This is the continuation of the Rogue story, begun in "As It Fades". If you haven't read the first story, I suggest you do, so you understand more of what's going on. I hope you enjoy and are excited to find out what's happening to Rogue and Co. as much as I am to write it!
Logan sighed as he pulled the warm mug from the microwave, dropping the tea bag into the hot water and staring as the water turned dark. Around him the Mansion was dark and silent, unusual for this time of year and for this school particularly. He paused, feeling his gut churn as he let his thoughts focus on the girl sitting in the next room.
Rogue was back.
As were her powers.
Silently, he cursed. She had wanted so badly to have a normal life.
And, damn it, she deserved it.
Lord knew that she had been put through more than enough heartache throughout her short life already. She had left home, for whatever reason, traveled for how long all on her own as a young teenager, then, when she had thought she had finally found some happiness and normalcy in her life, the very thing she had hated about herself had returned.
He groaned. The kid didn't deserve this at all. She had only been gone for, what, a year now?
He had been upstairs, having a…discussion…with Storm, taking advantage of the peaceful mansion when they had heard a sound downstairs. They knew no one was supposed to return for at least two days, so Logan had gone to check it out, ready to defend himself and the school if he had to. Who knew what kind of people would be terrorizing them now?
But at the top of the stairs, he had caught a familiar scent. It had taken him a moment to recognize it, being so long since he had smelled this particular person. It had made him pause, and at the same time had made his heart leap, which surprised him, even now.
And she had been standing there, her arms wrapped around herself, and glancing around her, as if confused. She didn't look the same, though, something was different…something wasn't right about her.
He braced his hands on the edges of the sink, recalling his first views of her in the hallway.
Her haphazard appearance was what first set him off. She was clad in a thin, barely-there tank top and jeans, with completely insensible shoes. Yet she was filthy. She had scratches covering her arms, with smudges of dirt and rips in her clothes. He had glanced behind her and recalled the secret door in that particular panel and realized she must have snuck her way inside.
Then she had started crying, panicking when he tried to touch her, the tears streaming down her pained face. He had helped her into the TV room, trying to take it all in.
She sounded different. Her accent was back. She must have been down south, then, he figured. That, and she was tan. No longer was she the pale, withdrawn young girl that he had met all those years ago.
Her hair was different. She had cut it, so it went just slightly past her shoulders, and the ends had begun to curl. For as long as he could remember, her hair was always straight. The color was different, too. Lighter. He imagined all the sun in the south must have naturally lightened her hair.
She had cut the white sections of her hair, too, so they framed her face in different lengths. She had cut one side to make some of those side bangs that he saw on the girls around the mansion every day.
She had adapted to her new life, wherever it had been. And it had been cruelly ripped from her with the return of her powers. He grimaced as various scenarios played through his mind. He could imagine so many ways that she had been forced to leave, to return here. With all the new laws and regulations…with the new President…who knew what the public would do if faced with a mutant. What could have happened to make her return to New York immediately? She hadn't even brought a jacket, or a bag.
What had happened that was so horrible that she had felt she needed to leave instantly, and return here?
Remember to keep reading when I've updated and let me know what you think/want/hope for in the story. They really do help and give me different ideas that I can add in. I hope you enjoy!