Disclaimer : The X-men are property of Marvel and this is a work of fiction.
Chapter 5
"Oh my god," she said. They both turned to see Rogue standing in the doorway, her face as white as snow, and her cheeks red with anger. Tears welled in her eyes.
Kevin's breath caught in his throat. The woman had barged in without knocking so technically this wasn't his fault, but that would definitely not dispel the situation. Bobby had leaped off of him the instant he had recognised Rogue's voice and he'd swung around to face her. Propped up on his elbows in shock, Kevin looked at Bobby's face. He was breathing heavily, and his face was panic-stricken - his eyes opened wide and glistening with tears. His lips were trembling and he could see Bobby trying to speak, but petrified to silence.
"Bobby?" Rogue said to break the murderous silence. "How could do deceive me like this? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I ... I ...," was all Bobby seemed to manage. He swallowed hard.
"You used me," she almost screamed, and tears fell down her face. She was devastated. Kevin had known about Rogue and Bobby from the beginning. Bobby said he was ashamed that he's deceived her, but that it had been a necessity to protect himself. It wasn't right, but it was understandable. Now the whole situation had exploded, and a catastrophe was brewing right in front of his eyes.
"Rogue, I'm..." Bobby started to stammer, but his voice broke and he stopped speaking again. The situation had broken him, and Kevin could see his mind working, looking for a plausible explanation, but Rogue was no fool - walking in on this scene could only have one interpretation.
"You're what?" she said angrily and started walking towards him.
Kevin suddenly became wary. Rogue looked irrational, and Bobby seemed defenceless in his current state. He stood up from the bed quickly and walked towards Rogue, his arm stretched out in a soothing manner.
"Don't do anything stupid, Marie," Kevin said softly.
Rogue stopped mid-stride and suddenly looked at him. His breath caught again, and his heart skipped a beat. Her gaze had been furious and vengeful when she stared at Bobby, but on him she all but seemed to ignite. Her eyes bled hatred for him, and he felt his own jaw drop in shock. Suddenly he regretted speaking at all, and quickly berated himself for being such a coward.
"You!" she screamed. "You've been nothing but trouble since you first arrived here! The Professor makes excuses for his precious little Level five, but everything you touch you FUCK UP. If it isn't the weather, it's the forest, it's my boyfriend, it's even the damn mansion. I'm SICK of you, we all are! But now you've done something which will cost you more than you bargained for!"
Each word she spoke stung like thousand blades in his heart. It wasn't an indifferent student who was ranting towards him, it was a full X-man, a friend. Even in this state, he could tell that her sentiments were true, and not completely out of anger. He wanted to apologise, and be on his way - just end it all.
"Rogue," Kevin said, trying to find the words to apologise - yet he couldn't even imagine how to begin. How does one forgive such a colossal travesty?
Marie walked towards him hastily, and he wasn't sure if she was going to punch him, slap him, or kick him in the balls - but he was ready for all three. She approached him, and he almost closed his eyes to shield his vision from the imminent pain. Her hand touched his cheek, and he gasped and screamed. He caught sight of her long black glove held in her other gloved hand. Crying out, he fell to his knees. There was no pain, there was only death. He could feel the life being drawn from him, could feel his organs screeching in agony as she pulled the energy from them. He managed to crane his neck upwards and what he saw made him want to weep. Her face was ice, but he could see the corner of her mouth twitching with a near-smile. Her revenge was sweet, and she let him know it.
"Deceiver," she said frostily, and his lungs choked at the repetition. "Die for your crimes, Kevin. I want you to die!"
His mind cried out at the foretelling come true, and he remembered how the dream had ended. He could hear Bobby shouting something to Marie, but it sounded like an echo through a long tunnel, and echo which was rapidly fading. He could feel a pale shadow fall over his vision, and he knew that death was close, yet her touch only strengthened, and he could feel her nails digging into his skin, could feel the blood running down his cheek. Death would deny him Bobby forever! The situation became too much for him. A rage started to build in him, a white hot inferno which was about to explode. He didn't deserve this! How dare she try and kill him for falling for a gay guy? He pulled energy into himself, from where he couldn't say, but he heard the walls frost over and the panels crack from the thaw, and saw her frown. He gripped her hand, and she gasped at his strength. Pulling her hand from his cheek, he flinched as her nails pulled out of the flesh on his face. He wasn't finished - he was only beginning. He was tired of being victimised for a gift he was born with, victimised for actually using his gift to its full potential, and now victimised for falling for a guy who openly wanted him. He'd taken it all sitting down, and now someone had actually tried to kill him for it. He had reached the end of the line. She tried to pull her arm back but he smiled at her with the deepest malice, and her eyes widened. He started to pull the energy out of her, started to play her own twisted game. She sank to her knees crying, and pleading for mercy. Should he show her the mercy he had received? If she'd had her way, he's be a corpse by now. He pulled and pulled, and watched her mouth open and the scream fade to gasping. Her soft white skin became parched and wrinkled, and her eyes became sunken. She was an old woman, drained of any vitality she had once had. With one last weak cry, she fell and he released her hand. She lay on the ground as still as stone, her parched form breathing raggedly as she tried to sustain herself. She would live. He turned to look at Bobby, and he saw sadness in Bobby's eyes, and tears running down his cheeks. His heart sank, and all the darkness in him left. He saw the slow track of moisture fall down Bobby's cheeks, freeze on his skin and flake off. He wanted to hug him, to tell him all would be well - but it would a lie both of them would see through. He looked at Rogue, then at Bobby and he felt disgusted with himself. He had to get away! He ran out the room, and heard Bobby shout his name.
He ran to the mansion exit. He had to get out before someone else tried to harm him. Rogue was his friend, and he could only imagine what his enemies would do once they discovered her ruined form. Most of them would probably believe he'd initiated the whole conflict and delighting in hurting a young girl. Anger streaked across his mind, but he bashed it down. Visions of Bobby crossed his mind, and he erased them before they could have an effect on him. He needed a clear mind, a logical mind to escape this hell on earth. Running around the corner he was already panting at the pace he'd set himself, when suddenly he was tackled with an enormous force. He flew into the wall and grunted, before sliding down with the wind knocked out of him. He stood up, and saw Wolverine in his vision. Only a moment had passed and Wolverine had gripped his throat and picked him up, his feet dangling a foot off the ground. He was straining for breath, and when he saw Wolverine bring out his claws, he thought he'd finally encountered the end of his life. Instead, Wolverine lashed forward with his claws and pinned Kevin's hand to the wall. He screamed and screamed as the pain of the blades stabbed through his hand burned like acid. Tears leaked from his eyes, but he couldn't stop them - it was a pain he'd never felt before.
"I heard Rogue scream and I saw you running from your room. I'm going to go there now, my friend and if she has been harmed, I'm going to use these claws to cut off your head." His face was livid and Kevin could feel his breath on his cheek, and sense the feral nature which surrounded him. The claws retracted and Kevin screamed as the pain flashed for a second time. In an instant Wolverine was gone, running towards Kevin's room. He fell to his knees and clasped his hand, and tried to sooth the agony of the three deep ridges in his hand. The gaping holes in his hand bled heavily, and the blood ran on to the floor and down his arm. He had to get out, or he wouldn't survive! Racing to the front door, he prayed that he was fast enough to outrun the returning and wrathful Wolverine. He thought about Bobby, and he groaned with sadness. He would see him soon. He would!
As he ran down the final set of steps, he smiled with relief as he approached the front doors. His destination was in sight, and there was no sign of anyone. Suddenly he pulled up short, and stared with shock - he hadn't seen Xavier standing in front of the doors. It took only a moment to overcome his shock, and then his expression became stern.
"Let me pass," he said to Xavier gravely. "I want to leave this place."
The Professor stared at him a moment longer before replying. "Something is amiss here, Kevin. Why did you attack Rogue?"
Kevin wanted to scream at the unjust accusation. "I was defending myself! She attacked me when she saw me with Bobby."
The side door to the lobby exploded to shards and Wolverine ran through followed by Storm and Kitty Pride. In an instant his powers were ready. He thought he could destroy all four of them at the same time, but he wasn't looking forward to the prospect. Strangely, none of them looked angry at his transgressions, only concerned. Still, he decided to make his guard as heavy as possible, and he started to draw on his powers. None of them could be trusted. If Rogue and Logan could harm them, then any of them would. Even the Professor had deceptively tried to still his mind in the past, and he was supposedly the best of them. He heard footsteps behind him and turned to see Bobby leaping down the steps to try and join him. He raised his hand quickly, and Bobby stopped and surveyed the dangerous scene he'd unwittingly run into. He stood several steps higher than Kevin, but concern was etched on his face, and he clearly wanted to join him and reassure him.
"No one wants to hurt you, Kevin," Professor X said softly.
Kevin spun around to face them. Bobby he could trust, the others he could not. Xavier had a knack for saying the wrong things at the wrong time. "Hurt me? Hurt me! Look at what Logan did to my hand!" He held up his hand and showed it to the Professor. It was covered in blood but the three-claw sigil was unmistakable. Everyone in the room gasped, but Wolverine frowned in confusion. "Don't deny it you bastard!" he shouted to Wolverine.
"For the last time, Professor X. I am leaving this house. Now!"
"You aren't going anywhere, Kevin. You are a powerful mutant who is emotionally fractured, and with powers you cannot control. It would be irresponsible of me to let you loose on the population."
Kevin stared at the Professor. He had expected a more diplomatic answer, or perhaps some more small talk. "I am leaving this house with Bobby! Try and stop me and I'll destroy you all!" he said softly.
"I will not allow you to leave us in this ruined state, and certainly not allow you to take one of our X-men with you. You'll have to destroy us if you wish to pass."
"You think I won't? You think I'll hesitate?!" Kevin said dangerously.
"I think you know the difference between right and wrong, and that it would be wrong to harm those who care about you. Now make the choice," he said leadenly.
"Alright," he said softly. "There is a choice. And I've made it."
Immediately he lashed out with his devastating powers, and the lobby was transformed into a hurricane. The wind roared with terrible ferocity as it circled the room. Everyone was thrown off their feet - Kitty being blown right out of the room through the side room, Wolverine clawing to the ground and straining to maintain his footing, Storm flying into the air, Xavier sliding along the ground. Paintings, vases, tapestries - all of them were thrown up by the tempest, and still he strengthened it. The wood started splintering off the walls, and the floor shook as if a giant insect was burrowing beneath it. He created a barrier around Bobby which shielded him from the wind. Well it wasn't really a wind - more like an enormous telekinetic storm. He saw Wolverine run towards him, and strangely his claws were retracted. With a flick he seared half the man's skin off and sent him flying through the air, and through the opposite wall. He started to walk slowly towards the door, and tore the front door from its hinges along with half the wall and watched the wood disintegrate into nothing. He'd almost reached the front door, when he felt psychic energy avalanche towards him in huge volumes. He was nearly knocked off his feet, but managed to stumble out of the front door. Retreating down the steps, he felt the attacks intensify. He released the hurricane in the mansion, because he couldn't defend himself and maintain the wind. He turned around and saw the Professor walking towards him calmly, psychic energy pouring out of him in a flood. He rebuffed each attack, but they grew stronger, stronger. Xavier was incredibly strong, but he managed to hold his own. He ran down the steps and fell, and rolled the rest of the way still defending himself from the attacks wildly. Gasping he scrambled along the gravel until he found his footing until he was running again, his jeans torn and his knees cut. Hurry up Bobby...
"Kevin, help me!" he heard, and horror coursed along his veins. He turned around and saw Bobby sinking into the ground. Kevin didn't know what to do except watch in shock. At waist level Bobby stopped sinking, and Kitty rose up behind him, with a determined look across her face.
Kevin hesitated. He didn't think he could rescue Bobby without getting caught, but his heart cried out at the thought of leaving him there defenceless. "Bobby... do something," he shouted, but he knew how foolish the words were when they left his mouth. What did he expect Bobby to do? Bobby suddenly slumped forward and lost consciousness. Xavier had put him to sleep.
"No!" he screamed and ran towards them in a rage. He stuck out his hands a hundred bolts of lightning raced towards Xavier. He would kill this man and free the man he loved. He was being irrational but he didn't care. Moments before the first bolt struck Xavier, Storm jumped in front of him and fed the lightning into her hands. The look on her face was terrible, and her white eyes were haunting. He looked towards Bobby and whimpered. He wanted to get close but he couldn't. While he was submerged in his thoughts, the world went white and roared and he woke up with a ragged breath on his back. He looked up and saw smoke rising twenty feet from where he had been standing. Storm had used his own malice against him. He could see the clouds above him swirling, could see the air crackling and she prepared to finish him off. He stood up and spared one last glance towards Bobby who appeared to still be sleeping, and fused with the stone floor.
"I will come back for you, Bobby," he said softly, and he could feel the oath inscribed on his soul it was so deep. Nothing would stop him from returning to claim his lover.
He felt the air solidify and he started running as fast as his feet could take him. The lightning followed him with a tremendous noise, some of the bolts as close as twenty feet away from him. He tried to deflect them somehow but he didn't know where they were coming from. They just appeared out of nowhere at an instant's notice. Storm thought that he had tried to kill Xavier, and now she would do her best to kill him. A lightning bolt struck a few feet away from him and went flying through the air and landed with a grunt on the grass a few feet away. He was far away from the mansion, but the woman persisted. He had really pissed her off. He needed to get up, he needed to run. He could feel the hair on his arms rise, and he knew that the final bolt was coming to finish him off. He couldn't even think about using his powers. He was exhausted. The lightning arced from the sky with a terrible fury and struck short and was deflected by an invisible barrier. He stared. Not his work. He looked around wildly and saw an older man standing behind him with a casual smile on his face.
"Lightning obeys the laws of magnetism too, Kevin," he said. "Or should I say Kronos."
"Magneto," Kevin said simply.
"Indeed," the man replied. "We are here to help you."
"I don't need your help," Kevin said aggressively and thought that it must look ridiculous for anyone covered in dirt and blood to claim that.
"Very well, I'll leave you to fight Storm."
Kevin looked around and saw the next bolt readying its self. He sensed Magneto's shield weakening. Who was he kidding? "Wait," he said. "Take me with you. Please"
Magneto smiled. "Pyro, help him."
Kevin frowned and a young guy appeared from behind Magneto in the distance. Kevin's mouth dropped. He was very handsome, and tall with fiery hair and a dangerous glint in his eyes. The guy walked up to him silently and picked him up and put his arm around his shoulder and started helping him walk. He became aware of all his injuries. All his small abrasions, and bruises and strained bones started to cry in agony as he moved, but he managed to stifle his groans. In the distance he saw a helicopter, and he knew that salvation lay within the next hundred feet. Storm's bolts followed them with a rabid fury, but they struck harmlessly high above them. Magneto and Pyro didn't react. Pyro. This was the guy who John had mentioned - the guy who was rotten inside. He became wary but at the same time he was confused that such a bad guy would help him in a time of need. He staggered towards the helicopter and with each step he felt weaker, and felt Pyro carry more of his weight. He half-collapsed into the helicopter and managed to struggle into one of the seats. He saw a mysterious blue woman flying the chopper, and Magneto sitting passively next to her staring out at the mansion as they rose higher into the air and flew away. Pyro sat opposite to him looking at him. He avoided his gaze.
"You're hurt," he said, and Kevin was forced to look at him.
"I'm okay," he lied. His hand was in agony and he felt as if he'd been attacked by a gang with chains.
"No you're not," he said forcefully. His eyes were angry, but there was something feral and alluring about them. "Give me your hand," he said, and it wasn't a request.
Kevin stretched his hand out, which had luckily stopped bleeding but was a bloody mess. Pyro took it softly in his hand and examined it. He shook his head sadly and opened a box lying next to him, and took out bandages and gauze. He started to dress Kevin's hand, and he had a look of precision and care on his face. His hands were strong and very warm, hot even. Kevin managed to smile weakly, though Pyro wouldn't have noticed it. He wasn't attracted to the guy, but it was nice to feel cared for after nearly being killed by a whole school of mutants. He leaned his head back against the soft head rest and sighed with relief. Finally he was in safe hands. A minute or two later he felt hands on his knees and he opened his eyes and saw Pyro looking at him seriously.
"There," Pyro said. "Your hand will heal with time."
"Thanks man," Kevin said softly and he examined the expertly tied bandage around his hand. It still hurt, but he thought it pained a little less after it had received some care.
"Now," Pyro said. "Are you okay, Kevin?" His eyes bored into Kevin's, and they were magnetic. He couldn't break the gaze, but finally forced himself to.
"I'm fine," he said.
"You're not," Pyro replied immediately.
"I'm fine!" he shouted, and Magneto half turned in his seat before turning back to admire the view.
"You're not! Tell me Kevin!" Pyro shouted back, and Kevin felt shock at the guy's persistence.
"I ..." he began, but he cracked under the pressure. He started to weep and he could feel the tears leaking down his eyes. He had been through so much. He was trying to save a sinking boat with a teaspoon. He felt ashamed, and no matter how quickly he vaporised the tears falling down his cheeks, they were replaced in an instant. He leaned forward, and felt a deep humiliation. He felt Pyro's hand on the back of his head and suddenly his face was next to his, his rough cheek rubbing warmly against Kevin's.
"It going to be okay," Pyro whispered, and his voice soothed Kevin and made him feel as if there was hope. He had missed being embraced and supported. He had missed feeling wanted and cared for. This guy seemed to care, to merely want to be a good friend... to care. He loved Bobby, but this guy was a decent friend who was looking out for him. They sat in that position for a long time, Pyro's hand strongly bound to Kevin's head, embracing them tightly cheek to cheek. He didn't know where they were going, and he didn't care. These people cared for him, and Pyro especially was someone who loved him like a brother. He'd left that jealous and cursed school, but he promised himself... promised!! ... that he would return and rescue Bobby from their conniving claws. He planned to spend the rest of his life with Bobby, to kiss and have his way with him until he couldn't take it anymore. Only the X-men stood in his way, but these guys would help him master his powers so that he could finally destroy them, and save his boyfriend.
Bobby struggled in his chair, and growled as he tried to free himself, but Wolverine had tied the knots proficiently and he was going nowhere. His hands were bound too and he couldn't use his powers on the ropes.
"Let me loose!" he screamed at the people in Xavier's office.
"Are you kidding?" Wolverine said. "You acting like a crazy animal, Iceman. You're going to cause trouble."
"That's right," he shouted. "I'm going to make this place a nuclear winter for what you did to Kevin."
"We did nothing to him," Storm said.
"Oh no?" Bobby said. "First Marie nearly kills him with her powers, then Wolverine spikes him to the wall like a deer, then you try to burn him to death with lightning! The whole time he was acting in self-defence! What exactly would you categorize as doing something to him then, Storm?"
"Wait..." Wolverine said. "I never hurt him. I wouldn't ever hurt a student. You know that Bobby. Why the hell do I have to spend my days trying to convince everyone of this?"
"Don't play your fucking games with me, Wolverine. Do you think Kevin conveniently spiked his own hand like that? What did he do... run into a garden fork while trying to escape being killed?"
"Enough," Xavier said. "We never tried to hurt Kevin until he tried to hurt us, and even then I only tried to put him to sleep. Storm acted... precipitously, and I've already discussed her error with her."
"Her error!" Bobby said, scandalized. "How would her apology have looked if Kevin had been a charred corpse at this moment? She's the same as Marie. You're all the same as Marie! I hope she dies!"
"I said enough! She just might!" Xavier shouted, and he looked angry for the first time Bobby could remember, but it washed right over him.
"I don't take orders from you anymore. I can see exactly why Jean Grey killed you, Charles Xavier!" Bobby ranted.
"You're out of line, kid," Wolverine said gravely, and stepped forward.
"Fuck off," he said, and kept his eyes on Xavier. "You tried to control him just like you tried to control her. For your own personal ambition and gain - because you are afraid of him. You've finally found another mutant who exceeds your godly powers and you can't take it. Just like Marie couldn't take it that I love him, you can't bear his strength. It comes down to jealousy. You all disgust me."
"Are you finished?" Xavier said.
"I haven't even begun yet. You heard him. He's coming back for me. Soon. And when he does, all hell is going to break loose and we'll finally be together. And the rest of you..." Bobby started to laugh. He laughed so much tears started streaking from his eyes. He knew it was true. Their fear of Kronos was palpable, and they knew he would come back. He knew Kevin would come for him. He couldn't wait to seize him and kiss him again, to feel his breath and his warmth, to lie against his built chest. Sleep came again, but he laughed and laughed until the darkness won.
Magneto approached Pyro, who was sitting alone on his bed in his chambers. The operation had been a stunning success. Charles was even better at his job of driving mutants away than he could possibly have imagined. He'd half killed the boy, and driven him to madness by separating him from his lover. Magneto had to smile to himself, because the situation was too perfect for words. Kevin was busy sleeping, just like he had done for the previous fourteen hours. So exhausted for one so young, and strong. He would need that strength though, and he would direct it to his own purposes. It would require tact and intelligence, and that was why he was in Pyro's room.
"Good job," he said to Pyro, who continued playing with the cards on his bed and didn't look up.
"You're a sick fuck," Pyro said. "But don't worry, I'll still go along with it."
Magneto's eyes flashed, but he let the insult pass. "You're right you will, my boy. He's totally smitten with you."
"It isn't right," Pyro said. "And from me, that means it's really fucked up."
"Still, we go ahead," Magneto said. Mystique appeared behind him. She was as stealthy as ever.
"I like your methods," Magneto said, and he gave her a kiss on the cheek.
She smiled widely. "It was just his hand. I could have cut it off, but I figured you wanted a complete hero, not a tormented disabled one."
Magneto laughed. "Indeed. Our hero he is. He's an untamed lion - but we merely need to point him in the direction of the sheep, and not much else. I am the driving force, and Pyro here is the rudder. This ship will eventually sail."
Pyro stared at them flatly as they left the room. Magneto needed to flog the ambition out of Pyro before he ruined everything for the hundredth time. He would have to watch him. There was something else in his eyes, but he couldn't say exactly what it was. It didn't matter. He had Kronos, and now the world would pay for crossing Magneto.
End of Chapter 5
Thanks for all the comments guys. I get some really inspiring feedback after some chapters, and it's great to read. I usually release the next chapter every Sunday/Monday - except for this week when I was a little busy. Any comments to rahvin747@yahoo.com