| Becoming X; Chapter Twenty, Goodbyes | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Aug 13 2010, 10:51 AM (147 Views) | |
| LoganActor | Aug 13 2010, 10:51 AM Post #1 |
Plays Logan on TV!
|
Chapter Twenty Liam Kynde's Room, Xavier's School for Gifted Children Westchester, New York February 13, 2005 hours Liam sat on the edge of his desk, staring into Laura's eyes, trying to come up with the right words to say. He'd been sitting there silently for a minute and a half. He'd asked her to meet him in his room, through the mansion's locator system. Now, faced with explaining why he was leaving the mansion, he had no idea what to say. And so he sat in the recently stripped room, with his duffel bags next to the door, letting the silence stretch on and on. "Why do I get the feeling you're about to tell me something I won't like?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at him. He sighed, and folded his arms. "Because you won't. I'm about to tell you something, and it's the same thing I'm going to tell everyone else, but I thought that you at least deserved to know that you're being lied to, and why." he said. "You're my friend. My best friend, probably, and I want to be as honest as I can with you." She gave him a suspicious look, but nodded. "Alright. Go ahead." He took a deep breath, and forced the words to come out of his mouth. "I'm leaving tonight. The Army has reactivated me. I got the call this afternoon, and they told me that they'd come here in force to retrieve me if I refused." he said. She smiled slightly. "Okay. You're right. That's a lie. Keep going." "They told me that they'd hold the school responsible if I refused, and they'd make life for anyone here...unpleasant." he said. "I'm going back to training. Some guerilla resistance needs Rangers to come train their people to fight the wars we know how to fight. Apparently the guy in charge is very important to the President." She shook her head. "Why are you telling me this? Why the lie?" "Because it's safer that way. If nobody knows where I'm going, nobody can follow and get into trouble, or be tied to what I'm going to do." She sniffed the air delicately, her nostrils flaring. "You're not lying anymore." He shook his head. "So you're going somewhere that is potentially dangerous. You're leaving on short notice. The Army has nothing to do with it. Your decision has stemmed from the attacks at Christmas?" Liam blinked. He hadn't expected her to pick up on it so fast. Of course, he should've known better. "Sort of. It's been on my mind for a while, but the attacks sort of cemented it. There are some things I need to take care of, but I can't say what they are." She snorted at him. "You are so transparent, Liam. Logan will see right through this faster than I did. I know what you're doing. If he doesn't already know what you're doing, he will soon." she said. "He won't know where you're going, but he's going to understand what you're doing, just like I do." He nodded. "I know. That's why I'm not telling him." he said. "I'm telling Scott and Emma next, and then my classes. Then I'm gone. I may be back, and I may not." "So that's it? This is you saying goodbye." she said exasperatedly, standing up. "Come on, Laura. Don't be like that. Believe it or not, I'm doing the right thing here. I really am." he said. "It's not like you're going to wilt away without me." She frowned at him. "What is that supposed to mean?" Liam rolled his eyes. "You and Julian are so retarded for each other its...its...its retarded. You to idiots belong together." "That's not your choice to make." she said, poking a finger into his chest. "If you had to choose right now, would it be me?" She opened her mouth to reply, but no sound came out. She stared angrily at him for a long moment and then gave him a frustrated grunt, turning away. "That's what I thought." he said. "Look, I just wanted to tell you what I can, because as your friend, I thought I owed you that much." She stood there with her back to him for several long moments before she spoke. Her voice was so soft at first that he didn't catch what she said and he had to ask her to repeat it. "Don't go?" she asked softly. Liam sighed again, slowly rising to his feet. "I have to." he said. "I don't have a choice." She rounded on him so swiftly that he thought she was going to punch him, but she just shoved him. Her hair swung out of her face, and he saw the tears spilling down her cheeks. "What the hell, Liam?" she sniffled, just a hint of a smile curling her lips upwards. "You come in and save me from a living nightmare, and make me feel like an actual person, and help get me to the point that I'm not afraid of going after what I want, and then you just up and leave? That's a dick move, Liam. A real dick move." He had to try hard to keep the smile off his face. "Well, I'm sorry to have upset you like this, Laura, but you can go fuck yourself." he said, keeping his face as neutral as he could. "Ass." she said, reaching up to wrap her arms around his neck, and burying her face in his shoulder. "I'm going to miss you. And it may not be in the normal way, but I love you." Liam smiled, and returned the hug. "I know." Pool Area, Xavier's School for Gifted Children Westchester, New York February 13, 2030 hours Liam kept his mind carefully neutral as he stepped out onto the patio behind the school. He heard the sound of bubbling water, and followed it to the hot tub. As he turned the corner, he found Emma sitting in the color changing bubbly water, immersed up to her shoulders, eyes closed, a pleased smile on her face. He couldn't see any hint of a bathing suit, but didn't really try to hard, keeping his eyes above the waterline. "You're leaving." she said, without opening her eyes. Liam smirked. "You don't seem to broken up about that fact." She smiled a bit wider, and opened one eye just enough to see him. "Oh, my dear boy, I've got my qualms about it, but one cannot be bothered by such trivial matters when submerged in pure bliss. For instance, you're blaring mental white noise so loud that it almost hurts, but I'm not upset." she said. "You're about to lie to me, but I'm not upset. I can't tell why you're lying, or what the truth is, and I don't care to try at the moment, because I'm not upset." Liam smiled and sat on the edge of the hot tub. "Does this mean you trust me?" She laughed, and settled deeper into the water, keeping only her head above water. "Not even a little bit, but I don't think you're going to do anything overly stupid. You've weighed the pros and cons of staying or leaving, and made what appears to be a rational choice." she said. "Then again, I've been wrong before." "I'm leaving tonight. The Army has reactivated me. Told me that they'd come here in force to retrieve me if I refused." he said. "They'll hold the school responsible if I refuse, and they'd make life for anyone here...unpleasant. Some guerrilla resistance needs Rangers to come train their people to fight. Apparently the guy in charge is very important to the President." "You're lying, my boy." she said, still smiling. "It's not nice to be evasive. "It's not nice to rub the inside of a stranger's head raw just because you can." he said, though he hadn't felt even the slightest brush against his mind. She sighed pleasantly. "It's nice to know some things never change." she said, closing her eyes again. "Have fun on whatever little adventure you've got planned. Don't get dead. There will be a place for you here if you feel the need to return." Liam nodded. "I will. I'll try not to embarrass you while I'm out in the world." Emma chuckled. "Don't be silly. Of course you will." she said, grinning. "Now go. Scott's on his way here for deliciously inappropriate things of which you can only dream. I'll save you the trouble of giving him your notice, and I'll have the silly little taxi you've called to take you to the airport changed to something more appropriate. But you owe me one." Liam nodded again, and stood up. "Thanks, Frosty. If you need to call in that favor, let it be known. Someone will get in contact with me." "Likely story, Liam." she said, as he walked away. Front Drive, Xavier's School for Gifted Children Westchester, New York February 13, 2050 hours Liam sat on the edge of the school's front steps, watching stars twinkle in the darkness as he waited on his ride to the airport. From the far end of the driveway, he heard the sound of two motorcycles coming in onto the property. Logan's bike's roar was unmistakable, but the other one sounded like a sport bike. Kurt, Liam guessed. He saw the bike's headlights chasing shadows through the tree lined driveway, as the two men sped along, pulling into the circular drive just in front of Liam. To his surprise, the second rider was Hank. They both swung their kickstands down and dismounted their bikes. "Hey, kid." Logan said, chewing on the end of a lit cigar. "Goin' someplace?" Liam nodded. "Away. Army stuff." Logan snorted. "Bullshit." Liam shrugged. "Duty calls." Hank shook his head. "'Concern yourself with right action. Let duty take care of itself.' Qui-Gon Jinn. What's going on?" Logan just snorted again. "Kid's got himself a mission. Something that's takin' him away from the school. Looks like a man with a crusade." Liam shook his head as he stood up, dusting himself off. "Nope. Just a job. Gotta go train another army to fight another war." Logan shrugged. "Don't get dead. I'll keep a beer in the fridge for ya." he said, clapping the younger man on the shoulder as he passed by. "Indeed. Should you need anything in your travels, don't hesitate to call on us." Hank said, shaking Liam's hand as another set of headlights began traveling up the driveway. "Be safe, my young friend." Liam nodded. "Thanks guys." he said, hefting his duffel bags off of the ground. The front doors closed behind them, and Liam stepped out into the drive, watching as the black vehicle pulled into the circular path. It was a matte black military style Hummer H1 Alpha, with matte black bumpers, running bars, and a huge grill protector. The light bar across the top of the windshield went dark before it swept over Liam, and the driver pulled to a stop right next to him. "Well, I suppose sending me a vehicle of war is more appropriate. Thanks, Frosty." Liam muttered. The driver, a short, thin blonde man dressed in a neatly pressed black suit, got out and came around the front of the truck. "Good evening, sir. I am Alexander. You would be Mister Kynde?" he asked in a slightly British accent. Liam nodded. "Yeah. That's me." "Very good, sir. Please allow me to get your bags." Liam handed one duffel bag over and followed Alexander to the rear of the vehicle. Alexander opened the rear hatch, and they both placed the duffels inside. Alexander went back around and opened the rear passenger door, and Liam climbed into the warm cab. On the seat he found a large, highly polished wooden box, with an envelope lying on top. He fastened his seat belt and then picked up the envelope. He slid it open, and found a simple note in Emma's elegant handwriting. 'Do come back safely. I'd hate to think that I've wasted so much time on you. Hopefully these will help you keep yourself in one piece.' He set the envelope aside, and picked up the box. It was heavy, and warm to the touch. He opened the lid as Alexander climbed back into the driver seat. "Where to, sir?" the driver asked. Liam smiled down at the box's contents, and closed the lid. "LaGuardia. I've got a flight to catch." |
 |
 
|
| Gorvar | Aug 13 2010, 03:45 PM Post #2 |
Self claimed fanfic critic.
|
The Goodbye between Laura and Liam really made me smile, bittersweet really. Those two are good friends, and it's nice that you touch upon that aspect as well instead of 'girlfriend/boyfriend'. Liked the retard line to haha. Logan also made my day, seemed very Ic for him to say. |
|
|
|
| LoganActor | Aug 13 2010, 03:51 PM Post #3 |
|
Plays Logan on TV!
|
Thankies. Thankies. I really hated to see Liam have to leave so abruptly, but this next chapter of his life is screaming in my head, and I've gotta get it out before it drives me bonkers. |
|
|
|
| Gorvar | Aug 14 2010, 04:11 AM Post #4 |
|
Self claimed fanfic critic.
|
You seen Inception? Yeh, i think somebody planted an idea in your mind dude. Edited by Gorvar, Aug 14 2010, 04:11 AM.
|
|
|
|
| LoganActor | Aug 14 2010, 07:54 AM Post #5 |
|
Plays Logan on TV!
|
*chuckles* I did. And it was EPIC! |
|
|
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
 |
|
| « Previous Topic · Short Stories and Poetry · Next Topic » |
6:57 PM Feb 11