Fic: Starting Over (Scott/Logan) Chapter 11
Title: Starting Over (11/13)
Fandom: X-Men
Pairing: Scott/Logan
Rating: NC-17.
Word Count: 3905
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The scent of cigar smoke was overwhelmingly intoxicating as Scott opened his eyes, discovering that he was no longer in his home. Instead he was in the Professor's office, standing on the opposite side of the desk where a large, oversized chair was turned away from him. Taking a step forward Scott's thoughts were of Logan, of the thick rush of thrill that was associated with the man Scott loved. The cigar smoke had to be Logan, yet how were they already at the school again? How had they returned without Scott noticing? Where had the time gone? How could he be…?
"Scott," a familiar voice beckoned him from his silent questioning. At first he'd anticipated Logan or even Charles, but when the chair swung around, he was met by Jean's eyes upon him. Gasping he took a step back.
"Jean," Scott tried to mute his surprise, but it was no use as she stood up, pushing herself into his mind, "how…how can you be here?"
"You didn't really think that I would disappear forever, did you Scott?" she asked telepathically, her thoughts channeling into him and making him increasingly uncomfortable. He brought his hands up over his head in an attempt to push her out of his mind, but it was no use.
"You need to relax," she shook her head at him. Her lips curved upward in the beginnings of a smirk, "this isn't going to hurt anymore."
"It's never stopped hurting Jean," Scott tossed back at her painfully, "I'm sorry that I caused you pain for the things I've done, but don't you think I've suffered enough? Can't you see that you've stolen so many things from me that I'll never be able to recover?"
"I didn't steal anything from you that you can't recover from Scott. You've always had everything you ever needed inside of you," her features softened, her words becoming more gentle, softer. Her lips parted finally pulling herself out of his mind now that she stood before him, "Scott, I never meant to harm you."
"Jean," he spoke her name faintly, feeling her stroke the side of his face. He closed his eyes taking in the movement as her fingers tapered off into his hair. His thoughts returned to Logan, to being with the man who made him so very happy, but guilt invaded him, ripping the thought from his brain. Reopening his eyes he saw Jean again, right beside him, lips hovering over his in a breath of a whisper away from his mouth, "please…"
"I know you love him Scott. Your heart showed me that from the start, but I didn't want to believe," she whispered, her breath striking against his cheek, down over the crease opening his mouth, "I felt it long before you were his."
"I'm sorry," Scott sighed, overtaken by the guilt he'd experienced in moving on into love with Logan. While he wished that he could say something to comfort Jean it was the only thing that felt appropriate in the moment. His feelings for her were always special to him, but his love for Logan was so much more a part of who he truly was. He only wished he could've seen it before promising her a future in their time together.
"I know you are. Given your heart, how could you not be? I know how much you wanted to make everyone happy for so long Scott," she nodded, her words softening further with each caress her finger made upon the hollow of his cheekbone.
"I tried so hard," he answered somberly dropping his head down, "all I wanted was for us all to have peace and…"
"You're a good man Scott. That's why I loved you," she continued in a smooth, soothing tone. Her words carried over him, caressed every part of him in a loving embrace before she coaxed him to meet her eyes again. "It's why a part of me will always love you."
"Jean," Scott opened his mouth to say something, anything that would take away from all the mistakes he'd made. If only he could've been stronger. If only he could've found a way to prevent disaster from overtaking them all…
"It's time to let go Scott," she whispered against him. The vibrations of her voice ringing through his ears. She tangled her hand through his hair gently, coaxing him to lean in closer to her. She arched up pressing a chaste kiss against his mouth, "I forgive you."
"You mean…?" he began at a loss feeling her moving away from him.
"I just hope one day you can find it in your heart to forgive me for how I deceived you Scott," she touched the side of his face, her eyes wounded and sad in the moment, "I know how much I've hurt you, but I wanted to do what was right. I needed to cause you pain to save him."
"Logan?" Scott questioned seeing the way that her face tightened at his word. Suddenly they were back at the water again, revisiting the place where life had dramatically changed for the both of them.
"I'm too dangerous. I'm out of control and I knew it long before you found me. He deserved so much better. We deserved so much more," Jean's words were broken, her eyes clouding over with tears, "We should've given him that Scott. You have to give him a chance…an opportunity to have what we couldn't give him."
"Jean, you're not making sense," Scott blinked back at her. She opened her mouth, lips moving, but no words came out, "Jean, I can't hear you…"
"The best thing we ever did together Scott," her words echoed in his mind, "I know…never regret…"
"Jean," Scott felt her pulling away from him. There was something on her face, something inside of her causing her skin to glow. He moved forward sensing danger, but she kept sliding backwards towards the water.
"You have to escape," her words echoed in his mind, "You're strong. You need to break free of this nightmare. You still have your powers inside of you. You have to…"
"Jean," he called out to her again, trying to reach out to her in the haze.
"Save him Scott. Find him…protect him. He needs you…please…" Jean's head tipped back and she let out a loud shrill of a scream. Fire exploded in the sky causing a blinding light to surround Scott. It sent him to his knees and then in an instant everything was gone. There was only darkness.
"Jean!" Scott screamed through the darkness, terror coiling through his body now that he'd awakened with a start uncertain of where he was. He was still surrounded by thick blackness, a sour, musty aroma surrounding him. He stretched his fingers out feeling the floor beneath him. It was cold, dirty, textured and rough at his fingertips. Wherever he was, he was certain it was the last place he or anyone else wanted to be.
Pulling himself up off of the ground, Scott thought back to the chain of events before he'd awakened. He could remember being with Logan, leaving the hotel room to pack and then…
"Victor," Scott mouthed remembering the face of the man who had blindsided him. Now as Scott felt a throbbing ache in his head, he tried to process what was happening to him. He could remember going for the gun, trying to run away and being caught. He could remember the nails, the torment and the scratch across the base of his throat. Bringing his hand up Scott expected to feel the roughness of his wound, but like with his hand earlier the skin was smooth, free of any type of blemish.
"What's going on?" Scott questioned quietly, hearing the sound of footsteps approaching. They were enough to bring him back to reality, to the fear that Victor was returning to finish the job he'd started back in the house. Thinking about Jean's encouraging words on escaping, Scott wondered if that was even an option.
Feeling around his cell, Scott stood in the back, his mind reeling with notions about where he could go, about what he could do to find a way out, but before he could come up with a strategy the door to his cell opened and Victor stood before him. With angry eyes, Victor marched forward seizing Scott by the collar and dragging him out of the room. Scott tried to break out of his grasp, but he was met by the feel of Victor's fist buried in the side of his face. Blood pooled in the back of his throat upon impact, pain reverberating through him when he fell limp in Victor's grasp. Scott coughed, lowering his head and resigning himself to his fate when Victor dragged him down a long, darkened hallway.
"Did you really think you stood a chance in hell of making it out of this alive?" Victor's voice taunted menacingly. He continued to slide Scott over the cold, stone floor before stopping in front of an oversized metal door. "Jimmy might've lost his mind, but he's certainly not going to stay that way because of you."
"Logan's going to find me," Scott exhaled deeply, finding the strength to speak up against the man who had taken him away from the safety and security of his home.
"I fully intend on that happening," Victor mouthed kicking open the door. He threw Scott over his shoulder, carrying him into the room and tossing him onto a cold, metal, reclining chair. Within a matter of seconds Scott was strapped down to it covered in thick strips of metal. They clasped around his wrists, seized his ankles, squeezed at his chest, abdomen and wrapped around the top of his head. He twisted and fought against the restraints, but it was no use.
"This time we don't have to worry about a blindfold," Victor mused enthusiastically, pulling Scott from his moment of protest. Reaching out to squeeze Scott's cheeks tightly, he forced Scott to meet his eyes again, "This time you're going to be able to relish in every single second of the exquisite torture I have planned for you. You won't miss a thing."
"You won't get away with this," Scott mouthed angrily, refusing to reveal the fear that consumed him with Victor hovering over him. Scott puffed out his chest knowing the motion made it harder to breathe, but there was no way in hell he was going to beg for mercy from a soulless monster. "Logan will hunt you down."
"When he arrives he'll realize that I liberated him. I freed him from the train wreck waiting to happen," Victor snarled, his jagged teeth revealing themselves through the darkness. He reached for a button reclining the chair back further so that Scott was stretched out before him, laid out like a buffet table, all his for the sadistic taking and torture that was right around the corner.
"He'll destroy you," Scott spat back at him, still defiant in his approach when Victor's nails expanded into thick, gnarled claws. Scott gulped watching Victor raise his hand in the air, centering in over Scott's chest gleefully.
"As long as he returns, I'll be happy that he's mine," Victor tore into Scott's chest, taking skin and fabric within his nails with the movement. He ripped into Scott's flesh, causing him to recoil with involuntary pain. Still Scott refused to scream, to cry out and give Victor the gratification he was seeking out. Amused Victor leaned in closer to him, "I see you've been practicing being brave boy, but we both know how that will end for you."
Scott glared up at him, spitting in Victor's face only to feel the nail dig deeper into the muscle between Scott's flesh, tearing and slashing inside Scott's body savagely. Scott's eyes rolled back into his head, his teeth sinking into his lip to refrain from screaming out. His fingers twisted, feet cramping with the restraints upon him, yet he remained silent.
"Do you really want to make this harder on yourself?" Victor dug deeper, the razor-sharp claws peeling at Scott's bloodied flesh.
"Go to hell!" Scott mouthed defiantly, his words coming out in a dark, rebellious fashion. He refused to back down, to give in to Victor's twisted desire for blood lust and pain.
"I should cut your tongue out," Victor seized Scott's face again, clenching it tighter than before, "Jimmy would certainly have no use for you after that. Then perhaps I'll go to your eyes and…"
Scott's pulse quickened, worry creeping over his body when Victor's nail pressed into the hollow of Scott's eye socket right above the bone. Still Scott kept his teeth over his lip, refusing to give in to his fears and reveal his weakness after all this time. Horrific images played in Scott's mind bringing him to the notion that he'd be surrounded by a world of darkness, yet he couldn't show his worries. He had to keep fighting silently.
"Pathetic," Victor moved his finger ever so slightly preparing to gouge out Scott's eye.
The dagger of a nail was a centimeter away from Scott's eye when Scott felt a warmth spill over his senses, carrying over his body and out into the room surrounding him. He winced feeling a throbbing, pounding pain inside of his head, over his limbs until finally he found himself in another time and place viewing the scene as an outsider looking in. There on the same chair Scott was strapped to now was a younger version of himself being tortured in the same fashion, tormented and broken by Victor. The lashings came into focus, the scrapes and the horrors, but soon it was replaced by something else…by the feeling of hope. He could feel his desperation shifting when a familiar voice surrounded him bringing him freedom.
The scene was hazy, but Scott started to see a group of young mutants running down a hallway much like the one he'd just been dragged down. They were searching for freedom, fighting to break away from the same torture Scott had been through. They were fleeing behind Scott working their way to freedom-to the safety that Charles was providing them with. Scott wanted to follow, to see where the road lead them, but deep down he already knew. He had lived it. He would be safe in that moment, but Logan…
"Logan," Scott mouthed to himself feeling the scene roll back to the moment when he'd been freed from his cell. His eyes widened, discovering that the man who had given him a second chance at survival was the man that he'd fallen in love with. There before him was an enraged Logan, furiously ripping away at the confinement Scott had been in with the others. He was offering them freedom in his quest for…
"Logan," Scott called out to him realizing that Logan couldn't hear him because this wasn't real. This wasn't happening in the moment, but when it had played out Scott knew he wouldn't have survived if it wasn't for Logan intervening and saving him. They'd been connected from that moment. Scott had owed Logan from that point on-had been indebted to the man who held his heart. Logan had saved him long before they'd known of each other. Why he hadn't realized it until now was beyond him, but as the missing pieces of Scott's time in confinement returned to him, he felt the puzzle becoming clearer.
Scott could recall being taken to the school, to having endured countless nightmares until Charles had promised to take them away. He'd seen Scott's pain, wanted to help the boy and in doing so, Charles had created a mental wall inside of Scott. Charles had used his powers to save Scott from the endless torture night after night when the memory of the horrific endeavor haunted Scott. Charles had blocked it all out to keep Scott's sanity in tact, yet in forgetting Scott lost his first memory of Logan. His mind had blocked Logan from his subconscious, but his body had never forgotten. His lust may have been a product of their second meeting, but Scott's loyalty to Logan began long before either one of them had realized it.
Returning to the torture of the present, Scott took a chance on freedom. Reaching his hand out from underneath the thick metal cuff, the tips of Scott's finger grazed Victor's leg, bringing with the movement a whole different set of memories. There was blood and violence, terror and wars and…
"Logan," Scott breathed opening his eyes to see everything played out before him in vivid color. Victor and Logan were brothers, teaming up to make the most of their existence long before they knew there was another option-that there were others. Scott felt the memories deep in Victor's mind, revealing themselves to Scott more and more with each second. They were growing up together from children, to men, to soldiers and finally they were part of an unscrupulous team working together until Logan had enough. Scott could see Logan tearing off his dog tags, walking away and enraging Victor. The fury evolved into something dangerous. It set Victor over the edge, causing him to create more torment and chaos until he and Logan experienced a confrontation that ended with…
"What are you doing? You were in my head just now," Victor jumped back, pulling away from Scott with a gasp. His eyes widened, surprise registering behind his features. He looked to a bloodied Scott as if he's seen him for the first time ever. Bringing one hand up over Scott's head Victor groaned, "What happened with you?"
"He's your brother," Scott realized twisting his head just enough to see the way he'd blindsided Victor in the moment. "You're angry because he turned his back on you…because he walked away from your madness and became something more…"
"Shut up!" Victor snarled at Scott. He lunged forward bringing his nail up against Scott's throat slashing violently. The blood started to pour out causing Scott to choke. It started dripping down upon the table, but almost as soon as it began it dried up, the wound closing itself much to the surprise of both men. Victor repeated the process again and again causing nothing more in Scott then a fleeting few seconds of blood loss. Finally frustrated Victor stepped back watching Scott in silent horror, "What are you now?"
"The key to your undoing if you don't let me go," Scott warned, his voice darker in the moment. "Logan will destroy you for this."
"I'll take my chances and see how it fairs when he arrives," Victor stepped back cautiously, "You, on the other hand, I'll leave you for them. They'll do you far worse than I ever could. I would've at least turned your pain to exquisite torture, but they, well they will destroy you mercilessly without the pleasure."
Scott's fury built, expanding inside of him when Victor walked out of the room leaving him strapped down to the metal table. His eyes closed, heat radiating through his body, ripping through every synapse until finally at long last a thunderous bolt of energy pressed through him. He twisted his head to the side focusing on the restraints on his wrists when the first blast of red exploded from the depths of his blue eyes. It shattered the metal, causing it to explode around his skin. At first Scott winced, overtaken by pain with tiny pieces of metal embedded in his arm, but just as what happened before the wound healed itself. His closed his eyes when he realized his hand was free. Immediately he moved his hand up to his head, pulling at the vice grip of the restraint upon it.
"Damn it," he cursed feeling the metal peel away from his face, chest and abdomen like paper. He sat upright thinking about the other restraints upon him.
Knowing that the blasts were now a part of him, Scott hesitated knowing the strength of his power. He could readily tear himself to pieces with the blasts, yet in sitting there blind, awaiting Victor's return, he could lose everything. Taking in a breath Scott turned his head to the side hoping it was enough to play it safe. He opened his eyes again, preparing to blast the metal off of his wrist, but nothing happened. He blinked a couple of times, realizing his eyes were back to what they once were. He looked to the reflection on the wall revealing the same blue eyes he'd gotten used to after he'd lost his powers. They hadn't changed, yet in thinking about what he'd done to free his hand, Scott found himself at a loss. He hadn't imagined it. He couldn't have. There was no other explanation for what had happened. Still remembering the surge of strength he'd possessed Scott reached out to his wrist preparing to slash the metal away when the rest of his restraints twisted and groaned in protest, ripping away from his body in the blink of an eye.
Not one to question his good fortune Scott leapt off of the table, ready to make a great escape. He rushed over to the door ready to flee at long last, but before he could exit, it flung open to reveal Magneto standing before him with an amused grin.
"It would seem you are full of surprises these days, now aren't you Cyclops?" Magneto questioned tossing a ruby visor over in Scott's general direction. Scott reached for it with lightening quick reflexes, catching it mid-movement, "Just in case."
"But…" Scott looked between the visor and the man before him.
"I think it's time for us to be making our exit, wouldn't you agree?" Magneto suggested in a smooth, even voice leading Scott to realize that nothing about the moment made sense. Turning his attention to the visor again, Scott felt a shiver overtake him. It had been a while since he'd needed it, since he'd been forced to use it, still in remembering what happened he wasn't sure he wanted to take a chance that this was a trick, a new manipulation to take him under.
"No thanks," Scott tossed the visor back at Magneto once again, "I don't need this anymore."
"On the contrary son," Magneto raised his hand up, using his power to fling the red visor back over in Scott's direction, "the longer we keep stalling the more you're going to need that to protect yourself as well as others."
Fandom: X-Men
Pairing: Scott/Logan
Rating: NC-17.
Word Count: 3905
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The scent of cigar smoke was overwhelmingly intoxicating as Scott opened his eyes, discovering that he was no longer in his home. Instead he was in the Professor's office, standing on the opposite side of the desk where a large, oversized chair was turned away from him. Taking a step forward Scott's thoughts were of Logan, of the thick rush of thrill that was associated with the man Scott loved. The cigar smoke had to be Logan, yet how were they already at the school again? How had they returned without Scott noticing? Where had the time gone? How could he be…?
"Scott," a familiar voice beckoned him from his silent questioning. At first he'd anticipated Logan or even Charles, but when the chair swung around, he was met by Jean's eyes upon him. Gasping he took a step back.
"Jean," Scott tried to mute his surprise, but it was no use as she stood up, pushing herself into his mind, "how…how can you be here?"
"You didn't really think that I would disappear forever, did you Scott?" she asked telepathically, her thoughts channeling into him and making him increasingly uncomfortable. He brought his hands up over his head in an attempt to push her out of his mind, but it was no use.
"You need to relax," she shook her head at him. Her lips curved upward in the beginnings of a smirk, "this isn't going to hurt anymore."
"It's never stopped hurting Jean," Scott tossed back at her painfully, "I'm sorry that I caused you pain for the things I've done, but don't you think I've suffered enough? Can't you see that you've stolen so many things from me that I'll never be able to recover?"
"I didn't steal anything from you that you can't recover from Scott. You've always had everything you ever needed inside of you," her features softened, her words becoming more gentle, softer. Her lips parted finally pulling herself out of his mind now that she stood before him, "Scott, I never meant to harm you."
"Jean," he spoke her name faintly, feeling her stroke the side of his face. He closed his eyes taking in the movement as her fingers tapered off into his hair. His thoughts returned to Logan, to being with the man who made him so very happy, but guilt invaded him, ripping the thought from his brain. Reopening his eyes he saw Jean again, right beside him, lips hovering over his in a breath of a whisper away from his mouth, "please…"
"I know you love him Scott. Your heart showed me that from the start, but I didn't want to believe," she whispered, her breath striking against his cheek, down over the crease opening his mouth, "I felt it long before you were his."
"I'm sorry," Scott sighed, overtaken by the guilt he'd experienced in moving on into love with Logan. While he wished that he could say something to comfort Jean it was the only thing that felt appropriate in the moment. His feelings for her were always special to him, but his love for Logan was so much more a part of who he truly was. He only wished he could've seen it before promising her a future in their time together.
"I know you are. Given your heart, how could you not be? I know how much you wanted to make everyone happy for so long Scott," she nodded, her words softening further with each caress her finger made upon the hollow of his cheekbone.
"I tried so hard," he answered somberly dropping his head down, "all I wanted was for us all to have peace and…"
"You're a good man Scott. That's why I loved you," she continued in a smooth, soothing tone. Her words carried over him, caressed every part of him in a loving embrace before she coaxed him to meet her eyes again. "It's why a part of me will always love you."
"Jean," Scott opened his mouth to say something, anything that would take away from all the mistakes he'd made. If only he could've been stronger. If only he could've found a way to prevent disaster from overtaking them all…
"It's time to let go Scott," she whispered against him. The vibrations of her voice ringing through his ears. She tangled her hand through his hair gently, coaxing him to lean in closer to her. She arched up pressing a chaste kiss against his mouth, "I forgive you."
"You mean…?" he began at a loss feeling her moving away from him.
"I just hope one day you can find it in your heart to forgive me for how I deceived you Scott," she touched the side of his face, her eyes wounded and sad in the moment, "I know how much I've hurt you, but I wanted to do what was right. I needed to cause you pain to save him."
"Logan?" Scott questioned seeing the way that her face tightened at his word. Suddenly they were back at the water again, revisiting the place where life had dramatically changed for the both of them.
"I'm too dangerous. I'm out of control and I knew it long before you found me. He deserved so much better. We deserved so much more," Jean's words were broken, her eyes clouding over with tears, "We should've given him that Scott. You have to give him a chance…an opportunity to have what we couldn't give him."
"Jean, you're not making sense," Scott blinked back at her. She opened her mouth, lips moving, but no words came out, "Jean, I can't hear you…"
"The best thing we ever did together Scott," her words echoed in his mind, "I know…never regret…"
"Jean," Scott felt her pulling away from him. There was something on her face, something inside of her causing her skin to glow. He moved forward sensing danger, but she kept sliding backwards towards the water.
"You have to escape," her words echoed in his mind, "You're strong. You need to break free of this nightmare. You still have your powers inside of you. You have to…"
"Jean," he called out to her again, trying to reach out to her in the haze.
"Save him Scott. Find him…protect him. He needs you…please…" Jean's head tipped back and she let out a loud shrill of a scream. Fire exploded in the sky causing a blinding light to surround Scott. It sent him to his knees and then in an instant everything was gone. There was only darkness.
"Jean!" Scott screamed through the darkness, terror coiling through his body now that he'd awakened with a start uncertain of where he was. He was still surrounded by thick blackness, a sour, musty aroma surrounding him. He stretched his fingers out feeling the floor beneath him. It was cold, dirty, textured and rough at his fingertips. Wherever he was, he was certain it was the last place he or anyone else wanted to be.
Pulling himself up off of the ground, Scott thought back to the chain of events before he'd awakened. He could remember being with Logan, leaving the hotel room to pack and then…
"Victor," Scott mouthed remembering the face of the man who had blindsided him. Now as Scott felt a throbbing ache in his head, he tried to process what was happening to him. He could remember going for the gun, trying to run away and being caught. He could remember the nails, the torment and the scratch across the base of his throat. Bringing his hand up Scott expected to feel the roughness of his wound, but like with his hand earlier the skin was smooth, free of any type of blemish.
"What's going on?" Scott questioned quietly, hearing the sound of footsteps approaching. They were enough to bring him back to reality, to the fear that Victor was returning to finish the job he'd started back in the house. Thinking about Jean's encouraging words on escaping, Scott wondered if that was even an option.
Feeling around his cell, Scott stood in the back, his mind reeling with notions about where he could go, about what he could do to find a way out, but before he could come up with a strategy the door to his cell opened and Victor stood before him. With angry eyes, Victor marched forward seizing Scott by the collar and dragging him out of the room. Scott tried to break out of his grasp, but he was met by the feel of Victor's fist buried in the side of his face. Blood pooled in the back of his throat upon impact, pain reverberating through him when he fell limp in Victor's grasp. Scott coughed, lowering his head and resigning himself to his fate when Victor dragged him down a long, darkened hallway.
"Did you really think you stood a chance in hell of making it out of this alive?" Victor's voice taunted menacingly. He continued to slide Scott over the cold, stone floor before stopping in front of an oversized metal door. "Jimmy might've lost his mind, but he's certainly not going to stay that way because of you."
"Logan's going to find me," Scott exhaled deeply, finding the strength to speak up against the man who had taken him away from the safety and security of his home.
"I fully intend on that happening," Victor mouthed kicking open the door. He threw Scott over his shoulder, carrying him into the room and tossing him onto a cold, metal, reclining chair. Within a matter of seconds Scott was strapped down to it covered in thick strips of metal. They clasped around his wrists, seized his ankles, squeezed at his chest, abdomen and wrapped around the top of his head. He twisted and fought against the restraints, but it was no use.
"This time we don't have to worry about a blindfold," Victor mused enthusiastically, pulling Scott from his moment of protest. Reaching out to squeeze Scott's cheeks tightly, he forced Scott to meet his eyes again, "This time you're going to be able to relish in every single second of the exquisite torture I have planned for you. You won't miss a thing."
"You won't get away with this," Scott mouthed angrily, refusing to reveal the fear that consumed him with Victor hovering over him. Scott puffed out his chest knowing the motion made it harder to breathe, but there was no way in hell he was going to beg for mercy from a soulless monster. "Logan will hunt you down."
"When he arrives he'll realize that I liberated him. I freed him from the train wreck waiting to happen," Victor snarled, his jagged teeth revealing themselves through the darkness. He reached for a button reclining the chair back further so that Scott was stretched out before him, laid out like a buffet table, all his for the sadistic taking and torture that was right around the corner.
"He'll destroy you," Scott spat back at him, still defiant in his approach when Victor's nails expanded into thick, gnarled claws. Scott gulped watching Victor raise his hand in the air, centering in over Scott's chest gleefully.
"As long as he returns, I'll be happy that he's mine," Victor tore into Scott's chest, taking skin and fabric within his nails with the movement. He ripped into Scott's flesh, causing him to recoil with involuntary pain. Still Scott refused to scream, to cry out and give Victor the gratification he was seeking out. Amused Victor leaned in closer to him, "I see you've been practicing being brave boy, but we both know how that will end for you."
Scott glared up at him, spitting in Victor's face only to feel the nail dig deeper into the muscle between Scott's flesh, tearing and slashing inside Scott's body savagely. Scott's eyes rolled back into his head, his teeth sinking into his lip to refrain from screaming out. His fingers twisted, feet cramping with the restraints upon him, yet he remained silent.
"Do you really want to make this harder on yourself?" Victor dug deeper, the razor-sharp claws peeling at Scott's bloodied flesh.
"Go to hell!" Scott mouthed defiantly, his words coming out in a dark, rebellious fashion. He refused to back down, to give in to Victor's twisted desire for blood lust and pain.
"I should cut your tongue out," Victor seized Scott's face again, clenching it tighter than before, "Jimmy would certainly have no use for you after that. Then perhaps I'll go to your eyes and…"
Scott's pulse quickened, worry creeping over his body when Victor's nail pressed into the hollow of Scott's eye socket right above the bone. Still Scott kept his teeth over his lip, refusing to give in to his fears and reveal his weakness after all this time. Horrific images played in Scott's mind bringing him to the notion that he'd be surrounded by a world of darkness, yet he couldn't show his worries. He had to keep fighting silently.
"Pathetic," Victor moved his finger ever so slightly preparing to gouge out Scott's eye.
The dagger of a nail was a centimeter away from Scott's eye when Scott felt a warmth spill over his senses, carrying over his body and out into the room surrounding him. He winced feeling a throbbing, pounding pain inside of his head, over his limbs until finally he found himself in another time and place viewing the scene as an outsider looking in. There on the same chair Scott was strapped to now was a younger version of himself being tortured in the same fashion, tormented and broken by Victor. The lashings came into focus, the scrapes and the horrors, but soon it was replaced by something else…by the feeling of hope. He could feel his desperation shifting when a familiar voice surrounded him bringing him freedom.
The scene was hazy, but Scott started to see a group of young mutants running down a hallway much like the one he'd just been dragged down. They were searching for freedom, fighting to break away from the same torture Scott had been through. They were fleeing behind Scott working their way to freedom-to the safety that Charles was providing them with. Scott wanted to follow, to see where the road lead them, but deep down he already knew. He had lived it. He would be safe in that moment, but Logan…
"Logan," Scott mouthed to himself feeling the scene roll back to the moment when he'd been freed from his cell. His eyes widened, discovering that the man who had given him a second chance at survival was the man that he'd fallen in love with. There before him was an enraged Logan, furiously ripping away at the confinement Scott had been in with the others. He was offering them freedom in his quest for…
"Logan," Scott called out to him realizing that Logan couldn't hear him because this wasn't real. This wasn't happening in the moment, but when it had played out Scott knew he wouldn't have survived if it wasn't for Logan intervening and saving him. They'd been connected from that moment. Scott had owed Logan from that point on-had been indebted to the man who held his heart. Logan had saved him long before they'd known of each other. Why he hadn't realized it until now was beyond him, but as the missing pieces of Scott's time in confinement returned to him, he felt the puzzle becoming clearer.
Scott could recall being taken to the school, to having endured countless nightmares until Charles had promised to take them away. He'd seen Scott's pain, wanted to help the boy and in doing so, Charles had created a mental wall inside of Scott. Charles had used his powers to save Scott from the endless torture night after night when the memory of the horrific endeavor haunted Scott. Charles had blocked it all out to keep Scott's sanity in tact, yet in forgetting Scott lost his first memory of Logan. His mind had blocked Logan from his subconscious, but his body had never forgotten. His lust may have been a product of their second meeting, but Scott's loyalty to Logan began long before either one of them had realized it.
Returning to the torture of the present, Scott took a chance on freedom. Reaching his hand out from underneath the thick metal cuff, the tips of Scott's finger grazed Victor's leg, bringing with the movement a whole different set of memories. There was blood and violence, terror and wars and…
"Logan," Scott breathed opening his eyes to see everything played out before him in vivid color. Victor and Logan were brothers, teaming up to make the most of their existence long before they knew there was another option-that there were others. Scott felt the memories deep in Victor's mind, revealing themselves to Scott more and more with each second. They were growing up together from children, to men, to soldiers and finally they were part of an unscrupulous team working together until Logan had enough. Scott could see Logan tearing off his dog tags, walking away and enraging Victor. The fury evolved into something dangerous. It set Victor over the edge, causing him to create more torment and chaos until he and Logan experienced a confrontation that ended with…
"What are you doing? You were in my head just now," Victor jumped back, pulling away from Scott with a gasp. His eyes widened, surprise registering behind his features. He looked to a bloodied Scott as if he's seen him for the first time ever. Bringing one hand up over Scott's head Victor groaned, "What happened with you?"
"He's your brother," Scott realized twisting his head just enough to see the way he'd blindsided Victor in the moment. "You're angry because he turned his back on you…because he walked away from your madness and became something more…"
"Shut up!" Victor snarled at Scott. He lunged forward bringing his nail up against Scott's throat slashing violently. The blood started to pour out causing Scott to choke. It started dripping down upon the table, but almost as soon as it began it dried up, the wound closing itself much to the surprise of both men. Victor repeated the process again and again causing nothing more in Scott then a fleeting few seconds of blood loss. Finally frustrated Victor stepped back watching Scott in silent horror, "What are you now?"
"The key to your undoing if you don't let me go," Scott warned, his voice darker in the moment. "Logan will destroy you for this."
"I'll take my chances and see how it fairs when he arrives," Victor stepped back cautiously, "You, on the other hand, I'll leave you for them. They'll do you far worse than I ever could. I would've at least turned your pain to exquisite torture, but they, well they will destroy you mercilessly without the pleasure."
Scott's fury built, expanding inside of him when Victor walked out of the room leaving him strapped down to the metal table. His eyes closed, heat radiating through his body, ripping through every synapse until finally at long last a thunderous bolt of energy pressed through him. He twisted his head to the side focusing on the restraints on his wrists when the first blast of red exploded from the depths of his blue eyes. It shattered the metal, causing it to explode around his skin. At first Scott winced, overtaken by pain with tiny pieces of metal embedded in his arm, but just as what happened before the wound healed itself. His closed his eyes when he realized his hand was free. Immediately he moved his hand up to his head, pulling at the vice grip of the restraint upon it.
"Damn it," he cursed feeling the metal peel away from his face, chest and abdomen like paper. He sat upright thinking about the other restraints upon him.
Knowing that the blasts were now a part of him, Scott hesitated knowing the strength of his power. He could readily tear himself to pieces with the blasts, yet in sitting there blind, awaiting Victor's return, he could lose everything. Taking in a breath Scott turned his head to the side hoping it was enough to play it safe. He opened his eyes again, preparing to blast the metal off of his wrist, but nothing happened. He blinked a couple of times, realizing his eyes were back to what they once were. He looked to the reflection on the wall revealing the same blue eyes he'd gotten used to after he'd lost his powers. They hadn't changed, yet in thinking about what he'd done to free his hand, Scott found himself at a loss. He hadn't imagined it. He couldn't have. There was no other explanation for what had happened. Still remembering the surge of strength he'd possessed Scott reached out to his wrist preparing to slash the metal away when the rest of his restraints twisted and groaned in protest, ripping away from his body in the blink of an eye.
Not one to question his good fortune Scott leapt off of the table, ready to make a great escape. He rushed over to the door ready to flee at long last, but before he could exit, it flung open to reveal Magneto standing before him with an amused grin.
"It would seem you are full of surprises these days, now aren't you Cyclops?" Magneto questioned tossing a ruby visor over in Scott's general direction. Scott reached for it with lightening quick reflexes, catching it mid-movement, "Just in case."
"But…" Scott looked between the visor and the man before him.
"I think it's time for us to be making our exit, wouldn't you agree?" Magneto suggested in a smooth, even voice leading Scott to realize that nothing about the moment made sense. Turning his attention to the visor again, Scott felt a shiver overtake him. It had been a while since he'd needed it, since he'd been forced to use it, still in remembering what happened he wasn't sure he wanted to take a chance that this was a trick, a new manipulation to take him under.
"No thanks," Scott tossed the visor back at Magneto once again, "I don't need this anymore."
"On the contrary son," Magneto raised his hand up, using his power to fling the red visor back over in Scott's direction, "the longer we keep stalling the more you're going to need that to protect yourself as well as others."