A Bientôt (Kristof & Ziggy)

[Gummy]

SOME TIME EARLIER

Ziggy had had a rough night. Nightmares of being on the ship but the longing of wanting to be back on it. She had woken up sweaty and exhausted. She hoped she hadn't woken any of the others in the building but at the same time she would welcome the company. She moved over to the small mirror and wiped the tears away but more came. She wanted to be back on the ship, to have a meal up in space, to see all the different spicies but at the same time... she was a prisoner there. Leaning against the cool wall with just a vest and pjama bottoms on she slid down and cried. Curling up tight she sobbed into her knees trying not to make a sound. She was still young and nobody tried to look for her. No one came. What was more it just made her want to go there even more.

[Zeronone]

In the late-night evening, a young man sat at a desk in a fluorescent lit room. The sound of humming coming from several machines dotted around the large workshop, what they did, or their purpose was known only to one person. Though, there was one other person in the Warehouse turned home that could understand their design. A being who's mind he admired and beauty he could not stop gazing upon. Young Kristoff truly was in the thralls of love, though not sure where those feelings would lead him. His gaze was on a research document he had written on a Dyson Sphere and possible requirements and materials to build one and give the entire world free energy. He reached over, plucking up a cold slice of pizza and taking a bite, his gaze never leaving his work as his pencil added a few new calculations.

He leaned back with a groan, his muscles tight and locked after who knows how many hours he had been writing and drawing. Standing up, he picked up his root beer and finished the now warm liquid. A fun idea that his once hot pizza was now cold, and his once cold soda was now hot. He tossed the can into the recycle bin that Ziggy had insisted he get and use. He left the workshop, flicking the light off, he gazed at the room that Ziggy occupied, and his heart fluttered. He took a deep breath and walked towards it, stopping halfway and shaking his head. She was most surely asleep already and she needed rest.

He angled to walk past her door and towards his own room when he heard the sobs coming from it. Concern etched their way across his young face, his hand turning her door and peeking in. The light from the hall illuminating the room and showing Ziggy on the floor. Kris moved quickly to her, sitting down beside her he wrapped his arms around her.

"Hey Zigs. It's okay, I'm here."

[Gummy]

Ziggy hiccuped a tear as the door was open and Kristof came in and hugged her. She felt guilty for possibly having woken him. For a second she didn't acknowledge him but eventually leaned into him. She had to get herself together and the hug helped until she was able to steady the sobs and wipe her tears.

"Sorry if I woke you. I had another nightmare. I can't do this any longer. I can't be afraid of either being trapped in this building or saying yes if he comes to collect me."

There were still tears there but she turned her head to look up at him.

"I need to fix this but I can't travel in space and if I did.... I'm scared that I'll want to stay. It was so amazing out there. Seeing so much but... but I was just as ... a toy that he used. I was trapped on that ship. I left it once or twice but only under escort. He was kind to me, better than some of the others there. I still see the one's face as I felt the gas sedate me. I'm The Collector's object... he'll want me back."

[Zeronone]

Kris held Ziggy against him as she cried, waiting for her to feel better. As she turned, he found himself looking down into her beautiful eyes, even now wet and puffy from crying she was still the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. His hand came up wiping away the tears and brushing her hair back. He was angry at the Collector for doing this to her, for making her feel this way.

"Never feels like the chains come off huh, no matter where you go or how strong you become, it feels like they have their hooks in you, and you just can't get away. For me, that is my father. I fear the day he will come here and demand I return with him to Latveria, and more than that, I too am afraid I will say yes and go with him. But I have you to keep me from making that dumb decision, and you have me."

He stood up, helping Ziggy to her feet. "Space is beautiful, almost as beautiful and amazing as you. And being out there must have been a great adventure, but it wasn't your adventure. It was his and he controlled it. Now, you have a chance for your own adventure, for your own path."

Seeing her like that brought to mind a plan he had been having for some time. "And you didn't wake me, I don't really sleep. I am always around one way or another, come on. Let's get you some hot chocolate."

[Gummy]

As he wiped her tears she felt loved. As he spoke she felt the connection. As he helped her up she accepted it and moved into a slight standing hug. She was tired but the idea of hot chocolate was great idea.

"I like that your here and that you have hot chocolate."

She smiled a little. Then started to walk with him.

"I don't know if her implanted any chip in me or anything. I was sick at one point and his doctor well.. did things. Sometimes I would be conscious, other times I wasn't. He said he made me better but I don't know what that means. I'm worried that if I leave this place he would be able to track me again. Or if he is already heading here to get me. I can't ask you to go cause I don't want him to get you too. Plus... I won't have your protection if he sends one of his crew to collect me. The only other place I would feel safe is at the mansion."

[Zeronone]

Kris led Ziggy from her room and towards the kitchen, having her take a seat at the bar. He walked to the cupboards and pulled out a pot. Setting it on the stove, he pulled out a few ingredients. Real Hershey coco powder, milk, sugar, and marshmallows. He poured milk into the pot and turned it on high, waiting for it to get warm. He walked over, standing on the other side of the bar. Dressed in the same clothes he wore that day showed he hadn't even gotten around to going to bed yet, his eyes were bloodshot, and his hair fell messy down to his shoulders.

"If you want, I can find out if he put a tracking chip in you or if he made any modifications. I know it sounds scary but better to know then not know, and deal with it now so you can be even more free."

He turned back to the stove as the milk began to bubble and poured the coco and sugar in. Stirring it up and left it again for it to simmer.

"As for going, that was actually something I wanted to talk to you about. A way to protect you and at the same time get that monkey off your back. It comes at a cost though, a steep one."

He took out two mugs and poured the hot coco into, putting in a couple of marshmallows and setting it in front of Ziggy on a coaster she insisted he put around the house. It had grown on him as well. He took a sip, his eyes flicking up to meet hers. He felt his heart flutter again, pushing it away for now. Though, it was difficult. Only two days ago they had shared a kiss but had yet to talk about it.

[Gummy]

Ziggy tucked a couple strands of Kris's hair behind his ear.

"You should sleep."

Reaching into her pocket she took out a handheld electric mini whisk and handed it to Kris. Her powers did have a slight perk if it was only for making the milk bubbly and mix better. Ziggy nodded to the idea of being checked for anything and then let out a long sigh. Even now a few tears traveled down her checks but she soon wiped them and away and sniffed back the grottyness. She laughed at the coaster but it did make her smile for a moment.

"I can't ask you to have a go at him. He's an ancient and what's to stop you from ending up in his collection."

She looked at him worried and her hand reached out to gently hold his. The warmth yet well worn hands. If there was a way this would all go away, there wasn't a way that she could do anything about.

"You're going to though aren't you?"

[Zeronone]

Kris smiled, taking Ziggy's hand when she brushed his hair back and gave it a kiss before letting go. Her agreeing to being scanned had him turn his attention to the lab. There were a few basic tests they could do like MRI's and X-Rays to see if he deposited into her body. But he felt that the Collector was smarter than that, not as smart as he was but not dumb either. Her words dragged him back and his eyes turned back to hers, a ghost of a smile showing.

"I am a Doom, no one collects a Doom. Besides, I can handle myself against someone like the Collector. Guy has other people fight for him and none of them will stand against me."

His hand squeezed hers as she held it, his heart beating faster as he felt her calloused but gentle hands. Hands meant to create not to destroy. He lifted her hand and kissed it, holding it before lowering it down but keeping her hand held in his.

"I am yes, I promised you that I would protect you and keep you safe. And in order to do that, I have to deal with this problem. Meaning I won't be here to protect you, but I will make it to where you are protected."

His heart ached at the idea of letting her go but his plan required he do so if he was going to defeat the Collector and truly save Ziggy once and for all.

[Gummy]

Ziggy let the modules go once the hot chocolate was made.

"You're not Victor."

Tears were so close and she was so scared of what her mind was telling her. The kisses felt distant, this whole place was distant. She reached for the floating modules and clicked them together to form something entirely new. Well... it wasn't new for her. She had made it several times before and took out another bit from her pocket.

"This will help with the scan."

She clipped it onto her wrist and a shimmer went over her. Pressing a button she held it over her hand as it read in real time every detail of her under the skin where it was aimed.

"Without you here... "

She couldn't bring herself to say. She couldn't say all that she wanted to say because it hurt. All this hurt but she handed the console to Kristof.

"... I will have to forget who I am. That way, if he tries to find me psychically he won't be able to find my mind or soul. Meaning... I'll forget you and everything. If we do it the only way I know how... there is no going back. If we use someone whose trained in the mind like Xavior or Jean Grey then... that only clouds it. It will help but it wouldn't be enough. His resources are limitless... he offered me a planet for all the mutants."

[Zeronone]

Her words actually made him smile; he wasn't victor. Very few... actually no one before had ever taken the time to distinguish him from his father. They heard the name Doom and that was all anyone needed to fear him, hate him, or drive him away. Ziggy however, she saw him as Kris and not his father.

"You are right Zigs, I am not Victor. I am better than him because I have you, because I am doing this for someone else not for myself. I have someone else to fight for and that makes me stronger than he will ever be."

He took the module and pointed it at her, his eyes gazing into hers as she confirmed what he already knew he was going to have to do. It hurt, it hurt very deep, but it was necessary to protect the woman he... loved. Yeah, that was the word. It had only been a few days since they even been in the same room, but he knew it. He loved this girl and to save her he had to let her go.

"Yes, I will have to take your memories. Memories of him, of space, of me and this place. Everything from the moment and after of meeting the Collector will have to be taken. I will take your memories and put you in a magical sleep. You will wake up a day after the spell activates, you will be enchanted with the urge to go to the mansion and study there so they can protect you in case I fail."

His smile never left, he was trying to be brave and strong for her even though every word felt like he was tearing his own heart out and stomping on it.

[Gummy]

The monitor showed Ziggy's pulse was racing and even showed it skipping several beats as she worked hard on controlling what he held.

"Move the dial it will show different levels."

Her voice was full of emotion as she tried to hold it all together. Then she couldn't, the words hit her hard. when he said 'if he failed'. The device turned into the metal modules in his hand and the band on her wrist, all of it turning to small metal balls. She thumped his arm but there wasn't any force behind it.

"Then you'd better not fail! You'd better come back and put me back to me!"

The tears were free flowing as she looked at him slightly angry but the fascard cracked and she leaned onto his shoulder and sobbed for a few seconds. Then pulled off it to reach for several pieces of paper.

"Write me a letter explaining that I'll be ok. Then another one for Xavior just so he knows... "

Ziggy looked at Kristof and drank her hot chocolate. She wasn't going to not finish that if she was going to be asleep for 24 hours! She felt the lump in her throat.

"What will happen when you turn it off?"

[Zeronone]

Kris heard the pain in her voice but was trying not to draw attention to it since she was trying to be brave. He turned the dial, but it didn't matter, and her modules fell apart, turning back into their metal ball form. He looked down at them, then up to Ziggy as her arm softly thumped his. His arm enveloped her trim waist when she leaned against him. His head on top of hers and breathing in the scent of her hair, eyes closing as he saved this moment to his memory.

At her request he nodded and with one hand, wrote a letter. He wanted to put so much into it, wanted her to know who had given it to her but at the same time he couldn't. He knew he couldn't as it would mess with the enchantment. So, he wrote a basic note for her, telling her to go to the academy and to stay there, he would find her one day. He signed it simply Kristoff. The next letter was a bit more detailed but he turned it away so Ziggy couldn't read it. It was a simple letter telling Xavier Ziggy needed to be protected as she was being hunted by a powerful man, and if he did anything to hurt her that Kris would find him.

He turned and cupped Ziggy's cheek, raising her chin so their eyes met. "I will come back Zigs, I will find you again and bring you back."

Her question was one he himself worried about, memories returning after being removed completely was quite the experience.

"It will be intense; your head will hurt, and you will feel a lot of emotions. Anger, pain, hate, fear. All things that were removed including the worries and concerns will come rushing back. The key is not to run from them but to embrace them, to grab the memories as they come and hold them, so they connect, but don't worry. I will be there with you the entire time to help you through it."

He leaned down and gave her lips a soft kiss, holding it for a couple of seconds before pulling back.

[Gummy]

Ziggy nodded at his comment and the kiss, the choclatey kiss that made her smile as more tears threatened. Her brain knew what was to come now and she knew that all her emotions were going to just vanish. Her eyes had closed with the kiss but he broke it too soon. She pulled him back for a longer one all the pent up emotions, all the fear everything went into it and her eyes streamed with tears. It definitely wasn't the neatest or prettiest kiss but it was passionate. Then she pulled away but her eyes were still closed.

"What do I need to do now? Shall we see if I am bugged or are you going to do that while I'm asleep?"

She wasn't going to ask him if he had done this before or when he was going to do it. She hoped, sooner rather than later would be good but she also wanted a good memory to give Kristoff.

"I'm sorry."

[Zeronone]

Pulled back into the kiss, he returned it as fiercely as she gave it. Pouring all his emotions, everything unsaid between them into that one over far too soon kiss. As her lips left his, he fought the urge to pull her back. He stroked her hair back, out of her face and gazed at her.

"I will do it while you sleep, don't worry. There is nothing to worry about, and don't apologize. I knew the day was going to come when I had to deal with him once and for all."

As he talked, Ziggy would notice his voice was getting distant, his words weaving with the sleeping spell as he stroked her hair, gazing into her eyes. He finished the spell and put her to sleep. Holding her for when she collapsed into him.

"Sleep Ziggy, when you awake you will have nothing to worry about, no one to fear hunting you. I will make sure one way or another that you are safe."

He carried her to the lab and laid her on one of the metal slabs, making sure it was clean and clear he took one of his self-created devices and scanned her body.

[Gummy]

As he stroked her hair she started to panic. She breathed quicker as she knew what was coming. The same panic that filled her the last time she had been put to sleep without her will. The person's face filled her mind as she tried to fight it away to focus on him one last time but it was no good.

"I don't want... I love...."

Was all she could say before the final tears fell down her cheek and her body collapsed into a deep slumber. Once on the table it was clear that there was a device planted at the base of her skull. Tiny to find but there non-the-less. The modules slowly lowered to where she lay but still twitched. As for her body, it seemed there wasn't a thing wrong with her. Everything was perfect, a little too perfect as if any scaring or mark had been removed. There was also a small device inserted into her wrists. The neck was a tag to say she belonged to The Collector and if found to be returned at once or suffer death! and her wrists served two purposes. Firstly, a tracker which also monitored vitals and secondly, a key or pass which enabled her to have almost free roam of a ship.

At least for the moment she was blissfully asleep. She was dreaming not pleasant things and he could tell by the raise in her pulse and faster breathing but the sleep spell held. As his spells carried on working Ziggy became still, the dreams were gone and she rested peacefully.