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marysuevirus2024-07-19 08:36 pm
ladydeathfaerie) wrote in marysuevirus2024-07-19 08:36 pm
Among the Strong
Title: Among the Strong
Chapter Twenty Four: Settling In
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
He found her outside by the lake, sitting at the end of the dock. Her back was to him, her legs dangling over the edge. Her spine was held in a straight line that he felt had to be uncomfortable. How long had she been here while he'd been running around the mansion in an effort to hunt her down? He didn't like that he'd had to actually look for her. He still couldn't find her through the link and it brought into existence so many emotions that he was left feeling queasy. Ill at ease.
Remy stood just at the edge of the dock, not yet ready to put his feet on the wooden planks. In part, he hesitated to do so because he knew she'd know he was there the moment he stepped out onto the aged wood. And he was afraid that she'd find a way to simply slip from his fingers before he could talk to her. Before he could quell the unease that clenched around his chest. It had, again, taken him far too long to find her. What should have taken only moments had taken the better part of an hour because she still had the link blocked somehow. It wasn't a thing he'd ever thought her capable of. And yet...
He watched, stood still and silent, as the wind blew across the lake and pulled at her hair. It hung long and free down her back and it danced with the wind. Several inches of it lay on the wood behind her, attesting to just how long it had been since she'd cut it. Her roots were long and much lighter than the rest of her hair, reminding him that she regularly put color in it to keep it black. He wondered, for a moment, what her natural hair color looked like. It had been black for as long as he'd known her. Did she even know what color it was supposed to be anymore?
Remy took a breath and let it go on a soft sigh. No more stalling. No more games. It was time to confront her. He took a step forward.
Her shoulders tensed the moment his foot touched the smooth wood. But she didn't turn. She didn't try to stand. She kept her back to him and did nothing. He told himself that was a good thing. A positive sign. But he knew better. She was only letting him approach. That didn't mean she would listen to him. Or engage. That thought left him frustrated and annoyed. And, not for the first time, the urge to strangle Sinister for everything he'd done rose up to nearly choke him with its intensity. The sick bastard had fucked up so many lives.
He made his way up the dock with slow, steady steps. The closer he got to where Dare stood, the tighter her shoulders became. By the time he stopped behind her, her shoulders were nearly up to her ears. God, he hated seeing her like this. It reminded him of what she'd been like after Creed. This was ten times worse, because she'd at least been open to him back then. Now, she'd shut herself off from him and it hurt. How did she not realize that she'd been as much a lifeline for him during their captivity as he'd been for her?
"Here you are," he said as a way to break the tension between them. He made sure that his voice lacked the fear and worry he felt. Nothing but open friendship. "I been lookin' for you, petit."
Dare shrugged a shoulder but said nothing. Nor did she look at him. Her gaze was cast out over the surface of the lake and he wondered what it was she was looking at. What it was she saw. Doing his best to not be discouraged by her behavior, Remy lowered himself down onto the edge of the dock beside her. They weren't quite touching, but he was close enough that he could cover her hand with his if he so chose. "What you doin' hidin' out here?"
"I'm not hiding," she responded, her voice flat. "And I'm not your anything."
Her denial of their relationship hit him square in the chest. It felt like she'd driven a stake through his heart. Remy frowned and turned so he could study her face. He could see hints of discoloration beneath her eyes that suggested she wasn't sleeping. Given they'd only been back a couple days, that was frightening. He didn't sense any exhaustion on her, but that didn't mean anything. He didn't sense anything at all on her. She'd locked herself up tight and he couldn't understand why or how.
"You are hidin'," he said quietly. "And you know I love you. Why you actin' like dis?"
"I'm not acting like anything," she replied evenly. "I am not hiding. I'm here in plain sight and you found me. And I don't--"
"I had to search for you. It take an hour to find you." There was a note of frustration in his voice. It did nothing to move her.
"Then you suck at finding people," she told him.
"I don' have de link to help guide me," he responded. There was definitely open accusation in his voice. She shrugged a shoulder at that. "Dare. You got me worried about you. You say you don' want to see me. You hide from me. You close off de link so I don' know how you feelin'. You not supposed to be able to do dat."
"You don't know what I can and can't do," she said. There was a touch of heat in her voice. "And you have no right to hover over me like I'm a child in need of a babysitter."
The anger that came with that sentence saw him gaping at her in disbelief. Still, Dare didn't turn her head his way. And that made him even angrier. "I have no right? You carryin' my baby! I got every right to worry about you. I love you and I--"
"Don't say that," she whispered, cutting across his statement with a voice so soft that he had to strain to hear her. "You don't love me."
Remy stared at her. There was cold certainty in her voice. How were they back to that? Hadn't he proved to her, time and again, that his feelings for her were real? That he was sincere every time he said those three words? "You know dat not true, Dare." he countered. One hand reached for her, only to be slapped back by an invisible force. And, just like that, he was fully livid. Why did she always make things so difficult? "Why you actin' dis way? What happen between us?"
"Nothing happened between us. And I'm not acting any way, Gambit." He stared at her. She'd just snubbed him and accused him of playing with her all in one fell swoop. In one single word, no less. "I'm going to ask you nicely to get up and walk away. I'm fine. There's nothing wrong. And I don't want to talk to you anymore."
"Dare, petit," he began. A hissing sound caught his attention, bringing his gaze away from her face toward the water in front of him. The lake was boiling. Not all of it. Just a circle with a circumference of a few feet around them. Steam rose up off the surface while the water bubbled and roiled and hissed. He stared at it, his brain taking far too long to work out just what was going on. And when he did...
Shock hit him hard. Dare had never done something like this before. Not without showing some outer sign of using her powers. But her hair still lay against her shoulders. And the look on her face hadn't changed. Even her hands were relatively loose where they rested against her legs.
"Don't call me that again, Gambit. Just get up and go. Don't come looking for me again. Leave me alone. I'm fine. I don't need you." There was a finality to her words that he didn't like. And the distance between them seemed even greater than before. He wanted to sit there and rail at her until she listened to him. He wanted to force her to hear his words.
That thought took him by surprise. And he was reminded of their days under Sinister's thumb, when he'd used his charm and their link to make her realize the depths of his feelings for her. He hadn't thought he'd have to employ such tactics here at home. But it looked like she needed a reminder.
"Dare. Please," he said even as he reached for her. As he reached for the swell of her belly, where their baby resided. If he could just touch her... His fingers were only a fraction of an inch away when that same invisible force caught his hand shoved it away. And he felt the anger in it. The pain and the sorrow and the betrayal.
It was the most he'd felt from her since their return and it confused him. And then he felt the water close over his head as that invisible hand pushed him off the dock and into the lake. It took him only a moment to break the surface, and another moment more to clear the water from his eyes. To cough it out of his lungs. To push his hair out of his face.
When he did, it was to find that Dare was gone.
~*~
"Haley, please." He reached for her, but she took a step back and put more space between them. Scott frowned, frustration beating at him. Why wouldn't she let him hold her?
"Its okay, Scott," she said, her voice steady and even. Which was quite the feat because he knew, he just knew, that she was two seconds away from crying her eyes out. How he knew, he couldn't say. But the knowledge was there. Almost like a feeling at the back of his brain. "You made a commitment to Jean. She's your wife. You need to go back to her side."
"And what about you? Are you going back to Johnny's side?" He couldn't quite stop the question from falling out of his mouth even though he knew it was a horrible thing to do. He knew well and good that Johnny had cut out on her and left her alone. And he got it. It was a lot to take in. A lot to process. He felt certain that he'd have a similar reaction were he in Johnny's place.
"Johnny needs time to process everything," she responded. It was an honest response. Even a legitimate one. Scott knew it was also utter bullshit. Storm had gone off and left Haley because she'd admitted to him that she'd fallen in love. With Scott. And Storm was having a hard time seeing past his pride to fully grasp what things had been like. Though, to be fair to the other man, Scott wasn't sure he could be so forgiving if he was the one married to Haley and she'd fallen in love with Storm. Circumstances be damned.
That thought stopped him dead for a second. What was that kind of thinking and where had it come from? Up until Sinister had grabbed them, there'd never been anything between he and Haley. There'd never been the chance to think of taking her as his wife. It had seemed natural and almost easy to take that step with Jean, even if Scott had known from the beginning that he was consigning himself to a life only half-lived. It had never been an issue in the entire time he and Jean had been together. One bizarre kidnapping event and he was suddenly sure that Haley was the thing he was missing in his life?
"Storm is an idiot for leaving you the way he did," Scott said, pulling himself away from the paths his brain seemed to want to walk. Nothing good would come of that line of thinking. Not just yet. Not with Jean still hurt over his feelings for Haley. Not when he didn't feel like he knew his mind anymore.
"Does that make you an idiot?" she asked softly. It took Scott a moment to realize that there was anger and hurt in her question. Both of those emotions were directed right at him. She was hurt and she felt betrayed. That notion buzzed around at the back of his brain, giving him pause. Why was he so certain he knew how she felt?
Not that she wasn't allowed. He had told her he wouldn't leave her. And then Jean had showed up. What was the first thing he'd done? He'd left with Jean. It was no wonder Haley wouldn't let him touch her. He was very much an idiot. Putting his pride aside, Scott gave her a faintly chagrinned look. "Yes. I am an idiot, too. Because I promised you I wouldn't leave you. And then I left. I broke my promise and I'm sorry."
"It doesn't matter anymore, Scott. You aren't married to me. You're married to Jean and she comes first," Haley told him. Her voice was empty, as if she was speaking lines she'd rehearsed in front of the mirror. He knew it was because she was attempting to protect her heart. And he understood the urge. But he didn't have to like it, damn it! "There was no reason for you to make me any promises. In fact, I wish you hadn't."
This time, she couldn't hide the hurt. It echoed in her words, a soft thing that reminded him of ripples spreading out over the surface of an otherwise still lake. The hurt got bigger and bigger the longer it went and he felt like it was going to drown him. "I wouldn't have made those promises if I hadn't meant them, Haley."
"You shouldn't have made them at all, Scott. What were you planning on doing? Leaving Jean for me?" The questions had bite in them, enough that he felt the sting of them under his skin. Haley shook her head and looked away, her gaze coming to rest on some point off to his right. "You can't walk away from your marriage, Scott."
Her refusal to let him make those decisions for himself pushed his temper higher and higher. The urge to shake her was there and it was strong. But he would never lay a hand on her in anger. He cared about her too much. But that didn't stop him from wanting to hurt her so he said the first thing that came to his mind. "You mean like he did?"
Haley didn't flinch at the question. He knew it hurt her, but she remained calm and even. How she was holding herself together was beyond him. He felt the urge to cry bubbling up inside of him and he couldn't be sure if it was what he was feeling or if it was what she was feeling. "I don't blame Johnny for leaving. I did the worst thing possible to him. Its no less than I deserve."
"Goddamn it, Haley! It doesn't have to be this way," he spat. Before he knew what he was doing, Scott had stepped forward and taken hold of her arms. He was sure his fingers were digging into her skin, but he couldn't seem to help himself. Why wouldn't she listen to him? Why couldn't she see? "We can find a way to work this out. We're--"
"I won't stop you from seeing the baby. She's your daughter. You have every right to be a part of her life," Haley told him quietly. Her words were enough to shock him into releasing his hold on her. She took a handful of steps back, putting more distance between them this time than she had the last time. She lifted her gaze to his face and his memory supplied him with the intense, sparkling green hue of her eyes. The look she was giving him suggested that hue was dulled this time. By sadness and sorrow and betrayal and a thousand other emotions. "Goodbye, Scott. It was a lovely dream while it lasted."
He heard the tears in her voice this time. And it made his heart ache. Because she meant the goodbye part. She was going to walk away and never look back. "Don't do this, Haley. Don't..."
The plea in his voice saw her blink hard and fast.
"Its for the best, Scott. Don't worry. I'll be fine."
She was gone a moment later, the fragile scent of her shampoo or perfume or powder lingering after her. With it was the bitter taste of her sadness and heartbreak. Scott stood there for a long time, staring at the spot where she'd last stood. He didn't take note of the way his heart broke in his chest. He didn't bother to note the way it suddenly felt hard to breathe. All he could see or taste or feel was the pain that raced through Haley's veins and the certainty that this was what she deserved.
~*~
She was surprised to find the door wide open. Roxxy blinked at that before lifting a hand to rap a knuckle against the wall beside the door frame. Morgan's head came up and a smile brightened her face when she saw who her visitor was.. She was settled on a couch positioned sort of in the middle of the room, Kayla resting in a baby rocker at her feet. "Roxxy!" she said, voice not terribly loud. She rose to her feet and crossed the room. "Please. Come in. I apologize for the mess. Warren is still getting everything set up."
As if that was a some kind of cue, the sound of cursing came from the other room. It was prolific and it very much sounded like Warren. Roxxy raised an eyebrow.
"He's working on the nursery at the moment," Morgan explained.
"Ah. Of course," Roxxy nodded. That made perfect sense. Though she had to wonder what Morgan thought of their suite of rooms being located in the basement. It had been decided, Roxxy didn't know by who, that it would be safer for everyone involved if the members of Purple Team who had been held captive by Sinister, and their partners, were to stay at the school. Rooms in the basement had been cleared out somewhat hastily for use as temporary apartments for her friends. Two of her four friends had started to move in. Roxxy wasn't sure what to think about that.
She and Morgan crossed the room and took seats on the couch. It was long and stylish, the upholstery in several shades of red. There were swirl patterns that looked very much like rose blossoms, though they could have just been swirls. Roxxy took a moment to admire Morgan's baby. Kayla was asleep in her little rocker, all chubby cheeks and limbs. Roxxy was sure Morgan had dressed her in a onesie, but a blanket had been laid over the rocker so she couldn't be sure. She was tiny and pink and perfect and Morgan looked like she was head over heels in love with her child.
"How are you feeling?" Roxxy asked, shifting her attention to the woman sitting no more than a foot away from her.
"I feel fine," Morgan assured her. "Even though this whole thing is... bizarre. I mean, who would've thought I would get pregnant with Warren's child?" Roxxy thought she heard a little something in Morgan's voice. A little confusion. Some fear. Even, she thought, some wistfulness.
"And have you talked to Jehnna?" Roxxy wasn't sure how Morgan would react to the question, but she had to ask. Despite the fact that the team was on hold for the foreseeable future, their relationships with one another were on the line because of this fuckery.
"Not yet. I know I need to. To make sure we're okay," she said quietly. Her gaze slid from Roxxy's face to the door leading into the room from which she could hear Warren swearing, then to the baby sleeping peacefully by her feet. "She has to know that we didn't intend for this to happen."
"One would think. But this is Jehnna we're talking about. We both know she's... a little more traditional than the rest of us." Roxxy's choice of words made Morgan smile.
"She is. Sometimes I wonder why she decided to stay on the team. It almost seems like she was living for the whole two point five kids and white picket fence thing. Being on a team had to have been super low on her bucket list."
"Its probable it was. But Haley asked. And I think it was one of the first times anyone tried to include her," Roxxy replied. She'd been there when Haley had made the offer. Jehnna's face had lit up in a way it rarely had after. Warren had been able to bring that look to life when he'd asked her to enter into a relationship with him. Then again when he'd asked her to marry him. Funny how the lot of them were each some kind of oddball at the school.
"I'll find a time to talk to her. Before things can get weird. It just seems like she's really into Sam right now and I don't want to intrude on that. She's always been so serious about her relationships."
Roxxy nodded. "She has. More so than any of the rest of us, really."
Morgan hummed in response, seemingly lost in thought. Roxxy could tell she was thinking about something, trying to decide if she should bring it up or not. And Roxxy had a good idea what that something was. So she sat and she waited patiently for Morgan to come to a conclusion. It was only a few moments later that the other woman drew air into her lungs as she made her decision.
"Have you... Have you seen or talked to Dare? I know everyone was in a panic the other night. I haven't seen Logan or Remy to ask them how things went and she's somehow managed to keep me locked out of her head. She was never able to do that before and it worries me. I can't tell if something is wrong and, for some reason, Faye is suddenly all about respecting her privacy."
Roxxy nodded, having expected the question. The look she gave Morgan saw the other woman deflating just a little. "I wish I could tell you something positive. But all I know is it took both Logan and Remy something like an hour to find her that night. She ended up in Tristan's room and he wouldn't let them in to see or talk to her. They were informed that she didn't want to speak to either one of them."
Morgan absorbed that information for a moment, then shook her head. "I don't understand why she's acting like this. I mean, I get why she's avoiding Logan. She no doubt thinks he's going to be mad at her for the things that happened while we were with Sinister. But that doesn't explain why she's avoiding Remy. She loves him."
"I know," Roxxy nodded. "And if I get the chance, I'll ask her about it. Okay?"
"That would be awesome, Roxxy. Thank you," Morgan said. There was relief in her voice. and in her eyes.
"What are friends for, Morgan?"
*
She found Jehnna holed up in the library. She was at one of the tables, sitting by herself with a stack of books next to her. But she wasn't paying any of them any attention. Her focus was solely on the journal she had opened before her. There was a pen in her hand and it moved slowly across the page. Roxxy suspected that Jehnna was writing down the things that had happened to her during her captivity. At least as much of it as she could recall. Whether it was for her kids sometime in the future or as a way of working through thoughts and emotions was only something Jehnna knew.
Roxxy took a seat across from her and waited in silence for the younger woman to notice her. It was almost comical when she did, because Jehnna actually jumped and even shrieked a little. Her pen hit the table top with a clatter and she put her hand against her chest, as if doing so would stop the pounding of her heart. "Jesus, Roxxy! You shouldn't scare a pregnant woman like that! Especially not one so close to the end of her third trimester."
"I'm sorry, Jehnna," Roxxy offered, though the smile on her face belied her apology. "I just wanted to check in and see how you were doing."
The other woman stared at her.for a moment before she closed the journal before her. "The short answer is I'm okay. But that's not all you're asking. So the long answer is that I'm okay physically, but the mental part is maybe a little rough. Its something I need to work on." Her hand touched the journal as she spoke, letting Roxxy know how Jehnna planned on using it. She nodded her head.
"That's not a bad idea. But don't forget you should talk to someone if it gets to be too much," Roxxy reminded her.
"Of course. I've been looking into therapists, but finding one who won't freak out when they find out I was kidnapped by a creepy, Victorian-era villain who used me to breed a super-mutant meant to be a horseman is a bit tricky." Jehnna made it sound funny, but Roxxy could tell there was more under the surface.
"You might want to ask Henry if he can recommend someone. He'd be more than willing to help. Or even listen, if you really need him to."
"That's sweet, Roxxy. But I feel like he's got his own issues to deal with. He doesn't need to deal with mine," she replied.
"Just keep it in mind," Roxxy urged gently.
"I will," Jehnna nodded. Her gaze slid away to look out the window to her right and her fingers twisted around one another, telling Roxxy she was nervous.
"Have you had a chance to talk to Warren yet?" Roxxy put the question forth as gently as possible. It still made Jehnna jump just a bit. The woman turned wide eyes her way and the twisting of her fingers increased.
"No. He's been busy with Morgan and their new baby and..." her voice trailed off and she sighed. There was a slightly wistful quality to it. "I've kind of been focused on Sam. This is all new to him and he's getting really nervous. I figured I could wait to talk to Warren until after he and Morgan got settled with Kayla."
Roxxy nodded. "That's generous of you, Jehnna. But don't forget that you're still married to Warren. The two of you need to figure out where you go from here. You have children to think about. The sooner you come to a decision, the easier it will be on all of you."
"I know," Jehnna agreed. "Its just hard. Because I still love him, Roxxy. But I love Sam, too, and I don't understand how that can be. It doesn't seem right or anything."
"Jehnna, you can love more than one person at a time. There is no rule written down anywhere on Earth, in any book or on any piece of paper or whatever, that says you are only allowed to love one person at a time. Love is a complicated emotion. You can't lock it up in a box and save it for just the right soul. You need to share it with everyone. There's nothing wrong with loving both Warren and Sam at the same time. The only thing wrong with it is punishing either of them and yourself for it. Talk to Warren. Talk to Sam. Figure out what it is you all want."
For a moment, it looked liked Jehnna was going to cry. Then she frowned and the look was gone. When she turned her gaze Roxxy's way again, her eyes were brighter and clearer. It looked like Roxxy had helped her with a problem that had been eating at her. "Thanks, Roxxy. I'll do it."
"That's good, Jehnna," she smiled at her friend. She watched as Jehnna opened up her journal once again and picked up her pen. Looked like Roxxy was being dismissed. She rose from her seat and left the library as silently as she'd entered it.
Jehnna never lifted her head from her journal.
*
Somehow, she wasn't surprised to find that both Haley and Dare were holed up in Haley's old dorm room. Despite the fact that there was a suite in the basement meant for each of them. What she was surprised about was the fact that Tristan came around the corner with a crib in tow. He was pulling it along behind him and he looked mildly put out. But he was still a teenager, so maybe that was just his face all the time. Roxxy watched him disappear into the open door of Haley's room with the crib. "Please tell me you don't need anymore furniture. There's not that much room left in here with two beds, a dresser, two cribs, and a changing table," the boy said. His voice was filled with disgust.
"No. That's all we need," Haley told him. "Thank you for your help, Tristan. We appreciate it."
"You're welcome. But I don't understand why you couldn't move into the rooms in the basement. There's more room and..." The boy's voice trailed off and Roxxy had an idea just what had caused it.
"I told you I don't want to see him. I have no doubt he's got a key to those damn rooms. And even if he doesn't, he'd pick the damn lock if he thought I was hiding in there from him." Dare's voice was terse and filled with displeasure.
"You are hiding from him. Just up here and not down there. What's to stop him from picking the lock to this room?" Tristan asked.
"He won't come in here," Haley assured the boy.
"Fine. Whatever. I'm done. Besides, Roxxy is out in the hallway." Tristan stepped out into the hallway a moment later and gave her a look that said he was thoroughly disgusted with his sister and Haley. She gave him a smile and watched as he disappeared around the corner. Then she stepped up to the doorway and looked in.
Tristan hadn't been kidding when he'd said the room was crowded. There was a path from the door to each of the beds and the bathroom. It wasn't the most ideal situation and Roxxy couldn't help but wonder at the mad line of thinking behind their decision. She knocked on the open door before stepping into the room. Haley glanced up and offered her some faint ghost of a smile. Dare stared out the window and said nothing.
"Hi, Rox," Haley greeted her. There was false cheer in her voice. Roxxy didn't comment on it. Instead, she moved deeper into the room and closed the door behind her.
"This is... cozy," she said.
"We're fine. You can go tell whoever sent you that we're fine," Dare commanded. She never once turned away form the window.
"No one sent me. I came to check up on my friends. I'm allowed to be worried about you," Roxxy replied. She didn't let Dare's rudeness bother her. The other woman couldn't help it.
"We're fine, Rox," Haley said. Roxxy gave her a look that screamed very loudly that she seriously doubted it.
"You call this fine? You're crammed into this tiny room like sardines. And with the babies coming at any moment, you need much more room than this," Roxxy reminded them. "There's more than enough room for you in the basement. You and your babies. And you'll be safer down there."
"We were stuck in windowless rooms for a year, Rox," Haley said.
"It wouldn't be forever, Haley. Just until we find a better option."
Dare snorted, bringing Roxxy's attention her way. She'd turned away from the window and Roxxy could see that she'd already started ignoring her health. Just as Remy and Logan had feared she would. "Forgive me if I'm not exactly eager to go hide in the basement where I run the risk of running into Jehnna and Sam. And Morgan and Warren. Seeing them together, seeing them happy... I can't do it. Its too much."
"That isn't fair to them, Dare," Roxxy replied. "They're your friends. I'm sure they want to know you're okay. I doubt its any easier for them than it is for you."
Dare stared at her a moment, her eyes blank. Then she shook her head. "I'm sure they've got their problems. And I'm sure its not easy for them. But they're so goddamn gooey and sticky sweet that it makes me physically ill. Because nothing is ever that easy for me, Roxxy. Nothing. Not a goddamn thing in my life. So... .Fuck all of it. I'm going to just stay here and be a hermit. Besides. If Sinister wants the babies, there's no where in this goddamn school we can hide that he can't get to us."
Dare turned away and once again gave her attention to the window. A glance toward Haley told Roxxy that she agreed with everything the other woman had said. Which meant she wasn't going to be able to convince them to change their minds. She also found it worrying that Dare had so little faith in those here at the school. Did she think that there wasn't anyone where who wouldn't fight to keep her child safe?
"You can't possibly think you can do this by yourselves." Roxxy motioned toward the cribs with one hand. "You're going to need help."
"Don't even go there, Roxxy," Dare ordered, not looking away from the window. Roxxy sighed and shook her head. It was time to stop being polite. They needed to know they weren't the only ones suffering here.
"They're worried about you. Both of you. And rightly so," Roxxy said. If her voice was louder and sharper than usual, she felt she had the right to feel as she did. They were her friends. Her family. Her team. And they were being absolutely fucking stupid about everything.
"Remy doesn't need to pretend he cares," Dare said, her tone devoid of emotion.
"Its better this way," Haley whispered.
Roxxy looked between her two friends. This was possibly the worst she'd ever seen either of them, the lowest point she'd ever seen them hit. And she understood that there was so much going on that she wasn't aware of. Her conversation with Morgan had told her that things were weird with all of them. Morgan had admitted, when asked, that she hadn't really talked to either Warren or Remy about where this was all going to go. She'd told Roxxy Remy had been all smiles when he'd spoken with them in the medlab just after Kayla's birth. But Roxxy knew Remy could be a damn fine actor when the need arose. It was possible he was not as okay with things as he'd made her think.
She knew he was going crazy being unable to keep tabs on Dare. The link they'd formed back during the desperate days in Creed's RV was the one thing that had helped keep him sane while under Sinister's thumb. And now he didn't even have that because Dare had somehow blocked him. And it was no better for Logan, who swore he couldn't find Dare's scent anymore. Less than five seconds in the room had proven to Roxxy that he was right. Dare's scent was gone. Which wasn't something that should have been possible. Maybe it was the pregnancy. She didn't know.
What she did know was, like Logan and Remy where Dare was concerned, Scott was worried about Haley. She'd more or less told him to stay away from her, but it was the last thing he wanted to do. Roxxy had come to see Haley and Dare with the hope burning in her breast that she could get through to them where no one else could. But she'd failed at that, just as she'd failed at keeping them and the rest of the team safe from the horsemen.
"You can tell them whatever it is you think they need to hear," Dare said softly. "Just make sure they know to leave us alone."
Roxxy looked from Dare, her back to the room, to Haley. Her best friend looked to be on the verge of tears. "Please, Rox. Please."
Roxxy sighed. Goddamn it. How was she supposed to handle this mess?
~*~
"Tell me why it is I can face down a whole mess of villains and not break a sweat, but trying to put this damned crib together is getting the better of me." Sam took a step back from the crib and wiped his hands on his t-shirt. Warren smiled and continued with the assembly of the crib. He didn't really need Sam's help, but he'd asked the other man to lend a hand so he could figure out how to do this for his own baby.
"Villains are much less frightening than babies," Warren assured him. "But you might want to pay attention to what I'm doing. You're going to need to put that crib of yours together."
"How do you do this? How do you stay so calm when you're facing a tiny, precious new life?"
"Because that tiny, precious new life is totally helpless," Warren replied. "I've got to do everything in my power to keep her safe."
Sam stared at him in awe.
Warren cracked a grin that held just a hint of the devil in it. "Not to mention, I've done this a few times before. And I'm not as calm as you think I am. I'm freaking out inside. It just gets in the way of being the best dad in the world if you let that show."
He watched as Sam's face paled. As if he'd forgotten he was going to be a father soon. Ah, first baby jitters. Warren remembered when he'd had them. Along with second and third baby jitters. Hell, he still had them despite having helped create his fair share with Jehnna.
Thoughts of her gave him pause. She probably thought he hated her, despite their interaction in the medlab the other day. He wished he'd had the opportunity to really talk to her. But Morgan had been in labor when he'd walked in the door and that had become his focus. He should have checked in on her already. But he hadn't. Because the newness of her relationship with Sam was just as strong as the newness of his relationship with Morgan. "How is Jehnna doing? Has she had any problems?"
"No?" Sam didn't sound sure. It was likely his brain was spinning from the rapid subject change. "I mean, she complained this morning of lower back pain, but it didn't sound like it was any big deal."
That statement brought Warren's head up. He stared at Sam a moment. "Lower back pain? Did she tell you exactly where the pain was?"
Sam gave the question consideration. His frown of concentration might have been comical if not for the thoughts whirling through Warren's mind. Finally, Sam nodded and put his hands on his back, then turned to show Warren where he'd placed them. "She said it hurt here."
Warren put the screwdriver he held down and stood. "Sam. You need to go find Jehnna right now."
Sam looked like he wanted to ask why. But he never got the chance. Because Morgan stepped through the door and looked at him.
"You need to go to the medlab right now, Sam," she told him.
It took Sam all of five seconds to figure out why that was. Then he was on his way out the door. "Oh, God. Holy shit. I'm gonna be a dad!"
Chapter Twenty Four: Settling In
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
He found her outside by the lake, sitting at the end of the dock. Her back was to him, her legs dangling over the edge. Her spine was held in a straight line that he felt had to be uncomfortable. How long had she been here while he'd been running around the mansion in an effort to hunt her down? He didn't like that he'd had to actually look for her. He still couldn't find her through the link and it brought into existence so many emotions that he was left feeling queasy. Ill at ease.
Remy stood just at the edge of the dock, not yet ready to put his feet on the wooden planks. In part, he hesitated to do so because he knew she'd know he was there the moment he stepped out onto the aged wood. And he was afraid that she'd find a way to simply slip from his fingers before he could talk to her. Before he could quell the unease that clenched around his chest. It had, again, taken him far too long to find her. What should have taken only moments had taken the better part of an hour because she still had the link blocked somehow. It wasn't a thing he'd ever thought her capable of. And yet...
He watched, stood still and silent, as the wind blew across the lake and pulled at her hair. It hung long and free down her back and it danced with the wind. Several inches of it lay on the wood behind her, attesting to just how long it had been since she'd cut it. Her roots were long and much lighter than the rest of her hair, reminding him that she regularly put color in it to keep it black. He wondered, for a moment, what her natural hair color looked like. It had been black for as long as he'd known her. Did she even know what color it was supposed to be anymore?
Remy took a breath and let it go on a soft sigh. No more stalling. No more games. It was time to confront her. He took a step forward.
Her shoulders tensed the moment his foot touched the smooth wood. But she didn't turn. She didn't try to stand. She kept her back to him and did nothing. He told himself that was a good thing. A positive sign. But he knew better. She was only letting him approach. That didn't mean she would listen to him. Or engage. That thought left him frustrated and annoyed. And, not for the first time, the urge to strangle Sinister for everything he'd done rose up to nearly choke him with its intensity. The sick bastard had fucked up so many lives.
He made his way up the dock with slow, steady steps. The closer he got to where Dare stood, the tighter her shoulders became. By the time he stopped behind her, her shoulders were nearly up to her ears. God, he hated seeing her like this. It reminded him of what she'd been like after Creed. This was ten times worse, because she'd at least been open to him back then. Now, she'd shut herself off from him and it hurt. How did she not realize that she'd been as much a lifeline for him during their captivity as he'd been for her?
"Here you are," he said as a way to break the tension between them. He made sure that his voice lacked the fear and worry he felt. Nothing but open friendship. "I been lookin' for you, petit."
Dare shrugged a shoulder but said nothing. Nor did she look at him. Her gaze was cast out over the surface of the lake and he wondered what it was she was looking at. What it was she saw. Doing his best to not be discouraged by her behavior, Remy lowered himself down onto the edge of the dock beside her. They weren't quite touching, but he was close enough that he could cover her hand with his if he so chose. "What you doin' hidin' out here?"
"I'm not hiding," she responded, her voice flat. "And I'm not your anything."
Her denial of their relationship hit him square in the chest. It felt like she'd driven a stake through his heart. Remy frowned and turned so he could study her face. He could see hints of discoloration beneath her eyes that suggested she wasn't sleeping. Given they'd only been back a couple days, that was frightening. He didn't sense any exhaustion on her, but that didn't mean anything. He didn't sense anything at all on her. She'd locked herself up tight and he couldn't understand why or how.
"You are hidin'," he said quietly. "And you know I love you. Why you actin' like dis?"
"I'm not acting like anything," she replied evenly. "I am not hiding. I'm here in plain sight and you found me. And I don't--"
"I had to search for you. It take an hour to find you." There was a note of frustration in his voice. It did nothing to move her.
"Then you suck at finding people," she told him.
"I don' have de link to help guide me," he responded. There was definitely open accusation in his voice. She shrugged a shoulder at that. "Dare. You got me worried about you. You say you don' want to see me. You hide from me. You close off de link so I don' know how you feelin'. You not supposed to be able to do dat."
"You don't know what I can and can't do," she said. There was a touch of heat in her voice. "And you have no right to hover over me like I'm a child in need of a babysitter."
The anger that came with that sentence saw him gaping at her in disbelief. Still, Dare didn't turn her head his way. And that made him even angrier. "I have no right? You carryin' my baby! I got every right to worry about you. I love you and I--"
"Don't say that," she whispered, cutting across his statement with a voice so soft that he had to strain to hear her. "You don't love me."
Remy stared at her. There was cold certainty in her voice. How were they back to that? Hadn't he proved to her, time and again, that his feelings for her were real? That he was sincere every time he said those three words? "You know dat not true, Dare." he countered. One hand reached for her, only to be slapped back by an invisible force. And, just like that, he was fully livid. Why did she always make things so difficult? "Why you actin' dis way? What happen between us?"
"Nothing happened between us. And I'm not acting any way, Gambit." He stared at her. She'd just snubbed him and accused him of playing with her all in one fell swoop. In one single word, no less. "I'm going to ask you nicely to get up and walk away. I'm fine. There's nothing wrong. And I don't want to talk to you anymore."
"Dare, petit," he began. A hissing sound caught his attention, bringing his gaze away from her face toward the water in front of him. The lake was boiling. Not all of it. Just a circle with a circumference of a few feet around them. Steam rose up off the surface while the water bubbled and roiled and hissed. He stared at it, his brain taking far too long to work out just what was going on. And when he did...
Shock hit him hard. Dare had never done something like this before. Not without showing some outer sign of using her powers. But her hair still lay against her shoulders. And the look on her face hadn't changed. Even her hands were relatively loose where they rested against her legs.
"Don't call me that again, Gambit. Just get up and go. Don't come looking for me again. Leave me alone. I'm fine. I don't need you." There was a finality to her words that he didn't like. And the distance between them seemed even greater than before. He wanted to sit there and rail at her until she listened to him. He wanted to force her to hear his words.
That thought took him by surprise. And he was reminded of their days under Sinister's thumb, when he'd used his charm and their link to make her realize the depths of his feelings for her. He hadn't thought he'd have to employ such tactics here at home. But it looked like she needed a reminder.
"Dare. Please," he said even as he reached for her. As he reached for the swell of her belly, where their baby resided. If he could just touch her... His fingers were only a fraction of an inch away when that same invisible force caught his hand shoved it away. And he felt the anger in it. The pain and the sorrow and the betrayal.
It was the most he'd felt from her since their return and it confused him. And then he felt the water close over his head as that invisible hand pushed him off the dock and into the lake. It took him only a moment to break the surface, and another moment more to clear the water from his eyes. To cough it out of his lungs. To push his hair out of his face.
When he did, it was to find that Dare was gone.
~*~
"Haley, please." He reached for her, but she took a step back and put more space between them. Scott frowned, frustration beating at him. Why wouldn't she let him hold her?
"Its okay, Scott," she said, her voice steady and even. Which was quite the feat because he knew, he just knew, that she was two seconds away from crying her eyes out. How he knew, he couldn't say. But the knowledge was there. Almost like a feeling at the back of his brain. "You made a commitment to Jean. She's your wife. You need to go back to her side."
"And what about you? Are you going back to Johnny's side?" He couldn't quite stop the question from falling out of his mouth even though he knew it was a horrible thing to do. He knew well and good that Johnny had cut out on her and left her alone. And he got it. It was a lot to take in. A lot to process. He felt certain that he'd have a similar reaction were he in Johnny's place.
"Johnny needs time to process everything," she responded. It was an honest response. Even a legitimate one. Scott knew it was also utter bullshit. Storm had gone off and left Haley because she'd admitted to him that she'd fallen in love. With Scott. And Storm was having a hard time seeing past his pride to fully grasp what things had been like. Though, to be fair to the other man, Scott wasn't sure he could be so forgiving if he was the one married to Haley and she'd fallen in love with Storm. Circumstances be damned.
That thought stopped him dead for a second. What was that kind of thinking and where had it come from? Up until Sinister had grabbed them, there'd never been anything between he and Haley. There'd never been the chance to think of taking her as his wife. It had seemed natural and almost easy to take that step with Jean, even if Scott had known from the beginning that he was consigning himself to a life only half-lived. It had never been an issue in the entire time he and Jean had been together. One bizarre kidnapping event and he was suddenly sure that Haley was the thing he was missing in his life?
"Storm is an idiot for leaving you the way he did," Scott said, pulling himself away from the paths his brain seemed to want to walk. Nothing good would come of that line of thinking. Not just yet. Not with Jean still hurt over his feelings for Haley. Not when he didn't feel like he knew his mind anymore.
"Does that make you an idiot?" she asked softly. It took Scott a moment to realize that there was anger and hurt in her question. Both of those emotions were directed right at him. She was hurt and she felt betrayed. That notion buzzed around at the back of his brain, giving him pause. Why was he so certain he knew how she felt?
Not that she wasn't allowed. He had told her he wouldn't leave her. And then Jean had showed up. What was the first thing he'd done? He'd left with Jean. It was no wonder Haley wouldn't let him touch her. He was very much an idiot. Putting his pride aside, Scott gave her a faintly chagrinned look. "Yes. I am an idiot, too. Because I promised you I wouldn't leave you. And then I left. I broke my promise and I'm sorry."
"It doesn't matter anymore, Scott. You aren't married to me. You're married to Jean and she comes first," Haley told him. Her voice was empty, as if she was speaking lines she'd rehearsed in front of the mirror. He knew it was because she was attempting to protect her heart. And he understood the urge. But he didn't have to like it, damn it! "There was no reason for you to make me any promises. In fact, I wish you hadn't."
This time, she couldn't hide the hurt. It echoed in her words, a soft thing that reminded him of ripples spreading out over the surface of an otherwise still lake. The hurt got bigger and bigger the longer it went and he felt like it was going to drown him. "I wouldn't have made those promises if I hadn't meant them, Haley."
"You shouldn't have made them at all, Scott. What were you planning on doing? Leaving Jean for me?" The questions had bite in them, enough that he felt the sting of them under his skin. Haley shook her head and looked away, her gaze coming to rest on some point off to his right. "You can't walk away from your marriage, Scott."
Her refusal to let him make those decisions for himself pushed his temper higher and higher. The urge to shake her was there and it was strong. But he would never lay a hand on her in anger. He cared about her too much. But that didn't stop him from wanting to hurt her so he said the first thing that came to his mind. "You mean like he did?"
Haley didn't flinch at the question. He knew it hurt her, but she remained calm and even. How she was holding herself together was beyond him. He felt the urge to cry bubbling up inside of him and he couldn't be sure if it was what he was feeling or if it was what she was feeling. "I don't blame Johnny for leaving. I did the worst thing possible to him. Its no less than I deserve."
"Goddamn it, Haley! It doesn't have to be this way," he spat. Before he knew what he was doing, Scott had stepped forward and taken hold of her arms. He was sure his fingers were digging into her skin, but he couldn't seem to help himself. Why wouldn't she listen to him? Why couldn't she see? "We can find a way to work this out. We're--"
"I won't stop you from seeing the baby. She's your daughter. You have every right to be a part of her life," Haley told him quietly. Her words were enough to shock him into releasing his hold on her. She took a handful of steps back, putting more distance between them this time than she had the last time. She lifted her gaze to his face and his memory supplied him with the intense, sparkling green hue of her eyes. The look she was giving him suggested that hue was dulled this time. By sadness and sorrow and betrayal and a thousand other emotions. "Goodbye, Scott. It was a lovely dream while it lasted."
He heard the tears in her voice this time. And it made his heart ache. Because she meant the goodbye part. She was going to walk away and never look back. "Don't do this, Haley. Don't..."
The plea in his voice saw her blink hard and fast.
"Its for the best, Scott. Don't worry. I'll be fine."
She was gone a moment later, the fragile scent of her shampoo or perfume or powder lingering after her. With it was the bitter taste of her sadness and heartbreak. Scott stood there for a long time, staring at the spot where she'd last stood. He didn't take note of the way his heart broke in his chest. He didn't bother to note the way it suddenly felt hard to breathe. All he could see or taste or feel was the pain that raced through Haley's veins and the certainty that this was what she deserved.
~*~
She was surprised to find the door wide open. Roxxy blinked at that before lifting a hand to rap a knuckle against the wall beside the door frame. Morgan's head came up and a smile brightened her face when she saw who her visitor was.. She was settled on a couch positioned sort of in the middle of the room, Kayla resting in a baby rocker at her feet. "Roxxy!" she said, voice not terribly loud. She rose to her feet and crossed the room. "Please. Come in. I apologize for the mess. Warren is still getting everything set up."
As if that was a some kind of cue, the sound of cursing came from the other room. It was prolific and it very much sounded like Warren. Roxxy raised an eyebrow.
"He's working on the nursery at the moment," Morgan explained.
"Ah. Of course," Roxxy nodded. That made perfect sense. Though she had to wonder what Morgan thought of their suite of rooms being located in the basement. It had been decided, Roxxy didn't know by who, that it would be safer for everyone involved if the members of Purple Team who had been held captive by Sinister, and their partners, were to stay at the school. Rooms in the basement had been cleared out somewhat hastily for use as temporary apartments for her friends. Two of her four friends had started to move in. Roxxy wasn't sure what to think about that.
She and Morgan crossed the room and took seats on the couch. It was long and stylish, the upholstery in several shades of red. There were swirl patterns that looked very much like rose blossoms, though they could have just been swirls. Roxxy took a moment to admire Morgan's baby. Kayla was asleep in her little rocker, all chubby cheeks and limbs. Roxxy was sure Morgan had dressed her in a onesie, but a blanket had been laid over the rocker so she couldn't be sure. She was tiny and pink and perfect and Morgan looked like she was head over heels in love with her child.
"How are you feeling?" Roxxy asked, shifting her attention to the woman sitting no more than a foot away from her.
"I feel fine," Morgan assured her. "Even though this whole thing is... bizarre. I mean, who would've thought I would get pregnant with Warren's child?" Roxxy thought she heard a little something in Morgan's voice. A little confusion. Some fear. Even, she thought, some wistfulness.
"And have you talked to Jehnna?" Roxxy wasn't sure how Morgan would react to the question, but she had to ask. Despite the fact that the team was on hold for the foreseeable future, their relationships with one another were on the line because of this fuckery.
"Not yet. I know I need to. To make sure we're okay," she said quietly. Her gaze slid from Roxxy's face to the door leading into the room from which she could hear Warren swearing, then to the baby sleeping peacefully by her feet. "She has to know that we didn't intend for this to happen."
"One would think. But this is Jehnna we're talking about. We both know she's... a little more traditional than the rest of us." Roxxy's choice of words made Morgan smile.
"She is. Sometimes I wonder why she decided to stay on the team. It almost seems like she was living for the whole two point five kids and white picket fence thing. Being on a team had to have been super low on her bucket list."
"Its probable it was. But Haley asked. And I think it was one of the first times anyone tried to include her," Roxxy replied. She'd been there when Haley had made the offer. Jehnna's face had lit up in a way it rarely had after. Warren had been able to bring that look to life when he'd asked her to enter into a relationship with him. Then again when he'd asked her to marry him. Funny how the lot of them were each some kind of oddball at the school.
"I'll find a time to talk to her. Before things can get weird. It just seems like she's really into Sam right now and I don't want to intrude on that. She's always been so serious about her relationships."
Roxxy nodded. "She has. More so than any of the rest of us, really."
Morgan hummed in response, seemingly lost in thought. Roxxy could tell she was thinking about something, trying to decide if she should bring it up or not. And Roxxy had a good idea what that something was. So she sat and she waited patiently for Morgan to come to a conclusion. It was only a few moments later that the other woman drew air into her lungs as she made her decision.
"Have you... Have you seen or talked to Dare? I know everyone was in a panic the other night. I haven't seen Logan or Remy to ask them how things went and she's somehow managed to keep me locked out of her head. She was never able to do that before and it worries me. I can't tell if something is wrong and, for some reason, Faye is suddenly all about respecting her privacy."
Roxxy nodded, having expected the question. The look she gave Morgan saw the other woman deflating just a little. "I wish I could tell you something positive. But all I know is it took both Logan and Remy something like an hour to find her that night. She ended up in Tristan's room and he wouldn't let them in to see or talk to her. They were informed that she didn't want to speak to either one of them."
Morgan absorbed that information for a moment, then shook her head. "I don't understand why she's acting like this. I mean, I get why she's avoiding Logan. She no doubt thinks he's going to be mad at her for the things that happened while we were with Sinister. But that doesn't explain why she's avoiding Remy. She loves him."
"I know," Roxxy nodded. "And if I get the chance, I'll ask her about it. Okay?"
"That would be awesome, Roxxy. Thank you," Morgan said. There was relief in her voice. and in her eyes.
"What are friends for, Morgan?"
*
She found Jehnna holed up in the library. She was at one of the tables, sitting by herself with a stack of books next to her. But she wasn't paying any of them any attention. Her focus was solely on the journal she had opened before her. There was a pen in her hand and it moved slowly across the page. Roxxy suspected that Jehnna was writing down the things that had happened to her during her captivity. At least as much of it as she could recall. Whether it was for her kids sometime in the future or as a way of working through thoughts and emotions was only something Jehnna knew.
Roxxy took a seat across from her and waited in silence for the younger woman to notice her. It was almost comical when she did, because Jehnna actually jumped and even shrieked a little. Her pen hit the table top with a clatter and she put her hand against her chest, as if doing so would stop the pounding of her heart. "Jesus, Roxxy! You shouldn't scare a pregnant woman like that! Especially not one so close to the end of her third trimester."
"I'm sorry, Jehnna," Roxxy offered, though the smile on her face belied her apology. "I just wanted to check in and see how you were doing."
The other woman stared at her.for a moment before she closed the journal before her. "The short answer is I'm okay. But that's not all you're asking. So the long answer is that I'm okay physically, but the mental part is maybe a little rough. Its something I need to work on." Her hand touched the journal as she spoke, letting Roxxy know how Jehnna planned on using it. She nodded her head.
"That's not a bad idea. But don't forget you should talk to someone if it gets to be too much," Roxxy reminded her.
"Of course. I've been looking into therapists, but finding one who won't freak out when they find out I was kidnapped by a creepy, Victorian-era villain who used me to breed a super-mutant meant to be a horseman is a bit tricky." Jehnna made it sound funny, but Roxxy could tell there was more under the surface.
"You might want to ask Henry if he can recommend someone. He'd be more than willing to help. Or even listen, if you really need him to."
"That's sweet, Roxxy. But I feel like he's got his own issues to deal with. He doesn't need to deal with mine," she replied.
"Just keep it in mind," Roxxy urged gently.
"I will," Jehnna nodded. Her gaze slid away to look out the window to her right and her fingers twisted around one another, telling Roxxy she was nervous.
"Have you had a chance to talk to Warren yet?" Roxxy put the question forth as gently as possible. It still made Jehnna jump just a bit. The woman turned wide eyes her way and the twisting of her fingers increased.
"No. He's been busy with Morgan and their new baby and..." her voice trailed off and she sighed. There was a slightly wistful quality to it. "I've kind of been focused on Sam. This is all new to him and he's getting really nervous. I figured I could wait to talk to Warren until after he and Morgan got settled with Kayla."
Roxxy nodded. "That's generous of you, Jehnna. But don't forget that you're still married to Warren. The two of you need to figure out where you go from here. You have children to think about. The sooner you come to a decision, the easier it will be on all of you."
"I know," Jehnna agreed. "Its just hard. Because I still love him, Roxxy. But I love Sam, too, and I don't understand how that can be. It doesn't seem right or anything."
"Jehnna, you can love more than one person at a time. There is no rule written down anywhere on Earth, in any book or on any piece of paper or whatever, that says you are only allowed to love one person at a time. Love is a complicated emotion. You can't lock it up in a box and save it for just the right soul. You need to share it with everyone. There's nothing wrong with loving both Warren and Sam at the same time. The only thing wrong with it is punishing either of them and yourself for it. Talk to Warren. Talk to Sam. Figure out what it is you all want."
For a moment, it looked liked Jehnna was going to cry. Then she frowned and the look was gone. When she turned her gaze Roxxy's way again, her eyes were brighter and clearer. It looked like Roxxy had helped her with a problem that had been eating at her. "Thanks, Roxxy. I'll do it."
"That's good, Jehnna," she smiled at her friend. She watched as Jehnna opened up her journal once again and picked up her pen. Looked like Roxxy was being dismissed. She rose from her seat and left the library as silently as she'd entered it.
Jehnna never lifted her head from her journal.
*
Somehow, she wasn't surprised to find that both Haley and Dare were holed up in Haley's old dorm room. Despite the fact that there was a suite in the basement meant for each of them. What she was surprised about was the fact that Tristan came around the corner with a crib in tow. He was pulling it along behind him and he looked mildly put out. But he was still a teenager, so maybe that was just his face all the time. Roxxy watched him disappear into the open door of Haley's room with the crib. "Please tell me you don't need anymore furniture. There's not that much room left in here with two beds, a dresser, two cribs, and a changing table," the boy said. His voice was filled with disgust.
"No. That's all we need," Haley told him. "Thank you for your help, Tristan. We appreciate it."
"You're welcome. But I don't understand why you couldn't move into the rooms in the basement. There's more room and..." The boy's voice trailed off and Roxxy had an idea just what had caused it.
"I told you I don't want to see him. I have no doubt he's got a key to those damn rooms. And even if he doesn't, he'd pick the damn lock if he thought I was hiding in there from him." Dare's voice was terse and filled with displeasure.
"You are hiding from him. Just up here and not down there. What's to stop him from picking the lock to this room?" Tristan asked.
"He won't come in here," Haley assured the boy.
"Fine. Whatever. I'm done. Besides, Roxxy is out in the hallway." Tristan stepped out into the hallway a moment later and gave her a look that said he was thoroughly disgusted with his sister and Haley. She gave him a smile and watched as he disappeared around the corner. Then she stepped up to the doorway and looked in.
Tristan hadn't been kidding when he'd said the room was crowded. There was a path from the door to each of the beds and the bathroom. It wasn't the most ideal situation and Roxxy couldn't help but wonder at the mad line of thinking behind their decision. She knocked on the open door before stepping into the room. Haley glanced up and offered her some faint ghost of a smile. Dare stared out the window and said nothing.
"Hi, Rox," Haley greeted her. There was false cheer in her voice. Roxxy didn't comment on it. Instead, she moved deeper into the room and closed the door behind her.
"This is... cozy," she said.
"We're fine. You can go tell whoever sent you that we're fine," Dare commanded. She never once turned away form the window.
"No one sent me. I came to check up on my friends. I'm allowed to be worried about you," Roxxy replied. She didn't let Dare's rudeness bother her. The other woman couldn't help it.
"We're fine, Rox," Haley said. Roxxy gave her a look that screamed very loudly that she seriously doubted it.
"You call this fine? You're crammed into this tiny room like sardines. And with the babies coming at any moment, you need much more room than this," Roxxy reminded them. "There's more than enough room for you in the basement. You and your babies. And you'll be safer down there."
"We were stuck in windowless rooms for a year, Rox," Haley said.
"It wouldn't be forever, Haley. Just until we find a better option."
Dare snorted, bringing Roxxy's attention her way. She'd turned away from the window and Roxxy could see that she'd already started ignoring her health. Just as Remy and Logan had feared she would. "Forgive me if I'm not exactly eager to go hide in the basement where I run the risk of running into Jehnna and Sam. And Morgan and Warren. Seeing them together, seeing them happy... I can't do it. Its too much."
"That isn't fair to them, Dare," Roxxy replied. "They're your friends. I'm sure they want to know you're okay. I doubt its any easier for them than it is for you."
Dare stared at her a moment, her eyes blank. Then she shook her head. "I'm sure they've got their problems. And I'm sure its not easy for them. But they're so goddamn gooey and sticky sweet that it makes me physically ill. Because nothing is ever that easy for me, Roxxy. Nothing. Not a goddamn thing in my life. So... .Fuck all of it. I'm going to just stay here and be a hermit. Besides. If Sinister wants the babies, there's no where in this goddamn school we can hide that he can't get to us."
Dare turned away and once again gave her attention to the window. A glance toward Haley told Roxxy that she agreed with everything the other woman had said. Which meant she wasn't going to be able to convince them to change their minds. She also found it worrying that Dare had so little faith in those here at the school. Did she think that there wasn't anyone where who wouldn't fight to keep her child safe?
"You can't possibly think you can do this by yourselves." Roxxy motioned toward the cribs with one hand. "You're going to need help."
"Don't even go there, Roxxy," Dare ordered, not looking away from the window. Roxxy sighed and shook her head. It was time to stop being polite. They needed to know they weren't the only ones suffering here.
"They're worried about you. Both of you. And rightly so," Roxxy said. If her voice was louder and sharper than usual, she felt she had the right to feel as she did. They were her friends. Her family. Her team. And they were being absolutely fucking stupid about everything.
"Remy doesn't need to pretend he cares," Dare said, her tone devoid of emotion.
"Its better this way," Haley whispered.
Roxxy looked between her two friends. This was possibly the worst she'd ever seen either of them, the lowest point she'd ever seen them hit. And she understood that there was so much going on that she wasn't aware of. Her conversation with Morgan had told her that things were weird with all of them. Morgan had admitted, when asked, that she hadn't really talked to either Warren or Remy about where this was all going to go. She'd told Roxxy Remy had been all smiles when he'd spoken with them in the medlab just after Kayla's birth. But Roxxy knew Remy could be a damn fine actor when the need arose. It was possible he was not as okay with things as he'd made her think.
She knew he was going crazy being unable to keep tabs on Dare. The link they'd formed back during the desperate days in Creed's RV was the one thing that had helped keep him sane while under Sinister's thumb. And now he didn't even have that because Dare had somehow blocked him. And it was no better for Logan, who swore he couldn't find Dare's scent anymore. Less than five seconds in the room had proven to Roxxy that he was right. Dare's scent was gone. Which wasn't something that should have been possible. Maybe it was the pregnancy. She didn't know.
What she did know was, like Logan and Remy where Dare was concerned, Scott was worried about Haley. She'd more or less told him to stay away from her, but it was the last thing he wanted to do. Roxxy had come to see Haley and Dare with the hope burning in her breast that she could get through to them where no one else could. But she'd failed at that, just as she'd failed at keeping them and the rest of the team safe from the horsemen.
"You can tell them whatever it is you think they need to hear," Dare said softly. "Just make sure they know to leave us alone."
Roxxy looked from Dare, her back to the room, to Haley. Her best friend looked to be on the verge of tears. "Please, Rox. Please."
Roxxy sighed. Goddamn it. How was she supposed to handle this mess?
~*~
"Tell me why it is I can face down a whole mess of villains and not break a sweat, but trying to put this damned crib together is getting the better of me." Sam took a step back from the crib and wiped his hands on his t-shirt. Warren smiled and continued with the assembly of the crib. He didn't really need Sam's help, but he'd asked the other man to lend a hand so he could figure out how to do this for his own baby.
"Villains are much less frightening than babies," Warren assured him. "But you might want to pay attention to what I'm doing. You're going to need to put that crib of yours together."
"How do you do this? How do you stay so calm when you're facing a tiny, precious new life?"
"Because that tiny, precious new life is totally helpless," Warren replied. "I've got to do everything in my power to keep her safe."
Sam stared at him in awe.
Warren cracked a grin that held just a hint of the devil in it. "Not to mention, I've done this a few times before. And I'm not as calm as you think I am. I'm freaking out inside. It just gets in the way of being the best dad in the world if you let that show."
He watched as Sam's face paled. As if he'd forgotten he was going to be a father soon. Ah, first baby jitters. Warren remembered when he'd had them. Along with second and third baby jitters. Hell, he still had them despite having helped create his fair share with Jehnna.
Thoughts of her gave him pause. She probably thought he hated her, despite their interaction in the medlab the other day. He wished he'd had the opportunity to really talk to her. But Morgan had been in labor when he'd walked in the door and that had become his focus. He should have checked in on her already. But he hadn't. Because the newness of her relationship with Sam was just as strong as the newness of his relationship with Morgan. "How is Jehnna doing? Has she had any problems?"
"No?" Sam didn't sound sure. It was likely his brain was spinning from the rapid subject change. "I mean, she complained this morning of lower back pain, but it didn't sound like it was any big deal."
That statement brought Warren's head up. He stared at Sam a moment. "Lower back pain? Did she tell you exactly where the pain was?"
Sam gave the question consideration. His frown of concentration might have been comical if not for the thoughts whirling through Warren's mind. Finally, Sam nodded and put his hands on his back, then turned to show Warren where he'd placed them. "She said it hurt here."
Warren put the screwdriver he held down and stood. "Sam. You need to go find Jehnna right now."
Sam looked like he wanted to ask why. But he never got the chance. Because Morgan stepped through the door and looked at him.
"You need to go to the medlab right now, Sam," she told him.
It took Sam all of five seconds to figure out why that was. Then he was on his way out the door. "Oh, God. Holy shit. I'm gonna be a dad!"
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Dare boiling the lake is interesting. That's going to have to be something to look at later. Poor Remy though. He's trying so hard and she just won't budge an inch.
"And you have no right to hover over me like I'm a child in need of a babysitter." Oh yeah. That'll convince them you're acting rationally, Dare. Well done. Nothing says "I'm not a child" like acting like a child. Oi.
Throwing him in the lake was a nice touch though. It was bound to happen eventually with the amount of brooding... sorry, in depth contemplation, that happens on the dock.
Oh Haley. Haley... why are you so stupid? -long suffering sigh- I get what she's doing but damn it girl! I love that she called Scott on his shit though. Like taking off just as the words "I won't leave you" leave your lips is a dick move. And since she knows deep in her heart that everyone's going to leave anyway... might as well beat them to the punch.
Also, I see what you're doing and I am excited for it. ;)
Roxxy checking in on everyone makes so much sense. They're all so caught up in their own mess that it's hard to reach out and I'm glad that at least of few of them are aware of that and doing something about it. Morgan looking for information on Dare was perfect. I wonder if Dare realizes that cutting herself off like this causes more pain than would be there across the board if she just confronted it (easier said than done but still). Also I love Warren struggling with the nursery stuff. That's adorable.
Jehnna is smarter on some levels than the rest of them. Look at her getting her shit together and looking for help to do it! I'm so proud of her! She is right though. Hank does not need anything else on his plate right now.
-long suffering sigh again- These two are just going to cut themselves off from everyone and nothing is going to stop them. Though I mean... if they just took up one of the suites and locked the boys out they might be in a slightly better frame of mind... but god forbid anyone tell them that, right? Ugh. Again, I get it but... damn. If Roxxy can't talk them out of this, nobody can.
It's actually really great to see Warren and Sam talking about this and being relatively normal despite the everything about their situation. I'm glad somebody is reasonable about all this! Also... OOO! Time for baby #2!
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Dare seems to be doing a lot of things that are interesting. and not normally in her wheelhouse. definitely something to look into at a later date.
yeah. Remy is trying so hard to figure out what the hell is going on in the thing she calls a brain. but i doubt even she knows, so he should save himself some trouble. also, Dare is the textbook definition of stubborn so... i don't think anyone in the history of Dare has ever accused her of acting rationally. she is more likely to react before thinking than the other way round.
i kind of feel bad for dumping Remy in the lake. also. it was established back in the original fic that her telekinesis was kind of weak next to her pyrokinesis. so its interesting to see she can dump a whole ass, 175 lb man right into the lake without thinking about it or breaking a sweat. curious, don't you think?
i mean, i kind of understand where Haley's coming from? does that make it any easier for her? no. but i understand it. and yes. it was good that she called Scott on his bullshit. even better that he admitted to his bullshit.
i feel like, now that she's feeling better and the rest of her team is back, Roxxy will not leave any of them be. she'll be checking on them regularly to make sure things are not getting fucked up any worse than they are. plus she very likely wants to do what she can to help fix shit. Dare's been a fixture in Morgan's life for so long that her not asking would have been strange. and i think Dare knows exactly what locking everyone out is doing. i think she's kind of beyond caring at this point. and yes. Warren with his perfect hair and perfect smile and perfect teeth and basically perfect everything has difficulties putting up a crib. its fantastic and so normal of him.
i think Jehnna might have better coping mechanisms than everyone else and i think she sees what this kind of thing can do to a person (Dare and Remy after Creed) so she's probably trying to find a way to fix her issues before they get bad.
Dare and Haley are definitely not doing each other any favors. but i think Tristan tried. and got shot down. Roxxy, with her calm demeanor and gentle touch, would be the most likely to convince them to take one of those suites. but neither of her friends are apparently in the frame of mind to listen. or even hear her, really. maybe one day they'll get their shit together. maybe.
i have had so much fun writing Sam and Warren both. i think a little male bonding was due, given all that's happened to them. and, yes. they're actually being kind of normal. which is strange and wonderful by turns. one would think it would be opposite. but they get it and they're trying. yup. time for baby #2. let's hope Sam is ready!
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And, Haley too. At least I understand what's going on inside her brain. Scott picking up on her feelings is interesting. Got me wondering if it's just from all the forced time together, or if there's something else going on? At least he admitted that he was an idiot. Hopefully Haley with come around at some point. Though I'm afraid Jean is going to end up a casualty either way. Not that I care.
Roxxy was very polite in describing Jehnna as more "traditional" than the rest of them. LOL I'm glad to see that at least one of the girls is doing well (at least, as far as can be expected given this fuckery, as Roxxy so succinctly thought of it). Yes, Morgan and Jehnna need to talk. I'd go so far as to say that they all need to talk. Oh, and Warren swearing in the background while putting the nursery together was priceless.
Jehnna might just have an advantage over everyone else what with her previously established journaling habit. Roxxy scaring her half out of her skin wasn't very nice though. Sometimes she's a little too feline. lol I'm going to have to echo what Daz said in regards to Jehnna - I'm really proud of her and how she's handling all this. At least one of them is thinking about therapy already. I'm sure Henry can provide some good recommendations. I mean, there has to be at least a couple therapist that are either mutants themselves, or used to working with mutants.
Haley and Dare in Haley (and Roxxy's) old dorm room? Talk about a flashback. Did they have to kick some poor students out of it first? Roxxy being polite again calling it 'cozy' but damned if the gloves didn't come off pretty fast. I'm with her. Those two are being absolutely fucking stupid about everything. Too bad she couldn't get through to them, though, honestly - I didn't expect them to come around that easy anyway.
Poor Roxxy. The guilt demon isn't going to let go of her anytime soon, is it?
Awww, that last bit with Sam and Warren was wonderful! It's nice to see them getting along and Warren taking Sam under his wing (if you'll pardon the phrase >.<) Loved that flash of realization at the end. Here we go!
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Haley is doing what she thinks is best where Scott is concerned. he has a wife and this isn't a sadistic fairy tale anymore. so she's not going to stand in the way of his commitments. again, you'll find out. later. i swear. yes. he admitted he was an idiot. because he realizes he was an idiot. i have hopes that things will work out between those two.
i feel like Roxxy is very polite when the need arises. and i feel like, of all the girls, Morgan might be a little more capable of dealing with the fuckery than most of hte others. but there will be talks. those are coming down the pipeline. it is super important that they talk about things and all.
and, yeah. Jehnna is making an effort. kind of sad that she recognizes that things are fucked up and she needs some help sorting that out when no one else has, right? i have no doubt that Henry knows some people. hopefully, Jehnna will be able to find a therapist that can handle her unique trauma and all that goes along with it.
mmm. Haley and Dare in Haley's old dorm room. i... don't think they did? (i think Daz and i decided it was left for Haley for those occasions when the team came back late from a mission and she was too tired to go back to the city.) but yeah. its a little cramped and they're both big dumb idiots. i mean, i understand. locked in a windowless room for a year... you're going to do everything you can to avoid having it happen again. but yeah. big dumb idiots. i think, of anyone in the school, Roxxy would be the one who would be the best at getting through to them. they're just not ready to hear it.
nope. that guilt demon is going to hang on for dear life for a little while longer, i'm sure.
i absolutely love that Sam and Warren are so buddy-buddy despite everything that's happened. Sam's sweet and cute and i feel like he's really kind of perfect for Jehnna. yes. here we go.
thanks for reading, sweets. glad you enjoyed!