ladydeathfaerie (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ladydeathfaerie) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
marysuevirus2024-06-27 09:43 am
ladydeathfaerie) wrote in marysuevirus2024-06-27 09:43 am
Among the Strong
Title: Among the Strong
Chapter Twenty One: Shifting Tides
Fandom: the Marvel universe
Rating: 18 and up
Warnings: graphic violence, language, sex, dark themes, anything else i can toss in.
Disclaimer: the recognizable characters and places contained herein are the property of Marvel. i'm merely borrowing for the sake of entertainment. no money is being made from this venture. Haley belongs todazzledfirestar Morgan belongs toginevra Roxxy belongs tonanaeanaven Jehnna belongs to silverfox_chan and Dare belongs to me. the concept and title of The Mary Sue Virus are used with permission from dazzledfirestar .
Author's Notes: this is almost entirely Daz's fault. okay. so it really isn't. its actually almost 100% my fault. Daz just did a whole lot of encouraging. this fic is going to be kind of dark, so please keep that in mind while reading.
Among the Strong - the index
Logan was so tense that he'd damn near bit through the end of his stogie half a dozen times already. It didn't help that Summers was glaring at him through his visor, unhappy with the fact that Logan was flying the Blackbird and the fact that, as yet, Logan hadn't told him a damn thing about what was happening. He'd already told Summers, more than once, that it would have to wait until they'd picked up Remy because he didn't plan on repeating himself
And there was a lot to tell.
Xavier had been updating him ever since he'd gotten behind the stick of the Blackbird. After doing a few calculations, Logan had decided that he'd pick up Scott first and then Remy. He hadn't been surprised when he'd been told that the missing men had popped up in places that held some importance for them. Sam had shown up in Kentucky, not far from his family home. He'd been returned close enough that he would be able to make it back to the mansion without needing a ride. Same with Warren, who had turned up in Jersey. Logan was fairly certain the man would have his nose out of joint about that. Which was, no doubt, what Sinister had been going for when he'd dumped him there. Warren, too, was capable of making it to the mansion without any assistance. Which left Logan with the task of collecting Scott and Remy.
Remy had just suddenly been in New Orleans. It was a good thing that he was okay with the guilds at the moment, or his presence could have started an all out war. And because things were okay with the guilds, Logan had decided that Remy could wait until after he'd collected Scott. Because, of course, Scott had made his return in Alaska.
The flight up had been quiet. The only noise had been Xavier's voice in his head. And then only to let him know when the situation at the mansion changed. The last bit of news had been delivered hours ago. That told him that everything was stable for the time being. Not that things couldn't change in the blink of an eye. Which he knew Xavier expected. Hell, he expected it, too. There was a part of him that felt he shouldn't have left the mansion. Because he didn't want to think of what might happen if an attack took place when he was gone.
A tapping sound to his left let him know that Scott was drumming his fingers again. The stogie slid to the other corner of Logan's mouth. And he did not hold on to the sigh that came. It had been this way since he'd picked Summers up. The first thing he'd asked was if everyone was back yet. There'd been a quality to the man's voice that said he was asking more than that simple question. And that had been the first time Logan had told him he'd have to wait until they got to New Orleans and picked up Gumbo before he got his answers.
Such an answer had led to Summers' version of pouting. The man had pouted while they refueled the Blackbird. He'd pouted when they'd got back in the air, with Logan once more at the stick. He'd pouted the whole goddamn flight. He'd get over it.
Logan understood why Summers was wound up so tight. He wanted to be sure his people were safe. He'd known Scott for a long time and one thing Logan knew about the other man was that he was a good leader. He cared about his people. He cared about doing what was right. He just plain cared. So of course it was natural that he would ask after his people the minute he could. But there was something about his anxiousness that went beyond plain worry for his people. Logan had no idea what had happened while his friends and loved ones had been held captive by Sinister beyond what little Roxxy had been able to tell them. But instinct said Scott's behavior was tied up in more than just plain concern and, based on the things he'd heard from Roxxy and some of the others, he thought he might have an idea what that concern was about.
He tuned the sound of drumming fingers out and turned his mind toward more pressing matters. Three of his lovers had been grabbed by Sinister and he wasn't sure just what that had done to them. Because after what Creed had done to them, there was no telling just what state of mind any of them would come home in.
The one he worried about least was Morgan. True, she'd lived through the things Creed had done to the two most important people in her life. But she hadn't experienced it first hand. He felt that, maybe, that gave her an advantage over Remy and Dare. Because it was one thing to know. It was another to live through it all. And he remembered just how haunted Remy's eyes had been. The horror that lived in their depths. The guilt he'd felt for not protecting Dare better. And Dare... She'd been a husk of her former self, filled with fear that saw her cringing away from him. That saw her bursting into tears over the smallest reason there was. For no reason at all. Logan had worried that she'd never be the same again.
Would this be the last time? Would this be the one that broke her completely?
"Logan," Summers' voice cut across his thoughts, pulling him back from the yawning pit of fear that loomed on the horizon. He glanced out of the corner of his eye to find Scott staring at him through the visor. And there was concern etched into the corners of his mouth. As if he knew where Logan's thoughts had been. He probably did. Summers said nothing, merely motioned with his head toward the windshield. "We're almost there."
He grunted in reply, his gaze taking in the darkened expanse of Lake Pontchatrain. Just beyond it was the city proper, all lit up like a Christmas tree. The lights were warm and welcoming, hugging the southern shore of the lake. Further out, he could see the tiny points of lights that were boats out on the Gulf of Mexico. He nudged the Blackbird toward the east side of the city. Remy had set up a rendezvous outside of the city proper, out near some place called the Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge. Logan had opinions about that, given the kind of wildlife that likely lived there, but he'd kept those to himself. Remy knew better than anyone what he'd encounter and Logan trusted he'd be able to keep himself out of trouble.
The coordinates that popped up were in the middle of a field. And, at first, Logan worried that something had happened because the field was empty. But the jet had barely touched down when a tall, lanky figure strolled out of a line of trees about thirty feet away and started toward the jet. By the time the Cajun had crossed the distance, Scott had opened the hatch and lowered the ramp. A moment later, Remy was buckling into one of the seats. And while he gave the appearance of being non-chalant, Logan could smell the fear clinging to him.
As soon as the hatch was closed and secured, Logan got them into the air. Once they were headed toward home, he gave his full attention to the two of them for a few moments. "I know you got questions. I got some of my own. We'll do this in an orderly fashion. Scott gets to ask first."
"The girls," Scott began, though Logan thought he detected a note of hesitance. As if that wasn't his original starting point. "Are the girls back?"
"Morgan showed up first. Alone. Then Jehnna. Then Haley. And finally Dare. They each showed up in a different location." Logan paused, taking a moment to worry about the other two women and how all of this would impact them. He was pretty sure that Jehnna would have issues, but they'd be relatively minor. Ten years on a team and the girl was still optimistic and idealistic. Haley, on the other hand, would try to blame herself for what had happened. Because she was the leader and that's how she worked.
Logan had watched the team grow over the years. He'd been there when they'd first formed and everyone had said there was no way a team of girls could last or even make a go of it. He'd trained the team, been hands on when they'd gotten serious about trying to become a recognized team. Hell, he'd continued to train them. He knew how they worked together, what their strengths and weaknesses were. And he knew Haley, top notch leader that she was, would try to place the blame solely at her feet. Didn't matter if they'd been taken down by someone better than them. She'd still blame herself for not being stronger. Faster. More capable. Better prepared. And he worried what that blow would do to her self-confidence.
"They're all with Hank. Word from Xavier is that Morgan's already delivered her baby," Logan didn't miss how Scott and Remy looked at one another. There was a hint of confusion in that look, suggesting they didn't quite know what to do with that information. "Hank's keepin' the girls in the medlab until he can be certain there's nothing to worry about beyond being pregnant."
"Ha..." Summer stopped and cleared his throat. Probably to rid it of the emotion he didn't want anyone to know he was feeling. "Everyone's okay?"
"So far as I know," Logan nodded. He pretended he didn't see Scott sag back into his chair as relief rushed through him. His gaze flicked Remy's way a moment to see if there was something there. He was met with silence and an unreadable expression. "Warren got back first. Sinister dropped him in Jersey. He's with Morgan now. Sam showed up half an hour later and has been parked at Jehnna's side ever since."
He paused to stare at the two of them. There didn't seem to be much of a reaction to that news, letting him know it was likely they'd figured things out already. Logan turned his attention back to Scott. "Johnny's sittin' with Haley."
Summers was silent for a long moment. Then his throat worked when he swallowed and he gave a slow nod of his head, as if this was something he'd expected. Well, wasn't that an interesting reaction?
Letting the man deal with his emotions, Logan shifted his attention to Remy once more. He was watching Logan with something that almost looked like fear. This wasn't the time or place to get into that. They'd be reaching the school soon and he knew both of them were heading straight to the medlab to check in. And, honestly, Rem had to know that Logan wasn't about to blame him for anything.
"How'd Dare manage?" Logan asked. That question, the faint hint of worry that touched Logan's voice, pushed that fear away. The man drew a breath and let it out on a heavy sigh.
"She... don' do so well." Remy seemed hesitant to admit it, as if he felt Logan would blame him for that. For a moment, it felt like Remy wouldn't say more. Then he shook his head and heaved another sigh. "She afraid you gon' hate her. She almost get herself killed. I do what I can to keep her from drawing away."
There was a note of disgust in the last of Remy's words, telling Logan that Remy felt like he hadn't done everything he could have. Or should have. Logan remembered just how far into herself Dare had gone with Creed. He felt certain that Remy had done more than he thought.
"Why you pickin' us up? Why you not wit' Dare?" Remy's question caught Logan off guard for a moment.
"She hadn't come back when I left. Almost as soon as Morgan showed up, the perfessor was on Cerebro and he found the four of you," Logan told him quietly. "And I ain't exactly the most touchy-feely person. I figured I'd make things worse with her if I was there when she got back. She needs more emotional support than I can give her right now. So I decided to come get the two of ya. The least I could do for her was bring her lover home to her."
The words had barely left his mouth when he turned his attention back to the instrument panel before him. The whole thing left a bad taste in his mouth. He could face down any villain you threw at him and come out ready for me. But the idea of facing the woman he loved, the mother of his children, when she was an emotional wreck was more than enough to unman him.
He wondered, not for the first time, why Dare hadn't left him a long time ago?
~*~
The whole thing was surreal. He'd been thrown off his guard when he'd woken up and found himself in, of all places, Alaska. Back in his uniform, visor firmly in place. And alone.That had been disorienting enough. But then to discover that he had no idea where Haley was. If she was safe and unharmed. If she was home. If Sinister had kept her. All of that had coalesced into a giant ball of anxiety that hadn't been eased any when the professor had contacted him mentally to let him know that he should sit tight and stay where he was because a ride was on the way. And it certainly hadn't been eased when he'd seen just who it was that had come to get him.
Of course he'd tried to ask about Haley as soon as he'd gotten on board the Blackbird. Logan had shot him a glare and, in what was polite for the other man, told him to shut up and sit his ass down. It had been a long, painful flight from Alaska to Louisiana. And it hadn't been until Remy had been aboard that Logan had told him anything.
Even now, after they'd arrived at the school and Logan had landed the Blackbird, there was a feeling of anxiousness that echoed through Scott. It felt as if it was taking forever to make his way up one hall and down another. The only thing in his head was that he had to get to Haley. He had to reach her side and see, with his own two eyes, that she was okay.
Distantly, he knew he was going to have to report everything that had happened to the professor. And he knew he was going to have to speak to Jean. He had no doubt she knew he was home. But those thoughts weren't important. All that mattered was Haley. And their child.
That thought still staggered him. He'd been certain, when he'd woken up by himself in Alaska, that Sinister had kept Haley in order to take their child. That fear had been an dull ache just behind his heart, digging deep like a thorn. Hearing Logan say that Haley was still pregnant had made joy swell. But with it had come confusion and caution. Why would Sinister return Haley to the school while she was still pregnant? Why would he return any of the girls? The whole goal behind their capture and captivity had been to provide children that Apocalypse could warp into his horsemen. So why hadn't he done that?
Those thoughts were pushed aside the moment he reached the medlab's door. Haley was on the other side. Once again, his thoughts ran wild on him. Thoughts of Sinister keeping her, and the others, for the babies they carried. Thoughts of Sinister never letting them come home. A mix of fear and rage filled him at that. Had Sinister done something like that, nothing would have stopped him from finding Haley and getting her back. Her and their daughter.
The intensity of his rage, of his desire to hurt Sinister, shook him and brought him back to the here and now. Here, in the hall outside the medlab at the school. Where Haley was. Now, in this moment. She was waiting for him. She was in there. Scott took a step forward. And then he recalled that Johnny Storm was also in there. His steps faltered again.
He'd known, somewhere in the deepest corners of his mind, that her husband would come when he realized she was home. Of course he had. But he'd thought, in that secret place in his heart, that he'd have more time with her before he had to give her up. He wasn't ready for that. He wasn't ready to let go. He wanted to be selfish and keep her. He didn't want to send her back to her husband. Jesus fucking Christ. This was going to be a new kind of awkward.
Scott took a breath and forced himself to move forward. To take hold of the door and twist the knob. To enter the medlab and come face to face with everything he didn't know he'd always wanted.
The room was crowded. There wasn't much noise beyond the normal sounds of medical equipment and hushed voices. He thought he caught the sound of soft sobs, but he couldn't place where they were coming from. He stood in the doorway and took a moment to survey the entire room. To see for himself that his people were back. That they were safe.
The nearest bed housed Morgan, who was very obviously sleeping. At her bedside, in a chair that had to be uncomfortable, was Warren. He had a small bundle, wrapped in pale pink, held in his arms and his eyes were filled with stars as he stared down at that bundle. Neither of them looked like they were any worse for wear. Scott felt certain that the worst that had happened was Morgan tiring herself out giving birth.
Across from Morgan's bed, he found Jehnna and Sam. Jehnna was sitting up in the bed, one hand held tightly in one of Sam's. They were talking quietly and it was obvious that Jehnna was tired. The way her eyes drooped suggested she should have gone to sleep a while ago, but she was stubbornly refusing to do so. Scott was sure that Sam was trying to coax her into going to sleep, but it looked as if he was having no luck.
The bed next to Jehnna's was occupied. A spill of long black hair ran across the white of the pillow case and the sheets. Dare had her back turned to everyone, face turned into the pillow. He frowned to see that no one sat beside her bed and he had to wonder if there was no one at the school who would do it. He even wondered if Logan had thought about ensuring there was someone there to hold her hand before he took off after his missing team members. He recalled what Remy had said about her mental health and considered, briefly, kicking Logan's ass in the Danger Room.
At last, his gaze settled on the last occupied bed. Haley was staring at him as if she'd never seen him before. He kind of felt like he could understand that. It felt to him that they hadn't seen each other in such a very long time. She was pale and it looked like she wanted to cry. But he could see the concern in her eyes that suggested she'd been paying more attention to Dare than anyone else had. That compassion was one of the things that made her a good leader. It was one of the things he loved about her. One of the many.
Staring at her across the room, Scott was struck again by how perfect and beautiful she was. The images of her, ruby-tinted by the lens in his visor because he hadn't wanted to waste time by changing into normal clothes, mixed with the images of her in his mind. Ones from the confines of their room at Sinister's lab that were all sorts of vibrant colors. They collided and clashed and tried to overpower one another. It almost gave him a headache, but he pushed the mental conflict aside. If there was anything he'd ever in his life thank Sinister for, it was the opportunity to see Haley without the limits of his visor or his glasses.
He would cherish those memories for the rest of his life.
"Scott?" her voice, small and laced with uncertainty, shattered his thoughts and brought him back to the medlab.
Her hair had grown long during their confinement and someone, probably Haley, had put it in a quick braid to keep it out of her way. That thick rope of red hair hung over her shoulder and rested against the swell of her belly. The swell that proved to him that his baby had not yet been born. That she was still theirs.
Scott crossed the distance until he was on the other side of the bed. It was a struggle not to simply scoop Haley up in his arms and hug her until neither one of them could breathe. But there were people watching. And one of those people was Haley's husband. "Storm," Scott said, nodding at Johnny in acknowledgement.
"Scott. Welcome back," Johnny replied. There was perhaps a note of something in the man's voice. Not that Scott blamed him. Johnny Storm liked to make people think he was an idiot. But he wasn't. He was smart and he was beyond capable of reading the room. Scott had no doubt he knew just what was going on between his wife and another man. Scott couldn't blame him for being hurt or pissed or both. And he wouldn't blame him if Johnny tried to take a swing. But that wasn't going to stop Scott from caring about Haley. It wouldn't stop him from loving her. And he wasn't going to apologize for either.
A moment later, Storm was on his feet. Haley was staring up at him, apprehension bright in her gaze. He gave her a strained smile and motioned toward the door with his head. "I need some air. I'll be around."
"Johnny?" Haley asked even as the man moved for the door. His name in her voice made him pause, but it was only a moment, He continued on to the door, then let himself out of the medlab without looking back. "He's going to leave, isn't he?" Haley asked softly. That didn't stop Scott form hearing the fear in her voice.
"He needs a little while, Haley," Scott said. Gently. She glanced up at him, unshed tears glittering in her eyes. Scott muttered a curse under his breath, then took the seat Storm had just vacated. He took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. "He's just had a lot thrown at him in a very short amount of time."
"I know," Haley whispered. She glanced away for a moment, then brought her gaze back to him. "I'm so glad to see you."
"Me, too," he replied, lifting her hand so that he could press a kiss to each of her knuckles. "When I woke up and you weren't there, all I could think was that Sinister had kept you. I was afraid of what he was going to do to you."
"I thought he killed you," she whispered. He could hear the fear in her voice with her admission. Scott felt his heart twist in his chest. He hated that she'd been made to feel that way. And he hated that Sinister had left them both alone and confused. After so much time together, waking up without Haley at his side had been disconcerting. He could only imagine what it had been like for her.
"I'm not going to leave you again, Haley," he promised softly. It was a stupid promise to make. There was the fact that she had responsibilities that came before him. The same as he did. But that didn't change the fact that he didn't want to let her out of his sight again. "I'll always be with you. I promise. You and our baby."
He settled the hand still clasping hers against her belly. It was a silent promise that echoed the words he'd just spoken. The tears that had been clinging to the corners of Haley's eyes started to fall then, her lips curving up in a cautious smile.
Scott leaned forward so that he could press a kiss to that smile. It was a short and soft kiss. A sweet thing filled with the same promise as his words. He leaned back just far enough to press his forehead to hers.
"I swear to you, Haley. I'll never leave you. I lo--"
"Scott?"
The voice cut across the silence of the room, pulling him back from Haley. He saw the guilt in her eyes before she turned away and tugged her hand from his. That left Scott to rise and turn, to face Jean. She stood just inside the medlab and her eyes were wide with hurt and disbelief and confusion.
Fuck.
~*~
"Remy?"
Her voice stopped him in his tracks. He was almost to the medlab and it took everything in him not to curse out loud. It wasn't her fault he was anxious and nervous. He'd been plagued for hours now by a sense of dullness that he hadn't liked. Because he knew what it was and what it meant. And it had made him hasten his steps to the medlab in order to attempt to counteract whatever distorted thoughts Dare was having. It felt like every step made forward was so small to as be almost insignificant. Too many steps back to even call it progress some days.
Forcing his thoughts away, pushing his irritation down, he found a smile as he turned to face Rogue. She looked tired. And pleased. "Bonsoir, Rogue," he offered. His words, his smile, saw her smiling in returned.
"I heard you were back. I just wanted ta come and make sure you were okay, sugar," she said quietly. He heard her concern in those words. Felt a tiny taste of her fear. Some of the annoyance melted away. It wasn't her fault that he was filled with a desperate need to be at someone else's side. He didn't need to take that out on her. Hadn't he done that to her all those years ago?
Rogue had always had her issues. Then again, so had he. He'd genuinely cared for her, but the oppressive feel of her distrust had been more than he'd been able to take. Things had ended badly between them and he'd been petty about it. He'd gone from her side to someone else's and had been sure to rub it in her face. It had taken time to repair their friendship. He still hadn't fully apologized for his appalling behavior. Maybe there was still time. Maybe it didn't matter anymore. All that mattered was that she had been afraid for him.
And so, Remy offered her a more genuine smile. Took a few steps closer so that he could pull her into an embrace and hug her. "I'm fine, cher. Sinister don' do anyt'ing to me."
She gave him a look that said she was skeptical. He didn't blame her. Hadn't he touted a similar line after Creed? Hadn't he been dying inside the whole time? "You know you can come talk ta me if you need to," she said softly.
"I do. If I need to talk, you de first person I come see," he said, his words a promise. It brought forth more of a smile and eased some of the fear and concern.
"I'm glad you're okay, Remy," she whispered. In that sentence, he heard the regret she'd been carrying for a decade. He hugged her close again, held her tight while she worked through the emotions she felt. Brushed a barely there kiss against the top of her head before releasing her.
"Thank you," he said. And he meant it. She nodded and pulled away. After one last look, she turned and headed back up the hallway. Remy watched her go and, for just a moment, allowed himself to think about what might have been if things between them hadn't soured. For a moment, he was left with a taste of bittersweet loss. But that was a lifetime ago. And they'd both moved on. So he pushed the regrets aside and continued toward the medlab.
The room was near to bursting when he got stepped through the door. It hadn't been this full since... Not since the alien invasion. A glance toward the office showed him that Henry and Roxxy were there, having some sort of discussion. He'd be willing to bet, based on the looks on their faces alone, that it was fraught with tension and displeasure. He couldn't imagine what kind of discussion the two of them were having that would put that look on their faces. He did know that they'd find a way to figure it out so he put it aside and turned his attention to the rest of the room.
Morgan occupied the first bed. She looked fresh from sleep, her hair messy from sleeping on it without braiding it or putting it up into a pony tail. It was longer than the last time he'd seen her. But it was the sleepy smile on her face that held his attention. She was staring down at the tiny bundle she held. One of her hands was clutched in Warren's. Angel wore a similar smile. Remy didn't have to go digging to understand what it was he was looking at.
There was a pang, somewhere near his heart. He ignored it. He had no right feeling hurt because hadn't he done the same thing with Morgan's best friend? Hadn't he been reckless and fallen fully in love with her? There'd been love for Dare there for a while. But it had been the love for a good friend. It was so much more now. And he saw that same love for Warren wreathing her like a halo. He wasn't going to tell her who she could and couldn't love. All he could do was be happy for her. They'd figure the rest out later, when everything returned to some facsimile of normal.
He crossed to her bed, the sound of his boots on the floor bringing their attention his way. The faint mote of unease hit him a moment before he stopped at the foot of the bed. "She beautiful, petit," Remy said, his gaze dropping to the baby Morgan held. "Just like her momma."
His words did what he'd intended them to do. They brought a faint blush to her cheeks. And a smile to her lips. And it hit him, then, as he stared at her, that she was well and truly fine. That nothing bad had happened to her while Sinister had held her. And the baby she held... That tiny baby girl was fine. They were both doing okay.
He hadn't realized just how worried he'd been about Morgan until that moment, until the relief had hit him. It had been like getting slammed into a brick wall. Much of his focus during their captivity had been Dare. Keeping her from withdrawing from everything. Keeping her functioning. Making her believe that he loved her and he wanted her. "Thank you, Remy. I'm glad you're okay."
There was a touch of worry there. Of fear. Fear that he'd hate her for what had happened. Fear that he'd walk away from her and their family. "An' I'm glad you okay, petit. You and de baby. " His words saw a faint blush stain her cheeks. That blush had had the power to bring him to his knees back in the beginning because it had been such an honest, uncontrollable reaction. It still held that power today. Morgan still held his heart and it didn't matter that he could tell she'd snared Warren in the same net that she'd used on him. "I owe you thanks, too, Warren."
"Me?" Warren gave him a startled, confused look. "Why me?"
"You keep Morgan safe. You take care of her. I owe you more dan thanks for it," Remy replied.
He felt the confusion as easily as he felt the sunlight against his skin. Warren had obviously expected him to hold this whole thing against him. Remy offered a faint smile and tipped his head toward the baby. "She beautiful. You two made a pretty baby."
Remy knew, at some point, they were all going to have to sit down and talk. Every last one of them. And he didn't mean just the eight of them. He meant everyone who was involved. If there was a significant other who wasn't taken, they would have to be involved in the talks, as well. The very fiber of who they all were had been changed by this experience. Relationships had been twisted and turned on their heads. They were going to need to come to some kind of consensus about how they were going to go forward from there.
"I think most of that was Morgan's doing. Pesky Worthington genes," Warren said, the last of his words colored with a chuckle. It was enough to make Morgan smile.
"The money helps. So does the fact that she's amazing," Morgan replied. Remy recognized that their conversation was some kind of inside joke. And he recognized that their feelings were genuine. Again, he felt that pang but he pushed it aside. He could nurse any hurts later. He'd known, from day one, that Morgan was a free spirit and perhaps there had always been a part of him that had felt certain she'd pack up one day and leave him. That she hadn't had always felt like something of a miracle. If he'd learned anything over the years, it was that you could love more than one person with the same amount of passion. There was more than one soul mate for a person and they were lucky to find even one of them. He'd found more than one and so had she.
That was the most important thing to take away from this whole ordeal.
"Be careful wit' dis one, mon ami," Remy told Warren, his head nodding toward Morgan. Then he offered the man a wink. "She gon' spend all you money on shoes."
Morgan blushed harder. And Warren laughed. What little tension had been left was gone, melted away with Remy's teasing words. An assurance that he wasn't angry with them.
The sound of the door swinging open brought their attention to the new arrival. Logan was scowling in the doorway, but Remy sensed that he was uncomfortable. He gave a nod to the man and turned, ready to move on. Haley sat in her bed, and she was alone. Sadness crowded around her and he had to wonder what had happened to make her feel that way. The fact that Scott was absent suggested something had come up. But why wasn't Johnny there? And Jehnna was sleeping, one of her hands clutched loosely in one of Sam's. He looked like he was about to fall out of his chair with the way his head kept nodding forward.
Logan had just stepped up beside him when his gaze landed on the last bed. The bed with its blankets thrown back. The bed that had obviously recently held someone but was now empty. Remy let his gaze skim the room in the hopes that she was elsewhere. But the other beds were empty and the door to the bathroom was open, the interior dark.
"Where she at?" he asked, voice quiet to keep Logan from hearing the concern. The worry. The fear.
"What'd ya say, Rem?" Logan asked. Which was insane, because he was sure Logan had heard him. But the man's voice was pitched loud enough that Remy could feel everyone's attention on them.
"Where she at?" he repeated. Louder this time. And he felt the attention shift. Felt it focus on the empty bed.
"Dare's gone?" Haley asked, voice soft and scratchy. Remy suspected she'd been crying as silently as possible so as not to draw attention to herself. "How? She was just here."
"Dat's what I wan' to know." The words were passing his lips even as he went seeking along their link. And started in surprise to find that there was some kind of block on it. His first thought was that Sinister had grabbed her away when no one was paying attention. And that thought set off a wave of panic the likes of which he hadn't felt in a long time. "Where she go?"
He turned to Morgan and begged her, not with words but with the look in his eyes, to see if she could find their missing lover. Morgan obviously knew what he wanted, because she nodded and closed her eyes. Several second passed in silence before her mouth formed a frown. He watched as her brows drew closer together and her nose scrunched up. Just a little. When she opened her eyes, both fear and regret mingled in them. "I... don't know. I can't feel her."
Those words hit like a ton of bricks. Fear filled him, a slow trickle at first that eventually turned into a turbulent rush that left him incapable of thought. He was only vaguely aware of a door opening somewhere behind him. "Ah, I see everyone is finally here. I... " Beast's voice was filled with relief. But it trailed off as he no doubt took in the looks on everyone's faces. "What's happened? Why does everyone look... Where has Dare gotten to?"
"We don't know, Hank," Of course it was Haley that answered. And, of course, there was authority in her voice. Purple Team's leader was fully present. "She was here one minute and gone the next. And no one saw her go."
"How is that possible?"
"I want to know dat, too," Remy said, shoving the fear and worry down. Packing it away in a tiny box so that he could think. So he could come up with an answer. So that he could find her.
No matter what.
Chapter Twenty One: Shifting Tides
Fandom: the Marvel universe
Rating: 18 and up
Warnings: graphic violence, language, sex, dark themes, anything else i can toss in.
Disclaimer: the recognizable characters and places contained herein are the property of Marvel. i'm merely borrowing for the sake of entertainment. no money is being made from this venture. Haley belongs to
dazzledfirestar Morgan belongs toginevra Roxxy belongs tonanaeanaven Jehnna belongs to silverfox_chan and Dare belongs to me. the concept and title of The Mary Sue Virus are used with permission from dazzledfirestar . Author's Notes: this is almost entirely Daz's fault. okay. so it really isn't. its actually almost 100% my fault. Daz just did a whole lot of encouraging. this fic is going to be kind of dark, so please keep that in mind while reading.
Among the Strong - the index
Logan was so tense that he'd damn near bit through the end of his stogie half a dozen times already. It didn't help that Summers was glaring at him through his visor, unhappy with the fact that Logan was flying the Blackbird and the fact that, as yet, Logan hadn't told him a damn thing about what was happening. He'd already told Summers, more than once, that it would have to wait until they'd picked up Remy because he didn't plan on repeating himself
And there was a lot to tell.
Xavier had been updating him ever since he'd gotten behind the stick of the Blackbird. After doing a few calculations, Logan had decided that he'd pick up Scott first and then Remy. He hadn't been surprised when he'd been told that the missing men had popped up in places that held some importance for them. Sam had shown up in Kentucky, not far from his family home. He'd been returned close enough that he would be able to make it back to the mansion without needing a ride. Same with Warren, who had turned up in Jersey. Logan was fairly certain the man would have his nose out of joint about that. Which was, no doubt, what Sinister had been going for when he'd dumped him there. Warren, too, was capable of making it to the mansion without any assistance. Which left Logan with the task of collecting Scott and Remy.
Remy had just suddenly been in New Orleans. It was a good thing that he was okay with the guilds at the moment, or his presence could have started an all out war. And because things were okay with the guilds, Logan had decided that Remy could wait until after he'd collected Scott. Because, of course, Scott had made his return in Alaska.
The flight up had been quiet. The only noise had been Xavier's voice in his head. And then only to let him know when the situation at the mansion changed. The last bit of news had been delivered hours ago. That told him that everything was stable for the time being. Not that things couldn't change in the blink of an eye. Which he knew Xavier expected. Hell, he expected it, too. There was a part of him that felt he shouldn't have left the mansion. Because he didn't want to think of what might happen if an attack took place when he was gone.
A tapping sound to his left let him know that Scott was drumming his fingers again. The stogie slid to the other corner of Logan's mouth. And he did not hold on to the sigh that came. It had been this way since he'd picked Summers up. The first thing he'd asked was if everyone was back yet. There'd been a quality to the man's voice that said he was asking more than that simple question. And that had been the first time Logan had told him he'd have to wait until they got to New Orleans and picked up Gumbo before he got his answers.
Such an answer had led to Summers' version of pouting. The man had pouted while they refueled the Blackbird. He'd pouted when they'd got back in the air, with Logan once more at the stick. He'd pouted the whole goddamn flight. He'd get over it.
Logan understood why Summers was wound up so tight. He wanted to be sure his people were safe. He'd known Scott for a long time and one thing Logan knew about the other man was that he was a good leader. He cared about his people. He cared about doing what was right. He just plain cared. So of course it was natural that he would ask after his people the minute he could. But there was something about his anxiousness that went beyond plain worry for his people. Logan had no idea what had happened while his friends and loved ones had been held captive by Sinister beyond what little Roxxy had been able to tell them. But instinct said Scott's behavior was tied up in more than just plain concern and, based on the things he'd heard from Roxxy and some of the others, he thought he might have an idea what that concern was about.
He tuned the sound of drumming fingers out and turned his mind toward more pressing matters. Three of his lovers had been grabbed by Sinister and he wasn't sure just what that had done to them. Because after what Creed had done to them, there was no telling just what state of mind any of them would come home in.
The one he worried about least was Morgan. True, she'd lived through the things Creed had done to the two most important people in her life. But she hadn't experienced it first hand. He felt that, maybe, that gave her an advantage over Remy and Dare. Because it was one thing to know. It was another to live through it all. And he remembered just how haunted Remy's eyes had been. The horror that lived in their depths. The guilt he'd felt for not protecting Dare better. And Dare... She'd been a husk of her former self, filled with fear that saw her cringing away from him. That saw her bursting into tears over the smallest reason there was. For no reason at all. Logan had worried that she'd never be the same again.
Would this be the last time? Would this be the one that broke her completely?
"Logan," Summers' voice cut across his thoughts, pulling him back from the yawning pit of fear that loomed on the horizon. He glanced out of the corner of his eye to find Scott staring at him through the visor. And there was concern etched into the corners of his mouth. As if he knew where Logan's thoughts had been. He probably did. Summers said nothing, merely motioned with his head toward the windshield. "We're almost there."
He grunted in reply, his gaze taking in the darkened expanse of Lake Pontchatrain. Just beyond it was the city proper, all lit up like a Christmas tree. The lights were warm and welcoming, hugging the southern shore of the lake. Further out, he could see the tiny points of lights that were boats out on the Gulf of Mexico. He nudged the Blackbird toward the east side of the city. Remy had set up a rendezvous outside of the city proper, out near some place called the Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge. Logan had opinions about that, given the kind of wildlife that likely lived there, but he'd kept those to himself. Remy knew better than anyone what he'd encounter and Logan trusted he'd be able to keep himself out of trouble.
The coordinates that popped up were in the middle of a field. And, at first, Logan worried that something had happened because the field was empty. But the jet had barely touched down when a tall, lanky figure strolled out of a line of trees about thirty feet away and started toward the jet. By the time the Cajun had crossed the distance, Scott had opened the hatch and lowered the ramp. A moment later, Remy was buckling into one of the seats. And while he gave the appearance of being non-chalant, Logan could smell the fear clinging to him.
As soon as the hatch was closed and secured, Logan got them into the air. Once they were headed toward home, he gave his full attention to the two of them for a few moments. "I know you got questions. I got some of my own. We'll do this in an orderly fashion. Scott gets to ask first."
"The girls," Scott began, though Logan thought he detected a note of hesitance. As if that wasn't his original starting point. "Are the girls back?"
"Morgan showed up first. Alone. Then Jehnna. Then Haley. And finally Dare. They each showed up in a different location." Logan paused, taking a moment to worry about the other two women and how all of this would impact them. He was pretty sure that Jehnna would have issues, but they'd be relatively minor. Ten years on a team and the girl was still optimistic and idealistic. Haley, on the other hand, would try to blame herself for what had happened. Because she was the leader and that's how she worked.
Logan had watched the team grow over the years. He'd been there when they'd first formed and everyone had said there was no way a team of girls could last or even make a go of it. He'd trained the team, been hands on when they'd gotten serious about trying to become a recognized team. Hell, he'd continued to train them. He knew how they worked together, what their strengths and weaknesses were. And he knew Haley, top notch leader that she was, would try to place the blame solely at her feet. Didn't matter if they'd been taken down by someone better than them. She'd still blame herself for not being stronger. Faster. More capable. Better prepared. And he worried what that blow would do to her self-confidence.
"They're all with Hank. Word from Xavier is that Morgan's already delivered her baby," Logan didn't miss how Scott and Remy looked at one another. There was a hint of confusion in that look, suggesting they didn't quite know what to do with that information. "Hank's keepin' the girls in the medlab until he can be certain there's nothing to worry about beyond being pregnant."
"Ha..." Summer stopped and cleared his throat. Probably to rid it of the emotion he didn't want anyone to know he was feeling. "Everyone's okay?"
"So far as I know," Logan nodded. He pretended he didn't see Scott sag back into his chair as relief rushed through him. His gaze flicked Remy's way a moment to see if there was something there. He was met with silence and an unreadable expression. "Warren got back first. Sinister dropped him in Jersey. He's with Morgan now. Sam showed up half an hour later and has been parked at Jehnna's side ever since."
He paused to stare at the two of them. There didn't seem to be much of a reaction to that news, letting him know it was likely they'd figured things out already. Logan turned his attention back to Scott. "Johnny's sittin' with Haley."
Summers was silent for a long moment. Then his throat worked when he swallowed and he gave a slow nod of his head, as if this was something he'd expected. Well, wasn't that an interesting reaction?
Letting the man deal with his emotions, Logan shifted his attention to Remy once more. He was watching Logan with something that almost looked like fear. This wasn't the time or place to get into that. They'd be reaching the school soon and he knew both of them were heading straight to the medlab to check in. And, honestly, Rem had to know that Logan wasn't about to blame him for anything.
"How'd Dare manage?" Logan asked. That question, the faint hint of worry that touched Logan's voice, pushed that fear away. The man drew a breath and let it out on a heavy sigh.
"She... don' do so well." Remy seemed hesitant to admit it, as if he felt Logan would blame him for that. For a moment, it felt like Remy wouldn't say more. Then he shook his head and heaved another sigh. "She afraid you gon' hate her. She almost get herself killed. I do what I can to keep her from drawing away."
There was a note of disgust in the last of Remy's words, telling Logan that Remy felt like he hadn't done everything he could have. Or should have. Logan remembered just how far into herself Dare had gone with Creed. He felt certain that Remy had done more than he thought.
"Why you pickin' us up? Why you not wit' Dare?" Remy's question caught Logan off guard for a moment.
"She hadn't come back when I left. Almost as soon as Morgan showed up, the perfessor was on Cerebro and he found the four of you," Logan told him quietly. "And I ain't exactly the most touchy-feely person. I figured I'd make things worse with her if I was there when she got back. She needs more emotional support than I can give her right now. So I decided to come get the two of ya. The least I could do for her was bring her lover home to her."
The words had barely left his mouth when he turned his attention back to the instrument panel before him. The whole thing left a bad taste in his mouth. He could face down any villain you threw at him and come out ready for me. But the idea of facing the woman he loved, the mother of his children, when she was an emotional wreck was more than enough to unman him.
He wondered, not for the first time, why Dare hadn't left him a long time ago?
~*~
The whole thing was surreal. He'd been thrown off his guard when he'd woken up and found himself in, of all places, Alaska. Back in his uniform, visor firmly in place. And alone.That had been disorienting enough. But then to discover that he had no idea where Haley was. If she was safe and unharmed. If she was home. If Sinister had kept her. All of that had coalesced into a giant ball of anxiety that hadn't been eased any when the professor had contacted him mentally to let him know that he should sit tight and stay where he was because a ride was on the way. And it certainly hadn't been eased when he'd seen just who it was that had come to get him.
Of course he'd tried to ask about Haley as soon as he'd gotten on board the Blackbird. Logan had shot him a glare and, in what was polite for the other man, told him to shut up and sit his ass down. It had been a long, painful flight from Alaska to Louisiana. And it hadn't been until Remy had been aboard that Logan had told him anything.
Even now, after they'd arrived at the school and Logan had landed the Blackbird, there was a feeling of anxiousness that echoed through Scott. It felt as if it was taking forever to make his way up one hall and down another. The only thing in his head was that he had to get to Haley. He had to reach her side and see, with his own two eyes, that she was okay.
Distantly, he knew he was going to have to report everything that had happened to the professor. And he knew he was going to have to speak to Jean. He had no doubt she knew he was home. But those thoughts weren't important. All that mattered was Haley. And their child.
That thought still staggered him. He'd been certain, when he'd woken up by himself in Alaska, that Sinister had kept Haley in order to take their child. That fear had been an dull ache just behind his heart, digging deep like a thorn. Hearing Logan say that Haley was still pregnant had made joy swell. But with it had come confusion and caution. Why would Sinister return Haley to the school while she was still pregnant? Why would he return any of the girls? The whole goal behind their capture and captivity had been to provide children that Apocalypse could warp into his horsemen. So why hadn't he done that?
Those thoughts were pushed aside the moment he reached the medlab's door. Haley was on the other side. Once again, his thoughts ran wild on him. Thoughts of Sinister keeping her, and the others, for the babies they carried. Thoughts of Sinister never letting them come home. A mix of fear and rage filled him at that. Had Sinister done something like that, nothing would have stopped him from finding Haley and getting her back. Her and their daughter.
The intensity of his rage, of his desire to hurt Sinister, shook him and brought him back to the here and now. Here, in the hall outside the medlab at the school. Where Haley was. Now, in this moment. She was waiting for him. She was in there. Scott took a step forward. And then he recalled that Johnny Storm was also in there. His steps faltered again.
He'd known, somewhere in the deepest corners of his mind, that her husband would come when he realized she was home. Of course he had. But he'd thought, in that secret place in his heart, that he'd have more time with her before he had to give her up. He wasn't ready for that. He wasn't ready to let go. He wanted to be selfish and keep her. He didn't want to send her back to her husband. Jesus fucking Christ. This was going to be a new kind of awkward.
Scott took a breath and forced himself to move forward. To take hold of the door and twist the knob. To enter the medlab and come face to face with everything he didn't know he'd always wanted.
The room was crowded. There wasn't much noise beyond the normal sounds of medical equipment and hushed voices. He thought he caught the sound of soft sobs, but he couldn't place where they were coming from. He stood in the doorway and took a moment to survey the entire room. To see for himself that his people were back. That they were safe.
The nearest bed housed Morgan, who was very obviously sleeping. At her bedside, in a chair that had to be uncomfortable, was Warren. He had a small bundle, wrapped in pale pink, held in his arms and his eyes were filled with stars as he stared down at that bundle. Neither of them looked like they were any worse for wear. Scott felt certain that the worst that had happened was Morgan tiring herself out giving birth.
Across from Morgan's bed, he found Jehnna and Sam. Jehnna was sitting up in the bed, one hand held tightly in one of Sam's. They were talking quietly and it was obvious that Jehnna was tired. The way her eyes drooped suggested she should have gone to sleep a while ago, but she was stubbornly refusing to do so. Scott was sure that Sam was trying to coax her into going to sleep, but it looked as if he was having no luck.
The bed next to Jehnna's was occupied. A spill of long black hair ran across the white of the pillow case and the sheets. Dare had her back turned to everyone, face turned into the pillow. He frowned to see that no one sat beside her bed and he had to wonder if there was no one at the school who would do it. He even wondered if Logan had thought about ensuring there was someone there to hold her hand before he took off after his missing team members. He recalled what Remy had said about her mental health and considered, briefly, kicking Logan's ass in the Danger Room.
At last, his gaze settled on the last occupied bed. Haley was staring at him as if she'd never seen him before. He kind of felt like he could understand that. It felt to him that they hadn't seen each other in such a very long time. She was pale and it looked like she wanted to cry. But he could see the concern in her eyes that suggested she'd been paying more attention to Dare than anyone else had. That compassion was one of the things that made her a good leader. It was one of the things he loved about her. One of the many.
Staring at her across the room, Scott was struck again by how perfect and beautiful she was. The images of her, ruby-tinted by the lens in his visor because he hadn't wanted to waste time by changing into normal clothes, mixed with the images of her in his mind. Ones from the confines of their room at Sinister's lab that were all sorts of vibrant colors. They collided and clashed and tried to overpower one another. It almost gave him a headache, but he pushed the mental conflict aside. If there was anything he'd ever in his life thank Sinister for, it was the opportunity to see Haley without the limits of his visor or his glasses.
He would cherish those memories for the rest of his life.
"Scott?" her voice, small and laced with uncertainty, shattered his thoughts and brought him back to the medlab.
Her hair had grown long during their confinement and someone, probably Haley, had put it in a quick braid to keep it out of her way. That thick rope of red hair hung over her shoulder and rested against the swell of her belly. The swell that proved to him that his baby had not yet been born. That she was still theirs.
Scott crossed the distance until he was on the other side of the bed. It was a struggle not to simply scoop Haley up in his arms and hug her until neither one of them could breathe. But there were people watching. And one of those people was Haley's husband. "Storm," Scott said, nodding at Johnny in acknowledgement.
"Scott. Welcome back," Johnny replied. There was perhaps a note of something in the man's voice. Not that Scott blamed him. Johnny Storm liked to make people think he was an idiot. But he wasn't. He was smart and he was beyond capable of reading the room. Scott had no doubt he knew just what was going on between his wife and another man. Scott couldn't blame him for being hurt or pissed or both. And he wouldn't blame him if Johnny tried to take a swing. But that wasn't going to stop Scott from caring about Haley. It wouldn't stop him from loving her. And he wasn't going to apologize for either.
A moment later, Storm was on his feet. Haley was staring up at him, apprehension bright in her gaze. He gave her a strained smile and motioned toward the door with his head. "I need some air. I'll be around."
"Johnny?" Haley asked even as the man moved for the door. His name in her voice made him pause, but it was only a moment, He continued on to the door, then let himself out of the medlab without looking back. "He's going to leave, isn't he?" Haley asked softly. That didn't stop Scott form hearing the fear in her voice.
"He needs a little while, Haley," Scott said. Gently. She glanced up at him, unshed tears glittering in her eyes. Scott muttered a curse under his breath, then took the seat Storm had just vacated. He took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. "He's just had a lot thrown at him in a very short amount of time."
"I know," Haley whispered. She glanced away for a moment, then brought her gaze back to him. "I'm so glad to see you."
"Me, too," he replied, lifting her hand so that he could press a kiss to each of her knuckles. "When I woke up and you weren't there, all I could think was that Sinister had kept you. I was afraid of what he was going to do to you."
"I thought he killed you," she whispered. He could hear the fear in her voice with her admission. Scott felt his heart twist in his chest. He hated that she'd been made to feel that way. And he hated that Sinister had left them both alone and confused. After so much time together, waking up without Haley at his side had been disconcerting. He could only imagine what it had been like for her.
"I'm not going to leave you again, Haley," he promised softly. It was a stupid promise to make. There was the fact that she had responsibilities that came before him. The same as he did. But that didn't change the fact that he didn't want to let her out of his sight again. "I'll always be with you. I promise. You and our baby."
He settled the hand still clasping hers against her belly. It was a silent promise that echoed the words he'd just spoken. The tears that had been clinging to the corners of Haley's eyes started to fall then, her lips curving up in a cautious smile.
Scott leaned forward so that he could press a kiss to that smile. It was a short and soft kiss. A sweet thing filled with the same promise as his words. He leaned back just far enough to press his forehead to hers.
"I swear to you, Haley. I'll never leave you. I lo--"
"Scott?"
The voice cut across the silence of the room, pulling him back from Haley. He saw the guilt in her eyes before she turned away and tugged her hand from his. That left Scott to rise and turn, to face Jean. She stood just inside the medlab and her eyes were wide with hurt and disbelief and confusion.
Fuck.
~*~
"Remy?"
Her voice stopped him in his tracks. He was almost to the medlab and it took everything in him not to curse out loud. It wasn't her fault he was anxious and nervous. He'd been plagued for hours now by a sense of dullness that he hadn't liked. Because he knew what it was and what it meant. And it had made him hasten his steps to the medlab in order to attempt to counteract whatever distorted thoughts Dare was having. It felt like every step made forward was so small to as be almost insignificant. Too many steps back to even call it progress some days.
Forcing his thoughts away, pushing his irritation down, he found a smile as he turned to face Rogue. She looked tired. And pleased. "Bonsoir, Rogue," he offered. His words, his smile, saw her smiling in returned.
"I heard you were back. I just wanted ta come and make sure you were okay, sugar," she said quietly. He heard her concern in those words. Felt a tiny taste of her fear. Some of the annoyance melted away. It wasn't her fault that he was filled with a desperate need to be at someone else's side. He didn't need to take that out on her. Hadn't he done that to her all those years ago?
Rogue had always had her issues. Then again, so had he. He'd genuinely cared for her, but the oppressive feel of her distrust had been more than he'd been able to take. Things had ended badly between them and he'd been petty about it. He'd gone from her side to someone else's and had been sure to rub it in her face. It had taken time to repair their friendship. He still hadn't fully apologized for his appalling behavior. Maybe there was still time. Maybe it didn't matter anymore. All that mattered was that she had been afraid for him.
And so, Remy offered her a more genuine smile. Took a few steps closer so that he could pull her into an embrace and hug her. "I'm fine, cher. Sinister don' do anyt'ing to me."
She gave him a look that said she was skeptical. He didn't blame her. Hadn't he touted a similar line after Creed? Hadn't he been dying inside the whole time? "You know you can come talk ta me if you need to," she said softly.
"I do. If I need to talk, you de first person I come see," he said, his words a promise. It brought forth more of a smile and eased some of the fear and concern.
"I'm glad you're okay, Remy," she whispered. In that sentence, he heard the regret she'd been carrying for a decade. He hugged her close again, held her tight while she worked through the emotions she felt. Brushed a barely there kiss against the top of her head before releasing her.
"Thank you," he said. And he meant it. She nodded and pulled away. After one last look, she turned and headed back up the hallway. Remy watched her go and, for just a moment, allowed himself to think about what might have been if things between them hadn't soured. For a moment, he was left with a taste of bittersweet loss. But that was a lifetime ago. And they'd both moved on. So he pushed the regrets aside and continued toward the medlab.
The room was near to bursting when he got stepped through the door. It hadn't been this full since... Not since the alien invasion. A glance toward the office showed him that Henry and Roxxy were there, having some sort of discussion. He'd be willing to bet, based on the looks on their faces alone, that it was fraught with tension and displeasure. He couldn't imagine what kind of discussion the two of them were having that would put that look on their faces. He did know that they'd find a way to figure it out so he put it aside and turned his attention to the rest of the room.
Morgan occupied the first bed. She looked fresh from sleep, her hair messy from sleeping on it without braiding it or putting it up into a pony tail. It was longer than the last time he'd seen her. But it was the sleepy smile on her face that held his attention. She was staring down at the tiny bundle she held. One of her hands was clutched in Warren's. Angel wore a similar smile. Remy didn't have to go digging to understand what it was he was looking at.
There was a pang, somewhere near his heart. He ignored it. He had no right feeling hurt because hadn't he done the same thing with Morgan's best friend? Hadn't he been reckless and fallen fully in love with her? There'd been love for Dare there for a while. But it had been the love for a good friend. It was so much more now. And he saw that same love for Warren wreathing her like a halo. He wasn't going to tell her who she could and couldn't love. All he could do was be happy for her. They'd figure the rest out later, when everything returned to some facsimile of normal.
He crossed to her bed, the sound of his boots on the floor bringing their attention his way. The faint mote of unease hit him a moment before he stopped at the foot of the bed. "She beautiful, petit," Remy said, his gaze dropping to the baby Morgan held. "Just like her momma."
His words did what he'd intended them to do. They brought a faint blush to her cheeks. And a smile to her lips. And it hit him, then, as he stared at her, that she was well and truly fine. That nothing bad had happened to her while Sinister had held her. And the baby she held... That tiny baby girl was fine. They were both doing okay.
He hadn't realized just how worried he'd been about Morgan until that moment, until the relief had hit him. It had been like getting slammed into a brick wall. Much of his focus during their captivity had been Dare. Keeping her from withdrawing from everything. Keeping her functioning. Making her believe that he loved her and he wanted her. "Thank you, Remy. I'm glad you're okay."
There was a touch of worry there. Of fear. Fear that he'd hate her for what had happened. Fear that he'd walk away from her and their family. "An' I'm glad you okay, petit. You and de baby. " His words saw a faint blush stain her cheeks. That blush had had the power to bring him to his knees back in the beginning because it had been such an honest, uncontrollable reaction. It still held that power today. Morgan still held his heart and it didn't matter that he could tell she'd snared Warren in the same net that she'd used on him. "I owe you thanks, too, Warren."
"Me?" Warren gave him a startled, confused look. "Why me?"
"You keep Morgan safe. You take care of her. I owe you more dan thanks for it," Remy replied.
He felt the confusion as easily as he felt the sunlight against his skin. Warren had obviously expected him to hold this whole thing against him. Remy offered a faint smile and tipped his head toward the baby. "She beautiful. You two made a pretty baby."
Remy knew, at some point, they were all going to have to sit down and talk. Every last one of them. And he didn't mean just the eight of them. He meant everyone who was involved. If there was a significant other who wasn't taken, they would have to be involved in the talks, as well. The very fiber of who they all were had been changed by this experience. Relationships had been twisted and turned on their heads. They were going to need to come to some kind of consensus about how they were going to go forward from there.
"I think most of that was Morgan's doing. Pesky Worthington genes," Warren said, the last of his words colored with a chuckle. It was enough to make Morgan smile.
"The money helps. So does the fact that she's amazing," Morgan replied. Remy recognized that their conversation was some kind of inside joke. And he recognized that their feelings were genuine. Again, he felt that pang but he pushed it aside. He could nurse any hurts later. He'd known, from day one, that Morgan was a free spirit and perhaps there had always been a part of him that had felt certain she'd pack up one day and leave him. That she hadn't had always felt like something of a miracle. If he'd learned anything over the years, it was that you could love more than one person with the same amount of passion. There was more than one soul mate for a person and they were lucky to find even one of them. He'd found more than one and so had she.
That was the most important thing to take away from this whole ordeal.
"Be careful wit' dis one, mon ami," Remy told Warren, his head nodding toward Morgan. Then he offered the man a wink. "She gon' spend all you money on shoes."
Morgan blushed harder. And Warren laughed. What little tension had been left was gone, melted away with Remy's teasing words. An assurance that he wasn't angry with them.
The sound of the door swinging open brought their attention to the new arrival. Logan was scowling in the doorway, but Remy sensed that he was uncomfortable. He gave a nod to the man and turned, ready to move on. Haley sat in her bed, and she was alone. Sadness crowded around her and he had to wonder what had happened to make her feel that way. The fact that Scott was absent suggested something had come up. But why wasn't Johnny there? And Jehnna was sleeping, one of her hands clutched loosely in one of Sam's. He looked like he was about to fall out of his chair with the way his head kept nodding forward.
Logan had just stepped up beside him when his gaze landed on the last bed. The bed with its blankets thrown back. The bed that had obviously recently held someone but was now empty. Remy let his gaze skim the room in the hopes that she was elsewhere. But the other beds were empty and the door to the bathroom was open, the interior dark.
"Where she at?" he asked, voice quiet to keep Logan from hearing the concern. The worry. The fear.
"What'd ya say, Rem?" Logan asked. Which was insane, because he was sure Logan had heard him. But the man's voice was pitched loud enough that Remy could feel everyone's attention on them.
"Where she at?" he repeated. Louder this time. And he felt the attention shift. Felt it focus on the empty bed.
"Dare's gone?" Haley asked, voice soft and scratchy. Remy suspected she'd been crying as silently as possible so as not to draw attention to herself. "How? She was just here."
"Dat's what I wan' to know." The words were passing his lips even as he went seeking along their link. And started in surprise to find that there was some kind of block on it. His first thought was that Sinister had grabbed her away when no one was paying attention. And that thought set off a wave of panic the likes of which he hadn't felt in a long time. "Where she go?"
He turned to Morgan and begged her, not with words but with the look in his eyes, to see if she could find their missing lover. Morgan obviously knew what he wanted, because she nodded and closed her eyes. Several second passed in silence before her mouth formed a frown. He watched as her brows drew closer together and her nose scrunched up. Just a little. When she opened her eyes, both fear and regret mingled in them. "I... don't know. I can't feel her."
Those words hit like a ton of bricks. Fear filled him, a slow trickle at first that eventually turned into a turbulent rush that left him incapable of thought. He was only vaguely aware of a door opening somewhere behind him. "Ah, I see everyone is finally here. I... " Beast's voice was filled with relief. But it trailed off as he no doubt took in the looks on everyone's faces. "What's happened? Why does everyone look... Where has Dare gotten to?"
"We don't know, Hank," Of course it was Haley that answered. And, of course, there was authority in her voice. Purple Team's leader was fully present. "She was here one minute and gone the next. And no one saw her go."
"How is that possible?"
"I want to know dat, too," Remy said, shoving the fear and worry down. Packing it away in a tiny box so that he could think. So he could come up with an answer. So that he could find her.
No matter what.
no subject
The tension on the Blackbird is palpable, and understandably so. It's kind of a miracle Scott didn't try to take the stick. lol I love the visible relief in the news that the girls are okay, and that Remy calls Logan on being there instead of with Dare. Even if he knows he sucks at being properly supportive when shit hits the fan.
New rule, no more sending Wolverine out to collect traumatized X-men.
You know, for a couple of guys who promised they wouldn't leave, Haley sure ended up alone in a hurry...
Scott's anxiety, apprehension and realization that he's not ready to let go is heartbreaking. The relief in both of them is so perfect and clearly Haley's feelings are on a yo-yo at this point (probably would be anyway becaue she's a million months pregnant). Figures Jean would show up just in time for the kiss. I bet that conversation is going to go oh, so smoothly. O_o Here's hoping Johnny gets the air he needs and doesn't just take off.
In contrast, I love Remy giving Morgan and Warren a little peace, showing that there's no need for anyone to freak out. What a lovely moment for all of them.
And the search is on! Haley owes Logan a thank you for giving her something other than her shit to concentrate on! But I'm sure Remy and Logan will find Dare and set things right. I hope. Someone should have been there with her and someone--I don't know who, but someone--is going to catch a big helping of shit for this, I would imagine.
Great work, hun. It's going to be a long haul to fix a lot of this, isn't it?
no subject
was there tension on the Blackbird? i didn't really feel it but maybe that's just me. i was trying for some tension. i just wasn't sure i managed it. i am surprised at Scott's self-control, but he was also concerned about other things. i'm sure the only thoughts Scott and Remy had from the moment they woke up was to be sure the girls were safe and well. so its a good thing Logan started with that. there might have been a mutiny otherwise. and its time someone started calling Logan on his shit. one day, i will discover what it is that keeps those two together. because i still don't know what it is. i mean, i'm sure he cares in his own way. but he's shit at being emotionally supportive. which, given her history... such a fucked up pairing.
you're right. probably should have sent Ororo.
yeah. it is kind of shit that both of them said they'd be there and then promptly fucked off when faced with the choice. no worries. those boys will figure it out.
i feel like Scott is in such an emotionally compromised position right now. he's home, where he has to face Jean. and he's filled with all these new feelings. he's so into Haley, it isn't funny. and there's a baby. its all so new and strange and he needs to try to find balance and everything. that should be fun. i have no doubts he'll figure it out, though. so will Johnny.
i am actually kind of proud of Remy for being the one who sees that this isn't the end of the world for any of them. he's sought out love and family his whole life, so you'd think he'd be hoarding what he already had. but he sees this situation as a way to expand his family. to grow it larger and be surrounded by more love.
now if he could just get a handle on Dare. hell, if any of them could do so. i imagine someone will give that other someone the huge ration that they deserve.
it will take much work on everyone's part to fix this. but i'm sure the can manage. after all. they're adults. right?
glad you enjoyed, sweetie!
no subject
Of course Logan is wondering that. How could he not? And it's a valid concern. One that, I hope, will be for naught.
oh damn, right. Of course he can smell it. Super-sniffer and all.
Logan, unfortunately, is probably right on the mark about Haley and how she's going to deal with all of this. And Scott trying to cover up his emotions concerning Haley. SMH
I loved that whole exchange between Logan and Remy. The fear and guilt and Remy admitting that he tried to keep Dare from disappearing into herself and Logan admitting that he wasn't good at the emotional stuff and wondering why Dare hasn't left him. Damn.
All excellent questions. Poor Scott. Gotta admit, he's courageous as hell (of course he is, he's the leader of the OG X-Men) entering that medlab, knowing that Johnny is in there with Haley. Wanting that perfect family so bad, fearing that he won't be able to hold on to it. Respect. And then him seeing Dare there and wanting to kick Logan's ass for leaving her alone. (I'd love to see that fight, lol)
You know, I never thought about that, but yeah, he's forever looking through "rose tinted" glasses.
Johnny walking out - well, at least he didn't take that swing at Scott on the way. Yet. We'll see. Maybe they'll all be happily surprised by how well things work out once everyone has had time to absorb and adjust to everything that's happened.
Jean walking it at exactly the wrong moment. OMG. Fuck is right.
Understatement of the century, Remy. Damn his luck running in to Rogue on the way to see Dare. Bittersweet indeed.
Well, call me curious. I hope I get to find out what they were talking about at some point.
Remy going to Morgan first - that whole interaction between her and Warren and him - was perfect. Then again, Remy's always had a high EQ. And he's not wrong about how their relationships have all been twisted and that they're ALL going to have to talk and figure out how to work through it. I like that we keep getting glimpses of his insecurity. And I'm glad that, despite everything, Remy is able to joke with them. lol
And Dare's gone. Of-fucking-course she is. How the fuck did she sneak out without *anyone* noticing?
Kinda ended this one on a bit of a cliff hanger. At least I can read the next part right away. Well, tomorrow. Hopefully.
Well done, bb. I enjoyed it muchly. *smooches*
no subject
Logan is probably as close to an emotional wreck as he gets. without, you know, being feral or anything. naturally he's going to worry about Dare's state. the physical and the emotional. but he's got more to worry about because now Morgan was involved in the trauma event. and Remy again. Haley, too. people he considers friends and family.
Haley will absolutely find a way to blame herself. so will Dare, honestly.
i hope the conversation between Remy and Logan conveys some of the intimacy that exists between them (it should exist, we just haven't had an opportunity to see it). and i have no doubt he wonders quite frequently why Dare has stuck with him all these years.
Scott has, canonically, a lot of first-hand experience with Sinister, so of course he's going to wonder why it looks like they're getting everything they want. and, just for reference, if Scott did face off against Logan and he wasn't pulling punches, Logan would get his ass beat down. Logan's a brawler and that means up close. Scott doesn't have to be up close to put him on his ass. man took down a whole-ass Sentinel with one blast. and a large portion of the yard was a crater. and there were trees blown over and... well, you get the idea.
yeah. everything in Scott's world is colored red.
Johnny needs time to process everything. then he might take a swing at Scott. that little group is going to be a mess for a wee while, i'm sure. here's hoping they can all find some kind of happy medium.
yeah. Jean has terrible, terrible timing.
bittersweet, yes. but i kind of wanted to show that they had both made amends for the way they behaved back in the day. and, let's be real. they've both grown in the past ten or fifteen years. they can't hold the grudges forever. they have to work together because teams and all. it is unfortunate she stopped him before he could find Dare, but it was a good moment for it to happen.
i have to wonder what Henry and Roxxy are talking about, too, that they're basically ignoring everyone else. i haven't got a clue at the moment. i suspect some of it is Henry trying to convince her she needs to still be in bed. but i can't say for certain if that's all of it or if there's more.
i think, maybe with exception of Logan, Remy might be the one most able to adjust to everything. he has his share of knowledge where Sinister is concerned so he wasn't under any illusions about how things would play out through the whole ordeal. i can see him being jealous about it all. but i can also see him taking a few minutes to think and realize that this is just another addition to his family. so... he will find a way to deal. plus, he wanted to make sure that Warren and Morgan both knew that he didn't put any blame on their shoulders.
that is a very good question. i think there was just enough chaos happening that she could tip-toe out without drawing attention to herself. if Haley was wrapped up in Johnny or Scott and Morgan was asleep while Warren ogled his daughter and Sam was more interested in making sure Jehnna got some sleep... i don't think it would have been too hard. with Roxxy and Henry having what is probably an argument, she could basically just walk out the door and go without drawing a look her way.
sometimes i do a cliffhanger. but yes. the other bit was there to be read. so you didn't have to wait.
glad you're still enjoying, hon. thanks for reading!
no subject
Usually Logan gets his ass kicked, but most of the time it's a closer match than this.
And the one ldf referenced wasn't so much a fight between them as... Scott solving a sentinel problem. lol
I'm just going to take my competency kink and be over here... ;)
no subject
no subject
Thanks for sharing those! <3