| PROM NIGHT AUTHOR: SISTERWINE RATING: R PAIRINGS: NONE WARNINGS: MENTION OF (underage) RAPE, ADULT LANGUAGE, ADULT CONTENT. DISCLAIMERS: THE X-MEN (Remy and Logan, Jean Grey and BellaDonna) BELONG TO MARVEL AND 20TH CENTURY FOX. NO MONEY EXCHANGED, NO SELLING. RHYTHM AND DAVID, ON THE OTHER HAND, ARE OWNED COMPLETELY BY ME! SUMMARY: Continuance of my "Memories of the Future" chronicles. Rhythm is graduating highschool, but first she must survive Prom Night. The doorbell chimed at half past 6. Logan had been coming down the stairs, on his way to the kitchen, for dinner. Sighing as the beel dinged again, he casually walked over and opened it to stare at a nervous young man in a pressed black tuxedo. Looking the kid up and down for a moment, he asked. "Can I help you?" An eyebrow raised as the young man stepped back and opened his mouth to say something. He imagined he had been somewhat intimidating to the young man, in his white muscle shirt and denim jeans tight enough to reveal outlines of his muscled legs, and faded cowboy boots. "I- I'm here for MacKensie--?" The young man of 17 stared back at Logan, through the thin mesh of the screendoor that separated them. His blond hair had been short and spiked at the top, illuminating like a halo in the bright yellow porch light. Hazel eyes peered out from under twin, thin lines of brown eyebrows, looking behind the well-muscled wall of a man before him for his date. The clear box containing a large white corsaige shook in his hands as the screen door opened and he stepped past Logan, to stand in the entranceway. A tall, slender woman came to stand at the top of the stairs and look down at the two men before turning and returning to where she had come from. Her red hair was long and flowing over her small, magenta halter-top. The blue denim shorts rubbed together and gave soft moans at each touch. Knocking on Rhythm's door before entering, she opened it quietly and slipped in, careful not to let anyone passing see the girl getting ready. "I believe your date's here, hun." She smiled and sat down on the bed to watch Rhythm put the final touches on while standing in front of her dresser with the mirror on top. "You'd better make an entrance before Logan chases him away." Rhythm turned around to see Jean's approval and smooth her long, shiny silver evening gown, out of nerves. "I look okay?" Looking about herself at her long, strapless gown that was lowcut with a slit from her ankle to the top of her right thigh. Her blakc hair had been pulled back into a long-clip and curled into ringletts. Strips of white ribbon had intertwined themselves into her hair and were nearly the full length of her long black locks as they brushed against the bottom of her ribcage. Sparkling purple earrings matched the dark violet of her eyes and accented her dark red lips. Two strings of pearls wrapped around her slender left wrist, and matched the ivory pendant of a rose on the black-ribboned choker she wore. Her shoes had been a shiny white and heeled at 3 inches tall. "You look so beautiful, sweetie." Jean smiled and stood to take Rhythm's hands in hers and guide her into a hug. "You have certainly grown up to be so pretty. Any man would be silly to turn you away." Jean said as the hug broke and she lead the way to the door and opened it. A brief glance before giving Rhythm the okay to come out, and walk down the hall to stand at the top of the stairs. Stopping short of the stairway, Rhythm grabbed Jean's arm and asked in a whisper. "Where's Poppa?" Jean was silent for a moment, then answered. "He's in the kitchen." Smiling to reassure the young woman, she added. "I'll annouce you. He'll come in to see his baby girl, all grown up and so beautiful." She winked. Rhythm blushed and released Jean to watch her turn and take a step onto the staircase and stop. "Announcing a very beautiful daughter, and young woman-- Remy, get in here--" Waiting as a shuffle of papers and footsteps came from the kitchen into the entranceway, before continuing. "Miss R. MacKensie LeBeau." Taking a step to the right, and turning to watch as Rhythm gracefully turned the corner and stood there a moment, to see four smiling faces stare up at her, before placing a hand on the bannister and elegantly stepping slowly down the stairs. As Rhythm reached the last step, she stopped and smiled at her date before turning to look at Remy, who now leaned against the end of the bannister. Glancing at Logan, who also smiled and stared at her in awe of her beauty, she ran her top front teeth over her shiny red lips, out of nerves. Jean had gone back down the hallway to fetch her camcorder that had only been as big as a soda can. When she came back, Remy and Logan were standing side by side and talking to Rhythm's date. Turning the camera on, she began filming as soon as she had come around the corner. A slow descent, catching each of their faces, starting with Logan, then Remy, then Rhythm's date and finally Rhythm from head to toe. Rhythm turned her head to watch Jean coming down the stairs and filming her, at the same time. Tilting her head and giving Jean a silly look with her eyes crossed and tongue out to the right, she stopped and giggled. Holding her arms out and turning around so that the camera could capture the entire outfit, she laughed quietly and came to a stop in the pose she had originally been in before. The young man smiled as he stared at Rhythm. Taking her right hand and placing the corsaige on her wrist, he smiled nervousy, as the camera lens focused on him. A cold shiver ran down his back as the corner of his eye caught Logan watching him in a concerned tone. Remy held the door open for them and said goodbye, adding a time for Rhythm to be home as well as a "Have a good time!", as the couple headed for a cherry red thunderbird. He watched as they drove off and turned to the right at the gate, at the end of the long drive. "Well, she's not a li'l girl no more." "Yea." Logan came to stand behind him and watch the car turn and disappear. "Scary, huh?" Remy gave a short laugh. "Yea." He nodded. "Dat boy... he better be good ta her." This time it was Logan's time to nod. "Somethin wasn't right with that kid. Too jumpy." ~*~*~*~*~*~ Rhythm had a way of making people sit up and take notice, in no matter what she did. On the dance floor, she was amazing to watch. And, everyone including teachers stepped back to see the beautiful young woman dance with her date. She moved as though she were an elegant ballerina dancing to soft melodies of romantic songs. When the music changed, she changed, also. Never once slipping, or stumbling. Turns, dips, Cajun music, flawless performances. A smile firmly planted itself on her lips. Her senses were in high voltage as she had seemed to have a feel for the room. Remy had always taught her to stay alert and graceful. Stepping over one girl's outstretched foot and turning back to delicately glare and shake her head at her, Rhythm continued to dance with her date. On the last song, an old melody about a man trying to catch a woman's eye and innocently ask her if he is whom she was looking for, in love. David had been as tall as her, and was surprised that she had trusted him to lay her head on his right shoulder. She hadn't been that close to him since they had decided to go out. Holding hands and innocent kisses were all he had been allowed to have. Resting his head on hers, and dancing slowly to the music, he whispered to her. "I'm kinda gettin tired o' dancin. Wanna go grab some ice cream or somethin?" Lifting her head from his shoulder and staring into his eyes as the multi-coloured lights on the ceiling moved and flickered in intervals, she agreed and smiled. Her eyes had sparkled and faintly glowed, almost unnoticably, but he caught it. Letting him lead her from the floor, they left the auditorium and headed for his car. "Hey Dave!" A boy in a small group of half-drunk misfits who had been either ousted from the dance, or only showed up to keep to the parking lot, had called to them as they walked to his car. "We're goin to the boathouse down by the swampstart. Ya wanna come? You can bring yer hot foxy!" The boy, himself, had been dressed in denim jeans and a faded grey (previously black) rock T-shirt, and a black leather jacket. As David's car had been in the first row of the long line of cars, they had stopped halfway between the school and the car to decide. He looked at her uncertain expression. "So, um... ya wanna go?" He turned back to glance at the group, some 10 cars down from them. She thought for a minute. "It's getting late, and I should probably get home. 'Sides, I'm not really in the old, rickety boathouse clothes, ya know?" Taunting and cheering came from the group, behind them. Some calling his name and telling him to kiss her or darg her along. David turned back to look at them and then called over to them that they weren't going to make it. And the boy who had originally called to them had dropped his half-gone cigarette onto the ground and stomped it out and came closer to them. Putting an arm around each of them, he lowered his voice and asked for the "real" reason. He had been about as tall as Remy, only missing his height by a quarter inch, and was about as lanky as Remy. "So, you two kids wanna be alone? Gonna get hot and sweaty in the front seat, huh?" He laughed. His voice was deep but occasionally lifted to a higher note on some words and syllables. Removing both of his arms as Rhythm had lightly pushed his arm off of her shoulders with her left hand, he moved back and stood there, waiting for an answer. "Naw, she's not into it, tonight." David looked at her and sighed in subtle disappointment. "I'll take her home, and meet ya there, okay?" Rhythm nodded in agreement. The young man in the leather jacket looked Rhythm up and down, stopping briefly at her hips, and then smiled. "Yea. See ya man!" He winked at David and then left them to rejoin the group of kids, piling into the back of a restored, late-model Ford pickup from the 1940s. Howling and cat calls filled the air as the truck engine roared and backed out of the parking space to stop with a screech, before barreling past them. Checking the watch on his left wrist, David walked her to the passenger side of the car and opened the door. "Come on, I'll take ya home." He waited for her to sit down and make sure everything was inside before shutting the door and walking around the back to his side. As he opened his door and sat down, he slid the key into the column and started the engine. Reaching for the heater, and configuring a warming heat, he then reached to his left and shut the door. "Not quite ten, ya wanna go for that ice cream, and then a quick drive by the lake to see the stars?" Feeling a mix of his emotions, Rhythm reluctantly agreed. "For a bit, okay? Have to get up early, tomorrow." David nodded and backed out of the space and headed for the closest ice cream place. ~*~*~*~*~*~ Logan had started pacing the livingroom. His ears had been opened to hear anything resembling the growl of the Thunderbird, so far, nothing but crickets. He was growing very impatient. He hadn't found it strange that he was more worried than Remy had been, when Rhythm hadn't come home at 10. At ten minutes past, Jean came downstairs to check on Logan. "Still not home, huh?" Logan stopped pacing, with his back to her. "Nope." He sighed. Hands on hips and head bowed, shaking slightly, he knew it was a bad idea to let her go without a chaperone. For a week and a half, Logan had been helping her with her powers as they had taken on a life of their own. He could only help as far as dealing with her senses and controlling her mother's "gift". Jean had been there to help Rhythm control her advancing powers from both parents, as well as control her own emotions and set them apart from others. She worked with Remy as he had shown Rhythm how to balance charges, draw them back in, and transfer things with her mind from one object to another. Things had been going farely well, and Rhythm had learned very quickly. Jean had almost wished Rogue had been there to help as Rhythm occasionally slipped and either zapped Remy with a charged object, or took on another trait from Logan, or herself. "I'm goin to look for her." Logan finally stated as he turned to go back upstairs to grab his motorcycle keys. Jean halted him as he passed her on the stairs. "Do you think this is wise? Are you sure you aren't over reacting? Maybe they had a flat tire, or hit bad traffic." She stared as calmly as she could into his eyes and could see his anger and worry for Rhythm fill him and almost seep through his pores. Logan took a breath before answering. "That David kid--, he just didn't quite sit well with me. Ever since she started bringin him home, he's been too jumpy. And, I aint talkin about just around me, or the Cajun." Glancing up to the top of the stairs, then back at her, he continued. "Even with the inhibitor on her, she's managed to destroy somethin, if not shortin out the bracelet itself. I just feel..... somethin's wrong." At about that time, Remy had come down the corridor and turned to meet them on the stairs. Tossing Logan a look of equal, but concealed concern, he jingled the keys to his raised, black F350 truck and continued down the stairs without a word. His faded monterey swaying and snapping as he walked to the front door and opened it before pausing to see if Logan was following. "We'll be back soon." Logan promised as he turned to gow back down stairs and follow Remy out to the truck. Shutting the door behind him, he looked up to see Remy had already backed out of the garage and was waiting for him. Quickly and silently, he climbed into the cab and shut the door. Neither said a word, and neither knew exactly what to say. Rhythm had always used her empathy to weed through others' emotions and guard herself against attempts of hurt. And the one person she finally opened up to, was not scoring very high with Remy or Logan. It wasn't that they didn't like him, or that they felt she wasn't ready to date. It was simply the fact that something about the boy was indescribably unnerving to both of them. They started with the school, but found it hard to find David's car, or them. Remy stopped the truck and asked a passing teacher, through the rolled down window on his side, if he had seen Rhythm. "Yes. They left about an hour ago. Some of the students-- hoodlums-- had been talking about a boathouse down by the old Monteaux farm. They get together down there and throw parties. You might try there. If not, I usually see MacKensie head for the ice cream shop down on Bonnaville." A tall, thin man with short brown hair and black rimmed glasses had stood by the exit to the student parkinglot. His brown suit had been pressed and shone like a copper penny in the headlights of the cars behind Remy's truck. Remy nodded and waved. "Merci." "You think she'd go to the boathouse?" Logan asked as he stared out his opened window. The dark tint on the glass had made it even darker, and harder to see. Remy bit the right corner of his mouth and pulled out onto the main street from the dirt road leading to the high school. "Non. She don' like t' swim. Dat, an' she not exactly dressed f'r de boat, no?" As they neared the ice cream shop, Logan held up his hand and pointed to a direction for Remy to turn. Heading down a dark and scantily lit road, they came to a clearing that opened up to Lake Ponchartrain. "There." Logan spotted the car but not the two with it. Stopping the truck some feet away and cautiously slipping out of the driver's side, Remy came to stand in front of the truck and wait. He could feel something wrong, but wasn't sure from where. ~*~*~*~*~*~ David leaned closer to her. Kissing her shoulder, he whispered into her ear that she looked nice, and smelled nice too. His seatbelt had been off and he leaned back in his seat, as the tightness in his trousers was becoming unbearable. Lifting a finger to place under her chin and turn her head from the windscreen to him, he leaned over and they kissed briefly. "I need to go home, David." Rhythm whispered, pulling away from him, slightly. Her eyes sparkled as the moonlight shone in through the driver's side window. Her eyes met his and she began to feel a bit crowded as his emotions seeped into her mind. Slouching back into his seat, he frowned and sighed in anger. Thinking of something to say, he turned to look back at her before changing his position and leaning in to kiss her. "Come on, we've been goin t'gether fer 6 months, and all I get is a kiss and 'goodnight'?" His temper sparked anger as well as lust. "It's been great, and yer family is real nice. But, Kensie, this is our prom night. Last days of high school..... don't ya want it to be special?" He smiled, coyly. His left hand lifted to the slit in her dress and traced the top seam before sliding his hand under it to rest it on her left thigh. Rhythm raised her right hand and placed it on his chest to push him away. "Home. David. Memorable, yes, but somethings shouldn't be done in a car, or on spur. Please, just take me home?" She asked again as her eyes glowed a more noticable red. Turning to look away and closing her eyes, she had a feeling of what he'd do next, and she was right. "Let go!" She screamed as David had taken the initiative and slide the dress completely over to her right side and climb over, on top of her. "Ya know, I've never done it with a mutie, before." His words had halted her protests and caused her to stare at him in hurt shock. Quickly, he leaned the seat back and began unfastening his trousers in the moments she had been in shock. As he reached his hand between her legs and pulled at the material, he was pushed back and deafened by her shrill scream of "No!" in his ears. "David, stop!" Before either could do anything else, the passenger door opened and a big, strong arm reached in and removed the young man from the vehicle. Two more arms followed as Remy's long brown jacket was being placed over her slightly torn dress. It had been torn in the struggle as Remy reached in and grabbed David by the front of the shirt to pull him out. Rhythm held the jacket in front of her and quickly exited the car to throw her arms around Logan and bury her face into his left shoulder, muffling her sobs. Her body shook uncontrollably, and the more she shook, the tighter she'd held on to Logan. Remy's jacket had smushed between them, and she felt Logan grab hold of it and slide it out to the right before placing it around her shoulders. "S'okay, darlin. Shh." Logan had been facing Remy and watched as the angry Cajun slammed the youth's back against the nearest tree and leaned in to settle nose to nose with David. Remy bared his teeth and held even tighter to the pressed white shirt the young man wore. "Dat's my daughter you were 'bout to touch!" He had tried to remain calm but his ears and head rang of Rhythm screaming in protest. "She aint de type to be playin your game, chile. Remember dat, an' I won' have ta have a talk wit' your parents. D'accord?" David nodded, nervously. When Remy let him go, he immediately stumbled as he cautiously and briskly walked around, behind them and the car to get in to the driver's side and start the car. Not bothering to shut the passenger door, David backed up and spun out to leave the parkinglot. Rhythm had been glued to Logan and hadn't stopped shaking or crying as Logan had bent down to scoop up her legs over his left arm and carry her back to the truck. His words of comfort had been mingled in her ears with her own sobs and Remy's words of anger at the young man who had tried to rape his daughter. She was placed in the backseat and slid over to let Logan climb up beside her. Wrapping herself up in the man's arms, again, she cried on his chest and slurred an apology to Remy, stating that he had been right in thinking she wasn't ready to date. The entire way home, Rhythm had cried and cursed being a mutant. Pulling into the driveway and stopping in front of the front porch, She pushed her way over Logan and opened the door to run for the house. Tears falling down her pale cheeks as she threw open the door and ran for upstairs. "Is everything okay?" Jean had been sitting at the kitchen table, talking to BellaDonna, when Rhythm had burst in, followed by Remy and Logan. ~*~*~*~*~*~ Rhythm lay on her bed, covered by Remy's monterey, crying into her pillow. She had barely heard the soft knock on the door, but sat up to hear Jean's voice ask if she was ok. Drying her eyes, she pushed the jacket off and kicked off her shoes before padding her way to the door. As the door opened, but Rhythm hadn't shown herself, Jean nudged the door open and slipped inside. "Honey? Are you okay?" Jean squinted and tried to see in Rhythm in the dark room, as the lights had been left off. Taking a step more into the room, she turned around to see a glittering figure, sitting on the floor in a curled pose. The glowing eyes and soft sobs had given her the answer. "Sweetie, it's alright. You're safe, now." She knelt down and reached a hand out to soothe Rhythm's hair back from her damp cheek. She stopped as she was flinched away from. Blinking red glows stared at Jean. Her sobs had quieted and she huddled there. Thin knees were drawn up to her chest and held there by equally thin, shaking arms. "Poppa was right. Now, I'm just a tramp!" Her voice cleared as she said the words in a soft yell. "No. No, hun, you're not a tramp. He just didn't know when to stop." Jean soothed, sitting on her legs just a few feet from Rhythm. "Remy just cares for you, and wants you to be able to handle your powers, before you get into dating. When he came to us, we knew hardly anything about him, and learned the hard way about his own powers and charms. But, he just wants you to be able to hand both his, and Rogue's as you grow into them. He's not mad at you, sweetie. He loves you, and wants to keep you safe." She had tried to be as gentle as she could, and could understand how scary it must have been for Rhythm. Rhythm unfolded herself and cautiously slid over to embrace the older woman. Laying her head on Jean's shoulder, she whispered. "Fix me." "Fix you?" Rhythm nodded. "Don' wanna be dis.... monster.... dat I am. Why can' I jus' be normal?" Jean sighed. Her heart sank as Rhythm said those words. "Honey, I-- I can't fix you, but....." nudging Rhythm back to look at her and dry her eyes. "I can help. Okay?" Another nod and a sniffle before another hug and more sobs. ~*~*~*~*~*~ The next morning, Rhythm had been in her bed. After her talk with Jean, she had gone to the bathroom down the corridor and taken a shower, scrubbing herself over and over again before washing her hair at least 4 times. Sobs came and went in between fits of anger as she balled her hands and slammed the sides of her fists against the wall. Muffled curses and tears slipped out like syrup over hot pancakes. Slipping to the floor and crying as the water washed away the soap and anger, she stood up and finished her shower before slipping into her pajamas and then into bed. Her light overhead, had been turned off, and soft footsteps eased themselves closer to her bed as she slept. A gentle hand placed a red rose beside her on the pillow, and then retreated out of the room and shut the door. The footsteps continued down the corridor and then downstairs for breakfast and coffee. Rhythm had been facing the dresser, and opened her eyes to see the rose with a piece of paper attached. Lifting her right hand to hold up the paper and read the words, she breathed, heavily. "I'll always love you. No matter what you are. Poppa." Bring the petals to her nose, she inhaled and smiled. END. |