, please!" Rouge screamed as her eyes filled with tears again. Cora was speechless just staring in silent horror.
James growled, "What the hell do you want with me?"
Magneto sneered, "You? My dear boy, whoever said I wanted you?" Logan glanced over at Rouge and Cora with wide eyes before he was flung to the other end of the car colliding with the wall with a heavy thunk.
Cora had to force herself not to run to James and gripped Rouges arm tightly to prevent her from doing the same. Telling herself he would be fine as she stepped in front of the younger girl and glared at the metal manipulator, Baring her teeth angrily. "Sorry your little metal bending trick won't work on me." She snapped her teeth at him and sparks flew violently as she fell into her fighting stance. Mystique stepped up behind him and smirked at Cora.
The women glared at each other and moved at once, Mystique snatched Cora by her hair and slammed her head into the wall just as the little feral jabbed three charged fingers into the blue woman, one at the shoulder, one at the sternum and an third just missing her neck and singeing the slightly scaled blue skin, the first making her arm go limp and numb and the second knocking the wind from her lungs making the muscles contract violently and leaving her gasping for air. Unfortunately the blow to the head stunned the small feral just long enough for Magneto to stab an injection needle into her neck. As her vision faded out she saw Rouge make a panicked run for James before Magneto did the same to her. Then he sighed in annoyance, "Young people." Then there was darkness.
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TBC…