Carefully making his way along the familiar dark, damp sewers he's had to walk for the last couple of days, he made sure the red scarf around the lower portion of his face was keeping the stench of decay and waste at bay. It didn't matter how many times he had to climb up and down these tunnels, nothing could ever remove the smell completely. Which made the thought of being able to help these people quicken his pace.
The walls were slick with dark slime, and the only sounds of trickling and running water along with his boots were echoing down the long tunnels.
He was wondering why Essex had told him that everyone had already left without him when he was under the impression that they needed him to guide them were the Morlocks were hidden, but Essex assured him that with all the information that was provided by him that the rest of the group would meet him there with no problem. But it was this unknown team member he was suspicious about and why bring them on board now?
'I don't like dis…' he thought, and his quick steps turned into a full-on run. Something in his gut always told him not to trust this man and now with the faint screams in the distance he hated the thought that he might have been right all along. Swiftly pulling out a playing card from his pocket he halted in his steps and froze in horror when he came upon the scene in front of him. "Merde…"
Terror stricken red on black eyes watched as the Morlocks he came to know and welcomed him with open arms were being thrown around and slaughtered like cattle everywhere he glanced, blood continued to rush past him mixing with the flow of the sewers. The few who were lucky enough to make it a few steps away were only being forced back or killed on the spot while the few who were able to use their powers already lay motionless and cold on the damp ground long before he even arrived, no doubt trying to protect everyone else in the group.
"Well, lookie who came late to the party." Victor Creed slowly turned in his direction while holding a helpless woman by the throat. "Thanks, we really wouldn't have been able to find these people without your help Gambit."
"You…." His breath picked up as he stared wide eyed at the familiar looking sneer of Sabertooth, Remy swiftly pulled out his bo staff with his other hand. "What are you doin' here?"
"Sight-seeing." Victor shrugged watching as the rest of the group continued to slaughter everyone in sight. "Gotta say the views not bad from where I'm standing."
"You won't be standin' for long of dat I can assure you." Remy was about to lunge at him and shook with anger. Anger at himself and anger at being the cause for this.
"Is that so?" Victor lifted an intrigue brow in challenge when he saw the murderous look Remy shot his way, lifting the woman a feet off the ground. "How will you stop me I wonder…"
"Mama…"
Remy suddenly stopped when he heard a small whimper coming from a little girl huddled in the shadows a few feet from the Sabertooth. "Let her go."
"What was that." Grinning Victor snapping the woman's neck, not even once removing his crazy eyes from Remy's. "Sorry, you'll have to speak louder. I couldn't hear you through the cracking bones."
"Mama!"
"Creed hurry up. Sinister told you not to play with your food!" Vertigo shouted over her shoulder.
"Well, you heard the boss." Victor shrugged, preparing to lunge at Remy but not before slashing a few Morlocks along the way.
He knew he only had a limited time to act, and he knew being this outnumbered he wasn't going to be able to get everyone out of here alive. In one quick move that was barely visible to the eye he let the tips of his finger glow with red-purple kinetic energy before releasing a handful of cards straight towards Sabertooth roughly throwing him back and right through one of the sewer walls before flicking more cards at the rest of the Marauders.
Using his agility to jump past some that managed to bypass his explosions he quickly bounced and flipped off the walls that made some of the others have a hard time pining him down before being knocked away by the blasts. "Run! Get out of here!" he shouted towards the remaining Morlocks.
Throughout all the shouting and chaos no one managed to make their way out before the rest of the Marauders eventually caught up to them.
"Gambit! Where the hell are ya?!"
He swiftly crouched down to check and see if the little girl was injured. She stared up at him with frightened blue eyes, red hair, and pink skin with bones that protruded from her skin. Her little hands were covering her ears from all the screaming that echoed throughout the tunnels. "It's ok petite. I'll get you out." He frantically let his eyes roam around the tunnels next.
"No." she pointed a shaky finger over his shoulder which made him turn to see Sabertooth making his towards them, jumping though the tunnels in frightening speed like a tiger going for its food.
"I'm coming for you you little runt!"
"Time to go!" In one quick move he lifted her up as she cried in protest not wanting to leave anyone behind.
"Mama!" the girl screamed lifting her hands behind him, kicking, and crying the whole way as he tightened his hold. Turning his gaze sideways as another ear-piercing scream echoed through, he made sure to cover the little girls' eyes by cradling her closer to his chest as he continued to run.
It was all he could do to not fall to his knees and ask for forgiveness which he knew he didn't deserve as he forced his burning lungs and legs to keep going, otherwise he didn't want to think what could happen to this little girl because of his selfish actions.
He needed to save her. Even if it cost him his life over and over again.
"Nuh uh uh. Not so fast." Sabertooth growled as he gave chase.
The more he ran, the more the sounds of everyone screaming turned faint. But the way the little girl continued to cry and desperately clutch onto him, the quicker his steps became. Throwing cards over his shoulders left and right as Sabertooth continued to dodge them gave Remy only a little bit of time to check his surroundings when he realized they were coming up to a dead end.
"Out of options now, are we?" Sabertooth gave a menacing grin as he let his fingernails scratch the narrow tunnels on either side of him. "Cornered like the little rat you are. Thought you'd put up more of a fight to be honest."
"Thought right." Remy narrowed his red glowing eyes while moving to stand in front of the little girl behind him. He lowered his voice only enough for her to hear while watching Sabertooth slowly approach like a predator would his prey. "Don't worry petite everything's fine. I won't let anythin' happen to you."
"Bold thing coming from someone who's about to become chow." Victory grinned seeing the dangerous glint in Remy's eyes. From what he remembered at Strykers, this kid usually was quite the talker and would never shut up, kind of like someone else he knew back in the day but the Gambit he was fighting now could even make him slightly shake in his boots and he liked every minute of it.
Remy just barely had time to roll out of the way as Sabertooth lunged himself forward, claws at the ready.
The little girl watched on in horror while crouched close to the ground to avoid getting hurt in the process. This guy whoever he was, she'd seen him around the tunnels before talking to the leaders of the Morlocks. They were always wary of outsiders, but they were never ones to turn down helping someone, especially someone who had no control over his powers, or so he said at the time since at the moment he didn't seem to have any issues using them.
The way he flung himself effortlessly through the air, constantly avoiding those sharp claws of the man who killed everyone she ever cared about made her scream when the hairy claw man almost managed to swipe him with his nails. Which was an error on her part when the man turned his menacing glare in her direction.
Without missing a beat Remy threw himself forward when saw Sabertooth lift his right hand aimed directly at the little girl only a second before he felt a sharp pain in his right shoulder. Wincing, he tried to give the little girl a reassuring smile before he whipped his bo staff, successfully cracking Victor across the face and slamming the staff so hard against the ground with his kinetic energy knocking Sabertooth back.
Ignoring the burning pain on his shoulder as he picked her up again, the tunnels began to crumble around them, and he managed to run over to the ladder leading up to the manhole cover. Forcibly pushing his way out just as the ladder gave out, he hauls her over as well as himself and into the pouring rain.
Letting the rain pour down on him, he tried to catch his breath as the oncoming dizziness threatened to overtake him. When he felt small hands roughly shake him, he winced once more and lifted himself up from the ground along with the little girl not planning to stop any longer as he let his feet carry them as far away from this place as he could and get her to safety.
-X-
Westchester County Upstate New York present time:
"Come on Rogue! You can't tell me that's what you're wearing?" Jubilee whined while she watched one of her closest friends look in the mirror again.
"Why, what's wrong with it?" Rogue furrowed her brows. She wore dark jeans with a simple green sweater.
"Nothing's wrong with it, Jubilee just has this theory that showing some skin is necessary." Kitty grinned looking at the various items of clothing laying on Rogues bed.
"No, I'm just saying that if you have it then flaunt it girl. Nothing wrong with that." Jubilee grinned while getting off the bed. "Besides it's your birthday, so why not go all out and enjoy it. You're only eighteen once you know."
"Yes, and ah'm spending my birthday at home with the only people I care about." She proudly lifted her chin to look at her outfit once again. "No need to dress up." Not to mention she didn't want to run the risk of hurting anyone in case her powers were coming back.
Exchanging amused looks, both girls nodded in return. "That's right, and if Logan didn't feel the need to keep his precious baby girl home, we would be out at a club somewhere right now." Kitty dreamily hummed while playing with Rogues hair. "Dancing our butts off. Life is so not fair."
"Hey are ya'll insinuatin' that this is my fault?"
"Oh please Rogue, everyone knows how protective he is over you." Jubilee snickered while putting her own hair into a ponytail. "Remember how long it took Bobby to work up the courage to finally ask you out once he realized that too. I thought that boy was going to piss his pants." She laughed receiving a shove from Kitty.
"H-he is? Logan I mean." Rogue couldn't help but ask with a slight blush. She had long overcome her little crush on the older man especially after she found out he had a thing for Professor Grey. But she was still very fond of him and knew he cared for her too. "By the way has Logan come back yet?"
"Not yet, said he'd be back soon." Kitty thoughtfully hummed before a knock came at Rogues door.
Sharing curious looks Rogue went to answer and was surprised to see Bobby standing there. "Well, this is surprise."
"Wow Rogue you look great."
"Thanks." She shyly smiled.
Quickly giving her a once over he pivoted to the side to see who all was inside her room. "Hey do you mind if I talk to Kitty for a second?"
"Will I ever get a minute's peace in this place." Kitty playfully groaned as she walked out the door and down the hall with him. "Alright Bobby so what's up?"
"Ok, now before you say anything I need you to promise me that you won't say anything to Rogue or judge me in any way known to man."
"Um possibly, depending on what it is. But just by asking me this you're already not doing good." She stubbornly crossed her arms. "Wait…don't tell me. You look nervous, you barely looked at Rogue, it's her…Bobby you forget to get her a gift?!"
"Shh not so loud!" he hissed.
"You're yelling too!"
"That's because you yelled first!" he pointed out with a teasing grin.
"Ok ok, let me calm down a minute." She slowly inhaled and exhaled before furiously slapping him on the shoulder. "How could you forget something like that?!"
"That's almost not as bad as forgetting the day huh?" he awkwardly asked.
"You-"
"Just kidding! Kidding!" he lifted his hands up to try and block another jab at him. "But seriously you've got to help me out Kitty, you're the only one I can trust to help me with this. Jubes will just take me straight to Logan."
'Not a bad idea…' she thought to herself. She wanted to stay mad at him, she really did. I mean who forgets to give his girlfriend a gift? If it were up to her, she would give him hell too. But then had to remember that he wasn't her boyfriend. Which just put a frown on her face.
"Come on Kitty." Grabbing her hand in his, he gave her his usual smile that would make her knees weak. "Please…"
"Fine." She reluctantly nodded hoping he wouldn't see the blush on her cheeks. "So, what have you come up with?"
"Actually, that's where you come in." He winced when she gave him an incredulous look before stomping down the hall and he quickly followed. "Kitty wait!"
-X-
Essex Corp New Orleans, Louisiana 1980
"Essex!" Remy shouted, not giving a damn if anyone heard him. The place was fairly empty except for the few guards he came across, unfortunately for them. 'Of course, it's an ambush.' He bitterly thought to himself as if this day already wasn't one of the worse once he'd experienced.
Expertly twirling his long bo staff daring anyone to come near him, he cautiously marched his way down until he reached the familiar double doors to Essex's lab. After forcibly kicking the doors open, he scanned the room. "Essex!"
"My my done already?" Essex emerged from one of the walk-in closets further away holding a clipboard and a pair of glasses.
"Oh I'm done alright, Sinister." Clenching his jaw he warily continued to approach the older man, as Essex continued on with his work not even surprised or intimidated by his presence. In fact, he almost seemed happy about it.
"I trust everything went according to plan?"
"You bastard!" Remy fumed with rage, threateningly lifting his bo staff against Essex's neck with the tip glowing a dangerous red purple. "Why?! Why do dis?! Those people were innocent!"
"Science." Essex grinned, not at all fazed. "All for the love of science. Without that, there would be no way to help your powers, nor anyway for our research to progress."
"Don't!" Remy sneered gripping his staff so tight his knuckles turned white. "Don't you dare for an instant t'ink I won't kill you where you stand."
"Then why not do it?" Essex's grin widened, tilting his head sideways. "Or have you already spilled enough blood today to last you a lifetime, Gambit?"
"Shut up!"
"To tell you the truth we could never have made the progress we did without your expertise Gambit."
"Stop it!"
"How does it feel to be a murderer?"
Grabbing him by the collar of his lab coat Remy was beyond tempted to just finish the bastard off here and now. But as the memory of what happened earlier today mixed in with what he's just witnessed not long ago made him take a shaky step back after throwing Essex against his desk. "I didn't mean…those people…."
"They. Don't. Matter." Essex scoffed looking over the chamber once more, running his lanky fingers over the glass. "We still have a lot to do."
"Yeah, well count me out." With the flick of his wrist, he threw a few playing cards all over the lab much to the horrified expression of Nathaniel Essex.
"Wait what do you think you're doing?!" Essex frantically tried to fill his arms with anything he could while everything in the lab started to explode. "NO!"
"Gotta say doc dis would have been a good time as any for my powers to go haywire." Remy darkly said effortlessly throwing another playing card close to him.
"I HELPED YOU! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE?!"
"Couldn't care less, dis one." Shrugging his shoulders, he took one last look around. "But I know dat you probably have some of your people already headin' dis way to give me a warm welcome. So might as well enjoy myself while I'm here, non?"
"You'll regret this." Essex slowly grinned. "Trust me. You'll never be rid of me."
"Took you long enough." Remy hummed out loud already well aware of the few newcomers running in from behind as he extended his staff. "Now let's play!"
As the building shook, those who still remained inside slowly started fleeing when they realized the place wasn't going to hold for much longer. Dodging left then right, Remy was rather surprised when he saw the purple haired chick relentlessly attacking him without breaking a sweat.
"Ah you must be his personal security, hein?" Remy jumped on top of one of the desks eyeing her carefully. Her long purple hair swayed from side to side with eyes to match, now that he could get a better look at her she seemed to be in her early twenties if he had to guess. Not that he ever minded older women, but right now wasn't the time. "But as much as I'd like to keep chattin' with a beautiful femme such as yourself." Quickly jumping off he threw another card straight in her direction making her crash roughly against the door. "I'd rather much stay alive. If you don't mind."
Ducking just in time to avoid a few of the guards aiming their guns at him, he accidentally slammed his palm down on the machine Essex had been working on and activating it. Squinting his eyes, he was able to vaguely make out something shimmering blue inside as the door slowly opened before him and a familiar voice spoke inside the room.
"There you are kid!" Victor roared, harshly shoving some of the guards aside as he stepped through the broken doors.
"Stop him Victor!" Essex shouted.
"Dats my cue." He saw the only exit out was being blocked. Squinting his eyes at the metal chamber he apprehensively shoved himself inside a second before the door closed on him. He knew that it wasn't his best move since he had no idea what this was. Yet it beat being out there where Victor made an attempt to scratch at the glass before Essex shouted for him to stop.
"Ok t'hink Remy, dis is a teleportation device right? So dere has to be somethin'…" letting his panicked eyes roam over the various blinking buttons, he squinted his eyes closed as he pressed the only red button there. Go figure. "Here goes thinin'."
"NO!" Was all he heard from Essex as he looked over his shoulder and saw the shimmering blue light reflecting a faint picture of what looked like a large mansion in front of him. With one last look behind him he lifted another card charging it and shoved it inside the chamber before stepping out into the shimmering mansion.
-X-
Westchester County Upstate New York present time:
As soon as his shoes stepped into the freshly mowed dark green grass, he heard a faint popping sound from behind before the light disappeared.
Panting, he looked around in alarm making sure he wasn't followed and doubted he would be if he managed to blow up whatever that thing was.
Tiredly dropping down, he leaned his back against a large brick wall, momentarily closing his eyes. 'At least the rain stopped.' He bitterly thought, turning sideways when he heard the familiar noise of a camera moving in his direction.
Jumping to his feet in time to get out of the way he came across the name of the property in front of him. "Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters." Furrowing his brows, he could have sworn he had heard that name before.
Now curious he managed to haul himself up and over the closed gates, carefully and as quietly as the best thief he knew he was. Whoever this place belonged to had some serious issues with getting good security systems since he didn't even have to break a sweat to make it to the front lawn. "What a joke." He chuckled while surveying the area. "No too shabby though. But you'd t'ink someone as loaded as dis fool, would know better than to slack off on somethin' like dis."
He crouched down against the larger than necessary water fountain when a couple of noises threw his attention inside. Raising his head, he could vaguely make out two figures talking, one looked like he wore some kind of robe or wings he couldn't really tell, but he didn't look much older than himself with blond hair. It was hard to tell from his position, while the other man had his back turned towards him.
Narrowing his eyes, he tried to get a better look at the bulkier man since there was something familiar about him. Once the man placed a heavy hand on the blond and they both turned to make their way down a hall, Remy's face immediately changed into that of recognition.
"Logan?"
Maybe it was fate that he landed here of all things. Wherever here was.
Cautiously looking around to make sure he wasn't spotted he quietly followed along their path still crouching, trying to figure out how to approach the man since he remembered he wasn't really the friendly snuggly type.
But right now it didn't matter, he had people after him and if his plan of blowing up that machine had by his recent luck failed, then he needed someone he could count on that could help and take care of himself in the process. And Logan fit the bill. Not to mention he owed him one so maybe Logan was in a giving generous kind of mood right now.
Exhaling loudly, he quickly got to his feet but stop short when he heard laughter coming from inside the mansion. Dumbstruck he watched on as the Wolverine was smiling and laughing at something someone said to him from further away as he stood with…. was that a student?
"Xavier…of course." Lightly scoffing, it all just came back to him. Now he remembered why that name rang a bell. He was the older gentleman that helped those kids back on the Island.
So, during his absence it seemed that the rough Canadian made a home here after all, and dare he say it…seemed happy.
Slowly blinking once he suddenly felt overcome with emotions. "Well, de Wolverine finally found a home…" Giving a faint smile he reluctantly realized that this wasn't it. This wasn't his time nor place to take all that away from the man.
Not after what they had to endure on the Island, and god knows what else after he lost contact with him. People like them didn't usually get a happy ending, but no way in hell was he going to try and take something like that away.
"Well good for you Logan." Nodding in satisfaction and glad that at least one of them found a happy ending, he heavily sighs intending to leave this place and never return until something caught his eye.
Logan stopped right next to someone who was surrounded by people, apparently it was this girls' birthday or something since he could make out muffled singing followed by some blond guy teasing her as he wrapped an arm around her. But it wasn't the scene that stopped him no, it was the girl.
Parting his mouth, he felt his breathing stop. She had long beautiful auburn hair with white strands framing her beautiful face. Normally something like that would make him question why that was, but at that moment all he could see was the joyful smile she wore which made his lips lift into a half smile.
She looked happy and boy was she a sight to see.
But what thew him off was the way her eyes reflected sadness, and emptiness instead. When the blond leaned in to place a quick kiss on her head, she nervously looked up forcing a small smile.
With one last glanced at the mansion he expertly made his way out of this place.
"This is for me?" She chuckled when Logan handed her a box.
"Yeah sorry kid it took me a while. Had to wait until they had it ready today." Logan fondly watched her open it right before she gave him a hug.
"I love it!" She couldn't keep the smile off her face as she let her hand touch the dark brown letter jacket. "Wait does that mean…?"
"No!" Logan quickly cut off. "No motorcycles yet."
"Can't give a gal somethin' like this Logan then take her hopes away like that." Rogue laughed carefully putting the jacket on.
"Yeah well keep dreaming darlin'."
"Hey Rogue remember to make a wish first!" Kitty excitedly squealed next to bobby when they still waited for her to blow out the candles.
"Isn't that for when your little?" Jubilee quirked an eyebrow.
"Oh, hush don't listen to them." Kitty waved off.
"A wish huh…" Rogue thought out loud. "What do I wish for…?"
Logan suddenly whipped his head around to sniff the air several times coming from the open window.
"Logan what is it?" Ororo said in alarm standing next to the professor and Scott.
"I don't know." He frowned, focusing on the scent.
"That's the first." Scott smugly crossed his arms over his chest.
Giving Scott an unamused expression, Logan was too caught up on the familiar scent to even respond. "I know I've smelled it before..."
"Logan?" Rogue cautiously asked which seemed to bring him back to the present.
"Don't worry about me. Let just get on with these candles."
Nodding she turned back to the cake in front of her. "Any wish ah want…"
Closing her eyes with a playful smile she leaned over and did just that, hoping that maybe someday it would come true. But then again it was just a fools wish right….
Watching all of his students clap and laugh, Professor Charles Xavier silently turned his attention back to the open window with a knowing smile.