Memories
Forever Plus A Day
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If you want to use Tora, or any of my other characters, PM me.
The systems had failed suddenly and unexpectedly. There had been a general and rather chaotic period of panic and then the system had rebooted and she had vanished. There was a lot of swearing from Iron Man and no one noticed Captain America sidle into the room looking innocent and ready to violently deny "Unplug it and replug it? Why would I do a thing like that?"
There was a flurry of movement as the interception team got ready for mobilisation as soon as she was found. And then the light fired up, a bright red point; Iron Man shouted "The school! She's at the school!" Nightcrawler teleported and then as they arrived, he dropped without a sound. Beast caught him just before he hit the ground and started trying to revive him. Meanwhile, the team got into a circle to protect their fallen member; thrown off by the sudden, unseen attack.
Thor had Mjolnir spinning around furiously and then he heard a noise. He was about to throw it when a figure stepped out into the light.
Logan was staring down at the body he had cradled in his arms like a baby. Her head was tilted into his torso, her arm was hanging down, her chest was a bloodied mass of mangled flesh. Logan himself looked the worse for wear. His costume hung off his body in tatters, his chest was midway through healing from horrific burns and his stomach was stained red with blood. Whether his or Tora's it was unsure.
Then deadened blue eyes looked up at the silent watchers. And in a flat, emotionless voice, he spoke two words.
"It's over."
Steve stepped forward.
"Logan…"
"Someone had surgically implanted a bomb in her chest. She detonated it."
"Logan, I… I'm so sorry…"
He looked down once more at the blood-streaked face pressed to him then spoke softly, quietly.
"Not as sorry as I am."
Thor stepped forward.
"Shield-brother, you know what must be done."
Logan looked up.
"What must be done?"
"As Robert Reynolds-"
"You're not throwing her in the Sun!"
There was an uncomfortable silence as Steve stepped forward.
"Logan, you know…"
"I don't see why you have to do that!"
"For pity's sake, somebody help me!"
Everyone turned to Beast who was leaning back exhausted.
"We need to get Nightcrawler to hospital. He's totally comatose."
Immediately there was a huge bustle as everyone generally got in everyone else's way. And as Thor took Kurt off for medical treatment, Steve glanced over to see Logan on his knees, still cradling the body. He wanted to say something. But what could he possibly say?
How do you console a man who's lost the most important thing in his life?
"How sad…"
"How absolutely entertaining! How come you never told me how much fun mortals were to watch?"
"Death?"
"Yes, Phoenix?"
"Do you want to be drowned in the Eye?"
Curt knew.
That was the worst part for Logan. He entered the small room Steve had set aside for the family. Laura had looked hopeful, Jamie woebegone, Eva with a certain dawning comprehension… and Curt with the terrible weight in his eyes of knowing. Logan opened his mouth and found his throat horribly dry. He tried to wet it so he could speak but Curt beat him to it.
"Maman's dead, isn't she?"
Logan paused before allowing the tiniest of nods. At that, everyone reacted differently.
Laura crumpled –that was the only word for it. She choked back tears and her wild eyes begged him to tell her it was all a tasteless joke.
Jamie just quietly lowered his head and folded his hands neatly in his lap. Yet Logan knew his son well enough to know that the restraint was merely his way of coping and that more likely than not, he'd come in the middle of the night, seeking comfort and reassurance.
Eva just looked confused. She didn't fully understand death. To her, it was just people going away. But her face crinkled up ready to cry as she grasped that Maman would not be coming home.
And Curt… Curt just sighed. There was a lot in that single expellation of air. A lot was said and even more was left unsaid. Logan wanted to protect them. He had wanted to shield them from danger and in doing so, opened their way to pain.
Laura slowly got up, still shaking. She grasped Eva's shoulders and steered her out of the room, Jamie following. Curt remained. Father and son sized each other up.
"Dad, answer me this. One question. One answer. I won't hold anything against you. But please answer this truthfully. Did you kill Maman?"
"Curt…"
Your mother looked me in the eye and told me to kill her. She begged me to kill her. And when my claws slid into unresisting flesh, her eyes lit up and she thanked me! Her last words were her thanking me for taking her life! And then she crumpled, like someone had cut her strings –like I had cut her strings. And I felt like I had stabbed myself, right in the heart…
"Dad? Answer my question. Did you kill Maman?"
Logan stared his son right in his earnest eyes.
"No."
"So then what…?"
"I don't get this."
"All will be revealed, my dears. All shall be revealed."