Cold Memories By Reuben A. Macapinlac *Supereub* Disclaimer: Marvel is Marvel. Iceman, Storm, and the rest of the X-Men characters are TM of Marvel Comics and are used here without their consent. All comments and criticisms can be E-Mailed to supereub@lava.net Note 1: All words in (parentheses) is when a character is thinking. Note 2: All words in #Numeric Symbols# are telepathic messages. ********** He looked at how the sun merged with it's reflection in the ocean. The sunset was the first thing he appreciated before his father's beating by Creed's thugs. A tear ran from his cheek as he reminisced back to when he said the harshest words he could ever imagine. ********** "I'm...I'm not coming back." Ororo Munroe, Co-Leader of the X-Men, looked in Bobby's eyes. "I understand" she said "Your father needs some company. One of the X-Men will meet you in the morning." Bobby sighed. His voice was harsh, more than ever. "I...I...I mean, I'm not coming back to the X-Men." he said at a tone barely above a whisper "At least not for a while." Storm gasped. Her head suddenly turned toward Bobby's direction. "What do you mean you're not coming back?" "Just as I said," he repeated "I'm not coming back for awhile. My mom and dad need my support right now, more than the X-Men." She felt a feeling of sadness. She walked slowly towards the door. Gambit, who was waiting in the room with them, slowly turned the knob. "Let de' boy go Mon ami," Remy said "Bobby needs to be alone." Ororo followed Gambit. "Good-bye Bobby," she whispered "There's always a place for you in the X-Men." Bobby's face shriveled. Water covered his eyes. He hid his face in his arms, crying softly. Days later, Bobby's father, William Drake, died. Doctors said that their was internal bleeding which they caught a bit too late. This hit Bobby harder than anything. Bobby's mother stayed with her sister in Tampa, Florida. As for Bobby, he roamed around the streets at night, drinking his nights away, hoping the pain and sorrow would leave him alone. ************* Bobby got up from the ground. He clapped his jeans a few times, as an effort of trying to get as much dirt out of his jeans as he could. He dug through his pocket, taking out a pack of Marlboro cigarettes. He grabbed his lighter and lighted it. He folded his arms as he thought some more. When he first heard about Graydon Creed's assassination on CNN, he thought of why he didn't jump out of his seat. Maybe because his father was still dead, and he couldn't do anything to change that. *************** "The Presidential Candidate and Anti-Mutant leader, Graydon Creed, was killed yesterday. His body was buried today in Central Manhatten Memorial." Bobby jerked his head. He suddenly got up and focused his attention on the television. "Damn muties!" Senator Kelly said "Graydon led a dangerous campaign, he had what was coming to him." Bobby's faced turned red. He clenched his fist. "They'll never learn." he whispered to himself. Suddenly the doorbell rang, Bobby slowly got up. Feeling rather laggard. He took off his jacket and threw it on the sofa as he went to the door. "Who is it?" he asked. "Come on Bobby," the stranger said "You hidin' from ya pal Sam now." Bobby's face lightned up. He opened the door. Only to find former ally, Samuel Guthrie, AKA Cannonball, standing in front of him. With a brown leather jacket and Denim Levis jeans. "Howdy," Sam said softly "How ya been?" Bobby smiled. "Fine, come in." Sam wiped his shoes on the doormat. Sam always had a habit of showing a good first expression. "Heard the news bout' Creed?" "Yeah, What a shame". "I know," Sam said "Even though he was a pretty naive, it's sad how everyone will remember him with just two words, he hated." "Yeah," Bobby answered "I guess." Bobby walked to the kitchen as Sam stood in the middle of the living room, looking at all the photos posted on the wall. "You want a beer?" Bobby asked as he opened the refrigerator door. "Sure." Bobby grabbed a couple of Heinekens from the back of the frige. He opened his drawer and rummaged for his beer cap opener. Sam noticed a picture of the original X-Team. "So, how was it like?" Bobby lifted his face as he was opening his beer. "How was what like?" "Being on the team in the earlier days." Sam answered. "I dunno, it was fun actually." Bobby said "Things were not as complicated as now." Sam smiled. "No Apocalypse or Onslaught to deal with." "Exactly." Bobby pointed out. Bobby walked to Sam with the beers. Sam grabbed his and took a sip. "So Bobby," he said "How are you managing with yer father's death and all?" Bobby sat down. He sighed. "Um, fine I guess." he whispered back. "You guess?" Bobby looked at the floor. "I mean I've been managing ok," he said "Although the thought haunts me every once and awhile." "Why don't you come back to the Mansion with me?" Sam asked. "I'm not ready to go and run around any more goose chases, not yet at least." Sam sighed. "Listen Bobby," he said sternly "All of us are worried, we feel it's better to talk about it then hide your pain." Bobby became irritated. "Did you come here to lecture me?" he asked in a slightly angry tone "I need my space, can't you or the X-Men respect that?" "100% Bobby," Sam said "I'm just saying..." "Sam, that's it!" Bobby exclaimed "When I said, can't you or the X-Men respect that, that's when this coming back conversation ended." "Please Bobby," he said "Ya can't just hide in a hole and expect yer problems to dissappear." Bobby turned away. "Please leave," he said softly "I need to be alone now." "If that's what you want buddy." Sam walked towards the door. Without saying another word, he opened it and left. Tears ran down from Bobby's eyes like the Mississippi River. He turned on the TV as he wiped his face with his jacket. ************** Bobby yawned. He took a look at his wristwatch. "7:30." he whispered to himself. (Better get back home). Bobby started to walk towards the road. He felt a major headache coming on. (I better get some asprin to avoid one hell of a night!) He took out his car keys from his pocket and unlocked the driver's side door. He got in and started the car. Before he took off, he thought of what Samuel said. About how he couldn't hide his feelings, maybe he should go back to the X-Men. But he just ignored the thought and started the engine. He remembered his first few days in the mansion. How he was thought of as just a child and how much he wanted to impress everybody. To him, those were the good ol' days. ************ Bobby, 15 years of age, went around the danger room using his cool new technique, the Ice Slide! Dodging gadgets and bullets. "Wow!" Bobby exclaimed "That was a close one!" "Don't relax Bobby!" Xavier said "Be aware of your surroundings!" Bobby always ignored Professor. Too stubborn to take advice from someone else at that time. "Yeah yeah!" he said "I got this all covered Professor!" Suddenly, a burst of flame came through the wall. Bobby took a sharp turn with his ice slide but soon fell off. "Whoa!" he yelled "Jean, your mental stuff can come in handy right about now!" "You got it!" Jean yelled back. Slowly, Bobby was carried down through telekinetics. "Nice job jeanie!" Bobby complimented. Jean smiled. "Least I can do for my pal Bobby!" Angel came up to him. "You really screwed up there Bobby, watch how us adults do it." Bobby's face burned with anger. He hated Warren's wit at that time. "So you think I'm just a child huh?" Angel didn't answer. He can sense Bobby was feeling a bit hostile. "I suggest you step aside, it's my turn." "No. Not until you take that remark back." Bobby said, gritting his teeth. "Don't take it personally, I was just kidding..." "TAKE IT BACK!" #Please Bobby, calm yourself, he didn't mean anything by it# a telepathic voice interrupted. Bobby turned towards Professor, he glared back at Warren and barged out of the room. Angel chuckled as Bobby left. "What was that all about Professor?" #He needs some time to think Warren, just ignore it, you're session will begin in 30 seconds# That was probably the first time he snapped at his fellow X-Men for reminding him he was the youngest in the group. Until now, he still hasn't gotten over it. ************ Bobby parked in front of the drug store. He shifted the clutch, took his keys out, and opened the door. His headache got worst, he knew he needed the Advil quick. He entered the store. The room smelled like smoke. The clerk was apparently smoking several cigarettes. How did he know? Probably from the 13 cigarette butts lying on the astray. He went from isle to isle looking for the drugs. Once Bobby found the advil, he went the the cashier. "$5.95 kid." the clerk said in a rather grim voice. Bobby grabbed his wallet. He grabbed a 10 dollar bill. "Here ya go mister." The clerk opened the cash register. He wiped his hands before he reached for the money. "Nobody Move!" A voice yelled from behind. Both men turned. They saw a big figure with a ski mask and a 10 millimeter in his hand. "Oh shit," the clerk mumbled "Not again." Bobby was shocked. Without thinking, he blasted an ice beam to the thief. The stranger was smacked like a rag doll against the wall and fell unconscience. The clerk stepped back, he stared at Bobby in terror. "MUTIE!" he yelled continuously. Bobby couldn't think straight. He put his wallet back in his pocket and stormed out of the store. Just when he was about to enter his car, something solid and hard hit him from the back. He fell. He looked up only to see the clerk with a bat. A few others saw them from the distance. They ran as they saw the terrified clerk continuously hitting Bobby with the bat. Bobby couldn't move. His ribs were probably broken, and his face felt like jello. He soon fell unconscience. Two Days Later.... Bobby opened his eyes slowly. He was lying on a bed. Jean, Sam, and Logan stood by his side, watching him vigilantly. "He's awake!" Jean exclaimed "Are you all right Bobby?" "You took quite a beatin' there bub." Logan mumbled to him. Bobby held his head. "Uh..What happened?" he mumbled. Sam came to his bedside. "You were rescued by a couple of pedestrians and taken to the hospital two days ago. We heard that you were here from the local newspaper headlines the next morning." Bobby smiled. "What does the doc say?" Logan stepped foward. He looked better since he left the team. "You'll be alright kid, the white suits say that you got a broken rib but they can patch it up in no time." Bobby laughed. "I'm glad you guys came!" Bobby said "I have something to say..." Jean smiled. "Yes Bobby?" Bobby grinned. "I wanna come back." Jean placed her hand on his. " Good, we'll bring you home in the morning." THE END. Reuben M. *Supereub* supereub@lava.net - SUPER'S Home Page: http://free.websight.com/Macapinlac2 - Supereub's X-Men Krazy Page: http://free.websight.com/Macapinlac3 *-------------------------------------* | | | I'm a TTTRRAAAVVEELLLIIINNNGGG | | MAN! | | | | - Morph | | Tales of the AOA | | | *-----------------------------------* --