Penance and New Beginnings: Chapter 7

by Verthril

 Victor stood alone, leaning against the railing of the back porch with his gaze fixed on the woods off in the distance.  The wind howled and the rain pelted him with its frigid drops, but he did not come out from the storm.  A little irony could be found in the storm reflecting the mood of the mansion, sadness, anger, concern, and as always, hope.  The worst was over he thought, with the truth of what happened to Jubilee out in the open.  Now was the time to heal and deal with it.  Jake and Jubilee had taken to her room, while Henry had run off to his lab to contact Walter for the results of the scans.  Logan had run off to the Auger Inn to find himself a bar brawl, leaving the rest of the X-men talking in the den of what they had just learned.  Victor himself, well, he just wanted out of the mansion and did not care if a fall storm raged outside. 

He couldn¡¦t face them yet, though a nagging concern of Emily and Clarice rested in the back of his mind.  Soon he thought, soon he would come in from the cold and see how they were doing.  But for now, now he let the wind and rain drive away the demons that clawed at his mind.  The looks in their eyes told him how much they thought of his alter, with every little habit or comment that he shared with the man sending shivers down their spines. Taking in a breath, he caught the scent of rum and cigarettes in the air, as weak as it was.  Casting a glance behind himself, he could see the Cajun watching him from the doorway, taking the worst the storm had to offer, holding two beers.

¡¦Allo mon ami.  And here Remy thought he was de only one stupid enough to come out in dis weather.¡¦ The Cajun yelled over the winds, a chuckle evident in his voice as he closed the distance between himself and Victor.

¡¦Swamprat.¡¦ Victor replied as he gave Remy a nod.

Remy joined Victor in leaning against the railing, and then offered him a beer, to which Victor accepted with a smirk.

¡¦You as annoying as yer counter in my world?¡¦ Victor asked as he twisted off the beer cap.

¡¦Annoying? Moi?  Non, dis Cajun be charming and de eternal ladies man, though Rogue be de lady for me.¡¦ Remy replied as he twisted off his beer cap and took a swig of his beer.

¡¦Then that means yer just as annoying.¡¦ Victor remarked, taking a swig of his beer and returning his gaze to the woods.

Remy couldn¡¦t resist it any further and looked to Victor.

¡¦What was Remy like in your world.¡¦ He asked.

¡¦Eh?  Just like ya are now Swamprat, though instead of being with us X-men, ya had your own band of thieves called the Externals.  Lee was even in it.  Mags had ya all go steal some M¡¦Kraan crystal from some Shi¡¦ar Empire or something.  One piece of setting that whole mess right.¡¦ Victor replied, thinking back to the cost of ridding the world of Apocalypse and the genocide of humanity.

Remy looked up to Victor with a smug look on his face.

¡¦De Externals eh?  Remy like that, and you say de P¡¦tite was with dis band of thieves?¡¦ Remy asked only to receive a nod from Victor.

With a smirk, Remy joined Victor in his silent watch of the woods.  He didn¡¦t know what Victor saw out there, but he wasn¡¦t going to ask.  Finally as the two finished off their beers, reason to get out of the storm came as hail started to pelt them from the heavens.  Unknown to either, Ororo stood in her garden watching the whole scene, and finally as her patience wore thin, coaxed them out of the rain.

Inside Emily and Clarice were watching TV when the two very wet men walked in.  Emily let out a catcall at the sight of Victor in a soaked T-shirt, while Clarice just giggled as she returned to her sketchpad.  Victor and Remy exchanged glances, and then walked over behind Emily and shook off behind her, soaking her as the water ripped free of their clothing.  A shriek of indignation pierced the air and carried all over the mansion, breaking the silence invoked by the minds toiling with the revelations of the day.  Up in Jubilee¡¦s room, Jake let a small smile fall across his face as he imagined what might have caused such a shriek from his friend.  Jubilee was fast asleep in his arms, wrapped up in a warm comforter to stave off the chills she had become so prone to.  A light knocking came from the door, and Jake turned to see the Professor sitting there in a conventional wheelchair.

¡¦Might I come in?¡¦ Charles asked quietly, to which Jake gave a light nod in return.

Wheeling over to the bedside, Charles looked to Jubilee with a defeated look.  Memories of all those he had failed over the years came back to him, the youngest of which was Illyana Rasputin, lost to the legacy virus at such a tender age with no recollection of the years she spent as Magik with the New Mutants.  Twice now Jubilee had suffered, with the only reason being her association with the X-men, and like the last, they had not even known of her disappearance until it was far too late to change what had happened.  He didn¡¦t need to imagine what she had suffered, as he had enough trips into the mind of Logan to fill in the graphic details of the process and the men who ran Weapon X.  Shaking his head slowly, he slouched in his chair and let out a quiet curse to the men who did this to her.

Jake looked to the founder of the X-men and noticed the pain the man was feeling.  Professor Charles Xavier was a man who had saved many lives and brought just as many back from the edge, yet for all this, he still seemed to never be content with these victories.

¡¦Professor¡¦¡¦ Jake asked quietly.

¡¦Yes Jake?¡¦ Charles inquired in an equally quiet voice.

¡¦Is there anything I can do to help¡¦¡¦ Jake asked, looking to Charles.

¡¦Not unless you can turn back the clock that these mistakes can be undone¡¦¡¦ Charles replied in a tired voice.

Jake looked to Charles, unsure what to say next.  He knew the pain Jubilee had suffered a the hands of Weapon X, he had even relived flashes of it as Clarice¡¦s nightmares of what she saw in Jubilee¡¦s mind seeped into their psychic link.  But he knew that if Jubilee had never been there when she had, Victor would still be out in the woods hiding from the ghosts of his past, and he himself and Jubilee would never have met.  He couldn¡¦t imagine not being with her now, for even with all that had happened to her, she had a deep love of life.  He now felt part of something bigger, at her side with the X-men, and despite the pang of disgust at feeling so selfish; he wouldn¡¦t have it any other way.

¡¦You love her very much don¡¦t you?¡¦ Charles asked suddenly, looking up to Jake with a small smile on his face.

¡¦Ye...yes¡¦how did you¡¦¡¦ Jake inquired, forgetting that he had not put up the shields that he was being taught to erect when around telepaths.

¡¦You¡¦re radiating a deep love for her now, as well as a fear.  Perhaps I was hasty with wishing this all undone.  There was that saying my mother would always tell me when she was still alive¡¦.he doesn¡¦t close a door without opening a window¡¦¡¦ Charles replied, giving Jake a gentle pat on the hand.

¡¦Good night Jake.  I have a good feeling Jubilee is in good hands.¡¦ Charles said as he gave a warm smile.

¡¦Good night Professor.¡¦ Jake replied, returning the smile.

Settling down in the bed, Jake watched as the Professor slowly wheeled out of the room.  Looking back down to Jubilee, he could only hope her dreams were unburdened by the trials of her life, and as a small smile parted her lips, he gave her a gentle kiss on the head before her too closed his eyes to await the Sandman¡¦s visit.

Meanwhile at the Auger Inn, the bar brawl Logan had been waiting for had just erupted.  Bikers verse Truckers, with Logan defending his bikes honor after a trucker yelled about some ¡¦piece of rusting junk¡¦ blocking his spot.  His pulse raced with the exhilaration at finally being able to beat the snot out of something since the news he received, like a kick to the teeth.  Squaring down with a six foot eight trucker that had to have had a hundred pounds on him, Logan growled to the larger man.

¡¦Bring it on shorty.¡¦ The trucker yelled.

Logan¡¦s reply came as a roar as he charged the trucker, slamming his fist into his jaw and then spinning around to knee him in his family jewels.  The trucker fell flat to the ground, curling into a ball.  Looking around the bar, Logan found his next mark as he jumped over a broken chair and kicked a guy in the back of his knee, bringing him down to Logan¡¦s height.  As the fallen trucker spun to see who hit him, Logan socked him in the face, sending the trucker crumpling to the ground.  All the while the bartender continued to clean glasses while shouting lewd comments as if he were watching a boxing match.  After another five minutes, beaten truckers and bikers crawled out of the bar, with some being helped along by their friends, leaving Logan and the bartender alone in the battered bar.

¡¦Whiskey, and leave the bottle.¡¦ Logan remarked as he threw a more than enough bills on the counter to cover the bottle of whiskey and his drinks prior to the fight.

¡¦Sure thing buddy.¡¦ The bartender replied as he dropped a bottle of Johnny Walker and a glass on the bar.

Logan totally ignored the glass and took the bottle as he spun around on the stool and kept watch on the door.  Taking a swig from the bottle, the slight buzz he had been nursing all evening returned.  Nights like this, he hated his healing factor.  Taking the bottle to his lips, he then downed the rest of it to the still amazed bartender.  Come hell or high water he was getting drunk this night.  Slamming the bottle down on the counter, another soon replaced it, waiting for Logan.  Slowly the buzz grew until he could feel the alcohol taking effect.  He could never get piss drunk, but this was the closest he came as his body became numb and his reactions slowed.  Taking a deep breath, he called in the scents of the bar.  Blood, broken wood, spilled alcohol of more kinds that he could recognize, even piss to his disgust.  Then he caught the scent that stood out of place, that of Victor Creed.  A snarl fell across his lips while a deep rumble rang from his chest.  He knew this wasn¡¦t the same man he hated, but the feelings were part of a gut reaction that had been beaten into him over the years.

Victor walked though the throng of bikers and truckers that were slowly making their way from the bar.  After the beer he shared with the Cajun, he decided it was about time to go for a drink.  The Auger Inn was where Logan had headed off to, and so it was the place he ran to through the woods.  The feeling of letting the beast inside loose on a short leash was just as he remembered it when it ruled him for most of his life, more animal than man.  But he was a man, and the beast was kept in check as he finally neared the road that cut through the forest like a stream of concrete.  When he entered the bar, he couldn¡¦t help but give a chuckle at the wreak that stood before him, with Logan sitting on a stool with a bottle of whiskey down and one in waiting.  Walking up to the next stool, Victor sat down and ordered a beer before turning back to face the bar.

¡¦Vic.¡¦ Logan remarked flatly.

¡¦Logan.¡¦ Victor replied likely.

¡¦Ya walk here or do I need ta worry about anyone else buggin¡¦ me?¡¦ Logan asked as he started on the bottle of whiskey.

¡¦Ran.¡¦ Victor replied, taking a swig of his beer.

Logan gave a nod, recalling the freedom of just running alone in the woods.  Memories of the bars around the world came back to him, with Victor and him sharing drinks after missions that they had gone on.  Which of these were real and which were fake he could not tell, but the sense of nostalgia came back to him nonetheless.

¡¦Ya remember that bar in Cuba?¡¦ Logan remarked as he cast a sideways glance to Victor.

¡¦Yup.¡¦ Victor replied, recalling the firefight that broke out before they could even order their drinks.

¡¦Ya remember that one in Moscow?¡¦ Victor inquired, looking to Logan.

¡¦The one where ya got so drunk offa Vodka I had to beat ya sober?¡¦ Logan inquired with a feral grin.

¡¦Yeah, that¡¦s the one.¡¦ Victor replied, matching the grin.

A gruff chuckle was exchanged between the two men before dying off into silence.  Slowly, Logan looked up to Victor and drew in a deep breath.

¡¦Thanks.¡¦ Logan said as he let out a sigh.

¡¦Fer?¡¦ Victor inquired.

¡¦Saving the kid and takin¡¦ care o¡¦ her.  I owe ya one for that, and I owe her more¡¦n you can imagine.¡¦ Logan replied before taking another swig of whiskey.

¡¦I can imagine runt.  Ya can count on that one.  Ya think I was able to come back to the fold without having a Jubilee of my own back home?¡¦ Victor replied, looking down to the shorter man.

Logan looked up to Victor, staring into his eyes, and then turning away when he saw none of the bloodlust that was so accustomed to those eyes.

¡¦Maybe ya can.¡¦ Logan replied quietly, staring out the window at the headlights drawing near.

Victor let it rest at that, knowing that was the most he¡¦d get out of Logan, and that was the most he wanted.  Finishing off his beer he walked over to an old pool table and cleared off the debris.  Racking up the balls, he looked back to Logan.

¡¦Up for a game Runt?¡¦ Victor asked, pulling two pool cues from the wall.

Logan slowly ambled over to the pool table and took the cue.  As the two killed the night with game after game, speaking of the old days that might have never been, the bartender watched with a smug smirk on his face at the first time seeing the ¡¦short fella¡¦ doing more than fighting and drinking.  Walking over to the phone, he dialed the number he had been given by the lady with the white streak, letting whoever was there know where their errant friend was and letting them know not to come looking for him as they often did during his outings that carried on this late.

***

Jubilee woke up with a ray of sun shining directly in her eyes.  With a hiss of aggravation, she tried to roll over only to find a pair of arms wrapped around her.  Looking up, she could see Jake fast asleep.  Slithering around in the comforter, she rolled over with her head resting on Jake¡¦s chest as she listened to his heart.

¡¦I could get used to this¡¦¡¦ Jubilee whispered as she let out a content sigh.

¡¦So could I¡¦¡¦ Jake whispered back in a groggy voice.

Jubilee looked up to Jake as he slowly woke up, and gave him a kiss on the chin.

¡¦Though¡¦what I could really get used to is someone to bring me breakfast in bed¡¦¡¦ Jubilee whispered, looking up to Jake with her best puppy dog eyes.

¡¦So could I¡¦¡¦ Jake retorted with a chuckle.

Jubilee gave him a raspberry and then rolled out of bed, stealing the blankets with her and leaving Jake unprotected from the morning chill.

¡¦Blanket hog¡¦¡¦ Jake quipped back as he jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom that Jubilee was headed to, slamming the door shut and locking it before she could beat him to it.

¡¦Hey!¡¦ Jubilee exclaimed as she slammed a fist on the door.

¡¦Sorry!  Occupied!¡¦ Jake cried out with a snicker as he started the shower.

¡¦Fine!  I¡¦ll just go make my own breakfast, for me, not for any metamorphing mutants I might know!¡¦ Jubilee yelled, though this time she didn¡¦t get a reply.

Jubilee grumbled as she started to waddle out of the bedroom, not ready to relinquish the blankets wrapped about her for fear of the morning¡¦s chill.  As she reached the kitchen, she saw Ororo and Henry sitting at the table enjoying their morning coffee.

¡¦Are you feeling better this morning Jubilee?¡¦ Ororo asked in a motherly tone.

¡¦Yeah, the worst of its over.  Was scared to tell you guys and Wolvie especially.  Figured he¡¦d be running up to Canada on foot to gut them¡¦¡¦ Jubilee replied as she waddled over to a seat and plopped down.

¡¦If he did he would have found out what a wonderful conductor that skeleton of his is.¡¦ Ororo replied as she gave Jubilee a gentle pat on her hand.

¡¦Thanks.¡¦ Jubilee said as she slouched down in the chair.

¡¦Would you care for anything for breakfast?¡¦ Ororo asked.

¡¦If it¡¦s not too much of a bother, chocolate chip pancakes with real maple syrup would be nice.¡¦ Jubilee replied as she beamed a bright smile to Ororo.

¡¦I do not know if we have any real maple syrup, though I shall make you the pancakes.¡¦ Ororo replied as she got up and pulled out Remy¡¦s favorite cookbook.

Jubilee looked across the table to where Hank was involved with a print out.

¡¦What¡¦s so interesting Hankster?  Ms. Scientific America calendar come in?¡¦ Jubilee asked with a giggle.

Hank looked up from the print outs and after a moment replied.

¡¦Oh, no.  This is a print out of the scans my fellow furred genius did on you.  While I truly am disgusted and outraged at what they did, from a scientific standpoint this is truly remarkable, the genetic splicing of a specific sequence of the X-factor into another to enhance the subject¡¦s mutation.  Truly on the forefront of Genetic Engineering.¡¦ Hank replied with the awe in his voice quite evident.

¡¦Ya don¡¦t see any side affects I should know about do you?¡¦ Jubilee asked as she slid her chair over, the wooden legs screeching on the hardwood floor.

Hank was lost to the print outs again for a moment, before he looked up and shook his head reassuringly.

¡¦No.  From what I see here, the genetic nucleotides are perfectly held together with no evidence of any degradation.  You are now the proud owner of a Mutant Healing Factor.  Though with it, comes increased stamina and regeneration.  And you have full freedom of styling your hair for it shall grow back at an accelerated rate.¡¦ Hank replied with a chuckle.

Jubilee let out a sigh of relief and then pulled her hair up to where she could see it.

¡¦Whoa.  You weren¡¦t kidding.  I had short hair when I met up with Vic.  Now it¡¦s down to what?  The small of my back?¡¦ Jubilee asked, letting her long raven hair cascade back down her back.

¡¦Please tell me it¡¦ll stop growing at some point like Vic¡¦s or Logan¡¦s?¡¦ Jubilee asked as she leaned to look over the printouts.

¡¦It shall stop growing at some point, though it shouldn¡¦t get much longer.¡¦ Hank replied as he picked up his coffee mug and winced as he finished off the last of the hour old coffee.

¡¦It appears I have been somewhat engrossed in these printouts for my coffee has gone rather cold.¡¦ Hank remarked as he got up and poured a fresh cup.

¡¦That¡¦ll learn ya.¡¦ Jubilee remarked as she snuggled up in her blankets and waited for her breakfast.

Slowly Jake walked down the stairs, drawn in by the aroma of pancakes and chocolate.  Following the smell, he soon found himself standing in the doorway of the kitchen, watching as Jubilee devoured a pile of chocolate chip pancakes.

¡¦Good Morning Jake, and how are you?¡¦ Ororo asked with a chuckle as she saw where his attention fell.

¡¦Oh¡¦I¡¦m fine.  Is there any batter left?¡¦ Jake asked, walking over to the stove.

¡¦I am afraid not.  Jubilee is on her second plateful.  She claims it is her mutant healing factor, though I have known her to have had this appetite before this¡¦incident¡¦¡¦ Ororo remarked, hesitant to say what had happened.

¡¦Oh.  Well I¡¦ll just whip up a new batch.¡¦ Jake replied as he pulled down various ingredients and set them out on the counter.

¡¦Hmm, looks like I¡¦ll have to do the dishes first so I can have some tools to work with.¡¦ Jake remarked as he looked at the sink.

¡¦Cooks and Cleans.  Yup, he¡¦s a keeper.¡¦ Rogue remarked as she walked into the kitchen.

¡¦Maybe ya¡¦ll can teach that Cajun o¡¦ mine to do the cleaning part.  Ah¡¦ll let ya take my Miata for a spin if ya can.¡¦ Rouge then added with a mischievous glance to Jake.

¡¦A worthy challenge.¡¦ Beast remarked with his face buried in printouts and coffee.

¡¦I¡¦ll give it a shot Miss Rogue.¡¦ Jake replied as he filled the sink and started doing the dishes.

¡¦Heck Sugah, ya make me a few of those pancakes and Ah¡¦ll let ya take ¡¦er for a spin.¡¦ Rogue added, looking at Jubilee as she finished off the last pancake.

¡¦Done and done.¡¦ Jake quickly replied as he hurried with the dishes.

Soon after, the kitchen was filled with the aroma with more chocolate chip pancakes, drawing in Emily and Clarice.

¡¦Hey Jake, you¡¦ll make your lil sister and her friend some pancakes right?¡¦ Emily asked in her sweetest tone.

¡¦I knew there was a reason I made this batch a triple.  Any other takers before I start frying and flipping?¡¦ Jake asked, only to have Bobby walk in next, flanked by Chamber who had just arrived home from a trip to New York.

~ Sunshine? ~ Jono asked, to which Jubilee looked up from her plate and gave her old team member a fond smile.

¡¦Hey ya Sparky, new and Improved Lee at your service.  Oh, this is Clarice, Emily and that man with the apron on is my Shining Knight, Jake.¡¦ Jubilee said as she introduced her friends.

~ New and Improved? ~ Jono inquired, only to get silence in return.

¡¦Could someone else fill him in?¡¦ Jubilee remarked glumly as she pulled her blankets about herself.

Ororo gave a concerned glance to Jubilee.  Slowly she rose from her seat and directed Jono to the other room.  Clarice watched the doorway for several moments after he had left, and then returned her attention to the kitchen.  Jubilee was grinning at her a little, wondering if Clarice had taken a liking to Jono.  Emily was looking at Jubilee¡¦s empty plate while her stomach rumbled with the anticipation of pancakes, leaving Jake and Rogue working together on cooking the large batch.

¡¦Jonothan Starsmore.  Telepath and a chamber of psychic energy, which kinda¡¦well¡¦blew a hole in his chest and took off his lower jaw.  He likes leather, brooding in basements and playing the guitar.  I¡¦ve also stumbled¡¦as in raided his notebook while borrowing it to study from¡¦across some poetry he has done.  Pretty deep stuff.  Go get ¡¦em tiger.¡¦ Jubilee rambled, earning a blush from Clarice.

Clarice promptly excused herself from the table, following after Chamber and Ororo.  Jubilee and Emily exchanged shocked glances.

¡¦Umm¡¦I didn¡¦t mean right now¡¦oh well¡¦¡¦ Jubilee remarked.

¡¦You go girl!¡¦ Emily yelled, earning a chuckle from all in the room.

As the morning drew closer to the afternoon, the batch of pancakes quickly disappeared with thanks to the eager stomachs of the X-men, who complimented Jake on his culinary skills.  Just as the last were finished, Victor and Logan walked in and closed in on the coffee machine.  As Logan passed Jubilee he gave her an affectionate ruffle of her hair, earning a slap.

¡¦So you two aren¡¦t going to try to kill one another anymore?¡¦ Jubilee asked, looking hopeful to the men.

Victor and Logan looked to one another and shrugged.

¡¦Nah pup, yer Pappy Logan and I ain¡¦t gonna kill each other.¡¦ Victor remarked as he took in the rich aroma of the coffee.

¡¦And I ain¡¦t gonna go running off on ya.  I owe ya that and more and hope to make up fer the past times.¡¦ Logan remarked as he walked over, crouching next to Jubilee and then gave her a big bear hug.

Everyone in the room let collective sigh of approval pass, though in their hearts they knew this was only the beginning of the healing that needed to be done.