Exodus, Part 2/2 (X-Men)
Alexandra Leigh Nigro
Disclaimers in "Notes"
Exodus, Part 2
by Alexandra Nigro
They unpacked in silence. Well, mostly silence anyway - Robert Drake
decided that the crickets shouldn't be the only one with a voice.
"You know, Beast, I never think of myself as a city boy until we end up
in nowhere."
"This is hardly nowhere. The Appalachian foothills can be found on any
map."
Bobby tossed his best friend a sleeping bag. "Let's just hope we're
not on Bastion's map."
Hank McCoy looked down at his image inducer, diguised as a rather gawdy
belt buckle. "Only individual I know that doesn't like large and
furry."
"Some people have no taste, big blue."
"Less talking, more sleeping. Big day tomorrow." Logan breezed passed
them to find an unoccupied bush.
"Eloquent as always. Good night, Robert."
"Good night, John-boy."
Remy LeBeau tried to concentrate on the matters at hand, but his gaze
kept straying to the closest set of flashlights, where Joseph was laying
out his bag disturbingly close to Rogue.
There was a gentle gust of wind as Remy felt a soft kiss on his cheak.
"Please try and get some sleep."
"Speak f'yourself, Stormy. You're the one whose been flying aerial
recon all night."
"Under the cover of mist, we may yet pass undetected.....and Gambit?"
"Oui?"
"Do not call me Stormy."
Warren Worthington III could feel his wings itching. He wanted nothing
more than to soar over the tree-tops and stretch his body and his mind.
But Scott's orders had been clear - nobody but Storm in the air. He
looked over to Betsy, sitting in a peaceful budda pose, framed by the
moonlight. He switched off his image inducer - Forge had been kind
enough to disguise it as a Rolex - and stretched each metal wing. He
needed to contact Brian Braddock. Perhaps her brother would know how to
draw her out of her shell. For his part, he only knew one course of
action. He blew Betsy's serene figure a kiss. "I love you."
It was already three, most of the group had already fallen asleep. For
Remy, the night was still young and he had a variety of ideas on how to
spend it.
Looking over at Joseph's still form he muttered, "now dere's some bones
just dying to be broken."
"Don't"
Startled, Gambit looked up. He hadn't even heard Wolverine
approaching.
"You got a soft spot for Magneto?"
"Hardly, gumbo." He sat down next to the Cajun. "Huh. Pup took good
care of my bike."
"Thank you," came the muffled reply behind the bikes.
Logan turned back to Remy. "You ain't gonna be the one to take him
out, an' neither am I. Wonder why?"
"T'ought meybe you became a 'kinder, gentler' Wolverine."
Logan grinned wolfishly. "In your dreams, bub." He tilted his head
back against the seat rest of Remy's bike. "Maybe he's changed for the
better. Maybe I'm giving him a chance."
"No. You're not." Bishop had raised himself up on one elbow and
stared at Logan through the darkness.
"Feel like telling me why, kid?" Logan had a slight smile tugging the
corners of his mouth that always reminded Remy just how many blocks the
Canadian had been around.
"Because change isn't the issue. That's a man who lost his memory.
There was no conscious decision." Bishop glanced quickly at Gambit.
"He hasn't tried to do anything different."
"'Zackly." Logan looked straight in Gambit's flashing eyes. "Listen
up. You're getting smarter, but you ain't passed the class yet.
Magneto ripped the adamantium out o'me and made me an animal. I'm in
control now, cuz that's what I decided to do. Don't build a gallows for
a man whose gonna hang himself."
Gambit crossed his arms uncomfortably. "Den why Rogue still hanging
around him?"
"Well, gumbo, there's another class you're still failing. 'Fore you
joined the team, Rogue went through a big change - Magneto saved her
life and helped her piece it back together. She owes him big for that.
'Sides, she's an optimist."
"Pardon moi?"
"Rogue wasn't always the person she is now, but she made a decision to
be something better. Sometimes she thinks everybody got that kinda
courage. Guarantee you that's the only reason you made it this far."
Gambit snorted, "You may be right. So I just have to wait?"
Logan hoisted himself to his feet. "She ain't the issue. You are."
"Wanna pass dat by me again?"
Logan didn't turn around. "Decide whose in charge, cajun. In charge of
you."
The night grew silent and Remy shivered.
Jean rolled over in her double bag to face her husband. "Not
sleeping?"
"Just thinking, hon."
That was a bad sign. She loved her husband dearly, but he had deep
feelings that often gave way to brooding. *Talk to me*
*I think I'm incredibly lucky.*
*Excuse me?* This wasn't what she had expected.
*All those heroes died in New York, the professor is gone - but we're
still together. I've got you and Storm to help me lead the team,
Logan's back.* He guestured to the sleeping figures around the camp
site. *You could call us refugees.*
*You could.*
*Or you could say the dream is on the move.*
Jean kissed her husband deeply. They had been married for over a year
and yet he still surprised her.
THE END
--
Alexandra Nigro
X-Men, Fan-Fiction, X-Files ~
http://home.earthlink.net/~alchemist8/index.html
GFC, Southern Comfort