Persistence of Memory
folder
X-Men - Animated Series (all) › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
57
Views:
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Reviews:
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Currently Reading:
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Category:
X-Men - Animated Series (all) › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
57
Views:
7,477
Reviews:
68
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own X-Men Evolution, or any of the characters from it. I make no money from from the writing of this story.
55
Persistence of Memory Chapter Fifty Five (NC-17)
Disclaimers Apply
A/N Goddess Foxfeather, Queen of Mad Plotbunnies, BUSIEST
WOMAN ALIVE ™, Prophetic Muse, Hamster Witch and Uberbeta…I’ve been
“squeeeeee”ing all day. *sigh * InterNutter, TC and Maxwell Pink are loverly
and sparkley for archiving. ProPhile
gets warm muses to make up for the weather.
Readers/Reviewers: *happy dance
* Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Ever
notice how it can take forever to plan something but in the end, we’re kinda
half assed about it?”
Lance shot
Sam a dubious look. “I don’t know about
you, but I’m going into this whole-assed.”[1]
“Hush,”
Logan snapped. “This is serious.”
Kitty,
leaning against Kurt, looked more tense than in pain. “I don’t know about this…I mean, isn’t this like Russian
Roulette? What if the chamber’s loaded?”
Jono’s
smirk was audible. I resemble
that remark.
Logan’s
growl silenced them all. Professor
Xavier sighed softly and continued his previous speech. “You will be in full uniform. You will present yourself with decorum and
with all due respect to the media. No
matter what Magneto does, you will not fight him or the Brotherhood. Is that understood? Now, the new members and residents are not
going to be joining us. Forge, Beast and Cecilia will be staying here with them
and our latest entry into the bedraggled mutants contest. Emma, have you seen Firestar yet?”
Emma looked
momentarily panicked. “Er…no. I want to give her time to…um…rest.”
Professor
Xavier merely raised a brow in acknowledgement. “You have thirty minutes to suit up and meet in the hangar. We are going to be conducting this…meeting…at
Magneto’s base of operations north of here.
Kitty, you may stay if you wish.
Beast tells me you are healing nicely but are still not quite up to this
sort of strain.”
Kitty shook
her head stolidly. “I’m going.”
“We thought
as much. If you so much as think your
wounds are tearing, though…”
“I promise
I’ll find somewhere to lay low.”
Ray broke
into the tete a tete. “If we aren’t
going to fight them, what’s the point in all of us going? We may as well stay home and watch it on
t.v.!”
Storm spoke
carefully, choosing her words for maximum effect and minimal sensationalism. “We are going to prove a point. We are going there to prove that we can be
mutants and still not…display ourselves like whores or use our powers
frivolously. We will most likely be attacked to a certain degree, either by
protesters or the Brotherhood or both.
Whatever happens, we do nothing!
Is that understood? I’m sure
most of you have heard the phrase ‘turn the other cheek.’ Take it literally. The only permissible use of powers will be in a truly life
threatening situation. Wounds can heal
with time. A bruise is not worth
inciting a riot over.”
Kurt
squeezed Kitty’s hand tightly. “I
promised, Liebes, and I’ll make sure this turns out alright.”
“Kurt, don’t
say things like that. You can’t promise
things like that. I love you anyway,
but don’t make yourself some sort of superhero because you’re feeling
protective of me.”
The group
was dissolving around them as everyone moved to get their uniforms and
experience mild panic. Jubilee looked
green around the gills as Remy and Scott exited together. “I can’t do this,” she said to no one in
particular. “I can’t…”
Breaking
free from Kurt, Kitty crossed the short distance to Jubilee and rubbed her arm
soothingly. “I’m scared, too, but I
know we’re going to be fine. The Professor wouldn’t, like, put us in danger for
nothing! He knows something otherwise
we wouldn’t be doing this!”
“No, Kitty,
that’s not it…I don’t feel so good.”
She twisted away from her friend and dashed pell-mell out of the dining
hall and into the corridor.
“Maybe it’s
something going around,” Kitty murmured to Kurt, remembering the virus.
“Maybe it’s
nerves…being sick sounds like a pretty good idea right now,” he sighed. Earnestly, he turned Kitty to face him and
said, “Liebes, if things get bad…”
“They won’t.”
“How do you
know?”
“One of my
best friends is psychic,” she teased, kissing him quickly on the cheek. “I’ll see you in the hangar.”
Kitty
twisted her hair into her usual ponytail, trying to ignore the shaking in her
hands. Things will be fine… God,
this is so surreal. I’m almost wishing
for Jungian hallucinations again… At
least those were kind of normal in a weird way. We’ll be fine. Okay. So people are going to see us. Okay.
Bound to happen sooner or later.
I’d rather it was later though.
Like after the family that still likes me dies. She smoothed her too-loose uniform and frowned. A few months ago, she would have been
thrilled to the ends of the earth that the usually snug outfit was now a size
and a half too large. Now, all she
could think of was this might be the first time she actually had to “use” her
uniform, fight in it and possible, remotely, die in it. I’m not going to die in this. I don’t have on underwear. I can’t die without underwear on. Satisfied with her faulty reasoning, Kitty
took one final look at her self in the mirror.
That morning, Kurt had told her that his parents were just now seeing
the footage in Germany about the Bayville Mutants. If he not not told them himself, he said, they would not have
believed it at all. “They don’t know if
they want me to come home or if they should come here…I told them to stay put
and it would all blow over soon. I hope
I’m right.” He had looked so sad and
determined that Kitty wanted to cry. He
did not even mention his sister and Piotr aside from growling about how she had
asked him not to hurt her ‘friend.’ “I
told her I could not promise her anything.”
“You can
make me promises,” she pointed out dryly.
“How about you promise me not to
hurt him, for your sister’s peace of mind?”
“Katzchen…”
Kitty
sighed as she broke her gaze from the mirror, wishing she had not made him
promise her that. If it comes down
to it and it is a matter of life or death…would he really die to keep that
promise to me? Her hands were still shaking so she pressed them against her
stomach where the fine row of staples, nearly ready to be removed, made a
barely detectable ridge under the fabric of her uniform. She thought of the packet of papers she
wanted to show the Professor, things she had only just found the day before and
was already forgetting in her nervous fear.
It’s just a bug. We’re
fine. The doctors identified it months
ago and only one woman died. She was old.
We’re fine. A distant whine
bespoke the Blackbird starting up. Here
goes nothing…
Jean rubbed
her lips nervously, her hair twisted into a braid just a little too tight for
comfort. That must be why my eyes are watering. Braid’s too tight.
She looked over at where Scott stood conferring seriously with Logan and
Banshee, gesturing towards the others in the hangar as he spoke. Everything’s
alright. Everything’s fine…[2] “Rahne, you okay?”
“Aye,e
be
breathed. “Well as can be. Are we really doing this, Jean? Going public?”
“Really
are,” she agreed. “It looks like almost
everyone that’s going is here.”
Rahne
nodded. “Looks like. Jean…what’s going to happen next? We go public and then what? People aren’t
automatically going to accept us!”
Jean winced
as the other girl’s voice rose to a fever pitch. ”Rahne, take a deep
breath. We’ll be fine. One thing at a time, right?”
“Right,”
she gulped. “How can people hate
us? We’re nice!”
Jean
grunted softly as Rahne flung herself into her arms, squeezing her in a
hug. “Look, we’re loading up now. If you want to sit next to Jamie, you’d
better hurry. He’s getting on now…” Rahne nodded reluctantly and dashed towards
the jet and the milling students.
“Jean,”
Jubilee said quietly beside her. “How
into this whole medical thing are you?”
“Uh…very…”
“Stress can
make your body do weird things, right?”
“Right…”
“Just
checking.” She pasted a smile on her
face as Remy sauntered over, most decidedly not in uniform. “Ready, Gumbo?” she chirrped.
“As I ever
gonna be,” he smiled. “Wanna sit in de
back an’ neck?”
“Cold
showers for the both of you,” Jean grinned.
She could feel Jubilee’s anxiety like a choking noose but something in
the Asian girl’s eyes begged her not to press for answers. “Get going.
Kitty,” she called towards the back of the hangar. “You and Kurt better hustle! I’m not having him port into the jet again!”
Kitty made
a vague waving gesture and tottered towards the Blackbird, supported by
Kurt. Scott frowned at them as he
closed the distance between him and Jean. “She shouldn’t be going.”
“Neither
should Tabby, but she’s already on the plane.
She’s breastfeeding and who knows what Magneto might pull out that could
contaminate her milk.”
Scott made
a face. “Mental image. Ugh.”
“Mature,
Summers. Real mature.” Sighing, Jean tugged on her braid to loosen
it slightly, wincing as a few fine hairs pulled free. “Ready?”
“Honestly?”
“In this
case, lie to me.”
“Yes, I’m
ready.”
“Lay on,
MacDuff…” she murmured, gesturing grandly.
“We’ve got
to do something about this Shakespeare dependence of yours,” he said with a
nervous laugh, but taking her elbow just the same. “Jean, whatever happens…”
“I know.”
“Okay…”
“And Scott…”
“Me too.”
[1] Third
Rock from the Sun I think…
[2] I really
didn’t mean to slip into lyrics from Jesus Christ Superstar but
sometimes it just happens.
Disclaimers Apply
A/N Goddess Foxfeather, Queen of Mad Plotbunnies, BUSIEST
WOMAN ALIVE ™, Prophetic Muse, Hamster Witch and Uberbeta…I’ve been
“squeeeeee”ing all day. *sigh * InterNutter, TC and Maxwell Pink are loverly
and sparkley for archiving. ProPhile
gets warm muses to make up for the weather.
Readers/Reviewers: *happy dance
* Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Ever
notice how it can take forever to plan something but in the end, we’re kinda
half assed about it?”
Lance shot
Sam a dubious look. “I don’t know about
you, but I’m going into this whole-assed.”[1]
“Hush,”
Logan snapped. “This is serious.”
Kitty,
leaning against Kurt, looked more tense than in pain. “I don’t know about this…I mean, isn’t this like Russian
Roulette? What if the chamber’s loaded?”
Jono’s
smirk was audible. I resemble
that remark.
Logan’s
growl silenced them all. Professor
Xavier sighed softly and continued his previous speech. “You will be in full uniform. You will present yourself with decorum and
with all due respect to the media. No
matter what Magneto does, you will not fight him or the Brotherhood. Is that understood? Now, the new members and residents are not
going to be joining us. Forge, Beast and Cecilia will be staying here with them
and our latest entry into the bedraggled mutants contest. Emma, have you seen Firestar yet?”
Emma looked
momentarily panicked. “Er…no. I want to give her time to…um…rest.”
Professor
Xavier merely raised a brow in acknowledgement. “You have thirty minutes to suit up and meet in the hangar. We are going to be conducting this…meeting…at
Magneto’s base of operations north of here.
Kitty, you may stay if you wish.
Beast tells me you are healing nicely but are still not quite up to this
sort of strain.”
Kitty shook
her head stolidly. “I’m going.”
“We thought
as much. If you so much as think your
wounds are tearing, though…”
“I promise
I’ll find somewhere to lay low.”
Ray broke
into the tete a tete. “If we aren’t
going to fight them, what’s the point in all of us going? We may as well stay home and watch it on
t.v.!”
Storm spoke
carefully, choosing her words for maximum effect and minimal sensationalism. “We are going to prove a point. We are going there to prove that we can be
mutants and still not…display ourselves like whores or use our powers
frivolously. We will most likely be attacked to a certain degree, either by
protesters or the Brotherhood or both.
Whatever happens, we do nothing!
Is that understood? I’m sure
most of you have heard the phrase ‘turn the other cheek.’ Take it literally. The only permissible use of powers will be in a truly life
threatening situation. Wounds can heal
with time. A bruise is not worth
inciting a riot over.”
Kurt
squeezed Kitty’s hand tightly. “I
promised, Liebes, and I’ll make sure this turns out alright.”
“Kurt, don’t
say things like that. You can’t promise
things like that. I love you anyway,
but don’t make yourself some sort of superhero because you’re feeling
protective of me.”
The group
was dissolving around them as everyone moved to get their uniforms and
experience mild panic. Jubilee looked
green around the gills as Remy and Scott exited together. “I can’t do this,” she said to no one in
particular. “I can’t…”
Breaking
free from Kurt, Kitty crossed the short distance to Jubilee and rubbed her arm
soothingly. “I’m scared, too, but I
know we’re going to be fine. The Professor wouldn’t, like, put us in danger for
nothing! He knows something otherwise
we wouldn’t be doing this!”
“No, Kitty,
that’s not it…I don’t feel so good.”
She twisted away from her friend and dashed pell-mell out of the dining
hall and into the corridor.
“Maybe it’s
something going around,” Kitty murmured to Kurt, remembering the virus.
“Maybe it’s
nerves…being sick sounds like a pretty good idea right now,” he sighed. Earnestly, he turned Kitty to face him and
said, “Liebes, if things get bad…”
“They won’t.”
“How do you
know?”
“One of my
best friends is psychic,” she teased, kissing him quickly on the cheek. “I’ll see you in the hangar.”
Kitty
twisted her hair into her usual ponytail, trying to ignore the shaking in her
hands. Things will be fine… God,
this is so surreal. I’m almost wishing
for Jungian hallucinations again… At
least those were kind of normal in a weird way. We’ll be fine. Okay. So people are going to see us. Okay.
Bound to happen sooner or later.
I’d rather it was later though.
Like after the family that still likes me dies. She smoothed her too-loose uniform and frowned. A few months ago, she would have been
thrilled to the ends of the earth that the usually snug outfit was now a size
and a half too large. Now, all she
could think of was this might be the first time she actually had to “use” her
uniform, fight in it and possible, remotely, die in it. I’m not going to die in this. I don’t have on underwear. I can’t die without underwear on. Satisfied with her faulty reasoning, Kitty
took one final look at her self in the mirror.
That morning, Kurt had told her that his parents were just now seeing
the footage in Germany about the Bayville Mutants. If he not not told them himself, he said, they would not have
believed it at all. “They don’t know if
they want me to come home or if they should come here…I told them to stay put
and it would all blow over soon. I hope
I’m right.” He had looked so sad and
determined that Kitty wanted to cry. He
did not even mention his sister and Piotr aside from growling about how she had
asked him not to hurt her ‘friend.’ “I
told her I could not promise her anything.”
“You can
make me promises,” she pointed out dryly.
“How about you promise me not to
hurt him, for your sister’s peace of mind?”
“Katzchen…”
Kitty
sighed as she broke her gaze from the mirror, wishing she had not made him
promise her that. If it comes down
to it and it is a matter of life or death…would he really die to keep that
promise to me? Her hands were still shaking so she pressed them against her
stomach where the fine row of staples, nearly ready to be removed, made a
barely detectable ridge under the fabric of her uniform. She thought of the packet of papers she
wanted to show the Professor, things she had only just found the day before and
was already forgetting in her nervous fear.
It’s just a bug. We’re
fine. The doctors identified it months
ago and only one woman died. She was old.
We’re fine. A distant whine
bespoke the Blackbird starting up. Here
goes nothing…
Jean rubbed
her lips nervously, her hair twisted into a braid just a little too tight for
comfort. That must be why my eyes are watering. Braid’s too tight.
She looked over at where Scott stood conferring seriously with Logan and
Banshee, gesturing towards the others in the hangar as he spoke. Everything’s
alright. Everything’s fine…[2] “Rahne, you okay?”
“Aye,e
be
breathed. “Well as can be. Are we really doing this, Jean? Going public?”
“Really
are,” she agreed. “It looks like almost
everyone that’s going is here.”
Rahne
nodded. “Looks like. Jean…what’s going to happen next? We go public and then what? People aren’t
automatically going to accept us!”
Jean winced
as the other girl’s voice rose to a fever pitch. ”Rahne, take a deep
breath. We’ll be fine. One thing at a time, right?”
“Right,”
she gulped. “How can people hate
us? We’re nice!”
Jean
grunted softly as Rahne flung herself into her arms, squeezing her in a
hug. “Look, we’re loading up now. If you want to sit next to Jamie, you’d
better hurry. He’s getting on now…” Rahne nodded reluctantly and dashed towards
the jet and the milling students.
“Jean,”
Jubilee said quietly beside her. “How
into this whole medical thing are you?”
“Uh…very…”
“Stress can
make your body do weird things, right?”
“Right…”
“Just
checking.” She pasted a smile on her
face as Remy sauntered over, most decidedly not in uniform. “Ready, Gumbo?” she chirrped.
“As I ever
gonna be,” he smiled. “Wanna sit in de
back an’ neck?”
“Cold
showers for the both of you,” Jean grinned.
She could feel Jubilee’s anxiety like a choking noose but something in
the Asian girl’s eyes begged her not to press for answers. “Get going.
Kitty,” she called towards the back of the hangar. “You and Kurt better hustle! I’m not having him port into the jet again!”
Kitty made
a vague waving gesture and tottered towards the Blackbird, supported by
Kurt. Scott frowned at them as he
closed the distance between him and Jean. “She shouldn’t be going.”
“Neither
should Tabby, but she’s already on the plane.
She’s breastfeeding and who knows what Magneto might pull out that could
contaminate her milk.”
Scott made
a face. “Mental image. Ugh.”
“Mature,
Summers. Real mature.” Sighing, Jean tugged on her braid to loosen
it slightly, wincing as a few fine hairs pulled free. “Ready?”
“Honestly?”
“In this
case, lie to me.”
“Yes, I’m
ready.”
“Lay on,
MacDuff…” she murmured, gesturing grandly.
“We’ve got
to do something about this Shakespeare dependence of yours,” he said with a
nervous laugh, but taking her elbow just the same. “Jean, whatever happens…”
“I know.”
“Okay…”
“And Scott…”
“Me too.”
[1] Third
Rock from the Sun I think…
[2] I really
didn’t mean to slip into lyrics from Jesus Christ Superstar but
sometimes it just happens.