First Night
Chapter 3
by
Misty
Distribution: Stoic Simplicity, http://www.wolverineandrogue.com/mistiec, list archives. Everyone else, please ask.
Spoilers: X-Men: the movie, Angel: The Series, second season finale.
Notes: Remember the whole "not too distant" future thing? Let's disregard that for now. We'll just say that the not too distant future is now, at least a year from now, in Angel's time.
Other notes: This is a LONG sucker, registered at about ... oh... 190 pages from start to finish. So I'll only be posting two chapters a day, so as not to overwhelm your inboxes. This is a crossover, but I wrote it as well as I could have so that even if you are not familiar with X-Men, or Angel, you can read the story and not feel lost.
That at least, is my intention. I hope.
Disclaimer : Um... these characters are not mine. I just played with them. So ... yeah.
Dedication: Jenn, Christie, Shaz - thanks.
Jean Grey took a short breath as she zipped the suit up, taking a moment to study herself in the large mirror of the bedroom that had been her temporary home for only a day.
One day ago Rogue, Logan, she and Storm had all been safely home in Winchester, sitting around one of the cafeteria tables with Charles and Scott, discussing the trip that would ensue.
She had known that the conference would be important, but the growing hate factions against mutants had garnered more trouble than Charles and Scott thought it might have been worth. Jean had argued the point, stating they needed to be here, at least to make their presence known.
Storm, in a true bout of friendship, had offered to accompany her, and Logan, surprisingly, had agreed to come as well. Rogue asked to come, and Jean didn't mind the younger team member tagging along: in a fight, Rogue was well on her way to becoming lethal with more than just a touch.
Despite the precaution, she really hadn't expected anymore than the usual hate threats and interviews. Rogue had dragged Logan site- seeing (a very funny sight on its own. Only Rogue could convince Bad Ass Logan to take a leisurely stroll down Hollywood Blvd) and she and Ororo had stayed in to prepare for the speech.
Good Lord, how many things could go wrong in just a few hours?
Life never ceased to be so amused at its little twists and turns. In less than an hour, Jean's eyes had been opened to a world she had never before known existed.
Had she had time to process it, perhaps she would have been a little more skeptical, would have wanted to run tests and think and perceive and make theories before accepting the fact that a Vampire with a Soul and his band of do-gooders were at this moment camping out in her room in search for not only her lost ex-student and current fellow team member, but a seer.
Now, it seemed there was no other choice but to come face to face with Angelus. The intimate details she still didn't know, but the readings had made her well enough aware of why the vampire garnered such fear and paranoia before he had been cursed with a soul.
Oh, Lord, Scott, if I could just see your face now.
She took in another shuddering breath, and quickly wrapped her hair into a pony tail, heading toward the door.
Jean Grey was well aware of the stares as she left her bedroom, pulling on the gloves, barely stopping as she walked toward the desk where Wesley was looking at her with mild shock and a bit of admiration.
"That's quite an ensemble," he said, eyes roving down her body before Fred reached over and thumped him on the back of his head, hard, obviously not impressed with his regression into `guy'.
Jean, despite the tightness in her chest that never quite went away when one of her teammates was missing, managed only a disinterested nod. "Have you found anything?"
After casting a glare at Fred, who merely cocked an eyebrow and returned to her studying, Wesley slowly shook his head no. "Unfortunately, no. I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for. Demons, vampires, ancient prophecies, that's one thing. But mutants? I must confess I'm not fully versed on the subject."
Jean ventured a smirk. "Yes, well up until one hour ago I had a hard time believing in vampires. So count us in the same boat."
Fred looked up from her books, as Logan also emerged from his room with the trademark black leather uniform, although he looked more than a little uncomfortable in it. "He is quite sure Magneto is behind this. Perhaps if we started in the news headlines."
"Hmm... Good idea."
"You'll find nothing we do not already know," Storm remarked, adjusting the cape as she, now properly dressed, walked up to them.
"Man I gotta get me one of those," Gunn remarked, riveted on her.
Storm gave him a long stare until he blushed and turned away, before continuing her conversation with Wesley. "We have tracked him ever since his break from jail. There has been nothing. He has kept quiet."
Wesley pursed. "No, nothing more than the usual mutant/human tension in these headlines. The paranoia is astounding."
"Right cause right now that's what we care about," Angel dripped sarcastically from his position against the wall. "Human/mutant politics." His eyes were riveted on Logan, who merely ground on his cigar in silence, as he groaned slightly, closing his eyes and then opening them to come forward.
"Ororo," Angel's eyes were intense, dark and deep and almost hypnotizing, as Jean watched his worried expression. He was a vampire, that was what everyone was saying, but he acted human, looked human... there was nothing- Her eyebrow furrowed and she shook her head, blinking, forcing herself to concentrate on what he was saying to her friend. "This Magneto guy, would he hurt Cordelia? I mean, really hurt her?"
Storm shot her a quick glance and Jean felt her chest tighten in response. God. Once more, she looked to see how Logan was fairing, but true to his nature, the gruff mutant only kept silent, acting as if he wasn't listening, when she knew he was taking in every word.
Oh, God, Rogue. Please be okay, if not for us, for you, be okay for HIM.
She had no idea what would happen to Logan if anything happened to her. Lately it seemed Rogue was the one fixture of stability he had. Friends, more than friends, of the nature of their relationship she wasn't sure. But she did know that Logan considered it his most precious possession: his bond with Rogue. No friendship he had with the other X-Men could compare to the bond, not their lusty friendship that had dwindled into mutual affection, not his admiration of Xavier, and she knew Rogue cherished it just as much. Logan had always trusted her, never been afraid of her powers or her skin, and Jean knew that for the troubled, insecure soul that still harbored in Rogue's much more confident exterior, it meant the very world.
"Magneto believes that a war is brewing between mutants and humans," she finally said simply, opting for the quick and bitter truth. "About four years ago he took Rogue and sucked himself into her. She would have died, if we had not saved her."
"So Cordelia's in serious trouble."
Beside her, Storm nodded mutely with a carefully closed expression, and it didn't take a telepath to see how deeply the nod affected him. She saw the vampire's face immediately wince, a low growl escaping as he continued to pace, hands in fists, banging at his sides.
Wesley also saw the reaction, and exchanged a wary look with Gunn before saying, loudly. "Angel, we're not sure he's who took her."
It was meant to be comforting she supposed, but it didn't do much. "For all we know Wesley she could be back in Pylea. That doesn't help."
The young woman who was called Fred gave a squeak, making Jean look at her curiously, but she was back to being buried in her books.
A solid knock at the door brought an end to the stillness as she felt the invasion of her mind in the form of a very familiar presence. Jean felt a flood of welcome relief as she turned to Storm, "It's Charles."
She strode to the door, moving past Gunn to open it.
~*~
Logan took the cigar out of his mouth, his leg falling to rest on the carpeted floor as he stood upright, watching the procession fill the room.
About. Fucking. Time.
He stifled the urge to grab Charles outta that wheelchair and shake him and demand to find out where Rogue was, `cause hell, that guy had more power and demanded more respect than anyone he had ever met. Charles had more patience and understanding than Logan could ever hope to attain, if he in fact, ever wanted to attain that. Which he didn't, but that didn't mean he didn't respect the hell outta Charles X for his own control over his mind, and his good intentions in a world where everyone hated and feared him.
Still, the goodness and patience was not something Logan appreciated when he was in a desperate hurry. Charles and his "pleasantries" was a team thing everyone but he accepted. He had finally learned to keep his mouth shut and clamped on his cigar to keep from snapping at them to shut the hell up and hurry up with the plan.
It was no different now. Charles wheeled in, and on his face was this smile that hid the anxiety, one that Logan knew was on his face for a purpose, to put everyone at ease. If Charles had control, then it was gonna be cool.
Fuck that.
Cyclops followed right after, with the no nonsense face that Logan had come to appreciate: cause Scott Summers liked to get things done, followed by the irritating red-eyed Cajun Remy Lebeau.
Storm had once kidded Logan that he didn't like Gambit because he might have reminded him a little of himself, with how the guy didn't like being told what to do, or what to say. That wasn't true. Logan didn't like Gambit because he fucking hit on every chick in the school: Marie included.
Scott had been vastly amused by the whole thing, Jean too, in her own quiet way, and it didn't help that Rogue had no problem flirting back, with that little `sugar' thing she had been using ever since Carol Danvers had been absorbed. It wasn't until the pissing contests (that's what she and Storm called it) between him and Gambit came to a head in the courtyard that it finally stopped. Rogue had dragged him away, and Storm, actually being the Cajun's friend, had pulled him, her face dark and angry as she taken him into the shelter of the trees.
When Rogue was done chewing him out, Logan felt like a damned dog with his tail between his legs.
Even then, Logan didn't envy Gambit. No one pissed Storm off and managed to get through it unscathed. Needless to say, Gambit and he had found a way to work together.
Logan took in another breath, venturing closer as Charles turned immediately to Tall, Dark and Broody.
"You must be Angel," he said warmly, voice pleasant despite the circumstances. "I am Charles Xavier."
Angel looked down at the man in the wheelchair, whose blue eyes seemed so wise, and whose frail body was barely noticeable under the power of his stare. "They said you'd help us find Cordy, is that true?"
Cordy? Who the hell cared about `Cordy'? What the hell about Rogue?
"She's already found." Charles turned to Jean, who had until this moment been lost in conversation with Scott. "It is as we feared. She is in the hands of Magneto."
Logan swore, jumping to his feet and striding toward the door. That was all he needed.
When no one followed him, he turned back slightly. "Well? You coming or what?"
Angel immediately followed, but the rest of them kept staring at him like he was a freak.
Ororo cleared her throat, looking around the room before moving from Remy's side. "Logan, we need a plan. Remember?"
Crap. They had to go and come up with a PLAN again.
"Screw the plan. Let's get Cordy back."
The bookish English guy rolled his eyes. "Angel. Turn, sit. Brood." A low growl rumbed out of Angel's throat, and Logan actually felt for the guy as he slunk back in the room, hearing Wesley murmur to Jean, "he's always doing this when she's in trouble."
"We're used to it."
Logan glared at her, but turned, following the exact path Angel took, and plopping down next to him with more than a little anger.
He hated waiting. He hated a lot of things. A lot of things pissed him off. But waiting was sure as hell in the top five.
He sucked in his breath, and reached for his cigar again. When he heard the shuffle next to him, he paused, and then held it under Angel's nose.
Angel sniffed, and when he looked at him curiously, Logan shrugged. "Grind your teeth on it. Makes the frustration a little easier to stand before you have to kill someone."
It seemed to make perfect sense. Angel immediately took it, clamping it in his mouth while Logan reached for another.
When the little mousy brunette opened her mouth, they both snapped, "It won't kill me."
But when everyone gave each other sympathetic glances, Logan seriously thought about killing them.
Or scaring them.
Just a little.
He let out a low angered breath, and he immediately heard Angel mutter, "I know the feeling."
~*~
Cordelia Chase was severely pissed off.
She HATED being kidnapped. She HATED being pawed by aging degenerates. But the kicker, was being called a -
"MUTANT?! I am NOT a mutant!" When Rogue cocked her eyebrow, she amended quickly, "Okay, not that there's anything WRONG with being a mutant and all that, because you pull it off nicely. But I'm not one! I mean, freaky, okay I will admit, a little weird, maybe, but I draw the line at mutant!"
Rogue looked a little taken aback by the outburst, quite possibly because it was the most animated she had seen her, but immediately she just shook her head, rolled her eyes, and moved toward the bars. "Accept it, don't accept it, I'm not even saying it's true. But it's a damn good reason."
"Why?"
Rogue pulled at the bars, testing the weight as she answered, "Remember that time he almost killed me I told you about?"
"I remember the nutshell version."
"Well the man is scarred for life. He's a Holocaust survivor, and I have a play by play account in my head that tells me the guy, he's not all there when it comes to this stuff." Rogue looked through the bars. "It's a clear drop from here. How did he get us over here?"
Cordelia felt a familiar pang in her head and rose to her feet unsteadily, hoping to get the rest of the `Cordy may be a mutant' story out before she passed out. Again. "Okay, skitzo girl, back to the original tale."
"Huh? Oh." Rogue blinked, and nodded, her face of concentration clouding for a bit as she paused, her voice softer. "He uh... wants to make everyone a mutant. The last time he built a machine and it didn't work. The one person he tried it on died. They couldn't handle the mutation."
Oh, God. This was starting to sound way too familiar.
"They died?"
"Uh huh."
Crap.
Immediately memories began to flood Cordelia Chase. Her long years as the most popular girl at Sunnydale High, not withstanding, Cordelia Chase was a fairly resilient girl, and when she had come across the gift of the visions by Doyle, after she got past being outraged, horrified, and the feeling of being betrayed from a last kiss, she had come to regard them with a sense of honor. Never, in her life, had Cordelia been given something as important and special to carry as these visions. Even in Sunnydale, she was treated as shallow, vain, conceited. She might have been, but now, these visions seemed a testament to who she truly was, to what she stood for.
To who she had become.
In Los Angeles, Cordelia was poor, but never alone. Not when she had Gunn and Wesley, and even nutty Fred, who had become a friend despite her annoying habit of stating EVERYTHING with that nervous half giggle she never quite shook. And she was never alone, because of Angel.
The visions hurt, God they hurt so bad, but she never told Angel that she had had the chance to get rid of them a year and a half ago, and have some damn good sex with a hunky half demon while she was at it, because she had known exactly what he would have said.
He would have been furious. Sure, he probably would have killed Groo on sight after the developments in their relationship, but eventually, after the growling and snarling and vampire mad rage, he would have told her to do it. Because he loved her. He would have told her she should have done it because deep down they all knew the truth: the visions were killing her.
But she couldn't do it. She couldn't do it because it meant leaving them. It meant leaving him. And God she had promised to be by his side. She had promised to never leave him and he had promised he would never leave her.
What the hell did she have if she didn't have this? Didn't have them? Or him?
Nothing. There was nothing without the pains that were slowly going to drive her insane, that were getting so much worse they had almost come to dread each and every one. And now she seemed to finally get why. Because she was a human, who couldn't take-
A mutant?
Rogue must have seen the look of pure horror on Cordelia's face, because she grimaced, turning and looking at the wall, and then marching to the bars facing the cliff. "You know what? Fuck this. I'm fucking tired of waiting for the damn team. We're gettin' outta here."
Wow. Chick had a potty mouth.
"Uh-huh. And what do you expect us to do, She-Ra of the Skunky hair?" Cordelia asked, her words dripping with sarcasm. "Break down the door and plummet to our deaths?"
Rogue shrugged. "Sounds like a plan."
Before Cordelia could move, Rogue had gathered her strength and rammed into the bars, splintering them and flying through.
"HOLY CRAP! ROGUE!" Cordelia Chase ran toward the wall, which now had a huge gaping hole in it, and gingerly looked over the ledge, down to the water crashing on the rocks some fifty feet below. "GREAT- That's just GREAT. GO Kamakazi on me." Her heart beat wildly, and Cordelia looked near tears as she screamed again, "ROGUE!"
"What?"
Cordelia looked up to find herself face to face with a floating Rogue. She immediately shrieked and scrambled back, falling flat on her back.
"SHIT! ROGUE YOU BITCH!" Cordelia heaved in a huge gasp, trying to get her whirling senses as she looked at Rogue, who continued to hover in the air. "YOU SCARED THE HELL OUTTA ME! Are you like on a string or something?!"
Rogue looked down, rubbing at her shoulder slightly. "That kinda hurt."
"KINDA! You put a HOLE in a BRICK WALL. And you're FLYING!"
Rogue looked at her, and finally seemed to take pity, because she landed in the hole and came forward, leaning by her. "You okay?" Cordelia just groaned, falling back so that she was strewn back on the floor spread eagle in the cell.
"I'm SO gonna need therapy for the next fifty years."
The snapping of metal at the outskirts of the cell made Rogue suddenly stiffen, and quickly, she gathered the vision girl in her arms, hefting her weight as if she were holding a feather, immediately heading to the hole.
"Okay, rule number one to flying with Rogue. Never touch her skin."
Cordelia opened her eyes, looked down, and shrieked, wrapping her arms around Rogue's shoulders and holding on for dear life. "Why?"
"Another mutation. Mah skin... I suck in anyone's life force who I touch and really don't want those visions of yours in my head."
"Thanks so much for your concern."
Rogue shrugged, when a low feline growl came from the opening, she felt her heart jump, biting back the retort and flying into the night, streaking away as fast as she could, Cordelia shrieking all the way.
~*~
Victor Creed walked quickly, his nose wrinkling, his animal instinct taking over the human as he beat on the bars, not having the patience to wait until Magneto let them bend away.
The cell was empty, and where the little barred window used to be was a pile of debris littering a suddenly much clearer view of the ocean. Sabretooth roared, his eyes narrowed on the two figures that were very quickly fading away in the moonlight.
He swallowed, afraid to look back at Magneto's expression as his two very key components of the new plan disappeared into the sky. Shit. He lost them. He lost them and Magneto would be angry. He would be so very angry.
He would be so angry he would send him away. He would keep him locked up and then he would send him away for losing them.
'I'll get the helicopter," he said immediately, moving toward the door.
"No, let them go," Eric said, holding back the seething man with an outstretched hand. Sabretooth gulped down that anger, turning to see his mentor smiling, his eyes twinkling. "They have played right into our hands. Let them go back to the mansion. Do what they will to the seer. When we take them again, that will make all the difference."
Sabretooth stared hard at Magneto, but it still didn't make sense. Magneto gave him another look and just shrugged. "Don't think, man. You weren't made for it. Allow me to do the thinking and just blindly follow."
Sabretooth just nodded.
The beast man had trusted Eric his whole life. He was what made them safe, and he would continue to trust Eric for the remainder. His eyes narrowed at the departing women, hands rising to his chest and palming the tags that rested there.
The X-Men would pay their price soon enough. Magneto had told him they would.
A soft purr slid through him, and he smiled.
~*~
When Cordelia shrieked yet AGAIN, Rogue finally lost patience.
"CORDELIA. SHUT UP."
"Listen, Little Miss Streaked, you're not exactly American Airlines first class, okay? You almost dropped me!"
"Ah won't drop you. Keep talkin' and I just might fumble ya, though." Cordelia swallowed and glared, but kept her mouth shut. Quite a feat, Rogue guessed, as she looked down at the ocean below them.
"So umm. Where we going?"
"To the mansion."
"What mansion?"
"Home. Most likely the team's still there trying to come up with a plan." Rogue rolled her eyes as a smirk floated on her face. "Logan's prolly chewed through all his cigars by now."
The excitement seemed to wear at Cordelia, because she suddenly winced, her head falling on Rogue's shoulder. She gave a low moan, and when Rogue dipped in a sudden drop, Cordelia's face jerked in very discernable pain.
Oh crap. The vision pains were back.
Her body convulsed, and it took all Rogue had to keep her grasp on the jerking Seer, holding on tight and still managing to keep contact out of her face. "Cordelia!"
Cordelia's eyes shakily opened, and the hazel orbs were moist, filled with tears. "Oh, God, Rogue," she whispered, voice wracked with pain. "We are in serious trouble."
All references to characters belonging to the X-Men Universe are (c) and TM the Marvel Comics Group, 20th Century Fox and all related entities. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, duplication or distribution of these materials in any form is expressly prohibited. No money is being made from this archive. All images are also (c) and TM the Marvel Comics Group, 20th Century Fox and all related entities; they are not mine. This website, its operators and any content used on this site relating to the X-Men are not authorized by Marvel, Fox, etc. I am not, nor do I claim to be affiliated with any of these entities in any way.