Title: Becoming The Rogue
Author: Märrie (mariezimmermann@aol.com)
Summary: I suck with summaries. Long story and AU too. Sorry, if I mutilated
the characters. So, ahem it´s the initial meeting of Logan and Rogue and the
following events with a little twist.
Rating: umm self-mutilation, suicide attempt, murder and mental rape. But
otherwise I´d say PG?
Disclaimer: I don´t own the X-men. I know that, I´m studying law. So come on
sue me, might be a nice practice for a change.
Feedback: Yes please.
Special thank you: To my betas, Evamaria and Karen. I owe you this story. All
my love!
Author´s Notes: I should be writing an expertise about § 20 of the
constitution. Sigh, that would guarantee me a grant. Why don´t I get points
for doing cute graphics? Hm? Why?
This is a weird combination of a mutated bunny Lateo once set free, staring
at my (comic) Wolverine and Rogue Desktop pic and reading to much lyrics by
the wonderful angsty Ann Bishop.
Highly influenced by Marillion, Bon Jovi (huh) and R.H.C.Peppers.
indicates a remembered conversation
And I see myself in the morning sun
And I know I´ll be dead when the day is done
And I see myself like a warrior run
And I know I´ll be killed when the new day comes
[Prayer for salvation/Ann Bishop]
1. A Role to Play
"What the hell gave you that idea?" The dark haired mutant named Logan stared unbelievingly at the woman blocking his way. A soft breeze blew her hair into her face and she impatiently smoothed the streaks back. The weather was warm for an afternoon in spring, but she was covered from head to toe in black. Her pale face seemed as if it hadn't seen the sun for months.
"I... um... I... met this girl..." she stuttered "Woman. I meant woman..." His face held only anger and a little confusion at her remark, still no suspicion. This had gone according to plan cheered the Rogue inwardly.
Logan still glared at her expectantly: "And?"
She glared back and decided silently that if his attitude was comparable to his fighting abilities she had found the right candidate for her purpose and managed to say in her best confused tone:
"She um... told me you were the best. And where to find you."
The hazel stare was beginning to unnerve her. He was indeed a little scary, but the file at Xavier´s had shown that the Wolverine had gained the best score ever achieved in a Danger Room session. As a plus he never joined the X-men nor the Brotherhood. The psychological profile had spoken of violent tendencies and a very basic code of honor. And Jean's medical research about his phenomenal healing factor had been enlightening.
"Her name?" His focus had remained on her though he had started to unload a few boxes from his camper. Probably smuggled booze for the bar across the street. She wondered briefly if it contained whiskey or vodka.
Suddenly an impatient: "I'm waiting!" broke through her train of thought. Think quickly, he won´t give you a second chance, girly.
"She didn't tell me ...she was drunk." In conjunction with her little lie she used the innocent southern girl smile, which had even worked on Erik a bit. Well, it had worked fine until the X-men had tried to rescue her. After that she had two more men in her head. Erik and Scott had met David up there and again foreign personalities and memories mingled with her own.
She had been transformed into a schizophrenic at eighteen. Declared a forever-gloved freak at nineteen. And at twenty turned into a prey for the escaped Erik from those she loved and once trusted. That might have been the turning point. And for now the Rogue had a mission. She would never allow anything like that again. She would simply disappear from their field of vision.
"O.K." He didn't believe her one bit, but her fake act of sweetness had soothed his alerted senses. The slight frown on his temples ceased and his stiff back seemed to relax. He had stopped unloading and was staring at her, probably waiting for her to continue. The file had been incomplete though. She caught her breath feeling more than seeing a slight smirk on his face. It had not told her that he was in a tousled-hair-and-well-worn-jeans-way sexy. Too bad, that her mission would stand between them. She concentrated on the gravel beneath her feet to clear her thoughts.
"I met her at a bar. In Laughlin City. She told me you were heading to Fort Good Hope, following the fight circuit." She congratulated herself on telling him at least one tiny bit of truth. After their little chat the drunken blonde had wanted to compare notes on Logan's abilities but Rogue had declined. She was interested in his whereabouts and fighting, not in his ...um.. more charming abilities.
"And she said you have to be the best fighter in Canada." Well, that she had already known. The file had told her everything about his fighting abilities: enhanced senses, healing factor, a metal skeleton and an unknown paramilitary background as a bonus. No memories, except those of the last twenty one years. No contacts with Xavier for nearly six years. No strings. No wasted ethics. His last encounter with the X-men had ended rather unpleasantly if the protocol wasn't falsified. Fuck ideals, Chuck. I'm not interested in joining your little mutie brigade. If the war is coming I´m taking my own side, not somebody else´s. While studying the files Kitty had stolen for her, the Wolverine had been her favorite because of this little display. The voice recorded had sounded secure and determined and she decided within an instant whom to ask for help. For someone who had been "fucked over by idealism" his lack of interest in the good cause had been refreshing. Of course Kitty and Jubes had been reluctant at her choice, but she knew that he was the only one who could teach her how to be on the run properly. And she needed to run badly.
He snorted: "I am the best, darlin´." For a moment she wondered if she had any resemblance to his fight groupies, though she seriously doubted that. The endearment had probably slipped due to habit. No, she was sure that she looked more on the exotic side of attractive for him, just to begin with she wore a lot more clothes than his women. And she had stared often enough longingly into a mirror to become acquainted with the facts. Long sleeved and gloved didn´t add up to vixen.
"That's the reason I want you. I can pay you, I've got lots of money." That was if he accepted American Express. She knew that he had enough money to cope for the next twenty years, but her role demanded that she couldn't possibly know that. This role wasn't the Rogue. She wasn't "her" yet anyway, but she would become this woman. Marie needed protection. There is nothing left to discuss Scott. I guess I´d rather die than fade away some more.
"I don´t give no fight lessons. Never have. I already told you no." His voice was not overly heated, but sounded determined as he turned and headed with one of the boxes to the bar without a backward glance at the woman leaning against his camper in the parking lot. If he had turned he would have been surprised. The white-streaked woman named Rogue wasn't exactly disappointed, she grinned like a Cheshire cat. The first mission had gone like she planned it. Absorbing Eric's manipulative mind had had its advantages. The big guy would never know what hit him...
Rogue waited patiently for three hours in a small diner just across the street until it was getting dark. Thanks to the fact that it was March, six o'clock meant already relative darkeness. She had calculated that the Wolverine would be fighting by this time and his camper without guard. So she strolled from the diner back to the parking lot and to the camper. Both hands stuffed into her long leather coat, her duffle bag firmly on her shoulder. The parking lot was vacant, all the good citizens had long left this part of the city and only a few trucks blocked her way to Logan's camper.
Though the camper was unlocked she had no intention in hiding there. Logan's senses would need some time to recover from the endless beating he would take through the cage fights, but he would still smell her invading his personal space. The camper was off. But connected to the camper was a small trailer, covered with a blanket. He wouldn't get her scent within the first miles and by then he wouldn't throw her out. And then she would play awhile the vulnerable southern belle needing a hero. When her training was finished she would give him the lead Xavier had found. But before that he would have to fulfill her plan. She was quite sure everything would go like she planned it. That was if she hadn't interpreted his psychological profile wrong. But she was tired and life was risky anyway. She climbed in and tugged the blanket over her head. Time to get some much needed sleep.