Thirsty

[ECKS]

(Upon entering the kitchen ECKS looks around to see if anyone is around. Then he walks to a small cabinet at the end of the counter top. He opens it to reveal a hidden mini-refrigerator, again checking the room he reaches in and pulls out a bottled Bud Light. After closing the cabinet he pops the top and takes a long drink. After pulling the drink from his lips he uses his still-sleeved arm to wipe his mouth.)

ECKS: "I really needed that. The way this night has gone I might need a few more behind this one."

(After taking another, shorter, drink he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pack of smokes and a lighter. He puts one of the smokes in his mouth and lights it, taking a small quick drag then letting it out slow.)

ECKS: "Never a dull moment in the life of a mutant."

(He continues to smoke the cigarette and finish his drink before grabbing a second drink and taking a seat at the table.)

[Rogue]

Rogue: Well, Well. It seems as though someone doesn't live by his own rules. Ah thought there was no beer here.

(Rogue giggles a little seeing him smoking she has the sudden urge for one.)

Rogue: That guys is out like a light. Ah strapped him down so tight ah am surprised he can breath. Apparently someone in mah head was a smoker. Do ya mind?

[ECKS]

...

ECKS: "When you live like I do you need something to take the edge off every now and then. You know, dull the senses a little."

(A little embarrassed that he's been caught, ECKS just shrugs it off and grabs the pack of cigarettes. He tosses them to Rogue, then takes another drink.)

ECKS: "Help yourself. You are old enough, right?"

(He reaches over, grabs the lighter, ignites the flame and waits for Rogue to come over and use it.)

[Rogue]

(Rogue walks over and lights her cigarette off of ECKS lighter.)

Rogue: Ah am not the little girl you remember its been a long time since Xavier's.

[ECKS]

(ECKS laughs a little at the remark as he places the lighter back on the table and takes another drag.)

ECKS: "I couldn't have said it better myself. Xavier's death changed... everything. Just happy to see that his dream still lives on in so many of us."

(He takes the last drink and makes his way over to throw away the empty bottle. Then he turns back to Rogue.)

ECKS: "'Cause if we don't stick together, they win. They may not hate or fear us as much, but they still don't truly understand or respect us. Some of'em never will. But still we fight, knowin' that the very people we're protectin' are the people who fear us the most. But what else we gonna, right?"

...

[Nightcat]

(Liz walks into the kitchen a few hours later to find ECKS passed out one the floor with about seven bottles of beer laying next to him. She shakes her head, walk over to him, picks up the bottles. She throws them away and pads back over to ECKS. She kneels beneath him, like she had at the Mason mansion many months ago, thought hard of the location of his room and, with a puff of smoke, the two of them were gone.)